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ABC/Randy HolmesWhy wouldnt Mariah Careys pet pooches get the diva treatment? According to New York Posts Page Six, the dogs flew first class from Aspen, Colorado to Los Angeles on Monday. The pooches were reportedly traveling from Mariahs Aspen digs to her fancy new L.A. rental with fiance James Packer.

Sources say the two jetsetting pups, Cha Cha and Jill E. Beans, rode in the deluxe cabin on an American Airlines flight. That little luxury apparently costs more than $2,000 per dog.

Mariahs dogs only fly first, a source adds. But the two pets hate each other, so [they] have to be placed in separate kennels for the journey and travel with two separate members of her staff.

It was reported yesterday that Mariah and James are shelling out $250,000 a month on a Calabasas, California mansion. James proposed last week with a massive 35-carat engagement ring.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Podemos deputies Alexandra Fernandez, Francesc Xavier Domenech, Inigo Errejon (c), Ines Montero and Angela Ballester. Sergio Barrenechea (EFE)

A new row has broken out in Congress  this time over seating arrangements for political parties in the lower chamber.

The 69 deputies from the emerging anti-austerity party Podemos have been moved from the front row seats they first took during the congressional constituent session on January 13 to the upper left part of the chamber.

They will occupy the seats from the fourth row to the top  the same section where the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) lawmakers traditionally sat.

Podemos deputies were able to take up the front row during the first session of the new political term because they arrived early at the chamber. But during the next session, all parties will have their assigned sections.

The congressional seating plan.

This is an arbitrary action, complained Podemos spokesman Inigo Errejon on Tuesday. They are sending the representatives of five million voters to the nosebleed section, separated from the rest.

The inconclusive general election of December 20 yielded a hung parliament with 123 seats going to the incumbent Popular Party (PP), 90 to the PSOE and 69 to Podemos. United Left (IU) has two seats. Since then, parties have been scrambling to forge allegiances for a congressional majority of 176 seats.

The seating arrangements were chosen by the Mesa del Congreso, the body that is in charge of the internal organization of Spains lower house. The plan was based on a proposal from deputy congressional speaker Celia Villalobos, and was supported by her own Popular Party (PP), Ciudadanos and Socialist deputy Micaela Navarro.

They send the representatives of five million voters to the nosebleed section

Congressional peaker Patxi Lopez of the Socialist Party did not vote, paving the way toward a future solution with wider consensus. Even though the seating arrangements can be changed, they will remain this way during the first sessions of Congress.

Errejon said that the decision was made by the grand coalition, which, he said, has already begun making partisan agreements.

The Socialists will keep their seats on the left side of the chamber, with the PP on the right. Ciudadanos deputies will be located in the center and nationalist parties just below Podemos.

English version by Martin Delfin.
Security has been tightened in the national capital, particularly around Rajpath and the parade route as the nation celebrates its 67th Republic Day on Tuesday.

Multi-layered security has been put in place and elaborate ground-to-air security and traffic arrangements have been made and the airspace over the capital will be monitored by special radars.

Barricades have been installed at all exit-entry points and sensitive locations. Around 40,000 security personnel have been deployed at key locations in the city, including metros, market places, shopping malls, railway stations and inter-state bus terminals.

According to reports, around 15,000 from the paramilitary forces, 34,000 from Delhi Police and 1,000 from the National Security Guard have been deployed across the national capital.

NSG snipers are also expected to maintain a hawk-eye vigil from high-rise buildings near Rajpath from where the French president Francois Hollande along with President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be watching the parade.

Hollande will be the fifth French president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations over the decades.

The prime minister invited Hollande to show solidarity after the assault on the Paris which killed 130 people.

Hollande and the prime minister are expected to sit together at the annual parade.

Image: A security person keeps vigil at Rajpath on the eve of Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI
The Centre on Tuesday brought Arunachal Pradesh under Presidents rule and kept the assembly under suspended animation after more than a month of political turmoil and in the midst of a raging battle in the Supreme Court, a decision that came under strong attack from Congress and other parties which called it murder of democracy.

After intense consultations over the last two days, President Pranab Mukherjee gave assent to the Union cabinets recommendation, accepting the ground that there was a constitutional breakdown in the state.

Taking cognisance of the constitutional breakdown that has taken place in the state of Arunachal Pradesh as reported by the governor, the Union cabinet, in its meeting held on January 24, 2016, had recommended to the President of India to issue such a proclamation, said a Union home ministry statement.

It said the President has signed a Proclamation under Article 356 (1) of the Constitution, imposing Presidents Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and keeping the legislative assembly of the state in suspended animation with effect from Tuesday.

Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki slammed the Centre and vowed to knock the doors of the Supreme Court in this matter.

I had a feeling that they (Centre) will do this as this was their intention. But we arent nervous, we will fight... We will fight this battle legally...We will seek justice from the Supreme Court, Tuki said.

Rejecting the Centres claim that law and order has deteriorated in the state, Tuki said, Point to me even a single questionable law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh? They can't, because there is none. Arunachal Pradesh is a peaceful state, you can go and see and give a report.

Tuki also met senior Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal to discuss the matter

The President signed the proclamation two days after the cabinet held an unscheduled meeting on Sunday to recommend that the state be brought under central rule.

Minister of State for Home Kirren Rijiju had said the cabinet was forced to take the decision because of a Constitutional breakdown as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state assembly.

The Congress, the Janata Dal-United, the Communist Party of India and the Aam Aadmi Party attacked the Centres decision as murder of democracy and federalism and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre of insulting the highest court of the country that is right now hearing the matter.

The BJP, however, defended the decision saying it needs to be seen from multiple perspectives and is as per Constitutional mandate and in turn accused the Congress of politicising the issue.

This is murder of democracy...The matter is sub-judice and government has acted in haste. It is a clear-cut insult to the highest court of the land. Democracy has been murdered, Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal compared the imposition of Presidents rule to an Emergency-like condition.

Prez rule in Arunachal Advaniji was right in saying that there are Emergency-like conditions in the country (sic), he tweeted.

On Monday, Dr Mukherjee called Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and put some queries to him on the need for the imposition of Presidents rule even as Congress, the ruling party in the state, met him and opposed the cabinet decision.

The party urged the President not to give assent to the cabinet decision saying the issue was before the Supreme Court which has decided to hear the Congress petition on Wednesday.

Arunachal Pradesh has been rocked by a political crisis since December 16 last year when 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to impeach Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as illegal and unconstitutional by the speaker.

Up in arms against Tuki, 21 rebel party MLAs, including 14 disqualified a day before, with the help of the BJP and independent legislators, congregated at a community hall after the state Assembly complex was sealed by the local administration, and impeached Rebia in an impromptu session chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok.

A day later, in a bizarre turn of events, opposition BJP and rebel Congress MLAs congregated in a local hotel to vote out Tuki and to elect a rebel Congress MLA in his place but the Gauhati high court intervened to keep in abeyance decisions taken at the rebel session.

A no confidence motion moved by BJP MLAs and Independent MLAs was adopted with Thongdok, who is also a rebel Congressman, in the Chair.

A total of 33 members in the 60-member house, including 20 dissident Congress MLAs, later elected another dissident Congressman Kalikho Pul as the new chief minister of the state.

In the high court, Justice Hrishikesh Roy observed prima facie the governors decision to advance the Assembly session to December 16, 2015 for taking up the impeachment proceedings against the speaker was in violation of Article 174 and 175 of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court has referred a batch of petitions on the Arunachal Pradesh crisis to a Constitution Bench.

The CPI expressed shock over the development and questioned the timing of the decision.

We are shocked and saddened. On Republic Day, the President has given assent to the recommendation. He should have questioned the government on this, CPIs national secretary D Raja said.

The Rajya Sabha member also hit out at Prime Minister Modi over his cooperative federalism talk.

It is an irony that Modi talks about cooperative federalism, Raja said.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the party will fight central rule in Arunachal Pradesh tooth and nail.

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that te BJP wants its government everywhere and Presidents rule cant be imposed only because people of Arunachal didnt favor the BJP. He also said that Arunachal is a sensitive area and destabilising the government there can be a serious security risk for the country.
Two more people have been detained by central security agencies in connection with the recently busted pan-India terror module owing allegiance to the Islamic State and will to be handed over to the National Investigation Agency soon.

Continuing with its operations against the group, the security agencies picked up a youth from Hyderabad and another person from Maharashtra, official sources said, adding both of them were likely to be handed over to the NIA on Wednesday, official sources said.

The two, whose names have been withheld, were being questioned by a joint team of intelligence agencies.

The NIA has so far arrested 14 people belonging to Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind (Army of Caliph of India), the Indian wing of the IS, who were picked up from various parts of the country for allegedly planning to carry out terror strikes at important installations.

The NIA claimed that the accused were regularly in touch with active members of the IS in Syria through Internet chatting via Skype, Signal and Trillion and were also using the social networking sites to motivate young men to join the feared terror outfit which has captured vast swathes in Syria and Iraq.

Those arrested included Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, the self-styled ameer (chief) of the group. He was the man behind raising the outfit after earlier attempts by the global terror organisation to set up its base in the sub-continent failed, official sources said.

Shaikh, who assumed the title of ameer, supposedly under instructions from Baghdadi himself, was active on some of the social networking sites.

The idea behind setting up the terror group in India was to extend Baghdadis fearsome Caliphate, sources said, adding his custodial interrogation may help the security agencies unravel the plans of the organisation.

The NIA had registered a case in 2015 after credible information was received that the Islamic State has been engaged in radicalising Indian youth and motivating them to join the terrorist organisation.
Around 400 women activists on Tuesday made an attempt to defy a centuries-old ban on female devotees entering the sacred platform at Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district but it was foiled by police when they were stopped at a village, 70 km from the shrine.

The activists, who tried to head to the popular temple defying prohibitory orders to worship the deity, were detained by police at Supa village for a few hours and released in the evening and sent back to Pune in busloads.

As a showdown erupted, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis favoured a dialogue between temple authorities and activists to find a way out over the ban on entry of women into the inner sanctum of the shrine, maintaining that women have a right to pray.

Indian culture and Hindu religion gives women have the right to pray. A change in yesterdays traditions is our culture. Discrimination in praying is not in our culture. The temple authorities should resolve the issue through a dialogue, tweeted Fadnavis, who also holds Home portfolio.

Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said Government will facilitate talks between the temple authorities and women activists to arrive at an amicable solution.

Ahmednagar police stopped the activists of Pune-based Ranaragini Bhoomata Brigade protesting against the alleged gender bias by the temple authorities, led by Trupti Desai, at Supa village, about 70 km from the shrine, foiling their bid to offer worship at the chauthara (sacred platform) of Lord Shani temple traditionally barred for women.

The detained women were lodged in a marriage hall at Supa, where they were held by women police personnel.

We detained Trupti Desai and other activists. After taking action under the relevant sections of the Bombay Police Act, they were released on bail in the evening, additional superintendent of police, Ahmednagar district Pankaj Deshmukh said.

We took utmost precaution to avoid any confrontation between villagers of Shani Shinganapur and the women activists and the latter has been asked to go back to Pune, he added.

The activists were later sent back to Pune in busloads, police said.

We are going to meet the chief minister and request him that government should take over the temple trust and allow both men and women inside the core area of the temple, ending the gender bias and discrimination, Desai said after her release.

In a tense showdown, the activists vehemently protested against the police action and raised slogans and lay down on the road, screaming it is a black day for women on the Republic Day.

Desai, while speaking to reporters amid the stand-off, said action against them was condemnable and that it was a black day for women as well as Indian democracy on the Republic Day.

An angry Desai demanded to know why women were being discriminated against and asserted the activists will go ahead with their plans.

Desai urged the young chief minister to step in and take urgent measures to curb attempts and social mechanisms to suppress womens voice and their empowerment.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shani, the personification of planet Saturn, and women devotees are not permitted at the platform as per the tradition followed by the shrine.

Earlier in the day, Desai, leading the campaign, had declared that the women volunteers would try to enter the prohibited premises of the ancient temple to remove gender bias and defy the tradition that denied equality to women.

Security has been tightened around the temple and nearby places even as Ahmednagar district administration and police authorities sealed all approaches to the shrine, which bars women from entering the platform where Lord Shani is worshipped.

All entry points to Ahmednagar witnessed heavy security cover with barricades and police personnel deployed at every nook and corner of the locality to prevent the activists from reaching the temple.

An activist of the Brigade, Priyanka Jagtap, alleged that the protesters were handled roughly by police despite peaceful nature of their demonstration.

Trupti Desais husband, Prashant Desai, said, Although we were heading to the temple peacefully, police stopped our buses and restricted us from taking blessings from the Lord Shani.

Backing the campaign by women activists to break gender bias, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said the movement is justified as there is no scriptural sanction for discriminating against female devotees.
Putin Aide Surkov Pressures Abkhazia Into Joining Russian Sanctions Against Turkey

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 20 January 2016 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Putin Aide Surkov Pressures Abkhazia Into Joining Russian Sanctions Against Turkey , 20 January 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a78def4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

On January 12, the government of Abkhazia published a statement that paves the way for the breakaway Georgian region to join Russian sanctions against Turkey. The move further reduces Abkhazia's political autonomy and pushes it into Moscow's arms. Bilateral trade between Abkhazia and Turkey in 2014 was estimated to be $200 million, only a little less than the $290 million in trade between Abkhazia and Russia. Estimates of the size of the Abkhaz diaspora in Turkey range from 200,000 to one million people, while there are only about 120,000 ethnic Abkhaz in Abkhazia itself. Since there are no direct transportation links between Turkey and Abkhazia, Russia is the only possible transit point that members of the Abkhaz diaspora can use to travel to the territory. However, Russia reintroduced a visa regime for Turkish citizens, which means members of the Abkhaz diaspora who want to visit Abkhazia will have to obtain Russian visas and will face additional hurdles during their visits (Kavkazskaya Politika, January 14).

Abkhazia will receive no benefits for joining Russian sanctions against Turkey; yet, the territory followed Kremlin orders. Russia officially recognized Abkhazia as a sovereign state along with South Ossetia, another breakaway Georgian territory, in 2008 following the short but bloody war between Russia and Georgia. No other significant country other than Russia recognized either Abkhazia or South Ossetia. Hence, Abkhazia heavily depends on Russian military and financial support.

Acting in the capacity of a Russian presidential aide, Vladislav Surkov played a pivotal role in persuading Abkhazia to join the sanctions. Surkov claimed Moscow realized that Abkhazia and Turkey had many ties and tried to implement only targeted sanctions against Turkish companies. The current president of Abkhazia, Raul Khajimba, who is a former employee of Russia's security services, reassured Abkhazia that the sanctions would not harm its economic interests (Sputnik-abkhazia.ru, December 29, 2015).

Meanwhile, many Abkhazians, including politicians, were startled by the government's decision to join the Russian sanctions regime. A local parliamentary deputy, Beslan Tsvinaria, said the sanctions would hit the Abkhaz diaspora in Turkey and undermine Abkhazian efforts to gain greater international recognition among other countries despite Georgian opposition (Ekhokavkaza.com, January 12). Other Abkhaz say that they do not like being manipulated by Russia. Along with a "stick," Surkov also offered the Abkhazians a "carrot"-about $50 million in Russian financial assistance (Kavkazskaya Politika, January 14). At the same time, Moscow promised to finance increased pensions for Abkhazian residents who hold Russian passports (Sputnik-abkhazia.ru, December 29). However, some Abkhazians doubt that Russia will keep its promises, given how quickly Russian finances are deteriorating.

Amid the rising Russian-Turkish tensions, some Turkish airlines, such as the budget carrier Pegasus Airlines, have started to experience difficulties in servicing their flights to Russia and the North Caucasus. On January 5, the company was forced to suspend flights to Russia, because its crews had not been granted Russian visas (Lenta.ru, January 5).

The fact that the government in Sukhumi acted against Abkhazia's interests is not the biggest puzzle in this breakaway region's move to join the Russian sanctions against Turkey, given that regional authorities receive adequate financial assistance from Moscow and depend on Russia for their security. Rather, the puzzling aspect of the move is how much effort Moscow is willing to make to keep tiny Abkhazia under its tight control.

Vladislav Surkov currently has the modest title of aide to Vladimir Putin. For some time, Surkov's influence in Putin's administration seemed to be waning. However, his recent meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland in Kaliningrad, where the two sides discussed Ukraine, indicates that Surkov's influence in the Kremlin remains considerable, given that the Ukrainian question is arguably among the most important issues for Russian foreign policy (Unian.info, January 15).

It turns out that the person who was dispatched to resolve issues of the highest priority for Russia and President Putin was at the same time participating in arm-twisting the Abkhazian government to pressure it into severing ties with Turkey. Abkhazia apparently plays a significantly more prominent role in the thinking of the Kremlin than commonly assumed. The Kremlin is likely thinking about Abkhazia's strategic location on the Black Sea coast, along with Crimea, which makes both territories especially valuable for the Russian government. Thus, Moscow is prepared to invest a lot of effort to push for greater control over these areas. Rationality is not necessarily a part of the Kremlin's calculations in Abkhazia, apart from the logic of continual territorial expansion and control. Moscow may be sensing that its financial capabilities will soon plummet drastically and is attempting to finalize its ownership of Abkhazia to the extent possible.

Despite Russia's efforts to remove the last barriers to Abkhazia's annexation, the Abkhazians still resist allowing foreigners (predominantly Russians) from buying real estate in the republic without restrictions. The Abkhaz are scared of turning into a minority in what they see as their republic (Ekhokavkaza.com, January 6).

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russia Pushes Hard to Capture South Caucasus' Energy Markets

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Vasili Rukhadze Publication Date 20 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 13 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russia Pushes Hard to Capture South Caucasus' Energy Markets , 20 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 13, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a78e904.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Tbilisi and Moscow's negotiations over the expansion of Russian Gazprom's share of the Georgian energy market heightened the political fever in the country over the last several weeks. The negotiations that started largely in secrecy in September 2015 (see EDM, October 21, 2015), have continued in January of this year.

The opposition accused the Georgian government of collaborating with Moscow by opening the door for the state-owned natural gas giant Gazprom to significantly boost its operations in Georgia and allegedly again make the country dependent on the Russian energy company (Rustavi 2 TV, Imedi TV, January 8-18). Some even held a protest in front of the government headquarters, in Tbilisi, demanding a stop to the negotiations (Argumenti.ge, January 16).

The Georgian government tried to justify itself, stating several times that Azerbaijani natural gas, which supplies 88 percent of Georgia's needs, is not enough to satisfy Georgia's increased demands (Civil Georgia, January 18). Azerbaijan, however, asserted that Baku can fully meet Georgia's needs (Rezonansi, January 13).

According to Georgian officials, the government is holding negotiations with Russia on two issues: first, the transit of Russian gas to Armenia via Georgia, which involves a Russian demand to pay cash as a transit fee instead of giving Georgia 10 percent of the transported gas (as it is today), and second, Tbilisi's plan to fill the gap between its supply and demand by buying additional Russian gas (Channel 1 TV, Rustavi 2, January 5-18). The Georgian government also strongly denied the opposition's claims that it is holding negotiations in secret, instead arguing that the information was fully available to the public. The United States' embassy in Georgia somewhat sided with the Georgian government on this, as well as on the entire energy negotiations. US Ambassador Ian Kelly stated that the Georgian government has been "very open" with the United States about the negotiations with Gazprom and further argued that as "Georgia does have a short term energy need it's prudent to talk to all potential energy suppliers" (Civil Georgia, January 18).

Whatever the Georgian government's intentions, its stated position is only one part of the story. Fixating on it while ignoring the Russian side's goals risks offering only a simplistic explanation to the larger geopolitical strategy that is unfolding in the South Caucasus. Notably, after losing the dominant role on the European energy markets, Russia has been attempting to strengthen and cement its position across the post-Soviet space. Georgia is one important piece in this configuration. Strategically bordering every state and political entity in the wider Caucasus region, Georgia is thus of a vital importance for Russia, particularly as it attempts to reach its satellite Armenia unhindered.

Whether Russia somehow threatened the Georgian government to bring it to the negotiating table is another question. It feasibly could have done so, especially via some back channels. Russia's large-scale military drills in occupied Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) since mid-December 2015 to mid-January of the current year (Interpressnews.ge, December 12, 2015, January 14, 2016) are one indication that Moscow is deliberately keeping Tbilisi under pressure.

Overall, Russia is clearly playing a double game in the region. On the one hand, it tries to lock the South Caucasus states of Georgia and Armenia into joint energy projects with Moscow. For instance, in December 2015, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran signed a memorandum to cooperate in synchronizing these four countries' electricity transmission systems (see EDM, January 4; Armenpress.am, December 23, 2015). Needless to say, Russia certainly would welcome the establishment of a single energy corridor stretching from the Black Sea to the Persian Gulf. Such an outcome would gain even greater significance if Russia and its client regime in Damascus prevail in the Syrian civil war, thus leaving Russian in a much stronger position in the entire Middle East.

On the other hand, Russia wants to maintain the South Caucasus market only for itself and keep Iran at bay. For instance, Moscow is trying to take control of Iranian gas deliveries to Armenia (TASS, December 10, 2015), which could ultimately undermine Georgia's recent attempts to import Iranian gas via Armenia (Verelq.am, January 14). Russia may even offer Georgia natural gas at lower prices than the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) does, just to lure in Tbilisi (Armenianow.com, January 13).

The Russian-Georgian and Russian-Georgian-Armenian-Iranian energy negotiations certainly are a geopolitical (and economic) blessing for Yerevan. Armenia has been isolated and sidelined for a quarter of a century from any such projects because of the war over the Karabakh region and the subsequent Azerbaijani-Turkish embargo. However, the Georgian-Russian rapprochement, which now is rapidly expanding into the energy sphere and increasingly includes Armenia, is not being viewed as good news in Azerbaijan. If ultimately successful, this rapprochement and resulting joint projects would help Armenia break its regional isolation and gradually pull Georgia back under Russia's economic influence. Eventually, such a reshaping of the geopolitical and geo-economic environment would most probably weaken Azerbaijan's position in the region. Undoubtedly conscious of the dangers of such an outcome, Azerbaijani energy officials have repeatedly stated that their country can fully satisfy Georgia's natural gas needs. On January 13, SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev even visited Tbilisi and held talks with Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili about this matter (Contact.az, January 14).

So far, the Russian-Georgian energy negotiations are continuing. And it looks as if Georgia may, indeed, opt to expand its natural gas trade with Gazprom, even though 20 percent of this country remains under Russian occupation since 2008. However, the negotiations between Gazprom and Georgia could have much larger geopolitical repercussions for the entire South Caucasus, gradually altering the balance of power in the region. The following years will offer a much clearer picture of what today's Russian-Georgian negotiations really mean for the volatile Caucasus.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Trade War With Russia Prompts Ukraine to Look for New Markets, Transit Routes

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Oleg Varfolomeyev Publication Date 20 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 13 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Trade War With Russia Prompts Ukraine to Look for New Markets, Transit Routes, 20 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 13, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a78eea4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Moscow is openly unhappy with the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, which came into effect starting on January 1, 2016. Consequently, Russia has slapped an embargo on Ukrainian food and complicated the transit of Ukrainian goods across Russian territory. Ukraine responded with similar measures and plans to use its relations with the South Caucasus countries and Belarus to minimize the consequences of the trade war with Russia. Furthermore, Ukraine, which used to overwhelmingly depend on Russian natural gas, has now entirely stopped buying this important resource from Gazprom.

On December 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree suspending Russia's free trade agreement with Ukraine, which dated back to 2011. This was not unexpected, as no compromise had been reached at the trilateral Ukraine-Russia-EU trade talks last year. Russia had warned Ukraine that bilateral free trade would have to be suspended if the Ukraine-EU DCFTA agreement came into effect without changes (Pravda.com.ua, December 16). Moscow followed through on its threat and terminated the Russia-Ukraine free trade agreement on January 1. On the same day, the Russian government placed an embargo on Ukrainian food in retaliation for Ukraine joining Western sanctions against Russia (Rbc.ru, January 1).

Kyiv responded by also suspending the free trade agreement with Moscow as well as banning a range of imports from Russia: mainly food, cigarettes, certain chemicals, and railway equipment (Kmu.gov.ua, December 30). Earlier, Ukraine had restricted merchandise deliveries and stopped electricity supplies to Russian-annexed Crimea (see EDM, January 6).

Meanwhile, Russia has also tried to undermine Ukraine's trade with Asian countries-Kazakhstan and China, in particular-through transit restrictions. Putin banned the direct shipment of goods from Ukraine to Kazakhstan across Russian territory, ruling that transit from Ukraine should be carried out only via Belarus (Garant.ru, January 5). Ukrainian Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius said that Ukraine would lodge a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) but abstain from passing any of its own transit restrictions in response (Interfax, January 19). However, Moldova has complained that Ukraine has, in fact, blocked the transit of Russian goods (Newsmaker.md, January 19).

Kyiv is looking for alternative import/export corridors to its established routes via Russia. One of them is a route from Ukraine's southern ports via the Black Sea to Georgia, Azerbaijan and further, across the Caspian, to Kazakhstan and northern China. Ukraine's Deputy Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan has said this new "Silk Road" would operate as of February. Moreover, Ukraine hopes that the EU and China will use this route for their mutual trade, thus bolstering Ukraine's role as an important transit country (Interfax, January 19).

Another alternative involves Belarus, which has not joined the Russian trade war against Ukraine, despite its heavy dependence on Russian markets and loans. Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka duly expressed his concern over free trade between Ukraine and the EU after his meeting with Putin last month (Belta.by, December 16). However, in early January, Lukashenka said Belarus would be processing goods imported from Ukraine for sale to Russia. Belarus has been doing the same with Western goods, following the introduction by Russia of an embargo on Western food in 2014. Belarus is thus likely to benefit from the trade war between Russia and Ukraine because the latter has dropped its intention to increase duties on Belarusian merchandise, evidently in the hopes of using Belarus as a back door into the Russian market (Belta.by, Doingbusiness.by, January 14).

Russia has been introducing restrictions against imports from Ukraine since 2012-2013, especially as far as agricultural imports are concerned (see EDM, July 31, 2013; September 3, 2013). As a result, Russia's share in Ukrainian agriculture exports shrank to just 2 percent in the first half of 2015, down from 8 percent a year earlier, and Ukrainian machinery exports to Russia have been reduced to a minimum. Total exports to Russia plunged by 53 percent in January-November 2015, and imports from Russia fell by 42 percent compared to 2014 (Ukrstat.gov.ua, January 14). Consequently, the effect from Russia's new trade restrictions will not be as damaging as they would have been three or four years ago. At the same time, Ukraine has been looking for new markets in China, the Middle East and the European Union.

Furthermore, Russia's refusal to change the terms of its ten-year gas contract signed with Ukraine in January 2009 has prompted Ukraine to drastically cut and finally eliminate natural gas imports from Russia. Ukraine has not been buying gas from Russia's Gazprom since November, citing high prices. Instead, it has relied on deliveries from the EU-Slovakia in particular. Last year, Ukraine for the first time imported more gas from the EU than from Russia-10.3 and 6.1 billion cubic meters (bcm), respectively (Utg.ua, January 6). For comparison, Ukraine imported 44.8 bcm of gas from Russia and no gas at all from the EU in 2011. Ukraine has rejected the Russian price bid of $212 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas from January 1. Instead, it awarded 17 contracts to EU-based firms at $188-211 for December-March (Naftogaz.com, January 14).

Russia has inadvertently boosted the popularity of the Euro-Atlantic community in Ukraine by annexing Crimea and supporting rebels in eastern Ukraine. The continuing trade war is pushing Ukraine closer to the EU and further away from Russia as far as the economy is concerned. As a result, the share of Russia in Ukraine's trade turnover is likely to fall to record lows this year.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Donbas Fields Have Frozen Over, but for Now the Ceasefire Holds

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Pavel Felgenhauer Publication Date 21 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 14 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Donbas Fields Have Frozen Over, but for Now the Ceasefire Holds, 21 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 14, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a78f3a4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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One year ago, bloody battles raged throughout the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. The traditional autumn "rasputitsa" (mud season) usually ends by January: The dirt freezes, allowing trucks, troops and heavy military equipment to maneuver through fields and use unpaved roads. By mid-January 2015, the Donbas separatist forces-armed, trained, led and often reinforced in battle by the Russian military-began a major offensive to capture the main terminal building of the Donetsk international airport, which was the scene of many months of pitched fighting. The joint Russian-separatist forces also attacked the crossroads town of Debaltseve, northeast of Donetsk, which had been held by Ukrainian troops deep inside separatist-controlled territory. By February 18, 2015, both military objectives were secured: The Ukrainian forces were defeated and fell back after suffering heavy losses. But the overall morale of the Ukrainian military did not collapse, and the regime in Kyiv did not disintegrate. Ukraine continued to push away from Russia, seeking integration with the West and Europe. A tactical battlefield success did not bring any significant strategic dividend for Moscow.

In mid-February 2015, after threatening President Vladimir Putin with more severe economic sanctions, France and Germany brokered a compromise, 13-point peace roadmap known as Minsk Two. This document envisaged a ceasefire, a mutual prisoner of war (POW) exchange, constitutional reform in Ukraine to give more autonomy to Donbas and other regions, an amnesty, the withdrawal of foreign forces, free legitimate elections, humanitarian relief, and economic reconstruction and restoration of full Ukrainian control of the border between Donbas and Russia to stop the contraband of weapons and fighters. The implementation of Minsk Two has since been deadlocked and has been prolonged into 2016. Still, no major pitched battles occurred in Donbas since the fall of Debaltseve, and the line of separation more or less holds. Some heavy weapons have been withdrawn from the front, but constant ceasefire violations still happen, with both sides accusing each other. The POW exchange is not complete, though talks to implement Minsk Two continue on a regular basis in Minsk. Moscow and the West as well as Kyiv and the separatists accuse each other of failing to implement the agreement. The Donbas region did not deescalate into a so-called "frozen conflict" like in Transnistria, Abkhazia or Cyprus. The protagonists seem to be ready to resume large-scale hostilities at a moment's notice (Kommersant, December 25, 2015).

This past December, Putin upgraded the Russian delegation to the Minsk Two implementation talks ("Contact Group") by appointing Boris Gryzlov as chief negotiator. Gryzlov (65) is a former minister of interior and Duma speaker, and a prominent member of Putin's St. Petersburg clan. After leaving the Duma in December 2011, Gryzlov retained the position of permanent member of the Russian Security Council-Putin's de facto inner cabinet. Gryzlov is not known as an experienced diplomatic negotiator, but he can surely directly connect with Putin. His appointment has been interpreted as a signal that Moscow is seriously seeking a peaceful compromise resolution to the Ukrainian crisis (Kommersant, January 14).

On January 12, Gryzlov flew unannounced to Kyiv for secret talks with President Petro Poroshenko. On January 14, in Minsk, attending his first post-appointment meeting of the Minsk Two Contact Group, Gryzlov called for a renewed full ceasefire or "regime of silence" approved by all sides; but shootings and skirmishes in Donbas continued unabated the next day, with both sides blaming each other. Gryzlov later accused Ukrainian volunteer battalions of possibly not obeying orders. He also continued to insist the Minsk Two negotiations are not deadlocked: "There are many ways toward a breakthrough, and my task is to guide the negotiators" (Kommersant, January 17).

On January 15, the United States' Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and Putin's aide Vladislav Surkov met in Kaliningrad oblast and reportedly "constructively" discussed Ukraine. Rumors spread in Moscow and Kyiv that a major US-Russian compromise was imminent, that pressure would be applied to force Ukraine into making political concessions, that Russian sanctions would be lifted, and that, with its finances and economy in turmoil, the Kremlin was seeking a face-saving way out of the Donbas mess (Moskovsky Komsomolets, January 17). The rumors of a possible breakthrough turned out to be premature: On January 20, in Minsk, the Ukrainian delegation accused the separatists "of making unacceptable demands preventing further POW exchanges." According to the Ukrainian chief negotiator, former president Leonid Kuchma, "Without a ceasefire 'regime of silence,' without a verified withdrawal of heavy weapons, without restoring Ukrainian control of the [Donbas] border, it is impossible to have elections in Donbas or change the [Ukrainian] constitution or achieve any other significant progress." The Ukrainian Supreme Rada (parliament) has reportedly postponed, possibly until next September, a vote on constitutional changes to grant Donbas additional autonomy (RIA Novosti Ukr, January 20).

Economically, Ukraine and Russia are at war. To protest the implementation of the free trade agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, Russia has imposed a wide-ranging trade embargo, also restricting Ukrainian goods transiting through Russian territory. Ukraine has, in turn, imposed its own countersanctions. Ukraine has stopped buying Russian natural gas and demanded that Gazprom pay more for gas transit through Ukraine to Europe. Gazprom in turn demands Ukraine pay billions of dollars in fines for gas it failed to purchase (Newsru.ua, January 20; see EDM, January 20). The proposed association and free trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU infuriated Putin in the fall of 2013; Russian pressure not to sign triggered the Maidan revolution in February 2014 that overthrew Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, which in turn provided Putin with a purported pretext to annex Crimea in March 2014 and support a separatist rebellion in Donbas.

Preventing Ukraine from integrating with the West in any form is the Kremlin's core strategic objective that may be achieved using a variety of tactical moves. The Minsk Two process could be used to transform the Ukrainian constitution and political regime; Gryzlov may try to bully Poroshenko into submission; while economic sanctions and blockades are a powerful tool to destabilize and change Ukraine. Surkov may try to coerce Washington to abandon the unruly Ukrainians to their fate and dismantle the sanctions. But if all this does not work, the military option is always there and ready. Under Moscow's orders, a comprehensive ceasefire or "regime of silence" has been fully observed, but this could change at the Kremlin's whim. Midwinter has come again to Donbas: the dirt is frozen and, according to Ukrainian military intelligence, separatist tank units are field-training in offensive formations (Newsru.ua, January 20).

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Salafists Join Ingushetia's Government in Opposing Republican Mufti

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 21 January 2016 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Salafists Join Ingushetia's Government in Opposing Republican Mufti, 21 January 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a78f9f4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Since the conquest of the North Caucasus in the 19th century, Russian politicians have generally failed to understand the essence of Islam and repeatedly tried to create a pro-Russian Muslim clergy that would represent the Russian authorities among the country's Muslim population instead of reflecting the opinion of Muslims.

More recently, conflicts have erupted between the authorities and the Muslim clergy they have appointed. For example, the Dagestani authorities unsuccessfully tried to replace Salafist imams with officially approved ones, and threats against the North Ossetian mufti caused a scandal. Another such conflict erupted between the government of Ingushetia and the republic's mufti, Isa Khamkhoev, in the summer of 2015. On June 4, the republican authorities inspired a failed attempt to take over a mosque where Khamzat Chumakov, a well-known Salafist imam popular among youth, was preaching (see EDM, June 11, 2015).

This was an embarrassing defeat for Khamkhoev, who led the assault. Chumakov's supporters drove Khamkhoev and his group out of the mosque. The republican government apparently saw the defeat of the official clergy as its own failure and decided to switch gears, demanding that the mufti take control of all mosques in the republic. This became known only in December 2015, when the conflict between mufti Khamkhoev and Ingushetia's governor, Yunus-bek Yevkurov, resurfaced (YouTube, December 30, 2015).

On December 26, Yevkurov unveiled his demands that the republican mufti resign not in private talks, as he did in the summer, but publicly, at a meeting of the Spiritual Center of Muslims. The governor said the mufti was "tired, he reacts to criticism overly emotionally, he failed to control the work of alims (Muslim scholars), along with the mufti's own apparatus. Given these circumstances I proposed that the mufti should resign and a new mufti should be appointed" (Muslim-info.com, December 28, 2015).

However, Khamkhoev disagreed with the governor, viewing the demand that he resign as a Salafist plot. The mufti also went public, stating that he would not resign voluntarily. Moreover, the mosque imams, who are appointed by the republican mufti, also came out against the mufti's early resignation (RIA Novosti, December 28, 2015). Putting little trust in the republican imams' support, Ingushetia's mufti made a quick visit to Chechnya, where he unveiled a joint program with the Chechen mufti on fighting the ideology of terrorism (Newsru.com, December 29, 2015). Chechnya's mufti, Salakh Mezhiev criticized two rivals of Ingushetia's mufti-Chumakov and Isa Tsechoev. Apparently, Ingushetia's governor, Yevkurov, wants to include both Chumakov and Tsechoev in the process of normalizing the situation in Ingushetia (Onkavkaz.com, December 29, 2015).

The Ingush mufti's trip to Chechnya turned out to be a strategic mistake, because the Ingush public does not favor contacts with Chechnya and Ramzan Kadyrov's government, and perceives those who seek help from the Chechens as traitors to the Ingush people (Ia-maximum.ru, December 31, 2015). The Chechen government bet on Ingushetia's mufti because he is opposed to Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. The Ingush governor, meanwhile, did not stop at calls for the mufti's resignation, but ordered the reorganization of the entire Spiritual Board of Ingushetia and the republic's Council of Alims. Two weeks later, the republican government set up a Directorate for Religious Affairs under the republic's governor. Solekh Khamkhoev, a member of the same clan as the mufti, was appointed head of the directorate-a move aimed at splitting the clan. Clan solidarity is quite strong in tiny Ingushetia. The new office will carry out the same set of duties as the mufti-oversee mosques, prepare imams, qadis (Muslim judges), organize hajj and other issues that until recently were under the exclusive control of the republican mufti. The government also established an advisory government body, the Hajj Committee, and is looking for an alternative tourist company for hajj-goers (Kavtoday.ru, December 29, 2015). This undercuts the republican mufti's finances. It appears that Yunus-Bek Yevkurov found common ground with Ingushetia's Salafist leaders.

The Ahlu Sunna imams, who are Salafists, accused the mufti of creating the conflict when he demanded that everyone should submit to the Qadiriyya Sufi order, which includes the Kunta-Haji, Batal-Haji and Mitai subgroups. First, the Naqshbandi Sufi order mosques revolted and rejected mufti control, and only then the Salafist imams followed suit (Alansar.ru, January 11). Thus, the Salafists pointed out that the republican mufti mistreated even his own Sufis.

The conflict in Ingushetia shows the changing religious landscape in the republic. Previously, the Sufi Qadiriyya, Naqshbandi and Shadhili tariqas fought among themselves. The Salafis are already playing an important role in the republic and, with the help of the government, have managed to neutralize the Sufi mufti. Thus, the conflict is not only over who will be the republic's mufti, but between the two competing Islamic teachings, which may potentially cause bloody conflict in the republic. The two leaders of the republic-the secular one and the religious one-provoked the conflict, which may well provoke other types of conflicts, including between clans, tariqas and ethnic groups. This will invite greater involvement of the Russian security services in local affairs and heighten the risks of a response by the armed Islamist underground movement. The conflict between Ingushetia's governor and mufti has revealed new problems in Ingush society whose origins can be traced back to the second Russian-Chechen war.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Regime Change in Moldova: Accomplished but Not Irreversible

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Vladimir Socor Publication Date 21 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 14 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Regime Change in Moldova: Accomplished but Not Irreversible, 21 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 14, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a78ff04.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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On January 20, the Moldovan parliament approved the new government amid violent protests outside the building and opposition protests in the chamber. A presentation of the new government's program and a questions-and-answers session are legally required, but the ruling democratic party eliminated both from the session's agenda, expediting it all within 40 minutes. This treatment obscured the significance of the change taking place: the end of an era, without a new era in sight.

The latest political crisis-three months of vacant government-has ended six years of rule by the nominal Alliance for European Integration. This crisis has reshaped the government and the political system in three major ways (see EDM, January 11, 12, 14, 15).

First, all pro-Western groups are now out of power, in opposition (both parliamentary and extra-parliamentary) to the new government. Second, a new governing alliance has taken shape under the control of billionaire Vladimir Plahotniuc, maximizing his influence in the state. And third, surging pro-Russia parties now constitute another center of political gravity, setting the stage for a triangular contest for power in the country.

The "pro-Europe" alliance, in power since 2009, has now been replaced by a new government with a very different configuration. It no longer includes pro-Western, right-of-center elements that used to set the tone in the former government's foreign policy and saw their mission as turning Moldova into a European state. Those elements were being undercut and outmaneuvered even then by their partners in that pseudo-coalition; but the pro-Western component has now been driven out entirely from the government, and marginalized in parliament, as evidenced in thses proceedings (Unimedia, Ziarul National, January 20).

Plahotniuc has established a controlled parliamentary majority and put together a controlled government, short of becoming prime minister himself. His recent, failed attempt to take over as prime minister was highly uncharacteristic of Plahotniuc's modus operandi. As a politician he had always avoided public appearances, preferring instead to operate through client networks in state institutions. With the new parliamentary coalition, however, Plahotniuc's sphere of influence has now expanded from the judiciary and the executive branches to the legislative branch.

Opposition groups, from the pro-Western center-right (the new, diminished opposition) to the pro-Russia left (the long-time, now growing opposition) describe Plahotniuc's far-reaching control of state institutions as "oligarchic state capture." This assessment is on target as regards those controlled institutions, but is inaccurate about the top power holder himself. Oligarchy involves a number of peer actors in a more or less balanced, usually self-regulated, competitive system of shared power. Plahotniuc, however, has all along been incomparably stronger than any rival or group of rivals in Moldova. He is the only major financial-political operator in the country. As such he has, uniquely in Moldova, merged these two dimensions of power into his hands, at the system's center. Plahotniuc's agenda was not to establish an oligarchic system, but-on the contrary-to remove the basis for such a system, establishing instead a system of personal power through clienteles.

All of Moldova's governing coalitions (2009-2015) described themselves as "pro-Europe" or "for European integration." The credibility of that title diminished over time, but all those governments retained a pro-Western nucleus committed to European reforms. The new government, however, has no such nucleus. Its overall composition, the allegiances of many of its members, and the procedures by which this government came to power do not enable it to claim the European mantle (see below).

The six-year-old party system is being transformed. Pro-Western groups have now been reduced to a small minority in Parliament, but are gathering strength as extra-parliamentary parties of the center-right. However, pro-Russia parties show unprecedented strength of their own, in parliament and outside it, with a potential to press for regime change from the left.

Plahotniuc's Democratic Party has successfully executed a parliamentary coup to turn the outcome of the November 2014 parliamentary elections upside down. Those results had at least formally legitimized the old coalition government, and provided the main argument against holding pre-term elections. But that foundation has now been removed.

In the 2014 elections, the three parties of the then-governing coalition obtained the following results: the Liberal-Democrats (pro-Western) 23 seats, Plahotniuc's Democratic Party (uncommitted strategically or normatively) 19 seats, and the Liberal Party (moving from Romanian irredentism into Plahotniuc's orbit) 13 seats. The opposition Communist and Socialist parties obtained 25 and 21 seats, respectively, in the 101-seat chamber in those elections. Subsequently the Democratic, Socialist, and Communist Party jointly voted out the Liberal-Democrat-led government in October 2015.

The parliamentary majority that approved the new government on January 20, however, is a concocted majority, a far cry from the elected one. Arranged by the Democratic Party non-transparently from late December 2015 to mid-January 2016, it is widely suspected of having been mustered through corruption, although direct material evidence is lacking. The new majority comprises: 22 Democrats, 14 Communists, 8 Liberal-Democrats, and the same 13 Liberals, for a total of 57 deputies in the 101-seat Parliament. The Democratic Party achieved this result by: a) "poaching" three deputies from other parties into its own ranks, b) consummating a long-rumored deal with most of the Communists to establish a joint "Social-Democrat parliamentary platform," c) "incentivizing" a part of the Liberal-Democrats to change sides, and d) cementing its long-term alliance with the Liberal Party, despite the contradiction between the Democratic Party's "Moldovanism" and the Liberals' "Romanianism."

The pro-Western parliamentary opposition now comprises: 11 remaining Liberal-Democrats under former prime minister Valeriu Strelet (and including the imprisoned party leader Vlad Filat) and 2 deputies of the "Iurie Leanca Group" (former prime minister Leanca has now moved from Plahotniuc's orbit into the opposition). That side is now outweighed by the 24 Socialists and 7 remaining Communists on the Red Left (Infotag, Unimedia, IPN, January 14-20).

Three pro-Western groups-the Platform for Dignity and Truth, a nascent party of former education minister Maia Sandu, and an effort led by the businessman Ion Sturza, a former prime minister-are organizing in the extra-parliamentary arena. They are looking to pre-term parliamentary elections, possibly in the autumn. So do Igor Dodon's Socialist Party and Renato Usatii's Our Party in the pro-Russia camp. The installation of the new government marks the end of an era, but not the beginning of a new one.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Al-Shabaab Attack Keeps Pressure an Kenyan Military and Government

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author James Brandon Publication Date 22 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Al-Shabaab Attack Keeps Pressure an Kenyan Military and Government, 22 January 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a790644.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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On January 15, the Somali militant group al-Shabaab carried out one of its most significant attacks on the forces of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), when it attacked a remote Kenyan military forward operating base in El-Edde, located about 50 miles north of the Somali capital Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab later said that its fighters, from the group's Saleh an-Nabhani battalion, had overrun the base and killed "over 100" Kenyan soldiers and captured others. The Kenyan military has not yet released any casualty figures for the attack, although 30 survivors and the bodies of some of the slain have since been repatriated (The Star [Kenya], January 19). One survivor of the attack said that al-Shabaab had used a suicide car-bomber against the base's gates, after which the militants swarmed inside (The Star, January 19). Somali media sources reported afterwards that in the wake of the attack, the Kenyan military had carried out a number of airstrikes against suspected militants, inflicting civilian casualties in the process (Mareeg, January 20).

Although the extent of the attack is still unclear, it is seemingly one of the largest attacks against African Union (AU) or Kenyan forces in the country for at least a year. The attack underlines several themes. Firstly, it shows that although al-Shabaab has largely ceded the country's cities to the Somali government and its international supporters, it remains able to deploy significant forces in some rural areas, notably in some areas around Mogadishu and in southern parts of the country, particularly in Jubaland. At the same time, al-Shabaab's retreat to rural areas has allowed the group to choose its targets and to fight at a time and place of its choosing. Conversely, however, it is a sign of AMISOM's success that its deployments into such remote parts of Somalia are forcing al-Shabaab to fight in these locations, while allowing the Somali government to strengthen its presence in the country's cities.

At the same time, recent weeks have revealed fresh evidence that al-Shabaab is continuing to plan significant attacks inside Kenya itself. On January 20, Kenyan police shot and killed four suspected al-Shabaab supporters in the coastal resort of Malindi, as they were believed to be planning an attack (Geeskaafrika, January 20). The police recovered five grenades and one pistol from the individuals, who were shot after resisting arrest. Two weeks earlier, in another operation, Kenyan police had arrested one individual in Majengo, a slum in the capital Nairobi, and discovered an assault rifle and chemicals used in making explosives (Daily Nation [Kenya], January 1). These developments underline that a key part of al-Shabaab's strategy, as well as keeping pressure on Kenyan forces in Somalia, is to also pressure the government through carrying out attacks on civilian targets at home.

Following the al-Shabaab attack in Somalia, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said the assault would not deter Kenya from continuing to operate in Somalia, asserting that "our soldiers' blood will not be shed in vain" (Horseed Media, January 15). While this may the case, if such attacks continue, they will increase pressure on the Kenyan government to show that its long and costly intervention in Somalia has produced ostensible and positive results. In the absence of this, further attacks - especially if carried out in conjunction with more attacks inside Kenya - may eventually lead Kenyans to conclude that their military's intervention in Somalia has done more harm than good and should be discontinued.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Islamic State Plot in Malaysia Underlines Growing Threat

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author James Brandon Publication Date 22 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Islamic State Plot in Malaysia Underlines Growing Threat, 22 January 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a790e34.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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On January 15, the Malaysian police arrested a 28-year old man in the capital of Kuala Lumpur on suspicion of planning to carry out a suicide bomb attack in the city. The head of the country's police force, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, said that the individual had "received order from an IS leader in Syria to target Malaysia", referring to the Iraq- and Syria-based Islamic State (IS) militant group (Malay Mail Online, January 16). The man had a knife and Islamic State-related documents on him when he was arrested at a metro station. There was no official statement on the intended target, although local media cited anonymous security sources as saying that he may have planned to target a pub or karaoke bar. The individual is also believed to have been responsible for putting up Islamic State flags in various locations in Peninsula Malaysia, including in Johor Perak Selangor and Terengganu states (Malay Mail Online, January 16; AsiaOne, January 17).

While the incident is one of the clearest indications so far that the Islamic State is seeking to inspire or organize attacks in Malaysia, it also showcases the group's significant support among Malaysian radicals. Just a few days before the arrest, two Malaysian fighter with the Islamic State were reported to have recently carried out suicide bombings. In the first incident, on January 3, 31-year old Syazwan Mohd Salim was one of seven suicide bombers who attempted to attack a police training centre in Iraq at Speicher military base, located north of the capital Baghdad. Reports suggested that the Malaysian shot before he could detonate himself (New Straits Times, January 11). In the second incident, 26-year old Mohammed Amirul Ahmad Rahim carried out a suicide car-bombing at Ain Issa near the Islamic State capital of Raqqa on December 29 during a simultaneous Islamic State attack on the 44th Syrian Democratic Forces coalition. As a result, 17 Malaysians are now believed to have died in the last 18 months while actively fighting for the Islamic State, local media reported (Straits Times, January 12). The government is also reported to have arrested 100 radicals seeking to travel to join the Islamic State, and it has also estimated the group has around 50,000 sympathizers in the country. Adding to the complexity, there are also reports that whole Malaysian families have moved to the Islamic State's territories, and Malaysian police have also reported that they believe that eight Malaysian children are being groomed to become fighters for the group (Straits Times, January 12; Straits Times, January 13).

Malaysian government fears have been further heightened by the recent Islamic State-inspired attack in neighboring Indonesia. This attack, which took place on January 14, involved four attackers launching a coordinated gun and bomb attack in the center of the capital, Jakarta. Although the attack only killed four, underlining the limitations of self-radicalized or self-starter militant cells, the incident highlighted the potential for Islamic State actions in the Middle East to nonetheless inspire attacks in Southeast Asia. Although the security services appear to be relatively able to disrupt plots and identify radicals - as demonstrated by the latest arrest - the country appears less able to challenge the Islamic State's viral ideology. For example, in one recent interview, Datuk Othman Mustapha, the director-general of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), which is responsible for the regulation and promotion of Islam in Malaysia, said that the organization was finding it challenging to counter the Islamic State's message, particularly online (Malay Mail, January 15). Such challenges may increase as the organization, which has annual budget of around $300 million, faces sharp funding cuts in the coming year, partly as a result of the state's falling oil revenues (Malaysian Insider, January 15). This, combined with the Islamic State's success in carrying out attacks abroad - as demonstrated by the recent Jakarta and Istanbul attacks - means that Malaysia may see an increase in domestic plots during the coming year.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
The Maldives: Losing a Tourist Paradise to Terrorism

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Sudha Ramachandran Publication Date 22 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, The Maldives: Losing a Tourist Paradise to Terrorism, 22 January 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7913b4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Renowned for pristine beaches and crystal blue waters, the Maldives is rapidly gaining prominence as a haven for jihadist recruitment. Maldivian men - reportedly 200 of them - have been streaming to Iraq and Syria to join the ranks of the Islamic State (IS) militant group, the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra organization, as well as other radical organizations. This is a large number considering the Indian Ocean archipelago of around 1,200 islands has a population of roughly 359,000 people (Indian Express, April 15, 2015). Not only does the Maldives thus have the world's largest number of jihadists per capita active in Iraq and Syria, but it also accounts for the biggest number of jihadists from any South Asian country fighting in these countries. Several jihadists have taken their wives and children to the Middle East battle zones with them (Haveeru Online, February 5, 2015; Maldives Independent, Sept 21, 2015 and Dhivehi Sitee, December 2, 2015).

Rising Radicalism

Sunni Islam is the official state religion of the Maldives and adherence to the doctrine is essential for citizenship. However, while religion is an important part of the lives of many Maldivians, the Islam they traditionally practice is not particularly rigid. It has been suffused with local cultural traditions; worship of Allah tends to coexist with belief in spirits and djinns. It is only in the last couple of decades with Maldivian clerics and students returning home after studying in universities and madrassas in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan that hardline Wahhabi and Salafi beliefs entered the archipelago, providing Maldivian Islam a puritanical spark. This injected religious intolerance and conservatism into a society that was once moderate in its religious observances and relatively liberal (Asia Times, November 11, 2009).

As a result, religious radicals are threatening the traditional Maldivian way of life. Women who did not wear headscarves have been violently attacked, alongside Sunni moderates, Sufis, atheists, agnostics and followers of other religions who speak up against intolerance. Radicals are also pressing for a strict enforcement of sharia laws (Minivan News, September 6, 2014). Anything deemed un-Islamic is under fire. For instance, in 2012, a mob stormed the National Museum in the capital Male and destroyed Buddhist statues. The attack was aimed at wiping out Maldives' pre-Islamic, Buddhist history (Minivan News, February 9, 2012).

In 2007, the Maldives witnessed its first ever Islamist terrorist attack when a bomb targeting Chinese, Japanese and British tourists went off in Male's Sultan Park. A police raid on the Dar-ul-Khair mosque on Himandhoo Atoll a few weeks later laid bare the serious threat that Islamists posed to the Maldives; police had to fight off dozens of radicals holed up in the mosque. The Salafist preacher, Ibrahim Fareed, was then found to be running a "shari'a-governed mini-state" from the mosque (The Hindu [India], November 24, 2007).

Over the past decade, Maldivian Islamists have increasingly heeded the call to global jihad. In 2002, for example, a cleric named Ibrahim Fauzee was arrested in an al-Qaeda safe house in Karachi, Pakistan. He was subsequently held in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp until his release and repatriation to the Maldives in March of 2005 (The Hindu, November 24, 2007). Al-Qaeda in the Maldives reinforced its presence through a 2009 suicide attack on the Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence agency headquarters in Lahore, carried out by a Maldivian al-Qaeda member and two accomplices. Around the same time, nine Maldivians were arrested in Pakistan's Waziristan region, which borders Afghanistan, during an attempt to travel to jihadist training camps (The Hindu, February 21, 2012).

Following this trend, a number of Maldivian jihadists headed to Pakistan initially. One reason is that following the deadly 2004 tsunami, several Pakistani-based Islamist organizations came to the archipelago for relief and rehabilitation work. Some like the Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq, the charity front of the Pakistan-based terrorist organization, Lashkar-e-Taiba, reportedly recruited scores of Maldivian boys to study at madrassas in Pakistan (Times of India, February 13, 2012). From there, it was a short road to violent jihad. In more recent years, however, the spectacular rise of the Islamic State seems to have influenced the travel plans of Maldivian jihadists, prompting them to head to Syria and Iraq instead.

Flirting with Fundamentalism

Although religious extremism was brought to the Maldives by South Asian and Middle Eastern groups, it gained traction in the Maldives' largely tolerant society under the autocratic rule of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Gayoom espoused a moderate strain of Islam in stark contrast to the one he harshly imposed. President Gayoom used religion as a political tool to legitimize his dictatorial rule; he wooed religious conservatives by projecting himself as the "guardian of Islam". In 1994, for instance, his government enacted the Protection of Religious Unity Act, which imposed Sunni Islam on Maldivians by restricting their freedom to practice other religions (Himal Southasian, June 20, 2012).

Gayoom continued to pursue policies that contributed to the rise of Wahhabi and Salafi Islam in the Maldives. He set up the first Arabic-medium schools in the archipelago. Text books that had imparted a liberal interpretation of Islam were replaced by books from Saudi Arabia that fostered a puritanical outlook. Maldivians were given scholarships to study in Islamic universities and madrassas in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. When they returned home, they preached a puritanical version of Islam that was previously alien to the Maldivian people. Gayoom quashed public articulation of any extremist ideologies, but this only pushed the problem underground (Asia Times. November 11, 2009).

It was during democratic rule that religious radicalism exploded into the open. President Mohamed Nasheed, a great votary of democratic rights, allowed unrestricted freedom of speech. Religious extremists therefore came to enjoy "absolute freedom of expression" and thereby the free availability of extremist literature in bookshops and airing of radical ideologies in mosques and public rallies, as well as the more far-reaching radio and Internet (Divehi Sitee, October 9, 2012). Only exacerbating the spread of radical ideology, the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) entered into a politically expedient alliance with the Adhaalath Party, which embodied an Islamist platform. Placed in charge of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the Adhaalath Party enjoyed the rein and clout to implement its agenda. In the process, Nasheed appeased Islamists, including radical ones (Asia Times, November 23, 2011). His government, for instance, offered clemency to 16 Islamists who were serving jail terms for their role in the 2007 Dar-ul-Khair mosque standoff (Minivan News, February 10, 2010). It sent a signal to extremists that they could carry out violent activities without repercussion.

In the years since Nasheed's ouster in 2012, successive governments have denied or downplayed the problem of religious extremism, facilitating the Maldives' emergence as a breeding ground for jihadists. In May 2014, President Abdulla Yameen claimed he was unaware of Maldivians traveling to Syria or Iraq to take part in combat. Later that year, in December, Home Minister Umar Naseer finally acknowledged the problem but minimized it by insisting that a mere seven Maldivians were fighting overseas. A month later, however, Commissioner of Police Hussein Waheed put the figure at 50, though still a smaller number than that claimed by Indian and Western intelligence agencies (Maldives Independent, September 6, 2015).

Fighting or Fueling Religious Extremism?

In recent months, the Yameen government has announced measures ostensibly to address the threat of terrorism. In October 2014, it enacted anti-terrorism legislation. A little over a month later, it announced that the Maldives would join a Saudi-led Islamic military coalition to combat "all terrorist organizations in the Islamic world" (Maldives Independent, December 15). Neither of these measures are likely to make a dent in the security dilemma that the Maldives faces.

Critics argue the anti-terrorism law is more an "instrument" to intimidate the public and suppress the regime's critics and political rivals, as opposed to a means of countering violent extremism. The legislation's "definition of terrorism does not explicitly include violent extremism, or religious extremism - the most prevalent type of terrorism today" (italics in original) (Divehi Sitee, November 11, 2015). It also does not focus on terrorism-related concerns that are endemic to the Maldives, such as recruitment of Maldivians for wars abroad, the spread of extremist ideologies and terrorism financing (Maldives Independent, July14, 2015; Maldives Independent, October 27, 2015).

As for the Saudi-led coalition, it is widely viewed as "unlikely to succeed" in eliminating terrorism (Asia Times, December 21, 2015). This is especially the case with the Maldives, where the Saudis have contributed substantially to bankrolling the spread of Wahhabi Islam in the archipelago, which has in turn fuelled religious extremism (Vivekananda International Foundation, March 31, 2015). Saudi-Maldivian bilateral ties in other realms have similarly surged in recent months; in August, the Saudis set up their first diplomatic mission in Male. Cooperation in Islamic affairs dominates the relationship, seen in Riyadh's building of mosques in the Maldives. Islamic NGOs are pouring money into education and training of Maldivian imams and providing scholarships for Maldivians to study in the kingdom. In November, the Saudis reached an agreement with the Maldives to establish "religious unity" between the two countries. The agreement confirms the Saudis encouragement of the Maldives to publish books on Islam in English, as well as speed up the completion of mosque-related projects such as the training of imams (Maldives Independent, November 19, 2015). This agreement does not bode well for addressing the Maldives' problems with religious extremism and violence.

Conclusion

So far, religious extremists have posed a threat to Maldivian atheists, Sufis and secular Muslim moderates, in addition to the broader Maldivian culture and way of life. While extremists based in the Maldives have not yet organized themselves in an effort to overthrow the state, radicalized Maldivian youth are traveling abroad to join various jihadist groups and have the potential to return home. This threat, however, has not inspired the government to take significant action. This may change with the return of battle-hardened jihadists to their home country, particularly if they turn their guns against the state.

Dr. Sudha Ramachandran is an independent researcher and journalist based in Bangalore, India. She has written extensively on South Asian peace and conflict, political and security issues for The Diplomat, Asia Times and Jamestown's China Brief.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Turkey's Dance with the Islamic State

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Nihat Ali Ozcan Publication Date 22 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Turkey's Dance with the Islamic State, 22 January 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7919e4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Turkey's relationship with terrorism is entrenched with history. The country fell victim to the actions of different terrorist groups with different motivations. The most popular terrorist organization in Turkey's history is the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been active for almost 40 years. Another notable terrorist organization is the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front, an outcome of the Cold War legacy. Turkey has also been faced with the presence of radical Islamist Kurdish Hezbollah, which was active during the 1990s.

While the Turkish government and its security forces were fighting against the PKK in the south-eastern part of the country earlier this month, another terrorist attack was carried out by suicide bomb in Istanbul's most popular touristic and historical district, Sultanahmet. The bomber detonated himself next to a tourist group on January 12, killing 10 Germans and wounding another 15.

Shortly after the attack, police made a statement claiming, "The suicide bomber was an ISIL member and a Syrian citizen" (Reuters, January 13). The suicide bomber had crossed the Turkish border as a refugee few days before the attack, similar to 2,750,000 other refugees over the past four years. The identity, target and the methods of the terrorist indicated a new wave of terrorism for Turkey.

Turkey has become a target of Islamic State activity, as its geopolitical position, motility of its ethnic and sectarian fault lines, its cosmopolitan demographics, its annual influx of 35 million tourists, and the presence of many western companies on its soil have all come into play. On the other hand, the politicians, public and security institutions do not appear prepared to face a terrorist group with such brutal, multinational and religious foundations and practices. The reason for the Islamic State targeting Turkey puts on display the organization's changing attitude towards the country. Recent developments depict that the Islamic State has the potential as well as the motivation to pose a security threat to Turkey.

The Islamic State and Turkey

From the very first days of the insurgency in Syria against Assad, the Turkish government predicted that the end of his regime was soon to come. However, Assad disappointed these expectations and, as a result, the insurgency became prolonged. Turkey and its allies wanted to accelerate the process through their support of anti-Assad opposition forces. Turkey sent arms and ammunition to the opposition and made it easier for foreign fighters to enter Syria to join the cause. In this respect, border controls between Turkey and Syria loosened and Turkey started following an "open door policy" (Hurriyet Daily News, May 27, 2013). With the persistence of the regime came the fragmentation of the Syrian opposition forces. Gradually, the groups that utilized brutality and had developed radical discourse became the most effective and influential opposition groups operating in Syria.

Turkey's "two-way open-door policy" caused large scale logistical and demographical changes, including those impacting militant mobility. Not only did Turkey become the crossing route for foreign fighters, but many Turkish citizens joined groups fighting in Syria, as well (Hurriyet Daily News, February 4, 2015; Milyet.com, July 18, 2014). Some of these people fought, some encouraged others to fight, and some went back to Turkey in order to spread their ideas and establish "sleeper cells."

In this context, a number of Turkish citizens who traveled to fight in Syria were Kurds who joined the Democratic Union Party, PKK's Syria wing, while some other Islamist Kurds joined the Islamic State. These Islamists included many of those who had broken away from the Kurdish Hezbollah, established by the post-1979 Iranian intelligence in conflict with the Marxist PKK during the 1980s and 1990s. Meanwhile, local radical Islamists traveled to Syria as jihadists, some of whom were Turkish and Caucasian. In due course, these jihadists transferred to different radical groups, largely the Islamic State. Within that period, some humanitarian aid organizations that maintained close ties with the Turkish government constructed a web of strong and deep aid routes within Syria and helped transfer Turkish and foreign fighters deep into Syrian territory. Some Alawite citizens of Turkey also joined the conflict, fighting for the Democratic Union Party or the Assad regime.

In the second year of the insurgency, the situation in Syria grew even more complicated. The radical religious statements and actions of the Sunni groups fighting against Assad caused increased tensions and distrust between Turkey and its allies. The Islamic State capitalized on this tension and conflict and began to more actively establish its presence in 2014. However, the Turkish public became more generally aware of the Islamic State when three of its members were captured during a gunfight that occurred on their way to Istanbul.

The Islamic State, positioned far from the Turkish border and from most of Assad's forces, prioritized the elimination of other radical groups feeding from resources it relied upon. The flourishing organization further captured headlines with its occupation of Mosul, Iraq, on June 6, 2014. Following the occupation, the Islamic State took 28 Turkish truck drivers and 49 Turkish Foreign Ministry staff working at the consulate in Mosul as hostages. The hostage crisis ended on September 20, 2014, after the Islamic State had proven itself as a significant new security problem for Turkey (Hurriyet Daily News, September 20, 2014).

In the following days, the Islamic State attacked Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. Barzani and the PKK managed to stop the advance with the help of the U.S. Air Force. In response, the Islamic State shifted its attacks to Syria, targeting the Syrian-majority Kurdish town of Kobane on the Turkish border on September 13, 2014; the group managing to enter the city on October 5, 2014. The PKK and Democratic Union Party, the defenders of the city, initiated a new propaganda campaign to gain membership as well as support from the broader population. This campaign triggered conflict between Kurdish groups with different ideologies living in cities in southeastern Turkey. During the conflict in Kobane, many government buildings were damaged and 49 Islamist Kurds supporting the Islamic State were killed by the PKK and its sympathizers between October 6 and 7 of 2014. In February 2015, with help from United States airstrikes, the Islamic State was forced by the Kurds to retreat from the Kobane region, suffering heavy losses.

The Islamic State's Turkey Strategy

The Islamic State's perspective on Turkey has been changing. Geopolitical necessities and relations between Turkey and local actors contribute heavily to this shift in opinion as well as strategy. The Islamic State is cognizant of the importance of Turkey, due to the group's dependency on the country's foreign fighters and logistics flowing over the border with Syria.

It is possible to categorize Turkey-Islamic State relations through the lens of different stages. The first stage was the period of "still and low-profile relationship." The second, described as the "two sub-state group conflict," saw the Islamic State target PKK-affiliated individuals on Turkish soil, following the terrorists' defeat by the PKK at Kobane. The third stage, the start of which is marked by the Sultanahmet bombings and is ongoing, will continue to see attacks on Western targets in Turkey, and follows a Turkish crackdown on domestic Islamic State supporters. In the fourth, still-to-come stage, the Islamic State will likely attack Turkish state and political institutions.

The January 12 attacks on foreign tourists in Istanbul is a strong indication that the Islamic State is changing its strategy. By carefully avoiding the targeting of Turkish citizens in the attack, the Islamic State may be able to gain sympathy and support from less-radical Islamist groups in Turkey. Furthermore, Turkey's restrictions on its pre-existing two-way open-door policy, the U.S. Air Force strikes from Incirlik Air Base, and the Democratic Union Party closing the border have limited the Islamic State's maneuverability in the region. The military's training of Kurds and Sunni Arabs in Iraq by Turkish soldiers and Turkey's shooting down of a Russian military jet have similarly factored in the Islamic State's changing strategy. Since the Istanbul attack, the Turkish government has intensified its operations against the group, notably using intense cross border artillery fire to force Islamic State militants in Syria to retreat from the Turkish border, in conjunction with Turkish efforts to give the remaining territories to "moderate" Sunni Arab opposition forces. These developments indicate that the Islamic State has the potential, as well as the motivation, to pose a more potent security threat to Turkey. The threat stems not only from Syrian refugees and foreign fighters, but also from radicalized citizens within Turkey's own borders.

Dr. Nihat Ali Ozcan workd at TOBB University of Economics & Technology, International Relations Department as an Associate Professor and as an expert at The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey. Additionally, he writes on Milliyet Newspaper as a columnist.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Unwanted Ally: Hezbollah's War Against the Islamic State

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Andrew McGregor Publication Date 22 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Unwanted Ally: Hezbollah's War Against the Islamic State, 22 January 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7924c4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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"There is no future for ISIS. Not in war and not in peace." These words were spoken not by Barack Obama or Vladimir Putin, but rather by Hezbollah leader Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, whose Lebanese Shia supporters are engaged in a growing battle against the Sunni militants inside Syria (Press TV [Tehran], November 14, 2015). Despite this, few analysts have considered how Hezbollah's commitment to defeating Sunni extremists in Syria would fit into a larger Western and/or Russian-directed military intervention to destroy the Islamic State organization, especially when the Hezbollah movement is itself considered a terrorist organization by many Western states.

Nasrallah insists his movement is conducting pre-emptive military operations designed at preventing Sunni extremists from entering Lebanon, but many Lebanese (including some Shia) accuse Hezbollah of drawing the Islamic State's attention to Lebanese targets by acting at the command of the movement's Iranian sponsors (Reuters, September 6, 2013; Jerusalem Post, September 6, 2013) .

Hezbollah ("the Party of God") addresses these accusations in two ways: by stating that the Syrian intervention is intended to defend all Lebanese, and by describing both al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State as tools Israel uses to destroy regional opposition, thus bringing the intervention within the larger anti-Israel "Resistance" agenda that has formed the movement's core ethos since its formation (Reuters, August 15, 2014).

Hezbollah is correct in one sense; Lebanon and its delicate ethnic and religious balance will indeed be in the Islamic State's gunsights if it succeeds in establishing a secure base in neighboring Syria. Nonetheless, since joining the war in 2013, Hezbollah has lost lives, resources, and most of the moral authority it once commanded in Sunni communities in the Middle East after repelling a 2006 Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon.

Initially, there was relatively little confrontation between Hezbollah and the Islamic State organizations. Hezbollah tended to operate mainly in western Syria, while the Islamic State's resided in the more lightly populated east. This all changed when the Islamic State took the war to Hezbollah on November 12, 2014, by deploying a pair of suicide bombers against the Burj al-Barajneh district of southern Beirut, a mixed but largely Shia neighborhood where Hezbollah has a strong presence. The attack killed and wounded scores of civilians. Eager to punish Hezbollah for its Syrian intervention, the Islamic State promised "the Party of Satan" much more of the same (al-Manar TV, November12, 2015).

On December 3, 2015, United States Secretary of State John Kerry admitted that the Islamic State cannot be defeated without ground forces, but suggested these should be "Syrian and Arab" rather than Western in origin (Reuters, December 23, 2015). Washington's efforts so far to assemble and train a politically and religiously "moderate" rebel army have been "a devastating failure," according to Nasrallah, who insists that air strikes alone will not eliminate the Islamic State (AP, September 25, 2015).

Who, then, should these ground fighters be? They will certainly not be British Prime Minister David Cameron's mythical 70,000 "moderate" rebels (Independent, December 1, 2015). Saudi Arabia and the Gulf nations regard U.S.-led efforts to restore order in Syria as ineffective, and are therefore unlikely partners in a Western-led military initiative; besides, their own resources are currently committed to the ongoing military struggle for Yemen. Syria's Kurdish militias are capable, but have displayed little interest in campaigning outside their own traditional territories. This leaves regime forces and their allies as the only local groups currently capable of tackling the Islamic State in the field.

Saudi Arabia's clumsy attempt to spearhead an anti-terrorist military alliance of 34 Islamic nations - mainly by announcing its existence to the surprise of many nations the Kingdom claimed were members - further escalated tensions between Shiite and Sunni communities; it was quickly observed that majority-Shia nations like Iraq and Iran were absent from the list.

Though Lebanon's Sunni prime minister, Tammam Salam, declared Lebanon was part of the alliance, membership was immediately rejected by Hezbollah and most Lebanese Christian parties, the latter correctly pointing out that Lebanon has no status as an "Islamic nation." A Hezbollah statement claimed the Saudis were unsuitable as leaders of an anti-terrorist coalition, as they were involved in state terrorism in Yemen and supported terrorist organizations there as well as in Syria and Iraq. The statement went on to question whether the new alliance would confront "Israeli terrorism" or instead target "the Resistance" (Hezbollah, Iran and Syria) (Al-Manar, December 17, 2015; AP, December 17, 2015). Salam claims to have since received assurances from the Kingdom that the Islamic State and not Hezbollah will be targeted. However, vital questions remain concerning how the Sunni alliance would interact with Hezbollah and other Shiite forces on the Syrian battlefield (Daily Star [Beirut], December 16, 2015). Exacerbating this, Saudi Arabia's recent decision to execute Shaykh Nimr al-Nimr, a leading domestic Shiite opposition leader, has only embittered the struggle between Shiites and Sunnis in Syria - Nasrallah described the execution as "an appalling event" (Reuters, January 3, 2016).

With growing calls for greater Western military intervention in Syria and even to set aside the anti-Assad rebellion to allow the Syrian Army to focus on the elimination of the Islamic State, it must be understood that at this point of the war, there is no functioning Syrian Army that can be separated and deployed independently of Hezbollah and the Iranian military advisers now running Syrian Army operations.

With few exceptions, Syria's war does not unfold in a series of set-piece battles, but rather in small actions - "a battle of ambushes, of surprise attacks" as one rebel colonel described it (Reuters, October 30, 2015). The daily war of attrition and a rash of desertions have greatly reduced the size and effectiveness of the Syrian national army. As a result, most operations are planned by Iranian and Hezbollah advisors using well-trained Hezbollah fighters to stiffen Syrian units in the field.

Hezbollah now has an estimated 6,000 fighters in Syria, mostly experienced light infantry well-suited to the war's pattern of small-level clashes punctuated by the occasional major battle. While losses have been heavy at times, the deployment has provided Hezbollah with valuable battlefield experience in operating on unfamiliar terrain and in cooperation with the regular forces of other nations, such as Syria, Iran and Russia.

Hezbollah's war aims are both declared - protecting Shia shrines in Syria - and undeclared, the latter including keeping supply lines from Iran open, preserving the friendly Assad regime and keeping Sunni extremists (al-Nusra Front, the Islamic State, etc.) from entering Lebanon. To mollify those who claim the Syrian adventure has little to do with the anti-Israel "Resistance" agenda, Nasrallah claims Zionists and Sunni extremists have the same goal in "destroying our peoples and our societies" (AFP, October 18, 2015). The Hezbollah leader also insists that any political solution in Syria "begins and ends" with President Bashar al-Assad (AFP, June 6, 2014).

Though Hezbollah has a polarizing effect on Lebanese politics and a record of terrorist attacks, the movement is unlike the Islamic State; it is no wild-eyed band of religious fanatics ready to slaughter anyone that does not share their religious preferences. As a political party with a strong social-welfare arm, Hezbollah's leaders have deftly created a political alliance with Maronite Christian factions, secular Druze and even Shia of the Amal Movement, with whom Hezbollah waged a bitter war in the 1980s. Lebanese sources indicate that Hezbollah began recruiting Christians, Druze and Sunnis for the fight against the Islamic State in late 2014 (Daily Star [Beirut], November 12, 2014). Nonetheless, opposition to Hezbollah within Lebanon cannot be understated.

To counter the political "normalization" of the movement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed Hezbollah a global threat that has established, with Iran, a terrorist network spanning 30 countries on five continents (AFP, July 28, 2015). Nasrallah, in turn, has emphasized the "ISIS monster's" threat to Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, some of them important sources for private donations to the Islamic State and other Sunni extremist groups. According to Nasrallah: "This danger does not recognize Shiites, Sunnis, Muslims, Christians or Druze or Yazidis or Arabs or Kurds" (Reuters, August 15, 2015). Jews are notably absent from the Hezbollah leader's list of ethnicities under threat, as Hezbollah considers Israel's Jews to be in league with Islamic State terrorists.

Last month, President Netanyahu abandoned Israel's traditional policy of refusing to confirm or deny involvement in foreign airstrikes, acknowledging that Israel was targeting Hezbollah arms shipments to prevent the transfer of "game-changing" weapons from Syria to Lebanon. When Israel believes it has missed a weapons transfer, it attacks Syrian arms stocks, inhibiting the Syrian Army's ability to combat Islamic State and other rebel groups (DefenceNews, November 18, 2015). Israeli airstrikes have not targeted Islamic State forces or installations in Syria; like al-Qaeda, the Islamic State appears reluctant to attack Israel directly, insisting that America must first be weakened and a legitimate Islamic state established before Israel can be addressed (Arutz Sheva 7, October 7, 2014).

This reluctance by the Islamic State to strike Israel only reinforces Hezbollah's belief that there is cooperation between Israel and the Sunni extremists (Tasnim News Agency [Tehran], December 10, 2015). Bashar Assad himself has joked that no one can say al-Qaeda doesn't have an air force when they have the Israeli Air Force to attack regime and Hezbollah positions (Foreign Affairs, January 25, 2015).

Last summer, Hezbollah and Syrian government forces succeeded in driving rebel forces from their last positions in the Qalamun region alongside the border with Lebanon after nearly two years of fighting. Islamic State and al-Nusra fighters had used the region for attacks within Lebanon. Since then, Hezbollah has intensified its war against the Islamic State and Assad's other enemies in coordination with Russian airstrikes. Though initially criticized for focusing on Syrian Turkmen communities and U.S.-supported units of the Free Syrian Army, Russia has since expanded its target list to include the Islamic State, the Nusra Front and the Jaysh al-Islam militia.

So far, Russia appears to be tolerating Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets, but has also been accused by Israeli military sources of supplying anti-ship cruise missiles to Hezbollah, whether directly or indirectly through Syrian middlemen (al-Manar TV [Beirut], January 15; Jerusalem Post, January 14). Moscow's deployment of powerful S-400 ground-to-air missiles in Syria means Russian objections to specific air operations over Syria will have to be taken seriously. Russia and Israel have made extraordinary efforts to avoid running in to each other in Syrian airspace; the consequences of an accidental clash could be significant, as a Russian military alliance with the "Resistance Axis" of Hezbollah, Syria and Iran would change the strategic situation of the Middle East. Russia has indicated it considers Hezbollah to be a "legitimate socio-political force" rather than a terrorist group, suggesting it is prepared to work with the group in Syria (Reuters, November 15, 2015).

Regardless of the number of "moderate" rebels in Syria, Hezbollah remains better trained, better armed and better led. The moderates cannot operate effectively against the Islamic State until they can disengage from their conflict with the Syrian Army and the rest of the "Resistance Axis." The West's contradictory war aims in Syria have been noted by former UK Chief of the Defense Staff, General Sir David Richards, who suggests that the anti-Assad rebellion needs to be set aside in order to allow the Syrian Army, Hezbollah and their Iranian backers to focus on the elimination of the Islamic State (Guardian, November 18, 2015). However, this plan would require somehow persuading anti-Assad factions to abandon or postpone their struggle, as well as cooperation with anti-Assad Kurdish forces and a degree of political flexibility among Western allies that does not exist at present.

So what are the West's options? Hezbollah might be persuaded to leave Syria if it was guaranteed that capable military forces (preferably not Western in Hezbollah's view) would replace them in the defense of the Assad regime. There is little political appetite for this proposition in the West at the moment, despite an increasing number of voices suggesting that the Islamic State rather than Assad might be the most pressing problem in Syria.

An alternative is to try to find a means of combating the Islamic State on the ground without recognizing or coordinating with Assad/Hezbollah forces engaged in the same battle, a tricky bit of military maneuvering that is likely to end badly.

A third option would be to confront Assad regime/Hezbollah/Iranian forces simultaneously with attacks on the Islamic State to create a "New Syria," a move that would run a high risk of confrontation with Russia and Iran, incite international opposition and the expansion of the conflict well beyond Syria's borders. The resulting power vacuum in the ruins of Syria would be worse than that experienced in Libya, and would in the end pose a direct security threat to both the West and the Middle East.

To resolve the Syrian crisis, it is essential either to come to terms with Hezbollah or to confront it, knowing in the latter case that the bulk of the movement and its leadership will remain in Lebanon with the means to strike back at its international antagonists. Ignoring its existence or its role in confronting anti-Shia Sunni extremist groups will not be an option in any ground-based effort to crush the Islamic State.

Andrew McGregor is the Director of Aberfoyle International Security, a Toronto-based agency specializing in security issues related to the Islamic world.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Oncologist: Decrease has been registered in the age of cancer patients (video)

Does Armenia rank the first with the number of deaths from cancer? The Ministry of Health refuses to comment on the rankings, which was drawn based on the data of the World Health Organization. According to it annually 229 people die of cancer in Armenia per 100,000 population. The Ministry of Health, though, hasnt released any data since 2012. There are numbers which correspond to the statistics and there are the ones, which dont, said Alexander Bazarchyan, Director of the National Institute of Health of Armenia. Mr. Bazarchyan, nevertheless, doesnt reject- the rate of deaths from cancer is high in our country. Of course, it would be better if it was lower, he noted. Oncologist Nerses Berberyan also has difficulty in saying to what extent those statistics are reliable. But it is a fact that year by year the oncologic diseases are increasing. And the worse thing is that decrease has been registered in the age of cancer patients, he noted. The doctor thinks that more often the ineffective treatment of the people is connected with financial problems. If a patient is insolvent, he wont be able to do it. And if he isnt able, we will not have good results. Chemotherapy is rather expensive medication, we have such a medication for some patients, which costs 1 million drams, highlighted Mr. Berberyan. Details on video
Belarus and the West: A Policy Change Long Overdue

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Grigory Ioffe Publication Date 22 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 15 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Belarus and the West: A Policy Change Long Overdue, 22 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 15, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a792c84.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Two recent public opinion polls have highlighted quite revealing results about populations living in Belarus and Ukraine. First, according to the Ukrainian polling firm Rating, the opinions of Ukrainians about Belarus are overwhelmingly positive. In the separatist areas of Donbas (the eastern Ukrainian region encompassing the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces), opinions of Belarus are even higher than opinions of Russia. Specifically, 44 percent of respondents have "very warm" or "warm" feelings about Belarus, whereas 42 percent entertain "neutral" feelings, and 6 percent "negative" feelings. At the same time, their attitude toward Russia is positive in 39 percent of cases; but 31 percent of respondents are neutral and 20 percent have negative feelings about Russia. And in Ukraine as a whole, Belarus only slightly yields to Poland in terms of popular feelings-with percentages of positive, neutral and negative responses being 53, 40, and 5 on Belarus, and 58, 45, and 5 on Poland, respectively. At the same time, surveys of Russians also show invariably more positive attitudes toward Belarus than to any other country, according to repeated estimates by the Levada Center (Tut.by, January 14). To anybody with inside knowledge of these three East Slavic countries, such a high rating bestowed on Belarus is no mystery and is attributed to the country's lack of oligarchs, its relatively high quality of public services, an incomparably lower level of corruption, and its maintenance of all aspects of public order. As one Minsk-based entrepreneur quipped during this author's stay in Minsk (January 11-15), "Ukrainians have democracy while we enjoy a snow removal service!"

The second revealing sociological result is the abysmally low popularity for the hypothetical proposal of Belarus's accession to the European Union. According to the December 2015 national poll by the Independent Institute for Socioeconomic and Political Studies, only 19.8 percent of Belarusians are in favor of accession, whereas 56.1 percent are against it. Never before has support for Belarus's European integration been rated this low. The record-low rating may appear puzzling to Eurocrats, but in Belarus it is considered a no-brainer. As Belarusian political scientist Valer Karbalevich explains, both Russian and Belarusian television channels emphasize negative news from Europe. The story of crisis in Greece, a country with about the same population size as Belarus, fits Hegel's notion of bad infinity. The inflow of refugees from the Middle East to Europe and its consequences add to the picture, as do terrorist attacks. But most importantly, in the eyes of Belarusians, the neighboring and culturally close country of Ukraine plunged into tragedy just after it "made its European choice" (Svaboda.org, January 6).

It is against the backdrop of this Euroscepticism that the EU's policy vis-a-vis Belarus comes across to many local observers as counterproductive and neurotic. Officials in Minsk had hoped that the EU, Belarus's major donor and trade partner, would be willing to prop up the country's independence during this difficult time of economic decline, which is directly linked to the way plummeting oil prices and Western sanctions have impacted the economy of Russia. After all, a few years ago Belarus was included on US international affairs expert Zbigniew Brzezinski's list of "geopolitically endangered species" (FP, January 3, 2012). However, as noted by members of the Belarusian government who wished to remain anonymous in their conversations with this author, the EU is backtracking or vacillating on all three major policy issues important to Belarus: visa facilitation, the cooperation and partnership agreement, and sanctions (Author's interviews, January 8-16).

On visa facilitation, negotiations on lowering Schengen visa prices started as early as January 2014. Belarusians currently pay 60 euros to obtain a visa to enter the Schengen zone, more than other nationalities; and yet, they are still among the world leaders in terms of visas obtained per 1,000 residents (see EDM, May 21, 2014). The agreement was thoroughly discussed and its signing was expected at the May 2015 Riga summit of the Eastern Partnership. Visa facilitation has always been considered a package deal: with Belarus being asked to promise to readmit illegal migrants and criminals who entered the EU via Belarusian territory. The Belarusian government wanted a 1-3 year transition period to create the infrastructure necessary for the acceptance of illegal migrants from third (not EU and not Belarus) countries. But the EU balked at allowing the transition. The Belarusian government also insisted on no-visa travel for the bearers of diplomatic passports-a benefit enjoyed by Russian, Ukrainian and Moldovan diplomats. But the EU appears intransigent on this issue as well. The issue in question is a matter of national pride and equal treatment. Moreover, just one month prior to the Riga summit, Sweden, Germany and Austria unexpectedly raised the question of the level of security in Belarusian diplomatic passports, demanding that they be reformatted. So the obstacles to visa facilitation have mounted. Yet another difficult situation is developing, involving Poland and Lithuania, the most frequent issuers of Schengen visas to Belarusians, and the outsourcing centers that deliver visas to Belarusians. These centers charge up to $35 for their services; that cost would cancel out the proposed reduction in the price of the visa (Author's interviews, January 8-16).

Likewise there is no progress with the partnership and cooperation agreement, the factor that excludes Belarus from multiple multilateral projects funded by the EU. Finally, there is no clarity on the EU sanctions that have been suspended but not annulled following the release of political prisoners. There is a feeling that in February when sanctions actually expire they may be extended, and at the same time suspended yet again. By the same token there is no progress in talks with the International Monetary Fund about the reopening of the credit line for Belarus. The Belarusian side does not say no to structural reforms but suggests it needs an infusion of funds first to conduct those reforms in a way least painful for the general population (Author's interviews, January 8-16).

While it is obvious that the Belarusian government has deviated from Western democracy standards and repeatedly violated human rights, other post-Soviet regimes have done so as well and yet they were spared Western sanctions. Because Belarus was initially singled out as a pariah state due to both geopolitical reasons and miscalculations about the relative strength of the Belarusian regime and Belarusian opposition, today it is particularly difficult for the EU and other Western structures to relinquish their manifestly irrational and obsessive Belarus policies. As J.P. Morgan, the American financier, once quipped, "A man usually has two reasons for doing a thing: One that sounds good, and a real one." Until now, Brussels has been obsessed with the former at the expense of the latter. But it may be time for that to change.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Insurgency in the Northwest Caucasus Remains Active

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Mairbek Vatchagaev Publication Date 22 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 15 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Insurgency in the Northwest Caucasus Remains Active, 22 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 15, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a793184.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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A strange armed clash that took place in Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, in mid-January had unexpected results for government forces. The authorities introduced a counterterrorist operation regime in the city, after which security forces sealed off a house in which, they claimed, three suspected militants with ties to the Islamic militant underground were holed up (Interfax, January 16). Residents of surrounding houses were evacuated to avoid civilian casualties, which often happen as a result of weapons fire by government forces.

According to security officials, a man in the house refused to let police officers into the house and opened fire on them with a rifle. "The officers tried to convince him to surrender and that is why the special operation lasted for so long," a source said. The suspect let his mother leave the home but refused to surrender and shot one policeman in the neck. The police then decided to storm the building (newsru.com, January 16). To balance out the fact that one policeman was wounded in the incident, some sources "close to the police" claimed two militants were killed during the shootout (gazeta.ru, January 16).

The shooting finally stopped on the evening of January 16, but resumed with renewed force the next morning. A police source told the Kavkazky Uzel website that after the special operation finally ended, the police expected to find three corpses in the house, but found only one. The slain man was identified as the owner of the property, 39-year-old Alim Nakhushev, who was employed at a local auto repair shop. The police said he was an active accomplice of local militants (kavkaz-uzel.ru, January 18). Security forces used heavy machinery to clean up the ruins of the demolished house.

The police found a rifle, a pistol and five gas masks, and the slain man was wearing a gas mask. Still, his mother said that her son was not alone during the siege and she had seen him with someone she identified as Khizir Likhov (lifenews.ru, January 17). Thus, it appears that a two-day siege carried out by hundreds of security personnel using special equipment and other resources failed to prevent some of the militants from slipping away. It is unlikely that the police came across this house by accident: indeed, government officials were probably tipped off about the rebels' location. It is quite likely that Alim Nakhushev sacrificed his life for a high-ranking militant, not for Khizir Likhov, so the latter probably did not escape alone. The police after the fact raised Alim Nakhushev to the level of a high-ranking militant, but he was not even on the wanted list of Kabardino-Balkaria's Interior Ministry (07.mvd.ru). Apart from everything else, this also indicates that the official claims of how many rebels were involved in the siege are largely unfounded. Khizir Likhov was on the wanted list and accounted for, but there may be many people like Alim Nakhushev, who are unknown to the Russian security services.

Kabardino-Balkaria remains one of the most dangerous republics in terms of the activities of the militant underground movement. The number of counterterrorist operations in the republic increased three-fold in 2015 compared to the previous year (kavkaz-uzel.ru, January 16). Valery Khatazhukov, a local rights activist who heads the Kabardino-Balkarian human rights center, does not believe the security situation in the republic has deteriorated, at least in comparison to neighboring republics. However, Mikhail Roshchin, a well-known expert from the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, believes Kabardino-Balkaria is the most problematic republic in the North Caucasus. According to Roshchin, Kabardino-Balkarian militants are mainly associated with the Caucasus Emirate rather than the Islamic State (ISIS), which makes the situation in the republic quite different from the other republics of the North Caucasus. However, it is hard to justify drawing such far-reaching conclusions from a single video address by Amir Salim (Zalim Shebzukhov), which was posted on YouTube at the end of last year (YouTube, December 28, 2015), and this view needs to be backed up by additional evidence, such as future rebel actions.

Nonetheless, there are also recruits of the so-called Islamic State in Kabardino-Balkaria, which makes it even harder for the security services to control the situation in the republic. According to Valery Ustov, the head of the Investigative Department of the Russian Investigative Committee in Kabardino-Balkaria, "128 residents of Kabardino-Balkaria are fighting in Syria on the side of ISIS, including some women." He also said that 20 members of ISIS from the republic have been killed (Interfax, December 24, 2015). Ustov added that government forces had killed three militants who returned from Syria and imprisoned three others for joining armed groups fighting Bashar Assad.

The peculiarity of Kabardino-Balkaria is that its governor, Yuri Kokov, unlike the governors of Dagestan, Chechnya or Ingushetia, practically never comments on the situation related to the activities of the rebels. One gets the impression that the authorities in Kabardino-Balkaria are somehow removed from everything that is going on involving the insurgency in the republic. Yet the jamaat in the northwestern Caucasus remains one of the strongest in the region, and the authorities have little reason to believe that the security situation in Kabardino-Balkaria will be improving anytime soon.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
It is Indecision Time for Putin, as Russia Muddles Through

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Pavel K. Baev Publication Date 25 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 16 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, It is Indecision Time for Putin, as Russia Muddles Through , 25 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 16, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a793ff4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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The annual Davos gathering of the World Economic Forum used to be an occasion where Russia's always uncertain future was a key topic for debates and investment decisions, but this year it was pointedly ignored. Russia is indeed irrelevant for the main theme of this Forum-the "fourth industrial revolution", in which information and industrial technologies are blending together-because it has graduated from laggard to loser in this revolution (Moscow Echo, January 22). Russia is also out of place in the "breaking news" sessions focused on China's economic slowdown and Iran's coming out of its long isolation (Rbc.ru, January 23). It has nothing to say on the European migration crisis and cannot pretend to be a useful contributor to the attempts at breaking the deadlock in the Syrian negotiations, because the meetings last week between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov yielded few results (Kommersant, January 21). Russian and Ukrainian delegations continued bargaining about mutual overdue debts, but most Europeans remained indifferent knowing that no interruption of the still-important gas flow could possibly occur because of this bickering (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, January 21).

Russian authorities are obviously shocked by the force and depth of the five-quarter-long economic recession, so much so that Elvira Nabiullina, the head of the Central Bank of Russia and one of the key figures in the low-profile Russian delegation, had to cancel her trip to Davos because of the spectacular fall of the ruble (Newsru.com, January 21). In the absence of any meaningful official evaluation, it was the former finance minister, Alexei Kudrin, who attracted the most attention with a plain point regarding the inevitable continuation of downfall throughout 2016 (Vedomosti, January 22). Nothing close resembles a plan for managing this devastating contraction, and President Vladimir Putin continues trying to talk it out of existence by explaining to the business owners that the fall of the national currency opens "new opportunities" for them (Rbc.ru, January 20). His main guideline is reducing Russia's exposure to external pressure, so he has set for Russian scientists the task of developing all crucial modern technologies domestically as a matter of national security (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, January 22).

This political urge to make Russia economically self-sufficient is profoundly at odds with the reality of a globalized world, and denies the country opportunities to overcome the crisis by engaging in new international cooperative ventures (New Times, January 16). The propensity to self-isolation is reinforced by the growing realization in the West that every deal with Putin's regime is not only morally reprehensible, but also nonsensical in practical terms, because it operates on the basis of ensuring survival in the extremely short term with no strategic perspective whatsoever. The dismay and disgust toward the Kremlin reached a new high last week with the conclusion of the official inquiry in London into the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in November 2006, which established that the crime was "probably" approved by Putin (Novaya Gazeta, January 21). Moscow has resolutely dismissed this conclusion as "politicized" but there are good reasons to believe that Putin takes this verdict as a personal insult that cannot be left unanswered (Deutsche Welle, January 22).

His answer is certain to be "asymmetric" and target not the British justice system or business interests, but easier targets within reach. In this regard, it is striking that Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya's maverick and brutal master, has chosen this moment for unleashing a campaign for persecuting and punishing "traitors" who dare to criticize either the policies that Russia is pursuing or Vladimir Putin personally (Novaya Gazeta, January 20). Kadyrov is certainly an ambitious and astute politician, and his hidden agendas include such mundane matters as demands for more financial transfers, and such particular aims as the withdrawal of federal troops from Chechnya, which would grant him even greater independence to the chagrin of many siloviki (Meduza.io, January 22). He is playing very skillfully on the fears of a new wave of terrorism in the North Caucasus, portraying himself as the only effective power that is deterring this threat, and implying that his removal would trigger a new Caucasian war (Slon.ru, January 18).

Kadyrov's message-amplified in no uncertain terms at a huge rally in Grozny last Friday-certainly goes far beyond his turf and connects with deeper concerns in Russian public opinion and bureaucracy (Ezhednevny Zhurnal, January 23). He claims that in times of economic difficulties political dissent cannot be tolerated; therefore, the murder of Boris Nemtsov a year ago should be followed up by the extermination of other "enemies of the people," including Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who lays out the prospect of the coming revolution and the danger emanating from Kadyrov (Moscow Echo, January 19). Such voices cannot be stifled by the vicious state propaganda and indeed constitute a greater challenge to the regime than the extra-high yet misleading approval ratings indicate (Levada.ru, January 22). Kadyrov cries loud and clear that the time of Putinism "light" is gone and that only a firm hand can hold the country together, but Putin hopes that this exhibition of brutality will suffice to scare the wavering elites and reduce the need to secure his power through repressions, which he is not quite able to deliver (Gazeta.ru, January 22).

The key to Putin's time-stretching game is distraction, so that the deadlock in Ukraine is forgotten because of the intervention in Syria, and the shadows of political murders-old and new-are overtaken by the specter of terrorism looming over the North Caucasus. It is rather hard to believe, however, that Kadyrov's escapades, disgusting as they are, would distract the public from their fast-shrinking incomes, and the oligarchs from the investigations of their ill-gained fortunes by Western courts. The "patriotic" mobilization launched so successfully by the annexation of Crimea is dissipating, and Putin cannot find a way to reignite it by orchestrating a new victory. He is at a loss and stands at a major crossroads, where every bumpy track ahead is essentially not his, and the way back is inaccessible. In the last couple of years, he has made several risky choices, and now can neither live with the consequences nor make the logical further steps. He counts on the "muddle-through" option, but his muddling goes directly down.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
New Tensions, Old Problems on the Sino-Indian Border

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Ivan Lidarev Publication Date 21 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol China Brief Volume: 15 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, New Tensions, Old Problems on the Sino-Indian Border, 21 December 2015, China Brief Volume: 15 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7976b4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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As China deepens its economic and strategic relations with Pakistan, and makes diplomatic in-roads with Nepal and Myanmar, it is worth examining an issue that continues to mar Sino-Indian relations. The China-India border dispute has long stirred tensions between Beijing and New Delhi, in spite of regular attempts to put the border issue on the backburner. However, provocative incidents continue to occur between Chinese and Indian forces along the vaguely demarcated and often disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The latest major such incident between the two sides took place on September 11 near Burtse, situated on the far western end of the roughly 3488 kilometer (3,4883,488km) long LAC, between the Ladakh region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and Xinjiang province. After receiving information that the Chinese were constructing a hut with a camera, Indian soldiers and border police demolished the structure, in spite of Chinese attempts to push them back. This resulted in a stand-off between the two sides.

As it often happens with incidents on the border, the stand-off provoked a small storm of attention from the Indian media, but was downplayed by the Indian government and completely ignored by the Chinese one (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, September 14). Unusually, however, a week after the stand-off had ended a Chinese military spokesperson criticized India for not following border agreements (Ministry of National Defense, September 24). Eventually, the two sides called two "flag meetings" between senior officers, a mechanism for addressing border incidents at five meeting points along the LAC, and resolved the incident (Daily Excelsior, September 15). Both sides agreed to pull out their soldiers and, in what was seen as success for India, abstain from building structures on the disputed LAC.

What made the incident significant was its place and timing. The Chinese provocation took place just before the Indian Home Minster, Rajnath Singh, seen as a hawk on the territorial dispute, was scheduled to make a highly-symbolic visit to the disputed border close to the location of the incident. The minister subsequently postponed his visit to later in September (Times of India, September 13). The location of the incident was also interesting because the area around Burtse is of great strategic significance. It is close to both the G219 and G314 highways. The latter of these is better known as the Chinese part of the Karakorum highway, one of the major arteries through which Chinese aid and personnel come to Pakistan. [1] Burtse is also close to India's small but strategic Daulat Beg Oldi airbase, which New Delhi activated in 2008 to Beijing's displeasure, and not far from the site of a severe border standoff in 2013 (India Today, August 20, 2013).

The Border Dispute

The Burtse stand-off is just one of a long string of incidents which mark the decades-long border dispute. The dispute concerns three areas around the border 1) the western sector, known as Aksai Chin, which is mostly occupied by China; 2) a middle sector where there are relatively small disagreements on where the border should run; 3) and the fiercely disputed Eastern sector, which is occupied by India and largely covers the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. In the middle sector the dispute also concerns Sikkim, a strategically located Indian state which Beijing has not recognized, unequivocally, as part of India. [2]

With roots stretching back to the 19th and early 20th century, this dispute was inherited in the 1950s by the recently established People's Republic of China and a newly independent India. China's subsequent consolidation of control in Tibet resulted in the gradual souring of the Sino-Indian relationship. The nadir came in 1962, when, in response to India's seizure of territory, China attacked India and inflicted a heavy, albeit limited, defeat on Indian forces. The brief war has adversely shaped mutual perceptions to this day, and has turned the dispute into a highly sensitive issue, especially for India.

Several pushes have been made to resolve the dispute since the 1980s, most notably in 2003, when the two sides initiated the Special Representatives Talks headed by India's National Security Advisor and China's State Counsellor responsible for foreign policy, and in 2005, when the two parties agreed on a set of guidelines for resolving the dispute. [3] Nevertheless, in spite of eighteen rounds of such talks, regular declarations that both sides seek to settle the dispute, and years of work of a Joint Working Group on the boundary dispute, there has been little progress toward a final settlement. Instead, focus has increasingly shifted to managing the frequent border tensions.

A quick review of the borders would suggest that China and India can easily accept the status quo and swap their claims over Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. Nevertheless, a key obstacle is the nexus between the dispute and the issue of Tibet. Beijing's territorial claims are based on the logic that Tibet has been part of China, and India's case is founded on agreements signed by a Tibetan government and British India without Beijing's consent, particularly the 1914 Simla Accord determining the McMahon Line which delineates the eastern sector of the border. Hence, accepting a territorial swap or the legitimacy of some parts of the LAC, which is partly based on the McMahon Line, will bring up the issue of the historical status of Tibet. The Tibet question also involves another great impediment to resolving the dispute, Tawang, a border town with a Tibetan Buddhist monastery that had historically been a part of Tibet and where the next Dalai Lama could reincarnate in the future. Predictably, these characteristics have made the Indian-controlled Tawang a requirement for Beijing in any border settlement. Some analysts have additionally noted domestic constraints on both sides, strategic concerns and the potential that the two sides deliberately want to keep the dispute unresolved.

Incursions

While the border dispute cannot be resolved, it cannot be put on the backburner, either. The reason are the incidents, usually incursions, which regularly take place on the border. On average, about 400 such incidents occur every year, starting in 2012, although the number might be somewhat on the decline this year. [3] Most incidents are the result of Chinese patrolling beyond the LAC or the building of small structures, such as huts, bunkers or surveillance installations, by either side.

The last years have witnessed several major incidents. The largest was a three-week stand-off at Daulat Beg Oldi in April and May 2013 which witnessed Chinese soldiers set up tents 19 km inside India-controlled territory in the run-up to the visit of India's foreign minister to Beijing and the visit to India of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (Economic Times, May 7, 2013). When incident was resolved, in a deal about which little is known to this day, India destroyed a number of bunkers that its troops had recently built on the LAC (The Indian Express, May 13, 2013). Another standoff took place in September 2014, just before President Xi Jinping's trip to India when, in response to Indian construction of a hut with a surveillance camera on the border and the digging of a canal, Chinese soldiers moved to disputed territory in Ladakh to build a road (Times of India, September 24, 2014). An incident also took place in November when a PLA light-armored vehicle went patrolling beyond the LAC during the Indian home minister's visit to Beijing and just days before a meeting between President Xi and Prime Minister Modi at the G-20 summit in Turkey (The Hindu, November 19).

Three features characterize border incidents. First, the incidents have grown since 2007, a development which has led some analysts to connect China's behavior with the U.S.-India nuclear deal and the Tibet uprising of 2008. Second, there has been a particular increase in incidents in the western sector, usually around Ladakh. Third, larger incidents tend to precede high-ranking bilateral meetings, which might suggest that Beijing is using incursions to gain advantage in negotiations or signal its position. The last point leads to the fundamental question why China seeks to provoke border tensions. Explanations have varied from a strategy to keep India on the defensive or punish it for its closer ties with Washington, to a form of coercion on the dispute, to the provocative behavior of local Chinese commanders. Beijing, itself, often explains the incidents with the undetermined LAC, an explanation supported by some independent analysts, although Chinese observers have also sometimes suggested that Indian media deliberately exaggerates the incidents (Global Times, September 15).

Repeated attempts have been made to manage border tensions, starting with the 1993 agreement in which both sides state "No activities of either side shall overstep the line of actual control" (UN, September 7, 1993). More recently, in 2013, China and India signed the Border Defense Cooperation Agreement, which adopts measures to reduce tensions, such as flag meetings between officers at designated points, the proposed establishment of a hotline between the two regional military headquarters, on the two sides of the LAC, and prohibitions against tailing the other side's patrols (Ministry of External Affairs, October 23, 2013). In 2012, the two countries' ministries of foreign affairs also established a Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs between senior diplomats (Ministry of External Affairs, January 17, 2012). The issue has also been discussed regularly at high-level meetings, most recently during a visit to Beijing by India's home minister and during the visit of a Chinese military delegation led by Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, to New Delhi (NDTV, November 20; Ministry of National Defense, November 16). Nevertheless, neither agreements nor bilateral diplomacy have succeeded in decisively reducing tensions.

Border Infrastructure Building

Beside border incidents, which receive most media attention, border tensions are fueled by an infrastructure building race. This infrastructure building, which has accelerated dramatically in the last ten years, serves three goals: 1) integration of the disputed territories under control; 2) establishment of sovereignty through facts on the ground; and 3) setting up the necessary infrastructure for moving troops and equipment to the LAC fast, in case of armed conflict.

On the Chinese side, as part of a huge project for developing Tibet, Beijing has built a network of roads that reaches every county in Tibet and connects with four main highways, the Central Highway, the Eastern Highway, the Yunnan-Tibet Highway and the Western Highway which eventually extends into the China-Pakistan Karakoram Highway and passes through India-claimed Aksai Chin. [5] Many of the roads of this network run very close to the LAC and even beyond it (or what India claims as LAC), such as the Chip Chat Heights road in the western sector, which is four kilometers inside Indian occupied territory. [6] China plans to extend this highway network from about 70,000 km in 2013 to 110,000 km by 2020 (China Tibet Online, February 19, 2013; Xinhua, July 29, 2013). China has also been extending its rail lines up to or close to the border. One line between Lhasa and Xigaze, next to Sikkim, was completed in 2014 (with plans for extension to the border), and work has been going on lines to Yatung, next to Sikkim and the strategic Nathula Pass, and Nyingchi, on the border with Chinese-claimed Arunachal Pradesh (Xinhua, August 15, 2014). [7] Beijing has also built five airbases in the area around the borders, numerous landing strips and oil depots. [8]

Indian infrastructure building has also progressed, although at a much slower pace and from a lower starting point, due to decades-old fears that China could use infrastructure to its advantage in case of attack. Since 2006, New Delhi has initiated a major program of building 73 all-weather roads and 14 rail lines on the border. However, as of 2014, only 18 roads and none of the rail lines have been completed (Times of India, February 20, 2014). In terms of Advanced Landing Grounds, India has fared better with five airstrips operational by the end of 2014 and two more projected (New Indian Express, September 9). The slow progress on the Indian side has been attributed to bureaucratic inertia, the complex politics between the central government and the states in which the infrastructure is to be built and the fact that several different agencies work on these projects. On his visit to the border at Ladakh after the Burtse incident, Home Minister Rajnath Singh promised the prompt construction of three strategic new roads in the increasingly contested Ladakh region (The Tribune, September 23). This comes on top of a Home Ministry plan of building 27 new roads, a proposed $6 billion new highway in Arunachal Pradesh and suggestions that India might inaugurate a program of population settling in the disputed territories (Mint, October 26).

As the overview above demonstrates, China is far ahead of India in terms of building strategic infrastructure. In case of military conflict, it is estimated that China can presently transport up to 32 divisions in six weeks, along with heavy equipment, all year round and sustain them, from a previous limit of 22 divisions mobilized in six months and not during all times of the year. [9] Such a mobilization would leave Indian forces outnumbered 3:1 (Times of India, August 22, 2014). However, India has been increasingly worried by this disparity and has sought to accelerate its infrastructure building, especially as it discusses plans to raise up to two new divisions on the border, three artillery brigades and three armored brigades (The Hindu, April 30).

Conclusion

The Burtse incursion in September is one of a long string of incidents on the Sino-Indian border which often coincide with major bilateral meetings. These incidents, and the race between China and India in building border infrastructure, regularly generate tensions on the LAC and trouble Sino-Indian relations. Efforts to manage such tensions have been consistently unsuccessful. Hence, a more stable relationship between Beijing and New Delhi will require either a real breakthrough in managing border tensions or a resolution of the dispute which underlines them. Neither seems likely in foreseeable future.

Ivan Lidarev is a Ph.D. student at King's College London (KCL) and an advisor to Bulgaria's National Assembly. Ivan's research, published in The Diplomat and Eurasia Review among other publications, focuses on Chinese foreign policy, Sino-Indian relations and Asian security.

Notes

Indian media describes Indian military forces in the area around Burtse as capable of monitoring activity on the Karakorum highway. Given the distances and rough terrain, it is uncertain how accurate this information is, but could include signals intelligence.

For a brief but comprehensive presentation of the dispute see David Scott "Sino-Indian territorial issues: The Razor's Edge" in Harsh Pant (ed.) The Rise of China: Implications for India, (New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2012).

Alka Acharya "Course Correction: An Analysis of the Origins and Implications of the Sino-Indian Agreements of 2003 and 2005," China Report, May 2011, vol. 47: no. 2, pp. 159-171.

Catherine Richards, China-India: An Analysis of the Himalayan territorial dispute, Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, Australian Defence College, 2015, p.14

Mukul Raheja, "Issue Brief: China's Infrastructure Build-up in the Tibet Autonomous Region and along the Indian Border: What India Can Do" Delhi Policy Group, 2014, pp. 2-4.

Rajagopalan, Rajeswari Pillai and Prakash, Rahul "Sino-Indian Border Infrastructure: An Update", Occasional Paper No. 42, Observer Research Foundation, May 2013, pp. 6-10. http://www.orfonline.org/cms/sites/orfonline/modules/occasionalpaper/attachments/Occasional42_1369136836914.pdf

Raheja, pp. 4-5.

Sudha Ramachandran, "India's Worrying Border Infrastructure Deficit," The Diplomat, (July 19, 2014). http://thediplomat.com/2014/06/indias-worrying-border-infrastructure-deficit/. Editor: Similarly, as seen from comparison of Google Earth satellite imagery between June 2011 and February 2013, China has also built the infrastructure for a modern surface to air missile base south of Hotan (), the closest major city to western border disputes, and home to an unidentified mechanized infantry division.

Rajagopalan, pp. 10-12.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Attack in Dagestan Undermines Claims That Republic Is Stable

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Valery Dzutsati Publication Date 4 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Attack in Dagestan Undermines Claims That Republic Is Stable, 4 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 1, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7982d4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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On December 29, unidentified individuals carried out an attack at the Naryn-Kala fortress, a well-known tourist site in Derbent, Dagestan, killing a Russian border guard officer and injuring 11 other people (Lifenews.ru, December 30, 2015). The slain border guard officer was identified as Semyon Sporyshev. According to the police, the attackers first threw two hand grenades at a group of people who were visiting the fortress and then started shooting at them. The Naryn-Kala fortress is situated within the Derbent city limits, close to the republic's foothills, and the attackers used one of the hills near the fortress to launch the attack, after which they retreated into a forest. An initial investigation found that two or three members of Dagestan's Yuzhnaya (Southern) insurgent group staged the attack. The group's leader is Abutdin Khanmagomedov, a 30-year-old who joined the underground movement in the North Caucasus in 2013. In the summer of 2015, the group reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (Onkavkaz.com, December 30, 2015). According to the Lifenews news agency, which is close to the Russian security services, Khanmagomedov himself, along with 33-year-old Rajab Ismailov and 22-year-old Nariman Bashirov, took part in the attack (YouTube, December 30, 2015).

The city of Derbent is located in southern Dagestan, near the Russian-Azerbaijani border. The city's population is ethnically mixed, its two largest ethnic groups being Lezgins and Azerbaijanis. Before the latest attack, the city was not known as a particularly insecure place in the republic. What also makes this attack stand out is the fact that tourists were targeted, even though some of the victims were Russian servicemen. Although Dagestan has been plagued by an insurgency for years, the insurgents have rarely, if ever, deliberately targeted civilians, focusing instead on government officials, military and police. Civilian targets were almost always "ideological," such as fortunetellers, healers and alcohol sellers.

The Islamic State quickly claimed responsibility for the attack in Derbent, using the Telegram app. Previous Islamic State claims of responsibility for attacks have been dismissed by local observers (BBC News-Russian service, December 31, 2015). In the claim made via Telegram, insurgents affiliated with the Islamic State said the attack was directed against the Russian military and that the civilians affected were injured by accident. According to the statement, the attackers retreated to their base without losses (Kavkazsky Uzel, December 30, 2015).

Despite the Islamic State claim, the authorship of the attack is not completely clear, given that an earlier Islamic State claim of responsibility for an attack in Dagestan's Magaramkent district was dismissed by local residents and the authorities. "People get into conflict with the system, the existing order, which they do not accept," commented the well-known Russian Muslim analyst Geidar Jemal. "Then they say that they support the Islamic State because it is something popular now. Then they act. However, tying them all up to the Islamic State is totally wrong." Instead, according to Jemal, groups and individuals who are disgruntled by the social reality simply regard the Islamic State as a recognizable "brand" that they adopt as a "franchise" to achieve their own goals. According to Aleksei Malashenko, a Carnegie Moscow Center expert on Islam in Russia, the attack was probably a response to a lengthy interview that the governor of Dagestan, Ramazan Abdulatipov, gave to the Russian newspaper Vedomosti earlier in December, in which he claimed that the security situation in the republic was steadily improving (Kavkazsky Uzel, December 30, 2015).

In that interview, Abdulatipov said that 643 Dagestanis joined the Islamic State in the Middle East, while another 67 insurgents returned to civilian life in 2015. Further, the governor of Dagestan claimed that "very few extremists and members of the terrorist underground movement" are left in the republic (Vedomosti, December 24, 2015). Following the Derbent attack, Abdulatipov remained quite dismissive of the insurgents. "It must be an outburst by some of the remnants of bandit groups or those militants who have survived and continued to take revenge for the peace and tranquility that residents in Derbent enjoy. They [residents of Derbent] stroll in the evening, the streets are lit up, people are in a holiday mood, and there obviously were some who wanted to spoil that" (Novaya Gazeta, December 30, 2015).

Meanwhile, some experts say government policies in Dagestan may be contributing to the destabilization of the republic. By the end of 2015, the republican authorities adopted a much more forceful set of policies against Dagestan's Salafist community, including closing down Salafist mosques, regular police checkups of the Salafis, and attempts to replace their leaders forcibly. Although the frequency of attacks in Dagestan decreased in 2015, according to observers, the conditions that could worsen the security situation in the republic persist (Svoboda.org, December 30, 2015).

Some Dagestani experts warn that the Russian government's much advertised import substitution strategy, according to which the North Caucasus should become a major destination for Russian tourists following the rupture in Russian-Turkish relations and the suspension of flights to Egypt, is an ill-conceived idea (Kavkazskaya Politika, January 1, 2016). Given that the unusual attack in Derbent included civilian targets, the next phase of destabilization in Dagestan may take especially virulent forms. The continuing economic crisis in Russia affects impoverished regions like Dagestan particularly badly, further increasing the security risks in the republic and making it an unlikely candidate to replace Turkey and Egypt as a major destination for Russian tourists.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russia's 2015 National Security Strategy Cements Strained Ties With US

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Roger McDermott Publication Date 5 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russia's 2015 National Security Strategy Cements Strained Ties With US, 5 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a798914.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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On December 31, Russia's President Vladimir Putin signed into law the new National Security Strategy, which replaces its 2009 version. The 2015 Strategy soon prompted a cacophony of critical opinions from commentators who have highlighted the extent to which it designates the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as threats to Russia's security. However, this development is hardly surprising given the long-term deterioration of Moscow's relations with Washington and NATO, a process further driven by the 2014 crisis in Ukraine and its ongoing ramifications as well as Russia's response to the corresponding US strategy document released in February 2015. Official and expert commentary in Moscow throughout 2015, culminating in year-end reflections on Russia's strategic situation and military capabilities, all offered indications that the new strategy would note the potential risks to the state's security from the United States and its allies (Kremlin.ru, December 31, 2015).

Two events occurred in Moscow in December that articulated the political-military leadership's perspective on Russia's security and the consequent need to develop the defense system: an enlarged session of the defense ministry collegium held on December 11, and a December 14 briefing for foreign military attaches, which had featured Army-General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff. The themes and messages expressed at both events were clear and entirely consistent with the national security document later signed by Putin at the end of the year. Another common and uniting theme was the focus on terrorism and the associated promotion of the message that Moscow is battling the Islamic State through its operations in Syria, requiring broad cooperation with other partners. However, as Gerasimov, asserted in his remarks on December 14, rather than uniting against the Islamic State, Russia had instead been stabbed in the back by its international partners-referencing Turkey shooting down the Russian Su-24M bomber jet in the Turkish-Syrian border area. Gerasimov further insinuated that the US and NATO had conspired to down the Russian bomber (Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, December 18, 2015).

If paranoia over such incidents was starkly visible, Gerasimov continued to develop these themes in his detailed overview of Russia's strategic position. Most of what he told his foreign audience contained little that was new. Moscow considers the international security system to be threatened by terrorism and extremism, made worse still by NATO's "unfriendly" posture toward Russia, the continued expansion of the Alliance, as well as the activity of foreign militaries close to Russia's borders. Gerasimov also mentioned the development of new means of warfare and referred to missile defense and developing new conventional strike capabilities that can influence the strategic balance, in addition to the threat of color revolutions. He noted the increased instability in the Middle East and spent some time justifying Russia's air operations in Syria while pointing to the illegal oil flow from the Islamic State across the Syrian-Turkish border. Furthermore, Gerasimov played up the need to use high-precision cruise missile strikes against targets in Syria. Overall, his portrayal of Russia's security environment suggests Moscow sees it worsening and apportions some of the blame on the US and NATO (Mil.ru, December 14, 2015).

The question of what all this means for the future of Russia's Armed Forces and military modernization was touched upon three days earlier by Putin, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and other top brass figures during the Defense Ministry Collegium. Although this necessarily involved reflections on Russian military achievements during 2015, the top brass also elaborated priorities for 2016. The main focus for military development in 2015 was to improve the combat capabilities of the strategic nuclear forces, force groupings in the Military Districts, and the Northern Fleet; enhance the system of command and control; supply more modern weapons and platforms to strengthen the logistics apparatus; as well as improve the manning and social conditions for service personnel. An important part of the implied reform process was the creation of the Aerospace Forces (Vozdushno Kosmicheskikh Sil-VKS) on August 1, 2015, now in action over Syria (Mil.ru, December 14, 2015; Kremlin.ru, December 11, 2015).

Shoigu stated that in 2016 he expects (Kremlin.ru, December 11, 2015):

measures to strengthen the western, southwestern and Arctic strategic directions;

five Strategic Missile Troops (Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya-RVSN) regiments to go on duty equipped with modern missiles;

two Tu-160 and seven Tu-95MS bombers to be modernized;

more brigade sets of Iskander-M and Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), in addition to other surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, to be introduced for the Ground Forces;

six battalions to receive new tanks and BMP infantry fighting vehicles;

the VKS and Navy to procure 200 new or modernized aircraft;

the Navy to receive two new submarines and seven surface ships; and

the Armed Forces to be tested during the main strategic level exercise Kavkaz 2016.

Additional insight into Russia's hardened stance toward the US and its allies was provided by a documentary broadcast on Russian TV on December 20. TV journalist Vladimir Solovyov included interviews with Putin during the screening of Miroporyadok (World Order), which explored, in the words of its narrator, "what is happening with us [Russians], what sort of world we have inherited from our parents, and what sort of world we will leave to our children" (YouTube, December 20, 2015).

An assessment of Miroporyadok appeared in Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, urging caution at accepting the views of its narrator, but highlighting some of Putin's observations in the documentary. Indeed, the documentary portrays the "West" in general and the US in particular as holding an archaic worldview, which is marked by repeating Cold War cliches and seeking international dominance. Europe is seen as an arena in which the US and Russia compete. On the other hand, Putin reportedly places his worldview in observing that after the Cold War ended, new "giants" such as China appeared within the international system. Clearly, Putin sees Russia as a center of influence and strives to protect its role (Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, December 22, 2015).

While such broadcasts, like most official commentary on Russian threat assessment, contain a degree of anti-Americanism, it seems particularly rooted in how the Russian elite perceives the country's role in the future international order. Russia's strategic position, elucidated by officials during recent events, implies a belief that Moscow may be subject to US/NATO efforts to "contain" the country. In Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, analyst Alexei Ramm explored the idea that the Kremlin is engaged in a secret reform of the military that differs from the approach taken by the previous defense minister, Anatoly Serdyukov (2007-2012); the current modernization policy is now driven by the need to address attempts to contain Russia (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, December 23, 2015). Ramm believes this is evidenced by closely examining recent changes in the Russian military. If correct, the latest incarnation of "military reform" may be designed to asymmetrically break any effort to contain the Russian state.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Nazarbayev Blocks Russian TV in Kazakhstan

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Paul Goble Publication Date 5 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Nazarbayev Blocks Russian TV in Kazakhstan, 5 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a79ea54.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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In slightly over a generation, Kazakhstan has gone from being a republic in which ethnic Russians formed a plurality, to one in which ethnic Kazakhs form a two-thirds majority. But to keep that country within Russia's orbit, Moscow still counts on the fact that most urban Kazakhs speak Russian rather than Kazakh. Nonetheless, linguistic patterns in Kazakhstan are changing: Ever more Kazakhs are speaking their native tongue as well as foreign languages other than Russian. And ever more ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan are left with the choice of learning the national language or emigrating to Russia. Together, those linguistic and demographic shifts are changing Astana's political and geopolitical position.

A new Kazakhstani law, which went into effect on January 1, 2016, has thrown these changes into sharp relief. Nominally intended to protect domestic advertisers, the measure has the effect of banning Russian (and the few other non-Kazakhstani) channels from cable networks in the country. Such channels could meet the law's requirements by editing out all advertising. But doing so would mean that the owners would lose some or all of their profits and would need subsidies from Moscow to continue, subsidies that-in the current economic environment-the Russian government may not be able or willing to give (Asiarussia.ru, December 27, 2015).

About 75 percent of Kazakhstan's population, including virtually all ethnic Russians and a majority of urban Kazakhs, watch Russian-language television. Therefore, the end of these broadcasts will inevitably lead some to focus on Kazakh-language programming instead. And because this reflects President Nursultan Nazarbayev's long-standing commitment to advance the use of the national language in Kazakhstan, most citizens of this Central Asian republic will view the new law as an indication of how they should behave.

Kazakhstani political analyst Avdos Sarym, who has examined this situation, says that steps like this mean that in another decade, anyone who wants to advance in Kazakhstan will have to speak both Kazakh and Russian, rather than assume he or she can behave as in Soviet times and manage with the Russian language alone. Such a mental shift will deprive President Vladimir Putin of yet another segment of what he defines as "the Russian world" (Matritca.kz, November 28, 2015).

Most ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan even now speak only Russian, Sarym points out. If they know a second language, it is far more likely to be English than Kazakh. But "the absolute majority of Kazakhs speak both Kazakh and Russian, and an increasing share of the young speak English and Turkish. That general pattern, however, obscures the fact that the Russian-speaking segment of the population, which includes both Russians and Ukrainians, has split over the war in Ukraine and does not form "one and the same social and political stratum" in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's Ukrainians and Russians have no "common values and markers," although they may have "common fears," Sarym argues (Matritca.kz, November 28, 2015).

"The main problem" in Kazakhstan today, he continues, is that Kazakhstani society "does not have even one idea commonly recognized by the majority. In essence, today, we have two ideas, which only rarely intersect, one of which [the Soviet Russian] is declining in size while the other [the Kazakh] is unceasingly growing." The situation is changing rapidly in favor of the latter, Sarym says; the country will eventually be "Kazakh and Kazakh-speaking." And "it would be good if this Kazakh and Kazakh-speaking society mastered as well not only Russian but also English, Turkish, Chinese and other languages" (Matritca.kz, November 28, 2015).

That increasingly presents special challenges to those who, today, speak only Russian. "It is no secret," he continues, "that many of our fellow citizens still think Kazakhs are limited and that the possibilities of the Kazakh language and education are limited as well." But that is simply wrong, although it is, in fact, sustained by the current educational system. "If the current system of ignoring the Kazakh language in the school is retained, then in a short time, Russian and Slavic youth will have a choice: to be uncompetitive in the labor market in Kazakhstan or to be ready to migrate."

The shifting balance between Russian and Kazakh is already being registered in those businesses that depend on people aged 20 to 45. In that age group, Kazakh speakers predominate, and in younger cohorts, they are even more dominant. Almost 80 percent of those entering school now are ethnic Kazakhs, and they are the future customers and investors. Today, the average age of ethnic Kazakhs in Kazakhstan is 26-27; that of the Slavic residents of the country-46-47. Kazakh may not be the language of all the business community now, but it soon will be.

Another trend that matters, Sarym says, is that Kazakhs, historically a rural population-in 1986, only 3 percent of the residents of Almaty were Kazakh-are moving into the cities. In the past, that meant Sovietization and Russification, but in the future, it will surely become the basis for the formation of an urban Kazakh identity. Kazakhstani cities have not yet become "Kazakh-friendly." But if they do not become this soon, Sarym argues, there could be "collisions and problems"-not so much for the Kazakhs who, as a result of their numbers, will simply overwhelm the cities, but for the others who will find themselves embattled minorities waiting to leave.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
The Limits of Geopolitical Thinking on Belarus

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Grigory Ioffe Publication Date 5 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, The Limits of Geopolitical Thinking on Belarus, 5 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a79f034.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's visit to Moscow, which had been scheduled for November 25-26 and then postponed, eventually occurred on December 15. By most accounts, the contentious issues facing Lukashenka and his counterpart, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, were not resolved: the two sides neither agreed on the proposed Russian airbase in Belarus nor on any major new Russian loans to Belarus. Yet at the same time, a scandalous exchange between the two leaders, which was also anticipated by some observers, did not occur either. Such expectations were based on Lukashenka's evenhanded treatment of the two sides of the Russian-Turkish conflict (see EDM, December 2, 2015) and on his intransigence on the airbase issue. Rather, Lukashenka and Putin ended up signing a joint statement that the doyen of Belarusian opposition-minded journalists, Alexander Klaskovsky, referred to as "about nothing" (Naviny.by, December 15, 2015). Moreover, Putin awkwardly ascertained the "closeness of the two countries' standpoints on such topical themes as the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis and the fight against international terrorism in Syria" (Tut.by, December 16, 2015). In Moscow, "closeness" of positions is routinely underscored whenever Brazil or India is concerned; but when it comes to Russia's closest allies, the usual template for press releases is "unanimity" not closeness.

A second awkward moment occurred when Putin exclaimed, at the beginning of his televised meeting with Lukashenka, that "you are coming on your first post-election meeting to Russia, just as we have long agreed." In fact, however, after Lukashenka's original scheduled visit to Moscow was canceled, the Belarusian leader had traveled to Vietnam and Turkmenistan. Lukashenka's trip to Russia, then, was his third foreign visit after last October's elections (Tut.by, December 16, 2015).

According to Klaskovsky, Lukashenka's concession on the airbase issue would damage his image as the country's single master, spoil Belarus's improving relations with the West, as well as diminish Minsk's chances of receiving a much-needed loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (Naviny.by, December 15, 2015). The implication here is that Belarus remains within Russia's sphere of influence, but not nearly as listlessly as before. A recent article by the Belarusian political scientist Yury Tsarik in the major daily Belarus Segodnya drives this point home to an unprecedented level.

In his article titled, "The Union of Belarus and Russia under a condition of 'a new containment'-how is this possible?" Tsarik argues that the use of containment has returned to international politics. Unlike during the Cold War, however, now the containment strategy is being implemented by multiple actors against a number of different targets. Thus, the West wants to contain Russia, which "for the first time in many years committed an act of annexation of territory from another sovereign state and [] continues to call into question that state's territorial integrity." At the same time, the United States and the countries of Southeast Asia try their best to contain China in the Asian-Pacific region. Furthermore, the Sunni states of the Middle East are trying to contain Iran, and Russia has been attempting to contain China in Central Asia. The second major point of Tsarik's article is that the role of Belarus in containing Russia is twofold. On the one hand, he says, Minsk should reject Moscow's intention to deploy military infrastructure in Belarus that would boost Russia's pressure on Ukraine. That way, Belarus would deny the legitimacy of this element of Russia's foreign policy. On the other hand, however, Belarus should remain Russia's ally and support the latter's actions in all cases except those that jeopardize international security. Obviously, such a Belarusian position would not be to everybody's liking within Russia, where claims are often made that sooner or later Belarus will have to "pick a side" (Belarus Segodnya, December 23, 2015).

Indeed choosing sides appears to be a true obsession of Belarus watchers in both the East and the West. Yet another confirmation of this can be found in an interview by Arkady Moshes, who directs programs devoted to Russia and the European Union at the Finnish Institute of International Relations. According to Moshes, nothing is likely to prevent the complete removal of the presently suspended sanctions on Belarus by the European Union in February, when the term of those sanctions expires. At the same time, however, it is now too late for Lukashenka to entirely sever Belarus's bonds with Russia, especially since nobody is willing to step in to replace Moscow as Minsk's major aid donor. Interestingly enough, Moshes appears to seriously believe that such a separation was still possible prior to the Belarusian presidential elections of 2010, which were widely criticized by the West (Svaboda.org, December 24, 2015).

In the meantime, Belarus's relations with the United States reached a new high on December 16, when a Belarusian delegation took part in the meetings of the second Working Group for Democracy and Human Rights in Washington, with two deputy assistant secretaries of state and the USAID deputy assistant administrator participating. A more cool and composed report about the meeting can be read in the Belarusian government sources (e.g.: Belta, December 21, 2015), and a less dispassionate one in the US government's description (State.gov, December 18, 2015).

In conclusion, it seems that while the geopolitical thinking about Belarus still relentlessly concludes with expectations of the country ultimately "picking a side," this is something that Minsk itself is opposed to equally persistently. As Klaskovsky put it, Belarus continues to maintain its inconceivable fence-sitting position. Evidently, a self-imposed task for Minsk is to make this position not only conceivable but a matter of course for this highly atypical East European country.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russia Decides Who the Terrorists Are

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Stephen Blank Publication Date 6 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russia Decides Who the Terrorists Are, 6 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 3, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a79f574.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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At the end of 2015, an unnamed Kremlin official announced that Moscow was now sharing intelligence about the Islamic State with the Afghan Taliban, even though the Taliban remains on the Russian list of terrorist organizations. Predictably the Taliban denied the assertion (Russianews.net, December 26, 2015). But none of this appears to have been picked up by the Russian-language media. It might not be surprising that Moscow does not want Russians to know it is collaborating with one terrorist organization against another, especially in view of the sensitivity in Russia and Central Asia to anything having to do with Afghanistan. But there also have been no Russian denials about this issue, so it is safe to assume such a Russian-Taliban collaboration may indeed be taking place.

Former French leader Charles De Gaulle once remarked that states are "cold monsters." It, therefore, should perhaps be unsurprising that Moscow is pursuing its own brand of divide-and-conquer policies in this case. Nevertheless, the aforementioned announcement casts a stark, if not lurid, light on Russia's anti-terrorism policies.

Since Moscow began its military intervention in Syria, it has endlessly trumpeted the idea that it is solely there to fight the Islamic State and terrorists. President Vladimir Putin and his government, dating back to the wars in Chechnya in the 1990s and early 2000s, have been equally adamant that one cannot not distinguish between "good" and "bad" terrorists. Yet, that is exactly what Moscow appears to be doing here. Moreover, this policy characterizes Russia's approach across the board, not only in Afghanistan. For the last several months, Russian-sponsored terrorists have been conducting terrorist bombings in Kharkiv, Kherson and Odesa (UNIAN, December 26, 2015; Khpg.org, June 1, 2015). Similarly, in Syria, as many observers have repeatedly pointed out, the vast majority of Russian attacks have not been against the Islamic State. Finally, in Gaza, Russia has never branded either Hamas or Hezbollah as terrorists even though they, especially Hamas, are still conducting terrorist operations and periodic missile launches against Israel. Indeed, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal has repeatedly visited Moscow, and his organization considers Russia's recognition of Hamas as a "breakthrough for the movement (Al-monitor, June 5, 2014).

To be sure, there can be no doubt of Russia's professed alarm about the Islamic State. Russia's new National Security Strategy, announced on December 31, 2015 (see EDM, January 4, 5, 2016), clearly labels terrorism as a major threat to Russia (Kremlin.ru, December 31, 2015). Furthermore, in 2014, Russia announced the creation of five regional defense headquarters in Russia to work alongside the national defense headquarters and coordinate all government agencies against terrorism, among other threats (Interfax, December 16, 2014). Finally, it bears noting that Russian concern about a potential victory in Afghanistan by terrorists goes back years, and Moscow is now offering 100,000 AK-47s to the Afghan government for use in its security and counter-terrorism operations (Thefronteirpost.com, December 31, 2015)

Yet, it remains clear that Moscow's policy specifically distinguishes between terrorists who serve Russian interests and those who do not, with the latter being subject to endless stigmatization if not physical attack. In addition, it is clear from the war in Ukraine, and from Russia's earlier efforts to threaten Georgia prior to their August 2008 war, that terrorism is a legitimate instrument of state policy for the Kremlin. The mysterious apartment bombings in Moscow of 1999 have never been solved. But an enormous amount of evidence points to FSB involvement in those operations to provoke a war against Chechnya and catapult Putin into the presidency (see North Caucasus Weekly, January 21, 2004; see EDM June 30, 2015). More recently, a former KGB agent has claimed that Putin initiated the plan that led to the bombing of a Russian flight from Sharm El-Sheikh last fall, killing 224 people to justify the war with Syria (The Daily Mail, December 25, 2015)

Although no definitive proof exists in either of these two last cases, there is little doubt that Moscow, in practice, views the use of terrorism as wholly instrumental and that its hypocrisy reflects a deeply ingrained policy approach. Certainly, as illustrated by Russia's numerous military exercises, it does not hesitate to proclaim a terrorist scenario to conceal or cover up exercises whose real purpose is large-scale conventional war and/or the invasion of neighboring countries (see "Russia's Zapad 2013 Military Exercise: Lessons for Baltic Regional Security," The Jamestown Foundation, December 2015). Consequently observers should not be unduly surprised that Moscow publicly leaked the story of its intelligence collaboration with the Taliban, even as it is providing arms to the Afghan government to fight them. In reality, such opportunism is the hallmark of Russian policy, and there is no reason to expect any fundamental change in 2016, even as Moscow shouts its anti-terrorist credentials in Syria from the rooftops.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Tatarstan's President Defies Kremlin Efforts to Unite Russians against Another Common 'Enemy'

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Valery Dzutsati Publication Date 6 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Tatarstan's President Defies Kremlin Efforts to Unite Russians against Another Common 'Enemy', 6 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 3, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a79fd34.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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An unexpected result of Russia's aggressive foreign policy in the Middle East has been Tatarstan's opposition to the decision to cut ties with Turkey. After a Turkish F-16 downed a Russian warplane that allegedly crossed from Syria into Turkey's airspace last November, President Vladimir Putin vowed to punish Ankara for what he called "backstabbing." The Russian government then severed economic ties with Turkey, officially imposing sanctions in two separate presidential decrees (Gazeta.ru, November 28, 2015 and Lenta.ru, December 28, 2015). The sanctions ended or restricted the activities of Turkish companies and companies owned by Turkish citizens in Russia, imposed a visa regime, and restricted exports and imports between the two countries. Since Russia itself is under sanctions by the Western countries for the annexation Crimea and the aggressive covert war in eastern Ukraine, some experts say that Russian economic sanctions against Turkey will harm Russia more than Turkey (Bfm.ru, November 29, 2015).

It comes as no surprise that many Russian consumers are unhappy about the business restrictions imposed by the Russian government on Turkey. However, what came as a shock to many observers was the open opposition to Vladimir Putin by a leader of one of Russia's regions-Tatarstan's President Rustam Minnikhanov. On December 21, Minnikhanov told journalists that Turkish businesses would continue to operate in the republic, contradicting not only Putin's decrees targeting Turkish businesses, but also the hysterical anti-Turkish media campaign in Russia. Minnikhanov tried to avoid a direct collision with Moscow by skillfully reinterpreting Putin's own words. "I can refer to what our president said, that Turkey is a friendly nation," Minnikhanov said. "For Tatars, the Turks are a brotherly people. We belong to the same language group and to the same religion. What the president said is a very serious support for us, because we have large Turkish investment projects. They have believed in our president." Tatarstan's president estimated Turkish investments in his republic at $1.5 billion and said he expected more Turkish investment. Interestingly, Minnikhanov went even further in criticizing Russian government policies, especially the persistent anti-American propaganda campaign. "I am prepared to be friends with everybody who invests into Tatarstan," he said. "Skin color, nationality, religion do not matter! They say that Americans do not like us. They built two factories here in our special economic zone and everything is fine, we work together well" (Rbc.ru, December 22, 2015).

Tatarstan's muted diatribe against the Kremlin's policies was the first vivid signal of brewing tensions between Vladimir Putin and Russia's regional elites. One Soviet apologist even expressed fears that Tatarstan might do to the Russian Federation what Ukraine did to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)-namely. initiate the process of its dismantlement (Forum-msk.org, January 5). Tatarstan is evidently the champion of regionalism in Russia, with the resources to preserve its autonomy. Tatarstan's governor still has the official title of "president," even though Moscow tried to change his title to "head," as in Russia's other republics. Tatarstan essentially ignored the Russian federal law that explicitly prohibits regional governors from using the title "president" (Gazeta.ru, December 30, 2015).

Tatar intellectuals remain hopeful that Russian-Turkish relations will become normal again after a relatively brief deterioration. " 'Enemy Number One' in Russia comes and goes quickly," said Rafael Khakimov, an analyst and political activist in Kazan. "By next summer, the tensions will likely dissipate" (Svoboda.org, January 5).

The optimism of Tatars about Russian-Turkish relations may be premature because the conflict continues to develop, and neither Vladimir Putin nor Recep Erdogan of Turkey appears willing to back down. Russia's retreat from the Middle East would probably create the conditions for reconciliation between the two countries, but it would also be seen as a defeat in Russia, especially if the Syrian regime falls. At the same time, Turkey has been a major destination for Russian tourists, so the Russian government will be under pressure next summer to reopen travel to Turkey. No other country exists to replace Turkey as a summer destination for Russian tourists, especially given the fact that Egypt has also become off limits since a bomb exploded on a Russian airliner flying from an Egyptian resort to Russia last October.

The surprise backlash from Tatarstan's president indicates that the patience of Russian regional elites, and possibly the Moscow elites, is wearing thin. The elites must have thought that the economic situation in Russia would improve quickly, but it is becoming worse and is projected to deteriorate further. Under these conditions, Putin's strategy for political survival is to pretend that Russia is surrounded by enemies and the people need to "rally around flag." This strategy, however, does not seem to be working, according to well-known Kremlin critic Andrei Piontkovsky (Svoboda.org, January 5), because Russians in general are not prepared to shoulder financial burdens for causes that seem increasingly dubious and unworthy. The stance of Tatarstan's president is one of the boldest signals to the Kremlin to date that Russian regions are unhappy with the country's political course, which is leading to collisions with nearly every power in its neighborhood.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Gaspari elected HAK, thats why he demands from it

Civic activist Vardges Gaspari has difficulty in saying whether after his action the lawmakers of Armenian National Congress (the HAK) Aram Manukyan and Stepan Demirchyan decided to visit Nubarashen prison in order to meet Hayk Kyureghyan, who was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment for firing air pistol, and member of the Founding Parliament Gevorg Safaryan. I fulfilled my obligation as a citizen and a voter. I have a right to demand it, Vardges Gaspari told A1+. To remind, on January 21 Vardges Gaspari held protest action near the house of Stepan Demirchyan. He demanded from the lawmaker to visit the prison and inquire about the problems of Gevorg Safaryan and Hayk Kyureghyan. He complained of the inactivity of Stepan Demirchyan, Member of the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, in this case. I regret to say that I havent seen anyone turn to his lawmaker with any demand; it is only personal. I clearly have that demand and consequently will continue presenting demands to the lawmakers, so that they will be active in the issue of human rights and always remember that it isnt a honorary title, it is a job, says Gaspari. He also adds that the Rule of Law (OEK), Dashnaktsutyun also arent active in the issue of protection of human rights, but he didnt elect them, he elected the HAK.
Ukraine Stops Power Supply to Russian-Annexed Crimea

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Oleg Varfolomeyev Publication Date 6 January 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Ukraine Stops Power Supply to Russian-Annexed Crimea, 6 January 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 3, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a04e4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Shortly before its residents rang in the New Year, the Russian-annexed peninsula of Crimea again found itself entirely without Ukrainian electricity. As in November, this was caused by unidentified saboteurs who blew up a power transmission line tower in Ukraine's Kherson province, which borders Crimea. However, this time, Kyiv is unlikely to restore the power supply. First, Ukraine's electricity contract with Russia regarding supplying Crimea has expired, and both Kyiv and Moscow are reluctant to sign a new one for political reasons. And second, Crimea depends on power from mainland Ukraine to a much lesser extent than in November, as Russia in December boosted its own supplies to the occupied peninsula and flew in power generators.

A fallen electricity pylon was discovered by emergency crews near the Ukrainian town of Kakhovka in the early hours of December 31 (112.ua, December 31, 2015). As in November, Ukrainian activists were most probably behind the blast, and the Ukrainian security service has been reportedly questioning members of the far-right paramilitary group Right Sector (Hromadske.tv, January 4, 2016). Ukraine quickly repaired the pylon and the transmission line. But the power supply was not restored (112.ua, January 1, 2016), because the Russian-Ukrainian contract on supplying electricity to Crimea expired on December 31, and no new contract has been signed.

In December 2014, when Crimea could not survive without Ukrainian power, Moscow coerced Kyiv into signing the contract. Kyiv agreed to continue sending power to Crimea, which had been illegally annexed by Russia in March 2014, in return for Russia agreeing to supply electricity to Eastern Ukraine, which was short of power because of the war with Moscow-backed militants there. However, as of the end of 2015, Ukraine no longer needs Russian electricity-both because some infrastructure was restored in the east thanks to the ceasefire, and because power consumption fell in Ukraine in 2015, due to the economic recession and thanks to a warm fall and winter (UNIAN, December 15, 2015).

Consequently, Kyiv sees no economic need for new electricity agreements with Russia. In early December, no longer fearing retribution from Russian power suppliers, Kyiv restored the electricity flow to Crimea through only one of the four power lines that had been damaged in November. Pro-Moscow militants in the Donbas area stopped coal deliveries to Ukrainian power plants in response, but Ukraine had managed to already store enough coal for the winter, so there was no immediate damage to the economy (BBC News-Ukrainian service, November 27, 2015; Rian.com.ua, December 8, 2015).

Politically, Kyiv feels the urge to punish Moscow and pro-Moscow Crimeans for the annexation. Therefore, police did not interfere when Ukrainian (including far-right groups) and Crimean Tatar activists prevented emergency crews from fixing the exploded power pylons in Kherson province for two weeks in late November and early December. On November 23, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk urged prosecutors to punish those who wrote up the Crimean power contract because in its wording, he said, it provided for supplies to a federal district of Russia, rather than to the Ukrainian Crimean Autonomous Republic (Pravda.com.ua, November 23, 2015). Kyiv supports the view expressed by the Crimean Tatar leaders in exile, Mustafa Cemilev and Refat Chubarov, who are members of President Petro Poroshenko's faction in parliament. They argue that if a new contract is signed with Russia, it must provide for power supply to a "Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory," rather than to a "federal district of Russia" (Interfax-Ukraine, December 30, 2015).

Russia is not prepared to back down, however. During the severe blackout in November, it flew in power generators from across the Kerch Strait in order to cover basic power needs. It also laid several power cables across the strait to Crimea in December-the so-called "energy bridge" (see EDM, December 14, 2015). As a result, Crimea's dependence on Ukrainian electricity quickly fell to around 25 percent from 70-80 percent. Furthermore, Moscow claims that there will be no need for Ukrainian electricity in Crimea at all after May 2016, when more power cables will link Krasnodar territory to Crimea (Kommersant, December 21, 2015; UNIAN, December 24, 2015).

For the time being, however, Crimea relies on Ukrainian electricity, so the Kremlin has been busy shaping public opinion in order to justify the recurrent blackouts. Sergey Aksyonov, the flamboyant Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, said in December that he shared the opinions of the numerous Crimeans who wrote to him on social networks that power purchases from Ukraine should be stopped (Gazetacrimea.ru, December 8, 2015). Shortly afterwards, Vladimir Putin instructed the government not to sign a new power contract on Crimea with Ukraine (Gazeta.ru, December 9, 2015). Most recently, Kremlin pollsters reported that 93.1 percent of Crimean residents did not want a new power contract with Ukraine, if this document referred to Crimea as part of Ukraine, rather than part of Russia. The poll was conducted by Moscow-based WCIOM, apparently within hours after receiving orders from Putin, which raises doubts about its accuracy (TASS, January 1, 2016).

Meanwhile, the most recent cold wave has again caused two million Crimeans deprived of Ukrainian power to suffer. As of January 3, Crimea was running on 930 megawatts of electricity, including 417 megawatts supplied from Krasnodar territory, compared to 1,350 megawatts needed, according to a representative of the Russian emergencies ministry (RIA Novosti, January 3, 2016). Almost certainly, Crimeans are in for a harsh winter if Russia and Ukraine do not come to a new agreement soon.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russian Sanctions Against Turkey Show That Circassians Are Among Russia's Priority Targets

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Valery Dzutsati Publication Date 14 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 223 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russian Sanctions Against Turkey Show That Circassians Are Among Russia's Priority Targets, 14 December 2015, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 223, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a1744.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Russia-Turkey relations appear to be deteriorating further after last month's downing of a Russian warplane on the border between Turkey and Syria. At a meeting with Russian defense ministry officials on December 11, President Vladimir Putin warned against "provocations" against the Russian military in Syria and signaled that Russian military forces would step up their activities in the region and not hesitate to challenge other actors in the region. "I order you to act very tough," he said. "Any targets that threaten Russia's military or our ground infrastructure [in Syria] are to be destroyed immediately." Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stressed the strength of Russia's nuclear arsenal and the determination to develop them further (Kremlin.ru, December 11). Meanwhile, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey's patience was wearing thin (Gazeta.ru, December 11), and an incident involving a Russian military ship and a Turkish civilian fishing vessel took place in the Aegean Sea (Gazeta.ru, December 13).

Even though many experts say that an actual military clash between Russia and Turkey is unlikely, a struggle between the two countries by other means is likely to continue for quite some time. Russia has so far imposed economic sanctions on Turkey, cutting Turkish imports; and Moscow announced that Turkish citizens will require a visa to visit Russia starting on January 1, 2016. The Circassians are among the underreported victims of the souring relations between Turkey and Russia. There are several million members of the Circassian diaspora in Turkey. Many Circassians in Turkey and in the North Caucasus want to establish closer ties between the two communities, but after the collision between Moscow and Ankara, their modest attempts to improve ties have been cut short.

A large part of the Circassian diaspora in Turkey was hoping to resolve Circassian issues, such as language instruction and repatriation, through cooperation with Moscow and therefore tried to maintain relatively friendly relations with the Russian authorities. The latest round of sanctions, however, antagonized even the moderates among the Circassian activists in Turkey. According to an article written by Fehim Tastekin, large celebrations in 2014 of the 150th anniversary of the Circassians' defeat by Russia and expulsion from their homeland to the Ottoman Empire, prompted conciliatory Russian moves, with Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov meeting with Circassian activists in Turkey and promising to resolve their problems. The Circassians in Turkey primarily wanted to improve their access to the North Caucasus, including the right to repatriate. However, Russian authorities did not actually want to make peace with the Circassians, but rather manipulate them and ultimately defeat the Circassian movement. The International Circassian Association (ICA), which was originally created in the early 1990s by the FSB, became an instrument for Russian officials to manipulate Circassians in Turkey and elsewhere. In Turkey, the group KAFFED (Kafkas Dernekleri Federasyonu) partnered with the ICA, but has come under increasing criticism for doing so (Caucasreview.com, December 9).

In addition, the Russian authorities did not deem it necessary to treat KAFFED's leaders particularly well. When KAFFED leader Yasar Aslankaya visited Kabardino-Balkaria in 2014, he was constantly followed by the agents of the Russian security services and was warned that the authorities might bar him from visiting the North Caucasus again. The details of the unspoken deal between KAFFED and Moscow can be seen in the indignant statement that the leadership of the organization allegedly handed over to the Russian ambassador in Turkey: "Not only have you failed to deliver on your promises, but now our people are faced with threats and bullying in the [North] Caucasus. Russia does not tolerate any criticism. And when we keep silent, we keep losing our support base. If you are not going to solve our problems, we will take our demands to international platforms. Even the students that we sent to the [North] Caucasus now receive smaller scholarships. This cannot continue. Russia must acknowledge the historical tragedy of the Circassians and remove barriers for repatriation to their homeland" (Caucasreview.com, December 9).

Apparently, one way for the Russian government to pacify the Circassian activists in Turkey was to buy their benevolence by allowing lucrative deals for some businesses. However, Moscow's nearly all-out economic warfare against Turkey means that Turkish Circassians are being targeted along with other Turkish citizens. Thus, the Circassian groups in Turkey that tried to find common language with Moscow and possibly received preferential treatment from Moscow have seemingly lost any incentive to maintain close relations with the Russian government. Following Putin's reaction to the downing of the Russian military jet in Turkey, the University of Adygea was among the first universities in Russia to announce it had unilaterally suspended ties with its Turkish counterparts (Yuga.ru, November 27). University officials in Kabardino-Balkaria reassured its Turkish students that they could continue their studies. However, it was unclear whether there would be any other cooperation between the university and Turkish universities (Kbsu.ru, December 8). Russia has recalled teachers of Circassian from Turkey, signaling that Circassian diaspora ties are among its priority targets (Natpressru.info, December 11).

The tensions between Russia and Turkey are negatively impacting Circassian cross-border ties. At the same time, however, the conflict between the two countries may make Circassian activists more realistic about Russia's true intentions toward them.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
The Crimean Blockade: An Unfinished Saga

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Oleksandr Gavrylyuk Publication Date 14 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 223 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, The Crimean Blockade: An Unfinished Saga, 14 December 2015, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 223, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a1c04.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Crimea, which had almost faded from the global political agenda following Russia's ensuing military operations, first in Eastern Ukraine and then in Syria, has again reemerged in the headlines.

Despite the Russian occupation, the annexed peninsula continued to receive all its critical goods, services and power from mainland Ukraine, largely uninterrupted until this fall. But on September 20, Crimean Tatars, backed by Ukrainian activists (particularly, those from the Right Sector and other patriotic organizations, as well as volunteers), started blocking food supplies imported from Ukraine to Crimea across a narrow land bridge (see EDM, October 2). Then, four power line pylons supplying the occupied peninsula with electricity were blown up in Ukraine's Kherson Region, close to the Crimean border, on November 22. Although the activists refused to accept responsibility for the damage, they initially prevented the towers from being repaired (Ukraine Today, November 27). Most recently, Lenur Islyamov, the Crimean Tatars' actions coordinator, suggested that possible next steps in their campaign against Russia's annexation of their homeland could include halting gas, water and maritime access to Crimea (Openrussia.org, November 30).

While activists said their ultimate goal was to return Crimea to Ukraine, their immediate demand was that Russia free several internationally recognized Ukrainian (pilot Nadiya Savchenko and filmmaker Oleg Sentsov) and Crimean Tatar (Mejlis member Akhtem Chiygoz) political prisoners as well as end political repression on the peninsula (Deutsche Welle-Russian service, September 21).

Crimea can cover just about 30 percent of its power needs on its own, while Ukraine had traditionally handled the rest. So since the beginning of the electricity blockade, Russia has intensified laying underwater electricity cables to the peninsula from Russia's Krasnodar Territory (Northern Caucasus). On December 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a special visit to the peninsula to inaugurate the "energy bridge" across the Kerch Strait (RIA Novosti, December 2). According to Putin, the project's first phase will reach its full 200-megawatt capacity by early January 2016, and a second phase of identical capacity is scheduled to come online in December of next year. Putin pledged the bridge would be gradually upgraded to meet Crimea's total demand of 1,100 megawatts (Kerch-most.ru, December 3).

However, after much fanfare, the energy bridge faced numerous "disruptions" virtually as soon as it was put into operation (Joinfo.ua, December 5). Electricity from Russia to Crimea flowed for only a few hours at a time and often became interrupted due to excessive demand, caused by increasingly harsh winter weather conditions. Heating works in only 60 percent of Crimea's residential buildings.

According to energy expert Mykhailo Gonchar, the president of the Kyiv-based Strategy XXI Center, neither Crimea's easternmost city of Kerch nor neighboring Krasnodar Territory, in the Russian Federation, have the infrastructure necessary to properly transmit power to the occupied peninsula. It could take months or years to build it. "The energy bridge might be a true utopia," he said (Istochnik.info, July 21).

In the meantime, Russia has shipped more than 700 mobile generators to Crimea and declared it was ready to transport oil to the peninsula by sea. Notably, Russian authorities have also shipped mobile wide-screen television vans to darkened Crimea to maintain propaganda-rich television broadcasts from Moscow. "They are going to have electricity as expensive as gold," Crimean Tatar Mejlis chairman Refat Chubarov commented (Segodnya.ua, December 1).

The Russian Communist Party's proposal to use the Black Sea fleet's submarines to supply power to Crimea lent a phantasmagoric color to the discussion (Flashcrimea.com, November 29). Still, the most absurd statement came from Vladimir Konstantinov, the chairman of the Kremlin-backed State Council of Crimea: "We have heard that many newborn girls [since the black-out] have been given the name of Sveta [Russian 'svet' means 'light']. So there has appeared an absolutely bright idea to give newborn boys the name of Generator," he said at a State Council meeting (Flashcrimea.com, December 4).

"Even if Ukraine decides to resume power supply [to the peninsula], we shall not accept it at any price," declared Konstantinov's long-time associate and Crimea's self-proclaimed head, Sergey Aksyonov, on December 7. He confirmed his and his "fellow-citizens' determination to get rid of everything Ukrainian" (C-inform.info, December 7). Later that same day, however, one power line linking Ukraine's Kherson Region and Crimea resumed operation. Crimean Tatars had decided to ease their protest in order allow the reconnection of two districts of Kherson to the power grid, after which the Right Sector entirely withdrew from the action. Aside from the two districts, the Kakhovka-Tytan overhead power line supplies electricity to the two Crimea-based chemical processing plants (Crimean Titan and Crimean Soda) controlled by the Ukrainian-Russian gas baron Dmitry Firtash.

Interestingly, earlier this month, Ukrainian member of parliament Igor Kononenko (Petro Poroshenko Bloc) had warned the Ukrainian people that the electricity blockade of Crimea could result in the halt of coal supplies from Russia and subsequent winter black-outs all over Ukraine (112.ua, December 5). That looming background threat motivated some observers to suggest the possibility of Kyiv and Moscow striking a backroom deal. Indeed, in the opinion of Russian historian Valeriy Solovey, a professor at the Moscow International Relations Institute, Kyiv agreed to resume electricity supplies to Crimea in exchange for resumed Russian coal shipments to Ukraine (Facebook.com, accessed December 11).

Having lasted for a little more than two weeks, the electricity blockade has thus now been suspended. According to their coordinator, Lenur Islyamov, the activists were being pressured by both Ukrainian and Western governments to prevent a "humanitarian catastrophe" in Crimea. Now, the issue will wait to be settled by January 1, 2016, when the Russo-Ukrainian contract on the power supply to the peninsula expires. "If the Ukrainian parliament does not prolong the agreement, we will continue the action," he said. "We would like to be supported by the Ukrainian Rada deputies" (Interfax, December 8).

So on the one hand, the blockade organizers have failed to achieve their primary stated goals, as Russia has not released any of the political prisoners while repressions on the peninsula have not stopped. Still the very fact of the blockade has revitalized the Crimean question and raised it back up to the national and global level. And perhaps even more importantly, the action has demonstrated Crimea's critical dependence on mainland Ukraine, which Russia has yet to be able to overcome.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Armenia Facing Demographic Collapse

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Paul Goble Publication Date 15 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 224 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Armenia Facing Demographic Collapse, 15 December 2015, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 224, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a20c4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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" 'All progressive humanity' is concerned by the periodic reports about the disappearance of this or that type of plant or animal, [but] we are much less concerned about the disappearance of nations and nationalities," Armenian expert Gevork Pogosyan says. Yet, as the post-Soviet period demonstrates, that can happen even to larger nations that have lost population numbers as a result of declining birthrates and increasing outmigration and assimilation (see EDM, December 11). One such country now facing a demographic collapse is Armenia, whose population has dropped by nearly 1.5 million since 1991 and is projected to decline by that much again over the next several decades (Kavkazoved.info, December 6).

Such declines call into question the long-term survival of Armenians as a nation, the director of the Yerevan Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law suggests. But more immediately, they have significant security implications given that those leaving Armenia are the most educated portion of the population rather than the working class. And furthermore, Armenia remains locked in a conflict with its neighbor, Azerbaijan, over Karabakh and the other Armenian-occupied territories of Azerbaijan. But like the other Muslim republics of the former Soviet space, Azerbaijan is experiencing rapid population growth and is predicted to continue to do so for some time to come.

Between 1920 and 1991, Pogosyan says, Armenia's population rose from 880,000 to approximately five million; but after 1991, it began to lose population and will continue to do so. In part, this reflects the decline in the birthrate by 50 percent over that period; but to a greater extent, it is the product of outmigration, something many Armenians thought might be temporary but which is proving to be permanent. "Hundreds of thousands have left, but only a handful have returned," Pogosyan notes. And because it is the young who are leaving most often, the number of women in prime childbearing age groups is falling, which will push the population down even more, perhaps to only 1.5 million by mid-century. Moreover, that population will be far "grayer" than the current one.

Some of this reflects the real absence of opportunities in Armenia, the Yerevan scholar argues. But part of it signifies a spiritual crisis in which Armenians increasingly feel that they and their children have no future in a country that is locked in what appears to be a permanent, if undeclared, war and whose government has done little to fight domestic corruption or crime. The authorities, meanwhile, have often reacted with indifference to this trend or even welcomed it: One former prime minister said that if Armenians were not leaving the country in massive numbers, there would be a revolt at home.

If the problem is to be addressed, Pogosyan says, the government must first admit that the problem exists, something it has not been willing to do; and it must then adopt policies intended to change the existing national psychology. At the same time, it must recognize that some of the things it is doing to save the Armenian economy may be destroying the country's demographic future. Entering the Eurasian Economic Union, for example, will make it even easier for Armenians to leave their country and never return. It is already the case, he says, that there are almost as many ethnic Armenians in Russia as there are in Armenia.

Moreover, he continues, it is not just a question of gross numbers. If many international guest workers from Muslim republics are low-skilled people, between 55 and 60 percent of Armenians leaving to work elsewhere are highly trained professionals. That further depresses the future of Armenia. And this trend gives no sign of easing. According to research his institute has done, Pogosyan says, "up to 40 percent of young people are set on leaving the country, either to study, for to work, or to live there and marry. This is a very bad symptom."

Yerevan cannot hope to stop outmigration, Pogosyan asserts, but what it must do if the nation is to have a future is to promote "circular migration," in which Armenians go abroad for part of their lives and then return to Armenia. That is the pattern in Europe, and Yerevan must take steps to make it the pattern in Armenia as well. At the same time, it must do more to attract Armenians from the eight-million-strong Armenian diaspora. To date, however, Yerevan has not been doing that. For example, he says, it has taken in only 7,000 Armenians from Syria out of an Armenian community there of 150,000.

But the situation is even worse than those figures suggest, Pogosyan states, because many of the Syrian Armenians who have come to Armenia are using it as a way station until they can move to Europe or the United States. He says he has a neighbor from Syria, a doctor with his own clinic in Armenia. But now that neighbor is selling his clinic and apartment and planning to move to France. He and his family "lived in Armenia only a year, and you already cannot keep him" there. "That is the reality" of Armenian life now; as a result, the scholar says, "depopulation continues."

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Moscow's Insistence on Micro-Managing Dagestan Is Destabilizing the Republic

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Valery Dzutsati Publication Date 16 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 225 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Moscow's Insistence on Micro-Managing Dagestan Is Destabilizing the Republic, 16 December 2015, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 225, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a2574.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Dagestani experts are sounding the alarm about a rise in ethnic tensions in the republic. Some analysts see Dagestan's current governor, Ramazan Abdulatipov, as the culprit in the rising tensions because the republic's Avar majority is receiving preferential treatment. The irony is that Moscow has long considered Abdulatipov to be an expert on ethnic issues in the Russian Federation.

Abdulatipov's career was tightly tied to inter-ethnic relations, which were always closely monitored in the Soviet Union. In 1988, Abdulatipov moved to Moscow from Dagestan and became a consultant with the Department for Ethnic Relations at the Soviet Communist Party's Central Committee. Abdulatipov was then elected to lead the Nationalities Council of the Supreme Council of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR). In 1997, Abdulatipov became Russia's deputy prime minister for nationalities affairs. Abdulatipov's career in the Russian federal government rose further the following year, when he was appointed minister for nationalities policies. However, soon after Vladimir Putin came to power, Abdulatipov's career tumbled as Moscow opted to use crude force to subdue the North Caucasus and, at the same time, excluded the North Caucasians from power at the federal level (Onkavkaz.com, December 10).

Abdulatipov's triumphant return to politics took place in 2013, albeit at the regional level, when Moscow unexpectedly sent him to govern his native Dagestan. However, soon after his appointment, relations among Dagestan's myriad ethnic groups started to deteriorate, with land disputes between Kumyks, Avars and Laks in the republic's lowlands becoming particularly sharp. Southern Dagestan (a.k.a. Yuzhdag-i.e. Yuzhny Dagestan), where Lezgins make up the majority of the population and have been unhappy about various moves by the republic's leadership, has also become a hotspot. Republican authorities symbolically changed the official estimate of the age of the central city in Yuzhdag, Derbent, from 5,000 years to 2,000 years, and the celebrations of Derbent's anniversary in 2015 turned into celebrations of Avar culture and Abdulatipov personally, according to Lezgin activists (onkavkaz.com, December 10).

The rising national consciousness of the Lezgins, in particular, was manifested in the adoption of a Lezgin flag this past October (Lezgi-yar.ru, October 22). Although, a national flag does not endow Dagestan's Lezgins with political power, it provides them with a kind of symbolic unit and distances them from the rest of the republic.

Ramazan Abdulatipov is an ethnic Avar, and since the Avars are Dagestan's largest ethnic group, smaller ethnic groups regard him with suspicion. Moreover, some analysts accuse Abdulatipov of cronyism in connection with one of the Avar-dominated districts in the republic. Abdulatipov comes from the mountainous district of Tlyarata in southwest Dagestan, which borders both Azerbaijan and Georgia to the south. Previous leaders of Dagestan, who were also often Avars, came from the republic's Khunzakh and Gunib districts of the republic. Thus, Abdulatipov's ascent marks a significant power shift not only among Dagestanis, but also among the Avar elites. For example, Ramazan Aliev also comes from Tlyarata and leads the administration of the republican governor. Abdulatipov's younger brother Rajab heads the republican branch of the Federal Migration Service. Abdulatipov's son Jamal is deputy mayor of the city of Kaspiisk. In recent weeks, Abdulatipov reportedly appointed his nephew, Abdulmuslim Khanipov, to a senior position in his administration. Abdulatipov has also appointed Magomed Abdurakhmanov, who also comes from Tlyarata, to lead the republican government's committee for religion (Onkavkaz.com, December 6).

Abdulatipov's tendency to lean on close relatives and those from his home district is not surprising, given that the Kremlin dispatched him from Moscow to Dagestan. The Russian authorities' intention was to appoint someone who would be perceived as a Dagestani by the locals, but would not have a significant social base in the republic and thus remain completely dependent on Moscow. The Russian authorities' expectation was that Abdulatipov would in some mysterious way be able to govern a multi-ethnic republic like Dagestan simply by relying on Russian money and soldiers. In the end, however, Abdulatipov ended up being dependent not only on Moscow's money, but also on a narrow circle of relatives and friends. Since Moscow's finances are projected to decline rapidly in the coming years, Abdulatipov may find himself on increasingly shaky ground, as he appears to have alienated most of the republic's ethnic groups. Although Avars comprise the plurality in Dagestan, they are not omnipotent and are quite divided along district, ethnic and religious lines. Moscow's continuing and failing efforts to control Dagestan is a spectacular example of how political moves can yield results diametrically opposed to what the Kremlin intended.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Destruction of Donbas Economy Supports Local Russia-Backed 'Insurgency'

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Maksym Bugriy, Tetiana Tretiak Publication Date 16 December 2015 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Destruction of Donbas Economy Supports Local Russia-Backed 'Insurgency', 16 December 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a2a14.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov's key energy company DTEK announced the restructuring of its $750 million and $160 million Eurobonds, which are set to mature in 2018 (Interfax-Ukraine, December 1). One of the main reasons for the company's continuing financial troubles has been the war in Ukraine's eastern region of Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk provinces), which has caused extensive damage to local energy transmission infrastructure as well as disruptions in the supply of coal and other business operations.

The war has also affected Akhmetov's mining and metals giant Metinvest. Operations of its key coke producing facility, the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, suffered repeatedly from interruptions and even artillery shelling. Metinvest's half-year 2015 earnings before taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to $620 million-63 percent less, year-over-year, compared to 2014 (Ekonomichna Pravda, November 20). Meanwhile, the manager of Metinvest subsidiary Krasnodonvuhillia, another producer of coking coal, told the media that the company's monthly fixed maintenance costs were 100-120 million hryvnia ($4.2-5.1 million), including the payment of salaries, while the company earned only 300 million hryvnia ($12.7 million) from June 2014 to date. Operations were additionally challenged by the embargo on the imports of fuel and wood, which are considered dual-use products (Slon.ru, June 12). In the chemical industry, the Horlivka-based flagship nitrogen fertilizer plant Stirol, owned by another oligarch, Dmytro Firtash, suspended its operations from May 2014.

Additionally, according to numerous media sources, the occupied territories of Donbas are suffering from disruptions in the food industry, agriculture and services companies, as well as the mass departure of the "middle class" and entrepreneurs from Donetsk and Luhansk. Intense fighting in the summer of 2014 and sabotage operations led to the destruction and interruption of railroad, air and ground transportation.

Such instability, however has the side effect of supporting the recruitment of local forces for the Russian war in Donbas. The correlation between the strength of insurgencies and the local population's standard of living is a textbook concept in insurgency theories. Indeed, compared to the majority of residents in the occupied territory, who are striving to survive, militants live better. Ukrainian blogger Oleh Yarchuk, quoted a Donetsk "People's Republic" (DPR) budget that included salaries for 18,126 militants of 35,000 rubles (approximately $622) each for December 2014 (Glavred.info January 10). Other DPR "leaders" also mentioned the salary range of $320-700 per month for local militants. The DPR "government" was planning to additionally offer militants "social benefits," including employment preferences upon end of service (Interfax, April 4).

Remarkably, these sums look significantly lower than the publicly announced monthly salaries for Russian "volunteers" of 60,000 rubles ($1,123) (Dontimes.com.ua June 3), or even 100,000 rubles ($1,833) and higher (Konan-vesti.blogspot.ru, December 24, 2014). But the local militants' actual allowances, even though inferior to Russian irregulars, seem nevertheless quite outstanding in the occupied territories, where many people are forced to live on humanitarian aid. Donbas presents numerous evidence that the Kremlin and local authorities support the economy's dysfunction. Additionally, the militants periodically disrupt humanitarian convoys, including those sent by the United Nations (Kommersant, October 22). Akhmetov's humanitarian convoys have also faced entry bans (Slon.ru, June 12).

Despite such economic incentives to join, local militants comprise only about 45-50 percent of the DPR and LPR (Luhansk People's Republic) "forces," according to Konstantin Mashovets of the group InfoResist (inforesist.org) in Kyiv (Authors' interview, December 7). This share has decreased recently from the former 60 percent. A number of reasons may explain this trend: from Moscow beefing up the local statelet "armies' " command and control structures and unit loyalty by installing larger proportions of regular Russian military personnel, to the locals exiting the force because of the Minsk ceasefire in place. Yet, by relying so heavily on core Russian commanders, advisors and irregulars, the Kremlin incurs higher costs.

Meanwhile, the DPR and LPR routinely use the economic crisis to manipulate public attitudes toward their "governments," shifting the blame for the situation squarely on Kyiv. A notable example is the "sanctions" announced by DPR and LPR against Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Chief of Staff Boris Lozhkin, oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskiy, and former president Viktor Yanukovych's financier, Serhiy Kurchenko, who until recently controlled some natural gas flows from Russia to the DPR. The Russia-backed separatist authorities accused these individuals of "financing military aggression and of the destabilization of Donbas's socio-economic situation" (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, October 25). In addition, in a grand populist gesture, DPR head Aleksandr Zakharchenko forgave private individuals' bank loans extended by Ukraine's largest bank, Privatbank, owned by oligarch and former Dnipropetrovsk governor Ihor Kolomoyskiy, who is known for supporting Ukrainian volunteer battalions. "Only cowards repay debts owed to Kolomoyskiy," Zakharchenko proclaimed (Novosti.dn.ua, October 27).

Russia's economic control over and support for the occupied Donbas regions has been growing over time. To that effect, the Russian ruble was introduced as the region's "main currency," and a Russian bank registered in South Ossetia opened its branch in the LPR, later expanding to Donetsk (Fondsk.ru, August 20). Local pensioners have also begun to receive their pensions in rubles. According to Slon.ru's sources, Russia sends up to 4 billion rubles ($73 million) in cash to the DPR and LPR every month, not counting humanitarian aid and military expenditures (Slon.ru, June 12). But other observers note that the exchange rate negatively affects these pensions payment: "pensions in the LPR and DPR are distributed on the basis of prewar Ukrainian norms, but in a ruble equivalent based off of a rate of 1 hryvnia to 2 rubles. The actual market exchange rate, however, is closer to 1 to 3" (Meduza, November 13).

Thus, in a classic pattern of insurgency warfare, the Kremlin uses a combination of the threat of real and perceived economic "collapse" with a proposed "life line" to Donbas. It is also clear, however, that the costs to Russia are increasing in the longer term. Thus, Moscow is trying to pin the blame for and burden of reconstruction of Donbas on the cash-strapped government in Kyiv, while at the same time retaining the option of renewing, at any time, hostilities and economic destabilization in eastern Ukraine.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Rebel Reaction to Russian Intervention

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Nicholas A. Heras Publication Date 17 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Rebel Reaction to Russian Intervention, 17 December 2015, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a36b4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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On September 30, Russia's military intervention in Syria officially began with airstrikes against Syrian armed opposition forces in western Syria. Since the start of Russia's military intervention, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its auxiliary forces-such as the National Defense Force (NDF) local militia network, and allies including Lebanese Hezbollah, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-mobilized paramilitary forces, including Iraqi and Afghani organizations-have engaged in multiple ground offensives throughout western Syrian in Latakia, Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs and Damascus governorates (see MLM Briefs, October 31). Although these offensives have not been uniformly successful-in some battle spaces, such as in northern Hama and southern Idlib, SAA forces have faced significant difficulties-Russia's military intervention in Syria, has fundamentally impacted the geopolitical context within which the Syrian armed opposition operates.

The immediate impact of the Russian military intervention is that the Syrian armed opposition in northwestern Syria has lost the initiative in its campaign to apply pressure upon the Alawite community in Latakia Governorate that provides significant demographic support for the al-Assad government. This pressure, particularly that applied by the Islamist Jaysh al-Fateh (Conquering Army) coalition, which includes several constituent militant Salafist organizations, was intended to threaten the stability of the al-Assad government by seeking to amplify internal dissent against it by loyalist communities through the prospect of impending military defeat (See Terrorism Monitor, June 12; MLM Briefs, April 29). While Jaysh al-Fateh was successful in seizing the majority of the northwestern governorate of Idlib, and also ceding practical control over a significant portion of the governorate to the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, its continued advances beyond Idlib in Hama, Latakia and Aleppo governorates, were actively contested by the SAA and its adjutant paramilitary forces.

For the foreseeable future, the Russian military intervention in Syria has secured the continuation of an al-Assad government-led statelet in western Syria, with the SAA's ongoing presence in highly contested battle spaces in southern Syria in Dara'a Governorate, in northwestern Syria in Aleppo Governorate and in the eastern governorates of al-Hasakah and Deir al-Zor. The indefinite survival of the al-Assad government, even if its authority over Syria's territory is significantly weakened, presents a significant dilemma for opposition-supporting international actors. This dilemma is that since the initiation of Russia's military intervention in Syria and the solidification of the al-Assad government's statelet, the armed opposition is in a worse position to force a decisive military conclusion to the conflict, while retaining its significant disunity in leadership and ideological goals for the end state of Syria after the conflict.

Conversely, the al-Assad government and its allies are in their best position since the beginning of the civil war to dictate the terms of a humanitarian ceasefire and an eventual political process in such a manner as to preserve the rule of Bashar al-Assad or his regime's handpicked successors. While loyalist forces are unlikely to restore Bashar al-Assad's rule throughout all of Syria in the foreseeable future, a general ceasefire between loyalist forces and some elements of the armed opposition, if achievable, also provides the al-Assad government with the opportunity to reallocate military resources as needed from less to more important battle spaces.

The October 30 Vienna communique, released under the auspices of the United Nations, calls for a transition from the al-Assad government to a secular, inclusive and democratic Syria post-conflict (United Nations, October 30). However, this communique does not address the Syrian armed opposition's demands for the immediate removal of the al-Assad government, and all of the structures of the military, security, intelligence and administrative functions of the Assad regime as well as the withdrawal of Russian and IRGC forces and their proxies from Syria (Elaph, November 22; Aksalser, October 2). The demand of the withdrawal of Russian, IRGC and Hezbollah forces from Syria is highly unlikely to be met until late in a political transition period after the end of conflict, especially in the context of Hezbollah's deployment in Syrian-Lebanese border regions and the IRGC-mobilized paramilitary network's deployment in the vicinity of the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, in a strategic area of Damascus' southern suburbs. Another demand of the broader armed opposition is the dismantlement of the NDF militia network, which incorporates fighters from local loyalist communities, including sectarian minority communities; the armed opposition accuses the NDF of being a sectarian weapon of the Assad regime and its IRGC patrons (Elaph, November 22; Aksalser, October 2).

The NDF, which was established by the SAA and Syrian security and intelligence services in cooperation with advice and direction of the IRGC, is an effective, if limited, paramilitary organization that allows members of loyalist communities to be armed, salaried and sponsored by the al-Assad government in exchange for an agreement to stand their ground against the armed opposition in contested areas throughout the country. It is in the context of the NDF, and the Ministry of National Reconciliation and its adjutant "Reconciliation Committees," that the al-Assad government seeks to reincorporate armed opposition fighters under its authority. In some battle spaces (particularly in Damascus and Homs, and to a lesser extent in Aleppo and Deir al-Zor), the option for besieged armed opposition groups, and the local communities that support them, to surrender and return back to the fold of the al-Assad government in the context of the NDF, is a core component of al-Assad government's counter-insurgency strategy (see Terrorism Monitor, August 21). This is likely a fundamental part of the al-Assad government's strategy throughout the Vienna process, and in any potential political transition period.

Further, according to a prominent and well-connected Syrian opposition figure, the greatest impact of the Russian intervention in Syria has come less in the context of backing the SAA's ground offensives throughout northwest Syria and in the Damascus battle space, but has instead come in the context of the destructive power of Russian air and artillery assets. [1] These are degrading the armed opposition by killing civilians and destroying the communities from which the armed opposition draws support. In particular, the psychological impact of the escalation of Russian and IRGC involvement that does not appear set to end in the near term, and which has firmly taken the initiative away from the armed opposition, is driving Syrian armed opposition calculations in the context of the Vienna process. [2]

One of the most direct impacts of the Russian intervention on the broader Syrian armed opposition movement has been a revival of the process to achieve a wide-ranging framework for the unification of the leadership of the broader Syrian armed opposition throughout the country, and across the ideological spectrum, from militant Salafist organizations to secular nationalists (Ammon News [Amman], November 22; Elaph, November 22; Elaph, November 14). Meetings scheduled for the week of December 7-11 in Saudi Arabia seek to establish both a unified list of Syrian armed opposition groups that can be a party to the Vienna process and the baseline political vision for a post-conflict Syria that is secular, inclusive and democratic as outlined by the October 30 communique (Reuters, December 6; Ammon News [Amman], November 22; Elaph, November 14; United Nations, October 30).

As a model, opposition-supporting states are seeking to revive the Majlis Qiyadaat al-Thawri Sooria (Syrian Revolutionary Command Council-SRCC), which was an effort announced in August 2014, and which has since fallen into inactivity. The Syrian Revolutionary Command Council, included a wide range of armed opposition groups, including militant Salafist organizations Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya (Islamic Movement of the Free Ones of the Levant) and Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam), and organizations including Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki (Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement), Jaysh al-Mujahideen (Mujahideen Army), Suqur al-Ghab (Falcons of al-Ghab), Liwa Fursan al-Haqq (Knights of the Truth Brigade) and Faraqa 13 (13th Brigade) that have received TOW missiles from Saudi Arabia and Turkey with the approval of the United States (YouTube, November 30, 2014; al-Jazeera [Doha], August 3, 2014). However, prominent Syrian opposition figures, and opposition-supporting states, look to the Revolutionary Command Council as a potential blueprint for how to achieve the wide-ranging armed opposition unity sought in the Vienna process. [3]

The TOW-supplied Syrian armed opposition organizations have sought to capitalize on the military effect-and propaganda utility-of their TOWs, and the reported difficulties that TOWs present to the Russia and IRGC-backed SAA offensives in northern Hama and southern Idlib, in order to increase their prominence in the broader Syrian armed opposition movement (Twitter, December 1; Reuters, November 25; Reuters, October 30; Reuters, October 19). Some of these externally supported organizations, which are considered to constitute the most effective elements of the Syrian moderate armed opposition, are actively utilizing the propaganda points earned by their successful deployment of TOW missiles to attempt to position themselves as the centers of gravity for the broader armed opposition movement in northwestern Syria (al-Nahar [Beirut], December 2; Twitter, December 1; SMO [Hama], December 1; YouTube, November 26).

In spite of these ongoing efforts toward the unity of the armed opposition, there remains no clearly empowered leader or leadership body that has authority over the broader Syrian armed opposition movement. Media sources close to Hezbollah and supportive of the al-Assad government's war effort, indicate that the Syrian government and its allies are fully aware of the challenges of unification facing the armed opposition and have incorporated this reality into their political and military calculations (al-Manar [Beirut], November 17). These divisions among the rebels occur throughout Syria, including in southern Syria, where the relative strength of the generally moderate armed opposition coalition the Southern Front (SF) is receding to militant Salafist armed opposition groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra (Victory Front), Harakat Muthanna al-Islamiya (Islamic Movement of Muthanna), Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya and the former SF constituent faction and current Islamic State affiliate Liwa Shuda al-Yarmouk (Yarmouk Martyrs' Battalion). [4]

However, it is in northwestern Syria where rebel disunity could have the most destructive, and trans-national, impact as the conflict continues. This region of the country is where the majority of the Russian and IRGC-backed SAA operations have occurred, and where the highest concentration of Salafist-Jihadist, militant Salafist and militant Islamist organizations, some with a similar ideology to the Muslim Brotherhood, have the strongest presence. The largest concentration of Salafist-Jihadist fighters from the Caucasus, outside of Islamic State-controlled areas of eastern and northern Syria, are also present in northwestern Syria, and resolving the threat of Caucasus-origin foreign fighters based in this region presents a counter-terrorism priority for the Russian forces (al-Akhbar [Beirut], November 30; AFP, October 7; Terrorism Monitor, April 2). This region of Syria also borders Turkey, the most significant site of strategic depth for the armed opposition, and it is from Turkey that the armed opposition has the ability to achieve the strongest lines of supply and reinforcement to apply indefinite military pressure on the al-Assad statelet.

The Syrian government's current list, the October 30 Vienna outline and the recent statements by the United Arab Emirates' State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, that the UAE would not be unhappy with Russian airstrikes against the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, further highlights the dilemma of the broader Syrian armed opposition movement in northwestern Syria (AFP, November 30; Mehr News [Tehran], November 28). The October 30 communique indicates that there is broad public agreement by international actors supporting the designation of the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in Syria, which is generally but not exclusively referred to in the context of Jabhat al-Nusra, as terrorist organizations to be marginalized and defeated (United Nations, October 30). In spite of this agreement, prominent armed opposition organizations throughout northwest Syria, including TOW-supplied organizations in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo, still militarily cooperate with Jabhat al-Nusra and are ambivalent in regard to their future relationship with it (ARA News [Hama], November 26; All4Syria [Hama], November 23).

Jabhat al-Nusra's continuing influence on the Syrian armed opposition is pragmatically recognized by the predominately exile-led opposition movement that frequently interacts with pro-opposition states, such as the Syrian National Coalition. Khaled Khoja, the current president of the Syrian National Coalition, has made several public statements, including a statement after the conclusion of the latest round of the Vienna process on November 23, asking Jabhat al-Nusra members to renounce their allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri in return for full acceptance in the mainstream armed opposition (AFP, November 23).

This stance is highly problematic as it indicates that there is still deep reservation within the Syrian opposition movement, and opposition-supporting regional actors, to completely marginalize, confront and defeat non-Islamic State, militant Salafist actors in Syria, which are embedded in the broader armed opposition's military campaigns against the al-Assad government and its allies. Throughout Syria in areas that have fallen into rebel rule, these organizations include Jabhat al-Nusra, Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya, Jabhat Ansar al-Din (Partisans of Religion Front), Jund al-Aqsa (Soldiers of Aqsa Mosque), Jaysh al-Islam in the eastern Ghouta region of the Damascus suburbs and Harakat al-Muthanna al-Islamiya in Dara'a, and others, including militant Islamist organizations that are part of the Jaysh al-Fateh coalition. The ongoing dispute among international actors over the status of Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya is indicative of the assumptions, and the challenges, that are inherent in creating an "approved" list of Syrian armed opposition actors.

Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya is an ideologically militant Salafist umbrella organization of local constituent militias, which at its leadership level has close and well-recorded ties to al-Qaeda's leadership and its senior international commanders; at its local constituent militia level, the organization regularly and enthusiastically coordinates and conducts operations with Jabhat al-Nusra and other Salafist-Jihadist organizations throughout the country (ARA News [Aleppo], November 30; All4Syria [Aleppo], November 27; al-Akhbar [Beirut], November 17; Enab Baladi [Hama], November 15; Free Syrian Army [Damascus], October 21; al-Bawaba [Idlib], October 15; Enab Baladi [Latakia], August 16; al-Safir [Beirut], July 24). Further, although certain factions within Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya publicly state that they seek a more conciliatory and gradualist approach to revolution in Syria, the constituent militias within Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya have aided and abetted the development of Jabhat al-Nusra's growing administration in Idlib (al-Mujhir [Idlib], November 11; al-Quds al-Arabi, November 7; al-Araby al-Jadeed, November 1; al-Qabas [Kuwait City], October 24; YouTube, September 26; al-Araby al-Jadeed, July 16; al-Araby al-Jadeed, June 11).

The al-Assad government, and likely its Russian and Iranian allies, want to marginalize Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya and Jaysh al-Islam in the course of the Vienna process (France 24, November 29; Mehr News [Tehran], November 28; al-Alam [Tehran], November 18). A majority of the joint operations rooms that are conducted throughout northern Syria incorporate either Jabhat al-Nusra or Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya, or both, and to a lesser extent Jaysh al-Islam, while in the Damascus area, the operations rooms heavily incorporate Jaysh al-Islam (al-Nahar [Beirut], November 21; Enab Baladi [Hama], November 15; Enab Baladi [Latakia], August 16). The Syrian government, by demanding that these operations rooms, which include more ideologically moderate armed opposition actors, disavow Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya, is seeking to create rifts within the broader armed opposition movement.

In particular, several of the most active and most celebrated TOW-supplied armed opposition groups actively cooperate with Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiya constituent militias (al-Jazirah Online [Aleppo], November 29; All4Syria [Hama], November 23; Enab Baladi [Hama], November 15; Enab Baladi [Latakia], August 16). These rifts, should they develop, have the potential to lead to open warfare among Syria's rebel organizations throughout the north-and across the ideological spectrum-which would threaten not only a humanitarian ceasefire, but also the project of building Syrian armed opposition unity. At the center of these rifts remains Jabhat al-Nusra, which has increased its influence and leverage throughout northwestern Syria.

The ceasefire plan and the Vienna political process is likely dependent on Jabhat al-Nusra, and other militant Salafist armed groups, not preventing its implementation. In the event that a ceasefire is achieved and a political process begun out of the Vienna process, there will remain significant challenges from within the Syrian armed opposition. This scenario will be most challenged, from within the armed opposition, via a "war after the war," whereby more ideologically extremist Sunni armed opposition groups led by Jabhat al-Nusra demand that the war against the al-Assad government and its allies continues until all of the security and intelligence structures of the regime are removed and a Shari'a governance structure is imposed over all of Syria. In the event of these developments, the pro-opposition states' support for TOW-supplied groups in northwestern Syria could serve the purpose of challenging Jabhat al-Nusra's building governance structure's expansion, if in fact the TOW-supplied armed opposition organizations in northwestern Syria are not in a subordinate position to Jabhat al-Nusra and its ideological allies.

Nicholas A. Heras is a Middle East researcher at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and an associate fellow for the Jamestown Foundation.

1. Interview with a Syrian defector from the al-Assad government who worked several years in Damascus with close ties to prominent Syrian opposition, including the armed opposition, leaders involved in the Vienna process. Interview conducted by Viber on November 30.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Interviews with two Syrian activists with close ties to the Southern Front. Interviews conducted via Skype on October 28, November 14, and December 2.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Turkey's Reaction to the War in Syria

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Nihat Ali Ozcan Publication Date 17 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Turkey's Reaction to the War in Syria, 17 December 2015, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a3be4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Just as in other parts of the world, the Syrian civil war has been discussed deeply in Turkey. Turkish public opinion has different views on the Turkish government's policies on Syria. For example, in the last election, although Erdogan's party received 50 percent of the votes, the majority of the voters do not support the Turkish government's policies toward Syria. [1] Every single phase of the Syrian civil war has created complex and different problems for Turkey in the areas of security, economy, foreign policy and domestic politics. In order to understand the process and its outcomes we can touch on four different topics.

Turkey-Syria Relations Before the Civil War

The AKP (Justice and Development Party) came into power in 2002, after an economic crisis. Turkish society had a skeptical approach towards the party's members due to their Islamist ideologies. Erdogan and his colleagues had serious legitimacy issues both in the domestic politics and in the international arena. Initially, the AKP pursued a coherent policy towards the West in order to avoid further pressure and resolve its legitimacy problem. During this period they used the EU membership process and negotiations as a strategic tool. On the other hand, the government pursued a "zero problem with neighbors" policy in order to reduce the role of the military in politics, overcome the economic crisis and find new markets. In this context, besides all other neighbors the government developed good relations with the Assad regime in Syria. An increase in trade had been observed. Citizens benefited from visa exemptions. In addition to these, Erdogan developed personal relations with Assad.

The Road to Civil War

In 2011, as the Arab Spring occurred, Erdogan's party won another general election. Economic success helped the party to gain support from the public and to overcome the issue of legitimacy both inside and the international arena. After this point, Erdogan thought that he did not need the European Union anymore due to the weakening of the military and the opposition parties. Additionally, a peace process started with the PKK, a 30-year-long and troublesome problem for Turkey's government and society.

At this very moment the Arab Spring arose. Erdogan and his team reutilized their Islamist ideologies and motivations, which they had been sidelining for some time. They realized that the Arab Spring could provide the opportunity for their Islamist ideologies to spread in a vast geography. Under these circumstances, a potential Muslim Brotherhood rule in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt seemed only a matter of time.

According to Erdogan and his friends, the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria had an extremely high potential to become the ruling party in a post-al-Assad Syria. The Sunnis, who constitute the majority in the country, had been distant from being the ruling power for years, which has instead largely been in the hands of the minority Alawite sect. In case of an election, it seemed that the Sunnis would automatically take power due to their majority. Thus, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the time, Ahmet Davutoglu, visited Bashar al-Assad and advised him to quit his position and called for free and fair elections during this meeting. But al-Assad ignored his advice. According to Davutoglu, the regime was weak and it would collapse if a widespread scale social movement appeared on the streets, just as happened in Tunisia and Libya. So, speeding up the process was essential. Together with its allies, Erdogan gave support to the insurgents in Syria. As time progressed the insurgents failed to defeat al-Assad and eventually their character changed. Radical and jihadist groups became dominant on the field and with the Islamic State coming into the picture, the jihad that started in Syria became a global threat.

The Changing Character of the Syrian Civil War

It is now a fact that Turkey's Syria policy has failed. There are many reasons for this. Apparently, Erdogan analyzed the political system in Syria, its institutions, social structure and geopolitical position wrongly. Erdogan's lack of knowledge on the topics of the insurgency and the Syrian civil war is obvious. The main reason for the wrong analysis was his prejudiced "Islamist ideology." On the other hand, Erdogan ignored the advice of several institutions and simply bypassed the advice coming from military generals and diplomats during important decision-making periods in the Syrian civil war.

Another reason is that he promoted the armed militants rather than the political actors during the initial insurgency period. Erdogan also made the mistake of "interfering in the internal affairs of his neighbors." Soon after that, the interference with covert operations and proxy wars got out of control and eventually started to affect Turkey's own national security.

The lack of capacity and inexperience of government institutions in the means of "covert operations" and "proxy wars" started to become a problem inside Syria. Control over the "friendly insurgents" was lost. The allies' priorities on Syria policies were misunderstood and besides that, the intentions and approach of pro-al-Assad countries were not analyzed correctly. Sectarian perspectives and anti-Western prejudices played an important role in these failures. Al-Assad's resistance and his success in avoiding "regime change" became a personal problem for Erdogan and Davutoglu, which eventually caused them to make irrational decisions.

On the other hand, "speeding up the process for al-Assad's fall" and the open door policy for encouraging the Sunni Muslims to rise up had unforeseen outcomes. More than two million refugees entered Turkey and the Turkish government's spending on those who crossed the border to Turkey is presently around $7 billion, and it is likely that the numbers will increase in the future as the number of refugees continues to grow. Turkey's "open door policy" also however made it easier for the foreign terrorist fighters to also cross the border from Turkey to Syria, and vice versa, spreading some elements of the civil war to Turkey proper.

Syria also became the center for attraction for Turkish citizens with different motivations. Citizens of Turkey joined different militia groups. As the insurgency became prolonged, the radical groups committing unlimited violence gained power. As the Islamic State became the preeminent radical group, Turkey's relationship with radicals damaged its relationship with its allies. On the matter of backing insurgents, Turkey did not share the same views with its allies.

During the first stage of the insurgency, Turkey cooperated with Barzani in order to control the Syrian Kurds. However, the PKK overshadowed Barzani and Turkey with its experience, aggressive stance and clever strategy, underlining Erdogan's weak analysis and wrong strategic decisions.

The attacks on Kobane, Erbil and Mosul by Islamic State undermined Turkey's role and political claims in Syria. As a result, Turkey had to remain silent against the rise of PYD in Syria on one hand, and on the other hand had to open the Incirlik Air Base to the United States. Another development that has limited Turkey's actions in Syria is the Russian military intervention in the region. Following Turkey's shooting down of a Russian military aircraft on November 24, 2015, relations with Russia grew tenser, and Turkey's role in Syria started to diminish.

Turkey and the United States have different approaches regarding the area covering the distance of 98 kilometers, which is controlled by the Islamic State, along the Turkish border in between the two Kurdish enclaves. According to the Turkish side, this area will be ideal for a buffer zone, which President Erdogan still imagines can be achieved. However, there are no strong enough "moderate" opposition groups on the battlefield to push Islamic State back and clean up the area. On the issue of "moderate" opposition and the status of the PYD, Turks and the United States have not been able to reach a consensus. According to the Turkish side, the PYD is a part of the PKK. Turkey still feels threatened by the establishment of geographically and politically integrated Kurdish enclaves in northern Syria, keeping in mind that the adjacent territory is governed by the Iraqi Kurds.

Turkey declared Islamic State a terrorist organization in October 2013. Since last year, Turkey has deployed 25 percent of its land forces to the Syria-Turkey border to enhance physical control there to prevent illegal trade and human trafficking. Turkey also strengthened security checks in its airports for foreign terrorist fighters arriving from other parts of the world. Immediately after the deployment, the flow of illegal human trafficking, as well as oil and other smuggling declined sharply. According to data compiled by the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, the amount of fuel seized on the border decreased while the amount of drugs seized increased, a clear sign that the Islamic State likely switched shifted its strategy from oil smuggling to that of the narcotics trade, after Turkey began to crack down on the oil trade. Ironically, this fact seldom receives attention in the West. Compared to 2014, there has been a serious decrease in the amount of smuggled fuel that was seized while crossing the Turkish border. In 2014, the seized fuel amount of fuel totaled 3,201,000 liters. For the first six months of 2015, however, this number dropped to a mere 27,000 liters (Hurriyet, July 25).

Meanwhile, there has been a serious increase in the amount of drugs seized along the Syrian border. The numbers amounted to a total of 6,566 kg for 2014. For the first six months of 2015, this number increased to 1,495,000. In addition, the total amount of cigarettes that were seized also experienced a major increase, rising from 454.999 in 2014 to 620,000 for the first 6 months of 2015. Interestingly enough, there was a major increase in cross-border cattle-smuggling. For example, the total amount of cattle that were seized in 2014 totaled 5,723, while the number has been around 4,500 cattle for the first six months of 2015. Despite all the evidence of Turkey's efforts to crackdown on the Islamic State, Ankara still has trouble convincing its allies and other countries about the scale and success of its effort to crackdown on Islamic State and block its cross-border smuggling (Hurriyet, July 23).

Costs of the Syrian Civil War for Turkey

The Syrian Civil War continues to affect Turkey's domestic and foreign policies. Even though Erdogan clearly states that al-Assad's regime is the primary issue, this claim has no basis. All of Turkey's Western allies view the situation in Syria and Iraq through the prism of Islamic State and consider it to be a global threat except for Erdogan. Expecting a regime change in Syria turned into a new wave of global terrorism, and this contains risks for Turkey and relationships with its allies. Besides the allies, relations with Russia and Iran are extremely tense. It is dramatic that Turkey's closest allies are the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Syrian civil war has unsettled the social, political and ideological fault lines of Turkey, and it is producing more problems for the economy, society and national security.

The PKK has made the best use of the Syrian civil war. It gained legitimacy, geographical depth, new members, arms and experience. There are no doubts that it will become one of the most important actors in Syria in the future. This situation may also bring the Kurdish issue in Turkey to an unforeseen point. Throughout the Syrian civil war, the Islamic State strengthened its global network, with the help of local cadres stationed in Turkey. After the fall of Kobane, the Islamic State had the opportunity and space to carry out its ideological war with the PKK within the borders of Turkey.

Conclusion

It will take many long years to establish a steady security environment in Syria. Therefore, we cannot expect anything to be the same compared to the prewar period in Turkey-Syria relations. Additionally, the Syrian central government will be weaker in the future, causing a decentralized political structure. In this process, the sectarian, ethnic and religious disunity and tension will reflect on the political system. It would only be a surprise to expect that these reflections will only affect Syria. Developments will trigger the ethnic and religious fault lines of Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. In this respect, induced Kurdish political aspirations will become a predominant foreign policy issue in the Middle East region. The Kurds will play an important role in regional tensions between the various powers, conflicts and problems and finding solutions to these disputes. In fact, Iraq and Syria will likely witness an intensification of ethnic conflicts between the Arabs and Kurds. The PKK will likely consolidate its power and position while becoming more active in the region. On the one Turkey and the costs for thatyrian civil war

lobal threat.

. Radical and jihadist groups became dominant ion the field key' hand, the strengthening role of the PKK in Syria will intensify Kurdish demands in Turkey, and on the other hand, it will be the determinant actor among the overall Kurdish groups. These developments will eventually put the strengthened PKK to a position and at the same time will trigger adversaries among the Kurds of the region.

Russia's military existence in Syria might become supplemental for its policies around the Black Sea region. Within this period Russia will revitalize its historical relationships with the PKK by the extension of the Kurds. Russia can use the PKK against Turkey as a tool to undermine Turkish interests in the region. It is possible to say that the luckiest actor in the region will be Iran. Iran will strengthen its military and political position in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. This will of course pose grave risks for Turkey.

In the near future, the Islamic State organization will become a threat not only to the rest of the world but also to Turkey. It will take time to overthrow the Islamic State. Pressure on the group will eventually push the terrorist organization to look for new ways and practices to survive. Some of the radical foreign fighters who fought in Syria will go back to their countries following the same route, which they came through. By using their local cadres, these radicalized terrorists will pose a threat to Turkish national security.

The Syrian issue continues to damage Turkey's relationship with its allies and neighbors. The crisis is highly unlikely to end in the near future and unfortunately there is no quick easy solution to resolving the Syria crisis. It will take years for Syria to regain its uniformity, and this will mean increasing threats and loss of money and energy for Turkey.

Nihat Ali Ozcan is a security policy analyst at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) and a lecturer at the TOBB University of Economics and Technology in Ankara.

Note

1. See, http://www.gmfus.org/sites/default/files/TP%20Key%20Findings%20Report%20Turkce%20Final1.pdf

Syria and ISIS: parted Stances on Intervention. Approximately 57 percent of the Turkish public who answered the questions are against a military intervention against the Assad's regime in Syria. Only 29 percent of the people support the idea. When asked what they would think if such an intervention came into reality, 37 percent stated that Turkey should completely stay out of this conflict, and another 30 percent said that Turkey should support a military intervention with non-military channels. Seventeen percent of the people stated that Turkey should join the military coalition. However, such an idea does not find support basis among the Turkish public when this intervention does not have the character to create a buffer zone in order to protect local civilians against the Islamic State. Generally asked, only 29 percent of the participants support the idea of a buffer zone. When the questions are elaborated, 35 percent of the participants support the idea of creating a military buffer zone to protect the Syrian opposition against Assad's regime. Thirty-seven percent of the participants stated that a military buffer zone must be forged against the PYD, thus preventing the formation of a Kurdish populated area. No matter which scenario is put into practice, the majority of the Turkish public is against a military intervention. However, 47 percent of the Turkish participants do support the idea of sending troops to the buffer zone to protect the local civilians against attacks by Islamic State.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Growing Number of Russian Converts to Islam Joining Insurgents at Home and Abroad

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Mairbek Vatchagaev Publication Date 17 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 226 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Growing Number of Russian Converts to Islam Joining Insurgents at Home and Abroad, 17 December 2015, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 226, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a4234.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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With 28-year-old Anatoly Zemlyanka's notorious killing of 23-year-old member Magomed Khasiev, ethnic-Russian Muslims are again in the spotlight. Khasiev (a. k. a. Yevgeny Yudin), an ethnic-Russian convert to Islam, came from the Ural region in Russia, while Zemlyanka came from the Siberian town of Noyabrsk. Both men were allegedly members of the Islamic State (IS) and Khasiev was murdered by the IS for supposedly being a mole of the Federal Security Service (FSB) (see EDM, December 10). In recent years, ethnic-Russian militants have featured in numerous reports about government special operations against the insurgency in the North Caucasus. Two of the 11 militants killed on November 22, in one of the latest special operations in Kabardino-Balkaria, were ethnic-Russian converts to Islam (Kavkazsky Uzel, November 24).

The radicalism of Muslim converts is quite widespread not only in the North Caucasus, but across Russia. Each case of an ethnic Russian's potential or actual involvement with jihadists is widely publicized and discussed inside the country. Varvara Karaulova (19), who attempted to leave for Syria to take part in jihad, is one such case (Onkavkaz.com, June 9). Some Russian analysts say the increase in the number of "Russian Wahhabis" is related to religious extremist propaganda in Russian prisons, and that young Russians between 18 and 30 years old are in the high-risk group (Regnum, October 11, 2012). Ethnic Russians converting to Islam is not a mass process, but 10,000 Russians have done so over the past 15 years (Islamnews.ru, January 31, 2014).

It does not follow that all 10,000 of the ethnic-Russian Muslims are radicals, but some of them reject the officially approved Muslim communities because of their collaboration with the government. There are 54,277 ethnic-Russian Muslims in neighboring Kazakhstan, according to census data (Stat.kz, 2009). Thus, it appears there are 20 times fewer ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan than in Russia, but the percentage of Muslim converts among those in Russia is five times greater. According to the pro-Kremlin analyst Roman Silantyev, radical Islamists comprise up to 5 percent of all Muslims in Russia, or 700,000 out of 14 million. Moreover, according to Silantyev, there are more radicals in such areas of Russia as Saratov oblast as the Far East than in Chechnya (Pravoslavie.ru, September 9, 2014). Entire districts of the Ural region and especially Tatarstan have reportedly come under the control of the Salafists (Rusrep.ru, October 31, 2013). This trend is also notable in Astrakhan where, according to some sources, there are up to 1,000 Russian Salafists (Riss.ru, January 26, 2014).

While the Muslim community in Russia in general is quite apolitical, the number of Islamic radicals may be even greater than previously thought. Between 14 million and 20 million Muslims live in Russia, but they do not have a parliamentary faction, political party or even a unified Muslim organization. Muslims in Russia have no nationwide TV, radio or print media. It is not surprising that Muslim communities across Russia live their lives focused on the local level and try to resolve their problems locally.

According to Eva Rogaar, a Dutch researcher on Islam in Russia, for the Russian converts "Islam provides answers to many of their questions and offers a clear alternative model of development of the society and the government, and most of all of their personality" (Islamnews.ru, November 12, 2014). Ethnic Russians who convert to Islam do not stop feeling that they are ethnic Russians, and this comes into conflict with one of the primary tenets of the Russian Orthodox Church-namely, that an ethnic Russian should be Russian Orthodox. The mufti of Sverdlovsk oblast, Nikolai Asharin, along with the head of the public relations department of the Union of Muslims of Volgograd oblast, Vladimir Zarubin, and many others, disagree with this assumption (Islamnews.ru, November 18, 2014). Some researchers think that ethnic-Russian converts to Islam are the intellectual elite of Russia (Magazines.russ.ru, 2012, #10). However, this hardly applies to the ethnic Russians fighting in the ranks of the North Caucasus insurgency and Syria. Rather, those individuals are people who were not well integrated into society.

Researchers of Islam in Russia do not give a clear answer to the puzzle of why the radical form of Islam is particularly attractive to ethnic-Russian converts. This is a particularly pressing issue, given that those Russian jihadists who are fighting in Syria will try to return to Russia and the country will have to face them. The conversion of ethnic Russians to Islam changes the situation substantially. Islam in Russia, which has traditionally been associated with the people from the Caucasus or Central Asia, is now associated with some ethnic Russians who were thought to belong to Russian Orthodoxy by default. Ethnic-Russian Muslims strive to prove that they are more Muslim than those who were born Muslim. Unlike those who are Muslims by birth, ethnic-Russian converts to Islam feel they have to attain their place within the Muslim society. Hence, some young converts try to prove their Muslim credentials by taking up arms. This also changes the armed underground movement.

Ethnic-Russian Muslims have a psychology that is different from the North Caucasians and the Tatars, and they can have a large impact on the formation of new institutions within the Russian Muslim community. Ethnic-Russian Muslims will become a major headache for the authorities, who have become used to dealing with North Caucasian and Tatar Islamic radicalism, but are not prepared to deal with ethnic-Russian Islamic radicals.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
The Kurdish Periphery

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Wladimir van Wilgenburg Publication Date 17 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, The Kurdish Periphery, 17 December 2015, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a48e4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The Kurds play a key role in the war against the Islamic State as they are located on the periphery of the jihadist organization's two de-facto capitals, Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq. As a result, both Western states and Russia are courting the Kurds since they do not want to put boots on the ground. However, Turkey has opposed both possible Russian and Western support for the People's Protection Units (Yekineyen Parastina Gel-YPG), a Syrian Kurdish defense force. Turkey also fundamentally opposes the creation of a Kurdish statelet along its Syrian border. Despite this, the mutual interest of the Kurds and the West to contain the Islamic State has brought them closer together.

YPG and Peshmerga Forces

The main Kurdish militias are the Peshmerga forces led by Kurdistan Regional Government president Masoud Barzani in Iraq and the YPG militia in Syria, which is affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistane-PKK) and designated by the United States and 40 other countries as a terrorist organization. There are over 160,000 Peshmerga forces patrolling a border of 1,600 kilometers with the Islamic state (Rudaw, September 11; Rudaw, November 25, 2014). The Peshmerga forces already control over 95 percent of the territory that they say they want to hold after capturing the city Sinjar on November 12 (KRG cabinet, April 6). The YPG, on the other hand, constitutes a fighting force of approximately 50,000 fighters that controls most of the Syrian-Turkish border apart from a 90-kilometer line between Azaz and Jarabulus and territories in Idlib and Latakia Governorates (al-Jazeera, June 28).

The Islamic State sees both the YPG and Peshmerga as its most important adversaries on the ground. Its English magazine Dabiq also mentions that the PKK, which it refers to as the same organization as the YPG, and the Peshmerga are the biggest allies of the United States on the ground in Iraq and Syria. [1] The enmity of the Islamic State toward Kurdish militia groups is related to the fact that the Kurds are the biggest recipients of U.S.-led coalition support in both Iraq and Syria.

The Islamic State launched its biggest attack on Iraqi Kurds in August 2014, while its main attack on the YPG was on the Syrian city of Kobane in September 2014 (al-Sharq al-Awsat, August 6, 2014; Rudaw, November 23). Both battles led the U.S.-led coalition to give Kurdish forces air cover to contain the Islamic State, enabling them both to inflict huge casualties on the jihadist organization in Syria and Iraq. In Kobane alone, the Islamic State reportedly lost at least 5,000 fighters (Daily Beast, November 18). Moreover, the Peshmerga recently cut IS supply lines between Mosul and Raqqa by capturing Highway 47 and the city of Sinjar on November 12 in just two days (Rudaw, November 12). The Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces have also shown an interest in assisting future Iraqi Army operations in Mosul; however, they do not want to occupy the city because they fear an Arab backlash (Basnews, November 30).

Furthermore, the Kurdish-inflicted losses on the Islamic State could push the organization to shift its focus from the "near enemy" to the "far enemy" by attacking Western countries in the "heart of crusader" territory. [2] An example is the November 13 Paris attack that overshadowed the Islamic State's loss of Sinjar the previous day. The weakening of the Islamic State's narrative of baqiya wa tatamaddad (remaining and expanding) prompts them to expand in new territories in North Africa and Asia, and carry out attacks against the "far enemy."

The YPG, Turkey and Future Operations

Although the Iraqi Kurds have secured most of their goals, the Syrian Kurds have not, as they cannot connect the territories of Kobane and Efrin due to Turkish opposition. Any attempt by the YPG to take the city of Jarabulus and link these two regions would invite cross-border fire from Turkey (Now Lebanon, October 26). For Turkey, it is more important to prevent the Kurds from capturing the Syrian territory stretching from Azaz in the west to Jarabulus in the east. Turkey fears a viable united Kurdish statelet along its border, which could be used by the PKK in the future for recruits (Terrorism Monitor, September 17). This fear is heightened after clashes restarted between the PKK and the Turkish state in July 2015, ending the peace process. Therefore, Turkey has proposed a safe zone in this border area in order to prevent YPG advances (Yeni Safak, September 2).

However, the Russian-backed Bashar al-Assad regime has advanced in Aleppo, and IS has threatened to capture Azaz, which could leave the YPG as the only viable alternative to IS along the Syrian-Turkish border (Now, December 2). If IS does capture Azaz, Turkey's plan for a "safe zone" would be finished. This might prompt Turkey to provide more support to rebels along its border or carry out more attacks on Islamic State positions near the border

Russia, Turkey and the Kurds

The intervention of Russia on the behalf of the al-Assad regime in late September and Turkey downing a Russian jet on November 24 has complicated the situation (Daily Sabah, Nov 24). Clashes have occurred between Turkish-backed rebels and YPG-allied FSA-rebels in northern Aleppo. The FSA and Islamist rebels accuse the YPG and its allies of receiving Russian air support, while the YPG accuses them of working with Turkey to orchestrate attacks on Kurds (Now, December 2; Hawar News, December 1). This has led to worsened relations between Syrian opposition groups and the Kurds in Aleppo.

The tensions between Russia and Turkey could lead Russia to back the Syrian Kurds in their attempt to take the border strip of Jarabulus to Azaz in order to take revenge on Turkey (Pravda, December 2). However, the YPG and Russia differ over their approach to Bashar al-Assad. The YPG is neutral toward al-Assad, but refuses to back his indefinite stay in power, suggesting that al-Assad has to go in the long term in order for the YPG to work with Russa (Sputniknews, November 30; Al-Monitor, October 1). Russians still prefer for al-Assad to stay.

The YPG most likely wants to maintain its neutrality towards both al-Assad and the opposition because it fears that it could lose its support from the U.S.-led coalition. However, the YPG would prefer for both Russia and the United States to work together against the Islamic State. The Kurdish militia could be tempted to use Russia's air cover against FSA rebels and the Islamic State in order to connect its territories if the Kurdish enclave of Efrin in Aleppo faces more danger from Turkish-backed rebel groups.

Raqqa and Hasakah

Currently, the YPG is focusing on Raqqa and Hasakah in order to attain more Western support and to work with Arab and Christian groups so as to control ethnically diverse Arab-Kurdish areas. For this purpose, they formed a joint FSA-YPG operations room in September 2014 that attained coalition support following the IS attack on Kobane. After liberating the city from the Islamic State in January, the YPG managed to capture the Arab majority town of Tal Abyad in June (YPG Rojava, June 16).

Currently, the FSA militias in the joint operations room has several checkpoints 50 kilometers from Raqqa. They are part of a newly formed Syrian Arab coalition allied to the YPG that has received ammunition from the United State to fight against the Islamic State in Raqqa (Hurriyet, November 11). This coalition consists of members of the Shammar tribe in al-Hasakah Governorate and smaller FSA groups and tribes from Raqqa and Deir al-Zor governorates near Raqqa and Kobane. To support this alliance, the United States has deployed 50 special forces soldiers to Kobane to train the Arab and Kurdish forces who are intended to attack Raqqa (AFP, November 27).

To take it a step further, the YPG and its allies set up the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a newly created alliance to receive more support from the West, on October 15 with a smaller Arab and Christian groups that already has made several advances (YPGRojava, October 16). This is in anticipation of further peace talks for a Syrian transition between major stakeholders. The SDF says that it is both an alternative to the Syrian regime and jihadist groups, and that is can provide a template for a federal democratic Syria (Hawar News, November 30). In its first operation, launched on October 31, the SDF managed to advance more than 900 square kilometers, capturing al-Hawl and marching on toward al-Shadadi (Twitter, December 2; Qasioun, November 15).

The goal of the YPG is to secure its territory in al-Hasakah Governorate from future Islamic State attacks by securing the Syrian-Iraqi border near Sinjar, Iraq to the Jabal Abdal Aziz Mountains in southwestern portion of the Syrian governorate. However, tensions with Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups in northern Aleppo could damage relations between Arab rebel groups and the YPG in the future.

Conclusion

The Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces have so far secured over 95 percent of the territory that they wanted to capture in Iraq, and will assist Iraqi forces when they capture Mosul. In Syria, Turkey opposes any further advances from the YPG along the Jarabulus-Azaz border strip. As a result, the YPG has focused its operations more on Raqqa and al-Hasakah to the south so as to receive more Western support. The Russian operations in Aleppo in support of Bashar al-Assad, and the refusal of Turkey to prevent Kurdish forces from advancing across the Syrian border, could push the YPG to pick a side. The different goals of the different actors could further complicate the policies of the U.S. administration, but this also depends on developments on the ground.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg is a political analyst specializing in issues concerning Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey with a particular focus on Kurdish politics.

Notes

1. "Just Terror," Dabiq, Issue 12, November 18, 2015, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/the-islamic-state-e2809cdc481biq-magazine-12e280b3.pdf.

2. Ibid.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
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Conserved Conflict: Russia's Pattern in Ukraine's East

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Vladimir Socor Publication Date 17 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 226 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Conserved Conflict: Russia's Pattern in Ukraine's East, 17 December 2015, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 226, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a4c84.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Russia's military intervention in Ukraine's east-directly and by proxy-has saddled Ukraine with a "frozen" conflict in its Donetsk and Luhansk provinces. The parallel situation in Crimea also qualifies as a "frozen conflict," insofar as Russia's forcible annexation is not recognized internationally, and in that sense the peninsula has no valid status. These are the latest in the series of conflicts initiated or abetted by Russia against its neighbors, but Western powers have yet to grasp the operating patterns and to respond adequately.

The inadequacy of that response begins with the terminology. Thus, the value-neutral, equidistant term "conflict" averts naming Russia (directly or via its proteges) as the aggressor party or occupier of the territory. A conflict "freeze" would suggest a natural, spontaneous process, whereas it might better be described as conflict-conservation, designed to relegate the situation to quasi-oblivion and leaving Russia the winner on the ground. It is a reflection on the inadequacy of the "frozen conflict" stereotype that this and associated terms are accompanied sometimes by semi-apologetic inverted commas.

Compared with the predecessor cases, Russia's conflict undertaking in Ukraine's east has had by far the most destructive impact in terms of battle theater size, population numbers directly affected (at least four times larger than the populations of Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Karabakh taken together), numbers of internally displaced persons and refugees (possibly ten times the combined numbers in those predecessor, unresolved cases), high-intensity firepower (heavy artillery, multiple-launcher missile systems), damage to fixed assets in Ukraine's most heavily industrialized area, and Ukrainian battlefield casualties (approximately 9,000 killed in action within 18 months-a higher casualty rate by comparison with those predecessor cases).

Military hostilities in Ukraine's east are currently giving way to the phase of conflict conservation. Its characteristics, fitting within the broad pattern (see above), include:

Suspension of active military operations, albeit under threat of their resumption by the stronger side (Russia with its proxies in this case);

Establishment of military demarcation lines on the ground, with a potential to turn into political demarcations;

The "conflict" is deemed to involve local belligerents-Ukraine versus Donetsk-Luhansk. This subterfuge allows Western governments and organizations to avoid designating Russia as aggressor or at least a belligerent. The West (collectively, more or less) does acknowledge the fact of Russia's military presence and its illegitimate character, and does call for the withdrawal of Russian troops or proteges. But such calls bring little or no results over years or decades (since the early 1990s in the cases of Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia or Karabakh). In the case of Donetsk-Luhansk, "foreign" forces and their local recruits are so combined as to make it hard to distinguish between them.

International formats of negotiation are mainly designed to promote "de-escalation" of hostilities, draw stable demarcation lines, and oversee negotiations between the local parties to the conflict. These are deemed to be the legitimate government of the aggressed country and the de facto authorities in the occupied territory. Although Russia is a belligerent party (indeed the conflict's initiator), Moscow at the same time plays the role of mediator between Kyiv and Donetsk-Luhansk in the Minsk Contact Group, and the role of overseeing the political settlement as part of the "Normandy" Group.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is mandated to oversee the observance of the armistice, by consensus between Russia and the Western powers within the OSCE. This plays into Russia's hands by dint of its veto power on the OSCE mission's mandate, down to the technical details of its equipment and access rights. This is a repeat of Russia's cat-and-mouse play with the OSCE's missions in Georgia, only on a larger scale in Ukraine (some OSCE officials have undergone that experience in both countries). Monitoring and verification of compliance with the armistice is less than reliable in the Russian-controlled territory. This makes it possible for Russian and proxy forces to generate threats of surprise attacks against Ukrainian positions, so as to keep the Ukrainian side off-balance and insecure. This situation cannot but affect the diplomatic process.

The diplomatic process leads toward international acceptance of authorities in Russian-controlled territories as de facto interlocutors. The goal of conflict-conservation necessitates those authorities' cooperation as well as Russia's: at first, for de-escalation and creation of buffer zones; eventually, for seeking a political settlement with Russia and its local proteges. The political settlement is an elusive process, long-term at best. To advance it, Western powers and Russia promote confidence-building measures (military, economic, political) between the country's central government and Russia's local proteges. This endeavor tends to equalize the legitimate government and those unrecognized local authorities in practical terms as parties to the conflict-resolution process. Two possible pitfalls wait along this way: either confidence-building measures substituting for conflict-settlement, i.e. a "freeze;" or the creeping legitimization of the Russian-controlled local authorities and their empowerment in the eventual settlement.

Western powers, as a rule, are eager to reduce their engagement soon after the prerequisites to conflict-conservation have been laid. Higher priorities elsewhere absorb far larger shares of Western resources and attention. Those higher interests can supposedly be advanced with Russia's cooperation; the "We need Russia" mentality (whether on Afghanistan, Iran, anti-terrorism, Syria) takes over, as seen recurrently in the last 10 to 15 years. With the passage of time, the conserved conflicts are relegated to ever-lower rungs on the scale of Western priorities. This sets the stage for an undeclared acceptance of what Russia declares to be "new realities" on the ground. The dynamics in Ukraine's east, however, have not reached that stage as yet.

Beyond these recognizable patterns, however, Russia's conflict undertaking in Ukraine's east involves a number of major political and military innovations.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Islamic State and West Africa

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Jacob Zenn Publication Date 17 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Islamic State and West Africa, 17 December 2015, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a5484.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

2015 marked the year when "Boko Haram" evolved from an ostensibly domestic-rooted and globally unaffiliated militant group into a "Province" in the Islamic State's global structure. This transition was formalized on March 7, 2015, when "Boko Haram" leader Abubakr Shekau pledged baya'a, or allegiance, to the Islamic State caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Vanguard, March 7). In the ensuing weeks, al-Baghdadi's spokesman accepted Shekau's pledge, the Islamic State publicized Shekau's pledge in its official magazine Dabiq and other Islamic State "Provinces" in Algeria, Yemen, Libya, Syria and Iraq issued ten videos of congratulations for Shekau's pledge (Nigeria News, March 12).

The ten videos of congratulations are the highest number of videos that the Islamic State has released on any theme or issue since al-Baghdadi's declaration of the caliphate in May 2014. This was a testament to the significance to the Islamic State of "Boko Haram," which was renamed the "Islamic State in West Africa Province," or ISWAP. ISWAP became the Islamic State's largest acquisition outside of the Middle East and furthered the narrative that the Islamic State was remaining (baqiya, in Arabic) in Syria and Iraq and expanding (tatamadad, in Arabic) globally, especially in Africa.

Why and How Shekau Made the Pledge

The most likely explanation for Shekau's pledge to al-Baghdadi is that Shekau has long yearned for an "Islamic State" to replace the federal, secular, democratic, Anglophone and constitutionally established state of Nigeria. Shekau was willing to declare himself "subservient" to al-Baghdadi and even respect an al-Baghdadi-appointed amir for "West Africa Province," who is reportedly an Arab based in Libya, in order to receive legitimacy for his "Province" in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region (Fulan's SITREP, September 17). Shekau also likely benefitted from reconciliation with former "al-Qaeda in Nigeria" militants, who publicly referred to themselves as "Ansaru" after Ansaru announced its formation in 2012 and, at that time, expressed its opposition to Shekau's takfiri ideology.

After Ansaru's disintegration in 2013, U.S.-designated terrorist Khalid al-Barnawi's forces began to operate alongside Shekau's forces, mostly in northern Cameroon. There, al-Barnawi's militants have controlled key logistical and smuggling routes, masterminded the kidnapping-for-ransom of 22 foreigners and caused significant casualties to Cameroon's Rapid Intervention Brigades (BIR) and Chadian forces (and arguably hastened their departure from Cameroon in November 2015) as well as the civilian population (Terrorism Monitor, February 6). It was these former Ansaru militants under al-Barnawi who likely:

Reconnected with their former North African al-Qaeda comrades who had defected from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to the Islamic State; and

Through these North Africans, opened up the line of communication between Shekau and Libya- and Tunisia-based Islamic State militants who report, and in some cases travel, to Raqqa, Syria.

The relationship between Shekau and North African AQIM defectors to the Islamic State paved the way for Shekau's pledge to al-Baghdadi and for al-Baghdadi's forces in Raqqa in Syria to recognize the pledge.

Islamic State Influence on ISWAP

In the year leading up to Shekau's pledge on March 7, 2015-and in the nine months after the pledge-the most visible area of Islamic State influence on ISWAP has been in ISWAP's strategic communication, which is fully integrated into the production and dissemination style on social media of all Islamic State Provinces. ISWAP's media wing is accordingly called "West Africa Province Media Foundation."

Yet, there are three other strategic areas where Islamic State influence on ISWAP may also be seen. These three areas are:

ISWAP's decision, for the first time, to hold territory in northeastern Nigeria, starting in mid-2014 when Shekau was first beginning to signal his impending allegiance to al-Baghdadi. [1]

ISWAP's expansion, activation of cells and escalation of attacks in Nigeria's neighboring West African countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad after the start of regional military intervention in northeastern Nigeria in February 2015, including a trademark tactic of deploying teenage girls in suicide attacks in those countries. [2]

ISWAP's target selection within Nigeria, including a claimed suicide attack on a Shi'a procession in Kano in November 2015, three claimed suicide attacks in Abuja in October 2015 and four claimed suicide attacks in N'djamena, Chad in June 2015 (Terrorism Monitor, February 6). [3]

There is debate in the analytical community about the extent to which the Islamic State influenced the above three strategic areas. Before Shekau's pledge, one of the most credible and closely connected Nigerian journalists to ISWAP, the exiled Ahmed Salkida, suggested that the Islamic State was offering funds to "Boko Haram" to make the pledge like the Islamic State did to other militant groups, which makes it possible that some Islamic State funds-in addition to ransom money that al-Barnawi's forces receiving for their kidnappings in Cameroon-contributed to some of these above-mentioned ISWAP operations in 2014 and 2015 (Storify.com, November 1, 2014). Nonetheless, it is beyond reasonable doubt that the Islamic State contributed directly to ISWAP's strategic communication to "market" those operations, especially to the Islamic State's online English, Arabic and French-speaking followers (but not necessarily Hausa-speaking Nigerians).

For example:

When ISWAP began to occupy territories in northeastern Nigeria in mid-2014, Shekau declared that the region was part of an "Islamic State (dawla Islamiya or dawlat al-Islam)" several times in videos, which carried the "signatures" of Islamic State choreography, special effects, music, clothing, symbols (such as flags), terminology and rhetoric from Islamic State's own videos from Syria and Iraq, and Libya (YouTube, August 24, 2014; YouTube, October 5, 2014; YouTube, November 1, 2014; YouTube, November 10, 2014). [4]

ISWAP began to operate its own official twitter account called al-Urhwa al-Wutqha with the pro-Islamic State, Algeria- and Tunisia-based, and Islamic State-endorsed Africa Media organization in early 2015, and released "letters" to Africa Media on developments in northeastern Nigeria, including one about the prospective pledge, while Africa Media encouraged the use of French language on al-Urhwa al-Wutqha and even appeared to have co-written a threat to neighboring West Africa countries on ISWAP's behalf that was posted on al-Urhwa al-Wutqha.

ISWAP has only claimed three sets of attacks since Shekau's pledge to al-Baghdadi-the attacks on the Shi'a procession in Kano, military and police facilities in N'djamena and markets in Abuja-which suggests that the Islamic State, which disseminated the claims on ISWAP's behalf, was likely specifically informed of and interested in claiming those attacks because they are the types of targets in city capitals or against enemies, such as Shi'a, that the Islamic State would want ISWAP to publicize as part of the organization's branding of ISWAP's militancy.

While the Islamic State has long approved of Shekau's style of takfiri violence and has defended, in particular, the kidnappings in Chibok of more than 200 mostly Christian schoolgirls in April 2014, the Islamic State is now "re-packaging" ISWAP to serve and fit the template that the Islamic State "core" in Syria and Iraq envisions for all Provinces (Dabiq4, October 2014). This does not necessarily require the Islamic State to radically change how ISWAP operates; "Boko Haram" was successful on its own-with some AQIM operational, financial and media support-well before Shekau's pledge. However, the Islamic State wants to improve the name-recognition of and confidence in ISWAP among the Islamic State's global followership by:

Contributing to ISWAP's strategic communication and social media "upgrade."

Tempering Shekau's previously erratic-albeit carefully orchestrated-"righteous tormentor" persona (Journal for Deradicalization, November 2015).

"Reducing" Shekau to the role of a provincial wali, or governor, instead of an overbearing and dominant leader.

In this way, Shekau is no longer the focus of ISWAP's international image. He will neither distract from the Islamic State's broader messaging priorities related to controlling and expanding territory and attacking Shi'a, the West and Christians, nor will he pose a threat to other Islamic State leaders through the possibility of upstaging them with his characteristically bombastic videos.

Future Trajectory of ISWAP

The Islamic State's engagement with ISWAP on branding may be only the starting point for a more advanced relationship in the future. Moving forward, the Islamic State could encourage more ISWAP attacks that garner international attention. This would further justify the Islamic State's decision to acquire ISWAP in the eyes of other Islamic State followers around the world as well as potential "Pprovince candidates," such as al-Shabaab members who are considering joining the Islamic State. For the Islamic State to increase ISWAP's prominence, ISWAP's attacks in 2015 on the Shi'a procession in Kano and in Abuja or N'djamena, however, do not suffice.

Rather, what ISWAP needs to do for Islamic State is to raise its stature internationally with an attack, or attacks, that are equivalent to "Boko Haram's" first internationally significant suicide attack at the UN Headquarters in August 2011, which the mastermind, Mamman Nur, carried out with support of AQIM and al-Shabaab (Vanguard, December 7, 2011). The type of operation that ISWAP may seek to carry out in the near-term future may therefore include:

A major attack at an oil installation or cafe, hotel or other public place in Nigeria's southern economic hub of Lagos, where former militants in Ansaru had planted cells; [6]

A major attack outside the Lake Chad region, such as in Mali, which could show that ISWAP is a bona fide "West African" Province and that could benefit the support of former MUJWA militants who have pledged allegiance to al-Baghdadi and are now under Shekau in the ISWAP hierarchy; or

A major attack in a city like Abuja or Kaduna that is the equivalent of the joint Belmokhtar-AQIM Sahara Branch (with local-level support from Macina Liberation Front, or FLM) attack at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali in November 2015, and that would receive international attention for the killing many foreigners, or any "spectacular" killing of foreigners in a way that could be publicized internationally due to the shocking level of brutality.

It is in this regard that the relationship of ISWAP to Libya-based Islamic State militants may soon transcend the media sphere and leadership hierarchy (with Shekau reporting to an amir in Libya) to also involve training of ISWAP militants in Libya. It took only one year after the Islamic State's Sinai Province (formerly Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis) pledged allegiance to the Islamic State that the Sinai Province was capable of "impressing" the Islamic State "core" in Syria and Iraq-and around the world-by taking down a Russian airplane in Sinai and only one-and-a-half years for the Islamic State to be able to mastermind an attack in Paris from its bases in Raqqa, Syria (al-Arabiya, November 4, 2014). If Libya becomes a hub to sub-Saharan Africa as Raqqa is to other parts of the world (such as Paris and Sinai), then in 2016 or 2017, ISWAP could also carry out a new type of attack in Nigeria or West Africa under the training and coordination of the Islamic State in Libya. Moreover, if the border between Turkey and Syria closes or the Islamic State is driven out of Raqqa and Mosul, Iraq and key leaders relocate to Libya, then the Islamic State would likely further encourage militants to "migrate" or support ISWAP and the ties between the Islamic State's "core" and ISWAP would deepen.

In Spite of the Islamic State, al-Qaeda Can Find a Third Way in Africa

Shekau's pledge to al-Baghdadi and Islamic State's subsequent series of video appeals, including one from ISWAP, to al-Shabaab militants to also make the pledge succeeded in drawing some factions and militants in al-Shabaab to Islamic State, especially fighters that lived abroad, younger fighters and fighters from the Swahili Coast in Kenya and Tanzania. In addition, since 2014, not only has AQIM lost its sub-Saharan progeny of MUJWA and Ansaru to the Islamic State, but also five, albeit relatively small, factions within Algeria have defected to the Islamic State:

Al-Ansar Brigade in Centre Region in September 2015;

Al-Ghuraba Brigade in Constantine in July 2015;

Humat al-Da'wah al-Salafiyah in Tlemcen in May 2015;

Skikda Brigade in northeastern Algeria in May 2015; and

Jund Al-Khilafa in the mountains outside of Algiers in November 2014.

Defectors to the Islamic State from AQIM's orbit also extend to large numbers of foot soldiers of the former AQIM Southern Command, who established Katibat Uqba Ibn Nafi (KUIN) in Libya and Tunisia after AQIM southern commander Abu Zeid was killed by French-supported Chadian forces in northern Mali in 2013. Many foot soldiers in Ansar al-Shari'a Tunisia (AST), such as the attacker at Bardo Museum in Tunis in March 2015, also appeared loyal to the Islamic State, despite the leadership of AST, like KUIN's leadership, still being officially pro-AQIM.

AQIM's Saharan branch as well as AQIM "front groups" that it coordinates within Mali, such as Ansar Dine and the FLM, appeared to have been gravitating away from AQIM leader Abdelmalek Droukdel and towards the independent but al-Qaeda-loyal Mokhtar Belmokhtar (as evidenced by the above-mentioned attack at the Radisson Blu in Bamako, Mali on November 2015) (Terrorism Monitor, November 13). However, the joint statements of Belmokhtar and Droukdel on December 4, 2015, saying that Belmokhtar was rejoining AQIM likely reinvigorated AQIM's standing in Africa (RFI, December 4). Moreover, although AQIM's Saharan Branch has "upgraded" its strategic communication to resemble more closely-but not necessarily support-the Islamic State, recent Saharan Branch videos still maintain distinct characteristics of longtime AQIM videos dating back to the time of the AQIM's predecessor-the GSPC-by showing, for example, the ethno-linguistic diversity in its ranks that had spawned both MUJWA and Ansaru in 2011 (Leak Source, June 23; Long War Journal, September 3). This does not mean AQIM will "lose" its Saharan Branch, but does suggest that the Saharan Branch is re-evaluating its modus operandi, particularly related to recruitment and strategic communication, as a response to Islamic State competition in the region.

Thus, al-Qaeda's African stalwarts of al-Shabaab and AQIM have both been experiencing separations, fractures and defections to the Islamic State. This, however, has provided an opportunity for African jihadists to find a "third way" between an aging but strategically sound al-Qaeda and a dynamic yet often over-reaching Islamic State. Mokhtar Belmokhtar is the type of militant who, at least in the Sahel and Nigeria, has both the intent and the networks to find a "third way" and unite jihadists in a constellation of cells and factions that shift between the space and functionalities of the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. His willingness to re-join AQIM shows that this "third way" will likely be channeled through al-Qaeda and could present a significant challenges to the Islamic State's continued growth on the continent.

While thus far Shekau has managed to maintain the unity of ISWAP since his pledge to al-Baghdadi, there are other influential and perhaps better connected militants-such as al-Barnawi, Mamman Nur and Mahamat Daud, the latter who connected "Boko Haram" to Malian militants and trainers and facilitated Shekau's communication with the Islamic State-who could abandon Shekau and re-form a new al-Qaeda network in Nigeria as Ansaru was. They could build this "third way" in Nigeria and the Sahel under the guidance of Belmokhtar or even al-Barnawi, who prefers anonymity and is likely more economically and strategically influential (and more operationally unencumbered due to his low profile) than Belmokhtar in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.

Conclusion

While 2015 was the year of the Islamic State's widely publicized expansion in Nigeria, 2016 could see the revival or reconstitution of al-Qaeda networks in Nigeria and other areas of Africa, although they may not publicly declare themselves as "al-Qaeda." Nonetheless, in the near-term future, the Islamic State is likely to continue to influence ISWAP beyond the fully integrated strategic communication and media cooperation that was established in 2015. The competition between al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in Nigeria and West Africa could also lead to a period of "outbidding" where each side tries to carry out more spectacular attacks than the other.

Jacob Zenn is a Fellow of The Jamestown Foundation.

Notes

1. The militants mostly retreated from the territories they held after Nigeria and neighboring countries launched a military offensive against the militants in northeastern Nigeria in February 2015.

2. There have been over 100 young girls deployed in more than 70 incidents of female suicide attacks since the Chibok kidnapping in April 2014. Although no Chibok girls have been deployed in these attacks, the network that masterminded the Chibok kidnapping-which is most likely a "rogue" former Ansaru faction- is likely also behind the deployment of female suicide bombers. The rate of ISWAP's female suicide attacks far exceeds that of other terrorist groups historically, including the Tamil Tigers, Chechen "Black Widows", and Kurdish groups. The only other terrorist group to organize so many female suicide attacks in a short time-although still not as many or for as long a time period as ISWAP-was the predecessor to IS under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, ordered such attacks mostly for the purpose of "shaming" men into also carrying out suicide attacks. However, ISWAP's purpose appears to purely operational and not as a form of motivation to men or propaganda. Nonetheless, it is notable that al-Zarqawi ordered these attacks during the time when he was leaving al-Qaeda's orbit and moving toward establishing what became the IS around 2006-2007, which is about the same stage that the "rogue" former Ansaru faction would have been in when it began orchestrating these attacks in Nigeria. It also notable, therefore, that Shekau has largely modeled his public persona on al-Zarqawi since 2014.

3. Nigeria's mostly Iran-influenced Shia population includes several million people is the largest African Shia community in Sub-Saharan Africa.

4. The holding and administering of territory is essential to the IS's claim that it has a Caliphate because holding territory-in addition to al-Baghdadi's being from the prophetic Qurayshi Arab tribe and IS's receipt of support from Islamic scholars (ulema)- is one of the three conditions of a legitimate declaration of a Caliphate, according to IS. Although ISWAP has not shown that conducts as much administration as IS videos from Syria and Iraq, or even Sinai and Libya, ISWAP videos have shown sharia punishments, salah prayers with hundreds of worshippers, and convoys of armed vehicles, in ISWAP-controlled areas, which are intended to portray the holding of territory.

5. This, again, suggested, that the IS was following-and endorsing-ISWAP's growing operational presence beyond Nigeria, but whether or not the attacks in neighboring countries were at IS's behest or the result of ISWAP independently nullifying "non-aggression pacts" with Niger, Chad and Cameroon as a result of their offensives against ISWAP is debatable.

6. Thus far there has only been one or two small-scale attacks in Lagos, including a female suicide bombing near a petrol tanker in June 2014.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Conserved Conflict: Russia's Innovations in Ukraine's East

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Vladimir Socor Publication Date 18 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 227 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Conserved Conflict: Russia's Innovations in Ukraine's East, 18 December 2015, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 227, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a5c24.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Russia's conflict undertaking in Ukraine's east fits within patterns familiar from other post-Soviet conflicts, initiated by Russia and conserved on Russian terms with international assistance (see EDM, December 17).

However, Russia's war in Ukraine's east involves a number of major political and military innovations in terms of conflict-conservation. These stem for the most part from the Minsk armistice and the processes of its implementation.

The armistice, by definition a military document, is largely political in content. Apart from the ceasefire-related clauses, the Minsk armistice imposes changes to Ukraine's constitution and prescribes semi-sovereign powers for the Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine's east. Those elaborate political clauses lay the foundations of a Donetsk-Luhansk proto-state: within the state of Ukraine formally, but outside Ukraine's control de facto. For the first time in the post-Soviet era, Russia caps a military intervention against a neighboring country by prescribing changes to that country's constitutional arrangements.

Further under the Minsk armistice, Ukraine is supposed to subsidize the Russian-controlled territory's reconstruction and its social programs via guaranteed budget lines (entitlements) in Ukraine's state budget. This provision is supposed to be enshrined in Ukraine's constitution via the "special status" for Donetsk-Luhansk. This economic stipulation, capping as it does Russia's military intervention, looks like war reparations imposed on the aggressed country; or a modern version of the ancient tribute.

Ukraine's titles to sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of its borders are no longer recognized in practice. Russia's 2014 military intervention breached those titles de facto, but the Minsk armistice formalizes that breach at the international level. Under the armistice, a formal restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty and control of the external border in Donetsk-Luhansk is no longer a matter of title, right, or international law. Instead, that restoration becomes conditional on enshrining the Donetsk-Luhansk proto-state in Ukraine's constitution and legitimizing the Moscow-installed authorities there through elections. Moreover, the terms of that restoration are negotiable between Kyiv and Donetsk-Luhansk (i.e., Moscow) under the Minsk armistice.

Western powers have accepted this Russian logic by embracing the political clauses of the Minsk armistice (see above). And they have reinforced that logic by asking Ukraine to fulfill the political clauses first, as a precondition to withdrawal of "foreign" troops from Donetsk-Luhansk and a partial Ukrainian control at the external border there. The linkage and the sequence show that Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders are being treated as conditional and negotiable, first by Russia and then by the West. In their handling of the other conserved conflicts (Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, Karabakh, and even Crimea) Western powers had invariably insisted on Georgia's, Moldova's, Azerbaijan's and Ukraine's territorial integrity and inviolability of their internationally recognized borders. Even in the form of lip service, that Western stance has been unconditional and non-negotiable. But the West is deferring to Russia on this score in Ukraine's east.

Armed forces under the flags of the Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics" ("DPR, LPR") exceed the conventional armies of many European countries in terms of heavy artillery, multiple-launcher missile systems and combat armor. The hardware and personnel have been transferred from Russia to the DPR-LPR and re-flagged there. The re-flagging is deniable, and such "local" forces are not required to withdraw from that territory under the Minsk armistice. Only "foreign" forces are so required, again conditionally, and without mentioning Russia. If and when the DPR-LPR are legitimized through elections (see below), there are no grounds to assume that these "local" armed forces would relocate to Russia. If anything, the "republics," once legitimized, could boldly insist on retaining their "own" forces. These are exponentially stronger than the local paramilitaries and Russian "peacekeepers" of yore in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, local and Russian troops in Transnistria, or Karabakh paramilitaries and Armenia's forces in that territory. None of those forces posed credible threats of offensive actions to Georgia, Moldova or Azerbaijan. But the "DPR-LPR"-flagged Russian forces can hold Ukraine continually under the threat of military action.

Russia and Western powers convergently pressure Ukraine to legitimize the Donetsk-Luhansk authorities via "democratic" elections to be staged in the occupied territory. This is another Russian innovation that the West has embraced. In the pre-existing conserved conflicts (see above), Russia did endorse various referendums (more so than elections) in secessionist territories, but had never asked those countries' legitimate governments to cooperate with the staging of those votes, validate the results and legitimize the secessionist proto-states on that basis. For their part, Western governments and Western-influenced international organizations had unanimously scorned those referendums and elections, refused to monitor them and declared them invalid ab initio, since the pre-conditions to holding democratic elections did not exist. That stance, however, has now changed dramatically in Russia's favor in the case of Ukraine's east.

Moscow traditionally manipulated the negotiation processes and formats that handled the conserved conflicts in more than 20 years. Those processes and formats, however ineffective, were at least stable and structured, and Moscow could not expect Western diplomacy to endorse Russia's and its clients' positions against the aggressed countries. At present, however, there is no structured process or legitimate international forum to deal with Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The "Normandy Four" group regularly produces a consensus among Russia, Germany and France operating against Ukraine's interests. Germany and France lack a mandate or any authorization from the European Union to negotiate with Russia. But the EU itself lacks a policy, Berlin has taken over by default and has towed Paris along. In the Minsk Contact Group, an isolated Ukraine must face Russia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE-itself influenced by Russia's veto power), and the Donetsk and Luhansk "republics." The Contact Group itself is mislabeled: Contact Groups handling major crises elsewhere include Western powers by definition, whereas the Minsk Contact Group excludes the West also by definition. In Washington, the Barack Obama administration has encouraged Berlin to take over the process in Europe; but the United States itself negotiates bilaterally with Russia, on and off, about Ukraine, adding to the overall incoherence of the process. In the other conserved conflicts, the United States and the European Union participate in the 5+2 format on Moldova (Transnistria); the US and EU also participate in the Geneva Discussions relating to Georgia (Abkhazia and South Ossetia); and the United States is a co-chair of the Minsk Group on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict (Karabakh). But the EU and US are absent from any structured format to deal with Russia's war against Ukraine.

On the Western side, the introduction of economic sanctions is an unprecedented and innovative response to Russia's annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine's east. The sanctions, however, have not significantly influenced Russia's policies and decisions regarding Ukraine. The EU is struggling with itself increasingly hard to maintain the sanctions in place. Meanwhile, Western diplomacy endorses Russia's positions, against those of Ukraine, on the implementation of the political clauses of the Minsk armistice, bracketing out the military and security clauses. And most recently, the West has reversed Russia's "isolation," treating the Kremlin instead as a possible helper in the Middle East. Moscow, therefore, hopes that European diplomacy seeks face-saving ways to begin downscaling the sanctions, that the Obama administration is open to a Syria-for-Ukraine tradeoff, and that Russia can wait out the West on the economic sanctions.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Young Islamic Radicals Carry out Arson Attacks on Sufi Tombs in Chechnya

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Mairbek Vatchagaev Publication Date 18 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 227 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Young Islamic Radicals Carry out Arson Attacks on Sufi Tombs in Chechnya, 18 December 2015, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 227, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a60c4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Chechnya's two-century-old Sufi tradition experienced its first crisis 30 years ago, when the first Salafists appeared in the republic. The Salafists did not simply proclaim the supremacy of their teachings, but aspired to take power in the republic. The Salafist aim of grabbing power sparked the first Salafist-Sunni conflict in Chechnya in the second half of 1990s.

When Russia launched the second war with Chechnya in 1999, it regarded the Sufis as allies against the Salafis. The alliance between Chechnya's pro-Russian political leaders and its Sufi leaders weakened the positions of Sufism in the republic. A certain part of society in Chechnya preferred to see Islam there maintain its traditional neutrality-that is, to abstain from radicalism but also avoid an alliance with the Russian authorities. The armed underground in Chechnya gradually transformed from a moderate secessionist movement to a religious radicalism that rejects everything that does not fit into their view of the world. Still, even the radicals tried to avoid a direct clash, saying they accepted the Sufis (YouTube, September 10, 2012).

A recent incident involving an arson attack on a ziyarat (a sheikh's grave that has become a pilgrimage site) in the village of Kurchaloi shocked the entire republic (Grozny.tv, November 18). Four residents of the village of Mairtup-Jabrail Usumov, Shamil Ergiev, Khamzat Uspaev and Islambyli Yunusov-were arrested for setting fire to the tomb of Yangulbi-Haji Dokhtukaev, a Sufi sheikh of the Naqshbandi Tariqat who was a famous Muslim preacher in the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. The attackers sprinkled gasoline on the tomb, which is only a simple construction with verses from the Koran covered with a carpet, and set it on fire. The young men apparently wanted to use the attack to highlight the failure of the policies of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who relies on the support of Sufism and declares support for Russia and Vladimir Putin personally. However, it was not the first arson attack on a ziyarat. Earlier, on October 10, unidentified individuals set fire to the ziyarat of another Sufi hermit, Durdi-sheikh, in the cemetery of the city of Shali. Durdi-sheikh lived in the 19th century and was known for his life as a hermit. The authorities failed to solve that arson attack, thus no reaction from Kadyrov or the wider public followed. These attacks on Sufi sacred sites were the first since the 1930s, when militant atheism ruled the country and the Bolsheviks attacked ziyarats, demanding that Muslims stop visiting the tombs of respected sheikhs.

In the second arson attack, the authorities managed to intercept the perpetrators quite quickly and turned the incident into a propaganda tool by staging a protest against all radicals. The four young men were taken to Kadyrov and tried to explain their behavior as some kind of mental aberration and lack of understanding of what they were doing. In reality, the four young men likely knew perfectly well what they were doing. One of the attackers said on TV that they were plotting it as a protest against everything related to Sufism (YouTube, November 17). It turned out that the attackers had their own group of people dissatisfied with Sufism. They are not members of the armed underground, but certainly support it morally, and would have been no surprise had they traveled to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State.

Kadyrov used their arrest to try and show the impact of the Internet and its use by Islamic radicals in brainwashing the minds of young people. However, he also raised the question of why young people do not trust well-known preachers or those who have authority in the republic, and that question remained unanswered. The perpetrators of the attacks said that they carried them out on the orders of some Dagestani preacher who published his videos online (Ng.ru, December 2).

In reality, however, the key to understanding the behavior of the four is in their rejection of Muslim clerics who collaborate with the government. Sufism was opposed to the Russian Empire and later to the Soviet Union, but today it has acquired a bad reputation due to its alliance with the government of Vladimir Putin. And while the vast majority of Chechens regarded the attacks on the Sufi sheikhs' tombs as unacceptable behavior, they also disapproved of Kadyrov's response to the arson attacks. The police took the four young men on a tour across Chechnya and in each town people in public gatherings would condemn them and curse them, thereby also insulting their parents (Checheninfo.ru, November 28). By mid-December, the police had taken the four arsonists to half of the republic's towns, but it remains unclear what will happen to them by the end of the public campaign. Most likely they will either have to leave the republic or be criminally prosecuted for vandalism. Some people are already calling for the relatives of the young men also to be held responsible (Svpressa.ru, November 23). It appears that punishing relatives of those who have committed crimes has become the new normal in Chechnya.

The arson attacks on the ziyarats in Chechnya suggest there are not only isolated individuals under the influence of radical Islamist Internet propaganda, but entire circles of people prepared to undermine the Sufi predominance in the republic. Radical Islam in the North Caucasus clearly went on the offensive after the so-called Islamic State was proclaimed in Syria and Iraq. The alliance of radical Islam in the North Caucasus with Middle Eastern radicals has only just begun to demonstrate its power in the region, including Sufi-dominated Chechnya and Dagestan. However, armed clashes will eventually become more predominant than secret arson attacks on Sufi sacred sites. Sufism in the North Caucasus still has a strong hold on society, but as the recent incident above demonstrates, it is not a guarantee against growing radicalism.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Office of Largest Opposition Party in Georgia Comes Under Attack

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Giorgi Menabde Publication Date 18 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 227 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Office of Largest Opposition Party in Georgia Comes Under Attack, 18 December 2015, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 227, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a66c4.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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On the night of December 9, unidentified assailants attacked an office of the most influential opposition party of Georgia, United National Movement (UNM), in the town of Dedoplistskaro, near the capital of Tbilisi (Civil Georgia, December 10). Former Georgian president (2008-2013) and the current governor of Odesa oblast in Ukraine (since May 2015), Mikheil Saakashvili, still chairs the UNM. Current President Giorgi Margvelashvili has recently signed a decree that stripped his predecessor of Georgian citizenship, citing Saakashvili's adoption of Ukrainian citizenship (Georgiatoday.ge, December 4). Despite that development, one of the leaders of UNM, Nugzar Tsiklauri, told this author, on December 10, that "The opposition party does not have plans yet to elect a new chairman." It is possible that Saakashvili will retain his status in the party until the parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for the fall of 2016.

Both the authorities and radical political groups inside Georgia have ramped up their pressure on UNM. The General Prosecutor's Office has launched a new investigation against several previous officials in former president Saakashvili's administration (Interpressnews.ge, December 12). But the pressure on the party took a violent turn early last week, when unidentified assailants fired shots at a regional UNM office in Dedoplistskaro. The same building also houses the offices of UNM parliamentarian Zaza Kadelashvili. The December 9 incident represents the kind of, presumably, politically motivated violence that Georgia has not seen in over 20 years, since the country's civil war (1991-1993) and subsequent coup d'etat. "The criminals fired shots at night when the building was empty. That is why luckily no one was hurt. When our party activists came in the morning, they found traces of bullet shots in the windows and called the police. The police arrived only after an hour, and they have not identified any suspects or detained anyone," Tsiklauri recounted (Author's interview, December 10).

UNM deputies raised the incident in the parliament and angrily asked why the criminal investigators had classified the shooting up of the UNM regional office as a case of "damaging someone else's property" instead of "terrorism" (Info9.ge, December 10). David Darchiashvili, a member of parliament (MP) from the UNM, noted the uniqueness of the December 9 incident: "After the UNM entered the opposition [October 2012], extremists attacked our offices. They used eggs, rocks; sometimes they beat up regional activists. But no one has ever used fire arms until now." According to the deputy, the attack in Dedoplistskaro was "a warning for the opposition about further upcoming violence." Darchiashvili regards the authorities' attitude toward the opposition as "utterly unacceptable and undemocratic." Furthermore, he suspects that "the government secretly supports the extremist groups that carry out [such] violent attacks" (Author's interview, December 12).

However, representatives of the ruling coalition, Georgian Dream, flatly reject all accusations of the opposition and unequivocally condemn any acts of violence, including the shooting at the party office in Dedoplsitskaro. "Such acts, whoever carried them out, are absolutely unacceptable and provocative and deserve condemnation and severe punishment. We reject any claims about the authorities' involvement in such acts of violence," one of the leaders of the ruling coalition, Zakhariy Kutsnashvili, stated. However, Kutsnashvili also dismissed the UNM deputies' charge that the December 9 incident should have been classified as "terrorism." He declared, "There was no one inside the building. The incident took place during the night, and no one was hurt Hence, to regard the attack as a terror attack would probably be an exaggeration. In any case, it was an indicator of violence; and whoever uses violence, whatever the justification, it is absolutely unacceptable for me. Violence is not our style" (Author's interview, December 11).

The speaker of the parliament, David Usupashvili, also condemned the attack and called on the law enforcement agencies to investigate the crime and severely punish its perpetrators. Still, the authorities have so far failed to react adequately to the incident. According to the Ministry of Interior, "despite an intensive search, the police has failed so far to identify and arrest the criminals" (Civil Georgia, December 10)

At the same time, the opponents of Mikheil Saakashvili and the UNM regularly claim that violence was a common attribute of the previous government and its supporters. One of the leaders of the antigovernment demonstrations in 2007-2009, film director Giorgi Khaindrava stated: "Now they [UNM's leaders] attempt to cast themselves as innocent victims, but I will remind you that during the rule of the United National Movement, dozens of special groups were created out of former athletes and criminals who would attack the opposition and beat them up with sticks and iron bars" (Author's interview, December 10).

President Saakashvili and his supporters never confirmed that groups of unidentified individuals who attacked some opposition politicians during antigovernment protests in 2007-2009 had any ties to the government (Ambebi.ge, March 29, 2012). Yet, one of the four criminal cases that were launched against Saakashvili after he left office specifically aims to tie him to such extralegal violent activities.

Specifically, the case involves businessman and former MP Valery Gelashvili (Agenda.ge, November 10, 2014). Interior Ministry special forces allegedly beat up Gelashvili in 2005, after he insulted the first lady of the country, Sandra Roelofs, in one of his interviews with the media (Vestikavkaza.ru, October 28, 2014). The General Prosecutor's Office asserts that then-interior minister Vano Merabishvili and the head of the special police department, Erekle Kodua, ordered the attack. President Saakashvili was allegedly aware of the details of the attack. However, the accused UNM members dismiss these indictments, calling them "complete stupidity and absurdity" (Dfwatch.net, April 25).

Responding to the accusations, Saakashvili stated that no opposition leader was arrested under his rule, while the government of the Georgian Dream coalition put under arrest or issued international arrest warrants for many leaders of the UNM. The list includes Mikheil Saakashvili himself, former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava, and the General Secretary of UNM, Vano Merabishvili (The New York Times, July 5).

It is difficult for the supporters of the Georgian Dream coalition to deny the fact that last week's armed attack on a regional office of the country's main opposition party is unprecedented when compared to Georgia's overall political environment over the last two decades. And if the Georgian political actors do not agree on civilized rules of game and a normal political competitive process devoid of violence, Georgian democracy could revert back to the turbulence and chaos of 20 years ago.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Mapping China's Small Arms Trade: China's Illicit Domestic Gun Trade

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Zi Yang Publication Date 21 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol China Brief Volume: 15 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Mapping China's Small Arms Trade: China's Illicit Domestic Gun Trade, 21 December 2015, China Brief Volume: 15 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a6c74.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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This is part one of a two-part series examining China's arms trade.

China is one of the world's top small arms producers, and the products of official arms companies such as Norinco () make regular appearances in conflicts around the globe. In 2014, Chinese arms and ammunition export totaled at $161 million, out of which sporting and hunting long guns constituted $12.75 million (UN Comtrade; NISAT). Despite the country's position as one of the world's largest arms producers, strict Chinese gun laws are designed to ensure few, if any, of its own citizens have the legal right to keep arms. Much less noticed is China's growing problem with domestic production of illegal firearms, which have helped fuel a recent spike in crime.

Even hunting, which is sanctioned on paper and, according to China's legal code should allow a limited number of guns for hunters, is curtailed, as licenses are no longer issued. Moreover, the penalties for gun ownership, and anyone caught involved in manufacturing, sales or ownership of guns can potentially receive a minimum of three years imprisonment. The crime can also carry a life sentence or the death penalty (Xining Public Security Bureau, July 27). [1] Despite these restrictions, Chinese police continue to discover and bust sizable gunrunning networks on a regular basis. A recent raid in Hunan's Shaodong province seized 1,180 guns, some 1,300 parts and 6 million rounds of ammunition-prompting the question, why, despite the tough gun laws in place, does China's illicit gun trade continue to flourish (People's Daily Online, November 28)? Judging by available evidence, China's expanding gun trade is a byproduct of its well-to-do population's growing demand for illegal goods. However, the existing ban, which makes legal gun purchases for law abiding citizens nearly impossible, has resulted in the disproportionate allocation of guns to criminal groups, adding new challenges to the maintenance of public and social order.

Identifying the Customers

Government intervention in the economy almost always has unintended consequences. High tariffs encourage smuggling, and bans on certain commodities creates black markets where products may still be traded. Similarly, China's underground gun trade is a result of the state's attempt to ensure its security by subduing market forces. But as long as a constant demand exists, there will be entrepreneurs willing to take risks in supplying the goods-and Chinese demand for guns is on the rise. Thus, the initial step to understanding China's illegal gun trade is analyzing the demand side.

Customers can be classified into two categories. The majority consists of players in China's criminal underground, the "black society" (), that straddle the line between the legal and illegal worlds-owners of massage parlors, coal mines, night clubs-and who must interact with career criminals on a regular basis. [2] According to a 2013 study, 63.2 percent of Shanghai's inmates arrested on gun-related charges have previously been involved in drugs, illegal gambling, and prostitution. These individuals need guns mainly due to the high-risk nature of their work, and usually obtain guns from suppliers within their criminal circle. [3] Despite the restrictions on even the most basic of guns, some mobsters even have access to high-power weapons. One notorious example is Liu Han, a mobster and businessman in Sichuan Province closely associated with disgraced security czar Zhou Yongkang. To push through business deals, Liu frequently used a team of enforcers armed with military-grade weapons to intimidate and even murder his competitors (NetEase News Online, February 20, 2014; Sina News Online, April 24, 2014). [4]

Another type of customer who constitutes a significant minority is the general gun enthusiast, who has a legal occupation, but want to own a gun to satisfy personal interest, for hunting, or simply as a trophy. Generally coming from China's rising middle-class and nouveau riche, these customers are growing and are known for their readiness to spend liberally for quality arms. [5]

Tracing the Supply Chain

The gun trade is a free market economy open to new entrepreneurs. The learning curve is moderate, but ultimately it is quite easy for anyone to join the commercial activities as long as he or she has the knowledge and proper connections. Before entering the industry, one must first acquire the relevant technical know-how. The traditional way of doing so is finding a gunsmith (). Police crackdowns on China's traditional gun making hubs-Songtao County of Guizhou in particular-have forced gunsmiths with generations of passed-down expertise to leave for opportunities in the big cities. [6] Yet, finding people with such skills is hard because of the invisibility of this kind of labor market to most people. But in the digital age, joining the right Internet forums and QQ groups opens up a world of information that includes anonymous advice on anything gun-related, detailed gun blueprints, and scans of ordinance factory manuals that were considered secret just decades ago.

To be successful in the knowledge acquisition stage, one must first learn the language of the trade, i.e. the "black talk" (). Dodging the Internet police is a part of Chinese online life and an argot was created to connect gun enthusiasts safely. Asking directly about guns (qiang) is too risky, so gun enthusiasts substituted qiang for gou, meaning dog in Chinese, as it is the homophone for the English word gun. Referring to one another as gouyou (), literally "dog-buddies," Chinese gun enthusiasts call assault rifles chongfenggou (lit. assault-dog), air guns qigou (lit. air-dog), shotguns sandangou (lit. loose-bullets-dog), handguns shougou (lit. hand-dog) and ammunition gouliang-dog food. [7]

For any business to operate, it must have goods in stock. Buying smuggled guns made outside of China is possible, but it is more cost-effective to manufacture locally. Most gun parts can be made without much difficulty. With a gun blueprint, an entrepreneur can easily replicate parts en masse at a hardware workshop or at home if they have the machinery. Some specialized parts and processes, such as barrels and riffling (cutting a spiral groove along the inside of a barrel to impart spin on a bullet) require less common tools. Barrels with rifling can only be purchased at specialty shops in certain parts of the country (mainly Guangdong) or online. [8]

Online hunting and military affair forums provide access to private QQ groups serving as virtual gun expos where sellers and buyers meet, network and trade. [9] Pricing is competitive, and sellers market their products by offering better prices and services. [10] Although scammers do exist, the majority are serious businessmen looking to make sales. Upon sealing a deal, the buyer would be directed to a Taobao (Chinese Ebay) store and pay for a legal product (Hangzhou Daily, March 1, 2013). The seller will then mail out disassembled parts of a gun in separate packages to the buyer. [11] Orders come with instructions on how to reassemble the gun, but the buyer may still contact the seller, or an after-sales service agent in the network for further assistance on reassembling, test firing, or returns and refunds. Once the buyer is satisfied, all record of sales will be erased. Despite the covert nature of the transactions, gun sales of all types continue to increase. As an examination of a recent case shows, the rewards for those willing to risk the law can be great-though the punishment if caught, even greater.

The Gun Trade in Action: the Case of the "Fang Lei Network"

At 38 years of age, Fang Lei is a millionaire in handcuffs. Originally a karaoke bar owner of Susong County, Anhui Province, Fang built an empire on running guns. A lifelong gun enthusiast, Fang described his attitude toward guns as like "women and make-up-cannot live without [them]." [12] According to Fang, he wanted to own a gun since he was a child. By 2009 he had already bought two, and quickly moved from collecting to selling. After joining the online "dog-buddies" community, Fang spent 24,000 Yuan (Ren Min Bi) on two rifles. He then began advertising a brand-new version of an AirForce Condor, the most popular brand of pre-charged pneumatic air rifle among Chinese hunters on Internet forums. Orders started flooding in immediately, and Fang had to travel to Guangdong's Foshan eight times in the following months to place orders for parts. Using barrels bought online, Fang assembled and sold the AirForce Condor air rifles, (which are just as illegal in China as assault weapons), at 7,000 Yuan each, making a 5,000 Yuan profit per transaction. As business boomed, Fang recruited more workers into his network. By the time of his arrest, his QQ group "Comma Family" had more than 300 members. To maintain security, they agreed to never video chat with one another or meet in person. Ultimately, Fang constructed an underground business empire, with him at the pinnacle, directing hundreds of sales agents across the country. According to police records, Fang's network made at least 784 successful transactions before his arrest in 2012. [13] In the scheme of China's underground gun manufacturing networks, the dismantling of the Fang Lei Network meant little. There are still thousands of similar organizations in China's prospering illicit gun trade.

Conclusion

China's expanding underground gun trade is the byproduct of the state's struggle with market forces. The state fears an armed populace, but a strict ban on gun ownership has only created a black market where the wealthy and well-connected can still buy guns with ease. With the growth of the Chinese economy, the gun trade will continue to expand in response to rising demand from a population with money to spend and an appreciation for weapons stemming from its culture and history. Currently, the gun ban is unlikely to be lifted, yet it is necessary for the Chinese state to recognize the unintended consequences of the ban, and how it allocates guns disproportionately into the hands of black society syndicates that constitute a threat to the livelihood of law abiding citizens, a phenomenon that will have long-lasting negative consequences for social stability.

Zi Yang is a graduate student at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He currently serves as a research assistant at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies.

Notes

1. Yang Jiang ,  [Investigating Illicit Guns], Xinmin Weekly 44 (November 2012): 54.

2. Chen Junwu , Zheng Yonghong  and Zhang Hongmei ,  [The Trajectory of Our Country's Manufacturing and Sales of Illicit Guns and Proposals for Countermeasure], Journal of Chinese People's Public Security University (Social Sciences Edition) 5 (October 2011): 35; Wu Xingmin ,  [On Characteristics Of Gun-related Crimes in Guangdong and Countermeasures], Journal of Henan Police College 3 (June 2012): 22.

3. Pang Yan ,  [A Study on Gun-related Crime], Guangdong Public Security Technology 3 (September 2013): 16-17.

4. Collaboration between black society bosses and Communist Party officials is nothing new in China. The anti-corruption campaign, in fact, has unmasked many cases of such nature. For a recent reportage on a cabal of Shanxi officials, criminal syndicates and businessmen, see: QQ News Online, November 12.

5. Zhang Dezhi ,  [Characteristics and Investigation Countermeasures of Current Gun-related Crime Cases], Journal of Liaoning Police Academy 3 (May 2012): 25; Pang Yan 16-17.

6. Chen Junwu, Zheng Yonghong and Zhang Hongmei, 31.

7. Yang Jiang, 53; The term gouyou has a meaning equivalent to American slang "dawg."

8. Customs inspection in China is weak. Shenzhen's Huanggang, the country's largest port of entry only has the capacity to fully inspect two percent of the daily 20,000 incoming and outgoing vehicles. See: Cao Yunqing ,  [Smuggling-related Crime and its Future Trajectory], Journal of Jiangxi Police Institute 6 (November 2014): 30.

9. Li Min and Gao Fengli , --"""" [From Abettor to Prime Culprit-A Study of the Internet's Role in Providing a "Trading Platform" and "Technological Information" for Gun-related Crime], Journal of Dalian Maritime University (Social Science Edition) 3 (June 2015): 81.

10. Yang Jiang, 54-55.

11. Some larger networks follow a more intricate procedure by mailing parts to different addresses around the buyer's locality. Once delivered, the buyer may choose to personally pick-up the parts or receive drop-offs from sales agents.

12. Wang Jiangen and Xie Lei, "?" [Who is Running Guns?], People's Police 23 (December 2012):12.

13. According to Chinese law, a gun is defined as having the muzzle energy of 1.8 joules per cm2 or more. In practical terms this translates to the ability of gun's projectile to penetrate an aluminum soda can. This also means trafficking pre-charged pneumatic air rifles carries the same legal consequences as trafficking firearms. See: Ministry of Public Security, March 22, 2011.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
China's Draft Cybersecurity Law

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Zunyou Zhou Publication Date 21 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol China Brief Volume: 15 Issue: 24 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, China's Draft Cybersecurity Law, 21 December 2015, China Brief Volume: 15 Issue: 24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56a7a7524.html [accessed 20 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

In early December, China and the United States reached an agreement in their first round of high-level dialogue on fighting cybercrime and other malicious cyber activities (China Daily, December 2; Legal Daily, December 2). The meeting marked a significant step for both countries in establishing acceptable rules on cybersecurity after Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bilateral "no-hacking" pact during Xi's state visit to the U.S. in September 2015.

The cybersecurity agreement brought international attention again to China's Draft Cybersecurity Law unveiled by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on July 6, 2015 (NPC website). The 68-article draft law was released shortly after the passage of China's revised National Security Law and the publication of two other draft laws on counterterrorism and NGO management. All four laws are considered an ambitious effort by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under Xi Jinping's leadership to maintain its firm grip on power in a changed domestic and international environment. Against this backdrop, it is important to take a careful look at the legislative background and the text of the draft law to understand China's views of the risks posed by cyberspace and the policies it will implement to cope with these risks.

Legislative Background

An explanatory of the draft law suggests as justifications for this proposal "new situations," "[the] CCP Central Committee's requirements" and "people's expectations" (NPC website, July 6).

- "New situations" are a reference to: (1) cyber-attacks threatening the security of critical information infrastructure in the sectors of telecommunication, energy, transportation, finance, national defense and public administration; (2) unlawful actions, such as illegal acquisition, release, purchase, or sale of personal data, insulting or slandering other people, and violating intellectual property, which seriously violate the legitimate rights of natural persons or legal entities; (3) dissemination of illegal information propagating terrorism or extremism and instigating the subversion of state power or overthrow of the socialist system, or spreading of pornographic information.

- "CCP Central Committee's requirements" include: (1) "new thoughts, new opinions and new judgments" by President Xi Jinping; (2) the suggestions of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CCP Central Committee for improving cybersecurity.

- "People's expectations" are obligations put on the authorities to: (1) strengthen cyberspace governance according to law; (2) regulate the transmission of Internet information; (3) suppress violations and crimes in cyberspace; (4) create a transparent and safe cyberspace.

The explanatory report also points out the draft law's "guiding thoughts" that include the "overall national security outlook" () proposed by Xi Jinping and the Chinese Internet policy of "active use, scientific development, law-based administration and ensured security" (Xinhua, April 20; China Brief, July 17; People's Daily Online, June 8, 2010).

Cybersecurity Administration of China

A key point of the draft law is the suggestion of a leadership role for the Cybersecurity Administration of China (CAC) for maintaining security in cyberspace. Pursuant to Article 6 of the legislation, the CAC is responsible for planning, coordinating, supervising, and administering cybersecurity-related affairs. Accordingly, other governmental organs such as the Ministry of Industry and Information (MIIT) and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) may discharge their own duties in accordance with this law and other regulations. The CAC, therefore, will be elevated to the role of China's paramount Internet security regulator.

Aside from the general authorization granted under Article 6, the CAC's specific tasks and powers also include: (1) handling complaints about harmful acts against cybersecurity (Article 10); (2) designating critical Internet equipment and specialized cybersecurity products (Article 19); (3) organizing security inspections of Internet products and services purchased by critical information infrastructure operators (Article 30); (4) setting security assessment rules on the admissibility of storing personal information and other important data outside Chinese territory (Article 31); (5) developing coordination mechanisms for security testing, emergency drills, information sharing, and technical assistance for protecting critical information infrastructure (Article 33); (6) requiring Internet service providers (ISPs) to stop or block the transmission of information prohibited by law (Article 43); (7) coordinating the collection, analysis and reporting efforts with regard to Internet security information (Article 44).

The CAC, also known as the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cybersecurity and Informatization, is headed by Lu Wei, who also serves as the deputy head of CCP Propaganda Department, an internal CCP organ in charge of ideology-related work. This Central Leading Group, headed by Xi Jinping, is a decision-making body of the CCP Central Committee for formulating and implementing policies on cyberspace affairs. The group's two deputy heads are Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council, and Liu Yunshan, chief of the CCP Propaganda Department. Lu's position within the CCP as a top propaganda official implies that the CAC's main task is to censor the cyberspace.

At the first meeting of the Central Leading Group in February 2014, Xi Jinping called for a dual focus on "cybersecurity" () and "informatization" (, "advancing information technology"), arguing that "without cybersecurity, there is no national security; without informatization, there is no modernization" (Xinhua, February 27, 2014).

According to Article 1 of the draft law, the legislation's objectives are fourfold: cyberspace sovereignty, social stability, privacy protection, and economic development. As such, the first objective is to provide a legal basis for preserving China's "cyberspace sovereignty" (), also known as "cyber sovereignty" ().

Cyberspace Sovereignty

The proclamation of cyberspace sovereignty may date back to a 2010 Chinese government white paper on Internet policy, whose core tenet was that "the Internet is an important infrastructure facility for the nation" and "within Chinese territory the Internet is under the jurisdiction of Chinese sovereignty" (China Daily, June 9, 2010). China's intention to uphold cyber sovereignty has also been written into its 2015 white paper on military strategy, which characterizes cyberspace as a new domain for national security and announces China's preparation for strengthening its cyber military forces (Xinhua, May 26; China Brief, June 23). From the perspective of the Chinese government, while the Internet is global in nature, how it is governed should be subject to the jurisdiction of each country. President Xi Jinping reaffirmed the principle of cyberspace sovereignty in his most recent keynote speech at the Second World Internet Conference held in China (Xinhua, December 16).

According to Ye Zheng, an information warfare expert with China's Academy of Military Science, cyber sovereignty is a new concept first proposed by China and subsequently opposed by some Western countries. But this concept is gradually finding acceptance in the international community, including some Americans. In this regard, the current contention is not on whether sovereignty in cyberspace exists, but on how it is interpreted and safeguarded (People's Daily Online, July 20).

The China-U.S. debate over cyberspace sovereignty is linked to the global controversy on Internet governance. Growing discomfort with the dominance of the United States in global cyberspace and its use of cyber capabilities has prompted China to pursue actions directed at changing the status quo of global Internet governance. China's recent submission, together with like-minded allies in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), of an updated version of the International Code of Conduct for Information Security to the United Nations in January 2015, is one such example (China Brief, September 4). [1]

Cyberspace Censorship

Another major objective of the draft law is to maintain "social stability." This concern is so serious that it is, in the lexicon of the CCP, synonymous with "national security" as seen through the lens of Xi's comprehensive national security concept (China Brief, November 16). In his explanatory report on the resolution by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CCP Central Committee on major issues concerning comprehensively deepening reforms, Xi stressed the importance of reforming Internet management. In Xi's opinion, the driving force of the reform is the challenge to "national security and social stability" posed by the rapidly growing number of social network users and instant messaging tools characterized by fast communication, high influence, broad coverage, and strong mobilizing capability (Xinhua, November 15, 2013).

In order to promote social stability, the draft law dedicates the entire fourth chapter, entitled "Internet information security" and comprised of 10 articles, to this issue. While Articles 34-39 are designed to protect personal information, Articles 40-43 are measures for censoring illegal information.

In terms of privacy protection, ISPs are required to meet their legal obligation to protect personal information (Article 34). Thus, the ISPs must follow principles such as legality, legitimacy and necessity (Article 35). They are also required to adopt measures necessary to keep the personal information collected strictly confidential (Article 36). An individual has the right to request the deletion of his or her personal information collected or used by the ISPs (Article 37). Nobody is allowed to acquire or disclose the personal information of others in an illegal manner (Article 38). Government authorities must not disclose any personal information obtained while performing their duties (Article 39).

As for censorship measures, ISPs are obligated to stop the spread of information prohibited by law (Articles 40 and 41) and to set rules for handling complaints on Internet information (Article 42). The CAC and other public offices are empowered to order ISPs to block the transmission of such illegal information (Article 43).

It is surprising to note that, while the first half (Articles 34-39) of the fourth chapter is devoted to the protection of cyberspace privacy, the second half (Articles 40-43) lays down the obligations of ISPs and the powers of government agencies in censoring all illegally collected or used information, whether personal or non-personal. The fact that all these provisions are gathered in one chapter begs the question of whether the law is really meant to protect cyberspace privacy or, rather, is intended to carry out Internet censorship under the pretext of privacy protection.

Another reason for skepticism is that this law has other provisions, outside the fourth chapter, that may be used for cyberspace censorship. For example, Article 20 requires Internet users to register in their real names in order to receive Internet services. Article 50 of the draft law goes even further, allowing the government to temporarily shut down Internet access in areas where public security is deemed to be threatened.

These censorship measures may be necessary and even useful for maintaining order in cyberspace, but they will also disproportionately infringe on the freedom of speech of Internet users.

Cybersecurity with Chinese Characteristics

The Chinese concept of cybersecurity was clearly articulated in a 2013 speech by Lu Wei. This involves four concepts: security of cyberspace sovereignty, security of Internet information, security of privacy in cyberspace, and security of information technology (Xinhua, December 10, 2013). It is necessary to note that basic rights such as privacy are often interpreted as defensive rights of citizens against state intervention. Since, in many cases, individual privacy and national security are by nature in conflict, the so-called "security of privacy," an elusive term coined by Lu, is doomed to be a mission impossible.

The Chinese cybersecurity bill needs to be understood in the context of China's rise in economic strength and global influence and its aspiration to set norms in global affairs. By attempting to create borders in cyberspace and solidify the status of the CAC as the leading organ for governing the cyberspace, the draft law demonstrates the CCP's resolve to protect national interests in the face of international pressure.

A review of the draft law reveals that while the list of powers granted to the government is long, only one obligation is imposed under Article 39 (see above); the obligations imposed on Internet service providers and Internet users are numerous, but no rights are granted to the providers and only one to the users under Article 37 (see above). According to Xie Junzhe, a cybersecurity law expert with Renmin University of China (RUC), the draft law leaves the impression that it deals solely with questions of how the government may rule the cyberspace and how companies and individuals need to cooperate with the government (China Civil and Commercial Law Net, July 19). This leaves the question of how will rights be protected. As Xie's colleague at the RUC, Professor Liu Pinxin, argues, the law needs more provisions on the protection of fundamental rights in order to balance the interests of security and liberty in the cyberspace (People's Daily Online, September 1).

Conclusion

The sweeping and vague draft law on cybersecurity gives the Chinese government almost unbridled powers to maintain the nation's security in cyberspace. If the draft law in the current form is passed and the discretionary powers enjoyed by the government are not balanced by strict conditions and strong oversight, it remains questionable whether the security, achieved at the expense of fundamental rights, is genuinely worthwhile.

Dr. Zunyou Zhou is a senior researcher and head of the China section at Germany's Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law and the author of "Balancing Security and Liberty: Counter-Terrorism Legislation in Germany and China" (2014).

Notes

Wang Xiaofeng, The Issue of Cybersecurity in the China-U.S. Relationship, in: American Studies, No. 3, 2013 [, , 20133], pp. 20-24).

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Message on International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust

Message by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 27 January2016 During the Second World War, six million Jews were systematically rounded up and exterminated. The Nazis also murdered Sinti and Roma, political prisoners, homosexuals, persons with disabilities, Jehovahs Witnesses and Soviet prisoners of war. The Holocaust was a colossal crime. No-one can deny the evidence that it happened. By remembering the victims and honouring the courage of the survivors and those who assisted and liberated them, we annually renew our resolve to prevent such atrocities and reject the hateful mentality that allows them. From the shadow of the Holocaust and the cruelties of the Second World War, the United Nations was established to reaffirm faith in the dignity and worth of every person and to uphold the rights of all to live in equality and free from discrimination. These principles remain essential today. People worldwide  including millions fleeing war, persecution and deprivation  continue to suffer discrimination and attacks. We have a duty to remember the past  and to help those who need us now. For more than a decade, the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme has worked to educate young people about the Holocaust. Many partners  including Holocaust survivors  continue to contribute to this essential work. The memory of the Holocaust is a powerful reminder of what can happen when we stop seeing our common humanity. On this day of Holocaust remembrance, I urge everyone to denounce political and religious ideologies that set people against people. Let us all speak out against anti-Semitism and attacks against religious, ethnic or other groups. Let us create a world where dignity is respected, diversity is celebrated, and peace is permanent.
Fighting flu starts with a shot, and it's time for Texans to get one
Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins are the most prescribed drug ever. About 30 percent of Americans are currently taking statins such as Crestor, Lipitor, Mevacor and Zocor. Overall, statins can be a good thing, but as with all drugs, there are some negative effects.

Statins lower cholesterol by inhibiting a protein called HMG-CoA reductase. Since high cholesterol levels are linked to heart disease, statins can reduce the risks of heart attack and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Recent reports from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology even argue that more people should be taking statins.

However, some are concerned because of serious risks associated with their use. People have reported having issues with memory loss, muscle weakness that may lead to permanent damage and elevation of blood sugar levels that can lead to Type II diabetes. Other experts argue that the benefits of statins far exceed their risks.

Precision medicine, also called personalized medicine, may have found a solution to this debate by studying a specific gene called SLCo1B. This gene produces a key protein that metabolizes statins in our bodies, and it causes the myopathy or muscle weakness that some people experience when they take statins. Scientists have identified variants of the SLCo1B gene. About 25 percent of people have the one variant, which makes them almost five times more likely to develop muscle weakness when taking a statin. About 2 percent of people have another variant, which makes them 17 times more likely to do so. Wouldn't it be useful to know which variant of the gene you possess? Thanks to molecular genetics, you can.

There is a simple DNA test that can identify each SLCo1B1 variant. This involves isolating a small amount of your DNA to analyze the type of SLCo1B1 gene present. This costs $100-200, is relatively easy and based on established technology. Unfortunately, like plenty of genetic tests, many insurance companies do not yet cover these charges, but if more insured people request these tests, the insurance companies are likely to change their view on paying for them.

While we may know how statins impact our muscles and blood sugar, we do not know the full extent of the effects they have on humans. It's possible there are other side effects that we will not be aware of until large groups of people have been taking them for a decade or longer. This remains the subject of many studies.
Incident reports released Monday by the Abilene Police Department:

Theft, 3000 block of South First Street, Sunday

Police said someone stole $4,000 rims from a platinum Ford F-150 and placed it on wooden blocks. In addition, police said other vehicles had damaged hubcaps and loosened lug nuts.

Robbery, 5200 block of Alamo Drive, Friday

A woman told police someone punched her in the face and stole her vehicle, with her phone and purse inside it.

Criminal mischief, 2600 block of Nonesuch Road, Friday

A man told police someone shot at his vehicle, leaving three holes. Police said they found a bullet round under the vehicle.

Theft, 100 block of Caddo Drive, Thursday

Police said someone stole a $1,400 tiller at a work site.
When the Abilene City Council meets Thursday, it will consider approving the first bid for a pavement project included in the $45 million street bond proposition.

Council members will consider approving a bid to repave Antilley Road from Buffalo Gap Road to Clack Street. Bicycle route signs will be installed, as well.

The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. in the council chambers, 555 Walnut St.

"We're recommending Bontke Brothers Construction get the bid, a local vendor, for the work," said Robert Hanna, city manager. "That is the first pavement portion of our bond streets that will be accomplished this year. We've done some bond work already on our streets with water line and utility replacements."

Originally, Ambler Avenue was going to be the first street project the city tackled, but extremely old utility lines underneath the street must be replaced first, said Larry Wright, city engineer. It is currently under design.

The streets bond proposition includes 130 lane miles of roadway improvements, Wright said. The city intends to begin work on approximately 23.4 of those lane miles this year, starting with Antilley Road. A lane mile is a measurement of a single lane of roadway, one mile long.

The city was scheduled to open bids for West Lake Road on Tuesday, Wright said. That project entails reconstructing the two-lane road from Ambler Avenue to Anson Avenue into a two-lane road with paved shoulders and culvert improvements. The design for the road is complete.

The other two roads on the city's agenda for 2016 are Judge Ely Boulevard and Catclaw Drive, both of whose designs are nearly complete, Wright said. Judge Ely will be reconstructed from East Highway 80 to East North 16th Street, and repaved from East North 16th Street to Ambler Avenue. Catclaw will be reconstructed from Rebecca Lane to Curry Lane.

Wright said the city plans to open bids for Judge Ely and Catclaw in February, after their designs are finished.

Also on the council's agenda is an item to consider rezoning roughly 100 acres along East Overland Trail to allow for the construction of a multi-screen Cinemark movie theater. If approved, the council will set a public hearing for Feb. 11.

Additionally, the council will consider adopting a fleet replacement policy for city vehicles.

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By Brooke Crum of the Abilene Reporter News

Taylor County residents can celebrate Texas Independence Day with fireworks and fanfare this year.

Taylor County commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday to allow the sale of fireworks by retail fireworks permit holders for a week before Texas Independence Day, March 2.

Fireworks enthusiasts will be able to purchase fireworks from Feb. 25 until midnight March 2, according to the Commissioners Court order.

A new state law allows commissioners courts to determine whether they want to authorize fireworks sales for three new holidays: Texas Independence Day; San Jacinto Day, April 21; and Memorial Day, the last Monday in May.

For Texas Independence Day, the commissioners had to adopt an order allowing the sale of fireworks before Feb. 15.

The panel decided to permit the sale of fireworks because of the wet year the region experienced last year. Representatives from the local Texas Forest Service office told the court that drought conditions "couldn't be better" right now, but they will continue to monitor soil moisture levels.

Under the previous state law fireworks sales were allowed only twice a year  leading up to the Fourth of July and New Year's Day.

Twitter: BrookeCrum_ARN
Chris Carnohan can list several issues he thinks are important in the Republican race for District 71 in the Texas House of Representatives, but immigration trumps all of them.

"The biggest issue is illegal immigration," said the Abilene attorney at a meet and greet at the Taylor County Republican Headquarters on Monday afternoon. "Texas is a sovereign state, and one of the biggest responsibilities of the government is to protect its people. If it can't protect its people, you don't have a government."

Carnohan faces a crowded field in the Republican primary to replace Susan King, who is running for the state senate seat being vacated by Troy Fraser. Running with Carnohan are Isaac Castro of Hamlin, Stan Lambert of Abilene, Stacey Scaief of Abilene and Brian Scalf of Abilene. Pierce LoPachin is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Carnohan said that although Texas shares a common border with Mexico, the issue is not a Latino one.

"The largest percentage of illegal aliens (in the U.S.) is Chinese," he said. "This isn't a Latino issue, and it isn't a Chinese issue."

Carnohan said national security is the most pressing immigration issue. He said there is no way of knowing how many illegal immigrants pose a terrorist threat.

"How many jihadists do we need over here?" he said. "We don't need any. I think if there's any question about what the president calls Muslim extremists, we keep them all out."

Carnohan said members of drug cartels cause another threat ("The drug cartel is known for its violence," he said) and that undocumented immigrants also pose a health risk.

"They're bringing in diseases our forefathers cured," he said. "I never knew anyone who had tuberculosis, and now tuberculosis is a problem."

Carnohan proposed two solutions to the immigration problem, and one of them is a fence.

"There's a fence between North Korea and South Korea, and no one is crossing that," he said. "There's a fence around the White House, and somebody must have figured it was an effective barrier to keep out intruders. So, it can be done."

The other solution, he said, was economic.

"I don't think anyone who is here illegally should receive any services, and that includes health care or education," Carnohan said. "Let me put it this way: If your cousin from Oklahoma wanted to come to Texas to go to school, he wouldn't get in-state tuition, and he's more entitled to it (than an undocumented immigrant). And, he's probably not going to bring in a disease or a jihadi terrorist."
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 vs.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 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 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 is associate editor of the Manhattan Institute's City Journal. Joel Mathis is associate editor for Philadelphia Magazine. Email them at bboychuk@city-journal.org and joelmmathis@gmail.com.
Every American should be glad that American hostages have been freed by the tyrannical Iranian regime and are being reunited with family, friends and co-workers.

Less satisfying is the return of Iran's $400 million trust fund, used to buy military equipment, which was frozen in 1979, along with its diplomatic relations with the U.S. (plus what President Obama ludicrously called "appropriate interest" of $1.3 billion), all returned to what the U.S. State Department branded the world's "pre-eminent sponsor of terrorism." Expecting Iran to use this windfall for purposes other than terrorism would be like expecting a kidnapper to donate the ransom money to a children's hospital.

While President Obama praised himself and his "diplomatic team" for concluding the Iranian nuclear deal, which he claims will ensure that Iran "is never allowed to build a nuclear weapon," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's world view has not changed one iota. "In (implementing) the deal," Rouhani said, "all are happy except Zionists, warmongers, sowers of discord among Islamic nations and extremists in the U.S. The rest are happy."

This is a regime that allowed the beating of Christian missionary Saeed Abedini in an attempt to force him to renounce his faith and convert to Islam. We are repeatedly told by clueless Western political leaders that Islam is a "religion of peace" and that the Koran prohibits "coercion" in matters of faith (Surah 2:256). By your fruits you shall know them.

In a brazen display of chutzpah, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that when it comes to the nuke deal, it's the U.S. that needs monitoring because it simply cannot be trusted. Iran is not beyond claiming that the U.S. is in violation of the nuclear agreement or using such allegations as an excuse to resume its nuclear program. Skeptics are right to believe their program continues out of sight, despite President Obama's assurances that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency will catch any violation. Iran has barred IAEA inspectors from sites the government wanted to be kept secret. Why would it not do so again once our check clears the bank?

Pleasurable outcomes do not always validate policy and our enemies in Iran, and among the various terrorist groups it supports, are bound to receive the message that if they can just grab Americans and hold them hostage long enough, America  at least under this administration, which they perceive to be weak  will give them what they want. The kidnapping of three American contractors in Iraq may be an indication that terrorist groups have received that message.

What a contrast to Iran's 1981 release of 52 American hostages, all held for 444 days. It came on the day of President Ronald Reagan's Inauguration, an obvious indictment of the Carter administration's weakness. Commentators at the time said they thought the Ayatollah Khomeini believed Reagan was a "cowboy" and might actually drop a nuclear bomb on Iran if the Americans were not freed. That and Reagan's subsequent hard line approach to the Soviet Union came to be known as "peace through strength." The American left's approach might be characterized as "war through weakness."

This time around, in addition to the money, Tehran receives clemency for seven Iranians indicted or imprisoned in the U.S. for sanctions violations. Clemency is certainly within a president's authority, though official U.S. policy over several administrations has been that the U.S. does not negotiate with terrorists ... only terrorist regimes, apparently.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.
A crater left by a missile reportedly fired by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Inner Mongolia's Alshaa Left Banner, in undated photo.

Ethnic Mongolian herders in northern China are protesting the use of their traditional grazing lands for military weapons testing, as authorities elsewhere in the region detain at least 10 people for giving interviews to overseas media.

Dozens of herders in Inner Mongolia's Alshaa (in Chinese, Alashan) League Left Banner gathered outside the offices of the banner, or county, government on Monday in protest recent missile tests on local grasslands by the People's Liberation Army (PLA), herders told RFA on Tuesday.

"We hear [the explosions]," an Alshaa resident said. "Every day, they fire off several dozen missiles; they're still doing it right now."

"They drive out on the grasslands in vehicles carrying the missiles, and drive around the place [firing them]," he said. "They have made tracks where there were no roads before, all over our grazing lands."

"Recently, they have been firing off missiles just 200 meters from where there are herders living," the herder added.

Dust and debris

Photos of the scene sent to RFA by local residents showed grasslands turned to dust, scored with tire tracks and pocked with small craters, as well as debris that appeared to come from spent military hardware.

Herders are also protesting the non-payment of subsidies promised by the government as compensation for a grazing ban on their lands, they told RFA.

"We haven't received any of our compensation payments for a year now," one herder said. "Thee were several dozen of us demanding payment outside the banner government yesterday."

Alshaa herders say they are entitled to 13,000 yuan (U.S.$1,074) per person annually, with payments of 2,000 for children under 18.

Meanwhile, in Inner Mongolia's Darhan-Muumingan Banner (in Chinese, Damao Qi), police detained at least a dozen people on suspicion of "contacting overseas news media and hostile forces" and "splitting the country."

According to the New York-based Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC), the herders were detained on Monday and released only after "several hours of interrogation."

"Many other herders received threatening phone calls from the local police authorities warning them not to contact any foreign news media or overseas organizations," the group said in a report on its website.

"I was threatened with accusations of national separatism,'" SMHRIC quoted herder Tuyaa as saying. "The police said contacting national separatist individuals and organizations is considered taking part in separatist activities as well."

"Then they wanted to check my cell phone activities. I refused," Tuyaa added.

An elderly local resident told SMHRIC: "I was also threatened by phone, and my daughter was taken to the police station."

The detentions come after Darhan-Muumingan herders gathered outside government offices, also in protest at non-payment of subsidies, the report said.

Herders are often banned from grazing their livestock on traditional grasslands where they have lived for generation, ostensibly to prevent erosion, desertification and livestock diseases.

But the government has announced long-term plans to move all traditional nomadic groups into permanent, urban dwellings, and herders say the bans are often a pretext to allow Chinese mining and forestry companies to exploit natural resources.

Dozens of Mongolian herders from Darhan-Muumingan Banner have also gathered in front of the Banner government building in protest at non-payment of subsidies.

Local herder Mengke said several hundred herders had taken part, however.

"It's nearly [Chinese] New Year and the herders have no money," Mengke said. "We haven't received our subsidies for six months or more."

He said apparent changes to the local climate have made matters worse.

Rapid urbanization

"It doesn't rain any more in the summer, and it doesn't snow any more in the winter," Mengke said.

The Inner Mongolia regional government is currently implementing a three-year "upgrade" program, including the demolition of buildings "at risk of collapse," securing safe drinking water and the urbanization of rural communities.

The plan also aims to deliver higher "hygiene standards," deliver electricity, radio, and television to all areas, and improve local schools.

It aims to speed up the urbanization of traditional ethnic Mongolian herding communities, offering lump sum payouts of around 10,000 yuan (U.S.$1,500) per household.

Herders blame the ongoing exploitation of natural resources by Chinese companies for the spread of grasslands-related protests in the region, as local governments sell off land to investors, often in the mining or forestry sectors, and sometimes in the face of existing "responsibility contracts" held by herding communities for the land.

SMHRIC estimates that at least 160,000 ethnic Mongolians have been forcibly evicted from traditional grazing lands in recent decades, while local activists also blame Chinese companies for damaging the fragile ecosystem in the region, leading local authorities to impose grazing bans to prevent further desertification.

In China, all land is ultimately owned by the state, so herders have little redress when it comes to safeguarding their own grazing rights, they say.

Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.
Amnesty International in a new report has blasted Iran for executing dozens of young people for crimes they committed as juveniles.

The report says dozens of people arrested for crimes such as rape, murder, and drug abuse committed before they turned 18 are at risk of being executed despite recent judicial reforms, with many having already spent years on death row.

The London-based group said Iran already executed at least 73 juvenile offenders between 2005 and 2015.

Iranian authorities have contended that they have reformed their judicial system and dont actually put anyone younger than 18 to death.

But Elise Auerbach, Amnestys Iran specialist, said the "paper reforms to Iran's Penal Code and practices have actually failed to prevent juveniles from being executed or sentenced to death."

She called Iran's claim that it does not execute juveniles because it postpones the executions until they turn 18 "disingenuous" and "a fallacy."

The 110-page report comes as Tehran is working to rebuild relations with the West following last year's landmark nuclear deal.



Iran is one of the world's largest users of the death penalty, ranking second behind China in 2014. Most executions in Iran are carried out for drug smuggling.

With reporting by AP
Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland has announced he is sending a delegation to Crimea to assess the human rights situation on the peninsula.

"More than 2.5 million people live in Crimea, they are all covered by the European Convention on Human Rights and should be able to benefit from it," Jagland said in a statement on January 25.

"However, for more than a year, no delegation from an international organization has been able to go there."

"The mission will be conducted with full independence and will not deal with any issue related to the territorial status of Crimea," Jagland stressed.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 after a referendum dismissed in the West as bogus.

Since Russia's land grab, fundamental freedoms have "deteriorated radically" for many in Crimea, especially for pro-Ukrainian activists, journalists, and the Crimean Tatar community.

That was the finding of a report issued in September 2015 by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.
Addressing Muslim clergy in late December, Republic of Ingushetia head Yunus-Bek Yevkurov called for the second time in six months on the republic's mufti, Issa-haji Khamkhoyev, to resign. Yevkurov said Khamkhoyev, who is 53, is "tired" and cannot cope with his duties, and that he overreacts "emotionally" to criticism. He also said Khamkhoyev's open confrontation in June 2015 with the hugely popular imam Khamzat Chumakov, which narrowly missed turning violent, "undermined the authority" of the official clergy.

Khamkhoyev immediately countered that he was reelected in 2014 by fellow clerics for a third term in accordance with the statutes of Ingushetia's Spiritual Center of Muslims (DTsM), and only they can remove him from that post. The following day, Khamkhoyev traveled to neighboring Chechnya in a bid to secure the backing of his Chechen counterpart Salakh Mezhiyev.

Yevkurov's frustration with Khamkhoyev derives from the latter's categorical rejection, as a member of the Qadiriya Sufi order, of the more traditional Salafism professed by Chumakov and the imams of some 13 other mosques. Those clerics are at odds with the Sufi-dominated DTsM, primarily over minor points of worship. Khamkhoyev has accused them of seeking to split Ingushetia's Muslim community by encouraging believers to reject the authority of the DTsM. He also claims they consider it permissible to kill those who do not share their views.

In the wake of his confrontation with Yevkurov last month, Khamkhoyev wrote on the DTsM Facebook page that those groups of believers who distance themselves from the DTsM constitute "a time bomb that could ultimately lead to bloodshed." He said such religious communities cannot be considered legal until they acknowledge the authority of the imam appointed by the DTsM in their village and "stop designating other people unbelievers."

The Salafi clergy had responded in December to Khamkhoyev's repeated attacks with an open letter rejecting his allegations and in turn accusing Khamkhoyev himself of sowing discord among believers through his dictatorial and heavy-handed approach. They also pointed out that the first religious communities to turn their backs on the DTsM, in the 1990s, were the Naqshbandi Sufis whom the DTsM also considers deviants. They appealed for reconciliation between the various Muslim communities, and concluded by saying that, if a new, qualified mufti is elected who "will defend the interests of all believers in a bid to consolidate our society," they will support him regardless of which branch of Islam he adheres to.

Yevkurov is a career Russian military intelligence officer whom then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev named president of Ingushetia in October 2008. As such, he is presumably motivated less by his own religious beliefs than by the pragmatic need to reconcile the Sufi and Salafi congregations

in Ingushetia before the tensions between them spill over into the kind of institutionalized violence that has plagued Daghestan for the past 15 years. As Magomed Mutsolgov, the head of the Ingush NGO Mashr, which provides free legal aid, observed in a blog post, that it is a paradox how the republic's official clergy take such a hard line on any manifestations of religious dissent, whereas the secular leadership actively seeks to promote unity among the various currents of Islam.

Yet, as Moscow-based analyst Akhmet Yarlykapov points out, the DTsM is not subordinate to the republic's authorities and Yevkurov cannot impose his will on its members. When Yevkurov demanded Khamkhoyev's resignation last summer, Khamkhoyev categorically refused, and some 60 imams addressed a collective missive to Yevkurov affirming their support for the mufti.

In a clear attempt to reduce the power of the muftiate, Yevkurov has just established a new board tasked with supervising many aspects of religious life that were hitherto the preserve of the DTsM, including overseeing madrasahs and the lucrative business of organizing the hajj.

Yevkurov also named as his personal advisor on religious affairs Salekh Khamkhoyev, who served previously in that capacity under Republic of Ingushetia President Ruslan Aushev. Salekh Khamkhoyev belongs to the same clan as the mufti but they are not close relatives. Among his immediate tasks is convening a conference to which both Sufis and Salafis will be invited with a view to restoring unity between them.


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
Georgian officials have rejected Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's claims that Islamic State (IS) militants are being trained in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge region, near the border with Russia's volatile southern republic of Chechnya.

Zurab Abashidze, an envoy for Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, told journalists on January 26 that Lavrov's statements were "tendentious."

Earlier on January 26, Lavrov said in Moscow that the Kremlin has "information that the IS militants go through training, and get rest and additional resources in the Pankisi Gorge."

Abashidze said that as many as 30 men from the Pankisi Gorge had left for Syria and joined Islamic extremists there.

He said that all of them would face charges when they return to Georgia.

Kvirikashvili said earlier on January 26 that Tbilisi "fully controls the situation in the Pankisi Gorge," which is home to Muslims with ethnic ties to Chechens.

Based on reporting by apsny.ge and Interfax


An announcement from Iraq that it is pumping oil at record levels has helped send oil prices and stock markets tumbling around the world.

Iraq's Oil Ministry told Reuters on January 25 that the country reached record output in December, with its fields in the central and southern regions producing as much as 4.13 million barrels a day.

A senior Iraqi oil official said the country aimed to raise output even further this year, apparently following in the footsteps of neighboring Iran, whose plans to hike production have sent markets reeling this year.

The news touched off another big fall in oil prices on January 25 and helped set off further drubbing of battered global stock markets, with energy stocks leading the downturn.

Brent premium crude-oil futures plunged 6.7 percent to $30.03 a barrel in London, while U.S. premium crude prices dropped 7.6 percent to $29.75 in New York.

The prospect of more turmoil and bankruptcies in the oil sector sent stocks slumping by 1 percent or more from Tokyo to Wall Street.

"The news that Iraq has probably hit another record builds on the oversupply sentiment" that has weighed down markets and raised worries about global economic growth, Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist at ABN Amro, told CBC News.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and CBC News
Iran's President Hassan Rohani and Pope Francis have exchanged gifts during a private meeting at the Vatican on January 26.

Meanwhile, a Vatican statement says Pope Francis called upon Tehran to play a key role in stopping the spread of terrorism and weapons trafficking as Iran tries to improve its global image following an agreement on its nuclear program.

Rohani brought the pope a red-toned Persian carpet, measuring about 80 centimeters by 1.2 meters, and explained that it was handmade in Iran's holy Shiite city of Qom.

Pope Francis gave a medal to Rohani depicting St. Martin of Tours cutting his cloak in half and giving part of it to a shivering man.

The pope said the gesture represents a sign of brotherhood.

Rohani is on a four-day visit to Italy and France, the first state visit by an Iranian president to Europe in nearly two decades.

Earlier on January 26, Rohani told business leaders in Rome that "Iran is the safest and most stable country of the entire region."

Rohani is seeking foreign investment after the lifting of international sanctions against Iran on January 16 under its nuclear accord with world powers.

After Rome, the Iranian president flies to Paris for talks with French President Francois Hollande.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters


Iranian President Hassan Rohani has told business leaders in Rome that "Iran is the safest and most stable country of the entire region."

Rohani is on a four-day visit to Italy and France, the first state visit by an Iranian president to Europe in nearly two decades.

He is looking for foreign investment following the lifting of international sanctions against Iran on January 16 under its nuclear accord with world powers.

Analysts say Tehran is looking to reestablish energy and other economic ties with Europe and promote its control as a pillar of strength and stability in an increasingly fraught and fragmented region.

Rohani tweeted earlier on January 26 that Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will visit Iran in the coming months to boost economic ties.

Rohani later paid a call on Pope Francis, who, in his nearly three years as pope, has stressed mediation and dialogue as the best way to resolve conflicts.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Romanias Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos says the first tranche of a five-year-loan program that Bucharest offered to Moldova in 2015 will not be disbursed until Chisinau carries out reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Ciolos made the remark in Bucharest on January 26 during a joint press conference with Moldovas newly appointed Prime Minister Pavel Filip.

The 60-million-euro ($65 million) loan tranche is part of a total 150-million-euro ($162.5 million) loan package that Romania agreed to provide to Moldova under a deal signed on October 7, 2015.

The loan program, which has a1.5 percent annual interest rate, was agreed upon when Moldova's government was led by then-Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet.

But Strelet lost a no-confidence vote at the end of October 2015 after revelations of large-scale fraud in the financial sector that led to the collapse of three large banks.

The IMF published its latest assessment of Moldova's economy on January 20, saying the "near term outlook" amid political instability and widespread corruption "is difficult."

It said deep reform is need needed in the financial sector along with "a comprehensive review" and "strengthened governance of the banking sector.

Parliament approved Filip as Moldovas prime minister on January 20 -- an appointment that prompted mass protests in the capital Chisinau.


The Pakistani university where a splinter group of the Taliban gunned down 21 students and teachers last week will remain closed indefinitely until security is beefed up.

Students and staff of Bacha Khan University met on January 25, after briefly reopening the campus, to review security as at least 200 students protested outside to demand better security.

Staff said the school would remain closed until security was improved. One professor said some of his colleagues were demanding weapons for self-defense.

Militants from a Tehrik-e Taliban splinter group stormed the university in the northwestern town of Charsadda on January 20, setting off an hourslong gunbattle with security forces.

The attack revived memories of the December 2014 Taliban assault on a nearby army-run school in Peshawar, which killed some 150 people, nearly all of them children.

All four attackers who took part in the Charsadda assault were killed.

Over the weekend, authorities announced the arrest of five others suspected of involvement.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
Police say a group of five thieves have stabbed a Pakistani man to death on the Greek-Macedonian border.

The incident came as the European Commission is vowing to crack down on migrants travelling the so-called Balkan route from Greece to northern Europe.

It occurred near no-man's-land on the border between Greece and Macedonia, where thousands of migrants gather daily, hoping to secure passage to other destinations in northern Europe and Scandinavia.

Two other Pakistanis were hurt in the early morning attack on January 25, allegedly carried out by Afghans, local police said.

Both survivors were hospitalized but one is in critical condition, they said.

No arrests have been made.

Greek media reported that the assailants stole 400 euros and a cellphone.

Countries along the Balkan route last year began restricting entry only to refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Macedonia last week began to intermittently close its border with Greece, only allowing passage to refugees wishing to go to Germany or Austria.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin often accuses the West of distorting history. But in his latest comments about Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin and his successor, Josef Stalin, Putins penchant for reshaping the past to suit his goals was on stark display.



Speaking to pro-Kremlin activists in the southern city of Stavropol on January 25, Putin -- for the second time in a week -- accused Lenin of setting a time bomb that blew the Soviet Union apart in 1991. He also seemed to conflate Russia with the entire U.S.S.R., saying:They placed an atom bomb under the building called Russia, and it later exploded.



The bomb, Putin said, was Lenin's concept of the Soviet Union as a federative state, with each of its republics having the right to secede. He said Lenin was on the wrong side of a dispute with Stalin, who he said opposed giving the largely ethnic-based republics that right.



According to Putin, Lenins concept was one of the major causes of the Soviet collapse.



Putins remarks were striking because the former Soviet KGB officer has been known to be very cautious when talking about Lenin, whose embalmed corpse still lies in a mausoleum on Red Square 92 years after his death -- and who is still revered by millions across Russia.



Putins attempt to portray Stalin as a wiser leader -- one who opposed the republics right to part with the U.S.S.R. -- is badly undermined by a look at the dictators record on the issue.



Heres why:



The first Soviet Constitution, adopted by the Second Congress of Soviets on January 31, 1924 -- 10 days after Lenins death -- enshrined as law the 1922 Treaty on Creation of the Soviet Union.



Signed by the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, and the Trans-Caucasus Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the treaty granted each of those entities the right to leave the union. At the time, Stalin was one of several men jostling for power in the wake of the Bolshevik leaders death.



In 1936, when Stalins autocratic power was at its peak and his Great Terror purge campaign in full swing, the Soviet Union adopted a new constitution that changed the legal status for Central Asian ethnic autonomous republics within the Russian Federation, which are currently Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and turned the Trans-Caucasus Federation into three separate republics, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia.



The number of the republics with so-called union status within the U.S.S.R. was increased from four to 11 by Stalin. In other words, at a time when Stalin could potentially have used his power to strip Soviet republics of the right to secede, he instead extended that right to a total of 11 republics rather than four.



If Stalin indeed opposed the right of ethnic republics to secede from the Soviet Union, he had more than enough clout to change the constitution in the opposite direction, turning the U.S.S.R. into a unitary state. But that never happened.



In 1940, the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia were forced to join the Soviet Union along with Moldova, bringing the number of republics to 15 -- though many Western countries never recognized the Baltics as part of the Soviet Union.



Stalin died in 1953 and the right the republics to leave the Soviet Union was reiterated in the Soviet Constitution adopted under Leonid Brezhnev in 1977.



In 1991, they all left the Soviet Union -- a right granted them, in part, by Stalin.

Ethnic republics that had only autonomous status remained within the larger union republics -- Chechnya, Daghestan, Tatarstan, and Buryatia within Russia, for example, and Karakalpakstan within Uzbekistan.



Exactly why Putin criticized Lenin in public and once more praised Stalin may be known only to Putin.



Was it another attempt to justify Russias seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, and its backing for separatists in eastern Ukraine? Was it another attempt to glorify Stalin among ordinary Russians?



Although Putin said in Stavropol that the issue of Lenins burial is not on the agenda, his bold statements regarding what he suggested were Lenins mistakes -- including the destruction of Russia as a state and the killing of Tsar Nicholas II and his family -- sounded like an attempt to revise Lenins role in Russian history in general.



The answers could come soon, with the centennial of the Great October Revolution of 1917 approaching next year.



Will Russia bury Lenin by then?
Russia has no plans to set up a second air base in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry has said.

The ministry's statement on January 25 followed news reports that Russia could be preparing to create another base in Qamishli in northeastern Syria near the border with Turkey.

Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said the military had no intention to set up any additional air base in Qamishli or advance airfields in Syria.

Russian warplanes have flown nearly 6,000 combat missions from the Hemeimeem air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia since Moscow launched its air campaign in September.

Konashenkov emphasized that Russian warplanes based at Hemeimeem can reach any location in Syria in a half-hour, so there is no need for any additional base.

The Russian air blitz has helped Syrian President Bashar Assad's army to launch offensives and seize some key areas from the opposition in recent weeks.

The recent gains have strengthened the Syrian government's hand before planned peace talks with the opposition, expected to start on January 29.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
The Kremlin says a U.S. Treasury official's comments to the BBC on Putin being corrupt "amount to an official accusation."

"It's an official accusation," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in a conference call.

"[Bilateral] relations are now in such a state that a lie like this is unlikely to aggravate them even further," he added.

Adam Szubin, acting Treasury secretary for terrorism and financial crimes, said in an interview with BBC Panorama that the Russian president had been amassing secret wealth.

The BBC report said Szubin declined to comment on a 2007 Central Intelligence Agency report that estimated Putin's wealth at $40 billion, but he said the Russian leader's stated wealth was an underestimation.

The Kremlin has denied such allegations.

For his part, Putin has repeatedly said that he has read press reports about his immense wealth, including that he was even the world's richest man, but he has denied those reports as nonsense.

The United States has placed sanctions on a number of Russian businessmen loyal to Putin as part of its drive to put pressure on Russia for its intervention in Ukraine.

Based on reporting by Interfax and Reuters
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow will not allow the West to punish if for conducting an independent foreign policy.

"Attempts are still being made to make unilateral gains and even to punish us for an independent foreign policy," Lavrov told his annual news conference in Moscow on January 26.

"We are ready for the...most constructive cooperation with our Western partners, including Europe and the United States...but only and exclusively on an equal and mutually advantageous basis and given noninterference into each other's internal affairs," he said.

Lavrov said the U.S. antimissile shield and NATO's expansion closer to Russia's borders were "destabilizing and short-sighted."

On Ukraine, Lavrov said Kyiv was unreliable as a transit route for exporting Russian natural gas to Europe.

Lavrov also accused Ukraine of dragging its feet on implementing the Minsk peace agreement in order to keep in place Western sanctions imposed on Russia.

The Minsk agreement, signed in the Belarusian capital in February 2015, spells out steps to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Kyiv.

Lavrov also ruled out any talks on returning Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in March 2014.

Lavrov said there is information that Islamic State militants are using Georgia's Pankisi Gorge for training.

Lavrov also said Russian actions in Syria have drastically altered the situation there, and claimed no one has ever supplied proof that Russian air strikes in Syria caused civilian deaths or struck the wrong militant groups.

Moscow intervened in Syria's civil war on the side of President Bashar al-Assad in September 2015.

On January 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russian air strikes in Syria would continue for as long as necessary.

Based on reporting by Interfax, TASS, and Reuters
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
DUSHANBE -- The head of Tajikistan's National Bank says legislation is being considered to introduce jail terms of up to nine years for what he called "illegal hard-currency exchange operations."

Talking to reporters in Dushanbe on January 26, Jamshed Nurmuhammadzoda said that any hard-currency exchange operations outside of banks and official financial institutions were illegal.

According to Nurmuhammadzoda, the move's aim was to "curb" illegal speculation with hard currency that led to the abrupt devaluation of the Tajik currency, the somoni.

In December, Tajik authorities shut down all independent currency-exchange booths operating across the country, citing the somoni's dropping value.

Tajik citizens complain that banks buy hard currencies low and sell them high, prompting many to turn to the black market, where the rates, they say, are "more reasonable."
Authorities in Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv have closed all secondary schools due to a flu outbreak.

The city mayor's office announced on January 26 that schools will remain closed indefinitely as of January 27.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Health Minister Aleksandr Kvitashvili said that since the start of the year 83 people across Ukraine have been killed by flu, which he added had been officially categorized as an epidemic. He did not specify if the H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, was the cause of any of the deaths, as some earlier Ukrainian media reports had said.

According to Kvitashvili, up to 2.6 million people have been treated in Ukraine for flu and other respiratory diseases since January 1.

Kvitashvili also said that an emergency team to tackle the problem has been established within his ministry, adding that its first gathering would be held later on January 26.

Based on reporting by UNIAN and Interfax


Ukraine's finance minister says the cash-strapped country expects to receive up to $10 billion from foreign sources this year, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Natalie Jaresko was quoted by Ukrainian media as making the statement during a cabinet meeting on January 26.

"If we are focused on our program of reforms, then including the IMF and other bilateral and multilateral sources, it will be up to $10 billion," Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform quoted Jaresko as saying.

The IMF plans to extend at least $1.7 billion in credit to Ukraine next month for the country to replenish its gold reserves, Ukrinform reported.

Ukraine is using international loans and financial aid to stave off bankruptcy as the country struggles to bring its economy out of Russia's direct influence and quell a pro-Russia separatist rebellion in the east of the country.

Based on reporting by dpa
The first colored revolution was neither rose nor orange -- it was red.

It didn't originate in Tbilisi or in Kyiv and it wasn't planned in Washington or Brussels. In fact, it started in Vladimir Putin's own hometown.

Nearly a century ago, Russia pretty much invented colored revolutions.

And as the centennial of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution approaches -- and approaches with Russia's economy heading into a tailspin -- this uncomfortable historical fact is very much on Putin's mind.

Speaking to pro-Kremlin activists this week in the southern city of Stavropol, the Kremlin leader raised eyebrows by denouncing Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks for executing Tsar Nicholas II along with all his family and servants, killing thousands of priests, and placing a "time bomb" under the Russian state.

Putin's comments expanded on remarks he made in Moscow on January 21, the 92nd anniversary of Lenin's death.

"Letting your rule be guided by ideas is right, but only when these ideas lead to the correct results, not like it did with Vladimir Ilyich. In the end that idea led to the fall of the Soviet Union," he said.

"We did not need a global revolution."

The Kremlin leader's flurry of anti-Lenin comments is only the most recent example of the regime's skittishness and schizophrenia about how to approach next year's big anniversary.

They also illustrate palpable fears among the Russian elite that 2017 could turn out to be a revolutionary year.

Putin's Kremlin fears any revolution "regardless of its color or meaning" because "the present-day Russian authorities subconsciously fear an analogous outcome for themselves," political commentator Alina Vitukhnovskaya wrote recently.

We got an early hint of the Kremlin's anxiety a couple months ago.

Instead of marking the 98th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution on November 7, Russia commemorated the 74th anniversary of a parade that marked the 24th anniversary of the revolution.

Confused? Well that's sort of the point.

Thousands gathered on Red Square for a reenactment of the massive November 7, 1941 military parade that both marked the revolution -- and also sent Russian soldiers off to fight in World War II.

Putin has long used Soviet symbolism and nostalgia to bolster his rule.

But which Soviet past the Kremlin has chosen to glorify speaks volumes about the regime's thinking -- and its fears.

The idealism and upheaval of 1917 is out. The military discipline of Josef Stalin's Soviet Union is in. Revolution is out. Repression and mobilization are in. Lenin the revolutionary out. Stalin the state builder is in.

As longtime Kremlin-watcher Paul Goble wrote on his blog, Putin took the "revolution" out of the revolution's anniversary.

The move, he added, "reflects both his fear of revolutionary change" as well as "his desire to keep the Soviet inheritance, which he values, as far removed from its revolutionary origins as possible."

In other words, the last thing Putin's Kremlin wants the Russian people thinking about is revolutions -- lest they get any ideas.

Better, of course, to keep their minds focused on war -- preferably victorious ones.

And just a few months before the Kremlin turned the revolution's anniversary into a celebration of Stalin's victory in World War II, Putin denounced the Bolsheviks for causing Russia to lose World War I.

In 1917, "some were shaking Russia from within, and shook it to the point that Russia as a state collapsed and declared itself defeated," Putin said in August at the Seliger National Youth Forum, a summer camp for pro-Kremlin activists.

The Bolsheviks, he added, were responsible for the "betrayal of the Russian national interests" and "wished to see their fatherland defeated while Russian heroic soldiers and officers shed blood on the fronts of the First World War."

In a recent column in Snob, political commentator Artem Rondaryev noted the paradox facing Putin and his ruling clique as next year's centennial approaches.

"Love for the USSR is combined in a paradoxical hatred to everything that the revolution which created this very USSR initially brought with it  the avant-garde, feminism, free morality, and social transformation," Rondaryev wrote.
1 Amid A Chaotic Call-Up, Some Russian Draftees Are Returning Home In Body Bags. Now Putin Says Mobilization Is Ending.

2 Dushanbe Probes Reports That Tajik Nationals Were Involved In Deadly Russia Shooting

3 'It's Time To Ignore' The Traps: Disinformation Expert Says Kremlin's 'Empty Threats' Have Paralyzed The West

4 Death Toll From Russian Military Plane Crash Rises To At Least 15
Richmond schools have announced they will be closed Tuesday.

Other major systems in the Richmond area have not yet announced their plans.

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. An earlier update is posted below.)

School systems around the region worked Monday afternoon to decide whether to open Tuesday or close for a third day.

We rely on information regarding road conditions from (Richmond Public Schools) transportation staff and the Richmond Police Department, Richmond school spokeswoman Kenita Bowers said.

We must give careful consideration to the most dangerous roads in the district. Even if your street looks clear, travel elsewhere in the school system may be dangerous, she said.

Complicating matters for school divisions is a forecast for more bad weather heading this way later this week. The National Weather Service is calling for a rain-and-snow mix to fall across the region Wednesday and Thursday.

A chief concern across the region remains travel conditions in subdivisions and rural areas.

Goochland County Public Schools Superintendent James Lane drove through the county Monday afternoon to check on progress.

Several rural roads in the western portion of our county (are) covered with shade, so it often takes a bit longer for those roads to be cleared as well without the help of direct sunlight, he said.

To help local school systems to make decisions, school superintendents held a conference call with state officials from several agencies at noon Sunday to get a better understanding of the Virginia Department of Transportations resources and timelines for the week.

Officials said they also have to ensure that their facilities are ready.

We have to clear the parking lots, bus loops, sidewalks and other walkways at roughly 70 school sites, said Andy Jenks, Henrico Countys school spokesman. Thats a huge job, and our facilities folks are making progress on that today.
J. Stewart Bryan III is being remembered as a media executive who was kind and fair with the courage of his convictions. He was regarded as a newspaperman with the highest integrity and honor.

Co-workers, business associates, board members and community leaders also said that the former longtime chairman of Media General Inc. served as a mentor to many. He was knowledgeable on a vast array of subjects. He was a private-public man who often shunned the limelight.

He maintained a decorum even during challenging times, including the most recent bidding contest between Texas-based Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc. and Iowa-based Meredith Corp. to merge with Media General.

Mr. Bryan, 77, died Saturday from injuries suffered in a fall at his home nine days earlier.

Prayers and a celebration of his life will be held 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Commonwealth Club, 401 W. Franklin St., his family announced Monday.

The one thing I always felt about Stewart was he always did what he thought was the right thing, said Coleman Coley Wortham III, the chairman at Richmond-based financial brokerage Davenport & Co. LLC who served on the Media General board for a decade until 2014.

He was always there to make a contribution to society. He did what people are supposed to do  to do everything possible to make this a better place, Wortham said. He didnt do it for Stewart. He did it for what he thought was the right thing. He tried to help the world.

Part of that philosophy, he and many others said, was evident in the way Mr. Bryan ran his newspapers  from serving as publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch (and the now-defunct afternoon The Richmond News Leader) for 26 years until late 2004 to overseeing a media company that had 25 daily newspapers and dozens of other print publications before selling most of them in 2012 to a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Stewart Bryan believed in the power of newspapers and used that power to make communities better through reporting on local, state and national government actions, said Ginger Stanley, executive director of the Virginia Press Association.

He was fair and always made sure you knew his opinion whether you agreed with him or not, Stanley said. But he always maintained his Southern gentleman appeal and quick wit. His legacy can be seen throughout Virginia as well as in several other states where quality journalism flourishes in daily and weekly newspapers and television stations.

Edward VanHorn, executive director of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, a trade group which serves more than 450 member newspapers, said Mr. Bryan endorsed the highest standards of journalistic excellence and pushed his company to become a leader in digital innovation.

Stewart Bryan was a driving force in the newspaper industry, VanHorn said.

When Media General faced a liquidity crisis in 2012 and sold the newspapers to Berkshire Hathaway, Mr. Bryan said it was a difficult decision because of his familys history with the newspapers  his great-grandfather acquired the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 1887, which began a media dynasty that eventually grew to become Media General.

But Mr. Bryan said he knew it was the right course of action to preserve the journalistic integrity of the newspapers. He said then that he was pleased that Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway had bought the newspapers.

My head says well-done, while my heart is crying, Mr. Bryan said in a May 2012 interview.

Henry L. Valentine II, a close friend of Mr. Bryans who retired in 2004 from Media Generals board after serving 13 years, said Mr. Bryan agonized over selling the newspapers because of his concern for the people who worked there. For him, it was heartbreaking experience because of what he had and the family had spent so long building up, Valentine said. He was so concerned about the people because they were like family.

Truth and integrity were top of mind for Mr. Bryan, Valentine said. He was so honest to a fault and so conscientious.

Marshall N. Morton, Media Generals former president and CEO, remembered when Mr. Bryan interviewed him in 1989 for the chief financial officer position at Media General. Morton said Mr. Bryan wanted to make it clear that media companies like his were not like other corporations because of their obligation to serve the public.

He always thought about the newspapers first, Morton said.

***

The sale of the newspapers transformed Media General into a broadcast-only company.

It now owns 71 television stations, including WRIC in Richmond. The company has expanded its television station holdings through two mergers in the past three years.

The company also changed its corporate structure in 2013, when Mr. Bryan decided to eliminate the dual-class stock structure that effectively allowed him and his family to control Media General. He owned less than 1 percent of Media Generals stock as of May 2015, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Now Media General has two companies  Nexstar Broadcasting and Meredith Corp.  seeking to acquire it.

As board chairman, Mr. Bryan has been in the middle of those deliberations, said Vincent L. Sadusky, who has been Media Generals president and chief executive officer since December 2014.

That has meant Mr. Bryan has traveled to New York City for board meetings and meetings with the companys lawyers and financial advisers, Sadusky said. And there have been plenty of phone calls and telephonic board meetings.

Mr. Bryan, he said, was an active chairman.

He led the meetings and helped to build collaboration among the board members, Sadusky said. He was a fine chairman and had a lot of experience in that role.

The Media General board has not decided who will replace Mr. Bryan as a board member and as chairman, Sadusky said.

But the board will continue to press forward with a deal, he said. Nexstar Broadcasting and Media General said earlier this month that they had completed negotiations for a transaction in which Nexstar would acquire Media General. The Media General board unanimously approved that.

But a deal with Nexstar cannot be completed unless Media General can terminate an existing agreement to merge with Meredith, and Meredith has signaled that it is not giving up on that deal. That existing agreement was announced in early September.

If Meredith does not agree to terminate the deal, Media General said it intends to hold a special shareholders meeting as soon as possible to vote on Merediths proposal. The company had not announced a date for a shareholders vote but Sadusky said that likely would take place in late February.

Neither deal, at this point, indicates where the headquarters of the merged company would be located or what would happen to Media Generals corporate headquarters in downtown Richmond.

If the Meredith merger deal had gone forward, Mr. Bryan likely would have remained on the board, Sadusky said. Under the Nexstar acquisition, Mr. Bryan would not have had a seat.
Sitting off West Broad Street, among the car dealerships, fast-food joints and strip malls, is a 44-acre compound.

Its easy to miss, but if you manage to see the entrance, with its barely noticeable sign, and head down the long drive, what youll find is the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, where troubled, lost or abandoned children have been coming for 170 years to find a way forward.

The home, as it is constituted today, works with young people with behavioral and developmental problems who are placed there because their parents and teachers cant control them.

It is also home to the John G. Wood Alternative School, where K-12 students are sent if they have serious issues at their schools and need special attention.

In most cases, these are the most troubled of kids, those who are getting another chance to turn their lives around and get on track by giving them stability and teaching them how to better deal with situations.

For a lot of them, its a last chance.

Its developed into this idea of family, as much as we can be a family to our kids, said Donnovan Miller, the schools principal.

Everybody has (a) different perspective on family, and what we try to do is meet the kids where they are. Our kids come to us because of trauma, because of, maybe, some mental health issues. ... A lot of time maybe its the family dynamic in general. They come to us and we have a structure in place that tries to replicate family as best we can.

***

The home was founded as the Richmond Male Orphan Society in 1846.

The story, according to Virginia Homes official history, goes like this:

On the day after Thanksgiving in 1845 a small boy, ragged, his face pinched with hunger, showed up on the doorstep of the Female Humane Association.

It was a bleak winter evening, and at the time, the Female Humane Association was one of Richmonds few orphanages.

The director of the association, whose name was lost to history, was the one to come to the door that night.

Please, maam, a few pennies, the boy reportedly said.

She wanted to take the boy in, but couldnt. It was a home for girls.

But days later, she began talking with her husband about the need to create a home for destitute boys.

So he then gathered friends, and in May 1846, the Richmond Male Orphan Society held its first meeting. That was soon followed by a charter from the Virginia General Assembly creating a place for boys to get an education and learn a trade.

In 1870, the Society moved to a growing suburban village at Amelia and Meadow streets just east of Byrd Park.

A history written for the 100th anniversary in 1946 shows pictures of boys eating communal meals, getting medical and dental checkups, milking cows and just being kids. In 1949, Frank Sinatra, in Richmond for the Tobacco Festival, paid a visit.

Over the first 100 years, the homes focus grew from just caring for the boys to an emphasis on helping them develop.

Its aim is to give the dependent boy from broken homes a fair start in life, and to present him to society and developed to the highest degree of efficiency physically, mentally and spiritually, according to the history.

The orphaned boys were apprenticed and taught work skills while they got an education in an effort to turn them into productive members of society.

More than 60 alumni fought in World War II.

The home remained at Amelia and Meadow until 1958 when it moved to the campus on West Broad Street and became known as the Virginia Home for Boys.

The transition from orphanage to a more treatment-based facility was a slow one, said Chris Campbell, community engagement specialist at the home.

The shift began in the late 1970s and early 1980s. While in the past young people would live at Virginia Home for years, some as long as 10, the average length of stay today is 210 days.

The home began working with girls in 2003.

***

The Virginia Home has three programs it uses to deal with the young people in its charge.

At the school, teachers work with students, some who live on campus and some who are bused in daily, who come because of ailments, including poor impulse control; emotional disturbances; moderate intellectual disabilities; learning disabilities; and excessive hyperactivity that affect how they can perform at traditional schools.

Theres the residency program, where students share a group home with a married couple that uses the Teaching-Family Model.

The model is utilized to help the youth develop skills associated with frustration tolerance, anger and or aggression management, healthy decision-making skills, conflict resolution and age-appropriate living skills, according to the homes website.

Campbell said the school has about 40 students, and there are about 30 young people living in the homes.

Not all children who live with us attend our school, he said. Many of our youth attend Tucker High School or Hungary Creek Middle. The buses come right on campus every day.

A new house is expected to open next month, and there are five boys in line to move in.

The third program Virginia Home offers is therapeutic resources, which provides young people outpatient counseling, intensive in-home counseling as well as mentoring and psychiatric services.

Students live or go to school on a campus that looks like a small town straight out of Norman Rockwells imagination.

There are houses with bikes scattered on the lawn and a place for kids to gather for family dinners, games and conversations; theres a swimming pool and athletic fields; a picnic area and garden; a gym; and tennis and volleyball courts.

Miller, the schools principal, said the majority of students are two to three years behind academically for various reasons  behavioral, mental health or trauma.

He said the organizations goal is to stabilize the students and give them the tools to cope while addressing the issues that got them to this point.

The school recently completed a reading assessment and has brought in a reading specialist to help students get caught up.

The goal, Miller said, is get them re-engaged in society, but how long a student stays in the residential program or the school varies.

Its based on progress  your mental health progress, your academic progress, your behavioral progress, he said. We look at how many times are students having a serious incident report written, or how many times are they cursing at someone or refusing to do work. Or are they making passing grades and doing well. Theres no set time, but the goal is to get them back into public schools.

The average stay is about a year, but there are times when the school is such a good fit for students that they stay for several years. Other students stay a few months and need higher care or are adopted and move.

The only exception is a student who has been expelled. That student will stay for a year. After the time is up, the students home school system will review progress and decide whether to allow the student back.

In addition to school work, there is a program to help the students fill out college applications and discuss their options.

Miller said whatever the issue the student or resident is dealing with, what drives him and the organization is turning the young peoples lives around. Most of them, he said, are in situations or dealing with issues neither they nor their families have the resources to cope with.

The goal is to give them the skills they will need to succeed and to go on to productive lives. That, Miller said, is not much different from the mission the school was founded on 170 years ago.
The seeds for a monthly dialogue on diversity were planted in the mind of Taquara Rashida Felix after the November terrorist attacks in Paris.

After that happened, I knew immediately there was going to be a lot of animosity toward certain communities, said the Virginia Commonwealth University graduate. I really wanted to do something that brought the community together.

She lamented that the perpetrators of the violence might be viewed by some people as representative of an entire community. I know what its like to be judged when someone sees you, she said. So she decided to bring people together from different backgrounds to promote inclusion and celebrate diversity.

The result is Spice Rack, which bills itself as a candid discussion to cultivate harmony and respect across all faiths, beliefs and cultures. Felixs sister, Sharifa Felix of the Durham, N.C.-consulting firm Reddo Magna, helped her come up with the name.

I feel like in the community we have many faiths, beliefs and cultures, and these are representative of different spices, she said. When we put them all together, they make really good and tasty dishes.

Felix, 27, inherited her sensitivity on these issues by virtue of her birth to immigrant parents from the West Indies. Her mother is from the Caribbean island of Montserrat; her father is from Dominica.

But her passion for diversity and cross-cultural understanding was also honed during her time as an exchange student in Spain during the 2008-09 school year.

For the most part, I had a marvelous time, she said of her studies at the University of Murcia. But as the only black girl for miles ... I did run into racist circumstances. She concluded that the people involved werent so much bigoted as misinformed. Some people are not racist; they just dont know, she said. She became determined to cancel out each negative experience with an abundance of positive ones.

Felix grew up in North Chesterfield and describes herself as a proud graduate of Meadowbrook High, whose largely African-American and Hispanic enrollment has heard its share of pejoratives. Im living proof, and a lot of my girlfriends as well of the folly of stereotypes, she said.

In 2013, she earned a B.S. in Bioinformatics  a combined study of molecular biology and computer technology  and a B.A. in Spanish. Initially, shed wanted to become a doctor, but her perspective changed after that year in Spain.

Upon returning to the VCU campus, she became involved in various cultural organizations, because I knew what it was like to be a foreigner. She served as an ambassador for the universitys International Student Exchange Program, the organization that facilitated her year in Spain and part of a network of more than 300 universities in 50 countries. In that role, she introduced exchange students to various aspects of Richmond and U.S. culture, taking them to restaurants, shopping malls, houses of worship and cultural events. She also was one of a half-dozen interns in the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program, and recalls a memorable trip to the beach  the first time some of the Iraqi students had visited an ocean shore.

More recently, she was inspired by Standing Together, a forum by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities with the support of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs. The event in early January featured five panelists  Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Sikh and Unitarian Universalist  and discussed how people from various religions can come together to support one another, especially the marginalized.

Central Virginia is becoming more diverse, Felix said. I think this is a great way for people to understand each other. If youre not able to understand peoples cultures or others points of view, there will continue to exist these blockades of misunderstanding in what we call diversity.

She said Greenbriar Cafe and Coffeehouse welcomed her with open arms. A byproduct of this event and future Spice Racks, she said, will be the support and awareness it brings to local businesses that host it.

She will moderate the panelists before opening the session to a Q&A. Shed like to attract a different audience than those who typically attend such discussions. She cited last weeks symposium at VCU on the Black Lives Matter movement as an example of an event that was informative, but largely preached to the choir. I wish other people who are just oblivious to whats going on could hear these people talk.

She wants the participants to leave the event thinking, What can I do every day, waking up in the morning? I think its very important for people to realize that they, too, can make a difference.
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., who gave Donald Trump a glowing introduction when the GOP front-runner spoke at the Lynchburg school Jan. 18, formally endorsed the mogul Tuesday, giving Trump a boost with evangelicals ahead of next Mondays Iowa caucuses.

Trump is in a battle in Iowa with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who has strong support among evangelicals.

On Friday, Trumps campaign started running a radio ad in Iowa, and in South Carolina, where Republicans vote Feb. 20, featuring an excerpt of Falwells introduction of Trump at Liberty.

I am proud to offer my endorsement of Donald J. Trump for president of the United States, Falwell said in a statement Trumps campaign released Tuesday.

He is a successful executive and entrepreneur, a wonderful father, and a man who I believe can lead our country to greatness again.

Trump added in the statement: It is truly an honor to receive Jerrys endorsement. Not only is he a high quality person, with a wonderful family, whom I have great respect for  I also consider him a very good friend, and his support means so much to me.

During his remarks at Liberty, Falwell, son of the schools founder, noted that the school does not make political endorsements. But he spoke fondly of the business mogul.

As my friendship has grown, so has my admiration for Mr. Trump, he said.

Falwell said Trump loves his country and desires more than anything to make America great again, and called him a breath of fresh air from the political establishment.

He also suggested Trumps personal life  Trump has been married three times  should not disqualify him with evangelical voters.

We are all sinners, every one of us, Falwell said.

Jimmy Carter was a great Sunday school teacher, but look what happened to our nation during his presidency.

In the radio ad running in Iowa and South Carolina, Falwell says:

I see a lot of parallels between my father and Donald Trump. Like 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 wasnt 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.

Virginia Republicans vote in the March 1 Super Tuesday primary.

Cruz announced his presidential campaign with a March 23, 2015, speech at Liberty.

Trump has been criticizing Cruz for weeks, raising issues with Cruzs temperament and the fact that Cruz was born in Canada. Trumps Jan. 18 appearance at Liberty was notable, in part, because he did not take on Cruz while addressing thousands of evangelical voters.
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RICHMOND  The woman who survived an on-air shooting that killed two WDBJ (Channel 7) journalists at Smith Mountain Lake received a standing ovation Tuesday from the Virginia Senate.

Vicki Gardner was honored at the Capitol for her success as executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Gardner was being interviewed on live TV in August when a gunman walked up and opened fire, injuring Gardner and killing WDBJ cameraman Adam Ward and reporter Alison Parker.

Gardner said she returned to work part time on Monday and is feeling good. She said being recognized by lawmakers was an incredible honor.

Republican Sen. Bill Stanley of Franklin County called Gardner an inspiration and champion for economic development in Western Virginia.

Bill would allow parents to veto explicit school materials

A Northern Virginia mothers fight over the novel Beloved taught in her sons classroom has led to proposed legislation that, if approved, would give parents more power over some materials their children see at school.

House Bill 516 would force schools to notify parents if material used in class includes sexually explicit content.

Introduced by House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford County, and Del. Steve Landes, R-Augusta County, it calls for the Virginia Department of Education to create a policy that notifies parents of the content and then allows them to review the materials.

If parents dont like what they see, the schools must offer alternative materials and academic activities to the students. The education department would be responsible for defining what is sexually explicit.

Landes said the goal of the bill is to standardize how parents can have a say in material that is being taught. Currently, he said, that might vary among localities.

Some, however, question whether this legislation is a way to ban from classrooms Beloved or other books that include sexually explicit content.

Beloved, written by Toni Morrison, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993, tells the story of a slave who kills her 2-year-old daughter to save the child from a life in bondage. It is on the American Library Associations list of banned or challenged classics.

Senate panel backs bills to ease absentee voting restrictions

The Virginia Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections passed legislation Tuesday that would allow registered voters to cast absentee ballots in person without providing an excuse for not voting on Election Day.

Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier County, the committee chairman, joined six Democrats on the committee to advance Senate Bill 106, sponsored by Sen. Rosalyn Dance, D-Petersburg. The measure now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

In todays society, many people are not able to get to their home polling location on Election Day and so the option to vote absentee is crucial to ensuring that we do not disenfranchise these voters, Dance said in a statement.

Currently, there are 19 statutory reasons to vote absentee and over the last several years there have been bills proposed to add more excuses to that list, she added. The public is already confused about the absentee ballot application process and I believe SB 106 simplifies the process.

Senators also overwhelmingly endorsed legislation that would allow voters 65 or older to cast an absentee ballot without providing an excuse.

We ought to make voting as accessible as possible, especially for senior citizens, said Sen. John Miller, D-Newport News, who co-sponsored Senate Bill 188 with Sens. George Barker, D-Fairfax County, Jennifer Wexton, D-Leesburg, and John Edwards, D-Roanoke.

This allows seniors to cast a ballot when it is convenient for them.

Last year a similar bill easily passed the full Virginia Senate only to die in the GOP-dominated House of Delegates.

A similar fate likely awaits the legislation this year. The House Elections subcommittee has already killed similar bills proposed by House Democrats.
The videos from anti-abortion group the Center for Medical Progress sparked a partisan national debate over Planned Parenthood, including comments from presidential candidates and the formation of a House select committee to investigate.

The grand jury deliberated for more than two months before indicting David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record, Anderson said. Daleiden also faces a misdemeanor charge of violating a prohibition on the purchase and sale of human organs. Anderson didnt disclose what governmental record was involved.

We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Anderson said in a written statement. As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us. All the evidence uncovered in the course of this investigation was presented to the grand jury. I respect their decision on this difficult case.
A COURT has heard the account of a deceased police officers contact with a complainant in the Rotherham CSE trial which contradicts her claims he was involved in a no prosecution deal.



Det Con Andy Stephanek, the investigating officer in Operation Clover, was asked to give evidence at the trial today and detail a report he put together on PC Hassan Ali in August 2013.



PC Ali was killed last year in a road accident.



One of the 12 complainants in the trial, who gave birth to defendant Arshid Hussains child when she was 15, had previously told the court Hussain was in contact with PC Ali.



The woman said Hussain, PC Ali, and former Rotherham Council deputy leader Jhangir Akhtar were all part of a no prosecution deal after the woman went missing with Hussain (pictured) when she was under 16.



She claims the pair spoke to Hussain, who was in his mid 20s, and told him to drop her off at a petrol station and he would not be prosecuted.



Det Con Stephanek said he had been ordered to speak to PC Ali about the womans claims and report back to his chief inspector.



The detective said he had been made aware that the womans story was going to be published in The Times newspaper.



In his interview PC Ali said he knew the woman as she was a regular MFH (missing from home).



PC Ali said he could only recall one occasion he had dealt with her direct which was when he visited her parents address when she had returned home from going missing.



PC Ali said he had no recollection of recovering the woman from Hussain at a petrol station.



He also provided his police pocket note book from March 1, 2000, which was when the alleged handover took place, which had nothing in it relating to contact with Hussain or the woman.



His colleague who was on duty with him, PC Appleby who now works in Nottingham, also told Det Con Stephanek no petrol station meeting had taken place.



PC Ali said he was on nodding terms with Mr Akhtar but had never asked him to assist with any police enquires.



Mr Stephen Uttley, defending Hussain, said to Det Con Stephanek that despite a number of officers being subject to an investigation about alleged misconduct, not one officer was being formally interviewed by the IPCC, or was being prosecuted.



He replied he was not aware of any, but it would be something he would be kept separate from as investigating officer in Operation Clover (the inquiry under which Hussain was arrested).



Hussain, of Goole, denies 29 offences.

The trial continues.


Seattle Streetcar

In Seattle, Wash., the First Hill Streetcar opened with a soft launch January 23, a few weeks before it's grand opening ceremony and celebration.

Seattle Department of Transportation and its partners, Sound Transit and King County Metro, will now be able to provide riders an easy link to other modes of travel, including Metro buses, Link light rail, Pronto bike sharing, Washington State Ferries, Sounder and Amtrak. The streetcar will connect riders to the diverse and vibrant neighborhoods of Capitol Hill, First Hill, the Central District, Little Saigon, Chinatown, Japantown and Pioneer Square.

The First Hill Streetcar line will serve major medical centers (Swedish Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center), institutions of higher learning (Seattle Central College and Seattle University) and major sporting event venues (CenturyLink & Safeco Field).
Huntington Bancshares Inc. (HBAN) announced that it has agreed to buy FirstMerit Corp.(FMER) the parent company of FirstMerit Bank, in a stock and cash transaction. Shareholders of FirstMerit Corp. will receive 1.72 shares of Huntington common stock, and $5.00 in cash, for each share of FirstMerit Corporation common stock. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2016.

Huntington expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings per share in 2017, excluding one-time merger-related expenses, and approximately 10% accretive to earnings per share in 2018, the first full year after all expected synergies are implemented.

Based on the closing price of Huntington's common shares on January 25, 2016 of $8.80, the total transaction value is about $3.4 billion, including outstanding options and other equity-linked securities.

The company said that the combination will create the largest bank in Ohio, based on deposit market share. Huntington will also expand its operations into the attractive new of Chicago and Wisconsin.



Under terms, FirstMerit will merge with a subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares, and FirstMerit Bank will merge with and into The Huntington National Bank. In conjunction with the closing of the transaction, four independent members of the FirstMerit Board of Directors will join the Huntington Board, which will be expanded accordingly.

Pro forma tangible capital equity to tangible assets (TCE ratio) is projected to be 7.1% at closing, and pro forma regulatory common equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1 ratio) is projected to be 8.7% at closing on a fully phased-in Basel III basis.

Huntington said that it will not re-submit its 2015 CCAR capital plan, and intends to forgo the remaining $166 million of share repurchase capacity under its 2015 CCAR capital plan. Huntington will include FirstMerit Corporation in its 2016 CCAR capital plan proposal and expects the plan will include share repurchases.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Crude oil prices steadied near $30 a barrel Tuesday morning on reports that OPEC may finally curb production to alleviate the global supply glut.

Kuwait's OPEC Governor Nawal al-Fuzaia blamed non-OPEC rivals such as the US and Canada for not doing enough to boost prices by limiting energy supplies.

Crude oil for March delivery was up 3 cents at $30.35 a barrel, not far from a recent 12-year low.

On the economic front, the 2-day FOMC meeting is scheduled to begin later today, and the policy statement is due only on Wednesday.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Citing concerns about his close ties to the pharmaceutical industry, Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced Tuesday he has placed a hold on President Barack Obama's nomination of Dr. Robert Califf as Food and Drug Administration Commissioner.

Sanders, who is running for the Democratic nomination for president, joins Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Ed Markey, D-Mass., in seeking to block Califf's nomination.

Murkowski wants assurances the FDA will require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered salmon, while Markey has raised concerns about the way the agency approaches addiction.

Sanders said he shares Markey's concerns about the FDA's approach to addiction, arguing that too many people are dying from what has become an opioid epidemic.

"I also strongly believe that at a time when millions of Americans cannot afford to purchase the prescription drugs they require, we need a leader at the FDA who is prepared to stand up to the drug companies," Sanders said.

He added, "We need someone who will work to substantially lower drug prices, implement rules to safely import brand-name drugs from Canada and hold companies accountable who defraud our government."

Sanders said he has no reason to believe Califf would make the FDA work for ordinary Americans, rather than just the CEOs of pharmaceutical companies.

A statement from Sanders' office said the clinical research center Califf ran at Duke University received more than 60 percent of its funding from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.

Califf's financial disclosure form listed seven drug companies and a device maker that paid him for consulting and six others that supported his university salary, the statement added.

Califf, who currently serves as FDA Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco, was nominated as FDA Commissioner by Obama last September.

The well-known doctor was long seen as the likely successor to Dr. Margaret Hamburg, who stepped down as FDA Commissioner last March after almost six years on the job.

Dr. Stephen Ostroff, previously the FDA's chief scientist, has served as acting commissioner since Hamburg's resignation.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
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Two people killed in Saudi strikes in Sa'ada





SA'ADA, Jan. 26 (Saba)  Two people were killed in Saudi airstrikes on their houses in Baqem district of Sa'ada province, a security official said on Monday.



The Saudi aggression waged five raids on citizens' houses in Qama'el area of Baqem, which led to the killing of two citizens and the destruction of several houses in the area, the official added.



He condemned the continuation of the Saudi aggression in targeting citizens' houses in Sa'ada and in all the provinces of the country.



HA/BA

Saba

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[26/January/2016]
Saudi strikes kill seven, including Africans, in Sana'a





SANA'A, Jan. 26 (Saba)  Seven people including five Ethiopians were killed in Saudi raids on Bilad al-Ros district in Sana'a province on Tuesday.



The hostile warplanes waged four raids on the security administration building, which led to the killing of the seven people, and two other raids on the government compound in the district, a security official explained in a statement.



The Saudi aggression war jets targeted also the public works office building in Bani Matar district with four raids, destroying the whole building, the official added.



He condemned the continuation of the aggression warplanes in targeting the residential areas and public installations, criticizing the silence of the international community and rights organizations towards the Saudi aggression crimes in Yemen.



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[26/January/2016]
MSF: aggression on Yemen requires independent int'l inquiry





GENEVA, Jan. 26 (Saba) - Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has affirmed that the Saudi-led coalition against Yemen required an independent international inquiry.



Following the latest attack on one of its health facilities, the MSF underlined that the conflict in Yemen is being waged with total disregard for the rules of war.



"The way war is being waged in Yemen shows that the warring parties do not recognize or respect the protected status of hospitals and medical facilities," said Raquel Ayora, MSF director of operations in a statement issued on Monday. "It is causing enormous suffering for people trapped in conflict zones. Public places are being bombed and shelled on a massive scale. Not even hospitals are being spared, even though medical facilities are explicitly protected by international humanitarian law."



Ayora censured the British Foreign Secretary's attempt to minimize the Saudi aggression's attacks on medical facilities to be as 'mistakes'.



"Just last week the British Foreign Secretary claimed that there have been no deliberate breaches of international humanitarian law in Yemen by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This implies that mistakenly bombing a protected hospital would be tolerable. This logic is offensive and irresponsible," the MSF official said.



MSF's medical activities in Yemen have been bombed four times in less than three months. The organization is seeking guarantees from the warring parties that medical activities will be protected according to international humanitarian law.



The first attack took place on October 26, when airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition repeatedly hit an MSF-supported hospital in Haydan District in Saada Governorate.



An MSF mobile clinic was then hit by an airstrike on December 2 in Taiz's Al Houban District, killing one person and wounding eight people, including two MSF staff members.



On January 10, the MSF-supported Shiara Hospital in Sa'ada Province was bombed, killing six people and injuring at least seven, most of whom were medical staff and patients.



On January 21, a series of airstrikes in Sa'ada Governorate wounded dozens of people and killed at least six, including the driver of an ambulance from the MSF-supported Al Gomhoury Hospital.



In Yemen, MSF is working in Aden, Dhale, Taiz, Sa'ada, Amran, Hajjah, Ibb and Sana'a governorates. Since March 2015, MSF teams have treated more than 20,000 war-wounded patients in Yemen. More than 790 tons of medical supplies have been sent by MSF so far.



MSF is managing 11 hospitals and health centers and supporting 18 health centers. With the health care system barely functioning, MSF is also providing non-emergency health services.



HA/AF

Saba

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[26/January/2016]
Rawlins Cross sails into the Sunrise on new album, tour around the East Coast

Rawlins Cross has been on hiatus before, once for nearly a decade after a successful run during the 1990s as one of Atlantic Canadas most popular modern Celtic bands, but never one that was imposed by an outside force of nature. In the spring of ...
By SA Commercial Prop News

The BankservAfrica Economic Transaction Index slowed to a 3.8% year-on-year increase in February from a 4.1% rise in January.

The BankservAfrica Economic Transaction Index (Beti) is the broadest and earliest business cycle indicator on the economic calendar and gives the fastest overview of South African growth trends. It is the result of co-operation between BankservAfrica and Mike Schussler.

The indicator closely tracks some 80% of all economic transactions outside of debit and credit cards and, of course, cash. These transactions would be used to pay for goods and services that South Africans use.

In 2011 the Beti tracked 844 million transactions with a value of over R6.3 trillion. Schussler estimated that the Beti represented about one third of all economic transactions, by value.

"The Beti has a very good correlation with GDP growth as well as the co-incident indicator of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). However, unlike GDP, which is released quarterly with a six-week lag, the Beti is released monthly with only about a 14-day lag. At times the Beti will give an indication of the overall economic cycle up to three months in advance," Schussler explained.

Furthermore, the Beti leads the SARB co-incident indicator by about one month and is available about up to three months earlier whilst having a very close relationship here, too. The Beti, therefore, gives analysts and policy makers up to four months more notice on economic conditions in SA.

The February Beti indicated that South African consumers, already feeling the pinch with low growth rates, looming fuel hikes and toll fees, were in for tougher times as the economy slowed down following a spurt of relatively strong growth towards the end of last year.

According to the Beti the South African growth rate has slowed over the last five months, with the three-month smoothed Beti showing a growth rate of only 3.4%. Simply put, South African growth had in all likelihood reached its peak and was in a downward cycle.

"The point is that the worldwide slowdown is also being felt in the South African economy. However, unlike many developed countries, SA still has positive growth," said Brad Gillis, BankservAfrica regulated business CEO.

"In the next few months, expect more evidence of a slowdown as more and more data is going to point that the South African economic expansion is losing steam. We believe that until the smoothed Beti sees a trend reversal of over 4.5% it is unlikely that the expansion will pick up momentum again. But, similarly, until the smoothed Beti goes below 1% it is unlikely that the South African economy will be in a recession," Schussler added.

"The economy is still growing - we have hit a bit of a speed limit. The speed limit may fall away again, but we think the Beti shows we have hit a suburban speed limit. It will probably be some time before we reach highway speeds again," he noted.
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
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.
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
Country

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Santa Paula News

Santa Paula will have a One Billion Rising event this February 14th at 2pm, at Casa del Mexicano, 318 S 11th Street, Santa Paula. The event is free and open to all, women and men. It will be in Spanish with limited simultaneous English interpretation through headsets. We will learn the Break the Chain dance during the event and have presentations and stories. Choreography specific for this event available on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRU1xmBwUeA

VDay is a worldwide movement to end violence against women and girls. United Nations statistics show that globally, one out of three women will be beaten or raped in her lifetime. Because one out of three women in the world is roughly a billion people, One Billion Rising grew out of VDay and happens annually February 14th all over the world in an effort to have numbers equal to those affected by violence rise and stand against it. It is a gathering to decry violence, empower women, and work for change.

One out of three means that we all know someone, many someones, perhaps even ourselves, who have or will experience violence. We cant undo what has happened but by coming together to work for change, we do have the power to change the future. Join us on February 14 to Rise in Santa Paula for VDay, to dance, to work for change, to reclaim our power... until the violence stops. More information at http://www.onebillionrising.org/events/santa-paula-v-day-2016/

Many years ago when I was in college I was renting an apartment where the woman next door suffered nightly violence from her live in boyfriend. There was horrific screaming and the sound of glass breaking on the thin wall between our apartments. I remember a feeling of powerlessness to help her; I didnt know what to do or say. I didnt know who to call and felt like I shouldnt invade her privacy by intervening. Eventually I did call the police and the couple moved out. I have found myself wondering ever since what happened to both the woman and the man and what my response should have been.

Unfortunately, sexual violence, and violence of all kinds against women and girls, is not uncommon in our country or our world. While the global problem of violence is not limited to women, women and girls (including cis & transgender women) are disproportionately victims of violence and males are disproportionately the perpetrators. United Nations statistics show that globally, one out of three women will be beaten or raped in her lifetime.
By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula News

The City Council took a hit against medicinal marijuana in the community while at the same time acknowledging the ban on cultivating, dispensing and delivering the prescribed medication could be subject to change.

But it was not a joint effort: the council split 4-0 with Councilwoman Ginger Gherardi abstaining from the vote at the January 19 meeting.

Specifically targeted as a concern by several council members was banning the delivery of marijuana to Santa Paulans with medical needs that garnered them a certificate to legally purchase marijuana in various forms.

But beating the state to the punch of regulating the issue was what prompted the council to make a decision based on the March 1 deadline that otherwise would give the state licensing power. The County of Ventura and other cities have adopted their own regulatory measures.

Planning Director Janna Minsk outlined the background on the medical marijuana law passed by voters in 1996 and refined by the legislature over the years.

Noting the state oversight that would kick-in March 15, Minsk said, Its always been critical to have local control, control our own destiny

Gherardi asked several pointed questions including if a prescription holder purchases medicinal marijuana out of county and brings it to Santa Paula Are they a criminal for which they can be fined?

City Attorney John Cotti said no, but noted, I dont have an easy answer on aspects of law.

Once the council approves the ban thereafter they have carte blanche to change it including deliveries to Santa Paulans.

What is the role of the police if a patient is found with marijuana asked Gherardi.

There is no equal protection violation, said Cotti, as they are lawfully in possession

It we approve this tonight, said Councilman Jim Tovias, we could direct the city attorney, to revise the ordinance at a later date, then legitimate usage can be addressed.

Said Cotti, If the councils pleasure is to direct me to allow deliveries in certain circumstances, it would be done.

City Manager Jaime Fontes noted the issue has been a burning topic among his peers countywide: We all agreed the state put us in an impossible situationwere basically beseeching the council, that the ordinance does assert local authority, but does not preclude council changes in the future.

Cotti assured the council that the action, taken in a short timeframe to meet the state deadline, is just to preserve your ability to regulate this in the future

Its a tough one for meI dont want to see any interruptions in service, said Councilman John Procter who read a letter from a Santa Paula resident urging the council to allow the delivery of medicinal marijuana.

When asked if he was for or against the ban, Police Chief Steve McLean said, I have no strong feelings one way or another

During public comment rancher Robert Frost told the council Youre on the right track about pushing the state out of the way, but this isnt going to solve the drug problemtheres already more marijuana in Santa Paula that people would ever smoke.
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...
Meridian, ID -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/26/2016 -- The Hansen Injury Law Firm has opened a Boise-area office in Meridian at 2484 N Stokesberry Place, #150. Staffed by experienced attorneys Matthew J. Hansen and Ken Christensen, the Hansen Injury Law Firm Meridian office provides comprehensive counsel and assistance to those injured through the faults of others. With founder and top Idaho Personal Injury Attorney Hansen having recently been named to the National Trial Lawyers' prestigious "40 Under 40" list, the opening of the new office will give people throughout the region access to valuable legal services that will ensure their interests are protected as they recover from their injuries.



"We're happy to announce that our new office in Meridian is now open and accepting clients," Hansen reported, "With Ken and I having both been involved in serious accidents ourselves, we understand how frightening and disruptive such events can be. We stand ready to provide everything injured people in the Boise area need, from dealing with insurance companies to fighting fiercely for the compensation they are owed. All that it takes to get started is a free, no-obligation consultation, and we never charge fees unless we are victorious."



While he was still in college, Hansen Injury Law Firm attorney Ken Christensen was struck in his car by a driver who had heedlessly run a red light. Assuming that the driver's insurance provider would live up to its obligations, Christensen tried to be as solicitous and cooperative as possible, only to discover that the company seemed determined to pay out as little as possible.



That experience instilled in Christensen a drive to help others who faced similar problems, a commitment that has made him a perfect fit for the firm founded by Hansen, who had an analogous story of his own to tell. Together, the two Boise Car Accident Lawyers have since written "The Idaho Accident Book," a resource available for free at the Hansen Injury Law Firm website that provides practical, concrete information about what residents of the state should do after an accident of any kind.



Unlike most other legal practices in the area, the Hansen Injury Law Firm focuses solely on accidents and personal injuries and handles every last detail of each case for clients. With an experienced, devoted Boise Personal Injury Attorney seeing to everything from the payment of medical bills to car repairs and negotiations with insurers, Hansen Injury Law Firm clients are able to focus entirely on getting better.



The opening of the firm's conveniently located Boise-area office in Meridian comes directly on the heels of founder Hansen's being named to the National Trial Lawyer's influential "40 Under 40" list that highlights the top young attorneys nationwide. Those interested in what the Hansen Injury Law Firm has to offer can learn more at the practice's website, where a convenient form allows visitors to submit details of their own cases to be personally reviewed by Hansen himself.



About Hansen Injury Law Firm

With energetic, comprehensive counsel and service that frees clients to focus on recovering, the Hansen Injury Law Firm is one of Idaho's top accident and personal injury practices.
"A child's learning is the function more of the characteristics of his classmates than those of the teacher." James Coleman, 1972
[JAKARTA] The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP)  better known as the morning after pill  still has a long way to go before it gets ensconced in global family planning and reproductive health practices.

An estimated 225 million women globally would like to delay or avoid pregnancy, and ECPs provide one method that can be used up to five days after unprotected sex though it is more effective the sooner it is used, note experts at the 2016 International Conference on Family Planning being held in Bali, Indonesia (25-28 January).

Global commitments, local actions is the theme of the conference organised by the Population Reference Bureau, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organisation that informs people around the world about population and health.

Yet, the ECP is often confused with medical abortion pills, says Sarah Rich, senior programme officer at the International Consortium for Emergency Contraception, noting that misconceptions and mistrust of the ECP continue to be a barrier for women in accessing it.

Lack of awareness, bias of service providers, lack of requisitioning, no proper study done regarding its uptake are further major barriers to ECP use, Tauseef Ahmed, country representative of Pathfinder International, a family planning and reproductive health NGO, tells SciDev.Net.

In many countries, the ECP is still not available over the counter and in public sector procurement and supply systems. While it should not be used as a replacement to regular contraception, it is also not a part of national family planning programmes, especially in post-rape care guidelines.

Even in the United States, Rich says one would have to go to a physician, tell them what happened and then request a prescription. This may be awkward and embarrassing.

The ECPs high price is another barrier that puts it out of reach for most women, costing US$50 each in the US alone.

On health safety concerns, Rich notes that ECP works before pregnancy has occurred. It prevents the sperm from fertilising the egg. But it cannot terminate a pregnancy, she says.

There is no limit to the number of times a woman can take the ECP in the same menstrual cycle. It does not cause abortion if the woman is already pregnant and it will not harm her but will pass out from her body. Studies from China have shown evidence it does not have any adverse effect on the baby or even a grown child much later, she adds.

The ECP also does not cause stroke, cancer or infertility. It's only in people's heads! Rich emphasises.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets South-East Asia & Pacific desk.
A simple toolkit that allows local health workers to ensure it is safe for women to have abortions has been tested successfully in Ethiopia, India and South Africa.

The toolkit is designed to speed up the process of deciding whether women in rural areas can get an abortion  because the procedure is less invasive and dangerous in the first nine weeks of pregnancy.

The kit includes a questionnaire to help health workers evaluate risk factors, including pre-existing medical conditions, and a urine pregnancy test to determine womens eligibility for an early termination.

An international research team led by the World Bank and the World Health Organization tested the toolkit and compared its results with physical exams of women seeking an abortion.

They found that the toolkit was accurate in more than 90 per cent of cases in which the women knew the date of their last menstrual period.

While [our toolkit] is not an intervention ready for scale up as yet, it will help pave the way for health workers to play a more important and effective role in reducing the burden of unsafe abortion, says Bela Ganatra, a WHO scientist and joint lead author of the study, published in PLOS One earlier this month (5 January).

The researchers adapted the toolkit to local calendars and languages, but it was still inconclusive for the 2.5 per cent of patients who could not recall the date of their last period. After ten weeks of pregnancy, more invasive methods have to be used to safely terminate the pregnancy.

The kits accuracy also relied heavily on health worker training. In Ethiopia, where community health workers received more training than those in the other two countries did, the toolkits accuracy was 92 per cent, compared with 80 per cent in India and 77 per cent in South Africa.

Ganatra says the small risk of women being falsely deemed eligible for an early abortion by the toolkit is not a problem. The kit is meant to facilitate referrals to safe abortion facilities, where a trained abortion provider would confirm the eligibility before actually providing a woman with care, she says.

According to Ellen Israel, a senior advisor for womens health with Pathfinder International, a sexual health NGO that supports abortion, stigma and discrimination continue to drive women towards dangerous abortions. This often involves unsafe providers or happens when a pregnancy is too advanced for simpler intervention methods.

Working with sensitised community health workers can encourage women [to assess] their options and rights regarding unwanted pregnancy, Israel says. This checklist is just one example of the many steps needed to expand health worker roles to increase access to safe abortion care.
[LILONGWE] Incorporating crop rotations, whether in conventional or conservation agriculture tillage systems, could help boost maize yields, according to a study in Malawi.



Researchers from the United States and Zimbabwe say that in Malawian smallholders farms maize yields are low, resulting in low food production in the country.



The researchers compared three farming systems: no-till maize or continuous maize farming with the soil left relatively undisturbed from harvest to planting, growing maize with crops such as cassava and cowpea on soils that had previous season's residues, and planting crops such as sweet potatoes and beans on soils that had most crop residues cleared or burned.

Incorporating crop rotations had the greatest impact on maize yields with yield increases ranging from 11 to 58 percent greater than continuous no-till maize. Dan TerAvest, Washington State University

According to the study published last month (20 December) in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, the crop rotations were implemented in two agro-ecological zones in Malawi: Nkhotakota and Dowa districts from 2011 to 2014. The researchers assessed the effect of the three farming systems on outcomes such as soil moisture content, earthworm abundance and crop production.



Incorporating crop rotationswhether in conventional or conservation agriculture tillage systemshad the greatest impact on maize yields with yield increases ranging from 11 to 58 percent greater than continuous no-till maize, says Dan TerAvest, a co-author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher in soil science at the Washington State University in the United States.This is most likely due to a combination of factors such as improved soil fertility and quality, and reduced pest and disease pressure following rotation.



TerAvest adds that conservation agriculture could offer significant benefits to farmers in Malawi and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, but more effort is needed to determine what conditions are best suited to it, instead of promoting it to every farmer everywhere.



The study, he notes, also highlights the need to diversify conservation agriculture systems and incorporate crop rotations to maximise benefits, adding that the findings should help formulate interventions that are based on site-specific conditions instead of using blanket policy recommendations that may benefit only a portion of smallholders.



Francis Chilenga, a principal agricultural extension officer at the Karonga Agricultural Development Division, Malawi, agrees with the findings, stressing that different crops have different rooting depths, resulting in differences in how they draw nutrients and moisture from different layers.



If [maize is] alternated with legumes, soil fertility is improved because legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, says Chilenga. This calls for farmers to adopt conservation agriculture because, among others, it improves soil structure, water retention, organic matter content and fertility. All these lead to higher and more stable yields.

Elias Tambalale, a subsistence maize farmer from Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa district, Malawi, tells SciDev.Net:We have experienced before that when we change the crops we grow on our pieces of land, we get better yields than when we grow the same crop continuously.Tambalale adds that agricultural extension officers have introduced conservation agriculture approaches such as minimum soil disturbance and total soil cover to smallholders.The findings give us more reason to believe what we are doing and that should help us boost yields, he says.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
The 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), a Yale-based initiative that evaluates how 180 countries protect ecosystems and human health, finds cause for both optimism and serious concern. The world's nations have expanded access to water and sanitation while creating more protected areas than ever before, yet countries have failed to reverse degradation of air quality and decline in fisheries, the report finds. The EPI, which measures national and global protection of ecosystems and human health from environmental harm, draws out trends and highlights data gaps in priority areas including air quality, water management, and climate change.

Increased access to water and sanitation stands out as a major success story: concerted efforts to develop clean drinking water and sewage infrastructure have significantly reduced deaths from waterborne diseases. The number of people who lack access to clean water has been cut nearly in half since 2000, though at 550 million, or around 8 percent of the world's population, there is still much room for improvement. The world's nations also show strong commitments to habitat protection, and countries are now within striking distance of international targets for terrestrial and marine habitat protection.

Yet in other areas, environmental progress has stalled, and some issues have shown troubling declines. Twenty-three percent of countries lack any kind of wastewater treatment. The world's fisheries are in a dire state, with most fish stocks at risk of collapse. Air pollution has worsened and today accounts for 10 percent of all deaths, compared with 2 percent claimed by foul water. More than 3.5 billion people -- half of the world's population -- live in nations with unsafe levels of air pollution.

Now in its 10th iteration, the EPI provides a diagnostic tool for policymakers to evaluate and improve performance toward environmental goals. The EPI is produced biennially by researchers at Yale and Columbia universities, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and with support from the Samuel Family Foundation and the McCall MacBain Foundation.

"While many environmental problems are the result of industrialization, our findings show that both poor and wealthy nations suffer from serious air pollution," said Angel Hsu, Assistant Professor at Yale-NUS College and the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES) and lead author of the report. The EPI shows that focused, coordinated global efforts are essential to make progress on global goals and to save lives.

"The EPI sends a clear signal to policymakers on the state of their environment and equips them with the data to develop fine-tuned solutions to the pressing challenges we face," said EPI co-creator Kim Samuel, Director, Samuel Group of Companies and Professor of Practice at McGill University's Institute for the Study of International Development. "With the very survival of the planet at stake, we hope leaders will be inspired to act -- especially in urban areas where an increasing majority of the world's population lives.

Seventeen new Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate treaty, both recently adopted by the UN, create a framework for strengthening global initiatives to tackle environmental challenges. Realizing these agreements' goals will require better monitoring frameworks. Data gaps create hurdles and impasses for tracking progress towards meeting targets, including benchmarks for protecting fisheries, ensuring freshwater quality, agricultural sustainability, preventing species loss, fostering climate adaptation, and managing waste.

"Even when data exists, policymakers often struggle to apply this information appropriately," notes Marc Levy, Deputy Director of the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University. "The EPI works to identify and address these blind spots within existing policy goals. For instance, a new biodiversity indicator weeds out protected areas that do not intersect with species' habitats, showing where national parks may be ineffective at protecting species.

Technological advances offer solutions to some stubborn monitoring challenges, yet these improvements are not a silver bullet. Satellite imagery and remote sensing fill gaps in the EPI's air quality and forestry information, but this data has its own blind spots. Scaling data collection and assessment down to the individual level has great potential to complete fragmentary pictures and make datasets whole. Appraising environmental quality at the city or regional level can sharpen environmental management strategies, honing in on environmental outcomes that national assessments can miss.

View the full report: http://issuu.com/2016yaleepi/docs/epi2016_final/1?e=23270481/32968129
There is little dispute that in the wake of European colonists' arrival in the New World, Native American populations were decimated by disease and conflict. But when it comes to the timing, magnitude, and effects of this depopulation -- it depends on who you ask.

Many scholars claim that disease struck the native population shortly after their first contact with Europeans, and spread with such ferocity that it left tell-tale fingerprints on the global climate. Others, however, argue that -- though still devastating -- the process was far more gradual, and took place over many years.

A new Harvard study, however, suggests both theories are wrong.

Led by Matt Liebmann, the John and Ruth Hazel Associate Professor of the Social Sciences in the Department of Anthropology, a team of researchers was able to show that, in what is now northern New Mexico, disease didn't break out until nearly a century after the first European contact with Native Americans, coinciding with the establishment of mission churches.

But when it did finally strike, the study shows, the effects of disease were devastating. In just 60 years, native populations dropped from approximately 6,500 to fewer than 900 among the 18 villages they investigated. The study is described in a Jan. 25, 2016 paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In addition to Liebmann, the study was co-authored by Joshua Farella and Thomas Swetnam from the University of Arizona and Christopher Roos from Southern Methodist University.

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"In the Southwest, first contact between native people and Europeans occurred in 1539," Liebmann said. "We found that disease didn't really start to take effect until after 1620, but we then see a very rapid depopulation from 1620 to 1680. (The death rate) was staggeringly high -- about 87 percent of the Native population died in that short period.

"Think about what that would mean if you have a room full of people and nine out of 10 die," he continued. "Think of what that means for their social structure, if they're losing the people who know the traditional medicine, their social and religious leaders, think of the huge impact it would have on their culture and history."

The fallout from that depopulation, however, wasn't merely cultural.

"Forest fires also take off during this period," Liebmann said. "When people are living in these villages, they need timber for their roofs, and for heating and cooking. In addition, they're clearing the land for farming, so trees weren't growing there when these archaeological sites were inhabited. But as people died off, the forests started re-growing and we start to see more forest fires."

That finding, he said, also links the study with ongoing debates about whether the world has entered a new geological era -- dubbed the Anthropocene -- marked by the fact that humans have affected the climate on a global scale.

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Though there is still wide debate about when this new epoch started, a number of researchers have pointed to 1610, when -- ice core records show -- global CO2 levels dropped dramatically.

"one of the 'Early Anthropocene' theories suggests that because Native Americans were being removed from the landscape on a massive scale, especially in the Amazon, they were no longer burning the forest for agriculture, and as the forest re-grew it sequestered carbon," Liebmann said. "The argument hinges on the notion that the depopulation of the Americas was so extreme that it left its mark on the atmosphere and climate at global scales.

"Our data speaks to a period a little bit later than the dates of low CO2 from the ice cores, but depopulation in the Southwest could have intensified that dip," he added. "The important thing, from my perspective, is that the Southwest was one of the earliest points of contact between Europeans and Native Americans in what later became the U.S., and it hadn't yet experienced a catastrophic depopulation by 1610, so it's hard to argue for it happening anywhere in the rest of North America at that early date."

Mapping nearly 20 Native American villages, however, is no easy feat -- many researchers might spend years examining a single site. To pull it off, Liebmann and colleagues turned to a technology known as LiDAR, which uses lasers to penetrate the dense forest cover and create a map of the region that, in some cases, is accurate down to the centimeter.

"I thought my career would be standing on these sites with a (surveying tool called a) total station," Liebmann said. "I've mapped a couple of archaeological sites like this before, and it can take years, but with LiDAR I have the ability to calculate the architecture of 18 villages in an instant. This new technology is what made this study possible."

Armed with that data, Harvard Anthropology graduate student Adam Stack and undergraduate student Sarah Martini were able to calculate the volume of each building and develop an equation to estimate how many people lived in the area.

Dating the sites -- and in particular when villages may have been abandoned as the population dwindled -- is far trickier.

"Usually, we use tree rings to date architecture in the Southwest," Liebmann said. "If someone cuts down a tree to use as a roof beam, archaeologists can look at the tree rings to date it. But for this project we didn't excavate the sites, so we couldn't recover the roof beams. Instead, the dendrochronologists on our team looked at the inner rings of trees that are still growing on these sites to establish when they germinated. They found that tree growth took off between 1630 and 1650. When we get a cluster of dates in the same 20-year period, that tells us that something happened at these villages to start these trees growing there."

What that something was, Liebmann said, was the removal of the native population from the landscape. Without humans in the region to clear trees for building materials, heating, cooking, and agriculture, the forest began to reclaim that territory, providing, literally, more fuel for fires.

"When we looked at the patterns of fires in the tree rings, we could see that up until about 1620, fires were small and sporadic," Liebmann said. "Native American fields were acting as literal fire breaks. But as the forest started re-growing, much more widespread fires occurred. That continued until almost exactly 1900, when a combination of increased livestock grazing and a change in federal forest management policies began to suppress all fires."

Ultimately, Liebmann said, the study shows that understanding how and when depopulation happened, and the ecological fallout from it, is far more complex than researchers have previously thought.

"Our findings support the notion that there was a massive depopulation, but it's not quite as simple as many people have thought before," Liebmann said. "This research also speaks to...current debates in the American West about how we should manage fire risk. What our study shows is that forest fires were being managed by Native people living in dense concentrations on the landscape -- not unlike the situation today in many parts of the Southwest. So there may be some lessons here for contemporary fire management."
New research underway at the University of Helsinki (UH), Finland, suggests that viruses can be classified in a completely new way based on viral structures. A better understanding of how viruses work can help open up new applications for viruses in the field of synthetic biology, for instance. These hypotheses are being investigated by Academy Professor Dennis Bamford and Academy Research Fellow Minna Poranen within the Programme on Molecular Virology at the UH Department of Biosciences and the Institute of Biotechnology. Working with funding from the Academy of Finland, Bamford and Poranen study virus classification and virus utilisation as a tool to support synthetic biology.

The research project, headed by Academy Professor Bamford, is exploring whether the entire virosphere can be organised to a relatively small number of virus lineages.

"Traditionally, the host organism is a key criterion in virus classification. However, our own research has shown that structurally similar viruses can infect very different hosts, such as humans and the E. coli bacterium. Our method to classify viruses is based on viral structures. It challenges traditional virus taxonomy and helps us observe extensive similarities between different types of viruses," explains Bamford. Observation of structural similarities between viruses that infect both humans and bacteria will enable the researchers to use nonpathogenic model viruses to investigate the structures and functional mechanisms of viruses.

Viruses harnessed to benefit plant production and the pharmaceutical industry

A thorough knowledge of viral mechanisms and viral molecular machines is a prerequisite to be able to utilise viral components in synthetic biology.

"We've learned how to assemble infectious viral particles in vitro from purified virus proteins and genome segments. Such systems provide very detailed information on the assembly pathways and functional mechanisms of viral particles, which in turn is a prerequisite for the controlled use of viral processes," says Minna Poranen.

As part of the Academy of Finland's Academy Programme Synthetic Biology, the scientists of the Programme on Molecular Virology have produced synthetic cells containing molecular machines derived from bacterial viruses.

"All viruses contain either DNA or RNA, that is, a nucleic acid encoding the genetic information. Viral nucleic acid may be single- or double-stranded. By utilising viral molecular machines, we've been able to produce cells that contribute to efficient production of double-stranded RNA. Such RNA molecules potentially have widespread application not only in plant and animal production but in medicine, too," explains Poranen.

The team has successfully produced synthetic cell lineages for efficient production of dsRNA molecules, which is a key requirement for the wider application of RNA molecules. At present, the researchers are looking to develop new RNA-based plant virus vaccines to replace traditional plant protection agents. The goal is to make food production more efficient and environmentally friendly and to improve the quality of food.
Teens' experiences with violence -- either through fear of violence, observing violent events, or being victims of violence themselves -- are associated with how likely they are to have sex and use condoms, new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests.

The findings of the Baltimore-based study could eventually lead to new ways to improve sexual health among this population. They will be presented at the International Conference on Family Planning in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.

Violence is a common experience among youth living across the United States, particularly in poor, urban communities. While a growing body of research links violence to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes, these studies have primarily focused on violence within relationships, such as intimate partner violence or gender-based violence. Less is known about how violence at the community level might affect teens' sexual choices and, consequently, their sexual health, says Hannah Lantos, PhD, a recent graduate of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health and a research scientist at Child Trends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center.

"We need to help young people understand what's happening to them in terms of violent experiences in order to help them feel empowered to make healthy choices about sex, sexual partners and condom use," says Lantos, who will present the findings from her study. "A first priority in these neighborhoods is to reduce the high levels of violence that adolescents fear and experience. However, if we cannot put a stop to violence in these neighborhoods, helping young people process these experiences and learn coping skills may have a broader impact on their behavior."

Lantos gathered data from the Well-Being of Adolescents in Vulnerable Environments (WAVE) study, a project run jointly by Hopkins' Center for Adolescent Health, its Urban Health Institute and the drug maker Astrazeneca. Started in 2011, WAVE collected information from young people in five study sites (Baltimore; Johannesburg, South Africa; Shanghai, China; Delhi, India; and Ibadan, Nigeria) to further the health of teens in low-income communities around the world.

Lantos used data from 426 participants between the ages of 15 and 19 (245 male and 181 female), who took a 30-minute computer survey at Johns Hopkins. These participants, all from East Baltimore neighborhoods, answered a series of questions asking about their experience with violence in their communities. These questions focused on the participants' fear of violence, observations of violence or whether they'd been victims of violence themselves. In addition, the teens also answered questions about whether they'd had sex in the past year and whether they'd used a condom the last time they'd had sex.

Results showed that the teens' experience with violence and sex differed between males and females. While 71 percent of the female participants reported fear of violence, only 41 percent of the male participants did. Females were also about 7 percentage points more likely to report observing violence, though males and females were equally likely to have been victims of violence.

Males were about 10 percentage points more likely to report having sexual intercourse in the past year, and condom use was about the same between the two genders. For the female participants, all three experiences of violence increased the odds of having sex in the past year. Fear increased the likelihood that females engaged in sex by 40 percent, females who observed violence were 3.5 times as likely to engage in sexual activity, and being a victim of violence more than tripled it.

For the male participants, victimization wasn't associated with sexual activity, but fear cut the odds of engaging in sex by more than 50 percent. Observation of violence more than doubled the likelihood of sexual activity for males.

Condom use also differed by gender. For females, experiencing fear was associated with a 70 percent reduction in condom use the last time they engaged in sexual activity, while for males observing violence cut the likelihood that they used a condom the last time they engaged in sexual activity by half.

Though the study was unable to ascertain why violence was linked with sexual behavior or why it might differ by gender, Lantos suggests that showing that this link exists could eventually help researchers develop interventions that could help protect teens against the negative effects of violence while also assisting them in making decisions to improve their sexual health.
Food imported into the United States from countries with a low gross domestic product (GDP) poses higher risks than food from richer countries, according to a new study analyzing 10 years' worth of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data on food import violations. The new study comes amid concerns as the United States imports increasingly large amounts of fish, meat, vegetables, and other products.

The novel analysis of FDA's 2002-2007 data on food import violations suggests that "the size of a country's economy appears to be a more important determinant of food safety than its wealth," or GDP per capita, according to the study, "Import Security: Assessing the Risks of Imported Food." The research was conducted by Jonathan Welburn and Vicki Bierof the University of WisconsinMadison, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineeringand Steven Hoerning, of Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. It was published in the online version of Risk Analysis, a publication of the Society for Risk Analysis.

"We present a novel use of existing data to provide partial answers on food import risks that are not easy to obtain by other means," says Welburn. "Our results suggest that the risk level of imported food is higher for foods from low-GDP countries. High-GDP countries, on the other hand, may be better able to reduce risks through standards and regulations. Consequently, importers may wish to pay more for products from high-GDP countries, or work closely with suppliers from low-GDP countries to ensure good safety practices."

"The results should be useful to supply-chain managers in determining whether the cost savings associated with a change to a lower cost source country are worthwhile given possible increases in risk, and also in assessing the need for risk-reduction measures such as producer safety training for some product types and source countries," according to the authors. The results should also help FDA target inspections, they add.

To quantify imported food risks, the researchers used FDA Inspection Refusal Report (IRR) data. FDA generates an IRR when its inspectors refuse to admit a shipment into the United States. Imports can be refused for botulism, filth, rotting foods, or other blatant food-safety concerns, as well as for "less dramatic violations," such as the lack of required documentation. FDA only needs to prove the appearance of a violation, not an actual violation, so a refusal is "not an absolute measure of risk, and is interpreted as a proxy for risk," according to the paper.

In closely examining the FDA violations data by country, the researchers concluded, "refusals alone are not a good indicator of risk." The data showed that the top 15 violators were all major U.S. trading partners, such as Mexico, China, and the United Kingdom, suggesting that the number of refusals is driven by food import volume. But when the refusals were normalized using the volume of imports (measured in millions of dollars), major trading partners were no longer exclusively identified as the high-risk countries and the list no longer included high-income countries. For example, the normalized analysis found that the highest-risk country, Iraq, has averaged 204 refusals per million dollars of imports and Somalia has averaged 191 refusals per million dollars of imports. As an example of a low-risk, low-GDP country, Costa Rica averaged 41 refusals per billion dollars of imports. China exemplifies a high-GDP nation that is better able to manage risks. Normalizing refusals data helps put the data into perspective, and the "rate of refusals is clearly a better risk measure than refusals alone," the authors conclude.

The researchers call for improved data management and transparency. "In particular, import violations data must be collated with separate trade data to quantify risks," says Welburn, urging improved data management and transparency. "To facilitate this analysis, it would be helpful if the database on import violations corresponded more closely with the database on trade volumes."
The Zika virus, unlike other mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue, is relatively unknown and unstudied. That is set to change since Zika, now spreading through Latin America and the Caribbean, has been associated with an alarming rise in babies born in Brazil with abnormally small heads and brain defects -- a condition called microcephaly.

"This is a huge public health emergency and horrible on many levels," says Uriel Kitron, chair of Emory's Department of Environmental Sciences and an expert in vector-borne diseases, which are transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks or other organisms. "The microcephaly cases are a personal tragedy for the families whose babies are affected. They will need much care and support, some of them for decades. The costs to the public health system will be enormous, and Brazil was already experiencing an economic crisis."

For the past several years, Kitron has collaborated with Brazilian scientists and health officials to study the dengue virus, which is spread by the same mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, as Zika. The focus of that collaboration is now shifting to Zika. Kitron will return to Salvador, the capital of the Brazilian state of Bahia, in February to support the country's research strategies and control efforts for the outbreak.

"Dengue is a very serious disease, but it doesn't usually kill people," Kitron says. "Zika is a game-changer. It appears that this virus may pass through a woman's placenta and impact her unborn child. That's about as scary as it gets."

Since the Zika outbreak began in northeastern Brazil last spring, an estimated 500,000 to 1.5 million people have been infected. The resulting illness only lasts a few days. The symptoms, including a rash, joint pains, inflammation of the eyes and fever, tend to be less debilitating than those of dengue. As many as 80 percent of infected people may be asymptomatic.

It was not until months after Zika cases showed up in Brazil that a spike in microcephaly births was tied to women infected during pregnancy. More than 3,500 microcephaly cases have been reported since October in Brazil, compared to around 150 cases in 2014.

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While Zika's connection to microcephaly has yet to be definitively proven, the presence of the virus has been found in the bodies of five of the newborns that died with the condition and in the placentas of two women who miscarried babies with microcephaly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned pregnant women not to travel unnecessarily to more than a dozen countries currently experiencing an outbreak of Zika virus, as well as Puerto Rico. The governments of Brazil, El Salvador and Columbia, meanwhile, are urging women to delay any plans of pregnancy.

"People are worried that Zika may also have other, more subtle, effects on fetuses besides microcephaly," Kitron says. "We just don't know that much about Zika. It has not been studied extensively in the lab and field data is also limited."

So far, the few known cases of Zika in the U.S. mainland are linked to people who had traveled abroad and were likely infected by mosquitos elsewhere. If Zika follows the same patters as dengue fever, however, states like Texas, Florida and Hawaii could experience small outbreaks transmitted by mosquitoes during the summer months.

The Zika virus is named after an isolated forest in Uganda where it was discovered in a monkey in 1947. Only a handful of human cases were known until 2007 when it popped up in the Yap Islands of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, sickening thousands of people. In 2013 Zika appeared in French Polynesia and the following year in other islands of the South Pacific.

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Although Zika outbreaks have coincided with a slightly increased rate of Gillian-Barre's Syndrome, none of the previous outbreaks were associated with a spike in microcephaly births.

The Brazilian Zika outbreak, first identified in May, is the largest ever. The cases are centered in the northeastern states of Paraiba, Pernambuco and Bahia. Zika quickly spread in the region, since the population had never been exposed to the virus, making it highly susceptible. Given the high rate of infection, herd immunity may delay future outbreaks for several years, Kitron says.

Zika cases were initially confused with chikungunya, another virus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that was introduced to Brazil and other parts of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2014.

Zika, chikungunya and dengue viruses are all now circulating in Brazil. They cause similar symptoms, complicating clinical identification during outbreaks. And no treatments or vaccines exist for any of the three viruses, making mosquito control vital.

"Mosquito control is not considered 'sexy' science, like developing a new drug or a vaccine," Kitron says, "but more attention and resources need to be devoted to it."

Aedes aegypti are like "the roaches" of the mosquito world, perfectly adapted to living with humans, especially in urban environments, says Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec, another disease ecologist in Emory's Department of Environmental Sciences who studies vector-borne diseases.

Vazquez-Prokopec specializes in spatial analysis of disease transmission patterns and has several research projects for dengue fever ongoing in Latin America. He is traveling to the Brazilian capital of Brasilia in February to assist the country's vector control team as they continue to battle the outbreak through mosquito control.

While mosquitoes that carry malaria only feed during the evening, the Aedes aegypti feeds almost exclusively on humans and bites primarily during the daytime.

"Killing mosquitoes is labor-intensive and expensive if you do it well, and it can be difficult to get funding for it," Vazquez-Prokopec says. "Now we have three viruses -- dengue, chikungunya and Zika -- being spread by Aedes aegypti, so that greatly increases the cost-effectiveness of doing high-quality, thorough mosquito control."
Dr. Liz MacDonald has been working as a research astrophysicist in the field for more than a decade. She's worked on numerous satellite missions, focusing mainly on the building of satellites and other hardware, and is also active in interpretation of the data received by these instruments. Employed by NASA since 2014, she's in the Heliophysics division, studying the geomagnetic forces that interact with the Earth's magnetic field, and wave-particle interactions.

More specifically, MacDonald has studied the aurora borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights, a powerful and stunning phenomenon that paints the night sky with vibrant streaks of of red and green. Two years before joining NASA, she founded a project called Aurorasaurus, a National Science Foundation-funded citizen-science project that helps aurora-chasers and hobbyists alike learn about and track the Northern Lights. After gaining some ground recently, the project recently launched an app, available on iTunes and Google Play.

The aurora are a part of what's known as space weather, a branch of space physics that examines the conditions in the solar system, specifically the space surrounding Earth, including solar wind plasma and conditions in the ionosphere. Space weather and the aurora are directly affected by the Sun's magnetic field, which flips its polarity on an 11-year cycle, a cycle of which we are currently in a several-year peak.

MacDonald has focused on aurora since she was in college, and has spent the better part of a decade searching for answers about how they're formed and what affects them. Recently, she talked to us here at Science World Report about them, Aurorasaurus, and space weather in general.

SWR: You're obviously very interested in the aurora. So what about them drew you to them?

MacDonald: It's one of the most beautiful natural phenomena on Earth. It moves, it's very dynamic and it's just beautiful. You can look up at the sky and your jaw will drop at its greens and pinks and reds. It's sometimes not as dynamic - the camera will pick up more than your eye will see - but it's just a spectacular sight, especially with the motion. I started studying the aurora actually when I was in college, through a research project, and I had initially not really liked physics at all. Then I got a research position in a geophysics department where they did some studies of aurora, and I suddenly learned that the aurora is all controlled by physics of the near-Earth space environment and the interactions of these charged particles with the Earth's magnetic field lines - there are all kinds of beautiful, complex processes that happen, and ultimately they cause the Northern Lights. Understanding parts of that system really appealed to me for further study, so I continued on in this field.

What gave you the idea to start Aurorasaurus?

Well it was actually one of these events - we call them geomagnetic storms - that as a scientist, as a space scientist, I can look at the data from some of the satellites. We have a couple of satellites that give us some warning of how large of an event or storm is going to happen, and we use data from about a million miles upstream of Earth to get about a one hour warning of the incoming solar material and the strength of that.

So, as a scientist, I'm looking at that data and seeing that there's a really good event going on in late October 2011. I was at home in New Mexico - and you can very, very rarely see aurora in New Mexico - and I didn't think this event was going to last long enough to get to New Mexico. But I had been hearing about Twitter, and so that was how I joined Twitter and started to search for the Northern Lights and saw that people were actually reporting that they had seen it. This particular event coincided very well with darkness on the eastern seaboard, and it was also a type of rare aurora that was more red than usual. The red we know comes from particles in space hitting higher up in the atmosphere - we don't fully know why some storms have more red than green - but when you have a storm that has a lot of red aurora, it can be visible further away.

This storm was seen even as far south as Alabama. And that's a whole lot of populated area, so there were thousands of tweets about it. So basically I got the idea to put these tweets on a map, and from there we added the citizen-science element, which is where [you can get involved] if you're not on Twitter (and a lot of the scientists in my field are not all on Twitter), but might watch the night sky more closely than most people. So they can go to our site and deliberately report that they've seen the aurora, make an archive, upload a photo, and fill out a form about where and when they saw it. So we use these reports to ground truth some of our very coarse models of where the aurora can be seen, and also to give people alerts in real-time that other people close to them are reporting aurora.

Those storms obviously cause and affect the aurora, so is it like the bigger the storm, the bigger the aurora? How does it affect the colors, and the range?

There's a whole spectrum of different storms and strengths as well, and so the largest storms are the rarest, and they also have the highest probability for other potentially costly infrastructure damages. From power grids to satellites in orbit, to GPS systems and things that rely on communication with space. And there's a whole variety of space-weather effects. Our platform is in improving knowledge of auroral visibility for the public, so we don't focus on other space-weather effects for those other industries, which are covered by NOAA - the Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA.

But getting back to your question, there's a whole variety of things that drive the strength of the storm, staring with what's emitted on the Sun - and that's 93 million miles away. So we have some satellites that observe what's happening there, but then just like traditional weather forecasting, there's some input data and then we have some models for weather that are going to see how that's going to impact Earth. And those models have high uncertainty. We're well behind traditional weather forecasting because we have so few satellites and space is so large. So it's a hard problem. But the aurora can actually be seen more widely, more often than people think because there's a big communication gap - basically [with Aurorasaurus] we're trying to put information about when it can likely be seen in the hands of people. So you could be in New Jersey, and maybe you desperately or really want to see it, so you really want to make a long drive or go out to the country and you're really dedicated. So this should help you know when there's a really good chance to be doing that, or get an alert when other people are seeing it, so that you're not just getting lucky. Because that's what often happens. If you might be out camping in the middle of nowhere or something like that you might have a chance to see it. But now that we have all these technologies, we can try to improve the communication about when it's visible. That's what we're trying to do.

One thing we're trying to do with this is, we have this - the aurora happens very high up in the atmosphere, so the model shows where the aurora should be overhead. But then you can see it further south, to the northern horizon, and that is estimated by this red line that's on the map. So we're asking people to help report and verify to improve that view line. So all of these observations can be studied and compared to the view line, which helps us build better models for people and for some of the other space-weather interests built around aurora.
The superlative roster of speakers included well-known Walter Kemmsies, from consultant/ engineer Moffat & Nichol, who offered his own views on the big picture of trade flows.

Demographic trends, or The Grey Tsunami, framed much of this well -known economists remarks- focused largely on liner shipping. For the port and terminal industry, well represented at the event (held in Tampa, Florida), he emphasized the good timing, at present for upgrading freight movement infrastructure, even against the backdrop of near term uncertainty due to structural changes particularly in China - where policymakers have trumped economic fundamentals.

Kemmsies said that the the United States has one more turn at the helm as a dominant world economy a pillar of support, but that by 2020 as the population gets older, the economic might would be shifting over to China. In 2015, emerging markets accounted for 34% of world GDP, compared to 30% for the US, he said, adding that: Right now, the guys that you need to listen to are policy makers in emerging markets.

Failure to invest in landside infrastructure to move freight, a major theme throughout the event, represents what Kemmsies characterized as a ticking time bomb for the port industry in the Americas, which happily has made recent strides on the Washington DC legislative front. Most importantly, for the first time ever, ports got a seat at the table, in the words of other speakers, including AAPA Director Kathy Broadwater from the Maryland Port Administration, with the recently enacted Fixing America Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), five year transport authorization legislation passed in December, 2015. As explained, port authorities are now able to apply for funding, in the form of grants, for projects that can speed up the movement of freight into/ out of ports.

On the investment front, two Infrastructure finance experts from KPMG, Travis Hemphill and Justin Clark, talked about ongoing trends in port investments, and the market for US port assets, noting that recent deals are more in the less risky landlord port category, at still hefty multiples of EV/ EBITDA above 20 times. The pair touted an increasingly popular finance structure for brownfield projects, where availability payments enable construction risk to be separated out from operating risk.

The discussion was timely, following the high profile announcement that Ports America (backed by HighStar Capital- a group within Oaktree Capital) would be pulling out of what would have been a 50 year terminal lease in Oakland, California, where, ironically, the 18,000 teu containership CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin had docked the previous week. A speaker from Ports America , Paul Birnbaum, called Ports Americas move a hard decision to make, saying that the stevedoring giant would be putting more of its infrastructure dollars into other markets, including Los Angeles and Seattle/ Tacoma.

Bulk shipping was barely mentioned - except for perfunctory statistics on high iron ore flows and low Baltic Dry Index levels which appeared in various presentations - but Kemmsies did hint at continued growth for grain exports from the Americas, saying We can support the world.we are the worlds farm. He noted that the World Trade Organization has declared war on agricultural tariffs.
Fredriksens family investment firm Geveran Trading and Arctic Securities will each hold 50% stake in the joint venture.

Arctic Shipping Norway is scheduled to start operations during the first half of this year, and several key people have already been employed, according to a statement from Arctic Securities.

Mads H. Syversen, ceo at Arctic Securities, said the initiative is another piece of our strategy to cover all aspects of shipping and offshore in-house in Arctic.

Harald Thorstein from the Fredriksen group commented: We think it is very exciting to contribute to the creation of a new shipbroker. However, the new company will not receive any special treatment from our system when it comes to providing new business.

Arctic Securities has expanded with new offices in New York and Stockholm last year. It is also looking for business opportunities in Asia, in addition to further developing its Norwegian operations.
Delivery of the latest engines represents part of an order for three new large escort tugs being built for Norwegian operator stensj Rederi, to be operated at Statoil's Melkya terminal near Hammerfest, Norway.

Wartsila claims that the 100 installations of engines capable of burning LNG will be a major contributor to the marine industry's move into the gas age."

"This milestone delivery further emphasises the popularity of this engine and highlights Wartsila's leadership position in dual-fuel technology. These 100 engines do not include those delivered for land based energy generation applications, said Lars Anderson, vp at Wartsila Marine Solutions.

The Wartsila 34DF was upgraded in 2013 with a higher MCR (maximum continuous rating) and better efficiency than its earlier version, the first of which was delivered in 2010.

Within its power range, the Wartsila 34DF has become the workhorse of the marine industry, thanks to its superior reliability and lower operating costs. It is a highly efficient engine that is also making a notable contribution to environmental compliance, said Anderson.
Press Release

January 26, 2016 Bam: Open Gov't Offices to all Filipinos Government shouldn't discriminate. Its doors should be open to all Filipinos, rich or poor. A senator wants all government agencies to eliminate dress code to allow more Filipinos to avail of services and allow them to participate in assemblies concerning their welfare, especially in legislative hearings and sessions. In his Senate Bill No. 3089 or the Philippine Government Agency Open Door Act of 2015, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that every Filipino should be permitted to participate in assemblies that affect them and their community, particularly legislative hearings and sessions. "All Filipinos must be granted access to frontline services, especially from public offices," he said. However, needless dress code policies serve as barriers to many of our marginalized Filipinos and those from indigenous groups as they seek to become more participative and rightfully demand services. "How can they raise their voice when they're standing in the heat and behind cold walls? These are the countrymen we are called to serve," said Sen. Bam, adding that it's time to open government offices and be more considerate of our policies for all Filipinos, regardless of economic status. The Philippine Government Agency Open Door Act of 2015 aims to mandate all government offices to accept entry to all Filipinos and to eliminate the dress code some agencies that are following. "We are called to open the doors to those that have the least in our society, those we have the most to learn from, and those that we desperately need to hear," Sen. Bam stressed. "We have the opportunity and a duty to generate policies that contribute to a nation that is fair, just, and inclusive. We have a responsibility to create a Philippines where all Filipinos, even minorities and marginalized sectors can live free from discrimination," he added. Sen. Bam worked with poor communities on business projects as a social entrepreneur before becoming a senator in 2013.
Press Release

January 26, 2016 Jinggoy: Use OWWA Fund exclusively for OFW services The Senate has approved on third and final reading on Monday a bill which allows the government to infuse much-needed financial resources to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for its operating expenses and effectively boosts its capacity to carry out programs for the overseas Filipino workers. The proposal is aimed at utilizing the OWWA Fund, which is pooled from US$25 membership fee payments of the migrant workers, exclusively for the welfare programs of the country's so-called "mga bagong bayani." Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, the principal author of Senate Bill 2955 which is among his 10 priority bills, says that the proposal strengthens the mandate of the OWWA in taking full care, ensuring protection and providing timely assistance to all OFWs. Section 55 of the bill provides that Congress shall annually appropriate funds for the personal services (PS) and maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of the OWWA. Meanwhile, the OWWA Fund shall only be used to serve the welfare of member-OFWs and their families and finance the core programs of OWWA including the reintegration program; repatriation assistance in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); low-interest loans and credit assistance; provision of death, dismemberment, disability or burial benefits; workers assistance and on-site services such as pre-departure orientation seminars, psycho-social counseling and outreach missions; health care benefits; technical or vocational training scholarships and seafarers' upgrading program, among others. The bill also does not prohibit the government from allocating funds for the implementation of programs and services for the OFWs. According to the latest financial statement of OWWA for the year 2014, combined expenses for the PS and the MOOE eat up more than 40% of the OWWA's annual expenses. Such amount is almost equivalent to the allocation for OWWA programs and projects. "The bill, in effect, doubles the funds available for welfare programs for our OFWs," Jinggoy, who presided over the initial public hearing of the bill last December 2013 in his capacity as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said. "With the increased budgetary support from the national government, there should be no reason for OFWs to feel neglected and abandoned in times of great need. Urgent assistance in all forms and packages, both proactive and responsive, should be available to all our OFWs across the world," Jinggoy said. The bill is expected to be taken up by the bicameral conference committee, as the counterpart measure in the House of Representatives has been passed last October 2014.
Press Release

January 26, 2016 Legarda Supports PHL Accession to Hague Convention

on International Child Abduction Senator Loren Legarda today expressed support to the Philippines' accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Legarda, Chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, made the statement during the hearing on the convention, which aims to settle issues of parental child abduction by providing a system of cooperation among countries in case one parent brings the child out of his/her habitual residence without the consent of the other parent. "The Convention will provide administrative and judicial avenue to parents and children affected by international parental child abduction, or those parents who need help preventing their children from being abducted from their country of habitual residence," said Legarda. Legarda said the benefit of acceding to the Convention is undeniable especially for our millions of overseas Filipino workers who may find themselves in the scenario sought to be avoided. "The country's accession to this Convention will make a difference in resolving child custody disputes, especially in helping the left-behind parent because in the current scenario, there is almost nothing that can be done except to pursue a criminal case," she explained. As a Hague state party, the left-behind parent of a child who is wrongfully removed from the Philippines, or retained in the country when this is not the child's habitual residence, would have several administrative remedies to locate and gain access to their child in another State, through the designated Central Authority. The Convention does not decide on the issue of custody, nor does it identify which country would be the more appropriate home for the child. The Convention only obliges all parties to respect the jurisdiction of the court in the country of usual abode of the child to decide on such legal issues. The child shall be promptly returned to the country of habitual residence for a custody hearing.
Press Release

January 26, 2016 Lifting the pain that cannot forget

Privilege Speech of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

Philippine Senate 26 January 2016 Mr. President, my esteemed colleagues: I asked for the privilege of addressing the chamber today, in order to share with you and with our people a few thoughts about the national tragedy whose anniversary the nation marked yesterday, and which will again be the subject of inquiry in the Senate tomorrow. It seems hard to fathom that a full year has already passed since that Sunday morning in January last year, when each of us, in our respective ways, was wakened to learn of a violent incident that was unfolding in the town of Mamasapano, Maguindanao. That day remains vivid in my mind because I still remember what I instinctively tried to do upon hearing the news. My first instinct at the time was, as I am sure it was for most of us, to get updated news, and then to look for Mamasapano in a map of Mindanao. Then I rang up friends in government and the police and the military, who might be able to tell me something about what was happening. Later, we got the second shock that for a fight that started at dawn, by mid-morning, fighting in the area was still going on. And then came the really distressing news that even by noon and way past noon, the exchange of fire was still continuing. In the end, the last of our surviving policemen rejoined his comrades, having fought his way back, on the evening of the following Monday. It was in those circumstances that we learned, hour-by-hour what a great and terrible tragedy our people and our nation had sustained in Mamasapano. Although a year has passed since that awful day, we Filipinos today are still grieve, still weep together over Mamasapano in a spirit of mourning and remembrance. The nation still mourns - not just the widows and the orphans, but all our people, because the slain commandos and civilians did not come from just one section of our country, but from all sections, without regard to geography, color or creed. In words that describe how many of us feel, the Greek dramatist Aeschylus wrote: "Even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God." In these difficult times in our country, may we achieve that wisdom and receive that grace. Tomorrow, it falls on us here at the Senate to review and examine the circumstances and the reasons why Mamasapano happened the way it did, and why so many of our best and brightest men in uniform were brought down the way they did. The purpose of the inquiry is not principally to find fault, but to gain understanding of the tragedy so that justice can be served and it will not be reenacted in our public life. I am troubled that in the days leading to the reopened inquiry, the public conversation has been wracked by so many wild stories and even claims of alternative truths and supposed conspiracies, secret testimony and the like that confuse rather than enlighten. When I joined the SAF widows and families at Villamor Air Base in February last year as we brought home the earthly remains of the martyred and fallen, it struck me that the families' one constant prayer was that their loved ones would receive the justice that they deserve. They did not ask for money or benefits, or for medals or decorations or ceremony or even recognition - talk that is now uppermost in the minds of some today. They to a person spoke only of justice for the martyred and the fallen. And that appeal has not changed up to now. As a member of government and Congress, it fills me with shame that in all these months that have passed, despite the grand pronouncements of immediate action and investigation, our government has not moved forward in meeting this appeal for justice. President Aquino himself has been forced by this great delay to acknowledge on the day of the anniversary, he himself is dismayed by how slow his government has been to bring justice to the families of the murdered victims in Mamasapano. What the nation feels is beyond dismay, beyond impatience, beyond just sadness but a loss of part of our humanity as Filipinos. We feel this when we see that we have failed our very own sons, husbands and fathers, our very own declared heroes. If this is how we treat those that have given their lives in defense of the country, what fate the ordinary citizen? What fate for those we love and care for in life? For the heroes' families, we reach for the words that will soothe their pain and sorrow, and for the gestures that might express the gratitude of the nation for the noble sacrifice of our SAF commandos. But there are no gestures that will bring succor to the families, no grand words that will ease the pain of the families of our policemen. Only justice will bring that. Only justice will do. The tragedy of Mamasapano is not a sectional issue - not a problem of Mindanao alone, or just one part of Mindanao. It is a problem and tragedy of the entire nation and all our people. Mamasapano is not a partisan issue, as some have callously suggested. On this issue, men and women of goodwill and generosity should be able to unite regardless of politics in order to find common ground in forging a way forward, and in creating a future that all can share. Regardless of our specific role or duty - be we high officials or just ordinary citizens -- our shared task and obligation now is to reach across the divisions in our country and to create a sense of community and unity with one another. We are one country and one people. So let us in this Senate ask our people to unite around this terrible tragedy. Beyond this chamber are the people we serve. They have unspoken hopes in their hearts for a future in which all Filipinos, of every creed, every color and every walk of life, can find a future of opportunity, in which all of us can live in peace with one another, and share in the blessings of prosperity. Success in this endeavor depends on our building new relationships, initiating new dialogue. And opening up new opportunities for citizens to take a stand or get together. We cannot move forward to this bright future if we are unable as a nation to give the comfort and closure to the families of the murdered Forty-four. We cannot bring our nation to that grand tomorrow if we fail our people in their protection, their wellbeing, and their confidence that whatever ills are visited upon them, society and the government will do all to right those ills; that government will give them justice. So it is with our SAF Forty-four families. The proper time for that has long passed. The past year of inaction and neglect has seen to that. We must move now and move quickly to bring them justice. It is nothing less than a defining moment for us as a nation. From our Spanish heritage, there is a great saying. "La esperanza muere al ultimo." Hope dies last. Hope for whatever you want to do. There is always hope. With that thought and in this spirit then, let us in this Senate strive to bring our people together, after all the pain and sorrow and memories of Mamasapano! Justice, Justice, Justice is what the SAF families cry out for. Justice is what the nation needs if we should continue be the compassionate and loving race that all Filipinos aspire to be. Thank you, Mr. President.
Press Release

January 26, 2016 Opening Statement of Senator Koko Pimentel for the

Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee Hearing Today, we will continue hearing Proposed Senate Resolution No. 826 on the alleged P1.6 Billion Overpricing of the 11-Storey New Makati City Hall II Parking Building, the reported overpricing of the 22-Storey Makati City Hall Building, and related anomalies purportedly committed by former and current local government officials of Makati City, together with Proposed Senate Resolution No. 1114, which is about the alleged irregular transactions entered into by the Home Development Mutual Fund/PAG-IBIG Fund and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines under the leadership of Vice President Jejomar Binay. This Subcommittee has conducted 24 hearings and to reiterate, we have tackled the following subject matters: 1) Alleged overpricing of the following infrastructure projects: a) Makati City Hall II Parking Building; b) Makati City Hall Building; c) University of Makati Nursing Building; d) Makati Science High School Building; e) As well as the supplies for Ospital ng Makati; 2) Alleged irregularities in the following transactions: a) Home Development Mutual Fund/PAG-IBIG Fund as to the granting of developmental loans to favored contractors and its award of service contracts to favored bidders; b) Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Alphaland Joint Venture Agreement; c) University of Makati - STI Joint Venture Agreement; 3) And other related irregular transactions or corruption issues, such as: a) The award of government land to an unqualified private corporation, Meriras Realty and Development Corporation property in COMEMBO, Makati; b) The so-called "Hacienda Binay" in Rosario, Batangas; c) Makati City Senior Citizens' Benefits; d) Makati City Sister cities; e) Makati Friendship Suites; and f) Makati Homeville. It is worthy to note that various government agencies have acted in accordance with the discoveries that we have made herein. On January 2015, after being prompted by our investigations, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) was finally paid its long overdue rent by Alphaland for the use of its share pursuant to the Joint Venture Agreement between the BSP and Alphaland, in the amount of P7,709,920 covering 2014 rentals. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed on January 22, 2015, a P73.34-million tax evasion complaint against Mr. Antonio Tiu, the person who claimed ownership of the Rosario, Batangas Property, referred to in the course of the hearings as "Hacienda Binay". The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has investigated possible violations of Republic Act No. 6657, otherwise known as the "Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law" in the Rosario, Batangas Property. DAR Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes has committed to pursue the investigation of this property and to report to this Subcommittee the results of his investigation on the alleged premature conversion or illegal conversion of agricultural land into any non-agricultural use. We are awaiting the report from DAR. On May 7, 2015, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, pursuant to Section 10 of Republic Act No. 9160, otherwise known as the "Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001", sought, through an Ex Parte Petition from the Court of Appeals (CA), an order freezing certain bank accounts of, investments made by, and insurance policies issued to Vice President Binay, Mayor Junjun Binay, Gerardo Limlingan, Eduviges Baloloy, Ernesto S. Mercado, Greenergy Holdings, Inc., Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corporation, Earthright Holdings, Inc., Antonio L. Tiu, Millenium Food Chains Corporation, Elenita S. Binay, Lily Hernandez Crystal, Carmelita Palo Galvan, Francisco Balaguer Baloloy, Bernadette Cezar Portollano, Mitzi Ouano Sedillo, Marguerite Lichnock, Mellisa Gay Castaneda Limlingan, Victor S. Limlingan, Patricia Grace Limlingan Padua, Gerard Martin Castaneda Limlingan, James Lee Tiu, Pei Feng Lee, Ann Lorraine Buencamino Tiu, Frederick Duenas Baloloy, Jennifer V. Baloloy, Mario Alejo Oreta, Jose Orillaza, Daniel C. Subido, Man Bun Chong, Erlinda S. Chong, April Joy Pascual Mercado, and OMNI Security Investigation and General Services. The CA (First Division) granted the Petition and issued a Freeze Order on all the accounts of the foregoing, as stated in the First Division's Order dated May 11, 2015. The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), on May 13, 2015, imposed a suspension on the trading of shares of Greenergy Holdings, Inc. as a result of the May 11, 2015 Freeze Order. It must be noted that this Subcommittee was given the assurance by the PSE that all publicly listed companies that are under the PSE's jurisdiction shall be constantly monitored to ensure that the information and data that are given to the investing public are accurate, fair, objective, and complete. On October 12, 2015, the Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to file graft charges against Vice President Binay, Mayor Binay, and 22 others for Malversation, Falsification, violations of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act, in connection with several alleged irregularities in the procurement and award of the contracts for the design/architectural services and the construction of the Makati City Hall II Parking Building. Earlier, on October 9, 2015, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the dismissal of suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay, Jr. and recommended that he [Binay, Jr.] be perpetually disqualified from holding any public office. In the course of our proceedings, we have likewise requested the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), through its Executive Director, Atty. Dennis S. Santiago, for recommendations to improve transparency and accountability in government procurement procedures. To date, however, we have yet to receive any recommendation from the GPPB. Thus, I would like to remind the GPPB to seriously take up our challenge to thoroughly review our government procurement system, which, as the hearings have shown, is full of loopholes, vulnerable to manipulation, and susceptible to massive corruption. The procurement laws are your Bible, you encounter these everyday, don't tell us you see nothing wrong with them. The Commission on Audit (COA) was also tapped to provide this Subcommittee with "ideas or concrete proposals, in aid of legislation, arising from this investigation or past investigations concerning infrastructure works of the government". We hope COA would share their wisdom gained from past investigations. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), through Chairperson Teresita J. Herbosa, was also requested to submit a final report to this Subcommittee on the transactions of the involved corporations that were mentioned in the course of our proceedings. In the Partial Report on the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall II Parking Building which was issued by this Subcommittee last May 26, 2015, we, after careful scrutiny of the evidence on hand, concluded that - "The Makati City Hall II Parking Building is clearly overpriced and the amount of the overprice is from a low of P1,124,137,306.70 to a high of P1,389,069,379.14." The Subcommittee stated in said Partial Report that its investigation on the alleged overprice in the construction of Makati City Hall II Parking Building has revealed the commission of the crime of Plunder, committed through what we called a "grand conspiracy". Our public committee hearings on the two resolutions will end today. This representation would like to assure everyone that legislative ideas based on the evidence that we have gathered and our findings on the two resolutions shall be forthcoming. To remind everyone, this Subcommittee's proceedings were undertaken in aid of legislation. Let it be known that the legislative recommendations which we stated in our May 26, 2015 Partial Report shall be studied and pursued in Congress. These are: 1. For the Senate to review the grant to Subcommittees of the Blue Ribbon Committee the power to cite and punish for contempt; 2. The enactment of a law providing for a presumption of overpricing in a government infrastructure project; 3. The enactment of a law requiring the use of "acceptable industry standards" approved by the COA and the DPWH, similar to the Langdon and Seah (formerly, Davis Langdon and Seah) Construction Cost Handbook, as the basis for agency estimates and as standard reference material for all government infrastructure projects; 4. The enactment of a law enhancing the transparency of government procurement processes by the mandatory video recording of all government procurement procedures and/or activities; 5. The enactment of a law that would require the inspection by COA of government construction or infrastructure projects to be undertaken together with an independent special inspection company (Independent Third Party); 6. Enactment of a law which would require the periodic rotation of the chairperson and members of the Bids and Awards Committee of local government units (LGU) in order to prevent the same evil of too much familiarization and camaraderie with those transacting with the LGU; 7. Enactment of a law which will allow "the opposition and dissenters" access to official records as a matter of right, like the Freedom of Information (FOI) law; 8. "One Project, One Ordinance", that is, the enactment of a law requiring local government units to pass one specific ordinance authorizing and governing the construction of each big-ticket infrastructure project, complete with costs estimates and planned sources of budget allocation, as well as descriptions, plans, and drawings which give an idea as to the final look and outcome of the project; 9. Enactment of an "Anti-Dummy of Public Officials Law" and make acting as a dummy of a public official, for corrupt purposes, a specific crime with stiff penalties; 10. Amend Republic Act No. 6770, otherwise known as the "Ombudsman Act of 1989" to strengthen the Ombudsman's powers in cases of forfeiture of unlawfully acquired properties of public officials or employees; and 11. Amend Republic Act No. 6541, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1096, otherwise known as the "National Building Code," to impose stiff penalties of imprisonment and fine for any violation of this law. Hence resource persons should submit the evidence they want to submit. But nothing prevents submission direct to the Subcommittee outside of hearing. These are just some of the ideas which came out from the investigation of the Makati City Hall II Parking Building and the Hacienda in Rosario, Batangas. I'm sure there will be other "lessons learned" or valuable ideas for legislation to result from the hearings of the other subject matters mentioned earlier. With that said, we now proceed to the hearing proper. May I call on Director Rudy Quimbo to acknowledge our resource persons and witnesses for today's hearing, which, as I have mentioned, will be the last hearing of this Subcommittee.
Press Release

January 26, 2016 Senators commend TOYM awardees The Senate today adopted a resolution commending the 10 awardees of last year's "Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines." Senate Resolution 1696 was introduced by Sen. Manuel "Lito" Lapid. The TOYM awardees are Raymond A. Abrea for accounting and finance, Jose Ramon P. Aliling for civil engineering, Michael Barney R. Almazar for law and legal aid, Geoffrey Bryan A. Chua for education, Patricia C. Evangelista for journalism, Safronio P. Fortich Jr. for arts and music, Donald Patrick L. Lim for community development, Nico Jose S. Nolledo for business, Roderick L. Salenga for public health and Rogelio B. Santos Jr. for social entrepreneurship. "We at the Senate recognize the efforts of these young individuals whose selfless dedication to their profession and fields of endeavour contributed significantly to Philippine growth and benefitted the Filipino people," Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, who led the presentation of the resolution to the awardees, said. The TOYM awards is an annual project organized and presented by the Junior Chamber International - Philippines otherwise known as the Philippine Jaycees, the Gerry Roxas Foundation, Inc. and the TOYM Foundation since 1959. "This year's awardees will join the ranks of outstanding Filipinos who have been honoured by the Junior Chamber International - Philippines throughout the past 56 years," the resolution said. An advocate of genuine tax reform, Abrea, helps educate politicians, celebrities, entrepreneurs and even lawyers in tax matters, and offers strategies for small businesses to achieve their bottomline while paying appropriate taxes. Aliling, 37, is one of the most sought-after construction managers in the country and his company is the first in the Philippines to have triple ISO accreditation, covering management system, environment and occupational health and safety. Almazar, heads a free legal aid clinic at the Philippine Embassy and Consulate in the United Arab Emirates. He has devoted his practice to protect migrant workers in the Middle East where his practical approach to assisting distressed Overseas Filipino Workers is being used as the pilot model in protecting the rights of more than three million Filipinos in the Arab region. A dedicated multimedia journalist and documentary filmmaker, Evangelista won six international and nine local awards for her works on human rights, conflict, disaster, development and public interest issues. A pianist, composer and musical director, Fortich is an active figure in the local theatre scene in Manila and the musical director of Hong Kong Disneyland. Lim, founder of digital marketing in the Philippines, is cited for his leadership in digitizing the Philippine business industry. His numerous awards include Asia's Most Influential Digital Media Professionals, Digital Marketer of the Year, Digital Leader of the Future award, Young Market Masters Award in Online Marketing and Certified Entrepreneur title by the Canadian Institute of Entrepreneurship. He is also the first recipient of the SPi Global Young Leadership Award in the Asia CEO Awards. An associate professor of the University of the Philippines-College of Pharmacy, Salenga has devoted his life's work to improving the pharmacy practice in the country and introduced breakthrough academic models aimed at enhancing the training of pharmacy students. Santos undertook nano-molecular research and clinical studies in the field of Alzheimer's disease and runs the Butterfly House, a non-government organization whose product is specifically designed to meet the needs of internally displaced people. "The Philippine Senate proudly joins the Junior Chamber International - Philippines, Inc., TOYM Foundation, Inc. and the Gerry Roxas Foundation, Inc., in congratulating and commending the awardees who have proven their mettle for service of the greater good," the resolution said. (Pilar S. Macrohon)
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It was moving day on the crumbling Pacifica cliff where the ocean continued to do its thing, oblivious to such human devices as one-year apartment rental leases.

Brandy McDaniel had one of those, signed and notarized, but on Tuesday she was moving out anyway.

Im not naive, she said as she hauled a double futon mattress down the front steps to a moving van. Its been good, real good, living here. Moving out sucks, but what can you do?

McDaniel, a 36-year-old electrician, has lived in a second-story apartment at 310 Esplanade Ave. for three years. On Monday, after another chunk of the cliff just outside her back door slipped into the big blue body of water that Pacifica is named for, city housing inspectors slapped yellow tags on the front doors of 20 apartments in a building judged to be too close to the edge.

I feel safe, but Im not a geologist, she said.

Pacifica declared a state of emergency last week after storms and waves continued to pound the cliffs, where apartment buildings at 320 and 330 Esplanade Ave. have been teetering on the edge, unoccupied, since their evacuation in 2010. Now, its likely that all three buildings wont need shoring up, but demolition.

McDaniel took a long, last look from her balcony. A few feet below, it seemed some passing colossus had taken a healthy bite of the 100-foot-high hillside, which extended much further west when the apartments were built in 1962. A portion of a neighbors deck a few doors to the south was gone. McDaniel had stood on that balcony a few months ago to do a painting project.

If I was standing there now, Id be dead, she said. Its time to go.

McDaniel and her roommate found another, more expensive apartment one block to the east.

Not all her neighbors agreed it was time to move out. Michelle McKay, who has lived in the complex for five years, banged on her neighbors doors, urging them to sign a petition saying the evictions were premature and to drop by City Hall to demand the right to stay.

This is all sensationalism, she said. Were not going to let them put us on the street. Theyre displacing 20 families. Thats not fair.

Fairness, rarely one of natures primary concerns, was not a factor in the tragedy of Terry, a small black dog who fell 100 feet to his doom on New Years Eve, according to longtime resident Jeff Bowman, a 55-year-old grocery clerk.

Terry, he said, belonged to a friend who was attending a party at Bowmans apartment. The dog slipped out the back door and over the sheer edge of the cliff, which had not been fenced off after part of it collapsed.

The dog, Bowman said, was critically injured. After a long vigil at a Daly City veterinarians office, the friend decided to have Terry euthanized.

Thank goodness it wasnt a child, Bowman said.

Still, Bowman maintained he had a right to stay in his apartment, as long as he understood the risk. He and his own dog, a beagle named Tucker, have no place to go. Its even harder to find a place in Pacifica that takes dogs than it is to find one thats geologically stable, he said. He said he might wind up sleeping in his car.

Where the hell are Tucker and I supposed to go? Bowman said. I know this place is dangerous. Im not stupid. But I dont feel anything is going to happen right now. Whats the rush to make us leave?

Bowman stood on his back deck about 10 feet from the cliff edge. The city had erected a temporary wooden railing.

Its all in Gods hands, I suppose, Bowman said, And he aint helping anybody.

A mile south, at Pacifica Baptist Church, the Red Cross set up an emergency shelter and took in five residents from the complex. They slept on gray cots in a church meeting room and ate free McDonalds breakfast sandwiches.

Shelter manager Don Wright said evacuees did not seem too upset and were grateful for a warm place to sleep.

The shelter will be open this week and perhaps longer, Wright said, depending on need. The Pacifica Resource Center, a nonprofit that assists people in crisis, is also helping residents find long-term housing.

We can squeeze in about 20 people, Wright said. Maybe more.

Some residents spent Monday night in their yellow-tagged apartments, even though the tags said they could enter the apartments only to remove possessions. Police knocked on doors during the night but made no arrests.

Dan Steidle, Pacificas police chief, said he informed the 30 or so residents living in the 20-unit building several weeks ago that evacuation might be necessary, prompting several to begin hunting for other housing.

There were people already in the process of moving out, Steidle said. Were in the process of reaching out to everybody to see where they are.

Steidle said there were eight low-income residents living on public assistance subsidies. San Mateo County officials have been called in to help relocate those residents.

If the building is red-tagged  a distinct possibility as more storms roll in  nobody will be allowed inside for any reason, officials said.

A yellow tag is not a suggestion. Its an order, Steidle said. There were one or two people yesterday who were visibly upset and threatening (not to leave), but you have to understand this is a crisis and it has turned their lives upside down. If people are in the residence and are refusing to move, we may have to take criminal action, but thats a last resort.

Were in this period of transition right now, he said. We understand their lives have been turned upside down and were doing our best to get them the services they need.

The fact that the owner, Millard Tong, filed for bankruptcy complicates the matter, Steidle said.

This is all private property so it would be incumbent upon the owner to keep that bluff intact and take care of the building and, if the building needed to be demolished, to bear all those costs, he said, admitting that Tong clearly cant fulfill that obligation. The city may have to deal with that at some point.

Tong, through a representative, vowed to challenge the citys action.

In the past, said Bart Willoughby, the landlord had been told there would be no evacuations until a geotechnical consultant hired by the city reported that the building was actually being undermined. He said Tong had talked to his own engineer, who said the building was habitable.

Please provide me with the name and title of the person who determined that the building at 310 was being undermined and a copy of the basis or report, Willoughby wrote in a letter to the city manager.

Steve Rubenstein and Peter Fimrite are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. E-mail: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com, pfimrite@sfchronicle.com
California officials offered some good news Tuesday amid the throes of the continuing drought, announcing theyll probably have a little more water to release from the states mountain-fed reservoirs this year because of wet weather.

The Department of Water Resources, mindful of the fruits of the El Nino weather pattern, boosted expected water deliveries to cities and farms from last months scant projection of 10 percent of what was requested to a slightly better 15 percent.

While the bump is small, any increase in the supply is sure to be welcomed by the 29 public agencies that receive water from the State Water Project and ultimately serve it to two-thirds of California residents.

Our modest increase underscores the fact that we still have a critical water shortage after four-plus years of drought that we dont know when will end, said Mark Cowin, director of the Department of Water Resources, in a prepared statement.

The department noted Tuesday that the crucial Sierra Nevada snowpack was at its highest level for the date since 2011, before the drought began. However, while water content in the snow was an encouraging 115 percent of average, it needs to grow closer to 150 percent of average before drought relief is assured, officials said.

Last year, because of the continuing dry conditions, State Water Project deliveries amounted to just 20 percent of what was requested after a meager 5 percent the prior year. The state hasnt met 100 percent of demand since 2006.

The cutbacks have forced water agencies to turn from Sierra runoff caught at the state dams to alternative supplies, such as local rivers and groundwater, as well as to step up conservation.

The communities of Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and San Ramon, which get more than two-thirds of their water from the state, have already indicated that strict conservation measures will remain in place while they try to stretch out remaining reserves.

The State Water Project is made up of 34 lakes, reservoirs and storage facilities that fill with mountain runoff but, because of drought, are running thin. Januarys storms  coming amid the much-anticipated El Nino winter  have been beneficial, but reservoir levels remain lower than normal.

Lake Oroville, the states largest reserve, Tuesday stood at 60 percent of its historical average for the date.

The state water system works alongside the federally run Central Valley Project in moving mountain supplies to cities and farms.

Federal officials have not projected how much water they will deliver this year. But in an announcement last week, they warned recipients that it might not be much because the drought-stricken system remains in recovery.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
Marvin Minsky, who combined a scientists thirst for knowledge with a philosophers quest for truth as a pioneering explorer of artificial intelligence, work that helped inspire the creation of the personal computer and the Internet, died Sunday night in Boston. He was 88.

His family said the cause was a cerebral hemorrhage.

Well before the advent of the microprocessor and the supercomputer, Mr. Minsky, a revered computer science educator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, laid the foundation for the field of artificial intelligence by demonstrating the possibilities of imparting common-sense reasoning to computers.

Marvin was one of the very few people in computing whose visions and perspectives liberated the computer from being a glorified adding machine to start to realize its destiny as one of the most powerful amplifiers for human endeavors in history, said Alan Kay, a computer scientist and a friend and colleague of Mr. Minskys.

Fascinated since his undergraduate days at Harvard by the mysteries of human intelligence and thinking, Mr. Minsky saw no difference between the thinking processes of humans and those of machines. Beginning in the early 1950s, he worked on computational ideas to characterize human psychological processes and produced theories on how to endow machines with intelligence.

Mr. Minsky, in 1959, co-founded the MIT Artificial Intelligence Project (later the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) with his colleague John McCarthy, who is credited with coining the term artificial intelligence.

Influenced industry

Beyond its artificial intelligence charter, however, the lab would have a profound impact on the modern computing industry, helping to impassion a culture of computer and software design. It planted the seed for the idea that digital information should be shared freely, a notion that would shape the open-source software movement, and it was a part of the original ARPAnet, the forerunner to the Internet.

Mr. Minskys scientific accomplishments spanned a variety of disciplines. He designed and built some of the first visual scanners and mechanical hands with tactile sensors, advances that influenced modern robotics. In 1951, he built the first randomly wired neural network learning machine, which he called Snarc. And in 1956, while at Harvard, he invented and built the first confocal scanning microscope, an optical instrument with superior resolution and image quality still in wide use in the biological sciences.

His own intellect was wide-ranging and his interests were eclectic. While earning a degree in mathematics at Harvard he also studied music, and as an accomplished pianist, he would later delight in sitting down at one and improvising complex baroque fugues.

Mr. Minsky was lavished with many honors, notably, in 1970, the Turing Award, computer sciences highest prize.

Society of Mind

He went on to collaborate, in the early 70s, with Seymour Papert, the renowned educator and computer scientist, on a theory they called The Society of Mind, which combined insights from developmental child psychology and artificial intelligence research.

Marvin Lee Minsky was born on Aug. 9, 1927, in New York City. He was the precocious son of Dr. Henry Minsky, an eye surgeon who was chief of ophthalmology at Mount Sinai Hospital, and Fannie Reiser, a social activist and Zionist.

After a stint in the Navy during World War II, he studied mathematics at Harvard and received a Ph.D. in math from Princeton, where he met McCarthy, a fellow graduate student.

Intellectually restless throughout his life, Mr. Minsky sought to move on from mathematics once he had earned his doctorate. After ruling out genetics as interesting but not profound, and physics as mildly enticing, he chose to focus on intelligence itself.

Student superstars

The problem of intelligence seemed hopelessly profound, he told The New Yorker magazine when it profiled him in 1981. I cant remember considering anything else worth doing.

Mr. Minskys courses at MIT  he insisted on holding them in the evenings  became a magnet for several generations of graduate students, many of whom went on to become computer science superstars themselves.

Among them were Ray Kurzweil, the inventor and futurist; Gerald Sussman, a prominent AI researcher and professor of electrical engineering at MIT; and Patrick Winston, who went on to run the AI Lab after Mr. Minsky stepped aside.

Mr. Minsky is survived by his wife, Gloria Rudisch, a physician; two daughters, Margaret and Juliana Minsky; a son, Henry; a sister, Ruth Amster; and four grandchildren.
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City officials have nixed a plan to ask voters to spend $54 million on a new Animal Care and Control facility because of concern that doing so would send the wrong message at a time when San Francisco is facing a housing and homelessness crisis.

Internal polling by the city indicated the project  originally part of a $350 million bond proposed for the June ballot  was a low priority for residents. Board of Supervisors President London Breed also questioned whether the money could be better spent on a mental health facility and raised those concerns with Mayor Ed Lee.

Fifty-four million is a lot of money to spend on any facility, Breed said Monday at a Capital Planning Committee meeting, where she also criticized the city for pouring money down the drain on projects she said are too big and sometimes unnecessary. Its something we ought to start thinking about a lot more, she said.

The money that would have gone to the animal facility will now be split among three initiatives: $20 million for the Department of Public Health to modernize local clinics, including providing mental health services; $20 million for modernizing and transforming homeless shelters; and $14 million for neighborhood fire stations.

In addition, the bond proposes $222 million for San Francisco General Hospital, $30 million for the Southeast Health Center and $44 million for a new building where ambulances restock and deploy, operated by the Fire Department.

The bond needs a two-thirds vote to pass.

Staff in the mayors office emphasized Monday that they havent abandoned the goal of constructing a new Animal Care and Control facility to replace the existing, seismically unsafe building. They said they will now seek to fund the project through a different mechanism  certificates of participation, which rely on the General Fund to repay the debt  that doesnt require voter approval.

The mayor is certainly committed to completing the Animal Care and Control facility  just using a different source of funding, said Kate Howard, the mayors budget director.

But Sally Stephens, chairwoman of SF Dog, said the decision was a setback for animal lovers.

As a city that prides itself on best practices, we should be embarrassed to have a shelter thats in as bad of shape as it is, she said. Im very disappointed.

The building that now houses Animal Care and Control was constructed in 1931 as a warehouse for goods purchased by the city. The department didnt even exist until 1988, when the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ended its contract with the city to care for stray animals. The city created Animal Care and Control to do the job and located it in the purchasing facility.

It was a stopgap, hurried-up measure that lasted 26 years, said Virginia Donohue, the departments executive director. She said she was confident the new shelter would open, despite being taken out of the proposed June bond.

The department cares for roughly 10,000 animals each year, and between 300 and 400 at any given time. Most are cats and dogs, but the animals run the gamut and include snakes, turtles, guinea pigs and even skunks.

The department has long sought a new building, both because the existing facility is seismically unsafe and because the large rooms that house the animals contribute to the spread of viruses and diseases among them.

The mayors office was concerned that asking voters to support the project would send the wrong message or even doom the bond.

A January 2015 survey of voters found that while improvements to San Francisco General Hospital, community clinics and ambulance service are widely seen as priorities, improvements to animal care and control are seen as somewhat lower priorities for voters.

Another poll for the city done this month found that voters were most supportive of money for mental health, psychiatric services and San Francisco General Hospital. The proposed Animal Care and Control shelter didnt generate opposition, but neither did it generate excitement.

The revised bond measure will next go before the supervisors Budget and Finance Committee on Jan. 27.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emilytgreen
A man convicted of first-degree murder in the 1991 rape and stabbing of a San Francisco woman in her Richmond District home had his conviction tossed by a state appeals court that ruled the trial in the cold-case killing was mishandled.

The First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco said the judge in the 2013 trial improperly removed a juror who was holding out for acquittal during deliberations, allowing an alternate juror to take part in the conviction and sentencing to a life term of Otis Hughes.

Hughes, now 63, was accused of breaking into the 47th Avenue home of Karen Wong, a 39-year-old political activist and San Francisco Opera employee, where he allegedly tied her up, sexually assaulted her and killed her with a kitchen knife. He remains in custody until a decision is made about a potential retrial.

Alex Bastian, spokesman for the San Francisco District Attorneys Office, said Tuesday that his office was reviewing the recent ruling and exploring options on how to proceed.

Prosecutors charged Hughes with murder 17 years after Wongs death. He was serving an unrelated burglary sentence and, upon release, provided a DNA sample to investigators who matched it the 1991 crime scene, landing Hughes back behind bars, authorities said.

Prosecutors said the 25-year-old crime had all the markings of Hughes previous burglaries: He allegedly targeted residential buildings where people were present and used knives to threaten victims. Wongs brother found her half-naked body on Feb. 27, 1991, under a blanket in her study.

In court, Hughes attorney maintained his clients innocence, suggesting that Wongs boyfriend might be to blame. The jury, though, convicted Hughes of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of killing in the commission of rape. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Mondays 28-page appellate decision, though, said Superior Court Judge Ksenia Tsenin should have declared a mistrial instead of substituting in an alternate juror. The person who was dismissed had caused the jury to deadlock  with an 11-1 vote to convict  after five days of deliberations.

After some jurors questioned the holdouts motives, Tsenin interviewed the juror, who claimed his colleagues had made up their minds prematurely and were unwilling to hear his objections. The judge determined that the holdout had refused to satisfactorily deliberate with his colleagues and had inappropriately discussed his jury service with a friend.

After a new juror was appointed, a unanimous conviction was handed down.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
McCALLA, Ala.  Self-taught artist Thornton Dial, who transformed discarded junk into sculpture and painted in bright colors and bold lines, has died at his home in Alabama. He was 87.

Maria May, of the African American art-preservation group the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, said Mr. Dials family passed along the information that the artist died Monday near Birmingham.
A year before Islamic State established its extremist presence in Syria and Iraq, Abdulmunam Almushawah noticed a disturbing development from more than 1,000 miles away in Saudi Arabia.

The head of a program financed by the Saudi government that tracks jihadists online said he saw trends emerging among the militants as early as 2013. They were forming technical groups to help radicals send encrypted messages. There was a flurry of activity in French, and calls for jihad in Europe were mounting. Two years later, there were massacres in Paris, first at magazine Charlie Hebdo in January and then at multiple targets in November.

We understood that they had been building todays reality, Almushawah said in an interview in Riyadh. What happens in real life has a previous shadow in the electronic world.

The U.S. and its allies say they are winning the fight against Islamic State, clawing back territory over the past year and liberating towns like Kobane in Syria and Ramadi in Iraq. Yet ground is being lost in an area that airstrikes cant reach, a space largely controlled by American companies. Executives from Google and Facebook, along with government officials, are rallying support for a concerted response.

The information gathered by Almushawah encapsulates how tough it is to turn hindsight into foresight. Jihadists have developed a level of technical knowledge that allows them to use the Internet and social media without being caught by intelligence agencies, Europol said in a report released on Monday.

The Internet campaign by Islamic State helped entice thousands of foreign foot soldiers and inspire lone wolf attacks.

The one in San Bernardino showed how the Internet helps crowdsource terrorism, to sell murder, said FBI Director James Comey. It involved people consuming poison on the Internet, he said in a speech two weeks after the December attack.

Almushawah most recently noticed an increase in dialog involving Indonesia. A bomb in Jakarta claimed by Islamic State left eight people dead this month.

Islamic State is the first terrorist organization that has managed to occupy and hold both the physical territory and the digital territory, Jared Cohen, director of Google Ideas, said in an online presentation last week. The ground war and the war online must be treated the same, and its up to governments to communicate with companies to find the best way of fighting back, he said.

A 17-minute video apparently released by Islamic State on Sunday showed footage purporting to be of the nine assailants who participated in the Nov. 13 Paris attacks in territory controlled by the group before the assaults, while declaring French businessmen and political leaders targets of the group. It was titled: Kill wherever you find them.

Social media companies have been cooperating with Western intelligence agencies, but have been walking the fine line between helping in the fight against extremism and unleashing a torrent of demands from countries worldwide to delete postings.

Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said at the World Economic Forum in Davos that when one Islamic State page is removed, its just replaced by another. The best antidote to bad speech is good speech, she said, citing an example of neo-Nazis in Germany whose page was undermined by messages of tolerance.

Last year, YouTube removed 14 million videos and Twitter suspended 10,000 Islamic State accounts, according to Joanna Shields, a British lawmaker with responsibility for Internet security. As it recruits worldwide, the group produces propaganda material in over 20 languages, Shields told a conference in Munich this month.

Theres a new dynamic to the threat in this digital age that demands a new response, Shields said. While air strikes are degrading their positions in Iraq and Syria, (the militants)are fighting a second war for the hearts and minds of the next generation, spreading a warped world view.

As that online reach expanded, so have efforts by law enforcement agencies to counter it as they did for al Qaeda.

The U.S. has formed the Countering Violent Extremism Task Force, a group that will integrate the effort at home, and another organization to liaise with international partners.

London Metropolitan Police Services specialist unit removes 1,000 pieces of extremist content every week on average.

The challenge is to snuff out recruitment and incitement on the Internet and social media while maintaining enough sources of intelligence to diminish the groups appeal and foil attacks.

A victory in cyberspace isnt necessarily shutting down their presence online, said Tristan Reed, a security analyst at the strategic advisory firm Stratfor. Winning is using online activities for the purposes of intelligence, he said.

Almushawahs unit, called Assakina, started in 2003 in a country whose conservative brand of Islam has been blamed for fueling jihad.

Assakeena has identified 200 Islamic State militants and has tailored messages to appeal to each Twitter account based on what they post.

Bit the effort targets only a relative handful of militants, he said. Whats needed is a global approach, he said.

Cyberspace is Islamic States soul, he said.

Donna Abu-Nasr in Beirut and Jeremy Hodges are Bloomberg writers. E-mail: dabunasr@bloomberg.net, jhodges17@bloomberg.net
With a vote set for Thursday, a fierce lobbying battle has broken out at the California Public Utilities Commission over two questions whose answers could govern the growth of solar power in the state:

How much should solar homeowners be paid for excess power they provide the grid? And how much should they pay to maintain the grid itself?

After months of debate, the commission is scheduled to vote Thursday on new rules for net energy metering, the system that compensates solar homeowners for their surplus power. For homeowners thinking of putting panels on their rooftops, net metering is a powerful incentive  so strong that solar companies consider it the most important state-level policy encouraging their growth.

Californias utility companies, however, consider the existing system far too generous to solar homeowners, calling it a subsidy that forces non-solar customers to pay more for power than they otherwise would. They want solar homeowners to get less compensation for their excess electricity and pay more in monthly charges to maintain the grid.

The commission issued its proposed new rules in December, with terms that seemed largely favorable to the solar industry. The states three large, investor-owned utilities  Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric Co.  hated the proposal so much that they came up with their own joint alternative and urged commissioners to adopt it. So far, however, no commissioner has publicly backed the utilities plan or agreed to put it up for a vote.

We think the (commissions) proposed decision is not headed in the right direction, said Aaron Johnson, vice president of customer energy solutions at PG&E, which has 210,000 customers with rooftop solar arrays. The most important thing is to begin reducing over time the subsidy to an industry that has seen its costs go down 50 percent in the last five years.

The smallest details can count.

The utilities and the solar companies are even arguing over a specific footnote within the commissions proposed rules. Depending on how that footnote is treated, solar homeowners could end up paying either $5 more in fees per month than they currently do or $15. The commission initially estimated $5.

Had anyone known this was going to be an additional charge to solar customers, there would have been outrage in the streets, said Walker Wright, director of public policy at solar leasing firm Sunrun. Were on pins and needles here, and the anxiety levels pretty high.

The fight over net metering has played out in states across the country. Late last year, Nevada regulators approved changes that the solar industry considered so onerous that SolarCity, the nations largest solar leasing company, cut 550 jobs within the state.

No one expects so drastic an outcome in California, home to most of the U.S. solar industry. Roughly 450,000 California households have solar arrays, representing about half of all residential installations nationwide. And state officials have made a concerted effort over the last decade to spur the industrys growth.

The commission kept that goal in mind when proposing new net energy metering rules in December. The commission rejected, for now, the utilities request to impose new monthly fees that would apply only to solar homeowners.

Rather than change the compensation rate for excess power, the commission proposed that new solar homeowners pay a one-time fee of $75 to $150 to connect to the grid, and spend more each month on nonbypassable charges. Those charges, paid by most utility customers, help cover the costs of subsidizing utility service to low-income households and paying off lingering costs from the states electricity crisis 15 years ago.

The utilities joint proposal calls for compensation rates that would decrease as the number of solar households grows. Utilities would pay 15 cents per kilowatt hour until rooftop solar power equals 7 percent of a utilitys peak load. (None of the utilities have hit 5 percent yet, although both PG&E and Southern California Edison will likely do so this year.)

Once solar power accounts for more than 7 percent of a utilitys peak load, the compensation rate would drop to 13 cents. Among PG&E customers the current compensation rate tends to be 17 to 20 cents per kilowatt hour.

David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
Three former San Francisco government employees, charged with taking bribes from undercover agents who allegedly sought access to Mayor Ed Lee, turned themselves in Monday and were freed on bail.

Nazly Mohajer, a former member of the city Human Rights Commission, and Zula Jones, a former commission staff member, are both charged with four felony counts of accepting bribes and an additional count of money laundering. Keith Jackson, a onetime San Francisco school board president, faces those charges along with misdemeanor counts of arranging illegal campaign contributions and violating San Franciscos $500 limit on individual contributions.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee is calling for a federal investigation into the police killing of Mario Woods and the practices of the police force, saying in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch that he was inviting transparency and accountability in a bid to repair frayed relations between law enforcement and people of color.

The letter, dated Jan. 21 and released Monday, comes after weeks of community pressure and talk of reform after the Dec. 2 shooting of Woods in the Bayview neighborhood that drew public outcry after it was caught on videos that were posted on social media.

Lee asked in the letter for answers, not just to the facts of Mr. Woods case, but also answers about how as a Police Department and a City we can build deeper, stronger trust between law enforcement and the communities theyre sworn to protect.

San Francisco police and prosecutors are still expected to handle the homicide case and decide whether state charges are warranted.

What Lee is asking for is a civil investigation of the type that the Obama administration opened in cities including Chicago, Cleveland and Ferguson, Mo., in many cases finding patterns of excessive force and racial bias. After the 1991 Rodney King beating in Los Angeles, Congress gave the Justice Department power to force reforms at police departments.

Federal authorities can also investigate possible violations of a persons civil rights, as they did in the King case.

The Department of Justice did not respond Monday to a request for comment. Michele Ernst, an FBI spokeswoman, said the agency was aware of the incident and in contact with local authorities. If in the course of the local investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal civil rights violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate.

In an interview Monday, Lee said he was mindful of meetings he had in the wake of Woods killing with African American leaders  and of protests, including at his inauguration for his second term and during Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Mayors aim

Amongst many demands, one clear one was an independent investigation by the Department of Justice, Lee said. I want everybody to know that I am doing everything I can to make sure that there is a thorough, independent investigation that is also in addition to what the district attorney is doing, what the Office of Citizen Complaints is doing and what the chief is doing.

Lee joined with Supervisors London Breed and Malia Cohen in asking for a federal probe. They made their request at the Jan. 12 Board of Supervisors meeting, and Woods family has also called for the same intervention.

Lee said he spoke on the phone Monday with Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and Brian Stretch, the acting U.S. attorney in San Francisco, and felt his request was well received.

Top to bottom review

The independent investigation would include not just a review of the Woods shooting but a top to bottom, bottom to top look into the departments practices and policies, Lee said. His request comes after his Jan. 6 memo directing the citys Police Commission and Police Chief Greg Suhr to deliver plans to improve police procedures on use of force to the mayors office by Feb. 15.

The discussion includes whether to equip officers with electric-shock weapons, a proposal that has been struck down several times in past decades. Suhr has said he believes the Dec. 2 shooting of Woods would have ended differently if officers had been armed with the stun guns.

Police officials said Woods was a suspect in a stabbing and was armed with the same knife when five officers came upon him. They said the officers had no choice but to shoot after attempts to disarm Woods with beanbag rounds and pepper spray were unsuccessful.

Critics said video of the shooting showed Woods not posing a direct threat to any of the officers surrounding him. Many have questioned the departments training and leadership, and have called for the mayor to fire Suhr.

New police practices

After the shooting, the department issued a bulletin requiring officers to file a use-of-force report whenever they point their gun at a person, and outfitted some patrol cars with riot shields. Suhr said the department also changed firearms training to put more of an emphasis on de-escalation and less-lethal options.

On Monday, Suhr reiterated his promise to cooperate fully with any federal investigation. Though he has asked that the Department of Justices Office of Community Oriented Policing Services conduct a review of the departments training and procedures, he has not gone so far as to request an investigation into the shooting by the Department of Justices civil rights division.

Despite public pressure calling for his resignation, Suhr said he is not reading any more into the mayors request.

The fact we will absolutely fully cooperate with any federal investigation in no way means the mayors office lacks confidence in me or the departments ability to conduct an impartial investigation both into this shooting and into our own policies and procedures to ensure (or initiate) best practices, Suhr said. The mayor and I believe that if the Department of Justice is willing to come in and offer additional independent assistance and/or perspective, we would be remiss not to accept their help.

Such Department of Justice reviews can be scathing in their findings. After the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Missouri, the governments Ferguson Report  drawing on hundreds of interviews and thousands of police reports  concluded that officers routinely violated black residents rights.

An investigation in San Francisco would look at a department also under scrutiny over the allegation that 14 officers exchanged racist and homophobic text messages. The federal Public Defenders Office, meanwhile, has accused city cops of participating in a drug sting in the Tenderloin neighborhood that targeted only black people.

Martin Halloran, who as president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association has said he believes the five officers who fired at Woods acted within city policy, said he is not worried about what a Department of Justice review might reveal.

The SFPD is not Ferguson PD, he said. The SFPD has been at the forefront of changes and innovative ideas that have proven to save lives. We are receptive of changes if changes are needed.

Halloran said, however, that he was concerned if its only the mayor and some elected officials who are requesting independent investigations because it doesnt fit some agendas that are put forth by radical antipolice groups.

Attorneys assessment

Adante Pointer, an attorney for the Woods family, said that while he is happy that the mayor is finally getting on board, he sees the request as an appeasement of sorts after weeks of angry protests.

There has been much blood shed and pain and anguish that have paid the costs for him to finally arrive at this moment, Pointer said. The need has been there, prior to today. So caving to pressure and listening to his handlers is one thing, but for him to have a genuine interest in moving out those elements in this department that are engaging in practices that none of us are proud of  thats something he could have done on day one.

Lee said he supports a federal investigation because it would help the city.

I need to have a police department that implements the most modern community practices it can, Lee said. Its less about fear (of the results of a federal probe), and more about hope that we can restore the confidence that the public should have in our Police Department.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vho@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @VivianHo
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In a new push to crack the cold-case homicide of a female whose body was discovered more than a year ago on a Santa Clara County hillside, authorities released a 3-D computer-generated image of her face and head Monday, hoping someone will recognize her.

The high-tech facial reconstruction composite is the latest development in the unsolved killing of the Jane Doe, whose body was found on Dec. 14, 2014 off Highway 9 in the hills above Saratoga, near Booker Creek Road.
Dear Abby: I just read the letter from Expecting in Canada (Sept. 8) and am disappointed in her daughters reaction to her pregnancy, as were you. My own mother announced she was pregnant with my baby brother when she was 42 and my sister and I were in college. Now, 46 years later, I can say he is one of the best things that ever happened to our family. He took great care of both my parents as they grew older and was with them when each died. My sister and I are very close to him, even though we nicknamed him the crown prince and teased him because thats how my parents treated him. I hope Expectings daughters will eventually embrace this great gift. If they dont,

they may miss out on a wonderful experience and a lot of love.

Elder Sister of the Crown Prince

Dear Elder Sister: Thank you for your letter. Readers wrote to share their personal experiences as you did. Most agreed that having a child with older parents and siblings can be a life-changing event. Read on:

Dear Abby: I was a surprise baby. My birth mother was 40 and my birth father was 67. My sisters were 15 and 16. The older one was not happy; the younger one loved having a baby sister. As fate would have it, my mother died when I was 7 years old. My father was too old to care for a child, so my older sister and her husband became my parents. Not every day was perfect, but my life was very blessed. My sister, whom I called Mama, became ill in her 60s, and my brother-in-law, whom I called Daddy for the rest of his life, also had health problems. I became their legs for many errands. When Daddy died I became Mamas primary caregiver. I would like those two girls to know that the little intruder may just be the one who takes care of them someday. Im shocked that the parents would even entertain the idea of giving the baby away.

Judy in Louisiana

Dear Abby: When I was a junior in high school, my mother told me she was pregnant. I was disgusted and angry, and I told her so. As I reflect back on it, Im mortified that I could be so cruel. After giving it more thought, I realized I was annoyed to think my parents were sexual beings. Teenagers that age are just coming to terms with their own sexuality. They can also be somewhat selfish and self-absorbed. While it may be a family matter to some extent, it really is between the mother and father. My little brother is very close to me now and, more important, close to my children, who are nearer in age to him. I hope that mother wont let the temporary opinion of the daughters ruin a beautiful experience of a shared love.

Cheryl in California

Dear Abby: Expecting should ask her daughters to be a part of the babys life, such as going to doctors appointments, picking out clothes, decorating the room, giving name suggestions and having them participate in a baby shower.

Stephanie in Illinois

Dear Abby: When my mother was 42, my baby brother was born. I was 17 when I became his nanny and learned how to take care of a baby. It was an experience that made me more mature. After I married, I was never able to have my own children. Please dont listen to your daughters. I know what its like. Perhaps they are jealous that they have to share their parents. My mom and dad were the oldest parents at PTA meetings, graduations, etc., but they were proud of my younger brother. Many times people thought they were the grandparents. We shared many laughs during those years.

Eileen in West Virginia
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Albany

Former gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout had stayed away from political forays of late. Instead, she was writing a book about small businesses.

"I'm meeting with my editor (Tuesday) to tell him, sadly, that it may be a little while," she said on Monday.

The reason: She's running for Congress.

After flirting with a run for the past few weeks, Teachout officially announced her bid to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson in the 19th Congressional District, making her the premier Democratic name to be in the running for the soon-to-be-open seat.

Teachout enters the race after Democrats' first choice, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein, passed on a run despite overtures from the district's 11 county Democratic Committee chairs. The same party leaders gathered behind Teachout last week as it became publicly clear the bench of Democrats ready to run was rather short.

With Teachout, a Fordham Law professor, comes a candidate of significant renown in Democratic circles across the state. She challenged Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the 2014 gubernatorial primary, and though she lost, primary voters signaled their displeasure with the governor by giving Teachout 34 percent of the vote. She swept the race in the Capital Region and, more pertinent to her congressional bid, won 10 of the congressional district's 11 counties, which include Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene and Schoharie. The 11th was Broome County, only a small slice of which is part of the district.

"I think I've shown with the performance in the gubernatorial race I have a natural affinity, not just for Dutchess (County), but for people in all parts of the district," she said.

It's the relationship between candidate and community that Gibson's 2014 Democratic opponent, Sean Eldridge, struggled with. Eldridge, who moved to Shokan, Ulster County, in 2013, was painted by the GOP as an outsider. The race was among the most-watched in the state, but ended with a resounding 59,000-vote victory for Gibson despite a Republican enrollment advantage of just 6,400.

As Teachout entered the race on Monday, not only did Republicans challenge her "radical de Blasio-Sanders ideology"  as Republican Andrew Heaney's campaign put it  they immediately struck up the same carpetbagger refrain used against Eldridge. A Vermonter by birth, Teachout has recently moved full-time into the district (she owns a home in Dover Plains, Dutchess County, which she points out she purchased before Hein made his decision) after a stint in New York City.

"Regardless of which New York City-based candidate parachutes into the district for their own self-serving reasons, none can change Washington's status quo or correct the failed policies of the Obama and Cuomo administrations that have reduced our standard of living, jeopardized our national security and threatened our Constitutional rights," Republican John Faso said in a statement.

The National Republican Campaign Committee bashed her as a "Brooklyn liberal."

The Democrat countered that her Vermont roots provide the base for her understanding of the largely rural district.

"Our neighbors were dairy farmers  it's a very rural area," Teachout said of her childhood home. "It was dealing with the dairy crisis of '85 and the farm crisis of the '80s, and (I) grew up watching a rural community struggle. ... I spent a few years in the city, but most of my life I've been in small towns and rural areas. I think connecting on that is important."

The Teachout brand carries significant weight, though she is not the only Democrat in the race: John Patrick Kehoe of Dutchess County also has formed a committee.

The Republican side of the race has swelled in recent months. Dutchess County businessman Heaney and former Assembly minority leader and gubernatorial candidate Faso have focused their campaign rhetoric on each other as Robert Bishop of Delaware County has remained relatively quiet.

Congressional primaries will be held in June. Teachout said she plans to spend the next several months ahead of those elections listening to the people of the district.

"Maybe the biggest thing I've seen when I've spent time so far ... people see that Washington is broken, but they really aren't giving up about it," she said. "That's inspiring to me."

mhamilton@timesunion.com  518-454-5449  @matt_hamilton10
Prokofiev began his musical career not just as a composer but also as a formidable piano virtuoso, with a pile driver keyboard technique that found expression in the music he wrote for himself to play. To hear that music today  the early piano sonatas and the first two concertos  is to get a vivid mental image of Prokofievs steely, explosive approach to the keyboard.

Yefim Bronfman, who began a three-recital tour of the composers nine sonatas in Berkeleys Hertz Hall on Sunday afternoon, is cut from similar cloth. He attacks the instrument as though expecting it to put up resistance at every turn. Theres a pitiless edge to his playing that is largely thrilling, and occasionally wearying.

What sets Bronfman apart as an artist  and what made Sundays recital ultimately so powerful  is his ability to switch modes at a moments notice. With breathtaking suddenness, his playing can turn lyrical and warm, almost sentimental, and the effect is all the more eloquent for the depth of its contrasts.

The recital series, presented by Cal Performances, is proceeding in chronological order, which means that the first installment was devoted to juvenilia, more or less. Prokofievs mature masterpieces in this genre  particularly the familiar Seventh and Eighth sonatas  will have to wait for the remaining two recitals, scheduled for March 4 and 6.

But Bronfmans ferocious tour through the first four sonatas served as far more than a mere coming-attractions teaser. In performances of impressive scope and weight, he gave each of these works a respectful and committed airing that made the best possible case for each of them.

In particular, Bronfmans take on the Third and Fourth sonatas gave a cogent account of the pieces dual characters. Each of them is subtitled From Old Notebooks, and consists of the composers reworkings in his mid-20s of ideas he had jotted down in various degrees of completeness as a teenager.

So both pieces are a blend of freshness  naivete, almost  with the increasing formal and textural sophistication of the maturing composer. Bronfman drew out that combination with enormous skill, tromping his way through the knuckle-busting fast sections of the Third Sonata and giving a full measure of tender eloquence to the affecting slow movement of the Fourth.

The First Sonata, written at 15, came off as even more callow than necessary in Bronfmans brusque account, but there was ample recompense in the Second Sonata, which is full of signature Prokofiev gestures  ghostly glissandos, extravagantly difficult passagework, tartly dissonant harmonies  all tied together in an exuberantly youthful knot. Bronfmans brilliant rendition left one eager to hear the recitals still to come.

So too did his encore, a gorgeous and soulful performance of Schumanns Arabeske, Op. 18. After a short but unbroken stretch of a single composer, it came as beautiful sign-off.

Joshua Kosman is The San Francisco Chronicles music critic. E-mail: jkosman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoshuaKosman
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WASHINGTON  The Justice Department should limit the types of cases it brings and more nonviolent criminals should be steered toward probation and away from prison, according to task force recommendations designed to cut the federal inmate count and save more than $5 billion.

The suggestions were released Tuesday amid a national dialogue across the federal government about overhauling the countrys criminal justice system, which critics say is overly expensive and has resulted in unduly long sentences for nonviolent drug criminals. A bipartisan effort to cut the prison population appears stalled for the moment in Congress, though the White House and Justice Department have encouraged changes in how suspects are prosecuted and sentenced at the federal level.
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As the price of oil continues its downward drip, Al Salazar, chief executive of Jefferson Energy Companies, said the oil terminal business is in a strong position because crude demand at refineries remains high.

"It's like riding between two semis on the highway and you're protected from radar," Salazar told the Port of Beaumont commissioners on Monday.

"Refineries are having a heyday," he said. "Some are running at 105 percent or 110 percent" of stated capacity. Producers still have to get crude to the refinery. We're sitting in the middle."

While there is space for more terminals along the Gulf Coast that have water and rail access, Jefferson Energy Companies, which began receiving its first shipments by way of rail in January 2014, is in position to expand and has recently completed a bond subscription valued at $230 million.

About $100 million will be used to refinance debt, but more than $100 million is available for expansion at its Orange County terminal.

The company has seven storage tanks at its terminal on the Neches River with a capacity of 770,000 barrels, most of which comes from Canada or from Texas.

After new construction, Jefferson Energies will have capacity for 2 million barrels. By the time Jefferson Energies reaches 3.5 million barrels, it will have reached likely capacity at the Orange County terminal.

As conditions now stand, the oil sits at the terminal for just three or four days before it goes downriver by barge or ship to refineries.

Jefferson has received and moved 7 million barrels since it began operations two years ago.

DWallach@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/dwallach
The state Public Utilities Commission must justify its refusal to release e-mails that could reveal a behind-the-scenes role for Gov. Jerry Brown in a multibillion-dollar deal with two utilities that shut down a Southern California nuclear power plant, a San Francisco judge ruled Monday.

An attorney for the utilities customers says the e-mails could concern the shutdown deal that the commission approved in 2014 with the co-owners of the San Onofre nuclear power plant in San Diego County, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric Co. The deal assigned about 70 percent of the $4.7 billion bill to customers.

The utilities commission says none of the e-mails between Browns office and the commission concerns the shutdown deal, and that none was sent by the governor personally.

The two companies closed San Onofre after a January 2012 leak of radioactive steam revealed widespread damage to its cooling system. It has not reopened.

A lawyer challenging the $3.3 billion charge to the utilities customers is seeking the e-mails as potential evidence of intervention in the shutdown negotiations by the governors office and top commission officials. The state attorney generals office is also seeking the e-mails as part of its corruption probe of the agency.

The utilities commission argued that Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith had no authority to consider the request. Attorneys for the agency said that under the law, only appellate courts, not Superior Court judges, can intervene in a state regulatory dispute.

In ruling that he has the authority to intervene, Goldsmith called the matter an extraordinary case  one involving not routine regulatory matters, but possibly illegal back-channel communications that led to assigning billions of dollars in shutdown costs to Southern Californians.

Withholding records of allegedly ex parte secret deals resulting in shifting $3.3 billion of utility losses to ratepayers cannot possibly be a regulatory function of the PUC, Goldsmith said.

The judge added that it was not realistic to believe that state lawmakers, in limiting challenges of regulatory disputes to appellate courts, had intended that their legislation should be invoked to insulate PUC officials accused of corruption from public scrutiny.

A core value in a democracy is the right of citizens to know the actions of public officials, Goldsmith said.

His ruling means the utilities commission must make its case for withholding the e-mails to another Superior court judge. Goldsmith said he would not hear that case.

A commission spokeswoman said in a statement, We intend to challenge the San Francisco Superior Court judges ruling because the law is very clear that the Superior Court lacks jurisdiction.

The statement added, While we do not typically comment on pending litigation, we want to be clear that the e-mails in question did not relate to the San Onofre settlement, nor were they sent to or from the governor personally.

Mike Aguirre, the San Diego attorney who is seeking the e-mails, said the ruling removed a key obstacle in obtaining records that are clearly in the public interest.

Were hopeful that the Public Utilities Commission will make available all the documents that they have withheld, Aguirre said. The door on the back room is slightly ajar, and we are hoping that we can continue to push it open and we will eventually find out how this was done at the PUC.

Jaxon Van Derbeken is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jvanderbeken@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jvanderbeken
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A federal appeals court reinstated nearly $2.5 million in taxes Monday against the late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis and his estate in a long-running dispute with the Internal Revenue Service.

The government had reached a settlement with the Raiders in 2005 that led to the IRS issuing tax assessments against Davis of $501,000 for 1990, $1.82 million for 1992 and $159,000 for 1995, the money to be paid from tax refunds that Davis was owed for earlier years.
PARIS  Paris police fired tear gas and taxi drivers lit bonfires on a major highway Tuesday amid nationwide strikes and protests over working conditions and competition from non-traditional services such as Uber.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls met with taxi drivers in an apparent attempt to defuse tensions. He condemned the drivers violence but promised to strengthen a police crackdown on the competing taxi services the drivers are protesting. He is also forming a panel of taxi company representatives and government ministers to discuss reforms in the sector.

Tuesdays protests are the latest challenge to the Socialist government as it tries to modernize the economy and find Frances place in an increasingly globalized, online marketplace.

One in five flights were canceled at Paris airports and other flights faced delays as air traffic controllers staged a walkout and taxi drivers disrupted roads. Twenty people were detained at protests around the French capital, according to Paris police, and i-Tele television reported that two people were injured at Orly Airport when a shuttle bus tried to force its way past a taxi drivers blockade.

Some teachers and other public servants are also on strike over wages, education reforms and working conditions.

Hundreds of French taxis, joined by a few from Belgium and Spain, blocked a massive intersection leading into western Paris. Dozens of taxi drivers tried to march onto an eight-lane bypass, but police pushed them back with tear gas. Some drivers set predawn bonfires, put out later by firefighters.

Traditional taxi drivers say theyre suffering unfair competition from Uber, which has faced legal challenges around Europe.

Ubers lowest-cost service is banned in France, and two Uber executives go on trial next month in Paris for fraud. Previous French taxi protests have also turned violent, with ambushes of Uber drivers and passengers.

Karim Asnoun, head of the CGT Taxi Union, said at Tuesdays Paris protest: Unfortunately the governments are weak and as unemployment is pressuring them, they cede. They think they are creating jobs, whereas for every created job there is one thats destroyed.

Uber sent a message to French customers warning of potential violence, saying the goal of Tuesdays protest is to put pressure on the government to ... limit competition. It warned that limiting app-based car services would raise costs, put drivers out of work and send customers back to the era before apps and smartphones.

Protests were also held in other French cities. Uber drivers vandalize professionals who are paying taxes, who respect the rules, said Rachid Boudjema, 37, president of the taxi drivers union in Marseille. He described American cowboys who want to destroy our system, the system we are all attached to.

Uber is not the only company to organize ride-booking services in France, but it has become one of the most popular and has become a lightning rod for opposition to such services.

The New York Times contributed to this report.
The three 2016 Democratic presidential hopefuls made their last live televised plea to Iowa voters Monday, using a hastily arranged town hall meeting in Des Moines to spotlight their differences one week before the states first-in-the-nation caucuses.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders told the crowd at Drake University that the country needs bold changes and a political revolution that his election would bring. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton argued that being president is a tough job that only she has the experience to do.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley, polling in the low single digits and facing perhaps his last gasp in the primary contest, simply told the Iowa audience, My candidacy is in your hands; do with it as you will.

Little new came from the event, with a format that featured each candidate taking about a half-hour of questions from an audience filled with committed Iowa caucus-goers. While Chris Cuomo, the CNN moderator, occasionally jumped in to push back, as he put it, the lack of the hard-edged back and forth provided by a debate with all the candidates sharing a stage sucked much of the excitement out of the evening.

Repeating talking points

Most of the night was a familiar reprise of the same talking points each candidate makes every day on the stump, with no one to challenge them.

Sanders, for example, simply said that I have paid for all my programs when asked where he was going to find the money for his long list of progressive plans, including single-payer health care, free college tuition, increases in Social Security payments and repairs for the countrys crumbling infrastructure.

We will raise taxes to pay for the new health plan, he said, but he argued that any tax hike will be more than offset for middle-class Americans by eliminating private insurance and the premiums people now pay.

What this campaign is about is to say to the wealthiest people in this country, yeah, youre going to start paying your fair share of taxes, Sanders said. If theres criticism about that approach, I accept it ...we will take on the greed of Wall Street America and protect the middle class.

Clinton dodged questions on the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, that left the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans dead and the ongoing investigation into her use of a private e-mail server when she was secretary of state.

She dismissed the Benghazi concerns, saying that this is only still an issue because Republicans want to keep it an issue ... there is nothing new to learn. And while Clinton admitted that she should have been quicker to apologize for the dispute surrounding the e-mail server, she quickly added, I didnt do anything wrong.

But even with their opponents sitting off stage, the candidates managed to get in their digs. Experience is important, but judgment is also important, Sanders said when asked whether he had the experience and background to be president. He slammed Clinton for her 2003 vote as a New York senator to authorize the Iraq war, her support for deregulating Wall Street and her delay in coming out against the Keystone Pipeline and the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, all opposed by liberal Democrats.

The crises we face today ... are so serious weve got to go beyond establishment politics and establishment economics, he said.

Clintons biggest boost Monday came from outside Iowa, when President Obama all but endorsed her, saying in a Politico interview that she was wicked smart and that Clinton can start here, day one, more experienced than any non-vice president has ever been who aspires to this office.

Clinton, who has tied herself closely to Obama and his policies in Iowa, used the presidents praise as a stepping stone to an attack on Sanders ability to handle the wide range of concerns a president must face.

Presidents opinion

The president knows how hard the job is ... he knows what needs to be done and how hard it is going to be, she said, adding later that I believe Im the better person to be president.

The 53-year-old OMalley also had his say, arguing that Clinton, 68, and Sanders, 74, were of the wrong generation to deal with the countrys problems.

America is looking for a new leader, he said, while urging Iowa caucus-goers to stick with him. People cant be this fed up ... and think that a move to old ideologies will help us.

Although Mondays town hall wasnt announced until the middle of last week, Democratic Party leaders say the late announcement had nothing to do with the tightening race in Iowa.

CNN had talked since November about sponsoring a town hall event right before the caucuses, Josh Levitt, a spokesman for the Iowa Democratic Party, told reporters, but delayed any announcement until all three candidates signed on.

But if Sanders wasnt threatening to sweep the early states of Iowa and New Hampshire, its likely Clinton would have been on the stump by herself Monday instead of joining Sanders and OMalley at Drake University.

The poll numbers in Iowa, where the drawn-out format and the often-nasty winter weather always makes it difficult to determine exactly who will show up at the caucuses, are little more than a coin flip.

A Fox News poll released Monday had Clinton leading by 6 percentage points, 48 percent to 42 percent, while an American Research Group survey the same day found Sanders up by 3 percentage points, 48 percent to 45 percent.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
Since 1992, more than 3,500 babies were born to the Homeless Prenatal Program. Of those, 90% were of normal weight and 98.5% were drug-free. By combining critical prenatal education and parenting classes, HPP's Wellness Center increases healthy birth outcomes, promotes maternal and infant health and well-being, improves strong parent-child bonding, and teaches effective parenting skills. Join us to help support the Homeless Prenatal Program, who is proud to present a benefit concert by Regina Carter.

Carter is a jazz violinist, many times lauded for her clear, original sound and her exploration of the American musical heritage. Carter pulls from a diversity of traditions, incorporating Motown, R&B, swing and African folk songs into her solo work. Her continuous experimentation together with her mastery of form has led her to work with musicians including Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton and Mary J. Blige.
San Francisco e-retailer Lyon + Post, named for the cross streets of the founders residence, aims to create a retail model for the next generation of online shopping.

Founded in March 2015 by customer experience-minded engineer Lawrence Wisne, the startup says it is shipping the best elements of brick-and-mortar dressing rooms directly to womens homes.

Online shopping is broken, Wisne said. Its the opposite of how weve historically been taught to shop. He believes that Lyon + Post can help fix online retail and make it feel more luxurious by giving members the chance to try on clothes before paying for them. (Membership is free, as is shipping.) Wisne thinks that Lyon + Post will encourage customers to say goodbye to shopping in actual stores and, eventually, to bid fitting rooms farewell forever.

Having worked as a software architect for over three years at PopSugar, Wisne was familiar with the tastes of the customer base that Lyon + Post is beginning to capture. Hes chosen his team carefully, hiring stylist to the stars Colleen McKinnie (Beyonce is among former clients) as the fashion director behind the shops offerings  think brands like Elizabeth and James, Amour Vert and Milly. The company is bootstrapped and working on our next round of funding, Wisne says.

Wisne and McKinnie have been building Lyon and Posts following in major cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, but theyve noticed that a lot of their customers are from out of state, often Texas and Georgia. They plan to grow the brand organically through the steam theyre gaining via their Instagram following of 18,000, stemming from blogger promotions and partnerships with the likes of Jackie Welling, Brittany Maddux and Violet Benson, the comedienne behind the famed Daddy Issues account.

A strong social media presence and the brands transparent, easygoing subscription model is well suited to their younger Millennial customers, who are accustomed to accessing options. The company boasts over 10,000 members  a goal they reached before their initial deadline of February.

Much like a Netflix DVD queue, subscribers can line up dozens of items theyd like to try. Within a day or two, a sleek tissue-lined box of up to four items will arrive. A prepaid return envelope is included so shoppers can keep the items they like and return unworn items they dont want within a week. Payments are charged when a customer keeps an item.

This model of customer service brings the Lyon + Post experience closer to the feeling of browsing in a boutique. A similar philosophy is apparent in the companys curated gift boxes, which launched in time for the holidays. While the experience is expertly curated (similar to Stitch Fix or Trunk Club), there are plenty of options. After customers select cost parameters and the gift recipients size, theyre presented with up to five editorialized gift boxes, ranging from Everyday to Night Out.

Lyon and Post is made for modern women who appreciate fashion, know what they like and want the freedom to choose, said McKinnie. To me, this perfectly describes city women in general, and more specifically, the San Francisco woman.

 Valerie Demicheva

Lyon + Post: Sign up at www.lyonandpost.com
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.
BEIRUT  Multiple bombings struck a government-run checkpoint in the central Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 100 amid intense political jockeying ahead of U.N.-backed peace talks scheduled to begin in Geneva on Friday.

The office of the U.N. envoy for Syria said it sent out invitations for the talks, but with just three days to go, the opposition is still undecided about whether it will attend. One opposition official suggested the Saudi-backed opposition delegation may boycott the talks.

Khawla Mattar, a spokeswoman for Staffan de Mistura, said in Geneva that the envoy would not make public the numbers and identities of the invitees until his office gets feedback from the invited parties  a sign of the delicacy of his task.

The talks are meant to start a political process to end the conflict that began in 2011 as a largely peaceful uprising against President Bashar Assads rule but escalated into an all-out war after a harsh state crackdown. The plan calls for cease-fires in parallel to the talks, a new constitution and elections in a year and a half.

The attack in Homs, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, came as government forces retook a southern town from opposition fighters and other militants.

Homs Gov. Talal Barazi told the SANA news agency that the checkpoint was hit first by a car bomb, which was then followed by a suicide bombing.

Syrian state television broadcast footage of the aftermath of the attack, showing cars ablaze and extensive damage to shops and apartments around the site of the explosion in the Zahra neighborhood, which is inhabited mostly by members of Assads Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. The district has been a frequent target of bombings in recent months.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group which relies on a network of informants across Syria, quoted witnesses at the scene as saying the first bomber attracted a crowd of security agents by shouting curses about the Homs governor, then blew up his vehicle.

Meanwhile, in southern Syria, government forces seized the town of Sheikh Maskin, culminating an offensive that began in late December to retake the town after seizing the nearby Brigade 82 military base.

Sheikh Maskin lies near the highway connecting Damascus and the Jordanian border, and connects the Syrian capital to Daraa, a border town held by opposition fighters. Its fall is the latest in a string of battlefield successes for Assads military that have bolstered his hand ahead of the planned peace talks.

The Saudi-backed opposition was meeting Tuesday in Riyadh to make a final decision about whether to attend the talks. The opposition has accused Russia, a key backer of the Syrian government, of trying to dictate who from the opposition would participate.

Russia has argued against Turkeys demand to keep a leading Kurdish group out of the talks.
Govt to look for new markets in 2016, plans to have transparent privatization

The Ukrainian government will carry out the policy aimed at opening the new markets for Ukrainian products and creating new jobs in 2016, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has said.

"We would focus our efforts on obtaining all the possible advantages opened with the Ukraine-EU DCFTA [the deep and comprehensive free trade area] Agreement. The separate efforts will be focused on the ad hoc trade missions of the state abroad to back Ukrainian exports," Yatseniuk said on the "Ten minutes with the prime minister" TV program on Sunday night.

He said that the tax reform, the deregulation in the economy and its de monopolization will continue.

He said that one of the top priorities of the cabinet is the holding of fair privatization. He reminded that the parliament eleven times failed to pass the new law on privatization.

"Let the government to hold transparent privatization to allow attracting new investment and creating new jobs," he said.

The prime minister said that the government would continue working on the facilitation of the provision of administrative services in the country.

"The key attention will be paid to the reform of the State Fiscal Service. Several customs offices in Ukraine would be transferred to the management of leading foreign companies as an extraordinary way to combat corruption and abuse of power," Yatseniuk said.
VATICAN CITY  Pope Francis met with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran on Tuesday  the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian leader in 17 years  and urged Iran to play an important role in finding political solutions for the various conflicts afflicting the Middle East.

The two leaders stressed the importance of interreligious dialogue to achieve this aim and the responsibilities of religious communities in promoting reconciliation, tolerance and peace, the Vatican said.

The private, 40-minute encounter with the pope came midway into Rouhanis packed agenda on his four-day visit to Italy and France, where he is trying to re-establish trade and business ties after years of crippling sanctions. The trip follows the deal between Iran and several world powers to limit Irans nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of the sanctions.

After the meeting, the Vatican spoke of the important role that Iran is called upon to fulfill in promoting peaceful solutions to Middle East conflicts and countering the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking.

Since he became pope nearly three years ago, Francis has repeatedly spoken out against extremism and violence done in the name of religion. He has also called for diplomacy and dialogue in the Middle East and highlighted the effect the conflicts have had, most visibly on the millions of refugees that have been fleeing to Europe to escape the violence.

The pope was also a strong supporter of the Iranian nuclear agreement, and last Easter he praised the plan as a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world.

Meeting with the Iranian diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See earlier this month, Francis cited the nuclear deal as one of several important agreements brokered in 2015 that gave solid hope for the future. The pope said he hoped that the Iranian deal would contribute to creating a climate of detente in the region.

The Iranian delegation, which included Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, also met with the Vaticans secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states.

The last time an Iranian president met with a pope was in March 1999, when Pope John Paul II met with President Mohammad Khatami. Khatami also led the Iranian delegation at John Paul IIs funeral in 2005. Pope Paul VI, who traveled to Tehran in 1970, is the only pope to have visited Iran.

An Iranian visit to the Vatican scheduled for November was canceled because of the terrorist attacks in Paris.

In meeting with Italian political and business leaders, including Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, the Iranian president said Iran had played an important role in stabilizing the region, both economically as well as in fighting terrorism. On Twitter, Rouhani noted the two countries efforts to improve business ties:
MOSCOW  The Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said on Tuesday that while he wanted to see a reset of Russias relations with the United States, Moscow would not budge on any of the issues that put it at odds with Washington.

Speaking at an annual news conference in the Russian capital, Lavrov said Russia was ready to cooperate with the West, but only on what it sees as equal terms.

There will be no business as usual anymore, when the U.S. and the European Union tried to impose agreements on us that were most of all in their interest, and tried to persuade us that it will not damage our interests, Lavrov said. This story is over.

The news conference was dominated by questions about the conflicts in Ukraine, where Russia backs separatist rebels in the east, and in Syria, where Russia has intervened on the side of President Bashar Assad.

Lavrov denied reports that Russia had told Assad to step down or had offered him political asylum. When the Syrian leader visited Moscow in October, Lavrov said, we agreed that President Assad, in the course of the political process, will send a delegation to U.N.-sponsored peace talks and will be ready to consider political reforms.

The agenda for the talks, aimed at finding a political settlement to the five-year civil war, will include the negotiation of a nationwide cease-fire and access to areas that have been cut off from humanitarian aid for months, in some places years, said Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council and a special adviser on humanitarian affairs to the U.N. mediation team.

Russia began air strikes in Syria in late September, and has said publicly that their purpose was to defeat Islamic State militants. But many of the Russian strikes have hit other opposition groups, some of them backed by the West.

Amnesty International said in December that Russian strikes had caused hundreds of civilian deaths that the Kremlin refused to acknowledge. At the news conference on Tuesday, Lavrov denied that Russia had struck any civilian targets.

On the crisis in Ukraine, Lavrov said the West was encouraging the Ukrainian government in Kiev to drag its feet in fulfilling a peace agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus, in February 2015.

The extension of sanctions by the West is seen by Kiev as an approval of the fact that it does not implement the Minsk agreement, Lavrov said. We dont want anybody to build its policy on the basis that the Minsk agreement must be fulfilled by Russia, not Ukraine.

Lavrov said Russia would not negotiate the status of Crimea, which it took from Ukraine and annexed in 2014.
Storm Advisory and Weather Delays

Santa Fe Public Schools and some government offices, including the 1st Judicial Court, are on a

this morning, and

is in effect until noon today.

Real ID Bill Advances

A bill aimed at fixing

is headed to a House vote. Yesterday,

. The issue has people scrambling. A New Mexico couple tells KOAT they had to drive to Denver to

so they can get onto a base in South Carolina to watch their daughter graduate from boot camp.

Immigrant Children Land at New Mexico Base

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has directed Holloman Air Force Base to be the first of three temporary shelters to open in New Mexico, Colorado and Florida. As of Sunday,

from Central America are now staying at Holloman.

Bail Reform

Joey Peters reports that the bill to

to certain offenders has passed its first House committee on party lines. The bail bond industry says some of the key provision in the legislation will drive them out of business

Teen Curfews

Legislation that would

for New Mexico teenagers narrowly cleared the House Regulatory and Public Affairs Committee on Monday. It would allow each city to set its own curfew between the hours of midnight and 5 am and during school hours. The proposed legislation comes after a violent summer involving teenagers in Albuquerque.

Public Defenders Need More Money

The states public defender request for

is facing resistance in the Roundhouse.

Solar Tax Extension

Good news for homeowners and businesses that have installed solar panels. The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee

a bill to extend the states solar energy tax credit for another eight years.

Lawmaker Pay

State Rep. Terry McMillan, R-Las Cruces, is trying to make a case to

an annual salary. Read his view at NMPolitics.net.

Indy Voting

If youre registered as an Independent or decline to state your party affiliation, you may finally get a chance to vote in the NM primary. Lawmakers are considering a proposal to

to every registered voter.

Espinoza Considers Secretary of State Campaign

State Rep.

, R-Roswell, is collecting signatures and considering jumping into the Secretary of States race.

On the Democratic side, the only announced candidate is Bernalillo County Clerk

.

APD Recruiting

The Albuquerque Police Department, which has had difficulty attracting new cadets, attended a job fair put together for

who are being laid off by Sprint in Rio Rancho.

Water Conservation Working

Water usage in Bernalillo County is at an

. The last time that happened, the Albuquerque Bernalillo Water Authority raised rates. So far, theres no plan to hike them this year.

Santa Fe Reporter
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms informed gun manufacturers every time a gun used in a crime was traced to their companies, information that would have made it easy for manufacturers to determine which of their distributors and dealers were supplying the black market, yet manufacturers continued to sell guns to those "bad apple" dealers.



As the trial neared, the city had marketing experts, dealers, and former gun industry officials ready to testify that the gun manufacturers' lack of oversight of their dealers and distributors could only be attributed to a willful blindness that allowed them to profit off the criminal gun market. The city's lawyers were prepared to argue that in Southern states with lax gun laws, manufacturers supplied dealers with more handguns than the legal market could consume, knowing the excess guns would be trafficked north up the I-95 corridor and sold illegally in cities like New York

To Lowy, Sanders' hammer analogy is misleading. "The idea he's getting at is, if all you did is make or sell a product that's used in a crime, you shouldn't be liable," says Lowy, who has litigated cases for the Brady Center for 18 years. "And he's exactly right. But the lawsuits that I was involved in aren't premised on that theory. Our theory is that the gun companies did something wrong: They didn't use reasonable care." Some of the suits focused on manufactures' failure to incorporate safety systems into their weapons. But others, like New York's, argued that gun manufacturers facilitated the illegal gun market through lax oversight of their distributors. These suits were based on the legal principle of negligence, the idea that an individual or company is liable if it fails to exercise reasonable care. In many industries, manufacturers monitor their products from the factory to the distributors to the market. For example, due to the risk of food-borne illness, the food industry has developed its own set of food safety protocols, beyond what federal regulators require, to manage its downstream distributors. But the gun industry engages in remarkably little oversight. So the lawsuits sought to establish through the courts what gun control advocates couldn't accomplish through state legislatures or in Washington: liability for gun manufacturers who don't oversee their supply chain.



"What the gun industry chose to do was, at best, put their heads in the sand and ignore the reality that they were utilizing these bad-apple gun dealers," says Lowy. "They knew that if they acted reasonably and put some reasonable oversight and conditions on the downstream sellers they would end up losing profits from the criminal gun market."

 Again and again, dealers happily sold their guns to the undercover cops. In one Detroit-area sting in which one officer posed as an illegal buyer and another as a straw purchaser, the gun seller gave instructions to the undercover officer acting as the straw buyer: "When the manager comes over to check this, it's your gun. You're not purchasing it for him, it's your gunThis is called a straw purchase. It's highly illegal." The sting was videotaped and later aired on NBC's Dateline. "Lawsuits frame issues often differently than the popular culture does," says Timothy Lytton, a professor at Georgia State University College of Law. "Gun violence up until the 1980s was thought of as a problem of bad applescriminals who were shooting peopleand that it was a crime problem. The tort lawsuits basically reframed this and said, 'No, the real problem here isn't criminals. The real problem is industry practices, andthe real focus needs to be placed on the carelessness of industry distribution practices and the responsibility of the industry to police its own supply chain.'"

[Content Note: Guns.]Six months ago I wrote Looking for Bernie , a four-part series exploring Bernie Sanders record in historical context, analyzing it through the lens of intersectional feminism. With limited resources and time (this was done in between summer teaching gigs), I combed through online archives of every primary source I could lay my hands on. Because I'm a historian, and the historical context of what was happening when, and against what larger backdrop, is important to me. If Bernie was going to (in the words of [CN: video autoplays] his campaigns latest advertisement ) attract voters looking for America, then it seemed fair to look for Bernies history, and investigate from a left-minded perspective, exactly what kind of America hes been working for in Vermont and in Washington.And yesterday I read a fantastic piece in Mother Jones, by Pema Levy, that does just that. The article focuses specifically on the historical context around Sanders vote to insulate gun manufacturers from lawsuits. It outlines something that is almost never brought up today when discussing this vote: the fact that such lawsuits were starting to really make a difference. In fact, a lawsuit was pending at that time from New York City, showing that gun manufacturers were flagrantly ignoring information about the criminal gun marketinformation that could have helped keep guns out of manufacturers hands:But that trial never came. Why? In large part, it was the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which gave sweeping legal immunity to the gun industry.And thats what Bernie Sanders voted for.I really urge you to read the whole article, because it does such an excellent job of explaining the historical context for the law, and how close the Unted States was to a genuine breakthrough on gun issues. Sanders has represented this vote as as one undertaken against frivolous lawsuits, the kind that put mom and pop businesses at risk. He has said that gun manufacturers should be no more at fault than the manufacturers of hammers, which can be used as fatal weapons too.Except that analogy doesnt quite work:This is a really, really important piece of context. The lawsuits of the early 2000s were predicated on tying the problems of gun violence to the problem of gun manufacturers not giving a good goddamn about their supply chain. Sting operations were getting press attention. It was a crucial moment:I encourage you to read the whole article.I dont expect Bernie Sanders to have been a psychic and figure out where his vote might have led. But I do expect an honest discussion of a fair criticisms from the left, especially this one.Ive felt many things about Bernie Sanders and his campaign in the months since I wrote about his history. Sometimes its been positive, and sometimes its been anger . But when reading about how the gun immunity laws took away what was an increasingly successful tool for fighting gun violence, what I feel is sadness. Sadness, and regret for a United States that lost one of his best hopes for reducing its epidemic of gun violence.The music that the Sanders campaign has chosen for its Iowa campaign ad is a truncated version of Simon and Garfunkels America. Its a story of a couple walking, hitchhiking, and finally taking a bus ride to New Jersey from Michigan. It has sweeping chords and a chorus that sounds like optimism, when heard in the proper mindset.But when I hear it, Im thinking about that vote. About what might have been. About the tragedies that might NOT have been. So what I hear is the last verse, a confession of confusion and melancholy that comes in the midst of this journey looking for America:
Westland Milk Products, the dairy co-operative, has cut its payout predictions for its dairy farmers to $4.15 to $4.45 per kilogram of milk solids, down from $4.90 to $5.30/kgMS.

Chairman Matt O'Regan described the new prediction as "grim news" but said it would not be unexpected given the widely publicised state of the global dairy market. He said lower prices were expected to remain for this season and into the second half of 2016.

Westland was founded in 1937 and is the second largest dairy co-operative, a distant second to Fonterra, New Zealand's only corporate of global scale. Its annual report shows it has 430 farming families who supply it with milk and turnover of $639 million.

O'Regan acknowledged the downgrade would be unwelcome.

"It reflects Westland's views on what the market will deliver and we need to signal this to our shareholders so they can plan accordingly." He added that the recent lifting of sanctions against Iran offered some positive news for its farmers, as Westland has butter contracts in that market.

The payout is likely to be difficult for Westland's members. In its annual report published in November 2015, O'Regan noted that the operating surplus for the 2014/15 season was $4.95/kgMS and added: "your Board recognise this is below the break-even point for many farmers".

Last week Talley-controlled Open Country Dairy, NZ's second largest dairy processor, cut its milk payout by 30 cents to an average price of between $4 to $4.30 per kg/MS.

Fonterra is currently standing by its forecast total payout for the 2015/16 season of $4.60/kgMS, a payout it raised in September and affirmed in December. However, it's widely expected to cut the forecast, with a BusinessDesk survey of agricultural economists and dairy market analysts last week showing an expected payout of between $4.10 to $4.60/kgMS. Prices have fallen at both GlobalDairyTrade auctions held since the start of the year.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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The New Zealand government has published a 277-page assessment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade and investment agreement, concluding it is in the national interest, protects Maori rights under the Treaty of Waitangi, and carves out the ability for governments to regulate in key areas, including land and water rights, without fear of being sued by foreign investors.

The release of the National Interest Analysis (NIA), a document required ahead of a parliamentary select committee inquiry into the TPP as part of the ratification process, comes as opponents accuse the government of seeking to incite violent protest by holding an international signing ceremony in Auckland two days ahead of the Feb. 6 national day, Waitangi Day.

Hosting the signing of the TPPA at SkyCity just before Waitangi Day is a calculated move by the government, presumably with the goal of inciting violence and attempting to discredit the huge campaign against the TPPA, said Barry Coates, Green MP and spokesperson for the anti-TPP movement, It's Our Future, in a statement.

A prominent critic of the agreement, Auckland University law professor Jane Kelsey, dismissed the analysis as "a totally predictable cheer-leading exercise that talks up the supposed gains and largely ignores the huge downsides of the TPPA."

The NIA document's release also coincides with the release of a final version of the TPP text and a decision by the Canadian International Trade Minister, Chrystia Freeland, to attend the Feb. 4 signing, scotching speculation that the newly elected Canadian government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau might walk away early from the pact, which was negotiated in the dying days of the country's previous administration.

"For Parliament to fully evaluate the merits of the TPP and for consultations to continue, Canada needs to stay at the table with the other TPP countries," said Freeland. "Not attending would mean withdrawing from the TPP altogether, even before Canadians have had an opportunity to fully debate its implications."

It was "too soon to close the door" on TPP, although "signing does not equal ratifying," she said on the same day as New Zealand Labour Party leader Andrew Little told Radio New Zealand that a Labour-led government would "defy" and "not be bound by" any elements of the agreement that broke Labour's bottom-line conditions. The area of greatest pressure for Labour is the treatment of land sales to foreigners.

While the TPP agreement "carves out" New Zealand's Overseas Investment Office process, which can see "sensitive land" sales blocked, a colleague of Kelsey's, Amokura Kawharu, notes in a critique of the agreement that "the exceptions are narrowly drawn."

"For example, the government can adjust the factors for screening investments into New Zealand under the Overseas Investment Act 2005, but cannot add new categories of investment into the screening regime."

Labour wants to be able to curb residential land and house sales to foreigners and does not regard a clause in the TPP, inserted by New Zealand negotiators and allowing discriminatory tax treatment of residential land sales to foreigners, as sufficient protection.

The NIA argues that the Treaty of Waitangi clauses in the TPP are the same as in other free-trade agreements, so that "nothing in the TPP prevents the Crown from meeting its obligations to Maori, including the Treaty of Waitangi."

TPP also, for the first time in such an agreement, creates processes "which may include taking into account information related to traditional knowledge".

"This is an important step forward for the protection of traditional knowledge," the NIA says.

On the much-criticised investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions, allowing investors to take governments to arbitration, the NIA notes that "agreements relating to matters such as land, water or the delivery of correctional, healthcare or other social services are not covered by investment agreements and are not subject to ISDS" and that ISDS provisions only relate to the investment chapter and not other parts of the TPP text.

TPP also requires that the tribunals hearing ISDS disputes be open to the public, that their decisions be published, and that expert and other witnesses be able to be called to give evidence.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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G3 Group, the NXT-listed mail operations and document manager, held its margins above target in the third quarter of the financial year, while delays from a new bulk mail customer and a December lull left processing volumes below expectations.

The Auckland-based company processed 12.9 million items and reported gross margin of 21.9 percent and an operating margin of 19.8 percent in the three months ended Dec. 31. The NXT-listed firm provides quarterly updates on particular operating measures relevant to its business under the NXT market's disclosure regime, which is less onerous than for the NZX's main board. That took year-to-date gross margin to 23.5 percent, and the operating margin to 21.5 percent, both above G3's annual target of 21.9 percent and 20.1 percent respectively.

The company processed 41.8 million items in the first nine months of the financial year and has previously said it won't reach its annual target, instead expecting 58.5 million units. Its inventory turnover was 18.3 days in the quarter and year-to-date, faster the 22 days targeted for the 2016 year.

"The ongoing focus on margins and stock control saw the company perform well against the planned gross margin and inventory KOMs (key operating metrics) for the quarter," G3 said. "However, the number of items processed was less than expected following a further deferral by a new major low-margin bulk mail business customer, together with a relatively quiet December month."

G3 was the first to join the new NXT market in June last year, listing its 53.8 million shares at 75 cents apiece. The stock recently traded at 83 cents.

The company is made up of New Zealand Mail, Send, Pete's Post and Fastway Post, which provide business mail services, and Universal Mail, a UK-based tourist stamp operation. The company entered document management agreements with brands Filecorp and Eureka in October last year, and is chaired by Rob Campbell.

This week G3 completed the acquisition of Australian records management firm Formfile, and the company today said it's investigating "a number of opportunities to diversify its core operations via the acquisition of complementary businesses."

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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The examining board of the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPF) on December 17, 2105 revealed violation of Ukrainian law by Ernst & Young during drawing up reports on property appraisal.

The fund said that the fund will have to annul the company's certificate if violation of Ukrainian law were revealed later.

The fund informed the company on this in a letter dated January 12, 2016.

Additionally, the examining board established similar violation of Ukrainian law in the operation of HTsNTP-PLUS LLC (Lutsk).

Ernst & Young is one of the largest audit and consulting companies in the world.

Ernst & Young along with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Deloitte and KPMG are Big Four auditors.

HTsNTP-PLUS LLC was registered in 2003.
Ukraine used only 43% of its green house gas emission quota in the amount of 4.6 billion tonnes obtained for the first period of the Kyoto protocol in 2008-2012.

This is outlined in cabinet resolution No. 20 of January 20, 2016 posted on the cabinet's website.

"The Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry is ordered to add information on the removal of Assigned Amount Units (AAU) in the amount of 1.999 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent to the national electronic register of anthropogenic emission and green house gas absorption," the cabinet said.

According to the national electronic register of anthropogenic emission and green house gas absorption, Ukraine obtained the green house gas emission quota of 4.6 billion tonnes for the period of 2008-2012 under the Kyoto protocol, or around 900 million tonnes for each year. However, actual emission reached around 400 tonnes a year, or around 2 billion tonnes over the period. Around 600 million tonnes were sold to Ukrainian enterprises and under bilateral agreements. Around 2 billion tonnes are not used.
The creation of the customs service as a separate executive-branch agency proposed by a group of lawmakers from the coalition would be a mistake and it would worsen the service for taxpayers and result in the losses of the budget, Finance Minister of Ukraine Natalie Jaresko has said.

"The integration [of the customs and tax services] as one agency would allow providing the better assessment of risks for all taxes and duties and synchronously tracking actions of taxpayers it would be able to remove doubled functions, cut the number of staff, make the system clearer, create the single window for paying taxes and duties," the minister said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Jaresko said that before December 2012, the State Customs Service was a separate agency, although it failed to cope with the tasks which the authors of bill No. 3763 on the National Customs Service highlight as a reason for separating the service.

She said that the systemic reform of the fiscal agency agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is being conducted to increase the efficiency of the operation of the customs service as part of the State Fiscal Service and reduce corruption risks as much as possible.

As reported, the draft law on the National Customs Service was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on January 13 by MPs from all four factions of the coalition, as well as head of the Radical Party faction Oleh Liashko, and the member of the faction, the head of the committee on industrial policy and entrepreneurship, Viktor Halasiuk.

Viktor Yanukovych in December 2012 created the Income and Tax Ministry on the basis of the State Tax Service and the State Customs Service. Head of the State Tax Service Oleksandr Klymenko was appointed Income and Tax Minister.

After the revolution of dignity the new government at the beginning of March 2014 made the decision to liquidate the Income and Tax Ministry and set up the State Fiscal Service on its base, subordinate to the Ministry of Finance.
BANGALORE: The trend of using mobile search engines has apparently paved way into the world of smartphones. With better functionalities, search engines play a vital role in providing desired content for the users. It is essential to opt for the best search engine to get a better outlook of the contents on internet and also find relevant results. Getting access into the ocean of mobile contents on web has become easier since the origin of smartphones. Users now have the facility of comparing and choosing the foremost search engines based on their efficiency and reliability factors.

But, apart from the most opted search engines, we have compiled a list of less popular engines with almost similar set of functions.

Wolfram Alpha (iPhone / Android)



Unlike other search engines, Wolfram Alpha delivers a vivid range of factual answers for questions. Various categories of the engine include Engineering, mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Life sciences, Transportation and many more. Answers to the queries are obtained from a huge pile of contents in the displayed categories.

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NEW DELHI: A soldier of the army's elite special forces who made the supreme sacrifice in Jammu and Kashmir will be the sole recipient of the Ashok Chakra award during this year's Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

Late Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of the Northern Command's elite special forces will be awarded the Ashok Chakra for attaining martyrdom in Jammu and Kashmir while fighting terrorists, Northern Command's spokesman Colonel S.D. Goswami told IANS here on Monday.

The intrepid commando killed two terrorists before he laid down his life during exchange of heavy gunfire with terrorists in Hafruda forests in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. He had killed 10 guerrillas in 11 days before attaining martyrdom.

"The martyrdom and indeed the selfless gallantry of late Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami received a deserving recognition from a proud nation when he was conferred the Ashok Chakra, the country's highest peacetime gallantry award, on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day," the spokesman said.

He said that late Lance Naik Goswami - the intrepid and indefatigable commando - was a natural choice of his commanders for any challenging mission and he was ever too willing to oblige.

On September 2, 2015, Lance Naik Goswami was engaged in a fierce encounter with terrorists hiding in the Hafruda forests. As the encounter raged, two of Lance Naik Goswami's comrades were wounded.

Undeterred by the intense volley of fire, he rushed to rescue them and in the act - despite getting grievously wounded himself - he not only eliminated two terrorists but also saved the lives of his comrades.

"Lance Naik Goswami succumbed to his injuries in the highest traditions of the Indian Army," the spokesman said.

The martyred commando hailed from Indira Nagar village in Haldwani tehsil of Nainital district (Uttarakhand) and is survived by his wife and a seven-year-old daughter.

Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry ward, is the peace-time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra awarded for acts of bravery on the battle front. It is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy.

The decoration may be awarded either to military or civilian personnel and may be awarded posthumously.

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expects that the Verkhovna Rada will pass the amendments to the Constitution relating to the judicial reform by this summer, president's envoy to parliament Stepan Kubiv has said.

"Ukraine's president expects the Verkhovna Rada to adopt the amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine concerning the justice system by this summer. To achieve this, we need to work in a coalition openly, publicly and to hold coordinated and efficient activities," Kubiv said at the meeting of the conciliatory council of leaders of factions and committees and groups of the parliament in Kyiv on Monday.
The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine hosted on January 20 a meeting on the further cooperation between Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of the Verkhovna Rada's statement dated February 25, 2014 on the recognition of Ukraine's jurisdiction over the ICC concerning the crimes committed from November 2013 until February 2014.

"The parties discussed the report of the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC on the progress made in 2015 in the analysis of whether the events on Maidan can qualify as crimes against humanity. In addition, they announced specific issues that require joint efforts of the Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine and the public," the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office reported.

The meeting participants spoke about the need to collect and submit to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC more information which will remove any doubts about the scope and systematic nature of the events on Maidan during the Revolution of Dignity 2013-2014.

To this end, they decided to establish a contact group with the participation of representatives of the parties, which will gather all sorts of information to show that the policy of attacks on civilians was conducted in Ukraine; and will then submit these materials to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC, the press service said.
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Ukrainian Defense Minister, Army General Stepan Poltorak during his working visit to Poland took part in the opening ceremony of the headquarters of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian multinational brigade (LitPolUkrBrig), the press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported.

"The establishment of a joint military formation indicates a high level of mutual trust and cooperation between our countries. LitPolUkrBrig will be an important factor in the regional security at the military level. At the moment, the matter of building the defense capabilities is a priority for our country. The level of security of Ukraine depends on the effective solution of this issue," Poltorak said during a meeting with Minister of National Defense of Poland Antoni Macierewicz and Minister of National Defense of Lithuania Juozas Olekas on Monday.

During the joint briefing of defense ministers of the three countries, Poltorak thanked the people and the defense agencies of Poland and Lithuania for their support at this difficult time for Ukraine.

"The participation of Ukrainian troops in the activities of the brigade headquarters provides an important opportunity to bring the training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to NATO standards. We consider their participation in the activities of LitPolUkrBrig as the driving force of the implementation of best practices in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We have set ambitious goals for the successful reform of the agency and already we see that the guys who previously trained under NATO standards, are more confidence and effective in combat, the number of losses among them is less," Poltorak said when speaking with the media.

He also stressed that the joint exercises are useful not only for the Ukrainian military. "Many Ukrainian guys who are here now, already have combat experience and share them with their European counterparts. It is also important," the minister said.
"They throw all this stuff at me, and I'm still standing," Clinton said. When asked later if she was slow to apologize for controversial use of private email and a personal Internet server while serving as secretary of state, Clinton said, "I think that's a fair criticism."
The Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the OSCE and representatives of Donetsk Regional State Administration have discussed the reform and development of the region.

Representatives of the OSCE SMM discussed with First Deputy Head of Donetsk Regional State Administration Yevhen Vylynsky and Acting Deputy Head of Donetsk Regional State Administration Viktor Andrusiv the matters relating to the administrative reform, the reform of the police in the region conducted in October last year, the elections to local government agencies and anti-corruption activities, the press service of Donetsk Regional State Administration reported.

"Yevhen Vylynsky stressed that the assistance of international donor organizations is very important for Donetsk region, while Donetsk Regional State Administration is solving all the problems one at a time," the statement reads.

During the meeting with the OSCE SMM representatives, Vylynsky stressed the need "to introduce procedures that make corruption impossible."

"We have switched all the public procurements, which are lower than the established limit, to the ProZorro electronic system and are working to create the centers of administrative services. Also, we have created a headquarters to combat corruption, which examines the prurchases and services provided the framework of procurements. Thus, we are ahead of the government's decision," Vylynsky said.
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A man suffered sickening injuries after being attacked by a gang of at least four men in the early hours of Australia Day.

Jackson Crinis, 24, was walking alone on the Princes Highway at Corrimal, a northern suburb of Wollongong, about 4am when he encountered a group of about four men.

Brutal attack: Jackson Crinis.

He suffered a dislocated shoulder, a broken nose, a broken septum and severe bruising to his face in the attack that followed.

Mr Crinis' girlfriend, Ashlyn Uren, was asleep when she received his alarming telephone call for help.
The father of a boy admitted to Sutherland Hospital after an outbreak of food poisoning linked to a bakery in Sydney's south said victims and their families were "very angry".

NSW Health said 40 people had presented at St George and Sutherland hospitals since Saturday with symptoms of food poisoning, while 13 of those people were admitted to hospital for treatment.

But Engadine building contractor Damian Sullivan disputed these figures, saying hospital staff had told him the number of people struck down was close to 100, rather than 40.

Mr Sullivan said his son Cooper, 11, ate a chicken and salad roll from Box Village Bakery and Cafe in Sylvania for lunch on Sunday.
London: Former president of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed, let out of jail last week to seek medical care in Britain, held a meeting with his lawyer Amal Clooney and British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday to call for sanctions against Maldivian government figures.

At the same time, another of his lawyers warned a militant attack on tourists in the Maldives was highly likely.

Lawyer Amal Clooney and former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed attend a press conference in London on Monday, in his first public comments since leaving jail in the Maldives. Credit:Getty Images

Nasheed, the Maldives' first democratically elected president, was jailed for 13 years on terrorism charges last March after a rapid trial that drew international condemnation. He was granted permission to leave the Indian Ocean island for 30 days to travel to London for treatment for his back.
Australia Day may be a time for reflection and relaxation, but everyone has their own distinct routines.

For some, it's time to spread the picnic blanket on the grassy banks of the lake with many families reserving an early vantage point to view the evening's fireworks.

Adrian Brown, a Ngunnawal Country Ranger in the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, helps Paige von Berger, of Ainslie, with the floor mural at the National Museum's Australia Day festival. Credit:Jamila Toderas

Parents looked nervously at the sky fearing a repeat of the hail storm that battered Canberra on Monday night with nearly 600 calls for help received by emergency services.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine should submit to the Constitutional Court an updated bill on amendments to the fundamental law regarding the judicial reform by the end of the current session, leader of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc parliamentary faction Yuriy Lutsenko has said.

"We believe and so the People's Front think that we need to send again to the Constitutional Court by 226 votes the drafted text that will involve changes - the right of parliament to pass the vote of no confidence in the prosecutor general; and to obtain a conclusion of the Constitutional Court during this session. I emphasize: this session," he told reporters in the foyer of the parliament on Tuesday.

According to the politician, the Petro Poroshenko Block faction and the People's Front faction on Monday held consultations, where the People's Front has expressed its readiness to support the bill on amendments to the fundamental law concerning the judicial reform.

Lutsenko said that they need to obtain a conclusion of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine with regard to these changes, after which the Verkhovna Rada should preliminary approve the bill by 226 votes during the current session, so that at the next session the amendments could be finally passed by a constitutional majority of 300 votes.

According to the schedule, the last plenary week of the current session will be held on January 25-29, 2016, and the closing of the third session of the Verkhovna Rada of the 8th convocation will be held on February 2. On the same day, the opening of the 4th session is schedules.

As reported, on November 25, 2015, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko submitted to the Verkhovna Rada the bill on the amendments into the Constitution concerning the justice system (No. 3524).

On December 22, the parliament sent the bill to the Constitutional Court to decide on its compliance to Articles 157 and 158 of the fundamental law.
The promotion is to launch app Go2 Rewards in Canberra, which rewards users with fuel discounts for shopping at partner businesses

Metro Petroleum in Barrier Street will host the Canberra launch of app Go2 Rewards on Wednesday and will discount $1 per litre between 12pm and 2pm. The station has been selling petrol for close to 109 per litre this week.

The ACT government will lower speed limits and close roads on Wednesday afternoon when a petrol station plans to sells fuel for as little as 9 a litre.

The service station already has some of the lowest fuel prices in Canberra, with fairly consistent lines of cars waiting to fill up.

The government is concerned the promotion may result in heavy traffic conditions similar to those seen when Costco opened its discount petrol station in Majura Park last year.

"The temporary arrangements will mean traffic travelling to Metro Petroleum will need to access Barrier Street from the Newcastle Street entrance and exit via Ipswich Street," a spokesman said. "A reduced speed limit of 40km/h will also be in place."

The government also warned of possible changes to public transport with buses subject to diversions, depending on the traffic.

"Barriers as well as warning and diversion signs will be erected to alert people to the closure," the spokesman said. "Traffic marshals will also be on site to direct traffic."
Neither of us could quite see how all this was appropriate. It is an occasion that needs, instead, something more theatrical, something more concert-like, more joyous. There should be less marching and instead some dance. It should be an event a Chief of the Defence Force gambols along to but as just a citizen, in civvies, to join in dancing the tango.

But from when Nathaniel trilled Paradise so feelingly most of that military stuff was put aside. Then the gentle, cordial business of welcoming 27 new Australians into the national fold got underway

The statuesque broadcaster Stephanie Brantz and the manly Ben Roberts-Smith, VC, (unless it was Hugh Jackman playing him) presided.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's speech, also at odds with all that militariness, was a kind of apt masterpiece of its genre. One theme was, sweetly, that the people there about to become Australians (and all the others taking that day's citizenship plunge) were honouring us by choosing to share our nation with us.

"Now today thousands of our friends and neighbours will honour us by becoming Australian citizens. They are volunteers. They have chosen to become Australian citizens. They are volunteers. They have chosen to become Australians. Most of us arrived here into the world [into Australia] screaming and squalling, conscripted into Australian citizenship. So we honour you, the volunteers at 400 ceremonies across the country, 16,000 new Australians, joining our 24 million-strong family."
Acting on urgently needed reforms should be the main focus of the life insurance industry this year if the clean-up of the beleaguered sector is to succeed, ClearView Wealth has said.

Simon Swanson, chief executive of the $570 million ClearView, is adamant 2016 should be the year the industry "finally gets its act together", to start embracing regulatory reform and improve its profitability.

Simon Swanson, CEO of Clearview, says it's time the life insurance industry got out of the mediocrity mindset and did right by consumers. Credit:Natalie Boog

"This should have been done 25 years ago," he said, referring to changes such axing conflicted adviser remuneration, banning volume-based payments and widening advisers' products lists so consumers can have more choice.

"This year must finally be the time for sensible management of the life insurance reforms  can we please get out of the whole mediocrity mindset and into doing it properly by consumers?"
If all goes as expected, NAB shareholders will directly own soon a piece of its British business, Clydesdale Bank. Most in the market view this demerger, which be voted on by shareholders on Wednesday, as good news for NAB. It will finally offload an asset that has been a persistent drag on profit.

But what should investors make of the stock in Clydesdale they might own soon? Here are some of the key questions the spin-off raises for investors:

NAB shareholders vote on the Clydesdale Bank demerger on Wednesday. Credit:Nic Walker

1. How does the transaction work?

NAB is planning to spin off 75 per cent of Clydesdale to its shareholders and sell the remaining 25 per cent to institutional investors in an initial public offering.
As more mobile phones are loaded up with credit card numbers to allow transactions with Apple or Samsung Pay, the devices will become obvious targets for hackers, says former big bank security expert Simon Hewitt.

Yet physical debit and credit cards are also insecure, the former chief security officer of Westpac Banking Corp and global head of information security at ANZ Banking Group says; rates of fraud are rising as payments shift online and "tap and go" use proliferates.

The PIN number is entered onto the back of a card which generates a new PIN for each transaction. Credit:Daniel Munoz

In response to growing security threats  and sensing a market opportunity to create an entirely new category of desirable consumer product  Mr Hewitt has re-engineered a payment card, which he will launch in the United Kingdom in May and Australia in July.

His "Scramcard" requires the user's PIN to be entered into a keypad on the back of the card itself. The card, which maintains the same dimensions and weight of existing cards, then generates a specific PIN (or CCV number for internet transactions) on its nine-digit electronic display.
Guvera's plans to list on the stock market have fascinated CBD for years, and years, and years.

So your columnist was overjoyed to hear of the latest efforts to get the music streaming service on to a bourse by June.

Alice Cooper helped launch Guvera. Credit:Paul Rovere

CBD assumed this meant the company must have stopped streaming losses. Boy, were we wrong.

Guvera made a loss of $81 million last financial year, on revenue which totalled a massive $1.2 million.
British retailer Kingfisher has wasted little time responding to Bunnings' incursion into the 38 billion ($78 billion) home-improvement market, outlining plans to boost sales and earnings by unifying its product range and investing cost savings into lower prices.

One week after Wesfarmers confirmed that Bunnings would pay $704 million for Britain's second-largest home-improvement retailer Homebase, Kingfisher, which owns market leader B&Q and trade chain Screwfix, unveiled an ambitious five-year turnaround plan aimed at boosting annual profit by 500 million a year.

Wesfarmers is taking on Kingfisher, the world's third-largest home-improvement retailer, by buying the Homebase chain in Britain. Credit:Rob Homer

Chief executive Veronique Laury is aiming to leverage Kingfisher's scale by creating a single unified company, "where . . . customer needs always come first".

Kingfisher plans to cut the number of suppliers and simplify its product range, reducing stock-keeping units (SKUs) by 76 per cent across the group and by 7 per cent at B&Q. Its cost of goods sold is forecast to fall about 5 per cent and savings will be reinvested into prices to boost sales.
In the fall of 2008, with General Motors and Chrysler on the precipice of bankruptcy, executives at the car parts supplier Johnson Controls flew to Washington.

The company's president testified before a Senate panel and implored the lawmakers to bail out the auto industry.

Illustration: Rocco Fazzari. Credit:Rocco Fazzari

"Speaking for our company, and I am sure for all auto parts suppliers, we respectfully urge the members of this committee, and the Congress as a whole, to provide the financial support the automakers need at this critical time," Keith Wandell, then the president of Johnson Controls, said, warning that the failure of even one automobile company would "implode" the supply chain and lead to broad job losses.

Congress approved a bailout plan worth almost $80 billion for General Motors and Chrysler, saving the automakers and suppliers like Johnson Controls.
More car woes for Apple, as a report indicates the company's powerful design chief Jony Ive is displeased with the progress being made by employees of so-called Project Titan.

In a post-holiday assessment of Apple's much-rumored but never confirmed automotive venture, Ive allegedly expressed disappointment at the headway made by the 1,000-strong team dedicated to developing a car, according to a report Monday by AppleInsider. The anonymously sourced report also indicates that the stalled project has resulted in a hiring freeze.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook (left) and Jony Ive at the launch of the iPhone 5 in 2012. Credit:Getty Images

For the past year, Apple has been poaching top auto engineering talent from the likes of Tesla and other automakers, according to reports.

On Friday, The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sources in an article that noted the imminent departure for unspecified reasons of longtime Apple engineer Steve Zadesky, who had been put in charge of Project Titan.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko believes that the bill on the constitutional reform in the part of justice could envisage that the Verkhovna Rada should keep the right of vote of no confidence in the prosecutor general and the right to dismiss him or her, leader of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc parliamentary faction Yuriy Lutsenko has said.

"Following all the consultations, the president of Ukraine considers it possible to revoke the cancellation of the right of the parliament to pass the vote of no confidence in the prosecutor general. This means that the parliament will retain this right," he told reporters in the foyer of the parliament on Tuesday.
Economists like to portray themselves as dispensers of eternal truths. In practice, not only the answers change over time  so too do the questions.

Unfortunately, rather like the generals who have a habit of being constantly ready to fight the last war, economists have a habit of being concerned with yesterday's issues. Meanwhile, politicians, being, as John Maynard Keynes observed  "the slaves of some defunct economist or other"  are usually even further behind. This applies, par excellence, to the EU.

The Treaty of Rome  the foundation document of the European Union, signed in 1957  laid down three freedoms of movement: of goods, capital and labour. For many economists at the time (and for some still), this made perfect economic sense. Economies are more productive when resources are allocated efficiently. And they are more likely to be allocated efficiently if they are free to move between competing places and types of employment.

At the time of the treaty, and for a long period afterward, the freedom that seemed most important to both economists and their political masters was the freedom of movement for goods. It is easy to understand why. The Great Depression of the 1930s had been characterised by the widespread imposition of trade barriers, including tariffs, which caused international trade to contract. This was one of the main forces behind the collapse of output.

But the world has changed. The manufacture and trading of goods has become a smaller part of our GDP, while tariff barriers have come down dramatically around the world. The free movement of labour is now the most important of the three freedoms  and it poses serious issues for the EU. It has become so important because of two major factors: first, the huge expansion of the EU to the east, including countries with much lower standards of living, whose people, therefore, have a strong economic incentive to move; second, the mass of people outside the union who want to get in.
Changes to local government boundaries proposed by the state government are an all-too-rare demonstration of good policy amid a sea of political incrementalism. It stands in contrast to the timidity of the Carr government which baulked at reform a decade ago for fear of a union backlash.

The council amalgamations announced by Premier Mike Baird and Local Government Minister Paul Toole at Christmas were a good start but they will only deliver long term impact if they are followed by a wider reform process.

Stop corruption: Let's start by banning donations  and candidates  from the property and hotel sectors. Credit:Glen McCurtayne

It was a tough decision to reduce the number of Sydney councils by half, despite fears of community backlash and amid self-serving legal threats from those who were, and still are, supporting the insular status quo. Many of us called for an even more ambitious outcome (say 12 councils instead of the new 25) and the muted response from the electorate to the amalgamations suggest that the government could have gone further.

Despite IPART's cumbersome "Fit for the Future" scheme, a reasonable consolidation resulted. These mergers should help attract better staff and councillors, streamline bureaucracy, improve design standards and reduce rates and larger councils will be better able to fund regional transport, arts facilities, parks and sporting infrastructure for their communities.
And the problems with that state were agonisingly and painfully clear with the disgraceful farce that was the death of Englishman David Bulmer-Rizzi, who was holidaying with his husband in Adelaide when he died in a tragic accident. Initially Marco Bulmer-Rizzi was told that not only was his husband "never married" under Australian law, as far as his death certificate went, but also that he therefore had no rights to make funeral arrangements or transport his husband's body back to the UK for burial since he wasn't a family member. SA Premier Jay Weatherill intervened, calling Bulmer-Rizzi to apologise personally, but even so: this is the sort of embarrassing, insulting situation that is going to keep happening if we continue to refuse to recognise same-sex marriages in this country. And before you say "oh, but only when things go unusually wrong", yes: since that's literally the only time when laws ever come into play. This is the reason why the whole "I don't need a piece of paper to solemnise my lurve" argument doesn't work: no-one needs the law messing with their relationship, until something goes wrong. It's similar to how no-one ever contacts the Fair Work Commission to let them know that their boss is awesome, or rings up the police each day to enthuse about how they've not been murdered.

If ranting to scared American bigots is the best gig he can get, he'd be mad to quit the day job. Up, up and away Another lingering embarras sorry, "heritage MP" is Bronwyn Bishop, whose decades-long policy of charging the taxpayer for trips to weddings and Liberal party functions came unstuck when she decided she'd take a helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong for a mere $5k, rather than endure that nightmare hour-long drive along a major highway. While she has continued to bravely insist that she did nothing wrong, she was forced to step down as Speaker of the House and most pundits felt that she'd probably be too embarrassed to stand for preselection again. However, reports that Bishop had developed a sense of human shame proved premature, as she declared she would indeed be standing in Mackellar in order to - and this is genuine - "fight terrorism". Which, as we all know, is rampant in the well-heeled northern beaches of Sydney.
Apple's 'find my iPhone' feature allows users to track the location of a lost mobile device. "The majority of incidents happen later at night, after dinner," Lee told the BBC, noting that neither she nor Saba have an idea why the problem persists. On several occasions, Fusion reports, the problem has led to serious misunderstandings, such as an incident in which the couple briefly became suspects in a missing persons case: People living in rural and remote areas are often forced to buy Telstra's mobile services because no other companies have built networks in their region. Credit:Robert Rough In June, the police came looking for a teenage girl whose parents reported her missing. The police made Lee and Saba sit outside for more than an hour while the police decided whether they should get a warrant to search the house for the girl's phone, and presumably, the girl. When Saba asked if he could go back inside to use the bathroom, the police wouldn't let him.

On a separate occasion, Lee told the BBC, three "frantic" young men showed up outside their door looking for someone. "The minute Michael opened the door they were, 'like where is he?'" she said. So why is it happening? So far, nobody is entirely sure; but several theories have been floated by experts. To grasp the problem, it helps to rewind history to the mid-1990s, when mobile phone companies were forced to create a way to locate mobile devices so that their coordinates could be sent to police dispatchers. At the time  as the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in 2013  a growing number of calls to police were occurring via mobile phone and authorities needed a way to accurately locate the callers. Nearly two decades later, a recent USA Today investigation revealed, the number of calls to dispatchers from mobile phones has increased to 70 per cent; but in many cities around the country, the technology has not always kept pace.

The ubiquity of the technology may leave the impression that location tracking is always reliable, experts say. Alan Woodward, a cybersecurity expert from Surrey University, told the BBC that trackers rely on GPS, which isn't available in many locations. Without GPS, he noted, phone trackers rely on a less accurate process of determining location known as "triangulation". "All triangulation does is draw a line equidistant between three cell towers and if your house is on that line you'll get visits," Woodward said. "I don't have enough data to know exactly what's going on but I wouldn't be at all surprised [if it was a triangulation error]."

In instances where triangulation doesn't work, a tracker will attempt to use the "the last known Wi-Fi signal the device found," according to the BBC. Ian Williams, a security consultant from Pentest Partners, told the BBC that the problem may arise during this crucial step in the location process. He noted that a moved or stolen Wi-Fi router may still be "registered as being in the vicinity" of the home. "I have actually seen a person's location data hop around a map where a router has been relocated due to a house move and before the databases of the router's location have had the chance to be updated," he said. A similar problem plagued a 59-year-old man named Wayne Dobson, who started receiving unwanted visitors looking for their missing phones at his Las Vegas home in 2011, according to the Review-Journal. "I'm standing there and I'm thinking, 'What are they talking about?'" he told the paper.

"They might as well have said, 'Give me my horse back'." The people pestering Dobson were all customers of US telco Sprint, the paper reported. By 2013, they were still showing up at all hours of the day. Dobson was also searched by police on one occasion and narrowly avoided several other conflicts with strangers. Eventually, he told the Review-Journal, he began to fear for his safety and his domestic life began to deteriorate. "It's very difficult to say, 'I don't have your phone,' in any other way other than, 'I don't have your phone,'" Dobson told the paper.

"It's a hell of a problem," he added. "It would be nice to be able to get a good night's sleep." Sprint eventually located the problem and apologised to Dobson, according to The Verge. Despite similar circumstances, Saba and Lee have not been so lucky. They told Fusion that their home is near three mobile phone towers, the closest of which is belongs to T-Mobile. Efforts to reach out to the company  as well as Google and Apple seeking help  yielded no assistance, Fusion reported. The publication even reached out to the Federal Communications Commission "the agency in charge of regulating wireless devices," according to Fusion  but were told the issue didn't fall under their control. The couple plans to file a complaint with the FCC and their senator.
Beth Yahp went walkabout, reappearing occasionally in short fiction, journalism, editing, broadcasting, and opera libretto; teaching, travelling in south-east Asia and living in Europe. Now, surely too young to write a memoir, she's back with a full-length book, yet still excavating the generation gap. Sharpened by her travels, her wit perforates the hot air balloons of history and politics in Australia and Malaysia.

Beth Yahp's new book, Eat First, Talk Later.

Promoted as a foodie, travel, family book, this is a cut above them. Yahp's mother Mara, born in Thailand and married in Malaysia, is a great family cook who scorns recipes, uses not a wok but her idiosyncratic, inherited kuali, and scours markets to create splendid meals from whatever is available. From Yahp's Hakka father's side comes yong tau foo, which involves tofu, minced pork, fish and herbs braised in a yellow bean stew, and may include bitter melon and various mushrooms, gourd, eggplant and chillies, plus fish paste. "But can be delicious, meh," Yahp's friend Lily says. This is only one of many meals Yahp lovingly describes.

Family histories fascinate if they are about people you know or would like to, and whose voices you can hear, as with Yahp's. She has an adoptive Siamese grandmother, whose part-English children are sent to Kuala Lumpur, where she joins them, bringing Yahp's mother, Mara, too. Just after the Pacific War, Mara meets Peter in the brief "Malayan Spring" when being Chinese or Eurasian didn't matter. However, their part-Chinese children cannot get scholarships in Malaysia. They and their descendants are perpetually classed as immigrants under a "social contract" whose terms are, if you're not grateful, leave. (How recently have we heard that in Australia?)

Peter and Mara pay for their daughters' education by selling the herbicides and pesticides which the British use against communist insurgents in the Emergency, and which develop into Agent Orange in Vietnam. Six decades later, Yahp's parents are tired of moving, fleeing really, from wars in which being Chinese or non-Malay put them always on the wrong side. Two of their three daughters live in Hawaii, so they end up there, identifying with Fox News' outrage at the world, relieved to find that they are at last among "the ranks of the outraged, rather than among those who provoke it".

Yahp traces this back to the British who divided and ruled Malaya on racial lines, then unified it under the sultans, which contributed to the race riots of 1969. After a delightful account of the origins of the Malaysian national anthem, she details the rise of Mahathir Mohamad, who argued that the Malays were not "backward", but their tolerance and distaste for confrontation led to their subjugation by "the other races with the collusion of the British". After he regained political power, affirmative action for Malays was established, and the Constitution was amended to make it illegal to question their special rights, the national language, citizenship, and the status of the nine sultans. Sex became an added political weapon in 1998, when Mahathir set about destroying his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, a process which continues, alongside the unsolved death of a Mongolian woman who was said to have been the mistress of the present Prime Minister, Najib Razak.
Derek Zoolander's famous "Blue Steel" look is the pout of choice across social media, despite many of those employing it being too young to know their selfie face's spiritual ancestor.

Ben Stiller's "really, really good-looking" male model from the 2001 cult classic Zoolander is in many ways the selfie pioneer before selfies, or camera phones even, were commonplace.

"I had to educate the younger generation where it comes from, their roots," he says, laughing. "They don't even know."

The actor, writer and director was in Sydney on Tuesday ahead of a fan event screening of the hotly anticipated Zoolander 2, one of the first public airings of the film in the world.
"I don't want to throw scalding hot water over myself  I've shot off at the mouth in the past and no right to do that."

Perhaps unaccustomed to big government gongs, Filippina Lydia "Tina" Arena makes it clear to Fairfax over the phone she wants to be a good sport more than a party pooper as she discusses her Order of Australia (AM) "for services to the music industry  and as a supporter of charitable causes".

Whether it's the air in Beirut, where she was touring last week, or the national honour given to her, Tina Arena, that precocious child star who grew up to be the multilingual, feisty mother hen of Australian pop, is in an unusually blissful state.

Also, Arena isn't offended that her home country took six years longer to bestow a major national honour on her than France did. In 2009, French President Nicolas Sarkozy presented her with the Knighthood of the Order of National Merit. "I believe that everything comes when it's supposed to and only if it's supposed to."

So what does Australia Day mean to Arena? "It's a celebration of an exquisite melting pot. That is what is beautiful about Australia, and it makes me proud.

"I hope it continues to flourish gracefully and that we believe in ourselves  We have a beautiful nonchalance which I love."

She has one wish for her nation on Australia Day: "That we can learn from everything going on in the world and lead by example in thinking outside the box [and] not being scared of the future."

If it sounds like an allusion to hot button issues like refugees or climate change, hold that thought. Technology is what bugs Arena most. She believes the technology we use each day is too complicated and wastes time. "Social media is not a positive distraction, quite the opposite."
"It goes against what I believe in. This is a substantial issue and, in the annals of public policy, you want to be on the record about your views." Not backing off super reforms: former cabinet minister Eric Abetz. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Senator Bernardi said he still expected Parliament would "respect the views of the Australian people" because not all parliamentarians were as passionate about the issue as he and they would be guided by the plebiscite result. Senator Abetz, a leading opponent of same-sex marriage, earlier said he would reserve his judgment following the plebiscite result. "I would need to determine whether [the plebiscite] really is an accurate reflection [of the national view], whether it is all above board or whether the question is stacked, whether all sides received public funding," he told the Guardian Australia.

"But everyone knows my view is very strongly that a marriage between a man and a woman is the foundational institution for socialising the next generation. And every member of Parliament will make up his or her mind after the plebiscite is held. People will take into account the views of the electorate, the views of the nation and their own personal views. It makes you wonder why we would spend millions of dollars on a plebiscite if you're not going to respect the result. "It would be up to each member to decide whether the plebiscite accurately reflects the views of the Australian people, whether it reflects the views of their electorates and whether it is good or bad public policy in their view. "There will be people in the Parliament who could not support the outcome of a plebiscite whichever way it went." Mr Entsch, who introduced a private member's bill to legalise same-sex marriage last year, said a plebiscite would be a complex and expensive process and that politicians should respect the Australian people's verdict.

When asked about Senator Abetz's comments, Mr Entsch told Fairfax Media, "Given he was part of the decision-making process [on a plebiscite], I find it rather extraordinary. "It makes you wonder why we would spend millions of dollars on a plebiscite if you're not going to respect the result. I find it rather bizarre. "If people make a decision either way we should respect that. "It will be a very brave individual - either in the House of Representatives or the Senate - who seeks to challenge the views of the Australian people." Senator Abetz's comments come as Mr Abbott prepares to address US anti-gay marriage group, the Alliance Defending Freedom, in New York.

Mr Turnbull has defended his right to speak at the event, saying there were "fellow members of the Coalition who have different views, and they are ... entitled to express them". Mr Entsch has been working on the wording for a plebiscite question with Attorney-General George Brandis to be presented to the Coalition party room early this year. Coalition frontbencher Steve Ciobo said it would be "passing strange" for politicians to defy the will of the Australian people. "I think any politician, any member of Parliament, would have to think twice about snubbing their nose at the views of Australians," he told Sky News on Wednesday. Another conservative Liberal MP said he would expect many Coalition MPs, including himself, who oppose same-sex marriage to abstain from a vote if a plebiscite proved successful. This would respect the public's verdict while not forcing MPs to vote against their conscience, he said.

The MP, who asked not to be named, said he was concerned about the process leading up to a plebiscite. "I hope this isn't just something being cooked up by Warren Entsch and George Brandis," he said. "There needs to be broad consultation." Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said: "Eric Abetz has let the cat out of the bag, admitting the Liberals are not planning to take any notice of the expressed will of the Australian people. This absurd notion makes a complete joke of our democratic process and renders a $160 million national plebiscite totally pointless." Other opponents of same-sex marriage have previously vowed to vote according to the plebiscite. "Certainly I, as somebody who has advocated for all Australians to have a say, clearly I'll be bound by what all Australians have to say," Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said last year.
When Tony Abbott made Prince Philip a knight last Australia Day, one of the most savage responses came from his own frontbench.

Junior minister Michael McCormack told reporters the captain's call had exposed the government to "ridicule" and urged the prime minister to pay less attention to the "texting, latte-sipping, keyboard warriors who frequent the tapas bars of Sydney and Melbourne". Instead, McCormack said Abbott should visit his local pub, the Royal Hotel in Grong Grong, to get in touch with public sentiment.

Abbott was soon on the phone telling the Nationals MP to rein in his criticism.
You could be forgiven for waking up on Tuesday and thinking it was not Australia Day, but April Fools' instead.

Look at the headlines and you'll see that we have a new Australian of the Year who has pledged to make their stint all about diversity.

In a speech on Monday night, the winner talked about how some Australians are being held back because of their gender, religion, race, disability and sexuality. And of the need to continue the powerful work done by Rosie Batty to combat domestic violence.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said that just Russian authorities are completely responsible for life and health of Ukrainian parliamentarian and pilot Nadia Savchenko.

"Russian Federation continues ignoring Nadia Savchenko's immunity as a delegate of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and thus, frankly speaking, breaches the commitments undertaken, confirming political not a legal character of the trials [carried] against MP Savchenko. The separate attention should be drawn to a considerable worsening of Nadia's state of health, which was caused by her forceful hunger as a protest against despotism of so-called Russian justice, as well as absence of a qualified medical aid and unsatisfactory conditions of her detention. Under such conditions Russia and only Russia bears responsibility for Savchenko's life and health," reads a ministry's comment posted in Ukrainian by the press service on Tuesday.

The diplomatic establishment once again expressed "a resolute protest regarding a continuous cynical judicial harsh treatment of Ukrainian citizen in Russia."

"A special indignation aroused by a constant demonstrative neglecting of the elementary procedural norms. The Nadia's rights are systemically violated: the court refuses to look into the official documents received by the lawyers from Ukraine, refuses to listen to the witnesses mentioned by the defenders, turns down an appeal to add the materials of the defenders to the criminal case: protocols of the questioning of the witnesses, investigation materials over the fact of kidnapping of the Ukrainian citizen, examinations of the video materials, which contain fair evidence of her innocence," reads the document.

The ministry demanded from Russian Federation "to stop tortures over Savchenko and other illegally detained citizens of Ukraine  political prisoners of Russia, and to immediately release them and ensure their returning to Ukraine."

Savchenko since July 2014 has been keeping into Russian custody under charges with involvement in the killing of Russian journalists in the east of Ukraine.
The late John Wolfe St Albans, of Adelaide, started his amazing collection, which is more like a private museum, in the 1970s. He was working as an opal miner at Andamooka, in the South Australian outback, at the time.

St Albans was also an inventor and one of his ideas, relating to building construction, made him a lot of money. With financial success he organised buying trips to China at a time when Asian antiquities were cheap by today's standards. Part of his Chinese collection was later donated to the Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo, Victoria.

A large Cloisonne Heavenly Lion, or Fu Dog, from the Qing Dynasty in China. Estimated auction price $30,000-50,000.

He also donated an extremely rare, eight-metre long, opalised plesiosaur dinosaur to the South Australian Museum, which is now on permanent display. He discovered this in 1983.

When Theodore Bruce Auctions was appointed by the executors to sell his private collection, their specialist, Jim Elmslie, spent 10 days digging through a mound of material under the St Albans mansion in the Adelaide suburb of Golden Grove, separating the treasures from the trash. There was enough of the former to fill a shipping container. The task was made more difficult because St Albans kept no documentation.
This summer, I went on a low-cost holiday to Vietnam. It was enlightening. I learnt about unsafe air travel, various kinds of credit-card fraud, and water-borne viruses that work at both ends. Above all, though, I came to understand a little better the 20-something university students who, with lots of time and no money, travel on the south-east Asian budget-holiday circuit.

Tens of thousands of Australians venture across the Indian Ocean to the southern oriental shores each year. In 2009-10, 11 per cent of 20 to 34-year-olds holidaying overseas visited Indonesia and 10 per cent visited Thailand.

Students flock to south-east Asia to overcome their generation's malaise, and some even leave a positive impression behind them. Credit:iStock

They typically travel with an airline that has an incident record similar to the Iraqi air force's. There is a certain spiritualism that accompanies the trip  and not just because of the risk of a crash.

It's easy to "lose oneself" when wearing the velvet handcuffs of government-funded study and paternalistic credit-card thresholds imposed by one's parents. And the monotony of a lowly graduate job can take the spark out of life. South-east Asia has a mystical aura about it; there's just something hip about hanging out with Buddhist monks in the Cambodian highlands.
How do you lower the toll of alcohol abuse on homeless people with an addiction?

Serve them drinks.

A proposed radical change to the way Sydney shelters treat homeless people with alcohol dependency has some influential and unlikely advocates.

St Vincent's Hospital, Rabbi Mendel Kastel  a NSW police chaplain and the founder of Bondi's Jewish House crisis and homelessness service  and other partners are in talks to develop Sydney's first "managed alcohol" homeless shelter.
A body has been found floating in the water near the Overseas Passenger Terminal at The Rocks in Sydney.

A person on a boat called triple zero just before 7am on Wednesday to report that the body was floating near Campbell's Cove Jetty, on the western side of Circular Quay near the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Water police arrived at the jetty a short time later and could be seen retrieving the body of a man from the water, just metres from the jetty.

The man, who police said has not been identified, appeared to have been in the water for quite some time.
A siege in Sydney's eastern suburbs has come to an end after two men, including one in only his underwear, were arrested.

Just after 10am on Australia Day police were called to Portland Crescent at Maroubra after reports a man was brandishing a gun inside a unit.

A nearby resident was at his home around the corner when a woman came running down his street asking for help.

The man, who didn't want to be identified, said the woman was the sister of one of the men who were holed up in her unit.
A man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly running over his neighbour in a four-wheel-drive during a heated dispute in Sydney's north-west, police say.

The 24-year-old man will face court on Wednesday following the confrontation in Lalor Park just after 7pm on Tuesday.

Police allege the man and his 42-year-old neighbour, who live on Noakes Parade, became involved in an argument that turned violent.

A NSW Police spokesman said it was not immediately clear what the men were arguing about at the time, however the younger man is accused of getting into his 4WD and deliberately driving over his neighbour.
A Sydney teenager has been refused bail after he allegedly collected terror-related documents outlining how to make an improvised explosive device and carry out a stabbing.

One of the documents was allegedly published by terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda.

Sameh Bayda's lawyer Fadi Abbas with two women, who sat in court to support Sameh Bayda, outside Parramatta Bail Court Credit:Emma Partridge

NSW counter terrorism police arrested Sameh Bayda, 18, on Monday and charged him with three counts of knowingly collecting documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts.

Police will allege Mr Bayda obtained the documents between December 1, 2015 and January 13, 2016.
Queensland now has one of Australia's worst-performing economies, according to a report that attributes its fall largely to plummeting construction activity across the state.

The CommSec State of the States January 2016 report, released on Wednesday, shows construction activity dropped by a massive 30 per cent last year and is 19 per cent below the decade average.

Plummeting construction activity has led to Queensland being named one of Australia's worst-performing economies.

Queensland dropped to sixth ranking in the latest quarterly report, down from fifth ranking in October 2015.

It puts the Sunshine State ahead of only South Australia and Tasmania in economic performance.
Beatrice Tinsley is one of New Zealand's most uncelebrated celebrities. Daughter of a one-time mayor of New Plymouth, she overcame almost insuperable odds to become a scientist and professor of astronomy at Yale University.

She showed early signs of brilliance, being dux of New Plymouth Girls High School in 1957 and galloping through courses on higher mathematics and theoretical physics at Canterbury University.

Google's doodle celebrating the life of astronomer Beatrice Tinsley. Credit:Google

She was almost immediately offered a scholarship at the high-powered Center for Advanced Studies in Texas where, with a new PhD, she collaborated with many astronomers on advanced research but, as a married woman, was excluded from permanent work.

She faced widespread professional jealousy and deeply entrenched macho hostility at many US institutions.
National Security and Defense Council Secretary of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov has said that nobody asked Russian President Vladimir Putin at the time when the borders of Ukraine have been shaping.

"Regarding the last statement of Putin, when he in public doubted all the borders, which have been shaped after the World War II. Thus, during his speech in Kremlin he in public casted doubt on that from his point of view Donbas was mistakenly passed into possession of Ukraine. First of all, nobody asked Putin when the borders of the Ukrainian state have been shaping. Secondly, such public statements are a basis for so to say military aggression against our state. This is a leader of the country, which casts doubt on all the borders of Europe, which have been shaped after World War II," Turchynov said during the meeting with the leadership of Ukroboronprom in Kyiv on Tuesday.

As reported, on January 25 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin called it a nonsense a reason due to which Donbas at Soviet times was passed to Ukraine. According to him, Lenin called for "the USSR to be formed on the basis of full equality with the right to exit the Soviet Union, and that was the time bomb under the building of our statehood," Putin said.

"The way the borders were defined was completely arbitrary and not always justified. Donbas, for example, was handed over to Ukraine. Under what pretext? To raise the percentage of proletariat in Ukraine so as to have greater social support there. Nonsense," Putin said t a plenary session of his All-Russia People's Front in Stavropol.
The 101 Collins Street skyscraper has been a familiar presence in Melbourne's skyline for a quarter of a century. But those with a sharp eye may have noticed a recent renovation.

The prestigious Melbourne office building is now home to the highest commercial solar panel system in Australia, with 180 panels fixed to the base of its mast.

Engineering services manager Bill Burgess next to the solar panels near the top of 101 Collins. Credit:Justin McManus

It took seven months to design and install the panels, which are 191 metres above street level, with the strong winds that buffet the top of the tower posing a major engineering challenge.

The general manager of 101 Collins, Peter Calwell, said a 7.75-metre steel structure had to be constructed to hold the panels in place.
Anti-Australia Day posters and graffiti have been plastered across Melbourne's CBD as hundreds of people rally outside Parliament House over Aboriginal rights.

The large posters featuring the Aboriginal flag, which read "Sovereignty Never Ceded" and include the slogans #InvasionDay2016 and #NoPrideInGenocide, have been placed over existing advertisements at tram stops and train stations in the CBD.

The poster on Spencer Street. Credit:Rebecca Hallas

Two posters have been placed inside AdShel advertisement display screens outside Southern Cross Station. One of the posters at the station suggests Australians are "celebrating 228 years of genocide".

Meanwhile, the words "Happy Invasion Day" have been sprayed on the walls of Parliament Station.
It was unclear how long the virus had persisted in his body: He had had two episodes of fever that might have been caused by the Zika virus, one shortly before he was tested and another about two months earlier. The virus was also found in his urine. Health workers fumigate to prevent dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus, at El Angel cemetery, in Lima last week. Credit:AP A more unusual episode  the first clue that Zika could be sexually transmitted  occurred in 2008. Brian Foy, a biologist specialising in insect-borne diseases at Colorado State University, was in rural Senegal with a graduate student, Kevin Kobylinski, collecting mosquitoes for a malaria study. Both were bitten many times. Dejailson Arruda holds his daughter Luiza at their house in Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, Brazil. Luiza was born in October with microcephaly, her mother was infected with the Zika virus. Credit:AP

About a week after they flew back to Colorado, Dr Foy and Mr Kobylinski each fell ill with rashes, fatigue and headaches, symptoms typical of several mosquito-borne illnesses. A few days later, Dr Foy's wife  Joy Chilson Foy, a nurse and mother of four, showed similar symptoms, slowly developing a rash worse than that of either man, along with greater headache pain and bloodshot eyes. Army soldiers apply insect repellent as they prepare for a clean-up operation against the Aedes aegypti mosquito in Sao Paulo. Credit:AP All three eventually recovered. Late in his illness, however, Dr Brian Foy had genital pain and what appeared to be blood in his semen. Blood was drawn from all three patients and tested for the usual West African suspects: malaria, dengue and yellow fever. All were negative.

Spreading the Zika virus ... A female Aedes aegypti mosquito in the process of acquiring a blood meal from a human host. Credit:AP Their infection remained a mystery until a year later, when Mr Kobylinski, back in Senegal, met another scientist who suggested it could be Zika virus. The blood samples, which Dr Foy had frozen, tested positive. That left the question of how his wife had been infected. She had not left northern Colorado, which has none of the mosquitoes that transmit Zika. And it seemed unlikely that she and her husband had been bitten by the same mosquito: The virus needs more than four days to move from the insect's gut to its salivary glands. Neither had passed the disease to their children, so even close family contact seemed non-infectious. The most likely explanation, the couple realised, was that they had had sex shortly after Dr Foy's return, before he fell ill. Dr Foy wrote about his experience in 2011 in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In an interview, Dr Foy said he had been trying to get research money to study the phenomenon, but there had been obstacles: Until the past few weeks, there had been little interest in the obscure virus. Zika virus is hard to study, because it does not infect mice, rats or most other lab animals. It does infect monkeys, but that research is difficult, expensive and controversial. Colorado State did not have a monkey research colony, Dr Foy said. Dr William Schaffner, chief of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical School, said it was imperative that research on possible sexual transmission of Zika be done in Brazil or another Latin American country experiencing an outbreak. Two suspect cases "are not really enough to warrant a large public health recommendation from the CDC," he said. "But it's provocative, so someone else could recommend it. And it certainly should be studied." Testing men for the virus in their semen should be easy, he added. After that, researchers should look for couples like the Foys, in which one partner had been in a mosquito-infested area and the other had been in a mosquito-free one.

"If I was a man and I got Zika symptoms, I'd wait a couple of months before having unprotected sex," said Scott Weaver, director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity at the University of Texas medical branch in Galveston and an expert on the virus. "If my wife was of childbearing age, I'd want to use protection, certainly for a few weeks." A spokeswoman for Brazil's Health Ministry said studies about how Zika can be contracted needed to be evaluated more closely. "These analyses need to be accompanied by scientific work so the Health Ministry can provide the population with safe advice about transmission of the virus." The ministry has advised Brazilian women to postpone getting pregnant until more is known about the virus and microcephaly, a neurological disorder that causes babies to be born with a small head and underdeveloped brain. On Monday, the Pan American Health Organisation warned that Zika virus was likely to spread to every country in the Americas except Canada and Chile where the Aedes aegypti, which transmits the virus, is not present.
Washington: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani commenced an eventful trip to Europe this week, one that will see him ink about $US18 billion ($25 billion) worth of deals with Western companies and governments. Tehran is emerging from the isolation imposed by years of international sanctions, which were recently lifted after Iran agreed to implement strict limits on its nuclear program.

As part of his visit to Rome, Rouhani toured the famed Capitoline museum with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Monday. The building is home to numerous prized works of antiquity, some of which appear to show human figures in the nude.

Given the sensibilities of the theocratic Iranian regime, Italian authorities decided to conceal some of the more perhaps offending artworks during Rouhani's visit. Ply boxes and panels were placed around the objects to obscure them from the Iranian president's vision, or at least in photo-ops.

In accordance with protocols governing visits by Muslim dignitaries, alcohol was not served at a dinner hosted in Rouhani's honor. As noted last year by the Washington Post, the Iranians apparently did not receive similar dispensation during an earlier visit to France, whose government balked at the notion of hosting an official dinner without wine.
Jakarta: A minority Muslim group has been ordered to convert to Sunni Islam or be expelled from Bangka island, off the coast of Sumatra, in the latest religious crackdown in Indonesia.

Ahmadiyah identify as Muslim and follow the teachings of the Koran but regard an Indian preacher, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, as a "messiah" who followed the Prophet Muhammad, a belief considered heretical by some Muslims.

Ahmadiyah refugees in Indonesia in 2011. Credit:Murdani Usman

In a letter seen by Fairfax Media, Bangka Island's most senior bureaucrat, Fery Insani, says: "The Ahmadiyah congregation are not allowed to spread their religion. Ahmadiyah followers in Srimenanti village must immediately repent in accordance with Islamic sharia that there is no prophet after the prophet Muhammad." He said if they did not abide by this a meeting had decided they must immediately leave Bangka and return to their place of origin.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On February 6, 2016 SCELL, The University of St. Martin School of Continuing Education and Life Long Learning will offer the Good Governance: Governing by the Laws course. The course is open to the public and does not require any prerequisites, and will start on Monday, February 9, 2016 through April 14, 2016.

SCELL Director, Dr. Natasha J. Gittens, Ph.D, CHE., indicated we are very pleased to offer this course to the St. Maarten community and surrounding islands. We are strongly recommending that the following audiences attend the course: Person interested in becoming a political candidate, individuals who are applying for their Naturalization and need to learn more about Constitution and Government, NGO's employees who want to understand the checks and balances of government, Civil Servants who want to expand his/her knowledge on how the government functions.

Dr. Francio Guadeloupe, The University of St. Martin's President stated: USM is honored to have Mr. Plantijn facilitate the Governance course at USM in February. Mr. Hensley G.A. Plantijn LL.M, is an international lawyer with special interest in Constitutional Laws. His career started in 1992 as a civil servant on the Island Territory of Curacao and is since 2011 continuing his career in St Maarten. During his more than 23 years as civil servant, he has functioned as legal advisor in the organization and to ministers in the Netherlands Antilles and St Maarten

Mr Plantijn, stated: The best investment to develop a country is in Education. Especially for a young country like St Maarten. Therefore, I am honored to be the facilitator of this course, and by doing so, be able to contribute to the development of St Maarten and surrounding islands. I have to admit that I enjoy the exercise of sharing my knowledge and I will also be learning from the students. This course will be a very interesting interactive course.

If you would like to enroll in the course, call 554-2437 or fill out the training request form @ http://scell.usmonline.onl/index.php/programs/workshops-form. You can also visit the SCELL website @ http://scell.usmonline.onl/.
Annually the UNESCO Office receives notice from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) concerning the submission of the Questionnaire on Statistics of Education for pre-primary, primary, secondary, post-secondary, and tertiary education. The UNESCO office thereafter makes contact with the Secretary General, Marcellia Henry and the relevant authorities for gathering this data namely the Department of Education and the Inspectorate of Daycare.

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the statistical office of UNESCO, and is the primary UN depository for cross-nationally comparable statistics on education, science and technology, culture, and communication. More than 200 countries and territories participate in the UIS annual education survey, which is the basis for calculating a wide range of indicators.

As an Associate Member of UNESCO, St. Maarten is expected to complete this questionnaire and submit it annually by the 29th of April deadline. Information concerning students and teachers, educational expenditure, instructional time is collected from our stake holders, and gathered by the Department Of Education.

St. Maarten started the process of submitting data to the UIS in 2013. However, with the revised International Standard Classification of Education, the questionnaire is requesting more information about our education system, just to name a few: the percentage of students by level of education, intensity of participation, type of institution and gender of students, the percentage of graduates by level of education, type of completion and gender of students, the percentage of classroom teachers by teaching level of education, employment status, type of institution and gender of students and the percentage of repeaters for primary & general secondary education by level , grade & gender.

Some of the highlights of the collected data indicate that n 2013-2014 the private schools student population percentage for the primary schools was 62% and secondary schools were 38%. In the same year the public schools student population percentage was 32%. While 49% of all teachers taught in primary schools and 51% taught in secondary schools.

In 2013-2014 the percentage of graduates in the academic programs were from Milton Peters College -VWO 94% and HAVO 69%, St. Maarten Academy-CXC 91% and St. Dominic High-CXC 98%. The percentage of graduates in the vocational programs were from Milton Peters College-TKL level 53%, Sundial and St. Maarten Academy PBL level 50% and PKL level 57%.

The Department of Education and the Inspectorate of Daycare will be requesting more information from the various schools, daycare centers, and education institutions. The assistance of all education stakeholders is therefore greatly appreciated by the department of Education of the Ministry of Education, Culture, youth and Sport in order for the questionnaire to be completed annually by the April 29th 2015 deadline.

The data collected from St. Maarten and all 200 countries and territories is published annually in the Global Education Digest. This data enables our island to see how St. Maarten is compared to other countries in relation to the various international education indicators. Previously, the Ministry have completed two years and therefore on behalf of Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, the Department of Education would like to thank the various Stake holders for their cooperation.

The Ministry will continue to develop efficient and effective data systems for the education to ensure that policies and changes follow up on trends and developments that are measure throughout the school years.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Judge J (Bob) Wit during his visit to St. Maarten to preside over cases submitted to the Constitutional Court paid a courtesy visit to the Chairlady of Parliament, Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams (DP).

The DP leader seized the opportunity to discuss the feasibility of amending the law that governs the constitutional court of St. Maarten, hereby allowing this court to render an advisory judgment in cases of disputes between governmental bodies and institutions such as Parliament, Governor, Council of Ministers, Prime Minister, etc. Currently the scope of the constitutional court is limited to cases brought to it by the Ombudsman.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will meet in a Plenary Session on January 27th with the Minister of General Affairs.

The public Plenary Session is scheduled for Wednesday at 2.00pm in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg.

The four point agenda is as follows: draft National Ordinance to change the Pension Ordinance; ratification agreements lists Inter-parliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) and Tripartite January 2016; discussion on the four resolutions adopted by the Tripartite meeting of January 4, 2016; and advice concerning the appointment of 1st Acting Secretary General of Parliament.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com and via www.sxmparliament.org.
An electric locomotive bound for export to South Africa comes off the production line in Zhuzhou, Hunan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Aviation, transport and telecoms sectors get renewed impetus

China expects to export more aviation, transportation and telecommunications technology and products this year, and continue with an industrial upgrade at home, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

Zhi Luxun, deputy director-general of the ministry's department of foreign trade, said core to the export policy remains transforming from being a low-grade consumer-goods manufacturer to one producing higher value added products, while maintaining stable domestic economic growth.

Exports of China's rail transportation and aviation technology sectors, as well as its machine tools and rail industries, grew between 15 percent and 30 percent in 2015.

At the same time, the country's telecommunications and power-equipment industries expanded their presence in 140 countries and regions, including highly developed markets such as the European Union and the United States.

"The country's fast-growing 4G telecom networks and the Made in China 2025 strategy will further lead to improvements in productivity and resource efficiency this year," said Zhi.

"The potential benefits are even greater if they are extended to every stage of the value chain, from suppliers and manufacturers through to customers."

Shi Ziming, deputy director-general of the ministry's department of outward investment and economic cooperation, said China's rapid ongoing urbanization process has caused labor-intensive industries to struggle as they face a myriad of difficulties, such as high staff turnover, especially in the country's computer, communication and consumer electronics product manufacturing sectors.

By combining global market demand, China has gradually shifted its focus onto high-end industrial research and development, which has delivered strong technical breakthroughs in high-tech sectors such as offshore engineering, robotics, computers, communication and in upgraded consumer electronics products.

Shi said the Belt and Road Initiative will boost China's exports of high-speed rail technology and related productsnow considered the country's pillar products for high-end product exportas a number of nations, especially Southeast Asian countries look to enhance their economic growth via modern transportation networks.

The initiative, proposed by China in 2013, is a trade and infrastructure network that includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The planned network connects Asia, Europe and Africa and passes through more than 60 countries and regions.

China started construction on Indonesia's first high-speed railroad project last week, which stretches from the capital Jakarta to the city of Bandung.

The government now hopes the move will encourage more Southeast Asian countries to upgrade their rail systems.

The Asian Development Bank said recently that the proportion of China's high-end product exports surged from 9.4 percent of Asia's total annual exports in the category in 2000, to 43.7 percent in 2014.
GREAT BAY(DCOMM):--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), announces that road works activities will be carried on the A.T. Illidge Road near the Floodgates.

These works will start on Wednesday, January 27 and will be carried out over a one week period. The road works will be carried out between 8.00am and 5.00pm.

These works are related to the laying of a new conduit to protect electric wiring by United Telecommunications Service (UTS).

The road will not be closed, but there may be some traffic congestion in the area.

Motorists must pay attention to the traffic signs that will be erected about road works underway, and to reduce speed and drive with caution due to the use of heavy equipment and the workmen that will be busy in the area.

Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconveniences this may cause.
POINTE BLANCHE:--- On Monday, January 18, 2016, (SCELL) The University of St. Martin School of Continuing Education and Life Long Learning kicked off their first series of Port St. Maartens 4 Ps, HR Training Agreement.

The 4 Ps stands for: Power Up, Positive Thinking, Practice and Performance. The contract agreement signed on December 16, 2015 between the Port and SCELL will run through December of 2016.

The programs areas of concentration focuses on the Ports: History and Culture; Vision; Mission; Integrity; Customer Centricity; Social Responsibility; Transparent communication; Loyalty; Dedication; Passion; and Resolution.

In addition to the Core Values SCELLs facilitators, Dr. Natasha J. Gittens, Ph.D., CHE, SCELLs Director and Erwin Wolthius, Head of the University of St. Martins Business and Hospitality Division, will simultaneously incorporate customer service excellence techniques, successful job performance principles and fostering employee bonding to strengthen the Ports Culture.

All of the trainings are customized and directly support the Ports Vision, Mission, Core Values, Integrity and Culture. The workshops will be facilitated to four groups of 20 employees twice a month for 90 minutes, all employees are required to attend the yearlong training every month including the Management Team.

Mark Mingo, Port St. Maartens Chief Executive Officer (CEO) stated: I am impressed with SCELLs professionalism. My first impression of energy level of the facilitator, Dr. Gittens was great and her style was very down to earth and real. The training that the Ports 79 employees will go through is a positive development in their career development and at the same time brings focus with respect to their job and building the Ports Culture.

I know, from my many years of experience that building a viable culture is more important than diplomas and as the great Dalia Lama so eloquently stated, The planet does not need more successful people. The planet needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, story tellers and lovers of all kinds. Furthermore, we need to maintain our status as number 1 Port in the Caribbean and with SCELLs innovative and advanced trainings we will!

Dr. Gittens stated: I am very proud that Mr. Mingo is such a progressive leader and visionary to understand the importance of ongoing professional development for his valued Port employees. Training is an ongoing requirement for all learning organizations and should be made a priority. It enhances the culture of organizations, empowers employees to go above and beyond in their work performance and allows individuals to bond with fellow employees to build teams of excellence that directly enhance service to both their internal and external customers.

If you would like to discuss Professional Development opportunities and trainings for your organization please call, call 554-2437 or visit the SCELL website http://scell.usmonline.onl/.
Seattle Startup Scales Up With Appointments of Two Influential Tech Veterans

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON  (Marketwired)  01/25/16  Seattle startup today announced the hire of Chief Technology Officer, Sophie Huang, and VP of Product and Strategy, Victor Gill. The companys Discovery as a Service (DaaS) platform offers data-driven, styled recommendations for online shoppers, and has attracted online home decor retailers like Apt2B and Burke Decor.

Stylyze is inventing new ways for people to navigate through the noise of the Internet and make choices that are deeply personal by democratizing access to a better aesthetic and experience, said Huang. Helping to bring that joy into peoples lives leads to a happier and more healthy society. Its a huge leap from where the Internet is now; Im excited to be on the leading edge of that.

Huang brings with her decades of experience as a technical executive for enterprise technology companies. Her career began at IBM as a systems engineer. In the last 10 years, shes won several technology leadership awards in hospitality, led multiple successful million dollar enterprise B2B and B2C initiatives and even won an award at TechCrunchs NY Disrupt Hackathon in 2012.

During her five years leading MyWebGrocer, most recently as SVP International & Enterprise Initiatives, she grew its international development team to 60 and developed and managed several enterprise-grade SaaS products. She has also been instrumental in more than 10 funding rounds and acquisitions.

Sophies vision, leadership and experience is an excellent fit for Stylyze, said co-founder and CEO Kristen Miller. We are enabling creative, personal and fun user experiences with our technology, while supporting the business objectives of our retail partners. Achieving that perfect balance is right in Sophies wheelhouse.

Gill brings more than a decade of experience in building and deploying enterprise products. He has spent much of his career accelerating the growth of startups such as enterprise SaaS provider Arena Solutions in Silicon Valley. He was the director of the Foundry, a startup accelerator at the University of Utah, where he continues to teach Entrepreneurship and Marketing.

Victor is masterful at building product that perfectly aligns Stylyzes core purpose with the needs of our end users and retail partners, said Lisa Perrone, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer. He brings a level of discipline to this process that is a win for both Stylyze and our retail partners.

Stylyzes energy inspires and motivates me, said Gill. Growth happens when you provide unique value. To generate that unique value, you have to have deep empathy for your market and equally deep understanding of what you want your business to be. This team has that in spades.

About Stylyze

Stylyze is the first Discovery as a Service platform designed specifically for the home decor industry. The company partners with industry leading retailers and enhances their digital experiences by algorithmically cross-merchandizing online catalogs to create coordinated looks that customers can purchase and share socially. Its patent-pending color and style system helps customers discover products that match their aesthetic. Stylyze is a Seattle-based, female-owned technology company. For more information visit .

Contacts:

Media contact:

Kimberley Bowie / Esther Tung

Media Relations Manager

604.558.1656
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Economy  January 26, 2016  John McMurtry

The just-released Oxfam Davos report An Economy For the 1% which the mass media have ignored arrestingly shows that 62 individuals (388 in 2010) now own more wealth than 50 per cent of the worlds population. More shockingly, it reports from its uncontested public sources that this share of wealth by half of the worlds people has collapsed by over 40 per cent in just the last five years.

Yet the big lies persist even here that the progress has been made in tackling world poverty and extreme poverty has been halved since 1990.

Unbelievably, the endlessly repeated assertion of the form that the poor are being lifted out of poverty in ever greater numbers continues on untouched despite the hard evidence that, in fact, the poorer half of humanity has lost almost half of their wealth in just the last five years.

This big lie is significant in its implications. For not only is a pervasive claim about the success of globalization undeniably falsified while no-one notices it. Basic market theory and dogma collapses as a result. What is daily claimed as an infallible benefit of the global market is shown to be the opposite of reality. What does it mean for trickle-down theory when, in truth, the trickle down goes up in hundreds of billions of dollars to the rich from the already poor and destitute?

What can we say now of the tirelessly proclaimed doctrine that the global market brings more wealth for all when, in fact, unimpeachable business evidence shows the opposite reality on the ground and across the world. For the poor have undeniably lost almost half their share of global wealth while the richest have multiplied theirs at the same time. The evidence proves, in short, that the main moral and economic claims justifying the global market are very big lies becoming bigger all the time.

Accumulation by Dispossession

Worse than delusional, the lived reality of impoverishment of billions of people is reversed, the victims are continually proclaimed to be doing better under the system that increasingly deprives them of what little they have, and a trillion dollars worth of loss to the poorer half of humanity ends up in the pockets of the rich within only five years.

While the ever bigger lies go on justifying the global system that eats the poor alive as poverty amelioration, ever more of the same policies of accumulation by dispossession justify still more stripping of the majority as more austerity, more welfare cuts, and more labour flexibility  in a word, more starvation and depredation of peoples lives and life conditions as more freedom and prosperity for all.

The Statistical Shell Game that Masks the Life-Devouring Reality

As World Bank, IMF and like figures claim to show the uplifting of the poor out of poverty across the world, media of record like The Guardian and the New York Times report the claims with headlines to show all is well and better for the poor and the majority as they are in fact grindingly reduced in their actual lives, work and life security. Thus the very big lies are instituted as given facts which economists and social scientists propagate without a blink.

In fact, these alleged great gains for the poor out of poverty and absolute poverty alike are based on income gains of less than a cup of coffee a day, an observation that is so well blocked from view that readers may now be seeing it for the first time. Thus the hypnotic thrall of the big lies are sustained, while no other life support system is. I have had economists and interviewers of high note respond angrily when this delusion is pointed out, as if I was letting down the poor rather than exposing the big lies. In this way, we find that the masking falsehoods have gone so deep into expert and public assumption that the real-life world can no longer be engaged. These big lies then work in the background to the non-stop big lies that precede endless foreign conflicts and wars to defend the free world.

No-one appears to observe that the income gains lifting the poor out of poverty typically refer to emigrants from the countryside into polluted cities, insecure and dehumanized life conditions for those who formerly had at least a family dwelling, clean air and water and living horizons. In short, the standard $1.50 +/- measure of uplift out of poverty and extreme poverty is inhumanly absurd, but triumphally used as proof that the system is serving the least too.

The Counter-Revolution against Social Evolution that Engineers Deepening Recession

Throughout the unseen redistribution of wealth from the poor to the rich (now buried in much talk of inequality), ever more market reforms are enforced as enhanced competition, liberalized de-regulation, reduced welfare costs and austerity programs to correct excesses. The excessive entitlements of the system are all projected on the victims so that the truly insane entitlements of the richest to multiply their fortunes with no committed life function, value or coordinate but still more money-demand for them is somehow not noticed. This is yet another level of normalized big lies forming the ruling thought system.

In fact beneath the pervasive propaganda conditioning citizens to believe in the private money shell game devouring the world, the poorer half of humanity has been deprived of one trillion dollars of wealth while the 62 richest people have gained almost twice as much for themselves by the operations of this global disorder. Yet the Davos Report further emphasizes that still another $760-billion (U.S.) goes annually to non-producing investors by immense transnational tax evasion with impunity across the world. Again the borderless money-capital freedom of globalization vastly enriches the richest, while simultaneously doubling down on deprivation of the poor as poverty reduction.

Here the system is programmed in effect to strip the funding of all public sectors and institutions which have evolved to serve the common life interest. Public services and infrastructures too are perpetually driven toward bankruptcy not only by never-ending defunding, cutbacks, privatizations, and corporate lobby control of public policies and subsidies, but by ever-soaring public tax evasion near one trillion dollars annually about which governments and trade treaties have done nothing to correct yet.

Thus governments which could invest in sustaining humanitys social and ecological life support systems from growing deterioration and collapse are now systematically bankrupted or debt enslaved along with most citizens. In consequence without governments knowing why, the world economy slips into ever deeper recession from the collapse of economic demand at the public and majority levels.

Eating the World Alive as Global Competition

The new law of human evolution is that people are required to compete for more money and commodities for themselves as necessary to survive, with the borderless system de-regulated and structured to increasingly impoverish the great majority while multiplying the wealth of the rich. The facts are now long in. Corporate globalization is not only out of control. It is eating the world alive at all levels toward cumulative collapse of organic, social and ecological life organization. Global competition means, in fact, the majoritys life means and security keep falling as the environment is looted and polluted on ever larger scales of depredation. Yet only more growth of this system is imagined as a solution. The system is clinically insane.

While the common life-ground is blinkered out a-priori by the ruling value system, those deprived and left behind disappear into multi-level big lies proclaiming the opposite. This is why the facts are not reported. This is why claimed actions to stop the world bleeding blinker out the system disorder causing them. This is why even progressives assume economic falsehoods as if they were true. Like a cancer system at the macro level, this exponentially multiplying private money-sequence system has only one set-point  to blindly grow itself while masking the life-devouring disorder as enhancing peoples well-being. 
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"Chopsticks &Beyond", a brand cooking activity of China Radio International's English Service, is held in Beijing on Jan. 23, 2016. Chefs from Thailand, India and China showed the audience how to make spicy Thai, Indian and Sichuan dishes. (Source: CRI.cn)

The cuisines from Thailand, India and China's Sichuan Province are renowned for their distinctively spicy flavors, but exactly how are they different?

On Jan. 23, EZFM (FM91.5 in Beijing), the domestic radio channel of China Radio International's English Service, held an exciting and fun cooking contest named "Chopsticks &Beyond". The contest challenged the taste buds of spectators, providing an opportunity to discover the fabulous flavors of various spicy ingredients at the InterContinental Hotel Beijing Financial Street.

Since the theme of this first contest of 2016 is "Hot and Spicy", chefs from Thailand, India and China have taught the audience how to make spicy Thai, Indian and Sichuan dishes. According to them, the unique taste of the spicy Thai cuisine comes from fresh chili and the sour flavor of lemon; Sichuan dishes are well-known by the dry and oily chili; while Indian's spiciness is from all kinds of powders of curry, chili and masala.

Four female hosts from EZFM, including the popular sister-like co-hosts Zhong Qiu and Lucy from afternoon show "Lady Lady", as well as Nian Xi from "Music Memories" and Sookie from "the Shuffle" were on hand to help guests and listeners get creative, and make their own spicy creations.

The winners were decided by a panel of professional judges. Yin Ying was voted as Champion who won a free vacation coupon to Thailand by cooking the best creative Indian dosa. She said it's the best beginning of the whole New Year.

There were also fun games with a spicy twist, aiming to challenge the palates of all those taking part.

Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Beijing Office considered the event as a best way to introduce the culture of food. She said food is always an interesting way to draw attention from people from different countries, since when we travel, we always have some experience tasting the local food.

Liao Jibo, Director of EZFM said that 2016 marks the 30 anniversary of the domestic radio channel. He said EZFM would provide a whole new experience in its thirties, by exquisite shows through both on air and on the APP.

The event was not only showcasing the uniqueness of different cultures through a common interest of delicious food, but also promoting cultural exchange, and encouraging people to have an EZ life-style as well.

More than 80 fans braved the freezing weather to attend and join the "Hot" cooking event "Chopsticks &Beyond". The can celebrate the coming Chinese New Year together, with a "hot" dress code, which shares the same hue as the hot vegetables: red.

"Chopsticks &Beyond" the cooking contest has been a brand activity of China Radio International's English Service since 2013.
Dia de los Muertos in South Bend: Here's how you can celebrat

Unlike the city's Day of the Dead events in the past, this one has broader community involvement.
A total of 31,527 prisoners, most of whom were juveniles when they committed crimes, have been released under an amnesty agreement, according to an official statement on Monday.

The agreement, decided on last year by the top legislature and signed by President Xi Jinping, was adopted to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Work on the amnesty was completed by the end of last year as scheduled, Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.

Among those released are prisoners who fought in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) and the Chinese civil war in the 1930s and 1940s. They are at least 80 years old.

This group is very small and does not pose a threat to society, Xinhua said in an earlier report, adding that the amnesty granted to the veterans is apt recognition of their contributions in both conflicts.

The majority of those released  29,927  committed crimes when they were under 18 and were sentenced to less than three years in prison. This group also includes minors with less than a year of their sentences remaining.

To ensure that the release of every criminal was in line with the special amnesty, judicial bodies, including courts and prison officers, made great efforts to read criminals files, examine judgments and verify prisoners identities.

For example, prisons set up more than 2,500 investigation teams.

The amnesty also conforms to the Criminal Law, which was amended in 2011 to allow leniency in punishment of the elderly.

Amnesties are granted under the Chinese Constitution, which has long stressed governing by virtue and laws.

This is the eighth amnesty granted by the Peoples Republic of China since it was founded in 1949.
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.
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Malaysia says debris found in Thailand not from missing MH370

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 26 -- Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said on Tuesday that the debris found in Thailand was not from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

A metal object found in southern Thailand during the weekend has fueled speculation that it was from the missing Boeing 777.

Liow said a Malaysian team comprising officials from the Department of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport and Malaysia Airlines has examined the recovered debris.

"From their detailed report, they have ascertained that the part assembly number, wire bundle number and bolts part number do not match those of a Boeing 777," he said in a statement.

"Additionally, the part numbers which were found on the recovered debris are not listed in the MAS B777 Illustrated Parts Catalogue manual. Based on these identifying details, the team has confirmed that the debris does not belong to a B777 9M-MRO aircraft (MH370)," he added.

Liow said Malaysia remained committed to continuing the search effort in the Southern Indian Ocean.

The aircraft disappeared on March 8, 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with a total of 239 passengers on board, most of them Chinese. Malaysian and French authorities said last year that an aircraft flaperon found on the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion belonged to the missing plane.
() 11:24, January 26, 2016

Beijing, Jan. 25, China Youth.cn Recently, President Xi has been conducting state visits to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran for five days, turning a new page for Chinese diplomacy in 2016. On January 21th, at the headquarter of Arab League, Cairo, Xi delivered a speech of which the title was Together for a Better Future of Sino-Arab Relations, continuing his style of citing various quotes. During the speech, Xi quoted a Chinese ancient saying people never met but feel intimate can be friends; people bearing on mind and cannot forget can frequently contact to express his intimacy to Arabian countries and people. Meanwhile, he quoted an Arabian proverb You only know where your nails itch to reply to the Middle East questions by putting forward selecting a path which conforms to the national condition.

Xi loves reading books and using allusions. When making a visit or attending important international meetings, he not only repeatedly quotes Chinese classics, but also does as the Romans do, for example, he more than once cites the visited countries proverbs, quotes of famous people, speeches of important members of the governments and even skillfully conducts matching of Chinese and foreign favorite quotations through centering on such themes as friendship cooperation peace and so forth, vividly unfolding Chinese disposition before the worlds eyes, telling Chinese attitude and delivering Chinese voices.

Appeal for friendship: unfold Chinese dispositions of loving friends, cherishing friendship and being kind and easy-going

January 21, 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech of which the title was Together for A Better Future of Sino-Arab Relations at the headquarter of Arab League, Cairo. Report of the Xinhua News Agency Pang Xinglei shot

Xis visits to various countries rightly shows that Chinese people love making friends and cherish friendship, and friendship becomes the key word in Xis speeches and articles during his visits. In March, 2014, during his state visit to France, Xi published a signed article which titled Special Friends All-Win Companions on French Le Figaro. In this article, Xi cited At fifty, I knew the will of Heavento praise the five-decades friendship between China and France. China is positively making friends all around the world, it is through which Chinese dispositions of being kind and easy-going was totally displayed.

In May, 2015, before proceeding on the state visit to the Republic of Belarus, Xi published a signed paper which titled as Making the Symphony of China-Belarus Relations More Intense and Higher on Soviet Belarus Newspaper. At the ending of this article, Xi said: People of the Republic of Belarus frequently say that the solid friendship is difficult to be broken up. China also has a famous proverb, which says mastering ways of making friendship can make friendship as solid as metal and stone, even though you are distant from each other. Play the symphony of friendly relations and cooperation between China and Belarus, making it more intense and higher is my expectation for the development of China-Belarus relations.We wish that we can join hands to strive for the common targets with Belarus.

In January, 2016, during the period of making a trip to Egypt, Xi published a signed article whose title was Making Sino-Arab Friendship Flushing forward as the Nile on Egyptian Al Ahram. In this article, Xi retrospected the friendly communication history of Chinese and Arabian as well as the profound sentiments of friendship. Xi said, As the Arabian proverb goes that if you want to go fast, walk alone; and if you want to go far, walk together, Chinese people often say It is easy to live when we have many friends, which couldnt be better to describe the Sino-Arab relations.

With the expansion of Friend Circle, a wide partnership network that covers the whole globe has been built, from which China owns more developmental space and potentials. Besides, each country benefits a lot through promoting friendship and developmental cooperation with China.

(Source: China Youth.cn)
Yu Zhengsheng(L), chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a New Year gathering held by the CPPCC National Committee for spouses of late renowned social figures and national political advisors who were not members of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in Beijing, China, Jan. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Jan. 26 -- China's top political advisory body held a Spring Festival reception for widows of luminaries and national political advisors who were not members of the Communist Party of China on Tuesday.

Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), gave a speech on the committee's 2015 achievements at the event, which was also attended by Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

Du called the widows "national treasures."

Among the attendees were Wang Dingguo, widow of Xie Juezai, one of the founders of China's justice system; Xu Huijun, widow of Zhu Guangya, a leading scientist in the country's development of nuclear weaponry; and Huang Huanbi, widow of Israel Epstein, a Polish-born journalist.

This year's Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, falls on Feb. 8.
When it came time for King Francis to die on Reign, the show knew it wanted to throw fans for a loop. So instead of sending Francis out after his long battle with whatever was happening with his ear, he died fighting to save Marys life (in a literal swordfight, that is).But its not until Mary sets foot on Scottish soil that shes going to come face-to-face with the person responsible for Francis death. EW can exclusively reveal that Arrows John Barrowman will guest-star in Reigns penultimate episode this season.Barrowman, whos no stranger to playing bad guys, is set to play Munro, a dangerous and charismatic Scottish clan leader who harbors a sinister grudge against the Queen of Scots. So naturally, when Mary returns to Scotland, she finds herself in the presence of the man who cost her the love of her life.Reign returns this spring to The CW.
A nationally-known health food company called Healthy Brands Collective in Connecticut, which owns the popular Cell-nique, Cherrybrook Kitchen and Lisa's Kitchen brands, is hoping to relocate its headquarters and manufacturing to a former book printing facility in Castleton-on-Hudson, New York.

The company, which is headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., is in the process of obtaining a financial assistance package from Rensselaer County and the state that is needed to make the relocation possible for the firm.

"Any move to Castleton-on-Hudson is subject to those approvals," Dan Ratner said Tuesday.

Ratner and his wife Donna declined to elaborate more on their plans, including projected employment and investment levels, since the deal has not been finalized.

Healthy Brands Collective was founded by Dan and Donna Ratner in 2006 when they invented a "super food" drink called Cell-nique Super Green.

In an interview, Donna Ratner, a one-time MTV executive, talks about how she and her husband, a "California surfer" left corporate life to start a healthy foods company.

The Ratners have since acquired several other brands under their company umbrella, including Yumnuts, Living Harvest Tempt, Cherrybrook Kitchen, European Gourmet, Bites of Bliss, High Country Kombucha, Funky Monkey and Lisa's Kitchen organic frozen vegetables.

The brands are available in supermarkets like Whole Foods and others.

The company wants to buy the former IBT Hamilton Printing property on Route 9J in the town of Schodack in Renssealer County. It would renovate a 100,000 square-foot building there and build another 40,000 square-foot building.

The Ratners, who live in Connecticut but have a second home here in the Capital Region, have been lining up financial assistance and tax breaks for the relocation with Rensselaer County and New York state, including Excelsior tax credits. They also plan to participate in the Start-Up NY program through Hudson Valley Community College.

Officials with Empire State Development and Rensselaer County could not immediately be reached for comment.

The IBT Hamilton property has been vacant since IBT Hamilton, a book printer that had 160 workers at one point, went out of business in early 2015.

Healthy Brands Collective had $13 million in annual revenue as of 2013 when it acquired the To Go Brands from Cardium Therapeutics in a $2.5 million deal. The company is currently located in Norwalk, Conn. The company had previously planned on going public but is still privately-held.

In a press release issued in January of 2014, Dan Ratner explained the company's mission.

"Our goal was simple," Ratner said. "My background in healthcare finance had given me experience working with medical practices where many doctors often share the resources of one office. Seeing potential in that industry's standard practice, we wanted to recreate that model for health food brands. This is how Healthy Brands Collective was born."
As your business grows, youll encounter many milestones along the way. Youll hire new employees, take on more clients and evolve your products and services. Although challenging, this growth is a chance to prove yourself in a competitive marketplace.

However, there are certain realities youll face during growth that are not easily overcome. From how employees work to how well you know you team, there is a flurry of roadblocks that await your brand. During times of change and growth, entrepreneurs must make difficult hiring and promotion decisions.

While you may one day have an entire human resources team dedicated to talent, this is not a luxury all brands have. For those who dont, there are certain strategies all entrepreneurs should use to prepare for hiring hurdles.

Related: What to Look for in Your First 5 Hires

How to decide to promote or hire

At the first stages of any new business venture, every employee is a key contributor. With a limited staff, theres no option but to see each team member as 100 percent valuable. However, during expansion periods, you will suddenly need to fill new roles. Its a good problem, because it confirms your brand is doing well, but it also raises the question -- who should fill these positions?

A common mistake is to automatically promote from within. While someone on your team may have been a great doer from day one, this doesnt mean he will be an amazing manager. As you grow, an employees value will evolve often independent from job titles and hierarchies. In the early days at Dotcom Distribution, hiring outsiders for management roles was sometimes the better choice. However, doing so can be difficult, so try these techniques.

Be upfront. New hires -- especially those at a management level -- should never be a surprise to your team. These people will be integral to the daily work experience of existing employees, so their appointment must be handled delicately. Transparency with hiring decisions abates early waves of confusion or resentment.

New hires -- especially those at a management level -- should never be a surprise to your team. These people will be integral to the daily work experience of existing employees, so their appointment must be handled delicately. Transparency with hiring decisions abates early waves of confusion or resentment. Consider cultural fits. Consider personalities when hiring new management. Be sensitive to how applicants will mesh with those theyll supervise and work with daily. To start, this means you must be attuned to your teams personality types and office environment. For example, an over-the-top boss may overwhelm a quiet workplace. New hires should embolden the team you already have in place, not disrupt it.

Consider personalities when hiring new management. Be sensitive to how applicants will mesh with those theyll supervise and work with daily. To start, this means you must be attuned to your teams personality types and office environment. For example, an over-the-top boss may overwhelm a quiet workplace. New hires should embolden the team you already have in place, not disrupt it. Take advice from your team. If you trust your team, you should value their opinions during in the hiring process. While it might not always be practical to involve them directly in interviews, reach out for their advice on resumes or interview questions. As your team will work closely with this person, incorporating them into the hiring process will make them feel valued and possibly reveal insights about a candidate you might have otherwise missed. Listening to your team can even help you know when the right time to hire is. I host monthly lunches where I meet more casually with employees, and if I see that someone is stressed out or regularly hear workload concerns, thats a signal it might be time to bring in some support.

If you trust your team, you should value their opinions during in the hiring process. While it might not always be practical to involve them directly in interviews, reach out for their advice on resumes or interview questions. As your team will work closely with this person, incorporating them into the hiring process will make them feel valued and possibly reveal insights about a candidate you might have otherwise missed. Listening to your team can even help you know when the right time to hire is. I host monthly lunches where I meet more casually with employees, and if I see that someone is stressed out or regularly hear workload concerns, thats a signal it might be time to bring in some support. Value humility. Hiring externally often means new managers will be trained by those they supervise, so seek out prospects that exhibit humility. New management should never walk in thinking they know everything, but should instead be eager to learn from those around them. I learn from my team every single day, and I expect all employees to be open to doing the same.

In any situation where you choose to hire rather than promote, make sure you explain to your team why decisions were made. Employees should always feel important and useful, even when their value doesnt align directly with promotional needs.

Related: How to Say 'I'm the Best' Without Actually Saying It

Allow roles to evolve over time.

To handle growth, you also need to be flexible enough to expand upon the roles your brand started with. Our team made a commitment to doing things differently from the beginning. Going against industry norms, we always had a team member dedicated at least part-time to client relations. But as we won bigger business, we had to create an entire department to manage these client relationships. With a current team of seven full-time client service staff, developing this role has paid off in dividends in the long run.

We also see these changes happen with clients. When we started working with a luxury ecommerce retailer, we dealt with a single contact to coordinate all of our services. As their company and our services matured, our clients employee roles evolved, and we had to adjust accordingly.

Your team can help you adapt here. As the foundation of your brand, your employees have better awareness of what responsibilities are outdated and where opportunities for improvements exist. Let them be involved in defining new job descriptions -- invite them to a management meeting, or gather their feedback through an online survey. Not only are you likely to uncover new internal structure options, but you will also give staff the chance to vocalize concerns and find ways to increase performance in a mutually beneficial way. While the final decision on role updates should always be yours (or an executive teams), extra input is helpful.

Over the next few months -- or even years -- youll only ever be as good as the team you surround yourself with. Making the best hiring decisions and creating the right roles will be vital to your brands continued growth.

Related: Retaining Company Culture Comes Down to Hiring the Right People

Related:

Are You Ready to Make the Right Hiring Decisions for Your Growing Brand?

Why You Need to Avoid Hiring That Potentially Toxic Rockstar

This Company Believes Its Culture Is So Strong It Created a 128-Slide Deck for the World



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BEIJING, Jan. 26 -- China's central bank on Tuesday pumped the most funds in a single day since February 2013 into the financial system in open market operations to ease liquidity before the week-long Spring Festival holiday.

The People's Bank of China conducted 360 billion yuan (around 55 billion U.S. dollars) of 28-day reverse repurchase agreements (repo) and 80 billion yuan of seven-day reverse repo, a process in which central banks purchase securities from banks with agreements to resell them in the future.
Lucrecia Crump, 33, of Southfield Avenue, was charged Sunday with breach of peace and third-degree assault.

James Murphy, 25, of Fourth Street, was charged Sunday with leaving the scene of an accident.

Adrian Rodriguez, 28, of The Bronx, New York, was charged Sunday with disorderly conduct, possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Melvin Castaneda, 30, of Fairfield Avenue, was charged Saturday with disorderly conduct, forgery, criminal impersonation and interfering with police.

Luis Deaza, 20, of Morgan Street, was charged Friday with disorderly conduct.

Braulio Fajardo-Simon, 19, of Greenwich Avenue, was charged Friday with failure to appear at court.

Mario Marroquin, 35, of Custer Street, was charged Friday with driving while under the influence and driving outside of his license class.

Sarah Montaine, 45, of Birdsong Lane, was charged Friday with disorderly conduct.

William Ortega-Pinzon, 39, of Morgan Street, was charged Friday with disorderly conduct.

Alfredo Ramirez, 40, of William Street, was charged Friday with violation of a protective order.

John Spencer, 40, of Anton Street, Bridgeport, was charged Friday with possession of a controlled substance.

Paul Tirpack, 20, of Charles Street, was charged Friday with disorderly conduct.

Mirza Vucetovic, 24, of Givens Avenue, was charged Friday with threatening and driving under suspension.

Lawrence Kozar, 57, of South Pacific Street, was charged Thursday with failure to appear at court.

Julie Neiloss, 50, of Main Street, was charged Thursday with driving while under the influence.

Jose Bonilla, 34, of Ryer Avenue, The Bronx, New York, was charged Wednesday with violation of a protective order, second-degree harassment and disorderly conduct.

Lamont Burroughs, 47, of Park Avenue Bridgeport, was charged Wednesday with sixth-degree larceny, criminal trespass and violation of probation.

Donovan Carter, 21, of Pequot Lane, was charged Wednesday with violation of probation.

Luis Esposito, 41, of Virgil Street, was charged Wednesday with failure to appear in court.

Rudy Gonzalez-Zecena, 22, of Lipton Place, was charged Wednesday with violation of probation.

Tshitenge Loukaka, 21, of Bedford Street, was charged Wednesday with violation of probation.

Christopher Boyd, 24, of Courtland Avenue, was charged Tuesday with failure to appear at court.

Curtins Hawkins, 52, of Terrace Avenue, was charged Tuesday with failure to appear at court.

Morris Whyte, 31, of Orange Street, was charged Tuesday with interfering with police and criminal trespass.

David Kupczyk, 39, of Palmer Street, was charged Tuesday with failure to appear at court.

Dequan McBride, 35, of Hope Street, was charged Tuesday with sale of a controlled substance and sale of an hallucinogen or narcotic.

Robert Moore, 35, of Fairfield Avenue, was charged Tuesday with possession of narcotics and sale of a controlled substance.

Alexander Ojeda, 46, of Broad Street, Middletown, was charged Tuesday with fifth-degree larceny.

Victor Quinones, 23, of The Bronx, New York, was charged Tuesday with unlawful restraint, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct and strangulation.

Reginald Cadet, 18, of Connecticut Avenue was charged Monday with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.

Dorian Dixon, 34, of Washington Boulevard, was charged Monday with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.

Andrew Woltmann, 32, of Ohio Avenue, Norwalk, was charged Monday with possession of narcotics, obtaining drugs illegally and failure to keep narcotics in their original container.
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The Long Island Restoration and Stewardship Act passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday and will now head to the Senate floor. U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., along with Sens. Kristen Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., backed the bill that would guarantee $65 billion annually toward a pair of programs to improve water quality and shore restoration.

Im pleased that this measure to ensure the restoration of the Sound is now headed to the Senate floor, and I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that the Long Island Sound remains one of Connecticuts most treasured and valuable resources for years to come, Blumenthal said.

The House version of the same bill is under consideration in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Murphy, Senate Dems. block anti-immigration law

More Information How to reach them U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal 203-330-0598. Email: blumenthal.senate.gov/contact- U.S. Sen Chris Murphy 860-549-8463. Email: murphy.senate.gov/contact U.S. Rep. Jim Himes 866-453-0028. Email: himes.house.gov/contact-me/email-me- State Sen. L.Scott Frantz 800-842-1421. Email: ctsenaterepublicans.com/contact-frantz State Rep. Livvy Floren 800-842-1423. Email: livvy.floren@housegop.ct.gov- State Rep. William Tong 800-842-8267. Email: william.tong@cga.ct.gov State Sen. Carlo Leone 800-842-1420. Email: carlo.leone@cga.ct.gov- State Rep. Patricia Billie Miller 800-842-8267. Email: patricia.miller@cga.ct.gov State Rep. Caroline Simmons 800-842-8267. Email: caroline.simmons@cga.ct.gov - State Rep. Terry Adams Tel: none given. Email: terry.adams@cga.ct.gov State Rep. Daniel Fox 800-842-8267. Email: dan.fox@cga.ct.gov - Find your district: cga.ct.gov See More Collapse

Murphy released an impassioned statement on Wednesday following efforts by the Democratic minority to block the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act. The bill cleared the House with almost unanimous support in November shortly after the attacks in Paris.

However, Murphy and other Democrats complained that the bills many requirements for Syrian and Iraqi refugees wishing to come to the U.S. - including enhanced FBI background checks and individual sign-offs from three high-ranking federal officials - lacked efficacy and aimed primarily to slow the influx of refugees to a stop.

More than a year of interviews and background checks already make coming to the United States as a refugee the most difficult and time-consuming way to get into this country, Murphy said. Instead of scapegoating refugees, the Senate should be considering bipartisan measures to authorize the war against ISIS, cure security gaps in our broader immigration system, and keep weapons away from suspected terrorists.

Simmons holds court

Ahead of the upcoming legislative session, beginning on Feb. 3, State Rep. Caroline Simmons, D-144, met with constituents on Thursday for Coffee and Conversation at the Donut Delight in Glenbrook, to address their issues and concerns.
Tensions over flight delays at a South Korean airport erupted into anger when one stranded Chinese holidaymaker threw chairs in a check-in area, Global Times reported on Monday. According to the YTN of Korea, one Chinese tourist was detained after the airport brawl in Jeju Airport.

Jeju International Airport on South Korea's southernmost resort island resumed operations Monday after being shut down by heavy snow for some 45 hours, the local government said. Severe weather forced cancellations or delays to hundreds of flights at Jeju International Airport on Sunday and Monday, stranding more than 80,000 passengers, among which 1,400 slept in the airport, according to a report by Taiwan's Central News Agency.

Irritated by the delays, many Chinese passengers crowded around airline counters to complain, with one man throwing chairs behind staff in the luggage conveyor belt area, according to the local media.

The flood of delays created a shortage of emergency blankets and a number of passengers had to bunk down on cardboard on the floor to sleep. One Chinese passenger said he spent HK$65 for a piece of cardboard so his sick mother would have something to lie down on. The Ministry of Land and Transportation offered travelers staying in the airport 300 blankets, 100 mats, 500 loaves of bread and 2,000 bottles of water, but many still ended up sleeping on the freezing floor.
T he Chancellor surprised the Square Mile as he made banking supremo Andrew Bailey head of the main City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority.

Bailey, a deputy governor of the Bank of England and head of Prudential Regulation Authority, will move to the financial watchdog as soon as he has been replaced at the Bank.

The Chancellor sacked Baileys predecessor Martin Wheatley last summer after they clashed over how the regulator should be acting towards banks, with the Chancellor demanding a more conciliatory approach to that seen since the financial crisis of 2008.

Tracy McDermott, who has been acting head of the FCA since Wheatleys departure but recently ruled herself out of the full-time job, will stay on until Bailey arrives.

George Osborne said: We have cast the net far and wide for this crucial appointment and, having led the Bank of Englands response to the financial crisis, Andrew is simply the most respected, most experienced and most qualified person in the world to do the job.

"Anyone who has dealt with Andrew knows he will be tough but fair, and understands the flaws and merits of the sector better than anyone."

The five-year appointment of Bailey came as a surprise because headhunters appointed by the Treasury had drawn up a short list which was reportedly made up of the heads of foreign financial regulators, including those in Australia and Switzerland.

It also follows accusations that the Bank had put pressure on the FCA when it dropped a wide-ranging report into the banking culture this month.The Bank denied that.

Osborne said: His appointment is an important next step in the establishment of the FCA as a strong regulator, independent of government and industry.

As head of the PRA, the reformed regulator of banks, Bailey oversaw the near collapse and rescue of Co-op Bank and is seen by senior bankers as a pragmatic but tough practitioner.

Osborne said: The government is determined that the financial sector operates to the highest standards. Anyone who has dealt with Andrew knows he will be tough but fair, and understands the flaws and merits of the sector better than anyone.

Bailey, 56, has been at the Bank for more than 30 years, including a period when, as chief cashier, he signed all UK banknotes.

He is set almost to double his pay from the 346,000 he received at the Bank. His basic pay is set at slightly less than Wheatleys 460,000 and with bonuses will be slightly less than the 700,000 Wheatley got in his final full year.

His replacement is likely to come internally. Bailey is one of four deputies.
E asyJet has revealed its revenues fell sharply in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks that killed 130 people but struck a more upbeat tone on its prospects this year.

The airline said that revenue per seat fell by 3.7% between October and December, although total revenues for the first quarter were down by just 0.1% to 930 million.

The greatest impact was due to a fall-off in demand in the wake of the Paris attacks, but the cancellation of all flights to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, due to security fears, was also a factor.

Flights to Sharm remain suspended until at least 27 May.

Shares in easyJet fell by 1% to 1614p, while rival airlines IAG and Flybe also saw their share prices track lower as investors feared similar impacts.

In the aftermath of Paris, revenue per seat was down in the high single digits in November and December, the airline admitted.

However, easyJet said that forward bookings for the second quarter were showing a marked improvement.

Total passengers flown in the first quarter was still 8.1% higher than at the same point in 2014, following the airlines addition of more seats.

Chief executive Carolyn McCall said it would focus on reducing costs this year, to ensure an increase in profits and dividends.

EasyJet said that it would take advantage of the low cost of aviation fuel to increase its available seats by about 7% this year.

Cost cutting: EasyJet boss Carolyn McCall (Picture: Reuters) / Francois Lenoir/Reuters

The airline estimates that its fuel bill for the full year is likely to be between 165 million and 180 million lower than it was last year.

It said it was on course to meet pre-tax profit forecasts of 738 million for the year, almost 8% up on 2015.

James Hollins, analyst at Nomura, said the French and Egyptian issues had been more damaging than expected but these are relatively exceptional and short-term issues.

Separately, easyHotel, the budget hotels company, has granted hefty share options to its chief executive Guy Parsons and finance director Marc Vieilledent.

The awards, worth 437,401 to Parsons and 349,921 to Vieilledent, will rile the budget brands founder and major shareholder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who tried to block the pay deals.
F ashionable City workers in St Pauls will soon have a new Hackett store to shop in, as part of expansion plans unveiled on Tuesday by the preppy menswear brand.

Hackett said it will open shops in Londons One New Change shopping centre, Leeds and Tokyo before the end of 2016.

The openings will bring its global stores and franchise numbers to around 110.

Accounts just filed show turnover rose 2.8% to 110 million in the year to March 31 2015.

The UK accounted for 32 million of sales and the firm noted a strong performance at its Regent Street flagship store and improved online sales.

There was also good interest from the European, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern markets.

Pre-tax profit dropped to 1 million from nearly 7 million, which Hackett blamed on one-off transactions such as property leasing deals.

The retailer started life in Portobello Road in 1979 and was bought by Pepe Jeans in 2005.
T he Russian fund attempting to oust the management of explorer JKX Oil & Gas has attacked the board over its decision to bar two major shareholders from the crucial vote this week.

The Eclairs vehicle, controlled by Ukrainian raiders Igor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov; and Glengary, controlled by Alexander Zhukov, a Russian, collectively own 38% of JKX but will not be allowed to vote in Thursdays meeting, called by 20% shareholder Proxima.

The latest ban comes after a bar on Eclairs and Glengary voting was overturned last November.

JKX has accused them of giving false or materially incorrect information.

Proxima boss Vladimir Tatarchuk said: Given this comes just weeks after the Supreme Court ruled that a previous attempt by the same board to disenfranchise these same shareholders was unlawful and an abuse of power, this action would, at a minimum, appear to go against the spirit of the way that business is meant to be carried out in the City of London.
W ith the conduct regulator of the worlds biggest financial centre (by some measures) in the midst of a profound crisis, Chancellor George Osborne has pulled a rabbit out of his hat.

Appointing Andrew Bailey to run the Financial Conduct Authority is close to being a masterstroke.

You do rather wonder how on earth he pulled it off, short of getting down on his hands and knees in Baileys office and saying please, please, please.

The FCA has problems. Its previous boss Martin Wheatley was elbowed out, in part because the banks really didnt like him. He was seen as being too tough.

It has since faced accusations of having succumbed to undue influence from the Treasury in dropping an investigation into banking culture, at a time when the Treasury has been making a rather obvious attempt to make nice with the City.

Those accusations have been denied, but they would still have made it tough for the Chancellor to appoint one of his civil servants, such as head of financial services Charles Roxburgh, to the role.

Appointing someone from the City might have proved a similarly tough sell. Not to mention the fact that they dont come cheap.

The boss of Australias securities regulator Greg Medcraft and Mark Branson, who runs Switzerlands Finma, have been mentioned. But it would take time for them to get

up to speed, and to grips with the roles political tightrope.

Bailey has none of those problems. He helped set up the FCA, and sits on its board. He is liked and respected by the banks, even if they dont always like what hes done to them in terms of capital requirements.

But that just adds to his store of credibility. Hes even agreed to take a slight pay cut.

Im told he took what could be described as the toughest job in the City because he believed it was the right thing to do. Thats extremely rare in British public life. If there is a downside for Osborne, its this: Bailey will continue to do what he feels is right. He certainly wont be bullied.

Fergusons fame

Posh estate agent Savills is getting a new chairman in the form of Nick Ferguson, the one-time private-equity mogul-turned-Sky chairman.

If that name sounds familiar, it is because Ferguson famously blew the whistle on something rotten in the tax system.

It was absurd, he said, that his private-equity pals paid less than their cleaners.

Ferguson didnt make himself particularly popular with them by exposing the scam.

However, despite a desperate need for deficit-closing revenues, it took eight years for the loophole he exposed to be more or less closed. So they had plenty of time to party.
T he UK banking industrys long-term problem child  Royal Bank of Scotland  might just be misunderstood by investors.

Thats the view of UBS, which suggested the bailed-out banks share price slump  it has plunged 17% this year  now makes it worth buying.

Analysis from UBSs Jason Napier implies investors believe sorting out the legacy issues  namely fines for PPI mis-selling, market rigging and litigation  will cost RBS 19 billion, almost two-thirds of its total value.

He also expects more than half of its market capitalisation to be returned to investors through dividends by 2020.

RBS rose 3.6p to 254.9p and rival taxpayer-backed lender Lloyds, which gained 0.45p at 63.59p as UBS named it its key call, were among the few risers on another day for investors to forget.

The FTSE 100 lost 74.06 points, or 1.3%, to 5802.94 as a barrel of Brent crude oil dropped back below $30 and Chinas stock market crashed 6%.

Investors ignored an upgrade to Buy on Vodafone from Jefferies as the mobile giants shares drifted 3.75p to 214.75p. The investment bank said Vodafone needs to strike a deal with US suitor Liberty Global, to secure its long-term prospects, but that it might be more likely now the values of both groups have shrunk.

Troubled oil services companies came under more pressure as HSBC said buyers of the distressed companies would not swoop until they became even cheaper.

Amec Foster Wheeler, downgraded to Hold, fell 12.9p to 368.3p, Weir Group, now rated underperform, retreated 42p to 801.5p, and Petrofac was 15p cheaper at 704p as its target price was slashed by HSBC.

In the retail world, softer pre-Christmas sales left carpet retailer Carpetright 48p worse off at 402p, and Card Factory down 7.4p to 341.3p e  even after a strong update. Conviviality sank 1.5p to 202.5p as the Bargain Booze owner welcomed David Robinson, formerly of Argos, as managing director of retail business.

Pinewood Group, the film and TV studios under pressure from Richard Bernsteins activist fund Crystal Amber, improved 0.85p to 425.85p as it laid out plans to tap into the thriving TV drama production industry.

David Lenigass AfriAg, the African logistics company the Australian entrepreneur once dubbed Lonrho Mark 2, crashed 0.03p or 18% to 0.12p after it unveiled plans to cancel its AIM shares, leaving just an ISDX listing.
I fly the flag for Imperial Innovations without any shame. It celebrates its 10th anniversary as public company this year and fully deserves to do so.

From its earliest days as the exploiter of technologies and intellectual property developed at Imperial College, the business has grown to include UCL and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge among its partners. So Imperial Innovations was already at the centre of a golden triangle of intellectual property.

Two deals this month mark a step change. In the first, Imperial and the European Investment Fund each put up 25 million over the next five years to fund and exploit UCL developments in life and physical sciences.

The second saw a unique combination of AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson & Johnson each putting 10 million into a pot along with 3.3 million apiece from Imperial, UCL and Cambridge University for therapeutic research and developing new medicines.

The latter is particularly fascinating because of the way the big pharmas have bought a seat at the table but then have to bid against each other to get hold of the most attractive developments.

The two deals dramatically increase the volume of potential developments to which Imperial has access and at the same time, because of the scale of funding and contractual relationships with its partners, should greatly speed up how quickly they can be brought to market.

I tipped the shares at 412p in April 2014 and they have been as high as 525p since. Sadly, they are now down to 375p but I reckon it is again time to back a business that really is turning London into an intellectual capital powerbase.
T esco repeatedly and deliberately withheld money owed to suppliers without warning to boost its sales performance ahead of revealing its results to the stock market, the supermarket watchdog has found.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) also said that the supermarket would encourage suppliers to give it extra cash in return for more control over where products appeared on shelves or to avoid losing out to rivals.

Christine Tacon, the GCA head, demanded Tesco improve relations with suppliers, stop taking money from them without permission and speed up correcting the numerous errors that would occur on its payment systems.

She also said all finance and buying teams must be trained in the findings of the investigation.

The report is the first major publication into Tesco's internal workings since the company admitted it had overstated profits under the leadership of Phil Clarke.

"The most shocking thing I found was how widespread it was and that it was in every sector and every supplier I spoke to had evidence in delays in payments."

It paints a picture of a culture where staff were encouraged to boost margins at any cost and ignore pleas for payment.

In one case Tacon found that Tesco had withheld a multi-million pound payment from one supplier for over two years. Several suppliers also made margin payments of 1 million to Tesco, regardless of whether more of their products had been sold.

The report will now be passed onto the Serious Fraud Office who are conducting a criminal investigation into Tesco, which will look at whether the company lied to the stock market or any directors broke the law.

Tuesday's findings are expected to also be used by investors who may want to sue Tesco for the collapse in share price since the revelations in September 2014.

Tacon revealed: "The most shocking thing I found was how widespread it was and that it was in every sector and every supplier I spoke to had evidence in delays in payments.

"A Tesco list of methods for meeting the half-year target included 'Not paying back money owed'.

"The evidence I received revealed a number of examples of Tesco deliberately deferring payment of money in order to maintain its margin at key financial reporting periods.

"I find that Tesco knowingly delayed paying money to suppliers in order to improve its own financial position."

She added: "In particular, requests for payments to meet margin targets appeared to be more prevalent at the end of trading periods. Some suppliers reported that what set Tesco apart from other retailers was the pressure it put on suppliers at the end of a financial quarter, half-year or full-year."

The supermarket also avoided dealing with suppliers it was in dispute with, and Tacon pointed out "one of the key cultural factors" which caused the delays was an apparent "reluctance of some Tesco buyers to pro-actively engage in the resolution of payment disputes. There were times when Tesco did not appear to even attempt to resolve supplier concerns before unilaterally deducting money from suppliers."

Tesco boss Dave Lewis has four weeks to decide how Tesco will respond (Picture: Reuters) / Neil Hall/Reuters

Bosses were in breach of the code on payment delays, but not on charging suppliers directly for prominent positioning on shelves. However, she found that there were examples of indirect charging, which may require the code to be modified.

The GCA only recently were granted the power to fine supermarkets, but not retrospectively, meaning Tesco avoided a fine.

The report did find, however, that Tesco has subsequently improved its relations with suppliers after chief executive Dave Lewis simplified the supply chain.
F or British voters the EU referendum is a once-in-a-generation choice. For British businesses it is also the most important political decision many of us will ever be involved in.

The result is going to define our relationship with our closest geographical neighbours for decades to come.

I have previously expressed concern that businesses are avoiding the debate. I feared voters would go to the polls without a clear idea of the views of British business. But in recent weeks weve seen a steady stream of interventions by UK firms in the debate.

US giant Citi warned that it is almost inevitable that, outside the EU, the UK would have inferior access to EU goods and services markets compared with the current position. JP Morgan said the negative impact of Brexit could result in jobs moving out of the UK.

Since the start of November last year, financial institutions which have warned of the consequences of leaving Europe include: Morgan Stanley, Moodys, Standard and Poors, Fitch, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, UBS, BNP Paribas, Royal Bank of Scotland, Societe Generale, Barclays and HSBC.

A 2013 CityUK survey of business leaders showed that 84 per cent wanted Britain to stay in the EU and 95 per cent said access to the single market was important for competitiveness. Repeated surveys show the tech industry thinks we should stay in Europe too.

All businesses who have a stake should make their voices heard  and early. We do not want a repeat of the Scottish referendum, when businesses were too slow to speak out. All sides of the argument should want to ensure we have a well-informed public debate before the referendum.

The City institutions which have spoken out employ many thousands of people in this country. Britain is, in the words of economist Will Hutton, the location capital of the world.

Firms from Europe, the US, Japan and further afield have invested vast sums of money and created a huge number of jobs in this country in recent years.Much of this is down to our place in Europe. EU rules mean European firms can invest here without difficulty  we have received 24 billion in investment a year from the continent in the past decade  while non-European companies, particularly American ones, use London and the rest of Britain as their base within the European market. Leave that market, and the attraction for such firms will diminish.

Much of the wariness the City feels about a Brexit comes down to the lack of realistic alternatives. As Citi put it: Norway and Switzerland have only limited trade access in services (a key issue for the UK)  even though they accept free movement of EU nationals and workers (something those favouring Brexit would be unwilling to concede).

If we seek to leave the EU but remain part of the single market, we will have to accept all the rules and obligations with no say in making them. Quit altogether and we lose our trouble-free access to European markets.

The stark reality of this choice for UK firms will become clear as we approach the referendum.

The stakes are too high for businesses to sit this one out.

Mark Boleat is chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee of the City of London Corporation.
Baby pears, a popular fruit moulded into a figurine as it is grown in China, has recently become a best-selling food on the markets of Vietnam, reported by Vietnamese media.

With the cute modeling and character for 'Fu' (blessing) across the figure's chest, this 'baby pear' attracted many customers and was regarded as 'the god of wealth pear' by local merchants. It was the veritable god of wealth because it was widely sold across the Vietnam.

The best-selling 'baby pears' in the market of Vietnam. (File photo)

The fruits are grown inside a mould, shaping them into figurines. 'Baby pears' were sold in different regions of China in the past few years.

"In addition to the shapes of god of wealth, the moulded fruits that feature the god of longevity and Maitreya Buddha are also widely sold in Vietnam. I started to sell baby pears in December last year for about 13 RMB each. At the beginning, I never thought that they would be so popular in the market; I just stocked several cases of baby pears. Later I almost sold out a ton of these fruits. A number of customers were attracted by their cute appearances and beautiful meanings, hoping to bring luck and wealth to families," Ruan Dehe, a fruit merchant in Vietnam told the reporter.

The plastic fruits shaped as the god of longevity and cute baby. (File photo)

Baby pears also became a hit in local markets of Ho Chi Minh, the biggest city in Vietnam. Baby pears have a long shelf life of about two or three months. The local media thought that may be too many preservatives were being used to extend the expiration date. However, most of the local customers did not care about whether the preservatives were used or not. Because they bought the shaped fruits and displayed them at home for good luck. "They are so cute, how can we have the heart to eat them?" said some customers.

The best-selling 'baby pears' in the market of China. (File photo)



The best-selling 'baby pears' in the market of China. (File photo)
D espite being told to wait and see what the treaty brings us, we have broken free. The European referendum debate is up and running. The SNPs Nicola Sturgeon may want more time but those of us in the business of clinging on to reader interest reckon a June deadline sounds fine. I seem to remember Gordon Brown hesitating about calling an election because he thought more time would make him and his policies more appealing. Events almost always work against politicians  better to go early before everything gets worse.

Yesterday a dashing list of female businesswomen and academics wrote to the Evening Standard with their reasons for why we should stay in. Borgen has spoken! Meanwhile, Michael Caine is a big hitter for the other side.

You could say it is wrong to be swayed by celebrity opinion but we are bound to be influenced by who is on either side. George Osborne is certainly banking on the out of Europe cast list. The pro-Europeans calculate that Boris Johnson and Theresa May will reluctantly line up with the rest of the Cabinet, so the only two out on a limb are Chris Grayling and Theresa Villiers.

I am told Osborne is dead keen on Grayling remaining the face of opposition. The wild card would be if Zac Goldsmith were to lose the London mayoral race and announce on May 6 that he was leading the Brexit campaign instead.

The demographic of the stay in Europe campaign is younger, more educated, urban and tech-savvy. Evening Standard readers, in other words. The campaign has so far targeted social media and now needs the endorsement of the mainstream media to lend clout.

So far everything is going to plan. There is a confidence in David Camerons negotiations. We have proved that Europe can bear our associate status. We already have it in the key economic area, with our disassociation form the euro zone. We have it on border control with our Schengen opt-out, which the rest of Europe now envies. Can we just get one more stake in the ground on sovereignty?

Whatever Cameron comes away with, campaigners must embrace the heart as well as the head. What the pro-Europeans need to answer is the artless precision of Caines observation: Youve now got in Europe a sort of government by proxy of everybody who has got carried away. It is on a par with PD James skewering former BBC director-general Mark Thompson on BBC salaries, or the Queens shrewd comment on the financial crisis: Why did no one see it coming? 

How can we demonstrate that we have some control over our national destiny? I am deeply interested in the views of Martha Lane Fox, Dame Anne Glover or Ruth Rogers on Europe but it is the wording on Camerons treaty which clinches it. The civil servant who finds an acceptable phrase to replace ever closer union , or quietly drops it, will be the saviour.

Political push can make electric dreams reality

Like many others, I bought a diesel car because the Government persuaded us that it was an act of good citizenship, and duly lowered the tax. I now regard the wheezing vehicle with shame. This being London, I do not use it much.

My children are entering a post-private car era and are at ease with car share or rental. One has no interest in learning to drive. So Londoners are open-minded about transport.

My next car, I hope, will be a Tesla, which was recommended to me by the Transport for London representative whom I met at an electric vehicle event the other day.

The event was hosted by the company Bluepoint London, which is spending 100 million on setting up the infrastructure for electric cars in London, in particular the charging points.

My impression is that London is ready to embrace the electric car revolution but is anxious about the practicalities. We are all used to fretting about charging our phones, now we have to go through the same conversation on cars. Who hogs the rapid chargers? How do we take electric vehicles from being a luxury of wealthy, eco Londoners with driveways to mass use.

When white van man goes green, we are in business. I have no doubt that we will make the change, for London has to do something about air quality. But we need a shove from the Government.

Teslas are the top-selling cars in Norway because of generous subsidies. It was the last government that lured us into buying diesel.

We need penance from the political class and a whopping incentive to go electric.

Let sweet music do the talking

Sometimes a promotion for a film does not do it justice. I expected Lady in the Van to be a heart-warming comedy but was struck instead by its profundity.

It is honest about what it means to be a writer, scorching on faith, pro kindness. What makes the film linger is the potency of Chopin and Schubert. On Saturday, I saw Clare Hammond playing Brahms at a concert in a Cambridge college. Hammond, who plays the young Maggie Smith character in Lady in the Van, did not advertise her cinematic fame in the concert programme, which showed admirable modesty. It is all about the music.

* A young woman I know has been laid off from her waitressing job because the gastropub she works at is being refurbished. The notice she received extolled the virtues of progress, reminding her that cars took over from the horse and carts. The eager capitalism of the writer is touching but it is tactless to tell someone there is a great journey ahead, which they will not be joining.

Who wants to be a cart? HR could perhaps try the word sorry.
A re we on the edge of another crash? The latest 2008 crunch movie, The Big Short, is an eerie sensation for Londoners. In the last quarter, prices in prime central London property (PCL) have started to slide. Sales of those over 5 million are down by a quarter to a half. Hundreds of off-plan luxury sales are being returned before completion. The consultants Property Vision calculate that 54,000 flats priced at more than 1 million are coming to market in the next two years, thanks largely to Mayor Boris Johnsons tower block free-for-all. Such flats currently have 3,900 buyers a year. This must mean trouble.

As in the movie, we assume there is a nerd in a Shoreditch attic peering into his screen and muttering: Oh my God, its all moving down. Estate agency researchers frantically hype the market, pleading with vendors not to slash prices. Policy-makers and regulators take no notice. They are all the herd. That is how the bubble fills to bursting.

All my life I have endured Londons most tedious dinner topic: Do you know what my house was/is worth? My head crashes into my plate at another wail: My children simply cant afford to live anywhere near us. I tend to give the macho reply: If they cant take the heat, get out of town. There are plenty who can.

Reading the London property market is an art not a science but a little history helps. London house prices have always been high when the city booms. According to Savills, mainstream (non-prime) London prices have risen since the crash by just three per cent a year in real terms. That is slower than New York, Tokyo, San Francisco, Sydney and Stockholm. This suggests London will see no big short, like the negative equity of the Nineties.

On the other hand, there are now two markets. The luxury one is clearly heading for a crash, engineered by George Osborne and Boris Johnson, consultants in chaos to the London rich. They have turned Londons multi-million pound properties into a global reserve currency  they call it growth  seizing an estimated 8 billion of residential London property and rendering it unused and economically inert.

Johnsons claim that buy-to-leave is inward investment suggests the need for an economics degree. This mostly laundered money has merely bought a flat. Most buyers do not live, work or spend in London. This same market has coated parts of London in hideous blocks and towers, such as those along the South Bank. Londons truly residential rich want to live in town houses, not somewhere like a Moscow suburb.

This market has nothing to do with Londons housing need. Only after the crash, when many of these high-maintenance gated estates will slither downmarket, will they become new slums and serve at least some purpose. In what appears to be the work of a guilty conscience, Osborne is set to help this on its way by pricking the bubble with a swingeing new stamp duty. If a smooth Singaporean had just sold me a Thamesside two-bedder off-plan, I would sell it quick and buy something safe, such a oil shares.

Meanwhile Londons so-called mainstream housing market should handle a downturn better. Osbornes various deposit and mortgage subsidies  classic wealthfare spending  will help underpin prices. Banks are keeping tight control on their loan terms, leaving little scope for the sub-prime and liar lending that caused the last bubble to burst.

More to the point, whatever the medias crisis hysteria says, buying a London property has seldom been so affordable. I bought my first studio flat in the Seventies and it cost four times my starter salary. The 85 per cent mortgage cost 17 per cent. It consumed 40 per cent of my income and was crippling. That same job today also buys a studio flat at the same multiple. But the mortgage is four per cent, which consumes a mere 15 per cent of income.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders index has Londons average mortgage interest in 1990 consuming 30 per cent of average income. That is 10 per cent today. Yes, the deposit is bigger and payment may take longer, but no one can say London property is less affordable to buy.

The difference between my experience and the same studio today is its location, no longer in Camden but in points east and south  though still in Zone 1. The great London house-price conversation has never been about money but about class.

'By restricting the supply of lettings, the Government will simply raise rents for the 300,000 newcomers each year who really do want to live and work in London'

The question is whether Osborne and Johnson will continue to shift properties from the home and mainstream market into the luxury and foreign. Even now, Johnson is backing the maddest rich-mans project in Europe, Irvine Sellars desire for a Paddington Pole to tower the height of the Shard over Maida Vale. Apart from its visual outrage, it will contain just 330 (doubtless empty) flats, on what was publicly owned land where double or treble that number of low-rise properties could be built. The project is to do with nothing but vanity.

Londons best hope for more and cheaper houses has always lain in making the best use of the land and buildings it already has. It has the lowest residential densities of any big European city. That is why it makes no sense for Osborne to clamp down on the most efficient housing sector  private renting or buy-to-let.

Buy-to-let is better than buy-to-leave. Its houses make money by being lived in, not left empty. In much of London, renting is all there is for immigrants and the poor, who cannot access social housing. By restricting the supply of lettings, the Government will simply raise rents for the 300,000 newcomers each year who really do want to live and work in London.

Big short or not, the metropolis will be left with the monsters, scars and bruises of its latest battle with the demons of politics. A few rich will lose their shirts. The poor will be poorer. The city for sure will be uglier.
Arguably, the question of whats smoking hot for next season has never been easier to answer than it is right now: its all about Vetements.

The French fashion house, created by the hard-working hands of a collective of 16 designers, is among the most lauded labels around. It helps, of course, that its founder Demna Gvasalia - formerly of Margiela and Louis Vuitton - is poised to unveil his debut collection for Balenciaga in March.

But the Vetements revolution is about much more than one man. Or even the novelty factor of a brand thats born out of the determination of one deliberately anonymous group of designers who are keen to avoid entanglement in the high-speed machine.

In its own words, Vetements is a label that studies, dissects and redefines the essence of fashion by creating garments that are intended to be worn. To that end, its designers do not take their cues from a general theme or mood hanging in the air but from individual and seasonless pieces which are intended to be worn with whatever the wearer likes.

In pretentious terms, the labels success suggests a shift in fashions tectonic plates. Put bluntly, Gvasalia and his comrades want to create clothes based on the shapes and styles we already wear but with creative twists and in interesting textiles. For our wardrobes, Vetements brings some epic genderless tailoring, super-lux hooded sweaters and, most memorably, a series of ruffle-trim floral print dresses.

The designers approach has won a vast number of fans - particularly with the trend-weary members of the fashion industry. So much so that one red sweater dress from the labels autumn/winter collection was a recurring addition to the front-row during the last round of shows.

As a result, Vetements has become a signifier of cool - notably for matchesfashion.com, which was first to stock it in the UK.

Admittedly on first glance the collections can look a little out-there. But look closely and youll find thats a result of styling - the models in the spring/summer show all had cropped buzz cuts and took to the catwalk with some serious swagger - rather than clothes that are designed to intimidate.

I am not sure that people initially understood the oversizing and raw edging, notes Natalie Kingham, buying director at matchesfashion.com. Your eye has to re-adjust as you are looking at something completely new.
C hinese New Year, one of the most important and auspicious festivals in the Chinese calendars, falls on Monday February 8. This year marks the Year of the Monkey, which London dim sum restaurant Yauatcha is celebrating with a collaboration iwth Monkey 27 Gin. If you want to raise a glass to the new Chinese year at home, why not raise it in the form of a delicious macaron, flavoured with G&T? Simply follow the recipe below:

INGREDIENTS (makes 30 macarons)

For the shells

300g ground almonds

300g icing sugar

220g egg white

280g caster sugar

55ml water

Grapefruit and Monkey 47 Pate du fruit

800g grapefruit puree

400g jam sugar

150g liquid Glucose

20g lemon juice

130g Monkey 47 Gin

Tonic Buttercream

100g egg whites

180g caster sugar

60g water

200g unsalted butter, soft

400g tonic water

METHOD

For the Shells

Place the ground almonds, icing sugar and half the egg whites in a mixing bowl and mix together to form a smooth paste. Remove from the mixing bowl and set aside. Clean the mixing bowl and paddle thoroughly.

Place the remaining egg whites in the clean mixing bowl and begin to whisk on low speed.

Put the caster sugar and water into a pan and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Once dissolved, increase the heat and use a sugar thermometer to monitor the temperature of the sugar syrup. When the temperature of the sugar syrup has reached 105C, increase the mixer speed to high and add the remaining 20g of caster sugar to the egg whites to help stabilise the meringue.

Once the sugar syrup has reached 118C (soft ball stage), reduce the mixer speed to medium and gently pour the hot liquid into the egg whites in a slow, steady stream. Increase the mixer speed to high and mix for one minute. If colour is required, reduce the speed to low, add the desired food colouring and whisk until combined, or until the meringue has cooled to blood temperature and is thick and glossy.

Fold one third of the meringue into the almond mixture with a spatula and mix carefully until incorporated.

Repeat with another third of the mixture and when incorporated, fold in the remaining meringue and mix until smooth and shiny.

Pour the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a plain 10mm nozzle and pipe 45mm rounds on to baking trays lined with silicone baking paper. Leave to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes so that a dry skin forms on the top of the macarons.

While the macarons are resting, pre-heat the oven to 130C/Gas mark . Place the baking trays in the oven for 1718 minutes until the macarons just peel off the paper. Allow to cool completely before filling and decorating.

For the Grapefruit and Monkey 47 Pate de Fruit

Place the grapefruit puree into a pan with the liquid glucose and bring to the boil.

Place the jam sugar into a bowl and whisk into the boiling puree, cook on a moderate heat until it reaches 104C.

Add in the citric acid and mix well. Then add in the Gin, finally pour onto a tray lined with baking paper.

Allow to cool and set, and then blend and place into a piping bag.

For the Tonic Buttercream

Boil the tonic water gently until it reduces to 20g.

Whisk the egg whites on a moderate speed. Meanwhile place the caster sugar and water into a pan and boil until the temperature reaches 118c, gently pour over the whisked egg whites.

Increase the speed and whisk the egg whites until the meringue reaches 36.5 degrees, gradually mix in the soft butter and whisk until smooth and fluffy.

Add the tonic reduction and use immediately.

The Gin & Tonic macarons are part of Yauatcha's Chinese New Year menu, available at Yauatcha Soho and Yauatcha City from Jan 25-Feb 21; yauatcha.com

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A man followed a teenage girl before grabbing her and trying to rip her jeans from her in a terrifying attack in west London.

Police said a man passed a 17-year-old girl a few times as she walked with friends in South Harrow in the early hours of Friday, January 16.

He then got out of the car and walked past several times, before the girls friends got on a bus and she set out to walk home from Northolt Road.

As she turned into an alley off Pett's Hill, the man allegedly grabbed her and tried to pull her jeans off before she screamed for help and fought against the man, who fled back down the alley.

Detective Constable Chris Dover, from Ealing CID, said: "Although this incident took place in the early hours, Northolt Road is a main thoroughfare which would have had many cars and people using it.

"This man may have been loitering in the area for some time so I am appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time and noticed someone acting suspiciously to contact me."

Police want to speak to a man who is described as Asian, between 19 and 28-years-old, of slim build with a shaved head around the back and sides and long black hair on top. He was wearing a black puffer jacket, possibly with red on the arms and jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ealing CID via 101 quoting reference 2501296/16. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
A south-east London paedophile who filmed himself abusing girls as young as eight on a trip to the Philippines has been jailed for 19 years and six months for his "depraved and revolting" behaviour.

Trevor Monk, 47, travelled to the Far East with the sole purpose of abusing children and kept thousands of indecent pictures and videos on his computer, including mementos from his trip.

The Old Bailey heard how Monk gave "facilitators" thousands of pounds for access to the children during a two-week holiday in the spring of 2014.

Between December 2010 and November 2014 he also transferred a total of 14,740 to accounts in the Philippines in exchange for live streams of young girls being abused.

An examination of computer equipment found at Monk's home revealed tens of thousands of indecent images and videos of children, and evidence that he had himself molested young girls in the Philippines.

Just one of the computers contained evidence of more than 43,000 indecent images of children.

Records of Yahoo chat logs revealed negotiations of payments between Monk and the women in the Philippines. In one discussion he told a woman "1,500 for the girl, 500 for you".

Using the messaging service, Monk also arranged to meet up with his facilitators and young girls when he visited the Philippines.

During the trip, Monk filmed a number of girls touching themselves and could even be heard in the footage encouraging them.

Sentencing him for a total of 18 offences today, Judge Anuja Dhir told Monk: "I have no doubt from the material I have seen today you had a perverted fascination with young females and that is what led you to behave in this abhorrent manner.

"Your actions were depraved and revolting. It is astonishing that anyone would want to film such abuse, but you did. I have no doubt you did so so that you could watch it again for your own sexual gratification."

Monk, from Erith, had previously pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, assault of a child under 13 by penetration and sexual assault of a child under 13.

He further admitted two counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, six counts of causing a child to engage in a sexual act, one count of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence, three counts of making indecent photographs of children and three counts of possessing indecent photographs of children.
T he chairman of a London hospital today told of how his colleagues saved his life after he was struck by a flesh-eating bug.

Steve Hitchins had to have his left leg amputated after he contracted a deadly bacterial infection known as necrotising fasciitis.

The 64-year-old, who works at Whittington Hospital in Archway, was taken to the A&E department where doctors managed to save his life but were unable to save his leg.

Mr Hitchins said he is unable to recall much of what happened  including eight operations.

I recall saying to my wife one night that I wasnt feeling very well and that I was going to lie down for a bit, he said. I woke up 12 days later in intensive care. I was apparently conscious for much of the time but I dont remember anything.

Mr Hitchins spent 49 days in hospital, much of it in intensive care, after he was admitted on October 3 last year. He added: Im very lucky to be alive and while Ive lost my leg, life goes on. Im determined to carry on as normal. The doctors tell me my recovery is remarkable, but so was their care.

The former leader of Islington council, who is married to the Lib-Dem Baroness Sarah Ludford, suffers from Type 1 diabetes which means he is more susceptible to infection.

However, there is no direct link between the condition and necrotising fasciitis.

According to the NHS, there are around 500 cases of the infection each year in the UK. Early symptoms include severe pain that progresses into a fever, followed by limb swelling, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Large blisters appear before the body suffers a severe fall in blood pressure caused by poisons released by the bacteria. The flesh is then consumed by the bug. There is no vaccine and one in three victims die before doctors can suppress the disease with antibiotics.

Mr Hitchins has been using a wheelchair and is learning to walk again at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore.
M ost Londoners are appalled at the level of rough sleeping in the capital and want the next mayor to better use powers to tackle the problem, a report found today.

A group of 21 charities, including Crisis, St Mungos and Centrepoint, called for a drive to end the growing homelessness on Londons streets.

The Lead London Home campaign said the average homeless person dies aged just 47  30 years younger than the national average  and is 13 times more likely to be a victim of violence.

More than 7,500 people slept rough in London last year, including 880 under-25s, and research by Crisis shows the figure has almost doubled in six years.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: London is one of the wealthiest cities in the world. The fact it is facing such a rise in homelessness is nothing short of a scandal. By pledging to Lead London Home the next mayor will be pledging to arrest this rise. The charities urged all the mayoral candidates to improve access to private housing for people on low incomes should they win, including 1,000 new homes to rent to former rough sleepers and a further 1,000 affordable homes specifically for those moving on from hostels.

A YouGov survey for the campaign found that three in four Londoners want the next mayor to tackle the problem, with seven in 10 saying they were appalled at the scale of rough sleeping.

Although the charities said Boris Johnson had made significant strides to reduce homelessness, including launching services such as No Second Night Out, they want the next mayor to do more, using the 34 million budget and bringing boroughs and services together.

This should include prioritising prevention work and backing calls for a new law so that councils can no longer turn people away to sleep on the streets.

City Hall should work with the European Union to help reduce growing numbers of homeless EU nationals. More than a third of rough sleepers last year were from Central and Eastern Europe.

However, Labour criticised Mr Johnson for blaming his own failure to end rough sleeping on EU migrants, pointing out that there had also been an 88 per cent rise in UK nationals on Londons streets since he came to power  up from 1,710 in 2008/09 to 3,212 in 2014/15.

Labours London Assembly housing spokesman Tom Copley said: He needs to face up to this. He promised to eradicate homelessness by 2012, in reality the actual number of rough sleepers in London has doubled since he came to power.
M igrant women who arrived in London with basic or no English are now giving commanding speeches after learning debating and public oratory skills at an East End training project.

The Standard was invited to City Gateway in Tower Hamlets after David Cameron outlined controversial plans last week to test migrants on their English, with those whose fail after being in Britain for two and a half years facing deportation.

Mr Cameron said the tests would help integration and fight extremism, but his comments have been criticised as ignorant and ill-informed and he admitted the crackdown could see families being broken up. The changes are to be enforced from October to people arriving on a spousal visa.

At City Gateway, migrant women who struggled with English when they arrived are now giving speeches and learning success in job interviews.

The charity runs nine language courses, including the 10-week Womens Voice advanced programme and many of the women learning at its Stepney Life Centre are Bengali, with others from Europe and Africa.

Moshoda Khatun, 42, an outreach worker and mother of four, came from Bangladesh five years ago with basic English, but now speaks fluently and keeps pace with fast-talking Londoners.

She said: Im very confident and see myself as a role model. I speak constantly in English, I always make sure I watch the news, sometimes with subtitles. If a woman can come to London with no English, learning it will make a huge difference to their life. Now theres no language barrier for me.

Centre manager Hannah Pilkington said: Its about making every woman knows she has a voice and can use it At the beginning of term, most ladies are like, No way am I going to be doing that.

By the end of it, they are giving these commanding speeches and talking about their journey and what they want to do next. We apply quite a lot of drama techniques, playing games and fun activities.

Its looking at how you find your voice and project it using body language, making sure theres eye contact. Beyond the classroom, they have the confidence in the future to go to a job interview or give a speech.

Although Mr Cameron said migrants must improve their English within 30 months, Ms Pilkington said proficiency often took longer, particularly with those unable to read or write in their first language.

She said: Weve seen women come through our programmes who needed four years to go from nothing to a level where they would easily communicate and work.

Mr Cameron was also criticised for his comments about traditional submissiveness of Muslim women. Using the Twitter hashtag #traditionallysubmissive, Muslim women hit back with their achievements, which included a meme of Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain featuring the caption: Forgot to be oppressed. Too busy being awesome.
A computer engineer today told how she narrowly escaped death when a car being pursued by police careered into the front of her shop like a scene from The Matrix.

Mother-of-two Renaz Ameen dived behind the counter as the black saloon shot onto the pavement at high speed, demolishing the storefront and showering her in broken glass.

She said: I thought it was a bomb going off.

Ms Ameen, 29, was alone inside Mr Dweeb, a computer and mobile phone repair shop in Crouch End run by her brother, where she has worked for two years. She was about to head out to the bank at about 10.20am yesterday when she realised she had left the keys in the back room.

Car crashes into shop in Crouch End

She said: I went back to get them and just as I was walking towards the front again I saw sheets of glass coming towards me.

I couldnt see the car. The glass was coming towards me in waves and it was all going in my face. It was like something out of The Matrix.

It wasnt stopping so I just dived over the counter, landed on some boxes and my head hit the wall.

I hid behind some boxes because I thought it was a bomb. I didnt know when it was going to stop.

When it stopped and everyone ran in and got me out.. thats when I saw the car. I was really shaky and crying.

Ms Ameen, who lives in Romford, said: Ive got two kids and I just keep thinking Im so thankful that Im alive. If I hadnt forgotten those keys I would have probably have been killed.

Debris was strewn across the street after the car crashed into the shop Dominic Black / Dominic Black

As passers-by and shop workers raced inside to help, the driver of the car fled on foot. The Met said that a search of the vehicle, which had failed to stop for a police check in Muswell Hill, resulted in the discovery of a large quantity of suspected drugs.

Ms Ameen was taken to casualty at the Whittington Hospital where, to her horror, she was placed in a bed next to the suspect.

She said: He was right next to me. I saw him with police officers. I asked a police officer and they said it was him. What do you do?

Emergency services at the scene in Crouch End Helen Wilkinson / Helen Wilkinson

I said can you move me to another room because I dont want to look at him. It was really scary.

Jean Christophe, an actor whose flat is above the shop, was away in Spain when he heard about the crash. He tweeted a photograph of a pile of bricks where his front door once stood, with the caption: So I go away for a quick holiday and this is what happens to my front door. Just like in a movie  luckily no one hurt.

Resident Thomas Noble tweeted: I leave polite, calm, quinoa-loving Crouch End for one morning and it turns into GTA: Vice City.

A Met spokesman said: The male driver was arrested a short time later on suspicion of drugs offences. He was taken to a north London police station where he remains in custody.

A large quantity of what is believed to be drugs was recovered from the car.
Sprinklers in a Chinese city were recently reported as being kept working even on days when the temperature was below freezing. The Peoples Daily criticized such acts as a kind of inflexible working practice in an article published Monday.

Previous media reports said that in the prefecture-level city of Fuyang in Anhui province, the sprinklers were kept on even when local temperatures fell to minus 5 degrees Celsius. The icy, slippery roads caused dozens of traffic and pedestrian accidents.

Though local departments at last apologized to the residents, what is hidden behind such acts should be reflected upon, the article said.

The paper said that the so-called "hard work" exposed the inefficiency and unscientific management of a government department. In addition, the local government department did not take the publics interests into consideration.

As more regions were hit by a severe cold spell recently, relevant departments must avoid such inflexible and perfunctory performances, the article pointed out.

To avoid these ridiculous mistakes, they should take scientific and human-centric measures, and perfect response plans, the paper urged.
A disabled woman has been left without a wheelchair for almost 100 days after claiming it was damaged on a British Airways flight.

Athena Stevens, 31, was due to travel to Glasgow from London City Airport on October 19 last year, but had to leave the plane after the airline said there was no room for her wheelchair on board.

Ms Stevens said she left the aircraft and was horrified to discover her 30,000 wheelchair had been damaged, rendering it unusable.

She told the Standard: Tomorrow will be 100 days without a wheelchair. I want an apology.

Damaged: The wheelchair was returned to Ms Stevens unusable / Athena Stevens

I have not heard from British Airways directly at all. I have had no apology from London City Airport.

Ms Stevens, who lives in Surrey Quays, said she was refunded for her plane ticket three months later but now wants compensation for the damage she said was caused.

Without the wheelchair, Ms Stevens said she is unable to go about her life independently.

She added: The events of 19 October disabled me, more so than I was disabled before.

Not having my wheelchair has made me very vulnerable.

The problem is, the chair is not being made anymore. There is a possibility that it would be able to be repaired in which case they will need to give me some money as compensation.

Everything I do is based around this wheelchair.

Ms Stevens, who was born with cerebral palsy, said the incident has left her forking out thousands of pounds for additional support and taxis to get around.

The entrepreneur said she had been reimbursed for 600 worth of taxi fares from the airport, but claims the airline has not offered to pay for a rental wheelchair or help to work out a long term solution.

A London City Airport spokesman said: The airport is working with the passenger and British Airways to resolve this matter.

The situation is being dealt with by lawyers and we are therefore unable to provide further comment.

A British Airways spokesman said: We are working with the customer and London City Airport to resolve the issue.

However, as the matter is now in the hands of lawyers it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.
T he family of a concrete sprayer killed on the Crossrail project today demanded an apology after agreeing an out-of- court settlement over his death.

Rene Tkacik, 44, from Slovakia, was working in a tunnel at the Fisher Street site in Holborn when a tonne of wet concrete fell on him in March 2014.

An inquest at St Pancras coroners court heard there was no physical barrier to mark an exclusion zone to stop workers entering the dangerous area.

In a narrative verdict, the jury found the definition and supervision of the zone were unclear and that briefings were translated on an ad hoc basis.

Mr Tkaciks widow Renata Tkacikova and daughter Ester reached the undisclosed settlement with contractor BFK despite it denying liability. Ms Tkacikova said: Rene went to London to work and earn money to send Ester to university and we never contemplated that we would not see him again. We are still waiting for an apology from BFK.

The settlement will ensure Ester can go to university. Its what he would have wanted more than anything.

One of the most important things for us is that lessons are learned.

Lawyer Chani Dhaliwal of Irwin Mitchell said: We were determined to help Renes wife and daughter gain justice.

Crossrail said it sets the most stringent contractor safety requirements in the industry. At Fisher Street, the system of work has changed and a physical barrier is in place. BFK was unavailable.
T he worlds first centre dedicated to research into rare childhood diseases is to open in London after a record donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity.

The family of the founder of the United Arab Emirates gave the charity 60 million  most of the construction cost  and work is set to start in March. Due to open in Bloomsbury in 2018, it will be named the Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children in honour of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who died in 2004.

The centre, in Guildford Street, will bring together doctors from Great Ormond Street  which the Standard is supporting via its Give to GOSH charity appeal  and scientists from the hospitals academic partner, UCLs Institute for Child Health. By locating hundreds of experts in the same place and allowing more staff to be hired, the aim is to accelerate the discovery of treatments and cures and give young people access to the latest therapies and clinical trials.

Professor Bobby Gaspar, director designate for the new centre, said the cross-fertilisation of ideas was vital to maintain advances in cell and gene therapy. The extra space will allow up to 20 per cent more outpatients, helping GOSH respond to ever-increasing demand.

State-of-the-art: How the Zayed centre will look

Gene therapy offers new hope to children with rare diseases by using their own bodies to repair the damage caused by faulty or missing genes, rather than relying on bone marrow donations from other people. This removes the difficulty of finding a match and the risk of the transplant being rejected.

There are more than 6,000 rare diseases, including childhood cancers, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy. A rare disease is defined as one which affects fewer than one person in 2,000.

One of Professor Gaspars patients, Nina Warnell, was diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) at five weeks old. Sometimes dubbed bubble baby as patients need to live in a sterile environment, it affects about one in 250,000 children in the UK. Ninas treatment involved re-engineering her bone marrow to add a vital missing gene and reboot her immune system. Her parents Graeme and Aga Warnell did not want to put her through a risky bone marrow transplant and she received gene therapy in April 2013. Next month she will turn four.

Professor Bobby Gaspar / Alex Lentati

Its worked out incredibly well, Professor Gaspar said. There were greater risks with using a bone marrow donor. The immediate risks of using her own cells were very low.

Gene therapy has the potential to move away from its niche application and be used for certain skin conditions, in children born with HIV or who have the hereditary blood disorders thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia.

In addition, the Zayed centres seven clean rooms will be used to repair and grow new organs, such as the windpipe and oesophagus. These organs are taken from deceased donors and re-seeded with cells from the new recipient.

The donation from Sheikh Zayeds widow, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, was inspired by a wish to support pioneering healthcare globally, in-cluding for patients from the UAE.

Professor Gaspar said: They saw this as a big project, a big statement of what they wanted to do. Right from the beginning this was not just a centre to help children at Great Ormond Street. It was there to help children nationally and globally. Medicine is moving so rapidly in so many areas. We have real expertise. We want to take that to another level.

The site, at 20 Guildford Street, is opposite Corams Fields, a seven-acre playground and park at the location of what was the original Foundling Hospital, established by Thomas Coram in 1739. No adult can enter Corams Fields unless they are accompanying a child.

The centre has been designed by Stanton Williams Architects, which won the 2012 Stirling Prize for its Sainsbury Laboratory at Cambridge University. A glass design will provide a window onto research being carried out on basement floors. Scientists and patients will share the same entrance  a deliberate move to encourage one group to inspire the other.

Gavin Henderson, director of Stanton Williams, said: Its not something that is happening in an ivory tower research environment. Its somewhere you can understand the importance of what you are doing, because you see patients who are benefiting on a day-to-day basis.

Its tremendously exciting to be working on something of international significance and such importance to society as a whole.
B ritons today demanded that George Osborne publicly shame corporate giants seen by many as cheating the country out of millions in tax.

More than 80 per cent of adults called on the Chancellor to set up a public register showing whether multinational firms are paying UK taxes.

The overwhelming finding in an exclusive poll for the Evening Standard piled pressure on Mr Osborne to take tougher action against companies accused of not paying their fair share of tax in Britain.

It was published as he came under fire over an alleged sweetheart deal with Google for it to pay 130 million in tax after an investigation by Revenue and Customs into a 10-year period.

A public register would lay bare which companies, including some brazenly trading on their Britishness, are not paying UK corporation tax.

Shedding such light on their tax affairs would allow consumers to decide whether to buy their products  or boycott them if they appear to be diverting tax liabilities to countries such as Luxembourg to lower their bills.

The survey by BMG Research found that 84 per cent of Britons believe multi-national firms operating in the UK should be forced to publicly declare where they pay their taxes. Eighty-five per cent urged the Chancellor to set up a public register showing whether the firms are paying their taxes here.

People aged over 54 appeared the most angered by the tax conduct of big business. More than 90 per cent called for the firms to publicly reveal if they pay taxes in the UK and also backed a register.

The findings set a new low in terms of trust between Britons and multi-nationals, said Michael Turner, research director at BMG Research. It also appears that they dont trust government enough to get a grip with the corporate tax-avoiders. A public register, it seems, might empower consumers themselves to force firms to play fair.

Poll: A total of 84 per cent of people said George Osborne should set up a register to show if companies pay tax

Making companies be more open about their tax affairs is backed by some Tory and Labour MPs.

Conservative Nigel Mills urged Treasury minister David Gauke in the Commons yesterday to make them publish their tax returns so that we can all see how much tax they are declaring and how they got from their cash profit to that tax bill.

Mr Gauke insisted that the UKs position on taxpayer confidentiality was the mainstream approach adopted by many countries.

Labour MP Andrew Gwynne responded: These are companies, not individuals, so the confidentiality excuse does not wash with me.

Mr Gauke warned that ditching the confidentiality arrangements could make Britain a less attractive place for firms to do business.

Starbucks, together with Amazon and Google, were taken to task by the Commons public accounts committee in November 2012 over their tax payments in the UK. All three firms denied any wrongdoing and insisted they were meeting their UK tax obligations.

However, the following month the coffee shop giant agreed to pay around 20 million more in tax after facing a customers boycott sparked by the controversy.

The row reignited this week after the Chancellor trumpeted that the deal with Google was a major success for the taxman.

A Google spokesman said: After a six-year audit by the tax authority we are paying the amount of tax that HMRC agrees we should pay. Governments make tax law, the tax authorities enforce the law and Google complies with the law.

BMG Research interviewed 1,437 adults between January 21 and 25, before the latest row over Googles tax affairs erupted.
D avid Cameron's earliest date for the EU referendum has been delayed to June 23 to avoid voter fatigue after the London mayoral elections.

Downing Street is worried a low turnout will favour the campaign to leave the European Union because antis are thought to be more highly motivated.

A big turnout of Londoners in particular is seen as crucial to Mr Cameron winning a vote to stay  because polls show people in the cosmopolitan capital are more favourable to the EU than other English regions.

Scotlands first minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned against a referendum in early June for the same reasons. Scotland holds elections to its Holyrood Parliament in May.

A senior Tory told the Standard: A high turnout is good for the In campaign, which means a date towards the end of June is possible, but nothing earlier.

A Downing Street source said a decision on a date would only be taken when a deal was struck for EU reform. Talks between Mr Cameron and other EU leaders are at a crucial stage ahead of a summit in three weeks.

Germanys Angela Merkel has offered Britain the right to halt in-work benefits like tax credits for any EU migrant on less than 20 hours, while continuing to pay the benefits to British part-time workers like single mothers. However, the proposal is seen as unlikely to stem mass migration, and falls short of the Tory manifesto pledge to stop such benefits for four years to all EU workers.

A Whitehall source said the German proposal was patently discriminatory [against EU workers coming to Britain] and requires treaty change, but is seemingly acceptable because ... well, Mrs Merkel and Germany back it!

Eurosceptic ministers are cool about the Merkel plan because it falls short of the Tory manifesto pledge for a four-year curb on benefits.

Barack Obamas polling guru Jim Messina, who advised the Conservatives general election victory, is advising the campaign to stay in the EU.

He joins other senior figures from the Tory election machine, including campaign organiser Stephen Gilbert, digital campaigners Craig Elder and Tom Edmonds, field ops expert Stuart Hands and pollster Andrew Cooper.

Campaigners for the referendum clashed today. Businessman Jon Moynihan, for Vote Leave, claimed Britain would get a free trade deal if it left the EU and played down talk of a crisis, saying: The day we vote to leave the EU, nothing will happen, we will have exactly the same relationship. Then they will enter into negotiation.
L ondon is set to be battered by fierce gales and heavy rain from today as the fallout from Storm Jonas hits the UK.

Huge swathes of the country are braced for gales that could reach 70mph with forecasters issuing warnings of fresh flooding as four inches of rain could fall in parts of the country.

Rain is expected to spread from the west and into London, becoming persistent by tonight.

The government said the military were on standby to support flood-hit communities.

Storm Jonas unleashed chaos over the United States at the weekend as near-record levels of snowfall hit much of the east coast.

Laura Caldwell, a forecaster at MeteoGroup, said heavy rain had hit western Scotland and north-west England overnight.

She said: "Between 10 and 25mm fell in a few hours overnight in those areas and through the course of today the rain will sweep across most of the UK. Southern Scotland, the west of England and Wales will be particularly affected.

"This is the remnants of storm Jonas. The warmer, very moist, tropical air is bringing in this potentially very high rainfall."

Flood warnings for parts of the UK as Storm Jonas heads this way

The weather front has swept across the Atlantic bringing heavy rain and gales with weather warnings in place across Wales, Scotland, Lancashire, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Devon and Cornwall.

The Environment Agency said areas already affected by record river levels were likely to be at risk of flooding as heavy rain throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday could cause river levels to rise and drains to flood.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss has chaired an emergency meeting in order to co-ordinate the Government's response to the expected rainfall, which could be as much as 100mm (3.9ins) in hilly areas.

Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire were some of the worst affected last month by Storm Desmond, which ruined thousands of homes and businesses and forced residents to leave flooded properties.
L ottery bosses have warned they will take action against anyone who tries to con them out of a massive 33 million jackpot.

Hundreds of people have come forward claiming to have a lost, damaged or stolen ticket with the six winning numbers, including grandmother Susanne Hinte, who said she put hers through the wash.

Camelot said it was considering each claim on a "case-by-case basis" after confirming the winning ticket was bought in Worcester.

But the lottery operator warned it would act if it believed someone had "intentionally attempted to defraud the National Lottery".

A Camelot spokeswoman said: "With prizes of this size, it's perfectly normal to receive lots of claims from people who genuinely think that they may have mislaid or thrown away what they believe was the winning ticket.

Lottery winners David and Carol Martin

"That's what we're seeing now - and we are looking into all of these claims as part of our efforts to find the rightful ticket-holder.

"However, if we believe that somebody has intentionally attempted to defraud the National Lottery, then, just like any other company, we reserve the right to take whatever action we consider is appropriate."

John Plimmer, a former detective at West Midlands Police, said anyone caught making a fraudulent claim could face jail.

He told the Mirror: "If there is evidence someone deliberately tried to con Camelot to get their hands on 33 million then obviously that's a crime.

"They wouldn't have to successfully claim the money to be found guilty. Anyone convicted could be looking at a heavy custodial sentence."

Ms Hinte, 48, from Worcester, reportedly made contact with Camelot advisers on Friday, claiming her winning ticket no longer had a readable date or barcode.

Under the terms of its licence, Camelot has discretion to pay prizes in respect of stolen, lost or destroyed tickets if a player has submitted a claim in writing within 30 days of the draw.

Camelot has said that even if a winner with a stolen, lost or damaged ticket is identified, the money will not be paid out for at least 180 days so others can get in touch. If the Worcester prize goes unclaimed after a deadline of July 7, the money will be donated to good causes, the lottery operator added.

Camelot said it had not released details of the shop where the winning ticket was bought and no retailer had been informed that they sold the winning ticket.

A spokeswoman said: "We would only release details of the shop if we received a valid claim and the ticket-holder subsequently took publicity. We still would urge all players to check their tickets and contact us if they think they have the winning one."

Married couple David and Carol Martin, both 54, from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, won the other half of the 66 million jackpot, the UK's biggest Lotto prize.

The six winning numbers from the January 9 draw were 26, 27, 46, 47, 52 and 58.
M alaysia's prime minister Najib Razak was today cleared of corruption as the countrys top prosecutor ruled that nearly 500million he received in his bank account was a personal donation from the Saudi royal family.

The announcement by Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali followed months of uncertainty for Mr Najib, who has been fighting intense pressure to resign over the financial scandal in his biggest political crisis since he took power in 2009.

But Mr Apandi did not say why the Saudi royals made the donation or give details on what the money was to have been used for.

The attorney general said investigations by the countrys anti-corruption agency showed that no criminal offence was committed as $681 million transferred into Najibs accounts between March and April 2013 was given without any consideration by the Saudi royal family as a personal donation.

He said Najib returned $620 million to the Saudi royal family in August 2013. He did not say what happened to the remaining $61 million.

I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly, Mr Apandi said.

Mr Najib has yet to comment but had previously denied wrongdoing.

The political scandal partly contributed to the Malaysian currency plunging to a 17-year low last August.
A teenage asylum seeker has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a refugee centre worker was stabbed to death in Sweden.

Alexandra Mezher was killed yesterday while working at the centre for unaccompanied minors in the town of Molndal, near Gothenburg.

The teen, who was staying at the centre for 14 to 17-year-olds, was reportedly held down by other residents and employees until police arrived.

Police in Sweden said the 22-year-old victim, who was originally from Lebanon, was taken to hospital for treatment but succumbed to her wounds.

Victim: Alexandra Mezher

Press spokesman Thomas Fuxborg said: "He had been overpowered by other residents, people were down and upset."

He added: "These kinds of calls are becoming more and more common.

"We're dealing with more incidents like these since the arrival of so many more refugees from abroad."

A knife was recovered from the scene.

Police did not reveal the identity or nationality of the 15-year-old suspect, and said the motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

Refugees: the other residents were moved to alternative accommodation following the incident / AFP/Getty Images

Miss Mezhers cousin told Swedish media: "It is so terrible. She was a person who wanted to do good, who wanted to be good.

"She was doing her job. We have cried a lot. She was such a nice person, warm and happy."

Swedish Radio said the other residents of the home were moved to new accommodation for the night.

Alongside Germany, Sweden is a prime destination for refugees, and took in more than 160,000 asylum seekers in 2015.
T he family of a brilliant young lawyer from London killed in a hit-and-run crash in Nigeria today paid tribute to their beautiful, adventurous and caring daughter.

Doyin Sarah Fagbenro, 25, was flown 4,500 to the UK in a desperate attempt to save her but was pronounced dead in a hospital in Cambridge three days later with her parents by her side.

Miss Fagbenro, was named one of the UKs 10 most outstanding black students in the 2010 Rare Rising Stars Awards, was reportedly in collision with a bus as she drove to church in capital Lagos on January 10.

According to local media reports the driver fled the scene leaving her with fatal injuries in the wreck of her car.

Miss Fagbenro interned at City law firm Norton Rose Fulbright before moving to Nigeria where she worked as an assistant to the boss of energy firm Dixoil Offshore.

Her father Dayo, who works for the United Nations, flew out to be at her bedside before organising an air ambulance to take her back to the UK for emergency surgery.

Her devastated mother Dupe, a hospital pharmacist, told the Standard: She was beautiful, intelligent, adventurous and caring. She was absolutely everything to us. She had a very bright future but it has ended in this tragedy.

The straight-A student, the eldest of four siblings, grew up in Canning Town and graduated in law from Queen Marys University in east London in 2013.

In a moving tribute written by her family she was described as having an adventurous nature and fierce independence

They said: Her relentless determination was an inspiration to so many, yet never deterred from her playfulness and love for life; she loved to laugh, party and smile."

Even through her most testing times she never lost her sense of humour and could always be trusted to lift the spirits of those around her.

Her funeral was held at All Nations Church in Bedford on Saturday. Mourners were asked to wear red, her favourite colour.
Who is the most well-known Chinese in Iran? Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan? The answer might be right in the past, but recently a Chinese female student has successfully subverted Iranian people's impression of China. By successfully playing a role in a popular TV series in Iran, Zhang Menghan has become a star in the country.

"I still cannot believe that I become famous. My photos are seen in the newspapers and magazines. I feel like I am still in a dream," said Zhang Menghan, when receiving interview of Chengdu Economic Daily. She has played the leading role in Iran's top TV series The Capital.

Zhang Menghan, a student at the University of Tehran, was recommended by one of her teachers in 2014 to the crew of The capital which was in need of a Chinese face. Without any acting experience, Zhang Menghan, who speaks fluent Persian, has become a rare foreigner who plays a TV series in the history of Iran.

The Capital tells a love story between Chinese girl Chun Chang and an Iranian young man Arastou.

The series aired at 10 p.m. during the month of Ramadan, a prime time for TV stations in the Islamic world and Zhang's role won many compliments from the audiences.

Zhang said she is so popular that she gets recognized by Iranian friends when she goes out. "In the TV, my Iranian husband called me 'my Chinese doll'. Now the Chinese wives in Iran have this common nick name," Zhang said with smile.
C atherine Zeta-Jones took Leicester Square by storm as she worked the red carpet for the Dads Army premiere in a show stopping blue gown.

The actress, 46  who plays journalist Rose Winters in the film adaptation of the classic TV sitcom  flashed her leg in the plunging dress as she posed for photographers outside the Empire cinema on Tuesday night.

Zeta-Jones braved the rain as she mingled with fans, posed for selfies and teamed up with the Chelsea pensioners for a group photo.

The actress also addressed the Oscars race controversy and said change can only come from the movie makers.

Dad's Army premiere 1 /13 Dad's Army premiere Stunning Catherine Zeta-Jones attends the World Premiere of Dad's Army at Odeon Leicester Square Dave Benett Red carpet ready Felicity Montagu teams her black gown with a white faux fur stole Dave Benett Don't panic! Michael Gambon is shielded from the rain by an umbrella as he walks the red carpet Dave Benett No more Neil Blake Harrison shakes his Inbetweeners alter ego as he suits up for his latest film role Ian West/PA Leggy look Catherine Zeta-Jones demands attention in a showstopping blue gown Dave Benett Over the shoulder Emily Atack swaps her 1940s attire for a stunning black leather look gown PA Date night Ben and Marina Fogle enjoy a night out together for the UK premiere Ian West/PA Stepping out Holli Dempsey works the cameras as she attends the premiere of her latest film Dave Benett Taking shelter Sir Michael Gambon shelters inside from the rain Dave Benett Legendary writer Jimmy Perry - who co-wrote the Dad's Army TV series - takes a seat on the red carpet Ian West/PA

Speaking to Sky News she said: Well I think there is room for all diversity  women of a certain age, obviously ethnic origins. In defence of the Academy they can only vote on what they see so lets go back to the screen writers to the movie makers to the studios who finance these movies and be more diverse all around.

Sir Michael Gambon  who plays Charles Godfrey  joined her on the red carpet and was shielded by a large umbrella as he spoke to fans who had queued up for hours in a bid to see their favourite stars.

Blake Harrison  who plays stupid boy Private Frank Pike  was also in attendance alongside his co-stars Emily Atack (Daphne), Daniel Mays (Private Walker) and Toby Jones (Captain Mainwaring).

The Oliver Parker directed film adaptation of the 1970s series is set in 1944 as World War II reaches its climax. The Home Guard is set a mission to patrol the Dover army base and revive spirits.

But MI5 discovers a radio signal sent direct to Berlin from Walmington-on-Sea informing them that theres a spy on the loose.

Dads Army is set for UK cinema release on February 5.
S ir Ian McKellen has given his take on the Oscars diversity row that has divided Hollywood.

The British acting veteran admitted that he supported the #OscarsSoWhite campaign but insisted that homophobia was just as much of an issue as racism.

No openly gay man has ever won the Oscar; I wonder if that is prejudice or chance, he told The Guardian.

When the interview flagged that actors including Tom Hanks, Sean Penn and Philip Seymour Hoffman had won Oscars for portraying gay men, McKellen responded:

How clever, how clever. What about giving me one for playing a straight man?

McKellen was nominated for the Best Actor award in 1999 for his role in Gods and Monsters and then in the Best Supporting Actor category in 2002 for The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Oscar nominations 2016 1 /13 Oscar nominations 2016 The Martian Matt Damon in The Martian. He plays a stranded botanist who must fend for himself on the Red Planet 20th Century Fox The Revenant Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass in The Revenant Carol Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in Carol Bridge of Spies Tom Hanks in Bridge of Spies, the Spielberg film based on Charmans script Brooklyn Saoirse Ronan and Emory Cohen Steve Jobs Kate Winslett and Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs Joy Jennifer Lawrence as a mum on a manufacturing mission Room Ma (Brie Larson) and her 5-year-old boy Jack Jacob (Tremblay) Mad Max: Fury Road Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron Warner Bros Spotlight This photo provided by Open Road Films shows, Michael Keaton, from left, as Walter "Robby" Robinson, Liev Schreiber as Marty Baron, Mark Ruffalo as Michael Rezendes, Rachel McAdams, as Sacha Pfeiffer, John Slattery as Ben Bradlee Jr., and Brian d'Arcy James as Matt Carroll, in a scene from the film, "Spotlight."

My speech has been in two jackets  Im proud to be the first openly gay man to win the Oscar. Ive had to put it back in my pocket twice, he said.

Speaking about the debate over this years lack of ethnic diversity, McKellen said:

If you are trying to have a career, as a black or Hispanic actor in a state  California  where white people are now the minority, and you are being judged by an Academy where the vast majority are white, male, middle-aged and old  well, perhaps that is the wrong yardstick.
O ne of the stars of Stan Lees new TV drama today revealed her career path could have been very different if her parents had had their way.

Jing Lusi became one of the most prominent Chinese actresses in the UK after a stint in Holby City before landing a role in Lucky Man alongside James Nesbitt.

Lusi, 30, who was born in Shanghai and moved to Southampton aged five, studied law at University College London to placate her parents before following her dream.

She told the Standard: They were against me going into acting  that was a being the only child of a Chinese family thing.

Best TV Moments 2015 1 /26 Best TV Moments 2015 Katie Price won Celebrity Big Brother Katie Price proved shes still the queen of reality TV after beating Perez Hilton, Katie Hopkins, and Michelle Visage to become the winner of Celebrity Big Brother 15 We found out who killed Lucy in EastEnders EastEnders biggest storyline of the year was a mystery that had the soap nations viewers hooked  who killed Lucy Beale? The answer: young Bobby Beale. Not so cherubic after all, eh? Poldark sauced up the BBC Aidan Turner became an instant hit across the nation as a new, slightly spiced-up adaptation of Winston Grahams Poldark novels commanded a huge audience. To look at this picture, we have no idea why Clarkson left Top Gear (and joined Amazon) If one word dominated the first half of 2015, it was fracas. Jeremy Clarkson assaulted a Top Gear producer and was kicked off the show. Hes returning in 2016 with Richard Hammond and James May for a new motoring show on Amazon Prime Amazon James Corden took over The Late Late Show Proving all the haters wrong, James Corden has soared on US TV as the host of the Late Late Show. His Carpool Karaoke segment has become a huge hit, and played a significant role in Justin Biebers image overhaul Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Chris Pratt nailed the TOWIE accent Chris Pratt built on the success of Guardians of the Galaxy with the years biggest film Jurassic World (well, until Star Wars came out). He debuted his hilariously accurate TOWIE accent when he appeared on the Graham Norton show Mad Men came to an end One of the most celebrated US TV dramas of all time came to a close, as Mad Men bowed out. The finale was well-received by the majority of critics Jules O'Dwyer and Matisse won Britain's Got Talent Jules ODwyer and her dog Matisse were an instant hit with the public for their hilarious and sweet acting and dance routines, going on to win Britains Got Talent  though their fame was mired slightly by the stunt dog controversy that saw the show's producers get a slapped wrist from Ofsted The Night's King shook up Game of Throne Game of Thrones continued to be a juggernaut with some of its most shocking moments yet. The stakes were well and truly raised in an episode which saw the Nights Watch and the Wildlings attacked by the Army of the Dead and the big bad Nights King Olly Murs and Caroline Flack took over The X Factor It was all change on The X Factor this year  for better and worse. Host Dermot OLeary stepped down, with Olly Murs and Caroline Flack taking over presenting duties Anthony Harvey/Getty Images Coronation Street went live Corrie made the brave move of doing a live episode, focusing on the Platts ongoing feud with Callum Logan. It all went smoothly, and even rival soap EastEnders wished the cast good luck Vicki Michelle was glassed on CBB: Bit on the Side The drama on the summer of Celebrity Big Brother wasnt just contained to the house  Bit On The Side was forced to dramatically cut the live feed after a huge row in the guest panel. A thrown glass resulted in Vicki Michelle being injured in the crossfire and taken to hospital Nadiya won the Bake Off 2015 was the year that the Great British Bake Off proved that it was far, far more than just a baking competition. The journey of winner Nadiya Hussain captured the nation  and her win even made Mary Berry cry BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon Terry Wogan missed Children in Need for the first time Due to illness, Terry Wogan was unable to host Children in Need for the first time ever. Luckily Dermot OLeary, no longer on X Factor duties, was on hand to step in at the last minute Piers Morgan joined Good Morning Britain The man you love (and love to hate), loves that you love (and love to hate) him. Piers Morgan joined Good Morning Britain as a permanent fixture, and has already caused controversy a-plenty with his flirty manner and tough interviews style Clara Oswald left Doctor Who Doctor Whos best series in years saw a dramatic end for companion Clara Oswald, who paid the price when she got caught up in the schemes of immortal girl Ashildr. Actress Jenna Coleman is now gearing up to play a young Queen Victoria in ITVs new big drama series Vicky Pattison was crowned Queen of the Jungle on I'm A Celebrity Howay! Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison did a fantastic job of rewriting her bolshy image as she emerged a funny, kind, and loveable reality TV star in the Im A Celeb jungle Nigel Wright/ITV/REX Louisa Johnson won The X Factor Louisa Johnson might have won the X Factor  but she didnt quite steal the nations hearts, as her debut single only reached #9 in the charts Peep Show ended - for ever Channel 4s cult sitcom went out with a belter of a final series. Of course Mark and Jez didnt get a true happy ending  theyre stuck together always, as the camera cut away from the shows trademark point-of-view shots and saw the pair slumped on the sofas in their Croydon flat. Goodbye, El Dude Brothers Downton Abbey closed its doors The end of an era  Downton Abbey finally came to a close with one last Christmas special which (SPOILER ALERT) saw happy endings all round. Phew!

"I sort of did it [study law] just so I wouldnt bring shame to my parents. They could say that they had a daughter that graduated law.

"So I handed them over my 2:1 and said, Right, Im off the join the circus! The blood drained from their faces.

They just thought it was a bit of a joke really and that it was a phase. They had ambitions of me going to Harvard.

"I think when I did my first movie in 2009, thats when the penny dropped and they thought, Oh my God, shes actually doing what she really wants. We should really support her. They are totally the best parents about it now.

Lusi plays ruthless underworld figure Lily-Anne Lau in Sky Ones Lucky Man, opposite Nesbitt as a detective whose life changes when he is given a bracelet that mysteriously makes the wearer exceptionally lucky.

It is set in London, which Lusi says plays a major role in the drama. Speaking from Beijing where she is filming a documentary for BBC2, she added:

London is a character  the show utilises the city well. You see another side to it. Its an amazing landscape but bad things happen there  you see the tourist hotspots, but then see the criminal underbelly side to it.
S imon Cowell surprised David Walliams by making a quip about his marriage during a recent Britains Got Talent audition.

The music mogul reportedly left the comedian a little stunned as he referenced his recent divorce from model Lara Stone.

After quizzing a contestant about her marital status, Walliams turned to the head judge to ask him why he hadnt popped the question to girlfriend Lauren Silverman.

In front of the packed audience at the Dominion Theatre, Cowell reportedly asked Walliams: Well, why arent you married?

Britain's Got Talent London Auditions 1 /10 Britain's Got Talent London Auditions Oh so talented David Walliams is escorted by a bulked up bunch of Adonis's (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Designer style Amanda Holden working a geometric cut Balenciaga top (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Going for gold Alesha Dixon accessorsing heavily with a selction of gold jewellery (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Shaking it up Simon Cowell swapped his trademark blue jeans and white t-shirt for a navy top and black suit trousers (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Riding in style David Walliams shuns a traditional car arrival for four bulky men (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Heading in Alesha waves to fans before heading inside to start the judging (Picture: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images) Sunny Simon An assistant helps to adjust Simon's sunnies (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Feet on the ground David posing for photos after riding in in style (Picture: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

An onlooker told The Sun that the off-the-cuff remark didnt go down well and left a rather awkward atmosphere.

You could tell Simon knew straight away that he had put his foot in it, said the audience member.

David was a little caught out by the comment. While they were waiting for the next act to come out, he went to talk to Simon.

They had a few words with each other and seemed to sort it out.

Walliams and Stone separated last year after five years of marriage and filed for divorce in September.


I ts the mystery that Game of Thrones fans have pondered since the end of Season 5, and that readers of George RR Martins A Song of Ice and Fire have been mulling over since the closing pages of A Dance with Dragons: is Jon Snow really dead?

Not the Channel 4 news reader, but the Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, betrayed by his men and repeatedly stabbed in the closing minutes of the most recent episode of HBOs hit fantasy drama.

With just three months to go until Season 6 debuts, much has been speculated about Snows fate.

Actor Kit Harington was last year seen in Belfast, where the series regularly films, and notably has not cut the shaggy hair-do that hes been forced to maintain for the role (and reportedly hates), while Snows bloodied face adorns the first poster for Season 6.

However, a new interview with the star has caused even more confusion.

Speaking to Digital Spy ahead of his stage role in Doctor Faustus, Harington said: People didn't want [Jon Snow] to die, but he's dead. So there you go, everyone has to get used to it.

Reactions to the Game of Thrones season five finale

Adding fire to those flames are his comments that hes had a lot of time off, and has been relaxing for the past year.

Best TV dramas 2016 1 /38 Best TV dramas 2016 The Missing The addictive and twisty second series of the BBC's crime anthology series BBC/New Pictures/Robert Viglasky Dark Angel Joanne Froggatt stared as Victorian mass murderer Mary Ann Cotton in this ITV drama ITV Close to the Enemy Stephen Poliakoff's post-war drama thriller BBC/Little Island Pictures Ordinary Lies The BBC anthology drama returns with more twisted tales BBC/Red Productions/Adrian Rogers The Night Of Riz Ahmed stars in HBO's critically acclaimed crime mini-series HBO Cold Feet The classic ITV comedy-drama returns - and it's just as good as it ever was ITV Victoria ITV have given Poldark some stiff competition with this period drama about a young Queen Victoria ITV Poldark The BBC's hit drama returns with more brooding, and less naked scything BBC/Robert Viglasky One of Us The BBC kept everyone guessing with this claustrophobic four-part whodunit Ripper Street The fan-favourite Victorian police drama returned for Series 4 BBC/Tiger Aspect 2016/Bernard Walsh The Secret Agent Toby Jones led the cast in the BBC's Joseph Conrad adaptation BBC/World Productions/Mark Mainz/Matt Burlem The Living and the Dead The BBC's gothic romance debuted in full on iPlayer BBC Preacher AMC's adaptation of Garth Ennis' cult comic book is available week-by-week on Amazon Prime Amazon / AMC Versailles A raunchy royal romp around the court of King Louis XIV, spicing up Wednesdays on BBC Two Canal +/ BBC Locked Up The Spanish prison drama came to the UK thanks to Channel 4's Walter Presents series Channel 4 / Global Series Peaky Blinders The Birmingham-set gangster thriller was more popular than ever in its third series BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky The A Word The BBC gave us a nuanced and emotional take on autism BBC/Fifty Fathoms Marcella Anna Friel stars in ITV's British take on the Scandi-noir thriller ITV Grantchester James Norton is back as the crime-solving vicar ITV / Lovely Day Stag The comedy-thriller from the team behind The Wrong Mans is both hilarious and chilling BBC/Des Willie/Hal Shinnie/Matt Burlem Vinyl Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger present a glossy drama about the Seventies music industry HBO American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson Cuba Gooding Jr leads an all-star cast in a dramatic re-telling of the 'trial of century' BBC/Fox Happy Valley Sarah Lancashire returned as Sgt Catherine Cawood for a second series of the gritty crime thriller BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall The X Files Mulder and Scully return for a brand new set of mysteries War and Peace The BBC's epic adaptation of the Russian literary classic BBC/Mitch Jenkins Call the Midwife The BBC period drama moved into the Sixties for Series 5 BBC/Neal Street Productions/Sophie Mutevelian Dickensian Charles Dickens' most famous characters collide in this historical soap BBC Jericho ITV's British western set in the wilds of Yorkshire Silent Witness The hugely popular detective drama returns for a 19th series

I haven't done Thrones in a while. I had quite a lot of time off last year. I've been taking it easy. And relaxing.

Is he lying? Will Jon Snow rise and lead the armies of Westeros in the impending battle against the army of the dead?

Its going to be a long three month wait to find out
H ows this for a pitch: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, with celebrities, as a reality show.

The film  and its sequel  about a group of retirees who decide to head to India for their retirement instead of seeing it out in grey old Blighty proved a huge hit with audiences, and this three-part BBC Two series trades on the same charm.

Among the celebs headed for a colourful retirement destination are former Doctor Who Sylvester McCoy, actress Miriam Margolyes, Catchphrase veteran Roy Walker, and former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming.

They settle into Jaipur, adjusting to the headache-inducing traffic, the toilets, and the considerable heat as they move into a private mansion in the heart of the city.

In the excitement of arriving in a totally new environment, the group immediately start exploring, visintg the 500 year-old Amer Fort, and taking tea with the royal family of Jaipur in the Rambagh Palace.

Its not all niceties though  their local guide gives the celebrities an insight into the divide between rich and poor, perpetuated by the caste system, as they visit his home.

Best TV dramas 2016 1 /38 Best TV dramas 2016 The Missing The addictive and twisty second series of the BBC's crime anthology series BBC/New Pictures/Robert Viglasky Dark Angel Joanne Froggatt stared as Victorian mass murderer Mary Ann Cotton in this ITV drama ITV Close to the Enemy Stephen Poliakoff's post-war drama thriller BBC/Little Island Pictures Ordinary Lies The BBC anthology drama returns with more twisted tales BBC/Red Productions/Adrian Rogers The Night Of Riz Ahmed stars in HBO's critically acclaimed crime mini-series HBO Cold Feet The classic ITV comedy-drama returns - and it's just as good as it ever was ITV Victoria ITV have given Poldark some stiff competition with this period drama about a young Queen Victoria ITV Poldark The BBC's hit drama returns with more brooding, and less naked scything BBC/Robert Viglasky One of Us The BBC kept everyone guessing with this claustrophobic four-part whodunit Ripper Street The fan-favourite Victorian police drama returned for Series 4 BBC/Tiger Aspect 2016/Bernard Walsh The Secret Agent Toby Jones led the cast in the BBC's Joseph Conrad adaptation BBC/World Productions/Mark Mainz/Matt Burlem The Living and the Dead The BBC's gothic romance debuted in full on iPlayer BBC Preacher AMC's adaptation of Garth Ennis' cult comic book is available week-by-week on Amazon Prime Amazon / AMC Versailles A raunchy royal romp around the court of King Louis XIV, spicing up Wednesdays on BBC Two Canal +/ BBC Locked Up The Spanish prison drama came to the UK thanks to Channel 4's Walter Presents series Channel 4 / Global Series Peaky Blinders The Birmingham-set gangster thriller was more popular than ever in its third series BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky The A Word The BBC gave us a nuanced and emotional take on autism BBC/Fifty Fathoms Marcella Anna Friel stars in ITV's British take on the Scandi-noir thriller ITV Grantchester James Norton is back as the crime-solving vicar ITV / Lovely Day Stag The comedy-thriller from the team behind The Wrong Mans is both hilarious and chilling BBC/Des Willie/Hal Shinnie/Matt Burlem Vinyl Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger present a glossy drama about the Seventies music industry HBO American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson Cuba Gooding Jr leads an all-star cast in a dramatic re-telling of the 'trial of century' BBC/Fox Happy Valley Sarah Lancashire returned as Sgt Catherine Cawood for a second series of the gritty crime thriller BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall The X Files Mulder and Scully return for a brand new set of mysteries War and Peace The BBC's epic adaptation of the Russian literary classic BBC/Mitch Jenkins Call the Midwife The BBC period drama moved into the Sixties for Series 5 BBC/Neal Street Productions/Sophie Mutevelian Dickensian Charles Dickens' most famous characters collide in this historical soap BBC Jericho ITV's British western set in the wilds of Yorkshire Silent Witness The hugely popular detective drama returns for a 19th series

Immersing themselves in a new country and a different culture, they finish their first week in Jaipur by throwing a party to meet their new neighbours.

BBC Two, 9pm
On a winters afternoon, sunshine poured into the north room of a Beijing traditional courtyard house. Only the sound of typing on a keyboard and quiet discussion could be heard from this large room, where twelve young men and women are dealing with complex code on their screens and computer programming.

They are going to finish their six-month training to become professional "white hat hackers" and work for a domestic professional Internet security platform.

Having 18 years of experience in the Internet security industry, Wang Yingjian knows the huge demand for talented hackers for the domestic network security market. In 2002, Wang started his own IT business and funded the establishment of a "white hat hacker" school six months ago. Wang has spent more than 3 million yuan on training his students.

The recruitment is open to the whole country. Wang only selected 30 trainees with 100 applicants per place and offered them free classes for six months. He named the class "Legend". All students have to supply is the determination to deal with the high-intensity learning and intense elimination system.

Wang Yingjian hired more than 30 front-line supervisors in the industry to give lectures to the trainees. Every day, students receive 10-12 hours of training, including hacker attack and defense permeation, security analysis, loophole mining and intelligent hardware.

Wang and his team set up a monthly elimination system. Finally only 15 students could survive and are offered jobs at a domestic Internet company's network security platform.

"Our graduates can have a job with an annual salary of over 200,000 yuan. Their income will increase year by year with good prospects, Wang added. It is reported that the annual income of the country's top security personnel today can reach one million yuan. Even freelancer white hat hackers could earn several thousand yuan a month by submitting loophole reports to the platform.

Wang Yingjian hopes that more and more young men and women could be part of the "white hat" group.

Hats off to the white hats. These hackers, who break into computer networks and digital devices to find loopholes before the bad guys do, have led to some of the most significant advances in securing the online world. Their findings have reshaped the way e-mail accounts, credit card numbers, and even ATMs and medical devices are protected from cyber-criminals.
The strongest cold wave to strike China for 20 years ended on Monday morning after breaking records at 82 meteorological stations across China, chief forecaster He Fuli of the National Meteorological Center told China News Service.

The National Meteorological Center has lifted the cold waves orange alert. Although the southern region of China is still experiencing cold weather, some areas are gradually warming up.

According to meteorological observation at 7 a.m. Monday, the temperature of most regions from northern to southern China was below 0 degrees Celsius. As of 2 p.m., the temperature rebounded to 6 to 15 degrees Celsius in many southern areas.

He believes the average temperature drop is not severe for an extreme weather event. But the low temperature and snowfall caused by the wave in such short time do make it the strongest cold front for 20 years.

Many meteorological stations are not even a hundred years old, He refuted the opinion of defining the wave as the once-in-a-century.

The cold wave broke the lowest temperature recorded in 82 meteorological stations since their establishment (around 60 years), including the ones in Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces, said He.

As the wave ends, the temperature in those areas will increase by 6 to 8 degrees Celsius, approaching the normal level, he added.

Before the Spring Festival, there will be a weak cold front that affects the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River, He forecasts. The cold air is expected to arrive in China between late January and early February.
The scam is back, that was the message in a Nebraska Public Power District release Tuesday.

Over the last year, NPPD has issued several press releases, calling attention to a scam in which a caller contacts business owners and residents, falsely claiming that the company is going to shut off electricity unless the customer pays using a pre-paid Greendot card.

The caller insists on urgency  the customer has to pay the bill within 20 minutes or be disconnected. I dont think it takes much for any one of us to imagine the other emotions that the scammers take advantage of  embarrassment that we might have forgotten a bill, panic because none of us want to have our electricity cut off and confusion. Mix all those emotions at once and Im sure that the scammers have been successful at times.

In its press release, NPPD reminds customers:

NPPD does not do business this way, said NPPDs Customer Care Business Manager Robyn Tweedy. If a customer is overdue on their electric bill and subject to disconnection, it will be printed on their monthly bill with instructions on what they can do to settle the account. They should call the number printed on the bill, NOT the phone number of the individual making the phone request.

Customers who receive such a call should not attempt to make any payment. Instead contact local law enforcement and NPPDs Centralized Customer Care Center at 1-877-ASK-NPPD (877-275-6773) to report the request and provide the call-back number. If an individual or business not served by NPPD receives a call demanding payment on their electric bill, they are encouraged to contact their local electric provider to check on their account before making any attempt to pay.

We get several reports a year of scams and during my years reporting, Ive seen a few people taken advantage of by scams. Many of the scams reported to us are known scams  Nigerian scams where people are promised large amounts of money, IRS scams that threaten callers that they will be arrested, scams that you have won big  if you just send hundreds or thousands of dollars to claim your prize. NPPD has posted a video concerning the scam affecting the company that can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azpRmjS0hT8&feature=youtu.be.

As in the NPPD scam, all of these scams take advantage of our emotions so that we act quickly. Sometimes, as was the case with one woman who called me, people think fast enough to get themselves out of trouble by canceling a credit card or other step.

You can take steps to protect yourselves against scams.

In my experience, the number one piece of advice: Stop. Just stop whatever you are doing, pause and think about whatever the caller is saying to you. In many instances, people will tell me, the demands or the claims of the callers dont make any sense to them or they go against what they know about the companys normal procedures. If you stop, pause and think, youre less likely to get scammed.

Tell the caller that you will find your bill, or the company phone number, and call them back. Most of the time, youre going to hear a dial tone, in my experience.

If a call comes from a company that you have no prior knowledge of, I always advise stopping and doing some research on the company. A simple Google search may be all that you need as a large amount of information exists online about scams. Over the summer, my daughter had a friend who lost a significant part of her savings when a person unknown to her offered her a job. Shed been looking for a job and didnt think much of the offer. As soon as my daughter told me about the fantasy job, I knew it was a scam. I Googled the name of the company she had told me about and told her to warn her friend. In just a short amount of time, her friends account had been cleaned out and then some. She was left with hundreds of dollars of overdrawn account fees to her account. My daughter and her friend learned a valuable lesson  you cant trust that people are who they say they are.

And, that takes us to the best warning sign of a scam  If its too good to be true, it probably is. My daughters job seeking friend could not believe her luck and it did sound like a sweet job, which was one of the tip offs for me. We all want that dream job. We arent getting it at 21 without a little bit of work.

Our elderly people are most likely to be scammed. Its amazing how many scams prey on our grandmas, our grandpas, our elderly parents. If you have an elderly relative, take a moment to talk to them about scams, especially if you hear of one circulating in your area. Ask on occasion if they need any support and lend a helping hand. If you know or care for an older adult, warning signs that they may be have been scammed including atypical withdrawals, new persons added to or using a seniors ATM or credit card, unpaid bills and even piling up of sweepstakes mailings, magazine subscriptions or free gifts that may indicate they are on a sucker list, according to tips on the FBI and other sites.

If you think youve been scammed, act quickly. Dont wait and see. Contact your bank, contact your credit card companies and other steps to protect your financial information.

You can also help others by reporting your scam  either to your local law enforcement agency or to other agencies. If enough reports are collected in an area, it may help others for alerts to be sent out to the media and general public proactively warning about the scams.

For more information about protecting yourself against scams, visit the FBIs Scams & Safety for more information, https://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety. You can also visit the Nebraska Attorney Generals website for consumer information about protecting your identity and other related material.
Growing up, almost all elementary students painted nine foam balls or molded clay, glued them on poster board to create our solar system for a science project. As kids, it was an interesting way to create what our interplanetary neighborhood looked like, while never giving it much thought how things would change if a new neighbor moved in.

But grade school students across America might have to adjust their solar system models if the theory proposed by scientists at the California Institute of Technology proves accurate. As I read though NASAs website, my inner-child looked on as I came across the story about Planet X or what some are calling Planet 9, a Neptune-sized planet on the outskirts of our cosmic borders. Along with the theory of its very existence, the hypothesis of its size is fascinating: Planet Nine could have a mass about 10 times that of Earth and orbit about 20 times farther from the sun on average than Neptune. It may take between 10,000 and 20,000 Earth years to make one full orbit around the sun.

Unlike what weve learned in recent years about the soil on Mars, this announcement is not founded on tangible proof, but rather a mathematical theory. Its like me telling you the lost city of Atlantis is submerged 263 fathoms beneath the ocean in the Mariana Trench. Have I been that deep and witnessed the mythical city myself? No. But the glaring difference between my cockeyed theory and that of Caltech astronomers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown, is that they have spent years researching and actually have some evidence.

According to the research, this rogue planets address is in the Kuiper Belt, which is 2.5 to 4.5 billion miles from the Earth, give or take a hundred million miles or so. But its extreme distance from us doesnt make Planet Nines possible existence any less of an exciting theory. Astronomers noticed dwarf planets and other small, icy objects tend to follow orbits that cluster together. After analyzing these orbits, the Caltech team predicted there is a possibility that a large, previously undiscovered planet is waiting to be discovered.

The Kuiper Belt is filled with millions of icy and rocky objects, some of which may tell us about the origins of our solar system. A good analogy is how layers of rock and earth can tell us when the creatures lived, and what kinds of environments existed in the past. Same too, these icy objects throughout the Kuiper Belt may have captured what gases made up our system upon its creation. Think of how our knowledge of dinosaurs has expanded since the first fossil was discovered. Some theories say the ogre and griffin legends of the Greek and Romans spawned from digging up giant dinosaur bones. Other theories have dinosaurs as reptilian monsters, while today, many paleontologies support the theory that dinosaurs slowly evolved into the birds flying our skies today. I am eager for what we may find in the composition of Planet Nine and its orbiting dwarf planets.

We live in a time where space exploration and knowledge grabs our imagination with the force of science fiction novels in the library and the Star Wars movies that sell-out our cinemas. But we no longer need to wait in long lines at the theater for inner-galactic stimulation; we only need to visit websites dedicated to providing the public with news and updates of humanitys latest theories and discoveries.

So as astronomers of our planet use our most powerful telescopes to catch the faint glimpse of Planet Nine, I can only sit and wait for the sequel to the first chapter of Planet Nines discovery. Jim Green, director of NASAs Planetary Science Division, said in a recent NASA video that Like NASAs journey of Mars or New Horizons flyby of Pluto, you will have a front row seat to see how the scientific process unfolds. Theories like this serve to stimulate ideas and conversation. They tap into our innate curiosity.

I think its that innate curiosity that defines our humanity and drives us to discover the mysteries of, not only our own planet or solar system, but of our universe and of those alternative universes that have yet to be realized.

I for one, hope future poster board solar systems, complete with crayon, glue and grade school penmanship, will be just a little bit bigger.
This page is archived. Data published after 5 April 2022 can be found on the renewed website. Go to the new statistics page

Published: 26 January 2016

Transition to work was more difficult for recent graduates than during the previous downturn

According to Statistics Finland's education statistics, employment of recent graduates continued weakening in 2014. One year after graduation, 66 per cent of those having completed a qualification were working, which is two percentage points lower than in the year of downturn, 2009. In total, 51 per cent were working full-time and 15 per cent were working besides studies in 2014. The proportion of the unemployed grew by two percentage points, to 13 per cent.

Employment of graduates one year after graduation 19982014, %

Employment among recent graduates is measured one year after their graduation. Every fifth of those with qualifications from upper secondary vocational education were unemployed. Sixty-five per cent were working, nine per cent of whom were studying alongside working. Every tenth of those having completed a polytechnic degree and nearly nine per cent of those with a higher university degree were out of work. From both levels of education, 83 per cent found employment. Employment of doctors weakened by nearly four percentage points from the previous year. Eighty-four per cent of recently graduated doctors were working.

Compared to the year before, transition to work by both men and women weakened by around two percentage points. Of men, 59 per cent had found employment and of women 71 per cent. During the previous downturn in 2009, 60 per cent of men and 73 per cent of women were employed. Employment of men graduating from vocational education is particularly difficult. In 2014, 58 per cent of men with vocation qualifications and 72 per cent of women were working. These shares were 81 per cent for men and 84 per cent for women among those with polytechnic degrees. Men and women with higher university degrees found employment almost equally easily  around 83 per cent of them were working.

The majority of those having completed the matriculation examination and a lower university degree continue studying in other education, 64 per cent of passers of the matriculation examination and 87 per cent of completers of lower university degrees. More information related to direct transition to further studies of passers of the matriculation examination is available from the statistics on Entrance to education .

There were differences in the transition to working life by field of education. The transition was easiest for those with qualifications from the field of safety and security, where good nine out of ten were employed, and from the field of social services, health and sport, where almost nine out of ten were employed. At 22 per cent, the number of unemployed was highest in the field of technology and transport. More detailed data on the employment of recent graduates by level and field of education can be found in the database tables .

Examined by region, the rate of employment among recent graduates varied from 83 per cent in Aland to 57 per cent in North Karelia. Besides Aland, the rate of employment was higher than the average for the whole country in the regions of Uusimaa, Kanta-Hame, Central Ostrobothnia and Ostrobothnia.

Source: Education 2016. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Anna Loukkola 029 551 3678, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Publication in pdf-format (214.1 kB)

Updated 26.1.2016

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Transition from school to further education and work [e-publication].

ISSN=1798-9469. 2014. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 20.10.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/sijk/2014/sijk_2014_2016-01-26_tie_001_en.html
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In 2015, Georgia 's total external trade turnover with Turkey, which is the top trading partner of the country, amounted to $1.52 billion, including exports worth $186 million, down 22.3 percent, and imports worth $1.3 billion, decreasing 22.9 percent, both on year-on-year basis, according to the data provided by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).
By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com During last Thursdays county commission meeting, the topic of tourism came up. First District Commissioner Karen Stuppy reported on the Tourism Advisory Council and Tourism Tax Commissions joint meeting earlier that week, at which a task force was formed. She said that the tourism department has an $89,548 budget, with $45,000-50,000
Edison Agrosciences, a tech startup based in Durham, N.C., will move to the Helix Center in Creve Coeur, the companys chief executive said Monday.

The company focuses on research on how to coax sunflowers to produce more natural rubber.

Tom Christensen said his company would move in the first half of this year. He said Edison Agrosciences examined biotech centers in several cities but chose the Helix Center because of the progressive and aggressive efforts by state and St. Louis-area officials to recruit agriculture-related startups.

Edison Agrosciences will benefit from $800,000 in investments by the state-run Missouri Technology Corp., BioGenerator, a St. Louis fund that invests in early-stage life sciences firms, and private investors, officials said.

On its website, Edison Agrosciences says the rubber-producing sunflower plant represents the most attractive candidate to lead to a broad-acreage rubber crop in the United States.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development said Edison Agrosciences would create at least a half-dozen new jobs. Christensen said the company will hire two employees within weeks and more later.

The Helix Center, at 1100 Corporate Square Drive, is owned and operated by the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.

Edison will use the new investments to establish operations at the Helix Center, analyze the rubber content of sunflower samples collected over multiple growing seasons and devise further improvements.
Packaging manufacturer Printpack is permanently closing a plant in Hazelwood that employs 115 people.

The Atlanta-based company, which makes flexible packaging for pet food and other consumer products, notified the Missouri Division of Workforce Development of the layoffs at its facility at 310 James S. McDonnell Boulevard.

The layoffs will occur between March 25 and June 30, according to a notice filed with the state.

Employers with more than 100 employees are required to give 60 days notice of layoffs under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act when a third of the workforce or more than 500 workers could be affected. Reports on planned layoffs are released on the states website, jobs.mo.gov.

A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Economic Development said the states Employment Transition Team will meet with impacted employees on Feb. 4 to share information about registering with the states job bank and unemployment benefits.

The companys local workforce has dwindled. In the late 1990s, Printpack employed 300 at the Hazelwood facility.

A spokesperson for Printpack did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Separately on Tuesday, the state of Virginia announced Printpack plans to invest $25.7 million on a plant expansion in Newport News, Va., that will create 50 jobs. According to a statement issued by Virginia officials, Virginia competed with Missouri for the project.
Carnegie Hall has just released its 2016-2017 season announcement, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is heading back to New York next year. (This year, they went to California instead, where their four-city, five-concert tour is just starting.)

The SLSO will be part of a celebration of composer John Adams' career, with a performance of "The Gospel According to the Other Mary" performed in concert. Music director David Robertson will conduct a concert version of the falsetto-heavy (the score calls for three solo countertenors, along with two mezzo-sopranos, a tenor, and chorus) composition on Friday, March 31.

The cast includes mezzos Kelley O'Connor and Michaela Martens, tenor Jay Hunter Morris, and countertenors Daniel Bubeck, Brian Cummings and Nathan Medley.
By Pam Wilson

Kim Bolourtchi seeks to empower girls and women to BE brave and fearless.

Talking with her, you immediately know Kim Bolourtchi has much to say about confidence, decision-making and independent thinking. She carries herself with the confidence she wants girls and women to achieve. And, after talking with her, you know the confidence she speaks of is already within each of us.

Project BE Confident, a not-for-profit organization, started in 2009 with Kim's ideas. She began writing curriculum and lesson plans as she documented what she heard going on in girls lives. A lawyer by training and dancer by passion, Kim is also mom to a teenage girl. Early on, Kim saw a disconnect between messages girls received about the right thing to do and what was really happening.

In any situation when you ask, 'What would you want to do?,' you get the answer you expect to hear from kids. Then I ask, 'Would you be able to do that?,' and the answer is 'No.' Girls are under a tremendous amount of pressure, she says.

Project BE Confident aims to reconnect girls with their inner confidence so that in any situation they are able and willing to make self-respecting choices for themselves.

The program moves out of an academic setting to provide working tools that encourage and inspire girls to stand up and use their own voices. Kim recognizes and identifies what needs to happen, then facilitates activities and discussion where girls learn and practice the skills.

She encourages girls to think about whose opinion matters. Together, they narrow their filter of what a friend means. Its not the number of friends you have, but who has your back, she says.

Project BE Confident workshops for girls, staggered by age, run from third grade through high school. Radio personality Jill Farmer assists the college readiness workshop. Zumba helps younger girls build body confidence.

Girls in third through fifth grade concentrate on how to be a good friend, how to be inclusive and how to hear your inner voice. For example, Kim teaches strategies to use when a girl witnesses bullying. Instead of confronting the bully, Kim encourages befriending the victim, thereby using a girl's voice and inner strength to assert her own values.

Being different is discussed as a value. Kim asks each person: What makes you special?

Laying groundwork to know your own strengths at an early age makes it easier for girls to embrace this individuality as they grow up. Kim encourages them to give themselves permission to look inside themselves to be proud of who and what they are. Starting this thinking when they are young, she hopes, will help grow women who are proud and comfortable talking about their strengths.

Workshops for sixth- to eighth-graders concentrate on friends, peer pressure and social media. She asks girls, as they respect themselves, to go a step further. They should not only hear, but listen to their inner voice. Practical situations illustrate how to listen, self-trust and be brave enough to use this voice, whether verbal, such as saying no" as a complete sentence, or non-verbally in body language.

Body language helps us communicate and it is powerful, she says.

If a teenager finds herself in a precarious situation, Kims message is, Be brave enough to use your inner voice. Kim works hard to help girls find the power to feel confident in their own skin.

High school workshops follow the inner voice theory into the next age. Talking through the topic touches on independence and making tough choices  particularly under pressure. They anticipate problems, issues and conflicts.

"I have found if we work through the topics in advance, girls feel more powerful in the moment, Kim says. Girls need to be clear internally what is 'yes' and what is 'no' and to be intentional in their actions.

Kim reminds fellow parents of teen girls that they can only protect their children and teens from dangers they already see.

"But, we dont have control over all of it," she added. "We cant anticipate everything. Project BE Confident provides these skills for our girls so that when they are in any situation, they will handle themselves with confidence and a powerful sense of who they are and what is right for them.

For more information about Kim Bolourtchi's project, check online at http://www.ProjectBEconfident.com or Project BE confident on Facebook. Her contact information is found on the website.

Pam Wilson comments on life in St. Louis' suburbs with her husband, 18-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter. She has a bachelor's degree in family and child development and a master's in social work. She is the author of "S.O.S. From Suburbia: a collection of humorous personal essays." Contact her at news@stlmomsanddads.com.
Neither side in the Illinois state budget standoff is likely to surrender its basic principles anytime soon. But somehow there must be room for the political newcomer, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, and the longtime Democratic legislative leader, House Speaker Michael J. Madigan of Chicago, to stop posturing and compromise on a budget. Too many people are being hurt.

The state has limped along without a budget for seven months. Mssrs. Rauner and Madigan have made their points. Neither is going to get exactly what he wants; in politics, this is as it should be. This political battle driven by philosophical differences is beginning to hurt real people with jobs and families and bills to pay.

Mr. Rauner is not going to be able to cut social services, gut the states labor unions or stop taxing wealthy people and businesses. State Democratic leaders are not going to get the income tax increase they want combined with spending cuts, nor will they get to continue raiding the states pension funds.

Illinois has serious problems, from one end of the state to the other. In the northern tier, theres Chicago, mired in homicides with a troubled police force and an embattled mayor. In the southern portion, unemployment is higher, with a limp manufacturing climate, troubled farm economy and the once-thriving coal mining industry a shadow of its earlier self.

While the battle continues, residents in seven low-income counties stretching between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers are particularly vulnerable. The counties  Alexander, Harding, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski and Union  cover an area larger than the state of Delaware with a population of about 70,000.

The region has the states highest unemployment with about a third of the workforce employed by state or local governments, double the statewide percentage. Private industry is scarce, so along with their government jobs, residents are heavily dependent on social assistance for child care and medical needs.

Just north of Union County is Jackson County, where Southern Illinois University Carbondale with its 7,000 employees is by far the countys largest employer. The budget stalemate has hurt enrollment there, and at the universitys campus in Edwardsville.

Across both campuses, about 5,000 low-income students normally get scholarship money from the state through the Monetary Award Program, known as MAP, the Post-Dispatchs Koran Addo reported recently.

With that money threatened, administrators at the campuses are filling in for what the state is not providing. It will cost them roughly $19 million for the school year. As a result, the university is delaying payments to vendors, cutting back on discretionary spending and using money from reserve accounts.

Another problem is university-provided health care for faculty members. Mr. Addo wrote about a psychology professor at SIUE whose daughter is required to regularly see multiple health care providers. The childs pediatrician has informed the family that they will have to begin paying upfront because the practice cannot absorb the cost of not being reimbursed by the state.

These are real-world consequences for which those who work in the bubble-world of Springfield are responsible.
ST. LOUIS  A former St. Louis prosecutor faces a temporary suspension of her law license after admitting in federal court that she helped cover up a city police detectives assault on a handcuffed suspect.

The suspension is in place pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings by the Missouri Supreme Courts Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, according to a court order Tuesday. The court action was expected after her criminal conviction.

Bliss Barber Worrell, 28, of Clayton, pleaded guilty in October to a felony charge of misprision of a felony, with a recommended 18 months on probation. Her sentencing is set for April 13 before U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey.

Worrell and a colleague, Katherine Dierdorf, were asked to resign from their jobs at the circuit attorneys office more than a year ago amid allegations that a detective, Thomas A. Carroll, had assaulted a suspect named Michael Waller, then 41. Waller had been arrested July 22, 2014, by another officer at Ballpark Village and accused of using Carrolls daughters credit card, which had been taken during a vehicle break-in.

Waller was charged the next day with receiving stolen property, fraudulent use of a credit card and escape, along with an escape charge relative to resisting arrest.

Worrell and others reportedly knew of the alleged assault but didnt report it to superiors and assisted in the filing of charges against Waller.

Those charges were dropped when authorities learned of the alleged assault and cover-up.

Worrell, since in private practice, is cooperating with federal investigators who are reportedly looking into the involvement of other officers. Carroll has resigned; his attorney has repeatedly declined to comment. Dierdorfs attorney has said she is a cooperating witness.

Worrell is the daughter-in-law of former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Todd Worrell. Dierdorf is the daughter of former St. Louis Cardinals football player and broadcaster Dan Dierdorf.
ST. LOUIS  Former city police Officer Jason Flanery was charged Friday with drunken driving in the crash of a squad car.

The charges came just days after Flanery was accused in a civil lawsuit of wrongful death in the fatal shooting of a man in 2014 while Flanery was working as a security guard.

Flanery was cleared in that shooting by authorities and was still on the force, but off duty, when he crashed his official vehicle into a parked car and left the scene about 6:15 a.m. Dec. 19, authorities say. Investigating officers found him later, at home.

Charges accuse him of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.

Court documents show Flannery, 33, had a blood-alcohol content of .117 when tested later in the day after the accident. The legal limit in Missouri is .08.

The mother of the woman who owned the car saw the police vehicle strike the parked car, according to the documents. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

After the crash, the owner of the damaged car surveyed the damage to her vehicle, and the police vehicle was gone, according to the documents.

Police later found the police cruiser a short distance away from the crash scene, in front of Flanerys house in the 6900 block of Lansdowne Avenue, according to the documents. It had damage consistent with striking the parked vehicle, according to the documents.

Officers said he smelled of alcohol and was unsteady and wobbly on his feet, having difficulty standing without support, according to the documents.

Flanery refused to take an alcohol breath test, police said, so the department obtained a search warrant for a blood test later that day. He was arrested and released pending application for warrants. Flanery resigned from the force.

The department and a separate investigation by Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyces office had cleared him of criminal wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of VonDerrit Myers Jr. on Oct. 8, 2014. Officials said evidence supported his claim that Myers fired shots at him during a confrontation in the Shaw neighborhood while Flanery was working an off-duty secondary job for a private security company. The shots Myers fired at Flanery missed, authorities said.

The killing of Myers, only about two months after a police shooting in Ferguson had ignited sometimes-violent reactions there, led to weeks of demonstrations.

On Wednesday, Myers parents and the mother of his child filed a wrongful-death suit in St. Louis Circuit Court against Flanery, GCI Security and the Flora Place Community Improvement District, which hired the company. The suit claims Flanery killed Myers without provocation.

Flanery had returned to duty after being cleared in the shooting. He had worked until 2 a.m. on Dec. 19, the morning of the crash, officials said.
ST. LOUIS  A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Monday has offered a chance of freedom to thousands of juvenile offenders nationwide who are serving life sentences for murder.

The justices voted 6-3 on a broader application of a 2012 ruling that struck down automatic life terms for young killers. Now, even those who had exhausted their appeals on decades-old convictions will get a chance at parole or a new sentence.

The impact here could be big.

Missouri is one of just nine states, including Illinois, that account for 82 percent of juvenile sentences of life without parole, according to a recent study by the Phillips Black Project, a public interest law firm that represents inmates facing severe sentences.

Of about 1,300 to 2,300 cases hanging in the balance nationally, at least 81 cases are in Missouri.

And the city of St. Louis, according to the study, has the fifth-highest concentration of juveniles serving life sentences in the country, with as many as 41 cases.

Mondays ruling will affect inmates such as Ralph McElroy, who at 17 was convicted in the fatal shooting in 1987 of a north St. Louis man, Johnnie Fleming. Fleming was reportedly trying to break up a fight in the West End when he exchanged words with McElroy, a bystander. Officials said McElroy left the scene, returned with a sawed-off rifle and shot Fleming.

Hes not an angry young boy anymore; hes a grown, mature man, said his mother, Margo McElroy, in a phone interview Monday. I think my son deserves a second chance. He can contribute to society.

McElroy, of St. Louis, said they were thrilled to hear of the courts ruling, which they had been anxiously awaiting.

Im really sorry about Mr. Fleming, but regardless of whether my son spends the rest of his life in jail or not, its not going to bring Mr. Fleming back, she said. She said her son, now 46, has paid with all of his adult life.

The Supreme Court has over the past decade moved away from the harshest sentences for youths, recognizing the undeveloped state of a young criminals mind and the opportunities for rehabilitation. In 2005, Roper v. Simmons eliminated the death penalty for juveniles. In 2010, Graham v. Florida did away with life sentences for youths convicted of non-homicides.

Then in 2012, in Miller v. Alabama, the court outlawed mandatory life sentences for young killers, too. The ruling did not outright ban life sentences for youth but said that they could no longer be automatic and that certain individualized factors relative to an offenders age must be considered.

The ruling left open several thorny issues. One of them: whether Miller should apply just to future cases or to old ones, too.

Mondays ruling was in the case of Henry Montgomery, who at 17 was sentenced to life for the killing in 1963 of an East Baton Rouge, La., police officer.

Authoring the majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that the Louisiana Supreme Court was incorrect in refusing to apply Miller retroactively.

Kennedy pointed to a 1989 ruling that considered the issue of retroactivity in federal habeas proceedings. In a summary of the ruling, the court held that while new constitutional rules of criminal procedure are generally not retroactive, it recognized that courts must give retroactive effect to new watershed procedural rules and to substantive rules of constitutional law.

The court determined here that Miller addressed a substantive rule of constitutional law and thus applied to old cases.

Substantive rules set forth categorical constitutional guarantees that place certain criminal laws and punishments altogether beyond the States power to impose, the summary read. It follows that when a State enforces a proscription or penalty barred by the Constitution, the resulting conviction or sentence is, by definition, unlawful.

Up until now, states had taken a range of approaches in applying Miller  and some, like Missouri, had balked.

Missouris courts granted new sentencing hearings to a handful of defendants who had appeals pending at the time of the ruling. But the states top court had yet to take up the issue of retroactivity in cases where appeals were exhausted.

And a legislative fix has repeatedly floundered. The law still says the penalty for first-degree murder must be either death or life in prison without parole.

Last year, the state Senate passed a bill to allow a killer under 16 to receive a sentence of at least 35 years, or life without parole; and someone 16 or 17 to be sentenced to 50 years, or life without parole. A House version offered an alternative sentence of 25 to 40 years for murderers under 18, but it never reached the floor for debate. The differences were never reconciled.

Illinois is farther ahead on the issue. The Illinois Supreme Court decided in 2014 that Miller applied not just to pending cases, and in 2015, the Legislature eliminated mandatory life without parole for juveniles.

Missouri prosecutors had feared a decision in Montgomery would catch the state flat-footed  with no statutory solution to guide what should happen with the new cases, let alone the old.

On Monday, their predictions came true.

I appreciate the opinion that came down today, but unfortunately for Missouri, it didnt give us a clear path of where we need to be, said Beth Orwick, chief trial assistant for St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce.

In the ruling, the justices proposed a solution to address Montgomery, without creating too much burden on the system or disturbing the original conviction: offer parole eligibility.

The court noted it would afford someone like Montgomery, who submits that he has evolved from a troubled, misguided youth to a model member of the prison community, the opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Millers central intuition  that children who commit even heinous crimes are capable of change.

But, Orwick noted, there has to be a mechanism in each state to do that, and unfortunately in Missouri there is no mechanism yet.

Its frustrating, because right now we really need a legislative solution for this, she said.

Karen Kraft, a division director with the state public defenders office, praised the courts decision as the right ruling and the only one that makes sense.

If you are using the rationale that there shouldnt be life without parole for juveniles because of their diminished capacity, the same would be true of someone who was convicted in 1985, she said.

But she agreed it was too early to tell how the ruling would be addressed locally. She anticipated a wave of new appeals on older cases, filed by lawyers who had been waiting to see what would be decided in Montgomery.

Margo McElroy, whose son may benefit, has trouble understanding the confusion.

The question should have never come up, she said. They have to at least get a chance. Were talking about children.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed some information from the summary of the court decision.
JEFFERSON CITY  A third lawsuit has been filed against Travis Maurer, a Kirkwood native who has pushed marijuana reform efforts in both Oregon and Missouri.

The suit was filed Wednesday in Multnomah County, Ore., circuit court by Whitsett Rice. It alleges that Maurer has failed to make payments on a $158,400 settlement agreement the two made in 2014 after a business dispute.

The lawsuit says that Maurer and his company, STM Leasing LLC, had repaid $33,000, but otherwise "defaulted on and breached their obligations" by failing to make monthly payments. The lawsuit says Maurer had made payments until August, but then the money stopped coming in.

Rice is asking for the remaining principal amount of the loan, interest, attorney fees and court costs.

Legal problems are piling up for Maurer and his wife Leah Maurer. Both are active in marijuana reform efforts. Travis Maurer was even called the "mastermind" behind Oregon's successful push for legal marijuana last year by the Oregonian newspaper in Portland.

Despite living in Oregon, the couple remained active in a Missouri group's push to reform marijuana laws. In June, New Approach Missouri, a group trying to put medical marijuana to a statewide vote this year, recorded a $26,000 check from MQH LLC, another venture the Maurers were involved in.

But the co-owner of MQH, Randy Quast, said that while he supports New Approach Missouri, he was initially unaware of the $26,000 commitment from company funds. He said he found out later the money was to be used for an internal poll.

I think by the time of the board meetings, people were probably thinking highly of me because I had agreed to fund the poll with Travis, but I didnt know that at all, Quast said in an interview.

Maurer said he didnt know why Quast thought he was misled about the New Approach check.

Randy was a part of the process and saw the presentation, Maurer said in a text message. I cant answer why he wouldnt remember that.

The Post-Dispatch reported on Jan. 15 that Quast sued Maurer in Oregon court for breach of contract, libel, slander and fraud.

The lawsuit says that in early 2015 the Maurers had convinced Quast to go into business with them. Quast eventually invested $696,000 in what he thought would become a legal marijuana dispensary and grow operation. As collateral, the Maurers would transfer to Quast their interests in three other ventures. But that never happened, the lawsuit alleges.

Quast also made about $156,000 in personal loans to the Maurers, the lawsuit says. He is seeking damages up to $1 million.

In a third lawsuit filed in December in Oregon, the plaintiffs are two owners of The Weed Blog, an online publication focused on marijuana issues. They say they joined forces with Maurer in November 2012, and Maurer became part owner and chief financial manager of the blog.

The lawsuit claims that since November of that year, Maurer had "intentionally and maliciously transferred TWB (The Weed Blog) funds from TWB bank accounts to Maurer's various personal accounts and/or paid personally incurred debts with TWB funds."

The plaintiffs, Jeffrey White and Christopher Young, accuse Maurer in the lawsuit of failing to file tax returns, respond timely to advertising requests and pay bills. They are seeking $51,000 in damages plus court costs.

Maurer has denied White and Young's claims and said he is trying to solve the suit amicably. He said Saturday that he couldn't comment on the other two lawsuits, but is planning a response this week.

New Approach Missouri said in a statement when Quast's lawsuit was filed that Maurer is a "committed reform advocate" but that "he is not on the New Approach Missouri board or staff, nor does he have any day-to-day involvement in our campaign."
In an unusual foray into state legislative politics, Democrat Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign weighed in today on Missouri's voter-identification controversy, slamming legislation pending in Jefferson City that would require voters to present photo IDs at the polling places.

Hillary Clinton believes we should be making it easier to vote, not harder, Hillary for America spokesperson Marlon Marshall said in a written statement. These proposals could effectively disenfranchise tens of thousands of eligible Missouri voters by requiring them to show photo identification that many voters simply don't have.

The legislation, supported by the Republican majority in the Legislature, passed the state House last week awaits action in the Senate.

The Missouri legislation echoes efforts by Republicans in state capitals across the nation to impose new restrictions on voting, on the argument that it's necessary in order to battle voter fraud.

Democrats have generally opposed such moves, saying there is little indication of voter fraud today and often alleging the measures are meant to tamp down voter turnout by minorities, young people and others who tend to vote Democratic.

Clinton's campaign has called for a national standard for early voting and the implementation of universal automatic voter registration.

Clinton and other presidential candidates in both parties face off Monday in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses. Missouri's "presidential preference primary" is March 15.
JEFFERSON CITY  At a time when Missouri lawmakers are attempting to clean up the image of the capital city, a Democratic member of the House says he traded blows with one of his colleagues outside a downtown Jefferson City bar last week.

State Rep. Courtney Curtis, D-Ferguson, said he and state Rep. Michael Butler, D-St. Louis, exchanged words at a reception on Jan. 19 over Curtis backing of a controversial anti-union proposal last year. He said Butler and he had a physical altercation outside the tavern about 30 minutes later.

He was the aggressor in the situation, said Curtis, who on Tuesday told the Post-Dispatch that his shoulders still hurt from the incident.

Although Jefferson City police confirm Curtis filed a police report, Butler isnt talking.

I have no comment on it. It might be a legal matter, said Butler, whose district includes parts of downtown St. Louis, midtown and parts of the St. Louis University campus.

State Rep. Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, who also attended the event about four blocks from the Capitol building, said he had no comment on the incident.

In addition to filing a police report, Curtis said he has reported the incident to the House Ethics Committee, which handles complaints on a confidential basis.

Jefferson City police Capt. Doug Shoemaker confirmed Curtis filed a report on Jan. 19 and spoke with police again on Jan. 21. But, further information was not available Tuesday because the investigation is ongoing.

The report is an open investigation, Shoemaker said.

Curtis said the fisticuffs began after he arrived at a reception sponsored by labor groups. He said he got in line for food behind Butler and heard his colleague and a labor official discussing Curtis support for a right-to-work law, which unions have been fighting to kill.

Then he turned to me and said, Youre a bold (expletive) for coming in here, Curtis said.

Twenty or 30 minutes later I left to go back to the Capitol. Representative Butler came out of the door and said, Talk that (expletive) now? And then he kept walking toward me. And then he struck me. At that point we had an actual fight, Curtis said.

It was a real fight. I was defending myself. It was fighting and wrestling at some point, Curtis said.

Later Tuesday, Curtis released a statement saying he regretted the conflict had escalated into a fight.

I am incredibly disappointed in the actions that transpired in the last week. As lawmakers, we should hold ourselves to a higher level of professionalism than what has occurred, he says in the statement. I regret that the situation regressed to where the actions felt needed, but I do not regret protecting myself and holding strong to my ideals and the beliefs of my constituents.

Curtis said in an interview that he and Butler were roommates for a time during the 2015 legislative session.

We didnt have any issues as roommates. This was all political, Curtis said.

The House Committee on Ethics is empowered to investigate complaints and make recommendations to the full House for any possible reprimands.
Berkeley Mayor Ted Hoskins and his wife, Councilwoman Lee Etta Hoskins, have agreed to a consent order with the state Ethics Commission after it was discovered they both voted to reimburse Ted Hoskins for legal expenses incurred when the city investigated him in 2014.

The city initially investigated Ted Hoskins for violating the city's "councilmanic interference" ordinance. After new council members were elected in April 2015, the city had not reached a conclusion, though Hoskins said he was no longer being actively investigated. "It was dead," he said, adding that he didn't remember the details of the allegation.

In a closed city council meeting on July 20, 2015, Ted Hoskins made a motion to approve a reimbursement for the $3,400 he paid in attorney fees. Both he and Lee Etta Hoskins voted for the measure, leading the ethics commission to conclude there was "probable cause" to believe they violated a city conflict-of-interest ordinance.

"Hindsight, I probably should have (abstained)," he said.

"I just thought that it was an expense brought on by the council," Hoskins said, "and since they didn't continue (with the investigation), I brought it back up to be reimbursed."

The current city manager, Abdul-Kaba Abdullah, said he didn't know why Hoskins was investigated by the city, which he said would have occurred before he was hired in 2014.

As part of the consent order, Hoskins and his wife have agreed to return the money to the city.
LONDON MARKET OPEN: Stocks and pound suffer as PM's future in balance

Thursday, October 20, 2022 - 09:14

A calamitous 24 hours for the premiership of Liz Truss unsettled markets early Thursday, with both stock prices in London and the pound lower.

The FTSE 100 index opened down 6.04 points, 0.1%, at 6,918.95. The FTSE 250 opened down 56.08 points, 0.3%, at 17,191.47, and the AIM All-Share opened down 3.54 points, 0.5%, at 782.43.

The Cboe UK 100 opened down 0.3% at 690.74, the Cboe UK 250 opened down 0.6% at 14,722.87, and the Cboe Small Companies opened down 0.3 at 12,328.69.

UK Prime Minister Truss is battling to contain the fallout from the resignation of a senior Cabinet minister and an open revolt in the Commons.

Tory members of Parliament are wondering how long the prime minister can go on following the chaotic events, but a Cabinet ally said "at the moment" Truss will still lead the party into the next election.

Sterling was quoted at $1.1230 early Thursday, lower than $1.1242 at the London equities close on Wednesday.

In London's FTSE 100 index, Dechra Pharmaceuticals lost 1.9%

Dechra said it was confident of delivering on market expectations for its financial year 2023, and expects the phasing to be weighted to the second half. Consensus estimates for underlying earnings before interest and tax is 191 million, it noted.

Trading in its first quarter ending September 30 was below the prior year - as expected - due to a challenging comparator with higher demand levels due to the pandemic.

At the other end of the list of London blue-chips was Relx, up 1.9%.

The LexisNexis owner said underlying revenue growth in the year to date was 9%. It said momentum remains strong across the group, and it expects growth in revenue, adjusted operating profit and constant currency growth in adjusted earnings per share to "remain above historical levels".

Burberry added 1.5%, in a positive read-across following a cheery update from fellow luxury goods firm Hermes, which was trading up 1.3% in Paris.

In the FTSE 250, Dunelm shed 1.2%, as it reported a dip in first-quarter sales.

For the 13 weeks to October 1, total sales for the furniture retailer came in at 357 million, down 8% from the previous year. This was "as expected, given the very strong comparative period, with Q1 last year benefiting from pent up demand and our rescheduled Summer Sale", it explained.

Looking ahead, it noted a "challenging" macroeconomic environment, including recent volatility in exchange rate movements. However, Dunelm said it is "very well hedged" for the remainder of the year.

The company reiterated the annual guidance it provided last month.

"Dunelm could benefit from shoppers trading down from the likes of John Lewis but they do have discounters like B&M [European Value Retail] hot on their heels. We expect to see investment in above-the-line advertising to drive customer acquisition," said Third Bridge analyst Lara Martinez.

On AIM, online wine seller Naked Wine surged 36%, as it announced a leadership shake-up, and a restructuring programme.

Darryl Rawlings will step down as chair with immediate effect, with David Stead to take his place. Stead has been a director of the firm since 2017, and is currently chair of the audit committee. In addition, Deirdre Runnette will become senior independent director.

Naked Wines said it was in active discussions with James Crawford to assume the role of chief financial officer on a permanent basis.

It now expects revenue to fall by between 4% and 9% in the current financial year, downgraded from previous expectations of between 4% growth and 4% decline. It also announced a restructuring programme, to further its goal of becoming a "leaner and more focused" company.

"We recognise that in pursuit of rapid growth we have made mistakes," said CEO Nick Devlin.

Liberum raised the stock to 'hold' from 'sell'.

In European equities on Thursday, the CAC 40 in Paris opened up 0.3%. The DAX 40 in Frankfurt opened down 0.5%, after German producer price inflation came in hotter than expected.

According to the Federal Statistics Office, the producer price index rose by 45.8% annually in September, the same pace as in August. This came in higher than FXStreet-cited market consensus of 44.7%.

Meanwhile, in Zurich, ABB was down 1.2%. The firm said it saw steady revenue and order growth as the supply chain normalised, but a booked provision hit profit.

In the third quarter of 2022, the Zurich-based industrial conglomerate said revenue rose 5% year-on-year to $7.41 billion, compared to $7.03 billion.

Orders rose 4% to $8.19 billion from $7.87 billion. Growth in orders was seen across most divisions. Price execution was "robust", with volumes supported by easing supply constraints.

Net profit attributable to ABB dropped dramatically, however, coming in 45% lower at $360 million compared to $652 million. Basic earnings per share dropped similarly to $0.19 from $0.33. "The decline [was] primarily related to the booked non-operational provision which weighed on income from operations," it explained.

The euro traded at $0.9779 early Thursday, lower than $0.9784 late Wednesday.

Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JP149.98, up versus JP149.77. The strengthening of the dollar is increasing the likelihood of a further intervention by Japanese authorities to bolster the value of their currency, traders think.

Stocks in Asia were lower on Thursday. In China, the Shanghai Composite closed down 0.3%. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong was 1.8% lower in late trade, having hit an intraday low of 16,010.72 - a 13 year low.

The Nikkei 225 closed down 0.9 in Tokyo, while the S&P/ASX 200 lost 1.0% in Sydney.

Gold was quoted at $1,627.90 an ounce early Thursday in London, lower than $1,631.50 late Wednesday. Brent oil was trading at $93.51 a barrel, higher than $90.83.

Still to come in Thursday's economic calendar, there are the eurozone balance of payments at 0900 BST and US initial jobless claims at 1330 BST.

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The U.S. Navy recently announced that it will resume allowing crews of SSBNs (ballistic missile carrying nuclear subs) some shore leave in the middle of their 77 day cruises. SSBNs have two crews, which alternate running the boats. In between each cruise the boats are in port for about 35 days for maintenance and resupply. So each crew spends about 34 percent of their time at sea. Up until 2003 the SSBNs regularly stopped at American or foreign naval bases to give the crews some time ashore and an opportunity for the sub to stock up on perishables (vegetables, fruits and the like). This was a big morale boost for the SSBN crews, who got to see a foreign country, if only briefly, and have a few drinks. The mid-cruise shore leave practice was halted because increase security concerns after 2001.

The 17,000 ton Ohios have 155 sailors on board a sub that is 170 meters long and 13 meters wide. It is crowded on the boomers (or bombers in the Royal Navy) since each of the fourteen Ohios now in service also have 24 ballistic missiles (each in a silo) and a dozen torpedoes (that use four torpedo tubes) on board plus a nuclear reactor and supplies for at least 77 days.
The government has become less insistent about not needing foreign troops in Iraq. This is because of the increasingly aggressive and autonomous behavior of the Iran-backed Shia militias that are assisting the army in the fight against ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). The Shia militias are also taking control of territory in urban and rural areas, displacing the police and local government. Now the Iraq government sees the American troops as saviors. At the end of 2015 there were several thousand American troops already in Iraq and more (most of them Special Forces) on the way. The government has apparently made it clear to Iran (which is very hostile to U.S. forces in Iraq) that some American troops are essential. The presence of American troops also makes it less likely that Iran will attempt anything too ambitious (like invading or backing a takeover by Shia militias) and everyone knows that. Most Iraqis are more concerned with Iranian meddling than anything the Americans might do. At the same time Iraqis are wary of the other Gulf Arabs, especially Saudi Arabia. For example the Saudi ambassador to Iraq recently commented that the Iran backed Shia militias in Iraq should stand aside and let the Iraqi Army deal with ISIL. That comment was widely condemned by Iraqi Shia clerics and politicians.

In Iraq over a thousand Western troops, many of them special operations (Special Forces, SEALs and other commandos), are providing training and advisory assistance to Iraqi forces. To get the most out of this, especially when special ops forces are involved, the effort is directed towards the best local troops. Experience has shown the Kurds and Iraqi Arab special operations troops benefit the most from this training and do so more quickly than less trained and experienced troops. This comes with some risks, mainly because this training is often done in a combat zone and the advisory aspect is often done in combat. In both these cases there are many instances where the trainers themselves come under fire. While the trainers are not there to fight they are armed and allowed to defend themselves when necessary. Unofficially the trainers are allowed to get involved in situations where their trainees are in great danger and the intervention of the trainers would be useful, and much appreciated by the trainees. This is allowed unofficially because there is risk of trainers being killed or wounded. This causes political problems back home where politicians have pledged to provide combat trainers but no combat troops. While some trainers have been killed or wounded during front line training there is always the risk of there are too many casualties among the foreign trainers politicians and media back home would make an issue out of it. Same with Iraqi politicians and media, who are insistent that there be no foreign combat troops in Iraq. Armed trainers are tolerated, but not if they regularly engage in combat.

Meanwhile American officials talk of driving ISIL out of Mosul and Raqqa soon, as in by mid-2016, while some senior Iraqi officials openly doubt that Mosul will be liberated this year at all. A lot of Iraqis still doubt the capabilities of their armed forces and are more afraid of the Iran-backed Shia militias that openly call for a religious dictatorship in Iraq. So while the Kurds report that they have surrounded Mosul from the north and are ready for the final battle the Iraqi government forces south of the city are pointing out that they have to keep an eye on ISIL as well as their allies the Iran-backed Shia militias.

At the end of 2015 Iraq declared Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province (which is most of western Iraq) back under government control. Despite that declaration Iraqi troops are still slowly moving through parts of the city where ISIL planted lots of booby-traps and landmines. These explosive devices were meant to punish the disloyal (to ISIL) population of the city and cause maximum losses to advancing troops and Shia militia. The militias are letting the soldiers use their training and special equipment to find and clear the explosives. Meanwhile Iraqi troops have moved past Ramadi and are advancing deeper into territory controlled by ISIL for a year or more. So far ISIL counterattacks have slowed but not stopped this advance. ISIL has to stop this advance or it will find its Iraq and Syrian territories cut off from each other. This would be a major problem for ISIL and make the Islamic terrorists easier to defeat. Many ISIL members are sensing this danger and desertions are up while veteran troops in contact with ISIL find the enemy less effective and apparently demoralized. ISIL is depending more and more on suicide bombings to demoralize and dissuade the Iraqi troops and militias. This is not working as the troops and militias have learned to be more vigilant and decisive about detecting and halting (by killing the terrorist) these attacks.

The continued operations in Ramadi have not delayed the efforts to drive ISIL out of Mosul. ISIL has controlled the city since June 2014 and most (all but about 800,000) of the original three million inhabitants have fled. Nearly all those still in Mosul are openly hostile to ISIL, which is suffering from increasingly frequent and accurate air attacks. This is apparently the result of a more effective informant network in the city. Government forces south of the city and Kurdish troops (and non-Moslem militias) north of the city are preparing for the final attack, which is now supposed to take place in a few months. ISIL is most concerned with the Kurdish advance from the north because the Kurds have long had American air support. As more U.S. aircraft have arrived in the region, along with more American Special Forces to work with the Kurds, the Kurdish forces have become ever more deadly. In the last week ISIL made an attempt to slow the Kurdish advance and failed, suffering nearly a thousand casualties (most of them dead) in the process. The Kurds are more vulnerable when they advance but because so many of the Kurds have years of combat experience and lots of U.S. training it is difficult to kill or wound enough Kurds to stop these movements. The Kurds are concerned about keeping their casualties low. This is good for morale, preserves the experienced fighters and recognizes the fact the Kurds have limited (compared to the Iraqi Army and Shia militias) manpower and want to conserve it.

A side benefit of the recent ISIL attacks on the Kurds was the capture of many wounded (and unwounded) ISIL fighters. Many of these men, once they realize that their wounds will be tended and they wont be executed or tortured, talk freely to Kurdish and American interrogators. They report that ISIL is having more problems with desertions in Mosul and has been carrying out more public executions of ISIL fighters caught trying to leave. Some of the recent executions included mid-level ISIL leaders who sought to flee what many consider a hopeless situation.

The advance on Mosul will find two types of American support critical for making the operation a success and keeping Iraqi casualties down. Reporters were not surprised to hear that Iraqi officers were glad to see the return of American air support, and in a big way. Many of these battalion and brigade commanders had started their careers after 2003 when American air support was common and greatly missed it after Iraqi politicians refused to let the American continue providing it after 2011. But to the surprise of foreign journalists Iraqi commanders also praised the return of American electronic warfare aircraft, especially those with the ability to selectively listen in on enemy wireless communications and, if needed, quickly jam it. With this capability Iraqi intel officers and commanders could listen to the enemy communications in real-time and at any point ask for it to be jammed. This made the enemy vulnerable because the army was listening in no matter what wireless communications was used and could quickly jam it if that seemed more advantageous for the army. To ensure that Iraqi forces make the most of the U.S. air support several hundred additional American trainers are on the way to make sure commanders and key subordinates know how to best use the air support.

The Iranian Menace

Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, the head of the Iran backed Shia militias in Iraq has said publicly that if Iran ordered him to overthrow the Iraqi government he would do so. This confirms what Iraqi leaders have long feared. The Shia militias are supposed to be under the control of the Iraqi government, if only because the militia members are paid by the government. Yet the Shia militias often refuse orders from the government and are demanding more money while refusing to account for how they spend it. Abu Mahdi al Muhandis is also very vocal about his belief that ISIL is the invention of the United States and secretly supported by the Americans as a way to weaken Islam. Supporters of the ISIL is American theory point to the way Ramadi was largely destroyed during the battle to retake it and it was found that there were only about 600 ISIL defenders killed. Most of the damage was done by American aerial bombs. Fighting continues in some parts of Ramadi where a dozen or more small (ten or so men) groups of ISIL fighters continue to fight. Iraqi police have been questioning civilians still in Ramadi and have compiled a list of the locals who collaborated with ISIL. Nearly 200 of these suspects have been found and arrested so far.

The U.S. also has a problem with the terror tactics used by the Iran backed Shia militias because they have a take no prisoners policy and will even execute (often by beheading) ISIL leaders (including women) they capture. The U.S. feels that it would be better to interrogate all ISIL prisoners and Iraqi military intelligence officials agree. So do some Iranian military advisors. But the Iran backed Iraqi militias depend on enthusiasm and fierce hatred of ISIL to make up for lack of military training and experience. This inexperience and lack of discipline can be dangerous for nearby Iraqi Army troops. Sunni politicians complain that the Shia militias freely murder any Sunnis they perceive as a threat to Shia domination of Iraq. These victims include Sunni clerics who have nothing to do with Islamic terrorists but are simply popular. Most Sunni politicians are also targets.

ISIL Works On Plan B

ISIL is directing many of its new recruits to Libya, where the Islamic terror group apparently senses an opportunity to establish another relatively secure base. ISIL is under increasing threat in Iraq and Syria. Apparently ISIL sees Libya as a backup base if the core of the current caliphate in Iraq and Syria is lost. ISIL also has franchises in Libya and nine other countries but none as valuable as Libya.

One reason ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) is still active and in control of large chunks of Iraq and Syria after two years is because they have paid attention to logistics (getting supplies) and finance (finding ways to pay for the supplies.) ISIL succeeded because they had plenty of qualified and experienced administrators willing to get the job done. This came about because for centuries the Sunni minority in what is now Iraq ran the largely Shia area. For most of the last four centuries the area was part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The Sunni Turks had taken what is now modern Iraq from Shia Iran and did not trust the Shia Arabs to run things. The Sunni Arab minority in the area was another matter as this group was always better educated and more prosperous than the Shias and tended to run Baghdad and areas to the south no matter what empire was in charge. So the Turks had these Sunni Arabs administer this part of their empire. When the Ottoman Empire fell in 1918 the British took over, looked around and decided to leave the Sunni Arabs in charge. In 1932 Iraq became independent as a constitutional monarchy but the king, most army officers and senior officials were Sunni Arabs and largely controlled the new Iraq. But after destroying the constitutional monarch in 1958 and ruling Iraq as a Sunni Arab dictatorship until 2003 the Iraqi Sunnis are desperately trying to get their power back. They are betting everything on ISIL and a growing number of Iraqi Sunni Arabs see that as a bad bet.

The Wisdom Of The Ancient Kings

Jordan believes that ISIL can be defeated militarily rather quickly. Although Jordan is poor (no oil and only 6.5 million people) its leadership has always been the most bi-cultural (comfortable with the West as well as with Islamic culture) Arab government in the region. Jordan was one of the first Arab states to establish good relations with Israel. While a monarchy, its current king is Western educated but still able to handle the tribal politics and religious conservatives he rules over. Jordan has some of the best Arab soldiers in the region. Jordanian F-16s provided air support in Anbar and Syria. After ISIL burned to death a Jordanian pilot in early 2015 the Jordanians greatly increased the number of bombing missions their air force carries out and expanded those operations into Iraq. Some of the pro-government (or just anti-ISIL) Sunni tribes in Western Iraq have kinsmen in Jordan so providing air support is something of a tribal obligation. Jordan also warns that defeating ISIL in battle is easy but eliminating the tradition of Islamic terrorism is much more difficult. The Jordanian king comes from an ancient (descended from the prophet) and distinguished family that has had centuries of experience dealing with the violent religious conservatism that regularly erupts into widespread death and destruction. The king, and many Jordanians, would like this to end, but knows that it wont be easy or soon.

January 12, 2016: Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) boasted that the IRGC was responsible for training (and often recruiting, arming and paying) 200,000 fighters in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan. At least a quarter of these are in Syria, followed by Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. Pakistan and Afghanistan were not happy with the IRGC publicly admitting that Iran has sponsored local (and often illegal) Shia militias. Iran had to do some diplomatic fence mending over that. Jafaris comments confirmed Iraqi suspicions that Iran was indeed serious about gaining more control in Iraq in any way it can.

In northern Iraq four Turkish F-16s and two helicopter gunships destroyed three PKK camps discovered by Turkish UAVs that now patrol the area regularly. Turks have also noted that ISIL is something of an ally in the fighting against Kurdish nationalists. Thus the recent ISIL attacks inside Turkey tend to be against foreign tourists, Turkish Kurds or refugees from Syria. Given that ISIL leadership is dominated by Iraqis who once served in the Saddam government, this strategy makes sense. Many Iraqi families had served the Turkish Empire for centuries and know how the Turks think. Nevertheless most Turks also realize that ISIL was founded to build a new Arab Empire that would rule the Turks, not be ruled by them. There is agreement on one subject; the Kurds in the region must not be allowed to units and create a Kurdish state.

Two U.S. Navy coastal patrol boats and ten sailors manning them were seized by armed Iranian patrol boats in the Persian Gulf in an area between Iraq and Iran. The Americans were accused of being in Iranian territorial waters. The American boats and sailors were released a day later but the U.S. Navy has not yet explained how this improbable event actually took place. The Iranian supreme leader (the unelected cleric who has the final say in everything) later publically praised the Iranian troops who seized the U.S. boats and declared the incident a great victory for Iran.

January 11, 2016: In Baghdad three American contractors (two men and a woman) were apparently kidnapped from a club that served alcohol. Three were American citizens. The two men were originally from Iraq and the woman from Egypt. The government concluded that the three were taken by criminals who would ransom them or sell them to Islamic terrorists. So far there has been no known ransom demand. Many locals believe Shia militias were responsible.

January 10, 2016: In Mosul American warplanes used two 908 kg smart bombs to destroy a bank used by ISIL to store cash and pay its staff. Video of the strike showed thousands of bits of paper (most of it cash) in the air after the explosions. The U.S. later reported that ISIL lost several million dollars of cash in this one attack and that there have been similar strikes elsewhere. ISIL deserters have been reporting a growing number of ISIL fighters, especially the foreigners, have been deserting because of pay cuts or long delays in getting paid.

January 9, 2016: Iraq repeated its demand that Turkey withdraw all its troops from a base north of Mosul. Turkey insists out that their soldiers were there to help Iraqi regain control over a quarter of their territory they do not control (because of ISIL). The Turks have had a training camp there to train Kurdish and Sunni Arab militiamen but only had permission from the autonomous Kurdish government in the north. Like much of what the Kurds up there do, the Iraqi government just ignores it. In early December Turkey sent more troops to this camp along with several armored vehicles. Iraqi media chose to depict this as a Turkish invasion and the government joined on condemning the Turks even though this was all about increasing security against possible ISIL attack. The Turks also point out that the day before Turkish troops in the Mosul camp defeated an ISIL attack and killed 18 of the Islamic terrorists. The Iraqi government doesnt care about that. It wants the Turks out but is not able to force the issue and that is part of the problem here.

January 6, 2016: American officials announced that they believe air strikes in Syria and Iraq killed at least 2,500 ISIL members in December. The growing number of ISIL deserters provides more inside information on what it happening in ISIL controlled territory and the deserters confirm that the increasingly effective air strikes, which are apparently because of more local informants and relaxed ROE (Rules of Engagement that now ignore the use of human shields). The aerial bombings have caused a lot more ISIL casualties. That and the reduced pay (or no pay at all) and use of public executions for deserters who are caught (or ISIL simply suspected of planning to leave) is driving more ISIL fighters and support personnel away. That is a major reason why ISIL has lost, so far, 40 percent of the territory it seized in 2014. Over a third of ISIL oil production had been destroyed and other ISIL income sources were also under attack in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. French officials believe that over 22,000 Islamic terrorists (mostly ISIL) have been killed in Syria and Iraq since mid-2014. Despite that the French believe that ISIL still have over 30,000 active personnel in Iraq and Syria. Most of these, however, are tied up with security (and an increasingly troublesome resistance) and support functions (supplies, finance and other essentials that even Islamic terrorists have to deal with). Overall there were 69,000 dead (down 24 percent from 91,000in 2014) for the Iraq and Syria in 2015, mainly because of ISIL.
Dirty Little Secrets

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Britain Returns To Special Forces

by James Dunnigan

January 25, 2016 Britain has decided to form their own version of the U.S. Army Special Forces. This would be a special operations organization with several hundred troops trained to organize, train and assist locals needing help to deal with Islamic terrorists or any other group of fanatics trying to impose their will with violence. The initial use would be to help people defend themselves from Islamic terrorists but long-term this Tier 2 force would be prepared to go anywhere in the world and help just about anyone. There is a certain irony in this because the model for this tier 2 force is the American Special Forces which had its origins during World War II when Britain invented the modern commandos and taught Americans how to use this new type of highly skilled soldier for a wide variety of difficult assignments. Instead of commandos, after World War II the United States developed the Special Forces. This was a unique organization in military, and intelligence, history. No other nation had anything like the Special Forces during peacetime. The idea of training thousands of troops to very high standards, then having them study foreign languages and cultures, and specialize in working with people of a specific culture, was unique to the Special Forces. But the original idea behind the Special Forces began with the World War II efforts to train and organize resistance fighters during. It was the British who first noted that their newly invented SAS troops were turning into something other than commandos. In fact, the highly skilled and talented SAS (Special Air Service commandos) were also the sort of specialists capable of helping the espionage agencies that were working with the French resistance. Thus, as part of the preparations for the 1944 invasion of Europe, hundreds of British (SOE or Special Operations Executive) and American (OSS, Office of Strategic Services) agents were landed (by boat and aircraft) in France (and other occupied countries) to assist the guerilla organizations that had developed there to fight the Germans. Many of these guerillas were poorly armed, trained, and led and often hard pressed by German secret police, soldiers and local collaborators. This guerilla assistance effort consisted of several different types of agents. For example, 25 three-agent (mostly men but some women) Jedburgh teams were parachuted into France to work with the guerilla organizations before the June 1944 D-Day invasion. These teams concentrated on establishing regular radio contact between the guerillas and SOE and OSS headquarters in Britain. The OSS also had seven thirty-four man OGs (Operational Groups) that were sent in after the invasion to work with the guerillas. The OGs were doing pretty much what the U.S. Army Special Forces do today, train the locals and fight as needed. All this made it easier to get the guerillas weapons, equipment, and instructions for their part in supporting the D-Day invasion and the months of heavy fighting after the landings. The modern day equivalent of the Jedburgh and OG teams were, for example, the CIA and U.S. Army Special Forces teams sent to Afghanistan in late 2001, to help the Northern Alliance fighters who were still fighting the Taliban (which did not yet control much of the north). Within two months the Taliban government was overthrown and most Taliban fighters dead, captured, deserting, or fleeing to Pakistan. World War II was notable for the extent of "unconventional warfare" operations. During this war most of the unconventional war action were guerillas fighting to free their nations from occupying German or Japanese troops. While previous wars had their share of raiders, commandos, and spies, the guerilla aspect of warfare was a major element in World War II. This was particularly true for the Allies (mainly Britain and America). To support dozens of separate guerilla wars America set up the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor of the CIA and Special Forces), while the British had the SOE (Special Operations Executive). Many OSS operatives were from the U.S. Army and returned to the army after World War II. By the 1950s these OSS veterans had persuaded the army to create the Special Forces with the idea of repeating the OSS guerilla support missions in any future war with the Soviet Union and to help deal with all the insurrections the Soviets were instigating and supporting around the globe. The Special Forces have, for over half a century, done exactly what they originally set out to do. Thus it should have been no surprise when, in late 2001, the CIA was discovered to have formed a special operations force, composed of Afghans, to operate across the border in Pakistan to collect intelligence and kill Taliban and al Qaeda leaders. This force of about 3,000 was never a secret to the enemy, or anyone spending time on the Afghan side of the border. But the CIA carried out an effective deception program, based on the fact that Western journalists rarely go to such dangerous areas as the Afghan/Pakistani border. Afghan journalists could be kept out, or any reports they published got lost in the numerous wildly improbably stories they normally publish. The full details of this Afghan force are still shrouded in secrecy, but it was similar to earlier CIA/Special Forces efforts in this area and the sort of thing the CIA and Special Forces had done in other parts of the world since the 1950s. The Afghan "secret army" was similar but much smaller than the one the CIA and Special Forces set up in Vietnam during the 1960s. This one was also based on tribal warriors, who often crossed borders to carry out reconnaissance missions in North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The United States went on to help Afghanistan create its own Special Forces. These were a huge success. Many Afghans were familiar with American Special Forces, but while these foreign troops spoke the language and knew the culture, they weren't Afghan. Despite that, the American Special Forces often established rapport with the Afghan villagers, and were often very successful. The new Afghan Special Forces took that rapport to a new level. Afghan villagers admired the skills of the American Special Forces, both as warriors and experts in many other areas. But now they could see Afghans doing the same things. This makes a big impression, and the Afghan Special Forces got even more cooperation and trust. The U.S. Special Forces assisted the Afghans in creating Special Forces units similar to the American ones, where each unit specializes in working with specific ethnic groups, or tribal coalitions. The goal was a force of four Afghan Special Forces battalions, each with 18 A-Teams. Given the success of American Special Forces, that are trained to understand Afghan culture and speak the language, it was believed that Afghans doing the same thing, would perform even better, and more than double the number of Special Forces troops, specialized in dealing with Afghanistan, available. Moreover, this means that Afghanistan will still have a Special Forces capability once U.S. forces depart. Afghanistan is the kind of country (four major ethnic groups, hundreds of tribes and clans) that needs Special Forces long term. There were some unique problems in training the Afghan Special Forces candidates. Unlike the United States, there is a much wider social gulf between officers and NCOs in Afghanistan. But for Special Forces to work, there has to be very close cooperation between officers and NCOs. The Special Forces training appears to have solved this, even if it was done by convincing the Afghan officers that this kind of closeness was a special technique unique to Special Forces operations, and essential for A-Teams to succeed. But ten officer candidates dropped out because this kind of relationship with NCOs was too much for them to handle. There were ethnic problems as well. Most of the Afghan Special Forces will be needed in the south, where the Taliban come from and where Pushtuns (40 percent of the population and historically the dominant group) are the majority. Many of the minorities in Afghanistan (Tajik, Uzbek, Hazara and Turkmen) have long been united in their opposition to Pushtun domination. The Tajik are 25 percent of the population and the Hazara (Mongols, a reminder of the medieval Mongolian invasions) 19 percent. The remainder are mostly various Turkic groups (Uzbeks and Turkmen). All of these groups are wary of the Pushtuns, but will work with them if they do not feel threatened. Because of the war with the Taliban, fewer Pushtuns joined the army, and many more Hazara (who have long been persecuted by the other groups) did. Thus there were twice as many Hazara as Pushtuns in the first Afghan A-Teams. But the Hazara are much better educated than the Pushtuns, and make better soldiers. They made superior Special Forces operators (as Special Forces troops are called) as well, and were able to work well with Pushtuns. Britain has a lot of experience to draw from, both their own during World War II and more recent examples during The Vietnam War and operations in Afghanistan after 2001. This idea has been bouncing around in Britain for several decades. But massive post-Cold War budget cuts and reluctance to get too involved fighting Islamic terrorists got in the way. But now, as it is obvious that the Islamic terrorists are going to keep trying to come after Britain, British special operations finally got the cash needed to form the long-sought Tier 2 force.


As of early 2016 the U.S. Air Force struggle to retire all its A-10 ground attack aircraft is over. For the moment at least. The air force now says that the war against ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and the threat from Russia caused this change of mind. The real reason is that the A-10 has long been the most effective and popular ground attack aircraft (according to army and marine combat troops and commanders) and that Congress agreed with these troops rather than the air force generals. The politicians were also quite angry at a late 2015 air force effort to undermine a law Congress passed forbidding the air force from retiring the A-10. Congress also agreed with army and marine (and some air force officer) charges that the air force leadership was lying when it insisted the A-10 could be replaced by F-16s and the new F-35. The beginning of the end came in early 2015 when the general commanding the ACC (Air Combat Command) was fired (because of Congressional pressure) for giving a speech in which he declared that any air force personnel speaking out publicly in favor of the A-10 were guilty of treason. While ACC is in charge of most combat aircraft (fighters, bombers, recon and ground attack) ACC leadership has long believed that the A-10 has outlived its usefulness and that its ground support job could be done just as well by fighters like the F-16 and F-35. Experience in combat has shown that this is not true, but apparently to senior people in the air force backing the truth, at least when it comes to the A-10, is treasonous.

Tactics like these became untenable when the air force, and everyone else, realized that the A-10 was one of the most effective weapons against ISIL and the Taliban. Moreover the fight against ISIL in Iraq and Syria has become largely a U.S. Air Force effort. Some 70 percent of the nearly four billion dollars America has spent on fighting ISIL has gone to the air force and the A-10 is the most popular aircraft in that campaign in Syria and Iraq.

The air force has been trying to retire its A-10 aircraft since the 1990s and starting in late 2014 they tried issuing studies and analyses showing that the A-10 was too specialized and too old to justify the cost of keeping it in service. This generated more opposition, and more effective opposition, than the air forces expected. This was helped by the fact that some of the studies were more spin than impartial analysis. All this created unwanted publicity about something the air force denies exists but is nevertheless very real; the air force has never really wanted to devote much resources to CAS (Close Air Support) for ground forces. Officially this is not true but in reality it is and the ground forces (army and marines) and historians provided plenty of evidence.

The problem is complicated by the fact that the air force does not want to allow the army to handle CAS, as is the case with some countries and the U.S. Marine Corps (which provides CAS for marines and any ground forces the marines are operating with). Soldiers and marines both insist that marine CAS (provided by Harriers and F-18s flown by marines) is superior. The army and marines also have their own helicopter gunships for support but these lack capabilities only the fixed wing aircraft have. Despite all that the air force wants to eliminate the A-10, which soldiers, marines and many allied troops consider the best CAS aircraft ever, and replace it with less effective (for CAS) fighters adapted for CAS. The ground forces dont want that mainly because the A-10 pilots specialize in CAS while fighter pilots must spend a lot of time training for air combat and different types of bombing, The A-10 pilots are CAS specialists and it shows by the amount of praise they get from their customers (the ground troops). To the dismay of just about everyone the air force dismisses all this as much less important than the fact that the A-10 cannot fight other aircraft. That was how the A-10 was designed, on air force orders, but that is somehow irrelevant now.

The air force also does not like being reminded of similar situations like earlier efforts to eliminate the B-52. This heavy bomber entered service in 1955 and the last one was built in 1962. For decades the air force has sought to replace the B-52 with the newer, better and much more expensive aircraft. The first effort (the B-70) failed in the late 1960s and no production models were built. The second effort was the B-1. It was introduced in 1986 and production ceased in 1988. The B-1 did not replace the B-52 but complemented it as the 104 B-1s built eventually proved to be a faster and more expensive B-52 and not much more. The third attempt was the newer, even more better and much more expensive B-2. This was no B-52 replacement either, although 21 were built. The air force spins all this as irrelevant but most others disagree and many books have been written about the lessons of the B-52 and other long-lasting designs like the Sidewinder air-to-air missile.

Meanwhile, as the air force continues trying to gather support in Congress for eliminating the A-10, A-10s are again in demand in Europe (to confront Russia) and the Middle East (to deal with ISIL). While sending more A-10s to East Europe and the Middle East the air force continues to insist that it must retire all of its A-10s in order to deal with a shrinking budget and this time the A-10 has really got to go. The air force had a point because their budget is shrinking and Cold War era aircraft, especially the F-16, need replacing and the replacement is the very expensive F-35. The air force plays down the fact that for CAS missions the fighter jets sometimes used, like the F-16 or even the F-35, are much less effective as well as being more expensive to operate than the A-10. A sortie by an F16 costs 80 percent more than an A-10, F-15E is twice as much, F-22 four times as much and the F-35 is somewhere between the F-15E and F-22.

A-10s were designed during the Cold War for combat against Russian ground forces in Europe. That war never happened and the last American A-10 attack aircraft left Europe (for good, it was thought) in mid-2013. Now it is back. Meanwhile the A-10 proved to be a formidable combat aircraft in post-Cold War conflicts, first in the 1991 liberation of Kuwait and later in Afghanistan and Iraq. During the last decade the most requested ground support aircraft in Afghanistan has been the A-10. There was similar A-10 affection in Iraq. Troops from all nations quickly came to appreciate the unique abilities of this 1970s era aircraft that the U.S. Air Force is constantly trying to get rid of. In 2011 the air force did announce that it was retiring 102 A-10s, leaving 243 in service. At the same time the air force accelerated the upgrading of the remaining A-10s to the A-10C standard.

The basic A-10 is a 1960s design but in the last decade most still in service have been upgraded to the A-10C. For this new commo gear was added, allowing A-10 pilots to share pix and vids with troops on the ground. The A-10 pilot also has access to the Blue Force Tracker system, so that the nearest friendly ground forces show up on the HUD (Head Up Display) when coming in low to use the 30mm cannon. The A-10 can now use smart bombs, making it a do-it-all aircraft for ground support.

A-10s were worked hard in Afghanistan. For example, an A-10 squadron has a dozen aircraft and 18 pilots. Pilots often average about a hundred hours a month in the air while in Afghanistan. That's about twenty sorties, as each sortie averages about five hours. The aircraft ranged all over southern Afghanistan waiting for troops below to call for some air support. The A-10, nicknamed "Warthog" or just "hog", could always fly low and slow and was designed, and armored, to survive a lot of ground fire. The troops trust the A-10 more than the F-16 or any other aircraft used for ground support.

The A-10 is a 23 ton, twin engine, single seat aircraft whose primary weapon is a multi-barrel 30mm cannon originally designed to fire armored piercing shells through the thinner top armor of Russian (or any other) tanks. These days the 1,174 30mm rounds are mostly high explosive. The 30mm cannon fires 363 gram (12.7 ounce) rounds at the rate of about 65 a second. The cannon usually fires in one or two second bursts. In addition, the A-10 can carry seven tons of bombs and missiles. These days the A-10 goes out with smart bombs (GPS and laser guided) and Maverick missiles. It can also carry a targeting pod, enabling the pilot to use high magnification day/night cameras to scour the area for enemy activity. Cruising speed is 560 kilometers an hour and the A-10 can slow down to about 230 kilometers an hour. In Afghanistan two drop tanks were usually carried to give the aircraft more fuel and maximum time over the battlefield.

If there is another major war in someplace like Korea, Eastern Europe or Iran, the A-10s would once more be one of the most popular warplane with the ground troops, unless the air force manages to get rid of it.
Turkey is again insisting that the United States stop providing weapons and military equipment to the YPG (the Syrian Kurdish separatists sometimes allied with the Turkish PKK Kurdish separatists). The reason for this latest outburst was that a recent Turkish army raid on a PKK camp in southeast Turkey (Srnak Province, which borders Syria and Iraq) found some U.S. military gear groups like PKK are not supposed to have. One of the items captured in the camp was an American RQ-20A UAV. The United States was known to have given these to the YPG during the intense battle with ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) in north Syrian town of Kobane. The Turks knew of the American aid to the YPG and warned the United States that the YPG often passed on foreign aid to their allies in the PKK.

Turkey has also been shelling Kurdish fighters near the Syrian border (and Kobane) when they move into areas the Turks warmed them to stay out of. Everyone accuses the Turks of being more interested in hurting the Kurds than in stopping ISIL. This became more of an issue when the PKK broke a ceasefire with the Turks in July 2015 and reignited the three decade old war between Turkey and its Kurdish minority (mainly the PKK).

Many, if not most, Kurds see Turkey as tolerating Islamic terrorists inside Turkey if they only attack Kurds and foreigners (especially Syrian refugees). There is some truth to this as the Turkish government has, since 2000, been increasingly tolerant of Islamic conservatives and radicals. Meanwhile some Syrian Kurds (like the YPG) are accused of driving non-Kurds out of villages the Kurds capture from ISIL in what the YPG considers Kurdish territory in northeast Syria. The Americans know that any aid they give to Syrian rebels (which includes the YPG) is likely to be traded or passed around to the allies of the rebels. In the case of the YPG they got aid from the PKK during the 2015 battle to defend the Kurdish town of Kobane in northern Syria. This turned out to be the first major defeat for ISIL and the YPG felt obliged to repay the PKK assistance in Kobane. While the U.S. provided the air support and supplies (like the RQ-20As) it was a coalition of Kurdish groups (including Iraqi Kurds and Turkish Kurds from the PKK) helping the Syrian Kurds (including YPG) defend Kobane.

The RQ-20A Puma, a 5.9 kg (13 pound) UAV with a 2.6 meter (8.5 feet) wingspan and a range of 15 kilometers from the operator, that the United States Army (starting with the Special Forces) has been using since 2008. UAVs like Puma have been most useful in route clearance (scouting ahead to spot ambushes, roadside bombs, landslides, washouts, or whatever). The RQ-20A was particularly useful in Afghanistan, which is windier than Iraq and thus more difficult for the smaller (two kg) Raven to operate.

Top speed for Puma is 87 kilometers an hour and cruising speed is 37-50 kilometers an hour. Max altitude is 3,800 meters (12,500 feet), and the UAV can stay in the air for 120 minutes at a time. Puma has a better vidcam (providing tilt, pan, and zoom) than the smaller Raven and that provides steadier and more detailed pictures. Because it is larger than Raven, and three times as heavy, Puma is much steadier in bad weather. The Raven only stays in the air for 80 minutes. Both Puma and Raven are battery powered.
Sudan has watched western nations slowly drop sanctions against Iran. For over a decade Sudan has accused the UN of imperialism. It is a curious accusation, but the UNAMID hybrid peacekeeping force put troops in Darfur over Khartoums objections. That was imperialism. Of course, the Sudan government and several senior officials, including President Bashir, were accused of genocide and crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted Bashir and he still faces charges. In response the UN, Western European nations and the United States were accused of imperialism for placing economic and political sanctions on Sudan. This approach didn't work. Now the Sudan Foreign Ministry is trying a new tactic to obtain sanctions relief. Call it the Peace Gambit. Sudan says that economic sanctions, particularly the heavy economic and trade sanctions imposed by the U.S. inhibit peace initiatives by the African Union (AU). Many of the American sanctions go back to 1997. These were imposed for two reason: Sudans proven support of international terrorist organizations and Sudanese abuse of African Christians and animists in what is now southern Sudan. The sanctions were tightened in 2007 and the reason was genocide in Darfur. Sudan is making several arguments. One of them is that U.S. sanctions limit AU resources. Just how that happens in not quite clear. The AU receives substantial financial and logistics support from the United States and donor nations in Western Europe. But thats diplomacy for you. (Austin Bay)

January 22, 2016: In South Sudan the government and rebels failed to form a transitional government by today, as the peace deal stipulated. The problem is the post-agreement government decision to reorganiuze the country into 28 states rather than the original ten. Meanwhile the rebels have sent a new team of negotiators to the South Sudan capital, Juba and repeated the rebel contention that the government decision to expand to 28 the number of states in South Sudan abrogates the August 2015 ARCISS (Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan). South Sudan was founded with ten states. The rebels contend the December decision by South Sudan President Salva Kiir to expand the number of states from ten to 28 was designed to halt implementation of the peace deal. On December 24, 2015, the government announced the decision to create 28 states. The idea of creating new states was brought up in April 2015 and again in October 2015, but the December announcement was abrupt. At the time the government and several senior rebel leaders were involved in serious talks about distributing positions of power in the unity government that the peace agreement stipulates the government and the rebel SPLM-IO form. One rebel negotiator said government acted deceitfully and this decision could lead to a wider civil war. After the announcement the government moved quickly. New governors were sworn in on December 29. Earlier this month the SPLM-IO pointed out that the borders of the new states break up tribes which belong to the rebel coalition. The structure of the new states also gives the pro-government Dinka tribe more political control. International mediators reported that some members of the rebel coalition have said if 28 states, why not 60 or more? In other words, give each tribe or tribal sub-group a state. The rebel leadership has decided that sticking to ten makes sense because a small ethnic group could always complain and demand another division. (Austin Bay)

January 21, 2016: The UN accused the South Sudan government of using tactics similar to the Sudan government to forcibly displace civilians. Evidence exists that the government has destroyed food resources and burned villages in order to displace people loyal to the rebels. This is a politically significant accusation since it supports rebel allegations.

January 20, 2016: UN observers reported that militia attacks in South Sudan have led to a new wave of refugees seeking safety in Uganda. An armed militia (unidentified) burned and looted a village South Sudans Central Equatoria state. No date was given for the attack but it occurred after January 1. Several hundred people fled to Uganda after the attack.

January 19, 2016: According to the UN tribal clashes in Darfur have intensified over the last ten days. Sudan government troops have fought with rebel tribes in the Jebel Marra area (border of Central, North and South Darfur states). There have also been several firefights in Central Darfur state. Heavy clashes between the government and rebels occurred in Jebel Marra in Fall 2015.

January 18, 2016: The South Sudan rebels accused the government forces of breaking the ceasefire agreement in Unity state.

January 15, 2016:  In South Sudan the army reported that troops had recovered seven vehicles that were stolen earlier this month by a armed youth group. This group had attacked several villages in the Diabio and Ezo counties of Western Equatoria state. However, the official statement referred to the clashes as occurring in Gbudwe state, which is one of the new states created by the government in late December 2015. Western Equatoria was divided into Gbudwe, Maridi and Amadi states. The army also reported another attack occurred near the town of Yambio.

January 14, 2016: South Sudan rebels point out that the boundaries and leadership of the countrys 28 new states divide ethnic groups, to the benefit of the pro-government Dinka tribe (which the president belongs to). One example is the Shilluk tribe (also the Luo Shilluk). The Shilluk are not necessarily part of the rebel coalition. Rebel forces attacked Shilluk villages in 2014. However, the Shilluk matter politically. The Shilluk are the countrys third largest tribe, after the Dinka and Nuer. A number of Shilluk also favor Shilluk independence (ie, their own country). At one time the Shilluk had their own separate kingdom. The Shilluk live in an area along the east and west banks of the Nile River in what was Upper Nile state. The new South Sudan state divisions essentially split Shilluk territory. Upper Nile is now three states. Moving east to west, they are Latjoor, Eastern Nile and Western Nile states. (Austin Bay)

January 12, 2016: The Sudan government has broken diplomatic relations with Iran. Sudan has military units in Yemen serving with the coalition led by Saudi Arabia. The coalition opposes Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels. Sudan has long maintained mutually rewarding diplomatic and security arrangements with Iran. However, the recent execution of a Shia cleric by Saudi Arabia led Iran to break relations with the Saudis. Sudan knows who pays the bills. It is supporting Saudi Arabia. In addition most Muslims in Sudan are also Sunnis.

January 10, 2016: South Sudan appealed to Sudan to reduce the oil pipeline transportation fee it charges to move South Sudanese crude to the Sudan seaport of Port Sudan. South Sudan said the decline of oil prices necessitated the request. Sudan charges South Sudan from nine to eleven dollars a barrel. Sudan indicated it would consider lowering the fee.

January 9, 2016: In Darfur gunmen attacked the village of Mouli (West Darfur state) and killed six people.

January 7, 2016: Gunmen ambushed a UN patrol and wounded one peacekeeper. The attackers also seized several weapons. The attack occurred near the town of Anka (North Darfur state).

January 6, 2016: In South Sudan the Catholic Church is protesting an attack by rebels on a teacher training college in Yambio, capital of Western Equatoria state. Five armed rebels entered the college on December 28 and assaulted and threatened the nuns running the school. According to the nuns, the men demanded they be given money and weapons.

January 1, 2016: Today marks the 60th anniversary of Sudans independence from the British Empire. On January 1, 1956 Sudan became independent of British and Egyptian condominium rule. Muhammad Ali conquered Sudan in 1820, ostensibly on behalf of the Ottoman Empire. Ali was really an independent actor. He made Sudan part of Egypt. From 1899 to 1956, Sudan was officially called Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Since 1956 Sudan has experienced at least 13 military coups (perhaps more). The coups of 1964, 1985 and 1989 were successful.
Wellesbourne Airfield

It is the first development of its kind in the town, with accommodation specifically targeted at so-called key workers.

Stratford Town Trust owns the current building, and will retain ownership of the land, but the apartments will be owned, managed and maintained by housing association Orbit Housing.

Work is due to be completed in summer 2017.

This is a key development for Orbit, as it demonstrates our commitment to providing more homes across new and different tenures to meet the needs and aspirations of our customers.

With the rising cost of homeownership pushing many out of the housing market, we have seen a huge rise in the demand for rented properties. Our new high-quality homes will offer local people a flexible housing option, in a great location.

Helen Munro, chief executive of Stratford Town Trust, described the development as groundbreaking.

It is absolutely right that those working hard in our hospitals and schools can afford to live in Stratford. We are confident this development will have a positive impact throughout the town, she said.

David Austin, of ABD Developments, which is owned by the Bird Group, the Henley Estate Company, and Deeley Properties, all of which are involved in the development, added: There is an intrinsic need for more key worker accommodation in Stratford, to allow for the people who work in its hospitals, schools and emergency services to live in the town.

I am sure this development will prove to be extremely popular.

Warwick House was most recently occupied by Intrum Justitia, a debt collection agency, but for many years previously the land was home to Stratford District Council's headquarters.

Its redevelopment did cause some controversy when it was first announced lasy tear as the 64 one-bedroom flats and 18 two-bedroom flats will have less than 40 car parking spaces between them, although it is understood people who live there will not be able to apply for residents' permits for surrounding roads.
Wellesbourne Airfield

Leading voices in the district  especially in business circles  had argued that the district had missed a golden opportunity to be part of an exciting new initiative and would be unable to take advantage of the government funding that would be available to those who were members of it.

But despite Mondays overwhelming majority in favour of joining the WMCA, and the fact that a number of councillors had changed their minds, there were still some impassioned speeches against having anything to do with the new authority.

One of them came from Cllr Mike Gittus (Cons, Kinwarton), the chairman of the council. He said he was a little at a loss to know why the council was reconsidering last Octobers decision.

The fact that a lawful decision did not find favour with a minority is not a good reason to reconsider it, he declared. And, in reference to the council becoming a non-constituent member of the WMCA, Cllr Gittus said: We would not get a vote. We may get a say  or we may not.

Cllr Gittus referred to the WMCA as a metropolitan authority that would have more dictatorial powers and urged councillors to vote against joining it.

Cllr Anne Parry (Cons, Wellesbourne East) said she had not come across one person in her ward who was in favour of joining the WMCA. This is not just about Stratford town but about the largest rural district in central England, she said.

She declared: The demographic profile of the people who live in this district is completely different to those of the West Midlands Combined Authority. And she added: Voting for this would be turning our backs on the people who elected us.

Cllr Parry told fellow councillors: Your decision today will be the most important decision you make in your term of office. Dont be persuaded by big business. This lady is not for turning  and neither should you be.

But Cllr Maurice Howse (Cons, Avenue), whose motion triggered this second meeting on the issue, said: The West Midlands Combined Authority has been handed down to us by our government. It is a game-changer, a huge game-changer.

Cllr Howse added: In a changing world there is no such thing as certainty. Were bound to have uncertainty as we go forward into the future. If we join, were on the train with them. We can talk to them, listen to them and argue with them.

If we dont like the decisions that are made we can withdraw. We can maintain our sovereignty. We have control over it. And he urged councillors: Do as I implore you to do to make the future of this district secure and vote yes.

For a fuller report see Thursday's Herald.
Wellesbourne Airfield

The 13 students  Sam Barron, Emily Beevers, Madeleine Briggs, James Fellows, Harry Fitzpatrick, Lauren Fletcher, Kate Hammond, Gabriel Humphreys, Ronit Kanwar, Celia Keay, Thomas McAuliffe, Hok Leung Nip and Frederick Williams  are set to study their chosen subjects including modern history, mathematics, music, chemistry and law.

Madeleine Briggs, deputy head girl at Kings High School, who has received an offer to study History at St Hughs College, said: Im very excited about this amazing opportunity  though I still cant quite believe it.

Gus Lock, head master of Warwick School, said: Competition for places at these and many other prestigious universities seems to get stronger every year, so I was delighted that eight of our pupils gained offers from Oxford and Cambridge this year as well as many more at other leading universities.

"It is an extremely fine achievement by all of these students.

At King Edward VI School in Stratford, 12 students offers, with seven from Oxford and five from Cambridge.

Receiving offers from the University of Oxford are Sam Brooks, Hamish De Nett, Guy Hughes, Kate Matthews, Andrew Markham, Lily Watson, and Dan Wilkinson, and offers for the University of Cambridge have gone to Ben Dennes, Georgie Jones, John Lusty, Zachary Price, and Jack Robinson.

Bennet Carr, head master, said: The Oxbridge selection process is hugely challenging, both academically and personally, and I am thrilled that these students have had their hard work and dedication rewarded with an offer.

"I am sure that they would wish to join me in thanking the academic staff who have supported them so well in preparing their applications.
Wellesbourne Airfield

The visit was organised by Open Doors, an international Christian persecution charity.

While out there Frank visited an infant school where most of the equipment was provided by the charity.

Food parcels were also handed out, containing 71 worth of food per family, per month. In refugee camps Frank visited, families live in temporary buildings, most of which had just one room to live and sleep in.

Mr Wood told the Herald: "It was an eye-opener and it took me a couple of days when I got home to get my head around some of what I saw."

The illustrated talk will be held at Alcester Town Hall on Friday, 29th January, from 7.30pm.

Also speaking will be Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi, who will be making a welcome second visit to a Refugee Fund meeting.

As David Camerons Special Emissary to the Middle East, he will share details of his recent visits and his hopes for the future for Iraq, Syria and the refugees. Entry is free with a collection at the end for the fund itself.

Light refreshments will be served following the presentations.

Call Frank o 01789 400300.
Wellesbourne Airfield

The incident occurred after Mr Cornet, Jack Merrilees, Jacks mother Stephanie Merrilees and Jacks girlfriend Rebecca Beveridge, had visited a pub in Warwick and a Leamington restaurant before returning to Stephanie Merrilees home.

Summing up the evidence Judge Griffith Jones reiterated to the jury that to convict Mr Merrilees of murder, there must not be a shred of doubt in their minds that he committed the offence.

When talking about the amount of alcohol in both mens systems at the time of the incident, Judge Jones warned the jury to be wary of the toxicology results saying measuring such results could not be an exact science in this case and it was up to their judgement to decide whether to consider the results or not.

Mr Cornets blood alcohol reading may have been unreliable as he had received a blood transfusion after the incident while Mr Merilees level of intoxication could only be estimated as he was not tested until several hours after the incident.

Judge Jones said: The prosecution say this was a case of murder, the defence say Mr Merrilees actions were lawful, it is your call to make a judgement. Never forget that you are the judge of the facts, you decide what evidence to accept or reject. You do this in the context of a criminal trial and the burden of proof is on the prosecution. You cannot convict Jack Merrilees of any offence unless you are convinced that he is guilty.

During proceedings the defence explained how back in the house Mr Cornet had flown into a rage when a Facebook picture, of one of Merrilees friends whom Mr Cornet disliked, appeared on the television screen when a laptop was plugged into the device.

A little later Jack Merrilees accidentally let the picture of his friend appear again on the screen, at which point Mr Cornet pulled the TV to the living room floor, smashing the screen.

Mr Cornet then grabbed Jack Merrilees by the throat and proceeded the strangle him.

Stephanie Merrilees intervened, scratching Mr Cornets face, before he released Jack Merrilees who then fled towards the back of the house followed by Stephanie and Rebecca.

Jane Bickerstaff QC, defending told the jury that her client grabbed a small kitchen knife as he fled the house, believing both his mother and girlfriend were right behind him.

Mr Merrilees then heard a scream from his girlfriend and returned to see Mr Cornet confronting Rebecca.

At this point Mr Merrilees says he threw a punch at Mr Cornet to divert his attention to himself.

The struggle, which by this point had moved outside, escalated as Mr Cornet came at Mr Merrilees, attempting to grab his throat.

Mr Merrilees said he warned Mr Cornet that he would stab him if he didnt leave him alone and held the knife in front of himself.

During the trial Mr Merrilees told the court he thought he had just stabbed Mr Cornet once and that there were elements of the incident he did not remember clearly due to the trauma of what happened.

Mr Cornet had three stab wounds in a small area, indicating they would most likely have been inflicted rapidly.

Immediately after the incident Mr Merrilees ran from the scene and was seen in tears on the street outside by a neighbour.

He then returned to the house and co-operated with police when they arrived.

Summing up the defence arguments today, Ms Bickerstaff painted a picture of Edward Cornet as having a history of violence particularly when in drink.

She described Mr Merrilees as of good character, with no criminal record and cast doubt over some of the statements of witnesses, who had no sight of the incident and, who in some cases, gave statements a number of days after the event.

She told the jury that the injuries Mr Merrilees inflicted on Mr Cornet were because he feared that Mr Cornet would hurt him, they were not committed unlawfully out of anger.

She said the fact that Mr Cornet pursued Jack, Stephanie and Rebecca out of the house was important and that after picking up the knife Mr Merrilees was moving away from Mr Cornet, only returning when he thought his girlfriend was in trouble.

She said: The prosecution say it was murder, for that you must be sure that in anger the defendant acted with malice, against his normal character and stabbed Edward Cornet with intent to kill him or to cause him serious harm. If you entertain any doubts about that, if you think Jack Merrilees action was in self-defence out of fear and not out of anger, you must find him not guilty.

Mr Jones said he was seeking a unanimous verdict at this point.
A flame shoots out of a chimney at a petro-industrial factory in Kawasaki near Tokyo December 18, 2014. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/Files

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures dropped back below $30 a barrel in Asian trading on Tuesday, extending a near 6 percent fall made in the previous session, amid news that Iraq's output reached a record high last month.

U.S. crude fell 47 cents, or 1.55 percent, to $29.87 a barrel by 2309 GMT after settling $1.85, or 5.8 percent, lower at $30.34 a barrel.

Global benchmark Brent crude settled down $1.68 at $30.50 a barrel in the previous session, 5.2 percent below its closing price on Friday.

Iraq's oil production hit a record in December, as output increased from the central and southern fields, an oil ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Meanwhile, Iraq may raise oil output further this year, reaching levels as high as 4 million barrels per day (bpd) from the country's south, a senior Iraqi oil official said.

Senior OPEC and Russian oil industry officials stepped up vague talk on Monday of possible joint action to remedy one of the worst supply gluts in decades, while Saudi Arabia signaled its resolve to allow the market to balance itself.

(Reporting by Meeyoung Cho; Editing by Ed Davies)
GEs Power Services business (NYSE: GE) announced it has secured orders valued approximately at 40 million with PGE Gornictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A. (PGE GiEK S.A.), the largest utility in Poland, to upgrade generator and steam turbine assets at the Turow Power Plant. The upgrades will result in a combined 45-megawatt (MW) output increase, which is the equivalent of powering about 130,000 Polish households.

We are happy to once again work with GE in modernizing the Turow Power Plant to increase the power output of our power generation assets, said Slawomir Zawada, president of PGE GiEK S.A. This project is extremely important for the power complex in Turow as well as for the local community: a lifetime extension, by 150,000 hours, of key equipment will allow us to utilize deposits of lignite from the Turow mine and simultaneously will help to secure current employment.

Under the terms of the agreement with PGE GiEK S.A., GE will upgrade three 50WT20H-100 generators and three 13CK230 steam turbines to extend equipment lifetime by at least 150,000 hoursabout 20 yearsand increase the availability of the turbosets to 97 percent in the first year of operation and above 98 percent in the next year. The upgrade is expected to increase power output by 45 MW and improve power plant efficiency by approximately 1.4 percent.

GE has a very collaborative relationship with PGE GiEK S.A. and recently provided wind turbines for both the Karwice Wind Farm and the Lotnisko Wind Farm. We are pleased that PGE Gornictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A. again has chosen to work with our GE team to support the needs of our communities here in Poland. Through this project we are able to participate in the developing of a diversified mix of energy sources of the Polish energy sector, said Beata Stelmach, president of GE in Poland.

The upgrade of the generator rotors and the manufacturing of new rods will take place in GEs generator factory in Wroclaw, Poland. The steam turbine upgrade includes the delivery of new HP, IP and LP turbine inner modules, which will be manufactured in GEs turbine factory in Elblag, Poland. The upgrade is scheduled to begin with the shutdown of the first unit in April 2017, and the commissioning of the last unit is scheduled for January 2020.
Terex Corporation (NYSE: TEX) announced that it has received an unsolicited, non-binding acquisition proposal from Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co. (Zoomlion) to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Terex for $30.00 in cash. The proposal is conditioned on, among other things, receipt of US and Chinese regulatory approval and Zoomlion shareholder approval.

Terex previously announced that it had entered into a Business Combination Agreement with Konecranes Plc providing for a combination of Terex and Konecranes. The Terex Board of Directors has not changed its recommendation of the proposed combination with Konecranes.

Terex has entered into a confidentiality agreement with Zoomlion and is in discussions with Zoomlion regarding the proposal. Consistent with its fiduciary duties, the Terex Board of Directors, in consultation with its legal and financial advisors, is carefully reviewing the Zoomlion proposal to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interests of Terex shareholders. Terex will have no further comment until the Board has completed its review.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Moelis & Company are serving as financial advisors to Terex and Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Bryan Cave LLP and Avance Attorneys Ltd are acting as legal counsel to Terex.
By Olivia Oran

(Reuters) - Morgan Stanley has named a new head of global fixed income sales as it continues to reshape the struggling business.

Kevin Dunleavy, who has worked with the banks largest clients across fixed income and equities as the global head of senior relationship management for the last five years, is taking on the role, according to an internal memo on Monday.

Dunleavy, who joined the Wall Street firm in 2009 from Bank of America where he was head of hedge fund relationships, will be replaced by Jeff Pagano, who previously ran U.S. fixed income sales.

A Morgan Stanley spokesman confirmed the contents of the memo.

The moves come as the bank looks to overhaul its struggling fixed income division by replacing top executives and moving around senior leaders from other businesses.

Earlier this month, Morgan Stanley named equities executive Sam Kellie-Smith as its new head of fixed income trading, replacing Robert Rooney and Michael Heaney.

The bank said it is cutting 25 percent of its fixed income jobs as increased regulation has made trading bonds less profitable.

(Reporting by Olivia Oran in New York; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pharnext SAS today announced its collaboration with OrphanDev, a dedicated platform offering support in regulatory, methodology and logistics for rare diseases. OrphanDevs main mission is to accelerate the development of orphan drugs. This collaboration is related to the International pivotal Phase 3 trial of Pharnexts investigational Pleodrug, PXT-3003, for the treatment of CMT 1A.

PLEO-CMT aims at recruiting 300 patients in 27 centers both in Europe and the United States. For the European part of the trial (18 centers spread over Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, the UK and the Netherlands), OrphanDev will play a critical role in the dissemination and availability of practical and logistical information related to the trial, notably via its website: www.orphan-dev.org.

Pharnext and OrphanDev had already collaborated on 3 studies related to CMT 1A: PXT-3003 Phase2 study, a meta-analysis and a prospective study (biomarkers).

About PXT-3003PXT-3003 is a novel oral fixed-low dose combination of (RS)-baclofen, naltrexone hydrochloride and D-sorbitol which has been developed via Pharnext Pleotherapy R&D platform.

About PLEO-CMTPLEO-CMT is an International pivotal, multi-center, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, three-arm Phase 3 study which will enroll patientsaged 16 to 65 with mild to moderate CMT1A. Over 15 months, Pharnext will compare in parallel groups the efficacy and safety of two orally administered dosage variations of PXT-3003 versus placebo. Efficacy will be assessed through one primary endpoint: change in the ONLS score at 12 and 15 months of treatment to measure improvement of patients disability with PXT-3003. Additional secondary outcome measures will be assessed including functional and electrophysiological endpoints. A nine month follow-up study is planned thereafter, where all patients who will have completed the first 15 months and agreed, will receive a dose of the active product (patients who received placebo will be treated randomly with PXT-3003 dose 1 or 2).

About CMT 1ACharcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease encompasses a heterogeneous group of inherited, progressive, chronic peripheral neuropathies. CMT type 1A (CMT 1A), the most common type of CMT, is an orphan disease affecting at least 125,000 people in Europe and the U.S. The genetic mutation responsible for CMT 1A is a duplication of the PMP 22 gene coding for a peripheral myelin protein. Overexpression of this gene causes degradation of the neuronal sheath (myelin) responsible for nerve dysfunction, followed by loss of nerve conduction. As a result of peripheral nerve degradation, patients suffer from progressive muscle atrophy of legs and arms causing walking, running, balance problems and abnormal hand functioning. CMT 1A patients end up in wheelchairs in at least 5% of cases. They might also suffer from mild to moderate sensitive disorders. First symptoms usually appear during adolescence and will progressively evolve through patients life.To date, no curative or symptomatic medications have been approved and treatment consists of supportive care such as orthotics, leg braces, physical and occupational therapy or surgery.

About OrphanDevOrphanDev is an academic platform at the heart of rare diseases, close to research teams, clinicians, industry professionals and patient organizations. It offers its scientific, regulatory and methodological expertise in the development of drugs for rare diseases. OrphanDev assists its partners, particularly for Orphan Drug Designation applications, the recruitment of patients for clinical trials, and European projects. OrphanDev is a public platform linked to the University of Aix Marseille (France) and the Timone Institute of Neurosciences based in Marseille. OrphanDev is a component of the F-CRIN infrastructure (French Clinical Research Network) which had mission to reinforce the visibility and the competitiveness of French clinical research.For further information, visit http://orphan-dev.org

About PharnextPharnext is an advanced clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics that simultaneously target multiple key disease pathways for severe orphan and common neurological disorders. The proprietary research and development platform of Pharnext, based on network pharmacology, is applicable to a broad spectrum of diseases and allows the rapid development of pleodrugs, synergistic combinations of repositioned drugs with established safety profiles. The companys two lead pleodrugs are PXT-3003 for the treatment of orphan disease Charcot Marie Tooth type 1A (Phase 3 clinical trial initiated) and PXT-864 for Alzheimers disease (Phase 2 clinical trial ongoing) and other neurologic indications (including Parkinsons disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).For further information, visit www.pharnext.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160125006262/en/

Pharnext Contact

Daniel Cohen, M.D., Ph.D.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

or

Media Contact

ALIZE RP

Florence Portejoie and Caroline Carmagnol

Tel : 01 44 54 36 64

[email protected]

Source: Pharnext SAS
By Randall Palmer and Allison Lampert

OTTAWA/MONTREAL (Reuters) - Canada confirmed for the first time on Tuesday that it plans to lift its sanctions on Tehran and said that if Airbus is allowed to sell to Iran, then its aircraft maker Bombardier Inc should be allowed to export there as well.

"If Airbus is able to do it, why (will) Bombardier not be able to do it? In which way (is it) helping Canada, or the Iranian people, or Israel, or anyone, that Canada is hurting its own industry?" Dion said in an exchange with reporters.

Asked specifically if Bombardier would be allowed to do business with Iran as soon as sanctions are lifted, Dion said: "Legitimate business, certainly."

Iran announced plans at the weekend to buy more than 160 European planes, mainly from Airbus, and Dion said reluctance to lift sanctions on the part of Canada's Conservative opposition had helped Airbus and not Bombardier.

The United States, the European Union and other major nations have already lifted some of their own punitive measures.

"Canada will lift its sanctions but what Canada will maintain is our suspicion of a regime ... that must not return to (trying to obtain) nuclear weapons," Dion told the House of Commons moments before meeting journalists.

Dion also said Iran had a poor human rights record and was not a friend of Canadian allies such as Israel.

Dion said any lifting of sanctions would be done carefully in conjunction with allies, seeking to ensure nuclear and other military activity is prevented.

Bombardier spokeswoman Marianella de la Barrera called Dion's comments a positive step but said that the company was still respecting the Canadian sanctions.

"We're monitoring it very closely," she said. "Nothing official has been communicated to us."

She said sanctions had not prevented Bombardier from speaking with Iran about its aviation needs: "It doesn't preclude us from engaging in strategic discussions, which we are doing."

Montreal has the third-largest aerospace hub in terms of employment, following Toulouse and Seattle.

Suzanne Benoit, president of Aero Montreal, which represents the aerospace sector there, said it would be excellent news for the industry if the embargo is lifted.

"Right now we are not in a fair competition with Airbus because Airbus can sell to Iran."

Iran is looking to upgrade its aging fleet partly with aircraft with the same range and seats as Bombardier's 100- to 150-seat CSeries.

(Additional reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Sandra Maler and Bernard Orr)
BANGUI (Reuters) - Central African Republic's Constitutional Court has annulled the results of a legislative election, setting back a transition to democracy after years of conflict.

Observers had praised the peaceful nature of the polls, meant to end a rocky transition punctuated by violence between militias drawn from the Christian majority and a mostly Muslim alliance of Seleka rebels.

Although France and other international partners urged transitional authorities to hold the election, Some analysts had questioned whether Central African Republic was prepared for one. The Constitutional Court's decision cited irregularities in the vote.

"The court has decided to cancel the (legislative) election of 30 December 2015 and to reschedule it for the whole country," Zacharie Ndouba, the court's president, said late on Monday.

Ndouba said that some of the candidates appeared implicated in the irregularities. More than 400 complaints had been logged, he said.

The court's decision raises questions over the next steps for the electoral process. The former French colony could now find itself with a president but no new parliament.

On Tuesday, the national election authority scheduled the second round of presidential polls for Feb. 14. It has not yet given a date for the new legislative elections.

Former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuele and Faustin-Archange Touadera will face off after neither won an outright majority in last month's vote.

Six of the 30 presidential candidates submitted challenges to the court, saying polling was marred by irregularities and called for the vote to be annulled or recounted, but the court dismissed them.

The election delay may affect France's timetable to withdraw the rest of its troops, 2,000 of whom were initially sent to restore stability to the landlocked nation. About 900 remained at the time of the vote.

(Reporting by Crispin Dembassa-Kette; Writing by Emma Farge and Makini Brice; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Larry King)
PIANZ chairman Adrian Revell presents Dahook Azzam with her 2015 Poultry Trainee of the Year award.

A Matamata woman's enthusiaism for chicken farming has been rewarded.

Dahook Azzam, who works at an Inghams Enterprises meat chicken breeder farm, won the Poultry Trainee of the Year Award for 2015 recently.

The award is given each year to the top-performing trainee in all of the training courses run by the poultry industry, in cooperation with the Primary Industry Training Organisation.

Dahook is currently an assistant farm manager whose role includes daily feeding, watering and environmental checks of the birds as well as farm and staff management and data entry.



"It is a very good combination," she said. "I have the hands-on experience of being a worker with some responsibilities as a manager, so it is a very useful and practical thing for my career."

Originally from Jordan, where she gained a Master's degree in animal science and then worked as a science teacher, Dahook immigrated to New Zealand two years ago with her family.

Dahook will undertake further study.

Course coordinator at PrimaryITO, Tanya Ingram, said Dahook was a very worthy winner of the award. "During the Level three classroom theory days she impressed everyone with her contribution to class discussions and enthusiasm, and her course marks reflected this."

Dahook's managers at Inghams also commended her.






Air New Zealand is signalling big drops in domestic and international airfares driven by lower fuel prices and greater seat numbers.

Chief executive Christopher Luxon told a parliamentary select committee today that there was downward pressure on prices because of falling fuel costs, which made up between 15 and 20 per cent of the airline's outgoings, and prices would fall substantially.

He said Air NZ had increased its capacity by 12 per cent but it was selling into economies that were growing by 2-3 per cent so it needed to work to sell those seats.

Luxon told reporters he could not say how much prices would drop by, because there were a large number of variables including fuel costs.

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"We've got more supply probably than demand and we need to fill those seats and the way we do that is to lower the prices to recover the marginal costs of flying those aircraft."

The third factor was that with falling fuel prices there was more competition coming into the market, such as the seven international carriers operating here.

That could be seen in the Jetstar-Qantas group operating in New Zealand and the resurgence of smaller regional players.

He said that would lower domestic and international seat prices.

"It's happening across the board. Because clearly when you fly internationally fuel becomes a bigger variable than it does within domestic New Zealand."

Luxon said Air NZ was growing profitably, and was not interested in profit-less growth.

He said there would be heavy discounting while Air NZ tried to fill its extra capacity and met competition, but there would also be a fall in baseline seat prices.

But he said fuel prices were volatile. Air NZ hedged about six months ahead but was now accessing fuel at about market prices.

Luxon said to boost business from China, Air NZ had targeted wealthy 30 year old couples selling New Zealand to them as a romantic destination. It had also marketed to families.

The result had seen traveller numbers from China grow by 30 per cent but spending was up 60 per cent, matching the daily spend of visitors from the United States, Australia and Europe.

Luxon said Air NZ did not support extending the runway at Wellington airport.

The city's population was too small to make it economic. It would require $350m investment in new planes and would cost $115m to run them.

He said Air NZ was seeking a "no use, no pay" deal with the airport over any increased landing fees from the runway extension.

He said Air NZ was aiming to lower its carbon emissions and improve sustainability, but that was not a "Kumbaya issue".

It was also looking at moving its ground handling and car fleet to electric vehicles and an announcement on that would be made soon.

He said the airline had not received instructions from the government over its regional services, which had seen it cut services to Whakatane, Kaitaia and Westport.

Its plan was to move to lower the cost per seat and moving small towns to much larger turbo-prop aircraft it was achieving 5 per cent price reductions.

It has invested $300m in more turbo-prop aircraft and another $500m in those aircraft last year.

The airline had made losses of $1m a month for three years, servicing 15 smaller towns and cities in its network of 22 towns and cities.
A tiny Chilean beetle is making itself at home on a Southland farm to combat the "gorse or broom of the future".

Environment Southland released 200 Darwin's barberry seed weevils on a Waimumu farm on Tuesday as a part of a biocontrol trial aimed at slowing the spread of Darwin's barberry.

Biocontrol contractor Jesse Bythell, who is contracted to release and monitor the weevils for Environment Southland, said the barberry plant was an environmental and agricultural threat, with the potential to overrun native bush and farmland.

JOHN HAWKINS/FAIRFAX NZ A Darwin's barberry seed weevil.

It had the potential to become the biggest pest plant in the region, akin to gorse or broom, she said.

READ MORE: Darwin's barberry seed weevils to be released onto Waimumu property

There was a big problem with the plants across the Waimumu farm and into the native bush, she said.

JOHN HAWKINS/FAIRFAX NZ Environment Southland biocontrol contractor Jesse Bythell releases Darwin's barberry seed weevils at Bushy Park in Gore.

The weevils were bred in captivity by Landcare Research in Lincoln and put through vigorous testing to see if they threatened other plant life.

Bythell compared the testing to the Salem witch trials, saying that if the weevils, like the vindicated women who drowned, starved in captivity with similar plants to the barberry, they were innocent.

"If they starve, then they're innocent. If they even really look at the plant they discard because it's not a good sign."

The weevils will live in netting on the barberry plants for four to six weeks while they mate, before being released.

Bythell said the weevils would not eliminate the barberry plant from the region, but they would hopefully slow the spread as the larvae fed on the seeds, helping to prevent future growth, she said.

A further release of 200 more weevils will also be carried out at another location in Southland if the weevils have had a good breeding season.
Live ammunition left in a park by the Defence Force is an accident waiting to happen, says a man who has found almost 30 blanks in the area.

"If a child was to hit it with a hammer or throw it in a fire, it could explode," Gary Hampson-Tindale said.

"They are like little hand grenades."



The Cambridge man has found 28 live blanks in the Kaimanawa Forest Park on three different occasions.



Hampson-Tindale is a hunter and regularly visits the area. He started coming across the live ammunition in November last year.

EMMA JAMES/FAIRFAX MEDIA He has found 28 of them since November 2015.



He said they were blanks from a military-issue Steyr rifle, and because they still contained gunpowder, he was concerned for the safety of people coming across them who may be unaware of the risk.

Hampson-Tindale found 15 bullets on November, 12 on New Year's Day and three towards the end of January. He handed them all in to the Cambridge Police who disposed of them for him.

All the ammunition he found was at the Waikoko campsite which is a back country campsite on the banks of the Waikoko Stream.

Google Maps They were found at the Waikoko Campsite, otherwise known as the Kaimanawa Rd Campsite.

It is the main camp off of Kaimanawa Rd, adjacent to the Umu Kari Kari track.

The area is highly popular over summer and is regularly used by the New Zealand Defence Forces (NZDF) for training exercises.

Hampson-Tindale said he had no issue with the defence forces training there, but felts they should clean up after themselves more carefully. He suggested using a metal detector.

The Kaimanawa Forest Park is administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC), who have investigated the issue.

When first alerted in early November, DOC contacted the NZDF to conduct a sweep of the camp to ensure all remaining blanks were removed.

However, after recent reports of ammunition still being found at the campsite, DOC conducted a search and found one live blank and a number of discharged rounds.

The blanks do not contain bullets, but do have a regular powder charge which simulates the sound and recoil of a normal projectile round.

Central Plateau conservation services manager Dave Lumley said people going about their normal summer holiday activities had nothing to worry about.

"Our advice from the NZDF is these rounds do not pose a significant threat to public safety, unless they are wilfully mishandled.

"They rust and break down in the environment."

He put the incidences down to a minor communication breakdown with NZDF.

"We have had an excellent relationship with these training activities over many years, without issues in the past.

"Ideally the live and spent rounds would be cleared away after an exercise, but it didn't happen in this case, and we have taken steps to ensure it is no longer an issue."

He encouraged people finding rounds to leave them where they are and let DOC know.
Kelly McLean holds her 21 month-year-old daughter Raiya outside the caravan they were forced to move into.

Within 15 minutes of advertising a house for rent in Arrowtown on TradeMe, Shelley Sims was so inundated with phones calls she needed to remove her phone number from the listing.

Then the emails of stories from families in dire need of a house started to come in.

Sims said the three bedroom house was being looked after by a property managing business, but as it had "a bit wrong with it" the company could no longer keep the house in its portfolio.

"It's just cold. It's got no insulation. No garage. And one bedroom you need to walk through another one (to gain access)."

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"It's bowl down material," Sims said.

The house was being rented for $300 a week but the long-term tenants decided to move into another house they gained through Housing New Zealand.

"It is what it is. It's so cheap."

It was decided to offer the house to rent for $350.

Sims, who was advertising the house on behalf of her husband and brother-in-law, said she then received "hundreds and hundreds and hundreds" of emails.

""It's desperate ... There are such sad stories out there."

One was a family in Kelvin Heights who were having their rent put up from $500 to $800 by their landlord "because they can".



They had been renting the house for three years and they did not know what they were going to do.

"There were a lot of families trying to buy a house, paying $700 to $800 in rent".

Another was a contractor who was buying as many houses as he could so his employees would have somewhere to live.

Within six days they rented to the house to an Australian man who offered to pay six months rent upfront, sight unseen. The Australian said the landlords "would never hear from us" despite the condition of the house and would rent the house for three years, with the option to extend the contract to five.

"I kept saying it was so cold ... But they didn't care."

Afterwards she was contacted by another woman saying she would pay a year of rent upfront and $100 more a week.

"It was just ridiculous. I don't want to go through it again. I didn't know who to take," she said.

In positive news, it was a happy - whilst possibly short-term - ending for Queenstown woman Kelly McLean, her partner and their 21-month-old daughter who were forced to live in a small caravan for the past four months.

After an article was published on Friday about their situation, the family were given the keys to a two-bedroom house in Frankton on Sunday and a six month rental contract.

They had meet with the landlord in the past and he was prepared to give them the contract at short notice while he figured out his future plans for the property.

McLean started looking for a new place to rent in July, after uncertainty with their initial rental house owner, and considered the caravan a temporary measure.

While daughter Raiya coped, McLean said the stress caused her to lose weight.

"The amount of viewings we went to hoping to find a home and ending up with nothing was awful ... We didn't realise it was so bad."

They were now looking forward to moving into the home.

It was better than living in the caravan, McLean said.

"We don't have to live with anyone else and are allowed our dog.

"It all worked out," she said.

Last week a commissioner signed off on the Bridesdale Farm Developments, the district's first Special Housing Area, which would see 148 houses built near Lake Hayes Estate.

There are six other Special Housing Areas proposed in the district, including a second expression of interest to develop a retirement village near Arrowtown.
Locals were the first to aid a diver who died on Wellington's south coast.

Police responded shortly before midday on Tuesday after people saw a man on the rocks performing CPR on the woman at Owhiro Bay.

The woman's dive partner, members of the public and police, helped bring the woman to shore and continued CPR.

Supplied Footage from the scene of the incident in Wellington's Owhiro Bay where a female diver died.

Despite best efforts, including those of Wellington Free Ambulance and rescue helicopter paramedics, the woman died at the scene.

READ MORE:

* One dead, two injured at Auckland and Coromandel beaches

* Tauranga teenager swept off rocks and out to sea

* Drowning toll too horrific and sad to detail

* Beach swimmers warned 'laid-back' attitude not fit for beach

Sergeant Allies Edge, from Wellington police, said the woman was out diving with her partner at the time.

PETER BUSH/FAIRFAX NZ A rescue helicopter was called out to Owhiro Bay where a woman diver died.

"We had an initial call there was someone out in the water. We jumped in and retrieved two people.

"We did CPR on the female patient. The paramedics tried to resuscitate her but she has passed away."

Mathew Gilmartin was in his Owhiro Bay home on Tuesday afternoon when he heard someone screaming for help.

Gilmartin said he rushed to his front window to see a man perched on a rock in the bay holding another person.

He ran towards the water, grabbing his kayak along the way. When he reached the pair the woman's partner was desperately attempting to do CPR while sitting on a rock in the water.

"When I arrived the lady was unresponsive. The husband was doing CPR, but it was difficult where we were," he said.

Gilmartin said he helped hold onto the woman, pumping her chest while her partner breathed into her mouth.

Shortly after a number of other locals came to their assistance, including a man who grabbed a bodyboard out of Gilmartin's open garage and paddled out to the rock.

Another man who turned up in his boat helped to transport the woman to shore.

It was not the first time Gilmartin had rushed to someones aid in the bay. Two years ago he heard a woman screaming for help after her diving partner failed to resurface. In that instance the man survived.

He said he was left wondering today what he could have done better.

"There are a lot of what ifs, but we did what we could," he said. "I keep thinking about her and him. Especially him, poor guy."

Senior Sergeant Bruce Adams, from the police national dive squad, said the pair had dropped their tanks in an effort to make it back to shore.

Adams said police were searching for the equipment.

Today's drowning was one in a growing list of tragedy on the region's coastline this summer, Adams said.

"This is the Wellington coast, there is always a tide running. You can see how easy it would be for people to get caught out," he said.

"When you chuck in people over estimating their abilities and underestimating the conditions things can go amiss."

The death is the third on the Wellington south coast this summer.

Willie Collins, cousin of the late All Black Jerry Collins, died on December 20 after being pulled from the water off the south coast of Wellington where he had been scuba diving.

On December 12, a 45-year-old man was found by another diver on the sea floor near Red Rocks in Wellington.

DIVE SAFETY

* Always dive with a buddy and don't let your buddy out of sight.

*Take one catch bag between a pair.

*Carry the catch bag, don't secure it to yourself. If anything goes wrong just let it go.

*Get all dive equipment serviced and checked every season.

*Always monitor the contents of your air cylinder.

*Don't rush or ignore conditions when you focus on a catch. You can always come back tomorrow.

* Be aware of new medical conditions or medications.

*Never drink and dive or take recreational drugs and dive. Some prescription drugs can also be dangerous.
The man involved in a police hunt around the lower North Island in August last year has died in prison.

Dolphy Kohu died on Friday afternoon in Whanganui Prison.

Prison director Reti Pearse confirmed the news.

He said staff found the prisoner in an unresponsive state and provided medical attention. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

READ MORE:

* Dolphy Kohu has a "very colourful past"

* Police arrest Dolphy Kohu

* Final arrest in central North Island manhunt

* Ohakune manhunt seven in court

* More charges in Ohakune manhunt

The death has been referred to the coroner and is subject to an investigation by the corrections inspectorate and police.

Detective Inspector Ross McKay said corrections and police had completed the scene examination and inquiries were continuing into the investigation.

On August 19, Kohu was the subject of a massive manhunt, following an early-morning police chase and shooting.

The search was triggered after a chase in which a police car was rammed and officers shot at from close range at 3.30am near Raetihi in the central North Island.

The pursuit had begun an hour earlier near Whanganui when police had tried to stop a car with a group of four or five people in it who were "acting suspiciously".



Two police officers fled to a neighbouring house after they were shot at. The police car was then stolen.

Kohu was charged with firing a .22 pistol at two police officers during the pursuit.

He also allegedly swerved and hit a police car and drove off in it.

After being remanded in custody, he last appeared in the High Court in Whanganui on November 18 and was facing new charges of possessing explosives, five .303 rounds of ammunition, and of possessing utensils for smoking methamphetamine.

When Kohu appeared in the dock that day he was kissed and cuddled by Hereina Paul, 22, who was also involved in the incident.

The pair held their embrace for several minutes until Paul took her place in the dock alongside Kohu.

They never let go of each other during the appearance and Paul was unwilling to let Kohu go at the end of the proceeding, with the court registrar eventually declaring enough.

Kohu also hit the headlines in March 2012 when police launched a manhunt after he fired shots at a group in the Whanganui suburb of Aramoho.

He had already served a three-year prison sentence for the aggravated robbery of a Whanganui dairy in 2008.



Witnesses claimed Kohu had fired three rounds from a shotgun at a group of people at a Hylton St house before fleeing in a van on March 22, 2012.



A victim was taken to hospital with minor injuries from shotgun pellets.



At the time, police said the then-20-year-old was armed, dangerous and should not be approached by the public.



After six weeks on the run, he was caught in Wellington and charged over the shooting.



He was sentenced in March 2013 to 2 years in jail, meaning his jail sentence ended 17 days before the manhunt occurred.

The Department of Corrections applied to the Parole Board to recall Kohu to jail on July 1, 2015, after he breached his parole.



An interim recall order was made that day, and a warrant to arrest him was also issued.


Taranaki's elder abuse service dealt with 60 referrals and 18 inquiries in 2015, half of which related to psychological and emotional abuse.

A Taranaki woman who stole $320,000 off her father is at the "extreme" end of what is a growing problem of elder abuse in New Zealand.

According to Tui Ora's elder abuse and neglect prevention coordinator David Lloyd, while psychological and emotional abuse made up 57 per cent of referrals he dealt with last year, financial issues were the next most common form of complaint.

Last Friday, Helen Christine Williams was sentenced to 12 months home detention and ordered to pay back $320,000 to her father.

The court heard how Williams, a mother-of-three, systematically drained her father's bank account between 2010-2012, leaving him virtually penniless.

READ MORE:

* Dismay at sentence after Taranaki woman fleeced $320K off her father

* Elder abuse a hidden problem: Tui Ora

* Our dirty little secret - abuse of elderly

Her father was forced to sell his home, which he previously owned freehold, in order to pay back debts Williams had created in his name. The 83-year-old now lives in a rest home and suffers from poor health.

Lloyd considered Williams' offending at the "extreme end" of cases he had heard about. He said financial abuse like this was a growing trend across the country.

He said 85 per cent of the abusers in elder abuse cases were related to the victim which Lloyd believed was the most "frustrating" part, as people were often reluctant to speak up against their own.

Williams' brother John Thomson believed the sentence imposed on his sister did not fit the crime and said her behaviour had torn the family apart. He, his father and other extended family members no longer speak to Williams.

With sentencing over, Thomson said his next step was to arrange a time to meet with TSB bank staff about the case as he believed it had been "far too easy" for Williams to access large amounts of money from his father's account.

Although Williams' had sole authority of her father's bank account and was his power of attorney, Thomson said red flags should have registered with bank staff about the withdrawals.

He said he hoped to meet with bank representatives in order to ensure the right procedures were in place to avoid another family going through what had happened to them.

"This shouldn't happen to anyone ever again," he said.

When contacted about the case, a TSB spokesperson said privacy and confidentiality considerations prevented them from commenting directly on the case.

However, the organisation already had the protocols in place to pick up on unusual banking activity.

"The bank does have internal processes and systems in place to flag irregular activities on accounts. These are both manual and automated. If irregular activity is suspected then all practicable steps are taken to protect our customer while maintaining our obligations under the Privacy Act," the spokesperson said.

Williams' offending is not the first elder abuse related case to end up in the New Plymouth District Court this year.

New Plymouth police have charged a north Taranaki couple with the neglect of an elderly person.

It is alleged the husband and wife failed to provide a woman with proper care between February and October 2014.

They are due to re-appear in court on February 3.
Dairy Cattles graze on one of Van Diemen's Land Company's farms in Tasmania.

A legal stoush has ended with the New Plymouth District Council's investment arm Timl repaying $1.25m to an Australian company after backing out of a deal to sell them their Tasmanian farms.

TasFoods Limited launched legal action last year after they were outbid for the New Plymouth District Council owned asset, administered by Taranaki Investment Management Limited (Timl) by Chinese-owned company Moon Lake Investments.

In early November Australian company OnCard International Limited, now known as TasFoods, announced it had agreed to buy the farming business, known as Van Diemen's Land Company (VDL) for A$250 million (NZ$275m).

However after they announced their bid it was revealed Moon Lake had made a binding offer, subject to the approval of Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), to buy the Tasmanian farms package.

TasFoods responded by seeking an interim Supreme Court of Victoria injunction, blocking the sale to the other bidder, accusing the council of "commercially misleading" it.

But that injunction was overturned.

READ MORE:

* Legal action over multi million-dollar sale of Van Diemen's Land Company

* Moon Lake buy Van Diemen's Land Company for more than $300 million

* Australian businesswoman Jan Cameron plans to bid for Van Diemen's Land Company

* Kiwi owners put Australia's biggest dairy farming operation on the market

* Australian-owned business enters the bidding battle for Tasmanian farms

Rather than seeing their appeal of the decision through to a trial in the Supreme Court in Melbourne next month, TasFoods chairman Rob Woolley, quoted by ABC News, said the company wished to avoid protracted legal proceedings.

"It was really about being caught up with our executives and our senior people thinking about court cases rather than businesses and we really have made a commitment to our shareholders to get out there and build branded business."

Timl chief executive Mike Trousselot said it was in both parties interests to resolve the matter.

"The litigation has ceased and we're very pleased that we've settled the matter."

The $1.25m equated to the return of TasFoods deposit paid to the council and contributed towards their bid and due diligence costs, Trousselot said.

"The court records show that NPDC and Timl have operated in good faith at all times.

"We won the court case to remove the interlocutory injunction and we were confident we had a very strong case to win an appeal or any other trial."

While the legal action wasn't stalling the sale, it was distracting from the A$280m (NZD $307m) deal, Trousselot said.

"It certainly wasn't making it easier, it was a distraction from the approval process and from all of us focusing on our core business.

A Foreign Investment Review Board decision regarding the sale to Moon Lake was expected to be handed down in early February.
Christchurch's roadside windscreen washers face prosecution by the police if they don't have council permission.

A persistent Christchurch windscreen washer has copped a $750 fine.

Gary Lee Cooper, of Redwood, told the police he washed windscreens at the Northcote Rd-Main North Rd corner to get money to pay for his household power.

The 41-year-old did not go to the Christchurch District Court for his appearance on Tuesday morning, but the case went ahead anyway.

Cooper was charged in December with providing window washing services to stationary motorists in return for payment without the written authority of the Christchurch City Council.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Simcox said Cooper was formally warned on July 17 for breaching the city council's rules about commercial activities in a public place by washing car windows.

At 3.30pm on August 18, he was seen washing windscreens for cars stopped at the busy north Christchurch intersection.

He admitted doing it. He said he had been getting money to pay for household power, Sergeant Simcox said.

The police said the city council's public places bylaw prohibited commercial activities without a council permit.

Bob McGregor and Sheryl Sutherland, Justices of the Peace, decided the police had proved the case and imposed a fine of $750 plus court costs of $130.

McGregor noted it was the sixth time Cooper had been charged with a similar offence.
A Christchurch man started the crowd-funding campaign to buy the private beach and gift it to New Zealand.

There are a number of properties located along the beach.

There are a number of properties located along the beach.

There are a number of properties located along the beach.

A bach is one of the three basic structures along with the Awaroa Inlet in the Abel Tasman.

There are a number of properties located along the beach.

There are a number of properties located along the beach.

The beach is on the Awaroa Inlet in Abel Tasman.

The next step is for the Department of Conservation to decide how this beach fits into its national park management plan.

New Zealanders have raised more than $248,000 and counting in a bid to buy a private beach for sale in the Abel Tasman National Park, but they will still be competing with strong interest from overseas buyers, says its sale agent.

Kiwis have quickly taken to a Givealittle page which is raising funds to put an offer towards a private beach in the Awaroa Inlet worth $2 million. If the money is raised and the offer accepted, campaign organisers Duane Major and Adam Gard'ner will gift the beach to New Zealand for public use.

Although the campaign has been popular among Kiwis, Bayleys sales agent Glenn Dick said interest from private overseas buyers and New Zealanders was still coming in daily.

The owners of the private beach did not want to comment on the sale but Dick said they thought the crowd-funding campaign was "pretty amazing".

"I hope the campaign gives a great run for its money. It's a great initiative," he said.

Pledges have poured in since the Givealittle page was made on Friday, averaging around a $50,000 increase each day.

supplied A Christchurch man has started a crowd-funding campaign to buy a private beach and gift it to New Zealand.

Tourist guide company Wilsons Abel Tasman chief executive Darryl Wilson said the beach was a "dynamic" property because of the surrounding moving tides. He said about 10 years ago the sand spit at the top of the beach was covered in water. The tide had since moved out again.

"Sometimes you'll have more beach than other times. But that's the beauty of the place," he said.

"Now is a good time for it to be on the market."

Many people still used the beach while boating around the Awaroa Inlet, despite it being private, he said.

"It's a critical part of the Awaroa experience for people."

He thought the campaign was a good idea and intended to pledge some of his own money towards it.

Major and Gard'ner, both from Christchurch, started the Givealittle Page on Friday where they appealed to the public for donations.

Major was overwhelmed by the fast response from Kiwis.

READ MORE:

* 'Best beach on the planet' on the market for $2 million

* Would you try 'adult camp'?

* Life on your very own island

"It's insane, I don't know what I expected but I just wanted to do the right thing," Major said.

The idea for the campaign arose from a Christmas day discussion between Major and Gard'ner, also from Christchurch.

"We often have a lot of banter and our conversation moved onto the crazy property market and this beautiful piece of land," he said.

"We sort of had this 'I will if you will' conversation."

Major, who is a youth worker, had visited the beach on a number of occasions both through his work and with his own family with four children.

A couple of weeks later Major saw a friend post a picture of the beach on Facebook - he decided to take the plunge and start the campaign.

"It's a vision for New Zealand - this gives us an opportunity to press a button and express that, instead of watching the big things happen," he said.

"We can't afford a bach but we say our bach is the Abel Tasman."

The private property spans 800 metres on land only accessible by air or boat. It has riparian rights.

If more than $2 million is raised for the beach by the campaign's February 15 deadline, and the offer is accepted, Major said he will give the beach to a public organisation or a trust to put it to public use.

He said the Department of Conservation (DOC) had expressed interest in the property, and he would consider gifting it to them if he was successful.

"I don't mind as long as our principal is protected for everyone forever," he said.

His Facebook and Givealittle pages have also had many comments from the public applauding Major's idea.

"I don't know them from a bar of soap - but I feel somehow connected to them through this," he said.

One Givealittle pledger wrote: "Good on you for your work here. In a time where a lot of our country is going to the highest bidder I really hope you can work a miracle here and keep a beautiful part of NZ available for the public."

The pledge sums have been across the board with some people donating upwards of $1000 each.

Major said he had confirmed with Givealittle that the money donated will not be paid out until the tender has been won.

Bayleys salesman Glenn Dick said in December there had been interest from both New Zealand and overseas buyers for the property.

The beach has three buildings - a one-room cabin, a "basic converted wool shed" and an old fishing vessel.

Dick said the owners of the property were selling up because they had other projects around the world to focus on.

"They've enjoyed their time with it and it's time to move on," he said in December.
Philip Blackwood with partner Noemi Almo, before he was arrested.

He should be a free man, but Philip Blackwood is still behind bars thanks to Australian immigration laws.

The Wellington man has been locked up in Myanmar's notorious Insein Prison, in Yangon, for 13 months after being convicted under religious laws for posting an image of Buddha in headphones on Facebook.

Last week he was finally given a presidential pardon by Myanmar's government. But while his parents couldn't wait to get him home, to their frustration Blackwood has still not been released, as his flights home through Sydney have been rejected by the Australian government.

Blackwood's father, Brian Blackwood, said the New Zealand High Commission in Yangon went to see Philip last Friday, explaining to him he would be getting flights on Monday and be back in New Zealand on Tuesday.

READ MORE:

* Pardon for some, but not Kiwi

* Son loses 20kg in prison, parents say

* Blackwood 'prisoner of conscience'

* NZ politicians don't care about prisoner: parents



Brian booked his son home first-class to arrive on a flight with his fiancee and baby daughter.

But when Australian Immigration found out Blackwood was due to transit through Sydney, they rejected his entry due to his criminal conviction, Brian said.

"The Australians have blocked him from travelling through. Good God, he's a political prisoner, it's neverending," Brian said.

If he were to fly through Australia he would need a special pass, which could take weeks to process, he said.

An Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection spokesman said it held no information suggesting a "formal request" was made for Blackwood to transit Australia.

It said no such request was denied.

While Blackwood was told he would be released Monday, the day before his 34th birthday, he will stay in his cell until he can fly home via another route.

The release had already been delayed after the prison lost Blackwood's passport.

"They wont let him out of the prison, but he's a free man," Brian said.

"He had been given amnesty in the prison and now they're playing silly buggers with him ... I imagine his mind's all over the place, he's suffered enough," he said.

Blackwood lost more than 20kg during his 13-month incarceration at the Myanmar prison, since being arrested on December 10, 2014 for insulting religion.

He was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment with hard labour after posting an image of Buddha in headphones on social media to promote a cheap drinks night at a bar he worked at.

However, last week he was among 101 political prisoners due to be freed by Myanmar's government in a presidential pardon.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade would not comment on Tuesday morning on Blackwood's still being imprisoned.

"The New Zealand Embassy in Myanmar was continuing to liaise with the relevant authorities over the amnesty release arrangements and Mr Blackwood's family regarding deportation details," he said.

The Australian High Commission has been contacted for comment.
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Grasslandz 2016 promises to be both bigger and smaller, concentrating more into a compact area at the request of exhibitors.

Many of our exhibitors found at the 2014 event that they dont need several hectares to demonstrate their tractors and equipment, so instead of spreading Grasslandz over 65 hectares, weve brought it back to about 35ha, and increased the variety of whats on display, says event manager Andrew Reymer.
Elijah Cummings 1.JPG

Elijah Cummings

(Provided photo)

AUBURN, N.Y. -- The widow of an Auburn state prison inmate says prison officials left him in a cell for two days instead of getting him to a hospital after he overdosed on heroin.

Elijah Cummings died May 13 of last year, two days after he swallowed a bag of heroin that someone smuggled in to him at the prison, according to a lawsuit filed by his widow, Tynia Francis.

Francis' lawsuit against the state claims her husband would've survived if prison officials had gotten him to the hospital.

Here's what the lawsuit says:

Cummings, 39, swallowed the heroin bag May 11. Prison officials found out and placed him in a medical observation cell.

Elijah Cummings

The bag broke and a "significant amount" of heroin leaked into his blood stream. He started suffering the symptoms of a heroin overdose: uncontrollable choking, foaming at the mouth, fatigue, incoherence, increased heart rate and vomiting.

The prison's medical staff observed the symptoms, and confirmed the presence of heroin in his system with a urine test. The prison issued Cummings a disciplinary ticket for ingesting the heroin, and he was scheduled to be transferred to another prison as punishment.

"There is no question that correctional staff were aware that Mr. Cummings had ingested heroin," the lawsuit said.

The staff did treat Cummings with Narcan, a drug used to treat opiate overdoses, the suit said. But the medical staff left him in the cell without adequately monitoring his condition, the suit said.

The prison had seen a significant rise in drug overdoses, and in many cases did transport those prisoners to a hospital, the suit said. But not in Cummings' case.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Cummings died as a result of (the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's) refusal to send Mr. Cummings to the hospital," the lawsuit said.

"They put him in a cell until he died," said Bob Keach, a lawyer for Cummings' widow. "Just another day in the New York state Department of Corrections."

Francis, who lives in New York City, refused to comment.

DOCCS officials said they wouldn't comment because Cummings' death is the subject of a lawsuit.

The state Commission of Correction is investigating Cummings' death.

Cummings, the father of four, was serving 20 years to life for burglary and illegal weapons convictions out of New York City in 2007.

Contact John O'Brien anytime | email | Twitter | 315-470-2187
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Howie Hawkins, the Green Party's 2014 candidate for New York governor, was arrested Tuesday while protesting at the Crestwood gas storage facility on Seneca Lake.

Hawkins, who received 184,000 votes in his gubernatorial run, was taken into custody by Schuyler County Sheriff's Department deputies while blocking the entrance to the proposed liquified petroleum gas storage facility owned by Crestwood Mainstream, according to Green Party officials.

Hawkins and 12 others were charged with disorderly conduct, said Ursula Rozum, another Green Party official from Syracuse. Eleven of the 13 are U.S. military veterans. They were released from custody. The 13 are due in court in March 16.

The 13 arrested at 9 a.m. were:

Elliott Adams, 69, Sharon Springs

Colleen Boland, 59, Elmira

Colleen Condon Coss, 60, West Henrietta

Doug Couchon, 65, Elmira

Martin C. Dodge, 73, Canandaigua

Hervie Harris, 70, Elmira

Howie Hawkins, 63, Syracuse

Nathan Lewis, 33, Hector

Peter Looker, 65, Glenville

Jenifer Paquette, 63, Corning

Wendell F. Perks, Jr., 67, Mecklenburg

Richard Rogers, 67, Spencer

Dwain Wilder, 76, Brighton

The arrests occurred after the 13 unfurled banners that read, "Veterans Against Crestwood / Defending the Climate and Seneca Lake," and formed a human chain at the entrance of the Crestwood Midstream property, blocking trucks from leaving and entering, according to We Are Seneca Lake, a group organizing the protest.

In a statement at the protest, Hawkins described fracking and natural gas storage as "inherently dangerous" and demanded "a crash program to build a 100% renewable energy program in New York State" to stop global warming, according to a Green Party news release.

Protesters have been blocking the Crestwood gas storage facility gates in the Finger Lakes region since Oct. 23, 2014, as they oppose Crestwood's plans to store gas in lakeside salt caverns.

There have been 480 people arrested protesting at the site, according to We Are Seneca Lake.

The Federal Energy Commission approved Crestwood's project in 2014. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is considering whether to issue permits for the project.

Contact Mike McAndrew anytime | email | Twitter | 315-470-3016
Gerald Shargel, as pictured on Winston & Strawn LLP web site.

Syracuse, NY -- Robert Neulander's new lawyer is trying to set his client free by ripping the job his old lawyer did.

Gerald Shargel, a high-powered New York City lawyer, filed a motion Friday saying Neulander's conviction should be tossed because local heavyweight lawyer Edward Z. Menkin botched the trial.

And he accused Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick of "egregious misconduct" during his closing arguments. (Shargel faulted Menkin again here for not objecting to the DA's remarks.)

Neulander, a prominent obstetrician/gynecologist, was convicted of murdering his wife, Leslie, on Sept. 17, 2012 and trying to make it look like a slip and fall in the shower. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.

This is the second motion Shargel has made to have the verdict overturned. His first one centered around a juror who admitted texting during the trial. County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller upheld the verdict in that case.

But before the case even reached an appeals court, Shargel filed the new motion to have the original court toss the verdict.

Shargel called Menkin's performance "woefully deficient" during trial and remarked that Menkin couldn't win despite a prosecution case that was "thin at best." He even asserted that Menkin's performance "helped ensure a conviction."

Menkin, who spent 2 1/2 years on the case, expressed sadness at the turn of events.

"I can only say I am saddened that Dr. Neulander thinks I let him down," Menkin said in an e-mail. "Or at least his lawyers think so. I have practiced law long enough to accept that he's got to do what he's got to do."

Menkin declined further comment, saying the lawyer's Code of Professional Responsibility limited what he could say.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said he would respond to Shargel's motion in court.

Defense lawyer Edward Z. Menkin

Fitzpatrick's office will now have time to respond to Shargel's motion. If needed, the case will return to Judge Miller, who presided over the March 2015 trial.

"As the court is aware, the case was entirely circumstantial," Shargel began his 54-page argument. "No one witnessed any attack, there was plenty of evidence consistent with the defense theory that Leslie Neulander had an accident in the shower, and there was no realistic argument of any motive to kill."

In his argument, Shargel asserted that Onondaga County District Attorney's case rested on four experts and the medical examiner, Dr. Robert Stoppacher, who changed his mind midstream.

Key issues at trial included the time of Leslie Neulander's death (prosecutors said it happened hours before Neulander had his daughter call 911) and the presence of blood in the bedroom (prosecutors said that's where the fatal attack started).



Fault with prosecution witnesses

Shargel's motion included a critique of two prosecution experts, and why he says Menkin fell short in discrediting them.

Dr. Jan Leestma

Dr. Jan Leestma: Among other things, the forensic neuropathologist testified that the color of Leslie Neulander's brain cells pointed to the injury happening multiple hours before 911 was called.



But Shargel argued that Leestma has, in the past, stated that it could take only an hour -- or even 20 to 30 minutes -- for brain cells to change color. In his report on Leslie Neulander, Leestma said the process takes "probably an hour or more."

At trial, Leestma contended that, given the number of blood cells that had changed color, at least a couple hours had passed between her death and when help arrived.

Shargel said Menkin's failure to question Leestma more at trial was a "classic case" of botched cross-examination.

Karen Green, forensic scientist

Karen Green: Perhaps the most controversial expert witness, Green argued that the blood on the walls of the Neulander bedroom could have only been produced by an injury on or near the bed.

But Shargel ripped Green's methods as "patently unreliable junk science." Green acknowledged at trial that she recreated Leslie Neulander's injuries using a rock, wig and ax handle.

"In carrying out her experiments, Green ignored relevant variables, made unfounded assumptions, and contradicted basic principles of the scientific method by failing to test alternative explanations," Shargel wrote.

Despite Menkin's long and skeptical cross-examination, Shargel said that Menkin failed to adequately object to "fatal flaws" in her testimony.

Two witnesses should have been called

Shargel also criticized the trial lawyer for not calling two witnesses the prosecution had declined to call.

Blood spatter expert Peter Pizzola: The DA's office asked Pizzola to study the case, but decided not to call him to testify at trial.

Pizzola, former manager of the New York City medical examiner's office, concluded that he couldn't determine where blood in the bedroom came from due to an incomplete and incompetent investigation, Menkin told the jury during trial.

Pizzola did express skepticism at the defense theory that the blood spatter was caused during the commotion of trying to rescue Leslie Neulander. But he didn't dismiss that theory outright, like Green did, Shargel wrote.

Deputy Lawrence Knapp: The Onondaga County sheriff's deputy also concluded that there wasn't enough evidence collected to determine how blood ended up where it did.

He even cast doubt on the prosecution's theory of a bedroom attack, Shargel said, pointing to Knapp's observation that blood caused by an instrument (i.e. weapon) "almost always" leaves spatter in parallel lines. That was not the case in the Neulander bedroom.

Shargel saved one of his sharpest criticisms for Menkin here, saying that there was no reason the defense lawyer couldn't have called Knapp or Pizzola to testify as defense witnesses.

In fact, both DA Fitzpatrick and Judge Miller agreed that Menkin could have compelled Knapp and Pizzola to testify about their reports.

"A defendant has a right to counsel who is 'able to employ at trial basic principles of criminal law and procedure,'" Shargel wrote, quoting case law. Later, he added, "This mistake was inexcusable, particularly because testimony of these two expert witnesses could have undermined the prosecution's case in several ways."

Not only would Pizzola and Knapp cast doubt on the initial investigation (everyone agrees it was incomplete) and directly contradicted Green's testimony, but they would have also carried the weight of witnesses who were initially approached by the prosecution and then rejected, Shargel said.

DA accused of 'egregious misconduct'

Finally, Shargel argued that Menkin failed to object to numerous problems with Fitzpatrick's closing argument. Shargel said the DA's words amounted to "egregious misconduct."

Here are the parts of closing arguments that Shargel found objectionable:

 A remark by the DA suggesting that Jenna Neulander knew her dad killed her mom. Shargel said it was improper for Fitzpatrick to assert Jenna's state of mind, adding there was no proof presented to back up that assertion.

While Fitzpatrick clearly didn't believe Jenna Neulander's story at trial, he later said she was a victim and promised he would never call her a liar.

 Remarks doubting Leslie Neulander's vertigo, which the defense raised as an explanation for her falling in the shower. Shargel said Fitzpatrick improperly called that defense "silly nonsense."

 The DA's suggestion that there wasn't evidence that Leslie Neulander did, in fact, take a shower. Shargel argued that shower photos showed soap, shampoo and conditioner.

 Fitzpatrick re-enacted the path he says Jenna Neulander took after calling 911 the morning of her mother's death. This was key at trial because the DA claimed that she couldn't have done all the things she said she did in 13 seconds the 911 operator was on hold.

Shargel argued that the DA's reenactment before the jury created new evidence of the plausibility of Jenna's story. He also took issue with Fitzpatrick's assertion that it was 80 to 90 feet between the phone and Leslie Neulander's body, saying no one testified to that.

 Fitzpatrick allegedly misrepresented a defense expert's testimony about the time of death. Dr. Daniel Spitz said the time of death was between 7 and 7:30 a.m. Shargel said, while the DA said that Spitz had put the time of death before 7 a.m.

 Fitzpatrick credited his own daughter for a crucial piece of trial evidence: that there was no blood on a coffee cup that prosecutors say Robert Neulander planted after her death. But Shargel said simply that there's no evidence the coffee cup didn't have blood on it. No witnesses testified that it was free of blood, and it was never tested, Shargel said.

 The DA also said there was no blood on pajama bottoms on the floor of the bathroom. Again, he suspected Neulander of planting them there after the murder. But again, Shargel said there was no evidence that there was no blood on the pajama bottoms. (At trial, Fitzpatrick simply asked the jury to look at the photo and make its own conclusion.)

 The DA noted that Robert Neulander's story changed about what happened the morning of his wife's death. But Shargel said that the discrepancies -- including when Neulander brought his wife a cup of coffee -- were overblown and that the DA suggested that Neulander changed his story to fit new evidence, when there was no proof of that.

 Fitzpatrick closed the trial by telling the jury that the victim was speaking to them through her injuries. "Please listen to what she's trying to tell you," Fitzpatrick concluded. But Shargel said it was improper for Fitzpatrick to appeal to the jury's sympathy to encourage a guilty verdict.

After listing all of the things Shargel accused the DA of doing wrong, he noted that Menkin failed in his duties by not objecting to a single one of them as prosecutor misconduct.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- At least 10 residents called the Onondaga County 911 Center this evening after seeing a social media post that threatened to harm Lincoln students, according to Syracuse police.

Residents were concerned that the threat was for students at Lincoln Middle School in the Syracuse City School District. The Syracuse Police Department investigated the incident.

The social media post that was shared on Facebook was a screenshot of a threat warning students not to come to school. The Tallahassee Democrat posted the screenshot, which read: "This is a announcement for all (Lincoln students) your all in danger if you come to school tomorrow. I will be coming to your school with a hand gun in my backpack ready to shoot..."

Syracuse police officers and detectives learned that the social media post in question was actually referring to Lincoln High School, in Leon County in Florida. That incident was investigated by Florida authorities.

The social media post observed by citizens in Central New York was a screenshot copy of the post received in Florida, Syracuse police said.

The Syracuse Police Department has identified the owner of the social media account locally, and at this time, there are no charges pending.

"There have been no threats regarding any Syracuse area schools," Syracuse police said.
Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse woman is accused of stealing $100,782 in nearly two years from an industrial equipment company.

Tania Florencio, 49, was charged with grand larceny as part of a 4-count indictment unsealed today in County Court.

Her former employer, Gartner Equipment Co., of Sand Street, discovered the thefts as part of a routine audit, said Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Kasmarek.

Florencio is accused of writing company checks to herself and using the corporate credit card for personal items, ranging from home improvements to clothing, the prosecutor said.

The thefts allegedly occurred from January 2013 to her firing on Nov. 4, 2014. A lengthy investigation led to today's indictment.

If convicted, Florencio faces up to 5 to 15 years in prison. Her assigned lawyer, Annie Porter, noted that Florencio didn't have any serious criminal history.

Florencio is currently employed, owns her own house and cares for her nephews after her sister's death, Porter said.

County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller set bail at $10,000 cash or bond. He also ordered Florencio to surrender an expired Brazilian passport.

Florencio, who became a U.S. citizen in 2008, emigrated from Brazil as a child. She attended Bishop Ludden High School and went to a state college, Porter said.

No photo of Florencio was released by authorities.
Different views of the Carrier Dome.

The Carrier Dome as seen from Onondaga Park in Syracuse.

(Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A group of high-profile citizens is ready to revolutionize government in Onondaga County by merging city and county operations.

The group -- called Consensus - will release a report today detailing 51 recommendations for streamlining operations countywide. The basic message is simple: We can do better.

Consensus will propose a centralized city-county government that would consolidate overlapping services in Syracuse and Onondaga County. Over time, towns and villages would be able to "opt-in" to the unified system by popular vote.

The primary goal, the Consensus co-chairs said, is not tax savings but rather economic development and improved public services.

The 80-page report bemoans the over-sized, outdated and inefficient structure of government in Central New York. A city-county merger, it says, could save $20 million a year in governmental administrative costs alone.

The report opens and closes with a call to action to citizens, asking for help to reverse the downward trajectory of our struggling region. Former U.S. Representative James Walsh -- one of the Consensus co-chairs -- called the report an option for "hopeful people."

"We can do better," the report says. "And we can start by creating a local government structure in the Syracuse-Onondaga community worthy of our people. A globally-competitive future depends on the modernization of each and every one of our governmental structures."

The proposed changes would redefine a system of local government that predates the Civil War. Its premise mirrors previous mergers in cities like Louisville, Indianapolis and the Twin Cities in Minnesota, but its plan is unique to this region.

"There's no one-size-fits-all," said M. Catherine Richardson, another Consensus co-chair.

Among the recommendations are options for changes in five areas:

Infrastructure Public safety Municipal operations Economic development Governance

Consolidation of the county's schools was intentionally disregarded since it would likely prove too big a hurdle in passing the reforms.

Most of the recommendations outline options for sharing services and standardizing operations between municipal offices like clerks and code enforcement. Others suggest establishing regional authorities and merging city and county services.

Some highlights:

Create a new, city-county government

Consolidate the Syracuse Police Department and the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office

Merge village and town courts to reduce the number of separate court justices and explore a regional court system

Combine the city and county industrial development agencies

No immediate changes proposed for fire protection, but departments should combine purchasing and training efforts

What's missing from the report is concrete details on what a new city-county government would look like -- who would govern and how would they be chosen? What steps are necessary to make the merger a reality? Those concerns will need to be addressed at a later time.

Former congressman James Walsh talks about consolidation of government at an editorial board meeting at the Syracuse Media Group headquarters at 220 S. Warren St., Monday Jan. 25, 2016.

As the report is careful to say, the recommendations presented are preliminary and in no way binding. Consensus members have not yet voted on the ideas. The next step is public input. The commission will invite comments and criticism until March 16. It will release its final recommendations in late spring.

The success of the commission will ultimately hinge on political cooperation and public opinion. A city-county merger would need to be approved by various governing bodies as well as a popular vote in both Syracuse and Onondaga County.

Both aspects will prove difficult. The report comes at a time of unprecedented political distrust between the city and the county. The two municipalities are currently embroiled in a battle over development at the Inner Harbor.

As for public opinion, Consensus is encouraging input from the community on a number of forums, including Facebook, its website and a series of public meetings. Its authors are asking the people of Onondaga County to point out the plan's strengths and weaknesses by voicing their thoughts.

Contact Chris Baker at cbaker@syracuse.com or follow him on Twitter
NYSYR-20140930-150304-LITTL.JPG

Melanie Littlejohn chairs the public engagement committee of the Consensus commission, which will solicit public comments on the commission's recommendations through March 16.

(Tim Knauss)

The Consensus commission today released a report with 51 preliminary recommendations for consolidating government in Central New York. But leaders of the group emphasize that no decisions have been made. They are eager to hear the public's comments before they make final recommendations.

Public input on the Consensus report will be accepted until March 16. All residents of Syracuse and Onondaga County are encouraged to share their opinions. After reviewing the comments, the Consensus group will issue its final report sometime around May 1.

How to comment: All comments must include the name and the city, town or village of residence of the person making the comment. Commenters also should include their email addresses if available.

Where to comment:

-Open meetings. To give your input at a public meeting, or just to listen, check out the schedule of meetings at www.ConsensusComment.com

(The list of meetings scheduled thus far is at the bottom of this post.)

-Host a meeting. Groups of 20 or more can host a meeting with a Consensus representative. Call 315-470-1980 or email info@consensuscny.com

-Website: Go to ConsensusComment.com. All comments are shared publicly.

-Facebook: Go to Facebook.com/consensuscny. All comments are shared publicly.

-Email: Send comments to info@consensuscny.com

-U.S. Mail: Send comments to Consensus, c/o Syracuse 20/20, 120 Madison St., 15th Floor, Syracuse, 13202.

-Phone: 315-470-1980

-Fax: 315-476-1681

Public meeting schedule:

Feb.1: Southwest Community Center, 401 South Ave., Syracuse, 6 to 8 p.m.

Feb. 1: Dewitt Community Library, ShoppingTown Mall, DeWitt, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 8: Southwest Community Center, 401 South Ave., 6 to 8 p.m.

Feb. 9: Salina Town Hall, 201 School Road, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 29: Southwest Community Center, 401 South Ave., Syracuse, 6 to 8 p.m.

TBD: City Hall Atrium, downtown Syracuse

The schedule will be updated as meetings are added.
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By Paul Ivice

STUART  Liberator Medical Holdings stockholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the sale of the Stuart-based company to New Jersey-based medical device manufacturer C.R. Bard.

Despite lawsuits filed in Martin County and Las Vegas by stockholders seeking to delay the proxy vote, the sale of Liberator for about $181 million was approved by more than 99 percent of the 37.3 million shares voted, according to a document Liberator filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bard is paying stockholders $3.35 per share.

With that Jan. 20 vote, Liberator Medical Holdings Inc. of Nevada was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and merged into Freedom MergerSub Inc., a subsidiary of C.R. Bard Inc.

Liberator Medical Holdings Inc. was the parent of Liberator Medical Supply Inc., a leading provider of direct-to-consumer medical supplies, with a prime focus on sterile urinary catheters and urological supplies and ostomy supplies.

Liberator, which first began public trading in 2007 on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, moved to the New York Stock Exchange in 2013.

Bard, headquartered in Murray Hill, New Jersey, is a multinational developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical technologies in the fields of vascular, urology, oncology, and surgical specialties.

Bard, founded in 1907 in New York City and incorporated in 1923, had about 14,000 employees in 2015 and is listed as among Standard & Poor's 500.

Also, Liberator's stockholders approved by 97.6 percent of shares voted a non-binding advisory proposal defining the compensation that may become payable to Liberator's executive officers in connection with the merger.

A handful of stockholders filed lawsuits in Martin County and in Las Vegas alleging Liberator founder and CEO Mark Liberatore, who controlled 37 percent of the company's stock, negotiated a sale that undervalued the stock but provided him special benefits.

Carl Stine, lead attorney for the plaintiffs in the Florida cases, said the deal with Bard not only allowed Liberator to cash out the stock he holds that he had been restricted from selling in the market, but provided for continuing employment for himself, his sons and a niece.

Stine said after the proxy vote that Liberator had turned over certain documents the plaintiffs had requested and attorneys took depositions from Liberator and a banker involved in the transaction.

He said the plaintiffs will decide whether to pursue their case after the documents and depositions are reviewed.

However, if the plaintiffs pursue the case, it will be handled in Clark County (Las Vegas), Nevada, because in Circuit Court in Martin County earlier this month Judge F. Shields McManus issued a stay of the suits filed in Florida.
Missing child alert issued for children of murder suspect Edward Gamez.

By Elliott Jones of TCPalm

VERO BEACH  Police are still searching for a 24-year-old murder suspect, who may be hiding out with his girlfriend and their two young children, police said Tuesday.

Murder suspect Edward Gamez, of the 100 block of North Oak Street, Fellsmere, was last seen leaving the murder scene, in Vero Beach, in a truck with another unidentified man.

Police haven't said where Gamez, his girlfriend and their children might now be. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a missing child alert for the two children, who are 4 years old and 10 months old.

Gamez is considered to be armed and dangerous. He is wanted on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm in a Jan. 21 double shooting outside a Vero Beach home in the 1500 block of Highland Avenue, south of 16th Street, said police spokeswoman Officer Anna Carden.

Gamez is accused of shooting two brothers who had just returned home from work. Alejandro Baldanado, 26, was fatally shot in his driveway, police said. His brother, Efrain Baldanado, who is in his early 20s, was released from Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute, Fort Pierce, during the weekend.

Police haven't disclosed a motive or any background information on Gamez, Carden said. In Brevard County, Gamez is charged with DUI and driving without a license, court records show.

Fellsmere Police are helping in the murder investigation and referred questions to Vero Beach police.

It isn't known whether Gamez still is using the vehicle that was driven from the murder scene: a black or dark green truck. It is described as being an extended cab pickup, possibly a Dodge or Chevrolet, and might contain a silver toolbox in the back, according to police.

"There is no indication she or the kids were in the truck" at the time, Carden said.

BE ALERT

Edward Gamez is considered to be armed and dangerous. He is wanted on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm in a double shooting outside a Vero Beach home in the 1500 block of Highland Avenue.

He is described as a Hispanic man, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. His girlfriend is Maria Marisela Flores Lopez, 21, and their children are Edward and Lizeht Gamez.

Anyone with information regarding the incident or Gamez's whereabouts should call 911 or the Vero Beach Police Department at 772-978-4600.
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St. Lucie County felony arrests: Jan. 25, 2016

Willie Chambers, 35, 2600 block of Seneca Avenue, Fort Pierce; battery, second or subsequent offense.

Justin Daniels, 33, 200 block of Aldora Place, Port St. Lucie; obstruction of justice  tampering in a misdemeanor proceeding.

Genevieve Dinallo, 38, Greenacres; warrant for violation of probation, resisting an officer without violence, carrying a concealed weapon.

Craig Robinson, 26, 2900 block of Zora Neale Drive, Fort Pierce; possession of cocaine.

Alvaro Rodriguez, 43, Aventura; fraud  swindle  obtain property.

Michael Feagan, 26, 300 block of Preston Court, Fort Pierce; warrant for petty theft.

Mark Hadden, 47, 1300 block of 23rd Place, Vero Beach; out-of-county warrant, Indian River County, failure of a sex offender to report email address or instant message to state Department of Law Enforcement.

Hoyt Adams, 43, 300 block of Whitmore Drive, Port St. Lucie; warrants for revocation of bond, violating mental health court conditions  resisting officer with violence, burglary of a dwelling, trespassing on land, battery on an officer, criminal mischief.

Patrick Long, 42, 600 block of 20th Street, Fort Pierce; possession of cocaine.

Ericst Ricks, 26, 1200 block of Nobles Terrace, Fort Pierce; possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon.

Jackie Mcmiller, 36, 100 block of Westglen Drive, Fort Pierce; warrants for sale, manufacture, deliver or possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver marijuana, sale, manufacture, deliver or possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver methamphetamine.

Britt Baird-Graz, 41, Key West; property damage  criminal mischief.

Giovanni Ventura, 27, Royal Palm Beach; property damage  criminal mischief; warrant for violation of probation, battery on an officer.

Brooke Mace, 30, 8200 block of Hibiscus Road, Fort Pierce; driving while license suspended, habitual offender.

Shanna Hazellief, 34, 6600 block of Darter Court, Fort Pierce; warrants for sale, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine.

Stacie Negrych, 47, 800 block of Sweetbay Avenue, Port St. Lucie; fleeing/eluding police  failure to obey officer's order to stop.

Cameron May, 19, Kissimmee; possession of marijuana over 20 grams.

Arthur Leslie, 33, 500 block of Biscayne Drive, Port St. Lucie; aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Michael Wilks, 27, 4900 block of Sparkling Pines Circle, Fort Pierce; cruelty toward a child  abuse without great bodily harm.

Pedro Lopez De Haro, 32, Okeechobee; driving while license suspended, habitual offender.

Leinad Mateos, 21, Miami; out-of-county warrant, Martin County, violation of probation, grand theft.

Ralph Decunzo, 73, 14000 block of Azucena Court, Fort Pierce; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.

Faustin Egalis, 19, 500 block of 31st Street, Fort Pierce; carrying a concealed weapon/firearm; possession of a weapon or ammunition by a gang-related felon or delinquent; trespassing on property while armed.

Robert Burnadette, 18, 2700 block of Tropic Boulevard, Fort Pierce; carrying a concealed weapon; trespassing on property while armed.

Delroy Bucknor, 24, 2000 block of 46 Street, Fort Pierce; carrying a concealed weapon/firearm; possession of a weapon or ammunition by a gang-related felon or delinquent; trespassing on property while armed.

Joseph Lawson, 24, 500 block of Banks Terrace, Port St. Lucie; warrant for violation of probation, grand theft.

William Harmon, 29, Mill Valley, Calif.; warrants for burglary of a conveyance, grand theft, fraudulent use of a credit card.

Lavar Reynolds, 27, 5000 block of Killarney Avenue, Fort Pierce; possession of intent to sell, manufacture or deliver marijuana.

Bryan Moore, 22, 4500 block of Daemon Street, Port St. Lucie; possession of marijuana over 20 grams; possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver.

Shacarol Matthews, 27, no street address, Stuart; possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver.

Nicole Caribo, 29, 4500 block of Murray Cove Circle, Stuart; larceny/grand theft; cruelty toward child  abuse without great bodily harm.

Denise Jesselli, 32, 10000 block of Monterey Road, Stuart; larceny/grand theft; cruelty toward child  abuse without great bodily harm.

Adam Hartseil, 28, 700 block of Kingston Street, Port St. Lucie; fleeing/attempting to elude an officer.

Theopheles Goodman, 33, 3100 block of Avenue D, Fort Pierce; driving while license suspended, habitual offender.

Richard Bidetti, 20, 300 block of Prima Vista Boulevard, Port St. Lucie; passing a forged/altered bank bill, note, check or draft.

Julio Hernandez Garcia, 29, 5200 block of East Piper Circle, Port St. Lucie; producing marijuana; trafficking in marijuana, in excess of 25 pounds or 300 plants or more.

Arthur Harmon, 37, Delray Beach; warrant for failure to appear, burglary of a structure, grand theft.

Marlisia Davis, 22, 2800 block of Jefferson Parkway, Fort Pierce; cruelty toward a child  abuse without great bodily harm.

Garland Johnson, 49, 3200 block of Constellation Road, Fort Pierce; possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon; trafficking in cocaine.

Patrick Long, 42, 1200 block of Georgia Avenue, Fort Pierce; possession of cocaine.

Christopher Stevens, 30, 1000 block of 16th Court, Fort Pierce; out-of-county warrant, Martin County, failure to appear, possession of cocaine.

Jeffery Ball, 34, first block of Kassava Lane, Port St. Lucie; possession of a controlled substance; introduction of contraband into a detention facility. Arrested in Martin County.
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Savon Montgomery, 21, 1200 block of Texas Court, Fort Pierce; warrant for aggravated assault on an officer with a deadly weapon.

Vanela Aponte, 23, 1000 block of 22nd Street, Fort Pierce; warrant for court order for revocation of bond, robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary of a conveyance, trespassing in a conveyance, robbery.

Charles Clements, 23, 800 block of Silverstream Circle, Fort Pierce; warrant for violation of probation, possession of marijuana, 20 grams or less, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, introduction of contraband into a detention facility.

Lancelot Cote, 20, 300 block of Walters Terrace, Port St. Lucie; warrants for burglary of a conveyance, giving false information to a pawnbroker, dealing in stolen property.

Lady Funcke, 239, 4100 block of Rosser Boulevard, Port St. Lucie; warrants for grand theft, organized scheme to defraud.

Zakia Rolle, 24, 1200 block of Curry Street, Port St. Lucie; larceny/commit theft  resist recovery of property.

Joyce Johnson, 44, 1200 block of Curry Street, Port St. Lucie; larceny/petty theft from merchant, third subsequent offense.

Wendy Gispert,. 48, 500 block of Chapman Avenue, Port St. Lucie; warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Dennis Beckford, 27, 1900 block of Hillmoor Drive, Port St. Lucie; warrant for grand theft.

Katherina Watson, 21, 1600 block of Tivan Lane, Port St. Lucie; warrants for larceny/grand theft, fraud  giving false ownership information on pawned items, dealing in stolen property.

Jamie Brown, 28, 2500 block of Avenue J, Fort Pierce; court order to revoke bond, sale, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to sell amphetamine, sale, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to sell marijuana, possession of 20 grams or more of marijuana.

Roger Jones, 39, Greenville; warrants for possession of MDMA, trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine.

Keith Merrill, 24, 3000 block of Landale Boulevard, Port St. Lucie; possession of cocaine.
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By Isadora Rangel of TCPalm

TALLAHASSEE  Money voters approved for land and water preservation could be used to buy pumps and pipes for water supply projects under a bill advancing in the Legislature.

Conservation groups say that counters the will of voters who approved Amendment 1 in 2014.

While they acknowledge a need for projects to increase water supply for Florida residents and ecosystems, they say the state should dip into other money sources for pumps and pipes and dedicate Amendment 1 to land purchases. Some lawmakers contend water supply projects are beneficial to the environment and fall under the amendment's intent.

Voters passed the amendment in 2014 to set aside one-third of real estate transaction tax revenue to buy, restore and improve conservation land and water resources. Environmentalists pushed the measure on the ballot to make up for cuts to the Florida Forever conservation land-buying program.

HB 1075 is a preview to what environmentalist expect will be another battle over Amendment 1. Lawmakers last year used about one-third of more than $740 million available to pay for agency overhead expenses in violation of voters' intent, according to two pending lawsuits filed by environmental groups.

The Legislature is expected to unveil environmental budget proposals in the coming weeks.

OTHER CONCERNS

The pumps and pipes provision is just one of several environmentalists oppose in the 134-page bill, intended to better manage state-owned land.

While HB 1075 has some good provisions, environmentalists say others could undermine preservation efforts by:

Allowing state-owned lands be used for recreational purposes instead of preservation. The bill reads that state-owned land must be used for "conservation or recreation" purposes, rather than the purpose for which it was acquired. The use of the word "or" raises concerns conservation lands could be turned into recreation lands, said Sierra Club lobbyist David Cullen.

Allowing the state to sell land it bought for preservation. The bill requires the state to sell a property if it's not meeting the goals for which it was acquired, such as recreation, habitat restoration or invasive species control. With dwindling funding for land management, the state might get rid of good conservation land, environmentalists said. The state should focus on giving more money to manage it, they said.

Allowing private landowners to assume ownership of adjacent state-owned land in exchange for not developing their land. Environmentalists don't necessarily oppose that provision but want the bill to require private landowners to use the state land for the same purpose for which the state bought it.

LAND INVENTORY

At least the bill wouldn't allow so-called low-impact agriculture activities such as cattle grazing in state parks, opponents say.

Rep. Matthew Caldwell, R-Fort Myers, removed that provision from last year's version of his bill that died.

The bill still attempts to streamline how the state manages its land by addressing acquisition procedures for all state lands into one section of law.

It would require counties to submit a list of conservation lands they own. It also would direct the Department of Environmental Protection to study the feasibility of including privately owned conservation lands in a public lands inventory.

The bill cleared its first committee hurdle last week. The Senate version of the bill, SB 1290, hasn't been scheduled for a hearing.
By Bartholomew Sullivan

It's presidential primary and caucus season.

From Feb. 1 until June 14, residents in 50 states, five territories and D.C. will say which Democrat or Republican they want on the Nov. 8 ballot.

As the road to the White House ramps up, Treasure Coast Newspapers curated these facts, as well as opinions from:

Carole Jean Jordan: Indian River County tax collector, former Republican Party of Florida chairwoman and Jeb Bush backer

Dominic M. Calabro: CEO and president of Florida Tax Watch, a nonprofit watchdog that cant endorse candidates

Susan A. MacManus: Political science and mass communications professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa

Terry Miller: Owner of TM Strategic Consulting Services in Cape Coral and former Lee County Republican Executive Committee chairman

Tyler J. Hughes: California State University-Northridge political science professor

They reference these 2016 presidential candidates: Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush for the GOP; and illary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin OMalley for the Democrats.

MORE | Iowa kicks off presidential primary, caucus season Feb. 1

2016

Its the year of the maverick  the brash, untested, anti-establishment, pundits say.

Donald Trump has tapped into the deep anger at Washington, Calabro said. But just saying hes going to change it doesnt change it.

Anti-establishment sentiment extends beyond the far right. Sanders popularity is a sign of that, Calabro said. So are attacks on Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz over a debate schedule critics say minimizes the publics opportunity to see Clintons rivals (Sanders and OMalley), he added. 

A few years ago, we had the candidate du jour where different candidates (Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich) were winning each state, and it seemed like the kiss of death was to win a state because it meant youd reached the top and then youd fall, Miller said. Right now, it looks like 2 1/2 candidates, meaning Trump, Cruz and Rubio.

Iowa

Picked the eventual Democratic nominee in 2004 (John Kerry) and 2000 (Al Gore)

Picked the eventual GOP nominee in 2000 (George W. Bush) and 1996 (Bob Dole)

A Cruz win would be huge because it would get the narrative off Donald Trump always wins,  Miller said.

New Hampshire

Barack Obama came in second to Clinton in 2008

John McCain won the nomination in 2008, besting Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee

Nevada

Its one to watch, MacManus said. How will Cruz and Rubio, who are Cuban, do with Hispanic Republicans there? Until you get there, you dont really get a huge look at the Hispanic vote.

South Carolina

More black and white, MacManus said.

Texas

Another opportunity to see how candidates do in a big but not necessarily deep South state, MacManus said.

Super Tuesday

March 1, when 15 states hold primaries or caucuses, is exceptionally important, Miller said.

The most important states are the ones with the most delegates, Jordan said.

For the GOP, that means Texas (155); Georgia (76); Tennessee (58); and Alabama ().

The GOP field should look very different heading into Super Tuesday, and the decisions of that Tuesday will go a long way in setting up the primary, Hughes said.

March 15

The next big day after the first three contests (Iowa, New Hampshire, ), and crucial to centrists, MacManus said. Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina will vote that day. If you really talk about survival of centrist candidates, thats contingent on lasting until the 15th, when the big ones are all swing states, MacManus said.

Ohio and Florida will deliver the one-two punch, showing strengths in the South and Midwest, MacManus said.

Florida

Has picked the eventual nominee for both parties since 1988

If Marco cant place better than second by the time we get to Florida, Marcos done, Miller said.

On Republicans

Those early wins might prove to be really important for thinning the herd, and especially in determining whether or not the Trump campaign is for real, Hughes said.

The early states might be a chance for Rubio to gain some steam or for Trump and Cruz to gain some distance, Hughes said. Personally, I really dont think Trump will be a contender into March/April, but Ive been totally wrong about his campaign up to this point.

Tortoise or hare?

The big question is what does Jeb Bush do, Miller said. Does Jeb ride this out? Hes got the money to do it. Hes got the ego to do it. So does he ride this all the way out and hope that theres a possible brokered convention  that no one has enough delegates  and he could be the guy at the end?

Bush gunning for Rubio isnt a sound strategy because Rubio supporters are more likely to fall to Cruz than Bush, Miller said.

On Democrats

I dont really think there is a must win. ... It will be more about momentum in the early states, Hughes said.

I think its important for Sanders to perform well (even if he isnt winning) so that he can maintain the momentum of his base heading into Super Tuesday, Hughes said. Clinton will probably be there to the end, regardless.

One caveat to the Sanders/Clinton competition: We simply cant trust the polling data right now. ... We may get totally surprised when we get to New Hampshire and Iowa, Hughes said.
A Florida East Coast Railway train stops as employees are changed out in Fort Pierce, as seen from the dead-end of Avenue E on March 2, 2015. (XAVIER MASCARE-AS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)





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By Lisa Broadt of TCPalm

More tax money could be spent to fight All Aboard Florida if Martin and Indian River county commissioners approve new legal plans, though both counties are keeping mum on how much.

In a closed-door session Monday, Martin County discussed allocating money for legal expenses related to fighting Brightline, All Aboard Florida's Miami-to-Orlando passenger railroad. The County Commission is to discuss the funding, and possibly hiring additional outside legal help, at its Feb. 9 meeting, according to the county agenda.

Indian River County commissioners last week approved their own plan for additional legal representation; additional outside attorneys would help the county challenge federal and state permits for the $3.1 billion railroad.

On Feb. 2, the commission is to consider paying a new outside attorney $295 per an hour.

FOLLOW THE TRACKS | All Aboard Florida timeline

The proposed agreement sets no cap on Indian River's legal costs: "The parties recognize and acknowledge that legal fees for work on the matter can get very high very fast,"the law firm warned in the proposed contract.

Lawyers also warned that they made no "warranty to you concerning the likelihood of success."

Indian River County since 2013 has allocated about $2.6 million to the All Aboard Florida fight.

Martin County had no All Aboard Florida spending information available Monday, but the county's quarterly financial report shows that last year it spent $1.6 million on outside counsel for litigation and has earmarked $668,000 for the current budget year. The county did not indicate how much of that spending went to fight All Aboard Florida.

Despite the millions of dollars spent and a stable of in-house and outside counsel, the counties have suffered defeats in state and federal courts.

But a recent decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could have created a new legal opening, according to Indian River County.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in a Jan. 7 letter to All Aboard Florida, said it needs more information about potential damage to federal waters, including wetlands, before it allows the railroad to begin work in Indian River and Brevard counties.

Indian River County wants the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Corp's state-level counterpart, to follow suit.

County staff is to meet with the water management district Tuesday. New outside legal counsel, if hired, would continue to pursue the issue, according to Dylan Reingold, county attorney.

Construction of the passenger railroad already has begun between Miami and West Palm Beach, and Brightline passenger service there is to begin in early 2017, with full service  through the Treasure Coast and on to Orlando International Airport  beginning in late 2017.
A space shuttle is on display Jan. 20 outside the Space Center Houston's colossal new Independence Plaza in Houston. Space Center Houston's colossal new Independence Plaza that opened Jan. 23 with fireworks, skydivers, astronauts, hands-on science activities and live presentations as it celebrates, "Mission Accomplished."

By Marco Santana and Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel

ORLANDO  A little more than a minute after launch and high above Kennedy Space Center, shuttle Challenger was ripped apart after failure of a rubber seal allowed a spurt of rocket flame to ignite the spacecrafts giant fuel tank.

The roiling plume of Challengers disintegration would sear an image in the nations psyche that spoke of a particular sorrow; among seven astronauts killed 30 years ago Thursday was teacher Christa McAuliffe.

We will never forget them, said President Ronald Reagan in a broadcast hours later evoking triumph from tragedy. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and well continue to follow them.

But if Challengers meaning seemed clear then, today nearly half the nation is too young to remember the loss or hadnt been born when it happened. Time has taken a toll on the emotional impetus from Americas first loss of astronauts in flight.

Challengers legacy also may have lost relevancy in a nation struggling now to figure out the future of human spaceflight.

Howard Lieb, a New York dentist who lives part time in The Villages in Central Florida, remembers Challengers fate vividly and, as a father, has not forgotten the faces of McAuliffes parents in news photos.

At the time of the disaster, he said, there was national will to try again and do better, to embrace Reagans inspiration that nothing ends here; our hopes and our journeys continue.

But the country changed as the shuttle program played out its 30 years, he said.

Today, there is no redemption to the tragedy, Lieb said. Weve begun to look at such risks as unacceptable.

How Challenger lessons will serve the nations next era in space remains unclear. NASA has neither funding nor a spacecraft to deliver astronauts to Mars any time soon.

More immediately pressing for the nations space endeavors is the rise of the commercial rocket business. Cape Canaveral saw 17 rockets launched last year, marking a 12-year high. The launch count is expected increase this year.

Private, billionaire-led companies like Elon Musks SpaceX and Jeff Bezos Blue Origin have helped restore excitement around space exploration, which waned when the shuttle program ended in 2011.

But at the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, the tragedy is far from forgotten. The center, founded in 1986 by the families of the astronauts who died, has expanded to more than 40 schools, universities and museums.

When you enter a Challenger Center all of them have pictures of the crew on the walls, said Lance Bush, the nonprofit organizations president. When children come in to get their briefings, they are told about these heroic individuals.

Families of the seven-member crew in the shuttle Columbia accident in 2003 have added their support to Challenger Center, which has had more than 4.4 million students.

Its important to have programs like this that inspire adventure and discovery, said Laura Husband, 25, daughter of Rick Husband, commander during Columbias ill-fated flight.

Speaking to the lessons of Challenger, Roger Launius, associate director of the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., said NASAs aura of invincibility collapsed with the disaster.

Hubris is always a problem, and every Greek tragedy is built around that, Launius said. It was valid 2,000 years ago and its still valid today.

After Challenger exploded, NASA pledged to redesign the shuttles flawed rockets and remake the agencys approach to safety.

But after Columbia disintegrated during re-entry 17 years later, the investigator of that disaster said NASAs safety discipline was perfect on paper only.

When you bore down a little bit deeper, you dont find any there, there, retired Adm. Harold Gehman said then. Theres no people, money, engineering, expertise, analysis.

Bob Crippen, a Florida resident who was a pilot during the first shuttle flight in 1981 and flew three more times as commander, said important lessons of Challenger and Columbia remain valid today.

NASA struggled to communicate internally on critical concerns and did not respond adequately to information arising from damage to rocket parts during spaceflight, lapses that may be even harder to thwart with commercial launches, he said.

NASA doesnt have the same degree of control and isnt able to observe contractors as closely as previously, Crippen said.

Crippen noted that SpaceX and Orbital Science Corp. suffered disasters with unmanned rockets during the past two years, which should provide a valuable learning experience.

Alex Roland, professor emeritus of history at Duke University and former NASA historian, said NASAs vulnerability at the time of the accidents was huge bureaucracy and intense political pressures, causing the agencys guard to slip.

He said that leaner, private companies presumably would not be as vulnerable to the failures behind Challenger and Columbia.

But Im not so sure, Roland said. I think they experience a lot of the same pressures because they are trying to get renewals and increases in their NASA contracts.



SpaceX spokesman John Taylor declined to comment and Blue Origins did not respond to several requests for comment.

A new effort at Kennedy Space Center could ensure that private companies learn from past catastrophes.

Last week, the center kicked off Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned, a program that targets the emerging space industry with education related to the disasters.

At KSCs Visitor Complex, artifacts manager Mike Ciannilli said he often hears stories from visitors who remember exactly where they were: a fourth-grade classroom; at home watching television with family; and outside, neck craned to see Challenger rising.

The memories remind Ciannilli that the moment does not belong only to NASA. Instead, the explosion created a marker in the lives of many who witnessed it, he said.

Its such a pivotal event in their lives, much like the Kennedy assassination, Ciannilli said.
In 1985, I returned to the airport seating where fellow St. Lucie County resident Vickie Toler sat with carry-ons and my infant son. After a long flight to Germany, with another long flight ahead to India, both the break and the hot shower I'd just enjoyed were welcome refreshment.

"Ah," I said, too loudly, as I sat down. "I've gotten my second wind now."

Two men nearby overheard me. European by the looks of them, they burst out laughing. Mortified, I realized that while I'd meant "second wind" as a return of energy, the term was comical to them. Men and their flatulence fascination.

They came to mind when I heard of the recent sexual harassment suit filed against the City of Fort Pierce by former police officer Nicole Patsalide. Given that last August, Patsalide's lawyers won a similar case on behalf of former officer Kristen Anderson, the lawsuit comes as no surprise. Amlong & Amlong, P.A. has a half a million reasons to try again.

What was surprising was last year's outcome. Out of town when my son took the stand (Lt. Caleb Gillette, at that time in charge of Professional Standards), I was impressed by former Chief Sean Baldwin's testimony. And when U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez dismissed the jury before chastising Anderson's team for their disorganized handling of the case, I prematurely anticipated a win for the city.

The city's loss gave anyone with a similar bone to pick more than sufficient motivation to bet on judicial lightning striking twice. But as a woman, as an advocate for equality, and additionally, as a strong advocate for law enforcement, I see this as unsettling on several levels.

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), harassment may be sexual, verbal, or physical, including comments of a general offensive nature. Although simple teasing, offhand comments or isolated incidents aren't prohibited, "harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision."

Sounds like an awful lot of wiggle room. What is offensive to one person isn't necessarily offensive to another. Cultural differences play a part in interpretation, as does a person's background, personality, emotional stability  any number of things can cause actions or words that were intended one way to be taken quite another.

For many years, I had the pleasure of sharing breakfast several times a week with a group of men whose humor was often ribald, even insulting. They toned it down a little because I was there, but only a little. I joined them, not the other way around, so that was fine. By listening and observing, I got quite an education.

Unfortunately, when women join a traditionally male group, whether a "breakfast club" or a law enforcement agency, they don't always understand that being included  or being hired  is only the first step. To be truly accepted requires the humility to respect the existing culture. The humor may seem rough, offensive at times. Adjustments are needed on both sides. But they joined the group, the group didn't join them. It's unreasonable to expect immediate, special accommodations. What's "equal" about that?

Please understand, in a perfect world, men behave as gentleman, women as ladies. And I make no judgment with regard to Patsalide's case. But I can't help thinking about the miscommunication in Germany, and how easily such things can happen. I think about being treated as just one of the guys at breakfast.

When we step into a completely different culture, a little patience is needed. A little finesse. A little humor. The resulting inclusion, the sense of camaraderie, of mutual respect and trust, doesn't pay out as much as a lawsuit, but the long-term benefits are even better.

Ellen Gillette is a local writer and speaker. Email her at ellengillette22@gmail.com.
Samsung on Monday began a global rollout of the latest versions of its Gear S2 Classic smartwatch, hitting China first.

There are two models in the Gear S2 Classic New Edition line  one with 18K rose gold plating and the other with a platinum finish.

They have ivory and black genuine leather bands, respectively.

The watches new faces feature characters from the Peanuts comic strip, as well as designs created by artists including Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Twisting the bezel changes the face.

New apps from CNN and Bloomberg include their own specialized watch face features.

Samsung also has added apps from eBay, ESPN, Uber and Voxer.

Introduced at CES in January, the New Edition line also includes Samsung Pay, NFC technology that soon will be available to users, beginning in the United States.

Samsung didnt indicate pricing for the line.

Fashion Forward

The new designs launched at CES are part of the larger trend towards more bling and enhanced appeal for women that we also saw from Huawei at CES, and from models like the Moto 360 2 and Pebble Time Round earlier this year, remarked Cliff Raskind, a senior research director at Strategy Analytics.

That sensibility is reflected in the premium metal-plated models, campy watch faces, and  leather straps, he told TechNewsWorld.

The larger trend, of course, is that smartwatches are meeting the challenge of adding style and fashion a lot faster than theyre meeting the challenge of practical day-to-day convenience  battery life, comfort, size, Raskind said.

Too Cool for the Real World?

Despite being extremely well made, with an intuitive interface and other good features, the Gear S2, predecessor of the New Edition line, reportedly has connectivity issues and only a limited number of apps for its Tizen OS, according to Kris Carlon, who reviewed it for AndroidPit.

Those arent the only reported problems.

You cant use the Verizon Message+ to respond through the watch. Typing is a joke  cant use Gmail app to look at entire mailbox, only notifications, have to set up the email app to see everything, said Foxy in a comment posted in response to the AndroidPit review.

When using WhatsApp on the Gear S2, the reply icon disappeared and couldnt be retrieved even after the smartphone had been reset, reported Alfred Tang in another comment.

Battery life was five to seven hours instead of the advertised 30 or 48 after the Instagram app was downloaded and used, BlueEyed Apache complained. You can get a good 25+ hours from the battery but only if you use the watch solely for telling time.

However, dropped connections werent a problem for commenter Adeshina Adeniran, who wrote that using the Gear S2 was amazing and fun.

Getting Better All the Time?

Lack of apps is a problem, but with ESPN, Uber and CNN, I think were seeing the big names come in, said Ramon Llamas, a research manager at IDC.

We need to see more local ones, but these are good ones to have, he told TechNewsWorld.

Tizen smartwatch shipments will grow from 1.7 million units shipped in 2015, with 8.2 percent of the market, to 2.5 million in 2019, according to IDC.

Thats a 9.5 percent compound annual growth rate, but it wont be enough. The market share for Tizen smartwatches will slip to 2.8 percent in 2019.

More ecosystem and SDK focus is clearly needed if Tizen is to compete head to head in apps with watchOS, Android Wear, and even Pebbles budding developer ecosystem, said Strategy Analytics Raskind.

Tizen remains much more confined to Samsung, limiting its ecosystem potential, he continued, while Android Wear, watchOS and Pebble OS continue to evolve and gain a following. Attracting more developers to build more Tizen apps will not be an easy task from its current low base.

There might yet be hope, Raskind suggested, because Samsung Electronics new chief, DJ Koh, who took over the role Dec. 1, has the required software chops to address the apps shortfall.
Cherry Mobile European Invasion, to start this year?









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Last Saturday, while we were on a trip outside the country, I had a long conversation with our friend- Product Marketing Manager of- about the company's current and past gadget releases as well as their recent activities and strategic plans moving forward.In that chat, he disclosed to me that - just several months ago - CM quietly made a big business move involving the acquisition of an original device manufacturer in China. () And this can lead to some very interesting - if not monumental - developments in the way thatdoes it operations on a global scale.The Chinese ODM that Sir Lonson was talking about is, which is the company that crafted the handset on which CM's best-sellingfrom 2015 is based, the. Considering the local popularity and sales performance of that model, this should be great news for all fans of Cherry Mobile.By acquiring a controlling stake in JiaYu, Cherry Mobile and its partners in China will be able to not just to produce devices faster but they will also gain access to JiaYu's original product design patents and other properties relevant to its industry. But perhaps most importantly, this can also spur CM's entry into the European market. Why, you ask? Well, Jiayu smartphones are already available in Spain, Germany and other neighboring countries; In fact, the brand has already established its presence pretty well in those territories.I asked Sir Lonson.he answered.I followed up.Sir Lonson was swift to reply.Exciting, eh? But here's the coolest part: It looks like it's only a matter of months before Europeans can purchase their phones from the Pinoy handset company.Sir Lonson told me.As a Pinoy technology blogger, I'm so proud of my fellow Filipinos behind Cherry Mobile for everything that they have accomplished together. For me, they are a source of pride for our country. Sure, you can argue that their devices are made and assembled in China -- but think about this, it's the effective way that they manage their business () that has allowed them to reach heights that no Pinoy electronics company has scraped before.
Netflix is fighting against unblockers and VPNs in hopes of cutting down piracy levels, but that's like trying to patch holes on a bucket filled with water. Patch one hole, the rest are still leaking. The leak in question today is called country-hopping, it's where Netflix users change their location so they can have access to different Netflix libraries. To help people on this quest, there's the global Netflix search engine (unofficial, of course) that will tell you where you should virtually reside to watch a particular movie.

As you probably already know, Netflix's library is very different depending on the region. The US traditionally has one of the best Netflix movie libraries, but now that Netflix has expanded to 130 additional countries there's sure to be something new US users can find elsewhere.

According to an interview with TorrentFreak, the "unofficial Netflix online Global Search" (uNoGS) was made by 'Brian' for his own use, but eventually, he put it online and (not surprisingly) it has attracted a lot of attention. We all know one of the most annoying things you can encounter in our new and improved world is searching for a movie on Netflix and not finding it. No, Netflix, I don't want to watch a related title!

The uNoGS isn't illegal itself (it's just a list, right?) but it treads into some dicey areas. Netflix is under pressure from copyright owners to tackle piracy by way of country-hopping, and uNoGS just makes that practice easier and more public. So if you're curious, check the directory out sooner than later.
Sprint is making good on its promise to drastically reduce operating costs over a six-month period, handing out pink slips to thousands of employees across six customer care centers and its headquarters.

The nation's fourth largest wireless provider has reduced its headcount by at least 2,500, a figure that includes 574 job cuts at its Overland Park, Kansas, headquarters. The company's customer service division was hit the hardest, Sprint spokesperson Michelle Boyd told Reuters.

As a result, call centers in New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia have shut down. Boyd said subscribers are increasingly using the Sprint Zone app and going online for customer care needs, thus lessening the need for an abundance of call center employees.

Employees were notified of their termination last week via e-mail. Details regarding severance packages (for those that qualified) were also communicated at that time.

Shares in the telecom are down more than 12 percent in after-hours trading as of writing.

Sprint employed roughly 42,000 people in 2009 but over the years, we've seen the wireless provider slowly chip away at that figure. In early 2014, the company shut down 55 stores and laid off 330 repair technicians before launching a month-long series of cuts in October. By the end of March 2015, Sprint had just 31,000 people on its payroll.

Three months ago, Sprint CFO Tarek Robbiati said in a memo to staff that they plan to reduce operating costs by $2.5 billion over the following six months.

Lead image courtesy Mike Blake, Reuters
Google and its parent company Alphabet have called time on the consumer version of Google Glass by shutting down all the social media accounts that were used to promote the wearable device. While the move shows Google accepts that Glass as a consumer product is dead, the Enterprise Edition for businesses continues to be developed.

Google Glass' social media accounts, including Twitter, Google+ and Instagram, had continued to be updated with holiday messages and #throughGlass postings, which highlighted the uses of the headset, despite it not being available to the public for over a year. Anyone visiting the Google Glass page on Google+ is now met with this message: "Hi Explorers, we've had a blast hanging out with you on G+ throughout the Explorer Program. "From now on, if you have any questions about your Glass, you can get in touch with us here: https://support.google.com/glass/answer/3079854"

While Google and Alphabet may be erasing all memory of the consumer version of the headset, Google Glass continues to live on under the guise of Project Aura. It was reported that the Aura team is working on several different versions of the device, including an 'EE' or 'Enterprise Edition' that keeps the original's screen (the consumer versions are rumored to be audio only).

Google has been careful to keep this EE version of Glass under wraps over the last 12 months. Companies involved in Google's Glass for Work programme have been receiving the new version since early 2015, but agreed not to release details of the device to the public.

Google has, however, been more open about the Enterprise Edition of Glass recently and even released FCC images of it late last year. The EE version features several improvements over the original, including a much-requested foldable design, a button-and-hinge system, and improved battery life.

Google Glass was heavily promoted on its release, but it was never the commercial success that Google was expecting. There were many issues that the public struggled with: the camera's potential for misuse, the device was very conspicuous on a person's face, and most people didn't even know why they should buy one.

Shuttering Glass' social media sites may signal the end of one of Google's biggest commercial failures, but the company will be happy knowing that the device continues to be popular in the enterprise market.
Google has announced a new $5.3 million initiative that will see the company offering Chromebooks to nonprofit aid organizations in Germany.

Chromebooks are generally low-cost laptops that use apps that run in the cloud, which in turn basically means that they require an Internet connection for their functions.

"Chromebooks have proven to be a good fit for education purposes. They can be easily set up to run education or language-learning apps. They're automatically kept up to date with the latest features, apps and virus protection," said Google in a statement. "And they can be configured and managed by a central administrator (in this case the nonprofits) to offer relevant programs, content and materials depending on the situation."

The grant comes from the company's Google.org charity arm, and supports Project Reconnect, which facilitates education for refugees as well as helping them connect with their family and friends.

The news comes around four months after Google announced $5.5 million in donations to help refugees. The company also released an open-source website and app called Crisis Info Hub, which was aimed at helping refugees landing in Lesvos, Greece, get the information they need about things like lodging, transportation, and so on.

The past year has seen major refugee crisis as people leave the Middle East and Africa, and Germany has been one of the most welcoming countries for these people. In fact, more than 1 million refugees registered in the country in 2015 alone.

The grant will enable organizations to apply to NetHope for up to 5,000 Chromebooks, with a total of 25,000 Chromebooks up for grabs. The Chromebooks will be offered first to organizations that can demonstrate the impact that Chromebooks will have on their work.

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Malaria has plagued nations and continues to do so in many parts of the world. The UK government and Microsoft founder Bill Gates recognize this as a serious public health problem thus, they have joined and pledged $6 billion to eradicate the disease.

Together with UK chancellor George Osbourne, the power duo will work to fight the "world's deadliest disease," with the goal of totally wiping out the mosquito-borne infection by the year 2040.

Osbourne and Gates announced that the funds will be used over the next five years for research purposes. The money will also be used to support other relevant endeavors to eliminate the disease.

"Achieving the eradication of malaria and other poverty related infectious diseases will be one of humanity's greatest achievements," says Bill Gates.

More specifically, the fund will be composed of about $710 million per year from Britain's overseas help budget. Another $286 million will come from the Gates Foundation this year. More donations are said to follow.

The money will be added to the Ross Fund, which is a newly-established funding program by the UK government.

"Eradicating malaria would save 11 million lives so today's announcement of the 1 billion Ross Fund is an important step to help tackle this global disease," Osbourne says.

The Ross Fund was founded in November 2015. The program is named after Sir Ronald Ross, the British scientist who received the Nobel Prize award in 1920 for discovering that mosquitoes transmit malaria.

The aim of the program is to amp up global health research so it can support battles against malaria and other neglected yet emerging infectious conditions. Examples of diseases that the researchers aim to address include tuberculosis and Ebola virus.

The people behind the Ross fund are looking to create, test and come up with new products such as medicines, vaccines and diagnostic modalities - all to fight serious diseases in developing nations.

In 2015, records show that deaths due to malaria reached 438,000. Most of the patients were aged below five years old and majority came from Africa.

Photo: Gisela Giardino | Flickr

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Researchers in China believe that they have developed a lineage of monkeys who have their own version of autism. But critics say little can be gained from these animals as disease models.

A gene called MeCP2 was already implicated in the development of Rett Syndrome and MeCP2 Duplication Syndrome, diseases which shares many of the symptoms of autism. So, these researchers inserted the gene into healthy monkeys and found that they and their offspring exhibited repetitive movements, social problems, and other issues associated with autism spectrum disorders. The scientists are hopeful that their work will help provide an animal model for testing autism interventions. In previous models, such as mice, the animals successfully carried the gene, but didn't show the same symptoms as humans with the syndromes.

This achievement, while novel, is not necessarily useful if the animals don't have the same landmark symptoms that people with Rett Syndrome or autism have. And indeed, says Nature, the monkeys don't have the seizures and "severe cognitive problems" usually associated with both diseases.

While the researchers have expressed cautious optimism, some of their peers are less than thrilled. In addition to not necessarily mimicking the same syndromes in humans, those syndromes are not necessarily that useful for studying all variants of autism. In addition, animal models of disease undoubtedly have contributed untold scores of developments for human (and animal) health, but have also been criticized for being potentially unreliable, and wrought with moral issues.

In an interview with The Verge, Hilde Van Esch, a geneticist at the University of Leuven in Belgium who studies MeCP2 duplication syndrome, expressed her skepticism:

"In all honesty, I'm not so excited about this study," she said. "MeCP2 duplication syndrome is surely not 'the' prototype of autism," she says. "So the clinical utility of this model is, in my opinion, very low."

The researchers disagree. In the study, they sum up their findings, saying "Together, these results indicate the feasibility and reliability of using genetically engineered nonhuman primates to study brain disorders."

Time will tell.

The study was published Jan. 25 in the journal Nature.

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A study found that the microscopic African sleeping sickness parasites haven't had sex in over 10,000 years. A team of researchers analyzed the parasite's genome and they discovered that every single sleeping sickness parasite that has infected the human population in the last 10,000 years all came from a single individual through asexual cloning.

The parasite's scientific name is Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Scientists theorized that given such inability to reproduce sexually, it should lead to the parasite's eventual demise. Maybe not in the near future but in about several thousand more years.

The African sleeping sickness parasite accounts to over 6,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa. Transmission among humans is caused by tsetse fly's bites. The parasite was first thought to have lived among wild animals; however, human transmission began when livestock farming started around 10,000 years ago.

A team of researchers from Glasgow University found that the parasite's minute differences in its genome suggest that the species was built from a single predecessor through asexual cloning. This asexual cloning carries some major consequences.

Lead author Willie Weir explained that the genetic blueprint of an organism is programmed in its DNA. This is packed inside the chromosomes.

"Most organisms have two copies of each chromosome and, through sexual reproduction, the DNA within the chromosomes can recombine randomly," said Weir.

The process creates genetic diversity. Natural selection then eliminates harmful mutations and combinations among the population. This process helps in the species' continuing existence. Unfortunately, there are some species that don't reproduce sexually.

According to evolutionary theory's forecast, these species will face demise in the long run and because the genes are not mixed with others, asexual cloning should leave a genetic signature in the species' DNA. The predication has been going around for nearly 20 years but the so-called signature remains elusive.

Senior study author Annette MacLeod added that due to the lack of sexual reproduction, the single-celled parasites' chromosomes collected the telling mutations of its survival by duplicating itself numerous times.

The African sleeping sickness parasite makes up for its nonsexual survival by copying and pasting DNA, transferring it from a single chromosome to the next. The findings suggest that this can only last for so long. As a consequence, it is predicted that the species will become extinct in the long run.

Photo: Ed Uthman | Flickr

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Worldwide UFO fans will sure have field day because the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) decided to release hundreds of X-files-like UFO documents on their website. Unfortunately, we've yet to see any evidence of intergalactic limbs or crashed UFO sites.

There are, however, hundreds of declassified documents about the agency's top secret UFO investigations dating from the late 1940s and the 1950s. Many conspiracy theorists point to the CIA, saying that the agency has been involved in many cover ups of UFO sightings to hide the truth from the general public. For some reason, the agency has decided to upload never-before-seen photos and documents in PDF formats.

Among the CIA's UFO X-Files is the sighting documented by New Jersey resident George Stock. On July 29, 1952 at about 4:30 p.m., Stock and his friend John H. Riely spotted a bizarre aircraft approaching from the sky.

They were allegedly in Stock's backyard when the strange phenomenon took place. Stock ran inside his house, grabbed his camera and managed to take five clear photos of the disc-shaped, metallic-like object in the sky before it flew away.

Despite the authenticity of the uploaded CIA documents, the agency kept referring to Agents Mulder and Scully of the famous drama series The X-Files.

"Below you will find five documents we think X-Files character Agent Fox Mulder would love to use to try and persuade others of the existence of extraterrestrial activity," wrote CIA in the blog where some of the documents were listed.

While the files didn't give any firm conclusion about the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrial life, the documents did reveal that the CIA was not only interested in UFO sightings in the U.S. but also in England, Spain, North Africa and Germany.

The CIA isn't the only federal agency under attack when it comes to UFO conspiracies. Many UFO-slash-alien conspiracy theories are popping up and NASA has been accused of back-to-back extraterrestrial evidence cover-ups related to its Mars missions as well.

In October 2015, UFO spotter and YouTube user, Paranormal Crucible, found what seem to be the remains of a Buddha statue in one of the photos taken by NASA's space rovers on Mars.

In November 2015, Paranormal Crucible also found a "drone-like" structure on Mars using one of the photos uploaded by NASA. This time, the drone-like conspiracy theory coincided with the global premiere of the Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

Photo: Marc Bruneke | Flickr

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With European missionaries came the crippling depopulation of Native Americans. But unlike what is commonly believed, the mass-scale decline due to disease started more than a century after they arrived.

A new study from Harvard researchers traced the devastation experienced by Native Americans in Southwest U.S. in what is now northern New Mexico, noting that native populations dropped from about 6,500 to fewer than 900 in just 60 years in 18 villages they analyzed.

Study lead author Matt Liebmann said that native people and Europeans had first contact in the Southwest in 1539  but disease did not really took effect until after 1620.

"[B]ut we then see a very rapid depopulation from 1620 to 1680. (The death rate) was staggeringly high -- about 87 percent of the Native population died in that short period, he explained in a statement, likening the figures to having nine out of 10 people die in a room.

To map almost 20 Native villages without spending years on a single site, the team used airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), which uses lasers to get into dense forest cover and create a map of the region  with an accuracy down to the centimeter in certain cases.

The Native population in North America is at an estimated 2 million to 18 million during Christopher Columbus arrival. When the 19th century ended, it had dipped to about 530,000.

According to their study of archeological data, historical records, and tree-ring chronology, the Harvard team linked the depopulation to the rise of mission churches. The settlers were believed to bring with them infections such as measles, smallpox, bubonic plague, influenza, cholera, chicken pox, scarlet fever, and yellow fever.

Famine and violence also ensued from the newfound settlement.

The wipeout, the authors emphasized, also resulted in more forest fires occurring during that time.

[As] people died off, the forests started re-growing and we start to see more forest fires, Liebmann noted.

People needed timber for their roofs, cooking, and heating as they subsisted in these villages. In addition, they were clearing the land to farm, so trees did not really grow when the pueblos were inhabited.

Recent studies of the Early Anthropocene period typically pointed to 1610 as a time when global carbon dioxide levels dramatically dropped. The team, though, argued that the dip took place later.

While increased forest fires marked the time of the depopulation, the region eventually showed carbon sequestration from the regrowth of forests.

For Liebmann, it is crucial to cite that the Southwest was among the earliest points of contact between European colonists and Native Americans in what is the U.S. at present.

[S]o its hard to argue for [the catastrophic depopulation] happening anywhere in the rest of North America at that early date."

The researchers detailed their findings last Jan. 25 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Last week, Microsoft sent out emails to lucky participants of the Windows Insider program that asked them if they would be interested in joining the Word Flow beta program, and if they owned an iPhone 5s or newer.

The email revealed that Microsoft will be rolling out the Word Flow keyboard, popularized by Windows smartphones, to iOS devices. In comparison with Word Flow, Android and iOS keyboards are lagging behind in terms of development, with the built-in keyboard of Lumia smartphones being among the best available to consumers.

The downside, of course, was that users had to have a Windows Phone to use it, which is not as popular as iOS and Android devices. Microsoft, however, is now planning to roll out the Word Flow keyboard to non-Windows Phone users.

Sources familiar with the plans of Microsoft regarding Word Flow have revealed to The Verge that the iOS version of the keyboard will also include a special one-handed mode, which is different from that of the Windows 10 Mobile version.

The one-handed mode of the Word Flow keyboard for Windows 10 Mobile shifts the keys to the side to make the keyboard compact and reachable by the fingers of one hand. For the iOS version, instead of smashing the keys together to make them smaller, the keyboard will use a fanned keyboard layout. Users will be able to choose the point from where the keys will fan out, whether from the lower right or lower left corner of the iOS device's screen, depending on which hand is their dominant hand.

Other than the difference in one-handed mode, the Word Flow keyboard for iOS will be very similar to the Windows Phone variant. Users will be able to access word suggestions, add emoji and type out messages by swiping across the keyboard.

Microsoft is looking to release the Word Flow keyboard for the iOS within the coming months, with a version for Android also expected to be released soon. No official release date has yet been mentioned by the company, but the keyboard's launch to iOS devices will surely be worth the wait.

With the pending release of Word Flow to iOS and Android devices, Microsoft has been recently showing willingness to share technology that was once exclusive to its devices across all platforms. In addition to the cross-platform improvements for flagship products such as the Office suite software, Microsoft has been porting Windows features to be compatible with devices on other platforms.

One recent example is the release of Cortana to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in December last year. In addition to iOS and Android devices, Cortana has also been preloaded to the OnePlus One smartphone, which is powered by the Cyanogen OS. Microsoft's virtual personal assistant is currently only available for users within the United States and China, though the software is also expected to be launched across more regions in the near future.

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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has helped women conceive children amid their reproductive problems. As women get older, however, the chances of successful IVF treatments become scarce.

Now, older women may have a greater chance of becoming mothers, thanks to a new IVF technique that boosts fertility by rejuvenating eggs.

British doctors have asked permission to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HEFA) so they could begin a pilot study involving 20 women to test their technique. If approved, the trial may start as early as 2017.

"It may provide new, revolutionary options for women to have their own genetic child," says Simon Fishel, founder of Care Fertility.

Men continue to produce fresh sperm cells during their entire lives. Women, however, lose the quality of their egg cells as they age. As such, growin older means more difficult conception for women.

According to records, the success rates of IVF treatments in women aged under 35 is 32 percent, while those aged between 38 to 39 years old have 21 percent chances of success. The number continues to decrease as women, leaving those between the age of 43-44 years old and those above 44 with only 5 percent and less than 2 percent success rates, respectively.

Despite this, scientists say there is a way. Eggs may be rejuvenated by replacing its "batteries," called mitochondrial DNA. A certain egg precursor cell in the ovaries carries younger mitochondrial DNA, which may be harvested and replaced into an older egg.

The technique is based on the concept that an aging mitochondria is one of the most influential factors behind the failure of a fertilized egg to develop into a viable embryo. Hence, changing it with fresher ones may produce good results.

Amid the possible breakthrough, the concept has already garnered critics. Some scientists say there is no sufficient proof behind the technique or even the presence of these so-called egg precursor cells. For these scientists, HEFA must thoroughly assess the proposal as this may cause concerns in the health of children born through this technique.

Fishel remains optimistic and says there is evidence that injecting a healthier mitochondria into an IVF egg may raise the success of turning it into a healthy embryo.

The technique was developed by Boston-based OvaScience, which was founded by fertility specialists. The company called their invention Augment, which the U.S. FDA has yet to approve, saying it needs extensive testing. With this, Britain may be the first in the world to implement this method.

Photo: Luigi Guarino | Flickr

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Samsung seems all set to eventually embrace iOS, as a report claims that the vast majority of Samsung's finest apps (if not all) are making their way to iPhones in the near future.

It's no secret that Samsung has now a number of apps on the Apple App Store. In fact, it was not too long ago when the company revealed its plans to bring iOS support for the Gear S2.

Fast forward to today, SamMobile, citing inside sources, has revealed that the firm "is planning to bring most of its apps (if not all)" to iOS later within the year.

It appears that the Gear Fit Manager will soon show up on iOS. The app will enable you to pair Samsung's Gear Fit smartwatch with the iPhone, similar to Pebble's app for iOS.

The Galaxy-maker could also be working on its S Health app for the iPhone, an app used to monitor day-to-day activities, sleep, food consumption plus workouts. This sleek app could be added to the growing number of health monitoring apps on Apple's iOS platform soon.

What's more, it sounds as if Samsung is likewise beefing up one of its apps already available on iOS, the Smart Camera app. It appears like the iOS version of the photo-snapping app could already be in the works. The app will permit iPhone users to remotely control Samsung Smart Cameras.

That's not all Samsung is putting to the table, as the company is also said to be adding iOS support for the Galaxy View, by coming up with the Remote Control plus Family Square apps for iOS.

Sad to say, the report's sources did not go into the details of exactly when these apps will land on iOS.

The report claims Samsung's move is critical to make certain that its non-smartphone devices communicate effortlessly with devices, irrespective of operating system.

"Samsung surely understands that it needs to add support for iOS to increase the adoption of its connected devices as the company has some big plans for a connected home using its IoT platform," says the report.

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U.S. carrier Sprint has gone into cost cutting mode as indicated in 2015 and has laid off 2,500 people in a bid to turnaround its business.

Earlier in November 2015, we reported that Sprint was looking to reduce its workforce in a bid to cut down on operating expenses by $2.5 billion.

The company's spokesperson Dave Tovar did not give specifics on the number of employees who would be given the pink slip as it was too soon in the budgeting process.

"We are leaving no stone unturned and looking at all areas," noted Tovar at the time.

Now true to its promise, the network operator has reduced 8 percent of its workforce since fall 2015. The cost cutting exercise saw 2,500 employees in six customer service care centers in the U.S. bear the brunt of the Sprint decision.

Reportedly, last week Sprint alerted the affected employees that it would be reducing the workforce in these centers or rendering them inoperable completely. The network operator has shut down four call centers, whereas the employee strength in two has been scaled down.

"Sprint Corp has axed at least 2,500 jobs across six customer care centers and its Kansas headquarters as part of its plan to cut $2.5 billion in costs, a company spokeswoman said on Monday," reports Reuters.

This is not the first time Sprint has axed employees. In 2014, the U.S. carrier reduced 2,000 jobs. At the beginning of 2016, Sprint accounted for 33,000 employees.

Sprint's spokesperson Michelle Boyd has said that of the 2,500 people who have been laid off, 574 people axed occupy positions at the company's headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas, and the remaining are from customer service.

The call centers which have been shut down are located in Texas, Virginia, Tennessee and Texas. The service centers where job cuts have occurred are the Overland Park and Colorado.

Sprint informed the affected employees about the layoff through email. The network operator intended to give the notices to its employees prior to Jan. 30 as the company would be reducing the severance package after this date.

For those wondering why Sprint primarily axed employees in its customer care centers, the carrier's customers are increasingly deploying the Sprint Zone app to address their queries. Moreover, subscribers are also using online facilities to address their questions and needs. Therefore, the spokesperson revealed that the nearly 2,000 job cuts in customer care were made, as well as the decision to close four of the call centers,

It is still unclear if Sprint is eyeing more layoffs in the coming weeks.

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A leaked sketch of the purported iPad Air 3 suggests that the upcoming tablet may have four speakers and an LED flash with the rear camera.

Apple launched and released the sixth-generation iPad Air 2 in October 2014. Tablet enthusiasts hoped that the company will unveil the successor of the 9.7-inch tablet in September 2015, but they were left disappointed as the company did not announce the iPad Air 3; Apple unveiled the brand new 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the iPad Mini 4 instead.

Rumors have been surfacing that although Apple did not launch the iPad Air 3 in September last year, the company is planning to launch the tablet in March this year along with the iPhone 6c, the successor of the iPhone 5c.

French publication Nowhereelse.fr has leaked an image of the iPad Air 3, which suggests that the tablet will include four speakers: two at both the top corners and another two at both the bottom sides of the tablet.

iPads are often used for listening to music and watching videos. Increasing the number of speakers will enhance the voice quality and bring new music and voice listening experience to iPad fans.

The leaked drawing of the iPad Air 3 also suggests that the tablet will include a rear LED flash, which will let users take quality images even in low-light conditions where flash may be required. None of the existing iPads include a LED flash, and its inclusion in the iPad Air 3 means Apple wants to attract more customers who take images with their tablets.

Nowhereelse.fr noted that the source of the leaked image is not highly reliable. However, a few previous leaks by the same sources have also been true.

Previous rumors suggest that Apple may include the A9X processor  the same used in the iPad Pro  in the iPad Air 3. The tablet may include RAM in the range of 2 GB to 4 GB. The tablet is also believed to be dust and water resistant.

For the first time, Apple used the variable refresh rate technology that preserves power when static images are on the screen in the iPad Pro. With the rumored launch of the newest iPad Air, the company may include the same feature, which will enhance the tablet's battery life.

Apple is yet to reveal the specs and launch date of the iPad Air 3, which means that Apple fans will have to wait slightly long to find exact features of the tablet.

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The new Huawei Honor 5X is about to make its commercial debut and will hit Europe soon, set to arrive in early February.

We already knew that the Huawei Honor 5X U.S. launch was set for the end of January, but now we have more details regarding a wider release. UK and Continental Europe will get the budget-friendly handset soon after the U.S. early next month.

Huawei already listed the Honor 5X on its European online store, the Vmall, complete with a teaser countdown showing the time left until the smartphone goes on sale. The company has yet to reveal pricing details, but the countdown shows a Feb. 4 release for Europe.

For those unfamiliar with the Huawei Honor 5X, here's what to expect from this affordable handset in terms of specifications. A 5.5-inch display offers a full HD (1080p) resolution, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset with an octa-core 1.5GHz CPU will power things off, and 2 GB or 3 GB of RAM (depending on model) will ensure a fast and fluid performance.

The Honor 5X further packs 16 GB of internal storage space, expandable via microSD, a 13-megapixel main camera with dual-tone LED flash, a 5-megapixel front shooter and a 3,000 mAh battery. Huawei also touts an "ultra-fast" fingerprint reader.

The smartphone comes with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out of the box, but will receive an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, as well as regular security patches.

European customers interested in the Huawei Honor 5X can enter their email address on the Vmall website and receive a promo code from Huawei to get a discount on the handset. Depending on location, that discount will shave 20, 20 or CHF 20 off the smartphone's price. Huawei is also offering a second promo code for those who buy the Honor 5X, knocking 10, 10 or CHF 10 off their next order.

The offer should be valid in all nine European markets where Huawei's Vmall is available, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

For more information about the smartphone, check out our Huawei Honor 5X review roundup to see what early reviewers think of the handset.

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Lance Perkins, the man who received a bill of over $8,000 to his credit card as a result of his son making microtransactions on Xbox, received a refund from Microsoft.

The teenage son of Lance Perkins used his father's card to engage in microtransactions in one FIFA game, leading to a total sum of $8,206.43. The teenager stated that he was taken aback by the huge figure, as he was convinced that he was making a one-time purchase.

Microtransactions allow players to get extra game content, be it extra features, levels, experience, weapons or enhancers. Most cases of hefty microtransaction come from the United States, where children get access to their parents' credit cards and start a deluge of in-game purchases.

It seems that teenagers are the same everywhere, even in Canada.

"It floored me. Literally floored me, when I'd seen what I was being charged," Perkins declared to CBC News.

In his quest to recuperate his money, Perkins first went to this credit card company. He was dismayed to hear what the credit company proposed: filing charges against his son for fraud. Predictably, Perkins refused the opportunity to meet his son in front of a judge.

In the end, the Canadian dad went on to ask Microsoft to compensate his son's mistake. The Redmond-based company took no action at first, but when it discovered that the son is a minor it started to analyze the incident. After internal deliberation, Microsoft chose to refund the full sum on Monday.

Perkins stated that this situation should serve as a cautionary tale to other families, and urged gaming companies to install safeguards that will prevent such an unfortunate event from happening.

He pointed out that he is full of gratitude towards Xbox's parent company.

"Let's thank them for making that choice," Perkins texted CBC News to highlight his appreciation for Microsoft's gesture.

After the credit card bill shocked him, the Canadian dad underlined that he will carry a small-sized vendetta against gaming systems in his home.

"There will never be another Xbox system  or any gaming system  in my home," Perkins noted.

We are curious whether or not his opinion changed after Microsoft agreed to pay back the far-from-micro sum.

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In a press conference on Monday, Turkish Airlines announced that it has signed a sponsorship deal with Warner Bros. for the upcoming movie "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." Alongside the announcement, the airline unveiled one of its planes showcasing the two superheroes' emblems.

According to the terms of the deal, a Boeing 777 from Turkish Airlines will be part of a pivotal scene in the film and a commercial from the airline will be aired starring Ben Affleck and Jesse Eisenberg, who play Batman and Lex Luthor in the film, respectively.

At the press conference held at one of Turkish Airlines' hangars, M. Ilker Ayc, the airline's chairman, said that they decided to become one of the official sponsors for the "Batman v Superman" premieres in the U.S. and the UK because of the magnitude of the film.

The sponsorship deal forms part of Turkish Airlines' efforts to extend its brand reach and boost recognition, although it was already successful with promotions involving star athletes Lionel Messi and Kobe Bryant. In fact, the airline's commercials starring the two have become some of the most viewed on video-sharing sites.

Ayc told reporters at the press conference that the airline has made great leaps over the last decade, boasting of being recognized as the best European carrier in the last five years. Additionally, Turkish Airlines also holds the distinction of having the most destinations offered.

"We had two more cities to add to this list, but it was difficult to obtain permission of the authorities in those cities dominated by two powerful men: Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent," he said, revealing that Gotham City and Metropolis are being added to Turkish Airline's list of destinations.

A Turkish Airlines website will go live in March to offer customers the chance to go on a virtual tour of the cities home to Batman and Superman.

Passengers flying on Turkish Airlines' "Batman v Superman" plane will not only be provided with themed travel kits and other in-flight items but will also have a shot at attending the movie's premiere in Los Angeles through a contest.

Watch Turkish Airlines' very own "Batman v Superman" trailer below.

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Japan has some major plans for drones outside of their recreational use.

The Japan News, as spotted by Endgadget, is reporting that Tokyo's government has tabbed the country's National Strategic Special Zone system to mark off mountainous and island areas as "special drone zones" to conduct verification testing.

The testing for the quadcopters is slated to include whether they're effective at chasing animals such as monkeys away from farms, in addition to using drones to deliver vital supplies during natural disasters.

Those are just a couple of the tests that might go on within the designated drone zones.

"We hope to conduct experiments on a wide range of uses," a metropolitan government official told the Japan News.

The areas will benefit from the fact that restrictions on drones' frequencies will be lifted for purposes of the testing zones. That means pilots could test the drones for the aforementioned practical uses at full or greater power than they're normally allowed.

In Hinohara, the Japan News reports that crops are frequently ravaged by monkeys, creating the need to try to use drones to drive them out of the area.

"We'd like to try chasing away the monkeys with sound-emitting drones," a village official told the news outlet.

In Okutama, which sees parts cut off by heavy snow, Japan hopes to use drones to survey the extent of the problems, while also using them to deliver food and medical supplies.

The use of drones could even spawn new businesses between locations.

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Syrian refugees in Germany to get Chromebooks worth $5.3 million from Google for education and assimilation

Google has announced a new $5.3 million grant to help refugees in Germany by equipping nonprofit aid organizations with Chromebooks. Announcing the grant on a blog post, Google director Jacquelline Fuller said that the Chromebooks are to facilitate easier access to education for refugees. The funds for Chromebooks will come from Googles charitable Google.org arm in support with Project Reconnect, a program by NetHope.

Chromebooks are laptops which run on Chrome and use apps running in the cloud, meaning they require Internet connectivity for most of their functions.

Googles philanthropy is well known. Earlier it had pledged to match $5.5 million in donations to help with the refugee crisis that has been unfolding. When the refugee crisis was in full motion, Google announced a new open-source project called the Crisis Info Hub that helps refugees access key information on their journey to safer countries, such as lodging, transportation, and more.

Germany has decided to accept millions of people who have been fleeing from war torn countries like Iraq, Syria and Libya. After its open door policy was announced, it has received more than one million migrants in 2015 alone.

However the basic problem faced by the refugees is lack of education which in turn creates social conflicts with the locals. Google hopes that its Chromebooks will help the refugees educate and assimilate faster. As they make it through a dangerous journey, the first thing refugees need is to find shelter, food and access to care, explained Fuller. But soon enough, they have to learn the local language, acquire skills to work in a new country, and figure out a way to continue their studies  all in an effort to reclaim and reconnect with the lives they had before.
ISIS luring desi hackers $10,000 to hack into government websites and steal sensitive data

It has been reported that ISIS is willing to pay Indian hackers thousands of dollars to hack into government websites and gain access to sensitive documents. The hackers are being offered lucrative deals to create a database of potential Indian candidates from social media websites like Facebook and Twitter. A hacker would be paid in excess of $10,000 for every job that they do. Experts say that this is by far the most tempting offer from the hacking community in India.

There are various underground communities online where hackers interact regularly. Our investigation reveals that for the past six months, lucrative offers for stealing government data came pouring in and hackers were offered a huge sum. Such amount has never been offered to any Indian hacker before. We found that the offers were being made to spread ISIS reach in the country, said Kislay Choudhary, a cyber crime expert working with several security agencies. Kislay also added that stealing a government secured data is a part of ISISs intelligence gathering exercise and helps in formulating their India strategy.

To proliferate ISIS radical ideology and indoctrinate the youth worldwide, they are using social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Experts believe that over 30,000 youth have reportedly been in contact with the extremist organisation in India till now, of which many of the hackers ironically might have already accepted the offer.

Experts say that the recruited hackers are communicating through online services such as Skype, Silent Circle, Telegram, and WhatsApp with their Syrian handlers.

Increasing threat

The past few months have seen a tremendous increase in the active profiles on social media that are being used to spread malice against India. Many of the users of these channels are based out of various parts of south India, Kashmir, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Indian handlers are now spreading their hate messages in a localised manner by communicating with their followers in Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Urdu and other vernacular languages on cyberspace. Recently, Bangla too has been used to target vulnerable youths in Bangladesh and India to spread ISIS hate propaganda.

Twelve suspects from across the country have been recently arrested by the security agencies for their alleged links with the active members of ISIS in Syria. They were planning out an attack ahead of Republic Day. According to the sources, the alleged supporters were arrested after tracking thousands of IP addresses and communication used by ISIS in Syria and Iraq with their handlers in India.

A senior officer of a central security agency said, The work of Indian handlers is to identify people who tweet or share pro- ISIS and anti-West posts. Such users are potential ISIS sympathisers. Such people are contacted by ISIS members on social media and engaged in religious conversations. After assessing their mindset, pro-ISIS content and videos are shared. If they show interest, they are enrolled into the terror outfit.

These ISIS handlers are also focusing on the local communal clashes and other issues minorities face in the country to instigate the youth on several platforms of social media.

When social media is split wide open on communal lines during riots, ISIS members have managed to reach out to several thousand people online even in such situations.

Techies involved by ISIS are carefully planning to promote jihadi content on social media, said experts.

They spread their message with popular keywords and hashtags to reach a wider audience, a security official said.

Counter action

Security agencies have reportedly started counter-measures and have taken down ISIS-related content on web. As many as 94 websites that were connected with the ISIS have been blocked claims the Maharashtra ATS.

While some websites were banned, the government is also trying to ensure no hate content is put up on sites like Facebook and Twitter. The Indian government is ready to create a 24/7 war room to keep a tab on social media. In December 2015, the government had set up a committee to scrutinize the probability of a multiagency 247 social media analysis centre.
Its been an interesting ride for Sony over the last few years. The company that once dominated the television industry had to rethink its commitment to HDTVs a few years ago when competitors in Koreanamely Samsung and LGbecame the new go-to brands for HDTV buyers. On the gaming front, Sony went from trailing behind Microsoft to being the clear frontrunner in the console gaming space as the PlayStation 4 managed to wow the crowds. Then theres Sonys mobile business.

Now that Chinese brands make up 40 percent of smartphone shipments, its harder than ever for companies like Sony and LG to compete in a market that is notoriously tough for anyone but Apple and Samsung. And yet, just like with HDTVs, Sony seems unwilling to give up as evidenced buy its newly announced acquisition of Altair Semiconductor for the purchase price of US$212 million (approximately 25 billion yen). The acquisition is expected to complete in early February.

Based in Israel, Altair develops and sells products focused on LTE technology and owns valuable modem chip technology and related software for LTE. In particular, the companys modem chips stand out in the industry for their low power consumption, high performance and competitive cost. Undoubtedly, the benefits of these chips will be used to enhance Sonys lineup of smartphones and tablets that have been well received critically, but are largely ignored by consumers.

However, according to Sonys official statement on the acquisition, buying Altair is about a lot more than traditional cellular devices. On the contrary, its about the future of the mobile space.

LTE is already widely used in data communication for mobile phones, and is also expected to play a pivotal role in the interconnection of the Internet of Things (IoT), reads Sonys release. Going forward, more and more things are expected to be equipped with cellular chipsets, realizing a connected environment in which things can reliably and securely access network services that leverage the power of cloud computing.

In other words, by acquiring Altair, Sony wants to move forward with research and development on new sensing technology. In particular, the company plans to combine its own sensing technologiesnamely its Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and image sensorswith Altairs modem chip technology.

The end goal for Sony is to develop a new breed of cellular-connected, sensing component devices. Mincing no words, the company has specifically named IoT devices and wearables as ideal use cases for its new LTE solutions.

At this weeks ITEXPO Business Technology conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. the topic of IoT is a hot one. Gary Audin, Senior Technology Analyst & EDUcast Host, Telecom Reseller will moderate a session Wed. Jan. 27 at 2:30pm titled State of IoT that will explore trends in wireless technologies and discuss ways cell providers can keep up.

Edited by Stefania Viscusi
A 40 anos de Malvinas

"Revisar el pasado es pensar el futuro". La frase de la presidenta de Telam, Bernarda Llorente, resume el espiritu del documental coproducido entre la agencia de noticias y el canal publico de TV sobre la cobertura que los medios de comunicacion hicieron del conflicto, plagada de censura y mentiras. Una autocritica necesaria para mirar hacia adelante en un (ya viejo) contexto de fake news y negocio informativo.
The reliable market rumour of production cuts provided the foundation for both Brent and WTI to move back above $31 a barrel, Chris Beauchamp, of IG said.

"As oil goes, so goes the rest of the market."

"At this point, a decision between OPEC and non-OPEC members to cut production is not the important element; the key point is such talk allows the price to move upwards to a position where bears can hit the sell button once again."
What has Cupid got to do with it?

Cupid, also known in Latin as Amor ("Love"), is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is frequently portrayed as the war god Mars, as well as the son of the love goddess Venus.

His Greek counterpart is Eros and he is just one of the ancient symbols associated with St Valentines Day, along with the shape of a heart, doves, and the colours red and pink.

Today, he is typically portrayed as a small winged figure with a bow and arrow which he uses to strike the hearts of people. People who fall in love are said to be "struck by Cupids arrow".

Why is the heart associated with love?

The heart was once associated with knowledge as well as feelings: Egyptians believed that the heart was the source of our memories, as well as our emotions. They placed so much value on the organ that they left it in people's bodies during mummification, while throwing all other organs, including the brain, away. And they weren't the only ones - Aristotle also believed that the heart was an organ of intellect.

This idea was widely accepted until Galen, a Roman physician, said the heart was more likely to be responsible for emotions than reason - apart from love, which was found in the liver.

As the influence of Christianity grew in the Middle Ages, so did the religion's pairing of the heart with love. 'Courtly love', where knights wooed women, became popular in the eleventh century and was tied to spiritual attainment.

It became popularised in lyric poems written by troubadours, such as William of Aquitaine, one of the first troubadour poets. Some say he was likely influenced by similar views on love in the Islamic world, which he came into contact with during the First Crusade.

In 1184, poet Andreas Capallenus referred to the organ as one of affection, writing the pure love which binds together the hearts of two lovers with every feeling of delight.

Around the same time, members of European families began to insist their hearts were buried separately from the rest of their bodies, in places that were special to them. In 1199, King Richard I of England had his heart buried in Rouen in Normandy and his body in Anjou, where his father was buried.

Over the centuries, the idea that the heart is linked to emotion has persisted and the two are now intrinsically linked.

When did Valentine's Day become so commercial?

It was during the middle of the 18th century that Valentine's Day started to take off in England, with lovers sending sweets and cards adorned with flowers, ribbons and images of cupids and birds.

Eventually huge numbers of printed cards replaced hand-written ones. In 1913, Hallmark Cards of Kansas City began mass producing Valentine's Day cards.

Now about a billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged every year and it's the second largest seasonal card sending time of the year.

However, not all the cards are intended to be read: every year, thousands of letters addressed to Juliet are sent to Verona, where Shakespeare's fictional Romeo and Juliet lived.

Why do some people leave anonymous Valentine's cards?

This trend was started by the Victorians, who thought it was bad luck to sign Valentine's cards with their names.

The Victorians also started the rose-giving trend. They were the favourite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and have come to indicate passion and romance.

Nowadays, around 50 million roses are received on Valentine's Day each year. But, there will of course be some people who do not receive any cards, flowers or gifts on Valentine's Day. In 2016, one teenager solved this problem by buying 900 carnations and giving them out to all the girls at his school.

If you want to break from tradition and pass on red roses, opt for a delicious Valentine's Day treat instead...

How to woo your love interest on Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day, sometimes a bunch of flowers won't do - you need a grand romantic gesture, writes Helen O'Hara. For inspiration, here are some of the best ever captured on film:

His Girl Friday (1940) - The plan-within-a-plan

A real contender for the title of greatest rom-com ever, and certainly the quickest witted, the climax here sees star reporter Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) realise that her editor and ex-husband Walter Burns (Cary Grant) has engineered their quest for a scoop so that it also sabotages her plans to marry again. Instead of raging at such temerity, she falls gratefully into his arms. Its a beautifully executed little twist, making it clear that the pair are in cahoots even when theyre apparently working against each other.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999) - The Shakespearean-ish sonnet

Heath Ledgers grandstanding performance of I Love You Baby gets mentioned a lot in relation to romantic gestures in this film  but thats a lark thats relatively easy to laugh off. In terms of putting yourself out there for your other half, Julia Stiles Kat takes the bigger risks. First, she flashes a teacher to give Ledgers Patrick the chance to escape detention. Then she reads a sonnet, no less, revealing her feelings for him to her entire class. The guts required are almost unthinkable.

Beauty and the Beast (1991) - The library

Belle (Paige OHara) isnt particularly materialistic in this Oscar-nominated animation, but shes as susceptible as the next bookworm to the gift of an entire, enormous library. This one comes with a convenient sofa by the fire and sweeping baroque staircases to shelves that stretch about 200ft in the air. The fact that the Beast (Robbie Benson)  previously bad-tempered and hostile  presents his revelation with a charming degree of shyness and hope just makes it all the sweeter. He was originally cursed for his selfishness, so the thought counts all the more here.

How Valentine's Day is celebrated around the world

While Britons tend to think of red roses, corny cards and chocolates when it comes to Valentine's Day, some countries around the world celebrate love differently and have their own traditions.

In Denmark, couples exchange pressed white flowers called snowdrops while in the Philippines, weddings and vow renewal ceremonies significantly increase on the romantic day, with couples gathering at shopping centres and other public places to tie the knot.

In South Africa, women wear their hearts on their sleeves on Valentine's Day, quite literally, by pinning the names of their love interests to their shirts.

China celebrates its own version of Valentine's Day called Qiki, during which young women prepare offerings of fruit to Zhinu, a heavenly king's daughter, in the hope of finding their perfect match.

In Brazil, they celebrate Dia dos Namorados, translating as "Lovers' Day", on June 12, with music festivals and performances, while in Argentina, they celebrate love for an entire week during July, in what is called "Sweetness Week".

Single on Valentine's Day and looking for love?

If you're single and looking for love, look no further than online dating. Any stigma which may have surrounded searching for love online has been banished, and meeting for a mid-week Tinder date, is no longer something people feel they have to lie about.

But given how much choice is out there, how can you separate the wheat from the chaff? We've selected the top 20 dating apps to help you find your perfect match.

This article has been updated with the latest advice for Valentine's Day 2022.
Those who performed the best on memory, verbal reasoning and reaction time tests, were less likely to have genes linked to high blood pressure, develop diseases like Alzheimers, diabetes or have poor overall health. They were also likely to be taller and have larger brains, the study found.

The only conditions that intelligence appeared to increase were schizophrenia, autism and bipolar disorder.

The study supports an existing theory which says that those with better overall health are likely to have higher levels of intelligence, said Dr Saskia Hagenaars, of Edinburgh University.

Dr Stuart Ritchie, also of Edinburgh added: This study tests whether genes that are linked to mental abilities and educational attainment are also genes that are related to some disorders.

We found that there are many overlaps: to take one example, genes related to being taller are also related to obtaining a college or university degree.
Huge swathes of the UK are braced for a deluge of rain which could pour more misery on communities still reeling from flooding after Christmas. The remnants of storm Jonas, which blanketed much of the east coast of America in deep snow, have begun to sweep in from the Atlantic, prompting widespread weather and flood alerts. Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss has chaired an emergency meeting in order to co-ordinate the Government's response to the expected rainfall, which could be as much as 100mm (3.9ins) in hilly areas. A yellow severe weather warning for #rain has been updated: https://t.co/ZaVvK75lO0 Stay #weatheraware @metofficeuk pic.twitter.com/D5dWhcSjqC  Met Office (@metoffice) January 26, 2016 Warnings are in place across Wales, Scotland, Lancashire, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Devon and Cornwall, many of which were saturated during the wettest December on record. Scores of flood alerts were in place on Tuesday morning and the Environment Agency (EA) said areas already affected by record river levels, including Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire, were likely to be at risk of flooding as heavy rain throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday could cause river levels to rise and drains to flood. The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for heavy rain and severe gales in these areas, with forecasters predicting around 30 to 50mm of rain in most areas. Parts of Scotland are likely to face winds of up to 70mph.
reflections, updates and homilies from Deacon Mike Talbot inspired by the following words from my ordination: Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach...
I just wanted to tell you all, thank you! I am so very appreciative for the donations and the orders that people have placed It's certainly hard going thru cancer at any age. But for this to be the 2nd time in my short 27 years has certainly made me wiser and humbled, Bennett wrote on a Facebook page created to raise funds for her cause.
This year its happening. Really. In the Fjord 2016 Trends report, one of the key trends they highlight is the rise of virtual reality.



No longer a vision of the far-flung future, virtual reality (VR) will make its mainstream debut in 2016. Not too long ago, VR was a technology so bulky and expensive that it was relegated to military flight simulations. Fast forward to 2016, the critical year for virtual reality, as Sony, Oculus, and Samsung will release consumer versions of their products in the first half of the year.



Marketed as the next step for gamers, Oculus Rift and competing VR products will feature their own platforms and accessories. Believe it or not, VR is about to become a really big business. VR will obviously offer the next dimension in gaming, but its the unexpected applications that intrigue us at Fjord. From education to tourism to health, VR will begin finding its place in our work, play and home



What's going on?

Companies are mobilising for VR, and many consumers are poised to acquire one of the anticipated devices available in early 2016 such as the Oculus Rift. Samsung released its Gear VR at the end of 2015, at a low entry point of $99 (70), Sony plans on releasing its own VR headset in 2016, and Microsoft has already released the HoloLens to developers.



Companies are creating platforms for experimentation with the technology. Most notable is Google Cardboard, a universally affordable system for mounting a smartphone inside a DIY cardboard headset that creates a personal VR system. The New York Times gave away more than a million Google Cardboard kits to introduce the first of a series of VR films. Nokia OZO is a VR camera created specifically for professional content creators.



VR as an educational tool will also see a big lift in 2016. Google announced that schools in 12 US cities and three in Canada, Denmark and Singapore will receive kits outfitted with everything to take their students on VR field trips.



For businesses, VR is likely to have an impact on processes. One clear influence it will have is on how we meet and collaborate. AltspaceVR is a means of using VR to meet and connect with others in a virtual space. There will also be new ways to enhance individual productivity.



Looking forward

In 2016, early adopters will give VR technology a try in their homes and workplaces. New movie formats will likely emerge as well as services to create them, such as the Oculus Story Studio, a team that focuses on developing new methods and techniques for VR movies. We will also keep seeing new peripherals being introduced, such as the Oculus touch, Google Cardboards Jump camera rig and other motion-sensing devices designed to enhance the VR experience.



From virtual tourism to immersive journalism to exposure therapy, VR can change many industries beyond gaming. The question will not be if, but how and when VR will impact business processes and customer experiences.



In order to look into the future, sometimes you must look back. Technology such as augmented reality has been in the market longer than VR. Take for instance, the Blippar app, which brings ordinary objects and posters to life with an augmented layer. QR codes are yet another precursor to the VR wave thats about to emerge. As designers, we instinctively rebel and recoil against QRs visual clutter. But in the Asia-Pacific region, QR codes work surprisingly well at a mass level. What it does well is signal to the user that an AR layer exists, albeit in an ugly manner. Will AR and VR merge to create an entirely new experience?
A former Google executive who blew the whistle on the company's tax avoidance scheme has described its 130million deal with HMRC as "trivial".

Barney Jones, who worked for the internet search giant between 2002 and 2006, lifted the lid on an elaborate structure which diverts British profits through Ireland to the Bermuda tax haven.

He accused HMRC of being "asleep at the wheel" and said "heads should roll" after it failed to properly investigate a cache of evidence he gave them about the companies activities.
Google's doodle marking Australia Day has come under fire for its artwork of an Aboriginal woman, with some branding it "disrespectful" and others criticising it as "politicised".

The picture, depicting a weeping indigenous woman dreaming of her children, is a political choice for a national day that marks the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Britain in 1788.

The national holiday commemorates the anniversary of the First Fleet and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by commander Captain Arthur Phillip.

It has come to represent an opportunity to celebrate Australia and being Australian. The day is traditionally an opportunity for people to spend time with family and friends and celebrate all things Australian.

However, it is also contentious, and also referred to as "Invasion Day" or "Survival Day". Some refuse to celebrate as part of a campaign for the rights of Aboriginal people and protest against the impacts of colonialism. Others use the day to celebrate indigenous culture.

Previous doodles by the search engine have steered clear of the heated debate, with designs featuring children building a sand castle or wildlife like kangaroos.

This year Google Australia's homepage doodle depicted the "stolen generation" of Aboriginal children.
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
Settlers are not Pakistanis: Venkaiah Naidu

Hyderabad, Jan 26 (INN): Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said the people from Seemandhra region who are settled in Hyderabad are not Pakistanis and as Indian, they have every right to live in Hyderabad.



Addressing TDP-BJP combine election meetings in Sayeedabad, Champapet, Ramanthapur and Karwan wards, the Union Minister alleged that the TRS leaders had tried to project settlers as outsiders and wanted them to leave the city. However, he said as Indians, people from other States and regions have every right to live in the city. He said that the TDP-BJP combine would not tolerate any injustice with the settlers and would fight for their rights.



Venkaiah Naidu also alleged that the TRS Government was not properly utilising the funds being sanctioned by the Centre for Hyderabad's development. He accused the MIM of pursuing communal politics while obstructing the city's growth. He said that the TDP-BJP combine has a clear vision on the development of Greater Hyderabad and therefore, people should vote in favour of them to ensure speedy growth.



Telangana BJP President G. Kishan Reddy, MLC N. Ramchander Rao, ex-MLA Baddam Bal Reddy and other senior leaders were also present.









News Posted: 26 January, 2016








Hyderabad is not KCR's Jagir: Lokesh

Hyderabad, Jan 26 (INN): TDP leader Nara Lokesh on Tuesday said that the TDP-BJP combine would not tolerate any kind of injustices with the people who hail from other regions.



Addressing election meetings in Malkajgiri constituency here, Lokesh alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and his son and Panchayat Raj Minister K. Tarakarama Rao were intimidating the settlers to get their votes in GHMC elections. He said rumours were being floated that settlers would be sent back to their native place if TRS loses GHMC elections. He said that the TDP-BJP combine would not tolerate such threats. Stating that Hyderabad was not "KCR's Jagir", he said no force on earth could send back the settlers from city. He said that the settlers had played a major role in development of Hyderabad.



Lokesh said IT and other sectors were development in Hyderabad by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Besides creating lakhs of new jobs, investments worth crores of rupees were brought in through proper planning and execution. He said that the previous Congress Government only continued the initiatives taken by TDP Government. However, the TRS Government completely damaged the city's brand image during its 18-month rule. He assured that the TDP-BJP combine would restore the city's lost glory.

TDP floor leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao and other senior leaders were also present.









News Posted: 26 January, 2016








The Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union is interested in expanding east and sign a free trade agreement with Hong Kong, according to Russias Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.

We recently concluded the free trade zone agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Vietnam and are currently negotiating with Israel. We are ready to discuss this issue with Hong Kong,

said Dvorkovich, speaking at the Asia Financial Forum in Hong Kong.

The EEU is a trade bloc established in 2015 on the basis of the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. It currently has five members: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, while Tajikistan is a prospective member.

Western sanctions have encouraged Russia to work more actively with Asian partners. In May last year, the EEU and Vietnam signed a free trade zone agreement. It became the first free trade zone between the trade bloc and a third party. According to the documents prepared for the signing ceremony, the free trade zone is going to save exporters from the EEU about $40-60 million in the first year of operation.

Source: Russia wants free trade zone with Hong Kong  RT Business
Thailand was named among the best countries in the world in a recent study by US News and World Report.

Thailand came in at 21st in the Best Country Overall and is listed in the top 10 of all five individual categories which include:

10th place in the Open for Business section, 8th place for Heritage, 6th place for Best Countries to Invest in, and 4th place for both Adventure and Movers (this category focuses on rising economies).

Dr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said,

This is great news for the Thai tourism industry as it affirms a positive perception of Thailand among the international community. This report and the favourable rankings will certainly help add the appeal of Thailand as a top destination to visit among travellers from the US as well as across the globe.

The 2016 Best Countries report and rankings are based on how global perceptions define countries in terms of a number of qualitative characteristics, impressions that have the potential to drive trade, travel and investment, and directly affect national economies. Sixty nations were measured in the inaugural report.

The Best Countries study sampled the perceptions of more than 16,000 people in four global regions, asking them to rank 60 pre-selected countries on a range of criteria. Attributes were grouped into nine sub-rankings that rolled into the Best Countries ranking: Adventure, Citizenship, Cultural Influence, Entrepreneurship, Heritage, Movers, Open for Business, Power and Quality of Life.

Six ASEAN countries are featured in the study.Thailand is one of the worlds most visited countries. In 2015, Thailand attracted 29.88 million tourist arrivals to the kingdom.

Source: Thailand named among best countries in the world by US News and World Report
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Hungarian Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) is ready to help with the financing of the project of establishing a regional DATA-center in Azerbaijan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Azerbaijan Imre Laslotsky told Trend.

He said that the economic relations between Hungary and Azerbaijan are at a very good level.

"Trade turnover between the two countries in 2015 rose by five percent," said Laslotsky. "I hope that it will continue to grow further. Regarding investment, the Hungarian Eximbank is ready to help finance joint projects, such as the establishment of a regional DATA-center. Generally, it is possible to implement a large number of projects. Negotiations on creation of two mutual funds in the field of computer science and private equity will continue."

The diplomat said that economic relations between the two countries should develop in a mutually beneficial manner.

"I think that agriculture, as well as information and communication technologies are the most interesting spheres for Azerbaijan," the ambassador said. "The matter rests in the fact that Hungary is among the countries that offer the best solutions in the field of ICT on a global level. In addition, they are 20-30 percent cheaper, which causes additional interest."

He went on to add that Hungary is ready to facilitate access of Azerbaijani companies and investors for the Hungarian market by providing them with favorable conditions.

"Regarding the projects of the North-South and the Trans-Caspian international route transport corridors, Hungary itself, being a major hub in Europe, is ready to participate and support cooperation in cargo transportation," said Laslotsky. "I believe that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project will create excellent investment opportunities in the region and is a good opportunity to implement the new "Silk Road" project."

A new 105-kilometer branch of the railroad is planned to be constructed as part of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project. The peak capacity of the corridor will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. At the initial stage, this figure will be equal to one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo.

The annual transit of goods from Iran to Russia via Azerbaijan will reach about ten million tons. The North-South railway will connect Northern Europe to South-East Asia. It will serve as a link to connect the railways of Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia.

The Trans-Caspian international transport route runs through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and then to Europe. The first test container train arrived in the Baku International Sea Trade Port from China via this route in early August.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Seymur Aliyev - Trend:

Population's deposits in financially healthy banks of Azerbaijan will be insured completely, Elman Rustamov, the chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), told reporters Jan. 26.

"The parliament has recently passed a law on full insurance of all deposits," he said. "The law is already being prepared for signing."

"The deposits in the healthy, big banks with the prospect of growth will be insured at 100 percent," added Rustamov. "But it is not a secret that there are a number of weak and unpromising banks in the banking system. They hold a very small share of the sector. Our analysis has showed that some 98 percent of the deposits in such banks are subject to the current deposit insurance rules."

Rustamov also spoke about the banks that are being closed, adding that nearly 100 percent of their deposits are subject to the insurance.

"We have already begun the process of returning deposits to the Ganja Bank," he further said. "We must act as soon as possible for depositors to be able to take away their money."

He added it is also planned to strengthen the banking sector and increase its stability and sustainability.

"The CBA is preparing an action plan," said Rustamov. "For this purpose, we have invited the WB and IMF experts to make the sector more healthy and stable."

There are 43 banks in Azerbaijan.
The emergence of international human rights law and the tragedy of the Holocaust are indelibly linked. If the Holocaust represents the worst of humanity, human rights laws arguably represent the best.

In 2005 the United Nations resolved to make today, January 27, Holocaust Remembrance Day  the day the notorious Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated.

Auschwitz survivors and families visit the Birkenau Memorial carrying candles on January 27, 2015. Credit:Ian Gavan

The resolution is twofold. It says we must remember the victims of the genocide: approximately 9000 gay men; 250,000 disabled people; 1 million Roma; 6 million Jews; and more. It also says we must go beyond remembrance and "apply the lessons of the Holocaust to today's world. And we must do our utmost so that all peoples may enjoy the protection and rights for which the United Nations stands."

Last year I visited Auschwitz. I stood at the end of the train tracks where those few who were allowed to live in hell were randomly separated from the hundreds of thousands who were sent straight to their death. I felt rage. More than 1.1 million people were murdered at Auschwitz  the vast majority Jewish people who had been locked into cattle trains and transported from across Europe.
In my address to the National Press Club in August of last year I stated that, "Never before have the stars of the Southern Cross been so aligned as now, pointing to the dawn of the Australian republic."

The fact that Malcolm Turnbull became Prime Minister shortly afterwards only lined those stars up even better, and that alignment has continued at astonishing pace since. This Australia Day, the Australian Republican Movement has quadruple the number of members as last year. Donations, which used to sound, for very good reason, like a 20 cent piece landing in an otherwise empty 44 gallon drum, are now pouring in as never before. Business leaders like Alan Joyce, Ken Henry and Tony Shepherd have been as proud to stand with us, as we are to have them by our side, begging only they don't step on the toes of Julia Gillard, Anna Bligh, Senator Nova Peris-Kneebone and Hugh Jackman.

And then, the true breakthrough: Monday's "Declaration of Desired Independence", as I call it, whereby seven out of eight of the premiers and chief ministers signed up in honour of Australia Day, affirming their desire that we get on with it. The upshot is that that dawn is now close. We can do this, and we can do it soon. As the Prime Minister  the most passionate republican in the land  surveys the chances of getting up a referendum "with a majority of people in a majority of states", it is a hell of a start to have all the leaders of those states with him! (Particularly when, the only one who didn't sign, WA Premier Colin Barnett, is also a strong republican.)

The euphoric response to the release of that declaration  expressed on talkback, twitter, emails and on the street  was nothing less than thrilling and historic. It included myriad front pages around the country applauding the move. I am a Fairfax man from the hairs of my chinny-chin-chin to the marrow of my bones, but the positive front page of the Daily Telegraph, with a headline hailing the "United States of Australia," and a supportive editorial to boot, was of enormous significance  as is the fact this column is jointly published by Fairfax Media and News Corporation.
Australian of the Year, David Morrison, who has pledged to pursue tolerance for all groups in society, and transgender Army officer Catherine McGregor, contacted by Fairfax Media, both declined to comment on Mr Abbott's intentions to address the Alliance in New York on Thursday with a speech entitled "the importance of family".

But she also insisted her brother was not in favour of winding back legal rights for the gay community - a key plank of the Alliance's agenda - and said the group may be less radical than it is being portrayed.

Tony Abbott's sister Christine Forster, the prominent same-sex marriage campaigner, says she was "disappointed" when she learned the former prime minister plans to address American anti-gay group, the Alliance Defending Freedom.

The Alliance says its New York conference is aimed at promoting the benefits of the traditional family to the United Nations but the group has been criticised for its work in trying to wind back "tolerance training" in schools, criminalising abortion and funding the legal defences of people wishing to discriminate against gay and lesbian people based on Christian beliefs.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Ms Forster told Fairfax Media: "On the face of it, and without knowing what he is going there to say, it is disappointing.

"It doesn't sit with my understanding of how he views the world, so, yes, I was surprised. I don't believe Tony is in any way winding back rights for the gay community but I was surprised to hear he was going."

Ms Forster, who has not spoken to Mr Abbott about his planned appearance, said she had never heard of the Alliance until Monday but said she had conflicting reports of whether the group was of the "loony far right" or could be compared to the Australian Christian Lobby.
"With great respect to those who don't share my views and recognising our proud history of European settlement in this country and beyond, over 200 years and more, I will lend my voice to the republican movement in this country," General Morrison said in his acceptance speech on Monday night.

General Morrison, the former army chief, has vowed to make pushing for an Australian republic one of his priority issues during his tenure as Australian of the Year.

Australian of the Year David Morrison would make an ideal head of state in a future Australian republic, according to Australian Republican Movement chairman Peter FitzSimons.

"It is time, I think, to at least revisit the question so that we can stand both free and fully independent amongst the community of nations."

Australian Republican Movement chairman Peter FitzSimons. Credit:Jonathan Ng

Although he acknowledged this would be controversial, General Morrison said it was time to restart the national conversation about a republic 16 years after the defeat of the 1999 referendum.

In his first major comments on the republic since the issue flared, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said there was "no doubt" another referendum would take place but "the timing of that referendum has to be right".

"I have led a yes case for a republic into a heroic defeat once. I have no desire to do so again," he said. "If you really are committed to Australia becoming a republic, then you want to be sure that the manner and the timing of the referendum is as such that it is successful and that it unites rather than divides Australians."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Up to 300 jobs can be opened in each Azerbaijani district, Salim Muslimov, the Azerbaijani Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population, told reporters Jan. 26.

"This can be achieved by attracting people to labor work based on six-month contracts," he said.

Muslimov said that the ministry has been collecting information about the available number of employees, employment and the number of the unemployed in different districts of the country.

"At present, this process is nearing completion," he said. "One of the main issues on the agenda is to attract employees to the economic life in the different districts of the country."

"Initially, this can be done by involving the unemployed in public work on the basis of six-month and one-year contracts and filling of vacancies in various public enterprises financed from the state budget, as well as state-owned large companies," he said. "There are great opportunities for creating new jobs. We will deal with this."

He said that a broad meeting with representatives of SOCAR (State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan) and Azerigaz production association will be held at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection Jan. 26.

"We will be able to find out the number of additional jobs in different districts of the country and announce their openings," he said. "Similar meetings will be held with other state agencies and the vacancies will be filled."

"According to the initial estimates, up to 300 additional jobs may be created in each district of Azerbaijan by involving individuals in public work, based on six-month contracts," he said. "This issue is being considered by the ministry."
The first week of school is the worst for young children who suffer from anxiety, according to child psychology specialists.

Dr Stephen Carbone, beyondblue's Research and Policy Leader, said this is especially true of children with separation anxiety disorder, which describes excessive distress in children when leaving home or their parents.

The first week back at school is fraught with challenges for children with anxiety.

"Of course not many children are looking forward to starting school for the year," Dr Carbone said. "But it's when it's a daily fight to even get to school that it becomes an issue."

The Department of Health's second survey into the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents released in August 2015 reported that five per cent of 4-11 year olds had experienced separation anxiety disorder in the past 12 months.
Australia Day and her brand new status as a citizen are bittersweet for Abuk Atem, who carries unimaginably heavy burdens for a woman of only 25.

Her beautiful little family were best dressed at the state's biggest citizenship ceremony in Sunshine, deep in the patchwork of cultures that make up Melbourne's western suburbs.

Abuk wore bright red and her daughters, Akual and Achol, had matching bone-white dresses and gold shoes. Abuk's two-year-old son, Mon, rocked a blue vest, matching pants and his best shirt.

Abuk accepted her citizenship certificate and her river bottlebrush seedling with grace and style. The full name on her certificate is Abuk Karbino Aru Aru Atem. She was one of 220 new Australians inducted in a park behind the Sunshine RSL, where grand speeches were made by former premier John Brumby and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who made a plea to the new voters about a republic, egalitarianism, Aboriginal rights and his belief in "fairness, not ideology".
A Croatian club has been ordered to pay more than $62,000 in damages to a Canberra man who was banned after a board member tried to claim old photographs linked him to the Nazi flag.

The Australian Croatian Club at Turner has been forced to reinstate Danijel Kovac's full membership after a tribunal found he was discriminated against for his stance on Croatian politics.

A man and woman are on trial over an alleged kidnapping. Credit:Louie Douvis

The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal last year found the club acted unlawfully after Mr Kovac complained his membership application was blocked in 2011 because he had different political views to other board members.

Board members argued a series of Facebook posts in which Mr Kovac attacked the club, as well as photos it claimed linked him to the Nazi flag, showed he was of "unsuitable character".
One of the directors of a highly anticipated science fiction film has remained tight-lipped about crews spotted shooting in Canberra on the weekend.

Cameras were trained on several DeLoreans and actors clad in battle gear between the Watson shops and park on Sunday, according to a passerby.

Seven Deloreans were spotted near the Watson shops at the weekend.

Speculation is rife that the crews were filming pick-ups for Blue World Order, which was shot in the city last year.

Its cast includes veteran actor Bruce Spence, Stephen Hunter, who played the dwarf Bombur in The Hobbit, and American actor and producer Billy Zane.
Evidence from Silicon Valley Grant Halverson of bank consultant and venture capital veteran McLean Roche is just back from visiting the US. He sees the contraction as a confirmation of anecdotal evidence from his many Silicon Valley contacts who are convinced the bubble is deflating fast. "I have been tracking this for the past nine months and on my way back from Europe in November I came via the US and caught up with many of my contacts," he said. "Some had come to a similar conclusion I had  that the VC and fintech hype had morphed into a bubble  and this bubble has started to burst." The party even seems to be subsiding for some more well-known outfits.

Jack Dorsey's payments company Square, for instance, had to cut its float offer price in November to $US9 from $US11-to-$US13. It is only trading just above its offer price now after peaking at $US13.09 on December 31. Similarly, giant card processor First Data, listed by private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, had to reduce its US$18 to US$20 range to US$16 in October. It was trading at around $US13.85 on Tuesday. The stock of SME lender OnDeck and P2P lender Lending Club have plummeted since listing just over a year ago. OnDeck floated at $US20 and is now languishing at $US7.80. Lending Club listed at $US24 but is now under $US8. The global sharemarket rout during January would have weighed on these stocks, but Halverson says broader concerns about equity markets will dilute the animal spirits further. Toby Heap, the co-founder of H2 Ventures  a dedicated fintech fund that has financed nine local start-ups including Stockspot, Equitise and Simply Wall Street and is about to fund another six  says many start-ups late last year began reducing their spending in anticipation of tougher times ahead. "With the markets the way they are, there is a bit of nervousness about what that is going to mean for VC [venture capital] and start-ups," he said. "Start-ups are starting to cut back their cash burn rates to have a better ability to weather any storm."

Pain for late-stage start-ups He thinks most of the pain will be felt in "late stage" start-ups that need to prove they can be profitable and are looking to list, or get bought. As there are few Australian start-ups ready to float, that protects the burgeoning sector, he says. One company that may prove to be the exception, however, is Bitcoin Group, a so-called bitcoin miner. It has pushed back its proposed float after so far raising from investors just $367,902 of a $20 million target at the close of its bookbuild on Monday. However, the company said it expects the bulk of the money to come from as yet un-processed subscriptions directly sent to the Computershare register from cheque postal applications, and those processed by the company. But overall, as long as the slowing of capital is a steady decline, Heap thinks a cooling of the hot money flowing into fintech is a healthy development. "It is just not as hot or overvalued as it was [in the dot-com era]," he says. "Now at least the values are based on some logic."

For earlier-stage companies there is plenty of money raised by local funds in the past 18 months that is looking for a home. Australian VC funds raised a record $367 million in 2015  up 193 per cent on 2014. "I think we are going to have a good couple of years. I think the local VC and start-up space is in a better position than I have ever seen it in. We have had as much raised in funds last year as we were raising five years ago when half of it was government money." But Tyro chief Jost Stollmann worries that the local venture market on its own is not sufficient; he is far more worried about the slowdown in funding from the US than some of his rivals. "It matters a lot," he says. "We need the continuous and growing interest by sophisticated US investors that provide urgently needed growth funding at reasonable terms and that exercise pressure on the local VC industry to raise their game." John Shipman, PwC's Asia fintech leader, is much more bullish on the sector.
Indonesia's powerful Salim group has extended its reach into Australia, this time with the purchase of one of the largest coal projects in NSW from Rio Tinto.

For Rio, the sale of its second coal venture in NSW in a matter of months extends its retreat from the coal industry amid the extended slump in coal prices.

The Adani mine would be one of the world's largest. Credit:Darren Pateman

The group has sold the Mount Pleasant thermal coal project to the privately owned MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd for $US224 million ($320 million). Rio is to also continue to receive royalties from the sale of coal from the mine.

Mach Energy is controlled by Droxford International, which is an entity associated with Indonesia's Salim group, which also has an interest in the Goodman Fielder, the food group.
Clive Palmer says he has no personal responsibility to ensure his sacked refinery workers get their entitlements.

The federal MP's company, Queensland Nickel, which bankrolled his Palmer United Party to the tune of $20 million, has gone into administration after sacking 237 refinery workers earlier this month.

"I have no personal responsibility, I retired from business over three years ago," Mr Palmer told reporters on Tuesday, when asked if he'd use his own personal wealth to pay out staff entitlements.
Clive Palmer says his political party won't be repaying donations from his troubled nickel business so sacked workers can be paid.

The federal MP says says neither he nor his Palmer United Party is responsible for paying the entitlements of 237 workers made redundant at his troubled nickel refinery near Townsville.

He says he could have pocketed millions from Queensland Nickel, which is now in administration, but instead chose to use it to bankroll his party so he could campaign on important issues.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

Trend:

It is necessary to carry out additional measures to extend entrepreneurship, to create even better conditions for businessmen, to accelerate domestic production in Azerbaijan given the current circumstances, said President Ilham Aliyev.

He made the remarks Jan. 26 in his closing speech addressing a conference at the Heydar Aliyev Center dedicated to the results of the second year of implementation of "State program on socio-economic development of districts of Azerbaijan Republic in 2014-2018."

"I want the entrepreneurs representing all the districts to give speeches, inform about the work being done and at the same time discuss their issues of concern," Aliyev said. "Today, after a break, ministers, government officials, heads of executive power and entrepreneurs will continue their work in sections. I am confident that the issues to be discussed there will be significant, and concrete proposals should be made as a result."

The president said that a lot of work had been done for business development, and today private sector forms the most part of the Azerbaijani economy, over 80 percent.

"However, a new period, new situation require new approaches," said the president. "Given the current conditions, it is necessary to carry out additional measures to extend entrepreneurship, create even better conditions for entrepreneurs, and accelerate domestic and local production. I have already given instructions to the relevant government agencies, but I want the local entrepreneurs to talk about their problems themselves, so that these problems would be solved."

Speaking about the plans for the current year, President Aliyev said that all the social programs will be fulfilled in the first place.

"As you know, wages and pensions, social benefits have been increased, social protection is one of the main directions of our policy," he said. "Azerbaijan is faithful to the market economy and the market economy develops successfully in the country.

However, while carrying out reforms, we must always remember about social issues. We mustn't forget that we work for the people, a citizen of Azerbaijan is in the heart of our policy, and we must solve his (her) problems."
It's Australia Day and you're several drinks down at a party in eager anticipation to see whether the next song on the Triple J countdown is the one you voted for. Suddenly you overhear that same old argument between two people over whether the day should be called Australia Day or Invasion Day. Not this one again. Frustrations aside, it always makes you feel a little weird.

Well, it should, if you're Australian.

Invasion Day marchers in 2015. Credit:Jason South

Whether it's Invasion Day or discussions of treaties and Indigenous sovereignty, it makes many of us non-Indigenous Australians feel a little uncomfortable. And here is why.

As historian Patrick Wolfe argues, Australia, for its legitimacy as a state, has always fundamentally depended on the dispossession of the Indigenous nation  Australia simply cannot exist without this invading process in play. Now, as a member of the Australian state, you owe your very existence to this process of invasion. From the land you grew up on to the dividends of your mining shares, it is all a result of the invasion process. This is not a thesis on white guilt. It is a statement of fact.
"Having worked in fine dining, there is a method to clearing plates. Waiters are skilled in it and customers trying to help just gum up the works," asserts Nicholas Triggs, of Katoomba ("Them what stacks ain't got class", Column 8, Tuesday). "And the most revolting thing of all; customers who throw their napkin on top of the plate." Fair enough, but Column 8's pet hate when eating out is empty, greasy plates left in front of diners who have clearly finished their meals. We've been known to stack, and even to move them to a nearby empty table as time ticks away.

"If I don't want to give someone short shrift, but still have a desire to dismiss them only moderately, is it possible to give them medium shrift," asks James Prior, of Sylvania Waters, "or must I go the whole hog and give them long shrift?"

"'Apples' is not a hemiteleiation I am familiar with," concedes Charlie Carter, of Alice Springs ("apples and pears", reduced to "apples" in rhyming slang for stairs, Column 8, Tuesday), "but there are others in more common usage, at least in the bush. I offer 'Hey china, take a butchers at that noah!"'

"I was sitting in a Collaroy beachside cafe this morning," reports Matt Glendenning, of Brooklyn, "when I noticed two birds approaching from the north, flying parallel to the beach behind the waves and just above the water. As they passed, I was surprised to see that they were a pair of black swans. Has anybody else seen them and is this unusual?" It certainly sounds unusual.

"I have been reading the information on the box that my medication came in. I was impressed that the tablets were 'Made in Puerto Rico' and 'Packed in China'," writes Chris Tracey, of St Georges Basin. "This led to me to wonder which medications have travelled the furthest to reach the consumer in Australia. Can Columneightians help me here?
Massive or tiny, exhausted or glowing, waddling or not. I have grown used to the constant comments about my body.

I have done this before. This is my third pregnancy and I have heard it all from family, friends and plenty of strangers. As a mother-to-be, my body and looks have become fair game.

Pregnancy, it seems, is viewed as an out-of-body experience. Comments that would never be uttered to a non-pregnant woman, let alone a man, suddenly become totally acceptable to a woman sporting a baby bump.

"But pregnancy is amazing" is the defence when feelings are hurt.
Kristen Stewart has been caught up in a brief social media storm at the Sundance Film Festival that led to her being branded a racist.

Interviewed by Variety for a video on gender equality in Hollywood, the Twilight star urged those who were concerned about the issue to "go do something."

Kristen Stewart has been caught up in a social media storm after talking about gender diversity at Sundance. Credit:Jonathan Leibson

"Instead of sitting around and complaining about that, do something," she said. "Go write something, go do something."

"And that's easy to say," she continued. "Like, fk, it's hard to get movies made. It's a huge luxury.
Zoolander No. 2 has a star-studded cast, and the purple carpet for the Sydney premiere at the State Theatre on Tuesday evening was no different.

Helping to warm up the crowds on both sides of Market Street for star Ben Stiller was none other than model Heidi Klum, who turned up to the bewilderment of most  even the organisers.

Sauntering by waiting media in a skintight, cut-out black dress, the German beauty, who is in town to promote her lingerie brand, surprised fans and posed for a couple of selfies before swiftly making her way inside to hang by the media wall. But there was no doubting who the crowds had gathered to see as they waved their Australia Day flags while also donning Derek Zoolander's trademark black quiff and bandana.
Not everybody was counting down the Triple J Hottest 100 or celebrating Australia Day: some were marking the day with an eye to a mixed history declaring it "a tragic anniversary".

While, a community radio station in Victoria was running an alternative 100  the top 100 indigenous songs of all time  in Sydney, two previous stars of the Hottest 100 were calling for a new national day that recognised January 26 is not a joyful occasion for everyone, in particular indigenous Australians.

The Presets' Julian Hamilton

Electronic duo The Presets, Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes, posted on Facebook that while they wished the best to all enjoying Australia Day "we will not be celebrating" a day that is "frankly sickening" and inappropriately chosen.

"Whilst it is a positive commemoration for some, for many others it is a tragic anniversary. For the indigenous people who were here long before those boats came, January 26 marks the beginning of the end of their way of life - a way of life that they had enjoyed for over 40,000 years," Hamilton and Moyes said. "26 January is day white man arrived with his guns, his alcohol, his church, his flus and other unknown illnesses."
One of the key mistakes the self-employed make is assuming that they will one day sell their business for a huge sum and live comfortably off the proceeds in retirement.

Sadly, all too often that is not how things pan out.

Self-employed publicist Sara Dagres is responsible for her own superannuation. Credit:Chris Hopkins

"I have seen it time and time again," Adele Martin of Firefly Wealth says. "Businesses are not worth nearly as much as people thought they would be. People slave away for 40 years and have nothing to show for it."

Kellie Payne of advice firm RI Caloundra says: "Often you have a greater value of your business than other people do."
NSW universities are admitting students with ATARs as low as 30 into some of the state's top tertiary degrees, a Fairfax Media investigation into confidential university data has revealed.

Students with marks up to 40 points below the advertised course cut-off are being accepted in fields such as business, teaching and engineering, according to the 2016 admissions figures from the University of Sydney, UNSW, Macquarie University and Western Sydney University.

An ATAR [Australia Tertiary Admissions Rank] is awarded to more than 50,000 NSW high school students in December each year. Universities set an ATAR cut-off according to what they believe is the minimum academic standard required to complete a course, as well as supply and demand for the degree.
After the Cold War ended in the early 1990s, the PKK remained predominantly secular and increasingly emphasised its role as a Kurdish nationalist movement. It has focused on autonomy for Kurds within Turkey and promoting Kurds' rights  specifically the right to maintain a separate Kurdish ethnic identity. It also aims to monopolise Kurdish political power in Turkey. In terms of ideology, it now has a moderate leftist or socialist orientation. The PKK announced a unilateral ceasefire in March 2013 and has been involved in peace talks with the Turkish government  but sporadic PKK attacks continued, probably by elements within the PKK opposed to any ceasefire. The PKK often claimed to be responding to Turkish security force attacks and atrocities. The PKK's targets are invariably the Turkish military and police  the main elements of the Turkish state deployed against Kurdish separatist movements. No doubt there is fault on both sides. Turkey certainly has a poor human rights record, with documented massacres or mass killings of Kurds in 1930, 1978, 1987, 2009 and 2011, and it has repressed and discriminated for decades against its Kurdish population, including by trying to destroy its separate culture. In July 2015, the PKK announced the ceasefire was over because the Turkey government reneged on its promise to give Turkish Kurds greater autonomy. In August 2015, the PKK announced it would accept a ceasefire with Turkey under US guarantees  but the US clearly didn't want to get involved. Since the latest truce collapsed, Turkish security forces have probably killed hundreds of PKK members, while the PKK has killed dozens of Turkish security force members. While this has been going on, the PKK has been active in the fight against Islamic State; it is said that PKK forces helped tens of thousands of Yazidis escape Islamic State-encircled Mount Sinjar. The PKK was also involved in the fight to save the Syrian city of Kobani.

Nonetheless, in Istanbul on January 23, US Vice-President Joe Biden condemned the PKK as a "terror group plain and simple" and a threat to Turkey "like the IS group", while hailing the Turkish government's cooperation in the fight against jihadists. Biden pleased his hosts with a ringing denunciation of the PKK's "outrageous" attacks. This was a fairly blatant bid to gain Turkish support for the US military campaign against Islamic State and to deflect Turkey's anger away from the US over its support for PKK-linked Kurdish militant groups that the US has been supporting in the fight against IS. For the European Union, too, the PKK and Kurdish human rights have become expendable now that the EU needs Turkey's cooperation to stem the flow of migrants to Western Europe. On balance, the PKK seems hard done by but, due to the concurrence of external needs for Turkey's support mentioned above, it now has few friends and will be out in the cold for the foreseeable future. Its changed fortunes will allow the Turkey government to be more proactive against Kurdish separatists in Turkey and border regions  as long as Turkish military operations don't undermine the US's use of Kurdish forces against Islamic State in northern Iraq and northern Syria. Given that the PKK has been mainly engaged in armed conflict with security forces, it should really be categorised as an insurgent movement rather than a terrorist one, particularly since neither Britain nor the US lists the far more extreme Afghan Taliban as a terrorist organisation. (Canada and New Zealand list the Taliban as terrorists, but Australia doesn't.) Australia's proscribed terrorist group list is in the main conservative and reasonably sensible compared with those of the US and Britain, though some of our inclusions and exclusions are puzzling given the inclusion criteria: that a group is "directly or indirectly engaged in, preparing, planning, or assisting in or fostering the doing of a terrorist act; or advocates the doing of a terrorist act".
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Seymur Aliyev - Trend:

Azerbaijan entered the post-oil period, said Elman Rustamov, the chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) said Jan. 26.

Rustamov made the remarks at the session on the banking activities within the framework of the conference dedicated to the results of the "State program on socio-economic development of districts of Azerbaijan Republic in 2014-2018".

"Our main revenues come from oil, prices of which have fallen four times. In fact, the post-oil period began in the country," said Rustamov.

Azerbaijan is not dependent on oil, but we need such oil economy that will ensure our security, he added.

"Some 80,000 people are employed in the oil sector. About 4.8 million of people are able to work in Azerbaijan. Today we have to fill our budget with revenues from the non-oil sector. In fact, the post-oil period, which was expected in 30-40s, began 25 years early," Rustamov said.

"We have to gain significant dynamics of development to avoid backsliding," he said.
The family of a five-year-old girl killed in a motorcycle accident in Thailand have launched an online campaign to bring her body home to New South Wales.

Sonya Davis from Byron Bay died in a Thai hospital on Friday, four days after a car hit the motorcycle on which she was travelling with her grandmother in northern Thailand.

Sonya Davis, 5, from Byron Bay, died in a motorbike accident in Thailand. Credit:My Cause

The little girl's Thai grandmother was killed instantly in the January 18 accident, and Sonya was left on life support in hospital.

Sonya was in northern Thailand with her parents, George and Somepong Davis, and her six-year-old brother Justin, visiting Mrs Davis's family and experiencing "village life", according to the My Cause page.
Friends have confirmed the body of a young man discovered at Teewah Beach near Noosa on Tuesday is that of 19-year-old Brisbane man Josh Carter.

Mr Carter went missing in the ocean on Sunday after being dragged into the sea when he was caught in a rip.

Lifesavers search for Josh Carter, who went missing off a beach north of Noosa. Credit:Surf Life Saving Queensland

Police and emergency services conducted a massive search of the area but failed to find him until his body washed to shore about five kilometres south of the Teewah Beach camping area.

Mr Carter's friends have expressed an outpouring of grief at the news, with many taking to social media to share their feelings.
Participants watch a documentary on the impact of stress on the brain. Credit:Jun Michael Park/For The Washington Post "Now, the government's trying to help solve it." Surveys have suggested that about 10 per cent of Korean teenagers are internet addicts, and the government has tried to counter this through measures such as the "Cinderella law", which denies access after midnight to gamers younger than 16, although many have figured out ways to get around it. A participant fidgets while watching a documentary during a group counselling session. Credit:Jun Michael Park/For The Washington Post Then there are camps such as this one, offering three- or four-week courses of stress-reduction classes and wholesome activities that include hiking, rock-climbing and learning to play guitar.

Almost 5,000 teenagers came through the camp last year, the first full year it was open. All were sent here by their parents or their teachers and were assessed for internet addiction before arriving. Checklists include statements such as "I lie about the number of hours I spend online" and "I find it more fun to be on my phone than to be with family and friends". Participants get active during their breaks. Credit:Jun Michael Park/For The Washington Post Some teenagers have been busted for having a secret phone ... others have attempted to break out of the camp, trying to walk or hitch-hike to the nearest town ... in search of an internet cafe. Most of the teenagers here measure in the "danger zone", where they are obsessive about using the internet, often cutting class as a result, and have trouble interacting with people offline. Many also become withdrawn or feel lonely, or they show aggressiveness and impulsiveness. "We consider internet addiction the same as other material addictions like alcohol," Shim said in the common space of the centre.

A strong smell of liniment hung in the air, olfactory evidence of young muscles not used to physical activity. Going cold turkey isn't easy. Some teenagers have been busted for having a secret phone in their belongings, while others have attempted to break out of the camp, trying to walk or hitch-hike to the nearest town, three miles away, in search of an internet cafe. Yoon, an 18-year-old high school student from Pocheon, north of Seoul, ended up at this camp during his winter break because of what he did during his summer holidays: he played computer games for at least 14 hours a day. Even during the semester, he was spending more than 12 hours a day playing games or using chatting apps. He thought it was fine. "I wasn't getting headaches or anything," he said.

His parents, however, did not. They applied to send him to the camp during his winter break. On day six of the camp, one group of boys  and this intake was all boys; there are separate camps for girls  was colouring pictures of animals that were meant to represent their family members. Yoon, wearing a blond curly wig reminiscent of Christina Aguilera, ate a lollipop and talked to his friends about online gaming strategies the entire time. "Families not only cause you stress, but they can help you deal with stress, too," said Kim Tae-joon, the instructor, as the boys characterised their parents as scorpions, gorillas or snakes. Down the hall, another group was trying to build towers with dry spaghetti and marshmallows. "Use your heads," said the teacher, Sun Jin-sook, as peppy Korean pop music played  ironically through her laptop computer.

"Even though it takes time, don't give up." Some of the boys worked on their towers, while others just ate the marshmallows. On the walls of the classrooms were forms the boys had filled out on their first day. "Programmer" was often listed as their desired profession, and many answered the question of why they were here with variations of "I was forced". "My mom told me to come here, and I don't even get any reward for it," said Yoon Suk-ho, a 14-year-old middle school student from Daegu.

He acknowledged, however, that he might need help. "I was actually kind of thinking that I might have a problem with my smartphone," he said, adding that he played games on it non-stop. "When I came here and they made me hand it in, I was thinking, 'How am I going to live without it?'" But somehow, they were surviving. During breaks, the boys went out to play in the snow or sat on the warm floor playing board games such as Rummikub, or card games, without a screen in sight.

On the shelves were box sets of Harry Potter books and comic books on old-fashioned paper. On their last day of the course, the campers will be assessed for addiction again. After that, they will receive periodic visits from school counsellors to check up on them. Numbers on recidivism are hard to come by because the camp is too new, said Shim, the director. At least while they were here, some boys found that they could live without technology.
For 10 years, Kensington's main street was quiet on Australia Day and it saddened Rick Richards, publican of Hardimans Hotel.

And so, four years ago, he started marshalling traders and residents to help him resurrect a former Festival as a country-style fair in the city.

Someone suggested a dog show. "Why not?" he said. What about a lamington eating contest? "Yep, good idea." Live bands and food, arts and craft stalls all went into the mix.

The fourth consecutive Kensington Australia Day Festival on Tuesday was a little chaotic, and far from flashy, but in the warm sunshine, a bloody good time was had by all.
Breakfast is a toast crust snatched between wrestling a dirty nappy and packing a wholesome lunch for the child who abhors vegetables.

In the shower you perform a Wigglesque improv for a disgruntled toddler and then rummage through the dirty washing for today's professional outfit.

"There are good days and bad days": Anna Malcolm playing with Max, 3, (right) and Cameron, 2. Credit:Simon Schluter

Kids safely stowed at school or care, you reach the platform just in time to watch the train pull away. Sound familiar? Welcome to the great juggle of contemporary parenthood.

As Australian families return to routine after the summer, not everything is well on the home front. One in three parents report conflict between their work and family roles, according to research from the Judith Lumley Centre at La Trobe University.
The first of Australia's resettled Syrian refugee families has celebrated Australia Day with a traditional barbecue in Perth.

Bashar Kujah, his wife Khawlah and their children Mohammad, 8, Maryam, 7, Ahmad, 3, and two-month-old Abdullah attended a community barbecue at the City of Bayswater Civic Centre on Tuesday.

The Kujah family enjoyed a traditional barbecue at the City of Bayswater Civic Centre. Credit:Sebastian Costanzo

They were the first of 12,000 Syrian refugees resettled in Australia last November as part of Australia's additional intake commitment.

Originally from Homs, in western Syria, the young family had been living in a camp for several years but their arrival was brought forward because Ms Kujah was pregnant.
San Diego, California: An initial inspection at Naval Medical Centre San Diego has found no sign of a gunman or a shooting, the Navy says.

Navy spokesman N Scott Sutherland said military police had checked Building 26 after a person reported hearing three shots in the basement earlier in the day.

School officials said a lockdown has ended and instruction has resumed at three schools near the medical centre.

In addition, TV images showed uniformed Navy personnel walking outside the medical facility. Their hands were in the air and they were being patted down by base police as a precaution.
The overarching cause of autism is still unknown, and cases have been linked to about 100 mutations, some inherited and some developing spontaneously.

The monkeys in the newly published research did not exhibit every aspect of autism or even every aspect of the genetic autism-like disorder the scientists were seeking to mirror. That disorder, MECP2 duplication syndrome, occurs when people, especially boys, inherit two copies of the MECP2 gene.

The scientists used an inactive virus to inject the human MECP2 gene into eggs of female monkeys and then artificially inseminated the eggs and implanted the embryos into surrogate monkeys. They ended up with eight carrying the gene in the cortex and cerebellum of their brains.

The monkeys did not all have two copies of MECP2, as in the human syndrome, but most had more MECP2 than normal, an overexpression of the gene. The genetic change and the social deficits were also transmitted to a second generation of monkeys, Qiu said.

These monkeys were more likely than normal ones to run in circles in their cages, which the scientists considered an example of repetitive behaviour. They showed more stress and defensive behaviour, grunting more when people gazed at them, which the scientists said reflected autism-like anxiety. And they were less likely to be social by sitting with, touching or grooming other monkeys.
Los Angeles: US presidential hopeful Ted Cruz's claim sexual assaults on women in Australia went up significantly after strict gun laws were introduced has been challenged by a Washington Post analysis.

Senator Cruz said on high-profile American radio host Hugh Hewitt's show on January 12 Australia's post-Port Arthur massacre gun legislation meant women were unable to defend themselves from being raped.

The Washington Post's Fact Checker column examined Senator Cruz's comment and on Monday rated it a "whopper" of a factual error, the highest rating on its "Pinocchio Test".
We at TheaterMania are positively thrilled that major television networks are broadcasting live musicals that all of America (not just those of us close to Broadway) can enjoy. In the last three years, NBC has aired live productions of The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, and The Wiz, with a broadcast of Hairspray in the works. Fox has jumped on the bandwagon with its own live version of Grease (Fox's remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, starring Laverne Cox, will be pre-taped). Since this trend seems to be sweeping the television world, we would like to make a few suggestions. Here are seven musicals that deserve their own live television productions:

1. The Music Man

Way back in 2014, NBC announced that it was considering a live television production of The Music Man, Meredith Willson's perennially popular show about Harold Hill, a slick musical instrument salesman who falls in love with a small-town librarian. The Peacock went with The Wiz instead (the production garnered 2.3 million more viewers than Peter Pan did the year before). We still think The Music Man would make a great show for another year, perhaps with Seth MacFarlane in the starring role.

2. Gypsy

Few moments in musical theater are more exciting than when the band strikes up the overture to Gypsy  Jule Styne, Arthur Laurents, and Stephen Sondheim's classic musical about burlesque goddess Gypsy Rose Lee and her ambitious stage mother. "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Let Me Entertain You," "You Gotta Get a Gimmick": The score is a parade of memorable tunes, sure to delight home audiences. Tasteful choreography would keep this stripper's tale FCC-friendly, but still leave just enough skin to tease (Gypsy might be a better candidate for Fox than NBC). While she may still be a little too young for the role, we think Jennifer Hudson would eventually make an incredible Momma Rose. Just imagine her vocals on "Rose's Turn!"

3. Fiddler on the Roof

As the acclaimed Broadway revival has shown us, Fiddler is a surefire hit. Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein's musical about shtetl life in early-20th-century Ukraine features popular numbers like "To Life," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," and "If I Were a Rich Man," all of which sound incredible with a big orchestra (the kind a major TV network can provide). Accounting for commercial breaks, Fiddler would easily run four hours, a long slog for television, but then again, many sporting events run even longer. It would be worth it for this unforgettable TV event.

4. A Chorus Line

The original Broadway production of A Chorus Line, director Michael Bennett's devised musical about the lives of Broadway dancers, ran from 1975 to 1990, making it the sixth-longest-running musical in Broadway history. While much of the credit for this megahit goes to Bennett's inventive staging and choreography, one cannot discount Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban's winning score, featuring such hits as "One," "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three," and "What I Did for Love." Considering the fact that the 1985 film was a flop, it's about time to bring this classic back to America by airing it live on TV, so it can reclaim its position near the top of the musical food chain.

5. Ragtime

Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens, and Stephen Flaherty's adaptation of E.L. Doctorow's novel about turn-of-the-century America powerfully captures our national spirit in song and story. It is a perfect candidate for a live national broadcast, hopefully spurring on living room discussions of where we've been, where we are, and where we're going as a country. Is it too much to ask that Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald reprise their roles from the original production? The performance above is sheer perfection.

6. Cats

Everyone loves cats (especially the internet), so everyone will love Cats, the phenomenally popular Andrew Lloyd Webber musical adaptation of T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. It's a musical about dancing cats! The show has been on an endless tour for decades and with a revival soon to hit Broadway, now's the purrfect time for it to beam the show live into every living room. We nominate Adele for the role of Grizabella.

7. Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda's hip-hop musical about U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton is all the rage this year, and with good reason: It thrillingly mythologizes the American Revolution with a tuneful score and a Shakespearean command of verse. Considering how new the show is (and how it seems poised to run on Broadway for years), this project isn't likely to come to fruition anytime soon. One hopes, however, that NBC can arrange a live TV production for 2026, the year of America's sestercentennial. At the ripe old age of 27, Jaden Smith will certainly be a contender for the role of Aaron Burr.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

Trend:

Azerbaijan was able to present itself to the world as a very strong transit country in 2015, said President Ilham Aliyev Jan. 26.

The president made the remarks at the conference dedicated to the results of the second year of implementation of "State program on socio-economic development of districts of Azerbaijan Republic in 2014-2018".

"The investments made in the transport infrastructure opened up these opportunities," he said. "The paths running from east to west and from north to south are passing through Azerbaijan. This is an innovation and we created it for the world. By investing and creating an excellent business environment, we turn Azerbaijan into a unique transportation center."

"Very important steps were taken in this direction in 2015 and 2016. Cargoes began to pass through Azerbaijan not only from Central Asia to Europe, but also from China, and even South Korea to Europe," Aliyev said.

"At the same time, we are reviving the historic Silk Road for the first time in history. At the same time, cargo from Europe to Asia, from Ukraine to China began to be delivered via Azerbaijan for the first time. The cargoes delivered through Georgia and Russia, from Turkey to Central Asia, are now transported to Asia through Azerbaijan, through the Caspian Sea. We have created all opportunities."

"Would Azerbaijan become a transit country today unless we were engaged in these issues?" the president emphasized.

"Could anyone speak today of the "Southern Gas Corridor" unless we take the initiative and sign the TANAP project together with Turkey in 2012? Could anyone today ensure energy security of Europe without us? We are doing this. Why? Because it is needed for our people, it strengthens our country and meets our interests."
Abe Vigoda, the legendary character actor whose career included stints on Broadway and onscreen in Barney Miller and The Godfather, has died of natural causes at the age of 94, according to published reports.

Born in New York City on February 24, 1921, Vigoda, the son of a tailor, grew up on the Lower East Side. He started acting as a teenager, studying with the American Theatre Wing and attending the Theater School of Dramatic Arts at Carnegie Hall. Throughout the early 1960s, he made regular appearances off-Broadway, starring in Shadow of Heroes, The Cherry Orchard, A Darker Flower, and The Cat and the Canary. He played John the Gaunt in Joseph Papp's 1961 production of Richard II, which was said to have been his favorite role.

In 1967, Vigoda made his Broadway debut in a short-lived revival of Peter Weiss' The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade, and would go on to have roles in The Man in the Glass Booth (1968), Inquest (1970), Tough to Get Help (1972), and, finally, Arscenic and Old Lace (1986).

But it was Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, and the role of mobster Sal Tessio, which made Vigoda a star among character men. So too did his performance on the TV series Barney Miller, in which he played Detective Fish. On-screen, Vigoda's career included countless roles like Look Who's Talking, Joe Versus the Volcano, and Good Burger.

Vigoda married Beatrice Schy in 1968 and they remained married until her death in 1992. He is survived by their daughter, Carol.
The Public Theater announced today that it will become the inaugural theatrical partner with HeForShe, the movement for gender equality from UN Women, in partnership with the City of New York. The first HeForShe Arts Week in support of global gender equality will run March 8-15, 2016, in New York, to coincide with International Women's Day observed globally on March 8.

"The theater is a force for democracy, and the core idea of democracy is equality," said artistic director Oskar Eustis in a statement. "The theater is a collaborative form, and the core of collaboration is solidarity. The Public is proud to stand in solidarity with HeForShe and the United Nations as we fight together for a better world."

Actress and UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson adds, "The arts both reflect and influence culture. At its best, art shapes how we see the world. So it makes perfect sense for HeForShe to partner with arts institutions like the Public Theater to evolve the behaviors, norms, and perceptions that shapes our cultural view of gender."

During the inaugural arts week in March, additional artistic institutions will join the HeForShe Initiative and spotlight the work of UN Women as the global champion for the rights of women and girls. A percentage of proceeds will go to the organization to support its efforts to advance women's empowerment and gender equality globally.

Created by UN Women, the HeForShe solidarity movement for gender equality provides a systematic approach and targeted platform on which men and boys can engage and become change agents toward the achievement of gender equality. HeForShe invites men and boys to build on the work of the women's movement as equal partners, crafting and implementing a shared vision of gender equality that will benefit all of humanity.

For more information about HeForShe, click here.
A touring production of Jonathan Larson's Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical Rent is set to return to the road in a 20th-anniversary production in the 2016-17 season. Tour cities and casting will be announced at a later date.

A re-imagining of Puccini's La Boheme, Rent follows a year in the lives of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out. With its inspiring message of joy and hope in the face of fear, the musical is a celebration of friendship and creativity. Evan Ensign will restage this 20th anniversary tour based on the original direction by Michael Greif, and Marlies Yearby will serve as choreographer. Work Light Productions produces the tour.

The show received its world premiere off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop on February 13, 1996, and transferred to Broadway on April 29, 1996. Rent is winner of the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

"For the past 20 years, Rent has touched the lives of audiences around the world from Broadway to regional productions to high school auditoriums," said producer Stephen Gabriel in a statement. "We're thrilled to introduce a new generation to this timeless story of love, friendship and community."
Mothers signs on as the Presenting Sponsor of Toronto's Motorama show







Canada's biggest indoor show of its kind is now the Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo Presented by Mothers

TORONTO - JANUARY 25, 2016: In a perfect pairing of partners, Mothers Car Care Products has signed a two-year agreement to become the presenting sponsor of Toronto's Motorama show.

Now known as the Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo Presented by Mothers, the three-day event will once again bring together an awe-inspiring collection of hot rods, classic and custom cars, and racing machinery - under one roof - for an incredible celebration of automotive and racing culture.

Mothers Car Care Products made its Motorama debut in 2015 as an exhibitor and prize supplier. After a positive experience, the company is increasing its participation at the show, by becoming the event's most prominent sponsor.

The show takes place March 11, 12 & 13 at The International Centre, across from Toronto's Pearson Airport. In addition to the stunning machinery, Motorama will also feature celebrity guests, equipment suppliers, car clubs and racing series, on-stage discussions, technical demonstrations, and much more.

"Mothers has been an enthusiastic supporter of the custom and classic car hobby since the 1970s," said Mothers' Cliff Waller. "A show like Motorama brings together the hard core hot rodders, tuners, classic car and racing people... people who are our target demographic. It's a natural fit for us."

Waller added, "Last year was our first opportunity to work with the Motorama organizers. We felt that these were the kind of people that we wanted to be associated with. For Mothers, it's an intelligent business decision, and one that allows us to give back to the collector car hobbyist and motorsport participants."

'Giving back' has been a long-standing practice for the Mothers Car Care Products organization. And at the upcoming Motorama show, the company will continue that tradition by awarding 65 Mothers Gift Buckets - each filled with car care products and valued at over $250 - to show car award winners. Additionally, Waller confirms that a bottle of Mothers Instant Detailer will be presented to the owner of every car appearing on the Motorama Presented by Mothers show floor.

Although obliged to leave the sale of its products to their Canadian distributors, Mothers Car Care Products' staff will have a highly visible presence at the 2016 Motorama show. A custom designed booth will showcase the full line of Mothers' products. The display will be fronted by a pair of custom car classics, including a Model A Roadster and the 1932 Five-Window Coupe that was recently honoured by Street Rodder magazine as its 2015 'Street Rod of the Year.'

"Our customers are the ones who have built Mothers, and it's our responsibility to satisfy the needs of those customers," concluded Waller. "Having the opportunity to meet fellow car enthusiasts, to talk about our products or to just talk about our cars, is why we love attending shows such as the Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo Presented by Mothers."

Speaking on behalf of Motorama, Mike Galipeau said, "We're honoured that Mothers has become such a big part of the show. In addition to representing Mothers, Cliff Waller is a true automotive enthusiast, and he took a leap of faith getting involved last year when we were new to the scene. In the time since we took over the show, it's been a pleasure getting to know Cliff. Our whole team is excited to make Mothers' support of the Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo Presented by Mothers as successful as possible."

ABOUT MOTHERS CAR CARE: Started over 50 years ago in Southern California, Mothers has grown from humble beginnings into the premiere developer and supplier of automotive car care products in the world. Catering to the high-end, custom and exotic car enthusiast, Mothers has a product line of 70 unique cleaners, polishes and waxes available to the demanding car owner, as well as the professional detailer. Visitors to their website, www.mothers.com can view a full products line, see How-To suggestions and videos, find a local retailer and make purchases from their eStore. Mothers Car Care Products can be found at many Canadian retailers from coast-to-coast.
New Design and Advanced Technologies for Fourth-Generation Compact Kia Sportage







New design and advanced technologies for fourth-generation compact SUV

Modern layout and greater refinement for high quality new cabin

Greater passenger comfort with more space and less noise

The safest Sportage yet, with a stronger body and new active safety tech

Smoother, more refined ride and greater handling agility

New technologies include wireless phone charging, connected services and Autonomous Emergency Braking

MORE INFO Kia Research and Buyer's Guide Guide

WALTON-ON-THAMES, UK -- January 26, 2016: The all-new Kia Sportage  the fourth-generation of Kias globally-popular compact SUV  features an attractive, all-new interior and exterior design, a host of advanced new technology features and greater quality.

Having made its global debut at the 2015 Frankfurt International Motor Show, the all-new Sportage will go on sale across European markets during Q1 2016.

Now in its fourth-generation, the new Kia Sportage compact SUV builds comprehensively on the success of the outgoing model, offering an innovative and sophisticated package to buyers in an increasingly competitive market. The new-look interior features high quality materials and design integrity, as well as greater practicality and a range of technologies to improve comfort, convenience, connectivity and safety. A range of new and updated engines and transmissions will result in enhanced efficiency and performance, while ride, handling and refinement are all improved.

For the first time, a new ?GT Line specification is available to Sportage customers. Designed and engineered to appeal to those looking for a sportier driving experience from their Sportage, the GT Line specification delivers all the versatility of the standard Sportage while adding greater visual and dynamic appeal to those customers that desire it.

Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe, commented: The Kia Sportage has been a major contributor to Kias sustained growth and success across Europe in recent years. Made here in Europe, its an incredibly important car for us. More customers than ever are turning to SUVs, and there is now greater competition in the compact segment than ever before.

Cole added: In Europe, the Sportage is Kias flagship car, clearly demonstrating our brand values best and consistently accounting for more than a quarter of our European sales. As this hotly-contested segment continues to expand, the new Sportage will reinforce our position among the market leaders, leading the way in terms of its refined innovation, distinctive design and high material quality.

The Kia Sportage is manufactured at Kias production facility inZilina, Slovakia, and remains the brands bestselling model in Europe, with more than 105 000 sold across Europe in 2015, accounting for 27.4% of Kia sales.

Bold new design for 2016 Kia Sportage

The fourth-generation Kia Sportage features a bold new look, with the vehicles designers creating a sense of sporty and powerful energy from every angle. The design of the new Sportage has been led by Kias European design studio in Frankfurt, Germany, with input from the brands Namyang, Korea and Irvine, California design centres. The all-new Sportage creates visual harmony out of the tension and contrast between its sharp, defined feature lines and smooth surfacing.

The attractive ?face of the Sportage features the biggest change to the cars design over the outgoing model, with Kias hallmark ?tiger-nose grille and the cars headlamps separated for the new model. The headlamps are now positioned higher, sweeping back along the outer edges of the sharply-detailed bonnet. A lower, wider grille  enlarged to support greater engine cooling  adds more volume to the lower half of the Sportages face. The result is a more imposing appearance and a more stable-looking stance, despite the new model retaining the same 1,855 mm width as its predecessor. GT Line models develop the exterior look further, featuring new ?ice-cube LED fog lamps, inspired by those found on the high-powered ceed GT, and aluminium-effect skid plates.

The all-new Sportage maintains its highly-recognisable profile, with a 30 mm longer wheelbase (now 2,670 mm), 40 mm greater overall vehicle length (to 4,480 mm) and longer, more aerodynamic rear spoiler resulting in a more swept-back shape. From the highest point of the roof (1,635 mm  unchanged over the outgoing model), the Sportages silhouette gently tapers towards the rear of the car, while bolder wheel arches, sharp features lines, and smooth surfacing endow the Sportage with a more dynamic look. The overall effect is inspired by the defined musculature of a sprinter driving out of the starting blocks. Longer front overhangs (up by 20 mm) and shorter rear overhangs (reduced by 10 mm) add to the cars more raked profile.

At the rear, the new Sportage features more horizontal forms and clearly defined features lines, with smooth bodywork on the tailgate, emphasising the cars width and giving the compact SUV a more stable appearance. Inspired by the 2013 Kia Provo concept, slim combination lamps running along a horizontal parallel are joined together by a strip that runs the width of the rear, while the turn signals and reversing lights are separate, located lower down to add more visual weight to the lower half. The Kia Sportage GT Line also features dual exhaust pipes and metal-effect rear underbody diffuser for a sportier appearance.

The attractive new design also makes this the most aerodynamic Sportage to date, with drag reduced from 0.35 to 0.33 Cd  a result of the re-profiled undercover and newly-designed bumper.

The all-new Sportage is available with a choice of 16-, 17- or 19-inch aluminum alloy wheel designs, while the GT Line specification comes with a unique 19-inch wheel option as standard.

Modern layout and greater refinement for high quality new cabin

The Sportage boasts an all-new interior, representing one of the most significant improvements over the third-generation car. The focus for the design team behind the new interior was to create a cabin which offered a wide, driver-oriented dashboard, with a simple, modern design. The interior blends metalwork with soft-touch materials and clearly defined horizontal lines, portraying a high level of mechanical precision.

The Sportages all-new cabin boasts a high standard of material quality, with a far greater proportion of soft-touch materials and the use of cloth, leather and stitching creating a more upscale ambience. The result is an interior that majors on refinement and modern sophistication, with greater soundproofing measures adopted to reduce significantly the intrusion of exterior noise.

Where the cabin of the outgoing Sportage is focused around a clearly-defined central console, with a vertical design, the new model features horizontal lines to emphasise the width of the interior more effectively and generate a greater impression of space and sportiness.

The confident lateral design of the dashboard divides it into two clear zones  ?display and ?control. The ?display zone is focused purely on delivering information to occupants in the clearest way possible via the drivers instrument binnacle and optional new 7.0- or 8.0-inch HMI (human-machine interface) systems in the centre of the dashboard.

Below a clear line running the length of the dashboard is the ?control zone, with the central console cascading downwards and tilted 7.2 degrees towards the driver. With many functions now found on the optional touchscreen infotainment and navigation system, the new, uncluttered dashboard offers drivers a highly ergonomic layout with the ?control zones functions designed to be clearly visible when on the move.

The division between the interiors two zones also lends itself to single or two-tone colour schemes, with customers able to choose from either a single-tone (black) or two-tone (Dark and Light Grey or Black and Canyon Beige) cabin. The console is finished in black, for a classy, stylish appearance, regardless of the interior colours chosen. Buyers specifying the new GT Line can enjoy a cabin with a slightly sportier feel, with a D-shaped leather steering wheel, high quality piano black fascia and aluminium alloy pedals.

Greater space and improved passenger comfort

The fourth-generation model is set to be the most practical Sportage yet thanks to increased exterior and interior dimensions, with the vehicles development teams realising greater space and comfort for all passengers.

The most significant change to the Sportages dimensions is a 30 mm growth in its wheelbase, to 2,670 mm, helping to liberate greater space in the cabin. The whole vehicle is 40 mm longer, at 4,480 mm, with the front overhang expanding to 910 mm (+20 mm) and the rear overhang shrinking slightly to 900 mm (-10 mm). The latest model remains the same height (1,635 mm) and width (1,855 mm) as the outgoing Sportage.

Passenger space is increased, with headroom rising to 997 mm (+5 mm) and 993 mm (+16 mm) for front and rear passengers respectively, while maximum legroom has expanded to 1,129 mm (+ 19 mm) and 970 mm (+7 mm).

With passengers able to enjoy extra space, development teams have delivered on a promise to improve comfort even more.

In the front, drivers not only enjoy more legroom, but the seats have been redesigned. The Sportage can now be specified with three-way front heat seating, 10-way power control with lumbar support for the drivers seat and eight-way power control for the passenger seat. Stiffer seat frames, with greater use of high tensile steel, and redesigned springs and pads  for front and rear  cut the level of vibration in the seats, while reducing seat weight by 2.5 kg and improving durability.

In the rear, a 40 mm lower interior floor  without sacrificing exterior ground clearance  and 30 mm higher rear bench hip point mean second-row passengers benefit from a more natural and comfortable seating posture and improved under-thigh support.

The Sportages reclining rear seats now offer 7 steps  from 23 to 37 degrees, with the reclining lever relocated from the upper seat-back to the lower side of the seat to make it easier for rear passengers to get truly comfortable. Rear passengers can also choose from dual-strength seat heating for cushion and back rest  ideal for colder mornings.

For all models, visibility is improved out of the front and rear. Forward visibility is aided by a lowered A-pillar base, while the A-pillar itself has been made thinner. Side mirrors sit slightly lower on the door without impairing the drivers rear view  this is further aided by the new thinner C-pillars (62 mm thinner compared to the third-generation Sportage) and taller rear glass (+30 mm). Not only do these changes help visibility, they add a greater feeling of air and space to the cabin  enhanced by the 104 mm-longer optional one-piece panoramic sunroof opening (now 1208 mm).

The new bodys larger dimensions mean cargo space in the fourth-generation Sportage has expanded from 465 litres to 503 litres (VDA), made more practical by a dual-height luggage floor, allowing taller items to fit into the boot and still remain hidden by the tonneau cover. The Sportage also features a new under-floor tonneau cover storage area  unique in the class. Despite the new Sportage being no wider than the outgoing model, by re-engineering the rear section of the body the luggage area is 35 mm wider, while the upper edge of the boot lip is lowered so the lift-over height for heavy items is just 732 mm (down 47 mm).

The all-new Sportage has greater fuel capacity than the third-generation model, with the fuel tank increasing in size from 58 litres to 62, cutting the number of fuel pump visits that owners of the new car will have to make throughout the lifetime of the vehicle (particularly when combined with all-round improvements to fuel economy).

NVH: All-round improvements to refinement

Key to the comfort of occupants in the new Sportage are the efforts made by Kia engineers to cut noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Significant changes over the outgoing model render the Sportage one of the most refined cars in its class, with less cabin noise than many other rivals in the C-SUV segment.

At idle, the new Sportage records just 37 decibels when equipped with a gasoline engine (1 dB lower than the outgoing model) and 44 decibels for diesel models (down from 46 dB). The improvements to engine NVH are a result of extensive extra dashboard insulation, as well as new acoustic shields fitted to engines to ensure greater suppression of NVH.

Road noise is further reduced with the adoption of new bushings in the rear suspension to isolate road noise at source, and more sound-absorbent materials throughout the Sportages wheel arches. Wind noise is also reduced as a result of thicker front side glass, a new dual lip seal for the panoramic sunroof and additional soundproofing in the doors.

A range of improvements cuts vibrations throughout the car, making the Sportages cabin one of the most refined and relaxing among rivals. This has been achieved with all-round improvements to body stiffness, particularly through the floor of the vehicle, as well as the introduction of larger, more absorbent mounts for the transmission, and improved seat design. Stiffer alloy wheels also reduce the level of vibration intruding on the interior.

The safest Sportage yet  stronger body and a wealth of active safety systems

Safety, as always, is a top priority for Kia, and the all-new Kia Sportage builds on the brands reputation for offering the highest standards in occupant and pedestrian crash safety. The fourth-generation of Kias best-seller has been engineered to meet the toughest and most demanding crash safety tests, thanks to an even stronger bodyshell, a wide array of passive safety equipment and the latest active safety and autonomous hazard avoidance technologies.

The all-new Sportage scored a maximum possible five-star safety rating in the Euro NCAP crash performance tests.

The structure of the new Sportage is significantly stronger, thanks in large part to the extensive use of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) to improve joint stiffness and introduce more effective impact load paths throughout the body. By dramatically strengthening the core structure of the new Sportage, torsional rigidity has been improved by 39% from one generation to the next.

The third-generation Sportage was made up of 18% AHSS, compared to 51% for the body of the new model. The increased use of advanced hot-stamped steel further improves the integrity of the body. The stronger steel has been used in particular to reinforce the A-, B- and C-pillars, side sills, roof structures and wheel arches.

The Sportage is fitted as standard with a large number of airbags, further improving passive safety for occupants, with airbags for driver and front passenger, first row side airbags, and first and second row curtain airbags. ISOFIX child-seat tether and anchor points are fitted as standard to the second row of seats, to safely secure younger passengers.

Pedestrian safety is further improved with a lower leading edge on the bonnet and a larger impact absorption area, which has been revised with greater use of highly-absorbent safety foam and synthetic rubber, further helping to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision. The Sportage is also available with a range of active safety systems to mitigate the chances of a pedestrian collision (see below).

The new Sportage performed strongly in the Euro NCAPs important Safety Assist category, which analyses the latest driver assistance technologies and their effectiveness in avoiding accidents and mitigating injuries. Kias Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, fitted as standard to the fourth-generation car, helps ensure stability under braking and cornering through careful management of the vehicles Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and electric motor-driven power steering. Both systems come into play as soon as the Sportages many sensors detect a loss of traction, helping the driver to remain safely in control of the vehicle.

Buyers of the new Sportage will be able to choose from the most up-to-date active hazard-avoidance technologies to ensure occupants safety at all times  depending on market. Available systems will include:

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)*, which employs a camera and a radar detection system to detect a potential collision with another vehicle or pedestrian and help avoid or mitigate an accident

Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), which emits an audible alert when the driver strays from the current lane without indicating

Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), which detects the position of the Sportage in relation to lane markings and takes automatic corrective action if it senses the car starting to draft without the use of indicators

High Beam Assist (HBA), which automatically adjusts headlamp range according to other vehicles and road conditions

Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF), displaying the speed limit and overtaking restrictions in the drivers instrument cluster based on cameras detecting roadside signs

Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Lane Change Assist (LCA), which monitors cars up to 70 metres behind the Sportage and provides the driver with a visual warning in the door mirror when another car enters the blind spot

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which warns against other cars driving behind the Sportage in car parks while reversing.

*The Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEBS) is an assistance system and does not relieve the driver from his/her responsibility to safely operate the vehicle at any time. The driver still has to adapt his/her driving behavior to his/her personal driving capabilities, to the legal requirements and to the overall road and traffic conditions. AEBS is not designed to drive the vehicle autonomously. For further information, please refer to the owners manual.

Smoother, more refined ride and greater handling agility

Throughout the development programme for the all-new Sportage, engineers have aimed to build upon the ride comfort, stability and handling responses offered to drivers by the outgoing car. The new model achieves improvements in all of these areas, and will be the best-handling Sportage yet.

The fully-independent front suspension carries over the format of the outgoing model, but features a range of modifications to make the best use of the new bodyshell. The new setup achieves a leap forward in ride quality, while also delivering sharper handling. Modifications include revised bushing mount positions for greater stability and more natural responses to changing road surfaces, as well as stiffer wheel bearings and bushings resulting in more direct handling and greater stability in all conditions. The steering gearbox is also mounted further forward on the axle for smoother steering inputs.

For the rear suspension  also fully-independent, including the adoption of dual lower-arm multi-link suspension for two-wheel drive models  the new Sportage receives a stiffer cross member to cut road noise and vibrations from intruding into the cabin. Specially-tuned dampers have a longer rebound stroke to eliminate smaller vibrations from poor road surfaces, while the rear subframe is now mounted on isolated bushings to further improve the NVH performance of the suspension. Finally, slight changes to the suspension geometry, as well as stiffer wheel bearings and lateral bushings, quell understeer and allow for more direct handling.

These suspension upgrades, combined with the 40 mm growth in the Sportages wheelbase over the outgoing model, provide the all-new model with far superior damping over poor road surfaces, while offering drivers more driving fun through improved handling responses and reduced understeer.

The fourth-generation Sportage is fitted with a new rack-mounted electric motor-driven power steering system (R-MDPS), available as standard on all Sportage models across Europe, except for the 1.6 GDi LHD variant. Mounted directly on the steering rack, rather than on the column, the new R-MDPS provides greater steering feel and quicker, more linear responses to driver inputs  particularly around the centre. When equipped, this upgrade to the steering ensures that the new Sportage sits among the most agile cars in the C-SUV segment, without compromising the ride comfort and stability that consumers expect from a vehicle of this type.

The all-new Sportage boasts greater braking performance compared to the third-generation model, with redesigned calipers and new brake pad return springs reducing braking drag. Combined with larger brake discs, the Sportage offers better stopping power than ever before.

As before, the Sportage continues to be offered with a choice of front- and all-wheel drive, with the revisions to suspension and steering, and the latest electronic driver aids, providing stable handling and high levels of grip in all conditions.

Navigation System with Kias Connected Services and wireless phone charging

The all-new Sportage debuts a number of new, advanced on-board technologies to improve the ownership experience for buyers. The new features added to the Sportage make it the most modern, innovative and high-tech car in its class.

Kias latest audio-visual navigation (AVN) system introduces a more modern appearance at the centre of the dashboard. Buyers can choose between 7.0- or 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment and satellite navigation systems, each supporting the addition of DAB digital radio, which is available across a number of European markets.

A new addition is the Navigation System with Kias Connected Services, offering a wide range of up-to-date driving-oriented information. Powered by technology company TomTom, the new connectivity features include live traffic updates*, speed camera locations and alerts*, local search and weather forecasts. In Europe, the system will be available to Sportage buyers free of charge for seven years after the cars purchase. The Kia Sportage is among the first models in the European compact SUV segment to adopt this advanced technology.

*Legal restrictions to these services may apply depending on country usage

The 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is paired with a 160 watt six-speaker audio system, while music lovers can specify a powerful 320 watt JBL Sound system with the 8.0-inch touchscreen, featuring eight speakers, an external amplifier and Clari-FiTM music restoration technology for unrivalled audio quality.

A first for any car in the C-SUV segment, the new Sportage will be available with a new wireless charger for mobile devices, as Kia looks to meet the increasing demand for new convenience technologies from car buyers. Located at the base of the central instrument stack, the wireless charger enables users to charge their phone without a wire connection, for a cleaner appearance. With ?foreign object detection, the 5W charging system activates when a compatible device is placed on the pad, and warns car security-conscious owners when theyve left a phone on the charger when they leave the vehicle. The system displays the phones charging condition on the instrument cluster, and features a safety system to prevent overheating while in use. The Sportage also features up to two USB charging points, one in the front and an optional one in the rear, to allow all occupants to charge their mobile devices while on the move.

Depending on market, other new available features will include: a rear-view parking camera with dynamic parking lines, a Smart Power Tailgate, which opens the tailgate automatically when the key is ?sensed in close proximity to the tailgate; Dynamic Bending Headlamps, which sweep the road ahead in line with the steering wheel for greater visibility and improved safety at night; and a new Smart Welcome function, which turns on interior and door handle lamps and unfolds the door mirrors once the smart key fob is located within 1.3-1.7 metres of the door handle.

New 1.6-litre T-GDI and significantly upgraded 2.0-litre turbodiesel

When developing the new Sportage, a major focus for engineers was realising efficiency and driving performance from the new vehicles various power units. Every engine in the range is compliant with the latest Euro 6 emission standard, resulting in cleaner exhaust emissions. This has been achieved, not only without compromising on-road performance, but enhancing it.

As with the outgoing model, the all-new Sportage offers buyers  both private and fleet  a wide choice of gasoline and diesel engines. The fourth-generation model carries over many of the engines found in the current vehicle, and most benefit from a broad range of modifications to improve fuel efficiency, NVH and power delivery. A new 1.6-litre T-GDI (turbo gasoline direct injection) is also available for the first time on the Sportage, exclusively for GT Line buyers, offering a combination of lively performance and high fuel economy to customers looking for a sportier drive.

The range of gasoline engines is made up of a 1.6-litre GDI (gasoline direct injection) engine and the brands latest 1.6-litre T-GDI power unit.

The GDI engine, producing 132 ps and 160.8 Nm torque, is carried over directly from the third-generation Sportage. With the cars numerous upgrades for the latest model  such as improved aerodynamic efficiency  and the adoption of Kias ISG system, this engine promises lower emissions and fuel consumption.

The ?Gamma 1.6-litre T-GDI engine is based on the same unit powering the Kia ceed GT and pro_ceed GT, offering greater and more emotive engine performance for keener drivers. Available exclusively on the Sportage GT Line, the 1.6-litre T-GDI engine boasts a range of upgrades to ensure it meets owners demands for quicker accelerative response, greater fuel efficiency and easier access to engine torque. Producing 177 ps  and peak 265 Nm torque from 1,500-4,500 rpm  the T-GDI engine features a new single-scroll turbocharger with electronic wastegate actuator for quicker engine response and better economy under acceleration.

Further boosting efficiency, the 1.6-litre T-GDI engine receives a new high-energy ignition coil, higher-tumble intake ports, a low-friction timing chain and marginally higher compression ratio (from 9.5:0 in the ceed GT to 10.0:0 in the new Sportage).

Diesel engines account for the lions share of Sportage models sold in Europe, and the new model will continue to offer the 115 ps 1.7-litre CRDi engine  carried over from the third-generation model  and a significantly-upgraded 2.0-litre ?R power unit, establishing a step forward in terms of fuel economy, performance and NVH over the outgoing Sportage and other C-SUV rivals.

The 2.0-litre turbodiesel is available with two power outputs  136 ps with 373 Nm torque, and 185 ps with 400 Nm  with both benefiting from a 5 kg lighter engine block, up-to-date battery management system, continuously variable displacement oil pump  which senses and modifies oil pressure in real-time  and a new oil filter module.

Lower combustion temperatures in the 2.0-litre ?R engine have reduced NO x emissions to meet strict new emissions standards, aided by a relatively low compression ratio, a new exhaust gas recirculation cooler system, and a new lean NO x trap. A lower-inertia turbine wheel in the turbocharger and electronically-controlled wastegate actuator result in more efficient turbocharging than the ?R engine found in the outgoing Sportage, while stiffer valve springs and high-pressure 2000 bar fuel pump injection allow closer control of combustion within the engine cylinders.

NVH is also dramatically improved for the 2.0-litre diesel, featuring a new heat-resistant engine block cover, a new timing chain cover with integrated acoustic shield, a sound-absorbent cover for the diesel particulate filter, and new intercooler pipe acoustic shield. Mechanical friction is also reduced, further cutting engine noise and improving efficiency, with a new nano-diamond piston coating.

Both high- and lower-powered versions of the 2.0-litre ?R diesel are available both on the standard Sportage and with the GT Line specification.

Sportage available with advanced new seven-speed DCT

The new Sportage features the brands all-new seven-speed double-clutch transmission (DCT), recently launched in the enhanced Kia ceed and available exclusively on models equipped with the new 177 ps 1.6-litre T-GDI engine. Kias new DCT is capable of handling the higher torque outputs of the turbocharged engine and offers a sportier driving experience.

Kias new DCT has also been developed in-house and has been engineered with low fuel consumption and a sporty driving feel when in manual mode, and with comfort and smoothness when left in automatic mode.

Drivers specifying the new DCT will benefit from faster gear changes than a traditional automatic transmission, as well as lower running costs. When equipped with the new DCT, the 1.6-litre T-GDI engine is expected to return similar carbon dioxide emissions to the manual transmission also available with this engine, pending homologation.

The wider Sportage range continues to be offered with a choice of six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

2016 Kia Sportage on-sale from Q1 2016

The all-new Kia Sportage will go on sale across Europe in Q1 2016, offering the companys unique 7-Year, 100,000 mile warranty as standard.

- Ends -

ALL NEW KIA SPORTAGE  TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (EUROPE)

Body and chassis

Five-door, five-seater compact crossover, with all-steel unitary construction bodyshell. Choice of diesel and gasoline four-cylinder engines driving either the front or front and rear wheels, via six-speed manual, six-speed automatic or seven-speed double-clutch transmission  depending on model.

Engines

Gasoline 1.6-litre / 177 ps T-GDI ?Gamma (1.6 T-GDI) Type

Capacity

Bore and stroke

Compression ratio

Max power

Max torque

Valves

Fuel system

Emissions class Four cylinder in-line, turbocharged

1.6-litres, 1,591 cc

77.0 x 85.4 mm

10.0:1

177 ps (130 kW) @ 5,500 rpm

265 Nm (195 lb ft) @ 1,500-4,500 rpm

16 (four per cylinder)

Direct injection

Euro Stage 6b 1.6-litre / 132 ps GDI ?Gamma (1.6i) Type

Capacity

Bore and stroke

Compression ratio

Max power

Max torque

Valves

Fuel system

Emissions class Four cylinder in-line, naturally aspirated

1.6-litres, 1,591 cc

77.0 x 85.4 mm

11.0:1

132 ps (97 kW) @ 6,300 rpm

160.8 Nm (119 lb ft) @ 4,850 rpm

16 (four per cylinder)

Direct injection

Euro Stage 6b Diesel 1.7-litre / 115 ps CRDi ?U2 (1.7D) Type

Capacity

Bore and stroke

Compression ratio

Max power

Max torque

Valves

Fuel system

Emissions class DOHC, four cylinder in-line, turbocharged

1.7-litres, 1,685 cc

77.2 x 90.0 mm

16.0:1

115 ps (85 kW) @ 4,000 rpm

280 Nm (207 lb ft) @ 1,250-2,750 rpm

16 (four per cylinder)

Common-rail direct injection

Euro Stage 6b 2.0-litre / 136 ps CRDi ?R (2.0D low) Type

Capacity

Bore and stroke

Compression ratio

Max power

Max torque

Valves

Fuel system

Emissions class Four cylinder in-line, turbocharged

2.0-litres, 1,995 cc

84.0 x 90.0 mm

16.0:1

136 ps (100 kW) @ 4,000 rpm

373 Nm (275 lb ft) @ 1,500-2,500 rpm

16 (four per cylinder)

Common-rail direct injection

Euro Stage 6b 2.0-litre / 185 ps CRDi ?R (2.0D high) Type

Capacity

Bore and stroke

Compression ratio

Max power

Max torque

Valves

Fuel system

Emissions class Four cylinder in-line, turbocharged

2.0-litres, 1,995 cc

84.0 x 90.0 mm

16.0:1

185 ps (136 kW) @ 4,000 rpm

400 Nm (295 lb ft) @ 1,750-2,750 rpm

16 (four per cylinder)

Common-rail direct injection

Euro Stage 6b

Transmissions 1.6 T-GDI 1.6i 1.7D 2.0D (low & high) Manual

Automatic 6-sp 6-sp 6-sp 6-sp

7DCT --- --- 6-sp Drivetrains 1.6 T-GDI 1.6i 1.7D 2.0D (low & high) Manual

Automatic FWD / AWD FWD FWD FWD / AWD

AWD --- --- AWD

Gear ratios

1.6 T-GDI 1.6i 1.7D 2.0D (low) 2.0D (high)

MT DCT MT MT MT AT MT AT

1 3.769 3.929 3.833 3.769 3.615 4.651 3.615 4.252

2 2.080 2.318 2.143 2.040 1.862 2.831 1.862 2.654

3 1.323 2.043 1.370 1.294 1.452 1.842 1.542 1.804

4 0.976 1.070 1.036 0.951 1.207 1.386 1.207 1.386

5 0.778 0.822 0.893 0.723 0.921 1.000 0.921 1.000

6 0.633 0.884 0.794 0.569 0.732 0.772 0.732 0.772

7 --- 0.721 --- --- --- --- --- ---

Reverse 3.077 5.304 3.700 3.583 3.416 3.393 3.416 3.393

Final drive

4.533 / 5.231

(for 1~6 / Rev)

4.857 / 3.579

(for 1,2,4,5/3,6,7,R) 4.563 4.188

4.333 / 3.250

(for 1.2.R/3,4,5,6) 3.195

4.333 / 3.250

(for 1.2.R/3,4,5,6) 3.041

Suspension and damping

Front Fully-independent by subframe-mounted MacPherson struts, coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers, with anti-roll stabiliser bar

Rear Fully-independent by subframe-mounted multi-links, coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers, with anti-roll stabiliser bar

Steering FWD AWD Gearing

Type

Turns, lock-to-lock

Turning circle

1.6i LHD 14.34:1 14.39:1

Electric motor-driven rack-and-pinion power steering

2.71

5.3 metres

Column-mounted electric motor (C-MDPS) Standard for all other engines / Optional for 1.6i LHD Rack-mounted electric motor (R-MDPS) Wheels and tyres Standard

Optional



Spare Alloy 16-inch, 215/70 R16 tyres

Alloy 17-inch, 225/60 R17 tyres

Alloy 19-inch, 245/45 R19 tyres

Tyre mobility kit or optional temporary spare wheel Brakes Front

Rear 305 mm ventilated discs

302 mm solid discs Dimensions (mm)

Exterior Overall length

Overall height

Front overhang

*excluding door mirrors 4,480 Overall width* 1,855

1,635 Wheelbase 2,670

910 Rear overhang 900 Interior 1st row 2nd row Head room

Leg room 997 993

1,129 970 Capacities Fuel tank

Luggage (VDA) 62 litres

503 litres (with tyre mobility kit)

491 litres (with temporary spare wheel)
Axalta Revs Up Its Custom Car Show Season in Pomona, California







GLEN MILLS, PA -- January 26, 2016: Its that time of year again when custom car fans, builders and owners rev up their engines and head to car shows. Join Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global manufacturer of liquid and powder coatings, at the Grand National Roadster Show, the longest-running indoor car show in the world, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California on January 29-31. Axaltas booth will display Salvador Sierra's 1936 Ford Pickup painted by Adam Stone of Stone Cold Kustoms with Axalta's Hot Hues CFX Basecoat and Hot Candy Concentrates.

Axalta is pleased to support this show as well as numerous other custom car shows across the country this year. Axalta representatives will be on hand to offer show attendees amazing examples of automotive art that is created with our brilliant paint including our global refinish brands: Cromax, Standox and Spies Hecker, as well as our Hot Hues line of custom colors.

To help make it easy to find us at these events, visit Axaltas event website that includes information about the shows and Axaltas participation. These shows enable various types of car enthusiasts to interact with us and gather firsthand information about paint use and garner application ideas.
MINI 5-Door Hatch Winds at Business Car Manager's SME Company Car of the Year Awards







MINI Cooper D 5-door Hatch awarded Best Company SME Company Car

Second win in 2016 for MINI in the corporate sector

Voted for by Business Car Managers independent panel of experts

MORE INFO MINI Research and Buyer's Guide Guide

FARNBOROUGH, UK -- January 26, 2016: The MINI 5-door Hatch has been awarded Best Compact SME Company Car in Business Car Managers SME Company Car of the Year awards 2016.

Judged against its competitors by an independent panel, the 5-door Cooper D Hatch was recognised by the experts for its low CO2 emissions of just 95 g/km, translating into low running costs for and high residual values for business drivers.

Ralph Morton, editor, Business Car Manager, said: Not only does the MINI have emotional appeal by the bucketload, but it now has the practicality to make it count in business terms. But its not just the practicality that counts  its the running cost numbers behind it.

For the company car driver, theres all the benefits of driving a MINI, but none of the financial burden with company car tax from under 50 a month. So the MINI 5-door Hatch proves a winner on all levels.

Introduced to the market in September 2014, MINI 5-door Hatch symbolises the brands renewed focus on attracting corporate customers. Sporting two extra rear doors, the MINI 5-door also has improved legroom, a third rear seat and a larger boot for improved practicality.

James Morrison, Corporate Development Manager at MINI UK said: We are extremely pleased to be taking home the award for Best Compact SME Company Car.

MINI Cooper D 5-door Hatch is a great family car and a practical offering for business customers. We have seen the 5-door Hatch grow in popularity since its launch, particularly within the all-important corporate and fleet market.
DS Automobiles Launches First Store in Iran







TEHRAN -- January 26, 2016: DS Automobiles officially launched in Iran yesterday. Yves Bonnefont, DS brand CEO and Daryoush Biria, President of ARIAN Group were joined by VIPs and the media to open the DS STORE in Tehran and announce the local launch of two models: DS 5 and DS 6.

MORE INFO The Best Car Research and Buyer's Guide

A high-profile ceremony yesterday marked DS Automobiles official launch in Iran, with 200 VIPs and potential DS customers attending the milestone event.

The launch of the brand in Iran follows the October announcement of a deal between DS and ARIAN Group to operate and oversee the automotive brands first venture into the Middle East.

In attendance at the event was Yves Bonnefont, CEO of the DS brand, Daryoush Biria, president of ARIAN Group and His Excellency Bruno Foucher, the French Ambassador in Tehran.

"DS brand is undergoing a major step in its international development. Iran is a key country for us and contributes to our ambition of radiating the French luxury know-how in automobile, said Yves Bonnefont. The experience of our partner Arian Group is a major asset for success."

Daryoush Biria, President of ARIAN Group, commented, "The DS brand is synonymous with design, technology, refinement and French elegance. We are delighted to be the exclusive distributor of DS brand in Iran and I do not doubt that Iranian customers will be thrilled by these great cars."

Media, VIPs and potential customers attended the event at the newly opened DS STORE, which is located in the northern districts of the city on one of the most attractive avenues, the Andarzgou Boulevard.

In a space of 275 m2, customers can now immerse themselves in the world of DS. A modern facade, sleek design, lacquered furniture, plasma screens, photos depicting Paris, fashion, luxury and design, create an elegant and luxurious atmosphere. The DS models on display are turned towards the entrance to catch the eye of visitors upon arrival.

DS 5, the flagship of the brand, and DS 6, the brands powerful and elegant SUV, were launched at the showrooms opening. The two models are from the Sport Chic range, the most prestigious trim with powerful and efficient engines as well as 6-speed automatic gearboxes. All the DS brands refinement and attention to detail are featured; all models have premium Nappa leather or semi-aniline watchstrap leather seats, exclusive to DS Automobiles, and full leather dashboards.

The range will be expanded during 2016 with the arrival of DS 5LS, the sedan and other models.

Key figures:

Iran has a population of approximately 80 million people, of which 70% live in urban areas and 15 million in the metropolitan area of the capital, Tehran.

Iran is the second population of the Middle East North African region.

2/3 of the Iranian population is aged under 30.

Iran is rich in fossil resources, with 11% of the worlds oil reserves and 15% of its gas reserves.

The ARIAN Group, specialising in automobile distribution since 2011, stands out particularly in terms of service quality. Based in Tehran, the ARIAN Group imports, distributes and provides after-sales in Iran according to the standards of the brand.

For further information on DS in Iran visit Drive DS Iran
MINI Hatch Winds Premium Supermini of the Year at 2016 BusinessCar Awards







MINI Hatch takes home the prize for the fourteenth year running

Awards voted for by BusinessCar magazine readers

MORE INFO MINI Research and Buyer's Guide Guide

FARNBOROUGH, UK -- January 26, 2016: Readers of BusinessCar magazine have voted the MINI Hatch as Premium Supermini Car of the Year 2016. This marks the fourteenth consecutive year that the MINI Hatch has won the coveted award.

Excellent performance alongside low running costs and CO2 emissions, coupled with strong residual values are just some of the qualities of the MINI 3-door Hatch which have continued to win over BusinessCar magazine readers for nearly a decade and a half.

New to the range in 2014, MINI 5-door Hatch has been a runaway success since launch. As well as sporting two extra rear doors, MINI 5-door has improved legroom, a practical third rear seat and larger boot.

Commenting on the award, James Morrison, Corporate Development Manager at MINI UK, said: We are delighted to win the award for Premium Supermini of the Year for the fourteenth year in a row. The corporate market is extremely relevant for MINI and has grown even more so with the addition of the MINI 5-door Hatch in 2014.

Were therefore very proud to receive this award as voted for year after year by drivers and readers of BusinessCar magazine, as it is testament to the importance we are continuing to place on this segment.

Editor of BusinessCar magazine, Paul Barker said: This is an incredible fourteenth BusinessCar Award for the Mini hatch, a car that continues to offer incredible residual values, premium branding, a top-notch driving experience and the charm and cheeky looks that Mini is renowned for.

The continued success is well deserved in the face of ever-increasing competition, but its still no surprise to see that our readers have once again chosen the Mini as BusinessCars Premium Supermini of the Year.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva - Trend:

PACE can't ignore the problems of Nagorno-Karabakh and the sufferings of the ordinary people who are facing the shortage of water from the Sarsang reservoir, which is controlled by Armenia, said Milica Markovic, PACE rapporteur.

Markovic is also the author of a report titled "Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water".

"The matter rests in the population of the Council of Europe and an OSCE member state, and the humanitarian and social problems concerning us directly," she said, addressing a PACE session in Strasbourg.

"The problem regarding the provision of the Azerbaijani population with drinking water is very important," she said. "Despite the Azerbaijani authorities' all efforts to provide the population with drinking water, it is not enough for irrigation."

Markovic also said the Armenian side has refused to cooperate on the issue.

The Sarsang reservoir was built to provide residents with water and irrigate agriculture in the border areas. But after the occupation of these lands, Armenia has been using this reservoir as a tool of humanitarian and ecological terror.

In winter, the Armenian side intentionally opens the floodgates and creates conditions for flooding of the surrounding areas. In summer, Armenia doesn't allow to use the reservoir. As a result, there are serious problems in provision of people with water, irrigating agriculture and preserving biodiversity.

The use of water, according to international conventions, is an integral part of human rights.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26



By Aygun Badalova - Trend:



The resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on a report, titled "Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water" can in a good way affect the peaceful process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Nathalie Goulet, French senator told Trend.



This resolution is very important, and it clearly shows who is the aggressor, according to Goulet.



"Armenians are clearly on the wrong side of history and on the wrong side of the international law," she said.



She also stressed that the adoption of this resolution is crucial decision because it is a step to international recognition of historical and legal right of Azerbaijan on territories occupied by Armenia.



The mentioned report prepared by MP Milica Markovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) was adopted Jan. 26 at the PACE Winter Session in Strasbourg.



The Sarsang reservoir was built to provide residents with water and irrigate agriculture in the border areas. But after the occupation of these lands, Armenia has been using this reservoir as a tool of humanitarian and ecological terror.



In winter, the Armenian side intentionally opens the floodgates and creates conditions for flooding of the surrounding areas. In summer, Armenia doesn't allow to use the reservoir. As a result, there are serious problems in provision of people with water, irrigating agriculture and preserving biodiversity. The use of water, according to international conventions, is an integral part of human rights.



The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.



The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Market volatility creates buying opportunity, but minimising risk is key.

This years share rout should have value investors asking if it is time to buy large-cap Australian equities on market weakness. Another strategy is buying into the source of the volatility  Asian equities, excluding Japan.

Granted, buying stocks in China, India, Korea, Taiwan or south-east Asia countries will test even hardened contrarians amid growing pessimism towards the region. Further commodity prices falls and a rising Greenback could drive Asian equities even lower.

But the key to successful portfolio investing is finding markets with attractive, sustainable long-term fundamentals and buying high-quality companies that are best placed to benefit, when they trade below their intrinsic or true value.

Trying to pick market inflection or turning points and be a hero rarely works. A better strategy is adding to portfolio during periods of extreme pessimism, such as now, and being prepared to buy more if the market falls from here, to average into positions.

There is no way of knowing what the Chinese sharemarket will do tomorrow, next week or next month. Or predicting the catalyst that loosens the bears grips on financial markets and sparks a powerful short-covering rally before the bulls return.

I do know, however, that few investment themes in the next decade will be as powerful as the coming boom in middle-class consumption, most of which Asia will drive. Australian investors must position portfolios to capitalise on what will be on the great trends of our time.

As I have written before for The Bull, an expected increase in middle-class consumers from 1.9 billion in 2009 to 4.8 billion by 2030 on OECD forecasts has profound implications for the global economy and financial markets. Look at the recent success of Blackmores and other western companies selling to Asian consumer markets.

Asian equities, in aggregate terms, look historically cheap. The price-to-book ratio for the MSCI Asia (ex-Japan) index is about 1.1  a figure it has only reached on four occasions, including the Asian and global financial crises.

Yes, care is needed with the price-to-book ratio. As evident after the 2008-09 Global Financial Crisis, book values can be inflated if companies and banks have not sufficiently impaired assets or non-performing loans. But Asian equities have historically produced strong gains over the next few years when the price-to-book ratio gets to these levels.

Price Earnings (PE) multiples, less useful for frontier markets, also suggest better value. Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index, for example, trades on forward PE of 10, its lowest in years. Investors seeking exposure to Chinese companies, on a more reliable exchange, could consider a managed fund that invests in Hong Kong.

Other signs suggest value is emerging in Asian equities. Indiscriminate selling has crunched commodity companies, banks and even consumer-focussed stocks in Asia. Buying during periods when everything is being dumped is invariably the most rewarding. More takeovers and management buyouts in the region suggest the smart money sees value.

Thats not to say Asian equities will not fall further, that higher volatility will quickly subside, or that economic risks will recede. Those who buy now must be prepared for at least another quarter or two of big swings and accept consistently higher risks in these markets.

But the time is right to start lifting a small part of portfolio allocations to Asian equities, gradually over the next six months rather than in one go. This is the opportunity to focus long-term portfolios toward an Asian consumption theme that shows no signs of slowing, based on recent Chinese data. At lower prices.

Strategies to benefit

Consider a three-pronged strategy when adding Asian equities exposure to portfolios. First, use an Australian-based managed fund rather than buying Asian equities directly, to improve diversification.

Second, stick with active managers rather than exchange traded funds. ETFs have their place, but in volatile markets it pays to have professional investors watching your back rather than products, such as ETFs, that replicate an index and the market loss.

Third, look for ways to improve the risk/reward equation. Listed Investment Companies over Asian equities (ex Japan) an example. At 87.5 cents, the PM Capital Asian Opportunities Fund, which I have identified previously for The Bull, is trading at a signficiant discount to its latest pre-tax $1.07 asset backing.

PM Capital Asian Opportunities Fund

#FOTO:306864073:600#

Source: The Bull

The Asian Masters Fund at $1.27, trades below its latest pre-tax net tangible assets (NTA) of $1.34 a share.

Asian Masters Fund

#FOTO:306864074:600#

Source: The Bull

Platinum Asia Investments, at 93 cents a share, trades at its pre-tax NTA of 93 cents. A manager of Platinums standing usually trades at a premium to NTA. At 86 cents, another LIC newcomer, Ellerston Asian Investments, trades below pre-tax NTA of 97 cents.

Options issuance, assuming options are converted, can in theory reduce discounts to NTA and some investors argue that post-tax, not pre-tax NTA, should be used for compaisions. Also, the downturn in Asian equities this year is rapidly driving asset prices lower, so the market is correctly looking forward and adjusting through lower LIC prices.

Even so, several Asian equities (ex-Japan) LICs, from highly regarded managers, are trading well below their NTA  possibly too far. Terrible sentiment towards Asian equities has crunched their shares price this year.

Value investors will recognise an opportunity to gain exposure to Asian equities at a discount during market turmoil, using diversified ASX listed investment companies that trade at an unreasonably large discount to their underlying value  a double-discount of sorts for true believers in the long-term Asian consumption theme, and a method to further reduce valuation risk.

>> BACK TO THE NEWSLETTER: Click here to read other articles from this weeks newsletter

Tony Featherstone is a former managing editor of BRW and Shares magazines. He is not a licensed financial adviser. Readers should do further research of their own or talk to their adviser before acting on themes in this article. All prices and analysis at Jan 21, 2016.
US markets in the first two weeks of 2016 suffered the worst performance in history, and the ASX 200 lost $50 billion in market value in the first three trading days. For stock pickers, the investing adage the strong get stronger should be top of mind going into 2016.

This is the rallying cry of the buy high, sell higher crowd, who believe stocks in strong uptrends tend to stay strong or get stronger. To that end we looked at the list of Top Ten Performing Stocks from the ASX 200 for the 2015 trading year.

#FOTO:306864105:300##FOTO:306864106:300#

Another investing maxim  past performance is not an indicator of future performance  led us to cull the list with a tough criterion of a minimum 50% two year earnings growth estimate. Here are the five stocks that survived the cut.

#FOTO:306864107:600#

APN Outdoor (APO) debuted on the ASX on 11 November 2014, opening at $2.75 and closing its first trading day at $2.60. The company is in the outdoor advertising business and was separated from its parent, APN News and Media (APN), in 2013.

APN Outdoor claims to be the leading outdoor advertiser in Australia and New Zealand, offering customers a choice of digital or static billboards, and advertising in transit, rail and airport locations.

APN Outdoorss first Financial Report release for FY2014 was less than spectacular, with an 11% increase in revenue but a reported loss of $12.8 million. In contrast, the Half Year 2015 results reported on 25 August sent the share price substantially higher. For the period APN saw a 25% increase in revenue and a staggering 447% rise in net profit after tax (NPAT). Guidance released at that time was positive and the company raised it again in October.

APO may claim to be the leading outdoor advertising provider but it has a worthy competitor in smaller rival oOh!Media Ltd (OML). Out of Home Media has a market cap of $645 million and is not in the ASX 200. They provide similar services as APN in both Australia and New Zealand. The company was listed on the ASX but was acquired by Champ Private Equity, and then returned to the ASX on 17 December 2014, closing its first trading day at $1.87. The current share price is $4.31, a 123% year over year increase. The following chart compares the share price movement of these two promising stocks.

#FOTO:306864108:600#

Mayne Pharma Group (MYX) is a specialty manufacturer of pharmaceutical products, both branded and generic, for distribution in Australia and the US. Mayne Pharma uses its expertise in oral drug delivery technology on its own therapeutic treatments as well as for other providers on a contract basis.

Mayne is aggressively pursuing an expansion strategy in its US operations, which appears to have delighted investors. In 2014 the company acquired six branded products from US based Forest Laboratories Inc., and in 2015 it acquired Doryx  a treatment for severe acne  from one of its US partners, Actavis. The companys most recent financial results were less than stellar, but appears on track with its US plans and now has 17 products filed with the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) with another 13 soon to be filed. Management expects a combination of the recent acquisitions along with new product launches and growth in its contract services business to result in significant growth in FY 2016. In FY 2015 Mayne reported EPS of $0.019, which is forecasted to more than double in FY 2016 to $0.051.

The top performing stock on the ASX in 2015 was health product provider Blackmores Limited (BKL). The company supplies both animal and human vitamins and nutritional supplements said to be natural and healthy. One of the many long-term trends in healthcare is the desire for healthier foods and food supplements. The company derives the majority of its revenue in Australia but has operations throughout Asia.

Here is BKLs price movement over the last two years.

#FOTO:306864109:600#

The companys Forward P/E of 30.15 is well below the current Sector P/E for Household and Personal Products at 39.15. Note also the low P/EG and respectable 5 year forecasted P/EG.

The P/EG is a favorite metric of many investors since it includes a companys rate of earnings growth, rather than just prior earnings. Sceptics claim the measure becomes less meaningful if the calculation of the P/EG uses historical growth rates when a companys future growth rate may be slowing. You can see every one of these stocks has a P/EG under 1.0  the gold standard of many investors. In addition, the two year growth forecasts show no signs of slowing. However, growth rates over five years make APO the most attractive, with Blackmores not far behind. As any investor who has been around for a while knows, five years can be an eternity in the stock market, so projections that far out can be equally misleading.

Blackmores has the tailwinds of the better health movement behind it and now the company is ready to launch baby formula here and in China, in partnership with Bega Cheese (BGA). Currently the major providers of baby formula are Bellamys Australia (BAL) and A2Milk (A2M). Some analysts claim both companies are struggling to keep up with the demand in Australia. Here is a price movement chart for those two companies.

#FOTO:306864110:600#

Bellamys is up about 650% year over year and earnings per share are expected to more than double from FY 2015 EPS of $0.109 to $0.235 in FY 2016. Bellamys focuses exclusively on infant and toddler organic food and formula products. Bellamys is now opening offices in Singapore, Shanghai, and Hong Kong to better meet the demand in Asia, which is reportedly huge. Chinese mothers are apparently wary of their own food producers after a growing number of food safety scandals have come to light over the past few years.

Blackmores could benefit handsomely from expanding in China. The company also pays a small dividend but the FY 2015 dividend of $2.03 per share is expected to more than double in FY 2016 to $4.58 per share.

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) is getting a healthy boost from the low Australian dollar. The company has substantial operations in the US, benefiting from the favorable exchange rate as every US dollar earned returns $A1.43 here. In addition, wine made here in Australia and exported also benefits from favorable exchange rates in many corners of the world. TWE exports to more than 70 countries. The company manufactures and sells 12 unique brands in the Americas; one in Europe; and 36 in Australia and New Zealand.

In October of 2015 the company went through a capital raise to fund the acquisition of the UK and US wine assets of international beverage manufacturer Diageo. Some analysts predict the acquisition could lead to double digit earnings growth by FY 2017. For FY 2015 TWEs reported EPS was $0.127, with a FY 2016 forecast of $0.266 and $0.325 by 2017. On 22 January TWE raised its FY 2016 earnings forecast to between $140 and $150 million, substantially higher than the analyst consensus of $120 million. Investors liked what they heard. Here is a five day price performance chart showing the move.

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The final stock is gold miner Northern Star Resources (NST). NST has an attractive dividend yield with substantial growth expected. In FY 2015 the company paid a dividend of $0.05 per share which is expected to balloon to $0.173 by FY 2017.

Gold has always been an investor safe haven in stormy times, often dragging the price of gold miners along for the ride. Here is a one month price movement chart for gold.

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Now here is a one month chart for the ASX 200.

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This suggests risk for investing in NST should global markets recover. However, Northern Star has been one of the most resilient miners in the world over the last 5 years, which have not been good for the price of gold. The following chart compares the five year price performance of Northern Star compared to our largest gold miner, Newcrest Mining (NCM) and the ASX 200 XJO Index.

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Finally, here is five year chart for the price of gold.

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>> BACK TO THE NEWSLETTER: Click here to read other articles from this weeks newsletter
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/01/2016 (2459 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Valeant expects to see production increases this year at its Steinbach plant.

The company made the pledge to Steinbach mayor Chris Goertzen in a letter to the city last month which was received at last Tuesdays regular council meeting.

Valeant president Jacques Dessureault said an estimated 30 percent increase in production volume is expected in Steinbach on products like Solodyn, Tiazac and Glumetza.

Dessureault attributed the increase to a December distribution deal signed with Walgreens which has 8,000 retail stores in the United States.

The president also alluded in his letter to the companys reputation, which has been bruised in recent months over questions about price hikes to certain drugs. Dessureault called the last few months a significant learning process for the company.
Before you ask if Bernie Sanders can win the White House, before you ask if he can topple Donald Trump or Ted Cruz, before you wonder if he can actually beat Hillary Clinton, you must ask yourself this:

Can Sanders win South Carolina?

If that answer is no, then Sanders should fold his tent, go home and be content with leveraging his considerable base of support to effectively move Hillary Clinton to the left on key issues. South Carolina is the fourth state on the presidential primary calendar and, arguably, carries more weight than the preceding contests combined.

Unlike Iowa or New Hampshire, the Palmetto State primary race is 56 percent black.

While its true that Nevada also boasts a more diverse electorate, with Hispanics representing about 28 percent of the Nevada population, turnout may prove anemic. Millennials make up almost half of the Latino vote in 2016 and are believed to be among the least reliable to show up on Election Day. In a state where unions are crucial, white working-class voters still rule the day. Then too, the Sagebrush State is home territory for Sen. Harry Reid, whose politics more closely align with Clintons than Sanderss. In other words, dont look for a progressive revolution in Nevada.

The Clinton campaign has run the calculus and clearly understands the math. Donors wont like it and volunteers may be disheartened, but losing Iowa and/or New Hampshire wouldnt break the back of the campaign. However, losing South Carolina would demand a full-scale re-set at a time when Team Clinton can least afford it. Thus, significant resources are being poured into the state to create a firewall. The odds are certainly in her favor, at this point.

To win a race down South, in the Clinton homeland, Sanders must broaden his already sizeable coalition. Doing so means shoring up support among African Americansa group that not only consistently votes Democrat, but also rarely splits among candidates in any statistically significant way. As a voting bloc, we tend to unite behind a single contender.

It should be said that the Sanders campaign has set out to defy Conventional Wisdom and has developed what one senior South Carolina Democratic called a stunningly strong ground operation. In recent days, state Rep. Justin Bamberg switched his support to Sanders after first backing Clinton. Bamberg is the family lawyer for Walter Scott, the 50-year-old motorist who was killed by Officer Michael Slager last spring. In the run-up to the late February primary, others are expected to join the ranks and formally endorse Sanders. And it was only weeks ago that state Sen. Marlon Kimpson spoke proudly of Sanderss support for comprehensive gun control legislation the lawmaker sponsored in the wake of the Emanuel AME Church massacre.

Sanders, who was once mocked on social media with the hashtag #BernieSoBlack, has spent recent months meeting with key influencers in the Black community. In the wake of #BlackLivesMatter protests that interrupted his speech at the 2015 Netroots Nation convention, Sanders re-tooled his efforts and has begun to talk about race straight-on rather than simply relying on economic arguments.

Its proven a difficult habit to break, but these days Sanders talks less about his history of marching with Dr. Martin L. King and more about persistent inequities in the criminal justice system. He has offered a comprehensive platform on racial justice that address policing in non-white communities, mass incarceration, voting rights, economic disparities, and environmental justice. Princeton University professor Cornel West, former Ohio state Senate minority whip Nina Turner, and rapper Killer Mike have all joined him on the campaign trail.

Will that be enough? Probably not.

Heading into the Feb. 27 primary, Clinton is thought to hold an insurmountable lead among Black voters, who favor her over Sanders by a four-to-one margin. Its worth noting that she was beating then-Sen. Barack Obama in the polls by double in 2008, but lost South Carolina in a stunning upset. Some believed the racial tensions that erupted during that state contest and President Bill Clintons crime bill and welfare reform policies would hurt Clinton this year. That hasnt panned out in any measurable way and, if it had, no other candidate has been able to exploit that weakness. That said, any comparison between Sanders and Obamaas candidates and as leaders of their respective movementsis fools gold.

There were many factors at play, but none greater than this: President Obama had history on his side. Black South Carolinians not only liked what they heard, but also who they were hearing it from. For them, he was kinfolk. But Sanders is more like your mothers brother-in-law that you just met at the family reunion.

Sanders has done a better than decent job firing up young Black voters. Hes become hip-hops favorite old white dude and for the first time some are strongly considering his candidacy. Hes now clocking in at 30 percent in South Carolina, having started the race there in the single digits.

Certainly, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada remain important for Sanders in terms of maintaining the momentum he currently enjoys. However, he must prove, once and for all, that he is a credible candidate for the nomination and for the general electionand that means winning a substantial share of African-American voters.

That could make South Carolina a showstopper. The winner therewhether Clinton or Sandersis likely to walk away with the nomination.
Just in time for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Iranian government has announced that it will be holding another Holocaust Cartoons Contest, in which the cartoonist who most viciously mocks the Nazi genocide will be awarded $50,000. It may be tempting to dismiss such Iranian mischief as harmless foolishness, but Tehrans hateful contest reminds us that political cartoons increasingly are recognized as powerful instruments of influence.

A cartoon in the New York World played a crucial role in the outcome of the 1884 U.S. presidential race: The Democrats plastered Walt McDougalls send-up of Republican candidate James Blaine on thousands of billboards across the state, helping to deliver hotly contested New York to Democrat Grover Cleveland (he won the state by just 1,100 votes). In the early 1900s, politicians in several states were so stung by cartoonists barbs that they introduced legislation to limit what cartoonists were allowed to draw; in Pennsylvania, for example, the governor initiated a bill to stop cartoonists from portraying elected officials as birds or other animals.

In the 1930s, the Hitler regime used cartoons to incite hatred of Germanys Jews. The leading Nazi propaganda organ, the weekly newspaper Der Sturmer, was filled with vicious caricatures of Jews as vampires, insects, and especially as sexual defilers of German women. A typical cartoon would feature a huge, leering spider with a Jewish face attempting to ensnare an innocent German maiden, or a swarthy Jewish doctor hovering over a sedated, half-dressed female German patient.

Israels Foreign Ministry recently released a brief YouTube video comparing the anti-Jewish stereotypes in some contemporary Palestinian cartoons to the images used by Hitler. While one should always be cautious about making comparisons to the Nazis, it certainly was disturbing to see a recent cartoon on a Palestinian Authority website showing a leering, hook-nosed Israeli soldier, beginning to disrobe while pinning down a weeping Muslim woman wearing a headdress representing Jerusalems most famous mosque. The caption read: Al Aqsa is Being Raped.

Israeli officials contend that the recent wave of Palestinian stabbings and car-ramming attacks has been inspired in part by Palestinian political cartoons portraying such violence as heroic and encouraging young Palestinians to use knives and automobiles as weapons.

The best-known examples of the link between cartoons and violence are not the cartoons urging readers to take up arms, but rather the cartoons that were met by violent Muslim protests. These include the riots following the 2006 publication by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten of cartoons depicting Muhammad; the 2015 massacre of the staff of the French weekly Charlie Hebdo, which had published Muhammad cartoons; and last years terrorist attack on a Texas event that was showcasing caricatures of Muhammad.

Such violence has had a chilling effect in some quarters. The editors at Yale University Press in 2009 removed all the Muhammad cartoon images from a book they published about the cartoon controversy. Several prominent cartoonists, including Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury) have asserted that Charlie Hebdos cartoons about Muhammad were the equivalent of hate speech.

But even if that characterization were accurate, the fact is that in America, hate speech is legal. The possibility that someones words may offend is no reason to muzzle the speaker. The right to offend is part of the right to free speech. And frankly, offending people is practically the raison detre of political cartoonists.

That does not mean that every political cartoon deserves the Housekeeping Seal of Approval. It means that it is up to editors to decide if a cartoon is so tasteless that it should not be published. And it is up to readers to decide if they dislike a particular cartoonist so much that they do not want to purchase that newspaper.

Of course there are different reasons people may take offense at a cartoon. Many people were troubled recently when a cartoon in The Washington Post depicted the young children of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz as trained monkeys; there is a general consensus in the political world that candidates children should be off-limits. The Post apologized and pulled the cartoon.

But sometimes cartoons that at first glance appear to be tasteless, may not actually be. Charlie Hebdo last week published a cartoon that many interpreted as suggesting that the drowned Syrian refugee boy, had he lived, would have grown up to sexually harass women. Some pundits, however, understood that cartoon to be mocking opponents of Muslim refugee immigrationsimilar in spirit to the famous 2008 New Yorker cover depicting Barack Obama as a Muslim and Michelle Obama as an armed revolutionary. That cartoon was intended as a comment on how some of the Obamas opponents perceived them.

The vigorous reaction and debate over such cartoons is precisely what one would expect in a free society. In Iran, by contrast, the only kind of political cartoons that can be published without the cartoonist being imprisoned are those which the regime approvesfor example, cartoons denying the Holocaust or comparing Israel to Nazi Germany. Here in America, we ensure cartoonists freedom to skewer hypocritical politicians or antagonize interest groups by guaranteeing their right to irritate or offend. And if they cross the line into the realm of tastelessness, then the natural forces of reason and taste usually serve as a counter.

This informal system of checks and balances has served cartoonists, editors, and the public well since our countrys earliest days. No doubt totalitarian regimes will continue to use cartoons to advance their aims, because they know that cartoons are powerful instruments of persuasion. But for that same reason, free societies must continue protecting the right of cartoonists to compete, unrestrained, in the marketplace of ideas.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend:

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the most serious problem in the region, Dennis Sammut, the British expert, the director of the LINKS research center in London said.

Sammut made this statement during a lecture at ADA University in Baku.

"The conflict is not frozen," he said. "The situation is becoming more dangerous every year."

The expert said that it is necessary to raise the conflict settlement to a new level.

He said that the two sides must focus on the things necessary for people.

"The civil society is a concrete element, forming the society, rather than an ephemeral concept," he said. "It is necessary to create more contacts between people."

"People and civil society should be involved in the conflict settlement," he said. "The international community must be more creative. One must not settle down by the fact that it was possible to organize another meeting at the highest level."

"The EU must play a more active role in the conflict settlement because the South Caucasus is part of Europe, a neighbor of the EU," he said.

As for the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, Sammut said that the work of the Minsk Group must be discussed and considered at all levels.

"The work of the OSCE Minsk Group must be discussed at the level of analytical centers as part of the PACE," he said. "The EU institutions are not only entitled but obliged to speak about this problem."

"I think the OSCE Minsk Group's recent statement on the discussion of two resolutions about Azerbaijan within the PACE winter session is misunderstanding of what the role of PACE is," he said. "I think in the future we will see more institutions interested in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and contributing in its solution."

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.



The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
It took seven years and six days, but President Obama has finally picked up his pen and enacted a series of executive orders designed to begin overhauling the criminal justice system.

On Monday, the president announced a full-scale ban on solitary confinement for juveniles serving time in federal prisons. The longest any prisoner can be punished is 60 days for a first offense and the practice can no longer be used to discipline inmates for low-level infractions. Historically, solitary confinement has been abused, with some inmates serving decades on lock-down in a security housing unit, or SHU.

The Hole, as such cellblocks are commonly known, can have devastating psychological effects. Human-rights activists, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have long said the disciplinary action is overused.

In a Washington Post opinion column Monday titled We Must Rethink Solitary Confinement, Obama pointed to the case of Kalief Browdera 16-year-old who spent nearly two years alone in a jail cell for as much as 23 hours a day at New York Citys notorious Rikers Island facility. Kalief, accused of stealing a backpack and unable to post bail, was never given a trial and reportedly endured unspeakable violence at the hands of inmates and guards.

Kalief became a national symbol for all that is wrong with Americas criminal justice systemoverpolicing in non-white communities, mass incarceration, school-to-prison pipelines, and an inadequate supply of public defenders. Kalief never stood a chance. He was 22 years old the day he killed himself. His mother found him hanging this past June from a rope hed pitched out of a window.

Perhaps the most egregious case is the Angola Three. In 1972, inmates Robert King, Albert Woodfox, and Herman Wallace were accused of murdering a prison guard in the Louisiana State Penitentiary. King spent 29 years in the hole before his conviction was overturned. After hearing the Woodfox case, the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed his conviction, too. Wallace, who was in the special housing unit for more than 40 years before his release in 2015, died of liver cancer three days after he was set free.

There are as many as 100,000 people held in solitary confinement in U.S. prisonsincluding juveniles and people with mental illnesses, the president wrote. As many as 25,000 inmates are serving months, even years of their sentences, alone in a tiny cell, with almost no human contact.

He went on to explain the links to depression, alienation, withdrawal, a reduced ability to interact with others, and the potential for violent behavior, writing that Some studies indicate that it can worsen existing mental illnesses and even trigger new ones.

Prisoners held in segregated housing units are more likely to commit suicideespecially juveniles like Kalief Browder and others with mental illnesses, who are poorly equipped to deal with the adult penal system or belong in health-care facilities.

Before the Obama overhaul, no federal inmate could placed in solitary confinement for longer than 365 days for a first offense. The good news is approximately 10,000 men and women will now be released from the segregated unitsincluding a handful of juveniles and nearly 4,000 adults who were locked down for nonviolent offenses.

Thats progress.

There remains work to be done. Some states have taken action in recent years, but the executive actions do not apply to state-run correctional facilities. While inmates at federal prison camps will see a reprieve, those locked up at the state level may continue to be subjected to this inhumane treatment and as a society we are no better for it. The fact is prisoners held in solitary confinement are most likely to commit new crimes upon release from prison.

The presidents pen cannot solve that. His actions would not have saved Kalief Browders life. Kalief left Rikers without his very soul. We took that from him. We built a system designed to tear down rather than rebuild. That makes us all culpable.

President Obama has 359 days left in the Oval Office. Thats 359 days left to continue looking for ways to make us a better nation, one uses the power of his pen to invest in other reforms.

If, as he wrote, we are to leave our children with a country that is safer, stronger, and worthy of our highest ideals, we must commit to protecting all of themeven those in the criminal justice system.
Weve seen a number of headlines in recent weeks saying that given a choice between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump much of the Republican establishment will go with the latter. The National Reviews recent onslaught against Trump has obscured this a bit, but it is still worth dissecting, because the hunch now held by a number of the GOPs party regulars is that Trump is the most electable Republican candidate in the running.

And this analysis, increasingly common in private conversation with D.C. Republicans but rarely voiced in public, has, somewhat counter-intuitively, a lot going for it.

The big Trump advantage is that he has no actual ideology. Why is that seeming minus a plus? Because the fact that the guy has shown zero aptitude for understanding policy means that in a general election hed need to provide some real specifics about what he intends to do as president. Normally candidates can rely on some in-house brain trust to provide him or her with the gritty details. But Trump doesnt have one of those either, and appears almost entirely dependent on the experts he sees, by his own description, on the shows.

The GOPs ruling class, for all of its many deficiencies, isnt short on thought-out policy positions or white papers. So should Trump become the nominee, its members are assuming they can tutor him. Hell need substance, and they think they can provide it.

Plus, unlike Cruz, Trump has no discernable ideological foundation, so all they would need to do is convince him its in his best interest to keep sounding like a brash, law-and-order populist even as he quietly embraces the Heritage Foundations views on tax policy.

And Trumps ideological looseness also has one other central advantage, and this is one you wont ever hear anyone say over at Heritage: He isnt a conservative, and conservatives have a terrible track record at getting elected president in the post-Reagan era.

There was George W. Bush, sure, but lets remember the mishegoss of the 2000 election, which can politely be called a tie, and then 2004, the only time the GOP has won the popular vote since 1988. Yes, Bush won, but by an exceedingly narrow margin in the midst of a boom economy and a war just three years after a catastrophic and unifying terror attack, and only against a flat-footed Democratic candidate. The typical conservative refrain here is that all the nominees since Reagan havent been conservative enoughan excuse that, at this point, is a tough sell even to most self-described conservatives.

Trump, who has a long record of supporting liberal positions on just about everything at one time or another, can start sounding like a moderate in a real hurry if he needs to. Remember that this is a guy who packaged himself as a center-left sort standing up to Pat Buchanans extremism when he last flirted with a presidential bid. And while we all associate Trump now with radical positions on Muslims and immigrants, its easy to picture him suddenly sounding squishy on just about everything else.

On that note, I wonder how many of his supporters view Trump, the guy with a decades-long habit of bragging about all the women hes slept with, as a sincerely pro-life candidate. The answer is probably fewer than you think: over the summer, Ann Coulter mused that she would be fine with him performing abortions in the Oval Office as long as he ended illegal immigration. And it would be understandable to assume that he would bring the same flexibility to gay rights and guns and everything in between, so long as he assumes its in his best interest to do so. Trumps immigration stance has been so essential to his appeal that hell likely have to stick with it, but theres no reason why he wouldnt be willing to negotiate on just about any other issue.

If youre a conservative policy wonk this is all, how to put it, less-than-ideal. But if youre a Republican whos really interested in winning, Trump starts making more and more sense as a nominee. He would scramble the deck in a general and perhaps overperform with black voters, a constituency that Democrats rely on so heavily that a small change in polling in a place like Ohio can hand the election to the GOP. He might not do as badly with Latinos as many expect, and he could win so much of the white vote as to make up for what he loses everywhere else.

All of this is hypothetical, but the point is this: We do have an idea of how well a typical conservative Republican candidate would do in a presidential election, and its probably in the neighborhood of 220 or so electoral votes; but we have no idea how Trump would perform. He could do even worse than that numberbut he could surpass it, too. After all, Trump is neck-and-neck with Hillary in Pennsylvania, a state essential to Democratic presidential ambitions, and competitive with her in solid blue states like Michigan.

If he wins the nomination he will have done so by throwing out the rulebook and upending what we thought we knew about how candidates are supposed to campaign. He would enter the general as a giant question mark, the man who believes in seemingly nothing but his own ability to win whatever the cost, while having already proven that he can get people to actually go and vote for him.

If the idea of a nationalist demagogue being embraced by conservative influencers because they think they can control him sets off certain historical alarm bells, well, it probably should. But by jettisoning much of modern conservative philosophy while seizing control of the GOPs still-considerable infrastructure, theres simply no knowing how well he could do in a general election. And for a Republican Party so used to failure at the national level, Trump just might provide the electoral shakeup they so desperately need.

The flipside here is that Trump could just implode after he gets the nomination. Voters tire of his antics, Republicans defect in droves to Hillary Clinton (or, should he run, Mike Bloomberg), and Trump bottoms out with around a third of the popular vote. In fact, this might be the best scenario for Republicans in the long run, or at least Republicans interested in keeping the GOP more-or-less the same. The unsavory elements Trump has dredged up within the Republican electorate, your white nationalists and so forth, would be blamed for the failure, allowing the establishmentarians to cement their control of the GOP and keep the crazies in check, coopting some populist ideas while ditching the rest.

Maybe. Or maybe Trumps amorphous populism really does have tremendous appeal in a country so distrustful of all its major institutions, the two parties in particular. Either way, its hard to see why Trump, the overexposed unknown, isnt at least as electable as any of the actual conservatives hes running against.
Baku, Azerbaijan, January 26

Trend:

Updated Madrid principles developed by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were presented in 2010 for storage to Secretary General of the OSCE, spokesperson of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend Jan. 26.

There are some suggestions of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov among the ideas put forward for the implementation of the updated Madrid principles, Hajiyev said.

He also mentioned, that for the discussion of these proposals, Lavrov paid visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia, held discussions with the Presidents and Foreign Ministers of the two countries. In connection with this the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov paid a visit to Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today at a press conference in Moscow that all the documents on the conflict were presented to Secretary General of the OSCE. He also said that there are no any other documents related to the conflict.


Print this page Abuse of diplomatic immunity has to stop By By Mark Stephens, Howard Kennedy

January 25, 2016 5:19 P.M



London, England (TDN) The most borrowed new book at the United Nations headquarters library last year was a curious title: Immunity of Heads of State and State Officials for International Crimes. Some wondered why UN staff were suddenly so interested in a tome examining how diplomats can avoid criminal charges abroad. But I cant say it came as much of a surprise to me. Ive noted with serious concern over recent years the disturbing trend of diplomats using their privileges of immunity to avoid justice. The world needs to wake up to the true extent of this scandal, especially when you consider there are around 20,000 diplomats currently entitled to immunity from the UK courts alone. Citing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations  originally introduced in 1961 to protect ambassadors and heads of state from the perils of working in hostile environments  diplomats have been regularly evading justice in both civil matters and criminal cases, ranging from parking fines to the possession of fire arms. It has become such a problem in the UK that Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond was last year moved to reveal how diplomats serving in Britain had racked up more than 87 million in unpaid congestion charges since 2003. If any further evidence were needed of the farcical use and abuse of immunity, it came last week at the High Court in London, where Saudi diplomat Walid Juffali was attempting to halt a claim by his ex-wife for a legally binding settlement and a share of his 4bn fortune. As St Lucias Permanent Representative to the UNs International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mr Juffali asserts that he has full protection from the British justice system  a right he is apparently only too happy to exercise in a bid to protect his wealth, following the breakdown of his 13-year marriage to former supermodel Christina Estrada. Mr Juffali has not attended a single meeting of the London-based IMO since his appointment, holds no qualifications in shipping or maritime law, and has no obvious connection to St Lucia. The stunning fortuity of the appointments timing cannot be ignored either. After separating from Ms Estrada in October 2013, Mr Juffali is alleged to have visited the Caribbean island for the first time less than two months later. Within 12 weeks the IMO was notified of the St Lucian Governments request to appoint him to the role. On the September 4 2014 he was finally added to the London Diplomatic List. Just 13 days later, once immunity was secured, he divorced Ms Estrada in Saudi Arabia without her knowledge. As former President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Im struggling to think of any more cowardly abuse of the mighty institution that is diplomatic immunity . But beyond the specifics of the case, these proceedings should also be seen as a test for the British legal system. If Mr Juffali is successful in having his wifes claim for financial relief struck out by the courts, and Kenny Anthonys government in St Lucia is allowed to maintain its stance of simply sticking two fingers up at the Foreign Office, then I have no doubt it will set a precedent across the entire international community. Corrupt and morally-bankrupt regimes will become a magnet for wealthy people simply looking for protection from the law. Indeed elite law firms are already rumoured to have been approached by super-rich individuals wanting to do a Juffali and obtain similar diplomatic privileges as a direct result of this case. Is the international community really prepared to accept the prospect of wealthy fraudsters and crooks  perhaps the next Bernie Madoff, criminals like drug kingpin El Chapo or even sponsors of terrorism  skirting around legitimate justice systems simply because they hold a diplomatic passport from an impoverished nation? It is scandalous that the St Lucia government is facilitating Mr Juffalis attempts to avoid justice, and the very fact they have chosen not to waive his immunity makes a mockery of the Vienna Convention. Waiving his immunity would clearly not affect his ability to carry out any diplomatic duties. I recall a case in 2003 where Jairo Soto-Mendoza, then secretary to the Colombian Embassys military attache in London, cited immunity after being accused of murdering a mugger who had robbed his son. His immunity was waived by Colombia to allow him to face a trial  the proper thing to do. He was found not guilty. Abuse of diplomatic privileges cannot be tolerated. St Lucias diplomats at the UN should be entitled to immunity, but it is difficult to see what Mr Juffali has done to garner his status, and what job he actually undertakes for them. Should the courts decide to uphold his immunity, I genuinely believe it may be time to re-examine the Vienna Convention to ensure this cant happen again. Mark Stephens is an ex-President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and a human rights lawyer at London-based law firm Howard Kennedy.






Print this page Dominica president pays official visit to the Pope By The TDN Wire Staff

January 25, 2016 7:48 P.M





Savarin meeting with the Pope at the Vatican. Rome, Italy (TDN) On Friday February 22, 2016 the Head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis received the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Charles Angelo Savarin at the Vatican in Rome. A communique issued by the Holy See Press Office described the meeting as being cordial and indicated that the parties discussed the issue of climate change and the recent destruction in Dominica left by the passage of Tropical Storm Erica. Discussions also focused on the bilateral relations between the Holy See and Dominica, and it noted the opportunity for a fruitful and mutual cooperation between the State and the Catholic Church, an institution which offers a significant contribution to the promotion of the dignity of the human person, as well as in fields such as the education of young people and offering assistance to those most in need. President Savarin also met with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States. Their discussions focused on regional and global issues, in particular the protection of the environment. The President was also accompanied by Edward Lambert Dominicas nonresident Ambassador to the Holy See and Dr Gerald Grell and Francis Emanuel. Dominica established diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1982




Vote centers will be used in Brazos Countys March primaries now that the state has approved the system first tested on Nov. 3 for future elections.

The centers allow voters to visit any of 26 polling locations in the county on Election Day, rather than voting at address-specific precinct locations. Brazos County Clerk Karen McQueen said the county received approval Jan. 12 from the Secretary of States office to use the vote centers.

Early voting begins Feb. 16. McQueen said the vote centers still allow the Republican and Democratic parties to hold their primaries at the same locations  voters will just need to sign in at a table to declare which primary they want to vote in.

The last day to register to vote is Monday. Election Day is March 1.

The county had to submit a report to the state on the vote centers performance during the November elections for city and school races and Texas constitutional amendments. In addition to the report, County Judge Duane Peters submitted a letter detailing their success and a public hearing was held in December to gauge local feedback.

The vote centers are intended to make Election Day easier by allowing people to vote at locations most convenient to them rather than requiring them to leave work or school to vote in their home precincts. Several vote centers in November saw high percentages of out-of-precinct voters, with some as high as 95 percent.

The system has been implemented through several pilot programs across the state, starting with Lubbock County in 2006. In 2013, the state Legislature allowed vote centers to be used for primary and run-off elections.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Samir Ali - Trend:

The period of arrest of the former head of the office of the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan Vidadi Zeynalov has been extended, Zeynalov's lawyer Mugan Aliyev told Trend Jan. 26.

Earlier, head of the office of Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and High Technologies Vidadi Zeynalov was dismissed and Sabail District Court made a decision to arrest him for three months.

Zeynalov is accused of misappropriation and embezzlement of funds in large amount and power abuse.

Aliyev said that the three months' arrest, which was chosen as a preventive measure against Zeynalov, will expire on January 26. The court by its decision has extended Zeynalov's arrest until Feb. 21. The lawyer said that he periodically visits his client.

Aliyev went on to add that Zeynalov has no intention to file an appeal regarding the court's decision on the extension of his arrest.

"Vidadi Zeynalov has no complaints regarding conditions of detention and state of health," said the lawyer.
The Declaration of Independence states that we have inalienable rights, among them, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights, our Founding Fathers believed that the top priority of the federal government is to provide for the common defense of our nation.

Now, more than ever, the state of our national security is the number one issue on the minds of most Americans, and rightly so. The United States now faces an increasing number of global threats and challenges that require meaningful action not feckless discussion.

The devastating terrorist attacks in Paris last November proved that America and our allies are facing a vicious and nontraditional enemy that recognizes no geographic or moral boundaries. The December 2015 attacks in San Bernardino, California, grimly highlighted this fact. The global terror campaign of the Islamic State has resulted in some of the deadliest attacks in America and in Europe since Sept. 11.

In the Middle East, the Islamic Republic of Iran continues its aggressive posturing against the United States and our allies. Since the signing of President Barack Obama's naive nuclear agreement, Iran has fired missiles near our naval ships, captured and detained members of our military, violated U.N. Security Council resolutions and increased its stockpile of low enriched uranium -- all despite the nuclear deal. The Islamic Republic additionally continues its material support to the terrorist organization Hezbollah, continues threatening Israel, America's most important ally in the region, and continues to sow the seeds of chaos and death in Syria by propping up the Assad regime.

Compounding our challenges in the Middle East, America faces other threats around world, including an ever-expansionist China in the South China Sea, an aggressive and rearmed Russia that is focused on testing NATO's resolve, and the rise of other militant Islamic terrorist organizations in Somalia and Nigeria.

House vote

In the wake of the recent Paris terrorist attacks, the House voted to fix one of our most pressing internal security weaknesses, our international visa waiver program. Previously, the visa waiver program allowed anyone with a passport from one of the 38 participating visa waiver countries to enter into the United States without applying for a visa and without a basic background check. To address this immediate threat, the Congress tightened control over the program by eliminating the possibility of a terrorist entering one of the visa waiver countries, obtaining a passport, boarding a flight to the United States and entering our country undetected. These safeguards will help make America safer from potential terrorist threats to our homeland.

Another security gap the House addressed in late 2015 was the lack of appropriate counterterrorism screening of Syrian and Iraqi refugees. The SAFE Act would halt the Unites States' acceptance of refugees until proper safeguards and background checks are enacted to fully verify refugee identities and intentions. While we remain sympathetic to the plight of millions of Syrian and Iraqi refugees displaced by the rise of IS and the brutality of the Iranian-backed Assad regime, the refugee resettlement program remains a vulnerable and exploitable program which could be used by terrorist organizations to infiltrate the United States. Not only was a refugee program exploited in Paris, but the FBI just recently apprehended two Iraqi refugees with ties to IS, one in Houston and another in California. Unfortunately, last week, a group of senators, led by Minority Leader Harry Reid, irresponsibly blocked further consideration of this widely-supported, bipartisan bill.

While securing our homeland remains essential, the United States must aggressively maintain its forward military presence. The recently passed omnibus appropriations bill funds our national defense and homeland security at the increased levels necessary to confront the growing threats posed by an increasingly dangerous world.

Budget process

As the House begins to put forth its budget and start the appropriations process for fiscal year 2017, it is imperative we provide our military and troops with the resources and the authority they need to fight and defeat the threats that exist in the world today. We also should be looking into rebuilding and augmenting our Navy to ensure that it truly remains a global force for good and a vital instrument of American power projection. The 272 ships currently in our fleet are not sufficient to meet global challenges. As we work through the funding process, we must provide for a strong national defense in a fiscally responsible manner that reforms procurement and includes strict oversight to eliminate waste and improve efficiencies.

Under Article I Section 8 of the United States Constitution, Congress shall "raise and support armies" and "provide and maintain a navy." These enumerated powers remain the federal government's most important responsibility: "to provide for the common defense" of our Nation.

This is why I strongly believe Congress should support fully our military's fight against the Islamic State's barbarism through an Authorized Use of Military Force -- AUMF -- or Declaration of War against IS. There are, however, many challenges that arise when considering an AUMF or Declaration, especially given the lack of confidence many of us have in the president's ability to come up with a plan to destroy IS.

Updated AUMF

My House colleagues and I currently are discussing what a Declaration of War or an updated AUMF should look like and provisions it must contain. One point that most of us can agree on is that we must ensure that our military commanders have the capabilities and authorities needed to eradicate IS -- not the limited rules of engagement imposed upon them by an administration prone to lead by inaction.

Many challenges lie ahead for Congress in 2016, but our nation's security must remain at the forefront. It is essential that we employ all available resources to stop a nuclear Iran, defeat ISIS and protect our homeland.

We can accomplish these goals by adopting and building upon Ronald Reagan's "peace through strength" approach to national security. The world is safer when America is strong and I remain committed to restoring that strength.
The last legal hurdle preventing the immediate expulsion of the Bedouin residents of Um Al-Hiran and Atir was removed last week (17th January) when Israel's Supreme Court refused to rehear the case.

The Israeli government is now preparing to demolish the two 'unrecognized' Negev Bedouin villages of Um al-Hiran and Atir, and to forcibly resettle their 1,200 inhabitants, who are non-Jewish citizens of Israel, to the overcrowded township of Hura.

The government plans to build a Jewish community, to be called Hiran, on the rubble of the homes of their fellow citizens in the Bedouin village of Um al Hiran. On 23rd August 2015, bulldozers began the work. Nearby, the government plans to expand the Yatir forest to overrun the Bedouin village of Atir.

On November 22, 2015, the Israeli government approved the establishment of five more Jewish communities in the Negev, two of which will be built where Bedouin villages already exist. This decision means that many thousands of Israeli Bedouin citizens will be forced from their homes into impoverished urban townships.

The new Jewish community of Daya will be built on the ruins of the unrecognized Bedouin village of Al-Katamat, which is home to 1,500 people, while the new Jewish community of Neve Gurion will be built on part of the land of Bir Hadaj, a recognized Bedouin village with approximately 6,000 residents.

For the government, there's only one solution: explulsion

The residents of Um al-Hiran are willing to live side by side with their fellow Jews in an integrated community, or in adjacent communities. They would be happy to return to their ancestral lands where they lived before Israel moved them to their current locations in 1956.

But the Israeli government is currently offering them the one solution they do not want - forced relocation to a township where the mayor himself has testified that there is no room for them.

Even as violence rages across the land, the Israeli government continues this work, bringing closer the day when these villages will be razed to the ground and their Bedouin residents forced out so that Jews can move in.

We call upon the government: Do not allow the majority to trample the rights of the minority. Fulfill the promise of Israel's Declaration of Independence to "ensure complete equality of social and political rights for all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or gender." The Negev has room for all of its people; Jews and Arabs can live there in peace and tranquility, building a thriving Negev together.

Why doom the Negev's Jewish and Bedouin residents to live in perpetual conflict, anger and distrust? Rather than take the kivsat harash, the one little lamb (II Samuel 12:1-8) of Israel's most impoverished citizens, we urge the government to live up to the noblest values of the Jewish tradition, honoring the Torah's repeated command not to mistreat non-Jews as Jews were mistreated (Exodus 23:9).
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Up to 22,000 families have appealed to social protection centers for targeted social assistance in various districts of Azerbaijan as of Jan. 26, Salim Muslimov, minister for labour and social protection of population, told reporters Jan. 26.

"We sent our representatives to districts starting from last week," Muslimov added. "They are considering the appeals on the spot. For example, some 1,183 families appealed for the targeted social assistance in the Yardimli district only."

"The most important issue in this area is to increase transparency. This will be ensured through the introduction of an e-system of appeals for the targeted social assistance," he said.

"Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has recently signed an order on allocation of 20 million manats to finance the targeted social assistance," added the minister. "This order will strengthen the social protection of low-income families."

"At present, 5.1 percent of the families are receiving the targeted social assistance," he said. "This figure will increase up to six percent thanks to additional 20 million manats."

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
MIKE LAWRENCE / THE GLEANER Audubon State Park volunteer Jack Mayo (right) gives some pointers on paddle technique to Lynda Schreiner during a free kayak lesson at the park on Father's Day, June 21, 2015.

SHARE Mike Lawrence/The Gleaner Sammy Herdegen (front), Jack Mayo and Conor McClure hike up the Backcountry Trail at Audubon State Park with a wheel barrow full of concrete mix for a bridge building project on the trail. 03-01-2014 Donna B. Stinnett/The Gleaner New John James Audubon State Park museum curator Jennifer Spence was introducted Monday at the Friends of Audubon annual luncheon meeting.

By Donna B. Stinnett

He was only 4 years old when he took his first hike around Audubon State Park's Wilderness Lake.

The very "steep and scary" staircase was so intimidating, said Audubon Park General Manager Mark Kellen, that the only thing that could coax the little fellow to the top was bubble gum.

But that may have been the last time anything at Audubon gave Jack Mayo pause.

In fact, for his Eagle Scout project, Mayo chose those same "scary steps" to rebuild and conquer. It required 500 hours spread out over three months, Kellen said.

For that, and for the many other ways the teen has served the park, the 16-year-old Mayo was awarded the 2015 John James Audubon State Park Volunteer of the Year Award at the Friends of Audubon annual luncheon on Monday.

Mayo, the son of Judi and Allen Mayo, has built other stairs, re-established miles of trails, volunteered as a summer camp counselor for four years in a row, led volunteer groups on work days and taken over the bluebird research project started by Bob and Judy Peak.

"This is a project that checks and maintains 25 bird boxes and records all the information," Kellen said. "And, just this year, he took the initiative to become a facilitator on our Challenge Course."

Also at Monday's meeting, in a room lined with "Hidden Treasures" of seldom or never-seen items from the museum archives, Kellen acknowledged:

Eagles Scouts Sam Gibson, Austin Her, Logan Miller and Nick Herdgen for projects that included adding cameras to bluebird boxes, building a fence and a bridge and creating an outdoor classroom.

The local Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints elders for their volunteer work in cleaning cages, feeding animals and trail maintenance. "This service is invaluable to the park and nature center," Kellen said.

International Paper, a longtime partner of the park. "Their environmental teams have helped out the park in many ways over the last several years through grants and volunteer work," he said. Grants have funded educational signs for the new outdoor classroom and information kiosks at trailheads.

Kellen introduced the new curator for the museum, Jennifer Spence.

Spence is a native of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Her adventures in the world of museum work began in 2004 when she became student manager of a one-room schoolhouse museum in rural Nova Scotia.

Since then, she has worked with art and artifact collections in museums across Atlantic Canada and in Ontario, New Zealand, and Kentucky. She most recently finished a multiyear, grant funded project to catalog the Churchill Weavers textile archive at the Kentucky Historical Society.

Spence holds a master's degree in museums studies from the University of Toronto and a bachelor's degree in historical studies from the University of Newfoundland.

Kellen also said goodbye to Naturalist Julie McDonald who is moving closer to her hometown to work at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Illinois Waterways Visitors Center.

Kellen also presented several short-term, midrange and long-term goals for the park. Some of those include:

Wetlands ownership complete and master plan implemented, including trails, additional boardwalk and parking.

Establishing a new access point into the park and connection to Westlands.

Establishing a policy for acquiring additional Audubon arts and memorabilia.

Upgrades and renovations for the museum.
Donna B. Stinnett/The Gleaner New Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Donnie J. Holland talks with Henderson City Attorney Dawn Kelsey, left, Friends of Audubon President Leslie Newman and FOA board member Jud Royster, right, at the conclusion of the FOA annual luncheon Monday at John james Audubon State Park.

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By Donna B. Stinnett

He's been on the job for only one month, but new Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Donnie J. Holland found time away from a hectic state capital preparing for Gov. Matt Bevin's budget address to attend Monday's annual luncheon of the Friends of Audubon organization at John James Audubon State Park.

Acknowledging that there's been a lot to do and learn in the transition between the administrations of former Gov. Steve Beshear and Bevin that could keep him in Frankfort, Holland said he wanted to come to a gathering of what he called the Kentucky State Parks' top "Friends" organization.

"You're just famous," he said, noting the $2 million worth of assets that the FOA has provided Audubon Park through acquisition of the Tyler Collection and the creation of the Audubon Theatre, as well as the land purchase by six local citizens of the Audubon Wetlands.

"You are so fortunate to have citizens like that in the community," Holland said.

Former Parks Commissioner Elaine Walker was in Henderson in December on her last day in office to announce that the 649-acre Audubon Wetlands will become part of Audubon Park. All that was lacking was a clarification of an easement and the recording of the deed.

Holland said at Monday's meeting that he expects that closing of the sale at the end of February.

"It's is certainly on our radar," he said. "It's important that we get the Wetlands resolved. We don't see any problems."

FOA President Leslie Newman said Holland arrived early on Monday to meet with the organization's board and watch an interpretive movie in the theatre.

Mark Kellen, general manager of the park, told the group that one of the things they talked about was a new entrance to the park.

"We discussed it to the extent that we can," Kellen added.

That's the kind of thing Holland hopes to do more of after getting past the budget process that's about to be revealed through Bevin's budget address on Tuesday.

"The budget was our first priority," he said, noting that his office will be using a lot of the budget groundwork that was laid by Walker's office. "The work that our parks need is 'pretty substantial'. But we'll have to wait and see."

He said some of the parks experienced damage in last week's winter weather event, including two collapsed marina canopies, frozen and broken pipes and other woes.

The Cadiz resident and Golden Pond native said he and his granddaughter attended Eagle Watch Weekend and the excursion yacht CQ Princess was able to set sail at Kenlake, but the weather knocked down attendance for that popular eco-toursim activity.

Holland said he has already been to 29 of the 49 state parks, and hopes to check off many more very soon.

"My mission is to be out in the field," he said.

Holland grew up around Lake Barkley and he has more than one relative who's worked at that park. His own first summer job was in maintenance there.

"I started my work career as a bush cutter and the next thing I know I'm commissions of parks," Holland said. "But there was 50 years in between."

One of the other things he hopes to do during his time as commissioner is build on the parks' partnerships with the public.

"You're the example of how it can be work and be successful," Holland said. "You've changed the course of history for this park."
SHARE Photos provided by Charlene Summerfield Jordan Summerfield, 17, of Henderson, models the dress she wore for her interview with judges during the Kentucky State County Fair Pageant held Jan. 15 and 16 in Louisville, Ky. Jordan is a senior at Henderson County High School and the daughter Charlene and Terry Summerfield of Henderson.

By James Vaughn

One of the five Miss Kentucky County Fair Pageant judges asked Jordan Summerfield during the interview portion of the competition what she would do if a homeless man walked up to her on the street and asked her for money.

Coincidentally, the next day, that happened to Jordan, a Henderson County High School student, as she walked the streets of Louisville, Ky., where the pageant was held.

"I said if I had the spare change, I would give him the money," Jordan said she told the judge. "Then Saturday, during the free time we had, a homeless man actually did come up to me and ask me for money. I thought it was such a coincidence, so I gave him some money to get a burger and he said 'God Bless You.'"

Jordan is the reigning Miss Henderson County Fair Pageant queen. She was crowned this past summer. It was the first time she had participated in a pageant since she was a little girl, the 17-year-old said, and it was certainly the first time she's made it to state, which was an entirely different ballgame.

About 90 girls participated Jan. 15 and 16 in the state pageant, Jordan said, while she was up against only seven other girls at the county level.

"At the state pageant, there are definitely a lot more people in the audience watching," Jordan said. "The runway was probably 70 feet long, if not longer, and there are spotlights on you the whole time."

The Miss Kentucky County Fair Pageant is hosted by the Kentucky Association of Fairs and Horse Shows and is part of an annual convention and trade show. This year's pageant was held at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, where Jordan and her family spent the weekend.

At state, an interview portion is thrown into the mix. All five judges interview the contestants. Jordan said that was the hardest part of the competition.

"There were five judges and it was a one-on-one with each one of them," she said. " ... They can ask you any types of questions. They can ask you controversial questions or your views on politics and opinions on different world events.

"One that I got asked  and I wasn't expecting to get asked  came from one of the male judges. He said that pageants exploit women and he wanted to know how I would counter that argument."

Jordan said she was taken aback because she doesn't believe pageants exploit women, she said. In fact, she believes something entirely different.

"I think that they show class and elegance," Jordan said. "I feel like a young woman who is competing in a pageant has to show poise and confidence. Most people think of a pageant as all outside beauty, but I think it's also beauty from within."

There's something amazing about going in blind, said Jordan, who is also a competitive cheerleader.

"Going into the state pageant, you don't know all of the girls," she said, "so it's kind of neat to get to know everyone and create friendships during the journey."

There are some girls, though, who aren't friendly, she said.

"When you're competing against girls who just come to win the crown and they don't care about the experience as much, that's sad," Jordan said. "Then they get upset when they don't win. If they showed greater sportsmanship, it would be a much greater experience for everyone."

For Jordan, it was a learning experience more than anything. She didn't place in the top five, but she hopes to compete again next year.

"When you compete with girls that have been competing in the system for years, you learn more for the following year," Jordan said. "A lot of the girls were very prepared for this pageant because they've been practicing since they won the county pageant. I know for the Miss Henderson pageant, all of us were new to the system."

This past summer, Jordan wasn't just named Miss Henderson County. She was also named Miss Congeniality, which meant a lot more to her than simply wearing the crown.

"It's where the girls vote for the person who they feel is the nicest and most outgoing," Jordan said. "That's a greater award because you know that you've made lifelong friends and they think that about you."

Jordan said pageants are all about building confidence, and that's why she and her mother, Charlene Summerfield, are big supporters of them.

"It's not really normal for a girl to feel confident in front of 1,000 people in a swimsuit," Jordan said, "but when you're out there, you feel really confident about yourself."

Charlene couldn't agree more. She said she's watched Jordan grow into a strong, confident young woman.

"She started at such a young age that it gave her the confidence to do what she's done throughout her life," Charlene said. "It's given her the ability to talk to people. She's definitely not shy. It will carry over into her adult life."

Charlene is not the stereotypical pageant mom one might see in popular television shows like "Toddlers and Tiaras." It's something Jordan wants to do and she supports her daughter fully, she said.

"I've never pushed her to do something," Charlene said. "I've always asked her every single time and if she doesn't want to do something, we don't do it, and that's really important. They have to be happy and they have to have that persona of being happy and have that desire to succeed."

To the naysayers who don't support pageants for whatever reason, Charlene says they shouldn't knock it until they try it.

"I've actually had people in the past question me as to why she's in pageants," Charlene said. "People look at beauty pageants as just that  'You think your daughter is beautiful and that's why you're doing it.' But it's so much more than that. She has shown so much more than just that she's a beautiful girl, which she is, but she has so much talent as well."
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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Brazil's health minister says the country is sending some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus suspected of causing birth defects -- but he also says the war is already being lost.

Marcelo Castro said that nearly 220,000 members of Brazil's Armed Forces would go door-to-door to help in mosquito eradication efforts ahead of the country's Carnival celebrations. Agency spokesman Nivaldo Coelho said Tuesday details of the deployment are still being worked out.

Castro also said the government would distribute mosquito repellent to some 400,000 pregnant women who receive cash-transfer benefits.

But the minister also said the country is "badly losing the battle" against the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

"The mosquito has been here in Brazil for three decades, and we are badly losing the battle against the mosquito," the ministers said as a crisis group on Zika was meeting in the capital, Brazilia.

A massive eradication effort eliminated Aedes aegypti from Brazil during the 1950s, but the mosquito slowly returned over the following decades from neighboring nations, public health experts have said. That led to outbreaks of dengue, which was recorded in record numbers last year.

The arrival of Zika in Brazil last year initially caused little alarm, as the virus' symptoms are generally much milder than those of dengue. It didn't become a crisis until late in the year, when researchers made the link with a dramatic increase in reported cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect that sees babies born with unusually small heads and can cause lasting developmental problems.

The World Health Organization repeated Tuesday that the link remains circumstantial and is not yet proven scientifically.

But worry about the rapid spread of Zika has expanded across the nation, and the hemisphere beyond. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised pregnant women to reconsider travel to Brazil and 21 other countries and territories with Zika outbreaks.

One of them, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, reported 18 confirmed cases of Zika on Tuesday, though none involve pregnant women.

Officials in El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil have suggested women stop getting pregnant until the crisis has passed.

Repellent has disappeared from many Brazilian pharmacies and prices for the product have tripled or even quadrupled where it's still available in recent weeks since the government announced a suspected link between Zika virus and microcephaly

Nearly 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported in Brazil since October, compared with fewer than 150 cases in the country in all of 2014.

Castro's remarks have proven controversial, both in and outside Brazil.

World Health Organization spokesman Christian Lindmeier said he hadn't seen the remarks, "but in general terms I think that this would be a bit of a fatalistic approach because this should mean we could lay down all our approaches now and declare the war lost.

"I don't think this is the case," he added at WHO headquarters, in Geneva.

In Brazil, some called for Castro to be fired.

"He is incapable of occupying his position," wrote Helio Gurovitz, a columnist with G1, the internet portal of the Globo television network. "To prove that Castro doesn't have the capacity to occupy such an important position, at such a delicate moment with the spread of the epidemic, all that's needed is a selection of such comments."

Both Brazil's Zika outbreak and the spike in microcephaly have been concentrated in the poor and underdeveloped northeast of the country, though the prosperous southeast, where Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located, are the second hardest-hit region. Rio de Janeiro will host the Aug. 5-21 Olympic games.

On Tuesday, officials in Rio also ramped up their fight against the Aedes aegypti, dispatching a team of fumigators to the Sambadrome, where the city's Carnival parades will take place next month, and the region's governor was distributing mosquito-fighting vehicles for poor suburbs of the city.

Officials in another hard-hit South American country, Colombia, also ramped up efforts against Zika on Tuesday.

Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria visited the city of Ibague, a hotbed of Zika, to start a "Tour of Colombia" campaign to educate local officials on how to fight the mosquitoes. Colombian officials say they've recorded more than 13,500 suspected cases and President Juan Manuel Santos said there could be 600,000 cases by year's end.

The WHO's Lindmeier said Tuesday that the U.N. agency plans a special session on the virus during a Geneva meeting of its executive board on Thursday.

__

Associated Press reporters Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Cesar Garcia in Bogota, Colombia, contributed to this report.
NORWALK -- Norwalk Public Schools would need to add three schools to accommodate the city's growing population, according to the results of a recent facilities study.

The study, conducted by Silver, Petrucelli and Associates, suggests reopening Nathaniel Ely School for PreK-5 students, and expanding both Naramake Elementary School and Ponus Ridge Middle School as PreK-8 schools.

Reopening Ely School would restore a much-needed neighborhood school for South Norwalk elementary students. There are currently 332 South Norwalk elementary students, who are bused to various schools around the district.

Re-establishing an elementary school at Ely School would also alleviate enrollment capacity at a number of Norwalk elementary schools, many of which are over capacity currently.

South Norwalk elementary students were originally bused to other schools around the city to ensure school populations were racially balanced.

Today, Norwalk Public Schools is a minority-

majority school district, where minority students represent the majority of the school district, said Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski. He said that if Ely School reopens, it would need to maintain a 25 percent population of white students.

Ely School will likely have a school choice program to attract a small percentage of families from outside of the neighborhood. It is also one of the sites of the city's Head Start program, which is managed by Norwalk Housing Authority.

John B. Ireland, senior project manager at Silver, Petrucelli and Associates, said an elementary school at the Ely School site would not affect the Head Start program.

The Nathaniel Ely School building plan would accommodate a total of 482 students. With approximately 300 neighborhood students attending, the school building would have space to accommodate the additional 25 percent.

The study estimates that renovating Ely School as new would cost about $27 million. Of that amount, the school district would be reimbursed a little more than $6 million from the state.

Expanding Naramake School to a Pre-K-8 school would add a wing to the building, which would include a media center, gymnasium and additional classrooms for grades 6, 7 and 8.

Naramake, which recently underwent renovation in 2014, would cost approximately $37 million to expand. Norwalk would be eligible for a $12 million reimbursement from the project. The expanded Naramake School would seat 734 students.

To expand Ponus Ridge Middle School to a PreK-8 school building would also involve the addition of a wing. The first floor wing would include a shared cafeteria, administration office and classrooms for PreK, Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2.

Grades PreK-4 would be on the first floor of Ponus Ridge; grades 5-8 would be on the second floor of the school. Expanding Ponus Ridge Middle School would cost the city approximately $48 million, of which $15.7 million would be reimbursable.

If expanded, Ponus Ridge School would hold 954 students.

Silver Petrucelli and Associates also presented an alternative three-school recommendation that would include Ely, Naramake and Tracey Schools.

Under the alternative plan, Tracey School would be a PreK-8 school. It involves the school district purchasing the defunct St. Phillip's Catholic School, which would be used as an annex of Tracey School for PreK and grades K-2. Grades 3-8 would be in the current Tracey school building.

Expanding Tracey School would cost approximately $41 million, with a state reimbursement of $11.7 million.

"A lot of work would have to go into negotiating with St. Phillips," said Ireland. "They are interested and that's about as far as conversations have gone."

Over the last two weeks, Silver, Petrucelli and Associates presented the findings of the facilities study with the Board of Education's Facilities and Planning Committee.

Ireland said the recommendations presented Monday are the best recommendations out of more than 60 scenarios his team examined. He added that renovations were considered at many city schools but was not feasible.

A number of city properties were considered for expansion. Other properties such as the National Guard Armory and Norden Systems were also considered.

BOE member Artie Kassimis questioned the addition of a middle school at Naramake considering the study's projections of population growth in other parts of town. Kassimis also pointed out Naramake's close proximity to Nathan Hale Middle School.

Ireland maintained that Naramake is one of the city's best opportunities for expansion. He added that the population of the school is yet to be determined.
NORWALK -- As tax season approaches, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) phone scams are on the rise, Norwalk Police Department is warning residents not to fall prey to phony demands for money or personal information.

The NPD is receiving an increase in complaints of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) phone scams in the area, in which ciminals posing as the IRS call and attempt to trick taxpayers out of their money or personal information. Police said that the scammers have been known to use intimidation tactics, and even threaten arrest.

The Norwalk Department of Police Service reminds residents not to provide any private information over the phone. If you believe the call is a fraud, do not engage the caller. Simply hang up the phone.

If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at (800) 829-1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue -- if there really is such an issue. If you know you do not owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you have never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above, then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at (800) 366-4484.

NPD offered the following tips to help you avoid being a victim of these scams:

 Scammers make unsolicited calls. Thieves call taxpayers claiming to be IRS officials. They demand that the victim pay a bogus tax bill. They con the victim into sending cash, usually through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. They may also leave "urgent" callback requests through phone "robo-calls," or via phishing email.

 Callers try to scare their victims. Many phone scams use threats to intimidate and bully a victim into paying. They may even threaten to arrest, deport or revoke the license of their victim if they don't get the money.

 Scams use caller ID spoofing. Scammers often alter caller ID to make it look like the IRS or another agency is calling. The callers use IRS titles and fake badge numbers to appear legitimate. They may use the victim's name, address and other personal information to make the call sound official.

 Cons try new tricks all the time. Some schemes provide an actual IRS address where they tell the victim to mail a receipt for the payment they make. Others use emails that contain a fake IRS document with a phone number or an email address for a reply. These scams often use official IRS letterhead in emails or regular mail that they send to their victims. They try these ploys to make the ruse look official.

Scams cost victims over $23 million. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, or TIGTA, has received reports of about 736,000 scam contacts since October 2013. Nearly 4,550 victims have collectively paid over $23 million as a result of the scam.

The IRS will not do the following:

-- Call you to demand immediate payment.

-- Call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.

-- Demand that you pay taxes and not allow you to question or appeal the amount you owe.

-- Require that you pay your taxes a certain way. For instance, require that you pay with a prepaid debit card.

-- Ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

Trend:

A strong social policy is held and will continue in Azerbaijan and all the social programs will be expanded if possible, President Ilham Aliyev said at the conference dedicated to the results of the second year of implementation of "State program on socio-economic development of districts of Azerbaijan Republic in 2014-2018".

The head of state said that infrastructure projects in the districts scheduled for this year should be implemented.

"Many of the projects have already been implemented," he said. "But a lot still remains to be done regarding provision of electricity and gasification. I believe that this year, a lot of money should be additionally allocated in particular for the construction of rural roads, because there is necessity in that first of all."

The president added that at the same time, people in the districts will be attracted to work, thus eliminating the unemployment. Ilham Aliyev said that in recent years Azerbaijan has been carrying out a very active work against unemployment.

"As a result of that, the unemployment level in Azerbaijan in recent years dropped down to five percent," said the president. "This is really our historic achievement."

The president went on to add that along with unemployment, poverty level also decreased to five percent. However, President Ilham Aliyev said that in the current situation, the unemployment rate could rise.

"New jobs open, but close as well," he said. "In 2015, over 80,000 permanent jobs were opened and 40,000 jobs closed in the country. This year we should get the statistics right. Greater work should be done in those places, districts where jobs were closed. This issue should be in the focus of both government agencies and the private sector."

He said that the construction of rural roads is an important step in this direction.

It has two objectives - improving infrastructure and attracting people to work, Aliyev said.

"We don't need foreign components for construction of rural roads," said the president. "All the necessary materials are produced in Azerbaijan. This is very important in the current situation."
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STAMFORD  For the second consecutive year, one of America's most colorful birds has flown off course and ended up in a yard in Stamford.

A male Painted Bunting, a five-inch songbird resplendent in bright blue, green, yellow and red plumage, has been seen daily since Jan. 21 in the Cove Road yard of David and Ginger Winston. It is presumed to be the same bird that visited the Winstons' yard last year from March to April. It is not, however, likely the same Painted Bunting that garnered national media attention in November by visiting Prospect Park in New York City.

"You never get tired of looking at it," Stefan Martin, a birdwatcher from Stamford said Monday while looking for the bird.

David Winston, a birdwatcher and nature photographer, said about 80 people have visited in the last week in hopes of getting a look at the vibrantly colored bird. Last year, 330 people visited to see the birds.

"They came from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont ..." Winston said while thumbing through a guest book on Monday. "Everybody has been pretty respectful."

Painted Buntings are typically found in southeastern U.S. and Texas, breeding in states such as Florida, South Carolina and Georgia and migrating in the winter to Florida. They are known, however, to be vagrant birds that stray from their typical grounds. Migrant birds are sometimes wired to fly north instead of south during the winter.

"It's amazing that it came back to the same feeder," Martin said. "These birds are hard-wired to come back to the same spot."

Winston believes it is the same bird that visited last year because the bird has an injured foot.

"Last year he was injured so we gave him a lot of space," he said. "He seems stronger and healthier this year. He comes right in when we are here and I don't think he'd do that if he was uncomfortable. We get feedback from other birdwatchers and if the bird seems stressed we all pull back."

This year the Painted Bunting seems to favor a holly bush in the front yard. It occasionally comes out of hiding to eat seeds that Winston puts on a nearby stump.

"He's been pretty photogenic," Winston said. "You aren't going to get something more colorful in the winter around here than a Painted Bunting."

Martin has visited the site almost daily since the bird arrived last week. He also visited dozens of times last winter.

"Not only is the bird a good-looker, but you get to meet a lot of people and tell stories and build your network," Martin said. "You never know who you'll run into."

As long as the bird finds food it is likely to survive the winter in New England. Whether it remains in Winston's yard or nearby Cove Island Park is anybody's guess. Winston is hopeful that it sticks around until spring before flying south for the breeding season.

"It's been a unique experience. It's not something you expect to happen," Winston said. "I was surprised when it showed up in the area last year (Cove Island Park) but then to wake up one day, look out the window at your backyard feeder and see a Painted Bunting. It's hard not to share."

Winston welcomes visitors and wants as many people to see the bird as possible. He is confident the crowds will continue to be respectful to the neighborhood and the bird.

"It's just one of those things you have to share," he said. "It's not my bird."

Visitors may park adjacent to Cove Island Park along Cove Road and walk across the street in an attempt to see the bird.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Umid Niayesh- Trend:

Boeing did not send any representatives to the Iran Aviation Summit 2016, to be held January 24-25, summit Secretary Ahmadreza Bayati said, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported Jan. 24.

The company needs to receive permission from the US Treasury Department, Bayati said, adding most likely the department has not issued permission for the company's presence at the summit.

Bayati further said that two US companies operating in the fields of air plane leasing and technical issues are involved in the event.

He did not unveil further details about the companies.

Bayati further said that Boeing should settle its problem with the US administration on selling planes to Iran, otherwise it will lose the Iranian market to its rival Airbus.

Iran Aviation Summit 2016 mainly focuses on leasing, not buying, aircraft by Iran in the post-sanction era.

Bayati earlier said that as a result of the fall in oil price and the lack of enough budget, it may be impossible in the next one or two years to buy aircraft.

Among the leasing aircraft companies present at the summit, Bayati mentioned two European Avolon and AerCap companies.

The second motive behind the event, according to Bayati, is to invite large banks and financiers, which are professionally active in leasing and selling aircraft, to come and invest in the Iranian aviation industry.

In addition to Iranian aviation-affiliated companies, more than 160 foreign companies from 35 countries have attended Iran Aviation Summit 2016.

Abbas Akhoundi, the Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development said Jan. 23 that Iran will sign a contract for the purchase of 114 Airbus during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to France which is scheduled for January 27.

He further said that Iran currently has 256 passenger planes with 150 of them operational.

The US-led sanctions on aircraft and spare parts exports to Iran have left the Iranian airlines saddled with not only some of the oldest fleet in the Middle East, but in the world.

Iranian officials say the country needs to buy up to 500 passenger planes in the next 10 years to renovate its ageing fleet.

The analysts believe that Iran's air fleet will grow, however in the near term the country will have to settle for the lease of planes.
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Linkedin Mari Yamaguchi (The Jakarta Post) Tokyo  Tue, January 26, 2016

Two elderly South Korean women abused by Japan's wartime military-run brothel system are in Japan to reject a recent settlement agreement between the two governments and demand that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe give them a face-to-face apology and formal compensation.



Lee Ok-sun, 88, and Kang Il-chul, 87, told reporters Tuesday that the agreement neglected the victims' feelings and was "wrong."



They are among tens of thousands of Asian women sexually abused in Japan's military-run brothel system during World War II. Lee and Kang were forcibly sent to China when they were teenagers in the early 1940s and could not return to their homes until decades later.



Lee and Kang said neither government had asked their opinion ahead of the agreement, which they said was a clear sign they were disregarded. They noted that Abe had not directly apologized to them in his own words, and that Japan stated that its pledge in the agreement to set up a fund was not compensation but for humanitarian purposes.



Lee and Kang now live at a private shelter, the House of Sharing, with eight other victims. Of the 238 South Korean women who were formally recognized as victims of Japan's wartime sex abuse, only 46 are still alive ' most of them in their late 80s and 90s.



The director of the shelter, Ahn Shin-kwon, who accompanied the two on their trip, said the group requested a meeting with Abe and other government officials, but that it is unlikely to take place.



"Not only has Abe not apologized but he hasn't even tried to meet us," Kang said angrily, sitting next to Lee. Both were in wheelchairs. "Why doesn't he come out and apologize? We want him to meet us face to face," she said.



Kenko Sone, a spokesman at the Prime Minister's Office, said there is no immediate plan for Abe to meet with the two women during their visit, or other so-called wartime "comfort women" in the future.



The December agreement included an indirect apology from Abe and a Japanese pledge to provide 1 billion yen ($8 million) to a fund for the South Korean victims.



Japan in 1993 acknowledged forcing women into military brothels, often by deception and sometimes by physical force. The government set up a private fund in 1995, but that was not seen as sincere by some, especially in South Korea.



The women said they suffered repeated violence by Japanese soldiers, especially when they tried to escape from the brothels. Even today, they are scared of men in military uniforms, even those on TV, Ahn said.



"Comfort women were not treated as human beings. We were considered objects given to soldiers," said Kang, taking off her pink knit cap to show a head injury inflicted by a Japanese soldier. She then wept silently.



With time running out, the women are frustrated.



"We were forcibly taken (to military brothels) and came back full of scars. We were stabbed with swords, whipped and beaten. We fell ill and we shed blood. And yet Mr. Abe has ignored us victims, hiding from us," Lee said. "It seems as if he is waiting until all the victims are gone. But we will never die." (kes)(+)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

After experiencing an economic slowdown in 2015, four Indonesia sectors are projected to continue to absorbing a high number of skilled workers this year, especially those with international experience and multilingual ability, a survey reveals.



The four sectors are e-commerce, digital, health care and insurance, while the commodity and oil-gas industries are the least promising for Indonesian professionals, said Robert Walters Indonesia director Rob Bryson.



"The demand for specialist professionals will continue to outstrip the supply in Indonesia. In addition, this will fuel the interest for returning Indonesians currently working or studying abroad," he said on Monday in Jakarta.



Fifty-three percent of the employers surveyed by Robert Walters were willing to pay salaries of up to 15 percent higher to Indonesians who returned home after working abroad. However, such workers usually demanded salaries that were at least 20 percent higher.



According to the survey, the highest salary increase was in banking and financial services, with a 60 percent increase. Legal and human resources followed with a 25 to 50 percent rise, while jobs in accounting and finance, sales and marketing and IT saw a 20 to 40 percent salary increase.



Robert Walters (Singapore) spokeswoman Germaine Lim explained that many IT companies would look for IT professionals along with marketers, finance and compliance workers who understood the digital business.



"English and local language fluency is important due to the growing investment from abroad, especially in sectors like e-commerce and IT. The bilingual ability will help international startups in doing projects, especially for the lawyers," she said. (ags)
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Linkedin Aman Rochman (The Jakarta Post)  Tue, January 26, 2016

As heat from the morning sun begins to radiate through the city located at an altitude of some 440 meters above sea level, a number of women and elders are packing used articles and trash in plastic bags and sacks in their house yards. At about 8:30 a.m., they take the packs by motorcycle and pushcart to a resident's house for weighing.

This vignette is a glimpse of waste handling activities in a trash bank unit in Malang, East Java. The Malang Trash Bank (BSM) is a cooperative set up in 2011 with its head office on Jl. S. Supriyadi. It also serves as the center of trash collection and management with a display room and banking system, receiving 3 tons of dry or inorganic rubbish daily.



BSM members comprise community groups, school groups and individuals. Unit members, groups or individuals, gather and sort trash from their homes. Groups under community units (RW) or neighborhood units (RT) deliver their trash to unit executives for weighing. Individual members send their trash directly to the central BSM.



Trash delivery time is based on consensus for groups and on trash availability for individuals, normally once in a month on average. Group trash is collected by dump trucks and taken to the central BSM for further sorting, packing and weighing by warehouse workers.



Weight notes are sent to the trash bank for calculation and inclusion in unit or individual savings books.



'The BSM has made me accustomed to taking care of rubbish by separating dry garbage from wet garbage to be gathered, which proves to produce economic and environmental benefits,' 45-year-old community group member Trilaman said.



Inorganic trash from households is grouped by the BSM into 70 types. Members who strictly sort their rubbish according to the categories can earn a lot more for their trash.



'The bank applies a transparent pricing system for members to avoid price manipulation and its operation is handled by local youths,' said Kamala, a BSM executive. The trash from members after being sorted in warehouses is placed in collection rooms as indicated by their categories.



Used plastic beverage bottles are directly processed into plastic chips after being separated from their labels and caps and grouped into their colors. Used plastic bags, paper, iron and bottle caps will be packed and sent to factories in Malang and Surabaya. Some of the processed plastic bags will return in the form of plastic sheets to the BSM for handicraft making.



Plastic packaging for food, soap, detergent, shampoo and coffee among others is also be recycled into various products such as umbrellas, handbags, hats, tissue holders and brooches. 'I've been a BSM member for two years and received skills training in handicraft making with recycled materials, so I can now sell my products online,' said a crafter, Nur Afia.





Not all BSM savings can be disbursed freely. Especially for group members, some of their money is to be spent on environmental development around their units such as park construction or tree planting. Additionally, their savings can be exchanged for basic necessities, electricity bill payments and health insurance, for at least a month after trash savings are made.



So far, only inorganic waste is handled by the BSM, leaving wet garbage to the Supit Urang sanitary landfill as the trash bank's land area is too small for a worm breeding and compost making site.



'The volume of trash handled by BSM is indeed smaller than that handled by the Supit Urang landfill but it is an adequate solution to the problem of inorganic waste,' said Teguh Sembodo, Head the BSM Operation Division.



It is hoped that efforts such as this will indirectly and gradually shape the mindset of local citizens so that they avoid dumping waste carelessly. In this way, residents will mutually assist each other to better manage household rubbish in order to create a clean and healthy urban environment.

' Photos by JP/Aman Rochman
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Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong and Margareth Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

Aburizal Bakrie left government celebrations in suspense on Monday night, refraining from declaring his party's full support for it.



In his speech at the closing of the party's national leadership meeting (Rapimnas), the businessman-cum-politician who has clung to the party chairmanship for over six years, said that the party would formally declare its allegiance to the government in its upcoming extraordinary national congress (Mubaslub).



'We declared that we would oppose the government at the last national congress [in Bali], so it takes another national congress to change [our political allegiance],' he said.



Party executives from regional chapters declared support for President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, but their pledges were led by senior member Yorrys Raweyai, instead of Aburizal.



Aburizal admitted that as of Monday, many party executives from regional chapters were still reluctant to agree with the Mubaslub, but said that he would still try to run the congress as a token of his commitment to Vice President Jusuf Kalla and the leader of the other Golkar camp, Agung Laksono.



Following defeat in the 2014 presidential election, incumbent party chairman Aburizal held a national congress in Bali in December, where he raised chairmanship requirements, making only himself eligible for the position. The congress finally unanimously granted him a second term as party chairman.



His iron-fist approach to securing the chairmanship led to resistance among the party elite, led by Agung.



The splinter group later held another national congress in Jakarta that unanimously elected Agung as party chairman.



Agung's camp later gained recognition from the Law and Human Rights Ministry, which issued a decree recognizing his central executive board committee line-up.



Both rival camps have since been involved in battles to have their leadership of the country's oldest political party recognized.



The Supreme Court finally revoked the ministerial decree and returned the party leadership to Aburizal, the party chairman before the internal dispute erupted.



The verdict, however, did not automatically acknowledge Aburizal's committee as the ministry refused to issue a new decree listing the new central executive board line-up that Aburizal formed at the Bali congress.



Kalla was cought off guard by Aburizal's statements, since the agenda at the closing of the Rapimnas included the party's full endorsement of the government. Agung also did not attend the closing ceremony. Especially after Aburizal reaffirmed the party's commitment to support the government to amend the Constitution.



The government, along with the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has been seeking to amend the Constitution to give greater authority to the People's Representatives Council (MPR) for deciding on state policy guidelines (GBHN).



Speaking after Aburizal, Kalla quipped that Aburizal was dragging out the party's support for the government since he was seeking the 'temporary recognition' of a ministerial decree to recognize his central executive board line-up.



'Since [Aburizal] directly asked the Vice President, why of course, it should be granted,' Kalla said.



Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly who was also present during the meeting said that the government was ready to acknowledge Aburizal's leadership to pave the way for the Munaslub.



'Of course, the Riau [leadership],' he said, in response to queries over which camp he backed in the Golkar leadership battle.



The Riau leadership refers to Aburizal, who was appointed chairman at a national congress in Pekanbaru, Riau, in 2009.

____________________________________

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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The Golkar Party's splinter faction led by Agung Laksono has expressed its support for the holding of an extraordinary national congress, an initiative of party chairman Aburizak Bakrie's camp in an effort to end the year-long conflict within the party.



'From the beginning, we have believed that a national congress was the only solution,' said Agung faction secretary general Zainuddin Amali in Jakarta on Tuesday as reported by kompas.com.



The rivalry relates to which senior politician is Golkar's rightful leader. Aburizal was elected as chairman at the party's national congress in Bali in November, 2014, and Agung was elected at the Ancol national congress in December, 2015.



The extraordinary national congress was proposed by Aburizal's camp at the party's national leadership meeting in Jakarta, which was attended by senior party members, former president BJ Habibie, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and former Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tanjung.



Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly were also presented at the closing ceremony of the meeting from Jan. 23 to Jan. 26.



Previously, Kalla was appointed by the party's internal tribunal to chair a transitional team, whose task is to organize the national congress for the party that was once the political vehicle of former president Soeharto.



Amali, however, argued that any congress should be organized by the Golkar leadership established at the Riau national congress in 2009 at which Agung Laksono was elected as deputy chairman and Aburizal as the party's chairman.



Therefore, he added, the government needed to issue a degree to give a limited mandate to the Golkar leadership elected at the Riau congress to organize the planned national congress, Amali added.



'[Through the decree], the Riau leadership should be given the mandate to organize the congress no later than June, 2016 and must involve all parties,' he said, adding that Agung would support the plan with those conditions.



During the three-day national leadership meeting, party deputy chairman Yorrys Raweyai, who left Agung's camp and joined Aburizal's, said the national congress would be organized by the Golkar executive board and the schedule would be decided by Aburizal.



Amal said that Agung had rejected the meeting because he was still under the impression that it would only be organized by Aburizal's camp.



However, after there was a guarantee that the congress would be organized by both Aburizal and Agung's camps, Agung would accept the plan, Amali said. (bbn)(+)
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Linkedin Erika Anindita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The North Sumatra executive board (DPD) of the Golkar Party leadership formed in a national meeting (Munas) in Bali in November 2014, has called on the party chairman, Aburizal Bakrie, to step down in order to ensure the legitimacy of an extraordinary national meeting (Munaslub) to select a new party chairman.

DPD North Sumatra secretary Sodrul Fuad said that his party constituents rejected an idea to organize an extraordinary national meeting. He further said that the Aburizal-led Golkar Party would not be able to hold either a Munas or a Munaslub because it could happen only if it was supported by two-thirds of the provincial executive boards across the country.

'If we look at the party's internal bylaws and rules of association, a national meeting or an extraordinary national meeting can only happen only if Bang Ical (Bakrie) steps down,' Sodrul said during a discussion held during Commission A, which tackled organization-related matters at the party's national leaders meeting (Rapimnas) at the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.

The Commission was tasked to discuss the possibility of holding either a Munas or a Munaslub, in which they will select a new party chairman.

On Sunday, 34 provincial executive boards and 10 Golkar-affiliated organizations conveyed their stance.

Of the total, 13 votes were in favor of organizing of a Munaslub, 16 rejected a Munaslub, seven left the matter to the Golkar Party's central executive board, three left the decision in Bakrie's hands, as the party chairman, and five said they would follow any decision made during the Rapimnas.

Those provincial executive boards whom rejected the Munaslub are from Aceh, Bali, Bengkulu, Central Sulawesi, Jakarta, Jambi, Lampung, North Sumatra, Papua, Southeast Sulawesi and West Java.

On Monday, provincial executive boards from several other provinces, such as East Java and West Kalimantan, also voiced their rejection with regard to the organizing of a Munaslub. Only the South Sumatra executive board were bold in their support of the Bakrie camp's request to hold a Munaslub. (ebf)
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Bandung, West Java  Tue, January 26, 2016

Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil said on Tuesday he did not have any problem with citizens who supported or were involved in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. However, he called on LGBT community members not to publicize their movement, especially on social media.

"For me, I basically am not bothered about other people's personal matters. What becomes problematic is when there is a private matter that cannot be accepted as the norm and it is publicized," Ridwan said as quoted by tempo.co on Tuesday.

The Bandung mayor added that he would take action against citizens caught publicizing LGBT issues openly on social media, such as by suspending their accounts.

"We cannot live freely as we want. The fact is that there are people who are 'different', we don't know and that is their business. Sexual preferences should be a private matter and cannot be exposed or campaigned about publicly because there are social behaviors that are not acceptable in Indonesia," he said.

Ridwan said that despite it being a private matter, there were still rules people should adhere to when they accessed social media. He cited the example of rules against pornography, an issue which was considered inappropriate and not fitting public norms. Such boundaries were what the Bandung city administration would adhere to when deciding whether to take action or not, he added.

Ridwan said several accounts on Twitter had been suspended due to LGBT-related posts, showing that social media also had its boundaries.

Recently, a Twitter account that had been posting obscene homosexual images received strong condemnation from online users and has since been suspended.

Ridwan, who is an active user of social media, said he was not afraid of taking steps against those who were openly campaigning for LGBT.

"Entering the realm and opening oneself up and inviting others indirectly, in my opinion is a violation of ethics and social norms, and I will firmly take action against it," Ridwan said. (liz/ebf)
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Linkedin Kornelius Purba (The Jakarta Post) Davos, Switzerland  Tue, January 26, 2016

Pulp and paper conglomerate Sukanto Tanoto and his wife Tina proudly smiled as their son Anderson delivered his closing remarks at the Indonesia Dialogue Lunch in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. There were about 200 guests who had paid for lunch at the business discussion.



Moderated by Lippo Group's John Riady, Trade Minister Thomas Lembong and Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, the panelists did their best to woo investors at the global forum. Bank Mandiri president Budi Sadikin and Anindya Bakrie, the son of businessman and chairman of the conflict-torn Golkar Party, Aburizal Bakrie, were also speakers.



Meanwhile, the son of Tommy Winata was active in organizing Indonesia Night, an event sponsored by his father. Other children of Indonesia's rich elite were also present and active.



The enthusiastic involvement of the potential successors of Indonesia's conglomerates in the discussion and in Indonesia Night played a substantial role in backing up the aggressive trade and investment diplomacy of the two ministers and the country's largest bank in wooing the global participants of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF).



Thomas, whose ministry co-hosted the two events with counterparts from the private sector, assured the audience that the government was serious in dismantling protectionistic trade and investment policies because it believed that an open economy was the only way to compete in a global market. The 44-year-old former businessman avoided the term 'liberal' because such a term is politically unwise for Indonesia's domestic audience.



'We want to dismantle protectionism,' the minister emphasized.



The audience also shared his view that Indonesians had succeeded in humiliating the terrorists who attacked Jakarta last week.



Bank Mandiri's Budi, 52, stole the show with his persuasive approach to promoting infrastructure projects in the country and by teasing super-rich Indonesians to bring back their money from Swiss banks to his bank.



'During good times, Indonesia often made bad policies, but in bad times, Indonesia made good policies,' the president of the state-owned bank said. He also cited offical data that showed that Indonesia's banking industry was much stronger now with an average capital adequacy ratio above 17 percent.



The active participation of young businessmen is a very encouraging development compared to the usual preference of their parents to avoid public appearances and to keep a low profile. These young people strongly demonstrated their identity as citizens of Indonesia, who like other young Indonesians, are very keen to contribute to the development of their motherland.



They belong to the post-Soeharto generation who have practically never had a traumatic experience as a minority group. For about 32 years until Soeharto's fall in May 1998, Indonesians of Chinese descent often suffered from systematic oppression and discrimination.



Another young man, Anindya Bakrie, even bravely took a different stance from his father Aburizal. As a speaker in the discussion, he openly supported the economic vision of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and praised the government's economic progress. In the past, Anindya was grouped in the pribumi (native) Indonesian category, a contrast to non pribumi. I could not detect any distance or gap between Anindya and his young compatriots during the session.



They represent millions of Indonesians who want to participate in the country's development because it is good for their future and because they feel an obligation to serve their country, regardless of ethnic, religious or social background. They do not just come from families who manage giant and international companies, but from middle-class families who operate small and medium businesses.



These young people could be a form of working capital for the President when the government is able to absorb their energy by involving them in economic policy-making and by providing competitive business opportunities.



Members of this young generation want to be global market players and their parents have prepared them from childhood to continue their business empires.



But they can easily switch directions to other parts of the world, especially if the government still sticks to the old-fashion dogma that business should follow the government. For them, Jokowi's administration is an equal partner and they are ready to confront the government when they disagree, or when their business activities are affected by the government's inconsistent policies and regulations.



There were hundreds of meetings, discussions, private negotiations and exhibitions at the Davos WEF. Top business players such as Microsoft's Bill Gates are regular participants in the global gathering. Film star Leonardo DiCaprio talked about global environmental issues including the Sumatra forest fires last year.



Ministers Thomas and Bambang held many meetings and negotiations with guests and counterparts. Hopefully, Budi also succeeded in bringing home some of the money deposited by super rich Indonesians in Swiss banks.



Indonesian participation in the Davos forum was strategically important, even though investors and traders will only flock to Indonesia when they regard Indonesia as a really lucrative market.



The active participation of the children of Indonesia's tycoons in promoting their nation is encouraging. We should be proud that our young citizens are committed to building this nation. They are our future.



________________________________



The writer is senior managing editor of The Jakarta Post.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

Trend:

Realization of the state program on socio-economic development of regions in Azerbaijan is a successful step, said President Ilham Aliyev.

The president made the remarks at the conference dedicated to the results of the second year of implementation of "State program on socio-economic development of districts of Azerbaijan Republic in 2014-2018".

President Aliyev said the third program was adopted in 2014 and is being successfully implemented.

"Each year we discuss the implementation of this program, and define the directions for further activity," he said.

The president said that when the first program was adopted in 2004, there was a task to develop the regions of Azerbaijan rapidly.

"It is necessary to implement infrastructure projects in districts, to create jobs and social enterprises to make the development of the country comprehensive and sustainable," President Aliyev said.

The head of state said the economic crisis intensified even more in the world in 2015.

"The world economy is yet unable to get out of the crisis," said the president. "Having recently participated at the Davos World Economic Forum, I again witnessed that the global economy will remain in a difficult situation for now."

The president noted that despite the crisis, many issues were solved in Azerbaijan in 2015.

"All the tasks outlined since the beginning of the year have been fulfilled," he said. "It is indeed our great success, given uneasy geopolitical situation and the global economic crisis. That's because bloody clashes, wars continue in our region, and new hotbeds of confrontation are being created."

"The people who have lost their homes, loved ones and property, headed to Europe, and what awaits them there -- all happens in the eyes of everyone," he said. "Unfortunately, migration crisis exacerbates Europe's radical forces. It is the greatest danger for Europe, for us, and for the entire world."

He added that Azerbaijan has been playing its role in strengthening the dialogue between civilizations for many years.

Unfortunately, confrontation, misunderstanding, and strife are observed on a global scale instead of dialogue, Aliyev said. "This is the present economic and geopolitical situation."

The president voiced concerns in connection with the situation ongoing in the region and the world. "We have to work even harder. We need to successfully carry out our policy and fulfill all the tasks facing the country. I believe that Azerbaijan was able to maintain the dynamics of successful development in all areas in 2015," he added.

The president said the country's international prestige has greatly boosted.

"Last year, I made 20 official and business visits abroad," Aliyev said. "Heads of more than 15 foreign countries and governments visited Azerbaijan, which is a progress itself. It shows that Azerbaijan plays a very active role in the international arena, and there is a great respect for Azerbaijan in the world. I see it every time I travel abroad. This time, taking part in the Davos forum, I once again saw a great favor and respect towards the policy, the position, principle stand of our country, and towards the achievements."

"We successfully continue cooperation with international organizations," said the president. "We strengthen activity within the framework of organizations, where we hold membership. We have established relationships based on mutual respect with all other organizations and we want to deepen these relationships. I believe that our activity with international organizations will be carried out more rapidly in 2016."



Socio-political stability is maintained and ensured in Azerbaijan, and the main reason for that is the unity of the government and the people, said the president.



"That's because our policy protects the interests of the Azerbaijani people," said the president of Azerbaijan. "For me, interests of the Azerbaijani people and the Azerbaijani state are above all."

President Aliyev said that the essence and goal of all the work being carried out is to create an even more powerful state, create even better conditions for the people of Azerbaijan to live and develop in welfare and security.

"Therefore, ensuring public and political stability is natural in Azerbaijan," said President Aliyev. "I would like to reiterate that this reality is ensured by national solidarity, cohesion of our people around one idea and thought-out policy, achievements, despite the fact that the situation is aggravated in the surrounding regions and many countries of the world, and internal conflicts occur. In such a situation, of course, the example of Azerbaijan is very important for the world."

The president went on to add that Azerbaijan's experience is studied in many places abroad.

The president said important steps on democratic development were made last year.

"Azerbaijan is confidently going through the path of democracy," he said. "This is our deliberate choice. I am fully confident that the fundamental economic reforms and economic development cannot be achieved in isolation from the democratic processes. Therefore, political and economic reforms in Azerbaijan are held, and will be held simultaneously."

Aliyev went on to add that the parliamentary election at the end of last year proved once again how much the country is faithful to democracy.

"According to all participating observers, the parliamentary election [in the country] was transparent and fair, the will and desire of the Azerbaijani people were fully provided," he said.

"The election results are a very big support for the policy that we pursued in recent years. That's how I perceive the results of this election. The people of Azerbaijan once again showed its great support for our policy."
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The House of Representatives Legislation Body (Baleg) has completed a list of 40 priority bills for the 2016 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), including several controversial ones that may impact businesses and anti-graft campaigning.



Bills on the prohibition of alcoholic beverages as well as on banking will remain a priority despite opposition voiced by businesses last year, concerned they would create business uncertainty and too easily land people in jail for minor violations.



The banking bill is particularly worrying as it could also limit the expansion of foreign banks at a time when Indonesia is in desperate need of foreign funding to build infrastructure and to keep sufficient foreign exchange reserves.



Both the banking and alcohol bills were among the 40 priority bills scheduled to be passed last year.



Deliberation of the bills, however, was put on hold because the House spent most of its time and energy politically taming the new administration of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo. Only three of last year's priority bills were passed.



This year's priority bills consist of 22 carried over from previous periods and 18 new bills. The House is slated to endorse the priory bills during its upcoming plenary meeting, scheduled for this week or next week.



'There is no turning back. The government, along with the House of Representatives and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), have agreed on the 40 new priority bills,' said Baleg deputy chairman Firman Soebagyo on Monday.



A revision of the law regulating the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is also high on the agenda.



Legislators have demanded the KPK be limited to another 12 years of operation and that its wiretapping authority be reduced.



A revision to the existing 2003 Terrorism Law has also been included in the list after being overlooked last year.



After the Jan. 14 terrorist attack in Central Jakarta that left four civilians and four perpetrators dead, policymakers have been pushed to patch holes in the legislation regulating counterterrorism.



According to Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, the National Police will be given more authority to combat possible terror attacks by stripping the citizenship of Indonesian nationals fighting for the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq.



'We also need a more comprehensive deradicalization program for terrorists in detention centers. Officials are not enough. We need more professionals,' Yasonna said.



In a hearing with House Commission III overseeing security and legal affairs, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti proposed several priorities to be included in the revisions.



'Under the existing law, we cannot catch, arrest or interrogate alleged terrorists unless they have committed an attack, or if they are carrying explosive materials,' he said.



'We cannot question terror suspects if they are still at the stage of surveying intended attack locations, recruiting people to be involved in attacks or organizing terrorist groups. These are the flaws that need to be patched up in the planned revision,' he said.

______________________________________

Several crucial bills for 2016



* Bill on housing deposits



* Bill on the prohibition of alcoholic beverages



* Amendment to the criminal code



* Bill on the financial system safety net (JPSK)



* Amendment to the law on non-tax revenue



* Amendment to the law on general taxation



* Bill on land



* Bill on quarantine for animals, fish and plants



* Amendment to the law on monopoly and unfair competition



* Amendment to the law on oil and gas



* Amendment to the law on mining, minerals and coal



* Amendment to the law on banking



* Bill on increasing regional revenues



* Bill on tax amnesty



* Amendment to the law on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)



* Amendment to the law on counterterrorism

Source: Baleg
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) central executive board, as elected at the party's national congress (Muktamar) in Jakarta in November 2014, Djan Faridz, says it will imitate the Golkar Party and declare support for President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla's administration to get a decree that recognizes his camp's leadership of the party.



As of today, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly had not yet issued that decree, although a recent Supreme Court (MA) ruling recognized Djan's leadership.



'We will join with the ranks of political parties supporting the government,' Djan said as quoted by kompas.com after he attended the closing ceremony of a meeting of Golkar leaders aligned with Aburizal Bakrie at the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday evening.



Djan and the PPP's secretary-general, Dimyati Natakusuma, were the only representatives of other political parties who attended the meeting.



Djan admitted that his attendance was also aimed at learning the dynamics of what occurred in the Golkar Party. He said the meeting of the Aburizal camp was successful because it was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and Yasonna.



Kalla was also reported to have given the Aburizal camp approval to organize an extraordinary national meeting (Munaslub) with a prerequisite that it must accommodate the party's splinter faction led by Agung Laksono.



'We will also hold a national leaders meeting. We will resolve our internal conflicts there,' said Djan.



He added that although the PPP was part of the Red-and-White Coalition, which nominated losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Hatta Rajasa for the 2014 presidential election, it had always supported the Jokowi-Kalla administration's policies. Still, Djan said, the PPP must more clearly show its support by joining the ranks of the political parties supporting the government. (ebf)(+)
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

As the only country that will view a total solar eclipse on March 9, Indonesia is set to use the phenomenon to boost foreign visitor arrivals.



When a similar phenomenon occurred in Queensland in 2012, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said recently, Australia attracted 60,000 visitors, included 1,200 Japanese researchers who arrived on chartered aircraft. It also promised high promotional value, with around 20 million people watching the live broadcast provided by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).



"At least four cruise companies have registered to sail in Indonesia during the total solar eclipse, namely National Geographic's Orion Cruise, Caledonian Cruise, Coral Princess Cruise and Peter Deilmann Cruise. [State-owned shipping firm] PT Pelni has also prepared to turn three ships into floating hotels in Bangka, Belitung, Palu [in Sulawesi] and Ternate [in North Maluku]," said Arief in a press release on Monday.



A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, totally or partly obscuring the image of the sun from earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon's apparent diameter is larger than the sun's, blocking all direct sunlight and turning day into darkness.



This year's total solar eclipse will last for around three minutes in the eastern part of Indonesia starting from 9 a.m. local time, while the western part will experience eclipse for around two minutes at 7:30 a.m. local time.



The rare event will be consecutively visible in 12 provinces: Bengkulu, West Sumatra, Jambi, South Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and North Maluku.



Provincial governments have prepared interesting events to attract tourists to stay longer and turn the regions into popular destinations. South Sumatra, for instance, is slated to hold a glowing night run, cultural performances, a photo competition, lantern releases and educational tours for school children in cooperation with the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN).



Other parts of Indonesia will experience partial solar eclipse along with other parts of Southeast Asia, such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila and Bangkok, as well as northern and eastern Australia.



While the total solar eclipse will see more than 90 percent of the sun covered, from Java 50 to 60 percent will be covered. (kes)(+)
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post  Tue, January 26, 2016

What is happening to our higher education these days reminds us of the past when critical thought was restricted under a state-sponsored program called 'campus normalization', a departure from the nature of the campus as home to academic freedom.



The worrying symptoms of 'campus normalization' of 1978 came to the fore yet again when Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University in Yogyakarta canceled a lecture by scholar Muhsin Labib of the Jakarta-based Shia-oriented Sadra Islamic Study College, reportedly because of pressure from an Islamic group known for its anti-Shia views.



In fact, a number of state and private universities in Yogyakarta, dubbed the city of education, have succumbed to external pressure, if not intimidation, mostly from hard-line groups, when about to exercise their academic freedom, strangely without the safeguard of the police, the state institution mandated to protect citizens.



The incidents include the dispersal of a book discussion featuring Canadian feminist author Irshad Manji in May 2012, the cancelation of a seminar on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community by Sanata Dharma University's School of Psychology in September 2014 and repeated bans of the screening of movies related to communism and the 1965 political upheaval.



More saddening is the statement of Technology, Research and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir, who on Sunday called on universities to bar members of the LGBT community from campuses, claiming that they corrupted the morals of the nation. The minister was reacting to the Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) at the University of Indonesia (UI), which offers counseling for LGBT students.



The hard-line groups and the state appear to have much in common; at least they are on the same side in fighting what they perceive to be 'abnormal'. The two suffer from acute communist-phobia, homophobia and lately Shia-phobia, as representations of their worries about the loss of credibility and, hence, popular support.



In hindsight, the state's silence speaks volumes of its support for the encroachment of academic freedom. Or perhaps the state is using the groups to keep university campuses free from social and political issues that it believes are sources of destabilization? If this is the case, the state, or its proxy groups, are repeating the old regime's practice of banning critical thought on campus.



When President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo announced his appointment of former Corruption Eradication Commission spokesperson Johan Budi as presidential spokesman earlier this month, he said he was recruiting 'good people' to help his government. He was telling the truth, albeit in part.



Among Jokowi's aides is former Gadjah Mada University's School of Political and Social Studies lecturer AAGN Ari Dwipayana, who strongly demanded the reinstatement of academic freedom following the banning of the book discussion featuring author Manji back in 2012. There are also Jokowi supporters outside the government structure who have consistently defended freedom of expression.



The question is whether Jokowi listens to the 'good people' more than the advice of a minister like Nasir, or how much they can convince the President to accept their words.
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The eviction of former Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) members from their homes in West Kalimantan amounts to a humanitarian tragedy as the government neglected its responsibility to protect its citizens, human rights activists say.



"The government has allowed the destruction the victims' property and neglected its function to act as a fact finder," Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) spokesperson Pratiwi Febri said in Jakarta on Monday, adding that the effort to return people to their old hometowns would not settle the problem of discrimination, expulsion and mistreatment of Gafatar followers.



Gafatar has also 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 in the province earlier this week.



Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin has previously said Gafatar was an illegal organization and that community members were not permitted to join it. The group's spiritual leader Ahmad Musadeq was sentenced to four years in prison in 2008 for religious blasphemy after he declared himself a prophet.



Meanwhile, Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) director Rafendi Djamin said the Indonesian government had violated the rights of the former Gafatar members by not providing them with protection from local people who burned down their houses.



'The violent eviction of former members of Gafatar shows that the government has failed to uphold its responsibilities and act as a protector of its own citizens. A state does not control interpretation of belief, but it does control how people who hold beliefs have their freedom protected," Rafendi said in a press-conference.



Since Gafatar has not been proven to have committed any criminal acts, the government should not disturb them and instead should protect their rights to freedom of belief and association, as both those principles were enshrined in national and international law, Rafendi said.



However, following the burning of the their property, the government instead forced them to relocate to their old hometowns where they did not have any economic basis to live, neglecting their economic and social rights to maintain a livelihood, Rafendi added.



As internally displaced persons, the people were now protected under human rights principles and had the right to feel safe and resume their lives as they saw fit, however, the government had also neglected their right to migrate and choose their own place of settlement, Rafendi said.



Setara Institute deputy chairman Bonar Tigor Naipospos said the government did not make any attempt to provide protection to Gafatar followers from intolerant groups who committed violent acts against them, while they had not violated the law and only created an organization to live by their own will.



The facts showed that the government had only prioritized national security and stability, Bonar said, as the easiest thing was to take the side of the majority who opposed Gafatar in order to not create chaos.



"Officials only comply with majority rule and have failed to facilitate dialogue between Gafatar and the majority," Bonar said. (bbn)(+)
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Linkedin Nedi Putra AW (The Jakarta Post) Gresik, East Java  Tue, January 26, 2016

The silence in Wringinanom village, Gresik regency, East Java, was broken as a number of people headed toward a river while chanting prayers and waving flags in the scorching sun.

Arriving at the edge of the stream, they started releasing thousands of fish of different species into the Surabaya River, which flows through the regency.



They were Buddhists from Surabaya, Mojokerto in East Java, Jakarta and Taiwan conducting the Fang Sheng ritual on Dec. 22.



Fang means 'to release' and sheng means 'living creatures'.



Earlier, the Buddhist community joined the recital of paritta protective verses led by Master Hai Tao from the Buddhist Education Center (BEC), Taiwan. Through an interpreter, Hai Tao described what he called the exalted virtue of Fang Sheng.



'Fang Sheng is an action to imbue all living beings with compassion,' he indicated, referring to the principle of equality that says that despite the small size of certain organisms they should still be helped rather than harmed.



The Buddhists also carried bread to feed the fish, which were sprinkled with holy water before being freed by the ritual's participants. During the process, Hai Tao kept reciting prayers while his followers also waved flags that bore mantra words and sutra scriptural quotes.



Hai Tao voiced the expectation that the fish would thrive, without being threatened by or become a threat to other fish.



Ongko Digdojo, 60, a patron of Surabaya's BEC, said water constituted the basic component of creation of all living creatures so that humans should utilize and treat rivers in a balanced and sustainable manner.



Fang Sheng is a symbol of respect for the lives of all beings, big and small, in order to survive peacefully and happily without getting killed and harmed. 'Buddhist teachings value all lives as high as that of humans,' he added.



The animals released can be fish, birds, tortoises or others because in principle all living beings have the right to exist. In this way, according to Ongko, the world can be free from suffering caused by killing.



Therefore, Fang Sheng is one way of purifying humans' bad karma, especially the karma of killing, through this reverse action.



While ending animals' suffering by placing them in their habitat, 'this activity also helps maintain the equilibrium of nature,' he pointed out.

As this ritual is also a conservation effort, his center cooperates with the Ecological Observation and Wetlands Conservation (Ecoton) NGO, an independent local organization for ecosystem conservation and restoration.



Ecoton executive director Prigi Arisandi said the ritual had been an annual event in the river area over the last 10 years. 'This tradition has in fact helped conserve various endangered animals,' he noted.



Originally, many of the species released weren't suited to this river habitat, which is also a fish sanctuary. 'After our brief direction, the fish set free are now compatible with the ecosystem here,' Prigi added. This time the ritual released 50,000 fish of 11 species.



Holding a Master's degree in biology from Airlangga University, Surabaya, Prigi explained that these species had become scarce because of river contamination and harmful fishing methods. 'The stream has been polluted by industrial waste and people fishing have used electricity or potash instead of rods or nets,' he said.



The increasing population and diversity of fish species also serve as major indicators that a river is in healthy condition. 'The indicators aren't just the rates of chemical oxygen demand [COD] and biochemical oxygen demand [BOD],' he said.



The Surabaya River fish sanctuary is about 10 kilometers long, from the Mlirip Watergate in the Mojokerto regency to the Legundi Bridge in the Gresik regency, separating the three regencies of Mojokerto, Sidoarjo and Gresik.



The location of this fish release borders the fish sanctuary in Penambangan village, Balongbendo district, Sidoarjo regency. 'The Penambangan village head declared his area a fish bank in September 2015,' Prigi revealed.



The man, who born in Gresik in 1976, has made different attempts to arouse public awareness of the importance of clean river water through Ecoton since the beginning of 2000.



His hard work earned him a Goldman Environmental Prize Award in 2011 from the US, an honor for environmental activists at the grassroots level. Prigi is not alone in striving for clean rivers to suit animal and human needs.



Along with eight staff members, he is also assisted by Daru Setyo Rini, an Ecoton researcher and mother of three. Daru is now executive director of the Institute for River Restoration and Protection (Inspirasi), an educational unit of Ecoton.



The college lecturer in Surabaya pointed to the common public view regarding rivers as rubbish dumps and communal lavatories and at the many factories draining their waste into the streams.



One of the efforts of this doctorate student of ecosystem conservation at Brawijaya University, Malang, is building a river embankment with eco-hydraulic engineering by using wood and stones to induce mold growth. 'It functions like a coral reef to allow fish to spawn and hide,' she said.





But in her view, no less important is providing consistent education for communities around rivers and members of the younger generation, particularly students. 'Catching spawning fish should be avoided and the fish caught should be medium-sized,' she added.



This instruction has been fruitful as shown by the latest fish census, listing a 30 percent increase over the population in 2014. Despite the Surabaya River's sanctuary status, Daru still considers more conservation programs as necessary for maintenance.



The Medan-born 39-year-old woman proposed that the regional government apply the zonal system to the 10-km-long river. 'There should be a core zone without any activity, a buffer zone without fishing and a utilization zone,' she said.



It's her hope that this fish sanctuary model will be a reliable system to be adopted for river maintenance in other regions. Healthy rivers will bring benefits to humans and serve various purposes such as tourism, traditional rituals and religious activities.



'Fang Sheng is an example that reminds us of the need to share with other living creatures and leaves the message that rivers are essentially the natural home of fish,' Daru concluded.



' Photos by JP/Nedi Putra AW
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Linkedin Haeril Halim and Aldrin Rocky Sampeliling (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Depok  Tue, January 26, 2016

The verbal and online persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students following media reports about a University of Indonesia (UI) group has extended to the wider LGBT community and those who support them.



Members and founders of the Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) at UI, who are of diverse sexual orientations including heterosexuals, have become the victims of a witch-hunt, particularly on social media, where they have been subject to attack.



Nadya Karima Melati, an UI alumna and SGRC co-founder and coordinator, said the issue had affected her and her colleagues both socially and psychologically. 'All of our members have been summoned home and interrogated by their parents,' Nadya said.



She said she and her friends and colleagues had received threats in many forms, some by SMS, email and also from messages on social media. 'One of the members' parents was called by their boss and asked whether their child was a part of the LGBT community or not. The issue poses a serious threat to the parent's job,' she said.



Another SGRC co-founder, Arief Rahadian was disowned by his family after conservative daily Republika published online reports on the group's activities and membership, according to Nadya. Republika followed up the online pieces on Sunday with a front-page headline in its print edition stating: 'LGBT Poses Serious Threat'.



The SGRC had opened a counseling service at UI in collaboration with melela.org. The poster for the service featured three openly gay men and a 'pansexual' woman who testified about the benefit of counseling for LGBT people.



The four, who are SGRC counselors, have since experienced harassment, mostly from strangers, but also from relatives. However, they have also received a lot of support from family, friends and lecturers.



One of the counselors, Tegar Ramadan, a UI French Studies student, looked at the silver lining of the situation. 'My family and most of my friends have known about me being gay; the issue doesn't really affect me. On the contrary, I've got support from lecturers, friends and family,' he said.



Tegar who will have his graduation ceremony next month said that UI had even invited him to represent his faculty in receiving his diploma. 'This proves that people around me are very supportive,' said Tegar.



Firmansyah, UI graduate and another counselor featured on the poster, agreed. 'I feel happy that the cause has become public and a national issue. The collective pro-movement actually makes me stronger,' said Firman.



The other two counselors on the poster, Dimas Mahendra and Luna Siagian, however, had somewhat less positive experiences than Tegar and Firman.



'Dimas' mother got a visit from the neighborhood head, and now she has been crying for two days, locking herself in the bedroom, depressed,' Nadya said.



On Saturday, Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister M. Nasir made a statement prohibiting the LGBT community from operating on university campuses.



On Monday after a public outcry, he defended his earlier statements, saying he respected individuals' right to choose their sexuality and did not intend to eliminate discussion of LGBT issues on campus.



Nevertheless, the former rector of state-run Diponegoro University (Undip) in Semarang said the presence of LGBT groups in Indonesia should be examined thoroughly by academia given the fact that Indonesia was a country that upheld theological and moral values.



On his Twitter account, he insisted that members of the public misunderstood his statements in which he meant to say that he only prohibited LGBT students from expressing intimacy on campus, an act that he claimed could taint the nation's morality.



In order to increase students' awareness of 'the importance of the nation's morality', Nasir called on campus officials to intensively embrace students through mentoring programs.



Critics have described Nasir's statements as uneducated and not befitting his position as higher education minister.



Aldrin is an intern at The Jakarta Post.

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Linkedin Indra Budiari and Dewanti Wardhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The sun was scorching over the coast of North Jakarta as Siti Haminah sat in front of her shack, her toddler in her arms. The silence was broken only occasionally by the sound of a cracking clamshell as a fisherman passed by.



'We've heard the bad news. Most of the fishermen here don't want to move to the Thousand Islands,' Siti, a clam peeler and fisherman's wife, told The Jakarta Post recently at her home, which sits less than 100 meters from the shore.



She has lived in Muara Angke since childhood and considers the coastal district her home. Moving to the island regency would be tough, she said, as she and her family would have to spend hours a day shuttling to and from the mainland to sell their catch.



The Jakarta administration recently announced it was considering evicting fisherfolk from the coasts of North Jakarta and rehousing them in soon-to-be-built low-cost apartments (rusunawa) in the Thousands Islands.



Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama insists that fishermen would obtain better hauls in the regency, where the seafood is healthier. 'That way, no one will eat clams from Muara Angke that have been contaminated by heavy metals, which can be fatal,' Ahok said recently.



The governor said the city administration would build a subsidized apartment complex for the fishermen, as well as providing free ferry travel to the mainland.



Located 45 kilometers off the Jakarta coast, the Thousand Islands boasts a unique sea ecosystem, offering visitors beach accommodation and marine activities like diving and snorkeling. Infrastructure for residents is limited, however, with erratic power supply and scarce banking, public transportation and trade facilities.



Jakarta Housing and Government Buildings Agency head Ika Lestari Aji said that the administration was completing required documents, including an environmental impact analysis (Amdal), before commencing development on the fishermen's rusunawa.



She explained that the apartment would be built and funded by city-owned developer PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) and private developer Agung Podomoro Land as part of the latter's obligations, and would have 12 towers containing a total 680 apartments.



'We hope to begin construction in the first half of this year at the latest,' Ika told The Jakarta Post after a meeting at City Hall recently.



However, fishermen and their families fear that adjusting to a new life on the islands is not as simple as getting subsidized housing and free travel to the mainland.



Zaenal, a fisherman in his 20s, said life would be tougher in the Thousand Islands, where the deeper sea makes it harder to catch fish or clams with tools as basic as those used by many Muara Angke fishermen.



'Not to mention the fact that there are already other fishermen there. Competition would be tough,' he added.



The Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Association (KNTI) advisory board head Riza Damanik described moving fishermen from North Jakarta to the Thousand Islands as 'the worst idea the city administration has ever had'.



The administration, Riza said, had failed to address the inability of the island's scant sources of energy to accommodate hundreds or even thousands of newcomers.



Shortages of electricity and water in the regency are a major problem for both residents and the local tourist industry. The electricity supply relies heavily on diesel plants, because there is no external power supply to the islands.



'Electricity needs will increase substantially. The quality of the water there is also very bad,' he said.



Riza also warned that a major influx of people would harm the regency's image and appeal as a tourist destination.
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

US car manufacturer Ford has announced that it will cease operations in Indonesia from the second half of this year, a decision that came as a shock as it had only began selling the New Ford Everest since the first half of 2015.



"Today we are announcing the difficult business decision to withdraw our operations from Indonesia in the second half of this year. This includes closing Ford dealerships and official imports," Ford Indonesia managing director Bagus Susanto said in a press release on Monday.



Ford Indonesia will maintain service and uphold guarantees for all existing vehicles in the nation. An announcement regarding changes in the terms of service will be announced later.



Ford will also close its operations in Japan. The closure of operations in both Indonesia and Japan operation were reportedly due to the company's small market share. In Japan the market share of the blue oval is just 1.5 percent of the imported cars segment, according to a report by kompas.com.



"In Indonesia, it was difficult for Ford to compete without local manufacturing and vehicles to sell in key market segments. Ford has restructured its business there but still has less than 1 percent of the market with "no reasonable path to sustained profitability," Ford spokesman Neal McCarthy said to Associated Press.



In Indonesia one of the main backbones of Ford's sales is the pickup/double cabin Ranger. The pickup is sold mostly as operational equipment for commercial fleets with an 80:20 ratio between commercial and private.



But along with the commodity price slump, the mining companies that are the main market for the pickup and double cabin units are struggling with their operations. Based on Gaikindo data, there were only 12,034 Double Cabin sales in 2015 with an average of 1,002 cars per month. Peak sales of the unit were in 2012, after the commodity boom of the 2000s, with 19,364 units sold and an average of 1,613 per month.



"The mining industry is facing a weak market, production decreased by 18 percent during 2015 and the effect will continue this year. This is also affecting the purchasing of the operational equipment that has so far decreased 50 percent from spending during 2015," Panin Sekuritas mining analyst Fajar Indra said to thejakartapost.com (bbn)(+)
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Linkedin Erika Anindita Dewi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The nation's second-largest political group, the Golkar Party, has officially declared its support of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's government, a move that means the ruling coalition will now be able secure more than 70 percent of seats in the House of Representatives.



The decision was made during the party's national leadership meeting in Jakarta from Jan. 23 to Jan. 25, and attended by representatives of Golkar's regional chapters in provinces, cities and regencies across the nation.



"Our revised position has a similar goal, namely to develop Indonesia alongside the government," said Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie during his official speech at the closing ceremony of the party's national leadership meeting in Jakarta on Monday.



Golkar Party had been aligned with the opposition Red and White Coalition (KMP) ' since the 2014 presidential election together with the Gerindra Party, National Mandate Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP) and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), when the parties supported Gerindra politician Prabowo Subianto's presidential bid.



However, since then PAN has joined the ruling Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH), while PPP has also expressed its desire to do the same.



Golkar has recently been divided by rivalry between two factions; one led by Aburizal, who was elected at the party's national congress in Bali in November, 2014, and a splinter faction led by Agung Laksono, who was elected at the Ancol National Congress in December, 2015.



Golkar deputy chairman Yorrys Raweyai, who previously left Agung's camp and joined Aburizal's, announced that the party was required to organize an extraordinary national congress, the schedule of which would be decided by Aburizal.



Event attendees included Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly as well as Golkar senior politician Akbar Tandjung. Agung, however, did not attend the meeting. The presence of Kalla at the closing ceremony and former president BJ Habibie at the opening ceremony was a big victory for Aburizal's camp as both senior politicians have been appointed as members of the transition team by party's internal dispute committee to organize the national congress to elect new Golkar leadership.



Yasonna previously revoked his support of Agung after the Supreme Court made a decision in favor of Aburizal as the party's legitimate leader. However, the minister did not approve Abirizal's camp, forcing it to seek a compromise by organizing the extraordinary congress.



Jusuf Kalla welcomed the plan to hold an extraordinary national congress with the hope that it would end the year-long conflict within the party.



"Just forget the national congress in Bali or national congress in Riau. What matters is Golkar," Jusuf Kalla, who is also a senior Golkar politician, told the press after the meeting. The Riau congress, held 10 years ago, was the meeting at which Aburizal was elected for the first time. (bbn) (+)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Seymur Aliyev - Trend:

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) is considering Turkey's mortgage lending experience, said Elman Rustamov, the CBA chairman.

He made the remarks Jan. 26, at a session on banking activities held as part of a conference dedicated to the results of the second year of implementation of the 2014-2018 State Program on Socio-Economic Development of Districts of Azerbaijan.

"The government provides a state-owned company with land and necessary infrastructure in Turkey," he said. "The company constructs a building itself and then offers apartments upon mortgage terms without an initial payment and interest for 20-25 years."

He said that this variant allows involving more people from different sectors and providing them with jobs in the construction and production of construction materials.

Rustamov emphasized the importance of the government's role in this issue.

"We have been tasked to learn from the Turkish experience," he said, adding that a similar system can be used in districts of Azerbaijan."

As for the mortgage lending changes, which are being discussed now, he said that their use is expected within a month.

Rustamov added that in particular, the changes will affect the amount of an initial payment and collateral policy.

Some 50 million manats are envisaged in the state budget-2016 to finance the mortgage.

"Some 200 million manats are planned to be attracted to expand mortgage lending on the country's domestic market," Samir Sharifov, the Azerbaijani Finance Minister, said earlier.

Today the Azerbaijani Mortgage Fund delivers loans through the budgetary funds annually allocated to finance the social mortgage. However, it directs the funds from the placement of mortgage bonds to the ordinary mortgage.

Currently, the maximum amount of a common mortgage loan through the AMF is 50,000 manat at a rate of eight percent with a payback period of 25 years. Terms under the social mortgage are 50,000 manat at an annual rate of four percent with a payback period of 30 years. The initial payment under a social mortgage is 15 percent, whilst a conventional loan is 20 percent.

Conditions of mortgage lending are as follows: Loans must be issued in Azerbaijani manats and only to Azerbaijani citizens and the mortgage can only be for an apartment or private house.

The volume of mortgage lending must not exceed 80 percent of the market price and the monthly payment must not exceed 70 percent of the debtor's monthly income. It is compulsory to have an agreement on life insurance.

At present, the authorized banks of the Mortgage Fund are 30 banks (some 41 banks operate in the country).

AMF was established in December 2005. It began issuing mortgage loans in March 2006. The mortgage loans worth more than 730.17 million manats have been issued through AMF since the beginning of funding.

Some 20 insurance companies [their total number is 26] and 16 appraisal organizations are the participants of the mortgage market.
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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The government plans to put three toll road projects up for bidding in the first quarter of this year as it strives to build a target of 1,000 kilometers of new toll roads by 2019, says an official with the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry.



The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT) head Herry Trisaputra Zuna listed the three toll road projects as Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan (Cisumdawu) in West Java, Serang-Panimbang in Banten and Legundi-Bunder in East Java.



'Our target [for this year] is to put those toll roads up for bidding. They are the remaining roads in our documentation. The other roads that we listed in our plans are already under construction,' he said on Sunday.



No later than five months after the toll road projects are put up for bidding, sometime in the third quarter of the year, toll road concession agreements (PPJT) will need to be signed.



The exact location of the 83.9 km Serang-Panimbang toll road is in the process of being secured and according to Herry, that is one of the last steps before the bidding process begins.



Meanwhile, the Cisumdawu toll road, spanning 58.6 km, requires necessary documents to be gathered prior to bidding and so does the 29.3 km Legundi-Bunder project.



The government is in charge of developing the first two sections of the Cisumdawu toll road, part of the Trans Java toll road. The total investment is estimated at Rp 10 trillion (US$724.1 million).



The land procurement for these toll roads is yet to be completed but the projects will be put up for bidding to expedite the construction of the country's toll road network.



Reportedly, 10 percent of the land procurement for the Legundi-Bunder toll road, one of the toll roads initiated by the private sector, has been completed while the land procurement process for the Sumedang section of the Cisumdawu toll road has only just begun.



'We will undertake land procurement parallel with construction,' Herry said.



The government is also in the process of considering additional toll roads proposed by the private sector for bidding, including the Jakarta-Cikampek II toll road and the Jakarta Elevated project, an elevated version of the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road. Both were proposed by state toll operator PT Jasa Marga.



Herry said that the Jakarta-Cikampek II toll road bidding would follow on from the Rp 5.9 trillion Legundi-Bunder toll road that was proposed by state construction firm PT Waskita Karya, as it had been approved by the ministry.



'They haven't finished setting up the location,' he said, adding that more private sector initiated toll roads might proceed if the proposals pass the ministry's selection criteria.



The criteria includes, but is not limited to, the economical and financial feasibility of the project, integration with nearby areas, as well as the capability of the company proposing the project.



With the expectation that the infrastructure development would help boost slowing economic growth, the government pledged to add 1,000 km of new toll roads by 2019.



The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry signed infrastructure project contracts worth approximately Rp 8.8 trillion in recent months, the result of early bidding last year.



The ministry put forward a total of 5,344 project packages for bidding, valued at Rp 42.74 trillion by the end of this year, from a total of 10,752 packages worth Rp 73.41 trillion.



Around 136 kilometers of toll road are expected to begin operating this year, Herry said, including an 18 km segment of the 36.27 km Surabaya-Mojokerto toll road in East Java and the 40.5 kilometer Mojokerto-Kertosono in East Java.



However, land procurement is likely to remain a problem this year, according to Herry, because the required capital for toll road land procurement has been estimated at more than Rp 12 trillion this year, while the state budget allocation for land procurement has decreased from Rp 5.1 trillion to around Rp 1.4 trillion.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

Despite the President already having attended a groundbreaking ceremony, Chinese investors in the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project must remain patient as the Transportation Ministry has yet to issue a necessary permit.



The project cannot move forward while the joint-venture company working on the project, Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), does not have a business permit to operate as a railway infrastructure provider, said a Transportation Ministry official.



"We cannot issue the building permit before the business permit is issued," said the ministry's director general of railways Hermanto Dwiatmoko as quoted by kompas.com in Jakarta, on Monday.



The building permit, he continued, required a thorough environmental impact analysis (Amdal). "What we have issued for them is a permit for the first 5 kilometers for groundbreaking purposes. We have not yet received some necessary additional data [from KCIC]," Hermanto explained.



According to the 2013 Transportation Ministry regulation on railways infrastructure business, there are several requirements that the company must meet before getting the permit: They must own trace alignment permits and concession agreements and demonstrate technical design capability.



Unfortunately, KCIC has yet to provide concession agreements. According to the regulation, one must be signed by the transportation minister and KCIC representatives, and follow-up agreements must be signed by the governor and the regent or mayor where the project is located.



Beside the permit, other documents that the company must provide are the project design, technical sketches and specifications, field data, a project timetable, a method-of-operation outline, an Amdal and land-clearing documents showing that at least 10 percent of necessary land has been cleared. (ags)(+)
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Bekasi  Tue, January 26, 2016

The Bekasi administration in West Java will disburse Rp 88 billion (US$6.36 million) to build children's prison rooms in the Bulak Kapal detention center in East Bekasi in 2017, according to the Bekasi mayor.



Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi said on Monday that Bekasi did not have detention rooms for children and child convicts were housed at children's prison in either Bandung or Tangerang in Banten.



'The administration has signed an MoU for the prison cells so we will not send them [child convicts] to other regions. Hopefully, the rooms will be ready by 2019,' he said as quoted by wartakotalive.com.



He said he had planned the prison rooms when he was member of the city council in 2004.



He also said the Bulak Kapal detention center had been designed to house 470 inmates, but that 1,541 prisoners were currently incarcerated there.



'Hopefully, building the rooms will help solve the problem of overcrowding at the center,' he said.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Depok  Tue, January 26, 2016

The Depok Police have arrested a man identified only as AN for allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Pancoran Mas, Depok, West Java, a senior police officer said on Monday.



Depok Police general crimes division head Comr. Teguh Nugroho said the arrest was made on Sunday after the girl's mother learned of the alleged assault and filed a police report.



Teguh said AN was the victim's neighbor and had assaulted her in his rented house.



'The suspect confessed to sexually assaulting the girl three times since December 2015,' he said as quoted by tribunnews.com.



He said the suspect lured the girl into his house by promising to give her Rp 50,000 (US$3.60). Teguh said the suspect would be charged under the Child Protection Law and could face a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment. The girl is currently being treated by the police's women's and children's unit.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The SDN Susukan 08 Pagi elementary school building in Ciracas, East Jakarta, is in poor condition as the roof over its six classrooms appears ready to collapse.



Beritajakarta.com reported on Monday that most of the roof tiles were missing and that the school management had tried to patch the roof with pieces of bamboo and plywood while the window and door frames are termite infested.



The library is in the same state and so the books have been covered with tarpaulin to protect them against rain.



School principal Sumartini said she had sent a request to the East Jakarta Education Agency that the building be renovated.



Sumartini said agency staff had visited and taken photos, but no repairs had been done. 'I heard there was a plan to renovate it in 2014 but nothing happened. The school was not even listed as needing renovation last year,' she said.



She said the building was already in a bad state when she was transferred to the school in January 2015. 'It got worse last week,' she said.



She said that as there had been no instructions from the agency, the school had no choice but to conduct classes in the classrooms. 'During the rainy season, we put out buckets for the leaking roof,' she said.



'I am very worried that the building will collapse when the students are studying,' she said.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

A woman, identified as Badriah, 45, who was allegedly caught with packages of methamphetamine in her bag has been accused of attempting to bribe officers who stopped her during a spot check on Jl. Raya Cakung Cilincing in East Jakarta on Saturday, according to the East Jakarta Police.



'Officers found 16 small packages of meth hidden inside a cigarette box in the woman's bag,' East Jakarta Police spokeswoman Comr. Husaimah said on Monday as quoted by wartakotalive.com.



'When she was about to be arrested, the woman tried to bribe officers with millions of rupiah in cash in the hope that she would not be taken to the police station. But the officers went ahead and arrested her,' she said.



Officers also confiscated a plastic bottle and a meth pipe from the woman, who was riding a motorcycle when she was stopped, Husaimah added.



The woman said she had obtained the meth from a person residing in North Jakarta, Husaimah added.



'She bought all the meth for Rp 3.5 million [$US252] and planned to sell it in Bekasi [West Java],' she said.
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Linkedin Raras Cahyafitri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The future of the nation's gas supply is being blurred by issues surrounding the development of the high-potential Masela block, while other similar facilities are nearing the end of their lifespan.



Due to its massive estimated reserves of 10.73 trillion cubic feet (tcf), Masela is expected to be the major new source of energy in the country. However, acceleration of production is unlikely because the government has yet to decide whether the block will be developed on a floating offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant basis or an onshore scheme.



'A POD [plan of development] is a technical issue. However, as the block has a territorial issue, being located near Australia, the President is paying attention to it. The President has asked for a deeper study on regional aspects and will also listen to investor's intentions,' Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said stated during a hearing with the House of Representative Commission VII on Monday.



'SKKMigas officers are currently in the area to study the potential for regional development,' he added.



It is unclear when additional studies can be completed.



A decision on contractors' revised plans of development was expected last year. However, controversy arose after critics from within the Cabinet, including Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Rizal Ramli, said an onshore scheme should be chosen because it would be cheaper, create more jobs and encourage development in eastern Indonesia.



The Masela block, located in the Arafura sea, is currently operated by Inpex, which holds a 65 percent stake. The remaining 35 percent is held by Shell. The Masela POD was actually submitted in 2010, however, the discovery of larger resources led contractors to revise the plan, adjusting up the capacity of the floating LNG plant to 7.5 million tons per year from 2.5 million tons.



The block is estimated to be able to produce 1,200 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas and 24,000 barrels per day of condensate for 24 years, according to figures from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.



According to a study from LPEMUI, a one-year project delay would mean billions of dollars in potential losses to the economy, ranging from US$3.6 billion under the onshore plan to $4.2 billion under the floating scheme.



To date, the country has a number of onshore LNG plant facilities, including Badak NGL in Bontang, East Kalimantan; Tangguh plant in Papua; and the modified Arun plant in Aceh.



Due to depleted resources from nearby fields, worries emerged over the effect of the Arun plant closure before the government decided to modify the facility. It now no longer produces LNG as it has been modified to become a re-gasification terminal, which receives LNG cargo from other sites, re-gasifies it and then delivers the product to end users.



Concerns of depleted resources are now also disturbing the Bontang plant. Badak NGL president director Salis Aprilian said the company would likely close another LNG train over concerns of declining supply from Mahakam block, which is currently transitioning between operators in readiness for its contract expiry in 2017.



Apart from Mahakam, Badak NGL also receives supply from East Kalimantan PSC. The contractor of the block, Chevron Indonesia, recently said it would not request a contract extension for the block and would return the PSC to the government on its expiry date on Oct. 28, 2018.



Uncertainty around the production sustainability of East Kalimantan PSC is a worry for the Bontang plant. 'We will likely end the operation of our current trains. So, there will be only three trains in operation next year, out of the eight we have. There will also be technical issues, commercial and organizational, that we haven't settled,' Salis said.
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Linkedin Khoirul Amin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

Multinational companies will confront stiff competition getting professional talent this year with growing e-commerce, healthcare and insurance businesses also in need of skilled employees, according to a study by professional recruitment company Robert Walters.



The study found competition will no longer be restricted to traditional brick-and-mortar companies but will also involve emerging technology industries.



'Demand from emerging industries will continue to place pressure on more established multinationals in both the attraction and retention of staff,' the study, entitled the Global Salary Survey 2016, stated.



Emerging sectors that will show a great demand for high-skilled professionals include the e-commerce and technology industries and the healthcare, insurance and pharmaceutical industries, the study argued.



Rob Bryson, the Indonesian country manager for Robert Walters, said there was considerable movement of professionals from established multinationals or big local companies to sectors involving technologies.



'I would think that some organizations that maybe didn't even exist a few years ago would now have head offices and they have to compete somewhere,' he said on Monday.



According to the Indonesian E-Commerce Association (idEA), the country's e-commerce market would be worth Rp 295 trillion (US$21.4 billion) this year.



Home to some 250 million people with internet penetration at around 35 percent and smartphone penetration at around 30 percent, Indonesia has become a hotbed for emerging sectors like e-commerce.



Online shop Elevenia, for example, is set to recruit around 70-90 new direct employees this year, according to the firm's chief financial officer Lila Nirmandari.



'The number of employees at our company will likely have grown three times by the end of this year with around 20 percent in managerial positions,' she said.



Elevenia is a joint venture between telecommunications firm PT XL Axiata and South Korean company SK Planet. Elevenia was established in March 2014 with only around 80 direct employees.



Bryson said that other than digital or technology-based companies, rapidly growing sectors like the insurance industry would also attract more professionals. 'For the first time, we're seeing people moving from banking professions into insurance professions.'



In addition, the Global Salary Survey 2016 suggested that white-collar candidates who wanted to move jobs in Indonesia could expect average remuneration increases of between 20 to 40 percent this year.



The study also stated that demand for Indonesian nationals currently working or studying abroad would be acute this year as Indonesia's business markets continued to develop toward international standards.



Regarding the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of last year, Bryson said his company had not yet seen any major change.



'Despite an integrated economic community in theory, the labor market is still pretty well-structured or protectionist, so it's hard for people to move jobs across Southeast Asia,' he said, adding that people were also tied to families and friends.



The 10 ASEAN member countries ' Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam ' have signed eight mutual recognition agreements (MRAs), such as those covering engineering services and nursing and tourism, to ease the regional mobility of skilled workers in the listed sectors.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie has said he would continue to contribute to the party, however, he added that he did not intend to run for the party chairmanship in the future.



Aburizal, who was selected as the party chairman in November, 2014, made the statement in his speech at the closing ceremony of the party's national leadership meeting at Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.



Several Golkar regional executive board officers called on the politician, popularly known as Ical, not to leave the party as he was delivering the speech.



'I will not leave the Golkar Party. I will still be together with you all,' said Aburizal as quoted by kompas.com.



The politician further said that he would continue to work for Golkar in various ways. Aburizal said he could still give input to the Golkar Party chairman and leaders over the next period even if he was not in a formal position of power.



'I send my regards to all officials at the district, regency, municipality and province levels and tell them that I will never leave the Golkar Party. I can give input to the newly elected officials in the future,' said Aburizal.



During the meeting, Aburizal was touted as Golkar's next Advisory Council chairman. An idea to expand the Advisory Council's authority through a revision of the party's rules of association and internal bylaws was also raised in the meeting. It was suggested that through the revision the Advisory Council could take part in decision-making processes as well as give advice to the party. Regarding the suggestion, Aburizal said he could neither reject nor accept it as it depended on the decision of all the regional executive boards. (ebf)(+)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The Indonesian bourse authority has launched the biggest mutual fund expo in Jakarta aimed at increasing public investment in the capital market. The event involves 42 financial companies such as investment managers, securities companies and banks.



Currently, the heavily populated country has very low public participation in the capital market. Only 250,000 people of the nation's 250 million are registered as investors, according to Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) data.



Indonesians must shift their financial orientation from a savings-oriented society to an investment-oriented one, and as a start, the IDX would appeal for them to put their money in mutual funds as a low-risk investment in the capital market, IDX director Samsul Hidayat said.



"Mutual fund investment is the front door to getting to know the financial market. Once the public has enough knowledge, the next step is investing in stocks or bonds, and then they can invest in derivatives instruments," he said.



Investing in mutual funds is simpler than stocks or bonds, and more secure as they are managed by an investment manager. Investors do not need to start with large amount of money as the investment unit is affordable, some are priced at Rp 100,000 (US$7.2).



Samsul expects 4,000 visitors to attend the mutual fund expo, held from Jan. 26 to Jan. 30. In accordance with Vice President Jusuf Kalla's call in November last year for the event to be free as to attract more new investors.



"Mutual fund investment is growing despite the slowing economy in 2015. The net active value [NAV] was Rp 268.4 trillion, an increase from the 2014 NAV of Rp 241.4 trillion," IDX Director Nicky Hogan said. (ags)(+)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26



By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) has revoked the licenses of United Credit Bank and NBC Bank.

This decision was taken because the total capital of the two banks didn't correspond to the CBA minimum requirement of 50 million manats, the CBA said in a message Jan. 26.

These banks couldn't fulfil their obligations to creditors and didn't manage their current activity reliably and prudentially, said the CBA.

Temporary administrators were appointed at both banks Jan. 26.

Under the country's laws, the Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund will pay the compensation to these banks' clients for insured deposits.

Currently, 39 banks have licenses for banking activity in Azerbaijan.

The CBA has revoked four licenses [Ganja Bank, Bank of Azerbaijan, United Credit Bank and NBC Bank] since last week.
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Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

Indonesia will speed up negotiations on the Indonesia-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aiming to have an agreement with the EU come into effect within two years.

The two parties had discussed the implementation of the CEPA in a meeting with EU trade ministers during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos last week, Trade Minister Thomas Lembong said.

"It has been decided in a Cabinet meeting that we will have a trade agreement with the EU. We must start it immediately because the President gave us two years to complete the agreement," Thomas said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

In contrast to the discussion of trade agreements in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TTP), which still required time for assessment to solve the challenges, Thomas underlined that there were no special constraints on the Indonesia-EU CEPA discussion.

The planned Indonesia-EU CEPA has been stagnant since 2012. Vietnam, which started free trade agreement negotiations with the 28-member trading bloc in the same year reached an agreement in August last year.

The EU CEPA covers issues of trade and business, including the reduction of trade barriers and liberalization of government procurement. The two points are also included in the TPP framework.

Aside from the two agreements, Thomas continued, the ministry also held meetings with trade ministers from several countries to discuss bilateral trade agreements.

"We are exploring bilateral trade agreements with Australia. Also with the EFTA [European Free Trade Association] which consists of Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein," Thomas said. (ags)
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The government will strengthen economic cooperation with African countries, with the aim of exporting more food commodities for Indonesian food factories in that continent.

The Foreign Ministry's Salman Al Farisi said African countries were now a major prospective market for Indonesia in terms of food commodities, since their large populations were looking for affordable food products.

"Families in African countries spend 70 percent of their income on food on average. Thus [increasing exports] is important for us to do," Salman told thejakartapost.com on Monday.

Eyeing the potential market, Indonesian consumer goods giant PT Indofood Sukses Makmur had opened instant noodle factories in Morocco and Kenya, following the first factory in Nigeria that had shown a significant success, Salman said.

The expansion meant Indonesia would increase its exports of raw food commodities to supply the factories, since African people's daily consumption of Indonesian instant noodles was twice of that of Indonesian themselves, Salman said.

According to Salman, Indonesia's exports to African countries surpassed US$10 billion per year, with 2010 to 2014's exports, particularly to Nigeria and South Africa, jumping by more than 10 percent each year.

Furthermore, during the economic slowdown in 2015 when the trend of global trade slackened, trade with African countries actually increased, thus showing that Indonesia should intensely keep an eye on the African market, Salman said.

"We will further boost our potential by strengthening our exports to African countries," Salman added. (dan)
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Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

Indonesia is shaping up to be the diplomatic capital of the Southeast Asia region, as marked by the inauguration of the EU Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta.

"We'd like to see Jakarta, as the host city of ASEAN and missions of our foreign partners, in the long run signify itself as the diplomatic capital city of ASEAN," the Foreign Ministry's ASEAN dialogue partners and inter-regional cooperation director, Derry Aman, said on Tuesday.

As a concrete step in strengthening bi-regional ties, the EU has officially assigned a mission to conduct its relations with the ASEAN Secretariat, the office of which is also located in the Indonesian capital.

"The EU, its institutions and member states rightly regard ASEAN as a vitally important partner," European External Action Service (EEAS) director general for budget and administration, Patrick Child, said.

Child said the EU aimed to intensify political and economic relations with the region which was marked by the commitment of doubling the cooperation funds, to be channeled through the secretariat, amounting to over '170 million (US$184 million) for the period of 2014 - 2020, making the commission the biggest donor to the ASEAN Secretariat.

In the months to come, Child said, the EU sought to advance bilateral commercial relations with ASEAN member states while keeping the region-to-region Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as its final objective.

He further said the EU had also appointed for the first time an ambassador to ASEAN whose duties would be carried out by Francisco Fontan Pardo.

"We have right now an understanding with ASEAN member states that we want to have a region-to-region FTA as the horizon of the trade relations. To get to that goal we are advancing on the bilateral FTAs as the stepping stones," Pardo said.

The EU has concluded an FTA with Singapore and is still negotiating agreements with Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.

Representing the Indonesian perspective, Derry said the region-to-region FTAs had been identified as one of the objectives in the discussion of the roadmap toward the strategic partnership.

"We already have a commitment, it is now a matter of further technical discussions and political commitment in order to realize it," Derry said.

He went on to say that aside from the the formation of the regional FTAs, both ASEAN and the EU were cooperating on a wide range of issues, including counterterrorism as one of the highlights, under the pillar of political security. Both parties would continue to forge cooperation in technical and concrete ways in maritime cooperation and maritime security, he added.

ASEAN secretary general Le Luong Minh said he was confident that the presence of the EU in ASEAN would contribute to further strengthening the strategic partnership between both regions. (ebf)
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Linkedin Hillel Italie (The Jakarta Post) New York, United States  Tue, January 26, 2016

J.K. Rowling's latest honor isn't only for her writing.

The "Harry Potter" author is to receive the PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award, PEN America told The Associated Press on Monday.

Rowling will be presented her award May 16 at the literary and human rights group's annual spring gala in New York. Previous winners include Toni Morrison, Salman Rushdie and Tom Stoppard.

In its announcement Monday, PEN cited Rowling's advocacy for free expression; her founding of the charitable trust Volant, which supports multiple sclerosis research and other causes; and her nonprofit organization Lumos, which works to reconnect institutionalized children with their families.

"I'm deeply honored to receive this award and humbled that my work has been recognized as having moral value by an organization I so admire," Rowling told the AP in a statement. "I've long been a supporter of PEN, which does invaluable work on behalf of imprisoned writers and in defense of freedom of speech."

Rowling's own Potter books have been the targets of censorship and attempted censorship, with the fantasy series' feats of wizardry leading to worldwide allegations that the author advocates witchcraft and the occult. PEN America president and prize-winning author Andrew Solomon said in a statement that Rowling's writing provides a wealth of "imagination, empathy, humor, and a love of reading, along the way revealing moral choices that help us understand ourselves."

"Through their experiences with Rowling both on and off the page, countless children have learned not only the power of speaking their own minds, but the critical importance of hearing others," Solomon said.

In May, PEN also will honor CEO Michael Pietsch of Hachette Book Group, the U.S. publisher of Rowling's detective novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Pietsch has edited Donna Tartt, David Foster Wallace and many other writers and is working with PEN to oppose censorship of books in China.

"As a leader in the fight against pervasive censorship, he has painstakingly reaffirmed literature as more than a consumer good: as a cultural currency in need of vehement protection," PEN Executive Director Suzanne Nossel said in a statement. (kes)
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Linkedin Eileen Ng (The Jakarta Post) Kuala Lumpur  Tue, January 26, 2016

Malaysia's attorney general said Tuesday that nearly $700 million channeled into Prime Minister Najib Razak's private accounts was a personal donation from Saudi Arabia's royal family, and cleared him of any criminal wrongdoing.



The announcement capped months of uncertainty for Najib, who has been fighting intense pressure to resign over the financial scandal in his biggest political crisis since he took power in 2009.



But the announcement by Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali did not clear up the mystery over the money as he did not say why the Saudi royals made the donation or give details on what the money was to have been used for.



Apandi said investigations by the country's anti-corruption agency showed that no criminal offence was committed as the $681 million transferred into Najib's accounts between March and April 2013 was "given without any consideration" by the Saudi royal family as a personal donation.



He said Najib returned $620 million to the Saudi royal family in August 2013 as the money wasn't utilized. He did not elaborate and did not say what happened to the remaining $61 million.



The anti-corruption agency met and recorded statements from witnesses, including the donor, he said.



Apandi said no reason was given for the donation, which was a matter between Najib and the Saudi royals. He said there was no proof that the money was given as an inducement or reward to Najib in return for a favor.



"I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly," Apandi said. "Based on the evidence from witnesses and supporting documents submitted, I am satisfied that no criminal offence has been committed in relation to the said ($681 million) donation."



There was no immediate comment from Najib, who has been grappling with deep unhappiness over his leadership, with massive street rallies in August calling for his resignation after documents leaked in July suggested that about $700 million was deposited in his private bank accounts from entities linked to indebted state investment fund 1MDB.



Najib has denied any wrongdoing and later said the money was a donation from the Middle East. He has reportedly told ruling-party events that the money was "political funding". Since then, he has replaced critics in his government with loyalists, sacked the then attorney general probing him and cracked down on the media that had helped kept him in power.



Saudi government officials in Riyadh had no immediate comment about the investigation. It also was not mentioned on the state-run Saudi Press Agency early Tuesday.



Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua slammed Apandi's decision, saying the fact it was a personal donation does not rule out corrupt motives or transaction.



Pua said Apandi provided no new or convincing information to support his decision.



The scandal started with investigations into 1MDB, which was set up in 2009 by Najib to develop new industries. But it amassed 42 billion ringgit ($9.8 billion) in debt after its energy ventures abroad faltered. Critics have long voiced concern over its massive debt and lack of transparency. Najib still chairs its advisory board.



The political scandal partly contributed to the Malaysian currency plunging to a 17-year low last August.



Apandi also cleared Najib of graft at government-owned SRC International, a firm linked to 1MDB, over another 42 million ringgit ($9.8 million) from SRC that was deposited into Najib's account between Dec. 2014 and Feb. 2015.



He said there was no evidence to show Najib was aware of the money transfer, nor that he had given his approval. Apandi said Najib had thought that all payment made from his accounts came from the donation by the Saudi royal family. No further details were available.



Support for Najib's ruling coalition has eroded in the last two general elections. It won in 2013, but lost the popular vote for the first time to an opposition alliance. (kes)(+)



__



AP writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The police have collected sufficient evidence to name a suspect in the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin, 27, who died after drinking cyanide-laced coffee on Jan. 6.

The police will hold a case expose before prosecutors on Tuesday where investigators will present evidence and information from three experts involved in the investigation, Jakarta Police's general crimes chief Krishna Murti said on Monday.

The experts are a forensic expert, a forensic psychiatrist and a criminal expert.

Investigators had collected four items of evidence out of five required to name a suspect in a case according to the Criminal Code, he said.

"We have the indication, evidence and required documents. We can ignore the suspect's testimony in this case according to the Criminal Code," he told journalists at the Jakarta Police headquarters, while declining to provide details on the suspected poisoner.

Krishna admitted that police had required extra time and care in determining a suspect to avoid any error in the criminal process.

"So if any party files for a pretrial motion, we will be ready to handle it," he said.

Legal and juridical obstacles also hampered investigators in revealing a suspect. For example, police had only received verbal information about the forensic results of the cyanide-laced coffee, but not the formal documents from the National Police's forensic laboratory.

Results from psychiatric evaluations of Jessica Kumala Wongso, Mirna's friend and a witness, had also needed time to be put into the case dossier, Krishna said.

Police summoned Hani, Mirna's other friend who was with Mirna at the time of her death, as a witness on Monday.

Hani had joined newlywed Mirna and Jessica in a cafe in Grand Indonesia Mall in Central Jakarta and witnessed Mirna's having seizures and vomiting hours before Mirna died in hospital.

Investigators questioned Hani twice on Monday to get clearer information as Krishna said Hani had panicked when Mirna died leading her to forget some details of the incident.

Hani made no comment to journalists after her second questioning of the day.

Jakarta Police have sought the help of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in a bid to unveil the truth behind Mirna's suspicious death. The AFP was expected to provide information regarding the relationship between Mirna and her friends, especially Jessica and Hani, as they all studied together in Australia.

Police took Jessica's servant, identified only as SR, into police protection as a key witness on Friday.

SR is believed to have disposed of Jessica's ripped pants after Mirna's death at Jessica's request. Police had searched for the pants but to no avail.

Jessica's lawyer, and uncle, Yudi Wibowo has denied that his niece had any involvement in Mirna's death claiming that they were best friends while studying in Australia. (rin)
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Nusa Dua  Tue, January 26, 2016

President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo is set to visit Timor Leste on Tuesday to discuss efforts to speed up land and maritime border resolutions, as well as to boost bilateral trade and cooperation on investment, energy and infrastructure, in his first state visit to Dili since he took office.



The two remaining unresolved land border segments, Noel Besi'Citrana and Bijael Sunan'Oben, are still under ongoing negotiation, although, during a bilateral meeting between Jokowi and Timor Leste Prime Minister Rui Maria de AraAjo in Jakarta late last year, the two countries agreed to seek to resolve the two segments by the end of last year.



'The state visit will be used by Indonesia to improve ties between the two countries, as well as to assert Indonesia's commitment to becoming a main partner for Timor Leste's development [agenda],' Indonesia's Foreign Ministry stated in a press release on Monday.



Jokowi is set to fly to Dili from Bali to meet with Araujo and Timor Leste President Taur Matan Ruak on Tuesday.



Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir confirmed that Jokowi's visit would also seek to speed up negotiations on two unresolved land border issues, saying that technical teams from the two countries had also met for negotiations.



'Currently, a joint field survey is underway. It aims to meet with traditional groups who live on and own rights to customary land in the unresolved segments [of land],' Arrmanatha said, adding that negotiations on the delimitation of the maritime border areas were still in progress.



Indonesia and Timor Leste have been negotiating border issues since 2002, soon after the latter formalized its independence from Indonesia following a UN-supervised referendum held in 1999. By 2013, Indonesia and Timor Leste had agreed on more than 900 coordinates as border points, but two land border areas, Noel Besi'Citrana and Bijael Sunan'Oben, remain unresolved.
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Linkedin Dewanti A. Wardhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

City-owned water operator PD PAM Jaya seeks to take over PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) starting this year by negotiating a gradual transition process with the latter.



PAM Jaya president director Erlan Hidayat said that the company's contract with Palyja ended in 2023, but gradual transition would begin soon.



'Our contract with Palyja ends in 2023, we only have about eight years left. We will slowly begin the transition of operations from Palyja to PAM Jaya starting this year. [Regarding the takeover], this year we will begin to negotiate with PAM Jaya,' Erlan said on Monday.



Erlan explained that, legally, PAM Jaya is unable to acquire Palyja's shares due to an ongoing civil lawsuit.



Last March, the Central Jakarta District Court ruled in favor of the Coalition of Jakarta Residents Opposing Water Privatization (KMMSAJ), ordering an annulment of a cooperation struck between city owned PAM Jaya and the two private water operators that began in 1997 and is set to expire in 2023. The lawsuit was filed with the court in March 2013.



The coalition claimed that Palyja and another operator, PT Aetra Air Jakarta, had failed to provide adequate supplies of clean, potable water for Jakarta residents. Since the agreement was signed on June 6, 1998, PAM Jaya's water operating responsibility in Jakarta was given to the two private companies. Palyja is responsible for water operations in North and West Jakarta, while PT Aetra Air Jakarta is responsible for East, Central, South and North Jakarta.



Palyja, Aetra and the central government have since filed an appeal against the court ruling.



Erlan said that, instead, PAM Jaya can begin to expand its area of operation, taking over water treatment facilities as well as customer service. For example, to provide more clean water for residents in West Jakarta, PAM Jaya and Jakpro are developing a water treatment plant in Hutan Kota, West Jakarta. The water from the plant will be piped to residents using Palyja's facilities, but the plant will be managed by PAM Jaya.



'We will begin operating our own plants using Palyja's facilities,' Erlan said.



However, to discuss the transition he emphasized that PAM Jaya would first negotiate with Palyja.



Erlan said that, for 18 years, ever since the contract with Palyja and Aetra took place, PAM Jaya had been 'on a break' but was preparing to get back on its feet and return as Jakarta's water operator. To do so, he said, PAM Jaya needs to make careful calculations.



'All things are still under discussion with regard to the transition. We need to make careful calculations,' he said.



Separately, Palyja spokeswoman Meyritha Maryanie said that the company was in the midst of internal discussions regarding its negotiation with PAM Jaya. She explained that, for rebasing, according to Palyja's contract with PAM Jaya, the two companies are required to hold discussions every five years.



'The last time we conducted discussions was from 2008 to 2012. Since then, there has been no agreement on rebasing, rebalancing or renegotiation. Such a process is currently ongoing as well,' Meyritha said on Monday.



In 2012, the city administration attempted to renegotiate its contract with Palyja to no avail. The city administration then gave city owned developer PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) the task of acquiring 49 percent of Palyja's shares, however the process was hampered by the ongoing legal procedure.



On the other hand, Aetra renegotiated its contract with the city administration in 2014. Part the negotiation stipulated that Aetra would shoulder the risk of the cooperation and be responsible for the revenue derived from the cooperation.
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Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

The United Development Party (PPP) leadership formed at a November 2014 national meeting (mukernas) in Jakarta appears to have learned the lesson that current political reality dictates that only party leaderships that support the government will be considered legitimate.



After attending the closing event of the Aburizal Bakrie-led Golkar Party national leadership meeting in Jakarta on Monday evening, Djan Faridz, the PPP chair elected at the 2014 Jakarta mukernas, said he would bring his party into the ranks of political parties supporting President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla's administration.



'We will join those political parties supporting the government. We will hold a national leadership meeting to settle our internal conflicts,' said Djan, who was accompanied by PPP secretary-general Dimyati Natakusuma.



Since taking office, the Jokowi administration has, in cases of parties having rival leaderships, consistently only legitimized those that back the government.



One day after he was inaugurated on Oct.29, 2014, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly moved to legalize the PPP leadership elected at a congress in Surabaya, East Java, on Oct.15-17, 2014, at which Muhammad 'Romy' Romahurmuziy was appointed party chairman.



Prior to the minister's decision to legalize his leadership, the Romy camp had pledged allegiance to the government, declaring that it had left the opposition Red-and-White Coalition led by losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and joined Jokowi's Great Indonesia Coalition. A senior member of the Romy camp, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, was subsequently appointed religious affairs minister.



The minister's decision was later overturned by a Supreme Court ruling recognizing Djan and the PPP leadership elected at the November meeting.



However, the court's ruling does not fully legitimize Djan's leadership, as party leaderships must be confirmed by a law and human rights ministerial decree.



As such, in a bid to obtain such a decree, Djan has followed in Romy and Aburizal's footsteps and publically pledged support for the government.



In the Golkar meeting closing event on Monday evening, Aburizal conveyed the pledge of allegiance to the government to three ministers in attendance, namely Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut D. Panjaitan, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and Yasonna.



Vice President Jusuf Kalla witnessed the hand-over of the declaration statement signed by Aburizal and party secretary-general Idrus Marham.



'The Golkar Party declares that it will support and work together with the Jokowi-Kalla administration to carry out developments in various fields for the sake of the prosperity of all Indonesian people,' the statement read.



Following the declaration, Kalla confirmed that the government would issue an approval letter for the Aburizal camp to hold an extraordinary national meeting. Any decision resulting from the meeting will have to be accepted by all parties, including the splinter faction led by Agung Laksono. (ebf)(+)
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Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, January 26, 2016

Indonesia is at risk of missing the opportunity to become the first country in the world to achieve full implementation of its timber legality system, called SVLK, as the Trade Ministry insists on relaxing certification for timber products.



Indonesia had agreed to fully implement the SVLK by the end of 2015, a deadline laid down by the EU for the country to meet if it wanted free access for its timber products into the EU market.



The deadline is stipulated in the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT), which was ratified by Indonesia in 2014.



'We already have the SVLK. There's only one small step left to make, but we missed it. This has put us at risk of not becoming the champion of timber legality certification [in the world],' Indonesia's chief negotiator of FLEGT VPA, Agus Sarsito, said during a discussion on the future of the agreement held by the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) on Monday.



The country experienced a setback to its timber certification when Trade Minister Thomas Lembong issued Regulation No. 89/2015 in August last year, allowing for the export of 15 downstream timber products, including furniture, without SVLK certification.



'The EU has told me that it is ready to implement the FLEGT VPA only if the ministerial regulation is revoked or annulled,' Agus said.



Since Indonesia missed the deadline, the EU has given a new deadline of April 1 this year. EU Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Guerend promised that the EU would fully implement the agreement by the new deadline.



The FLEGT implementation, he said, would benefit Indonesia, which currently has a 40 percent market share in the EU tropical timber market. However, he said that timber products must have the required V-legal documents attached, as regulated by SVLK.



As V-legal documents would be considered equal to a FLEGT license, Indonesian timber would automatically pass the due-diligence examination that is usually required before products enter the EU market.



The Trade Ministry's trade security director, Okan Norwan, questioned the EU's readiness, saying that it was not serious in implementing the FLEGT.



'They only check [timber products entering the EU] randomly. Because it's random, illegal timber products from other countries can also enter the market. This is a disincentive for us,' he said on Monday.



'There are also six EU countries that haven't been able to implement [the FLEGT] yet. Those which have been able to do so also can't do it optimally,' he added.



Okan also criticized the EU for allegedly trying to force Indonesia to fully implement the SVLK, saying that it was up to business players to decide whether they wanted to implement the SVLK or not as not all countries required Indonesia to implement the SVLK.



With such sentiments from the ministry, Indonesia is at a crossroads on whether to proceed with the full implementation of SVLK, according to Agus.



'We don't have any certainty on when our agreement with the EU goes live. Do we want the FLEGT VPA to be implemented? Or do we want to give up because we can't revoke the regulation? If we can't, then we could just stop the negotiation process [with the EU] because what's the use? This is the worst case and we will be ridiculed by the international scene because we have ratified the agreement through a presidential regulation,' he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

Trend:

Very important steps have been made for implementing the Southern Gas Corridor project, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at the conference dedicated to the results of the second year of implementation of "State program on socio-economic development of districts of Azerbaijan Republic in 2014-2018".

The president stressed that 2015 was a memorable year in the energy sector.

The president further reminded about the first meeting of the Consultative Council of the Southern Gas Corridor, which was held in Baku.

He said that the high-ranking officials from the project-participating countries attended the meeting, which approved a concrete program and adopted a joint declaration. The meeting highlighted special and leading role of Azerbaijan in the realization of this project.

"The Southern Gas Corridor is the project of energy security for Europe.

The implementation of this project will create for us additional political, financial, and economic opportunities and will allow our rich gas resources to be exported to the world markets in the subsequent tens of years," the president said.

"This will bring us economic benefits, provide currency flow, and our constant development will be even stronger," he added.

The president went on to say that this year additional measures will be taken with regard to the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor.

The president said the work on each of the four projects of Southern Gas Corridor (the Shah Deniz, South Caucasus Pipeline, TANAP and TAP) is being conducted successfully.
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Linkedin Slamet Susanto, Suherdjoko and Severianus Endi (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta/Semarang/Pontianak  Tue, January 26, 2016

The Yogyakarta provincial administration has planned a program to assist disillusioned members of the Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) who are beginning to return to the province after having been forcibly evicted by a mob from their farm complex in Mempawah, West Kalimantan, earlier this month.



The administration's assistant secretary overseeing governance, Sulistyo, said that a three-day program had been prepared for Gafatar members to be held at the Youth Center in Tlogoadi, Mlati, Sleman regency.



'After taking part in the three-day program they will be sent back to their homes by their respective regency/city administrations,' Sulistyo said on Monday.



He said that prior to the Gafatar members returning home, the provincial administration would also conduct socialization programs in their respective neighborhoods so that former Gafatar members would not be intimidated following their return.



'This is important to prevent locals from rejecting them,' Sulistyo said, adding that those refusing to return to their hometowns would be handed over to their respective regency/city administrations.



Sulistyo said that, of the 351 Gafatar members who had returned through Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang, Central Java, on Monday on board the KRI Teluk Gilimanuk naval vessel, all except one were from Yogyakarta and Central Java.



Yogyakarta Police chief Brig. Gen. Erwin Triwanto said some Gafatar members who were originally from Yogyakarta were still in the evacuation center in West Kalimantan because they refused to go home. Some others had returned home by their own means.



'We are currently collecting data on those who returned home on their own. They refused to stay with the group, they feared being seen by the public and receiving abuse,' Erwin said, Monday.



He said the police would also question Gafatar members to learn more about the organization. The police are currently investigating two suspects, married couple Eko and Veni, suspected of having abducted a Lampung physician, Rica Tri Handayani to get her to join Gafatar.



The ship carrying the evacuees arrived at Semarang at 8 p.m. on Sunday evening, but was only permitted to dock at about 7 a.m. the following morning.



After undergoing a series of activities including breakfast provided by the Central Java administration, health check-ups and identification, they were sent to the Donohudan haj dormitory in Boyolali, Central Java, at 1 p.m. on 10 buses.



Commander of the Semarang Navy Base, Col. Eka Setyawan, said the KRI Teluk Gilimanuk was the first ship to transport former Gafatar members from Pontianak, West Kalimantan.



'Four ships have been deployed to transport them,' said Eka, adding that the other three ships were the KRI Teluk Banten, KRI Teluk Banda and KRI Teluk Bone.



Eka said aircraft had also been prepared for the evacuation but the exact number of Gafatar members to be transported by air would be determined by developments in West Kalimantan.



In Pontianak, Nurul Haji, 34, one of the former Gafatar members who took his wife and two children with him to join Gafatar, said they had arrived in Mempawah on Nov. 7, 2015, after spending two months in Bantul, Yogyakarta, learning how to farm with other members of the organization.



After Gafatar disbanded itself on Aug. 13, 2015, Nurul considered Gafatar as a thing of the past and saw himself as an independent migrant.



'I did not want to be an employee of a company, who was restricted by targets and deadlines. So, with Rp 15 million [US$1,088] in hand, I departed for Kalimantan. I lived in Pasir subdistrict, Mempawah Hilir district,' said Nurul who hails from Tegal, Central Java.



He said together with some 300 other Gafatar members they jointly bought 13.5 hectares of forest that they later turned into fields for cultivation and a residential compound. They expected to have their first harvest in February this year.



'Now I don't know what to do. We will follow the government's policy,' said Decky Kurniawan, 29, another former Gafatar member who went with his wife, child and mother to join Gafatar.

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Linkedin Agus Maryono (The Jakarta Post) Cilacap  Wed, January 27, 2016

Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Habib Riziek said terrorist convict Abu Bakar Ba'asyir was not involved in any military training in Aceh Besar, as had been accused.

Riziek admitted that Ba'asyir had been in contact with him, as FPI leader, but that it had been in order to channel humanitarian funds.

'However, overall, the funds given by Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir were directed to fulfil the interests of Muslim people, including to help Muslims in Palestine, who are suffering amid misery and oppression,' said Riziek, in his testimony at the Cilacap District Court on Tuesday as a witness for the firebrand Muslim cleric in Ba'asyir's second case review (PK) hearing regarding his alleged terrorism case.

Riziek further said that it was a big mistake to say that Ba'asyir had been involved with armed training in Aceh.

'He agreed that all Muslims needed to undergo physical exercises and I myself also agreed with that. However, such physical exercises are for the physical strength of the Muslim people, not for terrorism,' said Riziek. He then asked the court's judge panel to release Ba'asyir, saying that the court had made a mistake sentencing the cleric to 15 years in prison.

Riziek was one of five witnesses presented by the Muslim Lawyer team. The four other witnesses were Jose Rizal, a physician, and three terrorist convicts currently imprisoned in Nusakambangan Prison, namely Abdullah Sonata aka Arman Kristianto, Qomaruddin aka Abu Musa aka Mustaqim aka Abu Yusuf aka Hafshoh and Joko Sulistyo aka Zainudin.

In his testimony, Qomaruddin claimed that he had been the field coordinator of the armed military training on the Junto trans-highway in Aceh Besar.

'I was ordered by Dulmatin to lead the combat training, but I didn't know where the money came from and who supplied the weapons. All I knew was that both the money and weapons were from Dulmatin,' Qomaruddin told the judge panel. His testimony was confirmed by two other witnesses, also terrorist convicts at Nusakambangan.

Dulmatin is the terrorist suspected behind the 2002 Bali bombings.

'I had known Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir as a cleric, who was firm and consistent in voicing the truth. That's why I sent a letter to him, asking for a blessing from him, because I felt pressured at that time,' said Qomaruddin, telling the judge panel about his associations with Ba'asyir.

'I didn't know whether or not he had given us money [for the military training],' he went on.

Around 300 Riziek supporters attended the hearing, which began at 9 a.m and lasted through until the afternoon. Most of the supporters, who wore FPI tshirts, followed the trial from outside the building due to the limited capacity of the hearing room.

'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar [God is great],' the crowd shouted repeatedly throughout the hearing. They also were reported to have shouted harsh words at the panel of judges.

Cilacap Police chief Adj Sr Comr Ulung Sampurna Jaya said that around 1,600 police officers, including 500 Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel, had been dispatched to secure the trial.

'We don't want to take any risks. Apart from Cilacap, we also had support from both the Banyumas and Central Java Police Brimob units,' he told thejakartapost.com. (afr/ebf)
The Times has more on the police shooting at the Riis Houses last night.

The former home of artist Frank Stella on East 13th Street sells for $22 million, according to the Real Deal.

Dezeen Magazine profiles the new building at 120 Allen St. that is being described as an aparthotel.

The Philadelphia-based burger outpost, PYT, has closed its location on the Bowery after just three months, notes EV Grieve.

The Observer profiles Jeremiah Cymerman whos a manager at Russ & Daughters, as well as a clarinet-wielding sound deconstructionist and John Zorn protege.
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Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26



By Aygun Badalova - Trend:



New supplies of LNG from the US will expand diversification of energy sources in markets abroad, enhance competition, and in several cases, notably in Europe, substantially improve energy security, the report of Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center and Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center said.



"The benefits LNG can provide for Europe's energy security could help it compete with pipeline gas in Europe from Russia, Europe's dominant supplier," said the "Surging Liquefied Natural Gas Trade" report, obtained by Trend.



European customers have committed to purchasing US LNG volumes equivalent to 30 percent of the capacity of the first four new LNG export terminals, the report said referring to the International Energy Agency (IEA).



This amounts to about 20 billion cubic meters per year.



Europe's future natural gas strategy and goals complement plans in the United States to export LNG, the report said.



Two main pillars of Europe's gas strategy are diversified supplies and stronger integration of European markets and infrastructure. Connecting national pipeline networks in the Baltic, Central and Eastern Europe with Western Europe is especially important because countries in these regions depend on Russian gas and lack adequate links to import gas from other sources in the event of a cutoff, according to the report.



In 2014, the EU imported 45 billion cubic meters of LNG, or 13.5 percent of its total gas imports, down from 14 percent in 2013 and 19 percent in 2012, as pipeline prices became more competitive.



The potential for higher LNG imports to Europe is immense, according to the report. Total capacity to import LNG into the EU is 197 billion cubic meter, leaving 152 bcm of existing unused re-gasification capacity for additional imports.



"This unused capacity could easily accommodate much of the new US LNG export capacity that will be installed over the next five to ten years," the report said. "Moreover, US LNG would be a new source of gas for Europe, helping to diversify its gas supply and provide additional competition and security."



Currently, Europe imports LNG primarily from Qatar, Algeria, and Nigeria.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:

Tehran will host Feb. 6 - 8 a major business event of Kazakhstan and Iran within the framework of working visit of Minister for Investments and Development of Kazakhstan Asset Issekeshev to Tehran, the press service of the Kazakh ministry reported.

The forum will be organized by the Baiterek National Managing Holding and KAZNEXINVEST National Agency for Export and Investments.

The sides will discuss export of Kazakhstan made metal products, construction materials, pellets, corn and other to Iran.

Tehran will also host a Trade Mission, meeting of buyers and sellers, according to the ministry.

Issues of further cooperation on infrastructure, industrial projects, as well as implementation of joint projects will be discussed at the Kazakh-Iranian Business Forum. Representatives of more than 40 large enterprises of Kazakhstan and Iran's 150 largest corporations will participate in the business forum.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Our mate threw up everywhere in the van getting down here, yet he claims he never gets hangovers, Eoin Loveless says, welcoming me into Leicesters O2 Academy.

Later that night, the boys dedicate I Want to Break You In Half to the poor guy.

The Loveless brothers are chilled out and softly spoken, a world away from their music as Drenge.

Words like bratty, crude and aggressive have been slung their way over the time span of releasing two albums.

The band name itself translates into boys in Danish. Though Eoin reassures that he and Rory arent at all laddish.

I just think that the people that go out on stage and play the music, and where the music comes from aren't the people who have to travel to the gig and have to set up... There's a bit of a personality change that happens just before a show. You have to become a different person.

Since their debut, Drenge have become anarchic pioneers for British teens, all snarling vocals and gnarly riffs, the phonics of their name are bought to life.

Stomping through firecrackers of tracks, they become more battered and bruised. Drenge were pissed off as a frenzied duo stuck in the small Midlands town.

Fan favourite People In Love Make Me Feel Yuck from 2013s self-titled album, falls short of two minutes, but kicked its way into become an alternative clubnight favourite.

I was a teenager when I wrote all of those songs (on the first album). I was super frustrated. I remember sitting in primary school, aged eight or nine, and the teacher said, You're going to school, then you'll go to big school for three years, then you've go t to choose your GCSEs, then you choose your A Levels, then you go to university. It was already set out for us at a very young age.

I feel as if we're a huge herd of buffalos running off of a cliff by getting degrees and stuff in a very difficult economic climate. There's not a lot of jobs going around, for whatever reason. I got to this point where I was like whatever system was put in place to give kids an education and advance their future, combined with the increasing of student fees and cutting of grants has created something nasty. So the first album was that.

Fast forward a couple of years and Drenge had acquired a bassist in the shape of their childhood friend Rob Graham to work on the follow up. Staying close to their middle-finger-up attitude, Undertow is more observational and built around fiction. Its thicker, orchestrated, and almost cinematic.

Eoin thinks for a moment, finger on forehead. What if Drenge were a movie?

I know who I wouldn't want to direct it!

he looks right at me.

The guy who directed The Revenant.

It's tough viewing, so tough! I think I'd like Ken Russell to direct it. He's not alive any more but it's hypothetical isn't it?

The plot of Undertow is like a getaway. It's the CD I want bank robbers to have on when they're doing their getaway in the cars. You know at the start of Drive? When he's just waiting for the guy in the car. It would be like Ken Russell's version of Drive. The vibe would be all Derbyshire and the woodland, over LA in neon.

Having written basslines into the live versions of their back catalogue, their latest material glugs with it. Rubbery bass cements an extra monstrosity to spitting vocals and grimy crunches.

Single We Can Do What We Want cites Bonnie and Clyde as the fast-paced track runs with exhilaration and foot-stomping carelessness. Whilst Undertow and Side by Side slink with grubby garage glam.

Heavy guitars and controlled growls endear mystery in intensity. They play with hypnotic psychedelia (Running Wild) and groove (The Snake). Their second album flirts with pop.

Though the songs with the poppiest melodies, are the ones with the darkest lyrics.

That's the only way that I can justify writing that sort of music, to put something underneath it. So it's not too clean or happy. I couldn't do a full poppy song with poppy lyrics, explains Eoin.

My problem is that I just can't listen to music that's like our music. I find it too close to home. If I start getting influenced by that stuff then I find that my work becomes like a snake eating their own tail, or somebody drinking their own urine... or whatever.

Drenges small-town frustrations obviously translate into angry lyricism that comes with an explicit warning.

They create violent imagery of pig fat, roadkill, and tongues being turned into dogmeat. Recounting seeing a mother kick and breaking its baby lambs neck, with the bluntness of their words and a stale air of arrogance. Its like their tracks are having a temper tantrum, but theyre justified because the frustration has been welling inside for far too long.

There are however, moments of romanticism. Recalling You drove me to the woods, watched me fall asleep, like you said you would and crooning have you forgotten my name?

'Trouble from a distance'? Yeah, I'd agree with that. It sounds good.

When I write songs I try and write them in the broadest way, I write them in a way that anybody could sing the song. Rather than it being a boy singing about a girl or a girl singing about a boy... I always try and write from a general perspective.

I think when you start putting references into music that are quite specific to gender then it... I don't know. If I was listening to a song about a girl falling in love with a guy then my feelings about that song would be different to a girls. Even though I'd enjoy the song, I try and make everybody who listens to our songs the same. Almost?

The Loveless brothers take influences from their surroundings of growing up in Castleton, a honeypot town in the Peak District. Eoin tells me its a place where everyones old, theres little to no phone signal, and the broadband doesnt run down the river quite far enough to where they lived. He pulls his hair slightly in exasperation, As a teenager growing up in the middle of nowhere does send you insane.

Though he does sneak a smile when talking about visiting his parents there at Christmas, recalling fond memories of his teenage years working in caves, finding fossils, and speaks proudly about Castletons main attraction; the castle.

Interestingly, Eoin tells me that the house that his parents live in now is in the shade of a rock face.

From Valentine's Day through to Halloween they get the sunshine. Then from Halloween to Valentine's Day the sun never comes out of the rock in front of their house. It's really weird!

The contrast of light and dark between the binary holidays reflects in Drenge. One minute theyre taking the piss out of Etta James, the next theyre quoting the Lords Prayer. Blowing hot and cold. Mixing gothic with pop, hiding gruesome with melody.

Excitedly, he continues. There's a track on the second album called 'The Woods'. It starts off being about a walk that I did with my dad just before I went off to uni.

We did six hours of walking in October. It was an amazing walk. Really amazing moors, and a little valley that we went up. There were these rocks that just kind of standalone on the moor, they've had all this wind over thousands of years blow them into amazing sculptures. There's a plane crash site up on the moor. Then we were heading back down to the car, and we had to go through a forest. The forest was all kind of golden, there were all these spoors flying around in the air.

For a few months after that, I had a really bad kind of lung/chest thing going on. Every time I breathed in it'd be like *big gasp* it was really odd. I don't think I'll ever forget about it. That's kind of where 'The Woods' came from.

The past year has taken Drenge around the world, and next month theyre heading back out as part of the NME Award Shows with Bloc Party, Bugzy Malone and Ratboy. The band are aiming to make Ratboy into a Ratman, getting him suited and booted, running a comb through his hair

But whats next in terms of releases?

I'm in a very peculiar place in that I live with my girlfriend, and Rob who plays bass, and I live in a house. When I'm not on tour, I write songs. Every day I'll sit at my desk and write songs and I don't do words, just the music.

Then I'll spend time with the music and allow vocal melody to come together, then fit words into the vocal melody. But because there's such a normal-ness to what I do, there's a structure. There's no anger and no fear, it means I have to create another mindset. The first album is all true and opinion. The second is more fictional and all narrative. This third one will probably be a bigger splash.

Catch Drenge on the NME Awards Show tour this February
Over 150 residents in two University College London halls have declared an indefinite rent strike, withholding over 250,000 worth of rent until their demands of a 40% price cut are met.

According to campaigners, UCL has increased the median rent by 56% since 2009, yielding a 45% profit, 15,799,000, for the University each year. According to campaigners, UCL has increased the median rent by 56% since 2009, yielding a 45% profit, 15,799,000, for the University each year.

This, they say, undermines poor students access to higher education, especially when situated in the context of scrapping maintenance grants and proposals for further increases to tuition fees.

UCL Cut The Rent see their proposed 40% rent cut as a social rental rate; more manageable for students from low-income backgrounds, and allowing access to higher education for all, regardless of their financial capabilities.

They believe that lower rents will diversify UCLs student body by encouraging more prospective students to apply, allowing equal access for equal talent.

Rents in UCL halls of residence are among the most expensive in the country; self-catered single rooms start at 135.59 per week, while catered single rooms start at 172.34.

Students on rent strike in Campbell House pay between 123.55 and 174.58 for self-catered accommodation, while those in Max Rayne House pay 102.97 to 232.40, depending on whether they choose twin or single rooms, or a one-bed flat.

Last year, Campbell House residents for the year 2014/15 were refunded a full terms rent by UCL, worth 1,368 per student, while former Hawkridge House residents received 1,197 each, as compensation for the unliveable and unacceptable conditions in the halls.

UCL management apologised to both sets of residents, and awarded Hawkridge House residents for 2015/16 an additional 25% rent cut.

David Dahlborn, one of the organisers of the strike, explained why the Cut The Rent campaign at UCL has progressed since their last successful campaign.

One major improvement, he said, is that the strike is better organised this time around. There are lots of people volunteering with the campaign, well over 100 strikers, and we have been much more efficient at uniting renters.

He also feels that the aims of the campaign are now more inclusive, and have appealed to a wider cross-section of society. Last time was focused on living standards  which are important, but made the whole thing seem like a students issue. In fact, rent is everybodys problem. London and the UK are facing a housing catastrophe that is driving tens of thousands of families from their homes and socially cleansing swaths of the capital.

The main discrepancy with these halls in the past has been that UCL Estates did not fulfil their end of the contract. Residents alternately complained of mice and cockroaches in the building, a lack of hot water, and constant construction noise that disturbed study.

This time around, however, they have focused principally on students inability to fund their rental costs.

Rent striker Nyima Murry commented, Many people I know are put off moving to London because they can't afford to study here. I'm striking so that future students have the opportunity to study at UCL on academic merit, not financial background.

Dahlborn added: By focusing solely on rent we are doing two things: bringing the to the fore on the national agenda of pressing political issues, and demonstrating a sustainable solution and alternative  grassroots unionisation of renters that can control the profits made by landlords and property developers.

The campaign cited research by Shelter, which shows that 53% of tenants in London struggle to pay rent, and that it eats up 72% of their total income on average.

A statement by the campaign reads, Whilst this dispute may be in the university, the exploitation of tenants by landlords is causing immeasurable suffering to millions: UCL Cut The Rent wish to be clear they stand in full support with wider campaigns for housing justice.
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Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:

Kazakhstan will supply military equipment and weapons to Jordan, the country's defense ministry press service said Jan. 26.

"The important result of the visit was signing the agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan on military and military-technical cooperation," the press service said, commenting on the results of the Kazakh defense minister's visit to Jordan.

"The signed agreements will boost cooperation between the armed forces and defense industries of the two countries," the defense ministry added. In particular, "an agreement was reached on purchasing Kazakh Arlan armored vehicles" assembled at the local plant of the Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering company that opened in Astana last year.

The armored vehicle designed for remote firing and observation in all weather and lighting conditions, is capable of withstanding 50 kg of explosives in TNT equivalent from the side or 8kg and 14kg correspondingly under the vehicle and under wheels.



"Negotiations were also held on supplying other defense products - optical night vision and aiming devices, NSVS machine guns of 12.7mm caliber and weapon stations, three coordinated radars, communications systems and others," the defense ministry said.

"Despite the large distance between the two countries, great opportunities exist for development in economic and military-political cooperation," the press service noted.

Jordan also agreed to take part in the 4th International Exhibition of Weapons Systems and Military Equipment KADEX-2016 that will be held in the Kazakh capital on June 2-5.



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Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 26

By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend:

The three stages of development of Turkmenistan's largest field Galkynysh envisages the extraction of up to 95 billion cubic meters of gas per year, said the Turkmen Oil and Gas Ministry in a message Jan. 26.

The Galkynysh field provides great potential for increasing the volumes of production, processing and transportation of fossil fuels. This is due to the huge gas reserves at the field, which according to the latest estimates stand at 27.4 trillion cubic meters.

International experts say the huge gas resources at the Galkynysh are sufficient to ensure a long-term supply of fuel both through all the existing export routes and via the pipelines that are planned to be laid under the state strategy on diversification of routes for Turkmen gas supply to global markets.

Currently, Turkmenistan exports its natural gas to China, Iran, and Russia.

There are also discussions on gas supply to Europe through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Deputy PM Narong to arrive in Phuket

PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Admiral Narong Pipatanasai will arrive in Phuket on Wednesday (Jan 27) for an inspection and review of policy and procedures employed by officials on the island.

politicstourismtransporteconomicsenvironmentmilitaryland

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

Tuesday 26 January 2016, 07:36PM

Deputy Prime Minister Admiral Narong Pipatanasai will arrive in Phuket on Wednesday (Jan 27). Photo: The Phuket News / file

Adm Narong will chair a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall at 9am, where flooding has been named as one of the key issues on the agenda.

He will also travel to Thalang in the morning, then to Chalong in the afternoon

During his previous visit to Phuket in May 2014, when Adm Narong was also Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, storms waylaid much of the Deputy PMs plans to inspect different areas of the island. (See story here.)

However, he did affirm that 89 titles deeds for land covering some 1,200 rai and encroaching into Sirinart Marine National Park can immediately be cancelled. (See story here.)

After serving as deputy chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), Adm Narong was later appointed to the post of Minister for Education, before his installment as Deputy Prime Minister last August.

Adm Narong also chaired the national committee on tackling human trafficking set up last year, tasked with investigating the heinous crime of profiteering in trading and trafficking human lives within the Kingdom.
Japan firm say debris found in Thailand 'likely' rocket not jet

NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: A metal panel that washed up on the Thai coast is likely to be from a rocket, a Japanese manufacturer said yesterday (Jan 25), pouring cold water on speculation it comes from a missing Malaysian Airways jet.

technologytransport

By AFP

Tuesday 26 January 2016, 11:35AM

A Malaysian official (centre) takes pictures of a piece of suspected aircraft debris after it was found by fishermen on Saturday (Jan 23), at a beach in the southern province of Nakhon Sri Thammarat. Photo:AFP

The claim came as Thai air force experts transported the large three-by-four metre panel from southern Nakhon Sri Thammarat province in the Gulf of Thailand to Bangkok for examination.

Saturday's find of the heavy, curved piece of debris stirred intense media speculation that it may be part of MH370, the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight that vanished on March 8, 2014 with 239 people on board.

It had left Kuala Lumpur and was destined for Beijing.

The next step is to check, analyse and prove what [the debris] is," Air Vice Marshal Pongsak Semachai, the Thai Air Force's spokesman said yesterday.

But that task appeared significantly easier yesteray afternoon after Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said widely circulated images featuring serial numbers indicated it may be from one of their rockets.

Although we cannot yet be absolutely certain, we think it is likely that it's part of either an H-IIA or H-IIB rocket, Sayo Suwashita, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries spokeswoman in Tokyo said.

The rockets are launch vehicles often used to send satellites into space.

The company reached that initial conclusion after comprehensively examining information such as the shape of the debris and the numbers seen on it.

That backs up experts on sea currents who said a piece of the MH370 was highly unlikely to be found in the Gulf of Thailand.

Aviation investigators believe the plane went down in a remote part of the Indian Ocean.

Last July a two-metre-long wing part known as a flaperon washed up on a beach on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion. The island is several thousand kilometres southwest of Thailand.

Unlike Reunion, the Gulf of Thailand is not in the path of ocean currents from the supposed crash site.

Nothing has been found since the Reunion discovery, despite a search which has so far covered more than 80,000 square kilometres of the seabed.
Leap to freedom lands burglar in Patong toilet

PHUKET: A woman fleeing police with stolen items worth more than B300,000 leaped from a third-story Patong apartment balcony this morning (Jan 26) only to burst through the roof she landed on  and crash land in a neighbours bathroom.

patongcrimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 26 January 2016, 06:30PM

Mr Horilton had his mobile phone, MacBook Air and MacBook Mini returned, but not his passport or cash. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The broken down computer parts were displayed at Thalang Police Station this morning. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Soraya points to where she crashed through the roof. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Soraya Chantasri, 23, was found on her neighbour's bathroom floor with two bags containing stolen items. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Soraya Chantasri, 23, was found on her neighbour's bathroom floor with two bags containing stolen items. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Officers took Soraya Chantasri, 23, from Buriram, into custody at the Laylatong Apartment in Soi Paradise at 11am, Capt Suchart Luecha of the Thalang Police explained at a press conference this morning.

When we arrived at her room on the third floor and knocked, no one answered. Then we heard a sound of something breaking on a floor below, where we found Soraya with two bags.

In the bags were computer parts, mobile phones, an Apple Mac mini, a Mac keyboard, chargers, pliers, a hammer and a screwdriver, he added.

Above Soraya were holes through her neighbours roof and bathroom ceiling. She suffered only minor injuries in her landing.

Her partner, Max, escaped, said Capt Suchart.

Police had tracked Soraya down while investigating a burglary in Pa Khlok, Thalang, he added.

Ms Patchara Kotha, 30, reported a burglary at her home in Moo Baan Yamu on Saturday (Jan 23), explained Capt Suchart.

Ms Kotha reported that her Samsung mobile phone, a MacBook Air, a MacBook Mini, a wallet with B15,000 cash and credit cards, and a passport issued to Peter John Horilton were stolen, he said.

We went to investigate soon after learned from a security guard that he suspected a man and a woman seen in the area earlier that night.

We checked CCTV and tracked down the license plate number of the suspects motorbike, which was registered to a Mr Max Cotter, 27, a Thai national registered as living at an address in Srisoonthorn.

Mr Cotter was arrested twice in Kathu on theft charges and was released from jail last October. When we went to his home he was not there, but today an undercover policeman told us that Max was living with his girlfriend at Laylatong in Patong, where we arrested Soraya, he said.

Soraya confessed that she and Max broke into and robbed Ms Kothas home at 1:30am on Saturday, said Capt Suchart.

She said that Max had sold most of the stolen items already. They would break up the stolen computers and sell the parts, he said.

At the press conference this morning, Mr Horilton had his mobile phone, MacBook Air and MacBook Mini returned, but not his passport or cash.

Soraya has been charged with committing theft in the nighttime using getaway vehicle, confirmed Capt Suchart.

We are still looking for Max, he said.
Three small-time drug dealers busted in Phuket

PHUKET: Three small-time drug dealers were arrested within the space of a few hours on Sunday (Jan 24) following the arrest of one individual in Srisoonthon.

drugscrimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 26 January 2016, 06:25PM

From left: Arwuth Kongsong, 27, from Krabi; Songkan Badan, 33, from Kalasin and Thitinan Thiprin, 27, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat.

A Provincial Police Crime Suppression Unit led by Pol Lt Ritthichai Chumchoy arrested the three men who between them were found to be in possession of drugs, a gun and ammunition. The three were named as Songkan Badan, 33, from Kalasin; Arwuth Kongsong, 27, from Krabi and Thitinan Thiprin, 27, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat.

In total police seized from the three 23.86 grams of crystal meth (ya ice), 12 methamphetamine pills (ya bah), 57.30g, drug taking paraphernalia, three digital scales, one Thai pradit pistol and seven .38 bullets and one 12 gauge shotgun shell.

Pol Lt Ritthichai said that undercover police followed Songkan after learning that he had been selling drugs to teenagers and drug dealers in Thalang and surrounding areas.

On Jan 24 at 1:30pm we received a tip-off that Songkan was going to deliver drugs to his client. We learned that he had a rented room in Soi Noptakaew so a team went there. They spotted his vehicle in the car park so decided to raid his room. Inside we discovered 16 bags of ya ice weighing 19.17g, five ya bah pills, drug taking paraphernalia and one digital scale, he said.

He explained, Songkan said he bought the drugs from a man known only as Go in Thai Muang in Phang-nga and also gave up two names of his clients. This led to the arrests of Arwuth at a rented room in Soi Thida in Wichit and Thitinan in a rented room behind the Big C also in Wichit.

Thitinan was arrested with 3.80g of ya ice, 2 ya bah pills, a Thai pradit pistol, seven .38 bullets and one 12 gauge shotgun shell and digital scale.

Arwuth was arrested with .89 grams of ya ice, five ya bah pills and 57.30g of marijuana, digital scales and drug taking paraphernalia, he said.

Songkan was charged with possession of Category 1 drugs with intent to sale, Arwuth with illegal possession of Category 1 and Category 5 drugs, and Thitinan with illegal possession of Category 1 drugs with intent to sell and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that relations with Italy go beyond bilateral significance and can contribute to security and stability in the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa regions, IRNA reported.

He made the statements in Rome on Monday evening during a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in which he also hailed Italy's positive role the settlement of the dispute over Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

The Italian premier termed the two countries as superpowers of beauty and culture and called for an increase the ties further than traditional oil and gas industries.

Iran can be the hub of security, energy, human resources and development, and geopolitical importance, Rouhani said, welcoming Renzi's comments.

If it were not for Iran's pioneer role in the fight against terrorism in the region, the world would have been witnessing more difficult conditions for peoples of Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, he stressed.



Saying that Iran and Iraq have been cooperating for peace and security in Afghanistan, the Iranian president said that there is no military solution for the problems in the region.

'The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action can be a an example to be followed for the settlement of regional issue,' he said referring to the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers.

The Italian prime minister expressed his country's satisfaction over President Rouhani's visit and signing of cooperation agreements and contracts.

He said Tehran and Rome enjoy historical relations that have resulted in the friendship of the Iranian and Italian nations.

Prior to the press conference, Iran and Italy signed contracts, MoUs, and agreements worth billions of euros.



President Rouhani and Premier Renzi were overseeing the signing ceremony of the bilateral cooperation documents by ministers and other high-ranking officials of their respective countries.

Earlier in the day, President Rouhani met Italian President Sergio Mattarella during which he said Iran is keen on expansion of cooperation in post-sanctions era, including joint venture investments, transfer of technology and manufacturing export-oriented products.

President Rouhani is scheduled to visit Vatican and meet world's Catholic leader Pope on Tuesday.

The four-day state visit, the first by an Iranian head of state after implementation of the nuclear Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JPCOA), will also take Rouhani to Paris for expansion of bilateral ties with European countries after removal of anti-Iran sanctions.

Negotiations will focus on bilateral relations as well as regional developments as Iranian and European statesmen in Rome and Paris are scheduled to confer and sign agreements and contracts on energy, economic, industrial and trade relations.
Tributes flow for NZ mum Ariana Brown, killed in Phuket motorbike crash

PHUKET: An outpouring of grief and tributes has flown from Phukets Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) community following the death of New Zealand mother Ariana Brown, 43, in a motorbike accident early Saturday morning (Jan 23).

accidentsdeathtourismtransport

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 26 January 2016, 11:51AM

Flowers and tributes have been laid at the roadside tree that Ms Brown struck. Photo: The Phuket News

Tributes from the Muay Thai and MMA community in Soi Taiiad, Chalong, have flowed for Ariana Brown (left), 43, who died in a motorbike crash on Saturday (Jan 23).. Photo: Ariana Brown / Facebook

Ms Brown was returning from her first fight victory when the motorbike she was riding hit a roadside tree in Soi Ta-iad, Chalong, an area renowned for its many Muay Thai and MMA gyms and training centres. (See story here.)

Tiger Muay Thai, where Ms Brown trained on Soi Ta-iad, posted on its Facebook page: Ariana Brown first came to Tiger Muay Thai about a year ago for a new experience with no thought of fighting. Shortly thereafter she fell in love with Muay Thai, making her want to see how she would do in a fight.

After a lot of hard training at the age of 43 she got to achieve her dream this past Friday night (Jan 22), coming out victorious by TKO in the 4th round. Tragically, Ariana passed away later that night.

Ariana was a much loved member of the Tiger family who was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. All of us at Tiger Muay Thai are deeply saddened by her passing and send our condolences to her family.

Friend Ash Gibson was riding 30 or 40 seconds behind Ms Brown and was the first friend on the scene after the crash, reported online news portal Stuff.co.nz. (See story here.)

She had never fought before, she was so stoked, Gibson said.

The world had lost an amazing woman who loved life, she added. Shes loved by so many here in Thailand, had a huge group of us cheering her on for her fight.

I think we were all just taken by her beauty outside and inside Im heartbroken. She was a strong woman, it's still pretty hard to believe.

Brown had suffered severe head injuries in the crash and although she was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital, she was pronounced dead on arrival.

New Zealands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the death and said it was supporting Browns family. Ms Brown is survived by two sons, reported Stuff.co.nz.

Among the tributes posted on the Tiger Muay Thai Facebook page, were the following:

Rip was a pleasure to have met although only briefly you were very vibrant friendly women such a tragic ending to what was your night of success r.i.p thoughts and prayers go to your family.

 Anthony Scott Forrest

I hope Ari is looking down and seeing how many peoples lives she has touched by being in them, whether it has been for a short time or long, rest in peace Ariana Brown, to her sons and family, take care xx

 Leeanne Hay

Always smiling and helping us.. Rest is peace Ariana.

 Siso Hristoff

She was a fantastic training partner,serious,funny and friendly...I am so sorry...

 Salvatore Cafiero

Proud of you Ari. You got your fight and you owned it wahine. You never stopped living and chasing your dreams. Arohanui my friend. On to the next part of your journey!

 Rob Edmondson
Tehran, Iran, January 25

By Mehdi Sepahvand -- Trend:

As Iran is freed of international sanctions, the country's banking system has made new arrangements with Russia to start cooperation against the backdrop of prospective booming bilateral trade in the post-sanctions era.

Russia's Tempbank is going to open an agency in Iran in two months, said Mina Mehrnoosh, CEO for Planning at Iran's Trade Development Organization.

Mehrnoosh who is in Moscow, leading a trade and banking delegation, said Russian banks are also ready to open LCs for Iran, Tasnim news agency reported January 25.

She added that Mir Business Bank, Bank Melli of Iran's agent, is also going to boost its activities in Russia.

In meetings with Russian counterparts, Mehrnoosh and her colleagues also discussed opening accounts for Iranian companies without the companies' representatives having to travel to Russia.

Tempbank has a record of relations with Iran's Bank Hekmat, while Russian Financial Corporation Bank is in cooperation with Iran's Bank Saderat.

Various sectors such as industrial, oil, trade, energy, and aviation are hoped to provide grounds for the two countries to improve their annual turnover of $2 billion to the target $10 billion in the near future.

Before it plunged to $2 billion due to sanctions, Iran-Russia's trade turnover was $4 billion in 2013.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:

Iran and Spain are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on nuclear cooperation within the coming months, Iran's atomic spokesperson said.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has said Iran and Spain will have cooperation on various nuclear fields, ISNA news agency reported Jan. 26.

"We launched talks with Spain before implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA/ nuclear deal)," he said.

Kamalvandi added that with the implementation of the JCPOA, the talks between Iran and Spain have been accelerated and several MoUs will be signed soon.

He also touched upon a MoU between China's Atomic Energy Authority and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to develop nuclear cooperation in nuclear sector and said the sides are still discussing the construction of two nuclear power plants in the Islamic Republic's southern coastal area of Makran.

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.
Pierre, Tea Area lives up to hype and more from HS football week nine
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Umid Niayesh - Trend:

Iran's Navy will hold a military drill in Oman Sea and India Ocean on Jan. 27, Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said.

The drill dubbed "Velayat 94", the range of which will cover some three million km square area in free waters, will be held in an area within the Strait of Hormuz and the northern part of the Indian Ocean, Sayyari said, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported Jan. 26.

Sayyari further said that Iranian Navy prevented the foreign military fleets to enter the secured area, where the Islamic Republic is set to hold the naval drills.

He also said that during the drills, Iran will test various missiles. Various units including a variety of submarines, missile boats will take part in the drill

The drill is aimed at demonstrating the capabilities and power of the Iran Navy in terms of safeguarding security, Sayyari said.

He said that the northern part of the Indian Ocean has great importance for Iran due to transit of goods through the area.

In recent years, Iran's navy has been increasing its presence in international waters to protect maritime routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

In line with international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian navy has also been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.

The Iranian navy managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Farhad Daneshvar - Trend:

The Iranian vetting body of the Guardian Council has disqualified Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, a grandson to late founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to run for the election of the Assembly of Experts to be held in late February.

Meanwhile, the vetting body has qualified 37 candidates from Tehran Province including high-ranking officials such as President Hassan Rouhani as well as chairman of the Expediency Council, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, to run for the election to be held in 26 February, ILNA news agency reported.

The Assembly of Experts is comprised of 86 Islamic scholars (Mujtahids) who are elected by the public to eight-year terms. The Assembly of Experts is an influential body in charge of supervising the supreme leader and organizations under his direct control as well as electing a successor for him.

Reportedly Hassan Khomeini who teaches Islamic sciences at Qom Seminary School refused to attend a test hold by the conservative-dominated Guardian Council to qualify the applicants. However, sources close to the Hassan Khomeini who is backed by Iranian reformists said that he was not invited to take the test.

On Dec. 17, Iran started the nominee registration process for the upcoming election of the Assembly of Experts to be held in late February.

According to Iranian constitution those who wish to stand as candidates at the election of the assembly of Experts must be educated in Islam and capable of understanding Feqh (religious jurisprudence).
Eva Lilienfeld, News Editor

lilienfe17@grinnell.edu

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards returned to Iowa this past Sunday, Jan. 25, to speak to the Grinnell Community in support of Hillary Clinton. Four years ago, Richards made the same visit to Grinnell to support President Obamas campaign.

Planned Parenthoods endorsement of Clinton represents a revolutionary move, as the organization has never before endorsed a candidate in the primaries. Richards explained the ground-breaking endorsement.

[Hilary Clinton has] been a champion her entire life for families and for women to get access to care and rights, not only access to reproductive healthcare, but also equal pay and opportunities for advancement, Richards said at the public event on the second floor of the JRC. Its not that she would be a champion, its that she has been a champion.

According to Richards, Planned Parenthood invited all presidential nominees, including Republicans, to interview for the endorsement, but only Democratic candidates agreed to interview.

Though other Democratic candidates stood for womens rights, Planned Parenthoods decision to endorse Clinton was ultimately due to her lifetime of work in gender equity, particularly Clintons work with families at the Childrens Defense Fund early on in her career, and her work in addressing gender and human rights internationally as Secretary of State.

[Clinton] was the one who said, Womens rights are human rights, and human rights are womens rights, and that has stood the test of time, Richards said.

Much like other supporters on Clintons campaign, Richards stressed the significance for preventing a Republican presidency. For Planned Parenthood, specifically, it could mean drastic changes to their federal funding. She explained that since the presidential election of 2012, former House Speaker John Boehner, Republican, risked a government shutdown to request that Obama withdraw federal funding from Planned Parenthood. According to Richards, Clinton, if elected, would continue to fight for the right to access healthcare in spite of Republican resistance.

It was literally President Obama who stood in the breech of Republican leadership and millions of people in this countrys ability to access healthcare, Richards said. Thats leadership, and when the chips are down we need people to stand and fight.

Fellow for the Clinton campaign and leader of Grinnellians for Hillary, David Leitson 16, stressed that Richards visit was crucial for the Clinton campaign with the upcoming caucus, especially because of the seemingly divided support of Grinnell Democrats.

Bernie supporters are more vocal on campus and tend to be louder, but I think theres definitely a division in the Democratic Party, Leitson said.
PARISEuropes top police agency issued a stark warning Monday: Islamic State extremists will keep attempting lethal attacks on soft targets in Europe as the militant group increasingly goes global.

Some 10 weeks after suicide bombers and gunmen killed 130 people in Paris, the Europol agency said, there is every reason to expect that (Isis, Isis-inspired) terrorists or another religiously inspired terrorist group will undertake a terrorist attack somewhere in Europe again, but particularly in France, intended to cause mass casualties among the civilian population.

The sobering conclusions reached by experts from the European Unions chief agency for law enforcement co-operation in EU member states make clear that many, perhaps virtually all in Europe, may be at risk.

Without reliable intelligence on the intentions, activities and contacts and travels of known terrorists it is nearly impossible to exactly predict when and where the next terrorist attack will take place and what form it will take, the Europol report said.

Hours before the report was issued, a new video was released by the Islamic State group celebrating the killers who carried out the Nov. 13 attacks in the French capital  while also threatening fresh bloodshed.

The grisly recording ends with one militant holding a severed head, footage of British Prime Minister David Cameron giving a speech, and a warning that whoever stands with the unbelievers will be a target for our swords.

The 17-minute video, released Sunday, shows the extent of the planning that went into the multiple attacks in Paris, which French authorities have said from the beginning were planned in Syria. All nine men seen in the video died in the Paris attacks or their aftermath.

All but two of the attackers were from Belgium and France and spoke fluent French. The two others  identified by their noms de guerre as Iraqis  spoke in Arabic.

Seven of the militants, including a 20-year-old who was the youngest of the group, were shown standing behind bound captives, described as apostates, who were either beheaded or shot.

Soon on the Champs-Elysees, says Samy Amimour, who was raised in a Paris suburb, as he holds a dead captives head aloft.

The Nov. 13 attacks targeted a packed concert hall, a restaurant and cafe and a soccer match at the French national stadium. The video glorifying the Kalashnikov-wielding gunmen and suicide bombers responsible for that carnage was probably also meant as a recruitment tool.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Mondays Europol report did not go markedly beyond previous warnings and was not intended to sow fear but to look lucidly at reality.

Gilles Kepel, a political scientist who recently published Terror in the Hexagon: The Genesis of French Jihad, said even if Islamic State extremists carry out new attacks in Europe, the video shows the group is increasingly desperate and likely on the wane  in part because of the indiscriminate killings in Paris.

They emphasize their ability to be cruel, to kill all their opponents and to terrorize everyone. But what is very striking is that I do not believe that they will have a significant amount of new sympathizers after those videos, he said.

I believe that its not really a display of strength. Its rather a display of weakness. Terrorism has its political economy of sorts. You have to terrorize people. On the one hand, you have to spread terror, but at the same time you have to gather sympathizers. If youre not able to have the two going together, then the model fails, he added.

But releasing the video draws attention anew to attacks that terrorized central Paris and shows the groups ability to turn Europeans against their homelands in a relatively short time, said Magnus Ranstorp, a counterterrorism expert at the Swedish National Defence College. The youngest of the group, a 20-year-old, had been in Syria only since February.

They were not only battle-hardened but they were cruel. Their threshold for killing was low. They wouldnt blink to kill, Ranstorp said. He said the videos release two months after the attacks fell into a typical delay by Islamic States propaganda apparatus.

Expert reviews conducted by Europol on Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 concluded that the Islamic State is preparing more terrorist attacks, including copycats of the so-called Mumbai method of co-ordinated bombings and shootings by multiple teams of assailants that claimed 164 lives in Indias financial capital in November 2008.

The attacks will be primarily directed at soft targets, because of the impact it generates, the Europol report said. Both the November Paris attacks and the October 2015 bombing of a Russian airliner suggest a shift in (Islamic State) strategy toward going global.

Numerous independent analysts have conjectured that as Islamic State has increasingly lost ground in Iraq and Syria, including to a U.S.-led international coalition and the Russian military, it has lashed out at its foes abroad.

Islamic State commanders are given tactical freedom depending on local circumstances, making it much harder to detect plots, the report said. That degree of liberty, it said, makes it harder for law enforcement to detect such plans and identifying the people involved at an early stage.

Calling the danger of extremist violence the most significant in over 10 years, Europol on Monday also officially opened a new European Counter Terrorism Centre at its headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. Europol director Rob Wainwright said the new unit will have 40-50 experts in counterterrorism and deal in intelligence-sharing, tracking foreign fighters and sources of illegal financing and firearms and assisting EU countries in counterterrorism actions and investigations.

Wainwright told a news conference in Amsterdam that more than 5,000 EU nationals have been radicalized by fighting with Muslim extremists in Iraq and Syria and that many have returned home to present a clear and present danger to public safety.

The current threat demands a strong and ambitious response from the EU, Europols chief said, referring to the experts warnings of Islamic States plans for large-scale attacks on a global stage with a particular focus on targeting Europe.

The Islamic State video released Sunday was shot before the men sneaked back into Europe and contains no footage of the attackers during the days of terror that began Nov. 13 and ended only on Nov. 18 with the death of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was believed to be the leader of the attack cell.

Instead, it was assembled from material shot before the men left for Paris, news video and amateur video. The video did not specify where the nine men were filmed, but it was believed to have been in Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria. Abaaoud is seen simply speaking in a room.

One militant, Brahim Abdeslam, is seen at a makeshift shooting range. Abdeslam, whose brother Salah fled Paris that night and remains at large, blew himself up at a Paris cafe where he was the only victim. Salah Abdeslam is not seen in the video.

Kepel, an expert in Islamic extremism, predicted the Islamic States long-term prospects were dim not just in Europe, but in the very territory it most wants to control in Iraq and Syria.

Wages of the fighters have been cut in half because the militants have no access to the smuggling of oil  the oil rigs have been bombed and destroyed, he said. Thats one thing. And the morale is not very high. This is one of the reasons they try to boost the morale with those horrendous videos.

Though graphic, it left Parisians uncowed in the neighbourhood where the carnage unfolded the night of Nov. 13, including at the Carillon cafe, where gunman targeted customers out for the evening.

Its part of their propaganda. This is one of their methods. Of course its pretty strong because pictures carry a lot of weight, said Gerard Faure. But I dont think that here, people I know in this neighbourhood, Parisians as a whole are not really afraid.

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Two US Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets will be sent to Britain to take part in two air shows this summer, the US Marine Corps says.

The move would mark a key milestone for the weapons program worth $391 billion after its international debut was thwarted in 2014, Press TV reported.

A fleetwide F-35 was ordered to be grounded following an engine fire at the annual Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in 2014.

The incident also prevented its appearance at the biggest air show in Farnborough, outside London in the same year, which would have otherwise become the global premiere of the stealthy, supersonic new warplane.

Since then, an F-35 jet, which was assembled in Italy, has made its inaugural flight there, however, this summer's appearance at RIAT will be the first by the fighter jet at an international air show.

"The US Marine Corps is looking forward to demonstrating the capabilities of the F-35B Lightning II in the skies over the United Kingdom this July," Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lieutenant General Jon Davis told Reuters on Monday.

According to Davis, a joint US Marine Corps and UK detachment would utilize the flights in order to validate foreign deployment activities and to prove program interoperability.

He also said that the Pentagon's F-35 program office and Lockheed would be asked to support the work.

According to one source, Britain has planned to use at least one of the four F-35 jets it has already received at the shows. The British jets are presently training in the United States.

Lockheed is currently developing three models of the jet, known as the Joint Strike Fighter, or Lightning II, with major suppliers Northrop Grumman Corp and Britain's BAE Systems Plc. The engines are manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp.

Britain along with other countries, including Norway, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Turkey, Italy and the Netherlands have helped fund development of the jets.

All but Canada and Denmark have since ordered jets, as have Israel, Japan and South Korea.

The F-35 program, which is the US Defense Department's single largest weapons project, encountered technical problems and cost overruns for years. However, US officials maintain that it has improved and that costs have decreased during the past five years.

The Marine Corp's F-35B model is capable of taking off from warships and aircraft carriers and landing like a helicopter.

During the UK event this summer, some US Air Force F-35 jets will also be used, sources familiar with the plans said.
At least six Kenyan police officers were killed on Tuesday and three others injured when the vehicle they were traveling in ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) in the coastal region of Lamu, Xinhua reported.



A senior local police officer who confirmed the incident said two other officers are still missing after the incident in Mangai area in Lamu County.



"Six officers were killed and three others injured when their vehicle drove an IED which was planted along the Hindi-Kiunga road in Lamu," a senior police officer who sought anonymity said by telephone.



Security officers have launched massive search for the missing colleagues who were in the truck which was ferrying some 15 officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit.



"The injured officers suffered from multiple injuries and have been rushed to the hospital," the officer said. He said the incident took place in an area believed to be dangerous since it's infiltrated by Islamist militants from Somalia who have been roaming in the nearby vast Boni forest.



The latest incident comes barely two weeks after Al-Shabaab fighters attacked a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) camp in Elade in southern Somalia, killing some 100 soldiers in the worst attack since the troops crossed into the Horn of Africa nation in 2011.



The terror incident comes at a time when the security operation to flush out Al-Shabaab militants from Boni Forest in Lamu County has been extended to cover four key areas: Pandanguo, Bothei, Pangani and Witu.



Recently police released the names and photos of five suspected Al-Shabaab operatives who might be plotting terrorist attacks in the coastal. They include one female, a possible suicide bomber, by the name of Shamim Wanjiru Hussein.



The coastal city has witnessed relative calm since last June when the police foiled attack at military base in the coastal town of Lamu where Al-Shabaab key leaders were killed including British jihadist Thomas Evans.



Several Al-Shabaab militants have recently been killed by KDF soldiers in Somalia by taking over major towns that were under the control. Enditem
The US territory of Puerto Rico has 19 cases of the mosquito-born Zika virus, which is believed to cause serious birth defects if contracted by pregnant women, the Puerto Rico Health Department confirmed on Tuesday, Sputnik reported.



"[Puerto Rico] today confirmed 19 cases of Zika virus in Puerto Rico, chiefly in the southeastern zone," Health Department Secretary Ana Riu was quoted as saying by El Vocero.



The US Centers for Disease Control has stated there are serious birth defects of the brain called microcephaly as well as other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with the Zika virus. The Zika virus can be spread from pregnant women to unborn babies.



Puerto Rico epidemiologist Brenda Rivera said the majority of cases are in the island's southeast region, according to a separate report on Fox News. None of the victims were pregnant and that many of were elderly, Rivera added.



The mosquito-borne disease has raged in South America and other regions for several months. Twenty one countries and territories of the Americas have reported cases of the virus since May 2015, the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office for the Americas said in a statement on Tuesday.



The WHO added that the disease is expected to spread to all but two nations in the Americas - Chile and Canada.






Syrian Kurds need to be a part of the peace process to end the civil war, but those treating the PYD terrorist group as a legitimate partner "do not live in the reality of the region", Turkey's prime minister said Monday, Anadolu reported.

"Without Syrian Kurds, the table cannot be complete. What we are against is YPG", Ahmet Davutoglu told CNN's Christiane Amanpour, referring to the armed wing of PYD. The Syrian Kurdish group is an extension of the PKK, a terrorist-designated organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU.

"Those who are recognizing them as a legitimate partner, they do not live in the reality of the region," said Davutoglu. "Nobody can convince us that [PYD] is for peace".

The prime minister's remarks came ahead of new Syria peace talks set to begin Friday in Geneva.

The talks were initially scheduled to start Monday but were delayed by disagreements about which opposition factions would participate.

Davutoglu held firm that the Syrian crisis would not be resolved with President Bashar al-Assad in power, adding that regime forces are "not winning".

On Russia's role in the conflict, Davutoglu said Russia was intervening "in a very negative manner, in fact occupying Syria".

As one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia "like others can contribute to the peace process", he said, "but we expect Russia to respect Syrian civilians and ... not to push Syrian civilians towards Turkish border."

He said 90 percent of Russian airstrikes in Syria had so far targeted civilians and moderate opposition groups, as well as schools and hospitals.

"We know these, because all those who were injured by Russian bombardment are escaping to Turkey", he said. "Only 10 percent of Russian airstrikes are against Daesh."

More than 1,000 civilians have been killed by Russian airstrikes that began Sept. 30 to prop up the regime forces, according to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights.

The civil war, which will enter its sixth year in March, has left more than 250,000 victims dead and made the country the world's single largest source of refugees and displaced persons, according to UN figures.

Neighboring Turkey, which is now the largest refugee-hosting country in the world, has spent nearly $8 billion caring for more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees on its soil.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkey will adopt a new constitution, which will meet the needs and interests of the country's citizens, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Ismail Kahraman said, Anadolu Agency reported Jan. 26.

"The new Turkey needs a new constitution," he noted.

Earlier, a source in Turkish presidential administration told Trend that adoption of a new constitution is very important for Turkey, as the current one doesn't correspond to the interests of citizens and the state.

The source also said that it is necessary, first of all, that the new constitution gets vote of the Turkish parliament.

"If the parliament isn't able to adopt a new constitution through a voting, there will be a national referendum," the source added.

Earlier, Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu said that parliamentary system of government in Turkey does not meet the interests of the state.

The country's current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to the leaders of the oppositional Republican People's Party and Nationalist Movement Party in late October 2011, urging them to take part in the talks on working out a new constitution.

Turkey's opposition has always objected adoption of a new constitution, since they believe that it is a step towards switching from the parliamentary to presidential form of governance.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Search Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" trading recommendations using our exclusive "Mad Money" Stock Screener.

Can any one company transcend oil's downward pull on the markets? That was the question Jim Cramer was asking his Mad Money viewers Monday after another round of selling on Wall Street. Fortunately, the answer was "yes," especially if that company is McDonald's (MCD) .

Today, McDonald's delivered a strong quarter, one that included a 5% rise in same store sales. This is only the beginning of the turnaround at McDonald's, Cramer noted, under the leadership of CEO Steve Easterbrook.

Cramer explained that on the surface, the simpler menu instituted by Easterbrook may not seem like a big deal. But fewer choices means fewer mistakes, which lead to happy customers and re-energized franchisees.

McDonald's renewed focus on value and convenience matters, Cramer continued, and it's proving to be a winning formula.

One person can make a difference, Cramer concluded, even if it is just in one stock for one day.

Executive Decision: Tom Falk

For his "Executive Decision" segment, Cramer spoke with Tom Falk, chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark (KMB) , which today had an earnings miss of 1 cent a share on a 6% decline in revenue, news that sent shares lower by 3.1%. Shares of Kimberly-Clark currently yield 2.9%.

Falk said Kimberly saw its best volume performance since 2007 and is winning in local markets around the globe. He explained that the weakness in revenue stems from the continued strength of the U.S. dollar.

Falk said things are going great in markets like China, where Kimberly hopes to be in 130 cities by year's end. He was also encouraged by an uptick in the U.S. birth rate, which bodes well for Kimberly's diaper and baby products.

When asked about the effects of lower commodities, Falk confirmed lower oil prices reduced the price of plastics, while the price of pulp and paper is also helping Kimberly's bottom line.

With the company remaining committed to its dividend and stock buyback program, Cramer told viewers to be owners, not traders, of this great consumer packaged-goods company.



Jumping Into Retail Cold

After months of not being able to move their winter apparel, is it finally time to start buying the retailers now that Saturday's blizzard blanketed the East Coast with two to three feet of snow?

Cramer said many investors turn to Home Depot (HD) in situations like these, but Home Depot is too big for one storm to make a difference. Then there's Deckers (DECK) , too unreliable; VF Corp (VFC) , which just guided earnings lower; and Polaris Industries (PII) , which suffers from Japanese competition.

That leaves Columbia Sportswear (COLM) as the best play on winter, Cramer declared. After peaking at $74 back in July, shares of Columbia are down 33% since the bear market began. Yet Columbia remains the leader in both fashionable, and practical, winter apparel.

Columbia reports next week, Cramer noted, but those earnings won't reflect this week's storm. It's Columbia's next quarter that should be exciting. As such, Cramer suggested starting a small position ahead of earnings and adding to it on any weakness.

Don't Buy Etsy

Some businesses have no business being public, Cramer told viewers, as he once again cautioned against owning Etsy (ETSY) , the online marketplace for hand-made goods.

Etsy came public back in April at $16 and almost immediately doubled, closing its open day at $30 a share. But by May 15, shares had already plunged to just above $20, causing Cramer to issue his first warning against owning it.

Since then, Cramer said his fears regarding Etsy have only gotten worse, as the company continues to have no clear path towards profitability. Making matters worse, Etsy now has a new competitor in Amazon.com (AMZN) , which entered the artisan goods space in October. Cramer said no one has any idea the damage Amazon can do to Etsy.

Even if Etsy did have its act together, Cramer said today's market is not one for rewarding high risk. That's why investors always must pay attention to the numbers before they invest. In the case of Etsy, those numbers were decelerating before they even got started.

Lightning Round

In the Lightning Round, Cramer was bullish on Cypress Semiconductor (CY) , Edwards Lifesciences (EW) and LAM Research (LRCX) .

Cramer was bearish on Boston Scientific (BSX) , Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) , Covanta (CVA) , Kroger (KR) , Mattel (MAT) , Linear Technology (LLTC) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) .

No Huddle Offense

In his "No Huddle Offense" segment, Cramer took another look at the price movements in oil, in another attempt to explain what's really going on.

Cramer said that Friday's strong rally in oil came after oil service giant Schlumberger (SLB) forecast drastically reduced spending on oil drilling, allowing supply and demand to finally return to balance sometime in 2016.

Should those comments have caused a rally? Cramer said Schlumberger also said it doesn't see a rebound in oil exploration until 2017. While that may be enough for some in the oil industry to proclaim a quick return to $60 and $70 a barrel oil, the oil futures markets are only pricing oil at $49.49 a barrel... in 2024, a full nine years from now.

That's why investors need to remain skeptical of any one-day surge in the oil markets. The bottom remains as illusive as ever.

To watch replays of Cramer's video segments, visit the Mad Money page on CNBC.

To sign up for Jim Cramer's free Booyah! newsletter with all of his latest articles and videos please click here.

At the time of publication, Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS had no position in stocks mentioned.
The U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing a case that could have wide-ranging implications for traders on Wall Street and federal policymakers.

According to David Miller, partner at Morgan Lewis and former prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, the court could decide Salman v. United States in a way that would make it much harder for prosecutors to obtain convictions in insider trading cases. Also, he said the Salman case could lead to Congress passing new legislation actually defining insider trading, something that currently does not exist.

Should Salman prevail at the Supreme Court, Miller sees the entire legal and regulatory framework of insider trading come into question.

Salman's case relies on a precise issue: whether it is necessary to demonstrate that the initial tipster in an insider trading case need gain a personal benefit from passing information along to a tipee.

Bassam Salman was convicted on Sept. 30, 2013, of insider trading on information passed along from his future brother-in-law, Maher Kara, then working at Citigroup's (C) health care investment banking group, and was ultimately sentenced to serve three years in prison and pay $738,539.42 in restitution. At the 9th Circuit, the court overturned Salman's conviction finding that "the government presented direct evidence that the disclosure [from Kara to Salman] was intended as a gift of market-sensitive information."
As if Mondays aren't bad enough, investors are faced with yet another potentially down day on Wall Street. And there could be many more down days to come, as stocks remain under pressure from a trifecta of woes this winter -- namely sliding oil prices, worries about China and uncertainty over the Fed. But one market watcher says that doesn't mean investors should cut their losses and run.

"The bigger takeaway for investors is not to panic. We don't want investors to do what they did in 2008 and 2009 and just get out of the market," said Kristina Hooper, U.S. investment strategist, Allianz Global Investors.

"If they have a long enough time horizon they should remain invested, although we do think agility matters, and active investing matters in this environment." Hooper advices investors to add dividend stocks to their portfolios.

"Focus on dividends; that is critical, because you're getting paid to wait," said Hooper. "We expect a lot of volatility, a lot of movement up and down, but we might not make much progress by the end of the year. At least dividends provide a significant amount of income that is still tax advantaged."

Hooper also favors the health care and technology sectors, particularly as earnings growth across the S&P 500 is slowing. "In particular, where we are seeing disappointment is a lack of revenue growth. It's even worse than earnings growth thus far in the earnings season," explained Hooper.

"That's just not an engine to power stocks higher." What will power stocks higher from here is difficult to call. Hooper said she believes the direction of Fed policy trumps other concerns on Wall Street.

"Some have argued, we've seen so much in the way of financial markets tightening, that the Fed may think their work is done for this year. I would argue that's not the case," said Hooper, who expects potentially three more rate increases this year, depending on economic data.
The slowdown in China's economy may cause a lot of handwringing and headaches in the near term, but it's a necessary and positive step over the long run, said David Lafferty, chief market strategist at Natixis.

"We all know that the Chinese economy is driven by heavy manufacturing, exports, capital investment in infrastructure and not enough by the consumer," said Lafferty. "To continue to grow at that rate without racking up a significant amount of debt, which they have been doing, they really need a long-term balancing strategy." China's GDP rose 6.9% in 2015, its slowest pace in a quarter of a century.

Similarly, Lafferty also sees the positive side of the current energy sector slump. He said the pain of low oil prices is concentrated in the energy sector and the upside of lower crude costs is widely spread across the economy.

"It's more of a supply issue than a demand issue," said Lafferty. "If we saw demand really falling off then I think it would be a more likely harbinger of recession, but I don't see that."

The collapse in crude has also dragged down the high yield market. Nevertheless, Lafferty does not see the problems in junk bonds as a canary in the coalmine for either the greater fixed income market, or the economy.

"I think what you are seeing in the high yield market outside of energy is actually more worries about what the Federal Reserve is doing, or what they may do, and also around liquidity within the high yield market," said Lafferty. "I think that's creating a premium in spreads which is making the overall high yield market look a little wider. I don't think its foreshadowing global recessionary pressures."

Still, Lafferty sees the market's recent rally as driven by hope, instead of fundamentals. In his view, the global market's recovery has been driven by promises from European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and Bank of Japan head Haruhiko Kuroda.

"I'll be more convinced we've bottomed when the fundamental data improves, not just promises from the central banks," said Lafferty, adding that he thinks stocks can "claw their way higher" but he does not see them springing ahead at this point.

In the meantime, Lafferty suggested that investors stay diversified and "spread it around because there are no screaming buys out there."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkish minister for EU affairs, Volkan Bozkir has said that his country will sooner or later become a full member of the European Union.

"Turkey's economy is much stronger than the economies of many EU member countries," Anadolu Agency quoted him as saying Jan. 26.

The relations between Turkey and the EU have strongly strengthened in the recent years, added the minister.

In January 2015, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country is no longer interested in the EU accession.

Earlier, Bozkir noted that the talks on Turkey's accession to the EU "can not be continued in the format that the EU requires."

He stressed that democracy in Turkey is at a higher level than in some European countries.

At the moment, the EU and Turkey are negotiating on a common action plan, which envisages the EU's financial assistance in the amount of three billion euros, the intensification of negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU and the intensification of the visa abolition process for Turkish citizens.

At the same time, Turkey has to improve living conditions of refugees in the country; to prevent the migrant flow to the EU from its territory and repatriate the illegal immigrants who arrived in the EU from Turkey.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Activist Harvest Capital Strategies threatened Monday to launch a director-election proxy contest at prepaid debt card issuer Green Dot (GDOT) if it didn't replace its CEO and immediately install a new board.

The San Francisco-based insurgent investors, which own a 6.2% stake and have been Green Dot investors for roughly four years, took issue with its CEO Steve Streit's oversight. The activists argued in a 22-page letter to Green Dot's board that even despite their "deep-rooted" concerns with management they believe the company possess hidden "substantial franchise value."

"Activities within our rights as shareholders may include a proxy contest at the 2016 Annual Meeting," wrote two Harvest directors, Jeffrey Osher and Craig Baum.

Green Dot, based in Pasadena, Calif., has a $905 million market capitalization and recently signed a marketing partnership with comedian Steve Harvey to serve as a celebrity spokesman and promote the reloadable pre-paid debit card business.

The activists charge Green Dot has "consistently" delivered weak financial results. The activists said Streit "struggles with the basic tenants of running a larger company" and "lacks the ability" to execute on a strategic vision. The company, they added, has an "unhealthy" culture of senior leadership turnover. The stock has stagnated of late and traded Monday afternoon at $17.52 a share.

Unless Green Dot makes changes fast, the investors will start to focus intensely on the company's 2016 annual meeting expected in May. According to the company's 2015 proxy statement, shareholders must submit their dissident slate to the company's board by March 14 giving the prepaid card issuer less than two months to make changes or it will likely face a Harvest Capital proxy fight.

The activists have also targeted Green Dot's executive compensation plan, taking issue with Green Dot's move to use three different compensation consultants in eighteen months. Proxy advisory firm ISS may give Harvest Capital some assistance in that area.

The firm's QuickScore report, which measures corporate governance, gave Green Dot an eight out of ten ranking with ten being the worst score. Low scores in compensation and shareholder rights suggest that Harvest Capital, which has also targeted Green Dot's executive pay plans, may may stand some chance of convincing shareholders that change is needed.

In addition, in 2014, ISS recommended that shareholders vote against Green Dot's "say on pay' executive compensation plan and in 2015 the proxy advisory firm urged investors to vote against the company's compensation subcommittee chairman, Ken Aldrich and another director, George Sheehan, in an uncontested election.



Nevertheless, there are major hurdles ahead for the activist fund, which has almost no history of public activism. According to Factset, Harvest Capital has never launched a proxy contest before and has only engaged in one activist campaign in its 16 year history. In 2011, according to FactSet, it unsuccessfully opposed Global Traffic Network Inc.'s acquisition by GTCR, a private equity firm, in a deal that the insurgent said "grossly undervalued" the company.

In addition, previous votes suggest the company may not yet have an overwhelmingly disgruntled shareholder base. Despite the ISS vote recommendation, in 2015 only 10.5 million shares voted against Aldrich and Sheehan while over 23 million shares supported them. In 2014, only about 10 million shares opposed the pay plan while 18 million supported it.

According to a person familiar with the situation, Harvest Capital engaged in private discussions with Green Dot's management over the course of roughly a year. The activists, he said, were given promises that their private discussions about potential changes were going well. However, in the end, he said, Green Dot's board committed to management, a move that pressured Harvest Capital to take their concerns public.

In a statement Green Dot said its board will carefully review Harvest Capital's suggestions. However, it also backed Streit's leadership, noting that he has "established a strong competitive position against existing and numerous new competitors."

Osher manages Harvest Small Cap Partners fund while Baum is a researcher and analyst at the fund. Overall, Harvest Capital has $2.3 billion in assets under management.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26

Trend:

Ankara would like to overcome the situation arose after the incident with the Russian SU-24 jet in relations with Moscow, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, RIA Novosti reported.

The minister reminded the meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in December in Belgrade.

"We agreed to keep this diplomatic channel open," he said.

"Unfortunately, we have now such a situation. We would like to overcome it," he noted.

"Turkey has never wanted to escalate the conflict; moreover, we tried to do our best to resolve this incident that unfortunately happened," Cavusoglu said.

"We regret that it happened, because Russia is not only our partner, but an important partner," he added.

"We need to keep diplomatic channels open for further discussion on how to resolve this situation," he said.

Speaking about sanctions, Cavusoglu said that "unfortunately, Russia made a number of decisions against Turkish citizens, imposed sanctions against the Turkish side, plus against civilians, businessmen, students, and that is not good."

"We have never answered; we are the only NATO country that has not yet joined the sanctions against Russia, in spite of all the steps that have been taken by Russia," he added. "We believe that one day common sense will prevail, and we will have to normalize our relations."

Cavusoglu also said that he is ready at any time to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Relations between Russia and Turkey have deteriorated after Turkish Air Force jets shot down the Russian SU-24 bomber when it entered Turkish airspace Nov. 24.

After the incident the Russian president signed a decree on measures to ensure national security and on special economic measures in regard to Turkey.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN) stock is climbing by 6.44% to $8.43 in early afternoon trading on Tuesday as oil prices surge and give energy stocks a boost.

Oil prices are increasing on hopes that OPEC will create a policy that lowers its members' oil production, Reuters reports. The global oversupply of oil has weighed on oil prices during the last year.

However, OPEC member Russia is not cooperating with the organization's negotiations, according to Reuters.

"Without a production agreement, fundamentals point to lower numbers," David Hufton of PVM, told Reuters. "With one, oil becomes a $40-to-$60-a-barrel market."

Crude oil (WTI) is up by 4.88% to $31.82 per barrel and Brent oil is increasing by 5.41% to $32.15 per barrel, according to the CNBC.com index.

Based in Spring, Texas, Southwestern is is an energy company engaged in natural gas and oil exploration, development and production.

Separately, recently, TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this articles's author.

TheStreet Ratings rates this stock as a "sell" with a grade of D. The company's stock has tumbled by 65.54%, much worse than the S&P 500's performance. Additionally, the company's net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to $287.00 million or 50.51% when compared to the same quarter last year.

You can view the full analysis from the report here: SWN

SWN

data by

YCharts
Trade-Ideas LLC identified

Illinois Tool Works

(

ITW

) as an unusual social activity candidate. In addition to specific proprietary factors, Trade-Ideas identified Illinois Tool Works as such a stock due to the following factors:

ITW has 11x the normal benchmarked social activity for this time of the day compared to its average of 0.68 mentions/day.

ITW has an average dollar-volume (as measured by average daily share volume multiplied by share price) of $229.6 million.

Identifying stocks with 'Unusual Social Activity' tends to be a valuable process for traders looking to capitalize on the 'talk of the town' stocks that are basking in far more attention from the StockTwits financial community than normal. Good press? Bad press? It ultimately doesn't matter if it's good or bad if you know how to trade around the sentiment. Certain hedge funds use such data for their proprietary algorithms and it is not uncommon to see shared social sentiment play itself out in a stock's price trend.

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More details on ITW:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Food Equipment; Polymers & Fluids; Welding; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The stock currently has a dividend yield of 2.7%. ITW has a PE ratio of 16. Currently there are 7 analysts that rate Illinois Tool Works a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 5 rate it a hold.

The average volume for Illinois Tool Works has been 1.8 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Illinois Tool Works has a market cap of $29.9 billion and is part of the industrial goods sector and industrial industry. The stock has a beta of 1.10 and a short float of 2.4% with 2.64 days to cover. Shares are down 12.6% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Monday.

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TheStreetRatings.com

Analysis:

TheStreet Quant Ratings

rates Illinois Tool Works as a

buy

. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, notable return on equity, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. We feel its strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

Highlights from the ratings report include:

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS has improved earnings per share by 8.6% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past year. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS increased its bottom line by earning $4.68 versus $3.62 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($5.11 versus $4.68).

The company's current return on equity greatly increased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of significant strength within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Machinery industry and the overall market, ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS's return on equity significantly exceeds that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.

43.59% is the gross profit margin for ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS which we consider to be strong. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of 15.23% is above that of the industry average.

Net operating cash flow has significantly increased by 160.51% to $706.00 million when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS has also vastly surpassed the industry average cash flow growth rate of -18.37%.

Despite the weak revenue results, ITW has outperformed against the industry average of 21.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 9.2%. The declining revenue has not hurt the company's bottom line, with increasing earnings per share.

You can view the full Illinois Tool Works Ratings Report.

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Ankara will boycott UN-sponsored Syria peace talks in Geneva if the Democratic Union Party (PYD) is invited to the table, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday, Anadolu agency reported.



The PYD is the Syrian extension of the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.



"Under what title will PYD sit at the table? Could a terrorist organization be a representative of [Syrian Kurdish] people," he said during a live interview with Turkish private NTV news channel in Strasbourg, where he came to attend the Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.



His remarks came before the Syria peace talks scheduled for Friday in Geneva, for which the invitations have been sent after delay by disagreements over which opposition factions should participate to decide on the political process to end the five-year-old conflict.



"Will al-Qaeda and Nusra Front be able to take a seat at the table? The negotiation will be made between the opposition and the regime. Terrorist groups are out of the question," he said.



Cavusoglu reiterated Turkey's opposition against the involvement of the PYD or its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), in the peace negotiations.



He also ruled out presence of separate opposition groups for Syrian Turkmens or Arabs as the opposition delegation at the table will consist of them all.



"They say the PYD will not be invited, but if it is invited we will certainly boycott the Geneva talks," he added.



Turkey's top diplomat stressed that Ankara was previously promised that the PYD would not be included in the talks.



"[If it happens], it will also tarnish the opposition's reputation. It will not be an advantage but a disadvantage for them to be intimate with terrorist groups," he also said.



Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Ankara regarded the Syrian Kurds' attendance at the table as a necessity, when he addressed a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara.



During an interview to CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Monday, Davutoglu said those treating the PYD as a legitimate partner "do not live in the reality of the region".



"Nobody can convince us that [PYD] is for peace", he said.



Turkey has repeatedly accused the PYD of cooperating with the regime forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.



The five-year civil war in Syria has seen more than 250,000 killed and led to more than 10.5 million fleeing their homes, according to the UN.
This Oct. 22, 2015, photo shows a Planned Parenthood in Houston. A grand jury investigating undercover footage of Planned Parenthood found no wrongdoing Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, by the abortion provider, and instead indicted anti-abortion activists involved in making the videos that targeted the handling of fetal tissue in clinics and provoked outrage among Republican leaders nationwide. The footage from the clinic in Houston. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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A health worker stands in the Sambadrome as he sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Most foreigners still feel like second-class citizens as they cant open bank accounts or make simple purchases such as train tickets with their green card. (Photo : REUTERS)

The Chinese government is set to ease restrictions for selected workers and applicants from the countryside who would like to apply for permanent residency in cities, in an effort to encourage a new form of urbanization, the State Council said in a statement released on Friday, Jan. 22.



China Daily reported that the State Council would make revisions to the registration system, known as hukou, to further encourage the integration of migrant workers in cities, as well as boost investment and domestic consumption.



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The State Council said that it will ease the rules on permanent residency in most cities, especially for university graduates, skilled technicians and students returning to the country after receiving an education overseas, as well as the restrictions on rural workers.



The report said that the council also called on provincial authorities to fully implement the new residency permit which became available on Jan. 1. The permit, which is granted together with hukou, allows holders to avail of free education, health care, employment and legal services in the city in which they live.



The statement further said that the government will provide more policy support to help improve shantytown dwellings and dangerous homes, and expand policy coverage to more townships.



The State Council said the initiative is aimed at encouraging the investment of more social capital to build city facilities, such as underground pipelines, and enable urban areas to adopt the national Internet Plus strategy to build smart cities.



The report said that the new urbanization practices will be tried and expanded to include more cities, as the government plans to improve land and housing policies, and encourage local authorities to establish urbanization development funds with social and financial capital.



The report added that during the meeting, the State Council also discussed its plan to tackle overcapacity in the iron, steel and coal industries, as the country aims to reduce 100 million to 150 million metric tons of crude steel production and strictly control new industrial capacity.



Xu Hongcai, director of economic research at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, said the measures will spur effective investment of social capital in cities.



"This new type of urbanization put the focus on the people instead of industrialization or real estate investment," Xu said. "Encouraging a larger migrant population to settle in cities will be a driving force for economic development, as it will encourage more social capital in public services and infrastructure."


China will end subsidies for new-energy vehicles (NEVs) after 2020. (Photo : YouTube)

Although China will end subsidies for new-energy vehicles (NEVs) after 2020, analysts pointed out on Sunday, Jan. 24, that there's still need for government support thereafer.



According to the Global Times, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said in a post that China plans to slowly phase out subsidies for NEVs and pursue market-based regulations to support the development of the sector.



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Some manufacturers of NEVs are not motivated to make technological breakthroughs because they rely too much on government subsidies. As a result, the Ministry of Finance will cut the subsidies progressively, by 20 percent from 2016 levels during the 2017/2018 period, and by 40 percent between 2019 and 2020. There will be no subsidies after 2021.



A senior analyst at the China Automobile Dealers Association, Su Hui, told the publication that the authorities also want to crack down on subsidy-related fraud in the country's NEV industry.



Media reports revealed that some Chinese NEV producers fake sales figures to get subsidies. The Economic Observer on Jan. 16 cited an unnamed industry insider that reported approximately 50,000 of NEV sales in China in the first months of 2015 were faked and the vehicles in real sense not purchased.



Four ministries including the National Development and Reform Commission, the MOF, and the Ministry of Science and Technology are carrying out a joint investigation into misuse of NEV subsidies, according to a different report by the same publication. The ministries have requested local authorities to look into the matter and submit results before Feb. 5.



Su said, "Subsidy-related fraud is not that common. And with the increasingly strict supervision, such practices will be eradicated."



However, Su expressed doubt as to whether subsidies will be phased out in the next five years. The central government might have to increase support for the NEV industry in the coming years to fulfill its ambitious sales target of 5 million NEVs by 2020.


Marco Rubio is all over the map in Iowa. Quite literally.

Having spent little time in the states rural Christian conservative northwest, the Republican presidential candidate dropped in to Sioux County for the first time last week, then bounced across the state two days later to speak with some of Iowas more fiscally conservative voters in the east.

Im going to trust that he knows what hes doing, state Rep. John Wills, who supports Rubio, said after his campaign stop at the Christian Dordt College in GOP-rich Sioux Center. I hope he gets the chance to get up here again. Northwest Iowa is where you win.

Rubio began an uninterrupted nine-day run Saturday ahead of Iowas lead-off caucuses next Monday. His itinerary includes college towns, larger cities and rural outposts.

After months of promising that his campaign was on the verge of ramping up in early-voting states, Rubio appears to be following through in the Iowa homestretch.

He dismisses the notion that hes changing in the 11th hour to play catch-up with rival Ted Cruz, who has dedicated significant time and resources toward campaigning across the state. Rubio has focused more on Des Moines and the states other urban areas.

Rather, its an indication that the caucuses are eight days away, Rubio said Saturday during a campaign stop in Indianola.

In the chess game of early voting, Rubio needs to finish in Iowa ahead of mainstream GOP rivals like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. If he does, undecided voters in the upcoming contests in New Hampshire and South Carolina could take notice.

Despite the scattershot appearance of Rubios schedule, a pattern of building toward caucus day was beginning to take shape over the weekend as he drew large, diverse and engaged crowds, picked up endorsements from some of Iowas larger newspapers and appeared Monday with the states freshman U.S. senator, Republican Joni Ernst.

He knows what it is to keep our country safe from the threats that are out there, Ernst, an Iraq War veteran, said of her 44-year-old Senate colleague. She called him near and dear to my heart.

Ernsts glowing introduction echoed formal endorsements of younger, Republicans elected to Congress in the past decade. Rubio described as young, strong conservative leaders, those who have campaigned with him, including Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner, South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy and South Dakota Rep. Kristi Noem.

I feel good where that is going to lead, Rubio said of his campaign on Monday. As soon as were done here, were going to head to New Hampshire and do as well as we can there.

Until now, some Iowa GOP officials  among them, people who are backing Rubio or are remaining neutral  have been perplexed by his Iowa approach.

The caucuses are far different from primary elections, and require successful campaigns to identify individual supporters, stay in touch and communicate with them about how they can be involved and ultimately attend their local precinct meetings.

The critique or allegation has been that (Rubios campaign is) not building an organization, said John Stineman, an Iowa Republican consultant who is not affiliated with any campaign.

Hes not spent as much time in western or northwest Iowa as a traditional Iowa campaign, said Gwen Ecklund, Crawford County GOP chairwoman.

Instead, Rubio has frequently visited Sioux City, the metro hub of northwest Iowa, but a far cry from the socially conservative counties that surround it where the more clearly evangelical candidate Rick Santorum won in the 2012 caucuses.

Cruz, who has led in some recent Iowa GOP polls, has visited them all, evidenced by red signs, reading Choose Cruz that mark the snowy banks along the two-lane farm roads of Sioux County.

Still, Rubio drew 600 to his event at the Dordt College union on a recent, bitterly cold night. He had drawn a smaller audience to the Christian college two weeks earlier, when students were away for winter break.

Two days after his Sioux County event, Rubio was 370 miles east, speaking to about 500 on a Monday night in Bettendorf, part of the more moderate Quad Cities metro area, where 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney won during the 2012 caucuses.

In the days ahead, Rubio has an equally demanding schedule, beginning Monday in the Des Moines area with little letup, except for Thursdays GOP debate in that city.

Stineman said activities behind the scenes could fill any gaps.

Much of Rubios voter identification has been digital  through social media and email.

Its happening in a way were not used to, said former state GOP Chairman Matt Strawn, who is not working for a campaign.

Rubio is also getting organizational help from an unconventional source.

Conservative Solutions, the super PAC that supports Rubio, is calling potential Rubio supporters, collecting information about them and directing them to the Iowa Republican Partys website to find their caucus locations.

Stineman said he had received such calls and follow-up information. While a spokesman for the group said it was conducting some organizational functions aimed at benefiting Rubio in the caucuses, he declined to elaborate.

Its a new role for these groups, which can, unlike federally regulated campaigns, take unlimited contributions but have until now largely used their money on advertisements.

Rubios team seems to be operating off of a new Iowa Caucus playbook, Strawn said.

(AP)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, 14 Shevat, commented on the report on anti-Semitism that was presented at the weekly Cabinet meeting:

This is a very important and significant report. Anti-Semitism still exists and is becoming ever more vicious. I call on the international community to take action against anti-Semitism and strongly condemn all displays of anti-Semitism. It cannot be that 70 years after the Holocaust anti-Semitism can still be seen in full force. In light of what happened in the past, it must be ensured that such a disaster does not recur and this is the responsibility of the EU and the UN, which are silent in face of these worrying data.

Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed all elements to step up information activity and education around the world against anti-Semitism.

The Cabinet was briefed by  inter alia  Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett, Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky, Yad Vashem Director Dorit Novak, Foreign Ministry representative Yuval Rotem and Yad Vashem Chief Historian Prof. Dina Porat. They referred to the following subjects:

* The upsurge in anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incidents;

* A majority of those harassing Jews come from among Muslim migrants, especially in Europe;

* Jews in Europe feel threatened;

* Jews are tending to hide their identity in public;

* There is a link between the upsurge in anti-Semitism and increased immigration to Israel or the intent to immigrate to Israel;

* The wave of migrants in Europe is strengthening right-wing elements, a situation which could be detrimental for Jews;

* Right-wing claims in Europe against the presumed intent by Jews to change the demographic order in Europe via Jewish support for Muslim migrants; and

* In contrast to the past, there is a blurring of the distinction between the State of Israel and Jews, and displays of anti-Semitism are linking opposition to Israel and Jew-hatred.

The speakers also referred to efforts by their institutions to instill awareness of the memory of the Holocaust in Israel and around the world, the need to reach new communities and act within educational frameworks around the world and in Israel, and international informational and diplomatic activity to fight anti-Semitism.

Just this week German Chancellor Angela Merkel sated Anti-Semitism if More Significant than we imaged, calling on officials in her country to act.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
During the week of Sunday, 7 Shevat, Honenu Attorney Menasheh Yado filed a NIS 32,000 civil suit with the Afula Magistrate Court on behalf of a 15-year-old demonstrator who was detained and slapped in the face by a police officer during a protest.

The protest was held on 10 Teves at the Tishbi Intersection in the north of Israel in response to reports of the ISA torturing Jewish minors who were detained and interrogated in the Kfar Duma case. At the protest 18 demonstrators, some of whom complained of police brutality, were detained and brought to the Nazareth Magistrate Court. The complaints included use of tear gas by the police. The complaints included use of tear gas by the police.

Simultaneously four demonstrators were detained during a protest at the Cords Bridge in Jerusalem.

According to the statement of claim, during the protest, the 15-year-old demonstrator was detained and pinned to the engine hood of a police car by three policemen, even though he did not resist detention. At this stage a police officer came and slapped the complainant in his face twice, while he was completely restrained by three policemen. The complainant was then taken into the police car by the policemen as the police officer shoved his back.

The following day the complainant was released at the Nazareth Magistrate Court and he subsequently filed a complaint with the Police Investigation Unit on police brutality.

The case is a typical instance of police brutality, in this case aggravated brutality. Unrestrained force was applied to a minor who does not have a criminal record and who had no ability to defend himself, wrote Honenu Attorney Menasheh Yado in the statement of claim. For all intents and purposes, police brutality is assault. There should be no leniencies and perhaps there should be stringencies concerning police brutality completely lacking justification, as occurred in this case. Brutality injures, humiliates and severely harms the self-confidence of a citizen and the trust of citizens in the law enforcement authorities.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani affirmed continuous cooperation between the two countries. (Photo : Twitter)

Chinese President Xi Jinping capped a successful three-nation visit to the Middle East after he and Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani signed 17 agreements affirming stronger ties between the two countries.



Xi arrived in Tehran on Saturday for the two-day trip, meeting with Rouhani. The two leaders discussed several key issues, including a new 25-year plan aimed at broadening the two countries' relationship and improving trade.



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During the talks, the Chinese leader emphasized the importance of cooperation among countries. He then cited how the ancient Silk Road helped foster cooperation and friendly exchanges between China and its neighboring countries for close to two millennia, China Daily reported.



For his part, Rouhani announced that as part of the economic plan laid out, his country and the Asian giant are set to build economic ties in the next 10 years amounting to around $600 billion. The Iranian leader also hailed the Chinese president's visit as an important development in the country's relationship with China.



Xi's visit marks the first of a Chinese leader to the Middle Eastern country in 14 years.



The Chinese leader also went on to meet with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Yahoo News reported. Khamenei affirmed Iran's commitment to fostering relations with its Asian neighbor. China was one of the countries that continued trade with Iran during the economic sanctions imposed by Western countries.



The trade between the two countries amounted to around $52 billion in 2014.



China and Iran also signed 17 agreements covering several critical areas like politics, security, and cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.



Earlier in his trip, Xi met with Saudi leaders for the reopening of free trade talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council. He then proceeded to Egypt where he presented an offer of $55 billion worth of loans for countries in the Middle East.


A Siemens logo is pictured on an office building of Siemens AG in Munich, May 30, 2014. (Photo : Reuters)

A management board member and chief technology officer (CTO) said that China is still one of the biggest markets for Siemens AG. The company is a German multinational conglomerate that remains optimistic about China's future.



Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Siegfried Russwurm said that China's GDP growth rate of 6.9 percent in 2015 is still among the fastest globally. He added that China is still one of the biggest markets in the world based on its growth rate and size of the economy, believing that the Chinese market, where Siemens had witnessed rapid growth, still has a great future.



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According to China.org, the country is not only a user but also a contributor to the development of Industry 4.0, which is regarded by many as the fourth industrial revolution.



Being among the pioneers in the promotion and use of smart technologies, also called Industry 4.0 in Germany, Siemens is one of the first corporations to establish smart factories in China.



Russwurm pointed out that the electronic product company of Siemens in Shenzhen in southern China is naturally considered "the icon of the factory of the future."



According to the CTO, Siemens has a formidable research and development team in China, which contributed to the worldwide notion of the fourth industrial revolution.



China is a big part of the global economy, and it would be considered in the same capacity as other markets in a digital and global world.



Russwurm said, "We have to learn as a global company not to treat China and Chinese companies differently from customers somewhere else on the globe."



The CTO believes that there is no difference between Siemens factories in China and those in Germany.



He also talked about labor costs in affluent Chinese cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen, which he compared to Mexico and East Europe. The CTO, who is also a governing body member of the Industry 4.0 movement, also applauded the collaboration between the Germany platform and its Chinese counterparts in the fourth industrial revolution initiative.


This South African registered car hit a concrete wall next to Mvutshini, from Manzini, and ended up in this position along the Mbabane-Manzini MR3 highway yesterday. The driver escaped unhurt. (Pics: Ntokozo Magongo)

MBABANE  Four Zimbabweans are lucky to be alive after their car landed in a ditch along Malagwane hill on the Mbabane-Manzini MR3 highway.



The accident occurred yesterday afternoon near Eden Guest House. The car failed to negotiate a corner and hit the concrete walls in the middle of the road. The car moved for about 100 metres before it eventually landed on its side.

One of the people who were in the car was found sitting on top of some luggage, which had been retrieved from the wrecked vehicle. The woman was eventually taken away in an ambulance and did not show any signs of being injured.



The others were said to have been taken to the Mbabane Government Hospital. Traffic police were cautioning drivers at Mangwaneni to slow down because of the accident. Also at the scene were personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services as well as paramedics.



Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba confirmed the accident. He said only two of the people were badly injured and taken to hospital. The people travelling in the car were Zimbabweans, he said.
BIG BEND  An unsuspecting traditional healer has become the latest victim of con artists who duped him into being involved in a E2 million money scam.



Jockoniah Ngcamphalala, who is based at Mndobandoba in Big Bend, has been swindled out of over E25 000 by two men, who identified themselves as members of the army.

Ngcamphalala, who has a disability, said one of the men approached him and asked him to be involved in a deal worth about E2 million.



He said the man identified himself as a soldier who is stationed along the Swazi/Mozambican borderline. He said the man explained to him that his duties included patrolling the borderline and arresting smugglers and illegal immigrants who attempted to cross into or out of the country.



Ngcamphalala said the man informed him that, while he was on duty sometime last year, he confiscated large sums of money from Mozambican smugglers, who were trying to cross with the money into the country.

He said the man told him that the total amount he had confiscated amounted to E2 million.



Ngcamphalala said the man confessed to him that he had not declared the money to his bosses but he kept it. He said the man further told him that only his immediate supervisor new about the money.

When I asked him why he wanted to involve me in the deal, he said the money was stained so he wanted me to assist him in cleaning the stains. He asked to leave the money at my place while he looked for a chemical to remove the stains. In return, I was promised a share of the E2 million, said Ngcamphalala.



Tempted by the reward he was to get if the whole deal went through, Ngcamphalala said he agreed to be part of the deal.

He said after some days, the man arrived at his place driving a posh Mercedes Benz.



He said the man gave him a big box loaded with a lot of money; in R100 notes. Ngcamphalala said the man asked him to keep the money while he searched for the chemicals that could remove the stains from the notes. He said almost all the notes had stains. It was like a blue ink was sprinkled on the notes, he said.



After some time, Ngcamphalala said the man called him and asked that he loaned him some money so that he could buy the chemical. Motivated by the prospects of getting a share of the E2 million once the stains were removed; Ngcamphalala said he borrowed money from a shylock.



He revealed that he borrowed E10 000 and transferred it to the man through MTN Swazilands Mobile Money. Ngcamphalala said after some time, the man further requested for more money and again he borrowed money from a shylock.

He said the man kept on borrowing money until the amount he had borrowed amounted to E25 000.
MBABANE  The legal profession has become overcrowded. President of the Law Society of Swaziland (LSS) Jose Rodrigues disclosed this during the official opening of the High Court yesterday.



He said as compared with other professionals practising in the present economy, the legal profession has become overcrowded. There are approximately 500 practising lawyers in Swaziland and the numbers are ever increasing. The statistics of the number of legal practitioners as compared to the other professionals is incredible, said Rodrigues.



He said there were 18 chartered and registered accountants in Swaziland serving a population of one million citizens. He said these favourable ratios equally apply to other professions. It only means one thing for attorneys; that we are slowly becoming and in many respects have become the lowest paid professionals in Swaziland. I, therefore, sound alarm to my colleagues, to stand up and pay attention to issues relating to their welfare in the legal profession, remarked Rodrigues.



He said the LSS could not do it alone; instead they (lawyers) needed to get more involved in the business of their profession by the active participation in the matters of the society.

Rodrigues highlighted that there was a need to improve the structures of the LSS and the only way this could be achieved was by members giving back their time, knowledge and experience to the business of the legal profession and not to leave it all to the council.



He mentioned that there was an urgent need to improve their image and professionalism as the number continue to grow.

A constant challenge of the LSS is in dealing with matters of ethics, integrity and honesty within the legal profession and the complaints arising therefrom by members of the public, which unfortunately have and tend to bring the legal profession into disrepute. consequently, the image of the profession suffers, said the president.



He said the disciplinary structures within the legal profession needed to improve in terms of the number of attorneys that were prepared to serve and give their time to these sub-committees if they were to vigorously attend to complaints.

He noted that these complaints directly and adversely affected the image of the legal profession.



The image of the Law Society of Swaziland cannot continue to suffer on account of a few rotten potatoes. it needs to act more swiftly and aggressively. Currently, there are more serious complaints under review and scrutiny by the LSS to act upon, which regrettably will and may call for the suspension and disbarment of certain members, he stated.



The president disclosed that notwithstanding the valid concerns of the public regarding the legal profession, clients in most occasions had unreasonable expectations from attorneys in relation to fees charged by attorneys.

Their expectations are such that deposit paid into a file by a client is expected to cover the entire costs of litigation to the end, then become overwhelmed when they are presented with a statement of account yet they will not have the same expectation from their doctor for instance, he stated.
MBABANE  Public schools may well be opening to a new crisis today as the schools feeding programme known as Zondle has no food.



Schools that are on this programme have to make do with whatever stock of food was left before they closed for the festive season, close to two months ago. Those that have far too little or nothing must hang on until the next delivery of food comprising beans, mealie-meal and rice.



It is unknown when the food will be made available to the schools.

The Ministry of Education and Training  it transpired  issued a circular to all schools, that are beneficiaries of the feeding programme a few weeks before closure in December 2015, that they must take heed and not waste any food resources. This was because it was already anticipated that there would be a delay in replenishing the pantries by the time schools opened today. Unconfirmed reports attributed this to setbacks in the food tendering system, while others have alleged that government does not have enough monetary resources to buy the food for schools.



Minister of Education and Training Phineas Magagula, when asked to clarify on this matter, said the ministry nutritionists were better placed to do that. But what he made clear was that he wanted all pupils to eat when they were at school. Unfortunately the ministry nutritionists he referred to were said to be out of office when this reporter called yesterday. Patrick Muir, the ministrys Principal Secretary, could not be interviewed as his mobile phone rang unanswered for most of yesterday.

Meanwhile, Swaziland Principals Association (SWAPA) Deputy President Welcome Mhlanga confirmed that head teachers received letters late last year which told them to economise on the little that was left.



We were told to keep watch because there would be a delay when schools reopen in the following year. Interestingly, some schools had already exhausted their food resources by the time they closed. So there could be a challenge when it comes to food, said Mhlanga in an interview.



Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Muzi Mhlanga expressed awareness of the said circular as well. He said the explanation they received was that there were certain setbacks with the food tendering system.

Muzi said he foresaw a number of pupils in many schools, especially rural, struggling to learn if the little that was left was exhausted. He hoped that food would be delivered sooner than later.



The food provided through Zondle goes a long way in helping pupils stay focused in school. Many of them come from poverty stricken homes and solely depend on the school kitchens for breakfast and lunch, he said.

He opined that it seemed that government was being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the obligations that it must undertake. He said this from the backdrop of the growing need for more money for the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Fund, among others. The school feeding programme is undertaken countrywide, in both primary and high schools where all pupils are allowed to have a full meal per day.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks at the Inaugural Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing on Jan. 16, 2016. (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has pushed for more efforts to further human-centered urbanization in China in order to improve livelihoods and boost the countrys beleaguered slumping economy.



"China's greatest development potential lies in urbanization," Li said in a statement issued on Sunday following an executive meeting of China's State Council on Friday.



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As a project that has significant bearing on improving people's livelihoods, urbanization is also conducive to promote effective investment and consumption, the statement said, adding that, in turn, this will lead to a more coordinated development between cities and rural areas of the nation.



The government has also vowed to make it easier for citizens residing in the countryside to become officially recognized urban residents. With the exception of select megacities, restrictions on hukou, or China's registered permit residence, in cities will be "fully liberalized" for university graduates, skilled workers, and students returning from studies overseas, according to Sina on Sunday.



A regulation that upgrades "residence permit" management, which was announced by the State Council in December the previous year and rolled out earlier this month, will ensure city residents that have yet to secure their hukou to gain access to basic public services including education, employment, medical care and legal assistance, the statement said.



The government will speed up renovation of shantytowns and dilapidated buildings. Policies supporting shantytown renovations will be expanded to cover major towns across the country. Private capital is encouraged to contribute to the building of roads and underground pipelines.



China will also spread out the pilot areas for a "new type" of urbanization to encourage the development of medium and small cities. Pilot projects will be implemented in towns that have a population reaching more than 100,000 that will enable them to have a county-level administration authority, according to the statement.


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By Bill Parry

The de Blasio administrations ambitious Housing New York plan, which has already financed more than 40,000 affordable apartments enough for more than 100,000 New Yorkers, may have hit a wall with the expiration of the states 421-a tax abatement program last Friday.

Negotiations between the Real Estate Board of New York and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York failed to bring about an extension of the program because it would not be beneficial enough to labor and a giveaway to developers, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The 421-a program provides vital tax abatements to residential developers by eliminating property taxes in exchange for a higher number of below-market-rate apartments. According to a city analysis, ending the program will result in the loss of 18,000 newly built affordable rental units over the next four years.

Last spring, we proposed important 421-a reforms that would spur the construction of sorely needed affordable rental housing, eliminate tax breaks for luxury housing and drastically reduce the citys subsidy, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The proposed reforms were a win-win for families in need of stable homes and for taxpayers. It is deeply disappointing that these reforms were not enacted. We are facing an unprecedented crisis of affordable housing, and we must employ every tool at our disposal to confront it.

It is still possible that the Real Estate Board of New York and the Building and Construction Trades Council of New York may reach an agreement in the future. The program had expired in June, but after further negotiations an extension was reached nine days later.

We remain ready to engage with all stakeholders in the weeks and months ahead to achieve our goals of creating needed affordable housing and middle-class jobs for New Yorkers, Gary La Barbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of New York, said.

The Real Estate Board of New York said introducing a prevailing wage for construction workers would result in greater government spending to cover wages and benefits.

Without a program like 421-a, one cant build multi-family rental housing with a significant below-market, or affordable, component on a scale necessary to address the Citys needs, RBNY President John H. Banks, III said.

Meanwhile, de Blasio, who admitted to being a little obsessed with affordable housing during the Hallets Point ground breaking last week, vowed his administration would push hard for action in Albany in the coming days.

In the short-term, in 2016, were quite confident in our ability to continue to produce housing at essentially the same clip, de Blasio said Monday. But, going forward, we do have to address this issue. Albany has a chance to make real reform to take a program that was unfair to taxpayers, that wasnt producing enough affordable housing, and fix it. Thats certainly what were going to fight for.

During an appearance at a Martin Luther King Day event Monday, Cuomo said that he and de Blasio would have to find a way to stimulate creation of affordable housing.

Right now, we have no affordable housing program thats operating in the City of New York, and that is a major concern for the mayor and myself, Cuomo said.
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By Sadef Ali Kully

In the wake of the terrorist attacks in San Bernadino, Calif., and Paris last year, state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) has co-sponsored the New York State Terrorist Registry Act as part of a bipartisan effort to combat terrorism across the state.

The state Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs approved a package of seven proposals, including the New York state Terrorist Registry Act, designed to improve and coincide with current anti-terrorism security measures.

The recent and horrendous attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, combined with our fortunate success in stopping some hateful events before they have had a chance to happen, points to the need to provide our law enforcement agencies and other partners in the fight against terrorism with the tools they need to keep us safe, said Addabbo, who serves as the ranking Democratic member of the committee.

Over the past year, in Queens alone, there have been four suspects, including a juvenile, arrested and charged with plotting terrorist attacks as well as one suspect who allegedly made several attempts to join ISIS before federal investigators caught up with him, according to state and federal authorities.

The seven proposals that won Addabbos support are aimed at cracking down on terrorism recruitment; addressing cyber security threats; providing greater punishment for those who solicit or provide support for terrorist acts; fighting back against terror threats against police officers and establishing a New York State Terrorist Registry.

S. 3464, which Addabbo is co-sponsoring, would create a terrorist registry and watch list for those individuals who have demonstrated through their past actions, including convictions in the United States or elsewhere, that they might commit an act of terrorism. Those individuals would be required to register and be subject to monitoring.

According to a spokeswoman for state Sen. Thomas Croci (R-Long Island), who authored the New York State Terrorist Registry Act, the terrorist registry was modeled after the sex offender registry.

Its smart because it does not target anyone in particular, she said. It has to be someone who has already been convicted of the crime.

The major difference between the sex offender registry and the New York State Terrorist Registry is a $100 fee registrants would have to pay to the state to be put on the registry. According to the state penal law, sex offenders do not pay a fee to register.
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By Madina Toure

Elected officials and residents in Queens said Tuesday some parts of the borough remained unplowed following the weekend blizzard despite Mayor Bill de Blasios announcement that the city Department of Sanitation has plowed nearly all Queens routes since the end of the snowstorm.

The Sanitation Department has plowed up to 97 percent of streetsboth primary and secondary streetsat least once, the mayor said Monday, a 26 percent increase since 8:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the latest information on the mayors office website.

Only some tertiary streets remained impassable and the Sanitation Department has been focusing plows to those streets in Queens, he said.

But at about 10 a.m. Monday, a dollar van coordinator at the entrance of the E and J train at Parsons Boulevard who was urging commuters to get into the van that goes to Rosedale, said the opposite.

The main streets have too much traffic, he said. And the vans are taking the local side streetsnone of them are plowed yet. So its taking much longer.

In Middle Village, most of the streets had been plowed by Tuesday morning. The Sanitation Department brought in front end loaders to remove snow, which had been dumped on top of the unplowed streets as car owners shoveled out.

The sidewalks on the side streets in Bayside were partially shoveled, forcing residents to walk along the street and at the All Saints Episcopal Church at 214-35 40th Ave., the sidewalk in front had been shoveled three times, only to be completely buried when the snow plows came through Tuesday.

Father Larry Byrne of the All Saints Episcopal Church said he shoveled and used a snowblower Saturday and twice again when the storm ended Sunday, putting the snow on the church lawn and not on the street.

But by Monday morning, Byrne said he came out to find at least three feet of snow had been plowed back onto the sidewalks up against the exterior walls of the church.

Were supposed to have the sidewalks clear, so when the Department of Sanitation comes and pushes all the snow back on cleared paths, it really seems like the city is working against itself here, he said. Im just concerned, this is now too much even for a snowblower to handle.

In an interview with NY1 Monday, de Blasio said the situation in the borough is a mixed bag after he visited neighborhoods such as South Jamaica, Flushing, Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside, East Elmhurst and Corona. He toured around Woodside with City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside).

A lot of good work has been done here by the Sanitation Department, but we also see some streets that definitely need more work today  that were going to focusing on them, de Blasio told NY1 Monday.

Numerous streets throughout the borough had piles of snow blocking streets and crosswalks Monday, with residents having to walk in the streets.

The Sanitation Department has more than 2,000 pieces of snow clearing equipment out, the mayor said.

Of those 2,000 pieces, more than 900 were being used for snow removal in Queens, where some areas recorded more than 30 inches of snow, he continued.

De Blasio said the city Parks Department has deployed more than 50 plows and more than 60 salt operation vehicles to help with snow removal in Queens and 285 snow operation staff in the borough Monday.

The mayor issued a travel advisory for Monday through Friday for potential black ice.

The National Weather Service forecasts daytime temperatures Tuesday through Friday to range between mid-30s to mid-40s but that nighttime temperatures will fall to near or below freezing.

Schools opened Monday morning and regular programming, including after-school activities, was going on as scheduled. LIRR, have resumed.

Service resumed on the Long Island Rail Road after being suspended until Monday afternoon.
Shen Yun maintains its tradition of entertaining audiences with Chinese dance and music around the globe. (Photo : Reuters)

A famous touring group around the world for the past decade, Shen Yun maintains its tradition of entertaining audiences with Chinese dance and music.



Shen Yun performer and singer Rachael (Yu Ming) Bastick said via phone from New York: "Basically, a group of top Chinese artists living in the West felt sad because they no longer saw traditional Chinese culture in the world, or even in China. So they came together, because in the United States there's no censorship."



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Bastick added that the group gives them freedom to express their ideas, a reason for them to come together and form a dance troupe to revive the traditional Chinese culture.



Communist China banned Shen Yun, but it found a new life in New York. Now there are four troupes touring the world, one of which includes about 100 members ranging from dancers and musicians to a production crew, and comes back to Northeast Ohio for performances on Jan. 30 and 31 at Playhouse Square's State Theatre.



According to The News Herald, these great performances pull literary classics that have survived for more than 5,000 years from China. While the storyline may appear fictional, the folklore offers the Shen Yun performers a springboard for its performance.



Essentially, there is a daughter disguised as a son. She takes her father's role at war, a magical monkey, an ogre, and a humanoid pig that protects a Buddhist monk as he travels to the Western heavens in search of true teachings. Furthermore, a folk hero gets drunk and saves a village from a vicious tiger.



An Australian native, Bastick said: "There are some dances with 18 to 20 performers on stage at one time. It's very eye-catching. Also, we're accompanied by an orchestra, which is one of the highlights of the performance."



Although many people see things that seem like acrobatics, all Shen Yun dancers are classically trained in not only dance but also difficult jumping and tumbling techniques passed down through Chinese history.



The group translates into the duty of divine beings dancing. In addition, its implication is the essence of culture, believed to be divinely inspired. According to Bastick, stateside Chinese culture may be perceived as chopsticks and paper lanterns, but there is more involved that would appeal to the larger audience.


Airport development adding to economy, jobs in the region

Pittsburgh may always be known as the Steel City, but a wave of new industries are popping up near its airport to redefine business in the region.
A boycott isn't the best red carpet look.

Actors are flabbergasted, for the second year in a row, that not enough black actors were nominated in the major categories for the Academy Awards  the big show when it comes to acting. They are miffed enough to refuse to attend the event, and that's a shame, because the lack of diversity in Hollywood won't change overnight; it will likely take years.

Not that they aren't right. They are absolutely right that diversity is sorely lacking at the Oscars.

Just go to Oscars.com and you'll see a field of white actor after white actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, Eddie Redmayne, Jennifer Lawrence, Matt Damon and Sylvester Stallone are ready for their close-ups.

Ironically, Chris Rock, the host, seems to be the only minority pictured on that Oscars.com home page, and sadly, he's being pressured to also not attend the ceremony.

I'm sure actors know that film isn't the only industry that battles lack of diversity. Many do.

The engineering field, computer science field and the like struggle with recruiting enough women to the industry. Minorities in engineering, journalism and other industries rally via support groups to try to recruit more minorities.

Truth be told, no group, the Academy included, should choose nominees for any award based on their race or gender or anything but what the award represents, which in this case is excellence in the field.

Judges shouldn't be thinking, 'I'll vote for this actor or that because he or she is black and we need diversity.' Feelings of obligation shouldn't dictate those choices.

This year, as in 2015, black actors didn't nab one of the top five spots. The competition was tough and performances by black actors just didn't rise to those top five spots.

Here's the crux of the problem.

It's not that there aren't enough good black actors.

And it's not exactly that the Academy doesn't have a diverse-enough membership, though one step in the process is to diversify those who vote for those top spots.

But even that change would do little to help if there is little opportunity for black actors to land big roles because not enough roles exist for them.

Reese Witherspoon, an Oscar-winning actress herself, started her own movie production company to create more roles for women. Like many others, and despite her past Oscar success, she has said she struggles with finding strong female roles. Her 2014 film "Wild," one that her company produced, also won her an Oscar nod.

This was something she originated outside of the big studios.

Tyler Perry, who has released a slew of Madea films, also has seen success by producing his own financially successful films with the black audience in mind.

It's ridiculous to expect an industry with a lack of minority representation to suddenly start viewing the world from a minority standpoint.

To get more minority films made, more minority-owned and minority-run film studios have to be formed with an eye for minority viewership.

While so many talented minority actors exist, the films that would employ them are not getting made.

So it's time for minorities to not just be the actors in films, but the producers, the directors, the studio heads and studio owners. Just don't expect the Hollywood establishment to do it, at least not right away.

Change the Hollywood establishment. It's a much better red carpet look.
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By Times Record News

Meth dealer sentenced to nearly 25 years

The first defendant to be sentenced for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that operated in Wichita Falls from March 2014 to August 2015 was sentenced Monday morning by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O'Connor to a lengthy federal prison term, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office of the Northern District of Texas.

James Anthony Streadwick, 54, of Wichita Falls, was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison, according to the release. He pleaded guilty in October 2015 to one count of conspiracy to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine. Eleven of the 13 defendants charged in the case have pleaded guilty to that offense; two defendants remain fugitives. Each defendant faces a statutory penalty of at least five years and up to 40 years in federal prison and $5 million fine. Sentencing hearings are set for Feb. 22.

According to documents filed in Streadwick's case, between September 2014 and Dec. 3, 2014, Streadwick received quantities of methamphetamine from supply sources in Dallas and Wichita Falls, typically obtaining the methamphetamine in multi-ounce quantities. He then sold quantities of methamphetamine to customers in Wichita Falls," the release said.

Streadwick further admitted that on Dec. 3, 2014, when a search warrant was executed at his residence, law enforcement seized digital scales, small plastic bags, notes that reflected drug-trafficking transactions, firearms and quantities of methamphetamine.

The Wichita County District Attorney's Office, the Wichita Falls Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
Zundy Junior High

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By Christopher Collins of the Times Record News

A Zundy teacher implicated in wrongdoing last week is "no longer employed with WFISD," a school district spokeswoman said on Monday.

Public information about the incident is nearly nonexistent  the school district has not identified the teacher, nor has it given any details regarding whatever incident took place.

It is not known at this time whether the teacher was fired or has quit. Last week the instructor was placed on administrative leave pending a "full investigation," district officials said at the time.

The Wichita Falls Police Department is also involved, though it didn't appear as of Monday morning that any criminal charges had been filed. A police spokesman said Monday that the department is investigating and that it received a "report," presumably from the school district.
Times Record News file photo From inside the Wichita County Jail.

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By Claire Kowalick of the Times Record News

It's going to cost more than a drop in the bucket for Wichita County to take care of the roof problems at the Sprague Jail Annex.

As part of ongoing efforts to tackle a lengthy list of repairs to the downtown facility and Sprague, commissioners met with Harper and Perkins Architects, Inc. Monday to discuss options for future roof work.

After a walk through the facility with jail staff, Harper-Perkins staff noted each leaky area and provided a blueprint with 40-50 "red spots" where there have been leakage problems in the facility.

Ralph Perkins laid out four possible options moving forward.

For option one, the county could continue to repairs leaks of the existing structure at the annex.

Armored Roofing is accomplishing the repairs covered under warranty and there is $40,398 for expansion joint repair that is not covered.

This choice, Pekins said, "Runs the risk of the wrath of the jail commission and the possibility of relocating prisoners when leaks occur."

Two other choices are complete replacement of the roof with a gravel-type sloped roof or a metal retrofit roof. Either of these options would run $10-15 per square foot or about $1.75 to $2.39 million. These roof replacements would both take about three to six months to complete.

Another option was $525,000 for a urethane foam spray to cover the roof.

At the Jan. 18 meeting, Commissioner Lee Harvey, head the jail remediation project, said one possibility might be this spray foam that adheres to the roof and would cost less than a full replacement.

After taking with a contractor and previous clients of a spray foam roof, Harvey said the product does not seem to be a good fit for their needs on such a large area.

Problems he was informed of included foam cracking off in windy conditions, separating from the roof, hail or debris damaging to the product, and rain can pool in areas on the roof.

The foam spray also would not address leakage through openings for mechanical equipment, which jail staff said was where many of the issues come from.

County Judge Woody Gossom said the court would like to get a plan in place as quickly as possible to fix the leaks and consider all alternatives before millions of dollars are spent on a temporary facility.

Plans for a new jail facility have been in the works for some time, but a failing report from the Texas Jail Commission required immediate repairs to existing facilities.

Even if a new downtown jail facility was decided upon soon, the time frame for such an undertaking would be two or three years, according to Harper-Perkins staff.

"Regardless of the method selected, there will be a time frame that the existing roof has to perform adequately to satisfy the jail commission and the Sheriff's Department operation," Perkins said.

Gossom said he felt the county's best interest to work with the existing roof and an item will be on Monday's meeting agenda to consider approval of the $40,398 for the expansion repair not covered under warranty.
Experts estimate that over 300 million people will travel during the rush for the festival, which will take place on Feb. 8. (Photo : Getty Images)

Aside from the given troubles of culture shock and language barriers, foreigners find it hard to purchase rail tickets especially during the Spring Festival travel rush, according to a report by China Daily.



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Experts estimate that over 300 million people will travel during the rush for the festival, which will take place on Feb. 8.



However, most railway stations in China don't cater to international travelers, thus the lack of English-language services, a staff member from the China Railway Corp. said. Even the company hotline, where the staff member was interviewed by China Daily, doesn't offer any English services.



"At the ticket window, you have to speak Chinese as there are no signs in English or staff members who can speak the language," said Milou Pol, a Dutch citizen who flew to China April last year, in an interview with China Daily.



As an alternative, Pol opts to purchase tickets and other travel essentials online, as most travel websites have English-language versions.



Robin Wordsworth, a Canadian who has been living in Beijing for the past three years as an organic food producer, also chooses to make travel arrangements online.



"Buying tickets in person is not the most convenient thing to do as most ticket sellers speak little or no English," said Wordsworth.



China's official online ticket reservation system, however, does not offer an English-language service as well. Limits are also established, with travelers only allowed to make four reservations online. For further bookings, one must take their passports to railway stations for identity checks.



As a means to solve the problem, China Railway Corp. advises international travelers to ask Chinese-speaking friends to accompany them during their travels. They can also ask their friends to buy tickets for them, or ask other buyers for help if no signs in English can be found.



If all else fails, perhaps the best way is to just avoid the travel rush.



"All tickets were sold out," said Nancy Gabriel, a 32-year-old American teacher whose attempts to buy tickets were all in vain. "This route is very popular around the Lunar New Year. My suggestion for international travelers would be to avoid the Spring Festival travel rush."


In this July 20, 2010 file photo, a person uses Netflix in Palo Alto, Calif. Netflix is tapping into six new markets on Monday hoping to gain hundred thousand new subscribers and balance out the billions spent on entertainment content each year. Their presence is welcome in most European countries, but in France Netflix is facing government-imposed regulatory hurdles and pressure from established local competitors. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

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By Chicago Tribune

Maybe you've binge-watched the popular TV miniseries "Making a Murderer." If not, don't worry, no spoilers here. Just a suggestion: Try out this compelling crime documentary, but know where to find it. The show's on Netflix.

A bunch of the most talked-about television programs aren't on traditional TV networks or cable channels, they're on Internet streaming services. "Orange is the New Black" and "Narcos" are on Netflix. "Transparent" and "Mozart in the Jungle" are on Amazon. Hulu has original programs but also has a vast library of great shows from other networks, ranging from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" to "Seinfeld" repeats.

In other words, couch potatoes, this is a golden age for television viewing in which you don't need a couch  or a television. You can watch anytime, anywhere on your laptop, smartphone or tablet.

The phrase of the decade to describe the economic and cultural shifts brought on by digital technology is "disruption." It's a marvel to contemplate: how Uber upended the taxi industry, websites challenged the news business, wine apps disrupted sommeliers (it's true, your smartphone is ready to recommend a nice shiraz). Now it's television's turn.

The TV revolution isn't a sudden phenomenon. It's been 30 years since there were just three national TV networks, and as channels proliferate the quality of shows keeps improving. But we're on the cusp of a huge change, in which viewers realize they don't need to pay a big monthly bill for cable's hundreds of channels: They can cut the cord and piece together their own Internet-based collections of subscription programming.

Last year, 17.1 percent of U.S. households didn't pay for traditional TV  they either cut the cord or never had one. That number will jump to 22.6 percent of households by 2019, according to a forecast by eMarketer. The trend is especially pronounced among tech-savvy millennials. A Pew Research Center survey says 19 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds are cord cutters (they dropped cable or satellite TV subscriptions), while another 16 percent have never had a traditional pay TV package.

Consider the cultural shift involved: Once most adults aspired to own a big-screen TV. Visit young people today and you may search in vain for that oversized TV in the living room. Thinking of one couple we know, you'll find a husband and wife sitting together on the couch, each plugged into a separate portable device, watching something different.

The first big acknowledgment of the change came last summer when Walt Disney Co. warned that its cable channels, including ESPN, were losing subscribers. Media stocks tanked, wiping out nearly $50 billion in market value in two days. Not everyone suffered. Netflix, worth $44 billion, was the best-performing S&P 500 stock in 2015. The company is growing globally and giving fits to Hollywood competitors, who shake their heads because they know they gave the company its start. (Netflix's original business was movie rentals.)

It's an especially topsy-turvy situation because Hollywood is on both sides of this equation. Yes, the TV and cable industries are freaked out by cord-cutting viewers, but the bigger Netflix and other services get, the more money they have to spend on programming  which they acquire from Hollywood studios.

According to PwC, the average cable subscriber receives 194 channels but regularly watches only 17. So can you blame viewers for cutting the cord?
TORIN HALSEY/TIMES RECORD NEWS File Photo An elderly woman and her pets were rescued as floodwaters began to rise in her home on FM 367 during the drought-ending rains in May of last year.

SHARE TORIN HALSEY/TIMES RECORD NEWS File Photo Dale Tarr, a resident of Horseshoe Bend Estates, talks about the measures he took to protect his home from flooding last Spring. His property backs up to Horseshoe Bend Lake.

By Deanna Watson of the Times Record News

While the rest of North Texas sings the praises of May's drought-relieving rains, about a dozen families in Wichita County and surrounding areas continue to fight the blessing's curse.

The Wichita Falls Area Disaster Recovery Committee, formed after flooding in 2007 and responded to other disasters such as wildfires, initially focused on about 170 families affected by the May 2015 flooding, a desperate drought situation became an abundance of water practically overnight.

The scores of families benefiting from the recovery committee's efforts were primarily denied assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In the flood's aftermath, Catholic Charities spearheaded an effort to get a list of flooded-out families from FEMA, and a renewed collaborative effort began. About $66,000 left over from previous disasters remained in an account at Interfaith Ministries Inc., a nonprofit organization borne out of our most significant disaster to date, the 1979 tornado.

Nine months later, between 10 and 15 families are still in desperate need of assistance. Some, said Laura Sotelo, senior director of Catholic Charities, live amongst the water damage that includes bare floors and exposed black mold five feet high. Denied assistance by FEMA and in some cases insurance companies, these families have few options other than the generosity of their neighbors.

"All the money this committee works with," said Jean Payne, former director of Interfaith Ministries and a member of the disaster recovery committee, "comes from within this community."

Payne estimates that the committee needs about $50,000 in order to address the needs of the remaining families and to maintain a fund balance for the next disaster.

"We would like a buffer for the next disaster," said Sotelo Monday, "but it's important to stress that we do not know what disaster could be on the way." Families are still "overblessed" by the flooding, said David Hartman, senior pastor at First Christian Church, suffering through what once drought-stricken North Texans celebrate.

A considerable number of the homes are in Archer County, Sotelo said, where a disaster was not designated. Federal funds, thus, did not trickle in.

"The ones who had insurance are doing OK," Payne added. "It's those families who were already living in the margins financially, paycheck to paycheck, trying to manage the damage."

Some of the families live in homes inherited from previous generations, smaller abodes where the cost of repairs nearly match the property's worth.

"They don't have the money to pick up and move into an apartment. Their only option is to live with the damage, the pulled-up carpet and the mold," Payne said.

Other families face drainage issues that must be addressed before structure problems are solved.

The families struggle with issues beyond the flood damage, said Sotelo, with finances and even mental strain.

"We look at how to help them in other areas in their lives, counseling, talking about how you need to have an emergency savings in case of disasters like this," Sotelo added.

The Wichita Falls Area Disaster Recovery Committee welcomes donations for ongoing efforts, and will have a booth at Saturday's annual Kiwanis Pancake Festival to relay information and hopefully collect contributions.

For those interested in donating -- volunteers are needed as well -- contact Sotelo at 940-716-9669.
Malta

It appears that NYSERDA, the state's energy development agency, is not giving up the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park in Saratoga County after all.

NYSERDA raised eyebrows in September when it revealed at a board meeting that it had been negotiating the transfer of the 280-acre property located in Malta to SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany.

NYSERDA officials said the sale of the property was being considered to get the state energy authority out of the real estate business.

SUNY Poly officials, on the other hand, said the transfer was being done to satisfy $10 million in funding that NYSERDA had promised SUNY Poly for the $4.8 billion Global 450 Consortium.

Both were correct. But now it appears that NYSERDA may end up holding onto STEP, which had been valued at $9 million.

After tabling the vote on the property transfer at its September meeting, NYSERDA's board is not expected to consider approving the transfer at its meeting Tuesday, according to an advance agenda of the meeting.

A source with knowledge of the situation said that is because NYSERDA is now planning to retain the STEP property, which is home to Hudson Valley Community College's TEC-SMART facility and GE Fuel Cells. It is also located next to the Luther Forest Technology Campus where GlobalFoundries has its Fab 8 computer chip factory.

Meanwhile, NYSERDA has been seeking developers to construct new buildings on the site, according to a document posted on the authority's website.

The document seeks proposals from developers to build new buildings on the site with a minimum of 40,000 square feet of space, which seems to indicate it plans to hang onto the land.

NYSERDA has also been negotiating a ground lease with GE for a fuel cell test site, and NYSERDA's board members will be asked to approve the lease Tuesday, indicating that NYSERDA may plan to keep the land.

A NYSERDA spokeswoman could not immediately confirm its plans for STEP. SUNY Poly spokesman Jerry Gretzinger declined comment.

NYSERDA held its last meeting just days after news broke that U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara had subpoenaed SUNY Poly earlier in the year as part of an investigation into the state's Buffalo Billion projects. NYSERDA board member Ken Daly's concern over the story forced the board to table the vote, although SUNY Poly claimed it was not the subject of the probe.

lrulison@timesunion.com  518-454-5504  @larryrulison
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Saratoga Springs

Caffe Lena will undergo an extensive renovation as part of Bonacio Construction's plan to build a structure in the parking lot next to the venerable folk music venue on Phila Street.

As part of the project, Bonacio will take ownership of the lot at Phila and Henry streets and construct a four-story mixed-use building designed by Frost Hurff Architects, planners announced Tuesday morning. The structure will feature an elevator and stairwell that will be shared by Caffe Lena at 47 Phila St.

Sonny Bonacio, president of the city's largest development firm, will provide renovation work and the elevator worth $500,000, according to Michael Eck, a musician and longtime board member. "It's going to make a big difference for downtown and Caffe Lena," he said.

Bonacio joined Caffe Lena director Sarah Craig, board chairman Stanley McGaughey and Matt Hurff of Frost Hurff at the announcement.

"It's a win-win for everybody," said McGaughey, who began negotiating with Bonacio last fall after efforts to raise $1.5 million for renovations stalled at $825,000. He said the 12-member board was unanimous in teaming with Bonacio.

The Bonacio partnership is part of a capital campaign to renovate the upstairs coffeehouse, founded in 1960 and accessbile by a narrow staircase. Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, Don McLean, Kate and Anna McGarrigle and folk music legends performed there. It's where Dylan played his first out-of-town show after arriving in New York City.

Renovations will include expansion of the listening room from 85 to 110 seats, sound improvements and relocating the kitchen, green room, officer and bathrooms.

"Folk music is about inclusion, and we have been wanting to better serve our patrons and the community with an elevator since purchase of the building in 1998," Craig said.

"We were committed to staying in that place because of its magic and the spirit of Lena," McGaughey said. Founder Lena Spencer died in 1999. A late-spring groundbreaking is planned.

pgrondahl@timesunion.com  518-454-5623  @PaulGrondahl
American high schools will be able to receive a free carton of the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone through an arrangement between the Irish pharmaceutical company Adapt Pharma and the Clinton Health Matters Initiative, an effort of the Clinton Foundation, founded by former President Bill Clinton.

High schools will be able to obtain naloxone, known by the brand Narcan, through state Departments of Education. Adapt Pharma made the announcement Monday at the Fifth Annual Health Matters Activation Summit in California.
WHITE CREEK  A 21-year-old Washington County man was charged with rape after State Police said he was living with a 14-year-old girl.

Damian Waterman of White Creek was charged with felony rape and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
ALBANY - Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan is expected to appear before a joint hearing of the state Legislature being held to consider financial aid to local cities.

A central part of Sheehan's budget this year is a $12.5 million payment for the state's more than $3.5 billion in tax-exempt property in Albany and the expense of maintaining infrastructure for a population that balloons by 60 percent daily.
GREENVILLE - A 21-year-old Greene County man is being held on $1 million bail after, State Police said, he stabbed two people in the head and then ran off.

Dylan Buffe of Greenville taken into custody after Albany County deputies spotted him driving in Coeymans on Monday. State Police said the vehicle crashed into trees on Tracey Road after deputies attempted to stop it.
Giving out virtual red envelopes with cash prizes is a means to gain advantage in Chinas growing mobile payments market, but actual red envelopes have always been a Chinese tradition. (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinese Internet companies like Ant Financial Services Group and Baidu are sending out virtual red envelopes filled with cash for this years Spring Festival, according to a report by China Daily.



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Ant Financial Services Group, Alibaba Group Holding's Internet finance arm, will specifically hand out envelopes worth approximately several hundred million yuan on the eve of Spring Festival through the Alipay Wallet app.



All Alipay Wallet users need to do is to pick red envelopes on their smartphones during the broadcast of the annual CCTV Spring Festival Gala.



"Every round of red envelopes will contain 100 million yuan ($15.2 million) in cash," Ant Financial Services Group announced. The number of rounds, however, wasn't disclosed.



Some of the red envelopes contain one of five virtual lucky cards. Individuals who are able to collect all five variants can share the grand prize of 200 million yuan.



These virtual red envelopes are also part of Alibaba's latest move to add some social networking appeal to the Alipay Wallet app, said Ma Tao, an analyst from Analysys International.



Meanwhile, e-commerce giants Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Baidu are also planning on expanding their presence in the mobile payments market by joining the campaign efforts.



Baidu is handing out red envelopes worth approximately 6 billion during the Spring Festival itself. Tencent, on the other hand, is investing hundreds of millions of yuan to boost its presence in the mobile payments market.



Virtual red envelopes first became popular back in 2014, when Tencent promoted such items on social media platform WeChat. WeChat reportedly has 650 million users every month.



Giving out virtual red envelopes with cash prizes is a means to gain advantage in China's growing mobile payments market, but actual red envelopes have always been a Chinese tradition.



"Giving out red envelopes is a nationwide tradition that can involve consumers in major cities and small towns, so it makes sense for Internet companies to sink significant investments into this," said Li Chao, an analyst at Bejing-based Internet consultancy firm iResearch Consulting Group, in an interview with China Daily.



In 2015, Tencent reportedly gained about 200 million mobile payment users after investing a staggering 500 million yuan in its virtual red envelope campaign.


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Albany, N.Y.

A commonly heard theory claimed that Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and Andrew Cuomo could never be elected president.

They're New Yorkers, and America supposedly dislikes New Yorkers. The early voting states  Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina  were considered especially hostile to the New York archetype.

The theory is in shambles. Trump from Queens is blowing away the Republican primary field in polling, while Sanders from Brooklyn is generating all the excitement on the Democratic side.

More Information Contact Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse

If Sanders fails, then the nomination will be won by Hillary Clinton, also a New Yorker. (Kinda, sorta.) Yet another, Mike Bloomberg, is threatening to run if Sanders succeeds.

It feels as though the country is wrapping New York in a big hug.

What gives? Is this what happens when you raise a generation on "Seinfeld" reruns?

I should make clear that the New York we're talking about here is that megalopolis at the bottom of the Hudson. Everyone knows that upstate New Yorkers are salt-of-the-earth people admired by the entire world for generosity, kindness and ability to manage staggering amounts of snow.

People from The City, by contrast, can be a little ... gruff. And confrontational. They're not especially warm and fuzzy. Some might even call them rude.

These are qualities that are supposed to offend the average Iowan. But you wouldn't know it by polls showing the state's solid support for Trump, who pretty much embodies most of the worst New York stereotypes.

He insults. He blusters. He boasts. He swaggers. He bullies. He swears. He doesn't shake hands, thanks to germophobia.

Sanders is a very different person, and I know he's lived in Vermont for decades. But he sounds like Larry David, yells his way through speeches and remains as gruff as any other New Yorker. He doesn't kiss babies, as The New York Times noted.

And yet, Sanders leads the polls in New Hampshire and is threatening to win Iowa, too.

I asked Steve Greenberg for help figuring this out. He's a member of Albany's small pundit class known for his work with Siena Research Institute polling. He's also from Queens.

Greenberg, who isn't convinced that either Sanders or Trump will advance to the general election, mentioned that New York is suffering through a long presidential drought that belies the state's electoral and financial might. Franklin Roosevelt is the last New Yorker to win the White House.

Yet Greenberg also noted, with more than a trace of pride, that four of the nine Supreme Court justices are from New York City and that Chuck Schumer is poised to lead Democrats in the U.S. Senate.

"New York appears to be having a little bit of a national political revival," Greenberg said. "Can a New Yorker win the presidency? Absolutely. Will a New Yorker win? I'd say the chances are pretty good."

It's all Obama's fault. Seriously.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter.

Consider a theory advanced by Obama adviser David Axelrod, among others, which posits that each presidential election is a reaction to the personality of the incumbent. Voters tire of the guy they know and want something different.

So while Obama's cool detachment and patience were appealing after eight years of George W. Bush's braggadocio, voters might be now looking for a bull willing to crash around the china shop. They might want a president who yells a lot.

Or maybe Americans just enjoy hearing pie-in-the-sky promises that more cautious candidates would avoid  such as a border wall paid for by the Mexican government (Donald), free college tuition (Bernie), a ban on Muslims entering the country (Donald), or Medicare for all (Bernie).

None of those things are happening, folks. They aren't realistic proposals. Bernie and Donald might as well be promising you free rides on a unicorn or a date with the world's prettiest mermaid.

Of course, not a single vote has been cast, and it remains possible that the country's New York state of mind will fade as the election progresses. Clinton, who grew up near Chicago and still sounds Midwestern, is still the likely Democratic nominee, and maybe Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio will snatch victory from Trump.

But it is also possible that something fundamental has changed, and that traces of New York's personality are now reflected in the nation's irritable and impatient mood.

President Donald Trump? Bernie Sanders, commander in chief?

God help us.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
 The former Antigen (now Taro) plant in Roscrea is finally up for sale, it's been confirmed by the Roscrea Chamber of Commerce this week.The site has been put for sale by Colliers Internationals, a Dublin real estate firm.Deputy Noel Coonan said: This is a welcome development alongside the news that work has commenced on the An Post Sorting office in Benamore. I recently visited the site and these are both positive indicators that Roscrea is moving in the right direction. I am also hopeful that a positive announcement for Roscrea Business and Innovation Centre at Benamore is imminent despite no official announcement on the matter as of yet from the Department of Jobs and Enterprise Ireland. Needless to say, I have been in contact with both groups about the business park and it's value to the Roscrea community," said Deputy Coonan.

"I made the IDA in particular very aware that the former Taro Pharmaceutical is up for sale. I met with Head of Regions Andrew Vogellar to outline the importance of the sale of this site for the development of Roscrea Town. We desperately need to breathe life into the site and work will continue in the background to this end. I want to assure the Roscrea community that I will be keeping a close eye on developments and will keep people updated,

"The pharmaceutical industry is part of Roscrea's history and every effort will be made to reestablish the industry in the town.


Windstream: IT Ready to Embrace Managed Services & As-a-Service Models





Why You Need to Know: The UCaaS model has the added benefits of protecting data and providing companies with mobile and everywhere access to their information and services. IT team members used to consider managed services as a threat to their jobs, but that's not longer the case. Given that the responsibilities of IT staffs have expanded so widely in recent years due to the rise of DevOps and the call for digital transformation, these individuals now see communications solutions offered on an as-a-service basis as a boon rather than something to be avoided. That's the word from Marc Hurlbut, vice president of ISG sales at Windstream, who was part of the two-man team that provided ITEXPO attendees with a luncheon keynote speech today.



IoT Evolution Expo: Battle of the Platforms Names Winner



Why You Need to Know: The mission of the Battle is to help companies understand who the market leaders are and how they differentiate themselves from each other, while discovering what platform solutions the competitors are evaluating and implementing. The IoT Evolution Expo is rolling along in Fort Lauderdale this week, and one of the highlights of day 1 was the much-anticipated Battle of the Platforms. The Battle is a great place for companies to find best-in-class providers of IoT platform solutions and for anyone n the ecosystem of the IoT to learn how the underbelly of interconnectivity works in the real world. Wheelings & Dealings: Sony Aims for IoT, Wearables with Altair Acquisition



Why You Need to Know: By acquiring Altair, Sony wants to move forward with research and development on new sensing technology. The company plans to combine its own sensing technologies -namely its Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and image sensors -with Altair's modem chip technology. It's been an interesting ride for Sony over the last few years. The company that once dominated the television industry had to rethink its commitment to HDTVs a few years ago when competitors in Koreanamely Samsung and LGbecame the new go-to brands for HDTV buyers. On the gaming front, Sony went from trailing behind Microsoft to being the clear frontrunner in the console gaming space as the PlayStation 4 managed to wow the crowds. Then there's Sony's mobile business. Time Warner-Charter Merger: How Big is Big?



Why You Need to Know: If this new merger is approved, there's no doubt that New Charter and Comcast will control the majority of the broadband market- and the video market - but what will that actually look like is a matter of some debate. As Charter continues its efforts to win approval for its takeover of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, there has been some confusion as to just how big the New Charter will be. While cable conjures up visions of television service for most, what the FCC is really paying attention to when mulling the merger is the effect of consolidation on the broadband and over-the-top (OTT) video markets. Comcast's attempt to buy TWC last year after all was shot down by the FCC over fears that Comcast would use its sheer scale to harm online video services. Juniper Networks Picks Up BTI Systems, New Edge in Cloud & Networking



Why You Need to Know:With BTI in its fold, Juniper looks to combine its products with the NorthStar Controller system, giving Juniper new and better capability to offer both open and automated packet optical transport systems. New word from Juniper Systems is that the firm will soon have a real edge in the cloud and networking market as it has entered into an agreement to acquire BTI Systems, who is well-known in the field for cloud and networking tools. As a company blog post explained, however, there should be plenty more advantage to come once BTI is fully integrated with Juniper.


[January 26, 2016] CACI Awarded $35 Million Task Order Contract to Support United States Fleet Forces Command

CACI International Inc (NYSE MKT: CACI) announced today that it has been awarded a $35 million task order contract to provide program management, technical and lifecycle support, and technical analysis to United States Fleet Forces Command (USFFC). The four-year task order, won under the Seaport-e contract vehicle, represents continuing work in CACI's Logistics and Material Readiness market area. The mission of USFFC is to organize, man, train, and equip Naval Forces for deployment to Unified Command Combatant Commanders for operations in support of U.S. national interests. Under the task order, CACI will provide technical support to maintain computer models of surface ship components and systems, ranging from hulls to the smallest piece of hardware, to help USFFC improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of fleet maintenance. CACI Chief Operating Officer and President of U.S. Operations John Mengucci said, "This continuation of our work with United States Fleet Forces Command demonstrates the value of our deep understanding of this customer's mission, combined with CACI's subject matter expertise in logistics and modeling, to help our customer ensure that America's Navy is always ready for action."



Ken Asbury, CACI's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "CACI is proud to play a part in this vital mission of the United States Fleet Forces Command. With U.S. forces deployed around the world, the readiness of America's Navy to conduct and support global operations is an extremely high priority. We will continue to support the efficient, cost-saving allocation of military resources to maximize defense readiness and combat sustainability." CACI provides information solutions and services in support of national security missions and government transformation for Intelligence, Defense, and Federal Civilian customers. A Fortune magazine World's Most Admired Company in the IT Services industry, CACI is a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 2000 Index, and the S&P SmallCap600 Index. CACI provides dynamic careers for over 16,700 employees in 120 offices worldwide. Visit www.caci.com.

There are statements made herein which do not address historical facts, and therefore could be interpreted to be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in CACI's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, and other such filings that CACI makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon and only speak as of the date hereof. CACI-Contract View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005399/en/

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[January 26, 2016] EnterpriseDB Announces Availability of EDB Postgres Advanced Server 9.5 and EDB Postgres Enterprise Manager 6.0

BEDFORD, Mass., Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EnterpriseDB (EDB)the leading Postgres database company, today announced the immediate availability of the EDB Postgres Advanced Server 9.5. EDB Postgres Advanced Server increases performance and scalability, powers more complex workloads, enhances security, and both expands compatibility with and facilitates migration from Oracle. It is no surprise that the DBMS market continues to shift towards Postgres open-source-based solutions. In fact, EDB works with approximately 20% of the Fortune 500, who consistently emphasize the need for advanced features and functionality. Analysts confirm, as global business leaders continue to address the imperative of becoming a platform for innovation, they must have a cost-effective DBMS robust enough to handle their needs in real time, and to support their digital innovation strategies. Gartner states, "By 2018, more than 70% of new in-house applications will be developed on an OSDBMS, and 50% of existing commercial RDBMS instances will have been converted or will be in process."* According to Marc Linster, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Products and Services at EDB, "Organizations of all sizes and types are cutting database costs wherever possible by deploying capable, open-source-based alternatives to proprietary databases. The ability to control expensive proprietary vendor costs with open source has been proven with Linux for operating systems; Xen and KVM for virtualization; JBoss and Apache for middleware; and is now being applied to databases. We see large organizations successfully repurpose budgets to open-source-based solutions, as well as deploy next generation apps with EDB Postgres to strategically transform their businesses to meet the demands of the digital economy." TWEET: #OpenSource can be used to replace proprietary #DBMS at a considerable cost savings = greater #innovation http://ow.ly/XfiW7 EDB Postgres Advanced Server 9.5 Enhancements

Postgres Advanced Server 9.5 features a range of enhancements for increased performance, scalability, security and manageability to ensure success with Postgres for business critical workloads. These include: Password profiles define rules for password complexity, reuse, expiration and more, increasing EDB Postgres' support for security-critical applications, such as those complying with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). Implemented in an Oracle-compatible syntax, EDB Postgres Advanced Server 9.5 password profiles expand the universe of migration targets, and allow continued use of the feature in Postgres Advanced Server for security-critical applications. Password rules based on complexity, reuse,expiration, and account 'lock out' enhance EDB's support for PCI DSS compliance.

Vertical scaling optimizations demonstrate that EDB Postgres Advanced Server 9.5 shows significant performance improvements over v9.4. EDB conducted benchmark tests that showed EDB Postgres Advanced Server 9.5 exhibits a 96% performance boost at 64 concurrent connections on a high-end server for read workloads. An increasing number of connections drove performance gain up to 133% on write workloads.

New package support for UTL_RAW and DBMS_SESSION and expanded support for UTL_HTTP make Oracle migrations faster and allow developers continued use of Oracle skills in new Postgres Advanced Server applications. In all, EDB Postgres Advanced Server 9.5 supports 22 predefined built-in packages and 208 functions to support migrations from Oracle.



here. EDB Postgres Enterprise Manager 6.0 Enhancements

Also today, EDB announced its EDB Postgres Enterprise Manager 6.0, which is integrated into Postgres Advanced Server 9.5, and now features expanded integration with other infrastructure solutions, new alert functions, and an improved alert user interface. Other EDB Postgres Enterprise Manager 6.0 enhancements include:

Nagios support  Managing Postgres deployments can now be integrated with a leading open source infrastructure management and monitoring solution.

Failover management  EDB Postgres Enterprise Manager is now fully integrated with EDB Failover Manager to help ensure high availability.

Streaming replication wizard  With the new release, Enterprise Manager provides easy-to-follow steps for launching and viewing streaming replication analysis from the dashboard.

Audit log alerts and improved alert User Interface  DBAs can create alerts to audit log file activities, increase visibility into operations, and improve overall responsiveness. Overall alert user interface improvements also have made creating alerts simpler and given DBAs greater granularity. Availability and Software Downloads

EDB Postgres Advanced Server 9.5 can be downloaded here. EDB Postgres Enterprise Manager 6.0 can be downloaded here. To leverage the full value of EDB Postgres Advanced Server and EDB Postgres Enterprise Manager for enterprise deployments, these components are included as part of an EDB Postgres Enterprise subscription. This includes the EDB Postgres Advanced Server database, plus migration, integration and management tools for developers and DBAs, as well as 24x7 global support. EDB Postgres Enterprise Manager also is included with the EDB Postgres Standard subscription, thereby bringing its manageability and productivity benefits to PostgreSQL users. In addition, a broad range of training, professional services and certification solutions are available from EDB and EDB's partners. To learn more about the new features and capabilities in EDB Postgres Advanced Server 9.5, please attend EDB's webinar, Expanding with EDB Postgres Advanced Server 9.5, on January 28, 2016, at 8 am or 1 pm Eastern Standard Time. Please visit here for more information and to register for either time slot. *The State of Open Source RDBMSs, 2015, by Donald Feinberg and Merv Adrian, published April 21, 2015. About EnterpriseDB (EDB)

EDB is the leading worldwide provider of PostgreSQL software and services that enable enterprises to reduce their reliance on costly traditional solutions and slash their database spend by 80% or more. With powerful performance and security enhancements for PostgreSQL, sophisticated management tools for global deployments and database compatibility for Oracle, EDB software supports mission-critical enterprise applications. More than 3,400 enterprises, governments and other organizations worldwide use EDB software, support, training and professional services to integrate PostgreSQL into their existing data infrastructures. EDB is based in Bedford, Massachusetts. EnterpriseDB is a registered trademark of EnterpriseDB Corporation. EDB and EDB Postgres are trademarks of EnterpriseDB Corporation. All other names are trademarks of their respective owners. Media Contact for EDB:

Nancy Scott

EnterpriseDB

+1 781.357.3090

[email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160106/319928LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/enterprisedb-announces-availability-of-edb-postgres-advanced-server-95-and-edb-postgres-enterprise-manager-60-300209781.html SOURCE EnterpriseDB

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[January 26, 2016] IDC Forecasts Worldwide Spending on Digital Transformation Technologies Will Surpass $2 Billion in 2019

According to the new Worldwide Digital Transformation Spending Guide from International Data Corporation (IDC), worldwide spending on digital transformation (DX) technologies will grow to more than $2.1 billion in 2019 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.8% over the 2014-2019 forecast period. Spending on DX technologies in the United States will follow a similar trajectory, reaching nearly $732 million in 2019. IDC (News - Alert) defines Digital Transformation as the continuous process by which enterprises adapt to or drive disruptive changes in their customers and markets (external ecosystem) by leveraging digital competencies to innovate new business models, products, and services that seamlessly blend digital and physical and business and customer experiences while improving operational efficiencies and organizational performance. Digital transformation involves enterprise-wide change requiring innovation in at least one of the following areas - Organization (i.e., workforce); Omni-Experience (i.e., customer); Operating Model (i.e., business model/process changes); Information; or Leadership - as a part of a technology implementation. Enterprises are forecast to invest the most (nearly half the worldwide total in 2019) on DX technologies that support operating model innovations. These investments will focus on making business operations more responsive and effective by leveraging digitally-connected products/services, assets, people, and trading partners. Investments in operating model DX technologies help businesses redefine "how" work gets done by integrating external market connections with internal digital processes and projects. Technologies that support information innovations will be the fastest growing segment throughout the forecast, approaching one third of all DX spending by 2019. These investments will focus on technologies that help companies to better extract and develop the value and utility of information relative to customers, markets, transactions, products, services, assets and business experiences. Information is not only used to inform better decisions and optimize operations and products, but is also monetized in the form of products and services. "Digital transformation is not just a technlogy trend, it is at the center of business strategies across all industry segments and markets," said Robert Parker, Group Vice President at IDC. "Enabled by the 3rd Platform, digital transformation represents a critical opportunity for companies to redefine their customers' experience, achieve new levels of enterprise productivity, and create competitive advantage. Enterprise investments in digital transformation will constitute the majority of growth in technology markets over the next five years, making it a priority for technology vendors as well."



The vertical industries with the largest DX spending worldwide in 2015 were discrete manufacturing at $224.7 billion, followed by process manufacturing and transportation. These three industries were also the DX spending leaders in the United States in 2015. However, DX spending by U.S. retail and healthcare providers is forecast to move these two industries into the number 3 and 4 positions by 2019. The retail industry is forecast to have the fastest growing DX spending, both worldwide and in the U.S., with a five-year CAGR of more than 21%. Worldwide, healthcare providers and resource industries will follow closely, while telecommunications and healthcare providers will be the next fastest growing industries in the U.S.

"Digital transformation has altered, and will continue to alter, the landscapes of business, education, and government, making this one of the fastest growing areas of technology spending," said Eileen Smith, Program Director, Customer Insights and Analysis. "Organizations must apply these technology-enabled changes to unleash productivity gains and significant competitive advantage across their organizations." The Worldwide Digital Transformation (DX) Spending Guide quantifies enterprise spending on nine technology categories that will facilitate change across five areas of digital transformation. In addition to worldwide totals, spending amounts are published for the United States and 19 vertical industries. Unlike any other research in the industry, the DX spending guide was designed to help business and IT decision makers to better understand the scope and direction of investments in digital transformation over the next five years. About IDC Spending Guides

IDC's Spending Guides provide a granular view of key technology markets from a regional, vertical industry, use case, buyer, and technology perspective. The spending guides are delivered via pivot table format or custom query tool, allowing the user to easily extract meaningful information about each market by viewing data trends and relationships. For more information about IDC's Spending Guides, please contact Monika Kumar at [email protected]. About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter (News - Alert) at @IDC. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005295/en/

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[January 26, 2016] MetLife's Commercial Real Estate Lending Tops $14 Billion in 2015

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) announced today that it originated, through its real estate investment group, approximately $14.3 billion globally in commercial real estate loans in 2015, an 18 percent increase over the $12.1 billion originated in the previous year. MetLife is one of the largest commercial mortgage lenders among life insurers. MetLife also committed to invest approximately $1 billion in real estate equity in 2015, either through direct acquisition or as part of joint venture partnerships. Within its international portfolio, MetLife expanded its lending activities in 2015, originating commercial real estate loans of more than $1.6 billion in the United Kingdom and more than $200 million in Mexico. MetLife also lent the following amounts in its local currency accounts: more than 1.2 billion Mexico pesos; approximately 45 billion Japanese yen; approximately 400 million Australian dollars; 20 billion South Korean won; and more than 4 million Chilean Unidad de Fomento (UF). Real estate investments are an important part of MetLife's asset-liability matching program. The long-term nature of these investments makes them a good match for the long-term liabilities the company writes. MetLife's institutional asset management business, MetLife Investment Management (MIM), also had a strong year. Celebrating its third year in operation in 2015, MIM originated approximately $1.1 billion in commercial mortgage loans for institutional clients. "MetLife continued to be a major investor in real estate in 2015, focusing on a number of key sectors, including commercial mortgages, real estate equity, and investments on behalf of our institutional clients," said Robert Merck, senior managing director and global head of real estate investments for MetLife. "Following our strategy of investing in major markets with strong fundamentals, MetLife strengthened its position as a leader in commercial mortgage lending both domestically and internationally. We also continued to create attractive opportunities for institutional investors through MetLife Investment Management, and we believe that 2016 will bring more success in asset management." MetLife's real estate platform includes origination and asset management offices across eleven regional offices in the United States, London, Mexico City, Tokyo and Santiago, Chile. Strong Commercial Mortgage Lending MetLife originated a number of commercial real estate loan transactions of $150 million and above in 2015, including the following: $505 million first mortgage on the Loews Universal Orlando Hotel Portfolio, collateralized by three AAA four diamond resorts in Orlando, Fla.

$400 million first mortgage on Columbia Center, a Class A office tower in Seattle, Wash.

Lead lender and $333 million participation in a $1 billion mortgage loan on Mall at Short Hills, a super-regional mall in Short Hills, N.J.

$276 million first mortgage on Oak Park Mall, a leading upscale egional mall in Overland Park, Kan.

$261 million investment in a $691 million term loan facility secured by a pool of loans in the United Kingdom

$255 million first leasehold mortgage on 1675 Broadway, a Class A office building in New York, N.Y.

$228 million first mortgage on 123/151 Buckingham Palace Road, two office properties located in London's West End

$215 million participation in a $430 million first mortgage on Park Place, an office and retail campus in Irvine, Calif.

$210 million first mortgage on Towers at Williams Square, four Class A+ office buildings in Irving, Texas

$175 million first mortgage on Eastown Apartments, a Class A mid-rise apartment community in Hollywood, Calif.



Equity Real Estate Investments "MetLife and its partners had a strong year adding high-quality assets to our real estate portfolio in a variety of markets," Merck added. "We believe that the market in 2016 will offer ample opportunities for equity deals for institutional investors."

MetLife's five largest equity real estate transactions in 2015 were: Park Tower, a 737,000 square foot office development in San Francisco, Calif., for $340 million

Shinjuku 3-chrome Building, a 67,000 square foot retail property in Tokyo, Japan, for $170 million

Park District/2101 Pearl, a 815,500 square foot mixed-use development in Dallas, Texas, for $98 million

Osaka Marubeni Building, a 245,000 square foot office property in Osaka, Japan, for $88 million

Vu New River, a 209-unit apartment development in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for $52.5 million About MetLife, Inc. MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the largest life insurance companies in the world. Founded in 1868, MetLife is a global provider of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management. Serving approximately 100 million customers, MetLife has operations in nearly 50 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com. About MetLife Investment Management ("MIM") MetLife, Inc. provides investment management services to affiliates and unaffiliated investors through various subsidiaries. MetLife Investment Management ("MIM"), MetLife, Inc.'s institutional investment management business, has more than 800 investment professionals located around the globe. Subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. that provide investment management services include Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC, MetLife Investment Management Limited, MetLife Investments Limited, MetLife Investments Asia Limited, MetLife Latin America Asesorias e Inversiones Limitada and MetLife Japan Asset Management Company. This news release may contain or incorporate by reference information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of future events. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe" and other words and terms of similar meaning, or are tied to future periods, in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, prospective services or products, future performance or results of current and anticipated services or products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, trends in operations and financial results. Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining the actual future results of MetLife, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors that might cause such differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in MetLife, Inc.'s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Annual Report") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC (News - Alert)") and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by MetLife, Inc. with the SEC after the date of the Annual Report under the captions "Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" and other filings MetLife, Inc. makes with the SEC. MetLife, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if MetLife, Inc. later becomes aware that such statement is not likely to be achieved. Please consult any further disclosures MetLife, Inc. makes on related subjects in reports to the SEC. L0116453993[exp1217][All States] View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005303/en/

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[January 26, 2016] Susan G. Komen and the Caterpillar Foundation Announce Grants to Save Lives and Improve Breast Cancer Care in Latin America

Global health leaders Susan G. Komen and the Caterpillar Foundation today commemorate a five-year partnership in the fight to reduce breast cancer deaths in Latin American countries with $746,791 in new grant funding to support programs focused on early detection, young women, and training for health care professionals. Since 2011, the Caterpillar Foundation has committed a total of $5 million to support breast cancer programs in Brazil, Mexico and Panama, and made it possible for Komen to award 29 grants to organizations in these countries. To date, the partnership has reached: Over 10 million women and men with vital breast cancer information.

2,377 women with patient navigation and support services.

2,540 health care workers, providing the latest breast cancer training. "Komen and the Caterpillar Foundation have already made an incredible impact in Latin America with an approach that reaches individuals and health care providers," said Komen President and CEO Dr. Judy Salerno. "The Caterpillar Foundation's commitment to this region of the world is helping to reduce the burden of this disease and, ultimately, save lives." In Brazil, advances in the country's universal health care system have not adequately addressed increases in breast cancer, and geographic and social inequalities inhibit patients from receiving quality cancer care. In Mexico, more than half the women diagnosed with breast cancer are diagnosed at late stages of the disease (fewer than five percent of patients are diagnosed early when there are more options for successful treatment). In Panama, breast cancer patients face significant barrers in accessing care and must rely on only one cancer hospital serving the country's entire population.



"The Caterpillar Foundation is proud of our history with Susan G. Komen and the impact our investment has had in Latin America," said Michele Sullivan, President of the Caterpillar Foundation. "Ensuring women and medical professionals have education and access to resources is key to decreasing the breast cancer mortality rate." Six organizations in Brazil and Mexico are among several organizations throughout Latin America selected to receive funding for programs that aim to improve outcomes for local women:

Brazil Pio XII Foundation - Barretos Cancer Hospital seeks to increase the rates of early diagnosis of breast cancer through the first national training program for radiologists, physicists, technicians and screening program managers in Brazil.

seeks to increase the rates of early diagnosis of breast cancer through the first national training program for radiologists, physicists, technicians and screening program managers in Brazil. Hospital Perola Byington Study and Research Center will provide hands-on training to physicians, gynecologists and mastologists through a pioneer model for getting women from screening to diagnosis in one clinical visit.

will provide hands-on training to physicians, gynecologists and mastologists through a pioneer model for getting women from screening to diagnosis in one clinical visit. Instituto Oncoguia will prepare social workers from public cancer hospitals and NGOs in Sao Paulo to better inform and guide low-income breast cancer patients and their families on patient rights and access to cancer treatment. Mexico Tomatelo a Pecho, A.C. will promote early detection and timely treatment of breast cancer training through a curriculum developed in partnership with the Harvard Global Equity Initiative to educate primary care personnel, medical students and members of civil society organizations in Mexico.

will promote early detection and timely treatment of breast cancer training through a curriculum developed in partnership with the Harvard Global Equity Initiative to educate primary care personnel, medical students and members of civil society organizations in Mexico. Medicos por el Cancer, A.C. will deliver targeted training workshops to improve the quality of breast imaging in public institutions and breast centers, and to improve the skills of surgeons, radiologists and radiology technicians.

will deliver targeted training workshops to improve the quality of breast imaging in public institutions and breast centers, and to improve the skills of surgeons, radiologists and radiology technicians. Asociacion Mexicana de lucha Contra el Cancer A.C. will develop tools and resources to educate patients and physicians on the issues facing young women with breast cancer in Monterrey, Mexico. These programs and others support Komen's goals of delivering needed education; supporting programs to detect breast cancer at earlier stages; and ensuring that women have access to quality care throughout the continuum of care. Read more about this partnership and work. About Susan G. Komen Susan G. Komen is the world's largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Since its founding in 1982, Komen has funded more than $889 million in research and provided $1.95 billion in funding to screening, education, treatment and psychosocial support programs serving millions of people in more than 30 countries worldwide. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy's life. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at ww5.komen.org/social. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005144/en/

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[January 26, 2016] Unum Therapeutics Moves to New Headquarters in Cambridge, MA as It Continues to Expand and Advance its Cellular Immunotherapy Pipeline

Unum Therapeutics, a company developing a universal cellular immunotherapy to treat multiple cancers, today announced its move into new office and laboratory facilities in Cambridge, MA. The company's new headquarters, located at 200 Cambridge Park Drive, was designed to help facilitate Unum's anticipated growth to more than 80 employees in the near future. As part of the program to recognize Unum's recent progress and advancing drug development portfolio, Robert Coughlin, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, Mike Kennealy, Assistant Secretary for Business Growth at the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development, and Angus McQuilken, Vice President for Marketing & Communications for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier today. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126006733/en/ On hand to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Unum Therapeutics' expansion into new office and laboratory space were, from left to right: Mike Kennealy, Assistant Secretary for Business Growth at the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development; Robert Coughlin, President & CEO, Massachusetts Biotechnology Council; Angus McQuilken, Vice President for Marketing & Communications for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center; Chuck Wilson, President & CEO, Unum Therapeutics; and Dario Campana, Scientific Founder, Unum Therapeutics. (Photo: Business Wire) "I congratulate Unum Therapeutics on the opening of their new facility, and on the work they are doing to find new treatments and advancements in healthcare," said Governor Baker. "I look forward to their continued contributions to job creation ad innovation here in the Commonwealth."



"We believe that our ACTR technology platform fuels one of the industry's most promising immunotherapy drug development programs," said Chuck Wilson, PhD, President & CEO of Unum Therapeutics. "To reach our full potential, we need to continue recruiting top-level talent. This move allows us to expand our hiring efforts within the world-class Cambridge, Massachusetts life sciences hub, to house a larger team of scientists, and to continue to leverage our proximity to leading research and academic institutions and healthcare companies. Unum is excited to be joining a growing biotech community in West Cambridge." Unum designed its new 33,000 square feet of space specifically to foster continued collaboration, including state-of-the-art laboratories and an open office design. Employees can easily access the centrally located facility via public transportation at The Alewife Reservation (including access to the MBTA Red Line) and local highways, including Route 2 and Route 16.

Coming just a year after the company's launch, this move follows several major milestones for Unum including initiation of a Phase 1 study in B-cell malignancies in Singapore, a $65M Series B financing, and a major strategic collaboration with Seattle Genetics. Unum evolved from the LabCentral incubator program in Kendall Square, where it was located prior to the Cambridge Drive facility. "We are pleased to celebrate the grand opening of Unum's new headquarters in Cambridge," said Travis McCready, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. "This new facility will allow the company to continue to grow and make important contributions to cancer therapeutics, one of the core strengths of our Commonwealth's life sciences ecosystem. The company's growth is just one early return on the MLSC's investment in the construction of LabCentral." "We are thrilled to celebrate Unum's growth as a great example of the opportunity presented to companies in the Massachusetts ecosystem," said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio. "As a company with great science and great talent that has taken advantage of the efficiencies provided by an incubator and the network provided by active participation at MassBio, Unum has provided a clear path to success for other startups here." About Unum Therapeutics Unum Therapeutics uses proprietary T-cell engineering technology in combination with tumor-targeting antibodies to activate the body's own immune system to fight cancer. Unum's lead program, based on its Antibody-Coupled T-cell Receptor (ACTR) technology, recently entered Phase 1 clinical testing to assess safety and efficacy. FierceBiotech recently named Unum Therapeutics as one of 2015's Fierce15 biotechnology companies, designating it as one of the most promising private biotechnology companies in the industry. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. For more information, visit http://www.unumrx.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126006733/en/

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When trafficked babies are able to obtain a hukou, it becomes difficult to bring them back to their biological parents. (Photo : Reuters)

Seventy-eight Chinese police officers rescued 15 infants from a child-trafficking gang, a move that has drawn attention to poverty and insufficient legal awareness in Chinas poorest areas.



The infants, with the youngest being four days only, are now under temporary placement of welfare institutions, according to China Daily. Most come from the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, Southwest China.



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Blood samples for the 15 infants have been taken for purposes of parental identification through the national DNA database. Chen Shiqu, the director of the anti-human-trafficking office of the Ministry of Public Security, said that parents voluntarily sold most of the infants.



Chen said, "Poverty has always been a strong motivation for parents to sell their babies."



According to China.org, 2013 statistics revealed that Liangshan had 13.5 percent of the population (approximately 600,000 people) living below the poverty line, defined as annual per capita net income of 2,736 yuan ($415).



Although the exchange of children for money is illegal, couples residing in rural areas are just "too poor and too numb" to understand the law. An investigation conducted by the police revealed that parents normally get up to 20,000 yuan for a baby boy, who in turn can be sold by traffickers for 50,000 to 60,000 yuan. Baby girls go for between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan.



Police officers from Sichuan and Shandong Provinces conducted a joint operation, and discovered that a couple traveled frequently with infants from Liangshan to Linyi, Shandong Province, and came back empty-handed. The woman bought infants from parents in poor villages and recruited other women pretending to be mothers to help transport the babies by train.



In some cases, the couple arranged for pregnant women to deliver their babies at the homes of buyers. The problem is attributed to lack of awareness of the law.



According to a local civil servant, "They believed they were doing the infants a favor by sending them to grow up in a better environment."



The cases reduced in 2012 because of a combination of poverty reduction and a tough law enforcement crackdown. To get people out of poverty, the Sichuan provincial government put in place a package of policies. Furthermore, highways linking mountainous Liangshan and neighboring towns are under construction, paving the way for development.


[January 25, 2016] NGD Interiors of Churchville, PA Awarded Best of Houzz 2016

CHURCHVILLE, Pa., Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NGD Interiors of Churchville, PA has won "Best Of Service" on Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The Buck's County Interior Design Firm was chosen by the more than 35 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2015. A "Best Of Houzz 2016" badge will appear on winners' profiles, as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz. "Customer Service and making sure our clients are happy is our biggest priority. We are thrilled that our clients have recognized us for this capability. Thank you to all our clients for the great projects, relationships and recognition over the past year!" said Nina Green, Principal Interior Designer of NGD Interiors. "Anyone building, remodeling or decorating looks to Houzz for the most talented and service-oriented professionals," said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. "We're so pleased to recognize NGD Interiors. Voted one of our "Best Of Houzz" professionals by our enormous community of homeowners and design enthusiasts actively remodeling and decorating their homes."



Follow NGD Interiors on Houzz, Facebook, Twitter. For inquiries, media or sales, contact Nina Green at NGD Interiors. [email protected] About NGD Interiors

NGD Interior's goal is to help clients define their style and realize their design visions with carefully curated pieces and selections tailored for each project. NGD Interiors is a woman owned business and proud member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), and led by Principal Interior Designer, Nina Green. Nina Green was awarded as one of NKBA's 30 under 30 in 2013. NGD Interiors offers a variety of services for both the residential and commercial clientele, taking a holistic approach to the design of the space, ensuring all the details are addressed from floor to ceiling. Services include space planning, furnishing selection & custom designs, lighting plans, free standing and built in cabinetry & case good designs, color consulting, material selections & window treatments. NGD Interiors specializes in Kitchen & Bath design, offering our handcrafted luxury cabinet collection, Nina Green Signature Series. While NGD Interiors loves Kitchens & Baths, their residential services don't stop there! Other rooms that NGD Interiors creates are: Living Rooms, Master Suites, Nurseries, Dining Rooms, Mud & Laundry Rooms, and Theater Rooms. In addition to Residential Design, NGD Interiors enjoys working on boutique Commercial Spaces such as Drs. Offices, Retail, Restaurant and Hotel buildouts & remodels. About Houzz Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish  online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo. Houzz and the Houzz logo are registered trademarks of Houzz Inc. worldwide. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160125/325575 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ngd-interiors-of-churchville-pa-awarded-best-of-houzz-2016-300209344.html SOURCE NGD Interiors

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[January 25, 2016] CDI Corp. Announces $20 Million Share Repurchase Program; Eliminates Cash Dividend

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CDI Corp. (NYSE: CDI) (the "Company") a provider of client-focused engineering, information technology and staffing solutions, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program (the "Program"). Under the Program, CDI is authorized to repurchase up to $20 million of its common stock from time to time and at prices considered appropriate by the company. The stock repurchases may be made via privately negotiated transactions, open market purchases, block trades or by other means at management's discretion in compliance with applicable securities laws. The timing of repurchases and number of shares of common stock to be purchased will depend upon market conditions and other factors. The company is not required to repurchase any specific number of shares and the Program may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time without prior notice. The Program will remain in effect until fully utilized or until modified, suspended or discontinued. In connection with the new repurchase program, the Board also approved the elimination of the company's dividend, currently at a quarterly rate of $0.13 per share. "Our capital allocation strategy reaffirms our commitment to increase shareholder value and our confidence in the financial strengh and underlying value of CDI," said Scott J. Freidheim, Chief Executive Officer and President.



About CDI CDI Corp. (NYSE: CDI) provides engineering, information technology and staffing solutions. Our customers operate in a variety of industries, ranging from Oil, Gas & Chemicals to Aerospace & Industrial Equipment, and High Technology, and include corporate, federal, state and municipal entities. We serve customers through offices and delivery centers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. We also provide staffing services through our global MRINetwork of franchisees. Learn more at www.cdicorp.com

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Because these forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are subject to change, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Detailed information about these risks, uncertainties and assumptions may be found in our filings with the SEC, particularly in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-K and the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section of our Form 10-Ks and Form 10-Qs. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cdi-corp-announces-20-million-share-repurchase-program-eliminates-cash-dividend-300209380.html SOURCE CDI Corp.

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[January 25, 2016] ASEAN's Premier Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Show Returns to Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kuala Lumpur is gearing up for the sixth edition of ASEAN M&E 2016, ASEAN's Premier Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Show that will take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 23 to 25 May 2016. The three-day biennial show, considered Southeast Asia's largest industry platform, combines three top events, TENAGA Expo & Forum - Power & Electrical Industry Show, Green Energy Asia - Green Technology & Renewable Energy Show and REVAC- Refrigeration, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning Show. Over 350 exhibiting companies have confirmed their participation, with displays filling up to 10,000 gross square meters of the entire ground exhibition halls of KLCC. The show is set to welcome more than 10,500 trade professionals, decision-makers and potential buyers from 51 countries and regions. The event is endorsed by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and supported by the the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA), the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia, the Malaysian Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Association (MACRA) and the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM). We are also delighted to announce a co-located conference with ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, Malaysia Chapter (MASHRAE). According to Mr. M. Gandhi, UBM Asia's Managing Director of ASEAN Business, "ASEAN M&E has positioned itself as an unwavering platform for the mechanical and electrical engineering industry in Southeast Asia. The interest in this year's event has been overwhelming with international exhibitors and principals from Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, Thailand, United States, Switzerland, Italy, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and The United Kingdom already filling up 80% of the show floor."



Learning Opportunities Across the three-day exhibition, ASEAN M&E 2016 will feature more than 40 conference sessions and technology symposiums, and over 20 local and international experts who will present and discuss the best practices in power and electrical, green technology, renewable energy and HVACR, most notably the continuation of the ASHRAE Conference and IEM's Forum.

Tenaga & Green Energy Asia technology symposium will bring together professionals and industry experts from the power & energy industry , focusing on topics covering all aspects of power and electrical, as well as low carbon energy including hydro, wind and solar.

power & energy industry focusing on topics all aspects of power and electrical, low carbon energy including hydro, wind and solar. The CPD accredited IEM Forum will gather engineers, project management and business professionals to evaluate ideas on the greatest challenges and opportunities for the engineering industry.

engineering industry. The CPD accredited ASHRAE Conference will focus on the latest developments and current trends in the HVACR industry. Dr. Cheong Thiam Fook, Chairman of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, Membership Drive and Promotion, hailed ASEAN M&E 2016 as an excellent avenue where partnerships between engineers and the M&E industry can materialise. He said, "IEM is laying the path for all engineers to excel not only in local grounds, but also internationally, by engaging with ASEAN engineering associations. The IEM's forum held at ASEAN M&E 2016 is designed to foster closer working relationships among engineers and raise awareness among its members of the latest developments in technology, issues and legislation related to engineering including mechanical and electrical." ASEAN M&E 2016 visitor online pre-registration is now open for industry professionals. Please visit: www.aseanmne.com (General Website) | www.tenaga.org | www.revac.org Note to Editors: About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com) Owned by UBM plc and listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is the largest trade show organiser in Asia and the largest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global network of 30 offices and 1,300 staff in 24 major cities. We operate in 20 market sectors with 230 exhibitions and conferences, 23 trade publications, 20 online products for over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160118/322986

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160118/322987

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160118/322985LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121014/HK92339LOGO-d To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aseans-premier-mechanical--electrical-engineering-show-returns-to-kuala-lumpur-300206810.html SOURCE UBM Asia (Malaysia)

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[January 26, 2016]

U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for January 26: Lotus 1-2-3

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

LOTUS 1-2-3

Profile America  Tuesday, January 26th. On this date 33 years ago, the infant personal computer was empowered to become something much greater than a glorified word processor with the release of the spreadsheet program Lotus 1-2-3. The popular program drew acclaim as the first PC "killer application." Finance and accounting workers were thus freed from hunching over ledger books and switched to hunching before a computer screen. The name "1-2-3" stemmed from the product's integration of three main capabilities  spreadsheet, charting and graphing, and rudimentary database operations. Today there are over 8,900 software publishers in the U.S., employing almost 430,000 people n the $170 billion per year business. You can find more statistics on communities across the country by downloading the Census Bureau's "dwellr" mobile application at www.census.gov/mobile.







Sources:

Debut/accessed 11/15/2015: http://mentalfloss.com/article/48627/lotus-1-2-3-three-decades3

Software publishing/NAICS 511210:

http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=BP_2013_00A1&prodType=table

Software revenues/NAICS 511210:

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ECN_2012_US_51I1&prodType=table

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/DC91889LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-census-bureau-daily-feature-for-january-26-lotus-1-2-3-300205718.html

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau
[January 26, 2016] AIRSYS Took Top Honors in Product Line Strategy at Frost & Sullivan's 2015 Excellence in Best Practices Awards Banquet

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan presented AIRSYS with the 2015 Global Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Line Strategy Leadership at the 2015 Excellence in Best Practices Awards on Tuesday, November 17 2015. Chen Yunshui, CEO, AIRSYS Refrigeration Engineering Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. accepted the honor on behalf of AIRSYS at a glittering ceremony at the Jumeirah Frankfurt, attended by the who's who of Europe's and Africa's premier companies and their leaders. Click here for the full multimedia experience of this release - bit.ly/1RWLiXz AIRSYS' industry-leading product line of cooling solutions addresses all the cooling requirements of both commercial and industrial businesses with its superior reliability, energy savings, extensive working range and extended lifetime. The company has fully leveraged the technological advantages and breadth of its products and solutions to expand its geographic footprint outside of China, its home market. AIRSYS' product line comprises computer room AC (CRAC) units, free cooling chillers, free cooling dry coolers, ice storage tanks, in-row units, in-rack units, adiabatic cooling units and monitoring systems. They have found application in data centers, telecom, healthcare, manufacturing and industrial process control centers, and are ideal for precision environment facilities such as museums, wine cellars, libraries, laboratories, calibration chambers and machine shops. Strategically, AIRSYS has sharpened its focus on the data center and telecom segments by developing new products with advanced technologies for them. "AIRSYS has a truly optimized product portfolio, as its products have the prices and functionality range to suit every business need," said Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst Gautham Gnanajothi. "It offers both cost-effective products targeting customers in developing economies as well as highly sophisticated, energy-efficient, and intelligently controlled products for customers in developed countries." Indeed, the company has specifically engineered products for markets such as India and Africa at nearly half the price of competing products without compromising quality and reliability. Simultaneously, it has highlighted its technology and innovation prowess in its products for customers in developed countries such as the US, UK and Germany. The company has a strong R&D team with more than 90 registered patents. It employs electronically commutated motors in all its fans, which increase the energy efficiency on a cubic scale by drastically reducing energy consumption. Its unique supply air pressure control system aids automatic adjustment of the fan speed to lower the fan's energy consumption. AIRSYS' use of DC inverter compressors in its products also enhances energy efficiency, especially when operating at partial load conditions. Simlarly, to control the super-heat of the refrigeration circuit precisely, it uses electronic expansion valves (EEV) as opposed to thermal expansion valves, which, in turn, improves system efficiency by another 3 percent to 5 percent. The other notable energy-saving technology in its products is the refrigerant pumping group, which facilitates the circulation of refrigerant during winter, bypassing compressor functions.



AIRSYS has implemented a thorough quality assurance system in all its business processes, with its products receiving both international and regional certifications. Its air-cooled chiller (with free cooling) employs a patented three-way adjustment technology, while its precision AC with built-in, fresh-air, free cooling system adopts an integrated design that eliminates the need for a connection among the cooling pipelines. "We are excited to recognize AIRSYS for its product line strategy, which has been honed by deep insight into the product needs and demands of its customers in the global cooling solutions market. AIRSYS has leveraged its technological strengths and optimized its product line to serve the broadest range of industrial and commercial customers," said Frost & Sullivan Global President and Managing Partner Krishna Srinivasan.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a comprehensive product line that caters to the breadth of the market it serves. The award recognises the extent to which the product line meets customer base demands, the overall impact it has in terms of customer value, as well as increased market share. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About AIRSYS AIRSYS is one of the leading international ICT cooling solution providers and provides different solutions for data centers, mobile shelters, outdoor telecom cabinets, large medical equipment and other industrial applications. AIRSYS has over 50,000 WPUs and 12,000 FCBs installed worldwide. AIRSYS's R&D team has undertaken a continuing effort to produce new and innovative products. At the same time they continue to improve upon existing product lines in order to anticipate and satisfy the changing needs of the many industries we serve. Research and Development is an ongoing process, with new products announced periodically. For more information on AIRSYS, please visit their corporate headquarters website: www.air-sys.com About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure. The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.





provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Contact Us: Start the discussion Join Us: Join our community Subscribe: Newsletter on "the next big thing" Register: Gain access to visionary innovation Contact: Mireya Espinoza

P: 210. 247.3870

F: 210.348.1003

E: [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/airsys-took-top-honors-in-product-line-strategy-at-frost--sullivans-2015-excellence-in-best-practices-awards-banquet-300208289.html SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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[January 26, 2016] NetSuite Announces New Partner Wins In Europe

LONDON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NetSuite Inc. (NYSE: N), the industry's leading provider of cloud-based financials / ERP and omnichannel commerce software suites, today announced that a number of new partners including Audaxis (Belgium), Balkan Services (Bulgaria), Extra SRL (Italy), Mepco (Finland) and Solmate (Netherlands), have joined the NetSuite Solution Provider Program to capitalise on the fast-growing demand for cloud ERP software among businesses of all sizes in Europe. The partnership with NetSuite enables each solution provider to establish a cloud ERP practice, bringing the world's #1 cloud ERP to clients of all sizes to help them gain the superior business visibility, efficiency, scalability and agility possible with NetSuite. The new NetSuite partners are broadening their portfolios beyond supporting traditional on-premise ERP solutions from such vendors as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics and Sage as client organisations look to eliminate the inflexibility, on-going maintenance and high costs of in-house on-premise systems by turning to the cloud. "There is strong demand across Europe and the Middle East for cloud-based ERP systems that give organisations the ability to scale and grow quickly," said John Campbell, EMEA Channel Director at NetSuite. "All five of these partners bring with them deep expertise in their market and understand the benefits they can bring to customers with NetSuite. In return, our partners provide us with the diversity needed to reach new and emerging markets." Launched in 2002, the NetSuite Solution Provider Program is the industry's leading cloud channel partner program, providing hundreds of channel partners with a cloud solution to offer prospective customers and grow their businesses as well as industry-leading margins and incentive programs. With cloud computing at the forefront of the hottest trends and cloud ERP leading the way, channel partners representing on-premise products are continuing to build new practices based on NetSuite's superior cloud business management suite. Designed to help solution providers transform their business model to fully capitalise on the revenue growth opportunity of the NetSuite cloud, the NetSuite Solution Provider Program delivers unprecedented benefits that begin during recruitment and range from business planning, sales, marketing and professional services enablement, to training and education. For more information about the NetSuite Solution Provider Program, please visit http://www.netsuite.co.uk/portal/uk/partners.shtml. Audaxis, Balkan Services, Extra SRL, Mepco and Solmate are the latest partners to join the NetSuite Solution Provider Program in Europe. Audaxis Launches Cloud ERP practice with NetSuite

Audaxis (http://www.audaxis.com/), a Belgium-based reseller and certified IT consulting service company for several midmarket business solutions, plans to bring NetSuite to businesses across a wide variety of industries including distribution, retail, media and professional services in Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Partnering with NetSuite has allowed Audaxis to launch a cloud ERP practice, extending its offerings beyond its traditional focus of open source ERP solutions such as Odoo and Compiere and BI solutions such as Talend and Jaspersoft BI, to address the growing demand for cloud ERP among its ke markets.



Audaxis has more than 25 years of ERP implementation experience, helping more than 300 midmarket companies realise the business benefits of implementing end-to-end digital business management and ERP applications across French-speaking countries. "We were impressed by NetSuite's unique combination of rich features, modern cloud technology and company vision. NetSuite gives us almost unlimited opportunities to support our customers' business processes with best in class ERP practices," said Bernard de Canniere, Audaxis CEO.

Balkan Services adds Cloud ERP, Seeks to Build Custom Applications

Balkan Services (http://www.balkanservices.com/eng/solutions/view/netsuite_erp), a Bulgaria-based software and services consultancy for Microsoft Dynamics, Qlik, Atlantis ERP and more, partnered with NetSuite for its modern cloud platform and the opportunity to exploit the industry expertise of its team by developing industry specific applications for its customers using the NetSuite SuiteCloud Development Platform. Balkan Services feels NetSuite provides strong support, and the visibility and transparency needed to fit the requirements of the Bulgarian market. Founded in 2006, the company now has more than 40 employees and serves over 100 Bulgarian customers with efficient and reliable solutions such as ERP, CRM and business intelligence (BI) to help transform data into actionable business information. "The flexibility and agility NetSuite provides enables us to support our customers as they grow, providing invaluable benefits to businesses in Bulgaria," said Vladimir Rashev, Managing Partner at Balkan Services. "We wanted an ERP platform that can scale, while also allowing us to make the customisations required by our customers. NetSuite cloud ERP is the perfect fit." Extra SRL Goes all-in for Cloud ERP

Extra SRL (http://www.extrasrl.it/en/), headquartered in Italy and founded in 2006, is a specialist systems integrator providing consultancy services for applications and IT solutions. Extra is launching a cloud ERP practice with NetSuite to bring a flexible, scalable unified suite to its customers in the healthcare, manufacturing, retail and services industries. With over 60 employees operating in 11 countries covering over 110 international projects, Extra plans to offer NetSuite as a platform that can meet the unique industry-specific business requirements of its clients in Italy, Poland, the UK and the Middle East. Extra SRL chose NetSuite because its unified system for ERP, ecommerce, retail, inventory, and customer record can bring tremendous value to companies in the region. "Extra has an established track record of supporting clients throughout Italy and we believe NetSuite can help us shape the market and respond to the needs of clients all over the country. With its integrated suite and flexible platform, we are well positioned to easily meet the needs of our clients," said Leonardo Paolino, CEO, Extra SRL.

Mepco joins NetSuite Partner Programme to Enable Finnish Companies to Scale

Mepco (https://www.mepco.fi/), a consultancy that delivers software solutions and services for the public and private sectors, is launching a cloud ERP practice with NetSuite. With over 10 years of experience and more than 200 experts working in Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku, Mepco is adding NetSuite to its exisiting portfolio of Microsoft Dynamics offerings and plans to implement, customise and extend NetSuite for midsized companies in Finland. Mepco selected NetSuite as a platform that can combine all of the mission-critical business processes necessary for Finnish companies to expand and grow their business globally. "With NetSuite, business processes become transparent and real-time data is available anytime, anywhere for faster and better decision making," said Markuu Pekkola, Managing Director at Mepco. "NetSuite is an easy choice for our customers, offering a cloud-based solution that requires zero maintenance and can scale to meet the requirement of any fast growing business." Solmate Group to Transform Businesses' Operations in the Netherlands with NetSuite

Solmate Group (http://solmategroup.com/), a Dutch consultancy offering software solutions and services, is launching a cloud ERP practice with NetSuite. Solmate is adding NetSuite to its portfolio of Coda Financials, Adaptive Insights, COUPA, Qlik and SAP/BO to bring unified cloud ERP to its customers in the Netherlands. With decades of knowledge and experience, the Solmate Group plans to help businesses of every size and in every industry to transform their financial processes and business operations with NetSuite.



"We chose NetSuite because we wanted a 100 percent cloud solution that can bolster our existing ERP and finance offerings, and felt that the NetSuite cloud was a perfect fit for our customer base. NetSuite's agility, anywhere, anytime access and real-time visibility are exactly the features and benefits that our local customers have been asking for," said Andre Remmelzwaan, CEO, Solmate Group. Today, more than 24,000 companies and subsidiaries depend on NetSuite to run complex, mission-critical business processes globally in the cloud. Since its inception in 1998, NetSuite has established itself as the leading provider of enterprise-ready cloud business management suites of enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and ecommerce applications for businesses of all sizes. Many FORTUNE 100 companies rely on NetSuite to accelerate innovation and business transformation. NetSuite continues its success in delivering the best cloud business management suites to businesses around the world, enabling them to lower IT costs significantly while increasing productivity, as the global adoption of the cloud accelerates. Follow NetSuite's Cloud blog, NetSuite's Facebook page and @NetSuiteEMEA Twitter handle for real-time updates. For more information about NetSuite, please visit www.netsuite.co.uk. NOTE: NetSuite and the NetSuite logo are service marks of NetSuite Inc. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090924/SF81218LOGO-b To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netsuite-announces-new-partner-wins-in-europe-300209450.html SOURCE NetSuite Inc.

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[January 26, 2016] ForaCare to Showcase Telehealth and Smart Technology for Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose Monitoring at Arab Health Exhibition in Dubai January 25-28, Booth #SAG75

ST. GALLEN, Switzerland, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Company to Feature New Fora My Dongle Wireless Connectivity Tool ForaCare Suisse AG located in St. Gallen, Switzerland, plans to showcase its line of telehealth and smart technology devices for blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring tools, including its new FORA My Dongle wireless connectivity tool during Arab Health Congress in Dubai January 25-29. The ForaCare booth is #SAG75. ForaCare will specifically present the latest in diabetes and blood pressure monitoring via its FORA and FORA Diamond series products that work with a simple yet advanced Telehealth System. Special features of the exhibition include the FORA My Dongle, a simple, inexpensive way users can quickly and wirelessly connect the FORA blood glucose meter and mobile devices including iPads, mobile phones, and Android tablets. FORA My Dongle is extremely lightweight and features Bluetooth Smart 4.0 and the fastest transmission speed available to allow for real-time tracking of blood glucose results anytime, anywhere. ForaCare will demonstrate the advanced features of the FORA Diamond line of blood prssure monitors including Averaging Mode and Irregular Heartbeat Mode. Averaging mode provides a more accurate measurement of BP by making three consecutive measurements and providing an average of the three. Irregular heartbeats can be accurately detected with the device's Irregular Heartbeat Mode.



"ForaCare Suisse AG is honored to again be involved in this important scientific meeting," said Ty-Minh Tan, CEO of ForaCare Suisse AG. "We are pleased to be able to lead the way with advanced technology while also educating people about how to best manage their diabetes and blood pressure." All ForaCare monitoring devices are validated as highly accurate in the industry and provide superior quality directly to consumers. FORA Blood Glucose Monitors are validated according to ISO 15197:2013. requirements at an internationally renowned diabetes institute in Ulm, Germany. ForaCare provides FDA cleared and CE marked innovative health monitoring devices that provide simple connection to the FORA system. For more information, please visit http://www.ForaCare.ch

ABOUT DIAMOND SERIES PRODUCTS The Diamond Series devices make it possible for patients to self-monitor as well as track their health condition for better control. There is significant evidence that patients who monitor their chronic conditions have better glycemic control, leading to improved therapy outcomes and lower risk of long-term complications. ForaCare provides flexible solutions to bridge gaps among medical devices including glucose meters, blood pressure monitors, and thermometers to transmission gateways and the Internet-based backend system. FORA technology has embedded wired or wireless modules (including ZigBee and Bluetooth) and provides corresponding home gateways to overcome transmission barriers that patients face with other telehealth technologies. About ForaCare Suisse AG: http://www.foracare.ch

Contact:

Elena Birrer

[email protected]

+41-71-220-1001

SOURCE ForaCare Suisse AG

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[January 26, 2016] We Decide 2016 Platform Gives Women In Business A New Voice In The 2016 Election

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and Personal BlackBox (PBB) announced today that they are partnering with leading women business organizations to launch an online campaign called WE Decide 2016 which aims to engage women in business to raise their voice on the issues that matter most to them, their families and their business from now through November 2016. The campaign gives women control of their personal data and a safe place to express opinions privately with peers. Unlike other polling and survey sites, the information women share with WE Decide 2016 will never be sold to anyone. Personal BlackBox allows women to track and view how they have responded to polls and surveys throughout the entire election year. With female presidential contenders from both the Democrat and Republican parties, the 2016 election is shaping up to be another historic battle in pessimism vs. optimism. According to a national online survey of women in business, three-fourths (75%) of the respondents are dissatisfied with the job that Congress is doing to address issues that are impacting women and women business owners, yet 63 percent are hopeful for the future of our country. However, nearly half (48%) of respondents feel that if a male president is elected, they will not receive the same access to economic opportunities and climate for success as they would if a female president were elected. "Female voters will have immense power this presidential election," said Kristie Arslan, executive director of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and small business owner. "It is time for women in business to unite to influence key economic issues and bring those issues to the forefront of the presidential debate to secure our own economic independence and success." Working collaboratively with leading women's business organizations, WE Decide 2016 aims to educate the candidates, the media and voters on the issues of importance to women entrepreneurs this election season. The mission of WE Decide 2016 is to galvanize more than 100,000 women to take part in the WE Decide 2016 platform to confidentially voice their needs, opinions and ideas. "PBB believes that it is critical for people to voice their opinions and engage freely in the political discussions without exposing themselves to being identified, analyzed and targeted without their consent or knowledge. For that reason, we created the personal polling stations for women in business to have a private and secure place to express their opinions and raise their voices to influence candidates and bring about positive results for all," said Nell Merlino, Founding Chairwoman of the PBB Trust. Benefits of a Personal Polling Station Women in business can visit the WE Decide 2016 website  www.WEDecide2016.org  to take quick polls on hot topics on the campaign trail, learn about the presidential candidates' positions on key issues, participate in our "Tell Us!" section to express their unique perspective on the challenges they face and unlock their personal polling station to share their opinions via issue surveys on an array of topics. Participants can also engage via social media, share their quick poll responses or the results of WE Decide 2016 surveys with candidates and their network by utilizing the hashtag #WEDecide2016. WE Decide 2016 participants can also learn about breaking election news and get advice on how women can get involved in the political process and become an advocate for the issues impacting their businesses. The WE Decide 2016 Profiles highlight the personal story behind the issues, allowing visitors to hear directly from women in business on what matters to them, their businesses and their families. The main distinction between WE Decide 2016 and other online polling platforms is that it allows women to unleash their voices while controlling their own data at the same time. This empowers women with valuable data and insights on what other women in business find most important in the 2016 election. With the anonymous polling data, WE Decide 2016 will take collective wants, needs and opinions directly to the candidates to influence future policies. Leveraging insight, secure poll data and user comments, WE Decide 2016 will publish a Women in Business Policy Priorities report prior to the national conventions to encourage political parties and their candidates to prioritize and discuss issues of significance to women entrepreneurs. Together. WE Decide 2016. To learn more or join WE Decide 2016, visit wedecide2016.org. About WIPP Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) is a nonprofit, membership organization working to increase the economic power and public policy clout of women business owners by providing business skills education, leadership opportunities for business and personal growth, and a seat at the table amongst policymakers in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2001, WIPP is recognized as a national, nonpartisan voice for women entrepreneurs advocating on behalf of its coalition of over 4 million businesswomen including 78 business organizations. Visit www.WIPP.org to learn more about WIPP. About Personal Black Box Personal BlackBox(PBB) is a digital marketing solutions company that provides platforms and services to build transparent, productive and private data relationships between companies and people. Companies are freed of the liability and risks associated with consumer data because the PBB Trust puts ownership and control of personal data in the hands of people. PBB has built an enterprise scale platform that allows companies to build apps and campaigns that connect to consumer data for analysis through a series of APIs-without ever allowing the customer's data out of the system. PBB, which is a Public Benefit Corporation, operates in tandem with the PBB Trust, an entity designed to safeguard personal data with personal data independence standards, security and protocols. For more information or to join PBB, go to www.pbb.me.







Contact: Meggan Needham

Purple Door Communications

[email protected]

312.286.4974

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160125/325829LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160125/325831LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/we-decide-2016-platform-gives-women-in-business-a-new-voice-in-the-2016-election-300209474.html SOURCE Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP); Personal BlackBox

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[January 26, 2016] CareCap Launches Simplified Payment Plan for Funeral Industry, New Partnership Provides Access to 22,000 Funeral Service Providers Across U.S.

BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CareCap, the company behind a popular payment platform that makes it easier for consumers to access and pay for services, today announced a new partnership with AtNeedCredit.com -- an online marketplace that enables any funeral home, cemetery or cremation business to offer payment plans to their customers. Under terms of the deal, CareCap has designed and powered the industry's first Simple Funeral Payment Plan (SFPP) that goes live beginning today on the AtNeedCredit.com website. "This is a tremendous opportunity for both companies to help consumers through an already difficult period," said CareCap CEO Nevil Hermer. "Setting money aside for funeral services is something that a lot of people never get around to doing. So, when a death occurs, many people are not prepared for the cost. With SFPP, families and funeral directors have an easy, affordable financial option that helps make those costs more manageable." Access to immediate credit is a growing concern for many consumers in this country as evidenced by a recent report from the Federal Reserve revealing 47 percent of Americans aren't able to pay unexpected bills of more than $400 without borrowing money. At the same time, 63 percent of Millennials don't have a credit card -- and with average FICO scores of 628, have very limited access to emergency lending or financing when they need it. These treds, and several others, are driving many U.S. consumers to look for easier, more manageable ways to pay for services like funeral costs.



"Having to cope with the loss of a loved one is stressful by itself," said Jeff Harbeson, managing partner of At Need Credit. "Having the added responsibility of making and paying for funeral arrangements can make it even more so. That's where we believe CareCap's solution is invaluable to our network of funeral service providers and their customers." With CareCap powering At Need Credit's SFPP, it will be easy for funeral service providers to offer in-house payment plans to their customers  streamlining and automating the billing and collection of customer payments. Consumers can sign up for a payment plan in a matter of two or three minutes and, as a result, achieve a customizable payment plan that allows them to stay within a monthly budget. The Simple Funeral Payment Plan may be used to collect and administrate funeral home accounts receivables as well.

About At Need Credit At Need Credit is based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and is led by funeral industry thought leader and innovator Jeff Harbeson. The company is focused on assisting families with little or no life insurance, low credit card limits and/or limited cash to pay for funeral costs. More information on the company and its services can be viewed online at www.atneedcredit.com. About CareCap Founded in 2013, CareCap is the company behind a new cloud-based payment platform that makes it easy for businesses to offer flexible Merchant Provided Financing to their customers. The privately-held company is based in Bellevue, Wash. and currently serves more than 500 merchants and their customers. More information on the company can be viewed online at www.carecap.com. FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dan Branley (206) 914-1231

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carecap-launches-simplified-payment-plan-for-funeral-industry-new-partnership-provides-access-to-22000-funeral-service-providers-across-us-300209370.html SOURCE CareCap

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[January 26, 2016] BMC Continues to Expand Executive Leadership Team, Adding Industry Veteran Dan Streetman as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Strategic Sales and Operations

HOUSTON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BMC, the leader in IT solutions for the digital enterprise, today announced it has hired Dan Streetman as senior vice president of Worldwide Strategic Sales and Operations. An expert at developing new programs and guiding organizations through transformational change, Streetman is responsible for BMC's global strategic sales initiatives, worldwide ecosystem, and sales operations in this newly created role. Streetman comes to BMC from Salesforce where he was senior vice president of worldwide alliances and channels go-to-market. Streetman has previously held senior sales leadership roles and been chief operating officer for several leading companies, including C3 Energy, Hanson McClain, Amdocs, and Siebel Systems. "At this time of evolution and growth, Dan's leadership experience is a tremendous asset to BMC, and I'm thrilled to welcome him to the team," said Paul Appleby, executive vice president of sales and marketing at BMC. "His background in driving transformational change will enable him to build on our existing success and help us deliver strong growth in the years ahead." In addition to his broad experience in leading technology companies, Streetman honed his leadership skills during service as a Ranger-qualified Infantry officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he was also selected by the Army Chief of Staff to receive the Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. Streetman is a trong proponent of veteran employment, serving as a board advisor to several service organizations, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Wounded Warrior Project. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.



"My experience in world-class public and private organizations has reinforced to me the value of leadership. I'm proud to join an industry leader in which 82 percent of the Fortune 500 place their trust," said Dan Streetman, senior vice president of worldwide sales and operations for BMC. "BMC's foundation of product excellence and innovation provides a platform for leadership as a critical partner for companies on their journeys to become digital enterprises."

About BMC

BMC is a global leader in software solutions that help IT transform traditional businesses into digital enterprises for the ultimate competitive advantage. Our Digital Enterprise Management set of IT solutions is designed to make digital business fast, seamless, and optimized. From mainframe to mobile to cloud and beyond, we pair high-speed digital innovation with robust IT industrializationallowing our customers to provide intuitive user experiences with optimized performance, cost, compliance, and productivity. BMC solutions serve more than 10,000 customers worldwide including 82 percent of the Fortune 500.

BMC  Bring IT to Life

BMC, BMC Software, the BMC logo, and the BMC Software logo are the exclusive properties of BMC Software Inc., are registered or pending registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other countries. All other BMC trademarks, service marks, and logos may be registered or pending registration in the U.S. or in other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Copyright 2016 BMC Software, Inc. Editorial contacts:

Tami Casey

BMC

D: 408.571.7131

M: 650.293.7219

[email protected] Jenn Zimmer

Eastwick Communications

D: 415.820.4175

[email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160111/320997LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bmc-continues-to-expand-executive-leadership-team-adding-industry-veteran-dan-streetman-as-senior-vice-president-of-worldwide-strategic-sales-and-operations-300209511.html SOURCE BMC

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Peter Dahlin (Photo : YouTube)

Ever since Xi Jinping became president in 2013 of China, as part of his high-profile campaign against corruption, prime time on state television has become a venue for confessions.



But it is not just Chinese citizens who have gone public with their admission of wrongdoing. Recently, two Swedish citizens joined the list, although one of them has Sino roots. The two are Gui Minhai, who said he came back to China to take responsibility for a drunk driving accident that killed a female college student over 10 years ago, and Peter Dahlin, who allegedly admitted breaching the law.



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Their very public confessions over government-owned China Central Television (CCTV) were criticized by foreign government and public policy experts who compared it to the era when China was ruled by strongman Chairman Mao Zedong and perceived enemies of the communist rule made TV confessions of their alleged crimes.



Gui, a book publisher in Hong Kong who holds Swedish citizenship, clarified on CCTV that he was not arrested by Chinese agents as speculated. He said that he returned to China voluntarily from Thailand to face the consequences of the accident as well as to see his ageing mother. Gui publishes political gossip about leaders of Chinas communist party which explains why there are talks swirling that he was actually arrested, with his own daughter doubting also her fathers public confession which includes asking the Swedish government not to intervene on his behalf.



However, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said on Friday that the public confession of the two is unacceptable to the Swedish government.



U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner agreed with Wallstrom. He pointed out that These actions undermine Chinas claim to be a rule-of-law society, run contrary Chinas human rights commitment and hinder its attempts to build a more transparent and effective justice system.



Besides Gui and Dahlin, the co-founder of a group that trains and funds Chinese human rights campaigners, recent Chinese public figures who confessed their sins include a well-known human rights lawyer charged with leading a crime ring, an online commentator caught hiring a sex trade worker and a known journalist arrested for allegedly publishing state secrets.



On Monday, China expelled Dahlin, together with his girlfriend Pan Jinling who was also detained, said Michael Caster, spokesman of the Chinese Urgent Action Working Group. Dahlin has left for Sweden, reported SBS. While Wallstrom welcomed Dahlins release, she said Sweden is attempting to get more details about Guis situation and for an opportunity for the minister to visit the naturalized Swedish citizen.






[January 26, 2016] Irish National Caucus Launches Animated Internet Video

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Animated internet video has proven to be a most effective way to spread a group's message and mission. The Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus, long in the forefront of promoting the Irish cause, has launched its own internet video. The video is produced by the company MyeVideo. The company explains: "Explainer videos are considered to be the best introduction tool because they quickly capture the attention of your audience, while relating and explaining your message in a fun, interesting and engaging way. They are fast, entertaining and always leave a good impression. Today's research states that you only have 53 seconds to capture the interest of people who visit your website or business. With explainer videos, only 7 seconds is enough, because their dynamic entices the viewers to watch it through to the end. An explainer video gives plenty of time (1-3 min) to introduce your business and convey your message in a way that appeals to the audience." Fr. Sean Mc Manus, President of the Irish National Caucus, said: "We are very pleased with our new e video. It clearly and engagingly presents our steadfast mission since I founded the Irish National Caucus on February 6, 1974: the continued need for the US Government and Congress to stand up for justice and peace in Ireland. While the video acknowledges the progress made by the Irish peace process, it points out that there is still a long way to go: That the enduring problem is still England's undemocratic control of part of Ireland. That this ridiculous control in the 21st Century still enables and encourages a significant section of the Unionist/Protestant community in Northern Ireland to refuse to accept Catholics as equals; and that anti-Catholicism is still a potent and poisonous pathology in that partitioned part of Ireland. I deliberately use the word pathology ecause I've always seen racism /sectarianism as a disease, wherever it appears."



Fr. Mc Manus continued: "It is important to remember that  despite the welcomed progress of the peace process  that top commenters on Northern Ireland, like Brian Feeney of the Irish News (Belfast), point out that the historic Unionist/Protestant refusal to accept Catholics as equals is still very much an enduring reality in a section of the Unionist/Protestant community. No one can seriously dispute this. However, we must not first blame the Unionist/Protestants for this sectarianism, because the blame rests squarely with the British constitution in which anti-Catholicism is enshrined in the Act of Settlement 1701the foundation stone of the Royal Familywhich constitutionally bars a Catholic from succeeding to the British Throne. This is the constitutional source of anti-Catholic sectarianism in Northern Ireland. The sad Orange anti-Catholicism is the fruit of this poisoned tree. Imagine if there were a provision in the American constitution that banned a Black person being President, imagine how that would have condoned and metastasized the pathology of White racism. Well in the same way, the anti-Catholic section of the Act of Settlement 1701 has provided the ideological underpinnings for anti-Catholic sectarianism. Furthermore, Unionist/Protestant political leaders have historically and currently emphasized that their loyalty is not just to the British Crown but to mandatory Protestant succession to the British Throne. This, again, is a fact of life in Northern Ireland, which cannot be disputed. While Protestant succession to the British Throne may not mean a whole lot to the average Englishman in the street, it means a whole lot to the average Orange Protestant." The eVideo consists of 36 animated slides with a Voice Over (by a professional narrator). The slide that goes with the narrator's statement that Irish-Americans have never accepted the partition of Ireland has images of a group of people carrying the banner, "England Out of Ireland."

A slide that makes the point that some sections of the Unionist/Protestant community want to uphold the pathology of Protestant supremacy has images of the Orange Order insisting on marching where it is not wanted in all-Catholic areas. However, the evideo also makes the point that if Catholics (Nationalists/Republicans) insisted on marching through all-Protestant areas, the Irish National Caucus would be the first to oppose it. In the same spirit  while the video argues that Irish unity is the ultimate solution in the meantime the "Beloved Community" (the concept made famous by Martin Luther King, Jr.) must be built up in Northern Irelandbased on equality, nonviolence, and forgiveness  with liberty and justice for all. Fr. Mc Manus said he is expecting hundreds of thousands to visit and view the entire internet video. "It's definitely a big winner," he added. The e video is available at IrishNationalCaucus.org  and at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7L6kK5L_KI CONTACT: Sean McManus, 202-488-0107, [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/irish-national-caucus-launches-animated-internet-video-300209303.html SOURCE Irish National Caucus

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[January 26, 2016] Fonality Bolsters UC Offering with Video Collaboration Enhancements

PLANO, Texas, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fonality continues to expand the unified communication (UC) capabilities built into Heads Up DisplayTM (HUD) with the introduction of new Video Collaboration features. New meeting scheduling and management features represent the company's latest strides in bringing best-of-breed capabilities to its customers through integrations. "By introducing some of our customers' most-requested fatures, we've made it even easier for Fonality Video Collaboration users to connect when and how they want," said Jeff Valentine, Fonality's chief marketing officer. "Nothing beats accessing the tools you need from a single pane of glass like you do with HUD. This kind of easy connectivity makes collaborating by video more convenient, more efficient, and cheaper than standalone tools."



Fonality Video Collaboration is powered by Zoom, a leader in cloud-based video conferencing. Since Fonality first introduced the service in 2014, its popularity has grown as an alternative to travel and as a way for companies to connect dispersed employees and customers. Video Collaboration allows users to conduct interactive two-way audio and high-definition video meetings with screen sharing, chat, recording, and more. Newly added features include:

Schedule & Manage  Fonality HUD Web users can schedule and update upcoming video collaboration meetings in advance through the Scheduling Wizard.

 Fonality HUD Web users can schedule and update upcoming video collaboration meetings in advance through the Scheduling Wizard. Meeting Participants  Fonality Video Collaboration can now support up to 50 video participants and up to 125 audio participants.

 Fonality Video Collaboration can now support up to 50 video participants and up to 125 audio participants. Instant Screen Share  Users can click on a contact or group in HUD Web to immediately begin a screen-sharing session. Voila, instant meeting.

 Users can click on a contact or group in HUD Web to immediately begin a screen-sharing session. Voila, instant meeting. Personal Meeting ID  Every user gets a unique meeting ID to make scheduling even easier on the fly or in advance.

 Every user gets a unique meeting ID to make scheduling even easier on the fly or in advance. Meeting History  Can't remember where you saved the recording of the new product training you led last week? Find it in HUD. Fonality Video Collaboration is included in the company's Ultimate Edition at no additional cost and available as an affordable add-on for its Professional Edition. Fonality customers can save as much as $100 per user, per month versus standalone services. Learn more and request your no-obligation demo here. For more on Fonality's integration strategy, read the release here. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160125/325682 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150814/258527LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fonality-bolsters-uc-offering-with-video-collaboration-enhancements-300209418.html SOURCE Fonality

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[January 26, 2016] Charlotte EdTech Company Raises Funding, Closes Big Partnerships

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ProctorFree announced a successful round of investment funding to close out 2015 and contribute to continued growth in 2016. This financing round was led by Real Ventures with participation by Task Force X Capital and other select, individual investors. This funding will enable ProctorFree to maintain and enhance its cutting-edge technology, accelerate sales and marketing, and add key new hires as the team grows to meet market demands. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160125/325839LOGO ProctorFree, founded in 2012, provides technology solutions to the higher education and business markets in the form of automated exam proctoring for students taking online assessments. "We are continuing to bring the best partners, customers and growth-drivers into this organization. We are delighted to partner with Real Ventures, an institutional venture capital firm, and we welcome Mark McDowell, a Special Limited Partner at Real, to our board of directors. There's a lot to be excited about for 2016," said Mike Murphy, Co-Founder of ProctorFree. Prior to this financing, ProctorFree was an NC IDEA Grant Fund winner and had received angel investments from several esteemed individuals located in the greatr North Carolina region.



"Our team did a fantastic job executing at the end of 2015 and we have some additional key hires joining us in the first quarter of 2016. Moving forward in a partnership with Real Ventures and Task Force X Capital will help us maintain focus on what's most important to better serve our customers and partners as we grow," said Velvet Nelson, Co-Founder of ProctorFree. This is a new phase of growth for the company and ProctorFree is looking for experienced, entrepreneurial software developers to join the team to be a part of the continued growth. Interested parties can email the company at [email protected].

About Real Ventures Real Ventures is Canada's largest and most active early stage venture fund. Real invests in ambitious entrepreneurs who are creating the Internet experiences of the future, or embracing the power of the Internet to disrupt existing industries or business models. About Task Force X Capital Task Force X Capital (TFX) is an investment and advisory entity led by Brandon Shelton, focusing on veteran entrepreneurs and high-growth opportunities in the United States. About ProctorFree ProctorFree is an on-demand, automated online proctoring service that deters cheating in an online testing environment. Using biometric and machine learning technologies, ProctorFree has eliminated the need for a human proctor during testing. This innovative technology creates a convenient testing option for distance education students and increases the credibility of online certificates and degrees for higher education institutions. For more information about ProctorFree please visit www.proctorfree.com. Connect with ProctorFree on Twitter (@proctorfree), Facebook, and LinkedIn. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/charlotte-edtech-company-raises-funding-closes-big-partnerships-300209745.html SOURCE ProctorFree

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[January 26, 2016] Global Study from Canvas Ranks Teachers' Concerns and Attitudes on Technology in the Classroom

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Canvas team at Instructure (NYSE: INST), a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, today announced the results of a global study detailing teachers' concerns and attitudes about integrating technology into the classroom. The study, which polled more than 650 U.S. educators and more than 2,000 total around the globe in December 2015, found that the majority of teachers in the United States are more anxious about technology's potential to distract their students than about privacy and security. However, they are optimistic about its capability to improve learning outcomes, increase access to education and make its delivery more efficient for teachers and students. "With this study we wanted to discover how educators around the world perceive the technology they and their students use on a daily basis," said Jared Stein, vice president of research and education at Instructure. "It is enlightening to find that the most pressing concern among educators was distraction, outranking issues like privacy and security. While privacy and security are critical issues, these findings suggest teachers are focused on how not whether technology should be used." According to the study, U.S. educators believe technology's potential for distraction will wane as digital culture and infrastructure mature in the next five years, giving way to other concerns like privacy and security in 2020. However, these present and future apprehensions don't stop many U.S. educators from allowing personal electronics in their classrooms. U.S. teachers have a higher tolerance for personal devices in the classroom than do British and Australian teachers. In fact, the study shows that 48 percent of U.S. educatorssay students can bring technology to class for educational purposes, and one in seven U.S. educators allows any electronic device as long as it doesn't distract other students.



Additional findings from the study include: Most U.S. educators are convinced of technology's positive effects on learning: 94 percent say technology has had a positive overall impact on education; 92 percent say technology has made education more accessible and 81 percent say it makes them a more effective teacher.

U.S. educators think technology improves classroom efficiency: 84 percent say technology has made education more efficient and two in five educators say it saves them at least three hours of work per week.

U.S. educators aren't by-standing, reluctant technology consumers: 93 percent believe advances in technology are important, while 5 percent are indifferent about advances in technology and only 3 percent rarely or never try new technology. The results suggest that U.S. educators believe the Digital Age improves students' ability to learn, increases access to education and makes it more effective and efficient for all involved.

This study was conducted through an online survey of 650 U.S. teachers, administrators and staff at K12 and higher education institutions. The survey, performed through industry leading survey platform Qualtrics, polled a total of 2,011 educators from various industrialized countries with mature education institutions. The survey was conducted in December 2015 by Instructure, creator of the Canvas learning management system, which is used by colleges, universities and K12 districts around the world. About Instructure

Instructure Inc. is a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology company that makes software that makes people smarter. With a vision to help maximize the potential of people through technology, Instructure created Canvas and Bridge to enable organizations everywhere to easily develop, deliver and manage engaging face-to-face and online learning experiences. To date, Instructure has connected millions of teachers and learners at more than 1,600 educational institutions and corporations throughout the world. Learn more about Canvas for higher ed and K-12, and Bridge for the corporate market at www.Instructure.com. Contacts

Devin Knighton, Director of Public Relations at Instructure

(801) 722-8187 | [email protected]

Twitter: @devinknighton | www.instructure.com Jessica Hutchison, Method Communications

(801) 461-9779 | [email protected] Copyright  2016, Instructure, Inc. All rights reserved. Instructure, Canvas and the Bridge logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Instructure, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other brands and names may be claimed as the property of others. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121101/SF04201LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-study-from-canvas-ranks-teachers-concerns-and-attitudes-on-technology-in-the-classroom-300209607.html SOURCE Canvas

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[January 26, 2016] National Survey Finds Students More Engaged, Having Better Overall Experience at WGU

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Although they study online and at their own pace, students at Western Governors University (WGU) report high levels of student engagement, faculty support, and overall educational experience, according to the latest results of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). In fact, the survey found that these and other factors lead students to say they would attend WGU again at a significantly higher percentage than the national average. The survey, which is conducted annually, polled 315,000 students from 600 institutions in the U.S. and Canadaincluding more-traditional online and brick-and-mortar schoolsasking them to rate their experiences. Students gave WGU the highest scores possible at levels well above the national average in the following areas: Quality of interactions with faculty19 percentage points higher

Quality of academic support25 percentage points higher

Would attend the same institution again28 percentage points higher

Overall rating of entire educational experience19 percentage points higher In addition, WGU students report that their degree programs and coursework are rigorous and challenging, preparing them well for career advancement: Challenging coursework15 percentage points higher

Acquisition of job-related knowledge and skills  12 percentage points higher

Time spent on studies per week  6 percent higher "These results demonstrate that WGU offers its students a high-quality, personalized learning experience and relevant, credible degree programs," said WGU's Vice President for Institutional Research Jason Levin. "While students are studying online and learning at their own pace, they rate the quality of their interactions with faculty higher than students at many traditional institutions. This is because WGU faculty members provide individualized support, tailored to each student's needs." Nonprofit and fully online, WGU is the leader and pioneer in competency-based education, offering more than 50 bachelor's and master's degree progrms in business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. Ideal for busy adults, this innovative learning model allows students to study and learn at a pace that meets their needs, moving quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. Students work through course materials on their schedules, with consistent, one-on-one faculty support. Because they are not tied to traditional semesters and course schedules, many students can accelerate and finish their degrees fasterthe average time to a bachelor's degree at WGU is less than three years.



View the survey results (PDF) About WGU

Now with more than 64,000 students and 55,000 graduates nationwide, WGU offers more than 50 online, competency-based bachelor's and master's degree programs in the high-demand fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. Recognized by President Obama as an innovative university that "awards credits based on learning, not seat time," WGU has been named one of Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies " and has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered," NBC Nightly News, CNN's "Schools of Thought," and in The New York Times .

WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations, including AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, USA Funds, and Zions Bank. More information is available at wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948. Follow WGU:

http://www.facebook.com/wgu.edu

http://www.linkedin.com/companies/western-governors-university

http://twitter.com/wgu

http://www.youtube.com/WesternGovernorsUniv

http://google.com/+wgu

http://news.wgu.edu/news/news.xml Contact for media inquiries:

Joan Mitchell  VP of Public Relations

801-428-5463

[email protected] Contact for enrollment information:

866-225-5948

www.wgu.edu Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151012/276234LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-survey-finds-students-more-engaged-having-better-overall-experience-at-wgu-300209913.html SOURCE Western Governors University

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[January 26, 2016] Invest Ottawa Launches Innovation Management Clinic

OTTAWA, Ontario, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To help Ottawa's nearly 1750 knowledge-based businesses maximize their innovation processes; Invest Ottawa has opened a corporate Innovation Clinic. It will provide companies with a diagnostic of their competitive imperatives, while aligning their innovation priorities and practices. It will also help companies enhance their market performance, improve their competitive position and acquire higher investment value. "As our recent surveys showed, the real challenge for CEOs today is how to manage Innovation effectively," says Bruce Lazenby, CEO and President of Invest Ottawa. "The Innovation Clinic will provide CEOs a customized tool (a dashboard) showing the company's competitive position, an assessment of their innovation investments, management practices and the alignment of their culture with business goals and strategies." Dr. Sorin Cohn, President of BD Cohnsulting and Leader of Innovation Metrics in the Centre for Business Innovation of the Conference Board of Canada, had developed the competitive innovation management diagnostic (CIMD) in the clinic. "There is a lot of innovation waste in Canada due to the myth that innovation is an issue of technology," says Dr. Cohn. He adds, "Too many Canadian companies do not pursue innovation comprehensively, competitively and methodically with the right metrics to ensure performance in the market, where it really counts." The INNOVATION CLINIC program involves: An online questionnaire probing the status of innovation in a company and its competitive position in its targeted markets; Interpretation and "dashboard" plotting of the results for the competitive corporate diagnostic; and An optional guided interpretation and recommendations with Dr. Cohn.



Ottawa companies using the CIMD-based INNOVATION CLINIC will benefit thanks to

Roadmap for improving competitive performance;

Effective innovation strategies and meaningful corporate innovation portfolios;

Diagnosis of innovation management issues;

Capture of executive team misalignment;

Alignment of company culture to business goals and strategies;

Understanding of the types of partnerships required for market success; and

Better preparation for attracting further investments in the company. "The INNOVATION CLINIC leads to wise investment decisions and higher measurable returns on innovation investment," said Barry Gander, consultant to Invest Ottawa. "It is fast, affordable and leads to corporate value enhancement and enhanced attractiveness to quality employees." The INNOVATION CLINIC is available as of today from Invest Ottawa. To book a diagnostic for your company please contact: Lotte Wannet, Program Manager, Invest Ottawa

[email protected] Invest Ottawa delivers collaborative economic development programs and initiatives that increase entrepreneurial momentum, wealth and jobs in the City of Ottawa and its surrounding region while marketing Ottawa's diversified economy and high quality of life. Invest Ottawa carries out economic development programs and initiatives in the areas of entrepreneurial mentorship, startup development, business incubation services, commercialization, targeted sector development, investment attraction, business retention, expansion, and global trade development. For further information about this press release please contact:

Barry Gander, Invest Ottawa

[email protected] Media Contact:

Ryan Gibson

613-558-0202 PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12528032 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/invest-ottawa-launches-innovation-management-clinic-300209869.html SOURCE Invest Ottawa

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Here's what IndyStar investigation of worker safety amid pandemic found

Factory workers that make up the backbone of Indiana's economy told a similar story: Managers pressured employees to show up even when they were sick.
Several of India's budding and established firms, including Zomato, BookMyShow and BigBasket, are aiming of extending their services in China. (Photo : Reuters)

Indian e-commerce start-ups are reportedly keen to enter Chinese markets through China's largest search engine company. Several of India's budding and established firms, including Zomato, BookMyShow and BigBasket, are aiming of extending their services in China.



One of China's largest search engine companies Baidu stressed on the huge business opportunities for the Indian marketing firms. A spokesperson from Baidu said that they are planning to invest more resources in the Indian marketing firms, thus extending their services to over wide range of customers; however, Baidu Inc. did not disclose its investment schedule or the capital to be invested.



Advertisement

Zomato is an established food search website that holds information of more than 1 million restaurants globally. The co-founder and CEO of Zomato, Deepinder Goyal, have expressed his interest over expanding their services in Southeast Asia and China. BookMyShow, one of the well-established online ticket providers in India, and BigBasket, the leading online supermarket cum grocery store, has also followed suit.



"The growth of India ecommerce remains strong, tracking our expectations of reaching $35 billion by 2019," reported Nomura, Japans leading research institute. According to Nomura, the festive sale and discount sale season of China stimulated some Indian e-commerce firms to invest in their markets.



The huge potential of China's marketplace continues to attract investors around the globe, including Alibaba and Softbank. Snapdeal, a leading online trading company in India, gained $500 million of investments from Alibaba, Foxconn and Softbank in August 2015. Alibaba and Ant Financial of China have also acquired stakes from Paytm, an Indian internet payment service provider.



"India is an important emerging market with strong e-commerce potential ... This investment will further expand Alibaba Group's global footprint to India's thriving mobile commerce market," CEO of Alibaba Daniel Zhang said in his statement.


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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.
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Google Pixel 7 features coming to Pixel 6  heres what to expect

Google has announced that the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are getting some of the Pixel 7s new features, and older Pixel phones are even getting a few updates. Here's what we know so far.
Follow-up on a tragic drug test. Take a look . . .Developing . . .
Lessons learned after Baker appointment to legislature:

After. . . We have a bit of insight from Jackson County Insiders as to the state of the Legislature under new management.Checkit:Again . . . Team Crystal stays losing and we hear her supporters might be making a useless "" power play against the new guy after her candidate was shut out.But here's how folks who are more closely connected to the hot mess see the situation . . .1. Tarwater and Crystal don't have many friends at the county. The Star got it wrong, the vote was 6-1-1, not 6-2. The two legislators that showed themselves to be out in left field were Crystal and Dan Tarwater, each voting solo for their candidate as nobody else was willing to vote with them. Crystal's years of abrasive man-hating, and Dan's repeated reveling amid Courthouse Fed Investigations against colleagues he doesn't like have made each of them lonely islands.2. Local 42 ain't what it used to be: When the president of that union (Billie Galvin) cannot get his wife to support or vote his own member (Theresa Galvin), it is a rather historic embarrassment.3. Jean Baker continues to hide from all of the heavy lifting on the 11th floor: It was clear that she did not want Sherwood at any cost, but instead of actually weighing in, she hid on the 11th floor and let the legislators do the real work. At some point, she will not be able to rely upon the unwavering support of the lawyers whom she seems to favor in a great many ways. That day is coming as soon as they tire from her making them the heavies while she hides.4. Frank White may be better at this than many thought: Scratch one up for the rookie. He got his man without drama or, frankly, any support in any way or form the other major county electeds in (Sheriff) Sharp or Baker. They both took a powder on Frank for political expediency (i.e.-they both have elections this year). Perhaps we can call this the Calvin factor, but Frank impressed.###############Developing . . .
Three alleged Muslim Brotherhood members were reportedly killed in Upper Egypt's governorate of Beni Suef after exchanging fire with security personnel, Egypt's ministry of interior said in a statement on Monday.

"Following the ministry's efforts to pursue Brotherhood members involved in terrorist activities, security forces have killed three members who were implicated in the murder of four security officials in Beni Suef," the statement said.

The ministry reported that forces exchanged fire with the three brotherhood members during the raid of the apartment, which the suspects were hiding in.

Since the July 2013 overthrow of Islamist president and Brotherhood member Mohamed Morsi, hundreds of the groups supporters have been killed and thousands put in jail.

The Brotherhood was designated a terrorist organisation by the Egyptian government in November 2013.

In recent months, Egyptian security forces have carried out dozens of raids on apartments where suspected or fugitive Islamists militants were reportedly hiding or preparing for terrorist operations.

These raids have often ended with suspects being killed by police, who say they were met with gunfire upon arrival at the hideouts.

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Deals website Travelzoo said it is expecting holidays to Spain to sell out in a matter of weeks while Greece could reach capacity by March

Holidays to Spain and Greece could be sold out within weeks, Travelzoo is warning, according to a ttg report.

The deals website said it is expecting holidays to Spain to sell out in a matter of weeks while Greece could reach capacity by March.

The rush to book the destinations comes as security fears continue over booking holidays in the eastern Mediterranean, both Thomas Cook and Tui have pulled their summer programmes for Tunisia.

Egypt has also suffered in the wake of the Sharm el Sheikh aircraft bomb last year and ensuing flight ban while Travelzoo said some agents are reporting a 50% decline in Turkey bookings.

Remarkable situation

Stephen Dunk, Travelzoos European operations director, said: With airlines unable to fly to Sharm or Tunisia, they are re-routing to destinations such as the Canaries.

As a result we are seeing return flights priced from 69 return - the lowest we have seen in years.

This sounds like great news, however the issue is there simply arent enough hotel rooms in the Canaries, so we are hearing reports of half-empty planes flying in and out of the destination - a remarkable and unprecedented situation has emerged for the travel industry.

The changes have been sparked by the impact of terrorism over the last year and have been revealed in Travelzoos annual Travel Trends report, which surveyed more than 5,000 travellers in the UK, Germany, US, Canada, France, Spain, China and Australia.

Top-10 destinations

It shows that 66% of travellers would be actively avoiding countries that have experienced terrorist attacks in the past 12 months.

The report also revealed the USA as the most desired destination for British holidaymakers in 2016, followed by Italy, the UK, Spain and France while Canada, Australia and the Caribbean also made the top 10.

Dunk said: "Despite the early rush for Spain and Greece, 2016 will still turn out to be the year of the US and long haul.

Weve seen some great deals for the US recently, and have noticed record levels of interest in holidays to both the East and West Coasts.

New travel routes

Long haul destinations are rising in popularity - four made their way into the top 10 for 2016, and airlines are opening up new travel routes to places such as Lima, Peru, which UK travellers cant wait to take advantage of."

The Travel trends report also revealed four fifths of UK travellers are concerned by the disasters of the past 12-18 months and will change their travel plans accordingly.

It also revealed UK travellers are the most likely to choose a destination based on its climate, followed by the price. However, almost one third (30%) of UK travellers are now rating the general safety and security of a destination as the most important factor when deciding on where to go on holiday.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Bahrain's central bank said on Tuesday it is taking steps to close down Iranian-owned Future Bank, which is based in the Gulf state.



On Monday, Ebtisam Al Arrayed, head of regulatory policy at the central bank, told Reuters that the regulator had yet to make a decision about Future Bank after placing it under its administration last year, along with Iran Insurance Co - the Bahrain branch of an Iranian insurer.



At that time the regulator said the moves were to "protect the rights of depositors and policyholders".



Calls to the two companies offices in Bahrain on Tuesday were not answered.



Future Bank, based in Manama, is a commercial bank which was founded as a joint venture between two Iranian banks - Bank Saderat and Bank Melli - and Bahrain's Ahli United Bank, according to its website.



The bank's assets stood at 569.4 million dinars ($1.51 billion) at the end of September 2015, according to the latest financial statement on the bank's website.



Bahrain's central bank has not elaborated on its reasons for the action, which has highlighted the risks to Iran's business interests from heightened political tensions in the Gulf.



Earlier this month Bahrain said it was cutting diplomatic ties with Iran, following its neighbour Saudi Arabia in severing ties with Tehran after Iranian protesters angered by the Sunni Muslim kingdom's decision to execute a leading Shi'ite cleric, attacked its mission there.-Reuters
US-based First Solar has joined hands with Al Watania Agriculture Company, one of the largest agricultural enterprises in the Middle East, to install a 684-kW pilot PV system for a major agricultural farm in the kingdom.



A leader in utility-scale PV solar power systems, First Solar said the pilot project is aimed at evaluating the use of solar electricity to sustainably power irrigation at a large farm in Saudi Arabia.



The farm, which covers a total of 319.21 sq km, is the kingdoms largest producer of organic products and currently uses conventional fuel to pump water from 150 bore wells.



The pilot project - jointly funded by First Solar Saudi Arabia and the Al Watania - is powered by First Solars advanced thin film PV modules.



The facility produces 1,476 MWh of electricity per year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,100 ton per year based on national averages, which is equivalent to planting 28,000 trees per year.

The solar power plant replaces a diesel generator, which would ordinarily consume 628,000 litres of diesel per year, if run continuously, it stated.



On the pilot project, Ibrahim Aboabat, the chief executive of Al Watania Agriculture, said: "We are proud to partner with First Solar on this exciting new project, which will not only help reduce our carbon footprint, but will also allow us to explore the potential for solar to reliably support our energy needs."



"Al Watania Organic was born out of our founder, Sheikh Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al Rajhis vision of agricultural products being sustainably farmed right here in Saudi Arabia. Implementing the use of solar electricity will help further that vision and will allow us to move towards our goal of becoming the regions first truly sustainable large-scale agricultural operation," he added.



According to First Solar, the advanced thin film modules deployed at the site are ideally suited to local environmental conditions, offering a combination of a superior temperature coefficient and spectral performance, allowing for optimum performance in weather like that of Saudi Arabia.



The installed PV generator will pump over 3,1 million cu m of water per year, unaided by conventional generators, it stated.



This project is an excellent example of the scalability and flexibility that solar PV offers. Easy-to-deploy and able to address very specific needs, innovative solar-powered solutions can address a wide range of energy challenges, as this pilot facility demonstrates, remarked Dr Raed Bkayrat, VP (Business) for First Solar in the Middle East.



Sunlight is the regions most abundant energy resource and the Al Watania should be applauded for having the vision to sustainably harness affordable and reliable solar electricity to address its energy needs, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Majaal Warehouse Company, a leading developer and operator of industrial facilities, will play a key role at the upcoming Gulf Industry Fair 2016 in Manama, Bahrain.



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 under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain.



A major player in the region, Majaal Warehouse Company has reaffirmed its participation at the expo for the seventh year in a row, said the event organiser Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE).



Established in 2010, Majaal, a subsidiary of First Bahrain Real Estate Development Company, offers facilities and services uniquely positioned to support small- to medium-sized enterprises (SME) including small unit sizes with municipal addressing, 24/7 security and high speed internet connections.



All of these features enable companies to run their entire operation out of their unit at Majaal.



At GIF 2015, Majaal announced the launch of Mazaya Logistics, situated in the Khalifa bin Salman Port a project collaborated with Kuwait-based Mazaya Holding Company.



These new warehouses have proved to be a popular option for companies looking to expand their business presence in Bahrain.



On its participation, Amin Al Arrayed, the managing director of Majaal, said: "Gulf Industry Fairs aims are consistent with our vision to stimulating Bahrains industry growth. We see Majaal as a catalyst for new development and innovation within the warehousing sector."



"We are not just providing space anymore, we have been approached by multi-nationals looking for solutions as well as land owners who are interested in our business model," he observed.



For us this event is our annual showcase to the business visitors particularly from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia of the industrial facilities developed and under development by Majaal," stated Al Arrayed.



Jubran Abdulrahman, the managing director of HCE, said: "Majaals presence at Gulf Industry Fair is an important contribution to recognising that industrial growth requires first-class innovative industrial facilities."



"The success that Majaal achieves at Gulf Industry Fair is a testament to the B2B value proposition of the event," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Italy and Iran signed billions of dollars of business deals on Monday at the start of a visit to Europe by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani aimed at rebuilding his nation's ties with the West after years of economic sanctions.



Heading a 120-strong delegation of business leaders and ministers, Rouhani will spend two days in Rome before flying to France on Wednesday, looking to polish Tehran's diplomatic credentials at a time of turmoil in the Middle East.



An Italian government source said the Iranians would sign up to 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion) worth of deals in sectors from energy to infrastructure and from steel to shipbuilding.



"This is just the beginning of a journey. There are sectors where we must work closer together," Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said, standing alongside Rouhani.



"I am sure this visit will be a fundamental part of our ability to overcome together the challenge of fighting terrorism, atrocity and evil that we all have to confront together," Renzi added, referring specifically to Islamic State militants, who oppose Iran and the West in equal measure.



Rouhani had originally been due to visit Europe in November but cancelled the trip after an Islamic State attack on Paris, which killed 130 people.



"We have always been in the front line against terrorism ... we have to continue (cooperating with Italy) to secure a genuine peace in Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Libya," the Iranian president said, speaking through a translator.



Many Western nations have accused Iran of funding various militant groups, and despite a landmark nuclear deal between world powers and Tehran last year, the United States is keeping some of its financial sanctions in place because of the alleged links and human rights abuses.



This will complicate Iran's full return to international markets, but judging by the Italian and French businesses lining up to clinch deals there is an enormous appetite in Europe to revive old trade ties and boost the sluggish economy.



ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS



A pragmatist elected in 2013, Rouhani championed the 2015 accord under which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in return for the end of U.N., EU and some US sanctions this month.



He is anxious to bring Western knowhow and products back home to prove to Iranians that the accord, contested by many hardliners, will help ease their prolonged economic hardships.



Iran announced plans at the weekend to buy more than 160 European planes, mainly from Airbus.



Among the deals struck on Monday were a pipeline contract worth between $4 billion and $5 billion for oil services group Saipem, up to 5.7 billion euros in contracts for Italian steel firm Danieli and up to 4 billion euros of business for infrastructure firm Condotte d'Acqua.



Italian business leaders, including the heads of oil firm Eni and carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, attended a dinner for Rouhani on Monday. At the request of the Iranians, no wine was to be served. France refused the same request so there will be no state dinner for Rouhani in Paris.



While Italy was not involved in the prolonged nuclear talks, France was, and it took a hard line towards Tehran in the negotiations. It has also been outspoken in its condemnation of Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and sceptical of the country's other Middle East interventions.



This is likely to make Rouhani's visit to France later this week more prickly than his stay in Italy.



"Trust needs to be built. It's like love. It is only the proof of love that counts," said a senior French diplomat.



The boss of oil group Total, Patrick Pouyanne, is among top French executives who are expected to hold one-on-one meetings with Rouhani.



The Iranian leader is due to address up to 500 Italian business leaders on Tuesday before meeting Pope Francis, who is likely to discuss peace prospects for the Middle East and raise the question of human rights in Iran.  Reuters
Siemens has started work on the first phase of a 2-billion ($2.16 billion) renewable energy project in Egypt that will see the German industrial company build 12 wind farms with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW) of wind energy by 2022, said a report.



The Egypt government is in negotiations with top local and international financial institutions to secure funding for the ambitious project, reported the Daily News Egypt.



The New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), which is leading the talks with the lenders, plans to finish the negotiations by next month, stated the report.



The major lenders involved in the negotiations include the National Bank of Egypt, the Banque Misr, Emirates NBD, International Finance Corporation (IFC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).



The plan is to obtain funding for 60 per cent of total project costs from international financing institutions, while the remaining 30 per cent will be sourced from domestic banks, revealed NREA chairman Mohamed Salah El Sobky.



The authority plans to secure 180 million ($195 million) funding for the initial phase of the project in the coming days.



As part of the project, Siemens will establish a factory to manufacture wind turbine blades through self-financing with investments worth 100 million ($108 million).



The factory will annually produce 300 blades per year for 100 turbines that will have a capacity factor of 340MW.
Egypt's Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Magdi El-Agati says the report indicating why MPs voted down the law will be sent to President El-Sisi

In a statement to reporters Tuesday, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Magdi El-Agati stressed that the House of Representatives  Egypt's lower house parliament  will be issuing a report to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi indicating why MPs voted down the Civil Service Law on 20 January. 

"This report, which is being prepared in consultation with the government, should indicate in clear-cut terms why MPs voted down the law," said El-Agati, also disclosing that "parliament's committee on labour force is playing a leading role in preparing this report because its member-MPs were the ones who fiercely led the attacks against the law and led other MPs to reject it."

The law, which was ratified in March by President El-Sisi in the absence of a parliament and ahead of Egypt's International Economic Conference, aims to reform Egypts administrative apparatus in order to lessen the wage burden on state finances and encourage private investment.

El-Agati indicated that MPs approved 90 percent of the law's articles.

"The articles they rejected amount to no more than 10 percent and most of them relate to penalties to be imposed on government employees and other related issues, such as the rejection of an annual bonus of 5 percent," said El-Agati.

El-Agati said that he believes MPs were under heavy popular pressure to reject the Civil Service Law.

"The discussion of this law came within the context of parliament's review of 341 decrees passed since the new constitution came into effect in January 2014 within 15 days [of the first session], and as a result it did not receive adequate discussion, [all the while] MPs were being slammed as endorsing all the laws," said El-Agati.

El-Agati concluded that once the president and the government receive the MPs' report on the law, the government will move to amend it to reach a common ground with parliament.

El-Agati also said the government is currently preparing to deliver its policy statement before parliament in accordance with Article 146 of the new constitution.

"But this statement will come only after president El-Sisi delivers a public speech before parliament," said El-Agati.

Egypt's House of Representatives will meet 7 February to discuss a new law aimed at updating its internal by-laws and code of conduct to go in line with the new constitution and reinforce its watchdog roles. 

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Deals with French companies to help develop Iranian airports are likely to be announced during President Hassan Rouhani's two-day visit to Paris this week, a source close to the matter said on Tuesday.



"Cooperation deals on Iranian airports should be announced on Thursday," the source said.



Rouhani is heading a delegation of ministers and Iranian business leaders visiting Italy and France this week in a first official visit to Europe after sanctions were lifted on Iran.



The visit is expected to see the signing of deals and agreements in various sectors worth several billion dollars as Iran seeks to revamp its economy after the sanctions.



Rouhani will arrive in Paris on Wednesday for the two-day visit.



According to the Wall Street Journal, French construction group Bouygues and Aeroports de Paris could be chosen to design and build a new terminal at Tehran's international airport while Vinci could develop and operate airports in Mashhad and another Iranian city.



Bouygues, Vinci and ADP declined comment.



ADP's CEO Augustin de Romanet travelled to Iran last summer to discuss the expansion of Tehran's airport, a project ADP and Bouygues have been eyeing for several years.



"At this stage, talks continue but it is much too early for us to anounce anything," an ADP spokeswoman recently said.  Reuters
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport recorded significant growth in 2015 across all sectors, registering a 17 per cent rise in passenger traffic over 2014.



Aircraft movements of scheduled flights increased by 26 per cent over 2014 and new charter operations from Germany, Poland, Latvia and Russia also kicked off. In addition, Air Arabia, for whom RAK International is a growing hub, increased flight frequencies to the 10 destinations that they service from the emirate.



On the cargo front, the airport's business grew by 51 per cent year on year following some reconfigurations made early in 2015.



Moving to non-aeronautical activities RAK International made significant progress too during 2015 with new deals being signed for maintenance, repair and overhaul as well as aircraft decommissioning.



2016 will see a number of projects and initiatives happen including a new cargo facility to be ready by April and the expansion of the Arrivals terminal which will be completed by May.



2016 also sees the 40th anniversary of Ras Al Khaimah Airport. Mohammed Qazi, RAK International Airport CEO, said: "This is a moment when we should acknowledge past achievements, celebrate the present, and look forward to a future of growth. On that path, the clear vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, continues to provide us with guidance and support."



Qazi emphasised that the focus ahead is on becoming the leading low cost and charter airport of the Northern Emirates, stating: "We have a long-term vision that is closely linked with the economies and growth trends of the Northern Emirates."



With Qatar Airways set to start operations from February, Ras Al Khaimah International will be able to continue its pursuit of the tourism sector as well as connecting the emirate to long haul destinations around the globe with the Gulf carrier.



On the short to medium haul routes Air Arabia plays a crucial role in connecting Ras Al Khaimah as the national carrier. New routes from RAK are anticipated during 2016 for Air Arabia across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.



However, in order to satisfy the continuously growing population and economies of the Northern Emirates RAK Airport is regularly speaking with other airlines and anticipates an announcement in the coming weeks regarding the commencement of another low cost carrier.



"2016 is going to be a challenging yet exciting year for us," said Qazi. "We are very focused and aware of what lies ahead. Our target is to increase productivity, be efficient, develop customer intimacy and promote Ras Al Khaimah. It is about building a long-term and sustainable future that contributes to regional aviation growth."  TradeArabia News Service
FYI colosseums aren't just found in Rome. Here are the ones from all over the world that you need to check out in your next trip according to MSN Travel.

The Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia

Modelled on the original Colosseum in Rome, the amphitheatre of El Jem is notable for being one of the few freestanding arenas in North Africa. (Most were built into the side of hills.)

It is excellently preserved and has been used as a location in both Life of Brianand Gladiator. You will need to run a gauntlet of aggressive souvenir hawkers to reach the site, but once inside you can climb to the upper reaches and enjoy spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.

Pula Arena, Croatia

Built in the 1st Century AD, beside the sparkling Adriatic Sea, the Pula Arena is one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in Croatia.

Once used for gladiator fights, it is now used as an outdoor cinema, an opera venue and a stage for concerts during the summer months. The underground passages, once used by the gladiators, now host a regular exhibition of viticulture and olive growing in Istria in ancient times.

Roman Arena, Arles, France

Suetonius (a Roman historian) once described Arles as the 'little Rome of Gaul' and it's not hard to see why. The Roman Arena in the centre of the city would not look out of place in Rome.

Built in 1 BC and capable of seating over 20,000 spectators on three tiers, it is still used regularly to host events today. In July and August theatrical and sporting events, including gladiator fights, are held every Tuesday and Thursday.

Amphitheatre of Nimes, France

Built at the end of 1 AD to seat 24,000 spectators, the Arena of Nimes was constantly vying with the one in Arles to be the most important Roman amphitheatres in Gaul.

That rivalry continues to this day, with the hosting of the biggest historical re-enactment of Roman times in the world held in the arena every April. Over 400 actors from all over France, Germany and Italy descend upon Nimes to relive the famous ludi (games).

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James Knight was a well-paid software writer for Google. However, he decided to quit and do freelancing work instead. That meant no more catered lunches; no more gold-plated benefits; and no more million-dollar views.

The 27-year-old coder made the right choice, and as of present, he makes more twice what he was already earning in Google. Plus, he gets more freedom. 'I'd rather control my own destiny and take on the risk and forgo the benefits of nap pods and food,' Knight says.

Freelance coders can get up to $1000/hour gigs, given they have the right set of skills big companies are looking for. The trend now is that companies would go for freelance coders to get the job done. In return, coders can get the job done as fast as they can and work on another gig. Depending on your pace, you can handle as many projects as you can with no bosses to stop you.

'There's definitely a level of stress that comes with being independent that's absent at Google, but I like that. I have motivation issues if I don't think my paycheck is on the line,' Knight says.

In March this year, Knight and his wife plan to travel to Spain and then to Europe. At the same time, he still gets to work and earn. He is doing code-writing gig for a dating app and a self-portrait app.

The need for coders started to flourish the around same time the iPhone was launched in 2007 and set off an explosion of mobile apps. The demand for guys like Knight continues to grow and is expected to reach 17 percent growth between 2014 and 2024.

If the rate continues to be at this stage, then it will not be a surprise if more coders who are stuck with companies as of present decide to hand in their resignation letters and follow the footsteps of Knight.

Who wouldn't want up to $1000/hour plus total control of your time?

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Walesonline, in their published article, said that a watchdog has confirmed that Iran had all the reasons to continue with the transaction as they have complied with a deal that was designed to help prevent the development of nuclear weapons.

Iran's country's transport minister Abbas Akhoundi said that they would be buying 114 Airbus planes. Depending on the type of aircraft to be purchased, the deal could be amount to $10bn.

Airbus has a total of 6,000 people at Broughton, and if this transaction becomes successful, then the company would greatly benefit from it. Airbus said on Saturday that the commercial talks happened only after the sanctions had been lifted.

The said purchase is in line with the predictions of Iranair. It can be recalled that their chairman told news agency Reuters 18 months ago: 'as soon as sanctions were eased, Iran would seek to obtain at least 100 wide-body and short-haul jets.' This purchase is said to be the 'first step in a renovation of national carrier Iran Air.'

Meanwhile, industry officials have forecasted the need to have 400 or more aircraft in the next decade in order to accommodate their country of 80 million people.

With regard to the lifting of international sanctions against Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that its 'inspectors on the ground verified that Iran has carried out all measures required under the [July nuclear deal] ... to enable Implementation Day to occur.'

US secretary of state John Kerry and the EU's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, metwith Iran's Javad Zarif, in separate talks in Vienna.

'Our region has been freed from [the] shadow of an unnecessary conflict that could have caused concerns for the region,' Mr Zarif said, speaking to widely-held fears that if the deal failed then the United States or its allies would resort to military measures to take out Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

'Today is also a good day for the world. Today will prove that we can solve important problems through diplomacy.'

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The case was brought against Geneina in late 2014 by now justice minister Ahmed Al-Zend

The head of Egypt's official corruption watchdog Hisham Geneina has requested the changing of the judge overseeing a probe against him over accusations of contempt of the judiciary and insulting a senior judge that date back to 2014.

The request by Geneina, the head of the Central Auditing Organisation (CAO), alleges a lack of impartiality on the part of judge Safaa El-Din Abaza after the latter had disclosed details about the investigations to the media, Geneina's lawyer Ali Taha told Ahram Online.

The case was brought by now- justice minister Ahmed El-Zend in November 2014 over a TV interview where Geneina spoke about corruption within the judiciary.

Geneina is also accused of slandering El-Zend.

The lawyer also said the judge could be bearing a grudge towards his client given that Geneina beat him in a 2002 election of the country's Judges Club.

Taha cited a statement by the judge  saying he would issue an arrest warrant against Geneina if he does not appear for questioning  as an instance of bias against his client.

Investigations were adjourned on Monday to 31 January to consider Geneina's request.

Taha also argued that under a law regulating the operation of the CAO, Geneina is at a minister's rank and should be subject to exceptional investigation measures in accordance with a1958 law.

Prosecutors are also separately probing recent controversial allegations by Geneina about he says is massive corruption within government institutions which led to the theft of LE600 billion over four years.

Geneina has repeatedly said that he uncovered the theft of billions of dollars since taking office in 2012, having issued reports involving some of the country's most powerful institutions, including the police, the judiciary and intelligence agencies.

A media gag order has been imposed by the prosecution in the corruption case.

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The sentence is effective immediately but the ex-parliamentary candidate holds right to file an appeal while in prison

Related Egyptian court sends TV host Islam Behery to jail for one year over blasphemy

Writer Fatima Naoot was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison and fined LE20,000 (over $2550) after being found guilty of contempt of religion, the second public figure to receive a jail term in less than a month for charges related to blasphemy.

The jail sentence is effective immediately, meaning the ex-candidate for parliament is set to be arrested and incarcerated. Naoot, however, will be able to lodge an appeal from behind bars.

In October, she described in a post on her Facebook account Eid Al-Adha's tradition of slaughtering sheep as the "greatest massacre committed by human beings."

"[It's] a yearly massacre because a good man once had a nightmare about his good son, and although the nightmare has passed for the good man and his son, the [sheep] pay their lives as a price for that holy nightmare," Naoot also wrote in an article in the daily El-Masry El-Youm.

During questioning, Naoot, an outspoken secular figure, admitted writing the Facebook post but denied that her aim was to insult Islam. Naoot argued that humans justified their lust for killing and enjoying the smell of cooking game by attempting to bestow a divine meaning to their actions.

Eid Al-Adha is the second major religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year.

It honours the willingness of the prophet Abraham to sacrifice his young first-born son Ismail as an act of submission to Gods command, before God intervened to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead.

Late in December, Egyptian authorities put TV host Islam Behery in prison after a court reduced an earlier five-year sentence against him over charges of "contempt of religion" to one year in connection with the content of his now-suspended TV programme.

Behery, an Islamic researcher, stirred controversy by providing his understanding of Islamic doctrine and questioning the credibility of some the sources of Prophet Muhammad's sayings, a prime source of Islamic jurisprudence.

Legislation that criminalises disdain of religion dates back to the regime of ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

The law, added in 1982 to the penal code, stipulates prison sentences of six months to five years and fines of LE500 to LE1000 for anyone who uses religion to promote, through speech, writing, or any other medium, extremist ideas with the aim of spreading discord or to belittle one of the monotheistic religions or their different sects, or to harm national unity.

Application of the law significantly rose under the rule of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) 2011-2012 and ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi 2012-2013.

A report issued by the Egyptian Initiative on Personal Rights (EIPR) in September 2013 revealed that since the 25 January 2011 revolution until the end of 2012, a total of 63 citizens, both Muslims and Christians, were charged with contempt for religion.

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The fate of Egypt's controversial Civil Service Law remains unclear after the majority of MPs voted it down last week, calling on the government to amend it.

Parliament's vote on the law came as part of a review of all laws passed in the period between the passing of the 2014 constitution and the formation of the new parliament. All laws were to be reviewed within 15 days of parliament's first session.

The law, which was ratified in March by President El-Sisi in the absence of a parliament and ahead of Egypt's International Economic Conference, aims to reform Egypts administrative apparatus in order to lessen the wage burden on state finances and encourage private investment.

MP Gamal Abdel-Nasser, a member of the manpower committee, told Ahram Online that the revision of the law is not bound to the 15-day deadline.

"I believe that although parliament rejected the law, the cabinet can still amend its executive bylaw, after which MPs can approve a new draft of the law," Abdel-Nasser said.

"The amendments can address the reservations of MPs over the law, which is related to articles on the vacation system, promotions and wages," he said. "But ultimately they are all minor issues and can be amended after the 15-day period," Abdel Nasser explained.

Minster of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Magdy El-Agaty said in press statements on Tuesday that parliament is currently preparing a report for President El-Sisi and the cabinet over the reasons behind rejecting the law.

"This report, which is being prepared in consultation with the government, should indicate in clear-cut terms why MPs voted the law down," El-Agaty added.

The minister explained that the MPs did approve 90 percent of the law's articles and their reservations are over the remaining 10 percent, and once the president and the government receive the MPs' report, the cabinet will move to amend it to reach a common ground with parliament.

The controversial law, issued by the cabinet in November 2015, aimed to reform Egypts administrative apparatus, which includes nearly seven million workers, in order to encourage investments by curbing notorious bureaucratic inefficiencies as well as streamlining hiring practices and wage-structures in government institutions.

However, many state employees, labour rights activists and unions criticise the law over what they say is the destruction of long-held rights such as job security, and could also put thousands of government employees out of work.

The law gives the government the right to sack employees after reviewing evaluation reports, whereas previously the firing of state employees was mainly limited to corruption-related cases or absence without leave.

MPs rejected the law on Wednesday with a majority of 332 out of 468.

A few days later, President El-Sisi expressed in a public speech his dissatisfaction with the parliament's stance against the law, saying that the law "aims to reform."

El-Sisi said that even though the state needs only one million workers, the government will retain all seven million workers after the law is passed.

He also stressed that wages will not be lowered and that any raises in salaries will be given to those owed them.

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The speaker of the Russian parliament said that Russian tourist traffic to Egypt is expected to resume soon

Egypt and Russia will do their best to boost the relationship between the two countries to a strategic level, said Egypt's parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Al After a Tuesday meeting with the speaker of the Russian parliament (the Duma) Sergey Naryshkin.

Abdel-Al told the conference that diplomatic visits between the two countries in the last two years  specifically those by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin to Cairo reflect an official and popular will to build a strategic relationship between the two countries.

"We discussed how we can forge strong relations on a parliamentary level," said Abdel-Al about his meeting with Naryshkin, addingthat a "parliamentary friendship committee will be formed to speed up an exchange of visits between parliamentary officials in both Egypt and Russia and to unity the position of parliaments in the two countries on a number of international issues, such as the war against terrorism, the war in Syria and other issues concerning the Middle East."

"This was a very successful visit by Mr Naryshkin, who is a friend of the Egyptian people," said Abdel-Al.

Naryshkin was Putin's special envoy congratulating former army chief El-Sisi on his election as president of Egypt in June 2014.

According to Abdel-Al, the meeting with Naryshkin and a high-profile Russia delegation also covered a range of economic and political issues, as well as the necessity of finding solutions for any problems that might negatively affect cooperation between the two countries in these two respects.

"We discussed the necessity of restoring the influx of Russian tourists into Egypt and the resumption of Russian flights to the resort of Sharm El-Sheikh and other Egyptian tourist destinations very soon," said Abdel-Al.

Russia suspended its tourist flights to Egypt last November after a Russian airbus crashed in Sharm El-Sheikh last October, killing all 212 passengers.

"We discussed the necessity of fighting all forms of terrorism and how Egypt and Russia can unite their efforts to stand up to this threat at the international and regional levels," said Abdel-Al.

For his part, Naryshkin said his visit reflects Russia's strong interest in boosting relations with Egypt on all levels.

"We view Egypt as a regional power and a bastion of stability in the Middle East and the Arab world," said Naryshkin, adding that "the fact that I am the first parliamentary speaker of a foreign country to visit Egypt and congratulate Abdel-Al on his election as speaker of Egypt's new parliament should be viewed as indicating that the relationship between our two countries has become of a very special nature."

Naryshkin said he asked Abdel-Al to lead an Egyptian parliamentary delegation to visit Russia as soon as possible.

"We welcome a visit by a high-level parliamentary delegation to Moscow very soon to reinforce the growing relations between our two countries," said Naryshkin.

Naryshkin said he agrees with Abdel-Al that there is a pressing need for the resumption of tourist traffic to Egypt "and I am sure that this problem will be eliminated very soon."

"I really thank the Egyptian leadership for showing a lot of understanding for the Russian concern about the safety and security of Russian citizens," said Naryshkin, adding that "aerial and security experts from the two countries are currently exerting tremendous efforts to guarantee the safety of Russian citizens and that the decision of the Russian government to establish a consulate in Hurghada clearly testifies to this fact and that tourist traffic to Egypt will flow very soon."

Naryshkin also indicated that he affirmed in his meeting with Abdel-Al that "the terrorist attack on the Russian airbus in Sinai never negatively affected the close friendship between Egypt and Russia."

Naryshkin argued that an international coalition should be formed to fight terrorism in the Middle East.

"Egypt and Russia are two influential countries that should play a role in building this coalition," said Naryshkin, stressing that he "visited Algeria and Tunisia and is now in Egypt to stress the need for a wide-scale international coalition to fight terrorism."

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Egyptian Minister of Defence Sedki Sobhi met on Tuesday in Cairo with General Rashad Mahmood, the chairman of the Pakistani Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, where they discussed military cooperation between Egypt and Pakistan.

The two officials also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East during the meeting, which was attended by Egypt's chief of staff, Lt. General Mahmoud Hegazy, according to an official statement by Egyptian Armed Forces spokesperson Mohamed Samir.

General Mahmood is currently visiting Egypt with a high-level military delegation after being invited by the Egyptian Ministry of Defence.

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At least 22 people were killed in a double suicide bomb attack at an army checkpoint in the central Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, state media said.

In a breaking news alert, state television said 100 people had also been injured in the blasts in the Al-Zahraa neighbourhood of the city, which has been targeted in bomb attacks multiple times before.

The provincial governor of Homs, Talal Barazi, told AFP at least 19 people had been killed in the attacks.

He said the two bombers appeared to have pulled up at the army checkpoint in a car together, with one exiting the vehicle before the other detonated his explosives while still inside.

In the chaos of the first blast's aftermath, and as a crowd gathered, the second bomber detonated his explosives, Barazi said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, also reported the blasts, saying at least 21 people had been killed, among them 13 regime forces.

The group's director Rami Abdel Rahman said the second suicide bomber had been wearing military clothes.

The Al-Zahraa district of Homs has been targeted in multiple bomb attacks in the past, including in late December, when 19 people were killed in several simultaneous blasts.

The residents of Al-Zahraa are mostly Alawites, the minority sect of Syria's ruling clan, and the Islamic State group has in the past claimed attacks on the district.

Homs city was once dubbed the "capital" of Syria's uprising, which began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

But after years of devastating fighting and government sieges, most of the city is now back in regime hands, with the exception of the Waer district, which is being gradually turned over to the government under a deal with opposition fighters.

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Security forces found a mass grave in the Iraqi city of Ramadi containing the remains of at least 18 people killed by the Islamic State group, police said Tuesday.

Ramadi was recaptured at the end of last month from ISIS, which overran large parts of Iraq in 2014 and has repeatedly carried out mass killings and other atrocities in areas it controls.

"So far, we have removed 18 bodies including five members of the police, and work is continuing to remove the remaining victims," police Major Tareq Abdulkarim told AFP.

The mass grave in the Al-Jamiya area of central Ramadi, which was found on Monday, is "expected to contain the bodies of 40 victims," Abdulkarim said.

He added that the victims were from Ramadi and were executed by ISIS in May 2015, when the militants succeeded in overrunning the city.

Doctor Shakir Ahmed al-Hajj said that medical staff were working to disinter the victims and that "dozens" of bodies had been removed from the grave so far, while the work was still ongoing.

And Sabah Karhout, the head of the Anbar provincial council, confirmed that the grave was discovered and said the victims had either been shot or beheaded.

Militants had held shifting parts of Anbar capital Ramadi since early 2014, but ISIS only succeeded in overrunning the entirety of the city last May.

Iraqi forces recaptured Ramadi after months of fighting during which surrounding areas were retaken from the militants, setting up the final push into the city centre.

ISIS has suffered major losses since the height of its territorial control in 2014, but still controls significant areas of Anbar and Nineveh province to its north, as well as in neighbouring Syria.

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Syria's regime on Tuesday seized a strategic southern town from rebel forces, as leading opposition representatives debated whether to attend peace talks in Geneva this week.

The capture of Sheikh Miskeen in southern Daraa province is the latest victory for government forces, who have been on the offensive since ally Russia began strikes in the country in late September.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday his country's intervention had helped "turn around" the situation in Syria, "reducing the territory controlled by terrorists."

Syria's army, in a statement, said the capture of Sheikh Miskeen on Tuesday was "a hard blow for terrorist groups" noting that it followed victories by "our brave soldiers in Latakia, Aleppo and Hama."

Sheikh Miskeen lies on a vital crossroads between Damascus to the north and the government-controlled city of Sweida to the east.

A Syrian security source earlier told AFP the town was a "launching pad" for rebel operations, and one of the opposition's "centres of gravity for the whole of Daraa province".

He said seizing control of the town would sever a rebel supply route to areas under opposition control around Damascus.

Most of Daraa province is controlled by opposition forces, though the government holds parts of the provincial capital and a few villages in the northwest.

Sheikh Miskeen's capture comes after the government took the towns of Rabia and Salma from rebels in coastal Latakia province, backed by Russian air strikes and military advisors.

Russia began air strikes in support of the Syrian government on September 30, saying it was targeting the ISIS group and other "terrorists".

But the opposition and activists accuse it of focusing more on Islamist and moderate rebels, and of killing civilians.

Moscow has rejected allegations of civilian deaths in its strikes as "absurd" and fiercely defended its intervention.

Lavrov also Tuesday dismissed reports that Russia had asked President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

"This is not true," he said. "No one asked for political asylum and no one offered anything of the kind."

The regime advances come as world powers push for a new round of peace talks scheduled to begin on Friday in Geneva, after a delay over who will represent Syria's opposition.

A body representing key opposition groups and factions known as the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) has put together a delegation for the talks, but Moscow has criticised it as unrepresentative.

The Committee excludes Syria's main Kurdish party, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), as well as other opposition figures, and it has faced pressure to broaden its delegation, or participate alongside a second opposition delegation.

Lavrov warned that the talks would fail if the PYD was excluded, but Turkey has pushed back against the party's involvement.

"We are categorically against the YPG and PYD sitting at the table," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Tuesday.

Ankara considers the PYD and its military wing the People's Protection Units (YPG) to be offshoots of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, which has waged a bloody insurgency in the mainly Kurdish southeast of Turkey since 1984.

The wrangling over who will attend the latest round of talks has delayed the negotiations, which were originally scheduled to start Monday.

Instead, the UN's envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura sent out invitations to the talks on Tuesday, his office said, with the talks to begin on Friday.

But he has refused to be drawn on who will be invited, and the HNC was meeting Tuesday in Riyadh to decide whether it will attend, after threatening to boycott if other opposition figures were invited.

The coalition has also said it cannot attend talks without action to end civilian deaths in government and Russian air strikes as well as regime sieges.

More than 260,000 people have been killed in Syria's war, and more than half the country's population displaced internally and abroad.

The conflict has become a complex multi-front battle, involving the regime, rebels, Kurds, and jihadists like the ISIS group.

ISIS on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing that killed at least 29 people in the regime-held central city of Homs, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

Syrian state television put the toll at 22 dead.

The twin blasts hit an army checkpoint in the Al-Zahraa neighbourhood, which has been targeted multiple times in the past in bomb blasts.

The district is home mostly to residents from the Alawite minority to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday accused the UN chief of "encouraging terror" after Ban Ki-moon spoke of Palestinian frustration at Israel's occupation and said it was natural to resist.

"The comments of the UN Secretary General encourage terror," Netanyahu said in a statement. "There is no justification for terror."

Earlier, Ban was quoted in a UN statement as telling the Security Council of the "profound sense of alienation and despair driving some Palestinians -- especially young people" in the upsurge of violent attacks against Israelis since the start of October.

"Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process," he said.

"As oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism."

Israel's use of force against Palestinian protests since October 1 has killed 159 Palestinians, according to AFP count. On the Israeli side, 25 Israelis were killed, in addition to an American and an Eritrean.

Ban condemned the Palestinian attacks, but said Israeli settlement building cast doubt on Israel's commitment to the goal of an independent Palestine alongside the Jewish state.

"Continued settlement activities are an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community," he said.

"They rightly raise fundamental questions about Israel's commitment to a two-state solution."

Netanyahu responded that the Palestinians themselves were not working for two states.

"The Palestinian murderers do not want to build a state, they want to destroy a state and they say it out loud," he said.

"They want to murder Jews wherever they are and they say so out loud. They do not murder for peace and they do not murder for human rights."

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Denmark's parliament on Tuesday adopted reforms aimed at dissuading migrants from seeking asylum by delaying family reunifications and allowing authorities to seize valuables, under legislation that has sparked widespread condemnation.

The government insists the law is needed to stem the flow of refugees even though Denmark and Sweden recently tightened their borders -- a move that prompted Germany and Austria to turn back new arrivals heading for Scandinavia.

After just under four hours of debate, the bill presented by the right-wing minority government of Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen was approved by 81 of the 109 lawmakers present.

Approval had been widely expected, as the main opposition party, the Social Democrats, backed the measures as did two small rightwing parties.

"There's no simple answer for a single country, but until the world comes together on a joint solution (to the migrant crisis), Denmark needs to act," MP Jakob Ellemann-Jensen of Rasmussen's Venstre party said during the debate.

The legislation had stirred great controversy, but Rasmussen defended it as "the most misunderstood bill in Denmark's history."

International outrage focused on plans to allow police to seize cash and valuables from refugees to help pay for their stay in asylum centres, while rights activists blasted a proposed three-year delay for family reunifications as a breach of international conventions.

Some likened the Danish proposals to the confiscation of gold and other valuables from Jews by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Rasmussen shrugged off the criticism, seemingly more concerned with opinion polls showing that 70 percent of Danes rank immigration as their top political concern.

Social Democrat Dan Jorgensen addressed opponents of the bill, demanding: "To those saying what we are doing is wrong, my question is: What is your alternative?

"The alternative is that we continue to be (one of) the most attractive countries in Europe to come to, and then we end up like Sweden."

Copenhagen has often referred to neighbouring Sweden as a bad example, where 163,000 asylum applications were submitted last year -- five times more than in Denmark relative to their population size.

Denmark's minority government eventually backtracked on parts of the plan to confiscate migrants' valuables in order to secure wider backing.

Asylum-seekers will now have to hand over cash exceeding 10,000 kroner (1,340 euros, $1,450) and any individual items valued at more than that amount, up from the initial 3,000 kroner proposed.

After thorny negotiations with the other parties, Integration Minister Inger Stojberg agreed to exempt wedding rings and other items of sentimental value.

The government points out that Danes seeking to qualify for social benefits sometimes also have to sell their valuables.

However, they are not subjected to the kind of searches proposed in the new asylum law.

Once a champion of refugee rights, the Scandinavian country's goal is now to become "significantly less attractive for asylum-seekers", Stojberg said.

"The tone in the public debate about refugees and immigrants has undoubtedly become tougher," Kashif Ahmad, the leader of the National Party, which hopes to enter parliament by targeting the immigrant vote, told AFP.

John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia director at Amnesty International, said the law was "plain wrong" and "a sad reflection of how far Denmark has strayed" from its historic support of international norms in the Refugee Convention.

"European states must stop this dismal race to the bottom and begin to meet their international obligations, by upholding refugees' human rights and dignity," said Dalhuisen. "Anything less is a betrayal of our common humanity."

But Marcus Knuth, Venstre's spokesman on integration issues, said such criticism was unfair.

"Denmark continues to be one of the most welcoming and caring places that you can seek asylum in. So the criticism that all of a sudden we were doing something wrong we find highly, highly unfair," he told AFP.

"We simply wish to be put more at par with other European countries so that we are not one of the countries that receive by far the most asylum-seekers."

Home to 5.6 million people, Denmark registered 21,000 asylum applications in 2015, making it one of the top EU destinations per capita.

Criticism had mounted ahead of Tuesday's vote, with the UN refugee agency UNHCR and the Council of Europe questioning compatibility with international conventions.

But Rasmussen, whose party won a June election after promising an "immediate slowdown" of Denmark's refugee influx, was unfazed, arguing in turn that the UN Refugee Convention may need to be changed if refugees keep pouring into Europe.

Twenty-seven MPs voted against the bill in the one-chamber parliament, including three dissenting Social Democrats. A legislator for Greenland, a Danish territory, abstained and 70 MPs did not take part.

The bill is scheduled to be signed into law by Denmark's Queen Margrethe within a few days.

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Vans will be bringing their Hi-Standard event back to Waterville Valley Resort on February 6, 2016. It will be taking place in the Exhibition Terrain Park and will be open to riders of all ages



(TRAVPR.COM) USA - January 25th, 2016 - Waterville Valley, NH  Vans will be bringing their Hi-Standard event back to Waterville Valley Resort on February 6, 2016. It will be taking place in the Exhibition Terrain Park and will be open to riders of all ages. In addition to the 15 & under, and 16 & up age groups, a 30 & up age group will be added this year.

The judges for Vans Hi-Standard put an emphasis on control, style, and variety. Riders can win cash for every trick they perform, but tricks cannot be repeated and no rotations beyond 720 degrees are permitted. The event is broken up into 5 20 minute jam sessions with awards taking place at 4:15 pm. There is a $10 entry fee with registration taking place from 8:3010am on the 2nd Floor of the Base Lodge.

On Saturday, February 6th, Waterville Valley Resort will also be hosting extended apres at T-Bars and Buckets and there will be fireworks in Town Square at 7:30pm.

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Waterville Valley was designed and planned specifically as a self-contained four season resort. Known as New Hampshires Family Resort, it features 220 skiable acres with an altitude of 4,004 feet and vertical drop of 2,020 feet, 50 trails, and 11 lifts. Lodging options include country inns, condominiums and all-suite hotels. For more information, call 1-800-GO-VALLEY or visit waterville.com.

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Egypt's central bank raised the cap on dollar deposits for staple imports to $250,000 monthly or its equivalent of the foreign currencies from $50,000 and cancelled the daily cap.

Along with basic commodities, companies importing production machinery, manufacturing components, and pharmaceuticals will now be able to deposit at the new caps in an attempt by the banking sector to facilitate these imports while regulating Egypt's imports, the bank stated on its website on Tuesday.

The central bank had imposed last February limits on foreign currency deposits of $50,000 per month and $10,000 daily, in an attempt to eradicate a foreign currency black market and tackle the country's foreign exchange crisis.

Restrictions remain valid on individuals and companies importing other products, the statement read.

The central bank also banned imports of finished products from companies that do not register with the Egyptian government.

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has already imposed stricter rules on financing imports to prioritise essential, non-luxury goods. The aim is to reduce Egypt's import bill by $20 billion this year, after it reached $80 billion in 2015, CBE Governor Tarek Amer told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

Foreign currency reserves stabilised at $16.4 billion at the end of December; under half their level on the eve of the 2011 uprising which toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

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Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, January 26

A Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operative was today killed in a gunfight with security forces, here in the Kokernag area of this south Kashmir district.

According to police reports Khalhaar village of Kokernag was cordoned off in the wee hours of Thursday morning, following specific inputs about presence of militants in the area.

The cordon was laid at about 3am this morning, a senior police official from Anantnag told The Tribune.

The official said while security forces were zeroing in on the house the militant was hiding in, he opened fire, which was duly retaliated triggering an encounter,

After a brief encounter the militant was killed. His body has been retrieved by the police and identification process completed.

The slain militant has been identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Haroo alias Adil, son of Muhammad Amin, a resident of Pushwara Anantnag.

He was one of only seven militants presently active in Anantnag district.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 26

Governor NN Vohra today again hoped that Governors Rule in Jammu and Kashmir shall not be for long and the new political government will soon take over the reins of government.

Delivering his address in Urdu on 67th Republic Day amidst biting cold conditions on a foggy morning at MA Stadium, the Governor said that peace and normalcy were imperative for achieving growth and development.

He, however, regretted that in the past two-and-a-half-decades, proxy war in J&K orchestrated by Pakistan has left an adverse impact on the people.

He said it was the duty of all citizens to protect and preserve unity and integrity of the nation.

All of us must join hands to negate all divisive and communal forces and promote societal harmony and brotherhood, he added.

The Governor said it was equally important that we learn to settle all our disputes and disagreements, such as they may be, through dialogue and discussion.

He said it was necessary to remember that we shall be able to achieve growth and development and eradicate poverty and illiteracy only if peace and normalcy prevails in the land.

Vohra noted with regret that for the past over two-and-a-half-decades, growth and development of Jammu and Kashmir was adversely affected by the continuing proxy war launched by our western neighbour (Pakistan).

He also said in the past year, besides repeated incidents of cross border firing and attempts at infiltration, there were five terror attacks: two from across the LoC in the Tangdhar sector, two from across the International Border in Samba and Kathua, and one at Udhampur.

The Governor said India remained committed to maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbours and our Prime Minister has launched fresh initiatives for securing peaceful relations with Pakistan.

It is hoped that his endeavours will bear fruit and people of Jammu and Kashmir would be able to live and work in a peaceful environment in the coming time, he observed.

He also mentioned about restoration and reconstruction programmes post-September 2014 floods in the state.

Vohra said the Prime Minister, during his visit to Srinagar in November 2015, announced a Special Package of over Rs 80,000 crore which will support humanitarian and multi-sectoral growth initiatives for promoting an environment of certainty and stability.

He added that this Special Package includes provision of relief to the flood affected, refugees and migrants and implementation of projects for development of social and economic infrastructure.

It provides approximately Rs 42,700 crore for the construction of roads, highways and tunnels and securing substantial enhancement of connectivity in the coming years, he added.

He emphasised that to restore the peoples faith and trust in the functioning of the administrative apparatus it is of vital importance to eradicate corruption and visibly improve the functioning of the public delivery systems.

Emphasising need for empowerment of people, the Governor said governance shall become more effective and productive when the people are adequately empowered and are involved both in decision making and in the implementation of developmental schemes and programmes.

He said towards this objective, it is necessary to undertake the now very long pending elections to Urban Local Bodies and to urgently carry out reforms in the existing urban administration and taxation framework. He said that side by side, timely elections to Panchayats and the establishment of Panchayati Raj Institutions will enable the people at the village level to themselves determine their developmental priorities and also monitor implementation of the various works and programmes which are meant to promote their welfare.

He hoped that both these objectives shall be attained during the current year.

Earlier, after he unveiled the Tricolour and took guard of honour, various contingents of security and armed police forces and schools presented march past and cultural items.

Unfurled Tricolour twice in J&K under Governors Rule

When Governor NN Vohra this morning unfurled the Tricolour and delivered his address on 67th Republic Day, he did it for second time as constitutional head of J&K state which had no political government and was under Governors Rule.

Following a fractured mandate in Assembly polls in November-December 2014, the state was placed under Governors Rule on January 7, 2015 and it ceased on March 1, 2015.

After hectic parleys both PDP and BJP  the two arch-rivals had stitched an alliance and Mufti Mohammed Sayeed along with his ministers were administered oath of office and secrecy on March 1, 2015.

A year later on the same day of January 26 (2016), the state was again under Governors Rule and Vohra at the helm of affairs.

On January 8 this year, the state had come under Governors Rule following demise of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on January 7 at AIIMS in Delhi.

J&K had come under the Governors rule for the first time during the tenure of Governor LK Jha in March 1977 when the Congress withdrew support to the government headed by National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

In March 1986, the state came under the Governors rule for the second time when the Congress withdrew support over the law and order problems in the state. The government at that time was headed by Ghulam Mohammad Shah of the Awami National Conference and Jagmohan Malhotra was the Governor.

The state came under the Governors rule for the third time during the second tenure of Jagmohan in January 1990 after the resignation of then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. This was the longest spell of Governors rule in Jammu and Kashmir and lasted for six years and eight months as the elections could not be held during the peak militancy.
The revolution has triggered a profusion of artistic expressions and opened a vigorous struggle between the independent culture players and those in power. Today, the creators find alternative refuges

It is the nature of many cultural players-- particularly those who are considered independent and those in Egyptto never back down, even if it means their actions can endanger them. They persist even if they are backed into a corner. They have no choice but to confront the forces that oppose them and face challenges posed by the authorities.

If the 2011 Revolution led to a drastic restructuring of the Egyptian cultural field, the thirst for freedom and social justice today still finds a lot of resistance from many institutions and individuals.

Whitewashing recent history

Since 25 January 2011, there has been a significant proliferation of Egyptian street art, like graffiti, and an emergence of many new names in all art fields.

However, finding themselves often silenced, both the artists and several other cultural players still find it difficult to take concrete action, to mobilise in order to defend their interests and recent gains.

For instance, in 2014 the new penal code regarding freedom of expression and laws defining work of the NGOs were announced. The cultural players were unable to stand up to them, despite the fact that most of these independent players are in big part supported by foreign resources from several international bodies.

Faced by strong restrictions, the independent scene could not defend El-Fan Midan (Art is a Square), which was held every month since the revolution in Abdin Square in Cairo until it was suspended by the authorities in autumn 2014.

One year later, they were unable to prevent the removal of street art around downtown Cairo, including Mohamed Mahmoud Streets iconic graffiti, which coloured the walls near the old campus of the American University (AUC).

Almost all of this graffiti, which transformed the walls into a visual testimony to courage and strength, has been removed by the authorities; part of the AUC wall was destroyed in September 2015 under the pretext of redeveloping downtown Cairo. The voices saying, "You are undermining testimonies of our contemporary history" have faded fast.

'Walls of Freedom, Street Art of the Egyptian Revolution', a book on graffiti edited by Don Stone and Basma Hamdy and imported from Germany saw similar destiny. The copies have been seized by Alexandria's customs on the claims of it "instigating revolt and demonstrating how to resist army and police authorities."

With those and many other examples, it becomes evident that those creators, intellectuals, and activists did manage to organise themselves so they could move towards change or decide on what cultural policies should be adopted.

At a time when the reality is transfigured, moving backwards cannot be an option but, if the revolution continues, it is most palpable on an individual level.

The heritage of May 68

May 1968: this was the time of civil unrest in France, massive strikes, frustrated workers and students; this was also the time when culture driven by liberated speech radiated.

It seems that a lot of young Egyptian creators and intellectuals try to reinvent the legacy of May 1968. They ponder over same ideas that were pronounced by the French philosophers Gilles Deleuze, Jacques Derrida, and Michel Foucault, among others, the same intellectual generation that triumphed in the years 1960-70.

New cultural websites are being launched, be them qoll.net or tripodmagazine.com. On the other hand, we see resurgence of publishers such as Alam El Ketab (The World of Books, also a monthly publication) and translations of Deleuze's Philosophy of Creation (his lecture given on 27 March, 1987 is available on video). In a big sense, we borrow the need to create for resistance from Deleuze's metaphysics and his philosophy of art.

It is through the alternative scene that we search to deconstruct the legacy of Derrida where future is prior to the past, and to rebel against the disciplinary nature of the institution, just as Foucault would have pointed it out.

In this context, we see flourishing of a number of cultural entities, film clubs, artistic collectives and small production companies, like Seen Films or Mosireen.org or Cimatheque.org, which have become centers for the alternative film.

Those initiatives focus on the revolt of a young woman or on a depiction of a saleswoman whose life was turned upside down after the revolution, as we see it in the film Oum Amira (Amira's Mother), directed by Nagi Ismail. We find in it the electro-shaabi music, which has become a mouthpiece of a neglected segment of the population captured in Underground On The Surface, a documentary by Salma El-Tarzi, and we see it through the factory workers, protagonists of the hybrid documentary Barra Fel Share (Out on the Street) by Jasmina Metwaly and Philip Rizk.

It was this January, five years after the revolution, that the majority of 'independent' cultural players gathered in Zawya art-house to watch Egypt's premiere of the latter film, an evening which was fully sold out.

The film seems to reflect the post-May 68 activist cinema, inviting the workers to play their own stories, as the directors blur lines between documentary, fiction or reconstitution of facts.

The discussion following the film revealed how those present in the hall rejected the pre-established official canon, but also how, when backed into a corner, they need to find one another.

It is as if they had all sought refuge in a cinema in downtown Cairo, a shelter from predominant thought.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 26

Amid tight security arrangements, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and former chief minister Omar Abdullah attended the Republic Day function at Bakhshi Stadium, the venue of main function in Kashmir valley here today.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asghar H Samoon was the chief guest at the Bakshi stadium, who unfurled the national flag. He took salute at the parade of the contingents of various wings of J&K Police, Fire Services, CRPF, BSF and school children.

Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, both attired in the traditional Kashmir pherans with Mehbooba wearing a headscarf were seated on either sides of the chief guest, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asghar H Samoon. Others who attended the function included PDP leaders and former ministers, Naeem Akhtar and Haseeb A Drabu, legislators and senior police and government officers.

With no elected government in place, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir was the chief guest on the occasion instead of any senior minister.

In his address on the occasion, the Divisional Commissioner hailed the role of the contingents of Police and the school children participating in the event amid shivering winter cold.

The celebrations were also held at the other district headquarters and vital installations across Kashmir Division including frontier cold desert region of Ladakh. A shutdown was also observed across Kashmir in response to the separatists bandh call. The functions were held peacefully all over the valley amid heightened security measures.
Panaji, January 26

Three foreign nationals, including a Syrian, have been detained in connection with a letter threatening to harm Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as security was stepped up at vital establishments and crowded places in Goa.

A Syrian national, whose identity was not disclosed, was detained last night and he is being questioned, Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg told reporters on Tuesday when asked about the progress in the threat letter case.

The letter, received at the State Secretariat on January 13, had ISIS written on it and threatened to harm Modi and also Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Sympathisers of the terror outfit are suspected to be involved in radicalising youth in India.

His(Syrian national) visa has expired and he has been overstaying, Garg added.

Two more foreigners - from Yemen and Nigeria - were taken into custody from a casino last night and are being interrogated separately, said another police official, adding they were staying in the State after expiry of their visas.

Meanwhile, vigil at key establishments and crowded places has been stepped up in Goa, which saw additional rush of domestic tourists over the weekend due to Republic Day holiday.

The Government is concerned about security of citizens and is taking all measures required, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters on the margins of an event here.

Superintendents of Police of both districts (South and North Goa) have reviewed security around vital establishments under their jurisdiction. Gun-wielding policemen have been posted at at these places, another officer said.

Police have increased surveillance at the beaches, churches, temples and other popular tourist spots, he said.

Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) Bosco George said security of VIPs has also been revamped.

We requested Parrikar to accept Z plus security cover while in Goa and he has agreed. Parrikar was moving around without Z plus security cover in Goa (his home state) during his visits, George said.

Police have also intensified night patrolling, he said.  PTI
New Delhi, January 26

Security has been tightened in the national capital, particularly around Rajpath and the parade route as the nation celebrates its 67th Republic Day today.

Multi layered security has been put in place and elaborate ground-to-air security and traffic arrangements have been made and the airspace over the capital will be monitored by special radars.

Barricades have been installed at all exit-entry points and sensitive locations. Around 40,000 security personnel have been deployed at key locations in the city, including metros, market places, shopping malls, railway stations and inter-state bus terminals.

According to reports, around 15,000 from the paramilitary forces, 34,000 from Delhi Police and 1,000 from National Security Guard (NSG) have been deployed across the national capital today.

NSG snipers are also expected to maintain a hawk-eye vigil from high-rise buildings near Rajpath from where the French president Francois Hollande along with President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Modi will be watching the parade.

Hollande will be the fifth French president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations over the decades.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Hollande to show solidarity after the assault on the Paris which killed 130 people.

Hollande and the Prime Minister are expected to sit together at the annual parade.

PM greets the nation on Republic Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of Republic Day and paid tributes to the framers of the Constitution, especially BR Ambedkar.

The Prime Minister took to twitter to greet the nation. "Republic Day greetings to all my fellow Indians... tributes to all great personalities who framed our Constitution.

"I salute Dr Ambedkar for his efforts as Chairman of (Constitution) Drafting Committee," he said in on twitter.

Francois Hollande, the President of France, is the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade this year.  Agencies
New Delhi, January 26

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's daughter Dr Anita Bose Pfaff wants a DNA test to be conducted to establish whether the ashes kept in a Japanese temple are her father's, but believes that the 1945 aircrash in Taipei was the "most likely cause" of his death.

I believe that the plane crash is the most likely cause of his death," Pfaff said when asked whether she believes in the theory that her father died in an air crash near the Taihoku aerodrome in Taipei on August 18, 1945.

However, she said she wants a DNA test of the ashes kept in an urn at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo to ascertain whether the remains belong to the freedom fighter.

A DNA test could provide proof, provided that the bones are not too badly charred for extracting DNA," Pfaff, the only child of Subhash Bose and Emilie Schenkl, told PTI in an interview from her home in Stadtbergen, Germany.

Bose family sources said the 73-year old German economist, who is likely to visit India next month, may urge the government here to talk to Japan for conducting DNA test of the remains kept in the Renkoji temple in Tokyo.

On whether the recently declassified documents sufficiently proved Netaji's death in the aircrash, Pfaff said "while I have only looked at a few files, I get the impression that a death certificate is not contained."

Asked about her opinion that Bose was not treated with as much respect as were leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Pfaff said: "That certainly seems to be the case for the official treatment.

"But the general public, the so-called man in the street, however, seem to have kept his memory alive in a very touching way. It was a shame how the Indian government treated the INA veterans for decades."

To a question about Nehru's approach towards Bose, she merely said, "Since their relationship lasted over many years, it was multi-faceted, I imagine. In many aspects they held similar views, in others their views differed."

Asked about her reaction to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's recent remark that Netaji's death has been used for "petty politics", Pfaff said, "On the part of some people this is true, according to my opinion.

"However, many of his relatives such as my uncles and my mother very genuinely wished that he might have survived the crash or not been in it. Their love for him made the acceptance of his death too hard to bear." Reacting to the declassification of Netaji files by the Centre and West Bengal government and whether these documents would help solve the mystery behind the legendary freedom fighter's "disappearance", she said was "indeed happy".

"It was high time. Most likely we shall find out that for 90 per cent of the files there has been no reason whatsoever not to declassify them decades ago. I rather doubt that the declassified files will reveal anything very spectacular about my father's death," she said.

She said she agreed with the view that declassification should have been done much earlier.

On whether Netaji's birthday should be declared a national holiday, she said, I believe there are better ways of keeping Netaji's memory alive than a national holiday.

On whether she has any plan to pen a book on her father, she said, "I did not have the good fortune to know him personally beyond the age of four weeks. I cannot say much about him. But together with my niece and other women in our family, I have plans to write a book about my mother."

Anita, a former Professor of Economics at the University of Augsburg, is married to Prof Martin Pfaff, who was a member of German Parliament Bundestag, representing the SPD or the Social Democratic Party. They have three children - Peter Arun, Thomas Krishna and Maya Carina.  PTI
New Delhi, January 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti the occasion of Republic Day. Earlier, PM Modi extended his greetings to the people and paid tributes to the framers of the Constitution, especially BR Ambedkar. Francois Hollande, the President of France, is the chief guest at the Republic Day parade this year.

 French contingent marching in the parade

 Marching smartly is the 35th Infantry Regiment, consisting of 75 soldiers

 Indian Air Force tableau at Rajpath

#RepublicDay: #IAF tableau's theme is "Indian Air Force: In Service of the Nation and Beyond" pic.twitter.com/oQJAEyUS9K  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

 Sikkim's tableau depicts celebration of Buddha Jayanti in Sikkim, which is popularly called Saga Dawa  PIB India

 Open to give, open to receive! Chandigarh's tableau depicts the smart,green &dream city of Chandigarh  PIB India

 Gujarat tableau: The Asiatic Lions of Gujarat at Rajpath!









 The tableau of Election Commissiom of India shows the inclusive and ethical participation for a stronger democracy





 The tableau of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is based on the theme of Swachch Bharat







 Motorcycle display team of Corps of Signals, popularly known as the Dare Devils







 National Bravery Award winning children, at Republic Day Parade







 The Globe formation at Republic Day Parade, comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30s  PIB India


New Delhi/Bhopal/Chennai, January 26

The nation is celebrating the 67th Republic Day on Tuesday amid elaborate security arrangements. President Pranab Mukherjee unfurled the national flag and took salute of the parade at Rajpath in the national capital.

During the function, President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the country's highest peacetime gallantry award Ashok Chakra to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami posthumously.

For the first time in the history of Republic Day parade, a 76-member French Army contingent took part.

Military prowess and achievements in different fields, country's diverse cultural and social traditions were showcased during the parade.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti to the martyrs, who laid down their lives in the battlefield for the country. The heads of the three services of Armed Forces also paid their homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh unfurled the national flag at his residence in the national capital.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah hoisted the national flag at the party headquarters in New Delhi.

In Madhya Pradesh, the main function was organised in Bhopal. Governor Ramnaresh Yadav hoisted the tricolour and inspected the parade at the Lal Parade ground in the state capital. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unfurled the national flag in Ratlam district headquarters.

Different programmes are being held across the state to mark the occasion. A Bharat Parv programme based on songs, dances and poetry will be organised in all the districts this evening to remember the contribution of martyrs.

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs M Venkaiah Naidu hoisted the national flag in Hyderabad. Minister of State of Labour Bandaru Dattatreya and other leaders were also present there at the celebrations.

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa unfurled the tricolour in Chennai. Governor K Rosaiah and other government officials were also present.

In view of recent terror attacks in Paris and at the Pathankot air base, stringent security measures have been taken to avoid any untoward incident.  ANI
Amman/Beirut, January 26

The Syrian opposition cast doubt on whether it would go to peace talks planned for Friday, throwing UN diplomatic efforts into question and accusing the United States of adopting Iranian and Russian ideas for solving the conflict.

The Saudi-backed opposition was meeting on Tuesday to decide whether to attend the talks which UN envoy Staffan de Mistura aims to open in Geneva on Friday, ushering in months of negotiations with delegates in separate rooms.

Opposition official Asaad al-Zoubi told Arabic news channel Al-Hadath that he was pessimistic, though the final decision would be taken at the opposition meeting in Riyadh.

De Mistura was expected to issue invitations on Tuesday.

Its going to be very low-key proximity talks, UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told journalists in Geneva.

A Western diplomat said the aim was to get the talks started without further delay. There is a little bit of fear that if the talks dont start soon theyll never really get going. The Syrian government, which is taking territory from the rebels with the help of Russian air strikes and Iranian ground forces, has already said it will attend.

The Opposition comprising the recently formed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) has, however, repeatedly said the government and its allies must halt bombardments and lift blockades of besieged areas before they will go to any talks.

Zoubi, who is due to head the Opposition delegation to any negotiations, told Reuters that without the implementation of goodwill steps including release of detainees there will be no negotiations. This is what the HNC has laid down, he said.

Reflecting opposition misgivings about the process, he told Al-Hadath that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had tabled Iranian and Russian ideas about Syria at a recent meeting with opposition leader Riad Hijab.

It was not comfortable for us for America - even in theory or partially - to adopt what came in the Iranian and Russian initiatives, Zoubi said in the interview.

He also heaped criticism on de Mistura, saying the UN Syria envoy cannot impose conditions on the opposition.

The US Special Envoy for Syria, Michael Ratney, urged the opposition to attend the talks.

Our advice to the Syrian opposition is to take advantage of this opportunity to put the intentions of the regime to the test and to expose in front of international public opinion which are the parties serious in reaching a political settlement in Syria and which are not, he said.

Lost legitimacy

The United States has supported the opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, who it says has lost legitimacy and must leave power. But the opposition has been increasingly critical of US policy. Hijab said earlier this month the United States had backtracked on its position over Syria, softening its stance to accommodate Russia.

Preparations for the talks have been beset by problems including a dispute over who should represent the opposition.

Russia has sought to expand the opposition delegation to include a powerful Kurdish faction that controls wide areas of northern Syria. The Sunni Arab opposition say the Kurdish PYD party should be part of the government delegation.

De Mistura has said the Geneva meeting will aim to kick off six months of talks, first seeking a ceasefire, later working towards a political settlement to a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and forced than 10 million to flee.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday it would be impossible to reach a peace agreement in Syria without inviting Kurds to take part in the negotiating process.

It would be unfair and counter-productive to stop Syrian Kurds from taking part in the peace talks, Lavrov said. He also said some participants of the peace process had been capricious in refusing to negotiate.

Turkey, a major sponsor of the insurgency, however said it was against the participation of the Kurdish YPG militia which is affiliated to the PYD. The YPG has become an important partner in the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State.

Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK, which it sees as a terrorist organisation. Those who are recognising them as a legitimate partner, they dont live in the reality of the region, nobody can convince us that these people are for peace, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told CNN.

The Syrian government and its allies have made significant gains against rebels in western Syria in recent weeks.

On Monday they captured the rebel-held town of Sheikh Maskin in southern Syria near the border with Jordan. It was the first significant gain for Damascus in that area since the start of the Russian intervention on Sept. 30.

In recent weeks government forces and their allies have also captured two strategic towns in the northwestern province of Latakia, where they are trying to seal the border to cut insurgent supply lines to Turkey.  Reuters
The virus was first found in a monkey in Uganda, in 1947, but there is little scientific data on it and it is unclear why it might be causing deformation in Brazil

The mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil, is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile, the World Health Organization said on Monday.

Zika transmission has not yet been reported in the continental United States, although a woman who fell ill with the virus in Brazil later gave birth to a brain-damaged baby in Hawaii.

Brazil's Health Ministry said in November that Zika was linked to a fetal deformation known as microcephaly, in which infants are born with smaller-than-usual brains.

Brazil has reported 3,893 suspected cases of microcephaly, the WHO said last Friday, over 30 times more than in any year since 2010 and equivalent to 1-2 percent of all newborns in the state of Pernambuco, one of the worst-hit areas.

The Zika outbreak comes hard on the heels of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, demonstrating once again how little-understood diseases can rapidly emerge as global threats.

"We've got no drugs and we've got no vaccines. It's a case of deja vu because that's exactly what we were saying with Ebola," said Trudie Lang, a professor of global health at the University of Oxford. "It's really important to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible."

Large drugmakers' investment in tropical disease vaccines with uncertain commercial prospects has so far been patchy, prompting health experts to call for a new system of incentives following the Ebola experience.

"We need to have some kind of a plan that makes (companies) feel there is a sustainable solution and not just a one-shot deal over and over again," Francis Collins, director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said last week.

The Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute is currently leading the research charge on Zika and said last week it planned to develop a vaccine "in record time", although its director warned this was still likely to take three to five years.

The virus was first found in a monkey in the Zika forest near Lake Victoria, Uganda, in 1947, and has historically occurred in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. But there is little scientific data on it and it is unclear why it might be causing microcephaly in Brazil.

Laura Rodrigues of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said it was possible the disease could be evolving.

If the epidemic was still going on in August, when Brazil is due to host the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, then pregnant women should either stay away or be obsessive about covering up against mosquito bites, she said.

The WHO advised pregnant women planning to travel to areas where Zika is circulating to consult a healthcare provider before traveling and on return.

The clinical symptoms of Zika are usually mild and often similar to dengue, a fever which is transmitted by the same Aedes aegypti mosquito, leading to fears that Zika will spread into all parts of the world where dengue is commonplace.

More than one-third of the worlds population lives in areas at risk of dengue infection, in a band stretching through Africa, India, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Zika's rapid spread, to 21 countries and territories in the Americas since May 2015, is due to the prevalence of Aedes aegypti and a lack of immunity among the population, the WHO said in a statement.

Like rubella, which also causes mild symptoms but can lead to birth defects, health experts believe a vaccine is needed to protect girls before they reach child-bearing age.

Evidence about other transmission routes, apart from mosquito bites, is limited.

"Zika has been isolated in human semen, and one case of possible person-to-person sexual transmission has been described. However, more evidence is needed to confirm whether sexual contact is a means of Zika transmission," the WHO said.

While a causal link between Zika and microcephaly has not yet been definitively proven, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the circumstantial evidence was "suggestive and extremely worrisome".

In addition to finding a vaccine and potential drugs to fight Zika, some scientists are also planning to take the fight to the mosquitoes that carry the disease.

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Brindi Trailer Sales and Services for illegally terminating a driver who brought up safety concerns about his truck.

Shortly after being hired by Brindi in 2011, the driver began notifying the company of defective equipment on his truck, including ineffective brakes, steering issues, non-functioning turn signals, leaks and a cracked windshield, according to OSHA. He requested the problems be fixed but the company refused.

In February 2012, the driver contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation about the issues. The truck was inspected and 16 violations were found. The truck was pulled from service until the repairs were made. When the driver notified Brindi, he was discharged. The driver filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA, which found merit in the complaint.

Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who raise certain protected concerns or provide protected information to the employer or to the government.

Brindi was ordered to pay the driver $32,642 in lost wages, $10,000 in punitive damages and $3,060.02 in attorneys fees as well as to expunge the drivers employment records. Firing the driver violated the anti-discrimination provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance ACT, according to OSHA.

This driver was fired for doing the right thing, said Robert Kulick, OSHAs regional administrator in New York. Commercial truck drivers have a legal right to report safety issues to their employer without fear of termination or retaliation. Violating the law can put workers at risk and has costly consequences for the offending employer.
His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Dorje Chang is one of the greatest Lamas of the 20th century. Today, not a single Gelug master hasnt benefited from Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoches teachings, either directly or indirectly. Many of his disciples became great practitioners themselves, and continued to disseminate the Dharma they received from this great master. For example, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, the heart disciple of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and the junior tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In 1921, at Chuzang Hermitage near Lhasa (capital of Tibet), Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche gave a 24-day historic exposition on the Lamrim. 700 people attended, including lay people, monks from the three major monasteries in Lhasa, and those who traveled weeks from different parts of Tibet. His heart disciple, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche remembered the teachings perfectly, wrote them down and in 1991, the text was translated into English and published as Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.

This book is often touted as the Buddhist Bible, as most Gelug teachers use it as the foundation of their teachings. I always encourage my students to study this text, and in Kechara we conduct both basic and advanced Lamrim classes for those who want to study the Lamrim in more depth.

In this blog post, Id like to share the praises written by various great masters about Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. These great masters are the abbots of monasteries, famed Tibetan translators and founders of various centers worldwide. They get nothing out of praising Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, but they did anyway with great sincerity and respect. The greatness of some of the masters themselves who praise Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche says so much.

I hope that by reading and understanding this article, you will develop great faith in Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and his lineage and that you will gain stability in your practice and receive higher teachings in the future. I myself had spontaneous and natural faith in Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche since the day I saw his photo in a book over three decades ago. I photocopied the picture, framed it and kept on my altar. My faith in Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche has been unwavering ever since. I have had the honour to meet his current incarnation and make offerings on many occasions. Ive had the fortune to bring many students to receive his blessings also.

May I and many fortunate beings never be separated from His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche in this and all future lives until full enlightenment.

Tsem Rinpoche

H.H. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang on Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

My guru, kind-in-three-ways, who met face to face with Heruka, whose name I find difficult to utter The Great Lama Je Pabongka According to His Disciples and Others

About H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche

H.H. Trijang Rinpoche was a direct disciple of H.H. Pabongka Dorjechang and the junior tutor of H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama. He is also the root Guru of many notable Gelug Lamas such as H.H. Zong Rinpoche, Geshe Rabten, Lama Yeshe and Lama Gangchen Rinpoche; and many present-day Tibetan Buddhist masters.

Our childish minds were unfit vessels for so vast an ocean of teachings

Prasdrin pararia syaklutaki yanta,

Tray am guhyanatd tigolama eka,

Sudhi vajradharottarah muni aksha,

Prayachchha tashubham valdruga kota. O Lama Lozang Dragpa, One with Shakyamuni and,

Vajradhara, O sum of every perfect refuge, O mandala-,

Guise complete With three mysteries of enlightenment,

Rain upon us ten million goodnesses. O my guru, my protector,

Who, through the Supreme Vehicle, vanquished the,

Extreme of selfish peace, who, unattached to worldly,

Comforts, upheld the three high trainings and the,

Teachings of the Victor, whose noble good works,

Remained untarnished by the eight worldly concerns.

You were the very fountain-head of goodness.

Everything you said was medicine to drive out hundreds of diseases;

Our childish minds were unfit vessels for so vast an ocean of teachings

So precious a source of qualities. How sad if these teachings were forgotten!

Here, I have recorded but a few. Immeasurable, countless numbers of Buddhas have come in the past. But unfortunate beings such as myself were not worthy enough to be direct disciples even of Shakyamuni, the best of protectors, who stands out like a white lotus among the thousand great Buddhas, the saviours of this fortunate aeon. First we had to be forced into developing even a moments wholesome thought; this took us to the optimum physical rebirth as a human.

We have been taught this most unmistaken path, which will lead us to the level of omniscience, at which time we shall gain our freedom. But, to be brief, I was saved time and time again from infinite numbers of different evils, and was brought closer to an infinity of magnificent things.

My glorious and holy guru did this.

This feeling of renunciation was overwhelming

His kindness is without equal.

He was  and now I shall give his name in view of my purpose  Jetsun Jampa Taenzin Trinlae Gyatso Paelzangpo. (Pabongka Rinpoche) Although people like me are immature, uncultured and unregenerate, there was a time when I feasted on his oral instructions into the Mahayana [the Supreme or Great Vehicle] at Chuzang Hermitage, a lonely place that was blessed by the presence of great meditators.

He started the following informal teaching on the thirtieth day of the seventh month of the Iron Bird Year [1921], and it lasted twenty-four days.

People braved great hardships to get there from the three major monasteries in Lhasa, from the Central Province, from Tsang, Amdo and Kham to taste the nectar of his oral teachings, as the thirsty yearn for water.

There were about thirty lamas and reincarnations of lamas, and many upholders of the three baskets of the teachings  in all a gathering of over seven hundred.

The informal teaching he gave combined various traditions on the Lam-rim  the stages of the path to enlightenment.

There were the two oral lineages related to the Lam-rim text Manjushris Own Words. One of these lineages was quite detailed and had developed in the Central Province; another lineage of a briefer teaching flourished in the south of Tibet. He also included the concise teaching, the Swift Path Lam-rim; and in the part of the Great Scope section that deals with the interchange of self and others, he taught the seven-point mind training.

Each part of the teaching was enriched by instructions taken from the confidential oral lineages. Each section was illustrated by analogies, conclusive formal logic, amazing stories, and trustworthy quotations. The teaching could easily be understood by beginners, and yet was tailored for all levels of intelligence. It was beneficial for the mind because it was so inspiring. Sometimes we were moved to laughter, becoming wide awake and alive. Sometimes we were reduced to tears and cried helplessly. At other times we became afraid or were moved to feel, I would gladly give up this life and devote myself solely to my practice. This feeling of renunciation was overwhelming. These are some of the ways in which all of his discourses were so extraordinary.

How could I possibly convey all this on paper! Yet what a pity if all the key points contained in these inspiring instructions were lost. This thought gave me the courage to write this book. As my precious guru later advised me, Some of the people present could not follow the teaching. Im afraid I do not trust all the notes people took during the classes. I therefore ask you to publish a book. Put in it anything you feel sure of.

In this book I have accurately recorded my lamas teachings in the hope that this substitute for his speech will be beneficial to my friends who wish to succeed in their practice.

Sermey Jetsun Khen Rinpoche Losang Tharchin on Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

About H.E. Khensur Rinpoche

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin was born in Lhasa, Tibet in 1921 and entered Sera Monastery there at an early age. He proceeded through the rigorous 25-year program of monastic studies under the guidance of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Upon successful completion of public examination by the best scholars of the day, Rinpoche was awarded the highest degree of Hlarampa Geshe (Doctor of Theology) with honors, and was one of the last living Hlarampa Geshes educated in Tibet. He proved to be the best debater of his graduation year in all of Tibet, making him the First among the First.

Khen Rinpoche then entered Gyu Mey Tantric College, where he completed its course of advanced tantric studies and attained a high-ranking administrative position. In 1959 Rinpoche escaped from Tibet into India along with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He became actively involved in resettlement, and compiled a series of textbooks used in the Tibetan refugee schools.

Khen Rinpoche came to the United States in 1972 and became Abbot of Rashi Gempil Ling Temple in New Jersey. After going to South India in 1991 and serving as Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery for some time, he returned to the United States. Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin was a lifetime director and an abbot emeritus of Sera Mey Monastery. Khen Rinpoche passed on from this life on Je Tsongkapa Day, Dec. 7, 2004.

Khen Rinpoche was an actual disciple of Je Pabongka, so his words are very precious, giving us a direct impression of this extraordinary master.

 the sage foretold that if the child were placed in Gyalrong House, something wonderful would happen with him in the future

It was at this time that the glorious Pabongka Rinpoche, the author of the commentary you are about to read, came into my life. Like me he had as a young man taken his course of studies at the Sera Mey College of Sera Monastery; in fact, he was from the same house, Gyalrong. Pabongka Rinpoche was born in 1878, at a town called Tsawa Li in the Yeru Shang district of the state of Tsang, north of Lhasa.

Later on, the youngster was found to be a reincarnation of the Changkya line, which included the illustrious scholar Changkya Rolpay Dorje (1717-1786). The lamas of this line had done much teaching in the regions of Mongolia and Chinaeven in the court of the Chinese emperor himselfand the name Changkya had very strong Chinese connotations. Already in those days the Tibetan government and people were sensitive to the pressures put on us by our powerful neighbour to the east, so the name Changkya was ruled out, and the boy declared to be Pabongka instead. Pabongka, also known as Parongka, is a large and famous rock-formation about three miles walk from our Sera Monastery. The very word pabong means in our language a large boulder, or mass of rock.

His family were of the nobility and owned a modest estate called Chappel Gershi. As a child he exhibited unusual qualities and in his seventh year was taken before Sharpa Chuje Lobsang Dargye, one of the leading religious figures of the day. The lama felt sure that the boy must be a reincarnated saint and even went so far as to examine him to see if he were the rebirth of his own late teacher. He was not, but the sage foretold that if the child were placed in the Gyalrong House of Sera Mey College, something wonderful would happen with him in the future.

KYABJE PABONGKA RINPOCHE DECHEN NYINGPO and his classmate, Gyelrong Sharpa Chojeknown as Jangsem Choje Lobsang Nyimawent together very often to debate when they were at their monastery. Indeed, both of them became Geshes. Later Jangsem Choje Lobsang Nyima entered Gyu Me Tantric College and became a great scholar. He proceeded to become gi-go (disciplinarian), an administrator, as I did, then Lama Umdze (lead chanter), then Abbot, and finally almost reached the position of Ganden Tripa (Lama Tsongkhapas representative on earth  the leader of the Gelugpa lineage).

Pabongka Rinpoche Kyabje Dechen Nyingpos life proceeded in another direction such that he was later to become a very famous teacher of Sutra and Tantra, especially of the Lam Rim (Stages of the Path to Enlightenment) tradition. Whenever he taught, many people came from miles and miles around to attend his teachings. Everybody said he was an unbelievable expert on all subjects.

Later, when Lobsang Nyima had learned that Kyabje Dechen Nyingpo was going to be in nearby Chusang Ritro, his curiosity piqued from having heard so much relating to Kyabje Pabongkas fame coming from all quarters, he decided to visit him and so he brought along a pot of excellent yogurt as a gift for Rinpoche. During that visit they met for a long time discussing many points on numerous topics. Since Kyabje Pabongka had answered every one of his questions so thoroughly, Lobsang Nyima couldnt argue with him at all on any of the points.

Upon his return, when others asked about the visit he remarked: When we were on the debate ground at Sera Mey, Kyabje Dechen Nyingpo wasnt an expert at debate by any means. At the time I didnt think he had learned very much. But now I understand that his way of studying and mine went in different directions. For instance, when we debated, I for my part, would apply reasons and quotations to back up my arguments, all the time focusing on the other debater. But Kyabje Pabongka, for his part, when studying, asking questions, giving answers, reciting quotations, giving reasons, everything, would focus all of these on himself, applying them to his own mind. Therefore, by using such a method, there is no way to argue with him on any of the points since he has mastered them all.

Khen Rinpoche Losang Tharchin on Meeting Pabongka Rinpoche for the First Time

It was in his private quarters at the Tashi Choling hermitage that I first met Pabongka.

He had been away on an extended teaching tour in eastern Tibet, and just returned. I was still the wild teenager and had been stuck with the distasteful job of nyerpa for Gyalrong Housethis means I was a kind of quartermaster and had to make sure there was enough firewood and food to keep the house kitchen going for several hundred monks. Since the Rinpoche was a member of Gyalrong, we were supposed to send a committee over to the hermitage to welcome him back and present him gifts. As nyerpa I was expected to arrange some supplies and help carry them along.

In private conversation Pabongka Rinpoche was in the habit of constantly attaching Quite right! Quite right! to everything he said. So I distinctly remember when I came into his presence, and he put his hand on my head, and he said Quite right! Quite right! Now this one looks like a bright boy!

From that day on I felt as though I had received his blessing, and some special power to pursue my studies.

Khensur Lobsang Tharchin Praises Pabongka Rinpoches Speech

The effects on his audience were striking and immediate.

I remember particularly the case of Dapon Tsago, a member of the nobility who held a powerful position equivalent to Minister of Defense. Public teachings in Tibet were as much social as religious affairs, and aristocrats would show up in their best finery, often it seemed not to hear the dharma but rather to put in an appearance. So one day this great general marches into the hall, decked out in silk, his long hair flowing in carefully tailored locks (this was considered manly and high fashion in old Tibet).

A great ceremonial sword hung from his belt, clanging importantly as he swaggered in. By the end of the first section of the teaching he was seen leaving the hall quietly, deep in thoughthe had wrapped his weapon of war in a cloth to hide it and was taking it home. Later on we could see he had actually trimmed off his warriors locks, and finally one day he threw himself before the Rinpoche and asked to be granted the special lifetime religious vows for laymen. Thereafter he always followed Pabongka Rinpoche around, to every public teaching he gave.

He Displayed Tremendous Abilities As A Public Teacher

Pabongka Rinpoche was actually the second Pabongka, for it was finally agreed to announce that he had been recognized as the reincarnation of the Kenpo (or abbot) of the small monastery atop the rock.

For this reason he was sometimes referred to as Pabongka Kentrul, or the reincarnation of the abbot of Pabongka. Pabongka Rinpoches full name, by the way, was Kyabje Pabongkapa Jetsun Jampa Tenzin Trinley Gyatso Pel Sangpo, which translates as the lord protector, the one from Pabongka, the venerable and glorious master whose name is the Loving One, Keeper of the Buddhas Teachings, Ocean of the Mighty Deeds of the Buddha. He is also popularly known as Dechen Nyingpo, which means Essence of Great Bliss and refers to his mastery of the secret teachings of Buddhism. We Tibetans feel that it is disrespectful to refer to a great religious leader with what we call his bare namesuch as Tsongkapa or Pabongkabut we have tried here to simplify the Tibetan names to help our Western readers.

Pabongka Rinpoches career at Sera Mey College was not outstanding; he did finish his geshe degree, but reached only the lingse rank, which means that he was examined just at his own monastery and did not go on for one of the higher ranks such as hlarampa. It was only after his graduation from Sera Mey, and the success of his teaching tours through the countryside outside the capital, that Pabongka Rinpoches fame started to spread.

Gradually He Began To Build Up A Huge Following and Displayed Tremendous Abilities As A Public Teacher

He was not tall (as I remember about my height, and I am only 56), but he was broad chested and seemed to fill the entire teaching throne when he climbed up on it to begin his discourse. His voice was incredibly powerful. On many occasions he would address gatherings of many thousands of people, yet everyone could hear him clearly (in those days in Tibet we had never heard of microphones or loudspeakers). Part of the trick of course was to pack the audience in Tibetan-style, crosslegged on the floor, with the lama on an elevated platform. Still the audience would flow out onto the porch of the hall, and sit perched above on the roof, watching through the steeple windows.

Pabongka Rinpoche had an uncanny ability to relate to his audience, and for this reason he became a teacher for the common man as well as for us monks.

The Rinpoches great accomplishment was that he found a way to attract and lead listeners of every level. His most famous weapon was his humour. Public discourses in Tibet could sometimes go on for ten hours or more without a break, and only a great saint could keep his attention up so long. Inevitably part of the audience would start to nod or fall into some reverie. Then Pabongka Rinpoche would suddenly relate an amusing story or joke with a useful moral, and send his listeners into peals of laughter. This would startle the day-dreamers, who were always looking around and asking their neighbours to repeat the joke to them.

H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche on Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

Kyabje Pabongka had such vast qualities that it is difficult to comprehend them

About H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche

Zong Rinpoche was one of the foremost Lamas of his generation and a life-long Dorje Shugden practitioner.

(Zong) Rinpoche was born in Kham in 1905. He went to Lhasa when he was eleven years old to study at Shartse. He studied effortlessly and became renowned as a powerful and irrefutable debater. A learned geshe at that time said that even if Shri Dharmakirti had been present, he would not have been able to debate better than that. After graduating as a high ranking Lharampa geshe at the age of twenty-five he moved on to the Tantric College of Gyuto. In 1937 he was appointed abbot of Shartse, a position he held for nine years. Rinpoche was known as a strong, detached and wrathful lama. He had impeccable knowledge of all rituals, art and science, and he never hesitated to give reasons to others why this action or that painting was wrong. He was renowned for his many actions of powerful magic, as a result of which the most marvellous, indescribable signs occurred.

In 1916 (Zong Rinpoche) went to Lhasa to study the dharma at Shartse college (of Ganden Monastery), where he studied the sutras of the Prajnaparamita, Madhyamika, the Abidharma and the Vinaya. He quickly became famous as a sharp analyst and master of philosophical debate. In 1929 he successfully completed his geshe examinations and was awarded with the highest degree, the Geshe Lharampa title. In 1937 he became abbot of the Shartse college. So his name spread all over the country of being a powerful tantrika and he gave many empowerments and teachings on those subjects with a special emphasis on the tantras of Heruka, Hayagriva, Yamantaka, Gyelchen Shugden, Guhyasamaja, Vajrayogini, Green Tara, Mahakali, White Tara, Vaishravani and others. He was one of the last teachers of the old generation with the aura of authority and a kind of aristrocratic touch or vajra pride. In his teachings he followed very strictly the original texts. But, concerning his age, he was very open and patient to us Westerners, always kind, polite and helpful to answer our many questions concerning detailed tantra explanations.

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Speaks of Kyabje Pabongka Dorjechang

Vast Qualities

Kyabje Pabongka had such vast qualities that it is difficult to comprehend them. Sincere and pure practitioners should consult the birth stories of this high lama. Je Pabongka was an emanation of Krishnapada. Krishnapada was a great mahasiddha, a scholar and realized being

A Bodhisattva

When he was young, he received lamrim teachings from Dagpo Lama Jampel Lhundrub, and when the customary ritual for generation of bodhichitta was held at the end of the teachings, he actually generated bodhichitta. When this happened, Jampel Lhundrub ordered a throne to be set up for the young Pabongka. On hearing the Sevenfold Cause-and-Effect instructions for the first time, his mind was greatly moved, and he wept.

Je Pabongka was Heruka

Kyabje Pabongka was also an emanation of Heruka Chakrasamvara, but degeneration of the times and jealousy of ordinary beings have made it difficult to become aware of his tremendous qualities. There are many biographies of Kyabje Pabongka that make his realized qualities very clear.

Dalai Lama Acknowledges A Great Teacher

The thirteenth Dalai Lama requested Kyabje Pabongka to give the yearly lamrim teachings in 1925, instead of asking the Ganden throneholder, as was customary. Usually these teachings lasted seven days, but these lasted for eleven days. These were my first teachings from Kyabje Pabongka. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang was also present at these teachings.





If We Lose Faith in the Lineage, We Are Lost

Once, returning from Chamdo, Kyabje Pabongka taught at a dzong, a fortified monastery. A member of his audience had a vision of Kyabje Pabongka with four arms.

On another occasion, teaching at Lhasa, thirty-two incarnate lamas attended his lamrim discourses. Tapu Dorje Chang traveled from Kham to Lhasa specifically to receive Dharma teachings from Kyabje Pabongka. Tapu Dorje Chang could hear statues of Avalokiteshvara and Tara speak, and saw visions of multi-armed yidams. Kyabje Pabongka was Tapu Dorje Changs disciple also.

Once Kyabje Pabongka invoked the wisdom beings of Herukas mandala to enter into a statue of Heruka Chakrasamvara. Heruka then offered nectar to Kyabje Pabongka, and prophesied that seven generations of his disciples would be protected by the body mandala of Heruka. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang is cared for by Heruka Chakrasamvara, as are his disciples.

The Gelugpas current nectar pills originate from there. It is also stated that this very same cave in Cimburi where Pabongka received the nectar from the Heruka image was the place where Heruka promised him the following: From now on, for the next seven generations, whoever practices my teaching, I will protect and help.

Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Ling Rinpoche were tutors to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They taught His Holiness everything from basic teachings to advanced levels.

Kyabje Pabongka passed all of his lineages to Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang. He often said this in discourses. The purpose of this detailed exposition is to affirm the power of the lineage.

We should remember the biographies of past and present teachers. We should never develop negative thoughts towards our root and lineage gurus. If we do not keep the commitments after having received teachings, this is a great downfall. After giving teachings, the guru should act in accordance with the capacities of disciples and their requests. If the disciples see the gurus actions as pure, this is proper practice. The guru should not act in contradictory ways.

Mahasiddha Pabongka Rinpoche has a long history and during his time the Dharma increased greatly in Tibet. He was actually Heruka Demchok. He was born in north central Tibet and as a boy entered Gyalrong House of Sera Mey. At first he was very poor and not famous. He studied hard to be a Geshe, meditated and gave empowerments. Pabongka studied with Jaba Sonpo Rinpoche who was a complete lineage holder, especially of the teachings of Ranchi Lama. One night, he dreamt of a person giving him a pot of milk and requesting him to drink it completely. This symbolized that the complete teachings would be transferred to him.

Later on, a monk came to see him. This monk explained that there were a lot of philosophies in Tibet but not much teaching on Lam Rim. The monk offered to be his patron so that he could go and teach.

At one time while returning from the south of Tibet, Pabongka Rinpoche met many people, requesting Lam Rim teaching. He taught in Lhasa and he went every where in Tibet and many people became his students. Of course this caused some jealousy at times. He propagated Je Tsongkhapas Dharma with much enthusiasm and stated that these teachings were the best.

Finally the monk who was Pabongka Rinpoches patron returned and thanked him. He told him to rest, while he was away at the Five Mountains of Manjusri in China. At this period no one asked him to teach Lam Rim. Three years later, this monk returned and requested him to teach Tantra. After this many people requested Tantra teachings. Now, Pabongka, contemplated these events and realised that this monk was Dorje Shugden.

Pabongka went to see his guru Tapo Dorje Chang. His spiritual master was very special. He was born in Na Sur Tapo where his monastery was located. He had a long line of incarnations numbering four or five. The first Tapo Khacho Uncho while meditating, saw Tara, Chenrezig and they gave enpowerments to him. Tapo Dorje Chang also traveled to the pure lands. Yidams give him initiations such as Cittamani Tara. He also held the thirteen deity initiation called Da-pan Na-ja soon.

Mahasiddha Pabongka asked Mahasiddha Tapo Dorje Chang, his guru, to go to Tusita. In Tusita, the Mahasiddha Tapo Dorje Chang had met Lama Tsongkhapa. At that time Tapo Dorje Chang had requested teaching from Je Tsongkhapa. Lama Tsongkhapa lifted the cloth that covered the front of the golden throne he was sitting on. From under the golden throne came the five forms of Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden gave to Mahasiddha Tapo Dorje Chang Tenpai Gyaltsen complete instructions and the Mahasiddha returned to Tibet with this texts. Tapo Dorje Chang gave Pabongka not only the initiation and lineage of Dorje Shugden, but also all his lineages that he held. When Tapo Dorje Chang was young, he had many visions of Lhasa and he went to Drepung monastery. Later in his life he became a sage and remained in Tapo meditating. One time Pabongka was going to Kham and he wanted to visit the guru. Tapo Dorje Chang told him to visit on his return. But he went before so he could visit twice. Tapo Dorje Chang told him I told you after your trip to Kham. Anyway, now many dakinis are requesting me to come. Pabongka knew what this meant and requested him to live longer. He asked what he should do. Pabongka said to meditate on the emptiness of the events. So he went to Kham and Tapo Dorje Chang passed away.

Pabongka Rinpoche spread the Dorje Shugden practice and had many famous and wise students beginning in 1920s. He was particularly famed for his pristine elaboration of the Lam Rim.

Ribur Rinpoche on Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

I have had some success as a scholar, and as a lama I am somebody, but these things are not important. The only thing that matters to me is that I was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche.

About Ribur Rinpoche

The Venerable Ribur Rinpoche was born in Eastern Tibet in 1923. At the age of five he was recognised by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama as the sixth incarnation of Sera-Meys Ribur Rinpoche. He entered Sera Monastic University in Lhasa at fourteen and became a Geshe at the age of 24 years old. He meditated and taught the Dharma until 1959, after which he suffered under intense Chinese oppression for twenty-one years. Ribur Rinpoche, himself a lifelong practitioner of Dorje Shugden, was held and tortured by the Chinese for two decades. He often said If I told you what happened on a regular basis, you would find it hard to believe.

And yet, by all accounts, he emerged from his trials with a heart full of love and forgiveness. According to Ribur Rinpoche, it was due to the blessings and teachings of his root guru, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. Below are some excerpts of a memoir of their time together.

Pabongka Rinpoche: Excerpts from A Memoir by Ribur Rinpoche

My guru, kind in three ways, who met face-to-face with Heruka, whose name I find difficult to utter, Lord Pabongka Vajradhara Dechen Nyingpo Pal Zangpo, was born north of Lhasa in 1878. His father was a minor official but the family was not wealthy. Although the night was dark, a light shone in the room, and people outside the house had a vision of a protector on the roof.

Pabongka Rinpoche Meets His Root Guru

His root guru was Dagpo Lama Rinpoche Jampael Lhuendrub Gyatso, from Lhoka. He was definitely a bodhisattva, and Pabongka Rinpoche was his foremost disciple. He lived in a cave in Pasang and his main practice was bodhichitta; his main deity was Avalokiteshvara and he would recite 50,000 manis [the mantra, om mani padme hum] every night. When Kyabje Pabongka first met Dagpo Rinpoche at a tsog offering ceremony in Lhasa, he cried out of reverence from beginning to end.

On His Practical Style of Study

When Pabongka Rinpoche had finished his studies he visited Dagpo Lama Rinpoche in his cave and was sent into a Lam-rim retreat nearby. Dagpo Lama Rinpoche would teach him a Lam-rim topic and then Pabongka Rinpoche would go away and meditate on it. Later he would return to explain what hed understood: if he had gained some realization, Dagpo Lama Rinpoche would teach him some more and Pabongka Rinpoche would go back and meditate on that. It went on like this for ten years.

Faithful Minds See The Miraculous

One of (my) teachers had a picture of Pabongka Rinpoche that exuded small drops of nectar from between the eyebrows. I saw this with my own eyes, so you can imagine how much faith I had in Rinpoche when I finally came into his presence.

Ribur Rinpoche Meets The Pabongka Rinpoche

At the time of my arrival in Lhasa, Pabongka Rinpoche was living at Tashi Choeling, a cave above Sera Monastery. We made an appointment and a few days later my mother, my chang-dzoe (the man in charge of my personal affairs), and I rode up on horseback. Although Rinpoche was expecting us that day, we had not arranged a time. Nevertheless, he had just had his own chang-dzoe prepare tea and sweet rice, which freshly awaited our arrival. This convinced me that Rinpoche was clairvoyant, a manifestation of the all-seeing Vajradhara himself.

After we had eaten it was time to visit Rinpoche. I remember this as if it were today. A narrow staircase led up to Pabongka Rinpoches tiny room, where he was sitting on his bed. He looked just like his pictures  short and fat! He said, I knew you were coming  now we have met, and stroked the sides of my face. While I was sitting there a new geshe from Sera came in to offer Rinpoche a special tsampa dish that is made only at the time of receiving the geshe degree. Rinpoche remarked how auspicious it was that this new geshe had come while I was there and had him fill my bowl just like his own. You can imagine what that did to my mind!

More Stories of Pabongka Rinpoche from Ribur Rinpoche

Pabongka Rinpoches Reaction To Having A Beautiful Residence Built For Him

Rinpoches chang-dzoe (attendant) was a very fierce looking man said to be the emanation of a protector. Once, when Rinpoche was away on a long tour, out of devotion the chang-dzoe demolished the old small building in which Rinpoche lived and constructed a large ornate residence rivaling the private quarters of the Dalai Lama. When Rinpoche returned he was not at all pleased and said, I am only a minor hermit lama and you should not have built something like this for me. I am not famous and the essence of what I teach is renunciation of the worldly life. Therefore I am embarrassed by rooms like these.

Ribur Rinpoche On Studying The Lamrim From Pabongka Rinpoche

I took Lam-rim teachings from Pabongka Rinpoche many times. The Chinese confiscated all my notes, but as a result of his teachings I still carry something very special inside. Whenever he taught I would feel inspired to become a real yogi by retreating to a cave, covering myself with ashes and meditating. As I got older I would feel this less and less, and now I dont think of it at all. But I really wanted to be a true yogi, just like him.

On Visiting Pabongka Rinpoche

Visiting Pabongka Rinpoche was what it must have been like to visit Lama Tsongkapa when he was alive. When he taught he would sit for up to eight hours without moving. About two thousand people would come to his general discourses and initiations and fewer to special teachings, but when he gave bodhisattva vows up to ten thousand people would show up.

Kyabje Pabongka Gives the Initiation of Heruka

When he gave the Heruka initiation he would take on a special appearance. His eyes became very wide and piercing and I could almost see him as Heruka, with one leg outstretched, the other bent. It would get so intense that I would start crying, as if the deity Heruka himself was right there. It was very powerful, very special.

The Most Important Tibetan Lama of All

To my mind he was the most important Tibetan lama of all. Everybody knows how great his four main disciples were (these include Trijang Dorjechang and Ling Rinpoche, the two tutors of the Dalai Lama) well, he was their teacher. He spent a great deal of time thinking about the practical meaning of the teachings and coming to an inner realization of them, and he had practised and accomplished everything he had learned, right up to the completion stage. He didnt just spout words, he tried things out for himself. Also, he never got angry; any anger had been completely pacified by his bodhichitta.

A Great Protector

Many times there would be long lines of people waiting for blessings, but Rinpoche would ask each one individually how they were and tap them on the head. Sometimes he dispensed medicine. He was always gentle. All this made him very special.

Main Qualities

I would say he had two main qualities: from the tantric point of view, his realization and ability to present Heruka, and from the sutra point of view, his ability to teach Lam-rim.

On Humility

Whenever he visited his lamas monastery, Rinpoche would dismount as soon as it appeared in view and prostrate all the way to the door  which was not easy because of his build; when he left he would walk backwards until it was out of sight.

Relics

[After Rinpoche passed away] an incredible reliquary was constructed but the Chinese demolished it. Nevertheless, I was able to retrieve some of Rinpoches relics from it and I gave them to Sera-Mae Monastery. You can see them there now.

The Only Thing that Matters

I have had some success as a scholar, and as a lama I am somebody, but these things are not important.

Regarding allegations that Pabongka Rinpoche was a sectarian Lama who presided over the destruction of the monasteries and sacred images of other traditions

Another thing is that some Tibetans and others severely criticize Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo because he practiced Shugden, making him out to be some kind of demon. However, Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo wrote incredible teachings on sutra and tantra; on Heruka, Tara Cittamani and many other topics. All these amazing teachings were written purely from his experience. So its impossible that he can really be some kind of evil being, as those extremists accuse him of being. Theres no way he could have done the negative things they say he did.

Regarding His Realization

My root guru, His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche; Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, His Holiness the Dalai Lamas gurus root guru; His Holiness Song Rinpoche, from whom many of the older students received the initiation of Shugden; and the previous incarnation of Gomo Rinpoche, who has a strong connection with Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, here in Italy, all promoted the practice of Shugden. They were all aspects of the Dharmakaya.

Regarding Kopan Monastary Giving Up Dorje Shugden Practice

This was done for His Holiness [The Dalai Lama]. This does not mean that Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche, and His Holiness Song Rinpoche have made mistakes. It does not mean they are wrong. Nor does one have to look at the protector as evil. For us ordinary people it is difficult to judge, because we cannot see these lamas minds. Another side of the teaching is that it is mentioned that the protector (Dorje Shugden) is an Arya Bodhisattva, a manifestation of Manjushri. So, then, there is also the risk of our creating very heavy karma in that context (by criticizing or abandoning this practice).

Lama Zopa Has Strong Faith in Pabongka Rinpoches Teachings

What is a heart-spoon? When youre eating, you use a small spoon to extract the very best portion of the food in front of you. Similarly, this teaching on impermanence and death by Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo helps you extract the most precious essence from this human life: the ability to secure the happiness of all future lives, liberation from cyclic existence, and enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings.

Pabongka Rinpoche, A Supreme Teacher and Practitioner

Theres a related story concerning the great enlightened being, Pabongka Rinpoche (18711941), a great lama, scholar and yogi who had actualized the entire path to enlightenment. He wrote not only lam-rim texts like Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand but also many other sutra scriptures and, especially, several excellent, extremely lucid commentaries on the tantrasreally clear explanations of deity practices from his own experience. Of course, his writings were based on the teachings of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha and the commentaries of the ancient Indian and Tibetan pundits and yogis, but by practicing these he had his own experiences and actualized the entire path himself. Thus, he was able to write with great clarity on tantra and benefit the Dharma and all sentient beings in general. He had thousands of disciples, many of whom, on the basis of his teachings and guidance, had realizations of the three principal aspects of the path to enlightenment and, in particular, the path of secret mantra, the Vajrayana.

The Greatness of Pabongka Rinpoche, as Heard and Narrated by Lama Zopa

Denma Locho Rinpoche advised Togten Rinpoche, If you want to realize emptiness, you should go to Lhasa and meet Pabongka Rinpoche.

Pabongka Rinpoche Realized Bodhicitta

When Togten Rinpoche arrived, extremely pleased that he had reached the ninth level of meditative stabilization, Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo was in the middle of eating a lunch of pak  a dense ball of tsampa, the Tibetan staple of roasted barley flour, mixed with tea and butter. But Togten Rinpoche couldnt wait, and reported his experience anyway. When he had finished, Pabongka replied, Compared to the benefits of my eating this pak, your realization is nothing! Even though the attainment of calm abiding is incredible and has inconceivable benefitsrapturous ecstasy, unsurpassed clarity of mind, unshakable single-pointed concentration, freedom from sickness due to refinement of body and mindit doesnt have bodhicitta: compassion, loving kindness, renouncing yourself and cherishing others. Pabongka, however, had realized bodhicitta. Therefore, every mouthful of pak he ate was work for all sentient beings without exception.

Spiritual Benefits of Serving an Enlightened Master

The great Pabongka Rinpoche had a monk-attendant, Jamyang, who served him for many years, in his first incarnation and also in his second, who studied in Tibet, escaped to India and became a geshe at Buxa Duar, before showing the aspect of cancer and passing away. As soon as Pabongka Rinpoches second incarnation became a geshe, he received all the lineages of initiations from my root guru, His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche. These lineages, including many special ones, had been pased to His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche by Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, the first incarnation. Jamyang was also able to meet the third incarnation, who studied at Sera Monastery.

Although Jamyang couldnt even read the Tibetan alphabet, before Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo passed away he told Jamyang that later he would be able to read the Guru Puja text by himself, without needing anybody to teach him.

After Jamyang escaped from Tibet, he went to Buxa Duar, where he lived with the incarnation of Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo. Lama Yeshe was also living in the same building the first time I went to receive teachings from him. Lama Lhundrup, who told me this story, also lived there.

Lama Lhundrup told me that when Jamyang was first at Buxa he couldnt even read the Tibetan alphabet but after some time an understanding of it came to him spontaneously. Without anybody teaching him to read, he somehow came to recognize the letters and was then able to read the whole Guru Puja by himself, just as Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo had predicted.

This was the result of the purification that came from Jamyang serving and correctly devoting himself to Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo in Tibet. Such things cannot be explained by Western science because it has no concept of negative karma and obscurations. Of course, Western science has a concept of ignorance, of not knowing something, but it has no concept of which things as negative karma, defilements and karmic obscurations. Without understanding these things, theres no way to explain how Jamyang could suddenly read without having been taught. It was a sign of his mind having been purified. When the mind is purified, understanding comes from within, without need of a teacher.

Jamyangs story can also be related to the first benefit of correctly devoting yourself to the guru: becoming closer to enlightenment by carrying out the gurus advice and by making offering to and serving him. Jamyang devoted himself to Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo with action  carrying out his advice, offering service and making material offerings  for many years. That itself brought great purification, purifying heavy negative karmas and making his obscuration thinner. And when obscurations become thinner, understanding of Dharma increases.

Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey on Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

About Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey

Venerable Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey was born on the 13th of the fifth Tibetan month in the year 1921, in the town of Yatsak (or Ya Chak) in the Trehor district of Tibets eastern province Kham. He was soon enrolled in the large local Dhargyey Monastery of the Gelug tradition, where he took pre-novice ordination vows. Although he was enrolled there he studied mainly in the village Sakya monastery, Lona Gonpa where he received instruction in reading, writing, grammar etc, and learned numerous texts and practices by heart.

At the age of eighteen, Rinpoche furthered his spiritual education at Sera Monastery, the great monastic university in Lhasa. There he underwent extensive training in all the five divisions of Buddhist philosophical study: Logic, Perfection of Wisdom, the Middle View, Metaphysics, and Ethical Discipline. This was interspersed with periods of intensive retreat at some of the many hermitages near Sera. By the time he was nineteen he had already mastered his studies sufficiently to become a scriptural teacher, and he began to have many students of his own. At the age of 21, he took full ordination vows of a Bhikshu from the widely renowned Purchog Jamgon Rinpoche.

He also received numerous teachings, initiations and commentaries from the great Lamas of that time such as Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang (His Holiness the Dalai Lamas Tutor), Bakri Dorje Chang, Lhatsun Dorje Chang, Gonsar Dorje Chang and others.

He Was Essentially Heruka

Likewise, Lama Trijang Dorjechang, Junior Tutor to His Holiness the present Dalai Lama, folds his hands upon the crown of his head whenever he mentions Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. He was such a great lama, unsurpassed by any, that hardly any lamas or geshes of the Three Pillars (the monasteries of Ganden, Sera and Drepung) had not been his disciples.

Once, in the cave-under-water, he experienced a manifestation of Yamantaka for nine days, while he himself was essentially Heruka Chakrasambhava. Further, he experienced a manifestation of Vajrayogini who told him of the benefits to be derived from merging the Vajrayogini teachings of the Sakya and Gelug traditions into one meditational practice. When he once made a great tsog offering beside a Heruka statue in Lhasa, the wisdom body actually entered into the statue. The statue danced and told him that whoever received Heruka initiation from him up to the seventh generation would be taken to the dakini realms.

H.E. Choden Rinpoche on Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

About H.E. Choden Rinpoche

Choden Rinpoche entered Rabten Monastery at the age of 8. There he learned all the prayers and rituals. He was 6 years old when he first met the legendary Pabongka Rinpoche, from whom he took many teachings at Rabten Monastery. He also took novice ordination from him then.

Admiring Pabongka Rinpoche

I dont remember too clearly my first meeting with Pabongka Rinpoche, but I do remember that Rinpoche was very happy with me. I really admired everything that Rinpoche did: the way he walked, the way he dressed, everything. I felt, If only I could be like him.

Pabongka Rinpoche advised me not to stay in the local monastery but to go to the main monastic centers for learning near Lhasa, such as Sera, Ganden or Drepung. I entered Sera Je monastery when I was fifteen. All of the local Gelug monasteries spread out over Tibet have allegiance to one of the three major monastic centers, so accordingly you follow that.

Khyongla Rato Rinpoche on Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

About Khyongla Rato Rinpoche

Khyongla Rinpoche is considered to be the 10th incarnation of a lama (the first Khyongla) who was born in 1510. The current Khyongla Rinpoche was born in 1923, in a small village called Ophor, south of Chamdo in the Kham region of what was then Tibet. At the age of five, Norbu, as he was then known, was recognized as an incarnate lama, and on his 6th birthday he was taken to his labrang (a lamas residence).[1] He became a monk and studied at Rato Monastery, later moving to Drepung Monastery, where he received his Lharampa Geshe degree (equivalent to Doctor of Divinity), and finally to Gyuto Tantric University, where he served as abbot.

In 1959, after the Chinese communists took over, Khyongla Rato left Tibet, crossing the Himalayas to India. Eventually he came to Europe and then the US, and in 1968 he starting living in New York City. In 1975 he founded The Tibet Center, a center for the study of Buddhism. For more than 30 years he was the director and main teacher at the Tibet Center, teaching primarily in English. As of 2014, he still teaches at The Tibet Center whenever his schedule permits.

In 1977 Khyonlga Ratos autobiography, My Life and Lives, was published. In 1993 he appeared in the Bertolucci film, Little Buddha. In 2014 he appeared in a documentary film about one of his students Nicholas Vreeland, Monk with a Camera.

The Power of Pabongka Rinpoches Teachings

During the summer session several traders and at least two high government officials found their lives transformed by his eloquence: they forsook their jobs to study religion and to give themselves to meditation.

Khyongla Rinpoches Prayers

 That like Pabongka Rinpoche, I might learn to help people by teaching, writing and discussion.

Khyongla Rinpoche Describes Pabongka Rinpoches Teachings

The Rinpoche was accustomed to illustrate his teaching by means of concrete examples and personal stories, with abundant references to the teaching of the Lord Buddha and to the commentaries of ancient scholars and saints. Whenever he noticed that his audience was becoming tired or restless, he would tell a comical story to rouse them and get a laugh.

Ven. Helmut Gassner on Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

About Helmut Gassner

Helmut Gassner, now known as Venerable Jampa Lungtog, is an Austrian monk and a pioneer of Tibetan Buddhism in the west. A dedicated student of Geshe Rabten Rinpoche, he was one of the first few westerners to embrace Tibetan Buddhism in the 1960s.

Throughout his many years of service for the Dharma, Helmut Gassner has served as an interpreter for many high lamas, including H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama, whom he served as a German translator for 17 years (1979  1995). Today, Ven Jampa Lungtog continues his Gurus legacy through serving H.E. Gonsar Rinpoche as a teacher and translator for Rabten Buddhist Monasteries in Europe.

A Supreme Teacher

It is said that when Pabongka Rinpoche gave Dharma discourses many in the audience gained profound insights into the failings of our worldly concerns to develop the lasting determination to exchange the constant quest for honor, praise, well-being and gain with sincere aspiration, kindness and concern for others. This unusual ability to teach is not an integral part of Tibetan culture.

All Significant Lamas Were Students of Pabongka Rinpoche

The great master Pabongka was in the first half of the twentieth century the pivotal or key lineage holder of the Oral Geden Tradition. Many other teachers before him mastered certain aspects of the traditions teachings, but it was Pabongka Rinpoches particular merit to locate and find all these partial transmissions, to learn and realize them, and bring them together once again to pass them on through a single person. In his lifetime there was hardly a significant figure of the Geden tradition who had not been Pabongka Rinpoches disciple. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was the one capable of receiving and passing on the entirety of the Oral Gaden Tradition once again. The Dorje Shugden practice is an integral part of that tradition.

A Simple Lama, Worldly Affairs Did Not Influence Him

There has been a focus on Pabongka Rinpoche as the most important figure in connection with Dorje Shugden during the Thirteenth Dalai Lamas time. It is historically proven that he was offered the regency and it is historically proven that he rejected it firmly.

Instrumental in Preserving the Lineage

In Buddhism, a living transmission depends on the existence of great masters able to pass on this knowledge on the basis of their own experience. Like highway bridges, the masters Pabongka and Trijang Rinpoches carried these experiences of the Gelug tradition from the past into the present in perfected form.

Michael Richards on Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

Pabongka Rinpoche was probably the most influential Gelug lama of this century, holding all the important lineages of sutra and tantra

In 1921, some seven hundred Tibetan monks, nuns and lay people gathered at Chuzang Hermitage, near Lhasa, to receive a Lam-rim discourse from the renowned teacher, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. For the next twenty-four days they listened to what has become one of the most famous teachings ever given in Tibet. The term Lam-rim  steps on the path to enlightenment  refers to a group of teachings that have developed in Tibet over the past millennium based on the concise, seminal text, A Lamp on the Path, by the great Indian master Atisha (Dipamkara Shrijnana, 982-1054).

In some ways, Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand represents the culmination of the Lam-rim tradition in Tibet. Certainly for Westerners, this book has become one of the most significant Lam-rims ever taught. Over 2,500 years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha spent about forty-five years giving a vast array of teachings to an enormous variety of people. He did not teach from some predetermined syllabus but according to the spiritual needs of his listeners. Hence any individual studying the Buddhas collected works would find it extremely difficult to discern a clear path that he or she could put into practice. The importance of Atishas Lam-rim was that he put the Buddhas teachings into logical order, delineating a step-by-step arrangement that could be understood and practised whoever wanted to follow the Buddhist path, irrespective of his or her level of development. Not only did Atisha rely on what the Buddha himself taught, he also brought with him to Tibet the still-living oral traditions of those teachings  the unbroken lineages of both method and wisdom, which had passed from the Buddha to Maitreya and Manjushri respectively, and then on down through Asanga, Nagarjuna and many other great Indian scholar-yogis to Atishas own spiritual masters. Thus as well as writing the first Lam-rim text, Atisha also conveyed these extremely important oral traditions, which still exist today, and are being transmitted to Westerners through such great contemporary lamas as His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Atishas disciples formed a school known as the Kadam, most of whose traditions were absorbed into the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, which was founded by the great Tsongkapa (1357-1419).

Many Kadam and Gelug lamas wrote Lam-rim commentaries and the most famous was Tsongkapas master-work, the Great Stages of the Path (Lam-rim Chen-mo): Pabongka Rinpoche followed the general outline of this text in the 1921 discourse that was to become Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand. However, while Tsongkapas work has a scholarly emphasis, Kyabje Pabongkas focuses more on the needs of practitioners. It goes into great detail on such subjects as how to prepare for meditation, guru yoga and the development of bodhichitta. Thus Liberation is a highly practical text and as relevant to contemporary Western practitioners as it was to the Tibetans who were there. Among those present in 1921 was Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang (1901-1981), one of Pabongka Rinpoches closest disciples, and later Junior Tutor to the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, and root guru of many of the Gelug lamas who fled Tibet in 1959. Trijang Rinpoche took notes at the teachings, and over the next thirty-seven years edited them painstakingly until they were ready to be published in Tibetan as Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.

Pabongka Rinpoche was probably the most influential Gelug lama of this century, holding all the important lineages of sutra and tantra and passing them on to most of the important Gelug lamas of the next two generations; the list of his oral discourses is vast in depth and breadth. He was also the root guru of Kyabje Ling Rinpoche (1903-1983), Senior Tutor of the Dalai Lama, Trijang Rinpoche, and many other highly respected teachers. His collected works occupy fifteen large volumes and cover every aspect of Buddhism. If you have ever received a teaching from a Gelug lama, you have been influenced by Pabongka Rinpoche. A Lam-rim text like Liberation may never be written again, which is why I say that this book represents the culmination of the Lam-rim tradition.

There are four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and all have Lam-rim teachings, but the Nyingma, Sakya and Kagyu schools do not emphasize the Lam-rim as does the Gelug. Although generally in the Gelug monastic curriculum the Lam-rim is not taught to the monks until quite late in their careers, it is often the first teaching given to Westerners. And Liberation is the Lam-rim that Gelug masters teach most. It has been a favourite of such lamas as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his two tutors, Serkong Rinpoche, Song Rinpoche, Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, Geshe Rabten, Geshe Sopa, Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. In his brief introduction, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche conveys a strong sense of what it was like to be there. Indeed, this text is unusual among Tibetan works in that it is the edited transcript of an oral discourse, not a literary composition. Hence not only do we receive some very precious teachings  the essence of the eight key Lam-rims  but we also gain insight into how such discourses were given in Tibet. The points that detail the special features of this teaching may be found in Trijang Rinpoches introduction and at the end of Day One. As Pabongka Rinpoche makes clear throughout, dedicating ourselves to the development of bodhicitta is the most meaningful way of directing our lives, and the graded realizations summarized in Day One lead us to that goal. At the end of the book, Pabongka Rinpoche says, Practise whatever you can, so that my teachings will not have been in vain But above all, make bodhicitta your main practice.

A NOTE TO THIS TRANSLATION: I have tried to make this translation as readable as possible without sacrificing accuracy. However, since Trijang Rinpoche was a poet of renown, there can be no doubt that some of the beauty of the Tibetan text has been lost. Nevertheless, I think that I have preserved the colloquial, down-to-earth nature of Pabongka Rinpoches discourses, giving this work the immediacy and power of the original. Heartfelt thanks go to my precious root guru Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey

Glenn Mullin on Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

Glenn H. Mullin is a Tibetologist, Buddhist writer and translator of classical Tibetan literature. His two principal tantric gurus were the late great masters Kyabje Ling Dorjechang and Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang, who were best known as Yongdzin Che Chung, the two main gurus of the present Dalai Lama. Glenn is the author of over 20 books on Tibetan Buddhism. Many of these focus on the lives and works of the early Dalai Lamas.

The Greatest Living Gelukpa Lama

His (Reting Rinpoche, regent of Tibet) first choice for a replacement was one of his own Gurus, the famous Pabongka Tulku. Pabongka was undoubtedly the greatest living Gelukpa lama of the period, and would have been an ideal candidate. However, he strongly disliked political affairs and distrusted the Lhasa aristocracy. He therefore declined the request.

The Contents of the Eleven-Volume Lhasa Edition of Phabongkhas Collected Works, Together with the Contents of the Twelfth Volume as Found in the Potala Collection

His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche has eleven volumes of writings that are highly sought after and very much used till the present day. Very few works by teachers in Tibet become classics within their lifetime, but Pabongka Rinpoches writings did become classics.

For the sake of brevity, the titles listed below follow those given in the contents pages at the beginning of each volume in the set (phabong kha. khyab bdag rdo rje chang pha bong kha pa dpal bzang poI gsung bum (11 vols.). Lhasa: s.n., 199-.) and those listed by the TBRC [W3834]. As Vol. 11 is a single work, the full title of the text is given.

Preference has been given for the TBRCs listing as it is easily accessible and often more extensive, especially as Vol. 10, for example, has no printed listing of contents. Any important discrepancies between the order and contents of the TBRCs listings and those of the contents pages of the Lhasa edition volumes, as well as the catalogue to the Potala edition are noted in square brackets.

In several cases the bibliographical titles have been expanded, usually by incorporating sections of the full headings as presented on the title pages of the individual works, with the additions in question also enclosed in square brackets. The contents of the twelfth volume are also listed following the presentation given in the catalogue to the Potalas edition.

Vol. 1 (ka)

Contents of Phabongkhapas Collected Works, Vol. Ka

pha bong ka pai gsung bum pod kha pai dkar chag/

A Compilation of Only Initiations Drawn from Phabongkhas Records of Received Teachings

pha bong kha pai gsan yig las dbang rkyang gi skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ A Compilation of Combined Initiations and Instructions Drawn from Phabongkhas Records of Received Teachings

pha bong kha pai gsan yig las dbang khrid sbrag mai skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ A Compilation of Various Oral Transmissions and Instructions Drawn from Phabongkhas Records of Received Teachings

pha bong kha pai gsan yig las lung khrid sna tshogs skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ A Compilation of Only Oral Transmissions Drawn from Phabongkhas Records of Received Teachings

pha bong kha pai gsan yig las lung rkyang gi skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/

Vol. 2 (kha)

Contents of Phabongkhapas Collected Works, Vol. Kha

pha bong kha pai gsung bum pod kha pai dkar chag/

A Compilation of Permission Initiations Drawn from Phabongkhas Records of Received Teachings

pha bong kha pai gsan yig las rjes gnang skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ A Compilation of Text-collections Drawn from Phabongkhas Records of Received Teachings

pha bong kha pai gsan yig las beu bum skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ The Method for Practicing the Yoga of the Guru Puja with Cakrasamvara: A Ritual Arranged for Convenient Recitation

bla ma mchod pa khor lo sdom pa dang brel bai rnal byor nyams su len tshul gyi cho ga nag gros su bkod pa/ The Method for Practicing the Guru Puja with Bhairava: A Recitation Ritual Arranged for Convenient Recitation

bla ma mchod pa jigs byed dang brel bar nyams su len tshul gyi don chog nag gros su bkod pa/ A Festival of Emanations: A Skillful Ritual Arrangement for the Extensive Way of Taking the Four Initiations According to the Hearing Lineage

snyan brgyud dbang bzhi rgyas pa len tshul gyi chog sgrigs thabs mkhas phrul gyi dga ston/ The Image of the Everlasting Vajra: The Way of Offering a Longlife Accomplishment Ritual Through the Guru Puja: Indivisible Bliss and Emptiness, Combined with the Long-life Practice of the Drubgyal Tradition

bla ma mchod pa bde stong dbyer med ma dang grub rgyal lugs kyi tshe sgrub sbrags mai sgo nas brtan bzhugs bul tshul rtag brtan rdo rjei re khA/ A Compilation of Guru Yoga Texts [such as the Treasury of All Desired Blessings-Guru Yoga, and Others]

bla mai rnal byor [byin rlabs dod dgui gter mdzod sogs bla mai rnal byor gyi rim pa] phyogs gcig tu bsgrigs pa/ A Compilation of Lineage Guru Supplication Texts and so forth.

bla brgyud gsol debs sogs kyi skor phyogs gcig tu bsgrigs pa/ The Storehouse of Precious Treasure: The Way of Practicing the Yoga of Ganden Lhagyama According to the Precious Oral Pith Instructions of the Hearing Lineage

dga ldan lha brgya mai rnal byor nyams su len tshul snyan brgyud zhal shes man ngag rin chen gter gyi bang mdzod/ The Ganden Lhagyama Guru Yoga, [Drawn from the Pith Instructions of the Ganden Hearing Lineage].

[dge ldan snyan brgyud kyi man ngag las byung bai] bla mai rnal byor dga ldan lha brgya ma/ The Staircase for the Fortunate to Travel to Tusita: An Instruction Manual for the Recitation-ritual of Consciousness-transference Based on the Ganden Lhagyama

dga ldan lha brgya mai pho khrid don chog skal bzang dga ldan bgrod pai them skas/ Fruits of the Wish-fulfilling Divine Tree Which Give Rise to the Two Accomplishments: Notes on Experiential Instructions on The Way to Rely on a Spiritual Guide

bshes gnyen bsten tshul myong khrid zin bris grub gnyis dod joi dpag bsam yongs dui snye ma/ Notes on the Graduated Stages of the Tantric Path [Taken During a Transmission from the Venerable Lama Chone Pandita]

[rje btsun bla ma co ne paN+Di ta rin po chei zhal snga nas/] sngags rim chen moi [bshad lung nos skabs kyi gsung] zin bris/ An Amazing Feast of Nectar: Notes of Guidance for Drubde Gegye Thegchog Ling

sgrub sde dge rgyas theg mchog gling gi bca yig ngo mtshar bdud rtsiI dga ston/

Vol. 3 (ga)

Contents of Phabongkhapas Collected Works, Vol. Ga

pha bong kha pai gsung bum pod ga pai dkar chag/

A Collection of Notes on Both the Guhyasamaja Generation Stage Ocean of Accomplishment and the Completion Stage Lamp that Illuminates the Five Stages, Arranged Together

gsang dus bskyed rim dngos grub rgya mtsho dang rdzogs rim rim lnga gsal sgron gnyis kyi zin tho ga zhig phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ The Supreme Festival: A Condensed Sadhana of the Arya Tradition of Guhyasamaja

dus pa phags lugs kyi sgrub thabs mdor bsdus mchog gi dga ston/ Victory Over Mara: The Sadhana of Solitary Hero Bhairava, Conveniently Arranged for Recitation

jigs byed dpa bo gcig pai sgrub thabs bdud las rnam rgyal gyi ngag don nag gros su bkod pa/ The Way to Practice the Succinctly Condensed Self-generation of the Terrifying Solitary Hero

jigs mdzad dpa bo gcig pai bdag bskyed cung bsdus te nyams su len tshul/ The Extremely Condensed Sadhana of Solitary Hero Bhairava Together with an Extremely Condensed Self-entry

jigs byed dpa bo gcig pai sgrub thabs shin tu bsdus dang bdag jug shin tu bsdus pa/

[This work is not listed in the Potala editions catalogue] The Method for Engaging in the Approximation Retreat of Serviceability of Solitary Hero Bhairava, [Uncommon] Notes on the Great Retreat of the Solitary Hero [by Amdo Deyang Rinpoche], and Notes on The Wrathful Distribution of the Sixty-Four Torma Offerings

jigs byed dpa bo gcig pai las rung gi bsnyen pa bya tshul dang / dpa gcig gi bsnyen chen zin tho [thun mong ma yin pa a mdo bde yangs rin po ches mdzad pa]/ drug cu ma drag bsngos kyi zin tho bcas/ Compiled Notes from the Transmission of the Cakrasamvara Tantras Total Illumination of the Hidden Meaning and the Generation Stage of Kalacakra

khor lo sdom pai rgyud grel sbas don kun gsal gyi bshad lung dang / dus khor gyi bskyed rim phyag zin thor bu bcas/ The Swift Path to Great Bliss: The Lineage Prayer of the Ghantapada Tradition of Cakrasamvara and Thoroughly Increasing Great Bliss: The Sadhana of the Ghantapada Tradition of the [Bhagavan] Cakrasamvara [Body Mandala]

dril bu lugs kyi khor lo sdom pai bla brgyud gsol debs bde chen nye lam dang/ [dril bu zhabs lugs kyi bcom ldan das] khor lo sdom pai lus dkyil gyi mngon rtogs bde chen rab phel/ The Continuous Rain of Camphor that Compassionately Cleanses the Stains of Downfalls: The Vase Generation of the [Bhagavan] Cakrasamvara Body Mandala [in the Tradition of Mahasiddha Ghantapada] and the Brief Self-entry

[grub chen dril bu zhabs lugs bcom ldan das] khor lo sdom pai lus dkyil gyi bum bskyed dang bdag jug mdor bsdus nyes ltung dri ma khrud paI thugs rjei ga pur char rgyun/ A Compiled Ritual for the Great Approximation Retreat Based on the Cakrasamvara Body Mandala, Arranged for Oral Recitation.

khor lo sdom pa lus dkyil gyi gzhi bsnyen chen moi bsnyen sgrub sbrags mai cho ga bklag chog tu bkod pa/ The Festival of Highest Virtue: The Method for Engaging in the Oral Recitation Ritual of External Offerings in Dependence on the [Bhagavan] Cakrasamvara Body Mandala [in the Tradition of Mahasiddha Ghantapada]

[grub chen dril bu zhabs lugs bcom ldan das] khor lo sdom pa lus dkyil la brten pai phyi rol mchod pa bya tshul gyi don chog bsod nams mchog gi dga ston/ Offering Clouds of the Vajra Body: A Tea Offering of Cakrasamvara

khor lo sdom pai ja mchod rdo rjei lus kyi mchod sprin/ [Drop of Essential Nectar of the Hearing Lineage: The Pith Instructions for the Way to Practice the White Long-life Deity Cakrasamvara,] a Long-life Accomplishment Ritual Sealed in Secrecy.

[sbyor bde mchog tshe lha dkar po dang sbrags ten nyams su len tshul gyi man ngag snyan brgyud bdud rtsii thig le/] tshe sgrub bka rgya/ The Good Vase of Immortal Nectar: The Way of Performing a Long-life Offering Ritual to a Great Being Based on the White Longlife Deity Cakrasamvara, Combined Together with the Repellence of the Dakinis

bde mchog tshe lha dkar poi sgo nas [yul khyad par can la] zhabs brtan bul tshul mkha gro bsun bzlog [dang bcas pa chi med bdud rtsii bum bzang/] The Hook Which Summons Attainments: The Ganacakra Offering of the White Long-life Deity Cakrasamvara

bde mchog tshe lha dkar poi tshogs mchod dngos grub gugs pai lcags kyu/ Garland of Cittamani: The Pith Instructions for the Yogas of the Two Stages of Khadiravani Tara

seng ldeng nags kyi sgrol mai lam rim pa gnyis kyi rnal byor nyams len gyi man ngag tsit+ta ma Nii do shal/ Offering of the Explanatory Torma on the Occasion of Teachings on the Two Stages of Guhyasamaja, Vajrabhairava and Cakrasamvara, Together with the Unmistaken Offering of the Illusory Body

gsang bde jigs gsum gyi rim gnyis bka khrid skabs grel gtor bul tsul skor dang / sgyu lus mchod pa sogs kyi phyag bzhes khrul med/

Vol. 4 (nga)

Contents of Phabongkhapas Collected Works, Vol. Nga

pha bong kha pai gsung bum pod nga pai dkar chag

Swift Path to Great Bliss: The Uncommon Sadhana of [Vajrayogini] Naro Kechari

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod kyi sgrub thabs thun min bde chen nye lam/ The Way for Meditating on an Abbreviated Version of the Swift Path to Great Bliss sadhana of [Vajrayogini] Naro Kechari

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod kyi sgrub thabs bde chen nye lam las bsdus te bsgom tshul/ Festival of Great Bliss: The Mandala Ritual of Queen [Vajrayogini] Naro Kechari

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod dbang moi dkyi khor gyi cho ga bde chen dga ston/ A Staircase for the Fortunate to Travel to Kechara: The Practice of the Approximation, Accomplishment and Activities of Queen [Vajrayogini] Naro Kechari

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod dbang moi bsnyen sgrub las gsum gyi lag len skal bzang mkha spyod bgrod pai them skas/ The Messenger Invoking the Hundred Blessings of the Vajra: The Ritual Text to be Recited as a Preliminary to the [Vajrayogini] Naro Kechari Approximation Retreat Together with Notes on the Ritual Practiced During the Approximation and the Way to Practice the Long, Middling and Brief Tenth-day Offerings

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod mai bsnyen pai sngon groI don cha bklag chog zur du bkol ba rdo rjei byin brgya beb pai pho nya dang/ bsnyen pa dug skabs kyi phyag len dang cho gai zin tho/ tshes bcu rgyas bring bsdus pa bya tshul/ Fulfilling the Wish for Attainments: The Peaceful Burning Offering of Queen [Vajrayogini] Naro Kechari

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod dbang moi sgo nas zhi bai sbyin sreg bya tshul dngos grub dod jo/ Swift Invocation of Attainments: The Way of Relying on and Practicing the Invocation of the Worldly God Agni to the Hearth in Dependence on Vajrayogini Naro Kechari

rdo rje rnal byor ma nA ro mkha spyod ma la brten nas jig rten pai me lha thab tu gugs pai bsnyen pa bya tshul dngos grub myur gugs/ Offerings and Gifts Pleasing the Rishis: The Way of Practicing the Tenth-part Burning Offering in Relation to the Approximation Retreat for the Invocation of the Worldly God Agni to the Hearth, in Dependence on Vajrayogini Naro Kechari

rdo rje rnal byor ma nA ro mkha spyod dbang moi sgo nas jig rten paI me lha thab tu gugs pai bsnyen pai bcu chai sbyin sreg bya tshul drang srong dgyes pai mchod sbyin/ [The Point of Entry to Kechara Pure Land:] A Recitation Text for the Sindhura Ritual, or Approximation and Accomplishment of Queen [Vajrayogini] Naro Kechari

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod dbang mo la brten pai sin+d+hU rai sgrub paam bsnyen sgrub sbrags mai don sgrigs [mkha spyod zhing gi jug ngos/] The Meaningful Magical Lasso: The Tenth-part Burning Offering of the [Vajrayogini] Naro Kechari Approximation Retreat

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod dbang moi bsnyen pai bcu cha chen moi sbyin sreg don yon phrul gyi zhags pa/ The Uncommon Golden Dharma: The Pith Instructions for Journeying to Kechara

mkha spyod bgrod pai man ngag gser chos thun min zhal shes chig brgyudma/ Festival of Uncontaminated Joy: The Short Ganacakra Offering of Queen [Vajrayogini] Naro Kechari

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod dbang moi tshogs mchod mdor bsdus zag med dgyes rgui dga ston/ The Magical Ritual of Skillful Means: The Way of Performing the Sesame Seed Burning Offering of Vajrayogini which Purifies All Negativities Without Remainder and The Cloud of Offerings of Virtuous Skillful Means-Food Offering

rdo rje rnal byor mai sgo nas til gyi sbyin sreg bya tshul sdig ltung lhag med spyod pai thabs mkhas phrul gyi cho ga dang/ zas mchod thabs mkhas bsod nams mchod sprin/ The Iron Hook of Compassion: The Transference of the Solitary Mother, Together with the Way of Performing the Hand Offering

yum rkyang gi pho ba myur dren thugs rjei lcags kyu dang/ lag mchod bya tshul/ The Painted Mandala Initiation Ritual of the Eleven-Faced Avalokitesvara of the Palmo Tradition [Arranged in a Straightforward Manner, which is Similar to the Mandala-rite of the Supreme Victor, The Great Seventh [Dalai Lama]]

thugs rje chen po bcu gcig zhal dpal mo lugs kyi ras bris kyi dkyil khor du dbang bskur bai cho ga [rgyal mchog bdun pa chen poi dkyil chog ltar nag gros su bkod pa/] Some Notes on Madhyamaka and on Transmissions of the Mahayanasutralamkara and Madhyamakavatara

mdo rgyan sbyar bai bshad lung dang dbu ma la jug pa/ dbu mai brjed byang nyung ngu/ Notes on The Essence of True Eloquence

drang nges legs bshad snying poi zin bris/ Fragmentary notes on Bodhisattvacaryavatara

byang chub sems dpai spyod pa la jug pa zhes bya ba bka mchan thor bu/ Bodhisattvacaryavatara Outline

spyod jug sa bcad/ Bodhisattvacaryavatara Notes

spyod jug zin bris/

Vol. 5 (ca)

Contents of Phabongkhapas Collected Works, Vol. Cha

pha bong kha pai gsung bum pod ca pai dkar chag/

Recollective Notes on the Four Interwoven Annotations of the Lamrim Chenmo

lam rim chen mo mchan bu bzhi sbrags kyi skor dran gsoi bsnyel byang/ [Chariot of the Mahayana:] The Way of Practicing the Jorchoepreliminaries of the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

byang chub lam gyi rim pai sngon gro sbyor chos nyams su len tshul [theg mchog phrul gyi shing rta/] The Excellent Path of the Victors: A Compiled Jorchoe Recitation for the Central Tibetan Lineages Extensive Commentarial Tradition of the Essential Lamrim Instructions of the The Sacred Words of Manjusri

lam rim dmar khrid jam dpal zhal lung gi khrid rgyun rgyas pa dbus brgyud lugs kyi sbyor chos kyi ngag don khrigs chags su bkod pa rgyal baI lam bzang/ On Outlines from an Experiential Commentary on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenments Essential Instructions- the Easy Path and Swith Path

[byang chub lam gyi rim pai dmar khrid bde myur gyi thog nas nyams khrid stsal skabs kyi] sa bcad skor/ Pith Instructions Pointing Out the Way to Train According to an Important Experiential Stages of the Path Commentary, Taught in Everyday Language.

lam rim myong khrid gnad du bkar te skyong tshul gyi man ngag phal tshig dmar rjen lag len mdzub btsugs kyi tshul du bkod pa/ Advice Spoken to Kongpo Tre Rabchog Tulku Rinpoche

kong po bkras rab mchog sprul rin po che la stsal ba/

[This work is included together with previous title [5.5] and is not listed separately in the contents of the actual printed volume, or in the catalogue to the Potala edition.] Heart Spoon: Practice Instructions to Bear in Mind [Drawn From] Experiences of the Long Path

shul ring lam gyi myong ba lag len dmar bcang snying gi thur ma/ Regarding Advice Presented in the Form of Songs of Realization, such as All Countless Objects of Refuge and so forth

rab byams skyabs kun ma sogs nyams mgur bslab byai skor/ The Root Text of the Seven Points of Mind Training

blo sbyong don bdun pai rtsa ba/ [The Common Jewel of the Ganden Practice Lineage:] Enhancing the Experience of Method and Wisdom by the Practice of Dedicating the Collection of the Illusory Body

sgyu lus tshogs su bsngo ba thabs shes nyams kyi bogs don [dga ldan sgrub brgyud spyi nor/] The Emanated Chariot: The Way to Practice the Generosity of Offering the One Hundred Tormas [Which Carries to the Jewel of the Three Bodies]

gtor ma brgya rtsa gtong tshul [sku gsum nor bu dren pai] mchod sbyinphrul gyi shing rta/ 12. A Textual Collection of Notes by Various Disciples on the Nectar of Dagpo Lama Rinpoches Speech, which had been Forgotten and Scattered

dwags po bla ma rin po chei gsung gi bdud rtsi bsnyel thor gnang ba sogs phyag zin thor bu sna tshogs phyogs gcig tu bsgrigs pa/ Brief Notes on Pramana

tshad mai bsnyel byang mdor bsdus/

Vol. 6 (cha)

Contents of Phabongkhapas Collected Works, Vol. Cha

pha bong kha pai gsung bum pod cha pai dkar chag/

A Guide for those Travelling to the Supreme Field: The Profound Instruction for those Travelling to Shambhala in Dependence on White Manjusri

jam dbyangs dkar po la brten nas sham+ba+ha lar bgrod pai gdams pa zab mo zhing mchog bgrod pai sa mkhan/ A Collection Regarding the Sadhanas of the Highest Deities

lhag lhai sgrub thabs skor phyogs bsgrigs/ The Way of Practicing the Long-life Accomplishment Ritual of SitaTara Cintacakra for the Sake of Oneself and Others

sgrol dkar yid bzhin khor loi sgo nas rang gzhan gyi tshe sgrub bya tshul/ Festival of the Nectar of Immortality: Praises and Requests to SitaTara Cintacakra

sgrol dkar yid bzhin khor loi bstod gsol chi med bdud rtsii dga ston/ Chone Panditas Sita-Tara Long-Life-Commentary, the Collected Activity- sadhana of White Manjusri and Sarasvati, Together with Lecture Notes

co ne paN+Di tai sgrol dkar tshe khrid dang / jam dkar/ dbyangs can ma rnams kyi sgrub thabs las tshogs bcas pai gsung bshad zin bris/ On Sealed Teachings

gsung bka rgya mai skor/ Some Scattered Teachings Compiled Together

gsung thor bu ba ga zhig phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ A Compilation of Various Questions and Answers on Sutra and Tantra

mdo sngags skor gyi dris lan sna tshogs phyogs gcig tu bsgrigs pa/ The Permission Initiations of the Dharma-cycle of Manjusri, and so forth, Arranged Together

jam dbyangs chos skor sogs kyi rjes gnang bca sgrigs skor/ [Festival of the Victory Over the Three Worlds:] The Nine-floored Iron House Torma Ritual Victory Over the Three Worlds, Arranged for Convenient Recitation

lcags mkhar zur dgu pai gtor chog srid gsum rnam rgyal gyi don cha nag gros su bkod pa [srid gsum rnam rgyal dga ston/] [The Machine of Sky-Iron:] A Supplement to Festival of the Victory Over the Three Worlds, which is the Nine-floored Iron House Torma Ritual, Victory Over the Three Worlds, Arranged for Convenient Recitation

lcags mkhar zur dgu pai gtor chog srid gsum rnam rgyal gyi chog sgrigs srid gsum rnam rgyal dga ston gyi zur rgyan [gnam lcags phrul khor/] The Inescapable Dark Belly of Yama: A Subjugation Ritual for Ghosts and Demons, in Dependence on Solitary Hero Bhairava

jigs byed dpa bo gcig pai sgo nas sgab dream sgrub sri mnan pai cho ga thar med gshin rjei lto khung/ A Brief Subjugation of Demons Which Can Be Modified for Use in Relation to Any Meditational Deity or Dharma Protector Based on the Practice of the Subjugation Ritual for Ghosts- The Inescapable Dark Belly of Yama, in Dependence on Solitary Hero Bhairava,

jigs byed dpa bo gcig pai sgo nas sgab dre mnan chog thar med gshin rjei lto khung gi bca gshom gyi lag len dang /yi dam chos skyong gang laang sbyar du rung bai sri mnan mdor bsdus/

Vol. 7 (ja)

Contents of Phabongkhapas Collected Works, Vol. Ja

pha bong kha pai gsung bum pod ja pai dkar chag/

The Sun that Enlarges the Lotus of the Three Types of Faith: An Explanation on the Way of Offering the Mandala

maN+Dal bshad pa bul tshul dad gsum pad+mo rgyas pai nyin byed/ A Collection of Long-life Prayers and Swift-return Supplications to Incarnation Lineages

zhabs brtan dang myur byon khrungs rabs gsol debs kyi rim pa rnams phyogs gcig tu bsdebs pa/ [The Melodious Sound of Conviction,] The Roar of Good Faith: An Incarnation Lineage Supplication

khrungs rabs gsol debs skal bzang dad pai nga ro [yid ches bden dbyangs/] The Melodious Drum Victorious Over the Terrifyingly Laughter of the Lord of Death: A Long-life Prayer Supplication to Tagtra

stag brag gi brtan bzhugs gsol debs jigs mdzad bzhad pai gad rgyangs chi bdag g.yul las rgyal bai rnga dbyangs/ A Heart Jewel of Offering Clouds of Good Fortune Pleasing the Local Protectors: The Permission Initiation Ritual of the Glorious Four-Faced Protector of Seventeen Expressions

dpal mgon gdong bzhi pa rnam gyur bcu bdun gyi rjes gnang gi cho ga zhing skyong dgyes pai mchod sprin skal bzang snying nor/ The Increasing and Auspicious [Aksara Garland]: A Ritual of the Glorious Four-Faced Protector of Seventeen Expressions, Together with the Entrustment

dpal mgon gdong bzhi pa rnam gyur bcu bdun mngag gtad dang bcas pai cho ga spel legs [ak+Sha rai phreng ba]/

[This work is included together with previous title [7.5] and is not listed separately in the contents of the actual printed volume, or in the catalogue to the Potala edition.] The Rain of Treasure Fulfilling All Needs and Wants: The Yellow Increasing Ritual of the Glorious Four-Faced Protector in Dependence on the Nine Deities, the Quintessential Instruction to Fulfill all Desires

dpal mgon gdong bzhi pai ser po rgyas byed lha dgu la brten pai dod dgu dbang du bya bai man ngag dgos dod dbyig gi char bab/ Summer Thunder: A Supplement to The Rain of Treasure Fulfilling All Needs and Wants: The Increasing Ritual of the Glorious Four-Faced Protector with a Yellow [Expression] in Dependence on the Nine Deities, the Quintessential Instruction to Fulfill all Desires

dpal mgon gdong bzhi pai [rnam gyur] ser po rgyas byed lha dgu la brten pai dod dgu dbang du bya bai man ngag dgos dod dbyig gi char bab kyi lhan thabs dbyar gyi rnga gsang A New Fulfillment Ritual of Glorious Four-Faced Protector Based on that Written by Sakyapa Ngawang Khyenrab, with Exceptional Changes

dpal mgon zhal bzhi pai bskang gsar sa skya pa ngag dbang mkhyen rab kyis mdzad par dmigs bsal bsgyur ba gnang pa/ Exhortations to Entreat Various Protectors of the Teachings: Serkyem, Ganacakra Offerings and so forth, as well as the Cycle of the Wealth Deity

bstan srung khag gi phrin bskul gser skyems tshogs mchod sogs dang nor lhai skor/ [The Chariot of the Jewel of Faith Drawing Together a Precious Mass of Blessings:] The Life Entrustment of Shugden Possessing the Seal of Secrecy and Notes on How to Draw the Life-energy Cakra

shugs ldan srog gtad bka rgya can dang srog khor bri tshul gyi zin bris/ [byin rlabs rin chen phung po dren ba yi/ /yid ches nor bui shing rta/] A Supplement on How to Practice the Preliminaries for the Lifeentrustment of Shugden

shugs ldan srog gtad kyi sngon groi mtshams sbyor kha skong/ The Victory Banner Thoroughly Victorious in All Directions: A Presentation of the Approach, Accomplishment and Activities of Shugden, Fulfilling all Needs and Wants

shugs ldan gyi bsnyen sgrub las gsum gyi rnam gzhag dgos dod yid bzhin re skong phyogs las rnam par rgyal bai rgyal mtshan/ The Melodious Drum Victorious in All Directions: The Extensive Uncommon Fulfillment Ritual of the Five Manifest Families of Gyalchen Dorje Shugden

rgyal chen rdo rje shugs ldan rigs lnga rtsal gyi sger bskang rgyas pa phyogs las rnam par rgyal bai rnga dbyangs/ Swift Summoning of the Deeds of the Four Activities: The Middling Fulfillment Ritual of Gyalchen Dorje Shugden

rgyal chen rdo rje shugs ldan rtsal gyi bskang chog bring po las bzhiI phrin las myur gugs/ On [the Way to Perform the Swift Summoning of AuspiciousnessIncense Offering to Cakrasamvaras Assembly of Mandala Deities and Other] Incense Offerings

[dpal khor lo sdom pai dkyil khor gyi lha tshogs rnams la bsangs mchod bul tshul bde chen phywa g.yang myur gugs sogs] bsangs mchod kyi skor/

Vol. 8 (nya)

Contents of Phabongkhapas Collected Works, Vol. Nya

pha bong kha pai gsung bum pod nya pai dkar chag/

A Necklace of Increasing, Beautiful Fresh Flowers: A Compilation of Official Correspondences

chab shog gi rim pa rnams phyogs gcig tu bkod pa spel legs me tog gsar paI do shal/ A Compilation of Requests, Dedications, Supplications, Aspirational Prayers of Printing Colophons and Introductions, Such as Those of [the Contents of the Dharma-cycle of Cakrasamvara, The Heart-Jewel of the Dakinis of the Three Places and So Forth]

[khor lo sdom pai chos skor gyi dkar chag gnas gsum mkha groi snying nor sogs] spar byang smon tshig dang/ dbu brjod / dod gsol bsngo smon gyi skor rnams phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ Notes on the Experiential Instructions on [the Consciousness transference of] a Single Day [from a Fully-Ripening Profound Commentary on the Profound Path of the Guru Puja, the Uncommon Guru Yoga of the Ganden Hearing Lineage]

[dga ldan snyan brgyud kyi bla mai rnal byor thun mong min pa zab lam bla ma mchod pai zab khrid smin rgyas su nos skabs pho ba] zhag gcig maI nyams khrid brjed byang/ The Swift Path for Travelling to Tusita Pure Land: Teaching Notes Taken During a Profound Commentary on the Ganden Lhagyama Guru Yoga [of the Segyu Tradition]

[sras rgyud lugs kyi] bla mai rnal byor dga ldan lha brgyai zab khrid gnang skabs kyi gsung bshad zin bris dga ldan zhing du bgrod pai myur lam/ Entryway to the Ocean of Great Bliss: Notes on the First Stage of the Ghantapada Cakrasamvara Body Mandala

khor lo sdom pa dril bu lus dkyil gyi rim pa dang poi zin bris bde chen rgya mtshoi jug ngogs/

[Note that the catalogue of the Potala edition as well as the numbering of the popular Lhasa-edition gives this text as work six of the volume] Opening the Door to the Good Path: Teaching Notes Taken During a Profound Commentary on the Principal Paths

lam gtsoi zab khrid bstsal skabs kyi gsung bshad zin bris lam bzang sgo byed/

[Note that the catalogue of the Potala edition as well as the numbering of the popular Lhasa-edition gives this text as work five of the volume] The Key of Secrets: Notes on the Principle Paths

lam gtsoi zin bris gsang bai lde mig/

[This work is included together with the previous title and is not listed separately in the contents of the actual printed volume or in the catalogue to the Potala edition.] The Outline of the Essential Instructions of the Generation and Completion Stages of the Ghantapada Cakrasamvara Body Mandala

khor lo sdom pa dril bu lus dkyil gyi bskyed rdzogs gnyis kyi dmar khrid sa bcad/ Explanatory Notes on the Root Mantras of Cakrasamvara Father and Mother

khor lo sdom pa yab yum gyi rtsa sngags kyi mchan grel/ [The Nectar of the Great Bliss-Guru, Droplets of Jamphel Nyingpos Blessings:] Notes on the Prayer to Meet with the Teachings of Tsongkhapa the Great

tsong kha pa chen poi bstan pa dang mjal bai smon lam gyi zin bris [bde chen bla mai gsung gi bdud rtsi jam dpal snying poi byin rlabs kyi zegs ma/]

Vol. 9 (ta)

Contents of Phabongkhapas Collected Works, Vol. Ta

pha bong kha pai gsung bum pod ta pai dkar chag/

Verses for Intervals in the Contents of the Kangyur- Volume One.

bka gyur dkar chag gi bar skabs tshigs bcad stod cha Verses for Intervals in the Contents of the Kangyur- Volume Two.

bka gyur dkar chag gi bar skabs tshigs bcad smad cha Brief Notes from a Commentary Given on the Six Session Guru Yoga, the Twenty Stanzas on the Vows, the Fifty Verses on the Guru and the Root Downfalls Constituting a Gross Contravention

thun drug bla mai rnal byor dang /sdom pa nyi shu pa/ bla ma lnga bcu pa/ sngags kyi rtsa ltung sbom po bcas kyi bshad khrid gnang bai zin tho mdor bsdus/ [The Essence of the Vast and Profound: A Concise Compilation of] Notes Taken During a Combined Commentary on Tsongkhapas Shorter Stages of the Path to Enlightenment and the Essential Instructions of the Swift Path

rjei lam rim chung ngu dang / myur lam dmar khrid sbrags mai gsung bshad stsal skabs kyi zin bris [mdo tsam du bkod pa zab rgyas snying po] Easy to Understand Instructions on the Sequential Performance of the Rite of Generating the Mind of Bodhicitta, as Given on One Occasion at Tashilhunpo

bkras lhun du sems bskyed mchod pa gnang skabs gzhan kyi gzigs bdeI phyag bzhes gros bkod du bstsal ba/ Notes Marking Out Whatever Discrepancies Were Found in Various Wordings of the Manuscript Made from the New Printing Boards of the Great Stages of the Path

lam rim chen mo par gzhi gsar bskrun gyi ma dpei tshig sna mi mthun pa byung ba gang rnyed rnams brjed thor btab pa/

Vol. 10 (tha)

The Moon-Vine Increasing the Milk-Lake of Faith: The Biography of Dagpo Bamchoe Lama Lobsang Jamphel Lhundrub Gyatso

dwags po bam chos bla ma blo bzang jam dpal lhun grub rgya mtshoi rnam thar dad pai o mtsho phel byed zla bai khri shing/ Compilation of Notes on Experiential Instructions on The Sacred Words of Manjusri Stages of the Path, According to The Abridged Commentarial Tradition of the Southern Lineage, Received from the Unequalled Dagpo Lama, Lord of the Dharma

dwags po bla ma mnyam med chos kyi rje las lam rim jam dpal zhal lung gi khrid rgyun bsdus pa lho brgyud du grags pai nyams khrid gsan skabs sogs kyi bsnyel byang phyogs bsdebs A Collection of [Kyabdag Dorjechang Phabongkhas] Minor Compositions and Instructions

[khyab bdag rdo rje chang pha bong kha pai] bka rtsom dang phyag bzhes phran tshegs skor phyogs su bkod pa/

[The catalogue to the Potala edition lists the third work of the volume as: The Mirror of the View: Notes Taken During an Explanation of the Profound Commentary on The Hero Entering Into Battle  Transference of Consciousness pho ba dpa bo g.yul jug gi zab khrid gnang bai gsung bshad zin bris lta bai me long/] [An Ornament Embellishing Arising Wisdom:] An Explanation of the Layout of the Vairocana-Abhisambodhi

rnam snang mngon byang gi thig grel [sher byung dgongs rgyan/]

[The catalogue to the Potala edition lists the fourth work of the volume as: Abbreviated Rites to Protect Harvests from Rain, Frost, Hail, Disease, Drought and So Forth lo tog gi rim gro dang/ char bebs/ sad ser btsa than sogs srung thabs mdor bsdus/] [The Heart Essence of the Dakinis of the Three Places: Extremely Secret] Notes on the Profound Commentary of the Two Stages of Queen [Vajrayogini] Naro Kechari.

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod dbang moi lam rim pa gnyis kyi zab khrid zin bris [shin tu gsang ba gnas gsum mkha groi snying bcud/] The Clear Essence of the Profound Path of Great Bliss: An Accessory to The Heart Essence of the Dakinis of the Three Places: Notes on [Vajrayogini] Naro Kecharis Two Stages

[rdo rje rnal byor ma] nA ro mkha spyod mai rim gnyis zin bris gnas gsum mkha groi snying bcud kyi zur rgyan bde chen zab lam snying po gsal ba/ The Way to Perform the Increasing Burning Offering at the End of the Great Tenth-part Burning Offering of Vajrayogini

rdo rje rnal byor mai bcu cha chen moi sbyin sreg gi mjug tu rgyas paI sbyin sreg bya tshul/ The Way to Perform the Long-life Accomplishment Ritual [Related] to Sita-Tara [Cintacakra]

sgrol dkar [yid bzhin khor loi sgo nas] tshe sgrub bya tshul/

[The catalogue to the Potala edition lists the eighth work of the volume as: The Way To Perform the Ganacakra [of Vajrayogini] dei tshogs bul tshul la]

Vol. 11 (da)

[Profound and Completely Unmistaken Pith Instructions for Delivering Liberation in Your Hand:] Notes on Experiential Instructions on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, [the Heart-Elixir of the Unequalled Dharma King,] the Essence of Nectar, Instructions that Assemble the Elixir of all the Teachings

[rnam grol lag bcangs su gtod pai man ngag zab mo tshang la ma nor ba mtshungs med chos kyi rgyal poi thugs bcud] byang chub lam gyi rim pai nyams khrid kyi zin bris gsung rab kun gyi bcud bsdus gdams ngag bdud rtsii snying po/

Vol. 12 (na), Present Only in the Potala Collection

The Beautiful Ornament of the Oceans: The Biography of the Yogi Wangchuk Yabje Dorjechang Lobsang Sangye Palzangpo, Holder of the Great Unsurpassable Secret Teachings

gsang chen bla na med pai bstan pai gdung tshob rnal byor dbang phyug yab rje rdo rje chang blo bzang sangs rgyas dpal bzang poi rnam thar rgya mtshoi mdzas rgyan/ A Collection of The Lord of Refuge, Kyabdag Dorjechang Phabongkhas Minor Compositions and Instructions

khyab bdag rdo rje chang pha bong kha pai bka rtsom dang phyag bzhes phran tshegs skor phyogs su bkod pa/ An Ornament Embellishing Arising Wisdom: An Explanation of the Make-up of the Vairocana-Abhisambodhi

rnam snang mngon byang gi thig brel sher byung dgongs rgyan/ Notes Taken During a Profound Commentary on the Foundation of All Good Qualities, the Abbreviated Essence of the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

byang chub lam gyi rim pai snying po bsdus pa yon tan gzhi gyur mai zab khrid gnang skabs kyi brjed byang/ The Way to Perform the Amending Burning Offering for the Approximation Retreat of Serviceability of the Glorious Solitary Hero Vajrabhairava

dpal rdo rje jigs byed dpa bo cig pai las rung gi bsnyen pai kha skong sbyin sreg bya tshul/ The Preliminary Practice Text for the Solitary Hero Vajrabhairava Approximation Retreat, Arranged for Convenient Recitation

dei bsnyen pai sngon groi don cha nag gros su bkod pa/ Notes for Ocean of Attainments: The Burning Offering for Solitary Hero Vajrabhairava

dei sbyin sreg dngos grub rgya mtshoi zin bris/ The Hook Which Summons Attainments: The Self-Entry of the Solitary Hero

dpa bo gcig pai bdag jug dngos grub gugs pai lcags kyu/]

Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum

Please click the links below to download the 11 volumes of Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum (or collected works). The text is shared here with all of you so you can print this precious text and put it on your altar as the representation of the Buddhas speech. You can also print this out to offer it to your teachers and friends:

Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 1 (click on the image to download in PDF form) Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 2 (click on the image to download in PDF form) Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 3 (click on the image to download in PDF form) Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 4 (click on the image to download in PDF form) Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 5 (click on the image to download in PDF form) Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 6 (click on the image to download in PDF form) Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 7 (click on the image to download in PDF form) Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 8 (click on the image to download in PDF form) Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 9 (click on the image to download in PDF form) Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 10 (click on the image to download in PDF form) Pabongka Rinpoches Sungbum Volume 11 (click on the image to download in PDF form)



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850 publishers from 34 countries will participate in the 47th Edition of the Cairo International Book Fair

The 47th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair will kick off on Wednesday 27 January with 850 publishers from 34 countries; the largest number of countries participating in the fair since its inauguration.

It is not yet clear whether Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will inaugurate the fair, but there is no planned meeting between the president and intellectuals; a tradition set by ousted president Hosni Mubarak and discontinued after his ouster.

Former president Mohamed Morsi had only met with publishers on the inauguration of the one edition that took place during his year in office.

The details of this year's edition  set to conclude on 10 February  were revealed in a press conference held at the General Egyptian Book Organisation (GEBO), the official sponsor and organiser of the event.

The fair's opening date was changed for the second year in a row to avoid coinciding with the anniversary of the 25 January revolution.

The fair's theme this year will be "Culture on the Frontline," with GEBO head Haitham El-Hajj Ali saying, "culture is the main solution to the problems of society and the firewall against the extreme ideas."

Picking a theme for the fair is a new tradition set after the revolution, reflecting the political scene and mostly fighting radicalism with cultural endeavours.

Last year, the fair's theme was 'Culture and Renovation,' which reflected the ongoing demands of members of the political elite and intellectuals in Egypt to reform and renew religious discourse.

Reformist imam Mohamed Abdou (1849  1905) was chosen as the fair's person of the year in 2015.

This edition's person of the year is iconic novelist Gamal El-Ghitani, who passed away in October last year.

The countries participating in the fair include 21 Arab states and 13 non-Arab countries, with 550 publisher from Egypt, 250 from the Arab world, and 50 foreign publishers, in addition to 118 kiosks for used books.

There are six more countries participating this year than the second largest edition of the fair.

The list of countries, distributed to journalists by mail, includes the United Arab Emirates and Abu-Dhabi as two separate countries, even though Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the UAE. The American University in Cairo is also listed as a country in the foreign countries section.

Turkey will not participate in the fair this year for the first time in decades, which reflects the escalating political tension between Cairo and Ankara.

El-Hajj Ali said that even though Turkey did not ask to participate in the fair, he would have reacted "negatively" to such a request from a country that "harbours hostility towards Egypt."

He did, however, leave the door open for independent Turkish publishers.

Although Turkey will not participate in the fair, Qatar, with which Egypt has also had tension, is listed among the participating countries.

The list includes Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Oman, Palestine, Jordan, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, Eritrea and the guest of honour Bahrain.

The non-Arab countries include Italy, Russia, India, Germany, France, Paraguay, Greece, China and the Czech Republic.

Al-Hajj said that he is holding to the stance of Egyptian intellectuals of rejecting any Israeli participation in the fair, or any kind of cultural relations with the neighbouring country.

The head of the GEBO, who assumed the post less than six months ago, said he will comply with any court ruling concerning books by Muslim Brotherhood authors.

Last year, books by Sheikh Youssef El-Qaradawi, who is currently living in Qatar and is a strong supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, sparked controversy and were removed from display at the Dar El-Shorouk wing the fair, along with books by the late radical Islamist author Sayed Qutb.

This year's guests will include Chinese novelist Leo Gen Yun, Egyptian thinker Hassan Hanafi, Lebanese writer George Corm, Moroccan writer Hassan Orid, Tunisian Arabic Booker winning novelist Shoukry El-Mabkhout, among many others who will participate in a very busy cultural agenda.

The fair will be open daily from 10am till 7pm for book selling, and until 9pm for cultural events.

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WASHINGTON  Woodrow Wilson, who enjoyed moralizing about the mundane, called paying taxes a glorious privilege. In 1865, when there was a Civil War income tax, one taxpayer shared this sensibility, sort of. Mark Twain said that his tax bill of $36.82 (including a $3.12 fine for filing late) made him feel important because the government was paying attention to him. Today, Rep. Kevin Brady wants to change the way government pays attention to taxpayers.

Congress is like a Calder mobile: Something jiggled here causes things to wiggle over there. When conservatives toppled Speaker John Boehner, they inadvertently propelled Brady into the Houses most important chairmanship, that of the Ways and Means Committee. Because revenue bills must originate in the House, Brady now wields Congress most important gavel, all because the committees previous chairman, Paul Ryan, now sits in Boehners chair.

If there is going to be growth-igniting tax reform  and if there isnt, American politics will sink deeper into distributional strife  Brady will begin it. Fortunately, the Houston congressman is focused on this simple arithmetic: Three percent growth is not 1 percent better than 2 percent growth, it is 50 percent better.

If the Obama-eras average annual growth of 2.2 percent becomes the new normal, over the next 50 years real GDP will grow from todays $16.3 trillion to $48.3 trillion. If, however, growth averages 3.2 percent, real GDP in 2065 will be $78.6 trillion. At 2.2 percent growth, the cumulative lost wealth would be $521 trillion.

Brady, however, would like to start with the approximately $2 trillion that U.S. corporations have parked overseas. Having already paid taxes on it where it was earned, the corporations sensibly resist having it taxed again by Americas corporate tax, the highest in the industrial world. [The $2 trillion] wont just naturally fly back to us, Brady says. Measures should be taken to make it rational for corporations to bring money home. And to make it rational for corporations like Pfizer, which recently moved its headquarters to Ireland for tax purposes, to remain here.

In the last 30 years, Brady says, more and more taxes have been paid by fewer and fewer people. And fewer and fewer businesses have been organized as corporations: Three quarters of job-creating entities are not paying corporate taxes.

You cant, Brady says, ask people to make big changes, leapfrogging our global competitors, just to get to average. But making big changes is why we all came to Congress. And the benefit that comes from something unfortunate  the fact that there are so few (perhaps fewer than 40) competitive House seats  is that members can take risks. Presidential engagement is necessary for tax reform, and Brady says that will require a new president who understands that just a little respect goes a long way up here [on Capitol Hill].

All Republican presidential candidates have tax reform proposals, but only one candidate proposes increasing the cost of government for every American. Here, at last, Donald Trump actually resembles a Republican. Unfortunately, it is a Republican from 125 years ago, when the party stood for big government serving crony capitalism with high tariffs.

As Steven R. Weisman demonstrates in his splendid history of American taxation, The Great Tax Wars, the GOPs tariffs were indirect, hidden sales taxes that crimped consumption by Americans with small incomes. In 1913, the first year of Wilsons presidency and the year the 16th Amendment and the income tax arrived, the glorious privilege of paying taxes was enjoyed primarily through tariffs: They provided nearly half of federal revenues, with most of the rest coming from tobacco and liquor taxes, which also were hardest on persons of modest means.

Trump, who works himself into a lather because Nabisco is making some Oreo cookies outside the country, is obsessed with Americas trade with China. Were going to get Apple to start building their damn computers and things in this country, says he, aiming to raise the price Americans pay for Apple products that today are assembled in China, which, according to trade attorney Scott Lincicome, makes about $6 by assembling an iPhone from parts (many of which China has imported).

Trump favors a 45 percent tariff to protect customers of Wal-Mart and similar retailers from the onslaught of inexpensive Chinese apparel, appliances and food. He can explain the glorious privilege of paying taxes-as-tariffs when he makes his next visit to a Wal-Mart, perhaps the one in Secaucus, New Jersey, just seven miles from his Fifth Avenue penthouse.
Valentines Day is quickly approaching, and for those with still no clue what to do, opt for an experience with these five events coming to Tulsa next month.

Surprise your sweetheart with tickets to a show, and then let the show do all the work. These five things will feature something for nearly everyone, from your folk music-loving Valentine to the ballet to a girls night out.

A rocking Valentine

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

8 p.m. Feb. 18, The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa.

Warm that black heart with some face-melting rock n roll from one of the genres top artists. Jett and her band return to The Joint on Feb. 18, just in time for a Valentines surprise. And with hits like I Love Rock n Roll, I Hate Myself for Loving You and Do You Wanna Touch Me, love will be in the air at The Joint in February.

A country Valentine

Turnpike Troubadours

7 p.m. Feb. 18, Osage Casino Event Center, 951 W. 36th St. North.

Your country music-lovin darlin will love this chance to see those energetic rising country stars from Oklahoma again when they play the Osage Event Center next month. You want love songs? These guys got feelings and like to sing about them. From Easton & Main, about love found and lost under the neon glow at Cains Ballroom, to Every Girl, about every girl these guys have ever known, youll have many chances to two-step with your sweetheart.

A folk Valentine

Arlo Guthrie

Doors open at 7 p.m. Feb. 14, Brady Theater, 105 W. M.B. Brady St.

One of Arlo Guthries most notable songs, Alices Restaurant, turned 50 last year. Guthrie is currently on tour to bring the epic song back to fans. While its better known as a Thanksgiving song, your Valentine will certainly appreciate the story he can weave, just like his dad, Oklahoma native Woody Guthrie.

A theatrical Valentine

Romeo & Juliet, presented by the Tulsa Ballet

8 p.m. Feb. 12-13, 3 p.m. Feb. 14, Tulsa PACs Chapman Music Hall, 110 E. Second St.

One of literatures greatest love stories will be told by the Tulsa Ballet when it performs Shakespeares Romeo & Juliet. Its a story thats been presented hundreds and hundreds of times, but Tulsa Ballet will give a fresh, unique presentation of the [SPOILER ALERT] tragic story of these star-crossed lovers.

A single ladies Valentine

Magic Men Live!

8 p.m. Feb. 16, Cox Business Center Assembly Hall, 100 Civic Center

You dont need no man for a fun night on the town, but the scantily clad men of Magic Men Live! couldnt hurt. These men bring sensual dancing and high energy to their cabaret-style show, which also features comedic skits and special theatrics. You had us at scantily clad men.
(Beijing)  The air pollution in many of China's cities was worse in December than it was in the same month of 2014, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said on January 25, underscoring the country's persisting problems with smog.

Major indicators of air pollution, such as nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5  tiny specs of particulate matter in the air that can damage lungs  were all higher in 74 cities in the last month of the year than they were in December 2014, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

The top 10 dirtiest cities were all in northern China, seven of them in Hebei Province. Baoding, a city of 11 million people that is busy with heavy industry, topped the list.

The ministry only released lists of the 10 dirtiest and cleanest cities. Beijing was not on either and it is unclear where it ranked among the 74 cities.

The capital had 13 days in December when the air quality index soared over 200, compared to only two such days in the final month of last year, the ministry said. The government defines anything above 100 as "polluted" or worse.

Beijing's major pollutant in December was PM 2.5, the ministry said, as the amount in one cubic meter of air increased 167 percent from the same month in 2014.

The pollution was so serious in the capital on December 7 that city officials declared a red alert, which required half of cars to stay off the road, schools to close, work at construction projects to halt, and factories to shut or ease production.

The ministry's January 25 statement blamed the smog fouling the air of northern China on burning coal to heat homes and offices in the winter. In 2013, Hebei officials announced plans to cut emissions by promoting so-called clean coal, but locals ignored the policy because the new coal product did not produce enough heat.

The cleanest cities in December 2015 were all south of the Yangtze River in southern provinces such as Hainan and Guangdong, the ministry said.

(Rewritten by Chen Na)
Next month ABC airs 2015 UK drama series, Cuffs, which depicts the personal lives of front-line police in Brighton, UK.

The series, starring Peter Sullivan and Amanda Abbington, was cancelled after one season -a move that was criticised by actors and ignited a viewer petition.

Actress Eleanor Matsuura said this week, People dont give shows a chance these days to really find their stride, to find their audience and things are very results-oriented and its very hard to be creative and to find your feet as a show. I think people are a lot more cutthroat these days. I thought we were really getting into our stride and finding our audience. We think it was a premature decision. But unfortunately it was pulled.

A fresh, authentic and contemporary cop show, Cuffs shines a spotlight on a team of frontline police officers as they strive to protect the vulnerable, keep the streets safe and solve crimes in the vibrant seaside city of Brighton.

Full of humour and humanity, this fast-paced drama portrays the everyday rollercoaster of being a police officer in the UK.

And its a job where work-based pressures dont end at the station door

In the first episode, rookie cop Jake Vickers is partnered up with formidable tutor constable PC Ryan Draper. From assisting a suicidal mental health patient to arresting an outrageous shoplifter, Jakes first shift is certainly challenging. But being the Chief Supers son, Jakes biggest challenge might just be earning the respect of his new colleagues. Elsewhere, a ram-raid by a dangerous gang instigates a high-speed car chase through the city. And when a notorious criminal is released from prison he leaves a devastating trail in his wake.

8:30pm Saturday February 13 on ABC.
The military prosecutors office has counted 8,000 servicemen who betrayed Ukraine and sided with Russia in Crimea.

Chief military prosecutor of Ukraine Anatoliy Matios told viewers of the TV Channel 5.

"The number of Ukrainian troops that didnt leave Crimea and, in fact, breached the oath made to Ukraine, is more than eight thousand people," Matios said.

He noted these persons have been put on the wanted list, all precautions measures are taken in case the traitors cross the border of Ukraine making it possible to detain them and transfer to a Ukrainian court.

Meanwhile, Matios explained the impossibility to declare chiefs of "DNR" and "LNR" suspects because of loopholes in the national legislation.

"There are legal conflicts, loopholes that make it impossible to enforce it," the official said.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey R. Pyatt hopes that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will pass the bill allowing to start the privatization of large state-owned enterprises already this week.

The diplomat wrote this on his Twitter. "[It is] important to bring Ukraine in line with international standards on privatization, stop state-owned enterprises from sapping state budget. This weeks Rada vote on 2319D is an opportunity to demonstrate Ukraines commitment to modernization, reform, anti-corruption," the Ambassador tweeted. ol
The Honorary Consulate of the Latvian Republic in the city of Chernihiv, which had started its work long before its official opening, launched a program on cooperation of the Association of Physiologists in Latvia with Ukrainian colleagues and conducted a range of training seminars.

Honorary Consul Olena Vyshniakova told reporters at an opening ceremony of the Honorable Consulate of the Latvian Republic in Chernihiv.

We have launched the program of cooperation with Latvian psychologists [the Association of Psychologists of Latvia], who will come in Ukraine and hold lectures and seminars (I would like to stress this) for free for Ukrainian experts to raise their qualifications in working with trauma, she said.

According to the Honorary Consul, the Latvian representative office is planning to start educational programs via Internet. Professors of Latvian universities will deliver lectures via Internet for the students of psychological departments.

Vyshniakova also added that the cooperation in educational sphere between Ukraine and Latvia will be strengthened. After signing of relevant agreements, Latvian higher educational establishments will provide free education for the students from Ukraine. The European Union has already allocated funds for this, the Honorary Consul added.

iy
As continuing conflict in the Middle East and elsewhere drives people to seek refuge in Europe, UNHCR, IOM, and some 65 other organizations yesterday appealed in Geneva to donors for $550 million to support the ongoing humanitarian response.

With global forced displacement at a record high of some 60 million people and increasingly impacting countries of the Global North, 2015 saw over a million refugees and migrants arriving in Europe by boat. Around 850,000 of these crossed from Turkey to Greece, with most continuing through the Balkans and towards Austria, Germany, Sweden and other countries.

The appeal aims at funding humanitarian operations in 2016 across the affected countries, with approximately half of the funds allocated for Greece. Humanitarian operations will include aid and protection activities where people are arriving, including identifying those at heightened risk, registration, shelter, water and sanitation etc., to bolster capacities for front-line responders such as coast guard, border guards, police and support for affected communities. Help with relocation, resettlement and other regular solutions was also part of the appeal.

The Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for Europe: Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans route will be available later today: http://rmrp-europe.unhcr.org/.

UNHCR Media contacts:

Adrian Edwards: +41 79 557 9120, [email protected]

William Spindler, +41 79 217 3011, [email protected]

Karin de Gruijl +41 79 255 9213, [email protected]

IOM Media contacts:

Leonard Doyle Tel: 41 22 717 9589 - Mobile: 41 79 285 71 23, Email: [email protected]

Joel Millman Tel: 41 22 717 9486 - Mobile: 41 79 103 87 20, Email: [email protected]

Itayi Viriri Tel: 41 22 717 9361 - Mobile: 41 79 285 43 66, Email: [email protected]
"Unfortunately, this also means that our team members based in Japan and Indonesia will no longer work for Ford Japan or Ford Indonesia following the closures," Schoch wrote in an e-mail regarding the decision that was sent to employees on Monday.

Ford will exit all areas of business, including shuttering dealerships and stopping sales and imports of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, according to an e-mail from Asia Pacific President Dave Schoch to all employees in the region viewed by Reuters. Product development carried out in Japan will be shifted elsewhere.

Automaker Ford Motor Co. said on Monday it will close all operations in Japan and Indonesia this year as it sees "no reasonable path to profitability" in the two countries where it has struggled to gain market share.

 'Big Three' Automaker

Ford, one of Detroit's "big three" automakers, follows in the footsteps of General Motors Co, which last year decided to stop making GM-branded cars in Indonesia -- with the loss of 500 jobs -- amid intense competition from Japanese rivals.

Ford began operating in Japan in 1974 and has 52 dealerships in the country, employing 292 people. Last year, it sold around 5,000 vehicles in Japan and held a share of around 1.5 percent of the imported new car market.

In Indonesia, where it entered the market in 2002, Ford has a staff of 35 and sells through 44 franchised dealerships. Last year, it sold around 6,000 vehicles, taking a 0.6 percent share of the total new car market in a country struggling from economic slowdown.

"In Indonesia, without local manufacturing... there's just really no way that automakers can compete in that market, and we do not have local manufacturing," said a Ford spokeswoman based in Shanghai, confirming the content of the e-mail.

 Tough Market

The company has also had a tough time selling its Fiestas, Mustangs and Explorers in the Japanese market, which is dominated by Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co and other domestic brands.

On top of that, vehicle sales have been falling in Japan as the population ages and demand for cars by young people decreases. Ford said that its minority shareholding in Mazda Motor Corp. would not be affected by its exit from Japan.
Refugees and migrants arriving in Lesvos, Greece.  UNHCR/B.Langer

GENEVA, Jan 26 (UHCR) - As continuing conflict in the Middle East and elsewhere drives people to seek refuge in Europe, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration, and some 65 other organizations have appealed to donors for US$550 million to support the ongoing humanitarian response.

With global forced displacement at a record high of some 60 million people and increasingly impacting countries of the Global North, 2015 saw over a million refugees and migrants arriving in Europe by boat.

Around 850,000 of these crossed from Turkey to Greece. The vast majority of them came from the world's top ten refugee-producing countries, mainly Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Most of those arriving in Europe continued their journey on through the Balkans and towards Austria, Germany, Sweden and other countries.

The appeal, which was launched in Geneva, aims at funding humanitarian operations in 2016 across the affected European countries, with approximately half of the funds allocated for Greece.

The diversity of those on the move, including the young and the old, single men and women as well as families, victims of trafficking and gender based violence, and people from different nationalities and backgrounds means that individuals face different immediate needs based upon their specific vulnerabilities. This poses a further challenge to already overstretched authorities.

Humanitarian operations will include aid and protection activities where people are arriving, including identifying those at heightened risk, registration, shelter, water and sanitation.

The funds would also be used to bolster capacities for front-line responders such as coast guard, border guards, police and support for affected communities, and also assist with relocation, resettlement and other regular solutions.

The Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for Europe: Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans can be read here.
India has signed an agreement with France to buy 36 Rafale combat jets, but a final deal has yet to be reached as they work on the financial details.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement on Monday after holding talks with French President Francois Hollande, who is on a three-day visit to New Delhi.

"With the exception of some financial aspects, both sides have signed an intergovernmental deal.Both of us have also agreed to sort out the financial aspect of the deal quickly," said Modi.

Hollande described the deal as a "decisive step."

France has been pushing hard for years to wrap up one of the worlds biggest defense deals. India initially planned to take 126 of the jets, but scaled this back last year to 36. Although the price has yet to be finalized, defense analysts estimate it could be in the range of $9 billion.

India wants the combat aircraft to modernize its air force.

The French leader will be the chief guest at Indias Republic Day on Tuesday  when India celebrates its constitution with a military parade full of pomp and pageantry in the heart of New Delhi.

Hollande's visit is seen as a signal of growing political and strategic ties between the two countries. Calling France a special friend, Modi said at a joint press conference with Hollande, "Eighteen years ago, France was the first country we signed a strategic partnership with.We are now here to take it higher."

Both countries, which have been victims of recent terrorist attacks, signed a joint statement on fighting terrorism and vowed to step up cooperation in counterterrorism.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, organizers of the Oscar awards, pledged 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 color 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 Feb. 28.

The membership rule changes, among the most sweeping in the academy's 88-year-old history, were unanimously adopted by the organization'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.

Under the new regulations, each new member's voting status will lapse after 10 years unless he or she has been active in motion pictures during that decade, and lifetime voting rights will be conferred after three 10-year terms or if the member has won or been nominated for an Oscar.

The same standards will apply retroactively to current members, meaning those who have been inactive in the film industry during the past 10 years would have to either be nominated for an Oscar or win one to qualify, the academy statement said.

Those losing eligibility to vote would be moved from active to "emeritus" status, absolving them of having to continue to pay dues while leaving their academy privileges intact, except for voting rights.
NASA is taking a massively important step toward the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, which will succeed Hubble in 2018.

According to BBC News, NASA engineers are about to amp up their efforts to finalize the JWST's primary mirror surface. Having spent years in a state of preproduction, the JWST is now taking important steps toward its final form.

"This milestone signifies that all of the hexagonal shaped mirrors on the fixed central section of the telescope structure are installed and only the 3 mirrors on each wing are left for installation," Lee Feinberg, NASA's optical telescope element manager at NASA Goddard, said in a press release earlier this month. "The incredibly skilled and dedicated team assembling the telescope continues to find ways to do things faster and more efficiently."

NASA scheduled a media event for Friday, Jan. 29 for JWST mission managers to discuss details of the telescope.

"We keep our fingers crossed, but things have been going tremendously well," John Durning, JWST deputy project manager, told BBC News. "We have eight months of reserve; we've consumed about a month with various activities.

"But I think we've really befitted from the 'pathfinder' work we've done in the last year or so where we practised activities, and that's allowed us to run like a well-oiled machine."

NASA plans to launch the JWST in Oct. 2018 and plans for it to "study every phase in the history of our Universe, ranging from the first luminous glows after the Big Bang, to the formation of planetary systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth, to the evolution of our own Solar System and beyond."
The University of Missouri's interim chancellor is emphasizing patience in determining Melissa Click's future with the school.

Click was charged with simple assault for pushing a student holding a camera in order to stop him from covering demonstrations on MU's campus in November. Before that, two Mo. lawmakers called for Click and another professor who took similar action to be fired.

Speaking publicly on Click's situation, MU interim chancellor Hank Foley stated he would "allow due process to play out," according to The Associated Press.

"For those of you calling for hasty action, I say that we have good, strong processes in place," he said at a news conference Monday.

Click's misdemeanor charge carries a maximum punishment of 15 days in jail and a $300 fine. In addition to putting her hands on the student journalist, Click asked for "some muscle" to help keep him away from the campus (video below).

"The City Prosecutor obviously had a lot to weigh," Mark Schierbecker, the student who filed the complaint, told The Huffington Post. "I'm happy an informed choice was made rather than an expedient one."

Click has since apologized for actions and indicated her emotions got the best of her. Foley backed up her apology, stating the professor "is quite aggrieved by" the fallout from her actions.

MU started tenure proceedings with Click in September and Foley stated her employment status would not be decided before that is complete, The Columbia Missourian reported. Foley appointed a task force of school police representatives, administrators, students, and legal experts to review Click's actions and recommend potential action.

Foley recognized the situation of a professor facing an assault charge while being considered for tenure may well be unprecedented at MU, the newspaper reported. He said the assault charge would be considered, but her participation in the protests would not.
Korea became the third biggest exporter of information, communications and technology products in the period from January to August last year.

Korea overtook Germany to rank third in ICT exports after China and the U.S.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said on Monday the achievement came as Korea's exports dropped relatively less given a slowdown in the global ICT industry.

According to OECD data, Korea's ICT exports stood at US$113.6 billion in the first eight months of last year, topping Germany's $111.9 billion. China ranked first at $728 billion.

"Strong demand for mobile phones and semiconductors helped Korea fare relatively well," a ministry official said.
Second ICAO/UNOOSA Symposium

15 March 2016 - 17 March 2016

This symposium is a continuation of the first International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Aerospace Symposium held in ICAO Headquarters, Montreal in March 2015.

This second symposium will provide participants with perspectives on aerospace innovation showcases and latest trends in commercial space transportation and suborbital operations. It will further study regulatory and legal frameworks for aerospace operations and cooperation with aerospace stakeholders, and it will look into concepts for the evolution of aerospace transportation.

Click here to register!

Location
PURPOSE OF REVIEW - Voiding dysfunction in older men is an important health issue, with significant morbidity and biosocioeconomic burden. Treatment decisions are increasingly complex as many older men also suffer concurrent comorbidities and polypharmacy.

A relatively sparse number of publications specifically examine this relevant topic.

RECENT FINDINGS - Common geriatric voiding syndromes include overactive bladder (OAB) and underactive bladder, with nocturia and incontinence often the most bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms, and may represent a falls risk together with OAB and incontinence. The combination of detrusor overactivity and impaired contractility may coexist in older patients and can be particularly difficult to diagnose and treat clinically. A small but not insignificant proportion of older men experience spontaneous remission of OAB symptoms without treatment, and 'watchful waiting' may be a reasonable option. OAB treatment with mirabegron may have a preferable side-effect profile compared with anticholinergics in older men. Intravesical onabotulinum toxin A is effective but risk of retention is greater in the older adults. Benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) and underactive bladder may lead to urinary retention, necessitating surgery or catheterization. BPO surgery is a reasonable option in older men, with realistic counselling of postoperative expectations. Combination BPO surgery and medical OAB treatment is suitable for detrusor overactivity and impaired contractility. Stress incontinence in older patients is usually iatrogenic and treatment can include continence applicances, urethral bulking agents, suburethral sling or artificial urinary sphincter.

SUMMARY - Management of voiding dysfunction in older patients need to take into account multiple factors including symptomatic and functional impairment, cognition, comorbidities and polypharmacy. Future research examining pathophysiology and treatment outcomes of voiding dysfunction in the older patient population is increasingly relevant.

Current opinion in urology. 2016 Jan 13 [Epub ahead of print]

Amanda Chung, Naomi Noguchi, Lewis Chan, Vincent Tse

Department of Urology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, and Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

PubMed
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UTSA Institute for Economic Development boasts a record year of $2.6 billion in direct economic impact

The Institute for Economic Development is dedicated to creating jobs, growing businesses and fostering economic development.

(Jan. 12, 2016) -- In 2015, an average working day for the UTSA Institute for Economic Development (IED) resulted in 137 small businesses receiving advising or training, the acquisition of $2 million in business growth capital, $8.7 million of sales/contracts/exports being realized, and the creation of more than 30 new jobs.

This year, the IED achieved yet another milestone in its 36-year career with more than $2.6 billion of direct economic impact including new financing, investments, sales, contracts and exports, a 33 percent increase over last year. During the fiscal year, the IED:

Served 34,256 business and community clients

Provided training and workshops to 21,339 participants

Managed 8,219 consulting cases and delivered 76,137 research hours

Helped launch 657 new businesses

Helped expand 585 existing businesses

Supported the creation of 8,251 new jobs and the retention of 5,446 jobs

The IED also remained a prominent source for research on the dynamic energy sector, with numerous publications this year, including Economic Impact of the Eagle Ford Shale (2014), Economic Impacts of Natural Gas Fueling Station Infrastructure and Vehicle Conversions in the Texas Clean Transportation Triangle and Preliminary Report on the Economic Impact and Legal Analysis of the Shale Oil and Gas Activities in Mexico.

The IED has continued to expand the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) footprint around the world through its leadership of the U.S. State Departments Small Business Network of the Americas. The SBDC model has evolved over 35 years at 1,100 colleges and universities across the U.S. and has become an international best practice with documented business growth results. To date, 20 different countries have been assisted by UTSA resulting in more than 100 SBDCs launched internationally. Close to 200 additional centers are projected to open during the next year.

Our clients and programs continue to grow and evolve together. New opportunities in industry clusters and supply-chains, advanced manufacturing, technology commercialization and global markets reach are emerging, said Robert McKinley, UTSA senior associate vice president for economic development. As one of the top performing university-based economic development organizations in the nation, the UTSA Institute for Economic Development is strategically positioned to fill these needs.

The UTSA Institute for Economic Development is dedicated to creating jobs, growing businesses and fostering economic development. Its centers and programs provide professional business advising, technical training, research and strategic planning for entrepreneurs, business owners and community leaders. Its programs serve San Antonio, the Texas-Mexico border area, and regional, national and international stakeholders. Together with federal, state and local governments, and private businesses, the Institute fosters economic and community development in support of UTSAs community engagement mission.

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View the full UTSA Institute for Economic Development annual report.

Connect online with the IED on Facebook and Twitter.

Connect online with UTSA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Defense Minister Han Min-goo on Monday came out cautiously in favor of the U.S. stationing Terminal High Altitude Area Defense batteries on the Korean Peninsula.

The THAAD batteries are designed to intercept ballistic missiles in mid-air and form a core part of the U.S.' missile defense shield.

"The deployment of a THAAD battery clearly needs to be seen from defense and security points of view," Han said in a press interview.

Seoul still maintains a flimsy fiction that there has been no discussion with the U.S. about the plan because Beijing believes that their deployment here would be chiefly aimed at containing China's rising military might.

But since North Korea's nuclear test earlier this month, the position is slowly shifting. President Park Geun-hye on Jan. 13 told reporters, "We'll review the deployment of a THAAD battery from the standpoint of our security and national interest, taking the nuclear threat from the North into consideration."

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to urge Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to impose sanctions against the North when they meet in Beijing this week.


UW Podcast Examines Crude Oil Ban, Solar Energy and More

An oil and gas economist will explain the consequences of lifting the ban on crude oil exports, and an expert will discuss the future prospects of solar energy during this weeks UW podcast, The University of Wyoming Today.

In other segments, an astronomer tells about UWs discovery of some of the galaxys fastest-moving objects, and you will hear about a program that last year contributed more than $13 million to Wyomings economy.

To listen to the podcasts, go to www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/podcast/index.html or click on the link provided in the left-column navigation on the UW News home page. You can listen to the podcasts by clicking the link on the page, or subscribe to the RSS feed, which will deliver the podcast link to you via email each week. You also can click on the iTunes link and listen to or subscribe to the podcast there.

New podcasts are scheduled weekly and will be updated with new episodes every Thursday.
UW Trustees Create Position of Special Assistant to President for Diversity

Following through on a commitment made by University of Wyoming President Dick McGinity, the UW Board of Trustees has created a new position to coordinate the universitys diversity efforts.

The board voted unanimously Friday in favor of a change to UW regulations that provides for a special assistant to the president for diversity.

Reporting directly to the president, the special assistant will, at the direction of the president and in collaboration with the other principal administrative officers of the university, lead the development and implementation of the university diversity plan, the revised regulation states.

This is an important step in our commitment to making UW a more welcoming place for people of all backgrounds, says McGinity, who notes that the effort is backed by incoming president Laurie Nichols. We appreciate the trustees support for this important new position on campus, especially at a time when the state and university face considerable fiscal restraints.

Work now begins to develop the job description and prepare to advertise for applicants.

In November, the president also committed to create a UW Diversity Strategic Planning Committee (DSPC) composed of stakeholders from throughout the university and the greater Wyoming community. The special assistant to the president will work with that committee to create a UW Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement Plan including short-term and long-term goals, objectives, action steps, resources needed to effectuate the plan, a timeline for communication and implementation, and a means for measuring and assessing progress.

The plan will be vetted through UW constituents, with support sought from students, staff, faculty, the administration and the Board of Trustees.

Creation of the position of special assistant to the president for diversity and the appointment of the DSPC grow out of discussions the president and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Jones have had for more than a year with numerous groups and individuals representing the broad range of racial, ethnic and cultural constituencies on and off campus.

UW currently has in place many measures to ensure and support diversity, and many people who are doing great work in this area, the president wrote in November. However, if we are going to recruit and retain the best students, staff and faculty, if we are going to be competitive as an institution in an increasingly global and diverse world, and if we are going to graduate students who are prepared to lead, to demonstrate cultural competency and to be successful in the world, then we can and must do more.
Two Chinese transfer travelers who sneaked through security at Incheon International Airport last Thursday have been caught in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province on Monday.

The security breach, which remained undetected for 24 hours, comes amid a heightened alert against terror attacks.

The pair, a man and a woman, flew from Narita to Incheon at around 7:30 p.m. last Thursday and were supposed to board a flight to Beijing at 8:20 p.m. the following day. Ostensibly waiting for the transfer, they moved to a duty-free zone and walked through an unlocked gate from there to the departure area.

After passing through the gate, they also slipped through a door used by airport staff next to the immigration checkpoint.

That door should have been locked as well, but the two Chinese passengers "passed through without any restraint," the Korea Airports Corporation said.

They then headed to the airport lobby after breaking a latch that had held another glass door shut.

According to KAC, the passengers used either their hands or some kind of tool to remove the latch.

CCTV cameras in the airport captured the two breaking open the door and rushing outside at around 1:25 a.m. last Friday.

Korean Air notified immigration when the two did not board the plane to Beijing, but immigration officials took 24 hours to notify airport administrators to check the surveillance cameras.

But Korean Air also failed to notify airport officials.

A Korean Air spokesman said, "The flight that was to take the two passengers to Beijing was delayed from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Chinese passengers did not show up and we gave up looking for them and unloaded their bags. We notified immigration by telephone at around 7:57 p.m. as the plane began to head to the tarmac and also sent them a fax with the same information."

The spokesman claimed the carrier is not required to notify airport officials as well.

Earlier, the Chinese pair apparently asked airport staff if it would be possible for them to enter Korea briefly until their onward flight the following evening. But they had no entry visas or tourist pass, so airport staff declined.

Police and immigration officials tracked them to Cheonan, where they were arrested on Monday afternoon.
Samgyetang or chicken soup with ginseng is emerging as one of the most popular Korean dishes among tourists and gourmets overseas.

Interestingly it is popular among foreigners during winter rather than summer, which is when Koreans usually enjoy the dish during the sweltering season.

Following the rising popularity of the soup, food manufacturer Our Home has been selling packaged versions of the dish at Incheon International Airport since November last year.

"We sell between 700 to 750 packs of samgyetang a month, especially to Chinese tourists," said a staffer of Our Home at the airport.
A camp in South Korea is dedicated to helping youngsters with internet addiction. The 27-day camp, called the National Center for Youth Internet Addiction Treatment, offers activities such as hiking, rock-climbing, and music learning, as well as stress-reduction classes.



South Korea is the most country on the planet. It's not uncommon for elementary school students to carry electronic devices such as smartphones. The country's network is also so sophisticated that people can live stream TV on most part of the city, even on the subway. That has come as an advantage to the Korean people but has also set some drawbacks, including internet addiction.



According to Korea Information Society, internet addiction has become a great concern in the country years before it was being detected in other countries. Korea's extensive and advanced broadband network puts Koreans in an advantage to experience online experiences before anyone else in the world. One example being Cyworld, a social networking service in South Korea which was introduced five years before Facebook and was then very popular among young people.



A recent survey concluded that about 10 percent Korean teenagers are addicted to the internet. The government has also shown initiative to help solve the issue. They endorsed Cinderella Law, also called as Shutdown Law in 2011, whereas children under the age of 16 could not play online video games from 12 AM to 6 AM.



The Washington Post reported on a visit to the camp that one of the camp's participant was so addicted that he had recurrent nightmares of him playing his phone, to woke up with a fright. Yoon Yong-won, like most other camp participants, felt despair when they were asked to turn over their devices. "I'm so frustrated. I feel like I'm being held captive," he uttered.



The director of the camp program, Shim Yong-chool, noted that the government has been helping to solve the internet addiction problem. "The government has been promoting I.T and these kinds of devices, so the government helped create this problem. Now, the government's trying to help solve it."



The young people in the camp were sent by their parents or teacher after a standardized assessment for internet addiction. Almost 5,000 teenagers were sent to this camp last year.



Other than the National Center for Youth Internet Addiction Treatment, there are other similar camps in South Korea with the same focus to help youngsters with their internet addiction. Charlotte's Morning News noted that it's too early to evaluate the effectiveness of such camps, especially in the long term. But it's proven to successfully take youngsters off their screens for a while, at least when they're in the camp.



The camp offers a lot of off-screen activity, and they hoped that the participants could manage their internet-use better after the camp. On the last day, the campers will again be assessed for internet addiction and would be required to make periodic visits to school counselors as follow-ups.
A small fire has been taken place on the roof of a factory complex located in Zhengzhou of Henan province on Sunday evening. However, no casualties or impact on production has been reported.

The factory, located in the capital city of central China's Henan province, is run by Taiwan based tech giant Foxconn Technology Group. Foxconn assembles iPhones in this plant and the plant acts as the key supplier to Apple Inc, reports NDTV citing a post facto statement of Foxconn on the fire incident.

The fire has been brought under control by the local fire safety authority shortly after the blaze spread out. No casualties have been associated with the fire incident and no interruption in the manufacturing operations of that facility taken place, reports Reuters quoting a Foxconn spokesperson.
In his visit to Iran, China's president Xi Jinping and Hassan Rouhani, Iranian president agreed to extend trade and cooperation between the two countries. Prior to visit Iran, Xi has visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

President Xi Jinping ended his five-days Middle East trip in Iran. On Saturday, he met the Iranian president Hassan Rouhani to discuss expansion of trade and cooperation between the Asian economic giant and the second-largest oil producer in the Middle East.

According to Channel News Asia president Xi Jinping told IRNA that, "Iran is China's major partner in the Middle East and the two countries have chosen to boost bilateral relations." Xi then added, "China and Iran are two important developing countries that must continue regional and international cooperation."

In his visit to Tehran, president Xi and his counterpart Rouhani signed 17 documents and letters of intent. Those documents include treaties on judicial, commercial and civil matters. Both countries also discussed energy and mining sectors.

China is the important market for Iranian oil, and the exports was under sanctions because of Tehran's nuclear programme. Now, as the sanctions have been lifted, Iran expects to increase trade with China. In 2014, trade between Iran and China was worth $52 billion, and Iran hopes to boost the number to help its ailing economy.

"Today we discussed the strategic relationship between both countries, setting up a comprehensive 25-year plan and also promoting bilateral relations of up to $600 billion over the next 10 years," Rouhani said as quoted by Bloomberg.

In his visit to Iran, President Xi Jinping become the first China's leader to visit Iran in 14 years. Before visiting Iran, President Xi also visited Iran's rival Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

China is seeking to revive its ancient trade route Silk Road with its "One Belt, One Road" campaign. As part of the initiative, according to South China Morning Post, China has agreed to give Iran financial aid to help building the first Iranian high-speed train system.

In regard to his "One Belt, One Road" initiative and revival of Silk Road's ancient trade route, Channel News Asia quoted president Xi said that, "Countries on the Silk Road route can protect their interests against the American pattern of disrupting the regional economic balance by boosting cooperation."

China and its Silk Road revival initiative have quickly made its marks in Iran, right after the sanctions against the Persian country is lifted. Trade extension with Iran to a $600 billion value in the next 10 years showed China is really serious in establishing its presence in Middle East.
Vijay Mallya, chairman of United Breweries Holdings Limited, approached the Delhi Court on Friday for a legal representation before a panel of State Bank of India (SBI) members, where they would argue their case against being declared as willful defaulters.

Mallya was quoted saying, "Without a lawyer's assistance, I have been held to be a willful defaulter. This amounts to breach of principles of natural justice," as per Live Mint. His counsel, Rajiv Nayyar, even went to say that if the court were to deny them a representation by a 'trained legal representative', then it would lead to 'miscarriage of justice'.

However, according to Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, the Delhi high court is not the appropriate platform for seeking justice in this case. He said, "It appears that redressal for the grievance brought before the court has to be sought before the Bombay high court," as stated in IIFL. Nonetheless, Mallya and his team have managed to get a hearing and the date has been set for February 1.

According to Money Control, in November 2015, SBI declared Kingfisher Airlines, United Breweries, and their creator Vijay Mallya to be willful defaulters. A defaulter is said to be willful when he does not repay even while having funds and uses them for other purposes, or when he draws off the funds, or even when he sells off assets meant for repaying the bank loan without the bank's knowledge.

Mallya had then approached the Bombay high court with his plea, where he was allowed legal representation before redressal grievance committee. This act was mocked by the SBI personnel as a 'King-fishing expedition' in a tongue-in-cheek humor. The Supreme Court upheld the Bombay court's decision after challenging the same on the grounds that Mallya violated the RBI rule of 'only the borrower be present during the meeting of a redressal committee'. In response, Nayyar referred to the two earlier cases where the Delhi high court allowed the presence of an advocate before a redressal committee.

United Breweries owes a lot of money to United Spirits Ltd, dating back to 2013. But Mallya is currently directing all his funds towards the gigantic dues of the once-flourishing Kingfisher Airlines which is now defunct. However, he has managed to make some money and pay off around Rs30 crores out of its total due of Rs995.4 crores, which was relayed to appease the agitated shareholders at the annual general meeting on Friday.

The local beer giant now needs to be referred to Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR), which requires a go-ahead from its shareholders who have been told that it's a mere 'regulatory requirement' and that the company is not 'sick' because it is apparently making money.

A company is required to refer to BIFR only when its accumulated losses have resulted in 50% (or more) erosion of its peak net worth during the preceding four years. In case of United Breweries, the accumulated losses have touched 86% as of March 31, 2015. However, United Spirits Ltd CFO provided support to its erstwhile parent, United Breweries, by saying that United Breweries is taking all steps to make sure all the money is recovered and has already had some success with the Rs30 crores.
The increasing of opioid overdose epidemic in the U.S. may be caused by racial stereotypes according to a chief opioid addiction expert.

There is a growth in the number of white Americans who die because of drug overdoses, while the rate remains the same among black Americans and Hispanics. According to Business Insider, the rate in 2014 is two times higher than in 2002.

The chief medical officer for The Phoenix House and a leading expert on opioid addiction, Dr. Andrew Kolodny stated has suggested that there might be a correlation between the way some doctors give prescriptions on opioid pain killers to patients, which is influenced by racist stereotypes.

He said, "What's happening is we're overexposing whites to prescription opioids. Doctors prescribe narcotics more cautiously to black patients. It appeared the doctor may be more worried about addiction or diversion of the pills onto the black market if the patient was black and if the patient is white, they're overprescribing."

There was an important finding in a 2003 study as published in The American Journal of Public Health. It showed that white patients were more likely to get opioid painkillers prescriptions for back pain and migraines than black patients.

In Vox, it mentions what has become the possibility. Doctors did not give drugs to treat pain for black patients to prevent them from selling the drugs illegally. On the other hand, doctors were more lenient to white patients. This is what the racist stereotype has done to the growing number of opioid overdose epidemic among white Americans.

White Americans, who had used the drugs, then became addicted and sooner or later would replace the drugs with cheaper ones, including heroin, to satisfy their addiction.

A study in 2014 published in JAMA Psychiatry suggested that almost 90 percent of patients who looked for treatments, and then started to use heroin during the last decade were white Americans. This is a huge change compared to the 1980s.

As stated in The Diane Rehm Show , the number of death among Americans from drug overdose epidemic in 2014 is no less than 47,000. The Southwest and Appalachia were the worst, according to the CDC report. However, the rate in every county is getting higher. President Obama, political leaders, and local officials have pushed more efforts to be done to address the issue.

Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of National Institute on Drug Abuse of NIH, said, "The prescription of opioids is basically -- has increased dramatically since 2000. And in parallel to this increase, there has not been an increase in the training and education of medical students or providers on how to properly manage pain and how to properly prescribe opioids."

She continued, "And unfortunately, the data has shown us that that's not the case and that approximately 10 percent of patients that are prescribed these medications will become addicted. And this risk increases, of course, if the prescription is to teenagers."
Twitter, Westrock, Ford, McDonald's and Tyco are among the most highly active stocks on Monday's trade in New York. Twitter and Westrock had to experience a decline while McDonald's and Tyco gained.

ABC News reported that Twitter down 82 cents to $17.02 and WestRock Co., down $5.63 to $32.11, following concern of WestRock sales performance. Ford Motor Co, also dropped, along with Chesapeake Energy Corp and other oil and energy companies.

Meanwhile Tyco International and McDonald's Corp. were up. The news regarding Tyco deal with Johnson Controls have surge its price on Monday. While sales growth of McDonalds Corp. also increase market confidence to the company's stock.

Johnson Controls Inc agreed to acquire Tyco International Plc for a $16.5 billion in cash and stock. Johnson Controls is a maker of car batteries, heating and ventilation equipments based in United States. The deal will lower Johnson Controls tax bill, because Tyco is an Ireland-based peer company. Tyco was one the first U.S. company that moved its operation outside U.S. to Switzerland, before resided in Cork, Ireland in 2014.

Other U.S. companies planning to move outside the contry is Pfizer in a deal with Allergan. The exodus of U.S. companies outside American soil have provided a good issue for Democratic presidential candidate to boost their popularity. Bernie Sanders critized the deal as a disaster for American taxpayers. In respond to the Johnson Controls plan, Hillary Clinton issued her statement as quoted by Reuters, "I have a detailed and targeted plan to immediately put a stop to inversions and invest in the U.S., block deals like Johnson Controls and Tyco, and place an 'exit tax' on corporations that leave the country to lower their tax bill."

Meanwhile, the news regarding departure of key executives has tumbled the share of Twitter Inc. Media head Katie Jacobs Stanton and product head Kevin Weil was reported by Re/Code to leave the San Fransisco-based company on Sunday. As a result, the company's shares dropped after Monday's trade closing bell, which attended by actress Bridget Moynahan and Hole In The Wall gang camp.

In the automotive sectors, Ford Motors Co. decision to withdraw from Japan and Indonesia market resultis in a sharp drop in the company's stock. For years, the American car maker has struggled to increase sales in Asia. However, a market condition made the company to be less efficient than its Asian competitors in the market. The decision to pull out from Japan and Indonesia was declared on Monday, and the company shares plunged by 1.32% following the announcement.

Ford Motors, Twitter and Westrock are among the shares that stumbled on Monday's trade. While strong sales for McDonald's and Tyco deal with Johnson Control has surged both companies' shares. Overall, U.S. stock market is still under pressure.
Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak has been officially cleared from any criminal offence after a probe against him was conducted by a team lead by the Malaysia Attorney General Apandi Ali. According to a statement released by Ali, the team has a proof that the money received by Najib is a donation by the Saudi royal family.

According to The Guardian, the $681 million money received by Najib in his personal bank account was a private donation and has no link with the currently troubled state fund 1MDB.

According to a statement by Apandi, "I am satisfied with the findings that the funds were not a form of graft or bribery." He also added that "There was no reason given as to why the donation was made to PM Najib - that is between him and the Saudi family."

Based on the investigation by the prosecutor, it was found that the money was transferred by the royal family between the end of March and early April 2013 as stated by the BBC. Najib also had notified the prosecutor that he had returned around $620 million of the money back to the royal family in August of the same year as it was not used.

Besides the fund allegation, the prime minister is also cleared from any criminal offence that was filed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as reported by the Economic Times. According to the attorney general, there is three separate investigations done for this case and he had instructed all three cases to be closed.

The latest decision is expected to be criticized by lots of observers since Apandi, the newly elected attorney general replacing Gani Patail who was sacked when the investigation was taking place. Apandi, a former federal court judge is known to have strong ties to Najib's ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

Besides closing the case, Apandi also said in a statement that other organization should not ask to seek legal assistance from any foreign state because no criminal offence has been made according to his investigation.

Najib Razak has been under criticism after lots of critics have been accusing him of being the one behind the missing money from 1MDB. Although he has been consistently denying it, he also received lots of pressure from outside and inside to resign over due to the allegation.

1MDB is also currently under investigation by law enforcement from many countries including Switzerland and the United States. The investigation was done due to suspicious trading and fund that has been rumored to be conducted by the organization.
Facebook's Free Basics program is still struggling to establish its existence in India. The program was banned more than a month ago, and ever since the social media company has been striving to persuade the Indian authorities to lift the ban.



The program aims to bring limited internet use to as many people as possible, especially those who otherwise would not be able to afford the internet at all. The program was originally launched as Internet.org, and is now available in over 30 countries, despite the controversies it has raised. Many have claimed that the program violets the principle of internet neutrality because it offers only selected apps and services.



In India, the Free Basics program was launched last year alongside telecom operator Reliance Communications, as reported by CNBC. The Mark Zuckerberg-initiated program was available as a complimentary limited internet connection for Reliance customers. But apparently the program has yet to receive approval from Indian regulators, especially those who hold concerns about internet neutrality and carriers charging different prices for digital content.



According to CNET, The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) requested that Facebook discontinues the Free Basics program until it provided over more information regarding the terms of the program. The request was issued in December.



The social media giant responded to the request with its own Save Free Basics, where Facebook encouraged users to send their support of the program via email to the TRAI. The emails can even be sent directly through users' Facebook accounts, with a template message provided, explaining the benefits of Free Basics.



Last week, TRAI responded back to Facebook with a letter stating their disappointment with the company's move. They claimed that Facebook asked for support from users without elaborating precisely what they gave their support for. TRAI received 1.8 million responses from Facebook users, although Facebook claimed that users have sent over 16 million emails.



Even so, Tech Bits reported that TRAI Chairman R S Sharma has agreed to review all the relevant responses that seek to answer the questions they raised. TRAI has started a public consultation to decide on the matter.



However, TRAI is not the only organization to have expressed their concerns over Free Basics program. Dozens of internet rights groups also attacked Facebook and accused the social media of violation of internet neutrality. Until now, Facebook still has a long way ahead to establish its Free Basics service in India, as many other parties remain to be convinced.
Russian economy faced a slowdown with a declining value of its currency ruble. Last week, ruble dipped to all-time record low against dollar. Starting Monday, the currency begins to climb up and reaching its 10-day high.

Continuous sinking of oil price has taken toll on Russia's economy. Last week, the currency hit the all-time record low against dollar, sinking over 4% to 85.99 per dollar on Thursday. While ruble also tumble to 93.7 against euro before climbing to 89.2.

The surprising drop has taken Russias authority by surprise, although the authorities said the plunge was not a collapse. According to The Strait Times, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Russian news agency Interfax, "The exchange rate is really changing, the rate is volatile, but it is far from being a collapse." Furthermore the spokesman of president Putin said, "There is no basis to suggest the central bank does not have plans drawn up to avoid a collapse."

Following the unexpected sharp drop, Russian central bank held a meeting on Thursday with chiefs of Russian banks. The head of Russian Central Bank, Elvira Nabiullina cancelled her trip to Davos, Switzerland for World Economic Forum's annual gathering to deal with the issues. Afterward, Russian Central Bank issued a statement, "The Bank of Russia held a working meeting with the leadership of banking associations and several banks regarding the conditions and prospects of banks' crediting of the economy in 2016,"

One condition that made Russia's economy vulnerable to volatility is its reliance on oil and gas. Bloomberg reported that Russia's reliance on oil and natural gas made the country ran a budget deficit of 2.6% in 2015, the highest in five years. Oil and gas sectors took almost half of Russia's fiscal revenue, therefore a change of oil price will affect its economy greatly.

This year, a cheaper oil price will weaken Russia's economy even more.The declining oil price automatically depreciate the national currency, ruble. This will hurt common people the most, because that would make Russian consumers spending more cash in order to maintain their level of consumption.

Fortunately, on Monday the ruble began to recover. The Moscow Times reported that ruble started to regain some of its losses amid surging oil prices, according to Interfax.

On Monday's opening trade, ruble climbed to 76.71 against dollar, gaining the strongest position in ten days. Ruble was also strengthened against the euro at 82.99 against the European currency.

Over reliance on revenue from oil and gas sector have given a negative impact on Russia's economy. As the continuous plunge of oil price has given a pressure to its currency last week. This week, Russian ruble has started to regain its loss after a sharp plunge last week.
The US Federal Aviation Administration said that around 300,000 drone owners have registered their small aircraft during the first month since the aviation agency began its online registration system. According to the agency, the registration rule that came to effect on December 21, 2015, employs to small drones that weigh in the range of 0.55 pounds to 55 pounds.

The possessor of these drones must enrol their vehicle before they operate their remote-powered aircraft outdoors. In addition, the agency said that the enrolment has a valid period of three years.

The drone owners who registered during the first month earned a refund for the 5 US dollar application fee. The Federal Aviation Administration noted that the refund time expired and that the fee will envelope all the small unmanned airplane which the owners utilize for hobby purposes.

Owners who operated their drones before December 21 must enrol their devices within February 19, 2016. The present online registration system is available exclusively for owners who plan to utilize their drones for only recreational purposes. The aviation agency said that it is planning to provide online enrolment system for users of non-model airplane like commercial users within March 21.

The certificate includes the enrolment number which must be indicated in the drones that meet the enrolment necessities. The registration number helps to identify aircraft in time of accidents. It also offers chance to educate the drone users on safety necessities before they start flying their vehicle.

According to Chicago Tribune, only drone users who are thirteen and above can register their aircraft. The owner must also be a citizen of US.

If a user fails to enrol his or her vehicle, he or she will be charged up to $27,500 as civil penalties. In case of criminal penalties, the user will be fined up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for nearly three years.

The aviation agency has anticipated that nearly 1.6 million remote-controlled drones would have been sold in 2015 and half of that were purchased in the final quarter, Chicago Tribune said.

The Daily Record said that the aviation agency received nearly 100 reports per month from pilots who complained about the remote-powered drones flying near their airspace and that the fresh set of rules came out mainly as a security measure.

Michael Huerta, the administrator of FAA, said, "The registration numbers we're seeing so far are very encouraging. We're working hard to build on this early momentum and ensure everyone understands the registration requirement." Anthony Foxx, the secretary of transportation, said that he is very much pleased with the public response to enrol their drones.
STAR FILE PHOTO Westlake Village Inn owner John Notter is pictured near The Stonehaus.

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By Staff Reports

A Hong Kong-based hotel group announced Monday it will team up with Westlake Village Inn in a new partnership.

The Westlake Village hotel will be Cachet Hotel Group's first property in the United States and the second in North America. Cachet owns a luxury resort in Cabo San Lucas.

Located on Agoura Road, the 141-room hotel recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation.

The new partnership will allow wines from The Stonehaus, adjacent to the hotel, to expand their reach. The Stonehaus wine label will launch in Cachet's properties in Asia and Mexico.

John Notter, owner of Westlake Village Inn, said in a news release he is delighted to partner with an innovative company such as Cachet.

"I am confident that the Cachet's strong global platform and systems, scaling from Asia to the Americas, will benefit the hotel's guests and its staff, elevating the property's experience to an entirely new level," Notter said.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO A David Eichelbaum guitar under construction.

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By Staff Reports

Four craftsmen who make musical instruments will discuss their art form Sunday at the Museum of Ventura County in downtown Ventura.

"Meet the Makers" begins at 2 p.m. and will feature James Wimmer of Santa Barbara, David Eichelbaum of Ojai, Matt Larrivee of Oxnard and David Salais of Ventura.

The luthiers  artisans who make string instruments generally consisting of a neck and sound box  will discuss their training, techniques and sourcing of rare woods that they use to craft one-of-a-kind instruments for musicians.

The four are featured in the museum's current exhibit, "Duets: Art and Artisans in Harmony."

Wimmer is a master violin maker who established a band that eventually settled on string band music and blues. When the band played in Germany, Wimmer wound up taking work as an apprentice violin maker with master craftsman Wolfgang Uebel. After returning to the United States, he opened his shop in 1986 and started producing violins.

Eichelbaum is one of today's most sought-after steel string acoustic builders. He produces fewer than 15 instruments a year, each one a collaboration between client and luthier.

"I realize that commissioning a handmade guitar is often the realization of a lifetime dream," he said in a news release, "and I feel fortunate and honored to spend my life doing this work I love so much."

Larrivee began a guitar-building apprenticeship with Edgar Monch Sr. in Toronto. His first guitars were based on European classical guitar designs, and in 1971 he began adding inlay designs. In September 2001, he opened a second plant in Oxnard. From the jungles of India to the south of Spain, he continues his quest to secure the finest woods in the world.

Salais has a studio in the Bell Arts Factory on Ventura Avenue in downtown Ventura, where he crafts ukuleles and requintos, a term used in both Spanish and Portuguese to mean a smaller, higher-pitched version of another instrument  in this case, the guitar. Salais began as a carpenter at 15, gradually learning to work with fine woods and teaching himself to make classical and flamenco guitars.

The panel will be moderated by museum librarian Charles Johnson, who is a musician as well. Admission is free for museum members, and for nonmembers it is included with museum admission of $5 for adults 18 and older, $3 for seniors 65 and older and students and AAA members with ID, $1 for children 17 to 6 and free for those 5 and younger.

The museum is at 100 E. Main St. in downtown Ventura.

For more information, call the museum at 653-0323 or visit www.venturamuseum.org. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
The ocean spray shoots above the cliffs along the McWay Waterfall Trail at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015 in Big Sur, Calif. (LiPo Ching/Bay Area News Group/TNS)

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By Wire Reports

BIG SUR (AP)  A thrill-seeker who parachuted off a bridge overlooking the Pacific likely drowned, as did the man who jumped in to try to save her, authorities said.

The Monterey County Herald reports Tuesday that authorities first realized the two BASE jumpers were missing on Saturday, although the jump is thought to have occurred days earlier.

BASE is an acronym for building, antenna, span, and earth  a reference to the four types of objects thrill-seekers jump off of with parachutes or wingsuits.

Monterey County sheriffs officials said Monday that a video from a helmet camera shows Mary Katherine Katie Connell, of Ventura, descending roughly 300 feet and landing on Bixby Creek, which feeds into the Pacific. Shortly after the landing, large waves overtake her.

As the water retreats back into the ocean, Connell and the parachute are not seen retreating back to shore, Bernal said.

Sheriff Steve Bernal said her companion then jumped off the bridge to try to save her. His name and both their ages have not been released.

Bernal says the man likely took off his helmet and parachute to try to rescue her; thats where the footage ends.

Bernal said there are no plans to release the video. Divers are searching the area, and other officials are searching from the land and by airplane, Bernal said.

Deputies didnt learn about the jumpers until Saturday afternoon when inspecting an abandoned rental car. A parachute and helmet were found partially buried on the beach.

Deputies looked up the car renters name and discovered he had an extensive background in BASE jumping and skydiving.

Bernal said Connell is an experienced skydiver with more than 300 jumps. Little was released about the man except that he is from Finland. Investigators believe they jumped Wednesday morning.

Jackie Faust, general manager of Skydive Monterey Bay in Marina, said while skydiving and BASE jumping are similar, there isnt much overlap in the communities. She said BASE jumping can be more dangerous and isnt regulated like skydiving.

(BASE jumpers) dont have two parachutes, they have one, and its completely different equipment, she said.

Jumping off Bixby Bridge can be especially dangerous because of the ocean and the relatively quick drop, Faust said.
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Re: your Jan. 24 editorial, State needs to act on gouging of gas prices:

I have been driving to Sun City, Arizona, once a month for the last four years. I always refuel over the border in Quartzite as it typically saves almost $1 a gallon.

I wondered where Arizona gets its gasoline and it turns out there are two pipelines. One pipeline from Texas to Tucson/Phoenix and a larger pipeline from Watson (next to Long Beach), California, to Yuma/Phoenix.

Last week I paid $2.87 in Camarillo and $1.87 in Sun City West. GasBuddy charts show an approximate $1 difference between California and Arizona over the last four years. The sticker shock at the pump (due to highest gas and city taxes, fewer refineries, cap and trade costs, etc.) is supposed to help reduce consumption, but the folks least able to afford it are getting hit the hardest.

Perhaps we should stop shipping gas to Arizona, which might help supply and prices here, or find a way to give everyone in California a $70,000 Tesla. As a last thought, when you drag the oil companies to Sacramento you should also ask the same legislators how much, every penny per gallon, their anti-carbon policies have contributed to this problem. Then, at least, the public will really understand what we are paying for and why.

Scott Jacobsen,

Camarillo,


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Re: your Jan. 21 article, Oxnard OKs hikes; saga not over:

I left the City Council meeting appalled and disgusted. It was a classic demonstration of blindness and arrogance of city government flagrantly gone awry. I have been very actively involved in government at the city, state and national level for over 40 years. The Oxnard City Council, sans Mr. Bryan MacDonald, cowered to a false and flawed set of priorities. Shameful. Oxnard deserves better.

With hundreds in attendance for a crucial vote and supposedly to hear from the people, the electorate was buried by an excessively long presentation by the staff and and shallow portrayal of facts by First Southwest significantly delaying the primary reason for the meeting. Mayor Tim Flynns attempt to cut off protocol challenges were unanswered by the city attorney.

Do the wastewater rates need to go up? Yes! The rest now. No! Do we need a council that has an independant brain? Yes! As residents we want full transparency into each department and contract signed. Lose First Southwest.

Time to move forward as city of by and for the people  not consultants.

Patrick Rogge,

Oxnard




To help alleviate Nevadas teaching shortage, WGU Nevada is partnering with the Nevada Department of Education to offer up to 20 full-ride scholarships to residents with a desire to pursue a career in teaching.

In 2015, the Nevada Department of Education provided $240,000 to WGU Nevada as part of the Nevada Legislatures Teach Nevada Scholarship Initiative. Individuals interested in applying are required to complete WGU Nevadas Alternate Route to Licensure program for elementary and secondary teaching. The ARL program is an accelerated pathway for individuals who already hold a bachelors degree but do not have a teaching license. After successful completion of the accelerated program, students will have completed a series of rigorous courses, in-person observations, and clinical experiences in a public school classroom that prepares them to be highly effective teachers.

To learn more about the scholarship, please email scholarships@wgu.edu.

WGU Nevada has a nationally-recognized teaching program, and we are very pleased to be helping the state as a whole with its aggressive strides to gain new teachers here, said WGU Nevada Chancellor Dr. Spencer Stewart.

Winning scholarship recipients will be awarded $3,000 per term, not to exceed a total of $12,000 per student. Scholarships are available to new students who possess a bachelors or masters degree in a non-education related field from an accredited university. Unlike traditional schools, WGU Nevada starts new terms on the first of every month, so its never too late to begin the journey. To be considered for one of the Teach Nevada Scholarships, prospective students must be officially admitted to WGU Nevada. This is a competitive program and scholarships will be awarded based on an applicants academic record, financial need, readiness for online study at WGU Nevada, current competency, as well as other considerations.

WGU Nevadas parent universityWestern Governors Universityhas long been recognized as a national leader in teacher education. In 2014, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) named WGUs secondary teacher education program number one in the nation. In addition, WGU is the largest producer of math and science teachers in the country.

WGU Nevada uses an innovative approach to learning called competency-based education, which measures learning rather than time spent in class. Students earn their degrees by demonstrating mastery of the subject matter they need to know to be successfulreal-world competencies developed with employer input. Designed to meet the needs of adult learners in Nevada, competency-based education allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. Faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU Nevadas degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, saving both time and money. For more information about WGU Nevada, visit nevada.wgu.edu.


R&B artist, Ne-Yo, will host an epic night at Chateau Nightclub & Rooftop at Paris Las Vegas in celebration of the Big Game weekend on Saturday, Feb. 6.

Accompanied by friends, the Las Vegas native will take in the surrounding panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip in style with a lavish VIP booth. Best known for topping the charts with his hit singles, So Sick and Let Me Love You, and most recently for his newer single, She Knows, Ne-Yo will party the night away with clubgoers in anticipation of the biggest game of the year.

Pre-sale tickets to the event are available for $30. For more information visit www.chateaunights.com.


On April 2, Miss Nevada Alana Lee and Miss Nevadas Outstanding Teen Bailey Gumm kicked off their six day tour of Nevada to better associate themselves with the states citizens, growth, business and beauty.

Part of Lee and Gumms Nevada activities will include participating in a Ride-Along courtesy of the Richard Petty Driving Experience and attending a Jabbawockeez show in Las Vegas, taking a tour of Barrick Gold Mine in Elko and visiting Childrens Miracle Network in Reno.

We want to familiarize ourselves with the many diverse sights, experiences and people that the Silver State has to offer, says Lee. Were road-tripping to see it all firsthand!

This year has been a dream come true, says Gumm. Im so honored to represent the wonderful state of Nevada.

The tentative Nevada tour schedule for is below and subject to change.

Tuesday, April 3

Las Vegas: D & R Hot Air Balloon Ride

Ride-Along at Richard Petty Driving Experience

Beatty: Meet and greet at Beatty Community Center

Rhyolite Ghost Town and Goldwell Open Air Museum

Wednesday, April 4

Tonopah: Visit the Central Nevada Museum

Ely: Speech at White Pine High School, 3-5 p.m.

Meet and greet at Postal Palace, open to the public, 5-7 p.m.

Thursday, April 5

Elko: Tour of Barrick Gold Mine

Meet and greet fundraiser for Childrens Miracle Network at JRs Bar and Grill, open to the public, 6-9 p.m.

Friday, April 6

Reno: Visit patients at Childrens Miracle Network hospital

Lake Tahoe: Dinner and Boat Tour on MS Dixie

Saturday, April 7

Reno: Northern Open Pageant, 12- 4 p.m.  Ticketed event
The full list of the 12th Central Party Committee members will be announced in the afternoon session at the on-going 12th National Party Congress in Hanois National Convention Centre. Tomorrow, the new Central Party Committee will convene its first plenary meeting within the framework of the Congress, during which the members will elect the Politburo, General Secretary, Secretariat, and Central Inspection Commission and its chairman.

Earlier on the afternoon of January 25, the Congress held a plenary working session and approved a list of 220 candidates for the official posts and 26 nominees for the alternate posts, as well as withdrawals from the list including the cases of President Truong Tan Sang, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Congress, Vu Trong Kim  an 11th Party Central Committee member and Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee  said the personnel for the next tenure was thoroughly prepared during the 12th, 13th and 14th meetings of the 11th Party Central Committee.

At the 14th meeting, the 11th Party Central Committee agreed to nominate the incumbent Party General Secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, to be re-elected to this position in the next tenure.
Migrants and refugees walk in a muddy road after crossing the Macedonian border into Serbia near the village of Miratovac on Jan 7, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Armend Nimani)

AMSTERDAM: EU ministers open talks on Monday (Jan 24) in Amsterdam on ways to save the Schengen passport-free zone from collapse under migrant flows and tackle the militant scourge as a new counter-terrorism centre is launched.

The two-day meeting of interior and justice ministers is the first under the six-month Dutch European Union presidency that aims to broker a deal by June 30 on setting up a new pan-European border and coastguard force.

The force will be a key topic for debate Monday afternoon as supporters say it will slow the unprecedented influx of migrants across the 28-nation bloc's porous external frontiers and remove the need for Schengen member states to reintroduce internal border checks.

It will be preceded in the morning by talks on terrorism, which remains at the top of the agenda following the Nov 13 Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed and hundreds more wounded.

EU officials said no decisions will be taken at what is an informal meeting, which opens at 9:00 am (0800 GMT).

French President Francois Hollande has said the attacks were decided in Syria but prepared and organised in Belgium, whose capital Brussels hosts EU headquarters.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attacks and on Sunday released a video purporting to show nine jihadists involved in the Paris bloodshed, in which they threaten "coalition" countries including Britain.

The morning meeting in Amsterdam coincides with the formal launch of the new counter-terrorism centre at Europol headquarters in The Hague, which is designed to improve intelligence sharing among often wary EU member states.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve vowed Sunday to put "considerable pressure" on EU members and institutions to step up the terror fight, accusing some states of slacking because they had not been hit by jihadist attacks.

The European police agency's director Rob Wainwright said that intelligence cooperation had already improved since the attacks in Paris.

But he said the new centre 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 told AFP in an interview in Davos, Switzerland.

'UNDERLYING OBSTACLES'

The Dutch presidency said on its website it would like the interior ministers to discuss the "remaining underlying obstacles for information exchange on foreign terrorist fighters and ways forward to clear these obstacles."

European officials have long worried about the eventual return of an estimated 5,000 EU nationals who went to wage jihad in Syria and Iraq, where they have become hardened to battle and experts in weapons use.

Belgian and French investigators are probing the extent of links between the attackers on the ground in Paris and the Islamic State group in Syria.

The resumption of months-long talks on the worst migrant crisis in Europe since World War II will focus on Dutch efforts to broker a deal on the border guard force, which is seen as a way to save Schengen, a symbol of European unity and prosperity.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker warned earlier this month that the collapse of the Schengen zone could kill off the internal market.

Greece is under the most political pressure as it shares an external EU border with Turkey, the main gateway for the more than one million Syrian and other asylum seekers entering the bloc last year.

Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner in the last few days warned that Athens faced "temporary exclusion" from the Schengen zone in order persuade Greece to better protect its borders.

Clearly irked, Greece's deputy Minister of European Affairs Nikos Xidakis on Sunday hit back at suggestions that the country was failing to block the flow of migrants.

"Greece guards its borders and European borders. What it cannot do and will not do is sink boats and drown women and children because European and international law and the values of our civilisation forbid it," he was quoted as saying in a statement.

Austria is one of several Schengen countries that have reintroduced temporary border controls to cope with heavy migrant flows.

European sources said the ministers may renew talks about prolonging the checks to two years, instead of the current maximum of six months
Doosan Vina is building the 1,200 megawatt Vinh Tan 4 Thermal Power Plant in the Binh Thuan Province. - Photo vinaincon.com.vn

The MoU was with regard to co-operation on the aftermarket service of thermal power plants.

At the same time, Duyen Hai Power Plant Operation Company and the United Kingdom's Amec Foster Wheeler also signed a MoU with EPS.

A source from EPS said the MoUs aim to target the service market in Viet Nam as coal fired power production is expected to grow and the aftermarket service business will need to be expanded.

Doosan Vina is building the 1,200 megawatt Vinh Tan 4 Thermal Power Plant in the Binh Thuan Province, with a total investment capital of US$1.4 billion.
Prisoners sentenced as juveniles to life without parole can seek new reviews, Supreme Court rules
Prime Minister Hun Sen is pushing government institutions and businesses to improve the countrys rice production.

Speaking at a forum held by the Cambodia Rice Federation Monday, Hun Sen said he remains optimistic that demand for Cambodian rice will rise, as the global population increases.

Cambodias rice needs improved irrigation systems, production that meets market demands, and reduced costs of production, he said. Infrastructure to move the rice needs improvement, including by water and rail, and rice producers need to be more competitive on the international market.

Investment is required in machinery and warehouses to dry and store rice for export, something Cambodia is discussing with China, Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen had asked that Cambodia be producing 1 million tons of rice for export by 2015, but the country is meeting only half that goal.

Hun Luck, deputy president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, told VOA Khmer that reaching the 1-million ton goal will require a lot of work from both the government and private sectors. This will push momentum forward, he said.

Cambodia has the capacity to produce an estimated 5 million tons of rice each year, but much of it goes toward local consumption and toward sales to middlemen from Vietnam and Thailand, both major producers and suppliers to the world market.
US Secretary of State John Kerry met with key Cambodian leaders, including those in the opposition and in human rights and development organizations Tuesday, as he makes a brief tour of Asia.

Kerry is visiting Cambodia ahead of a US-Asean meeting in California, in February, and amidst ongoing political turmoil, as the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party feuds with the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party.

Kerry told reporters Tuesday afternoon he had addressed these issues in talks with Prime Minster Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. He also met with Rescue Party Vice President Kem Sokha, who is leading the opposition while its president, Sam Rainsy, remains in exile abroad, facing a prison sentence for criminal defamation, in a suit brought by Hor Namhong himself.

Kerry arrived in Cambodia late Monday, following a trip to Laos, which is the acting head of Asean this year, and ahead of a visit to China. China and Asean are at odds over the South China Sea, a major international thoroughfare where four Southeast Asian nations have overlapping claims with China.

In his briefing Tuesday, Kerry said the US and Asean have agreed that we now have a strategic partnership. Thats what were working at. And Cambodia plays a role in fully defining that partnership. The US-Asean meeting in Sunnylands, California, he said, is meant to allow for a more relaxed, informal, but intensive dialogue between the leaders on a range of economic issues and security issues.

But Kerry also did not ignore Cambodias tense political environment and poor human rights record. In my discussions today I emphasized the essential role that a vibrant democratic system plays in the development of a country and in the legitimacy of its political system, he said. Democratic governments have a responsibility to ensure that all elected representatives are free to perform their responsibilities without fear of attack or arrest. That is a fundamental responsibility of a democratic government. So as Cambodians prepare for elections next year and again in 2018 it is very important to allow for vigorous but peaceful debate.

We care deeply about respect for human rights, universal freedoms, and good governance, Kerry said. And progress in each of these areas is really critical to being able to fulfill the potential of our bilateral relations but also, importantly, the full potential of the hopes and aspirations of the Cambodian people.

Rescue Party Vice President Kem Sokha told VOA Khmer after he met with Kerry Tuesday that he reminded the Secretary of the Rescue Partys dedication to peaceful, free and fair elections. The US shows a stance that economic development and human rights and democracy must be parallel, Kem Sokha said.

Kerry met with leaders from nearly a dozen rights and development NGOs, hearing out concerns on human rights and an environment that stifles dissent, with some 17 government critics and opposition activists currently in jail.

Activists raised concerns about land concessions, land grabs and the loss of land along the Mekong River, as well as dams on the river, said Tek Vannara, head of the NGO forum, a consortium of groups. They discussed global warming and its effects on Cambodia, and they discussed the economy, he said.

The NGOs hope that more US investors are coming, so there will be positive competition that people can benefit from, Tek Vannara said.

Chak Sopheap, director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said she remains concerned about the basic rights of assembly and expression and a new law to regulate NGOs, which many fear will be used to crack down on further government dissent.

Ou Virak, head of the think tank Future Forum, said the meetings with Kerry are unlikely to have an impact on human rights issues, particularly when the focus of Kerrys visit is the US-Asean relationship. His main mission is to meet with the government, and especially to push the government regarding Asean issues, Ou Virak said.

Ou Ritthy, who leads a youth group called Politikoffee, said he had raised with Kerry a problem for Cambodian youth, which is the fear of challenging the government and being arrested and sentenced to jail.

Rights advocates agreed after their meeting with Kerry that he acknowledged the problems they face and vowed to support their work. However, they said, he made no promises.
Human rights concerns and bilateral trade have been focal points for U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who held a series of meetings with officials in Cambodia Tuesday.

Kerry said progress for Cambodia in the areas of human rights, universal freedoms and good governance is critical in order to fulfill the potential of bilateral relations with the U.S.

He commented to reporters in a lush outdoor courtyard after holding separate talks with officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and Cambodian acting opposition party leader Kem Sokha.

Democratic governments have a responsibility to ensure that all elected representatives are free to perform their responsibilities without fear of attack or arrest, said Kerry, who emphasized that he raised human rights concerns during his talks with officials.

There is ongoing concern about Cambodia's efforts to ensure democratic and human rights reforms.

With opposition leader Sam Rainsy in self-imposed exile to avoid what is widely considered to be politically motivated charges, and 17 opposition members and activists in prison, rights groups say any improved diplomatic ties must be accompanied with Cambodian guarantees for reform.

Kerry also praised Cambodia for its economic progress.

"Cambodia has experienced remarkable growth," said Kerry to the prime minister as they headed into talks. "You have seen incredible changes, not just here in Phnom Penh, which moved from a 350,000 person war-torn city to a much more modern city of 2.2 million people."

Hun Sen told Kerry that he considers next month's U.S.-hosted special ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit a "step forward for the strategic partnership" between the U.S. and ASEAN countries.

One of the focal points during the summit, in California, will be addressing the urgent challenge of countering violent extremism, said Kerry. He added that Prime Minister Hun expressed an interest in working with the anti-Islamic State group coalition.

Cambodia is the second leg of Kerrys swing through Asia, which also included a stop in Laos.

From Cambodia, Kerry travels to China where he will press Beijing to use its leverage to exert pressure on North Korea for what it said was a successful nuclear test. He is also expected to raise U.S. concerns about the ongoing maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

Earlier Tuesday, Kerry visited the National Museum of Cambodia, home to one of the world's most extensive collections of Khmer cultural material.
Editors note: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cambodia on Monday as part of a regional tour that also includes stops in Laos and China. The visit comes just weeks ahead of a major U.S. meeting with the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next month in California.

Kerry has emphasized trade ties during the trip, which comes after five years of the so-called pivot to Asia in U.S. foreign policy. The superpower has been looking to increase its presence in the Asia-Pacific as China rises as a regional power, but maritime territorial disputes between China and ASEAN members have proven a challenge to the regional bloc.

On the eve of Kerrys visit, VOA Khmer spoke by telephone with Chheang Vannarith, a lecturer in Asia-Pacific studies at Leeds University in the U.K. about Cambodias role in these geopolitical maneuverings.

What are the challenges and hurdles in rebalancing the relationship between the U.S. and ASEAN, based on your observations?

U.S. policy has been actively since 2011 trying to return back to Asia in a policy called rebalancing toward the Asia-Pacific or the pivot to Asia. So far, the U.S. has had three important roles. First, to push an alliance system in the Asia-Pacific, especially with Japan, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines and so on, to balance the power in Asia Pacific because of the sharp increase of Chinas influence in the region. Second, the U.S. strengthens the role of ASEAN to control disputes as well as avert disputes in the region.

Third, its the economy. So far, the U.S. has achieved TPP [the Trans-Pacific Partnership], which is an important trade agreement and the biggest one in the world. The visits of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Laos and Cambodia reflect the efforts and the comprehensive goal to return back to the Asia-Pacific and especially to strengthen the U.S. role in the region.

Kerrys visits are taking place just before the U.S.-ASEAN Summit in Sunnylands, California. Will there be any position changes regarding ASEAN, the U.S. and its cooperation with Cambodia, or regarding China?

The U.S. strategy in returning back to the Asia-Pacific is important because of the surge of Chinas power. So, what should the U.S. and U.S. partners do to maintain the stability and security in the region? The meeting of the U.S.-ASEAN in Sunnylands, California on Feb. 15-16 is the vital context in the strategic relations between the U.S. and ASEAN. The focal point of talks is first about the economy. That means to make sure that the countries in the Asia-Pacific can economically cooperate and have economic integration, because if some of the smaller countries in Southeast Asia dont have independent economies or just rely heavily on Chinas economy, China can cover its influence in the region. Small countries in the region should be allowed to strengthen their self-reliance as well as their neutrality by strengthening their economies.

If all ASEAN countries become members of TPP, would that signify them distancing themselves from Chinas influence?

The U.S. considers the TPP an important part of its foreign policy in the region, but the issue of TPP is that only four countries in ASEAN are members. Even Thailand is not a member yet. So, I think the U.S. should push forward to expand membership of the TPP to reach out to ASEAN nations, as well as China. Because when there are more people giving mutual help, it can help create stability and security in the region.

China has not wanted to see U.S. involvement regarding the South China Sea, but you mentioned the U.S. having a role in averting disputes. How deeply is the U.S. involved in this right now?

The tension between the U.S. and China still continues and it is going to be more complicated in the future because of the construction of artificial islands. Thats a security threat in the region, as well as for U.S. interests, because the South China Sea is an important international gateway in the Asia-Pacific. If China can control the region, it can impact the freedom of navigation of U.S. ships. Thats why the U.S. is deeply involved in the South China Sea.

But this is a political game to balance power in the region. And it is believed that without a power balance, crises and war can erupt.

Kerry will visit China after his trips to Cambodia and Laos. How can Cambodia benefit from these American diplomatic efforts?

First, we should look at the strategic position of Cambodia and second, we should look at Cambodias potential. Cambodia is a small and poor country in the region. So, to develop, Cambodia needs to make friends with superpowersChina, the U.S., Russia, India, all of them. Any countries that want to help Cambodia to develop, Cambodia needs to make friends with them. The U.S. has an important role to develop Cambodia because of, first, technology and, second, education and human resources.

The U.S. is still the Number One in the world. There is no one who can compete with U.S. regarding to new technology and new concepts and so on. So the U.S. can help Cambodia on human resources as well as science. The U.S. is also still a big market for Cambodia in exporting garments and agricultural products in the future. So the U.S. role is important regarding the economy, and the investors to Cambodia will be more compared to the past years.

I think that Cambodia does not favor any country, but favors all by making friends with all. Also, there is an international concept that sees Cambodia favor China very much, but if we look deeply, Cambodian policy remains neutrality, and it wants to be friends with all superpowers.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will urge China to do more to press North Korea to stop its controversial nuclear tests, as well as discuss the South China Sea maritime dispute, when he sits down Wednesday for talks with officials in Beijing.

Earlier this month, Pyongyang conducted what it said was a successful test of a hydrogen bomb -- a move that drew international condemnation.

China is an economic lifeline for North Korea. A focal point for Kerry will be urging Beijing to use its leverage to try to convince Pyongyang to stop such tests, which are considered provocative by world powers.

Also, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, Chinas support is crucial for passage of any U.N. penalties against North Korea.

Competing interests

However, analysts say China sometimes appears to be hesitant about imposing additional penalties on its neighbor because of competing interests.

For China, the challenge is balancing the need to punish North Korea with their concerns about stability in North Korea. So, they want to push but they dont want to push too hard, says Scott Snyder, a Korean studies analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken traveled ahead of Kerry to Asia where he discussed North Koreas action with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.

Blinken said they stood firmly united in strongly condemning this test, and in our determination, to impose costs for the DPRK's (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) flaunting of its international obligations."

Chinese officials

Kerry will meet with officials including Chinas President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Another focal point during the talks will be the maritime dispute in the South China Sea, where China and others in the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines, have overlapping claims.

Earlier this month, regional tensions flared when China tested a runway on one of its artificial islands in the region.

China is the last leg of Kerrys three-nation tour of Asia that also included stops in Laos and Cambodia.

WATCH: US, China Compete for Influence with Cambodia


With new peace talks set to begin this week, humanitarian agencies called Tuesday for unimpeded access to millions of besieged people in Syria and for the funds needed to support lifesaving operations there.

In less than two months, Syria will mark five years of civil war that has evolved into the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world. The United Nations estimates that since the conflict broke out in March 2011, more than 250,000 people have been killed, 6.5 million Syrians have become internally displaced and 4.5 million people have become refugees.

The countrys infrastructure is devastated. Schools and hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. Medicine is in short supply, and fewer than half of the children are being vaccinated against killer diseases.

Yacoub El Hillo, U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator for Syria, said combatants are using starvation as a war tactic. He said aid agencies are unable to reach more than 4.5 million people because of military action, lack of security and attacks.

Enough is enough," he said. "Syrians can no longer continue to pay the price for political failure. ... We do have that hope that those coming to Geneva will put aside at least their differences on humanitarian issues and allow access, and focus on their political disagreements and try to reach solutions on them. So we have that hope and expectation, in fact. Otherwise, the world will have failed the Syrian people more than once.

Previous U.N.-mediated peace efforts have failed. Another attempt is to begin Friday when government and opposition participants gather in Geneva intra-Syrian peace talks.

Norwegian Refugee Council Secretary General Jan Egeland said the Syrian parties who gather in Geneva have the power to end the starvation and the devastation in their beleaguered country.

We also expect the sponsors and supporters and military partners of these parties, who all sit in the international support group for Syria, to do their job, which is to put much more pressure for peace, to do much more facilitation for peace," Egeland said. "They have the power to do that.

Egeland appealed in particular to Russia, Iran, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to use their influence on the warring parties and take advantage of the current momentum to reach a political resolution to the Syrian crisis.
With almost each step you take in the narrow, winding alleys of the tumbledown Casbah in Algiers, a resident approaches to remind you of the past glories of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Historic monuments include the 1,000-year-old Sidi Ramdane mosque and former fortress, and the Princess Khedaoudj al Amia Palace, now converted into a national museum of art and traditions.

Houses are passed down along generations, but decay and damage from an earthquake in 2003 are causing some to consider a move to modern apartments, with financial backing from the government. Others refuse to leave the tight-knit community and neighborhood they have called home for decades.

"I was born here and will die here too," said Fatouma, 89, a mother of nine daughters and four sons. "They want to rehouse us, but I am not leaving the place where I grew up."

Concrete breezeblocks are used to repair Moorish as well as more modern buildings, while functional iron doors have replaced intricate old wooden ones. Many houses have collapsed, the debris cleared by local authorities to make way for playgrounds.

The Cabah's fading grandeur can be explained by the high cost of upkeep, which few residents can afford.

In this neighborhood of about 70,000, people earn a living working in office jobs, as health workers, domestic staff, taxi drivers, security guards and street vendors. Artisans still based in the Casbah include those making brassware and jewelry, woodworkers and traditional dressmakers.

In the 1990s, during a civil war in which an estimated 200,000 people died, the Algiers Casbah was a stronghold of Islamist militants. Policemen, journalists and citizens were killed inside its maze-like alleys. Doors and windows were shuttered.

The 1966 Gillo Pontecorvo movie "The Battle of Algiers" shows how the neighborhood was also central in Algeria's struggle for independence from France in the 1950s, serving as a hide-out for separatists.

In the modern-day Casbah, the background sounds are pop music, birdsong or the Islamic call to prayer, rather than gunfire or explosions.

The authorities are trying to deal with the decay of what many see as a jewel in the national crown. Rehousing has been part of this effort so far, but has not been popular with residents.

If the heirs to a Casbah property agree to give it to the state, they can each be rehoused in apartments permanently. If not, families are rehoused temporarily and return once renovation work is complete.

"I don't want to leave the Casbah and live in an area that's different to where I grew up," says Redouane, 26. "If I am forced to I will move but I am sure will visit the Casbah very often."

As for Fatouma, she says any government financial help will not sway her from wanting to stay in her house, with its views of shipping in the Mediterranean in the background.

"They can re-house my children and their respective families, but not me," she says. "I want to die in the Casbah."
For Hugh Tra, an immigrant from Vietnam who says he has been politically active since high school, U.S. foreign policy is personal.

I care a lot about foreign affairs, about what the U.S. government decides to do," said Tra, whose parents fled the Vietnam War. "I really do want our government to look at the history and culture of another society before making decisions, taking military action.

Tra, who lives in Southern California -- home to many Asian immigrants -- came to the United States with his parents when he was 2 years old. He said his parents were refugees from the Vietnam War and that his father shared those experiences with him.

The bedtime stories, they werent like fairy tales or Disney stories. It was war and repercussions of war -- impact of war, he said. "The things he lost, the family members he lost during the war, what he experienced, what he went through, that shaped me tremendously."

Growing electorate

Tra said his family history, combined with the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S., compelled him to become politically active.

Tra is part of a growing number of Asian-Americans who are becoming politically engaged, said Dan Ichinose, a project manager with the group Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles.

Ichinose directs demographic research involving Asian-Americans.

Between 2002 and 2012, there was a 60 percent increase in the number of Asian-Americans who registered to vote, so this growth is happening not only in places like California and New York, but places like the South, places like the Midwest. Particularly in close races, the Asian-American vote matters now, he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California.

The levels of immigration from Asian countries now, of course outpace the number of immigrants coming from Latin America," Schnur said.

"The American political community hasnt quite figured that out yet, and so as a result, Asian-American voters are not getting as much attention from either party as the increased number of immigrants coming from Pacific Rim countries would suggest, he added.

By 2040, nearly 1-in-10 people in the U.S. is expected to be Asian-American.

Largely politically unaffiliated

Because people from Asia represent diverse cultures, languages and religious beliefs, Asian-Americans have not been as cohesive politically, Schnur said.

Although more Asian-Americans identify as Democrats than Republicans, nearly half are not affiliated with a political party, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.

Tra, who said he had been a Republican but now identifies as a Democrat, agreed with that assessment.

I think there hasnt been enough effort by either party to outreach to Asian Americans. Definitely, both parties need to step up their game and reach out to us, he said.

Reaching out to immigrant Asian-Americans and getting them engaged means overcoming language barriers and educating them about the voting process.

For now, that job falls on organizations such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles. Its volunteers conduct telephone banks in several different languages to encourage people to register to vote and go to the polls.

Pragmatic politics

In California, Tra said many Asians are engaged and even running for office. He said when picking a candidate, he looks at the issues.

I think I try not to be as dogmatic about my approach and understanding things. I think that can be very problematic, right? We got to be pragmatic about how we solve certain problems and look at a wider lens to understand everything before we make a final decision, he said.

For the presidential election, Tra said he is looking at how each candidate deals with issues, such as immigration and income inequality, and that he is leaning toward voting for Bernie Sanders.
Brazil is mobilizing some 200,000 military troops in its fight against the Zika-carrying mosquito, which is blamed for spreading a virus that is linked to horrific birth defects.

Health Minister Marcelo Castro said the troops will travel to homes across the country distributing pamphlets and offering advice on mosquito eradication, according to Rio de Janeiro's O Globo newspaper.

The newspaper also quoted Castro as saying that the government would distribute mosquito repellent to 400,000 women who receive government benefits.

On Tuesday, Rio de Janeiro sent fumigators into the city's Sambodrome stadium, which will be used for the upcoming carnival celebrations and will also be used for Olympic archery competition in August.

WATCH: Further Spread of Zika Virus in Americas Feared

The World Health Organization said the mosquito-borne Zika virus could be linked to 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly in Brazil, which results in abnormally small heads in newborns and can affect brain development.

"We have, to this point, recorded 49 deaths of microcephaly," WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told a news briefing in Geneva.

He said scientists are trying to establish a link between the virus and microcephaly but that, so far, the evidence is circumstantial.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned pregnant women against travelling to Brazil and 21 other countries and territories with Zika outbreaks.

Rio De Janeiro will host the Summer Olympic Games this August.
The government of Burundi says that it hopes members of the U.N. Security Council who were in Burundi for two days got a chance to see for themselves that the reality on the ground sharply differs from what is related by some local and international media.

Despite the announcement by Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and head of the UNSC delegation, that not much was achieved during the two-day visit, the government of Burundi argues that it was able to show its hosts that security prevails across the country on one hand, and that it is open to a national dialogue on the other.

Burundi First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo, who was interviewed by VOA last Friday after he met with the UNSC members, said that he asked the Security Council to stop looking the other way while a foreign country continues to train and to organize rebel attacks on Burundi.

Sindimwo also said Rwanda should take part in the ongoing national dialogue as "it has a hand on the current political crisis."

"We told them that based on weapons seized and fighters who were arrested, most of the weapons and the majority of fighters come from Rwanda, where they receive military training, he said. We have reiterated our call to the Security Council to ultimately heed our call and stop looking the other way so a formal investigation into the role of Rwanda in destabilizing our country, could be launched."

We have also asked that Rwanda take part in the ongoing dialogue as its role in creating mayhem in Burundi has now become indisputable," Sindimwo added.

In addition to the dialogue among Burundi stakeholders, the Burundi first vice president said he had a discussion with members of the UNSC regarding the African Union's resolution to send a 5,000-member protection force to Burundi.

Sindimwo said that, overall, the government of Burundi had constructive and productive talks with members of the U.N. Security Council and hoped that collaboration and partnership between Burundi and the UNSC and other regional organizations would only get stronger.
Burundis government said it would welcome any offer by South Africa to facilitate the ongoing intra-Burundian dialogue.

Foreign Minister Alain Nyamitwe said although such an offer has yet to be officially made, his government would not refuse it if it is made because South Africa played a critical role in the Burundian peace process in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

East Africa Community-mediated peace talks led by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni have so far failed to yield practical results.

The last talks that were scheduled to resume on January 6 in Ugandas capital, Kampala did not take place because the Burundian government said the date was set by mediators without consulting the government.

Complementary peace effort



Nyamitwe said if South Africa offers to facilitate the dialogue, its role would not be incompatible, but rather complementary to what is being done by President Museveni and the East Africa Community.

I dont think it has been confirmed yet, but I believe South Africa, being a country which has immensely contributed to the peace process in Burundi in the late [19]90s and early 2000, its absolutely a country that can play a critical role in the dialogue process that we have embarked upon.

Nyamitwe said his government has not yet received any request from South Africa, but if such a request is made, it would be formulated and processed through diplomatic channels.

Intra-Burundian dialogue participants



He reiterated that Burundi would not find it to be a problem if South Africa would offer to support the regional efforts on Burundi.

There has been disagreement on who should participate in the intra-Burundian dialogue.

The Burundian government is on record as saying it will not negotiate with certain opposition figures it considers as coup plotters or sponsors of acts of terrorism."

Nyamitwe said any Burundian can be part of the dialogue as long as they adhere to U.N. Security Council resolution 2248, which calls on the government and all parties to reject violence and refrain from any action that threatened peace and stability.

Jean Minani, the exiled leader of the Opposition Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU) told VOA earlier this month that Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza does not want to negotiate because he knows he is the cause of the crisis the country is experiencing today.

Nkurunziza is the cause of the crisis of Burundi. Hes afraid to come with all the people, with the international community to talk with us because theres nothing to talk about. He cant come to talk with us because he knows he has nothing to talk about, Minani said.
The top Central African Republic court has annulled last months legislative elections, but confirmed that two former prime ministers will face off for the presidency.

The C.A.R.s Constitutional Court ruled late Monday that the first-round legislative vote Dec. 30 was marred by numerous irregularities, and said some candidates appeared to be involved in them.

Court president Zacharie Ndoumba said election officials had received more than 400 complaints about the polls.

"The court has decided to cancel the [legislative] election of 30 December 2015 and to reschedule it for the whole country," Ndouba said late Monday.

Next steps unclear

The court did give the green light for a presidential runoff election between the top first-round vote-getters, Anicet Georges Dologuele and Faustin Archange Touadera.

On Tuesday, the national election authority scheduled the second round of presidential polls for Feb. 14. It has not yet given a date for the new legislative elections.

The court's decision raises questions over the next steps for the electoral process. The former French colony could now find itself with a president but no new parliament.

Six of the 30 presidential candidates submitted challenges to the court, saying polling was marred by irregularities and called for the vote to be annulled or recounted, but the court dismissed them.

In results announced earlier this month, Dologuele won 24 percent of the vote, followed by Touadera with 19 percent.

Dologuele, 58, is an economist who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001 under the government of President Ange-Felix Patasse.

Toudera, also 58, is a mathematician who was prime minister under President Francois Bozize from 2008 to 2013.

It was Bozizes ouster by the Seleka rebel group in 2013 that triggered the C.A.R.s political crisis. Since then, sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians has displaced nearly 1 million people.
U.N. envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura says he hopes to convene peace talks between Syrian government and opposition members Friday in Geneva, but the process has been facing serious challenges because of disagreements over who should be invited and the future of Syria's president.



De Mistura has not publicly said which Syrian opposition groups will be invited to take part in the talks.



George Sabra, Deputy Chief of the Syrian opposition negotiating team, told VOA there are many challenges facing the U.N.-sponsored talks.



Russia is attempting to impose who represent the Syrian opposition in the Geneva talks; the Syrian regime is ignoring U.N. Security Council resolution 2254 which is calling for an end to the indiscriminate use of weapons against civilians. Sabra added The Syrian opposition insisted that the regime should stop bombarding Syrian villages and lift its starvation siege before it can join the talks but it is being pressured to participate.



But Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated U.S. support for the opposition. "The position of the United States is and hasn't changed," Kerry said. "We are still supporting the opposition, politically, financially and militarily."



Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russias four-month air campaign backing Assad has helped turn the tide in Syria where the government has been battling rebels for 5 years.



Confident Assad



Josh Landis, President of Syrian Studies Association, argues that Russian support contributed to recent military gains by Syrian President Bashar al- Assad and convinced Assad that he is winning, so his regime will not compromise in the Geneva talks.



Russian air power has changed the balance of power and made it very difficult to convince Assad to stop fighting and to make peace.



Secretary Kerry downplayed comments from the Syrian government indicating it would not bend on its positions heading into the talks. He also said it is ultimately up to the Syrian parties to decide the future of their country, including the role of President Assad.



Sabra ruled out any possibility of accepting a future role for Assad in any political transition.



It would be extremely impossible to talk about a political solution in Syria with Assad as a part of it. That defies the logic of a political transition.



Recommendations to get through



Former U.S. Ambassador Edward Djerejian acknowledges the tough challenges facing the U.N.-sponsored talks, but he offered a diplomatic solution.



I think the compromise would probably be that Assad does not have to leave immediately, but with an understanding that there would be elements of his regime that could be involved leading to a political transition which at the end of the day Assad and his key lieutenants would not be there.



Djerejian said I think there are solutions but they require a major effort to get everyone on the same page to resolve the Syrian conflict.



Robert Ford, the last U.S. Ambassador to Syria, sent his vision to rescue the upcoming talks through an open letter to Secretary Kerry.



The administration needs to focus on developing an agreement with the Russians and other states about the issues the Syrians must negotiate." Ford added, The U.S. and other states need to agree about a force that would robustly monitor a cease-fire, how to improve local security and what the U.N. Security Council will countenance when the cease-fire is violated.



Ambassador Ford stressed that Syrians must compromise just as the Tunisians did, and warned against any U.S. or other foreign leaders trying to micro-manage the process, which, in his opinion, could undermine the chances for sustainable progress.



But Landis argues there is no good will to ensure any optimistic outcomes of the talks, even if all parties attended.



I believe the upcoming Geneva talks will be in vain as the previous efforts were, simply because neither side is willing to compromise. Landis said, It is quite clear that Russia and Assad believe that they can achieve a conquest in the battlefield and the Syrian opposition groups still believe they can take Damascus by force.
A Swedish human rights activist arrested earlier this month in China and accused of endangering state security has been released and deported.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom issued a statement Tuesday welcoming the release of Peter Dahlin, 35, the co-founder of Chinese Urgent Action Group, which provides training and support for Chinese human rights lawyers.

Dahlin was detained on January 3 as he was preparing to fly out of Beijing, and not seen again until last week when he was featured on state-owned broadcaster CCTV confessing to the allegations.

China has engaged in a widespread crackdown on human rights lawyers in the country since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012.

Many of those arrested have been shown on state television confessing to the charges, a practice that human rights activists say are obviously forced.

Meanwhile, another Swedish national, Chinese-born publisher Gui Minhai, remains in custody in China.

The Hong Kong-based publisher disappeared late last year from Thailand before reappearing last week on CCTV, saying he had turned himself in to Chinese authorities on a decades-old drunk-driving charge.
Italy and Iran signed billions of dollars of business deals on Monday at the start of a visit to Europe by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani aimed at rebuilding his nation's ties with the West after years of economic sanctions.

Heading a 120-strong delegation of business leaders and ministers, Rouhani will spend two days in Rome before flying to France on Wednesday, looking to polish Tehran's diplomatic credentials at a time of turmoil in the Middle East.

An Italian government source said the Iranians would sign up to 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion) worth of deals in sectors from energy to infrastructure and from steel to shipbuilding.

"This is just the beginning of a journey. There are sectors where we must work closer together," Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said, standing alongside Rouhani.

"I am sure this visit will be a fundamental part of our ability to overcome together the challenge of fighting terrorism, atrocity and evil that we all have to confront together," Renzi added, referring specifically to Islamic State militants, who oppose Iran and the West in equal measure.

Rouhani had originally been due to visit Europe in November but cancelled the trip after an Islamic State attack on Paris, which killed 130 people.

"We have always been in the front line against terrorism ... we have to continue [cooperating with Italy] to secure a genuine peace in Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Libya," the Iranian president said, speaking through a translator.

Many Western nations have accused Iran of funding various militant groups, and despite a landmark nuclear deal between world powers and Tehran last year, the United States is keeping some of its financial sanctions in place because of the alleged links and human rights abuses.

This will complicate Iran's full return to international markets, but judging by the Italian and French businesses lining up to clinch deals there is an enormous appetite in Europe to revive old trade ties and boost the sluggish economy.

Economic Hardships

A pragmatist elected in 2013, Rouhani championed the 2015 accord under which Iran curbed its nuclear program in return for the end of U.N., EU and some U.S. sanctions this month. He is anxious to bring Western knowhow and products back home to prove to Iranians that the accord, contested by many hardliners, will help ease their prolonged economic hardships.

Iran announced plans at the weekend to buy more than 160 European planes, mainly from Airbus.

Among the deals struck on Monday were a pipeline contract worth between $4 billion and $5 billion for oil services group Saipem, up to 5.7 billion euros in contracts for Italian steel firm Danieli and up to 4 billion euros of business for infrastructure firm Condotte d'Acqua.

Italian business leaders, including the heads of oil firm Eni and carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, attended a dinner for Rouhani on Monday. At the request of the Iranians, no wine was to be served. France refused the same request so there will be no state dinner for Rouhani in Paris.

While Italy was not involved in the prolonged nuclear talks, France was, and it took a hard line towards Tehran in the negotiations. It has also been outspoken in its condemnation of Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and sceptical of the country's other Middle East interventions.

This is likely to make Rouhani's visit to France later this week more prickly than his stay in Italy.

"Trust needs to be built. It's like love. It is only the proof of love that counts," said a senior French diplomat.

The boss of oil group Total, Patrick Pouyanne, is among top French executives who are expected to hold one-on-one meetings with Rouhani.

The Iranian leader is due to address up to 500 Italian business leaders on Tuesday before meeting Pope Francis, who is likely to discuss peace prospects for the Middle East and raise the question of human rights in Iran.
The three Democrats who want to be the next president of the United States made their last major pitch Monday night to voters in Iowa, where next week the state's caucus kicks off the months-long process of selecting the party's 2016 nominee.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a town hall event hosted by CNN she is a "proven fighter" and highlighted her experience as a member of President Barack Obama's Cabinet. She said military action should be used as a last resort, and instead promoted using diplomacy even though it is "slow" and "boring."

Clinton also took aim at Republican front-runner Donald Trump's comments about Muslims, calling them dismissive, insulting and contrary to American values. She said protecting the country means ensuring Muslims "are with us."

'On the front lines'

"They are on the front lines of defending themselves, their families, their children and all the rest of us, and the same is true with Muslims around the world," she said. "We need a coalition of that includes Muslim nations to defeat ISIS, and it's pretty hard to figure out how you're going to make a coalition with the very nations you need if you spend your time insulting their religion. So we need to stand up and point out how wrong this is."

Clinton was long the clear leader among Democrats, but in recent weeks Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has roughly drawn even with her in polls in Iowa.

Sanders said in reference to Clinton that experience is important when it comes to being president, but that judgment is as well, and he has the background and judgment to be able to deal with many different issues.

He said his campaign has drawn enthusiasm by touching a nerve with Americans who understand that the current political system is not working.

"It just seems to me that the crises that we face as a country today -- and we didn't get into climate change to a significant degree -- inequality, poverty in America, an obscene and unfair campaign finance system, these problems are so serious that we have got to go beyond establishment politics and establishment economics," Sanders said. "In my view we need a political revolution where millions of people stand up and say you know what, that great government of ours belongs to all of us, not just the few."

Trailing far behind in the polls is former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, but he has not shown any signs of dimming enthusiasm for his candidacy. He told the town hall he is "in this to win it."

Caucus process

The caucus process makes O'Malley important to the outcome in Iowa. If he fails to get 15 percent support, then he will be eliminated and his supporters will be free to choose either Clinton or Sanders, potentially swinging the race between them.

O'Malley promoted his plan for affordable college education, employment for military veterans and immigration reform. He also touted his equal rights record as governor, saying his state passed marriage equality and legislation banning transgender discrimination.

"I believe that the genius of this American experiment of ours is that in every generation we take actions to include more people more fully in the economic, the social and the political life of our country. That's the broader arc of American history. We've yet to arrive at a perfect union, but every generation we have the opportunity to make it a more perfect union."
Denmark's parliament has passed new laws aimed at deterring people from seeking asylum there, in a move that has sparked widespread condemnation.

After more than three hours of debate Tuesday, lawmakers overwhelming passed the so-called "jewelry bill" that allows authorities to seize asylum-seekers' property valued at more than $1,450. Items of special emotional value such as wedding rings will be exempt. Some critics likened the decision to the Nazis' confiscation of valuables from Jews during the Holocaust. Another provision calls for the asylum seekers to wait three years, instead of one, before they can apply to be reunited with their families.

The bill is the latest attempt by Denmark's seven-month-old, minority center-right government to discourage the migration of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The Scandinavian country took in a record 20,000 asylum-seekers last year.

In reacting to the Danish parliament's decision, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric issued a statement that read, in part, "Our reaction would be that people who have suffered tremendously - who have escaped war and conflict, who have literally walked hundreds, if not thousands, hundreds of kilometers if not more, who put their lives at risk crossing the Mediterranean - should be treated with compassion and respect and within their full rights as refugees as called [for] by the 1951 [refugee] convention."

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, also described the bill as inconsistent with European Union policies.



Speaking to reporters in Geneva, UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards said the bill comes at a time when the need for solidarity and responsibility-sharing at the EU level really is the first priority."

"The decision to give Danish police the authority to search and confiscate valuables from asylum seekers sends damaging messages in our view; it runs the risk of fueling sentiments of fear and discrimination rather than promoting solidarity with people in need of protection. On the limited access to family reunification, we just remind people of the point that family unity is a fundamental principle in international law," said Edwards.

Last week, human rights group Amnesty International urged the Danish parliament to reject what Amnesty called "cruel and regressive changes to refugee law." Amnesty's deputy director for Europe and Central Asia, Gauri van Gulik, said, "Its simply cruel to force people who are running from conflicts to make an impossible choice: either bring children and other loved ones on dangerous, even lethal journeys, or leave them behind and face a prolonged separation while family members continue to suffer the horrors of war."

Denmark is not the only place targeting refugee possessions. Switzerland has started taking valuables worth more than $985, while the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg secures valuables above $380. Other areas in southern Europe have been reported to follow a similar practice.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, said Tuesday that it was not ruling out allowing member states of the Schengen zone to reintroduce border controls for up to two years.

To cope with the migration crisis, the European Union interior ministers asked the commission to consider the extension of border checks at a meeting Monday in Amsterdam.

Member states of the Schengen zone, comprising more than 20 countries and over 400 million people that currently do not require passports or other border controls, would be called upon to inform the commission about their security concerns. The commission would then review their reports before approving the reintroduction of controls.

The commission said Thursday that it did not think that the situation was serious enough to warrant the extension, but it was considering options available to it under Article 26 of Schengen code.

Presently, Article 26 entitles member states, which includes most European Union countries, to reintroduce internal border controls for a maximum of up to two years under exceptional circumstances.

Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and non-EU member Norway have introduced temporary controls in response to the migrant crisis, but they are limited to six months. Poland is considering similar measures.

The introduction of the temporary border checks has raised fears that the passport-free Schengen zone, a symbol of European unity, freedom and prosperity, could collapse.
Authorities in Zimbabwe are holding four men  including two army officials and an opposition leader  on charges they plotted to bomb a dairy farm owned by President Robert Mugabe.

They are facing charges of "possession of weaponry for sabotage and money laundering for terrorism purposes," police said Tuesday.

According to court records, when the four men  between 29 and 37- years - old  were arrested, petrol bombs and alcohol were among the items found Friday at Mugabe's farm, about 30 kilometers north of Harare.

Police said the suspects confessed to planning to bomb the president's dairy farm.

In Zimbabwe, all the First Family's residences, businesses and properties have 24-hour security.

There was no word on why the men wanted to attack the president's farm.

Mugabe supporters seized hundreds of farms from white owners in the early 2000s under what the government called a "land reform" program to address colonial-era imbalances.

The four suspects, who allegedly held several meetings to raise money and plan the bomb attempt, are scheduled to appear in court Feb. 8.
William Hernandez, tired and aching, had just finished a 24-hour shift as a coroner examining more than a dozen corpses in the capital of El Salvador, victims of gang warfare that has made the Central American country one of the most violent in the world.

In more than 20 years at the National Forensics Institute, Hernandez has never dealt with so many violent deaths nor seen attacks as vicious in San Salvador, he said.

"There have always been violent deaths, but not like now. The increase has been incredible," he said. "If you had one or two shots before, it's now between 15 and 30. The last body I examined had 42 entry and exit wounds."

Violence has risen steadily in El Salvador since a 2012 truce between the country's two main gangs began to fall apart in 2014. Last year was the most violent on record, with a 70 percent increase in murders from the previous year and a surge in attacks by street gangs, said a civil servant.

The number of homicides reached an estimated 6,650 in 2015, from 3,912 the year before, Miguel Fortin Magana, director until Dec. 31 of the National Forensics Institute of El Salvador, told Reuters.

"It's a real pandemic," he said.

The homicide rate is more than 103 per 100,000 inhabitants, making the country of 6.4 million among the most violent in the world, according to Insight Crime, a foundation that analyzes organized crime.

"That figure is extremely alarming," said Fortin Magana.

El Salvador is racked by drug-fueled violence, with entire city neighborhoods controlled by powerful street gangs known as Maras.

In 2015, 62 police and 24 members of the armed forces died in clashes with the gangs. The violence has also prompted women and children to emigrate to the United States.

The current level of violence is even higher than the average annual loss of life during the 1980-92 civil war. An estimated 75,000 people were killed and 8,000 disappeared.

The price of the violence is not only paid in the loss of life.

High levels of violence and insecurity cost the Salvadoran state $2.85 billion in 2014, or 11 percent of the country's GDP, Oscar Cabrera, president of the country's central bank, said in an interview with Reuters.

"That cost is too high," he said. "That is [money] you could devote to investment, schools, infrastructure projects."
The trial of former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo is due to begin January 28 at the International Criminal Court. Gbagbo is facing charges of crimes against humanity, based on acts allegedly committed during Ivory Coasts post-election violence in 2010 and 2011. Gbagbo supporters plan to closely follow the trial, which many of them perceive as an insult.

In the hall of his partys new office in Abidjan, giant posters of former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo are plastered on almost every wall.

Party official Aboubacar Kone said Gbagbos detention at the International Criminal Court "is a hostage-taking situation that does not say its name."

Kone is acting spokesperson of a faction of Gbagbos former party, the Ivorian Popular Front, or FPI. The party broke into two factions last year before the presidential elections.



Kone was among those who linked the partys participation in the vote to Gbagbo's release from the ICC. That did not happen, so that faction boycotted the elections.

A few days ago, Kone called for Gbagbo supporters to pressure the ICC to release the former president, claiming his detention is the result of a conspiracy.



"The ICC is perceived by a lot of Africans as a tool for neo-colonial domination," he said. "It is not about justice, it is about politics."

Crimes against humanity

Gbagbo and his former ally Charles Ble Goude are charged with four counts of crimes against humanity for violence that occurred in the months after the 2010 presidential elections.





Gbagbo supporters clashed with backers of challenger Alassane Ouattara after Gbagbo refused to concede defeat.



The violence left about 3,000 people dead, and ended in April 2011 with the arrest of Gbagbo. Ouattara was then installed as president and was reelected last year.

Kone said the defense would show the innocence of Gbagbo and Ble Goude.



If you watch all the video and listen to all the tapes nobody can prove that either of them is soliciting any violence, he said.



But ICC prosecutors argue otherwise, and intend to present several thousand documents aimed at proving Gbagbo and his allies organized a plan to remain in power by all means necessary, including violence against civilians.



While Kone said the faction has sent a delegation to The Hague to follow the trial from the courtroom, other supporters will be following the trial from Abidjan, like Okou Thiero, the president of a pro-Gbagbo youth forum.



Thiero said he had no doubt Gbagbo was innocent, and would be released. According to him, that would help national unity. It is the missing link to the reconciliation, he said.



In other parts of the country, too, Gbagbo supporters will be watching, like in Gagnoa, a Gbagbo stronghold.



We have planned to hold a vigil, said Leandre Guika Diokri, acting spokeperson of the local FPI office. Then on Thursday morning, we will sit in front of the TV to watch it.



Laurent Gbagbo is the first former head of state to go on trial at the ICC.
The head of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican John McCain, has told VOA's Afghan service that President Barack Obama's well-publicized plan for an American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2017 was making the Taliban much bolder.

He said this worried him a great deal.

"The situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating, especially in places like Kandahar, and it's obvious that the Taliban believe that we are leaving or reducing our force so much that it has encouraged them, placing a very, very heavy burden on the Afghan military and army," the senator said.

WATCH: US Senator McCain Worried 'Great Deal' By Taliban Advances

McCain said the next president, Democrat or Republican, will have to maintain a much larger force in Afghanistan, and perhaps even a permanent presence there.

We have a permanent presence in Japan, Germany, Korea, Bosnia," he said. "We have had permanent presence of our military for a long time in many places in the world. If we can bring peace to Afghanistan and defeat the Taliban, Americans would be very supportive.

IS in Afghanistan

McCain also said he is glad that U.S. forces have now been authorized to target Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan. But he criticized the change in policy as coming late, given that IS will "be hard to beat." He said the group is growing not only in Afghanistan, but Libya, Egypt and other countries.

He added that he does not believe there is a strategy in place that will stop the growth of Islamic State in Afghanistan.

WATCH: US Senator McCain on IS in Afghanistan

Taliban attack

Also Tuesday, an Afghan police officer with alleged ties to the Taliban killed 10 fellow officers in a brutal attack in Uruzgan province.

A spokesman for the provincial governor said the officer drugged his colleagues before shooting them to death at a security post in the Chinarto district. The spokesman said the suspect allegedly took the dead officers' weapons and fled.

But a Taliban spokesman claimed insurgents attacked the security post and killed all the officers. Taliban claims are often exaggerated and hard to verify independently.

Second attack in two weeks

The insider attack from within the Afghan police in Uruzgan was the second such incident in the last two weeks.

Provincial officials reported on January 17 that four police officers, suspected collaborators with the Taliban, killed nine colleagues before defecting to the insurgency with all their weapons and ammunition.

Insider attacks by Afghan partners became a major security challenge to the U.S.-led NATO forces while they were conducting joint combat missions in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013.

The Taliban has expanded its insurgent activities across Afghanistan over the past year.
Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his first visit to the Middle East last Sunday with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Egypt pledging to enhance their relationships with Beijing. The visit, which took place after economic sanctions were lifted on Iran, resulted in an economic bonanza for China, which bagged deals worth $600 billion.



But it is his political deals with Arab and Iranian leaders that is being closely examined across the diplomatic community. Analysts and envoys are asking if China is trying to use business deals to expand its political footprint and weaken western influence in the region.



The official Xinhua news agency indicated that China is not averse to countering U.S. influence in the region. Xinhua recently argued that the meddling hands of the West were more of a mortal poison than a magic potion in the Middle East.



Countering US influence

Iran seemed to offer China an opportunity for greater engagement on Saturday when its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told Xi, "Iranians never trusted the West... That's why Tehran seeks cooperation with more independent countries."



Iran definitely wants to use China to counterbalance the influence of the U.S. in the post-sanctions era, Hichem Karoui, political adviser at the Diplomatic Institute in Qatar.



But I dont think it will work because China has little interest in making political alliances that that can result in alienating its old friends, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, he said.

Observers have noted that Xi did not respond to the overture. China is not yet ready to throw away its cloak of neutrality in foreign policy, although it is gradually moving in that direction according to one Beijing based diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity.



Being the worlds biggest oil buyer may give China some clout, but it would be extremely difficult for Beijing to seriously challenge U.S. influence in the region for quite some time, analysts say.



There is a political vacuum in the Middle East as the U.S. influence is receding. This is an opportunity for China, said Daud Abdullah, director of the London-based Middle East Monitor.



But it is not going to be easy. American influence on Saudi Arabia is not going to change. U.S. interests in the oil industry are so extensive that one does not expect any changes any time soon, he said.

Terrorism fears



Most analysts agree China is trying to be in closer touch with the happenings on the ground in the Middle East because parts of the region generate terrorism, which is afflicting its western province of Xinjiang, home to the Uighur Muslims, a Turkic speaking people.



It is not possible to stay out of the Middle East. China cannot keep its eyes closed to what is happening in the region because it affects the law and order situation in Xinjiang, said Adnan Akfirat, a member of the international bureau of Turkeys opposition Patriotic Party.



China is also trying to synchronize its political and economic approach with Saudi Arabia, said Karoui. He added that closer relations with Saudi Arabia are also essential to having a better grasp on the terrorist situation in the Middle East.

Balancing act



Many are amazed that Xi managed to evoke friendly vibes from both Saudi Arabia and Iran even though the two countries are at loggerheads. In fact, he extended support for the Yemen government, which is fighting an Iranian backed militia, without hurting relations with Tehran.



Xi spoke the language of the Arabs when he addressed the Arab League. He spoke at length on the Palestine issue, and about the need for peace and security in the region, Karoui said.

In the case of Iran, which is emerging out of economic sanctions, the motivations may be somewhat different.

Economic objectives



The bottom line is that Iran is in desperate need for an economic partner. China has the potential to meet this requirement, said Abdullah of the Middle East Monitor.



China is also largely driven by economic interests, which includes extending its new Silk Road initiative to infrastructure construction by Chinese companies. It also expects to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, he added.



Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming recently disclosed what Chinese leaders are telling their counterparts in the Middle East.



He said that economic development was the ultimate way out of conflict in the region. By expanding its trade and investment links with the Middle East, China hopes discontent and conflict there will gradually dissipate.
The latest U.S. political survey shows billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump and staunch conservative Texas Senator Ted Cruz in a virtual dead heat in the farm state of Iowa, days ahead of the first voting in the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

In polling in recent days, Quinnipiac University said the flamboyant Trump won support of 31 percent of Republican voters likely to participate in next Monday's caucuses in Iowa, compared to 29 percent for Cruz.

National surveys, however, show Trump, a long-time New York developer, casino magnate and television reality show host, with a commanding lead over Cruz and another 10 candidates even further back in the contest to be the Republican nominee in the November national presidential election.

Quinnipiac polling official Peter Brown said that even as Trump and Cruz have traded political barbs in recent days, "the Iowa Republican caucus remains too close to call. One week before the caucuses gather, the question is which candidate has the best field organization.If the events of the last two weeks haven't moved the needle, one wonders what would change it in the next six days.

"It all comes down to turnout. And with four in 10 likely caucus participants saying they still might change their mind, this is an especially volatile race," Brown added.

Cruz has emphasized the importance of next Monday's first-in-the nation voting in Iowa, even though it is just the initial balloting in what will be a lengthy state-by-state series of contests to pick a Republican nominee at a national party convention in July.

Cruz told a group of Iowa religious leaders that Trump "could be unstoppable" if he wins in Iowa. Surveys show Trump far ahead of the field in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, the next state set to vote after Iowa, on February 9, and leading in other states as well.

A new national CNN/ORC poll showed Trump with 41 percent support among Republicans, more than double the 19 percent support registered for Cruz, who led a 16-day partial shutdown of the national government in 2013 in a futile effort to overturn President Barack Obama's health care reforms.

CNN's new polling was the first time the news organization showed Trump with more than 40 percent, and more than two-thirds of Republicans said they believe that eventually he will be the party's presidential nominee.

A new national Fox News poll showed former secretary of state Hillary Clinton still ahead in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, but with her lead dwindling over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who identifies himself as an independent Democratic socialist.

The Fox poll showed Clinton ahead by 49 to 37 percent over Sanders, down from a 15-point lead two weeks ago.

Polls in Iowa show the two Democrats running neck-and-neck, while Sanders holds a commanding lead in New Hampshire, which adjoins his home state.

The winner of the November national election will replace Obama as he leaves office a year from now.
Some Lebanese see Michel Samaha as the ultimate traitor, but with the trial of the ex-minister who confessed to planning terrorist attacks on home soil imminent, the countrys judicial system has also found itself in the dock.



Earlier this month, Beiruts plush Achrafieh district echoed with calls for justice as demonstrators made themselves heard outside the home of Samaha in the first of a series of protests across the country.



A former information minister, Samaha was arrested in 2012 after being caught colluding, allegedly with a Syrian intelligence chief, to smuggle explosives into Lebanon with the aim of targeting political and religious figures. The controversy generated by what some perceived as a short sentence, four-and-a-half years, led to a planned retrial.



Samahas release, however, on $100,000 bail before his latest appearance at a military tribunal, has stirred anger once again. The process has put the spotlight on questions over the role of the tribunal in Lebanon, with its independence, transparency and reach under scrutiny.



Potential for war



Among a group protesting outside the military tribunal recently was 24-year-old Baker Halawi.



Its ridiculous; a drug dealer might get 10 or 20 years; how come someone who wanted to blow things up gets the sentence he did? he said. His plans could have caused a civil war.



Leaked recordings of Samahas interrogations, as well as bugged conversations he had with an informant while planning attacks, are circulating in Lebanese media.



For some, the plot is a reminder of the dark days of Lebanons Syrian military occupation, when prominent figures who stood against the occupation risked death. This included former prime minister Rafik Hariri, whose assassination sparked a peaceful uprising in 2005 that drove out the occupation.



Halawi is part of the Future Movement, the political organization with strong Sunni support led by Rafik Hariris son.



For him, Samahas release on bail is just the latest sign of a continuing pro-Syrian regime influence on the country, this time exercised by Hezbollah, the largely Shiite group fighting in support of the Syrian state.



We know courts are influenced politically, and these courts in particular are influenced politically, said Sami Nader, a director for Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs.



Hezbollah has influence on sensitive functions for sensitive institutions.



Extensive powers



Created in its most modern form in the 1960's, Lebanon's military tribunal gained strength under Syrian occupation following the end of the 15-year Lebanese civil war in 1990. Unlike its civilian counterpart, it is made up of mainly military figures, many of whom have little in the way of a legal background.



And with the Lebanese army not just a military, but a political force, it is more prone to political influence, said Georges Ghali, who works for local human rights group ALEF.



You dont have the separation of powers that you do in other courts.



Aside from political influence, the tribunals breadth of power and lack of accountability have alarmed civil rights activists.



Its remit extends well beyond the military into internal and external security matters, with activists voicing fears over issues including incommunicado detention and use of the court to quell dissent.



Last year, protesters arrested during the "You Stink" protests against the country's garbage pile-up faced investigation by the tribunal, while in 2013 it sentenced a journalist looking into arms trafficking to half a year in prison.



As well as attempting to transfer Samahas trial to a civilian court, Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi has sought to have the tribunals reach curtailed in a bid to put the Lebanese justice system in harmony with international law and human rights conventions.



Those who have defended the court highlight its role in other Middle Eastern countries and say any change could weaken Lebanon's ongoing efforts to tackle extremism.



Some attribute attacks on the court down to politics.



But its not about that - the main problem is the tribunal is an unfair one, and isnt transparent, said Wadih Al-Asmar, general secretary of the Lebanese Center for Human rights.



In modern democratic countries, military tribunals have less power, and it is only restricted to military issues.



Momentum



As Samahas retrial approaches, the outrage is unlikely to die down.



Meanwhile, the taped confessions that have received play in certain sections of the Lebanese media will continue to be aired.



Like other activists who have campaigned on the issue for years, Ghali remains realistic about how much impact the case of the plotting minister will have on bringing about major change in the short term.



Its a controversial topic, and many wont vote for it purely because of their political positioning, he said.



At the very least, Ghali added, the tribunal is under much-needed scrutiny.



At least now groups are getting involved with these efforts, and at least we can build on this momentum.
The U.N. refugee agency and some 65 other organizations are appealing for $550 million to manage the ongoing migration crisis in Europe. The appeal will fund humanitarian operations this year across the affected countries, with about half of the money going to Greece.

More than one million refugees and migrants arrived in Europe by boat last year. Around 850,000 made the perilous Aegean Sea crossing from Turkey to Greece. From there, most continued on through the Balkans to seek asylum in Austria, Germany, Sweden and other countries.

As the refugees and migrants kept arriving, some European countries closed their doors to the refugees or took measures to dissuade them from coming.

The latest is Denmark, which passed a law on Tuesday allowing police to confiscate valuables from asylum seekers worth more than $1,400. Under the law, refugees and migrants also will have to wait three years instead of one before applying for their relatives to join them.

U.N. refugee spokesman Adrian Edwards said the Danish decision sent damaging messages.

In our view, it runs the risk of fueling sentiments of fear and discrimination rather than promoting solidarity with people in need of protection. On the limited access of family reunification - we just remind people of the point that family unity is a fundamental principle in international law, and it is very much a part of Denmarks obligations, he said.

The heavy influx of people into Europe last year created chaos. Humanitarian agencies predict a similar, if not larger, number of refugees and migrants is likely to arrive this year.

Edwards said humanitarian operations to manage this migration in 2016 in an orderly way would include aid and protection activities.

This includes identifying people at heightened risk, registration, shelter, water, sanitation - all the elements of a major aid operation. It also looks at bolstering capacities for the front-line responders. These are coast guards, police, border guards and supporting affected communities, he said.

A few months ago, the European Union agreed to fairly redistribute 160,000 refugees among its member states. Only a small fraction so far has been relocated. Edwards said part of the humanitarian appeal was to help with the relocation and resettlement of refugees.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, now in Beijing, will urge China to do more to press North Korea to stop its controversial nuclear tests during his talks beginning shortly in the Chinese capital.

Kerry has meetings planned with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi early Wednesday, and the two top diplomats will hold a news conference before they hold further talks at a working lunch, U.S. officials said.

Earlier this month, Pyongyang conducted what it said was a successful test of a hydrogen bomb -- a move that drew international condemnation.

China is an economic lifeline for North Korea. A focal point for Kerry will be urging Beijing to use its leverage to try to convince Pyongyang to stop such tests, which are considered provocative by world powers.

Also, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, Chinas support is crucial for passage of any U.N. penalties against North Korea.

Competing interests

However, analysts say China sometimes appears to be hesitant about imposing additional penalties on its neighbor because of competing interests.

For China, the challenge is balancing the need to punish North Korea with their concerns about stability in North Korea. So, they want to push but they dont want to push too hard, says Scott Snyder, a Korean studies analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken traveled ahead of Kerry to Asia where he discussed North Koreas action with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.

Blinken said they stood firmly united in strongly condemning this test, and in our determination, to impose costs for the DPRK's (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) flaunting of its international obligations."

Chinese officials

In addition to Wang, Kerry will meet with Chinas President Xi Jinping.

Another focal point during the talks will be the maritime dispute in the South China Sea, where China and others in the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines, have overlapping claims.

Earlier this month, regional tensions flared when China tested a runway on one of its artificial islands in the region.

China is the last leg of Kerrys three-nation tour of Asia that also included stops in Laos and Cambodia.

WATCH: US, China Compete for Influence with Cambodia
Pakistani authorities on Tuesday closed all the schools in the country's largest province, Punjab, following an alert over possible militant attacks, according to a government notice.

The warning comes a week after a breakaway Taliban faction attacked a northwestern university and killed 21 people, mostly students. That school - the Bacha Khan University in the northwestern town of Charsadda - reopened briefly on Monday but then closed indefinitely to give students more time to recover from the incident.

The government memo, which was obtained by The Associated Press, says there is intelligence that 13 Taliban fighters recently entered the country from neighboring Afghanistan and were planning suicide attacks on schools across Pakistan.

The schools in Punjab would remain closed till the end of the month, said the province's education minister, Rana Mashood Ahmad. He did not cite the alert but said the closures were due to harsh winter weather and heavy fog.

Schools were also closed in southwestern Baluchistan province for the usual winter break there. In the northwest and the south, schools remained open and it was not immediately clear if there where additional concerns that prompted the closures in Punjab.

The Charsadda attack revived memories of the horrific December 2014 Taliban attack on an army run school in the nearby city of Peshawar that killed 150 people, 144 of them children. The Bacha Khan University has also demanded a series of new security measures, including the extension of a perimeter fence, having a retired military officer take charge of the campus and getting gun licenses for teachers.

All four attackers who took part in the Charsadda assault were killed. Over the weekend, authorities announced the arrest of five others suspected of involvement in that attack.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's foreign ministry said it had summoned on Monday a senior Afghan diplomat, Syed Abdul Nasir Yousafi, to convey Islamabad's concern "regarding the use of Afghan soil by certain terrorist elements" involved in the Charsadda attack.

The Afghan diplomat was told that Pakistan's investigation has showed that handlers of the four attackers who stormed the Bacha Khan University "were operating from Afghan territory." Kabul was also asked to assist in bringing those individuals to justice.

There was no immediate response from Kabul officials.

All four attackers were killed in the shootout with Pakistani troops at the Charsadda campus.
A Pakistani university that was attacked last week by militants opened its doors again temporarily Monday. At least 21 people, including 18 students, were killed in the attack..



Students returned to Bacha Khan university briefly for a prayer service to remember their fallen friends.



Were here to avenge our blood," said One. "How long will Pashtun kids continue to die?



Pashtuns have always been labeled terrorists. But we want to show that we are not terrorists. We are victims of terrorism," said a faculty member.



The university is only open to the faculty and staff for now, amid tight security. There will be no classes until further notice. The administration said it is considering several factors, including a forecast for dense fog for several days. The attackers last week used fog as cover as they stormed the campus.



Parents of some of the victims also attended the prayer service. One father demanded an independent inquiry.



There should be a judicial inquiry so that we find out who was negligent in their responsibilities. And they should be duly punished. Once you have one judicial inquiry and responsible parties punished, such incidents will stop," said a father of a victim.

Later, outside the gates, students held up banners, some demanding revenge, others seeking peace.
A Bosnian tycoon and head of a party in the ruling coalition was arrested on Monday on suspicion of obstructing justice, just weeks before the Balkan

country is expected formally to apply for European Union membership.

Fahrudin Radoncic is a former owner of Bosnia's largest newspaper, Dnevni Avaz, and leader of the co-ruling Union for Better Future (SBB) party.

His arrest follows that of two other SBB officials this month on suspicion of intimidating a witness in the high-profile trial in Kosovo of accused Balkan drug lord Naser Kelmendi.

Party officials said the arrest, in connection with the same trial, was carried out by individuals from a "judicial mafia."



It was unclear what ramifications his arrest might have for the ruling coalition, which is just weeks away from applying for Bosnian membership of the European Union, two decades after the end of a 1992-95 war.

The fall-out might be limited if he is freed from police detention after 24 hours of questioning, before any trial some time in the future.

The prosecution could ask for one month's detention, as was the case with other two officials arrested.

Kelmendi was arrested in Kosovo in 2013 on a Bosnian warrant over his alleged involvement in organized crime and the 2007 killing of former Bosnian warlord Ramiz Delalic but was not handed over to Bosnia because of the lack of an extradition accord between the two countries.

He is on trial in Kosovo on charges of trafficking drugs, organized crime and the murder of Delalic.

Police said they raided several other locations for evidence, including the building where the Dnevni Avaz offices are located.

The newspaper's editors condemned the raid by armed police as "a brutal pressure on media freedom and an attempt of intimidation".

The State Investigation and Protection Agency said the target of the raid was not the newspaper but offices used by Radoncic in the same building.

Several high-ranking Bosnian government officials have been tried for organized crime and corruption but there have been no convictions so far.
"Dear Pope Francis," 10-year-old Mohammed begins, "Will the world be again as it was in the past?"

Signed "Respectfully yours," the boy wrote from a Jesuit-run school for refugee children in Syria and was treated to a long and personal answer from the pope himself. So were 29 other children who posed questions to Francis in letters from around the globe for a new book poignantly illustrated with their own artwork.

The book, Dear Pope Francis, is out March 1 from Loyola Press in Chicago. It's a project that likely wouldn't have materialized without the help of Father Antonio Spadaro, a Jesuit like the pope and the director of La Civilta Cattolica, a Roman Catholic journal published in Rome.

Publishing house

Tom McGrath of the Jesuit-founded publishing house co-edited the book with Spadaro after reaching out to the priest for help. Spadaro brought about 50 letters with questions to the pope so he could select 30. Spadaro sat with the pope as he responded to each. Francis often complimented the artwork of the children.

"He knows Pope Francis very well," McGrath said of Spadaro. "We tried to make it as easy for the pope as possible."

The pope's response to Mohammed spoke in part of suffering and the people who inflict it.

"There are those who manufacture weapons so that people fight each other and wage war. There are people who have hate in their hearts. There are people who are interested only in money and would sell everything for it. They would even sell other people," he wrote.

More to Mohammed's point, Francis answered: "No, when the time comes, the world will not be as it was. It will be far better than it was in the past."

Once the pope agreed to participate in the project, Loyola reached out to priests and lay people around the world to connect the publisher with children to write the letters.

Preteen children

The 30 kids in the book range in age from 6 to 13. In all, about 250 letters were received in 14 languages from 26 countries around the globe. The pope wound up with about 50 letters from which to choose.

"He loved the project right from the beginning," McGrath said. "He has this great affection for children, who have a great affection for him. He was surprised at the depth of the questions."

There was no condensing or editing of the pope's responses. In a 90-minute session with Spadaro last August in Rome, Francis responded verbally in a mixture of Italian and Spanish. Spadaro served as transcriber in addition to connecting Loyola Press with the Vatican.

"These are the pope's exact words," McGrath said. "At one point he mentioned, 'These are tough.' He realized that he owed the kids a deeper answer than right off the top of his head."

Spadaro said via email that the pope truly pondered when answering the children.

"Often he looked off into space and tried to imagine the child in front of him," he said. "And in his gaze I saw care, love."

English and Spanish

Loyola will publish the book in English and Spanish. As an international Jesuit project, it will also be published simultaneously around the world, including in Brazil, Indonesia, Slovenia, Mexico and India.

Arrangements were still being made but Loyola Press plans to bring 10 of the children included in the book to Rome to meet the pope in person, hopefully in February before its March publication date.

"The pope is eager to meet them," McGrath said. "He was quick to say he would like to make that happen."

They'll be traveling with their parents from China, Ireland, Argentina, India, Canada, Kenya, Singapore, Australia, the United States and the Philippines.

Mohammed will not be among them, but 8-year-old Natasha from Kenya will make the trip to Rome. She asked the pope in her letter: "I would like to know more about Jesus Christ. How did he walk on water?"

'He can do anything'

The pope's response?

"You have to imagine Jesus walking naturally, normally. He did not fly over the water or turn somersaults while swimming," he wrote. "He walked as you walk! ... Jesus is God, and so he can do anything!"

While one child wanted to know why parents fight and another why the pope wears such a tall hat, 7-year-old William of the United States asked: "If you could do one miracle what would it be?"

"Dear William," the pope said. "I would heal children. I've never been able to understand why children suffer. It's a mystery to me. I don't have an explanation."
Pope Francis has urged Iran to use its important role to promote peace in the Middle East and help halt the spread of terrorism and weapons trafficking.



The pope made the appeal during a 40-minute closed-door meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the Vatican Tuesday.



A Holy See statement after the meeting pointed to the "relevant role Iran is called on to play" to find political solutions to the problems the Middle East is facing, specifically terrorism and arms trafficking.



Since elected, about three years ago, Pope Francis has emphasized mediation and dialogue as the best way to solve conflicts.



Rouhani's visit to the Vatican marked the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian president since 1999. His trip to Italy is also the first state visit by an Iranian president to Europe in nearly two decades.



European visit



Rouhani's four-day visit to Italy and France is seen as part of Irans effort to reach out to its old partners following the implementation of the nuclear deal with six nations, including the United States. Rouhani has shown great interest for foreign investment since the lifting of international sanctions that followed the deal.

Before going to the Vatican, Rouhani told a forum of business leaders in Rome that "Iran is the safest and most stable country of the entire region.''



Rouhani has described the talks leading to the nuclear deal as a potential blueprint to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syria's civil war.



Iran also wants to end decades of diplomatic distance with the United States and other Western counties.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for the country to improve its anti-corruption measures, just hours after a BBC documentary reported his estimated personal fortune at close to $40 billion.

In a meeting with his Cabinet Tuesday, Putin said the task of addressing corruption would be a great challenge.

"In general, there is a huge amount of work here," he said. "I think it's a difficult task, maybe even an elusive one. But if we stop [addressing the issue], it will get worse. We need to move only forward."

Meanwhile, a U.S. Treasury official told the BBC that Putin was "a picture of corruption."

In an interview with BBC's Panorama, Adam Szubin, the Treasury Department's Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said "we've seen [Putin] enriching his friends, his close allies, and marginalizing those who he doesn't view as friends, using state assets."

"Whether that's Russia's energy wealth, whether it's other state contracts, he directs those to whom he believes will serve him and excludes those who don't," he said. "To me, that is a picture of corruption."

The program, which aired Monday evening, said Putin, who receives a state salary of around $100,00 a year, has amassed a personal fortune estimated at around $40 billion making him one of the richest men in the world.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the program as a "total fabrication" adding that the comments from the U.S. Treasury official could complicate relations with the United States.

"Our relationship is not in its best state at the moment. Such lies could further complicate things."
Russia appeared to be hardening its position on Syria as it backed government forces making gains against rebels before hoped-for peace talks Friday in Geneva.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Tuesday that the Syrian Army, with the help of Russian airstrikes, seized control overnight of a strategic rebel-held town near the border with Jordan.

Syrian opposition groups had signaled they would not participate in talks unless the Russian and Syrian airstrikes were halted and sieges against towns were lifted.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday said Russia's air support had drastically altered the situation in Syria and "helped narrow the area controlled by terrorists." He added, "moreover, we also got a clear picture of who is fighting the terrorists and who is acting in the role of their accomplices, trying to use them in their own egotistic, one-sided goals."

Russia began accusing Turkey of supporting terrorists in Syria after a Turkish warplane shot down a Russian bomber in November along its border. Ankara denies the accusation. Turkey is part of a U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State and other terrorist groups in the region.

Disagreement over PYD

Russia labels all the rebel groups fighting its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as terrorists and is accused by Assad opponents of targeting rebels instead of Islamic State terrorists. Russia is accused of killing hundreds of civilians with its air campaign, while Moscow claims zero civilian deaths.

Russia has clashed with the U.S.-led coalition on which Syrian opposition groups should participate in peace talks.

Speaking Tuesday at his annual news briefing in Moscow, Lavrov said Syrian Kurds represented by the Democratic Union Party (PYD) should be invited to participate. Turkey, a member of the U.S. coalition, is against the PYD taking part.

The Russian foreign minister said, "Without this participant, the talks cannot bring the result that we want, that is the final political settlement [of the conflict] in Syria."

The PYD is an offshoot of the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers' Party; but, while the PKK is considered by Turkey, the United States and the European Union as a terrorist organization, the United States has supported the PYD in fighting Islamic State terrorists inside Syria.

Turkey's prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said Tuesday they remain strongly opposed to the PYD joining the Syrian opposition at the peace talks. It was not clear if the hardened positions were enough to scuttle the Friday talks.

Rivalries quite visible

Moscow-based political scientist Victor Mizin says the differences between the sides are stark.

"The rivalries and the divergences in approaches are quite visible. And, I think that ... it is quite evident that they would be also visible in the coming negotiations."

Lavrov denied a report that Moscow had urged Assad to step down, but was rebuffed.

The Financial Times newspaper this month cited sources saying Russia's former head of foreign intelligence, Igor Sergun, made a special trip to Damascus earlier this month to offer Assad asylum if he gave up power.

"I've read the speculations published with reference to late Igor Sergun claiming that he had allegedly made a trip to Damascus to ask Assad to resign," Lavrov said Tuesday. "This is not true. Such a conversation with Assad was not necessary."

Lavrov also dismissed speculation Russia might offer Assad asylum.

"Nobody has asked us for political asylum," Lavrov said, adding, "No offers of the sort have been made."

The U.S.-led coalition was supporting Syrian opposition calls for Assad to leave power, but changed its position to support talks between the two sides as Russia stepped up its military support.

Lavrov painted a bleak picture of global terrorism and alleged Western attempts to contain Russia. He complained of Western dominance and asking Russia for favors, while also claiming that dominance is being eroded and Russia is ready to cooperate with Europe and the United States on other contentious issues, such as implementing a peace deal on Ukraine.

He blamed Kyiv and the West for a lack of progress on the February cease-fire deal made in Minsk. Kyiv and Western governments say Russia's ongoing military support for pro-Russia rebels is to blame.
U.S. authorities are investigating a possible active shooting incident at the Naval Medical Center in the western city of San Diego, California, but say their initial search has not turned up any victims or a shooter.

The authorities reported that one witness heard three shots fired in the basement of Building 26 of the medical center, with the hospital advising people in the facility to "run, hide or fight."

Law enforcement authorities are now conducting a further search of the building.

The facility was locked down as authorities investigated. Building 26 houses a gym, as well as offices and barracks for wounded sailors and Marines.



During the past several years, there have been numerous shooting incidents in public places in the U.S., including one in December in which an American Muslim and his Pakistani wife killed 14 people at a government center in San Bernardino, California, before police killed them several hours later in a massive shootout.

Gun ownership in the U.S. is enshrined in the country's Constitution, but restrictions on the use of guns is proving to be a divisive political issue in the 2016 presidential campaign. Democratic presidential contenders are calling for stiffer regulations, while the Republican candidates have staunchly defended the rights of gun owners.

President Barack Obama recently issued an executive order calling for tighter background checks on gun buyers, an action that is being contested in a lawsuit.
Major world powers are urging that political momentum be seized following the U.N.s announcement that Syrian talks would begin Friday in Geneva.

There has not been this level of diplomatic activity over Syria since the last round of talks in Geneva in 2014, Britains U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said Tuesday during the Security Councils regular meeting on the situation in the Middle East. It is in all our interests to maintain the momentum, to build on the optimism.

Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, announced that invitations had been sent out for the talks between the Syrian government and opposition. He did not elaborate on who the participants would be. Questions remain particularly around who will make up the opposition delegation.

Earlier, the opposition comprising the recently formed High Negotiations Committee cast doubt on whether it would go to Geneva, accusing the United States of adopting unacceptable Iranian and Russian ideas for solving the conflict.

Opposition official Asaad al-Zoubi told Arabic news channel Al-Hadath that he was pessimistic, but that a final decision had yet to be taken.

Uphill battle

The talks are expected to start with the parties in separate rooms and U.N. mediators shuttling between them. De Mistura said these so-called proximity talks were scheduled to continue for six months, with the first round lasting two or three weeks.

He said Monday that it would be an uphill battle, but the important thing is that we keep the momentum.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the council that the continued suffering and barbarity in Syria highlighted the urgency of working toward a political solution for the nearly five-year-old conflict.

The initiation of U.N.-facilitated Syrian negotiations to reach a political transition, in accordance with the Geneva Communique, is a critical step toward ending the conflict in Syria, she said.

The Geneva Communique, agreed to at an international peace conference in June 2012, is a six-point plan for stopping the violence and moving the two sides toward a political settlement, including the establishment of a transitional governing body that would exercise full executive powers.

Window of opportunity

Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin, speaking of the coming Geneva talks, said "there is a unique prospect thats been created to reach a political settlement. We must take this window of opportunity.

In late September, Russia began airstrikes in Syria, saying President Bashar al-Assad had requested Moscows help to battle the self-proclaimed Islamic State group. But members of the large Western anti-IS coalition have criticized the Russian strikes, saying the vast majority have been against launched in armed-opposition areas.

We have heard different ideas regarding Russias activities in Syria, Churkin told the council. We decisively push them back, in particular from sides who are part of the Western coalition. He criticized the Western coalition, saying its air forces were not acting transparently or effectively, especially in reporting civilian casualties.

Objectives

Frances U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre stressed that there must be progress on three fronts if the Geneva negotiations are to be successful: improving the humanitarian situation, letting the opposition choose its own representatives for the talks, and including the political transition in the discussions.

Only a political solution, Delattre said, will put an end to the suffering and the ongoing outgo of civilians and reduce the terrorist threat we all face.

Diplomacy has repeatedly failed to resolve the Syrian conflict, which has killed 250,000 people and forced millions from their homes, spawning a refugee crisis in neighboring states and Europe. De Mistura is the third international envoy for Syria. His two predecessors  Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi  both quit.

The United States has supported the opposition to Assad, who it says has lost legitimacy and must leave power. But the opposition has been increasingly critical of U.S. policy. Opposition leader Riad Hijab said earlier this month that the United States had backtracked on its position on Syria, softening its stance to accommodate Russia.

Russia has sought to expand the opposition delegation to peace talks to include a powerful Kurdish faction that controls wide areas of northern Syria. The Sunni Arab opposition says the Kurdish PYD party should be part of the government delegation. PYD leader Saleh Muslim said he expected his party to be invited to Geneva, though it was unclear in what capacity.

Participation of Kurds

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday it would be impossible to reach a peace agreement in Syria without inviting Kurds to take part in the negotiating process.

The Syrian Kurds say the autonomous government they have established in the northeast is a decentralized model for how to resolve the war.

Turkey, a major sponsor of the insurgency, said however that it was against the participation of the Kurdish YPG militia, which is affiliated with the PYD. The YPG has become an important partner in the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK, which it sees as a terrorist organization.

The Syrian government and its allies have made significant gains against rebels in western Syria in recent weeks.

On Monday, they captured the rebel-held town of Sheikh Maskin in southern Syria near the border with Jordan. It was the first significant gain for Damascus in that area since the start of the Russian intervention on September 30.

In recent weeks government forces and their allies have also captured two strategic towns in the northwestern province of Latakia, where they are trying to seal the border to cut insurgent supply lines to Turkey.
Authorities and psychologists in Thailand are expressing concern over the increasing popularity of dolls believed to possess the spirits of child angels.

The dolls, known in Thai as luk thep and believed by some to bring their owners good fortune, are purchased for hundreds of dollars and blessed by Buddhist monks.

Doll popularity



Shops are selling clothing, jewelry and beauty treatments for the dolls. A buffet restaurant in the Thai capital offers children's meals for them.

Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority is expected to convene a meeting of airlines and airport operators this week to discuss the surging demand by passengers to take their dolls on board.

One domestic airline is already serving drinks and snacks to the dolls if their owners purchase a seat for them. In a memo to its staff, Thai Smile, a subsidiary of the national carrier Thai Airways, explained the dolls could be considered children as they had undergone a spiritual ceremony breathing life into them.

Their popularity increased after several Thai celebrities asserted their dolls had brought them luck.

If the dolls help their owners feel better then the fad is rather innocuous, according to Nattasuda Taephant, director of psychological wellness at Chulalongkorn University.

But if it crosses the boundary of reality and they believe they can talk to the luk thep doll that would be something concerning in terms of mental health, she told VOA on Tuesday.

Superstitions



Thai mental health officials have issued an appeal for people to adhere to mainstream religious values and shun such incredulous things. But the belief is rooted in ancient Southeast Asian superstitions.

Luk thep dolls are a clever blend of superstition and the digital era, said Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk, the director general of the mental health department under the Public Health Ministry.

Spiritual leaders in Thailand and other countries in the region traditionally took stillborns or removed dead fetuses from women's wombs, roasted the bodies and then blessed and covered them in gold leaf. In Thailand, such household divine effigies are known as kuman thong (for male figures) and hong phrai (for female ones).

The practice has largely stopped in the modern era, but some are concerned the dolls represent a return to a more superstitious age.

I'm really wondering how part of Thai society has come to this point, said Sermsuk Kasitpradit, a veteran editor and popular blogger.

As a Buddhist I am feeling much shame as it it is totally against the teaching of our Lord Buddha who preached not to believe in superstition, Sermsuk told VOA.

Criminal usage, drug smuggling



There are also concerns the modern incarnations may be put to nefarious use, according to authorities.

Nearly 200 "yaba" methamphetamine pills were found Monday stuffed into the chest of a girl doll that had been placed in a suitcase for retrieval in the Chiang Mai airport's parking lot, said police Lt. Col. Kom Chetkhuntod.

The dolls give criminals a new way to smuggle drugs, said police General Chakthip Chajinda who added he has instructed all officers at airport and border checkpoints to strictly screen dolls.

Police officers on Tuesday carried out raids in Bangkok against doll vendors suspected of evading import taxes.

Three vendors were arrested and authorities seized more than 100 luk thep dolls, mostly imported from China, according to police Col. Kriangsak Kanrayawattanajaroen, deputy commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Bureau.
Thailand's prime minister says a general election will be held in 2017, even if a proposed constitution is rejected by voters in a referendum later this year.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the former army chief who took power in a bloodless coup in 2014, made the pledge while speaking to reporters Tuesday in Bangkok.

The junta had previously pledged to hold elections only if a new charter was approved in a public referendum.

Thailand has been plagued by more than a decade of political turmoil and instability, due to bitter fighting between the military-backed royalist establishment and supporters of former populist prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The antagonism has led to two coups and bouts of violent, even deadly street protests.

The next constitution will be the 20th since the end of Thailand's absolute monarchy in 1932.
First lady Melania Trump.

If that prospect evokes no clear image, that's no accident. Donald Trump's wife has said little in the campaign about the type of first lady she'd like to be should her husband win the Republican nomination and the presidency. The distance, she's said, is intentional so she can focus on the couple's 9-year-old son, Barron.

But should he become the GOP candidate for the fall, the Slovenian-born model, mother and multilingual speaker would face big decisions about her family, her life and her potential position in American history. The presidential voting starts when Iowans caucus Feb. 1.

For now, Melania Trump is her husband's top supporter at events, a striking brunette swathed in couture, frequently seen but seldom heard. Her first campaign turn came in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in November, as the candidate called his family on stage during a rally. Turning to Melania, his third wife, Trump asked if she'd like to say something.

She stepped to the microphone and cocked a manicured thumb over an elegant shoulder.

Isn't he the best?'' Mrs. Trump, 45, asked the crowd in heavily accented English. He will be the best president ever. We love you!'' Like her husband, she is not given to understatement.

As his supporters roared, Donald Trump gave her a kiss and could be heard saying: Thank you, honey. Very nice.''

It was the barest of glimpses into the life of a couple who celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary Friday.

Their relationship began at least six years earlier, dating back to the 1998 party in Manhattan when the newly separated Trump asked then-model Melania Knauss, 24 years his junior, for her telephone number. She rebuffed him because he was with a date that night, she has said.

'I would be very traditional'



By the next year, they were a couple. Trump was seeking the Reform Party nomination in the 2000 presidential election. His girlfriend was asked how she viewed herself if ever she became first lady.

I would be very traditional,'' she told The New York Times. Like Betty Ford or Jackie Kennedy.''

Neither woman was all that traditional of course: Betty Ford, wife of Gerald, championed the Equal Rights Amendment. Jackie Kennedy, wife of John, let Americans into the first family's life in the White House through television.

Now in the age of social media, would Melania Trump stay as far above the political fray as the couple's triplex overlooking Central Park? That's largely up to the Trumps, but they're in no hurry to decide.

Through a spokeswoman, Mrs. Trump declined an interview request from The Associated Press.

A sketch of what we know:

What's unprecedented

In many ways, Melania Trump would be a first in American history: She'd be the only first lady who is the third wife of a president, and the first to be born and raised in a communist nation, according to Carl Anthony, historian at the National First Ladies' Library. She almost certainly has shown more skin than any other U.S. first lady  that was her in 2006, very pregnant, in a gold bikini on the steps of her husband's private jet in Vogue magazine.

What's not

By 2016, Melania Trump has gotten married, had a child and adopted a much more traditional posture as a candidate's spouse. She wouldn't be the first president's wife to be born in another country  that would be Louisa Adams, born in England. Nor would she be the first first lady to have married a divorced man  hello, Nancy Reagan. And she'd be the third first lady to have worked as a professional model, after Pat Nixon and Betty Ford.

Her role

Experts on first ladies said Melania Trump is being smart by laying low now, especially if she is not comfortable talking about politics and policy. But eventually, they said, she'd be wise to build on what she knows.

Melania Trump studied design and architecture at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia  so perhaps advocating for historical preservation would suit her. Maybe she'd expand her charity work.

Even her model-perfect poise and ability to speak multiple languages could be an asset to her English-only husband during state dinners and other White House social events.

It's best when they draw from their experience, and marry that up with the overall focus of their husbands' administration,'' said Anita McBride, who was chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush.

Delegating duties

Donald Trump has signaled that his daughter, Ivanka, might be unusually prominent for a president's daughter. He volunteers Ivanka's name when asked whose advice he values. It was she, not Melania, who introduced her father when he announced his campaign. During breaks in Republican debates, it was Ivanka, one of Donald Trump's five children, with whom he huddled.

Not arm candy

For all of her public discretion, Melania Trump has been consistently public about one thing: She's more than an accessory. I have my own mind,'' she told Harper's Bazaar in an interview published this month. I am my own person, and I think my husband likes that about me.''

Note to Washington power snobs: Don't expect Melania Trump to put up with condescension.

On a visit to the Trump triplex above Manhattan, one of the contestants on his show, The Apprentice, said to Melania: You're very, very lucky.''

Thank you,'' Melania, holding a glass of champagne, replied with a glittering smile. And he's not lucky?''
Turkey is insisting the Syrian Kurdish group the PYD be excluded from planned Syrian peace talks in Geneva. Ankara accuses the group of being a terrorist organization. The dispute is casting doubt over the talks, but Ankara is finding itself increasingly isolated.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking in parliament Tuesday, reiterated his stance the Syrian Kurdish group the PYD and its armed militia, YPG, are terrorist organizations, and have no place at peace talks on Syria in Geneva.

Davutoglu accused the groups of being extensions of the Kurdish rebel group the PKK, which Turkish security forces are fighting.

But Carnegie Europe visiting scholar Sinan Ulgen said Ankara was finding itself increasingly isolated.

"There is no willingness on the Turkish side to carve out a space for the Syrian Kurds, on the other hand the Syrian Kurds are viewed from Washington as being successful in fighting the Islamic State on the ground. So there the U.S. approach is closer to Russia that wants to give a bigger role to the Syrian Kurds at the negotiating table," said Ulgen.

Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Tuesday the Geneva talks would fail if the PYD was excluded. On Monday in Ankara, EU foreign affairs commissioner Frederica Mogherini stressed the importance of the widest participation at the Geneva talks.

Political scientist Cengiz Aktar, of Istanbuls Suleyman Sah University, said Ankara viewed the dispute as an important test of its power in the region.

"Turkish government is adamant, it does not want the Syrian Kurds in Geneva. The last time they managed to keep the Syrian Kurds out, we will see this time, what will be exact weight, and importance of Turkey, regarding the future of Syria. And the test will be whether the condition of Turkey will be excepted or not," said Aktar.

In an attempt to build support, Davutoglu is due to visit key regional ally Saudi Arabia later this week. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke twice this week with his U.S. counterpart, John Kerry, on the issue.

But Cumhuriyet newspaper political columnist Semih Idiz said with Ankara having few allies, its options were limited.

"The only thing it can do is boycott the Geneva talks. Of course they might be intermediary formula, where the PYD is represented under the American established Syrian Democratic Forces, which everyone really knows is a Kurdish entity and Turkey may have to accept that.Other than that I do not think it has any leverage in this regard."

Pro-government media has suggested Ankara has threatened to boycott the Geneva talks, but analysts says such a move is risky, with Turkeys leaders well aware of the old diplomatic adage, "If you are not at the table, you will likely be on the menu."
The United States is clearing the path for more travel and commerce with Cuba as it seeks to further engage the Cuban people and normalize relations with the island nation.

The Obama administration on Tuesday announced a series of actions it says will promote ties between U.S. and Cuban citizens and urged the communist government to do its part to remove impediments that have been holding Cubans back.

Steps taken by the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments include removing financing restrictions for most types of authorized exports, amending regulations to make it easier for some individuals and entities to get export licenses, and further easing regulations on authorized travel.

The White House said the new actions to ease sanctions continue a policy to empower the Cuban people by creating economic opportunities between Cubans and Americans.

By expanding people-to-people ties, business opportunities, and greater access to information, we are promoting the transformation of our relationship in ways that advance U.S. interests and improve the lives of the Cuban people, the White House said.

The U.S. urged the Cuban government to take steps to make it easier for Cuban citizens to start businesses, engage in trade and access information online.

During a speech in Havana, U.S. Ambassador Daniel Sepulveda urged Havana to expand Internet and communications connectivity .

While the government has taken some positive steps in the last year, Sepulveda urged Cuba to upgrade its wireless technology, establish more Wi-Fi hotspots and lower the cost of Internet access, which is $2.00 an hour. That effectively means that it costs the average Cuban about 10 percent of his or her salary to get online, Sepulveda said.

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said Tuesday the U.S. will continue to take steps to help the Cuban people achieve the political and economic freedom that they deserve.

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said the regulatory changes will help strengthen civil society in Cuba and enhance communications to, from and among the Cuban people.

In December 2014, President Barack Obama announced the United States would re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba and begin the process of normalizing relations more than 50 years after they severed ties.

The policy change is sharply opposed by many in the Republican-led Congress and by some Republican presidential hopefuls, including former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who has threatened to reverse the change in U.S.-Cuba relations.

Critics argue Obama gave Havana too many concessions without insisting the communist government bring an end to its oppressive policies and human rights abuses.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Beijing Tuesday, the last stop of his Asia trip, with territorial disputes in the South China Sea looming as a likely talking point.

Before his visit to China, Kerry also made stopovers in Laos and Cambodia, two countries where Beijings influence runs deep and Washington is looking to expand ties.

Analysts say the stops were made in part to prepare for a meeting Washington is hosting for Southeast Asian leaders in Sunnylands California next month. Kerry was also trying to build a consensus over how to respond to Chinas recent actions in the South China Sea.

One of the things that I guess Kerry might get out of the visit is actually a sense of how strongly Laos will probably oppose any decisions on the South China Sea issue, said Nicholas Thomas, a political scientist at the City University of Hong Kong.

Laos will serve as the rotational chair of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year and later host a summit that will include leaders from the United States and China.

Members of ASEAN have been working for more than a decade to hammer out a code of conduct for the South China Sea even as Beijing continues to expand its footprint there and assert its claim to all of the hotly contested waters.

Maritime rights



Following a meeting with the Lao prime minister, Kerry told reporters that the landlocked nation wants to see maritime rights respected and avoid a military build-up in the South China Sea.

Chinas build-up of artificial islands in the South China Sea that are also suitable as military bases is a big concern for Beijings Southeast Asian neighbors. China denies the buildup is for military purposes.

Opinion pieces on Tuesday in Beijing, cast doubt on Kerrys visit and its ability to sway two China-friendly countries. The pieces argued that instead of Washingtons influence, it is Beijing that is gradually gaining momentum in the region.

The party-backed Global Times quoted Shen Shishun, a researcher from the China Institute of International Relations, as saying it is wishful thinking that Kerrys visit to Cambodia and Laos will provide any incentive to turn against China on the South China Sea issue.

Cambodia backs China



In Cambodia Tuesday, thats exactly what happened. Cambodias Prime Minister Hor Namhong echoed Beijings position on the dispute to reporters, arguing that ASEAN was not a party to territorial disputes and that disputes should be resolved bilaterally.

In both Laos and Cambodia, Kerry played up growing trade ties. In Phnom Penh, he noted that the United States is the biggest export market of Cambodia, and that both were looking for ways to deepen their trade and investment relationship.

In Laos, Kerry talked about the many areas where the two countries could work together.

The United States is committed to working very closely with Laos, with the rest of the ASEAN countries. President Obama has invited all of ASEAN to come to California next month. We will have a summit; we will talk about all of these economic issues, how do we improve trade, Kerry said in remarks to a group of students, members of the Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative. We are currently working with Laos to respond to its request to join the WTO, which will open up the opportunities for trade.

But making inroads in both countries is not easy, given that they are both small states that are "well and truly within Chinas orbit now," Thomas said.

In Laos its about high-levels of Chinese cross-border trade at the sub-national level, its about Chinese investment in farms which is helping Laos food security. There are some tensions, certainly with Chinese coming across the border, but the government is certainly supportive of these initiatives, Thomas said.
The mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil, is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile, the World Health Organization said Monday.

Zika transmission has not yet been reported in the continental United States, although a woman who fell ill with the virus in Brazil later gave birth to a brain-damaged baby in Hawaii.

Brazil's Health Ministry said in November that Zika was linked to a fetal deformation known as microcephaly, in which infants are born with smaller-than-usual brains.

Brazil has reported 3,893 suspected cases of microcephaly, the WHO said last Friday  over 30 times more than in any year since 2010 and equivalent to 1 to 2 percent of all newborns in the state of Pernambuco, one of the worst-hit areas.

The Zika outbreak comes hard on the heels of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, demonstrating once again how little-understood diseases can rapidly emerge as global threats.

"We've got no drugs and we've got no vaccines. It's a case of deja vu because that's exactly what we were saying with Ebola," said Trudie Lang, a professor of global health at the University of Oxford. "It's really important to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible."

Large drugmakers' investment in tropical disease vaccines with uncertain commercial prospects has so far been patchy, prompting health experts to call for a new system of incentives following the Ebola experience.

"We need to have some kind of a plan that makes [companies] feel there is a sustainable solution and not just a one-shot deal over and over again," Francis Collins, director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said last week.

The Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute is currently leading the research charge on Zika and said last week it planned to develop a vaccine "in record time," although its director warned it was likely to take three to five years.

British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline said Monday it was studying the feasibility of using its vaccine technology on Zika, while France's Sanofi said it was reviewing possibilities.

Rio concerns

The virus was first found in a monkey in the Zika forest near Lake Victoria, Uganda, in 1947, and has historically occurred in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. But there is little scientific data on it and it is unclear why it might be causing microcephaly in Brazil.

Laura Rodrigues of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said it was possible the disease could be evolving.

If the epidemic was still going on in August, when Brazil is due to host the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, then pregnant women should either stay away or be obsessive about covering up against mosquito bites, she said.

The WHO advised pregnant women planning to travel to areas where Zika is circulating to consult a health-care provider before traveling and on return.

The clinical symptoms of Zika are usually mild and often similar to dengue, a fever which is transmitted by the same Aedes aegypti mosquito, leading to fears that Zika will spread into all parts of the world where dengue is commonplace.

More than one-third of the world's population lives in areas at risk of dengue infection, in a band stretching through Africa, India, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Zika's rapid spread, to 21 countries and territories in the Americas since May 2015, is due to the prevalence of Aedes aegypti and a lack of immunity among the population, the WHO said in a statement.

Risk to girls

Like rubella, which also causes mild symptoms but can lead to birth defects, health experts believe a vaccine is needed to protect girls before they reach child-bearing age.

Evidence about other transmission routes, apart from mosquito bites, is limited.

"Zika has been isolated in human semen, and one case of possible person-to-person sexual transmission has been described. However, more evidence is needed to confirm whether sexual contact is a means of Zika transmission," the WHO said.

While a causal link between Zika and microcephaly has not yet been definitively proven, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the circumstantial evidence was "suggestive and extremely worrisome."

In addition to finding a vaccine and potential drugs to fight Zika, some scientists are also planning to take the fight to the mosquitoes that carry the disease.

Oxitec, the U.K. subsidiary of U.S. synthetic biology company Intrexon, hopes to deploy a self-limiting genetically modified strain of insects to compete with normal Aedes aegypti.

Oxitec says its proprietary OX513A mosquito succeeded in reducing wild larvae of the Aedes mosquito by 82 percent in an area of Brazil where 25 million of the transgenic insects were released between April and November. Authorities reported a big drop in dengue cases in the area.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has welcomed the Zimbabwe Electoral Commissions ongoing engagements with international experts in introducing a biometric voter registration system in the country.

In a statement, ZESN urged the Commission to urgently engage with other local electoral stakeholders, including civic society organizations and political parties, to expedite the process of identifying and adopting the most appropriate type of the biometric voter registration system for Zimbabwe.

ZEC is quoted in the Sunday Mail newspaper as saying they are exploring ways of using the system in the 2018 harmonized general elections.

The biometric system, which incorporates fingerprint and iris scans, is being used in elections in countries like Kenya and Ghana.

Some nations also use it for processing visa and immigration documents.

Zimbabwe is expected to hold general polls in 2018 in which Zanu PF will field President Robert Mugabe, who will be 94 years old at that time.

Mr. Mugabe's party is facing serious factionalism as at least two groups allegedly led by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Grace Mugabe are fighting to succeed the Zimbabwean leader.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network has welcomed the Zimbabwe Electoral Commissions ongoing engagements with international experts in the use of a biometric voter registration system.

Zimbabwe reportedly issues lease agreements to some white commercial farmers in an attempt to rescue the crumbling agriculture industry.

A judge calls for a sex offenders register as abuse of children continues in Zimbabwe.

Some hotel operators in Zimbabwe say business is being crippled by rampant poaching in the Zambezi valley and surrounding areas.

And why are fuel prices going up in Zimbabwe when international prices are going down? We will give you details on this issue.

Stay tuned for these stories and more coming up on Studio 7 at 7:30 pm on 9-0-9 Medium Wave and on the 4-9-3-0, 5-9-4-0 and 1-5-4-6-0 shortwave frequencies. We also broadcast on www.channelzim.net. Please check us out on Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter.

Today on LiveTalk our hosts of the Connection Ntungamili Nkomo and Tatenda Gumbo will be talking with listeners and experts about calls for the setting up of a sex offenders register in Zimbabwe. Send us your numbers on our WhatsApp number 001 202 465 0318. The number again 001 202 465 0318. Stay tuned!!!!!!
Academically gifted students from disadvantaged families in Zimbabwe doing Advanced Level studies have been urged to apply for scholarships to study in the United States under Education-USA's the United States Student Achievers Program (USAP.)

Applications are available from Education USA centers in Harare, and some public libraries in Gweru, Bulawayo and Mutare. The deadline for applications is end of February but interested students need to complete their applications by the February 26th.

Last year, 27 students from economically disadvantaged families from all over Zimbabwe were awarded scholarships worth $6 million to study in the United States under this programme.

EducationUSA country coordinator, Rebbeca Zeigler Mano, told VOA Studio 7 this is an opportunity for high achievers in their A Level final year to study at top universities in the United States.

"This is an opportunity for high achievers to attend some of the United States Ivy League universities who are always looking for exceptional African talent," said Zeigler Mano.

The USAP program was launched in 2000 by the United States government which has spent more than $50 million on the programme since its inception.

More than 300 Zimbabwean students have studied under the program with most of them returning home after completing their studies.

" We consider students from low income households that are in their last year of "A" Level and are high achievers interested in furthering their studies to complete our free application forms by February 26th, so they can beat the deadline at the end of that month," she said.

Zeigler Mano said those who feel they can qualify should have their current school report, "O" Level results and should be great at essay writing and answering questions which will be on the application form. They should also have a recommendation letter.

"We are looking for the best and brightest future leaders of Zimbabwe who don't have opportunities to study overseas and t expose themselves to new ideas," said Zeigler Mano, adding that some of their students have the opportunity to attend Yale, Harvard, MIT and other Ivy League universities in the United States.

Those interested in applying for the USPA programme please click on this link:http://usapglobal.org/usap-application-forms.htm
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) and the Election Resource Centre (ERC) say they support a move by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to adopt the use of a biometric voters roll.

The programme is likely to be implemented with the financial and technical support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

European Union ambassador to Zimbabwe Philippe van Damme told VOA Studio 7 the EU will contribute funds to the electoral reform process through the UNDP and a budget proposal has already been tabled by ZEC and the government.

But the diplomat was quick to add that Zimbabwe is a sovereign state and it is up to government, ZEC and opposition political parties to agree on the way forward.

The ERC says the development is critical in increasing administrative efficiency, advancing democracy in Zimbabwe and in ensuring the restoration of public confidence in electoral processes.

Biometric voting systems are highly advanced information systems that allow for the identification of millions of voters quickly and unmistakably using specific biometric identifiers such as fingerprints or the iris.

ZESN urged the commission to urgently engage with other local electoral stakeholders including civic society organizations and political parties to expedite the process of identifying and adopting the most appropriate type of the biometric voter registration system for Zimbabwe.

Biometric voter registration is already being used in African countries such as Nigeria, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Ghana, among several others.

ZEC insiders said that the United Nations is assisting the electoral body with technical support and funding. Efforts to get a comment from ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau were futile as she said she was in a meeting.

ZESN director, Rindai Chipfunde Vava said funding must be availed to ensure the biometric voters roll is in place before the 2018 election.
Some opposition parties in Zimbabwe say the use of a biometric voting system in the country can to eliminate electoral fraud.

Douglas Mwonzora of the MDC led by former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission should be encouraged to use this system as opposition parties have been calling for its use over the years.

We think that the Zimbabwean government must actually look for the money and the international community must also look for the money so that we have a biometric voters roll. The demand for a voters roll has always been an MDC demand and yes we want a biometric voters roll. It must be accompanied by simultaneous electronic voting as opposed to having a biometric voter registration then the actual voting itself is manual. We want a biometric voting.

ZEC is quoted in the Sunday Mail newspaper as saying they are exploring ways of using the system in the 2018 harmonized general elections.

Mwonzora said if adopted, the biometric system should also be extended to polling booths.

He said the use of biometric voting systems reduces electoral fraud and leads to the compilation of transparent voters rolls.

Mwonzora recommended that Zimbabwe should use the Namibian biometric voting system. There are a number of types of biometric voting. We are advocating for a Namibian system of biometric voter registration and voting. The Namibian system is built to be more comprehensive but its expensive.

Jacob Mafume, spokesperson of the People's Democratic Party, concurred, noting that this kind of voting in used in most developed nations.

Biometric voting is the way to go. It is the best international practice. Some countries have got biometric identity cards, biometric cards for civil servants and so forth. The advantage is that it has your biological details. In other words your finger prints, your eye print, your DNA. There are certain traits that make up a person, your biological make up that are only unique to you as a person that identify you as that person.

As Jacob Mafume I have got my biological identity and if we start using that it means that no one can come and start using the name Jacob Mafume because the biometric machine will identify that this is not Jacob Mafume. It will have your picture and so forth even on the voters roll there will be your picture besides your name or any other depending on the sophistication of the biometric machinery we are using.

"So we can pinpoint the particular person who is participating in the voting. So, if implemented well with voter education and so forth it is a best international practice.

Mafume, however, urged ZEC to continue working towards holding free and fair elections through implementing other necessary reforms.

There are many other confidence builders so if we deal with the biometric voters roll we need to deal with the atmosphere of fear. We need to deal with the atmosphere of infiltration of ZEC by security agents. We need to deal with the issue of vote buying, intimidation and violence and also we need to deal with the adjudication process of the elections as you know no election petition has been dealt with merit. So we start with the biometric voters roll, work on the other issues.

Tawanda Chimhini, an election expert and Director of Zimbabwe Election Resource Center, also applauded steps being taken by ZEC in exploring ways of using a biometric voter registration system in which some body parts like the iris are scanned to capture someones identity.

Chimhini said this system is among many components of holding transparent elections.

We are satisfied that at least the Zimbabwe Election Commission has started to consider the adoption of technology in managing electoral processes this having been an argument that has been presented in observations of previous elections in Zimbabwe as part of efforts to improve the integrity of our elections in the country.

From the onset it must be made clear that a biometric voters roll is not a panacea to the challenges we have faced as a nation its a step in the right direction but on its own it is inadequate in addressing the challenges that we have faced in elections.

The government has over the years proposed the use of the biometric voter system. Opposition parties have always complained after almost all national elections about the lack of a proper voters roll saying that was fertile ground for electoral fraud.
In what some see as a complete climb-down, the government has reportedly started to issue leases to white commercial farmers.

Land and Rural Resettlement Minister Douglas Mombeshora told the Sunday Mail newspaper that they have identified farmers they deemed to be of strategic economic importance.

About 200 white commercial farmers are believed to be still in the country following the controversial land reform program in Zimbabwe that forced most of them to leave the country.

Ben Freeth, a white commercial farmer and spokesman for the Southern African Development Community Tribunal Rights Watch, said he was not aware of any white farmer who has benefited from this development so far.

We have read the reports and heard about this for a long time now, but at this stage there hasnt been anything that I know of anywhere on the ground where a white farmer has received a lease of this nature, so we dont know at this stage whether there is some truth behind this, Freeth said.

Freeth said farmers, who would be engaged under this program, should celebrate only if they get bankable leases.

Agronomist and independent political analyst, Bernard Manyadza, told VOA Studio 7 the governments decision to recall these white farmers is a clear admission that its land redistribution program has failed.

This land reform was done haphazardly, without proper direction, without proper planning, Manyadza said.

He added that it was bordering on anarchy and people were now realizing that they probably made a big strategic mistake.

Manyadza said what is needed now is to put back Zimbabwe at its rightful place as the so-called breadbasket of Southern Africa, through its abundant skilled citizens and government commitment.
The director of a student sexual and reproductive health organization, SayWhat, says calls by a Bulawayo High Court judge for a national sex offender register can be implemented, but Zimbabwe should get tough on sentencing for sexual offences.

Jimmy Wilford, director of SayWhat, was reacting to Bulawayo judge justice Martin Makoneses statement in which he called for the setting up of the register to ensure the tracking of offenders found guilty of sexual offenses against children and mental patients.

According to the Chronicle newspaper, Justice Makonse said all offenders and sexual predators must be brought to book. I propose that a national database be created for all persons convicted of child sexual abuse for the purposes of monitoring sexual vultures who tend to re-offend once released from prison.

The register would be similar to what is used in countries such as South Africa and United States, which require offenders guilty of sexual crimes against children and mentally-ill patients to register on a nationwide list.

Wilford said first, policy and sentencing would be to stop its perpetual leniency on offenders found guilty.

Let the judges come up with a system that ensures that anyone that has been sentenced for those 10 years can serve those 10 years, unlike a situation whereby you find a person that has been sentenced for 10, within a month or two months you find that person again within the community."

Jessie Majome, MDC formation of Morgan Tsvangirai Member of Parliament for Harare West, said the government has failed to implement key strategies that would assist in establishing frameworks to curb sexual crimes and gender based violence.

She said the strategy known as the Gender Based Violence Strategy for 2012-2015, recently expired without adequate implementation.

If the government had implemented this strategy the Honorable Justice Makonese Im sure would not need to be calling for that database, because that database would be clearly a central component of the research and data gathering and monitoring evaluation key result area.

Majome said unfortunately, governments failure leads to a significant failure in the fight against gender based violence.

A sex offender registry is a system in various countries designed to allow government authorities to keep track of the residence and activities of sex offenders, including those who have completed their criminal sentences.

The United States is the only country with a sex offender register that is accessible to the public. All other countries with registries are accessible to law enforcement and authorities working with children and mentally-disabled persons.

Meanwhile, advocates have increased calls for courts to hand out tougher sentences to convicted or suspected rapists, while calling against low bail postings given to suspected rapists.
Chris Brown. Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images

Chris Brown will not be charged for a Las Vegas battery case in which he was named a suspect in earlier this month. On January 2, a woman named Liziane Gutierrez accused Brown of punching her in the eye and stealing her phone after she tried to take a photo with him at a private party at Las Vegass Palms Casino Resort over New Years Eve weekend. The Clark County district attorneys office has announced that there is not sufficient evidence to pursue misdemeanor battery and theft charges. The case has reportedly been suspended. Immediately following the accusations, Brown posted and deleted an Instagram video denying his involvement, saying that Gutierrez was probably too ugly to get into the party. In a separate post, his manager called Gutierrez a liar, while his reps maintained that the allegations were unequivocally untrue.
One of prime-time TVs most jaw-dropping moments happened last year on Supergirl when Hank Henshaw (David Harewood), the apparently xenophobic leader of the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO), was revealed to be none other than Jonn Jonzz, also known as Martian Manhunter. Since then, Harewood, who previously played CIA honcho David Estes on Homeland, has quickly become a fan favorite. And he finds playing an extraterrestrial shape-shifter similar to his own experiences in Hollywood. Coming from England to L.A., I was away from my friends and family, he said. Martian Manhunter lost his entire family with the destruction of his planet and has a loneliness and melancholy that I could relate to.

Tonights episode of Supergirl promises to flesh out more of Martian Manhunters backstory with the arrival of the White Martians. Jonn has to confront a being that was responsible for the destruction of his people, Harewood explained. We find out how he becomes The Last Son of Mars. Vulture caught up with Harewood to talk about how he landed this plum role, the opportunities for black British actors in Hollywood, and the need for more diverse storytelling in British historical dramas.

How did you land the role of Hank Henshaw?

I was still in Los Angeles for pilot season. Selfie had been canceled, and I was getting ready to go back home when my manager suggested I hang around for a couple more weeks to see if any other opportunities came up. I was brought in to meet executive producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg. They sat me down and said they were shooting a pilot for Supergirl, and would I be interested? I read the script and loved it, although I still wasnt sure who Hank Henshaw was. When I did the screen test, I did it with both an American and British accent, and eventually they decided Hank was American.

How soon did you find out Hank Henshaw was really Jonn Jonzz/Martian Manhunter?

I found out after the pilot was picked up. Andrew called me into his office, gave me a pile of Martian Manhunter comics, and told me, This is who youll be playing. Martian Manhunter is such a great character with a rich mythology. And it was really helpful because before I was really struggling to get a handle on who Hank Henshaw was.

You are the sixth black actor to portray Martian Manhunter in the DC Universe in both the live and animated series. Watching your character on Supergirl I cant help but think about Ralph Ellisons protagonist in The Invisible Man  he is everyone and no one. Do you think theres a connection there?

I do know in the 1960s comics, Martian Manhunter took on the form of a black man  that could have been influenced by the political climate back then. Jonn Jonzz is this very powerful person who can wipe the floor with you but has to hide who he is from the world in order to blend in. I think its a stroke of genius to make him black.

Last week, actor Idris Elba spoke before Parliament about the need for more diversity on British television and said that growing up, while his community was diverse, he did not see that reflected in the shows he watched as a child.

Even now the shows still show a lack of diversity. American television, for all its faults, still has a black presence in shows and even in commercials. Youll see black people in automobile ads, black women starring on their own television shows. We dont see that on British television. The reason being that the decisions are being made by white, middle-class men, and their shows cater to a certain demographic. This is why you see black British actors coming to America, because they know there are more opportunities. I didnt leave the U.K. because I wanted to be famous  I came here to find work because I was struggling to find work as a black actor. Weve been banging around this issue for years. In the beginning we were laughed at, and now people are really paying attention.

Theres been discussion of a black British invasion where some feel that actors like David Oyelowo and Chiwetel Ejiofor are taking away opportunities from their African-American counterparts. What are your thoughts on this critique?

Hollywood has always had a fascination with casting British actors in general, like Sir Laurence Olivier, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Laughton, and now its back in vogue. I can certainly understand the frustration if people feel that way, but Im also finding a lot of great opportunities here and really enjoying these roles that I couldnt find in my own country.

The Guardian published an essay arguing that British historical dramas tend to whitewash history and leave out people of color. Do you agree with the authors point of view?

Without a doubt, the majority of historical period dramas tend to be told from a certain perspective. At least in America, black people have some visibility in period dramas, although its usually in the form of slaves or servitude. I believe the U.S. is still years ahead in its depiction of African-Americans in history, in comparison to England, where they are constantly making historical dramas where black people dont even exist. Weve yet to deal with the uncomfortable history of England being involved in the transatlantic slave trade, whereas America has at least made some movies dealing with its racial history. It almost seems that black people didnt exist in England until after World War II, but there are stories of important people of color in 18th- and 19th-century England. This speaks to the fact that the majority of those films are made and produced mostly by Caucasians. What does seem to be happening rapidly is the awareness of this problem, as evidenced by the #OscarsSoWhite campaign. Hopefully, not far behind this awareness is concrete change.
The Magicians Unauthorized Magic, The Source of Magic Season 1 Episodes 1 and 2 Editors Rating 3 stars * * * Previous Next   Previous Episode Next Episode  Jason Ralph as Quentin, Stella Maeve as Julia. Photo: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Syfy

Take your dog-eared copy of Lev Grossmans arch, explosive novel and toss it into a water square at your closest welters pitch. You wont want to look back at it now  or youll recognize just how far astray Syfys televised adaptation has wandered, and just how much work it will take to grind it back to its sexy, explosive, wild, and imaginative source material.

The shows two-part premiere kicks off with just a small ounce of magic: A sad, gray door blasts open to reveal a tall, powerful-looking man striding with purpose towards a chilly, leaf-strewn street  and out of a forest that sparkles with all the promise of summer. It clearly doesnt lead to the your neighborhood Chipotle.

This Nattily Dressed Man is on his way to a meeting with Hoity British Lady  seriously, none of these characters get names when they first appear onscreen  as the two sit in what appears to be Madison Square Park. They discuss a plan to get them ready  especially him without ever revealing who or what theyre talking about. Convinced that Nattily Dressed Man wont be able to get him ready, Hoity British Lady slips him a Pocket Watch of Last Resort (which pairs well with his three-piece suit, so points for sartorial savvy) and asks if anyone still has their eye on him.

Nattily Dressed Mans answer appears to be a big no, because the man-child who we assume is the subject of their conversation is in  a mental hospital. And not just any mental hospital, but one in Midtown, which is its own hell. While Quentin Coldwater (Im going to go ahead and spill the sad pups name) is sitting there, trying to convince his physician that hes feeling just fine after his weekend jaunt at the asylum, we get a taste of what led Quentin to check himself in.

The problem is that Quentin is  weird? As a party rages around him, he mopes on a beanbag, explains the obtuse origins of magic tricks to crowds of hotties, longingly gazes at the gaunt butt-cheeks of a Daisy Dukewearing partygoer, then slips away to his room to read his first-edition copy of Fillory and Further, a Narnia-esque fantasy romp. But he didnt pick the book up on a lark  a glimpse around his room reveals that Quentin is operating at high levels of geekiness when it comes to Fillory. Hes got the posters and stacks of books, although hes missing the requisite action figurines. (I must say that its completely understandable why Fillory is more alluring than the party. Its a story about three children who disappear into a grandfather clock that leads to a magical Pinterest board of English ecotourism wonder. That shit is groovy.)

Quentin is also smart. Like, Ivy League smart. When his best friend/crush Julia comes in to shake him out of his doldrums (and lie oddly close to him in bed), we learn that he has a Yale grad-school interview coming up. Cut to Quentin walking down the street with Julia, whose hair looks like an extensions ad youd find in the creepy back pages of a womens glossy mag. He barges into the home of the interviewer, who is dead, and man does that seems like a surefire way to be rejected from your higher-ed institution of choice.

But then, a bundle of mysterious things start happening all at once: The clock in the interviewers house looks bizarrely like the one in Fillory and Further. An EMT arrives to zip up the dead interviewer  and is Hoity British Lady. She hands Quentin a brown envelope with book six of the Fillory series inside it. (And duh, everybody knows there are only five Fillory books.) Quentin is jazzed, but Julia and her hair extensions have had it. She thinks he needs to gear up for the very real, very challenging adult life of  grad school.

Quentin walks home with Julia, flipping through book six. When she steps into an elevator, he doesnt; hes busy chasing after a loose page, which leads him through a shrub and into the summery world of Nattily Dressed Man. Meanwhile, Julias elevator lets her off into a spread right out of Architectural Digest. Surprise! Theyre both in the same place: Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, which is holding its entrance exam that very day, proctored by Nattily Dressed Man, who also happens to be the school dean.

After they take the exam, Quentin is escorted into a room and ordered to Do some goddamn magic. Julia, however, doesnt pass. Shes told that the magical staff is going to magically wipe her not-magical-enough brain, but Julia thinks quickly, slicing a huge gash down her wrist with a Swiss Army knife of a ring. Nothing like an arterial blood spurt to keep your memory in shape! Back to Quentin, who finally gives us a reason to see some of this goddamn magic. He builds a pretty epic house of cards with his mind, then passes out.

The episode then alternates between Quentin and Julias lives, showing how Quentin fits in with his new magic pals while Julia crawls into a dark hole of depression, remembering all too keenly what shes supposed to forget. (You too are supposed to forget that, about ten minutes ago, Julia launched a Stage Five Hissy Fit at Quentin because he was so into magic.) And thats when the show goes utterly off the rails.

Brakebills is absolutely NOTHING like the Brakebills of the books  and the school, with its overt homage of the classic prep-school novel, is what made Grossmans novels sing. All the charming Anglophilia of a potty little school hidden near the Hudson Valley is replaced with a parody of a 90s movie where the hippie kids wear tie-dye and the bad kids have more than one earring. The architecture is more I.M. Pei than downwardly mobile aristocracy. (The students even meet in neon-lit coffee shops.) And rather than a cozy couple scores of students, Brakebills looks as crowded as a Ollivanders Wand Shop the day before the Hogwarts Express leaves.

Seriously, Quentins tour of Brakebills is an exact replica of Tais tour in Clueless. That may sound fun and campy, but the novels are way too smart for straight stereotypes. The show sails right by all of the knowing little details that Grossman includes to show that The Magicians is not a novel about magicians, its about reading about magicians. Its about the claustrophobic worlds we back ourselves into when we cant shake fantasy from reality.

But this is only the first episode. Im willing to wait with fingers crossed.

When Quentin brings his new friends, the affected Sebastian Flytewannabe Eliot and coquettish Roller-Rink-Barbie Margo, to a bar for Julias birthday party, two things quickly become clear: Quentins time at magic camp is turning him into a turd, and Julia is in a very bad place. An alterna-magic school wants to extend an offer to her, and sexual assault is apparently the only admissions method. While in the bar bathroom, Julias shirt is (magically!) ripped off and shes (magically!) tied to a radiator while a man named Peter tells her shes special and no, silly girl, he doesnt want to rape her, this is just how he conducts interviews! Later, Julia goes into a warehouse with Peter, because hes obviously proven himself to be an upstanding dude.

Back at Brakebills, we meet Alice, a.k.a. Rachael Leigh Cook in Shes All That, all repressed desire and secretly big boobs hiding behind oversized glasses. Alice is the smartest in the class, which she proves by turning a marble into an adorable prancing glass horse. She and Quentin form an all-too-likely duo after he dreams about one of the Fillory kids, and wakes up with a weird sigil burned into his hand. The sigil happens to look exactly like one on a book that Alice needs to summon her dead brothers ghost over from the other side. They begin the summoning, then Quentins roommate Penny and his hookup, who remains nameless for quite a while and whom Ill call the Braless Wonder, wander in after Penny hears a message from a voice in his head. Did you keep up with all that? Good, because Im not sure I did.

The summoning doesnt appear to do anything, except compel whatever is on the other side to fog up a mirror and leave a hand-drawn happy face on it. Later, while Quentin and the rest of his class are listening to a metallurgy lecture, the entire scene suddenly freezes. Nobody can move. Out of that same mirror emerges The Magicians best creation so far, The Beast, a man whose face is obscured by hundreds of fluttering moths. He promptly strolls around, crushes the teachers windpipe with a Jedi mind trick, and then rips out the deans eyes. The slow, ambling pace of the Beast as he leans towards Quentin and breathes, Quentin Coldwater, there you are, is the final  and best  moment of the first episode.

The second installment, The Source of Magic, begins just as Quentin comes to. His scrambled memories reveal that the Braless Wonder tried to fight off the Beast, but failed and took a head wallop. Brave, shy, secret hottie Alice was somehow able to banish him back into the mirror, which Penny then smashed.

As if one dead teacher and an eyeball-less dean isnt bad enough, another nameless teacher  lets call her Chignon  warns that anyone found to have summoned the Beast will be expelled. Chignon also slips in the nice little detail that the Beast came from another world, which approximately 2 percent of the class seems to find worthy of a gasp.

For the Brakebills kids, who are certain that they called the Beast, the rest of the episode is a madcap dash to figure out how to stay in school and what the ever-loving hell is going on. If there are other worlds, wonders Quentin, could that mean Fillory is real? He has no evidence, but he runs with it, cajoling Alice to watch a YouTube clip of an old documentary that says exactly what he could have told her in two sentences: The children of Fillory and Further were based off real children, the neighbors of the books author, Christopher Plover. And two of those kids, Martin and Jane Chatwin, disappeared just as their characters disappeared in the books.

While Quentin becomes a Fillory truther, a far more intriguing plotline develops in the only Brooklyn waterfront warehouse that hasnt been turned into lofts, where Julia undergoes a hazing ritual for hedge-witch newbies. Shes locked in an empty meat freezer with another pre-frosh named Marina (played by the stellar Kacey Rohl of The Killing and Hannibal), then told to magic her way out. The escapade involves a corpse, talking to that corpse, then disemboweling that corpse. Its a much more truly mind-blowing introduction to magic than Quentins campus tour. Also, Julias extensions dont get in the way at all.

The big reveal here is that Marina is no newbie  shes the leader of the hedge witches. (A tatted-up arm reveals shes beyond a level 50, whatever that means.) She thinks Julias a bitch, but she also really likes her. Those feelings arent as mutually exclusive as TV often makes them out to be, so I appreciated that. Marina also brags about her connections at Brakebills, where she later shows up to bag a stolen amulet from the Braless Wonder, her source on the inside. None of this happens in the novel  or if it does, it happens in Grossmans second book, The Magician King, but Ill save that rant for another time. Marinas a bitch. I like her.

As if plucked eyes and carved-up corpses arent enough, Quentin is eventually dimed-out by Penny and told hes getting the ol heave ho from Brakebills, a thought that sends him right back into an emo tailspin. After a courtyard fight, an arm mended with Brakebillss version of Skelegrow, and a pitiful phone call to Julia, Quentin lands back in Chignons office. The Hoity British Lady shows up too, this time looking posh. After unnecessarily screwing with Quentin for a few minutes, she tells him she can right his situation. Whats that? Did someone say deus ex machina? Also, she knows about his Chatwin dreams. Hasnt he yet figured out what they mean? No? Me neither.
Photo: Cosmo Films

Before his latest film premiered at Sundance Sunday night, director John Carney talked briefly about what the festival has meant for him over the years. Back in 2007, his ultra-low-budget Irish musical romance Once seemed to come out of nowhere to charm Sundance audiences, going on to become a sizable indie hit. Carney recalled that, at the time, he had been living in his parents basement. At a dead-end and unsure what to do next, he wound up scraping together enough money to make that film  a rough-edged musical romance on the streets of Dublin between two down-and-outers  and wound up having his life transformed.

That provided an interesting bit of context going into Sing Street. Carney makes crowd-pleasers, and his new film was duly met with a rapturous response. But these films are crowd-pleasers because of that edge of desperation he brings to them  the same kind of desperation that evidently led him to make Once. These are movies about troubled people  sometimes at the end of their rope  who find transcendence and connection in music.

Carney remains true to that idea in Sing Street right from the opening scene, which finds glum Dublin teen Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) strumming a guitar while his parents shout at each other in another room. Unable to shut out the noise, he starts to turn mom and dads insults into lyrics. Its the mid-1980s and Ireland is in the midst of economic doldrums. Conors family has been forced to make financial sacrifices, so now he has to switch schools. Run by the Christian Brothers, Synge Street  a real Dublin school that Carney himself attended, and which a note in the end-credits assures us is no longer in any way like its portrayed in the film  seems to be a rough-and-tumble hellhole, at once authoritarian and anarchic. The principal is abusive, bullies administer daily beatings in the yard, the canteen looks like a holding pen, and nobody seems to be learning anything.

Carney shoots all this with an exaggerated sense of grit: His camera pans in slow motion across the faces of the other kids on Conors first day of school, and we see little boys glowering, spitting, smoking, muttering at the camera. Its dark, but in a tongue-in-cheek way. In fact, it feels almost like a music video, the then-newly resurgent form that gives Sing Street its unlikely anchor. Look at it, Conors older brother Brendan (Jack Reynor) says, in awe of Duran Durans Rio on the TV screen. The perfect mixture of music and visuals  What tyranny could stand up to that?

What tyranny, indeed. Conors oppressive life turns around the day he spies beautiful, aloof, stylish Raphina (Lucy Boynton) standing across the street from his school. Though nervous, he approaches her. She says shes a model. He says he needs someone to star in his bands music video. Before he knows it, Conor has her number  and he needs to start a band, and write a song. Together with Darren (Ben Carolan), the one kid at school wholl talk to him, he sets about trying to find other musicians, and lucks out when Darren introduces him to Eamon (Mark McKenna), who can play every musical instrument imaginable.

The kids band, now called Sing Street, is rough, but their musics charming. As they sing, they become more confident and polished before our very eyes. Conor, now dubbed Cosmo, starts to come to school dressed like whoever his musical influence is that day: Duran Duran, the Cure, Spandau Ballet. His relationship with Raphina, who has an on-again, off-again boyfriend, develops. His older brother Brendan goes from household irritant to musical and romantic mentor. (When Conor tells Brendan that Raphina has a boyfriend, he asks, Whats he listening to? Genesis. He will not be a problem.) And as his ears and mind open up to the music, Conors eyes open up to the world: He starts to better understand his parents, his friends, Raphina, even the bullies at school.

Though Sing Street is much more stylized and broad than Once, it remains true to Carneys fondness for grounded fantasy. He doesnt go for easy melodrama, nor does he go for wish-fulfillment, making-the-band stories about finding glory and fame. Even as the film becomes more stylized and fantastical during its musical passages, were constantly reminded that theres a far more complicated, melancholy world out there. At one point, Conor and Brendan watch their mom sitting outside, enjoying the days last brief bit of sunlight, smoking and having a glass of wine. She rushes home from work at the end of each day just to catch that moment, were told; its a far cry from the trip to Spain she always dreamed of, but for now, itll do.

Sing Street is far more boisterous and certainly funnier than Once, but it remains in a minor key; finding happiness in sadness, is how one character puts it. And not unlike Once, it even closes on an open-ended note. Yet, theres still triumph in it. Music may not realize all our wishes, Carney seems to say, but it does something perhaps even more important: It allows us to dream bigger.
The X-Files frequently gives its viewers images that are hard to shake: a demonic death-fetishist skulking through the shadows. An armless and legless inbred woman hidden under a bed. Twin Kathy Griffins. (Okay, forget that last one.) So its appropriate that Founders Mutation opens with an extreme close-up of a heavily bloodshot eye. Someone, it seems, has seen too much.

His name is Dr. Sanjay (Christopher Logan), and hes an employee at Nugenics Technology who, when asked whether his weekend activities were work or pleasure, responds with a morose, I havent known pleasure for quite some time. Life of the party, this one. Things dont get much better for Sanjay when he attends a staff meeting. While the other employees rattle on about their work and their companys mysterious founder, Sanjay hears a high-pitched screech that nearly doubles him over. As a flock of crows ominously gathers outside, Sanjay catches snippets of his colleagues conversation reconfigured into commands like Data is the key and Go, now!

Cant anyone hear that?! he screams to blank and perplexed stares before excusing himself. Sanjay then locks himself in a computer-mainframe room, where he starts gathering the data hes been psychically ordered to collect. When the screeching becomes too much to bear, he finally and permanently quiets the noise by jabbing the pointy end of a letter opener into his ear canal. What was that again about images you cant shake?

Written and directed by X-Files veteran James Wong, Founders Mutation is an especially strong standalone entry. Wong unapologetically embraces wince-inducing pulp horror, while elegantly dovetailing the episodes narrative with the larger personal story of FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who are called in to investigate. In contrast to the previous episode, My Struggle, Mulder is now clean-shaven and fitted with a perfectly tailored suit, finally matching Scully in the ready-for-the-cover-of-GQ department. Is it impertinent to ask how such ill-regarded government agents can afford such a killer wardrobe? Eh, just go with it.

A Nugenics lackey, played by Battlestar Galacticas Aaron Douglas, gives the duo the runaround while they investigate the scene of Dr. Sanjays suicide. So Mulder steals the dead mans cell phone (You know me, Scully, Im old school) and uses it to track down Gupta, one of Sanjays contacts. Scully helpfully informs her partner that, since Sanjay was from Western India, Gupta is likely the Marathi word for secret. (Im old school, Mulder  pre-Google, she quips.)

Heres something else thats old school: Mulder meets Gupta (Vik Sahay) in a Washington bar that  as he quite hilariously discovers  caters to on-the-down-low gay men. When Mulder asks Gupta if they can go somewhere more private, he doesnt realize hes talking in double entendre. The image of Fox Mulder nearly and unwittingly getting fellated in a bar bathroom is pretty damn funny, as is Guptas scolding insistence that the repressed special agent needs to come out of his self-created closet. (The truth is in here, he says, pointing to a flabbergasted Mulders heart.)

Thankfully, Wong doesnt just treat it as a joke. Sanjay was Guptas lover as well as his confidant, and when Mulder tells him that Sanjay is dead, it leads to a lovely and regretful heart-to-heart. With just a few lines, Sahay really makes you feel the crushing weight of losing an intimate. I just tried to make him feel better, Gupta says. He also directs Mulder to Sanjays second apartment, where some answers may be found.

Mulder checks in with Scully at the autopsy bay, where she tells him she discovered two words written on the palm of Sanjays hand: Founders Mutation. In one of the episodes most indelible compositions, the duo stands in front of a projected X-ray of Sanjays skull, the letter opener pierced right into his brain. (Its horrific and humorous all at once.) The plot thickens after the agents visit Sanjays apartment, where they find photos of children with shocking deformities. Then, Mulder doubles over  hes hearing that same high-pitched screech.

What the heck is going on? Well, if I told you that Melrose Places Doug Savant was behind it all, would you believe me? Its true, I swear: With nice helpings of menace and arrogance, Savant plays the mysterious founder, Augustus Goldman, who Mulder and Scully visit after making contact through Our Lady of Sorrows hospital. As Goldman leads them through his facility, the camera pans past a series of locked-off rooms, which house the kids seen in the photographs at Sanjays apartment. And with that, the episodes mad-scientist vibes come unforgettably to the fore.

The X-Files tends to have incredible makeup effects, and this sequence is no exception: One child is covered in what appear to be dragon scales. Another has oversized arms and hands, which drag along a large piece of paper as he finger paints. Most shocking is the boy stuffing his elephantine face  which looks like its been melted by a flamethrower  with oatmeal. Almost all of these peripheral characters are onscreen for two seconds tops, but the level of detail in the makeup underscores Goldmans appalling work.

Perhaps, Founders Mutation is best viewed as Wongs reflection and distillation of the shows mythology: The culprit turns out to be a young man named Kyle (Jonathan Whitesell), who is searching for the sister, Molly (Megan Peta Hill), he just recently discovered he had. Kyle and Molly are the children of Goldman, who experimented on them in utero. Those tests gave the siblings extrasensory powers that neither can adequately control, yet ultimately reunite them. Kyle is effectively the Fox Mulder to Mollys Samantha Mulder. And Goldman is the pairs Cigarette Smoking Man.

Try as Mulder and Scully might, their cases cant help but bleed into their lives. The deeper they get into this one, the more the parallels become poignantly apparent. Early on, Mulder is convinced that Goldman is involved with the alien-human hybrid program that was dismantled in the original series, and of which Scully was an unwitting part. At first, he doesnt share his suspicions with Scully, though she quickly intuits the connections. Im not a fragile little girl, she says scoldingly to Mulder, before reminiscing about their son William, who was likely created by the hybrid program, and whom she gave up for adoption toward the end of season nine. Do you ever think about [him]? she asks. Yes, Mulder says. Of course I do. But I feel like Ive had to put that behind me.

Its always amazed me how Duchovny and Anderson can take a soapy plot like the William story line and shade it with such profound sense of loss and regret. (Yet another benefit of two performers who have that rare magical spark between them.) Two of the finest scenes in Founders Mutation detail each agents fantasy of what it would have been like to raise William, played at different ages by child actors Hannah, Aiden, and Rowan Longworth. Scully imagines her sons first day of school, tending to him after he breaks his arm, and finally, watching as he horrifyingly mutates into something akin to Goldmans subjects.

In the episodes powerful closing sequence, we see Mulders vision. It begins with him and William watching Stanley Kubricks epochal 2001: A Space Odyssey, and climaxes with William abducted in a manner eerily similar to Mulders own sister. Before the dreams troubling end, however, theres a lovely scene between Mulder and William in which he offers his son several interpretations of 2001s black monolith. Some people think it represents our first contact with aliens, he says, Other people think it represents the beginning of human knowledge. (A father flailing about, trying to satiate his childs natural curiosity.) Then he hits on the quite affecting truth of the matter: I think one day youll probably have your own ideas about it.

Musings of a Non-Cigarette-Smoking Fan:
Those whove seen the trailer for the film Risen, which imagines a Roman army officer charged with sealing Jesus tomb then looking in vain for his resurrected body, may be interested in a free screening of the movie at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the Waco Hippodrome.

The movie officially opens Feb. 19, but is being screened in advance to certain audiences and its coming to the Hippodrome thanks to a collaboration between the theater and Baylors Department of Student Activities, which has held a free movie night on Mondays since last fall.

The Christian context of the film notwithstanding, it also doesnt hurt that Risen was co-written and directed by filmmaker Kevin Reynolds, a Baylor grad and son of the former Baylor president Herbert Reynolds. Kevin wont be present at the free Tuesday night screening, but one of the films producers is expected to be.

The Risen screening is free, but ticketed and as of Monday evening, about half sold-out. Tickets are available here: http://ev12.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetGroupList?groupCode=HIP&linkID=baylor-sa&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=. Theres also a free Waco ISD high school show choirs showcase A Night Of Voices at 6 p.m. Tuesday, an unrelated event that will conclude before the screening.

Matt Burchett, Baylor director of student activities, said the theater-university collaboration has allowed Baylor to bring some notable contemporary documentaries to Waco for Baylor students and faculty and the Waco public. Salam Neighbor, an inside look at a Syrian refugee camp, screens tonight and He Named Me Malala, about Pakistani teenager and Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, is scheduled for next Monday, Feb. 1.

Risen, a Columbia Pictures production co-written by Reynolds and Paul Aiello, stars Joseph Fiennes as Clavius, the officer charged with securing Jesus tomb, then ordered by Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth) to locate the body when the tomb is found empty. Assisting him is Lucius, played by Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films).
A driverless vehicle reportedly crashed into a local eatery near China Spring on Monday night.

Emergency responders were called to Griffs Grill, at 10400 Wortham Bend Road, around 7 p.m., in reference to a vehicle that crashed into the side of the restaurant and gas station business. Waco police Sgt. D.J. Adams said the driver was inside the establishment after leaving his vehicle parked, in gear at a gas pump.

The car was parked at the gas pumps when he bumped his remote start with his vehicle still in gear, Adams said. The vehicle traveled on its own and into the building.

Officers and fire fighters rolled the white Ford Mustang back away from the building, revealing heavily damaged panelling, near the main gas valve for the gas pumps, Adams pointed out. A male cashier inside Griffs was momentarily pinned in between two counters inside the restaurant before he was able to get free.

Hes going to get checked out for any injuries,Adams said,

The driver of the vehicle was not issued any citation at the scene of the wreck, Adams said. The establishment remained open as officers investigated the crash.
With a healthy appetite for sardines, pork skins and peanut patties, Thomas Washington celebrated his 100th birthday Monday with family and residents at Lakeshore Village Care Center.

This man eats everything, joked his wife, Minnie Washington, as she watched her husband eat his birthday cake. Everything except Brussels sprouts.

A large crowd gathered inside the facilitys common area for a festive celebration filled with balloons, lemonade, snacks, cake and ice cream for the vintage dude, as several of the balloons noted. Thomas smiled next to his 84-year-old wife as the party rolled along.

When asked what the secret is to living a long life, Washington didnt pretend to have the answer.

I dont really know, he said.

You know, they say that he robbed the cradle, but I think I really am the lucky one, Minnie Washington said.

Born Jan. 25, 1916, the World War II Navy veteran and longtime mathematician is the oldest member of Second Missionary Baptist Church. A former Waco-area teacher, he still is able to solve most math problems given to him. Minnie said Thomas active mind played a large role in his long life.

He is a very quiet person, but he is a very brilliant man, Minnie Washington said. We are just very blessed.

The Washingtons, each on their second marriage, will celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary this June.

Lakeshore Village administrator Melissa Hudson spoke highly of Washingtons, adding that her staff and volunteers have gotten to know the couple well.

She (Minnie) really visits him every day, and it is a huge honor and privilege, above anything else, to celebrate his 100 years and be a part of it, much less host this celebration, she said. On an everyday basis, the team that I have here that takes care of the residents is just another part of their family, too, so it is great we all get to share in this together.

The Waco couple also celebrated with family and church members this past weekend, before the Lakeshore celebration Monday. Hudson said two other residents also will celebrate their 100th birthdays in May.

If you just add that, we have 300 years in life experience with just three residents. Thats pretty remarkable, Hudson said. Its hard to grasp . . . but it really is a blessing.
As I look through my closet for this season and as it gets colder, I am assessing what I already own, and what I think will work with my existing closet, and I cant help but think about capsules. What

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A large rubbish fire in Melbourne's west has been brought under control by more than fifty firefighters.

The blaze, approximately 1600 square metres in size, was reported off Bunting Rood in Brooklyn at 7.26pm on Tuesday night.

The blaze is believed to be about 1600 square metres in size Credit:Craig Abraham

About 14 trucks were sent to the scene, where recycled rubber and plastics were ablaze.

Just after 10.33pm the Metropolitan Fire Brigade said fire was deemed under control. "Crews will use heavy machinery to break apart rubbish piles overnight," a brigade spokeswoman said.
A Perth fly-in, fly-out worker says she will no longer park her car at Perth Airport's long-term car-park after thieves stole more than $3000 worth of spotlights from her Nissan Navara in January.

The woman claims her vehicle wasn't the only car targeted by thieves in the secure parking area, with spot lights and aerials missing from six other cars she noticed in D Block near her vehicle.

A FIFO worker claims Perth Airport thieves stole her Nissan Navara's spotlights, valued at $3000. Credit:Facebook / Gem Ramsay

Local police also confirmed motorcycles had been reported stolen from the long-term car-park in recent months, but denied there was a spike in crime around the airport.
Sit back and relax on your outdoor patio with this folding Adirondack chair. This chair arrives in a set of two and is crafted from solid acacia wood in a rustic neutral hue. It features a handy folding design that's great for when you want to take it on the go. The slatted, rust-resistant design on the full-back and seat give it an open, airy look that allows water to drip right through instead of pooling. Its the perfect pick for your outdoor arrangement!

Weight Capacity: 300lb.

Adult Assembly Required: Yes

Frame Material: Solid Wood

After doing lots of research for the best quality Adirondack chairs, we came across this one! We read all the reviews which all said this one was amazing made of good solid wood, no splits or cracking! We are so glad we took our time looking because we really couldnt be happier with this one! We did put MinWax clear semi gloss Urethane to Protect the finish (made a little darker)on it because ours will get lots of sun exposure! Highly recommend this chair if your looking for good quality wood chairs!. Marla. Coconut Creek, FL. 2018-12-03 17:53:03
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Kentucky State Police are looking for a missing Monticello woman last seen in Hopkinsville
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 26, 2016 | 06:51 AM | PADUCAH, KY

Sarah Stewart Holland has announced her intention to become a candidate for election to the Paducah city commission.

"I'm running because it is time for the next generation of leadership to step up and serve," said Holland, who earned a law degree from American University and worked in Washington, DC, before returning to Paducah in 2009 to raise her family. "It is time for my generation to build on the successes of those who have come before us, and propose a new vision for Paducah."

Holland is a social media consultant, professional blogger, and co-founder of a national political podcast. has served on the board of directors for the Yeiser Art Center and the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club, as well as the Clark Elementary School PTO. She is also a member of the Charity League of Paducah, where she served as co-chair of 2014's Shine and Dine event that raised $48,000 for Easter Seals of Western Kentucky.

"I've spent the past six years helping businesses in our community understand social media so that they can succeed in an ever-changing environment," Holland said. "As a city commissioner, I will use those same skills to truly listen to the concerns of Paducah's citizens, to propose fresh ideas for change, and to effectively communicate a new vision for our town."

"Sarah was instrumental in bringing us to Paducah and is always ready with new ideas to help us succeed," said Joan Manganaro, co-owner of Italian Grill on Broadway. Fellow co-owner Lauren Deboe added, "Sarah really understands Paducah and has been a critical part of our marketing strategy here in our new location. We know she would be a strong voice for our community as a member of the city commission."

Holland, 34, is a fifth-generation Paducah native, and a member of Grace Episcopal Church. She is married to Nicholas Holland, a local attorney with Whitlow, Roberts, Houston, & Straub, and is the mother to three.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Jan. 26, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 26, 2016 | 02:38 PM | PADUCAH, KY

In a joint meeting held at the McCracken County Courthouse, the Paducah City Commission and McCracken Fiscal Court each approved ordinances to adjust the sanitary sewer fees as recommended by the Joint Sewer Agency (JSA) Board of Directors.



The current monthly bill for 5000 gallon usage is $22.15, which ranks below the 2012 state average of $33.68. The rate adjustment will increase the bill for 5000 gallon usage to $25.75 effective March 1, with another increase to $29.15 on July 1, 2017. Similar rate adjustments are outlined for 3000 gallon monthly users and others.



JSA is currently working to mitigate the environmental impacts of combined sanitary/storm sewer systems, and has an estimated $102 million in projects as part of its consent judgment and administrative order through the State Energy and Environmental Cabinet and the Environmental Protection Agency. They have completed $38 million in improvement projects since 2008.



At the meeting, JSA Executive Director John Hodges said, The improvements that we are to make are mandated by the federal government.



The agency, which was formed in 1999, has 18,250 customers and derives all of its income through user rates and fees for service.



Hodges says over the past 10 years the agency has been able to reduce staffing levels and implement programs to keep operating costs as low as possible.



He said, We will continue to watch how we use these funds to the benefit of the ratepayers.
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By Richard Nelson, Commonwealth Policy Center

Jan. 25, 2016 | CADIZ, KY

By Richard Nelson, Commonwealth Policy Center Jan. 25, 2016 | 05:55 PM | CADIZ, KY

Attitude Toward Abortion Changing - by Richard Nelson



Last week started out with many commemorating the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It ended Friday with people marching and assembling in cities (not hit by the wintery blast) to uphold human dignity of a different kind. While King was the face of the civil rights movement, it is unlikely the pro-life movement will ever have a single representative, but if they do, it will probably be the face of an anonymous woman who's had an abortion.



The pro-life movement, much like King's efforts for most of his life, has been marginalized. If you doubt this, consider the lack of coverage of previous March for Life events which have drawn hundreds of thousands to Washington D.C. Consider skewed reporting that casts pro-life legislation as burdensome and onerous to women. And whenever there is an attack on an abortion clinic, the media quickly imply the perpetrator is representative of the entire movement.



King dealt with similar challenges but the nonviolent response to the fire hoses and police dogs turned on peaceful protestors won the moral high ground. Such television broadcasts showing the demeaning of the personhood of an entire race gripped the nation's conscience. Consequently, segregation slowly gave way to integration and civil rights protection. We celebrate King's courage to today.



Yet, pro-lifers don't have the emotional advantage of a visible class being abused and mistreated, that is, until last summer when undercover videos by the Center for Medical Progress revealed executives of the nation's largest abortion chain dealing in body parts like auto makers deal in chassis and bumpers. The banal conversation of techniques used in order to profit the most from salvaged body parts gave the nation a glimpse behind the curtain of a secretive industry. It was the pro-life movement's equivalent to hooded Clansmen burning a cross on the lawn of a black church.



Two bills in the state legislatureHB 61 and SB 7, would prevent any public funds, regardless of their source, from going to any agencies involved with abortion. If the bills passed, Kentucky's two Planned Parenthood affiliates in Lexington and Louisville would lose $330,000.



The shroud abortion proponents are hiding behind is fraying and their defense of liberal abortion policies are ever so hollow. Now, public sentiment appears to be changing. A recent survey by Marist Polling found that 60 percent of Americans view abortion as morally wrong and 81 percent of Americans say abortion should be restricted to the first trimester of pregnancy and only allowed in extreme cases. The survey also found that only 12 percent of Americans support abortion on demand at any stage of pregnancy. In other words, 88 percent favor some kind of restrictions.



This astounding change in the attitude toward abortion has largely been accompanied by the post-abortive women who've come forward with their stories and the lifelong hurt they've carried with them. I work with one of them and two serve on my board. All have come out of the shadows in recent years and openly share their story of pain and eventual healing. They are the new ambassadors of the pro-life movement. They will be the first to tell you that pain, guilt, and emotional baggage was something the the U.S. Supreme Court didn't factor in when it struck down every state law restricting abortion 43 years ago.



According to a report released earlier this month by the Guttmacher Institute, 288 pro-life laws passed in various states across the U.S. But sadly, Kentucky was not in the mix. In fact, pro-life legislation has been killed in the Kentucky House for the past 12 years. This session could be different. Last Wednesday, the Kentucky state House signaled they're finally embracing pro-life legislation after passing a procedural vote on the informed consent bill that requires the abortionist to actually meet in person with the woman before performing any procedures.



It's a start. Yet Kentucky has a long road to travel to restore the sanctity of life. If we ever get there, it will be because sisters, daughters, cousins and friends hurt by abortion come forward and insist better options be made available to help other women avoid the heartache they've endured.



Richard Nelson is the executive director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, a nonprofit public policy group in Kentucky. He resides in Cadiz with his wife and children.
Rita Redmond was a true lady who felt that every pupil had something to gift to the world
The Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn have announced plans for an ambitious capital project which will update and transform the venue's auditorium and front of house spaces.

Work is scheduled to begin this summer and plans are to complete in 2017.

Arts Council England have contributed 3.1 million to the scheme and a public campaign to raise additional funds is yet to be announced.

The project should increase the size of the Tricycle's auditorium by 25 per cent and quadruple the number of wheelchair accessible seats in the auditorium from two to eight.

There will be a new cafe on Kilburn High Street which the theatre is hoping will become a hub for the Kilburn community.

Artistic director of the Tricycle Indhu Rubasingham said: "This vital upgrade will help us to secure The Tricycle's future and enable us to realise our ambitious vision by ensuring our venue is truly accessible and open to all."

Actor Adrian Lester has pledged his support for the campaign, saying: "Under the leadership of Indhu Rubasingham, the Tricycle has blossomed as a venue in and for the community whilst proving itself as an incredible production powerhouse which rivals any UK theatre venue."

Architects Greg Chapman from Chapman Waterworth will be overseeing the redevelopment. The company have previously worked on projects for Hampstead Theatre.
Henderson County Commissioners will take another look at how it charges for fire inspections, after a recently changed fee schedule drew the ire of some business owners.

During the county's recent budget work session, Commissioner Charlie Messer added the fees to the agenda late in the meeting, saying he's heard a lot of feedback on the issue.

The county changed its fee schedule for fire inspections in June, creating a system that charges businesses $100 for a facility of 10,000 square feet or smaller, $300 for a business of between 10,000 and 50,000 square feet, and $500 for buildings larger than 50,000 square feet.

But inspections, and therefore the fees, must be applied to each separate use, even in the same building, and in some cases that means new expenses for businesses.

In cases like Smiley's Flea Market in Fletcher, the new fee schedule racked up a bill of $16,000, according to county Emergency Services Director Rocky Hyder, who explained the process to commissioners Wednesday.

Ben Campen Jr., owner of Smiley's Flea Markets, which also has locations in Georgia and Florida, said this is the first fee for fire inspections that he's ever encountered, and that it will place an undue burden on his vendors.

Quite honestly, I was utterly shocked, he said. It's going to create a huge burden to ourselves and to our vendors that operate their small businesses.

Campen, a 12-year member and incoming president of the National Flea Market Association, said this is the first he's heard of a fee like this anywhere in the country, and plans on talking about it with the NFMA.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/01/2016 (2459 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

wfpvideo:4723162700001:wfpvideo

OTTAWA  The federal government could be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation and additional funding for child welfare programs on reserve after the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled Ottawa has been discriminating against First Nations kids on reserve for years.

The tribunal ruling, announced Tuesday, ends a case first brought nine years ago by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and the Assembly of First Nations. The case alleges Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada  now known as Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada  systematically underfunded child welfare services for on-reserve kids, resulting in a higher number of those children being taken away from their families.

The tribunal agreed, saying evidence presented in 72 days of hearings in 2013 and 2014 showed the federal government was making incorrect assumptions about the number of families on reserve who needed help, and basing its funding levels on that assumption, even though it was told repeatedly it was wrong.

The funding discrepancy meant kids living on reserve had less access to the services and programs that could have helped families without forcing their kids into foster care.

Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould, left, looks on as Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett speaks about the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal regarding discrimination against First Nations children in care during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday.

In a legally binding decision, the tribunal ordered Ottawa to fix the program and ensure its equitable to services provided to kids off reserve by provincial governments.

More than just funding, there is a need to refocus the policy of the program to respect human rights principles and sound social work practice, the decision stated.

However, the tribunal isnt sure how to remedy the situation or how much compensation to award the kids who suffered as a result of the discrimination. It will meet with the government and parties who brought the complaint within three weeks to try and hammer out those details.

Caring Society executive director Cindy Blackstock was emotional at times Tuesday as she responded to the decision.

This is a complete victory for children, she said at a press conference in Ottawa. It strips away any sensibility that First Nations children are being treated fairly by the government of Canada.

She estimates Ottawa will have to spend $200 million more on child welfare in its next budget to start to address the inequities. She said if that money isnt there, she is willing to go back to court to force the government to act quickly.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde looks on as First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Caring Society Executive Director Cindy Blackstock speaks about the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal regarding discrimination against First Nations children in care during a news conference in Ottawa, Tuesday, January 26, 2016.

Children only get one childhood, they cant wait for studies, Blackstock said.

The Caring Society also asked for $20,000 in compensation from Ottawa for every on-reserve child that has been in care since 2006. She didnt know how many kids that was, but it is at least 12,200, the highest total number of on-reserve kids in care at a single point, according to figures provided by Indigenous Affairs.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said she welcomed the tribunals decision and said its a priority for her.

I have to say that personally, this is hugely important that we get this right and its doable, Bennett said.

She couldnt put a dollar figure on what the government is willing to spend, saying the amount is hard to pin down because it must be based on the specific needs of each of the 105 First Nations child welfare agencies that operate in Canada. She also noted there has been uneven funding for the last decade because six provinces, including Manitoba, were involved in pilot projects that increased funding directly to on-reserve agencies to provide family programming and prevention services.

That program, known as Enhanced Prevention Focused Approach, was to provide up to $42.2 million a year in additional funding in Manitoba alone. But the tribunal said even that extended funding was based on the faulty assumptions about how many families would need help.

Bennett said the amount of money isnt as important as the outcomes.

This is about real numbers on which I will be judged, she said. Will we get more children out of foster care, or into kinship and customary care? Will we get better social outcomes for children? Bennett said.

Blackstock said child welfare agencies have become the new residential schools, and three times as many indigenous children are now in foster care as ever were in residential schools at a single time. She also said many of the kids who grew up in foster homes report struggles of self-worth, identity and family connections eerily similar to the stories heard from residential school survivors.

Dont you think the one thing in reconciliation we can get right is to raise a generation of First Nations children who dont have to recover from their childhoods anymore? Blackstock said.

By the numbers

$200 million: estimated amount of money First Nations Child and Family Caring Society believes must be immediately added to federal budget for child welfare programs on reserve.

$20,000: maximum dollar amount, per child, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal can award as damages for the discrimination finding.

12,200: minimum number of children eligible to receive the compensation.

163,000: number of children living on reserves who could be affected by this case.

3,325: number of days it took from the day the case was filed until it was resolved.

61.5 cents-78 cents: estimated amount spent on First Nations children on reserve for child welfare programming for every dollar spent on kids living off reserve

2,459: number of First Nations children from reserves who were in foster care in Manitoba in 2012.

87: percentage of children in care in Manitoba who are First Nations, Metis or Inuit.

23: percentage of children in Manitoba who are First Nations, Metis or Inuit.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/01/2016 (2459 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The openness of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal government has been a refreshing change from the secretive, tightly controlled regime of Stephen Harpers Conservatives, but some aspects of Mr. Trudeaus touchy-feely style are starting to wear thin.

The prime minister went too far, for example, in commenting Friday on the tragic shootings in La Loche, Sask. It was fine to offer the remote community all the support it needed and to express his personal sadness, but he crossed the line in providing details on what was then an unfolding police investigation.

Speaking from Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending a conference with world leaders, Mr. Trudeau complicated the job of RCMP by wrongly stating five people had been killed, not four. RCMP later provided accurate information, but Mr. Trudeaus decision to get involved in the facts on the ground could have caused needless angst for the community.

Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

He also pre-empted police by announcing a suspect was in custody, which was also inappropriate because releasing such details properly belongs with law enforcement.

Its the kind of impetuous behaviour and lack of discipline that might be expected from a rookie mayor or MLA, but not from the leader of a G-7 nation.

Nor was it an isolated incident.

Mr. Trudeau, for example, veered from his prepared script in disparaging his predecessor in a speech in Davos, the wrong place for any kind of partisan jab. If that wasnt bad enough, his comments came in the context of a corny reference to Canada as being resourceful as opposed to merely resource-rich.

Mr. Trudeau is comfortable talking about his feelings in warm tones, whether in regard to the plight of aboriginal peoples, women, the middle class or some other issue.

Thats in stark contrast to his father, who was known for being cold and aloof, a man who gave Canadians the finger and a shrug during his time as prime minister.

The son has always been an emotive personality and politician, so there is no reason to suspect his appeal to feelings is politically motivated.

The question is whether he can bring it under control or, indeed, whether he wants to control it.

In the United States, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, who are seeking the leadership of the Republican and Democratic parties, respectively, have gained support with their unconventional styles and appeals to voter anger.

Mr. Trudeau, however, is not running for anything at the moment, and even the notion of the permanent campaign doesnt justify his conduct in Davos and here at home. It sometimes seems like he thinks he, not the country, is the headline and that he is a celebrity, not a politician.

The question of personal discipline also extends to cabinet, where there have been several incidents of ministers inadvertently contradicting one another. Even the prime minister was contradicted when Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said earlier this month the F-35 might still be in the running in Canadas search for a replacement to the CF-18.

Mr. Trudeau, of course, promised that government by cabinet, as opposed to the Prime Ministers Office, was back and that ministers would have more room to run their departments than they did under Mr. Harper.

Open debate and discussion are signs of a healthy democracy, but the prime ministers challenge is to ensure disagreements and miscommunication dont get out of hand or lead to confusion on where the government stands on key controversies.

Mr. Trudeaus personal warmth and spontaneity are a pleasant change, but there can be too much of a good thing.
The Laureate Writers Series will present readings from the Black April Issue of Lost Lake Folk Opera magazine at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at The Book Shelf in Winona. The event was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 2, and has been moved. The Black April Issue, published in April 2015, marks 40 years since the Fall of Saigon in April 1975, when the city was captured by North Vietnamese troops, forcing an evacuation of Americans and South Vietnamese. The event marked the end of 20 years of American involvement in Vietnam. Magazine publisher Tom Driscoll and writers Emilio DeGrazia, Lee Henschel, Jr., Ron Luchau and Ken McCullough will read selections of their own work from the magazine. The program is free and open to the public, and the presentation will be followed by an open mic. Copies of the magazine will be available for sale.
MADISON  Republican legislators are pushing a bill aimed at preventing drone operators from flying contraband into Wisconsin prisons like they have in other states.

Under the bill, anyone who flies a drone over a state correctional institution would face a $5,000 fine. The bill would also allow municipalities and counties to establish areas where drones cannot be flown. Local governments could impose fines up to $2,500.

The bill follows a series of cases across the country in which smugglers flew drugs, pornography or other contraband over prison walls. In August, a drone dropped a package of marijuana, tobacco and heroin into a prison yard in Ohio, sparking a fight among inmates. In October, a drone carrying drugs, blades and other contraband crashed into an Oklahoma prison yard. Other cases have surfaced in Georgia, Maryland and South Carolina.

Wisconsin has not yet reported similar issues with smuggling, but a drone that lost contact with its operator did land inside the walls of a state prison in Waupun in late December.

This is really going after people and as a deterrent for people who want to commit crimes using drones, said Shawn Smith, a staff member in the office of the bills author, Sen. Richard Gudex, R-Fond du Lac.

Besides a fine, the bill would let police seize any pictures or video taken by a drone and turn it over to the Department of Corrections.

The FAA has been coming out with the rules slowly but surely, Smith said. We dont know what theyre going to come out with, so we wanted to give the local authorities the ability to do so.

This bill expressly grants that permission and includes a provision that no political subdivision may enact an ordinance inconsistent with federal law, in order to fit with FAA regulations.

This is really going after people and as a deterrent for people who want to commit crimes using drones. Shawn Smith, legislative staff member of the bills author
Several local governments are working together to plan for improvements along the Baraboo River aimed at increasing use of the natural feature and luring new economic development.

The city of Baraboo, Sauk County and the villages of West Baraboo and North Freedom have approved a total of $23,000 in funding for a plan to be developed by MSA Professional Services.

That plan will be used to apply for development and land acquisition grants through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and serve as an economic development plan, said to MSA Project Engineer Raine Gardner.

The collaborative effort to enhance Baraboo River amenities, known as the Baraboo Riverway plan, is being developed to meet the Department of Natural Resources May 1 stewardship grant application deadline.

The city and village of West Baraboo have pledged up to $6,000 each, while the county and North Freedom each are promising up to $5,500.

West Baraboo is working to add amenities such as a sidewalk and shelter at Haskins Park. North Freedom hopes to create a boat launch like the one West Baraboo built in the fall. Baraboo is working to extend its Riverwalk and redevelop its riverfront commercial corridor.

Gardner said grant reviewers look favorably on collaborative projects, and it makes sense for adjacent communities to connect riverfront revival efforts.

Some dominos sort of started tipping, she said. It has legs to grow.

The Baraboo Parks Commission voted unanimously to recommend the city contribute to the plan.

Its good to get all kinds of ideas and work together, said Baraboo Alderman Michael Plautz, who is a member of the Parks Commission.

North Freedom Clerk/Treasurer Kayla Steinhorst said park improvements that could help attract more people to the area.

Were kind of the beginning of the plan, Steinhorst said. We are the put-in point of the boats.

Steinhorst said other park improvement plans are being considered, but nothing specific is set in stone.

We are in phase one of our park renovation plan, she said.

- News Republic Reporter contributed to this article.
City leaders dont think Baraboo should impose a new tax, but they are interested in reaching out for suggestions.

On Monday, a City Council committee opposed a proposal to institute a vehicle registration tax that would help pay for road work. But aldermen said they want public input before rejecting the idea for good. They directed City Engineer Tom Pinion to gauge citizen sentiment via local media and social media.

It is an opportunity that we have to generate new revenue, Pinion said. You guys get to decide whether its a good idea or bad idea.

Several Wisconsin municipalities impose a vehicle registration fee  on top of the one the state Division of Motor Vehicles collects  to help finance street improvements. Ten municipalities and three counties have adopted a wheel tax ranging from $10-20 per year.

There are more than 16,500 vehicles registered in Baraboo, which means a $10 tax could generate upwards of $165,000.

Because such fees dont count against state-imposed tax levy limits, theyre becoming increasingly common. Its growing in popularity, Pinion said. They have to find alternative revenue sources.

He said the window of opportunity for creating a wheel tax may close. The city established a stormwater utility before state rules changed to count money raised by such entities against the levy limit. The same thing could happen to municipal vehicle registration taxes.

My crystal ball says the legislators will catch up to this, Pinion said.

Members of the public safety committee were reluctant to add a tax. A tax like that should come from the state or the county, Alderman Phil Wedekind said.

Alderman Mike Plautz said with Baraboo school leaders considering a referendum in November and the city building a public safety facility, its a bad time to further burden taxpayers. I dont think Id have a problem if we werent putting that on their backs, Plautz said.
MADISON (AP) | Wisconsin legislators are proposing a bill that would ensure sexual assault victims and others who report such crimes cant be cited or disciplined for underage drinking.

Rep. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, introduced the bill Monday at a news conference, saying the goal is to provide peace of mind to underage victims when theyre deciding whether to report an assault.

The fear of consequences for drinking should never come in the way of a victim seeking help and being treated by medical professionals after a horrific crime of sexual assault, said Attorney General Brad Schimel, who attended the news conference and supports the proposal.

Schimel said Wisconsin colleges and police departments typically dont discipline or cite people for underage drinking if theyre victims of sexual assault or reported the crime. The bills supporters say this measure would solidify that practice in state law and encourage more reports.

About 80 percent of rape and sexual assault victimizations of students are not reported to police, according to a 2014 U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics report.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Assistant Police Chief Kari Sasso said that surveys and conversations with survivors show that the fear of getting in trouble can be one of the many barriers to reporting sexual assault.

Sasso said the department practice for approximately the past five years has been not to cite victims or those who report assaults for underage drinking. She said the department has seen an increase in reporting of sexual assaults over the past several years.

There is no other crime that goes so underreported, Schimel said.

Ballweg said she hopes the legislation will be passed this session. A spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he is reviewing the bill, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgeralds spokeswoman said he plans to discuss the proposal with the GOP caucus.
Theft  Friday at 1:54 p.m., a man reported the theft of money from in a locker at the YMCA of Dodge County, 200 Corporate Drive.

Theft  Friday at 4:02 p.m., a man told police items were stolen from his vehicle while it was parked near Menards, 121 Frances Lane.

Suspicious  Friday at 8:30 p.m., police met with a man who was believed to be going through a dumpster near Slumberland, 1645 N. Spring St., and taking a mattress. The man was warned for attempted theft and trespassing.

Accident  Saturday at 1:39 p.m., a man and a woman were involved in a vehicle accident near Wal-mart Supercenter, 120 Frances Lane.

Misc.  Saturday at 8:33 p.m., a man told police a woman knocked on his door in the 200 block of Washington Street and then ran away.

Accident  Saturday at 8:46 p.m., a man reported that he was struck by a car while walking and reading his mail near the Post Office, 411 N. Spring St. The person got out of their car to assist. The man later when to the ER for X-rays.

Hit and run  Sunday at 3:29 p.m., a woman reported that her truck was hit while she was shopping at Wal-Mart Supercenter, 120 Frances Lane.

Disorderly conduct  Sunday at 4:23 p.m., someone in the 100 block of Lake Crest Drive told police men were being loud and swearing in the apartment hallway.

Vandalism  Sunday at 4:32 p.m., a woman told police that she found damage to a window from a BB gun in the 300 block of Prospect Street.

Vandalism  Sunday at 7:09 p.m., someone in the 500 block of Madison Street reported that a window was broken out on a vehicle.

Drugs  Sunday at 10:34 p.m., a 19-year-old man was cited with possession of drug paraphernalia after an officer smelled the odor of marijuana in the 100 block of Lake Crest Drive.

Disorderly conduct  Monday at 2:07 a.m., police responded to an incident involving a 39-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman in the 900 block of South Spring Street. The woman was taken to jail on a warrant and a 40-year-old man was taken to jail for bail jumping and possession without a prescription.

Fight  Monday at 4:46 p.m., someone told police he saw six children fighting behind Pops Eatery, 1102 Madison St. The children said they were playing around.

Retail theft  Monday at 7:25 p.m., a man at Wal-Mart Supercenter, 120 Frances Lane, told police about two thefts.

Suspicious  Monday at 9:24 p.m., a 36-year-old woman reported that her boyfriend saw a man take off running from her apartment in the 200 block of Madison Street. An officer found footprints all around her apartment.
In honor of Black History Month in February, the Columbus Public Library will screen a documentary about Milwaukee civil rights activist Vel Phillips, and the four book clubs will read novels featuring African-American characters.

The Wisconsin Public Television film Vel Phillips: Dream Big Dreams will be shown Monday, Feb. 1, from 7 to 8 p.m. Phillips was Milwaukees first African-American alderman, as well as its first female alderman. The documentary tells the story of Phillips struggles to build a better community.

The Teen Books to Movies Club, for grades seven through 12, is reading Sounder by William H. Armstrong, a classic novel that shows the courage, love and faith that bind an African-American family together despite the racism and inhumanity that they face. Club members will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9, to eat snacks, discuss the book and watch the movie version.

The librarys Book Club for Adults will discuss I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings on Monday, Feb. 8 from 7 to 8 p.m. The first in a seven-volume series, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a modern American classic about the early years of African-American writer and poet Maya Angelou.

The Bookworms Tweens Book Club, open to students in third through sixth grade, will read One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. Set in 1968, the novel tells the story of 11-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters, who travel from Brooklyn, N.Y., to Oakland, Calif., to spend a summer with the mother they barely know. The club will meet from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18.

The Sci Fi/Fantasy Book Club will read Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. Sunny Nwazue is, in the truest sense, African-American. But she is also albino, with skin the color of sour milk and hazel eyes that look like God ran out of the right color. Complicating matters further, shes a witch. The club will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 22.

All of the books are available for checkout at the library.
Each week the Star-Times will give its take on stories of the past from Juneau County.

100 years ago: It will probably surprise no one to know that Wisconsin has always been known as a dairy state. The front page of the Jan. 27, 1916 Mauston Star celebrated Wisconsin as the number one dairy state in the country. It produced $100,000,000 in dairy production in 1915. It may seem like a lot of money, but currently Wisconsin produces over $40 billion in dairy production each year.

There is some debate about who the biggest dairy state is  California likes to make the claim, but also has many more people. What we do know is dairy has long been the face of Wisconsin and will likely continue to be so long into the future.

75 years ago: The financial impact of the great depression was still strongly felt in 1941. The Jan. 23, 1941 Mauston Star announced the state finally releasing bank funds frozen since the 1933 bank moratorium. Eight long years before the banks could be trusted with assets. Makes one wonder if the banks got off a little too easy with our last banking crisis.

The front page also featured eight volunteers signing up for military service. This probably gave a temporary sigh of relief to those not wishing to join the military, as it filled Juneau Countys draft quota for the month. Soon enough the United States would enter the war and the quotas would grow much larger.

50 years ago: A fire struck Mauston leaving 14 people homeless. The Jan. 28, 1966 front page of the Mauston Star reported a two-story apartment building in downtown Mauston was destroyed. Luckily, everyone seemed to survive.

Fast action by two local men, Otto Gunther and Verne Schmleder, saved six people from the burning building in Mauston, including three young children.

Schmleder happened to be making an oil delivery nearby when he noticed smoke coming from an apartment window. By the time the fire department arrived they were not able to save the building, but at least the local heroes were able to make sure all the people inside were alive and well.
Kakki was a temporary watcher with the forest department and he was sacked from the job after he turned hostile.
A Pardeeville woman appeared in Columbia County Circuit Court on a charge of felony mistreatment of an animal for leaving a dog bleeding from a head wound, dying in a duffle bag.

She told authorities it was an intended act of sympathy gone terribly wrong.

The Columbia County Sheriffs Office reached out to the public Thursday evening, asking for information related to a dog that was found by hunters in Fort Winnebago. The hunters told a deputy that they found a duffle bag with steam coming out of one corner. When they opened it up, they found a dog, beaten, starved, but still alive.

The next day Terri Benson, 56, turned herself in to the Columbia County Sheriffs Office, admitting to being the owner of the dog, Misty.

Benson appeared for a bail hearing Monday afternoon in an unusually active courtroom including several spectators and two cameras from Madison TV stations.

In opening statements, District Attorney Jane Kohlwey asked for special conditions with Bensons bond, including to have no contact with the victim dog, which is at the Columbia County Humane Society, no contact with the Humane Society, and to surrender her other dog, a Chihuahua named Isabella. Kohlwey asked that Benson further have no contact with any domesticated animals.

Defense attorney Ronald Benavides explained to the court that though not objecting to a signature bond or other conditions, that Benson will take good care of the animal that she does have in her care.

She did say to me that she did surrender the other dog in question in this case, said Benavides. Thats how shes putting it to me.

The surrender that took place was only after the dog was discovered by other people and was taken into custody by law enforcement under extremely dire circumstances, said Kohlwey. For this defendant to play that somehow she surrendered the dog  she left that dog to die in a horrendous fashion and based upon that, there is no reason for this court to have any faith that this defendant will or is capable of adequately caring for any other domesticated animal at this point.

When Misty was found, according to court documents, she appeared sick, had been malnourished and had massive wounds on her head.

After Benson turned herself in, she told a detective with the Columbia County Sheriffs Office that on Wednesday, Misty had gotten out and ran for a few hours before coming back home and began acting goofy.

On Thursday, she told the officer, she came home to find Misty had been flopping on the floor, had been throwing up and messing in the house and possibly having a seizure.

I thought she was dead, I didnt have the money to do anything, my other half did call (the veterinarian) about putting her down, Benson said, reportedly crying through the interview. I was a real a**hole.

When the detective pressed, asking about Mistys head injuries, Benson reportedly told the detective that she had put a blanket and a sheet over the dogs head and struck her with a hammer, three or four times. Thinking Misty was dead, Benson put her in a blanket and then zipped her in a duffle bag, which she then left in the bushes at Frenchs Creek Recreation Area.

At the Columbia County Humane Society Animal Shelter, Misty was open to visits with media. The way the top of her head was shaved for the 19 staples the vet used to close her wounds was difficult to overlook, but otherwise she appeared to be in pretty good shape.

Shes getting along well, shes walking, said Columbia County Humane Society Board President Michele Baillies. Shes happy to see you. Shes smiling.

The day before, when one of the staff members took her out for a walk, to use the facilities, she had been leading the way, exploring outside.

It was clear in initial reports when she was found that although she had been through a traumatic experience, her health issues went beyond neglect.

She has a mammary tumor in her belly. We were just talking about getting her into the vet now that she is signed over, Baillies said. If nothing else, if she is terminal  if the vet feels she is happy and content  well put her in a foster home for hospice care.

Since Misty first appeared in the news and on social media, the Humane Society has been inundated with calls from people wanting to help.

I think every other email or Facebook post is someone wanting to adopt her or foster her or help, Baillies said.

If Misty is cleared by the vet for an operation, the expectation is that it would be a costly process. If it happens, that is how the shelter will be using the donations made on Mistys behalf. There is no shortage of potential foster parents with offers coming in from a handful of states and Canada.

In the meantime, the shelter has five dogs and 45 cats waiting for adoption.

During Bensons hearing Monday, Judge Todd Hepler emphasized that the purpose of a bond is to ensure a defendants return to court for future hearings.

Special conditions can be applied to ensure that the public is protected, witnesses are protected and in this case, animals are protected, said Hepler. The allegations in the complaint are, frankly, quite horrific. At the same time, Ms. Benson has not been convicted at this point, so the court is not going to order her to surrender her animal, however the court will order that she make arrangements for that animal to be elsewhere.

Hepler ordered that Benson have no contact with any animal, domestic or otherwise, at any time. She has been released on a $10,000 signature bond and is scheduled to appear in court next for a return hearing on March 29.
Carter Jenatscheck started working with robots while taking Introduction to Engineering at Pardeeville High School, and almost right away something clicked for the senior.

It was fun  who wouldnt want to work with robots?  but now its more than that.

Technology education shaped his career prospects.

Id come in during my lunch periods, Id come in after school, whenever I could, just to work on it, the senior said Monday standing next to his Skills USA partner, Russell Bush. Together, Jenatscheck and Bush will enter a robot into the student organizations regional competition Friday in Fennimore, a robot with a camera to help them locate and move blocks, a robot with perpendicular wheels that allow almost any movement. Students, gripping remote controls, will compete for the fastest time.

Ive always liked being hands-on with whatever Ive done, Jenatscheck said. With this robot, everything is hands on.

The students agreed skills gained through the schools revived technology education program  back after a two-year break  will help them in years to come.

Jenatscheck will study mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Bush will be a radio operator in the U.S. Marines Corps, likely before a career in construction as a general contractor.

And if you ask Hunter Jerome, another senior, technology education led to his decision to pursue a career as a train engineer.

Its not just out of a book, which I like, Jerome said of classes taught by technology education instructor Jonathan Koehler. I see all this stuff as being very important, because it teaches welding, woodwork  traits people need to know or learn, in life.

Multiple avenues

The schools partnership with Madison Area Technical College for dual-credit opportunities returned for the second semester of the 2014-15 school year, and that partnership led to the hiring of Koehler, a part-time teacher at MATC.

Dual-credit courses available at Pardeeville cover a range of areas: Advanced Accounting; Introduction to College Writing and Reading Strategies; Algebra Applications; Medical Terminology; Introduction to Health Care Careers; and Introduction to Manufacturing. Pardeeville will also offer up to four dual-credit classes in agriculture-science next school year.

Koehler teaches several technology education classes at the school, including Introduction to Technology Education; Advanced Computer Aided Design; Introduction to Engineering; and Introduction to Drafting.

What you see in his classrooms today, he said, is part of the schools attempt to bring more engineering and science into the mix. Typically, technology education up until this point has been wood shop, metal shop, welding, and has usually been very outdated, using 1950s era technology.

A lot of the kids interested in working with their hands are interested in becoming engineers and scientists, so were trying to make it about all things related to manufacturing and technology education, Koehler said. Were preparing kids for multiple avenues, multiple ways to get into the tech field.

Students in Koehlers Advanced CAD class, for example, have worked to build a Quad-copter  essentially a do-it-your-self drone, he said. The students designed it using CAD applications and later worked with a vendor, Midwest Prototyping, for the 3D printing. Working with Midwest Prototyping provided the students with real customer contact situations.

Whats learned in Advanced CAD, Koehler said, translates to employable skills immediately after high school for students who seek jobs as mechanical design technicians.

This semester Koehler will teach Power, Energy and Electricity, a class where students will learn about renewable energy sources  like solar, hydro and wind  and the students will actually build energy cells. In 21st Century Home Maintenance, Koehler will, in essence, teach students how to use all that stuff youd buy at Home Depot.

Were trying to replace the traditional Home-Ec class with a class that teaches you how to be a good homeowner: How to clean your gutters, how to attach gutters, how to repair drywall, paint, install wood flooring. Were trying to teach kids how to do DIY projects to save money.

Be fluid

Pardeeville High School counselor Crystal Huset said the need for schools to adapt their technology education departments is evident in the numbers, noting 54 percent of jobs hired in Wisconsin are for middle-skill workers.

Those are the positions struggling to provide workers, and its important for industry right now, said Huset, who also works as Pardeevilles school-to-work coordinator.

Huset recently helped the school create and submit a three-year plan in hopes of obtaining a fabrication laboratories grant that would provide $25,000 for technology in the first year, and $75,000 overall. Purchased technology would include 3D printers, laser engravers, a new saw stop and a grinder, she said.

So many things are automated now. Its a lot more advanced than when I was in school, she said.

Principal Jason LeMay said the whole point of revamping technology education was to find something sustainable and marketable for students, an effort jump-started by $80,000 earmarked for technology education from the 2014 referendum. Explorer classes for middle school students also factor in the programs development, offering those students a chance to get a taste for high school tech-ed classes in nine-week cycles.

If the school gets the Fab Labs Grant, he said, technology education at Pardeeville will only get stronger.

These are such fast-paced, changing fields, that a lot of times things get stagnant, LeMay said of technology education. The days of traditional tech ed with your wood shop are pretty much gone.

The big thing is to be fluid, adaptable.
Violet Schultz

Violet (Vi) Schultz, 88, of Prairie du Sac, went to be with Jesus on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016. to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:8

Vi was born Dec. 12, 1927, in Fosston, Minnesota, the daughter of Homer and Lydia (Revoir) Huot. She moved to Minneapolis in 1950 where she met and married Mervin Schultz on June 25, 1951. They have four children. In 1966, with the transfer of Mervins agricultural building sales job, the family moved to Prairie du Sac.

Vi and Merv moved to a home on Lake Wisconsin in 1979 and lived there until Mervs death in 2005 when Vi moved back to Prairie du Sac.

About mid-life, Vi asked Jesus Christ into her life as Lord and Savior. She was a powerful prayer warrior and always had her bible handy. She loved bible studies, sharing about Jesus and the joy He brought to her life. She had no doubt that in death she would be with the Lord.

She is survived by her three sons, Steven (Shelley) of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Joseph (Catherine) of Redway, California, Michael (Julie) of Esko, Minnesota; one daughter, Susanne (Robert) Hager of Prairie du Sac; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, all whom she loved and cherished, Daisy, Jeffrey, Katrina and Betsey, Shanti and Cedar, Matthew, Darrel, Nicholas and Jodi, and Cameron.

She was preceded in death by her husband Mervin; her parents, five sisters; three brothers; many dear friends and family who made her life a happy one.

A celebration of her life will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at the Sauk Prairie Evangelical Free Church in Prairie du Sac. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service.

The family would like to extend their deep appreciation for the love and wonderful care provided by The Pines Assisted Living and Agrace Hospice Care. Online condolences available at www.hooversonfuneralhomes.com.
In June, 10 members of the Wisconsin Dells High School Key Club will donate service hours in Costa Rica. The trip is nine days of restoring beaches and rainforests, teaching children English and building houses. Planning began in August when the club chose two chairpersons to work with Rustic Pathways to organize a Costa Rican service project. The trip is $2,265 per member. Each member was selected based on their application and essay. The group set a goal to raise enough money to pay for airfare, which is approximately $800 per person, by exchanging work for donations. The Key Club thanks the following people and business for helping them: community members they raked leaves for, MACS, Culver's, the Seichters for lawn work, Joey VanDinter Insurance Agency, Kelli Trumble at Alpha Beta Karma, an anonymous donation, those who donated to the Go Fund Me account, and the high school for allowing members to work the volleyball concession stand. A fundraiser day will be held Feb. 2 at Culver's in Lake Delton to support the group's trip. MACS will hold another fundraising day Feb. 10 at both locations. For more information, email ebehn@sdwd.k12.wi.us or call 608-253-1461, ext. 1204.
A bill in the state Legislature would allow kids younger than 10 to hunt.

In 2010, Wisconsin started letting children ages 10 and 11 hunt with mentors, as long as they were within arms reach and only had one gun between child and adult. Kids that age need not pass a safety class because, well, some are too young to read course material.

Such hunts are growing in popularity, but theyre still bad ideas. This new proposal is even worse.

Advocates believe engaging youngsters at earlier ages will foster the next generation of hunters and ensure that the states hunting tradition stays strong. Yet even at age 10, many kids lack the physical and mental maturity to safely handle guns.

What age is too young? Is it 8, or 6 or even younger?

Rep. Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc, suggests his proposal would remove burdensome regulation. He points to data showing that kids younger than 10 can hunt with mentors in 34 of 41 states that offer such programs.

That doesnt make it smart.

Also, Wisconsin is one of just four states that require one gun between mentor and child. Kleefischs bill would erase that stipulation. That makes it even worse.

Our utmost goal is to look at safety first, he says.

Nonsense. This is an accident waiting to happen.

If safety were the top priority, Kleefisch wouldnt have introduced the bill. How many kids younger than 10 do you know who lack the strength to hold up and safely point a deer rifle or shotgun and can comprehend that once the trigger is pulled, that bullet might travel miles beyond its target? Can they grasp the concept and finality of killing a wild creature?

Its no surprise that the National Rifle Association and several other gun-rights groups support the legislation. This bill is all about money  cash going to license sales and padding Department of Natural Resources coffers; to businesses catering to hunters; and to Republican campaign coffers from special interests who fear any erosion of gun rights.

Its no surprise that this legislation comes from the husband of Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.

Retired Rock County sheriffs Lt. Jim Dilley has taught hunter safety for 20 years. Based on his experience in law enforcement and as a parent, hunter and instructor, he doesnt think letting younger kids hunt makes sense.

Joseph Lacenski, president of the Wisconsin Hunter Education Instruction Association, hit the bulls-eye in remarks he submitted to an Assembly committee:

Can that 1-day-old to 9-year-old differentiate between shoot (or) dont shoot? Can they differentiate between what is killing versus hunting? Can they rationalize the difference between video games they have been playing and the consequences of the real world?

Too often, the answers are no.

Advocates of the bill argue it should be the parents responsibility to decide when a child is ready. Such hunts might help kids and parents bond, build camaraderie and teach safety lessons on a deeper level than children might get through classes.

But not all parents are appropriately wired. Dilley recalls parents who enrolled a 10-year-old in a safety class last year. He refunded their money when he realized the kid lacked strength to hold up the weapon.

Likewise, some overzealous parents will push unwilling children to hunt. This might backfire and make more kids turn away from hunting.

This proposal deserves the bulls-eye of rejection.
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.




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Fatal rockfall at planned French repository site

26 January 2016

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One person was killed and another injured today by a tunnel collapse within an underground laboratory operated by French waste management agency Andra. The laboratory, near Bure in the Meuse/Haute Marne area, is assessing the site for its suitability to house a national radioactive waste repository.

According to an Andra statement, the working face of the gallery within the laboratory collapsed at 12.20pm. Geophysical surveys were being carried out at the time and the rockfall is believed to have happened as drilling was taking place. The gallery has now been evacuated and its stability is being assessed.

Andra said it is analyzing the overall causes of the accident, whilst a police investigation under the supervision of the prosecutor of the municipality of Bar-le-Duc has been launched to determine the precise circumstances.

France plans to construct the Centre Industriel de Stockage Geologique (Cigeo) repository - an underground system of disposal tunnels, known as galleries - at a depth of some 500 metres in a natural layer of clay near Bure. The facility is to be financed by radioactive waste generators - EDF, Areva and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission - and managed by Andra.

Some 2700 cubic metres of high-level radioactive waste and about 40,000 cubic metres of long-lived intermediate-level radioactive waste is to be disposed of in the Cigeo facility. Between them these contain 99% of the radioactivity from nuclear power generation that has provided the majority of France's electricity over the last few decades.

No radioactive material has yet been placed within the facility, which is awaiting the government's final investment decision. Andra has been conducting work in the underground laboratory to determine the suitability of the site for the planned Cigeo repository.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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It is common for underclassman cadets to sing Christmas carols in costume for upperclassmen.

The freshman Citadel cadets say they meant no harm. They were merely responding to an upperclassmans directive to come and sing Christmas carols in costume on Dec. 9. Unfortunately the costume materials they had at hand, pillowcases with the eyes cut out, bore an alarming resemblance to Ku Klux Klan hoods. In the photo the cadets are reading from sheets of paper, which apparently are Christmas carol lyrics.

Several cadets reported the incident, which was photographed and posted on social media, and their leaders brought it to the attention of a company tactical officer, who in turn informed school administrators. Lt. Gen. John Rosa, Citadel president, immediately investigated, and temporarily suspended eight cadets. Seven more cadets were eventually included in the investigation.

The costumed cadets, who were attempting to dress as ghosts of Christmas past, said they did not understand that their costumes could be construed by some as offensive. It is a common tradition for underclassmen to sing carols for upperclass cadets, and they thought that the explanation that they were dressed as ghosts and were attempting to complete the skit so they could go back to studying would be sufficient.

A post from The Citadels Minority-Alumni Facebook page stated Why would anyone think that this is ok? Will the administration at The Citadel let this go? This picture is a disgrace and a slap in the face.

Rosa called the photo disturbing, saying it was not consistent with The Citadels values. A statement released on Monday said the investigations conclusion was that the cadets did not mean to offend anyone with their Ku Klux Klan-like attire. However, Rosa said that he is disappointed some recognized how it could be construed as such but didnt stop it.

Rosa said that the cadets involved now understand that the costumes could be hurtful to many. Although cadets are already required to complete four years of ethics and leadershp training that include lessons on ethical decision-making and racial sensitivity, he is also creating a diversity task force.

As a result of the investigation, 14 cadets have been punished, with the discipline ranging from on-campus punishments to two-semester dismissals from campus. The on-campus punishment includes marching back and forth in the barracks for 50 minutes at a time while shouldering guns. One junior, who was dismissed, will have to spend two semesters away from campus before becoming eligible to reapply.

Founded in 1842, the South Carolina public military college has about 2,300 undergraduates which make up the Corps of Cadets.
Newborn baby (illustration)

By: Tanya Malhotra

Police launched an investigation after a 70-year-old man boasted that he adopted a girl and had sex with her until she give birth to a baby girl, police in Kenya said.

Kwale County police said that they are investigating Zuma Mwero Kadzema, after he revealed that his stepdaughter, 13, gave birth to a baby girl last week.

Kadzema said that he agreed to adopt the girl and pay for her education in exchange for marrying her. Kadzema defended his decision to have a baby with the girl, saying that she would have had a baby with someone else.

Kadzema, who has lived with the girl since she was 9 years old, started sleeping with her at the age of 11. Kadzema also blasted child rights activists, saying that the girl would have had sex with other men.

Police have arrested the 70-year-old man, but after denying all the allegations, he was released.

Child rights groups are demanding a DNA test to prove that Kadzema is the father of the one-week-old baby girl, and file a charge of rape against him.
Alexandra Mezher

By: Wayne Morin

A woman of Sweden, was stabbed to death by a teenager at a refugee shelter for unaccompanied children.

22-year-old Alexandra Mezher, who was killed at her job, was always concerned about the welfare of others, according to her brokenhearted family.

A 15-year-old asylum seeker, who lived at the refugee center, has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the attack on Monday in Molndal.

Mezher was rushed to the Sahlgrenska Hospital, but later died of her injuries. Police said that after the attack, other employees in the center held the boy until police arrived.

Official said that they recovered a knife at the scene, where there was evidence of a violent fight.

Police said that on the fateful day, Mezher had been working alone at the shelter, despite the fact that rules called for the staff members to work in pairs.

The shelter is home to 10 teenagers who are in the country without a parent or family member. The teens are aged between 15 and 19.

Mezher was working a nightshift by herself and she was attacked just half-an-hour before the daytime staff were due to arrive.

The victimas mother, Chimene Mezher, 42, said that she blames politicians for her daughteras death because they continue to allow migrants to enter the country even after police warned that they cannot cope with the tide of migrant related crimes.
The logic of the Australian ruling elites alliance with the United States and the Australian governments unconditional support for the aggressive US pivot to Asia against China is spelt out in a major report published this month by the US Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

As the report makes clear, the American strategic establishment views Australia as an essential base and crucial military partner in its criminal and unhinged plans for a war to prevent China posing a challenge to US global domination.

The report, entitled Asia-Pacific Rebalance 2025: Capabilities, Presence and Partners, was commissioned by the US Department of Defense and the US Congress. In the section dealing with partners, some seven pages examine Australias strategic significance to the United States, as well as attitudes in political and business circles toward US-China tensions, popular opinions toward the US and China, the current state of the Australian armed forces and what Australian governments must do to meet American requirements. While Australia is discussed in the wider context of a vast expansion of US military operations in Asia, the country, along with Japan and South Korea, are specified as the linchpins of American plans.

The CSIS bluntly states: As Australias own influence expands and Australias geopolitical position becomes more central to US strategy, Washingtons expectations of Canberra are growing. The US, it asserts, is particularly interested in two Australian capabilities: maritime assets and diversification of US posture.

First of all, US imperialism wants a major build-up of the naval and air force components of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The CSIS asserts that the Australian military is vital to monitoring the congested and contested waters in the Indian Ocean, South East Asia and Pacific Ocean. It suggests that as tensions grow with China, the US will increasingly rely on Australia for some critical capabilities. In current US strategic planning, in the event of war, Australian warships would blockade key sea lanes between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, attacking Chinese shipping in order to starve China of oil and raw materials.

To equip the Australian military for war, the Australian government will have to slash other spendingon health, education, welfare, pensions and other social needsin order to allocate hundreds of billions of dollars for hardware, personnel and infrastructure. Just the new submarines and frigates the US expects Australia to acquire are given a minimum price tag of $89 billion. Australias purchase of 70 or more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters will cost well over $20 billion. The CSIS indicates that the Australian government must meet the commitment made by both the conservative and Labor parties to increase defence spending to a minimum of 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), regardless of the political and social consequences.

Washingtons second core interestthe diversification of US posturemeans the establishment of a range of bases across Australia for use by the American military, costing billions of dollars in infrastructure and annual maintenance. Australia already hosts some of the most critical US communications bases in the world and a six-month rotation of US Marines in the northern city of Darwin.

The CSIS makes clear Washington expects much more. The US Navy wants to be able to operate nuclear-armed submarines and warships, possibly an entire aircraft carrier battle group, from Australian ports. The naval base, HMAS Stirling in Perth Western Australia, is named as the preferred site. The report indicates that the Pentagon is dissatisfied with the fact that the US Air Force is not yet able to forward base larger US aircraftsuch as nuclear-armed B-52 and B-2 bombers and B-1 ship-killersat northern Australian airfields for part of the year. The CSIS complains that the additional facilities to support the basing of such aircraft have not been built, because of discussions on cost-sharing arrangements. It insists that agreement on what additional infrastructure is needed and who will fund it. Canberra, according to the CSIS, should just come up with the money.

In an ominous reference to the fact that it envisages a catastrophic war, the CSIS notes that Australias remoteness, while sometimes a complication, also makes it a potential sanctuary in a crisis or conflicta role it played in World War II after the fall of the Philippines.

The report bluntly asserts: To help the United States operate effectively in a crisis, [read war] Canberra will have to work with Washington to expand the capacity of northern Australian bases, including its network of bare bases. Ensuring that logistical needs can be met for critical supplies, such as petroleum, oils, and lubricants, will be vital to expanding not only the US militarys operational effectiveness, but the ADFs as well.

Australia, in other words, is to be a platform from which the US would continue a war with China if, in the initial stages of such a conflict, its military lost access to bases in Japan, South Korea, Guam and other sites closer to the Chinese mainland.

The CSIS warns the American establishment that it cannot take Australias collaboration for granted. While the alliance is strong and growing increasingly central to US regional policy, it states, Washington and Canberra will have to manage occasional pressures in the relationship, particularly over how best to work together to shape Chinas rise. [emphasis added]

The CSIS stresses that many current Australian policymakers and many in government can be relied upon to maintain Australias alignment with Washington. Among this pro-US constituency is the Labor Party and the trade unions. In June 2010, Labor and the union powerbrokers, described by the US embassy as assets and sources, ousted Kevin Rudd as prime minister over his suggestions that Washington should moderate its policies against China. Following the backroom political coup against Rudd, his replacement as prime minister, Julia Gillard, fully committed Australia to the US confrontation with China. Underlining the centrality of Australia to US war plans, Barack Obama formally announced the pivot on the floor of the Australian parliament in November 2011.

The CSIS pointedly notes current Liberal Party Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls past expressions of concern about the economic impact on Australia of the pivot. But it says his comments since he ousted pro-US leader Tony Abbott suggest a continuing commitment, including with regard to the US provocations of China over its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Over recent days, the Australian newspaper has prominently reported on speculation that Turnbull will sign off on Australian warships joining the Pentagons freedom of navigation violations of Chinese claims.

The CSIS identifies two sources of opposition to US interests within Australia. Firstly, it points to the Australian business community for which China is the largest trading partner and main market for commodity exports. Problems could potentially emerge from that quarter.

Secondly, and most significantly, the CSIS obliquely points to the anti-war sentiments of the broader population as the greatest danger. The report cites opinion polls in which only 30 percent of Australians see China as a military threat, while 77 percent name it as an economic partner.

Large numbers of Australian workers and youth already correctly view the US government as a criminal regime, and oppose Australias complicity in its never-ending atrocities. The majority of working class people opposed the Australian deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, with the 2003 Iraq invasion provoking the largest anti-war mobilisations in Australian history.

The consequences of Australias ever-expanding role in US-led militarism against China, including the imposition of austerity measures to pay for military expenditure and rising awareness of the dangers of war, will see opposition grow and erupt to the surface. The only means that Washington and its Australian allies have to manage such resistance is pro-war propaganda and nationalism, the stirring up of anti-Chinese chauvinism and police-state repression.
New opinion polls show that Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator who calls himself a democratic socialist, has moved ahead of Hillary Clinton in Iowa, the first primary state to vote in the 2016 Democratic presidential nominating process, and has widened his lead in the second, New Hampshire.

In Iowa, which holds its caucuses on February 1, a series of polls released over the past week have placed Sanders either in the lead or narrowly trailing Clinton, with his numbers improving and hers declining from previous surveys. In a New Hampshire poll by CBS News released Sunday, Sanders had opened a 19 percentage point lead among likely Democratic voters.

As the World Socialist Web Site has explained, Sanders is no socialist. As a nominal independent, he has worked closely with the Democratic Party, the oldest capitalist party in the United States, for his entire political career. His intervention into the presidential race, running as a Democrat while claiming to oppose social inequality and Wall Street, is calculated to channel growing social opposition and burgeoning anti-capitalist sentiment back behind the Democratic Party, in order to render the opposition politically harmless.

Sanders himself has sought to reassure the ruling elite with the argument that his campaign will revive flagging support for the Democratic Party. He has pledged to support the Democratic presidential candidate, whoever that turns out to be.

He opposes public ownership of the corporations and banks and the unification of workers across national boundaries. He lines up with the trade unions in opposing trade deals on the basis of economic nationalism and anti-Chinese chauvinism. The touchstone of his politics is his full support for the Obama administrations imperialist wars in the Middle East and Central Asia. If elected, his promises of universal health care, a higher minimum wage and free college tuition would be quickly jettisoned in line with his support for American imperialism and its wars, which are inextricably bound up with the class war against the living standards and rights of workers and youth in the US.

Nonetheless, there is an objective significance to the growth of popular support for a candidate who inveighs against social inequality and calls himself a socialist in a country where anti-communism has for the better part of a century been a state religion in all but name. For decades, socialism has been politically quarantined in America. Socialist views have been excluded from political discourse in the corporate-controlled media. A battery of anti-democratic election laws make it virtually impossible for a socialist opponent of the two big business parties to obtain ballot status.

That under such conditions, Sanders has won a level of popular support that he, least of all, anticipated, reflects a broad shift to the left and political radicalization among working people and youth. Tens of millions in America are disgusted with the existing economic and political set-up and are looking for a radical alternative.

It is not an accident that the support for Sanders, which was not anticipated by the media and political establishment, coincides with the growth of working class militancy and protest, as seen in the opposition of autoworkers last year to the sellout contracts rammed through by the United Auto Workers union and the eruption this month of protests by residents of Flint, Michigan against lead poisoning of the water supply and teachers in Detroit against intolerable conditions in the schools.

Sanders continuing rise is all the more noteworthy given the near-blackout by the media of his campaign over the previous two months. After the Paris terror attacks of November 13 and the San Bernardino mass shooting on December 2, the US media was fixated on terrorism and national security, in addition to Donald Trumps supposedly anti-establishment candidacy for the Republican nomination, to the virtual exclusion of any other concern. According to one survey of news programs aired on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS and NBC from mid-November through mid-December, Trump was mentioned 690 times and Sanders only 20.

Media pundits wrote off the Sanders campaign on the grounds that the American people had lost interest in social inequality and the crimes of Wall Street and were focused only on the supposed threat of terrorist attack.

The growth of working class opposition that underlies the support for Sanders is the main factor in the crisis that has emerged, in different forms, in both parties in the current election campaign. It is a crisis that goes beyond one electionassuming the November election takes placeand threatens to tear apart the two-party system through which the American ruling class has monopolized political power for more than 150 years.

The lead editorial in the January 20 Wall Street Journal, Taking Sanders Seriously, voiced the alarm that is growing within the ruling class. The article exaggerates the scope of the measures being advanced by Sanders to rein in the banks and counter the growth of social inequality, but it makes clear than even Sanders modest reform proposals are anathema to the ruling elite.

[I]ts no longer impossible to imagine the 74-year-old socialist as the Democratic nominee, the article warns. Many Republicans claim to welcome a Sanders nomination on the assumption hed be easy to beat. But dont be so sure, at least not this year the possibility of an extreme election outcome is no longer unthinkable.

The editorial cites a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll showing Sanders defeating Republican front-runner Donald Trump by 15 percentage points in a hypothetical match-up.

The Journal also expresses the concern that if Clintons campaign is scuttlednoting the possibility of an FBI indictment over her handling of official email while she was secretary of stateit could be too late for another Democrat to enter the race.

With the possibility of Sanders winning the Democratic nomination apparently growing, the media, beginning with a New York Times report on Saturday, has begun to fan speculation that former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg may run as a third party candidate. Bloomberg is reportedly conducting his own polling to determine the feasibility of a candidacy, which he would launch only in the event Sanders won the Democratic nomination, and is prepared to spend $1 billion of his own $37 billion dollar empire.

The Journal editorial raises the possibility of Bloomberg or a more conventional Republican entering the race as an independent, but warns that Mr. Sanders might have an even better chance to win in a multicandidate race. It raises as well the possibility of the Republican Party splitting in two.

The Clinton campaign is in deep crisis. The former First Lady, New York senator and secretary of state faces the prospect of losing both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Victories could propel Sanders to a strong showing in subsequent primaries in Nevada and South Carolina, and in 11 other states that hold primaries on Super Tuesday, March 2.

Until recently, Sanders did little to attack Clinton directly, but he has begun to point out that she received $600,000 in speaking fees from just one Wall Street financial house, Goldman Sachs, in one year. Clinton has responded by wrapping herself ever more thoroughly in the mantle of the Obama administration, touting its reactionary and discredited policies, including Obamacare.

In response to Sanders gains in Iowa, where the Clinton campaign had already spent millions of dollars and which had been considered a lock, her surrogates have in recent days both race-baited and red-baited Sanders.

In a column published in the Atlantic on January 19, author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates attacked Sanders for his opposition to reparations, a scheme that would pay some amount of money to all African-Americans for the historical crimes of slavery and segregation. Coates accused Sanders of failing to fight against white supremacy, and implied that he is indifferent to past injustices suffered by African-Americans. On NBCs Meet the Press Sunday morning, host Chuck Todd followed the lead, spending the better half of a six minute interview with Sanders implicitly suggesting that, due to his opposition to reparations, he is racist.

Elsewhere, Clinton ally David Brock attacked a new commercial for Sanders called America, which is set to the Simon and Garfunkel pop song of the same name, for not featuring enough blacks. From this ad it seems black lives don't matter much to Bernie Sanders, said Brock, who was formerly a right-wing journalist.

Other Clinton surrogates have in recent days invoked anti-communism. Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri said last week that Republicans cant wait to run an ad with a hammer and sickle against Sanders in the general election campaign. Another Missouri Democrat, Governor Jay Nixon, who called out the National Guard to crush peaceful protests in Ferguson in the wake of the police killing of Michael Brown in 2014, joined in. Here in the heartland, we like our politicians in the mainstream, and he is nothes a socialist, he said.

Sanders surge and Clintons present struggles, whatever the ultimate outcome, are symptomatic of a political system in a deep state of crisis. The American two-party set-up is breaking down under the weight of the crisis of capitalism and the initial stirrings of the working class.

The Sanders campaign is not a vehicle for the working class to carry out a struggle against endless war, austerity and attacks on democratic rights. It is a political diversion and trap. It is necessary for the deep-felt anger and opposition reflected in a distorted way in the Sanders campaign to find a genuinely progressive expression through the development of an independent political and revolutionary movement of the working class.
On Monday 200 students, parents and teachers rallied in front of the Michigan Court of Claims to oppose the efforts by the emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools (DPS) to criminalize the teacher sickouts.

Despite enormous pressure from school officials, hundreds of students at Cass Tech, Renaissance and Communication and Media Arts high schools also walked out of school as well in a spirited display of support for teachers. Many carried handmade signs.

Well aware of the deep support for teachers and the bogus evidence concocted by the district to victimize the teachers, Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens rejected the appeal for a temporary restraining order and tossed out a legal action against individual teachers.

After the hearing, the World Socialist Web Site spoke with several of the 23 teachers fighting the legal witch-hunt by Emergency Manager Darnell Earley.

Sarah Jardine, named in the complaint, is a teacher of Adapted Physical Education for Students with Autism. Her open letter appealing for support from DPS parents helped galvanize support for the teachers. She told the WSWS she was relieved there was a temporary reprieve from legal action. Explaining the anti-democratic methods used by the district to select teachers in the lawsuit, she said, They used statements we made in the media against us and plucked them out of the news. They used our free speech against us.

The problem is we have no ability to bring our concerns to anyone at this point. We have no democratically elected school board. Were under emergency management, and when they dont hear us, there really is no other option for us than to do something in protest that is dramatic so that the people can hear our concernsthey certainly arent being heard by the emergency manager.

They took the open letter from Pam [Namyslowski] and my letter and decided to use them against us. Pam got a personal visit by Darnell Earley to her classroom to meet her. Five days later he used the letter she had written to sue her. So obviously they are not acting in good faith. Everything they do seems to be for PR and media spin. But, for our part, were acting on behalf of the kids.

Commenting on the fact that teachers initiated the fight independently of the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT), she said, Teachers decided to move in a grassroots way. They tried to use 23 individual teachers as a way to scare more than 3,000 of us. The truth is, those people named were just plucked out of 3,000. This is not something that you can attribute to any leader but really the people of the Detroit Public Schoolsthe teachers and the staff rising up.

They just wanted to use us as an example to silence opposition. I hope this helps the district understand that is a bad methodology. This is not a movement of just 22-23 people. This is a movement of 3,000 and it will continue.

To put the same emergency manager who was over Flint now over the Detroit schools is a colossal mistake. Snyder has still not removed him or made him resign. He is still in power.

This isnt just our fight. Its a fight for public education across the country. We are standing in the gap. We are a large district and they are doing this to smaller districts, too. We have a lot of teachers in other districts standing in solidarity with us, they are learning you have to stand up and have your voices heard.

Last week, Republican state legislator Tim Kelley wrote an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press that he would only support a school restructuring plan that bailed us out, but also made us privatized. I think the entire public education system we have is under threat for privatization, for our students to be profit-making instead of having their right to a free and appropriate education, especially students with disabilities.

Erika Jones, another defendant, said she was upset about the entire case. This is definitely harassment. Who is paying for all of this?

At Cass Tech I taught for 16 years, I also taught at Osborn and King, so I am a product of DPS.

I am frustrated. This hearing is a waste of money, a waste of time. Its all because we want him [Darnell Earley] to tell us where is the money for the district. It has obviously been siphoned out, split up among the charter schools.

We have questions about our pensions. I want to know where the money is. We can spend money for this [the hearing] and he can spend money for legal counsel. They were not prepared. They didnt have adequate witnesses. The judge looked at them and said, Whats the point of this?

Erika explained she is working but has an injury that requires therapy three times a week. I missed my therapy this morning because of this case. We dont have the option of picking our health care anymore like we used to. I used to go to Providence Hospital. During my whole care I never had deductibles. I have serious questions about our health care at this point.

LaNice Adams-Billingslea is one of eight teachers at Diann Banks-Williamson, a special education middle school on Detroits impoverished east side. It was reported earlier in the day that teachers at Banks-Williamson had carried out a sickout, but instead every one of Wilsons eight teachers had been summoned to appear at the hearingresulting in closing the school.

Billingslea was charged with organizing a strike. On the contrary, Billingslea told the WSWS, she has been on sick leave since November 2015 at the insistence of her doctor. She stated that she did not encourage or engage in the sickout.

This is slander, continued Billingslea. My name has been slandered. What if I want to get a job somewhere else? My name is in the paper for joining a sickout. I have been sick, yes, but I have not participated in a sickout now, nor have I ever.

Billingslea, who was visibly angry while she spoke to reporters, was asked if this struggle had encouraged her to speak out. Yes, it has encouraged me. The same with all of the teachers at Diann Banks. There are only eight teachers at the school, and half of the teachers are dealing with an illness similar to her own.

Samantha Cunningham, parent of two children at DPS schools, was at the protest outside the court. Im here because the children need clean and safe conditions in the school in order to learn.

I also believe the teachers deserve better pay for what they do. The schools are clearly overcrowded. The problem is that teachers cant teach with 30-40 kids in a classroom. The children cant get the attention they need to develop with that many kids.

I have two kids at Bates Elementary School, one in the first grade and one in pre-K. The first-grader doesnt have books. Its January, they should have gotten books last August. Im upset because you cant learn without the proper material.
This Sunday, state regulators ordered the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) to permanently close the natural gas well responsible for the largest methane leak in US history. The leak began on October 23, 2015, and has continued unabated until now, releasing the equivalent of 2.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and forcing thousands of local families to relocate. The leak is not expected to be stopped until the end of March.

The leak at the SoCalGas Aliso Canyon underground storage facility was caused by the failure of antiquated infrastructure and completely inadequate maintenance and inspection. The leak began last October with a rupture in a well casing, which was drilled in 1959, causing methane to seep up through the soil into the neighboring Porter Ranch, a suburb of Los Angeles. Roughly 4,500 families so far have evacuated the area to avoid the leak.

An aerial survey of the area carried out by UC Davis scientist Stephen Conley showed methane levels of 50 parts per million in November. Conley told the Los Angeles Times this is probably 20 times bigger than anything else weve measured.

Natural gas which is primarily composed of methane is not considered toxic or dangerous when it is able to dissipate, but some of the chemicals associated with it are. Natural gas is mixed with an odorant to make it smell like rotten eggs to warn people of leaks in their homes. The current large-scale leak is causing some residents to suffer difficulty breathing, dizziness, headaches, nosebleeds and vomiting.

Natural gas, particularly that produced by hydraulic fracturing, can also contain benzene, a toxic carcinogen.

A leak of this size will inevitably have an impact on global warming. Methane is roughly 84 times more effective at trapping energy over a period of 20 years than is carbon dioxide. After 100 years, methane remains 25 times more potent. At its high point in December, the leak rate peaked at 58,000 kg per hour, or the emissions equivalent of about 900 cars driving for a year, every hour.

SoCalGas has played a criminal role in their failure to maintain their facilities and in their delays in dealing with the leak. In 2014, SoCalGas submitted a request to state regulators to raise their rates, ostensibly to pay for comprehensive inspections of 229 storage wells. The report listed 26 of their wells as high risk entities that should be abandoned. It is unclear whether the Aliso Canyon well that broke was one of those.

It is clear is that SoCalGas knew of significant risks in their equipment and, rather than fix them, tried to use them to blackmail workers into paying higher rates. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy which made $1.2 billion in profit in 2014. The amount the company sought in increased rates over the next six years was $180 million, about 2.5 percent of their expected yearly profits.

Despite knowing that their well lacked many modern safety features, like a shutoff valve at the base, SoCalGas continued to cut corners and use the injection well in a risky manner. Most wells consist of a metal casing surrounding a narrower metal tube, and SoCalGas was using the casing itself to inject natural gas, not just the internal tube, raising the risk of a leak.

After the leak was initially discovered on October 23, SoCalGas denied its existence to the public until five days later and did not start drilling a relief well until December 4, six weeks after the leak began. Instead they made six attempts in November to block the well with mud and brine which failed and may have actually increased the leak rate. The first relief well is expected to be finished by February 24, with a second well planned, eventually allowing the leaking well to be capped by the end of March.

This is not the first disaster coming from Californias natural gas infrastructure. In 2010 pipes owned by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) exploded in San Bruno, killing eight people, injuring 60 and destroying or damaging 161 homes. For years before the 2010 disaster, PG&E demanded and received rate hikes in 2007 and 2009 to pay for maintenance, yet long stretches of antiquated pipes in residential areas were left untouched, leading to the explosion.

More recently, PG&E received $2.37 billion in rate hikes spread out over three years from state regulators last August to pay for maintenance. PG&Es profit in 2014 was nearly $2 billion dollars, and there is no reason to believe that this new profit will be used for maintenance any more than their current profit is.

The government response to these companies reckless threats and negligence has been complete acquiescence. Rate hikes are approved for companies already making large profits, infrastructure is left uninspected, and when it does collapse, government fines are barely even a slap on the wrist. Under current laws, SoCalGas faces a maximum fine of $25,000 for the Aliso Canyon leak.
J.M.W. Turner: Painting Set Free, at the Art Gallery of Ontario, TorontoOctober 31, 2015January 31, 2016

One senses a growing hunger for something recognizably human (and humane) in the surging popularity of representational imagery in art these days. So, as well as being a profound aesthetic experience in itself, the exhibition of the late work of J.M.W. Turner (17751851) at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in Toronto is of particular interest. In this work one can discern the fundamental elements of what were extraordinary achievements of the imagination in their time, which may also speak to the present impasse in contemporary art.

The AGO is the final stop for this touring exhibition that began in 2014 at the Tate Britain, home to over 30,000 works by Turner bequeathed by the artist to its predecessor, the National Gallery. One is left slack-jawed in the face of his prolific efforts. With supporting material from other artists, as well as artifacts (which it has to be said add little to the experience and in some ways detract from it), the show includes over 50 paintings and drawings by Turner from the Tate Britain, as well as four pieces from the permanent collection of the AGO.

Certainly, other artists working at this time made important and unusual contributions, but Turners late artwork in particular represents a defining moment in the formation of sensibilities and conceptions that underlie the breakthroughs of modern art. Though the paintings were controversial in their day, this exhibition brings together some of the most beautiful and disturbing work done by this artistic genius: the painting that Turner did in the last 15 years of his life when his work most boldly broke from literal depiction, legitimizing more spontaneous and even abstract expression in art.

Hailed as the greatest landscape painter of the age, Turner is also arguably the greatest watercolourist of all time. It nevertheless took nearly a century of subsequent developments before this work was properly understood in terms of its role in art history, anticipating andto a certain extenteven overstepping the great strides of the impressionists who followed after him.

In the watercolour on paper, The Blue Rigi, Sunrise (1842), for example, a delicately hazy, almost formless landscape, Turners ethereal brushwork conveys the poignancy of its title in a style that is possibly a generation ahead of its time.

His earlier work is closely associated with Romanticism in art, with its emphasis on emotional expression and aesthetic appreciation. But Turner expanded and developed on this in these later years as he discovered astonishing new ways of communicating emotion and meaning in paintinghence the title of the exhibition, Painting set Free.

Reproduction never conveys the full richness of a painting or drawing, but this is especially true in the case of Turners work because of the sensual, tactile relationship he developed with his media and his canvas, the precision and grace of which can only be fully appreciated by direct viewing. In addition to experimenting with new materials, he was known to use a variety of tools in his application of paint, at times even his fingers and fingernails.

In a work such as Fire at the Grand Storehouse of the Tower of London (1841), one sees the subtle depth of tones, the fine lines, the mysterious layering of light that he achieves, and one comes to understand why his peers considered him something of a magician.

His innovation did come at some cost, and many of the paintings shown are badly cracked, the colors faded or damaged in other ways. This premature deterioration is due to a variety of factorsTurners use of new, commercially available media for oil painting, his experimentation with new pigments. But it is also the result of the tensions created by inventive yet flawed techniques in his layering of paintfor example, the mixing and layering of water color over oil.

Converging currents

Turner was a deeply contradictory figure, and in a number of ways. Preoccupied with his reputation and status, he avidly sought official recognition and support, yet ignored the criticism and derision that he was eventually subjected to. Artistically, he saw himself as a guardian of established traditions in landscape painting, but at the same time he was among the most inventive and unorthodox artists in history, pushing the limits of his materials and what was considered the proper subject matter in his day.

Staunchly conservative and yet truly independent and revolutionary, Turner was a living, breathing embodiment of the tensions of the age, of the struggle between the vestigial hold of the land-owning aristocracy and its cultural traditions, and powerful new social forces, including humble, plebeian ones.

Turners life spanned the tumultuous years between the American Revolution and the Revolutions of 1848, and encompassed the great French Revolution of 1789, the industrial revolution, the Napoleonic Wars and morethese were the convulsions that shaped his generation and informed artistic development in Britain and across Europe. This was the period that saw the social and political transformation of Europe and North America, ushering in the bourgeois orderushering in, in effect, the modern age.

Joseph Mallord William Turner grew up essentially as an only childhis younger sister died at the age of four. His father, from Devon, became a barber and wigmaker in London and his mother came from a propertied family of London butchers. His fathers shop, situated near the citys theatre district on Maiden Lane, afforded the young Turner contact with a variety of patrons, including writers, artisans and artists, as well as influential figures in the art world, many of whom proved to be of great benefit later in building his career.

This clientele provided the young artist, as an adolescent, a steady market for his drawings and watercolours, which his father proudly displayed in his shop, allowing the boy to earn both his own money and public notice from an early age.

Drawing and painting were considered essential to a proper, all-rounded education at the time because such skills were in great demand in various commercial enterprises. Young Turner quickly figured out he had marketable talent and even greater potential, and sought to position himself for financial success. He apprenticed with a noted architect where he learned architectural and perspective drawing, the mastery of which can be seen in even his earliest work.

He began a relationship early in life with the recently founded Royal Academy of Arts (RA), an association that was to last until his death. Enrolling at the age of 14 (the momentous year of 1789!), Turner was immediately recognized as a major talent and, remarkably, his work was accepted for exhibiting the following year. Becoming an associate at the young age of 24, the painter maintained a strong relationship with the Academy, entering his artwork in their annual exhibitions, teaching, lecturing and otherwise supporting the institution throughout his life, long after it had become a bastion of conservatism.

Turner carefully guarded his personal life, but it is generally agreed that he had significant romantic liaisons with at least two women. Sarah Danby gave him two daughters with whom he had little apparent contact. Later on, and to the end of his life, he maintained a secret relationship with Sophia Booth, a widow whom he boarded with in her house on the Thames River. Also kept secret was the declining mental state of his mother, who spent her final years shut away in an asylum, abandoned and ignored by her son. Here is a man who apparently exhibited considerable callousness in his most personal relationships, but who expressed the most profound humanity and compassion in his workthe contrast, while hardly unique, is still jarring.

His father was a lifelong advocate and supporter, working after a certain point exclusively as his assistant and valet right until the end of his life. In his later years, Turner considered himself something of an invalid and indeed suffered from an array of ailments, losing his teeth and also his eyesight towards the end, leading critics to dismiss these later paintings as the work of a blind man, or alternatively, a lunatic.

Many of the relationships with friends and collaborators Turner had maintained throughout his life began to fall away, but this period also brought him his most ardent champion in the person of the noted young art critic and historian John Ruskin. About the latter Turner once declared, [He] sees more in my pictures than I ever painted. Though Ruskins interpretation was at the time controversial, he later won great respect for his six-volume work, Modern Painters. The first volume was published in 1843 and was dedicated explicitly to the defense of the last period of work by J.M.W. Turner, a service for which the artist was most grateful.

A view forward

The Royal Academy of Arts in London was established in 1768, following the examples of France and Holland, enforcing strict guidelines over subject matter and style in art. It cast off the extravagance of the Baroque period and imposed the classical tradition. Artists who worked beyond these boundaries had great difficulty gaining public recognition and yet this was the institution with which Turner, the most experimental artist of his time, staunchly allied himself.

There is no genuine equivalent in the contemporary world to the social position artists held in the early 19th century, but the fame and prestige Turner enjoyed might be compared to that of a film star today. Throughout his career he was at the top of the heap. His relationships and transactions with the aristocracy and political establishment brought him great wealth and ranked him in the cultural elite, a position he both sought and enjoyed. Politically, Turner was a republican and a British patriot, although he was never very vocal about his views.

The themes and subject matter in his paintings drew on classical mythology, historical parallels to the ancient world and contemporary political events (and particularly the progress of the Napoleonic Wars), as well as the colonial expansion of the British Empire. Ultimately, Turner departed markedly from the traditions of landscape painters such as the French artist Claude Lorrain (c. 16001682), whom he openly revered. There are striking contrasts in Turners landscape work in these later years, which place him clearly on the leading edge of advances in artistic form and content, as he respondedperhaps in spite of himselfto the pervasive and explosive social transformations taking place around him.

In addition to the various land and seascapes that he was known for early in his career, in this period of rapid innovation, Turner was both fascinated and suspicious of groundbreaking inventions such as photogravurewhich seemed to threaten the very need for artistsand also the steam railway, which broke down barriers of time and space. He was also electrified by such historic achievements as human flight, realized with the advent of hot-air balloons. His enthusiasm for such astonishing advances is conveyed in his own artistic striving against all forms of physical, earth-bound restraint.

One of Turners most extraordinary depictions of steam locomotives is Rain, Steam and SpeedThe Great Western Railway (1844). Here he develops imagery that is highly evocative and, in its technical exploration and lack of pictorial detail, pushes beyond even the later work of the impressionists.

Another striking work, and a favourite of Ruskins, is the subtle but brilliant oil painting, The Sun of Venice Going to Sea (1843). Centre frame, a Venetian fishing boat with painted sails unfurled approaches the viewer. The subject, perhaps from a previous era, is seemingly outside time, floating on an ethereal sea, the faint outline of Venice on the horizon, drawn in tones of green, brown and yellow, with an inspired stroke of color in the sky above. This extraordinary work has been interpreted as a reflection by the aging artist on his own mortality, which seems probable. Alternatively, it has been taken to refer to the decline of the Venetian Empire with ominous implications for the British.

Turner made efforts to write throughout his life, particularly poetry, and he even occasionally lectured, but he never articulated (or perhaps never dared articulate) what were clearly deeply held democratic and humane beliefs. Aside from the lyrical flourishes of his incomplete verse work, The Fallacies of Hope, his true feelings are only recorded in his visual art work. All of his paintings, although only a few are explicit in this regard, offer a protest against human cruelty and against slavery and colonial subjugation in particular.

Turners body of work as a whole is a staggering achievement, but it is these late paintings that incarnate in the most sophisticated and advanced fashion the strivings of art to grasp and adapt to a challenging new world. There is a great deal to learn and draw from this work, in all its contradictions and ambiguities, in informing and developing the art of our own revolutionary period.
Latin America

Argentine transit workers strike to protest firings, persecution, labor conditions

Drivers and other workers for Line 203 in Bueno Aires bus system stopped work indefinitely on January 21 after the firing of 36 of their coworkers. Line 203 is owned by Azul SATA, which also runs other routes in the greater Buenos Aires area.

The trigger for the action was the firing of a driver, presumably for poor effort, and the assault on another driver early Thursday morning, according to notas.org.ar. When the workers held an assembly following the sacking, the company sent an email announcing the firings of 35 more workers.

In addition to demanding the reinstatement of their colleagues, the striking workers are demanding better security, improved working conditions, and an end to persecution and speedups. One worker told reporters that the company anticipates an end to subsidies, and so is pushing to get the same amount of work out of fewer workers. In particular, he complained that the condition of buses has been deteriorating because workers are not given enough time to do adequate cleaning, repair and maintenance.

When asked about the response of the Automotive Transport System Union (UTA) to the walkout, he said, Up to now the UTA hasnt given us any favorable response. The companero is still fired and the 35 others, even though the telegram hasnt officially arrived, the notification by email did arrive. The UTA directors say that since they didnt receive any telegram they arent fired and we say yes, they already know. And that creates discontent in the labor climate.

24-hour strike by Chilean forestry workers over salary, other demands

Workers for Chiles National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) went on a one-day warning strike January 22. The workers, who belong to the 1,300-member National Federation of Conaf Syndicates (Fenasic), had voted December 17 in assembly to down their tools if Conaf management did not address their demands.

The demands include better salaries, an end to arbitrary hiring practices, a restructuring of benefits for years of service and the end of what Fenasic calls the dismantling of priority areas of the nation. The last demand has to do with discussions in the legislature over establishing a new service for biodiversity and protected area projects. Fenasic opposes the likely transfer of its members to the proposed service and wants them to remain in Conaf.

Fenasic officials accused the Conaf director of showing little sincerity and of engaging in illicit practices such as asserting that the unions have refused to engage in dialogue.

Guyanese sugar workers protest factory closure

Scores of workers for a sugar factory in Guyana protested January 22 against the governments decision to close the facility. On January 18, the government confirmed that it would shutter the Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD) Sugar Estate in the course of the year. The Agricultural Ministry claimed that the finances are simply not available to refurbish WBD and diverting funds from the other estates would seriously jeopardize the future of these estates.

Part of the 2016 Budget and Action Plan of the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is to retire the Wales Estate land following the harvest, use the WBD factory to process the cane and shut it down afterwards. In 2017, farmers cane will be rerouted some 20 miles to the Uitvlugt plant.

According to a Ministry release, Agricultural workers at Wales will be absorbed by Uitvlugt up to the extent of suitable vacancies on that location. Surplus labour would have to be made redundant. The same principle would apply to the other departments. The Wales Estate lands will be diversified, the statement further averred.

The decision was taken without any consultation with the workers. One of the protesting workers told the Guyana Chronicle that management had told them that WBD had been performing well: They even told us that we were ranked the third best performing estate and that they want people from other estates to come and follow our pattern.

Panamanian coffee pickers strike against deplorable living conditions

Some 600 workers at four coffee plantations in the western Panama town of Boquete stopped work on January 21. The mostly indigenous coffee bean harvesters struck to demand improvements in their living conditions.

Eugenio Marcucci, head of the Tierras Altas Indigenous Workers Syndicate (Sitraipei), denounced the many difficulties with lodging, such as the lack of potable water, adequate sleeping quarters and cooking facilities.

Not just that, they demand that we pick the best quality coffee and they pay us two dollars a tin instead of four, and out of the four or five tins that we pick daily, they dont pay us for one, obliging us to present our complaints to the authorities of the Labor Ministry, he told La Estrella reporters.

Strikers say that the owner has threatened to close the plantations if the workers press their demands. The owner also employs minors. On a recent inspection, an operative for the Labor Ministry counted five youths between 15 and 17 years of age; the majority of the rest were under 12 years old.

Tripartite negotiations began shortly after the initiation of the strike.

Mexican university workers strike, protest contract violations

Members of the Benito Juarez Autonomous University of Oaxaca Workers and Employees Syndicate (STEUABJO) held a 12-hour strike January 19. The strike was sparked by the refusal of the administration to respond to a list of demands that the union had submitted to the rector two months ago.

The petition demanded that the rector, Eduardo Martinez Helmes, address contract violations including the refusal to fire personnel contracted without the unions knowledge, not granting permanent status to workers who have accrued enough time and not complying with programs for quality and efficiency, among others.

The STEUABJO strike committee warned that if the demands were not addressed, an indefinite strike could begin on the first of February.

On January 21, the University of Oaxaca Academic Workers Syndicate (STAUO) occupied the buildings of the University to demand that the authorities address their demands, which include compliance with the collective contract, the immediate termination of 300 workers hired in an irregular form, the reinstatement of fired workers in various regions of the state, the handing over of more than 5 million pesos (US$271,000) of dues owed to the union and a salary raise.

Charging misappropriation of funds by both the university and the local arbitration board, STAUO said that it would call out its 800 members on February 22 if the demands are not met.

The United States

Labor board judge orders Walmart to rehire victimized workers

An administrative law judge for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled January 21 that Walmart must rehire 16 workers involved in strikes and protests. During May and June of 2013 workers at 29 stores were involved in work stoppages and some 100 journeyed to Walmarts annual shareholder meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas to protest low wages and working conditions.

Walmart tapped defense contractor Lockheed Martin to help monitor protesters and then fired those it argued were not involved in legal strikes but intermittent work stoppages that are not protected by labor law. Judge Geoffrey Carter ruled that the various walkouts and the time involved in the bus caravan to Walmarts headquarters in Arkansas involved the same risk as organized workers who engage in more formal strike activity.

Carter ordered the 16 workers rehired with back pay and also said the company must hold meetings at the 29 stores involved in the 2013 activities and inform employees of their rights to organize. Jessica Levin with the organization Making Change at Walmart, sponsored by the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, declared the decision as a huge victory. Walmart immediately countered that it will appeal the rulings.

The NLRB decision came one day after Walmart announced it would implement a pay raise for 1.2 million workers during 2016. The miserly pay hike will only bring minimum wages at Walmart up to $10 an hour, leaving a considerable number mired in poverty and eligible for public assistance.

Canada

Montreal white collar workers strike

White collar workers for the city of Montreal struck Midnight January 24 as part of a series of rotating strikes aimed at putting pressure on management. About 8,000 workers are involved in the action.

A general strike of all white collar and blue collar city workers is set for March 1, the day municipal taxes are due. Essential services, including police and fire, are to be maintained during the actions.

The Syndicat des cols blancs de lile de Montreal, the bargaining agent for white collar workers, is calling for improvements in salary and better working conditions. The union is also opposing the use of what it calls an excessive number of subcontractors.

Marc Ranger, the union president, called the unions demands reasonable. For its part, the city said it had done its part to reach an agreement with Mayor Denis Coderre, saying the city had done its best to reach an agreement in good faith.
LOWNDES Co., GA (WTXL) - Deputies say a man was arrested in Lowndes County after taking law enforcement officers on a car chase with speeds exceeding 100 mph, all while two children were in the car.

Adrian Garner was arrested on Monday evening and taken to the Lowndes County Jail.

Lowndes County deputies say they received a call from Cook County deputies that they were chasing a vehicle down I-75 and were traveling into the county.

A Lowndes Co. deputy joined the chase where Garner is said to have been traveling over 100 mph and was not stopping.

At one point in the chase, deputies say Garner tired to swerve his vehicle and hit a patrol car but missed.

A Georgia State Trooper performed a P.I.T. maneuver, where they used their vehicle to hit the back end of Garner's car, causing it to spin and hit a guardrail.

Deputies then went to arrest Garner, and say he attempted to drive away, pressing the accelerator and trying to shift gears. Deputies and Troopers were able to arrest him though.

Inside, deputies found a woman and two children, a three-year-old and a one-year-old. None were injured and deputies say they took all three to a local motel.

Garner is expected to appear in magistrate court on Tuesday. His charges are aggravated assault on a peace officer, fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, speeding, and two counts of failure to restrain a child.
THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) -- Here's your chance to sit back, relax... and enjoy some science!

Thomas University is again hosting some specials chats as part of its Science Cafe.

The idea is creating a low-key forum for sitting down with scientists, and picking their brains about current science topics.

Organizers say, "What happens when you mix interesting topics, scientists and eager learners? Lively conversation! Thats the formula for Thomas Universitys Science Cafe, sponsored by the Division of Education."

On the schedule for the Spring 2016 sessions:

- January 26: Susan Cerulean presents "Living on the Edge: What Floridas Gulf Coast Islands Teach Us about our Changing Planet"

- February 23: Dr. Jeff Chanton, Florida State University and the John Widmer Winchester Professor of Oceanography present "What is Environmental Biogeochemistry?"

- March 29: Dr. Jimmie L. Davis Jr., chairman of the MITRE Corporation, and educator Michael Singletary present "What Does STEM Mean to You?"

Each session is held at the Thomas University Campus Center, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Those involved say because of the Cafes popularity, some talks have been standing room only, so they recommend you get there early.

It's free to take part and all are invited. Light snack and beverages are provided, or there's a Science Cafe dinner special for $5.

For more information, click here.
Life in Israel is hard, filled with danger. We live on a knife edge. During dire times, it's difficult to handle processes and fundamental issues. It's simpler and easier to veer into a nearby alley, focusing on an event rather than a process, on small things rather than on essence.

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Take the Yom Kippur War for example, a seminal event in the age of the third temple. What did we do? Instead of discussing and analyzing the failures of the state leaders' policies, we wrapped them up in the technical term "oversight."

The year 2010 was called "the year of decision." A fateful question was on the table: Whether or not to attack Iran. There were valid and invalid arguments, grand messianic visions, and small political considerations. The issue had wide-ranging effects on the economy and on society, foreign relations, the relationships at the top, and on the identity of the IDF chief. It reared its head into the media and public conversation by way of a civilian document of no real importance.

Barak and Ashkenazi (Photo: Dudu Azoulay)

Prosecutor Toni Goldenberg is set to indict Boaz Harpaz at the Tel Aviv Magistrate Court. This case, which in itself would be more at place in a small claims courtroom, is weak and brittle. Its rests entirely on one admission by the accused, and in opposition to over a dozen of his contrary statements.

The Attorney General's report on the matter stated that "Harpaz's statements cannot be given credence, especially not where matters of criminal law are concerned." It all depends on who is assigned the case. We already know from experience that the identity of the judge can determine the outcome. If the judge on the case is an autonomous and intelligent one, you may expect to see the State Attorney's Office facing more than a little embarrassment, as well as the Harpaz affair gaining new life in the public discourse.

One of the advantages of living in Israel is having a short and condensed chain of acquaintances. Everybody here knows everybody. The following story is told as an example, as well as a tribute to the late Yossi Sarid. Yossi used to call me almost every week, chat for a bit, express concern about the waves of nationalistic hatred in the country, get an update about this or that security or justice-related event. He called me at 11:16am on the day he died, and asked me to not respond to some inferior article by a narrow-minded reporter. The reporter used to regularly write articles against Yossi, and on that day he wrote one against me.

Yossi Sarid. Used to go by the measure of acquaintance. (Photo: Moshe Milner/GPO)

When the Harpaz affair was in the news, Yossi phoned me to ask what it was all about. I explained that there are no good or bad guys here, that both Ashkenazi and Barak were in the wrong, that it can't be defined with that kind of clear-cut value judgment. Don't confuse me with these judgments, Yossi said, I stick with the measure of acquaintance. When I lived in Margaliot, he said, I knew Ashkenazi, who was in the IDF's Northern Command back then. I knew Barak, boy did I know him, to be a political careerist, a schemer in uniform, during the Tze'elim B affair, during the association affair, during the Or Commission's deliberations, and I knew him when I was education minister in the government he led. He later wrote a witty article taking the measure of acquaintance in mind.

Ashkenazi's friends are enraged every time I say he isn't fit for politics, that his engine isn't burning hot enough, that he has no engine at all. Politics is a demanding field. You can only succeed there if there's a fire in you, and it better be on turbo.

Barak accused Ashkenazi of attempting a coup, of obstructing the government's decisions, of having a business relationship with Harpaz, of attempting to con his way into a fifth year in the IDF Chief of Staff office. All this and more: Barak sent a letter to AG Weinstein via his lawyer Navot Tel-Zur, accusing Ashkenazi of assisting in the taking of a bribe, of taking and giving bribes in matters related to IDF appointments. The letter called Ashkenazi the head of a pyramid of outlaws, who conspired to obstruct the goings-on of government. This letter of horrors made headlines in Haaretz and other media bodies on May 6, 2012.

I can't recall a precedent in which the defense minister of a democratic state drops such a thundering cluster bomb on the head of the military's top commander. Barak's accusations were, as we know, found to be completely false, malicious, fabricated, and plain mean, by the attorney general.

In order to be in politics, you need an engine. In order to not pass such an insult by, you need some self respect. I don't expect Ashkenazi to pave his way towards politics, but I do expect him to advance towards his rivals. Make confidence-building moves. I thinks there can't be a better, stronger case than this for a principle libel suit on a scale that hasn't yet been seen in Israel. Ashkenazi can vow in advance to donate the proceeds he gets to the community, education, and the periphery. Ashkenazi has a golden opportunity here to make up for his sins, raise a place, raise some money for the community through legitimate channels. This, in opposition to those who gather wealth, not necessarily legitimately, for themselves.
Jerusalem's residents were waiting to wake up to a white morning, but were disappointed Tuesday morning as the expected snow did not pile up.

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Light snow fell Tuesday morning in Jerusalem but did not stick. Authorities announced that schools would be open as usual. Light snow also fell in Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem.

"Disappointment" written on a vehicle in Jerusalem (Photo: Amit Horen)

In the Galilee light snow is falling in Sasa, Hurfeish and Safed, and some schools were closed in those areas. educational institutions there will be no classes.

Snow in Bar'am National Park in the Galilee (Photo: Ahiya Raved)

Snow in Beit Jann in the Galilee (Photo: Anwar Zoheid)

Jerusalem was battered by the latest winter storm, holding the precipitation record for Monday with 47 mm of rain falling in the capital, accompanied by some snow.

On Monday, Kiryat Gat saw 36 mm of rain, while in Sderot 33 mm of rain fell. Be'er Sheva got 19 mm of rain, 14 in Gedera, 12 in the northern Golan Heights, 10 in Safed, eight in Haifa and Arad, and only seven in Tel Aviv.

Efrat, south of Jerusalem (Photo: Yisrael Winarsh)

Hail in the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem (Photo: Ido Bentata)

The low temperatures led many Israelis to turn up the heating, and at 6:45pm on Monday, a new all-time record of electricity use in the winter was set at 12,200 megawatts. This is a 2.3 percent increase compared to the previous winter record set at 11,934 megawatts in January 2015. The general all-time record of electricity consumption was set in the summer of 2015, with 12,905 megawatts used.

Rain in Gush Etzion Monday (Photo: Yoni Katz)

A six-days-old baby girl was brought to a medical facility in Ariel Monday suffering from hypothermia. After receiving initial treatment, she was taken to the Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petah Tikva in serious condition.

Rainbow in Emek Yezreel (Photo: Shirley Kizal)

Flooding in Ashdod (Photo: Uri Greitzer)

Over on Mount Hermon, half a meter of snow fell since the beginning of the storm, and the snow is expected to continue falling.

Fun in the snow in Kibbutz El Rom (Photo: Avihu Shapira)

The small quantities of precipitation in the north meant the Kinneret's (Sea of Galilee) level only rose by two centimeters in this weather system. The Kinneret's level is current at -212.83, and 4.03 meters are still needed to reach the water reservoir's higher red line.

Stormy weather at the Acre Port (Photo: Amos Dadon)

The cold rainy weather will continue throughout the day, expected to be the last day in the current cold spell. Meteo-Tech reported that rain fell mainly in central and southern Israel. In the mountains of the north and in the Carmel light snow might fall.

In mountains over 700 meters high in the center of the country snow is expected to pile up, including in Jerusalem. Roads may be blocked. Light snow may also fall in the Negev Highlands.
The Sunni Saudi Arabian kingdom has never been so determined and active in the struggle against Iran and the Shiite world as it is these days. In early 2016, Saudi Arabia executed Shi'ite Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr and cut diplomatic relations with Iran, and the conflict between the two sides has only gotten worse since then.

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A demonstration in Iraq protesting the execution of Shi'ite Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia (Photo: AFP)

Saudi Arabia has recently pulled out a powerful propaganda tool, one that could possibly bring about the dismantling of Hezbollah: The affair surrounding the disappearance of the Imam Musa al-Sadr, the leader of Lebanon's Shi'ite population, while he was in Libya in 1978. The Shi'ite genie the Saudis just let out of the bottle has been buried for a while. The question of his fate was raised again when Muammar Gaddafi's regime fell, but certain actors made sure to obscure any answers. Does this new information have the power to topple Hezbollah?

The improvement in the living standards and social status of Shi'ites in Lebanon in the 1960s is mainly due to one man  Musa al-Sadr. He's the one who managed to get roads leading to Shi'ite villages in south Lebanon paved and to get the villages hooked up to electricity and running water. Al-Sadr is an Iranian religious cleric of Lebanese descent who studied in the Shi'ite holy cities of Qom, Iran and Najaf, Iraq, arriving in Lebanon in the late 1950s.

Al-Sadr, a charismatic man with a lineage that reaches all the way back to the prophet Muhammad himself and the later Shi'ite imams, managed to promote the interests of the Lebanon's Shi'ites, who had been at the bottom of Lebanese society. He founded bodies that represented them politically and socially, led by the Supreme Islamic Shi'ite Council. Al-Sadr promoted the Shi'ites' representation in parliament, took care to achieve government assistance to improve their material situation, and turned them into an influential political force.

Al-Sadr's uniqueness lies in the fact that he promoted a peaceful struggle, using social protests, strikes, and demonstrations. He willingly met with leaders of other social groups, even rival ones. He will always be remembered as the outlier Muslim cleric who gave a speech in a church. Some biographers have even dubbed him the "Shi'ite Gandhi."

Saudi Arabia's King Salman (Photo: AFP)

Al-Sadr started a hunger strike during the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, demanding that the killing stop. But the deterioration in Lebanon brought him to the decision of establishing a military body to protect the Shi'ite sector  the Amal Movement. The huge change he affected in Lebanese Shi'ites' lives brought him great admiration, and led to him being given the mystical Shi'ite title of Imam.

A misfit in the Iranian revolution's agenda

The 1970s saw al-Sadr attract increasing numbers of critics. According to his detractors, he neglected to criticize Israel and repeatedly blamed Fatah for using south Lebanese Shi'ite villages to combat the Jewish state. The Shi'ites paid the largest price for the Fatah's activities and the IDF's retaliations. It's no wonder the area's Shi'ite population was overjoyed when the IDF entered south Lebanon and drove out Fatah.

Another Iranian leader, Sheikh Hussein Fadlallah - also of Lebanese origin, who studied at Najaf  was working in parallel with al-Sadr. He attempted to spread more combative propaganda that combined the Quran with the Kalashnikov, thus planting the first seeds of what would later grow to be the Hezbollah organization. Unlike al-Sadr, Fadlallah supported the Iranian revolutionaries' ideology, headed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini believed in violent revolution as a primary means of strengthening the Shi'ites and toppling the Iranian Shah's regime. While the Amal Movement focused on defense, Fadlallah called for taking a more aggressive stance against both the Shi'ites' rivals in Lebanon and the "Zionist devil."

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who supported violent revolution

Even though al-Sadr also opposed Israel, he never called for the Shi'ites to unite in a war against it, and disagreed with Fadlallah's idea of establishing Islamic clerical rule in Lebanon.

Is Khomeini behind his murder?

Al-Sadr traveled to meet different Arab leaders in the 1970s in order to gather support for his demographic. Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, whose military invaded Lebanon in 1976, gave the Amal Movement his sponsorship. In 1978, al-Sadr arrived in Libya, where he hoped to speak with its leader Muammar Gaddafi, who had his hand in the Lebanese Civil War. He disappeared there and hasn't been seen or heard from since. The assumption is that he was kidnapped, and probably murdered in a Lebanese jail. The reason for the murder of the most important Shi'ite leader in Lebanon remains a mystery to this day. Who had an interest in his death?

Is it a coincidence that Muda al-Sadr was murdered a year before Iran's Islamic Revolution? At the time of his disappearance there was a strong relationship between Gaddafi, who opposed the Shah, and the revolutionaries. Gaddafi even supported the revolution after al-Sadr's (presumed) murder, and later backed Iran in its war with Iraq.

Muammar Gaddafi. Was he behind the murder of Shi'ite Imam Musa al-Sadr? (Photo: MCT)

A book recently published by American researcher Dr. Andrew Cooper of Columbia University concludes that Musa al-Sadr had secret contacts with Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and that al-Sadr both opposed the idea of a violent Iranian revolution and that of the rule of Islamic clerics ("Wilayat al-Faqih"). In addition, al-Sadr found Ayatollah Khomeini's personality at least somewhat disagreeable, even though their families were related by marriage.

The shah had planned on al-Sadr's assistance in managing the burden of negotiating and compromising with the religious opposition. According to the book, Khomeini's associates wanted to prevent these talks at any cost. While al-Sadr was visiting Libya, they asked Gaddafi to get rid of the "traitor." The request to take out al-Sadr came from Khomeini and was carried out by Gaddafi.

These revelations were quoted last month by newspapers across the Sunni world, particularly in the Saudi media. The link between Khomeini and al-Sadr's murder was confirmed by the anti-Iranian regime journalist Alireza Nourizadeh in an interview he gave to the Saudi Al-Arabiya network.

According to Nourizadeh, who is based in the UK, Khomeini's associates committed to get rid of al-Sadr because of his opposition to their path and his willingness to put up with the Shah, thus threatening the Islamic Revolution.

Nourizadeh also claimed that the proof of this accusation lies in the fact that after Khomeini came to power, Iran did nothing to investigate al-Sadr's disappearance and continued to maintain good relations with Libya while in full knowledge of the Imam's kidnapping.

Iran named one of the main streets in Tehran after the murdered former president of Egypt, Anwar Sadar. Why did they not go to the effort of naming one after a Shi'ite community leader in Lebanon who had come from Iran?

Al-Sadr's military organization wiped out

The main obstacle to the dissemination of Iran's revolutionary propaganda among Lebanon's Shi'ites was removed with al-Sadr's assassination. In 1982, after he was killed, it was the turn of the military organization he established.

In the 1980s, Hezbollah waged a battle to wipe out the Amal Movement in an attempt to gain control over the Shi'ite community. Israel's invasion of and prolonged stay in south Lebanon weakened the Amal Movement. Many young Shi'ites left the organization and joined the more extreme Hezbollah. In 1983, Hezbollah made its name as the leading Shi'ite terror organization following a massive attack in which a car bomb planted by the group killed 241 Americans at a marine base in Beirut.

Hezbollah militants. Is the terror organization facing an existential threat? (Photo; AP)

At the end of the 1980s, the Amal organization lost against Hezbollah on the battlefield and after a reconciliation deal initiated by Syria, the movement disbanded. Its fighters were integrated into the Lebanese army and the organization itself turned into a parliamentary party.

Hezbollah transformed from a small organization established by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards into an army of thousands of militants, funded and supported by Iran. The hostility towards the Amal Movement and its founder was blurred by Hezbollah propaganda. Al-Sadr, too, was turned into a Khomeini supporter and a member of the armed resistance against the "Zionist enemy" by the same propaganda.

Could the revelations about the link between Iran and the murder of one of Lebanon's Shi'ite leaders topple Hezbollah and stir an internal uprising? And could this happen after Lebanon's Shi'ites have undergone three decades of brainwashing by Hezbollah and the Revolutionary Guards? One can assume that this new information about al-Sadr's murder will in the short-term be seen purely as Saudi propaganda. In the long-term, however, should Hezbollah's involvement in the Syrian civil war continue and if coffins keep arriving back in south Lebanon's villages, protests will no doubt erupt.

The Shi'ites will blame the Hezbollah leadership for dragging their community into the quagmire of the Syrian civil war. When the explosion comes, the genie of al-Sadr's execution will be out of the bottle and the truth will be spoken loud and clear: Iran has exploited and continues to exploit Shi'ite Arabs in Lebanon, in Iraq, in Bahrain and in Yemen for their own political needs.

Dr. Yaron Friedman, Ynet's Arab world analyst, is a graduate of the Sorbonne University in Paris and a lecturer on Islam in the Department of Humanities and Arts at the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion), and at the University of Haifa's History Department. His book, "The Nusayri Alawis: An Introduction to the Religion, History and Identity of the Leading Minority in Syria," was published in 2010 by Brill-Leiden.
Israel's ruling Likud party at the beginning of January invited David Lasar, a senior member of Austria's far-right Freedom party, on an official Knesset visit, Channel 1's Mabat news program revealed on Sunday.

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The Freedom party was previously under the leadership of Jorg Haider, a known anti-Semite, and Lasar himself is on a Ministry of Foreign Affairs blacklist.

Official letter from the Likud inviting a senior member of Austria's far-right 'Freedom' party to Israel (Photo: Yair Weinreb)

A Likud statement responding to the affair said that the invitation to Lasar was not coordinated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also acts as foreign minister, and was carried out without his knowledge.

According to the Mabat report, this is the first time that a senior member of the right-wing Austrian party is arriving in Israel on an official invitation from an Israeli party. Lasar, who is a close associate of Freedom party chair Heinz-Christian Strache, has previously been to Israel, but only for personal visits.

Likud Director of Communications Eli Hazan (Photo: Haredim 10)

Lasar has previously secretly met with former Foreign Ministry director Nissim Ben-Sheetrit, with the aim of cultivating official ties between the State of Israel and the Freedom party. Lasar himself noted in a response to the matter that "Haider is gone, we are setting out on a new path."

Hazan, who signed the letter, is a senior figure in the Likud and is thought to have close ties to Transport Minister Yisrael Katz.
New reports emerging from the ground in Syria suggest that despite Assad's assertions in 2013 that he had disposed of his chemical weapons arsenal, his regime continues to fight in the civil war using non-conventional means.

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The war, which will enter its sixth year in two months' time, has no end in sight. The number of victims of the conflict  killed, injured, traumatized, etc  continues to rapidly increase and intensive efforts to bring the two sides to the negotiating table have yet to bear real fruit.

An alleged victim of Sarin gas exposure in Syria

While rebel organizations such as the Free Syria Army and Jabhat al-Nusra are waging a war against President Bashar Assad's regime as well as against rival rebel groups, Russia and other countries are also deeply invested in the bloody conflict.

Russia, for example, has taken up arms on the side of the regime in Damascus, while the United States is supporting the moderate rebels and, in a limited way, the Assad government in its fight against Islamic State.

A while back, US President Barack Obama declared Syria's use of chemical weapons a "red line." But the massacre by chemical weapons in a Damascus suburb in summer 2013 did not push Obama into military action against Syria  rather, he opted for the diplomatic process.

This option, at Russia's initiative, centered around the proposal that Syria dismantle its chemical weapons arsenal. Some of these non-conventional weapons were destroyed and others taken outside the country's borders.

Through this initiative Russia succeeded in keeping Assad in power and allowed for the Americans to show the world that it had managed to rid Syria of chemical weapons without excessive bloodshed.

Chemical routine

But did Syria actually get rid of its chemical weapons? On paper it would appear so; in reality, things seem otherwise. The use of chemical weapons against civilians, rebels and regime forces has become routine.

Opposition figures in Syria occasionally provide reports on the regime's use of chemical weapons. Although the number of casualties involved is not at summer 2013 levels, when more than 1,300 were killed according to estimates, the statistics should still be a cause of concern for the international community.

Chemical weapons being used by a rebel group in Syria

A member of the Syrian opposition familiar with the subject of chemical weapons use in the civil war told Ynet that there are indeed indications that the regime has used Sarin gas within the last year.

"Chlorine gas was used last year in Idlib and its suburbs in the north-west of the country," the source, who worked in the Center for Documentation of Violations in Syria, said. "Islamic State also used mustard gas in Marea, a suburb of Halab, in the north."

The center's annual report estimates that between the first use of chemical weapons in Syria and August 2015, they have killed 3,118 people  the vast majority of whom were civilians and nearly two-thirds of whom were children. The center also estimates that the number of those injured by chemical weapons in Syria in the same period stands at 12,867.

A UN delegation that released its own report on the Syrian civil war last December states that it found indications that a number of people in Syria had been exposed to the lethal Sarin gas or a similar chemical agent.

Sarin gas seeping into the war

The Syrian government denies that it is using chemical weapons and accuses the opposition of being the ones fighting with non-conventional materials. Damascus' claims are fiercely rejected by moderate rebel groups that are backed by the West.

Western officials quoted by Reuters estimate that the rebel groups are not capable of using Sarin gas. Since the Syrian regime carried out the chemical massacre in 2013, it has been accused of using chlorine gas while shelling opposition targets across the country. Reports of the regime's use of Sarin gas are now being added to those accusations.

Most of the reports have been published by Arabic media outlets sympathetic to the opposition, including the Saudi Al-Sharq al-Aswat and Al-Jazeera. According to Syrian opposition figures, the regime's bombardment of the town of Muadamiyet al-Sham, next to Damascus, killed at least five people and wounded many dozens more. It is claimed that Sarin gas was used during the onslaught. Videos were published online that documented seemingly large numbers of wounded, although there is no official confirmation or concrete evidence that the people shown were exposed to Sarin gas.

The Syrian National Coalition, the political umbrella organization of the Syrian opposition, condemned what it termed a "new chemical massacre."

Chemical weapons being used by rebels in Syria

"The (UN) Security Council must take steps against Syria under clause 7 in order to protect civilians, as stipulated in Resolution 2118, following the use of Sarin gas near Damascus," the organization said. It also claimed that chemical weapons had again been used in the same area of Syria that the 2013 massacre had been carried out  even after a ceasefire between the regime and rebel forces in the area, for humanitarian reasons.

An effective and lethal weapon

The Syrian regime has its own version of events and in Syria, it is difficult to establish who is telling the truth and who is lying. Each side has its own interests and benefits from demonizing its rivals. It is also evident that the Syrian regime no longer holds the significant arsenal of chemical weapons that it once did and is instead occasionally using a limited stock leftover from before. Even though Assad recognizes the international community's huge sensitivity to the use of chemical weapons, it is difficult for him to refrain from using them completely because of their efficacy on the battlefield.

Although most fingers point at the regime, other actors in the civil war have also resorted to using chemical weapons. The Islamic State group has documented its own use of non-conventional materials in Halab.

Numerous recent testimonies report IS's use of mustard gas in Marea, not far from the Turkish border. The terror organization has deployed the same weapon against Kurdish forces in Iraq

But IS is not alone. Other rebel organizations, defined as "moderate," also occasionally use chemical weapons against regime targets, albeit not lethal agents such as Sarin gas.

The international community is aware of the situation. But given that all red lines were crossed in Syria long ago, provided a massacre of civilians is not underway the criticisms remain relatively minimal.

Despite the harrowing pictures that continue to emerge from Syria, however, the number of casualties of chemical weapons still pales into comparison with the number of victims of conventional arms.
Culture Minister Miri Regev will submit a bill Wednesday to the Knesset's Education Committee entitled "loyalty in culture", Ynet learned Tuesday.

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This amendment seeks to change the way her office supports cultural institutions, and to deny state funding to those who attack or disgrace the state flag or state symbols, incite to racism, violence or terrorism, mark Independence Day as a day of mourning or deny Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state.

Regev's relations with Israeli artists were sensitive from the start of her appointment. Harsh personal criticism was leveled at her, and later the storms surrounding her turned into a political affair in the controversy regarding the play "A Parallel Time", about Walid Daka, convicted of planning the murder of IDF soldier Moshe Tamam in 1984. At that time, Regev froze state funding for the al-Midan theater where the play was being performed.

Culture Minister Miri Regev (Photo Alex Kolomoisky)

This is the first time that a bill closely ties artistic content to the receipt of funding and support of artists from state cultural institutions. As part of what she calls "cultural justice", she will make changes to the criteria of the Support Committee at the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

"I will not be an ATM"

Article 3a of the budget law currently states that a cultural institution can be fined retroactively if it infringed on the laws of the State of Israel, but this is a long process at the discretion of the Finance Minister, so that in practice the Ministry of Culture is obliged to continue funding institutions in any event and does not set policy.

Beyond that, says Regev, it is necessary to transfer these powers to the Ministry of Culture due to the fact that the Finance Ministry does not interface with cultural institutions, and the same goes for the mechanism for supervising them. According to her, the mechanism currently is inadequate and the state is funding institutions without any supervision.

"It is the Ministry of Culture's responsibility to supervise cultural institutions, including what they offer, and make sure they are not breaking the country's laws," said Regev. "Cultural institutions are not above the law. They must work according to the laws of the State of Israel and we must make sure of this  and not keep our eyes closed. I will not be an ATM. I have a responsibility for public monies and this law would grant me the authority to exercise my responsibilities and to deny support for institutionalized violations of the law".
The Syrian opposition platform created in Riyadh last month must lead proposed talks with the Syrian government, France's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

"The opposition group created in Riyadh gathers for the first time a large spectrum of politicians and non-jihadist military that are committed around a common project for a free, democratic and inclusive Syria," ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said in a daily briefing to reporters.

"It is therefore up to this group to be the interlocutor of the regime in these negotiations."

Nadal was responding to a question on whether Kurdish fighters should be part of talks expected to begin on Friday, as Russia has called for.
Nelly Toll was only 8 years old when she and her mother went into hiding in 1943 in Poland to escape the Nazis' death camps. The Jewish girl spent long hours in her tiny hideaway at a Christian family's home writing stories, keeping a diary and creating wonderful, bright paintings of a lost world.

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Today, her art is on display in the center of Berlin at a special exhibition of Art from the Holocaust that opened at the German Historical Museum on Monday.

Artist Nelly Toll, right, talks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel as Merkel inaugurates the exhibition 'Art from the Holocaust - 100 works from the Yad Vashem collection' in the German Historical Museum in Berlin. (Photo: AP)

"I hope that generations to come will look at this and know what atrocities made me do this," Toll told The Associated Press at the opening.

Toll's paintings are among 100 artworks created by Jewish artists during the Holocaust on display, the first time the collection from the Yad Vashem memorial in Jerusalem has been shown outside Israel.

The exhibition includes work by Jewish artists in hiding, in concentration and labor camps, and in ghettos. Of the 50 artists featured, 24 were killed by the Nazis. Alongside the mostly unknown names are acclaimed artists such as Felix Nussbaum and Ludwig Meidner.

Toll is the only artist represented in the show who is still alive. One of her paintings, "Girls in the Field," shows two girls, dressed in bright blue, red and yellow-dotted dresses walking across a sunny lawn confined by lush green trees.

"I made 60 paintings while in hiding and all of them express happiness," said Toll, who lost her father and brother in the Holocaust. She immigrated to the United States with her mother after the war.

Like many Jews who created art while being surrounded by death, fear and suffering, painting was a way for Toll to break free and escape from the Holocaust's harsh reality to imaginary places of beauty and happiness.

"I would have conversations with the characters in my paintings for hours," Toll remembered.

However, not all the works show an escape into a happy imagination.

Some artworks are shocking in their depictions of life in the ghetto, daily discrimination and fear of being killed by the Nazis.

Halina Olomucki's 1939 pencil work "After the Shearing of the Beards" shows two orthodox men with bandages around their heads after their beards had been torn or burned off by Germans in the Warsaw ghetto.

Leo Haas' "Transport from Vienna" shows the arrival of a train full of elderly Jews at the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1942. Painted in dark, monochrome India ink, people with faces like hollow skulls can be seen tumbling out of cattle cars, many lying lifeless on the ground as a soldier keeps pulling more people off the train.

The show's curator, Yad Vashem's Eliad Moreh-Rosenberg, called the creation of art during the Holocaust an "uncompromising act of resistance" by artists in mortal danger.

It was very difficult for the artists to get painting supplies, but despite that and their appalling living conditions they managed to portray life during the Shoah, fighting their dehumanization by the Nazis and leaving behind painted witness accounts, Moreh-Rosenberg said.

Among the most touching works is a postcard painted in 1941 by both Karl Robert Bodek and Kurt Conrad Loew while at the Gurs camp in southwestern France, which was then under the Vichy regime that collaborated with the Nazis.

Titled "One Spring," the watercolor shows a bright yellow butterfly sitting on top of black barbed wire, free to fly wherever it desires, while the two artists were confined to the dark barracks of the camp depicted at the bottom of the painting.

Bodek was killed a year later in Auschwitz-Birkenau, while Loew survived and died in his birth city of Vienna in 1980.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was to officially inaugurate the show on Monday night. It will run through April 3.
DUBAI - Four-fifths of candidates for the body that will choose Iran's next Supreme Leader have withdrawn or been disqualified including a grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini close to reformist politicians, in a setback to President Hassan Rouhani.

The 12-member Guardian Council, a clerical body that oversees elections and legislation, approved just 166 of the 801 candidates for the Assembly of Experts, electoral commission spokesman Siamak Rahpeik was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA on Tuesday.

The disqualifications, a week after thousands of parliamentary candidates were similarly excluded, are a blow to Rouhani, who is signing business deals in Europe this week after pushing through a nuclear deal with world powers.
While Israel and Turkey's representatives are hard at work on normalizing ties, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon on Tuesday accused Ankara of encouraging terrorism by buying oil from the Islamic State group.

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"As you know, Daesh (Islamic State) enjoyed Turkish money for oil for a very, very long period of time. I hope that it will be ended," Ya'alon said during a meeting with his Greek counterpart Panos Kammenos in Athens.

The Israeli defense minister further accused Turkey of "permitting jihadists to move from Europe to Syria and Iraq and back, as part of Daesh's terrorist network, and I hope this will stop too."

Turkish President Erdogan; Defense Minister Ya'alon (Photos: AP, Emil Salman)

"It's up to Turkey, the Turkish government, the Turkish leadership, to decide whether they want to be part of any kind of cooperation to fight terrorism. This is not the case so far," he said.

Turkey has denied permitting oil smuggling by the Islamist militant group, which holds swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq. The United States last month rejected Russian allegations that the Turkish government and President Erdogan's family were in league with Islamic State to smuggle oil.

However, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said last month that ISIS was selling oil to middlemen who in turn were involved in smuggling the oil across the frontier to Turkey.

Relations between former allies Turkey and Israel broke down in 2010 after an Israeli naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla killed ten Turkish citizens. Turkey has become the strongest critic of Israeli actions in Gaza, and reconciliation efforts between the two have repeatedly failed.

Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have expressed willingness to mend the strained ties between the two countries.

Last month, Erdogan told journalists that "normalization with Israel" was possible if the sides can reach a compensation deal for the raid's victims and if Israel lifts a blockade against Palestinians.

"There is so much the region could gain from such a normalization process," he noted.

Ya'alon in Greece (Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry)

Speaking to a Turkish news agency in Davos last week, Netanyahu said he was "hopeful" about normalization of ties between the two nations.

"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 said.

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.

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.
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog's comment saying there's no chance of peace in this era is the most dramatic event to happen to Israel's Labor party in the past decade. After the elections, Herzog was accused of going to bed instead of following the results. In retrospect, it seems that he's the only one who's actually staying alert in the party. This is the first time since the days of Ehud Barak that the Labor party has contended with the difficult reality of the Middle East. For the first time, one of its leaders has acknowledged the shortcomings of peace, not just those of war.

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Things weren't always so for the party that built the State of Israel. Yigal Alon was the first person to understand, following the Six Day War, that it was impossible to return to the old borders. He understood very well that a peace accord with the Palestinians is different from planning peace with Arab nations that have a well-defined topographic border, and so he planned for an internal separation that would mean annexing large parts of the area, and leaving the rest under Jordanian control. Israel Galili, who served as the chairperson of the Ministerial Committee for Settlement (unlike the parody-like committee that was formed on Monday ), built towns according to the lines Alon drew on the map.

Former PM Barak with former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Barak later understood Israel has no partnet for peace. (Photo: Israel Hadari)

Rabin, who found himself promoting mid-way agreements, made sure to say he would not agree to a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders. Finally, Ehud Barak was the one who said loud and clear that there was no one with whom we could make peace, after the failure of the Camp David talks in 2000.

There was something about these people that marked the old Israel, and the Labor party  for good and for bad. They had the idea of peace in them, with the complete package of prayers and sentimental songs, and at the same time they had their hand tightly on the grip of their weapons. Rabin used means like expulsion and home demolition at a rate no right wing government would dare reach today. He spoke of peace and exercised power, because he knew that words also have their limits.

All of this has been abandoned by the Israeli Labor party in the past decade. Instead of handling the reality of a peace accord's absence, they kept babbling mantras about searching for good will. There were those who slid diplomatic matters to the side, dealing with economic problems instead. Some made sure to emphasize the idea of striving for the non-existent. The bottom line is that Amram Mitzna, Amir Peretz, and Shelly Yechimovich lost their ability to create an alternative. Not because the party's leaders all got taken down quickly, but because the idea of a peace agreement itself was taken down.

Yigal Alon (left). Understood from the start that the pre-1967 borders were irrelevant. (Photo: Shalom Bar Tal)

And what about the Likud, you might ask. It, like the Labor party, has been making promises it has no chance of keeping for a while now. Starting with Netanyahu's promise to defeat Hamas, and ending with a clear right-wing policy (and as the recent Hebron homes controversy shows, the only thing that's clear about it is that it's no different than previous governments' policies). Yes, the Likud also acknowledges the limits of reality, while at the same time promises things for the sake of promising.

The difference between the Likud and Labor  between the Labor's preposterous platform and the Likud's non-existent one, between Netanyahu and Herzog, is their different beliefs. The Labor party demands its voters believe in the miracle that the Palestinians will become partners for peace, and the Likud asks that its voters believe that other parties will be worse than them. Belief in what can be seen.

Back to Herzog: The attacks against him for saying that we can't achieve peace at this time shows us the difficulty of contending with the world of political ideas. His critics prefer that he lie and promise the if only he was given a mandate and placed in a room with Abbas  he'd bring peace. They want him to say whatever he wants  but not the truth.

Isaac Herzog. Could be the first Labor leader in a while to shape the political discourse. (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

I have nothing against the Labor party. I've been voting for its rivals from a young age, and still I want to see it get back on the combative political path. Why? Because if its leaders make their positions clear regarding a Palestinian Authority that incites people to commit terrorist acts, and regarding a people who have no will or ability to sign agreements, then this will also pressure the Likud to clarify its own positions. The bland argument of the past few years will be gone if we were to know what each party is proposing on the diplomatic front. If Herzog doesn't back down, he'll be the first Labor party leader in years to actually shape the political discourse as opposed to dragging along behind it.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon claimed on Tuesday that Palestinian violence is the result of "frustration," asserting that "it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism."

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"Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process," Ban told a UN Security Council meeting on the Situation in the Middle East.

"Sadly, 2016 has begun much like 2015 ended  with unacceptable levels of violence and a polarized public discourse across the spectrum in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory," he said.

"Stabbings, vehicle attacks, and shootings by Palestinians targeting Israeli civilians  all of which I condemn  and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, have continued to claim lives."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaking to the UN Security Council (Photo: Reuters)

Ban leveled harsh criticism at Israel for its policies in the West Bank. He claimed that "security measures alone will not stop the violence. They cannot address the profound sense of alienation and despair driving some Palestinians  especially young people."

He called for "The full force of the law to be brought to bear on all those committing crimes  with a system of justice applied equally for Israelis and Palestinians alike," and warned that "So-called facts on the ground in the occupied West Bank are steadily chipping away the viability of a Palestinian state and the ability of Palestinian people to live in dignity."

The UN chief claimed in his speech that Israel must change its policies particularly in Area C, and called to halt the demolition of Palestinian homes in those areas.

"Approvals of master plans for Palestinian sectors of Area C would allow for much needed growth in these areas and prevent demolitions," he said, adding that "progress towards peace requires a freeze of Israels settlement enterprise."

Ban speaks at the UN Security Council

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He slammed continued settlement construction, calling it "an affort to the Palestinian people and to the international community," and stressing that "They rightly raise fundamental questions about Israels commitment to a two-state solution."

Ban went on to criticize Israeli plans to seize lands south of Jericho by declaring 370 acres in the area "state lands," and urged the Israeli government to go back on the decision.

"These provocative acts are bound to increase the growth of settler populations, further heighten tensions and undermine any prospects for a political road ahead," he said.

Ban also said he was "deeply troubled" by reports that the Israeli government had approved plans for more than 150 new homes in "illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank."

The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, areas Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War. The last round of peace talks broke down in April 2014 and Israeli-Palestinian violence has surged in recent months.

On the other hand, Ban also criticized Palestinian incitement to violence, saying that "incitement has no place, and questioning the right of Israel to exist cannot be tolerated."

He also discussed the situation in Gaza, saying the situation there remains perilous as "the people of Gaza face dire unemployment, water and electricity needs," but condemned "the continuing rocket fire into Israel from militant groups in Gaza."

Palestinian envoy urges action against settlements

The chief Palestinian delegate at the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, called on the Security Council take action against Israeli settlements.

"It must involve measures by all states and go beyond not rendering aid or assistance to holding Israel accountable for its actions," Mansour told the council.

Mansour later told reporters that all 15 council members acknowledged that Israel's settlement building is "the main obstacle to any meaningful political process," and he said the Palestinians are meeting with all council members to assess their readiness to act this year.

US Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said Washington strongly opposes settlement activity.

"Steps aimed at advancing the Israeli settlement program ... are fundamentally incompatible with the two-state solution and raise legitimate questions about Israel's long-term intentions," Power told the council.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the international community should create a "specific and credible political horizon" for a solution to the tensions in the region.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi said Israel should take the lead in calming tensions, and he said the Security Council "should seriously consider the question of providing international protection to the Palestinian people." He gave no details, but Mansour said new council member Egypt would take the lead in exploring that issue.

Danon: Terror in Israel - business as usual for UN

Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon responded in kind by criticizing the UN Security Council. "For the council it is business as usual when we're talking about terrorism in Israel," he said.

"The facts don't lie, the council is hypocritical in its attitude towards Israel," Danon claimed. "For the last four months, since the wave of terror began in Israel, the council has issued 12 resolutions against world terrorism, and zero resolutions against Palestinian terrorism in Israel."

Terror dolls (Photo: AP)

Danon also addressed Palestinian incitement, telling the council about the 15-year-old killer of Dafna Meir, a mother of six murdered outside her home in Otniel. In his interrogation, Danon said, the terrorist admitted to being influenced by incitement on Palestinian television.

"The root of the recent wave of terror is Palestinian incitement," Danon determined. "Monetary payments to the families of terrorists, honorary degrees to terrorists who murder women and using toys as tools of incitement, these are the workings of the Palestinian leadership, and the Security Council must condemn them immediately."

Danon also stressed that "The road to peace is long and difficult but Israel is committed to make every effort."

Danon did not address settlement-building. He instead showed reporters what he called "terror dolls" that he said are used to teach hatred to Palestinian children.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also slammed Ban's comments. "The UN Secretary General's remarks give a tailwind to terrorism. There is no justification for terrorism. The Palestinian murderers do not want to build a state  they want to destroy a state and they say this openly. They want to murder Jews simply because they are Jews and they say this openly. They do not murder for peace and they do not murder for human rights."

"The UN lost its neutrality and moral force a long time ago and the Secretary General's remarks do not improve the situation," Netanyahu added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Tuesday that Europeans were not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism, in a statement on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

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Netanyahu warned that "in Europe and elsewhere, Jews are once again being targeted just for being Jews".

"We see anti-Semitism directed against individual Jews, and we also see this hatred directed against the collective Jew, against the Jewish state," he continued.

"Islamic extremists incorporate the most outrageous anti-Semitism into their murderous doctrines. We see this in Gaza; we see it in Raqqa; we see it in Tehran."

Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of the dangers of anti-Semitism, in remarks at the opening of an exhibition featuring works by Jewish concentration camp prisoners.

She cited in particular the fears of German Jewish leaders that the need to impart the lessons of the Holocaust has grown more urgent with the influx of a record 1.1 million asylum seekers to Germany last year, many from the Middle East.

But Netanyahu warned that anti-Semitism was not merely growing among immigrant communities, but was gaining traction across Europe.

"Even respected Western opinion leaders have become afflicted with hatred for the Jewish people and the Jewish state," Netanyahu said, without giving names.

"The obsession with the Jews - the fixation on the Jewish state - defies any other rational explanation," he continued.

"While across the region, Islamist militants brutalize entire populations, enslave and rape women, murder Christians and gays, the UN Human Rights Council repeatedly condemns Israel. More than North Korea. More than Iran. More than Syria. More than all of them put together. Some things just don't change."

"When a state like Iran and movements like ISIS and Hamas openly declare their goal of committing another Holocaust, we will not let it happen," Netanyahu stressed. "But Europe and the rest of the world must stand up together with us. Not for our sake; for theirs."

'Am Israel Chai'

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day will be marked around the globe on Wednesday to commemorate the six million Jews who died at the hands of Nazi Germany and its allies. Israel marks its own Holocaust remembrance day, which this year will be held in May.

This year, at a special ceremony at the UN General Assembley, Israel will be represented for the first time by a Holocaust survivor.

Martha Weiss, 81, who survived the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp when she was a child, was invited by Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon to speak in front of the UN.

"As someone who faced the Nazis at the extremination camp when I was a child, I could not believe I will get to represent the Jewish state at the UN, in front of the whole world," Weiss said this week.

Martha Weiss (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

The UN ceremony is considered the most important among the international Holocaust commemoration services. Israel sends one main speaker every year - last year it was President Reuven Rivlin.

"I was very excited to receive the invitation from Ambassador Danon," Weiss said. "After consulting with my husband, we decided we would both come to represent Israel on Holocaust Remembrance Day at the UN."

Weiss, who was born in what is now the Czech Republic, immigrated to Israel with her husband 18 years ago from Melbourne, Australia, after her three daughters made aliyah. Now, she lives in Jerusalem and has nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

At the UN, Weiss will tell her personal story of surviving the Holocaust, talk about the importance of keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive as part of humanity's collective memory, and discuss the rising anti-Semitism in Europe, mostly in France.

"What's happening to Jews in France with anti-Semitism and being afraid to wear a kippah is outrageous. The nations of the world must all unite against anti-Semitism and not allow it to rear its head again," Weiss said.

"During my speech at the UN I'm going to wear a 'chai' necklace that I wear every time I talk about the Holocaust. When I, who've been to Auschwitz-Birkenau, stand on the most important stage with a necklace like that, I send out a clear message: Am Israel Chai (The people of Israel still live) and this is how it's going to be forever. Unlike during the Holocaust, we now have the State of Israel, the state of the Jewish people, and we will not remain silent to the rising anti-Semitism, we will not bury our heads in the sand and will not allow what happened in the Holocaust to happen again."

Weiss also has a more universal message: "Let us try to live together all over the world as people, instead of fighting."

In another first, US President Barack Obama is expected to attend a Holocaust memorial service at the US Embassy in Washington on Wednesday.

Two American nationals and two Poles will be recognized as righteous among the nations at the ceremony. This will also be the first time the honor is bestowed in the United States.
The Nature and Parks Authority said Tuesday that a vulture from one of its reserves had been captured on suspicion of espionage in neighboring Lebanon after flying across the border.

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Members of the Israeli public phoned the Nature and Parks Authority to alert it to Facebook reports and pictures of a vulture with an Israeli identification ring and location transmitter captured by residents of the south Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil.

"Reports passed to us show the vulture tied with a rope by local people who write that they suspect Israeli espionage apparently because of the transmitter attached to him," a statement by the authority said.

The vulture that was captured in Lebanon (Photo: bintjbeil.org)

"In the 21st century we expect people to understand that wild animals are not harmful," it added. "We hope that the Lebanese will release him."

A Lebanese security official said that civilians who found the vulture checked it for listening device, and measured its wings span - which is over two meters wide.

Nature and Parks Authority spokeswoman Tali Tenenbaum said that in their regular monitoring of the bird's movements the authority's experts had been aware for some days that it had flown about four kilometres (2.5 miles) into Lebanon.

"But we did not know he'd been captured," she said.

Israel tag on the vulture's led (Photo: bintjbeil.org)

The vulture arrived in Israel in July of last year and was released at the Gamla nature reserve about a month ago.

The griffon vultures, large Old World vultures that face extinction, have decreased in numbers in Israel over the past few years due to poisoning, hunting and electrocution.

This year, the Nature and Parks Authority imported dozens of griffon vultures from Catalonia in Spain, Cyprus and Armenia in an effort to increase their numbers in Israel.

A research project began five years ago by the Ecology Lab at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Nature and Parks Authority in order to learn where the vultures fly and where they find food.

As part of the project, dozens of GPS devices were attached to griffon vultures in order to track their movements and activity patterns in nature. The technological advantage of the GPS transmitters is that they can provide an accurate location for the vulture every few minutes, and are equipped with devices to measure flight speed. This allows researchers to know whether the vulture was standing still, eating, walking, flying by flapping its wings or gliding.

Tied with a rope (Photo: bintjbeil.org)

Conspiracy theories are endemic in the Middle East.

Last summer, Palestinian media reported claims by the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers that they had apprehended a dolphin off their Mediterranean coastline, equipped with video cameras for an Israeli spying mission.

In 2011, Saudi media reported that a vulture carrying a GPS transmitter and an identification ring from Tel Aviv University had been detained by security forces who suspected it was being used for espionage.

In 2010 Israel's Foreign Ministry dismissed Egyptian reports linking a spate of Red Sea shark attacks to Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.
The Global and United States Hydrobike Market Report has been published by QY Research recently. Hydrobike Market Analysis and Insights This report focuses on...
Ernest Shackleton is a well-known explorer who first led the Nimrod Expedition back in 1907. He was one of the first people who climbed Mount Erebus in Antarctica also known as "the most active volcano on Earth." But Shackleton earned fame when he saved his crew men when a ship dubbed as "The Endurance" was damaged by ice in Antarctica.

Recently doctors suggest that the great explorer might've suffered from a hole in his heart during his reign as an adventurer. Historians stated that Shackleton sometimes collapsed during his voyages but tend to not talk about it.

Dr. Ian Calder and Dr. Jan Till are the two doctors from Royal Brompton Hospital in London who revealed Shackelton's secret. According to their research, Shackleton's condition would have never allowed him to travel.

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"In our health-and-safety- conscious world, Shackleton would never have been allowed to travel. Some people may feel that Sir Ernest was irresponsible in undertaking the leadership of Antarctic expeditions if he suspected a problem, but we cannot judge him by modern standards. Nothing was going to stop Shackleton. He was a brave man and a great leader, who kept his men together when they needed him most after the Endurance sank" quipped the doctors.

Shackelton's granddaughter, Alexandra Shackleton, has chimed in on the discovery in a recent interview. According to her, there is a possibility that her grandfather knew he was sick. However, Alexandra reveals that Ernest has never gone to a specialist. Alexandra says that her grandfather might have been deathly terrified of his secret coming out. He was scared of running the risk of not being able to travel the world.

Shackelton lived by his family motto engraved in his heart. Despite having a very grave heart condition Shackelton managed to conquer all the milestones ultimately making him one of the most respectable explorers during his time.
The article/blog entry below from the JTA reminds me of the arguments about Lenin's Jewish ancestry. Now that we can look at the records, we know that Leni...

11 years ago
More information is being revealed regarding the late December attack on the Ukrainian power grid with reports indicating the attack on the utility was supported by a simultaneous telephonic denial of service (DoS)incident.The Ukrainian DoS attack took out the company's call center so its customers could not call and let workers know that service was being disrupted, according to a published report. A telephonic DoS attack works in the same manner as one hitting a computer system, but in this case a call center is overwhelmed with calls to shut it down.In addition, with the telephone system down the utility company staffers could not communicate effectively to fix the problem.Telephonic DoS attacks can be used to obfuscate any type of attack to attract an IT department's attention while the real assault takes place against another segment of the network.Source: http://ift.tt/1PxApF2via DDoS Attacks
This site is the most comprehensive on the web devoted to trans history and biography. Well over 1400 persons worthy of note, both famous and obscure, are discussed in detail, and many more are mentioned in passing.



There is a detailed Index arranged by vocation, doctor, activist group etc. There is also a Place Index arranged by City etc. This is still evolving.



In addition to this most articles have one or more labels at the bottom. Click one to go to similar persons. There is a full list of labels at the bottom of the right-hand sidebar. There is also a search box at the top left. Enjoy exploring!


About ZVTS

Even with the Biden Administration adults in charge and Democrats in control on Congress (barely), there remains an increasingly crumbling global economy imperiling the world, rising nationalism and deadly racism across Europe and Asia, a seemingly endless war against terror, a federal government nobody trusts or believes in, global climate change putting us on the brink of destruction and a Village media that barely does its job on even the best day.



Needless to say there's a lot of Stupid out there when we need solutions . Dangerous levels of Stupid.



Into the fray, dear Reader. Tray tables, crash helmets, arms inside blog at all times.
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan on Tuesday outlined the government's vision to eliminate social and economic disparities in the society, leading to a healthy, clean, green, technologically-advanced state and build 'Swarnandhra Pradesh'.

Narasimhan hoisted the national flag here on the 67th Republic Day celebrations and took review of the parade and march past.

He said Andhra Pradesh has achieved 11.77 per cent growth in the first half of the current fiscal against the national average of 7.2 per cent, and it has resulted in Rs 4.70 lakh crore investments coming in the state.

"The guiding principles of my state are sustainable development and inclusive growth," he said.

AP has been ranked as second by the World Bank in ease of doing business, adding that it has also become the first state in linking the rivers as part of the vision to transform the state as "drought-free".

He said the Government is implementing many welfare measures to improve the quality of life of the poor and disadvantaged families.

"AP now turns as an educational hub with the setting up of many national institutions like IIM, IIT, NIT," the Governor said.

Narasimhan lauded the role of patriots, freedom fighters, literates, people's representatives for the growth and prosperity of Telugu people in particular and the state in general.

"By remembering all those sacrificed and struggled leaders, we will continue our development and welfare schemes and programmes in the state. We should follow the foot steps of our patriots and also as responsible citizens to work hard to achieve our vision 'Swarnandhra Pradesh'," he said.

In Visakhapatnam, the Republic Day celebrations were held at the Vizag Steel Plant, the corporate entity of Rastriya Ispat Nigam Ltd where chairman and managing director, P Madhusudan unfurled the National Flag.

He observed that some of the crucial areas to enhance the performance in 2016 include increasing volume of operations with right product mix and higher percentage of value added steels, harnessing to the fullest potential technological interventions such as Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI) in Blast Furnaces, green initiatives.

In Rajahmundry, celebrations were held at ONGC complex. Executive Director, ONGC of Rajahmundry Asset, Debasis Sanyal exhorted the employees to rededicate themselves to the vision of freedom fighters and double their efforts to realise the mission of Prime Minister of reducing the crude imports by 10 per cent by 2022.

"With the dedicated efforts of employees, Rajahmundry asset has been maintaining the production of 800 tons of oil per day and 18.5 lakh cubic metres of gas per day," he said.
Hyderabad: Professor Vipin Srivastava, who has been appointed as the new in-charge vice-chancellor of Hyderabad University, said on Sunday that the vice-chancellor of Hyderabad University Appa Rao never mentioned about any letter from HRD Ministry on Rohith Vemula's suspension issue.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Shrivasta said that the pressure felt by Rao's committee was that from the Hyderabad High Court as the University of Hyderabad had to submit a report on the action taken, before it on November 25.

Shrivasta was made the in-charge vice-chancellor on Sunday after Appa Rao went on leave amidst the Rohith Vemula suicide row that has taken a political turn. His appointment has been opposed by the agitating students and SC/ST teachers' forum, who has accused him of being involved in a suicide case of a Dalit scholar Senthil Kumar in 2008.

Rohit Vemula, a Dalit scholar, committed suicide in the campus on January 1, after he was suspended from the University for engaging in a clash with a ABVP leader.
Mumbai: Bollywood actor-producer Aamir Khan's attempt to water down a huge controversy he kicked over the intolerance issue in 2015 has evoked a sharp response on microblogging website Twitter.

On Monday, the actor said he had no plans to leave India and he can't live more than two weeks out of the country.

"I love my country, I was born here and I will die here. I have never thought of leaving India and will never take such a step," Aamir told reporters while celebrating the 10th anniversary event of 'Rang de Basanti' here.

"I never said India is intolerant or I want to leave the country... these two things have been said to everyone. So, obviously, people will get hurt and I understand their emotions. I am not surprised they are angry with me. But, there is no truth to this all...," the 50-year-old actor said.

Notably, the actor is currently shooting for his next film 'Dangal'.

On Twitter, Khan's statement ahead of the release of his next film 'Dangal' has evoked criticism:

@shunnysati I think everyone hv freedom to speech but Mr.Khan destroy image of our nation. Yes i am #BoycottDangal  Reetesh Maheshwari (@Reetesh777) January 26, 2016

Kiran Rao says she wants to leave India.Martyr Colonel Santosh Mahadik wife said that both her children will join Indian Army.#BoycottDangal  Hanover (@Hanover_532) January 26, 2016

movie ke liye kuch bhi karenge #BoycottDangal  Sunder Singh (@sunder27) January 26, 2016

#BoyCottDangal still shame on you aamir as a fake hero....  Anuj Shrivastava (@shobhaanuj1) January 26, 2016

#BoycottDangal We audience made them stars now time to make them realize they can not feed their wife & kids on our money simply  Sourabh Prajapat (@SourabhNews) January 26, 2016
New Delhi: At a time when the Centre is seeking public participation for its clean Ganga campaign, an RSS-linked Muslim outfit has decided to spread awareness about it amongst community members on checking pollution of the river.

150 members of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), at a meeting held in Varanasi recently, took a vow for a Swachh Ganga and Swachh Bharat. "We decided that we must work towards stopping pollution of Ganga," MRM national convener Mohammad Afzal said.

As part of their efforts, MRM workers will reach out to community members and erect hoardings urging against polluting the river, Afzal said. "It is the government which will clean the river. But to ensure the river remains clean in a sustainable manner, public participation is required. Therefore, our people will put up banners in areas through which the river flows. We will also see that measures taken by Centre are followed," he said.

The 2,525-km river flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. During the meeting held between January 20 and 21, the Manch also appealed members of Hindu and Muslim communities to "sit together" to find out a solution to the vexed Ayodhya's Ram temple construction issue. "(Mughal emperor) Babur was a foreign invader.

Lord Ram is ours and we are his. Hence, members of both Hindu and Muslim communities should sit together and find out a solution to this (temple issue)," Afzal said. The MRM also held a 'milk party' during the Varanasi meeting to send out a message that its consumption is "healthy", while that of beef was "unhealthy".
Mumbai: IT professional Madubbir Mushtaq Shaikh, who was arrested from Mumbra, a suburb of Thane district in Maharashtra, revealed during interrogation that he received 8 lakh 'hawala' money from terror group ISIS.

During interrogation, Madubbir claimed that he did not misuse the cash he received from ISIS but distributed it among recruits. He also spent a portion of the cash on meetings he attended in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and several other states.

An investigating officer said that Madubbir was considered to be the deputy of ISIS group in India and therefore, they decided to send the the cash to him, meant for group's expansion and to attract more men to join them.

According to investigating officers, they were keeping a watch on Madubbir since last six months before nabbing him. On Friday, they raided his Mumbra's residence and took him into custody. Another officer revealed that Madubbir's wife was involved of his husband's ISIS link as he would often tell his family that he would be heading to Syria anytime soon.

Madubbir is said to have joined ISIS sometime back and is believed to be their primary recruiter in India.

He was working as a web designer at an IT firm in Gurgaon where he had a monthly salary of Rs 60,000. However, he left his job 18 months back to give his full-time to promote ISIS module in India.

Shaikh also revealed that ISIS gave him two options to him, either become a soldier and join them on the battlefield in war in Syria or become a recruiter and promote the terror group module to attract people to join them.
Delhi: Files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was declassified recently by the Narendra Modi government.

Though the files led to revelation of certain facts related to Bose, it has also sparked off certain controversies, one of them being the need to rewrite modern Indian history.

As per a report in Mail Today, in a yet-to be-published book - Bose: An Indian Samurai - by military historian General GD Bakshi, it has been claimed that former British PM Clement Atlee had said that the role played by Netaji's Indian National Army was significant in India becoming independent.

The book also says that the non-violent movement led by Mahatama Gandhi was dismissed as having had minimal effect by then British PM.

Bakshi has reportedly cited a conversation between Atlee and then Governor of West Bengal Justice PB Chakraborty in 1956.

Attlee, who had signed the decision to grant independence to India, was in the country and had stayed in Kolkata as Chakraborty's guest.

Chakraborty was the then Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and was serving as the acting Governor of West Bengal.

As per the report, he had written a letter to the publisher of RC Majumdar's book - A History of Bengal.

The website quotes him as follows - "When I was acting governor, Lord Attlee, who had given us independence by withdrawing British rule from India, spent two days in the governor's palace at Calcutta during his tour of India. At that time I had a prolonged discussion with him regarding the real factors that had led the British to quit India. My direct question to Attlee was that since Gandhi's Quit India Movement had tapered off quite some time ago and in 1947 no such new compelling situation had arisen that would necessitate a hasty British departure, why did they had to leave? In his reply Attlee cited several reasons, the main among them being the erosion of loyalty to the British crown among the Indian Army and Navy personnel as a result of the military activities of Netaji."

He is further quoted as thus - "Toward the end of our discussion I asked Attlee what was the extent of Gandhi's influence upon the British decision to leave India. Hearing this question, Attlee's lips became twisted in a sarcastic smile as he slowly chewed out the word, 'm-i-n-i-m-a-l'."

The above conversation was first published by the Institute of Historical Review by author Ranjan Borra in 1982.
Bhubaneshwar: Just before a police raid took place at a hotel in Bhubaneshwar on Tuesday, four foreign nationals, suspected to be terrorists managed to escape from there.

The police said they had received a tip-off that four suspected to be terrorists were staying at a hotel in the city.

According to hotel authorities, the men fled away as soon as they were asked to produce their identification. The men had come in a car with a Delhi registration and refused to show any ID.

A search operation is underway to capture the suspects. Further details are awaited.

Intelligence Bureau has warned of possible terror attack on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande on Republic Day.

Last year, ISIS had carried out a deadly attack on Paris,while killed at least 129 people.
Greater Noida: Heavy security arrangements have been made at Syed Bhureshah Muslim Girls School at Dankaur in Greater Noida of Uttar Pradesh ahead of Republic Day celebrations in the school compound following the opposition from some local residents against the unfurling of national flag.

According to a report in the Navbharat Times, the school authorities had to approach to the police after some residents stopped the Republic Day preparations on Monday and expressed the opposition against celebrations.

Station Officer of the local police station, Chakrapani Sharma told that appropriate security arrangements have been made to avoid any untoward incident and action should be taken against people who try to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations. Some residents were summoned to police station after the complaint. Sharma told that people were objecting to unfurling of national flag and teaching methods in the school. These people were agitated over the implementation of Hindi and English as medium of teaching.

Adir Khan Jaiswal, secretary of Hazarat Syed Bhureshah Committee, which runs the school, said despite resistance from locals, he will continue to give modern education in the school.

"The school is being run on the Waqf Board since 2011. Things were going right in the beginning but people started to raise objection after we started teaching English and Hindi. But will continue to modernise the education as directed by the Central government. Some people are creating hurdles in this," said Jaiswal.

"Things are getting worse. We have written to chief minister, governor and local authorities about this long ago but nothing has been done so far. Hardliners are forcing us to stop modern education in the school," added Jaiswal.
New Delhi: Security agencies carried out massive raids at various cities across India following intelligence inputs regarding suspected terrorists on Tuesday.

According to reports, two al Qaeda operatives, believed to be members of its sleeper cell and motivating youths to join the terror group, were arrested from Jamshedpur, also known as the steel city, on the eve of Republic Day.

As per reports, East Singhbhum district police arrested Ahmed Masood Akram Sheikh alias Masood alias Monu from Dhatkidih, while Nasim Akhtar alias Raju was nabbed from Road No 6, Zakirnagar, Old Purulia Road, Senior Superintendent of Police Anoop T Mathew told reporters.

The two are suspected members of al Qaeda's sleeper cell and are tasked to motivate youths of the steel city as well as other parts of Jharkhand to join jihad, he said.

The police picked up 35-year-old Masood following inputs provided by Jamshedpur-based Abdul Sami, who was arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell from Mewat in Haryana last week.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Police also sounded a high alert after it received inputs on the movement of some terror suspects in Dehradun on the occasion of Republic Day.

"On this occasion, we don't want to take any chances with the security arrangement in the state. We had inputs of movement of some suspects in the state, have issued an alert. We have also circulated an image of a suspect," Sidhu told ANI.

A high alert has been declared and police teams instructed to remain on their toes after a suspicious man was spotted in Dehradun.

The image of a suspect was caught by a CCTC installed by the police and people have been asked to contact the authorities if they spotted any suspicious activity.

The Local Intelligence Unit and the police teams are currently searching the 'suspicious' man.

Separately, four terror suspects were reported to have escaped from a hotel in Bhubaneswar in Odisha.

According to reports, the missing people are likely to be of foreign origin.

Security for Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was also beefed up after police were tipped off about four suspected terrorists holing up in a hotel near the railway station in Bhubaneswar.

They fled after they were asked to provide their identity proofs at the hotel.

A search operation is underway to capture the suspects.

Also, a Bangladesh national was arrested by Kolkata Police from Alipore area of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal for secretly filming a hospital.
Ahmednagar: A women's group has threatened to storm the famous Shani Shingnapur Temple here in Maharashtra on Tuesday.

Notably, women are barred from paying obeisance at the temple.

But the activists aim at offering prayers at the Shani temple today, even if it takes landing on the temple by a helicopter.

"We have already booked a helicopter and if we are not permitted to enter from the open ground, we shall drop ladders from the chopper and descend. We are not scared of any security since women's rights are concerned," Trupti Desai, the president of Bhumata Ranragini Brigade (BRB), told IANS on Monday.

She said around 1,500 women from all over Maharashtra shall troop down to the temple on Tuesday morning and perform prayers at the temple, dedicated to Lord Shani -- the personification of planet Saturn.

Desai said women must be permitted access inside the temple as the country's Constitution treats men and women equally.

The group is planning to launch similar agitations in other places of worship all over India where women are denied entry on various grounds, Desai said.

Meanwhile, police and the temple authorities have put up three levels of barricades, deployed a considerable force of women constables and village volunteers to guard the temple from Tuesday's likely onslaught by BRB activists.

Ahmednagar District Collector Anil Kawade told news agency PTI that they have received the application from the women's group requesting usage of helicopter.

"We have received the application and it has been sent to the office of the Superintendent of Police as they are the one who will take the decision whether to give the permission for helicopter use," he said.

When contacted, Ahmednagar SP Saurabh Tripathi said the application has been sent to the local police station as the decision on granting permission will be taken on the basis of ground reality and the situation.

The unique open temple has no walls or roof. A self-emerged (svayambhu) five-foot-high black stone stands on a platform and is worshipped as Lord Shanidev.

The temple platform stands in the centre of the small village, also known as Sonai, and attracts millions of tourists and devotees from across the country and abroad.

However, barring the temple priests, none is permitted to climb the nine steps up to the actual stone idol that represents the deity. Everybody must only offer prayers from below the platform, said a temple trustee Prafull N Surpuriya.

Shani Shingnapur is globally known as the only village where houses do not have doors and locks, and the village remains theft-free.

Even the nationalised UCO Bank's branch in the village does not have locks on its doors.

Belief has it that thieves cannot steal or burgle in the village which is protected by Lord Shani, and misfortune and divine punishment would befall anyone who attempts to steal.

Although the temple itself has a much older history, the present form of management of its activities is over five centuries old, Surpuriya said.
New Delhi: Google on Tuesday celebrated India`s Republic Day with a doodle of a tableau of camels carrying band members.

The colourful doodle showed men on top of elaborately decorated camels.

Unlike many of Google`s previous doodles, this doodle does not have any animation.

The doodle presents six colourfully bedecked camels with bandsmen riding their back and playing martial music, marching elegantly in one neat row as they do on the ceremonial boulevard.

Each of the six camels carries a letter of the word 'Google' on their golden caparison.

The BSF is the only force in the country to have these majestic and elegantly dressed four-legged animals for both operational and ceremonial duties.

They are used by BSF personnel for patrolling along the Thar Desert running along the Indo-Pak International Border in Rajasthan.

The 90-camel contingent, 54 with troops and the rest with band personnel, first became part of this national festival celebration in 1976 after it replaced a similar squad of the Army which had been participating in the Republic Day parade since it first took place in 1950.

Incidentally, the contingent this year were made to skip the Republic Day dress-rehearsals initially, sending out a signal that they won't be part of the annual parade, but the contingent were brought in for the exercise a few days before the grand event where French President Francois Hollande is the chief Guest.

According to tradition, the lead camel contingent on Republic Day showcases smartly dressed and large-moustached and armed BSF border guards, the second follows with bandsmen in beautiful multi-colour dresses on the back of the camels playing martial music.

The BSF camel contingent is the inheritor of the heritage of the Bikaner Royal Camel Force, known as 'Ganga Risala', and is based in the border town of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

Every year it travels to Delhi in November to participate in the Raising Day event of the BSF on December 1 and the Republic Day parade after which it retreats to its base.

The contingent is much sought after for ceremonial duties rendered by the government protocol to greet and honour foreign heads and dignitaries many times in the past and was present for welcoming US President Barack Obama at the last Republic Day parade and for entertaining the guests during the Afro-India summit held last year.

Google had marked the 65th Republic Day with a doodle featuring 'Jaanbaaz', BSF's motorcycle daredevils who delight the crowd at Rajpath every January 26, in their famous pyramidal formation.

(With Agency inputs)
Islamabad: Pakistan must actively assist India to bring to justice terrorists who oversaw the attack on the IAF base in Pathankot, two Pakistani experts said in remarks published on Tuesday.

Sikander Ahmed Shah, a former legal adviser in the foreign ministry, and Abid Rizvi, an expert on international law, said it was clear that Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was responsible for the January 7 attack.

"JeM is not an indigenous Kashmiri group; it constitutes mostly extremists from Punjab who are known to have perpetrated acts of terrorism," they said in a column in the Dawn.

Pointing out that the attackers were dressed in Indian Army uniform while using lethal force against the airbase, "such action would also constitute perfidy, a war crime under international law".

They added: "The attack on the airbase will undoubtedly influence future interactions between India and Pakistan, and the two countries must collaborate on curbing regional terrorism."

Terrorists who India says belonged to JeM and came from Pakistan raided the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, killing seven security personnel. Security forces killed all six terrorists.

India is pressing Pakistan to take action against the JeM leadership and all those who masterminded the attack.

Shah and Rizvi, however, said Pakistan must "distinguish between acts of terror and a genuine struggle for liberation".

"Going forward, Pakistan must ensure that it must not sacrifice the Kashmiri cause at the altar of fostering better relations with (India) while at the same time opposing terrorism in all its forms."
Moscow: At least 50 people have died of swine flu in Russia since last month, according to AFP calculations based on data from regional health authorities, as the virus seems to gain ground in the country.

Health authorities in the southern region of Rostov told RIA Novosti state news agency on Monday that an additional two people had succumbed to the virus, bringing the region`s swine flu death toll to eight.

Officials in the nearby Volgograd region meanwhile have said that at least 11 people have died of swine flu.

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 one in the southern region of Adygea.

A first deadly case of swine flu was also reported this week in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in March 2014.

Swine flu deaths have also been reported in the Bryank, Belgorod and Vladimir regions, among others.

Russian health minister Veronika Skvortsova said Monday that the swine flu situation in the country was "completely under control."

As of Friday, 18 deadly swine flu cases had been reported in the former Soviet republic of Armenia since the start of the year.

Authorities in neighbouring Georgia meanwhile said they had recorded three deadly cases of the virus.

In nearby Iran, swine flu has left 112 dead and put more than 1,000 people in hospital since mid-November, authorities said late last month.

A major outbreak of the H1N1 virus sparked a World Health Organization pandemic alert in June 2009, after it emerged from Mexico and the United States.

The outbreak killed around 18,500 people in 214 countries. The alert was lifted in August 2010.
Washington: An international arbitration case over the disputed South China Sea that has been boycotted by China will "settle once and for all" whether artificial reefs are entitled to territorial waters, Australia's top diplomat said.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the ruling by the tribunal in the Hague in the case brought by the Philippines will be "extremely important" as a statement of international principle.

She said that although Beijing is saying it will not be bound by the ruling, which is expected later this year, the tribunal's decision "will be embraced and upheld by all other nations with claims or interests in the region."

China has built up several artificial islands to advance its sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea, a major thoroughfare for world trade.

China says its claims have a historical basis, but that has brought it into conflict with other claimants like the Philippines and Vietnam, and raised broader international concerns over Beijing's intentions.

"In my mind that arbitration will settle once and for all the question of whether or not an artificial reef can create some kind of 12 nautical mile buffer. Our belief is that it does not as a matter of international law," Bishop told a seminar organised by the Centre for a New American Security, a Washington-based think tank.

Australia is not among the claimant governments in the South China Sea, but Bishop said that like the US, it supports freedom of navigation and overflight.

She sidestepped questions about whether Australia, a close US ally, would follow Washington in conducting a freedom of navigation mission close to China's artificial islands.

She called on Southeast Asian nations and China to put in place a code of conduct on behaviour of nations in the South China Sea, an initiative that has made little headway in the past dozen years. "We want to see de-escalation of tensions in the region. We would hate for there to be some kind of miscalculation that would lead to conflict," Bishop said.
San Diego: A report of an active shooter and shots fired at the US Naval Medical Center in San Diego triggered a heavy law enforcement response on Tuesday but was apparently unfounded, Navy officials said.

A lone witness reported hearing three shots at about 8 am PST (1600 GMT) in the basement of a building at the sprawling medical center, the officials said.

Police interviewed the witness and continued to clear the building into Tuesday afternoon but there was no sign of foul play.

"We did an initial clearing of the building and found nothing that would indicate any kind of dangerous situation, Navy Captain Curt Jones, commanding officer of the Naval facility, told a news conference.

California and the United States remain on edge after a married couple inspired by Islamist militants shot and killed 14 people last month in San Bernardino, about 100 miles (160 km) north of San Diego.

The city is home to the US Navy's Pacific Fleet.

Seven law enforcement agencies, including US Marshals, SWAT teams and an armored car from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department were involved in the response to the reported shooting.

Police with rifles and dogs searched the building where the shots were reported, as workers filed out with their hands in the air.
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia`s attorney-general cleared Prime Minister Najib Razak of any criminal offence or corruption on Tuesday, and said a controversial transfer of $681 million into his personal bank account was a gift from Saudi Arabia`s royal family.

The leader of the main opposition party denounced the findings, which came after months of pressure on Najib to resign over the scandal, saying the appointment of the attorney-general by the prime minister himself suggested a conflict of interest.

The involvement of the Saudi royal family is an unexpected twist in the saga over the mysterious funds transfer and the troubles of indebted state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), whose advisory board Najib chairs.

"I am satisfied with the findings that the funds were not a form of graft or bribery," Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali told a hastily called news conference.

Apandi said in a statement that $620 million was returned to the Saudi royal family in August 2013, about five months after the transfer, because it had not been utilised.

"There was no reason given as to why the donation was made to PM Najib, that is between him and the Saudi family," he said.

Apandi said no criminal offence was committed by Najib in relation to three investigations submitted by Malaysia`s anti-graft agency and that no further action would be taken.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had earlier said the funds were a political donation from an unidentified Middle Eastern benefactor.

The attorney-general said in a statement he would return to the MACC papers pertaining to the three separate investigations with instructions to close all three cases.

Conflict of Interest

At the height of the scandal in mid-2015, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail - who had led probes into 1MDB - was replaced by Apandi, a former federal court judge with strong ties to Najib`s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party.

"The attorney-general should not have been involved in the decision affecting the PM because he was appointed by the PM," said Lim Kit Siang, parliamentary leader of the opposition Democratic Action Party.

"It was very controversial circumstances when Gani Patail was sacked. It is a conflict of interest," he said.

Najib, who has weathered repeated calls from opposition leaders and establishment figures to quit, has denied any wrongdoing and says he did not take any money for personal gain.

His office declined to make any comment on the attorney-general`s findings.

The scandal has shaken investors in Southeast Asia`s third-biggest economy and rocked public confidence in the coalition led by UMNO, which has held power since independence in 1957.

However, Najib still enjoys the backing of most of UMNO`s powerful division chiefs. Even his fiercest internal critics, such as influential former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, accept that he cannot be unseated.

Two of the anti-corruption commission papers that Apandi reviewed related to SRC International, a former 1MDB subsidiary that is being probed for an alleged misappropriation of funds worth 4 billion ringgit ($932 million).

A Wall Street Journal report, which Reuters has not verified independently, had said 42 million ringgit ($9.79 million) of the funds channelled into Najib`s account originated from SRC.

1MDB is under investigation by law enforcement agencies in Switzerland, Hong Kong and the United States, media and sources have said.

There was no need for Malaysia to seek legal assistance from any foreign state in respect of the donation made to the prime minister`s account, Apandi said, given his findings that no criminal offence had been committed.
Region du Centre: Thirty-two people were killed on Monday when at least three suicide bombers blew themselves up at a market in northern Cameroon, a region often targeted by Nigeria`s Boko Haram, officials said.

Police said the assailants hit a local market in Bodo village near the frontier with Nigeria in one of the deadliest attacks in the Far North region since 2013.

"The initial toll reported 32 dead and 86 wounded," said regional governor Midjiyawa Bakari.

An earlier report mentioned three suicide bombers but a local source said there were four young girl bombers.

Nearly 1,200 people have been killed since 2013 when Boko Haram began attacking Cameroon`s Far North, an area that borders the Islamist group`s stronghold in northeastern Nigeria.

"In total, 1,098 civilians, 67 of our soldiers and three police officials have been killed in these barbaric attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group," Communications Minister Issa Chiroma Bakary said earlier this month.

In that time, officials say there have been more than 30 suicide attacks blamed on Boko Haram, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group.

This year, there have been attacks on an almost daily basis, some of which have been backed by incursions.

Last week, four worshippers were killed in a suicide bombing at a mosque in the northern village of Nguetchewe, just days after a similar attack on another mosque in the Far North killed 12.In recent years, Boko Haram fighters have slipped back and forth across the frontier, often using Cameroon`s remote north as a rear base, acquiring arms, vehicles and supplies there.

But since late November, the Cameroon army has carried out operations in several border areas aimed at weakening Nigerian jihadists active in the region, with sources saying the raids have significantly weakened Boko Haram`s capabilities.

As a result, the insurgents have turned away from direct confrontation with the military in favour of suicide attacks, increasingly staged by women and girls.

The Nigeria-based jihadists have killed at least 17,000 people and made more than 2.6 million others homeless since their six-year campaign began.

Boko Haram, facing the heat of a military onslaught back home, has in the past year stepped up cross-border attacks in Niger, Chad and Cameroon while continuing shooting and suicide assaults on markets, mosques and other mostly civilian targets within Nigeria itself.

The group has increasingly targeted imams and traditional chiefs for their opposition to the Islamists.

Cameroon has meanwhile banned the Islamic veil in a bid to pre-empt suicide bombings staged by attackers wearing the full-face veil.

Along with Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Benin, Cameroon is part of a regional military force fighting the jihadists.

Despite the offensives launched by the regional force, the group maintains strongholds in areas that are difficult to access, such as the Sambisa forest, the Mandara mountains and the numerous islands of Lake Chad.
Moscow: The head of Russia`s Security Council said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday that the United States wanted a weakened Russia so as to gain access to its vast mineral resources.

The attack on the United States by Nikolai Patrushev came against a background of anti-Western rhetoric by Moscow following imposition of sanctions by Washington and the European Union over Moscow`s role in Ukraine`s crisis.

In an interview with BBC Panorama aired on Monday night, Adam Szubin, acting US Treasury secretary for terrorism and financial crimes, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of amassing secret wealth by corrupt practices over "many, many years".

"The United States` leadership has set a goal of global dominance," Patrushev, a former head of Russia`s FSB state security service and a long-standing ally of Putin, told the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper in an interview on its website.

"They don`t need a strong Russia. On the contrary, they need to weaken our country as much as possible. To achieve this goal, the Russian Federation`s disintegration is not ruled out as well," Patrushev said.

"This will open access to the richest resources for the United States, which believes that Russia possesses them undeservingly."

Russia is the world`s sixth-largest holder of crude oil resources and its natural gas reserves are the second biggest, marginally lower than those of Iran, according to BP data, one of the most respected in the industry.

Patrushev repeated Moscow`s concern that NATO`s expansion represents a threat to Russia`s national security.
Moscow: The Kremlin on Tuesday refused to comment on a report that Vladimir Putin`s ex-wife has remarried, as state media speculated it could pave the way for the president himself to wed again.

Questioned during a daily phone briefing, Putin`s spokesman Dmitry Peskov was coy on whether Lyudmila, 58, has indeed remarried, as a Russian weekly magazine reported last week.

"You know that Vladimir Vladimirovich and Lyudmila Alexandrovna are divorced, and therefore in this case I don`t have the powers to say anything about Lyudmila Alexandrovna and her personal life," Peskov told journalists.

But the website of state television`s rolling news channel Rossiya 24 launched a rare speculative discussion of Putin`s personal life.

"After these reports, in the blogosphere suggestions appeared that possibly now we should await an announcement of Putin`s wedding, too," it said.

Carefully controlled state media would be unlikely to reference reports that were untrue and denied by the Kremlin.

The television website also posted a video of Putin`s 2014 phone-in session with the nation when he said: "I first need to give away my ex-wife Lyudmila Alexandrovna in marriage, then I`ll think about myself."

Persistent rumours have romantically linked Putin, 63, to former Olympic rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabayeva, 31 years his junior, although both have angrily denied a relationship.

A report by news weekly Sobesednik published last week found that a woman with the same name and date and place of birth as Lyudmila but the rare surname Ocheretnaya is registered as owning her sister`s former apartment since September last year.

It said Ocheretnaya received a passport with that surname in February 2015.

The report linked Ocheretnaya to a man called Artur Ocheretny, a 37-year-old who runs a centre that trains people in communications skills. He did not answer written questions from Sobesednik.

The apartment was owned by Putin from 1995 to 1997 and then by his mother-in-law. Located in his hometown of Saint Petersburg, it is tiny for a highly placed official at 139 square metres (1,500 square feet).

The details of the property ownership were checked by the anti-corruption foundation of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, which confirmed they were correct.

"So she got married, excellent, I wish them love and harmony. We don`t see any corruption here," Navalny wrote on his blog.

Putin married Lyudmila, a former airline stewardess, in 1983 and they have two daughters. They announced they were separating in 2013.

Lyudmila has not been seen in public since 2014, Sobesednik reported.

pop-am/del/txw
London: The headteacher of a British school has written to parents urging them not to drop their children off while still dressed in pyjamas, it emerged on Tuesday.

"I have noticed there has been an increasing tendency for parents to escort children to and from school while still wearing their pyjamas and, on occasion, even slippers," wrote Kate Chisholm, head of Skerne Park Academy in Darlington, northeast England.

"Could I please ask that when you are escorting your children, you take the time to dress appropriately in day wear that is suitable for the weather conditions."

The school is for children aged between five and 11.

Chisholm explained she was hoping her appeal could raise levels of achievement in the classroom.

"If we`re to raise standards, it`s not too much to ask parents to have a wash and get dressed," she added.
Rome: Italy`s desire to court visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani extended to covering up classical nude sculptures in the museum where he met Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, it emerged on Tuesday.

The two men made speeches in Rome`s Capitoline Museum after a signing ceremony on Monday which saw Italian companies tie up EUR 17 billion (USD 18 billion) worth of deals with the Islamic Republic.

A huge statue of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius on a horse featured prominently in many of the photographs of the event.

But nude statues, including a Venus dating from the second century BC, had all been covered up in temporary wooden cartons, removing the risk of them creeping into any of the shots -- or catching Rouhani`s eye.

"You can not hide your culture, your religion or history itself. It was the wrong decision," Giuliano Volpe, head of the Superior Council for Cultural Heritage at the Italian culture ministry, told public broadcaster Rai3.

"We must enhance rather respect and differences," he said.

The museum cover-up was not the only step Italy took to ensure the Iranian visit passed off smoothly.

As Rouhani refuses to attend official meals at which any alcohol is available, wine was strictly off the menu at both lunch with President Sergio Mattarella and dinner with Renzi.

According to media reports, France has baulked at making a similar placatory gesture, leaving diplomats preparing for Rouhani`s visit to Paris from Wednesday with a major protocol headache.
Rumble

Introducing the recipe for seafood Chijimi (Korean pan cake) made with Nira (garlic chives) and squid. Adding carrots adds a gentle sweetness and the indescribably enchanting texture of fluffy, chewy pancake is almost addictive. Thinly cooked with the flavor of sesame oil and dipped in the authentic homemade sauce, this dish is a delicious dinner or finger food. The recipe can easily be modified for restricted diets, substituting the squid for thinly sliced pork, or even subbing all animal based products with vegetarian ones (roasted vegetables instead of meat - vegetable broth instead of chicken, etc). =============================================================  YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDvC...  Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/hungrycooki... ============================================================= 00:38 Prepping Ingredients 01:25 How to Gut a Squid 03:43 How To Make Chijimi Dipping Sauce 05:28 Putting Together the Chijimi 06:43 How to Cook Chijimi  Ingredients (for one chijimi) Weak (Cake) flour... 1/3 cup Potato starch ... 2 tbsp Water... 1/3 cup Garlic chives ... 1/3 bunch Carrots ... 1/8 (about 5cm) Squid ... 1/2~1 Salt Torigara (chicken bone) soup stock base (or Hondashi)  1 tsp  Olive oil  Sesame oil Sauce Soy sauce... 2 tablespoons Vinegar... 2 tablespoons Kochijang... 2 tsp Ichimi chili pepper Sesame oil... 1 tablespoon La-Yu (chili oil) Sesame  Cooking Recipe  Slice the Garlic Chives into 3~5cm pieces and julienne the carrots.  Gut, wash, and prep the squid into about 3-5cm strips.  This is a good time to prepare the sauce, so mix the sauce ingredients together to create the dipping sauce for the pancakes.  Add cake flour and potato starch, mixing loosely. Add water, salt, and torigara (chicken bone broth concentrate) or a different stock base like Hondashi, and stir until smooth. Lastly, add prepped vegetables and squid into the bowl and mix to incorporate.  Place the a pan over high heat and when hot, pour in sesame oil and olive oil. Add the batter made in step 4 into the pan, shape, and cook for 1~1.5 minutes on one side. When solid and lightly browned, flip the pancake and cook the other side through, pressing down with a spatula as needed.  Before completely cooked through, pour sesame oil along the rim of the pan and cook for 1~1.5 minutes more until browned. Reduce heat to medium and cook until both sides are both sides are fragrant and of good color.  After removing from the pan when fully cooked, cut into bite sized pieces and serve with prepared dipping sauce.  Cooking tips Thinly sliced pork is a delicious alternative to squid. This recipe can also be made vegetarian by subbing meats with roasted eggplant or other hearty vegetables, and broth subbed with vegetable broth concentrate. If you like a sweeter dipping sauce, add a pinch sugar when putting the sauce together. If you add an egg the taste will be much richer. However, add more flour to the batter as too small of an amount will result in a heavier, less crispy pancake. A recommended ratio will be about 1 cup of flour to 1 egg. When cutting pancakes, the chives are a little hard to cut and tend to lose their shape so cut them carefully. The pancake is easier to cut if you have a pizza cutter on hand.
By Steve Holland and Ginger Gibson PELLA, Iowa /ANKENY, Iowa (Reuters) - U.S. Republican front-runner Donald Trump expressed confidence on Saturday that he could push back attempts by his rivals to knock him off his top perch, saying he could stand on New York's Fifth Avenue "and shoot somebody," and still not lose voters. Nine days from the first nominating contest in Iowa, however, it was Republican rival Marco Rubio who won the endorsement Saturday from the Des Moines Register, the state's biggest and most influential newspaper. On the Democratic side, the Register picked Hillary Clinton. The endorsements were big developments for both Rubio and Clinton. Rubio, a Florida senator, has been running third behind Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz in Iowa, while Clinton has struggled to fend off a challenge to the Democratic nomination from Bernie Sanders. Trump and Cruz, Trump's chief obstacle to a victory in Iowa, held competing rallies across the state while in New Hampshire, other candidates battled for votes in that state's Feb. 9 first-in-the-nation primary for the Nov. 8 election. Trump, the New York billionaire and former reality TV star who has been virtually impervious to attacks from his opponents, pushed the limits of his political rhetoric again in Sioux Center, Iowa. "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose any voters," he said. Trump has been a difficult target for criticism from his rivals because not all of his supporters are conservatives and many are most interested in his projection of strength, not where he stands on a particular issue. The latest Reuters-Ipsos tracking poll had Trump pulling in 40.6 percent support of Republican voters nationally. A CNN/ORC poll has Trump up in Iowa with 37 percent to 26 percent for Cruz, who has led in some other Iowa polls. Trump did not repeat the "shoot somebody" line at a later rally in Pella, while stressing to the crowd there that he would tone down his rhetoric as president. BECK BACKS CRUZ Cruz responded to Trump at an event in Ankeny, where he picked up the endorsement of conservative firebrand Glenn Beck, a counterweight of sorts to Trump's endorsement by 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. "Listen, I will let Donald speak for himself. I can say I have no intention of shooting anybody in this campaign," Cruz said. Beck was more direct. "There is one thing to have a healthy ego, there is another to give a man who believes those kind of things, who has a habit of anyone who stands in his way of destruction," Beck said. "To give that man the full power and scope of the office of the presidency is something we will grow to regret." Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was an introductory speaker at Trump's Pella event. Grassley did not endorse Trump but repeated Trump's signature phrase, saying Republicans have a chance to "make America great again." During his speech, Trump called Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly biased and said she should not be a moderator at a Fox-hosted Republican debate in Des Moines on Thursday. Kelly's questioning at an Aug. 6 debate in Cleveland had prompted Trump to unleash a series of insults at her. There was no indication that Fox planned to remove her as a moderator. "Megyn Kelly has no conflict of interest. Donald Trump is just trying to build up the audience for Thursday's debate, for which we thank him," said a Fox News spokesperson. BLOOMBERG CONSIDERING INDEPENDENT BID The potential for more chaos in what has been a turbulent race on both the Republican and Democratic sides emerged on Saturday with the news that former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg might launch an independent run for president. A source said part of Bloomberg's concern was the problem that Clinton is having in defeating Sanders. "I hope he runs," Trump told reporters in Pella. At a First In The Nation forum for candidates in Nashua, New Hampshire, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush was notably withering in his criticism of Trump. He reminded voters of Trump's dismissal of Senator John McCain as not a hero because he got captured during the Vietnam War. McCain spent 5-1/2 years as a prisoner of war. He was a two-time winner of the New Hampshire primary and the 2012 Republican presidential nominee. "It is not strong to insult women. It is not a sign of strength when you insult Hispanics. It is not a sign of strength when you say that a POW was a loser because they got caught. John McCain is a hero," Bush said. (Additional reporting by Dustin Volz in Washington and Alana Wise in New Hampshire; Editing by Sandra Maler and Mary Milliken)
A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet is seen in its hanger at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland October 28, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron (Reuters)

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Marine Corps on Monday said it would send a pair of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets to two air shows in Britain this summer, a key milestone for the $391 billion weapons program after its thwarted international debut in 2014.

Some U.S. Air Force F-35 jets will also take part in the events, according to sources familiar with the plans. Air Force officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

A fleetwide F-35 grounding ordered after an engine fire in 2014 prevented what would have been the jets' international premiere at the annual Royal International Air Tattoo and an appearance at the world's biggest air show in Farnborough, outside London, both that year.

Since then, an F-35 jet assembled in Italy has made its inaugural flight there, but this year's appearance at RIAT will be the first by the stealthy, supersonic new warplane at an international air show.

"The U.S. Marine Corps is looking forward to demonstrating the capabilities of the F-35B Lightning II in the skies over the United Kingdom this July," Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lieutenant General Jon Davis said in statement to Reuters.

Davis said a joint U.S. Marine Corps and UK detachment would use the flights to validate overseas deployment activities and prove program interoperability. The Pentagon's F-35 program office and Lockheed would support the work, he said.

The British defense ministry had no immediate comment.

One of the sources said Britain planned to send at least one of the four F-35 jets it has already received to the air shows. The British jets are currently training in the United States.

Lockheed is developing three models of the jet, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, or Lightning II, with key suppliers Northrop Grumman Corp and Britain's BAE Systems Plc. Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp, builds the engines.

Besides Britain, seven other countries helped fund development of the jets: Norway, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Turkey, Italy and the Netherlands. All but Canada and Denmark have since ordered jets, as have Israel, Japan and South Korea.

Story continues

The F-35 program, the Pentagon's single largest weapons project, ran into technical problems and cost overruns for years, but U.S. officials say it has improved and that costs have fallen for the past five years.

The Marine Corp's F-35B model can take off from warships and aircraft carriers and land like a helicopter. The service branch plans to buy a total of 420 F-35B-model and C-model jets, which can fly onto and take off from aircraft carriers.

The Air Force plans to buy 1,763 A-model jets, which take off and land on conventional runways.

Davis said lessons identified from the deployment would help the Marines as they set up a second F-35 fighter attack squadron this summer and prepare for the first one to move to Iwakuni, Japan, in 2017.

The Marine Corps in July announced an initial squadron of 10 F-35 jets ready for combat, and the Air Force is due to follow suit this summer.

(Additional reporting by Sarah Young in London; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Lisa Von Ahn and Alistair Bell)
By Fiona Ortiz (Reuters) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette on Monday named a special prosecutor and investigator to look into possible crimes in the city of Flint's water crisis. Todd Flood, a former prosecutor for Detroit's Wayne County, and retired Detroit FBI head Andrew Arena will conduct the independent investigation into the lead contamination in Flint after water supplies were switched to save money, Schuette said. Governor Rick Snyder apologized last week for the delay in addressing Flint's problems, which have become a national scandal. Residents of the city of 100,000 people had complained for months about discolored water, but officials moved slowly to address the problem. "Without fear and without favor, this independent investigation will be high-performance and let the chips fall where they may," Schuette told reporters at a news conference. State Representative LaTanya Garrett, a Democrat from Detroit, filed a petition with U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to remove Schuette and his team from the investigation, citing conflicts of interest. Schuette and Snyder are Republicans. Schuette pledged the investigation would be independent and said an ethics lawyer would watch out for conflicts. He gave no timeline for the probe, saying it could take a long time to get all the facts necessary. Schuette said it was an outrage that people in Flint are billed for water they cannot drink and that he was looking for ways to get people relief from payments. He said he decided earlier this year that the probe was needed, after the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality admitted errors in Flint water treatment. Dan Wyant, the head of Michigan's DEQ, resigned in December. Last week Susan Hedman, the regional director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, also stepped down due to the Flint water problem. In recent years, financially troubled Flint has been governed by a series of state-appointed emergency managers. A booming car industry town in the first half of the 20th century, the city has been in decline ever since. In 2014, Flint began using river water, which was more corrosive than its previous supply and caused more lead to leach from its aging pipes. This in turn led to elevated levels of lead, a neurotoxin that can damage the brain and cause other health problems, in some drinking water and in some children. A number of lawsuits have been filed against city and state officials.
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Tom Perry and Tom Miles AMMAN/BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations invited Syria's government and opposition to peace talks in Geneva on Friday, but Saudi-backed opponents of President Bashar al-Assad have yet to decide whether to drop their objections to taking part. The U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, sent out invitations to the delayed talks on Tuesday, without saying who had been invited or how many groups might participate. Earlier, the opposition had cast doubt on whether it would go to Geneva, accusing the United States of adopting unacceptable Iranian and Russian ideas on solving the conflict. A decision by the opposition's recently formed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) on whether to accept the invitation is due to be taken at a meeting in Riyadh. "There is consensus in the High Committee on being positive in our decision," spokesman Salim al-Muslat told the Arabic news channel Arabiya al-Hadath. However, he added that the final decision would not be made at the meeting until Wednesday. A Western diplomat said the Geneva talks could not be convened if the HNC were to stay away, and de Mistura would have to find a face-saving way to avoid the complete collapse of the process, perhaps by announcing a further delay. The main Syrian Kurdish party said it had not been invited, a move some interpreted as intended to keep Turkey, which regards Syria's Kurdish fighters as terrorists, engaged in the process. De Mistura has said the Geneva meeting will first seek a ceasefire and later work toward a political settlement. The talks are expected to last for six months, with diplomats shuttling between rival delegations in separate rooms. The Syrian government, which is clawing back territory from the rebels with the help of Russian air strikes and other allies including Iranian fighters, has already said it will attend. The HNC has however repeatedly said the government and its allies must halt bombardments and lift blockades of besieged areas before it will join talks. Opposition official Asaad al-Zoubi, who is due to head the HNC delegation, told Reuters that without the implementation of goodwill steps including the release of detainees "there will be no negotiations". Reflecting opposition misgivings about the process, he told Al-Hadath that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had tabled Iranian and Russian ideas about Syria at a recent meeting with opposition leader Riad Hijab. "It was not comfortable for us for America ... to adopt what came in the Iranian and Russian initiatives," Zoubi said. The U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Michael Ratney, urged the opposition to attend. "Our advice to the Syrian opposition is to take advantage of this opportunity to put the intentions of the regime to the test and to expose in front of international public opinion which are the parties serious in reaching a political settlement in Syria and which are not," he said. LOST LEGITIMACY The United States has supported the opposition to Assad, who it says has lost legitimacy and must leave power. But the opposition has been increasingly critical of U.S. policy. Hijab said earlier this month the United States had backtracked on its position over Syria, softening its stance to accommodate Russia. Diplomacy has repeatedly failed to resolve the conflict that has killed 250,000 people and forced millions from their homes, spawning a refugee crisis in neighboring states and Europe. De Mistura is the third international envoy for Syria. His two predecessors - Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi - both quit. Preparations for the talks have been beset by problems including a dispute over who should represent the opposition. Russia has tried to expand the opposition delegation to include a powerful Kurdish faction that controls wide areas of northern Syria. The Sunni Arab opposition say the Kurdish PYD party should be part of the government delegation. Turkey said it would not attend if the PYD was invited. The PYD, which is fighting Islamic State and has enjoyed military support from the United States, is a terrorist group and has no place with the opposition at the negotiating table, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. PYD leader Saleh Muslim, who earlier told Reuters he expected his party to be asked to Geneva, said he not received an invitation and was not aware that any Kurdish representatives had been asked to come. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier it would be impossible to reach a peace agreement in Syria without inviting Kurds to join the negotiating process. The Syrian Kurds say the autonomous government they have established in the northeast is a decentralized model for how to resolve the war that has splintered the country. The Syrian government and its allies have made significant gains against rebels in western Syria in recent weeks. On Monday they captured the rebel-held town of Sheikh Maskin in southern Syria near the border with Jordan. It was the first significant gain for Damascus in that area since the start of the Russian intervention on Sept. 30. In recent weeks government forces and their allies have also captured two strategic towns in the northwestern province of Latakia, where they are trying to seal the border to cut insurgent supply lines to Turkey. (Additional reporting by Lisa Barrington in Beirut, Vladimir Soldatkin and Andrew Osborn in Moscow, Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva and Nick Tattersall in Turkey; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Giles Elgood and David Stamp)
By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As they stocked up on groceries, batteries and booze ahead of the first major snowstorm to hit the U.S. East Coast this year, residents of the nation's capital also shared in a time-honored ritual - complaining about how poorly Washington manages winter. Residents of the city and its suburbs had good reason to be worried. An inch (2.5 cm) of snow on Wednesday brought the evening rush hour in the metropolitan area of more than 4 million people to a halt. Some commuters complained that drives that normally took 10 minutes stretched into three-hour odysseys. "The motto seems to be: 'We're no worse than anybody else,' Patricia DeWolf, a 63-year-old retiree, said outside a Safeway supermarket after buying food and other supplies. "This is the national capital, this is a world-class city. It should act like it." Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser apologized for the traffic snarls and vowed to be ready for the blizzard that is forecast to begin on Friday night and drop up to 2 feet (60 cm) of snow. "We should have been out with more resources," she told reporters about the problems on Wednesday, adding that officials were now "very focused on the blizzard that is focused on Washington, D.C." Government and public services were already going into shutdown mode. The Metro regional transit service, which runs the second-busiest U.S subway system, said it would be suspending service from Friday night through Sunday. Public school systems in the District of Columbia and the Virginia and Maryland suburbs will be closed on Friday. The U.S. House of Representatives canceled its votes on Monday and the Senate will not be in session. The Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the federal workforce, has not decided whether the region's almost 400,000 government workers will go to work on Friday. Washington has a long history of being overwhelmed by winter weather, with blizzards such as 2010's "Snowmageddon" shutting down the city for days. But officials have also faced criticism for being perceived as overreacting to advancing storms, such as in March 2013, when the region's government workers were told to stay home because of an impending storm. The storm was a no-show, with only a soupy slush covering roadways. Washington's weather wimpdom may just be an indicator of its infrastructure problems. A study by Texas A&M University in August said the area had the worst traffic congestion in the country. In the face of the impending storm, Washingtonians were preparing for the worst. At another Safeway store, near the U.S. Capitol, store manager Robin Lee said: We got people down the aisles. It is crazy in here right now. (Additional reporting by Tom Ramstack and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Scott Malone and Peter Cooney)
The Syrian opposition cast doubt on whether it would go to peace talks planned for Friday, throwing UN diplomatic efforts into question and accusing the United States of adopting Iranian and Russian ideas for solving the conflict.

The Saudi-backed opposition was meeting on Tuesday to decide whether to attend the talks which UN envoy Staffan de Mistura aims to open in Geneva on Friday, ushering in months of negotiations with delegates in separate rooms.

Opposition official Asaad al-Zoubi told Arabic news channel Al-Hadath that he was pessimistic, though the final decision would be taken at the opposition meeting in Riyadh.

De Mistura was expected to issue invitations on Tuesday.

"It's going to be very low-key proximity talks," UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told journalists in Geneva.

A Western diplomat said the aim was to get the talks started without further delay. "There is a little bit of fear that if the talks don't start soon they'll never really get going."

The Syrian government, which is taking territory from the rebels with the help of Russian air strikes and Iranian ground forces, has already said it will attend.

Demanding end to bombardments, blockades

The opposition comprising the recently formed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) has however repeatedly said the government and its allies must halt bombardments and lift blockades of besieged areas before they will go to any talks.

Zoubi, who is due to head the opposition delegation to any negotiations, told Reuters that without the implementation of goodwill steps including release of detainees "there will be no negotiations". "This is what the HNC has laid down," he said.

Reflecting opposition misgivings about the process, he told Al-Hadath that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had tabled Iranian and Russian ideas about Syria at a recent meeting with opposition leader Riad Hijab.

"It was not comfortable for us for America - even in theory or partially - to adopt what came in the Iranian and Russian initiatives," Zoubi said in the interview.

He also heaped criticism on de Mistura, saying the UN Syria envoy "cannot impose conditions" on the opposition. The U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Michael Ratney, urged the opposition to attend the talks.

"Our advice to the Syrian opposition is to take advantage of this opportunity to put the intentions of the regime to the test and to expose in front of international public opinion which are the parties serious in reaching a political settlement in Syria and which are not," he said.
By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. health officials are stepping up efforts to study the link between Zika virus infections and birth defects in infants amid predictions for widespread circulation of the mosquito-borne virus within the United States during warmer months. The U.S. Director of the National Institutes of Health on Tuesday called for intensified efforts to study the impact of Zika infections, citing a recent study estimating the virus could reach regions where 60 percent of the U.S. population lives. The mosquito-borne virus has been linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya, which causes mild fever and rash. An estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected. On Monday, the World Health Organization predicted the virus would spread to all countries across the Americas except for Canada and Chile. In a blog post, NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins cited a Lancet study published Jan. 14 in which researchers predicted the Zika virus could be spread in areas along the East and West Coasts of the United States and much of the Midwest during warmer months, where about 200 million people live. The study also showed that another 22.7 million people live in humid parts of the country where mosquitoes carrying the virus could live year round. Given the threat, Collins said "it is now critically important to confirm, through careful epidemiological and animal studies, whether or not a causal link exists between Zika virus infections in pregnant women and microcephaly in their newborn babies." Microcephaly results in babies being born with abnormally small heads. Experts say there is still much to learn about Zika infections. For example, it is not clear how common Zika infections are in pregnant women, or when during a pregnancy a woman is most at risk of transmitting the virus to her fetus. Collins said the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease is conducting studies to more fully understand the effects of Zika in humans, and to develop better diagnostic tests to quickly determine if someone has been infected. The NIAID is also working on testing new drugs that might be effective against the virus. The blog post was followed by the announcement on Tuesday of new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention providing instructions for pediatricians treating infants whose mothers may have been exposed to the virus during pregnancy. In those guidelines, the CDC makes clear that Zika virus is considered a nationally notifiable condition, and instructs doctors to contact their state or territorial health departments to facilitate testing of potentially infected infants. The guidelines for the care of infants affected by Zika infections follows CDC guidelines for caring for pregnant women exposed to Zika virus, which were first reported by Reuters. The CDC said last week it is trying to determine how many pregnant women may have traveled to affected regions in the past several months. (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by James Dalgleish)
By David Dolan and Asli Kandemir ISTANBUL (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 criticized the PKK which is designated a terrorist organization 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 reemphasized 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 criticized 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 criticized Turkish military action in the southeast. Security forces briefly detained 27 academics on accusations of terrorist propaganda, while dozens face investigation by their universities. In an apparent rebuke, Erdogan told Biden on Saturday that he expected sensitivity from Turkey's allies and that they should avoid statements which may equate to support for those trying to hamper Turkish efforts to fight terror, presidential sources said. (Additional reporting by Murad Sezer and by David Brunnstrom in Riyadh; Writing by Dasha Afanasieva; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky, Hugh Lawson and Mary Milliken)
By Allison Lampert MONTREAL (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged on Tuesday to require that environmental reviews of oil pipelines and LNG export projects consider greenhouse gas effects, and said it was not his role to be a cheerleader for such projects. The Liberal government said the new rules would be rolled out within days, and that they would take into account not just the greenhouse gas emissions from a proposed pipeline or liquefied natural gas terminal but also its "upstream" effects, meaning the impact of oil and gas production. Trudeau did not make clear how much weight would be applied to the emissions. U.S. President Barack Obama rejected TransCanada Corp's Keystone XL pipeline from Canada last year, citing the effect it could have on climate change. "The federal role is to put into place a process by which TransCanada and any other company could demonstrate that their projects are in the public interest and could have public support," Trudeau told reporters after meeting Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, who opposes TransCanada's Energy East pipeline. Energy East would carry 1.1 million barrels of crude oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan across numerous provinces to refineries and export terminals in eastern Canada. "What we are going to roll out very soon, as we promised in our election campaign, is to establish a clear process which will consider all the greenhouse gas emissions tied to a project, which will build on the work already done." The Liberals have pledged to strengthen Canada's environmental process and have been working on a transition plan for projects currently under review to ensure they adhere to a higher standard without having to return to square one. The new rules would apply to major pipeline and LNG projects like TransCanada's Energy East, Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain expansion and the Petronas-led Pacific NorthWest LNG export terminal. Projects with existing environmental certificates and pipelines regulated on a provincial level would not be impacted. Ali Hounsell, spokeswoman for the $5.4 billion Trans Mountain project, said it was too soon to comment on the impact of the new rules but added the company would be eyeing changes to timing. "When you look at additional process, the key issue for us is timeline," she said. "A small delay in timeline can result in a longer delay on the other end." TransCanada said it is prepared to work with government to ensure the "safe and environmentally sound" transport of resources to market. Trudeau has promised the new process would give the various levels of government, scientists and indigenous people the opportunity to take part in decision-making. (Additional reporting by Julie Gordon in Vancouver, Randall Palmer and Leah Schnurr in Ottawa; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and James Dalgleish)
The CEO of the largest warehouse REIT in the U.S. brushed off concerns about China after reporting solid results.

The fundamentals of real estate still hold up, even when there is an elephant in your warehouse. Supply and demand are favoring the U.S. industrial space, despite fears of China's slowing economy sucking the wind out of the sector's sails.



Prologis (PLD), the largest warehouse REIT in the nation, reported strong fourth-quarter funds from operations on Tuesday, beating expectations by 2 cents per share. Revenue of $643.2 million was considerably higher than expected, up 43 percent from one year ago.



"The dynamics of the business are very positive," said Prologis CEO Hamid Moghadam. "Rental growth is by far the biggest driver, because we've driven occupancy as far as we can. There is a lot of room to run on the rent side, and the reason for that is very constrained supply. The development machine has not kicked in."



Warehouse has benefitted strongly from retail's move online. As companies strive to get goods to consumers faster than ever before, they are filling warehouses, especially those close in to major metropolitan markets.

Read More Real estate's least sexy sector is red hot

Prologis, which, according to its website, owns more rooftops than any other real estate company, reports its properties are 97 percent occupied, the highest occupancy rate Moghadam said he has seen in his 30-year career. Its customers include Amazon, (AMZN) Home Depot (HD), FedEx (FDX), UPS (UPS) and Wal-Mart. (.WMQ)



"Demand is modest," he admitted, "But when you overlay that on tight supply, it is really giving us pricing power and rental growth like I've never seen before."



Moghadam brushes off concern that warehouse demand could be hurt by a slowdown in China's economy.



"There is still a pretty spectacular rate of economic growth. Exports from China are definitely slowing down, but domestic consumption in China is growing at double-digit rates, and that creates warehouse demand in China, and we're active in china," he said.

Story continues

China accounts for 5 percent of Prologis' gross business and 1 percent of its earnings.



Chinese exports may be slowing, but the volume is still substantial. In addition, analysts say lower U.S. gas prices are bolstering consumer spending, which benefits the warehouse sector.



"Our propensity to buy stuff isn't going away, and China's propensity to produce stuff more cheaply than we can isn't going away," said Mitch Roschelle, a partner at PwC.

In April, 2015, Prologis acquired the real estate portfolio of KTR Partners. That increased its supply in several major markets like Chicago and Seattle.

"It is one of the few deals you just have to make," said Moghadam in an exclusive interview with CNBC at the time.
donald trump

Real-estate mogul Donald Trump suggested in a Tuesday interview that the capitals of France and Belgium have been adversely affected by the lack of "assimilation" from their Muslim residents.

Fox Business Network anchor Maria Bartiromo asked Trump about the practicality of his plan to bar Muslim immigrants and tourists from the US, given the size of the world's Muslim population.

"There is something going on, Maria," Trump replied. "Go to Brussels. Go to Paris. Go to different places. There is something going on and it's not good, where they want Sharia law, where they want this, where they want things that  you know there has to be some assimilation. There is no assimilation. There is something bad going on."

The Republican presidential front-runner said Brussels, the capital of Belgium, had been particularly transformed. Belgium has been home to a number of recent terror plots, and was linked to the November attack on Paris, France, that left 130 people dead.

"You go to Brussels  I was in Brussels a long time ago, 20 years ago, so beautiful, everything is so beautiful  it's like living in a hellhole right now," Trump continued. "You go to these different places. There is something going on."

Trump ignited a national firestorm last month when he proposed a temporary ban on Muslim immigration and tourist travel to the US. The business mogul argued that such a hard-line approach was necessary to keep the US safe from terrorism, but critics questioned the effectiveness and legality of the proposal.

NOW WATCH: A North Korean defector tells us how she escaped and survived





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LAS VEGAS, Nev., Jan. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Michael Hu, President of 2050 Motors, Inc. (OTCQB: ETFM), today announced that the dates of the media event for the unveiling of the first all carbon fiber electric vehicles in the United States are as follows:

--- February 12th and February 13th, 5 PM to 8 PM, is a catered private showing for the media and invited guests from the transportation industry and public officials.

--- From February 14th through February 22nd, 10 AM to 5 PM, the showcase will be open to the general public.

Mr. Hu stated, "These advanced electric vehicles have been attracting a lot of attention since their arrival in the USA in January. The response from our invitation guest list has been impressive."

The event will take place at the world famous William Carr Gallery (http://williamcarrgallery.com) located in the newly constructed Tivoli Village Mall, 400 S. Rampart Blvd., Ste. 105, Las Vegas NV 89145.

The e-Go and its big brother, the Ibis luxury touring sedan, are poised to give the electric vehicle market in the USA some real competition. The entire bodies of both of these vehicles are constructed of carbon fiber by a new, less expensive process created by European and Chinese engineers. This process for the first time allows this space age material to be used in the construction of vehicles at affordable consumer prices. Both vehicles have a chassis constructed out of high strength grade extruded aluminum alloy.

Other features include advanced lithium batteries with 10 year unlimited mileage warranties; a variety of battery packs and electric power trains to suit any customer's desires and budget; and an assortment of gadgetry (E-Pad, intelligent control, regenerative braking, etc.).

To avoid crowds, we ask everyone who plan to attend the event from February 14-22 to please register at our website (http://www.2050motors.com) so we may accommodate all of our visitors.

About 2050 Motors, Inc.

2050 Motors, Inc. ( http://www.2050motors.com and http://www.etfm.com), is a publicly traded company incorporated in Nevada in 2012. 2050 Motors was founded to develop and produce the next generation of clean, lightweight, efficient vehicles and its associated technologies. Some of these technologies include alternative renewable fuels, hybrid electric vehicles, advanced graphene lithium batteries and carbon fiber low cost vehicles. 2050 Motors has been successful in forming long term relationships and exclusive contracts for a variety of game changing technologies. 2050 Motors entered into an agreement with Jiangsu Aoxin New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., located in Jiangsu, China, for the distribution in the United States of a new electric automobile, known as the e-Go EV (electric vehicle). The e-Go EV is a revolutionary new concept in the ever evolving world of electric vehicles. It will be the only production line electric car with a carbon fiber body and parts manufactured by a new process using robotic machines which significantly reduces the fabrication time and cost of carbon fiber components. The e-Go EV will seat four passengers, have a long battery life, and high energy efficiency rating up to 150+ MPG-E energy equivalent in urban driving due to the light weight of the vehicle. The five passenger carbon fiber luxury sedan Ibis EV, the e-Go's big brother, will also be showcased along with the e-Go EV for future sales in the United States. See videos of completion of the e-Go EV manufacturing plant at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wih8_xxZNgA and the unveiling of the e-Go EV at the 2014 Shanghai Auto Show http://www.2050motors.com/shanghaishow.html . The company is fully reporting under the SEC EDGAR system.

Disclosure Statement

Statements in this press release about our future expectations, including without limitation, the likelihood that 2050 Motors will be able to leverage capital markets to execute its growth strategy, meet US DOT requirements, meet minimum sales expectations, will be successful and profitable in the US market, and will bring significant value to 2050 Motors' stockholders, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and our actual results could differ materially from expected results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Contact:

George Hedrick

VP North American Operations

2050 Motors, Inc.

(702) 591-6029

info@2050motors.com

This article was originally distributed on PRWeb. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/01/prweb13182551.htm
Los Angeles, Jan. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New skincare brand Ormana brings the pinnacle of Moroccan luxury to the U.S. market. Proving just how powerful natures bounty can be, the chemical-free farm-to-skin line utilizes some of the worlds purest forms of Argan and Prickly Pear oils to deliver skin a dramatic glow, while reinforcing its natural defenses.

A translation of natural gold of Morocco, Ormana offers a wide selection of products for the face and body, each one grounded in natures most effective and rare anti-aging ingredients. Sourced in Morocco and formulated in France, the brand offers a luxurious blend of nature, science, and tradition with products ranging from complexion balancing day creams and slimming body oils, to eyelash enhancing serums and beyond.

For hundreds of years, the women of Morocco have relied upon these rare oils to protect their skin from the harsh desert climate. Now, we would like to share these natural beauty secrets with an entirely new generation of women,  said Ghita Chakir, vice president of marketing for Ormana. Whether you are struggling with an uneven or lackluster complexion or premature signs of aging, Ormana has a safe, natural, and dramatic solution.

By hand-pressing its oils, Ormana ensures superior integrity, purity, and potency of each product in its line. In addition to its ultra pure Argan and Prickly Pear oils, the luxury skincare line also incorporates several more coveted anti-aging ingredients, including essential Sweet Almond and Grapeseed oils.

This is not your average drugstore Argan-based beauty product, said Chakir. As with all of its oils, Ormanas Argan Oil is 100 percent organic and free of impurities. It takes 14 years for one of our Moroccan Argan trees to bear its fruit. Only then may we extract its oils. For more than a century, this has been the processand Ormana has no intention of augmenting this formula. We harvest our Argan Oil directly from our own farm and bottle it the same day.

The entire line is completely free of artificial preservatives, parabens, silicones, coloring agents, synthetic fragrances, and animal testing. Take it from nature: Ormana is proof that a glowing, airbrushed appearance needs no chemicals.

For more information or to purchase Ormana now, please visit http://myormana.com.
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Ouagadougou (AFP) - Burkina Faso has lifted a curfew in force since a failed coup in September, the government announced Monday, but it warned citizens to stay vigilant following this month's jihadist attack at a top hotel in the capital.

The curfew had only been in force between the hours of 1:00 am and 4:00 am recently, but has been more severe at times over the last four months, preventing people from going out between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am.

"The curfew has been lifted across the entire national territory. This measure will take effect from tonight," the government said in a statement, urging people nonetheless to remain vigilant.

The curfew was put in place on September 17 by members of Burkina Faso's elite RSP army unit as they attempted to overthrow the country's transitional government, briefly taking its leaders hostage.

The coup was thwarted by street protesters and support from the army, which attacked the plotters' barracks.

New President Roch Marc Christian Kabore took office last month and was confronted just weeks later with a major jihadist attack in the capital Ouagadougou, which saw gunmen kill 30 people at a popular hotel and restaurant.
Paris (AFP) - Angry French taxi drivers blocked key roads with burning tyres and hundreds of flights were cancelled as air traffic controllers joined civil servants, hospital staff and teachers for a "Black Tuesday" of strikes.

At Paris's Orly airport, one protester was injured when a shuttle bus forced its way through a blockade, with the driver saying he "panicked". Police arrested the driver.

Some 2,100 taxi drivers, furious over upstart competitors such as Uber, blocked the capital's ring road at a key western intersection, lighting fires and throwing smoke bombs.

One Uber driver had his car splattered with eggs and kicked by protesters, an AFP journalist said.

"Today our survival is at stake, we are fed up of meetings and negotiations," said Ibrahima Sylla, spokesman of the Taxis de France collective.

"Before I'd have 10 to 12 fares per day. Now, it's just five or six," said Rahim Edalat, who has been driving taxis in Paris for 20 years.

"It's the worst year I've ever seen," he told AFP.

A total of 14 protesters were arrested around the capital for violence and lighting fires, police said.

"There is a right to protest... even during a state of emergency," said Prime Minister Manuel Valls, referring to measures imposed after the November attacks in Paris.

"But violence is unacceptable."

- 'A world problem' -

Police advised motorists to avoid several areas of the capital, including Porte Maillot in the west of Paris where hundreds of taxi drivers had gathered with some intending to stay.

The taxi drivers kept up their action overnight and were continuing into Wednesday, with routes to Orly and Roissy airports also affected, police said.

Adding to the chaos, one in five flights in and out of Paris were cancelled because of a strike by air traffic controllers over pay and conditions, with the action affecting both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports.

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Budget airline Ryanair said it cancelled more than 200 flights, and easyJet cut 35 flights, mostly within France but also affecting Italy, Switzerland and Spain.

Air France said it would operate all its long-haul flights and more than 80 percent of its short and medium-haul flights in France and elsewhere in Europe.

Last year, France banned Uber's low-cost UberPOP service -- which used unlicensed drivers -- but the professional version of Uber continues to operate legally, with taxi dispatchers in Paris saying business has shrunk by 20 to 30 percent.

"Uberisation... is not just a Paris problem but a world problem," said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, sympathising with regular taxi drivers who "must be able to make a decent living".

Uber flouted the UberPOP ban for several months, triggering a spate of violent protests in June.

The San Francisco-based company finally shut down the low-cost service in July after two of its French bosses were arrested and charged with "misleading commercial practices (and) complicity in the illegal exercise of the taxi profession".

- 'Biggest mobilisation since 2012' -

At the same time, unions had urged some 5.6 million civil servants to down tools in protest over reforms that have already seen seven billion euros ($7.6 billion) in austerity cuts.

The government said only 10 percent had joined the strike, but the hardline CGT union put the figure at nearly 30 percent, describing the action as "the biggest mobilisation" of civil servants since socialist President Francois Hollande came to power in 2012.

In Paris, thousands of demonstrators marched with banners reading "Enough of austerity" and "Increase wages, not shareholders" with police putting the figure at 6,000 protesters while unions said turnout was around 15,000.

The strike also affected schools, with the education ministry saying more than 12 percent of primary teachers had joined over demands for higher pay, as well as 22 percent of high school teachers who are protesting against the reform of education for pupils aged between 11 and 15.

The striking unions -- which led up to 120 demonstrations across France on a day dubbed "Black Tuesday" -- said they were protesting over some 150,000 job losses since 2007, and demanded the creation of new positions, particularly in the hospital sector.

Farmers upset over falling prices also blocked roads with tractors in several rural areas and dumped manure outside some tax offices. Their unions are demanding distributors and major food companies pay more for produce and livestock.

Protests also took place in other French cities, notably Toulouse, Marseille and Aix-en-Provence in the south and Lille in the north, notably around railway stations and airports.
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey on Tuesday threatened to boycott UN-backed peace talks on Syria scheduled for later this week if the main Syrian Kurdish party was invited.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that "of course we will boycott" the Geneva talks if the Syrian Kurdish group Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Ankara believes is linked to militants fighting inside Turkey, was at the negotiating table.

Turkey's objection, which comes after Moscow said the inclusion of the PYD was essential to the talks' success, threatens to be a major blow to the process seeking to find a solution to the almost five-year civil war.

"In which capacity would the PYD sit at the table?" Cavusoglu said in a live interview on the private NTV television, saying it was a "terror group" like Islamic State or the Al-Nusra Front.

"There cannot be PYD elements in the negotiating team. There cannot be terrorist organisations. Turkey has a clear stance."

The United Nations on Tuesday sent out invitations for the talks in Geneva on Friday but did not specify which groups were called in.

It was not clear if the PYD, Syria's most powerful Kurdish party led by Salih Muslim, had yet received an invitation.

Turkey, like other major powers, was to be an observer at the talks which will be directly between the Syrian opposition, the regime and other protagonists in the conflict under a UN umbrella.

Turkey, which has a 911 kilometre (566 mile) border with Syria and has long pressed for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, is seen as an essential player in the Geneva negotiations.

Cavusoglu, who was in Strasbourg on Tuesday, spoke on the phone with his US and British counterparts, John Kerry and Philip Hammond to discuss "invitations" for the meeting, diplomatic sources said.

- 'Categorically against' -

Turkey considers the PYD and its military wing the People's Protection Units (YPG) to be offshoots of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which wages an armed insurgency against Ankara.

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Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu earlier told ruling party lawmakers in parliament he was "categorically opposed" to either the PYD or YPG taking part in the talks.

Davutoglu said he was not against Syrian Kurdish representatives joining the talks, deeming their presence at the table as a "necessity".

But he did not specify which other Syrian Kurdish groups he would like to see involved at Friday's meeting.

"The PYD, which cooperates with the (Syrian) regime, cannot represent the rightful fight of the Syrian people," said the Turkish premier.

Turkey has long accused the PYD of being allies of Assad in a secret pact to carve out an autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria. The Syrian Kurdish group rejects this.

US Vice President Joe Biden, who visited Turkey at the weekend, said that the PKK was a terror group "plain and simple" but made no such denunciation of the YPG which has emerged as an American ally against jihadists on the ground in Syria.

Turkey is part of the international coalition fighting IS in Syria but attaches an equal importance to its battle against the PKK which has killed dozens of police and soldiers since a ceasefire shattered this summer.

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday insisted that UN-backed Syria talks would not be successful if the PYD was not invited.

"Without this party, without this participant the talks cannot achieve the results that we want, a definitive political resolution in Syria," Lavrov told journalists.

Russia and Turkey are currently experiencing their worst crisis in relations in years over the shooting down on November 24 of one of Moscow's warplanes by Ankara on the border with Syria.

Moscow has also taken steps in the last months to revive its Soviet-era ties with Kurdish groups, notably holding talks with the PYD's leader Salih Muslim in a move that alarmed Ankara.
Proposed Rule Updates Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

The proposed rule would provide updates to the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity regulations.

The U.S. Labor Department's Civil Rights Center has announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to provide updates to the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity regulations of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The regulations haven't been updated since 1999.

"Our nation's workforce system should reflect our commitment to diversity and the idea that America works best when we field a full team," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "Protecting workers from discrimination based on disability, pregnancy, language proficiency, gender identity and other factors is the right thing to do. This proposed rule provides welcome clarity on how to achieve that in the workforce system."

According to a report, the proposed rule would make changes necessary to address developments in equal opportunity and nondiscrimination law, as well as revise procedures and processes.
US Secretary of State John Kerry met Cambodian leader Hun Sen Tuesday, praising the kingdom's "remarkable" economic revival but pushing for greater political freedoms as the strongman tries to extend his three-decade grip on power.

Cambodia has emerged from the ashes of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime to become one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies.

But it provides political support to China within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an alliance that has at times caused strain within the bloc in the face of increasingly aggressive Chinese claims in the South China Sea.

President Barack Obama has assiduously courted ASEAN as part of a diplomatic 'pivot' east aiming to offset China's trade and diplomatic might in Southeast Asia.

Kerry, who arrived in Phnom Penh from neighbouring Laos, praised Cambodia for rebooting its economy after the fanatical rule of the Maoist Khmer Rouge, which left up to a quarter of the population dead before its defeat in the mid-1970s.

Although some three million people still live below the poverty line, the World Bank said the economy is on track to expand just under seven percent this year.

Hailing the "remarkable growth", Kerry said Cambodia was "about the cross the line" into becoming a middle-income country.

"You have seen incredible changes," he said ahead of talks with Hun Sen.

Garment manufacture is a key pillar of that success, with an industry lobby group saying exports to the US alone were worth $1.8 billion in 2014.

- Fraught politics -

But economic gains are being offset by the threat posed to Cambodia's fragile democracy.

Hun Sen, who has ruled for 31 years through a mix of hard power and political guile, smothered a resurgent opposition in legal charges over recent months.

As a result the leader of the Cambodian National Rescue Party is now in self-exile, casting doubt over whether the party will be able to freely contest the next election slated for 2018.

"The relationship between the ruling party and the opposition party is fraught right now," a State Department official briefed reporters ahead of Kerry's meeting with opposition deputy leader Kem Sokha.

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After the closed-door session Kem Sohka said he told Kerry his party wants free and fair elections.

"We raised the issue of the democratic process... electoral work, and its climate," he added.

The UN has warned that ongoing political instability could destabilise the country.

Kerry was also set meet civil society groups, the US official added, to reinforce America's support "for human rights, for civil rights, and for political space".

Campaigners have called on the US to exert greater pressure on Hun Sen to end repression, including of political opponents, dissenters and trade unionists representing low-paid workers.

But in a sign the prime minister is tightening controls on criticism, several people have been arrested in recent weeks over Facebook posts insulting or lampooning him and his family.

Kerry's trip to Southeast Asia paves the way for a summit to be hosted by Obama in California next month with the 10 ASEAN leaders.

Obama has made ties with Asia a diplomatic priority, bolstering ASEAN in particular as a counterweight to Chinese regional power.

Kerry is due to fly to Beijing on Tuesday afternoon.
The Prudential Eye Awards 2016 celebrates emerging Asian contemporary artists and was part of the Singapore Art Week 2016 (16-24 January). (Photo: Prudential Eye Awards)

By Bryan Kwa

Singapore is emerging as a hub for Asian contemporary artists as more of them shift their focus to the region, according to a London-based art curator.

Niru Ratnam, director of Prudential Eye Programme, told Yahoo Singapore that the Prudential Eye Awards 2016, held in conjunction with the recently concluded Singapore Art Week, underlined the growing importance of Singapore as a world-class venue for contemporary Asian art.

The Awards brings together artists from across Asia. For instance, this year we have artists from China, Bangladesh, Japan and Cambodia, among other countries, so you really have to choose somewhere that has a regional significance as Singapore does, said Ratnam.

More infrastructure and spaces in Singapore have also been put in place to support the growth of the regional arts scene, he added, citing the new National Gallery Singapore and Gillman Barracks.

Its super-important to have a combination of commercial galleries, such as the ones in Gillman Barracks, for example, with non-commercial spaces such as the National Gallery or non-commercial ventures such as the Prudential Eye Awards. Artists need both sorts of spaces in order to thrive.

Complementing the hardware development is the comprehensive approach by Singapores authorities to promote arts education, said Thai artist Sakarin Krue-On, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Awards.

Such a strategy will boost the understanding and appreciation of Asian contemporary art, further embellishing Singapores reputation as an arts hub, he added.

The shifting trends of arts appreciation in Asia are also bolstering Singapores aim to be the foremost venue to showcase regional contemporary works.

Douwe Cramer, show director of the inaugural Singapore Contemporary Art Show, which ended on Sunday (24 January), said higher disposable income, rising popularity of art investment and stronger official support have fuelled the growth of the Asian arts market in recent years.

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In Hong Kong, we have expats who are more interested in buying Chinese art. In South-East Asia, we have expats who are interested in buying South-East Asian art. We see interest from locals too, Cramer told Yahoo Singapore.

Asian artists have also risen in stature among art lovers and investors due to their globalised outlook, said Ratnam. They no longer need to seek appreciation for their works from the traditional arts capitals like New York, London and Paris as this can be achieved in regional hubs like Singapore, he added.

Now Asian contemporary artists are confident enough not to necessarily need that validation. They confidently combine an international language of contemporary art with local, specific nuances, said Ratnam.

Singapores growing reputation as a hub for Asian contemporary arts has allowed local artists to exhibit their works to a wider audience. Among them is Robert Zhao, who was nominated for the Best Emerging Artist Using Photography Award at the Prudential Eye Awards.

Its a great time to be an artist in Singapore now and I enjoy a lot of arts that is happening in Singapore, said Zhao.

The Prudential Eye Awards Exhibition 2016 showcases 15 emerging contemporary artists from Asia. It will be held until 27 March 2016 at the Marina Bay Sands ArtScience Museum.
Former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, who is serving a 25-year prison term for corruption and human rights violations, has been hospitalized, officials said Monday, the latest in a string of health crises. Fujimori, 77, was transferred under heavy guard Sunday to a clinic in the capital Lima for a gastric problem and bleeding on his tongue, where he has had a recurring cancerous lesion, said the national prison service. "In the clinic they were able to stabilize him and are carrying out a series of tests," prison service chief Julio Magan told radio network RPP. Fujimori (1990-2000), whose daughter Keiko is the frontrunner for Peru's presidential election in April, has been in and out of the hospital in recent months for a series of health problems. He had cataract surgery in November after complaining of blurred vision while writing his memoirs. He has also been treated for high blood pressure and undergone five operations for the growth on his tongue. Fujimori, who also holds Japanese citizenship, was first jailed in 2007 and convicted in 2009 for his role in killings by a death squad targeting supposed members of the Shining Path guerrilla group in the 1990s. He has also been convicted of embezzlement and bribery. His children have asked President Ollanta Humala to grant him a reprieve on health grounds. But the president rejected the request in 2013, saying medical reports indicated Fujimori's condition was not sufficiently serious.
By Serajul Quadir DHAKA (Reuters) - Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, head of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was ordered on Monday to appear in court to answer the charge of sedition, a move her supporters said was driven by politics. The case comes amid rising concerns over the growth of Islamist militancy in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation, which saw a string of deadly attacks on secular writers, minorities and foreigners last year. It was filed by Momtaz Uddin Ahmad Mehdi, a lawyer with the Bangladesh Supreme Court and a supporter of the ruling Awami League. He said that remarks Khaleda made last month about the 1971 war of independence were seditious. She had said there were "controversies" over the numbers who were killed. He said the comment hurt him "as a patriot" and that as a citizen, he had a right to file the case. Politics in poverty-stricken Bangladesh has for decades been marred by violent protests, nationwide strikes and bickering between supporters of Khaleda and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who have taken it in turns to lead the country. An affiliate BNP group called for a countrywide protest for Tuesday. It was not immediately clear what chance the prosecution had of success in the case. Khaleda was ordered to appear in court on March 3. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the BNP, dismissed the case as politically motivated. "This is nothing but a mockery and its aim is to deter Khaleda from politics," he told reporters. "The intent of the government is to continue its repression of the opposition by police, making confrontational politics." He said 17,000 opposition activists had been arrested since 2014 and 3,000 were still in jail. East Pakistan broke away to become independent Bangladesh in 1971 after a war between India and Pakistan. About three million people were killed, according to official accounts. Hasina opened an inquiry into crimes committed during the war in 2010, paving the way for prosecutions by a war crimes tribunal that Islamists have denounced as part of a campaign aimed at weakening the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, a key ally of the BNP. Four opposition politicians, including three leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, have been convicted and executed since late 2013. The executions have come amidst a rise in Islamist militant violence, with militant groups claiming the murder of two foreigners and four secular writers and a publisher last year. (Editing by Nick Macfie)
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)
By David Brunnstrom and Prak Chan Thul PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of States John Kerry met Cambodian leaders on Tuesday but failed to secure their commitment to a more robust stance with Southeast Asian nations against China's pursuit of territorial claims in the South China Sea. Kerry was in Cambodia after a visit to neighbouring Laos as part of an effort to urge unity among leaders of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations before a summit with President Barack Obama in Sunnylands, California, next month. In Phnom Penh, Kerry met Hun Sen, Asia's longest serving prime minister, and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong for what Kerry described as "candid and constructive" meetings. Hor Namhong said Cambodia's position on the South China Sea was unchanged. It believed individual countries should settle disputes among themselves without the involvement of ASEAN, he said. That mirrors China's position that ASEAN is not a party to territorial disputes, so rows should be resolved bilaterally. "We want it open to negotiations in the future between countries who made claims in the South China Sea," Hor Namhong said. China claims almost all the South China Sea, which is believed to have huge deposits of oil and gas, and has been building up facilities on islands it controls. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines also have claims. Laos is the 2016 chair of ASEAN. Kerry said Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong told him on Monday that Laos wants to sea a unified association and avoid the militarization of the South China Sea. When Cambodia was ASEAN chair in 2012, it was accused of obstructing a consensus in the bloc over standing up to China's assertive pursuit of its South China Sea claims. "Cambodia was not a court that could judge that this island belongs to this or that country," Hor Namhong said on Tuesday. Kerry did not refer to the South China Sea in a statement after the meetings but stressed that the United States and ASEAN have a strategic partnership "and Cambodia plays a role in fully defining that partnership". Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, answering a reporter's question about a U.S. official urging ASEAN to unite to protect maritime rights, said that official did not represent ASEAN. "I hope the United States can play a constructive role for peace and stability in Asia Pacific region and not sow discord, she told reporters at a regular press briefing. Cambodia said it would work with the U.S. on efforts to combat Islamic State, Kerry said. Kerry was due in China later on Tuesday, where he is expected to press Beijing to put more curbs on North Korea after its nuclear test this month and reiterate U.S. concerns about China's behaviour in the South China Sea. He called North Korea's nuclear programme "about one of the most serious issues on the planet today, which is a clearly reckless and dangerous, evolving security threat in the hands of somebody who is questionable in terms of judgment and has proven thus to China". A senior official of the U.S. State Department said Kerry was expected to stress the need for a united front in response to North Korea through additional U.N. sanctions and for a tough unilateral response from China, which is North Korea's main ally and neighbour. (Editing by Simon Webb and Nick Macfie)
By David Brunnstrom PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of States John Kerry called for Cambodia's government to allow "vigorous and peaceful" political debate ahead of elections in 2018 and said progress on human rights was critical to future relations. On a visit to Phnom Penh, Kerry met Hun Sen, Asia's longest-serving prime minister, and Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong. He also met leaders of the opposition and civil groups to underscore U.S. concerns about human rights. With three years to go before the vote, political tension in Cambodia is already high. Hun Sen's biggest rival, opposition leader Sam Rainsy, fled to France in November to avoid arrest for an old defamation case which Sam Rainsy's political party say was revived at Hun Sen's bidding. Lawmakers from Sam Rainsy's party, the Cambodian National Rescue Party, were beaten in broad daylight outside in October outside the national assembly. "In my discussions today, I emphasized the essential role that a vibrant, democratic system plays in the development of a country and the legitimacy of its political system," Kerry said. "Democratic governments have a responsibility to ensure that all elected representatives are free to perform their duties without fear of attack or arrest." Kerry said discussions required directness and candour, even on sensitive issues such as human rights. "We care deeply about respect for human rights, universal freedoms, and good governance," he said. "Progress in each of these areas is critical being able to fulfil the potential of our bilateral relations but, also importantly, the full potential of the hopes and aspirations of the Cambodian people." Robust economic growth, job creation and sustained peace for an impoverished country devastated by decades of civil war, including under Pol Pot's 1975-79 "killing fields" regime, have ensured Hun Sen's continued re-election. Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge swept to power after Cambodia was heavily bombed by the United States during the Vietnam War. Kerry called Cambodia's recent economic progress "quite remarkable". "You have moved from extreme poverty, from a very small economy, to an economy that is growing very significantly and lifted many of your people out of poverty," he told Hor Nam Hong. Kerry also visited Cambodia's National Museum to demonstrate U.S. support for efforts to protect the country's cultural heritage through the return of illegally exported artefacts. Several significant cultural objects taken out of Cambodia illegally have been returned by U.S. private collections under an agreement between the two governments. (Additional reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Writing by Simon Webb; Editing by Nick Macfie)
By Hnin Yadana Zaw and Timothy Mclaughlin YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar freed 102 prisoners last week, including 52 political prisoners, bringing the number of political detainees released by President Thein Sein to more than 1,200 since his semi-civilian government took power in 2011, a watchdog group said on Monday. Still, rights groups say, the outgoing government has fallen short of releasing all political prisoners and continues to arrest and charge people on political grounds. "Most of them (political prisoners) protested against the government, including the Letpadaung copper mine, land grabs and other cases," said Bo Kyi, joint secretary of political prisoner watchdog Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Thein Sein's administration had released 1,235 political prisoners since 2011, Bo Kyi said. But 409 political prisoners were still on trial and 84 remained behind bars. Notable among those in the amnesty was Phillip Blackwood, a New Zealand man who was sentenced to two and a half years in jail along with two Myanmar colleagues for using a psychedelic image of Buddha to promote a party at a Yangon bar. 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. Friday's release came just before a new parliament dominated by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy sits for the first time on Feb. 1. The NLD won a resounding victory in the November election, trouncing the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) that took power in 2011 following 49 years of military rule. But as some prisoners were walking free on Friday, Patrick Khum Jaa Lee, an NGO worker, was sentenced to six months imprisonment for a Facebook post deemed insulting to the military. With timed served, he is expected to be released in April. Chaw Sandi Tun, a member of the NLD, was also sentenced to six months in late December for a post on Facebook that mocked the military's new uniforms. "President Thein Sein has an opportunity to make this right before his administration ends," said Matthew Smith, executive director at the NGO Fortify Rights, in a statement on Monday. "He should release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally." (The story corrects number of political prisoners, clarifies not all released were political prisoners) (Writing by Timothy Mclaughlin; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Sports and wellness-focused venture capital firm Will Ventures has picked up $150m for its sophomore fund, almost triple the total it collected for its debut vehicle in 2020.
Santa Clara, CA: BMW of North America LLC is facing a proposed BMW of North America LLC is facing a proposed defective automotive class action lawsuit alleging its feature of hands-free and remote locking and unlocking of car doors is defective, because it causes vehicles to "spontaneously lock"while keys and sometimes drivers' children are inside the car.

Defective Automotive Legal Help

According to named plaintiff Kieva Myers, all 2008 through 2015 X5 model vehicles manufactured and sold by BMW contain a potentially defective automated feature of being able to lock and unlock car doors without a direct action by a driver.Myers alleges her 2013 BMW X5 manual states that the general concept of the locking "comfort feature"is that a vehicle can be accessed without need of the remote control. The remote just needs to be detected by the vehicle when it is in range and the car can be locked and unlocked. This feature is supposed to be impeded when the key is detected inside the vehicle, preventing keys from being locked inside unknowingly. However, Myers claims this safeguard failed in October when her "very young child"and keys were locked inside her car."This resulted in Kieva' child being locked inside the [...] vehicle,"the complaint states. "In order to rescue Kieva' child, it was necessary to break one of the [...] vehicle' windows, doing damage to the [...] vehicle and terrifying Kieva' child."Myers asserts that "numerous owners"of the allegedly defective vehicles have reported similar accounts of spontaneous locking while a vehicle's keys were inside the car but not the drivers.According to a complaint filed in 2011 with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, a 2009 BMW X5 owner claimed that after his toddler was strapped into a car seat on a hot day, the car doors automatically locked, even though the keys were inside his wife' purse that she had set down inside the car. "We called BMW Assist to remotely unlock the car,"the complaint states. "This did not work."The couple was ultimately forced to call the police and a fireman, who were unable to open the car doors and had to resort to smashing a window in order to free the child. The car doors could not be unlocked for two hours after the incident, according to the complaint.Myers cites a further two other NHTSA complaints regarding young children being trapped in BMW X5' with doors that spontaneously locked while car keys were inside. She alleges the complaints clearly show the automaker was alerted to the problem.However, in response to Myers direct complaint to BMW, the automaker said it "was not impossible"for a key to be locked inside a car and if the locking button on a car' remote was inadvertently pressed "then it would certainly appear that it had somehow locked itself,"according to the complaint.Myers argued that this explanation contradicts BMW' owner' manual and actually acknowledges that a vehicle's remote can be locked inside a car, making the manual "false and misleading. "A child being locked inside of a vehicle creates a very serious threat to human life,"Myers said. "Class vehicles locking by themselves is extremely unsafe."Myers, claiming that BMW concealed and failed to disclose the existence and nature of the defect to consumers, said that she and members of the proposed class have incurred out-of-pocket costs and suffered a devaluation of their cars. She is seeking cost reimbursement, along with unspecified compensatory, exemplary and statutory damages.The proposed class is represented by Robert Starr of The Law Office Of Robert L. Starr. The case is Myers v. BMW of North America LLC et al., case number 3:16-cv-00412, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.If you or a loved one has suffered similar damages or injuries, please fill in our form on the right and your complaint will be sent to an automotive accidents lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
Legal Help

A preliminary settlement agreement has been reached in a wire tap class action lawsuit filed by owners of mobile phones with Carrier IQ Software on their devices and who alleged having experienced the interception and logging of SMS text messages content and Internet search terms, among other communications, by that software.The Settlement provides for a Gross Settlement Fund of $9 million in monetary relief to the proposed settlement class. Additionally, Carrier iQ agreed, prior to the acquisition of its assets by AT&T Mobility IP, LLC, to provide certain injunctive relief to the proposed class.Based on court documents , the estimated nationwide settlement class is thought to consist of some 79 million members.The Parties' Agreement defines the Settlement Class as follows: All persons in the United States who, during the Class Period, purchased, owned, or were an Authorized User of, any Covered Mobile Device. The Class Period is defined as "that period of time between December 1, 2007 and the date of entry of the Court' order granting preliminary approval of the Settlement."The Agreement defines an Authorized User as "a person authorized by name on the Wireless Provider account for a Covered Mobile Device during the Class Period."The proposed settlement must receive court approval.If you have a similar problem and would like to be contacted by a lawyer at no cost or obligation, please fill in our form.
Congress and the White House should address the business tax code before tackling broader tax reform, President Barack Obama's top economic adviser said Tuesday.

Jason Furman told CNBC's "Squawk Box" he sees consensus on several critical issues  cutting the corporate tax rate, broadening the tax base, and reforming the international system so that it collects more revenue and makes American companies more competitive.

Business tax reform came into focus on Monday as Milwaukee-based industrial multinational Johnson Controls announced it would buy Cork, Ireland-based Tyco International , and relocate its headquarters to Ireland. This so-called inversion aims to benefit from that country's lower tax code.

"I think many Republicans would like to use business tax reform as a way to do a broader set of tax cuts," particularly whether to cut taxes for high-income individuals, the chairman of the president's Council of Economic Advisers said.

"If you could set that broader set of tax cuts for high-income individuals aside," Furman continued, "that's a completely different issue, a completely different debate. We could focus on the business system."
See, every cloud. She may have been hounded by Beliebers intent on bringing her to their leader, but seemingly she's landed a modelling career as a result of all the unwanted attention.



Back in December, Bieber posted the below to his Instagram, with the following question: "OMG who is this?!" After much sleuthing from his army of followers they tracked her down. Her name is Cindy Kimberly and - in short - this had been a sitting duck for Beliebers across the globe. She posted her own thoughts to Instagram alongside a blank picture which went a little something like this: "I so do not know how to deal with this but I only have instagram (I did use to have a twitter account but I deactivated) Edit: I just deleted my tumblr and someone took my old url."





After the initial overwhelming wave, the modelling offers started rolling in. According to Mashable: "the most recent being the chance to walk in a Madrid Fashion Week show." Speaking via the Daily Mai, the 17-year-old said: "I'm constantly receiving calls offering me things, but I'm focused on my studies and fashion commitments I'd already made."

Despite this, she's obviously jumped at the opportunity to appear at Madrid Fashion Week. She posted the below to her Facebook thanking Justin for the proverbial leg up.

According to Elleuk.com, she reportedly used to babysit for 3euro an hour, so this is hopefully a bonus to the finances.

Via Mashable
Later this year, the Department of Defenses revisions to the Military Lending Act (MLA) will take effect. As we get closer to the effective date of October 3rd be sure to stay tuned to The Works Blog. Well be going into much more detail about what these changes will mean for your credit union. However, due to an impending deadline related to MLA compliance we need to take a moment to touch on it now.

Under the MLA, covered members and their dependents are entitled to certain protections. For example, a covered member may not be charged a Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) in excess of 36% on certain consumer credit transactions. The MAPR is inclusive of not only interest, but also: application fees, fees for credit insurance, etc.

Currently, to determine a borrowers eligibility for MLA relief your cooperative simply asks the member to sign a Covered Borrower Identification Statement. You may continue to use this method until October 3rd. However, for safe harbor compliance after the effective date your credit union must use one of the following new identification methods:
Community Forum for Testimony on Oakland Police  Federal Monitor Wants Your Feedback

Date:

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Time:

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Event Type:

Conference

Organizer/Author:

Coalition for Police Accountability

Location Details:

First AME Church

530 37th Street (on Telegraph)

We were asked by the Federal Monitor team to convene a community event in which folks who had had encounters with OPD in the last two or three years would give testimony about their experiences. The Monitor are interested in hearing directly from those who had negative experiences. They want to know what happened  when, where  and whether or not a complaint was filed, and, if so, what was the outcome, so they can do follow up.



We promised to convene such a meeting. This is an opportunity we should not miss to counter the Schaaf cheerleading about how much progress OPD has made, despite the fact that there were 7 killings of African-American males in the last year! The City is anxious to get out from under Federal oversight and the Monitor wants an on the ground assessment of whether OPD behaves differently than they did in the Riders era, or whether things are basically still the same.



Please share this widely  especially with those who are likely to have been impacted directly, or even indirectly, as observers, and we hope youth will be encouraged to attend, along with their parents.



No City officials (including police) have been invited to attend  only the Federal Monitor team.



There will be no panel discussion  the whole evening will be devoted to hearing testimony from the community!!!
It appears that city officials meant to take the park away from the local community that used the park for meeting and greeting, eating food, playing chess and being involved in other recreational activities, long before any demolition or renovation work was scheduled to begin!

St. Andrews Plaza is being closed & feeding the homeless has become illegalBy Lynda Carson - January 25, 2016Oakland - Recently, fliers were posted at the St. Andrews Plaza (aka Triangle Park), that were meant to threaten the public, by declaring that dropping off materials, including food, and clothing at the park is considered illegal dumping, and is prohibited. The flier also claims that the plaza will be closing in February 2016 as part of the plan to renovate the park. The city plans to demolish, and reconstruct the park with art work and a large sculpture. The park is not scheduled to be reopened until July 2017.Click on link, http://tinyurl.com/h6sf973 , for a notice from the cops, that includes the flier claiming that providing food and clothing is illegal, at the bottom of the flier.St. Andrews Plaza, is a small local local triangle shaped park located at 32nd St., and San Pablo Blvd. At only 0.17 acres, it is one of Oaklands smallest parks. It is a tree shaded haven for many homeless people who have no where else to go, and is located across the street from St. Marys Center, a homeless shelter, http://stmaryscenter.org/ The park was fenced off back around December 20, 2014, but neighbors, community members, and activists came by a day later, and liberated the park by tearing the fence down, http://tinyurl.com/hglx72m It appears that city officials meant to take the park away from the local community that used the park for meeting and greeting, eating food, playing chess and being involved in other recreational activities, long before any demolition or renovation work was scheduled to begin.Among those handing out free food at the park, the members of New Hope Church have been giving away free spaghetti meals on Saturdays, and others in the area have been bringing free food and clothing to the locals hanging out at the park on a daily, or weekly basis.A diverse group of people hang out at the park including neighbors, local community members, the homeless and sex-workers. At times the police may be found at the park harassing people for allegedly drinking or using illegal substances. The locals believe that the park is being hi-jacked by the police, and a coalition of city officials, developers, various agencies, and nonprofit organizations, that want to gentrify the area, as part of the West Oakland Specific Plan (WOSP), a massive multi-million dollar gentrification scheme, http://tinyurl.com/nw24tq6 Many in the community believe that the homeless and sex-workers have been targeted for removal as part of the massive gentrification scheme being planned along the San Pablo Corridor, between downtown Oakland all the way to Emeryville.Often homelessness is the result of evictions. During 2013, the Eviction Defense Center (EDC) in Oakland, Executive Director Anne Omura and her staff, defended around 1,200 clients facing eviction, and had a high success rate that was achieved through negotiation, trial or settlement. But many are not so lucky, and eventually land on the cold streets of Oakland homeless, with no where to go.Margot Bushel, a professor of medicine at the University of California, in San Francisco, has conducted a study of 350 homeless persons in Oakland since July 2013, http://tinyurl.com/j9e9d5x , and claims that California has the highest housing costs. She also says that it should not be a surprise that Oakland has a large homeless population, and that many of them are elderly, who became homeless late at life.Bushel states that the men and women for the most part worked throughout their lives in low-skill, low-wage jobs, and are disproportionately people of color. Oaklands population is 28 percent African American, but 80% of our study participants are, Bushel says.Many of the elderly homeless are in poor health she says, and claims that many of them were derailed by an illness, job loss, or a new disability, interaction with the criminal justice system, or the death of a loved one. Bushel goes on to state that it was a combination of these factors that often led to homelessness, and that it is very hard for the homeless to receive health care. She is calling for changes in the system, http://tinyurl.com/j9e9d5x St. Marys Center, located across the street from St. Andrews Plaza, is assisting many elderly homeless persons, and holds a memorial in recognition of homeless deaths occurring in Oakland each year, http://tinyurl.com/ho8yxpa According to the website for the Oakland Parks Coalition, http://tinyurl.com/hbxkww5 , Alex Miller-Cole is presently listed as the steward for St. Andrews Plaza.The website LinkedIn lists Alex Miller-Cole as the present chair of the San Pablo Corridor Coalition, a coalition involved in gentrifying the area. Cole is also listed as the current president and chairman of West Oakland Green Initiative, Inc., and public records reveal that he is listed as the agent for service of process for the company.According to the website for the Secretary of State, the status of West Oakland Green Initiative, Inc., has been active since 6/18/2010. However, public records also reveal that the last 990 tax filing for West Oakland Green Initiative, Inc., filed by Cole, was for 2012. The organization only had a fund balance of around $11,000, at that time four years ago.LinkedIn, http://tinyurl.com/zvp5d5k , reveals that Alex Miller-Cole also claims to be the owner of a company called Cypress One Properties since 1999. But a search of Google or the public records with the Secretary of State in California, does not turn up any records for Cypress One Properties.Public records also reveal that he was a candidate running for a council seat in district 3 in Oakland, who lost during 2012, http://tinyurl.com/zowotz4 . Alex Miller-Cole is a former commissioner with the Oakland Community Policing Advisory Board, who resigned from the CPAB.Renters throughout Oakland and the Bay Area continue to be terrorized by the economic cleansing going on, http://tinyurl.com/hf92gus In cities throughout the Bay Area, renters and their advocates have been struggling to convince their City Council members that they need to be protected by renter protections, including strong rent control measures, and just cause eviction protection, http://tinyurl.com/jdhkeao Lynda Carson may be reached at tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com
The protest this past Sunday was one of the largest demonstrations since Moldova became independent in 1992, excepting only similar demonstrations last September over the same issue. Over one percent of the country turned out to protest -- equivalent to a U.S. protest of about 3.5 million people!

40,000 rally against government in ex-Soviet Moldova's capital as political crisis continuesAFP -- January 25, 2016, 12:08 am TWNCHISINAU, Moldova -- Some 40,000 opposition demonstrators on Sunday took to the streets of Moldova's capital Chisinau calling for early elections as a political crisis continues to rock the tiny ex-Soviet state.The protest movement  which includes forces from the left and right that are considered both pro-European and pro-Russian  has stepped up demonstrations since a new government for the impoverished nation was approved on Wednesday.Demonstrators braved sub-zero temperatures to express their anger at rampant corruption among the ruling elite and the influence of oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc, who is seen as being the real power behind the new administration."The people are with us. They do not want to support oligarchs and the criminal authorities!" opposition leader Andrei Nastase told protestors.A rival pro-government rally that had been scheduled to take place was cancelled at the last moment after organizers said they wanted to avoid any clashes.Moldova has been locked in political crisis over a US$1-billion (925-million-euro) corruption scandal erupted early last year, triggering mass demonstrations and the arrest of former premier Vlad Filat in October.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 widespread graft.
On Monday a judge of the Supreme Court in Nantes announced the verdict to evict the historical inhabitants of the Notre-Dame-des-Landes (NDDL) area where a new airport is slated to be built by the French State. This new airport would be located 30km north of Nantes and constructed by multinational Vinci. Climate activists have labelled it as hypocritical given the Paris climate agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Eight of the eleven families were granted a two-month period to leave, until March 26. "In fact the protection granted to housing also protects the farms," said Defence lawyer Mr. Le Moigne. The three other families affected by the evictions have no more time on the Zad and must leave immediately.

On the same day in London climate activists from Plane Stupid were convicted for their occupation of a Heathrow airport runway in July 2015 over plans to extend the airport by the Cameron conservative government, breaking an election promise.

Civil aviation is one sector where carbon emissions are rapidly growing contributing to climate change, with little being done to constrain or reduce greenhouse gas pollution from this and the associated shipping industry. Currently 5 per cent of global emissions, more than the UK and Germany combined, come from shipping and aviation. The UN climate conference in Paris considered this sector in the draft versions of the agreement, but any mention of this sector was dropped from the final agreement.

According to Presse Ocean report (fr), Pierre Gramaize, first vice president of the high court of Nantes, ruled on the issue of the expulsion of the 'historical' inhabitants living in eleven homes and four farms located in the heart of the area dedicated to the airport project of Notre-Dame-des-Landes. The decision confirmed the expulsion, as requested by a subsidiary of Vinci, but for no financial penalty to be applied. The judge found the penalty fine request to be "disproportionate for families who have only modest means."

Animal breeder Sylvain Fresneau, a farmer and resident of the Zad of Notre-Dame-des-Landes, reacted to the decision of TGI Nantes saying "We will go to prison because we resist" (On ira en prison parce quon resistera). He faces eviction from his home and his farm at the end of a period of two months. Presse Ocean report (fr)

Bruno Retailleau, President of the Regional Council of Pays-de-la-Loire, commented (Ouest France Report) on the decision made by the court of Nantes: "The decision is absolutely clear. The advantage is that it places the ball in the government camp. It pushes the state to break the silence, the ambiguity. If the judge also did not accompany a financial penalty in the decision, it is simply because he considers that it is time for the political decisions to take over."

In a session of the Regional Council of Pays-de-la-Loire in Nantes on Monday a motion was passed by the Council for the evacuation of the ZAD and for construction of the airport to proceed. The Regional Council of Pays-de-la-Loire is controlled by the right wing Republican Party (RP) headed by Bruno Retailleau, and the far right Front Nationale (FN).

The Socialist Party spokeperson Christophe Clergeau argued that protest against the abuses of power and support neighbors are normal, but if there is a decision to evacuate of the ZAD, the state must then ensure there is sufficient resources to do so in the current state of emergency. He put this forward as the reason for the Socialist Party abstaining from the vote, according to a report from Presse Ocean (fr)

The Greens (EELV) voted against the motion, denouncing the lack of democracy and lack of transparency on the airport.

The Greens (EELV) issued a media statement saying that the expulsion decision is a disaster for the famillies concerned. They articulated that current appeals concerning the law on water and protected species are still ongoing in regard to the airport and highlighted that the President of the Republic gave a commitment not to start any work nor any expulsions until all appeals are exhausted. They also specified that the European Commission has also given notice to France to comply with European environmental law on this issue.

"Environmentalists reaffirm their firm opposition to ecological and economic nonsense. Alternative options exist that respect local democracy and environment: optimization of the existing Nantes airport, which preserves agricultural land and biodiversity, should be the preferred option." the Greens statement said.

Farmer activist and Greens member of the Euopean Parliament (MEP) Jose Bove, in an interview with Public Senat (fr) called upon the French President Hollande and Environment Minister Segolene Royal to intervene. "Political speech has to take over. I call on the President and the Minister of the Environment that they will not implement this decision because it could create a much more serious threat to public order, and we need to open the debate. We can not settle the matter by the expulsion of the inhabitants and historical peasants."

Bove warned that thousands of people are likely to protect the farms and homes facing eviction. He warned that the disturbance of public order will be greater if the decision is implemented, than if it is not. "To implement the decision, the Prefecture must take hold of the security forces. The state can say that the risk is most important, but it does not have the means to make it feasible" without risking public order.

It is in the interests of President Francois Hollande to intervene and find a solution, Bove said, or an alliance between the Socialist Party (PS) and the Greens (EELV) for the 2017 Presidential elections would be impossible.

Confederation Paysanne, the union of farmers and agricultural workers issued a statement reiterating its full support to those who fight every day, old and new, for saving farmland and against a vision of the world exceeded. They declared there will be Mobilisations ahead, and that this airport will not see the day!

The project has a forty year history and has long been the subject of protests and blockades. Most recently, on 9th January 2016 20,000 people occupied the Ring Road near Nantes for an afternoon and into the evening.

A week later 5000 people rallied in Rennes against NDDL airport and ZAD evictions. These two protests were mirrored by many more smaller protests around France in solidarity.

On Monday night, after the evictions verdict was handed down, hundreds of opponents of the airport gathered as they faced off riot police in a tense scene in the centre of Nantes, according to Ocean Presse (fr), and marched around city streets. The protesters chanted "resistance, sabotage, stop Vinci" and "Neither prison nor evictions will bury our rebellion".

At the Nantes Town Hall on Rue de Strasbourg, a protester emptied a fire extinguisher filled with paint on the facade. The extinguisher was then thrown into a glass door of the building.

In the town of Rennes a general meeting was held in the University of Rennes debating what action to take to protest against the legal decision. People from this meeting decided to march to the city center, where they established a ZAD area marked by big letters on the building facade. One report said 150 people protested. The police decided to charge the protest using flash granades and tear gas to disperse the protestors, according to a Ouest France report (fr).

There were also reports of a thousand people in Brest, and solidarity protests in Lyon, Tours, Coutances and Strasbourg against the expulsion decision.

A National mobilization across France has been called for 27 February against #NDDL

After the verdict, 350.org released the following statement about the NDDL opponents and the Heathrow 13 activists.

"We stand in solidarity with the activists in France and the UK, who now face evictions and jail sentences for standing up to protect the climate during protests against the expanding aviation industry. They took bold steps where governments have stumbled, acting out of principle to try and stop the increase in pollution to our air and atmosphere by an industry whose reckless expansion poses a grave threat to our climate.

"Today, courts in each country simultaneously announced verdicts against the #Heathrow13 and 11 families from Notre-Dame-des-Landes (near Nantes) who have taken a peaceful stand against airport expansion. We are grateful for their dedication and shocked by the unjust and disproportionate verdicts that fail to take into account the overwhelming threat posed by climate change."
Guilty verdicts have been handed down against 13 climate activists protesting against the expansion of Heathrow airport in the UK. The Heathrow13 were on trial for climate change direct action civil disobedience occupying a runway of Heathrow airport in July 2015.

On the same day in France a judge of the Supreme Court in Nantes handed down an eviction notice to farmers and inhabitants of Notre-Dame-Des-Landes (NDDL) north of Nantes. These farmers and new occupants are resisting the construction of a new airport.

Civil aviation is one sector where carbon emissions are rapidly growing contributing to climate change, with little being done to constrain or reduce greenhouse gas pollution from this and the associated shipping industry. Currently 5 per cent of global emissions, more than the UK and Germany combined, come from shipping and aviation. The UN climate conference in Paris considered this sector in the draft versions of the agreement, but any mention of this sector was dropped from the final agreement.

Heathrow 13 face 3 months in prison warns Judge

In London the Heathrow 13 were on trial for occupying the northern runway in July 2013. The occupation, the first on a Heathrow runway, lasted six hours and delayed or cancelled dozens of flights saving an estimated 250 tonnes of CO2. The activists all pleading not guilty for aggravated trespass and being airside without authority. They argued that they have saved lives in the face of climate chaos and that the action was reasonable and justified in the context of climate change.

The Heathrow expansion is the big test of the UK governments seriousness about climate change, particularly in the wake of the December 2015 UN Climate Conference in Paris which succeeded in 195 nations agreeing to the historic Paris Agreement to limit emissions so that average global temperatures would remain well below 2 degrees Celsius and aspire to the 1.5 degree goal.

Heathrow airport represents 48% of UK emissions from aviation.

David Cameron's conservative government was elected promising no expansion to Heathrow airport. "The third runway at Heathrow is not going ahead, no ifs, no buts. he said. In a policy u-turn, the government has reneged on this promise.

The legal defence of the Heathrow 13 was based on the law of necessity in directly preventing emissions which contribute to climate change and significant numbers of deaths arising from climate and pollution impacts from civil aviation.

The guilty verdict was handed down by Judge Wright, even though she found the defendants were passionate and well motivated people concernwd with the impacts of climate change. There can be no doubt that the defendants are very committed to tackling the problems of climate change and that they acted as they did on the 13th July in what they genuinely believed was in the best interests of the public and society as a whole said Judge Wright.

She told the defendants to prepare for the likelihood of an unusually harsh sentence on February 24th, possibly to expect 3 months in prison.

The Heathrow 13 made the following statement after the verdict was handed down:

Today's judgement demonstrates that the legal system does not yet recognise that climate defence is not an offence. We took action because we saw that it was sorely needed. When the democratic, legislative and processes have failed, it takes the actions of ordinary people to change them.

We are very grateful for all the messages of support and solidarity we have received from all over the world, and are immensely proud of the action we took to combat emissions from aviation. Climate change and air pollution from Heathrow are killing people now, and the government's response is to spend millions making the problem bigger. As long as airport expansion is on the agenda, Plane Stupid will be here. We're in it for the long haul.

Of the ten defence witnesses, only four had their evidence allowed, and none were permitted to appear in court.

During the trial Judge Wright declared that the fact that aviation fuel is linked to climate change is indisputable, but that meant climate scientist and aviation climate impacts specialist Alice Bowes-Larkin was not allowed to appear, although a statement from her was able to be read in court.

The statement detailed that Heathrow is the airport with the highest CO2 contribution in the world in terms of combined international and domestic flights and this puts Heathrow expansion at odds with the UK Governments commitment to avoiding a well below 2C target, unless a major programme of efficiency and biofuel development are delivered in tandem."

One of the prosecution witnesses, Mr Oxby, Head of Business Resilience, claimed that Heathrow airport contributes around 7bn to the UK economy. Under cross examination he was unable to answer if this took into account the negative impacts of climate change, as for example, the 5bn cost of the recent floods in the North of England, which scientists from Oxford university say has a 40% probability to have been caused by climate change. Nor could he say if it took into account the cost of 3,000 hospital admissions every year due to London air pollution.

George Monbiots statement was also ruled inadmissible, but can be read at the Plane Stupid website. In this statement he writes,

In years to come, those who put their own liberty and in some cases their lives at risk in order to press governments to take action to prevent climate breakdown will be regarded in the same light as the suffragettes, the chartists, the anti-apartheid activists and the antislavery movement. They will be regarded not as outlaws and subversives, but as democratic heroes. Succeeding generations, struggling with the impacts that our governments failures to take action on climate change bequeathed them, are likely to be amazed that they could have been seen in any other light.

One of the defendants, Ella Gilbert, detailed her reasons for opposing the airport extension and participating in the civil disobedience occupation. Here are her climate reasons, but read her full statement on the Greenpeace UK website.

"The environmental case against airport expansion  not just at Heathrow  is clear. The sector is stubbornly difficult to decarbonise and efficiency savings are far outstripped by increasing demand. If it were a country, the aviation industry would be the 7th most polluting in the world. According to DfT figures, aviation accounts for 6% of UK CO2 emissions but this figure is misleading because it doesnt account for the amplified effects of emitting pollutants at cruising altitude, where they are much less readily removed and have more significant climate effects. Add to this the emissions of non-CO2 pollutants and a more accurate picture emerges, though policy-makers are still reluctant to accept that aviation is damaging to local health and global climate.

"Aviation and shipping have so far been the elephant in the room when devising climate legislation, both national and international. Excluded from the 2008 Climate Change Act and Kyoto agreements, the trend has been followed at every climate summit to date  and Paris is no exception. Although included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme from 2012, only flights that both originate and arrive in the European Economic Area are included  or around 11% of global aviation emissions. The International Civil Aviation Organisation, the specialised UN agency that regulates the aviation industry, makes noise about efficiency improvements and climate change targets but achieves very little. Those in power are taking very little action to tackle aviations significant contribution to climate change, so we must."

This is the Statement read out in front of the Willesden Magistrates Court by the Heathrow 13 at the start of the trial on January 18. See youtube.

After the verdict, 350.org released the following statement about the NDDL opponents and the Heathrow 13 activists.

"We stand in solidarity with the activists in France and the UK, who now face evictions and jail sentences for standing up to protect the climate during protests against the expanding aviation industry. They took bold steps where governments have stumbled, acting out of principle to try and stop the increase in pollution to our air and atmosphere by an industry whose reckless expansion poses a grave threat to our climate.

"Today, courts in each country simultaneously announced verdicts against the #Heathrow13 and 11 families from Notre-Dame-des-Landes (near Nantes) who have taken a peaceful stand against airport expansion. We are grateful for their dedication and shocked by the unjust and disproportionate verdicts that fail to take into account the overwhelming threat posed by climate change."
Around The World With Robert Geller by Kirby C. Grimes: Away and racing  these words have delighted racing fans all across the globe for the past three decades. Born in England, reared in Australia, and currently residing in New Mexico, Robert Geller is truly a man of the world. From humble beginnings on the picnic track circuit in Victoria to Hong Kong and the United States, he has seen his career gradually progress to now being at the pinnacle of his profession. To astute racing fans, he is considered to be all and end all of race calling.

Born into a middle-class family, Geller and his family immigrated to Australia when he was a toddler. Horse racing is deeply ingrained into the culture in Australia, and he grew up around racing. His parents would religiously attend races every Saturday in the Melbourne area, and, of course, young Robert would tag along. In going to the races at the metropolitan tracks Moonee Valley, Flemington, Sandown, and Caulfield, he was exposed to world class racing at an early age and fell in love with the sport.

I would be fascinated by the racesin many ways I was always there, Geller relayed.

As a small child, he would use his vivid imagination and create mock races in his bedroom using buttons and toy cars and dice. He would draw up fields and push the cars around for hours upon end, exploring the mysterious wonders of racing. Being fascinated by race calling, he naturally began, as he grew older, making mock race calls as well.

I was totally obsessed as a child with everything to do with racing, Geller explained.

By the age of 20, his interest in race calling had reached the point where he began to go to racetracks near his home in Melbourne and practice race calls. He would be allowed a vantage point to take his binoculars and practice his calls into a tape recorder. He continued this for some time, but at first it was more of a hobby than an aspiration or a career.

In his early 20s, he began to work for a small-time bookmaker as a penciler, writing down bets. While this was his first job in racing, he was destined for loftier positions. While working for this bookmaker, he stumbled upon an opportunity that would launch him into his race calling career and eventually see him as the voice of Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada.

He would often work for his employer on the picnic track circuit in Victoria. Such tracks hold race fixtures typically on holidays and are similar to county fair racing in the United States. The day that would change his life came at the Alexandra Race Club. The race caller on that day did not show up, and the track asked anyone who thought they could call a race to come forward. Naturally, he answered the call along with another gentleman. The track management decided that the two should share the program.

When his turn came around, his bookmaker wouldnt relieve him of his duties in time to study the program and prepare to call the race. He finally managed to get away just in time to take the announcers rostrum and call the race. Since he didnt have time to properly prepare, he was highly displeased with his race call, but fortunately the track allowed him to call another race. This time, his urging paid off, and he was released from his bookmaking duties to have time to study the race field and learn the colors of the horses. With the added preparation, he performed much better, and he began to think of possibly making a career out of it.

It was really different, and it was good. I knew right then I could kind of do it, Geller said.

His career began to gradually take off with the occasional race date or harness trials. ANZAC Day at Seymour Races saw his first appointment as named race caller. After applying to several tracks, he was chosen to be the course commentator at Wangaratta Turf Club, which included about twelve race days a year. He continued to pick up race dates at small tracks along the Mornington Peninsula as well.

I was doing all thisthe bits and pieces, to make myself think I could actually become an announcer full-time, Geller said.

After being named the announcer at Wangaratta, he picked up the Northeast Victoria circuit, comprising Benalla, Wodonga, and Tatura as well as Wangaratta. He would call the races there on weekends while working full-time as a speech pathologist. Though highly successful in this career ,he had a burning desire to make race calling his life. He applied for a job at the Racing Radio Network, which was and still is the way most announcers gain employment. Unfortunately, he was not hired, although the network did give him work on a freelance basis. Seeing his prospects in Australia as limited, he began to look abroad and was hired in 1989 as the course commentator for the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club.

I felt there wasnt going to be much movement in Australia and having just missed out on a prime job thereI knew it was going to be pretty tough to get a start, Geller explained.

Giving up his career as a speech pathologist, he moved to Hong Kong for his first full-time job in racing. In those days, the Jockey Club had been through turmoil over a series of gambling scandals. A new regime headed by a retired British general had been installed to restore the image of the track.

Geller would spend the next six and a half years in Hong Kong calling races at both Sha Tin and Happy Valley. The racing was being opened up internationally, and the Jockey Club was garnering record handles. In Hong Kong he began to develop his announcing style and established a firm foundation for his career.

To Geller, preparation is very important to calling a race successfully. He starts out by handicapping each race as soon as the past performances are available, just like any racing fan would. By doing so, he develops the basic components to form the rich tapestries that are his race calls.

Its like my back story, my back knowledge of what I have going on in my mind. It means you are prepared like a fan and how you perceive the race might be, Geller said.

Once he arrives at the track on a race day, he clears his mind and is present in the moment and aware of what is required of him to fulfill his duties. Like all announcers, he must memorize the colors of each horse and put them together with the back story he has developed. He frames each race as story while not formulating anything, instead relying on instinct to give each race a proper and fitting race call.

Every race is a story; every time a story is being told, you want to find the punchline, and you want to find what the fan is thinking, Geller said.

He prides himself on his accuracy and seeks to pick up pivotal movements in a race just as they start to develop. He relies heavily on his instinct and has learned over the years to trust himself with this. By virtue of this, he is able to authentically portray what happens in each race and add commentary and context to his calls. Race calling is an evolutionary cycle, and his calls have progressed from his time in Hong Kong to the present day.

He enjoyed his time in Hong Kong immensely, but he found himself wanting to live a western lifestyle again. Having traveled to the United States on occasion, he considered moving his microphone there or possibly returning to Australia. In 1995, the Jockey Club sent him to Vancouver to represent them at the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club Plate at Hastings Park. There he learned of the impending opening of Emerald Downs and immediately felt that it was the opportunity he was looking for.

I had a strong feeling about it, and I thought, Thats nice, I love Seattle, and I thought, Thats interesting, Geller explained.

He reached out to track management, and soon a team of investors in the track visited him in Hong Kong. Further discussion with Ron Crockett, the track president, yielded an offer to move to Washington and be the announcer at Emerald Downs. Upon the announcement that he was leaving Hong Kong in early 1996, those around him expressed their shock and belief that he was making a mistake. Geller, though, knew in his heart that he was making the right decision.

It was like being handed the keys to a completely brand new car, Geller beamed. It felt like an opportunity that wasnt going to come every day.

He would go on to call 18 and a half memorable seasons at Emerald Downs. In 2000, he added Sunland Park in New Mexico, and for the next fifteen years this constituted his annual circuit. Always striving to be a better race caller, he found himself wanting a new challenge. After many failed applications for other announcing jobs, he applied for the vacant job at Woodbine Racetrack, a place he had visited in 1993 as a fan. As the months went by without any contact from Woodbine, he gave up hope and accepted that Emerald Downs and Sunland Park would make up the balance of his career. Fortunately for all involved, Woodbine was interested, and much to his surprise, he was delightfully named the announcer there, taking up the position in June 2015. He has continued to call at Sunland Park as well, the home of the Sunland Derby.

From Australia and Canada to Hong Kong and America, he has delighted fans for three decades with his rich and vibrant race calls. He never makes his race calls over the top, nor does he conform to the formulaic race calls that are commonly used today. In a way, his race calls harken back to the glory years of racing and a time when race callers were much more well-known. Always thinking of the fans, he has risen to be known the world over as one of the best race callers worldwide.

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"Omo, see talent": Nigerian boy who raps like Tupac Shakur makes people happy with music, video causes frenzy

A Nigerian kid has become a TikTok sensation after a video showed him rapping with speed like Tupac Shakur. The video has caught the attention of music lovers.
As Barack Obama prepares for his final year in office, there's been more than a few features and articles about how he went from a lawyer in Chicago to the leader of the free world.

However, his first date with Michelle Obama - nee LaVaughn Robinson - is now the subject of a new film by first-time director Richard Tanne. Speaking at the film's premiere, the director spoke about the film and whether or not Barack and Michelle are aware of the film.

"They are excited. And they are also a little baffled by its existence," Tanne explained. The information he gathered to write the script was, according to Tanne, culled from publicly-available information.

"They went to the art institute. They had lunch afterwards. They saw Do the Right Thing. They had ice cream. They kissed outside the ice cream parlor, at Baskin-Robbins... There was some question as to whether or not the community organizing meeting happened on the first date, or if it just happened early in the courtship but dramatically it worked, so I just put it in. Again, it's a fictionalized account, so I tried to be as authentic as possible," explained Tanne.

For the most part, early reviews of Southside With You are positive. Collider says the film "charms more often than not and is ultimately a very sweet movie," whilst Variety has called Southside With You "disarmingly romantic."

As for the cast, newcomer Parker Sawyer's performance as Barack Obama allows him "to depict a rarely seen sensual side of President Obama: confident, relaxed, relentlessly flirty, and given to shooting hungry glances at his future wife," according to Daily Beast.

It's not yet known if the film will receive an Irish release date, however it's understood to be released wide later in 2016 across the US.
- EFCC has confiscated Sambo Dasukis property

- Properties of some officials under investigation sealed

- EFCC marked the properties in red

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has confiscated so many properties believed to belong to former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and some officials on trial or under investigation.

The properties were sealed at the weekend in Kaduna, The Nation reports.

EFCC confiscates Dasuki's properties

Dasuki is at the centre of the anti-graft commissions investigation into the $2.1 billion arms deal scam.

Dasukis confiscated property in Kaduna are said to be a hotel complex on Rabah Road, Malali GRA and a mansion under construction on Sani Sami Road, also in Malali GRA.

Except for some workers moving out their tools, the site was empty yesterday.

READ ALSO: Witness: I received $2 million from Olisa Metuh

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Others whose properties were also confiscated include a former Chief of Defence Staff and a former theatre commander of Operation Lafia Dole in Maiduguri, Major General Yishau Mahmood Abubakar.

Abubakars residential duplex located at No. 5C, Sultan Close was sealed off Sunday evening.

Report has it that when the EFCC operatives stormed the house on Sunday evening, there was a birthday party going on and they asked everybody to vacate the premises immediately.

A shopping mall allegedly belonging to Abubakars wife was also confiscated. Though, sources alleged that the property belongs to the generals brother and not his wife.

Also confiscated was a shopping mall on Sultan Road, which is believed to belong to Gen. Abubakars friend who is an ambassador.

The EFCC operatives marked the sealed properties with red paint, which had the inscription, Keep off, under EFCC investigation.

READ ALSO: Dasuki Gate: Court Adjourns Hearing On Diversion Of N19 billion

The generals whereabouts were said to be unknown and the EFCC operatives allegedly took the his wife along with them.

A panel, which investigating the alleged misapplication of about $2.1 billion meant for the procurement of arms indicted Dasuki and other prominent Nigerians. Some who have been indicted include Olisa Metuh, the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olu Falae and others. Dasuki and Metuh have been arraigned in court.

The EFCC has also gathered a team to interrogate the indicted officers in the shady arms deal. Those to be interrogated are a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and 17 others, including 11 senior military officers.

However, some of the Army officers indicted in the scam have cried foul, alleging that they were not allowed to appear before the Special Investigative Committee (SIC) before being referred to the EFCC.

Source: Legit.ng
It was one of the most talked about interviews in the country over the weekend, and also in the days leading up to it, with the appearance of Making a Murderer lawyer Dean Strang on The Ray D'Arcy Show gathering more hype than Hollywood A-listers Ice Cube and Kevin Hart on The Late Late Show (although they seemed like sound lads).

The reason being that the Netflix series is probably the most talked about show in the last 12 months, or in years really. For those that haven't seen it, it tells the story of a man called Steven Avery, who was wrongly convicted and sent to jail for 18 years for a crime he did not commit. He was then released thanks to DNA analysis, only to find himself up for a murder conviction two years later. (All of this is in the first episode, so rest assured, no spoilers here.)

Dean Strang was one of his two defense lawyers in the case who argued that Avery had been set up by the local Manitowoc police department, and Strang has become a bit of a celebrity in his own right since the documentary was streamed on Netflix in Decemeber.

Strang has done very few interviews since so hence why we were all extremely excited and honoured even that he was coming to our fair shores to chat to Ray D'Arcy. Although, as you will have seen from the reaction on social media, people were not altogether too happy with the interview, with many feeling like it was a missed opportunity for The Ray D'Arcy Show, with the host asking questions that most of the world already knew the answer to.

Reacting to this online criticism, an RTE spokesperson said: Obviously, it is always a challenge to condense a 10-hour documentary series into a much shorter interview and, at all times, Ray was cognisant of the need to help Dean explain the case to those viewers who may not have been aware of the story behind Making a Murderer."

RTE also have said that Strang's flights and accommodation were paid for although declined to comment on whether he also received a fee for the show. This doesn't really surprise us though, he hardly flew all the way over here on a whim, and it would be standard for guests on a chat show to have their accommodation covered.

An average of 412,000 people tuned in to watch The Ray D'Arcy Show on Saturday, with the show peaking during the Strang interview. However, while there was a massive social media reaction, just seven people contacted RTE via phone and email to voice their feedback, while no formal complaints have been received.

Don't think it's worthy of a formal complaint in fairness, it was a disappointing interview, but it's not like Ray had lambs hung from a carousel or the like. (Sorry Ryan).

Via The Herald
- Eight soldiers arrested by Nigerian Army.

- The eight have been accused of giving information to the media about the refusal of soldiers to be deployed to the Northeast.

- The accused soldiers have been transported to the Abuja for further questions.

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Eight soldiers suspected of giving information to the media about the refusal of soldiers to be deployed to the Northeast have been arrested by the Nigerian Army, a report on icirnigeria.org shows.

This comes on the heels of a report on Vanguard on January 8, that more than 3,000 soldiers, who were dismissed for various offences but were recently pardoned, had protested their deployment back to the warfront, which was denied by the Nigerian Army.

READ ALSO: Antigraft: Army Orders Officers To Declare Asset

The Nigerian Army thrives on discipline, loyalty and good conduct and if anyone of them cannot measure up to expectation or live by those tenets, such a person is free to leave the army, army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a Colonel, said.

Nigerian Army arrests eight soldiers soldiers suspected of giving information to the media about the refusal of soldiers to be deployed to the Northeast have been arrested by the Nigerian Army

However, it was gathered that a day after the story broke, army authorities dispatched a very senior officer, a Major General, to the Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna state, who ordered the arrest and detention of the eight suspects in Military Police guardroom following their interrogation.

On how the Army determined that the eight arrested were culpable, this details has been kept away from the media.

According to icirnigeria.org, a defence source, on the condition of anonymity disclosed that the eight soldiers were transported to the Abuja where they were further questioned for their role in getting the information to the media. It was also learnt that the Provost Marshal is billed to address all the pardoned soldiers in Jaji later today, January 26.

READ ALSO: BAD LUCK! What Happened To Boko Haram Kingpin On His Way To Lagos This Morning

Information on the Soldiers arrest had emanated after reports made its way to the media that 350 out of over 3,000 soldiers were last Saturday, January 23, deployed to the Northeast. Out of this number, 200 were deployed in Yobe state while the remaining 150 went to Buratai, hometown of Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, following an attack last week by Boko Haram insurgents. The army spokesperson Col Sani Usman is however yet to respond to this development.

Legit.ng recalls that the Nigerian military continues to face disciplinary problems affecting every rank in the armed forces.

Soldiers and the officers leading them have sometimes refused to go into battle with Boko Haram insurgents, in some cases deciding to mutiny instead, like the 54 condemned to the firing squad in December 2014 after the May 2014 incident which saw the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Ahmadu Mohammed, a Major General, shot at by angry soldiers who blamed him for leading them into an ambush that led to the death of their colleagues.

They were charged with offences ranging from conspiracy, attempted murder to disobedience to particular orders, leading to the dismissal of some while others were sentenced to death by firing squad.

However, following the election of President Muhammadu Buhari, there were pleas for a review of the soldiers cases, as many of them claimed they were not given fair trials.

In August 2015, after the review of the cases, over 3000 pardoned soldiers were asked to report to Jaji for screening and retraining. Also, in December, the military authorities commuted the death sentences of 66 soldiers to life imprisonment.

Source: Legit.ng
Gerry Adams is one of those figures in Irish politics that, for some reason, has become a pop-culture icon all on his own.



It's probably due to the fact his Twitter account is like some highly advanced performance-art that will only reveal its meaning years from now. That and he takes selfies with goats. In fact, his Twitter has become such a phenomenon that it's now getting its own book.

A morning selfie with Jenny. Or as she says a goatie with Gerry. Maidin maith daoibh pic.twitter.com/VLF9kjqb33  Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) August 20, 2014

There's more. The Wax Museum+ on College Green, Dublin has decided to honour the Belfast native with his very own wax figurine. Adams' wax doppelganger will form part of the Time Vaults of Irish History exhibit, which focuses on key events in Irish history including the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

Adams is set to unveil the figurine tomorrow afternoon at The Wax Museum+, with Adams in attendance. We eagerly await the selfie taken with the figurine, Mr. Adams.
The wife of the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Remi Tinubu has mocked President Muhammadu Buharis government during the Senate plenary today, January 26.

Senator Remi Tinubu

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Tinubus wife said that the change now experienced by Nigerians is not what was expected.

The senator also stated that the Buharis administration will incur the wrath of women if something is not done to improve the allocation to the women's affair ministry.

READ ALSO: Buhari Is Bad In Terms Of Women Empowerment

Mrs.Tinubu also accused the government of abandoning women in IDPs.

Read what she said below:

READ ALSO: Women Group Accuse Buhari Of Marginalization

Buharis ministerial list of 36 nominees has only six women. Five are from the North and one from the Southwest.

The gender picture in former president Goodluck Jonathans administration was by far better. He had more than 10 ministers in his cabinet.

Source: Legit.ng
-- Governor Masari has spoken on the problem of Nigeria.

-- He believes leadership is the biggest bane of the nation.

-- He thinks agriculture should be given priority as a solution to revenue decline

Kaduna state governor, Aminu Bello Masari has said that both the military and politicians have contributed to the decline currently being experienced in the country.

READ ALSO: Reps pass 2016 budget amidst increased criticisms

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He noted that the major problem with Nigeria remains the absence of true leadership.

Governor Aminu Masari

While lambasting the military and political class for failing to provide the needed leadership for the nation, Governor Masari said: the military have failed. The politicians have failed, adding since all of us have failed, let us come and find solution to our failure.

The governor, who spoke on Monday, January 25, when he granted audience to participants of Senior Course 38 of Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), stressed that Nigeria required the right leadership to be back on track.

Masari decried what he termed as over centralisation and unification of everything in the country, insisting that doing such was counterproductive and stressed the need for states to be administered based on their strengths, potentials and respective economic capabilities.

The Governor pointed out that Katsina state, with three large bodies of water, has the potential to support itself and assist neighbouring countries through agriculture just as he tasked the AFCSC team to examine major challenges confronting the state.

He stressed that his administration was mindful of the dwindling revenue accruing to the state and would in response to that accord top priority to agriculture.

Meanwhil, Katsina state government has urged the federal government to examine the statutory duties of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission (ICPC) to upgrade their activities.

Source: Legit.ng
Attorney general and justice minister Abubakar Malami has announced that the federal government hopes to retrieve $750 million stolen by former president Sani Abacha.

He made the announcement during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Justice.

He said the government is also aiming to recover 6.9 million (nearly N2 billion) stolen by the former governor of Delta state, Chief James Ibori.

READ ALSO: Falana Wants Military, Public Officials To Be Investigated By ICC

In respect of the recovery of looted assets, the ministry will engage in an agree waive policy of using mutual legal assistance agreements or other bilateral and multilateral instruments to seek cooperation with other jurisdictions to ensure the repatriation of illicitly-acquired assets in foreign jurisdictions.

The collaboration will equally involve the engagement if foreign based counsel will attend to matters on behalf of the federal government. Low- hanging fruits being targeted in this initiative include $750 million Abacha loot as well as the 6.9 million of the Ibori loot, Malami said.

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In the long run, the ministry will be in a position to coordinate the recovery of billions of dollars in foreign jurisdictions, based on current estimations.

Malami went further and also revealed that the country owes N75 billion in judgment debts.

It is equally necessary to highlight the fact that the ministrys current liability for judgment debt is in the region of N75 billion.

The ministry has however proposed the sum of N16 billion to meet a portion of the outstanding sum in 2016, out of which the budget office has proposed an extremely low sum of N 709,155, 140.00 which does not meet even one percent of the outstanding judgment debts, he said.

READ ALSO: #Thank Abacha - Nigerians React To $300 Million Refund

General Abacha's rule of Nigeria, which came to an end in 1998, remains controversial to this day.

Millions of US Dollars stolen by Abacha have been recovered since his death, including $450 million (just under N90 trillion) seized by the American government in 2014.

Source: Legit.ng
Thank you for reading The Cascadia Advocate, the Northwest Progressive Institutes journal of world, national, and local politics.

Founded in March of 2004, The Cascadia Advocate has been helping people throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond make sense of current events with rigorous analysis and thought-provoking commentary for more than fifteen years. The Cascadia Advocate is funded by readers like you and trusted sponsors. We dont run ads or publish content in exchange for money.

Help us keep The Cascadia Advocate editorially independent and freely available to all by becoming a member of the Northwest Progressive Institute today. Or make a donation to sustain our essential research and advocacy journalism.

Your contribution will allow us to continue bringing you features like Last Week In Congress, live coverage of events like Netroots Nation or the Democratic National Convention, and reviews of books and documentary films.

Become an NPI member Make a one-time donation
Following a stellar year for the city, Birmingham will move into a higher growth trajectory in 2016 says JLL at its annual property predictions event in Birmingham.

Last year's record investment volumes - which saw 710 million transacted in the Central Business District (CBD) in 2015 - are set to...

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Blackstone Capital has sold 12 hotels in former East Germany to an American-Canadian investment group. The consortium of buyers consisted of the hotel investor Starwood Capital and the Canadian investment company Brookfield. Recently, Brookfield closed the major Potsdamer Platz deal at the end of last year. . Blackstone

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According to BNP Paribas Real Estate, 2015 was a vintage year for Lyon, with a 12% increase in office take-up (272,000 m) and 10% in logistics (400,000 m). Only industrial premises saw a decline of 11% to a total of 282,450 m.

For offices, 2015 was one of the best performances of the last 10 ye...

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As of January 1, 2016 Germanys largest housing association, Vonovia, has parted with 6,000 residential units in northern Germany. 3,860 of these apartments are in Schlwesig-Holstein, spread over the cities of Flensburg (1,810), Eckernfoerde (507) and Neumuenster (1,536). Additional units are located in Bremerhaven (1,069) and Wilhelmshaven (1,047). The purchaser

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Bajajs Discover commuter motorcycle range has not received BS6 update

With the deadline to stop BS4 sales approaching fast, major manufacturers have updated most of their products to BS6 specifications. This deadline was recently extended by the Supreme Court of India on a conditional basis.

Under it, the final date for automotive dealers to finish selling their BS4 stock is 13 May 2020 (as of now, the nationwide lockdown extends to 3 May 2020). Many dealerships are facing immense losses due to being closed for a long period of time while some are even on the verge of going out of business completely.

Business strategies have led to the discontinuation of certain products (in two-wheeler and four-wheeler categories) ahead of BS6 era. Some of these models might make a comeback in BS6 format once the current state of affairs and ongoing COVID-19 lockdown protocols settle. Now, Bajaj Auto has taken down the entire Discover range from its official website.

In the Indian automakers portfolio, the Bajaj Discover has always been an important model line. However, the company did not update it to BS6 specifications alongside its other products. The website currently lists five model series under its Our Complete Range section: Dominar, Pulsar, Avenger, Platina and CT.

Bajajs Discover series, in its final BS4 format, had two models: 125 and 110. It had remained on the Indian market for 16 years. Over the years, there were 100, 135 and 150 Discover models as well. Powering the Bajaj Discover 125 was a 124.5cc air-cooled engine good for 10.7bhp and 11Nm while mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The lesser 110 had a 115.4cc air-cooled motor packing 8.4bhp and 9.8Nm of torque. This was mated to a 4-speed transmission.

As mentioned before, the Discover line-up could make a comeback in the near future with a fresh BS6 upgrade. On the other hand, Bajaj Auto continues to sell it in foreign markets. With the rise in compelling competitors, the demand for Bajajs popular commuter motorcycle range has dropped down by a significant margin. Furthermore, entry-level Bajaj Pulsar models such as 125 Neon and 150 have created a good amount of internal competition.

The Bajaj Discover DTS-i was introduced in the country back in 2004 with a 125cc engine. It came at a time when Indian automotive brands were making some memorable commercials, unlike the boring ones we often come across today. Those who were born in the 90s would still remember the fun Discover commercial featuring Jackie Chan. Back then, Bajaj Auto was at the top among two-wheeler manufacturers when it came to making good advertisements. Some of these can be found buried deep down on YouTube.
BS6 Ford Figo, Aspire and Freestyle have started arriving at dealerships. Today, Ford India announced the official launch of the three cars.

There are no major exterior changes to all three cars. Ford Figo, Aspire, Freestyle BS6have lost some features that were available in BS4 variants. This is probably being done to keep prices in check. As you can see, in some cases prices have reduced by as much as Rs 40k, inspite of the BS6 updgrade.

Starting with Figo, the hatchbacks Titanium trim has lost features such as fog lamps, rear wiper and rear defogger. On the inside, BS6 Figo is likely to discontinue features such as automatic climate control, Fly Audio touchscreen infotainment system, and glossy gear lever top. Replacing the Fly Audio system on Figo is a 2 DIN system that bears close resemblance to the unit installed on Ford Ka+ in the UK.

Variants New Price Old Price Diff 2020 Ford Aspire BS-VI Ford Aspire BS-IV FORD ASPIRE BS6  1.2l Ti-VCT PETROL Ambiente INR 599,000 INR 598,500 INR 500 Trend INR 659,000 INR 663,400 INR -4,400 Titanium INR 709,000 INR 737,400 INR -28,400 Titanium+ INR 744,000 INR 782,400 INR -38,400 FORD ASPIRE BS6  1.5l TDCi DIESEL Trend INR 749,000 INR 737,400 INR -11,600 Titanium INR 799,000 INR 817,400 INR -18,400 Titanium+ INR 834,000 INR 862,400 INR -28,400 Variants New Price Old Price Diff 2020 Ford Freestyle BS-VI Ford Freestyle BS-IV FORD FREESTYLE BS6  1.2l Ti-VCT PETROL Ambiente INR 589,000 INR 591,400 INR -2,400 Trend INR 644,000 INR 681,400 INR -37,400 Titanium INR 694,000 INR 721,400 INR -27,400 Titanium+ INR 729,000 INR 756,400 INR -27,400 FORD FREESTYLE BS6  1.5l TDCi DIESEL Trend INR 734,000 INR 745,900 INR -11,900 Titanium INR 784,000 INR 790,900 INR -6,900 Titanium+ INR 819,000 INR 836,900 INR -17,900 Variants New Price Old Price Diff 2020 Ford Figo BS-VI Ford Figo BS-IV FORD FIGO BS6- 1.2l Ti-VCT PETROL Ambiente INR 539,000 INR 523,000 INR -16,000 Trend (New Variant) INR 599,000 NA NA Titanium INR 635,000 INR 599,900 INR 35,100 Titanium Blu INR 695,000 INR 664,900 INR 30,100 FORD FIGO BS6  1.5l TDCi DIESEL Trend (New Variant) INR 686,000 NA NA Titanium INR 725,000 INR 689,900 INR 35,100 Titanium Blu INR 785,000 INR 754,900 INR 30,100

Coming to Ford Aspire, the sedan will continue using Fly Audio system and automatic climate control. However, it loses on glossy gear lever top, just like Figo. Although many features have been discontinued, there are some additions as well. For example, both cars now get 15-inch dual tone alloy wheels. These will be offered as standard on Titanium trim of Ford Figo as well as Aspire. Another thing to note is that both Figo and Aspire will not be offering the advanced SYNC3 infotainment system.

BS6 Ford Figo and Aspire will be offered in both petrol and diesel engine options. One of these will be BS6 version of the existing 1.2-litre petrol engine, capable of generating 95 bhp of max power and 120 Nm of max torque. Diesel variant will be powered by BS6 version of existing 1.5-litre diesel engine that generates 99 bhp and 215 Nm.

Safety features are the same as earlier in all three cars. Existing variants of Figo, Aspire and Freestyle are well-equipped in terms of safety, as they offer a range of features such as 6-airbags, ABS with EBD, hill launch assist (HLA), electronic stability program (ESP), electric power assisted steering (EPAS), rear-view camera, high speed alert system, perimeter alarm and engine immobilizer.

We have been working relentlessly to make our products surprisingly affordable  both at the point of sale and service, said Anurag Mehrotra, president & managing director, Ford India. Thanks to increased localization & alignment of features, we have been able to keep the prices virtually unchanged, thereby passing on the benefits to consumers directly.
Officers returned to the crash scene where a 54-year-old man lost his life in the Coromandel in hopes of piecing together the cause of the crash.

Kumeu man David Charles Savery died after the motorbike his was riding and a car collided on State Highway 25/Whangapoua Road.
Helped by good news in corporate earnings, U.S. stocks shrugged off a big drop in Chinas markets. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)

U.S. stocks rallied Tuesday, shaking off the angst that battered Chinese markets, which dropped to their lowest levels in at least a year.

Strong corporate earnings carried the day, with 3M and Procter & Gamble beating quarterly estimates, and pumped the Dow Jones industrial average up nearly 2 percent.

Cycles of global volatility in recent weeks have been exacerbated by steep drops in oil prices. By Tuesday it showed signs of relief. The price for a barrel of WTI crude climbed nearly 3 percent to $31.17 by market close.

That helped fuel energy stocks, which outperformed the rest of the market. Exxon Mobil and Chevron were up 3.7 percent and 4 percent respectively. ConocoPhillips climbed 3.3 percent.

Slowing economic growth in China has set investors the world over on edge. Chinas markets slid Tuesday despite another bold move by its central bank to prop up the economy, dumping another $67 billion into its financial system.

Chinas benchmark Shanghai Composite Index tumbled more than 6 percent Tuesday. Other Asian indexes followed suit. The Nikkei in Japan fell more than 2 percent. European markets, however, shrugged off the drama and posted modest gains at the end of trading.

Hints last week that Europe and Japan may be at the ready with more stimulus calmed markets after wild swings.

Still U.S. stocks are down more than 8 percent this year  their worst yearly start in history. The Dow, a barometer of 30 blue-chip stocks, and the Standard & Poors 500-stock index, a broader view of the market, have both tested correction levels, a decline of 10 percent.

The Dow climbed 1.8 percent Tuesday, while the S&P was up 1.4 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq was up 1 percent.

Investors are now turning their attention to the Federal Reserve, which is holding its first meeting on the year. Six weeks ago, the central bank nudged up interest rates for the first time in almost a decade  and signaled it could increase rates again this year, if the U.S. economy shows growing strength. Its not expected to offer any major announcements this time, but investors will hunt for any hint that might move the markets again.
Lulu Delacres Olinguito, de la A a la Z! /Olinguito A to Z (Lee & Low, $18.95; ages 3-10) is a poetic, bilingual alphabet book that celebrates the flora and fauna of the cloud forest in the Andes, where the olinguito, a recently discovered mammal species, lives. As day begins, a zoologist sets out for a walk in the cloud forest, hoping to spot an olinguito in its native habitat. Capital and lowercase letters of the alphabet appear on each page in a mistily translucent block representing rain-forest clouds. Delacres colors are opulent, her lines both delicate and lively  she depicts an environment of captivating richness. Textured patterns of leaves and ferns are folded into the landscape. The scientist appears somewhere in every scene, and when at last he gets his glimpse of the olinguito, the moment is dramatic. As the final letters of the alphabet appear, the day draws to a close. Delacres graceful text, first in Spanish on each page and then just below in English, offers plenty of new words for speakers of either language  or both. A glossary, a description of each creature and a summary of the scientific story of the olinguito round out this splendid, more-than-an-alphabet book.  Kathie Meizner

Unlike the controversial picture book A Birthday Cake for George Washington, Freedom in Congo Square (Little Bee, $17.99; ages 4-8) offers children a way to learn about both the cruelty of slavery and the possibility of transcendent moments for a group of enslaved people. In a foreword, historian Freddi Williams Evans explains New Orleanss Congo Square, a marketplace where people of African heritage, both enslaved and free, were allowed to express themselves through music and dance on Sunday afternoons. Monday, there were hogs to slop,/mules to train, and logs to chop./Slavery was in no ways fair./ Six more days in Congo Square, begins Carole Boston Weatherfords poetic tale. R. Gregory Christies powerful paintings complement the narrative  featuring muted colors and limited movement in the first pages, vibrant lines and colors in the books second half. Steering clear of strict realism, Christie gives a warming orange hue to the sky, and transmits the hopes and freedoms of Congo Squares exuberant participants.  Abby McGanney Nolan

[Best childrens books of 2015]

Jackson Greene, the hero of Varian Johnsons To Catch a Cheat (Arthur A. Levine, $16.99; ages 8-12) shares much in common with his James Bond counterpart, except his beverage of choice. Jackson likes his neat and hot: Earl Grey tea. Agent 007 isnt the only popular character or film referenced in this stylish, fast-paced sequel to Johnsons middle-grade novel The Great Greene Heist. Readers will have a great time picking up allusions to Star Wars, Star Trek, superheroes and Oceans Twelve as they follow an intriguingly twisty plot. This time, Jackson and his friends contend with blackmailers, surveillance cameras, a highly suspicious principal and an Honor Board member hell-bent on bringing them down. The problem: a security video seems to have captured Gang Greene pulling a destructive prank on school grounds. The gang mobilizes to discover the who, what, why and how behind the rigged video. Johnson develops a cast of diverse characters with nuance and humor; and the dynamics between friends are zesty  and middle school-fraught  as the gang clashes with foes. Savvy Jackson is endearingly unsure around his whip-smart pal, Gaby de la Cruz; and his best bud, Charlie (Gabys brother), grows tired of constantly following Jacksons lead. Girl characters have evolved far beyond the adult capers usual role as eye candy and male-ego booster. They are student council presidents (Gaby) and ambitious tech gurus (robotics champ Megan and her nemesis Kayla). Heres hoping Gang Greene returns soon in another adventure that surprises, delights and expands the possibilities of the caper mystery.  Mary Quattlebaum
Heres a great setup for a caper: A ragtag group of Russians team up to assassinate Stalin in late February 1953. The reason? Stalin is planning one more pogrom against the Jews, a little-remembered fact that gives Washington writer Paul Goldbergs The Yid a basis that other historical fiction writers (i.e. me) can well be jealous of. Further, Stalin did die around then, which is clever cover for the author to flummox reader expectations about whether the scheme will succeed.

However, although there are the exciting scenes youd expect  scheming guards, stolen uniforms, forged orders, inconvenient bodies that need disposal  I think Goldberg wants to grapple more with the multiple, contradictory identities that individuals assume when a societys ever-changing rules fail them. Mostly, he wants to communicate the terrible impact of blood libel.

[Where did this blood libel come from?]

Its a term so important that Goldberg mentions it in the first sentence of his author bio. So lets start where the novel does, winter 53, with one of the feared Black Maria trucks arriving in darkness to arrest Solomon Levinson, an actor from the defunct State Jewish Theater. Elderly but not exactly helpless, Levinson butchers the thugs sent to detain him. This sets in motion the accumulation of an acting troupe whose sole dramatic performance will be their attempt to kill Stalin. They include Friederich Lewis, a black man from America who stayed in Russia for both political and social reasons; Aleksandr Kogan, a revered surgeon; Olga Fyodorovna, half-nun, half-harlot; and the mercurial Kima Petrova, who has more poetic ties to the plot than immediately revealed.

The story is told in present tense, odd for historical fiction, but fitting, in that Goldberg makes us aware that his characters are corks floating in the moment  one second can change the meaning of who they are. Lewis, for instance, has been jerked around by powerful people who employ him as whatever symbol Soviet philosophy requires. Need an excellent engineer at Magnitogorsk, the Gary, Ind., of Soviet industry? Need an African American to fill in for Paul Robeson? Need an object of sexual fantasy for Russian women? Lewis might be your reluctant man.

Author Paul Goldberg (Gilles Frydman)

And Levinson? Well, hes a complexity, a detachment commander for the Red Cavalry, a killer with daggers, a theater historian, a professional clown, and, of course, in local slang, a Yid.

What a word! Novels set in Russia need to deal with the nuances of that lands famously translation-resistant speech patterns. Goldberg performs an exegesis on many phrases that would otherwise baffle us. For instance, the attempt to arrest Levinson begins with the thugs pounding on the door and asking questions in Russian that he answers in Yiddish, as if its a stage routine dependent on puns and homonyms. Yes, that slows things down, but we begin to understand how treacherous life is in a land where saying the wrong thing  or having someone decide, after the fact, that what you said in the past is now wrong  can get you killed.

When the system is diseased (Goldberg makes a fascinating analogy about the epidemiology of fascism), what spreads is fear. The novel is set during the Doctors Plot, an imagined insurrection in which, party members feared, Jewish doctors were deliberately murdering officials. Deep in the novel, Goldberg dramatizes how awful that rumors impact was with a scene of a brilliant doctor attempting to treat a suspicious admirals mother. But these are minor characters, and dwelling on them makes the narrative feel like its still in first gear. Only later, when the conspirators try to account for the quotidian mechanics of launching a pogrom  counting train cars, for instance  do we feel like weve launched into a properly horrifying drama.

All of these aspects come together with the decision about how exactly Stalin should die, in a way either ironic or predestined, as a punishment for perpetuating blood libel, the cultural legend that claims Jews use the blood of gentiles to make matzo. Of course, it never really happened, but The Yid asks a great question: If you were presupposed as guilty of such crimes, and you were on your way to kill Stalin, might you give your prejudiced audience what violence they anticipate, Inglourious Basterds-style? Whether the denouement satisfies you depends on your anticipation of bloodletting vs. a more thematically resonant climax. Im good either way.

The Yid is darkly playful and generous with quick insights into the vast weirdness of its landscape. And yet, at one point, Goldberg writes, Our purpose is to describe these events with accuracy, coherent or not. This is something a reader of historical fiction might argue with, as accuracy is for a different audience. We are most immersed in the past, I think, when we watch someone manipulate it. This might be, ironically, a lesson Stalin taught, too, but its still an apt one for readers to consider when engaged with such a fine enterprise as this one.

Glen David Gold is the author of the novels Carter Beats the Devil and Sunnyside.
After four days in blizzard seclusion, a few people were ready to hear some live music. While most of Washington remained closed Monday, the Kennedy Center opened its doors for a few performances, including an evening concert by Frances Thymos Quartet. The house manager of the Terrace Theater asked listeners to feel free to take empty seats closer to the stage, creating an atmosphere even more like a home concert.

One good reason to have made the effort to get across a city still only partly dug out from the weekends historic snowfall was the chamber music of Franz Schubert. The quartet opened with the composers String Quartet No. 13 in A Minor, and the intimate feel of the evening seemed to encourage the musicians to lean in and find softer nuances in this delicate piece. Unfortunately, intonation was not always in place, and there were ensemble lapses, including some moments of confusion in the third movement.

Other problems troubled an even more magical Schubert piece, the Trout quintet for piano and strings. The piano, played with incisive force by Christoph Eschenbach amid his preparation of the National Symphony Orchestras European tour next month, seemed to need a visit by its tuner, wreaking further havoc on the ensemble intonation. Yann Dubost, on the double-bass part, had lovely solo turns, and cellist Delphine Biron enjoyed her increased freedom from the bass line in some beautiful duets with violist Nicolas Carles.

The musicians had faced bigger problems traveling to this concert than most of us in the audience. They had managed to get to a venue in North Carolina on Sunday, only to have the concert there canceled, which made the Kennedy Center the site of the world premiere of a new string quartet (No. 17, The Winters Tale) by French composer Olivier Dejours. It is a long and unwieldy piece, but with some melodic direction and textural variety to recommend it. Some of the faster sections in shifting meters sounded underprepared and not quite unified.

Downey is a freelance writer.
Bill French, president of W.L. French Excavating Corp., drove from North Billerica, Mass., to assist with the snow removal in D.C. (Aaron Davis / The Washington Post)

Bill French, president of W.L. French Excavating Corp., drove from North Billerica, Mass., to assist with the snow removal in D.C. (Aaron Davis / The Washington Post)

More than 60 hours after the snow stopped falling in the nations capital, there were still side streets impassable Tuesday afternoon within a mile of the White House, and some thoroughfares often just had one usable lane in either direction.

But in one of the citys poorest neighborhoods, there were miles of winding neighborhood streets with clear pavement from curb to curb  and a few dozen unfazed Bostonians to thank.

While D.C. did not have the equipment, training or personnel to make quick work of clearing the more than 20 inches of snow that fell across most of the city during last weeks blizzard, it did have the foresight to call a crew from an area near Boston before the first flakes fell.

At daybreak Sunday, as officials in D.C. had only begun to assess the damage, a convoy of 50 contractors and 35 backhoes, front loaders and Bobcats were on their way from North Billerica, Mass. They made it to D.C. nine hours later and havent stopped plowing since.

Residents in Anacostia and along a spiderweb of streets from where they started east of the Anacostia River, have been the beneficiaries.

D.C. snowplow driver Michael Barnes attempts to shovel out his stuck truck Monday while a neighbor looks on. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

They sent us to Ward 9, I mean Ward 8, and once we got a map, we could figure out the trouble spots and take care of them, said Bill French, president of W.L. French Excavating Corp.

French, who worked in Boston last year clearing some of the citys 109 inches of winter snow, tried to be gracious to his D.C. hosts. Theres quite a bit of snow here, he said sympathetically. But compared to Boston last year? No, nothing, he said.

Maybe a six out of 10, said Lance Barretto, one of his employees, who was more direct. Got your ankles wet.

At midday Tuesday, Frenchs crew made quick work of clearing a half-mile stretch of 30th Street in Southeast Washington  as well as every side street in between for a block in either direction.

Most had not been plowed since before the storm began, and with the snow gone, the neighborhood quickly sprang back to life, with cars and delivery trucks filling the roadway.

While there has at times been no discernible plan to the way plows have cleared streets in other parts of D.C., Frenchs crew made it look routine.

Backhoes worked in tandem, pushing snow to the end of a block. There, front-loaders lifted the piles into 18-wheel dump trucks. Bobcats completed the cleanup, clearing drains to prevent future flooding, and then it was off to the next street.

During the operation, D.C. police cruisers blocked access to the neighborhood at Frenchs request so his crew did not have to slow down to dodge traffic. And at the end, a salt spreader put down a final coat to break up remaining patches of ice.

The efficiency demonstrated by Frenchs crew raised questions about training for the Districts usual fleet of 150 plow operators and whether it was getting the most out of those resources.

But the Boston crews quick arrival showed that D.C. had made attempts before the storm to augment its force before competition for such resources can become fierce and costly.

In addition to the Boston crew, a convoy from Albany arrived in D.C. on Monday, and an ice-melter requested from Indiana before the storm had been deployed to a parking lot at RFK stadium where the city was amassing snow. On Monday night, when Pepco released many contractors it had been holding in reserve in anticipation of power outages, D.C. also tried to gobble up those companies.

In all, about 450 trucks and other pieces of equipment were active Tuesday in the city, triple the Districts full force.

But that still paled in comparison to New York, where officials Tuesday said that nearly 900 pieces of equipment were deployed in Queens alone, including 200 front-end loaders, and that almost 100 percent of streets had been plowed since the end of the storm.

New York also has contractors on retainer to clear city bus stops and pedestrian overpasses, and said four in five of each of those had been plowed by Tuesday, while many in D.C. remained buried.
Concepcion Picciotto in 2011. She maintained her vigil for three decades, but at what cost? (John Kelly/The Washington Post).

Concepcion Picciotto died Monday. She was a fixture in Washington, a participant in what may be the longest-running political protest in U.S. history: a ramshackle compound of signs and pamphlets, across from the White House, decrying nuclear weapons.

She was the Cal Ripken Jr. of protesters, maintaining the vigil since 1981.

[Concepcion Picciotto, who held vigil outside the White House for decades, dies]

Although Concepcion spent a lot of time in Lafayette Square, she didnt sleep there. Since 2000, she had slept, showered and eaten in a group house on 12th Street NW. I visited her there once. Her space in the basement was clean and orderly. She held up a small plastic pill bottle and showed it to me. Inside were teeth. Her teeth. The CIA had removed them, she said.

So: Concepcion was mentally ill.

Concepcion Picciotto protested outside the White House for more than 30 years making the peace vigil the longest-running act of political protest in the U.S. Picciotto died on Jan.25, 2016. (Zoeann Murphy/The Washington Post)

I first interviewed Concepcion in 2011 when she was in danger of losing her space in the so-called Peace House. The rowhouse on 12th Street was owned by Ellen Thomas, the widow of William Thomas, who started the vigil. Ellen inherited the house when Thomas died in 2009. She had moved to North Carolina and needed the money. Ellen hoped whoever bought the house would use it as a center for progressive activities  it was buzzing during the Occupy D.C. days  but she couldnt guarantee that would happen.

And so she put it on the market. Nobody was going to buy it if a mentally ill woman with a bottle full of teeth conveyed. Concepcion despised Ellen. Ellen was fed up with Concepcion.

It struck me as  whats the right word? Ironic. It struck me as ironic that these peace activists were fighting with each other.

[For 30-year peace activist, a new battle]

There was something impressive about Concepcions resolve, and that of the other protesters who pitched in after Concepcion was hit by a taxi in 2012 while riding her bike to Lafayette Square. They were there in any weather, a sort of ideological mirror image of the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns.

If Concepcions billowing tent, hand-painted signs and piles of photocopied jeremiads marred the beauty of the park, well, so what? The Constitution allowed it. Concepcion was the First Amendment come to life.

I liked knowing that a succession of presidents saw her when they looked out the windows of the White House. I liked that foreign visitors saw her, too, especially despots from countries where such an act would land a person in prison. Can you imagine such a thing in Moscow, Pyongyang or Riyadh?

And yet  nuclear weapons? It was so Cold War, so 1970s, like protesting Love Canal or chlorofluorocarbons. And there was an unpleasant undercurrent to the protest site. It was a magnet for 9/11 doubters and anti-Semites and others who saw conspiracy everywhere.

Concepcion was herself given to flights of paranoia. Ellen was just one of the people she hated. There was a guy she said had stolen a manuscript shed written. Him she was suing. There was Elijah, a.k.a. Nature Boy, the dreadlocked guy who hung around Lafayette Square, naked save for a loincloth. Concepcion thought he was crazy.

A lot of people had a lot of love for Concepcion. She walked the walk. Its easy enough to say youre against nuclear war, but what are you going to do about it? Donate to liberal causes and vote for candidates who support disarmament? Or live in a tent across from the White House?

How many of us believe in something so completely that were willing to devote our lives to it?

But, in the end, what did Concepcion really achieve? True, on her watch we never had a nuclear war. But you could say her protest site was actually meant to repel tigers. Downtown Washington hasnt had a tiger attack, either.

If you didnt know too much about her  if you didnt know that she was ill, that she could be mean  you could see Concepcion as a symbol of selfless sacrifice for the greater good.

Concepcion lived to about 80  a good run  but they were tough years. They left her with few teeth, her body stooped, her skin baked to a leathery brown. She suffered mortification of the flesh as surely as a Catholic martyr.

There were many who lauded her for that. Shes doing it for us, more than one person told me. And, Shes a saint.

I dont know where the line between genius and madness lies, the line between chemical imbalance and religious fervor. All I know is that in the end, I felt sorry for Concepcion.

In the 1960s, Buddhist monks in Vietnam protested government policies by setting themselves on fire. Concepcions suicide took a lot longer. I wish shed known another life.

Twitter: @johnkelly

For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly.
MARYLAND

Senate leader: Hogan should fill seat fast

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) said Tuesday that Gov. Larry Hogan should name Del. Craig J. Zucker (D-Montgomery) to fill an empty state Senate seat as soon as possible because there are 125,000 people that need representation.

Sen. Karen S. Montgomery (D-Montgomery) resigned from her position last month. Last week, the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee nominated Zucker to fill the seat. The committee forwarded the name to Hogan, who has 15 days to act. Wed like a name sent down as quickly as possible, Miller said.

Zuckers vote may be needed for the Senate to override Hogans veto of a bill passed last year that would restore voting rights to felons while they are on parole or probation. The House voted to override the bill last week, with Zucker voting in favor.

 Ovetta Wiggins

VIRGINIA

Agency says it lacks drug to do execution

The Virginia Department of Corrections says it lacks enough of a drug to put to death the killer of a Richmond family.

The department told media outlets last week that it has only two of the three pentobarbital vials it received from Texas in August, suggesting that the two vials are not enough to carry out the March 16 execution of Richmonds Ricky Javon Gray.

Pentobarbital is one of three drugs Virginia has approved for use during the first step of an execution.

Gray was convicted in the New Years Day 2006 stabbing and bludgeoning deaths of 49-year-old Bryan Harvey, 39-year-old Kathryn Harvey and their two daughters.

 Associated Press

THE REGION

Arrested man is suspected in threats

A man being sought by D.C. police and suspected of threatening government officials has been arrested in Jessup, Md., south of Baltimore, according to District authorities.

Adrian Daigle, 36, was the subject of an urgent police bulletin issued Monday night by D.C. police. At the time, they would only say that Daigle was wanted for questioning in reference to an active police investigation involving threats.

On Tuesday, Lt. Sean Conboy, a police spokesman, said the case involved threats against government officials in the area. He would not provide more specifics.

Police said Daigle is awaiting a court hearing on formal charges and extradition to the District. Police think Daigle is from Louisiana; he had last been seen driving a 1999 silver Lincoln Town Car with Louisiana license plates.

 Peter Hermann
Maryland has started the process to get federal help from the weekends storm.

Russell Strickand, the executive director of the Maryand Emergency Management Agency, sent a letter of intent to FEMA that it plans to ask for federal disaster assistance.

Our administration is committed to accelerating the recovery process in every way possible following this historic snowstorm, Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement.

Chad Eby, a spokesman for MEMA, said Monday that the state does not have an estimate on how much the storm has cost the state.

We just want to get a head start, he said.

Eby said the recovery effort continues across the state and we dont have a rough estimate.

This will help FEMA and the federal government to expedite the process.
David Trone, co-owner of Bethesda-based Total Wine & More, is considering a run for Congress in Marylands 8th District, his spokesman said Monday evening.

The entry of Trone, a multimillionaire and major Democratic donor who lives in Potomac, would seriously scramble the race for the seat being vacated by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D), who is running for the U.S. Senate.

Trone could easily self-fund a campaign against the seven contenders in the April 26 Democratic primary, who include state Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Montgomery) and former news anchor and Marriott executive Kathleen Matthews. Trone is expected to make a decision within the next few days. The filing deadline is Feb. 3.

Trone, 60, who has never run for office, referred questions to Total Wine & More spokesman Ed Cooper. Hes looking at it, Cooper said. He will have a decision later on this week.

[Md. Congressional race so far has more differences in style than substance]

Word of a possible candidacy started circulating in Montgomery political circles last week, with reports of a telephone poll testing negative and positive messages about Trone, Matthews and Raskin. The poll was first reported by Seventh State, a Maryland political blog.

Other Democrats in the race are Dels. Kumar P. Barve and Ana Sol Gutierrez, former Obama aide Will Jawando, former State Department official Joel Rubin and David Anderson, an executive with a nonprofit group that promotes internships and seminars.

Should Trone decide to run, it would not be good news for Matthews, who is courting the kind of support from the business community that Trone could also claim. Trone would also probably diminish Matthewss fundraising advantage. She had taken in more than $1 million through Sept. 30, aided by a network of corporate and political contacts developed in tandem with her husband, Chris Matthews, host of MSNBCs Hardball.

Some District 8 political insiders speculate that Trone is weighing the race because private-sector leaders are not confident that Matthews, a political novice, can beat Raskin, a popular incumbent lawmaker from Takoma Park.

[Matthews endorsed by Emilys List]

Trone is a big name in Democratic fundraising. In November, he hosted a $20,000-per-couple fundraiser for President Obama at his home. Trone also held a 2014 fundraiser for Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate Anthony Brown.

The businessman is also an active philanthropist. Last year, he donated $15 million to the American Civil Liberties Union to expand a campaign to reduce prison populations and promote initiatives to improve employment prospects for ex-prisoners.

Total Wine & More is reported to be the nations largest privately held retailer of beer, with more than 100 stores in 18 states. Trone and his brother, Robert, adapted the big box retail concept to selling alcohol. Their business model has triggered regulatory and legal fights that are likely to be raised by opponents should Trone move forward with a campaign.
Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Tuesday proposed creating a nonpartisan redistricting panel to draw Marylands legislative and congressional districts, a change that would strip that power from the legislature and the governors office.

Hogan also proposed legislation to help the state crack down on a growing epidemic of opiod addiction by changing the states gang laws to be more like federal racketeering statutes and by eventually requiring doctors and pharmacists to use the states prescription-monitoring database to ensure they are not over-prescribing narcotics.

The redistricting proposal  which will be formally introduced in the legislature Wednesday  would require an amendment to the state constitution. The change would have to be approved both by the Democratic-majority legislature and by voters.

Democratic legislative leaders have vowed to resist such redistricting changes, saying they prefer to wait for national redistricting reform that would also affect states where Republicans control the legislatures.

[Hogan wades into heated debate over redistricting]

Hogan has criticized state lawmakers and his Democratic predecessor, Martin OMalley, for creating what experts agree are some of the nations most gerrymandered districts. All but one of Marylands eight members of the House of Representatives are Democrats, in part because of the way the districts are drawn.

For too long, fair elections and a healthy, strong, and competitive two-party system have been nearly impossible in our state, Hogan said in a news release Tuesday.

Independent redistricting commissions are used in six Western states, including Arizona, whose system was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last year. The option was recommended by a commission Hogan appointed to study the issue.

Similarly, the governors legislative proposals to combat opioid addiction follow recommendations from a task force led by Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford (R).

Hogans office said his legislation would aid criminal prosecutions and the pursuit of civil penalties against drug traffickers by aligning Marylands gang law more closely with federal organized crime sanctions designed to crack down on mobsters.

The report on the task force recommendations said that when parts of the organization are taken down piecemeal, as under the current statutory scheme, the leaders that are still in place can recruit replacements and keep the organization running and the drugs and violence flowing.

The governor also proposed changing the states voluntary prescription monitoring program to phase in mandatory registration by doctors who prescribe painkillers and other addictive drugs.

Carin C. Miller, co-founder of Maryland Heroin Awareness Advocates, said she supports efforts to bolster the monitoring program. But she said legislation to crack down on drug rings shouldnt treat drug traffickers the same as small-time dealers, many of whom are trying to support their own habits.

One needs prison, and the other one needs treatment, said Miller, whose husband and son have struggled with addiction.

Hogan spokesman Matt Clark said the proposed legislation  which also will be introduced Wednesday  should not lead to the prosecution of low-level drug dealers but would allow the state to move more strongly against drug dealers who belong to criminal gangs or organizations.

Clark said Hogan also is focusing on recommendations by the task force that addressed treatment or other preventative efforts but do not require legislation. For example, Clark said, the state has started a public-service announcement campaign and has trained workers at local health departments and detention centers to administer drugs such as naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an overdose.

Also on Tuesday, the legislatures fiscal analysts briefed lawmakers on the $42.3 billion budget that Hogan proposed last week, highlighting several issues that could become flash points during the General Assemblys 2016 session.

Warren G. Deschenaux, executive director of the Department of Legislative Services, said the biggest policy decisions facing the legislature will center around tax relief for businesses and how much money the state should set aside as reserve funds.

Hogans budget would provide modest reductions in taxes and fees for working families, seniors and selected small businesses, while increasing the states rainy day fund to more than $1.1 billion.

I think we need to be cautious about some of the corporate income-tax proposals, said Del. Maggie L. McIntosh (D-Baltimore), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, referring to a recommendation from a panel appointed by Democratic leaders.

Discussing retirees who may be well-off, she questioned giving tax credits to . . . Marylanders who have the highest amount of discretionary money already.

McIntosh said she supports the governors plan to ramp up tax credits for the working poor and wants to expand the benefit even further. Hogans proposal would increase the credits by $79 a year, on average.

Among other potential sticking points, Deschenaux noted that Hogans plan calls for $5 million in tax credits for donations to public or private schools, an idea Democrats roundly rejected last year.

Deschenaux pointed out that the governors budget would reduce education aid for Baltimore by $24 million because of declining enrollment and increased wealth in the city, while boosting funding for rural counties such as Carroll, Garrett and Kent, which also have shrinking student populations.

He also noted that Hogans capital budget provides no room for initiatives that originate in the legislature. Traditionally, he said, governors have left about $15 million in capital funding to the General Assemblys discretion.

He also noted that Hogans budget would provide $25 million more than required under Maryland law for the state employees pension fund, which saw its annual contributions slashed under the previous administration.

Additionally, Deschenaux said Hogans budget lacks operational funds for a regional hospital project in Prince Georges County. The governors fiscal plan also calls for outsourcing more than 100 jobs at state-run hospitals to the private sector, particularly in food service and housekeeping.

Fenit Nirappil contributed to this report.
Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) said Tuesday that Gov. Larry Hogan (R) should name Del. Craig J. Zucker (D-Montgomery) to fill an empty state Senate seat as soon as possible because there are 125,000 people that need representation.

Miller made the comments on the Senate floor after senators voted on 15 bills, including ones that dealt with help for foster children, changes to commercial drivers license requirements and slight revisions to the states workforce development program.

Sen. Karen Montgomery (D-Montgomery) resigned from her position last month. Last week, the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee nominated Zucker, an establishment favorite, to fill the seat. The committee forwarded the name to Hogan, who has 15 days to name a replacement.

[Montgomery Democrats nominate Del. Zucker to fill empty Senate seat]

All he has to do is name the name, which has been sent to him, then that district can be represented on the floor of the Senate, Miller said. Wed like a name sent down as quickly as possible.

Last week Miller postponed a vote on a veto override of a bill that would allow felons who are on parole and probation to vote. He said that the chamber would likely need Montgomerys successor in place in order to muster the 29 votes necessary to overturn the veto. The original Senate bill passed with 29 votes.

Miller said he does not think that Hogan is stalling because of the pending veto override.

Petulance runs rampant in Maryland, Miller said. I dont attribute it to anything other than they havent gotten around to it.

Matt Clark, a spokesman for Hogan, said there hasnt been a delay.

The name came down on Friday and since then weve been under a state of emergency, Clark said. Over the last couple of days our attention has been elsewhere.
As many as 14 inmates in Virginia who committed murder as youths could be eligible to have their life sentences reconsidered under a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling, according to a group that tracks such cases.

But lawyers said how  or even whether  the high courts decision will affect those convicted in the commonwealth likely wont be settled without additional legal wrangling.

On Monday, the Supreme Court made its ban on mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles retroactive.

As some experts hailed the decision in Montgomery v. Louisiana  saying it could potentially offer hundreds or thousands of inmates across the country a chance to argue that they should not die in prison for crimes committed when they were youths  others cautioned that the effect in Virginia could be mooted.

[Supreme Court: Juveniles sentenced to mandatory life-without-parole must have opportunity for review]

Shermaine Ali Johnson is one of those who might get a new sentencing hearing because of the Supreme Courts ruling Monday.

That is because the states own Supreme Court has said that judges in Virginia, which has abolished parole, have the authority to suspend sentences, and thus, state law could not have mandated that they impose terms of life without parole. By that logic, neither the Supreme Courts decision to strike down mandatory life without parole for juveniles nor its ruling Monday to make the ban retroactive affects Virginia.

Virginias still in limbo, said Rob Poggenklass, Tony Dunn Legal Fellow at the ACLU of Virginia.

Maryland and the District do not have mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles.

Importantly, the U.S. Supreme Court has not said that juveniles cannot be sentenced to life in prison without parole; the justices have said the penalty cant be automatic. A spokesman for Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) said in an email Monday that state lawyers were still assessing the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling.

This is a significant decision that could affect the sentences of defendants across the country, said Michael Kelly, the spokesman. In the coming days, we will be working to determine which cases in Virginia may be impacted and how the Commonwealth should best proceed in light of this latest guidance from the Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court first struck down mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles in its 2012 Miller v. Alabama decision, although it did not say explicitly then whether the ruling would be applied retroactively. In the interim, attorneys for Virginia argued  often successfully  that it did not and that those sentenced to life without parole should have to accept their fate.

[The Supreme Courts first ruling on juveniles sentenced to mandatory life without parole]

That argument is now undercut, and attorneys for some people said they hope that means their clients will now get new hearings. Charles R. Mills, whose client Shermaine Ali Johnson is serving a sentence of life without parole for raping and killing a part-time TV producer in Petersburg when he was 16, said the Supreme Courts ruling should give him a right to process in Virginia on his parole eligibility. (A federal appeals court had rejected his bid for such a process earlier, deciding that the Supreme Courts ban on mandatory life without parole was not retroactive).

Jody Kent Lavy, director and national coordinator at the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, said the Supreme Courts ruling was a very significant decision, reaffirming what the court has said previously about how children are constitutionally different than adults.

We anticipate that this decision will impact thousands across the country who were told as children they were worth nothing more than dying in prison, she said.

Heather Renwick, the campaigns legal director, said the group had counted 14 inmates in Virginia who might be affected but declined to release a list of their names.

Virginia lawyers might still argue that Miller v. Alabama does not affect the state because judges can always suspend life sentences. The state Supreme Court endorsed that theory in the case of Donte Lamar Jones, who was sentenced to life without parole for the fatal shooting of a clerk during a convenience store robbery in York County when he was 17.

Joness attorney, Duke McCall, said he has petitioned to have the U.S. Supreme Court hear the case, arguing that Virginia, indeed, has mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles.

I certainly think it does, but that question has not been decided, McCall said. That question is still an open question.

John L. Longstreth, another attorney for Johnson, said Virginia lawmakers might need to consider intervening so that juveniles convicted in the future are not subjected to mandatory life without parole.

Theyre going to have to do something legislatively, because they have to provide a sentencing option for juveniles other than mandatory life without parole, Longstreth said. Virginias got to do something.

The cases unfailingly involve heinous crimes, and some victims rights advocates caution that new sentencing or parole hearings might reopen old wounds. One person who has challenged his mandatory life-without-parole sentence in Virginia, for example, is Lee Boyd Malvo, the younger member of a pair that terrorized the Washington region a decade ago with a series of random, sniper-style shootings. His release, though, is unlikely. Although his four life sentences in Virginia  two in Fairfax County and two in Spotsylvania County  might be considered mandatory, the Maryland judge in Montgomery County had discretion when he imposed six consecutive life terms without parole for Malvo, those involved in the case have said.

Jeanette Richardson, a leader of the Virginia Beach-area chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, said there is just no easy answer in this because juveniles undeniably should be assessed differently. But she said the loved ones of those slain who thought they would never have to attend another court proceeding might find it painful if the cases are revisited.

I can just say, for those families that are dealing with this, its going to be rough, she said. Theyre going to feel like theyre revictimized again.

Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, whose pregnant sister and the sisters husband were killed by a teenage home invader, said she cried when she heard the news. Jenkins, who serves on the board of the National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Murderers, said that although Illinois had already decided to review older cases, she knew friends in other states that were safe that are no longer safe.

The families that are lucky enough to know about it, she said, theyre going to be put through hell.
A woman living in her car since the start of one of the worst snowstorms in the regions history was pulled out and taken to a hospital with help from the Maryland National Guard on Monday evening.

An Accokeek man who noticed the car buried under mounds of snow near his property called authorities about 6 p.m. Monday about someone possibly stuck in a vehicle in the 16400 block of Newasa Lane, according to a statement from the Prince Georges County Fire Department.

Emergency crews went to the scene but could not get to the car because the roads remained unplowed, fire officials said.

The Maryland Army National Guard dispatched a Humvee to plow through the snow on Newasa Lane, where they found a woman inside a car.

The woman, who had parked her car on her own property and was living in the vehicle, initially did not want to leave, county authorities said.

National Guard officers worked with county public safety crews to pull the woman out of the car.

She was transported to a hospital and treated for hypothermia, fire officials said.
Metros new general manager, Paul J. Wiedefeld, has a message for riders angered by the transit agencys slow recovery from the storm known as Snowzilla: Hes deliberately taking his time to be sure the agency can live up to its promises.

That may not soothe the frustrations of stranded customers who note that Metro shut down service for much longer than transit systems in other storm-whacked cities such as Philadelphia and New York.

But its an important early sign of how Wiedefeld plans to go about transforming what Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) called Metros culture of mediocrity after a year of turmoil marred by accidents, financial stress and service delays.

Wiedefeld said in an interview that he has to win back customers confidence by forcing the Metro staff to accept the reality of how far it has sunk, and rebuild from there.

In the two months Ive been here, Ive seen that we have lost a lot of credibility with the community and riders, Wiedefeld said. Part of that was we have not delivered on what we were expected to do. I have to reset that.

He described the process as finding the floor of where we are as an organization, and not establishing a false floor that everybody knows is false.

To the extent that the strategy meant lowering riders expectations, Wiedefeld surely succeeded. He shut down all rail and bus service for Saturday and Sunday, the longest such suspension in Metros history.

Then, looking ahead to Monday, Metro promised to resume only limited rail service  on just three lines and only underground  starting at 7 a.m.

As the day progressed, however, Metro resumed service in steps, each accompanied by an announcement highlighting the accomplishment.

By 11 a.m., trains were running at aboveground stations. Then service was expanded to two more lines. By the end of the day, Metro said it would resume full service on all but the Silver Line by 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Some critics of Metros past failings praised Wiedefeld..

He and his team have executed incredibly well, partly by managing expectations, said James C. Dinegar, president of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. In terms of what they were telling people, theyre faster coming back.

Dinegar said Wiedefeld knew some decisions were going to infuriate some people, but, candidly, they were the right decisions.

Connolly was more restrained but still complimentary.

Hes been handed one of the biggest blizzards in our history, and hes proceeding cautiously, Connolly said. I think he has a monumental job turning around Metro, because its a culture of mediocrity thats set in from top to bottom.

The scale of the problem was evident in contrast between Metros performance and that of comparable big-city transit agencies.

In deciding to shut down Metro for the weekend, Wiedefeld cited passenger safety, the need for unfettered access to tracks and yards for snow removal, and to shelter as many cars as possible in tunnels.

But such concerns had much less impact on New York and Philadelphia. Both ran underground rail service throughout the storm, and both were quicker to resume aboveground service.

New Yorks Metropolitan Transit Authority said it began suspending aboveground service at 4 p.m. Saturday but had restored it all by Sunday evening.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority said it suspended its commuter rail service, whose trains run mostly aboveground, both Saturday and Sunday. But service resumed Monday morning and was running normally on 12 of 13 regional rail lines.

Moreover, Philadelphia had service restored on more than two-thirds of its bus lines by midafternoon Monday, a transit agency spokesman said. By contrast, Metro on Tuesday plans to operate about a quarter of its total of 325 routes.

Wiedefeld said it was misleading to compare Washingtons experience with that of other cities.

Theres a saying in the aviation world: If youve been to one airport, youve been to one airport,  said Wiedefeld, a former chief executive at Baltimore Washington International-Thurgood Marshall Airport. Its the same with transit systems. Our transit system has unique features, like every system does, and every storm is unique.

But he also said he wanted to find out how other cities managed to perform better.

I dont know what type of equipment these other systems have. They may have different equipment than we do. So I want to look into that further, Wiedefeld said. From the aviation world, Im used to seeing other pieces of equipment, like blowers, like melters, that I havent seen here.

Wiedefeld was upbeat, wearing sunglasses and a black jacket with Transit Police on the back, as he spoke to a reporter at Metros Eisenhower Avenue rail yard. He pointed to snow-encased tracks and iced-over third rails, which he said are examples of what crews have been dealing with across the outdoor parts of the system.

Large movers pushed snow off the outdoor rails again and again as the storm howled. Scrapers attached to heavy rail cars then scraped ice from the third rails. Then a liquid de-icer was sprayed on the third rails. All this had to be done repeatedly Saturday and Sunday, and for a final time Monday.

Wiedefeld said Metros general storm protocols were in place when he took over Nov. 30 and he is reevaluating them. Im doing a total assessment of all this, just as Im assessing everything about the system. Im always asking, across the board, for explanations. I want to know why were doing things the way were doing them. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesnt.

He also clarified some confusion about the need to shut down rail service to shelter cars in tunnels.

There was room for 900 cars in the tunnels but it would have caused gridlock in there, and crews would have been unable to move equipment through. So 356 cars were sheltered in tunnels. About 200 of Metros 1,100-plus cars were sheltered in garages at the eight rail yards in the area. The rest were outdoors at rail yards and had to be dug out.

But the limited service was a result of snow and ice on rails and track switches, not about rail-car availability. Given the limited service caused by track conditions, more than enough cars were available.

paul.duggan@washpost.com
HEALTH

Estimate revised for Obamacare customers

Fewer people than expected are purchasing health insurance under President Obamas health-care law, a report confirmed on Monday.

The Congressional Budget Office study estimated that 13 million people will purchase policies through the Affordable Care Act this year, down about 8 million from estimates the agency made early last year. The number is based on updated enrollment figures through last month.

The Department of Health and Human Services already had flagged the lowered expectations last fall, predicting that there will be just 10 million customers who are signed up and paying premiums through online insurance markets by the end of this year.

 Associated Press

NORTH DAKOTA

Court wont review abortion-ban reversal

The U.S. Supreme Court refused on Monday to review rulings by lower courts that overturned North Dakotas ban on abortion at six weeks of pregnancy  before many women learn they are pregnant.

The justices turned away the states appeal of decisions striking down the 2013 fetal heartbeat law as unconstitutional. The law never took effect, and abortion rights supporters said it was the strictest antiabortion measure in the country.

The high court last week refused to review a case involving Arkansas bid to enforce its own fetal heartbeat law, banning some abortions at 12 weeks. Both measures had been struck down by a unanimous panel of three judges on the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

 Associated Press

MISSOURI

Professor charged in run-in with journalists

A University of Missouri assistant communications professor was charged Monday with misdemeanor assault linked to her run-in with student journalists during campus protests in November.

Melissa Click, 45, faces up to 15 days in jail if convicted of the charge filed by Columbia city prosecutor Steve Richey, who did not return messages seeking comment Monday.

Click confronted a student photographer and a student videographer during the protests, calling for muscle to help remove the videographer, Mark Schierbecker, from the protest area. Schierbeckers video of his run-in with Clink went viral, and he filed a complaint with university police.

That days demonstrations came after the president of the four-campus University of Missouri system and the Columbia campuss chancellor resigned amid protests over what some saw as indifference toward racial issues.

Days after the confrontations, Click said she regretted her actions.

 Associated Press
DENMARK

Lawmakers approve migrant asset seizure

Danish lawmakers voted Tuesday to let police seize valuables worth more than $1,500 from asylum seekers to help cover their housing and food costs while their cases are being processed.

After more than three hours of debate, the bill by the minority Liberal Party government was adopted in an 81-to-27 vote, with the support of the opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish Peoples Party.

Amendments were made, including raising the value of items the asylum seekers can keep from 3,000 kroner ($440) to 10,000 kroner ($1,500).

Denmark received about 20,000 asylum seekers last year, one of the highest rates per capita in the European Union.

Denmark is not the only nation taking such action. Some German states take funds from refugees, and Switzerland requires asylum seekers to hand over cash exceeding 1,000 francs ($996).

 Associated Press

MALAYSIA

Prime minister cleared in financial scandal

Malaysias attorney general said Tuesday that nearly $700 million channeled into Prime Minister Najib Razaks private accounts was a personal donation from Saudi Arabias royal family and cleared him of any criminal wrongdoing.

The announcement capped months of uncertainty for Najib, who has been under pressure to resign over the financial scandal.

Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali did not say why the Saudi royals made the donation or what the money was to be used for. Najib, however, indicated that it was for political funding.

Apandi said an investigation by the national anti-corruption agency showed that no criminal offense had been committed because the $681 million transferred into Najibs accounts between March and April 2013 was given without any consideration by the Saudis as a personal donation.

He said Najib returned $620 million to the Saudis in August 2013 as the money was not utilized. He did not say what happened to the remaining $61 million.

 Associated Press

Dozens of bodies found in Iraqi mass grave: Iraqi forces have found more than 40 bodies, including those of women and children, in a mass grave in the city of Ramadi, officials said. An Interior Ministry spokesman said the grave contained the bodies of civilians and police personnel. Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, fell to Islamic State militants in May. Iraqi troops retook the city center last month. Similar graves have been found in other areas liberated from the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

10 reported killed in Afghan insider attack: A police officer turned his weapon on fellow officers as they were sleeping in their quarters near a checkpoint in southern Afghanistan, killing 10, said a spokesman for the governor of Uruzgan province. The Taliban asserted responsibility for the incident, the latest insider attack involving a soldier or a police officer. Insider attacks are common in Afghanistan.

 From news services
EGYPTS PREPARATIONS for the fifth anniversary Monday of a march that touched off its 2011 revolution offered a clear picture of the current state of the regime of Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, the general and coup-maker turned president. Evidently terrified of another popular uprising, security forces staged a sweeping crackdown, detaining hundreds of activists and searching 5,000 apartments in the vicinity of Cairos Tahrir Square, where anti-government marchers gathered on Jan. 25, 2011. Tanks and soldiers filled the area while state media celebrated police day.

There was no public protest  opposition groups advised their followers to stay home  but the regimes boast of overwhelming public support was belied by its actions. Far from restoring democracy, as Secretary of State John F. Kerry predicted, it has since its July 2013 coup created what domestic and international human rights groups deem the most repressive regime in Egypts modern history. It has killed thousands, imprisoned tens of thousands and employed torture, disappearances, media censorship and sham trials.

Rather than revive the economy  as Mr. Kerry also predicted  Mr. Sissi has presided over a corrosive stagnation. Tourism revenue plummeted 18 percent last year and massive deficits were recorded in the balance of payments and government budget. Unemployment is 12 percent, and for youths far higher. Private business is hemmed in by a venal bureaucracy, corruption and the militarys own sprawling interests.

Signs of discontent with the regime are mounting. Some 50,000 people registered on a Facebook page calling for new protests before the regime blocked it. Participation in a parliamentary election in the fall was abysmal  the government claimed a turnout of 26 percent, but independent observers said it was far less. There are rumblings of discord inside the regime, with intelligence services and some in the military suspected of discontent with Mr. Sissi, according to Eric Trager of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Most alarming for Egypts neighbors, the regimes attempt to combat jihadist terrorism, including a self-declared affiliate of the Islamic State based in the Sinai Peninsula, has worsened rather than alleviated the threat. The brutal treatment of Bedouin and other Sinai communities has driven recruits to the militants. When a journalist pointed this out, the regimes response was to arrest him.

Unfortunately, the regimes unraveling has mostly been ignored by the Obama administration, which resumed full U.S. aid  $1.5 billion this year  on the theory that backing the dictatorship will promote stability. By now it should be clear that the bet is a bad one. Barring major changes in the regimes policies, the Arab worlds most populous country is headed toward another breakdown.

The United States cannot necessarily stop Mr. Sissis self-destruction. But it can lay the groundwork for a better future by urging his regime to cease persecution of peaceful opponents, including the secular, liberal leaders of the 2011 revolution, most of whom are in jail or exile. It should link aid to media freedom and the revocation of repressive laws, like a measure banning all protests. With its unconditional subsidies, the Obama administration is merely hastening Egypts next crisis.
Barack Obama is president of the United States.

In 2010, a 16-year-old named Kalief Browder from the Bronx was accused of stealing a backpack. He was sent to Rikers Island to await trial, where he reportedly endured unspeakable violence at the hands of inmates and guards  and spent nearly two years in solitary confinement.

In 2013, Kalief was released, having never stood trial. He completed a successful semester at Bronx Community College. But life was a constant struggle to recover from the trauma of being locked up alone for 23 hours a day. One Saturday, he committed suicide at home. He was just 22 years old.

Solitary confinement gained popularity in the United States in the early 1800s, and the rationale for its use has varied over time. Today, its increasingly overused on people such as Kalief, with heartbreaking results  which is why my administration is taking steps to address this problem.

There are as many as 100,000 people held in solitary confinement in U.S. prisons  including juveniles and people with mental illnesses. As many as 25,000 inmates are serving months, even years of their sentences alone in a tiny cell, with almost no human contact.

In a speech to members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in July 2015 where he called for criminal justice reform, President Obama said that solitary confinement "is not going to make us safer." (YouTube/The White House)

Research suggests that solitary confinement has the potential to lead to devastating, lasting psychological consequences. It has been linked to depression, alienation, withdrawal, a reduced ability to interact with others and the potential for violent behavior. Some studies indicate that it can worsen existing mental illnesses and even trigger new ones. Prisoners in solitary are more likely to commit suicide, especially juveniles and people with mental illnesses.

The United States is a nation of second chances, but the experience of solitary confinement too often undercuts that second chance. Those who do make it out often have trouble holding down jobs, reuniting with family and becoming productive members of society. Imagine having served your time and then being unable to hand change over to a customer or look your wife in the eye or hug your children.

As president, my most important job is to keep the American people safe. And since I took office, overall crime rates have decreased by more than 15 percent. In our criminal justice system, the punishment should fit the crime  and those who have served their time should leave prison ready to become productive members of society. How can we subject prisoners to unnecessary solitary confinement, knowing its effects, and then expect them to return to our communities as whole people? It doesnt make us safer. Its an affront to our common humanity.

Thats why last summer, I directed Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and the Justice Department to review the overuse of solitary confinement across U.S. prisons. They found that there are circumstances when solitary is a necessary tool, such as when certain prisoners must be isolated for their own protection or in order to protect staff and other inmates. In those cases, the practice should be limited, applied with constraints and used only as a measure of last resort. They have identified common-sense principles that should guide the use of solitary confinement in our criminal justice system.

The Justice Department has completed its review, and I am adopting its recommendations to reform the federal prison system. These include banning solitary confinement for juveniles and as a response to low-level infractions, expanding treatment for the mentally ill and increasing the amount of time inmates in solitary can spend outside of their cells. These steps will affect some 10,000 federal prisoners held in solitary confinement  and hopefully serve as a model for state and local corrections systems. And I will direct all relevant federal agencies to review these principles and report back to me with a plan to address their use of solitary confinement.

[More coverage: Obama bans solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons]

States that have led the way are already seeing positive results. Colorado cut the number of people in solitary confinement, and assaults against staff are the lowest theyve been since 2006. New Mexico implemented reforms and has seen a drop in solitary confinement, with more prisoners engaging in promising rehabilitation programs. And since 2012, federal prisons have cut the use of solitary confinement by 25 percent and significantly reduced assaults on staff.

Reforming solitary confinement is just one part of a broader bipartisan push for criminal justice reform. Every year, we spend $80 billion to keep 2.2 million people incarcerated. Many criminals belong behind bars. But too many others, especially nonviolent drug offenders, are serving unnecessarily long sentences. Thats why members of Congress in both parties are pushing for change, from reforming sentencing laws to expanding reentry programs to give those who have paid their debt to society the tools they need to become productive members of their communities. And I hope they will send me legislation as soon as possible that makes our criminal justice system smarter, fairer, less expensive and more effective.

In America, we believe in redemption. We believe, in the words of Pope Francis, that every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes. We believe that when people make mistakes, they deserve the opportunity to remake their lives. And if we can give them the hope of a better future, and a way to get back on their feet, then we will leave our children with a country that is safer, stronger and worthy of our highest ideals.
As the Iowa caucuses near, Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have released TV ads that together echo a popular theme in the mainstream media. Clintons ad depicts the job of the presidency as tough and change as hard. You need someone experienced who can face down foreign adversaries and stand up to reactionary Republicans. Sanderss ad  with Simon and Garfunkels America stirring memories  offers the romance of the United States coming together. Many of the pundits agree  this is a choice between head and heart. If Democrats think with their heads, they will go with Hillary; with their hearts, with Bernie.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders released a new campaign ad titled "America." Paul Simon's song "(All Come To Look For) America" plays over scenes of rural and suburban America. Sanders appears nearly halfway into the ad greeting crowds at a rally. (Bernie 2016)

But this conventional wisdom clashes with the reality that this country has suffered serial devastations from choices supported by the establishments responsible candidates. On fundamental issue after issue, it is the candidate of the heart who is in fact grounded in common sense. It wasnt Sanderss emotional appeal, but his clearsightedness that led the Nation magazine, which I edit, to make only its third presidential endorsement in a primary in its 150-year history.

For example, foreign policy is considered Clintons strength. When terrorism hits the headlines, she gains in the polls. Yet the worst calamity in U.S. foreign policy since Vietnam surely was George W. Bushs invasion of Iraq. Clinton voted for that war; Sanders got it right and voted against. Clinton has since admitted her vote was a mistake but seems to have learned little from that grievous misjudgment. As secretary of state, she championed regime change in Libya that left behind another failed state rapidly becoming a backup base for the Islamic State. She pushed for toppling Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war and lobbied for arming the Syrian opposition, a program that ended up supplying more weapons to the Islamic State than to anyone else. Now she touts a no fly zone in Syria, an idea that has been dismissed by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as requiring some 70,000 troops to enforce, and by President Obama as well. People thinking with their heads rather than their hearts might well prefer Sanderss skepticism about regime change to Clintons hawkishness.

[Finally, Hillary Clinton has a battle on her hands]

The worst economic calamity since the Great Depression came when the excesses of Wall Street created the housing bubble and financial crisis that blew up the economy. Clinton touts her husband economic record, but he championed the deregulation that helped unleash the Wall Street wilding. The banks, bailed out by taxpayers, are bigger and more concentrated than they were before the crash. Someone using their head  not their heart  would want to make certain that the next president is independent of Wall Street and committed to breaking up the big banks and shutting down the casino. But Clinton opposes key elements of Sen. Elizabeth Warrens (D-Mass.) rational reform agenda for the banks, and her money ties to Wall Street lead any rational observer to conclude shes an uncertain trumpet for reform.

Americans continue to suffer from a broken heath-care system that costs nearly twice per capita as those in the rest of the industrialized world  with worse results. Obamas health reforms have helped millions get health care  particularly through the expansion of Medicaid and by forcing coverage of pre-existing conditions. But millions continue to go without care, millions more are underinsured and unable to afford decent coverage, and even more are gouged by drug companies and insurance companies that game the systems complexities. Eventually the United States will join every other industrial nation with some form of simplified universal care. Sanders champions moving to Medicare for all. Clinton has mischaracterized his proposal, erroneously claiming it would basically end all kinds of health care we know, Medicare, Medicaid, the Chip Program. It would take all that and hand it over to the states. She says she would build on Obamacare but has yet to detail significant reforms that would take us closer to a rational health-care system. Sanders supported Obamacare but understands we cant get to a rational health-care plan without leaders willing to take on the entrenched interests that stand in the way. It isnt romantic to think that it is long past time for the United States to join every other industrial country and guarantee affordable health care for all.

Similarly, Clinton, like every Democratic politician, decries the big money that is corrupting our politics. But though she offers a reform agenda, she vacuums up big contributions and dark money in a complex of super PACs, saying she cant unilaterally disarm. Sanders knows that the billionaires get what they pay for. He not only makes getting big money out of politics a centerpiece of his agenda, he has proved his commitment by refusing to set up a super PAC and raising his funds from millions of small donors, proving that he can raise enough to be competitive in the process. It isnt romantic to think that this gives him the independence and credibility to actually reform the system if he is elected.

[Who had the worst week in Washington? Hillary Clinton.]

In the face of the Sanders surge, Clinton supporters have resorted to the electability argument: that Sanders cant be elected because hes too far left. Put aside the irony of Clinton dismissing the electoral viability of someone she might lose to. Clinton has inevitable baggage of her own that raises doubts about her electoral prospects. And Clintons decision to present herself as the candidate of continuity in a time of change is problematic. In contrast, the positions Sanders champions  Medicare for All, cleaning up politics, curbing Wall Street, a less-interventionist foreign policy, rebuilding the United States, tuition-free college, fair taxes for the rich and corporations  are all extremely popular. Furthermore, Democrats have a natural electoral majority if they turn out. Even the Clinton campaign worries about her ability to rouse the young and people of color as Obama did. In contrast, Sanders has clearly electrified millennials with his message and integrity. A voter using his head rather than his heart might well be conflicted on the question of electability.

Clintons closing ad before Iowa makes her central argument clear: Trust her. Shes experienced and committed. Shell keep Republicans from taking away the progress weve made. Sanderss ad makes his argument clear: Trust yourself. Come together, take back the country and make this nation better. The first appeals to the head; the latter to the heart. But even the most hard-headed pragmatist might think the latter has as good a chance at getting elected and a better chance of forcing change than the former.

Read more from Katrina vanden Heuvels archive or follow her on Twitter.
A sign at the entrance to the Smithsonian Metro station reads that the system is closed on Jan. 23. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

Regarding the Jan. 23 Metro article Safety at crux of Metro closure:

Yay for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

Its good policy and practice to shut down in the face of a big weather event. Gone are the days in emergency management where they vowed to stay open or stay at work no matter what. Metro has learned, as many other organizations in disaster-prone communities have learned, that the community, customers and staff and their families are much better served by securing the equipment and staying home until the worst of it is over. There are fewer incidents and injuries this way, freeing public safety staff to address other issues and setting up the system for a quick recovery.

Over the past few years, several cases of closing systems before known large hazard events have proved to be the wisest courses of action. It takes courage and leadership to make these tough decisions. Metro stepped up and did the right thing.

Janet Benini, Washington

The decision to shut down the entire Metrorail system was a colossal blunder, given the economic damage to the citys businesses in the urban core and the inconvenience suffered by local residents. It also was unnecessary, given earlier experience.

In early 1996 there was a Saturday blizzard of similar proportion to the present one, and Metro kept running on the underground trackage. I was able to use it every morning to go from my apartment in Southwest to a multi-day transportation convention at hotels near the Woodley Park station. This past weekends shutdown prevented locals from reaching even Union Station.

Maybe the Metro board shouldnt have hired an aviation guy to run a rail system. Rail is usually considered the all-weather transport, but evidently not in this instance.

Gerard R. Deily, Charlottesville, Va.
Just what this presidential campaign needs, another know-it-all billionaire. Whip out your checkbook, Michael R. Bloomberg, and come on in.

News that the former New York mayor is thinking about entering the race is no surprise, when you think about it. Its well-known that he has long wanted to be president, the one impediment being that neither of our two major parties is likely to nominate him. But with Donald Trump leading on one side and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) running strong on the other, Bloomberg must say to himself the same thing that so many other Americans are muttering, or perhaps wailing: Youve got to be kidding me .

Widespread reports quoting sources close to the 73-year-old Bloomberg said he is willing to spend up to $1 billion  of his estimated $37 billion fortune  to wage an independent campaign in the general election. He would only do so, however, under certain conditions that would normally be considered quite unlikely.

But likeliness, like Elvis, has left the building. So why dismiss the Bloomberg trial balloon out of hand, given all the other outlandish things that are happening?

The first element in Bloombergs scenario is that either Trump or Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) wins the Republican nomination. Because Trump and Cruz are running first and second in the polls, this could happen.

With less than a week to go before the Iowa caucuses, recent state polls show Trump once again in the lead. How badly does he want to win there? On Friday night, after a full day of campaigning, rather than fly home to his Manhattan penthouse or his Florida mansion, he slept at a Holiday Inn Express in Sioux Center, a small town (pop. 7,308) in the conservative northwest corner of the state. On Sunday he was in eastern Iowa, where he went to church and reportedly left $100 in the collection plate.

Trump figures that if he can sweep the first three states  Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina  nobody will be able to catch him. The only contender with a realistic chance of stopping the Trump blitzkrieg before it starts is the ultraconservative Cruz, who remains within striking distance in Iowa.

Either man could lead Republicans to a historic defeat in November  or not. That depends on the second element of Bloombergs scenario: Either Sanders wins the Democratic nomination or front-runner Hillary Clinton emerges from the primaries as a badly damaged standard-bearer.

I must report that this, too, could happen.

History doesnt repeat itself, but sometimes it does rhyme. As Barack Obama did in 2008, Sanders is running an insurgent movement campaign against the Clinton machine and the Democratic Party establishment. What if Sanders were to win a narrow victory in Iowa followed by a big one in New Hampshire? What if the Clinton campaign were to respond in ways that were clumsy and counterproductive? What if Sanderss call for a grass-roots political revolution turns out to be the message that inspires passion among rank-and-file Democrats?

Clinton, of course, could rally her troops and hold the line in South Carolina and on Super Tuesday. But she could be weakened by the battle. Meanwhile, the federal investigation of her State Department emails continues  and who knows where it will lead?

So theres a chance the Republicans will nominate either a shoot-from-the-lip real-estate tycoon who has never held elective office or a first-term senator whose uncompromising views are far to the right of his party, to say nothing of the nation. And theres a chance the Democrats will nominate either a wounded establishment figure  in a non-establishment year  or a 74-year-old self-described democratic socialist.

If youre Bloomberg, why wouldnt you think about jumping in?

There is one pretty good reason, actually. Even this year, it is hard to fathom how an independent candidate could win the presidency. In a three-way race, if no one got a majority of the electoral vote the election would be thrown into the House of Representatives  which is populated by Republicans and Democrats whose instinct will be to support their own.

And besides, long before we reached that point, my guess is that prominent presidential hopefuls from the past in both parties would hear the nations call, real or imagined. Are you listening, Joe Biden? What about you, Mitt Romney?

I wonder whos booking hotel rooms for July in Cleveland and Philadelphia. This year, both party conventions might actually be interesting.

Read more from Eugene Robinsons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. You can also join him Tuesdays at 1 p.m. for a live Q&A.
The Jan. 22 Metro article Evangelicals are joining March for Life this year overlooked that there is no always regarding the Catholic teachings on abortion. Church teachings on moral decision-making and abortion are far more nuanced than the monolithic teachings represented by the bishops.

Past and present theologians agree that abortion can be a moral choice; even the Vatican noted that there is not a unanimous tradition regarding when the fetus becomes a person. But Catholicism is more than the teachings written down by the pope and theologians  at its core is the role of individual conscience. We have not only the right but also the obligation to make moral decisions based on our own consciences. And we do: The majority of Catholics support access to reproductive health care and use these services at the same rates as do other Americans.

Jon OBrien, Washington

The writer is president of Catholics for Choice.

The article  Evangelicals are joining March for Life this year said young Christian conservatives . . . have been brought up to prioritize opposition to same-sex marriage, terrorism and, more recently, immigration.

Christian opposition to same-sex marriage is not surprising, but who (besides terrorists) isnt opposed to terrorism? Meanwhile, Im unaware of Christian conservatives (I am one and know quite a few) who are against immigration; I suspect illegal immigration is what was intended, and thats quite a difference. Its like saying police are opposed to driving when they actually are opposed to drunken driving. And while Christians are normally opposed to illegal activity, even on the topic of illegal immigration, I think there is diversity of opinion.

Please dont accuse Christians of believing things we dont.

Paul Whittemore, Spotsylvania, Va.
Jeb Bush explained Sunday why he still thinks Rick Snyder has been a great governor for Michigan even after the mass lead poisoning because of tainted tap water in Flint.

The disgrace over Flints water, the Republican presidential prospect told ABCs This Week, is related to the fact that weve created this complex, no-responsibility regulatory system, where the federal government, the state government, a regional government, local and county governments are all pointing fingers at one another.

Um, no.

Bush was attempting to muddy the proverbial water by portraying the Flint debacle as a failure of government at all levels. Snyder attempted the same diffusion of responsibility last week, saying that government failed you  federal, state and local leaders  by breaking the trust you placed in us.

But the Flint disaster, three years in the making, is not a failure of government generally. Its the failure of a specific governing philosophy: Snyders belief that government works better if run more like a business.

Take a look at the key moments that led up to Flint, a city of 90,000, getting stuck with contaminated water. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post)

[The poisoning of Flint]

No doubt, the federal Environmental Protection Agency deserves blame for failing to sound warnings more loudly and publicly, and for being too deferential to state authorities, once it learned last year that high lead levels in Flint were poisoning children.

But EPA had no role in the decisions that caused the problem, nor was it supposed to. That was entirely the responsibility of Snyders administration and his appointees.

The governor, former head of Gateway computers, was first elected as part of the tea party wave of 2010 with a plan to use his tech industry skills to run Michigan. He spoke of outcomes and deliverables, called residents customers and sought to reinvent the state to make it business-friendly.

A centerpiece of Snyders agenda, and one of his first actions, was a new law that gave the state dramatic powers to take over failing municipalities and school boards by appointing emergency managers with unchecked authority. Michigan voters killed that law in a November 2012 referendum, but a month later Snyder got the legislature, in a lame-duck session, to enact a law very similar to the one voters had rejected. This time, legislators attached it to a spending bill so it couldnt be undone by referendum.

The unelected viceroys had mandates to improve municipal finances but little incentive to weigh other considerations.

In Flint, one such emergency manager, Edward Kurtz, abandoned the citys decades-long reliance on Detroit as its source of clean tap water in 2013, under the theory that it could reduce Flints high water bills by tapping into a new pipeline that was still under construction.

1 of 37 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  The controversial case over dangerous lead in water in a Michigan city View Photos Anger over the levels of lead in the water in Flint has led the mayor to declare a state of emergency. Caption Anger over high levels of lead in the water in Flint has led the mayor to declare a state of emergency. Jan. 25, 2016 Flint resident Angela Hickmon, 56, chants during a protest outside City Hall in downtown Flint. Jake May/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP Wait 1 second to continue.

Kurtzs successor as Flints emergency manager, Darnell Earley (now emergency manager of Detroits schools), made the fateful decision to use treated water from the Flint River as the citys water supply starting in 2014 while the pipeline was being completed  even though Detroit was willing to continue providing high-quality water under a short-term contract. This was supposed to save Flint $5 million.

[What it would really take to run government like a business]

And Earleys successor as Flint emergency manager, Jerry Ambrose, overruled a city council vote in March 2015 to return to Detroit water. Ambrose called the councils request incomprehensible and a waste of $12 million  even though there had already been chemical and bacterial problems with the river water, water quality had violated the Safe Drinking Water Act and the General Motors plant in Flint had stopped using the water because it was rusting car parts.

You cannot separate what happened in Flint from the states extreme emergency-management law, said Curt Guyette, who, working for the ACLU of Michigan, uncovered much of the scandal in Flint. The bottom line is making sure the banks and bond holders get paid at all costs, even if the kids are poisoned with foul river water.

The emergency-manager law, Guyette argued, is about the taking away of democracy and the imposition of austerity-fueled autocracy on cities that are poor and majority African American.

Snyders blaming of local authorities is disingenuous: Because of the emergency-management law, municipal officials cant do anything without the blessing of Snyders viceroys.

As for federal officials, the EPA warned Michigan as early as February 2015 that contaminants were leaching into the water system in Flint. The EPA didnt press publicly or aggressively to fix the problem, a failure that led to the regional administrators resignation last week. That foot-dragging postponed action by a few months  an inexcusable delay, to be sure  but the feds had no say in the decisions that caused the problem.

Snyder undertook an arrogant public-policy experiment, underpinned by the ideological assumption that the experience set of corporate-style managers was superior to the checks and balances of democracy. This is why Flint happened.

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Maxi pads and other feminine-hygiene products are subject to a so-called tampon tax in many states. (Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

Maybe this makes me a traitor to my sex, but I support the tampon tax.

Mostly because its not actually a tampon tax.

For those unaware, tampon tax is shorthand for the fact that menstrual products are subject to sales taxes in most states, even though other products considered necessities (such as food and medicine) are often exempted.

In recent months, this has spawned a legion of articles suggesting that squeamish, old, predominantly male politicians are punishing half of humanity for the crime of having a period. Some offer stories about poor women who say tampon taxes are cutting into money they desperately need for groceries or other bills.

The issue has gained steam on the left, partly because it fits neatly into both the war on women and war on the poor narratives. Protests have erupted across the United States and abroad; bills have been introduced in state legislatures around the country, and a change.org petition gathered more than 40,000 signatures. Activists have already logged wins in Canada and France.

Last week, even President Obama got drawn into the battle.

His interviewer, YouTube celebrity Ingrid Nilsen, posited that pads, tampons and other menstrual products are taxed as luxury goods in 40 states. She asked the president why.

A seemingly surprised Obama responded, I have to tell you, I have no idea why states would tax these as luxury items. I suspect its because men were making the laws when those taxes were passed.

But the premise of this question, and of the broader tampon tax debate, is wrong-headed.

First of all, its highly misleading to call the taxes that tampons are subject to tampon taxes. To my knowledge, no jurisdiction has a tampon-specific tax, as it might an alcohol or yacht tax.

Politicians didnt one day decide that periods were gross and therefore ought to be made more expensive. Instead, when states and cities needed revenue, they passed general sales taxes  which happened to fall upon tampons along with countless other goods.

Then, every interest group on earth came out of the woodwork demanding a carve-out on the grounds that their product or service was a necessity, just as anti-tampon tax activists have recently done.

But what is a necessity, exactly?

Its a pretty squishy term. Almost any product can be called necessary in modern times. And almost every product has.

In California, the state where a tampon tax repeal bill has gotten the most press, such tax-favored purchases include: candy and bottled water, school yearbooks, certain commemorative lapel pins, hot prepared foods sold to airlines, farm equipment, garment alterations and racehorse breeding stock.

The more things you exempt from sales taxes, of course, the higher the tax rates on other products have to rise to make up the lost revenue. That in turn increases the incentive for other interest groups to lobby for yet more exemptions, or find ways to disguise and recategorize their products to dodge taxes. (Is cold pizza a grocery item, and therefore a necessity, or a prepared food, and a luxury?) Which leads to more carve-outs for more necessities. Which leads to ever-higher tax rates.

This vicious cycle is one reason tax experts generally caution against creating product-specific exemptions to consumption taxes. Very low tax rates, over a broad base of items, cause fewer distortions, in both what people buy and how many resources get devoted to repackaging and marketing existing products.

Another reason to be skeptical about such exemptions is that theyre poorly targeted.

The most common rationale for exempting necessities  whether they be milk, Advil or, yes, tampons  is that such taxes especially hurt the poor. Low-income people, after all, spend a higher share of their incomes overall, and particularly more on necessities, however theyre construed.

But when you strip taxes from tampons or groceries, you relieve not just poor students and families from paying them. Youre also giving a break to billionaires.

A better way to address the regressivity of sales taxes is to just increase cash transfers to the poor  or to whichever group you think needs money the most. Maybe thats women, since they are more likely than men to buy menstrual products, though Im skeptical of the idea that government is obligated to address every difference in every demographic groups consumption bundle.

Maybe it seems unfair that in so many states Twizzlers dont get taxed while tampons do. But the solution isnt to dole out yet more tax breaks but to end the ones we have and direct more public funds to people who actually need assistance.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally in North Liberty, Iowa, on Jan. 24 ahead of the caucuses in Iowa. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton agreed she made an error by using a private email server as secretary of state.

Until, it seemed, she didnt.

In September, under significant pressure even from political allies to apologize for her private email use, Clinton called the set-up a mistake.

Im sorry about that, she said.

But in a town hall broadcast on CNN on Monday in which the Democratic candidates made their final televised pitches before next weeks Iowa caucuses, Clinton seemed to walk back that apology.

Im not willing to say it was an error in judgment because what  nothing that I did was wrong, she said. It was not in any way prohibited.

It was a brief moment of uncertainty during an appearance where Clinton otherwise appeared feisty and energized  and a troublesome reminder for Clinton of the ways in which the email controversy continues to fester for her campaign.

[Top Democratic rivals offer contrasting views on presidency]

David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Obama who had urged Clinton to apologize over the emails, told CNN on Tuesday that Clintons answer at the town hall kind of contradicts her earlier apology.

While generally giving her high marks for her performance, Axelrod said, Shes still having trouble with that question.

Clinton press secretary Brian Fallon said Clinton is not reopening the issue.

As Hillary Clinton has said before, it was a mistake not to use two accounts, he said. She regrets that decision, and has taken responsibility for it.

The issue has been less politically problematic for her in recent weeks  even as the campaign for the Democratic nomination has become more competitive  because her chief rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), has declined to wield it against Clinton. (Sanders closed the door to the issue during an October debate, declaring that Americans were sick and tired of hearing about Clintons damn emails.)

But Clintons email use has continued to animate her potential Republican opponents, who have made clear it will be a central plank of their argument against her should she win the Democratic nomination.

In Washington, the issue has hardly died, either.

The FBI continues to investigate the security of Clintons email arrangement, particularly whether it could have led to the inappropriate handling of classified information. The State Departments inspector general is also looking into the use of private emails at the State Department. A report from the agency watchdog is expected to land at some point during the campaign.

The issue of whether Clintons system invited sloppy handling of state secrets also has not disappeared.

The inspector general of the intelligence community told congressional oversight committees in a letter released last week that some information found in Clintons emails was classified top secret and related to special access programs, meaning it concerned some of the nations most closely guarded secrets.

Clintons campaign has rejected the assessment, with campaign spokesman Brian Fallon, in an appearance on CNN, accusing Inspector General Charles McCullough of working with Senate Republicans to engage in a very coordinated leak to damage Clinton politically.

She has continued to maintain that none of the emails she sent or received were marked classified while she was secretary of state. And she has chalked up some of the more recent assessments that the correspondence included sensitive material to a fight between governmental agencies about how to classify the material.

That explanation been supported so far by the State Department, where officials have declined to label any of Clintons emails top secret, the highest ranking of classified material.

The State Department has been releasing Clintons correspondence in batches each month since the summer, redacting some information because the agencys reviewers have deemed it classified. So far, the State Departments reviewers have said more than 1,300 emails included classified material. However, they have indicated that all of those emails were confidential or secret  not as sensitive as top secret.

That could change as the State Department prepares to release the last of Clintons emails  those whose review took the most time because they required analysis by multiple government agencies, including some in the intelligence community, before they could be made public.

The review process is still ongoing, and once that process is complete, if it is determined that information should be classified as top secret, then well do so, State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters last week.

At Mondays town hall, Clinton stressed her desire to see all of her emails made public.

I think its great. Let people sort them through, she said. But its something that took time to get done.

In fact, the State Department has indicated that sorting through Clintons emails will take longer than expected. A federal judge had ordered the agency to release all of Clintons emails by the end of this month. Last week, lawyers for the agency asked the judge to give the department until the end of February to complete the process, meaning Clintons emails could still be emerging even after the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

Anne Gearan in Des Moines contributed to this report.
President Obama has issued executive orders to ban the use of solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons. Here is what you need to know about the new rules. (Victoria M. Walker/The Washington Post)

President Obama has issued executive orders to ban the use of solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons. Here is what you need to know about the new rules. (Victoria M. Walker/The Washington Post)

President Obama on Monday announced a ban on solitary confinement for juvenile offenders in the federal prison system, saying the practice is overused and has the potential for devastating psychological consequences.

In an op-ed that appears in Tuesday editions of The Washington Post, the president outlines a series of executive actions that also prohibit federal corrections officials from punishing prisoners who commit low-level infractions with solitary confinement.

The new rules also dictate that the longest a prisoner can be punished with solitary confinement for a first offense is 60 days, rather than the current maximum of 365 days.

The presidents reforms apply broadly to the roughly 10,000 federal inmates serving time in solitary confinement, though there are only a handful of juvenile offenders placed in restrictive housing each year. Between September 2014 and September 2015, federal authorities were notified of just 13 juveniles who were put in solitary in its prisons, officials said. However, federal officials sent adults inmates to solitary for nonviolent offenses 3,800 times in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2014, suggesting that policy change will have more sweeping ramifications.

The reforms come six months after Obama, as part of a broader criminal-justice reform push, ordered the Justice Department to study how solitary confinement was being used by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

President Barack Obama visited the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Okla., on July 16, 2015. (Evan Vucci/AP)

[Opinion | Obama explains why we must rethink solitary confinement]

The move is another example of the extent to which the nations first African American president now seems willing to tackle delicate questions of race and criminal justice as he closes out his presidency. Obama has also been focused on trying to put in place programs to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society once they have left prison.

How can we subject prisoners to unnecessary solitary confinement, knowing its effects, and then expect them to return to our communities as whole people? Obama wrote in his op-ed. It doesnt make us safer. Its an affront to our common humanity.

He said he hoped his reforms at the federal level will serve as a model for states to rethink their rules on the issue.

At least a dozen states have taken steps in the past two years to curtail the use of solitary confinement, either in response to lawsuits or through legislative and administrative changes. An increasing number of studies show a connection between isolating prisoners and higher rates of recidivism.

In recent weeks, Illinois and Oregon, in response to lawsuits, have announced they will exclude seriously mentally ill inmates from solitary confinement, and last month New York state reached a five-year, $62 million settlement with the New York Civil Liberties Union in which it pledged to significantly cut the number of prisoners in solitary as well as the maximum time they could stay there. California reached a settlement in September, pledging to overhaul the way it treats almost 3,000 inmates who are frequently kept alone for more than 22 hours a day in their cells.

Amy Fettig, senior staff counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union and director of the groups Stop Solitary Campaign, said that the Bureau of Prisons has lagged behind a number of the states in reforming solitary confinement and in restricting its use and abuse.

In a speech to members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in June 2015 where he called for criminal justice reform, President Obama said that solitary confinement "is not going to make us safer." (YouTube/The White House)

Its absolutely huge, Fettig said of the presidents decision to change the way the federal system isolates inmates. We rarely have presidents take notice of prison conditions.

While Obama is leaving the details of policy implementation to agency officials, the Justice Department's report includes 50 guiding principles that all federal correctional facilities must now follow. They include increasing the amount of time inmates placed in solitary can spend outside their cells, housing prisoners in the least restrictive setting necessary to ensure their safety and that of others, putting inmates who need to be in protective custody in less-restrictive settings and developing policies to discourage putting inmates in solitary during the last 180 days of their terms.

A congressionally mandated audit of restrictive housing in federal prisons, published last year by the Center for Naval Analyses Institute for Public Research, found that roughly 60 percent of the inmates whose solitary cases were reviewed had serious underdiagnosed or untreated mental illnesses. That study also found that many individuals put in protective custody for their own safety, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender prisoners and those who are disabled, were regularly placed in solitary confinement.

Some of the states that championed reforms early, including Washington, have found that prisoners placed in restrictive housing  especially just before their release  are more likely to be repeat offenders. One study found that Washington state prisoners who were confined in solitary had a 20 to 25 percent higher recidivism rate than those in less-restrictive housing, and that those who spent time in solitary directly before reentering society were more likely to commit violent crimes.

Early Tuesday morning, Senate Judiciary Committee Charles E Grassley (R-Iowa) said in a statement that while hell be studying it over the next few days, it appeared to be justified.

At first glance I was happy to see an effort to end solitary confinement of juveniles, Grassley said. The good news is that the Judiciary Committee has already taken steps to minimize the solitary confinement of juveniles in both the Sentencing and Prison Reform bill and the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act reauthorization that I authored.

[What we do and dont know about the impact of solitary confinement]

Kevin Ring, vice president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, served 15 months in federal prison on fraud charges in connection with a a scandal surrounding former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. He spent two days in solitary in October because of a scabies outbreak in a Cumberland, Md., facility. Although the isolation was not designed to punish the inmates, Ring said guards took away all his possessions  including paper and pen  and put him in a small cell with just a metal bed, shower and small window. The lack of human contact was the most disorienting part, he said, since guards pushed a tray of food through a slot at assigned meal times and he could only hear voices down the hall.

I dont know how people do it. Im not solitary material, Ring said, adding that it should be used only as a last resort.

As many as 100,000 state and federal prisoners are held in solitary confinement in the United States at any given time, according to the White House.

The president begin his op-ed by recounting the story of 16-year-old Bronx resident Kalief Browder, who was sent to Rikers Island in 2010 to await trial after being accused of stealing a backpack. He spent nearly two years in solitary confinement, Obama wrote. Browder was released in 2013 without ever having stood trial or being convicted. He committed suicide at 22.

Today, its increasingly overused on people like Kalief, with heartbreaking results  which is why my administration is taking steps to address this problem, Obama wrote. In America, we believe in redemption.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz walks out of a campaign event at the Heartland Acres Agribition Center on a snowy Monday in Independence, Iowa. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Ted Cruz, who established himself as Iowas prohibitive favorite in early January with an intimidating show of force, is suddenly under siege one week before the caucuses as rival Republicans pummel him and as opposition to his presidential candidacy from the states political and business elite hardens.

Although Cruz is campaigning aggressively, his advisers are concerned about the barrage and are now scrambling to reset expectations for him here. They insisted Monday that the senator from Texas always has been the underdog in Iowa and argued that a second-place finish to Donald Trump should be interpreted as a mark of grit and would catapult him onward in the nominating contest.

I cant guarantee well win, Cruz told a group of pastors Monday at a private meeting in Cedar Rapids. I dont know that. Thats out of my hands. I believe we have a path to victory.

Still, a loss in Iowa  the state where Cruz has campaigned the most and where the GOPs deeply conservative base seems a natural fit  would call into question the depth of his coalition. Also at stake is the credibility of his vaunted data and field operation, which in Iowa is believed to be more sophisticated than any other Republicans.

Cruzs standing for weeks atop many Iowa polls has thrust him into the crosshairs. Trump is hitting him relentlessly over his Canadian birth and his nasty reputation in Washington, while using the endorsement of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin to drive a wedge with evangelicals. Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) is portraying Cruz as a calculating politician and proponent of European-style economics. Fellow religious-

conservative candidates Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum are charging that he is a fraud.

Whats more, Iowas powerful ethanol industry is going all-out with an anti-Cruz campaign. Longtime Gov. Terry E. Branstad broke his usual neutrality by calling for Cruzs defeat over the issue. Iowas two U.S. senators, Charles E. Grassley and Joni Ernst, both Republicans, are also showing favoritism for Trump and Rubio, respectively, while a man dressed in a Royal Canadian Mounted Police uniform trailed Cruz over the weekend.

[Heres how the Iowa caucuses work]

Welcome to the big time, baby, said Tim Albrecht, a former Branstad aide who is advising former Florida governor Jeb Bushs campaign. You put your head out there, its going to get lopped off. Thats exactly whats happening.

For Cruz, the moment is perhaps the greatest test of his celebrated career. Most comfortable on the offensive, he is now forced to absorb the strikes.

If Donald wins Iowa, he right now has a substantial lead in New Hampshire, Cruz said at the pastors meeting. If he went on to win New Hampshire as well, theres a very good chance he could be unstoppable and be our nominee. And the next seven days in Iowa will determine whether or not that happens.

Cruz is trying to bolster his profile as a maverick conservative, lobbing shots at the establishment and pegging Trump  his top competitor here  as an untrustworthy chameleon. The escalating tension will come to a head Thursday night on Fox News Channel in the final debate before Mondays caucuses.

There are a lot of forces aligned against us, Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler said. We have never said we expected to win Iowa. We would of course be grateful if we did, and it would be a real boost to our campaign, but again, were the underdog in the race.

1 of 53 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Presidential hopeful Ted Cruz on the campaign trail View Photos The Texas Republican was the first major presidential candidate to formally declare a bid. Caption Looking back at the Texas senators presidential bid. May 3, 2016 Sen. Ted Cruz speaks with his wife, Heidi, by his side during a primary night campaign event in Indianapolis. Cruz ended his presidential campaign, eliminating the biggest impediment to Donald Trumps march to the Republican nomination. Darron Cummings/AP Wait 1 second to continue.

Bob Vander Plaats, an Iowa evangelical leader and one of Cruzs national co-chairmen, said he didnt expect this much of an onslaught.

There is a lot of incoming, Vander Plaats said. But I think he should take it  all of it  as a badge of honor.

Cruz led Trump in Iowa, 25 percent to 22 percent, in a Jan. 13 Des Moines Register-Bloomberg Politics poll, though more-recent surveys show Trump moving up. A Fox News poll released Sunday shows Trump leading Cruz, 34 percent to 23 percent.

Meanwhile, Rubio, who has been running third here, has had some victories. The Des Moines Register just endorsed him, while Ernst appeared with him and offered glowing remarks Monday, though she said she was not formally endorsing.

Joseph Brown, a pastor from Washington, Iowa, said he and other Cruz supporters are worried. If Trump does win and Cruz comes in second  or even a close tie  its going to embolden the Trump phenomenon to the point where its going to really damage, I think, the momentum of Senator Cruz, Brown said. He went on to call Trump an incredibly wicked man.

Cruzs campaign is going after Trump in ads, including one painting him as a heartless taker of a widows property through his companys use of eminent domain. Another, released Monday afternoon, skewers Trump for New York values, highlighting his 1999 support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage. That message is amplified by an ad from Cruzs allied super PAC.

Trump is hitting back in his own spots, including one mocking Cruz for stammering in an interview over immigration.

Further compounding problems for Cruz are Huckabee and Santorum, winners of previous caucuses. They are polling in the low single digits here but are positioned to siphon off support from Cruz because they appeal to a similar demographic.

[GOP establishment warms to Trump  and remains cool to Cruz]

Tensions have long simmered between Cruz and Huckabee, and the former Arkansas governor has painted him as a compromising shape-shifter.

Huckabee is also developing a friendship with Trump. On Jan. 6, the two men spoke by phone and talked politics, aides to the candidates confirmed.

Hes great. Ive liked him since Day One. Warm. Good man, Trump said in an interview. Referring to Huckabee and Santorum, Trump said: I hope they do well, I honestly do. If they get out for some reason, Id love to have their endorsement.

The animus toward Cruz extends to the faith-infused campaign of Ben Carson, who briefly led the Iowa polls last year but has since fallen into the second tier. Cruzs Iowa rise was fueled in part by defections from Carson, but Carson intimates are openly hostile toward the Texan.

Poaching voters from Dr. Carson? Please, said Armstrong Williams, a Carson confidant.

Cruz asserted himself as the candidate to beat in Iowa the first week of January with a six-day, 28-stop bus tour through the states far-flung areas. He was making real inroads with good, solid, conservative Republican activists, said Matt Strawn, a former state GOP chairman.

This seemed to awaken the states establishment. Cruzs vow to phase out the renewable-fuel standard alienated the powerful ethanol industry here, which relies on the federal subsidy.

Branstad, an industry advocate, said last week that a Cruz win would be very damaging for Iowa. He doubled down Monday on his comments. The governors son, Eric, runs an ethanol lobby group that has been attacking Cruz.

The establishment has made its decision. They need to demonize somebody over ethanol, and theyve decided to make that person Ted, said Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), a top Cruz surrogate.

King added: The other day I went online and saw a picture of Governor Branstad wearing a Make America Great Again hat with one of Trumps sons. That told me all I needed to know.

Grassley appeared at a Trump rally Saturday in Pella and echoed many of the moguls signature phrases. Jeff Kaufmann, the state GOP chairman, spoke effusively about Trump at a rally the next day.

On the campaign trail, however, there is a contrary narrative. Cruz held two large, boisterous rallies Saturday where he accepted the endorsement of media personality Glenn Beck. In a show of confidence, Cruz held up his right hand and took a mock oath of office.

Michael Demastus, a Des Moines-area pastor who delivered the blessing at one of the events, said he found the crowd invigorating.

Theyre with Ted, he said of evangelical voters, locked up.

Katie Zezima in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, contributed to this report.
Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz strode into the general store in this aptly named New England village last week and, with the swagger and zeal of a warrior, rattled off the problems facing the country:

Federal regulations are a jackboot strangling everyone. Obamacare is a disaster, and taxes are too high. Constitutional rights are being violated left and right. Sanctuary cities are endangering citizens. The terrorists are beating us. Russia and China are laughing at us. Pulling America back from the abyss requires daily prayer and a political awakening.

When the Democratic candidates gathered at a forum Monday night in Des Moines, they identified an entirely different set of problems: Wages are stagnant, and workers have been left behind by the economic recovery; guns are rampant; the big banks are greedy and reckless; the police can no longer be trusted; and climate change threatens environmental catastrophe.

Presidential elections have long featured major differences between Democrats and Republicans, but the fault lines have generally been over how to fix the problems facing the country. What makes the 2016 campaign unique is that the two parties dont even agree on the problems.

The conversations underway on the two parties debate stages and at their candidates rallies and town hall meetings are strikingly different. This falls general election is likely to turn on which set of issues voters consider more urgent.

Bernie Sanders regularly calls for a "political revolution" in America, but what does that mean? (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Ultimately, its going to be which of these visions  regardless of what the solutions are, but what the priorities are, what the issue set is  will appeal to independent voters, said Jeff Weaver, campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, the senator from Vermont. Which vision are independents going to accept as the legitimate vision, even if they dont agree with all of the solutions?

The dynamic also could have significant consequences for whoever is sworn in as president.

A Democratic president such as Sanders or Hillary Clinton, for instance, would be heavily engaged in reining in Wall Street, toughening gun laws and combating climate change.

But a Republican president probably would not see those as areas of concern, much less emphasis. That president would probably focus on undoing President Obamas biggest achievements and recalibrating U.S. foreign policy to be more assertive toward the Islamic State.

One of the few areas of agreement between the two parties is drug abuse  specifically the heroin epidemic tearing through the country. The drug thing is killing Republicans and Democrats together, former president Bill Clinton said at a campaign rally in Concord, N.H.

Joel Benenson, the pollster on Obamas 2008 and 2012 campaigns and now Hillary Clintons chief strategist, attributed the divide on issues to the constituencies that each party is trying to reach. Whereas Republicans aggressively court evangelical Christians and other grass-roots conservatives, Democrats cater to the interests of minorities, women and working-class people.

The Democratic Party generally has been focused on the lives of working Americans and the fundamental issues that theyre still dealing with: How do I get a good-paying job? How do I get my kids into college? How do I get my pay up? How do I get some of my costs down? Benenson said. The Republican Party seems to be locked in some kind of echo chamber.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes a question from a voter at a campaign event in Toledo, Iowa, on Monday. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

But Republicans say their top issues are the priorities of most Americans  and they point to the groundswell of enthusiasm for their campaigns as proof.

There is an awakening thats sweeping this country, Cruz said repeatedly as he visited nearly two dozen New Hampshire towns last week on a bus tour.

The last two candidates debates  both in Charleston, S.C., and clocking in at about two hours each  offered a vivid illustration of the gulf. At the Jan. 14 GOP debate, there were 15 mentions of the word immigration, but three days later at the Democratic debate, it came up three times.

China was invoked 43 times in the GOP debate but only three times at the Democratic one. No Republican said the word climate, yet it was uttered seven times on the Democratic stage. And ISIS  an acronym for the Islamic State  was said 46 times by the Republicans, compared with 20 times by the Democrats.

After seeing the Democrats spar, Matt Moore, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, walked away stunned.

No candidate mentioned national security over the first hour of the debate, Moore said. We believe national security is the most important issue facing the American people. That was quite perplexing.

For a split-screen contrast, just attend one of Chris Christies town hall meetings. The Republican governor of New Jersey often goes on for more than an hour talking almost exclusively about the danger of radical jihadist terrorism and warning that the next target could be anywhere.

I lose three times as many calories when I listen to the Republicans talk than when I listen to Democrats, because it gets you all revved up, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) said. You almost feel like: Oh, my God, the worlds going to end next week. I better do something. 

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (D) lamented that issues she and many of her urban constituents consider critical  including criminal-justice reform and voting rights  are largely ignored by the leading Republican candidates.

Its a mystery to me that at a time that is so critical to our countrys future, virtually half the country would be satisfied with that type of superficial and too-often childish debate, when we have some real serious things going on in our country, Rawlings-Blake said.

Its not only the issues that the candidates prioritize, but also the kind of language they use during their campaigns.

At the Democratic debate, no candidate said the words God, Christian, Bible or scripture, and the three  Clinton, Sanders and former Maryland governor Martin OMalley  do not commonly use such words in their speeches.

By contrast, the Republican candidates tend to wear their faith on their sleeves, in part to win over conservative Christian voters in Iowa and other states.

Donald Trump brings his childhood Bible with him to some campaign rallies and holds it as a prop, although the billionaire mogul drew mockery when he botched a reference to Second Corinthians during a recent speech to students at Liberty University, the Christian college in Virginia founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell.

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush often talks about his Catholic faith and carries a rosary on the campaign trail.

And Cruz, whose father is a born-again Christian and travels the country preaching, has taken to quoting scripture in his stump speeches. He cites Second Chronicles 7:14 and urges his supporters to find time every day to pray for the countrys future.

Just one minute when you wake up in the morning, Cruz says. When youre shaving. When youre having lunch. When youre tucking your kids into bed.
At CNN's town hall on Jan. 25, the Democratic presidential candidates took to the stage for the last time before the Iowa caucuses. Here's what the three candidates said to try to win over voters. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

At CNN's town hall on Jan. 25, the Democratic presidential candidates took to the stage for the last time before the Iowa caucuses. Here's what the three candidates said to try to win over voters. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

The two leading contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination on Monday offered contrasting views of what matters most in the Oval Office  with former secretary of state Hillary Clinton citing her experience, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders saying that his judgment has proven superior to hers.

Both, meanwhile, portrayed themselves as the right person to bring about change  although in very different styles.

They made their cases at a town hall-style forum here, held one week before the first votes of the primary season are set to be cast in the Iowa caucuses.

Sanders, who went first, was aggressive in attacking Clinton, while she did not directly attack him when it was her turn to take the stage.

Sanders argued that Clinton, despite having been secretary of state for four years, was not better prepared for the presidency than he is.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders participates in a town hall forum hosted by CNN at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 25, 2016. (Justin Sullivan / Pool/EPA)

Experience is important, but judgment is also important, Sanders said. He noted that he had voted against the Iraq invasion  the most significant vote and issue regarding foreign policy that we have seen in this country in modern history  while she had supported it.

He also ticked off a set of other questions where he had been on the opposite side of Clinton, or made up his mind more quickly  fighting against the deregulation of Wall Street that occurred during the presidency of her husband, Bill Clinton; opposing the Keystone XL pipeline, while she was indecisive, and opposing a number of trade agreements, where she vacillated.

Most importantly, he said, he could be counted upon to buck the established order.

It just seems to me that the crises that we face as a country today ... inequality, poverty in America, an obscene and unfair campaign finance system, he said, these problems are so serious that we have got to go beyond establishment politics and establishment economics. In my view we need a political revolution where millions of people stand up and say you know what, that great government of ours belongs to all of us, not just the few.

When Clintons turn came, a young voter who said he planned to attend his first caucus, asked her why people his age did not seem as enthused about her as they are about Sanders.

Ive been on the front lines of change and progress since I was your age, she said. Ive taken on the status quo time and time again. Clinton cited her efforts to overhaul the health-care system during her husbands presidency, despite intense opposition from Republicans, which ultimately killed her plan.

More broadly, Clinton portrayed herself as better prepared for the presidency than Sanders, saying youve got to do all aspects of the job, including foreign policy.

Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, speaks during a Democratic Town Hall event in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 25, 2016. (Justin Sullivan/Bloomberg)

She cited as an example her role as secretary of state during the long process that eventually led to a nuclear deal with Iran at a time when many friendly countries thought it would be easier to bomb them.

I spent a lot of time explaining to our friends why that was not a good idea, Clinton said.

A week before the caucuses, the race is in flux. Clintons lead in the Iowa polls, generally holding well into the double digits as recently as November, has evaporated. That is raising fears in her camp that this contest could be a replay of 2008, when the front-running Clinton was beaten in Iowa by a first-term senator named Barack Obama, setting him on a course to win the Democratic nomination.

Sanders has tapped into a deep well of dissatisfaction within the Democratic base. The question now is whether he can motivate non-traditional caucus-goers to show up, as Obama did eight years ago.

As the race has tightened, the two have grown increasingly aggressive in their attacks on each other.

The former secretary of state has sought to put the Vermont senator on his heels on a range of issues, suggesting he is an unreliable ally on gun control, health care and reproductive rights. She has said his proposals are unrealistic.

Clinton has also argued that she is the only candidate prepared to do the entire job of being president  a not-so-subtle dig at a competitor whose campaign has focused largely on economic issues. She has suggested that Sanders is not pushing realistic policy ideas, citing as a prime example his plan for a single-payer, Medicare-for-all health plan.

Sanders, meanwhile, has been taking aim at Clinton more directly. In a Washington Post interview over the weekend, he said Clinton was running a desperate campaign incapable of generating the kind of excitement his has. Sanders sharply questioned Clintons association with David Brock, who runs a pro-Clinton super PAC, repeatedly calling him a hit man, and he said he expects the Clinton campaign to throw the kitchen sink at him to try to blunt his momentum.

At the town hall, Sanders did not deny that his proposals, including a government-financed health-care system, would require a massive tax increase.

I start off with the premise that in the last 30 years, although my Republican friends dont like the term, theres been a massive redistribution of wealth in this country. Its gone from working families, trillions of dollars, to the top one tenth of 1 percent, he said.

So, yes, what this campaign is about is to say to profitable corporations who, in some years dont pay a nickel in taxes, to the wealthiest people in this country who sometimes have an effective tax rate lower than truck drivers or nurses, yes, you are going to start paying your fair share of taxes, he added.

And while Americans would pay more in taxes under a government-run health system, known as single-payer, that would be more than offset by the savings they would enjoy by not having to pay for private health insurance, Sanders said.

Clinton said she thinks she received fair criticism in a recent Des Moines Register editorial endorsing her candidacy that expressed disappointment in how long it took her to apologize for the controversy surrounding her use of a private email server while secretary of state.

Clinton objected, however, to CNN host Chris Cuomos characterization of the episode as an error in judgment.

Im not willing to say it was an error in judgment because nothing I did was wrong, she said.

However, she was gentler on Sanders during the town hall than she has been in recent weeks.

Clinton was shown an extended clip of a minute-long Sanders ad that features images of his enthusiastic supporters at rallies while the Simon and Garfunkel classic America plays in the background.

Asked about the ad, Clinton said: I think thats great. I think thats fabulous. I love it.

She said she appreciated what Sanders has brought to the race but quickly pivoted to say I believe Im the better person to be the Democratic nominee and to be the commander in chief of the country.

Monday night represented perhaps the last chance for the third Democratic candidate, former Maryland governor Martin OMalley, to be seen as relevant before a national audience. Despite spending more time in Iowa than either Clinton or Sanders, he has remained mired in the single digits in polling.

Under the complicated rules of the Iowa caucuses, in most of the 1,681 precincts, a candidate must get 15 percent support to be considered viable. Otherwise, his supporters must align with another candidate or sit out the rest of the process.

Cuomo asked OMalley which way his supporters might go. OMalley demurred, saying he would send this message to his supporters: Hold strong at your caucus because Americas looking for a new leader.

OMalley also sought to set himself apart from his two competitors, saying he is the one candidate among the three of us with 15 years of executive experience.

OMalley, who served as eight years as Maryland governor and seven years as mayor of Baltimore, touted his states passage of same-sex marriage in 2012 as example of his ability to bring people together and get things done.

Abby Phillip contributed to this report.
Here is the question that will haunt Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for the next 10 months: Will his blue-state Republican incumbents face the same disastrous fate in 2016 as Democrats did two years ago in Romney-red states?

A growing body of evidence suggests that the number of people willing to vote for one party for president and another for senator or congressman has shrunk to historically low levels, and 2014 was a near perfect storm that crushed Democrats. Then, Senate Republicans rode a wave of anti-Washington sentiment and growing fear over President Obamas handling of terrorism into a historic nine-seat gain that handed them the majority, based largely on winning states that GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney won handily in 2012.

Now Democrats see a map of Senate races that looks like the other side of the same coin, with Republicans playing defense in states that Obama won. Many Republican incumbents are trying to avoid the national limelight on issues that will dominate the presidential campaign.

Instead, they are eager to focus on local issues that play well in places like Marion, Ohio, and Rochester, N.H. Those two small towns recently played host to Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), separate events on the same decidedly local theme: fighting heroin addiction.

Republicans will have to shift from aggressively playing offense in conservative-leaning states in 2014 to playing defense in Obama-leaning states in 2016. Their model may be Portmans anti-drug push, including testifying Wednesday at a committee hearing with one of his constituents on his legislation to fight addiction.

Here are some of the most memorable campaign promises Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has made since he declared his candidacy in June 2015. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

How Republicans handle that change will determine which party holds the Senate majority. The winners will control the chambers agenda and have enormous power to promote or block the next presidents legislative agenda.

The role reversal is not lost on the combatants.

It is amazing. Its almost the converse; it was seven Democrats who were up in Romney-red states [in 2014], and now you have seven of us up in states that President Obama won, Portman said last week in an interview.

[Read Whats left of the political center?]

For months, as the Republican presidential primary process has drifted toward more-conservative, outsider candidates, GOP strategists have feared that the Senate and presidential maps of battleground states were so similar that an outside-the-mainstream nominee at the top of the ticket would sink their majority after just two years.

Some have begun to fight over who would be worse as presidential nominee, Donald Trump or Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), the two current front-runners. Other Republicans found solace in the fact that the Democratic contest has finally seen a surge from Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), a potential nominee that many Republicans prefer at the top of the opposition ticket over former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

With 54 Senate seats now in Republican hands, McConnell can afford to lose three if a Democrat wins the White House and four if the GOP wins the presidency; the vice president would be considered the tie-breaking vote in the case of a 50-50 split.

Six years ago, Republicans gained six seats but fell short of the majority. But because of that success in 2010, they are defending 24 of the 34 seats up for grabs in November.

The lack of ticket splitters may be particularly concerning for Republicans, given Obamas success in states where GOP incumbents will face vigorous challenges. Some analysts think a possibly polarizing presidential nominee would be devastating for either party.

According to the American National Election Studies, 28 percent of the electorate in 1980 cast mixed ballots for president and their member of Congress, part of a 40-year stretch in which between 17 and 30 percent of voters split their tickets. But in 2012, just 10 percent of all voters split their ballot  6 percent of Democrats voted for Obama and then voted for a Republican congressman, and just 4 percent of Republicans voted for Romney and then a Democratic congressman.

It largely depends on the nominee. Trump and Cruz make it pretty challenging for Republican incumbents, said Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of the Cook Political Report, an independent political analysis outfit. How do they walk away from the nominee without alienating the base? How do they embrace the nominee without alienating moderates and independents?

Democrats are already using Trumps comments to formulate legislative amendments in an effort to force GOP incumbents to take stands on his ideas. Last weeks legislation to stem refugees from Iraq and Syria ground to a halt when Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) tried to offer an amendment on Trumps proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States.

This is more of a national campaign than many I have seen, because people are hurting, said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is expected to succeed Reid when he retires and who hopes to take over a new majority in 2017. I think its going to be very hard for them  given their voting records, all of which are quite close to the voting records, say, of Cruz  to divorce themselves from the national issues.

Democrats, though, are battling history. Since 1956, the Senate majority has switched just once in 15 presidential elections. That was 1980, when Ronald Reagan swept into office with 12 additional Republicans.

Some Republicans think that presidential ballots give voters multiple options, allowing good candidates to break through in states that vote heavily in the other direction for president.

You have two votes, so you can cast one of those votes for the candidate for president and still have a voice left, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said. If theres no president on the ballot, you just have one way to send a message: We are fed up with this, and the only message we can send is through the House and Senate.

Republicans have studied the 2012 victories of Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), despite Romneys huge victories in their states. One particular area of focus is how they fought on local issues, especially in defining their opponents backgrounds. As Republicans tied him to Obama, Tester counterpunched with ads about a lawsuit his opponent filed against his local fire department.

Senior party strategists, therefore, expect Portmans campaign to focus heavily on the record of his likely opponent, former governor Ted Strickland (D), while running the state  a time of high unemployment during the Great Recession. Ayotte is expected to try to contrast her record as state attorney general vs. her likely opponent, Gov. Maggie Hassan (D), particularly on the alarming heroin epidemic there.

But some of the big national issues will be unavoidable. On Thursday, Ayotte led a news conference excoriating Obamas nuclear deal with Iran. National security is going to be a fundamental issue in this election, she said in a brief interview afterward.

She quickly noted that national security also has local ramifications in New Hampshire, beginning with funding for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The question is whether these local issues can overcome the din of partisan presidential politics.

Republicans hope so, or else they could lose the majority.

I think you can focus on areas where you may not have a Republican position, but you have a personal position, Portman said, citing his record on trying to fight heroin addiction. Its part of who I am, and Im going to keep doing it.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in Beijing on Jan. 17 showed Gui Minhai, a Swedish national and co-owner of a Hong Kong publishing house, weeping. Gui went missing late last year. (CCTV/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinas campaign against dissent is going global.

Amid extraordinary moves to rein in criticism at home, Chinese security personnel are reaching confidently across borders, targeting Chinese and foreign citizens who dare to challenge the Communist Party line, in what one Western diplomat has called the worst crackdown since Tiananmen Square.

A string of incidents, including abductions from Thailand and Hong Kong, forced repatriations and the televised confessions of two Swedish citizens, has crossed a new red line, according to diplomats in Beijing. Yet many foreign governments seem unwilling or unable to intervene, their public response limited to mild protests.

The European Union is divided and appears uncertain about what to do. Hong Kong is in an uproar, with free speech under attack, activists looking over their shoulders and many people saying they feel betrayed by a lack of support from Britain.

China seems bent upon broadcasting to the world its disdain for the rule of law, said Jerome A. Cohen, a China legal scholar and professor at New York University.

[Televised confession was absurd and incoherent  and thats the point]

With Secretary of State John F. Kerry in Beijing, where he landed late Tuesday, the leaders of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, an independent U.S. government agency, have voiced alarm. The bodys chairman, Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.), said Friday that President Xi Jinpings push toward hard authoritarianism threatens U.S.-China ties, a view echoed by his co-chairman, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

On Xis watch, Hong Kongs autonomy is under threat, and Beijings reach is ever-expanding to include foreign soil and foreign nationals living, working and doing business in China, said Rubio, a presidential candidate. President Xi is ruling by fear, not by the rule of law.

Before this became a story about cross-border abductions, televised confessions and Chinas long, throttling reach, it was a story about a book  a gossipy work on Xis love life. The book, which has not been published, is said to allude to the alleged girlfriends the president had before he took office.

It was to have been issued in the semiautonomous Chinese city of Hong Kong by a small publishing house, Mighty Current Media, whose name seems to foreshadow the rush of abductions by Chinese security forces that has swept up five men associated with the firm, including two foreign nationals.

On Oct. 17, Gui Minhai, a Hong Kong-based publisher and naturalized Swedish citizen, vanished from his 17th-floor vacation condominium in Thailand. Days later, three Mighty Current employees disappeared while visiting the Chinese city of Shenzhen.

In late December, Lee Bo, a British citizen, was apparently abducted from a warehouse in Hong Kong  an action that appeared to violate the one country, two systems principle Beijing pledged to uphold after taking control of the city from Britain in 1997. In a series of odd communications with his wife, Lee said he was assisting with an investigation in China and that everything is fine.

[China confirms missing Hong Kong publisher in mainland]

That proved unlikely. Months after Lees colleague Gui went missing, he reappeared on Chinese television last week to deliver a choreographed confession  for a car crash that took place in 2003.

Within the week, in an unrelated case, a second confession by a Swede was broadcast on state television. It featured Peter Dahlin, who has worked to support Chinese lawyers. He disappeared on his way to the Beijing airport on Jan. 3 and was held for nearly two weeks before being given access to consular officials. He was finally released Monday evening and deported, colleagues said.

A Chinese journalist, two dissidents and the son of a jailed civil rights lawyer also have gone missing or been forcibly repatriated from Thailand and Burma in the past three months, heightening the perception that for critics of the Chinese Communist Party and their families, nowhere is safe.

The U.S. State Department expressed concern about the confessions and the use of extra-legal means to bring foreign nationals to China. And the German Foreign Ministry voiced really serious concern that Britain and Sweden had either not been granted access to their citizens or were granted access only after an unacceptable delay.

This is clearly and undoubtedly not in accordance with the international obligations of the Peoples Republic of China with regard to the Vienna Conventions, spokesman Martin Shaefer said Friday, referring to a 1963 international accord on consular relations.

But the response from other European countries has been anemic, say critics who note that many are keen to court Chinese investment.

When the European Union issued a statement calling on Chinese authorities to review their decision to expel a French journalist at the end of last year, many European embassies in Beijing declined to even publish the comment on their websites.

[China expels French journalist for terrorism coverage]

The Global Times, a nationalist Chinese newspaper published in Beijing, argued that the mild response from France and the European Union proved that the Chinese were right to throw the reporter out.

Many European nations also have not republished E.U. statements on the abductions of the booksellers and the arrest of Dahlin. China, critics say, has realized that Europe is weak and divided.

The international reaction, from the E.U. in particular, should be a lot stronger than this  otherwise they will get more cases, said Nicholas Bequelin, East Asia director for Amnesty International. China has seen through the hypocrisy of Western countries with respect to human rights.

On a visit to Beijing this month, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned that if Lee had been abducted, it would represent an egregious breach of promises made in 1997. But Hammond also played down such reports as pure speculation.

Hong Kong people feel increasingly that Britain is not honoring its moral and legal obligation to Hong Kong, said Anson Chan, who served as the territorys top bureaucrat directly after the handover. Britain is desperate to do business with China almost on any terms.

Chinas apparent disrespect for Hong Kongs autonomy and Lees British passport is a threat to the hundreds of thousands of residents who hold foreign passports, Chan said.

If tomorrow you say something that someone doesnt like, will you be spirited away and taken to mainland China? she said.

That fear may be precisely Beijings point.

It also may signal worry at home, experts said, citing concerns intensified by a stock-market collapse and economic slowdown.

As the economy begins to slow down, the leadership anticipates that the popularity of Xi Jinping and the party will take a body blow, said Willy Wo-Lap Lam, an expert in Chinese politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

In the middle of last year, China began a campaign against illegal publications that could poison the hearts and minds of its youths. Among the targets: reactionary publications out of Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Mighty Currents works appeared to strike a particular nerve, because the publication suggested that Xis Communist Party rivals are leaking gossip to undermine him, and because the salacious subject matter might shatter the aura of invincibility he has cultivated.

The people around Xi Jinping are furiously creating a Mao Zedong-style personality cult around him, Lam said. The book published in Hong Kong would have made a dent in that.

Read more:

The last time Chinas economy was growing this slowly, Home Alone was in theaters

Christians in China feel full force of authorities repression

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the Vatican before talks on Tuesday. (Andrew Medichini/AFP/Getty Images)

Irans president asked Pope Francis for his prayers Tuesday, and the pontiff bestowed a medal depicting an early Christian saint, in a Vatican encounter rich with spiritual symbolism but also touching on Middle East conflicts and terrorism fears.

The 40-minute meeting  the first between an Iranian president and a pope since 1999  was something of a sideline to the wider objectives of President Hassan Rouhanis four-day European trip, which began Monday.

Rouhani and his 120-member entourage seek mostly to drum up foreign investment from Italy and France after the lifting of international sanctions under a nuclear accord with world powers.

[Despite nuclear deal, Rouhani blasts U.S. policies]

But Rouhani also used his talks with Francis to bolster his personal image as a moderate comfortable in dealing with the West. In addition, Rouhani did not miss a chance to strengthen his calls for Iran to play a bigger role in Middle East affairs, including bids to reach a political accord in war-battered Syria.

Iran is a critical ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose envoys are scheduled to take part in U.N.-backed peace talks that could begin later this week in Geneva. Francis, meanwhile, has frequently denounced the ongoing bloodshed in Syria and the increasing pressures and persecution facing Christians across the region.

I ask you to pray for me, Rouhani said to the pope after their private meeting. He presented Francis with a carpet  about 3-by-4 feet  made in the seminary city of Qom, the center of Shiite Muslim scholarship in Iran.

Francis, in turn, gave Rouhani a medal depicting a famous act by the 4th century Saint Martin: giving part of his coat to a cold beggar  a gesture Francis called a sign of unsolicited brotherhood.

[Italy approves cover-up for Iran visit]

Rouhanis predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, did not make a visit to the Holy See, which had joined in denunciations of his combative comments, including warnings against Israel.

In 1999, Irans reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, held talks with Pope John Paul II, and the Vatican later endorsed Khatamis calls for greater dialogue between faiths and societies. Khatami also was among the world leaders at John Pauls funeral in 2005.

In a statement, the Vatican appeared to reward Rouhani by noting that the talks included the important role that Iran was called to play to combat terrorism.

Iran has insisted it shares the goals of the West and its allies to defeat the Islamic State and other groups. But the United States and others remain deeply uneasy over Tehrans backing for Assad and its aid to anti-Israel factions such as Lebanons Hezbollah.

Iran was also urged to help fight arms trafficking, the Vatican said.

Francis, a native of Argentina and the first pope from the Americas, had a pivotal role in helping start talks between the United States and Cuba, former Cold War foes that resumed diplomatic ties last year.

The Vatican has welcomed the nuclear accord, but there is little sign of further rapprochement between Washington and Tehran amid strong resistance from political factions on both sides.

Earlier, Rouhani tried to link the battle against militants with his pitch for foreign investment.

[U.S.-Iran contacts help defuse crisis over U.S. sailors]

If we want to combat extremism in the world, if we want to fight terror, one of the roads before us is providing growth and jobs. Lack of growth creates forces for terrorism. Unemployment creates soldiers for terrorists, said Rouhani, whose planned trip to Europe in November was postponed because of the Paris terrorist rampage that claimed 130 lives.

Already, Rouhani will return home with an array of deals from Europeans eager to return to the huge Iranian consumer market.

On Monday, Italy announced more than $18 million in contracts including steel exports and road and rail work. In France, Rouhanis next and last stop, he hopes to court French automakers, which had a major presence in Iran before sanctions and seek to return.

Iran also has opened talks with airline manufacturer Airbus for planes to replace the countrys aging passenger fleet, which includes some Boeing planes made before the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Some Italians, meanwhile, were appalled after authorities covered up nude statues, including the Roman goddess Venus, at the Capitoline Museums for a visit by Rouhani and others.

Respect for other cultures cannot, and must not, equal the denial of our own, said Luca Squeri, a parliament member with former premier Silvio Berlusconis Forza Italia party, according to Italys state-run Ansa news agency.

Read more:

Key moments in U.S.-Iran tensions

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Secretary of State John F. Kerry departs a tour of the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh on Tuesday. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Secretary of State John F. Kerry met Tuesday with Cambodian leaders to express concern about the governments record on human rights and corruption in a visit that otherwise focused on forging trade and investment ties.

Kerry held talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power for three decades, and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, but he also made a point of meeting with Kem Sokha, the acting head of the opposition in Cambodia. The opposition has had an acting head since November, when the official leader, Sam Rainsy, went into exile after he was ordered arrested for allegedly defaming the foreign minister.

In his one-day visit to Cambodia, Kerry acknowledged both the legacy of past wars and the advances the country has made since.

But he said respect for human rights and good governance is critical to an improvement in relations between Washington and Phnom Penh.

In my discussions today, I emphasized the essential role that a vibrant, democratic system plays in the development of a country and the legitimacy of its political system, Kerry told reporters before departing for Beijing. Democratic governments have a responsibility to ensure that all elected representatives are free to perform their responsibilities without fear of attack or arrest.

Although this was his first trip to Phnom Penh as secretary of state, he recalled that he came to Cambodia several times as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to help establish an international tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge figures.

Under the leadership of Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, a time when an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians died from violence, hunger or other mistreatment. Kerry also traveled here when he co-chaired a Senate committee trying to account for Americans lost during the Vietnam War era, in Cambodia as well as Vietnam and Laos.

So I am very, very conscious in returning here now in 2016 at the extraordinary distance traveled by Cambodia, Kerry said.

In his official talks here, as in Laos, Kerry was laying the groundwork for a summit President Obama will host next month for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) at the Sunnylands estate in California.

The administration has been trying to rebalance its foreign policy to pay more attention to Asia, which is expected to fuel much of the worlds economic growth in the future. Cambodia has one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, and the United States is its largest export market.

Id just emphasize that the United States is an Asia-Pacific nation, Kerry said, adding, And we are deeply committed to our partnership with Cambodia and with all the members of ASEAN on a regional and global basis.

Read more:

Tourists or voyeurs? Outsiders gaze at child labor in Cambodias largest landfill.

In Cambodia, China feels the extent, and limits, of its growing power

Trying to stop the wind of freedom from reaching Cambodia

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Irans election overseers have cleared only one-fifth of the potential candidates seeking a spot on the panel with powers to select the countrys next supreme leader, an official said Tuesday.

The rejections appear to be another stand by hard-liners seeking to hold back more moderate-leaning groups after some high-profile strides under President Hassan Rouhani, including a nuclear deal with world powers that lifted international sanctions.

Such widespread vetting of candidates is a fixture of Iranian politics that allows the culling of those perceived as potential threats to the ruling system and its protectors, led by the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

[Sanctions relief aids reformers but doesnt silence foes]

But next months twin elections  for the 290-seat parliament and the 88-member body known as the Assembly of Experts  are seen as important tests of whether more- conservative forces can maintain their voice in Iranian affairs.

Of the 801 candidates seeking to run in the election for the Assembly of Experts  a group with the powerful mandate to select Irans top leader  just 166 were approved for the Feb. 26 ballot, the state-run IRNA news agency reported, citing assembly spokesman Siamak Rahpeik. The assembly would name a successor after the death of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is 76.

Last week, Iranian media reported that the election gatekeepers, known as the Guardian Council, disqualified more than 7,000 of the 12,000 people seeking seats in parliament. Full candidate lists will be officially published closer to the election. Those disqualified have the option to appeal.

Many of the rejections are believed to be backers of Rouhani, who is on his first official trip to Europe, with meetings heavily concentrated on seeking renewed investment in Iran with sanctions now eased. Before the international sanctions, countries such as France and Germany were among Irans top trading partners.

Rouhani met Tuesday with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

[Analyzing the stakes in the upcoming election]

The upcoming elections also show the dueling pressures faced by Khamenei. He gave a green light for Rouhanis government to negotiate the deal with the United States and other world powers to limit Irans nuclear capabilities in exchange for the lifting of international economic sanctions. The pact angered some hard-liners who complained that it surrendered too much to the West.

But Khamenei has tried to ease their worries by calling for strict vetting by the 12-member Guardian Council, which is led by arch-conservative Ahmad Jannati, who has wider opinion-shaping powers as one of the leaders of the nationally broadcast Friday prayers at Tehran University.

Among those apparently opposed by the council was Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of Irans Islamic revolution. Hassan Khomeini, seen as a relative moderate, apparently withdrew his bid for the Assembly of Experts after getting signals that he faced likely disqualification.

Other members of the revolution leaders family have openly challenged the ruling establishment in the past, including siding with reformist presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi  who led massive protests after the disputed 2009 election victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Mousavi and Karroubi later faced house arrest.

In 2013, the Guardian Councils rejections for the presidential race included a former president, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. He retains leadership of the Expediency Council, which mediates possible disputes between parliament and the ruling clerics.

Read more:

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
China's Tianfu cola to make comeback after 20 year hiatus Updated: 2016-01-07 16:44 (Xinhua)

CHONGQING - The Chinese cola brand Tianfu, once the country's top-selling soft drink, will return to the market after being absent from shelves for nearly two decades, according to the producer on Thursday.

Tianfu Cola will be relaunched around Spring Festival (the Lunar New Year), which falls on Feb. 8 this year, said Qian Huang, general manager of the company.

Qian said Tianfu would still use its natural traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal recipe to produce the "healthy drink."

Back in 1980s and 1990s, the Chongqing-based company was the largest soft drink maker in China with a strong hold of 70 percent of the soft drink market. Tianfu Cola was sold beyond China and started to gain market recognition in Russia and America.

In 1994, the company set up a joint venture with American cola producer Pepsi, which was not successful. By 2005, Tianfu Coke's market share had plummeted to 1 percent.

Qian attributed the failure to the decision to decrease the production of Tianfu Coke to make way for the production of Pepsi-Cola.

In 2006, the company sold its stakes in the joint venture to Pepsi, however, Pepsi refused to give back Tianfu's production right.

In 2010, Tianfu took Pepsi to court accusing the US firm of stealing the secret recipe for its beverage. The court ordered Pepsi to return the formula and technical secrets, but rejected Tianfu's request for 1 million yuan ($151,700) compensation.

Qian said 2016 would witness a "reincarnation" of Tianfu. In addition to the reproduction of Tianfu Coke, the company plans to debut a new series of soft drinks including fruit juice and a protein beverage.
The requirement to present photo identification to cast a ballot went on trial Monday in a closely watched case that will have legal ramifications for voting across the country this presidential election year.

Inside a federal courthouse here, attorneys for the Justice Department and the NAACP argued that the law passed by the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly intentionally discriminates against African Americans and Latinos, who disproportionately lack one of the required forms of photo identification.

The state should be making it easier for people to engage in the fundamental right to vote, not harder, Michael Glick, a Washington lawyer representing the NAACP, said in his opening statement. Because the voter-ID requirement will make it harder for African Americans and Latinos to vote, Glick said, it is unconstitutional and violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Under North Carolinas election law, passed three years ago, voters will have to present one of these photo IDs for the first time this year: a North Carolina drivers license, a special non-operators ID, a U.S. passport, a military ID, a veterans ID, a tribal ID from a federally or state recognized tribe, or in certain cases, a drivers license or non-operator ID issued by another state.

Thomas A. Farr, a lawyer representing North Carolina, argued that there is no evidence that any resident of the state will be unable to vote under the photo-ID law. He said there is a great deal of dispute about the data that the NAACP and Justice Department will present, which they say indicates that African Americans are twice as likely as whites to lack a photo ID.

The Rev. William J. Barber, North Carolina NAACP president, goes over information for an upcoming rally with Rebekah Barber, 22, and John Stean, 29, in Raleigh. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

Were talking about a very, very, very small group of people who may not have a photo ID, Farr said, adding that the challengers just dont like the policy.

Since the 2010 midterm election, 21 states have added voting restrictions  and in 15 states, the rules will be in place for the first time in a presidential election, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Eight states have strict photo-ID laws.

Election administrators, voting rights activists and lawyers are watching the North Carolina case very closely, said Richard L. Hasen, an election-law expert at the University of California at Irvine. If North Carolina gets a green light from the federal courts to pass this set of laws making it harder to register and vote, then I expect other states with Republican legislators to pass similar laws.

The trial is being held before U.S. District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder, who joined the bench in 2008 after being nominated by President George W. Bush. Schroeder held a three-week trial last summer on the rest of the election law, which reduces the number of days of early voting, disallows people from registering and voting on the same day, stops ballots cast in the wrong precinct from being counted, and ends the practice of pre-registering teenagers before they turn 18. Schroeder has not yet ruled on that case.

The photo-ID trial is expected to last about a week. North Carolinas snowy and icy conditions affected the first day of trial. Several witnesses were unable to travel to Winston-Salem, including plaintiffs Rosanell Eaton, 94, and her daughter.

[Trial to start in lawsuit over North Carolinas voter-ID law]

Instead, a video of Eatons deposition last year was played on computer monitors in the courtroom. The Franklin County, N.C., resident described how she had to make 10 trips to the Division of Motor Vehicles, drive 200 miles and spend more than 20 hours to obtain one of the required forms of voter identification because of discrepancies between the name on her drivers license and that on her voter registration, along with differences in the birth date on her birth certificate and her Social Security card.

It was really stressful and difficult, a headache and expensive, Eaton said.

Three years ago, the Supreme Court, in its 5-to-4 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, nullified the part of the Voting Rights Act that required North Carolina, nine states and jurisdictions in five other states to get permission from the federal government before enacting new voting laws because of their history of discrimination.

Within a month after the decision, the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly passed one of the countrys most restrictive voting laws. Republican Gov. Pat McCrory signed it, comparing the requirement of a voter ID to common practices like boarding an airplane and purchasing Sudafed and saying the law would help prevent voter fraud.

Glick said in court Monday that there simply was no evidence of voter fraud and lawmakers definitely knew that.A witness in last summers trial testified that the State Board of Elections referred two cases of in-person voter fraud to prosecutors from 2000 to 2014.

Last summer, before the first trial was to begin, the North Carolina General Assembly passed an amendment that allows voters to cast provisional ballots if they are unable to obtain specified forms of identification and if they can show they have a reasonable impediment, including lack of transportation, illness, lack of a birth certificate or work schedule.

Lawyers representing North Carolina say education and training efforts on the amendment are robust, but Glick said in court that the reasonable impediment rules are unclear and confusing and will intimidate voters from coming to the polls.

Earlier this month, Schroeder denied a preliminary injunction, ruling against a request by the NAACP to block the law from going into effect until after the March primaries. His ruling means that voters must show a photo ID, beginning with early voting on March 3.

Election-law experts say it could be a sign of Schroeders future rulings in this case. Schroeder said the plaintiffs have failed to clearly demonstrate that they are likely to succeed on the merits, based on the arguments in their briefs.
Tourists look at the U.S. Embassy from the top of a double-decker sightseeing bus in Havana last week. (Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

The Obama administration announced the lifting of major trade and travel restrictions on Cuba on Tuesday, permitting U.S. banks to finance exports to the island and clearing obstacles to a resumption of commercial air travel between the two countries.

Tourist travel to Cuba and certain exports remain prohibited. But the new provisions broaden categories of allowed travel and the range of U.S. goods that can be sold, including to Cuban government entities.

The changes bring the administration closer to the limit of what President Obama has the power to do unless Congress lifts the embargo on Cuba imposed more than a half-century ago. They also indicate his resolve to eliminate as many barriers as possible before the end of his term.

The measures send a clear message to the world, said Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew, whose department polices many of the regulations. The United States is committed to empowering and enabling economic advancements for the Cuban people.

The new regulations take effect Wednesday.

[Cubas Island of Broken Dreams]

Presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called the moves one-sided concessions that provide an economic windfall and further empower Cubas communist government.

Cuban American lawmakers such as Rubio and some others have sharply opposed Obamas opening to Cuba, begun when he announced more than a year ago that he would reestablish diplomatic relations with the islands government, a step that took place in July. Obama has repeatedly called for an end to the embargo.

Public opinion surveys indicate a majority of Americans of both parties favor lifting all remaining trade and travel restrictions. A number of bills, with bipartisan support, have been introduced to do so, but the Republican leadership in Congress has not allowed any to move forward.

The administration has argued that the decades-long freeze on relations and bans on trade and travel failed in their stated purpose of bringing the Cuban regime to its knees and served only to harm the Cuban people. It has said that it expects the new openings will benefit Cubas small but growing private sector and press the government toward more political and other freedoms.

[How Cuba is and isnt changing after the thaw with the United States]

So far, evidence of progress has been slight. Although long-term political detentions are increasingly rare, opposition demonstrations are regularly broken up by security services. While there has been some growth in permitted private business, including restaurants and lodging, government licensing provisions and import controls severely hamper expansion. New public hotspots permit some Internet connectivity, but private connections are still sharply restricted.

We recognize that in allowing some exports . . . there may also be some ancillary benefits to the [Cuban] government, said a senior administration officials, one of several who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity set by the administration.

But the changes are really focused on things that benefit everyday Cubans. Trading through state enterprises, the official said, is necessary in order to get benefits . . . to people.

The administration has maintained that, despite the embargo, its rule changes fall within the presidents executive authority and are permissible because they are directed toward fostering economic and political freedom.

The measures are the third round of Treasury Department changes on Cuba, and the fourth from the Commerce Department, over the past year. Previous actions loosened licensing provisions for U.S. citizen travel to Cuba for 12 approved purposes, such as humanitarian and educational visits, and facilitated exports of construction materials and other goods to private businesses.

Some of the rules announced Tuesday, including access to U.S. credit, were requested by U.S. businesses hoping to trade with Cuba. U.S. companies have complained they were losing out to higher-priced competitors from other countries because of cash-only and other restrictions for allowed exports.

Many of those complaints, however, have come from agricultural producers, whose sales to Cuba remain ineligible for U.S. financing. Congress long ago permitted agricultural and medical exports to Cuba, but for cash only. Because this was done via legislation, Obama cannot change it.

Sectors affected by the newly authorized transactions include agricultural production, education, food processing, public health and sanitation, residential construction, public transportation and the development of infrastructure that directly benefits the Cuban people, according to an administration fact sheet.

A general policy of denial of licenses will remain on items for use by government agencies that primarily generate revenue for the state, including tourism and mining, the fact sheet said.

Additionally, applications to export or re-export items destined to the Cuban military, police, intelligence and security services remain subject to a general policy of denial, the document states.

To facilitate a civil aviation agreement signed between the two governments last month, the new rules authorize airline code sharing as well as airplane-leasing deals for Cuba. Administration officials said that despite the eased restrictions, U.S. investment and trade will continue to lag behind as long as Cuba funnels all imports and exports through a state body, maintains a dual-currency system and insists that all Cuban hires by foreign companies there be made through a state agency.

Over the years, travel restrictions have been eased to allow Cuban Americans to travel freely to the island and others to obtain a Treasury license under the 12 categories of permitted travel, not including tourism.

This month, Obama lifted a requirement that Americans must travel in groups under approved licenses granted to complying organizations. U.S. citizens can self-declare that their travel is in an allowed category. The Treasury Department retains authority, rarely exercised, to investigate and prosecute those who cannot prove compliance after the fact.

The 12 categories remain under the new regulations but have been expanded to include those on temporary visits to facilitate allowable travel, such as airline crews or organizers of professional conferences or sporting events.

Brian Murphy contributed to this report.
Do your kids miss Peter Rabbit? Or would they like to know that he grew up into a chubby, big black cat who leads a double life?

No problem. A lost story by famed British childrens author Beatrix Potter  The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots  has been discovered among her memorabilia and will be published this year more than a century after she wrote it.

Jo Hanks, a publisher with Penguin Random House who made the discovery at Londons Victoria & Albert museum in 2013, called the story the biggest Potter discovery in generations and almost certainly the last, the London Times Newspaper reported Tuesday.

When I was working with Emma Thompson (on The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit, published in 2014) I read a book by Leslie Linder about Beatrix Potter, and came across a reference to Kitty-in-Boots, she told Britains The Bookseller, which covers the publishing industry. That led me to the V&A, where many of her writings are archived.

Hanks said she had been idly thumbing through the out-of-print literary history when she found a reference to a story about a well-behaved prime black Kitty cat, who leads rather a double life, she was quoted by the Times as saying.

[Potters rich legacy]

The tale really is the best of Beatrix Potter, she told the Bookseller. It has double identities, colourful villains and a number of favourite characters from other tales  most excitingly, Peter Rabbit makes an appearance, albeit older, slower and portlier.

The story was written in 1914, the year World War I began and Potters father died. The beloved childrens author had recently married and had begun a new life as a sheep farmer in Britains Lake District.

Hanks said the story, which she said was probably lost when Penguin Random House bought Frederick Warne & Co in the 1980s, needed only light editing.

Beatrix Potter obviously meant to finish the story but things like World War I, getting married and her desire to start running a farm got in the way, the publisher was quoted by The Bookseller as saying.

Potter has been one of the worlds most popular childrens book authors, delighting children and their parents alike all over the world, ever since The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published in 1902, which became an instant, runaway success. The book has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide.

[Watching the writer on the big screen]

Besides becoming a best-selling author at a time when most women did not work, Helen Beatrix Potter was also an illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist. Born into a wealthy household, she was educated by governesses, growing up isolated from other children. She had numerous pets, however, and developed a love of landscape, flora and fauna.

She wrote about 30 books  by far the best known her 23 childrens tales.

With the money from the books and an inheritance from an aunt, Potter bought a sprawling farm in the Lake District in 1905. In 1913, at the age of 47, she married a respected local lawyer. Potter also then became a prize-winning sheep breeder and a prosperous sheep farmer.

She continued to write and illustrate, however, and to design merchandise based on her childrens books, until the duties of land management and a diminishing eyesight made it difficult to continue her literary career.

After she died, she left her property to Britains National Trust. It now comprises most of the countrys staggeringly beautiful Lake District National Park.

Hanks said that after she searched the V & As Beatrix Potter Collections, she discovered both a handwritten manuscript of the story and a typset one. There was also a rough color sketch of Kitty-in-Boots.

The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots will come out in hardback in September in Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia. It will be illustrated by Quentin Blake and published by Frederick Warne & Co., British media reported.

Hanks told the Bookseller that Blake was chosen as the illustrator because, even though he has a different style to Potter, he understands the rebelliousness of animal characters and doesnt patronize children, which was one of Potters bugbears.

The publisher waited to publish the story until 2016 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Potters birth.

Hanks told The Bookseller that Penguin Random House is currently in negotiations with a number of European publishers and is not planning on launching a range of merchandise, although it is open to the idea of a movie or TV deal.

Potters books continue to sell worldwide in many languages and her stories are retold in various mediums  song, film, ballet and animation, among others.

Read more:

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Syrian pro-government forces celebrate on a street in the town of Sheik Miskeen on Tuesday, after retaking the strategic town from rebel forces. (AFP/Getty Images)

Western-backed Syrian rebels on Tuesday suffered one of their most significant defeats since Russias military intervention in Syria turned the tide of the war in favor of President Bashar al-Assad, further complicating prospects for a negotiated settlement at peace talks scheduled later this week in Geneva.

After a month-long offensive backed by Russian warplanes, government forces and allied militias reclaimed control of the town of Sheikh Miskeen, strategically located at a crossroads commanding a southern supply route between the Jordanian border and the Syrian capital, Damascus.

It was the latest in a string of defeats inflicted on rebel fighters in recent weeks, as Assad loyalists finally start to capitalize on nearly four months of intense Russian airstrikes that have mostly targeted the anti-Assad rebellion.

[Is it too late to solve the mess in the Middle East?]

This was, however, the most conspicuous example yet of the ways in which Russias intervention in Syria has aided government advances against the moderate rebels backed by the United States and its allies. Sheikh Miskeen had been under the control of a coalition of moderate Free Syrian Army groups formed early in 2014 with the express purpose of streamlining the delivery of weapons and money from the United States and its allies.

A picture taken Tuesday shows spent mortar shells on the ground after Syrian pro-government forces retook the town of Sheik Miskeen. (AFP/Getty Images)

The official government news agency SANA said the terrorists defending the town had suffered heavy losses in the course of the battle. Other terrorists fled away leaving their weapons and ammunition behind, the agency said.

The definition of who counts as a terrorist in Syria lies at the heart of a dispute between Russia and the United States over how to resolve the Syrian war that has delayed the start of the peace talks. Russia has labeled all those fighting Assad as terrorists, while the United States and its allies draw a distinction between moderate rebels and those with extremist inclinations.

A British official said the attack revealed the hypocrisy of Russias military intervention in Syria, which was ostensibly launched to combat the Islamic State but has, according to U.S. officials, focused mostly on bombing the wide variety of rebels opposed to Assads regime.

By continuing to support the regime in its bombardment of the moderate opposition, Russia risks damaging the already fragile process of intra-Syrian negotiations, Gareth Bayley, the British special representative for Syria, said in a statement.

News of the fall of the town cast a cloud over a meeting of the Syrian opposition in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to decide on whether to participate in the peace talks, scheduled to begin Friday in Geneva. The United Nations issued invitations to the talks Tuesday, after days of squabbling over the guest list between Washington and Moscow had delayed the original start date of Jan. 25.

[A delay  and lowered expectations  for Syria peace talks]

It is still not clear, however, whether those invited will accept. The opposition said late Tuesday that before confirming its attendance it wants evidence that the government is serious about talking peace in the form of confidence-building measures such as the delivery of humanitarian aid to towns besieged by the government and a halt to airstrikes against civilians.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday reiterated the Russian view that it is essential to invite the most powerful Syrian Kurdish political party, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) to the talks. But the head of the PYD, Saleh Muslim, told Reuters he had not received an invitation.

Read more:

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Europe is firmly in the grip of winter, and the Balkans are covered in snow with temperatures below freezing. Nonetheless, one government after another is closing its borders and sending hundreds of thousands of desperate refugees back to war zones that they have risked their lives to flee.

The Austrian government closed its borders last Wednesday. Already at the beginning of the week, it made clear its intention to send more refugees back to Slovenia. Then on Wednesday, a conference was held on refugees between leading Social Democrat (SPO) and conservative Austrian Peoples Party (OVP) politicians to impose an upper limit for refugees. Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz (OVP) justified the decision by stating, A joint European answer cannot be expected.

Austria is the first European Union (EU) country to impose an upper limit for refugees. This was in no small part a response to measures taken by Germany. Also on Wednesday, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere (Christian Democrats, CDU) extended border controls for an undetermined period of time. Germany has already refused entry to 2,000 refugees this month at its border with Austria.

In Vienna, Austrian Chancellor Werner Feymann (SPO) told the press that in 2016, Austria would only accept 37,500 asylum seekers. Including the 90,000 refugees who remained in the country last year, an upper limit of 1.5 percent of the population would be reached.

The Social Democratic chancellor embraced the arguments of the notorious anti-immigrant OVP interior minister, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, announcing a strict review procedure at the border.

If we undertake more controls, we will find out more, Feymann bluntly told Austrian broadcaster ORF. If people cannot credibly explain why they want to come into the country, they would not be allowed in. Feymann had ordered a report by the foreign, interior and defence ministries to determine everything that is legally possible at the border.

At the Spielfeld crossing on the Austrian-Slovenian border, a 4-kilometre-long border fence is being constructed. Last Sunday, the government deployed 200 soldiers to the Slovenian border. Their task is to examine the refugees and their luggage and deport all of those unable to provide valid travel documents. In the first three weeks of the year, Austria has already deported over 1,000 refugees.

Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia are also in the process of closing their borders. In a rapid domino effect, one country after another is re-establishing posts at its borders. Slovenia closed its borders at the beginning of last week and also announced the introduction of an upper limit for immigrants.

The Serbian government immediately adopted measures to make it more difficult for immigrants to enter the country. A government spokesman stated that Serbia would in the future accept refugees on its territory only if they were seeking to claim asylum in Germany or Austria. From today onwards  no more migrants can travel through Serbia unless they explicitly state an intention to claim asylum in the territory of Austria or Germany, Prime Minister Alexander Vulin toold Serbian news agency Tanjug.

Croatias interior minister also announced that his country would from now on ask every refugee if they intended to apply for asylum in Germany or Austria. In the Balkan country, the government of Tihomir Oreskovic has just begun its period in office. Since the highly indebted country is heavily dependent on the EU, it will seek to do everything demanded by the EU, including stricter measures targeting refugees.

Macedonia responded on Wednesday morning by rejecting 600 refugees at the Greek border, including many children. The AFP news agency cited a police spokesman in Skopje, who said that Macedonia was reacting to a request from Slovenia. The blockade was lifted again on Thursday evening, but not for all refugees.

Those people arriving at the border already have behind them the grueling journey of crossing the Mediterranean through Turkey and Greece during the winter. The Greek coastguard reported that on Thursday alone, it had saved 73 refugees from the Aegean Sea. For one young child, help came too late: the child died a few hours after arrival on the island of Lesbos. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 87 people have already drowned in the Mediterranean this year.

The chain reaction of border closures has completely undermined the Schengen agreement between EU states. Introduced in 1985, Schengen is a key element of the European Union and meant that border controls between European countries were eliminated. On Monday, EU interior ministers met in Amsterdam to discuss extending border controls for two years.

EU Council President Donald Tusk warned last Tuesday that the Schengen agreement could fail entirely. He called upon all heads of government to back a joint EU concept before the Brussels conference scheduled for March 16-17. The content of this concept would be negotiations with African states about repatriation, military action against so-called smuggler bands, and better securing of the EUs external bordersall measures that will put the lives of refugees at greater risk.

In addition, combatting the causes of flight is being used as a justification for military interventions in the Middle East and North Africa, and the expansion of wars in Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and North African states.

What is to happen to the refugees shut out because of the new upper limits is unclear. The EU has already announced plans to build detention centres and so-called hot spots along the Balkan route and distribute refugees across all EU countries. But Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary have firmly opposed the quota system, and many other countries have silently boycotted it.

The plans are equally bureaucratic as they are inhumane, since refugees often try to travel to countries where they have relatives or friends. They are not only denied this option on organisational grounds: the EU countries, led by Germany, are creating miserable conditions to deter refugees from coming.

On Thursday it was revealed that not only Denmark and Switzerland, but the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, would search refugees arriving at the border and confiscate money and valuables. This was confirmed by Bavarias interior minister Joachim Hermann (Christian Social Union, CSU) to the Bild newspaper, who said, Cash and valuables can be secured if  a claim for reimbursement exists or is expected against the person.

In Bavaria, refugees will be permitted to retain 750, and in Baden-Wurttemberg only 350. Such measures recall the Nazi era, when the National Socialist regime robbed the Jewish population of all their possessions.
Since the beginning of the year, 237 people have been killed in house fires in the US as the winter weather, the high cost of housing and heating bills force people to rely upon risky space heaters, stoves and wood burning fires. Expensive and substandard housing conditions, which often lack basic smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors, let alone sprinklers and fire escapes, add to the deadly problem.

Eighteen people died in Alabama alone, including five people spanning three generations who were killed in a single fire on January 2 in Bryant. The home had no working smoke detectors. Low wages and the high cost of housing are increasingly forcing many families to live together, leading to overcrowding.

Fourteen were killed in house fires in California, and 11 died in both Michigan and Illinois. Maryland and Ohio had 10 fire fatalities each, while Texas and Virginia both had nine deaths. In Pennsylvania, eight people died in house fires.

The number of deaths may likely be higher since there is no official reporting and tracking of those killed and injured in home fires. These figures are compiled from press reports by the US Fire Administration, a branch of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

While the number of fire fatalities is both staggering and heart wrenching, many of these tragedies could have been prevented. Most of those killed would likely have survived with existing technologies such as sprinklers, hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in adequate quantity, and fireproof housing with proper, efficient heating systems.

On Thursday, January 14, an early morning fire at 330 Bruce Street in Syracuse, New York, took the life of Heather Taylor, 31, the mother of two young sons. A second person upstairs, Christopher Hook Mazzae, 29, was hospitalized with serious injuries. The two-family apartment house had nine people living downstairs and six on the upper floor where the fire started.

Firefighters pointed to the kitchen stove upstairs as the likely cause of the fire and it can be assumed that with temperatures hovering in the teens overnight the stove was being utilized as heating for the older homes second floor.

There were working smoke detectors in the house, but a working carbon monoxide (CO) detector was needed on the second floor apartment. Those nearest the upstairs kitchen were overcome by CO fumes first and therefore could not be roused by the smoke alarms.

Housing in the area near the fire exemplifies the horrendous conditions that low-income workers are forced to live in. There are six vacant homes within three blocks and a nearby home recently caught fire and sustained heavy damage. The other vacant homes are in various states of dilapidation, a result of the foreclosure crisis.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines residence overcrowding as anything less than 165 square feet per person, or conditions where there are more than two people per bedroom. There were 15 people residing in the six-bedroom, two-family home, typical of the housing conditions faced by many workers in Syracuse.

The Bruce Street home was one of three multi-family properties that were sold together in a bundle by Syracuse Diamond Properties LLC of Utica, New York, to a company called International Education, which lists its address as a post office box in a Utica suburb.

A house fire in Rock Falls, Illinois, claimed the lives of a family of five in the early morning hours of January 13. Those who perished include Patrick Hopkins, 61, his wife Mary, 49, and their children Maggie, 26, Donovan, 16, Katie, 13, as well as three family pets.

Officials believe the fire started in the living room. There was a smoke detector found on the first floor but none on the second floor. All five people were found deceased in their bedrooms on the second floor after the blaze was extinguished. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but the probable cause is a space heater due to cold weather conditions.

A house fire in Wilmington, Delaware, on January 12 killed three-month-old Zipporah Carroway and three-year-old Elizabeth Carroway. Their mother, Christine Carroway, 37, escaped with severe burns over half of her body. A passerby and a police officer managed to pull her two-year-old daughter to safety. Mark Carroway, the childrens father, had just left the home to pick up the familys other four children from school.

Firefighters arrived in less than two minutes after an emergency call was made by a passing ambulance crew. The fire department said the house had no working smoke detectors. The fire is believed to have started in the first floor living room of the two-story home. Temperatures were below freezing on that day. The building was over 100 years old and its balloon frame construction lends to the rapid development of infernos that can overcome inhabitants.

A trailer caught fire around 1 p.m. on January 11 in Montrose, Iowa, taking the lives of three members of a family: Jayden Douglas, 9, Landon Michael Trent, 2, as well as their mother Rebecca Ferrall. Also in the trailer was Jacob Russell, 33, who escaped with serious injuries. The family was living in a trailer home, substandard housing that can become fully engulfed within several minutes, giving occupants little time to escape.

In Huntington, West Virginia, on January 9, a fire took the lives of Ida Thompson, 62, and her grandchildren, Maeshelle, 7, and Nashaya, 4. There were eight people living in the two-story home. Residents were forced to jump from the second floor to escape the rapidly intensifying fire.

In the Fairhill section of North Philadelphia, a row house caught fire on January 8, taking the lives of two people. There were eight people sleeping in the home when it caught fire around 3:45 a.m. Elizabeth Perez initially exited the burning house and reentered to save her two-year-old son Nathaniel Richardson. Elizabeth, who was eight months pregnant, was found holding him. They had been overcome by the thick smoke.

Firefighters pointed to a kerosene space heater as the probable cause of the tragic blaze. There were at least four other portable space heaters found in the home.

According to the US Census, nearly three-quarters of children in Fairhill under 18 years old live in poverty. The overall poverty rate for the 19122 postal ZIP code was 57.8 percent in 2014.
A new Center for International and Strategic Studies (CSIS) report released last week is a chilling warning of the accelerating preparations of the United States for war with Chinaa conflict that would likely plunge the world into a nuclear catastrophe.

The report, which was commissioned by the US Defence Department, represents above all the voice of the vast American military establishment, which regards China as the chief threat to untrammelled US strategic dominance in Asia. The document calls for a huge military expansion in the Asia Pacific not only by the United States, but also by all of its allies and strategic partners in the region. The report makes clear that every country in the region, large and small, is to be drawn into the maelstrom.

The CSIS published a similar study in 2012 laying out the military buildup associated with the Obama administrations pivot to Asia, including the positioning of 60 percent of the Pentagons air and naval assets in the region by 2020. Since then, the US has proceeded to restructure its military bases in Japan and South Korea, expand facilities on Guam, establish new basing arrangements in Australia and the Philippines, and strengthen ties with virtually every country in Asia.

The military preparations have gone hand-in-hand with a relentless diplomatic offensive to justify the stationing of more than half of US military might on Chinas doorstep. In the process, Washington has recklessly inflamed flashpoints throughout the region, focussing in particular on maritime disputes between Beijing and its neighbours. In his latest foray into Asia, US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday prevailed on the prime minister of Laos, currently chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), to ensure a unified response to so-called Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea.

Despite the US military, diplomatic and political offensive, the CSIS report warns that China has increased its tolerance for risk. In other words, Beijing has failed to buckle to US demands.

The CSIS cites Chinas expansion of anti-access weaponry to counter an annihilating American attack on the Chinese mainland as the pretext for escalating Washingtons own military preparations. The think tank emphatically rules out any US retreat from the Western Pacific, criticises the Obama administrations defence spending cuts, and proposes trillions of dollars in new outlays to expand the American military presence in Asia and develop new weapons systems. At the current rate of US capability development, it warns, the balance of military power in the region is shifting against the United States.

The claim that the US will be outgunned by China without further massive military spending is not only absurd, but expresses the insane logic of American militarism. The US defence budget already dwarfs that of any of its potential rivals, including China.

American military spending last year was greater than the combined total of the next seven largest powers. The Pentagon has by far the largest and most sophisticated fleet of aircraft carriers; its latest generation fighters and bombers are forward deployed in bases ringing the Chinese mainland; its nuclear arsenal could obliterate Chinas military and industrial capacity many times over. Yet, the Chinese threat is the pretext for demands for greater military spending.

Driven by the worsening crisis of global capitalism, Washingtons objective is nothing less than world dominationan impossible task that can end only in disaster. In the flush of capitalist triumphalism following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the 1992 Defense Planning Guidance elaborated a new overall strategy that required that we endeavour to prevent any hostile power from dominating a region whose resources would, under consolidated control, be sufficient to generate global power.

As the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) explained at the time, the final betrayal of the Soviet Stalinist bureaucracy did not represent the failure of socialism or the triumph of the market, but foreshadowed the breakdown of the world capitalist order. The response of US imperialism to its historic decline has been, at every stage, to exploit its residual military might, resulting in an unending series of wars in a desperate and reckless drive to establish global hegemony.

Obama initiated the pivot to Asia from mid-2009 in response to the eruption of the 2008 global financial crisis and mounting criticism in American ruling circles that the Bush administration had failed to counter the consequences of Chinas economic rise and instead mired the American military in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the world economic slump worsens, the US is engaged not only in an accelerating arms race in Asia, but a new war in the Middle East and a military build-up in Eastern Europe against Russia.

The US war drive is not simply the product of deranged individuals, but of the fundamental contradictions of the moribund capitalist orderbetween world economy and the outmoded nation state system on the one hand, and socialised production and the private ownership of the means of production on the other. The US, like its imperialist rivals, seeks to overcome these contradictions by expanding its control of global resources, markets and labour power.

World politics in 2016 bears an eerie resemblance to the periods that led to the eruption of the first two world wars. In War and the Fourth International, written in 1934, Leon Trotsky warned five years before the second global conflagration: All governments fear war. But none of the governments has any freedom of choice. Without a proletarian revolution, a new world war is inevitable.

In a remarkable insight that is even truer today, Trotsky wrote: US capitalism is up against the same problem that pushed Germany in 1914 on the path to war. The world is divided? It must be redivided. For Germany it was a question of organising Europe. The United States must organise the world. History is bringing humanity face to face with the volcanic eruption of American imperialism.

The relentless drive to war is inextricably bound up with the same processes that are propelling the working class into struggle against the profit system. The trillions of dollars to be squandered on armaments by the US and its allies in preparation for war with China will be paid for through the destruction of social services, the gutting of essential infrastructure, and the further impoverishment of working people.

The response to Washingtons mounting threats on the part of the Chinese Communist Party leadership, which represents the interests of a tiny super-wealthy layer that has enriched itself through capitalist restoration, is to engage in a futile arms race and whip up reactionary nationalist sentiment, which only divides Chinese workers from their counterparts in Asia, the United States and around the world.

The threat of global war can be answered only by rejecting all forms of nationalism and chauvinism and building a conscious and unified anti-war movement of the international working class to put an end to capitalism and fashion a world socialist economy. That is the revolutionary perspective for which the International Committee of the Fourth International fights.
On Friday, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls reaffirmed initial Socialist Party (PS) statements after the November 13 terror attacks in Paris carried out by the Islamist State (IS, or Daesh), that the current state of emergency in France must be made permanent.

In an interview with the BBC while attending the economic summit in Davos, Switzerland, Valls proclaimed that France is waging all-out war with IS. As long as the threat is there, we must use all available means, he said, adding that the state of emergency must stay in place until we can get rid of Daesh.

He continued, In Africa, in the Middle East, in Asia we must eradicate, eliminate Daesh, it is a total and global war that we face with terrorism.  We will have to live for decades or for many years with this menace or this threat and thats why its a war. There are many generations that will have to live with this and the crisis will have to be managed in north Africa and the Middle East.

The implications of Valls statements are staggering. Like Egypt, now ruled as a military dictatorship by General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a personal friend of President Francois Hollande, France is to be run under a permanent state of emergency lasting generations, perhaps forever. According to Valls statement, the French people have effectively lost fundamental social and democratic rights guaranteed to them by the French Constitution.

As if in a slow-motion coup detat, the ruling elite is moving to transform political life in France, creating an authoritarian regime. Under the state of emergency, public protests are banned, there is no guarantee of freedom of the press or freedom of assembly, and no judicial oversight of arbitrary searches and seizures carried out by police. Already, the government banned protests against the COP21 ecological summit in Paris after the November 13 attacks and put the organizers under house arrest.

Police can enter anyones house, search without warrants, and arrest people on mere suspicion that they are a threat to public order. The state has sentenced Goodyear workers to prison for striking and struggling to defend their jobs, even after Goodyear itself dropped all charges against them.

The arguments provided by Valls to justify the indefinite suspension of democratic rights are a pack of lies. IS (Daesh) is not an unstoppable foe that poses an existential threat to the French Republic and to the French people, leaving the French state no choice but to suspend democratic rights in order to safeguard the very survival of the French people.

IS is, in fact, a political asset of the ruling class of France and of all the major NATO countries. It is a militia operating in Iraq and Syria, financed and backed by key French allies in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as part of the regime change operation to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

This organisation emerged from wars launched under Hollandes predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, who played a central role in pressing for a war, ultimately led by all the NATO powers, against Libya. The NATO powers, led by the United States, France and Britain, encouraged Islamist fighters to come to Libya to act as proxy ground forces whilst they provided aerial bombardments. Many of these Islamist forces were then dispatched from Libya to Syria, as the spearhead of the NATO war for regime in Syria.

Valls claim that France and its allies are engaged in total, global war with IS does not hold water. Rather, IS and the reactionary attacks it has carried out in France are being invoked as a pretext to push through vast attacks.

As late as last year, Hollande insisted that France would only attack IS in Iraqwhere Paris had joined Washington in bombing IS in 2013 to prevent IS from toppling the US puppet regime in Baghdadso as to avoid weakening opposition to Assad by attacking IS in Syria.

In his February 5, 2015 press conference after the Charlie Hebdo attacks, Hollande explained that France would not bomb IS forces in Syria, but only Iraq. He said, It is in Iraq that we direct our efforts. Why? Because it is in Iraq that there is a state, sovereignty, and army that can struggle against IS and ensure the reconquest of lost territory.

That is, Hollande was willing to shield and rely upon IS as a tool of various twists and turns of French and NATO policy against Assad. When IS emerges as a domestic policy issue, however, the PS suddenly insists France is engaged in an all-out war on IS in which no democratic right can be allowed to stand in the way of the assertion of state power.

The claim that the assault on democratic rights is primarily a response to the IS terror attacks is a political fraud. This assault is the response of the French ruling class to the worsening class and geo-strategic contradictions of international capitalism, preparing above all for war against the working class.

As a presidential candidate, Hollande said his enemy was finance, but once in power, he has pushed for austerity and war on every front. While collaborating with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to impose deeper austerity on the Greek people, he launched wars across Africa and the Middle East and worked closely with the Obama administration to threaten Russia. Social inequality is reaching explosive levels, and Hollande had to admit last year that France now found itself on the brink of total war with Russia.

Besides the danger of a major international war waged with nuclear weapons, Hollande fears social anger developing in the working class under conditions where the PS and its political and trade union satellites are thoroughly discredited. The response of the PS has been to dub Hollande a war president and a conscious turn towards military and authoritarian forms of rule within France.

During the French invasion of Mali in 2013, French presidential advisors at the Elysee told Le Point that they were hoping for a Falklands effect. While the war was presented to the public as part of a struggle against Islamist terrorism, the PS main concern was to shift official public opinion far to the right, so as to be able to impose a drastic austerity program.

Pointing to the similarities between the Falkland Island (Malvinas) war and French imperialisms wars today, Le Point journalist Anna Cabana wrote: When the Argentine troops landed on the Falklands in 1982, Margaret Thatcher decided to reply militarily. The Iron Lady [Margaret Thatcher], deeply unpopular at the time due to her drastic free-market reform policies, embarked Britain on a military adventure that ensured her re-election in 1983.

The PS incendiary and politically criminal policy of launching wars of aggression in an attempt to anti-democratically impose anti-working class policies at home has failed, however. The looting of much of Africa and the Middle East did not make PS austerity any more popular, and social and international tensions have only grown since 2013.

Unable to win over the masses of working people, the French ruling class is preparing to stake everything on a ruthless attempt to repress them.
China to set up information offices, lobby groups to reduce trade disputes Updated: 2016-01-21 08:10 By Zhong Nan(China Daily)

China will set up 100 trade information offices this year to collate trade-related data from its major export provinces and assess them for potential risks, government officials said on Wednesday.

In addition, the country will also set up lobby groups in the United States, Brazil and India this year to tackle growing global trade frictions against its products.

Yin Zonghua, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said as many as 94 trade disputes were filed against Chinese companies and products in 2015, mainly by the United States and emerging economies like Brazil, India and Mexico.

Most of the disputed related to China's steel, auto parts, fastener, household electrical appliances, agricultural products, garment and shoe-making industries. They came amid an overall slowdown in the number and value of trade friction cases.

China's overall exports amounted to 14.14 trillion yuan ($2.15 trillion) in 2015, down 1.8 percent on a year-on-year basis, the first drop since 2010, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.

CCPIT has so far established 52 trade information offices and passed on nearly 2,600 trade-related early warnings to 32,000 companies. The information dissemination was to help the companies enhance their risk prevention levels and be better prepared for changes in the global trade system.

To catch up with its more mature trade partners, CCPIT established China's first overseas civil lobby group in Brussels to help Chinese companies' global expansion in the European Union last year.

Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said even though China is a leading goods trader, it still has a long way to go before it can change from being a large goods trader to a strong goods trader.

"Chinese manufacturers from both the State-owned and private sectors are not only confronting cumbersome issues such as the appreciation of the yuan and rising financing costs, but also fierce competition with emerging countries in the low-end product market," said Shen.

Yin Jiang'an, general manager of Dongguan Jinmaoda Furniture Co, a leading furniture maker from Dongguan in Guangdong province, said the frequent changes in European technical standards are hampering Chinese furniture product exports to the EU market.

The EU standards stipulate that foreign furniture sold in the EU must meet their criteria on environmental, ecological and formaldehyde emission standards. Many Chinese furniture makers believe these standards are complicated and costly to achieve.

"It costs a lot of money to fulfill the ecological details adopted by the EU Commission in 2009. It is also the reason why many furniture factories in Dongguan's Dalingshan area are now developing a broad-based domestic strategy," said Yin.
After last weeks mass protests against unemployment and poverty throughout Tunisia, the French government has announced 1 billion aid over the next five years to its former colony.

President Francois Hollandes Socialist Party government, which is imposing tens of billions of euros in social cuts against workers at home, did not take this measure to address the basic social needs of Tunisian workers and unemployed. Rather, it feared thatas in 2011, when the uprising in Tunisia sparked revolution in Egyptthis was the only way to prevent an uncontrollable social explosion internationally.

Last week, Tunisia saw a wave of mass protests over unemployment, which broke out in Kasserine province after a youth, Ridha Yahyaoui, was electrocuted on January 16. He was protesting the removal of his name from the list of people to be recruited by a local education committee. Protests erupted and rapidly spread across the country as the workers and unemployed joined the movement demanding jobs.

The Tunisian government has sent army and riot police against protesters, firing tear gas and water cannon as the unemployed gathered outside government offices to demand jobs. On Saturday, the interior ministry announced that 423 people had been arrested across the country for alleged acts of violence. The government also slandered the protests as the work of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terror group in nearby Libya.

The mass protests underscored that none of the issues driving the revolutionary uprisings of 2011 have been solved. Imperialism avoided the coming to power of the working class, working with the Tunisian bourgeoisie, the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH), and various pseudo-left parties, which insisted that the uprising should end so they could set up democracy. The ruling party, Nidaa Tounes, is a thinly disguised rebranding of Ben Alis old party.

As the Tunisian government deployed armed forces and imposed a curfew to clamp down on protests on Friday, Hollande and other French officials met with Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid in Paris.

After meeting with Essid, Hollande announced, France will set up a plan to support Tunisia with one billion euros over the next five years.  A major axis of this plan aims to assist underprivileged regions and youth, with an emphasis on jobs.

An Elysee Presidential Palace statement declared, Five years after the revolution, Tunisia has succeeded in its democratic transition but still faces important economic, social, and security challenges. It insisted that the regime in Tunis can count on Frances support.

France has broad economic ties with Tunisia. In particular, French and European transnationals seek to use high unemployment to exploit workers in Frances former colonies at rock-bottom wages, effectively using the Tunisian capitalist class and union bureaucracy as cheap-labour contractors.

During his visit, Essid spoke to Prime Minister Manuel Valls and French Senate President Gerard Larcher, as well as with representatives of the French employers organisation, the Movement of the French Enterprises (Medef), to examine how to boost French investment in Tunisia.

Essid and Valls signed an agreement to convert a part of Tunisias debt to France in investment. Larcher announced that the Senate would also seek to boost investment in Tunisia in the coming period. He said, Essid informed me of Tunisias strategy aimed to develop several economic sectors, such as auto, which will help create jobs for youths.

What is emerging is not prosperity for Tunisia, however, but a vast expansion of imperialist influence in the former French colony. While seeking to extract more profits from Tunisia, the imperialist powers are also developing their military influence there under cover of the war on terror.

According to the Elysee statement, Tunisia, like France, is threatened and has been grievously hit by terrorism, because it chose democracy. Our two countries confront the same threat, and it is together that we must win the struggle against this scourge, respecting the rule of law.

The Elysees talk of democracy and the respect of rule of law reek of hypocrisy. Indeed, the most important recent development is that the French government is moving to treat metropolitan France in ways it had previously reserved for its colonies.

After the November 13 terror attack in Paris, the Hollande administration has placed France in a state of emergencyunder legislation created and first used during the failed attempt to crush the Algerian independence struggleand plans to extend it indefinitely. This amounts to a repudiation of the rule of law, scrapping basic democratic rights, banning protests, controlling the press, and giving police broad extrajudicial powers to detain people without charge.

The common fear of the Tunisian proletariat and of social anger in the working class in Europe and America, particularly in French urban estates with large North African immigrant populations, is prompting a joint political response of the capitalist classes.

Already, during the initial uprising in Tunisia in 2011, then-French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie proposed to reinforce the Ben Ali dictatorship with French riot police units.

Now, during a visit to Tunis in October, French Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian signalled a broad escalation of Franco-Tunisian ties. Declaring that Tunisias security is also that of France, Le Drian announced that France would provide 20 million in military aid to Tunisia in the 2016-2017 period. This is a quadrupling of French military spending in Tunisia from its current level of 2.5 million per year.

Washington is also more than doubling its military aid to Tunisia, from $40 million a year to $99 million, largely spent on equipment, whereas the French concentrate on training.

These measures underscore growing concern among imperialist powers over the intensification of social opposition in the working class.

The imperialist powers and their Tunisian bourgeois allies have proven incapable of resolving any of the basic social and democratic questions that led to the 2011 uprising. Since the 2011 uprising, unemployment has increased from 12 to 15 percent among adults, whereas among youth the figure is 32 percent, rising to 40 percent in rural areas. These problems will intensify as Tunisias economy is set to contract amidst the worsening global slump.
A Texas grand jury has indicted two anti-abortion activists in a case involving covert videos on fetal tissue procurement talks with Planned Parenthood and found there was no wrongdoing on the part of the health group, a district attorney said on Monday.

The grand jury decision was a result of a probe launched last year under Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, who accused Planned Parenthood of the gruesome harvesting of baby body parts. No evidence was provided by Texas to back the claim.

The videos released last summer led Texas and several other Republican-controlled states to try to halt funding for local Planned Parenthood operations.

After a lengthy and thorough investigation by the Harris County District Attorneys Office, the Texas Rangers, and the Houston Police Department, a Harris County grand jury took no action Monday against Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, the Harris County District Attorneys office said in a statement.

Planned Parenthood has denied the accusation and called the probe politically motivated.

A Texas grand jury has indicted activists responsible for anti-abortion videos released last year. (Photo: Reuters/Lucas Jackson)

Related: Planned Parenthood Suing Center for Medical Progress

David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt have been indicted by the grand jury for tampering with a governmental record, said prosecutors for the county in which Houston is located.

The two were involved in covert videos last year in which a discussion was held with a Planned Parenthood official on the procurement of fetal tissue.

Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress that released the videos, was also charged with violating a prohibition on the purchase and sale of human organs, a misdemeanor, the Harris County District Attorney said.

The videos purported to show Planned Parenthood officials trying to negotiate prices for aborted fetal tissue. Under federal law, donated human fetal tissue may be used for research, but profiting from its sale is prohibited.

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Related: The State of Reproductive Rights in the U.S. on the 43rd Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Shortly after the release, Texas, the most populous Republican-controlled U.S. state, said it would launch a probe of Planned Parenthood.

These people broke the law to spread malicious lies about Planned Parenthood in order to advance their extreme anti-abortion political agenda, said Eric Ferrero, vice president of Communications for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

As the dust settles and the truth comes out, its become totally clear that the only people who engaged in wrongdoing are the criminals behind this fraud, and were glad theyre being held accountable, he said.

The Texas governor said: Nothing about todays announcement in Harris County impacts the states ongoing investigation.

In October, Texas raided several Planned Parenthood facilities in the state.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Bernard Orr)

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Photo by Thinkstock, design by Lauren DeLuca for Yahoo Travel

Reno gets a bad rap. Im about as open-minded a traveler as they come, and even I was skeptical when my husband said we should stay in Reno for the weekend.

Are you trying to divorce me? I asked him.



Trust me, he replied.



And as with many things involving travel, he was right. Reno is Vegas without all of the bulls***. And if youve been to Vegas in the past five years, you know exactly what I mean.

Related: The Worlds Nine Best Casinos for Food

Perhaps its unfair to say that Reno is better than Vegas. Making such comparisons is silly anyway. But the truth is that Reno certainly holds its own as a destination for a great weekend away at about a third of the amount youll spend amid the crowds, lines, and velvet ropes of Sin City.

These are the reasons you need to be reconsidering Reno.

1. Penny slots everywhere. There are plenty of bargain slot machines in Vegas, but Reno has penny slots  all over the place, in the casinos, the hotels, the restaurants. See a penny, pick it up, pay for dinner!

2. Great shows, half the price. Forget Britney. Tickets to Footloose, the musical, at the Eldorado Resort start at $30. Upcoming concerts include Carrie Underwood, Stevie Nicks, G Love, Lady Antebellum, and Yanni.

And while were talking about prices, cocktails around town are less than a third of the cost of anything youll purchase in Vegas.

3. The Awful Awful. The Little Nugget Diner, nestled into the back of the Little Nugget casino on Virginia Street, is home to the best burger with the worst name this side of the Mississippi.

Diving into the Awful Awful. (Photo: Nick Aster)

The diner wants you to know that 9 out of 10 vegetarians do not eat there and for good reason. The Awful Awful burger at this classic greasy spoon is a half-pound beef patty topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, raw onions, and an unidentifiable special sauce.

Check out this deliciousness. (Photo: Jo Piazza)

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Its delicious. But if youve had a wild night out on the town and you need something to take the edge off, you may want to order the Nuggets Hangover Omelet, a four-egg version stuffed with chili and smothered in melted cheese and salsa. It comes with a complimentary Nugget Bucket bloody mary.

4. Its home to the National Bowling Stadium. Most towns in America have a bowling alley or two. Reno is home to the National Bowling Stadium  78 lanes, with the longest video screen in the world (440 feet in length).

5. You can ski during the day and gamble at night. Reno is just 30 minutes from some killer ski slopes, including Mt. Rose, which has the highest base elevation of the Tahoe mountain resorts at 8,260 feet.

Fantastic powder at Mt. Rose and discount lift tickets from Liftopia. (Photo: Jo Piazza)

6. You can go back in time in Virginia City. History buffs, rejoice. Virginia City, once one of the most important metropolises in America following the discovery of the Comstock lode, a series of silver mines whose wealth essentially built San Francisco, is just a 30-minute drive from Reno.

Related: Yahoo Ranks the Top Casinos Outside of Vegas

Virginia City was once a boom town. But dont you dare call it a ghost town today. (Photo: Jo Piazza)

Samuel Clemens famously renamed himself Mark Twain while living and working here as a reporter and fair weather miner. According to legend, Twain also discovered a valuable vein of silver but was too lazy to get around to cashing it in.

Dont let the name Bucket of Blood scare you away. The staff and locals here are friendly, and the live Western music cant be beat. Just ignore that guy in the corner with the sawed-off shotgun. (Photo: Jo Piazza)

The main drag of Virginia City is home to kitschsy gift shops and old-timey photo booths and saloons. Make sure to stop by the Bucket of Blood, which has been serving up liquor to the locals since 1876.

Related: Top 10 Secrets Casinos Dont Want You to Know

7. The kayak course. Walking distance from the hotels and casinos is the Truckee River Whitewater Park, featuring 11 pools for kayaking and a kayak race course. There are 11 drop pools and tons of boulders. But the best part is that the course is free to anyone who brings a kayak, and its open year-round.

8. The Patagonia outlet. Why pay retail when you can find this seasons fleeces, sweaters, and jackets for less than half the price at this outlet about 10 minutes outside of town off of Highway 80?

Discount adventure-wear is worth the trip alone. (Photo: Jo Piazza)

9. Its less seedy than Vegas. Let me say that again with feeling: Reno is less seedy than Vegas. Not once during my visit to Reno was I solicited to visit a strip club. No frat boys threw up on my shoes. I was never uncomfortably groped by a drunk dad in town for a convention in the hotel elevator.

Shockingly enough, there are kids all over Reno. Theyre in strollers and snuggies and getting their faces painted in the casinos. Reno is surprisingly family friendly.

10. Live music karaoke. If velvet ropes, bottle service, high cover charges, really long lines, and bouncers who will judge you are your thing, then you should head to Vegas. But if you want to have a great night out, try the live band karaoke at the Eldorado at the Brew Brothers pub. First prize is $50 off your bar tab.

11. Amtrak goes here. I like any destination where you can arrive by train, and Reno is one of them. Take the legendary California Zephyr from the Bay Area or as far as Chicago and relax and enjoy the scenery of the gorgeous Sierra Nevada mountains.

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Theres more than what meets the eye at high-end restaurants. A waiter gives us the scoop. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Think you know whats really going on at high-end restaurants? Think again. We asked Fred  the most charming Manhattan waiter we know  how to be a better guest at a restaurant, and here was his advice (along with a fascinating peek behind the kitchen door):

Dont Assume That Every Ingredient is Precious

Every restaurant in the world lies about where food comes from. Well, maybe they dont lie  but they let you make assumptions, Fred explains Restaurants are all about a numbers game, and the executive chef will cut corners  with croutons, or seasonings, or lettuce. I can buy an organic head of lettuce for $5, or a three pack from Sysco [a big-box restaurant supply store] for $3. If you were to compare the organic one and the Sysco one, unless youre a microbiologist, you will never know the difference. And yes, we might still tell you its organic.

And Dont Assume That The Food is Fresh, Either

Dont assume that all the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced. (Photo: Getty Images)

Dont be like every other diner and make assumptions about how ingredients are sourced. People are stupid, Fred says. They think its magic food. But its not. Its often from a big box store. And when they run out of something in the kitchen, they send a dishwasher to the grocery store for more.

In his opinion, its our own fault if we presume that every single ingredient comes from a farm nearby. Most people who go out to eat are stupid when it comes to food, Fred explains. Theyre just happy they dont have to make it themselves. So unless it is indicated on the menu that Farmer Joe sold us that lettuce, I bet you dime to doughnuts it came from Sysco.



Related: Dirty Business of Restaurants: Confessions of a New York Waiter

Dont Assume Everything is Made In-House



People think everything is made to order that day, but a lot of the dishes have store-bought ingredients, he explains. The chicken in the salad is pre-shredded from a can, and the chicken cutlet was frozen and tossed with Shake n Bake. Order carefully. Theres always something the chef is proud of making himself. On our menu, these are called the specials. Thats what you should order.

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Restaurants Repurpose Ingredients

People think that most dishes are made from scratch, but the reality is that lots of things on the menu are probably being repurposed from other dishes. Take our lobster dish, he says of the restaurant he works at now, people love the sauce, but it is just our lobster bisque. And the bisque  the soup is from a box. We open it up and add chopped lobster to it.

Related: Confessions of a Cruise Ship Chef

His Advice: The reality is that restaurants have to repurpose ingredients to keep food costs down. You can probably tell where its happening if you pay attention to the menu.

You Need to Ask the Right Questions

Read between the lines of the menu and be sure to ask your waiter the right questions. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Its all about reading the menu carefully. If the lobster doesnt say its from Maine, it isnt. Its frozen and air sealed in a bag. I get asked Is your lobster fresh? And I say yes, because it is, laughs Fred. But the correct question is Is your lobster cracked here? and Is your lobster frozen? (Or depending on the food, you could also ask Do you shuck your clams here? and Do you butcher your steaks here?) Fred also worked at a place where it looked like the crab would be hand cracked on site, but it was from a can. And the lobster was from a bag.

Related: 10 Restaurants Worth Waiting in (Very) Long Lines



Know the Exceptions

Fred has worked at several places where there are no entrees under $20 per person, and the clientele is extremely wealthy. But not all restaurants in that price point are created equal. If its Jean-George, and they wrote on the menu that they get their micro greens from Gobblety Gobblety farm, they did. Theyre not just telling you for snob appeal  theyre justifying their food cost.

His Advice: Dont eat at a place at the same price points as the famous top restaurants, but without the doting critical reviews. Youre simply not getting the same thing. Unless the menu says the name of the farm, he reiterates, you should assume a lot of the ingredients are from Shop Rite.

WATCH: Kitchen Confidential: Confessions of a Cruise Ship Waiter

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Private investment firms face heat of regulator's crackdown Updated: 2016-01-25 08:08 By Li Xiang(China Daily)

Private investment firms in China are facing tighter regulation as the country's securities market regulator steps up its crackdown on illegal activities.

According to the China Securities Regulatory Commission, 25,607 private investment firms registered with it as of Jan 15 manage assets worth 5.1 trillion yuan ($760 billion).

Typically, private investment firms in China are private equity firms, venture capital companies and hedge funds that invest in stocks and bonds in the secondary capital markets.

Of late, their investments have came under scrutiny for a variety of irregularities like incomplete and false information disclosure, selling investment products to unqualified investors (who did not have requisite level of funds), illegal fundraising, financial fraud, market manipulation and insider trading.

Hu Lifeng, a researcher at China Galaxy Securities Co, told Xinhua News Agency, "Many investment firms lacked sound internal corporate governance and many engaged in highly leveraged trading without proper risk control, which ended in forced liquidation and exacerbated the market volatility."

So, the CSRC has enhanced inspections and tightened regulations governing the day-to-day operations of private investment companies.

For their part, the authorities concerned in Beijing and Shanghai reportedly suspended registration of business licenses for investment firms and wealth management companies.

At least 27 investment firms were fined or subjected to administrative restrictions for rule violations after the CSRC inspected more than 140 firms last year.

Another 21 firms were investigated by the police for suspicious criminal and illegal activities, according to the regulator.

The crackdown followed the 2015 summer rout of the Chinese bourses that roiled global markets and portrayed China in poor light among the investor community.

"The regulation and self discipline of the private investment funds failed to keep up with the rapid development of their business," Hu told Xinhua.

Another aspect that seems to have riled the CSRC is the investment firms' propensity to misuse funds raised from their listing on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations, better known as the New Third Board, an over-the-counter share transfer system for non-public small firms and startups.

The government set up the NEEQ in late 2012 to support the cash-strapped small companies and startups. Listing on the NEEQ is not via an initial public offering, so it does not make the firm concerned a public company.

It is suspected many investment firms may have funnelled money raised from the NEEQ into speculative trading on stock exchanges or to form illegal or unauthorized funds, instead of sticking to their stated objective of investing it in small firms and startups.

A controversial case in point is China Science & Merchants Investment Management Group, a high-profile NEEQ-listed private investment firm.

After scooping up 9 billion yuan from the NEEQ, it played the A-share market, where the yuan-denominated stocks of companies based in the Chinese mainland are traded on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses by mainland citizens.

What raised brows all over was its aggressive play. Local media studied China Science & Merchants's filings and estimated it may have invested at least 4 billion yuan in 16 listed companies between July and August last year.

The company's share market investments attracted attention also because they seemed to be inconsistent with its assurance to its investors it will invest 60 percent of the NEEQ proceeds to set up new private equity funds, 30 percent in funds for mergers and acquisitions, and structured funds (which do invest in stock markets), and the remaining 10 percent in new emerging strategic industries and to replenish its capital.

China Science & Merchants was among the companies that received warnings and administrative restrictions from the CSRC. The company was pulled up for violating the rule of information disclosure. It did not make sufficient disclosure about its fundraising plans and how it would use the proceeds. China Science & Merchants declined to comment for this story.
Red envelopes battle hots up among Internet firms Updated: 2016-01-26 03:36 By MA SI(China Daily)

Chinas Internet companies are scrambling to send out cash-filled virtual red envelopes for Spring Festival.

Envelopes worth several hundred million yuan will be handed out by Ant Financial Services Group, the Internet finance arm of Alibaba Group Holding, through its Alipay Wallet apps on Feb 7, the eve of the festival.

Arch rivals Baidu and Tencent Holdings are stepping up their efforts in the campaign, with the aim of expanding their presence in the mobile payments market.

Alipay users can download red envelopes on their smartphones as they watch the annual CCTV Spring Festival Gala.

Every round of red envelopes will contain 100 million yuan ($15.2 million) in cash, the company said, without disclosing how many rounds will be involved.

Consumers who collect five virtual lucky cards, which can be found in the virtual red envelopes, can also share the grand prize of 200 million yuan.

Baidi is giving away red envelopes worth 6 billion yuan during Spring Festival, while Tencent is sinking hundreds of millions of yuan into its campaign.

The virtual red envelopes became popular in 2014 after Tencent promoted them on WeChat, Chinas most popular instant messaging platform that boasts 650 million users a month.

Analysts said the envelopes war is aimed at gaining control of the countrys booming mobile payments market, with the three Internet companies trying to lure new users.

Li Chao, an analyst at Internet consultancy iResearch Consulting Group in Beijing, said, Giving out red envelopes is a nationwide tradition that can involve consumers in major cities and small towns, so it makes sense for Internet companies to sink significant investments into this.

Tencent claims to have acquired the majority of its 200 million mobile payment users after pouring 500 million yuan into its Spring Festival red envelopes campaign last year.

Ma Tao, an analyst at Analysys International, said the campaign is also Alibabas latest attempt to add more social networking appeal to its Alipay app.
Survey shows rule violations by banks rising Updated: 2016-01-26 08:02 By Jiang Xueqing(China Daily)

Pedestrians walk past a branch of Agricultural Bank of China in Shanghai.[Photo/China Daily]

Agricultural Bank of China acceptance bill case just 'tip of the iceberg', say sources

Rule violations, discipline breaches and illegal nexus cases with an intention to profit have been rising among Chinese bankers since last year, a new survey said on Monday.

According to the survey released by the China Banking Association and global accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, most of the violations are due to the lax implementation of the country's banking rules and weak links in the compliance management system.

The survey tracked responses of 1,328 bankers from 116 financial institutions.

On Friday, the capital market was rife with rumors that two employees of the Beijing branch of Agricultural Bank of China Ltd, one of the four largest State-owned commercial lenders, are under investigation for allegedly taking 3.9 billion yuan ($592.8 million) of bank's acceptance bills out of the branch's safe and cashing the same through repurchase transactions.

Acceptance bills are a type of IOU (an informal document acknowledging debt) that are still issued and exchanged in paper format.

Agricultural Bank of China issued a statement on Friday evening that a "material risk incident" related to "notes held under resale agreement" had occurred at its Beijing branch.

The bank said it was cooperating with the police to investigate the case and working hard to ensure the safety of the money involved.

Following the news, ABC shares fell by 0.32 percent to close at 3.1 yuan on Monday.

A considerable part of the money that was raised using the bank's acceptance bills was clandestinely reinvested in the stock market.

A banker who told Beijing-based Caixin Media Company Ltd on condition of anonymity that a large amount of money had flown into the stock market from banks through bill financing before the stock market plunged in June and these bills were not based on real trades.

He said this is a very common practice for banks in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and what happened to Agricultural Bank of China is just "the tip of the iceberg".

Several large Chinese commercial banks are investigating the bill financing risks and tightening controls over the business, it said.

The China Banking Regulatory Commission also issued a risk warning notice on Dec 31, listing the major rule violations it found during an inspection on the bill business of banking institutions in the first six months of 2015.

The banking regulator forbade financial institutions to handle bill business that does not have a real trade background. It also required financial institutions to make a footnote of the information of relevant banks on the original copy of bills that have been accepted or discounted to avoid phony transactions and the reuse of invoices.

Statistics from the central bank show that the outstanding undiscounted bankers' acceptances amounted to 5.85 trillion yuan at the end of 2015, accounting for 4.2 percent of the outstanding balance of China's aggregate social financing.
Imports of S. Korean cosmetic products doubled in 2015 Updated: 2016-01-26 08:14 By Wang Zhuoqiong(China Daily)

Exports of South Korean cosmetics and beauty products to China doubled in 2015 to a record high of $1.088 billion, according to the latest figures from the Korea International Trade Association.

The results show the country's total cosmetics exports were worth $2.75 billion, a 53.6 percent rise, meaning 39.5 percent of those went to China.

South Korea's annual exports of this type of brand have enjoyed double-digit growth since 2010. In 2014, they increased 95 percent year-on-year, and 100.6 percent in 2015.

One of the current export leaders is Innisfree, a beauty brand produced by South Korean cosmetics group AmorePacific. It has now expanded its number of stores in China to 100, since opening for the first time in 2012.

AmorePacific officials say they aim to become Asia's top cosmetics producer with global sales of 70 billion yuan ($11.4 billion) by 2020. China is already its largest market and the nation is forecast to contribute 28 percent of the company's global sales by then.

Laurie Du, a beauty and personal care research analyst at Mintel Group Ltd, said the popularity of South Korean brands is most visible among younger Chinese shoppers, who focus especially on medium- to low- end products.

South Korean cosmetic brands often have a stronger desire to export than their peers in Japan, Du said, and they have adopted innovative marketing vehicles such as micro-movies and application interactions with their consumers to attract those younger shoppers.

Increased use of cross-border e-commerce sites have allowed more access to such international brands.

Du said Mintel's upcoming Overseas Online Shopping report, to be released next month, is expected to show that nearly half (47 percent) the beauty and personal care products sold in China in June to November 2015 were from South Korea, making it the most popular source country, followed by 29 percent from Japan and 27 percent from France.

China's free trade agreement with South Korea, which took effect in December, however, had little effect on the beauty-products sector with only shampoo and some skincare products seeing significant reductions in import tariffs, of between 20 percent and 35 percent.

The Mintel study is based on sales data collected from 38 cities by China Market Monitor Co.

Its findings are also expected to show that international beauty and personal care product Olay, which is owned by consumer products giant Procter & Gamble Co, saw an 18.5 percent fall in sales, which was blamed on the products largely being targeted at skin cleansing, rather than the increasingly popular anti-aging market.

Du said South Korean brands often offer wider ranges of newer, more topical products. For example, Innisfree has over 2,000 available in-store.

European and US brands remain the most popular in skin care, however, with 21 percent of shoppers claiming their favorite brands were French labels (which are mostly manufactured locally), followed by those from the US (13 percent) and South Korea (2.3 percent).
Shanghai plans to invest $127b into 100 major projects Updated: 2016-01-26 13:28 (chinadaily.com.cn)

Shanghai Tower (the highest in the picture), a new landmark of Shanghai's financial hub Lujiazui.[Provided to China Daily]

Shanghai plans to launch 100 major projects this year, with a total investment of 835.52 billion yuan ($127 billion), China Securities Journal reported online on Monday.

These projects include 22 industrial projects, 16 society projects, 55 infrastructure projects, and seven projects involved in promoting integrated urban and rural development, the website said, citing the annual local "two sessions", which opened on Sunday.

The two sessions refer to meetings of 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.

According to the draft of Shanghai's 13th five-year plan, over the next five years, the value added output of strategic emerging industry will account for 20 percent of Shanghai's total output value, while the share of the manufacturing industry is 25 percent.

The city's total output value exceeded 2.49 trillion yuan last year, with a year-on-year growth of 6.9 percent, according to a report released by the Shanghai Municipal Statistics Bureau.

In particular, the tertiary industry experienced growth of 10.6 percent with a total value added output of 1.69 trillion yuan, accounting for 67.8 percent of the city's total output value, up 3 percentage points year-on-year.
Special envoy to visit Laos and Vietnam Updated: 2016-01-26 13:08 By ZHANG YUNBI(chinadaily.com.cn)

A senior diplomat and special envoy of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping will visit Laos and Vietnam from Tuesday to Saturday.

The trip by Song Tao was announced on Monday by a spokesperson with the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

A former vice-foreign minister, Song is now head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, a department in charge of party-to-party exchanges.

The trip was announced as the ruling party in Laos elected a new chief while the political reshuffle of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is underway.

In the Laotian capital Vientiane, the 10th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) closed on Friday afternoon after the election of the party leader.

Xi sent a congratulatory telegraph to Bounnhang Vorachit, the new party secretary-general, on Friday.

In Hanoi, 1,510 delegates are attending the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), which officially opened on Jan 21 and will run until Thursday.

The Congress is set to produce a new Politburo and Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee, which will pave the way for the election of the country's new leadership, Xinhua news agency said.

A vote is set for Tuesday to elect 200 members of the 12th CPV Central Committee, 180 official and 20 alternate ones, Xinhua reported.
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The Belz hasidic movement has a relatively new community near Lakewood, New Jersey and it has banned all women in it from driving. It also mandates that men cannot walk in public outside their homes without wearing a frock coat and a hat, and has all sorts of rules people who live in the community must follow. Is this legal? If it is in any way linked to housing sales or rental, it likely isn't. When Belz tried a similar women's driving ban last year in London, England linked to its schools there, the British government almost closed the schools, and the Belz driving ban made international headlines.
Government targets for increasing male haredi employment have not been met, a senior official at the Economy Ministry said yesterday.

Government Targets For Haredi Employment Not Being Met

Shmarya Rosenberg  FailedMessiah.com

Government targets for increasing male haredi employment have not been met, a senior official at the Economy Ministry said yesterday, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Michal Tzuk, the Senior Deputy Director in the Economy Ministry, made noted the failure at a conference of the Israel Democracy Institute where she was a panelist.

The government targets were a 63% employment rate by 2020 for both male and female haredim.

The latest statistics from the Economy Ministry show the male haredi employment rate is just 49%. By comparison, over 80% of all Israeli men are working. 74% of haredi women are working. By way of comparison, overall 82% of all Israeli women work.

Its not a target where weve seen much progress, Tzur said.

In 2002, 35% of haredi men were employed. The growth in employment of haredi men since then, made possible by special government programs and propelled by deepening haredi poverty, is still only about 1% annually.

Tellingly, the authors of the Israel Democracy Institutes new report, released yesterday in conjunction with the conference, noted in that report the average monthly wage of haredi employees was less than 80% of the national median wage. That should mean the lack of secular education common in many haredi schools likely contributes heavily to haredi poverty, even when one or both parents work.

This education-reduced lower haredi productivity could easily drag down the Israeli economy as a whole even if the haredi employment rate nears the national normal.

As a result of the low employment rate and low income that characterizes this [haredi] sector, most haredi households are below the poverty line. Given the consistent growth of this community, haredi poverty has macro effects on tax revenues, benefit payments, consumption, and GDP, the new report found.

It also recommended the government address the type of employment haredi men and women can obtain in a bid to lessen that macro burden on the economy.

This change would ensure that entering the work force will actually enable haredi Israelis to earn a decent wage and live comfortably. In addition, it would contribute to increased productivity and a more equitable distribution of the tax burden, which would benefit Israel's economy and society as a whole, the report says.

It also suggested new targets for haredi employment to be met by 2025: 67% for men and 78% for women. Of those employed haredim, 23% of women and 33% of men should be employed in industry and commercial services, the report urged.

Haredi rabbis discourage male employment and instead urge all haredi men to study full time in yeshivas well into late middle age and even beyond.
Two right-wing Jewish extremists  one of them a grandson of the assassinated right-wing extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane  are now on hunger strikes to protest their administrative detention.

Above: Meir Ettinger

Rabbi Meir Kahanes Grandson And Second Detained Right-Wing Extremist Go On Hunger Strikes

Shmarya Rosenberg  FailedMessiah.com

Two right-wing Jewish extremists  one of them a grandson of the assassinated right-wing extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane  are now on hunger strikes to protest their administrative detention, the Times of Israel reported.

Kahanes grandson Meir Ettinger went on a hunger strike several days ago; Ettingers colleague Eviatar Slonim joined that hunger strike yesterday. Both men were arrested by the Shin Bet in August and put into administrative detention with the approval of the attorney general and court that can last as long as six months without trial or even being charged with a crime. That six-month period can then be renewed indefinitely if a court allows it.

Ettinger is believed to be the head of a Jewish terrorist group that seeks to overthow the government and install a religious monarchy. Slonim is purportedly one of that terror groups chief members.

Ettingers terror group allegedly played a role in the Douma (Duma) arson-murders that killed a Palestinian baby and his sleeping parents last July. It also allegedly tried to burn down the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes on the Sea of Galilee last year.
The alleged victims are three boys aged 13 to 14. The sexual abuse took place repeatedly over an extended period of time, and was based on misleading them about their halakhic (Jewish legal) status immediately after their bar mitzvahs.

Today, You Are Not Quite A Man: Haredi Rabbi Arrested And Charged With Bar Mitzvah-Based Child Sexual Abuse

Shmarya Rosenberg  FailedMessiah.com

A haredi rabbi from the port city of Ashdod, Rabbi Avraham Shemesh, has been indicted for allegedly fondling the genitals of young teen boys, Haaretz reported.

Shemesh is a teacher in a haredi school in the city. His alleged victims are three boys aged 13 to 14. The sexual abuse took place repeatedly over an extended period of time, and was based on misleading them about their halakhic (Jewish legal) status immediately after their bar mitzvahs.

Shemesh allegedly had private meetings with individual students in the teachers room of the school. The students were told the meetings were to tutor them one-on-one to help them learn material they missed while away from school.

Shemesh would lock the door to the teachers room and close its curtains. Then he would tell the boys that in for them to be judged halakhicly fit to lead prayers, he had to check to see whether they had pubic hairs (the actual halakhic definition of when a boy has become a man).

In one alleged case, a boy was out of school for several days because he was celebrating his bar mitzvah. When he returned, Shemesh called him to the teachers room and explained that according to halakha, to be a prayer leader a boy must have at least two pubic hairs. He pulled down the boys pants and underwear and then allegedly caressed and kissed his genitals. Shemesh allegedly did the same thing again four days later, and did it again several months after that.

Shemesh allegedly followed the same pattern with the other boys, as well.
(Adds details, background)

LONDON/MILAN, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The Angola liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project has started recommissioning, a spokesperson for the Chevron-led venture said.

The project stalled after a succession of technical faults before a rupture on the flare line forced a shutdown in April 2014.

Traders said they expected exports from the plant to resume in April this year.

The spokesperson declined to comment on the timing of the first cargo.

Chevron has a 36.4 percent share in the plant, while Angolan state oil firm Sonangol has 22.8 percent. Other stakeholders include Total, BP and ENI .

(Reporting by Sarah McFarlane and Oleg Vukmanovic; editing by David Clarke)
By Jussi Rosendahl

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's TVO, owner of the delayed Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor, said it is opposed to any restructuring of French plant builder Areva (AREVA.PA) that does not include liabilities stemming from the project, which is running nine years late and billions of euros over budget.

France's state-controlled power company EDF (EDF.PA) is expected to outline a plan to take over Areva's crisis-hit reactor division on Wednesday. EDF does not want to take on liabilities linked to Olkiluoto.

The project, which Areva is leading in a consortium with Siemens (SIEGn.DE), has descended into acrimony, with the French company and client TVO claiming billions of euros in damages from one another.

France's Les Echos newspaper reported this month that the Areva acquisition could see the Olkiluoto contract, known as OL3, transferred to another legal entity.

TVO Chairman Lauri Virkkunen said that would separate the contract to build the plant from the funds needed to complete it.

"If the structure becomes more complicated, that creates new challenges for the completion of the project," Virkkunen told Reuters.

"This is, roughly speaking, a 100-year marriage that requires confidence and from which you can't get a divorce," he said. "It is important that both parties understand this and act so that confidence remains and improves."

French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron said last week that Areva and TVO would try to settle their rival claims within a month.

Virkkunen said TVO wanted to get the plant online as soon as possible, even though power prices in the Nordic region had weakened. Originally planned to open in 2009, the reactor in western Finland is now expected to begin operations in 2018.

"We are committed to this project, it causes more costs for us as we speak and generates no income. We definitely want this plant in use quickly," he said. "We don't know which solutions are possible... We would like TVO to be part of the solution."

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TVO blames the delays on insufficient planning and execution by the supplier consortium. Areva argues that TVO's inflexibility was partly to blame.

TVO's owners include utility Fortum (FUM1V.HE) and paper companies UPM (UPM1V.HE) and Stora Enso (STERV.HE).

(Additional reporting by Geert De Clercq; editing by Jason Neely)
California High Speed Rail

California's plans for a high-speed rail system are coming undone as indecision over routes undermines progress, the Los Angeles Times reports.

In 2012 the state rail authority decided to build the first operational segment of the $68 billion project from LA's Union Station into the Central Valley, ending well short of the final goal: a 2 hour, 40 minute trip from LA to the San Francisco Bay Area.

The 2012 plan would confront the most challenging part of the route first: the rocky Tehachapi and San Gabriel Mountains just north of LA. It would also provide the first physical manifestation of the long-proposed project and give some assurance of its political survival.

Thus far, the project's only work has been "pre-construction" efforts along a 29 mile stretch between Madera and Fresno. Major construction on that segment should begin this spring.

The LA Times' Ralph Vartabedian reports:

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.

This new interest in building from the north first comes just one week after announcing an $800,000 effort to find a suitable starting location in Burbank, near LA.

The hope is that the north-first plan would be less risky, making it more likely that construction can begin before the project becomes politically nonviable.

California High Speed Rail

Story continues

Already the high-speed rail system has been attacked for rising costs, most notably by Republican members of the state assembly who accuse proponents of hiding the actual price of the system.

And public interest in the project is waning as well: A recent Stanford University poll found that 53% of Californians would rather their drought-riddled state spend the money on water projects.

Perhaps marking a bad omen for the project, California Gov. Jerry Brown failed to mention the effort in his State of the State speech last week, the first time he has not done so since taking office in 2012.

It's unclear where or even if service will begin. But one thing is certain: for California's high-speed rail hopes, time is the enemy.

NOW WATCH: Animated map shows how railroads spread across America





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(Adds comments by environmental group)

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Canada's energy regulator is doing a poor job of monitoring pipeline firms, an official watchdog said on Tuesday in a report that could bolster support for government plans to reform how major oil and gas projects are approved.

Environment Commissioner Julie Gelfand said the National Energy Board (NEB) did not properly check whether companies were sticking to the approval conditions for projects and did not consistently check that problems had been cleared up.

The new Liberal government plans to revamp the NEB, which is responsible for approving federally regulated projects and then monitoring them. Critics complain the body is too focused on the needs of the energy industry and does not pay enough attention to environmental concerns.

The NEB oversees 45,300 miles (72,900 km) of oil and gas pipelines and around 100 companies.

"Our audit concluded that the board did not adequately track companies' implementation of pipeline approval conditions, and that it was not consistently following up on company deficiencies," Gelfand said.

An increasingly heated public debate over pipeline safety, the environment and the role of the NEB is threatening to derail major Canadian projects proposed by TransCanada Corp, Kinder Morgan Inc and Enbridge Inc.

The energy industry says new pipelines are needed to ship crude to the seacoast, where it can attract higher prices.

In a bid to alleviate safety and environmental concerns, the NEB sometimes attaches specific conditions to projects. Gelfand said the board did not do a thorough enough job of checking whether these conditions had been met, in part because it had an outdated information tracking system.

In a written response, the NEB said it would overhaul its systems by December to improve compliance monitoring.

The Environmental Defence group said the NEB's failure to check that firms were respecting the conditions showed the body was completely broken.

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"In the past, the NEB has relied on these safety conditions to justify its approval of highly controversial pipeline projects," said Tim Gray, the group's director.

Gelfand also said the board was having trouble recruiting and retaining specialists in pipeline integrity.

Given increasing public interest in pipelines and climate change, as well as projected doubling of pipeline capacity by 2020, "it is clear the board needs to do more to keep pace with the rapidly changing context in which it operates", she concluded.

The Liberals say they will reform the NEB to put more stress on environmental concerns.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by W Simon and Jonathan Oatis)
(Adds background on Kumtor mine, paragraphs 3-5)

Jan 25 (Reuters) - A worker at Centerra Gold Inc's Kumtor mine in Kyrgyzstan was fatally injured while working the night shift on Sunday, the Canadian mining company said on Monday.

The employee was working at the ore conveyor at the mine's mill at the time, the company said in a statement. An internal investigation has been launched, and Kyrgyz police and other relevant regulatory authorities have been contacted.

The Kumtor mine is the biggest foreign investment in Kyrgyzstan and accounted for 7.4 percent of the Central Asian nation's GDP in 2014.

The Kyrgyzstan government and Toronto-based Centerra have been in drawn-out on-and-off talks on restructuring the ownership of the mine. The ex-Soviet republic currently owns a 32.7 percent stake in Centerra.

On Dec. 22 the government said it had stopped talks with Centerra because the current agreement "ran counter to the country's national interests." (Reporting by Nicole Mordant in Vancouver; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio)
China's economic problems are not as bad as they appear in spite of the current market tailspin, the chief executive of German industrial giant Siemens (XETRA: SIE-DE) told CNBC.



"The real economy in China is a lot better than people are talking about right now. There is obviously some weakness in terms of real estate and the finance sector but as far as our business is concerned, we do see some decent growth in healthcare, which was very, very strong with double-digit growth in China," Joe Kaeser, chief executive of Siemens, told CNBC on Tuesday.

Kaeser was speaking to CNBC after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. While the meeting in the Swiss Alps had included a lot of "doom" about China, Kaeser said such pessimism was unfounded  particularly as Siemens' had seen a positive trend in the country.

Siemens had recovered "a lot" of market share in China and had seen good activity in the power generation and energy management field, Kaeser said, adding: "So we're actually pretty happy with what we're seeing in China relative to what their structural challenges are."





On Monday, Europe's biggest industrial group reported first-quarter industrial profit, revenue and orders that beat market expectations and also raised its full-year earnings per share (EPS) forecast. The earnings come amid a cost-cutting drive at the company, an initiative that Kaeser said put the company in good stead.

"Obviously we got off to a very good start for our fiscal 2016 after a quite strong quarter in fiscal Q4 2015, so we can clearly see that, despite some macro-economic and geopolitical headwinds, our recent actions and programs are in full place so we can take a lot of confidence out of that performance to be able to raise the forecast for the full-year 2016."

There has been speculation that markets could see Siemens float its robust healthcare division, which is already managed as a separate company as of mid-2015, this year. Kaeser said "time would tell" what happened to the business but did not rule out an initial public offering.

Story continues

"Our decision to make healthcare a company in the company, to make it much more focused and stronger, has already been paying off. So what we actually want to do is to make a good business into a great business," he said.

"We are strong, we are winning market share andwe are very well-prepared for anything which we believe needs to be done to make this business and even greater business for Siemens."

Follow us on Twitter: @CNBCWorld





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BEIJING (Reuters) - China's statistics bureau said on Tuesday that there was no basis for yuan depreciation given China's solid economic fundamentals.

Wang Baoan, chief of the National Bureau of Statistics, told a briefing that stronger dollar and downward pressure in China's economy contributed to recent moves in yuan exchange rate.

A sustained depreciation of the yuan exchange rate could fuel capital outflows and affect the pace of yuan internationalization, Wang said.

Wang said he was confident on China's stock market while the impact from stock market volatility on real economy would be limited.

Chinese shares plunged more than 6 percent to 14-month lows on Tuesday after oil prices dropped again, reviving concerns about global growth and prompting a sell-off in the world's equity markets.

China's central bank has jolted global financial markets twice in six months by allowing sharp, sudden slides in the yuan, only to step in aggressively to stabilize it.

(Reporting By Kevin Yao; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Saeed Abedini

One of the Americans recently freed from an Iranian prison has described the experience of being held in the Islamic theocracy for years on charges of setting up churches.

Saeed Abedini, who was one of four Americans released in a prisoner swap with Iran earlier this month, talked to Fox News about how he was treated in prison and what he saw while he was there.

Abedini said he and other prisoners were beaten and threatened. But he said the worst thing he saw were the executions.

"Most of them are Sunnis, some of them are political prisoners, and I can say most of them are there for their faith," Abedini told Fox News' Greta van Susteren.

When soldiers came to take prisoners for execution, Abedini said, they'd "take their hands, their feet, grab them, like when they take a lamb for slaughtering."

"And they were yelling, some of them they were crying, and some of them they wet themselves, and so it was a very graphic things that I saw," Abedini said.

In July, Amnesty International released a report on Iran's "staggering" execution spree in which the country reportedly killed 694 people in six months. Amnesty referred to it as an "unprecedented spike" in executions.

Iran is also known to torture prisoners. Abedini described some of the brutal treatment to which he was subjected during his time in captivity.

"When I was interrogated with my interrogator, he told me that, 'I'm going to do three things to you,'" Abedini said.

The interrogator threatened to have other prisoners beat Abedini, told him that he would be sent to the worst prison in the country, and said they would be watching him if he ever returned to the US.

"They said, 'When you finish your sentence and you go to the US, we'll always follow you, and if you continue the things that you did, we're going to kill you,'" Abedini said.

Abedini was imprisoned in 2012 and is now back in the US recovering from the ordeal at a retreat on the East Coast, according to US News & World Report.

Story continues

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BOGOTA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Colombia's government will next week bring into the nation one billion pesos ($297 million), part of the proceeds from the sale of power generator Isagen , to finance so-called 4G infrastructure projects, Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas said on Tuesday.

"(The national development fund) is asking for the initial contribution quickly, urgently, so it can keep approving financing for 4G and the projects can acquire machinery and staff," Cardenas told journalists.

The funds will be the first portion of the money to be brought into the Andean nation after Isagen was sold to Canada's Brookfield Asset Management for $1.99 billion two weeks ago.

Brookfield last week transferred the sale price into government bank accounts outside Colombia.

The size of the transfer may help ease the Colombian peso's sharp depreciation. The currency has fallen 40 percent in the last twelve months.

The rest of the Isagen money will be brought in gradually, Cardenas said.

(Reporting by Carlos Vargas and Nelson Bocanegra; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Helen Murphy and Nick Zieminski)
Southern California Aircraft Spotting (Featuring Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX), Gulfstream News, plus Domestic and International Airline News
Deflationary Pressures Rising: Where Is Soros Putting His Money?

(Continued from Prior Part)

The European Union appears close to falling apart

The European Union (or EU) appears to be falling apart, and a major cause is the migration crisis. The problem stems from the rush of refugees who seek asylum while its available in the European Union. A large number of people seeking asylum on account of the war in Syria are increasing the pressure on government spending in different EU nations.

The European Union already launched attacks against ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) in Syria after the terror attack in Paris, implying a substantial rise in government spending. This war will likely weigh on the continent thats already struggling for gross domestic product growth.

The European Union needs a common asylum policy

If the EU nations get together and create a common asylum policy, set an upper ceiling to the number of refugees that would be accepted per year and keep that window open, that may help slow the rush of asylum seekers entering the EU nations. Russia (RSX) seems to be using the Syrian crisis as a tool to disintegrate the currency union.

In the absence of any such common asylum policy, the influx of refugees leads to panic among the general population, the refugees, and the authorities responsible for law and order. Once a common system is in place, there should also be a comprehensive policy that goes beyond the borders of the European Union, and to refugees where theyre situated. The European Union can open its common market to special economic zones, with free access to European markets (FEZ) (HEDJ (VGK) (VEA). Turkey has already lost 10% of its employment to Syrian refugees. These special economic zones would be in the interest of all as they would provide employment to both Europeans and refugees.

Soros supports the Schaeuble Plan

Soros is an enthusiastic supporter of the Schaeuble Plan. The Schaeuble Plan comes from the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble. In his plan, Schaeuble has advocated certain institutional changes that might provide the Eurozone with its missing political mechanism. The plan proposes to have an independent body in the Eurozone with certain powers, thereby, limiting the European Commissions powers over such matters. The plan rests on two key ideas:

Story continues

to have a European budget commissioner with powers to reject national budgets if they dont correspond to the rules set

to have a Eurozone parliament comprising the MEPs of Eurozone (DBEU) countries to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of decisions affecting the single currency bloc

While the markets may have deeply criticized the plan, Soros stands firm on his stance that the Schaeuble Plan is needed by the European Union.

Continue to Next Part

Browse this series on Market Realist:
PARIS (Reuters) - French utility EDF (EDF.PA) said on Tuesday it had signed a preliminary agreement with Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL) to build six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur, in the west of India.

EDF is taking over the long-delayed project, which could become the world's biggest nuclear contract, from fellow French state-controlled group Areva (AREVA.PA), which will sell its reactor arm to EDF later this year.

The Jaitapur project is at the preliminary technical studies stage after getting initial environmental clearance in 2010, EDF said in a statement. A contract for pre-engineering studies was signed by Areva and NPCIL last April.

EDF said that in the next few months it would continue work started by Areva and NPCIL to secure certification for the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) reactor in India and to finalise the economic and financial conditions.

The six 1650 megawatt EPR reactors with a combined capacity of nearly 10,000 MW would make Jaitapur one of the world's biggest nuclear sites and the contract, if finalised, one of the largest in the history of the nuclear industry.

But Indian legislation on manufacturer's liability has long blocked French, US and Russian nuclear projects in the country.

General Electric (GE.N) Chairman Jeff Immelt said in September that GE will not invest in atomic energy in India until accident liability laws are brought in line with global practise.

With the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy in mind, India's parliament passed a law six years ago that makes equipment suppliers responsible for an accident.

Strong local opposition to the project, haggling over price, massive delays and cost overruns at EPRs under construction in France and Finland and the takeover of Areva's reactor arm by EDF are also delaying the huge project.

French President Francois Hollande, making a state visit to India, said on Monday that an agreement to build the six nuclear reactors should be concluded within a year.

Story continues

Hollande and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a joint statement they had agreed to hasten the nuclear talks and aim for construction to begin in early 2017.

EDF also said its EDF Energies Nouvelles unit had agreed to a partnership with India's SITAC to to build four onshore wind farms by the end of 2016 with a total capacity of 142 MW in the state of Gujarat.

(Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by James Regan and Keith Weir)
BRUSSELS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The European Commission's handling of bailouts for countries hit by the financial crisis was "generally weak" and inconsistent, the European Union's Court of Auditors (ECA) said on Tuesday.

The ECA - an EU institution in charge of auditing EU's finances - analysed the bailouts for Ireland, Portugal, Hungary, Latvia and Romania, all of which are already completed.

The auditors did not now analyse the bailouts for Greece, on which they will issue two separate reports later, or Cyprus, because the programme is still ongoing.

Spain was not analysed, because the bailout from the intergovernmental euro zone bailout fund included no EU money.

The auditors said the analysed bailouts met their objectives, despite the Commission's lack of experience, because they reduced deficits in the targeted countries and prompted structural reforms.

However, "the auditors found several examples of countries not being treated in the same way in a comparable situation," the report said.

"In some programmes, the conditions for assistance were less stringent, which made compliance easier," the auditors said, while "the structural reforms required were not always in proportion to the problems faced, or they pursued widely different paths".

The ECA noted shortcomings in the work of the Commission, which has been in charge of the financial assistance.

"The review of key documents by the Commission's programme teams was insufficient in several respects," auditors said.

They also noted the "weak monitoring" of the programmes' implementation by the Commission and "shortcomings in documentation".

"The Commission used an existing and rather cumbersome spreadsheet-based forecasting tool," the report said, while "even for the most recent programmes some key documents were missing."

The financial crisis hit the European Union in 2008, starting with non-euro zone countries like Hungary, Romania and Latvia which received EU help from the Commission's balance of payments facility, which was eventually raised to 50 billion euros.

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For euro zone countries -- Ireland and Portugal -- the Commission had 60 billion euros in the European Financial Stability Mechanism, which was all but exhausted in these two bailouts.

Euro zone governments provided an additional 440 billion euros in their European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) bailout fund.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Jan Strupczewski)
Robert Gates

Former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Business Insider that the Obama administration's decision not to act after the regime of Syria's embattled president used chemical weapons against civilians was a "serious mistake" that hurt America's credibility in the world.

Gates, who is promoting his new book, "A Passion for Leadership," sat down with Business Insider last week and gave his perspective on today's conflicts in the Middle East.

"I used to tell presidents, you have to be very, very cautious about drawing red lines or issuing ultimatums," said Gates, the only defense secretary to hold the job under two presidents for two different political parties.

"As I put it, 'If you cock that pistol,'" he added, "'you have to be ready to fire it.'"

Gates served as the US secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. The year after Gates left the job, President Barack Obama told White House reporters a "red line" for US intervention in Syria would come if the regime of President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons.

Civil war broke out in Syria in 2011. During the conflict, the Assad regime has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians.

At the time Obama first mentioned a red line, in 2012, Assad's soldiers had been known to shoot protesters as the regime tried to prevent a rebellion. But the use of chemical weapons hadn't yet been conclusively proved.

"We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized," Obama told reporters that year.

He added: "We have communicated in no uncertain terms with every player in the region that that's a red line for us and that there would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front or the use of chemical weapons."

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Over the following year, Obama doubled down on his red line. But when evidence emerged that Assad's forces had used sarin gas in an attack that killed nearly 1,500 people in a Damascus suburb, Obama eventually backed down after threatening a military response. He sought congressional approval for military intervention in Syria, which he was not likely to get, and eventually brokered a deal with Russia that saw Assad agreeing to destroy most of the regime's arsenal of chemical weapons.

"Backing away from reacting once the red line was crossed impacted American credibility not just in the Middle East, but I think it was being watching in Moscow and Tehran and Beijing and Pyongyang and elsewhere," Gates said. "So not acting in response to crossing the red line was a serious mistake in my view."

Gates also said: "The rest of the world must know that when the president of the United States draws a red line, that it is dangerous, if not fatal, to cross it."

The secretary of defense who was in office during the sarin-gas attack largely echoed Gates' comments in a recent interview. Chuck Hagel, who served as defense secretary from February 2013 to last February, told the Atlantic Council earlier this month that backing down on the red line "hurt the credibility of the president of the United States."

But Gates' stance hasn't always been so firm.

In January 2014, before the rise of the terrorist group ISIS (also known as the Islamic State, ISIL, or Daesh) threw Syria into further chaos, Gates told The Wall Street Journal that he was against military intervention.

"I described it as throwing gasoline on a very complex fire," Gates said at the time. "Syria's two closest allies are Russia and Iran. Our military intervention may have brought them in in some way or another. And once you launch a military attack, and for Syria, whether it was a humanitarian zone or a no-fly zone, it begins with an act of war."

Russia and Iran ended up getting heavily involved in Syria even without being provoked by US military intervention. Iran sends Shia fighters to Syria to aid the Assad regime, and Russia started conducting airstrikes in support of Assad last year.

But Gates did acknowledge in the 2014 interview that the US could have done more to support moderate Syrian rebels who were fighting the Assad regime.

He repeated this statement in his interview with Business Insider.

"I still believe that sending large numbers of US military forces into Syria would have been a mistake, but there are other ways to accomplish our objectives," Gates said.

He subsequently suggested that the US should have begun assisting opposition groups as early as 2011, before Obama drew his red line.

"If we had been able to move with agility and quickly in the fall of 2011 and early 2012 in terms of getting weaponry and intelligence and so on to opposition groups that then were still reasonably moderate, there was a point at which Assad was really on his back foot and I think vulnerable," he said. "But I think sending regular US forces into Syria then as well as now would be a mistake."

Though it's unlikely that Obama would have sent a large force of ground troops into Syria in response to the sarin-gas attack, airstrikes on regime targets were on the table.

The US is now conducting airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria. As the civil war raged and security in the country eroded, ISIS took advantage of the power vacuum that opened up. The group seized a large swath of territory in Syria, including Raqqa, the city that has become its global base of operations.

And the agreement to get rid of chemical weapons in Syria hasn't held up. Bloomberg reported last year that an international monitoring body found traces of chemical weapons, including sarin gas, in an inspection of the Syrian government's Scientific Studies and Research Center.

Assad has blamed the chemical-weapons use on opposition fighters, but Western officials have said rebels probably wouldn't have the capability of using weapons like sarin gas.

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* Govt demands Freeport pay $530 million smelter deposit

* Govt will not extend Freeport's export permit if no payment

* Freeport says requirement is "inconsistent" with 2014 deal

* Ministry official says current export permit expires on Thursday (Releads, adds Freeport comment)

By Wilda Asmarini and Bernadette Christina Munthe

JAKARTA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Indonesia's demand that Freeport McMoRan Inc pay a deposit for a new smelter to continue exporting copper concentrate is "inconsistent" with an agreement reached between the two sides in mid-2014, the firm's CEO said on Tuesday.

Indonesia's government has said the U.S. mining giant must provide a $530 million deposit by Thursday to prevent a possible halt in copper concentrate exports from its massive Grasberg mine in the province of Papua.

A halt in exports would deal a blow to Freeport's profits and deny the Indonesian government desperately needed revenue from one of the country's biggest taxpayers. It would also buoy global prices of the metal that have slipped 6 percent so far this year on worries over a glut.

The U.S. firm's six-month export permit for its Indonesian unit is due to expire on Thursday, said Didi Sumedi, an official at the trade ministry, correcting a statement earlier this week that said the deadline was Tuesday.

"Certain officials with the ministry of energy and mines have suggested that we should continue to pay an export duty and that we should make a sizeable escrow deposit to support the smelter development," Freeport CEO Richard Adkerson said on a call following the announcement of its Q4 financial results.

"These points are inconsistent with the arrangements that we had worked with the government in mid-2014."

Those agreements said Freeport must sell the government a greater share of the Grasberg copper and gold mine and invest in domestic processing to win an extension of its contract beyond 2021.

Adkerson said discussions with the government were ongoing, and he was confident a new export license would be issued.

Story continues

Jakarta wants the $530-million deposit as a guarantee that the Phoenix, Arizona-based company will complete construction of another local smelter. The amount would add to an estimated $80 million that Freeport set aside in July to obtain its current export permit.

Freeport, under pressure from activist investor Carl Icahn, has struggled to reduce its $20.7 billion of debt and announced in October it would cut production globally.

Usually, Freeport Indonesia produces about 220,000 tonnes of copper ore per day. About a third usually goes to its domestic smelter at Gresik, with the rest exported as concentrate.

"It is unlikely for Freeport to not pay that deposit, they certainly want to export so they will negotiate," said Helen Lau, analyst at Argonaut Securities in Hong Kong.

A prolonged interruption to the Papua mine would affect about 24,000 people working at Grasberg, potentially leading to unrest in a region where Indonesia's government is trying to increase economic activity.

(Additional reporting by Fergus Jensen and Michael Taylor in Jakarta, Manolo Serapio in Singapore, and Nicole Mordant in Vancouver; Writing by Randy Fabi; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Katharine Houreld)
(Adds c.bank's intervention, new exchange rate)

By Margarita Antidze

TBILISI, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Georgian central bank chief Georgy Kadagidze said on Tuesday that the lari currency would stabilise in the near future and the bank would continue to tighten its monetary policy if needed.

He spoke as the currency hit a record low against the dollar and as the central bank made its third intervention on the forex market this year.

The ex-Soviet republic's economy is suffering the side-effects of a fall in the Russian rouble, as Russia is a major trading partner. A decline in exports, and in remittances from Georgians working abroad, has added to pressure on the lari, while the government deficit is rising.

"We have every basis to say that the lari exchange rate will stabilise in the near future," Kadagidze told a briefing.

"We will continue to tighten monetary policy if the lari continues to depreciate further," he said.

Kadagidze added that depreciation of the lari currency was mainly related to negative expectations of market players with regard to the situation in neighbouring countries.

The Georgian lari currency hit a record low against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, trading at 2.4984 to the dollar after weakening from 2.4923 on Monday. This compares to 1.75 per dollar in early November 2014 when it started to depreciate.

The lari's previous all-time low of 2.451 per U.S. dollar was recorded in February 1999.

Kadagidze said that the balance of payments did not have an effect on the exchange rate as currency inflows to and from the country were balanced, and imports reduced.

He said the bank was intervening on the market this year, when it was needed to support the ailing lari.

The central bank sold $20 million at a foreign-currency auction on Tuesday, its third intervention on the forex market this year. It sold $40 million at the two previous auctions.

The bank sold about $300 million last year to support the lari.

Georgia's foreign-exchange reserves fell to $2.5 billion as of Dec. 31 from $2.7 billion at the beginning of 2015.

(Editing by Christian Lowe and Ralph Boulton)
BERLIN, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Two German government sources on Tuesday denied a report in the Handelsblatt newspaper that Berlin had given its consent to sell Airbus Group's defence electronics unit to two U.S. buyout groups.

One source in the coalition government said the report in the business newspaper was "not accurate."

Handelsblatt reported on Tuesday that Airbus was close to sealing a deal with KKR and Carlyle and that the German government had given a green light for the sale. It quoted sources close to the negotiations.

A spokeswoman for the economics ministry on Tuesday said Airbus had informed German authorities about an intention to sell part of its defence unit, while declining to comment further.

"We will carefully follow this process together with the defence ministry and conduct talks with Airbus and potential investors," one government source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

German authorities want to assess what impact a deal could have on jobs and to assess whether key security technologies and competencies would remain in Germany.

The sale is part of a plan by Airbus to dispose of assets with combined revenues of around 2 billion euros ($2.16 billion), following a strategic decision to focus on civil and military aeronautical and space assets in the face of low defence spending in Europe.

Airbus lacks the scale of rivals in defence electronics and hopes to fetch more than 1 billion euros from the sale, sources have said. The company said this month it was making good progress in the sale of its defence electronics unit.

Airbus Group short-listed Carlyle and KKR for the defence electronics unit, after they put up significantly higher offers than rivals, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters last month.

France and Germany own 11 percent each of Airbus Group and Spain controls 4.1 percent. ($1 = 0.9244 euros) (Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
* Fierce debate scheduled in fractious parliament

* Biggest test yet of Premier Tsipras's staying power

* Opposition rejects big pension cuts linked to bailout

* Fed up with tax hikes, voters reject pension "Armageddon"

By Renee Maltezou

ATHENS, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Greece launches debate on a contentious pension reform plan in parliament on Tuesday, the opening salvo of what may be the toughest test yet of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's staying power at the helm of Europe's most indebted nation.

Juggling a fragile majority of just three seats in parliament, Tsipras, elected a year ago, is likely to mount a staunch defence of his plans for a pensions system which could face collapse without radical cutbacks.

The intricacies of how to cut 1.8 billion euros ($1.95 billion) off the pension bill this year will not be addressed on Tuesday, though it will give Greek politicians an opportunity for political jousting in a highly fractious parliament.

But with farmers on the streets threatening mass blockades and nationwide walkouts scheduled for Feb. 4, Tsipras's government has been at pains to stress it is trying to rectify the shortcomings of previous governments.

"We have done everything possible to keep the present pension levels intact, and create a system based on equality and social justice," Tsipras told crowds of supporters during a rally marking a year in power on Sunday night.

The total annual pension bill is about 28.5 billion euros. Greeks' pension payments have already been reduced about a dozen times - about 30 percent on average since the country's financial crisis erupted in 2010.

Greek government officials say formal debate on pension reform is likely to take place in February. The leftist-led coalition has signalled it could soften some measures for sectors being hit hardest as it takes the pulse of public sentiment while awaiting approval of its plans from lenders.

But Greeks, fed up seeing their incomes shrink as the taxes pile up, fear that their future is bleak.

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"This new pension reform plan is an Armageddon," Panos Papanikolaou, a neurosurgeon, told reporters outside the labour ministry during a protest by doctors on Monday.

OPPOSITION SHORT SHRIFT

Opposition parties have promised to reject the reforms proposed by the leftist premier, who came to power pledging to end the belt-tightening mandated by international lenders but was forced to sign up to a third bailout in July.

"Society cannot withstand new taxes. Nor will it permit the demolition of the social security system and the pension cutbacks," the Socialist PASOK party said in a statement.

The conservative New Democracy party, which recent polls have suggested is marginally leading Syriza in polls, says it will vote against the cuts that it describes as the outgrowth of the government's policies.

"The government's plan, which has sparked all this social reaction, is the price Greeks must pay for its wrong decisions and failed policies," New Democracy spokesman George Koumoutsakos told Reuters. "We will reject it."

Pension reform is a key topic for the first review of Greece's third bailout, which its leftist-led coalition wants to conclude swiftly so that it can open talks on long-term debt relief.

Government officials have suggested their final draft of proposed reforms will be submitted to parliament after consultations with the European Union and International Monetary Fund mission reviewing Greece's bailout progress.

The creditors' technical teams arrived in Greece last week to collect fiscal data and information about the pension reform, but there was no fixed date for the return of the EU/IMF mission chiefs, known in Athens as "the quartet".

Government officials and a source close to the lenders said they were likely to return by Friday or next week depending on how much headway the technical teams make on the ground.

Last week, Tsipras held meetings with European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi and IMF Director Christine Lagarde at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss the review and underline Greece's will to conclude it. $1 = 0.9233 euros) (Editing by Michele Kambas/Mark Heinrich)
By Gwladys Fouche

TROMSOE, Norway, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Greenland's push to extract rare earth metals will remain a contentious political issue for years to come because the mining also produces uranium as a by-product, the nation's finance minister told Reuters.

Greenland has been opening up to foreign companies with hopes that its vast resources in metals and minerals, including rare earths, would help finance its ambition to become independent from former colonial master Denmark.

Greenland banned uranium mining decades ago due to its potential use in nuclear weapons but lifted it in 2013 and the government's majority in parliament supports the new policy.

The main opposition party, which narrowly missed winning a general election in November 2014, wants to re-impose the ban and is still bitter at the 2013 decision which was passed in parliament by the slimmest of majorities with barely a debate.

This uncertainty has been criticised in the past by foreign investors seeking regulatory stability on the issue.

Greenland signed a deal with Denmark last week on how it would cooperate in the mining and export of uranium found in rare earths, an agreement some investors saw as a sign the domestic conflict was over.

But Greenland's minister of finance, mineral resources and foreign affairs, Vittus Qujaukitsoq, said that was not the case.

"I don't expect it to be resolved among the parliamentary parties," he told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference held in northern Norway.

"The opposition includes two parties opposing the extraction of uranium, whether it is a by-product or not. It will be an issue for the upcoming elections."

Rare earths, a collection of over a dozen of chemical elements, are used in high-tech components and China supplies the vast majority of the world's demand.

The minister declined to give details of last week's deal with Denmark but said he "did not expect it to be a financial disadvantage for any parties", referring to the two signatories.

Greenland became a Danish colony in the early 19th century but has been gradually gaining its own powers since World War Two and is seeking to win its independence.

(Editing by David Evans)
Its to prevent snowballing of debts.

Local licensed moneylenders are now prohibited from issuing short-term loans of less than one month, and splitting a loan into smaller amounts to borrowers who are unlikely to keep pace with payment plans.

According to a release by the Registry of Moneylenders, the new guidelines seek to address three practices, the first of which is falsely informing borrowers that they can only be granted only weekly loans under a new law. The second practice is splitting a single loan into several smaller component such that a late fee of $60 can be imposed on each component that borrowers do not pay on time. The last is offering short-term loans of less than a month in duration, which borrowers have to repeatedly finance by paying an administrative fee.

The industry regulator now requires moneylenders to inform borrowers of the terms and conditions of the loan, and this includes information on how interest and fees are computed and when these will be charged.

It also emphasized that licensed moneylenders must stop offering loans to borrowers who are unlikely to keep up with repayment plans, leading to a snowballing of debts that are even more difficult to repay.

To warn borrowers of such loans, moneylenders are further required to provide borrowers with a cautionary statement in writing before any loan can be granted. Borrowers who have been given such loans may lodge a formal complaint with the Registry.

Licensed moneylenders found to be in breach of the Directions will be investigated and dealt with accordingly, the Registry stated.





More From Singapore Business Review


By Steven Scheer

LOD, Israel, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Israel aims to sell Uzi submachine gun maker Israel Military Industries (IMI) in the next few weeks, with defence contractor Elbit Systems seen as the likeliest buyer, according to the head of the country's state ownership agency.

"We hope to finish (the sale of IMI) in a few weeks," Ori Yogev, director of the Government Companies Authority, told Reuters on the sidelines of its annual conference on Tuesday.

A process that began with five bidders is now down to one - Elbit Systems , Israel's largest publicly traded defence contractor - and Yogev said Elbit could buy IMI as long as it pays what the state is seeking, declining to comment on the asking price.

Israeli media reports have said the government is seeking at least 1.1 billion shekels ($277 million) for IMI but bidders that dropped out believe the stake is worth no more than 700 million shekels.

FLOTATIONS

Yogev also said the government aims to sell a 49 percent stake in the Mediterranen coast port of Ashdod via a flotation on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange during the year. The controlling stake sale is planned for 2020.

It also plans to float 25 to 30 percent of Israel Natural Gas Lines on the TASE this year, and sell a 20 percent stake in the Israel Postal Authority to a private entity in 2016, he said.

The sales are part of a bigger plan announced in late 2014 to sell all or part of eight companies and two ports by 2017, raising around 15 billion shekels, or nearly $4 billion.

Of the 87 companies that remain in government hands, the 10 set to be sold generate nearly 90 percent of their combined revenues, which totalled 69 billion shekels last year.

In 2015, the companies earned a combined 756 million shekels, up from 432 million in 2014 and a loss of 600 million shekels in 2013.

"The companies went from a burden to an asset," Yogev said.

As part of the sell-off plan, designed to help pay down Israel's debt and improve operational efficiencies, Israel also aims to float shares in utility Israel Electric Corp, Israel Railways, water company Mekorot, the port of Haifa and defence contractors Rafael and Israel Aircraft Industries.

The last wave of privatisation took place between 2003 and 2007. ($1 = 3.9686 shekels) (Editing by Greg Mahlich)
By Greg Roumeliotis and Bernie Woodall

(Reuters) - Johnson Controls Inc (JCI.N), a U.S. maker of car batteries and heating and ventilation equipment, agreed to acquire Ireland-based peer Tyco International Plc (TYC.N) in a $16.5 billion deal that will lower its tax bill, the companies said on Monday.

By moving its headquarters to Cork, Ireland, Johnson Controls would become the latest major U.S. company to carry out a so-called tax-inversion after drug giant Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) structured such a deal with Irish peer Allergan Plc (AGN.N) last November.

The merger will combine Johnson Controls' commercial buildings business with Tyco's fire security offerings, accelerating Johnson Controls' transformation following its decision to spin off its automotive parts unit.

Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls, which has a market value $23 billion, makes heating and ventilation systems and car batteries, while Cork, Ireland-based Tyco, valued at $13 billion, specializes in fire protection systems.

The merger will create savings of at least $500 million in the first three years, the companies said. They expect to save an additional $150 million a year through tax synergies.

"The move would be consistent with Johnson Control's strategy of transforming from an auto supplier into a multi-industry leader," UBS analyst Colin Langan said in a client note.

Johnson Controls' shares were down 2.7 percent at $34.63 in afternoon trading in New York, while Tyco's were up 11 percent at $33.94.

Tyco was ahead of many big U.S. industrial companies in seeking tax relief by moving its legal residence offshore. The company moved its headquarters to Bermuda from Exeter, New Hampshire in 2007, then to Switzerland in 2009, and to Cork in 2014.

Tyco said in 2014 that its move to Cork was tax-neutral and that the it occurred because of Swiss laws capping executive pay and tighter immigration rules.

TREASURY THRESHOLD

Johnson Controls' shareholders will own about 56 percent of the combined company, with Tyco shareholders owning the remainder, thanks in part to a cash consideration of about $3.9 billion that Johnson Controls shareholders will receive.

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Keeping Johnson Controls' shareholders ownership of the combined company below 60 percent was important for the company because the latest U.S. Treasury rules, in a bid to limit inversions, placed some restrictions on deals that cross this threshold.

"The cash consideration is supplied by Tyco very much with the tax inversion in mind. This way you can engage unrestricted in strategies that free up your undistributed foreign earnings," said Robert Willens, a corporate tax and accounting consultant.

While the tax benefits are not as profound as is the case of Pfizer's deal with Allergan - Johnson Controls and Tyco have effective tax rates of close to 20 percent and 18 percent, respectively - the news was enough to stir controversy among politicians in a U.S. presidential election year.

"U.S. businesses are continuing to defect to Ireland, stranding honest taxpayers. Congress needs to act now," said United States Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon.

Kevin Brady, a Republican from Texas and chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee in the U.S. Congress, said the JCI-Tyco move shows U.S. tax laws need to change to keep companies from fleeing.

"This news is yet another reminder that America's tax code is an outdated relic that is keeping America at a disadvantage," Brady said.

The new company, Johnson Controls Plc, will be initially headed by Johnson Controls Chief Executive Alex Molinaroli and will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. After 18 months, Tyco's George Oliver will become CEO and Molinaroli will become executive chair for one year, after which Oliver will become chairman and CEO.

Johnson Controls has been preparing to spin off its automotive seating and interiors business and said on Monday the spinoff was on track for early first fiscal quarter of 2017.

Shares of Johnson Controls have lost more than a quarter of their value since the start of 2015, while Tyco's shares have fallen over 30 percent.

Tyco was broken up into three companies after turnaround expert Edward Breen took the helm from former CEO Dennis Kozlowski, who was convicted in 2005 of grand larceny, securities fraud and other charges.

Under Breen, Tyco spun off its electronics and healthcare businesses in 2007. He expanded Tyco's security business with the $1.9 billion acquisition of Broadview Security in 2010.

In 2012, Tyco was again broken up into three pieces - one selling valves and controls for the energy market that merged with Pentair Inc (PNR.N), while its commercial fire and security businesses combined into "New Tyco" and traded under Tyco's symbol. The third piece consisted of the ADT North American residential security business, now ADT Corp (ADT.N).

Breen is CEO of U.S. chemical giant DuPont (DD.N), which last month agreed to combine with Dow Chemical (DD.N) in a $120 billion merger. Tax savings were seen as a primary driver of that deal.

Centerview Partners and Barclays were financial advisers to Johnson Controls, while Lazard and Goldman Sachs advised Tyco. Citigroup Inc (C.N) provided financing for the transaction.

(Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York and Bernie Woodall in Detroit; Additional reporting by Ankit Ajmera and Sayantani Ghosh in Bengaluru and Susan Cornwell in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
By Greg Roumeliotis and Bernie Woodall (Reuters) - Johnson Controls Inc , a U.S. maker of car batteries and heating and ventilation equipment, agreed to acquire Ireland-based peer Tyco International Plc in a $16.5 billion deal that will lower its tax bill, the companies said on Monday. By moving its headquarters to Cork, Ireland, Johnson Controls would become the latest major U.S. company to carry out a so-called tax-inversion after drug giant Pfizer Inc structured such a deal with Irish peer Allergan Plc last November. While the tax benefits are not as profound as is the case of Pfizer's deal with Allergan, the news was enough to stir controversy among politicians in a U.S. presidential election year. "I have a detailed and targeted plan to immediately put a stop to inversions and invest in the U.S., block deals like Johnson Controls and Tyco, and place an 'exit tax' on corporations that leave the country to lower their tax bill," Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said in a statement. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton's opponent for the Democratic Presidential nomination, also criticized the deal, calling it a disaster for American taxpayers. Others saw it as an opportunity to also highlight what they argue are the weaknesses of the U.S. tax system. "Absent comprehensive tax reform that includes shifting to a territorial tax system with base erosion protections, Congress ought to examine viable bipartisan solutions that will effectively target and combat inversions and not tip the balance to tax-driven foreign acquisitions of U.S. firms," said U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, a prominent Republican. The merger will combine Johnson Controls' commercial buildings business with Tyco's fire security offerings, accelerating Johnson Controls' transformation following its decision to spin off its automotive parts unit. Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls has a market value $22.5 billion, while Cork, Ireland-based Tyco, which specializes in fire protection systems is valued at $14.2 billion. The deal will create savings of at least $500 million in the first three years, the companies said. They expect to save an additional $150 million a year through tax synergies. "The move would be consistent with Johnson Control's strategy of transforming from an auto supplier into a multi-industry leader," UBS analyst Colin Langan said in a client note. Johnson Controls' shares ended trading in New York on Monday down 3.9 percent at $34.21, while Tyco's shares ended up 11.6 percent at $34.15. Tyco was ahead of many big U.S. industrial companies in seeking tax relief by moving its legal residence offshore. The company moved its headquarters to Bermuda from Exeter, New Hampshire in 2007, then to Switzerland in 2009, and to Cork in 2014. Tyco said in 2014 that its move to Cork was tax-neutral and that it occurred because of Swiss laws capping executive pay and tighter immigration rules. TREASURY THRESHOLD Johnson Controls' shareholders will own about 56 percent of the combined company, with Tyco shareholders owning the remainder, thanks in part to a cash consideration of about $3.9 billion that Johnson Controls shareholders will receive. Keeping Johnson Controls' shareholders ownership of the combined company below 60 percent was important for the company because the latest U.S. Treasury rules, in a bid to limit inversions, placed some restrictions on deals that cross this threshold. "The cash consideration is supplied by Tyco very much with the tax inversion in mind. This way you can engage unrestricted in strategies that free up your undistributed foreign earnings," said Robert Willens, a corporate tax and accounting consultant. The new company, Johnson Controls Plc, will be initially headed by Johnson Controls Chief Executive Alex Molinaroli and will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. After 18 months, Tyco's George Oliver will become CEO and Molinaroli will become executive chair for one year, after which Oliver will become chairman and CEO. Johnson Controls has been preparing to spin off its automotive seating and interiors business and said on Monday the spinoff was on track for early first fiscal quarter of 2017. Shares of Johnson Controls have lost more than a quarter of their value since the start of 2015, while Tyco's shares have fallen over 30 percent. Tyco was broken up into three companies after turnaround expert Edward Breen took the helm from former CEO Dennis Kozlowski, who was convicted in 2005 of grand larceny, securities fraud and other charges. Under Breen, Tyco spun off its electronics and healthcare businesses in 2007. He expanded Tyco's security business with the $1.9 billion acquisition of Broadview Security in 2010. In 2012, Tyco was again broken up into three pieces - one selling valves and controls for the energy market that merged with Pentair Inc , while its commercial fire and security businesses combined into "New Tyco" and traded under Tyco's symbol. The third piece consisted of the ADT North American residential security business, now ADT Corp . Breen is CEO of U.S. chemical giant DuPont , which last month agreed to combine with Dow Chemical in a $120 billion merger. Tax savings were seen as a primary driver of that deal. Centerview Partners and Barclays were financial advisers to Johnson Controls, while Lazard and Goldman Sachs advised Tyco. Citigroup Inc provided financing for the transaction. (Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York and Bernie Woodall in Detroit; Additional reporting by Ankit Ajmera and Sayantani Ghosh in Bengaluru and Susan Cornwell in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Nick Zieminski, Diane Craft)
paul lepage

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) suggested in a Tuesday interview with the station WVOM that his state should consider bringing back the guillotine, the mechanism invented during the French Revolution to quickly carry out executions through beheading.

He also suggested that Maine should start putting on public executions for convicted drug traffickers.

LePage said current proposals in the state legislature to increase prison sentences don't do enough to discourage drug trafficking.

"We've got to keep them here until they die," LePage said. "I think the death penalty should be appropriate for people who kill Mainers. We should give them an injection of the stuff they sell."

"What we ought to do is bring the guillotine back," he later added. "We could have public executions and we could even have which hole it falls in."

The governor's office told The Associated Press that LePage's comments were a joke, noting that he said them with a laugh. His office said the statement was meant to demonstrate his support for tougher capital punishment.

But LePage is no stranger to controversial comments. Earlier this month, LePage received plenty of criticism for racially-tinged comments about drug dealers impregnating white women.

These are guys with the name 'D-Money,' 'Smoothie,' 'Shifty'  these types of guys. They come from Connecticut and New York, they come up here, they sell their heroin, they go back home, LePage said to a crowd.

Incidentally, he added, half the time they impregnate a young, white girl before they leave, which is a real sad thing, because then we have another issue we have to deal with down the road.





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NEW YORK, NY and WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2016 / Next Graphite, Inc. (OTC Markets: GPNE) ("Next Graphite", "GPNE" or the "Company"), a graphite exploration /development stage company in Africa's Republic of Namibia, today clarified a Company press release issued on December 18, 2015 titled " Next Graphite, Inc. Reports Up to 96% Natural, Lump, Vein Graphite Grade in Aukam Property Lower Adit".

Next Graphite is clarifying any association potentially drawn between the referenced content of a CKR Carbon (TSX-v:CKR or "CKR") press release issued on December 14, 2015. In said press release, Dr. Roger Moss, PhD, P.Geo was cited as the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 validating the technical content of the press release. Dr. Moss' approval of the content in the Next Graphite press release pertained to, any only to, the content of the CKR Carbon press release. Inclusion of the content of the CRK Carbon press release was intended by Next Graphite to provide reference only.

As a result of HTML formatting on certain financial portals, the press release's purposeful reference, and subsequent formatting, of the exact text from the referenced CKR Carbon press release which provided testing results on graphitic rock samples from Next Graphite's Aukam adits, may have been interpreted as associating Dr. Moss' validation of the CKR Carbon press release applicable to the entirety of Next Graphite's management statements and Next Graphite's business description. Such association is incorrect as Dr. Moss did not review or approve the technical content of the management statements and business description made by Next Graphite. Any association of value assumed from Dr. Moss' accreditation as a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and statements made by Next Graphite in its December 18th 2015 press release are unintentional.

About Next Graphite, Inc.:

Next Graphite, Inc. is an exploration / development stage company targeting the growing global graphite production industry with the Company's Africa-based Aukam Graphite Project. The Aukam Graphite Mine was established in 1940 in the current Republic of Namibia, produced USD$30 million of graphite at today's prices. The Graphite property is estimated to still contain a significant amount of high grade, vein type graphitic material. Global graphite demand is being driven by the development of new markets for clean and efficient energy alternatives, smart grid infrastructure and military capabilities. Next Graphite has an immediately available, surface-visible, estimated 140,000-tonne mine heaps along with competitive projected mining and processing costs. The completion of GPNE's Aukam Graphite Mine re-launch and development activities are expected to result in a multi-million dollar inward investment into Namibia commencing in 2015.

For more information, please visit: www.nextgraphite.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements are based upon the current plans, estimates and projections of Next Graphite Inc.'s management and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning market and industry segment growth and demand and acceptance of new and existing products; any projections of sales, earnings, revenue, margins or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; uncertainties related to conducting business in Africa, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions or beliefs about future events. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: business conditions in Africa, general economic conditions; geopolitical events and regulatory changes, availability of capital, the Company's ability to maintain its competitive position and dependence on key management. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

SOURCE: Next Graphite, Inc.
(Adds context)

NIAMEY, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Niger has awarded a permit to GoviEx Niger Holdings Ltd., the Niger branch of GoviEx, to exploit uranium for investments worth $676 million at the 243-km Madaouela Project in the Agadez region, according to a government statement.

The landlocked West African country is a major uranium producer and the ore is central to France's nuclear energy program.

Niamey also granted four permits for uranium exploration to GoviEx Niger Holding Ltd. and two other companies, said the statement, which is read on public television.

French state-owned nuclear company Areva also operates in the central Nigerien region. The relationship has been fraught; in April its workers launched a strike before a court declared it to be illegal.

Niger is one of the world's poorest countries and is ranked 188 of 188 in the U.N. Human Development Index.

(Reporting by Abdoulaye Massalaki; Writing by Makini Brice)
Barack Obama

US President Barack Obama announced on Monday that he is banning the use of solitary confinement for juveniles and low-level offenders in federal prisons.

In a Washington Post editorial that will be published on Tuesday, Obama outlined a series of executive actions he is taking at the recommendation of the US Justice Department.

The recommendations include the banning of solitary confinement for juveniles and prisoners who commit "low-level infractions," as well as an increase in the amount of time prisoners in solitary confinement can spend outside.

"The United States is a nation of second chances, but the experience of solitary confinement too often undercuts that second chance," Obama wrote in the editorial.

Obama mentioned a host of "devastating, lasting psychological consequences" that stem from solitary confinement, such as depression, the potential for violent behavior, and the increased likelihood of committing suicide.

He also invoked Kalief Browder, the New York man who as a teenager spent three years in prison  much of them in solitary confinement  for being accused of stealing a backpack. Browder was released from prison in 2013 and committed suicide in June at 22.

After Browder was released, Obama wrote that "life was a constant struggle to recover from the trauma of being locked up alone for 23 hours a day."

Obama has made criminal-justice reform a priority as he aims to cement his presidential legacy. In July, Obama became the first sitting president to visit a federal prison.

"Do we really think it makes sense to lock so many people alone in tiny cells for 23 hours a day, sometimes for months or even years at a time?" Obama said in a speech at the NAACP convention in July. "That is not going to make us safer. That's not going to make us stronger. And if those individuals are ultimately released, how are they ever going to adapt? It's not smart."

As many as 100,000 prisoners are being held in solitary confinement at any given time, according to The Washington Post. Obama's reforms are expected to affect about 10,000 inmates.

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Some state-level studies have found that prisoners held in solitary confinement are more likely to commit crimes after being released than prisoners kept in less-restrictive housing.

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Jeff Ramson to Speak on the Importance of Building a U.S. Presence with Focused Investor Relations

NEW YORK, NY and TEL AVIV, ISRAEL / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2016 / PCG Advisory Group (PCG), a leading investor and public relations firm specializing in digital and social media strategies, today announced that it is sponsoring the upcoming 2016 Israel Healthcare and Technology Growth Forum. The Growth Forum will be held, Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at The Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv.

Jeff Ramson, CEO and Founder of PCG, will be a featured speaker on a panel entitled: "The Importance of Retail, Focused IR, to Successfully Build a U.S. Presence." Jeff will be joined by senior executives from Maxim Group, Gil Sharon, Senior Vice President of Wealth Management, and Murry Shapero, Managing Director of Wealth Management.

The 2016 Israel Healthcare & Technology Growth Forum will feature presentations from well established, senior-level U.S. investment bankers, research analysts, fund managers, investor relations professionals and attorneys. The esteemed panel members will present to many of Israel's leading healthcare and technology companies.

"I am delighted to have been invited by Maxim Group to address many of the leading business members of the Israeli healthcare and technology sectors," said Jeff Ramson, CEO and Founder of PCG." He added, "There are many outstanding, undiscovered companies in Israel that would benefit by engaging the U.S. investment community. Investor Relations is a key component for global companies seeking to expand their presence in the U.S. capital markets. I look forward serving on such a prestigious panel."

About Maxim Group

Founded in 2002, Maxim Group is a leading full-service investment banking, securities and wealth management firm headquartered in New York. We provide a full array of financial services including investment banking; private wealth management; and global institutional equity, fixed income and derivative sales & trading, equity research and prime brokerage services to a diverse range of corporate clients, institutional investors and high net worth individuals.

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About PCG Advisory

Founded in 2008, PCG Advisory Group is dedicated to the delivery of top tier capital markets advisory services, strategic and tactical digital and social media communications and cutting edge media and public relations for public and privately held companies. The team at PCG has extensive experience with life sciences and healthcare, high technology, metals and mining, financial services and emerging growth companies from around the globe.

PCG's Capital Markets Advisory Services include overall investor strategy development to increase and leverage investor awareness, visibility and credibility.

PCG's Social and Digital Media services include leveraging social and professional digital media sites to effectively and accurately communicate client stories. As an aggregation, distribution, and engagement platform, PCG reaches thousands of individual, retail and institutional investors using proprietary techniques, search engine optimization, online marketing, website development and our proprietary and extensive distribution network. PCG's Media and Public Relations services are a strategic and integral component of all Corporate Communications. The media and public relations team works with print, broadcast, online news sites and bloggers to communicate the best client story at the right time. PCG also has the capabilities to assist a company during a merger, acquisition or crisis.

Communicating the client's story accurately and effectively is tantamount to maximizing exposure to its current and potential stakeholders.

Contacts:

Investors:

Kirin M. Smith

ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

Chief Operating Officer

Officer: 646.863.6519

www.pcgadvisory.com

Media:

Sean Leous

sleous@pcgadvisory.com

Chief Communications

D: 646-863-8998

SOURCE: PCG Advisory Group
WARSAW, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Poland's $3 billion army helicopter deal with Airbus is "very likely" to be cancelled, the deputy defence minister said, signalling one of Warsaw's key military programmes, speeded up in response to the Ukraine crisis, may face delays.

Poland's previous centrist government, beaten by the Eurosceptic Law and Justice (PiS) party in a parliamentary election in October, agreed a provisional deal with Airbus for 50 EC-725 Caracal multi-purpose helicopters, turning down offers from Sikorsky and AgustaWestland.

The contract, negotiated by the economy ministry, has yet to be signed and PiS has repeatedly said it would rather see the deal awarded to a producer manufacturing locally. Both Sikorsky and AgustaWestland have facilities in Poland.

"I can't say that the final assessment of the ... negotiations will be negative, but considering how big the differences are, it is very likely that an agreement will not be reached," Bartosz Kownacki told the Rzeczpospolita daily.

"We are not allergic to the French, but to not utilising the capacity of the Polish (defence) industry," Kownacki said. "We'd have to get really as much as possible from the French side to make this contract profitable for us," he said.

Poland may be better off scrapping the deal and paying a potential fine, which may reach hundreds of millions of zlotys, than accepting the losses the contract would impose on the Polish defence industry, Kownacki was quoted as saying.

The negotiations are supposed to conclude by Feb. 10, the daily said.

(Reporting by Wiktor Szary; Editing by Mark Potter)
rand paul

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) will likely be back on the main stage on Thursday for the final Republican presidential debate before the February 1 Iowa caucuses.

To qualify the Fox News, candidates need to be in a top-five standing in an average of five recent state polls in Iowa or New Hampshire. Or they can place within the top six in an average of five recent national polls.

Paul polled too low to qualify for the GOP debate earlier this month, and he boycotted the lower-tier, "undercard" version.

But according to the five most recent Iowa polls that fit Fox's criteria, Paul is currently tied with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) for fifth place in Iowa  enough to make the main stage.

There, he will likely join Bush, Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) at Thursday's debate.

The senator's campaign appeared much more publicly reassured that Paul would qualify than in previous instances when the senator has teetered on the edge.

"And that should be a lock on the main stage. See y'all Thursday in Iowa," Doug Stafford, the Paul campaign's chief strategist, said on Twitter, linking to a Tuesday Quinnipiac University poll that put Paul in fifth place.

And Paul's campaign manager, Chip Englander, tweeted that even if a new poll dropped later on Tuesday, it would likely replace a Loras College poll that was helping to buoy Bush's average in the state.

Last-minute polls have shuffled Paul onto the stage before. Paul qualified for CNN's GOP debate in December after a poll published just hours before the cutoff time put the senator over the top.

But there have been setbacks, most notably the Fox Business debate for which he failed to qualify. The senator proceeded to skip the lower-tier debate and instead on a weeklong media blitz in New York, appearing for more a dozen interviews with print, radio, television, and digital publications.

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During an interview with Business Insider, Paul estimated that the total viewership for his appearances on news and talk shows throughout the week was around 15 million viewers, though the number would likely be lower considering redundant viewers who watched multiple interviews.

During the actual debate itself, Paul holed up in Twitter's Manhattan headquarters, fielding questions on Twitter and livestreaming.

The stunt appeared to work  during the debate, Paul's event hashtag was the third-most-popular hashtag in the US on Twitter, and by the time that the debate was finished, the senator gained the fourth-most Twitter followers of all the GOP candidates.

Campaign officials publicly hailed the event as a success, and the senator projected enthusiasm throughout the livestream.

I think weve taken not a perfect situation  because it isnt good to be excluded, and it is unfair  and turned it into a positive, Paul told Business Insider.

NOW WATCH: A Harvard Law professor explains why he thinks Ted Cruz is ineligible to run for president





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(Adds detail, background)

MOSCOW, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Russia's second-biggest mobile phone operator Megafon said on Tuesday it and rival Vimpelcom had started to implement a joint project for the construction of mobile towers in 10 Russian regions.

Splitting the cost of construction and operation will accelerate the expansion of fourth-generation network coverage at a lower cost, Megafon said in a statement, adding the network would be launched in the third quarter of 2016.

Under the seven-year deal, which can be extended, the companies will deploy more than 1,300 LTE (Long Term Evolution)-enabled base stations, Megafon spokeswoman said.

The move is a further step by Russian mobile operators to cut infrastructure costs.

MTS , Russia's biggest mobile operator, and Vimpelcom signed a deal last December to share mobile spectrum in 20 Russian regions on top of their earlier infrastructure sharing agreement.

Megafon and Vimpelcom also plan to hive off their mobile towers in the future for potential sale.

(Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Dmitry Solovyov)
The logo of U.S. mobile network operator Sprint Corp is seen at a Sprint store in San Marcos, California in this August 3, 2015 file photo. REUTERS/Mike Blake

By Malathi Nayak and Abhirup Roy

(Reuters) - Sprint Corp has axed at least 2,500 jobs across six customer care centers and its Kansas headquarters as part of its plan to cut $2.5 billion in costs, a company spokeswoman said on Monday.

The job cuts, mostly in customer service, also include 574 positions at Sprint's headquarters at Overland Park, Kansas, Sprint spokeswoman Michelle Boyd said.

Sprint, the fourth-largest U.S wireless carrier, has shut down call centers in Virginia, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas and cut back jobs at its Colorado and Overland Park call centers, Boyd added.

The telecom company, which has kick started a turnaround plan, said last year it is looking at areas such as labor costs, network expenses, information technology and administrative expenses to reduce costs to the tune of $2.5 billion.

Investors have been concerned that the company, which is majority-owned by Japan's SoftBank Group Corp, is burning cash at an alarming rate to acquire users and upgrade its network.

Sprint notified employees last week about the job cuts and severance benefits through email, Boyd said.

As of Jan. 1, Sprint's workforce totaled 33,000 employees. The company has said that it planned to give layoff notices to employees before Jan. 30 as its severance package would be reduced after that date.

Sprint subscribers are increasingly using the Sprint Zone app and going online for their customer care needs and the jobs cuts were made in response to that trend, Boyd said.

Sprint said in November 2014 that it would fire 2,000 employees. In October 2014, the company launched a previous round of layoffs and shed about 1,700 jobs.

Boyd declined to comment on whether the company plans to slash more jobs in coming weeks.

The Kansas City Star first reported news of the job cuts on Monday.

Shares in Sprint, which have fallen about 21 percent this year, were down about 10 percent at $2.59 in afternoon trading.

(Reporting by Malathi Nayak in New York and Abhirup Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza, Alistair Bell and Meredith Mazzilli)
Planned Parenthood was cleared of of all wrongdoing by the US court (AFP Photo/Mandel Ngan)

Washington (AFP) - A Texas grand jury investigating allegations that a US abortion provider sold organs of aborted fetuses instead indicted two anti-abortion activists who secretly filmed the group, officials said Monday.

The grand jury cleared Planned Parenthood -- a nationwide women's health network -- of all wrongdoing.

Instead they indicted David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, members of the anti-abortion Center for Medical Progress, for tampering with a government record, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years prison.

It also charged Daleiden with a misdemeanor count relating to the claim he accused Planned Parenthood of being engaged in -- the purchase of human organs.

Access to abortion is a hot-button political issue in the United States, especially during a presidential election year, even though for years national polls show a majority support for legal abortion.

- 'Where the evidence leads' -

In a series of undercover videos shot mostly by the anti-abortion activists, Planned Parenthood employees discuss providing body parts taken from aborted fetuses for use in medical research.

In their ruse, Daleiden and Merritt claimed to work for a company that buys tissue from aborted fetuses. They created a fake website and allegedly obtained fake government identification cards.

Planned Parenthood admits to having fallen prey to the ruse, but says its doctors were merely explaining the process of how fetal tissue is collected and distributed for research purposes, and were never engaged in selling human organs.

The undercover videos, which Planned Parenthood says were deceptively edited, fired up anti-abortion conservatives, especially conservative Republicans in Congress who voted to withdraw any federal money from Planned Parenthood.

"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said in a statement.

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"As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us. All the evidence uncovered in the course of this investigation was presented to the grand jury. I respect their decision on this difficult case."

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, an abortion opponent, stressed that the grand jury decision would not impact the state's own investigation into the case.

"The state of Texas will continue to protect life, and I will continue to support legislation prohibiting the sale or transfer of fetal tissue," said Abbott, a Republican.

The newspaper USA Today published an op-ed article by Daleiden on Monday in which he claims that Planned Parenthood and federal law governing abortions "were never in step with the American people and are now completely out of touch with public attitudes."

Earlier in January Planned Parenthood said it was suing the activists in federal court on charges of conspiracy and fraud.

According to a 2015 Gallup poll, 50 percent of the US public described themselves as pro-choice -- supporting the right to legal abortion -- and 44 percent say they are pro-life.
By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington, D.C., will end its snow emergency on Wednesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a sign that the U.S. capital is returning to normal after a deadly weekend blizzard on the U.S. East Coast. The federal government remained closed on Tuesday and Congress put most activity on hold as the Washington region continued digging out from the snowstorm, which killed at least 35 people in 10 states and the U.S. capital. A small army of workers and equipment were making progress in clearing streets after the storm brought more than 20 inches (50 cm) to the city. Washington's snow emergency would end at 6:30 p.m. EST (2330 GMT) on Wednesday, Bowser said. "We have a lot of snow. We're getting to every part of the city that needs attention as soon as possible," she said at a news conference on Tuesday. The snow emergency allowed the ticketing and towing of vehicles parked on major streets and a surcharge for taxi fares. District of Columbia city government and some local governments in the Washington-Baltimore region reopened on Tuesday. Washington joined Baltimore, Philadelphia and suburban districts in keeping public schools closed after the area was slammed by more than 2 feet (60 cm) of snow. Temperatures forecast to reach about 45 Fahrenheit (7 Celsius) were expected to help Washington's cleanup. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been idled or working from home since offices closed at noon on Friday ahead of the storm. Devon Brewster, 27, a restaurant server, said the federal government could have opened even though the cleanup was continuing. "It's government. They get plenty of days off a year. Good for them," he said. Stephen Fuller, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University, said the Washington area's $500 billion economy would see slight impact from the storm. Local governments already had budgeted for bad weather and two days of lost work out of a year is negligible, he said. Washington's Metro subway system, the second-busiest in the United States, was shut down Saturday and Sunday but was running with slower service on almost all lines Tuesday. Buses were on a reduced schedule. Maryland's commuter rail line resumed limited service but Virginia's remained shut down. The Federal Aviation Administration said airlines were returning to regular schedules. About 700 U.S. flights were cancelled on Tuesday with the worst-hit airports Newark Liberty and Washington Dulles, according to Flightaware.com, an air travel website. (Reporting by Ian Simpson; Additional reporting by Victoria Cavaliere; Editing by Bill Trott)
A worker carries a stack of clothes in a garment factory in Bangladesh.

Asia is in a rut. Chinas economic growth is slowing, dragging down its neighbors, and Asian supply chains have struggled as demand for their products weakens, especially in tech. But as exports slump in economies across the region, Bangladesh has just recorded its highest monthly exports in history.

As Bloomberg reported, the South Asian nation brought in $3.2 billion from exports in Dec. 2015, a record for the country. The World Bank, meanwhile, predicts Bangladeshs GDP will grow 6.7% in 2016, making it one of the worlds fastest growing economies. So whats its secret? Insatiable global demand for cheap clothes, which made up $2.67 billion, or more than 83%, of that monthly record.

Bangladesh is the worlds second-largest clothing exporter, behind only China. It exports the majority of that clothing to the European Union and the US, and business has been good of late. US imports of apparel from Bangladesh, for instance, increased about 16% from Nov. 2014 to Nov. 2015, and H&M, which is one of Bangladeshs top manufacturing customers, just keeps growing. Clothing has made up an ever-larger share of Bangladeshs total exports for years, reaching about 81.7% last yearand as the garment industry grows, the overall economy grows with it.

Garment manufacturers seem to be warming to Bangladesh again after the deadly Rana Plaza factory collapse in 2013. But there are still ethical concerns. For starters, part of what makes the country so attractive as a place to manufacture is that wages there are incredibly low, and too many of the factories are still unsafe. Workers often face abuse if they complain.

Experts also say the country needs to diversify its exports, and should start moving up the value chain into higher-end products such as electronics if it really wants to develop.

One challenger to Bangladeshs growth could be Vietnam. Its become another top location for apparel manufacturing as brands look for cheap alternatives to China, which has seen wages rise significantly in recent years. Even though it just saw its lowest export growth in years last year, this year could be quite different. If the big Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal goes through, Vietnam could become an even more attractive spot for sourcing, especially for US brands. Vietnamese officials say such deals could help boost footwear exports from Vietnam by 20%.

Story continues

In the meantime, Bangladesh keeps growing (paywall), and betting big on its garment industry to help it. The country intends to double garment exports by 2021.

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ORLANDO, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2016 / The threat of security breaches has been steadily increasing over the past two years. News of such breaches can be found in newspapers and media outlets on nearly a daily basis. Even the biggest names across different industries have faced the damages caused by data theft. Companies, like Target, Sony, OPM, IRS, Home Depot, Scott Trade, Experian, and Anthem, have suffered security breaches, leaving their customers baffled and perplexed. Most of the time, customers do not even know the depth to which their information has been compromised due to security breaches.

Once a breach has been identified, the remedial course of action are taken which does not always include proper testing. It is dire that security testing of information systems are taken more seriously and conducted more frequently to avoid such instances from occurring. A study conducted by the Ponemon Institute noted that based on a study utilizing 350 companies the average consolidated cost of a data breach is $3.8 million which is an increase of 23 percent since 2013.

Cyber security is a shared responsibility and as per the United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, who said, "In cyber security, the more systems we secure, the more secure we all are."

To address the threat of security breaches, most companies, as part of the organization, now have cyber security experts, who constantly monitor and mitigate such risks. Women have made a mark in this field, as well, with Parisa Tabriz being titled Google's Security Princess. Now, Chanel Suggs has been named the Duchess of cyber security, due to her extensive experience, education, certifications, and genius wits in addressing various problems and presenting solutions to any cyber security issue in the marketplace. Chanel said, "The biggest challenges with organizations in regards to cyber security is how to protect critical data from being breached."

Story continues

According to Chanel, this issue can be solved by installing patches and testing the entire system once a patch has been installed. Most of the time, testing of information systems is only done for the patched areas. Not properly testing the entire system can create opportunities for a breach in which hackers can infiltrate an organization's IT infrastructure. Some suggestions that can be implemented to reduce the risk of security breaches are: Hire experienced security consultants, who can review the information system and identify issues that might have been missed; Test systems and run routine updates frequently, so any security breaches can be identified early; As an added security measure, perform vulnerability assessments in order to ensure that only approved ports and services are currently running. Conducting vulnerability assessments can also identify rogue systems and patch levels. Chanel helps companies with all of these practices.

Chanel's company, Wyvern Security LLC, provides professional help to other organizations, using the above practices to keep their information secure. Chanel Suggs is completing her Doctoral degree of Science in Cybersecurity and is graduating this May. Her focus is on using fuzzy logic in order to recover host-based systems subsequent to malware attacks. Chanel has been in the security and IT field for over 15 years, working with various Fortune 500 companies, including Cisco Systems. She is a sought-after thought leader in the Cyber Security industry and will appear as an expert commentator on CNN in London this spring. Chanel stated, as a Cyber Security Expert, "It is important to be well-rounded in security, programming and networking to have an edge in the cyber security industry."

About Chanel Suggs - The Duchess of Cyber Security

Chanel's academic education, degrees, and certifications, combined with her vast experience in the industry, enable her to understand her clients' issues and offer the best possible solutions for their organizations. She is a cyber security expert consultant, authoring two books on the same subject that are predicted to become bestsellers. She founded Wyvern Security LLC to become the market leader in providing top class solutions to combat cyber security hacks. The idea behind Wyvern Security LLC is to educate organizations about cyber security, provide cyber security consultation, and research solutions to stay ahead of data breaches. She presently serves as the CEO and President of Wyvern Security LLC. One of the ways she keeps sharp on the subject of cyber security, despite a very busy schedule being a CEO, is by being an adjunct professor and exam writer. The inspirational role model will soon host a webinar on the topic, "Women in cyber security" for EC - Council University, where she is also an Advisory Board Member.

The details for the webinar can be found here: Security Webinar

She is available for consultation and can be reached chanelsuggs@gmail.com

For more information about us, please visit http://www.TheDuchessOfCybersecurity.Info

Contact Info:

Name: Chanel Suggs

Email: chanelsuggs@gmail.com

Organization: Wyvern Security LLC

SOURCE: Wyvern Security LLC
You may not realize it, but when you purchase a home and finance it with a mortgage, your lender doesnt often retain ownership of your mortgage. Through a process known as securitization, your mortgage may end up as one component of the financial backing for a mortgage bond. Although the details of each mortgage bond vary, the overall features remain the same.

Creation of a Mortgage Bond

Typically, lenders sell individual mortgages to another entity on the secondary market such as Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae or an investment bank. In turn, the purchasing entity bundles your mortgage with other mortgages into a pool of loans that securitizes a mortgage bond into a specific type of security called a mortgage-backed security, or MBS. Mortgage pools can contain, for example, 200 mortgages or 200,000 mortgages.

Mortgage Bond Backing

Most mortgage bonds are issued or guaranteed by a U.S. government agency such as Ginnie Mae (Government National Mortgage Association) or by a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) such as Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation) or Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association). Mortgage bonds backed by Ginnie Mae carry the full faith and credit of the U.S. government as a guarantee that the bond principal and interest payments will be made on a timely basis, while GSE bonds do not have this same guarantee. However, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae provide different guarantees, and they are authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations.

Other mortgage bonds, commonly called private-label securities, may be issued by private entities, including banks, brokerage firms and homebuilders. Private-label securities carry a higher measure of risk for investors than those that are government-guaranteed or government-sponsored. Mortgage bond investors are urged to check the creditworthiness of these companies, because their credit ratings may be significantly lower than those of government agencies and GSEs.

Characteristics of Mortgage Bonds

Mortgage bonds are characterized by features such as their mortgage-backed securities, their regular payment schedule and their liquidity, to name a few features. Because of the way mortgage bonds are structured, buyers have recourse in case the bond issuer defaults  they have a claim on the amount of principal and interest payments of the mortgages in the pool.

Types of Mortgage-Backed Securities

Because of the different types of mortgages, mortgage bonds are secured by pools of loans that have similar characteristics. For example, a mortgage pool may be composed of home mortgages that have similar interest rates and maturity dates. There are two primary types of mortgage bonds  pass-through mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage-backed securities. They differ in their complexity, with the former more simplistic and the latter a bit more complex.

Pass-Through Mortgage-Backed Securities

Pass-through mortgage securities are trusts that collect mortgage payments and distribute them (pass through) directly to investors. Typically, pass-through mortgage securities have maturities of five, 15 and 30 years. And although most pass-throughs include mortgage pools filled with fixed-rate mortgages, other types of mortgages, such as adjustable-rate mortgages and other types of loans, can also be sources of security pools.

Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities

Collateralized mortgage-backed securities  also known as collateralized mortgage obligations, or CMOs  represent a more complex pass-through security. Instead of being composed of a similar mortgage pool that passes the cash flow of principal and interest to an investor, a CMO is composed of numerous pools of securities. Each of these pools, also called tranches or slices, is governed by a separate set of rules that determine how the principal and interest are distributed.

Mortgage Securitization Means Safer Investments

A common feature of mortgage bonds is that, typically, they are considered safer investments because of their securitization, where safer means lower risk. For example, if youre an investor in a corporate bond and the corporation defaults on the bond, you have little recourse to collect your investment  and in some cases, you have no recourse. But if you invest in a mortgage bond, you have a claim against the value of the properties in case of default. On the downside, because of the lower risk, you may realize a lower rate of return on your investment compared to the higher yields offered on higher-risk investments.

Regular and Predictable Payments

A perk for many investors is the frequency at which mortgage bonds provide income. Instead of the annual or semi-annual payments of interest that many bonds pay, mortgage bond investors receive monthly payments that include both interest and principal.

As an example, if you purchase a Treasury bond, youll receive only payments of interest until the bond matures, at which time youll get your principal investment back. But if you purchase a mortgage bond, youll receive interest and principal payments until the bond matures. At the mortgage bonds maturity, you will not receive a lump-sum principal payment because its been doled out to you during the life of the bond.

Liquidity Attracts Smaller Investors

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) explains how mortgage bonds are appealing to smaller investors. These bonds are securitized; they provide regular and timely payments to investors; and bondholders can liquidate properties that represent defaulted mortgages. This liquidity factor attracts the smaller secondary mortgage market investors who would not ordinarily lean toward investing in mortgages. As a trickle-down benefit of mortgage bonds, their liquidity also helps lower the interest rates for homeowners and mortgage investors when they purchase property.

Buying Mortgage Bonds

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) offers guidelines for buying mortgage bonds. Investors buy and sell these bonds through a broker, typically with a minimum investment of $10,000. The issue price and other trade data are provided by the broker, and the interest rate, which varies from bond to bond, is determined at each bond's origination. Investors generally receive monthly payments, which may vary from month to month.

Call risks, which exist for other types of bonds, mean that a bond issuer may "call" or redeem a bond before its maturity date. But in the case of a mortgage bond, investors may face a "prepayment risk." This means that the bond issuer may pay your principal sooner than the bond's stated maturity.

Historical Mortgage Bonds Backfire

A big exception to the rule that mortgage bonds are safe investments played out on the financial stage in the wake of the financial crisis beginning in 2007. Subprime mortgages, which were snatched up by buyers with marginal credit histories or unverifiable incomes, became the fodder for investors seeking big returns on their investment. But so many of these subprime mortgages met their demise in default that it precipitated a financial crisis so severe that many investors lost more than their shirts  to the tune of trillions of dollars.

Check a Company's Credit History

In part because of the financial crisis in the late 2000s, and in part, because all investments carry a measure of risk, FINRA urges investors to do their homework before investing in mortgage bonds  particularly when a potential mortgage bond investment is a private-label security. Investors can look to bond rating agencies for researching the creditworthiness of a particular company. The three commonly used U.S. agencies are Moodys Investors Service, Standard and Poors Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings. You can find these agencies online to help inform your investing decisions.
SEC Gymnastics Weekly Honors  Jan. 26 SEC Gymnast of the Week: Bridget Sloan , Florida SEC Specialist of the Week: Alex McMurtry , Florida SEC Freshman of the Week: Britney Ward, Missouri

Friday at 6:45 p.m. Gymnastics versus No. 5 Alabama Saturday at noon: Men's basketball versus No. 9 West Virginia Sunday at 1 p.m. Women's basketball versus No. 9 Kentucky

GAINESVILLE, Fla.  Two Gators received Southeastern Conference honors this week. For the third consecutive week, Florida'sclaimed the SEC Gymnast of the Week andwas named SEC Specialist of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.It is Sloan's third SEC Gymnast of the Week honor of 2016 and the 10th of her collegiate career. She picked up this honor five times as a sophomore and twice as a freshman.This is McMurtry's second SEC Specialist of the Week honor. She claimed up her first honor after a 10.0 vault against Auburn to open 2015 home action.When Florida was at No. 8 Auburn for its first SEC meet, Sloan used a score of 39.575 to win her third consecutive and 21overall all-around title. It was the nation's top all-around total in last weekend's competition.Sloan also won her third straight uneven bars title with a mark of 9.925.This season, Sloan owns the nation's No. 1 (39.65), No. T2 (39.575) and No. 8 (39.50) all-around totals.Sloan is ranked in the nation's top 25 for each apparatus  No. 1 all-around (39.575 average), No. T1 uneven bars (9.925), No. T5 balance beam (9.858), No. T10 floor exercise (9.908) and No. T21 vault (9.858).McMurtry scored marks of 9.90 on each event she competed at Auburn. She used these scores to claim her third consecutive vault title and take her first collegiate beam win. The vault win was the 10of McMurtry's collegiate career. She was also runner-up in the evening's uneven bars standings.McMurtry is No. 2 in the national vault rankings (9.917 average), No. 3 on balance beam (9.90) and No. T10 on uneven bars (9.875).The Gators' 2016 Southeastern Conference home opener is against No. 5 Alabama on Friday, Jan. 29. Meet time is set for 6:45 p.m. ET at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center . SEC Network (Gainesville/Ocala Cox cable 1068) will air the meet live or follow the action on SEC Network +. Friday's gymnastics meet versus the two-time defending Southeastern Conference champion Tide kicks of Florida's UFill the Dome weekend. Florida fans are encouraged to come out to support the Gators as they face top-10 teams in three consecutive days in the O'Connell Center:To get tickets for this weekend's events, visit the FloridaGators.com ticket site or stop by the Gator Ticket Office (open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.  5 p.m.).The first 750 fans at Friday's gymnastics meet receive a free cell power bank.Tickets for Friday's meet are $5 for adults, while children 17 and under and UF students with a Gator1 card are admitted free.
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Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) The cynical saying "no good deed goes unpunished" came to life recently for Taiwanese director Paul Lin (), who is now fighting for his life in China after being stabbed there by a homeless man he was trying to help.
Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) The Cabinet has apparently been rankled by what it described as an untrue news report of how it was slow in handling matters relating to the strongest cold wave to hit Taiwan this winter, as its spokesman blasted the media outlet concerned for its lack of press morality.
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Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) The severe cold seen in Taiwan over the past three days took its toll not only on Taipei residents but also on the city's buildings, with tiles peeling off the exterior walls of its structures 35 times since Jan. 23, injuring two people.
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LYONS - The Center for Rural Affairs is partnering with University of Nebraska Extension to offer several free farm to school trainings to Nebraskas school food service staff and fruit and vegetable growers.

Food service staff and managers can learn techniques to work smarter, not harder, when finding and incorporating local fruits and vegetables. Trainers Fayrene Hamouz and Georgia Jones, UNL Associate Professors in the Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, will work to address establishing predictable demand and supply of locally grown food for Nebraska Child Nutrition Programs. Hamouz recognizes that adding local fruits and vegetables to the school lunch menu invests in the local economy, as well as contributes to the health and vitality of Nebraskas youth. Additionally, Jones states, Local food is enjoyable for students. Its fresher and it tastes better. This will build success.

Farmers will learn techniques for connecting and working with schools including food safety regulations, navigating school order cycles, product demand, and packaging needs.

Lunch will be provided at no cost. This time will be spent in shared one-on-one and group discussion in order for farmers and school food service staff to make connections and share ideas.

Now is the time for schools to consider how local foods can expand menu planning opportunities in the National School Lunch Program, and at the same time increase student enjoyment.

Workshops are scheduled 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 6, East Butler Public School, Brainard; Feb. 13, Hemingford Public School; March 19, Wayne Public School; April 2, North Platte Public School; and April 9, Litchfield Public School.

For more infomation or to register, visit http://www.cfra.org/events/nebraska-farm-school-workshops or contact Sarah Smith, Center for Rural Affairs Project Specialist and Nebraska Farm to School Lead with National Farm to School Network, 402.783.1183, sarahs@cfra.org. Those interested should register at least a week in advance for desired workshop.

Continuing Education Credits will be available.
We can query our database until the cows come home, but there will be nothing show up because we have no record of them.

That comment was made by James Comey, Director of the FBI, during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing as he discussed the ability of the U.S. to conduct background checks on the 10,000 Syrian refugees the Obama administration plans to allow into the U.S.

The American people are a compassionate people that give large amounts of resources and money to those in need and have consistently, over the years, welcomed persecuted people into our country from around the globe.

Yet, with the current refugee crisis, President Obama has labeled anyone who would want to pause the Syrian refugee resettlement program for safety reasons -- due to the potential for ISIS and other Islamic jihadists to infiltrate and exploit the refugee population coming out of Syria and the Middle East -- as shameful and un-American.

This is despite the fact that Obama did the same thing a few years ago with refugees coming out of Iraq.

As I wrote in a previous column at the end of November, a majority of governors from around the country asked the President to pause the Syrian refugee resettlement program for the safety of the American people and the people of their states. Our governor was included.

The response to Gov. Ricketts from the refugee resettlement agencies located in our state was pretty much, Thanks, but no thanks.

It is my understanding that there have been on-going conversations between Gov. Ricketts' office and the social service resettlement agencies.

I am thankful that we have people in Nebraska who are willing to help refugees who are truly in need, are running from persecution, and want to assimilate into our society and eventually become Americans that love our constitutional system.

Unfortunately though, not everyone coming out of Syria and the Middle East falls into that category, as we have recently seen by the terror attacks and crimes committed in Paris, Germany and even in our country.

This is why I have introduced LB966, the Refugee Resettlement Agency Indemnification Act, to try and do what we can to protect the people of Nebraska.

One of governments primary responsibilities is to protect its citizens from danger, taking reasonable actions to balance freedoms and safety.

The Unicameral cannot change President Obamas decision to go ahead with a refugee program or in other words, fix a bad federal government program, despite what his FBI Director says, but we can regulate the agencies in our state that contract with the federal government to bring in refugees.

LB966 would require that resettlement agencies in Nebraska provide proof of financial responsibility, up to $25 million, for any felony criminal acts of refugees that they receive from a high-risk country within a five year period.

What this intends to do is provide a civil cause of action for the state and its political subdivisions, along with any victims, if the unthinkable happens in Nebraska.

As introduced, the bill would make the Department of Insurance the regulatory body to confirm the proof of financial responsibility by the resettlement agency and any noncompliance with the statute.

This would also cause any resettlement agency to pause and consider whether they want to expose themselves to this risk. This would reduce the risk of an Islamic jihadist getting in under the guise of a refugee.

A large portion of the most recent Syrian refugees are single males of military age, which makes it all the more difficult.

There is no right to immigrate to the United States. We have the right to say who is allowed into our country. We should put a priority on immigrants that share our values and embrace representative government. We should also admit people that have skills the United States needs. It is not wise to unnecessarily expose the people of Nebraska to the real risks of Islamic terrorism.

We know that ISIS is trying to slip some Islamic jihadists into Western countries through refugees that are being admitted. So why take the risk of letting people in from high-risk countries if there is even a small risk that bad guys might be among them?

LB966 would cause more reflection on the part of those involved in refugee resettlement in Nebraska concerning the risks and wisdom of allowing this group of asylum seekers into our state at this time.

As always, I really appreciate hearing from you on important matters. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff for information on legislative bills or if I may be of assistance. Please reach me at: Sen. Bill Kintner, 1000 State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509 (402-471-2613), or at my email: bkintner@leg.ne.gov.
While many people feeling a little worn out resort to ingesting a caffeinated beverage, an Eagle farmer opted to take cocaine and methamphetamine in an attempt to stay awake to get more work done.

Timothy E. Tiedeman, 51, was sentenced to serve not less than 20 months and not more than five years in the Lincoln Correctional Facility after being found guilty of being in possession of a controlled substance  cocaine, a Class IV Felony; Monday morning in Dodge County District Court.

Judge Geoffrey Hall credited Tiedeman with three days served, and under the Nebraska Good Time Law he must serve a minimum of 10 months in prison.

Tiedeman was arrested in late February 2015 after Fremont Police Officers were dispatched a business located in the 3000 block of East 23rd Street. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of numerous illegal substances.

Originally, Tiedeman was charged with possession of a controlled substance  methamphetamine, a Class IV Felony; possession of a controlled substance  cocaine, a Class IV felony; possession of a controlled substance  marijuana, a Class IV Felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia; an infraction.

Tiedeman, who had no criminal history prior to this occasion, was originally going to be given probation, said Dodge County Attorney Oliver Glass, however, after agreeing to serve probation, Tiedeman was arrested in Otoe County and charged with intent to distribute meth, a Class II felony.

When he got arrested again that eliminated any real shot that he would be placed on probation, Glass said.

A preliminary hearing for the separate drug charge is scheduled for some time next month, Glass said.

Prior to sentencing, Tiedeman apologized for his poor decisions. He said business-related stress made him feel like he needed to stay awake to get more done, and that stimulant narcotics provided a way for him to achieve that.

He asked to still be given the privilege of probation, noting that his business would go bankrupt with him locked up, and that his girlfriend and 19-month-old child would struggle with him not being around.

Ultimately, though, Judge Hall said that after reading the pre-sentence investigation report he could not overlook the extent of Tiedemans drug problem, which ultimately led to the prison sentence.

Tiedeman reports Feb. 5 for the start of his sentence.

In other District Court news:

*Thomas Middleton, 41, of Fremont was sentenced to 30 months of intensive supervised probation after being found guilty of being in possession of a controlled substance  methamphetamine, a Class IV felony.

Middleton was arrested June 29, 2015 after the III CORPS Drug Task Force arrived at a Fremont residence to conduct a probation search relating to Middletons wife who was serving probation for a felony drug offense. A search of the basement led to the discovery of meth and other drug paraphernalia, court records state.

Middletons wife was sent to the Nebraska Correctional Facility for Women in York, and the couples son was sent into foster care.

Since his arrest, Middleton has completed alcohol and drug treatment, and said he is working hard to turn around his life so that he can take care of his son.

I want to have my son back in my life, thats a really big motivator for me, he said.

*Victor Ledesma, 27, of Fremont faces 24 months of probation, a five-year loss of driving privileges, a $600 fine and 30-day jail sentence after being found guilty of driving under the influence third offense, a Class W misdemeanor. Ledesma completed intensive outpatient treatment for his substance problem, and his attorney, Leo Eskey, said he believes probation was a good option for his client.

He has definitely addressed his problem, Eskey said.

*George Rolle, 42, of Council Bluffs was sentenced to 12 to 18 months in prison after violating two probationary terms. Rolle was arrested on Feb. 15, 2015, after he and another accomplice stole a parked vehicle from the Sapp. Bros.

Rolle was charged with theft by receiving, a Class IV felony. Tim Sopinski, deputy county attorney, said he pushed for Rolle to serve prison time immediately, but Judge Hall distributed probation.

Rolle violated multiple terms of the probation less than three weeks later, he said.
One day you wash up on the beach, wet and naked. Another day you wash back out. In between, the scenery changes constantly.
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Malaysia confirmed Tuesday that the piece of metal found washed up on a Nakhon Si Thammarat beach in Thailand last week was not from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 which went missing almost two years ago.

The confirmation came a day after a Japanese rocket maker said the piece is likely part of a rocket launched by Japan.

Malaysian and Thai experts examined the debris and ascertained that the numbers engraved on the body, the wire bundle and the bolts do not match those of a Boeing 777, which Flight 370 was operating.
Virgin Atlantic has announced the extended service in response to high demand for travel to Florida. The airline extends its seasonal Glasgow to Orlando service adding over 7,000 return seats to the sunshine state.

The addition of the new winter flights will run weekly on Fridays during November 2016 and March 2017. The new winter flights sit alongside Virgin Atlantics ever popular summer service which operates from Glasgow to Florida up to three times per week (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) using their iconic 747 Jumbo Jet. Passengers can enjoy the Virgin on board service in economy, premium economy or the luxurious upper class cabins.

Were delighted to be offering our customers more choice when flying to some of their favourite destinations. Florida is enduringly popular with our customers, so it makes perfect sense to increase this service during the most popular months, said Erik Varwijk, Executive Vice President, Commercial at Virgin Atlantic.
Dubai based QnA International has confirmed the 4th annual MICE Arabia Congress will be held at the magnificent Palazzo Versace, Dubai.

The MICE Arabia Congress, to be held from 1- 2 March 2016, now in its 4th year attracts suppliers from all over the world to meet senior level executives from the GCC who are the decision makers for MICE and luxury travel activities.

The congress will offer regional & international suppliers and decision makers from GCC corporate organizations as well as luxury travel buyers, the opportunity to meet one-on-one to conduct business. The event is the perfect platform to network, build relations and discuss commercial opportunities, all while soaking in the absolute brilliance of the iconic neoclassical masterpiece  Palazzo Versace.

Located along the shores of the Dubai Creek, in the Culture Village area of the city, the Palazzo Versace is only the second foray, for the high fashion brand House of Versace, into luxury hotels. The hotel, opened in 2015, features iconic art pieces and emblems of the Versace brand creating an impression of opulence and grandeur.

The 2015 edition of the congress, held over 1,800 meetings with over 50 destinations represented at the event. The congress will feature numerous panelists and keynote speakers, covering topics such as the outbound MICE segment from the GCC, Global trends and challenges in MICE, and the intricacies when dealing with high net worth clients, to name a few.
Unity has announced the dates for its worldwide Unite conference series, which will will see the company take its hands-on developer-focused events to Amsterdam, Melbourne, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo and Los Angeles.

Each conference will give local developers the chance to network, try new products, chat with Unity engineers, and attend hands-on workshops showcasing games made with Unity.

The eight part series will eventually conclude with Unity's flagship event, Unite '16 Los Angeles.

Taking place at the Loews Hollywood Hotel from 1-3 November, Unite '16 will bring together thousands of developers around the globe for over 70 sessions, giving attendees access to an exhibition floor with over 30 exhibitors and a variety of networking receptions and parties.

The eight Unite conferences in 2016 will take place on the following dates:
What is Papa Stories?

This is an archive of as many of Dad's stories we can come up with.



I hope we can keep Dad's memory alive in our own hearts, and introduce new generations and readers to the wonderful, timeless and spellbinding stories.



They are as true or real as they may be, but they are all, full of Truth, and they warm all of our hearts.



This is not a work of my own, alone. This is a work of all of us. Please share, leave comments, send me stories you love and want to see me write out, or write them yourselves and send them for me to post.


DES MOINES  Majority Senate Democrats plan to stick to their guns in pushing for a 4 percent increase in state aid to K-12 school districts next year and will seek a similar 4 percent boost in the states support for schools in fiscal 2018, according to the top Senate Democrat.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said Tuesday his 26-member caucus plans to reject an amended 2 percent raise in state aid to education the GOP-led House approved on Monday  likely sending the issue to a House-Senate conference committee to resolve via compromise.

Also Tuesday, Senate Democrats released fiscal 2017 budget targets that were $4 million below Gov. Terry Branstads $7.412 billion spending plan but allocated the state resources differently in education and human services areas. The Senate plan, a 3.26 percent rise over current funding, would be lowered to $7.398 billion if the governor and legislative Republicans go along with a proposal to offer state employees early retirement incentives that would save $10.62 million.

Our target comes in under the governor, said Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, but I think were still able to meet a number of the priorities that we have in our caucus, and we want to get this going and start moving the state forward.

House Republicans calculate they have $153 million in new state revenue for budgeting, which would put the cap on fiscal 2017 spending at $7.327 billion. Rep. Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said his caucus wants to resolve school funding and tax coupling issues before releasing fiscal 2017 spending targets.

The Senate spending targets call for spending 98.9 percent of the available state revenues and are $4.7 million below the statutory 99 percent spending limitation law. The specific funding allocations in each budget area will be decided by the various subcommittees, Dvorsky said.

Top Democrats were hopeful their higher education funding target could pave the way for another tuition freeze at state universities in fiscal 2017 if the regents choose to do so and they increase funding for Medicaid spending but do not assume a shift to privately delivered managed care being pushed by the governor.

Weve been very skeptical that there were ever savings there, Gronstal said of the governors Medicaid modernization concept. Its kind of the incredible shrinking savings in that it keeps getting lower and lower, he said.

People will work together, try to come to common ground on what they think the numbers are, agree to a budget and if and when those savings dont materialize were forced to look at a supplemental to cover that, Gronstal added.

Gronstal said the Senates spending targets assume a 4 percent increase in state aid to K-12 schools heading into negotiations with the House and Senate Democrats plan to meet the laws 30-day deadline for setting K-12 state funding for fiscal 2018 by passing legislation boosting state aid again by 4 percent for the 2017-18 school year.

Were going to do our level best to meet the deadline to get done, he said. Were not going to agree to change the process in terms of doing it 18 months out.

One day earlier, Republicans who control the Iowa House voted 55-43 to pare back the Senate-passed 4 percent school aid increase by half, saying a 2 percent boost is more in line with available state revenue and still gives education the largest chunk of the $153 million in new money they have calculated to be available to spend in fiscal 2017.

The numbers that the Senate has released today, while theyre helpful in keeping the process moving, it creates a lot of questions that arent answered, Grassley said.

Gronstal said House Republicans make the claim the state can spend more for education while at the same time advocating for significant tax cuts.

The House says we cant afford it, but the House does say we can afford nearly $200 million in various tax cuts. Thats just the ones I know about so far, the Senate leader noted.

House Republicans hope to debate and pass a tax coupling bill later this week that adopts federal tax changes that would result in nearly $97 million tax cuts retroactive to the 2015 tax year, which Grassley said would be paid out of the states general fund ending balance. Because Iowa allows federal taxes to be deducted from state income tax liabilities, the change would boost state revenue in fiscal 2017 by about $85 million with roughly $55 million available for budgeting under state spending limitation guidelines.

In his budget proposal, Branstad proposed to couple the states tax code with federal changes (excluding business equipment depreciation and expensing) for the 2016 tax year at a cost of about $49 million, but he did not seek to make the changes retroactive to the 2015 tax year.
Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao was giving a special address injecting confidence into global leaders of politics and businesses at the annual meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday. [Photo by Fu Jing/China Daily]

For years, China's economy has been center stage at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. This year's gathering last week was no exception. While also focusing on new global trends, the EU's migrant crisis, terrorism, regional conflicts and other issues, China was still a primary subject.

The participants even showed their concerns in a straightforward way.

"Is China's economy still Ok?" I was repeatedly asked.

And other Chinese participants and journalists were asked the same question.

This is not the first time that the world has been gripped with anxiety about the state of the Chinese economy. Fortunately, the forecasts of doom in the past, which predicted a hard landing and economic collapse, have never come true, and they are unlikely to materialize this time too.

Vice-President Li Yuanchao provided figures and vivid stories in his speech, to answer the question and convince attendees at this year's gathering that China's economy is still doing well and has sound fundamentals.

For example, he said China has boosted entrepreneurship by cutting the red tape for business startups, which has resulted in up to 12,000 new businesses every day and is promoting the fourth industrial revolution. Putting Internet technology and connectivity at the heart of transformations was the theme of this year's forum, and it is set to become a new driving force of China's economy in the coming years.

During Li's speech, a friend of mine posted a comment via the instant messaging app WeChat saying the vice-president was talking about whether China will be Ok economically. After hearing the speech, she posted another comment saying that China will "always be Ok".

Klaus Schwab, chairman of the World Economic Forum, also said he was convinced by Li's confidence when he chaired the talks

But not all the Chinese participants had the same optimism. Many from academia urged the government to speed up the implementation of its reform agenda, which was formulated two years ago. They are concerned about the delay in pushing forward reforms and how the unfolding geopolitical challenges are affecting China's economic development.
LOGAN, UTAH, Jan. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cache County Sheriff's Office celebrated 30 years with its public safety software provider, Spillman Technologies, in July 2015. The agency signed with Spillman on Jul. 7, 1985, becoming the company's first public safety customer. Remaining with the same software vendor for so long has enabled the sheriff's office to save taxpayer money and serve its public more efficiently by sharing data across jurisdictional lines.



Cache County Chief Deputy Matt Bilodeau said using Spillman's software system has helped the agency use taxpayer dollars responsibly.



"With everything we purchase, we remember that it is taxpayers' money that we are spending," Bilodeau said. "We have found the Spillman system to be the most cost-effective law enforcement software available to help us serve the public."



Bilodeau explained that the agency's software system has grown and evolved over the course of the partnership, and that the long relationship with Spillman has enabled the sheriff's office personnel to become very adept at both using the software and training others to use it. He added that if Cache County were to switch to a different software vendor, the time and costs required to train and get the agency to the level of proficiency and confidence they have with Spillman would be unimaginable.



Cache County Sheriff's Office is now on a shared system hosted by Logan Police Department, which also includes Smithfield Police Department, North Park Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, and Preston Police Department. Operating on a shared software system allows each of the six agencies to share information, saving time and resources and allowing personnel to work together across jurisdictional lines. The agency also utilizes Spillman's InSight module, which allows participating Spillman agencies around the state to share information by running queries into one another's databases.



"Sharing information helps all law enforcement," Bilodeau said. "In the past, if someone committed a crime in another jurisdiction [that agency] would be the only agency with that information. Now we have the ability to look at and share information with most of the agencies in the state. That gives us access to more information and the ability to investigate crimes more efficiently, resulting in fewer crimes and quicker apprehension."



Spillman Technologies has also done a great deal of growing since Cache County signed on 30 years ago. The company originated in Logan when founder Richard Spillman, then a student at Utah State University, began developing software for local government offices. The company switched gears and began to focus exclusively on public safety technology after creating the software package for Cache County Sheriff's Office.



"I have watched them really blossom as an agency," Richard Spillman said. "They really embraced technology early and well, and they saw it as a good tool and they have implemented some really good things."



Addressing the company's close relationship with the sheriff's office, Spillman added, "It's been fun that we've both kind of grown up together, in a sense. Like best friends."



Spillman Technologies is now headquartered in Salt Lake City and serves more than 1,500 sheriff's offices, police departments, communication centers, correctional facilities, and fire departments nationwide. Spillman specializes in integrated on-premises and cloud-based software solutions, including Computer-Aided Dispatch, Records Management Systems, Mobile Data & Field Reporting, Mapping & GIS, Jail Management Systems, Fire, Data Sharing, Personnel & Resources, and Analytics & Intelligence-Led Policing. For more information about Spillman, visit www.spillman.com.
shasadou wrote:

In June of 2009, the state legislature passed a series of laws designed to eliminate carbon emissions from coal-powered factories. The Environmental Protection Administration commended the state on its groundbreaking legislation, noting that these laws would go further than any other of their kind, and even the owners of several coal-powered factories expressed their appreciation of the state's care in ensuring that the laws were fair and cost-effective for industry. Yet data for the fiscal year 2012 shows that the amount of carbon emitted by coal-powered factories was actually a fraction of a percent higher in 2012 than it had been in 2009.



Which of the following, if true, best helps to explain the paradox highlighted above?



A. Some of the provisions in the legislation were scaled back due to budgetary constraints.



B. More than half the factories in the state are oil-powered plants and were not subject to the new legislation.



C. Factories subject to the law were provided with tax breaks and given up to two years to retrofit their facilities in order to ease the burden of reaching compliance with the new legislation.



D. In anticipation of the 2012 elections, the legislature structured the package to take effect after the elections were completed rather than risk loss of support from the coal industry.



E. Rather than invest in clean coal technology required by the legislation, several coal-powered plants converted their operations to run on oil power, removing themselves from the jurisdiction of the new laws.

Answer should help in resolving this paradox..

some provision may have been scaled back but the effect of other provisions should have been visible...Incorrect

Out of context... we are talking of only those that are affected

we are talking of effects after 3 years and this only explains for the first two years

Correct...This tells us taht the provisions were not in place for these three years, and so the observation in 2012

We are talking of emission from coal powered factories.. Incorrect

Hi,let us first rephrase the para ..The state,in 2009, passed laws restricting the emission of carbon from factoreis etc, laws for which the state government has been appreciated. However even after three years in 2012, there has rather been increase in emissions.lets see the choices..A. Some of the provisions in the legislation were scaled back due to budgetary constraints.B. More than half the factories in the state are oil-powered plants and were not subject to the new legislation.C. Factories subject to the law were provided with tax breaks and given up to two years to retrofit their facilities in order to ease the burden of reaching compliance with the new legislation.D. In anticipation of the 2012 elections, the legislature structured the package to take effect after the elections were completed rather than risk loss of support from the coal industry.E. Rather than invest in clean coal technology required by the legislation, several coal-powered plants converted their operations to run on oil power, removing themselves from the jurisdiction of the new laws.[/quote]ans D_________________
Profile Evaluation Request [ #permalink

I am a white 27 year old female from New York looking to apply round 1 next fall for a full time 2 year MBA program.



Here is my profile:



[*]4 years of work experience at Christie's New York with 3 promotions during my tenure at the company.

[*]3.5 Undergraduate GPA at New York University (B.A. Art History)

[*]3.8 Graduate GPA at Christie's Education (M.A. Art Business)

[*]I volunteer mentoring teenagers at a local arts organization and volunteered consistently during undergrad



I have took the GMAT at scored a 500 and hope to retake the test in the the next few months.



I would like to focus on marketing and product management for my MBA, with a focus on the luxury sector.



What are my chances of getting into a top school with my poor GMAT score? What schools would you suggest that I apply too?
Sat, 10/15 (12pm ET): Getting into Stanford GSB with GMAT 770 - How David Made it Possible in 6 Months
Estimados amigos,

Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia.

Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro.

Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras.

There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen.

You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.

No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca.

Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt.

Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las debiles tan solo deseos.

Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada.

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.

If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.
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
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A 44-year-old Sunset Park man was found dead in his car Monday afternoon, and authorities believe he died of carbon-monoxide poisoning after getting trapped inside by snow.

Police say that Angel Ginel was found inside his 2003 Lexus around the corner from his home at around 4:38 p.m. yesterday, and was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife told reporters that he disappeared after going out to shovel snow on Sunday. He gave me a kiss goodbye and said hell see me later, Ramonita Ginel told the Daily News. Then I kept calling his phone. I kept calling his phone because he didnt come home last night, I kept calling leaving him messages.

His car was still running when Ramonita Ginel found him on Monday, and family members say he was trying to charge his phone when a plow came by and trapped him. "I guess they plowed him back in and he couldnt get out, his wife told the Post. The door was [slightly] open, but I couldnt open it because of the snow that was there.

On Saturday night, a New Jersey woman and her one-year-old son died of carbon monoxide poisoning while warming up in an idling car outside their home. The woman's husband was shoveling snow away from the car at the time, and the snow may have blocked the vehicle's exhaust pipe, eventually killing them.

And at around 8 a.m. on Monday, a 78-year-old woman was found dead in her car outside a Burger King in Hackensack; it does not appear that carbon-monoxide poisoning was a factor, though the woman had apparently been parked there since Saturday because she was too afraid to drive in the storm.
The snow mounds piled up at the corner of Crown and Albany Streets in Crown Heights on Monday were formidable, but the sidewalk would have been completely impassible were it not for the work of one brave, anonymous young hero. "THIS PATH WAS MADE BY AN UNKNOWN YOUNG WOMAN WITH HER OWN SHOVEL AND NO HELP FROM ANYONE," a sign stuck into the snow declared in all-caps. "THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS CROSSING POSSIBLE!"

Brooklyn Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone, who took the photo above, told us that the corner had been obstructed by a mountain of snow, one of many city-wide likely created by a Sanitation Department plow. The cleared path was just wide enough for a stroller, he estimated.

While some citizens lashed out at the City for its perceived prioritization of car owners over pedestrians, others publicly shamed business owners for failing to address the drifts outside their shops. And car owners were at each other's throats.

Gothamist videographer Jessica Leibowitz returned home on Monday night to a Rolling Stone subscription form on her windshield scrawled with an anonymous, "Thank you can't even see my car now." Leibowitz shoveled our her car on Sunday, and believes the anonymous note-leaver might own the car that's been parked behind her. "We were talking to the neighbors about how theres no place to put the snow," she recalled. "Some got in the street but we tried to keep it between the cars or on the snow piled on the sidewalk."

An anonymous neighbor blamed the blizzard on me. Guess he's not renewing his Rolling Stone subscription. A photo posted by Jessica Leibowitz (@jssica) on Jan 25, 2016 at 5:16pm PST

"Don't tell me you can't see your car," she challenged retrospectively. "I couldn't see my car."

The silver lining: the sun is reaching its Tuesday zenith, and you're probably already knee deep in a slush lagoon. And D.C., as always, is somehow more insufferable.
With the advent of Fall, our attention turns to football and the joy of speculating. The media is all over the Vikings but it is t...
1.61803, otherwise known

.





The Fibonacci sequence is a famous group of numbers beginning with 0 and 1 in which each number is the sum of the two before it. It begins 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 and continues infinitely. The pattern hides a powerful secret : If you divide each number in the sequence by its predecessor (except for 1 divided by 0), then as you move toward higher numbers, the result converges on the constant phi, or approximatelyas the golden ratio
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An annual count of the homeless population in Helena and surrounding areas will be conducted Thursday.

The Point-in-Time Survey looks at those without homes on a single night in Lewis and Clark, Broadwater and Jefferson counties. The Annual Homeless Assessment Report is prepared for Congress on the extent and nature of homelessness in America, according to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development website.

The nationwide estimate on homelessness is used by local social service organizations when seeking federal funds.

The federal Housing and Urban Development definition of homelessness is narrower than what is experienced by many people, wrote Trina Flan, the community impact coordinator at the United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area.

The survey allows the community to understand how many people are sleeping on other people's couches, living in hotels or motels, living on an emergency or long-term basis with friends or relatives or in settings not meant for human habitation, her email continued.

"Because we gather those data in the survey, all of the organizations that serve people experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness can make a strong collective case for more affordable housing, better access to affordable medical and child care and other basic needs that keep people from teetering into homelessness," she explained.

This years count of those without homes or at risk of being homeless because they are temporarily living with friends or family will be conducted by more than 20 local agencies, according to a news release from the United Way, and several will be providing meals or food to those who participate in the survey.

Food will be provided at Gods Love, Good Samaritan Assistance Ministries, the American Legion, Salvation Army and the East Helena Food Pantry at the United Methodist Church, and the United Way will be at the Lewis and Clark Public Library.

In 2007 there were 353 homeless people counted, compared to 645 who reported being homeless during the 2014 count.

Last years count in Lewis and Clark, Broadwater and Jefferson counties tallied 626 people, including 149 children younger than age 18.

When asked how long they had been in the community without homes, 28 said between a week and a month and 65 said more than a month.

When asked if they had been in the community on a longer basis, 47 said more than a year and 41 said they had been here more than two years. Forty two homeless people who said they had been here more than five years and 56 reported being here more than 10 years.

Among responses to the question about what would help respondents be housed, 66 cited employment while 62 said mental health or substance abuse treatment. Financial assistance and medium term rental assistance for four to 18 months also ranked high among responses.

While 128 respondents said they didnt have an income, 86 had a full-time job and 58 had part-time employment.

For 177 of those surveyed, this was their first time being homeless, while 82 said this was their second time and 78 reported being homeless four times.
The ongoing remediation of 2.7 acres that was once the site of Caird Engineering Works will be expanded to make the property suitable for residential use.

Helena City Manager Ron Alles made the announcement during Thursday mornings meeting of Hometown Helena  a weekly, early-morning forum where presentations are made on a variety of topics, both local and statewide.

The property was purchased by the Montana Business Assistance Connection in March through a funding package that included the City of Helenas revolving loan fund, which MBAC administers. At that time, MBAC had planned to remove the pollutants from the property  a legacy of its industrial use as a foundry and machine shop  to a standard suitable for commercial or industrial use.

A cleanup to this level was previously estimated to cost slightly more than $281,000. A cleanup to a level that would allow the property to be used for residential purposes was figured then at nearly $530,000. MBAC had initially opposed cleaning the site to the higher standard, saying the added expense would make the property too costly for a buyer.

Chris Shove, the MBAC executive director, said the organizations board voted on Tuesday to spend the nearly $60,000 needed to move beyond the industrial and commercial standard to achieve the residential cleanup standard.

It we do it now, it saves costs as weve mobilized the heavy equipment, Shove said, explaining a cleanup later would be more expensive as equipment would have to be brought back to the site.

Remediation work should be completed by the end of next week, he noted.

The decision to achieve the higher level of cleanup came as the industrial/commercial standard had been reached and soil sampling results were received, Shove said.

The initial estimate for the cost to clean the site to a residential level reflected a belief that pollutants extended deeper into the ground than they actually did and would require excavating more soil.

The most significant thing about complete remediation, Shove said, is there would be no restriction on the use of the property on the deed.

It could generate interest in other kinds of development, he said.

An online real estate website, Loopnet, where the former Caird property is listed, shows the propertys new name, Knowledge Commons, and the asking price of $823,284.

Shove said he didnt anticipate increasing the propertys price as a result of the more extensive cleanup.

Discussions are underway with two parties, one from Montana  Shove didnt say if this potential buyer was from Helena  and another from out of state, who are interested in the property.

The announcement on the new level of cleanup comes as a second visioning session was held to look at an area extending one-quarter of a mile from the former Caird site. Two dozen people met on Thursday morning to discuss their thoughts for this area.

Jessica Peterson, with Inside Edge Design, which is orchestrating the sessions, said afterward that two drawings will be prepared based on comments for the one-quarter mile area.

Participants expressed surprise for the amount of agreement that they found among each other, she said.

The six-legged intersection in front of the former Caird site  some 40,000 vehicles a day pass through this intersection  was a part of the discussion, Peterson said.

The discussions on this will be applied toward the ongoing city transportation study, she added.

There was consensus among participants that the pedestrian crossing on Montana Avenue, a part of the intersection, needs improvement and more crossings are needed.

Participants also wanted to see street crossings there and to the south improved to help pedestrians reach grocery stores.

Consensus was also found in the study area needing to be focused more on people and on preservation of the areas historic railroad character, Peterson said.

Information gleaned from this look at the area surrounding the former Caird site will be used toward seeking a larger planning grant, she added.
The community of York, tucked into the mountainous country and Forest Service lands northeast of Helena, is preparing for a special occasion.

Born of gold 150 years ago, the community is beginning to plan for a celebration of that event. Jan. 13, 1866 is regarded as the date for the discovery of gold in New York Gulch, said Richard Alberts, a member of the York Historical Society.

The celebration could either be one large event held in conjunction with York Fest or several events held at various times during the year, he said.

York Fest will most likely be Sept. 17, Alberts said.

The community is in the process of putting together a plan, he told the Lewis and Clark County Commission on Thursday.

And one of the focal points of that celebration planning will be the pioneering families, Alberts added.

The original families, he explained during a subsequent meeting of the Lewis and Clark County Heritage Tourism Council, are what made York what it is and have sustained the community.

Were just getting going and it will be fun, he said.

As part of the celebration plans could be a dedication of the bunkhouse donated to the community by the Welch family, Alberts said.

The family in 2003 donated a log cabin to York that dates back to the ranchs earliest days. The log cabin has been a centerpiece of community attention and today is a museum filled with local artifacts.

And in the fall of 2014 it donated a bunkhouse from the ranch. The roughly 12-foot by 20-foot, wood-frame bunkhouse probably housed two ranch workers, but there could have been four bunks in it.

The gold-bearing deposits were located up York Gulch, Alberts said and explained, If you go up there, you can really see where they tore the daylight out of it to mine the gold.

This story has been updated to correct where York is located.
Scott Kottas and his dad used to visit the York Bar in Helena to grab a bite to eat after the elder of the two visited one of the mines he owned in the area.

Decades later, Kottas can bring his own sons to the bar that as of Aug. 25, he now calls his own.

The third time is the charm, and when Kottas was offered a chance to buy York Bar after having turned it down twice before, he bought it.

I need one pub in my life, so I got one, he laughed.

He previously owned A la Carte Cafe in Helena, the Legal Tender in Clancy and other restaurants.

The York Bar moved across the street to its current location in 1936. And Kottas said it has changed hands several times since. The previous owners had the bar for about a decade before selling it to Kottas.

Kottas worked on and off behind the counter at the bar during his life, and he bought the establishment mostly for fun. Now he and his wife, Tammy, work at the bar when theyre not working their other jobs.

Kottas said come winter when the bar is less busy theyll host some events. But other than that they want to keep the same feeling the bar has had for generations.

Theres nothing to really change, he said.

The walls are still plastered with dollar bills and old photos. The smell of bacon grease lingers. And possibly most important, the burgers still have the same famous taste.

Kottas said he recently served burgers to two guys on a business trip from California, who drove to York from Deer Lodge just for a burger dinner. He also served a bus full of visitors from London. He even recounted a story of one guy who would drive up from White Sulphur Springs every day just for a burger.

But the bar also draws in regulars. Folks from around Lewis and Clark County who come through York while fishing or hunting in the surrounding area. Some couples even come in just for the jukebox, which has a good selection of CDs to choose songs, which come three for a dollar.

Its a good little family (pub), Kottas wife, Tammy, said.

Bob and Mike Matthews dont consider themselves regulars, but the brothers have been going to York Bar for 50 years.

A picture of their dad with a bull elk in the back of his truck used to hang in the pub under previous owners.

The two insisted that their best stories from the bar should be left off the public record, but they did fondly recall toboggan rides the bar used to offer down a nearby hill when they were children.

And when they grew older, the brothers would stop in after a hunt.

We always stop here and exchange lies with other hunters, Bob joked.

Its that atmosphere that is part of the reason for Scott and Tammys love for the York Bar.

The restaurateur has no plans for a next acquisition. Kottas is going to keep the bar and work there as long as he enjoys it.

I bought it for fun, and I just want to keep it that way, he said.

Kottas said that for him, buying the York Bar is last call.
In preface to commenting on Stewart Brandborgs opinion piece on wilderness issues (Dec. 15), I would like to acknowledge with gratitude the service that he and others like Howard Zahniser, Mardy and Olaus Murie, and Aldo Leopold rendered in establishing the framework of our National Wilderness Preservation System. These men and women fought for decades to establish a legacy that benefits all Americans from active users to passive appreciators.

Nonetheless, I must offer an alternative perspective to Stewarts injunction to resist the fuzzy, fuzzy Neverland of collaboration when addressing critical wilderness issues.

The Wilderness Preservation System certainly made my career with the U.S. Forest Service immeasurably more rewarding. In my final career assignment, I was supervisor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, a forest of 6.3 million acres, including 1.2 million acres of congressionally-designated wilderness. In addition, the H-T has about 3 million acres of roadless areas, de facto wilderness as it were, that was the subject of intense battles to determine what part should be formally included by Congress in the Wilderness Preservation System.

Managing wilderness is also challenging and much more than a passive exercise in let it be. Stewardship of designated wilderness areas is bound by the mandates of the 1964 Wilderness Act. And therein lie many of our management challenges. The introductory section of the 1964 Wilderness Act is inspiring and oft-quoted: an enduring resource of wilderness  where earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man But as a counterpoint to these two paragraphs of poetic vision the Wilderness Act concludes with two pages of exceptions allowing various non-wilderness practices to continue. A cynic might say Yeah right, untrammeled by man except for multiple airstrips, irrigation reservoirs and ditches, livestock grazing, mineral exploration and mining -- all allowed under the 1964 act.

What lessons can we draw from these contradictions in the 1964 act? The most stalwart wilderness proponents will point to these contradictions as ample evidence of the dangers of compromise.

As executive director of the Wilderness Society in 1964, Stewart Brandborg no doubt vigorously discussed the concessions that wilderness advocates and their congressional allies should make to enact a wilderness bill. In the final analysis I believe that we would not have had a Wilderness Preservation System instituted in 1964 without concessions to other interests. Alliances had to be built with some who were not fully aligned with wilderness protection. In the end the perfect did not become the enemy of the good.

And for the future?

First, we must manage designated wilderness to minimize impacts on the values outlined in the Wilderness Act and to eliminate, by all legal means, incompatible uses. Within the limits of public health and safety, ecological forces like wildfire should be allowed to play their natural role. Keeping the wild in this wilderness should be our ultimate metric.

Second, we must proceed on the wilderness designation question. The fight for a comprehensive statewide Montana wilderness bill has seemed never-ending. Progress has been piecemeal. I do not believe further progress can be made without bringing various interested parties to the table despite the dangers these parties might perceive in such a process. Yes, this will involve collaboration and compromise. Wilderness advocates will not be fully satisfied. Some areas may get other designations such as National Recreation Area status to accommodate non-wilderness recreation uses and other management objectives.

I certainly cannot speak for the Montana Wilderness Association or local representatives of the Wilderness Society, but I applaud their hard work on efforts such as the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project as they engage other groups such as Pyramid Lumber and motorized recreation clubs. I know these groups wrestle with difficult questions in meeting with other interested parties: Have we given too much? Does this affect our core principles?

For me there are multiple payoffs for such efforts. Not only is there the prospect of additional wilderness designation and better stewardship of our natural resources, but we also further the goal of a more civil society where citizens with diverse interests can exchange ideas and work together.

Edward Monnig of Missoula is retired after a Forest Service career in several positions including District Ranger and Forest Supervisor.
A 2.7-acre site that once housed a foundry and machine shop dating back to 1895 is being prepared to contribute to Helenas future.

Alan Nicholson through Queen City Crossing LLC, a company created Oct. 7 of last year, of which he is the registered agent, completed the purchase of the Caird Engineering Works property earlier this month.

Nicholson paid the asking price, $725,000, said Brian Obert, executive director of the Montana Business Assistance Connection, which has owned the site since March 2014.

His was the only one of two offers that contained the full price for the property, Obert said, and noted another potential buyer, whom he declined to identify, offered about $100,000 less.

It was low enough to have it scoffed at, he said of the reaction by the Montana Business Assistance Connection board.

The sale called for Queen City Crossing to put down $75,000 on the loan that is being financed by the Montana Business Assistance Connection, Obert said.

The loan comes with a 4 percent fixed rate of interest.

For the first five years of the loan, only the interest payment will be required each month, he continued, and said it would amount to about $22,000.

The interest-only payment will allow Nicholson time to plan for the sites development, Obert explained.

The Montana Business Assistance Connection borrowed $500,000 from the citys revolving loan fund, which it manages, for its purchase of the property.

While the Montana Business Assistance Connection didnt access the property until July 11, 2014, allowing the previous owner to complete machine work contracts, an environmental assessment was completed in September of that year.

Pollutants on the site werent as significant as anticipated, and the property was cleaned to meet the higher-level standard for residential use.

Of the roughly $400,000 spent on the environmental cleanup, about half of that money came from a grant through Environmental Protection Agency funds administered by the Snowy Mountain Development Corp. in Lewistown, Obert said.

Nicholson said on Monday that hes glad to have finally completed the purchase that was announced in December 2014.

Access to the site is important, he said, and will help guide plans for the property.

While access wont stop development of the site, it will change what can be done there, Nicholson said.

City Manager Ron Alles said in October of last year during discussions for the neighborhood where the property is located that the Montana Department of Transportation wants to close the left-turn bay onto Boulder Avenue, which borders the property, for southbound traffic on Montana Avenue.

The site is located at the intersection of Highway 12 and Montana and Helena avenues, among the busiest intersections in Helena.

According to the Department of Transportation website, a section of roadway in front of the property had an annual average daily traffic of 18,800 vehicles in 2014.

Alles said he asked the state officials for two years to plan for how that decision would affect traffic patterns in Helena.

Plans for the property, Nicholson said, would be based on something realistic for future access to the site in the foreseeable future.

What could happen to the property may be a mixed use of commercial, office space and perhaps some housing too, he said.

But if access to the site will be limited in the future, that could possibly preclude other options, he noted, for retail that could happen on the property.

And how the state Department of Transportation chooses to address the nearby five-legged intersection, known locally as Malfunction Junction, can also have consequences for the site, Nicholson said.

Closing Helena Avenue, which has been mentioned as a way to convert the intersection into a four-way stop, would also affect how people from the west can reach the property.

Obert said he is less sure about the future for the left-turn bay into Boulder Avenue, but he said he is sure that when the Department of Transportation determines there is a safety issue with it, it will be closed.

For planning reasons, they have to assume that, he explained of why he thought state officials would say the turn-bay would be closed.

Nicholson said he doesnt anticipate breaking ground for about a year and noted groundbreaking on the Great Northern Town Center took two years after acquiring the property.
A battery of administrative changes has helped Montana avert a projected $12 million loss in its state employee health fund, Gov. Steve Bullock announced Tuesday.

Bullock, speaking during a press conference held at one of six free health clinics supported by Montana's State Employee Health Plan, said instead of losing money, that plan finished 2015 with $2 million in savings -- a $14 million turnaround he chalked up to "contract efficiencies" and a "reduced overlap in services."

Bullock said some of those efficiencies stemmed from the reassignment of health plan data services to the state's Information Technologies department. Others came from the hiring of Allegiance, the state's new Missoula-based insurance plan provider. Bullock said that change helped the plan achieve a 24 percent reduction in administrative fees.

The state's self-funded plan, which offers insurance and free clinic visits to some 33,000 state employees and their families, was managed by Blue Cross Blue Shield until 2012 at which time Cigna Health Insurance was awarded the contract. The plan, managed on a roughly $220 million annual budget, sustained $28 million in losses in 2014 while managed by Cigna -- a figure Budget Director Dan Villa said makes this year's multimillion-dollar turnaround all the more impressive.

He pointed to new programs meant to encourage primary care visits and identify high-risk plan members as two of the state's most effective cost control measures.

"I think the biggest piece was aggressive case management," Villa added. "There's two ways to catch a heart attack: through a wellness screening or a $100,000 catastrophic claim in an ER.

"We're catching them earlier, we're diagnosing early and we're preventing illnesses."

Villa said he couldn't immediately provide a more detailed breakdown of savings owed to those changes. Nor did he provide financial details on losses the health fund sustained in 2014.

Department of Administration Director Sheila Hogan said tweaks that came out of her department -- including the change in insurance providers -- pushed other vendors to help the state drive down costs.

She expects to roll out a health care "blue book," meant to help state employees make "better decisions about their health care," by the end of the year.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include Cigna Health Insurance into the lineage of managers of the state employee's health plan.
DECATUR  After Rickie Kendricks was arrested July 29, 2013, for the murder of 21-year-old Isaiah Wiley, he spoke with another jail inmate about why he had been incarcerated.

Although that man subsequently changed his mind about providing information to law enforcement, his testimony on Kendricks' alleged story about taking out Wiley was presented to jurors.

On the fifth day of the trial of 28-year-old Kendricks, the state presented several more pieces of evidence, including surveillance video showing a car resembling one in which he was likely riding in front of the crime scene. Kendricks faces 45 years to life if convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement.

A police interview of Kendricks was also presented to the jurors, in which he denied knowing Jon Whittle, who was arrested with the murder weapon in April 2013.

Other witnesses testified last week that Kendricks and Whittle were close associates. One witness said she believed they were together in her car on the date and time period of the homicide. The two men were staying in the same house the weekend of the shooting.

After the state rested its case late Monday afternoon, defense attorneys presented their first two witnesses, Kendricks' sister and mother.

They were called on to testify that Kendricks never had dreadlocks or braids, in response to an identification by a key witness. That witness testified Wednesday that she was certain Kendricks was the shooter. But she had identified other possible shooters to police before naming Kendricks.

The Kendricks relatives were also presented to show that this witness had intimate knowledge of who Kendricks was and that the cellphone he was using the day of the homicide was not always in his possession.

Before the jurors were seated, Associate Macon County Judge Thomas E. Little addressed the motion for a mistrial raised by the defense team Friday.

Assistant State's Attorney Kate Kurtz argued that prosecutors issued subpoenas to four supporters of the defendant on Wednesday, the first day of testimony, after they allegedly threatened a witness. The immediate effect of the subpoenas was the removal of those supporters from the gallery.

Kurtz said those individuals had threatened that witness. Their names had been given to a state's attorney's investigator.

There was even a physical altercation, Kurtz said. She was fearful about all those things.

That witness was sitting a few feet away from the murder victim, on the steps of a front porch of an abandoned house on the 400 block of East Waggoner Street, when the shooter appeared from the rear of the house and opened fire on Wiley. She testified that the shooter stood in the spot Wiley had been moments earlier, as he began shooting. The incident occurred about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012.

At that time, Wiley was slated to testify against Demarta Cunningham, who shot to death two people over a drug debt eight months earlier. Cunningham was subsequently convicted and is serving a term of life in prison.

Kurtz argued that because she elicited testimony from that witness about being threatened, it was possible that those who threatened her would be called as witnesses later in the trial. By issuing subpoenas to them, they were excluded from the courtroom.

Defense attorney Travis Strobach said he did not see why the state would need to exclude the Kendricks supporters from the courtroom after that witness testified on Wednesday.

Little ruled that it was a serious issue, because the defendant had the right to a public trial.

It's troublesome to the court that I wasn't given the opportunity to participate, Little said. He would have preferred being in the loop to make a decision. However, he said Kurtz provided a basis for the state's actions, for it is not unusual to subpoena possible rebuttal witnesses.

The mistrial motion was denied.

Because the trial is about a victim who was murdered in a hail of 13 bullets for giving information that led to the arrest and conviction of a double murderer, there has been an undercurrent of fear which can be sensed during the testimony of many of the witnesses.

The inmate who sat on the witness stand Monday was no exception. He said he didn't even know if it was his image appearing on a large TV screen facing the jurors, during an interview with a police detective.

In the video, Decatur police detective Barry Hitchens asks the inmate, So Rickie Kendricks told you that he took out someone who was going to testify against Tay (Cunningham)?

Yes, the inmate replies.

Did he make any specific remarks about a handgun? asks Hitchens, lead detective in the Kendricks case.

Yeah, he said he gave a .40-caliber to Whittle, Jon Whittle, the inmate says.

In the videotaped interview, the inmate says Kendricks told him he got a call from a man and went over and took care of business.

Hitchens asks him if Kendricks told him that he received a call in which he was told the victim was on the block at the time of the shooting.

The inmate responds, Yes.

Why did he say he did it? the detective asks the inmate.

He told me if it was my brother, wouldn't I do the same thing? the inmate tells the detective.

During audiotaped jail calls presented earlier to jurors, Kendricks refers to Cunningham as his brother.

The trial resumes at 9 a.m. today in circuit court.
DECATUR  After buying many of the fixtures at Habitat for Humanity ReStores in Sullivan, Bloomington and Springfield, Greg Broadnax is excited to see there will soon be a store at 932 E. Wood St., kitty-corner from the convenience store he's getting ready to open.

I do a lot of projects, like remodeling houses, he said. It's a plus to get good materials without paying top dollar.

Decatur Area Habitat for Humanity hasn't had a ReStore for more than a year because its previous building at 250 W. Cerro Gordo St. was demolished last year. However, Executive Director Edward Ed Smith and his board are working to reopen on East Wood Street by spring.

You could virtually walk in there today and start selling stuff if you had to, but we want to make a few improvements first, Smith said.

Habitat has begun receiving donations at its new ReStore on Thursday afternoons and is picking up donations by appointment on Tuesdays. The store will sell lumber, fixtures and other building supplies the chapter doesn't need to fulfill its mission of working alongside low-income people to help them achieve home ownership.

In recent months, Habitat has received donations at its warehouse at 702 N. Van Dyke St., given by Dunn Co. last summer, and will continue to store construction materials there, Smith said.

On Jan. 1, Habitat took possession of the store site, most recently the home of Willies Thrift Shop and before that used by National Pipe Trades as a training school. I dont think I need the 5,000 electrical volt stuff running through the building, so well take that out, Smith said.

Other planned improvements include installing insulation and moving Habitats offices from their long-time home on the first floor of Heritage Behavorial Health Center into the new ReStore.

Smith is also looking to hire a store manager.

The chapter already has a fair amount of store stock at its warehouse, including cabinets, stools, countertops, walk-in bathtubs, sinks, dishwashers, lighting fixtures, ladders, windows, doors, shutters and a small amount of furniture.

Each Thursday afternoon, however, the store site is increasing its inventory.

Charles Chuck Cobillas, warehouse supervisor for ReBath, brought a vanity top and several windows earlier this month, Mike Wortman of Decatur came by with a fireplace screen, and Dike and Margie Ferris of Decatur dropped off ceiling fans and other electrical equipment left over from remodeling a house for their daughter.

Weve been holding onto this stuff for a couple months, waiting to donate it to Habitat, Ferris said. Its a worthwhile organization.

Volunteer Carli Miller of Niantic was keeping her eye out for a dresser she could transform into a clothes hamper while she helped Smith and board member Sharon Samuelson unload donations.

Theres a lot of interest in repurposing, Miller said. I think the ReStore will be good for Decaturs economy.
When it comes to votes, the state of New York is a gold mine. In the 2012 presidential election, more than 11 million New Yorkers were registered. By itself, New York accounted for half of Barack Obama's margin of victory in the popular vote over Mitt Romney.

You might think Republicans who want to win the White House this year would be trying to improve that performance by appealing to residents of the Empire State. But Ted Cruz is doing the opposite: He sneered that Donald Trump would be bad for America because he "embodies New York values." If Cruz gets the nomination, the state's residents, from Easthampton to Buffalo, won't forget the insult.

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 ought to make it a priority to abolish it.

Under the Electoral College, we don't have a national election for president. We have 50 state elections, and nearly every one of them is winner-take-all. New York hasn't voted for a Republican for president since 1984, and even if Queens native Donald Trump heads the ticket, it won't do so this year.

That means all 29 electoral votes will go to the Democrats. It makes no difference if the GOP nominee gets nearly 2.5 million votes in New York, as Romney did, or zero: The electoral college effect is the same.

Democrats have been ready to scrap this undemocratic system at least since 2000, when Al Gore outpolled George W. Bush but lost the election. The surprise is that Republicans have yet to come around. They don't seem to have noticed that the Electoral College now provides an advantage to the other party.

In 2004, Bush got 3 million more votes than John Kerry, but if 60,000 votes had shifted Kerry's way in Ohio, he would have been president. In 2012, Republican strategist Matthew Dowd calculated that Romney could get a million more votes than Obama and lose.

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have voted Democratic in each of the past six presidential elections. They command 242 electoral votes, just 28 short of the 270 needed to win.

Republicans have states that are just as loyal, but they number only 13, with just 102 electoral votes. To win, the GOP has to carry almost all of the battleground states.

Partisan effects aside, there are plenty of reasons to retire this jerry-rigged antique. One is that this year's nominees will ignore vast hordes of voters in California, Texas, Illinois and other populous states where the outcome is not in doubt.

Almost all of their campaign efforts will be made in a handful of decent-sized states, like Ohio, Florida, Virginia and Colorado, that could go either way. If you're in Boston, Nashville or Phoenix, you have as much chance of seeing a presidential candidate in person as you have of shooting pool with the Dalai Lama.

Defenders of the Electoral College portray it as ingeniously designed to balance the multiplicity of interests in a large federal republic. In fact, it does nothing to strengthen federalism, since it confers no power on state governments. It doesn't protect small states, which get ignored.

The framers, surprising as it may be, were fallible humans groping in the dark, a long time ago. Stanford historian Jack Rakove, author of a Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the Constitutional Convention, has said they "really had no good idea how the system would work."

We do: Not that well. We tolerate this mechanism only because it almost always yields the same result as the popular vote. If it often did the opposite, it would be scrapped. But why run the risk every four years?

If the formula behind the Electoral College were so inspired, we'd apply it elsewhere. But in other elections, from the U.S. Senate to county coroner, we take it for granted that whoever gets the most votes from individual citizens wins.

Getting rid of it would strengthen democracy and eliminate a perverse anomaly identified by one victim. "You win some, you lose some," Al Gore said. "And then there's that little-known third category."
Gov. Bruce Rauner may have made an important step toward solving the states pension crisis, although he badly mangled the announcement.

Rauner last week announced he had reached an agreement with Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, on pension reform. The move is significant because it places powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, with a choice of opposing the deal reached by the two, or being put in a spot of saying no to a crucial piece of legislation.

The plan is to follow Cullertons original proposal on the pension crisis by offering employees a choice. Under the proposed plan, if employees want to keep their 3 percent annual cost of living increase, then their pay increases going forward would not be included in the pension calculation. If employees want their raises to be a part of the pension calculation, then those raises would be subject to the new pension law that offers annual simple pension increases that would max out at 3 percent.

Cullerton has long stated that he believes if employees are offered a choice that will satisfy the states constitutional requirement. Not everyone agrees with that assessment and the final decision will be up to the courts.

For this scenario to work, this choice would have to be removed from the collective bargaining process.

However, when Rauner announced the deal he went several steps further than the agreement. He stated that the issue of wage increases would be removed from the collective bargaining process and said it was one of many issues he wanted to remove from contract negotiations.

Cullerton said immediately that was not the deal he signed off on and Madigan quickly sent out another of his news releases claiming how Rauner wants to destroy the middle class, etc.

The Rauner administration, after several hours, admitted the governor had oversold the proposal saying he was not as precise with his words as he could have been.

Its clear Rauner bungled the announcement and, instead of having a triumphant week, spent the time back-pedaling. There is little trust between the states leaders and missteps like this make the situation worse.

However, its also significant that Cullerton and Rauner have reached a deal. That means eventually, Madigan will be forced to either consider the pension reform or come out against it. Hes in a difficult spot because some of the wording in the proposal comes from a bill Madigan has supported.

More important than the political gamesmanship is that Cullerton and Rauner may have found a way to work together. That could be good news for the state budget crisis and other issues. But that will be true only if Rauner can regain the trust he lost last week.
For more than one hour, I've been roaming the partly frozen, muddy narrow streets of the village of Horom, trying to find Tamar (Tamara Darbinyan).

A group of men outside the cultural center describe the location of her house, saying she went in that direction a little while ago. A resident from one of the neighboring houses advises me not to go to Tamar's house alone. "She keeps dogs, they might attack," she warns. "Do you see that house with the car parked in front? Go there, and tell Uncle Kolya to go with you."

I follow the woman's advice. As luck would have it, Uncle Kolya is at home. Immediately he takes an interest: "Why do you want to see Tamar? Are you a relative?" I say, I'm a journalist. "Wow, that happens? A journalist taking an interest in Tamar?" Uncle Kolya is genuinely surprised. "Are you going to film [her]? Show it on television, so people can see what a calamity lives next to us. But can it even be called 'living? We'll go and see if she's home."

We come out onto the street. Kolya shows me the tumbledown building across the street. "This is Tamar's house, but it's unlikely that she's there now," he says. The pack of 56 dogs lying, sitting, or simply circling the area greets us with hostility. Tamar's not home. Kolya shoos the dogs away. A big dog with a broken paw refuses to leave, throwing us a couple of indifferent glances and stretching his body to catch the rays of the winter sun.

"This one is a smart dog; plus, he's old," remarks Kolya. "She's gathered all the abandoned dogs, gives them food. They won't move from the door; they'll bark, jump on passers-by. We say, Tamar, you can't do this. A person won't risk walking on the street. She tells us, so don't walk in front of my door. Once, she blocked the street with rocks, for cars not to pass. She says they disturb my dogs. Last summer, the village mayor shot stray dogs; their number dropped somewhat."

We step over a low stone wall and enter Tamar's yard. The unpleasant smell of smoke becomes stronger. The area that once served as a foyer for the house is missing a roof and a door. The main entrance is also missing a door. The rags hanging from above and the ash covered metal attachment partly covering the entrance create some impression of protection from the cold. Kolya says perhaps I might find Tamar at the village cemetery. "Does she go there often?" I ask. "Don't know. When it crosses her mind, she goes to the cemeteries. Since she's not home and she's not at her neighbors', she's probably there."

On the way to the cemetery I befriend two women who are going to visit their relatives' graves. We speak of Tamar. The older of the two speaks quite favorably about her, saying she is quite smart, had a normal education at one time, graduated with honors, and attended medical school.

"Tamar's an inoffensive person. She won't harm a soul, but probably something's up with her mental state, because for a few years now she's been living in that filth, dear girl. They say she lost it after her mother's death. The villagers say she had a child and gave it up to the orphanage; that's how she lost her mind. But overall, she's a peaceful, inoffensive woman. She wouldn't harm anyone, won't ask for anything from anyone. Neighbors give her a plate of food: she eats half and gives the other half to the dogs. She says they too are god's creations. It's just that the bad thing is that she's in a terribly unhygienic state," she says. "She has a sister, brother; they come, watch over her; give her food and clothing, but the next day it's the same situation."

Tamar wasn't at the cemetery, and I return empty-handed to the now familiar house. One of the neighboring households again takes an interest in me. I introduce myself and ask where their neighbor might be. The woman, speaking Armenian with a Russian accent, invites me inside, saying her husband is Tamar's cousin and can answer my questions until her youngest son locates their troublesome relative.

Mikael Darbinyan says his cousin has been this way since the Soviet period. After her parents' death, she lived in the house with her brother. Tamar's father had three children from his first wife and six from his second wife, and all have turned out quite smart. One of the children from the first wife, Razmik Darbinyan, worked at the Byurakan Observatory and was considered Viktor Hambardzumyan's "right hand." Tamar is from the second wife: her two sisters and three brothers likewise shone with their knowledge.

"After her mother's death, Tamar and Noro turned out like this; otherwise, there isn't anyone with a genetic disorder among them," he remarks. "Now if you talk to Tamar, she'll respond very well, she'll say very smart things. But if you perhaps give her advice, she won't listen. She won't permit lights to be installed in her home; she won't agree to remove the dogs from there. They'll die, and she won't bury them. She'll let them rot, keep the skulls, and you don't know why. I've told her several times, take a shower, wash your hair, I'll bring you to my house and you can stay, [but] she doesn't want."

Noises are heard outside. Mikael's wife, Olya, says that Tamar has come. Turns out she had gone to the neighbor's house for coffee. I go out to the yard. Seeing me, Tamar rejoices. "Wow, dear girl, I knew it was you. As soon as they told me that some girl is asking after you, I quickly said, it's that journalist from the other day, surely she's come; otherwise, what stranger is going to be asking about me?"

Tamar's joy is genuine. In her radiant eyes on her grimy face, I notice her desire for attention. There's almost no change in her external appearance. It's the same raven black hands that when I saw the first time from a distance seemed to me she was wearing gloves; the same grimy, cigarette-smelling clothing. In the clear plastic bag in her hand, I see cups, a plate, lavash [Armenian flatbread], and food leftovers. Tamar, bending over the bag, empties it on the ground, pushing the food toward the dogs surrounding her. Then she gestures, come, let me show you my house.

That, which Tamar calls a house, resembles a garbage dump more than anything else. On the latticed metal bed in the center of the room, I glimpse a bag full of rags, which most likely serves as her pillow. Instead of a wool mattress and blanket, there's only a threadbare woman's coat thrown on the bed. The other notable item in the house is a heater, without pipes, in which she burns everything to stay warm - old shoes, plastic bottles, tire scraps, garbage. The second bed serves as a cabinet. Showing the grimy empty pot, Tamar, in a somewhat embarrassed tone, says, "If you came two days earlier, I would've offered you macaroni pilaf."

"My neighbors gave me two heads of cabbage, supposedly I was to make borscht, but I haven't touched them. This fruit too froze and rotted like that. Do I look like I eat fruit? I only eat spicy [foods]  I don't eat meat either. And this here is my sister's old coat. I throw it over me when I sleep. When I'm not home, the puppies come and go under it to stay warm." Tamar sits at the edge of the bed and removes a pack of tobacco from her pocket. "I only smoke Prima. I don't like filters."

Tamar says she began smoking while she was a school-age child. It's a little difficult to believe this story considering village life, but I don't express my doubts. I ask why she refused offers to install electricity in her house.

"Dear girl, if they install it, who's going to pay the bill? I haven't received my monthly pension check yet. Plus, the entire ceiling is covered in soot. It's not possible to clean it all up. And why do I need electricity? I have neither a TV nor a fridge nor a washing machine, for 15 years already. I like candles."

I say the neighbors complain that she sings loudly at night. Tamar narrows her eyes. "My brain gets cold at night. As soon as I sing, I become warm. I sing to get warm, dear girl," she says and begins to sing.

Tamar becomes genuine. She loved once in her life. The boy was Ukrainian; his name, Nikolai, from the village of Berezovsk in the Zhitomir region. "I had fallen madly in love, but I would keep it a secret. I was 19 years old at the time, but he didn't get engaged to me. His Russian friend told me that Kolya has a Ukrainian sweetheart, but he loves me too and now he doesn't know with whom to get engaged. I said, no problem, let him take two wives, I agree." Tamar marries a year later, but to a young Armenian man. But the marriage doesn't last long  just six months.

"I wasn't in love, I just liked him and my father and aunt didn't agree to my choosing him, but I got engaged. The day after the wedding, I almost ran away, came [back] home. At five months' pregnant, I ultimately returned to my father's house. Four months later, I had a boy. I took him to the orphanage, but then I gave him to a very good woman named Rosa. She couldn't have kids, [so] I gave him to her," says Tamar calmly, and removing her hat, and parting her felt-like hair, tries to show the "three lines of fate" on her head.

"When they say, you have three fates on your head so you have to take three men, it's a lie  it's a sign of a good memory. My toes too are up and down, they're not equal. That too, they say that you're a physically strong person. My hands too are pretty; it's just that they're black now. My fingers are neither crooked nor short. If I bathe, will my beauty show?"

Despite the cold weather, Tamar is without warm socks. "I cut the arms off my sister's coat, put them on so my legs don't get cold. I had socks, [but] they wore out and I threw them away. My boots too were given to me by my younger sister from Yerevan, but why they cracked, I don't know. They were lacquered; they were supposed to last long," said Tamar, puzzled.

I ask when she last took a shower. "30 years ago, dear girl, in 1986. My brother came, shaved my head, took me to a bathhouse in Leninakan [present-day Gyumri], but I wouldn't want to go at all, if I knew that an earthquake was going to happen. I told my brother, don't take me to Leninakan, I won't go. I see people's black silhouettes on the buildings."

My interviewee excludes the possibility of lice in her clumps of hair, which hasn't seen a comb in months. "Our priest says that a clean environment is needed even for lice. Now where is there a clean environment on my head for there to be lice?" Tamar laughs heartily. "I used to cut it every spring with scissors, but these past two years, my mother has appeared in my dreams, tells me, don't cut your hair, [so] I no longer cut it."

Tamar enumerates the list of illnesses she has: cancer, pleurisy, hernia, kidney stones. But she doesn't remember ever catching a cold. She says her treatment is unfiltered cigarettes and hot pepper, which she uses a lot. She's not displeased by the attitude of her fellow villagers. They help her: give her food, offer her coffee. On New Year's Eve, they gave her lots of fruit. She hadn't eaten it: it froze and rotted. Three times alone she was saved from poisoning. She says that too happened as a result of her being careful. "After the burial at cemeteries, they leave food. Someone had been wicked and had put bug repellent in a juice bottle. I was almost poisoned, I almost died. It's good that I only wet my tongue and didn't drink the whole thing."

She's not unhappy with the village mayor, but she doesn't recall him ever helping her. "The mayor? No, he hasn't helped, but I too haven't asked. The mayor's brother has a store. If I sit on his stoop, he'll bring me bread, tobacco. Our current village mayor, when he was first elected, that was the only time I appeared near his house. His mother gave me cheese and an apple, and I haven't been back," says Tamar. Her brother living in the village of Hayrenyats and her younger sister living in Yerevan have been helping her with food and clothing for years.

"Recently, my brother stopped helping. He found out that I'm going to bequeath the house to my younger sister. He says, well then let Gohar take care of you." Showing the bottles and pots thrown in the corner, she explains, "And this is my kitchen. I put the plates, bottles, everything upside down so no animals fall inside and die. They too are god's creations. And I don't pour the trash that I burn on the ground: I've made a heap in a corner of the house  we cannot pollute the soil. I can't carry [the heap] somewhere else, and so I've poured the soot and ashes in a corner of the house."

The day is coming to an end and I'm rushing to say goodbye to Tamar. "Yes, you're doing the right thing, go, a person shouldn't be outside when it gets dark. My Grandpa Khacho used to say, when the sun goes down, both men and women should rush home. Thieves and hookers go out at night. There are thousands of evil things in the dark  dogs and jackals. I too, when it's not yet completely dark, definitely go home."

Tamar shoos the dogs. "But I talked so much. I don't get caught up in conversation as much with my acquaintances as much as with strangers. Our stars have surely aligned, dear girl, that's why I talked so much."

P.S. Village mayor Ashot Paskevichyan, in phone conversation, said the issue with Tamar Darbinyan goes back a ways. They made attempts to improve the woman's life, but they were met with stubborn resistance. "She doesn't accept money. Usually they go and take food. Last year, she became a pensioner. About three years ago, we tried to take her to a hospital to be examined. She fled, didn't come. We say, take a shower, wash [yourself]; she refuses, [saying] I'll get sick if I take a shower. She has no desire for us to improve her conditions; otherwise, it's about 10 days' work, installing electricity, a door, windows. She has a sister and brother who come often, bring clothing and food. We're embarrassed to have such a resident in our community, but we can't do anything forcefully," he said.
Rumors started circulating as far back as last year that Georgian Airways (formerly Airzena) was preparing to enter the aviation market in Armenia.

There were two possible ways to do this: Either the companys owners were to create a new company in Armenia or Georgian Airways needed permission to fly overseas from Armenia.

The latter is known as the 5th freedom of the air; one of nine in a set of commercial aviation rights granting a country's airlines the privilege to enter and land in another country's airspace

The fifth freedom allows an airline to carry revenue traffic between foreign countries as a part of services connecting the airline's own country. It is the right to carry passengers from one's own country to a second country and from that country to a third country (and so on).

Today, Armenia does not have such a two-way right with Georgia. What exists between the two countries in terms of aviation is a 2008 agreement stipulating that Implementing the 5th air freedom is subject to the special agreement of the aviation authorities of the parties.

Georgian Airways went the other route. As reported by the Georgian Commersant.ge website, Tamaz Gaiashvili and Robert Oganesian founded a new aviation company in Armenia. Gaiashvili founded Georgian Airways and serves as its board director. Hetq has written about the close connection between Gaiashvili and Mikhail Baghdasarov, former owner of the now defunct Armavia Airlines.

Its likely that recent news that Baghdasarov was offered a job at Georgian Airways had something to do with the new company. Through our colleagues in Georgia, Hetq has obtained public registry data regarding Georgia Airways as of January 15. Tamaz Gaiashvili is the companys CEO and his first deputy. 80% of the companys shares are owned by Davit Gaiashvili, and the remaining 20% by Georgian Air Service Ltd.

The aviation company formed in Armenia is called AviaCompany Armenia Ltd. It was founded on December 18, 2015 by RA citizen Ashot Torosyan and Georgia citizen Robert Oganesian. The companys registered at an address in the Malatia-Sebastia neighborhood of Yerevan with charter capital of 200,000 drams. Torosyans official residence is in Gyumri while Oganesian is registered in Tbilisi. On January 5 of this year the name of Tamaz Gaiashvili was added as a founder. This proves that Georgian money is involved.

Readers might ask why then are 51% of the shares belong to Ashot Torosyan from Armenia. Its simple. Armenian law requires that the shares of an aviation company seeking an air operators certificate (AOC) must be 51% owned by a citizen(s) of Armenia or a legal entity/entities registered in Armenia.

The name AviaCompany Armenia doesnt show as an airline operator in the website of Armenias General Civil Aviation Department. Thus, we can conclude the company hasnt yet received an operators license.

Commersant.ge reports that the company will be using Georgia Airways planes. The news site sputnikarmenia, citing Robert Oganesian, says the company will employ 350. A few will be employees of Georgia Airways. Commersant.ge reports that most of the new companys employees will come from Georgian Airways.

So why are the Georgians interested in Armenias aviation market? As we wrote previously, Georgian Airways has faced a number of problems since 2014. That year, the Georgian government allowed thirteen Russian companies to fly to Tbilisi. Georgia Airways was the first to suffer as a result. (Direct Tbilisi-Moscow-Tbilisi flights were cut after Russia and Georgia clashed in the August 2008 war. Between 2011 and 2014, Georgian Airways and Russias Sibir Airlines carried out direct charter flights linking the two countries that went to war in 2008. When the powerful Russian companies started taking over some routes, especially Tbilisi to Moscow, Tamaz Gaiashvili threatened to halt all Georgia Airways flights. While Georgian Airways was able to regain some parity in flight numbers, Russian aviation authorities later requested that the frequency of daily flights be increased. This too angered Gaiashvili who said that the Russian desire to operate sis daily flights to Tbilisi was incomprehensible.

Commersant.ge reports that Georgian Airways has halted flights to Vienna, Paris, and Amsterdam. Instead, it flies to Moscow and Tel Aviv. Nevertheless, according to the companys website, one can still book a ticket to Vienna or Amsterdam.

Iase Zaudashvili, the Georgian operators former CEO, told Commersant.ge that it cant be ruled out that the company will leave the Georgian market all together since there is the threat that Russian carriers will completely gobble it up. Thus, the logic behind making moves towards Armenia. On the other hand, Zaudashvili mentioned the corruption that exists in Armenian aviation and the existence of the same Russian companies (Aeroflot and its subsidiaries) with which Air Armenia and Armavia failed to compete with.

Robert Oganesian told sputnikarmenia that the companys first flight would be a Boeing 737-700 NG. Where it will fly isnt yet known. According to aerotransport.org, Georgian Airways has two such aircraft, in addition to one Boeing 737-500, and one each of a Bombadier CRJ 100LR and a CRJ 200LR, plus one Challenger 850. The company plans to obtain an Embraer ERJ-170.

The registration of AviaCompany Armenia at this time isnt accidental. The summer aviation season starts at the end of March, and according to Armenian government regulations petitions to operate regular flights must be filed with the ministry of the economy no less than twenty and no more than thirty days in advance.

In the meantime, the new company, with Georgian financial backing must first receive an Armenian AOC.
16 year old Anyas blue eyes redden when we speak of her dreams.

Perhaps my greatest dream is to leave this place, she says and then rushes to the balcony. My girl, why are you crying? asks her father Boris Babayan. Theres no answer.

The heat of the stove has filled the room in the dormitory located in a part of the Lernagog dorm residents have nicknamed Los Angeles. (Lernagog is a village of some 1,500 in Armavir Province)

They live in a place cut-off from the world. Wolves and stray dogs are their winter neighbors, replaced by scorpions and snakes in the summer.

There are two buildings in Los Angeles  a former trade school and this dormitory. The school hasnt been open since the Soviet era. On the dusty windows someone has written, I love my country.

Close by is the rundown dormitory; cold, long, with dilapidated corridors.

There are seven families living in the dorm. We have already met with three of them. (See: Norvart and Her Three Boys)

Dormitory residents say they are most frightened by strong winds. More of the walls collapse with each passing day. A recent storm tore the roof off the building and a large structural crack is getting bigger.

You know, to the extent that the state of the country has worsened, so has our lives, says 37 year-old Anna Grigoryan.

The building even shakes from a slight gust of wind. When it gets windy we gather in one spot, from fear. Just so long as we die together, says Anna.

Residents have learnt to live in a building with no windows. Theyve grown accustomed to living with fear as well, they say. There are no services in the building. Theres no regular water supply. I married a guy from Lernagog. After getting a divorce I came here and stayed, says Anna.

There are no showers in the building and the toilets outside. The last storm also tore off the roof of the toilet. Residents have to fetch water for laundry, kitchen use and bathing from the yard where the only working faucet is located. At the end of the month residents pay 100 drams per family member.

When I go visit someone, and see how they live, I dont want to come back here. Believe me. Here, you shower and eat in the same place, says Anna.

Anna then asks Anya if shes kept that photo of her walking with a fox. Turns out a few days ago, on the way home, a fox crossed her path and the two ambled together for some time.

Anyas mother Elada receives a monthly 30,000 dram disability pension. Anyas father, Boris, is in Russia working. Hes promised to send money to pay the rent with but so far they havent received it.

Anya follows the conversation, her head hanging. There are two children in the Babayan family  Anya and her 18 year-old brother whos studying at Armavir College. Anya is a top student in her class but sees little chance of getting accepted to a university. Shell have to make do by attending some two year college.

The Babayans came to Armenia in 1988, from Baku. They were allocated a house in the village of Baghramyan but turned it down. It was full of snakes and scorpions. Not a place to live, says Elada. They are still on a waiting list for housing.

Most Lernagog residents go to Russia in search of work. They argue that the village land is rocky and no good for farming. Raising animals isnt easy as well, locals claim. During the harvest, residents go to nearby villages as day laborers.

The only factory in the village is the flour mill owned by Republican Party MP Samvel Aleksanyan. Dorm residents say its tough to get a job there.

In the Soviet era there were three large pig farms in the village. My mother worked at the pig farm as a machine operator. Life wasnt bad in the village, says Anna.

Anna has one child, 18 year-old Davit. When she talks about her son its as if all her troubles melt away; she smiles for a second. Davit studies at the Armavir Art College and has been singing for seven years. Lernagog students going to Armavir first walk to the village of Dalarik and then catch a ride with a passing car. If they are late, the students have to pay a penalty. Do you have any idea how far it is from here to Dalrik? exclaims Anna. (It takes at last one hour to cover the more than four kilometer distance-Hetq).

Davit shows off the awards and medals hes won. He hasnt been able to participate in any competitions recently because he cant afford to buy a suit. Anna says she doesnt want to embarrass her son anymore by sending him to competitions without proper attire like the other boys and girls.

Were out in the hallway talking to Davit about his plans for the future. Hes wearing a light jacket in the windy building corridor.

Davit says that his signing talent is hereditary. Both his parents sing as well. Hell soon serve in the army. Once discharged, he says hell work and buy a house. In the army, Ill be thinking of mom, alone in this place, Davit says as he escorts us back to the village center.

The dorm residents gather in the yard. Its warmer outside than inside. Theyve wrapped the faucet with plastic so as not to freeze.

Residents say they have no complaints about the village mayor. He helps out whenever he can, they say. Nevertheless, they feel neglected by local officials and have suggested that some of them spend just one night in the dorm to experience how they live.

No one seems to care. Thats the most irritating, says Anna.

Upon parting, residents say its not the snow of rain that worries them. They say its the wind. God help us. Keep those gusts away, otherwise, one day, this building will blow away.
PACE calls on Artsakh authorities to cease using water resources as tools of political influence or an instrument of pressure

PACE today narrowly voted not to adopt a resolution on Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan, based on a report by British former PACE member Robert Walter.

Following a debate, the draft text  which called on Armenia to withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the Minsk process  was rejected by 70 votes against, 66 in favor, and 45 abstentions.

The other resolution, which passed, stated that inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water.

The lack of regular maintenance work for over 20 years on the Sarsang reservoir, located in one of the areas of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia, poses a danger to the whole border region, the PACE website reads.

In view of this urgent humanitarian problem, the Assembly requested the immediate withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the region concerned, thus allowing access by independent engineers and hydrologists to carry out a detailed on-the-spot survey and international supervision of the irrigation canals, the state of the Sarsang and Madagiz dams, the schedule of water releases during the autumn and winter, and aquifer overexploitation, states the PACE website.
Presented by Hippy Killer Garage.

The Hippy Killer Hoedown takes place at the Farmers Fairgrounds, 18700 Lake Perris Drive, Perris, CA. on April 21, 2018. The Hoedown was created for automobile enthusiasts and their families. Expect live music, free giveaways, custom cars, vans, and motorcycles. Main gates open at 10 am to 8 pm. This is a family friendly event. Admission $15.00 per person, small children free. If you would like to get involved with the Hoedown, please contact us.

Due to Fairgrounds' insurance policies, no vehicles are allowed to drive through the venue during business hours. We're requesting that all custom vehicles that wish to partake in the car and bike show please be on location by 9:30 am. Motorcyclist will be allowed to walk your bike in and out. They are not allowed to be ridden in/ out. We ask that you please obey the rules as they're being strictly enforced.

Show vehicles - Gate C opens at 7 am - You'll come off of Ramona Parkway and head down Lake Perris Drive. Don't pull into the main parking access lanes, stay on Lake Perris Drive, about a 1/4 mile, and you'll see signs to Gate C to gain access to the property. We'll greet you with a smile and you will kindly pay us $15 per person. A parking attendant will get you placed. Please no outside alcohol, coolers or grills; full concessions and ATMs are on the property. * If for any reason you need to leave the property before the show ends please find a security member so they can assist off the property safely.

Motorcyclists - Gate C opens at 7 am - Come off of Ramona Parkway and head down Lake Perris Drive. Don't pull into the main parking access lanes, stay on Lake Perris Drive, about a 1/4 mile, and you'll see signs to Gate C to gain access to the property. We will greet you with a smile and you'll pay us 10.00 per person. After 10 am motorcycles will have to be walked in or escorted by staff through crowds.

Mini Bike Races - We'll have a dedicated spot for you to set up if you wish. You can not drive your mini bikes through the main area of the show. Please honor this request.

Vendors - Gate C opens at 7 am - We're asking that you be on location between 7 am and 9 as the fire department needs to do a walk through before the main gates open. We need you to unload your products and park your

vehicles in the dedicated vendor parking as quickly as possible. This will help us eliminate any unforeseen issues. We will be on location Friday from 12 pm until 5 pm if you prefer to set up your easy ups. It's a secured area.

Security - We're fortunate to be working with the USA Protection Services this year. They are very familiar with the So- Cal Fairgrounds and their policies. The NO Colors policy will be in effect and hope that you understand. We love that the Hoedown is a family friendly event and would like to keep it that way. If any issues or concerns arise please find the nearest security guards.

Jamie and I appreciate your ongoing support and want you to have a great time. Come out, listen to great music and meet some of the best people in the industry.

See you on April 21, 2018

Thanks,

Kutty Noteboom

www.hkhoedown.com

Admission $15 per person, small children free.

*No Pets

*No Outside Alcohol

*No Coolers

*No Colors

*No Camping on site
News, commentary, and analysis of current events in Honduras where cultural forms intersect with political interests, with links to the work of Honduran writers and scholars.
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.
Thousands of Madison residents are dealing with a jump in technology that has left them lagging in skills, access or both.

The network will likely be in place by fall 2016 in four low-income neighborhoods in Madison.

The company aims to address the digital divide while gaining expertise in the field.

If the Federal Communications Commission rules on municipal broadband in the coming months, it could change the city's direction on Internet access.

Laurel White

Laurel White covers city and county government for The Capital Times. She joined The Capital Times in 2014, having previously served as a general assignment reporter at Wisconsin Public Radio. She graduated with her master's in public affairs reporting from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in 2014.
John Nichols: What Ted Cruz and many Republicans don't know about Ronald Reagan
WASHINGTON  Did you donate a car to a charitable organization in 2015, or some clothing to the church thrift shop? Maybe you made a cash contribution to your alma mater or in memory of a loved one.

If you want to take a deduction for the donation, you have to itemize on your tax return. But there's more to it than that.

First, you have to make sure the organization to which you're donating is a qualified charity. And the money can't be targeted to a particular individual, even if it's going through that charity, said Dave Du Val, vice president for consumer advocacy at taxaudit.com.

He uses this example: Say you're driving to Goodwill to drop off some clothes and you see a homeless man in the street. You give him one of the coats that you were planning to donate. "It suits (you) well in the next life, but it's not a deduction," he said.

Similarly, if your neighbors' house burns down and your church starts a fund to help them rebuild, a contribution to the fund isn't deductible, Du Val said. However, if the church has a fund to help people in need, but not specifically your neighbor, you could take the deduction.

For a cash contribution, you need proof that you made the donation. That could be a canceled check or an itemized line on your credit card statement. So, Du Val said, if you put a $10 bill in the bucket of a Salvation Army bell ringer, that's not deductible. But if you wrote out a check to the Salvation Army and put that in the bucket, it is.

If the contribution is more than $250, you also will need a receipt from the organization.

The Internal Revenue Service makes clear, "If you get something in return for your donation, your donation is limited. You can only deduct the amount of your gift that is more than the value of what you got in return."

The IRS lists possible items received for donations, including meals, merchandise or tickets. Charitable organizations often will include on your receipt the amount that is deductible.

Congress, as part of the tax extender bill passed late last year, made permanent the ability of people 70 years old or older to roll over up to $100,000 from their IRA to a charity tax-free. Those who take advantage of that provision won't have to count the distribution from the IRA as income. But there's no double-dipping. If you make the direct donation, you can't also deduct it on your return.

Du Val said taxpayers who want to donate are "generally better off" if they don't have to deal with the extra income and the resulting taxes. He said the distribution also counts toward the required minimum distribution that IRA holders have to start taking at that age.

What about deductions for contributions of clothing and other property?

You can only deduct the fair market value of an item  what it would sell for at a thrift store, for example. "Even if the shirt is new and still has the tag on it, people aren't going to go into the thrift store and pay $100 for it," Du Val said.

And there's no deduction for sentimental value.

If the non-cash donation is more than $500, you must fill out Section A of Form 8283 and file it with your return. If it's more than $5,000, Section B also is required. You'll also need a valid appraisal of the item in hand when you file your taxes, Du Val said.

If you donate a car, the deduction is not the fair value of the car but what the charitable organization sells it for, according to Du Val. However, there is an exception: If the organization gives the car to a needy family, for example, or uses it for an ambulance, you can take the fair market value, he said. In either case, you have to substantiate the vehicle's value.

Don't forget that if you're delivering the donation or doing other work for a charitable organization, you can deduct the mileage. The rate for 2015 was 14 cents a mile for using your car for charitable work.

As the presidential campaign moves toward the first primaries and caucuses, taxpayers should be aware that donations to political candidates are not deductible. Neither the candidates nor the political parties themselves are charitable organizations.
The point person in the United States for a country dealing firsthand with a refugee crisis, an oil crisis, global warming, rebuilding Afghanistan and a growing border conflict with Russia leaned forward in a comfy chair in a nondescript Madison building on Monday and quietly showed his diplomatic chops.

Kare R. Aas, a career diplomat who is the Norwegian ambassador to the U.S., was on a goodwill tour of the Midwest, successfully avoiding the blizzard in Washington for the relatively calm weather of Iowa and Wisconsin.

Here he visited Livsreise, the new Norwegian heritage center in Stoughton, and the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library, 415 W. Main St.

In an interview, he touched on concerns that Norway shares with the United States, the most pressing on a daily basis being questions about the handling of migrants from Syria. Uniquely, Norway is dealing with a tense dispute with Russia at its northernmost border, where refugees have been arriving regularly after traveling through Russia.

Its important for Norway to explain what is going on with a continuous dialogue with the United States, said Aas, adding that the refugee problem is a global issue that requires a global solution. Aas sees a meeting Feb. 4 in London as a potential avenue for a solution.

Having served as ambassador to Afghanistan during two turbulent years (2008-10), and having led the Foreign Ministrys security division for five years, Aas has participated in serious issues at the highest level.

In the U.S., Norway has spent its pension funds oil money investing in 2,000 of Americas largest companies. Its climate research in the north is considered the gold standard, and its efforts at world peace seem perpetual.

But here is the ambassador driving around Madison with honorary consul Anne Lindblom, of Verona, stopping in at a genealogical center to chat.

Its important (for me to be here) because the Norwegian-American community of 6 million plays a significant role in the bilateral activities of our two countries, he said.

And culturally, the (Norwegian-Americans) today have a better understanding of what happened with the immigration than do the Norwegians.

Aas dodged what has become the most controversial issue for those Norwegian-Americans: the failure of Congress to approve President Barack Obamas appointment of Minnesota lawyer Samuel Heins to be the U.S. ambassador to Norway.

Heins, an Obama fundraiser and human rights advocate, was nominated last spring but the position has been open since September 2013.

We ask a lot of Norway, yet the Senate does not have the decency to send the personal representative of the president to his post in Oslo, Sun Prairie native Tom Loftus recently wrote.

Loftus, a longtime Wisconsin politician, was U.S. ambassador to Norway from 1993 to 1998. It is common to describe the Senate as dysfunctional, and this has become nothing but a kind way to describe collective arrogance. Our allies dont understand.

Aas was more diplomatic: It is of benefit to both countries, not just Norway, for the United States to have an ambassador there, said Aas, adding that Norwegian ambassadors are career diplomats appointed by the government.
A man charged with being a party to first-degree intentional homicide for allegedly supplying a gun that was used to kill another man in December was ordered to stand trial after a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Prosecutors presented no live testimony against Johnny Green Jr., 35, of Madison, only the criminal complaint in the case. The complaint states that Green told police that he handed a gun to Antonio Stanley, 33, of Fitchburg, who used the gun to shoot Samuel Erving, 28, of Madison, 17 times on Dec. 12.

But Madison police Detective Daniel Nale took questions on cross examination from Greens lawyer, Michael Covey, agreeing that there were no arguments between Green and Erving, only that Green gave Stanley the gun when Stanley asked for it.

A criminal complaint states that Stanley and Erving were arguing in the parking lot of AutoZone, 3535 E. Washington Ave., after a party bus to celebrate Greens birthday at a strip club in Milwaukee returned to the lot.

This is the thinnest case I have ever seen for a homicide case, Covey said to Circuit Judge William Foust, arguing that the charge against Green should be dismissed. He said there was not a shred of evidence that Green knew what Stanley was going to do with the gun.

But Foust said that Green had given the gun to Stanley while Stanley was fighting with Erving, and that homicide was a natural and probable consequence of giving someone a gun during a fight. If anything was missing from the states case, Foust said, it was some indication what was said to Green by Stanley after the gun was handed over.

Stanley was ordered to stand trial in the case after a preliminary hearing about two weeks ago.

Green and Stanley remain in the Dane County Jail on $1 million bail.
The family of a woman who was shot and killed in 2014 by Madison police officers as she held a gun to her head filed a federal civil rights lawsuit late Monday, alleging that police used excessive, unreasonable, deadly force when they shot her 11 times in her Far East Side apartment.

The family of Ashley DiPiazza, 26, who was killed on May 18, 2014, said in the lawsuit that DiPiazza was experiencing a mental health crisis and had never indicated that she intended to harm anyone but herself before she was shot by police.

The lawsuit states that officers Justin Bailey and Gary Pihlaja violated DiPiazzas Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable seizures when they shot and killed her at her apartment in the 1100 block of MacArthur Road. The lawsuit also alleges a violation of her equal protection rights.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Bailey and Pihlaja are named as defendants in the lawsuit, along with the city of Madison.

Madison City Attorney Michael May said the city has not been served with the lawsuit and would have no comment until it is served.

An internal review by Madison police in 2014 found that the officers did not violate departmental policy by shooting Di- Piazza. District Attorney Ismael Ozanne also cleared them of any criminal liability.

At the time, Police Chief Mike Koval said that when DiPiazza walked out of a bedroom pointing a gun at herself, she presented a threat to officers. Ozanne wrote in his review that the gun could easily have been turned on officers before they could respond.

A recent state law requires that officer-involved shootings be reviewed by an outside police agency. The state Department of Justice investigated DiPiazzas death.

Madison lawyer Jeff Scott Olson, who is representing Di-Piazzas estate in the lawsuit, said that DiPiazza had shown no hostility toward police, and that officers had time to plan for a situation in which she left the bedroom with the gun in her hand.

If they really did not wish to shoot her, there were obvious things they could have done to avoid the no time to respond situation, Olson said.

This is the second federal lawsuit related to a police shooting filed against the city of Madison in recent months. The family of Tony Robinson, who was shot by Officer Matt Kenny while unarmed in a Williamson Street apartment building, sued the city in August.

Another lawsuit, brought by the family of Paul Heenan, who was shot in 2012 by former Officer Stephen Heimsness, was settled last year for $2.3 million, though the city admitted no wrongdoing. Olsons firm was involved in Heenans case.

According to the lawsuit:

DiPiazza and her boyfriend kept a loaded handgun, which belonged to her boyfriend, on their nightstand after DiPiazza thought that someone had tried to break into their apartment a few months earlier.

DiPiazza and her boyfriend got into an argument early the morning of May 18, 2014, and she locked herself in the bedroom with the gun. Police arrived about 1:27 a.m. and went into the apartment using a key about 10 minutes later.

DiPiazza was still in the bedroom.

DiPiazza briefly opened the door, holding the gun to her head, but closed the door after Pihlaja aimed a gun at her and told her to drop her weapon.

A negotiator, Officer Cary Leerek, arrived and spoke to DiPiazza through the closed door, eventually persuading her to open the door a little so they could hear each other better.

DiPiazza said she was upset at her boyfriend but wanted to see him one last time, and said that she wanted to talk to her father. She said she only wanted to hurt herself, not others.

About a half-hour after Leerek arrived, DiPiazza opened the bedroom door and stepped into the living room, still holding the gun to her head. Officers shouted for her to drop the gun, then opened fire.

The lawsuit states that the decision by Bailey and Pihlaja to set up near the bedroom door with no cover, despite ballistic shields being readily available, and their lack of any plan about what to do if DiPiazza opened the bedroom door with the gun still to her head, were unreasonable and were substantial factors in causing the unreasonable shooting death of Ashley DiPiazza.

In a statement, Olson said that no lawsuit can bring DiPiazza back and no money can fill the gaping hole her death has left in the hearts and lives of her father and stepmother, and the many friends and relatives who loved her.

All we can do is create one more object lesson that there are large financial incentives for police departments to develop more alternative tactics for dealing with suicidal people in crisis, tactics that do not involve killing them, the statement read. Eventually, this has got to sink in.

Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, which represented Bailey and Pihlaja during the investigation, said the matter was thoroughly investigated by DOJ and the officers actions were deemed justified.

While we regret the outcome, the fact remains that Ms. DiPiazza approached the officers with a firearm and refused repeated lawful commands, leaving the officers with no recourse but to respond in the manner that they did, he said. We remain confident that the officers acted well within the bounds of their training and the law.
A Sun Prairie man who fired a gunshot at a car whose driver he didnt know, then led police on a chase at speeds up to 90 mph, pleaded guilty Monday to two felonies.

Adam G. Stroede, 29, pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless endangerment with a dangerous weapon and attempting to flee police for an episode early on July 4 that happened on and around the Beltline.

Stroede faces up to 21 years of combined prison and extended supervision when he is sentenced by Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan, who ordered a presentence report by the state Department of Corrections. Sentencing will be in about two months.

Flanagan allowed Stroede to remain free on bail until sentencing, chiefly because of good reports about Stroede from the Dane County Bail Monitoring Program, but warned Stroede that he would be jailed if he commits any violations of the programs rules placed upon him.

Under a plea agreement, five other felonies against Stroede, some involving another incident the same night in which Stroede struck another car with gunfire, narrowly missing its driver, were dismissed but can be considered by Flanagan when he sentences Stroede.

According to a criminal complaint, a man was driving east on the Beltline when a pickup truck came up behind him and tailgated his car. He exited at Rimrock Road, because it was better-lit than the Highway 14 exit, and as he entered the ramp his driver-side rear window shattered. He told police he exited suddenly so the truck couldnt follow him.

The man called police, who found evidence that the window had been shot out. After a description of the truck was broadcast, it was spotted on West Broadway in Monona, and a chase ensued back into the town of Madison. Stroede was arrested after he ran from the truck, according to the complaint.

Police were contacted later by a woman who said her car had also been shot that night on the Beltline as she and her boyfriend were driving. Police found a gun, ammunition and beer in Stroedes truck, the complaint states.
A former Janesville school employee faces 13 felony charges after police say she embezzled more than $282,000 while overseeing an activities fund at Craig High School.

If convicted, Jessica Warner-Reed, 34, of Janesville could face nearly 80 years in prison and $145,000 in fines, the state Department of Revenue said Tuesday.

Bail for Warner-Reed was set at $5,000, the department said. Her preliminary court hearing is set for Feb. 16.

Warner-Reed was arrested earlier this month after she turned herself in to police in connection with the allegations.

Charges were filed against Warner-Reed Monday by Rock County prosecutors. They follow an investigation by Janesville police and the Department of Revenue that began last summer, according to a criminal complaint provided by the department.

According to the criminal complaint, Warner-Reed was designated as "banker" for Craig High School during her employment with the district, which lasted from 2006 to 2015. In that role, she was responsible for collecting money from advisors for clubs, teams, groups and activities at the high school, as well as depositing money.

Warning signs began to emerge shortly before police began investigating the allegations in July, according to the criminal complaint. They were told the school district recently became aware of "complaints from various advisers that account balances did not match what they thought should be in the account, and vendors were also contacting advisors about unpaid invoices."

The investigation showed Warner-Reed created two sets of accounting records to conceal the alleged embezzlement, according to the complaint.

Ten charges against Warner-Reed are for forgery for allegedly writing false checks from the school activities account.

Police said Warner-Reed "said she had no idea why she wrote the checks and referred to that decision as 'stupid,'" according to the complaint.

Warner-Reed also faces charges of misconduct in public office, theft in a business setting of more than $10,000, and filing a false income tax return. She is accused of evading $16,407 in state income taxes from 2009 to 2014.

Janesville School Board President Kevin Murray told the Janesville Gazette earlier this month that new mechanisms are in place to prevent future abuses, including revisions to an employee handbook.
Gov. Scott Walkers presidential campaign has reimbursed the state $135,000 for the governors taxpayer-funded security detail during his presidential run last year, the Department of Administration said Monday.

That brings the total recovered by the state for his political travel-related security last year to nearly $260,000, which Walker and his administration say represents the total amount the state has billed to his campaign.

The $135,000 repaid by his presidential campaign includes mileage reimbursement, political travel-related security expenses such as hotel and airfare and half of the Internet expenses incurred at the Governors Mansion during the campaign period.

DOA spokesman Jim Dick noted none of those reimbursements is required by state law.

Walker campaign spokesman Joe Fadness said the reimbursement will be reflected in the next filing with the Federal Election Commission, due on Jan. 31.

As of December, Walkers campaign and political nonprofit group, Our American Revival, had previously paid about $125,000 to the state for airfare, hotels and other travel-related expenses incurred by his security team.

His political nonprofit said in April that it would reimburse the state for those costs.

It is not repaying the state for any salary or benefits because the security team provides protection 24 hours a day regardless of where Walker travels.

Last year, the state paid the security team more than $570,000 in overtime back pay.

The U.S. Labor Department found the state had not been properly compensating the nine members of the dignitary protection unit for routinely working 50, 60 and sometimes more than 70 hours in a week.

The investigation covered a period from May 2013 to May 2015, which included a time when Walker was traveling extensively to explore a potential presidential run.

The campaign itself lasted 71 days beginning in July.

When the campaign ended on Sept. 21, Walker reportedly still had more than $1 million in campaign debt to retire.
A state senator whose husband died waiting for an organ transplant is proposing legislation to require Wisconsin companies with 50 or more full-time employees to allow up to six weeks of unpaid leave for donating an organ.

The measure, to be announced Tuesday by Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, could boost donation of kidneys and parts of livers among people who are concerned about losing their jobs if they take time off for surgery and recovery to help others.

I know firsthand what its like to wait and hope, Darling said Monday in a statement released by Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin near Milwaukee, where she plans to unveil the bill Tuesday.

Her husband died in March, at age 71, awaiting a kidney and pancreas transplant.

By removing barriers to organ donation, more families wont have to wait, hope will come and their loved one will get a second chance, Darling said.

As the Wisconsin State Journal reported in September in its nine-part series, Living on: Improving the odds of organ transplants, some employers take the position that the federal Family Medical Leave Act applies to living donors but others say it doesnt because organ donation is voluntary.

The federal law allows 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for medical reasons.

The Living Donor Protection Act, introduced in 2014 by U.S. Reps. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, and Michael Burgess, R-Texas, would require the federal law to include living donors.

That measure also would prohibit life, disability and long-term care insurance companies from denying coverage for donors or charging them higher rates.

Darlings bill would allow unpaid leave of up to six weeks, depending on the time necessary for the specific procedure and recovery, for bone marrow or organ donation after employees have logged 52 weeks and at least 1,000 hours at their workplace.

Though the measure could provide job security for organ donation, it would not address the non-medical costs of organ donation that many donors incur. Such costs, including lost wages, transportation, lodging and child care, typically run about $5,000 to $6,000, reports say.

Wisconsin was the first state, in 2004, to let living donors take a tax deduction of up to $10,000. Thirteen other states offer tax deductions today, and three others  Idaho, Louisiana and Utah  offer tax credits of up to $5,000 or $10,000, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

Only people who itemize their taxes can take deductions, and the maximum savings is about $1,000. Tax credits allow greater savings.

The National Living Donor Assistance Center, a government-funded program in Arlington, Virginia, covers up to $6,000 in travel costs for living donors, but they and their recipients must earn less than three times the federal poverty level.

Federal workers, along with state workers in Wisconsin and 23 other states, get paid leave, typically for 30 days, for serving as organ donors. Dane County, the city of Madison, UW Health and Meriter-UnityPoint Health have similar policies.

Nearly 2,300 people were waiting for transplants in Wisconsin as of Friday, the vast majority of them in need of kidneys or livers. Nationwide last year, 31 percent of 14,881 kidney transplants and 5 percent of 5,950 liver transplant were from living donors.
A proposal to build another large apartment building along the East Washington Avenue corridor will move forward, with the help of a city financing tool.

Stone House Developments as yet unnamed project won the Madison Board of Estimates approval Monday for $3.45 million in tax incremental financing (TIF) even though the location is just outside the citys TIF districts.

The project, slated for the 1000 block of East Washington Avenue, would add another tower to the popular Near East Side locale, already home to the Constellation and Galaxie luxury apartments.

In addition to upscale housing, Stone Houses project includes 55 lower-cost units.

The developers would demolish the vacant Madison Dairy Produce and Straus Printing buildings and construct an 11-story building with 140 market-rate apartments, 50,000 square feet of office space, 15,000 square feet for retail businesses and 368 parking stalls.

A four-story adjacent building along Mifflin Street will offer 65 apartments, 55 of them at lower rents.

Nine of the units will be designated for homeless families working with The Road Home nonprofit group and eight for veterans who need social service assistance.

Using TIF, the city will allocate $3.45 million to help with construction costs with the expectation of getting repaid later in property taxes the developer will pay when the project is complete.

Its a pretty strong application, Madison TIF coordinator Joe Gromacki told the city panel.

Stone House co-founder Rich Arnesen said the total project will cost more than $40 million.

The TIF funding was crucial, he said. It is harder and harder every year to try to put one of these affordable housing projects together. We have to scramble for every dollar, Arnesen said.

On Wednesday, the Urban Design Commission is slated to vote on the project, based on its aesthetics. Thats expected to be the final city approval needed, Arnesen said.

He said construction of the 11-story tower could begin this spring and the affordable housing could break ground this fall, with occupancy expected in 2017.

The project also has been approved for $1 million from the citys Affordable Housing Fund.

In other action, the Board of Estimates  the citys finance panel  approved:

Spending $2.1 million for RNL Design to design a multipurpose city building to house the citys Fleet Services and traffic engineering radio shop on Nakoosa Trail.

Issuing a request for services to design a 650-stall parking facility at East Main and South Livingston streets to serve the neighborhood and the planned StartingBlock entrepreneurial hub.

Leasing space at 30 W. Mifflin St. and 126 S. Hamilton St. for the temporary relocation of city employees who work at the Madison Municipal Building during the buildings planned renovation.
A much-anticipated third Willy Street Co-op location could be coming to a site near Warner Park.

Officials said Monday a plan is being studied that would replace Pierces Northside Market, 2817 N. Sherman Ave., with a Willy Street Co-op, a Madison grocery institution founded in 1974 with more than 32,000 members.

Co-op officials stressed that a lease has not been signed, an opening date has not been set and input is still needed from co-op members, who approved pursuing a third retail site in August 2014.

I think this opportunity was so interesting it was just something we couldnt pass up. We had to investigate this as a serious option for a third store, said Brendon Smith, co-op communications director. We think it would be more turnkey than some other projects. We would try to have the store closed for a very short period of time during a transition, he said.

Pierces 10-year lease, signed in 2006 on the 25,000-square-foot space, is scheduled to end this summer.

The company is negotiating a lease extension with the landlord so that if the co-op agrees to assume the space, Pierces would remain open until the co-op takes over, said Pierce general manager Paul Frey.

Pierces also has stores in West Baraboo, Portage and Muscoda.

The Madison store opened in 2006, three years after Kohls closed a nearby 50,000-square-foot grocery store.

Frey said the Madison Pierces has been profitable every year weve been open but that it had logistical challenges when compared to the other stores in the family-owned chain.

The business model and format is different than our other locations. We dont have a lot of operating efficiencies, Frey said. In the end, its going to be a very positive thing for the North Side. Our goal all along is to protect the food source on the North Side.

Willy Street Co-op operates stores at 1221 Williamson St. and 6825 University Ave. in Middleton, has a commercial kitchen at 1882 E. Main St. in Madison and corporate offices at 1457 E. Washington Ave.

The Northside Planning Council learned in September that Pierces lease would expire in 2016 and that it appeared no other grocer was interested in the site. The council met with several community leaders and Ald. Rebecca Kemble to convene a grocery steering team to explore the possibility of opening a grocery cooperative.

In October, the planning council approached Willy Street Co-op officials about helping them create a co-op, but it was quickly determined that there was not enough time to raise the capital needed for the project, said Abha Thakkar, interim director of the Northside Planning Council. That led the planning council to ask if the co-op would consider the site for its third location.

Were very hopeful, Thakkar said. We have a strong local thriving food economy so we were interested in finding a grocer who can be part of that food culture.

The culture includes a farmers market and the FEED Kitchen, a commercial kitchen for small businesses to process food.

This location would be conveniently located for some of our owners, and it has the features that we would require for a store, Smith said. Its in a residential neighborhood, its accessible by foot, by bike, bus or car, and theres a need for a grocery store in the area.

Willy Street Co-op completed a $4 million renovation of its Williamson Street store in 2014. In 2011, it spent $3.5 million to open its Middleton store.

In 2014, officials said a decision on a third location would come by the end of the year. One of the options it considered was building a 10,000-square-foot store instead of renovating existing space, a project that could cost more than $6 million.

The former Royster-Clark redevelopment site on Cottage Grove Road was rumored as a location along with Union Corners on East Washington Avenue and a former Kohls grocery store building on Monona Drive that is now home to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

The North Side skews poorer, with a larger minority and immigrant population, than the areas served by its two other stores, but Smith said the larger space could provide an opportunity to offer more traditional groceries than that of the smaller existing stores.

Thats part of our process, finding out if this is the right fit for us, Smith said. Thats why were talking about this before a lease is signed.
by Garikai Chengu, Global Research

In 1967 Colonel Gaddafi inherited one of the poorest nations in Africa; by the time he was assassinated, he had transformed Libya into Africas richest nation. Prior to the US-led bombing campaign in 2011, Libya had the highest Human Development Index, the lowest infant mortality and the highest life expectancy in all of Africa.

Today, Libya is a failed state. Western military intervention has caused all of the worst-scenarios: Western embassies have all left, the South of the country has become a haven for ISIS terrorists, and the Northern coast a center of migrant trafficking.

Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia have all closed their borders with Libya. This all occurs amidst a backdrop of widespread rape, assassinations and torture that complete the picture of a state that is failed to the bone.

Libya currently has two competing governments, two parliaments, two sets of rivaling claims to control over the central bank and the national oil company, no functioning national police or army, and the United States now believes that ISIS is running training camps across large swathes of the country.

On one side, in the West of the nation, Islamist-allied militias took over control of the capital Tripoli and other key cities and set up their own government, chasing away a parliament that was previously elected.

On the other side, in the East of the nation, the legitimate government dominated by anti-Islamist politicians, exiled 1,200 kilometers away in Tobruk, no longer governs anything.

The democracy which Libyans were promised by Western governments after the fall of Colonel Gaddafi has all but vanished.

Contrary to popular belief, Libya, which western media routinely described as Gaddafis military dictatorship was in actual fact one of the worlds most democratic States.

Under Gaddafis unique system of direct democracy, traditional institutions of government were disbanded and abolished, and power belonged to the people directly through various committees and congresses.

Far from control being in the hands of one man, Libya was highly decentralized and divided into several small communities that were essentially mini-autonomous States within a State.

These autonomous States had control over their districts and could make a range of decisions including how to allocate oil revenue and budgetary funds.

Within these mini autonomous States, the three main bodies of Libyas democracy were Local Committees, Basic Peoples Congresses and Executive Revolutionary Councils.

The Basic Peoples Congress (BPC), or Mutamar shabi asasi was essentially Libyas functional equivalent of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom or the House of Representatives in the United States.

However, Libyas Peoples Congress was not comprised merely of elected representatives who discussed and proposed legislation on behalf of the people; rather, the Congress allowed all Libyans to directly participate in this process.

Eight hundred Peoples Congresses were set up across the country and all Libyans were free to attend and shape national policy and make decisions over all major issues including budgets, education, industry, and the economy.

In 2009, Gaddafi invited the New York Times to Libya to spend two weeks observing the nations direct democracy.

The New York Times, that has traditionally been highly critical of Colonel Gaddafis democratic experiment, conceded that in Libya, the intention was that:

Everyone is involved in every decision Tens of thousands of people take part in local committee meetings to discuss issues and vote on everything from foreign treaties to building schools.

The fundamental difference between western democratic systems and the Libyan Jamahiriyas direct democracy is that in Libya all citizens were allowed to voice their views directly  not in one parliament of only a few hundred wealthy politicians  but in hundreds of committees attended by tens of thousands of ordinary citizens.

Far from being a military dictatorship, Libya under Mr. Gaddafi was Africas most prosperous democracy.

On numerous occasions Mr. Gaddafis proposals were rejected by popular vote during Congresses and the opposite was approved and enacted as legislation.

For instance, on many occasions Mr. Gaddafi proposed the abolition of capital punishment and he pushed for home schooling over traditional schools. However, the Peoples Congresses wanted to maintain the death penalty and classic schools, and the will of the Peoples Congresses prevailed.

Similarly, in 2009, Colonel Gaddafi put forward a proposal to essentially abolish the central government altogether and give all the oil proceeds directly to each family. The Peoples Congresses rejected this idea too.

For over four decades, Gaddafi promoted economic democracy and used the nationalized oil wealth to sustain progressive social welfare programs for all Libyans. Under Gaddafis rule, Libyans enjoyed not only free health-care and free education, but also free electricity and interest-free loans.

Now thanks to NATOs intervention the health-care sector is on the verge of collapse as thousands of Filipino health workers flee the country, institutions of higher education across the East of the country are shut down, and black outs are a common occurrence in once thriving Tripoli.

Unlike in the West, Libyans did not vote once every four years for a President and an invariably wealthy local parliamentarian who would then make all decisions for them. Ordinary Libyans made decisions regarding foreign, domestic and economic policy themselves.

Americas bombing campaign of 2011 has not only destroyed the infrastructure of Libyas democracy, America has also actively promoted ISIS terror group leader Abdelhakim Belhadj whose organization is making the establishment of Libyan democracy impossible.

The fact that the United States has a long and torrid history of backing terrorist groups in North Africa and the Middle East will surprise only those who watch the news and ignore history.

The CIA first aligned itself with extremist Islam during the Cold War era. Back then, America saw the world in rather simple terms: on one side the Soviet Union and Third World nationalism, which America regarded as a Soviet tool; on the other side Western nations and extremist political Islam, which America considered an ally in the struggle against the Soviet Union.

Since then America has used the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt against Soviet expansion, the Sarekat Islam against Sukarno in Indonesia and the Jamaat-e-Islami terror group against Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in Pakistan. Last but certainly not least there is Al-Qaeda.

Al Qaeda: The CIAs Computer Data Base

Lest we forget, the CIA gave birth to Osama Bin Laden and breastfed his organization throughout the 1980s. Former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook told the House of Commons that Al Qaeda was unquestionably a product of western intelligence agencies.

Robin Cook explained that Al Qaeda, which literally means the base in Arabic, was originally the computer database of the thousands of Islamist extremists who were trained by the CIA and funded by the Saudis to defeat the Russians in Afghanistan.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) used to have a different name: Al Qaeda in Iraq.

Read: America Created Al-Qaeda and the ISIS Terror Groups

ISIS is metastasizing at an alarming rate in Libya, under the leadership of one Abdelhakim Belhadj. Fox News recently admitted that Mr. Belhadj:

Was once courted by the Obama administration and members of Congress and he was a staunch ally of the United States in the quest to topple Gaddafi. In 2011, the United States and Senator McCain hailed Belhadj as a heroic freedom fighter and Washington gave his organization arms and logistical support. Now Senator McCain has called Belhadjs organization ISIS, probably the biggest threat to America and everything we stand for.

Under Gaddafi, Islamic terrorism was virtually non existent and in 2009 the US State Department called Libya an important ally in the war on terrorism.

Today, after US intervention, Libya is home to the worlds largest loose arms cache, and its porous borders are routinely transited by a host of heavily armed non-state actors including Tuareg separatists, jihadists who forced Malis national military from Timbuktu and increasingly ISIS militiamen led by former US ally Abdelhakim Belhadj.

Clearly, Gaddafis system of economic and direct democracy was one of the 21st centurys most profound democratic experiments and NATOs bombardment of Libya may indeed go down in history as one of the greatest military failures of the 21st century.
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.
"The proper response from the legislature of Illinois should be to expand gun rights. Barack Obama wants fewer guns in the hands of law abiding people. I want greater opportunity for firearm ownership. Every citizen who follows the law should have the opportunity to exercise this important Constitutional right."

Barack Obama has made it clear that he wants to do all he can to keep firearms away from lawful citizens who want to protect themselves and their families," said constitutional attorney Sharee Langenstein Tuesday in a statement.

MURPHYSBORO - Two attorneys are aiming to replace retiring state Senator Dave Luechtefeld in the 58th Senate district. One has Illinois' gun rights in her sights. She wants to expand them.

Langensteins proposes four changes to Illinois gun laws:

Remove mandatory prohibitions for Concealed Carry in government buildings

Reduce the cost of a Concealed Carry permit

Allow Concealed Carry in State Parks and Rest Stops

Eliminate FOID Card

If a local park board wants to allow people to carry a weapon at a Little League game, they ought to be able to do that without Chicago Democrats standing in the way," Langenstein said. "If a School Board believes that allowing qualified personnel to be armed on school grounds would make their children safer, that should be their business, not Springfields.

Langenstein has worked to promote Second Amendment rights at the State Capitol. Unlike other Midwestern states, Illinois requires a license to exercise a fundamental Constitutional right. That needs to be changed, she says.

The FOID law is unconstitutional and in light of instant background checks, severely outdated. The General Assembly ought to eliminate it now and avoid the ridiculous court battle that they waged against Concealed Carry.

Langenstein also wants to lower the high priced permit. Currently, a person must pay the State of Illinois $150 for a permit.

"Exercising a constitutional right should be available to all, not merely the wealthy. Too many people are prevented from receiving a permit because they cant justify the cost in their personal budget. Its wrong to make Illinoisans pay such a steep price for their own personal safety. Langensteins proposal would cut the cost in half.

Finally, Langenstein would allow concealed carry in State Parks and rest areas.

For 7 years, Americans have been allowed to carry a concealed weapon in our National Parks. Unsurprisingly, this has happened without incident. Its time for Illinois to follow that common sense rule," she said. "In contrast, we have seen horrific crimes committed at state owned rest stops. Criminals don't care if we are on vacation. Our rights to protect ourselves and our families shouldn't end when we are out enjoying all that Southern Illinois has to offer."

Langenstein is facing off in the 58th District with formed military attorney Paul Schimpf, who chooses not to include platform positions on his website.

Whoever wins the GOP nomination will face Democrat former Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon in the General Election.
Open the Books' founder Adam Andrzejewski , who wrote about Mautino in a recent Forbes.com column said Mautino's statement was "completely unacceptable."

The issued statement is vague and doesn't answer questions raised by the Edgar County Watchdogs , who have been scouring Mautino's campaign spending over the years, and found "eyebrow-raising" numbers such as $ 213,000 to a local garage for vehicle repairs and gas for campaign travels.

"...His reports fully detail campaign expenditures that were made to help defray the standard, reasonable expenses incurred while Frank performed the governmental and public service duties of serving as state representative of his large, mostly rural district," Keith said.

SPRINGFIELD - Evidently beginning to feel the heat over questions being asked about campaign spending while he was a state representative, Illinois' new Auditor General Frank Mautino issued a statement Tuesday via his spokesman Ryan Keith .

This response is completely unacceptable," Andrzejewski told Illinois Review. "Mautino must answer in his own name and not hide behind paid PR officers. After weeks of silence, this statement is just further delay.

Mautino, who served as one of House Speaker Mike Madigan's trusted lieutenants, was appointed after being recommended by the Audit Commission, a board reflecting the Democrat majority in the legislature after William Holland retired in 2015.

The Auditor General's job, according to the AG website, is an important one that calls for public trust and integrity. He or she is to be "responsible for acquiring basic skills pertinent to governmental auditing in Illinois and applying general audit skills, exercise major responsibility for gathering data pertinent to the audit, reviewing and comprehending data, documenting pertinent information, and working with the Audit Supervisor(s) or Manager on the printed report, the product of the Office of the Auditor General."

When Illinois Review asked if the Auditor would be providing more information on actual expenditures in question, Keith re-stated the official press statement, saying, "We're going through all of those records now and will be in touch when we can to provide more answers."

The statement released by Mautino Tuesday morning:

Frank Mautino served his north-central district with distinction in the Illinois House for 24 years, where he held a number of leadership positions, provided exemplary service to his communities and built a record of a number of legislative accomplishments. During his legislative career, Frank ran for re-election every two years. His campaign committee, Committee for Frank J. Mautino, fully disclosed and reported all spending by the campaign in compliance with Illinois campaign finance and disclosure laws. His reports fully detail campaign expenditures that were made to help defray the standard, reasonable expenses incurred while Frank performed the governmental and public service duties of serving as state representative of his large, mostly rural district. Upon his nomination as Auditor General, Frank's career in elected office ended and he closed out his campaign committee at the end of December 2015.

More on the controversy HERE and HERE.
AMSTERDAM - The terrorist group Islamic State is planning large scale Paris-style terror attacks, focusing primarily on Europe, the head of European Union's police agency Europol warned on Monday.

"The so-called Islamic State has developed a new combat style capability to carry out a campaign of large scale attacks on a global stage with a particular focus on targets in Europe," Europol's director Rob Wainwright told reporters in Amsterdam on Monday when launching a new Europe-wide counter-terror initiative, the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC).

Wainwright's warning was based on the key findings of an expert report released Monday by Europol on the November 13 Paris shootings.

The report stated that European states, and France in particular, may face another terrorist attack intended to cause mass casualties amongst the civilian population. The report warned that the threat from IS was the worst the continent has faced in more than 10 years.

Contrary to growing attempts to link terrorist threats to the influx of refugees into Europe, the report stated that "there is no concrete evidence that terrorist travellers systematically use the flow of refugees to enter Europe unnoticed". Wainwright ensured that Europol will use all expertise "in encountering illegal immigration".

The expert report warned that "IS terrorist cells currently operating in the EU are largely domestic and locally based" and implicitly suggested that European member states should do more to integrate immigrants as it assessed that "a real and imminent danger is the possibility of elements of the (Sunni Muslim) Syrian refugee diaspora becoming vulnerable to radicalisation once in Europe and being specifically targeted by Islamic extremist recruiters".
CHICAGO - Mondelez bakeries, which makes Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers, and Cadbury chocolates, has announced yet another round of layoffs at its Chicago bakery, Breitbart reports Tuesday.

The company is enlarging its Mexico facilities as it closes nine bakery lines in the Windy City, some of which have been operating for 60 years.

The company has been cutting costs since its 2012 separation from Kraft Foods grocery business. The goal is to reduce costs by at least $1.5 billion by the end of 2018...
By India Today Web Desk: Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar hoisted the world's largest tri-colour on the tallest flag-post at Ranchi's popular, Pahari Mandir, or 'Fansi Dungri'. The place, which was considered as the 'hanging point' of Britishers, now stands as the location of the world's largest tri-colour. According to the legend, over 250 freedom fighters had been hanged from Fansi Dungri.

According to Indian Express, P D Sakhuja said, "It is a proud moment for me. I have seen the Union Jack being taken down and the Tri-colour being raised on August 15, 1947, at the Mandir. But this moment is also unmatched in its feeling."

The flag is 66 feet in height, 99 feet in width and stands on a 293 feet tall pole.

Manohar Parrikar hoisted the flag on the 119th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. He said, "It is a proud moment for me to unfurl the largest and tallest Indian national flag on the occasion of Netaji's 119th birth anniversary. Jharkhand has given a lot to the country. It contributes nearly 40 per cent of minerals in India. Unfortunately, despite having potential, this state was neglected for years. Now, with the new government in Jharkhand, I can assure that no one can stop its development. The central government will provide all kind of assistance to make this state a global investment hub."

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Anupam Kher, who has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan award this year for his contribution to Indian cinema, said that he has much more to achieve.

By India Today Web Desk: Anupam Kher, who has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan award this year, said the award has come to him at the interval of his acting career.

The 60-year-old actor who was awarded the nation's second highest civilian honour for his contribution to Indian cinema said that he has much more to achieve. "I got this award at the interval of the span of my acting-life. Rest is still left. As said in Hindi movies, 'Picture to abhi baaki hai mere dost'. I have a lot more to work and achieve more," he said.

Speaking at the ninth edition of Jaipur Literature Festival, the actor said that responsibility towards his country encourages him to work better. "Responsibility towards society, people, country, students and parents gives me the determination to do something more than just be an actor all my life," he added.

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Evidently accepting the fact that "whenever you something good, you wait for some honour" the Saransh actor said that he feels humbled to receive this award. Anupam took to Twitter to share his achievement with his fans.



Happy, Humbled & Honoured to share that i have been awarded The PADMA BHUSHAN by the Govt. of India. Greatest news of my life:) #JaiHind Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 25, 2016

The actor also had a small cake cutting ceremony when the news of winning a Padam bhushan rolled out at Rambagh Palace, Jaipur.

"Thank you the entire staff of @Rambaghpalace for your love & warmth. Thank you for celebrating my PADMA BHUSHAN.:)"

Thank you the entire staff of @Rambaghpalace for your love & warmth. Thank you for celebrating my PADMA BHUSHAN.:) pic.twitter.com/QQetyQSPcE Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 26, 2016

The actor also thanked his close friends and family members and dedicated his latest achievement to his late father.

Miss my father. He was my biggest fan. For him i was d Bestest. I dedicate my PADMA BHUSHAN to him. Dad! Have a party where ever you are.:) Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 25, 2016

I Thank my family, teachers, writers, producers, directors, technicians & above all my audiences for the PADMA BHUSHAN Award. Jai Ho.:) Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 25, 2016

Anupam Kher who garnered news last year for taking out a rally against 'AwardWapsi' did not restrain himself from sarcasm.

Sunn raha hoon hai aaj bazaar mein Burnol bahut zoro shoro se bik raha hai. Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 25, 2016

Advice for certain people- Google search me.:) #PadmaAward4Bhakts Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 25, 2016

In 2004, Anupam was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution to Indian cinema.

Kher made his acting debut in the 1982 Hindi movie Aagman. But he came into the limelight in 1984 with Saaransh, where the then 28-year-old actor played a retired middle class Maharashtrian man who has lost his son.

Since the news came out Anupam Kher's Twitter account has been filled with wishes. B town celebrities like Priyanka Chopra (who has also been honoured with Padma Shri award), Akshay Kumar and Anil Kapoor congratulated him on Twitter. Here's what they tweeted:

Sirji @AnupamPkher congatulations on receiving the Padma Bhushan. You are a true inspiration. Thank you for continuing to entertaining us! PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) January 25, 2016

Over the years I have watched you grow as a person & a performer & this award is a mark of your excellence! Padma Bhushan!! @AnupamPkher Jai Singh Rathore (@AnilKapoor) January 25, 2016
The BJP in Karnataka has demanded the arrest of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Media Adviser Dinesh Amin Mattoo for his alleged remarks on the recent raid on terror elements in the country.

By Aravind Gowda: The BJP in Karnataka has demanded the arrest of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Media Adviser Dinesh Amin Mattoo for his alleged remarks on the recent raid on terror elements in the country.

"The CM's Media Adviser is making irresponsible statements and this is not a good trend. He should be arrested for abetting and promoting terrorism in the country," said BJP state President Prahlad Joshi.

The development came after a section of the media reported that Mattoo had ridiculed the arrests of the terror suspects, noting that it had become a habit to detain people ahead of celebrations such as Republic Day and Independence Day.
The High Court of Karnataka has directed the state government to take a decision on permitting the screening of the Marathi movie Maratha Tigers, which allegedly depicts Kannadigas in poor light.

By Mail Today: The High Court of Karnataka has directed the state government to take a decision on permitting the screening of the Marathi movie Maratha Tigers, which allegedly depicts Kannadigas in poor light.

The movie is scheduled for worldwide release during February first week, but a section of the Kannadigas took objection to the content of the movie, which is reportedly about the Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute. A PIL was filed in the High Court, which in turn, instructed the government to take a decision on the movie screening.

So far, the government has not officially reacted to the court order or the film-maker's plea to permit its release. If the government bans the screening of the movie in Karnataka, the film-maker said that the banner would seek legal remedy.

--- ENDS ---
Chinese smartphone maker Gionee is planning to apply for a single-brand license to setup exclusive stores in the country.

By Asian News International: Chinese smartphone maker Gionee is planning to apply for a single-brand license to setup exclusive stores in the country.

"It is in process," said Arvind Vohra, Ginoee India CEO, adding that the application will be filed with the Department of Industrial Promotion and Policy (DIPP) in the coming weeks.

The application comes after the government relaxed FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in single-brand retail back in November. The liberalization of FDI in single-brand retail not only relaxes the 30 percent domestic sourcing rule, but also lets companies sell their products through retail, wholesale or e-commerce route.

The mobile phone manufacturer based in Guangdong province is one of China's largest mobile phone manufacturers. Last year, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' initiative, the company had announced that it had partnered Foxconn and Noida-based Dixon to manufacture smartphones in India.

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Back in September last year, Gionee also launched its first Made-in-India smartphone, called the F103. The 4G LTE smartphone priced at Rs 9,999, features a 5-inch 720p display, 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB internal storage along with microSD card slot. It also features an 8-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel selfie camera, 2,400mAh battery, and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Google today celebrated India's Republic Day with a doodle of a tableau of camels carrying band members.

By India Today Web Desk: Google today celebrated India's Republic Day with a doodle of a tableau of camels carrying band members.

The colourful doodle shows men on top of elaborately decorated camels.

Unlike many of Google's previous doodles, this doodle does not have any animation.

The BSF camel contingent is the inheritor of the Bikaner Royal Camel Force. The first contingent of the Border Security Forces or BSF showcases smartly dressed border guards with weapons riding camels and the second contingent follows with bandsmen in beautiful multi-colour dresses on the back of camels playing martial music.

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Fed up with the indefinite delay, doctors and other medical staff at the government-run Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital have now decided to donate the wheelchairs to the institution.

By Astha Saxena: It's been three years of wait for four wheelchairs. Fed up with the indefinite delay, doctors and other medical staff at the government-run Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital have now decided to donate the wheelchairs to the institution which is among the 10 government hospitals in Delhi that issue disability certificates.

Hospital sources said some doctors and a pharmacist at the hospital recently decided to buy six wheelchairs for the welfare of the patients. The hospital requires at least four wheelchairs to address patients' needs, but currently it has none.

The cost of a single wheelchair is around Rs 3,800. The hospital staff have come together to donate the wheelchairs worth nearly Rs 23,000 to the hospital. "There are two doctors and one pharmacist who have decided to donate two wheelchairs each to the hospital. They will be paying for them through their own salary. The hospital has been facing shortage of wheelchairs for too long," a senior doctor from the hospital told Mail Today.

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Recently, Secretary (Health) Amar Nath visited the hospital with his wife and even he was shocked to know that the hospital doesn't have wheelchairs. "He was surprised to find out that there was not a single wheelchair in the hospital. Interestingly, he himself expressed interest in donating a wheelchair to the hospital," the doctor said.

The government hospital, which caters to around 1,000-1,200 patients on a daily basis, is struggling to procure wheelchairs since 2013. Sources at the hospital told Mail Today that the last purchase was made at the time of the Commonwealth Games in 2010. "Several letters have been written regarding the purchase of wheelchairs, but all efforts have gone to waste," added the senior doctor.

As per the tentative census of 2015, the hospital has issued 383 disability certificates from April 2015 to November 2015. "People with disabilities face problems while visiting the hospital. There should be at least one wheelchair in the hospital," the doctor added.

Apart from this hospital, its administration also looks after the mortuary at Subzi Mandi, the oldest and biggest mortuary in Delhi. The hospital is in close vicinity of LG house, Tis Hazari district court and the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

The administration had sent a purchase order for four wheelchairs to Central Procurement Agency (CPA) on December 14 last year. The government has made it mandatory for government hospitals to purchase all medical and surgical requirements through the CPA. The move was taken to make the process more transparent.

"The entire process is quite cumbersome. It will take around six months for the agency to get us the wheelchairs. Till that time, we will have to look for some options," another doctor from the hospital told Mail Today.

Apart from Aruna Asaf Ali, nine other government hospitals in the Capital issue disability certificates - Lok Nayak, Hindu Rao & Satyawadi Raja Harish Chandra Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur, Pt Madan Mohan Malviya, Guru Gobind Singh, Deendayal Upadhyay & Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hospital (rural area), Lal Bahadur Shastri, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital and Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS).

Also Read: Modi in Varanasi: Need to change mindset towards differently-abled


Bollywood celebs like Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and Sunny Leone took to micro-blogging site Twitter to wish the whole nation and their fans a "Happy Republic Day".

By India Today Web Desk: India celebrates its 67th Republic Day this year. The Republic Day marks the day when India's constitution came into force on January 26, 1950 declaring India a democratic Republic. The grand spectacle of men in their uniforms marching across the Rajpath on the Republic Day inspires patriotic fervour across the nation on this day.

This year, French President Francois Hollande is the chief guest at the Republic Day parade. It's said that Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will join the French president in Delhi for lunch after the parade.

Meanwhile, Bollywood celebs like Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and Sunny Leone took to micro-blogging site Twitter to wish the whole nation and their fans a "Happy Republic Day". Here's what they tweeted:

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Jus holding this flag swells up ur chest in pride.She did what no other country did for its people #HappyRepublicDay pic.twitter.com/iZfK5fhU12 Ranjit Katiyal (@akshaykumar) January 26, 2016

While we look up to salute the Indian flag, here's to remembering our unsung heroes! #Repu? https://t.co/wenQHZusrW pic.twitter.com/bL2lvpwJfc Sonam Kapoor (@sonamakapoor) January 25, 2016

Proud to be Indian & so thankful for everything this wonderful nation has given me!Happy Republic Day https://t.co/ivwkXglTZL #JaiGangaajal PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) January 26, 2016

Immense gratitude for all your love !!Here's Team #Airlift wishing you all a very Happy Republic Day !! ???? ???? pic.twitter.com/awwGzBAdjO AMRITA KATIYAL (@NimratOfficial) January 25, 2016

T 2124 - Happy Republic Day .. 2016 !! January 26 .. pic.twitter.com/bEUSN40L6h Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 25, 2016

Happy Republic day everyone. Let's work to make INDIA the greatest. Do your best. Jai Hind. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? arjun rampal (@rampalarjun) January 26, 2016

??????? ???? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??????? ?????????? ???????????????????????????? 2?6? 0?1? 2?0?1?6? Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) January 26, 2016

Happy Republic Day. ???? Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) January 26, 2016

Happy Republic Day!!!! ?????? Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) January 26, 2016

???? Happy Republic Day ???? Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 26, 2016

Happy Republic day everyone! God bless and be safe today!! Sunny Leone (@SunnyLeone) January 26, 2016

Happy Republic Day to one and all!! rishi kapoor (@chintskap) January 26, 2016
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting French president Fracois Hollande hailed the inking of Rafale agreement but the two leaders acknowledged that the last mile still remains to be walked.

By Mail Today: India on Monday took the first concrete step towards the purchase of new jets by signing the inter-governmental agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighters, but the two sides could not seal the full deal as the price of the mega contract was still to be settled.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting French president Fracois Hollande hailed the inking of Rafale agreement but the two leaders acknowledged that the last mile still remains to be walked.

The French aircraft maker Dassault, which produces Rafale, later claimed that it will take another month. Hollande had said that Rafale agreement was a decisive step and the financial issues will be sorted out in the coming days.

The technical aspects of the deal were settled last month itself but the toughest part - the price negotiations - was still underway, said sources.

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The industry sources peg the estimated cost of the contract to be close to $10 billion.

Prime Minister Modi in April last year had scrapped the contract for the purchase of 126 Rafales being negotiated by the UPA government and settled for 36 fighter jets in fly away condition.

The IAF has been striving to get new fighter jets for more than 10 years but the government could not settle the deal after down selecting Rafale from a global bid.

Between April 2015 and January 2016, the negotiations were accelerated to finalise the truncated deal. France has agreed to transfer the technology but the high cost of the aircraft continues to be a sticking point. Sources said the price calculations are extremely complicated as the aircraft will remain in service for more than 50 years.

Having covered the distance, it will be left upon French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to finalise the deal on his next trip to India which is likely soon.

The developments indicate that the IAF's long pending demand for modern medium multi-role jets would finally be met even though it has to settle for much lesser number of aircraft. The IAF hopes that after the finalisation of the contract, the first aircraft should arrive in India by 2018.

What helped in speeding up the negotiations is the fact that negotiations were being held between government to government.

Also Read: India-France sign deal for purchase of 36 Rafale jets




Investigators have revealed that IT professional Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, 34, who was arrested on Friday from his rented apartment in Mumbra, received Rs 8 lakh from ISIS through hawala. Shaikh is said to be the terror group's primary recruiter in India.

By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: Investigators have revealed that IT professional Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, 34, who was arrested on Friday from his rented apartment in Mumbra, received Rs 8 lakh from ISIS through hawala. Shaikh is said to be the terror group's primary recruiter in India.

In his statement, Shaikh claimed he did not misuse the cash, but distributed it among recruits. He said he gave Rs 50,000 to Hussain Khan, the Mazgaon youth who wasarrested by the NIA, and Rs 3 lakh to a Lucknow-based youth.

He also claimed to have distributed the cash among a few others in Mumbai and other states. He said spent it on meetings he attended in Mumbai, Lucknow, Aurangabad and a few other states.

An investigating officer said Shaikh was considered to be the Amir (deputy) of the extremist group in India and hence the cash was sent to him.

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Also Read:

ISIS offering Indian hackers $10,000 a jobs

Court remands 6 ISIS suspects into NIA custody


A Dalit student at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has sent two letters to the Vice Chancellor threatening to end his life if his research grant is not extended next year.

By India Today Web Desk: The tragic suicide of research scholar Rohith Vemula triggered a massive outrage amongst students not just at the University of Hyderabad but elsewhere as well.

In yet another case, where the issue of caste-based discrimination on campus is highlighted, a Dalit student at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has sent two letters to the Vice Chancellor threatening to end his life if his research grant is not extended next year.

The Dalit student has demanded resumption of his fellowship in a week's time, alleging that his department is trying to block his PhD.

While H Sharma, the varsity's Controller of Examinations, said that the extension of his senior research fellowship was withheld as he had not been able to get clearance from the finance officer, outgoing Vice Chancellor S K Sopory said the matter will be resolved soon and asked the university's chief security officer to keep an eye on the student.

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The researcher with International Organisation (ORG) division, CIPOD, had received an advance payment of Rs 66,000 for his field trip to Brussels, Belgium. "The student was supposed to return this advance amount to allow his fellowship to continue. But the money has not been returned. Also, the researcher deregistered himself as a JNU student between December 2013 and July 2015," Sharma said.

26-year-old Rohith Vemula, a Dalit PhD scholar, who was found hanging in a hostel room in Hyderabad Central University on January 17.

Also read:

Rohith Vemula suicide: Hyderabad university vice-chancellor Appa Rao goes on indefinite leave

Rohith Vemula suicide: Protesting students term PM Modi's statement insulting


The Karnataka Police today arrested a man in Koppala for allegedly posting derogatory comments on Tipu Sultan, on his social media account.

By Mail Today: The Karnataka Police today arrested a man in Koppala, a town in central Karnataka, for allegedly posting derogatory comments on Tipu Sultan, on his social media account.

According to the police, Manjunath Mudgal, an ITI student, had posted pictures of Tipu Sultan on his Facebook account and passed derogatory remarks. He had also defaced images of the Muslim ruler on his account. The incident was brought to the notice of the police by a few local residents.

Fearing a law and order situation, the police arrested Manjunath. He was asked to remove all the controversial pictures from his Facebook account. The police have registered a case.

ALSO READ

Tipu Sultan, a bigot or a freedom fighter?



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--- ENDS ---
Congress has declared an 'all out war' against the 'trampling' of the Constitution by the Modi government.

By Sanjana Agnihotri: Apart from the insurgency-inspired unrest, Arunachal Pradesh has been witnessing unrest among the state assembly members as well.

The political situation saw a turn of events when on December 16, 2015, 21 Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 BJP and two independent members to sign a resolution 'impeaching' Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue. The assembly secretariat complex was sealed by the district magistrate on the advice of chief minister Nabam Tuki.

In November 2015 too, Congress rebels and BJP MLAs together moved a motion of no-confidence against the Speaker.

Fearing a constitutional breakdown, the Union Cabinet now has forwarded the plea for President's rule to President Pranab Mukherjee. The imposition of Article 356 of the Constitution would mean the state will come under the direct control of the government of India.

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One thing led to another

The Congress called Governor JP Rajkhowa a 'BJP agent' who helped BJP MLAs bring a no-confidence motion against Speaker Nabam Rebia, one month ahead of its scheduled date. The governor also ordered the Deputy Speaker will preside over the House from the first moment of the first sitting.

Chief minister and 26 other members boycotted the session calling it illegal and unconstitutional. In reaction, rebels and opposition MLAs gathered to 'vote out' Tuki.

In proceedings chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok, who is also a Congress rebel, the no-confidence motion moved by BJP and independent lawmakers was adopted.

The Supreme Court has referred the case to a constitution bench.

An all out war by Congress

Congress has declared an 'all out war' against the 'trampling' of the Constitution by the Modi government. In a series of tweets, Rahul Gandhi said, "Modiji you talk about federalism but murder democracy" and that Congress will fight this attack on "on our constitution, on our democracy, on the people's mandate".

Condemning the Centre

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar also came out and criticized this move. Kejriwal tweeted, "BJP lost elections. Now acquiring power thro back door". (sic)



Strongly condemn Centre's move to impose Prez rule in Arunachal Pradesh, while the matter is still pending before SC's Constitutional Bench. Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) January 24, 2016
This might be the most unusual news to come your way! The one and only Gurmeet Ram Rahim got a doctorate from London!

By India Today Web Desk: Take a deep breath and try not to think about all those hours of hard work you put in to complete that tedious thesis to 'earn' your doctorate.

Life is full of unpredictable events, like this one, Gurmeet Ram Rahim getting a doctorate.

So, it is Dr Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan from now on. Yes!

The title was conferred upon the popular Babaji by the World Records University, an autonomous university formed by the conglomeration of Record Books around the world.

#SaluteToSatnamJi

Honored to receive PhD, Doctorate Degree from World Record University London in #Happy25Jan celebrations! pic.twitter.com/gGJEzAkLIY GURMEET RAM RAHIM (@Gurmeetramrahim) January 26, 2016

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According to unconfirmed reports, at least five people, including Fazlullah, his wife and his son, were killed in a drone strike carried out on the Pakistan Taliban chief's house in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on Monday evening.

By India Today Web Desk: Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah alias Radio Mullah was reportedly killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, Pakistani media reported on late Monday evening.

Since 2010, this is the third time that the death of Fazlullah the mastermind of the Peshawar school attack has emerged. According to unconfirmed reports, at least five people, including Fazlullah, his wife and his son, were killed in a drone strike carried out on the Pakistan Taliban chief's house in Afghanistan on Monday evening.

Pakistani army officials recently said Fazlullah was orchestrating raids on Pakistan from Afghanistan, where he had fled several years ago after a Pakistani army offensive against his stronghold in the Swat Valley.

In 2015, the United States had declared Pakistani Taliban leader Fazlullah a "global terrorist," making it a crime to engage in transactions with the man behind the December 16 attack on a Peshawar school.

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Fazlullah and the Taliban claimed responsibility for the school attack that resulted in the deaths of "at least 148 individuals, mostly students.

Fazlullah also was behind the 2012 assassination attempt on Pakistani schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai. Fazlullah was elected leader of the Taliban in 2013.

In July 2015, Shahidullah Shahid, a senior leader of the Islamic State (IS) and former spokesperson of the outlawed TTP, was killed in a US drone strike in in eastern Nangarhar province in Afghanistan.

Shahid had joined the IS as a senior commander in Pakistan. He was effectively the group's second in command in Pakistan. Previously, he served as spokesman of the TTP under Hakimullah Mehsud and current chief Mullah Fazlullah. The militant commander, whose real name is Sheikh Maqbool Orakzai, parted ways with the TTP and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, head of IS in October 2014.
With the aim of introducing tales of valour and unparalleled bravery of the bravest of brave Indian soldiers to the young generation via the Param Vir Chakra series.

By Mail Today: With the aim of introducing tales of valour and unparalleled bravery of the bravest of brave Indian soldiers to the young generation, Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh on Monday inaugurated the first batch of books of five heroes in the Param Vir Chakra series

The illustrated story books for children between the ages 7 and 11 have been written by Gaurav C Sawant, Senior Editor, India Today. The Veer Gatha series is a part of the HRD ministry's initiative to take the stories of India's bravest of the brave soldiers to young schoolchildren and inspire them

A total of 21 Indian soldiers have been awarded the nation's highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra, since independence. Major Somnath Sharma was awarded the first PVC posthumously for his role in the battle to save Srinagar airfield from the Pakistan army and raiders in October 1947.

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"There is so much the nation owes our brave soldiers, who fought against all odds to defend our motherland. Veer Gatha is an effort to not only pay our respects to our bravest of the brave but also take their story to the next generation of Indians,'' Irani told Mail Today on the sidelines of the book series launch.

(From left) Covers of books celebrating the heroics of Arun Khetarpal, Abdul Hamid, Manoj Kumar Pandey, Shaitan Singh and Somnath Sharma.

As part of the Republic Day celebrations, the ministries of defence and HRD joined hands to bring out the Veer Gatha series. The first five illustrated books include the stories of Major Somnath Sharma, Major Shaitan Singh, the hero of battle of Rezang La, Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and Captain Manoj Pandey.



"I am overwhelmed that the government is bringing out illustrated books for children to read about the gallantry of my father late Major Shaitan Singh. Battle of Rezang La, where 120 soldiers fought against more than 5,000 Chinese soldiers and 114 made the supreme sacrifice of their lives is something every Indian should know about,'' Narpat Singh, his son told Mail Today.

The families of Major Somnath Sharma, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and CQMH Abdul Hamid were also present at the launch. "This is a wonderful idea to take the stories to the young scholars. They too will know about the sacrifices made," Mukesh Khetarpal, younger brother of Arun Khetarpal said

At the launch, General Dalbir Singh hoped that these illustrated books will inspire youngsters to join the army and know more about it. "We were inspired by stories of Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji. Similarly, these youngsters will feel inspired by stories of valour of heroes like Major Shaitan Singh and Captain Manoj Pandey,'' he said.

The writer, Gaurav Sawant's next target is to write about all the heroes of Kargil by Vijay Diwas and about the 1971 heroes by December 16.

Also Read: Veer Gatha: Govt launches major inspirational book series


The police and other security agencies went into a tizzy today morning after they were informed about an abandoned bag found at the Pathankot railway station.

The police and other security agencies went into a tizzy today morning after they were informed about an abandoned bag found at the Pathankot railway station.

The police alongwith the dog squad reached the spot and put sand bags over the suspicious bag to minimise the damage in case the bag contained explosives.

"There is no need to panic as this is an ordinary bag. We have moved the bag and have covered it with sand bags. Nothing to worry as no explosives were found in the bag except some clothes," IG Border Range, Alok Nath Angra, told India Today.

The bomb disposal squad found no explosives in the bag but it had some army uniforms in it. Investigation is on to locate the person who left the bag unattended at platform no. 3 of the railway station.

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The Pathankot railway station is located at a distance of 1.5 km from the Indian Air Force station which was attacked by six Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists on January 2. All the six attackers and seven securitymen were killed in the attack.

Also Read:

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President's Rule has been imposed in Arunachal Pradesh. President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to President's Rule in the state.

By India Today Web Desk: President's Rule has been imposed in Arunachal Pradesh. President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to President's Rule in the state.

Reacting over the development, former Arunachal CM Nabam Tuki said, "The matter was subjudice, therefore we awaited court's order. They said not to hold an assembly session. We will fight this battle legally."

"This is a decision of the BJP, they want to destabilise the non-BJP ruled states through backdoor."



The Union Cabinet had recommended central rule following political instability in the state.

On Monday, President Mukherjee had called Home Minister Rajnath Singh and put some queries to him on the need for the imposition of President's Rule even as Congress, the ruling party in the state, met him and opposed the cabinet decision.

The party urged the President not to give assent to the cabinet decision saying the issue was before the Supreme Court.

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Other major opposition parties had also attacked the Centre's decision saying it amounted to "murder" of democracy while the BJP said the crisis was of Congress' making because it had lost numbers in the Assembly.What is President's Rule?

The President's Rule refers to the imposition of Article 356 of the Constitution of India on a state that is incapable of running the constitutional machinery. In such times, the state comes under the direct control of the central government of India, which is termed as the President's Rule. The President dissolves the state assembly and orders the centrally appointed Governor to execute the operations of the state.

Arunachal Pradesh crisis

Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa had on December 9 advanced the date of the convening of the assembly session. The move was criticised by the Congress.

On January 18, the Supreme Court said it would examine whether Rajkhowa's decision of advancing the assembly session to December 16 to take up the resolution for the removal of Speaker Nabam Rebia was valid or not.

Rebia was removed as speaker by 14 rebel Congress legislators backed by BJP legislators on December 16 at an assembly session held in a community hall in Itanagar that was presided over by the deputy speaker.

The 14 rebel Congress lawmakers were earlier disqualified by Rebia. The deputy speaker, before moving the motion removing Rebia as speaker, restored the membership of the 14 legislators.



Also Read

Cabinet recommends President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh



Arunachal Pradesh crisis: Congress moves President, SC

'Murder of democracy' or a 'need'? Why is President's rule recommended in Arunachal Pradesh?








By India Today Web Desk: A fighter jet today accidently dropped five bombs over Gugdi town in Rajasthan's Barmer district. The sound of the explosion could be heard in a 10 km radius. No casualties have been reported as of now. Barmer is a village which is very near to Pakistan border.

However, the Indian Air Force in its statement said that its radar had spotted an unidentified balloon-shaped object and that a fighter jet was launched to intercept the object.

"Between 10.30 - 11.00 a.m., unidentified balloon-shaped object was picked up on IAF radar, which was unidentified and was in our airspace. An IAF fighter was launched, which intercepted the object and brought it down. We have launched further investigations into it," a source in the IAF said.



The AIR Force is now searching for the remains of the balloon.

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The IAF teams have left for the site where five bombs dropped from a fighter plane over Gugdi. Local police also visited the village.



"The explosion was loud and we saw some objects falling from the sky my house has developed cracks," said Manohar Singh, a resident of Gugri village.



Meanwhile, a team of air force officers has travelled to Gugdi, a village in Barmer, where villagers complained that "material" dropped by a fighter plane had caused cracks in some houses. The Air Force has however denied that its jets have dropped anything.

"We are in touch with the IAF officials and are sending them the pieces for further analysis," a statement issued by Barmer police said.


The Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets along the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar in Punjab.

Defence personnel from both the nations shook hands and exchanged several platters of sweets. (ANI photo)

By India Today Web Desk: On the occasion of the 67th Republic Day, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets along the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar in Punjab.

Defence personnel from both the nations shook hands and exchanged several platters of sweets.

Pakistan Rangers had earlier refused to accept the sweets offered by the BSF on the occasion of Eid in 2015.

INDIA, CHINA HOLD CEREMONIAL BORDER PERSONNEL MEETING IN LADAKH

On the occasion of the 67th Republic Day, ceremonial border personal meetings between the troops of Indian Army and Chinese People's Liberation Army were held in Eastern Ladakh.

At the Chushul - Moldo Meeting Point, the delegations were led by Brig RS Raman and Senior Col Cheng Zheng Shan, while at the DBO-TWD Meeting Point, the Delegations were led by Col BS Uppal and Lt Col Duanyug Kang.

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The proceedings were commenced by ceremonial flag hoisting of both the countries which was followed by the military commanders of both sides delivering speeches which exuded warmth and a spirit of friendship and bonhomie.

Thereafter, a cultural programme showcasing vibrant Indian culture and traditional grandeur was organised.

Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment. The delegations parted amidst a feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling of upholding the treaties and agreement signed between the governments of the two sides to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

ALSO READ



Many firsts make 67th Republic Day Rajpath parade different

Republic Day parade: What's new this time
Despite the terror threat, huge number of people attended the grand Republic Day parade at Rajpath to witness India's military might and cultural diversity.

By India Today Web Desk: Over 40,000 securitymen were deployed across Delhi to repel the terror threat looming over Republic Day celebrations. The national capital was enveloped in multi-layer security for the main event at Rajpath, which was attended by President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guest of the honour French President Francois Hollande. SEE PICS I Read highlights of the event



Despite the terror threat, huge number of people attended the grand Republic Day parade at Rajpath to witness India's military might and cultural diversity.

To make the event crispier and lessen the drag, the timing of the parade was reduced to 90 minutes from the previous 115 minutes.

Tanks, missiles, marchpast by various security forces, tableaux from states and ministries, daredevil show on motorcycles by men from Signal Corps and a flypast by some of killer machines of the Indian Air Force (IAF) were at display at the Rajpath. The fly past by fighter jets like the Jaguars, Sukhois, MiG29s, and the big aircrafts like the C-17 Globemaster of the IAF received huge applause from the crowd.

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But what attracted more eyeballs was the marchpast of the army's dog squad. The contingent was at Rajpath on January 26 after a gap of 26 years. The Indian Army dog squad drawn from the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) took part in the parade along with their handlers. The last time an army dog squad had participated in Republic Day parade was in 1990 and before that in 1963.

The last time an army dog squad had participated in Republic Day parade was in 1990 and before that in 1963. The last time an army dog squad had participated in Republic Day parade was in 1990 and before that in 1963.

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.

Another first at this year's parade was the participation of French military. This was for the first time in the history that men from a foreign military marched down the Rajpath during the Republic Day parade. The French contingent comprised of 56 personnel of 35th Infantry Regiment of 7th Armoured Brigade.

For the first time, a tableau by ex-servicemen was also at display in the parade where army veterans showcased their role in national unity.

In another break with tradition, the young recipients of the National Awards for Bravery came up towards the end.

There were tableaux, 23 of them, representing 17 states and six central ministries. Government's flagship Digital India and Swachh Bharat initiatives were also showcased during the parade.

The tableaux, presenting India's varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage showcased the country's progress in different spheres. What particularly caught the eye were floats from Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam. Central Public Works Department's tableau fully fabricated out of flowers and depicting a variety of themes was another tableau which attracted people's appreciation.
Dehdradun Police has issued an alert about a suspected terrorist entering the Uttarakhand capital. The city police has released a CCTV photo of the suspect and asked people to be on alert.

By India Today Web Desk: Dehdradun Police has issued an alert about a suspected terrorist entering the Uttarakhand capital. The city police has released a CCTV photo of the suspect and asked people to be on alert.

Uttarakhand DGP BS Sidhu told reporters that a group of eight men may try to create trouble in the state. Sidhu said the police have received information that one of the members of the group has sneaked into Dehradun.

Security forces are at maximum alert across the country in view of Republic Day. Intelligence agencies have warned that terror groups may try to strike in major cities on Republic Day.

Earlier this month, 4 suspected ISIS members were arrested from Roorke for planning to target the Kumbh mela in Haridwar.

On Monday, two Al Qaeda suspects were arrested in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Police said the two - Akram Sheikh alias Masood and Mohammad Nasim are reportedly associated with Al Qaeda's wing with the terror groups Indian branch.

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Also Read:

Pathankot railway station evacuated after suspicious bag found


The capital has turned into a fortress with the Delhi Police and other agencies beefing up the security to ensure a smooth Republic Day today.

The Capital was already on high alert after the Pathankot attack and security agencies have now readied multiple plans to foil a terror attack.

By Mail Today: The capital has turned into a fortress with the Delhi Police and other agencies beefing up the security to ensure a smooth Republic Day today. Intensive surveillance has been put in place at Delhi's border points as cops fear a possible terror strike involving the three stolen cars with Army and police stickers.

While one of the stolen vehicles was an ITBP IG's SUV with blue beacon, the other vehicle was stolen from Pathankot whose driver was found killed in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The registration numbers of these vehicles have been circulated to all police teams, and vehicles entering the Capital are being checked.

Nearly 50,000 security personnel have been deployed in the Lutyen's zone to make the Republic day parade incident-free. Delhi Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed, including on rooftops of various buildings as this year attack by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are a major threat.

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The local police of UP and Haryana have been deployed to keep a check on such threats. The Capital was already on high alert after the Pathankot attack and security agencies have now readied multiple plans to foil a terror attack.

After inputs were received about the presence of key members of several terror outfits in Delhi, intelligence agencies have been asked to keep track on suspicious activities to get specific inputs. In the Capital, as many as 71 high-rises in the vicinity of Rajpath will be shut down either partially or completely on Tuesday because of Republic Day celebrations.

Also Read : Delhi turns into a fortress ahead of Republic day celebrations


Women's group bid to storm the Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra was derailed by cops on Tuesday evening. A group of nearly 500 women activists were not allowed to enter the temple and were blocked few kilometers away from Ahmednagar.

By India Today Web Desk: Women's group bid to storm the Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra was derailed by cops on Tuesday evening. A group of nearly 500 women activists were not allowed to enter the temple and were blocked few kilometers away from Ahmednagar.

The activists were planning to force their way to the section where a stone considered holy and representative of Lord Shani is installed.

The sacred shrine in the temple has been out of bounds for women as per century old tradition.

The women's group, headed by activist Trupti Desai, had decided to stage an procession today by offering worship to Lord Shani at the sacred platform which has been out of bounds for women as per centuries-old tradition.

The temple authorities have maintained that they will not allow protesters from offering worship at the prohibited inner sanctum.

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Meanwhile, former NCW member Shamina Shafiq slammed the temple authorities for having a "patriarchal" approach towards the issue.

"Patriarchal society is a reason for such an attitude. Inequality in another face of patriarchy that is deep rooted within the society," she said.

ALSO READ

Women's outfit set to storm Shani Shingnapur temple amid tight security



Housewife creates history, heads Shani Shingnapur temple trust



Women group demanding equal rights barred from protesting at Shani temple
The Ranragini Bhumata Brigade has decided to stage an extravagant procession by offering worship to Lord Shani at the sacred platform which has been out of bounds for women as per centuries-old tradition.

By India Today Web Desk: A women's group from the Shani Shingnapur village in Maharashtra has decided to stop activists of the Ranragini Bhumata Brigade from entering the Shani Shingnapur temple.

The Ranragini Bhumata Brigade, headed by activist Trupti Desai, has decided to stage an extravagant procession by offering worship to Lord Shani at the sacred platform which has been out of bounds for women as per centuries-old tradition.

The villagers have claimed that Ranragini Bhumata Brigade's agitation is nothing but a publicity stunt. They also requested the women's rights group to respect the age old tradition.

"The protestors are welcome. They can come and offer prayers. We will make all the arrangements. But they should not attempt to climb the platform," Shani Shinganapur temple trust president Anita Shete said.

The temple authorities have maintained that they will not allow protestors from offering worship at the prohibited inner sanctum.

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Former NCW member Shamina Shafiq slammed the temple authorities for having a "patriarchal" approach towards the issue.

"Patriarchal society is a reason for such an attitude. Inequality in another face of patriarchy that is deep rooted within the society," she said.

ALSO READ

Housewife creates history, heads Shani Shingnapur temple trust



Women group demanding equal rights barred from protesting at Shani temple
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD? Through Repentance in the name of The LORD Jesus Christ, and thereby living in Truth; Righteousness; Holiness and complete Surrender to The LORD Jesus Christ. Living day by day while watching and waiting for the imminent return of The LORD Jesus Christ, the darling of heaven. That is the bride of Christ that Jesus Christ is coming to snatch and rescue to heaven.
Investigative reporting from the inner city to Wall Street to the United Nations This is the blogspot version InnerCityPress.com
Insurance Back The Annual African Insurance Forum addresses complex issues faced by insurance companies in Africa

In the context of the low penetration rates and a certain amount of market share still to gain, The 2nd Annual African Insurance Forum - AIF 2016, organized by FEXTON Group, takes place in order to address the many diverse and complex issues faced by leaders of the African general and life insurance sector. XPRIMM Publications support the event as Media partner.



The Forum is dedicated to insurance/reinsurance company executives, brokers, regulators, as well as risk managers and industry partners. Also, AIF 2016 presents the opportunity for delegates to network and build partnerships with peer level professionals, while learning new ideas and strategies that they can replicate within their own organizations, to build a best practices culture.



Among the topics addressed at the forum will be included:

Regulatory changes and the challenges faced by general insurance challenges facing General insurance;

How to improve customer satisfaction, loyalty and profit;

A close examination of alternative investments for insurance.

Furthermore, the Forum aims to gain insights from regulators and industry leaders on how to build sophisticated regulatory frameworks and how to strengthen supervision to ensure success in the African market, as well as to assess new international insurance trends and products and their impact on the local markets.



Renowned speakers have already confirmed their presence at the event. Thus, Delphine MAIDOU, CEO, AGCS Africa, Paul MYEZA, Chief Executive Officer, Lion of Africa Life Assurance, I.L. KAMUZORA, Commissioner of Insurance, Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority represent a few of the speakers which will sustain key presentations.



AIF 2016 takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa between 3 and 4 of March 2016. More details regarding the program and the registration procedure are available here





Author: Oana RACATEJ on 26.01.2016





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Insurance Back The date of the 9th Tashkent International Insurance and Reinsurance Forum has been set

The 9th Tashkent International Insurance and Reinsurance Forum will be held on June, 1st-4th, 2016 in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), organized by SAIPRO information rating agency in cooperation with General Arab Insurance Federation. Traditionally, XPRIMM Publications will support the event as Media Partner.



The Tashkent International Insurance and Reinsurance Forum , annually, gather more than 300 representatives of insurance and reinsurance society, hereby serving as an effective place for meetings, establishing and continuing of cooperation between forum participants from such regions of the world like Europe, Asia, Africa and others. Due to its geographic location the conference serves as a "bridge" between above mentioned regions and becomes a large business ground in Central Asian region.



Number of actual aspects for the development of insurance markets, reinsurance market conditions, and the role of the Central Asian region on this market are going to be discussed on the forthcoming event. All necessary conditions and all-round support will be created for conduction of bilateral business negotiations.



All Forum information is available at forum.saipro.uz





Author: Olesea ADONEV on 26.01.2016





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Listening to a local channel one morning after a wave of building collapse disasters in Kenya in the month of December 2014, o...
Welcome to H&C,,, where I aggregate news of interest. Primary topics include abuse with "the church", LGBTQI+ issues, cults - including anti-vaxxers, and the Dominionist and Theocratic movements. Also of concern is the anti-science movement with interest in those that promote garbage like homeopathy, chiropractic and the like. I am an atheist and anti-theist who believes religious mythos must be die and a strong supporter of SOCAS.
Kyiv records 44 strikes by militants in Donbas in past 24 hours

Militants have opened fire on Ukrainian military positions in Donbas on 44 occasions in the past 24 hours, with the most tense situation recorded in the Donetsk airport area, the press center of the headquarters of Kyiv's anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine reported on Tuesday.

Militants shelled positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the localities of Opytne, Pisky, Luhanske, Novhorodske, Zaitseve and Maryinka, the press center said on its Facebook account.

At around 11:00 p.m. on Monday, militants fired a tank at a Ukrainian military checkpoint in the vicinity of Pisky.

Small arms, large-caliber submachine guns and grenade launchers of different systems were used against Ukrainian army positions in the Donetsk airport area.

"Different kinds of weapons" were fired at Ukrainian military positions near Novhorodske and Zaitseve.
The Ukrainian delegation has prepared a series of events for the upcoming session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which will address the situation Ukraine, deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Delegation to PACE Heorhiy Lohvynsky has said.

"We have planned about seven events for our delegation, round tables, press points," Lohvynsky wrote on his Facebook page.

The delegation includes one of Crimean Tatar leaders Mustafa Jemilev. A separate briefing to address the violation of human rights in Crimea has been scheduled, as well as a roundtable discussion concerning the occupied territories.

The deputy chairman of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE stressed: "The Ukrainian delegation at the level of each report is trying to raise the issues of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Minsk agreements."
The Internet Writing Workshop has monitored critique groups for fiction, nonfiction, novels, romance, short prose, poetry, scriptwriting, and practice writing. Each have participation requirements. The IWW also has groups discussing the art and craft of writing in general, creative nonfiction, speculative fiction, and marketing. The IWW is a cooperative. Membership is free.

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Something other than politics in Washington, D.C.
* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati received the 2022 Adepi Award

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020.

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018.

* IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

* Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013.

* Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011.

2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100.

* Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010.

* Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010.

* Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010.

* Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll.

Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008.
Just as is anticipated of Rouhanis visits to Italy and France, the Chinese visit to Tehran focused on trade deals in the wake of the lifting of US-led sanctions. But President Xis discussions with the Iranian leadership reportedly also touched upon political issues to such an extent that the two countries were able to announce the formulation of a comprehensive strategic partnership. In part, this entails an arrangement for annual visits between the foreign ministers of China and Iran, as Beijing seeks long-term benefits from the Iranian oil economy and Tehran seeks strong Eastern backers.

The Diplomat indicates that the Iranians specifically view their burgeoning relationship with Beijing as a means of challenging the established partnership between the US and Irans main regional rival, Saudi Arabia. This perceived potential has given Xi incentive to privilege his visit to Iran, even though Beijing is ostensibly trying to balance its interests in Iran and Saudi Arabia.

In light of Tehrans eagerness, the visit reportedly resulted in the conclusion of 17 trade agreements, aimed at building the economic exchanges between the two countries to a value of 600 billion dollars over the next 10 years.

These developments once again focus attention upon some international analysts longstanding concerns about the possible development of an Eastern bloc that could present a serious challenge to Western global interests and even the international oil markets current dependence upon US currency. On Monday, Quadrangle further highlighted this threat by pointing out that at the same time China depends upon Iranian oil for its economic interests, Russia depends upon Iran for the sake of its new approach to national security. That approach specifically entails greater confrontation with the West, as evidenced by contrary Russian and US positions on the ongoing conflict in Syria.

Irans economic agreements with China and its security collaborations with Russia raise questions about Western efforts to normalize relations with Iran. On Monday, an editorial in the Los Angeles Times emphasized that the Iranian regime has been resistant to these efforts and has maintained a strong trend of anti-Western propaganda. Indeed, SB News reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had welcomed the Chinese visit by saying that Tehran never trusted the West and was prepared to reward China for the help that they had offered while sanctions were still in effect.
This figure apparently reflects last-minute increases in the quantity and total value of business deals. A separate Reuters report points out, for instance, that Rouhanis trip was preceded on Sunday by Tehrans first major business gathering in the new post-sanctions era, which has resulted from this months implementation of the July 14 nuclear deal.

The meeting focused on the sale of European aircraft to Iran, in the interest of modernizing a commercial airline industry that had been virtually crippled by economic sanctions. The Reuters report indicates that the volume of deals rose of the course of that meeting to include 160 planes with a total list-price of 20 billion dollars, though Iran is expected to pay less than this due to the age of some of the production lines.

European delegates to the meeting indicated that Iran was moving faster than they had expected to bring these deals to life. Meanwhile, the start of Rouhanis state visits suggests that Iranian officials and businesses are receiving very significant support and inducements from Europe to foster this speedy implementation.

As has been extensively reported in the run-up to that visit, American businesses have generally been much more cautious about resuming business with Iran. This is due in part to the fact that US sanctions on Irans human rights abuses and support for terrorism remain in place. And it is due in part to the fact that opposition to a policy of rapprochement runs deep in the US Congress and threatens to expose early-adopter businesses to political scrutiny.

This latter factor was illustrated on Monday when The Hill reported that Florida Republican Representative Dennis Ross announced plans to introduce legislation formally rebuking the Obama administration for its plans to allegedly violate new rules barring citizens of and recent visitors to Iran from receiving visa waivers from the State Department.

The administration has informed Iran that these restrictions can be circumvented by utilizing the relevant legislations provisions for exceptions on the basis of national security. Despite objections from several members of Congress who say that this is not the intent of such waiver provisions, President Obama plans to utilize them to allow some legitimate business travelers to enter the US without visas.

Rosss plans for a formal rebuke not only criticized this allege overreach of executive power; it also highlighted the extent of congressional skepticism regarding how Iran might manipulate the ongoing change in US-Iran relations. That is, Ross accused the Obama administration of placating to Irans deceptive intentions.

Such skepticism has helped to keep alive the possibility that the US might re-implement economic sanctions in response to Iranian misbehavior. And this has in turn made it comparatively difficult for American businesses, as well as some European businesses that have regular interactions with the US, to resume their relations with the Islamic Republic.

Despite this fact, the intense interest in the Iranian market among other Western entities is making it increasingly difficult for US companies to maintain their present, cautious policies. The Reuters report on the European aircraft sales points out that Boeing was not in attendance at the Tehran meeting, but also suggests that the deals that were struck there were likely to give Boeing incentive to enter the market in order to avoid losing more ground to its competitors.

Critics of the nuclear agreement have long worried that this would be the effect of the lifting of sanctions, and that the new climate of competition for Iranian business would make it difficult to convince the international community to accede to sanctions once again, if the US determined this to be necessary.

Whats more, there is significant doubt as to whether the Obama administration would be willing to declare that such a move is necessary. Both in the West and among US allies in the Middle East, critics have frequently expressed concern that the nuclear agreement was indicative of a pivot toward Iran in US foreign policy.

The administration has attempted to dispel this notion, most recently by sending Secretary of State John Kerry to Riyadh over the weekend, where he insisted that the US would remain vigilant about Irans destabilizing activities in the region. But at the same time, the Associated Press indicates that Kerry reportedly attempted to maintain a neutral position with regard to Saudi-Iran proxy conflicts in Yemen and Syria, urging the Saudis to accept an Iranian role in formulating a negotiated solution.

Such positions are a hard sell in the wake of this months breakdown in relations between the two Middle Eastern powers, following Iranian attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad. Additionally, Western critics remain averse to the administrations rapprochement efforts in part because they do not appear to be generating reciprocation from the Iranian regime.

The Los Angeles Times once again highlighted this fact on Monday, in an editorial that pointed to several ways in which Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his allies are resisting the normalization of relations with the West in order to preserve Irans revolutionary self-image. The article concluded by suggesting that challenge for the US in the coming months and years would be not to transform relations between the two countries, but rather to manage ongoing conflict with Iran, without resorting to war.

Many commentators on the current situation have emphasized that the lifting of sanctions and the rush to invest in the Iranian market could make persistent conflict more likely by empowering the regimes hardline infrastructure, including the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the various businesses in which it has a controlling interest. This danger was highlighted anew on Monday in a report by the Japan Times, which reiterated that Western entities will inevitably be doing business with IRGC, even if indirectly.

At the same time that the IRGC maintains control over about half of the Iranian economy, its officials have left little doubt about how they will utilize an influx of new capital. The Japan Times points out that a number of them have recently reaffirmed their commitment to foreign conflicts including the fight to defend Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and the support for Houthi rebels fighting against the Western-backed government in Yemen.

Although Rouhanis visit to Europe is focused on economic prospects, these IRGC statements undermine the few political issues that have emerged from the host countries in advance of his arrival. The Associated Press reported on Monday that Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had told reporters, If we reached a nuclear deal, we can reach a deal on Syria. He also expressed the view that Iran can now play a fundamental role in the stability of the Middle East.

But many political groups have disputed this notion, pointing to the IRGCs influence and public statements as evidence. In France, a number of groups including the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran began a week of campaigns and protests on Sunday, insisting that the embrace of Rouhanis government will only lead to more instability in the region.
That rally is expected to include members of the Iranian expatriate community, but also native Frenchmen, members of the French parliament, and other international supporters. The NCRI reported on Monday that a number of French lawmakers had attended a conference on Sunday to express solidarity with the Iranian dissident organization and its cause of calling attention to ongoing human rights abuses and regional destabilization under the Rouhani government.

This represents only a portion of the Western backlash that has developed against the policy of rapprochement that has so far resulted in the July 14 nuclear agreement and the embrace of Rouhani during this weeks visit. The US Congress has arguably led this backlash among Western government institutions, although the Obama administration has conversely led the way in opening up relations with Iran.

On Monday, The Hill reported that Florida Republican Representative Dennis Ross had announced plans to introduce a bill formally rebuking the president for his intention to defy recent legislation barring natives of and visitors to the Islamic Republic from receiving visa waivers from the State Department. Such incidents highlight the strong counter-trends running throughout Western governments with regard to Iran policy.

Those counter-trends have also presented themselves in the context of recent development such as last weeks release of four Americans held captive in Iran, in exchange for seven Iranians held by the US. Whereas the Obama administration and its allies have welcomed that exchange as evidence of newfound Iranian willingness to strike deals with its adversaries in the West, critics of rapprochement have seized upon it to highlight the persistence of Iranian abuses in spite of these occasional concessions.

On Monday, an editorial in the Washington Post commented upon the release of that papers own journalist, who had been held in Iran for 545 days and falsely convicted of espionage. The article argued that the international attention that had been brought to Rezaians case made it convenient for the regime to release him, but that the same could not be said of the great many other journalists imprisoned in the country.
[January 25, 2016] Fitch Affirms SLM Private Credit Student Loan Trust 2005-A

Fitch Ratings affirms all ratings of the outstanding student loan notes issued by SLM Private Credit Student Loan Trust 2005-A (SLM 2005-A). The Rating Outlook remains Stable on all the notes. A detailed list of rating actions follows at the end of this press release. KEY RATING DRIVERS Collateral Quality: The trust is collateralized by approximately $649.38 million of private student loans for 2005-A trust. The loans were originated by Navient Corp (fka SLM Corp) under the Signature Education Loan Program, LAWLOANS program, MBA Loans program, and MEDLOANS program. The projected remaining defaults are expected to range between 8%-10%. A recovery rate of 11% was applied, which was determined to be appropriate based on data provided by the issuer. Credit Enhancement (CE): Transaction CE is sufficient to provide loss coverage for the class A, B, and C notes at each respective rating category. CE is provided by a combination of overcollateralization (the excess of the trust's asset balance over the bond balance), excess spread, and subordination. The total parity ratio as of the December 2015 distribution is 105.77%. Liquidity Support: Liquidity support is provided by a reserve account sized at approximately $3.76 million. Servicing Capabilities: Day-to-day servicing is provided by Navient Solutions Inc., which has demonstrated satisfactory servicing capabilities. RATING SENSITIVITIES As Fitch's base case default proxy is derived primarily from historical collateral performance, actual performance may differ from the expected performance, resulting in higher loss levels than the base case. This will result in a decline in CE and remaining loss coverage levels available to the notes and may make certain note ratings susceptible to potential negative rating actions, depending on the extent of the decline in coverage. Fitch will continue to monitor the performance of the trust. DUE DILIGENCE USAGE No third party due diligence was provided or reviewed in relation to this rating action. Fitch affirms and maintains Outlook Stable on the following: SLM Private Credit Student Loan Trust 2005-A --Class A-3 at 'AA-sf'; --Class A-4 at 'AA-sf'; --Class B at 'Asf'; --Class C at 'BBsf'. Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com. Applicable Criteria Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds (pub. 14 May 2014) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=744158



Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds: Derivative Addendum (pub. 14 May 2014) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=744175

Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria (pub. 06 Jul 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=867952 U.S. Private Student Loan ABS (News - Alert) Criteria (pub. 31 Jul 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=868836 Additional Disclosures Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=998344 Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=998344 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/20160125006189/en/

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[January 25, 2016] Infrastructure Monitoring Market Worth 2.47 Billion USD by 2020

PUNE, India, January 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "Infrastructure Monitoring Market by Technology (Wired and Wireless), Components, Application (Damage Detection and Others), End-User (Civil, Aerospace, Defense, Energy, Mining, and Others), and Geography - Global Trends & Forecast to 2020", published by MarketsandMarkets, the total market is expected to reach $2.47 Billion USD by 2020, at a CAGR of 26.3 % during the forecast period. Browse more than 75 market data Tables with 74 Figures spread through 160 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Infrastructure Monitoring Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/infrastructure-monitoring-market-251897013.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. Increasing need of safety and reliability as well as the aging infrastructure are factors that drive the Infrastructure monitoring market. Civil infrastructure is expected to lead the Infrastructure Monitoring for end users. The growing demand for infrastructure monitoring in civil infrastructure, worldwide is one of the key drivers of the market. To continue the growth of a country's economy, it is essential to monitor the health condition of the civil infrastructure and take necessary actions to avoid accidents. IHM has the ability to provide real-time monitoring solutions of civil structures, while reducing the maintenance cost. Wireless technology is expected to exhibit high growth rate in the market for Infrastructure Monitoring. There is a growing demand for wireless technology in the Infrastructure Monitoring Market. Wireless infrastructure monitoring has emerged as a technology that would significantly influence the field of infrastructure asset management and structural monitoring. The market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The market in APAC is expected to grow at high CAGR between 2015 and 2020 because of the rapid infrastructure development. Major driving factors include government regulatory bodies, large number of infrastructure construction projects, and natural calamities which create the need for IHM. China and Japan are the leading countries in the infrastructure monitoring markt in this region.



The report analyzes the market trends for each of the segments and their respective growth rates. Apart from the market segmentation, the report also covers in-depth analyses such as Porter's five forces analysis, value chain analysis with a detailed process flow diagram, and market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges for the growth of the infrastructure monitoring market. The report also provides a qualitative and quantitative description of the verticals considered for the market. It also gives a detailed view of the market across four geographic regions: the Americas, Europe, APAC, and RoW. The Americas is the largest market, while APAC has been identified as the fastest-growing market, globally. Ask For PDF Brochure: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=251897013

The report also profiles the most promising players in the infrastructure monitoring market. The key players in the market are COWI A/S(Denmark), AVTECH Software, Inc. (U.S.), Acellent Technologies Inc.(U.S.), Geocomp Corp.(U.S.), Nova Metrix LLC (U.S.), Advitam Group (France), Geokon, Inc. (U.S.), Pure Technologies (Canada), Strainstall UK Ltd. (U.K.), Airbus Group (Netherlands), Structural Monitoring Systems Plc. (U.K.), Digitexx Data Systems, Inc. (U.S.), and BAE Systems ( U.K.). Browse Related Reports Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Market by Technology (Wired and Wireless), by Solution Type (Hardware and Software & Services), by Application (Bridges, Dams, Tunnels, Buildings, Stadiums, and Other), and by Geography - Global Trend & Forecast to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/structural-health-monitoring-market-101431220.html Vibration Monitoring Market by Product (Portable & Non-Portable), Component (Accelerometer, Proximity Probe, & Others), Application (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Chemical, Metal & Mining, & Others) & Geography - Global Forecast to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/vibration-monitoring-market-29273491.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

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[email protected] and Mphasis to Present "Disruptive Leadership in the Digital Age" at the Wharton San Francisco Campus on January 26th

Mphasis, a leading IT services and solutions provider and [email protected], the online business analysis journal of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, will host Transforming DnA: Disruptive Leadership in the Digital Age, a discussion to address the new digital reality and resulting challenges for many organizations. The half-day event -- open to C-level executives and the press - will take place on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 from 12:30pm - 6pm at Wharton San Francisco.

Top executives from major brands, leading journalists and faculty from the Wharton School are scheduled to participate. These include:

Gopi Kallayil, Chief Brand Evangelist, Google (News - Alert) and Author, The Internet to the Inner-Net

Tom Gooley, Managing Director, LPL Financial

Mike Selfridge, Chief Banking Officer, First Republic Bank

Niels Aillaud, CDO, Whirlpool Corporation

Niloy Sanyal, CMO, GE Software, GE Power

Prith Banerjee, CTO, Schneider Electric (News - Alert)

Tyler Wry, Assistant Professor of Management, the Wharton School

Mark Milian, Technology Editor, Bloomberg (News - Alert) News

The discussion will focus on how participants' companies are managing their traditional business while creating a new business model around imperative digital strategies.

"Duality is one of the toughest things to practice in any organization, it requires a very different leadership rhythm. Leaders will need to embark on a journey of self-ransformation to change the way they think, the way they do business," said Ganesh Ayyar, CEO and executive director of Mphasis. "Leaders globally trained in the analog world now have to steer not that large ship, but unleash hundreds of innovative canoes in digital waters. There is not a choice anymore - companies need to reinvent themselves and we as business and technology executives are responsible for navigating our enterprise in the digital revolution."







The event (complete agenda accessible here and at http://knowledge.whartonevents.com/transforming-dna/) will also provide attendees with a sneak-preview to [email protected]'s upcoming e-book, "Becoming Digital: Strategies for Business and Personal Transformation," which explores three key themes: "Transforming the Leader's Mindset, Becoming a Digital Master and Leading the Company after Self-transformation."

About [email protected] and the Wharton School

[email protected] is the online business analysis journal of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The site, which is free, captures relevant knowledge generated at Wharton and beyond by offering articles and videos based on research, conferences, speakers, books and interviews with faculty and other experts on global business topics.

Founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. With a broad global community and one of the most published business school faculties, Wharton creates economic and social value around the world. The School has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 9,000 participants in executive education programs annually and a powerful alumni network of 94,000 graduates.

About Mphasis

Mphasis (an HP Enterprise Company) enables chosen customers to meet the demands of an evolving market place. Recently named by American Banker and BAI as one of the top companies in FinTech and as the "Most Distinguished Digital Company in 2015" by The Economic Times, Mphasis fuels this by combining superior human capital with cutting edge solutions in hyper-specialized areas. Contact Mphasis on www.mphasis.com.

Our Social Media Channels

Facebook (News - Alert): https://www.facebook.com/MphasiSOfficial

Twitter (News - Alert): https://twitter.com/#!/mphasis

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/mphasis

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MphasisOfficial

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160125006226/en/
[January 25, 2016] New Cryptosoft Release Provides Enterprises With a Reliable, Cost-Effective Security Solution for the Internet of Things

Cryptosoft, the leader in policy driven authentication and encryption services for connected Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices, today announced the availability of the latest version of the Cryptosoft platform. With this release, Cryptosoft brings to market a solution that meets the needs of enterprises seeking to deploy manned and unmanned IoT and M2M devices for mission critical business and consumer uses. In recent months, numerous headlines have questioned whether reliable security solutions for the IoT and M2M devices can be developed, and whether viable solutions will be cost prohibitive. With today's announcement, Cryptosoft eliminates these concerns. Cryptosoft's industry leading solution now offers the five central elements needed by enterprises to deploy secure, products and services based on the IoT and M2M devices: 1. Policy driven security around the authentication of the user accessing the data 2. Strong encryption around the transmission and storage of IOT and M2M data within enterprise networks 3. The ability to deploy this security solution with all types of devices (a device agnostic solution) 4. The ability to provision and update software and devices Over the Air (OTA) or Over the Internet (OTI) 5. An enterprise offering that is available at a cost-effective price. Version 4.0, available today, extends Cryptosoft's market-leading, policy-based authentication and data protection technology to support unique device derived key management capabilities from Device Authority, Inc. By adding support for Device Authority's D-FACTORtm as an option within the Cryptosoft platform, customers are now able to authenticate and transparently encryt data payloads, including those from unmanned devices, from the edge of the IoT and M2M ecosystems, right back to the relevant, mission critical application.



The Cryptosoft platform is device agnostic and allows customers to add their, policy driven, data encryption services to their existing IoT and M2M workflows without re-wiring applications or current data flows. "With today's announcement, we are solving a critical industry problem." said Darron Antill, CEO of Cryptosoft. "The many benefits promised by Machine-to-Machine communications and the Internet of Things will not be held back by security concerns. The era of cost-effective, reliable enterprise security, for the IoT and M2M market has now arrived."

"Our premise has always been that application developers and network administrators must be able to secure data and devices across the IoT and M2M ecosystems in a way that isn't confined by the approaches associated with traditional PKI architectures," said Jon Penney, CTO and Founder, Cryptosoft. "By managing and distributing keys with easy scalability, the Cryptosoft platform, now incorporating the Device Authority technology, is a game changing solution to this problem." "We are very excited about this important integration with the Cryptosoft platform. By offering our D-FACTORtm core authentication components Cryptosoft customers have the ability to deploy the strongest security posture around the two principal areas recognized as potential IoT and M2M vulnerabilities; Devices and Data," said Talbot Harty, CEO of Device Authority. About Cryptosoft Cryptosoft's data security platform solves the data security & authentication challenges for the Internet of Things (IoT). Its software platform significantly reduces the end-to-end attack surface, protecting critical company and customer data assets. The Cryptosoft platform provides transparent protection of data at rest and in transit across any platform, device and service, delivering end-to-end protection of critical data. With offices in San Francisco, California and Thames Valley, UK Cryptosoft partners with the leading IoT ecosystem providers, including wot.io and ThingWorx, providing highly scalable data protection security solutions for the Internet of Things. (www.cryptosoft.com) View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160125006278/en/

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Whoever wins the US election in November and takes office in January will be the oldest president ever inaugurated. Trump was the oldest president to win a first term in 2016, and if he wins a second term he'll by 74 at his 2021 inauguration. If Biden wins, he'll be 78. That's pretty old! But septuagenarian presidents are a common occurrence in Africa. When Robert Mugabe was forced from office at age 93 he was the oldest head of state in the world. I posted the ages of all the presidents in ECOWAS countries two years ago. Five out of 15 were 70 years or older. Todd Moss and Stephanie Majerowicz of the Center for Global Development speculated that large gaps could lead to public anger, protests, and government turnover. We can test that hypothesis over the past two years. Below is the list from 2018; if the president hasn't changed I just posted the new age, and if he was recently re-elected. If the president did change, I post the new president with his new age, an
[January 26, 2016] Zayo Releases Historical Supplemental Earnings Information Under New Reporting Segments

Zayo Group (News - Alert) Holdings ("Zayo" or the "Company") (NYSE: ZAYO) today filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission to reclassify historical supplemental earnings information in accordance with the Company's new reportable segment structure, as outlined on the November 10, 2015 earnings conference call and call materials. The previously announced new reporting segments are: Zayo Dark Fiber Solutions, Zayo Network Connectivity, Zayo Colocation and Cloud, and Other. The information is also available on the Zayo Investor Relations site at http://investors.zayo.com/. In addition, the Company will host a conference call Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. MST/4:30 p.m. EST to answer questions from the investment community about the new segment reporting. The Company will also discuss its segment reporting plans related to its recently completed acquisition of Allstream, Inc. Click this link to register and view the Webcast: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/o6smyyp7suat&eom. Dial-in information for the audio portion of the Webcast: U.S. & Canada Toll-Free: 800-942-7925.



As a reminder, the Company will also host its earnings call for the second quarter fiscal year 2016 ended December 31, 2015 on Friday, February 12, 2016 @ 8:00 a.m. MST/10:00 a.m. EST. Click this link to register and view the Webcast: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/sle94d7kgju2&eom. Dial-in information for the audio portion of the Webcast: U.S. & Canada Toll-Free: 800-941-1366. If you have any questions, please contact Zayo Investor Relations at 720-306-7556 or [email protected].

About Zayo Group Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZAYO) provides communications infrastructure services, including fiber and bandwidth connectivity, colocation and cloud services to the world's leading businesses. Customers include wireless and wireline carriers, media and content companies and finance, healthcare and other large enterprises. Zayo's 110,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. In addition to high-capacity dark fiber, wavelength, Ethernet and other connectivity solutions, Zayo offers colocation and cloud services in its carrier-neutral data centers. Zayo provides clients with flexible, customized solutions and self-service through Tranzact, an innovative online platform for managing and purchasing bandwidth and services. For more information, visit zayo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005568/en/

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Re: www.fiance.com by wolfywolf on Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:34 pm I will go easy on them when I say that 95% of the girls in this s...
proxima

Lectores matutinos de AJN/Iton Gadol. Estos son los titulares de la manana en Israel
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Jesus in Love supports lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer (LGBTQ) spirituality, with an emphasis on art and literature. It promotes artistic and religious freedom and teaches love for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. It is based on these beliefs: God loves all people, including sexual minorities. The creative process is sacred. The queer visions, especially the gay Jesus and LGBT saints, will free people to experience the divine in new ways and lead to a more just world. Jesus in Love was founded by lesbian Christian author Kittredge Cherry as her personal project. It is her gift to the world. Many thanks to everyone who supports her vision.
CHARLESTON -- The president of Eastern Illinois University on Monday warned of potentially hundreds of layoffs and furlough time for employees if the State of Illinois' budget stalemate continues much longer.

He also laid out a list of immediate cost-cutting measures.

President David Glassman sent a letter to the campus community with a budget update, blaming the state's fiscal woes directly for EIU's dire monetary straits.

"Our state government is literally starving its public universities," Glassman said in the letter. "Incredibly, the states legislature and governor have yet to approve a state budget for FY16. This unprecedented action means that EIU has not received any of our annual appropriation (typically around $40 million), nor MAP reimbursement for EIU students (approximately $9 million)."

Noting that budget cuts last fall added up to about $10 million, Glassman also reminded the campus community that the university's budget rests on the assumption of "receiving our state appropriation and MAP reimbursements, and that has unfortunately not happened."

He said the university watched operating expenses, using tuition income and cash reserves, during the first half of the fiscal year in order to financially reach into the spring semester without state funds.

But even after pinching pennies in awaiting a state budget, Glassman said EIU leaders now have outlined additional specific actions to get the university through the spring semester financially "while ensuring our educational mission and preserving funds to meet payroll."

Glassman identified immediate cuts across the board at EIU.

"We will implement the actions of halting all non-instructional capital equipment purchases; delaying all deferred maintenance and repairs that are either unrelated to safety and security or already paid for; delaying all non-instructional capital projects; halting all non-instructional supply purchases without vice presidential approval; freezing employee-reimbursed travel with minimal exception such as for required federal or governmental purposes; and freezing all hiring that involves FY16 funding," Glassman wrote. "Any exception will need presidential approval."

Further failure of state leaders to approve a budget, which Illinois has been without since last July, will mean more severe cuts for EIU, Glassman warned.

"If an appropriation continues to be delayed further into the semester, we will need to temporarily and/or permanently lay off hundreds of non-instructional employees and mandate unpaid furlough days to others beginning in March," Glassman wrote. "Call backs will occur immediately after an appropriation is enacted and funds have begun to be received by the university.

"I am hopeful that a state budget or higher education appropriation soon will be finally enacted," he added. "However, we cannot rely on optimism alone and must begin unfailingly to preserve our funds for instruction and employee payroll in the case our appropriation is further delayed or not received at all."

Glassman said the university's mission remains the same, and its faculty and staff will work as always to fulfill that mission.

"We will continue to provide our students excellent learning, service and research opportunities without diminishing academic excellence during the current semester and for many years to come," Glassman wrote. "EIU is ranked the top regional public university in Illinois by U.S. News and World Report and we are committed to maintaining the focus on student success that earned us that spot."

He asked university employees to rally even in the face of the financial woes.

"The actions of the budgetary impasse in Springfield are testing our resolve and fortitude to meet the needs of our students," Glassman wrote. "I call upon everyones cooperation to remain strong and positive in attitude for our students and our beloved university as we await our lawmakers and governor to authorize state support for public higher education.

"Together, we will get through this challenging time and after which, return to our pathway to success."
Having attended the Jan. 7 Town Hall meeting at Toledo regarding and seeing this in a different light than your reporter, I believe some further light should be shed.

First of all, Sen. Righter held everyone to good decorum. I saw no real tension although I sat by your reporter. I attended with no real information about those who started the petition or the projected hog operation. I read the petition for the first time, just the first time and found it less informative than hoped.

The farmers who spoke talked more about economics than addressing concerns of odor. The petitioners followed by reading an off the Internet rant of the evils of confinement feeding not really relating to the primary question of odor. The case would have been better if those drawing the petition could have said We have been to this hog farmers operation and we saw this.

Unfortunately no one seemed to have been to modern confinement operation so could scarcely (inform) me as to their objections. The final speakers suggested the visiting to a hog farm but I saw no enthusiasm from the objectors.

The setback proposed would preclude any farm animal operation in most sections of the state. The 236 signers (3 percent of the registered voters) should visit the operator of the proposed hog building and the neighbors to determine previous problems and find out details of the new proposed facilities to relate to other some real and provable objections.

Each livestock operation must be judged on its merits not to be tossed in with others. Having visited 50,000 animal operations in South Carolina, I was surprised by the lack of odor. However, the one (not several) proposed for the Toledo area deserves further examination to determine its merit by rational people. The spouting of unproven rhetoric from anti-farming groups will gain few friends and lose listeners.

Ken Ault, Greenup
Once again President Obama is pushing for more gun control. He even cries as he pleads for more laws that even he says would not have stopped the shootings over the last few years. My question is, why is he crying? It would be like me crying for gas when I know my car has no engine. It boggles the mind trying to figure out how his mind works. This last shooting was by radicalized Muslims. This is becoming a trend worldwide. Recently in Germany, large gangs of Muslim men surrounded young girls and groped and gang raped them. What was the response? The woman mayor of Cologne, Germany said the girls should have kept the attackers at arms length. Huh?

Why mention this when talking about gun control? It all has to do with the radicalization of these people and them being given a pass because they are Muslim. We have to be PC, dont you know? No, I dont know. The whole world is slowly being taken over by Muslim bullies. If Obama really wanted to stop the shootings, why doesnt he vet people coming to this country better? If they are being radicalized here, find out where and go after them. We know (that many) of the mosques in the U.S. lean toward terrorism. Religious freedom doesnt mean stomping on the rights of all but one group. I believe, as do others, that Obamas ultimate goal is to ban all guns from law abiding people.

Youd think that a president who is really concerned about the people in this age of terrorism would say, Get a gun, get training, learn how to defend yourself and be responsible with it. The upside of Obama going after guns is that the only accomplishment there is more gun sales. At heart, he is still a community organizer. If he gets what he wants, his job isnt over; he just goes after something else. Obama might only have a year left, but for those of you on the left, never fear. You have Hillary coming up on the horizon. She is surely going to keep Obamas dreams alive. She takes money from the countries where many of these terrorists come from so we will surely be importing more of them for you all. One thing, though. You still have to get her elected.

Sid W. Guill, Mattoon
SOS CHILDRENS VILLAGES ETHIOPIA IS CHANGING AND GROWING! COME JOIN OUR DYNAMIC TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS TODAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN THROUGHOUT ETHIOPIA!

SOS Childrens Villages Ethiopia is a national member association to the International Federation of SOS Childrens Villages. It is non- political, not-for-profit, and non-religious social development organization focused on the wellbeing and development of children. It was founded in 1974 and has been a development partner since then with positive outcomes in the lives of many children, families and communities.

The SOS Childrens Village Program Harar, Hamaresa is looking for a competent and able Two Community Development Officers that meet the requirements stated bellow.

Position summary

The Community development Officer is responsible for guiding and supporting the work with individual families participating in the programme, for whom s/he has been allocated responsibility. This involves directly assessing the family situation of potential child participants and facilitating the development of a familys first family development plan (FDP). Beyond the holder works closely with co-workers of the community-based partners (key implementation partners), to realise the programmes commitments towards the development of the family vis-a-vis the familys own contributions, and to support the community-based partner in its role as the first line of contact and support for the family.

Priority tasks & responsibilities

1. Lead the initial assessment of families of potential child participants

2. Facilitate the preparation of a familys first family development plan (FDP)

3. Support co-workers of the community-based partner(s) in their work with families

4. Support the effective delivery of support services by the programme

5. Support monitoring & evaluation within the programme

6. Planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the project activities

Mobilization and management of the resources
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 Bring On The Coalition: The Way Out Of The Driver's License Mess Is Obvious But Not Easy, Plus: ABQ Crime Beat And Spaceport Counterpoint; Problems Persist Rep. Pacheco ABQ GOP State Rep.



The way out is simple, if not realistic, given the lockstep nature of the House Republicans. If only three of them joined the 33 House Dems in supporting a two-tiered license system we would have a bill on the way to the Governor. Would she sign such a compromise that had at least some bipartisan support in each chamber? She'd have a hard time saying no, given the level of frustration over the long-running dispute.



It's how the federal government got a budget recently--some R's in the House majority voted with the Dems--leaving the radical Republicans in the dust. The question is if anyone has the guts in that House GOP caucus in Santa Fe to do the same?



How about you, Rep. Dianne Hamilton? If the speculation is true that you're retiring from the House, you can sign up for the compromise. Now we're down to two. Since you're negotiation skills with the Governor proved somewhat fruitful, Rep. Pacheco, we leave it to you to round up two more R's and put this issue behind New Mexicans once and for all. (Or maybe just one more R, if you go for the coalition compromise).



THE CRIME BEAT



A reader writes of



It should come as no surprise that Albuquerque citizens are arming themselves and that self-defense shootings have increased dramatically. Since Mayor Berry was first elected in 2009 Albuquerques violent and property crime rates have increased by 14%. In 2015, murders spiked by 53% with citizens literally being killed in their driveways or in their homes. Do not expect things to improve any time soon with people choosing to protect themselves with their guns instead of calling 911 for the police. APD averages 15 minutes to dispatch a police officer to a 911 emergency call. By the time a police officer arrives at a scene after you call for 911 for help, you just may be seriously injured or dead. APD has only 404 sworn officers assigned to the field services responding to 69,000 priority one 911 emergency calls a year. Expect things to only get worse thanks to Berry and APD Chief Eden's mismanagement of a once great police department.



THE SPACEPORT BLUES



Christine Anderson Reader



Joe: If you remember my last complaint, that the NM Spaceport America website featured untruths, misleading statements and flat-out whoppers, well, here we go again.



Claim One: We are the home to Virgin Galactics WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo.



Not according to Virgin head Richard Branson. Uh, theres been a change of plans. Again.



Sir Richard said on January 4, 2016, that he wants to support a new bid to become the main tenant of a Spaceport in the United Kingdom. Yes, the British Government is building a new spaceport in England and Branson wants to operate its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle from a future British spaceport.



So either the spacecraft stay in Mojave, California or they get shipped to England, and New Mexico never sees them launch.



One week later, NM Spaceport Executive Director Christine Anderson said that Bransons remarks about the British Spaceport were simply a slip of the tongue. http://spaceportamerica.com/press-release/spaceport-america-q-a-with-christine-anderson/



I guess we are to conclude that this was a Freudian slip. Anderson said they were asking for a correction to the news article, even though it was covered in numerous media outlets and all indications were that Branson was indeed sincere about his yearnings to launch from England. This blame the journalist charade is getting kind of old, dont you think?



Claim Two: We are also home to SpaceXs Falcon 9R.



Still misleading and inaccurate; still not corrected.



If and its a big If, if, SpaceX ever lands one of its recycled rocket boosters on one of the floating barge /drone ships that it is operating, the NM Spaceport will get to test the recovered booster in New Mexico. The only problem is that SpaceX has failed to land the booster successfully on any of its floating barges. Unfortunately, they failed the mission again on a barge in the Pacific Ocean (Sunday the 17th). The hard landing broke the landing leg, according to SpaceXs Elon Musk. So again, we wait and wait for another big-name pseudo-tenant to get its act together.



Claim Three: Give us another $2 million and we will be build the critical and essential southern access road.



Still no construction on this road to nowhere, and according to Anderson, the project is still not out to bid! Here is her latest dog ate my homework explanation



Dona Ana County road engineers have completed the road design and it has been submitted to the BLM. The draft Environmental Assessment is being prepared by Spaceport America environmental contractors and should be delivered to the BLM on Jan. 8. The EA will be made public for a 30-day review on the BLMs website. If all goes smoothly, it is expected DAC can release the Request for Proposals in mid-May with an award in July 2016.



Huh? Its the usual stuff. Lots of acronyms and bureaucratese, lots of promises, lots of excuses, lots of trust me and zero results.



Claim Four: Just give us more money.



Yep you guessed it. She wants more money because there is a shortfall in her operating budget. Shes asking for another $2.8 million from the legislature this session. Anderson is calling this a bridge year. Thats right. Another bridge year until the Virgin spacecraft fly. She promises that this will happen in 2018. I think this qualifies the whole project as a bridge to nowhere.



The arguments of Spaceport Director Anderson can be found



UNPRECEDENTED



Reader Steve Cobble writes from DC in reaction to our calling the state's loss of population for two years in a row "unprecedented":



Joe, You're right about the unprecedented nature of New Mexico's population exodus. The last time the Land of Enchantment lost population that badly was probably when the Pueblo Revolt threw the Spanish out in 1680!



This is the home of New Mexico politics.







Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.



( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2016

. ABQ GOP State Rep. Paul Pacheco argues that he has worked hard to get Gov. Martinez to compromise on driver's licenses for undocumented New Mexicans and it's time to approve "driving privilege cards" for the undocumented but no licenses. But Pacheco conveniently forgets that a majority of Republicans in the state Senate--11 of them--voted last year for another compromise that Democrats also supported. It sailed through the Senate but was buried in the GOP-controlled House. That measure allowed the undocumented to have licenses (not cards) but ones that would not comply with federal Real ID requirements.The way out is simple, if not realistic, given the lockstep nature of the House Republicans. If only three of them joined the 33 House Dems in supporting a two-tiered license system we would have a bill on the way to the Governor. Would she sign such a compromise that had at least some bipartisan support in each chamber? She'd have a hard time saying no, given the level of frustration over the long-running dispute.It's how the federal government got a budget recently--some R's in the House majority voted with the Dems--leaving the radical Republicans in the dust. The question is if anyone has the guts in that House GOP caucus in Santa Fe to do the same?How about you, Rep. Dianne Hamilton? If the speculation is true that you're retiring from the House, you can sign up for the compromise. Now we're down to two. Since you're negotiation skills with the Governor proved somewhat fruitful, Rep. Pacheco, we leave it to you to round up two more R's and put this issue behind New Mexicans once and for all. (Or maybe just one more R, if you go for the coalition compromise).A reader writes of the spike in the number of homeowners shooting and killing criminal suspects in their homes:Reader Brent Eastwood is a political scientist specializing in international affairs who is an avid follower of the NM Spaceport. He writes again from DC with the latest developments and his reaction:The arguments of Spaceport Director Anderson can be found here Reader Steve Cobble writes from DC in reaction to our calling the state's loss of population for two years in a row "unprecedented":This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)
Dead Mans Float by Jim Harrison, Copper Canyon Press, 107 pages, $23

Jim Harrisons poetry was introduced to this reviewer by his collaborative effort with Nebraskas own Ted Kooser, Braided Creek, A Conversation in Poetry. I had previously been aware of Harrisons work only through his novella, Legends of the Fall, which spawned one of my favorite epic movies. Like Kooser, Harrison often deals with subjects found in nature with birds, dogs, wildlife and weather featured prominently in honest and accessible terms.

Dead Mans Float, his most recent collection of poems, demonstrates the septuagenarians descriptive skills have not diminished with age. The book was composed while the author was recuperating at the Mayo Clinic with frequent underlying themes of declining vigor and the passage of time. Yet he shows none of the pessimism which can accompany the infirmities of age and continues the genial irascibility, which has marked his previous efforts.

Maintaining cabins in both Montana and Arizona has allowed Harrison to keep the link to nature he formed as a child in rural Michigan. As his photograph on the back cover illustrates, time has eroded and softened his visage not unlike the sere landscapes in which he now resides.

Poetry, the most subjective of genres, depends upon the intimate connection between reader and poet. Thus, each of the musings in this slim book must be experienced individually. Nevertheless the diligent reader should be rewarded with nuggets of truth as he pans through this new collection.

The authors gift with imagery is contained in the following passage from his Moon Suite:

Once I heard wolves in full moonlight.

A huge storm visited the cabin, also green northern lights.

The sky split open in the west, and beyond the storm

The wolves were howling within the thunder.

The earth was forcing me to not forget her.

I never recovered from that night.

This all would never happen again.

The old wolf yet howls.
An attempt to send a controversial gun bill back to the drawing board failed Tuesday in the Legislature.

The measure sponsored by state Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete would eliminate Nebraska cities' ability to regulate firearms beyond what is included under state law. An initial vote on the bill is expected Wednesday morning.

Opponents including Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, along with others concerned about the bill's broad reach, had moved to have it returned to a legislative committee instead  with some calling for a rewrite before the bill could again be debated by the full Legislature.

But Tuesday, their colleagues widely rejected that approach, voting 10-31 against recommitting the measure to the Judiciary Committee.

The question is now whether lawmakers can reach a compromise to protect city ordinances seen as critical to combating gun violence while preserving the essence of Ebke's bill.

Omaha Sen. Heath Mello and Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld are working with Ebke on amendments they hope will address issues raised by leaders in the state's two largest cities.

Those senators and Sen. David Schnoor of Scribner, who prioritized the bill, planned to meet Wednesday morning in Speaker Galen Hadley's office. The results of that meeting could determine the measure's chance of passing.

"The original bill does not have enough votes to break the filibuster," Morfeld said.

Those who oppose the bill as-is come armed with a pair of letters from the Omaha police union that says the bill would give gang members a "free pass." Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler and four Omaha city councilman voiced concerns this week as well.

"Frankly, the proposed changes arguably come across not so much as pro-gun, but pro-gang," John Wells, president of the Omaha police union, wrote to lawmakers Tuesday.

Ebke says local gun ordinances encroach on Nebraskans' constitutional right to bear arms and threaten responsible gun owners who might unknowingly break the law while traveling throughout the state.

"Obviously we want to protect the transportation issue," Ebke said Tuesday afternoon. "We want to minimize the infringement on the liberties of people to possess firearms.

"There's the ideal and there's the reality, and so we've got to try and figure out what the balance is."
Loran Schmit, a former state senator who promoted ethanol in Nebraska for more than half a century, received a sendoff from state Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha on Tuesday.

The two overlapped in the Legislature, and Schmit and Chambers found common ground on issues such as abolishing the death penalty and increasing aid to dependent children.

In a Tuesday speech on the floor of the Legislature, Chambers commended Schmit for his service and criticized the Association of Nebraska Ethanol Producers' decision to replace him as its lobbyist last year.

"I don't believe in waiting until somebody's pushing up clover to start laying on the accolades," Chambers said. "That man still has productive years, and those he helped the most gave him the back of the hand."
Thousands of Nebraska students attend parochial schools each year, yet a lawmaker says public schools have no contingency plan if one nearby were to suddenly close.

Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus argued Tuesday that schools should prepare financially and understand the costs that would come with a glut of new students. Schumacher proposed a bill to the Education Committee that would require districts to either increase their facilities, staff and cash reserve, or pay parochial schools a kind of insurance policy to stay open.

Schumacher says he knows the bill won't pass, but he wants districts to discuss the issue.

The Nebraska Department of Education says nearly 38,000 students are attending private schools this year, compared to nearly 316,000 enrolled in a public school.
A new western Nebraska legislative candidate said Tuesday she wants to "bridge (the) divide" between eastern and western Nebraska in the Legislature while targeting local government's responsibility to reduce property taxes.

"All other candidates running for the Legislature in my district cite economic development as a campaign goal," said Peggy Popps of Sidney.

"However, all other candidates have held a local elected position that determines tax levies and spending, which directly affect economic growth in the private sector," she said in a news release.

Controlling local government spending is the best way to stimulate economic development, Popps said.

Four candidates have filed for the 47th District seat now held by term-limited Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala.

Since 2007, Popps said, the Legislature has provided more than a billion dollars in property tax relief.

"Local governments have increased property taxes," she said, "so the tax credits go unnoticed by most taxpayers."

Popps said she is pro-life and opposes the legalization of marijuana. She said she supports 2nd Amendment rights, law enforcement, property tax reform and income tax cuts provided through reduced government spending.

Popps has been active in the Republican Party and works in Cabela's corporate offices. Before that, she was a law enforcement officer in Sidney.
Three Cuban-born Texas men have been indicted in Nebraska for a scheme to print fake credit cards that scammed real card holders, some of them Nebraskans, out of nearly $30,000.

It happened in Lincoln, Crete, Omaha, Bellevue, La Vista and Council Bluffs, Iowa, over the span of two weeks, said Jan Sharp, chief of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nebraska.

Jasiel Gonzalez Rodriguez, Jose Carlos Terra Izquierdo and Miguel Alfonso Rodriguez face 11 counts including conspiracy to defraud through the use of unauthorized access devices, multiple counts of possession of unauthorized access devices and use of unauthorized access device and possession of device-making equipment.

Sharp said the men are believed to be from Cuba but had been living in Amarillo, Texas.

In court records, the grand jury alleged that the object of the conspiracy was to use stolen credit and debit card account numbers to get away with merchandise and gift cards from retailers in Nebraska and elsewhere.

Between July 23 and Aug. 6 in Nebraska and elsewhere, the men are accused of conspiring with one another and others to use 251 counterfeit credit cards or gift cards, according to the indictment.

They allegedly obtained credit and debit account numbers of legitimate account holders, then re-encoded the information onto fake cards.

The grand jury alleged they used the re-encoded cards to buy and redeem gift cards.

They stand accused of using them to obtain merchandise and gift cards that added up to $28,958.79, and attempting to obtain another $34,771.48, over the two-week period last summer.

The three men ultimately were caught with a card encoder on Aug. 6, the grand jury said.

It's not clear in the indictment how or where they were caught, and Sharp said Tuesday he wasn't able to provide additional details of the plot.

The men are set to make their initial court appearances on the indictment in U.S. District Court in Lincoln on Feb. 2.
BEATRICE -- District Court Judge Paul Korslund will retire April 1 after more than 20 years on the bench.

Korslund, 66, has served as a district judge since 1998, and was a Gage County judge before that.

I have really enjoyed my career as judge and as a lawyer, he said. I just felt that the time had come. Ive had 21 years on the bench including my county court judgeship. I think its just time to turn the page and embark on a new chapter in life.

He said he'll spend time with his wife and five grandchildren.

One of the biggest advances in the criminal court system during his tenure is the drug court program, he said. The intensive program provides an alternative to prison for drug offenders and has been generally successful. Korslund said it's tough to see offenders fail, leaving few options other than prison.

He said it can be difficult to sentence younger people to prison.

One of the sad things is the family backgrounds of so many of the criminal offenders, Korslund said. They many, many times come from very dysfunctional families. You can feel sorry for people, but theres people that come from tough backgrounds that dont break the law, also. At some point they have to be held accountable. That can be tough, but it has to happen.

Another change he noted is the increase in protection orders requested and in the number of people who want to represent themselves, both decisions he says shouldnt be taken lightly.

I think people need to be very cautious about thinking they can do it all on their own, he said. I wouldnt try to do my own dental work. There are some things people can do on their own, but I think they need to be cautious about it. In domestic cases, especially, a lot of times theres a lot of emotion involved.

And the most obvious change over the years, he said, has been in technology.

When I have a motion to suppress evidence, often times Ill have a video to look at from a body cam or an in-car camera, he said. Issues are raised usually regarding the legality of a traffic stop, and its really helpful to have those videos. When issues are raised regarding a confession or statement, theres a video of the interview. I think its good for the officers, too, to have that record, as well as for defendants.

Korslund graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1974. After a stint as an attorney in Ravenna, he came to Beatrice to serve as city attorney in 1975 and became county judge in 1977. He left for private practice in 1980, then became a district judge in 1998. He served a single term as mayor of Beatrice, 1994-98.

There are 11 counties in the First District Court of Nebraska, including Gage. The district has three district court and three county court judges. Korslund serves both Gage and Jefferson counties, the smallest geographic area but with the highest caseload.

Jefferson County has been very busy, he said. We had almost 60 felony cases in 2015. Im not sure why, but many of them are drug cases.

In 2008, Korslund received the Nebraska Supreme Courts Outstanding Judge Award for service to the community. Korslund, who has been a strong supporter of allowing a media presence in the courtroom, said the award was prompted by a 2008 murder trial.

The case, in which Richard A. Griswold was found guilty of second-degree murder, was the first in the state to allow still and video cameras in the courtroom.

While he is retiring, Korslund said he likely will stay active on the bench to some degree until the end of June.

To whoever his successor may be, he offered this advice: Find the right pace to keep things moving, while taking enough time to make the right decision.

You have to be very patient, and at the same time, you have to keep the docket moving, he said. You have to find that balance. If you need some time to think things over, you should do that.

Im one that likes to ponder a little bit. I dont make as many rulings from the bench as other judges. I dont have any quarrel with the ones that do. Everybody has their own style, but I think its important to be patient and to really listen to both sides of the case.
The latest U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning life sentences without the possibility of parole for juveniles is likely to have a limited effect in Nebraska.

That's because the state Supreme Court had already ruled that a similar 2012 ruling on juvenile sentences should apply retroactively.

Suzanne Gage with the Nebraska Attorney General's office said the ruling affirmed a 2014 Nebraska Supreme Court ruling that the ban on life sentences without parole for juveniles should apply retroactively.

Jeff Pickens, who leads the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, said Monday that most of the roughly 25 people in the state who would qualify have had their sentences reviewed.

The commission defends indigent people accused of capital crimes and serious violent offenses statewide.

The Nebraska Legislature already changed laws to create a sentence between 40 years and life for juveniles convicted of first-degree murder.

The Nebraska Attorney General's office didn't respond to questions about Monday's ruling.
Lincoln Public Schools may close North Star to students living outside its attendance area, which would mark the first time in at least 20 years the district has modified its open enrollment policy for high schools.

The proposal to close LPS newest high school stems from overcrowding. Enrollment at North Star this fall was 2,196, and the school has been using two portable buildings for several years.

The proposal, which the Board of Education must vote on, would allow students now attending North Star to stay there, and LPS would accept those outside the attendance area who file formal applications by Sunday to go there next fall.

North Star Principal Vann Price said the districts existing transfer policies would apply, meaning siblings of current North Star students from other attendance areas could attend there.

Staff will update the school board about its recommendation Wednesday, but will ask the boards planning committee to further discuss the proposal before making a recommendation before a vote on Feb. 9.

Its unclear how long the closed enrollment policy at North Star would remain in effect, or if the overcrowding problems will require other steps.

Those questions will be addressed by the board planning committee, which is just beginning to discuss updates to the districts 10-year facilities plan, said Liz Standish, associate LPS superintendent for business affairs.

Among the options the board could consider are changing the high school boundaries, adding on to North Star or building a new high school. The latter choice would require a bond issue, which isnt likely since voters just approved one for $153 million in 2014.

That bond issue included money to build the new career academy, and one of the selling points was that it could reduce overcrowding by pulling some juniors and seniors from existing high schools for its half-day program.

Forty-five North Star students are attending the Career Academy this year, which hasnt done much to ease overcrowding, said Price and Pat Hunter-Pirtle, LPS director of secondary education.

That could change once the Career Academy becomes more established, although it may never have a significant impact on North Stars overcrowding issues, Hunter-Pirtle said.

A vote to close North Star to transfers would alter a longstanding policy of letting students go to any high school regardless of where they live. Until now, officials have said the process has worked well, keeping enrollment fairly balanced.

But North Star, which opened in 2003, has been overcrowded for several years now. Its enrollment increased 7 percent from 2014-15 to this year and more than 15 percent over the past five years.

Typically, about a third of LPS high school students choose to attend a school outside their attendance area. Standish estimated that 400 of North Stars students are from outside the school's defined boundaries this year, including those who option in from other districts.

Because the proposal would accept applications that come in by Sunday, the effect for the 2016-17 school year likely would be fewer than 100 students, Standish said.

LPS officials wont tally how many students apply to attend North Star until after the Sunday deadline.

With a growing and dense student population in northwest Lincoln, North Star has the highest enrollment of the six LPS high schools this year, followed by Southeast, which has 2,100 students.

Also, a large number of English Language Learners requires more and smaller classroom spaces, and that puts unique space demands on North Star, which has the same design as Southwest.

The influx of ELL students has continued since the start of school this year, Hunter-Pirtle said. As many as 11 new ELL students have started at North Star in the space of a week.

Over the years, North Star has added portable classrooms, divided common meeting spaces into classrooms and, for the first time this year, added a third lunch period.

Price, North Stars principal, said the size of some physical education classes have reached the mid-30s, and some science classes are in the lower 30s.

Since the start of the year, she has hired one full-time and one part-time ELL teacher and a part-time art teacher.

Hunter-Pirtle said space is so tight the school is unable to add sections of classes, even though theyre needed.

North Star is just filled to the max," he said.
Retail shops, condos and office space planned for the Telegraph District in east downtown could include a new campus for Southeast Community College-Lincolns academic transfer programs.

A $120 million campus spread across 14 acres on the banks of Antelope Creek would serve as the new home for students taking health sciences, business and fine arts classes, a move from Education Square at 11th and O streets.

The move would still keep those students close to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where many of them transfer after two years, SCC President Paul Illich said.

It would also better organize SCC-Lincoln's other programs in workforce development and technical training at the college's main campus at 88th and O streets.

The plan presented to the SCC Board of Governors Monday consolidates three existing SCC-Lincoln locations into two, closing Education Square and the Jack Huck Continuing Education Center near 68th and O.

The 10-year master plan envisioned by Clark Enersen Partners would create two recognizable places for SCC to "tell its story," planning principal JoAnne Kissel said, while also clearly identifying the different aspects of the community college.

She said Clark Enersen had nearly completed the master plan for SCC last summer when Speedway Properties and Nelnet announced intentions to redevelop the area between O and K streets and Antelope Valley Parkway and 24th Street.

"We had a plan in our pocket ready to show the steering committee where we packed everything into 88th and O," Kissel said Monday.

That plan was scrapped -- any future growth of SCC would be eliminated at a single site -- and a new plan calling for as many as five new buildings with a combined 329,000 square feet of space was created for the Telegraph District.

Clark Enersen's plan includes the historic Municipal Pool bathhouse on M Street, which was turned into offices in 2007, and would become the campuss welcome center.

Finally, a mixed-use building with a restaurant, fitness center and a community space could be built into an existing warehouse building.

New academic buildings would be constructed on what are now Lewis Fields. Kissel said new ballfields could be built at SCC-Lincolns main campus, and college officials would work with the city to identify other sites to replace the Lewis Fields.

Kissel said the pitch for a college campus in the Telegraph District was met with excitement by the East Downtown Development Corp., the partnership responsible for developing the area.

Before any ground is broken or building plans are drawn up, the SCC Board of Governors will review a master plan calling for $508 million of construction, renovation and reconfiguring of SCC's campuses in Lincoln, Beatrice and Milford.

SCC could pay for the projects in part by asking voters across the 15-county area to approve a $369 million bond issue, the first of its kind for a community college in Nebraska.

Illich said surveys will be circulated beginning in February to gauge support for the plan and a potential bond issue. The board would use survey data to determine how to move forward.

"That would be the most transparent way to allow the community to participate in the process," Illich said.

SCC could also draw from $103 million in revenue bonds to pay for new parking structures or student housing on its campuses. Revenue bonds are repaid through student fees collected for use of those structures.

Finally, Illich said SCC would look at allocating as much as $36 million from its general fund to furnish and equip any new college spaces.
If you slipped on the ice leaving home Monday morning -- and most of Lincoln did judging from the 911 calls -- you might wish Chris Tuan had poured your driveway.

In the early 2000s, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln civil engineering professor and his colleagues developed a patented process that uses electrical current to melt snow and ice by adding steel shavings and carbon particles into concrete.

Now, a small patch of their special concrete -- 200 square feet near the Peter Kiewit Institute on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus -- is being studied to test its feasibility for use on airport tarmacs.

The FAA is funding the study, which concludes at the end of March.

A bigger plot developed by Tuans team has proven its ice-melting abilities for 15 years in southern Lancaster County, where the 150-foot Roca Spur bridge became the worlds first bridge to use conductive concrete.

The tarmac project is a bit more complex because the cement is in contact with the ground, instead of elevated, Tuan said. And you have to insulate all the potential ground current.

But both projects work the same way: Before the concrete is cast, steel rods are put in place and connected to an external electrical power source. The steel and carbon create millions of minute paths through the slab, Tuan said.

The entire concrete becomes a heating element.

This spring, he and his colleagues will find out whether the FAA will approve a second phase of the project -- using the patented process on a tarmac in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

And, hopefully someday, at airports everywhere, preventing bottlenecks that occur when mechanics, fuel teams and luggage loaders cant get their work done because of slick conditions.

The possibilities for airports and roadways are huge, Tuan said.

This technology potentially saves time, saves money, saves lives.

The professor knows people are interested in his heated concrete on a small scale, too, although it costs more than twice as much as regular concrete and requires a high level of expertise to pour.

He used the mixture to pour his own patio, and in 2010 for a driveway in the Regency area of Omaha.

I get requests all the time, Tuan joked. Take a number and get in line.
As the demand grows for respite caregivers to work with elderly and disabled patients, the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Nebraska Respite Program, are expanding training and assistance.

Respite offers family caregivers a temporary break from the demands of caring for loved ones with disabilities or medical conditions including behavioral health needs. It is provided in the home or while participating in community activities agreed on with the family caregivers.

Sharon Johnson, who coordinates the Lifespan Respite and Disabled Persons and Family Support program, said theres a significant need for it.

Families are caring for loved ones across the lifespan with diverse needs, she said. Depending on circumstances, family caregiving can be financially devastating. Many families are unaware of respite resources and have no support for relief.

According to national statistics, 29 percent of the U.S. population provides care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year, spending an average of 20 hours doing so. The majority of those caregivers have full- or part-time jobs.

Estimated value of these services totals $375 billion a year, almost double what is actually spent on home care and nursing home services combined ($158 billion).

To be eligible for training as a respite provider  both paid and volunteer  a person must be older than 14. Requirements to provide paid respite vary by program or funding source.

Sarah Swanson, community and family resource specialist, Munroe-Meyer Institute, said the eight-hour training for respite care providers builds confidence. They learn the basics of caregiving -- what it is, what they may encounter, and the needs of those being cared for.

Research indicates that people who are able to receive some respite are better caregivers. Respite can be as simple as giving the caregiver a chance to spend time with other family members, take care of personal business, get medical care, go shopping or take a bath without having to worry.

Johnson and Swanson also want families who provide care for other family members to know they may be eligible for as much as a $125-a-month subsidy for respite caregiving services.

Caregivers who get a break from their caregiving responsibilities have improved health outcomes, less stress and more harmonious family interactions, Swanson said. Access to respite is an upstream approach to keep the family together and the individual who is aging or with a disability out of costly institutional care.

Most individuals who need long-term services and support want to stay with their family in their own home. Often because of caregiving demands, caregivers drop out of the workforce. We need to start looking at ways to better address family caregiver needs, and respite is one way to do so, Swanson said.

Respite services available to Nebraska caregivers also are being evaluated by the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

In 1999, the Nebraska Legislature funded the Lifespan Respite Network to provide a statewide system of respite coordination. HHS awards grants to six organizations across the state with respite coordinators who are responsible for information and referral for families needing access to respite, as well as coordinating training for providers and consumers.

To become a respite provider, find out if you qualify for services or find a respite caregiver in your area, call 866-737-7483 or go to nrrs.ne.gov/respitesearch.

The following people are respite coordinators in Nebraska, based on region.

* Central and Northern regions, Lydia Hovie, Loup City; 308-745-0780, Ext. 145, or 866-737-7483, Ext. 145; lhovie@cennecs.org

* Southeast Region, Mary Shada, Lincoln; 402-434-3494, Ext. 103, or 866-737-7483; mary@ywcalincoln.org.

* Eastern Region, Ellen Bennett, Omaha; 402-996-8444 or 866-737-7483; edbenne@gmail.com.

* Southwest Region, Helena Janousek, McCook; 308-345-4990, 866-737-7483 or respite@swhealth.ne.gov.

* Western Region, Sherri Blome, Chadron; 308-432-8190, 866-737-7483 or specialprojects@wchr.net
Registration is open for the Pioneers Park Nature Centers trip to central Nebraska for a guided viewing tour of the sandhill crane migration. The tour begins at noon March 10 at the Wild Bird Habitat Store, 56th Street and Nebraska 2, and returns at 11 p.m.

Space is limited and reservations are required by Feb. 10. The cost of $85 per person includes bus transportation, dinner and viewing blind reservation. The $25 blind reservation fee is nonrefundable if the trip is canceled or if a participant cancels and a replacement cannot be found. Participant cancellation is also subject to a $5 fee. To register or for more information, contact the Nature Center at 402-441-7895 or naturecenter@lincoln.ne.gov.

The group will go to the Nebraska Nature and Visitor Center in Wood River and then to the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon, where they will see and hear the cranes from a viewing blind as they arrive on the Platte River. The trip will include periodic stops along country roads to watch cranes feed and dance in the fields.
Nick Wiltgen, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate who went on to The Weather Channel, died Sunday in a car crash in Atlanta.

Wiltgen, 39, spent 15 years at The Weather Channel, working most recently as a senior digital meteorologist who occasionally appeared on-air.

We have lost a treasured member of The Weather Channel family, said Cameron Clayton, president of product and technology at The Weather Channel, in a statement. Millions read his work every week and were better for it. Our heartfelt sympathy is with his family and friends.

According to reports, Wiltgen was pronounced dead at the scene after he crashed his Volkswagen into a parking garage at Colony Square Mall in Atlanta, where The Weather Channel is based.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution said Wiltgen received a bachelors degree in meteorology in 1998 from UNL, and then worked at a business and weather consulting firm before joining the Weather Channel in 2001.
The United Nations Associations Nebraska Chapter will gather Monday (Feb. 1) to hear Dr. James Clark explain "The Background to the Rivalry Between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East."

Clark, overseas director for the American Institute for Iranian Studies and a teacher and consultant at Southeast Community College, Peru State and the Department of Management at UNL, will provide the history of conflict between Shiias and Sunnis, Persians and Arabs, and the modern nations of Iran and Saudi Arabia that has now become more intense with the execution of Sheikh Nimr by the Saudis.
KENOSHA COUNTY  A Brighton man who found a deer carcass on his property last week believes the deer was killed by a mountain lion.

What really caught my eye was there were the hoof prints of the deer and right behind it were the large prints, Larry Zamba said.

Zamba, 58, resides on a 6-acre property situated between Bong State Recreational Area and Highway 45, a couple of miles south of the Racine County line. He claims a deer carcass he first observed coyotes picking apart on his property on Wednesday was killed by a mountain lion, based on footprints he noticed next to the carcass.

I dont know what came first, the lion or the coyotes, because there were prints from both, he said. Theres like no waste on this thing.

Zamba, who has his own photography business in Paddock Lake and ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2008, contacted the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which sent a wildlife biologist to take a look at the scene Friday. From his interaction with the biologist, Zamba believes one of the prints to be consistent with a large mammal, possibly a cougar, also known as a mountain lion.

A DNR spokeswoman confirmed the visit, but insisted they have no reason to believe the deer was killed by a cougar.

Its nothing, DNR Spokeswoman Jennifer Sereno said. Its a dead deer.

Sereno couldnt provide specific details about the incident, but stressed that the DNR did look into it and have no evidence that the situation involved a cougar.

We receive many reports of various animal sightings throughout the year, she said. We work with citizens to try and understand what is occurring on the landscape.

Sereno encouraged anyone who sees evidence of a cougar to report it using the DNRs large mammal observation form available on the agencys website. Zamba said he filed a report using the form over the weekend.

As for the print Zamba attributed to a cougar, Sereno said it was one of numerous walking prints surrounding the carcass and doubled down on her assertion that its nothing.

For Zamba, that explanation doesnt account for the validity he felt the biologists visit gave his claim.

He sure came out there and spent a lot of time for nothing, Zamba said.
RACINE  Two people were arrested over the weekend after they allegedly passed fake $100 bills, printed with for motion picture use only, at fast-food restaurants in Mount Pleasant and Yorkville.

Quatisha S. Pitt, 22, of the 1800 block of Roosevelt Avenue, Racine, and Dexter A. Smith, 23, of the 800 block of Cleveland Avenue, Racine, were charged on Monday after they allegedly used fake money to buy food and a drink.

Pitt on Saturday allegedly gave a drive-thru employee at Burger King, 6840 Washington Ave., Mount Pleasant, a counterfeit $100 bill to pay for her drink. The employee handed her the drink before questioning Pitt about the bills authenticity, and Pitt told her multiple times that the bill was real, according to their criminal complaints. When the employee went to talk with her manager, Pitt drove away, the complaints state.

Also on Saturday, a Racine County Sheriffs Office deputy was called to Subway, 734 S. Sylvania Ave., Yorkville, about a customer who passed a fake $100 bill there, the complaints state. It, too, read for motion picture use only, the complaints state. The clerk didnt initially inspect the bill used to buy the food, but the phony money was spotted after Pitt and Smith left the restaurant, according to the complaints.

Pitt is charged with uttering a forgery and being a party to the crime of uttering a forgery, while Smith is charged with two counts of being a party to the crime of uttering a forgery. All charges are Class H felonies, punishable by a maximum of three years in prison, up to three years on extended supervision and a fine capped at $10,000 per charge if convicted. Smith is charged as a repeat offender because of prior, unrelated convictions.

During their initial appearances in court on Monday, Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch set a $500 signature bond for Pitt and set a $500 signature bond and a $100 cash bond for Smith. She ordered them not to have any contact with each other. Their preliminary hearings are set for Feb. 11.

Several times a year our officers take reports of fake money, according to a Mount Pleasant Police Department Facebook posting. Often times the bills look real enough and are accepted at stores during transactions.
MILWAUKEE  A Milwaukee man wanted to storm a Masonic temple with a machine gun and kill at least 30 people in an attack he hoped would show "nobody can play with Muslims" and spark more mass shootings in the United States, federal agents said Tuesday after the man's arrest.

Federal prosecutors charged 23-year-old Samy Mohamed Hamzeh with unlawfully possessing a machine gun and receiving and possessing firearms not registered to him. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney, Dean Puschnig, didn't immediately respond to a question asking why charges were limited to gun possession. Hamzeh's attorney, federal defender Ronnie Murray, didn't immediately return email and voicemail messages left after business hours.

According to an FBI affidavit, agents were tipped off in September that Hamzeh planned to travel to Israel in October to attack Israeli soldiers and citizens in the West Bank. He abandoned those plans due to "family, financial and logistic reasons," the affidavit said, but refocused his efforts on a domestic attack.

Hamzeh discussed his plans extensively with two FBI informants. The affidavit said the FBI started recording his conversations with the informants in October.

Hamzeh and the two informants traveled to a gun range on Jan. 19 and practiced with a pistol. Afterward they took a tour of a Masonic temple in Milwaukee. The affidavit does not name the temple and Puschnig declined to identify it.

Masons are members of a fraternal organization that carries out a variety of activities including charity work. Wisconsin has nearly 11,000 Masons in 180 lodges, according to Frank Struble, grand master of Free and Accepted Masons in Wisconsin. The organization is not a religion.

Struble said the allegations were "hard to hear." He said he knew which Masonic center had been targeted but declined to identify it.

"Masons are a part of an organization that helped build this country," Struble said. "I can understand from that standpoint where someone who is against this country would target us."

The owner of a downtown Milwaukee gym said she recently fired Hamzeh after hiring him as a trainer just a few weeks ago.

Delia Luna of 9Round Kickbox Fitness described Hamzeh as "very intense, very militant" as a trainer and said he didn't fit the atmosphere she wanted to create.

"He didn't mix well," Luna said.

Federal agents said that on Jan. 19 and into the early morning of Jan. 20, Hamzeh discussed his plans to attack the temple with the informants, telling them they needed two more machine guns  the group apparently already had one  and silencers. They planned to station one person at the temple's entrance while the other two went through the building, killing everyone they saw. They then planned to walk away from the scene as if nothing had happened.

"I am telling you, if this hit is executed, it will be known all over the world ... all the Mujahedeen will be talking and they will be proud of us," Hamzeh said, according to the affidavit. "Such operations will increase in America, when they hear about it. The people will be scared and the operations will increase. ... This way we will be igniting it. I mean we are marching at the front of the war."

Hamzeh added that he hoped to kill 30 people, "because these 30 will terrify the world. The (expletive) will know that nobody can play with Muslims."

He added, "We are here defending Islam, young people together join to defend Islam, that's it, that is what our intention is."

According to the affidavit, Hamzeh met with two undercover FBI agents on Monday. They presented him with two automatic machine guns and a silencer. He paid for the weapons and silencer in cash and put them in the trunk of his car. The agents then arrested him and recovered the guns and silencer.

Hamzeh's arrest marks the Milwaukee area's second brush with a mass shooting in less than four years. A white supremacist named Wade Michael Page fatally shot six people at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, a Milwaukee suburb, in 2012. Page shot himself in the head after a police officer wounded him.

Last month Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, opened fire on a social services center in San Bernardino, California, killing 14 people. They later died in a shootout with police.
RACINE  The many needs of the Racine community were the topic of discussion during a forum Monday night at Gateway Technical College.

Hosted by local officials seeking to net a Promise Zone designation for portions of the City of Racine and Village of Mount Pleasant, the meeting was held to gather input from community members on issues surrounding poverty.

But the issues that were raised ran the gamut from mental health care and joblessness, to the lack of a sufficient mass transit system in the county, and the need for racial justice and diversity in all parts of the community and government.

More than 150 people  ranging from concerned residents to church leaders and the heads of nonprofits  packed into the Huron Room of the colleges Racine Building to take part in the discussion, which was led by state Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, Racine Mayor John Dickert and Gateway President Bryan Albrecht.

This the best possible scenario we could have  a full room, said Dickert of the turnout. Every problem we have in this country involves poverty, and there is a lot of work to do.

A Promise Zone designation for the countys poorest areas  an area that includes much of the City of Racine and a portion of Mount Pleasant south of Racine near the lake  would give officials priority as they seek federal grant money for the community.

About 40 percent of residents in Racines proposed Promise Zone area live in poverty, with more than 10,000 people older than age 25 without a high school diploma or equivalent.

Discussion

One the biggest results of such poverty, said several attendees, was the citys lack of an adequate mental health care framework.

I have been reading through all of these goals and I feel like they are fantastic goals, but I feel like we are building a framework on a house of cards if we are not addressing  mental health care, said Fiona Murphy, 44, a Racine resident and community volunteer. I have lived in Los Angeles, I have lived in Glendale, I have lived in Chicago, I have lived in Evanston (Ill.), and even in Ireland, and I have never been in such a mental health care desert as I have here.

Several others in attendance talked about the failure of the system to truly help black people, either due to institutional racism or a lack of diversity within those systems.

College student Britney Woods, 22, wondered if the officials gathered had considered how the mass incarceration of black men was affecting impoverished communities and hurting their ability to pull out of poverty.

Mass incarceration plays a part in education and unemployment, she said, adding that the institutionalizing of troubled youths is also a problem that needs to be investigated.

Whats next

Officials must submit an application for Promise Zone designation by Feb. 18 and will find out later this year if it is accepted.

If the area gets Promise Zone status, the community would get a leg up on obtaining federal money to improve schools, increase economic activity, reduce crime and address other factors of poverty, Mason said.

Cities that have netted designations include Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, and smaller cities such as Hartford, Conn., and Camden, N.J.

Officials applied last year and came close, Mason said, and were encouraged to apply again.

Communities selected have the Promise Zone designation for 10 years.
WALWORTH COUNTY  Two people were killed and three others critically injured Saturday night when two cars collided on Highway 120 south of Highway 11, the Walworth County Sheriffs Office said Monday.

Walworth deputies said the crash occurred at about 7:49 p.m. Saturday on Highway 120 in the Town of Spring Prairie, about six miles west of Burlington.

According to initial investigation, a car driven by Volodymyr Khlopetskyy, 30, of Chicago, was headed south on a curved section of Highway 120 when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a northbound vehicle driven by David Laur, 50, of Glendale.

Khlopetskyy was killed in the crash, as was a passenger in Laurs vehicle, Elizabeth Wolfson, 51, of Shorewood, deputies said. Wolfson was in the front right passenger seat, deputies said.

Two passengers in Khlopetskyys vehicle  Mariana Lompas, 21, and Roksolana Bubniak, both of Chicago  and Laur were transported to area hospitals and were reported to be in critical condition Monday, deputies said.

Alcohol and speed appear to be factors in the crash, deputies said. The incident remains under investigation by the Walworth County Crash Investigation Team.

The Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Flight for Life, Town of Lyons Fire/Rescue, Paratech Ambulance service, Elkhorn Fire/Rescue, East Troy Rescue and the Walworth County Medical Examiners Office.
MOUNT PLEASANT  The village is moving forward on a contentious water and sewer project along Highway V, though several steps remain.

The Mount Pleasant Village Board on Monday voted 5-2 to begin the process of levying special assessments on property owners, who have vehemently fought against the project.

Officials will put together a report that will lay out the costs of the project and how the village proposes to allocate them. An informational meeting and public hearing will be held before final Village Board votes, Village Administrator Kurt Wahlen said.

The village on Monday also awarded a $5.6 million contract for a transmission main and sanitary sewer interceptor on Highway V and a $416,392 construction services agreement with Ruekert-Mielke, a Waukesha-based infrastructure engineering firm.

Those votes also were 5-2. Trustee Gary Feest and Village President Jerry Garski dissented in each vote.

For almost a year, a group of about 60 residents living along the road have battled against the project, saying they shouldnt be charged for it since the expressed purpose is to benefit a Caledonia development along Interstate 94.

Residents, who potentially face special assessments in the tens of thousands, have hired an attorney and threatened legal action.

Our group is organized. Weve got money and were raising money, resident Matt Cramer told the Village Board. We plan on throwing all the obstacles in front of you for the project that we can.

Mount Pleasant officials, meanwhile, have said water and sewer will help spur future growth. The village also estimates the value of Highway V properties to grow exponentially, from about $5,000 to $6,000 per acre to $50,000 to $60,000.

Trustee Sonny Havn cautioned no decisions have been made on how the project will be funded.

We will do everything possible to make it as fair as possible, Havn said.
As reported in The Journal Times on Jan. 15, Republican legislator Mary Lazich has introduced a bill that would allow people with concealed carry permits to bring guns on school grounds. She stated that the request was from school officials who said it created a problem when parents, who carry weapons, drop their children off at school.

My initial reaction is why a person in such a situation would feel so frightened that they felt the need to arm themselves. I might also mention that the request did not come from either teachers or administrators, but from a conservative New Berlin School Board member.

The bill was presented so late in the year that it will not be acted on in the current session. With the DNA of our current legislators, I am sure that we have not heard the last of this proposal. If this bill should ever become law, I wonder what Lazichs next piece of legislation could be  possible the mandatory arming of principals and guidance counselors?

Currently, there are approximately 357 million firearms in America, which is 40 million more guns than people. My question is  Are we a safer country because of all this weaponry? The 32,000 American citizens who die by guns each year would probably say "no."

The United States is the richest and most powerful nation on the planet, but unfortunately, our gun culture is strictly Third World.

Noel Newgord

Mount Pleasant
Americas Real Gun Problem --

The Gun Myths

Comments

By Alan Korwin. December 21st, 2015

This article also appears here

Nothing points out the bankruptcy of our nations gun-control debate better than the mythologies that surrounds it.

Prior common sense proposals are perpetually abandoned. The so-called news media adopts each new absurd gun-control scheme dutifully, promotes it uncritically, then drops it like a hot potato when it is proven worthless and runs to the next latest greatest bit of hoplophobic (morbid gun fear) ridiculousness.

In effect the nation endures a serial mythology, with new myths invented constantly, so we lose sight of each established myth as new ones spring into the public eye.

This obscures the former paranoid fabrications, frustrating our efforts to get to the heart of the problem, which then never get adequately described. Youll recognize them instantly, from the constant hammering of the not-too-distant pasttry some of these on for sighs (sic)

America has a gun problem (gun-violence problem?) because:

There are too many guns;

There are too many of the wrong kind of guns;

There is too much ammunition;

Its too easy to get guns;

The guns are in the wrong hands;

There is too much crime;

The guns have pistol grips, flash hiders, folding stocks, features too numerous to list;

We have too many criminals, a permanent criminal underclass, non-existent families, no father figures, single-parent households, out-of-wedlock births, substandard government housing ghettos, gang environments, racial disparities, illegal aliens, black-on-black murders, five cities that account for most of it, poverty, inequality, inner cities;

Its TV, movies, MTV, rap music, hip hop (theres a difference?) the pop culture, the gangsta culture, a lack of culture, debauched culture;

Violent video games are the problem;

Its the immoral unwinnable drug war;

The problem is the NRA, thats it right there;

The gun companies control the politicians;

American men have small gonads and use guns as substitutes;

Its the objectification of women;

Breakdown of the moral fabric is the cause;

It started when we banned God from the public square;

There is not enough education about guns;

We need more gun laws;

We need better gun laws;

We need the gun laws enforced;

We need universal background checks;

We need universal gun registration;

We need the Feinstein gun law;

We need the Manchin-Toomey gun law;

We need to disarm the criminals already;

The criminal justice system is just a revolving door;

They should just take all the guns away;

No one thinks about who is 'they';

Or what they would do with all these dangerous guns;

They is OK if its the current guy but certainly not if its Bush;

We have to keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people;

Why does anyone need a (fill in the bad gun of the day);

We need more people carrying guns to stop the criminals;

Its the poverty;

Its the income inequality;

Its the super rich;

This list has no end but Im going to stop now.

If you examine this too-familiar list youll notice most blame goes to something other than the perpetrators themselves. If you believe in personal responsibility for your lot in life you know thats wrong. (My guru taught me, with great insight: If you want to know what you want, just look at what you have.) In court, at least, the perp is responsible for the gun violence, what rational people call crime. But I digress.

The Serial Myths That Cloud the Solution

To fix Americas purportedly severe gun problem, an ongoing series of solutions have been proposed by the so-called gun-control advocates. These are people who, by and large, do not own guns, or use guns, and have little if any experience with guns. As a direct consequence of that, each of their proposed solutions have turned out to be mythologicalthat is, not grounded in reality.

This doesnt stop the feckless media from trumpeting the inane plans loudly. The schemes are soon found to be preposterous, quickly abandoned, and new myths are invented, which are hoped against hope to address the purported problem. The cycle repeats.

Purported problem, because under careful scrutiny, an inconvenient truth arises. The so-called gun problem is not a monolithic dilemma, it has distinguishable elements.

Fully 6,000 of the tragic deaths annually are young black men killing each other in ghettos, typically in drug-related battles, making these war deaths, in the federally funded war on some drugs. Government declared war, combatants killed. Solution: declare a truce, save 6,000 lives.

Checking the stats, fully another half of so-called gun deaths are elder suicides, pointing out the disturbing fact that many Americans, approaching the end of their lives, find themselves in constant pain, alone, penniless or nearly so. Without resources, they turn to the option of ending it all, with reliable means. More than a gun problem, this is a medical issue, and a social-welfare issue, one which society sweeps under the rug. It is useful as an unexamined statistic, to build political capital for infringing on the right to keep and bear arms, but it is hardly an honest gun problem. These people need help. Society is unwilling to provide it. No solution available at present.

When we subtract crime numbers from the crime-ridden cities, we find America has brighter prospects than Scandinavia, usually held up as a paragon of virtue. But thats a distraction to this papers theme. The myths perpetually created to justify denying or infringing upon the civil right to arms needs cataloging, to bring it into the full white light of day. Heres a start. Im omitting the juiciest. More coming soon. Heywrite to me with yours, make my job easier (ask your friends too).

The Armed Pilot Myth: Armed airline pilots will freak out, leave the cockpit, and shoot unruly passengers, or the guns will just go off presenting an unacceptable hazard to air travel, since planes will explode when shot. Proven false. After the 9-11 attacks, when radical muslims murdered unarmed pilots, Congress argued literally for years and finally implemented the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, arming pilots nationally, with no ill effect. (In early years, planes carrying U.S. Mail required pilots to be armed.)

The National Parks Carry Myth: Discreet carry in national parks by the public will result in poached animals, murdered visitors, accidental shootings and terrified tourists. Proven false. In 2014 when Congress removed the ban on personal arms in National Parks and Monuments, amidst a great hue and cry, replacing it with the carry laws of each of the states in which the parks resided, no untoward incidents have been reported. Decent people now carry there the same as in the rest of their states.

The Off-Duty Officer Myth: Off duty or retired LEOs, if given national freedom to carry, particularly outside their jurisdiction, will mistakenly shoot innocent civilians and cost cities billions in liability. Proven false. When the LEOSA act passed in 2004, after multiple failed attempts, every honorable former and current peace officer gained the ability to carry discreetly nationwide (a precursor for the publics similar right,which hasnt yet materialized). Further law was needed to let officers carry safe hollow ammunition, to which some jurisdictions ignorantly raised objections.

The Saturday-Night-Special Myth: The big problem was cheap guns used in spontaneous shootings, and crime would drop if these were eliminated. Proven false. This term traces back to the 1930s, when police would refer to cheap guns in the bad part of town as N-Town Saturday Night Specials. Polite society dropped the N-word in later years. When it became obvious that the neighborhood and not the gun type was the problem, the term fell into disuse, but its proponents never fessed up to the nonsense, they just dropped it.

The Melting-Point Test Myth: Guns must be able to withstand enormous temperatures in order to be safe enough to make and sell. Proven false. A poorly concocted idea that circulated briefly, guns are no more subjected to abnormal temperatures than any other products, and withstand them as well as most household items. The attempt to outlaw certain firearms by this contrivance was demonstrably bogus and has largely been dropped.

  

Alan Korwin is the author of 14 books, 10 of them on gun law. His book After You Shoot examines ways to lower your risks after a self-defense shooting. He has been invited twice to observe oral argument in gun cases at the U.S. Supreme Court. Reach him at GunLaws.com, where he is the publisher of Bloomfield Press.

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JURIST Guest Columnist David G. Delaney, assistant Professor at Maurer School of Law discusses historic and current cyber legislation

No one should doubt that Congresss record on cyberspace issues is dismal. The Bush and Obama administrations both bemoaned Congresss expertise and engagement in this field. Much of its legislation follows Edward Snowdens 2013 disclosures of cyber surveillance programs. But one struggles to find the real benefits of laws like the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, the USA Freedom Act, and the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act addressing discrete cyber issues quite minimally. If anything, Congresss fractured approach to cyberspace issues reveals that legislators are unable to view and address cross-cutting cyber issues strategically. The solution is to establish a joint cyberspace committee.

Congresss cyber legislation should be measured by the degree to which it reforms its own committees and the executive branch. It sounds daunting, but Congress has undertaken similar tasks at least twice in the last century. World War II prompted the first episode; a reform-minded public and legislature of the 1970s fueled the second. As during those Cold War periods, emerging threats, global security interests, surveillance concerns, and government accountability animate todays public debates about cyberspace. In the digital age, however, Congress has been impotent to address them.

Given todays political environment it would take enormous courage and the leadership of many true statesmen to accomplish the feat. Assuming those resources could be mustered, consider what else may be needed. During the immediate post-war years Congress set out to reconstitute the defense and intelligence establishment. The shared experience of the war and common concerns about communism and the Soviet Union drove quick action. There is no such common understanding or cause in todays cyber debates.

Another early-Cold War lesson is there must be significant harmony between the executive and legislative branches on thorny constitutional issues. Through the National Security Act of 1947 Congress created a new department of defense to unify the military services, a civilian secretary to lead the department, a staff of military service chiefs to coordinate military planning, a national security council to coordinate executive branch policymaking, and the CIA as a function of national security planning processes. To do this it drew upon numerous constitutional powers shared with the president.

Congress also had to reform its own committees to provide suitable frameworks and processes for the branches to operate effectively. Creating new armed services committees through the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 was essential because it enabled Congress to legislate for and oversee the new military system. Note that Congress adjusted its own structures before recasting the executive branch through the National Security Act.

Such framework legislation was a common feature of the 1970s reform initiatives as well. The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 embodied the multi-year work of a joint congressional committee to reform committees and procedures. The National Emergencies Act of 1976 established processes for the president to make the public and Congress aware of states of emergency. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 provided a mechanism for the president and Congress to address shared constitutional powers relating to international and fiscal emergencies. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 established the court system under scrutiny in todays cyber intelligence debates. These and other laws adjusted the framework created after World War II. In so doing they reflected Congresss twin desires to regulate wide-ranging executive emergency powers and carry out its legislative functions more comprehensively.

Congress has not taken similar comprehensive steps to posture government for the digital age. The Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002, for example, created a common management framework to address cybersecurity in civilian federal agencies; however, the costly bureaucratic regime could not measurably or reliably improve cybersecurity. The attacks of September 11 then fully redirected Congresss attention. Viewing digital-age security issues through a counterterrorism lens, Congress inadequately addressed interrelated cybercrime, intelligence, military, commercial, consumer protection and other cyberspace issues through the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

The former, hastily drafted and passed, clustered cyber, communications,and related critical infrastructure functions from five different agencies in the new department of homeland security. It empowered the secretary to deliver a limited range of cybersecurity services to most parts of government and, more rarely, to state and local governments and the private sector. It did not, however, alter Congresss committee structure to work with the new department. The law thus provides inchoate treatment of cybersecurity as a public-private, intergovernmental, global interest spanning national counterterrorism, critical infrastructure protection, emergency response, law enforcement, information sharing and other objectives. This remains true even after the National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014.

The 2004 intelligence reform law more closely approximates Congresss strategic military-intelligence reforms of the 1940s and 1970s. It created a director of national intelligence, the national counterterrorism center, a FBI intelligence directorate and an information sharing infrastructure with the private sector and state and local governments to plan and carry out various functions with cyber and other counterterrorism objectives at their core. With respect to many cyber issues, however, the new homeland security and intelligence regimes offer competing, duplicative frameworks for government to develop expertise and judiciously apply limited resources to multi-faceted national strategies.

Over the last decade Congress has reaffirmed the primacy of counterterrorism objectives in its treatment of cyberspace concerns. Funding decisions and amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act have confirmed Congresss interest in developing cyber perspectives and capabilities primarily through military and intelligence agencies. Congress also oversaw the evolution of a new U.S. Cyber Command with 6,000 cyber warriors capable of performing offensive and defensive military cyber actions domestically and abroad. The argument is not that these undertakings are objectively unnecessary or misguided, only that they reflect the structure and processes of a Cold War Congress to the detriment of a government that must view security through a digital-age lens.

To be sure, the Obama administrations 2011 so-called comprehensive cybersecurity proposalfull disclosure, I helped shape it as a senior homeland security attorneywas not a panacea. Nor could it recommend committee structures and processes for Congress. As might be expected and despite the significant efforts of numerous Senate and House committees, Congress rejected the proposal and failed to pass alternative Senate and House bills in 2012 and 2013. This, too, should not be surprising considering Congress has not implemented the 9/11 Commissions 2004 recommendation to reform committee structures and processes to enable efficient relationships on homeland security matters.

In short, Congress has ceded important constitutional leadership roles on cyberspace issues that, arguably, will remain longer and evolve more rapidly than current terrorism concerns. The opportunity cost can be calculated many ways. It certainly includes a lack of cyber expertise that legislators and committee staffs could have developed. It also includes oversight and public debate on cyber intelligence and law enforcement matters that have roiled the nation particularly since Snowdens disclosures. The tally must also include the nations ability to address geostrategic cyberspace concerns and balance them against economic, counterterrorism and other policy interests. Bringing unity of purpose to Congresss many cyberspace and security interests and functions is Congresss most hopeful way forward.

If the end of the Cold War is any guide, that can take time. For example, military and intelligence communities struggled to adapt to the Soviet Unions collapse despite a decades worth of study. One relevant example is this 1999 NSA statement [PDF] of its overriding challenge: NSA is an organization ripe for divestiture: its individual capabilities are of greater value than is the organization as a whole. The agency envisioned a future in which it operates and thrives in the net as part of a plan to demonstrate value beyond the sum of its signals intelligence, information assurance, and military support functions. One hopes for such strategic, self-critical evaluation within governments security establishment. As for the proposed solution, it implicates many cyberspace issues that are not unique to intelligence, military, or other government or private organizations. Regrettably, Congress played no demonstrable role in helping the executive branch and the public comprehend and shape such policy preferences.

A joint cyberspace committee would bring sustained focus to such issues. It would enable Congress to develop a broad base of staff expertise, communicate with the executive branch efficiently, and prepare to oversee or legislate for any new or reformed executive branch entities. All options should be on the table to order and administer cyberspace matters across foreign affairs, defense, commercial, technical, regulatory, and other governmental functions. The approach could also enable Congress to bring new perspectives and solutions to recent cyber stalemates. It is a generational leadership challenge, but it is not so novel or difficult that it cannot be envisioned and achieved.

David G. Delaney is a visiting assistant professor at the Maurer School of Law and senior fellow at the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research at Indiana University.

Suggested citation: David G. Delaney,Congressional Cyber Leadership through a Joint Committee, JURIST  Academic Commentary, January 26, 2016, http://jurist.org/forum/2016/01/david-delaney-cyber-legislation.php.

This article was prepared for publication by Alix Ware, an assistant Editor for JURIST Commentary. Please direct any questions or comments to her at commentary@jurist.org
[JURIST] The Central Africa Republic (CAR) constitutional court on Monday certified the results of the first round of the recent presidential vote, resulting in a runoff between two former prime ministers. The election results reported [AP report] that Anicet Georges Dologuele received about 24 percent of the vote, and Faustin Archange Touadere finished in second place with 19 percent. The runoff between the two former prime ministers was initially scheduled for January 31 but will now take place February 7. While the presidential election results have been confirmed, the court still has not finalized or addressed the election of the nations new parliament.

The CAR has experienced significant turmoil since President Francois Bozize [Britannica backgrounder] was ousted by the Seleka rebels in 2013. Last year the UN published a report [JURIST report] stating that the various acts of violence committed by both government and rebel forces in the CAR constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity but not genocide. Soon thereafter, the UN called for [JURIST report] the establishment of a war crimes tribunal in the CAR to try perpetrators of violence. The National Transition Council, the acting government of the CAR, created such a tribunal [JURIST report] in April. The National Transition Council then adopted the new constitution [JURIST report] in September.
[JURIST] Chinese authorities on Tuesday released and deported Swedish citizen charged with training and funding unlicensed lawyers, after the Swedish embassy expressed concerns [press release] over the charges last week. Peter Dahlin had appeared [JURIST report] on Chinese national television [YouTube] last week to confess to his wrongdoing. Dahlin said I have caused harm to the Chinese government. I have hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. I apologize sincerely for this. And Im very sorry that this ever happened. Dahlin co-founded Chinese Urgent Action Working Group [advocacy website], a non-profit organization [Reuters report] that provides training for uncertified rural defense lawyers of potential human rights abuse victims.

The Chinese Urgent Action Working Group reported that Dahlin was detained earlier this month on suspicion of endangering state security. It is believed by rights groups that the detention is part of a crackdown [BBC report] on rights lawyers and members of groups seeking reforms of the countrys legal system. Chinese state media recently criticized [JURIST report] detained human rights lawyers for undermining the rule of law. Last month prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang was released [JURIST report] after receiving a suspended sentence. Pu was detained [JURIST report] in 2014 on a charge of causing a disturbance after he attended a weekend meeting that urged an investigation into the 1989 crackdown of pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square and was subsequently denied [JURIST report] bail. The Tiananmen protests began in April 1989 with mainly students and laborers protesting the Communist Party of China. The Chinese government declared martial law in May and initiated the violent dispersal of protesters by the Peoples Liberation Army on June 4.
[JURIST] The internationally-recognized Libyan parliament voted Monday to reject a proposal by the UN-supported unity government to curb the countrys political crisis. In an 89-15 vote, the parliament rejected [Reuters report] the cabinet selected by the UN-backed Presidential Council (PC) and said the council would be dissolved if it failed to form a new, smaller cabinet in 10 days. Libyas government is currently fracturedthe internationally-recognized authorities and parliament in Tobruk and the rebel-backed authority holding power in Tripoli. The unity government was created [JURIST report] by the Libyan Political Agreement in July and intends to bridge the splintered government. The nine-member PC has the authority to choose the cabinet of the new unity government. Many members of the competing political authorities denounced [Al Jazeera report] the agreement as not fairly representative of all Libyan factions.

Libya has remained politically unstable since the 2011 deposition of Muammar Gaddafi [JURIST backgrounder] and subsequent civil war. Much of the escalating violence in Libya is attributable to the Islamic State [BBC Backgrounder]. In March the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSML) [official website] released a report outlining a peace proposal [JURIST report] intending to end the countrys political instability and deteriorating military situation. Also in March the head of the UNSMIL warned the UN Security Council that without intervention from the international community and UN, Libya is likely to become unstable [JURIST report] in the wake of repeated terrorist attacks.
[JURIST] Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak [official website] was cleared of corruption charges by the Attorney General on Tuesday. The Attorney Generals Office [official website] announced that the USD $681 million in Razaks personal bank account that was previously alleged to be from a state investment fund were actually discovered [Malaysia News report] to be a personal donation from the Saudi royal family. Razak has always denied the accusations, and has since reportedly returned [BBC report] $620 million of the donation. In July Razak fired [JURIST report] Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail who first announced the corruption investigation and replaced him with cabinet member Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Najib Razaks corruption allegations have been a hot topic of debate the past few months in Malaysia. In July two major opposition parties in Malaysia called for an emergency [JURIST report] sitting of parliament in order to discuss the future of the countrys prime minister. A police report has also been lodged against Razak by many opposition members, including representatives [Reuters report] of political parties. In 2006, Razak, who has served as the countrys prime minister since 2009, was accused [BBC report] of being connected to the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, after her remains were found in October of that year in Kuala Lumpur. Razak, who was deputy prime minister at the time, denied having any connections to the murder or even knowing the model.
[JURIST] Three men were arrested on Saturday for their possible connection to the disappearance of 43 Mexican students in September 2014. Mexican authorities claim [AP report] the suspects are members of Guerreros Unidos [Insight Crime backgrounder], a local drug cartel that presumably received and murdered the missing students following their protest and arrest. One of the men is also a prime suspect in the murder of Julio Cesar Mondragon, a student whose body was found mutilated the morning after the event. Currently, 113 people have been arrested in the ongoing investigation, including 44 police officers and the former mayor of Iguala.

The disappearance of the 43 students has drawn widespread condemnation of the security situation in Mexico. In November Mexicos National Human Rights Commission criticized [JURIST report] the Mexican Attorney Generals Office and other government offices involved in the investigation for failing to comply with its recommendations. In October Attorney General Arely Gomez Gonzalez released [JURIST report] of a 54,000 page file [text, PDF, in Spanish] detailing the Mexican governments investigation into the Missing 43. Gonzalez provided the partially-redacted document following repeated calls by Mexicos National Transparency Institute for its release. Also in October, in response to the security situation and on his visit to Mexico, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein urged the Mexican government to cease using their military as law enforcement and replace the current force with well-trained police officers [JURIST report]. The UN official also addressed the need to continue the investigation into the 2014 disappearance of the Missing 43. Pressure on the Mexican government has also led to President Enrique Pena Nietos pledge to appoint a special prosecutor [JURIST report] to investigate the case of the Missing 43. The disappearance of the 43 students sparked international outrage [Al Jazeera report] and the official government report concludes that the students were all killed [JURIST report] after being seized by police.
Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva [official website, in Portuguese] on Monday vetoed bills aimed at granting full adoption rights to same-sex couples and at removing restrictions on abortions [press releases, in Portuguese]. The president stated that the legislation represents a radical change that requires broader public consultation. He further added that the parliament has failed to demonstrate that these bills are in the best interest of the countrys children. The president is also blocking the parliaments move to waive mandatory counseling for women seeking abortions. The president stated that an elimination of such counseling programs would diminish the right to information, and is inconsistent with the laws of other European nations. The presidential vetoes can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in the parliament, although it is not presently clear whether the proponents of the bills could gather that many votes.

Both adoption rights of same-sex couples [JURIST news archive] and abortion [JURIST backgrounder] have created considerable controversy in several courts worldwide. In 2013 Puerto Ricos Supreme Court upheld a law banning same-sex couples from adopting children. Also in 2013 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that a woman in a same-sex relationship could adopt her partners biological child [JURIST report]. Similarly, the Northern Ireland High Court [official website] held [JURIST report] in 2012 that a law permitting adoption only by heterosexual married couples or single individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, is unlawful. On the abortion front, the Obama administration earlier this month called on [brief, PDF] the US Supreme Court [official website] to strike down a recently passed Texas abortion law which the administration argues will harm womens health. Last December a judge for the High Court in Northern Ireland declared [judgment] that Northern Irelands abortion laws, which only allow abortion when the mother faces the risk of death or serious injury, are not compatible with human rights laws.
The US Supreme Court [official website] on Monday denied certiorari [order list, PDF] in a case regarding a North Dakota law that would ban abortion as soon as a heartbeat is detectable, as early as six weeks. The Abortion Control Act [text, PDF] was struck down by the district court and the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit [JURIST reports]. The Supreme Courts decision not to hear the case means that the ban cannot be enforced, which is consistent with precedent that states cannot ban abortion before viability, usually around 24 weeks. However, the Eighth Circuit did suggest that the Supreme Court reconsider its stance [AP report] in light of scientific and medical advances in the last 40 years.

Abortion waiting periods and reproductive rights issues [JURIST backgrounder] have been heated topics throughout the US. Last week the Supreme Court declined to revive an Arkansas law that would ban abortions after 12 weeks [JURIST report]. In May 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 Alabama state representative Terri Collins [official website] proposed a bill to ban abortion [JURIST report] once a fetal heartbeat has been detected. Also in April 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 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 the West Virginia Legislature overrode [JURIST report] the state governors veto, passing a bill that bans abortion after 20 weeks.
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] unanimously Monday in Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin v. United States [SCOTUSblog materials] that equitable tolling does not apply to the presentment of a tribes contract claim. The Menominee Tribe contracted with the Indian Health Service (IHS), under the terms of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, to take control of a Federal aid program that would otherwise be operated by the Federal government. In accordance with the law, the Menominee Tribe was eligible to receive the amount of money that the government otherwise would have spent on the program, including reimbursement for contract support costs. Following a pair of successful claims by other tribes levied against the federal government over a failure to pay contract support costs, the Menominee Tribe filed a case with the IHS over contract support costs in 2005 for contract years 1995-2004. The contracting officer for the IHS denied the Menominee Tribes claim based on its 1996, 1997, and 1998 contracts because those claims were barred by the six-year statute of limitations of the Contract Disputes Act. The Menominee Tribe appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which denied the claim because it failed to meet the test outlined by the Supreme Court in Holland v. Florida [opinion] that stipulates when equitable tolling permits an exception to the statute of limitations. According to the test in Holland, a litigant is entitled to equitable tolling only if the litigant establishes two elements: 1) that he has been pursuing his rights diligently, and 2) that some extraordinary circumstance stood in his way to prevent a timely filing. The court held that the Menominee Tribe failed to meet the elements of the test, affirming the ruling of the DC Circuit.

The court heard oral argument [JURIST report] in this dispute in December. Certiorari was granted [JURIST report] last June.
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] 6-2 Monday in favor of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) [official website] in the case of FERC v. EPSA [SCOTUSblog materials], upholding a 2011 rule regulating the market for wholesale demand response. Demand response is a program in which consumers receive a payment for reductions in electricity use during peak times. In Mondays ruling, the court reversed and remanded a May 2014 decision [opinion, PDF] by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that struck down the FERC rule, known as FERC Order 745 [rule, PDF]. Justice Elena Kagan authored the opinion for the majority, while Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas joined in a dissenting opinion. Justice Samuel Alito did not take part in the case. The court explained its reasoning in three points: first, the regulation of demand response under Order 745 directly affects wholesale rates; second, FERC has not regulated retail sales; and third, these two aforementioned conclusions establish that FERC Order 745 complies with the agencys authority under the Federal Power Act (FPA). The opinion notes that Order 745 enables FERC to fulfill its statuary duty to maintain just and reasonable electricity prices, while enhancing reliability in the wholesale energy market: FERCs statutory authority extends to the Rule at issue here addressing wholesale demand response. The Rule governs a practice directly affecting wholesale electricity rates. And although (inevitably) influencing the retail market too, the Rule does not intrude on the States power to regulate retail sales.

Collectively, recent federal legislation and technological innovation reduced barriers to entry in the electricity supply market leading to new developments such as demand response [JTLP student note], which triggered new legal challenges over the jurisdictional divide between the federal government and the states in US power markets. The court heard oral argument [JURIST report] in FERC v. EPSA on October 14. On behalf of FERC, the Solicitor General argued that Order 745 is a strong example of cooperative federalism, and the policy brings about billions of dollars in consumer benefits by lowering wholesale rates [SCOTUSblog op-ed]. The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) [official website] argued that Order 745 lures retail electricity consumers to participate in the wholesale market, which is prohibited by the FPA. The court granted certiorari in this case [JURIST report] and consolidated the dispute with another challenge from the EPSA, EnerNOC, Inc. v. EPSA [SCOTUSblog materials], in May.
The US Supreme Court [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] Monday in Montgomery v. Louisiana [SCOTUSblog backgrounder] that a landmark decision banning mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles should apply retroactively. The Supreme Court reached that decision [JURIST report] in Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs [SCOTUSblog backgrounders] in 2012, but until now the outcome was being applied retroactively only by certain states. The case involves Henry Montgomery, convicted in 1963 of murdering a deputy sheriff at the age of 17. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Now, at the age of 70, he is asking for a new sentencing hearing in hopes that the ruling in 2012 will apply to his 1963 life sentence. In a 6-3 opinion authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court concluded Monday:

Henry Montgomery has spent each day of the past 46 years knowing he was condemned to die in prison. Perhaps it can be established that, due to exceptional circumstances, this fate was a just and proportionate punishment for the crime he committed as a 17-year-old boy. In light of what this Court has said in Roper, Graham, and Miller about how children are constitutionally different from adults in their level of culpability, however, prisoners like Montgomery must be given the opportunity to show their crime did not reflect irreparable corruption; and, if it did not, their hope for some years of life outside prison walls must be restored.

Justice Antonin Scalia filed a dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Thomas also filed a separate dissent.

The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in October after granting certiorari [JURIST reports] in May. Mondays decision could affect more than 2,000 people currently serving life terms for homicides committed as juveniles.
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If you would like to help by prayer, sponsoring an orphan, or financial support please contact us at:



kalemboproject@gmail.com


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Affected locals to get Rs1.6b shares

People residing in areas to be affected by the 900MW Upper Karnali Hydropower Project will receive shares worth Rs1.6 billion, Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has said.
Corrupt cops

The reputation of the august police force has been marred by unabashed corruption
Indian officials close Raxaul border for 2 hrs

Indian officials halted movement at Birgunj-Raxaul border point for two hours on Tuesday.
Kin receive bodies of Rangeli victims, hold final rites

The final rites of the three persons who were killed in police firing at Rangeli and Dayaniya in Morang district were performed on Monday four days after the tragedy.
Lost spirit of 2036

Intersectionality of class and ethnicity is the need of the day for the Nepali left
Misunderstanding with India has cleared: DPM

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa has claimed that misunderstanding with India had been diminishing considerably.
NC urges parties to end blockade

The Nepali Congress on Monday requested all the concerned parties to end the five-month long disruption in the supply of goods across the border with India.
Nepal to gift 2 rhinos to China

Nepal will provide two one-horned rhinoceros as gifts to China upon the request from the Chinese side.
Obstruction continues at Birgunj-Raxaul point

Activists of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha on Monday continued their protests at the Birgunj-Raxaul customs point, obstructing movement of vehicles.
SLMM: Will change tack, wont fall back

Constituents of the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) have said they will need some more time before deciding their future course of action.
Yadav blames PM Olis arrogance for spoiling consensus

Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav has blamed Prime Minister KP Olis arrogance, ego and nonsense speech for spoiling the environment of consensus many a time.
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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Alzheimers disease experts have sought to calm fears that toxins found in algae around the UK could be causing dementia.Researchers in the US recently found evidence which suggested that blue-green alga or cyanobacteria - an organism found in water around the world - can produce a toxin linked to the development of a neurodegenerative disease similar to Alzheimers.The mysterious illness among populations in the Pacific Island of Guam which is similar to Parkinsons, motor neurone disease and Alzheimers prompted researchers to attempt to pinpoint a potential environmental cause.The team at the Institute for EthnoMedicine in Wyoming reached their conclusion by analysing cyanobacteria that lives in marine, brackish and freshwater environments across the world, CBS News reported.The study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal linked the disease in Guam to a neurotoxin called BMAA. As well as algae, the toxin is present in cycad seeds - which Chamorro villagers on the Pacific island use to make flour tortillas.Researchers also fed vervet monkeys fruit laced with BMAA, and found that the animals had developed neurofibrillary tangles and plaque which are linked to neurodegenerative diseases.BMAA was also discovered in 12 freshwater lakes and reservoirs across the UK and in seafood from isolated areas of the Mediterranean, sparking fears that the toxin may cause conditions such as Alzheimer's to develop via the foodchain.Professor Paul Cox, director of the Institute for Ethnomedicine, told the Mail on Sunday : "We know the single biggest risk factor for Alzheimers disease is age, and as our population ages, people will get it more. Secondly, we are getting better at diagnosing and finding Alzheimers cases."We are adding the possibility of a third factor" adding: "BMAA could be a contributory factor in some people."However, he stressed that the researchers were not asserting that they had caused Alzheimers in the monkeys and that the brain plaques present were different to those believed to cause Alzheimer's.
The rising Cholera death toll in Sironko has prompted district authorities to procure four emergency ambulances to reinforce the health team that is fighting the outbreak.

This follows the death of five people with 54 others still fighting for their lives at various health centers.

Sironko Resident District Commissioner Mr. Moses Kigayi tells KFM that the four ambulances will help transport the affected people to the isolation centers at Budadiri Health Center IV and Mutufu Government Prison.

He adds that more interventions are being made to avoid further spread of the disease.

In Moroto district one death has been confirmed while 10 other patients are being monitored at the isolation center.

Meanwhile Moroto Municipal Council authorities have ordered the closure of all restaurants and bars as one of the measures to curb further spread of the disease.

Story By Samuel Ssebuliba
Over 700 people have been awarded medals at the NRM liberation celebrations in Fort portal.

The medals given out were in three categories including Nalubaale medal, Luweero Triangle medal and the Golden Jubilee anniversary medal.

Among those awarded are senior police officers; Andrew Sorowen, Grace Turyagumanawe, Edward Ochom and several commissioners of the Uganda Prison Services.

The Head of the medal awards committee Gen. Elly Tumwine says these are being awarded for their various contributions towards the liberation struggle and the development of the country.

The celebrations held at St Leos College Kyegobe were running under the theme 30 Years of NRMs Committed Stewardship: A Remarkable Legacy for Uganda.

Meanwhile, as the ruling National Resistance Movement party celebrates its 30th anniversary, a section of citizens say they are dissatisfied with the work of the regime.

KFM spoke to some people who say there is little to appreciate.

The Democratic Party has faulted the NRM party for failing to fulfill the promises it made over the last 30 years.

Addressing journalists at the DP headquarters in Kampala, the party president Norbert Mao said President Museveni has failed to promote Democracy, Economic growth, Security and national unity.

Independent presidential candidate Prof Venasius Baryamureeba has promised better services to the people of Kampala if elected into power.

While campaigning in Gaba, Buziga and Makindye, in Kampala Baryamureeba said that the 30 years of NRM do not match the services offered in the health, education and Road sectors.

He says although there has been some development, a lot is still needed in terms of quality.

Story By Benjamin Jumbe
Welcome! You have come to the right place. Khmerization is a home to the Cambodian daily news, which is updated twice daily. Please take a tour and enjoy yourself. Thank you.

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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, How I sold out to da Man. Robbie Bell again performs: Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells and Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to Dancing with the Stars, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.



Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and Big Cat Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).



Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.



Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".



In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word jackass was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.



In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.



Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.



Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!



This is definitely a Beaver production.



Note: Security provided by INS.


A Chinese cultural festival has been under way in South Korea to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year, organizers said Tuesday.



The annual festival kicked off in Seoul on Friday with an exhibition showcasing sculptures, craftwork and other artwork from the central Chinese province of Hubei.

It will run through Feb. 1 mostly in Seoul but also in the central city of Daegu.



"This event, which is being hosted as we see the old year out and the new year in, will further strengthen our two countries' friendly ties," Hao Xiaofei, minister of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, said in her congratulatory remarks at a press conference held to promote the festival.



Citing active exchanges at the political, cultural and economic levels last year, she said bilateral ties have entered "the best period since the establishment of diplomatic ties" in 1992.



Since 2010, China has held cultural festivals celebrating the Lunar New Year in hundreds of cities around the world. Last year, more than 800 events took place in some 320 cities in 118 countries, according to the China Cultural Center in Seoul.

The Lunar New Year is one of the biggest holidays in both China and South Korea and falls on Feb. 8 this year.



The festival will include exhibitions of artwork, performances of folk dances, concerts and a demonstration of traditional Chinese tea drinking before ending with a closing ceremony featuring Chinese opera and a fashion show. (Yonhap)




The United States, South Korea and Japan should reassess whether American "extended deterrence" is still strong enough to counter growing nuclear threats from North Korea, a former top U.S. military commander said Monday.



Dennis Blair, chairman of Sasakawa USA, who had served as U.S. Pacific commander, made the suggestion in a joint article with former Japanese military general Masayuki Hironaka, saying NATO still maintains American nuclear warheads.



"Extended deterrence" refers to the threat of nuclear retaliation to deter attacks on allies. The U.S. has provided extended deterrence or a "nuclear umbrella" to allies South Korea and Japan after withdrawing nuclear warheads from South Korean in the early 1990s.



"The United States, Japan and Korea must reassess whether American extended deterrence in East Asia is still strong, or whether additional measures are needed," Blair said in the article contributed to Diplomat magazine.



"Consider our position in Europe, where the nuclear threat from the Soviet Union was much greater, and the nuclear doctrine in Russia was more threatening, this reassurance structure was judged not to be enough," he said. "In Europe, NATO maintains both American nuclear warheads and alliance tactical nuclear forces for reassurance while the United States has withdrawn all its nuclear weapons from Korea."



After the North's fourth nuclear test last week, some members of South Korea's ruling party called for deployment of nuclear weapons in the country. But the government dismissed the idea, saying it runs counter to the principle of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.



Blair said that the U.S. should make an "authoritative statement" warning the North that "a major conventional attack would be defeated by combined forces of the Republic of Korea and the United States and a WMD attack would be met with a devastating retaliatory nuclear strike by the United States."



"Both alternatives would result in the end of the Kim regime," he said.



He also suggested that the U.S., South Korea and Japan come up with strong financial sanctions on Pyongyang, noting that unilateral American actions against North Korean financial transactions have been effective in the past, and trilateral sanctions would be even more damaging.



"The United States, Korea and Japan should take coordinated action that includes increasing financial sanctions on North Korea and reassessing the extended deterrence strategy to address its latest provocative action," he said. "Even if the North Korean nuclear program is not reversed, the penalties for pursuing it must be increased." (Yonhap)




North Korean leader Kim Jong-un should follow in Iran's footsteps and negotiate away its nuclear program, a senior American diplomat said, stressing the deal shows the U.S. honors its promises.



"We have extended our hand, but Pyongyang will not unclench its fist. Mr. Kim need look no further than the Iran deal. We keep our word," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said during a trip to Singapore last Friday, according to a speech text provided by the newsletter Nelson Report.



"A better path is open to North Korea if it will honor its commitments, negotiate denuclearization, and comply with international law," Russel said.



In July, Iran and six world powers, including the U.S., reached a landmark deal that calls for curbs on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for removal of sanctions that had crippled the Middle Eastern nation's economy.



The U.S. lifted nuclear sanctions in Iran earlier this month as Tehran fulfilled its commitments.



Six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program have been stalled since late 2008. The U.S. and South Korea have demanded the North take concrete steps demonstrating its denuclearization commitments in order to reopen the negotiations.

Russel said the U.S. and its partners have a strategy of deterrence, pressure, and diplomacy to deal with the North.



"To maintain deterrence, we are modernizing our security alliances with South Korea and Japan. To keep up pressure, we are enacting stronger sanctions, including at the U.N.," Russel said. "We are mobilizing the international community to obstruct North Korea's proliferation activities and to confront its human rights abuses -- Pyongyang's protests show this is hitting home."



Those measures are not to punish the North, but to show Pyongyang's leadership that "the world will never accept them as a nuclear armed state or provide economic assistance absent denuclearization," Russel said.



Pyongyang should accept it has "no viable alternative to a negotiated end to their nuclear and missile programs," he said. (Yonhap)




New Art Gallery Provides Rare Insight Into Contemporary African Art





Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.



Tyburn Gallery is a new London-based exhibition space dedicated to international contemporary art. Founded by the former editor of the South African Journal of Human Rights Emma Menell, an engagement with the culture and socio-politics of Africa is at the heart of this new venture. Growing up in South Africa, Menell maintained a passion for art, and this lifelong fascination is evidenced in the works she collects.

Both Menell and her family have been involved in entrepreneurial ventures across Africa which have brought them into contact with artists and collectors across the continent. Menells own collection Takadiwa , William Kentridge, features pieces by Robert Hodgins , Moffat Guy Tillim and other emerging South African artists. She founded Tyburn Gallery to represent, support and exhibit the work of some of Africas most exciting new artists.

The gallerys inaugural show is Broken English, running from 18 September until 28 October 2015. Curated by Kim Stern, a curator based in Cape Town, the show presents the work of a group of international artists including Stephen Allwright, Joel Andrianomearisoa, Bridget Baker, Eduardo Berliner, Edson Chagas, Dan Halter, Mouna Karray, Yashua Klos, Ibrahim Mahama, Michele Mathison, Mohau Modisakeng, Lakin Ogunbanwo, Athi-Patra Ruga, Rowan Smith and Moffat Takadiwa.



Broken English analyses the categorisation of culture and identity in the millennial world in which continents are connected through social media rather than human contact. Many of the artists live between multiple cities, including Antananarivo, Cape Town, Harare, Johannesburg, Lisbon, London, New York, Paris, Sao Paulo and Tamale. Their work critiques the relevance of national identity in this globalised social climate. We spoke with the gallery founder Emma Menell to find out how her dynamic career trajectory, and a fascination with the arts, led her to this new venture.



How would you describe Tyburn Gallery?

Tyburn is a gallery dedicated to contemporary art, working with artists from a global range of evolving art scenes, with Africa as a point of departure. Many of our artists are relatively young in terms of age but have already achieved a lot in their artistic practice. The curatorial programme over the next year will reflect the current focus on international artists linked to Africa, through innovative solo exhibitions by Moffat Takadiwa, Michele Mathison Mouna Karray and Bridget Baker





Why did you decide to open the gallery in London and why now?

I am South African but have been living the UK for some time now. Ive always been impressed with Londons highly developed art infrastructure and the rich cultural landscape here. A location in the city provides a strong international platform to present our artists, many of whom are already becoming increasingly visible in the institutional circuits of museums and biennales around the world (Edson Chagas won the Golden Lion for the Angolan pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2013; Ibrahim Mahama, Athi-Patra Ruga and Mohau Modisakeng all have works in the current Biennale; and Bridget Baker and Athi-Patra Ruga were part of Tates South African Artists On Screen series this summer). The gallery offers an ideal location for curators and collectors from around the world to view their works.





Athi-Patra Ruga, Proposed Model of the New Azanian, 2014, Wool, thread and artificial flowers on tapestry, Copyright Athi-Patra Ruga, Courtesy Tyburn Gallery





Whats the aim of the gallery?

Our core values are aligned to be artist-centric and we want to help give artists the support they need on all aspects of their activities across exhibitions, catalogues and archives. We are commissioning several new works for our opening exhibition and want to continue to commission work for solo shows to support exhibition production. We hope our artists will continue to be included in important international exhibitions, create work that is discussed critically and gain global recognition. We now increasingly see artists from Africa presented alongside the work of their international peers and this is something the gallery will support and promote.





Why is Africa your point of focus for this new space?

I grew up in South Africa and I have been passionate about art all of my life. My own experience of artists in Africa led to my wanting to help promote a deeper, critical understanding of these artists work internationally. Their quality of work is exceptionally high and its where our area of expertise lies. As the gallery organically grows and expands in the future, this focus may evolve. In my view the art scene across the continent is vibrant and dynamic. We are very excited about Angola and other parts of West Africa, such as Ghana. We are working with significant artists from countries across Africa such as Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Tunisia and also the wider diaspora which are all part of an evolving and very exciting art scene.





Rowan Smith, Untitled (Burn), 2012, Digital Print, Copyright Rowan Smith, Courtesy Tyburn Gallery.

How did you go about selecting, curating and putting together the artists for your inaugural show?

Broken English gives a good overview of many of the artists we will be working with in the future. Alongside our Curatorial Advisor Kim Stern, we have selected artists that all have a unique voice and a perceptible individualism within their work. The artists presented work across different mediums and styles, but they all create work that is conceptually rich and layered with multi-cultural narratives, often exploring social, political and economic concerns. I have always been very drawn to photography, and there are several artists in the show whose practice is based around photographically documented performance; often with the artist placed centre stage.





Which pieces are you excited about and why?

We are presenting a sculptural installation by Moffat Takadiwa made from found objects. Part of the post-independence generation of artists in Zimbabwe, his work speaks of the cultural dominance exercised by the consumption of foreign products across Africa. Mouna Karrays black and white self-portrait series Noir is striking yet subtle. Inspired by a live chicken in a plastic bag being carried by man on a bus in Tunisia, she wrapped herself in a white sheet with only her hand visible to release the shutter. The work is a metaphor for imprisonment, but her act demonstrates the power we still have to act under duress.

Mouna Karray, Noir#4, 2013, inkjet print on baryta paper, Copyright the Artist, Courtesy Tyburn Gallery

How has your experience editing the South African Journal of Human Rights affected your approach to this new venture?

Artists necessarily reflect upon the environments from which they arise. I am particularly interested in the political and socio economic developments and challenges across Africa and how artists relate to and articulate these issues within their work.

Mouna Karray, Noir#7, 2013, inkjet print on baryta paper, Copyright the Artist, Courtesy Tyburn Gallery

Mouna Karray, Noir#8, 2013, inkjet print on baryta paper, Copyright the Artist, Courtesy Tyburn Gallery

How has the art world in Africa changed over the last ten years?

The curatorial rewiring of contemporary African art on a global scale has been happening since the 90s. Artists from the continent are increasingly seeing interest from museums as well as biennales and festivals like Documenta and the Venice Biennale which has brought them to greater public prominence. This has been a gradual process and one I believe will be sustained rather than a trend. The world seems extremely receptive to African artists and I can see why when you look at the calibre of some of the work being produced. There are some very intelligent international curators around have played key roles in this such as Okwui Enwezor, Elvira Dyangani Ose and Gabi Ngcobo to name a few.




Speak up now in support of Indiana being inclusive to everyone
Now that Silver Lake's transformation into a hip, upperclass neighborhood is complete, homebuyers are apparently headed east, snatching up properties in the transforming-before-our-very-eyes neighborhood of Echo Park, according to Redfin's December 2015 housing report. Median prices for housing in Echo Park continued to rise last month, and were up 25.3 percent over the year before, to $813,000. That's also an increase of $77,100 since only September 2015, and is more than $282,000 more than Echo Park's median price in 2014. The overall number of sales in the neighborhood is up 40 percent too. For the love of pete, if you want a hip, happenin' home in Echo Park, better do it now, or five years ago.

Other eastish neighborhoods like Eagle Rock, East LA, and Mount Washington, are all in high demand tooall three of those neighborhoods are seeing housing selling above asking price. Over in Glassell Park, housing sales jumped more than 130 percent in the past year, with homes staying on the market for an average of just seven days.

And fresh off its hard-fought victory over Pacoima in the 2015 Curbed Cup for LA's Neighborhood of the Year, West Adams is also making a lot of noise in the housing market. The neighborhood has seen its median housing price jump 27 percent since last year, coming in now at $525,000. That's still "affordable" in LA terms, though it might not stay that way for long. Buyers in West Adams are paying, on average, 2 percent above the asking price of homes in the neighborhood. 2015 Curbed Cup runner up, Pacoima, can take some of the sting away from it's loss with the information that its median housing price is up as well, 14.1 percent to $365,000, and houses are selling on average just a shade over market price. You'll get your day, Pacoima!

Prices in some of the really ritzy parts of town, meanwhile, are plummeting. Brentwood prices are down 17.9 percent since last year, coming in at a median of $1.43 million. Over in Holmby Hills, prices have dropped 33 percent to $1.24 million. If these trends continue, houses in these neighborhoods could actually be affordable someday after Los Angeles has sunk into the sea (they have a long way to plummet, which means they probably didn't have a lot of room to grow in December).

As a whole, Los Angeles housing prices are up 9.6 percent to a median of $559,000. The housing market rallied at the end of 2015 with overall sales in December up 3.6 percent, an unusual occurrence as buying typically slows down during the holiday months. The actual amount of homes for sale in Los Angeles remains depressingly low, thoughtotal inventory is still down 20 percent from last year.



 Los Angeles Homebuyers Snap Up Old Inventory as Housing Supply Plummets in December [Redfin]

 The Curbed Cup Neighborhood of the Year is West Adams! [Curbed LA]

 Huge Chunk of Echo Park's Sunset and Alvarado Being Sold as Development Opportunity [Curbed LA]

 Huge Mixed-Use Development Headed For the Echo Park/Chinatown Border [Curbed LA]

 Echo Park Enters Late-Stage Yuppification With Permit Parking [Curbed LA]
After a hard couple months on tour, what's a rock star supposed to do with their free time? All that adrenaline normally channeled toward playing a two-night stand at a sold-out Wembley Stadium has to come out somewhere. Fortunately for U2's The Edge, he has a six-year long solo project in Malibu that's been keeping him quite busy. This side project won't result in a new adult contemporary album boasting disappointing sales figures, however, just reams and reams of legal documents concerning a housing development that will not die. In December, after years of wrangling, it looked like The Edge had finally gotten the green light to build five mansions on a pristine Malibu bluff when the California Coastal Commission gave its ok. But now, the Sierra Club is taking its turn as the latest opponent to The Edge's Malibu housing plansaccording to the LA Times, the Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit against the Commission to nullify their approval of the project.

The lawsuit is yet another chapter in a saga that dates back to 2009. Getting the Commission's approval was an ordeal for The Edge: first he tried to submit plans for the five houses under five different names to fly under the radar. He gave the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy a substantial cash gift to keep them quiet on the matter. Then he went to the state legislature to lobby for a pro-development bill to help his cause. After all that, the Commission still gave a thumbs down to the project, saying the development would "scar a steep, undeveloped ridgeline visible from much of the coastline, cause extensive geological disturbance and destroy environmentally sensitive native vegetation." So The Edge sued.

As part of a compromise with the CCC, The Edge agreed to scale back the project, moving the houses slightly closer together and making them less visible from the shore below. He even dedicated 140 acres of his property to be used as a public open space for hiking and equestrian trails. The Commission gave its approval, albeit reluctantly. CCC Senior Deputy Director Jack Ainsworth said at the time he didn't want to see any development on the ridge, but he could not stop a property owner from building on their land, so the Commission had to settle for negotiating "the best deal that it could." Battered and bruised, the CCC approved The Edge's development in December. It looked like he had finally squashed all his bureaucratic enemies.

Enter the Sierra Club.

The environmental group has a laundry list of complaints about The Edge moving to Malibu and bringing five mansions with him (he'll reportedly take one and sell the rest). The group is contending that the Commission's approval is in violation of state law because they did not properly investigate the environmental impacts of allowing The Edge to build on the Malibu bluff. The CCC, they claim, did not investigate or suggest the possibility of alternative scenarios in which fewer or no houses would be built on the site. The Sierra Club also says the house are not in accordance with Malibu's local coastal plan, favoring the homes over the delicate habitats of wildlife in the area.

If The Edge can get past this lawsuit, he still faces a number of foes, each one with the potential to disrupt construction of the Malibu project. So, if the Sierra Club goes down, there's still Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, State Senator Fran Pavley, the National Park Service, Heal the Bay, and the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains all waiting in the wings. Those groups ought to beware though. The Edge still has not yet employed one big trump card, his most diabolical weapon ... Bono.

 Sierra Club files lawsuit to stop U2 guitarist the Edge's Malibu development [LA Times]

 U2's The Edge Given Permission to Ruin Untouched Malibu Bluff [Curbed LA]

 Why is U2's the Edge So Determined to Ruin a Malibu Bluff? [Curbed LA]
BLACKHOOF TOWNSHIP, Minn. (AP)  A northern Minnesota man faces a felony charge after authorities say he burned down his cabin last week.

The Carlton County Sheriff's Office received a report of a structure fire in Blackhoof Township at about 7:20 p.m. Thursday. Deputies arrived on the scene and found a cabin fully engulfed in flames.

The sheriff's office says a 56-year-old male property owner admitted to intentionally starting a fire inside the cabin where he lived with his wife.

The man was arrested on a preliminary first-degree arson charge. An investigation is ongoing and charges are expected to be filed.

No other people or animals were inside at the time of the fire.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Michigans attorney general named a former prosecutor on Monday to spearhead an investigation into the process that left Flints drinking water tainted with lead, though Democrats questioned whether the special counsel would be impartial.

Republican Bill Schuette said Todd Flood, a former assistant prosecutor for Wayne County, which includes Detroit, will lead the probe and be joined by Andy Arena, a retired head of Detroits FBI office.

Schuette said the two would play key roles in the investigation and prevent conflicts of interest since the attorney generals office also defends the state. Both will report to Schuette, who promised they would provide an experienced and independent review of all the facts and circumstances.

He dismissed any concerns about Flood, who is now in private practice and has donated to candidates from both parties, including Schuette.

I dont care who he (Flood) has given money to, Republican (or) Democrat. It doesnt matter, Schuette said. This is about conducting a thorough, exhaustive, complete investigation. Thats what were doing.

It is unclear at this point if the probe could result in criminal or civil charges. The investigation could focus on whether environmental laws were broken or if there was official misconduct in the process that left Flints drinking water contaminated.

Flood mostly declined to discuss which laws may have been broken, except to note there are prohibitions against misconduct by public officials. He said a plethora of laws potentially could be used to charge someone.

Schuette gave no timetable for the investigation.

Flint switched from Detroits municipal water system while under emergency state financial management and began drawing from the Flint River in 2014 to save money, but the water was not properly treated. Residents have been urged to use bottled water and to put filters on faucets.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has been a focus of criticism, but Schuette said political affiliations would not be a factor there either.

Democrats noted state records showing Flood gave $3,000 to Snyders campaigns in 2010 and 2014 and $10,200 to Schuette. Flood also gave $1,200 to former Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and various judicial candidates.

State Rep. LaTanya Garrett, D-Detroit, is asking U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to open a federal investigation instead. She noted that Schuette denied a Democratic legislators September request for a state investigation.

I am not confident that he can serve in the best interest of the Flint citizens, Garrett said.
Authorities are investigating a report of inappropriate behavior by another employee at the beleaguered Tomah VA Medical Center.

In an email sent to all employees on Friday, Acting Director Victoria Brahm said a hospital employee had reported being a victim of inappropriate contact by another employee and that the Tomah VA police were investigating.

The VA police department has not responded to a Freedom of Information Act request for reports submitted last week.

Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger said he had yet to receive any referral for criminal charges.

Brahm said appropriate employee reassignments have occurred. Her message went on to remind workers of the VAs sexual-harassment policies.

A mental health worker from the hospital was charged Thursday with two counts of sexual exploitation by a therapist and one count of lewd and lascivious behavior. According to a criminal complaint, Charles W. Davis, 47-year-old peer support specialist, was accused of harassing two female patients, exposing himself and receiving oral sex from a patient in his office.

The facility has been under scrutiny since a media report last year detailed high levels of opioid prescriptions. A 35-year-old Marine veteran died in the hospital from a lethal combination of prescribed medications.

At least three top officials  including the medical chief of staff and the centers director  were later fired.

In November, a nurses aide was cited for disorderly conduct after allegations that he shoved a patient in the mental health unit. The VA has yet to identify the aide or release reports requested under the Freedom of Information Act.
MILWAUKEE  A state senator whose husband died while waiting for a transplant is proposing legislation requiring Wisconsin employers to allow unpaid leave for donating an organ.

The bill, unveiled Tuesday by Republican Sen. Alberta Darling, would apply to companies with 50 or more full-time employees and would provide up to six weeks of unpaid leave.

Darling's husband died in March at age 71 while waiting for a kidney and pancreas transplant.

"I know firsthand what it's like to wait and hope," Darling said.

The senator says the bill could boost donation of organ donations because people wouldn't be worried about losing their jobs if they take time off for surgery.

"By removing barriers to organ donation, more families won't have to wait, hope will come and their loved one will get a second chance," she said.

About 2,300 people are waiting for transplants in Wisconsin, most needing kidneys or livers, the State Journal reported.

Federal law allows 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for medical reasons. Some employers consider the federal Family Medical Leave Act to cover living donors, but others say it does not apply because it's voluntary surgery.

Federal and state workers in Wisconsin get paid leave, typically for 30 days, for serving as organ donors. Dane County, the city of Madison, UW Health and Meriter-UnityPoint Health have similar policies.
The following editorial was published in Sundays Wisconsin State Journal:

Near the outset of his State of the State speech this month, Gov. Scott Walker said he often thinks of Wisconsin citizens who are battling serious disease.

Rep. Tom Weatherston of Caledonia, he noted, just lost his wife to cancer.

Tom, we are here for you, and we lift your family up in our thoughts and our prayers, the governor said, drawing applause.

Walker offered similar support to Rep. Tom Larson of Colfax, who is battling cancer, and Rep. John Macco of De Pere, whose wife is fighting the disease.

He consoled Rep. Beth Meyers of Bayfield, who lost her father-in-law.

Later in his speech, the governor credited former Gov. Marty Schreiber for suggesting ways employers can support families caring for loved ones with Alzheimers. Schreibers wife has the brain disorder that steals memories.

The sentiments were welcome and sincere. What was missing from the 40-minute speech was any mention of President Barack Obamas call a week earlier for a moonshot to cure cancer.

Wisconsin is well-positioned to help find better treatments  and receive even more federal research dollars  because of UW-Madison scientists. Wisconsin also boasts strong health care systems. It has medical experts at hospitals and technology companies across the state.

The day after the governors speech, the Assembly announced it would prioritize a $2 million package of bipartisan bills addressing Alzheimers, including $50,000 for UW research. Thats encouraging.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos also suggested during a recent TV appearance that a bill targeting scientific work on donated fetal tissue has stalled. Thats good news, too. The last thing Wisconsin wants to do in the fight against deadly disease is mark itself as needlessly hostile to ethical and promising research.

Obama announced in his State of the Union address this month that Vice President Joe Biden would lead a stepped-up fight to defeat cancer. Bidens son died from brain cancer last year.

Everyones family, it seems, has been touched by cancer. And the deaths of musician David Bowie and actor Alan Rickman this month have brought more attention to the scourge.

Wisconsin does a lot to comfort, treat and save peoples lives from a host of ailments. But the presidents call for renewed focus and ingenuity is exciting. It should galvanize the nations political leaders, doctors and researchers to make 2016 the year America accelerates toward more breakthroughs.

The president needs to follow through with administrative support, including money. Yet the most difficult part of Bidens new task will be to prioritize what the federal government already spends and demand more coordination of knowledge.

At the same time, the vice president should explore ways to ease the complexity of federal regulations on medical study in the public and private sectors.

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Janesville and the rest of Wisconsins congressional delegation should unify behind the presidents aggressive goal. Debating the specifics of any action or recommendation is fine. What Congress must not do is let election-year politics derail progress.

Cancer attacks the body in hundreds of ways. So it wont be eradicated quickly. But targeting its elimination is an important step toward longer and more comfortable lives, leading to cures.
Gov. Scott Walkers effort to bridge rural broadband disparities falls well short of a solution for most subscribers outside of urban areas, according to Internet service providers and industry experts.

The governor, in last weeks State of the State speech, touted a plan to triple funding for Wisconsins Broadband Expansion Grant Program, which started in 2014 with up to $500,000 annually in matching funds to allocate.

In its first two years, the program has benefited a few thousand households served by 14 Wisconsin service providers, but despite the increase to $1.5 million annually, rural broadband advocates say the programs impact will be hardly noticeable.

The amount of money were talking about is insignificant to the amount of money needed to upgrade rural areas to real broadband, said Barry Orton, professor emeritus of telecommunications at UW-Madison. So, the increase is only slightly better than nothing.

The Federal Communications Commissions definition of broadband has been a moving standard since the inception of high-speed Internet access. The agencys current standard is a download speed of 25 megabits per second (mbps) in cities and 10 mbps in rural areas. Netflix recommends 5 mbps for streaming its high-definition video and 25 mbps for ultra high definition.

But with data usage rising and networks strained everywhere, access to broadband in rural areas has emerged as a nationwide problem, and companies that provide Internet service have shied away from expensive infrastructure improvements that would affect only a small customer base.

A draft of an FCC annual report found that only 39 percent of Americas rural population has access to wired broadband. But access problems exist even in near large metropolitan areas.

Dane County is Wisconsins fastest-growing county, but late last year, the towns of Vermont and Cross Plains adopted resolutions condemning the service some of its residents are getting from TDS Telecom. According to Cross Plains officials, some residents have reported download speeds of 1 to 1.6 mbps.

Drew Petersen, TDS vice president of external affairs, quickly acknowledged the companys service shortcomings in those areas. He said TDS has lowered advertised speeds and gone as far as urging customers to look at other service providers.

In some of the most-difficult-to-serve areas weve seen customer usage increase to the amount where it does have an impact on the network, Petersen said. Wed rather them leave our service than be dissatisfied with us.

But many people in rural areas have only one option for wired service providers, and satellite Internet service remains a limited and expensive alternative. Thats what prompted the town boards to take action.

The notion that This is all we can do for you, isnt as good as a response as, Tell us what it would cost to get good service, Cross Plains town chairman Greg Hyer said. I think its important to reinforce to utility providers that people arent necessarily happy with their level of service. Its not like everybody has a lot of choices.

Orton said Wisconsins deregulation of the telecommunication industry over the last 15 years has created a situation where companies decide levels of service for certain areas without sufficient oversight from the Public Service Commission.

Cable service, landline service, broadband service is all marketplace driven, Orton said. So, what happens if youre in a rural area where the market is not so good? Youre out of luck.

Petersen said TDS, which operates in 36 states, spends around $160 million annually, or 10 to 12 percent of its revenue, on infrastructure improvements networkwide. Replacing copper lines with fiber optic cable costs the company $40,000 to $50,000 per mile, so costs to extend better service to the most remote households can easily rise above $6,000 each, he said.

Money is fundamentally critical to the future deployment of broadband, Petersen said. All of the areas that we serve have seen that investment, but to get to the last 5 percent  the most hard-to-serve customers  its going to take a public-private partnership.

Internet service providers have looked to states and the federal government to help make extending service more cost feasible, but in many cases, Wisconsin is behind its peers in rural broadband funding.

In 2011, state officials returned $23 million in federal stimulus money that was earmarked for expanding high-speed Internet access, calling the requirements that came along with the money risky.

The amount of money in its broadband grant program is also on the low end.

Minnesota, by comparison, spent about $20 million on matching grants in 2014 and $10 million last year. Just last month, Gov. Mark Dayton asked lawmakers to approve $100 million of the states $1.2 billion surplus for broadband grants during the upcoming legislative session.

Walkers spokeswoman Laurel Patrick said the programs $1.5 million combines with local and private matching funds to equal an investment of about $5.5 million.

Governor Walker realizes the importance of investing in broadband services, which is why he created the Broadband Grant Program in his first budget and worked to triple funding in the most recent budget, she said in a statement.

TDS was the beneficiary of a $100,000 matching state grant in 2014, which it used to extend service to 79 customers in Cranmoor, near Wisconsin Rapids. But in an industry that requires as much capital investment as broadband, Petersen said those dollars dry up quickly.

We commend the governor for making that commitment. The challenge is Wisconsins budget is such that theres not a whole lot that can be dedicated to the broadband program today, Petersen said.

Instead of relying on Wisconsin dollars, TDS and other telecommunications companies are lobbying Congress to change the FCCs Universal Service Program, which was created to ensure telephone service in unprofitable markets by subsidizing costs with fees collected from all telephone users.

The companies want the FCC to reallocate dollars from telephone service to modernizing the nations broadband infrastructure.

Cable service, landline service, broadband service is all marketplace driven. So, what happens if youre in a rural area where the market is not so good? Youre out of luck. BARRY ORTON

UW-Madison professor emeritus of telecommunications
While Republicans rally behind Gov. Scott Walker's college affordability package, Democrats continue to offer alternatives while so far refusing to support the GOP initiative.

A proposal from Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, would increase the funding available for need-based grants awarded to University of Wisconsin System and technical college students.

Wisconsin Grants are provided by the state Higher Education Aids Board. Shankland's bill would increase HEAB's appropriation for technical college students by $27.8 million annually and $2.9 million annually for UW System students.

A bill in the governor's college affordability package seeks to address this funding for technical college students by allowing the Technical College System Board to solicit contributions for the grants from technical college district boards. TCSB could also transfer money from some of its other appropriations in order to fund the grants, under the bill introduced by Rep. Dave Heaton, R-Wausau, and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls.

In 2014-15, nearly 37,000 students  the majority of whom attended technical college  qualified for those grants but were put on a waiting list to receive them. Funding for those grants has remained at the same level  save for a one-year increase for technical schools in 2013-14  since 2010.

But any legislation with a cost attached faces an uphill battle in light of lower-than-expected budget projections released last week. Shankland said she hopes the latest revenue numbers will prompt Republican legislators to consider accepting federal Medicaid expansion.

"I think it's a great investment for our state, and its another way to tackle brain drain," Shankland said.

Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison, made a similar argument when introducing a proposal with Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, to make college debt-free for Wisconsin residents.

Their bill, called "The Wisconsin Promise," would cover tuition, fees, housing and textbooks for students who qualify for in-state tuition.

Students would be required to maintain a 3.0 GPA and to work in Wisconsin for three years after graduation. Sargent said Monday she and Larson would look into addressing students who choose to attend graduate school in another state.

Under the bill, the funds would be awarded as a grant. If a student broke his or her end of the agreement, the grant would be rolled over into a normal student loan.

Asked why Democrats are introducing new proposals rather than trying to work with Republicans on their bills, Sargent said the Republican bill authors are not interested in amending their legislation.

"It's a very limited program theyve proposed," Sargent said. "This is something that's a promise to every child in the state of Wisconsin."

Sargent did not yet have a fiscal estimate for her bill, but it's unlikely it will gain traction in the Republican-led Legislature.
Documents: 9/11 bomb plot suspect had mental illness history  JACKSONVILLE, Fla.  A Florida man accused of helping an undercover FBI agent posing as a terrorist plan a bombing at a 9/11 commemoration has a long history of mental illness, according to court documents unsealed Monday. A mental competency evaluation performed by a federal prison psychologist shows Joshua Goldberg, 20, had been diagnosed previously with schizophrenia and anxiety disorder before his arrest last fall at his parents home by federal authorities. The document was unsealed by a federal judge after The Associated Press, Florida Times-Union newspaper and other media challenged the judges ruling to seal it.

Expert: Escaped inmates must have had inside help  SANTA ANA, Calif.  Three California inmates who sawed through a metal grate, crawled through plumbing tunnels and shimmied to freedom down a rope made from bed linens likely had help to pull off the daring plan and also benefited from the complacency of jail staff, security experts said Monday. The inmates vanished early Friday in a jail break eerily similar to the escape of two inmates from an upstate New York prison last summer. Those men also cut through a portion of wall hidden under a bunk bed and used piping and tunnels inside the facility to reach the outside. The California inmates, including one who is charged with murder, were still at large Monday.

Grand jury indicts leader behind Planned Parenthood videos  AUSTIN, Texas  A Houston grand jury investigating undercover footage of Planned Parenthood found no wrongdoing Monday by the abortion provider and instead indicted anti-abortion activists involved in making the videos that provoked outrage among Republican leaders nationwide. David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to purchasing human organs. Another activist, Sandra Merritt, was also indicted on a charge of tampering with a governmental record. Its the first time anyone in the group has been charged criminally since the videos started surfacing last year.

Dramatic 911 tape played at officers manslaughter trial  NEW YORK  A friend of an unarmed man who was shot by a rookie New York Police Department officer in a darkened housing project stairwell can be heard wailing in the background on a recording of a 911 call that was played publicly for the first time Monday at the officers manslaughter trial. Hes not breathing! the friend, Melissa Butler, yelled as the caller stood nearby and relayed a medics phone instructions for CPR on the night of Nov. 20, 2014. The recording also captured a brief exchange between the caller, a resident who heard the shot, and defendant Peter Liang and his partner.
$25K bond set for ex-doctor accused of sex assault  STEVENS POINT A judge has sent cash bond at $25,000 for a former Wisconsin doctor accused of sexually assaulting female patients. Dr. Wilton Calderon of Old Lyme, Conn., made his first court appearance Monday. Calderon practiced at the Ministry Medical Group Plover clinic for several years. He left in early 2015 and was charged in December with multiple counts for allegedly fondling seven women. Prosecutors say the incidents took place from 2011 to 2014. WAOW-TV reports Calderons attorney declined comment after the hearing. He had requested Calderons bond be set at $10,000.

Environmentalists sue DNR over records  MADISON  A group of environmentalists has filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Natural Resources alleging the agency has delayed responses to record requests. Midwest Environmental Advocates filed the lawsuit Monday in Madison. The lawsuit alleges the DNR hasnt produced records in response to three requests, including a March request for wetland permits and wetland mitigation plans for seven sites around the state; a request in June for permit documents for two factory farms in Luxemburg; and a request in August for documents related to air pollution testing. DNR spokespeople didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Ex-cop pleads guilty to killing woman, ditching body  MILWAUKEE  A former suburban Milwaukee police officer accused of killing two women and ditching their bodies in suitcases along a rural Wisconsin highway pleaded guilty Monday in one of their deaths. Steven Zelich could spend the rest of his life behind bars after admitting to reckless homicide and other charges in the 2012 strangulation death of Jenny Gamez. Authorities said the 19-year-old Oregon woman died during a sexual encounter in Kenosha, and that Zelich hid her body before dumping it in 2014. Details of the case are similar to accusations Zelich faces in the 2013 death of Laura Simonson in Minnesota. Authorities say Zelich met both women online, choked them at hotels and stashed their bodies in suitcases in the trunk of his car before dumping them along the side of the highway.

Knife-wielding man shot and wounded by police  EAU CLAIRE  Eau Claire police say a man had threatened officers with a knife before he was shot and critically wounded by an officer. Police say the suspect was shot Sunday about 9 p.m. near Indianhead Food Service in Eau Claire. Police say three officers had found the man, who had an active arrest warrant, in the road. The man armed himself with a knife and ignored officers orders to drop it. The officers tried using pepper spray and a stun gun, but those werent effective. One officer fired his gun, striking the suspect. The man was taken to a hospital where he is in critical but stable condition. No officers were hurt. The three officers are on standard administrative assignment. The state Division of Criminal Investigation will investigate the shooting.

Police ID man, 20, killed in shooting COLUMBIA HEIGHTS  Authorities have released the name of a 20-year-old Minneapolis man who was fatally shot at a Columbia Heights home over the weekend. The Anoka County Sheriffs Office identifies the victim as Mohamud Adbiwahab Hilowle. The shooting happened just before midnight on Saturday. There was a gathering at the residence where the shooting happened on the 1200 block of Circle Terrace. Several people left before police arrived, including the victim, who was taken to a hospital by acquaintances. The man died at a hospital. Police said Sunday they were still looking for multiple persons of interest and there were no immediate arrests. The investigation continued Monday. No additional details were released.

61-year-old man dies in Michigan snowmobile crash  MARENISCO, Mich.  A 61-year-old Wisconsin man has died in a snowmobile crash in Michigans Upper Peninsula. State police say alcohol and high speed could have played roles in the death of John Riley of Darlington, Wisconsin. He was riding with other snowmobilers Sunday night when his sled hit a tree in Gogebic County, six miles east of Marenisco. Separately, investigators have released the name of a man who died in a snowmobile crash early Saturday in Houghton County. He was 50-year-old Matthew Heikkinen of Hancock.

Democrats propose bill to pay for college  MADISON  Democratic legislators are proposing a bill that would give Wisconsin public college students grants to cover living expenses, tuition, student fees and textbooks. Students would have to maintain a 3.0 grade point average and would have to work for three years in Wisconsin after graduating. If students leave the state prior to that or dont graduate, the grant funds would roll into a regular student loan account. Rep. Melissa Sargent of Madison introduced the legislation at a news conference Monday. She said there is no fiscal estimate yet for what impact this would have. The price tag, however, could be gigantic. The bill has almost no chance of passing. Republicans control both the Assembly and Senate.
New in 2017 -- for more depth and explanation on any of the blog topics (labels) go to macronotesmba.com Once you arrive at that site, notice that scrolling through the main topics gives you many more choices.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Ninth Annual Conference on Innovation Economics

Thursday, June 23 - Friday, June 24, 2016

The Searle Center on Law, Regulation, and Economic Growth is proud to present the Ninth Annual Conference on Innovation Economics. The conference will be held at the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, IL. The conference will run from approximately 9:00 A.M. on Thursday, June 23, 2016 to 3:00 P.M. on Friday, June 24, 2016.

The conference is organized by Daniel F. Spulber. The papers for this conference will be selected by a scientific committee that includes Justus Baron and Pere Arque-Castells.

The goal of this conference is to provide a forum where economists and legal scholars can gather together with Northwesterns own distinguished faculty to present and discuss high-quality research relevant to intellectual property (IP) protection, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Submissions Due: February 8, 2016

Notifications Due: March 14, 2016

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/antitrustprof_blog/2016/01/ninth-annual-conference-on-innovation-economics.html


The leaders of Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are calling for African nations to have more power and influence at the United Nations.

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea say the continent should have at least one permanent seat on the powerful U.N. Security Council.

The two leaders spoke during a visit to Zimbabwe by Nguema as they prepare for the meeting of the African Union General Assembly later this month in Ethiopia.

They also spoke about peace, security and terrorism in Africa. And Nguema said African nations must work to become economically independent, just as they have become politically independent.

He said Africa should have two seats on the U.N. Security Council. But the continent should at least have one, he said, with the power to veto, or cancel, resolutions.

I think that is the revolution which Africa looks for, he said.

Mugabe has served as president of Zimbabwe since 1987; Nguema of Equatorial Guinea since 1979.

The United States, Russia, Britain, China and France have permanent seats on the council, with veto powers. There are also 10 non-permanent members. These nations serve on the Council for two years. They cannot veto resolutions.

Im Christopher Jones-Cruise.

Sebastian Mhofu reported on this story from Harare. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

assembly - n. a group that makes and changes laws for a government or organization

council - n. a group of people (or nations) chosen to make rule or decisions about something


Papers collected from the Islamic State terror group show the militants dark world.

The documents show how IS militants act -- anxious, obsessed, harsh and horrible. And they show how important control of Internet access is to their cause.

Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi of the Middle East Forum, a research group in Washington, D.C., gathered the documents. They are published on his website.

Sharia law

Many of the documents tell people how to pray, fast and pay attention to religious observances. Others tell about harsh punishments for crimes and violations of Sharia law. These include whippings, amputations, stoning and crucifixion.

One document says a thief must have his right hand cut off. It says the hand must be hung around the thiefs neck and the person must show himself to others for three days.

The militants worry that medical workers will leave towns the group controls in Syria and Iraq, the papers show.

The group limits travel, fearing people will leave areas it controls. Women younger than 50 are not permitted to travel unless they are with their husband or a male family member.

Only one person may travel with someone who is sick. All travelers must give the IS group ownership papers for their homes and cars. The group believes this will ensure that the travelers return.

And it controls electronic information.

Controlling access to the internet

As the bombing campaign by the United States and its coalition partners strengthened, the group banned GPS devices and mobile phones. And it banned signs on cars that could identify them as Islamic State property.

It has recently banned satellite TV. And it limits access to the Internet. It says members may not have email accounts or take pictures of battles.

Some Internet cafes remain open in Raqqa city, the center of the groups activity in Syria. But their owners must record the identity of everyone who uses the Internet except soldiers of the Islamic State and their families.

Another order says anyone who has an Internet connection inside his home, office or any private place will be severely punished.

Al-Tamimi says punishment became more severe as the group grew larger and captured more territory. He says the degree and speed of implementation of Sharia was slower when the group first began capturing territory.

In recent months, the terrorists have killed media activists in Syria and southern Turkey who try to fight the group online.

Al-Tamimi and the Middle East Forum have gathered the documents since the Islamic State terrorist group took control of large parts of Iraq and Syria. Al-Tamimi created the website with the documents in January 2015. It is updated often.

Im Christopher Jones-Cruise.

Jamie Dettmer in Rome prepared this report for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

access  n. a way of getting near, at or to something or someone (often + to)

account  n. an arrangement in which a person uses the Internet or e-mail services of a particular company

whip  v. to hit (a person or animal) with a whip or with something that is like a whip

amputate  v. to cut off (part of a person's body)

crucify  v. to kill (someone) by nailing or tying his or her hands and feet to a cross

degree  n. an amount or level that can be measured or compared to another amount or level

implement  v. to begin to do or use (something, such as a plan); to make (something) active or effective

Sharia  n. the religious laws based on the Koran that Muslims follow

GPS (global positioning system)  n. a radio system that uses signals from satellites to tell you where you are and to give you directions to other places

ensure  v. to make (something) sure, certain or safe


Americas top diplomat was in Cambodia Tuesday on the second stop of his trip to Asia.

Secretary of State John Kerry met with Cambodian government leaders and opposition party members in Phnom Penh.

Kerry said the country has improved its human rights record and made economic progress. But he said he told officials that he was concerned about continued human rights violations.

Kerry met separately with Prime Minister Hun Sen and acting opposition party leader Kem Sokha.

After the meetings, the U.S. official said that democratic governments have a responsibility to ensure that all elected representatives are free to perform their responsibilities without fear of attack or arrest.

Seventeen opposition members and activists are jailed in Cambodia. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy is living in self-declared exile to avoid charges made against him. Many observers believe the charges are unfair. And rights groups say the United States should not improve relations with Cambodia until its leaders guarantee reforms.

Secretary Kerry also praised Cambodia for its economic progress. He told the prime minister that Cambodia has experienced remarkable growth. You have seen incredible changes -- not just here in Phnom Penh, which moved from a 350,000-person war-torn city to a much more modern city of 2.2 million people.

Im Ashley Thompson.

VOA State Department Correspondent Pam Dockins reported on this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

remarkable  adj. unusual or surprising; likely to be noticed

incredible  adj. extremely good, great, or large


The Lao Communist Party has announced a change in leadership.

During a weeklong party meeting, Bounnhang Vorachit was named secretary-general. Bounnhang is 78-years-old. He has long-standing ties with Vietnam, dating back to military training and as a student.

The Lao Communist Party also named Foreign Affairs Minister Thongloun Sisoulith to the position of prime minister.

Observers say the retirement of two pro-China members of the partys leadership may weaken Chinese influence on the country. China has been the largest foreign investor in Laos. Vietnam and Thailand are second and third on the list.

State media said almost 700 delegates attended the communist party meeting in Vientiane. This was the tenth time the party has met since it took power in 1975. The group has more than 200,000 members.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak is a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. He says the new party leaders will not make major policy changes. And he says the government will continue to fail to protect the rights of its citizens.

The new leadership is more of the same, he said. More of the same in terms of repression and constraints on civil society and basic freedoms. We have had some scandals in the recent past over disappearances of civil society activists and human rights violations, so that is expected to be maintained, he said.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Ron Corben in Bangkok reported on this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

constraint  n. something that limits or restricts someone or something (usually plural)

scandal  n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong

maintain  v. to cause (something) to exist or continue without changing




Bacha Khan University in Pakistan re-opened its doors Monday.

The Pakistani university was the target of a militant attack last week. At least 21 people, including 18 students, were killed in the attack.



This week, students returned to the university briefly for a prayer service to remember their fallen friends.



"We're here to avenge our blood. How long will Pashtun kids continue to die?"



One university employee noted that:

"Pashtuns have always been labeled terrorists. But we want to show that we are not terrorists. We are victims of terrorism."



The university is under tight security. It is currently only open to teachers and employees. Administration officials said there will be no classes until further notice. A university spokesman said it is considering several issues, including a prediction of thick fog for several days.



Parents of some of the victims attended the prayer service on Monday. Shah Hussein is the father of one student. He demanded an independent investigation.



"There should be a judicial inquiry so that we find out who was negligent in their responsibilities, and they should be duly punished. Once you have one judicial inquiry and responsible parties punished, such incidents will stop."



Later, outside the doors, students held up signs. Some demanded action to answer the attack, while others sought peace.



Im Kathleen Struck.

Ayesha Tanzeem reported on this story for VOANews.com. Marsha James adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Have you followed this story about the attack at Bacha Khan University in Pakistan and the death of students and teachers? Tell us what you think in the Comments and on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

avenge  v. to harm or punish someone who has harmed you or someone you care about

negligent  adj. failing to take care of something or someone

duly  adv. in the expected way


Officials in Afghanistan say an Afghan policeman believed to have links to the Taliban killed 10 police officers in the central province of Uruzgan on Tuesday.

The attack took place early in the morning at a security area in the Chinarto district. A spokesman for the provincial governor said the killer drugged the officers before shooting them.

The spokesman also said the suspected killer is missing from the security area along with a vehicle and weapons and other equipment that belonged to the officers.

But a Taliban spokesman said the officers were killed by militants who attacked and captured the security area and killed all of the policemen there.

VOA was not able to confirm if the report from the Taliban spokesman is true.

The reported attack on Afghan police by a police officer was the second so-called insider attack in the past two weeks in Uruzgan. Provincial officials say four police officers believed to be working with the Taliban killed nine other officers on January 17th. The officials say the four officers then joined the Taliban, bringing their weapons and ammunition with them.

Insider attacks were a major problem for US-led NATO forces between 2007 and 2013. These attacks took place when Afghan soldiers joined allied forces on combat missions.

The Taliban has increased its attacks in Afghanistan over the past year. The attacks began soon after NATO combat troops left the country at the end of 2014. The Taliban attacks have killed or injured many Afghan security force members.

Im Mario Ritter.

Correspondent Ayaz Gul reported this story from Islamabad. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

drug  v. to give a drug to (a person or animal) in order to make that person or animal very sleepy or unconscious; to add a drug to a food or drink in order to make someone sleepy or unconscious

district n. an area or section of a country or territory


This is Whats Trending Today

Last week, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced a plan that would require women immigrants to learn English within 30 months of arriving in Great Britain.

The plan targets Muslim women joining their husbands already in Britain. Cameron said his plan would help Muslim women immigrants who spend most of their time at home. He said the plan would help them feel less socially isolated.

A government source told the media that David knows that the traditional submissiveness of Muslim women is a sensitive issue. Submissiveness is a willingness to obey, or submit to, someone else.

Some British Muslim women were offended by the comment. They responded on social media with humor and sarcasm. Sarcasm is the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say.

Mashable.com reported that British author and activist Shelina Janmohamed created the hashtag #traditionallysubmissive. She tweeted sarcastic responses to Prime Minister Cameron.

In one tweet, she wrote: I bought a sportscar and published a book (in English and 8 other languages.) I must be doing this wrong. #traditionallysubmissive.

Throughout the weekend, more than 30,000 tweets with the hashtag were sent to David Camerons Twitter account.

Women tweeted #traditionallysubmissive along with a photo of them holding a sign that listed their accomplishments and life experiences.

The hashtag highlighted examples of Muslim womens independence and their lack of submissiveness.

Many of the women listed their university degrees, professional goals, athletic interests, and a long list of languages they speak fluently -- including English.

Twitter user Mamana Beelah wrote: @David Cameron, I speak 4 languages, how many do you speak? #traditionallysubmissive.

And Twitter user Asmaam wrote: My mother was so #traditionallysubmissive she left home to go to med school in 1960s Pakistan. Thanks to her, Im a journalist and a professor.

And thats Whats Trending Today.

Im Ashley Thompson.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

isolated - adj. separate from others

submissiveness - n. the willingness to obey someone else; the act of conforming to the authority of others

sensitive - adj. likely to cause people to become upset

sarcasm - n. the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say especially in order to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny

accomplishment - n. something successfully done or achieved
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I have been in the political game for over 30 years and like you, have seen it all when it comes to Presidential politics. Usually, the incumbent has a bag of failures and bad economic news on their tails as a new set of candidates battle for the reigns of the most powerful leader in the world. Reagan defeated Carter on this basis. So did Clinton defeat George H.W. Bush in '92 and Pres. Obama defeated the GOP candidate, McCain, based on bad conditions. Yet, when you listen to the GOP candistaes debate, they are constantly saying Pres. Obama has destroyed this country..He has weakened our economy...He wants to take away our freedoms..etc, etc. Every newsperson that responded to the tape of these comments or listened to them speak these mistruth's never come back with POTUS has halved unemployment to new lows, market at highest rate ever, new home sales up, existing home sales up, GDP steady and climbing each year, auto sales at record highs, Iran-Nuke accord stabilizes nuclear threat in M.E., new trade deal with T.P.P.gives U.s the edge over China with S. Pacific/Asian countries, Dream Act Exec Orders, increase in infrastructure budget just passing, DOMA killed and now, possible Syrian peace treaty in works with State Dept. So, why is the press, in general, not defending this president's many successes?! Does this not allow his legacy to stand in an increasingly weird anti-establishment/anti-politician GOP race?
About Me living.boondockingmexico Mexico I left the U.S. 30 years ago. Found my way to Mexico and in the last 15 years the great life of rving and boondocking. I have had the great opportunity to travel throughout the Americas, learn Spanish and meet lots of great people. View my complete profile
Here's a selection of stories about what's going on in El Salvador: Former president Francisco Flores in coma after cerebral hemorrhage . Flores has been under house arrest and on trial for corruption when he had a stroke. He is reportedly in critical condition and in a coma following emergency surgery. Sanchez Ceren changes top security officials . El Salvador's president replaced his top public security ministers this week. The new minister of public security is Mauricio Ramirez Landaverde, and the new head of the PNC is Howard Cotto. The president indicated that he made the changes because he wants to see results in the war against gang violence in the country. El Salvador health minister advises women to delay pregnancies until 2018 . The spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus which is linked to brain damage in unborn children has prompted the unusual health warning in El Salvador and five other nations. Government announces new online university offering . The online university is being developed in conjunction with the State Distance University of Costa Rica to broaden access to college level learning.
By Subhash K Jha

The Government, in all its wisdom, decided to honour Saeed Jaffrey with a Padma Shri months after he passed away. Its not ours to ask why this couldnt have been done while the actor was alive. For, Bollywood had killed him a decade ago.

The Padma Awards this year honour entertainers from Indian cinema, from the hard achievers (Rajinikanth and Anupam Kher) to the hardly achievers.

Rajinikanth, considered a God by fans of Tamil cinema, receives the second-highest civilian honour the Padma Vibhushan. There are rumbles from his fans that he deserves the Bharat Ratna, nothing else. But the fans should look at it this way: the Gods need no recommendation from human institutions.

Anupam Khers Padma Bhushan has also raised many eyebrows. Anupam, they snigger, has been shouting anti-protest slogans so hard that it has reached the ears of the power-that-be. Before that, Anupam tweeted anti-awards messages which have been duly ignored by Kirron Khers colleagues.

Ajay Devgn who once played Bhagat Singh and has since then patented the role of the desi super-cop Singham, gets a Padma Shri while Priyanka Chopra who has lately gone global also gets a Padma Shri. I sadly missed Kapil Sharma on the Padma Shri list for patenting misogyny on his show as an acceptable form of satire.

Others from the movie industry to get Padma Shris are filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar (for the record, his last film was Calendar Girls) and Nila Madab Panda (who made a commendable film I Am Kalam inspired by our former President).

Not quite the kind of achievers who deserve national honours on the Padma Shri list except SS Rajamouli of Baahubali fame. Long before he captured the nations mind with his epic spectacle, Rajamouli made game-changing entertainers in Telugu. So, well done.

However, some of the other talent being honoured in this year's Padma Awards tell us a very different story.
New Delhi: Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has chosen an elegant look in a red designer Banarasi silk sari to wear for a special lunch with French President Francois Hollande in Delhi on Tuesday.

Aishwarya, who has been in the midst of shooting her new film Sarbjit, has taken out time from her busy schedule to attend the lunch, said to have been organised in Hollandes honour by French Ambassador Francois Richier.

Richier has invited the 42-year-old actress for the lunch, which Hollande will attend following his appearance at the countrys colourful Republic Day parade on Rajpath as the chief guest.

Aishwarya, all ready for the lunch, looks ravishing in red in an image shared by her publicist.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wishes all her well wishers a very happy Republic Day, read the caption to the image featuring the former beauty queen, who adorned polki jewellery and a bunched up hairdo for the occasion. A simple bindi and red lipstick completed her look.

The sari that Aishwarya has worn is from designer duo Swati and Sunaina, and made in Banaras  age-old weavers from where are poised for a facelift courtesy Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Woven with fine mulberry silk and zari made from pure silver threads dipped in gold, the sari is called mehraab after the shape of the buta that is woven across the six-yard wonder. Whats special is that only natural fibres and eco-friendly dyeing has been used in the making of this sari, and it is woven using the kadhuwa technique, a source close to the designers, told IANS.

Its only perfectly suited that Aishwarya chose a creation thats deeply rooted in Indian technique and craft to meet the president of France, a country that shes had a great connect with for long.

Apart from being a regular at the Cannes International Film Festival, where the first look of Jazbaa  her comeback film post pregnancy  was launched last year, Aishwarya has been a recipient of the prestigious Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, a civilian award by the French government.

An actress who has featured in Bollywood films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Dhoom 2, Guru and Devdas, Aishwarya is also an ambassador of French cosmetics and beauty company LOral Paris, for which she recently starred in an ad with Eva Longoria. In fact, she even shot for her international film Pink Panther 2 in Paris.

IANS
New Delhi, India: French President Francois Hollande is the chief guest at India's Republic Day parade on Tuesday, a spectacular showcase of the nation's military power and cultural diversity to celebrate the adoption of the constitution in 1950.

Here are five facts about India's 67th Republic Day:



Dog squad

After a gap of 26 years the Indian army's unsung -- or unbarked -- heroes are returning to the parade. A dog squad drawn from the Army's Remount Veterinary Corps will perform a march past wearing striped coats in their unit's colours of maroon and gold. The Labradors and German Shepherds usually work in the restive northern region of Kashmir detecting explosives and landmines or tracking in avalanches. Reportedly just 36 dogs out of 1,200 were chosen for the big day and underwent weeks of training.



French march

For the first time in Republic Day history foreign troops will join the celebrations as soldiers from France's 35th Infantry Regiment, one of the country's oldest active regiments, march alongside their Indian counterparts. It is a reciprocal gesture after Indian troops marched down Paris's Champs d'Elysees on Bastille Day in 2009. But rehearsals haven't gone entirely smoothly. "Indian troopers march a little faster than us. After rigorous practice for over a week, we have tried our best to synchronise," Lieutenant Colonel Paul Bury, who is leading the contingent, told India's Firstpost.

Stuntwomen

Instead of the usual stunt men on two-wheelers -- picked out as a highlight by President Obama during last year's parade -- daring female motorcyclists from the Women Daredevils Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force will for the first time show off their skills on Royal Enfields in front of the crowds at Rajpath. The white-and-red helmeted daredevils were seen practising their stunts -- which include the human pyramid and lotus formation -- near Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential residence.

Camels return





There was a small outcry after various newspapers suggested the camel contingent, usually a mainstay of the parade, may be dropped this year -- but officials later reassured the public that the dromedaries would perform as normal. The camels, used to patrol the Thar Desert near the border with Pakistan, make the journey from Rajasthan every year to participate in the parade, accompanied by moustachioed border guards. They will also be seen by millions online in India in the form of a special Google Doodle showing brightly decked-out camels carrying bandsmen to mark the day.

Drizzle precaution

It rained on the Republic Day parade last year, forcing President Obama to take shelter under a large umbrella, in what was said to be an embarrassment for organisers. This year the VVIP enclosure -- Indian shorthand for very, very important people, including Hollande and other dignitaries -- will have a motorised sliding glass roof to keep them dry, according to the Indian Express. But the roof will be rolled back for the Air Force fly past -- which unfurls a vapour trail in the saffron, white and green colours of the national flag -- to give them a clear view of the spectacle.

AFP
India showcased its military prowess and achievements in different fields, state-of-the-art defence, diverse cultural and social traditions and the government's emphasis on self-reliance at Rajpath on the country's 67th Republic Day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited French President Francois Hollande as the chief guest in a show of solidarity with France after Islamist attacks in Paris last November killed 130  recalling a 2008 assault on Mumbai that killed 166. Hollande is the fifth French president to be the chief guest over the decades.

The two leaders agreed in talks on Monday to deepen cooperation on counter-terrorism in the wake of the Paris attacks and a deadly siege this month on an Indian air force base near the Pakistan border.

The mood on Tuesday was more celebratory, with Modi  sporting a gold turban that rivalled the spectacular military headgear on display  and Hollande chatting as they sat side by side in a bulletproof glass enclosure.

An estimated 10,000 spectators braved thick smog and air quality levels classified as hazardous on the US embassy website to watch the display.

Delhi is the world's most polluted capital and levels of PM2.5  the tiny particles that can enter the bloodstream  frequently reach 10 times the World Health Organization's safe limit.

But the skies remained dry, unlike last year when chief guest US President Barack Obama was forced to shelter under an umbrella throughout.

The parade, which also features colourful floats showcasing the culture of the country's states, is the highlight of annual celebrations of the birth of modern India.

For the first time in the history of Republic Day parades, a 123-member French Army contingent marched on Rajpath and present a ceremonial salute to the President Pranab Mukherjee, as guest of honor Francois Hollande watched and clapped seated next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Another first, after a gap of 26 years, was the march by an Army dog squad drawn from the Remount Veterinary Corps along with their handlers. The dogs, draped in scarves which reminded one of the Griffindor House of Hogwarts, stole the show as they walked in perfect sync. The colourful Border Security Force regiment followed its 66-year-old tradition and marched with 56 camels downn the Rajpath.

For the first time, the parade also witnessed an ex-servicemen tableau where army veterans showcased their role in nation building.Tableaux from 17 states and six Union Territories were also the part of the parade.

#RepublicDay: #IAF tableau's theme is "Indian Air Force: In Service of the Nation and Beyond" pic.twitter.com/oQJAEyUS9K  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

LIVE: Deputy Commandant Kuldeep J Choudhary is leading the #CamelContingent mounted on 56 camels of #BSF pic.twitter.com/Kb70LYaEgY  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

President & Defence Minister at the parade #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/3biuPWt7FC  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

#RepublicDay:Sikkim's tableau depicts celebration of #Buddha Jayanti in Sikkim, which is popularly called Saga Dawa pic.twitter.com/Q7YHFuMKsO  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

#RepublicDay: Rajasthan's tableau showcases Hawa Mahal not as a monument, but as a lively Building pic.twitter.com/7rPcBEgNkf  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

#RepublicDay: West Bengal's Tableau is on #Bauls of Bengal, wandering minstrels' community of Bengal pic.twitter.com/9AWx53Ocfs  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

The Asiatic Lions of Gujarat at Rajpath! For #RepublicDayParade pic.twitter.com/QevTYfNQE3  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

#RepublicDay: Now the tableau of #TamilNadu! representing the #Toda tribe of Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu pic.twitter.com/XOUOzoudJT  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

Among the weapons which were displayed were the army's missile firing capability T-90 Bhishma tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash weapon system, Smerch Launcher Vehicles and Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System.

An Indian Air Force tableau, themed 'Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations by IAF: In Service of the Nation and Beyond' showcased models of C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules and MI-17V5 aircraft. These aircraft were used in the IAF's recent rescue and relief operations in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Yemen and Nepal.

Of the two-hour event at Rajpath, stunts by daredevils of the Army Signal Corps stole the show as they made various formations on motorbikes. The parade ended with flypasts and stunts over Rajpath by Jaguars and other aircraft. Visibility was an issue as fog made it difficult for thousands of cheering speactators below to enjoy the display.

#RepublicDay: LIVE Now Motor cycle display team of Corps of Signals, popularly known as the Dare Devils pic.twitter.com/W2wW96us3k  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

#RepublicDay: LIVE Now Corps of Signals has 4 world records to its credit & 8 records in #Limca Book of Records. pic.twitter.com/j8lVs2a9qV  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

#RepublicDay: LIVE Now Corps of Signals' Pyramid formation represents the unity & diversity of India pic.twitter.com/5nx0XfJgOM  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

The Globe formation at #RepublicDayParade, comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30s pic.twitter.com/2A9sWxRZXh  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

#RepublicDay Flypast: Precision at tremendous speed is on display; aerobatics with professional skills. pic.twitter.com/lx4IH3LijW  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

Delhi was brought under an unprecedented ground-to-air security cover with thousands of armed personnel keeping a tight vigil on the celebrations. The area around Central Delhi was turned into virtual fortress in view of intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the city. Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, central security agencies and NIA busted a module by arresting 14 militants linked to terror group Islamic State.

The group had planned to carry out sensational strikes at important installations and its members had also visited the national capital, official sources said.

Commandos with light machine guns were deployed at 10 strategic locations and anti-aircraft guns remained positioned at two vantage points in the capital.

The enclosure of the VVIPs was put under a multi-layer security ring with Presidential Guards and officials of SPG and NSG guarding the two inner-most orbits and Delhi Police entrusted with guarding the outermost circle, said a senior official.

Special patrolling teams, comprising three officials including a commando, were deployed in New Delhi area within two-kilometer radius from India Gate. Snipers were put on 45 buildings overlooking Rajpath besides providing a similar cover along all the buildings along the parade route.

Gunners too, were given clear instructions to bring down any aerial object flying without permission. A 'NOTAM' (Notice to Airmen) was declared from 10.35 am to 12.15 pm during which no flights will land or take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

"Specially trained police personnel with light machine guns have been deployed at 10 strategic spots in New Delhi area," a senior police official said.

With inputs from agencies
New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday came under central rule with President Pranab Mukherjee giving assent to the Union Cabinet's recommendation on such a course following political instability in the state.

Official sources said the President signed the proclamation two days after the cabinet held an unscheduled meeting on Sunday to recommend that the northeasten border state be brought under central rule.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had said the cabinet was forced to take the decision because of a Constitutional breakdown as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state Assembly.

On Monday Mukherjee called Home Minister Rajnath Singh and put some queries to him on the need for the imposition of President's rule even as Congress, the ruling party in the state, met him and opposed the cabinet decision.

The party urged the President not to give assent to the cabinet decision saying the issue was before the Supreme Court which has decided to hear the Congress petition on Wednesday.

Other major opposition parties had also attacked the Centre's decision saying it amounted to "murder" of democracy while the BJP said the crisis was of Congress' making because it had lost numbers in the Assembly.

Arunachal Pradesh has been rocked by a political crisis since 16 December, 2015 when 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to 'impeach' Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as "illegal and unconstitutional" by the Speaker.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court decided to hear on 27 January the Congress plea challenging the Cabinet decision.

The petition seeking urgent hearing was mentioned before Chief Justice TS Thakur, at his residence, who directed the

matter to be listed for hearing on Wednesday.

The Union Cabinet's decision was based on Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa's report.

Up in arms against Tuki, 21 rebel party MLAs, including 14 disqualified a day before, with the help of BJP and independent legislators, congregated at a community hall after the state Assembly complex was 'sealed' by the local administration, and 'impeached' Rebia in an impromptu session chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok.

Twenty-seven MLAs of the 60-member Assembly, including the chief minister and his ministerial colleagues, boycotted the proceedings.

A day later, in a bizarre turn of events, opposition BJP and rebel Congress MLAs congregated in a local hotel to "vote out" Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and to "elect" a rebel Congress MLA in his place but the Gauhati High Court intervened to keep in "abeyance" decisions taken at the rebel "session".

A "no confidence" motion moved by BJP MLAs and Independent MLAs was "adopted" with Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok, who is also a rebel Congressman, in the Chair. A total of 33 members in the 60-member house, including 20 dissident Congress MLAs, later "elected" another dissident

Congressman Kalikho Pul as the new "chief minister" of the state.

The chief minister had also written to the President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking their intervention to "uphold" the Constitution in the face of the "unprecedented murder" of democracy and "bypassing" of a democratically-elected government by the Governor.

Angry over the Governor's action in calling a session of the Assembly bypassing the government, the Congress had paralysed the Rajya Sabha for two days during the Winter Session.

In the High Court, Justice Hrishikesh Roy observed prima facie the governor's decision to advance the Assembly session to 16 December, 2015 for taking up impeachment proceedings against the Speaker was in "violation of Article 174 and 175 of the Constitution".

The Supreme Court has referred a batch of petitions on the Arunachal Pradesh crisis to a Constitution Bench.

Rebia, who has challenged in Gauhati High Court various decisions of the governor and deputy speaker including his removal from the Speaker's post, had alleged that the High Court's Acting Chief Justice had "erroneously rejected" his plea, filed on the judicial side, in administrative capacity.

He had also sought recusal of Justice BK Sharma from hearing his plea.

Rebia was removed from the post of the Speaker by 14 rebel Congress MLAs, disqualified by the Speaker, and BJP MLAs on 16 December in an assembly session presided over by the deputy speaker in a Community Hall in Itanagar. The deputy speaker, before removing Rebia from Speaker's post, had also quashed the disqualification of the rebel Congress legislators.

Another bench of the High Court later overturned Justice Roy's order and dismissed the Speaker's petition.

PTI
Who pushed Arunachal Pradesh into a constitutional crisis?

As usual, media punditry, a curious mix of facts and fiction, personal political bias and a selective reading of available material, offers no clear answer. At the most basic level though, if Chief Minister Nabam Tuki failed to keep his flock together and the rebels rushed into the waiting arms of the BJP, it has to be his fault. The only option for him after losing the numbers is to step down gracefully.

However, the matter does not appear as uncomplicated if you factor in several decisions made by Governor Jyoti Prakash Rajkhowa.

These raise critical questions: Why did he advance the Assembly session from 14 January to 16 December? Was he within his constitutional mandate while summoning the Assembly without the aid and advice of the chief minister and his council of ministers? How can he have a say on the constitution of the House? These will, of course, be examined by the court. However, the real big question is: Is he indulging in political games at the behest of the RSS-BJP as has been alleged by the Congress? If that indeed is the case, then the role of the RSS in political matters of the country needs deeper scrutiny.

The Sangh would love to identify itself as a nationalist socio-cultural organisation, however, recent developments suggest it has hugely expanded its role in politics. If theres a joke going around in political circles that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is only the foreign minister of the country and that domestic matters are controlled by the RSS, it is not without basis. Almost all the governors appointed by the Modi government so far, are linked to the Sangh or believers in its ideology.

This is equally true of chief ministers such as Haryana's Manohar Lal Khattar. It is no secret that the RSS is fighting a political battle against the Congress and the Left through several of its arms.

The Parivar will, of course, deny all this. But look at some recent statements, on social media and otherwise, of some governors and you'll quickly get the connection.

Tripuras governor Tathagat Roy, who has not been exactly shy of flaunting his hyper-Hindutva credentials and Swayamsevak background, courted controversy when he tweeted that people present at Yakub Memons funeral were potential terrorists:

Governors ought to be concerned abt security of state. Intelligence keeping tab on Yakub's mourners is preventing terror. Better than cure  Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) July 31, 2015

Later, he tweeted:

@aruns_nambiar Whatever gave you the notion that I am secular? I am Hindu! My state,India,however is secular-since 1976  Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) September 7, 2015

He said he was misinterpreted.

Assam Governor PB Acharya courted controversy when he allegedly remarked Hindustan is for Hindus. He claimed he was misquoted, but got embroiled in another controversy when he said Indian Muslims were free to go anywhere. They can stay here (in India). If they want to go to Bangladesh or Pakistan, they are free to go... It is possible they were quoted selectively, however, the fact that they raised topics close to the Parivars heart conveys a lot.

Similar is the case of Vajubhai R Vala, Karnataka governor, who recently advised students in Mysuru to give up lipstick and fancy clothes, as they were coming to colleges for studies and not for beauty contests. It was not taken kindly by activists and women groups, even though it was meant in good humour. Such statements reflect the mindset associated with the Sangh.

The point is that while the governors are appointed on the basis of affiliation to the Sangh and are making political-ideological statements openly, what stops the RSS from coming out and clearly saying yes, we are a political organisation with a well-defined political goal? That would simplify a lot of matters in Indian politics. For example, it would make clear whether the BJP and the RSS think alike on policy and other matters or they are just deliberately confusing people by talking in different voices? Or whether the Sangh and the BJP support the activities of all elements of the Hindutva fraternity? Both have been running with hare and hunting with the hounds for long.

The arrangement of convenience would end if the Sangh made its role in politics public.

It cannot go on claiming it a socio-cultural organisation when most of its activities are political in nature by implication. Perhaps its time someone asked it to end its double standards. Its good for the RSS too, since it wont be accused time and again for indulging in acts of political subterfuge and machinations, like in Arunachal Pradesh. It has denied any role but not many in the political circles are prepared to buy this denial.
By Rajat Roy

In the general elections of 2014 the vote share of the ruling Trinamool Congress was 39.8 percent. The Left Front (comprising the CPI(M), CPI, FB and RSP etc) got 30 percent and the Congress got 9.5 percent only.

Now, with the state Assembly election knocking at the door, a clamour for an alliance against the TMC is growing within both Left parties and the state Congress leadership. The clarion call for the alliance came from former chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee on 16 January at Singur. Flagging off a march from Singur to Salboni, Bhattacharjee issued an open appeal to the Congress to join hands with the Left Front to defeat Mamata Banerjee's TMC in the Assembly election due a few months later.

"What is the Congress leadership thinking today? We are not alone. Come and join hands to dislodge this undemocratic government," said Bhattacharjee. The Save Democracy Forum, a civil society organisation, under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court judge Justice (retd) Ashok Kumar Ganguly, has also urged the formation of such a coalition to oust the TMC from power. The PCC president Adhir Ranjan Choudhury promptly responded by saying that the workers at the grassroot-level in his party are demanding the same thing. He will now apprise the Congress high command of the development and await their decision.

Similar demands are being voiced now by a number of CPI(M) and state Congress leaders. At Salboni, after concluding the 170-kilometre-long seven-day march that started in Singur, the CPI(M)'s state secretary Suryakanta Mishra addressed an impressive rally on 22 January, where he said that the need of the hour was to form a broad-based front against the TMC. The Congress will have to take a call on whether or not it wants to join.

At Coochbehar, in the northern part of the state, in a rally held last Sunday, the district Congress president Shaman Choudhury raised the question of whether the workers were willing to enter an alliance with the TMC. He was greeted with a loud "No" from the audience. Instead, they demanded an alliance with the Left. PCC president Adhir Choudhury, who was also present there, assured them that he would bring it the notice of the high command. At Kolkata, Omprakash Mishra, a general secretary of the state Congress, observed, "To defeat the TMC, we must close ranks with the Left and other democratic forces."

The Congress high command has already taken note of the changing mood in Bengal. Rahul Gandhi, the Congress vice-president, has invited party leaders from Bengal to a meeting at Delhi on 1 February to discuss the pros and cons of the issue. The CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has already indicated where his sympathy lies by observing that the state unit's views should not be ignored while taking a call on this issue. But, his bete noire Prakash Karat is still holding on to his earlier position of keeping a safe distance from both the Congress and BJP. Commenting on this development he said recently that the party should adhere to the line adopted in the last party congress.

The Left, especially the CPI(M), has a long history of anti-Congressism.

In the early years of post-Independence politics, the Communist Party of India (then undivided) used to brand the Congress as a party representing the interests of the bourgeoisie and the feudal class. Since the Congress was in power at the Centre for a long time and also in a number of states, the Communist Party had no hesitation in declaring it as its main enemy. But, the scenario became complex with the advent of BJP. The Left sometimes adopted a line of going soft on the Congress while branding BJP as enemy number one, as happened during the 2004 General Election.

So much so that the CPI(M) had no hesitation in forming a loose coalition with the Congress in the post-election scenario that facilitated the UPA-1 government to come into being. But after snapping its relations with the UPA government in 2008, the CPI(M) went back to its earlier position of keeping a safe distance from both the BJP and Congress. Now, the Bengal leaders, after suffering successive electoral defeats at the hands of the TMC, are trying to change their party line.

The new slogans "Trinamool Hatao, Bangla bachao" (Defeat the TMC and Save Bengal) and "BJP hatao, desh bachao" (Defeat the BJP and Save India), paving the way for a possible alliance with the Congress, were raised by none other than Bhattacharjee in his address at Singur rally. For the last four years, both the Congress and the CPI(M) have been suffering heavy erosion in their respective organisations as the ruling party aggressively engaged the Opposition in a bloody turf war, where the local police and armed goons are acting in cohesion with, and at the behest of the ruling party workers.

Thousands of workers and sympathisers of both the Left and Congress have already been forced to flee their areas  many more have joined the TMC. A significant number of CPI(M) workers and sympathisers have become idle. The situation came to such a pass that during the 2014 elections, the Left couldn't put up agents in a vast number of booths in south Bengal. There were several occasions where the ruling party workers were seen capturing booths after chasing away Opposition party agents. Protests or complaints to the Election Commission observers did not change the situation.

On the other hand, the TMC leaders through their words and actions made it amply clear that they were not interested in having a free-and-fair poll.

The following year, ie in 2015, when elections for the Siliguri Corporation were being held, the opposition resorted to a different tactic. The CPI(M) leader Ashok Bhattacharjee and district Congress president Shankar Malakar came to an understanding that they would have to join forces to resist TMC activists attempting to capture booths. The slogan "Nijer vote nije dao; anyoke dite debe na." (Cast your own vote, don't allow other people to cast your vote) became very popular among the voters of Siliguri. The BJP also joined the campaigned, thus a popular movement was built against the culture of booth-capturing.

When the election results were made public on 28 April, 2015, it was found that the CPI(M)-led Left Front was way ahead of TMC and other parties. Eventually, Ashok Bhattacharjee became the mayor of Siliguri. A few months later, the Left Front got a similar result in the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad elections. Nabendu Guha, a veteran journalist, who has worked for many years in Siliguri, observed that while the initial understanding was to put up a united resistance to the TMC in thwarting any attempts of booth-capture, it was gradually noticed that a more subtle understanding had been developed at the grassroot-level.

The CPI(M) and the Congress saw to it that wherever their candidate's prospect of a win was suspect, they did not campaign much in those wards, instead allowed the other party to have a free run in the election. Emboldened by the success in Siliguri, the demand for an electoral alliance started raising its head in party circles in Kolkata. From the Congress side, senior leader Abdul Mannan from south Bengal, started demanding that the Congress rethink its election strategy and close ranks with the Left to oust Mamata from power.

In a fortnightly publication edited by him, Mannan argued in September that if the US and Cuba could put an end to their long enmity and resume normal relations, what was the harm in reaching out to the Left against the TMC?

But this idea only got momentum after the Bihar elections.

Mannan is optimistic about this, and though bed-ridden after two successive surgeries, he hopes, along with other state-level leaders, to take part in the meeting with Rahul in Delhi on 1 February. While a majority of Congress leaders in Bengal are pinning their hopes on this possible alliance with the Left, a few leaders are unhappy about that. Manas Bhuniya is one such leader. A Congress MLA from West Midnapur's Sabang constituency, Bhuniya is interested to see the resurgence of the TMC-Congress alliance that was in place during 2009 Lok Sabha elections and 2011 Assembly elections.

Addressing a party workers' conference on Monday at Sabang, he said, "Many things are being said in support of this alliance. But I would ask you to uphold the Congress flag and march forward.''

While the talk of this possible alliance is steadily gaining ground, TMC leaders including their supremo Mamata are getting nervous and edgy.

Realising that a Left-Congress combine can really impact the poll prospects of the TMC negatively, the leaders started questioning the efficacy of this alliance. Mamata has started attacking the Opposition by calling it ''unprincipled and opportunistic'' alliance. Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim and some others are trying to underplay it.

On the other hand, the BJP is alleging that the Left has double standards. Shamik Bhattacharjee, the lone BJP MLA, has pointed out that in Bengal, the Left is joining ranks with the Congress, while in Kerala, it is fighting the Congress. The CPI(M) leaders are also aware that if the party opts for an alliance with the Congress in Bengal, it will impact party prospects in Kerala. This is one question that must compel the CPI(M) central leadership to think twice before giving the nod to the Bengal comrades' demand.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday approved the cabinet recommendation to impose central rule in Arunachal Pradesh and keep the state assembly in suspended animation, as Congress, which rules the border state, slammed the move as a "murder of constitution and democracy" on Republic Day. The Supreme Court will hear the Congress challenge petition on Wednesday.

Arunachal Pradesh has been rocked by a political crisis since 16 December last year when 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to impeach Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as illegal and unconstitutional by the Speaker.

The Supreme Court decided to hear on 27 January the Congress plea challenging the Cabinet decision. The petition seeking urgent hearing was mentioned before Chief Justice T S Thakur, at his residence, who directed the matter to be listed for hearing on Wednesday.

"President of India has signed a proclamation under article 356(1) of the constitution, imposing President's Rule in relation to the state of Arunachal Pradesh and keeping the legislative assembly of the state in suspended animation with effect from January 26," said a home ministry statement.

"Taking cognisance of the constitutional breakdown that has taken place in the state as reported by the governor of Arunachal Pradesh, the union cabinet in its meeting held on January 24, had recommend to the President to issue such proclamation," it added.

The Indian Express reports that sources said the President had been advised that the court will most certainly examine the controversial role played by Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, especially his December 9 message to the Arunachal Pradesh legislative assembly.

The Congress slammed the Narendra Modi-led government for rushing to impose President's rule in the northeastern state, and "disrespecting" the Supreme Court by bypassing it when it was hearing the matter.

The Hindu reports that Congress-led anger against Modi will certainly find echo in Parliament.

"The constitution and democracy have been murdered on this Republic Day. It is an effort by the government to nail federalism. The matter is sub judice and yet the speed with which the cabinet moved and the final decision has been taken is a clear indication that they have no respect for the highest court of the land," said Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan.

"They could have waited for the matter to be settled by the judiciary yet they moved with express speed to ensure President's rule in a sensitive state. There is no indication of past or present breakdown of law and order. These are signals of imagination manufactured to fine-tune and legitimise horse-trading that was done by a certain sitting minister.

"The matter should have been handled under the spirit of the S.R. Bommai case yet the argument being given that the house was not summoned for six months, but the ground reality is the matter was sub judice in the high court of the state and therefore that statutory requirement was met with," said Vadakkan, adding the attempt to remove the speaker by the deputy speaker smacks of a larger conspiracy.

"We expect justice from the highest court of the land therefore we would not like to add any comment on a sub judice matter," he added.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said that they will fight this battle legally.

"We will seek justice from the Supreme Court. We will fight this battle legally. The matter was sub judice, that's why we waited for the court's order. It said not to hold an assembly session. I had a feeling they'll do this as this was their intention. But we aren't nervous, we will fight," Tuki told media persons.

"Point to me even a single questionable law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh? They can't, because there is none. Arunachal Pradesh is a peaceful state, you can go and see and give a report," he added.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also criticised imposition of President's rule in the state, invoking BJP veteran L.K. Advani's concern last year about "emergency-like conditions" in the country.

"President Rule in Arunachal Pradesh. Advani ji was right in saying that there are emergency like conditions in the country," Kejriwal tweeted after the president's approval was announced.

The president, who had been urged by the Congress not to approve central rule in the state, is said to have discussed the Arunachal situation with Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday.

Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa had on December 9 advanced the date of the convening of the assembly session.

The move was criticized by the Congress, with its leader Kapil Sibal saying the governor should not have acted on a resolution by the Bharatiya Janata Party legislators and two independents.

On January 18, the Supreme Court said it would examine whether Rajkhowa's decision of advancing the assembly session to December 16 to take up the resolution for removal of Speaker Nabam Rebia was valid or not.

With IANS
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin today criticised Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin, accusing him of placing a "time bomb" under the state, and sharply denouncing brutal repressions by the Bolshevik government. The harsh criticism of Lenin, who is still revered by communists and many others in Russia, is unusual for Putin, who in the past carefully weighed his comments about the nation's history to avoid alienating some voters.

At the same time, he signaled that the government has no intention of taking Lenin's body out of his Red Square tomb, warning against "any steps that would divide the society." Putin's assessment of Lenin's role in Russian history during today's meeting with pro-Kremlin activists in the southern city of Stavropol was markedly more negative than in the past.

Putin denounced Lenin and his government for brutally executing Russia's last czar along with all his family and servants, killing thousands of priests and placing a "time bomb" under the Russian state by drawing administrative borders along ethnic lines. As an example of Lenin's destructive legacy, Putin pointed at Donbass, the industrial region in eastern Ukraine where a pro-Russia separatist rebellion flared up weeks after Russia's March 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. More than 9,000 people have been killed in the conflict since April 2014, and clashes have continued despite a February 2015 peace deal.

He said that Lenin and his government whimsically drew borders between parts of the USSR, placing Donbass under the Ukrainian jurisdiction in order to "increase the percentage of proletariat" in a move Putin called "delirious." Putin's criticism of Lenin could be part of his attempts to justify Moscow's policy in the Ukrainian crisis, but it also may reflect the Kremlin's concern about possible separatist sentiments in some Russian provinces. Putin was particularly critical of Lenin's concept of a federative state with its entities having the right to secede, saying it heavily contributed to the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.

"It was a time bomb under our state," he said, adding that Lenin's was wrong in a dispute with Josef Stalin who advocated a unitary state model. In the past, Putin has denounced Stalin for massive purges that killed millions, but noted his role in defeating the Nazis in the Second World War.

In today's comments, Putin also blasted the Bolsheviks for making Russia lose the First World War in their quest for power, making Russia suffer defeat by Germany and cede large chunks of territory just months before it lost World War I. "We lost to the losing party, a unique case in history," Putin said. Putin said he sincerely believed in Communist ideology when he served in the KGB, adding that while promises of a fair and just society in the Communist ideology "resembled the Bible quite a lot" but the reality was different. "Our country didn't look like the City of the Sun," envisaged by socialist utopians, he said.

AP
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Saudi royal family was the source of a $681 million "donation" that has engulfed Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in scandal, his attorney general said on Tuesday in a statement clearing the premier of graft allegations.

Mohamed Apandi Ali said a review of evidence compiled by the country's anti-graft agency showed that the money was a "personal donation from the Saudi royal family".

He gave no further details on the source.

Najib, 62, has for months fended off accusations that the huge payment made into his personal bank accounts in 2013 was syphoned off from a now-struggling state-owned company that he had launched.

But until now, the origin of the money has not been specified, other than claims by Najib's government that it came from unnamed Middle Eastern donors.

"I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly," Apandi, who was installed by Najib after the scandal broke last year, said in a statement.

He added that "no criminal offence has been committed by (Najib)", and that he would instruct the anti-corruption agency to "close" the case.

The fund transfers were revealed last July just as Najib was battling allegations that hundreds of millions of dollars were missing from deals involving the state company, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Najib, who chairs 1MDB's board of advisers, and the company strenuously deny wrongdoing.

But the political opposition and even critics within Najib's ruling party have demanded independent investigations, accusing the premier of sabotaging official probes.

Shortly after the fund movements were revealed, Najib provoked fierce criticism by sacking Malaysia's previous attorney general -- who was investigating the matter -- and appointing Apandi, who has ties to the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

Najib tightens grip

Najib's "donation" alibi has been widely derided by Malaysians accustomed to regular UMNO scandals, and the self-proclaimed reformer's image has been severely battered.

Speculation is rising that the scandal could be the final straw that dumps his ruling coalition from power.

UMNO-controlled coalitions have governed for nearly six decades, but the party is in crisis as swelling numbers of voters have rejected it at recent polls over graft, its hardball political tactics, and accusations of rights infringements.

The next elections are due by 2018.

The opposition and rights groups accuse Najib of seeking to stem that tide through an escalating crackdown on opponents that has seen dozens of arrests on charges such as sedition over the past two years, and the introduction of tough new security laws.

Parliament held a special session on trade matters Tuesday and AFP was unable to immediately obtain comment from Najib or key opposition leaders on Apandi's announcement.

Najib still faces a potential threat from foreign investigations.

US authorities are reportedly looking into 1MDB-related overseas fund flows, while Swiss, British, Singaporean and Hong Kong authorities have acknowledged scrutinising the affair.

Early last year, a New York Times investigative report detailed multi-million-dollar purchases of luxury US real estate by a close Najib family associate and alleged millions of dollars in jewellery purchases for Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor.

Najib has responded to the 1MDB scandal by purging powerful critics within UMNO and he retains a solid grip on the party, winning its renewed endorsement at a party congress in December.

AFP
Professor Dwyer said although there was some uncertainty about whether Zika was responsible for this, it was possible and should "certainly be followed up". The Australian government is advising women who are pregnant or who hope to become pregnant to consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus transmission is ongoing, including Samoa. Concern about Zika has triggered the most urgent global health warning since the Ebola crisis of 2014. Overnight, the foreign affairs department has listed 22 countries to avoid during pregnancy. Beyond the virus' epicentre in Brazil, the warning now extends into Central America and parts of the Carribean. It is believed Samoa has reported Zika for the first time. Officials in Vanuatu are also on the alert having in April last year experienced a first confirmed outbreak of the virus. Here are some answers about the outbreak.

What is the Zika virus? A little-known infection transmitted by mosquitos, this virus appears to be related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile virus. It is transmitted by some species of Aedes mosquito, particularly the Aedes aegypti. The infection can occur without symptoms but in some cases it can cause fever, rash, severe headaches, joint pain and muscle pain. Illness is usually not severe and hospital treatment is not required. Zika was first detected in a monkey in Uganda in 1947, with the first human cases identified in Nigeria in the late 1960s. Outbreaks of Zika virus have previously been reported in tropical Africa, south-east Asia, and the Pacific Islands. It is believed the virus was introduced to South America, particularly Brazil, sometime in late 2014. On Monday, the World Health Organisation said the virus was likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile. Recently, three Britons contracted the virus while travelling in Colombia, Suriname and Guyana. Health authorities are monitoring Samoa.

Most concern and public fear centres around a possible link between infection with Zika virus during pregnancy and birth defects including microcephaly, which causes brain damage in babies. How does the virus spread? Not from person to person. According to the World Health Organisation, Zika is spread by an infected Aedes mosquito, the same type of mosquito that spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. The Aedes aegypti mosquito has spread most Zika cases. They can breed in tiny water pools and usually bite during the day (especially at dawn or at dusk). Virus expert Professor Trudie Lang, of the University of Oxford, said the virus was not like Ebola in that there was no evidence for human-to-human transmission. "Zika is not contagious," she said. "However, this is an important emerging diseases outbreak situation and we really must apply the lessons that we learnt from Ebola, because Zika could be a major public health issue [in Brazil and wider regions infected with Zika]. "There are many unknowns and so research is urgently needed to understand what is happening and how to prevent further cases."

Is a Zika virus outbreak headed to Australia? It is possible. Transmission could happen anywhere there is dengue. Mosquitoes will play the most important role in any local transmission and only one of hundreds of mosquitoes found in Australia can transmit Zika virus, the Aedes aegypti. This species is only found in north Queensland. For the virus to spread here, the Aedes aegypti would have to bite an infected traveller shortly after they have returned from the country where they contracted the virus.The infected mozzie would then go on to bite a local. The chances are small but not impossible. How will I know I've got it?

There is no widely available test. A laboratory can confirm the diagnosis by blood tests. However, most diagnoses of Zika virus are based on people's symptoms and travel history. Symptoms are usually mild and appear a few days after a person is bitten by the infected mosquito. In many cases, infected people present with slight fever and rash. Some get conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain. Tiredness is another common symptom. The symptoms usually last less than a week. Is there a vaccine? There is no cure or vaccine yet. According to WHO, symptoms can be treated with standard pain and fever medicines, rest and water. Should pregnant women be worried about Zika?

Yes. Pretty much all the risk is for pregnant women travelling to areas in the world where Zika cases are emerging. Although much is unknown, there is a possibility that the Zika virus causes microcephaly  a condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads. Doctors in northern Brazil noticed a surge in babies with the condition in October and are worried there is a connection. What is microcephaly? A condition that causes small heads and damaged brains. The brain damage is due to abnormal brain development of the baby in the womb or during infancy. Babies and children with microcephaly often have challenges with their brain development as they grow older. According to WHO, microcephaly can be caused by a variety of environmental and genetic factors such as Downs syndrome; exposure to drugs, alcohol or other toxins in the womb; and rubella infection during pregnancy. A Zika outbreak in Brazil is thought to be behind 4000 cases of microcephaly. Authorities in Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica have advised women to delay becoming pregnant until more is known.

What can I do to protect myself? Should I not go to countries that have Zika infections? WHO is not recommending any travel or trade restrictions related to Zika virus disease. However, the Australian government is advising women who are pregnant (in any trimester) or who plan to become pregnant to consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing are difficult to determine and likely to change over time. However, warnings now exists for countries including: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadelope, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Samoa, Suriname and Venezuela. As the best protection from Zika virus is prevention, travellers should stay informed about Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases. All travellers are advised to take the following mosquito bite prevention measures:
CHINA-LAOS The prime minister of communist Laos assures US Secretary of State John Kerry that the small nation will help counter Chinas assertiveness in the South China Sea.

CHINA-VIETNAM Divided opinions within Vietnams Communist Party on how to relate to giant neighbor and one-time ally China are among key factors in play at an eight-day congress to choose new leadership.

THAILAND A Japanese rocket maker says a large piece of metal that washed up on a beach in Thailand is likely part of a rocket launched by Japan, not a missing Malaysian plane. The discovery of the metal sparked speculation that it might be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared almost two years ago.

MALAYSIAs leader defended the countrys strict security laws, saying they are needed to fight terrorism as the Islamic State group warned of revenge over a crackdown on its members. PM Najib Razak said the terrorism threat is very real. Opening a two-day international counter-terrorism conference, Najib said he will not apologize for taking steps to preserve national security.

INDIA-FRANCE India and France said yesterday that they are close to sealing a multibillion euro agreement for New Delhi to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande made the announcement during a joint news briefing in Delhi.

PAKISTAN Officials say a northwestern Pakistani university where Islamic militants gunned down 21 students and teachers last week has reopened yesterday for classes amid tight security.

AFGHANISTAN An Afghan official says three border policemen have been killed and three others were wounded in a suicide attack near an important border crossing in southern Afghanistan. The police say the attack took place when five suicide bombers stormed the border police headquarters at Spin Boldak, on the border with Pakistan yesterday.

SYRIA Peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups are to start on Friday, the UN special envoy on Syria announced yesterday. Staffan de Mistura told reporters he would be sending out invitations to the talks in Geneva today. The talks are expected to take six months and the sides will not talk directly to each other to begin with.

USA Ford Motor Co. is pulling out of Japan and Indonesia, saying that market conditions in each country have made it difficult to grow sales or make sustained profits. Japan is the most closed, developed auto economy in the world, with all imported brands accounting for less than 6% of Japans annual new car market, a spokesman wrote in an email message.
Romanias prime minister offered Moldova a loan of 60 million euros (USD65 million) yesterday to prevent economic collapse in the impoverished ex-Soviet republic  if certain conditions are met.

To get the money, Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos said Moldova will have to reform its justice system, fight corruption, sign a draft agreement for a loan from the International Monetary Fund and appoint a new central bank governor.

The offer comes as Moldova, Europes poorest nation, is on the verge of economic collapse following the disappearance of more than $1 billion from three Moldovan banks, one eighth of the entire GDP of the nation.

Ciolos made the announcement during a visit to Romania by Pavel Filip, the sixth prime minister to hold office in Moldova in a year of political turmoil and deep social unrest sparked by the bank fraud.

Filip, considered a symbol by many Moldovans of the nations entrenched corruption because of his ties to an influential businessman, promised to use the money well. Earlier this month, protesters in Moldovas capital, Chisinau, stormed the Parliament to protest his taking office.

If we dont carry on with reforms that are felt in Chisinau and beyond, this political class has no chance, Filip said at a joint news conference with Ciolos.

Ciolos also offered emergency aid for food and heating, which would not have to be repaid.

IMF officials visited Moldova for negotiations on a loan that the said it needed for salaries and pensions. But the IMF team left after the central bank governor resigned due to protests over the missing money. The governor is still in place, however.

Moldova lies between European Union member Romania and Ukraine, and Moldovans are deeply torn between whether they want deeper integration with the West or Russia.

Pro-European parties won an election in 2014 but squandered their chance to improve the lives of the nations 3.5 million people as the country grappled with the fallout from the bank scandal and other examples of corruption. A former prime minister, Vlad Filat, was arrested last year on suspicion that he took part in the fraud. He is awaiting trial.

The state stepped in to replace the funds that were stolen, leaving it tragically short of funds. Experts say that without outside help, the state could soon find itself unable to make payments including state salaries and pensions. Alison Mutler, Bucharest, AP
Japans emperor said yesterday that his nation must remember the tremendous loss of life in the Philippines during World War II, as he and his wife began their first visit to the Southeast Asian country.

Many Filipinos, Americans and Japanese lost their lives in the Philippines during the war, Emperor Akihito said in a statement he read before departing from Tokyo. Especially in the battle in Manila, a tremendously large number of innocent Filipino civilians were victims. Upon making this visit, we need to bear this in mind at all times.

Japan occupied the Philippines during World War II. The 1945 battle for Manila between Japan and allied U.S. and Philippine forces leveled the capital city and left more than 100,000 dead, according to Philippine historians.

Relations between the Asian nations have improved dramatically in the seven decades since the war. Japan has become a major trading partner and aid donor to the Philippines, and the countries are bolstering defense ties in the face of Chinas military rise.

Akihito and Empress Michiko were met at Manilas airport by President Benigno Aquino III and his top Cabinet members.

Aquino will formally welcome Akihito at the presidential palace today for talks. The president will hold a state banquet for Akihito and Michiko in the evening.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, among the Philippine officials who welcomed Akihito at the airport, said the first visit by a Japanese emperor to the country following the last world war was a milestone.

The Filipino generation that saw the horrors of the Japanese occupation in the 1940s still remembers that period, but Gazmin said it is time to move on as the two nations, now strategic allies, face common security concerns in the region.

Its really more painful for us because my father was a veteran soldier who was forced into the death march, Gazmin told The Associated Press, referring to the Bataan death march, when Japanese soldiers forced tens of thousands of Filipino and American troops to march 100 kilometers from the Bataan Peninsula to prison camps under intense heat and harsh treatment. Thousands died, but Gazmins father survived.

We should move forward and forget and work for a better relation, Gazmin said. Its a necessity, we need allies for our current needs.

Akihito, 82, is to pay his respects at memorials for both Philippine and Japanese war dead.

He is the son of former Emperor Hirohito, under whose name Japan waged World War II. Akihito was 11 years old at the end of the war. Jim Gomez, Manila, AP
The extreme cold weather these last few days in Macao has got me thinking about the good old days  days when we used to have a normal-length cold-ish winter. The first thing that came to mind was people of all ages wearing gold and red and pink min naaps , cotton-padded jackets, around the time of the Chinese New Year. When I was a kid, almost everyone had at least a navy blue min naap for school and a red or gold one for the winter break.

Min naaps have always been a must-wear during Chinese New Year in accordance with the tradition. Not only was the cotton-padded jacket able to protect us from the very cold weather some 20 years back, it was also festive to dress in traditional Chinese style and in red during the Spring Festival. Silky red min naaps were the choice of many young ladies. However, this traditional Chinese New Year must-wear seems to have vanished in recent years, especially among the younger generation. So, what has caused the disappearance of this traditional costume?

At first I thought the reason must be the warmer weather during the Spring Festival every year leading to fewer people wearing min naaps. The layers of silk and cotton in min naaps are designed to keep us warm against very cold weather, which has become rare in Macau and Hong Kong in the last few years. So Im not surprised that I havent seen many people wearing min naaps on the winter streets recently. In fact, it was only in these last few days when I overheard people talking about shopping for, or cracking out, winter coats that I started noticing that there was no sign of this traditional costume being worn or bought.

Out of curiosity, I googled the tradition of the min naap and found a column article from a few years ago, which revealed that young people in Hong Kong considered min naaps as  [Lo Ban = Old cake], a term used to refer to someone or something as old and boring. The tradition of wearing min naaps in winter, especially during Chinese New Year, has been around for hundreds of years, so of course it is old, as are all traditions and customs. It then occurred to me that the culprit was not so much the temperature but the fashion. Sometime between my teenage years and my thirties, min naaps have been voted out of the fashion trend. So, why does the younger generation nowadays consider min naaps to be outdated?

According to a few young people I surveyed, they think min napps are only worn by old people, and the designs are all similar, so they are boring and out of style. Moreover, they somehow believed the misconception that only down coats are warm enough for winter, and most of them prefer trench coats for parties and formal occasions. So, the min naap has totally lost its value, both in functionality for keeping warm, and in style as a traditional costume.

However, during my research (on Google), I was surprised to notice a blog from mainland China in which ladies discussed how it was worth paying premium prices to buy a golden, silk min naap. Their discussion centered on a few female characters in some TV programs in the mainland, about how elegant and graceful they looked in those min naaps. Now thats the difference  no gorgeous young actresses or actors wore min naaps in modern Hong Kongs TV drama; its usually middle-aged actors who wear them. So it turns out, even tradition needs product placement in TV programmes via celebrity endorsement to be kept alive. Jenny Lao-Phillips
Government representatives attended a high-level meeting on global tourism and security organized by two United Nations agencies, held last week in Madrid, Spain.

It was the first time that the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) had organized a joint event. The aim of the meeting was to provide a platform for different countries to exchange relevant information in order to promote a safe tourism environment.

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, headed the local delegation. According to him, participating in this event shows that the UNWTO attributes great importance to the MSAR in the context of worldwide tourism. For the participants, the event reinforced existing knowledge relating to strategies and measures in tourism security, creating an important reference for the government to continue to pursue a safe tourism environment.

At the meeting, which was attended by representatives of 86 countries and regions, including 42 ministerial-level officials, and the Secretary-General of UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, underlined the importance of sustainable development in the tourism industry. He highlighted the need to use information technologies to promote tourism, and to disseminate information efficiently to promote a safe tourist environment.

Mr Rifai also said: Despite occurrences in several countries in recent years relating to both natural disasters and incidents caused by Man, we must not let fear overcome our decisions to travel.

The Secretary-General reaffirmed that the development of the tourism industry is a great contributor to employment and economic growth of many regions around the world, thereby justifying the need for a collective focus on industry sustainability and the creation of cooperative structures to reduce travel risks.

Last year, the UNWTO registered a year-

on-year growth of 4.4 percent in the number of tourists traveling around the world, establishing a new record of 1,184 million travellers. RM
Vietnams pro-business prime minister has effectively withdrawn from a contest to become the Communist Party chief, clearing the way for his rival to keep the post in what appears to be a compromise to present a united front to the nation, delegates at a party congress said yesterday.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had mounted a last-minute challenge during the congress after being excluded from an official list of candidates for positions in a key party panel. Had he continued his challenge, he could have become part of the Central Committee, and subsequently could have been in contention for party general secretary.

The path is now clear for Nguyen Phu Trong to stay as general secretary, the de facto top position in Vietnams collective leadership.

Several delegates at the congress said Dung decided on Sunday to abide by party rules that obliged him to refuse the nomination for a Central Committee slot proposed by his supporters. The congress then voted yesterday to accept his refusal, completing a formality. The Central Committee, one of two pillars of the ruling establishment, will be chosen today.

Trong has been trying unsuccessfully for years to sideline Dung, and while contests for the top post are not unheard of, they are usually settled well before the party congress, which takes place once every five years to choose new leaders.

This year, the rivalry between Dung and Trong has gone down to the wire in the party congress, which began last Thursday and ends this Thursday. But regardless of who is in power the fundamental makeup of the government and its policies will not change radically, according to analysts.

Dung has built a reputation for promoting economic reforms, and being bold enough to confront Chinas territorial assertiveness in the South China Sea. But even though Trong, a stolid party apparatchik with closer leanings toward China, is now set to take the top job, it doesnt mean the economic reforms will stall or Vietnam will capitulate to Chinese assertiveness in Vietnamese-claimed waters, according to observers.

Ideologically, there isnt a yawning gap between Trong and Dung, although most people believe that the pace of economic reform might slow a bit if Trong remains at the helm and Dung is ousted, said Murray Hiebert, a Southeast Asian expert based in Washington, DC.

Dung, who rose through the ranks of the party and held senior positions, is a two-term prime minister. His economic reforms have helped Vietnam attract a flood of foreign investment and helped triple the per capita GDP to $2,100 over the past 10 years.

Trongs camp accuses Dung of economic mismanagement, including the spectacular collapse of state-owned shipping company Vinashin; failing to control massive public debt; allowing corruption; and not dealing adequately with the non-preforming loans of state-owned banks.

Today, the delegates will be presented with 222 candidates in an election for the 180-member Central Committee. After that, they will elect at least 16 members of the all-powerful Politburo, which handles the day-to-day governance of Vietnam. It is possible that the Politburo will be expanded to 18 members this year.

Of the Politburo members, one will be chosen general secretary. Three others will be chosen, in respective order of seniority, the prime minister, the president and the chairman of the National Assembly.

Vietnam is one of the last remaining communist nations in the world, with a party membership of 4.5 million out of its 93 million people. But like its ideological ally China, the government believes in a quasi-free market economy alongside strictly controlled politics and society. Yves Dam Van, Hanoi, AP
"The trouble with life is the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent full of doubt." --Bertrand Russell Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. The grave will supply plenty of time for silence.--Christopher Hitchens
Snow continues to fall in the Minidoka Ranger District of the Sawtooth National Forest; Snotel sites at Magic Mountain, Bostetter and Howell Canyon are all showing well over 100 percent of average snowfall. More snow is forecast for this weekend, so get out and enjoy it while it lasts.

Check Pomerelle and Magic Mountain ski areas websites for the latest conditions and happenings: Magicmountainresort.com and Pomerelle.com

Snowmobile Trails

Trail grooming is ongoing in both Cassia and Twin Falls counties with great riding conditions and lots of snow. The Cassia division (South Hills), Howell Canyon and Sublett division are all groomed regularly.

Be sure you are prepared for the winter elements with appropriate winter clothing and gear. Never ride alone, and tell a friend or family member where you are going and when you plan to return. When riding in the backcountry, always carry avalanche gear  including a beacon, shovel and probe  and practice using them. Check the Sawtooth Avalanche Center for the latest reports at Sawtoothavalanche.com. Take advantage of avalanche awareness classes held throughout the area, and learn how to analyze the snowpack and how to use the information before you venture out.

Visit Idahosnow.org/clubs for the latest snowmobiling information statewide.

Cross-country Ski Trails

The High Desert Nordic Association is working hard to keep the trails groomed in Rock Creek with the help of Magic Mountain. The 500 Road is open and groomed; the Rock Creek Short Loop and Petitt Campground to Diamondfield Jack were groomed on Saturday. There are good snow conditions throughout the area, and more snow is forecast for this weekend.

Visit Skihdna.org for trail maps and contact information. Visit the clubs Facebook page for the latest grooming updates, or attend one of its monthly meetings  held the second Wednesday of every winter month  and get involved with trail maintenance, youth development and regular meet-ups. The next meeting is 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Idaho Joes in Twin Falls.

Weekly Tip

Practice regularly with your avalanche gear; you never know when you might need to use it.

Summary

Snowmobile trails:

 Cassia unit/South Hills: Groomed.

 Albion unit: Groomed.

 Sublett unit: Groomed.

Nordic trails:

 Cassia unit/Upper Rock Creek: Groomed.

 Backcountry trails/slopes: Always use caution in the backcountry, and be aware of changing conditions.
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HANSEN  Two women who stashed guns and methamphetamine in a hotel safe were arrested in the South Hills after a chase and 40-minute standoff early Monday, police said.

The driver, 22-year-old Sinthia Ramirez, of Kimberly is being held without bond in Twin Falls County Jail. Prosecutors are expected to charge her with felony eluding Tuesday. Her passenger, 26-year-old Brooke Elena Gee, of Pocatello, was released after posting $300 bond.

But both are likely facing more serious charges in Jerome County after deputies there found nearly three pounds of methamphetamine and two guns in a hotel room where the women stayed over the weekend, Jerome County Sheriffs Lt. Dan Kennedy said.

Deputies were called to the Days Inn, 1200 Centennial Spur, about noon Sunday for a disturbance, Jerome County Sheriff Doug McFall said. The women were staying in a room registered to a man who was not there and became angry with hotel staff when the workers wouldnt let the women access the rooms safe.

The staff didnt feel comfortable letting them in because they didnt know the code, Kennedy said.

A hotel employee called the sheriffs department, and while the deputy was following up with hotel staff, the women slipped out, McFall said.

Hotel employees cleaning the room later Sunday called the sheriffs office again after they found the drugs and guns in the safe.

Deputies learned one of the guns was reported stolen in a Twin Falls burglary. Jerome deputies alerted nearby agencies to be on the lookout for the car the women were driving, a red Dodge Charger with a black hood.

A Twin Falls County Sheriffs deputy spotted the Charger about 2:30 a.m. at Kimberly Road and Trade Street, said Lori Stewart, a spokeswoman for the Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office. Instead of stopping, Ramirez turned right on Eastland Drive and led deputies and a Kimberly police officer on a chase southeast through the county toward the South Hills.

The Charger slid on an icy patch and landed in a snowbank on Rock Creek Road about a mile south of Third Fork Campground, Stewart said. For 40 minutes, the women refused deputies commands to get out of the car.

Ramirez eventually rolled down her window, stuck her hands outside and got out about 3:45 a.m., court documents said. Gee got out through the drivers door because the passenger door was blocked by snow.

Deputies found two large, flat-screen TVs inside the car along with other electronics, court documents said. They also learned the car had different license plates on the front and back.

Ramirez was arraigned Monday in Twin Falls County Magistrate Court on a misdemeanor charge of driving without privileges. Paperwork for the felony count of eluding was not prepared in time for a Monday arraignment.

Charges for possession of the drugs and guns are pending in Jerome County, McFall said.
BOISE  The American Civil Liberties Union is appealing last weeks dismissal of its lawsuit challenging Idahos public defense system as unconstitutionally broken.

Fourth District Judge Samuel Hoagland, who dismissed the suit last week, said that while he sympathized with the plaintiff, the case asked him to presume that all indigent criminal defendants in all counties are receiving the same ineffective assistance of counsel, and then issue blanket orders halting all criminal prosecutions until the issues are resolved.

ACLU Idaho Executive Director Leo Morales said his group filed a notice of appeal Monday and would continue to vigorously pursue this case.

Our courts clearly have an obligation to enforce the Constitution  especially in this case, because it is in our courts where, day after day, Idahoans continue to be criminally prosecuted without a constitutional justice system in place, Morales said in a statement.

A committee of lawmakers that has been studying how to fix the system since last year is scheduled to meet again Thursday and hopes to come out with a final version of a draft bill. They are considering a system similar to the one in Michigan, where a public defense commission enforces standards on counties and provides them with funding where needed.
RENO, Nev. (AP) | As troubadours, fiddlers and scribes head to northeast Nevada for a national gathering to celebrate cowboy poetry and culture, the topic of the sometimes tenuous relationship between the Old West and the realities of the New West will be more than campfire conversation.

The 32nd National Cowboy Poetry Gathering opens Monday in Elko, a rural community halfway between Reno and Salt Lake City that is similar in its turbulent history to the place about 200 miles away in Oregon where a national wildlife refuge has been seized by armed men protesting federal ownership of land.

The weeklong festival features a slate of speeches and discussion panels about many of the wide-open spaces where conservation is a good word, but environmentalism sometimes is not; where patriotism is revered, but the U.S. government is often despised.

The keynote speech will be given Thursday by a world-renowned cultural and environmental historian who thinks government ownership of land can be a good thing, and it may be the only way to save some of the last great wild places where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains.

Dan Flores' latest book, "American Serengeti: The Last Big Animals of the Great Plains," examines the similarity between the wildlife that still exists in the African grasslands and the American bison, antelope, wolves and grizzly bears that roamed the great expanse from the Missouri River to the Rockies when American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark entered the wilderness in the early 1800s.

"Until we destroyed it, there was this other historic version of the Serengeti on the plains," Flores says in remarks prepared for the Elko gathering. "'Between 1820 and 1920, in the largest destruction of animal life discoverable anywhere in the world history, we almost entirely wiped the Great Plains clear of its wildlife. The 19th century Great Plains was a slaughterhouse."

Flores said he isn't sure what to expect in Elko after talking with event organizers who requested he "leave the politics at the door as you go in."

"They engaged me in a conference call that, as I read it, was kind of a warning about the audience and about what you can say, and what is going to be controversial ," said Flores, who was the chairman of Western History at the University of Montana from 1992 to 2014 and now lives outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. "The truth is, given the politics of modern America, almost everything you say about the West is controversial. I may be occupied by the militia by the end of the event, but I guess we'll find out."

Dave Roche, executive director of the Western Folklife Center in charge of the event, said they wanted a keynote speaker who could offer a cultural, social and environmental perspective on the Northern Plains and the American West.

"We don't take a political side, but at the same time, we don't step away from the real issues that are working their way in one way or another through the community, and the Western community in general," Roche said.

The ongoing standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon, was organized by the sons of Cliven Bundy, a southern Nevada rancher who staged a similar show of force in 2014 at his ranch where he continues to graze cattle on federal land without a permit. They urged Oregon ranchers to renounce U.S. ownership of public land at a ceremony over the weekend and plan to open up the 300-square-mile refuge for cattle this spring.

Such conflict is nothing new to the people of Elko County, or as the leaders of the "Shovel Brigade" called it nearly two decades ago, the "Republic of Elko." In January 2000, the same week as the 16th annual Cowboy Poetry gathering, more than 1,000 people marched through town with parade floats and pickups filled with 10,000 shovels in a protest against the Forest Service in a battle over who should control a remote grave road in a national forest  a legal fight that continues 16 years later in federal court in Reno.

Charlie Seemann, who directed the folklife center for 16 years before he retired in 2014, said at the time "the shovel thing" put him in an awkward position, but that he understood the frustrations of cowboys, miners and others who work the land.

"Just living in this open space, doing the job they do, they have to be self-reliant," he said back then. "They don't like to be told what to do."

Seemann doesn't anticipate any tension at this year's gathering as a result of "the Oregon occupation situation."

"There will probably be private conversations among folks," he said, but "the gathering is a place that is so much about camaraderie and friendship that it tends to defuse these things."
BOISE  A bill to cut taxes for almost half of Idahoans and expand the grocery tax credit was introduced Tuesday and has the support of most of the GOP House leadership.

The bill, brought by House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, would drop the corporate income tax rate from 7.4 to 7.3 percent, drop the top personal income tax rates from 7.4 and 7.1 percent to 7.3 and 7.0 percent, respectively, and expand the grocery tax credit by $10 a person, to $110.

It would cut state revenue by $22.6 million by trimming income taxes and $5.2 million by expanding the grocery tax credit, according to its fiscal note.

Moyle said most states bordering Idaho have lower income taxes, and Idahos rates are hurting its business competitiveness. He said his bill would send a message to taxpayers that lawmakers care about them.

I think its important we show the taxpayers of the state of Idaho were willing to give them a little tax relief, too, Moyle told the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

The only vote on the committee against introducing the bill was Assistant Minority Leader Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, although an earlier motion to return it and split it into two bills  one for income tax, one for grocery tax  drew the support of the other Democrats on the committee, too.

The measures co-sponsors include House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, who co-sponsored a similar tax-cutting bill with Moyle last year that passed the House but died in the Senate; Assistant Majority Leader Brent Crane, R-Nampa; Majority Caucus Chairman John Vander Woude, R-Nampa; and Reps. Gary Collins, R-Nampa, and Janet Trujillo, R-Idaho Falls, the chairman and vice chairwoman of the Tax committee, respectively. The only Senate sponsor so far is Jim Rice, R-Caldwell.

An interim committee that met to discuss taxes before the session ended up not making any tax-cutting recommendations, and Gov. C.L. Butch Otter didnt include any in his budget proposal, except for some that would happen as the state aligns its tax code with federal rules.

The Senate held up tax-cutting efforts last year. As well as rejecting Moyle and Bedkes bill, Senate Tax committee Chairman Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, said last session he would block any tax cuts unless education funding was increased to a level he found appropriate. It appears Siddoway is being more cautious this year, too. He told the Lewiston Tribune on Monday that if this latest bill makes it across the rotunda, he will hold it until March so more information is available on the states revenue and budgets.

Moyles proposal this year differs in major ways from last years proposal. This bill expands the grocery tax credit, while last years would have abolished both the tax on groceries and the credit.

Some testifying against last years tax-cut bill said poor families benefit more from the credit than they would from abolishing the grocery tax. That, Moyle said, is why the credit would grow instead in this proposal.

I think weve hit both bases with this bill, Moyle said.

Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, co-chairwoman of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that sets the state budget, said she would work within whatever revenue she is given.

If growth continues and the economy continues to strengthen, well be fine, she said.

Bell did say she was concerned, though, that there might not be enough money to fund the states career ladder plan to raise teacher pay if there were to be an economic downturn and revenue were to drop.
BOISE | For Idaho's community colleges, working with local employers on job-training programs is a big part of their mission, the college presidents told lawmakers Monday morning.

In the College of Southern Idaho's case, said President Jeff Fox, most of the growth in the area has been with food-processing businesses such as Clif Bar and Chobani, and CSI has worked with them both on developing curriculum and on non-credit job training programs tailored to the employers' needs.

CSI is helping to train 200 Clif Bar employees now, Fox told lawmakers on the House Education Committee, for their bakery in Twin Falls that is scheduled to open this spring. Fox said food production is more high-tech than it used to be, and companies need people who can use a computer and understand sanitation systems.

"Nobody touches a cow anymore," Fox said. "It's all automated."

Fox, and College of Western Idaho President Bert Glandon and North Idaho College President Joe Dunlap, made a presentation on the state's community colleges, and most of the time was taken up by discussion of professional education and job training programs at the three colleges and how they work with employers in their areas.

At North Idaho College, the big demand is for training in the forestry products, aerospace manufacturing and health care industries, Dunlap said. That college is building a new career and technical education building now, with help from money donated by local businesses and industries, next to the Kootenai Technical Education Campus, an alternate high school in Rathdrum.

CWI has been working closely with St. Alphonsus and St. Luke's, on training health care workers, Glandon said. Both are building new hospitals in Nampa and are looking to hire more than 400 employees each,

Higher education was front and center in Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's budget proposal. The community college heads will be back at the Capitol building Tuesday for their presentations before the budget-setting Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. Among other proposals related to college education, Otter wants to bump spending on community colleges by 9.6 percent.

The state Board of Education set a goal in 2010 that, by 2020, 60 percent of Idahoans ages 25 to 34 would hold a post-secondary certificate. But the rate now is only about 40 percent, and Dunlap told the committee that 60 percent by 2020 is "a pretty dubious goal at this point." Glandon said there aren't enough young adults coming out of high school to meet it.

Fox said the trick is to make sure you're not just offering degrees for the sake of a degree.

"They need to have some meat and some meaning," he said. "The degrees and certificates need to have some value to the workforce, and we're very cognizant of that as well."

The college presidents said they want to improve how they work with some employers who might want to get more education for their employees, such as in welding and certain health care fields, and also talked about improving outreach to high school students, particularly to those who might not be considering college now.

For example, Fox said CSI is trying to reach out to students earlier in their high school career to let them know college is attainable and what they have to do to prepare for it. Glandon said CWI has been working on increasing enrollment of Hispanics, a group that is growing throughout Idaho and traditionally has been less likely to go on to college. Fox said CSI has also been tailoring its recruitment and advertisement to the Magic Valley's growing Hispanic community.

According to a recent economic impact study cited by Fox, community colleges in Idaho contribute about a $500 million yearly to the state's economy, with CSI accounting for $255 million.
BOISE  Gov. C.L. Butch Otter called Monday for massive state spending increases for aquifer recharge tied to a landmark deal reached between water groups last year.

Otter is asking for a one-time $6.5 million boost to the Secondary Aquifer Planning, Management and Implementation Fund, bringing it to $16.5 million total for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. And, the governor is calling for an additional ongoing boost in spending on water sustainability projects statewide, from $2 million a year to $5 million.

After additional discussions with the Idaho Department of Water Resources on the funding necessary to meet the states commitment under the settlement agreement for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, I am revising my budget recommendation to fully fund its accelerated implementation, the governor wrote in a letter to members of the Legislatures budget-setting Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

JFAC Co-Chairwoman Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, called Otters announcement very good news for the Magic Valley, and said funding aquifer recharge was one of her priorities for this years session, along with continuing to increase education funding, getting money for a crisis center in the Magic Valley and addressing the states wildfire funding shortfall.

Frankly, its probably the wisest thing we could do this year, Bell said.

Otters call for more aquifer recharge money comes in a year when Magic Valley lawmakers are looking for state support to help implement a historic agreement between the Surface Water Coalition and groundwater users.

The deal calls for groundwater users to give up 13 percent of their allotment to help stabilize the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, which is at its lowest level in more than a century. As well as the new funding announced Monday, Otters budget proposal already included $546,100 to hire four more people at the Department of Water Resources and start to install flow meters to implement and enforce the agreement.

It also comes at a moment when some aquifer recharge funding is up in the air  Otters plan to extend primary coverage to the poor would use the $5 million yearly in cigarette tax revenue that goes toward recharge now.

It remains to be seen if Otters Primary Care Access Program will pass, or if the funding source will be the same as Otter has recommended. At an Idaho Chamber Alliance event in Boise on Monday, House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, floated the idea of funding it initially with money from the Millennium Fund  the state endowment fund that holds the money Idaho got from the settlement with the big tobacco companies in the 1990s  and only switching later to cigarette tax once the program is established.

Bell said lawmakers would have to wait and see whether PCAP passes and how this will affect aquifer recharge money  if it does, theyll have to come up with some of the money elsewhere in the budget. She was receptive to the idea of using Millennium Fund money for PCAP.

I think theres an opportunity there to do something really good, she said.

In his State of the State address and again in Mondays news release announcing the extra funding, Otter praised Bedke, Senate Resources and Environment Committee Chairman Steve Bair, R-Blackfoot, and Idaho Water Resource Board Chairman Roger Chase for bringing the water user groups together to broker the deal.

All water users understand that this is about sustainability and the health of the aquifer, Bedke said in a statement. I appreciate Gov. Otter revising his budget recommendation to reflect the urgent need to address this critical issue.

We appreciate the governors ongoing efforts to assist the water users in sustaining and restoring our water supplies, said Brian Olmstead, manager of the Twin Falls Canal Co., which is a member of the Surface Water Coalition. Additionally, Speaker Bedke and Sen. Bair should be applauded for their leadership.

Mathew Weaver, deputy director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources, said the money would be spent on aquifer sustainability projects statewide.

We have aquifers that have been in historic decline from Palouse down to Malad, he said.

There have been recharge efforts in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer for the past six years, and Weaver said that aquifer is the farthest along in terms of conjunctive management and the amount of data and science on it. There are projects there, he said, that are closer to being able to break ground than the ones in other parts of the state where more data has to be collected and projects identified.

Initially, it will be easiest for us to spend money in the Eastern Snake Plain, because of how far along (we are) compared to others, he said. As time progresses  well be looking to implement projects in other basins as well.

Weaver said the state should be able to meet the goal of increasing recharge of the ESPA by 250,000 acre-feet a year, not in the next few years but perhaps in fewer than 10, assuming the state funding doesnt dry up and the rain and snow cooperate.

We do think well have a good shot of reaching that average annual goal within the next decade, he said.
Q: There were plans to develop the north side canyon rim BLM land into horse and bike trails. Is that still the plan?

A: It is a plan, but funding problems have all but quashed the effort.

Jerome County has a lease with the Bureau of Land Management for the area between the freeway and the canyon, referred to as the North Rim Park.

A master plan finalized in 2007 calls for recreation areas that could be developed for equestrian, mountain bike, pedestrian and motorized use, said Codie Martin, a BLM field manager for the Shoshone Field Office.

The BLM-owned parcels leased to Jerome County are just north of the Snake River canyon rim. According to the master plan, there are five parcels totaling close to 7,200 acres from Auger Falls on the west to Hansen Bridge on the east. The bulk of the land lies south of I-84 and east of Highway 93. In addition, the Idaho Department of Lands owns a large parcel of about 1,200 acres to the east of Highway 93 along the rim of the Snake River Canyon and adjacent to the proposed park.

Problem is, the BLM hasnt received any proposals from the county to get the park rolling.

Jerome County Commissioner Cathy Roemer said the park plan  once called North Rim Park, now called Snake River Canyon Park  hasnt gone quite as expected.

At the time it was thought IDL would trade some land with BLM to bring all of that property into BLM ownership. That never happened. In order to use IDL land it must be leased at a price, Roemer said.

A North Rim Park Advisory Committee was formed in 2006 and developed a 30-page master plan, a collaborative effort between Jerome County commissioners, South Central Idaho Tourism and Recreation Development Association, and residents of Twin Falls.

In 2013, the commissioners appointed George Panagiotou, owner of Devils Corral, as the park contact. Panagiotou formed a committee structure with by-laws and established a non-profit entity to fund the parks development.

Jerome County Commissioner Charles Howell said user groups havent settled internal spats on whether to allow shooting. Nor has much money been raised.

With limited funding and the problem of shooting in this area, not much has been accomplished. We would be looking for outside support to prohibit shooting in this area which is in our lease, but as evidenced in the news, some people seem to think we are denying them a right even though, in my opinion, we are not, the commissioner said. Shooters are their own worst enemy out there with little concern for safety or littering. And walking, ATV use, climbing or horseback riding are not feasible, safety wise, without eliminating shooting in this area.

Added Roemer: The bottom line is, this is all about money. The ROD is a legally binding document and I have always said there was never an intention for Jerome County citizens to foot the bill for the park. We simply cannot afford to develop 7,000 acres according to the master plan. Nor should we as it should be funded by user groupsATV and horseback riders, shooters, etc.

Preserving the park so the BLM would not sell it for development was to protect the city of Twin Falls water supply, Roemer said.

Because the BLM Record of Decision says, Jerome County states that local taxing for park management would not occur, it was thought at the time that federal funds would be available, Roemer said. Those never materialized. I have never been in favor of spending Jerome taxpayer dollars to develop the park.

But theres still hope. Roemer said she has high hopes the user groups will be willing to donate or raise money to develop the park. Jerome commissioners said theyd also be willing to work with the city of Twin Falls.
Do I look senile to you, Dr M asks over calls to quit politics YOU ARE DEFINITELY NOT SENILE BUT AN INSTIGATOR TO MALAYSIAN CRISIS SINCE 1...
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..
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

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Autonomous guns, on the other hand, just might - and representatives at the World Economic Forum in Davos have come out with a recommendation that weapons driven by artificial intelligence be banned. Not too long ago, killer robots existed only in the realm of science fiction. Today, they're an industry estimated at some $40 billion.

The states listed for already testing or simply researching and developing autonomous weapons are the U.S., South Korea, Israel, China, the U.K. and the Russian Federation.

The rise of the Terminators is not that far off, but a preemptive ban seems premature; it might be better to impose a ban after they rip the terrorists to shreds.
Web and Graphic Design Jobs, a Job Opportunities site and a collection of job opportunities in the design, graphic design, visual communication, web design, animation, illustration, and art fields for web designers, animators, graphic designers, illustrators, user interface designers and design experts in lebanon and the mena region and job opportunities in the Gulf along with occasional job opportunities on an international scale. This job opportunities blog is dedicated for lebanese in search of a career shift or career change. Lebanese jobs listing and lebanese jobs opportunities have been collected from friends, employers and my business network. It mostly includes graphic design jobs in lebanon, web design jobs in lebanon, and multimedia design jobs in lebanon.
The pleas submitted by two French journalists, Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet, who made the headlines last summer for their involvement in an extortion and blackmail attempt against Morocco, were rejected by a French Court of appeal.

The investigation chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal rejected Tuesday the request submitted by the defendants lawyers to consider inadmissible the audio and video recordings showing the two journalists demanding 3 million to Moroccos attorney, Hicham Naciri, to abandon their scheme to publish a controversial book on the North African country and its King Mohammed VI.

Attorney Naciri held three meetings with the two journalists to discuss the details of the deal and recorded all the conversations. The third and last meeting in a Paris restaurant in August last year was the most compromising as it was supervised by French police. During this meeting, the two journalists signed a document pledging that they will never ever write on Morocco and received 40,000 each as an advance pending the finalization of the arrangement.

As they were leaving the restaurant with the evidence of their foul play in their pockets, the two journalists were arrested by the police and referred to court.

Now that their pleas to consider inadmissible the audio and video recordings have been rejected, the journalists will find it hard to exculpate themselves with such a documented evidence.

In cases of extortion, the French penal code provides for up to 7 years in jail and a 100,000 fine. A culprit for blackmail can get up to 5 years in jail and a 75,000 fine.
A day after Canadas foreign minister Stephane Dion stated that unilateral actions such as Palestinian initiatives toward statehood in international forums and continued Israeli settlements, are unhelpful and constitute serious obstacles to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, his spokesman Joe Pickerill on Monday explained that Israel and Canada are good friends and tough messages can occasionally be delivered. Dions criticism seems to have signaled a changing position of the Canadian government after the liberals won the elections against the conservatives, pro-Israel, in October.

Dion said Canada supports actions that would help the revival of negotiations between Israel and Palestine and in November, he said a sustainable peace in the Middle East will be beneficiary to Israel. On Sunday, he said a two state agreement with an independent Palestine is the most viable path to peace.

Dions latest statement was strongly criticized by Conservative foreign affairs critic Tony Clement and deputy critic Peter Kent as they questioned why he failed to condemn such violence being perpetrated by Hamas and the Palestinians because by only expressing concern, and by omission, equates such terrorist attacks (Hamas rockets and knife stabbings) with Israeli settlement construction. They said his statement is unacceptable.

Spokesman Pickerill downplayed the reaction surrounding Dions statement saying were steadfast allies and good friends, and good friends can occasionally deliver tough messages, but its by no means to suggest that were somehow retreating from any kind of support of Israel. He said the minister was pointing out Canadas position and not necessarily equating the violence by any means on both sides because it does not want to create a faux balance.

Netanyahu renewed at the beginning of the week his governments resolve to carry on building settlements.
Libyan internationally recognised parliament based in Tobruk Monday rejected Prime Minister Serrajs government but endorsed with reservation the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA.)

89 out of 104 present for the vote rejected the proposed cabinet which was announced last week. Reports say lawmakers rejected the cabinet because it is too large and urged Prime Minister Serra to trim it.

The rejection comes as the Presidency Council member Omar Al-Aswad this weekend accused the Council of favoritism in the naming of the ministers and that members of the council reversed an initial agreement to form a cabinet of 10 ministers.

This move by the HoR is a blow to the UN, EU and the US which gave their blessings to the cabinet and pledged their full support for Serraj and his team.

Besides, the HoR has given its preliminary endorsement to the LPA signed in Morocco but voiced some reservations. The HoR demanded that the clause vesting the Council with military and security powers be dropped.

Reacting to the rejection, the Head of UN Special Mission in Libya Martin Kobler urged the house and the Council to reach agreement so that they quickly provide Libya with a central administration.

Kobler said that he took note of the reservation of the HoR on article (8) but reminded all parties that any amendment to the LPA must be in line with the mechanism of the Libyan Political Agreement.

We will continue consultations with all parties to find consensual solution to all outstanding issues, he added.
Prime Minister Khalid Bahah returned to Aden on Monday after leaving the city for Riyadh in October following an attack on the Al Qasr hotel, the base of the Hadi-led government and coalition forces, by the Islamic State group.

The government will now be based at the Republican Palace in Aden and spokesperson of the Yemeni government Rageh Badi said some ministers will be based in the cities of Hadramout, Marib and Socotra.

Not all the ministers returned to the war torn country as some will continue to be in Riyadh but most of the ministers are in Aden Badi stated. The finance, interior and oil ministers were among those who made the trip. He however admitted that security continues to be the main challenge but the government will work with its allies to overcome it.

Aden is not fully under the control of the Hadi government as al-Qaeda continues to impose its authority in certain districts around the city after helping pro-Hadi fighters and the coalition to oust the Houthi Movement. The Islamic State group also continues to target authorities in suicide attacks, one of which killed the governor of Aden Gaafar Mohammed Saad in December.

Attacks are still ongoing in the city and on Monday, al Qaeda attacked public institutions in Al Hawta district in Lahj, the province surrounding Aden, before taking over the area. The militants took over Zinjibar district in Abyan province last month, 50 kilometers east of Aden.

Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) demanded that the warring parties in Yemen spare public places, hospitals and medical facilities from attacks in accordance with the international humanitarian law. MSF structures have been struck by airstrikes in Yemen and Afghanistan.
Q: Whats the difference between migraines and other types of headaches?

Cowan: A migraine is much more than a headache. It occurs on average one to four times a month. Unlike a tension headache, it is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Its pain is intensified by physical activity and is so severe it interferes with daily activities. About 30 percent of migraineurs  people with migraine  have a warning that consists of neurologic signs, or auras, they experience before the migraine episode begins. The most commonly experienced aura is visual, during which patients see small, colored dots, flashing bright lights or multicolored zigzag lines that may form a shimmering crescentlike shape. Sometimes there are blind spots in the visual field.

Aura symptoms last for 20 to 30 minutes. They are followed within five to 60 minutes by the headache. An aura shorter than five minutes may be something else, so we do not diagnose a patient with short auras as having migraine with aura. Aura symptoms that last more than one hour may be a sign of other neurological problems and should be brought to a physicians attention. The headache that follows the aura is similar to a migraine headache without aura but often milder in intensity.

Q: Why do some people get headaches and others do not?

Cowan: Migraine seems to run in families, very often on the mothers side. Migraine headache is three times more common in women than in men. That increased risk emerges in women when puberty begins and decreases after menopause. Genetics can also hardwire us to get headaches. That we cant control, but environment also plays a big role. A headache may come after intense exercise at high altitude or with severe dehydration and high temperature. Some of us are just more sensitive to environmental changes, either in the external environment  too much sun, for example  or in our internal environment, from a drop in estrogen levels or a change in sleep pattern. People who are not headache-prone do not usually get headaches under stressful conditions. However, those who are prone to headache often experience headache when under stress or during the letdown period, the time after a stressful period has passed.

Q: How often can I take pain medicine for headache?

Cowan: I chose to enter this field more than 25 years ago because people with migraines and other severe headaches know how disabling they are and because I wanted to offer treatment that was multidisciplinary, that was more than stronger and stronger medication. The vast majority of headaches should not be treated with opioids or any other pain medications. It depends upon what kind of medicine you are taking, of course, but a good rule of thumb is not to take any pain medication more than two days in any week, and no more frequently than recommended on the label or as prescribed. If you need more medication to control pain, you should consult a physician. Overuse of acute medications can actually increase the frequency of your headaches. Headaches can be worsened by overusing off-the-shelf and prescription medications: analgesics, barbiturates, caffeine and ergotamine tartrate. The simple solution would be to stop overusing pain relievers. But it isnt that easy. Most patients with analgesic rebound who have tried to stop overusing pain relievers have found that their headaches got worse before they got better. Their headaches typically became more intense within four to six hours after stopping the medication and were at their worst within one to two days. This worst period may last for two to three weeks. If this describes you and you have not already consulted a physician, now is the time.

Q: What can I do to avoid getting headaches?

Cowan: A good headache-management plan, especially if you experience migraines, starts with observation. We encourage our patients to take note and observe their own patterns of behavior and identify the things that contribute to headaches. Patients may notice they have certain symptoms that appear before a headache begins. Irritability, lethargy, yawning, neck stiffness and a food craving or aversion may be pre-headache signals to note.

A great way for those patients who suffer from chronic headaches to get started is with a diary to record headache frequency and severity, time of onset and similar information for a month or three. You may begin to see patterns that were not readily obvious when you relied on your memory to analyze your headaches. Share your information with your doctor. There are several apps, computer programs and paper diaries available to document your headache history.
The investigation chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal rejected on Tuesday a petition to annul audio recordings implicating the two French journalists, Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet, being prosecuted for attempted extortion and blackmail against Morocco.

The defendants lawyers had submitted the petition to consider the audio recordings inadmissible, but Moroccos lawyer, Eric Dupond-Moretti countered their plea saying that all the evidence against the blackmailers was obtained in a legal manner and in coordination with French authorities.

Last summer, the two journalists had threatened to publish a supposedly compromising book on King Mohammed VI and his country, in exchange of money. They had set the amount at 3 million.

Moroccos attorney met the two journalists for three times in Paris, and during the third and last meeting held in a Paris Restaurant on August 27, the two French journalists signed a notarized document, reportedly handwritten by Catherine Graciet, committing not to write or publish anything on the Kingdom of Morocco, to never speak publicly on this country, either directly, indirectly or through intermediaries, and to never share, in any way, the documents and information in their possession with anyone.

During the same meeting, they received an advance of 40,000 each as down-payment for the 2 million they had finally agreed upon. What they did not know, is that the French police was supervising the meeting, taking pictures and recording all its details.

So, when they were leaving the restaurant, they were handcuffed with the money they had received and the document they had signed in their pockets and referred to court.

In a statement to reporters Tuesday, attorney Eric Dupond-Moretti said the document signed by both defendants pledging not to publish their book in return of the sum of money agreed upon is a notarial act, done under the supervision of the Paris Public Prosecutor. In addition to that, he added, you have the phone conversations between Eric Laurent and the head of the Royal Cabinet that clearly evidence the defendants involvement in the racketeering.

All these blatant proofs indicting the two felons will be hard to annul.
Rwandan security forces killed Saturday an imam suspected to be an IS recruiter in the small central Africa country.

Muhammad Mugemangango, a deputy imam at Kimiromko, in the capital Kigali was gunned down Saturday after he tried to flee as police took him on board a vehicle heading to his house for a search.

He was immediately gunned down as he hopped out of the vehicle, police said in a statement.

Security authority accused him of recruiting and luring youth for the Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

According to the Rwandan police spokesman Celestin Twahirwa this is the first IS recruiting case registered in the country dominated by Roman Catholics.

Security authorities explained that they have discovered terrorist networks thanks to intelligence through cooperation with the population. However they pointed that they have not registered any Rwandans traveling or who have joined IS ranks in Syria or elsewhere.

The IS group is already present on the African continent. The group is very active in Libya and some important cities and town of the North African country has fallen in orbit of the Sunni-oriented terrorist group.

Boko Harm in Nigeria and al Shabab in Somalia have also pledged allegiance to the terror group now sowing havoc around the world.
Efforts to bring an end to the existence of two rival governments and parliaments hit a stumbling block on Monday as the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) expressed reservations over the Libya Political Agreement reached under a U.N-led political dialogue, rejected the 32-member cabinet formed by Prime Minister Fayez al Sarraj, demanding that it be downsized and requested that the Libyan national army would not be under the command of the unity government as stated in the agreement.

The parliament wants the Presidential Council to present a new cabinet within ten days or the council would be dissolved.

104 deputies of the 108 in the HoR were present at the session and 89 of them voted against the agreement. MP Omar Tantoush said the Presidential Council did not use the correct criteria in choosing ministers and the size of the government, especially now that the economy is collapsing in Libya. The parliament also wants article 8 of the political agreement related to sovereign posts in the government, including military positions to be reviewed in a bid to protect army chief KhalifaHaftar against the Tripoli-based government that is calling for his departure.

The deputies urged Omar Al Aswad and Ali Al Qatarani, members of the presidential council, to end their boycott protest they began after the cabinet was unveiled last week and return to the council until a new one is formed.

Amending the political agreement that was signed in Morocco last year following a request from Tobruk would further complicate the U.N-led talks because Tripoli has also been urging for a similar move while UN special envoy Martin Kobler has already stressed that the parliaments have to vote the agreement as presented.
Algerian President, AbdelazizBouteflika has dissolved the military spy directorate known as the DRS, creating a new agency staffed by loyalists and reporting directly to the presidency, local media reported on Monday.

The reports said an agency, known by the acronym DSS, had been set up to replace the powerful DRS intelligence agency, which is being dissolved.

Retired general AthmanTartag, an ex-security adviser to the president, is to head the DSS.

Last year, the Algerian leader has named Tartag as successor to long-time DRS chief General Mohamed Mediene  better known as General Toufik.

The powerful intelligence chief, General Mohamed Mediene, is a very powerful figure, known as Algerias kingmaker.

Analysts deemed his ouster as a definite shift in the internal power dynamics within the countrys elite.

After he came to power,Bouteflika, 78, side-lined parts of the army, weakening its power and it seems likely he may be using this same tactic again to diminish the might of the intelligence services.

Bouteflikas public engagements have become rare and he appears on local television only when foreign dignitaries visit.

Opponents, including his rival in the 2014 presidential polls, Ali Benflis, have spoken of a power vacuum in Algeria.
Qatar Airways operated direct flights between Mozambiques capital city Maputo and Doha, the capital city of Qatar, will start from March this year.

The information reported on Monday by the Maputo daily, Noticias, said the new route will be served by latest-generation Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The current twice weekly Qatar Airways flights between Maputo and Doha stop at Johannesburg in both directions. Cutting out the stop in Johannesburg will reduce travel time by two hours, it reported.

The new direct flight may also prove attractive to passengers who wish to travel on to other destinations in the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Qatar Airways is the first airline from the Middle East to fly to Mozambique, which is its 19th destination in Africa and the 10th route launched in 2012.

The Qatari carrier has seen rapid growth in 19 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 175 aircraft to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.
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Anonymous survey explored how early years workers felt about 'loving' the children in their careWhile the majority of practitioners believe showing affection to the children in their care is important, concerns exist about how others view the appropriateness of their actions

A toolkit for early years practitioners has been created by researchers at the University of Sheffield after a study examined whether they should 'love' the children in their care.

Dr Jools Page, from the University's School of Education, explored how a rise in media coverage surrounding sex abuse scandals has had an impact on childcare providers by asking early years professionals for their views on 'professional love' in an anonymous online survey.

To carry out the research Dr Page and the research team spent five months from February to July 2015 talking to early years professionals across England and worked intensively with early years practitioners at Fennies, a privately owned group of nurseries based in south London and Surrey, who were the project collaborators.

"In recent years, a small but growing number of early years practitioners have been convicted of child abuse, and the continued media exposure of abusive clergy and then of various 'celebrity' entertainers has led to a climate of wariness and even suspicion of adults' professional relationships with very young children," said Dr Page.

"A difficulty for those who work in early years settings is how to express the affectionate and caring behaviours which the role demands of them in their loco parentis, and which very young children need in their development of healthy attachments."

Dr Page has developed the term 'professional love' to try to understand these intimacies, which she says have been relatively unexamined in the daily practice of early years settings, obscured by a climate of wariness.

The survey, which was completed by 793 early years professionals, including nursery staff, childminders and teaching assistants, found:

95 per cent felt that showing affection to the children in their care was an important part of early years practice.However, 10 per cent said they were worried about false accusations and how others view the appropriateness of their actions.Opinion was mixed on whether respondents felt comfortable being alone around the children in their care, with one in five saying they avoid doing so.

Respondents gave a wide range of definitions of 'professional love', including broad terms like 'care' and 'kindness' or being 'available' and paying 'attention' to the children.

Some disagreed when relating professional love to parental love, with some saying it should be parental in nature'loving a child as if it's your own' or 'acting like a mother'with others saying it wasn't the same as the bond you'd have with your own child.

The role of physical contact like kissing and hugging was present in some definitions, with some comment about acceptable and unacceptable actions, while a small number went further to describe that displays of affection in general must be initiated by the child.

Just over half of the respondents (56 per cent) said they were not concerned about parents' attitudes to professional love, with 22 per cent saying they feel they are acting in line with what parents want for their children and three per cent feeling that parents understand there are clear boundaries or policies in place.

However, 10 per cent of practitioners reported concerns over parents feeling threatened, jealous or uncomfortable about early years staff developing a relationship with their children. This was more common (13 per cent) for childminders than those working in other early years settings (8 per cent).

In response to a child saying 'I love you', nearly half (47 per cent) said they would say 'I love you' back.

Others said they would give limited reciprocation by saying something like 'I like you' (20 per cent), say 'that's nice' or 'lovely' (15 per cent) or use diversionary phrasing such as 'I love spending time with you too' (2 per cent). Two per cent said they would explain or explore other relationships by asking questions like 'who else do you love?', a further two per cent said they would respond by saying 'you are all loved' and one per cent said they would give a non-verbal response like a smile or hug.

"The project findings were used to co-produce a set of professional development materials in the form of an 'Attachment Toolkit' which includes case studies, narratives and video, which has been trialled and evaluated by Fennies, our collaborating group of nurseries," said Dr Page.

"As this project has demonstrated, it is the debate and theorisation of love and care which is important. Providing opportunities for practitioners to discuss and reflect upon each other's viewpoints is likely to bring about a more thoughtful understanding and crucially a shift in their thinking."

John Warren, Director of Childcare at Fennies, added: "We got involved in the research because of our vision to create the right start for under-fives. During the settling-in period children need a great deal of what can only be described as care and attention - or, as Dr Page would call it, professional love.

"Creating the right start for children and families is imperative, but it is also important for the parents to know where we are coming from as professional practitioners and to understand that we are not trying to take over from them as the child's main care giver.

"Our managers attended a boutique-style conference with Dr Page and Dr Clare, the project research assistant and were enthused by the outcomes. They can see the benefits it will have for our children and families, ensuring that children feel safe and secure in their environment and are predisposed to learn."

He added: "Following the initial trial of the toolkit full implementation within our settings is still at an early stage at Fennies We are delighted to be continuing our collaboration with Dr Page and the University of Sheffield and are planning to extend the case study examples to inform a company-wide professional development conference in March 2016 which will focus on Fennies approach to 'professional love'.

Explore further Gaps in care for child trauma and stress after injury
Teens' experiences with violenceeither through fear of violence, observing violent events, or being victims of violence themselvesare associated with how likely they are to have sex and use condoms, new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests.

The findings of the Baltimore-based study could eventually lead to new ways to improve sexual health among this population. They will be presented at the International Conference on Family Planning in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.

Violence is a common experience among youth living across the United States, particularly in poor, urban communities. While a growing body of research links violence to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes, these studies have primarily focused on violence within relationships, such as intimate partner violence or gender-based violence. Less is known about how violence at the community level might affect teens' sexual choices and, consequently, their sexual health, says Hannah Lantos, PhD, a recent graduate of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health and a research scientist at Child Trends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center.

"We need to help young people understand what's happening to them in terms of violent experiences in order to help them feel empowered to make healthy choices about sex, sexual partners and condom use," says Lantos, who will present the findings from her study. "A first priority in these neighborhoods is to reduce the high levels of violence that adolescents fear and experience. However, if we cannot put a stop to violence in these neighborhoods, helping young people process these experiences and learn coping skills may have a broader impact on their behavior."

Lantos gathered data from the Well-Being of Adolescents in Vulnerable Environments (WAVE) study, a project run jointly by Hopkins' Center for Adolescent Health, its Urban Health Institute and the drug maker Astrazeneca. Started in 2011, WAVE collected information from young people in five study sites (Baltimore; Johannesburg, South Africa; Shanghai, China; Delhi, India; and Ibadan, Nigeria) to further the health of teens in low-income communities around the world.

Lantos used data from 426 participants between the ages of 15 and 19 (245 male and 181 female), who took a 30-minute computer survey at Johns Hopkins. These participants, all from East Baltimore neighborhoods, answered a series of questions asking about their experience with violence in their communities. These questions focused on the participants' fear of violence, observations of violence or whether they'd been victims of violence themselves. In addition, the teens also answered questions about whether they'd had sex in the past year and whether they'd used a condom the last time they'd had sex.

Results showed that the teens' experience with violence and sex differed between males and females. While 71 percent of the female participants reported fear of violence, only 41 percent of the male participants did. Females were also about 7 percentage points more likely to report observing violence, though males and females were equally likely to have been victims of violence.

Males were about 10 percentage points more likely to report having sexual intercourse in the past year, and condom use was about the same between the two genders. For the female participants, all three experiences of violence increased the odds of having sex in the past year. Fear increased the likelihood that females engaged in sex by 40 percent, females who observed violence were 3.5 times as likely to engage in sexual activity, and being a victim of violence more than tripled it.

For the male participants, victimization wasn't associated with sexual activity, but fear cut the odds of engaging in sex by more than 50 percent. Observation of violence more than doubled the likelihood of sexual activity for males.

Condom use also differed by gender. For females, experiencing fear was associated with a 70 percent reduction in condom use the last time they engaged in sexual activity, while for males observing violence cut the likelihood that they used a condom the last time they engaged in sexual activity by half.

Though the study was unable to ascertain why violence was linked with sexual behavior or why it might differ by gender, Lantos suggests that showing that this link exists could eventually help researchers develop interventions that could help protect teens against the negative effects of violence while also assisting them in making decisions to improve their sexual health.

Lantos will present "Experiences of Community Level Violence and Sexual Risk Behaviors in Baltimore" at 4:20 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Jan. 26 in Legian 5 at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center.

Explore further Opioid use and sexual violence among drug-using young adults in NYC
At least 50 people have died of swine flu in Russia since last month, according to AFP calculations based on data from regional health authorities, as the virus seems to gain ground in the country.

Health authorities in the southern region of Rostov told RIA Novosti state news agency on Monday that an additional two people had succumbed to the virus, bringing the region's swine flu death toll to eight.

Officials in the nearby Volgograd region meanwhile have said that at least 11 people have died of swine flu.

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 one in the southern region of Adygea.

A first deadly case of swine flu was also reported this week in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in March 2014.

Swine flu deaths have also been reported in the Bryank, Belgorod and Vladimir regions, among others.

Russian health minister Veronika Skvortsova said Monday that the swine flu situation in the country was "completely under control."

As of Friday, 18 deadly swine flu cases had been reported in the former Soviet republic of Armenia since the start of the year.

Authorities in neighbouring Georgia meanwhile said they had recorded three deadly cases of the virus.

In nearby Iran, swine flu has left 112 dead and put more than 1,000 people in hospital since mid-November, authorities said late last month.

A major outbreak of the H1N1 virus sparked a World Health Organization pandemic alert in June 2009, after it emerged from Mexico and the United States.

The outbreak killed around 18,500 people in 214 countries. The alert was lifted in August 2010.

Explore further At least 39 deadly swine flu cases recorded in Russia

 2016 AFP
A health worker stands in the Sambadrome as he sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus suspected of causing birth defectsbut he also says the war is already being lost.

Marcelo Castro said that nearly 220,000 members of Brazil's Armed Forces would go door-to-door to help in mosquito eradication efforts ahead of the country's Carnival celebrations. Agency spokesman Nivaldo Coelho said Tuesday details of the deployment are still being worked out.

Castro also said the government would distribute mosquito repellent to some 400,000 pregnant women who receive cash-transfer benefits.

But the minister also said the country is "badly losing the battle" against the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

"The mosquito has been here in Brazil for three decades, and we are badly losing the battle against the mosquito," the ministers said as a crisis group on Zika was meeting in the capital, Brazilia. The remarks, published in local newspapers, were confirmed by Coelho.

A massive eradication effort eliminated Aedes aegypti from Brazil during the 1950s, but the mosquito slowly returned over the following decades from neighboring nations, public health experts have said. That led to outbreaks of dengue, which was recorded in record numbers last year.

In this Jan. 18, 2016, file photo, a female Aedes aegypti mosquito acquires a blood meal on the arm of a researcher at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in the Sao Paulo's University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Aedes aegypti can spread the Zika virus, which is spreading in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean and usually causes a mild illness but is now suspected in an unusual birth defect and possibly other health issues. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

The arrival of Zika in Brazil last year initially caused little alarm, as the virus' symptoms are generally much milder than those of dengue. It didn't become a crisis until late in the year, when researchers made the link with a dramatic increase in reported cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect that sees babies born with unusually small heads and can cause lasting developmental problems.

Worry about the rapid spread of Zika has expanded across the nation, and the hemisphere beyond. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised pregnant women to reconsider travel to Brazil and 21 other countries and territories with Zika outbreaks.

One of them, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, reported 18 confirmed cases of Zika on Tuesday, though none involve pregnant women.

A health worker sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Officials in El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil have suggested women stop getting pregnant until the crisis has passed.

Repellent has disappeared from many Brazilian pharmacies and prices for the product have tripled or even quadrupled where it's still available in recent weeks since the government announced a suspected link between Zika virus and microcephaly

Nearly 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported in Brazil since October, compared with fewer than 150 cases in the country in all of 2014.

A health worker sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus under the bleachers of the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations.Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Castro's remarks have proven controversial, both in and outside Brazil.

World Health Organization spokesman Christian Lindmeier said he hadn't seen the remarks, "but in general terms I think that this would be a bit of a fatalistic approach because this should mean we could lay down all our approaches now and declare the war lost.

"I don't think this is the case," he added at WHO headquarters, in Geneva.

A health worker sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus under the bleachers of the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In Brazil, some called for Castro to be fired.

"He is incapable of occupying his position," wrote Helio Gurovitz, a columnist with G1, the internet portal of the Globo television network. "To prove that Castro doesn't have the capacity to occupy such an important position, at such a delicate moment with the spread of the epidemic, all that's needed is a selection of such comments."

Both Brazil's Zika outbreak and the spike in microcephaly have been concentrated in the poor and underdeveloped northeast of the country, though the prosperous southeast, where Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located, are the second hardest-hit region. Rio de Janeiro will host the Aug. 5-21 Olympic games.

A health worker stands in the Sambadrome as he sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors began to spray insecticide around the Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

On Tuesday, officials in Rio also ramped up their fight against the Aedes aegypti, dispatching a team of fumigators to the Sambadrome, where the city's Carnival parades will take place next month, and the region's governor was distributing mosquito-fighting vehicles for poor suburbs of the city.

Officials in another hard-hit South American country, Colombia, also ramped up efforts against Zika on Tuesday.

Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria visited the city of Ibague, a hotbed of Zika, to start a "Tour of Colombia" campaign to educate local officials on how to fight the mosquitoes. Colombian officials say they've recorded more than 13,500 suspected cases and President Juan Manuel Santos said there could be 600,000 cases by year's end.

The WHO's Lindmeier said Tuesday that the U.N. agency plans a special session on the virus during a Geneva meeting of its executive board on Thursday.

Explore further Brazil to fund development of vaccine for Zika virus

 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
A depiction of the double helical structure of DNA. Its four coding units (A, T, C, G) are color-coded in pink, orange, purple and yellow. Credit: NHGRI

Genes that influence people's health also shape how effectively they think, a study shows.

Scientists found that genes associated with diseases including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and autism also have an impact on some cognitive functions.

They say the study will help understanding of some of the links between low levels of cognitive function and poor health.

An international team, led by the University of Edinburgh, analysed data from around 100,000 people held in the UK Biobank.

This national resource of health data can help researchers discover why some people develop particular diseases and others do not.

When researchers compared each person's mental test data with their genome, they found that some traits linked to disease and thinking skills shared the same genetic influences.

To test the findings, researchers gathered data from previous genetic studies of other mental and physical health factorssuch as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and autism.

Professor Ian Deary, Director of the Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (CCACE) at the University of Edinburgh, who led the research, said: "In addition to there being shared genetic influences between cognitive skills and some physical and mental health states, the study also found that cognitive skills share genetic influences with brain size, body shape and educational attainments."

Researcher Saskia Hagenaars said: "The study supports an existing theory which says that those with better overall health are likely to have higher levels of intelligence."

Her colleague Dr Sarah Harris said: "The research highlights the importance of investigating biological pathways that influence both cognitive function and health related traits."

The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, involved researchers in the UK, Germany and the US.

The analysis was carried out at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Epidemiology (CCACE). It was supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council (BBSRC) as part of the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing programme, a collaboration between the UK's Research Councils.

Explore further Schizophrenia genes increase chance of IQ loss
Nurses faced with abusive managers are more likely to quit. But a recent study by McGill University and Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres researchers finds that the opposite is also true - transformational leadership - a style of management in which employees are encouraged to work towards a collective goal within a supportive milieu, is linked to nurses' well-being, and has positive impacts upon job retention.

"With the supply of nurses in Canada in decline, we need to improve how we manage our health-care work force," says Melanie Lavoie-Tremblay, an Associate Professor at the Ingram School of Nursing. "Paying close attention to the leadership practices of nurse managers could go a long way in improving patient care and increasing the retention rate among our new nurses".

Early on in her career working as a new nurse, Lavoie-Tremblay found herself "concerned" by the work environment she witnessed and experienced in the healthcare setting. She along with her colleagues took action by studying the effects of abusive and transformational leadership styles using a sample of 541 registered nurses practicing in Quebec with an average age of 26. The team devised an anonymous online survey and asked the participants to self-report on the effect of management styles.

"We found that while transformational leadership should be promoted, it is essential to spread the word that abusive leadership creates working conditions that could be detrimental to nursing practice in the profession", says Lavoie-Tremblay, "Managers should use the results to provide training for nurse managers focusing on transformational leadership practices and the dangers of abusive leadership".

Explore further How different types of nurses impact the health of patients with diabetes

More information: Transformational and abusive leadership practices: impacts on novice nurses, quality of Care and intention to leave, Melanie Lavoie-Tremblay, Claude Fernet, Genevieve L. Lavigne, Stephanie Austin is published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing. DOI: 10.111/jan12860 Journal information: Journal of Advanced Nursing Transformational and abusive leadership practices: impacts on novice nurses, quality of Care and intention to leave, Melanie Lavoie-Tremblay, Claude Fernet, Genevieve L. Lavigne, Stephanie Austin is published in the. DOI: 10.111/jan12860
Turkish businessman donates half million GEL to Georgian charity fund

A Turkish businessman has - for the second time - donated half a million GEL to a Georgian fund that will pay for expensive medical treatment for children with cancer.Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili met businessman Galip Ozturk to thank him for his large donations to the Solidarity Fund of Georgia.Ozturk is the founder of Metro Atlas Georgia, an investment management company which has invested in major projects in Georgias Black Sea coastal city of Batumi.The topics of discussion between the Prime Minister and the businessman were current investment projects and cooperation with the Solidarity Fund.Ozturk transferred 500 000 GEL to the fund, the second time the Turkish businessman had donated the same amount to the fund."Id like to let you know that you, personally, have saved the lives of dozens of children in Georgia, for which I want to express my gratitude, PM Kvirikashvili told Ozturk."We highly appreciate this and promise that you will have the Georgian Governments absolute support in such positive activities you carry out.The holding owned by Ozturk has made more than $75 million USD through investment in Georgia. An additional 200 million investment is currently being carried out.Meanwhile, the Solidarity Fund is Georgias first charity fund which was launched by the Government in August 2014. It was financed through voluntary donations from public sector employees to help fund treatment for children and adults with health problems.
Aerated concrete blocks to be produced in Georgia

A Ytong plant for production of energy efficient aerated concrete blocks will be built near Tbilisi, Sputnik reported, citing Georgias Partnership Fund JSC.The construction of the plant, which has a total value of $13.5 million, is planned to be completed before late 2016. The first certified products will be manufactured in early 2017.The countrys state fund is working together with a Georgian company, Ytong Caucasus, and a German company  Hella - on the project, which is still under discussion.A part of the Ytong plants products will remain in Georgia, and another part will be exported to Azerbaijan, Armenia, and southern Russia.The raw materials that are needed for blocks production will be manufactured in Georgia, Sputnik quoted Nino Cholokashvili, the head of Investment Department at the Partnership Fund, as saying.
US Ambassador says Georgia should care about diversification of energy resources

By Messenger Staff

Georgia should not become dependent on one source of energy, the US Ambassador to Georgia, Ian Kelly, has told media.According to him, Georgia needs to appreciate the importance of energy diversification.We have expressed our concern over the fact that Georgia should not become dependent on one source of energy and maintain diverse sources.We are satisfied with the explanations of the Georgian government. I think Georgia does have a short-term energy need and it should talk to all potential energy suppliers, said the Ambassador, and added that the government must be transparent about its energy policy.With regards to concerns over Georgia relying on gas supplies from Gazprom, a Russian company, when some of its territories are occupied by the Russian Federation, the US diplomat said that he is sure that the Georgian government is fully aware of the existent challenges.Several days ago, Georgian officials met with representatives from SOCAR, the Azeri company which provides gas to Georgia.After the meeting, Georgian officials stressed that the country was in need of additional gas supplies, especially during the winter.Georgian officials - in particular Minister of Energy Kakhi Kaladze - said that Georgia might fill the deficit with Russian gas.The statement caused a negative reaction from the parliamentary opposition and parts of the non-governmental sector, which stated that the current Government might make the country dependent on Russian gas.The diversification of energy resources is a welcome proposal; however, the share of the supply given from a country which occupies 20% of Georgias territory should be kept to an absolute minimum. Dealing with Gazprom means dealing with Russia, and the Russian Federation has always used its energy resources for its own, political interests.Thus, the Government must be very careful when making such decisions, both to avoid Georgia becoming reliant on Gazporm and to prevent social and political rest by undertaking action that made add credence to the claim that the government is, in fact, sympathetic to Moscows political ambitions.
The News in Brief

Two Georgian citizens die in Syria



Two Georgian citizens have died in Syria. As an InterpressNews correspondent was told by the locals of Pankisi Gorge, 24-year-old Ramzan Fareulidze and 22-year-old Mukhmad Turkoshvili were killed.



Reports say the deceased were fighting for the Islamic State.



Both of them left for Syria a year ago.

(IPN)







Search operations for three lost hunters continue in eastern Georgia



The search continues for three Georgian hunters who went missing 20 days ago after they became lost due to heavy snowfall.



Georgias Deputy Interior Ministers, Shalva Khutsishvili and Merab Malania, met with the parents and relatives of the lost hunters and briefed them on the current search activities.



The officials said that earlier reports about the three men being allegedly found in Dagestan, a North Caucasus republic under Russian rule, turned out to be false.



"The Interior Ministry has confirmed information that no Georgian citizen has been detained for illegally crossing the Russian border near Dagestan in at this time, the officials said.



Earlier it was believed that the three hunters could have found themselves in Dagestan after they could not find their way home. On January 7, a Georgian media outlet  the Kakheti Information Centre - spread the information that the hunters were in Dagestan, and had been detained there for allegedly illegally crossing the border.



The locals of the Kabali village in the eastern Lagodekhi municipality, announced on December 29 their four residents of the village went hunting and could not get back due to storms and heavy snowfall.



On December 31, only one out of the three hunters returned, as apparently he managed to walk faster than the others. He did not have any information about the whereabouts of his friends Levan Jalalovi, Avtandil Samkharadze and Davit Samkharadze.



All relevant bodies have been involved in the search operations over the last few weeks; helicopters were also used during the search operation.The Interior Ministry pledged that the search would continue until the men are found.

(Agenda.ge)







Iraqi students didnt comply with residency requirements: Minister



Georgian Education Minister Tamar Sanikidze said on Friday that a handful of Iraqi students had their residency permits revoked because they did not comply with the legal requirements to remain in Georgia.



The students, who are attending Akaki Tsereteli State University in Kutaisi, demonstrated a few days ago and appealed to the university for help.



Sanikidze said she did not have any information about the alleged security risk the students were told they pose to the country.



They also had to go through certain procedures of security rules, which are also described in national legislation, she said, explaining that the next step is to appeal the decision in court.



If they have some additional documents to submit in order to receive a residency permit, they will have this opportunity as well.



They also have the option of taking a break from their studies until their problems are resolved, she added.

(DF Watch)




WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DEMOCRAT PARTY? I can no longer remain in todays Demo Party that is now under the control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue and stoke anti-white racism, actively undermine our freedoms, are hostile to people of faith, demonize the police and protect criminals at the expense of law-abiding Americans, believe in open borders, weaponize the national security state to go after opponents.TULSI GABBARD
"To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour....
When allegations surfaced last year accusing the inspector general at the Florida Department of Correction's of covering up wrongdoing at the agency, the head of a Tallahassee-based government watchdog group wanted to learn more.

But when Ben Wilcox, Integrity Florida research director, submitted a public records request to get an electronic copy of all the inspector general reports for the agency going back to 2012, he was hit with a giant obstacle: a bill for $62,000.

"It actually kind of got me scared,'' said Wilcox, whose 501c3 organization is dependent on donations. "We don't have that kind of money. I thought Integrity Florida would be on the hook for it."

After months of attempting to work out an agreement with the agency, Wilcox is now considering a lawsuit against FDC for violating the provisions of the public records law that aims to prevent excessive costs for records. But a bill moving quickly through the Florida Legislature could have a chilling effect on his efforts.

If the bill becomes law, the agency would no longer be required to pay legal fees if Wilcox succeeds in court at forcing FDC to turn over the documents.

The bill, SB 1220, gets a hearing before the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee Tuesday and public records advocates are hoping to water it down with an amendment to require attorneys fees if the complainant gives the agency at least two days notice before filing its lawsuit and wins after that. The measure is being promoted heavily by the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties.
By @MichaelAuslen

Appropriations subcommittees will continue hearings as the state Legislature prepares to unveil draft budgets at the end of the week, appointees of Gov. Rick Scott will face tough confirmation hearings, and the The Capitol Press Corps hosts its annual press skits at 6:30 at The Moon to lampoon politicians and raise money for journalism scholarships. Here are five things we're watching in the Florida Capitol today:

* Surgeon General John Armstrong is expected to face tough questioning about rising HIV infection rates, shrinking county health departments and the removal of 9,000 sick kids from the Children's Medical Services program as the Senate Health Policy Committee considers his confirmation. (9 a.m., 412 Knott)

* Senators on the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will cast the first vote on Secretary of State Ken Detzner's confirmation after clashing with him last year over online voter registration. The committee will also consider a report on the Dozier School for Boys. (9 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building)

* The Florida House will take up amendments to a controversial bill (HB 191) by Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, that would regulate and legalize fracking in advance of a final vote Wednesday. (2:30 p.m., House chamber)

* LGBT and religious rights activists could clash in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where lawmakers will hear legislation banning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity (SB 120) and allowing religious groups to refuse service to gay couples (SB 110). (1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building)

* Lawmakers are bucking a trend toward more structured school days by proposing that recess be mandatory in Florida schools. HB 833, backed by schoolteacher Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, will be considered by the House K-12 Education Subcommittee. (9 a.m., 17 House Office Building)
@ByKristenMClark

A controversial proposal aimed at curtailing lawsuits against the state by the Florida School Boards Association is back for the 2016 session and is starting to move through both chambers of the Florida Legislature.

House Bill 1155/Senate Bill 1426 prohibit membership groups -- namely, the FSBA -- from using public dollars to sue the state, a move that critics argue could have a chilling effect on the group's ability to challenge laws and programs its members feel are unconstitutional.

Both bills -- which passed their first House and Senate committees on Tuesday -- refer broadly to "membership associations" that receive taxpayer dollars, but the hearings in both chambers focused almost solely on the school board association and its recent participation in a lawsuit challenging a voucher-like state program that helps children from low-income families afford private school.

The FSBA had joined the legal fight against the Florida Tax Credit Scholarships but later withdrew. The Florida Education Association is still fighting that case.

State lawmakers' attempt to rein in the FSBA originated last year in the midst of that lawsuit. Last session, legislation passed the House overwhelmingly, but it never got a floor vote in the Senate.

Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, is sponsoring this year's Senate version and she told senators it's been narrowly tailored so it "only applies to, for the most part, the school board association."

She said the FSBA has a "large public interest," which means it should be scrutinized as a "quasi-public organization."

"With the amount of dollars theyre receiving from our public funds, we need to have that amount of accountability," she said.
@MichaelAuslen

Florida lawmakers are moving forward with a near-total ban on abortions in the state plus a second bill placing new requirements on doctors who perform abortions.

By an 8-3 vote Monday afternoon, a House criminal justice panel voted to advance the more sweeping piece of legislation (HB 865), which would make performing an abortion or operating an abortion clinic a first-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Just hours earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court reiterated its long-standing ruling affirming women's right to the procedure.

"The bill recognizes that both the mother and the baby are citizens of the state of Florida and we are therefore compelled to protect their lives," said Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, the bill's sponsor.

He has put forward similar legislation for seven years, but it had never before been considered by a committee, the first step required to pass a bill into law, until Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, agreed to consider it Monday. Trujillo, the chairman of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, did not discuss the bill during debate and left the committee room without commenting.

"The Legislature finds that all human life comes from the Creator, has an inherent value that cannot be quantified by man, and begins at the earliest biological development of a fertilized human egg," the bill says.

It goes on to say that "personal liberty is not a license to kill or otherwise destroy any form of human life," and that the state has an interest in stopping abortions, unless the safety of the mother is in question.

It's likely that Van Zant's proposal, if passed by the Legislature, would lead to lawsuits citing the Supreme Court's 1973 ruling in Roe vs. Wade. That became even more likely Monday morning after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned an abortion ban in North Dakota.

That law prohibited abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The law never took effect, but abortion rights supporters called it the strictest anti-abortion law in the country.

Rep. Dave Kerner, D-Lake Worth, pointed to the court's ruling in Roe vs. Wade, as well as a Florida constitutional protection of privacy to debate against Van Zant's bill.

Read the full story here.
@JeremySWallace

Families of previously unidentified children who were buried and later exhumed at a state-run reform school in North Florida would get money to pay for burial costs under a pair of bills that gathered steam on Tuesday.

Under legislation that easily passed a pair of early committees, the next of kin of children found in unmarked graves at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys outside Marianna would be entitled to up to $7,500 each for funerals, reinterment and grave marker expenses.

But missing from Tuesday's discussion is what, if any, compensation might ultimately go to the men who endured atrocious beatings at the school. Senate Majority Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, said "perhaps" that will be discussed in the future, but her bill is not about making reparations to those who were harmed at the school yet. She said her goal was to take a first step in closing a sad chapter of Florida's history.

Besides money for a burials, the legislation would start the process of creating a memorial to the victims of the school, which is about 60 miles west of Tallahassee.

"I want something more than a marker," Joyner said after her bill passed the Senate Government Oversight and Accountability Committee without objection.

An identical bill, sponsored by Rep. Ed Narain, D-Tampa, passed through the House Government Operations subcommittee unanimously.

The bills both set aside $500,000 to cover the costs of the burials and set up the memorial task force.

Joyner said she envisions the memorial would list out the names of the victims, many whose remains have remained in unmarked graves for decades. She said where it should be and what it should look like would be handled by a task force.

Last week, University of South Florida antropologists submitted a report to Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet, that showed a total of 51 sets of human remains were found on the school's campus - 20 more than the state previously had expected to find. USF researchers said their 3 year project to identify remains, ended with seven positive DNA matches and 14 presumptive identifications.

The report showed that most of the deaths that occurred were because of illness, but others were more mysterious involving shootings, drowings and beatings.

The state still has not identified the next of kin for many of the victims. In the pair of bills that passed Tuesday, the legislation directs the Florida Department of State to "identify and locate" families of the exhumed children by July 1, 2017, if the bill becomes law.

The legislation still has a long way to go in both the House and the Senate. The bills each have two more committees to get through before the full House and Senate would get a chance to weigh in on the issue.

"At the end of the day, these boys were placed in the hands of the state and they deserve better than unmarked graves," Narain said.

Since 2008, men who had been sent to the campus as children, have detailed horrific beatings and killings they witnessed. Those who have come forward have been dubbed "The White House Boys," referring to an infamous detention building where beatings occurred.
@ByKristenMClark

Less than a month after leaving the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, former agency director Jesse Panuccio has been nominated by Republican Gov. Rick Scott to fill a seat on the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission.

Panuccio will succeed Rutledge Liles for a term that ends in July 2019, according to a news release by Scott's office this afternoon announcing 42 other appointments to judicial nominating commissions for courts across the state.

Tallahassee lobbyist Jason Unger, 47, of GrayRobinson, P.A. was also reappointed to the Supreme Court commission.

The commissions nominate judges for trial and appellate courts, as well as the Supreme Court justices, and present them to the governor for his selection.

Scott has made a point of putting close associates on these commissions. The next commission will have the ability to name the candidates for replacement James E.C. Perry, who must retire in 2017 because of a mandatory retirement rule.

Panuccio, 35, announced his resignation from the DEO in early December. Panuccio led the agency through controversy over technical problems with the online filing system for unemployment benefits and had been one of Scott's top advisers in jobs and economic development. He was appointed executive director in 2013 but faced a tough confirmation vote in the Senate. He left the job Jan. 8.
Gov. Rick Scott's request for a new $250 million fund to attract jobs gained support Monday from a key Senate committee in the first of many needed steps for Scott to secure one of his top priorities from the Legislature.

A Senate budget subcommittee chaired by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, included the $250 million in his budget proposal in the Quick Action Closing Fund program in the Department of Economic Opportunity.

"It's important that we in the Senate send a loud message that we're all on the same team. We all want to produce jobs," Latvala said. "This is obviously a big priority of the governor's. He's pretty single-minded."

Latvala said the gesture was partly philosophical and partly an olive branch to have better relations with the executive branch than in 2015, when the Senate and Scott were repeatedly at odds and Scott vetoed hundreds of Senate-backed local projects.

The money would be to attract companies to Florida over the next three years. Not yet decided is how the money will be doled out. Latvala and his panel favor a "pay as you go" approach to spending closing fund money that Scott opposes.

DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor scaled back a controversial proposal by her predecessor, Jesse Panuccio, to form a sworn police force in the agency to investigate fraud cases involving the theft of jobless benefits. Proctor said DEO will seek fraud investigators instead.

Senate and House budget committees are holding multiple meetings in the session's third week as they round their numbers into shape. Both chambers' budget proposals will be released on Friday, Jan. 29.
Facing likely defeat, a Republican senator tabled his own bill Tuesday to make most public information on Florida voters secret. It was the second time that Sen. Thad Altman's bill was pulled from consideration before a vote in the Senate Ethics & Elections Committee.

Altman's bill (SB 702), a priority of county election supervisors, would make all 12 million Florida voters' home addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers and email addresses secret. The information has been public for decades, but supervisors say that because of the Internet, voters are shocked to find that the data is all over the web, making them potential targets of identity theft. The voter data is also used by Tom Alciere, a former New Hampshire legislator, who has for-profit websites that display states' voter databases.

"Whatever party you choose to join, whether you choose to vote or not vote, or when you were born is your personal information," Altman told senators. "The public doesn't need to know your voter history."

Individual voter histories that show in which elections they voted or didn't, or when a voter changed parties, is public information but it is not on the Internet. It must be provided in response to a public records request.

Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, said the news media has a legitimate use for the information, and Altman's bill was headed for serious trouble when Republican Sen. John Legg of New Port Richey joined the opposition.

The Senate panel has six Republicans and four Democrats, all four of whom were expected to vote against the bill. But one Republican was absent, which made Legg's vote pivotal.

Legg said he was troubled by what he said was "too broad a swath" of exemptions in Altman's bill. For example, under the bill, candidates could still access the voter data, so Legg suggested someone could be a write-in candidate for public office, get the data and then withdraw from being a candidate. Legg's hometown election supervisor, Pasco's Brian Corley, is a strong supporter of the bill. The ACLU and Common Cause registered their opposition.

Altman said he plans to modify the bill and seek a vote at the panel's next meeting.
A bill to remove the requirement that judges award attorneys fees to people who successfully challenge a state or local government for violating the state's public records law unanimously passed a Senate committee Tuesday, continuing the fast-paced progress of a measure First Amendment advocates say will "gut" the foundations of the state's forty-year-old Sunshine Law.

The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee voted 3-0 for SB 1220, sponsored by Sen. Rene Garcia. Sens. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and Dwight Bullard, D-Cutler Ridge, left the committee meeting shortly before the vote.

The measure is a top priority of the League of Cities and Association of Counties who argue that it is needed to stem the increase in frivolous public records lawsuits. But Sunshine law advocates, led by the First Amendment Foundation, warn that the measure will weaken the only enforcement mechanism the public has when public officials violate the law.

"The bill is meant to cut off a cottage industry that is taking advantage of our state's public records laws,'' Garcia told the committee. "Their concern is only for a quick and easy profit. Right now, there are organizations that will make hundreds of public records requests, each potentially containing thousands of documents, all to order around a city or county so they can receive a settlement."

While neither Garcia nor any of the proponents of the bill could cite any statistics about full extent of the problem in Florida, he acknowledged the information is anecdotal from local government officials and not-for-profits who do government work.

"Why should someone who files frivolous lawsuits get attorneys fees?" he asked. The Senate staff analysis of Garcia's bill cites two incidents when judges have refused to award attorneys fees in public records cases when they have concluded that a plaintiffs were abusing the public records law.

Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation, said she is aware of about five people -- individuals and lawyers -- who are chronic abusers of the public records laws and her organization also wants to find a way to stop them but the bill goes too far and will have a chilling effect on the general public.

"It punishes all of us because of the bad action of a few,'' Petersen told the committee. "It eviscerates the constitutional right of access by removing our ability to be assured of getting reimbursed for attorneys fees when government has violated our rights."
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Lela Autio, a painter, sculptural artist and pioneering Montana modernist, died Saturday at age 88.

Autio and her late husband Rudy were among the generation credited with helping build the contemporary art community in the state after World War II.

"She was always on the cutting edge of where things were going. She was doing it before anyone else was," said ceramic artist Josh DeWeese, a family friend.

In addition to her colorful, abstract expressionist work, she was dedicated to art education and to her home city, whether it was advocating for new schools and playgrounds, or kick-starting what later became the Missoula Art Museum.

Her legacy will be "long-lasting," said Steve Glueckert, the retired longtime curator at the MAM.

Autio had been diagnosed with kidney cancer that rapidly spread to her lungs.

***

Lela Moniger grew up in Great Falls during the Depression. Her mother died when she was only 3 years old, and she and her two sisters and brother were raised by their father, a ranch hand from Belt. Tragically, her brother died in a drowning accident when he was 8.

According to a biography she prepared with the family, she became interested in art during high school and won a scholarship to attend Montana State College in Bozeman.

While studying there, she met her husband, Rudy Autio, the influential ceramic artist.

Glueckert said she was in the "first class" of Montana modern artists, who learned under figures like ceramicist Frances Senska and painters Robert and Gennie DeWeese.

"Lela had a real sense of Montana art history and she really spoke to how it all began," Glueckert said.

After college, the couple moved to Helena. There, Rudy and Peter Voulkos co-founded the Archie Bray Foundation, which they helped build from a brickyard into an institution, and plant the seeds of ceramics as a medium for modern sculpture, not just pots and cups.

"It started here in Montana, and a lot of people don't know that," Lela said in an interview last year. "(H)ere's where it all started."

Voulkos decamped for California and laid further groundwork in the field, and the Autios moved to Missoula in 1957, when Rudy got a teaching post at the University of Montana.

While he set up the college's first ceramics department, she pursued her master's in fine art, finishing in 1961.

She developed a career as an educator, including 10 years teaching at Hellgate High School, three years with Head Start and a year as an artist-in-the-schools in Bozeman, all the while pursuing her artistic muse.

In her own work, Autio was a proud modernist.

"I never did a popular, traditional painting of horses and elk and all that sort of thing. I always did abstract expressionism," she said.

She began as a painter, but said she was too critical of her own work. "I couldn't live up to my own expectations," she said. And so she began focusing on sculptures made of fabric, or plastic, vinyl and Plexiglass.

While the material varied from hard-edged neon plastic to fabric wall pieces with tubular forms, her sense of color and an impulsive joy remained key components.

"Both Rudy and Pete would talk about how the really innovative artist of the three of them was Lela," Glueckert said. "So, in many ways, she was an artist's artist."

She was prescient in her work, too. Glueckert pointed out that she was creating abstract soft sculpture before any artists in the country gained wide recognition in the medium.

"When you look at her work, there are very few artists nationally that did art like her," he said, adding that her art was more universal than "Montana" or "regional" in its outlook.

Glueckert said it moved away from romanticism or narrative in favor of expressive design and her bright palette. "Her work was just like she was," he said. "There were no doubts about it."

She also acted as a role model for artists in general and younger women artists in particular, DeWeese said.

***

In 2015, she was honored with a Montana Governor's Art Award, citing her art, advocacy and community involvement.

At the ceremony in Helena, "she lit the crowd up," said her son Chris Autio. "People were laughing and joyous. That's the kind of person she was."

Her art was the subject of a career survey in 2000 that was shown at the Missoula Art Museum and the Holter Museum of Art in Helena. In 2012, three of her Plexiglass pieces were selected for the Montana Trienniel, a statewide survey of contemporary work.

She continued making work until her health slowed her down. In a diary entry her son Arne Autio found, she described herself as "a prisoner of art."

While she kept a parallel art career, she also was dedicated to her family: raising four children while Rudy spent nearly 30 years teaching and pursuing work of his own.

Two of their children are well-known local artists: Chris, a photographer whose work has been shown across the state; and Lisa Autio, an expressive mixed-media artist and librarian. Lar Autio is an established doctor. Arne is a retired engineering associate in Portland, Oregon. Lela is also survived by many grandchildren.

Rudy Autio died from leukemia in June 2007.

***

Chief among Autio's legacy is the lead role she played the beginnings of the Missoula Art Museum.

She said when she first moved to Missoula, she and other women artists struggled to get any acknowledgement of their work.

She recalled agitating to get only a few paragraphs about one of her shows in the Missoulian, and once inquiring about showing work at Turner Hall on campus and being flatly rejected because of her gender.

In 1973, she was working in fabrics and arranged a large show with artists also working in the medium, Nancy Erickson and Dana Boussard. She arranged to show their work at the vacant Carnegie Library building and joined the communitywide effort to reserve the lease for a museum.

Laura Millin, MAM's executive director, said Autio was "our biggest champion in that effort," involving herself in the "down-and-dirty organizing work."

"She really believed that a city of our size should have a museum. This is something that was a fundamental cultural asset that needed to be developed," Millin said.

From that early advocacy, the museum has grown to its current size and routinely rotates exhibitions of contemporary art.

"She's been an important voice for contemporary art in the state of Montana," DeWeese said. "Not only with her work, but her support of different efforts."

Glueckert said she could be pointed with her humor and constructive in her criticisms out of a belief that dialogue can make art better, and she was vehement about the quality of art in Montana.

"She used to say, 'We need to be unapologetic about the number of great artists in the state. Art here can stand up anywhere.' She really believed that," Glueckert said.

What's more, both she and Rudy chose to stay in Montana and build their careers and family here, where they were engaged with community life.

"They were anything but elitists. They wanted to talk and be part of the dialogue," Glueckert said.

She would write letters to the editor or take part in protests for causes she believed in. In the 1970s, she helped get playgrounds built for Rattlesnake and Lincoln schools.

"What gift it was to us to have known and experienced these two remarkable people," Glueckert said.

Speaking last year after the governor's award was announced, Autio said that "at my age, which is 88, you think back how you got there. And most of it's by friends or people that help you along the way." She listed off her art instructors and friends like Voulkos and the DeWeeses.

"We got help from a lot of different areas, that I felt we couldn't have made it without them. They were good friends and that's the one thing you remember when it's all over, is the work you've done for yourself, as a statement, and the work you've done for the community," she said.

DeWeese said her passing feels like "the end of an era."
In recent weeks, area papers have run the article States divvy up Yellowstone-area grizzly hunt (Jan. 4), noting that Wyoming will get 58 percent of the body count, Montana 34 percent and Idaho 8 percent. With grizzlies still listed as threatened, and likely to remain so for years to come despite efforts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prematurely delist them, its unseemly, irresponsible and unnecessary for state wildlife agencies to begin dividing up the killing fields for this iconic species.

Its important to remember that grizzlies are the slowest reproducing mammal in North America. As such, there is no biological need to ever hunt grizzlies for population control. In Yellowstone, its taken over 40 years for the population to increase from around 300 to last year's estimate of 717. Not exactly a bear behind every tree.

OK, but how are we going to deal with problem bears? First, its important to realized that virtually all problem bears are caused by problem people and their bad behavior. For example, leaving bird feeders out from AprilOctober and baiting bears to their deaths. Or leaving pet food on the deck, leftover burgers on the barbecue, unsecured horse feed or tasty chickens in flimsy enclosures. Clean up our behavior and clean up the problem.

Second, a grizzly hunt is unlikely to target problem bears in peoples back yards or subdivisions because its too dangerous. And Fish, Wildlife and Parks cant lead hunters to collared problem bears because its unethical and unsportsmanlike.

Finally, we already have the solution in FWPs bear conflict resolution specialists, who do a fabulous job through homeowner education, aversive conditioning of food-conditioned bears and removing those whose bad habitats cant be broken. However, we need to adequately fund and staff this vital program.

But dont we need to hunt grizzlies to make them fear humans and avoid us? Nonsense. Theres no credible research to back up this claim. Properly conducted, ethical hunting of grizzlies doesnt teach them to fear humans  it teaches them to be dead. And a dead bear tells no tales to his/her fellow grizzlies. Its far more likely that grizzlies learn to fear/avoid humans by observing the thousands of big-game hunters in the woods each fall.

So, if grizzlies dont need to be hunted; theres already a solution to problem bears; and hunting grizzlies doesnt instill fear in them; why are the states so adamant about divvying up the killing fields and starting a hunt in Greater Yellowstone?

State wildlife agencies get nearly all of their revenue from the sale of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses and were set up to manage wildlife populations through regulated harvest (killing). Its part of their cultural history and ingrained in their management DNA.

Yet with grizzlies, and particularly the Greater Yellowstone bears, state wildlife agencies need to understand theyre playing in a whole new game where the old historic ways of doing business do not apply. States that insist on killing these iconic bears that millions of Americans associate with Yellowstone National Park itself, will quickly find themselves in a firestorm of public disapproval that will not only target them, but hunting itself. Time to think outside the box.
News, musings and commentary on dietary supplements & pharmaceutical law issues, technology, and litigation. Lawyers for consumers and injured people.(No advice on this blog, though) mark(at)markzamora.com
More Montana students are graduating from high school than ever before thanks to the unprecedented community and public school partnership, Graduation Matters Montana.

Now in 53 communities, Graduation Matters is placing an emphasis on the importance of graduating from high school and working alongside students and their families to turn that goal into a reality.

Earlier this month, my office released its 2015 Graduation and Dropout Report that boasts Montanas highest graduation rate ever recorded  86 percent. The states dropout rate has been cut by a third since 2009. We can all be proud of these statistics, I certainly am. Still, I know there is more work to be done to ensure all Montana students, no matter their zip code or family income, have the same shot at walking across the graduation stage with a diploma that has prepared them for college, careers or military service.

Data shows that American Indian and low-income students are more likely to drop out. Young men are more likely to drop out than young women. High school seniors are more likely to dropout than freshmen. We know that for many of these students, the warning signs that lead to dropping out can be identified and addressed.

Thats where all of you come in.

Graduation Matters Montana is rooted in the idea that all Montanans benefit when our children succeed. The Alliance for Excellent Education estimates Montana will see a $6 million annual boost to the states economy because 540 more students graduated in 2015 than in 2009. Those graduates will contribute an additional $10.3 million in spending on homes, and $700,000 in increased auto sales.

Students across this state often tell me that the difference between graduating and dropping out comes down to one meaningful connection with a caring adult. I was fortunate to have two parents and a community of teachers who stood beside me, encouraging me along the way. Im urging all of you to make and develop those connections so our students have a caring community willing to make a positive difference for our young people.

Together, we have made tremendous strides over the last seven years. I am certain we are on the right path, and I cant wait to see where our future graduates lead us.
HELENA  Two weeks ago, Traci Birdwell, an investigator with Child and Family Services, started her day out of her home base in Great Falls.

During the next 17 hours, she had to find a child who had run off outside Box Elder and ended up taking the child to Billings, checking into a hotel at 1 a.m.

I didnt come prepared to do that that morning, Birdwell said. I just thought I was working 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Birdwell was part of a panel that spoke to the Protect Montana Kids Commission on Tuesday about issues facing the Child and Family Services division of the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.

I start every day with a to-do list, Birdwell said. Its not possible to accomplish all of it anyway, but when a report comes in, I cant even get to my list.

By the end of November 2015, Birdwell said Cascade County had seen 979 reports of alleged child abuse, about 100 more than at the same point in 2014.

Employees of the division said Tuesday while their co-workers across the state are working hard in incredibly stressful situations, there just arent enough people to handle everything.

Child and Family Services has come under fire after a legislative audit released in October identified long-term and systemic management concerns in the areas of documentation, supervisory oversight and the use of management information which the department should take steps to resolve. Members of the public, including a vocal and organized group of grandparents, have criticized the agency for the way it handles cases and communicates decisions.

The agency has said over the past year it doesnt have enough employees to deal with an increasing caseload. Director Sarah Corbally said in fiscal year 2015 the division performed 8,908 investigations involving 12,897 children, up from 7,697 investigations involving 11,046 children a year before.

Will Soller of the Legislative Audit Division said last year that the audit found problems meeting deadlines set by state law for responding to reports of alleged neglect and abuse, lack of documentation of work and other issues that cant be blamed on an increasing workload because the agency isnt handling more cases.

Over a sustained period of time its a fairly static line charting the number of children in the agencys care, Soller said. ... It's been a fairly frequent narrative of Child and Family Services that there are an increasing number of reports out there and they are overwhelmed, but we dont think thats the whole story.

Corbally said last year the audit looked only at a small piece of the agencys work and that the number of children in foster care has gone up 75 percent in the past several years, as well as the number of cases filed in district courts. She blamed an increase in methamphetamine use and prescription drug abuse among parents.

***

The commission heard from three CFS employees on Tuesday  a supervisor at Central Intake, better known as the toll-free hotline where people can make reports to the division; a child protection specialist who does field work; and a supervisor who oversees field workers and also takes on cases.

Birdwell, the field worker, detailed what people in her job do, emphasizing the amount of work each call takes to investigate. Shell meet with children at their school, go to homes and interview parents, conduct safety assessments and, if necessary, remove a child from his or her home.

Maybe you have a sibling group of four kiddos youre trying to feed, youre trying to find diapers for, youre trying to take care of their metal needs and find placements and find someone to take these kids overnight, Birdwell said.

Field workers also take children to and from medical appointments, supervise family visits, attend court hearings, prepare affidavits and more. This week, shell pick up a child in central Montana and take him to the western side of the state.

While all this is going on, were still responsible for 12 to 15 ongoing cases, Birdwell said. And while all of this is going on, we continue to get reports, including 12 new ones Monday night.

Jennifer Winkley, a supervisor in Miles City, said the people in her office have incredibly high caseloads, and thats with her taking on cases, too.

I dont ever get to turn off my phone, turn off my house phone and just check out, she said. I have to be available to my workers 24 hours a day.

Winkley said more workers and higher pay would help with some agency problems. Birdwell pointed out that her son, who recently graduated from college, makes more as a recreation director teaching sports to children than she does.

There are other obstacles to getting already difficult work done, said Tara Starkel, who is a supervisor at Central Intake.

Last weekend, she was the on-call supervisor when the computer system intake specialists use to sort and prioritize calls went down. Two calls that came in were designated as priority 1, meaning they needed to be responded to within 24 hours. Field supervisors still were notified when the system was down, but intake specialists couldnt upload the case to create a record for about eight hours, Starkel said.

I kind of put it on par with when I was learning how to use a computer in the seventh and eighth grade, she said of the CAPs computer program, comparing it to the "Oregon Trail" computer games she played in middle school.

The audit identified the outdated system as a hurdle to employees getting their jobs done, and the system is set to be replaced later this year by one used in the Department of Corrections.

Starkel said intake specialists struggle with some of the same retention issues the rest of the division does. There are 18 specialist positions, two of which are open right now. She doesnt see a lot of qualified applicants, and of those she wants to hire, some dont accept the job because of the hours and low pay.

Intake specialists answered 35,812 calls in fiscal year 2015. The hotline is staffed 24/7, and most calls come in between 8 a.m. and noon. Employees assign priorities to the calls that come in, notify law enforcement if an immediate response is necessary and sometimes get reports from authorities.

***

Community service providers that assist CFS and often work with the same families said the launch of Central Intake has improved the speed and quality of initial responses. But after that, for whatever reason, their clients see less of social workers than they did in the past and it has become difficult to share critical information with them.

Additionally, service providers say CFS' high turnover means specialists they do meet often dont stay long and are less experienced, with some even asking what paperwork they should file. The continual changes result in information falling through the cracks and children losing trust that the specialists are there to stay and to help.

Jann Petek, a program manager with Helena-based Intermountain Family Based Services, said her personal experience as a foster parent provides a stark contrast.

Between 1993 and 2010, she cared for eight teenagers who were not eligible for adoption.

I worked with three workers the entire time I did foster care. Many of them had worked many years and knew how to manage difficult situations, she said.

About a year ago, another teen moved into her home.

Weve had nine workers, she said. These workers are brand new to the system and do not know what to do during visits. ... My daughter asked me, Do they have to visit? Im tired of people leaving. 

Petek said her daughter asked the last five if they planned to stay longer than one visit.

All said yes. None have stayed long, she said.

***

Reporter Jayme Fraser contributed to this story.
A legal debate over snowmobile use in remote parts of northwest Montana and Idaho grew more complicated during the weekend when a group of environmentalists asked to join the lawsuit.

The Ten Lakes Snowmobile Club, Citizens for Balanced Use and five other groups sued the U.S. Forest Service in November, accusing it of improperly excluding snowmobile use from recommended wilderness areas and improperly recommending new waterways for the national Wild and Scenic River Act designation. On Monday, The Wilderness Society, Headwaters Montana, Idaho Conservation League, Montana Wilderness Association, Panhandle Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club and Winter Wildlands Alliance formally asked to intervene in the case.

And last Thursday, Forest Service attorneys wrote that they deny the allegations and deny that Plaintiffs are entitled to the requested relief or any relief whatsoever. They also stated the snowmobile groups lacked standing to sue on some claims, failed to go through all the required administrative appeals before filing and failed to state a claim the Forest Service could remedy. However, they did not present arguments backing up those claims.

Tim Presso, lead attorney for the conservation groups, wrote that the interveners directly opposed the snowmobile groups argument that several recommended wilderness areas of the Kootenai and Idaho-Panhandle national forests should be opened for motorized use. But they also lacked confidence in the Forest Services defense.

(T)he Forest Service cannot be relied upon to adequately represent proposed interveners interests in this case, Presso wrote. The Wilderness Society and Idaho Conservation League had to fight the Forest Service in a previous case involving the Idaho Snowmobile Association and Blue Ribbon Coalition when the federal agency agreed to set aside bans on motorized use in a recommended wilderness area while it completed an environmental analysis.

Both the Kootenai and Idaho-Panhandle forests issued new forest plans last January, replacing versions dating back to 1987. They also issued draft travel management plans, which closed access to some recommended wilderness areas where snowmobiles had been allowed to ride in the past.

The Kootenais '87 plan designated 104,500 acres of recommended wilderness, including the Scotchman Peaks, additions to the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness and lands in and around the Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area. Its 2015 revision expanded that by 12,800 acres to include the Roderick Mountain Recommended Wilderness Area.

The Idaho-Panhandle 87 plan recommended 146,700 acres, including the Mallard-Larkins, Scotchman Peaks (Idaho portion), Selkirk Range and additions to the Salmon-Priest Wilderness. Its 2015 revision made boundary expansions to those four areas of an additional 14,700 acres.

The conservation groups said they had asked the Forest Service for considerably larger amounts of roadless acreage to receive wilderness recommendation, but were unsuccessful. They have also consistently argued to keep those roadless areas non-motorized to preserve their wilderness character until Congress makes a formal decision designating or releasing them.

Despite the fact that the challenged plans allow over-snow vehicle use on the vast majority of both forests  86 percent of the Kootenai Forest and 70 percent of the Idaho-Panhandle National Forests  plaintiffs contend that motorized access must extend even farther into the handful of areas that the Forests Service recommended for wilderness designation, Presso wrote. Allowing any motorized use, including over-snow vehicle use such as snowmobiles, in recommended wilderness areas degrades their wilderness values, infringes on the peaceful, quiet enjoyment of non-motorized recreationists, and impedes efforts by wilderness and public-land advocacy groups and their members to preserve the wilderness character of these lands.

The snowmobile organizations attorney, Paul Turcke, counters that the Forest Service has used arbitrary or inconsistent analysis in deciding what places should get wilderness or Wild and Scenic River designations. In the process, the agency has locked out people whove been riding their snowmobiles there since before 1977, when a congressional act designated Ten Lakes and nearby places as wilderness study areas.

The case is assigned to U.S. Chief District Judge Dana L. Christensen, who has not ruled on the interveners request or set dates for further proceedings.
A civics contest organized by federal courts in the western United States offers Montana high school students a chance to win cash prizes while learning about their constitutional rights.

"50 Years After the Miranda Decision: How Federal Courts Defined the Rights of the Accused" is an essay and video competition open to sophomores, juniors and seniors in public, private and parochial schools or to home-schooled students of equivalent status. Individual students can compete in the essay contest, while individuals and teams of up to three students can enter the video contest. Entries may be submitted online through April 15. Complete information is available at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/civicscontest/.

The contest is sponsored by the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana and the Courts and Community Committee of the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit, the governing body for federal courts in nine western states and two Pacific Island jurisdictions.

The district court is holding a local contest with prizes of $2,000, $1,000 and $500 for the top three finishers in both the writing and video competitions. Local winners go on to compete in the Ninth Circuit contest, which also offers prizes of $2,000, $1,000 and $500 to the top three finishers in each category. Local winners will be selected in May and circuit winners announced in June.

The contest celebrates the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Miranda v. Arizona in which the court ruled that a person taken into police custody must be informed  prior to questioning  of his or her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Students will consider how "Miranda Rights" came to be defined and how they are safeguarded by the federal courts.

For more information about the district contest, contact Kelsey Hanly at 406-829-7154 or kelsey_hanly@mtd.uscourts.gov.
th century concept of being chattel or property, has become clear. On Thursday, January 14, at the Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Gallery, Jodi Minnis opened her the exhibition and unveiled a compelling, if not disturbing, social commentary on the state of national sweethearting. There was yet another illustration of ownership in Jodi Minnis exhibition, Its a Bahamian Thing! Perhaps the objectification of women by men, the social construct of women being seen as inferior and limited to that 19century concept of being chattel or property, has become clear. On Thursday, January 14, at the Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Gallery, Jodi Minnis opened her the exhibition and unveiled a compelling, if not disturbing, social commentary on the state of national sweethearting.





his woman cheating on him, and the fatness of her bread that belongs to him; men are allowed and encouraged to cheat on women, but women certainly are not socially allowed to cheat on men. They must, though, submit to be cheated on. In Minnis works, Avvys song Roach On My Bread is deconstructed and turned around to discuss the other side of patriarchal domination. Avvys song decriescheating on him, and the fatness of her bread that belongs to him; men are allowed and encouraged to cheat on women, but women certainly are not socially allowed to cheat on men. They must, though, submit to be cheated on.



Minnis exhibition works to show how women are imprisoned in a room full of roaches as men are encouraged to womanize and commit adultery. The works capture the shift in scale of the discourse, but also seriously challenges the level of social commitment to cheating masculinity. The audience is invited into a space where the woman in question, the mans bread, is shrouded in roaches from his inability to keep his masculinity under raps. The works show women in all the usual positions and the numerous roaches that surround them/her. In my reading of the artistic discussion, the often faceless women stands for all women in society and while apparently silent and submitting to the exploitation and demeaning treatment, is also resistant to the faceless sexploitation. Minnis exhibition works to show how women are imprisoned in a room full of roaches as men are encouraged to womanize and commit adultery. The works capture the shift in scale of the discourse, but also seriously challenges the level of social commitment to cheating masculinity. The audience is invited into a space where the woman in question, the mans bread, is shrouded in roaches from his inability to keep his masculinity under raps. The works show women in all the usual positions and the numerous roaches that surround them/her. In my reading of the artistic discussion, the often faceless women stands for all women in society and while apparently silent and submitting to the exploitation and demeaning treatment, is also resistant to the faceless sexploitation.





Minnis grapples with many layers of social discourse from allowing sweethearting to provoking it through culturally entrenched aphrodisiacs, which is where the conch and its many culinary adaptations seem to come in. The masculinist discourse is apparently not disturbed, but it really is. Once women begin to speak out, can the same status quo continue uninterrupted? Once women are empowered, will they continue to be property of men? Minnis posits all kinds of questions, and cultural scapegoats  common cuisine items  are well placed around the upper floor. Is it really the fault of the aphrodisiac?





Misogyny and double standards

In fact, they are encouraged to simply use these women as if they were chattels and to reduce them to bread, or to a part of their anatomy, referred to in a very demeaning fashion. Understanding that adultery will occur in all cultures, and at all levels, it is not condoned or encouraged as a right or need of men. The street speak is that all men, in order to have their man card validated, must have more than one woman. Yet, these men take little to no responsibility for any of their behavior, nor for the women they are meant to like or love.In fact, they are encouraged to simply use these women as if they were chattels and to reduce them to bread, or to a part of their anatomy, referred to in a very demeaning fashion.





Minnis creates a language that shows all of this, but leaves space for the viewer to see him or herself in the exhibition. The art is not heavy handed nor is it overly controlled. The lines are clean and the colors work well to demonstrate a nuanced but uncomplicated interpretation of cultural norms and social mores.









st century, women are still seen as chattels; this view of women is at times reinforced by some women themselves. Further, the discourse, while showing the cultural language of gender inequality and hypermasculinty, packs a punch because it articulates how pervasive and precarious this problem is. We must be troubled that, in the 21century, women are still seen as chattels; this view of women is at times reinforced by some women themselves. Further, the discourse, while showing the cultural language of gender inequality and hypermasculinty, packs a punch because it articulates how pervasive and precarious this problem is.





As the government moves into a new phase of liberalization through national health, its members loose behavior also condones high levels of sweethearting and gender-based discrimination. I like Minnis uncomplicated demonstration of the lack of culpability for male behavior through the use of cultural icons and idioms to excuse it.





Minniss exhibition captures art and culture, and interlocks them in a debate with music that so often espouses serious gender biases and encourages gender-based violence through its lyrics and nuances. Bahamian culture provides a lively discussion on social trends and on public officials and their behavior, but we seem to be venturing further into a far less critical acceptance of misogyny and paternalism, accompanied by the overt sexualization and objectification, especially of women.





Sweethearting and morality





gentle confrontation with the status quo and the gendered message. Minnis work shows some very serious cracks in our Christian veneer. It has a youthful, cool and fun edginess to it as well as an awareness of inconsistencies. The youth are deflowered all too young. Can we say that her work captures the serious and complex nature of nationally encouraged gender inequality and sexual exploitation through power imbalance? Can we say that young artists are excellent at being ambassadors to counter a great deal of the normative behaviour we accept as the country slips further into chaos? Avvys song is terrific in its beat and nuanced speak, and Minnis explodes that with hergentle confrontation with the status quo and the gendered message.





But as many young women pointed out, what young woman would want to sit in a room filled with roaches? Seriously, how many women choose to be roached? How many women choose to be seen as nothing more than bread? As many young men offered, the woman was the one doing the roaching.But as many young women pointed out, what young woman would want to sit in a room filled with roaches?Seriously, how many women choose to be roached?How many women choose to be seen as nothing more than bread?





Gender-based violence









Nationally, the debate is quiet, but gender-based violence is flourishing, and in fact, growing. We must not forget that the last few months have witnessed some serious sexual assault cases, many of them kept from the public eye, others tramped out on social media. Of these, few have received the uncritical attention of the officers of the law. This country has chosen to adopt tourism as its culture, according to the minister of tourism. Yet, tourist women are not safe to enjoy the very attraction we claim we are so good at offering? And then, public officials who see no problem in tramping out their sexual proclivities toward violence and domination do not see their role for encouraging serious social dysfunction.





Minnis and the conch are wonderful and necessary social conversations. Through her work, she demonstrates masculine privilege and female disempowerment through social inequalities and a culture that is quickly becoming unapologetically violent, but which excuses men from their violence. We are venturing into extremely interesting ground; I hope that, from this conversation, other chatter will arise and some real positive change will begin to happen. Art influences, as does music. Lets build on a positive influence.





By Dr. Ian Bethell-Bennett
Words to live by

Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in the face of certain defeat.



Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man



*



   . [The sun is new every day.]



Heraclitus



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Every day is a new deal.



Harvey Pekar, Alice Quinn



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Nos plus grandes craintes, comme nos plus grandes esperances, ne sont pas au-dessus de nos forces, et nous pouvons finir par dominer les unes et realiser les autres. [Our worst fears, like our greatest hopes, are not outside our powers, and we can come in the end to triumph over the former and to achieve the latter.]



Marcel Proust, Finding Time Again



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Surely, in the light of history, it is more intelligent to hope rather than to fear, to try rather than not to try.



Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn by Living



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I dont really deeply feel that anyone needs an airtight reason for quoting from the works of writers he loves, but its always nice, Ill grant you, if he has one.



J.D. Salinger, Seymour: An Introduction



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Lattention est la forme la plus rare et la plus pure de la generosite. [Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.]



Simone Weil, in a letter
In the final week before the Iowa caucuses, candidates are making a mad dash to prove themselves the best option. They have six days to call voters, knock on doors and generally make their case before the first actual decision of Decision 2016 is made. But this down-to-the-wire effort to share policy proposals and paint their opponents as establishment shills or unelectable wacko birds probably matters less than candidates hope.

Often, seemingly superficial characteristics and split-second judgments can affect voters decisions. Another study found that most American presidents are taller than average, and that voters tend to choose taller candidates. In the general election, the taller of the two candidates won roughly two-thirds of the time.

A 2005 study by the psychologist Alexander Todorov presented participants with photos of two congressional candidates, and asked them to choose which one looked more competent. More than two-thirds of the time, participants were able to pick the winner of each Congressional race just by how competent he or she looked. The keys to looking competent? A square jaw, an intense stare  in other words, not too far from Donald J. Trump on the cover of Time.

There is also a well-documented primacy effect in voting: Candidates who are listed first on the ballot have been found to get 2.3 percent more votes on average than when they are listed farther down on the ballot. Having a familiar-sounding name has also been found to help candidates electoral success. In Cook County, Illinois  home to Chicago, a city with the second-largest Irish-American population in the country  Irish-sounding last names have been thought to help candidates so much that in 2005, a candidate for Cook County judge legally switched from Frederick S. Rhine to Patrick Michael OBrien. It seemed like a very voter-friendly name, he said at the time. (So far it seems unlikely that the Irish Name Effect will pay off for one Martin OMalley, any more than it did for the new Mr. OBrien, who dropped out of his race.)

What accounts for all this superficial reasoning? It comes down to something called decision heuristics, or mental shortcuts. As humans, we need to use our brain power efficiently. We do that by reducing the amount of effort we spend assessing each interaction, decision or task. Heuristics help us process the boatloads of information that we take in every day. As a result, we make decisions not by arduously ticking off a list of pros and cons, but by assessing the information, or cues, that are most readily available.
A runoff election on Sunday for president in Haiti was postponed indefinitely late last week. The decision made sense, because with protesters in the streets, violence and gunfire and the torching of electoral offices, it was clear that any vote would be marred by bloodshed and chaos.

It was also good because, with only one candidate participating, any result would be ludicrous and fraudulent.

That candidate is Jovenel Moise, a political unknown who is the handpicked successor to President Michel Martelly, whose term is up. Mr. Moise finished first in a first-round election in October, but that election was so tainted by accusations of rigged voting and intimidation that the runner-up, Jude Celestin, denounced the result and refused to campaign in round 2.

Mr. Celestins argument, echoed by other opposition politicians, church and business leaders, members of the Haitian diaspora and human rights groups, is that the countrys fragile democracy faces a crisis of legitimacy. Only by fully investigating last years elections  including legislative elections in August that were also the subject of violence and fraud  and reforming the voting process can the country produce a government worthy of the citizens trust. Earlier this month members of the Haitian Senate voted to urge that the runoff be postponed.
Lawmakers in Libyas internationally recognized Parliament overwhelmingly rejected a proposed United Nations-backed unity cabinet on Monday, dealing a blow to diplomatic efforts to swiftly reconcile the countrys splintered factions. Parliament, which sits in the eastern city of Tobruk, rejected the 32-member cabinet out of concern that it was too large and that its members had been chosen not for their competency but to satisfy various regional factions, according to Abu Bakr Buera, an influential lawmaker. Diplomats have been urging Libyan officials to bridge the divisions that emerged after the 2011 revolt against Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.
FAMILY RULE The recent media fit about the famed Muhoozi Project is one that has generated public curiosity at home and abroad. Many...
First Horizon Declares Quarterly Dividends  Increases Common Dividend by 17%

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Horizon National Corp.'s (NYSE:FHN) board of directors has approved payment of a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.07 per share. The dividend is payable on April 1, 2016, to the common shareholders of record on March 11, 2016. This represents a 17% increase over the $0.06 per share quarterly cash dividend paid for the previous year and raises the regular annual common dividend rate from $0.24 per share to $0.28 per share.

The board of directors has also approved payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $1,550.00 per share on FHN's Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A ("Series A Preferred Stock"). This equates to a cash dividend of $0.387500 per Depositary Share (NYSE:FHN PrA), which each represent a 1/4000th interest in a share of the Series A Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on April 11, 2016, to shareholders of record on March 24, 2016.

About First Horizon

The 4,300 employees of First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN) provide financial services through more than 175 bank locations across Tennessee and the southern U.S. and 29 FTN Financial offices across the U.S. The company was founded during the Civil War in 1864 and has the 14th oldest national bank charter in the country. First Tennessee has the largest deposit market share in Tennessee and one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country. FTN Financial is a capital markets industry leader in fixed income sales, trading and strategies for institutional customers in the U.S. and abroad. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Forbes, Working Mother and American Banker magazines. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com.

FHN-G

CONTACT: First Horizon Investor Relations, Aarti Bowman, (901) 523-4017 First Horizon Media Relations, Jack Bradley, (901) 523-4813
Noble Energy Adjusts Quarterly Dividend for Commodity Price Environment

Company Also Announces 2016 Capital Plan

Houston, Jan. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) today announced a decision by its Board of Directors to adjust the Companys quarterly cash dividend to 10 cents per common share, which represents a reduction of 8 cents and aligns the dividend yield with historical levels. The dividend is payable on February 22, 2016 to the shareholders of record at the close of business on February 8, 2016.

Kenneth M. Fisher, the Company's Executive Vice President and CFO, commented, The decision to adjust the quarterly dividend, along with a substantially reduced and flexible capital program for 2016, is part of a comprehensive effort to spend within cash flow and manage the Companys balance sheet. We also intend to reduce leverage in this environment. The dividend adjustment and our recent debt refinancing provide approximately $200 million annually in support of these efforts. Paying a dividend remains an important element of our long-term value creation strategy. The Board of Directors will continue to evaluate the appropriate dividend level on a quarterly basis.

Noble Energy is starting 2016 with a capital program of approximately $1.5 billion, which is about 50 percent lower than 2015 (pro-forma for the Rosetta Resources Inc. merger). This investment level is expected to deliver 2016 annual sales volumes of approximately 390 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, which is consistent with the full-year 2015 pro-forma amount. The 2016 program remains flexible to changes in the commodity price environment and will be discussed at the Companys scheduled conference call on February 17, 2016.

Noble Energy (NYSE: NBL) is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with a diversified high-quality portfolio of both U.S. unconventional and global offshore conventional assets spanning three continents. Founded more than 80 years ago, the company is committed to safely and responsibly delivering our purpose: Energizing the World, Bettering Peoples Lives. For more information, visit www.nobleenergyinc.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities law. Words such as anticipates, believes, expects, intends, will, should, may, and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Noble Energys current views about future events. They include estimates of oil and natural gas reserves, estimates of future production, assumptions regarding future oil and natural gas pricing, planned drilling activity, future results of operations, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this news release will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include, without limitation, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, competition, government regulation or other actions, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energys business that are discussed in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are also available from Noble Energys offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com . Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Noble Energy does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances, managements estimates, or opinions change.

Investor Contacts: Brad Whitmarsh (281) 943-1670 brad.whitmarsh@nblenergy.com Megan Repine (832) 639-7380 megan.repine@nblenergy.com Media Contacts: Reba Reid (713) 412-8441 media@nblenergy.com Paula Beasley (281) 876-6133 media@nblenergy.com
Barracuda Launches Suite of Cloud Services for Added Layers of Protection in Office 365 Environments

New Barracuda Essentials for Office 365 Expands Security and Data Protection Functionality in Office 365

Barracuda Networks, Inc. (NYSE: CUDA) --

Highlights:

Barracuda today announced Barracuda Essentials for Office 365, a suite of cloud services designed to help organizations expand on the security and data protection functionality in Office 365. Barracuda Essentials combines three of Barracuda's innovative cloud technology solutions -- Barracuda Email Security Service, Barracuda Cloud Archiving Service, and Barracuda Cloud Backup -- into an easy-to-deploy and manage suite of cloud services with simple per-user licensing. In a survey by TechValidate focused on customer Office 365 migration and deployment plans, the majority of respondents, 72 percent, reported concerns about, or have not considered, whether the security, compliance and backup features in Office 365 meet the needs of their organizations.

"Microsoft and Barracuda have worked closely together for a number of years to help customers simplify and secure cloud migrations, particularly in the case of Office 365 and Azure. Barracuda Essentials for Office 365 is the result of our experience and expertise in protecting Microsoft environments and aims to help customers transition to Office 365 as easily as possible," explained Michael Hughes, SVP Worldwide Sales, Barracuda. "Thousands of businesses are moving to Office 365 to reduce costs, increase accessibility for their employees, and simplify their technology environment. Barracuda Essentials for Office 365 combines the security, archiving, and backup and recovery tools these users need for successful Office 365 deployments."

Using Barracuda Essentials, IT administrators can extend the visibility and control across their organizations' information with an easy-to-deploy suite of cloud services that combines critical multi-layer security, archiving and backup functionality. Barracuda Essentials for Office 365 includes:

TechValidate, an independent research organization, conducted a survey of Barracuda customers in December 2015 and January 2016. The survey revealed that many customers are evaluating the need to add multiple layers of protection to Office 365, including expanded security, archiving and compliance functionality. As stated above, 72 percent of respondents reported having concerns about, or have not considered, whether the security, compliance and backup features in their Office 365 subscriptions meet the needs of their organizations.1

"When Summit Truck Group began the transition to Office 365, we enabled the built-in email security, Exchange Online Protection, but soon found that we needed even more granular controls for our various locations. After careful consideration, we decided to add a dedicated cloud-based email security solution and selected Barracuda," explained Michael Norton, VP of Technology for Summit Truck Group. "Barracuda Email Security Service, which is offered as part of the Barracuda Essentials for Office 365, provides robust email filtering that eliminates junk and reduces the number of false positives, and includes straightforward, easy management capabilities."

"Barracuda Essentials for Office 365 complements Office 365's productivity features that enable end users to work faster and smarter, and is a perfect complement," continued Hughes. "Barracuda continues to invest in technology and processes to support cloud operations, including an Office 365 program team that works closely with customers as they migrate to the cloud. Customers have trusted Barracuda to protect their on-premises email for more than a decade, and they can trust us to provide the same protection for their email as they shift to the cloud."

Pricing and Availability Barracuda Essentials for Office 365 is available today. International pricing and availability vary by region. For more information please visit, http://cuda.co/essentials.

Barracuda's Office 365 Strategic Initiative -- Simplified IT Barracuda offers a series of end-user educational events, both online and in person, with various channel partners focused on helping customers leverage cloud efficiencies securely and cost effectively. Barracuda Essentials for Office 365, together with Barracuda NextGen Firewalls and Barracuda PST migration products, provide a robust suite to assist organizations moving to an Office 365 environment. For additional information please visit, http://cuda.co/o365program.

Resources

1Survey: Barracuda Customer Survey, TechValidate, December 2015 - January 2016. TVID: 93D-D21-0DF

Blog: Looking for additional security and data protection functionality in your Office 365 environment? You're not alone, but there are great options now available - http://cuda.co/15870

Education: Barracuda's Office 365 Webinar Series and RSS - http://cuda.co/o365

Whitepaper: Best Practices for Migrating to Office 365, An Osterman Research White Paper, April 2015 - http://cuda.co/o365osterman

Company Logo http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/4269

About Barracuda Networks, Inc. (NYSE: CUDA) Barracuda (NYSE: CUDA) provides cloud-connected security and storage solutions that simplify IT. These powerful, easy-to-use and affordable solutions are trusted by more than 150,000 organizations worldwide and are delivered in appliance, virtual appliance, cloud and hybrid deployments. Barracuda's customer-centric business model focuses on delivering high-value, subscription-based IT solutions that provide end-to-end network and data security. For additional information, please visit barracuda.com.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential benefits and functionality of Barracuda Essentials for Office 365 solution. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could materially affect the Company's business and financial results include, but are not limited to customer response to the Company's products, as well as those factors set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update the forward-looking information to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date of this press release.
A number of Minnesotans are familiar with Bridgewinners. I describe it as "Facebook for Bridge Players." Members can post all sorts of items related to bridge; others can comment on the posts. From bridge hands to bidding questions, discussions about ethical considerations and so forth and so on, it is a fine site.

You need not be an expert to belong and become involved, either. Here is an intermediate section, for instance, for those more in the earlier learning stages.

A few days ago, your webmaster put up a post about the world's best bridge magazine, The Bridge World. As of this moment, 208 comments! If you are interested, read through and share your own thoughts!

If you are not familiar with the magazine, you might consider subscribing. It really has the best event reporting, bridge problems, bidding discussion, humor articles and much more.

After posting this story, another reader shared with me that she had a collection of older Bridge Worlds that she no longer wishes to keep. She estimates that there are 70 to 80 issues, ranging from the 1950's all the way through to the 2000's.

She is not looking to sell the magazines. For the price of shipping, she will pack them and send them to you, if you are interested. Contact me, Peg Kaplan, at mrmollo@aol.com and I can submit your inquiry to her.

Bridgewinners - The Bridge World. It's all good!
DILLON  A 51-year-old woman accused of stabbing a Butte man at a southwest Montana campground in 2014 cried as photos of the body were shown to jurors Monday.

Sandra Lee Ann Cantrell faces four felony charges including deliberate homicide and assault with a weapon after Beaverhead County prosecutors say she stabbed Mark Robert Mullen, and her common-law partner, Christopher Lee Stiles, dealt lethal blows to his skull.

County Attorney Jed C. Fitch told jurors in his opening statement in Dillon district court that the states evidence would prove Cantrells act of stabbing Mullen on Aug. 8 turned a camping trip at the Bryant Creek Campground near Wise River into a homicide investigation.

The evidence will show the defendant stabbed Mark Mullen in the abdomen with a knife, Fitch said, adding that Cantrell and Stiles, then 29, were apprehended within a matter of days in Missoula near where the victims motor home was found.

Stiles pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide in March 2015 in the killing of Mullen and received a 100-year sentence to the Montana State Prison with 50 years suspended.

In his opening, Defense Attorney Christopher Petaja said the intoxicated Mullen violently grabbed Cantrells crotch while she was cutting watermelon, warning her that his sexual desire would no longer be thwarted.

Petaja said the trio, who was essentially homeless, had been drinking at the campsite and Stiles had biked to a store about 8 miles away to purchase more alcohol. Alone with Mullen, who had a collection of pornographic tapes and sex toys, Cantrell entreated him to not touch her again after he groped her.

According to Fitch, the first good break for law enforcement officers would be a doctors appointment card found at the campsite with Stiles first name on it.

John Janik, a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer, testified Monday that he was called to the campsite for a report of a fire. Arriving at the scene about 10 p.m., he found a rock-ringed fire pit 3  to 4 feet in diameter filled with burned possessions, including a lawn chair, metal pieces and what appeared to be a tent.

Janik also testified he saw evidence of blood and hair, as well as a piece of lodgepole pine about 2  to 3 inches in diameter on a nearby picnic table. The doctors appointment card, entered as the states first exhibit, noted the Community Health Center in Butte.

Former Beaverhead County Sheriff Jay T. Hansen testified that he met Janik, the county coroner and agents from the state Division of Criminal Investigation at the campsite on Aug. 9, where they found Mullens body behind a thicket of willow trees.

Fitch showed a series of photographs to Hansen, who had documented the crime scene, and then projected each one on a screen for jurors as Hansen identified what was discovered at the campsite.

Two photographs of Mullens body  the first face down  elicited a stream of tears from Cantrell as she looked away from the jury, leaning toward Defense Attorney Christopher Petaja with her head held low.

The former sheriff testified the blood seen on the grass was Mullens.

Cantrell is also facing felony charges of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and theft.

The jury of seven women, five men and two alternates was chosen from a pool that started with 75 prospective jurors. Twenty-five were dismissed by Judge Tucker for various reasons, and 50 were in court for jury selection Monday.

The trial before Judge Loren Tucker resumes on Tuesday. Its expected to last until Friday.
A proposal to allow leashed dogs on trails in all Butte parks is on its last legs before commissioners.

The council endorsed a measure 7-4 Wednesday night that would open the door for future designated dog park areas like the one that exists at Skyline Park on Buttes east side, but the local law that bans them in all other parks would stay in place for now.

The council could reconsider the decision next week, but it seems clear that opening more parks to dogs now lacks enough support to pass.

Commissioners recently approved an emergency ordinance allowing leashed dogs in Skyline and lets them roam free in a fenced-in dog area there. But the broader proposal has been in trouble for weeks.

Commissioner Bill Andersen, who backed that broader plan along with outgoing Parks Director E. Jay Ellington and Chief Executive Matt Vincent, asked the council to at least allow County Attorney Eileen Joyce to draft an ordinance that would allow dogs in additional parks. The council could decide what those were.

The original proposal would have allowed leashed dogs on trails in any public park or open space, including Father Sheehan Park, Parrot Park, McGruff/Manning Park and the Big Butte open area behind Montana Tech.

Commissioner John Sorich moved that the council reject Andersons revised plan but leave open the possibility of having other designated dog areas. The council approved that 7-4.

Voting for it were Sorich, Andersen, Cindi Shaw, Bud Walker, Sheryl Ralph, Dan Foley and Brendan McDonough. Voting against were Jim Fisher, John Morgan, Dennis Henderson and Dave Palmer. Cindy Perdue-Dolan was absent.

I too love dogs, Sorich said. I have a 10-week-old puppy Im trying to train, but I dont believe they belong in parks. I dont have a problem with walking trails.

He said Butte needs more designated dog park areas now, however, and his proposal would allow them.

The county has signs along some trails that asks people to pick up after their dogs, and baggies to do that are made available. Joyce said there is no county ordinance banning dogs on those trails, so by default they are allowed, but ordinances specifically ban them from parks.

A few commissioners outright oppose allowing dogs in more parks, saying many are mean and pose threats to people, other dogs and children and many owners dont pick up after their dogs.

We spent a long time getting dogs out of parks in Butte-Silver Bow County, and a large majority (of people) dont want to go back, Fisher said. Im a messenger for the people, and they are telling me no dogs in parks.

Andersen said dogs are an important part of many peoples lives and they should be allowed in more parks.

I like my dog better than most people, he said.

Vincent was at Wednesdays meeting but did not speak, and although Ellington appeared before a council committee that discussed the original proposal recently, he did not tout its merits.

He spent months behind the scenes trying to get other county officials to buy into relaxing the complete ban. He and Vincent said the ban and large no dogs allowed signs sent an unwelcome message about Butte and kept many people from utilizing the parks. But Ellington recently announced he was leaving Butte to take a parks job in Texas.

Kelley Christensen, the countys special events coordinator, made a pitch for the broader proposal Wednesday night, saying many people have dogs and they should be welcome in more parks.

We feel this is giving our community a way to walk out in nature with their pets, she said.
Leeann Lundgren saved her mothers life and squelched a family house fire before it grew much worse late Saturday.

Sitting in the living room with her mother, Joanne McClafferty, Leeann responded quickly when Joannes lit cigarette and medical oxygen combusted, catching Joanne and her recliner on fire.

I dont usually move that fast, said Leeann, 48, developmentally disabled and normally slowed by myotonic muscular dystrophy. I havent done anything like that in my life.

As soon as the flames ignited, Leeann jumped up, removed her mothers oxygen tube from her lap, threw it on the floor, and turned off the oxygen tank.

Reacting instinctively, she grabbed a pillow to smother the flames on her mothers lap and torso, then Leanne grabbed a nearby bottle of water to douse other flames.

I was too slow to walk to the kitchen, Leanne recounted on Monday. It was automatic for me to reach and pour the water.

She also had the presence of mind to sit her mother upright again in the chair, then push the Lifeline medical alert bracelet on Joannes wrist. It automatically alerted the Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department, ambulance and police, who arrived shortly.

She didnt hesitate  she just did it, said Wendy Hazlett, director services professional at Silver Bow Developmental Disabilities Services. Hazlett takes Leeann shopping and teaches her other life skills.

She takes care of everybody in that household, Hazlett said.

Leeanns younger sister, Jamie, 43, was in her basement bedroom at the time, but not yet asleep. Leeann, too, hadnt retired for the evening.

I was still up, watching TV with mom and my cat, Pluto, added Leeann.

By the time the fire department and other emergency services arrived, the fire was safely out. The ambulance transported Joanne to St. James Healthcare, where she was then flown to the burn center at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Eldest daughter Tara Wood, 49, of Maple Valley, Washington, said her mother suffered third-degree burns mostly to her midsection and back. She spoke from her mothers hospital room on Monday.

As for the doctors prognosis, Tara said: We dont know any of that yet.

Tara does not have the same disease as her sisters and mother.

Joanne was able to speak with her daughters by phone to help alleviate their fears.

My mom called on Sunday and told me, You did wonderful, said Leeann. '''Thank you for being so quick.

Stopping a fire that could have been much worse is only one of Leeanns gifts. She also works at BSW hanging clothes, doing dishes and organizing donated toys. BSW serves people with disabilities and special needs.

She was able to put the fire out and that really did mitigate a potentially serious situation, said Butte-Silver Bow Fire Chief Jeff Miller. The fire was out when our guys got there.

Angie Pratt, the family caregiver, greeted the emergency responders outside upon their arrival. Leeann and Jamie called her before and after the fire incident ahead of her regularly scheduled visit.

Pratt takes care of all three family members, all of whom suffer from myotonic muscular dystrophy, a type of dystrophy that affects muscles and sometimes other organs. The diseases often affects several family members and usually strikes in adulthood.

BSW staff consider Leeann a hero for saving her mothers life.

Cindy Ruffner, BSW consumer services secretary, said the staff conducts emergency drills monthly and does safety training with clients, but not specific to oxygen-smoking hazards.

The fire burned the recliner and part of Joannes blanket, as well.

Its just a miracle that the fire didnt go up the wall, said Hazlett. I think of how much worse it could have been. Everything happens for a reason.

Chief Miller, relieved the fire did not burst out of control, stresses that smokers not light up inside a house where an oxygen tank is present:

I know its hard, said Miller. Its common sense, but I want to reiterate: If you have oxygen in the home, nobody should smoke. Every year we have somebody whos injured and its usually the patient. Its just so dangerous.

Leeann was treated royally at BSW on Monday for her quick-thinking heroics that ultimately saved her mother, her sister, herself and her beloved pet.

"We made a big deal out of it  ," Ruffner said. "Then Leeann started to cry when it hit her. She herself doesn't move very fast due to her dystrophy."

We usually work on math skills, but todays a special day, added Hazlett, leading Leeann down the BSW hallway. Were going to McDonalds for lunch.
Editor's note: This guest view was written in early December 2015.

---

With this article, I'd like to shed some light onto a largely unknown tragedy that is being carried out with your tax dollars at the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs.

Over the past 10 years (but mostly since 2008), the Montana Long Range Building Program has spent millions of dollars to demolish at least 26 substantial buildings on the grounds of the Warm Springs facility. The smallest of these buildings were fairly modern faculty duplexes. The rest were very large apartment-like structures. Most of which were brick buildings that had been constructed before 1920, and were built with high levels of quality and craftsmanship.

Some of them were even built in the late 1800s back when Warm Springs was a luxury resort. These pre-1920's buildings were so well-constructed, and so good looking, that they were surely some of the finest buildings in the state. It was obvious that they had been built to be permanent, with their hard-fired brick exteriors, standing seam metal roofs, and concrete foundations, so solid, that they never cracked or crumbled, as so many century-old foundations have. The only noticeable sign that the buildings had been neglected for years was some peeling paint around the windows and doors. Inside there were terrazzo floors, fine woodwork, and plaster-work that would put the interiors of most modern buildings to shame.

The place was truly a historical gem. But it has not been treated that way. And to be honest, I am writing this article about decade later than I should have, because most of the buildings fitting the above description have been pointlessly and very expensively demolished.

But while most of the hospital buildings are gone, there are still a handful of structures at Warm Springs, which have been slated for demolition, that are very much worth saving. The largest of these is the Receiving Hospital. It is a 77,000-square-foot single story building that was constructed in 1954, and is the only hospital building that can be easily seen from the interstate. For the most part, it looks like it could be reopened tomorrow, with the exception of a few rooms that have been damaged from leaks in the neglected roof. This building is relatively modern in design, and could be easily brought up to code and used again.

The cost of demolishing it would certainly be far greater than the cost of repairing it. The irony of its predicament is that, about a hundred yards away, the new Receiving Hospital has been badly overcrowded ever since it was built in the early 1990s. Two, three, and sometimes four patients are being forced to live in rooms that were only designed for one, while this adjacent building, which could better accommodate them, and is certainly better looking, is slated for demolition.

Also in jeopardy is a maximum security building that looks like it was built in the 1970s, and appears to be in perfectly usable condition. And at the northwest corner of what is left of the complex are some large agricultural buildings that are also at great risk. Among these are two huge old barns, which were certainly built before 1920. Unlike most of the buildings that once stood at Warm Springs, these barns show many signs of neglect. But even they would be worth repairing, both from a financial and a historical perspective.

All of these structures are highly valuable, especially the old Receiving Hospital, which alone would cost millions of dollars to replace. If the state government refuses to use them for something, they should be put up for sale, or should at least be left alone until a use for them is found. This government mentality of indiscriminate demolition by default is asinine. It robs billions of taxpayer dollars nationwide to destroy many more billions of dollars worth of valuable assets that were largely built by the taxpayers of previous generations. But it is a philosophy that is disgracefully widespread in our state and federal government.

The final phase of Warm Springs demolitions is scheduled to start this coming spring, but it is not too late to save the millions of dollars of infrastructure that is in peril. For anyone who would like to help put an end to the needless destruction, here are the phone numbers of some of our state and federal representatives and departments. Give them a call, or sign the petition that is posted in the entrance of the Butte Public Library. Let them know that you didn't vote for this.

State Rep. Gordon Pierson - (406) 444-4800

Governor Steve Bullock - (406) 444-3111

Congressman Ryan Zinke - (202) 225-3211

U.S. Senator Steve Daines - (202) 224-2651

Montana Legislative Fiscal Division - (406) 444-2986

And here is my number, in case you have any comments or questions about the matter:

-- Cameron J. Moylan, Butte, (406) 599-3199. Moylan describes himself as an historian and economist.
HELENA  Two weeks ago, Traci Birdwell, an investigator with Child and Family Services, started her day out of her home base in Great Falls.

Over the next 17 hours, she had to find a runaway and ended up taking the child to Billings, checking into a hotel room at 1 a.m.

I didnt come prepared to do that that morning, Birdwell said. I just thought I was working 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Birdwell was part of a panel that spoke to the Protect Montana Kids Commission on Tuesday about issues facing the Child and Family Services division of the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.

I start every day with a to-do list, Birdwell said. Its not possible to accomplish all of it anyway, but when a report comes in, I cant even get to my list.

By the end of November 2015, Birdwell said Cascade County had seen 979 reports of alleged child abuse come in, about 100 more than at the same point in 2014.

Employees of the division said Tuesday while their co-workers across the state are working hard in incredibly stressful situations, there just arent enough people to handle everything.

Child and Family Services has come under fire after a legislative audit released in October identified long-term and systemic management concerns in the areas of documentation, supervisory oversight and the use of management information which the department should take steps to resolve. Members of the public, including a vocal and organized group of grandparents, have criticized the agency for the way the handle cases and communicate decisions.

The agency has said over the last year it doesnt have enough employees to deal with an increasing caseload. Director Sarah Corbally said in fiscal year 2015 the division performed 8,908 investigations involving 12,897 kids, up from 7,697 investigations involving 11,046 kids a year before.

Will Soller of the Legislative Audit Division said last year that audit found the departments problems with meeting deadlines set out in state law for responding to reports of alleged neglect and abuse, lack of documenting its work and other problems cant be blamed on an increasing workload because the agency isnt handling more cases.

Over a sustained period of time its a fairly static line charting the number of children in the agencys care, Soller said.  It's been a fairly frequent narrative of Child and Family Services that there are an increasing number of reports out there and they are overwhelmed, but we dont think thats the whole story.

Corbally said last year the audit only looked at a small piece of the agencys work and that the number of children in foster care has gone up 75 percent in the last several years, as well as the number of cases theyve filed in district courts. She blamed an increase in methamphetamine use and prescription drug abuse among parents.

The commission heard from three CFS employees on Tuesday  a supervisor at Central Intake, better known as the toll-free hotline where people can make reports to the division; a child protection specialist who does field work and a supervisor who oversees field workers and also takes on cases.

Birdwell, the field worker, gave the commission a rundown of what people in her job are faced with, emphasizing the amount of work each call takes to investigate. Shell meet with kids at their school, go out to homes and interview parents, conduct safety assessments and, if necessary, remove a child from his or her home.

Maybe you have a sibling group of four kiddos youre trying to feed, youre trying to find diapers for, youre trying to take care of their mental needs and find placements and find someone to take these kids overnight, Birdwell said.

Field workers also take kids to and from medical appointments, supervise family visits, attend court hearings, prepare affidavits and more. This week shell pick up a child in central Montana and take him to the western side of the state.

While all this is going on, were still responsible for 12-15 ongoing cases, Birdwell said. And while all of this is going on, we continue to get reports, including 12 new ones Monday night.

There are other obstacles to getting the already difficult work done, said Tara Starkel, who is a supervisor at Central Intake.

Last weekend she was the on-call supervisor when the computer system intake specialists use to sort and prioritize incoming calls went down. Two calls that came in were designated Priority 1 calls, meaning they needed to be responded to within 24 hours. Field supervisors still get notified when the system is down, but intake specialists couldnt upload the case to create a record for about eight hours, Starkel said.

I kind of put it on par with when I was learning how to use a computer in the seventh and eighth grade, she said of the computer program.

The audit identified the outdated system as a hurdle to agency employees getting their jobs done, and the system is set to be replaced later this year by one used in the Department of Corrections.

Starkel said intake specialties struggle with some of the same retention issues the rest of the division does. There are 18 specialist positions, two of which are open right now. She doesnt see a lot of qualified applicants, and of those she wants to hire, some dont accept the job because of the hours and low pay.

Intake workers answered 35,812 calls in fiscal year 2015. The hotline is staffed 24/7, and most calls come in between 8 a.m. and noon. Employees assign priorities to the calls that come in, with top priority calls requiring a response within 24 hours. They also notify police if an immediate response is necessary, and sometimes get reports from law enforcement.
Mayor Broderson called the City Council meeting for Thursday, January 14, 2016, to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers present were Rehwaldt, Fitzgerald, Natvig, Saucedo, Bynum, Harvey, and Spread.

The first item on the agenda was a resolution rejecting bids for the Community Development Block Grant Downtown Revitalization Project and setting public hearings for facade improvements and stormwater improvements for the Revitalization Project for Thursday, January 21, 2016, at 7:00 p.m.

Resolution adopted.

Community Development Planning Coordinator Adam Thompson stated one bid was received and came in higher than expected. He stated the bid for facade improvements was $70,000 over the base bid and stormwater improvements $120,000 over the engineer's estimate. He stated that a number of alternates had been built into the plans and specifications.

Mr. Thompson stated the alternates have been removed from the plans and specifications. He then explained what the property owner will be able to do. He stated the facade improvements will be completed by the end of July.

The next item on the agenda was discussion on amending the City Council Rules to include invocation on the City Council agendas.

City Administrator Gregg Mandsager stated the Mayor is requesting the invocation be placed back on the City Council. He stated that amending the Rules of Council putting the invocation back on the agendas would be relatively simple. He stated that tonight he was looking for a consensus from City Council to bring this back to a future meeting for further action.

Mayor Broderson stated she was accepting full responsibility for finding an invocation speaker.

There was further discussion by City Council on this matter.

City Administrator Mandsager then asked for a consensus from City Council in support of bringing this back for action at a future meeting.

Those in favor were Councilmembers Bynum, Harvey, Natvig, and Saucedo. Those not in favor were Councilmembers Spread, Fitzgerald, and Rehwaldt.

The next item on the agenda was a CIP presentation.

City Planner Andrew Fangman stated he had made a presentation at the January In-Depth meeting on the draft CIP for fiscal years 2016 through 2020. He stated that tonight he was seeking a consensus from City Council to move forward with the adoption of the document.

Mr. Fangman stated that since the January presentation, the projects listed for the Water Pollution Control Plant were updated.

Councilmember Rehwaldt asked if the city owned any surplus property that could be disposed of in order to put money back into the city's coffers.

Mr. Fangman stated if the city does have any surplus property, it is a very small amount.

There was further discussion concerning the disposal of city property.

Mr. Fangman then asked City Council if there was a consensus to bring the CIP back for formal adoption. He reminded City Council that this is a rolling five-year document.

City Administrator Mandsager stated the CIP is a guide for the city to use.

There was a consensus from City Council to bring the CIP back for formal adoption.

The next item on the agenda was a Leadership Muscatine presentation.

Community Development Planning Coordinator Adam Thompson explained the purpose of Leadership Muscatine and its benefit to the community. He stated that as part of the program, participants are asked to come up with a project that will benefit the City of Muscatine. Following Mr. Thompson's presentation, Leadership Muscatine participants came forward and introduced themselves and told City Council their project plans.

Mr. Thompson stated that Leadership Muscatine has been going on for 30+ years and has done a lot of good in the community and will continue to do so.

The final item on the agenda was a review of NEPA Study requirements.

City Engineer Jim Edgmond stated that every time a project involves federal or state funding, a NEPA Study is part of the process.

Mike Fisher of Impact 7G stated his firm is currently doing a NEPA Study for Grandview Avenue which will be followed by the Mississippi Drive Corridor Project. He then gave a power point presentation concerning the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA.

Mr. Fisher stated that President Nixon signed NEPA on January 1, 1970 which created the basis for environmental impact statements (EIS) for major federal actions. Speaking in reference to Grandview Avenue, he stated he does not feel there will be any controversy which is usually what causes problems in larger projects.

Mr. Fisher talked about when NEPA applies to a project. He stated that broadly, NEPA applies when a federal agency intends to carry out, fund, or approve a proposed project. He stated that in the case of Grandview Avenue, $1.55 million in Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds have been programmed for 2019. He then explained what happens when NEPA does apply, how it applies to the Grandview Avenue process, and what guides the NEPA process. He then touched on the NEPA umbrella, the NEPA environmental process, and the NEPA goal and key process decisions.

Ryan Peterson, President of Impact 7G, reviewed the municipal services his company has provided.

There were questions from City Council that were answered by both Mr. Fisher and Mr. Peterson.

Mr. Edgmond stated that property acquisitions could occur and Mr. Peterson explained the process of due diligence before a particular property is purchased.

Under comments, Councilmember Natvig stated he was glad to see the Leadership group at tonight's meeting.

Councilmember Rehwaldt requested that water be provided at the in-depth meetings.

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

Gregg, Mandsager, City Administrator
MUSCATINE, Iowa  Two finalists for the principal's position at Muscatine High School presented their ideas on the future of the school to the Board of Education on Monday night.

Jared Smith, an assistant principal at Waterloo East High School, and Tammie Bolden, the director of curriculum, instruction and pre-K programs in the Galesburg, Illinois, School District, spent about 40 minutes each sharing their thoughts and perceptions of the school and district in PowerPoint presentations.

Current Muscatine High School principal Mike McGrory is leaving the position to become Muscatine's assistant superintendent.

The candidates met with various stakeholders Thursday, Jan. 21, for interviews then visited the high school for a building tour Monday.

Smith told the board he was looking to use his talents to continue the momentum, vision and goal setting at the high school.

He added more work could be done to continue the branding of the district on social media platforms. Board member Nathan Mather asked Smith what he brought to the position that no one else could.

Smith said he has proven that his methods work in a diverse setting.

Bolden said students of all social economic groups need to be given the opportunity to succeed. The former Springfield, Illinois, high school principal, said students need to be challenged. Bolden tells students she would rather they get a B in an advanced placement class than an A in a general class.

She was asked how she would work to bring diverse groups of students together. Bolden said diversity is often more about economics than race. She would encourage students to get involved in clubs and organizations to mix with other students from outside their close circle of friends.

The board did not make a selection for principal at Monday's meeting.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  With less than a week until the Iowa Caucus, several candidates and their campaigns will be in the area for a final push for votes.

Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett Packard CEO, will speak at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at Elly's Tea and Coffee, 208 W. Second St.

Fiorina is seeking the Republican nomination for president.

Former president Bill Clinton will be stumping in Muscatine Friday afternoon for his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton.

A press spokesman for the Clinton campaign in Des Moires confirmed the appearance this morning. The time and location will be announced later, according to the campaign. Hillary Clinton is seeking the Democratic nomination for president.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz will be campaigning in Wilton and Wapello on Friday, Jan. 29.

The "Cruzin to Caucus" events are scheduled for 5:45 p.m. at the Wilton Community Room, 1215 Cypress St. Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley will be campaigning with Cruz at this stop.

Then the candidate travels to Wapello for an 8:10 p.m. event at Grimm Bros. Plastics, 1 Quality Court, Wapello.

Cruz is seeking the Republican nomination for president.

The Iowa Caucus begins at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1. Location varies by precinct where voters live. To participate, voters must be in line no later than 7 p.m. Monday.
Editor's note: The Muscatine Journal routinely publishes editorials authored by other newspapers in Iowa, shared by the Associated Press. The Journal found this editorial by the Des Moines Register especially apt as the Louisa County Board of Supervisors has been discussing this issue. The Journal is neither endorsing nor condemning ATVs on public roads, but sharing another newspaper's research and opinion.

If you've traveled the backroads of Iowa over the past few years, you may have noticed that you were sharing those roads with an increasing number of all-terrain vehicles.

In Iowa, at least 17 counties allow ATVs on public roads, and state officials say the number of counties could almost double within the next year. Predictably, ATV enthusiasts are driving this trend. They see use of the public roads as an issue of personal rights and responsibility.

But here's the problem: ATVs are not designed to be used on roads built for cars and trucks. In fact, ATV manufacturers themselves caution buyers that the vehicles should only be used for off-road recreation.

There's sound reasoning behind that advice: ATVs have a higher center of gravity than cars, which means they are much more likely to roll over at higher speeds. They also have low-pressure, knobby tires that make them extraordinarily difficult to handle on pavement and gravel, especially while executing turns.

That's why more than half of all the fatal crashes involving these off-road vehicles occur on roads. It's also why the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Consumer Federation of America, and many law enforcement agencies oppose the on-road use of ATVs.

In Louisa County, where 400 people have petitioned the county supervisors to allow the use of ATVs on county roads, one leading supporter argues "there's nothing you can do in life that doesn't carry risk."

That's true, but there's a lot people can, and should, do to minimize risk  particularly when it comes to traffic safety. Does it really make sense to open our public roads to vehicles that aren't designed and built for those roads?

"I wish we didn't have this decision to make," Louisa County Supervisor Randy Griffin lamented to the Associated Press. "I'll feel terrible if we do something and someone goes out and gets killed."

Feeling terrible won't help grieving families, but limiting off-road vehicles to off-road use will, and it should be a no-brainer.

In 2013, state lawmakers considered a bill that would have allowed ATVs on all secondary roads in Iowa, subject to local approval. The bill was opposed by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa County Engineers Association and the Brain Injury Association of Iowa, but was supported by ATV retailers who argued  obviously  that the law would be good for business.

The Iowa House of Representatives sided with the industry, approving the bill on a vote of 75-22. Thankfully, Democrats in the Iowa Senate believed the health and safety of Iowans was more important than the profits of ATV dealers and put a stop to the legislation. But that action did nothing with regard to county roads, which is why counties continue to pass ordinances allowing ATVs on their roads.

State legislators should ban ATVs from public roads, and while they're at it, they should take a hard look at the existing state law on age limits. Today in Iowa, a child of any age can drive an all-terrain vehicle of any size on private property, without regard to training, certification or parental supervision. That's a prescription for disaster.

A few months ago, a 4-year-old Iowa boy was driving an ATV, with parental supervision, on his family's property in Muscatine County. The vehicle hit uneven ground, as ATVs often do, and tipped over, killing the child.

ATV manufacturers recommend that no child under the age of 6 be allowed on an ATV. But in Iowa, you can strap a newborn infant, fresh from the maternity ward, behind the wheel of an ATV, and it's perfectly legal under Iowa's ATV law, as long as the off-roading takes place on private land.

State lawmakers can do something about this. If they refuse to act, the unavoidable result will simply be more deaths and more injuries.

The Des Moines Register
Celtic Connections, held in Glasgow in January each year, lights up Scotlands winter with music from artists who connect to their heritage and carry that connection forward. This year artists from Africa, Mongolia, France, Canada, the United States, Ireland, and many other countries join musicians from all across Scotland for eighteen days of musical celebration, a celebration which includes concerts, master classes, talks, art exhibits, come and try workshops on a range of instruments, concerts for school children, late night sessions, the after hours festival club, live broadcasts and tapings of radio and television shows, concerts which feature rising stars...

Here is a bit of what things in Glasgow have looked like so far, The festival runs through 31 January.

At a concert by the Chieftains from Ireland, surprise guest Kris Kristofferson sang with Aylth McCormack. McCormack, who frequently collaborates with the Chieftains, is from Lewis in the Western Isles.

Brian Finnegan lent his talents on whistle to a concert with his musical friends Kathleen MacInnes, Dermot Byrne, and Mike Vass.

As part of the New Voices strand, with which Celtic Connections commissions new music, guitarist Ewan Robertson gave the world premier of his audio visual piece inspired by the Celtman triathalon and the landscapes and history the marathons route traverses in Scotlands north.

Kyle Carey and Giilebride MacMillan offered sets of Gaelic Americana and Gaelic songs and then joined up to sing together at evenings end.

Eddi Reader celebrated Burns night with a program in collaboration with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, in arrangements Rabbie himself would have found intriguing.

Photographs by Kerry Dexter. made with permission of the artists, the festival and the venues involved. Thank you for respecting copyright.

You may also wish to see

Scotland, Americana, inspiration: Kyle Carey

Celtic Connections 2013: Images

Eddi Reader sings the songs of Robert Burns

Celtic Connections 2011: images

-->Your support for Music Road is welcome and needed. If you are able to chip in, here is a way to do that, through PayPal. Note that you do not have to have a PayPal account to do this. Thank you.

Labels: alyth mccormack, brian finnegan, celtic connections 2016, chieftains, eddi reader, ewan robertson, Gillebride MacMillan, glasgow, kris kristofferson, kyle carey, scotland
Violence in Iraq dropped during the second week of October. There were fewer incidents by the Islamic State. On the other hand, Sadrists and...
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 []
is a wonderous "hot dish" of nature, places and people.
The Nigerian telecommunications minister said on Tuesday that MTN should drop its legal case to help with talks on a possible settlement.

The Nigerian Communication Commission fined MTN 1.04-trillion (around R71 billion at the time) in October 2015 for not disconnecting unregistered SIMs on its network.

After negotiations with Nigerian authorities, the fine was reduced by 25% to 780-billion.

MTN was still not happy, and on 17 December 2015 the company announced that it will fight the fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Earlier this week the case was adjourned to allow MTN and the Nigerian authorities to to reach a settlement out-of-court.

Reuters reported that the Nigerian telecommunications minister, Adebayo Shittu, has now said that MTN should drop its legal action over the $3.9 billion fine to help facilitate talks on a possible settlement.

Shittu said President Muhammadu Buhari will have the final decision on the matter, adding that MTN might be advised to withdraw the court case filed against the fine, Reuters reported.

More on MTN

MTN in Nigerian stand-off over R60.6-billion fine: report

The real reason for Nigerias massive R59-billion fine on MTN
WeThinkCode has opened its new campus in the Johannesburg CBD, with its first bootcamp starting on 26 January.

WeThinkCode provides young South Africans with free programming training, and equips them with the skills to become world-class digital problem solvers.

The training system has no lecturers, and students study through peer-to-peer learning  jointly solving complex challenges.

The course is open to anyone between the ages of 17 and 35 with the relevant permissions to live, work, and study in South Africa.

The training will take two years to complete, while its incubation programme provides a stipend of R2,000 to all students for food and transport  until their first paid internship.

The project is a joint venture between Arlene Mulder, Camille Agon, Justinus Adriaanse, and Yossi Hasson, who partnered with Ecole 42 in France to get access to their successful training programme.

There is a shortage of coders and other skilled people in the tech value chain, said Agon.

Computer programmers are going to be designing the future Africa. We need women and men from all backgrounds to ensure we create a future world that works for all of us.

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the new WeThinkCode campus in Johannesburg.

Preparing the WeThinkCode campus

We have more than 100 motivated and excited young people who are all #BornToCode and eager to learn more about the world of tech, said Mulder.

More on WeThinkCode

Radical new programming campus in South Africa taking shape

Radical new free computer training project coming to South Africa

South African tech leaders to take coding challenge
In the 1930s a restaurant and bar called Johnnys opened in the Mount View Hotel. Fifty years later it closed its doors, but it will soon come to life again.

Things just sort of fell into place, and Im very happy to be reopening and re-energizing a piece of Calistogas history, said Michael Dunsford, co-owner of the Calistoga Inn and the new co-owner of Johnnys bar and restaurant.

The new eating and drinking establishment will be located in what used to be the Barolo Bar and Grill and JoLe, the two restaurants that recently closed in the Mount View Hotel. It was a surprise to many that the popular restaurants that had been operating in the space for nearly 10 years closed their doors. However, as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, Everything changes and nothing stands still.

The new restaurants will be loosely modeled after the one originally created by Johnny Ghisolfo.

Johnny built the hotel in 1919 and opened the restaurant in the 30s, said Dunsford, who is also the vice mayor. He also served as mayor and was on the City Council. Ive heard that he was even called Mr. Calistoga because of his commitment to this place. When I talked to Michael Woods  owner of the Mount View Hotel  about our concept to revive Johnnys, he really, really liked it, saying that it would provide his guests and the town with more amenities and services, so we worked out a lease. We expect to open in late March.

Dunsfords vision includes creating a two-sided restaurant, a bar with pub-style food on one side and what he calls a California-style restaurant on the other.

Were really excited about Dunsfords vision on this new project, said Woods. Its great that he wants to bring back a little of our history to the downtown, and its clear from what theyve done down at the Calistoga Inn that they know how to create an atmosphere thats comfortable and has high standards.

The new Johnnys will be opened for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Well serve an excellent breakfast and lunch on the bar side, where well also have about five televisions so that people can just come in and watch a game and relax, Dunsford said. On the other side  where JoLe used to be  well be serving dinner.

Nicolas Montanez, Calistoga Inns executive chef and Dunsfords partner in the project, will oversee the food side of the venture.

Well have a chef du cuisine at Johnnys and Nicolas will still be the exec at the inn, but hell come up with the menu and direction, Dunsford said.

Like California itself, the cuisine will represent a variety of influences.

On the bar side well be serving things like sliders, fish tacos and wings, which will go well with the beer that we plan to make on-site, said Dunsford. On the restaurant side, well be serving a mix of old and new that will change from season to season. In the winter we might have stews and roasts, whereas in the hot summer months well feature our excellent local produce, focusing more on light and fresh. Because Calistoga and the valley have been created by so many ethnicities, we want to showcase that by including classic dishes from a bunch of different cultures, including German, Italian and Asian.

According to Dunsford, Johnnys is intended to be a place where locals love to go and tourists can get a window into Calistoga, its history and people.

Whichever side of Johnnys our guests walk into  the bar or the restaurant  we want them to feel comfortable, well taken care of and able to relax, Dunsford said. Johnnys will be down to earth, genuine and not pretentious. It will be a place where people can be themselves and hang out with friends.

As I learn more about the original Johnnys, it inspires me, said Dunsford. Well be resurrecting Johnnys and with it, a little bit of the best of Calistoga.
Californias new immunization law eliminating personal or religious exemptions generated the biggest public discussion at, and just outside, last Thursday nights school board meeting in Napa.

With the passage last year of Senate Bill 277, which requires all children be immunized against contagious diseases before attending public or private school, the Napa Valley Unified School District has started to update its health policies to keep it compliant under state law.

As of Jan. 1, the state no longer allows parents to receive a waiver and avoid getting their children immunized solely for personal or religious reasons. The new law had allowed them to seek these types of exemptions until Dec. 31 of last year.

But many parents attending the Jan. 21 board meeting said there was not enough time to receive the personal exemption by the end of 2015, and asked board members for help.

James Hinton and others requested the board adopt a resolution urging the legislature to extend the personal beliefs deadline to July 1, 2016.

In reading a draft of the resolution offered to the board, Hinton said the elimination of the personal beliefs exemption is a major longstanding change in public policy and that many members of the public were not aware of the changes made by Senate Bill 277.

Some parents said they now face subjecting their kids to numerous vaccines, some of which can result in adverse reactions, or pulling them out altogether and going the home-schooling route.

Board members, however, said there was little they could do to help because the school district is bound by law to abide by the provisions of SB 277.

I am sympathetic to a number of your concerns, said Trustee Joe Schunk. But SB 277 is pretty straightforward, and theres not a lot of room for maneuvering and there is no latitude that I can see for local education agencies.

Trustee Thomas Kensok said passing a resolution asking lawmakers in Sacramento to amend the law wasnt likely to do much good.

The way the system works is the legislature passes the law, and it is our job to carry out what the law is, said Kensok. A resolution would only be advisory, and it would not change whatsoever the rule is.

Board President Robb Felder told parents that the board was not scheduled that evening to take any action on the new immunization policy, but would bring it back for a vote at its Feb. 4 meeting.

The Legislation closed immunization loopholes after a measles outbreak at Disneyland that sickened 147 people was attributed in part to people who were not immunized against this contagious disease.

But that was not the end of the discussion, even as the board continued with its other business.

After the parents left the room and congregated just outside in the hallway, Superintendent Patrick Sweeney exited the meeting to engage the group further.

He instructed them that there was another option instead of trying to get the personal beliefs deadline extended. Go to your doctor and get them to write an exemption, he said.

The law still allows one kind of exemption, but only for medical reasons and it has to be backed by a physician.

Parent Heather Hilton and others in the group said they had pursued this option, but could not find a doctor in the county or even Sonoma who would grant a medical exemption.

Another parent, Cara Hanson, said: There are a lot of parents who are frustrated. They face home-schooling their kids or doing something thats against their moral code.

The impromptu meeting continued long after the board finished its session and left for the night. Repeatedly, the parents brought up the idea of the resolution, insisting thats the best course of action, and that other education officials in the state have sent similar messages to Sacramento.

Hanson admitted that even if the Napa school board passed the resolution, the legislature may not respond to it. But, she insisted, the resolution would give them hope and that means a lot to everyone.

Sweeney did not give any indication that the board would consider the resolution. He added that he felt bad for the parents, but at the same time: We just want to follow the law.
AMERICAN CANYON  The success of American Canyons Snow Day has parks and recreation officials thinking of combining the new event with long-standing holiday traditions to create a weekend signature event for the city.

At the same time, bad behavior at the annual Easter Egg Hunt  parents, not the kids  may prompt banning children 3 years and younger.

Such changes were just some of the many discussed by the Parks and Community Services Commission and the Open Space Advisory Committee, which jointly reviewed a laundry list of proposed changes for special events that a select committee devised during 2015.

At the top of the list was a recommendation to create a two-day holiday extravaganza that would include the citys annual tree-lighting ceremony, the Reindeer Run and Snow Day.

Last year, the events were held on separate weeks.

The city has been looking for a way to create a signature event for American Canyon that would draw both residents and people from out of town, particularly on the east side of town.

The closest it has now to a signature event is the 4th of July celebration, held on the west side.

Last months Snow Day demonstrated it could draw outsiders, bringing in people from Vallejo, Benicia and other towns among the approximately 3,000 who attended the event.

So Parks and Recreation Director Creighton Wright and Recreation Manager Roddrick Sweeney recommended to the joint meeting earlier this month that the city move the annual tree lighting, which has traditionally been on a Thursday evening, to a Friday night.

In addition, an idea of adding a light parade as part of the tree lighting was well received by commissioners and committee members.

The next day would feature the Reindeer Run and Snow Day.

It would be a really amazing event if we combined all of these, said Commissioner Karina Servente.

Wright and Sweeney also suggested moving the tree lighting from the Senior Center to Shenandoah Park, which hosted Snow Day.

Weve outgrown the location, said Sweeney of the Senior Center. Its a small area.

Wright said shifting the tree lighting to Shenandoah would incur costs.

The towering redwood next to the Senior Center used for the tree lighting cannot be moved, said Wright.

Its 50 feet [tall], he said. It would not survive the move.

That raised the question of whether the city should invest in an artificial or live tree for Shenandoah Park.

Wright told the meeting the cost would be about the same for either option: $15,000.

An artificial tree, he added after the meeting, could cost as much as $50,000 depending on how big and decorative the city wants to go. But they could also get a decent starter tree for around $15,000, the cost to have a large live tree shipped down from Washington state.

Some commissioners, like Chair Janelle Sellick, favored purchasing an artificial tree.

Others, like Commission Mathew Plate, insisted the city invest in a live tree.

Im on the side of the environment, said Plate. I watched the Lorax too many times.

Changes to holiday events were not the only ones discussed at the meeting.

Wright and Sweeney also recommended some adjustments for the citys annual Easter Egg Hunt, held at Community Park II.

The hunt has been for all ages separated into different groups, ranging from 3 and under to teens and adults.

Wright and Sweeney, however, suggested dropping the 3 and under category. They said that particular egg hunt has had to involve adults because of the childrens limited motor skills, and having adults out on the field hasnt always gone well.

It gets scary in there, said Sweeney, referring to the aggressive manner of some parents while supposedly there to help their children collect plastic eggs.

Wright added, This is the only event Ive been yelled at by parents over what other parents have done.

Servente said she had witnessed adults snatching Easter eggs out of the hands of other peoples kids.

He and Sweeney said children 3 and under should be given a prize and a free photo with the Easter Bunny in lieu of participating in the hunt.

They also recommended spreading the egg hunt out over the day instead of running the age groups one right after another; turning the Easter bonnet contest into a showcase and giving every participant a prize; extending the hours of the event; and adding more activities like a petting zoo.

No decisions were made about the proposed changes to special events. Wright said the topic will return at the next meeting.
Blakeley Construction will move its operations from the rural property it has occupied near Calistoga for 55 years after a dispute with the county over zoning and building permit issues.

Representatives for the county and the family-owned business signed an agreement filed with Napa County Superior Court. Blakeley Construction has two-and-a-half years to vacate the 310 Franz Valley School Road site.

The dispute came down to whether Blakeley Construction could continue operating on agriculturally zoned land, given that it has done so since 1961.

The outcome raises questions about the future of a company that has been part of Calistoga for a half-century.

Blakeley Construction President Dick Blakeley said the company remains open and that he wants to continue operations at a different location, if he can find one. But suitable space is tight in wine country.

Weve been looking, he said. There are not a whole lot of places out there, nothing weve heard of without going out of the county. Weve heard there might be something in south Napa County, but were a northern Napa County company that has most of our following in a 10-mile or 15-mile radius.

Blakeley said the company needs about an acre with commercial zoning at a location where trucks and tractors wouldnt be a problem.

The court agreement details how the Blakeleys must phase out their construction operations on the Franz Valley School Road property by June 30, 2018. It calls for the Blakeleys to pay the county $84,272, of which $73,000 is a civil penalty and $11,272 is to cover county administrative and legal costs in the case.

Were not on property thats zoned right, Blakeley said. We also have buildings built without the aid of permits in the early 70s. Theres a lot of buildings in the area where that was done.

Dick and Kelly Blakeley went before the county Zoning Administrator last June to ask the county to declare their land use as being nonconforming but legal. The county took testimony and then postponed the hearing to another day, but that day never came.

Instead, we reached a different agreement to go down a different path, Deputy County Counsel Carrie Gallagher said.

Code violations have been a hot issue in recent years, with some residents saying the county too readily grants forgiveness. Usually, however, the controversies have involved wineries.

The county is in a tough position, Dick Blakeley said. With the groundswell of what people want right now, with this coming up at this time, it was a hard thing to do. Ten years ago, it might have been grandfathered in, but its not 10 years ago.

The court agreement calls for the Blakeleys to withdraw their application for a certificate of legal nonconformity.

Zoning Administrator hearings are typically low-key affairs held in a small room in the county Administration Building. But about 80 people turned out for the June 23, 2015 hearing on Blakeley Construction.

Calistoga Mayor Chris Canning said before the hearing that since opening in 1961, Blakeley Construction has had a big impact on Calistoga.

Theyve employed hundreds, if not thousands, of Calistogans during that period, Canning said. They built a good part of Calistoga.

Robert and Melissa Kennedy of Kennedy Estate Vineyards on Franz Valley School Road engaged an attorney who made the case at the hearing against the Blakeleys request.

In a letter last year, the Kennedys said they harbor no ill-will against the Blakeleys. Rather, they want to restore the agricultural land use to the Blakeley site so they can peacefully enjoy their own property.

Through their attorney, the Blakeleys asserted that their operations have been acknowledged by the county over the years. The county repeatedly used Blakeley Construction to make emergency repairs and county employees at various times said the business was grandfathered in.

But a county report prepared for the hearing said none of these claims of county endorsements compelled the county to declare Blakeley Construction a legal, non-conforming use.

With the court agreement now in place, the issue appears to be settled. Blakeley Construction, meanwhile, faces an unsettled future.

Im not going out of business, Dick Blakeley said. I dont want to, anyway.
Authorities have jailed a patient at Napa State Hospital in connection with a reported assault on an employee this month.

Eric Guy Carder, 45, was booked into the Napa County jail Friday afternoon for investigation of attempted murder, according to Ralph Montano, spokesman for the Department of State Hospitals, which oversees Napa State and other psychiatric hospitals in California.

Carder also was being held on suspicion of felony assault and felony battery likely to cause bodily injury.

The arrest stems from an attack on a Napa State psychiatric technician Jan. 9, Montano said Monday. The employee suffered an eye injury that required emergency medical care, he reported.

Carder suffered a knee injury while being restrained by Napa State Hospital police after the assault, and was taken to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento for treatment, according to Montano. He was released from the hospital to be transferred to Napa County and booked into jail.
MEADOW LAKE, Saskatchewan

Teen in mass Canada school shooting makes court appearance

A teen charged with killing four people in a shooting at a school and a home in Western Canada stared at the floor for much of his first court appearance.

The tall, thin 17-year-old wore an orange jumpsuit and had his legs and hands shackled as he was brought into a packed courtroom in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan  a community about 215 miles (350 kilometers) south of La Loche, where Fridays shooting took place.

A teacher and an aide were among those killed in the shooting. Seven people were injured.

Two brothers were also shot to death at a home prior to the school shooting.

The teen, who cant be named under Canadas Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.

His next court appearance is Feb. 22.

MEXICO CITY

WHO says Zika likely in all but 2 countries in Americas

The World Health Organization says the Zika virus thats suspected of causing birth defects is likely to spread to every country in the Americas where the mosquito that carries it can be found: thats everywhere except for Canada and continental Chile.

Sundays statement says the virus is new to the region, so few people have immunity to it. The virus emerged in Africa in the 1940s, spread to Asia and was confirmed in the Americas only last May, though it likely appeared months earlier. Brazilian officials say its associated with a recent wave of birth defects.

Some U.S. travelers have been infected abroad with Zika and other viruses spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, but there have been no cases of local infection with Zika in the U.S. so far.

JERUSALEM

U.S. envoy to Israel says his criticism was poorly timed

The U.S. ambassador to Israel has acknowledged the timing was not the best after criticizing Israels approach to settler violence in remarks delivered on the day an Israeli woman fatally stabbed by a Palestinian was laid to rest.

Daniel Shapiro said at a conference last week that despite recent indictments against Jewish suspects in a deadly arson against Palestinians, there seemed at times to be two standards of adherence to the rule of law: one for Israelis and another for Palestinians.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Shapiros comments were unacceptable on the day Israelis buried Dafna Meir, a mother of six slain in her West Bank home.

Speaking to Israeli Army Radio on Monday, Shapiro said: If I God forbid hurt the Meir family ... of course I regret it.

MOSCOW

Putin denounces Soviet founder Lenin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin for placing a time bomb under the state, and denounced brutal repressions by the Bolshevik government.

The harsh criticism of Lenin, who is still revered by communists and many others in Russia, is unusual for Putin, who in the past carefully weighed his comments about the nations history to avoid alienating some voters.

Putins assessment of Lenins role in Russian history during Mondays meeting with pro-Kremlin activists in the southern city of Stavropol was markedly more negative than in the past.

He denounced Lenin and his government for brutally executing Russias last czar along with all his family and servants, killing thousands of priests and placing a time bomb under the Russian state by drawing administrative borders along ethnic lines.

YAOUNDE, Cameroon

4 suicide attackers in Cameroon kill at least 28 people

Local officials say that four suicide bombers attacked a town in Cameroons Far North region near the border with Nigeria, killing at least 28 people and wounding 65 others.

Governor Midjiyawa Bakari said Monday that two attackers detonated explosives at a market and two others blew themselves up in the town of Bodo. Bakari said that the wounded are in the hospital. He said the attackers came from Nigeria.

A Cameroon troop commander, Gen. Jacob Kodji, confirmed the attack and said Nigerias Islamic extremist group Boko Haram are suspected. He said soldiers have been deployed to the area.

The Islamic militants, who have killed thousands in a 6-year insurgency, began stepping up attacks early last year on neighboring Cameroon and other countries contributing in efforts to crush Boko Haram.
St. Helenas Active Transportation Committee will hold a public meeting to discuss the potential elimination of on-street parking from a segment of Pope Street at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Carnegie Building.

The city is improving bike infrastructure along Pope Street, and an engineering analysis has determined that the stretch of Pope between Mariposa and Starr avenues is too narrow to accommodate vehicle traffic, a bike lane, and on-street parking.

As a result, the city is considering the impacts and benefits of removing on-street parking on the south side of Pope from Mariposa to Starr to accommodate a Class II bike lane.

For information about the project, contact Tobias Barr, public works project manager, at 968-2746 or tbarr@cityofsthelena.org.
Micro and macro economics are the two sides of the same coin.There is close interdependence between the two.We cannot analyse the in...
A grisly cellphone video of the episode played for days on local news media last fall, eliciting condemnation and hand-wringing. Officials blamed the crowd and rumors that kidnappers were taking children off the streets. One local official suggested that it was the opposition party making trouble.

But the people of Ajalpan had another explanation: Tired of government corruption and indifference, the mob fashioned its own justice, part of a longstanding problem that Mexican officials say is on the rise.





The killings raise difficult questions for Mexico, high lighting an alarming development. By some accounts, there were more public lynchings this past year than at any other time in more than a quarter-century. There were at least 78 lynchings last year in Mexico, more than double the number the previous year, according to data collected by Raul Rodriguez Guillen, a professor and an author of the book Mexico Lynchings, 1988-2014.





The mob actions were born of a sense of hopelessness and impotence shared by many in Mexico, where 98 percent of murders go unsolved and the state is virtually absent in some areas. By some estimates, just 12 percent of crimes are even reported in Mexico, largely because of a lack of faith that justice will ever be served.





Such a void, taken to extremes, has found its resolution in violence. There is a crisis in terms of the growth of violence and crime and a parallel erosion of authority and the rule of law, Mr. Guillen said. These lynchings acquire a double meaning. People lynch both the suspect and the symbol of authority.





Interviews with dozens of residents about the lynching of the brothers  David and Jose Abraham Copado Molina  revealed little remorse. In the end, the fear that two suspects might be escaping with the help of the police outweighed concerns over spilling innocent blood.





If they were innocent, and Im not saying they were, then this is a case of one group paying for the crimes of another, said Emanuel Petla, 33, near the site of the lynchings in October. What happened the day of the lynchings is a situation that has been unraveling for some time now. One thing led to the other, he added. Insecurity, frustration, confusion and weariness.





The police are not exempt from mob action. Last year, five officers were badly beaten after they killed a villager during an operation. Two died from their injuries.

In the borough of Iztapalapa, residents have raised banners warning thieves that they will not be turned over to the police. Instead, vengeance will be taken on their mothers. In September, two men were set on fire in Chiapas State, having been accused of stealing a car.





Such frustration has long been an issue, along with the tendency for people to take the law into their own hands. In the last few years, self-defense groups have popped up to fight organized crime, filling the void left by government forces either incapable of combating criminal gangs, unwilling to do so or actively working alongside them. But for all the governments flaws, vigilantism rarely seems to do much better.





The initial gains of some self-defense groups give way to predatory behavior, creating a new order of bandit. Lynchings, too, seldom generate much more than public disgust and a fleeting sense of agency for the community. And sometimes the community gets it wrong, as with the Copado brothers. I cant imagine how this is happening in our country, said Pablo Copado, a brother of the two lynched men. They stepped on every inch of my brothers integrity, on all of their humanity.





The two brothers had always worked together, ever since David, 34, persuaded his youngest brother to join him on the road as freelance pollsters for various companies. He had taught Jose how to approach interviewees and frame his questions. It was no easy task. Jose, 30, could be quiet and withdrawn, the yin to Davids gregarious yang. Jose enjoyed odd hobbies, like making papier-mache figurines and marshmallow lollipops, but held a deep reservoir of love for David, who was the eldest in the family, and Davids twin, 2-year-old sons. Jose was so devoted to the boys that David sometimes joked that he was the real father.

David, by contrast, was the kind of person who would take up all your time gabbing if you let him, Pablo recalled. David chose the job partly because it allowed him to talk to people and see the country. Jose loved it because it allowed him to work with his brother.
Question -- What is the goal of this website? Why do we share different sources of information that sometimes conflicts or might even be considered disinformation?

Answer -- The primary goal of Nesaranews is to help all people become better truth-seekers in a real-time boots-on-the-ground fashion. This is for the purpose of learning to think critically, discovering the truth from withinnot just believing things blindly because it came from an "authority" or credible source. Instead of telling you what the truth is, we share information from many sources so that you can discern it for yourself. We focus on teaching you the tools to become your own authority on the truth, gaining self-mastery, sovereignty, and freedom in the process. We want each of you to become your own leaders and masters of personal discernment, and as such, all information should be vetted, analyzed and discerned at a personal level. We also encourage you to discuss your thoughts in the comments section of this site to engage in a group discernment process.





"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."  Aristotle

11
Armenia PM on making EU observation mission permanent: I'm not sure about that

US State Dept.: Our ultimate goal is peaceful resolution between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Turkey president travels to Azerbaijan

Armenia has new customs attache at Upper Lars checkpoint on Russia-Georgia border

Armenia to get 33mn grant from EU for police, migration service, business development in Syunik Province

Lacote: OSCE observation mission deployment will contribute to respect of Armenia territorial integrity

World oil prices going up

Newspaper: Karabakh delegation to head for Moscow, meeting with Putin considered probable

Newspaper: Azerbaijan aggression on September 13 paralyzes Armenia public administration for some time

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 G-20 summit

Eduard Aghajanyan: Once again I remind that Armenia was deprived of opportunity to protect rights of people of Artsakh

U.S. says that limiting Russian oil prices is not aimed at OPEC

OSCE sends mission to Armenia to assess situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Jeff Bezos warns that U.S. economy may face recession

Kiev says nearly 40% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been damaged

Raisi: Iran will use all its capabilities and potential to end war in Ukraine

Qatar gets first pandas in Middle East

Armenian president delivers lecture at St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia

More than half of Britons think Liz Truss should resign

Bloomberg: Putin and Erdogan's cordial relationship arouses Western anger

Dutch government invests up to 3.5 billion in military procurement

Erdogan discusses latest developments in Ukraine with Zelenskyy

School in Paris expels student from class for denying Armenian Genocide

Germany would like to participate in EU observer mission to Armenia

U.S. is considering plan to co-produce weapons with Taiwan

Poland to buy K239 Chunmoo from South Korea

Air defense system repels several missile attacks by Ukrainian troops at Kakhovskaya HPP

Baku court does not definitively terminate criminal prosecution of Yunus spouses

Liz Truss has no plans to resign

CSTO countries agree on draft agreement on standardization of military equipment

EU countries agree to sanction eight people and organizations over Iranian drones

Congressman David Price meets with rector of Yerevan State University

Chairman of Amsterdam City Court visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan

ASPU supports process of unification of universities

Deputy Chief of Police on new draft law: 'Citizen of Azerbaijan' is extremely relative notion

Benny Gantz: Israel will not supply weapons to Ukraine

Saudi Arabia lifts ban on Turkish soap operas

Armenia lawyer arrested

Remains discovered during renovation of Ministry of Culture building in Tbilisi are transferred to Armenian Pantheon

Dollar goes up, euro falls in Armenia

IRGC special forces conduct helicopter operations on third day of exercises on border with Azerbaijan

MFA: France position on achieving Armenia-Azerbaijan peace is unchanged

Foreign Minister: Iran will not allow blocking its communications with Armenia

Kremlin: Russia does not intend to close borders amid introduction of martial law in four regions

EU mission delegation visits some border communities of Armenias Gegharkunik Province (PHOTOS)

Armenias Papikyan attends defense ministers assembly in India

Brusov university rector: Armenia education minister offered me a high position in new university, I declined

Putin imposes martial law in new territories of Russia

Yerevan to host Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting

Putin holds meeting of Security Council

Armenia MOD spox: Azerbaijan still preventing search operations

Iran announces retaliatory sanctions against EU

Russian Defense Ministry reports on strike on military facilities in Ukraine

Artsakh Foreign Minister receives Ruben Vardanyan

Israel calls Australia's refusal to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel 'pathetic decision'

Armenia to tighten penalties for overloading of trucks

Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey army elite units conduct demonstration military drills

Luxembourg parliament speaker: Azerbaijan aggression is direct attack on Armenia sovereignty

Russia Investigative Committee chief confirms theory of Crimean Bridge explosion accomplices

Uruguay vice president: We express our solidarity with Armenian people

GeoProMining's ZCMC has tripled tax payments to the state budget of Armenia

Yerevan judge to be arrested

Paul Krekorian unanimously elected as LA City Council President

ThePrint: Armenia eyes procuring Akash missiles, loitering munitions from India

Armenia MP to international colleagues: Azerbaijan intends to carry out new aggression

Ukraine military hits Energodar city hall

Armenia PM: We hope Azerbaijan will cooperate in clarifying destiny of our compatriots

Newspaper: Where is 1991 declaration by which Armenia, Azerbaijan once recognized each other's territorial integrity?

Azerbaijan fires at Armenia positions at midnight

PACE lawmakers call for Azerbaijan militarys immediate withdrawal from Armenia

Australia reverses decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel capital

Armenia MPs meet with European Parliament colleagues, reflect on recent Azerbaijan attack

Nouriel Roubini: In some sense, World War III has already started

EU considers paying Elon Musk to provide Starlink Internet to Ukraine

U.S. will continue to take practical, aggressive steps to make it difficult for Iran to sell drones to Russia

German Prosecutor's Office searches Deutsche Bank headquarters

Head of Germany's national cybersecurity agency fired amid reports of ties to Russia

Uruguayan Chamber of Deputies condemns Azerbaijan's invasion of Armenian territory

Spanish minister: EU is far from solution to energy crisis

Fake Azerbaijani names of Syunik province communities removed from Google Maps and Google Earth apps

Artsakh President presents details of meetings held in Yerevan to MPs

Lavrov: Russia sees no point in maintaining its previous presence in Western countries

UAE: OPEC+ decision has no political motive

Opposition to David Price: Right to self-determination is the right of people of Artsakh to survive

Iran is ready to negotiate with Ukraine to resolve ambiguities

Deputy Speaker of Armenian National Assembly: 47 PACE deputies made written statement condemning Baku's aggression

Lapid will discuss Kiev request for Israeli systems with Kuleba

Morawiecki: Poland is not afraid of losing EU funds

Armenian President meets with Sofia Mayor

Speaker of Armenian National Assembly to Norway FM: Withdrawal of Azerbaijani Armed Forces from Armenia is a priority

Nikol Pashinyan receives delegation headed by Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt

Iran responds to Borrell's garden and jungle statement: EU needs to accept realities or it will continue to wither

Pashinyan: No one can accuse Armenia of evading its obligations

Congressman: U.S. was not active in terms of security in Armenia, but now situation is changing

Indian defense company Solar group says it has received orders from Armenia for 'Pinaka' missiles

Price: U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan will not be used for offensive purposes against Armenia

Military expert assesses possibility of new hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Russian Embassy: Armenians' attitude towards Russians who moved to Armenia remains very friendly
The subsequent session of the Armenian-Iraqi Intergovernmental Commission kicked off in Baghdad today. The session was co-chaired by the Armenian Minister of the Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations (MTAES), Armen Yeritsyan, and Agriculture Minister of Iraq Falah Zaidan. The Armenian delegation is composed of the representatives from the Armenian MFA, as well as Ministries of Energy, Health and Agriculture.

Issues on economic and humanitarian cooperation are on the agenda of the meetings, Armenian MFA press-service reports.

During the session, the sides attached special attention to the active cooperation in different spheres - especially trade and economic one - between Armenia and Iraq, as well as the significant growth in commodity turnover in the recent years. The working groups discussed issues on deepening cooperation and searching for new ways.

On the sidelines of his visit, Minister Yeritsyan had a meeting with the Iraqi President Fuad Masum. The Minister noted that the Armenian and Iraqi people have various historical similarities, having lived side by side in the same environment for decades, and the Armenian authorities are thus committed to enhance the friendship and foster the development and deepening of bilateral cooperation by all means.

The importance of establishing direct flight and at the same time land routes, as well as expanding the business communications was underscored.

For his part, President Masum especially stressed the presence of Armenians in Iraq and their participation in and contribution to the development of the country. According to him, the presence of Armenians in Iraq has a decade-long history: Armenian traces can be found in various regions of the country, and the issues of concern to the Armenian community are always in the centre of the Iraqi authorities attention.

Mr Yeritsyan conveyed special gratitude to the Iraqi authorities for the support to the Armenian community in Iraq.

The work of the Commission will continue till Wednesday.
YEREVAN. - Yerevan solemnly celebrated the National Day of India today. An official reception on occasion of the 67th anniversary of the Indian Republic Day was held on this occasion today.

The Indian Ambassador to Armenia Suresh Babu thanked the representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Armenia, as well as officials, political and public figures present at the reception.

According to the Ambassador, on this day in 1950, India was declared a republic and later developed a Constitution which became the basis on which the free and democratic India was built.

Ambassador Babu noted that India conforms to the rule of law, freedom of speech and equal rights to all the citizens. Despite the social and economic challenges, currently India develops as a global leader of information and communication technologies, new companies and pharmaceutical industry, he said. These challenges emerge as a result of different internal and external factors, which directly or indirectly influence the country but, according to the Ambassador, they only give flexibility to resist them and find solutions.

According to the Ambassador, with already recorded 7.3 percent growth, India plans to become the fastest growing economy, ensuring 7.5 percent of growth in 2016.

Referring to the relations with Armenia, Suresh Babu noted that the bilateral relations with friendly Armenia record constant progress. He also stressed that the first International Yoga Day, successfully organized with the help of the Armenian friends and due to the activity of yoga lovers, helped the Embassy disseminate the message Yoga in the name of fitness.

In 2016, a number of bilateral visits and events, which will shift the relations between India and Armenia to a higher level, are scheduled to take place. Mr Babu also said that this was the last time he celebrated the Republic Day in Armenia, since he completes his diplomatic mission in that country. In the Ambassadors words, life in this ancient, beautiful and friendly country gave him the opportunity to familiarize himself with the Armenian people, who carry in themselves an enormous potential for knowledge and talent.
Emory University and Oxford College students seeking substance in their Spring Break experience are invited to apply for 2016 Alternative Spring Break trips, offered March 5-12 with a focus on service and learning opportunities.

From exploring social justice issues and the impact of poverty to examining topics of educational inequality, hunger, children's healthcare, urban poverty, refugee aid, and homelessness, the local and regional service trips are built around experiential learning.

Organized by Volunteer Emory and Leadership Oxford during fall, winter and spring breaks, the trips are designed and led by students to nurture meaningful development through projects that offer community engagement, exposure to social justice issues and cultural events, and a unique hands-on education.

"Alternative Breaks is best described as an immersive form of service," says Courtney Jones-Stevens, assistant director for community engagement in Emory's Center for Community Engagement and Leadership.

"This academic year we have over 19 trips that will go to locations throughout the Southeast, plus an international trip that went to Nicaragua to participate in a week-long English language camp."

The mission of each trip is to allow students to collaborate with non-profits and community change agents through service projects and cultural experiences. Group sizes vary between 12 and 20 participants; though the trips are partially subsidized, students typically fundraise a large portion of the fees associated with the trip.

"If a student has ever felt the spark to participate in community service or learn more about social justice issues, we hope they'll get involved and bring something back and continue to be involved in service during their time at Emory," says Jones-Stevens.

Applications for Alternative Spring Break are being accepted now through Jan. 30 for trips based out of Emory's Atlanta campus and up to Feb. 5 for trips coordinated through the Oxford College campus.

Trips offered this year through Emory's Atlanta campus:

Interconnected: Rethinking Place and Community in Charleston, South Carolina: Participants explore the interrelated nature of social injustices including housing injustice and homelessness, racial injustice and discrimination, and environmental injustice. Service work includes housing development projects, volunteering with shelters for persons experiencing homelessness, habitat restoration and protection, and more.

Life is a Beautiful Ride: Education Inequality in New Orleans, Louisiana: Many families and communities affected by Hurricane Katrina are still recovering from its aftermath. This trip will focus on bridging the gap in learning efficacy in children of different socioeconomic backgrounds among the youth of New Orleans.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Homelessness Immersion in Atlanta: Students will immerse themselves in a simulation of homelessness for five days and four nights in the Greater Atlanta area while visiting and serving agencies geared towards helping individuals experiencing homelessness. The goal is to gain an in-depth perspective of how homelessness develops, how homelessness is being addressed in Atlanta, and what issues these agencies are tackling.

Children's Environmental Health in Perry County, Kentucky: This trip will focus on the environmental factors affecting the health of low-income communities in the coal-mining region of Eastern Kentucky, specifically targeting pediatric populations. Using an interdisciplinary approach, students will explore health care concerns in Appalachia, participate in public health advocacy/education, and gain exposure to hands-on clinical work to better how understand a series of factors have impacted the health and lifestyle of the people of this region.

Beneath the Surface: Exposing the Levels of Poverty in Jacksonville, Florida: Though Florida often conjures up images of sun, sand and recreation, one in every six Floridians was living in poverty in 2014. This trip illuminates the hidden faces of poverty. The focus will be urban poverty, specifically work with individuals affected by homelessness, families struggling to provide for themselves, male veterans, and people with disabilities. Volunteers will partner with organizations that combat urban poverty, including a soup kitchen, a clothing distribution center, an after-school program, a food bank and a nonprofit working with people with disabilities.

Pur-Siouan Preservation: Contemporary Native American Issues in Bolton, North Carolina: Participants will serve the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe, one of the eight state-recognized tribal nations in North Carolina, to learn about Pan-Native American culture while exploring the intricate social justice issues that have arisen for Native Americans in the 21st century. Volunteers will revitalize residences of the sick and elderly, work with the tribal youth group and help support common tribal spaces.

Trips offered through Oxford College:

Refugee Relief in Nashville, Tennessee: Participants will partner with World Relief Nashville, an organization that provides aid and support to refugees from around the world with housing, employment, medical care, transportation, English language tutoring and emergency food assistance. Students will sort donations for refugees, work with immigrant youth and participate in childcare.



Hunger Alleviation in Orlando, Florida: Volunteers will join in the work of Stop Hunger Now, an organization that strives to end hunger by providing food and life-changing aid to the world's most vulnerable populations through meal-packaging programs currently operating in 20 cities in the U.S., South Africa, Malaysia, Italy, Peru and the Philippines. Students will have a chance to package food to ship abroad, undergo "hunger ambassador" training and work with local food banks.

*Note: These trips will be offered to a combined total of 30-40 Oxford students and 4-6 staff members. Cost per student is $100-$200; final cost will be confirmed upon participant selection, which will be announced by Feb. 12. View applications and information.
"Between the Sweet Water and the Swarm of Bees: Works by Susanne Wenger" opened Jan. 23 at the Michael C. Carlos Museum and is on display through May 15.

The exhibition brings together nine screen prints and one waxbatik by Austrian artist Susanne Wenger (19152009) in the museum's John Howett Works on Paper Gallery.

The series was given to the Carlos Museum in 2014 by Graham and Maryagnes Kerr. The Kerrs purchased the works from the artist at her home in Osogbo, Nigeria, in 1965. The prints, ephemera and batik in this collection are rare and have never before been exhibited together.

Wenger lived in Nigeria for the majority of her life  nearly 60 years  and is best known for her revitalization of Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove in Nigeria, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The depictions in the Carlos Museum exhibition are extensions of the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove. They are syncretic compositions of oriki, which is praise poetry about Yoruba deities such as Obatala and Osun, and of European mythology.

The Yoruba, an African ethnic group, dominate the western part of Nigeria.

The prints and batik "are not exactly illustrative of a particular story or deity," according to Amanda Hellman, curator of African art at the Carlos Museum.

"The colors and patterns look like a 1960s aesthetic," says Hellman, "but the angular figures are definitely her style. I think it is fair to say that a viewer can find imagery and symbols that are a part of a Yoruba visual culture, and imagery and symbols that are part of a European visual culture."

Glimpse into Nigerian history

As curator, Hellman included praise poetry in the exhibit, less because the poems go with the art than because they "evoke images and emotions found within."

"There are few of Wenger's 'portable' artworks available and the works given by the Kerrs are in incredible condition," says Hellman. "I think this is an interesting exhibition because the works demonstrate her unique connection to Yoruba culture as a priestess of Obatala and the way she blended her understanding of the stories of the Orisa with European stories and imagery."

Six months after Wenger arrived in Osogbo, she fell ill with tuberculosis. She attributed her recovery one year later to the god Obatala and not only created work depicting his stories, but also became a priestess in the Obatala society.

"She was a priestess of the Orisha, Obatala, so she and her followers would say her work is divinely inspired," Hellman notes.

"I think her service to art education and Yoruba culture is the element that makes her work so important. Her art is a direct result and expression of that dedication," she says.

Hellman thinks this exhibition of Wenger's work provides a glimpse into a particular moment in Nigerian history. "These prints were created right after Nigerian independence and right before the Biafran war," she says.

In addition, her art and her workshops helped shape the idea of modern art in Nigeria.

"She taught many of the most well-known modern Nigerian artists, including Twins Seven Seven, Nike Davies Okundaye, FAB," Hellman says.

Related events

Several events related to the Wenger exhibition will be held at the Carlos Museum.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Jessica Stephenson, assistant professor of art history at Kennesaw State University, will introduce visitors to the life and art of Wenger though her silkscreen prints featured in the exhibition.

This gallery talk, which is free and open to the public, will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Works on Paper Gallery.

"The Silkscreen Art of Susanne Wegner," a workshop for K-12 teachers, will be Thursday, Feb. 18, at 5 p.m. in the Tate Room of the museum.

A silkscreen printing workshop for adults is Saturday, Feb. 27, from noon to 5 p.m. in the Tate Room. Led by artist Deborah Sosower of the Atlanta Printmakers Studio, participants will examine Wenger's imagery and technique, then create their own compositions using screens inspired by Wenger's prints.

For more information on these event, see the Carlos Museum calendar.
Posted by Mike Levine | July 13, 2009

Last week, we wrote about the famous Dodge Deora concept that was based on the 1964-70 Dodge A100 unibody compact pickup. The Deora's radical cab-forward styling grabbed the attention of young and old when it debuted in 1967, but with minimal cargo-carrying capability and oddball features, like a front-opening cabin and swing-out steering wheel, it was never practical for production. That doesn't mean the idea didn't have merit, though, because Ford followed up with its own version of the Deora in 1973, called the Ford Explorer SUV concept.

Ford's vision of a proper sport utility vehicle hadn't yet been cast into the four-door, truck-based form that we know most modern SUVs to be when the Explorer SUV concept was penned. Nor had the Explorer name been permanently attached to a single vehicle, which didn't happen until 1991 when the Ford Explorer compact SUV went on sale.

In the late '60s and early '70s, Ford, like Dodge and Chevrolet, was still smarting from the rejection of its small, blunt-faced pickups by traditional truck buyers. Ford's Econoline pickup was derived from its first-generation E-Series vans, built from 1961-67, and based on the Ford Falcon car. Econoline pickups featured low prices, but Ford truck buyers never warmed up to their unconventional looks and low-rated towing and hauling numbers relative to Ford's full-size pickups, like the F-100 and F-150 from the same period. By 1970, every one of the Big Three automakers stopped selling these trucks.

But the success of the Deora concept must have gotten Ford's design team fired up, because the Deora was built using many pieces from Ford's parts bin. The Deora's front-opening windshield was the rear window from a 1960 Ford station wagon. Its back glass was taken from a 1960 Ford sedan, and the side exhaust vents were taillight bezels from the Ford Mustang. The Deora's taillights also borrowed the sequential turn-signal units from the Ford Thunderbird.

The biggest improvements: Ford kept the Deora's futuristic cab-forward design but made the Explorer concept practical by giving it two conventional doors and a standard steering wheel.

Ford also replaced the old Econoline pickup's six-cylinder engine with a mid-engine, 429-cubic-inch V-8 that was shared with the Ford Thunderbird and Mustang in response to customer complaints that the first generation of forward-control pickups lacked power. The engine's exhaust ports, like the Deora, were positioned on the sides of the Explorer's cargo box.

What about the Explorer name that Ford attached to the concept? It was first used by Ford in 1968 to market a limited-edition "Explorer Special" equipment package for Ford's pickup trucks. That same year, Ford sent 20 F-Series light-, medium- and heavy-duty pickups on a 3,500-mile trip from the tip of Florida to the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, plus a 130-mile rigorous evaluation run across Texas to prove how tough Ford trucks were in the wild and when scientifically measured. The Explorer name celebrated the grueling truck tests.

The Explorer SUV concept represented the next generation of adventuresome capability for Ford trucks. In keeping with the spirit of the Explorer name, the show truck featured a pop-up tent that was stored in its cargo box.

Ultimately, though, the Ford Explorer concept never achieved the notoriety and critical acclaim that the wholly original Dodge Deora had. Ford's sleek pickup-truck styling exercise faded away into obscurity after a brief time on the auto show circuit.

Ford wouldn't be the last to try to resurrect the original hopes of the Big Three's '60s-era, car-based pickups. In 1988, GM reinvented the Chevrolet Corvair pickup in the aerodynamic form of the GMC Centaur concept. It even duplicated the Corvair's unique rear-mounted engine setup. Still, even after two decades had passed, truck buyers weren't interested in reviving these dead-end trucks.

Today, the lost legacy of the 1973 Ford Explorer SUV concept pickup is carried on in its distant relative, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, which Ford officially considers to be a sport utility vehicle.

[Sources: Flickr, The Chicago Auto Show, Fordification]
Posted by Mark Williams | January 26, 2016

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expanded the already substantial Takata airbag recall to include three more automakers  Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen  and 5 million more airbag inflators.

This latest expansion is partially due to the death of a Georgia man, who died after his 2006 Ford Ranger struck a cow on a South Carolina road and the airbag did not deploy properly. The attorney for the family said his client was killed by metal pieces from the airbag's inflator canister.

Ford is proactively expanding its safety recall on previously effected Rnagers, but are not including the driver side airbags as well. The Ford vehicles affected by this Takata action are all 2004-2006 Ford Rangers built in North America. A total of 391,394 Ford vehicles are now affected by the expanded recall, including 361,692 in the United States and federalized territories and 29,334 in Canada. Ford dealers will replace the driver side airbag inflator at no cost to the customer. Ford customers who want to know if their vehicle is included in this recall can visit www.ford.com and click on safety recalls at the bottom of the page and enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

According to Automotive News, the Ford Ranger death is the first reported since a 13-year-old was killed in a 2001 Honda Accord coupe in Pennsylvania in July 2015.

For more on this story, click here. For the full list of stories related to the Takata airbag recall, click here. For a full list of affected vehicles, click here.

Manufacturer image
Yepsen, Jackson to analyze Iowa caucus results

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Two of Southern Illinois University Carbondales leading political analysts will dissect the Iowa caucus results and offer their perspectives about this years presidential campaign.

David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, and John Jackson, a visiting professor with the institute, will host a Pizza and Politics event, The Iowa Caucus, at 5 p.m., Feb. 4. The Iowa caucus is Feb. 1. The nations first primary, in New Hampshire, follows on Feb. 9. The Illinois primary is March 15.

The event will be an opportunity for students and the community to interact with Yepsen and Jackson, two widely recognized and sought-after experts in presidential politics, Delio Calzolari, institute associate director said.

People can come, ask questions about the state of this very important presidential election cycle, and how it might play out in Illinois and the rest of the country, he said.

The discussion will be in the Saluki Stadium Club. The discussion is free and open to the public, although RSVP is required by noon, Feb. 4. To reserve a spot, email rsvp@paulsimoninstitute.org or visit http://paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu/iowacaucus/index.php and fill out the form.

A nationally recognized political analyst, Yepsen covered every Iowa presidential caucus campaign since 1976 prior to coming to the institute in 2009. The Washington Post once dubbed Yepsen the king of Iowa caucuses, and in the present election, Yepsen has been a guest on Hardball with Chris Matthews on MSNBC, Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN, and with Bill Hemmer on the Fox News Channel.

Jackson, who is also well known nationally and locally for his political insight and work, has held myriad positions since coming to SIU Carbondale in 1969 while completing his doctoral degree, including interim chancellor. Jackson is also the author of two recent books, The Essential Paul Simon, published by SIU Press in 2012, which is an editing of Simons works, and The American Political Party System: Continuity and Change over 10 Presidential Elections, published by The Brookings Institute in fall 2014. That book examines how the nations government became divided and polarized and the impact on the political system and presidents who are trying to get their respective agendas adopted.

For more information on the program, contact the Institute at 618/453-4009 or visit http://paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu/
Stanford scholar unearths conflicted human history of South America's great natural wonder

Boundaries of Nature Digitized aerial images of the Iguazu Falls region help Stanford doctoral student Frederico Freitas see how national parks sharpened the border between Brazil and Argentina

Nestled along the border between Argentina and Brazil are the spectacular, thundering Iguazu Falls. Surrounding them are two national parks  legally protected areas of subtropical rainforest that appear free of both people and politics.

According to Stanford's Frederico Freitas, however, the national parks served a more pointed purpose throughout the 20th century: They were geopolitical weapons and highly effective tools for nation-building.

Freitas, a doctoral candidate in Latin American history, is writing the first history of national parks in Brazil and Argentina. Combining untapped archival sources with the latest digital methods, Freitas offers a new account of how national parks were used to strengthen the border between the two regional rivals.

In the 1930s, Freitas explains, two national parks were established on land adjacent to the border: Iguazu National Park in Argentina, and Iguacu National Park in Brazil. Both parks protected areas of scenic wilderness, including the world-renowned falls.

But Freitas says that the parks' true function was geopolitical: They were used by Brazil and Argentina as national symbols, ways of laying claim to the empty land and transforming a wild, unpatrolled frontier region into a secure border.

Freitas discovered that the parks were generated not by noble environmentalism, but rather by the strategic rivalry between the two countries.

"They were created around the same time, one because of the other," he said. "There's this interconnected history."

Over time, different ways of thinking about nature led to different styles of park management. Freitas' research reveals how the border became inscribed on the landscape itself as settlements flourished on Brazilian territory.

Freitas explains that Argentineans, accustomed to the flat grasslands around Buenos Aires, saw this border region as exotic.

"They saw this as their wilderness," Freitas said, "a very distant and alien area."

Brazilians, on the other hand, had been settling in subtropical forest regions for decades. To them, Freitas said, the protected forests were simply "one further step" in the colonization of their country.

Today, satellite images reveal a stark national divide between forests and farms. But, Freitas said, "if you took a plane in the 1920s or 1930s, and you saw the two sides of the border, they would look the same."

Freitas, a Geballe Dissertation Prize Fellow at the Stanford Humanities Center this year, said his research reveals just how intertwined we are with the natural world.

"What I show in my dissertation," Freitas said, "is that [park officials] were not only conserving. They were also acting to construct a specific type of landscape."

Flying through history

It was while doing archival research in Brazil that Freitas stumbled across a treasure trove of material: boxes and boxes of aerial photographs of the Iguazu Falls region from 1953. He believes he was the first historian to find them.

"I already knew of the possibility of some aerial photographs existing somewhere, but I had no idea how good they were," Freitas said. "They allow me to see this area in 1953 as if I were flying through it."

Freitas found the forgotten photographs in the Brazilian regional capital of Curitiba at the Institute of Land, Cartography and Geosciences. But in the 1950s, the images were powerful ammunition for local officials in land disputes with the federal government.

In the archives of big cities and small towns, he also found maps, legal cases, letters and poaching reports  documents overlooked by other scholars.

"It was amazing that no one had thought about using these sources or writing about this before," Freitas said.

An intrepid researcher, Freitas spent several months in the subtropical forest region itself, getting to know the landscape of the parks and hunting for documents. He interviewed scientists, settlers and government officials during research trips to Brazil and Argentina. A 97-year-old former park ranger, for instance, gave Freitas valuable insights into the region in the 1930s and 1940s.

One interview hit Freitas particularly hard. He spoke with a woman who explained that her father, a German-Polish settler, had been arrested and tortured by government agents for refusing to leave the park in the late 1970s.

As he listened, Freitas realized that the crimes of Argentina's Dirty War extended deep into the border regions. He realized that even beautiful wilderness was bound up with political conflict and violence.

Visual storytelling

As a member of Stanford's Spatial History Project, Freitas immediately realized that he could use digital methods to tell a visual history of the two parks.

Working with technical experts at Stanford's Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis (CESTA), Freitas digitized and georeferenced more than 800 images to create mosaic maps of the region in 1953, 1980 and 2014. The resulting digital resources are publicly available online.

The digitized maps helped Freitas to instantly see "all the landscape scars of the human activity in the area." At a glance, the images revealed the impact of logging, the spread of agriculture and even the surprising regrowth of forests due to conservation.

After examining the maps, Freitas realized just how profoundly the land had been shaped and the border sharpened by different human ways of encountering nature.

Juxtaposing different views of the region, he found a way to "tell visually a story that is very hard to tell verbally or in written form."

Freitas says that the histories of parks and borders show "how things were different in the past and how things can be possibly different" in the future.

Media Contact

Veronica Marian, Stanford Humanities Center: (650) 724-8155, vmarian@stanford.edu

Clifton B. Parker, Stanford News Service: (650) 725-0224, cbparker@stanford.edu
Unconfirmed reports state that a drone strike was conducted on Fazlullah's house in Afghanistan in which he was neutralised.

However, there have been several reports of Fazlullah being killed in a drone strike in the past but they all turned to be false.

Last year in March, reports emerged that Fazlullah could be among those killed in an air raid and ground raids in parts of Khyber Agency's Tirah Valley.

But TTP dismissed the reports saying that their chief was still alive. (ANI)
The Bacha Khan University in Pakistan which was attacked by the Taliban last week, demanded that their staff be armed and announced that the campus will be closed for an indefinite period following the deadly assault in which 21 people were killed. "We have demanded weapons from the government and weapons licenses for all teachers and management officials," Bacha Khan university registrar Hamidullah Khan told AFP. Authorities at the university in Charsadda in the northwest have also called for police checkpoints both inside and outside the campus and watch towers to protect students, he said. A University spokesperson confirmed yesterday that the campus has been closed for an indefinite time because the attack has had traumatic effect on the students, the Express Tribune reported. (ANI)
According to the Dawn, the case was filed by Momtaz Uddin Ahmad Mehdi, a lawyer with the Bangladesh Supreme Court and a supporter of the ruling Awami League.

Alleging that Zia remarks last month about the 1971 war were seditious, Mehdi said that there were "controversies" over the number of those who were killed.

The petitioner said the comment had hurt him "as a patriot" and that as a citizen he had a right to file the case. (ANI)
While Gen Sharif's decision itself was welcome, it was interesting that the announcement came from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, the Dawn said.

This has "unwittingly cast a light on the enduring civil-military imbalance in the country", it said.

Gen Sharifs decision "seems to have been decided on his terms - and announced by the institution he heads.

"Always marginalized in service decisions, the civilian-headed defence ministry appears to have become a nonentity," it said.

The editorial noted that the ISPRs Twitter account had become the de facto authoritative voice on all things military, eclipsing the Prime Ministers Office and the federal cabinet.

"Perhaps over the last months of his tenure, Gen Sharif will seek to correct some of that military overreach.

"A constitutional, democratic Pakistan would be where individuals are always subordinate to institutions - and all institutions subordinate to a democratically elected leadership," the Dawn said.

--Indo-Asian News Service mr/rd

( 192 Words)

2016-01-26-10:07:34 (IANS)
Japan and China are working to create a new framework to bring together government and central bank officials to discuss economic policy coordination, such as steps to stabilise the yuan, the Nikkei newspaper said on Tuesday.The move, which comes as concern over China's economic slowdown jolts financial markets, could help ease market strains by signalling that Asia's two largest economies are working together closely to stabilise global growth.Japan hoped to assist China's efforts in reducing excess capacity and reorganising state-owned companies through the new framework, while China would aim to draw more direct investment from Japan, the Nikkei said.The pair hoped to reach an agreement in March to create the new framework by the end of this year, which would also address issues like taxation, the paper said.The Bank of Japan and the People's Bank of China could use the dialogue to discuss resuming their yen-yuan currency swap arrangement, it said. REUTERS MI DS PR 0526 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0137-557437.Xml
After once trudging through war-torn Sri Lanka, their first outside India, Buddhist monks of the prominent Drukpa Lineage are now undertaking a similar foot journey for peace in Myanmar, which has witnessed decades of ethnic turbulence. The Drukpa monks are mainly based in India's Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir and have a long history of promoting inter-faith peace and celebrating diversity. The country's former military government is on the cusp of a major transition to a pro-democracy setup under Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy last November won the first openly-contested elections in 25 years. "This 'padyatra' or foot journey encompasses the message of peace and harmony. Our yatras or marches spread consciousness about the importance of harmony and reconciliation," Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche told IANS here as the journey began. Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, who is leading the journey, is the spiritual regent to the Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual head of the Drukpa Order with over 1,000 monasteries across the Himalayas. The motto of the peace journey, according to him, is to rejuvenate the spirit of hope, love, peace, harmony and oneness. It will culminate here on January 29. A spokesperson for the Drukpa Order said a three-day World Buddhist Peace Conference, organised by the Sitagu International Buddhist Academy, on the sidelines of the peace march, concluded on Sunday. It saw delegates from 65 countries. Myanmar President Thein Sein, besides many dignitaries, attended its opening ceremony. He said with a new government poised to take over, this unique walk for peace will pass through some key cities and smaller towns, where tens and thousands of locals will be joining in. The Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual head of the 1,000-year-old Drukpa Lineage, had formerly undertaken a cycle expedition in India along with his followers and over 250 'Kung Fu nuns'. The expedition, which entered India from Nepal last November, has been focussed on environment consciousness, women empowerment and peaceful coexistence. 'Kung Fu nuns' are Buddhist nuns who grow up learning the martial art. They belong to the Druk Amitabha Mountain nunnery based in the hills overlooking Kathmandu. The first foot journey outside India was undertaken by Drukpa monks in Sri Lanka in 2013. Mahinda Rajapaksha, then Sri Lankan president, had launched the peace march comprising 500 monks, nuns and general participants from India, Nepal, Bhutan and 16 other countries, apart from Sri Lanka. That too was led by the Gyalwang Drukpa, whom the UN honoured with the Millennium Development Goals Award in September 2010 for promoting environmental education and gender equality. Just two months after the flash floods that devastated the Leh region in 2010, the Drukpa Order, with around 9,000 people, planted 50,033 willow saplings in 33 minutes and 25 seconds over a 112,000 sq yard area near Ladakh's famed Hemis Monastery. Two years later, the Gyalwang Drukpa led 9,814 people in planting 99,033 trees in less than one hour. In 2009, the Buddhist monk, who is active in Nepal and India, along with a team of hundreds of monks, nuns and volunteers, trekked through the 475-km long highway that passes through rugged Himalayan ranges from popular tourist destination Manali in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in the Ladakh region to create awareness about the hazards of non-biodegradable waste. They collected 60,000 plastic bottles, 10,000 chewing-gum wrappers and 5,000 cans of carbonated drinks, according to a post on the Gyalwang Drukpa's website. The present Gyalwang Drukpa is the twelfth incarnation of the founder of the Drukpa lineage. The Drukpas are best known for taking their meditation practice off the mat and into the world - converting compassion into action to tackle the world's challenges. (Vishal Gulati is in Myanmar at the invitation of the Gyalwang Drukpa. He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) --Indo-Asian News Service vg/vm/ky/tb ( 643 Words) 2016-01-26-14:15:34 (IANS)
Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir today accused All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leadership for deliberately neglecting the Old City and promised guaranteed development of all the backward areas by utilising his MLC funds, wherever required. Shabbir Ali, along with other senior Congress leaders, undertook padayatra in Barkas, Chandrayan Gutta and Chanchalam wards in the old city here as part of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election campaign. Addressing street corner meeting, the senior congress leader said he would ensure completion of pending water reservoir in Barkas area and if required, would utilise his MLC funds for the same. He said the Congress party would find a permanent solution for the drinking water problem being faced by the people of Old City. Mr Shabbir Ali said, "Instead of resolving the water crisis, the AIMIM leaders has encouraged water mafia wherein common residents were forced to buy drinking water for Rs 10 per barrel. Common residents fail to get even one pot of water while the mafia manages to sell over 10,000 barrels daily thus extorting over Rs. 1 lakh from the poor residents. People should vote for the Congress candidates to end this mafia raj." Listing out various schemes implemented by the previous Congress regime which partially developed Hyderabad, Shabbir Ali said the construction of Bandlaguda Road, Chandrayan Gutta flyover, Uppuguda flyover and the international airport at Shamshabad have improved the economy in and around Barkas and Chandrayangutta areas. However, the benefit did not reach to all the residents due to the negligent attitude of AIMIM leadership. He also alleged that the AIMIM leaders did not allow major developmental activities in the region. They also opposed setting up of good educational institutions, major hospitals and other public utility facilities. Shabbir Ali said that Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi was firm on development of Old City and he would soon visit here to ensure that the region get deserved attention from the authorities. He also assured that the Metro Rail will come to Old City at any cost. The padyatra of Congress leaders was joined by hundreds of local residents who welcomed and garlanded them at various places. UNI KN SHS RSA 2333 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-557346.Xml
The Indian government is looking to bring down the prices of 36 Rafale fighter jets and that is why it is negotiating with France in that matter, sources state. According to sources, the MoU between India and France has been signed for the inter-governmental agreement. The price of the Rafale is near Euros 9 Billion and the government is negotiating to bring the price down to under USD 8 Billion. Sources add that the negotiations on Rafale jet deal will take two-four weeks and the terms of advance payment for jets will be decided by Union Cabinet and not by the Ministry of Defence. India wants 80 percent of service ability of aircrafts and frame works of the agreement for the deal has already been completed. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the inter-government agreement on purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts has been signed, adding that the financial aspects would be resolved soon. "France is a country with which we have had a strategic partnership. And it was 18 years ago that we signed the partnership with France. France is one of those few countries with which India has also an agreement in the area of civil nuclear cooperation. Whether it is the sector of defence, space or other strategic areas, our cooperation is strong, old and trustworthy. If we were to speak of the sector of defence, we are very pleased that in the purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts apart from some financial issues, there has been an inter-governmental agreement on other issues. We have decided to resolve the financial aspects as fast as possible as well," he said after holding talks with French President Francois Hollande at the Hyderabad House here. India and France on Monday exchanged 14 agreements, cutting across a wide variety of sectors. One of the most sought Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India and France on purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts. (ANI)
Ahmed Masood Akram Sheikh alias Masood alias Monu from Dhatkidih, and Nasim Akhtar alias Raju were arrested following leads and intelligence about their whereabouts.

Jamshedpur Senior Superintendent of Police Anoop Mathew said that two arrested were members of al Qaeda's sleeper cell and motivated youth to join the terror organisation.

The arrested terrorists were interrogated extensively in order to discover about any possible attack during Republic Day.

According to reports, the terrorists are associated with Abdul Sami, another suspect, who was recently arrested in Jamshedpur.

The arrest comes in the wake of the massive crackdown across the nation to nab terrorists and terror suspects ahead of Republic Day celebrations (ANI)
Another shocking case of a student committing suicide rocked Chennai, as a 19-year old second year nursing student, Amutha allegedly killed herself at the Stanley Medical College here. The student committed suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room The police suspect that it is a case of suicide, although no suicide letter has been found yet. They also suspect that poor performance in studies as the reason for her suicide Meanwhile, a case has been filed in this regard and investigation is underway. Earlier, three second-year students of SVS Medical College of Yoga and Naturopathy and Research Institute at Kallakurichi near Viluppuram in Tamil Nadu had committed suicide. The girls, in their suicide note, have accused the administration of charging excess fees and 'torture' and blaming college chairman Vasuki Subramanian for their death. The three girls namely E. Saranya and V. Priyanka (both 18 years) and T. Monisha (19 years) in a two-page suicide note said that the students had filed several complaints against Subramanian but to no avail. Citing "torture" by the management, the girls hoped that their suicide would finally force the authorities to take action against the chairman. The girls accused the administration of charging 'excess fees' around Rs. six lakh and never giving the bill. They also mentioned that the college lacked proper classes or teachers and there was 'nothing to learn'. The students had been protesting for more than a month over lack of infrastructure, but it was only in the last two weeks that the protest turned vigorous. (ANI)
According to the Guardian, the video shows footage of important sites in London and shots of British Prime Minister David Cameron and speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow. Towards the end of the clip 17-minute clip, the focus shifts to the Paris attackers.

In the video, the nine assailants including Bilal Hadfi, Samy Amimour and suspected ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud are seen carrying out beheadings and participating in target practice.

However, the authenticity of the video has not been verified yet.

"We are currently examining this latest Daesh propaganda video - another desperate move from an appalling terrorist group that is clearly in decline," a UK Government spokesperson said.

The video includes footage of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks and was killed on 18 November 2015 in a shootout with French police days after the attack. (ANI)
He also took the salute from the armed forces and other security forces.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, her ministers and a large number of people enjoyed the colourful floats.

District collectors across the state unfurled the national flag and took salute from police contingents.

--Indo-Asian News Service vj/pku/rd

( 80 Words)

2016-01-26-08:33:34 (IANS)
Tightest ever security paraphernalia all over the national capital marks this year's Republic Day parade in the wake of security threat perceptions and intelligence inputs of possible terror strikes. Delhi was put on high alert with the deployment of over 40,000 security personnel across the city. According to sources, around 49,000 security personnel along with 1,000 snipers guard the city today with the help of 15,000 CCTVs to prevent any attempt to disrupt the parade when French President Francois Hollande is the chief guest. Security agencies raised security bars in wake of the recent terror strike at the air force base in Pathankot. A hawk-eye vigil is being maintained by 1,000 National Security Guard snipers from high-rise buildings within a two-km radius of Rajpath, where the French President will be seated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee to watch the parade. Mr Hollande will be the fifth French President to be the chief guest at the 67th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi over the decades. As many as 49,000 security personnel remain deployed in the capital of which 15,000 are from the paramilitary forces and 34,000 from the Delhi Police. The Army has also deployed its quick reaction teams across the national capital keeping in view the recent Pathankot terror attack to tighten the security measures. Entire Rajpath, where the countrys military might is showcased along with tableaux of various departments and states and cultural troupes, has been sanitised and many places look like impregnable fortresses. Metro stations and the capitals borders are under the round-the-clock surveillance with arrangements for intensive frisking of commuters at entry points of Metro stations where no parking is to be allowed. In the nail-biting cold, personnel of the security agencies remain posted a all strategic locations and high-rise buildings around Rajpath, brought under surveillance with scores of snipers on the vigil. Strict traffic controls have been put in place while civic departments personnel remain busy festooning tricolours on poles leading to Rajpath. The city wears a festive look, but to instill confidence among people and foil any bid by terrorists to create problems, security personnel, armed to the teeth, increased patrolling. More UNI NB-SM DS PR0752 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0137-557453.Xml
The nation is today celebrating its 67th Republic Day, the highlight of which is the majestic parade showcasing the countrys economic, military and social strengths. This year, the event has French President Francois Hollande as its chief guest, an honour US President Barack Obama had last year. Mr Hollande is the fifth French President to attend the Republic Day parade as chief guest. Also, for the first time in the history, a 76-member French Army contingent led by a French military band consisting of 48 musicians marching on Rajpath and presenting a ceremonial salute to the President of India. The French Army contingent is led by Lt Col Paul Bury. This years parade will showcase the countrys achievements in military prowess and state-of- the-art defence platforms, its rich cultural and social traditions, and the governments emphasis on self-reliance and indigenisation. After a gap of 26 years, an Army dog squad drawn from the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) will also take part, along with their handlers. This will definitely add a special charm to the occasion. Sticking to the 66-year tradition of the Republic Day celebration, the colourful BSF Camel Regiment consisting of 56 decorated camels led by Deputy Commandant Kuldeep J Choudhary will take part. For the first time the parade will also see an Ex-Servicemen Tableau, where Army veterans with their eye-catching float will pass the saluting dais, wherein pioneering role of Ex-Servicemen in nation building will be displayed. The Indian Armys missile firing capability T-90 Bhishma tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the Brah Mos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles and Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System (ICEWS) will be the main draw in the mechanised columns. An Indian Air Force Tableau will roll down the Rajpath with the theme Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations by IAF: In Service of the Nation and Beyond. The Tableau showcases the IAFs role in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Yemen and Nepal rescue and relief operations by displaying models of C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules and MI-17V5 aircraft. This year the Indian Navys Tableau will have the theme Empowering India through Maritime security and Indigenisation. The Tableau displays flight deck operations on the new aircraft carrier Vikrant under construction at the Kochi Shipyard Ltd and the indigenously constructed submarine Kalvari by Mazagaon Dock Ltd, Mumbai, having a Made in India tag on them. The parade ceremony will commence at the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' at India Gate where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath. An eternal flame burns at the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' to commemorate the indomitable courage of our Armed Forces personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland. The Amar Jawan, the immortal soldier, is symbolised by a reversed rifle standing on its barrel and crested by a soldiers helmet. As per tradition, after unfurling of the National Flag, the National Anthem will be played with a 21 gun salute. The parade will then commence and the President will take the salute. This years chief guest in the parade will be Francois Hollande, the President of the Republic of France. The parade will be commanded by Lt General Rajan Ravindran, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. Major General Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Delhi Area will be the parade Second-in-Command. Param Vir Chakra winners Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Bana Singh (Retd), Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers and Naib/Subedar Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK Rifles and Ashok Chakra winners Major General Cyrus A Pithawalla (retd), Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Sunder Singh (retd), Major D Sreeram Kumar, Instructor, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Lieutenant Colonel Jas Ram Singh (retd), Honorary Naib Subedar Chhering Mutup (retd), Hukum Singh and Govind Singh both from district of Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh and Bhure Lal of District Guna also from Madhya Pradesh will follow the Deputy Parade Commander on Jeeps. The marching contingents of Army will include horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Parachute Regiment, the Corps of Signals, the Rajput Regiment, the Garhwal Rifles, the Assam Regiment, 11 Gorkha Rifles and Remount Veterinary Corps Dog Squad. The marching contingent of Navy comprising 144 young sailors will be led by Lieutenant Commander Anil Raina, while the Indian Air Force contingent comprising 144 men will be led by Flt Lt Ashish Mann. The paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces will include contingents from the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Indian Coast Guard, an all women contingent of Central Reserve Police Force, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme. Tableaux from 17 States and six Central Ministries and Departments will present the varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country. They will also showcase countrys progress in different fields, particularly floats from Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam with their varied themes, which will be of special attraction. Similarly floats of Ministry of Communication and IT based on Digital India, the Ministry of Panchayat Raj float on Empowered Women and empowered Panchayat Raj and Society and float of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation on Swachh Bharat Mission will showcase the rapid development of some of the flagship programmes of the Government. Twenty three of the 25 children selected for the National Bravery Award2015 will also participate in the parade. Two children have got the award posthumously. In the childrens pageant section, about 500 boys and girls drawn from five schools in Delhi and a group of school children from South Central Zone Cultural Centre will perform colourful dances on Rajpath. Dare Devils- the motorcycle display team of Corps of Signals will be a major attraction of the parade. They will perform different stunts like Salute to President, Signal Rocket, Signal Fighter, Abhimanyu, Shradhanjali, Commando, Lotus formation, and Human Pyramid on moving motor cycles. The grand finale of the parade will be a spectacular flypast by the IAF. The flypast will commence with the Chakra formation, comprising three Mi-35 helicopters in Vic formation, followed by the Hercules formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in Vic formation. Trailing them will be the Globe formation comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30s. Next in line will be the fighters, where five Jaguars will fly in Arrowhead formation, another five MiG-29 Air Superiority Fighters called the Tridents will fly in fulcrum style. Then the breath-taking Trishul formation comprising three Su-30 MKI of No 24 Squadron would fly over the Rajpath, and once in front of the saluting dais, the Su-30 MKI aircraft will split upwards, making a trishul in the sky. The flypast will conclude with another Su-30 MKI carrying out a Vertical Charlie manoeuvre over the saluting dais. The ceremony will culminate with the National Anthem and release of balloons.UNI SM/RG DS RSA PR 0730 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0377-557230.Xml
Cameroon blamed the Nigeria based extremist group Boko Haram for the attack, saying the assailants crossed over from Nigeria, reports Washington Post.

In retaliation, Cameroon soldiers carried out raids into Nigeria from the Cameroonian town of Achigashia, and killed 17 insurgents.

Two of the suicide bombers targeted the market of the Cameroonian border town of Bodo and two others detonated explosives in town.

The suicide bombers were escorted to Cameroon by Boko Haram fighters.

Suicide bombers have killed dozens in the region in the past month.

Boko Haram militants began stepping up attacks early last year on neighboring Cameroon, Niger and Chad, countries contributing to efforts to crush Boko Haram.(ANI)
Defence personnel from both the nations shook hands and exchanged several platters of sweets as they posed for pictures as well.

However, Pakistani Rangers had earlier refused to accept the sweets offered by the BSF on the occasion of Eid last year.

Following which the BSF also refused to offer any sweets to their counterparts along the International Border as a mark of protest against the spate of ceasefire violations along this frontier and also the Line of Control (LoC).(ANI)
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi extended his greetings to the people and lauded the architect of Indian Constitution Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

"Today we remember all the great women and men, who contributed in the framing of our Constitution. I salute Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, who as the chairman of the drafting committee, provide exceptional leadership during the making of the Constitution. Our Constitution is extensive and elaborate. It is not merely a legal document, but also a social document. It does not talk of rights only but even emphasizes on duties," said Prime Minister Modi.

The Prime Minister also saluted the security forces for steadfastly protecting the country, its borders, seas and skies.

"I salute our armed forces and paramilitary forces that are protecting our country, our borders, seas and skies steadfastly. India will remain forever grateful to them for their valour," he said.

He also thanked French President Francois Hollande for gracing the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest. (ANI)
India today celebrated its 67th Republic Day showcasing its military prowess and rich cultural diversity with a splendid display of land and naval weaponry, fighter and reconnaissance aircraft.A new chapter was added to the historic parade as a French military contingent marched alongside the Indian Armed forces marking the first entry of a foreign military component. The French troops gave a crisp salute to President Pranab Mukherjee and his France counterpart Francois Hollande, who was present as the chief guest. The nations achievements in different fields, state-of- the-art defence platforms, its diverse cultural and social traditions, and the governments emphasis on self-reliance and indigenisation were also showcased.The 76-member French Army contingent was led by a French military band consisting of 48 musicians. The most exciting feature of this year's parade was an Army dog squad drawn from the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) which enthralled the crowd at Rajpath, drawing a huge round of applause. Sticking to the 66-year-old tradition of the Republic Day celebration, the colourful BSF Camel Regiment consisting of 56 camels led by Deputy Commandant Kuldeep J Choudhary took part.For the first time, the parade saw an Ex-Servicemen Tableau, where Army veterans with their eye-catching float passed the saluting dais. The Indian Armys missile firing capability T-90 Bhishma tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles and Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System (ICEWS) were the main draw in the mechanised columns.An Indian Air Force Tableau rolled down the Rajpath with the theme Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations by IAF: In Service of the Nation and Beyond. The Tableau showcased the IAFs role in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Yemen and Nepal rescue and relief operations, by displaying models of C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules and MI-17V5 aircraft.The Indian Navys Tableau came with a theme Empowering India through Maritime security and Indigenisation. It displayed flight deck operations on the new aircraft carrier Vikrant under construction at the Kochi Shipyard Ltd and the indigenously constructed submarine Kalvari by Mazagaon Dock Ltd, Mumbai, having a Made in India tag on them.The marching contingents of Army included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Parachute Regiment, the Corps of Signals, the Rajput Regiment, the Garhwal Rifles, the Assam Regiment, 11 Gorkha Rifles and Remount Veterinary Corps Dog Squad.The marching contingent of Navy comprising 144 young sailors was led by Lieutenant Commander Anil Raina, while the Indian Air Force contingent comprising 144 men also participated. The Paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces included contingents from the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Indian Coast Guard, an all women contingent of Central Reserve Police Force, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.Tableaux from 17 States and six Central Ministries and Departments presented the varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country.They also displayed countrys progress in different fields, particularly floats from Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam with their varied themes. Similarly floats from Ministry of Communication and IT based on Digital India, the Ministry of Panchayat Raj float on Empowered Women and empowered Panchayat Raj and Society and float of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation on Swachh Bharat Mission showcased the rapid development of some of the flagship programmes of the Government.Twenty three of the 25 children selected for the National Bravery Award2015 also attracted a loud roar from the public. In the childrens pageant section, about 500 boys and girls drawn from five schools in Delhi and a group of school children from South Central Zone Cultural Centre performed colourful dances. As the grand finale of the parade, a spectacular flypast was presented by the IAF. The flypast commenced with the Chakra formation, comprising three Mi-35 helicopters in Vic formation, followed by the Hercules formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in Vic formation.Trailing them were the Globe formation comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30s. Next in line were the fighters, where five Jaguars flew in Arrowhead formation, another five MiG-29 Air Superiority Fighters called the Tridents flew in Fulcrum style.Then the breath-taking Trishul formation comprising three Su-30 MKI of No. 24 Squadron roared passed over the Rajpath, and once in front of the saluting dais, the Su-30 MKI aircraft split upwards, making a Trishul in the sky.The flypast concluded with another Su-30 MKI carrying out a Vertical Charlie manoeuvre over the saluting dais.UNI MK SV 1140 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0377-556898.Xml
At a colourful function in front of the tastefully decorated Gandhi Statue at Marina Beach, Governor DrK Rosaiah unfurled the National Flag and took the salute at the ceremonial march past.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa presented the Anna Medals for Gallantry and the Gandhi Adigalaar Police Medals to police personnel.

After the customary introduction of the officials of the Army, Navy, IAF, Coast Guard and Police department, Dr Rosaiah unfurled the National Tricolour.

It was followed by a Coast Guard helicopter showering petals on the function venue.

The Governor took the salute at the ceremonial marchpast in which contingents of the Army, Navy and Air Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Railway Protection Force, Chennai City Police, Mounted Police, Tamil Nadu Commando Force (men and women), Coastal Security Group, Tamil Nadu Fire Service, Home Guard, NCC, Bharat Scouts and ex-servicemen participated. MORE UNI GV KVV RSS 1055

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-557579.Xml
The Governor also took salute at the Paradeheld at Marina Beach.

The solemn ceremony was conducted by a smartly-turned-out guard, who presented arms asa mark of respect. Buglers sounded the last postfollowed by a two minute silence. Lieutenant General Jagbir Singh, General OfficerCommanding, Dakshin Bharat Area along with dignitaries, Air Commodore Rippon Gupta,

Air Officer-in-Charge, Air Force Station Tambaram, Rear Admiral Alok Bhatnagar, Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area and Inspector General Satya Prakash Sharma, Commander Coast Guard Region (East) were present on the occasion.

The ceremony was also witnessed by civil dignitaries and prominent citizens of Chennai.UNI CS KVV RSS 1150

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-557605.Xml
Undeclared curfew like restrictions have been imposed in Srinagar, particularly in the civil lines and uptown, including around the Bakshi stadium, venue for the main Republic Day (RD) function today. However, police said there was no restriction in any part of the city. Security forces and state police personnel had established road blocks and people were being directed to return to their homes. At Barbar Shah, the bridge connecting the down town with civil lines was closed with barbed wire. ''We have directions not to allow anybody to enter the civil lines,'' a group of security force personnel said to a group of mediapersons, who were directed to take transport yard route to reach the city centre. However, only those having valid identity cards were being allowed through transport yard bridge after the registration number of their vehicles were noted and their proper frisking. Similar road blocks were established at Dalgate, Residency road, Jehangir Chowk, Rambagh, Batmaloo, Hazori Bagh, Iqbal Park crossing, Solina, Jawahar Nagar, Alocha Bagh and Magarmal Bagh. All roads leading to Bakshi stadium, venue for the main RD functions were closed and only security force and official vehicles were being allowed. Streets wore a deserted look with only security forces and state police personnel deployed on both sides of the roads after every ten feet . At some places security forces were seen burning wood for heating purpose. However, there were no such restrictions in the outskirts and Shehar-e-Khas and down town city.UNI BAS ASM SV RAI1144 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-557534.Xml
While the market demand for digital cameras is shrinking due to rapid spread of smart phones and so on, Fujifilm's "X series" is constantly expanding its market share since being launched five years ago. Fujifilm recently announced new products of X-series. "We are really proud of what has been achieved and are very excited by the possibilities for the future. But none of this could have happened without the tremendous support of our retail partners, distributers, "X-photographers", and X series users. You have been part of this fantastic journey and I thank everyone of you for your support over last 5 years to make these cameras come real," said Shigehiro Nakajima, President and COO, Fujifilm Corporation Fujifilm has been expanding sales of X-series cameras because it has close relationship and communication with users internationally. The company put focus on usability through innovation of technologies. Actually, a lot of users from abroad joined the event and celebrated new products. They are a kind of fans of X-series and Fujifilm that has been engaged in diffusion and development of Photo Culture since it was established in 1934. Also, these photos showed at the event are voluntarily provided from users without Fujifilm paying money and asking for it. Among the professional photographer who joined the celebrations is Zack Arias. "I love them. It's just, when I'm holding it, shooting with it, it just feels like it has a soul. It has personality. And it's quiet. It's small. It's just a perfect little camera," said Zack Arias, a Photographer One Japanese company has developed sensing facility to monitor real age of human being. After taking an image of the face, this facility shows age by special algorism. Next step is checking brain waves. This procedure realizes to monitor his balance of autonomous nervous system, tolerance to stress and stiff of artery. It is enabled by this company's original algorism for pulse analysis. After monitoring 50 years old person's stress and artery situation internal age 48 is indicated. Also its data is reflected to his face photo "Usually, a doctor introduces figure of medical check and advice. But the patient hesitates to change his habit of life by such instruction. This problem is overcome by visualized method. It will accelerate concern to his health," said Yoshiki Oka, Sharp Corporation An image on the wall is reflected by a small projector kept in the jacket Very small projector module enables this niche and free-hand reflection. Biggest subject of this facility was focusing of image. Micro electro mechanical system enables operation of light source of leaser. "It is necessary to reflect laser light to micro electro mechanical system with accuracy. It requires high level technology. But this facility realizes to reflect image on to uneven surface. Any place will be a monitor to reflect image. I expect expansion to ASEAN and India. We can develop market of the facility which enables free hand work or wherever reflection of image," Oka added. Such devices are significant for Japan's growing aging society and rest of the world. (ANI)
Police sources said Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah were put under house arrest to prevent them from disrupting the official functions.

The separatists had asked people to observe January 26 as a "black day" to attract international attention to the Kashmir issue.

--Indo-Asian News Service sq/mr/rd

( 81 Words)

2016-01-26-12:27:34 (IANS)
:The 67th Republic Day was celebrated at Jawharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) here and at Pondicherry Central University. A Jipmer release said here today, Jipmer Director, S C Parija hoisted the national flag. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Parija said the citizens need to contribute their best for the nation. The Director stressed that JIPMER family should ensure that common people, who comes for treatment at JIPMER is satisfied with the services that JIPMER provides. He also said JIPMER is particular in taking super-speciality services to the poorest of poor with proper attention. By ensuring comprehensive care he mentioned that each staff is committed in achieving this. He also asked students to volunteer in community programmes and participate themselves in helping the poor and the underprivileged. Prof. (Mrs.) Anisa Basheer Khan , Vice-Chancellor(i/c), hoisted the National Flag at Pondicherry Central University and recalled the services rendered by the freedom fighters and Founders of the Constitution of India and laid stress on the importance of following the Constitution in letter and spirit. Further, Ms Anisa also emphasised the importance of the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his "Make in India" programme. The Vice Chancellor also requested the Deans, Heads of Departments, Faculty, Officers, Staff and Students to contribute to the society and reminded that Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations are not mere ceremonies or functions, but it is a time for us to contribute our level best, before shaping the society. The role of the researchers is more important and they should actively contribute their outputs to the welfare of the society, apart from understanding our heritage and culture, she added.UNI PAB KVV RSS 1240 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-557651.Xml
In a statement here, Ms Jayalalithaa expressed shock and grief on hearing that the bodies of three girls were fished out from an open farm well near the College on January 23.

Expressing her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members, she also announced a solatium of Rs one lakh each to their families from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.

The Chief Minister said she has directed the police to conduct a thorough probe and take action against those responsible for the incident.

Meanwhile, Ms Vasuki Subramaniam, who has been absconding after the alleged suicide incident snowballed into a major issue, surrendered before a Magistrate Court at suburban Alandur.

She was remanded in Judicial custody for three days, following which she was lodged in prison. MORE UNI GV KVV RSS 1245

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-557669.Xml
The ship took part in the military exercise "Peace and Friendship 2015," which was jointly held by China and Malaysia in Malaysia last September, before embarking on "Harmonious Mission-2015."

During the mission, the naval ship visited Australia, French Polynesia,United States, Mexico, Barbados, Grenada and Peru. It also carried out free clinical and humanitarian services during its journey.

The medical crew aboard the Peace Ark, which set sail from its port in Zhoushan on Sept. 7 last year, performed 59 surgeries and treated more than 17,400 people during the journey.

In addition, more than 9,400 foreign citizens paid visits to the ship.(Xinhua-ANI)
The GTF said President Sirisena's assertions are a direct refutation of the resolution passed in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in October 2015 which Sri Lanka itself co-sponsored, reports the website Lanka Page.

The diaspora organization added that President Sirisena will lose the trust of the Tamil community which started to believe that Sri Lanka kept and faithfully acted upon the public promises. (ANI)
"The crop insurance announced by the Prime Minister is going to be a boon to the farmers of the country. It is a amrut sanjivani for farmers which will help them in distress," Naidu said.

Urging the countrymen to forget caste and creed, Naidu said that the nation must stand united.

"Our focus of attention should be eliminating poverty, reducing social disparities and removal of social evils," he added.

Naidu further expressed his happiness over a farmer getting Padma Shri award, claiming that it happened for the first time.

"I am happy that first time in the history of the country a farmer Subhash Palekar, a champion in the organic farming has been chosen for the Padma Awards; it is recognition for the farmers in the country," he said.

He further said that this is new beginning by the current regime.

Born in Belora village of drought prone Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, Palekar, a graduate in Agriculture, is acclaimed for his campaign for zero budget natural farming.

Having worked with well-known environmentalists and global farming experts, Palekar has been training farmers about zero budget natural farming throughout India through workshops, seminars, his books in Marathi, Hindi, English, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil languages and by models farms established throughout India. (ANI)
It was the protest over the ABVP disrupting the screening of a documentary at Delhi University, and not over the hanging of Yakub Memon, which led to an argument between two student groups at Hyderabad Central University (HCU) and the subsequent suspension of five research scholars, one of whom committed suicide. The Ambedkar Students Union (ASU), other student groups and even faculty members claim that the alleged protest over hanging of 1993 Mumbai bombings convict Yakub Memon was mentioned in the report of the sub-committee of the executive council following the intervention of two central ministers. Interestingly, the earlier report of the proctorial board committee which conducted an inquiry into the incident made no mention of the protest against Memon's hanging. "The executive council made no fresh inquiry but dragged the issue of Yakub Memon's hanging in its report when it nowhere figured in the probe by the proctorial board," HCU Students' Union president K.P. Zuhail told IANS. The ASU members were protesting on August 2 over an incident at Delhi University, where the ABVP disrupted screening of 'Muzaffarnagar baqi hai', a documentary on the Muzaffarnagars riots. The protesters termed the ABVP's action as 'hooliganism'. It was after this protest that ABVP president Susheel Kumar made this comment on Facebook: "ASA (Ambedkar Students Association) goons are talking about hooliganism..feeling funny'. On the night of August 4, ASA members went to Susheel Kumar's hostel room and made him write an apology. "The security officer was also present when Susheel Kumar gave a written apology," said Dontha Prasanth, one of the students who was later suspended. Susheel Kumar, however, alleged that ASA members assaulted and one of them even kicked him. He later lodged a complaint with university authorities and was admitted to a private hospital for a surgery for appendicitis. The proctorial board in its interim report of August 12 said it found no evidence that Susheel Kumar was assaulted. The report, which was prepared in the absence of Susheel Kumar's deposition, strongly warned for posting "such comments on Facebook". It also strongly warned the five ASA members for going to Susheel Kumar's room at midnight and asking for an apology instead of complaining to the appropriate authorities. It was on August 17 that Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya wrote to union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani. He claimed that ASA had staged a protest against Memon's execution and when Susheel Kumar protested against this, he was manhandled. Dattatreya, a Lok Sabha member from Secunderabad, also wrote that Hyderabad Central University has become a "den of casteist, extremist and anti-national politics". The proctorial board, in its final report on August 31, imposed a complete suspension on the five students. However, on a request by the students, then vice chancellor R.P. Sharma revoked the suspension and decided to form a fresh committee of the proctorial board to look into the issue. This committee was never constituted. In the meantime, the HRD ministry sent at least five reminders to the university authorities between September 3 and November 20 last year with reference to Dattatreya's letter. P. Appa Rao who took over as the new vice chancellor on Sharma's retirement, formed a sub-committee of the executive council which suspended the students. Subsequently, Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, one of the five suspended students, committed suicide triggering nation-wide protests which are still continuing. Appa Rao then went on leave but the students are demanding that he quit. The university has also established a judicial commission to probe Vemula's suicide. (Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at m.shafeeq@ians.in) --Indo-Asian News Service ms/vm/ky ( 616 Words) 2016-01-26-14:53:35 (IANS)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said the Santhal Pargana region which had been neglected for long, has now started playing a vital role in the progress of the state as his government was committed for the development of the region. Addressing the 67th Republic Day function after hoisting the Tricolour at the Police Lines grounds here, Mr Das said for linking the region with other parts of the state and the country good quality roads are being constructed in the region. "Road projects worth Rs 1179 crore involving construction of 480 kilometers of roads have been approved. While roads connecting Dumka and Deoghar are also being completed," he said, adding that roads are also being built to ensure easy reach to the tourists who want to visit Maluti and Kanchan Caves in Sahebgunj. Mr Das said Shravani Mela of Deoghar has become famous across the globe. For the management of the Mela, an authority has been formed which would be soon notified. Keeping in mind the gathering of the devotees the construction of a que complex has commenced. Work has also begun on restoration and preservation at Maluti. "The government is trying to develop the area into a major tourist attraction," he said adding that plans are also on to develop the Trikuth Hills of Deoghar. He said to improve the health-care facilities in the area process of transfer of land is complete for building a 500 bed hospital and soon construction would begin. He said that to provide better healthcare to the poor free of cost medicines are being provided in the government hospitals while Penavalent Vaccination has also been started to prevent the children from five live threatening diseases. Mr Das said that under the Namai Gange project 25,000 toilets have been constructed in six blocks of the Sahebgunj district while 58 villages have been declared free from open defection. He said to address the problems of drinking water in the region a comprehensive plan is being formulated under which Deoghar Urban Drinking water supply scheme has been started while drinking water projects in Sahebgunj, Pakur, Mihijam and Jamtara will be completed this year. He said to promote technical education in the region a polytechnic college would be constructed in the area while an agriculture college has been set up in Deoghar where the session would commence from this year. He said that this college would play an important role in educating students about the agriculture sector. The Chief Minister said there was tremendous opportunity in the Santhal Paragan region in the area of Silk segment as a result of which a proposal has been sent to the Centre to set a mega handloom cluster in Godda. He said 4,725 silk cultivators have been provided technical training to encourage further development of the sector. Mr Das said despite 26 days in the year 2016, Jharkhand has added many feathers in its cap including establishment of land bank in the state. "We also became the first state to join the UDAY scheme of the Centre which would help to address electricity related issues here," he said, adding it has been also decided to establish Jharkhand Institute of Craft and Design with the cooperation of Ahmedabad based National Design Institute. The state government has also decided to establish an IIT in the state while foundation have also been laid to set a Technical University and Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University, Mr Das said.UNI XC-AK JW AE 1509 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-557807.Xml
Emphasising that there has been a positive growth in all spheres in the state in last 15 years, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today appealed for support from all fronts to continue the growth trajectory. He also sought the Centre's financial assistance to help the state maintain its healthy growth. Unfurling the Tricolour at the central Republic Day celebration here, Mr Gogoi urged the few militant groups which have remained out of talk preview, including Paresh Barua-led ULFA faction, to come to political negotiations. Mr Gogoi said 13 groups have returned to the mainstream and extradition of ULFA leader Anup Chetia from Bangladesh will help in taking forward negotiations with the pro-talks faction of the outfit. He mentioned the ongoing work for updating the NRC and also pledged his commitment to implement the Assam Accord in true spirit. The CM said flood and erosion remained major problems for the state and appealed for more Central assistance to control these. Maintaining that the state's financial health as well as law and order situation were in a shambles 15 years ago, Mr Gogoi said Assam has come a long way in these years. He also announced creation of two new districts and 24 subdivisions in the state. and also elaborated on the developmental works in various sectors, including health, agriculture, power, transport, etc. He, however, lamented that Central financial assistance to the state has been decreased substantially since last year and urged the Centre to continue with old funding pattern for developmental projects in the state. UNI SG PL SA RK1445 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-557707.Xml
The celebration brought happy on the faces of 375 prisoners,including 46 women, when they were released based on good conduct.Governor Vajubhai Vala had given green signal for their releaseapproved by the State Cabinet.

The released prisoners included 6 brothers who were serving LifeTerm at Kalaburagi Jail on being convicted on a murder charge. Theyhailed from Marskad village inn Devadurga taluk of Raichur District.xxxxx

The New Horizon College of Engineering took lead in honouring LtCol Niranjan, who recently laid down his life fighting terrorists atPathankot Airbase, Punjab. The College has renamed a block as "LtCol Niranjan" Student's Recreation Centre. The Centre wasinaugurated by Lt Col Niranjan's father Shivraj. Kargil hero MajorNaveen was also present.xxxxx

Tragedy struck at Hutti Gold Mines as a 59 year-old employee diedof heart attack after unfurling the national tri-colour. It waspractice of the company employees celebrating the Republic Day withunfurling the national flag by a senior employee and Sriramulu hadthat honour this year. However, he collapsed while returning homeafter the celebration.UNI MSP VV RSS1505

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The main programme was organized at the Assam Rifles parade ground in Agartala where Governor Tathagata Roy unfurled the tricolour. He also inspected the parade and took the guard of honour.

"I was invited for the 26th January (Republic Day) celebration and came to attend the programme along with the large gathering here. I travelled 200 km from Panisagar along with many tribal people to see the programme," said Dalia Debbarma, a Spectator

Different paramilitary forces, state police and NCC cadets participated in the parade, which was followed by a colourful cultural programme.

Arjuna awardee gymnast Dipa Karmakar enchanted the people along with her team with floor exercise while others performed yoga.

The boycott call was reportedly given by at least four militant organizations. (ANI)
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh unfurled the tricolour at the Kangla and took salute of the parade.

Th Radheshyam, CO of 1st Manipur Rifles was the parade commander.Over 100 contingents consisting of police, security personnel, homeguard, students took part in the march past.

Cultural programmes were presented by different communities. The government departments also displayed beautiful tableaux displaying their achievements.Throughout the route up to 1st Manipur Rifles parade ground state government departments erected gates for the occasion. Later today are ception will be organised at Raj Bhawan.

It was a happy day for the people of the state as Padma Bhushan will be awarded to theatre personality Heisnam Kanhailal.Nao

Sena medal for gallantry has also been conferred to Th Prakash.

On 22 Jun 15 at 0710, Thongbam Prakash Singh, NA I (Aircrew Man Diver),working as free diver on board SC 558 rescued 19 persons from MVJindal Kamakshi under hostile conditions.

Thongbam Prakash Singh,NA I(Aircrew Man Diver), accepted the hazardous task of being loweredon board the stricken ship ensured safety of the helicopter whilst simultaneously ensuring safe winching of the 19 personnel.

With complete disregard to his personal safety, he stayed on board the abandoned ship which was in danger of sinking till last of the 19 crew members were winched up.

Others who have been honoured included Nandeibam Manithoi Singh(N MSingh), Deputy Inspector General of Police, CBI, Special Task Force,New Delhi honoured with Presidents Police Medals for DistinguishedService.

The same honour was conferred to Bisham Dev Thakur, Jemadar,Mptc, Pangei. Police Medal For Meritorious Service awardees from Manipur were

Kh.Shashi Kumar, R. K. Sarat Singh,

Md Rahimuddin, , O JibonchandraSingh, ,Palmei Shantikumar Kabui, Khwairakpam Babudhon Singh andOinam Achoubi Devi.

Tight security measures were taken up as militant groups of Manipur,under the umbrella of Coordination Committee, called for boycott and total shut down from 0001 hrs to 18:00 hrs today. All streets were empty and people stayed inside their homes .UNI NS PL SA RK1613

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Five Ms men, money, machines, materials and methods have to be managed through five Es economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity and excellence to achieve all the desired goals in the key sectors on a sustainable basis and free ourselves of corrupt practices, suggested Arunachal Pradesh Governor JP Rajkhowa on 67th Republic Day celebration of the country. He paid his rich tribute to the freedom fighters and great leaders and patriots who made umpteen personal sacrifices to present their future generations, a sovereign democratic nation which also advocates socialistic and secular ideals and principles. The main function was organised at Indira Gandhi Park here, attended by Home Minister, DGP, chief secretary and high ranking government officials. Highlighting some of the activities of the state government, he said GoAP took up the task of preparing the Arunachal Vision 2030, for which an expert committaeed had been constituted and it would be finalised soon. The people oriented policies and programmes for alleviation of poverty, infrastructure development, health, education, connectivity communication, agriculture, power generation and other priority sectors have to formulated on short-term basis, he expected. The Governor hoped that the state government should draw up schemes for upgrading the facilities for medical investigation in all districts sub-divisional hospitals by installing latest machines and equipment for the benefit of the common man. To focus on imparting quality education, he said, we have to ensure that our system of higher education offers world-class quality for facing the growing challenges of the highly competitive Global economy, with ease and confidence. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 needs to implement in true spirit and the drop-out rates would be brought down to the minimum, he said. Growing unemployment in the state, the Governor suggested for enhancement of Rs 50 crore in the budget so that the unemployed youths gets soft loan to start their own business. Earlier, the state government had kept provision in the budget of Rs 5 crore as soft loan. Considering tough geographical terrain, the state lacks in desired air, road and rail connectivity, he pointed, and suggested, the pace of implementation of 1575 km Trans Arunachal Highway needs to be expedited. He appealed to the government to sort out the issues of land acquisition, forest clearances, logistic support, security and law order on top priority basis. The 1800 km long Frontier Highway along the Indo-China border and proposed 431km East-West Industrial Corridor from Bhairabkund to Ruksin along the border with Assam will certainly boost the states economy and revolutionise the road connectivity in the state in future, he hoped. More UNI PB PL AE NS1705 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-557753.Xml
Meghalaya celebrated the 67thRepublic Day amid tight security across the state.Security and police forces were deployed at all strategic points. Frisking of passers-by was carried out at different places to detect movement of armed ultras. Unfurling the Tricolour here in Polo ground, Governor V Shanmuganathan appealed to all citizens of the state to work in unison to make Meghalaya a land of peace and prosperity. Noting that growth and development cannot take place in an atmosphere of uncertainty and turmoil, he urged the citizens to join hands to face the challenges of tomorrow through a common commitment towards peace and social justice as enshrined in the Constitution. Mr Shanmuganathan also said that the government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to address the root cause of militancy in the State. "The government has kept its door open for talks with the militant outfits, provided they eschew the path of violence," he said. Pointing out that insurgency and terrorism have widespread networks extending across the states and even beyond the national border, Mr Shanmuganathan said a joint and concerted effort on part of the state and Central government is essential to overcome this menace. Expressing concern on militancy problem in Garo Hills districts, in western part of Meghalaya, the Governor said, This challenge to internal security situation is being dealt firmly by security forces. The state police, ably supported by Central forces, are putting in commendable efforts to nab the militant groups and neutralise their activities. Mr Shanmuganathan said the government is finalising the modalities to rehabilitate the cadres of United Ahik Liberation Army, a militant group in Garo Hills after signing the Text of Agreement on December 18, 2015. On the boundary dispute with Assam, the Governor said, efforts are on to resolve the long outstanding issue of inter-state boundary dispute with Assam through discussions at various levels. He said the situation on the inter-state border has by and large remained peaceful, while the situation on the international border with Bangladesh has improved significantly. Following the Protocol signed by the two Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh, the Governor informed that the process of delineating the ground is now underway with Meghalaya, which will retain about 241 acres of adversely possessed land, while Bangladesh will keep about 41 acres of land. Mr Shanmuganathan said the state government has also taken steps to mobolise additional resources for development through externally aided projects. He said the Central government had also agreed to provide special dispensation to the North Eastern states by retaining the funding pattern at 90:10 between the Centre and state. Meanwhile, the other ten districts, including the five districts of Garo Hills, also celebrated a peaceful Republic Day celebration.UNI RRK KK RJ BD1659 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-557888.Xml
A bus, travelling from Guwahati to Karimganj in southern Assam, met with the accident around 0100 hrs at Sonapur area in Meghalaya, bordering southern Assam.

Ten people were killed in the accident even as rescue operations are continuing.

Among the dead are three jawans and two children.

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Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi today lauded the police band and its parade contingent for the display of 'strength and valour' at Rajpath during the Republic Day parade. Congratulations to the Delhi Police Band and parade contingent for such a magnanimous display of our strength and valour. Proud of you, Mr Bassi said on micro-blogging site twitter. Congratulating the security forces for making Republic Day celebrations a success and for providing security arrangements, Mr Bassi said in a tweet, I thank all security forces for partnering with us and making Republic Day celebrations a grand success. Jai Hind. In a series of tweets, the top cop said, Be it 24x7 vigil, winter chill or high security threat --- nothing has deterred your spirit. I raise a toast to every single man and woman of Delhi Police. The sense of duty I have witnessed in past couple of days is commendable. I once again salute all #Bravehearts of Delhi Police and security forces, he said.A special congratulations to our back-end technical and control room team, who kept us connected and helped us make foolproof security arrangements, he added.Delhi was put on high alert with the deployment of over 49,000 security personnel across the city, along with 1,000 snipers guarding the city with the help of 15,000 CCTV cameras to prevent any attempt to disrupt the parade.Security agencies raised security bars this time, in the wake of the recent terror strike at the air force base in Pathankot. UNI SM RJ AE 1755 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0271-558225.Xml
As many as 100 volunteers of the French India Viduthalai Kaala Makkal Iyyakkam and freedom fighters observed a fast here today,the Republic Day to press their demands. They were protesting against the failure of the territorial administration to provide freedom fighters pension for those who strived for the liberation of Puducherry from French colonialism and demanding the same. When Puducherry became free in 1954,the French citizens who fought for liberation opted for Indian citizenships.However,while,freedom fighter pension was sanctioned to those who fought against the British,those who fought against the French were left out.The Iyyakkam is fighting for the provision of the pension since 2004. They also threatened to boycott the forthcoming assembly elections here ,if,their demands were not met with.UNI PAB VV ADB1711 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-558143.Xml
Talking to reporters after hoisting the National flag to mark the 67th Republic Day celebrations at BJP headquarters 'Kamalalayam', Party Tamil Nadu Unit President Ms Tamizhisai Soundararajan said the Prime Minister would be visiting Coimbatore on February two to participate in a Government function.

''On the same day, Mr Modi will address a massive public meeting'', she said, adding, his visit and his address at the public meeting would be a turning point in the Assembly elections, due in May this year.

Asserting that none of the party would be able to form the government after the polls without the support of the BJP, Ms Tamizhisai said the alliance led by the BJP would win the elections.

She said Party workers meeting would be held in all the 234 assembly constituencies in the state ahead of the polls.

''The BJP will make Tamil Nadu free from liquor and corruption after the polls'', she added.MORE UNI GV VV ADB1725

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The Centre has approved an outlay of Rs 2,077.96 crore for implementation of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Scheme in 43 cities of Maharashtra, said Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao today. Addressing the gathering of people after unfurling the national flag and taking salute from a ceremonial parade on Republic of India at the main state function held at historical Shivaji Park ground, Dadar in Central Mumbai, he also said the state government has launched a special drive to provide apprenticeship training to one lakh youths of the state under the Trade Apprenticeship Scheme. Mentioning that 15,747 villages in the state were facing drought condition in the kharif season, the Governor said the government had already announced a special package of Rs 10,512 crore to provide relief to the farmers and informed that funds to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore had already been disbursed to the affected farmers. Mr Rao announced the launch of the phase-II of the Aaple Sarkar portal of the state government that will enable people to share their ideas and suggestions with the government and to communicate their grievances. He also announced the launching of 47 services of the government online from out of the 252 notified services under the Right to Services Act. In his address, the Governor also referred to the Gopinath Munde Farmers Accident Insurance Scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the Atal Saur Krishi Pump Yojana and the A P J Abdul Kalam Armut Yojana that seeks to provide free nutritious meal to pregnant and lactating mothers in rural areas. The Governor said that the nation will be celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr B R Ambedkar this year and added that an outlay of Rs 125 crore had been earmarked in connection with the anniversary celebrations. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly Haribhau Bagde, diplomats from various countries, officers of the Armed Forces, senior serving and retired government officials as well as police officers besides citizens were present on the occasion.UNI ST SS AE NS1738 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-558055.Xml
The police detained women activists, who were on their way to the Shani Shingnapur temple to break the centuries old tradition of not allowing the feminine gender to enter the sanctum sanctorum, here on Tuesday. The activists of Ranragini Bhumata Brigade led by Trupti Desai, who had left from Pune earlier in the day for the Shani Shingnapur temple, were stopped by the police near Supa in Maharasthra. Desai said that it was a black day for women as they were being stopped from exercising their rights. "The way police jostled with us is not right. We were marching peacefully. This is a black day for women. They are stopping women from exercising their right. The police is misbehaving with us. We will surely go to the temple," she said. To prevent law and order issues, the police and temple authorities have put up three levels of barricades, deployed women constables and village volunteers to guard the temple. The temple drew attention in November 2015 after a woman had offered prayers at the popular shrine in 'breach' of the age-old practice of prohibiting entry of women, after which the temple committee had to suspend seven security men and the villagers to perform purification rituals. The temple platform attracts millions of tourists and devotees from across the country and abroad. (ANI)
French firm Dassault Aviation today said that a final contract on Rafale fighters is likely to be completed within the next four weeks, a day after India and France signed an Inter Governmental Agreement for the purchase of 36 aircraft, in presence of French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the aircraft welcomed the development, saying that the intergovernmental agreement had paved way for the conclusion of a contract for the sale of 36 Rafale fighters to India."Dassault Aviation is very pleased with this progress, and is actively supporting French authorities in their efforts to finalise a complete agreement within the next four weeks," the French firm said in an e-mailed statement from Saint-Cloud, France. Both the sides could not agree on the financial aspects of the deal and settled for the MoU, which will lead to the complete agreement, including the price. While expressing happiness over the signing of the IGA, Mr Modi and Mr Hollande both hoped that the financial issues relating to the deal would be resolved soon. Addressing a joint media briefing after the agreement signing ceremony, that witnessed inking of 14 pacts, with the Rafale MoU being the last but not the least one, Mr Hollande said the financial issues relating to the purchase will be sorted out in "few days," while Mr Modi said these aspects will be resolved "soon".Mr Modi had announced India's decision to purchase the Rafale fighter during his trip to France in April last year. Rafale is a twin-jet fighter aircraft, which is able to operate from both an aircraft carrier and a shore base. The fully versatile Rafale is able to carry out all combat aviation missions: air defence, interception, ground support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence. The Egyptian Air Force received its first aircraft in 2015. Rafale has proven its worth in combat in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria. UNI MK RJ AE 1806 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-558195.Xml
Generating economic growth in the Middle East is crucial to defeating extremism, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday, putting forward his country as a regional trade hub and pillar of stability.Rouhani is on a four-day trip to Italy and France, looking to rebuild Iranian relations with the West some two weeks after financial sanctions on Tehran were rolled back following the implementation of its nuclear deal with world powers.Italy announced some 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion) of business deals with Iran on Monday. Mega contracts are also in the offing in France, reflecting EU countries' keenness to cash in on the diplomatic thaw with the Islamic Republic.Underscoring the growing warmth, Rouhani said he expected Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to visit Iran in the coming months to help boost bilateral economic alliances."We are ready to welcome investment, welcome technology and create a new export market," Rouhani told a business forum on the second day of his visit to Rome, saying Iran had ambitions to develop its own economy after years of curbs and hardship."Under the new conditions, we want to export 30 percent of what we produce in Iran," he said, calling for rapid investment in "the most secure and stable country in the region".Italy has rolled out the red carpet to Rouhani and his 120-strong delegation of business leaders and government ministers, seeing Shi'ite Muslim Tehran as a possible partner in the battle against the Sunni Muslim jihadist group Islamic State."If we want to combat extremism in the world, if we want to fight terror, one of the roads before us is providing growth and jobs. Lack of growth creates forces for terrorism. Unemployment creates soldiers for terrorists," Rouhani said.Later, during a 40-minute private meeting in Pope Francis's private study, the pontiff asked Rouhani to help fight the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking, and to promote peace, according to a Vatican statement."STRATEGIC ALLIANCE" EYEDMany Western nations accuse Iran of funding various militant groups that are on U.S. and EU terror blacklists. Despite Iran's deal with world powers to curb its disputed nuclear programme, the United States is keeping some of its financial sanctions in place because of its links to organisations such as Hezbollah.Any such criticism has barely been heard in Rome, with the government eager to welcome Iran as a potentially positive force in an increasingly fragmented Middle East."We are not looking at simple reactivation of our cooperation with Iran, but rather a comprehensive relaunch of a strategic alliance," Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni told the business conference.To make sure the leader of the Islamic Republic would not be offended, the Italians even covered nude Roman statues in the Capitoline Museums where Rouhani met and spoke with Renzi on Monday evening.Among the deals signed on Monday were a $4 billion contract for oil services group Saipem, up to 5.7 billion euros in contracts for steel firm Danieli, up to 4 billion euros of business for infrastructure firm Condotte d'Acqua, 4 billion euros for rail and road company Gavio and 400 million euros for planes from Finmeccanica.Industry Minister Federica Guidi told la Repubblica newspaper that the total value of the contracts could exceed the 17 billion euros initially indicated by the government.Two large Italian business delegations went to Tehran soon after the nuclear deal was inked last year. Another such group is scheduled to visit Iran from Feb. 8 to 10.REUTERS SA AN1929 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-558476.Xml
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today expressed optimism that the Naxal menace in tribal-dominated Bastar region of the state will end soon. Unfurling the tri-colour at Lalbag Ground in Jagdalpur, the district headquarters of restive Bastar, to mark the 67th Republic day, Dr Singh said,'' a decisive and strategic war against Naxals in the interior areas of Bastar was being fought by security personnel with the support of local tribals, who want to live in peace.'' Besides, the Chief Minister said the state government had formulated a 10-year action plan for Bastar's all-round development. The region would get 540 km railway line in next three years and 1,000 km new railway line extension in 6 years. While condemning Naxalism in the Bastar region as obstruction for development, Dr Singh said a massive road laying work was also underway in the region by both the state and the National Highway Authority of India at an estimated cost of Rs 7,000 crore. "I hope that the menace of Naxalsim in Bastar region, considered as the biggest challenge to the country's internal security, will be eliminated in the coming days and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan 'Sabka saath sabka vikash' will prevail, " he added. The Chief Minister further announced a 10 per cent discount for all sections of people who will be opting for houses constructed by the Chhattisgarh State Housing Board. Earlier, this discount was given only to state government employees. Expressing concern over the problem of malnutrition among children, Dr Singh announced his government's decision to provide sweetend condensed 'Deobhog' brand milk produced by the Chhattisgarh Milk Federation to all the 50,000 odd anganwadis across the state every weekend. On the prevailing drought condition in the state, the chief Minister said the government was committed to safeguard the interest of the farmers and would provide compensation and other relief worth Rs 2,000 crore to the affected farmers by relaxing all norms. Addressing the state-level Republic Day function held at the Police Parade Ground here, Governor Balramji Das Tandon also expressed concern over the Maoists problem in Bastar and hoped that the state would overcome the menace with an integrated action plan and people's support. Reports said Republic Day was celebrated across the state with pomp and enthusiasm. No major untoward incident had been reported from the Naxal-dominated Bastar region despite the Maoists' call for boycott of the celebration.UNI SS SA AS1937 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-558444.Xml
A police spokesperson here today said following a tip off about transportation of drugs in the district, a check point was established at Guzar Mohallah in Bandipora.

He said police intercepted a vehicle at the checkpoint and during checking recovered 49 bottles of codeine phosphate.

Four peddlers, identified as Ali Mohammad Sofi, Islam Mallah, Haroon and Mohammad Ramzan, who were carrying these drugs were taken into custody.

Police haw registered a case and initiated the process to nab other person involved in the drug racket, he added.UNI BAS SA BD1928

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A joint action committee on Mizoram Inner Line Reserve Forest today torched the existing map of Mizoram, in protest against the exclusion of the 509-sq km reserve forest, which is now allegedly occupied by Assam. The JAC chairman and veteran politician Vanlalngaia said the existing boundary between Assam and Mizoram, which is an imposed boundary, drawn under Section 6 of the North Eastern Areas Reorganisation Act 1971, at the sole discretion of the Assam government. This is an imposed boundary, which all the political parties and NGOs in Mizoram cannot accept. It is a matter of utmost urgency that we get back the original boundary, the all-party meeting had resolved. According to records, the original boundary defined and gazetted under the North East Bengal Frontier (Inner Line Regulation) Act 1875 was marked 46 pillars, he said. The Mizoram inner line reserve forest measuring 509 sq km is put under the administration of Cachar district forest (Assam), as gazetted by the Assam government on October 17, 1878 under the India Forest Act 1865, he said as he torched the map in front of the Raj Bhavan here. The JAC comprised of several organisations Mizo Zirlai Pawl (Mizo students association), MSU (Mizo Students Union), FUW, ZWO and a political party Revolutionary Democratic Party (RDP). Mr Vanlalngaia demanded that the inner-line reserve forest be now handed to the real owner Mizoram. Once we get it back, we can drive out all the illegal settlers. The reserve forest would play an important role in boosting the states economy he said. A conglomeration of all political parties and major non-governmental organisations in Mizoram in 2012 had called for an early solution to the long-standing border dispute between Assam and Mizoram and said this was possible by handing over of the inner line reserve forest from Cachar district forest (Assam) to Mizoram. Tension has occasionally arisen out of the dispute border between Assam and Mizoram.UNI ZS AKM RJ AN1844 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-558071.Xml
Out of three two of them are Bangladeshi and one from the city. They were reportedly holding French passport, police said.

They were arrested for illegally staying in the city with expired Visa. They were residing in Rabindranagar area here.

According to police, they had gone to security Control office for extending their Visa which had expired three months back. The security Control office detained them and called up Bhowanipore Police station and later they were arrested.

The Arrested two French citizens were born in Bangladesh and they received French Citizenship. They were arrested on grounds of illegally staying in India.UNI BM AKM SHS RJ AS1854

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Deputy Police Superintendent (West) Ajay Kumar said here that police personnel posted at Panapur Kariyat police outpost arrested seven youths last night when they were returning from a marriage party.

Later, the officer-in-charge of Panapur Kariyat police outpost Gyan Prakash who was allegedly drunk along with sub inspector Ramchandra Singh and three other police personnel thrashed them by accusing of being members of a criminal gang.

In protest against their beating, hundreds of villagers held demonstration before the police outpost this morning. When Mr Kumar reached the police outpost, victim youths told him about their ordeal and later on his report, senior police superintendent of Muzaffarpur Ranjeet Kumar Mishra suspended all the guilty police personnel. UNI XC-DH AKM AE AS1928

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"It's done," an official of the Rashtrapati Bhawan told IANS, when asked about whether the president has given his nod to central rule in Arunachal Pradesh or not.

The union cabinet had on Sunday recommended imposition of President's Rule in the north eastern state.

Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa by his December 9, 2015, message had advanced the date of the convening of the assembly session. The move was criticised by the Congress and party leader Kapil Sibal had said the governor should not have acted on a resolution by the opposition BJP legislators and two independents.

On January 18, the Supreme Court said it would examine whether Rajkhowa's decision of advancing the assembly session to December 16 to take up the resolution for the removal of Speaker Nabam Rebia was valid or not.

Rebia was removed as Speaker by 14 rebel Congress legislators backed by BJP lawmakers on December 16 in an assembly session held in a community hall in Itanagar that was presided over by the deputy speaker.

The 14 rebel Congress lawmakers were earlier disqualified by Rebia.

The deputy speaker, before moving the motion removing Rebia as speaker, restored the membership of the 14 legislators.

--Indo-Asian News Service bns/sd/vm

( 232 Words)

2016-01-26-20:27:34 (IANS)
A rally in the city by the ultra-left United Students' Democratic Front (USDF) protesting over the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula turned violent on Tuesday. The demonstrators claimed they were assaulted by Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) activists, a claim which the latter denied. The USDF activists were staging protests outside the city office of the RSS, holding the outfit responsible for the death of Vemula, who committed suicide on January 17 following his suspension along with four other Dalit students over an alleged clash with a leader of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS. In video grabs broadcast by TV channels, several RSS and USDF activists were seen engaged in scuffles, with police trying to rein them in. Several of the protesters were also arrested or detained by police. "We were protesting peacefully, but suddenly a group of RSS activists assaulted us," said a USDF activist. Denying the protestors were assaulted, the RSS blamed the police for the melee. "The allegations of assault are false, rather it's the police who are to be blamed. The police preferred to be mute spectators and did nothing to control the protestors," RSS state secretary Jishnu Basu said. State Bharatiya Janata Party president Dilip Ghosh though justified the RSS' stand. "Rohit in his suicide note did not blame anyone rather committed suicide out of depression. Yet people are politicising the issue and blaming the BJP. "Nobody has the right to create trouble at anybody's house. When people create trouble, that needs to be given a reply. RSS activists are very restrained and aware who deserves what kind of treatment," said Ghosh. --Indo-Asian News Service and/ssp/sd/dg ( 287 Words) 2016-01-26-20:45:34 (IANS)
Women activists on Tuesday voiced their support for those women set to march towards Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra to break the centuries old tradition of not allowing the feminine gender to enter the sanctum sanctorum. The activists of Ranragini Bhumata Brigade led by Trupti Desai were stopped from marching towards the temple by the police near Supa in Maharasthra. They were also detained by the police for some time but were later released. Former National Commission for Women chairperson Mamata Sharma criticised the police action and called for Centre's intervention in the matter. "It is failure on part of the administration if they are stopping women. Those days are gone when people used to disallow women in temples. What administration is doing is wrong. Centre should intervene in this matter," she told ANI. Another former NCW member Shamina Shafiq asked Maharashtra Government to withdraw the police force and allow the women to worship. "It is very unfortunate, it is a black day for women. Why is entire police force on Maharashtra against those women? They are simply demanding their right to pray. Political masters in Maharashtra should intervene and immediately withdraw police," she told ANI. After being stopped by the police near Supa in Maharasthra, activist Trupti Desai said that it was a black day for women as they were being stopped from exercising their rights. The temple drew attention in November 2015 after a woman had offered prayers at the popular shrine in 'breach' of the age-old practice of prohibiting entry of women, after which the temple committee had to suspend seven security men and the villagers to perform purification rituals. The temple platform attracts millions of tourists and devotees from across the country and abroad. (ANI)
Former finance minister of Arunachal Pradesh and dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul blamed former chief minister Nabam Tuki for the President's rule in Arunachal. "Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Nabam Tuki is responsible for the President's rule. This is very unfortunate. The government is in minority. There is nothing called law and order there. The government itself indulged in dharnas," Pul told ANI. "According to rule, the assembly should have been convened within 14 days. But it took two months and 11 days to start assembly session. The Speaker had mala fide intention. Two of our Congress men were deceived to sign the resignation letter," he added. Pul further pointed out that the Bharatiya Janata Party is not responsible for this situation and it is being wrongly accused in the matter. Arunachal Pradesh today came under central rule with President Pranab Mukherjee giving assent to the Union Cabinet's recommendation following political instability in the state. Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led at the Centre for imposing President's rule in the state and vowed to knock the doors of the Supreme Court in this matter. "Had a feeling they will do this as this was their intention. But we aren't nervous, we will fight... We will fight this battle legally...We will seek justice from Supreme Court," Tuki told ANI. Arunachal Pradesh was rocked by a political crisis on December 16 last year as 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with BJP's 11 MLAs and two independents to impeach Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue. The Speaker termed the move as illegal and unconstitutional. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court decided to hear on January 27 the Congress plea challenging the Cabinet decision. (ANI)
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday hailed the imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh and slammed the Congress party for challenging the President's decision. He said that the Congress Government in Arunachal Pradesh had failed to govern the state, adding that the Centre had intervened to save the people of the state. "This is not the first time that the President's rule has been imposed in a state, the Congress had imposed President's rule more than 100 time in independent India. If the Congress challenges President's rule in Arunachal then it amounts to challenging the decision of the President of India. President has applied his wisdom to give assent to Cabinet's recommendation," he told ANI. "This is not the creation of the Central Government, the state government failed to govern the state. The chief minister has dropped all his senior ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries without consulting us," he added. He also lashed out at the Congress for accusing the BJP of 'murdering democracy', and said, "The Congress is accusing the Centre of murdering democracy, in fact the Centre has intervened to save the people of Arunachal Pradesh." Earlier today, Congress accused BJP of misusing power and said that BJP would be held responsible if anything goes wrong in Arunachal Pradesh as it is a sensitive state. President Pranab Mukherjee today gave his assent to imposition of central rule in Arunachal Pradesh. Two days back, Union Cabinet had recommended President's Rule following the political crisis in the state. In December last year, Arunachal Pradesh was rocked by a political crisis after 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to impeach Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue. The move was termed as illegal and unconstitutional by the Speaker. The rebel group MLAs congregated at a community hall after the state Assembly complex was allegedly sealed by the local administration, and impeached Mr. Rebia in an impromptu session chaired by Deputy Speaker. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has decided to hear on January 27 the Congress' plea challenging the Cabinet decision. (ANI)
:As part of the ongoing protests by students of University of Hyderabad against recent suicide by research scholar Rohith Vemula, the UoH students staged dharnas near the state secretariat here today. They demanded that the government should come to the aid of Rohith's family and action taken against those responsible for the student's suicide. Police took into custody some of the protesting students. Meanwhile,Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Uttam Kumar Reddy visited the UoH campus and met Ms.Radhika,mother of Rohith,and handed over a cheque for Rs.five lakh to her on behalf of the party. He also deplored the government's inaction in regard to the tragic incident.UNI SMS VV ADB2036 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-558612.Xml
Nagaland Governor P B Acharya today emphasised the urgent need of peace in every section of Naga society and groups and said peace is a pre-requisite for economic growth and social well-being of the citizens. Hoisting the national tri-colour on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day celebration at the Secretariat Plaza in the Nagaland Civil Secretariat here, Mr. Acharya said the Union Government has given stress on a peaceful atmosphere in Nagaland and with that intention the Central government had signed the Framework Agreement with NSCN-IM on August 3 last year. 'It is a momentous development towards the objective and deserved to be welcomed by all,' he said. In his 23 minutes speech, Mr. Acharya said decades of insurgency and associated violence had "affected our psyche negatively and we must not allow the past to overwhelm us anymore". 'We must remember that that just as conditions around us shape us, we also shape the environment around us,' he added. The Governor also took the opportunity to urge the NSCN (K) and other groups to leave the path of violence and return to the negotiating table. Later, the Governor launched the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) under Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority under the Nagaland Home Department. Mr. Acharya also inaugurated one exhibition organized by the Nagaland Agriculture Department. Earlier, the Governor inspected the 21 contingents of Naga Territorial Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, Indian Reserve Battalion, Nagaland Armed Police, Home Guards, NCC, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Ex-Servicemen and schools children, which later marched past. One helicopter of the IAF also joined the march past showering petals from the sky. UNI AS PL RSA AS2032 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-557659.Xml
Extremists of banned CPI (Maoists) had called for bandh in Bihar and Jharkhand on January 25 and 26 in protest against the killing of their colleagues.

According to a Nawada report, Maoists unfurled black flags near Fulwaria reserviour under Rajauli police station in the district. Posters with anti national messages were also found from the spot.

Later, police seized both black flags and posters.

The posters were allegedly issued by Magadh Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist).

In adjoining Jamui district, Maoist rebels unfurled black flags inside premises of two middle schools at Banpokhadi and Simra under Chandramandi police station in the district early this morning.

Police seized black flags after villagers informed. UNI DH AKM RSA 2043

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At a function organised here, he called for the preservation of hard earned freedom attained with the sacrificing of lakhs of martyrs by keeping communal harmony and peace of the state intact.

The minister said that 80 per cent of the Indian martyrs who laid life for the independence of India belonged to Punjab.

He said the War Memorial being constructed at Karatarpur at a cost of Rs. 200 crore will be a rare monument of India to keep the sacrifices of the Punjab martyrs alive.

Mr Lal also paid tributes to the martyrs of Pathankot Air Base terror attack.

He took salute from the impressive parade organized on this occasion by the Punjab Police, college and school students,

He honoured 129 social workers and government officials including police men and doctors of the district.UNI XC RSA 2050

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Following the imposition of President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, the Centre tonight appointed two advisors to Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa to assist him in affairs of the state."G S Patnaik, the Indian Administrative Services(IAS) officer of Union Territory(U T) cadre of 1980 and Y S Dadhwal, the Indian Police Services(IPS) officer of U T cadre of 1970 are appointed as advisor to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh with effect from the date they assume charge of their posts," Home Ministry spokesman K S Dhatwalia, Additional Director General(Media), here said.President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent this evening to President's rule in political turmoil-hit North Eastern state Arunachal Pradesh."President's Rule imposed in Arunachal Pradesh and the State Legislative Assembly is kept in suspended animation with effect from today, that is January 26, 2016," the Home Ministry spokesman had said. The Union Cabinet on Sunday had recommended the Central rule citing a total Constitutional breakdown."Taking cognisance of the Constitutional breakdown that has taken place in the State of Arunachal Pradesh as reported by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, the Union Cabinet in its meeting held on January 24, 2016 had recommend to the President of India to issue such proclamation," the spokesman said."In pursuance of this proclamation, all the functions of the Government of the State of Arunachal Pradesh and all the powers vested in or exercisable by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh under the Constitution or under any law in force in that State, which have been assumed by the President by virtue of the said Proclamation, shall, subject to the superintendence, direction and control of the President, will also be exercisable by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh," he added.UNI PRA RSA 2255 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-558689.Xml
Promising India's unwavering support for UN's development and peace ideals, Syed Akbaruddin presented his credentials Monday to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the 21st Permanent Representative of India to the world body. Welcoming him, Moon said that he appreciated India's significant role at the United Nations as a long-trusted partner of the multilateral system. Reiterating India's commitment to the UN, Akbaruddin assured Ban of his fullest support in helping fulfill the priorities Ban had set for this year, including the quest for peaceful political solutions for international problems and working towards the developmental goals of Agenda 2030. Akbaruddin brings to the crucial diplomatic posting at the heart of the 193-member organisation a trove of rich experience and contacts from his stints at an international body, as the organiser of the recent India-Africa Summit and from serving as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's de facto spokesperson during his many foreign tours. Akbaruddin succeeds Asoke Kumar Mukerji who retired at the end of last year. This is the second turn at the UN for Akbaruddin, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1985. He served in India's UN Mission as a first secretary from 1995 to 1998, when he focused on Security Council reform, a matter that assumes urgency in his current role as the long-delayed process is finally gaining traction. Another topic he specialised in the 1990s assignment was peacekeeping, which continues to be an area of major contribution to the UN by India. Currently 7,798 Indians are serving in UN peacekeeping operations. Historically India has been the biggest contributor to UN peacekeeping, having sent more than 180,000 Indian troops to 48 of the 69 UN missions so far. Akbaruddin also brings an insider's insight into the workings of international organisations from his work at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from 2006 to 2011. He worked at the IAEA as the head of external relations and as the special assistant to the director-general. His most recent position at the External Affairs Ministry was as Chief Coordinator of the India-Africa Forum Summit held last October in New Delhi with all 54 African nations participating. With Africa forming the largest single group at the UN, this experience gives him a rich Rolodex of contacts. Before that he was the External Affairs Ministry' official spokesperson from 2012 to 2015 when he attended several multilateral and bilateral meetings at the ministerial and prime ministerial levels. Since Modi does not have a prime ministerial spokesperson, Akbaruddin also served as his spokesperson during Modi's hectic itinerary of international visits. Akbaruddin's diplomatic postings include Counsellor at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and various positions in missions in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) --Indo-Asian News Service al/tb ( 471 Words) 2016-01-26-09:29:34 (IANS)
The US Supreme Court expanded its ban on mandatory sentences of life in prison without parole for inmates convicted of murders committed before age 18, saying even those imprisoned years ago should have an opportunity to argue for their release.The court, in a 6-3 ruling, sided with Louisiana inmate Henry Montgomery, who was convicted in the 1963 fatal shooting of a sheriff's deputy at age 17 and has spent more than a half century behind bars with an automatic sentence of life without possibility of parole.The court in 2012 had ruled that mandatory life sentences without parole in homicide cases involving juvenile killers violated the US Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The justices, in their ruling yesterday, said that decision must be applied retroactively to inmates convicted before that ruling was issued.That means Montgomery and more than 1,000 people serving similar sentences around the United States could be resentenced or given the chance to apply for parole. It does not, however, guarantee their release.Louisiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania are among the states likely to be most affected."For these people, it will be the first time a judge will be able to take into account the qualities that made them, as children, less culpable than adults who commit the same crimes," said Katherine Mattes, director of the criminal litigation clinic at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans.Montgomery, who is black, was convicted of killing a white sheriff's deputy in East Baton Rouge at a time when racial tensions in the region were boiling over.The ruling, with conservative Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy joining the court's four liberals, was the court's latest to protect juvenile offenders from the harshest sentences. In 2005, the Supreme Court banned capital punishment for those under 18 at the time of their crimes.Monday's ruling, authored by Kennedy, left open the possibility of juveniles being sentenced to life without parole in certain cases. Kennedy said Montgomery himself showed "his evolution from a troubled, misguided youth to a model member of the prison community."Kennedy emphasized that "children who commit even heinous crimes are capable of change."Justice Antonin Scalia dissented, along with fellow conservatives Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Scalia called the ruling "a devious way of eliminating life without parole for juvenile offenders."REUTERS MI DS PR 0415 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0137-557424.Xml
President Barack praised Hillary Clinton's political experience, a boost to her campaign as she battles an insurgent Bernie Sanders a week before the Democratic presidential nominating process kicks off.Obama's kind words for his former secretary of state, in a Politico interview published yesterday, will help Clinton as she tries to link her campaign more closely with the president and so draw in more support from his backers.While never explicitly criticizing Sanders, a senator from Vermont whose campaign is focused on pledges to redress social inequality and contain Wall Street excesses, Obama praised Clinton's experience and suggested several times that Clinton's messages are grounded in realism."(S)he's extraordinarily experienced - and, you know, wicked smart and knows every policy inside and out - (and) sometimes (that) could make her more cautious, and her campaign more prose than poetry," Obama said.The interview was conducted on Friday and published a week before the February 1 voting in Iowa, which launches the process to pick the parties' nominees for the November presidential election.Clinton, who lost the Democratic primary to Obama in 2008, was for months the clear front-runner to be the party's nominee this time around, but opinion polls have showed a surge of support for Sanders in recent weeks.She argues that while Sanders' goals on issues such as social inequality are laudable, some are unobtainable and he lacks the experience to tackle a wide range of issues."When you're in the White House you cannot pick the issues you want to work on, you've got to be ready to take on every issue that comes your way, including those you cannot predict," Clinton yesterday told the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines.In an echo of that point that will be gratifying to the Clinton campaign, Obama said in the Politico interview, "(The) one thing everybody understands is that this job right here, you don't have the luxury of just focusing on one thing.""I think that what Hillary presents is a recognition that translating values into governance and delivering the goods is ultimately the job of politics, making a real-life difference to people in their day-to-day lives," he said.Obama, who remains very popular within the Democratic Party, has said he will not endorse a candidate in the primary but has admitted he is watching closely to see who will succeed him.All three Democrats in the race - Clinton, Sanders and former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley - were set for a prime-time opportunity to make their closing arguments on Monday night in a nationally televised town hall meeting on CNN due to begin at 9 pm EST (0730 IST).The candidates were set to appear individually on stage, fielding questions from the moderators and trying to make their final pitches ahead of the Iowa voting.In the interview, Obama took issue with comparisons being made by pundits between himself and Sanders. The Vermont senator is often described as an underdog candidate who excites young voters and draws larger crowds - as Obama did in his come-from-behind primary win in 2008."I don't think that's true," Obama said when asked whether Sanders reminded him of himself. However, Obama did note that Sanders had the "luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loose," while "Hillary came in with the both privilege - and burden - of being perceived as the front-runner."Sanders' campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, agreed they are not the same, but still pointed to a similar crowd response and said Sanders enjoys a similar momentum. "They're obviously very different people," Weaver told CNN.REPUBLICANS GRAPPLE FOR BIG IOWA FINISHOn the Republican side of the nomination fight, the battle for endorsements and voters gathered pace.Senator Marco Rubio of Florida appeared at a Des Moines rally with Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, who told the crowd she was not endorsing a candidate but called him "someone who is very near and dear to my heart and a good friend to me."Taking questions from reporters after the event, Rubio expressed confidence in a solid finish in Iowa. Given his current place in the polls, finishing third would likely be portrayed as a victory for Rubio."We feel very positive about it," he said. "We feel a real good vibe here."Iowa's other senator, Chuck Grassley, raised eyebrows on Saturday when he appeared at a Donald Trump event. Grassley stressed he was not providing a formal endorsement.US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas picked up the endorsement of former Texas Governor Rick Perry, who dropped out of the presidential campaign last year after failing to gain traction. This was a first endorsement by a former governor for Cruz, who has received no endorsements from sitting senators despite serving in the chamber.Opinion polls show Trump, a real estate mogul, and Cruz locked in a tight battle to win the Iowa voting.Trump launched a video on Facebook arguing that the "establishment" is trying to undermine his campaign - a direct response to recent attacks by Cruz that he is part of the establishment.Being dubbed part of the establishment has taken on a strong negative connotation in the Republican campaign as candidates presenting themselves as outsiders have risen in the polls. The video got more than 370,000 views in the first three hours.REUTERS MI DS PR 0418 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0387-557423.Xml
The United Nations Security Council should place an arms embargo on South Sudan, while the oil-rich country's President Salva Kiir and a rebel leader qualify to be sanctioned over atrocities in a two-year civil war, UN sanctions monitors said in an annual report.The confidential report by a UN panel that monitors the conflict in South Sudan for the Security Council stated that Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar are still completely in charge of their forces and are therefore directly to blame for killing civilians and other actions that warrant sanctions. A copy of the report was seen by Reuters.The 15-member Security Council has long-threatened to impose an arms embargo, but veto power Russia, backed by council member Angola, has been reluctant to support such an action. Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on Monday he was concerned that an arms embargo would be one-sided because it would be easier to enforce on the government.The panel asked the council to blacklist "high-level decision makers responsible for the actions and policies that threaten the peace, security and stability of the country."The names of the individuals the panel recommend for sanctions in the form of an international travel ban and asset freeze were not included in the body of the report. But a diplomat familiar with the contents told Reuters that a highly confidential annex calls for blacklisting both Kiir and Machar.A political dispute between Kiir and Machar, who was once Kiir's deputy, sparked the civil war. But it has widened and reopened ethnic fault lines between Kiir's Dinka and Machar's Nuer people. More than 10,000 people have been killed.The panel wrote that "there is clear and convincing evidence that most of the acts of violence committed during the war, including the targeting of civilians ... have been directed by or undertaken with the knowledge of senior individuals at the highest levels of the government and within the opposition."However, they said the government appears to have been responsible for a larger share of the bloodshed in the country in 2015."While civilians have been and continue to be targeted by both sides, including because of their tribal affiliation, the panel has determined that, in contrast to 2014, the government has been responsible for the vast majority of human rights violations committed in South Sudan (since March 2015)," the U.N.'s panel coordinator, Payton Knopf, told the Security Council sanctions committee on Jan. 14, according to prepared remarks circulated to council members.The South Sudan mission to the United Nations in New York was not immediately available to comment on the report.U.N. peacekeepers in South Sudan are also "regularly attacked, harassed, detained, intimidated and threatened," the monitors said in the report.The conflict in South Sudan, whose 2011 secession from Sudan had long enjoyed the support of the United States, has torn apart the world's youngest country. The U.N. panel reported that some 2.3 million people have been displaced since war broke out in December 2013, while some 3.9 million face severe food shortages.The U.N. report described how Kiir's government bought at least four Mi-24 attack helicopters in 2014 from a private Ukrainian company at a cost of nearly $43 million."They have been vital in providing an important advantage in military operations, have facilitated the expansion of the war and have emboldened those in the government who are seeking a military solution to the conflict at the expense of the peace process," according to the report.Knopf told the council that Machar's rebels were trying to "acquire shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to counter the threat of attack helicopters, specifically citing the need to continue and indeed escalate the fighting."Both sides signed a peace deal in August but have consistently broken a ceasefire, while human rights violations have "continued unabated and with full impunity," the panel wrote.According to the report, those violations include extrajudicial killings, torture, sexual violence, extrajudicial arrest and detention, abductions, forced displacement, the use and recruitment of children, beatings, looting and the destruction of livelihoods and homes.The panel said that almost every attack on a village by the warring parties involved the rape and abduction of women and girls and that "all parties deliberately use rape as a tactic of war, often in gruesome incidents of gang rape."Knopf told the council committee that the human cost of the war was comparable to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen relative to South Sudan's population of 12 million. And he said there was "a real risk of even larger scale mass atrocities within South Sudan." REUTERS CJ RAI1104 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-557584.Xml
Malaysian authorities today launched a search for a boat carrying up to 35 people, after 13 bodies washed up on a beach in the southern state of Johor.Police discovered the bodies at a beach in near the town of Bandar Penawar earlier in the day.District police chief Rahmat Othman said the boat had come from Indonesia and was carrying illegal migrants. Up to 35 people were believed to have been on the boat, police said.Authorities in Jakarta said the boat had capsized after being hit by strong waves."ID cards from Indonesia were found," on the 13 victims, Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir said in a text messageREUTERS CJ RAI1228 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-557649.Xml
China's net gold imports via main conduit Hong Kong rebounded to nearly 862 tonnes in 2015, data showed on Tuesday, as weak prices lifted the appetite of the world's top consumer in December. China's net gold imports rose to 861.7 tonnes last year from 813.1 tonnes in 2014, according to data emailed to Reuters by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department. Net imports in December jumped to 129.266 tonnes from 79.003 tonnes in November, the data showed.REUTERS CJ NS1510 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-557923.Xml
Turkey remains strongly opposed to the participation of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the main Syrian Kurdish grouping, in the opposition ranks at peace talks planned for this week, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said today. If the US-allied PYD, which is battling Islamic State, is to join the talks aimed at resolving the five-year Syrian civil war, its place should be on the same side as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Davutoglu said in parliament.REUTERS SA BD1641 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-558099.Xml
The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has called for $2.8 billion in 2016 to assist 43 million children in humanitarian emergencies across the world. At least 25 percent of this appeal will be used in child education in emergencies, with plans to increase the number of children living in crises and receiving education from 4.9 million at the beginning of 2015 to 8.2 million this year, Xinhua reported. "By educating the minds of children and young people we are building hope so they can envisage a better future for themselves, their families and their societies and help break the cycle of chronic crisis," said Unicef's director of emergency programmes Afshan Khan. "Basically, if a child doesn't go to school for five years, you lost a generation," she added, with particular reference to the plight of children in war-torn Syria. Five million Syrian children will access to education both inside the country and neighbouring states as part of Unicef's 2016 appeal, which has doubled since this time three years ago. Current estimates reveal that one in nine of the world's children now live in conflict zones, with children living in countries affected by conflict twice as likely as those in other countries to die of mostly preventable diseases before they reach the age of five. "Across the world, millions of children have been forced to flee their homes due to violence and conflict. The global refugee crisis is also a protection crisis for children on the move, who are at increased risk of abuse, exploitation and trafficking," Khan said. Unicef indicated that $1.16 billion of the appeal were allocated to life-saving aid needed for Syria and the Syrian refugee crisis in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. A total of $30.8 million were requested to address the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe, while $180 million were called upon for the Yemen crisis. --Indo-Asian News Service py/dg ( 328 Words) 2016-01-26-19:55:34 (IANS)
The coalition of the United States and its allies conducted 18 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Monday, the group said. In a statement released today, the Combined Joint Task Force said three strikes in three cities in Syria hit a tactical unit, a headquarters building and destroyed two cranes. Separately in Iraq, 15 strikes near six cities hit vehicles, a bulldozer and a fuel tanker; destroyed fighting positions, mortar systems and a weapons cache; and denied access to terrain, the statement saidREUTERS SA AN1821 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-558325.Xml
Police arrested 24 people, many linked to Spain's ruling People's Party (PP), in raids in the Valencia region today in an anti-corruption operation investigating the alleged payment of illegal commissions in exchange for public work contracts.The arrests, most involving PP members or former members, are the latest in a string of corruption scandals over public contracts awarded during the property boom before the crash in 2008.Public outrage over corruption has taken its toll on politicians on the traditional left and right who lost votes in the inconclusive December 20 election to new parties which had campaigned against perceived deep-rooted graft.The operation remains open and is investigating 29 people, including former mayors and members of the regional government, including a former head of the PP in Valencia, a spokeswoman for a regional court said.The operation, which involved raids on businesses and public offices including the PP regional headquarters, is investigating cases of embezzlement of public funds, influence peddling, bribery and money laundering, according to the spokeswoman.REUTERS SA AS1849 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-558385.Xml
She may already have won some of the biggest US honors but beloved American comedian Carol Burnett says she was "gobsmacked" when told she would receive the Screen Actors Guild 2015 lifetime achievement award.Comedy duo Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will present Burnett with the honor on Saturday at the Screen Actors Guild annual award ceremony in Los Angeles."To use my friend Julie Andrews' comment, this is very British, I was gobsmacked," Burnett said. "Gobsmacked, what a great, great word that is and it really describes what I feel."Burnett, 82, the Emmy-winning star of the 1960s and 1970s TV sketch series "The Carol Burnett Show," is regarded as a pioneer for women in comedy."I've been told that Amy (Schumer), and all of them, mention my name but if I'd never been born, they'd be doing what they're doing," Burnett said. "They would be where they are today. I appreciate the trailblazer label but I don't think that's really the case.""The Carol Burnett Show" won 23 Emmy Awards and Burnett went on to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and became a Kennedy Center honoree in 2003.More recently, she appeared in the TV series "Hawaii Five-O" and in the 2014 Broadway production of "Love Letters."Asked about her legacy, Burnett said she hoped to be remembered as someone who had made people laugh."Well, I would hope they wouldn't say, 'Who was she?' I would hope they say, 'She made me laugh. She made me feel good,'" Burnett said. "That's the legacy one would want to leave - that you made people feel good at a time when maybe they weren't feeling so good."Burnett joins the ranks of other recent Screen Actors Guild lifetime achievement honorees including Debbie Reynolds, Betty White and Dick Van Dyke. REUTERS SHS AS2141 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-558659.Xml
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump today won the endorsement of evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr. for the party's 2016 presidential nomination, the Trump campaign said.Falwell, the president of Liberty University in Virginia and son of late televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr., picked Trump because he believes the billionaire businessman could "lead our country to greatness again," the campaign said in a statement.The endorsement came a week after Falwell introduced Trump before a speech he gave at the Christian university. In his introduction, Falwell said he saw similarities between Trump and his father, including a penchant to "speak his mind." REUTERS SHS AN2308 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-558694.Xml
Saleh Muslim, the leader of the Kurdish PYD party, has not received an invitation to the UN-mediated Syria peace talks in Geneva and is not aware of any Kurdish representatives getting an invitation, he said today."Of course we would sincerely like to join, and also we think that if we don't join it, this Geneva 3 will fail as happened in Geneva 2, where they excluded some sides," Muslim told Reuters."Of course we are representing a large number of people on the ground so by excluding us they are not doing well for a political solution."REUTERS SHS AN2316 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-558695.Xml
Jordan's senior parliamentary official said on Tuesday that finding a just solution to the Palestinian issue and ending the Israeli occupation are key to restoring stability in the Middle East, the state-run Petra news agency reported. At a joint press conference with a visiting British parliamentary delegation, the Lower House Palestine Committee President Yehya Saoud said resolving the Palestinian issue through a just and lasting solution is the key to ending wars in the region. He also stressed on the Palestinians' rights to freedom and independence, calling for an end of Israeli violations at holy sites in Jerusalem, urging the British to take a firm stance against the violation. Over the past four months, the Israelis and the Palestinians have been locked in waves of violence, during which stabbing, car- ramming, and shooting attacks by the Palestinians have claimed the lives of 24 Israelis and a US citizen. At least 150 Palestinians have been killed during that period, some in clashes with Israeli security forces in protests, while more than half were alleged attackers who were shot down at the scene of the attacks. Israeli leaders blame the Palestinian National Authority for incitement to violence behind the wave of attacks, fueled by strife over the site of the al-Aqsa mosque (or Temple Mount) in east Jerusalem, holy to both Jews and Muslims, which are now under Jordan's stewardship. The Palestinians, on their part, charge Israel's occupation of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, ongoing since 1967, and the dim prospects of establishing a Palestinian state in these territories in accordance with the two-state solution, are to blame for the upsurge in violence. Yehya Saoud said his country will continue to defend the holy sites in Jerusalem and provide services to Palestinian refugee camps in spite of limited resources. The British officials also voiced their support for Jordan's efforts in resolving the Palestinian issue. --Indo-Asian News Service ahm/ ( 332 Words) 2016-01-27-02:27:33 (IANS)
Partnership with Duke University, Centene aims to translate research into better health behaviors

Washington University in St. Louis is launching a partnership with Duke University and Centene Corp., aimed at translating research into more effective health related behaviors.

The Envolve Center for Health Behavior Change will kick off with a launch event from 2-5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in the Clark-Fox Forum at Hillman Hall.

The event is free and open to the public. David Bornstein, social innovation journalist and co-author of The New York Times Fixes column, will provide the keynote address.

Michal Grinstein-Weiss, PhD, professor at the Brown School and associate director of the Center for Social Development, will lead the new center as director and principal investigator.

The most compelling aspect of this partnership is that industry and academia are coming together with a shared mission of using cutting-edge science to improve the health of millions of Americans, Grinstein-Weiss said.

The Envolve Center is a unique industry-academic partnership that will translate the science of behavior change and public health research evidence into practical strategies that foster sustainable change in health-related behaviors, she said.

Moving beyond providing information to using proven, behavior-based techniques, the Envolve Center will be positioned to contribute to the healthcare research knowledge base, influence positive health outcomes and reduce the economic burden of poor health on individuals and society, Grinstein-Weiss said.

Other Envolve Center lead researchers are:

Debra Haire-Joshu , PhD, the Joyce Wood Professor at the Brown School, director of the Center for Diabetes Translation Research and director of the Center for Obesity Prevention and Policy Research;

, PhD, the Joyce Wood Professor at the Brown School, director of the Center for Diabetes Translation Research and director of the Center for Obesity Prevention and Policy Research; Matthew Kreuter , PhD, associate dean for public health and Kahn Family Professor of Public Health at the Brown School, and founder and senior scientist at the Health Communication Research Laboratory;

, PhD, associate dean for public health and Kahn Family Professor of Public Health at the Brown School, and founder and senior scientist at the Health Communication Research Laboratory; Dan Ariely, PhD, the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University and founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight.

For more information on the center and its mission, visit envolvepeoplecare.com/learning-center/envolve-center.
We've been talking a lot about the educational system here at the Alibi recently, which you can read more about in the latest issue that's available 'til Jan. 27 (get it while you can). Im going to recount some of my best and worst educational experiences. My time in the public (and briefly private-ish) educational system was a wild ride, and within most of my memory, not a good one. Lets see why!

When I was in second grade I was sexually harassed by a boy in my class. Over the school year he gathered other boys to chase me and harass me. When I would complain to teachers they would tell me something like, Oh he just likes you! or Boys will be boys. Ignore him and hell stop. My best friend was the only person who took me seriously. She would chase him and threaten him back, which would stop them for a while, but since she was in the grade above me, she couldnt always be there. I started dissociating around this time.

In third grade I was placed in the same class as my harasser again, even though I had made many complaints about his behavior. I remember I cried all night the day before classes started because I was so afraid to be in the same space with him again. My mom fought most of the year trying to get the school administration to change their decision but they said all the other classes were full. Because I was in the same class as this kid again, I was nervous and distracted all the time. My teacher would yell at me a lot for a few reasons: I didnt pay attention, I collected rocks from the playground (which I guess was stealing school property) and because I had a hard time doing math.

Nothing particularly notable happened until middle school (or maybe it did and I just cant remember because of the dissociation junk). One of my best friends who had an aptitude for math was yelled at by our math teacher because he didnt show his work. He explained that he didnt show his work because he could do it all in his head and out teacher said he couldnt and was probably cheating.

Our humanities teacher, on the other hand, was very funny and somewhat imperious (though, I suppose most adults are at that age). He encouraged me to write like there was no tomorrow. It was his last year teaching at our school, so at the end of the year I wrote him a poem about how I would miss him and how he really helped me and he cried. We both were proud.

My seventh grade science teacher was absolutely ridiculous. I asked her a question about some type of rock and she actually responded, Because God made it that way, sweetie.

My eighth grade history teacher was also very encouraging to me as a writer. For a paper about an event during the American Revolution, I wrote it how I thought a journalist during that time would write it, and after I read it to the class she asked me if I plagiarized it. She didnt mean it to be insulting (though I was offended, cuz I write gr8) she was just incredibly surprised that a young teenager could write like that so convincingly.

At the beginning of high school I went to a charter school. During the first semester, while my humanities teacher was giving a lecture, I raised my hand because I had a question (like ya do), and then she stopped her lecture and yelled at me for interrupting her.

By the time tenth grade began, I started going to a public school. My anxiety and depression were the worst I had ever experienced in my life at that point (within memory). Thankfully all of my teachers were incredibly kind and eager to teach.

My class schedule was a bit unusual because I went to a school with a different curriculum the year before. I was kind of behind in science (I had taken the class that juniors took at that school, but I hadnt taken what freshmen took) and ahead in history. So in my science class I was with a lot of kids who had failed it many times. The kid who sat behind me tried to feel me up one day and the teacher didnt even write him up. Another kid would bother me constantly about dating him which made me extremely uncomfortable. The teacher was nice but he didnt protect me, which I resent.

My history teacher was completely different. She was lively, intelligent and treated her students how they treated her. She taught me to be studious, respect myself and to stand up for myself. I felt safe in her classroom.

My English teacher was hilarious, kind and patient. I felt like I could be myself around him and I felt safe in his classroom, too. He taught me to be critical and seriously inquire about things and to be confident about my writing and my awkwardness.

By the time eleventh grade started, the school system (and therefore a lot of teachers) began to rely heavily on technology. I remember in one class in particularmy English classif the computer didnt work for some reason, we werent going to be taught that day. This forced technological shift was particularly difficult for me because Ive always learned best by actually doing something, not reading about doing things or being told how to.

My first English class in college didnt go well. My teacher talked to everyone like we were children and was noticeably nicer to the guys in class. Once she gave me a paper back telling me to make the exact corrections that she made and I would get an A. I did what she said and got a D on the paper.

My second English class was a completely different experience. My teacher was incredibly kind, exceptionally encouraging and inspirational. It was her last semester teaching, which is a shame because I wanted to take more or her classes.

I ended up giving up on college becausemuch like the forced technological shift I experienced my junior yearit was too much reading about doing things and not enough doing for me. Regardless of my bad experiences, Im extremely grateful for the educational opportunities Ive had because at the end of the day, I learned something.


A primer on surprising etiquette rules in 10 countries.

Chewing bubblegum. Purchasing souvenirs with pennies. Throwing a fist in the air. These gestures may seem completely harmless, but in certain corners of the globe, not only could you embarrass yourself by committing these gaffes, you can also face a harsh penalty for breaking the law. And while even the most seasoned of travelers can unintentionally commit common social errors abroad, it's important to remember that travel is not only about exploring exciting destinations, it's also about gaining a heightened understanding of diverse cultures, customs and perspectives. With that in mind, here are surprisingly offensive cultural blunders in 10 popular destinations -- and how to avoid making them.

Faux Pas #1: Dining in transit and pouring your own drink in Japan.

"There are definitely more than a few potential faux pas that travelers to Japan can unwittingly make," says Colleen Clark, managing editor of Jetsetter.com. The first major social sin she highlights is eating or drinking on the train, and the second is opening your own taxi door. "Do not try to open or close a taxi door. The driver will remotely open the left rear door for you to enter and then will close it after you depart," she says. And speaking of dining etiquette, "It's taboo to pour one's own drink, and party-goers make sure to fill the cups of elders first. The same respectful custom is appropriate in Japan where the gesture shows generosity and companionship among drinking buddies," says Gabe Saglie, senior editor at Travelzoo.com.

Another unsuspectingly disrespectful behavior in Japan is pointing your chopsticks upright into your rice bowl, which can be interpreted by Buddhists as offering rice to the dead.

Faux Pas #2: Blowing your nose in public and sporting shoes in homes and sacred places in China.

It may seem unusual, but in China it's considered very rude to take out a tissue and blow your nose in public, especially while sitting down for a meal. But the major cultural sin to steer clear of is neglecting to take off your shoes, Clark says. "Your feet can cause you trouble in China. Remove your shoes before you enter anyone's home (or a temple), and when sitting, be sure not to deliberately show the bottom of your feet to others," she explains. One more social activity to refrain from: equating China to Japan. "It's like comparing NY to LA or the Beatles to the Stones ... but with several centuries more of a rivalry," she says.

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Faux Pas #3: Neglecting to follow standard meal and language etiquette practices in France.

In France, instead of savoring bread prior to your main course, it's considered a better practice to pair it with different entrees, especially cheeses. Your bread should also be placed directly on the table, rather than a separate plate. Also resist sharing your final tab with your travel companions -- it's considered to be an unrefined practice in at French establishments, where the norm is for one person to take care of the bill. And apart from practicing the proper form while dining, it's also essential to be polite by speaking the local language. "Always say, 'Bonjour' (to shopkeepers, strangers, restaurant hosts), avoid speaking too loudly and never, we repeat, never ask for your steak well done," Clark says. "Oh, and don't put butter on your croissant -- it's made of butter," she jokes.



Faux Pas #4: Wearing revealing clothing (including swimsuits) or showing public displays of affection in the United Arab Emirates.

"Dubai can be a place of mixed messages, and messing up can mean deportation," Clark says. While you're allowed to drink in hotels, keep in mind "drunk driving and public drunkenness are strictly forbidden," she says. Unlike the U.S., consuming alcohol or being under the influence of alcohol in public is a punishable offense and can result in being charged for drinking without a license in Dubai. Clark also cautions against any PDA. "You should also never offer your hand to an Arab woman unless she offers it first," she adds. Saglie also warns that in Muslim countries, showing skin is highly offensive.

Faux Pas #5: Paying with pennies in Canada.

Next time you plan a trip to the Great White North, you may want to refrain from collecting or using pennies. As the copper coin's value continues to diminish and the Royal Canadian Mint halted distributing pennies to financial centers after February 2013, some retailers will not accept the currency or will require that you round up the final cost to the closest 5-cent increment. Beyond limiting your penny payments, it's also important to stay courteous to blend in, Clark says. "Our neighbors to the north generally live up to their reputation for niceness, so to return the favor you should be sure to be on time, politely request items around the dinner table and mind your Ps and Qs," she adds.



Faux Pas #6: Breaking tacit coffee-culture rules and baring midriff in Italy.

If you want to blend in with the locals in Italy, make sure you follow simple ordering etiquette before getting your caffeine fix. "Never order a cappuccino after 10:30 [a.m.] (milk is considered filling and should only be consumed at breakfast)," Clark says. She also cautions to avoid drinking coffee over a meal. "You can also be charged different prices depending on how you want to consume your drink -- most expensive to sit at a table, cheaper to stand at the counter, cheapest to take it to go." She also points out that it's important to resist the urge to eat while you explore can't-miss attractions. "Meals are meant to be savored sitting down, not while walking," she says.

And before you make your way to iconic sights, Saglie points out that "Catholic cathedrals and basilicas throughout Italy and Vatican City strictly enforce a strict dress code for all visitors." To ensure you're able to visit sacred sights, he advises sporting clothing that shields the shoulders, skirts and dresses that go past the knee and, for women, a shawl to wrap around sleeveless blouses in the summertime. He also cautions against showing midriffs to avoid disrespect and to ensure you're allowed to enter religion sights.

Faux Pas #7: Making offensive hand gestures in Brazil and the U.K.

"Tame your hand gestures in Brazil," Clark says, pointing out that seemingly innocuous gestures such as raising your fist can signal to a man that his wife is cheating on him. Another offensive practice is putting your fist to your forehead, which signals that you believe someone is stupid. Saglie also suggests resisting raising two fingers to friends overseas. While this universal sign represents "peace out" in the U.S., "Try the same with your chaps in the U.K., and you could find yourself in a street fight," Saglie says. "Americans don't realize extending the pointer finger into a reversed peace sign has the same meaning across the pond as a middle finger on its own."

Faux Pas #8: Incorrectly greeting locals and wearing the wrong shoes to ancient sites in Greece.

In Greece, you can expect greetings to entail more physical contact than standard greetings in the U.S. "Hugging and kissing go together," Clark says. "If you greet someone with a hug, be prepared to also kiss on the cheek." Apart from mastering proper greetings, make sure to dress correctly before making the pilgrimage to famed attractions. In fact, some ancient sites, such as the Acropolis, have restricted visitors from wearing high heels to keep cherished treasures intact.

Faux Pas #9: Smuggling bubblegum into Singapore.

If you ever considered popping, chewing or carrying bubblegum in Singapore -- think again. "Bubblegum was outlawed in Singapore in 1992 after vandals caused repeated maintenance issues throughout the country by trashing sidewalks, sealing keyholes and even disrupting the public transit by jamming subway doors with wads of the adhesive treat," Saglie explains. By law, visitors are banned from carrying gum into the country, even by accident, he says. The crime is punishable by a fine of up to $3,000, and pharmacists caught selling the illicit snack face up to two years in jail. To better blend in with locals, "burp, slurp and smack your lips," Clark says, pointing out that Singaporeans view these gestures as a sign of gratitude for delicious meals.

Faux Pas #10: Touching someone's head or disrespecting nobility in Thailand.

When it comes to etiquette in Thailand, the key to showing respect is understanding that the head is sacred and that feet are unclean, Clark says. She stresses the importance of refraining from pointing at feet or having physical contact of any kind with some someone else's head. It's also a smart idea to resist passing any items over someone's head, she says. Another important custom to understanding that "everyone has extreme reverence for the king," she says. "No matter where you are (in the middle of a park, at the movie theater, on the Skytrain), stop what you're doing and stand in silence when his song or the Thai national anthem are played," she advises. "And do not even jokingly insult him -- it's grounds for imprisonment."

Liz Weiss is the Travel editor for Consumer Advice at U.S. News & World Report. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn, circle her on Google+ or email her at eweiss@usnews.com.
Beautiful, chaotic, colorful, inspiring ... India is a place unlike any other, offering an incredible contrast of sights, smells, sounds and tastes. It's a country that will undoubtedly get under your skin -- one way or another. But as enthralling as it can be, it also can cause culture shock and can leave even the most seasoned of travelers overwhelmed. To keep your trip enlightening, not exhausting, keep these tips in mind when traveling to India's vibrant cities, breathtaking coastlines and enchanting countryside locations.

Research, Research, Research

India houses a diverse range of bustling destinations and can't-miss attractions -- from majestic temples to striking natural landmarks to superlative beaches and lively cities. Instead of trying to see it all on one trip, pick one part of the country to focus on and get immersed in it. For a taste of classic India, head to the Golden Triangle, which touches three of the country's most famous destinations: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Or, spend time in India's southern states to explore stunning beaches along Goa's coast or visit Mumbai's vibrant city center. Alternatively, you can head to India's northern and central regions for some of the country's most fascinating religious relics and sites, like the marble temples of Rajasthan or the carved edifices of Khajuraho.

Be Mindful of What You Eat

"Delhi belly" isn't just a myth, but a real ailment many visitors leave with after indulging in too many curries and street-side snacks. Although there's a high chance you'll experience some gastrointestinal discomfort while you visit, you can avoid serious illness (or spending your vacation holed up in your hotel) by staying mindful of everything you eat. Avoid most street food carts (as they often don't follow strict health codes), eat only peeled fruits and vegetables and try to eat food that's been only boiled or fried. And when it comes to water, don't drink from the tap and skip the ice.

Stay in a Reputable Hotel

This is especially true for first-timers, particularly those without extensive international travel under their belt. There's no denying India's great cities can be dangerous, so booking a stay in a hotel brand you know will take the stress out of visiting the bedazzling cities. The Grand Hyatt Mumbai and the Grand Hyatt Goa, for example, offer homey amenities, like elegant fine dining establishments, spacious rooms and an English-speaking staff.

Bring Your Camera

India is a street photographer's dream for a reason. There's so much to see and capture at any given moment. Your camera will showcase moments, experiences and encounters that you're too busy to notice, like a little boy picking up fruit at a street stall or an elderly woman looking up from a massive pile of saris. Plus, you'll leave with impressive photos to share stories of your incredible adventures when you return back home.

Enter With an Open Mind

Nothing can prepare you for the traffic of Mumbai or Delhi, where you'll dodge and weave past tuk tuks and minibuses or when you reach a stoplight and children approach your car, banging on the car windows for food and money. There's no way to equip yourself for everything you're going to see, feel or hear during your time, so brace yourself for the unexpected by traveling with an open mind and taking everything as it comes.

Bring Cash

Although some areas accept credit cards, the primary currency across India is cash -- especially once you reach the more rural parts of India. To avoid extra hassles, bring plenty of cash for cabs and tuks tuks, for restaurants and markets and especially for shopping. Many of the city bazaars (bustling shopping centers) are a shopper's paradise, so don't skip picking up those Sri Lanka cinnamon sticks or that homespun elephant scarf due to a lack of funds.

Explore Outside the Cities

Home to more than a billion residents, India can certainly be described as crowded and bustling. However, the densest populations can be found in the big cities, offering some refuge for weary travelers in the countryside. Instead of spending your entire trip in a city, spend just a few days taking in urban areas before recharging your batteries along the backwaters of Kerala or getting lost in the expansive, rolling desert hills of Zanskar, where the only other people you'll see are farmers and nomads.

Get a Visa

Obtaining a visa is a must. In fact, India requires U.S. citizens to have a visa before entering the country and most embassies require at least one month's notice to prepare one. However, if you're in a bind, you can apply for one online for a heftier fee. Just keep in mind that you'll have to wait in a different line once reaching the Indian airport if you come in with a e-visa. Prices vary, but usually stay around $60 to $70 for a short-term visa.

Dress Conservatively

India's culture, like many other Southeast Asian countries, is conservative-leaning, so plan ahead when you're packing your bags. Bring scarves and long pants for covering arms and legs when visiting religious sites, and opt for regular t-shirts in lieu of V-necks. Also, it's common to remove shoes when you enter someone's home or a temple, so bring socks if you'd prefer not to go barefoot.

Stay Cognizant of Your Surroundings

This rule of thumb applies to almost every city you visit, but is especially important when traveling abroad. Because of high poverty levels and the overcrowding in some of India's biggest cities, pickpocketing is a frequent occurrence. Avoid being a victim of theft by carrying small bags with a hearty zipper that can wrap around your shoulder, and don't put money, cell phones or keys in your pockets. If you have to walk late at night, walk with a companion, whether it's a guide, a friend or a family member. And always, stay calm. It's easy to get caught up in the chaos of it all, so let yourself have some moments of reflection before reacting.
The best health care support jobs of the year

It doesn't take years of medical school to gain entry to the ever-growing health care field. Health care support workers are the ones who assist doctors, surgeons and dentists in important tasks as they monitor, diagnose and treat patients. Many positions require no more than an associate degree or on-the-job training. Click on to see the Best Jobs of 2016 in the field of health care support.

25. Paramedic

Median Salary: $31,700

Unemployment Rate: 3 percent

Expected Job Openings: 58,500

These medical workers are first on the scene after an accident or health emergency.

Learn more about paramedics.

24. Surgical Technologist

Median Salary: $43,350

Unemployment Rate: 3.8 percent

Expected Job Openings: 14,700

Surgical technologists assist surgeons in the operating room, including by setting out tools, sterilizing the room and helping with other tasks.

Learn more about surgical technologists.

23. Optician

Median Salary: $34,280

Unemployment Rate: 4.9 percent

Expected Job Openings: 17,800

Staffed in stores, private practices and health care centers, these workers help patients select and fit eyewear.

Learn more about opticians.

22. Veterinary Technologist and Technician

Median Salary: $31,070

Unemployment Rate: 3.6 percent

Expected Job Openings: 17,900

These professionals assist veterinarians with the tasks involved in diagnosing and treating their animal patients.

Learn more about veterinary technologists and technicians.

21. Genetic Counselor

Median Salary: $67,500

Unemployment Rate: 7 percent

Expected Job Openings: 700

These master's degree-educated professionals help patients identify potential genetic conditions.

Learn more about genetic counselors .

20. Medical Assistant

Median Salary: $29,960

Unemployment Rate: 4 percent

Expected Job Openings: 138,900

Medical assistants work in doctors' offices, pitching in with clerical work and basic medical tasks.

Learn more about medical assistants.

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19. Phlebotomist

Median Salary: $30,670

Unemployment Rate: 1.6 percent

Expected Job Openings: 28,100

Phlebotomists can't be scared of needles. They specialize in drawing blood and maintaining blood-drawing equipment.

Learn more about phlebotomists.

18. Home Health Aide

Median Salary: $21,380

Unemployment Rate: 6.6 percent

Expected Job Openings: 348,400

Home health aides help patients manage day-to-day tasks and are in growing demand as baby boomers age.

Learn more about home health aides .

17. Dental Assistant

Median Salary: $35,390

Unemployment Rate: 3.5 percent

Expected Job Openings: 58,600

Dental assistants work with dentists and dental hygienists on a variety of tasks, from handling clerical work to preparing patients for treatments.

Learn more about dental assistants.

16. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse

Median Salary: $42,490

Unemployment Rate: 3.1 percent

Expected Job Openings: 117,300

These health care professionals provide medical care and perform a range of medical procedures, from checking vital signs to dressing wounds.

Learn more about licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.

15. Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Median Salary: $72,100

Unemployment Rate: 3.1 percent

Expected Job Openings: 300

Nuclear medicine technologists have mastered a process that involves injecting small amounts of radioactive material into patients to diagnose certain diseases and illnesses.

Learn more about nuclear medicine technologists.

14. Clinical Laboratory Technician

Median Salary: $38,370

Unemployment Rate: 3.4 percent

Expected Job Openings: 29,000

Working under the supervision of technologists, clinical laboratory technicians analyze lab work and perform other behind-the-scenes tasks.

Learn more about clinical laboratory technicians.

13. Cardiovascular Technologist

Median Salary: $54,330

Unemployment Rate: 3.1 percent

Expected Job Openings: 11,500

Cardiovascular technologists conduct tests on patients to help diagnose heart-related conditions.

Learn more about cardiovascular technologists.

12. Ophthalmic Medical Technician

Median Salary: $35,230

Unemployment Rate: 0.4 percent

Expected Job Openings: 9,100

These ocular experts assist in the initial portions of a patient's eye exam, taking patient history and completing visual tests.

Learn more about ophthalmic medical technicians.

11. Occupational Therapy Aide

Median Salary: $26,550

Unemployment Rate: 1.1 percent

Expected Job Openings: 2,700

These aides typically assist occupational therapists by performing administrative duties, cleaning or other tasks.

Learn more about occupational therapy aides.

10. MRI Technologist

Median Salary: $67,090

Unemployment Rate: 3.1 percent

Expected Job Openings: 3,500

MRI technologists operate machines that use magnetic fields and radio waves to take images of patients' organs and other internal parts.

Learn more about MRI technologists .

9. Physical Therapist Aide

Median Salary: $24,650

Unemployment Rate: 1.2 percent

Expected Job Openings: 19,500

These professionals support physical therapists and physical therapy assistants, often taking on some of the less-skilled work, including sanitizing treatment areas and performing office tasks.

Learn more about physical therapist aides.

8. Massage Therapist

Median Salary: $37,180

Unemployment Rate: 3.9 percent

Expected Job Openings: 36,500

Massage therapists reduce and relieve pain and unwind tense muscles using a variety of techniques.

Learn more about massage therapists.

7. Medical Secretary

Median Salary: $32,240

Unemployment Rate: 3.9 percent

Expected Job Openings: 108,200

Medical secretaries manage the traffic in and out of a doctor's office, maintaining records and collecting insurance information.

Learn more about medical secretaries .

6. Hearing Aid Specialist

Median Salary: $43,010

Unemployment Rate: 3.1 percent

Expected Job Openings: 1,600

These professionals specialize in selecting, fitting and maintaining hearing-loss devices.

Learn more about hearing aid specialists.

5. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Median Salary: $67,530

Unemployment Rate: 1.9 percent

Expected Job Openings: 16,000

These health care specialists use sonography equipment to capture images for a number of medical purposes, from finding out the gender of a baby to imaging tumors.

Learn more about diagnostic medical sonographers.

4. Physical Therapist Assistant

Median Salary: $54,410

Unemployment Rate: 5.8 percent

Expected Job Openings: 31,900

PTAs work with physical therapists to help patients regain movement and mobility after an injury or illness.

Learn more about physical therapist assistants.

3. Orthotist and Prosthetist

Median Salary: $64,040

Unemployment Rate: 2.1 percent

Expected Job Openings: 1,900

These specialists work on designing, building and fitting patients with braces, artificial body parts and other medical devices.

Learn more about orthotists and prosthetists.

2. Dental Hygienist

Median Salary: $71,520

Unemployment Rate: 3.1 percent

Expected Job Openings: 37,400

Dental hygienists typically work in dental offices, cleaning teeth and educating patients on how to brush and floss properly.

Learn more about dental hygienists.

1. Occupational Therapy Assistant

Median Salary: $56,950

Unemployment Rate: 1.2 percent

Expected Job Openings: 14,100

OTAs specialize in working with occupational therapists to help patients relearn daily tasks after an injury or illness.

Learn more about occupational therapy assistants.

Susannah Snider is the Careers editor at U.S. News. She previously covered paying for college and graduate school. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at ssnider@usnews.com.
By Anastasia Moloney BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - 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. Sara Garcia, a reproductive rights activist in El Salvador, says the caution against pregnancy must be accompanied by public discussion of the causes of unwanted pregnancies. "It's not simply about telling women not to get pregnant. There are pregnancies that aren't planned, are imposed on women and girls and are the product of sexual abuse," said Garcia, a member of the Citizens' Coalition for the Decriminalization of Abortion in El Salvador. In El Salvador in 2013, the Supreme Court refused to allow an ill woman carrying a malformed fetus to have a potentially life-saving abortion in a case that sparked global outcry. Women's rights campaigners also blamed the health ministry recommendations for failing to address the role of men. "Once again, governments put the burden on women to protect themselves from any risks," said Paula Avila-Guillen, programs specialist at the U.S.-based Center for Reproductive Rights. (Reuters Messaging: 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 news.trust.org Reporting By Anastasia Moloney, Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst)
The Internal Revenue Service appears to have violated a court order once again requiring the preservation of evidence needed by investigators looking into questionable practices at the agency. In a case sure to stir up memories of the Lois Lerner investigation, which saw IRS Commissioner John Koskinen dragged before Congress for multiple hearings, the agency destroyed a computer hard drive belonging to an IRS official connected to the subject of a Congressional query.

Earlier this year, the IRS was ordered by a federal judge to preserve documents  including electronic documents  that were possibly related to an ongoing dispute between the agency and Microsoft.

Related: New Lerner Emails Mean IRS Targeting Scandal Creeps Closer to DC

The disagreement between the IRS and the software giant centered on compliance with the federal tax code, specifically, the agency was looking into the companys transfer pricing practices. A major concern in establishing the tax liability of multinational corporations, transfer pricing refers to the sale of goods and services between entities that are part of the same corporate structure.

Some companies have been known to illegally reduce their tax liabilities by mispricing the goods and services exchanged between their subsidiaries.

The computer hard drive the IRS destroyed belonged to Samuel Maruca, who oversaw the transfer pricing section at the agencys Large Business and International division.

In the Microsoft case, the software giants attorneys became curious when they were directed to meet with, and in some cases have their clients give depositions before non-IRS attorneys as part of the case.

Related: 32,774 Found IRS Emails Prompt Criminal Probe

The company filed a Freedom of Information Act request, and discovered that the IRS had spent more than $2.5 million on outside legal assistance, often to trial lawyers charging the government $1,000 per hour or more.

The revelation led Microsoft to protest that senior executives from the company ought not to be forced to comply with demands to testify, on the grounds that the private attorneys do not have the legal standing to conduct interviews related to an IRS audit.

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A federal judge disagreed, and though he said that the involvement of the outside attorneys was troubling, told the company to comply.

However, while the courts might have sided with the IRS, the Senate Finance Committee and the House Oversight and Investigations Committee were not pleased to learn that the agency, which employs thousands of tax attorneys, spent millions of dollars on outside legal help.

Related: Treasury IG Finds IRS Destroyed More Lerner Emails

Sen. Orrin Hatch, the Utah Republican who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Koskinen in May, noting, The IRS has over 40,000 employees dedicated to enforcement efforts, including more than 36,000 tasked specifically with exams and collections. If none of these employees, nor IRS Office of Chief Counsel or Department of Justice tax attorneys, have sufficient expertise to undertake the examination at hand, we should have a broader conversation about your agencys hiring practices and recruitment needs.

Hatch also challenged the idea that it was acceptable to allow non-government attorneys to participate in the audit of a private firm.

Unlike private contractors, Treasury Department officials are required to swear an oath to the Constitution and are subject to rules of conduct and federal law regulating their interactions with taxpayers. Turning over inherently government functions such as the conduct of an examination to private contractors not only jeopardizes the rights of taxpayers, but also confuses the examination process and changes the well-regulated relationship between revenue examiners and private taxpayers.

The revelation that the agency had destroyed a hard drive that Congressional investigators viewed as central to an ongoing inquiry infuriated House Oversight and Investigations Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah).

Related: IRS Stirs Up New Crisis With Non-Profits Over Social Security Numbers

In a letter to Koskinen last week, co-signed by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, he wrote, It is stunning to see that the IRS still does not take reasonable care to preserve documents that it is legally required to protect, and demanded information related to the agencys document retention policies.

In a line that seems to presage further uncomfortable Congressional hearings for Koskinen, they also wrote, The destruction of evidence subject to preservation orders and subpoenas has been an ongoing problem under your leadership at the IRS.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Tuesday that Europeans were not doing enough to combat anti-semitism, in a statement on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Netanyahu, who has routinely argued the Jewish state is unfairly singled out for criticism by the United Nations and other bodies, warned that "in Europe and elsewhere, Jews are once again being targeted just for being Jews".

"We see anti-Semitism directed against individual Jews, and we also see this hatred directed against the collective Jew, against the Jewish state," he added.

On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of the dangers of anti-semitism, in remarks at the opening of an exhibition featuring works by Jewish concentration camp prisoners.

She cited in particular the fears of German Jewish leaders that the need to impart the lessons of the Holocaust has grown more urgent with the influx of a record 1.1 million asylum seekers to Germany last year, many from the Middle East.

But Netanyahu warned that anti-semitism was not merely growing among immigrant communities, but was gaining traction across Europe.

"Even respected Western opinion leaders have become afflicted with hatred for the Jewish people and the Jewish state," Netanyahu said, without giving names.

"The obsession with the Jews -- the fixation on the Jewish state -- defies any other rational explanation."

French immigration to Israel reached a record high in 2015, with around 8,000 French Jews arriving in the year, according to Israel's immigration ministry.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day will be marked around the globe on Wednesday to commemorate the six million Jews who died at the hands of Nazi Germany and its allies.

Israel marks its own Holocaust remembrance day, which this year will be held in May.
New York (AFP) - US insurer AIG, under pressure from activist investor Carl Icahn, said Tuesday it would return $25 billion to shareholders, slash costs and sell its mortgage business.

Pushed in recent months by Icahn to split into three smaller companies, American International Group announced a series of strategic steps to become a "leaner, more profitable and focused insurer."

AIG said it would return at least $25 billion to shareholders over the next two years in share buybacks and dividends.

And it will offer a 19.9 percent stake in its United Guaranty Corporation to the public in mid-2014 as a first step in spinning off the business.

UGC, which had operating profit of $464 million in the first nine months of 2015, is valued at $3-6 billion by analysts.

AIG also approved the sale of AIG Advisor Group to New York investment fund Lightyear Capital and Canadian pension fund manager PSP Investments. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The insurer pledged to save $1.6 billion within the next two years in the vast overhaul.

"With these actions, AIG has taken another major step in simplifying our organization to be a leaner, more profitable insurer, while continuing to return capital to shareholders and improve shareholder returns," Peter Hancock, AIG president and chief executive, said in a statement.

Hancock has been under pressure from Icahn and other activist investors to enhance shareholder value.

In October, Icahn said he had taken a "large stake" in October and called, in an open letter to Hancock, for AIG to be split into three smaller companies to avoid the regulatory burden of being categorized as a financial institution that is "too big to fail".

AIG, which had been taken over by the government to prevent its collapse in the 2008 financial crisis, has recovered its leading role in the US industrial and property insurance market since key international units were hived off and the US Treasury sold its final shares in December 2012.

But since then it has been designated by the Treasury as a "systemically important financial institution," which brings more stringent and costly capital requirements.

Shares of AIG jumped 1.5 percent to $56.20 Tuesday in morning trade.
Hess to Release 4Q15 Earnings, Stock Trend Mostly Falling

(Continued from Prior Part)

Analysts recommendations for Hess Corporation

In the weeks leading up to Hess Corporations (HES) earnings release for the fourth quarter of 2015, Wall Street analysts provided target prices for the next 12 months.

Consensus rating for Hess

Approximately 51.7% of analysts rate Hess a buy and 48.3% rate it a hold. The average broker target price of $63.2 for HES implies a return around 73% in the next 12 months. The companys peers Apache Corporation (APA) and Anadarko Petroleum (APC) have average broker target prices of $49.8 and $68.6, respectively. These figures imply returns of ~53% and ~138%, respectively, in the next 12 months.

Hess is a component of the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE). The XLE ETF invests ~5.6% of its portfolio in Hess.

Analysts target prices for Hess

In terms of individual recommendations, Evercore ISI and Raymond James gave Hess the most optimistic target prices of $70 and $75, respectively. These two target prices imply returns of around 91% and 105%, respectively, in the next 12 months.

UBS (OUBS) and Societe General also gave optimistic price targets of $54 and $55, respectively, implying respective returns of ~48% and 50% in the next 12 months.

The lowest targets were given by Barclays (BCS) and Morgan Stanley (MS). The two gave HES target prices of $49 and $40, respectively. These figures imply returns of 34% and ~10%, respectively, over the next year.

You can check Outlook for Hess: Will Crucial Projects, Cost-Cuts Be Enough? for a detailed overview of the company.

Browse this series on Market Realist:
ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi came under fire on Tuesday after ancient nude statues in Rome's Capitoline museum were covered up to avoid any possible offense to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who is visiting the country. Italy and Iran will sign up to 17 billion euros of business deals during the two day visit of the Iranian delegation which began on Monday, but Italian opposition leaders and commentators said Renzi had gone too far to please his guest. Politicians on the left and right said not only had Renzi made almost no reference to Iran's human rights record during a joint news conference, but had also "surrendered" Italy's cultural identity by hiding the nude statues of women. "Respect for other cultures cannot and must not mean negating our own," said Luca Squeri, a lawmaker in former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's center-right Forza Italia party. "This isn't respect, it's cancelling out differences and it's a kind of surrender." At Iran's request Italy also kept wine off the menu at a ceremonial dinner on Monday evening. Northern League deputy Barbara Saltamartini said covering the statues with white panels was an "act of submission," while the party's leader Matteo Salvini wrote on his facebook page that it was "crazy". Gianluca Peciola, of the Left, Ecology and Freedom party, called on Renzi to explain "a disgraceful decision which is a mortification of art and culture as universal values". The 41-year-old Renzi met with similar criticism last year when he covered up nude pictures in the renaissance town hall of Florence, the city where he used to be mayor, on the occasion of a visit by the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates. (Reporting By Gavin Jones; editing by Ralph Boulton)
By Jon Herskovitz

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Two anti-abortion campaigners who secretly filmed a Planned Parenthood official discussing fetal tissue procurement used fake driver's licenses to enter the group's offices in the Houston area, court papers released in Texas on Tuesday said.

In a twist for the Texas Republican leaders who ordered the probe, accusing the women's health group of illegally trading in aborted fetal tissue, a grand jury cleared Planned Parenthood and indicted video makers David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt on Monday for tampering with a governmental record.

Documents filed in Harris County court showed California driver's licenses for the pair when they were making the video - Daleiden used an ID in the name of Robert David Sarkis and Merritt posed as Susan Sarah Tennenbaum.

The court papers said the pair unlawfully used a fake government record "with the intent to defraud or harm others." They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Planned Parenthood said on Tuesday that Daleiden and Merritt presented the fake IDs in April 2015 and posed as research executives from a fictitious company to secretly film conversations at a health and administrative center in Houston.

"Their goal was to spread malicious lies about Planned Parenthood to advance their extreme anti-abortion agenda," Melaney Linton, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast told a teleconference.

A lawyer for the group told the teleconference there was no indication the grand jury considered charges against it.

A woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion was approved by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 but it remains a divisive issue in the United States. Planned Parenthood, which provides healthcare services to millions of women nationwide, including abortions, has denied any wrongdoing.

The Center for Medical Progress, led by Daleiden, said in a statement on Monday that it "uses the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades."

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican who has accused Planned Parenthood of the "gruesome harvesting of baby body parts," has said Texas would continue its investigation.

The videos released last summer purported to show Planned Parenthood officials trying to negotiate prices for aborted fetal tissue. Under federal law, donated human fetal tissue may be used for research, but profiting from its sale is prohibited.

In response to the videos, Texas and other Republican-controlled states tried to halt funding for Planned Parenthood operations, with Republicans in the U.S. Congress also pushing for a funding cut.

Planned Parenthood sued Center for Medical Progress on Jan. 14 in San Francisco federal court arguing that the people who recorded the videos acted illegally.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; editing by Grant McCool)
By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday said government officials may shoot down migratory birds flying near New York City airports to protect aircraft, rejecting claims by an animal rights group that such killings are excessive. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld a federal permit issued to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that allowed bird shootings in emergency situations. Protecting aircraft from birds gained new attention after a U.S. Airways pilot landed his plane safely in the Hudson River in January 2009, following a collision with a flock of geese. But some conservation groups believe authorities should trap and relocate birds where possible, rather than kill them. The group Friends of Animals challenged a June 2014 permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that empowered the Port Authority to stop any "direct threat to human safety" posed by migratory birds. That permit was issued six months after the killings of three snowy white owls at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Tens of thousands of birds were killed near Kennedy under other permits issued since 1994, court papers show. Friends of Animals said the latest permit was too broad because it allowed killings of migratory birds regardless of species, including those that are easy to catch. Writing for the appeals court, however, Circuit Judge Jose Cabranes said the Fish and Wildlife Service had authority to issue the permit and that the permit authorized using lethal force. Curbing the use of such force could put Port Authority officials "in the untenable position of having to choose between violating federal law and deliberately ignoring serious threats to human safety," Cabranes wrote for a three-judge panel. Tuesday's decision upheld an October 2014 ruling by U.S. District Judge John Gleeson in Brooklyn, New York. Michael Harris, legal director of Friends of Animals, said in an email that he was disappointed. "What the Court of Appeals has actually affirmed is that our nation's laws, as currently constituted, legitimize the indiscriminate, unnecessary killing of animals," he said. A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Robert Capers in Brooklyn, who defended the permit, declined to comment. The case is Friends of Animals v. Clay et al, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 14-4071. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
Going bald isnt just for older guys. (Photo: iStock)



According to the American Hair Loss Association, androgenetic alopeciaalso known as common male pattern baldnessis the reason behind 95 percent of hair loss in men. On average, about 25 percent of males start losing their hair before they reach the age of 21. Nearly 65 percent of men will be walking around with less hair by their 35th birthday, and about 85 percent of men will be dealing with significantly thinning hair by the time they turn 50.



As a result, hair transplants are on the rise. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) reports in their current survey that there was a 27 percent increase of surgeries performed in the US between 2012 and 2014.



But can this procedure put you at risk for any possible health hazards?



Related: My Long-Standing Battle With Trichotillomania



The risks are very minimal, Marc Dauer, MD, medical director of Dauer Hair Restoration in Los Angeles, tells Yahoo Health. There is a slight possibility of infection, as well as improper healing, but its rare.



In fact, the biggest complication may result from seeking treatment from an unqualified specialist. One of the main problems in the field right now is that its exploding at such a fast pace, states Dr. Dauer. And unfortunately, there are lots of unlicensed health practitioners performing this procedure and people are not getting the results they should.



One possible side effect from a hair transplant gone wrong  more baldness. Dr. Dauer explains a surgeon can over-harvest during the FUE technique (otherwise known as Follicular Unit Extraction, where individual follicles are extracted from the back and sides of the head). In other words, taking too many follicles in one area and creating bald patches.



Related: The Truth About 6 Hair-Color Myths

Then theres the risk of poor harvesting, which involves injuring a number of follicles that never end up growing because they were harvest improperly, he continues. You end killing not only the follicles from where they came from, but then theres no good hair for the transfer, either.



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In most cases, hair growth usually begins about 12 weeks after the procedure. On average, youll see about 50 percent of the results around six months after the surgery and the full result happens around 12 to 15 months, concludes Dr. Dauer. But again, I cant emphasize how super important it is to choose a licensed practitioner who has a lot of experience in this field.

In order to locate a board certified hair restoration doctor in your area, go to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgerys website.



Read This Next: The No. 1 Way to Reach Orgasm Isnt What You Think



Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Health on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Damascus (AFP) - At least 22 people were killed in a double suicide bomb attack at an army checkpoint in the central Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, state media said.

In a breaking news alert, state television said 100 people had also been injured in the blasts in the Al-Zahraa neighbourhood of the city, which has been targeted in bomb attacks multiple times before.

The provincial governor of Homs, Talal Barazi, told AFP at least 19 people had been killed in the attacks.

He said the two bombers appeared to have pulled up at the army checkpoint in a car together, with one exiting the vehicle before the other detonated his explosives while still inside.

In the chaos of the first blast's aftermath, and as a crowd gathered, the second bomber detonated his explosives, Barazi said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, also reported the blasts, saying at least 21 people had been killed, among them 13 regime forces.

The group's director Rami Abdel Rahman said the second suicide bomber had been wearing military clothes.

The Al-Zahraa district of Homs has been targeted in multiple bomb attacks in the past, including in late December, when 19 people were killed in several simultaneous blasts.

The residents of Al-Zahraa are mostly Alawites, the minority sect of Syria's ruling clan, and the Islamic State group has in the past claimed attacks on the district.

Homs city was once dubbed the "capital" of Syria's uprising, which began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

But after years of devastating fighting and government sieges, most of the city is now back in regime hands, with the exception of the Waer district, which is being gradually turned over to the government under a deal with opposition fighters.

Syrian pro-government forces have captured a strategic southern rebel town close to the Jordanian border after weeks of fighting, the monitoring group said on Tuesday.

Regime troops and allied militia including fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iranian officers "seized control of Sheikh Miskeen" overnight with the help of Russian and Syrian government air strikes.

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The town, in Daraa province, lies on a vital crossroads between Damascus to the north and the government-controlled city of Sweida to the east.

It is 12 kilometres (seven miles) from the rebel stronghold of Nawa, another key target for regime forces.

A security source had told AFP the Sheikh Miskeen was a "launching pad" for rebel operations, and one of the opposition's "centres of gravity for the whole of Daraa province".

He said seizing control of the town would sever a rebel supply route to areas under opposition control around Damascus.

Last month, government troops captured the Brigade 82 base outside the town, and they have since been pushing to capture Sheikh Miskeen.
Sarajevo (AFP) - Bosnia next month will officially apply to join the European Union (EU) in the hope of winning candidate status in 2017, the country's presidency said Tuesday.

"We obtained from the Dutch presidency a date, February 15, to submit our application to join the EU," the chairman of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, Dragan Covic, told reporters.

"We believe we have done enough at this stage to make a credible application," Covic said.

He added that Bosnia -- which currently lags behind most other Balkan countries in the EU accession process -- could be granted official candidate status "at the beginning of next year".

"Then I think everything will take place in an accelerated manner because it will encourage us all," he said.

Bosnia was considered a "potential candidate" to join EU back in 2003 but has never managed to win the status officially owing to years of political bickering between Serbs, Croats and Muslims, which hampered necessary reforms.

The country has been deeply divided along ethnic lines since its 1992-1995 inter-ethnic war.

To try to energise the process, the EU in 2014 adopted a new approach to Bosnia, under the leadership of Britain and Germany, focusing on reforms to revive the economy instead of difficult constitutional issues.

Bosnia's unemployment rate is over 40 percent, among the highest in Europe.

In the presence of EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, Bosnia's parliament adopted a declaration a year ago promising reforms, some of which have since been adopted, including legislation on the labour market.

Covic also said that local authorities have "finally" managed to agree on a "coordination mechanism" enabling various levels of government to "speak with one voice" to the EU -- something on which Brussels particularly insisted.
Brasilia (AFP) - Brazil is mobilizing more than 200,000 troops to go "house to house" in the battle against Zika-carrying mosquitoes, blamed for causing horrific birth defects in a major regional health scare, a report said Monday.

Soldiers will fan out to homes across Brazil distributing leaflets and dispensing advice, Health Minister Marcelo Castro was quoted as saying by the newspaper O Globo, signaling a major ramping up of efforts against the Zika virus.

Castro said that the government, under growing pressure to deal with the crisis, will also hand out repellent to at least 400,000 pregnant women on social welfare.

Zika is linked to serious birth defects, including microcephaly, in which babies born to women infected during pregnancy have abnormally small heads.

A surge in incidents across Latin America, notably in Brazil, has prompted the United States and other governments to warn pregnant women against traveling to the region -- an alarming prospect for Brazil as it gears up to welcome the Olympics to Rio de Janeiro in August.

Unlike some other international health scares, the Zika virus is not spread person to person. And for most people who get infected, the flu-like symptoms will clear up in about a week.

But the specific threat to pregnant women and their fetuses, and the seeming impossibility of avoiding mosquitoes in tropical countries, has given this crisis extra bite.

Brazil has recorded at least 3,893 microcephaly cases since an unusual spike in the rare condition was noticed in the country's northeast in October. Previously an annual average of 160 cases was the norm.

And short of not getting pregnant, there is no foolproof method for avoiding risk.

Castro said last week that the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries Zika and also dengue fever and the chikungunya virus, was gaining momentum.
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's army has arrested a total of about 40 suspects after an armory raid last week on the outskirts of the capital Ouagadougou, a spokesman said on Tuesday. The country is still reeling from an attack by gunmen on a hotel and restaurant in Ouagadougou on Jan. 15 during which 30 people were killed, most of them foreigners. The attack was claimed by an al Qaeda-affiliated group. Authorities blame former members of the presidential guard - disbanded after a coup in September and loyal to ousted president Blaise Compaore - for the armory raid on Friday in which rocket launchers and assault rifles were stolen. After last year's coup, some of the elite guards fled with their weapons, and on Tuesday the army published names and photos of nine former officers who are still on the run. Sixteen suspects were arrested over the weekend. "In the scope of the investigation on the attack on the Yimdi armory, we have proceeded in the arrests of 30-40 suspects up to this point," army spokesman Col. Williame Yameogo said. No ammunition was taken in the raid, he said. (Reporting by Nadoun Coulibaly; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Edward McAllister and Louise Ireland)
(This January 23 story has been corrected to change name of owner of Kansas storage facility to ONEOK in paragraph 38) By Nichola Groom (Reuters) - Long before a natural gas storage well sprung a disastrous leak near Los Angeles, California, utilities and national industry groups were raising alarms about the danger of aging underground storage infrastructure. The leaking wells owner, Southern California Gas Co, warned state utility regulators in 2014 of major failures without a rate hike to pay for comprehensive inspections of 229 storage wells. Twenty-six of its wells were high risk and should be abandoned - even though they complied with state regulations, the utility wrote in a rate filing. The previous year, Pacific Gas & Electric pointed to an absence of safety standards for storage wells as reason to launch its own monitoring program that went beyond state rules, according to an internal document obtained by Reuters. The industrys rising concern underscores the scant oversight of 400 underground natural gas storage facilities in 30 U.S. states. Most storage fields are regulated by states, but national industry groups have pushed for federal oversight - unusual in an industry better known for fighting regulation. Jurisdiction over facilities storing gas to be transported across state lines falls to the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. But the agency has never written rules for gas storage despite two decades of sporadic calls for regulation - and at least two deadly explosions. "We agree that federal regulations would improve safety in this area and are working through our options to develop regulations," agency spokeswoman Artealia Gilliard said. Under state oil and gas regulations, Southern California Gas faces a maximum penalty of $25,000 for the leak near Los Angeles, which is unprecedented in scale. The well has spewed methane - a potent greenhouse gas - since October and displaced thousands of people in nearby Porter Ranch. A bill introduced Tuesday by State Senator Fran Pavley calls for penalties of up to $25,000 per day for active leaks. It would also require the installation of automatic shutoff systems on all wells and continuous monitoring of wells within 10,000 feet of homes and schools. Utilities and regulators have been gambling with wells that in many cases were drilled in the 1950s, Pavley said. She described their standard practice as, Dont fix it until it leaks or cracks or breaks. METHANE CLOUD Southern California Gas, a division Sempra Energy , said it has inspected wells more rigorously since 2014, even though state utility officials have not approved a rate hike to cover the cost, said company spokeswoman Kristine Lloyd. The inspections, she said, exceed traditional industry practices and regulatory requirements. Lloyd said she did not know if the leaking well in Aliso Canyon was among the 26 wells the company said should be abandoned because they are too old or mechanically unsound, as the rate filing described them. A month before the well failed, the nations leading oil and gas lobbying group, the American Petroleum Institute, published 60 pages of guidelines for monitoring and maintenance of storage wells. Other industry groups have supported having the API standards adopted as federal regulation. Its telling that the industry is inviting more oversight, said Tim O'Connor, director of California oil and gas programs for the Environmental Defense Fund. Up and down, the general consensus is that the regulations that exist in California are wholly insufficient. The fracking boom has intensified pressure on the nations aging system of underground storage. About 20 percent of gas used in the U.S. during winter now comes from storage fields, according to the American Gas Association. Many of the facilities are depleted oil or gas reservoirs that have been converted to store natural gas, which is then pulled from the ground by wells. The Aliso Canyon leak increased the states methane emissions by 25 percent in its first month, estimated the California Air Resources Board. Methane is 72 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide in the 20 years after it is emitted, according to CARB. Initial efforts to plug the well with mud and brine failed. The utility is now drilling two relief wells more than 8,500 feet below the surface and planning to pump in water and cement. The utility said on Monday that it expects to stop the leak by late February. WARNING SIGNS In its 2014 rate filing, the utility sought $180 million in rate increases over six years to evaluate its storage wells. The California Public Utility Commission has made no decision in the rate case. The CPUC also has not decided on a request from PG&E for more than $1 billion in rate increases to finance maintenance of its gas pipeline and storage infrastructure. The commission did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this story. PG&E, in a 2013 internal document, expressed little faith in state monitoring of gas storage wells, noting an absence of industry standards. The company said it was working to fill this gap by helping API develop its guidelines. The industry groups recommendations go into minute detail on matters including how storage facility data should be collected, how staff should be trained and how emergencies should be handled. PG&E is working to incorporate those practices into its operations, spokesman Greg Snapper said. Concerns about the nations natural gas infrastructure have intensified since 2010, when a PG&E pipeline exploded, leveling an entire neighborhood in San Bruno, California and killing eight people. The National Transportation Safety Board later blamed PG&E for lax pipeline safety and faulted both the California PUC and the federal pipeline regulator for weak oversight. SELF-REGULATION California's oil and gas regulator - the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources - acknowledged problems with oversight but pointed to an effort launched before the leak to update regulations. The industry also has an incentive to police itself, said agency spokesman Don Drysdale. "Regardless of the regulations, it's in an operator's interest not to have leaks, because that means they're losing their product," he said. Earlier this month, Governor Jerry Brown ordered the agency to issue emergency safety regulations for underground gas storage. Last week, it proposed requiring facilities to submit plans for inspections and leak detection and to test all safety valve systems every six months. The lack of federal oversight has been debated sporadically for more than two decades. Federal regulators declined to assume authority over gas storage facilities after three people were killed in a 1992 explosion at an underground cavern operated by Seminole Pipeline Co near Brenham, Texas. That decision was criticized after a 2001 gas leak in underground salt caverns in Kansas caused explosions that killed two people. The facility fell under federal jurisdiction, but federal and state regulators hit legal snags when they explored how to penalize the facility's operator, ONEOK Inc, which sent its gas across state lines. Kansas was forbidden from regulating interstate commerce - and the federal agency had not written rules it could enforce. A decade later, in 2011, the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration asked industry groups whether they supported federal regulation of storage facilities in such cases. The industry supported oversight, but the agency has still not crafted regulations. New rules on the safety of gas transmission pipelines, which may or may not encompass gas storage facilities, are expected to be finalized by the agency this year. Last year, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas, introduced a bill targeting "a dangerous lapse in the oversight and proposing that states take over regulating all stored gas, even when it is slated for interstate transport. A separate safety bill including the same provision passed a key Senate committee in December. It also directs the federal government to craft national safety standards for underground gas storage within two years. (Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Terry Wade and Brian Thevenot)
Stockholm (AFP) - Swedish officials Tuesday called for greater security at overcrowded asylum centres a day after the fatal stabbing of an employee at a refugee centre for unaccompanied youths.

The alleged attacker was a young male residing at a centre for youngsters aged 14 to 17 in Molndal near Gothenburg on Sweden's west coast.

The employee was 22-year-old Alexandra Mezher, according to Swedish media reports, whose family is originally from Lebanon. A motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

Her death has led to questions about overcrowded conditions inside some centres, with too few adults and employees to take care of children, many traumatised by war.

"I think many people are concerned and worried that there will be more violence since Sweden has received so many unaccompanied children and young people," Prime Minister Stefan Lofven stressed after visiting Molndal.

"Many of those who come young to Sweden have traumatic experiences, and there are no easy answers."

The suspect was 15 years old and was one of more than 30,000 unaccompanied minors recently arrived in Sweden, which like the rest of Europe, has been struggling with the continent's biggest migration crisis since World War II.

"I wouldn't say that we've taken in too many migrants, but it may have been too many people over too short a period of time for the handful of localities where migrants are being resettled in Sweden," said Victor Harju, a senior spokesman at the Ministry for Home Affairs.

- Uneven Distribution-

According to the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, some 40 to 50 municipalities are facing extreme difficulties in Sweden's biggest cities, straining conditions, while some 220 localities should accept more.

Many of the asylum centres are also overcrowded, according to union members working at the facilities. The number of threats and violent incidents at asylum facilities more than doubled from 2014 to 2015.

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In 2014, there were 148 incidents and in 2015 that number jumped to 322, according to the Swedish Migration Agency.

At the same time, the number of arson attacks targeting asylum shelters have also surged, with at least two dozen centres reduced to ashes or damaged by fire last year.

The attacks and increased concerns over migration and security forced National Police Commissioner Dan Eliasson to request 4,100 additional officers and support staff to help counter terrorism, deport migrants and to police asylum facilities, such as the one where Monday's attack took place.

Many workers at asylum facilities such as the one in Molndal where the stabbing occured have repeatedly complained about a lack of resources.

"We have had many calls with concerns about staffing. Many of the younger staff members lack the kinds of professional profiles that they need to work in places like this," said Kristina Folkesson, a senior official at Vision, the union many asylum centre staff members belong to.

Sweden, a country of 9.8 million, took in more than 160,000 asylum seekers in 2015, putting it among the EU states with the highest proportion of refugees per capita.

It has since tightened its asylum rules to curb the migrant flow.
Ottawa (AFP) - The government of Canada discriminated against more than 160,000 native children by providing less money for social services in aboriginal communities than elsewhere in the country, a tribunal ruled Tuesday.

The groundbreaking ruling by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ends a nine-year legal battle brought by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, and could end up costing the government billions of dollars in fixes and damages.

The plaintiffs had asked for an award of Can$20,000 per child impacted by the underfunding, but a settlement amount has yet to be decided.

Native children received 22 to 34 percent less funding than other Canadian children, according to government figures cited in the ruling.

Ottawa said it would not challenge the decision and instead would work with native leaders on a fix.

"It is our hope that this decision will be the start of a new era in Canada," the commission said. "One where every child - no matter who they are or where they live - has the same opportunity to grow up safe, with the love and support of their families."

One consequence of the persistent underfunding of services, the commission said, was a much greater proportion of aboriginal children being needlessly taken from their homes and put into foster care.

According to Statistics Canada, 48 percent of 30,000 children who were in foster care across Canada in 2011 were aboriginal, while natives account for just 4.3 percent of the population.

"These adverse impacts perpetuate the historical disadvantage and trauma suffered by aboriginal people," the ruling said.

Cindy Blackstock of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, who was a central figure in the fight, said she hoped "one thing we can get... right is raising a generation of First Nations children that don't have to recover from their childhoods anymore."

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett agreed, saying: "We have to start at making sure that First Nations, Inuit and Metis children in this country get the same start in life as all other Canadian children."
By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's energy regulator is doing a poor job of monitoring pipeline firms, an official watchdog said on Tuesday in a report that could bolster support for government plans to reform how major oil and gas projects are approved. Environment Commissioner Julie Gelfand said the National Energy Board (NEB) did not properly check whether companies were sticking to the approval conditions for projects and did not consistently check that problems had been cleared up. The new Liberal government plans to revamp the NEB, which is responsible for approving federally regulated projects and then monitoring them. Critics complain the body is too focused on the needs of the energy industry and does not pay enough attention to environmental concerns. The NEB oversees 45,300 miles (72,900 km) of oil and gas pipelines and around 100 companies. "Our audit concluded that the board did not adequately track companies' implementation of pipeline approval conditions, and that it was not consistently following up on company deficiencies," Gelfand said. An increasingly heated public debate over pipeline safety, the environment and the role of the NEB is threatening to derail major Canadian projects proposed by TransCanada Corp, Kinder Morgan Inc and Enbridge Inc. The energy industry says new pipelines are needed to ship crude to the seacoast, where it can attract higher prices. In a bid to alleviate safety and environmental concerns, the NEB sometimes attaches specific conditions to projects. Gelfand said the board did not do a thorough enough job of checking whether these conditions had been met, in part because it had an outdated information tracking system. In a written response, the NEB said it would overhaul its systems by December to improve compliance monitoring. The Environmental Defence group said the NEB's failure to check that firms were respecting the conditions showed the body was completely broken. "In the past, the NEB has relied on these safety conditions to justify its approval of highly controversial pipeline projects," said Tim Gray, the group's director. Gelfand also said the board was having trouble recruiting and retaining specialists in pipeline integrity. Given increasing public interest in pipelines and climate change, as well as projected doubling of pipeline capacity by 2020, "it is clear the board needs to do more to keep pace with the rapidly changing context in which it operates", she concluded. The Liberals say they will reform the NEB to put more stress on environmental concerns. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by W Simon and Jonathan Oatis)
Ottawa (AFP) - Canada will follow the US and EU lead and lift sanctions against Iran, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said Tuesday.

Responding to questions in the House of Commons, Dion said: "Canada will remove those sanctions."

"We will change this policy," he said, noting the sanctions were "not good" for anyone.

No timeline was given.

The announcement comes weeks after a deal reached between Tehran and world powers came into force, allowing the United States and the European Union to begin lifting economic barriers brought in over Iran's nuclear program.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed an openness to restoring diplomatic relations with Iran, saying four years after Canada shuttered its embassy that Tehran had made "significant movement" toward dismantling parts of its program that the West feared could have led to the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

Dion, meanwhile, has commented that a lifting of sanctions would allow Canadian companies to join EU and US firms now rushing to do business in Iran.

"Because if other countries move before us, it's not a way to help our industry," Dion said in mid-January.
By Randall Palmer and Allison Lampert OTTAWA/MONTREAL (Reuters) - Canada confirmed for the first time on Tuesday that it plans to lift its sanctions on Tehran and said that if Airbus is allowed to sell to Iran, then its aircraft maker Bombardier Inc should be allowed to export there as well. "If Airbus is able to do it, why (will) Bombardier not be able to do it? In which way (is it) helping Canada, or the Iranian people, or Israel, or anyone, that Canada is hurting its own industry?" Dion said in an exchange with reporters. Asked specifically if Bombardier would be allowed to do business with Iran as soon as sanctions are lifted, Dion said: "Legitimate business, certainly." Iran announced plans at the weekend to buy more than 160 European planes, mainly from Airbus, and Dion said reluctance to lift sanctions on the part of Canada's Conservative opposition had helped Airbus and not Bombardier. The United States, the European Union and other major nations have already lifted some of their own punitive measures. "Canada will lift its sanctions but what Canada will maintain is our suspicion of a regime ... that must not return to (trying to obtain) nuclear weapons," Dion told the House of Commons moments before meeting journalists. Dion also said Iran had a poor human rights record and was not a friend of Canadian allies such as Israel. Dion said any lifting of sanctions would be done carefully in conjunction with allies, seeking to ensure nuclear and other military activity is prevented. Bombardier spokeswoman Marianella de la Barrera called Dion's comments a positive step but said that the company was still respecting the Canadian sanctions. "We're monitoring it very closely," she said. "Nothing official has been communicated to us." She said sanctions had not prevented Bombardier from speaking with Iran about its aviation needs: "It doesn't preclude us from engaging in strategic discussions, which we are doing." Montreal has the third-largest aerospace hub in terms of employment, following Toulouse and Seattle. Suzanne Benoit, president of Aero Montreal, which represents the aerospace sector there, said it would be excellent news for the industry if the embargo is lifted. "Right now we are not in a fair competition with Airbus because Airbus can sell to Iran." Iran is looking to upgrade its aging fleet partly with aircraft with the same range and seats as Bombardier's 100- to 150-seat CSeries. (Additional reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Sandra Maler and Bernard Orr)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian insurer Sun Life Financial Inc signed a C$530 million ($375.59 million) annuity deal on Tuesday with two Canadian companies looking to reduce the risk on their pension plans. Toronto-based Sun Life, which declined to disclose the names of those companies, said it was the biggest transaction of its kind in Canada. The insurer, which sold its first annuity in 1880, is seeing more such deals. The Canadian market for cutting the risk on pension plans tripled to C$7.5 billion in 2015 from the previous year, Sun Life says. We see a lot of runway in this market, said Brent Simmons, senior managing director of defined benefit solutions at Sun Life. More and more plan sponsors are looking to insurance companies such as Sun Life to transfer that pension risk from their balance sheet over to the insurance companys balance sheet, he said in an interview. The so-called de-risking of pension plans is a global trend that has been gaining momentum in recent years. Sun Life's stock was up nearly 1 percent, at C$38.57, in line with broader market gains. (Reporting by John Tilak; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)


Jeffrey Chiang is looking for actors.



26 Jan  If you speak fluent Cantonese  and make that Hong Kong-style  then this is your chance to shine.



Director Jeffrey Chiang is now casting leading and supporting roles, as well as extras, for his upcoming horror movie.



The director posted on his Facebook: "CASTING IN HK/SG/KL :. STAY TUNED for more updates in the coming weeks; for more info please write in to cinetopia@gmail.com #icebergKL #caveatemptor #buyerbeware"



Based on that last hashtag, the casting call is for his upcoming horror movie, "Buyer Beware", which is expected to begin filming this March.



The MM2/Cinetopia production is looking for male and female cast within the age range of 20 to 30 years old.



As mentioned, the cast is required to be fluent in Hong Kong Cantonese and those that fulfil the requirement may send an email to cinetopia@gmail.com



Chiang, who is the executive producer of Malaysia's Iceberg Design, was previously nominated for Most Promising Director at the 24th Malaysia Film Festival (FFM 24).



His horror feature, "Dilarang Masuk", was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress at Anugerah Skrin 2011.



He also served as the writer for award-winning animated movie, "SeeFood", which was released in more than 100 territories worldwide.



Currently, Chiang is working on what is touted as Malaysia's very first monster movie, "Mawas."



The horror action movie tells of Malaysia's cryptid Mawas, similar to America's Bigfoot or Nepal's Yeti, and is inspired by local sightings in Johor, Malaysia during the mid '90s and 2000s.



(Photo source: Jeffrey Chiang Fdam's Facebook)
BANGUI (Reuters) - Central African Republic's Constitutional Court has annulled the results of a legislative election, setting back a transition to democracy after years of conflict. Observers had praised the peaceful nature of the polls, meant to end a rocky transition punctuated by violence between militias drawn from the Christian majority and a mostly Muslim alliance of Seleka rebels. Although France and other international partners urged transitional authorities to hold the election, Some analysts had questioned whether Central African Republic was prepared for one. The Constitutional Court's decision cited irregularities in the vote. "The court has decided to cancel the (legislative) election of 30 December 2015 and to reschedule it for the whole country," Zacharie Ndouba, the court's president, said late on Monday. Ndouba said that some of the candidates appeared implicated in the irregularities. More than 400 complaints had been logged, he said. The court's decision raises questions over the next steps for the electoral process. The former French colony could now find itself with a president but no new parliament. On Tuesday, the national election authority scheduled the second round of presidential polls for Feb. 14. It has not yet given a date for the new legislative elections. Former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuele and Faustin-Archange Touadera will face off after neither won an outright majority in last month's vote. Six of the 30 presidential candidates submitted challenges to the court, saying polling was marred by irregularities and called for the vote to be annulled or recounted, but the court dismissed them. The election delay may affect France's timetable to withdraw the rest of its troops, 2,000 of whom were initially sent to restore stability to the landlocked nation. About 900 remained at the time of the vote. (Reporting by Crispin Dembassa-Kette; Writing by Emma Farge and Makini Brice; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Larry King)
A Swedish human rights activist arrested in China earlier this month for allegedly posing a threat to national security has returned home after his expulsion, he said on Tuesday.

"I'm back in Sweden now. I arrived this morning, after various delays but I'm in my hometown now with my parents," said Peter Dahlin of the Chinese Urgent Action Working Group.

"I'm happy to be back but three of my colleagues and close friends are still being held," he told Swedish Radio.

Dahlin, who suffers from Addison's disease, said China had released him for "medical and diplomatic reasons".

The 35-year-old disappeared on January 4 as he prepared to board a flight to Thailand.

He appears to have been caught up in a crackdown on human rights lawyers.

Dahlin's group has said it offered training to lawyers who have tried to use the tightly controlled judiciary to redress apparent government abuses.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV last week aired footage of a dazed and harried-looking Dahlin apologising to China for his alleged actions, which officials said had "threatened state security".

The Chinese government confirmed on Tuesday it had expelled him from the country.

"We have deported him," Hua Chunying, a foreign ministry spokeswoman, told a regular press briefing.

Dahlin's Chinese girlfriend, who had also been held, "has been released and there are no charges against her," the activist said.

The Swede's detention came as China considers a new law to control the activities of foreign non-governmental organisations, which has raised widespread concern among rights groups.

The ruling Communist Party has in recent months stepped up its scrutiny of NGOs, while state media has warned of "hostile foreign forces" said to be using them to foment revolution.

Authorities also launched a sweeping crackdown on human rights attorneys in July, detaining more than 130 legal staff across the country. This month at least 10 were formally arrested on charges related to "state subversion" after being held in secret for six months.

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- 'Intimidation and fear' -

Observers said Dahlin's case was intended to send a warning to NGOs.

"I can see why the PRC released him now," Jerome Cohen, a law professor at New York University, wrote in a blog post, using shorthand for the country's official name, the People's Republic of China.

"The authorities made their point, spreading intimidation and fear throughout both the domestic and foreign legal and NGO worlds."

Rights groups echoed these sentiments, with Nicholas Bequelin, Amnesty International's East Asia director, writing on Twitter: "China has sent the clearest signal yet that it intends to cut domestic NGOs from foreign funding."

Another Swedish national, Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai, disappeared from Thailand late last year before reappearing on Chinese national television in police custody.

Gui, who was born in China, confessed to a drink-driving offence on the mainland dating back years and said he did not want Stockholm to interfere with his case.

He was rumoured to be among those preparing a tell-all book about the love life of President Xi Jinping.

Beijing only rarely accuses foreigners of endangering state security, a crime which can involve a heavy sentence.

But as Beijing has tightened social controls in recent years, it has sought to blame "foreign forces" for domestic woes, ranging from undermining Chinese values to a recent explosion in labour protests.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, who had protested to China about the detention of the two Swedish nationals, welcomed Dahlin's release.

"This is the result of close contacts between the Swedish foreign ministry and Chinese representatives," she said in a statement on Monday.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - China expelled a Swedish national taken into custody this month on suspicion of acts detrimental to the country's national security, China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. China has drawn international condemnation over a crackdown on rights lawyers. Three weeks ago, it detained Peter Dahlin, a 35-year-old co-founder of the Chinese Urgent Action Working Group that worked with Chinese human rights lawyers. Michael Caster, a spokesman for the group said in a statement that Dahlin's girlfriend, Pan Jinling, who had been detained around the same time, had also been released. The Swedish foreign ministry, which had earlier announced Dahlin's release, said it remained concerned about naturalized Swedish citizen Gui Minhai, a Hong Kong-based bookseller who had vanished in October in Thailand. Dahlin was not released, but deported, said Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry. "Dahlin confessed during the process of questioning to suspected crimes," Hua told reporters, adding that China expelled him according to the law and had provided appropriate access for Swedish consular officials during his detention. Dahlin's supporters have said his confession, broadcast by state-run China Central Television (CCTV), appeared to have been made under duress. Western governments and rights groups have criticized China for its use of televised confessions in recent weeks, saying they violate due process and the rights of the accused. Gui appeared on Chinese state television this month, saying he had surrendered to authorities over a fatal drink-driving offence more than a decade ago. The disappearance of Gui and other booksellers has prompted fears that mainland Chinese authorities may be using shadowy tactics that erode the "one country, two systems" formula under which Hong Kong has been governed since its return to China from British rule in 1997. Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said she welcomed Dahlin's release, but expressed concern over Gui. "Meanwhile, I am greatly concerned over the detained Swedish citizen Gui Minhai," Wallstrom said in a statement, adding that Sweden was working to get clarity on his situation and an opportunity to visit him. (Reporting by Sven Nordenstam and Megha Rajagopalan and Michael Martina in BEIJING; Editing by Ralph Boulton and Clarence Fernandez)
Russias state-run Gazprom Media, the media division of energy giant Gazprom, has entered into a partnership with Chinas Shanghai Media Group for distribution of film and TV content.

The move, announced by Russia's deputy communications minister Alexei Volin, shows Russia's commitment to an earlier announced strategy of closer cooperation with BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in film and television.

A framework agreement signed by the two companies stipulates exchange of features, TV series, documentaries and animated films, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Gazprom Media's general director, was quoted as saying by Russian business daily Vedomosti.

He added that Gazprom media has already prepared an offer of 300 feature films, while the Chinese partner is currently working on a similar offer based on its rights library.

Over the last couple of years, Russia's officials have been stressing the importance of cooperation with such countries as China and India in film distribution and co-production.

The first practical step towards film cooperation between Russia and China was made in fall 2015 when production and distribution company Central Partnership, which is also part of Gazporm Media, signed a distribution agreement with China Film Group.

Last summer, Russian company Digital Television signed a film and television distribution deal with Prasar Bharati, India's largest public broadcasting corporation.

Read More: Russian Director Calls For "Alternative Oscars" For BRICS Countries
Shanghai stocks slumped more than six percent by the close on Tuesday, ending a two-day rally, on "panic selling" driven by worries over China's slowing economy and weaker global growth.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index tumbled 6.42 percent, or 188.72 points, to 2,749.79 on turnover of 212.6 billion yuan ($32.4 billion).

The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, plunged 7.12 percent, or 131.36 points, to 1,714.42 on turnover of 310.5 billion yuan.

Hong Kong sank 2.48 percent, or 479.34 points, to 18,860.80.

Analysts said sentiment was hurt by big losses on Wall Street, where all three main indexes sank more than one percent owing to tumbling oil prices.

The sharp sell-off came despite the People's Bank of China pumping 440 billion yuan ($67 billion) into the money market, seeking to ease tight liquidity ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, when demand for funds surges.

The injection through the regular open market operations of the central bank was the largest since 2013, Bloomberg News reported.

"Some investors have no desire to continue fighting before the upcoming holiday, so the market is quite vulnerable to external factors. Once the drop deepened, investors went (into) panic-selling," Zheshang Securities analyst Zhang Yanbing told AFP.

"Even though the central bank injected funds, this money wont necessarily go into the stock market," he added.

Some analysts have likened the latest injections to a loosening of monetary policy or a replacement of funds lost to capital outflows.

China's economy grew 6.9 percent last year, its slowest rate in a quarter of a century, raising hopes of further monetary loosening.

China's securities regulator last week announced seven companies would launch initial public offerings (IPOs) for listing in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

They are the first under new rules that drop a requirement for subscriptions to be paid in advance, a move aimed at curbing market volatility.

But Haitong Securities analyst Zhang Qi told AFP: "Fluctuations in global markets, weak fundamentals and the continuation of new share offerings all weighed on the market.

"The market is already in a downward spiral, so investors tend to be over pessimistic and all negative effects are amplified."
Presidential candidates are also always eager to snag high-profile endorsements from prominent elected officials to add luster to their campaigns. In that secondary level of competition, Hillary Clinton reigns supreme among Democrats and Republicans alike while Donald Trump is at rock bottom.

In the latest tally by the political blog FiveThirtyEight, Clinton has attracted the endorsements of nearly 200 major politicians, including governors, U.S. representatives and senators, while the billionaire and political juggernaut has garnered none.

Related: Cruz Adopts Underdog Pose as Trump Hammers Away

Clintons vast array of supporters from Democratic officialdom is hardly a surprise. Early in the campaign, when the former Secretary of State appeared to be the undisputed frontrunner for the 2016 Democratic nomination, scores of lawmakers she once served with and Democratic governors across the country quickly climbed aboard her campaign.

Democratic lawmakers such as Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Richard Durbin of Illinois, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, as well as Governors Jay Nixon of Missouri, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania all signed on.

That was before Sen. Bernie Sanders, the 74-year-old democratic socialist, captured the imagination of the liberal wing of their party and soared in the polls and fundraising last summer. Clinton, meanwhile, struggled to regain her footing and overcome controversies around her handling of sensitive email at the State Department and big speaking fees and contributions from special interests.

Sanders, for now, has only two endorsements to his credit: Democratic Reps. Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Raul Grijalva of Arizona. But he is doing so well in the polls against Clinton in Iowa and New Hampshire that he probably could care less at this point.

Related: The Next Few Weeks Could Determine the Election: Here Are the Key Events

Although endorsements dont necessarily translate into victory, political scientists often cite the importance of the invisible primary, in which party elites often coalesce around candidates they find most acceptable.

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Frequently, rank-and-file voters have followed the lead of the elites  but certainly not always. And in an election year like this one, when voters prefer outsiders to establishment politicians, these endorsements may have far less clout.

Trump, of course, would count his endorsement last week from Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate, as a major plus for his campaign as he battles Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas for supremacy in next weeks crucial Iowa caucuses. The same holds for the endorsement Trump received Tuesday from Jerry Falwell Jr., the president of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

And its only a matter of time before others such as Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who advised Trump on his proposals for cracking down on illegal immigration, will step up and board the Trump express. On Tuesday, word came that Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Zriz., was expected to announce his endorsement.

I talk to senators that frankly want to come out and endorse me, its amazing whats happened over the last two weeks, he said. Over the last two weeks, so many people are calling and saying, We want to get involved with you, we want to endorse you. We have a powerful endorsement coming down today.

Related: How Trump Could Run the Table if He Beats Cruz in Iowa

Yet for now, Trump ranks at the bottom of the heap. The political analysis site 538 uses a weighted scoring system for measuring the intensity of the endorsements for candidates this year: An endorsement by a House member earns a candidate one point, a senator counts five points and an endorsement from a governor counts 10.

So by that measurement, Clinton tops all others with 459 points, followed by former Republican governor Jeb Bush of Florida with 51 points, GOP Florida Sen. Marco Rubio with 43, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee with 26 points each, Sanders with just two points, and Trump with zero.

Newspaper editorial page endorsements are still considered valuable to have  especially in states like Iowa or New Hampshire where a little extra boost from a respected publication could tip the balance in a very tight race. Here again, Clinton has done well, gaining seven endorsements so far, including from the Des Moines Register, the Boston Globe, and the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire.

Rubio snared the endorsement of the Des Moines Register in the Republican contest in Iowa, a feather in his cap as he trails Trump and Cruz in the Hawkeye State. Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who is also badly trailing Trump, has picked up eight newspaper endorsements so far, including from the Storm Lake Times in Iowa, the Portsmouth Herald, the Concord Monitor and Nashua Telegraph all in New Hampshire, and the Boston Globe.

Sanders has received just three endorsements from publications, including The Nation, a liberal publication, while Trump still has none. In fact, one conservative publication, The National Review, devoted the better part of an issue arguing against Trumps qualifications for president.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
One of the top attacks on Hillary Clinton in her quest to earn the Democratic presidential nomination is that she cant seem to inspire the same sort of passion among her younger supporters that her chief challenger, 74-year-old Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, does.

At Monday nights CNN-sponsored Democratic town hall, Clinton faced a young questioner, leaning toward Sanders, who said asked about the lack of enthusiasm for Clinton among voters his age. He added, Ive heard from quite a few people my age that they think youre dishonest.

Related: Has the Cruz Surge Begum to Recede?

Clinton tailored her answer to new voters, who might not have long-term memories of the various allegations, criminal and otherwise, that have beset her and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, since he was a state-level politician in Arkansas.

Look, Ive been around a long time. People have thrown all kinds of things at me. I cant keep up with it, she said. I keep going forward; they fall by the wayside.

But if youre new to politics, if its the first time youve really paid attentions you go, Oh, my gosh, look at all of this. And you have to say to yourself, Why are they throwing all of that? Well, Ill tell you why. Its because Ive been on the front lines of change and progress since I was your age.

Saying she was pleased to see young people involved in the race, she urged them to look past the negativity of the race.

Related: Bernie Sanders  We Will Raise Taxes. Yes We Will

Dont get discouraged, she said. Its hard. If it were easy, hey, there wouldnt be any contest. But its not easy. There are very different visions, different values, different forces at work, and you have to have somebody who is a proven, proven fighter.

In any other race, reminding a key voting block that she is decades older than they are might be a strike against her. But considering that Clinton is 68 and Sanders is 74, pointing out her long years of public service might just help Clinton.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Theyve never been particularly close: He described her as likeable enough during their clash over the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination and she distanced herself from his policy in Syria after serving as his Secretary of State for four years.

But as Hillary Rodham Clinton desperately struggles to eke out a victory over Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in next weeks critical Iowa caucuses, she and President Obama are behaving like political soul mates with a lot riding on each other.

Related: The Next Few Weeks Could Determine the Election: Here Are the Key Events

After nearly a year of uneasy tensions between Clinton and Obama, the two are treating each other like long lost friends and the keys to their respective political vindication and victory.

During Monday nights Democratic presidential town hall in Iowa, Clinton gushed about the high praise she received from Obama in an interview in Politico where the president described her as wicked smart and knowledgeable about every policy inside and out.

I was really touched and gratified when I saw that, she told CNN moderator Chris Cuomo. People here in Iowa remember we ran a really hard race against each other and then I had the opportunity when he asked me to serve as his Secretary of State. Not only was it a great working relationship, but it turned into a real friendship.

Frustrated by her inability to match Sanders in excitement and appeal to young people and the far left, Clinton has begun to embrace Obamas policies and record. And instead of promising to chart a whole new course and revolutionize Washington  as Sanders is doing  Clinton virtually promises to build on the presidents successes with the economy, health care and assisting the middle class.

Related: Why Every Candidate in the 2016 Race Should Fear Mike Bloomberg

I understand that you get into the arena and you are going to get pummeled and pushed and criticized, she said last night. I wouldnt be doing it if I didnt think it was absolutely necessary to build on the progress that we made under President Obama under great odds . Weve got to do everything we possibly can not to let the Republicans rip away the progress and turn us backwards.

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As she has gone from the presumptive Democratic nominee to just one of two major contenders, Clinton has presented herself as the proud heir to Obamas legacy. During the Democratic presidential debate a week ago, she praised the Affordable Care Act, reminded voters of her four years of service to the president, and sharply criticized Sanders for belittling the president by suggesting he was too cozy with Wall Street  the same criticism he has leveled against Clinton.

President Obama has led our country out of the Great Recession, she said. Im going to defend President Obama for taking on Wall Street, taking on the financial industry and getting results.

Related: As Sanders Surges, Dems Finally Realize They Have a Race on Their Hands

For his part, Obama has a lot riding on Clinton as well.

Fearing that a victory by Donald Trump or some other Republican presidential aspirant would lead to the unraveling of his greatest achievements  including Obamacare, the Iranian nuclear deal and the Pacific Rim trade deal  he sees Clintons victory in 2016 as paramount to preserving his legacy.

That may help to explain Obamas unusually solicitous comments about Clinton and the way she has been mistreated by her rivals. He told Glenn Thrush of Politico in a 40-minute interview published on Monday that Clinton was being subjected to unfair scrutiny by the Republicans and her other critics. Left unsaid, of course, is that much of that scrutiny relates to Clintons mishandling of sensitive emails while she was Secretary of State and accepting large contributions and speaking fees from Wall Street bankers and other special interests.

The typically cool-headed, No Drama Obama also admitted that he now regrets his own campaigns rough treatment of Clinton during the 2008 primary campaign  when the former Illinois senator practically came out of nowhere to topple her in the Iowa caucuses and then went on to be elected the first African-American president in U.S. history.

Related: How Trump Could Run the Table if He Beats Cruz in Iowa

The president said in the interview that Clinton had a tougher job throughout that primary than I did, and argued that she now has a better understanding of the demands of the presidency than any other politician does on the scene today.

And while he didnt utter a disparaging word about Sanders, he strongly disputed the notion that Sanderss candidacy reminded him of himself eight years ago.

Bernie came in with the luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loose, Obama said during the interview in the Oval Office. I think Hillary came in with the both privilege  and burden  of being perceived as the frontrunner . . . Youre always looking at the bright, shiny object that people havent seen before  Thats a disadvantage to her.

Last night, Sanders senior aides dismissed speculation that Obama was choosing sides in the Democratic contest. And Sanders sought to curry favor with the president, even though he disagrees that Clinton is better prepared to become commander in chief than he is.

President Obama is obviously right, Sanders said early in the town hall meeting. Being President is an enormously difficult job  a job that entails dealing with a million different issues. I think I have the background, I think I have the judgment to do that.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
By Barbara Goldberg

(Reuters) - Residents of New Jersey's southern shorefront towns on Monday cleaned up homes and businesses flooded by a storm surge during the weekend's massive blizzard and rued what they described as Governor Chris Christie's dismissive treatment of the damage.

The storm that walloped Washington and New York with about 2 feet (60 cm) of snow hit coastal Cape May County in New Jersey with tides higher than those measured during 2012's Superstorm Sandy, sending salt water into properties and forcing hundreds of people to evacuate.

Jim Hand voiced exasperation as he surveyed the damage at Fred's Tavern in Stone Harbor, a bar and liquor store about 35 miles (56 km) down the coast from Atlantic City. Hand, a member of the third generation of his family to own the shop, said that the property's kitchen, electrical wiring and floors would all need to be replaced.

"We're doing the same thing today we did after Sandy," said Hand, 61.

He was one of a handful of local business owners to criticize comments by Christie, a Republican White House contender who told CNN on Sunday that he had "no concerns" about flooding as a result of the storm.

"Keep this in perspective," Christie told CNN during a one-day return to the state from the campaign trail in New Hampshire. "Cape May County area was the least flooded area during Hurricane Sandy and had almost no damage in that area."

No immediate estimate of the financial toll of the flooding damage was available but reinsurance broker Aon Benfield said that total insured losses along the East Coast will run into the billions of dollars.

Hand had no patience for Christie's words, saying, "It shows you how out of touch he is with what's going on in his state."

Angry comments from New Jersey residents immediately flashed across Twitter and raged into Monday, some showing images of street flooding and tagged to Christie with comments like "nothing to see here."

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Christie spokesman Brian Murray said that the governor's words had been taken out of context.

"Cape May County and lower Atlantic County did not sustain the direct hit from Sandy suffered by more northern parts of the Jersey Shore. But the governor did not say they were not impacted by Sandy," Murray said. "He only cautioned news reporters to use some context when pointing to Saturday's flooding in Cape May and saying it's 'Worse than Sandy.'"

Sandy was directly responsible for 147 deaths in the United States, destroying more than 650,000 homes around the greater New York area and causing nearly $50 billion in damage.

Christie said in a statement on Monday that he had sent teams to the storm-hit areas to determine whether the damage was severe enough to seek federal assistance, a process that he said could take days.

Children's clothing store owner Maggie Day sprayed an anti-bacterial mix over her ruined merchandise as she surveyed the damage to her shop in Stone Harbor in Cape May County.

"I did walk away from Sandy with a lot of damage," said Day, 39, who had to replace flooring, walls, insulation and merchandise after the 2012 storm and was working with a "water excavator" to get a handle on the latest damage.

"It's not even help that I'm asking for," Day said. "It's just a little bit of compassion with a public leader on TV. You can't pooh-pooh it publicly when you're a leader."

(Reporting by Barbara Goldberg in New York; Editing by Scott Malone and Lisa Shumaker)
Conan O'Brien aired an hour-long special on Monday about his trip to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with Michelle Obama. O'Brien was helping promote Obama's White House initiative Joining Forces.

The talk show host said he couldn't film his trip to Qatar due to security reasons, so with "the help of state-of-the-art, incredibly expensive 3D animation," he helped the audience relive his adventure.

In the comedic (and fake) retelling of his trip to Qatar, O'Brien recounts drinking all the vodka on the plane, dropping a vodka bottle on the plane's control board and being launched out of the plane as the First Lady takes over pilot duties. He eventually starts hiking 1,500 km to Qatar, is sold into a harem and is ultimately saved by Michelle Obama.

Exaggerated adventures aside, O'Brien and Obama chat about the sacrifices military families endure, and Obama explains why she got involved working with service members and veterans.

Read More: Conan O'Brien Talks Filming in Armenia, Being "Afraid" of "Crazy" Donald Trump, Who "Will Not Be President"

"How do I stack up physically?" O'Brien asks, pointing out that Obama is always around fit people. Then he demonstrates his strength with a series of push-ups.

When it came to his standup, O'Brien earned a lot of laughs from the crowd by using inside jokes about the base and joking about the military in general. "I know you guys in the military love your acronyms," he said, adding that he'd figured out how to speak their language.

Right now Im AWOL from TBS for R&R, and Im DTF, he said.

Read More: Kevin Reilly on Turner Turnaround, 'Narcos' Envy and Conan's Future (Q&A)
New York (AFP) - Michael Bloomberg to the rescue? In a US presidential campaign already distinguished by volatility, the former mayor of New York is reportedly weighing up whether to launch a late bid as an independent.

Associates told The New York Times at the weekend that Bloomberg was alarmed by the rise of Donald Trump on the extreme right-wing of the Republican party and troubled by Hillary Clinton's lurch to the left in a bid to contain the left-leaning Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Bloomberg, billionaire founder of the eponymous financial news agency, has toyed with the idea of running for national office in the past, but has been dissuaded because no independent has ever won the White House.

This time the 73-year-old has set himself a deadline of early March to make a decision, pending the outcome in Iowa and New Hampshire which next month cast the first nomination votes in the 2016 presidential race.

He has retained a consultant, aides have researched past third-party bids and last month he commissioned a poll to assess his chances against Trump and Clinton, the Times reported.

A pragmatist rather than an ideologue, Bloomberg is driven by results and wedded to statistics. He was a Democrat before turning Republican in 2001 and then switched his affiliation to independent in 2007.

The 10th wealthiest man in America, he is worth $36.5 billion according to Forbes, and the Times reported that he is prepared to spend $1 billion on a possible campaign.

Close to Wall Street, a hawk on security but heavily involved in the gun control campaign and favorable to immigration reform, Bloomberg is an unusual mix for an American seeking high office.

Socially liberal, he has been a long-time supporter of equal marriage and abortion rights, issues that could cost him votes among both Democrats and Republicans.

As mayor of New York from 2002 to 2013, he pushed through a strong health agenda, banning smoking in bars, restaurants and public spaces, and forcing restaurant chains to put calorie counts on menus.

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- Trump, Bernie scenario -

If he launches a campaign, the fight will be all the more arduous because he is less well known at a national level. But experts doubt he will take the risk if Clinton wins the Democratic nomination.

"He's a good friend of mine and I am going to do the best I can to make sure that I get the nomination and we'll go from there," Clinton told NBC television's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

"The way I read what he said is that if I didn't get the nomination, he might consider it," she added. "Well I'm going to relieve him of that and get the nomination so he doesn't have to."

Trump, the frontrunner among Republicans, reacted with glee at the prospect of going up against the former mayor.

"I know Michael very well and would love to compete with him," he told CNN, pointing out their disagreements on gun control and abortion.

But the anti-Wall Street Sanders, who leads Clinton in polls in New Hampshire and is neck-and-neck with her in Iowa, said he was appalled at the idea of having two billionaire candidates in the presidential race.

"That is not what, to my view, American democracy is supposed to be about," he told ABC television.

"I think the American people do not want to see our nation move toward an oligarchy, where billionaires control the political process. I think we'll win that election," he said to CNN.

Rand Paul, the presidential candidate languishing at the bottom of Republican polls, pointed out that Bloomberg could split the Democrat vote, which would be good for the Republicans.

The last independent to run for the presidency was billionaire Ross Perrot in 1992. He won 18.9 percent of the vote and so contributed to the defeat of Republican incumbent George Bush against Bill Clinton.

He ran against Clinton once again in 1996 as a candidate from the Reform party and won eight percent of the general election vote.
With just a week to go before Iowas first-in-the-nation Republican presidential caucuses, Donald Trump holds a slender lead over Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in a bloody two-man race that could go right down to the wire.

A new Quinnipiac University poll published on Tuesday morning shows the Iowa contest a near statistical tie, with Trump continuing to lead with 31 percent of likely GOP caucus goers to 29 percent for Cruz and just 13 percent for Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. No other candidate in the crowded field has more than 7 percent of the likely GOP vote.

Related: The Next Few Weeks Could Determine the Election: Here Are the Key Events

The Quinnipiac survey is little changed from its Jan. 11 results and conforms with other recent polls showing Trump holding a narrow lead in the final days of the campaign after trailing Cruz for months. A more extreme Fox News poll published over the weekend put Trump ahead of Cruz, 34 percent to 23 percent.

With much riding on the outcome of the caucuses, Cruz has reverted to the role of underdog after riding high for the past month or two. While he still might pull out a victory at the last minute, he is bucking the states Republican political establishment, which appears to be leaning towards Trump. Over the weekend, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) appeared with Trump at a campaign event, while Republican Gov. Terry E. Branstad is doing everything he can to defeat Cruz.

I cant guarantee well win, Cruz told a group of pastors in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Monday, according to The Washington Post. I dont know that. Thats out of my hands. I believe we have a path to victory.

Trump has been dominating the news cycle in Iowa in recent days, with both his relentless attacks against Cruz as a nasty politician who may not even be eligible to serve as president and his endorsement last week from former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, a favorite of tea party activists and conservative Christians. Long-time governor Branstad has also attacked Cruz for his opposition to government support of ethanol production, a mainstay of Iowas economy.

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Cruz has sought to strike back, with attacks suggesting that Trump is a tool of the establishment and a phony conservative with liberal New York values on abortion, gay marriage and other hot button issues within the GOP. He warns that if elected president, Trump would be locked in with the political establishment in Washington.

How this will all play out at the Republican caucuses throughout the state next Tuesday remains to be seen.

Despite Sarah Palins endorsement of Donald Trump and Gov. Terry Branstads criticism of Sen. Ted Cruz, and despite  or because of  Sen. Cruz New York values comments, the Iowa Republican Caucus remains too close to call, Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a statement.

Related: How Trump Could Run the Table if He Beats Cruz in Iowa

It all comes down to turnout. And with four in 10 likely caucus participants saying they still might change their mind, this is an especially volatile race, Brown added.

According to the new Quinnipiac poll, Cruz leads Trump among tea party members, born again Christians and voters describing themselves as very conservative. Trump, meanwhile leads among voters who identify themselves as somewhat conservative and others claiming to be moderate or liberal.

The economy and jobs are most important to more than a quarter of likely Republican voters, with 18 percent citing terrorism, 11 percent most concerned about foreign policy and 10 percent most worried about the federal deficit.

Related: Trump Looks to Gain from Carson Campaign Meltdown

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Sen. Ted Cruz is playing up Donald Trump's "New York values" in a new television ad, and  surprise!  he doesn't mean it as a compliment.

Cruz dumps on Trump in the new 30-second commercial a week before the first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses in Iowa, where Trump remains the leader in a volatile contest. Calling out Trump's "New York values" is a way for Cruz to cut the real estate magnate down and alienate him from conservative voters likely to vote in the Hawkeye State on Feb. 1.

"Hey, I lived in New York City and Manhattan all my life, OK? So my views are a little bit different than if I lived in Iowa," Trump says in the Cruz ad.

"I am pro-choice in every respect," Trump is seen telling the late Tim Russert, the longtime host of NBC's Meet The Press, in another snippet handpicked by Cruz ad-makers to put plenty of daylight between the frontrunner and the conservative caucus-goer. The footage in the ad comes from a 1999 interview on Meet the Press.

For the coup de grace, Cruz pulls tape of Trump asking at a November campaign rally, "How stupid are the people of Iowa?"

Although Trump does have a penchant for calling people "losers" and "dummies," the clip is taken wildly out of context: Trump had asked that rhetorical question on the trail when mocking another GOP primary rival, Ben Carson, suggesting that Iowans weren't foolish enough to buy one of Carson's childhood stories.

Never shy on social media, Trump kept up a drumbeat of anti-Cruz sniping for a good part of Monday:

Ted Cruz is a nervous wreck. He is making reckless charges not caring for the truth! His poll #'s are way down!

The "New York values" line of attack became a sensation  and not in the way Cruz intended  after the Jan. 14 Republican debate in North Charleston, South Carolina.

While Cruz used it to frame Trump as too liberal  and perhaps libertine  for the party base, Trump flipped the attack around to recast such "values" as a source of pride, particularly as evidenced by New Yorkers' resilience and unity after the 9/11 terror attacks.

Cruz splashed the ad on his own Twitter feed Monday evening, saying it would begin airing in Iowa on Tuesday.
By Alexander Tange COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark's parliament passed measures on Tuesday aimed at deterring refugees from seeking asylum, including confiscating valuables to pay for their stay, despite protests from international human rights organizations. The measures, which also include extending family reunification among refugees from one year to three years, are the latest sign that the Nordic welcome for refugees is waning as large numbers flee war in Africa and Middle East for a better life in Europe. The "jewelry bill" is the latest attempt by Denmark's minority center-right government to curb immigration to a country that took in a record 20,000 refugees last year. Under the bill, refugees could keep possessions amounting to 10,000 Danish crowns ($1,450), raised from 3,000 crowns after criticism from human rights organizations. Valuables of special emotional value such as wedding rings will be exempt. The Liberals Party government has just 34 out of 179 seats in parliament and depends on support of rightist parties, including the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DF), to pass laws. During a three and a half hour debate, dissenting voices from small leftwing parties were heard including from Red Green Alliance. But the bill passed with an overwhelming majority, backed by the main center-left opposition party Social Democrats, highlighting a shift to the right in Denmark's political landscape thanks to DF's popularity and rising concern over refugee numbers. "I wouldn't say that I have become racist or anything," said Poul Madsen, a taxi driver, before the bill was passed. "But I may be more aware of the fact that this has some downsides and may be a potential problem for our society and our economy." NORDIC WELCOME FADES Denmark is not the only one Nordxic country trying to shut its doors to migrants. Sweden, which took in over 160,000 refugees last year, the most per capita in Europe, introduced checks on its border to Denmark at the start of the year. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven promised on Monday more resources for police after an employee was stabbed to death at a refugee center for unaccompanied minors. A minor was arrested on suspicion of murder or manslaughter after the incident in western Sweden, local TT news agency reported. A poll on Monday showed support for Lofven's Social Democrats at its lowest for nearly 50 years, in part due to a sense the government was unable to cope with the refugee influx. Norway, meanwhile, has been trying to send back refugees who crossed over from Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday Moscow would not take them back. Denmark is also not alone in targeting migrants' valuables. Switzerland has started taking valuables from asylum seekers over 1,000 Swiss francs ($985), the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg valuables above 350 euros ($380), while other southern states have been reported to do the same. "Most (refugees) have lost everything and yet this legislation appears to say that the few fortunate enough to have survived the trip to Denmark with their few remaining possessions haven't lost enough," the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said, mirroring criticism from many organizations. (Additional reporting by Annabella Pultz and Erik Matzen; Writing by Sabina Zawadzki; Editing by Alistair Scrutton and Richard Balmforth)
Chinas Deal with Iran: What Does It Mean for the Energy Market?

(Continued from Prior Part)

Chinas diplomatic policy

A week after the sanctions on Iran were lifted, the growing closeness between China and Iran points toward the start of a new economic alliance. Investors should note that China was previously importing crude oil from Iran even during the sanctions. Experts believe that China has developed diplomatic ties with those countries having political problems with the United States (SPY). Energy demand is a critical component of national security. Although Chinas development of close relations with Saudi Arabia instead of with Iran has political implications, there shouldnt be much impact on crude oil production, as Iran mostly likely wont cut its production. Lower crude oil prices may give a boost to the Chinese economy, which is struggling with earnings headwinds.

What the deal means for Chinas future

Moreover, choosing Iran over Saudi Arabia ensures a strong natural gas partner for future requirements. Chinese companies may engage in developing crude oil and natural gas fields in Iran. The trade deal ensures that Chinese players can compete for the development of Irans nonrenewable output. As Iran plans to diversify its economy, Chinese investors can seek different investment avenues in Iran.

CNOOC (CEO), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (SNP), and PetroChina (PTR) represent the large cap Chinese ADRs (American depositary receipts) in the oil and gas sector. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation and PetroChina are integrated oil and gas companies, and CNOOC operates only in the upstream offshore sector. The graph above shows the performance of the iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) in comparison to that of the United States Oil Fund (USO).

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By Jonathan Allen NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. news channel and a newspaper will host a debate for the Democratic presidential contenders in New Hampshire a few days before the state's primary election - but it remained unclear whether the party will relax its rule banning candidates from non-sanctioned debates. The news channel MSNBC and the New Hampshire Union Leader will hold the debate on Feb. 4 in New Hampshire, the second state in the nation to vote for parties' presidential nominees following the Iowa caucuses on Monday, the Union Leader said on its website on Tuesday. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has been criticized by two of the three contenders, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, for its relatively skimpy debate schedule. The DNC scheduled only six debates for its 2016 candidates, and, contrary to its practice in previous election years, forbade candidates from taking part in debates not sanctioned by the party. There were 25 Democratic primary debates in 2008 and 15 in 2004, both sanctioned and unsanctioned. DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has dismissed criticisms from within her party that she organized relatively few debates and scheduled them at times when viewership might be lower than average in order to protect former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's position as the long-standing front-runner for the nomination. Sanders has recently been drawing near or even, overtaking Clinton in some opinion polls as the first voting draws near. "We were always concerned that this would have been the first time in 32 years without a Democratic debate before the New Hampshire primary," Joseph W. McQuaid, the Union Leader's publisher, said in an article on the paper's website, explaining the decision to add an unsanctioned debate. The paper did not say which candidates were invited or whether any of them had accepted ahead of the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary. Spokesmen for Sanders, Clinton and the DNC did not respond to a request for comment. John Bivona, O'Malley's campaign director in New Hampshire, said in an email to reporters that O'Malley looked forward to participating in the debate. (Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
By Ginger Gibson and Steve Holland DES MOINES (Reuters) - With Iowa kicking off the 2016 election season in one week, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton tried to erase doubts about her judgment raised by rival Bernie Sanders on Monday while digging deep into her years of governing experience. At a CNN town hall meeting, Sanders argued that his own judgment, not Clinton's experience, is the most crucial quality for the next commander-in-chief. Clinton, in response, evoked President Barack Obama, saying when he selected her to be secretary of state he gave approval to her judgment. "You have to have somebody who is a proven, proven fighter," Clinton said. Anxious to put down a threat from the democratic socialist, Clinton faced the challenge of convincing Democratic voters not to be swayed by Sanders' populist rhetoric and to stick with her despite a clamor for candidates outside the political establishment. The town hall at Drake University lacked the feel of a normal debate. It featured separate appearances by Sanders, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Clinton and all three took audience questions at the event. Clinton was more animated than usual, raising her voice to make points, and Sanders made the audience laugh with some jokes. The overall tone was polite, in contrast to a more rancorous fourth debate between the three last week. COMPARISON ON VOTING RECORD Sanders cited Clinton's 2002 Senate vote to authorize the Iraq war and her prior support for the Canada-to-Texas Keystone Pipeline as evidence that her experience is misguided. Clinton has shifted her position on both issues, while Sanders opposed both from the start. "Experience is important but judgment is also important," he said. Sanders also defended his call for raising taxes to fund a "Medicare-for-all" program, U.S. infrastructure and tuition-free college education. "We will raise taxes. Yes, we will," said Sanders, a Vermont senator. But he said the money would actually save money for families because they would no longer pay health insurance premiums. Clinton has been making the case that her time as secretary of state and a senator from New York, make her more experienced. But on the town hall stage on Monday, she pushed back at Sanders' judgment argument by evoking Obama, who remains popular with Democratic voters and was critical of her Iraq War vote when the two competed in 2008. "[Obama] ended up asking me to be secretary of state," Clinton said. "It was because he trusted my judgment and we worked side by side over those four years." Clinton, who lost the Democratic primary to Obama in 2008, was for months the clear front-runner to be the party's nominee this time around, but opinion polls have showed a surge of support for Sanders in recent weeks. She argues that while Sanders' goals on issues such as social inequality are laudable, some are unobtainable and he lacks the experience to tackle a wide range of issues. "When you're in the White House you cannot pick the issues you want to work on, you've got to be ready to take on every issue that comes your way, including those you cannot predict," Clinton told the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines on Monday. Clinton also went to great lengths at the town hall to criticize Republican front-runner Donald Trump, particularly for insulting minorities. "He started with Mexicans, he's now with Muslims," she said. Clinton got some much-needed praise from President Obama in a Politico interview published on Monday, exactly a week before Iowans hold the nation's first nominating contest for the November 8 election. While never explicitly criticizing Sanders, whose campaign is focused on pledges to redress social inequality and contain Wall Street excesses, Obama praised Clinton's experience and suggested several times that Clinton's messages are grounded in realism. "(S)hes extraordinarily experienced  and, you know, wicked smart and knows every policy inside and out  (and) sometimes (that) could make her more cautious, and her campaign more prose than poetry," Obama said. (Editing by Mary Milliken)
After hours of debate among lawmakers in the Danish Parliament, on Tuesday Denmark passed controversial legislation that limits the items refugees can bring into the country and extends the wait time before they can seek to be reunited with family. The law, which has been heavily criticized by human rights groups, gives police the authority to confiscate any of an asylum seeker's personal belongings that are valued at more than 10,000 kroner, or about $1,452.

Speaking with reporters earlier in January, Denmark's immigration minister, Inger Stjberg, stressed that the law would not apply to sentimental objects including wedding rings or practical devices such as watches and cell phones. She defended it as a measure to prevent refugees with financial support from taking advantage of the country's public assistance programs. The law also mandates that refugees must wait three yearstriple the previous wait timebefore applying through the Danish government to be reunited with children and other family members.

RELATED: Denmark to Refugees: No Worries, You Can Keep Your Wedding Rings

Critics including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Amnesty International, and the Council of Europe say the law is a not-so-subtle attempt to deter refugees from seeking asylum in Denmark. In an 18-page document drafted by the UNHCR in response, the refugee agency called it "a deeply concerning response to humanitarian needs" and expressed concern that it could trigger xenophobia, fear, and similar restrictions in other European countries.

"UNHCR regrets that Denmark is restricting its asylum legislation for the sole purpose of curbing the number of asylum-seekers instead of focusing on promoting and supporting a fair distribution of asylum-seekers within all EU Member States," the agency wrote. On Jan. 7, a day after the document was published, Denmark amended its proposal by increasing the monetary value of the items refugees could keep. The proposal initially stipulated that asylum seekers' belongings could be seized if they totaled more than just 3,000 crownsor the equivalent of $436.

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Denmark, which last September opted out of the European Union's proposal to share 160,000 refugees, is not the only country to seize refugees' assets on arrival. In Switzerland, asylum seekers are required to give up belongings valued at more than 1,000 francs, or just under $1,000, to help the government pay for their stay, according to local news reports.

Several southern states in Germany have enacted similar processes for asylum seekers holding cash and valuables worth more than 750 euros, or $810. Stephan Dunnwald of the Bavarian Refugee Council told Deutsche Welle that seizing valuables is a standard practice that allows the government to recover the expenses it incurs by housing refugees, according to the International Business Times.

The new law in Denmark comes just three weeks after the country imposed border controls between Jan. 4 and 14 to prevent refugees from entering without travel documents. Sweden introduced similar security measures the same day.

Related stories on TakePart:





 A Danish Citys Strategy for Repelling Muslim Refugees: Eat More Pork

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Original article from TakePart
By Alexander Tange COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Danish parliament is set to pass measures on Tuesday to deter refugees from seeking asylum, including confiscating valuables to pay for their stay, despite protests from international human rights organizations. The measures, which also include delaying family reunification to three years, are the latest sign that the Nordic welcome for refugees is waning as large numbers flee war in Africa and Middle East in what is becoming Europe's biggest migrant crisis in decades. The "jewelry bill" is the latest attempt by Denmark's seven-month-old minority center-right government to curb immigration to a country that took in a record 20,000 refugees last year. Under the bill, refugees could keep possessions amounting to 10,000 Danish crowns ($1,450), raised from 3,000 crowns after criticism from human rights organizations. Valuables of special emotional value such as wedding rings will be exempt. The Liberals government has just 34 out of 179 seats in parliament and depends on support of rightist parties, including the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DF), to pass laws. The bill is likely to pass with most lawmakers from the main center-left opposition party Social Democrats expected to vote for, as Denmark's political landscape shifts to the right thanks to DF's popularity and rising concern over refugee numbers. A poll showing 70 percent of voters see it as the most important issue, according to the daily paper Berlingske. "I wouldn't say that I have become racist or anything," said Poul Madsen, a taxi driver, before the bill was passed. "But I may be more aware of the fact that this has some downsides and may be a potential problem for our society and our economy." NORDIC WELCOME FADES Denmark is not the only one trying to shut its doors to migrants. Sweden, which took in over 160,000 refugees last year, the most per capita in Europe, introduced checks on its border to Denmark at the start of the year. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven promised on Monday more resources for police after a 22-year-old employee was stabbed to death at a refugee center for unaccompanied minors. A minor was arrested suspected of murder or manslaughter after the incident in Molndal in western Sweden, local TT news agency reported. A poll on Monday showed support for Lofven's center left Social Democrats at its lowest for nearly 50 years, in part due to a sense that the government was unable to cope with the refugee influx. Norway, meanwhile, has been trying to send back refugees who crossed over from Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow would not take them back. Denmark is not the only country targeting refugee possessions. Switzerland has started taking valuables worth over 1,000 Swiss francs ($985), the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg secures valuables above 350 euros ($380), while other southern states have been reported to do the same. "Most (refugees) have lost everything and yet this legislation appears to say that the few fortunate enough to have survived the trip to Denmark with their few remaining possessions haven't lost enough," the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said, mirroring criticism from many organizations. (Additional reporting by Annabella Pultz; Writing by Sabina Zawadzki; Editing by Alistair Scrutton and Dominic Evans)
Paris Barclay is addressing the lack of diversity in Hollywood.

On Monday, the Directors Guild of America president called for action in a lengthy statement, saying: "It is time to be clear  structural changes are needed" in the industry.

Barclay's full note is below:

The current Oscar controversy has put a spotlight on a condition that has long shamed this industry: the lack of women and people of color across all aspects of opportunity and employment. The Directors Guild believes that the industry and the community should be responsible for telling all peoples stories and reflecting the diverse lives we lead.

Many times, with the best of intentions, a subject that is a symptom of this industry plague, but not the root cause, is targeted. The Academy's decisions  to broaden its leadership and membership, and to limit voting rights for those no longer active in the industry  are important actions and may lead to greater acknowledgement of more diverse films and people who make them. But this alone will do little to create more choices and get more films and television made that reflect the diversity we all deserve.

Statements, statistics, pleas, and calls for action have done little to move the needle. It is time to be clear  structural changes are needed. Those who control the pipeline and entryway to jobs must move beyond the old boy network and word-of-mouth hiring. They must commit to industry-wide efforts to find available diverse talent that is out there in abundance, or to train and create opportunities for new voices entering our industry. Rules must be implemented to open up the hiring process and rethink the idea of "approved lists."

A small handful of executives had spoken of their intentions to improve  none have put forward a clear plan of action. Only when those who control the pipeline decide to individually, or jointly, take concrete action will we see significant change.
Should you be worried? (Photo: Getty Images)



Im pregnant and I just canceled a highly anticipated vacation to St. Maarten. And its all because of mosquitoes  and their connection to Zika virus, to be exact.

Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease that was previously thought to be relatively harmless, is causing widespread panic throughout many South American countries and the Caribbean due to its link with birth defects.

Zika has increasingly been tied to a rapid spike in babies born in Brazil with severe brain damage and unusually small heads, an incurable condition known as microcephaly. The virus is spreading through the Americas and the Caribbean, and health officials in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, and El Salvador are urging women to wait to have children, in some cases for as long as two years.

With that in mind, its pretty easy to make the call when it comes down to weighing the pros and cons of spending a midwinter week at the beach vs. putting my future child at risk of having severe, yet preventable, brain damage.

Related: Why El Salvador Is Urging Women Not to Get Pregnant Until 2018



While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel warning that encourages women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant to avoid traveling to regions affected by Zika, it hasnt addressed whether pregnant women in the U.S. should be concerned.

Naturally, a lot of pregnant American women are starting to panic. Is that worry valid?

I would say not right now, but in the next couple of months, pregnant women need to really pay attention to the news and find out if and when Zika virus has spread to the U.S., Rick Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center, tells Yahoo Health.

Related: 10 Essential Facts About the Zika Virus



Many experts have expressed concern that Zika may spread to the U.S. by late spring or early summer, and the World Health Organization recently predicted that the virus will spread to all but two countries in South, Central, and North America (including the U.S.).

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While Zika is currently being treated as a travel-related illness for Americans, board-certified infectious disease specialist Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, tells Yahoo Health that its quite possible that it will establish itself in the U.S. In that situation, that would change the way we approach it, he says. It would make it much more difficult to limit risk.

Heres why: Zika virus is currently transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is commonly found in southern U.S. states such as Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, and in some parts of New Mexico and California.

Related: Sex Might Spread Zika Virus



But Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are found in many parts of the U.S., may also transmit Zika.

Basically, if it spreads through the U.S. Aedes mosquito population, Zika can be a big potential problem for pregnant women through a large portion of the U.S.

Again, Adalja stresses that its a geographically restricted disease  for now. If you live in a warmer climate or need to travel to an area that has seen Zika outbreaks, he recommends avoiding mosquitos as much as possible. That means staying out of areas that have high-density mosquito populations, getting rid of standing water on your property (which mosquitos love), wearing insect repellent, and wearing protective clothing. Thats really all you can do at this point, he says.

Planning to stay far, far away from Zika-infected areas? Smart move, says Watkins, adding that you should also be in communication with your doctor as the weather gets warmer. Were getting a lot of alerts from the CDC, keeping us aware of whats going on, he says.

One more thing to note: The National Institutes of Health is working on a Zika vaccine, although theres no word on when it will be available or if it will be safe for women who are already pregnant.

In the meantime, dont panic  although I know its tempting. Zika virus makes me want to throw my ever-expanding body into a protective bubble the second the weather turns warm. Just keep an eye on the news and save that trip to South America or the Caribbean for next year.



More on the Zika virus on Yahoo Health:

Learn more about the concerns of the Zika virus

Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Health on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.


Donald Trump is not letting up with his criticism of Fox News' Megyn Kelly and stands firm in his position that she should not be a moderator for Thursday's Republican presidential primary debate because she, in his opinion, has it out for him.

The GOP presidential front-runner reiterated his point on Tuesday afternoon, posting a short video to social media along with a poll asking "Should I do the GOP Debate?"

"Megyn Kelly's really biased against me. She knows that. I know that. Everybody knows that," Trump said. "Do you really think she can be fair at a debate?"

Should I do the #GOPdebate?

A video posted by Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) on Jan 26, 2016 at 10:04am PST

Read More: Fox News Thanks Trump For Hyping Debate With Megyn Kelly Comments

The billionaire businessman has repeatedly criticized the political commentator and host of The Kelly File following the first GOP primary debate in August when Kelly, with the initial question of the event, asked Trump about his previous sexist, degrading remarks toward women.

On Tuesday, Fox News responded with this presumably hyperbolic statement: We learned from a secret back channel that the Ayatollah and Putin both intend to treat Donald Trump unfairly when they meet with him if he becomes president  a nefarious source tells us that Trump has his own secret plan to replace the Cabinet with his Twitter followers to see if he should even go to those meetings.

Trump shot back on Twitter.

"Pathetic attempt by @foxnews to try and build up ratings for the #GOPDebate. Without me they'd have no ratings!" Trump wrote.

A spokeswoman for the Trump camp did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador supports a proposal for an emergency OPEC meeting in the face of slumping oil prices, Oil Minister Carlos Pareja told Reuters on Monday.

"We want a new meeting to see if we can make a decision together, but it has to be a decision made by all of us," Pareja said.

Senior OPEC and Russian oil industry officials stepped up vague talk on Monday of joint action to remedy one of the worst supply gluts in decades, while Saudi Arabia signaled its resolve to allow the market to balance itself.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
Cairo (AFP) - Egyptian youth leader Amr Ali whose now banned April 6 movement spearheaded the 2011 revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak is to stand trial Wednesday for incitement, a judicial official said.

The public prosecutor decided on Tuesday to refer Ali, the general coordinator of the movement who was arrested last September, to a criminal court, the judicial official said.

He is accused of inciting a general strike and possessing leaflets, the official added.

Ali is in custody, and three other defendants, currently free on bail, will be tried alongside him.

Ali's lawyer, Anas Sayyed, confirmed that the trial will proceed on Wednesday, and told AFP that the maximum penalty he faces is three years in jail.

In April 2014, an Egyptian court banned the April 6 youth movement, based on a complaint that accused it of defaming the country and colluding with foreign parties.

Its leader Ahmed Maher was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2013 for violating a law banning all but police-sanctioned protests.

And last December, authorities arrested four other April 6 movement leaders.

Sherif Arubi, Mohamed Nabil, Ayman Abdel Megid and Mahmud Hesham were arrested at their homes on December 28, less than a month before the fifth anniversary of the revolution.

April 6 led the January 25, 2011 uprising that ended the autocratic rule of president Mubarak.

It also opposed his successor, Islamist president Mohamed Morsi who was toppled by then army chief and now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The group then turned on the military-installed regime when authorities cracked down on dissidents.

Since the army toppled Morsi in July 2013, the authorities have cracked down on all opposition.

They adopted a new law in November 2013 outlawing demonstrations that have not been given advance authorisation by the police.

Hundreds of Islamist protesters -- as well as dozens of secular and leftwing demonstrators -- have been jailed under the legislation.

On Monday, Egyptians marked the fifth anniversary of the revolution amid tight security and a warning from the regime that demonstrations will not be tolerated.

Critics have accused Sisi of restoring Mubarak's autocratic rule and betraying the hopes of those who took part in the uprising.
By Alisa Tang BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Severe El Nino-linked drought has destroyed crops, killed farm animals and dried up water sources across East Asia and the Pacific, aid workers said, and UNICEF appealed for $62 million to assist children impacted by various crises in the region. Humanitarian agencies are monitoring and responding to droughts and food insecurity in an area from Indonesia and the Philippines, southeast to Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. "El Nino is peaking at the moment, and we expect the impacts to come up after the peak," said Krishna Krishnamurthy, a regional climate risk analyst for the World Food Programme. Krishnamurthy visited East Timor earlier this month and saw areas that were parched even though their rainy season was supposed to have started in November. "Rivers are completely dry in several parts of the country," he said, noting some hard-hit areas were deceptively green. "I saw green paddy fields, but it's not rice - it's weeds and grass. It's difficult to monitor remotely (from satellite images). That's why the post-harvest assessment will be quite critical." The El Nino phenomenon, occurring every few years and caused by unusual warming of the Pacific Ocean, triggers heavy rains and floods in South America and dry, scorching weather in Asia and East Africa, and usually lasts about one year. UNICEF launched a $62 million appeal on Tuesday to help children affected by drought, conflict and other crises, focusing on areas such as nutrition, health, water and sanitation. UNICEF has called for $25 million for its work in conflict-affected Kachin, Shan and Rakhine states in Myanmar; $18 million for North Korea; $10 million for conflict-affected Mindanao province in the Philippines; and $5 million for Pacific Island countries. Here are updates on El Nino and drought from across the region. EAST TIMOR The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries reported 50 percent less rainfall than normal. In southern Viqueque district, farm animals are falling sick and dying due to lack of feed and dwindling water supplies, though there has been some rain since Jan. 15 which may alleviate the situation, it said. PHILIPPINES On Mindanao island, lack of rain has damaged more than 500 hectares of farmland in Zamboanga city, with rice, corn, vegetables and bananas "lost with no chance of recovery", according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In North Cotabato, also on Mindanao, authorities declared a state of calamity because of $5 million of damage to crops, OCHA said, adding that 85 percent of the country was forecast to face drought by April. PAPUA NEW GUINEA An estimated 2.7 million people - more than a third of the population - are affected by a combination of drought and frost, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said, adding that priority needs are food, water and agricultural recovery. An IOM survey last month found 85 percent of communities assessed in Enga, Simbu and Jiwaka provinces rely on unprotected water sources, and 47 percent of respondents had a household member who had diarrhea within four weeks of the survey. PACIFIC ISLANDS Drought warnings or alerts are in force for Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, Vanuatu and Palau, according to UNICEF, which said more frequent and intense storms are expected in 2016, with Pacific islands suffering the most. School attendance rates have dropped in the Pacific Islands, where children are hungry and dehydrated, and face a high risk of malnutrition due to crop failure, water shortages and poor sanitation, UNICEF said. NORTH KOREA Severe drought in four agricultural provinces in 2015 has led to smaller harvests and reduced access to clean water, impacting the health of women and children, UNICEF said. In drought-hit provinces, 25,000 children are suffering severe acute malnutrition and require immediate treatment, and there has been a 72 percent increase in diarrhea among children under 5, it said. LINKS Timor Leste Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/El%20Nino%20Crop%20Situation%20Report%2020160115.pdf OCHA (on Mindanao, Philippines): http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROAP_Snapshot_160125.pdf 85 percent of country to face drought (Philippines): http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHAPhilippines%20Humanitarian%20Bulletin%20No1%20%28January%202016%29%20FINAL.pdf IOM (Papua New Guinea): http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IOM%20Sitrep%20%236%20-%20PNG%20Drought%20%28Jan25%29_final.pdf UNICEF appeal for East Asia and the Pacific: http://www.unicef.org/eapro/media_25142.html RELATED LINKS http://news.trust.org//item/20150603171137-vz6aw/ http://news.trust.org//item/20151223131253-ecl9l/ (Reporting by Alisa Tang, editing by XXXX. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, corruption and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org)
PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech President Milos Zeman outraged government and opposition politicians alike on Tuesday by joking that only an election or Kalashnikov assault rifle could be used to get rid of Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, his long-time political adversary. The remark was the last in a string of incendiary comments from Zeman, whose statements targeting opponents and migrants have drawn fire from the government as well as the U.N human rights chief. Zeman, whose popularity has shot up in the past months on sharp comments against accepting Muslim immigrants, does not have much day-to-day executive power but is an important opinion maker in the central European country. When asked at a public debate in a southeastern Czech town on Monday night what to do about a prime minister whose attitude to migrants is seen as more moderate than his, Zeman said: "If you want to get rid of any politician, including the president, there is only one democratic way and that is a free election, which will take place in a year," Zeman said. "And then there is an undemocratic path that is called Kalashnikov," he said with a smile. The audience laughed and applauded. Zeman, 71, often diverges from the EU and NATO member country's foreign policy line, professing anti-immigration views and echoing Russian official views on the conflict in Ukraine. The Czech government's stance on migration has been far away from Germany's welcoming approach but much less controversial than Zeman's. The centre-left prime minister rejected Zeman's comments. "We are with the highest probability the only country in a civilised world where the president publicly calls for killing the prime minister," news agency CTK quoted him as saying. Politicians from both government and opposition parties joined Sobotka in denouncing the president's rhetoric. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Robert Muller; editing by Ralph Boulton)
The Hague (AFP) - Health-conscious consumers snapping up everything from electric toothbrushes to kitchen appliances drove up 2015 profits at electronics giant Philips as it seeks to spin off its historic lighting business.

Posting last year's earnings results, the Dutch giant said Tuesday that net profit attributable to shareholders was 645 million euros ($700 million) compared to 415 million euros in 2014 -- a hike of 55 percent.

Total sales were up to 24.2 billion euros, or 2.0 percent on comparable rates, fuelled by rising demand and eyeing a healthy order book in North America and Europe, the company said.

The results were a welcome bounce back for the Amsterdam-based company after it saw profits tumble by almost two-thirds in 2014, blamed on slowing markets in Russia and China.

In a sign that it is not all plain sailing ahead though, Philips said it recorded a net loss in the final quarter of 2015 of 45 million euros, compared to a profit of 139 million for the same period the previous year.

"Overall 2015 was a solid year for Philips, as illustrated by consistent performance improvements in the face of ongoing" economic challenges, said chief executive officer Frans van Houten.

The Amsterdam stock market welcomed the news with shares on the AEX index up 5.6 percent to 24 euros in morning trading.

Among the successes of 2015 were sales of medical equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging scanners which leapt by 4 percent once rates were adjusted.

Amid global economic uncertainty, Van Houten remained prudent, predicting "moderate comparable sales growth" in 2016 as Philips seeks to streamline operations by splitting its healthcare-lifestyle business from its lighting section.

"Taking into account ongoing macro-economic headwinds and the phasing of costs and sales, we expect improvements in the year to be back-end loaded," he cautioned.

The lifestyle business has been steadily growing for Philips, and it hailed strong sales in 2015 of juicers, soup-makers and mixer-grinders -- perhaps fuelled by the current trend for healthy shakes and drinks.

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Men's personal care products also boomed, particularly in China, with shavers and male groomers being popular favourites.

- Spotlight on LEDs -

The company's restructuring is expected to be completed this year, with analysts predicting Philips -- which employs some 106,000 people around the world -- could eventually sell off what was once one of its core businesses.

Philips also abandoned its television production business a few years ago, bowing to Asian competition.

Philips sold its first light bulb a few years after it was founded in 1891, but for the past dozen years has focused on medical equipment, which now accounts for more than 40 percent of sales.

"Philips is on schedule to be able to complete the separation of the lighting business in the first half of this year," the company said in its statement on Tuesday.

Without divulging details, it said it was considering "all strategic operations... including an initial public offering and a private sale."

Philips, a household name around the world for home appliances, has re-oriented its range of activities in recent years to focus more on advanced lighting technology and on medical technology where margins are strong and less vulnerable to competition from emerging markets.

The cost of splitting the business in two is estimated at 200-300 million euros in 2016, and carried a 183-million-euro price-tag last year.

In an unexpected blow, Philips last week cancelled a planned $2.8-billion majority share sale of its Lumileds lighting unit to Beijing-based GO Scale, amid US regulatory concerns about passing along technology to China.

As it unveiled its 2015 earnings, the company proposed maintaining its 0.80 cent dividend per share.
Brussels (AFP) - The EU on Tuesday mulled allowing states in the passport-free Schengen zone to reintroduce border checks for up to two years to cope with the migration crisis, in what would be a blow to a cherished pillar of European unity.

At a meeting in Amsterdam on Monday, EU interior ministers had asked the European Commission -- the executive arm of the 28-nation European Union -- about extending the checks.

More than one million people headed to Europe in search of new lives last year, most of them refugees fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan in the continent's worst migration crisis since World War II.

"If the situation does not change there could indeed be justifications under public order and security reasons to maintain internal controls at internal Schengen borders," said Natasha Bertaud, the Commission's spokeswoman on migration.

"We want to be prepared so we are pursuing the options that could be available to us under article 26 if and when we need to activate them."

Article 26 of the Schengen code allows members of the 26-country zone, which includes most EU countries, to reintroduce internal border controls for a maximum of two years in exceptional circumstances.

In the last few months, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, France and non-EU member Norway have all introduced temporary controls over the migrant crisis, but with a limit of six months.

The member states are required to inform the commission, which reviews whether they meet the criteria for reintroducing controls.

"We know the migratory flows are not going to be subsiding soon and as the weather changes are even likely to increase again," Bertaud said.

Greece is under particular pressure from other EU nations to do more to stem the flow, as the landing point for around 80 percent of the migrants.

As the Czech Republic and Slovakia on Tuesday became the latest countries to pile the pressure on Athens, Greece's interior minister for migration Yiannis Mouzalas said closing borders would not fix the crisis.

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"There is a worrying tendency among our partners to start justifying the closing of borders, which would be a total failure of Europe," Mouzalas told AFP.

The introduction of the temporary controls has raised fears that the Schengen zone -- a symbol of European unity, freedom and prosperity that allows travel without passports or visas -- could collapse.

- EU 'committing suicide' -

There has been rising concern that Greece could be effectively frozen out of Schengen, with Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner warning last week that Athens could face "temporary exclusion" from the zone.

But EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos moved to calm the fears on Tuesday, writing on Twitter: "We are not speaking about the suspension of Schengen or the exclusion of a member."

The Czech Republic has invited regional neighbours Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to a special summit on February 15 to discuss the crisis.

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka accused Greece of failing to protect the Schengen zone's exterior borders, joining Slovak counterpart Robert Fico in urging Athens to do more.

Fico, a leftwinger known for his anti-immigrant rhetoric, said the EU was committing "ritual suicide" with its migration policy.

The EU is already due to discuss the migration crisis at a summit of leaders in Brussels on February 18-19, although the issue could be overshadowed by negotiations over Britain's EU reform demands.

Meanwhile, the Commission warned of possible steps against Pakistan if it fails to comply with a deal on deporting migrants of Pakistani origin.

Pakistan was one of the top five countries of origin among the one million migrants who arrived in Europe last year, although most are considered economic migrants rather than refugees from conflict.

"The Commission is currently examining possible incentives -- positive and negative -- so that this accord is applied properly," Bertaud said.

In December, Pakistan sent back at least 30 undocumented migrants that Greece was trying to repatriate after saying Greece had failed to provide adequate proof that they were Pakistani, a claim later disputed by the EU.
Brussels (AFP) - Italy and the European Union on Tuesday reached agreement on creating a guarantee vehicle to help Italian banks sell bad loans, Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said.

"An accord has been reached with the EU on a guarantee mechanism for bad loans," Padoan said after nearly five hours of talks in Brussels with European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager.

"I welcome the accord which we reached today with Minister Padoan on the terms of putting in place a guarantee mechanism to help Italian banks to face up to bad loans" estimated at around 200 billion euros ($210 billion), Vestager said.

The detailed technical scope of the accord was not immediately apparent.

Vestager added the guarantees would be established at market prices and would therefore not be regarded as state aid.

Rome had spend more than a year thrashing out a solution with Brussels, having to drop the idea of a "bad bank" in the process which would have contravened EU rules on state aid.

With its debt-laden economy struggling to recover from a deep recession, Italy was keen to reach a solution to aid a banking system forced to set aside capital to cover bad loan losses, limiting lending to households and firms.
Ben Bruno, a second-year MBA student in Kelley Direct, the online branch of Indiana University--Bloomington's business school, has changed jobs twice in the past few years. It was the online program's career services, he says, that helped him ensure he was taking the right path.

Based in Nashville, the client resolution specialist at the global financial services firm UBS chatted with career counselors over the phone, email and LinkedIn as he transitioned from jobs in consumer products to retail banking to wealth management.

"They really helped me figure out what types of jobs would be a good fit for me," the 30-year-old says. Upon his graduation in June, he hopes to pursue a higher-up role at UBS.

Career services in online programs play an integral role in shaping students' overall experiences, experts say, especially as career prep continues to be the primary motivator for turning to distance learning in the first place.

[Understand how online degrees can help adults switch careers.]

About three-quarters of online students pursue further education to change career paths, earn a promotion or keep their skills up to date, according to a 2015 report released by Aslanian Market Research and the Learning House.

"Whether its practice interviewing, resume review, job leads, social media profile reviews or even just discussions about your search and how you can network better -- all of that can help you as a professional as you're focused on completing your degree," says Jennifer Lasater, vice president of employer and career services at the for-profit Kaplan University, which offers online and campus-based programs.

However, career services offered in different online programs can vary, experts say, and students should consider whether they will have the same or similar opportunities as they would have on a traditional campus. Students who plan to make use of career services at online institutions should ensure they have the following features.

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-- One-on-one time with online career counselors: Opportunities for one-on-one time are key, says Kyle Whitehouse, assistant director of learner services at Oregon State University's Ecampus. She connects with students through different means, whether it's phone, Skype, WebEx or email.

"In general, we have live 'face-to-face' conversations, if not phone conversations, that replicate the in-person conversation for career counseling," Whitehouse says.

Jennifer Mendoza, a student in OSU Ecampus' postbaccalaureate online computer science program, says one-on-one interaction with Whitehouse has been the most helpful service for her and ultimately helped her land an internship.

[Discover job search tips for online students.]

"She took the time to speak with me once a week, and really go through my resume with me line by line and my cover letter line by line" through email as well, Mendoza says.

-- Opportunities for virtual career fairs and networking with employers: Career services in many online programs allow students to participate in virtual career fairs -- an excellent opportunity to network with potential employers, experts say.

For example, during virtual career fairs held for students at MPA@UNC, the online M aster of P ublic A dministration program at the University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill, employers speak with several students at once in an online chat room to discuss their company and possible opportunities. They can then break out into chatrooms with individual students as desired, says Heather Duhart, MPA@UNC's academic and career services director.

Meanwhile, Kaplan University holds "employer spotlights" that are broadcast to the student body, and employers then take questions from career services staff and students, Lasater says. These sessions are recorded and archived.

-- Chances to network with other students and alumni: It's vital that online students are able to connect with alumni as well as current online students, as many of them are working professionals, Duhart says.

For example, at Kaplan, students and graduates have access to a social platform to interact with each other and career services staff, as well as complete work interest assessments and update their employment status, among other features.

[Learn networking tips for online MBA students.]

Duhart, of MPA@UNC, says communicating with alumni can help current students figure out possible career trajectories. She says students should be able to say to themselves, "Okay, this person came through this program and then they went on to do these things, and does that look like a path I might want to take?"

-- Access to both synchronous and asynchronous webinars, lectures and events: Career services with opportunities to take part in live webinars or lectures are beneficial to students, Whitehouse says, as is an archive with access to previously recorded events.

"They're recording it, maybe they're streaming it, but even better, it's archived in a clear place where people can watch that entire presentation on demand when they're ready," Whitehouse 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.


By Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council should place an arms embargo on South Sudan, while the oil-rich country's President Salva Kiir and a rebel leader qualify to be sanctioned over atrocities in a two-year civil war, U.N. sanctions monitors said in an annual report. The confidential report by a U.N. panel that monitors the conflict in South Sudan for the Security Council stated that Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar are still completely in charge of their forces and are therefore directly to blame for killing civilians and other actions that warrant sanctions. A copy of the report was seen by Reuters on Monday. The 15-member Security Council has long-threatened to impose an arms embargo, but veto power Russia, backed by council member Angola, has been reluctant to support such an action. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on Monday he was concerned that an arms embargo would be one-sided because it would be easier to enforce on the government. The panel asked the council to blacklist "high-level decision makers responsible for the actions and policies that threaten the peace, security and stability of the country." The names of the individuals the panel recommend for sanctions in the form of an international travel ban and asset freeze were not included in the body of the report. But a diplomat familiar with the contents told Reuters that a highly confidential annex calls for blacklisting both Kiir and Machar. A political dispute between Kiir and Machar, who was once Kiir's deputy, sparked the civil war. But it has widened and reopened ethnic fault lines between Kiir's Dinka and Machar's Nuer people. More than 10,000 people have been killed. The panel wrote that "there is clear and convincing evidence that most of the acts of violence committed during the war, including the targeting of civilians ... have been directed by or undertaken with the knowledge of senior individuals at the highest levels of the government and within the opposition." However, they said the government appears to have been responsible for a larger share of the bloodshed in the country in 2015. "While civilians have been and continue to be targeted by both sides, including because of their tribal affiliation, the panel has determined that, in contrast to 2014, the government has been responsible for the vast majority of human rights violations committed in South Sudan (since March 2015)," the U.N.'s panel coordinator, Payton Knopf, told the Security Council sanctions committee on Jan. 14, according to prepared remarks circulated to council members. The South Sudan mission to the United Nations in New York was not immediately available to comment on the report. U.N. peacekeepers in South Sudan are also "regularly attacked, harassed, detained, intimidated and threatened," the monitors said in the report. The conflict in South Sudan, whose 2011 secession from Sudan had long enjoyed the support of the United States, has torn apart the world's youngest country. The U.N. panel reported that some 2.3 million people have been displaced since war broke out in December 2013, while some 3.9 million face severe food shortages. The U.N. report described how Kiir's government bought at least four Mi-24 attack helicopters in 2014 from a private Ukrainian company at a cost of nearly $43 million. "They have been vital in providing an important advantage in military operations, have facilitated the expansion of the war and have emboldened those in the government who are seeking a military solution to the conflict at the expense of the peace process," according to the report. Knopf told the council that Machar's rebels were trying to "acquire shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to counter the threat of attack helicopters, specifically citing the need to continue and indeed escalate the fighting." Both sides signed a peace deal in August but have consistently broken a ceasefire, while human rights violations have "continued unabated and with full impunity," the panel wrote. According to the report, those violations include extrajudicial killings, torture, sexual violence, extrajudicial arrest and detention, abductions, forced displacement, the use and recruitment of children, beatings, looting and the destruction of livelihoods and homes. The panel said that almost every attack on a village by the warring parties involved the rape and abduction of women and girls and that "all parties deliberately use rape as a tactic of war, often in gruesome incidents of gang rape." Knopf told the council committee that the human cost of the war was comparable to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen relative to South Sudan's population of 12 million. And he said there was "a real risk of even larger scale mass atrocities within South Sudan." (Reporting by Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols; Editing by Toni Reinhold, Robert Birsel)
By Anastasia Moloney BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The number of countries and territories in the Americas reporting cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus rose to 22 on Tuesday, more than double the number a month ago, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). An outbreak of the virus is affecting large parts of Latin America and the Caribbean and is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 and was unknown in the Americas until 2014. The disease is usually relatively mild but PAHO, the regional arm of the WHO, says it may be linked to cases of brain damage in newborn babies in Brazil. Here are some facts about Zika: * The Zika virus is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. There is no vaccine for Zika. * The Zika virus is usually relatively mild, with symptoms such as skin rash, fever, muscle and joint pain, lasting up to seven days. It is uncommon for people infected with Zika to need hospital treatment. * In the Americas, there is no evidence that the Zika virus can cause death, PAHO says, but sporadic cases have been reported of more serious complications in people with preexisting diseases or conditions, causing death. * Researchers in Brazil and WHO say there is growing evidence that links Zika to microcephaly, a neurological disorder in which babies are born with smaller-than-normal heads and brains, but information about the possible transmission of Zika from infected mothers to babies during pregnancy or childbirth is "very limited", PAHO says. * In northeast Brazil, there has been a marked increase in cases of newborn babies with microcephaly. Brazil's health ministry has said the number of suspected cases of microcephaly in newborns increased by about 360 in the 10 days to Jan. 16 to 3,893. * Brazil has the highest rate of infection, followed by Colombia. Zika outbreaks have also been reported in Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela, among others. * Colombia's health ministry says Zika has already infected 13,500 people across the country and there could be as many as 700,000 cases this year. * In Colombia, it is estimated that 500 babies will be born with microcephaly, according to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. * Colombia's health ministry has advised women to delay becoming pregnant for six to eight months to avoid possible risks related to the Zika virus. * Jamaica has not reported any confirmed cases of Zika, but the health ministry has recommended women delay becoming pregnant for the next six to 12 months. El Salvador has advised women to avoid getting pregnant until 2018. * Earlier this month, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention warned pregnant women to avoid travel to 14 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean affected by the virus. * One in four people infected with Zika develop symptoms and many cases of Zika go undetected, making it difficult to estimate the true scale of the outbreak in the Americas. PAHO says there are no reliable estimates of the number of cases in the region. Based on reports from affected countries, PAHO estimates there are at least 60,000 suspected cases of Zika, though the real figure is thought to be far higher. (Sources: World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC), Colombian Ministry of Health). (Reporting by Anastasia Moloney Editing by Belinda Goldsmith and James Dalgleish; 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 news.trust.org)
(Photo Illustration: Yahoo News, photos: AP, Smith College yearbook photo)

From his prison cell, Ted Kaczynski  the Unabomber, who terrified the nation in the 1980s and early 1990s  has carried on a remarkable correspondence with thousands of people all over the world. As the 20th anniversary of his arrest approaches, Yahoo News is publishing a series of articles based on his letters and other writings, housed in an archive at the University of Michigan. They shed unprecedented light on the mind of Kaczynski  genius, madman and murderer.

Joy Richards had something she needed to confess.

Sitting in her pastors office at Grace Lutheran Church in Upland, Calif., in early 2006, Richards, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, wanted to make things right with God. And to her, that meant being honest about a secret shed been keeping from those closest to her out of fear they might reject her, as others had, including her own family.

But as she sat there with the pastor and her closest friend, Richards didnt seem to know where to begin. Finally, with tears in her eyes, she just blurted it out. Im in love with Ted Kaczynski, she said.

It is a chapter in the Unabomber saga that is virtually unknown but captured, in part, in letters in Kaczynskis archive of personal papers at the Labadie Collection at the University of Michigan Library. Arrested in 1996 and charged in a deadly string of mail and package bombs over nearly two decades, Kaczynski at some point began to correspond with Richards, a woman he had never met but eventually fell in love with and wanted to marry.

She was a mystery even among those who came to know her, and exactly how and when their relationship began is unclear. Richards, who died in late 2006, donated her correspondence with Kaczynski to a library at Smith College, her alma mater, where a representative said it is not available to the public.

But Kaczynski mentioned Richards in countless letters to others. He wrote about how much he loved her, how lucky he was to have met her and, later, the extreme anguish he felt over her illness and death, at 53. My friend has suffered more than anyone deserves to suffer, and I can do nothing to help her, Kaczynski wrote in June 2006, expressing the kind of empathy he has never shown for the dozens of victims of his bombs.

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At first, according to Kaczynskis letters, Richards was simply his closest friend and confidant, someone he trusted enough to allow to speak regularly to his lawyers, negotiate possible interviews with the media and help form the network of pen pals who shared his aversion to the technological society he feared.

She started out as someone who acted as kind of like a researcher for him, said Quin Denvir, a former federal public defender who, along with attorney Judy Clarke, led Kaczynskis Unabomber defense. She got him books and sent him articles and was a friend to him.

But soon she became much more than that to Kaczynski, who began to refer to her in letters as his angel and Lady Love, a title he sometimes accentuated with a tiny hand-drawn heart. He drew her cards using colored pencils from the prison commissary and wrote her original pieces of classical music. With help from other pen pals, he sent her books he thought she might like.

[Joy] is an angel. I mean a real one. Im sure she could fly if she wanted to, Kaczynski wrote to a pen pal in April 2002. You dont see her halo because shes too modest to wear it. She keeps it hung up in her closet. But really she is an honest-to-goodness angel. Absolutely perfect.

Wanda Kaczynski, right, mother of convicted Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, wipes tears from her eyes as Kaczynski's brother, David Kaczynski, talks to the press outside the U.S. Courthouse in the Fred E. Moss Federal Building, Jan. 22, 1998. (Photo: Reuters)

At one point, Richards even began speaking regularly to Kaczynskis family  his mother, Wanda, and brother, David, whom the bomber had cut off after learning his sibling had given the FBI the tip that led to his arrest. Her overtures werent a secret. His mother and brother wrote him letters mentioning Richards, and Kaczynski, who was quick to cut off anyone he didnt trust, apparently had no objection.

His family, desperate to end their estrangement with him, viewed Richards outreach as surprising but hopeful. I thought it was an opening, that maybe Joy could become the bridge by which I could reconcile with my brother, David said in an interview.

In letters and phone calls, Richards mainly gave the family updates on Kaczynskis life in prison  though occasionally she seemed to hint that she was passing the messages on at his request. Once or twice, she even said something like, He said to tell David this or something like that, which made me hopeful, David recalled.

But one day, he had a phone conversation with Richards about his brothers crimes in which she offered a view into her thinking on the Unabomber. You know, they have never really proven that Ted killed people, she told David, who was taken aback.

Joy, if I thought he was innocent, I would be fighting a different cause right now, he told her.

On the other end of the line, Richards was silent for a moment. Well, even if he did it, I can still accept it, she said. I can understand it.

Not long after that, David recalled, Richards stopped communicating. The door was really shut, he said. Several months later, the family learned why: Richards told Kaczynskis mother that her son had forbidden her from talking to the family. He thought she was becoming too sympathetic to them and had started to question her loyalty.

Richards, intensely private all her life, left few clues about her background. She grew up near Cleveland. Her parents, like Kaczynskis, were second-generation Polish-Americans, she told friends. She had a brother and a sister  though its unclear if they were older or younger. She told a friend she had been married briefly to a man who was in the military, but after a few years, they split amicably. (Using public records, Yahoo News was unable to locate any of Richards relatives, and friends had no information.)

Described by one friend as incredibly intelligent in a superhuman way, Richards apparently put off attending (or finishing) college for years, finally graduating at age 36 from prestigious Smith College in Northampton, Mass. Classmates remembered her in the obituary that ran in the alumni magazine as a mysterious mix of solitary and gregarious.

Unabomber Letters

Its unclear how or when she ended up out West. Public records show she briefly lived in Idaho and then in Montana, which is where she was living in 1996 when Kaczynski was arrested, although they apparently never crossed paths. She later told friends that she had been intrigued by the Unabomber manifesto, which she said was brilliant. It appears she first wrote to Kaczynski not long after he was arrested, but their regular correspondence only began in 1998 after he was sentenced to life without parole and sent to the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Florence, Colo.

In prison, Kaczynskis life took a remarkable turn. Before his arrest hed had almost no experience with women, as he confided repeatedly to his diary. The opposite sex confounded him: What did women want? How did you know when they liked you? Why was it so hard?

But as a notorious serial killer, he attracted the interest of women, dozens of them, who wrote him to say how handsome they thought he was. They called him Teddy, sent him provocative pictures, told him about their sex fantasies and begged to visit him. One woman, in a letter sent to Kaczynskis attorneys, even proposed marriage.

Kaczynski was welcoming of the attention but also baffled by it. In his methodical way, he pursued the mysteries of life with his attorney, Clarke, who had become one of his first close female friends. I think he assumed that there was a little booklet or something he could read that would tell him in exact factual terms about women, said Denvir, Clarkes co-counsel. He was so intellectual, but there was also this naivete. Sometimes it felt like he was 12 years old.

Shortly after he arrived in Colorado, Kaczynski began to receive letters from a woman who wrote him in explicit detail about her sexual fantasies about him. The letters shocked him so much that even though he rejected the mental health profession he wrote to a psychologist to ask if he thought the woman might be mentally unstable. Can unresolved anger lead to sadomasochistic sexual impulses? he wrote.

Though their correspondence continued, Kaczynski warned her not to become too attached to him. She wasnt the only woman he was writing to  he was also exchanging letters with a woman he identified as J. I like her, and I think she needs me as much as you do, though probably for different reasons.

Richards and Kaczynski first met in person in late 1999. Though his visitors list at ADX was strictly limited to his lawyers or people he had known before his 1996 arrest, she was able to first visit him under the guise of being a journalist. (Later, though its unclear when or how, she was added to his approved visitors list permanently.) In her mid-40s then, she was 5-foot-7, slender with dark brown hair and brilliant blue eyes and most often dressed in practical khakis.

He had granted her an interview that would run more than a year later in the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch, a regional publication in Montana. Initially, Kaczynski had shopped the interview to other publications, including Rolling Stone, Penthouse and Playboy, but under the strict rules he presented, including his choice of Richards as the writer and his final approval of the text, there were no takers.

Richards wrote under the pen name J. Alienus Rychalski  a mix of a nickname shed had as a kid and her familys original Polish last name. Conducted while Kaczynski was still appealing for a new trial, the interview focused mainly on his daily life in Montana, what had made him want to live in an uninhabited place and whether he believed in fate and God. (No, he replied. Do you?)

Slideshow: Unabomber: Ted Kaczynski >>>

Richards returned to Montana. An unidentified acquaintance of Kaczynskis wrote him to say she had run into Richards, who had gushed about the thrill of finally meeting him in person. Kaczynski said he was excited to meet her too. At some point, Richards relocated to Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., where she began working as a fourth-grade teacher. By that time, her relationship with the Unabomber had turned romantic  or as romantic as it could be under the strict rules of the supermax, where prisoners are not allowed physical contact with visitors. Every meeting is to be conducted in a sterile, concrete room equipped with security cameras where visitors are separated by a thick pane of security glass. They could never touch, never kiss.

But Kaczynski tried to be the best boyfriend he could be to the first girlfriend hed ever had. According to his letters, he shared with Richards copies of all correspondence he sent and received to prove his openness and loyalty  which meant he was copying letters by hand at least twice, once for her and another for his archive in Michigan, since he didnt have access to a copy machine.

Though he continued to correspond with other female pen pals, he cut them off when they showed any hint of romantic interest in him. But sometimes it wasnt easy. In 2002, a woman who was a librarian began writing to him  a key acquaintance for a man behind bars who had a desire to read obscure articles and books that other pen pals couldnt find. But when she sent a flirtatious letter, Kaczynski told her he already had a Lady Love in his life.

Could I be your second lady love? the woman asked.

Ive put that question to Lady Love #1, and she says no, he replied. Though he welcomed a friendship, he cut off all contact with the librarian when she later addressed him as sweetheart. Lady Love No. 1 would not be comfortable with the tone your letters are taking, he wrote. You will not hear from me again.

He couldnt stop gushing to people about Richards. Shes beyond my wildest dreams! he wrote to a former member of his legal team. Theres evidence he considered marrying her, which would have had one practical benefit: As his next of kin, if she survived him  he was 11 years older  she, rather than his estranged family, would have had control over his remains. Whether he actually sought permission or whether it would have been granted is uncertain.

The following year, Kaczynski sold his half of the land he owned in Montana (about 1.4 acres) to Richards at the bargain price of $7,500 to help fulfill her dream of having a wilderness escape. (His brother, David, owned the other half.) The sale brought Richards unwelcome attention from the media. I am a very private person, she told the Sacramento Bee in what would be her only interview about Kaczynski. I wish I could become invisible right now. This is the moment I dreaded the most.

Though the medias curiosity about her dealings with Kaczynski faded as quickly as it had flared up, it took only one headline to stir up drama in Richards life. She later told friends that her family, with whom she already had a tenuous relationship, learned of her friendship with the Unabomber around that time. Upset that she was corresponding with a serial murderer, her family stopped speaking to her, she said, leading to an estrangement that lasted until shortly before she died.

Richards told the Sacramento Bee that she had become fond of the Unabomber, but it was more than that. By then, she was regularly writing to him and visiting him in prison. That Christmas, she made a three-day trip to Colorado, where she spent hours talking to him through security glass. But while there, Richards began to cough up blood. The diagnosis was lung cancer. Surgeons removed part of her right lung but warned her the cancer would likely return.

Breaking the news to another pen pal, Kaczynski wrote, If she dies, it will break my heart because I love this woman.

Joy Richards poses with James Pike, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, after her baptism in spring 2006. (Photo: Courtesy of James Pike)

Over the next year and a half Richards health briefly improved, but her outlook soon turned bleak again. She underwent chemotherapy and was forced to give up her job as a teacher. She kept writing to Kaczynski and visiting him, but with no contact with her family and few friends, she began to worry about the prospect of dying alone.

Though she had never known him in the outside world, Kaczynski was as present in her life as anything. In her tiny apartment she had his books  including a bound copy of the Unabomber manifesto  and some of his belongings that had been left behind in his Montana cabin. On the walls was art he had drawn for her, while scattered around the apartment were copies of musical compositions he had written for her  though its not clear she knew how to read music.

It was like she was living with a ghost, a friend, who declined to be named so as not to be associated with Kaczynski, said. It was like [Kaczynski] was there, but he wasnt.

In late 2005 doctors told Richards that her cancer had returned. By chance, she met and became friends with a couple  devout Christians  to whom she began to confess her fears about her health and her fate in life. She mentioned her relationship with Kaczynski to no one  until the day she summoned her friend and the churchs pastor, James Pike, to confess that she was in love with him.

Both Pike and the friend were stunned. Wait, the Unabomber? Pike recalled saying.

Richards tearfully nodded. By that time, she was undergoing a spiritual epiphany and was considering being baptized in the church. But she told them she couldnt go forward with the symbolic spiritual rebirth if she wasnt fully honest about her life. She had been too scared to tell them out of fear that she might lose them as she had lost her family. If this is a deal breaker, she told them, you can tell me.

You cant help who love sometimes, the woman told her. And it doesnt change how we feel about you.

The following spring, Richards was baptized in the church. Finally free to speak of her secret relationship, she confessed her increasingly conflicted feelings about loving a man who had committed such terrible crimes. At the same time, she openly worried about what Kaczynski would think of her becoming more spiritual when he didnt believe in God.

In prison, Kaczynski had noticed the changes in Richards. He wrote to others about her growing involvement with the church and how she, in her sickness, had started to rely heavily on her faith. She was in constant pain, physically and emotionally, and Kaczynski struggled with his own emotions over his inability to help the woman he loved so desperately.

In July 2006, doctors told Richards she had only months to live. By then, she was consumed with getting her affairs in order, and because of her conflicted feelings about Kaczynski, she was writing less often. He felt her fading from him. I love this woman truly, even though her love for me has cooled, he wrote to a friend that month.

Out of work and with her benefits drained, Richards soon began to run out of money. When Kaczynski spoke of her plight to another pen pal, the man sent her $2,400 and promised more if she needed it. But her health only worsened. She entered the hospital in November and Kaczynski went frantic trying to reach her. He wrote letters to the manager of her apartment complex and to members of her family. He didnt know if she was alive or dead, and he enlisted some of his other pen pals in his desperate attempt to find out.

In late December, Richards went to stay with the couple who had befriended her, and she lived out her final days there. While she made peace with her family, who came to visit her, friends say her relatives did not offer to help with any of her final arrangements, including her will or her funeral. They were left up to the couple and the church.

She was too sick to speak to Kaczynski, though she made those around her promise they would let him know she had passed. She came to reject the killing and the things that he had done, but she loved him, a friend said. She had a deep connection with him until the end.

The day she died, one of Kaczynskis pen pals from Los Angeles drove out to visit her at the bombers behest. When he arrived, Richards was in pain and barely conscious, but the pen pal had one final message from Kaczynski for his Lady Love. The man, a musician, put headphones on Richards and played a piece of music  a trombone duet  that Kaczynski had written for her and the man had performed on his synthesizer.

Richards died on New Years Eve 2006, but though Pike and others left messages with the prison, Kaczynski didnt learn of her death until more than a week later, through a letter from Richards brother. In a letter thanking him for letting him know of his Lady Loves fate, Kaczynskis usually neat handwriting is barely legible. He wrote that he was glad Richards knew he was thinking of her until the end.

I wouldnt have wanted her to die thinking I had let her down, he said.

Read more in this Yahoo News Special Report: >>>
By Gina Cherelus

(Reuters) - Bernie Sanders got his sweetest endorsement yet on Monday when one of the founders of Ben & Jerry's unveiled an ice cream flavor for the Democratic presidential hopeful, inviting Sanders' backers to enjoy a spoonful of "Political Revolution."

The flavor named "Bernie's Yearning" is mint ice cream topped with a solid chocolate disk, to reflect Sanders' campaign theme of economic inequality, according to Ben Cohen, co-founder of Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's.

"The chocolate disc represents the huge majority of economic gains that have gone to the top 1 percent since the end of the recession. Beneath it, the rest of us," according to the label, which suggests eaters smash up the chocolate and mix it with the ice cream.

"Nothing is so unstoppable as a flavor whose time has finally come. #FeelTheBern #BerniesYearning," Cohen said on both Twitter (@YoBenCohen) and his Facebook page.

Cohen launched the flavor on his own using "Ben's Best" branding and said it is not an endorsement by Ben & Jerry's, now a unit of Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch consumer products maker. Sanders represents Vermont in the U.S. Senate.

Cohen has made just 40 pints of the new ice cream and is giving 25 of them to the Sanders campaign, he said on social media. The rest will be awarded in a drawing among those who register at www.berniesyearning.com by Feb. 3.

Sanders is polling strongly in Iowa and New Hampshire against rival Hillary Clinton in the bid for the 2016 Democratic nomination. The first voting will take place in one week at the Iowa caucuses.

By late Monday afternoon, #BerniesYearning was a top-trending hashtag on Twitter.

Earl Fando (@earlfando) tweeted: "Ben & Jerry's have released an ice cream flavor named Bernie's Yearning. Needless to say, people are reading the ingredients very carefully."

Christine Odunlami (@christineodun) tweeted: "Not only can you #FeelTheBern, you can now #TasteTheBern."

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Others took advantage of the opportunity to take a jab at the Sanders campaign.

Wired-Up Patriot (@ADHDPatriot) posted: "#BerniesYearning ice cream: 1. Must wait in long lines to get 2. Very limited amount 3. Extremely expensive or for short, like #BernieCare."

(Reporting by Gina Cherelus; Editing by Dan Burns and Andrew Hay)
Growers globally may cut back on their input purchases this year as commodity prices have dropped, a bad sign for fertilizer companies that had a rough 2015.

Fertilizer stocks have plunged in the past year as economic growth in China slowed to 6.9 percent last year, its most leisurely pace since at least 1990. Along with being the world's second-biggest economy, China is also the world's largest importer of fertilizer, used in agricultural production to feed its massive population.

U.S. crop prices, responding to the economic slowdown in China, have tumbled. Soybeans on the Chicago Board of Trade, the global benchmark futures price, have dropped 10 percent in the past year and have tumbled by almost a third since January 2014. Corn futures have declined about 2 percent in the past year.

Lower prices for soybeans and corn means farmers globally will have less to spend on inputs, including potash, nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers.

"You're having to sharpen that pencil pretty good this year" if you're a grower, says Jason Britt, the president of Central States Commodities in Kansas City, Missouri, who advises producers on how to maximize farm profits. "You're probably not going to be in the spending mood as much because the bottom line isn't going to be able to handle it."

Shares of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (ticker: POT), the largest fertilizer company in the world, have lost 55 percent of their value in the past year. Mosaic Co. (MOS) and CF Industries Holdings (CF), both among the 10 largest fertilizer producers, are both down about 51 percent. Potash is used to inject soil with potassium, which boosts soil production.

Fertilizer prices at the end of 2015 fell to the lowest -- as a whole -- in six years, according to a University of Illinois study.

Anhydrous ammonia dropped to $650 a ton in December, down 11 percent from the same month a year earlier. Diammonium phosphate fell 4.1 percent and potash is projected to decline 14 percent, according to a report by Gary Schnitkey, an Illinois economist. While that's just a single month, he says, it's an indication that prices will be lower this year.

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"Implied fertilizer costs in December 2015 are lower than in all years since 2009, suggesting that fertilizer costs in 2016 could be lower than in recent years," Schnitkey says. "Current projections put fertilizer costs in 2016 about $10 per acre lower than in 2015. If fertilizer prices continue to decrease, this cost decrease could become larger."

Potash Corp. is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday. Analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research have projected earnings per share at 32 cents, down from 49 cents during the same quarter a year earlier.

The company recently announced the indefinite suspension of its Picadilly, New Brunswick, potash production facility. The company says about 430 people will lose their jobs as Potash attempts to reduce capital expenditures and maintain operational flexibility amid "a challenging macroeconomic backdrop."

Cost of goods sold will decline by as much as $50 million this year due to the plant's suspension, and expenses will decline by $50 million in 2016 and a combined $135 million in 2017 and 2018. The plant won't be shut, instead it will be placed in "care-and-maintenance mode" at a cost of $20 million this year.

While things look grim in 2016, some analysts see upside to fertilizer stocks.

Standpoint Research founder Ronnie Moas says he recently initiated fertilizer producer Agrium (AGU) with a "buy" rating because shares are undervalued. The stock's decline of almost 20 percent in the past year was unwarranted, and Agrium's earnings make it an attractive investment, he says.

"There are growth opportunities here," Moas says. "Things in Australia are going well, margins are rising due to lower gas prices and potash volumes could rise. Plus, capacity is expanding so volumes will go up while capital expenditures will go down. I don't think the $20 drop in share price was justified."

AGU stock also has a 4 percent dividend yield and is at 10 times earnings, making it a value.

Still, growers who are seeing their profits decline likely aren't willing to spend more on fertilizer if they can get away with applying less, says Central States' Britt, whose family owns a farm in Missouri.

If soybeans were priced at $13 rather than $8.75, producers would no doubt be applying as much fertilizer as possible to maximize yields. This year, however, they'll have to see definitive proof that the amount they spend on inputs translates into profits.

Farmers won't be strapped for cash, "but I don't know if they're feeling flush enough with cash to buy extra inputs," Britt says. "Wanting to spend money right now is tough for most of the (growers) I know. If they were feeling more flush, you're going to say 'let's get everything we can out of these (fields).' It's like when your portfolio is doing well, it's 'let's drink the good champagne,' but when your portfolio is off, you order from the other side of the menu."

Tony C. Dreibus has been a financial journalist for more than 15 years, working for Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal. He's covered everything from gold to agriculture to food prices.
To mark Australia day on January 26, the country's tourism agency has launched a new campaign to lure more international travelers Down Under. And while Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef are still must-see sights, other lesser-known landscapes are worth exploring. Here's a look at some of Oz's most stunning sights off the well-trodden tourist track.

Blue Mountains

Two hours by train from Sydney, the Blue Mountains get their name from the blue haze given off by the Eucalyptus trees covering their slopes. The site's dramatic landscapes are easy to explore aboard one of several cable car routes and a bus tour, which take curious visitors to high-altitude peaks and low areas of dense, humid forest. Tourists shouldn't leave without a photo of the "Three Sisters," three prominent rocks lined up side by side. As the stars of an Aboriginal legend, the rocks have become the mascots of the Blue Mountains.

Lake Hillier

Australia offers tourists all kinds of weird and wonderful sights, like this bubblegum-pink lake on Middle Island in the Recherche archipelago off the south coast of Western Australia. The lake's water contains a very high concentration of salt, giving it a bright pink color. Still, this 600-meter-long lake has maintained some of its mystique, as scientists are still trying to understand why the water contains quite so much salt.

Daintree Rainforest

On the north-east coast of Queensland, north of Cairns, intrepid explorers can head for Daintree Rainforest, Australia's largest tropical forest. The region boasts a high level of biological diversity with one of the most complex ecosystems on Earth. Nature-lovers will be blown away by the scenery as well as the wildlife. This primeval forest is, for example, home to the famous green tree frog, a protected species in Australia. What's more, 90% of Australian species of butterflies and bats live in the forest.

The Pinnacles desert

The Pinnacles desert is another strange sight for visitors to behold. Found in the Nambung National Park, to the north of Perth in Western Australia, this sandy desert is home to a striking set of limestone rock formations spread across the site. These natural pillars are all different heights, with some towering up to four meters tall.

Kings Canyon

While North America has its Grand Canyon, Australia has Kings Canyon. There's more to the Northern Territory than Uluru (Ayers Rock), as around 300km from the famous Aboriginal landmark, the Watarrka National Park is a breathtaking sight. Located at the Western end of the George Gill Range, the Park is home to rock formations, steep gorges and the gaping Kings Canyon. Look out for the rock formations resembling animals that inspired Aboriginal legends. Tourists can explore the area with the 6km Kings Canyon Rim Walk, which takes in the clifftops before dropping down the canyon to a lush waterhole lined with prehistoric ferns.
US auto giant Ford announced Monday it will withdraw from Japan and Indonesia due to a weak profit outlook in the two Asian markets.

The number-two US automaker after General Motors plans to cease operations in Japan and Indonesia in the second half of 2016. It will close its Ford dealerships and stop importing Ford vehicles into the countries.



Ford said it would continue to provide service and warranty support in the two countries.



In 2015, Ford sales accounted for just 0.1 percent of the Japanese market and only 0.6 percent in Indonesia.



Ford did not say how many jobs would be affected by the move.




WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Republican presidential candidate George Pataki endorsed Marco Rubio for the party's presidential nomination on Tuesday, saying he believed the U.S. senator had a broad-based campaign and the ability to unite Americans. Pataki, a former New York governor who suspended his own presidential bid in late December, said in an interview on Fox News that Rubio's experience in Congress will help him lead the military and stand up to threats from abroad. "I have no doubt that Marco Rubio is ready today to lead this country, to serve and lead as our president, and to bring us together," he said. Pataki, 70, said he plans to campaign for the 44-year-old senator from Florida. "He's someone who understands not just New England or the Northeast; he understands this country," Pataki said. "I think he has the staying power and the vision to win not just the nomination, but most importantly, you have got to win the election," he said. "And I think he will." (Reporting by Megan Cassella; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
PARIS (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition platform created in Riyadh last month must lead proposed talks with the Syrian government, France's foreign ministry said on Tuesday. "The opposition group created in Riyadh gathers for the first time a large spectrum of politicians and non-jihadist military that are committed around a common project for a free, democratic and inclusive Syria," ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said in a daily briefing to reporters. "It is therefore up to this group to be the interlocutor of the regime in these negotiations." Nadal was responding to a question on whether Kurdish fighters should be part of talks expected to begin on Friday, as Russia has called for. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by James Regan)
(Reuters) - A business group said on Monday it was asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its appeal of a lower-court ruling tossing out its challenge of part of Seattle's law to increase the minimum wage. The International Franchise Association, which brought its lawsuit against the city in June 2014, says the law favors independent businesses because it requires franchises like McDonald's and Burger King to phase in the new $15 minimum wage more quickly. "Our appeal has never sought to prevent the City of Seattle's wage law from going into effect," association President Robert Cresanti said in a statement. "Our appeal to the Supreme Court will be focused solely on the discriminatory treatment of franchisees under Seattles wage law and the motivation to discriminate against interstate commerce," he said. The association's lawsuit challenges the law's treatment of franchises as subsidiaries of parent companies, rather than completely separate businesses. Representatives for the city could not be immediately reached for comment. Commenting on the lawsuit last year, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, a Democrat who championed the wage hike, said: "Rather than investing in lawyers to prevent workers from earning higher wages, it is time for these large businesses to begin investing in a higher minimum wage for their employees." A federal judge last March denied the group's lawsuit, saying it failed to back up its discrimination claims. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision in September. The law, which took effect on April 1 last year, requires businesses in Seattle with more than 500 employees nationwide to raise their minimum wage to $15 by 2018. Smaller companies have until 2021. Seattle is among a number of large U.S. cities to pass laws raising the minimum wage above $10 an hour. The franchise association's lawsuit could have an impact in cities like Chicago and San Francisco. The association said it expected the Supreme Court to say in the spring whether it would take the case. (Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Peter Cooney)
PARIS (Reuters) - Deals with French companies to help develop Iranian airports are likely to be announced during President Hassan Rouhani's two-day visit to Paris this week, a source close to the matter said on Tuesday.

"Cooperation deals on Iranian airports should be announced on Thursday," the source said.

Unveiling plans to buy 160 European planes last Sunday, Transport Minister Abbas Akhoondi had said Iran planned to award a contract soon for the expansion of Tehran's international airport.

Rouhani is heading a delegation of ministers and Iranian business leaders visiting Italy and France this week in a first official visit to Europe after sanctions were lifted on Iran.

The visit is expected to see the signing of deals and agreements in various sectors worth several billion dollars as Iran seeks to revamp its economy after the sanctions.

Rouhani will arrive in Paris on Wednesday for the two-day visit.

According to the Wall Street Journal, French construction group Bouygues <BOUY.PA> and Aeroports de Paris <ADP.PA> could be chosen to design and build a new terminal at Tehran's international airport while Vinci <SGEF.PA> could develop and operate airports in Mashhad and another Iranian city.

Bouygues, Vinci and ADP declined comment.

ADP's CEO Augustin de Romanet traveled to Iran last summer to discuss the expansion of Tehran's airport, a project ADP and Bouygues have been eyeing for several years.

"At this stage, talks continue but it is much too early for us to announce anything," an ADP spokeswoman recently said.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Gilles Guillaume and Cyril Altmeyer, Tim Hepher; Editing by Greg Mahlich and Michel Rose)
By Rich McKay

ATLANTA (Reuters) - A white police officer facing murder and other criminal charges in the shooting death of an unarmed, naked black man quit his post with an Atlanta-area law enforcement agency on Tuesday, his attorney said.

Robert Olsen worked for the DeKalb County Police Department for eight years. His resignation followed his indictment last week by a Georgia grand jury over the death of Anthony Hill.

The March 2015 shooting has drawn wide attention amid heightened scrutiny of the use of deadly force by U.S. police, particularly against minorities.

Olsen shot and killed Hill, a 27-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran who was nude and acting erratically in the parking lot of an apartment complex near Atlanta. Hill suffered from bipolar disorder and was having a manic episode, his family has said.

A grand jury last Thursday indicted Olsen on two counts of felony murder, two counts of violation of oath and one count each of making a false statement and aggravated assault.

His attorney, Donald Samuel, declined to elaborate on the resignation, but said Olsen would be exonerated of criminal wrongdoing. Olsen is free on $110,200 bond.

Olsen told a civil grand jury last year that Hill was coming at him in a hostile manner and disobeyed commands to stop, making him feel threatened.

Major Stephen Fore, spokesman for the DeKalb police, could not immediately be reached for comment. The department has an internal investigation into the deadly shooting.

(Editing by Letitia Stein and Peter Cooney)
Carefully steadying the gleaming red lantern between her knees, a worker applied the Chinese character for "wealth" in golden glitter -- one of the millions that will illuminate the forthcoming Lunar New Year.

A high wooden arch at the entrance to the snowy village of Tuntou, in Hebei province southwest of Beijing, proclaims it the "lantern capital" of the People's Republic.

Bai Liwei, the village's Communist Party leader, told AFP proudly: "80 to 90 percent of the lanterns used in China come from here."

For the past two months, the town has been churning out the pumpkin-shaped lamps in preparation for the biggest holiday of the year in the world's most populous country.

Known as the "Spring Festival" in China, the holiday, which falls on February 8 on this occasion, compares in importance to Christmas in the West, and marks a time when for far-flung family members return home for merriment and meals -- according to tradition, they must be back by midnight on the eve of the new year.

Tuntou village has specialised in artisanal lantern-making for nearly 40 years. It is not the site of enormous factories, instead the industry is driven by a number of private workshops in which families concentrate on the production of a single lantern element -- their spindly metal frames, the exterior "skin" of fabric or silk, the decorative inscriptions.

At the back of one assembly unit, high piles of nearly completed lanterns awaited processing, while workers wielded wooden canes to lift others high off the ground to dangle delicately from the ceiling.

The colour red symbolises luck and happiness in Chinese culture, and the lanterns are omnipresent throughout towns and countryside, trotted out at most important occasions: marriages, business openings, and most of all the Lunar New Year, which generally falls in late January or early to mid February.

"Outside of the peak holiday season, we also receive special requests: giant models, for example, or orders to decorate the Forbidden City in Beijing," explained Bai.

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"Tens of millions of lanterns are produced each year and all or almost all of them are sold. A portion is exported to Southeast Asia, the US or Japan. It's become an economic pillar for the village."

Traditionally, positive Chinese characters such as "happiness", "peace", and "family" are painted on their sides.

But in recent years their inscriptions have become increasingly political.

"The majority of these lanterns are decorated with one of the twelve 'socialist core values' promoted by President Xi Jinping," said Bai.

In Chinese homes across the country, this new year will be ushered in by concepts including "democracy", "freedom", "equality", "rule of law", and "patriotism".
By Megan Rowling BARCELONA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Giving everyone on the planet access to electricity and other modern energy can and must be achieved earlier than a target date of 2030, because it is vital both to improve people's lives and curb climate change, said the official leading the push. Rachel Kyte, who took over this month as CEO of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative set up by the U.N. secretary-general, said the numbers are now being crunched to work out how soon the goal of universal access could be met. The answer is likely to be somewhere in the early 2020s, given the right circumstances, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. There are still around 1 billion people in the world without access to electricity, and nearly 3 billion who cook using polluting fuels such as kerosene, wood and dung. Beating the 2030 deadline to end that energy poverty - a goal enshrined in the new Sustainable Development Goals agreed in September - is essential to ensure economic growth in the future does not leave some people out, Kyte said. Climate-changing emissions also need to be reduced faster than governments have pledged in order to keep people safe from the worst impacts of global warming. That means energy must be provided from renewable sources as far as possible, she added. "I personally think it is outrageous that with all of the capabilities we have, we've got women who have the choice of imperiling their children's health or eating because they have no alternative but unclean cooking. Or the entrepreneur that can't employ any more people because his power is one hour on, six hours off," she said in a telephone interview. "So yes, we're going to get this done earlier," vowed the former World Bank special envoy for climate change. The SE4ALL initiative, now in the process of becoming an international non-profit organization, has three goals to be met by 2030: providing universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewables in the global energy mix. Kyte said there is urgency around these aims, particularly in the wake of December's Paris climate change agreement, which commits the world to keeping global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. About 1 degree of warming has already occurred, scientists say. In addition, people who lack access to sustainable energy need it well before 2030 if other development goals to ensure healthy lives and education for all, end hunger and provide clean water and sanitation are to become a reality by that date, Kyte said. "You can't give birth safely if the midwife is holding a torch between her teeth," she said, citing an example used by Gro Harlem Brundtland, a former Norwegian prime minister regarded as the mother of sustainable development. There is no internationally accepted definition of "modern energy", according to the International Energy Agency. But it identifies access as a household having a minimum level of electricity and a relatively clean, safe means of cooking. TECHNOLOGY 'REVOLUTION' Kyte, who is British but based in Washington DC, said the gaps in energy access around the world are well known, and power from renewable sources such as solar can now be provided cheaply in remote areas, thanks to technological advances such as "pay as you go" systems using mobile phones. "The technology revolution is happening on its own, the policy revolution is stuck or nascent in places, and then the finance revolution has to keep up with both," she said. There is a need to draw up "bankable projects" in regions with a modern energy deficit, such as Africa, and to provide development finance to lower risk and encourage private-sector investors on a large scale, she added. "Lots of those pieces are now more in place than they have ever been, but everything is cyclical, and now we are starting to see a little bit of softening in demand from developing countries because of oil," she said. As oil prices have plunged in recent months, they are denting producer governments' revenues and in turn their economies, she added. But the drop in oil prices to around $30 per barrel is also an opportunity for governments, including wealthy ones, to phase out billions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies, she noted. "There is no long-term gain from having those subsidies in place. There is no reason to not do it," she said. MONEY INTO POWER Kyte said governments had agreed in 2015 to pursue a low-carbon future, and should push ahead despite worries around faltering growth in China and emerging markets. "There is no uncertainty about where we are trying to get to," she said. "Figuring out how to build a framework that will support investment in the right direction is this year's work." Development finance institutions must now work out how to find the capital they need to help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, or come up with new instruments to make it happen, Kyte said. Last week, the African Development Bank launched a "New Deal on Energy for Africa", which aims to achieve universal access to modern energy on the continent by 2025. It plans to raise an additional $40 billion to $70 billion per year in domestic and international capital - a big increase from the $22.5 billion invested in the sector in 2014 - through new public-private partnerships. Kyte said the challenge was to get resources to where they are needed in developing countries. Regulatory environments for utilities must be improved, while power grids are extended and made smarter. At the same, micro-grids and off-grid power should be expanded in rural areas, harnessing solar, wind and other clean energy sources. "There are quite substantial amounts of money on the table, but that money has to be translated into kilowatt hours and (more) people connected really quite quickly," she said. (Reporting by Megan Rowling; editing by Laurie Goering. 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 news.trust.org)
PainKiller

Racial stereotypes may be playing a role in the US opioid overdose epidemic, according to a leading expert on opioid addiction.

The rate of white Americans dying annually from drug overdoses has roughly doubled from 2002 to 2014, while the rate of black Americans and Hispanics who die from drug overdoses has remained almost unchanged over that same time frame, according to recently released data from the CDC.

Dr. Andrew Kolodny, the chief medical officer for The Phoenix House and a leading expert on opioid addiction, told Business Insider these trends might have a direct connection to some doctors allowing racist stereotypes to influence the way they prescribe opioid pain killers.

"What's happening is we're overexposing whites to prescription opioids," he said. "Doctors prescribe narcotics more cautiously to black patients. It appeared the doctor may be more worried about addiction or diversion of the pills onto the black market if the patient was black and if the patient is white, they're overprescribing."

While it's impossible to know doctors' reasons for prescribing certain medications  and individual doctors of course vary significantly in their background and world view  studies have shown that some doctors are less likely to prescribe opioid painkillers to black patients, while other research has suggested that black patients may be less likely to report serious pain.

A 2003 study in The American Journal of Public Health found that opioid painkillers were far less likely to be prescribed to black patients than to whites for migraines or back pain. And a 2013 study from the journal Pediatrics found that black patients were much less likely than white patients to be prescribed those painkillers for abdominal pain.

A 2011 study from the journal Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research noted that some black patients may underreport the severity of their pain. Still, the study acknowledged that physicians were a major contributor to the racial disparities in the way pain is treated, "reflect[ing] limited awareness of their own cultural beliefs and stereotypes regarding pain, minority individuals, and use of narcotic analgesics."

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Whatever the causes of the disparity, it's clear far more white people are dying from opioid overdoses today.

White Americans of all ages are about twice as likely to die from a drug overdose as black Americans, and four times as likely to die of a drug overdose as Hispanics, based on the CDC data from 2014. These drug overdoses are mostly due to opioid addiction from both prescription pain killers and heroin.

Broken down by certain age groups, the data is even more staggering.

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In 2014, white Americans between the age of 25-34 were dying by overdose at a rate that's roughly three times what it was in 2002, while the death rate for black Americans and Hispanics went relatively unchanged over that 12-year period.

White Americans between 15 and 24 years old were roughly six times more likely to die from a drug overdose in 2014 than black Americans and about four times as likely to die than Hispanics.

For white Americans between the age of 35 and 44 as well as between 45 and 54, a large uptick in the death rate from drug overdoses was also experienced between 2002 and 2014. Meanwhile, the rate of drug overdose deaths for black Americans and Hispanics remained unchanged.

"I think very often, there's this idea [addicts are] likely to be poor and non-white and engaged in a criminal subculture," Kolodny said. "I think there's this perception that addicts are born bad. There's this subset of our population that is just going to be addicts, they'll get their hands on whatever drugs they can. I don't think there's an appreciation of the fact that addiction can be caused by repeated exposure to a highly addictive drug."

More than 47,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2014, per the CDC.





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CAIRO (Reuters) - In 2011, activist Esraa Abdel-Fattah helped ignite revolution on the streets of Egypt and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Five years after the fall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak, she is shunned or insulted by Egyptians on those same streets. "They say I am a traitor and foreign agent and that we are the people who destroyed the country. I hear it when I am passing people in the streets," said Abdel-Fattah. "Some people still ask "what was wrong with Mubarak?". Abdel-Fattah and a small circle of fellow activists were once seen by many in Egypt as the best hope for an end to corruption and repression and the dawning of an era of free speech and respect for citizens by the state. Nowadays, she cuts a lonely figure in her small apartment, hoping Egyptians will rise up again to demand democracy despite the fiercest crackdown on dissent in the country's modern history. "I don't know if people will take to the streets tomorrow, or next year, or the following year," the 37-year-old journalist told Reuters at her home in the Sheikh Zayed suburb of Cairo. "The revolution is people demanding freedom, bread, justice, and dignity. People will keep demanding them." Abdel-Fattah helped organise the demonstrations that began on January 25 and ended Mubarak's 30-year rule 18 days later, only to see Egypt return to what human rights groups call an authoritarian state after years of upheaval. The Muslim Brotherhood was elected after Mubarak's departure. A year later the Islamist movement was overthrown by then military chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, following mass protests against its turbulent rule. Esraa Abdel-Fattah had co-founded the April 6 Youth Movement, which became a driving force of the 2011 street protests. Known as "Facebook Girl", she and other social media activists launched a web page that urged young people to join a strike to support workers in an industrial town. She was arrested as a result but not held for long. MASS ARRESTS, CLAMPDOWN ON PROTESTS Abdel-Fattah said it does not pay to be as daring in Egypt under Sisi, who went on to become elected president, the latest man from the military to rule. Security forces have arrested about 40,000 political activists, Islamists and liberals alike, under Sisi, human rights groups estimate. Protesting without police permission is a crime, a clearer penalty than the situation during Mubarak's rule, one of the reasons Abdel-Fattah gives for not planning any demonstrations for the foreseeable future. About 300 people gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Monday, not to celebrate the instigators of the revolt that overthrew Mubarak but to praise the police who tried to stop them. [L8N1591SL] Many Egyptians, craving stability after years of political turmoil, backed Sisi's crackdown on Mursi's followers, described by the government as an effort to stamp out Islamist militant terrorists. "Anyone who protests is locked up. Even people who write their opinions on Facebook or Twitter are questioned about their writings," she said. The powerful state media brands Abdel-Fattah and others who were instrumental in the 2011 demonstrations "Enemies of Egypt". Those who are not behind bars feel like pariahs. Abdel-Fattah has not lost hope, however. "No one in the world knew that the revolution of January 25, 2011 would look like it did. I see in the eyes of younger generations the idea and dream of a revolution is still there," she said. "I am ready to play any role, big or small, to complete this revolution, I could be jailed for a tweet, or anything I write." She believes the relentless pressure on government opponents will ultimately backfire and generate new calls for freedoms. "This can't go on, the widening of detentions of the innocents. You have families that are destroyed," said Abdel- Fattah. "We also have people who are arrested without charge. They can stay in jail up to three or four years. I don't believe this can go on. The revolution lives inside us. It will come," she said. She does not need to look far for a reminder that Sisi appears firmly in control. Beside her is a handmade poster given to her by friends to cheer her up. It reads: "Let Esraa Fly". Pro-government Egyptians say she and other activists received funds from abroad to incite protests and conspire against the state. They deny the allegations, which have not been tested in court, but Abdel-Fattah is banned from leaving Egypt. (Editing by Philippa Fletcher)
LONDON (Reuters) - British housebuilder Crest Nicholson plans to build more homes in London's suburbs because buyers are struggling to meet sky-high prices in the centre of the capital, it said on Tuesday. The company, which reported a 32 percent rise in pretax profit for the year to October, said it expected to be building around 400 houses in London a year by 2018-19, up from around 200 now, but that a larger proportion would be on the outskirts. "Whilst this year we're selling in zone one (central London), towards the end of this year we'll be selling homes in Peckham, in Sydenham, in West Wycombe," Chief Executive Stephen Stone told Reuters, referring to areas progressively further from the centre. Many Londoners, unable to afford to buy in central districts where foreign investors have helped push up prices, are looking further afield, where houses cost less, although prices are rising faster. In a bid to help buyers across the country, the government has set up a scheme to lend up to 20 percent of the value of a new home, provided the rest of the purchase is covered by a mortgage and a five percent deposit. From early this year, the government will lend anyone buying a new home in London up to 40 percent of the purchase price. Crest Nicholson built 2,725 homes in south Wales, London and southern and eastern England in the year to October. It made a pretax profit of 154 million pounds ($219 million), and said it was on track to build 4,000 homes a year by 2019. (Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Mark Potter)
Ever since the September 11, 2012, attack of a United States outpost in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans killed, questions have continued to arise over the role of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the attack  or rather, a potential failure to do anything about it. However, is Clinton complicit in the Benghazi attack?

Following the attack, which included the death of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, United Nations' U.S. ambassador, Susan Rice, explained on ABC's This Week that the strike was, in part, a response to protests to an anti-Islam video, rather than a terrorist attack.

By not formally labeling it as a terrorist attack in the offset, Republicans and conservative media outlets (Fox News, in particular) put forth the idea that Benghazi was a "cover-up" by the Obama administration. Essentially, the claim is that the administration did not heed proper security warnings before the attack, which lead to military support coming in too late. This was aided by the recovery of Stevens' personal journal after the assault by CNN, which the broadcasting network reported that he wrote he was concerned about security in Libya in the months prior to the attack.

Where does Clinton play into this? Well, aside from being the Secretary of State  an important cabinet position  she later took responsibility for the security at the compound, or rather, a lack thereof. "I'm in charge of the State Department's 60,000-plus people all over the world, 275 posts," Clinton said, in an interview with CNN. "The president and the vice president wouldn't be knowledgeable about specific decisions that are made by security professionals. They're the ones who weigh all of the threats and the risks and the needs, and make a considered decision."

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Since the terrorist strike, investigations have detailed failures on the end of the State Department and the , which included a Senate Intelligence Committee report in January 2014 that said both were at fault for failing to prevent the attack, according to the Washington Post. However, there was only one specific reference to Clinton throughout the report.

"The document contains only one mention of then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, whom the panel's Republicans name as the official who should ultimately be held responsible for the failures in Benghazi," Adam Goldman and Anne Gearan wrote for the Post. "Even so, the report is likely to provide fodder for both Republicans and Democrats as Clinton ponders a possible presidential run in 2016."

With the expectation to uncover more evidence, Republicans then formed the House Select Committee on Benghazi in May 2014, to examine government policies related to the consulate attack. As State Department officials responded to the request, it was revealed that Clinton's State Department email account had no correspondence.

As a result, the State Department formally asked Clinton to turn over her emails from her private server, which started the now-infamous email scandal. Of the 50,000 pages of emails Clinton provided to the State Department, roughly 900 were in reference to Libya and were later sent to the House Committee.

Clinton has been investigated thoroughly by the House Committee, most recently at a Benghazi hearing in October (by then, she was a presidential nominee). While it could have stood to tarnish her presidential campaign, she staved off overly inflated accusations that seemed to fit the Republican narrative of the story  that she was the most responsible, and was negligent to respond properly.

"Clinton was able to deflect responsibility for initially incorrect assessments of the motivation of the attack, stating the State Department was relying on information from the intelligence community," Mic's Stefan Becket wrote.

Benghazi security failures were a stunning example of an incompetent foreign policy. @HillaryClinton's role as SOS deserves scrutiny today.

"I am here to honor the service of those four men...and the work their colleagues do every single day all over the world." -Hillary

@HillaryClinton offers to send Rep. @Jim_Jordan a copy of her book http://politi.co/1KraxYr pic.twitter.com/W4S9DnNnNI

Overall, the most recent Republican accusations on Benghazi  and, broadly, the email scandal  have proved to be more of a concerted effort by Republicans to hurt her upcoming candidacy.

"They've done so partly out [of] political expediency  they think it's a great way to attack Clinton's presidential campaign  and partly out of a genuine belief that the administration is covering up the truth," Zack Beauchamp and Carlos Waters wrote for Vox.

This investigation does not end today. We will continue interviewing others till we get to the bottom of this

In the aftermath of Benghazi and the email scandal, Clinton's poll numbers have demonstrated an increased lack of trust in the former Secretary of State from Democratic and independent voters. to a CNN/ORC poll of registered voters, % of self-described independents, in addition to % of Democrats, believe Clinton had done something wrong by having a private email server.

It has helped, however, that her main competition for the Democratic nomination  Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders  has not taken any media bait with the scandal, and, by association, Benghazi.

Regardless, it's likely that the Benghazi attack will be brought up again by the Conservative media and GOP hopefuls throughout the election cycle, particularly when issues of foreign policy are brought to the forefront. Clinton's response so far, though, has shown that she's able to stand her ground through extensive investigations, and that should put her Democratic supporters at ease.
BBC Three, the U.K. public broadcaster's youth network that is going online-only next month, has revealed new programming plans.

They include a collaboration with Idris Elbas Green Door Pictures, new drama Clique from Skins writer Jess Brittain, and documentary Black Power.

On Feb. 16, BBC Three, whose target audience is people aged 16-34, will end its linear TV channel and focus on its offers online.

The collaboration between BBC Drama and Elbas production company is scheduled to produce a series of short dramas "from new writers featuring new on-screen talent working alongside established on-screen talent." Said Elba: "Im looking forward to working with BBC Three and giving new writers and actors a chance to show what they can do."

Meanwhile, Clique focuses on two friends whose lives become increasingly complicated after they start university in Edinburgh. And Black Power is Dan Murdoch's follow-up to his documentary KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy. It will see the filmmaker "revisit the USA and meet the Ku Klux Klan and Black Panther movements."

Among the other BBC Three programming plans are documentaries on attitudes toward sex and prostitution in Turkey, Brazil and Russia and a short film about the New Years Eve attacks on women in Cologne.

The online network will also feature the previously announced Class, a Doctor Who spin-off from young-adult author Patrick Ness set in contemporary London. "Incredible dangers are breaking through the walls of time and space, and with darkness coming, London is unprotected," according to a show description.

Said Damian Kavanagh, controller of BBC Three: "BBC Three is a badge of quality and shorthand for content that will stimulate emotions and provoke reactions. It's the same award-winning programs freed from the constraints of linear TV, and because we're freed from the schedule we can use whatever format and platform is most appropriate. The majority of what we will make is TV...but we'll make short-form video, blogs and picture-led stories as well. We'll be on YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook and our new site The Daily Drop."

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He added: "New talent is at the core of BBC Three. We're working with Idris Elba's Green Door Pictures on a series of London-set drama shorts featuring chance encounters between two people. A co-development with BBC Drama in-house, these will focus on developing new and up-and-coming writing talent as well as giving opportunities for new actors to work with established talent."

Read More: BBC Youth Network Online-Only Move Gets Final Approval
New Delhi (AFP) - Thousands gathered in New Delhi amid tight security Tuesday for India's annual Republic Day parade, a pomp-filled spectacle of military might featuring camels and daredevil stunt riders, with French President Francois Hollande the chief guest.

A contingent of French infantry in India for joint military exercises led the march down the capital's central Rajpath avenue, the first time foreign troops have ever taken part in the parade.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Hollande in a show of solidarity with France after Islamist attacks in Paris last November killed 130 -- recalling a 2008 assault on Mumbai that killed 166.

The two leaders agreed in talks Monday to deepen cooperation on counter-terrorism in the wake of the Paris attacks and a deadly siege this month on an Indian air force base near the Pakistan border.

The mood on Tuesday was more celebratory, with Modi -- sporting a gold turban that rivalled the spectacular military headgear on display -- and Hollande chatting as they sat side by side in a bulletproof glass enclosure.

- Human pyramid -

An estimated 10,000 spectators braved thick smog and air quality levels classified as hazardous on the US embassy website to watch the display, the highlight of annual celebrations of the birth of modern India.

Delhi is the world's most polluted capital and levels of PM2.5 -- the tiny particles that can enter the bloodstream -- frequently reach 10 times the World Health Organization's safe limit.

But the skies remained dry, unlike last year when chief guest US President Barack Obama was forced to shelter under an umbrella throughout.

The two-hour showcase of military might and cultural diversity included everything from tanks and state-of-the-art weaponry to camels and traditional dancers.

The mounted camels of the Border Security Force -- an annual highlight -- put in an early showing, decorated in brightly coloured caparisons.

Traditional dancers representing some of India's diverse regional cultures performed on colourfully decorated floats showcasing selected states.

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A dog squad drawn from the Army's Remount Veterinary Corps returned to the parade after a gap of 26 years to perform a march past wearing striped coats in their unit's colours.

They were followed by motorbike stunt riders performing a human pyramid, another annual tradition, before the grand finale of the event, a fly-past by Indian fighter jets.

India launched a nationwide security crackdown in the lead-up to the celebrations, which mark the adoption of the country's constitution on January 26, 1950 following independence from Britain in 1947.

Counter-terror police arrested a group of suspected Islamist radicals and seized bomb-making material in a series of nationwide raids last week, and some 50,000 police, army and paramilitary forces were deployed across the capital on Tuesday.

It was the fifth time a French president has been chief guest, the greatest honour India can bestow on a foreign leader.

Hollande was due to leave Delhi later Tuesday at the end of a three-day official visit that began in the northern city of Chandigarh.

His visit had raised hopes of a conclusion to a long-delayed, multi-billion-dollar deal for New Delhi to buy 36 French Rafale jet fighters.

The two sides said they had not yet arrived at an agreement on the price, which experts say could reach around five billion euros ($5.6 billion).

Rafale manufacturer Dassault said after the announcement it was hopeful the price negotiations could be completed within the next four weeks.

India entered exclusive negotiations on buying 126 Rafale fighters in 2012, but the number of planes was scaled back in tortuous negotiations over cost and assembly of the planes in India.

On Monday the two men laid a foundation stone at the new headquarters of the International Solar Alliance, a 121-nation group launched by Modi at the Paris COP21 conference in November to expand affordable solar power.
By Sam Wilkin DUBAI (Reuters) - Four-fifths of candidates for the body that will choose Iran's next Supreme Leader have withdrawn or been disqualified including a grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini close to reformist politicians, in a setback to President Hassan Rouhani. The 12-member Guardian Council, a clerical body that oversees elections and legislation, approved just 166 of the 801 candidates for the Assembly of Experts, electoral commission spokesman Siamak Rahpeik was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA on Tuesday. The disqualifications, a week after thousands of parliamentary candidates were similarly excluded, are a blow to Rouhani, who is signing business deals in Europe this week after pushing through a nuclear deal with world powers. Back in Tehran, hardliners who opposed his diplomatic opening are manoeuvring to exclude his allies from the upcoming elections and check his ambitions to carry out domestic reforms. Among those excluded was Hassan Khomeini, grandson of the Islamic Republic's first Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, his son Ahmad said on Instagram. Hassan Khomeini, the first member of his family to stand in elections, is seen as politically moderate and is popular among Iran's beleaguered reformists. Elections to the 88-member Assembly of Experts fall on Feb. 26. The Assembly oversees the activities of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and will choose his successor if the 76-year-old cleric dies or becomes incapacitated during its eight-year term. Elections to the 290-seat parliament are being held on the same day. Last week, the Guardian Council disqualified more than 7,000 of the 12,000 parliamentary candidates, including almost all reformist candidates and many moderates. Rouhani, who hopes his moderate allies can wrest control of the two assemblies from hardline factions, criticised the disqualification of parliamentary candidates and may also oppose the mass exclusion of Assembly of Experts candidates. But Khamenei, who outranks the president, called for candidates to be strictly vetted, and Guardian Council Chairman Ahmad Jannati assured him the council would "not be affected by any pressure". "The message to Rouhani and many others is that there are thick red lines at the heart of the establishment," said Hossein Rassam, former political adviser to the British Embassy in Tehran. The Guardian Council, which is dominated by hardliners, can disqualify candidates on a diverse range of technical and ideological grounds including gender, level of education, and commitment to Islam and the constitution. REVOLUTIONARY LEGACY Ahmad Khomeini said his father, a 43-year-old mid-ranking cleric, had been disqualified on the grounds of his religious credentials despite the testimony of dozens of senior religious figures. Hassan Khomeini said he would issue a response in the coming days. Khamenei initially approved Khomeini's candidacy, but warned him not to damage the family name. Khomeini's grandfather led Iran's 1979 revolution and founded the Islamic Republic. He died in 1989 and was succeeded by Khamenei. Despite his revolutionary lineage, Hassan Khomeini is politically moderate and close to several reformist politicians who were sidelined after disputed presidential elections in 2009. He formed an informal alliance of political moderates with Rouhani and former president Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Rouhani and Rafsanjani are also candidates for the Assembly of Experts and were approved by the Guardian Council. But the exclusion of the charismatic Khomeini, with his unique revolutionary legacy, is a major blow to the moderate movement. With so few candidates approved, conservatives appear likely to stay firmly in control of both parliament and the Assembly of Experts. "The tiny faction led by Rafsanjani, who once used to lead the assembly, will not be able to have a big say," Rassam said. Rafsanjani was ousted as the Assembly's chairman last year in favour of Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, a hardliner. Hardliners have thwarted Rouhani's attempts to push through domestic reform since his election as president in 2013, including proposals to codify political crimes and prevent the security forces from policing religious adherence. (Reporting by Sam Wilkin; additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; editing by Dominic Evans)
Jerusalem (AFP) - An Israeli woman stabbed and killed by two Palestinians in a West Bank settlement was buried on Tuesday, as pressure mounted on Benjamin Netanyahu's government to stem a fresh wave of attacks.

A spokeswoman for Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital said Shlomit Krigman, 24, had died after being admitted on Monday in the wake of the attack.

She was buried in a Jerusalem cemetery on Tuesday afternoon.

Another woman wounded in the same Monday attack outside a grocery store in Beit Horon settlement, northwest of Jerusalem, was hospitalised in moderate condition.

The two attackers, identified by Palestinian media as Ibrahim Allan, 23, and Hussein Abu Ghosh, 17, were shot dead by a security guard.

They had tried to enter the store armed with knives but were blocked by an employee who used a shopping cart, CCTV images showed.

Police also found and defused three pipe bombs the assailants had thrown at the shop but which did not explode.

A childhood friend of Krigman told Israeli public radio she grew up in the West Bank and had previously been close to the religious nationalist movement. She had recently completed studies in industrial design.

The attack was the third inside a West Bank settlement since January 17, when an Israeli woman was stabbed to death by a 15-year-old Palestinian at the entrance to her home in Otniel.

A day later, an Israeli woman was stabbed and wounded by a 17-year-old Palestinian in Tekoa.

Violence since October 1 has killed 159 Palestinians and 25 Israelis, as well as an American and an Eritrean, according to an AFP count.

- Four women stabbed -

Before January 17, Jewish settlements built on land occupied by Israel in 1967 and considered illegal by much of the international community had been spared much of the violence.

Women were also not targeted in the attacks.

But Monday's stabbings and the discovery of explosive devices have increased domestic pressure on the Israeli government, which derives much of its support from the settler community.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Facebook message on Monday that he had instructed the army to submit a "comprehensive plan" to better ensure the security of settlements.

He also announced that he would revoke the work permits of the attackers' relatives, which allow them to be employed in the settlements or in Israel.

The army also sealed off all access to the Palestinian village of Beit Ur al-Tahta, home of one of the two attackers and which is close to Beit Horon, an army spokesman said.

Only "humanitarian cases" can enter or leave the village, he said.

The army also took steps to "strengthen security" in the settlements, added the spokesman without elaborating.

Most of the Palestinians killed since October have been attackers, while others have been shot dead by Israeli forces during protests and clashes.

About 400,000 Israeli settlers live alongside around 2.5 million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Approximately 27,000 Palestinians have work permits in the settlements where they can earn far higher salaries than elsewhere in the West Bank, according to Israeli data.

The United States, the United Nations and the European Union oppose all Israeli settlement building, and consider them an obstacle to peace.

The Israeli defence ministry, however, has approved the construction of 153 new settler homes in the West Bank, the Israeli settlement watchdog Peace now said on Monday.

The move mark the end of an informal construction freeze in the Palestinian territory that lasted 18 months, the NGO said.

US-backed peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel collapsed in April 2014 amid bitter mutual recriminations.

A chief grievance of the Palestinians was settlement building on land they claim for a future state.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday accused the UN chief of "encouraging terror" after Ban Ki-moon spoke of Palestinian frustration at Israel's occupation and said it was natural to resist.

"The comments of the UN Secretary General encourage terror," Netanyahu said in a statement. "There is no justification for terror."

Earlier, Ban told the UN Security Council of the "profound sense of alienation and despair driving some Palestinians - especially young people" in the upsurge of attacks on Israelis since the start of October.

"Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process," he said.

"As oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism."

Violence since October 1 has killed 159 Palestinians and 25 Israelis, as well as an American and an Eritrean, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians killed since October have been attackers, while others have been shot dead by Israeli forces during protests and clashes.

Ban condemned the Palestinian attacks, but said Israeli settlement building cast doubt on Israel's commitment to the goal of an independent Palestine alongside the Jewish state.

"Continued settlement activities are an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community," he said.

"They rightly raise fundamental questions about Israel's commitment to a two-state solution."

Netanyahu responded that the Palestinians themselves were not working for two states.

"The Palestinian murderers do not want to build a state, they want to destroy a state and they say it out loud," he said.

"They want to murder Jews wherever they are and they say so out loud. They do not murder for peace and they do not murder for human rights."

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- Netanyahu under pressure -

An Israeli woman stabbed and killed by two Palestinians in a West Bank settlement was buried on Tuesday as pressure mounted on Netanyahu's government to stem a new wave of attacks.

Shlomit Krigman, 24, died overnight of wounds from Monday's attack.

The two attackers, identified by Palestinian media as Ibrahim Allan, 23, and Hussein Abu Ghosh, 17, were shot dead by a security guard.

It was the third attack inside a West Bank settlement since January 17, when an Israeli woman was stabbed to death by a 15-year-old Palestinian at the entrance to her home in Otniel.

A day later, an Israeli woman was stabbed and wounded by a 17-year-old Palestinian in Tekoa.

Before January 17, Jewish settlements built on land occupied by Israel in 1967 and considered illegal by much of the international community had been spared much of the violence.

But Monday's stabbings increased domestic pressure on the Israeli government, which derives much of its support from the settler community.

Netanyahu said on Monday he had instructed the army to submit a "comprehensive plan" to better ensure the security of settlements.

He also announced he would revoke the work permits of the attackers' relatives, which allow them to be employed in the settlements or in Israel.

The army also sealed off the Palestinian village of Beit Ur al-Tahta, home of one of the two attackers and which is close to Beit Horon, an army spokesman said.

About 400,000 Israeli settlers live alongside around 2.5 million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The United States, United Nations and the European Union oppose all Israeli settlement building, and consider it an obstacle to peace.

Israel's defence ministry, however, has approved the construction of 153 new settler homes in the West Bank, the Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said on Monday.

The move marks the end of an informal construction freeze in the Palestinian territory that lasted 18 months, the NGO said.

US-backed peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel collapsed in April 2014 amid bitter mutual recriminations.

A chief grievance of the Palestinians was Israeli settlement building on land they claim for a future state.
Japan's Emperor Akihito pledged Tuesday to honour those who died in one of World War II's deadliest battles, as he began a historic visit to the Philippines.

Akihito, 82, and his wife, Empress Michiko, 81, will visit two war memorials during the five-day trip, the first by a reigning Japanese emperor to the Southeast Asian nation.

"In the Philippines, many lives of Filipinos, Americans and Japanese were lost during the war," Akihito said at a ceremony before leaving Tokyo.

Akihito specifically noted the battle for the liberation of Manila in 1945, where an estimated 100,000 people were killed.

"We'd like to conduct our visit by always keeping this in mind," he said.

As soon as Akihito stepped out of the plane at Manila's airport, he offered a slight bow. He was then welcomed on the tarmac by President Benigno Aquino and many of his cabinet secretaries.

The Philippines is the latest stop in the soft-spoken emperor's pacifist pilgrimage, which has appeared to contradict his government's nationalist bent.

The emperor and empress have previously journeyed to other Pacific battle sites where Japanese troops and civilians made desperate last stands in the name of wartime emperor Hirohito, Akihito's father.

On visits to Saipan in 2005 and Palau last year they prayed not just for the Japanese soldiers and civilians who perished, but also colonial subjects and troops from its wartime enemy, the United States.

In remarks at a memorial marking the 70th anniversary of Japan's 1945 surrender, Akihito expressed "profound remorse" for the war fought in his father's name, reportedly the first time he used those words at the annual event.

Akihito was 11 years old when the war ended with the obliteration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

In the Philippines the couple will pay their respects at separate memorials for Filipino and Japanese WWII casualties.

They will also visit a Japanese language training centre and the International Rice Research Institute.

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Japan's brutal three-year occupation of the Philippines ended in 1945 after the Americans liberated their former colony in a daring sea battle.

The two nations have steadily built closer ties, with Japan the Philippines' biggest source of foreign investment and aid.

Akihito's trip is being held to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations.

The two nations have also drawn closer in recent years as they have struggled to deal with similar territorial rivalries with China.

However not everyone in the Philippines has welcomed the closer ties.

Filipina women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military have vowed to hold protests in Manila during Akihito's visit.

They believe the Japanese government has never made a sincere apology or offered adequate compensation for the war crimes.
Nouakchott (AFP) - Al-Qaeda's north Africa affiliate has claimed the kidnapping of a Swiss woman in Mali in a video seen by AFP on Wednesday, with an English-accented jihadist listing conditions for the hostage's release.

Beatrice Stockly, who was previously abducted by Islamists in northern Mali's Timbuktu in 2012, was taken for the second time on January 7 by armed men who stormed her home in the country's fabled city.

The eight-minute video includes triumphant montages of jihadists brandishing weapons and a masked speaker with an English accent who claims responsibility for the abduction on behalf of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

"Beatrice Stockly is a Swiss nun who declared war against Islam in her attempt to Christianise Muslims," the speaker said.

A video released on YouTube in June showing two other Western hostages held by AQIM also featured a jihadist with an English accent.

The man in the new video appeared heavier than the man in the June video and their voices sounded different.

In the new message, the jihadist said Stockly was released after the first kidnap on condition that she would not "return to any Muslim land preaching Christianity.

"But she had nullified this agreement and returned to Timbuktu," he said in English.

Stockly has previously been identified as a missionary and social worker in her 40s who had lived in Timbuktu for years.

AQIM's use of an English-accented spokesman has parallels to "Jihadi John", the British extremist born Mohammed Emwazi who was identified as the executioner of Western hostages in a string of Islamic State group videos before he was killed in a drone strike.

- Conditions -

With at least three other fighters dimly lit in the background, the speaker listed conditions for Stockly's release.

They include freeing a number of AQIM fighters jailed in Mali and one of their leaders, Abu Tourab, detained at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

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Abu Ahmad Tourab is the nom de guerre of Ahmad al-Faki al-Mahdi, who is accused of ordering the destruction of historical monuments in Timbuktu in 2012.

Tourab, who was a leader of the Al-Qaeda-linked Malian group Ansar Dine, is the first jihadist to appear before the war crimes court.

Stockly appears at the end of the video dressed in a black hijab. She identifies herself and the date as Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

A Swiss foreign ministry spokesman told AFP that Bern was "aware of the video in question," and called for the hostage's unconditional release.

Northern Mali has remained restive since a loose coalition of Islamists and Tuareg rebels overran the region in 2012.

Jihadist fighters were largely chased from the area in 2013 by a French-led military intervention, but entire swathes of the area remain beyond the reach of both the Malian army and foreign troops.

- 'Patient' -

The speaker in the video said AQIM had developed an expertise in dealing with Western hostages and was prepared to be "patient" while waiting for its demands to be met.

Stockly's capture is believed to be the first in northern Mali since the kidnap and murder of two French journalists late November 2013 in Kidal.

But an elderly Australian doctor and his wife were seized by jihadists in a remote town in neighbouring Burkina Faso on the night of January 15-16.

That abduction, also reportedly carried out by fighters from AQIM, coincided with a jihadist assault on an upmarket hotel in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou that left at least 30 people dead and raised fears of a widening Islamist threat in the region.

When Stockly was first abducted she was said to be the last Westerner living in Timbuktu, which she refused to leave when it fell to Ansar Dine.

Two weeks after her capture, special forces from Burkina Faso swept into rebel-held northern Mali aboard a helicopter and whisked her to safety in a pre-arranged handover.

At the time, around two dozen hostages were seized in the Sahel region, most of them held by AQIM and another Islamist group, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO).

Almost all were subsequently released.

Aside from Stockly and the Australian couple, three other hostages remain in captivity, a South African and a Swede seized in 2011 -- who were shown in AQIM's June video -- and a Romanian snatched in 2015.
WME has signed John de Mols Talpa Media, the production company behind such global unscripted formats as The Voice, Utopia, I Love My Country, and Dating In The Dark. In total, Talpa has created over 100 shows programmed in 180 countries. Last year Talpa was acquired by ITV Studios for $530 million in cash in a deal that could be worth as much as $1.2 billion.

While Talpa has collaborated with talent agencies on packaging specific projects, WME is the first agency to represent the company as a whole.

thevoice__120514164814

Talpas best known format, The Voice, has been successfully adapted in the U.S. by NBC. Its spinoff, The Voice Kids, has 31 local versions and was recently commissioned in the UK by ITV network, which took over the mothership series from the BBC. Some of the other Talpa series include game shows Divided and The Big Picture, dance competition Dance, Dance, Dance and talent show The Puppetshow, which launched successfully in Holland, where Talpa Medias headquarters are based, last year and recently sold to Germany and France.

Before launching Talpa in 2005, Dutch media tycoon de Mol co-founded Endemol and created Big Brother, Fear Factor, and Deal or No Deal.

With WMEs extensive, strong relationships within the Hollywood community, we are looking forward to collaborating together on all our current and future projects, said Jay Bienstock, CEO, Talpa Media USA.

Talpa Media, which is a separate business unit within ITV Studios, comprises Talpa Netherlands and Talpa Global. Talpa Netherlands consists of Talpa Content, the groups in-house creative development unit for television formats, and Talpa Productions, the groups TV production unit that produces the shows for The Netherlands. Talpa Global includes several production companies, LA-based Talpa Media USA, Talpa Middle East, headquartered in Dubai, as well as Talpa Germany with offices in Berlin and Hamburg.

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Olga Kurylenko Signs With WME
From sexual assault to gendered school dress codes, women have been blamed for men's reactions to their bodies for years. Kansas Senate committee chairman Mitch Holmes upheld this sexist cultural legacy by requiring witnesses testifying to adhere to a gendered dress code. But after copious backlash, it seems Holmes has had a change of heart: On Tuesday, he apologized and retracted the dress code, according to the Washington Post.

Holmes initially defended his policy, which required witnesses to avoid "low-cut necklines and miniskirts," which he deemed "inappropriate." This rule "says all conferees should be addressed in professional attire," the lawmaker told local television station KWCH

Holmes' fellow lawmakers were quick to point out the clearly gendered double standard at the heart of Holmes' requirement.

"My first thought was, 'For crying out loud, what century is this?'" Kansas Sen. Laura Kelly told KWCH for example. "There was no suggestion that men needed any help deciding what to put on in the morning."

In a statement Tuesday, however, Holmes recognized that his requirements were, in fact, sexist.

"My failure to clearly specify that all conferees, regardless of gender, should strive to present themselves professionally is unacceptable," according to the statement, the Wichita Eagle reported. "I apologize and meant no offense. I have decided to retract the conferee guidelines."

Holmes is hardly the first man in a position of authority to attempt to police women's appearance in the name of propriety, however. Similar battles have been taking place between administrators and students in high schools across the country.

"Skin is a sexual distraction to a male," Jim Bazen, principal of Plymouth Christian High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wrote in an op-ed for the Grand Rapids Press in October. Exposure to female students' skin, he continued, forces their male peers to regard them as "sex objects" and women, therefore, must be told to "cover up!"

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STORY: Etobicoke students declare #CropTopDay after teen told to cover up http://www.cp24.com/news/etobicoke-students-declare-croptopday-after-teen-told-to-cover-up-1.2392159 ... pic.twitter.com/PHw4Zn8mC1 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CF9ZtReWoAESSfE.jpg:large

But high school students across are setting an example for all women held to this offensive double standard and pushing back on these dress codes. As Jane, a high school student in Philadelphia, told Mic in December, "Inequitable dress codes are a perfect example of the patriarchy, subconsciously or not, putting young women 'in their place' time and time again."

Perhaps these principals, and anybody else who upholds the sexist notions about women's bodies as distractions at the heart of these codes, will follow Holmes' lead and similarly reconsider.

Watch the latest episode of Flip the Script on what dress codes actually do:



Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article56605203.html#storylink=cpy

h/t the Washington Post
US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday urged Cambodia's leader Hun Sen to allow "vigorous but peaceful" political debate, following accusations that he silences opponents in a bid to extend his three-decade grip on power.

Hun Sen, who has ruled for 31 years through a mix of hard power and political guile, has tied up a resurgent opposition in legal charges over recent months and ramped up prosecutions of online critics.

Kerry, who arrived in Phnom Penh from neighbouring Laos, hailed Cambodia for rebooting its economy after the fanatical rule of the Maoist Khmer Rouge, which left up to a quarter of the population dead before its defeat in the mid-1970s.

Cambodia has become one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies.

But America's top diplomat said he did not shy away from the sticking points in "candid" talks with Hun Sen.

Cambodia acts as a political windshield to China within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an alliance that has at times caused strain within the bloc in the face of increasingly aggressive Chinese claims in the South China Sea.

US president, Barack Obama, has assiduously courted ASEAN as part of a diplomatic 'pivot' east aiming to offset China's trade and diplomatic might in Southeast Asia.

Economic gains are also being offset by the threat posed to Cambodia's fragile democracy.

Sam Rainsy, the leader of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party, is facing arrest and is now in self-exile, casting doubt over whether the party will be able to freely contest the next election slated for 2018.

Speaking to reporters at the end of his half-day visit to the Cambodian capital, Kerry expressed hope that the country would "realise the full benefits of a thriving multiparty democracy".

The kingdom's progress on "respect for human rights, universal freedoms, and good governance," held the key to tighter ties with US, Kerry said.

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"It is important to allow vigorous but peaceful political debate," ahead of local elections scheduled for next year and a nationwide poll in 2018, he added.

- Rights on the rack -

Meetings also touched on what Kerry called Cambodia's "remarkable growth" and revival since the collapse of the Khmer Rouge.

Although some three million people still live below the poverty line, the World Bank says the Cambodian economy is on track to expand by just under seven percent this year.

The country was "about to cross the line" to become a middle-income country, defying its bloody history, the chief US envoy said earlier before meeting Hun Sen.

Garment manufacture is a key pillar of that success, with an industry lobby group saying exports to the US alone were worth $1.8 billion in 2014, supplying leading brands such as Nike, Gap and Levi's.

But with fears building that festering political tensions could spill into violence, Kerry also held talks with opposition deputy leader, Kem Sokha, and a welter of civil society groups.

His visit comes as Hun Sen further tightens controls on criticism, with several people arrested in recent weeks over Facebook posts insulting or lampooning him and his family.

Campaigners have repeatedly called on the US to exert greater pressure on the wily premier.

Chak Sopheap of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights said Kerry's visit sent a "clear message" that US priorities "are not only about strengthening economic relations."

"Now, I urge the US administration to ensure that its stated commitment... remains front and centre during the upcoming US-ASEAN summit in California."

Obama hosts a summit in California next month with the 10 ASEAN leaders.

Kerry departed for Beijing on Tuesday afternoon, the latest stop in a three-continent tour that has also taken in Davos, Saudi Arabia and Laos.
Beijing (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Beijing Tuesday evening for meetings with senior government leaders, with North Korea top of the agenda following the reclusive state's fourth nuclear test earlier this month.

The top US diplomat will also raise concerns over Beijing's "problematic behaviour" in the South China Sea and the thorny issues of humans rights and civil freedoms, a senior State Department official said.

North Korea is expected to dominate the talks between Kerry with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and other senior officials, as the international community seeks to squeeze Pyongyang with fresh sanctions following its latest nuclear test on January 6.

China is North Korea's chief diplomatic protector and economic benefactor, but those ties have been strained as Beijing loses patience with Pyongyang's unwillingness to rein in its nuclear weapons ambitions.

"The Secretary has made no secret... of his conviction that there is much more that China can do by way of applying leverage (on Pyongyang)," the US official said.

The South China Sea will also be discussed as tensions and territorial disputes in the vital waterway between Beijing and its neighbours in Southeast Asia -- backed by Washington -- threaten to degenerate into conflict.

"The continuing tensions and problematic behaviour by China in the South China Sea is very much on the Secretary's mind and something that he will certainly discuss in depth," the US official said.

Finally, Kerry will raise with his hosts "what we see as a very significant tightening of political space for civil society and for NGOs," the US official said.

Kerry's visit to Beijing is the last leg of a three-continent tour that began in Davos with stops in Saudi Arabia, Laos and Cambodia.
The two brothers took the same route to school each day, an hours trek past fields and scattered huts. Dominic, the younger one, would talk about his drawings  he loved sketching angels, and sometimes the devil, in dazzling colors. One day, armed men appeared and blocked the boys path. Their parents had repeatedly warned them that henchmen for the rebel leader Joseph Kony were forcibly conscripting young Ugandan boys into the dreaded Lords Resistance Army.

Since 1987, the LRA has used terror to fight for a Christian theocracy, annihilating villages and recruiting their children as soldiers. Its estimated that 100,000 people have been killed by the LRA, more than 60,000 abducted and 1.5 million forced to flee. Both brothers were kidnapped that day, and while the older one, Andi Odong, eventually escaped, Dominic Ongwen remained and would go on to become one of the groups most important leaders. Hes now standing trial before the International Criminal Court, facing 70 charges of war crimes.

Everything that has happened since then has happened against his will. Andi Odong, brother of Dominic Ongwen

Twenty-five years after their abductions, Odong, 42, sits under a tree on a plastic chair, his body lean from working in the fields, his T-shirt drenched in sweat. He takes refuge from the midday heat, drinking water from the well  all part of a simple routine shared with 20 family members who scratch out a living growing cassava and corn. In January, he heard that Ongwen had been arrested in the Central African Republic. The radio announcement repeated what many people had said about his brother: that the person he remembered as a peaceful, hardworking pupil was a mass murderer  that over a 10-year span, he had progressed from child soldier to brigadier of the murderous Christian militia, emerging as one of the highest-ranking commanders under Kony. Now 35, Ongwen is the first LRA militant to be handed over to The Hague. But considering that he is a victim of actions similar to those he is accused of perpetrating, his case presents a potential conflict for the court.

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Odong Andi

Konys henchmen abducted Odong (above) and Ongwen on their way to school, but Odong eventually got away. Ongwen is now standing before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.

Source: Christian Putsch

During their imprisonment, the brothers saw Kony, a former altar boy who formed the LRA in the late 1980s, only from a distance. Youths werent allowed near him, but the militia leader knew how to shape children into killing machines: Younger ones like Ongwen werent deployed for raids, but they were primed with weapons training. Tears were forbidden, so it was only at night that Odong could hear his brothers barely audible sobbing. Everything that has happened since then has happened against his will, he says. After five months, the brothers were separated, and Odong managed to escape, but the image of his brother still haunts him. Ongwen, just 10, was the LRAs preferred age for abductions  too weak to escape and young enough to brainwash. We had to carry the food provisions, Odong remembers. When our energy ran out and we got too slow, they beat us.

Ongwens family sees him as a victim, but those who suffered do not. Vincent Oyet, 42, was living in a refugee camp in Lukodi village in 2004 after escaping from Konys army. On May 19, he rode his bike to a nearby city to visit relatives; on his way home, passersby told him that more than 80 rebels had overthrown the camp and murdered indiscriminately. Eyewitnesses reported that Ongwen had coordinated the massacre.

Oyet stands in front of Lukodi School next to a memorial bearing the names of the many victims  including his stepmother, cousins and neighbors. They were slaughtered like chickens, he says. Today, Lukodi is one of several places where perpetrators live alongside their victims, part of an amnesty program to integrate 13,000 LRA fighters back into society. But a fresh start has not been extended to members of Konys inner circle, like Ongwen, some of whom remain on the run. It would be different if Ongwen were to have brought kidnapped children with him out of the scrub, Oyet says, noting that the militant had ample opportunity to escape. For Oyet, forgiveness is impossible.

family of dominic

Members of Ongwens family.

Source: Christian Putsch

According to Odong, there is no evidence that Dominic is really responsible for the Lukodi massacre, and a few witnesses have identified another commander as ringleader. The brothers uncle, John Odonga, 62, sits next to Odong under the tree. He raised the orphaned older brother after his parents pursued the LRA to retrieve their sons, only to be murdered themselves. We hope that people will accept that Dominic suffered inconceivably himself, John says.

But Alex Whiting, a law professor at Harvard and the former prosecutions coordinator for the ICC, says its unlikely the court will show mercy based on Ongwens childhood experience. The fact that he himself was a child soldier and victimized is not a legal defense, he says, noting that being a victim does not excuse you. Whiting believes the evidence in LRA cases is strong and hopes Ongwen pleads guilty and helps authorities seize Kony  a move, he says, that could lead to a lighter sentence.

Victims want justice; Ongwens family wants compassion. His uncle takes comfort in imagining his nephew back in their home village of Coorom. They would share a prayer, he says, and then he would ask whether the accusations are true. As his uncle, I need to know.

Prosecutors have begun a confirmation hearing in which they are trying to convince ICC judges that they have enough evidence to try the case. So now its up to a three-judge panel to decide whether the child-soldier-turned-warlord will soon stand trial.

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By Samia Nakhoul, Maher Chmaytelli and Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Flush with cash and weapons, Islamic State is attracting huge numbers of foreign fighters to Iraq and Syria and withstanding U.S.-led air strikes that are failing to hit the right targets, a powerful Iraqi Shiite paramilitary leader told Reuters in an interview. Hadi al-Amiri also said Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was alive and in Iraq, despite reports that he had been wounded. "Many of its leadership have been killed but one should know that Daesh (IS) is still strong," said Amiri, leader of the Badr Organisation whose armed wing has been fighting alongside Iraqi security forces to recapture territory seized by IS. "Their attacks are still daring and swift and their morale is high. They still have money and weapons." Amiri delivered a damning assessment of the air strikes that the United States and its allies have been conducting against Islamic State for almost 18 months. He said these had failed to dislodge IS because they failed to target its vital structure. Diplomats say the United States has been held back partly by the difficulty of avoiding civilian casualties. "Today Daesh is a state, it has command centres, their locations are known, their logistics are known," Amiri said. "Its leadership is known, its military convoys are known, its training camps are known. Until now we have not seen effective air strikes." He said the ultra-hardline insurgents had secured sophisticated U.S.-made anti-tank weapons including TOW missiles through Gulf Arab states. And he ridiculed the idea that Western powers could ensure arms only reached moderate rebel groups. "They (rebels) did not capture these missiles, they were supplied by America, Saudi Arabia and Gulf states under the pretext of arming the moderate opposition in Syria. Who is the moderate opposition? Ahrar al-Sham? Jaish al-Islam? Nusra or Daesh?" he asked, reeling off the names of competing Islamist factions. "All of them are terrorists," he said. "Any moderate factions in Syria are weak. Even if they are supplied with weapons, Daesh seizes them." Military aid from states including Saudi Arabia has been supplied to Syrian rebels fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army in western Syria, and some of these groups have received military training from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. The training has included how to use TOW missiles, supplied via Turkey and Jordan. GOVERNMENT FIGHTBACK Shi'ite paramilitaries like Amiri's have played a vital role in helping Iraqi security forces recover lost territory from IS, which seized a string of major cities in 2014. When the militants declared that year that they had established an Islamic caliphate across parts of Iraq and Syria, he left a senior government post and rushed to the frontlines. Since then, the government forces and their paramilitary allies have regained control of key cities -- Tikrit, Ramadi and Baiji -- with the support of the U.S.-led air strikes. But he said there were more obstacles ahead before they could launch a battle to recapture Mosul, the country's second city and the biggest under Islamic State control. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his predecessor have long pledged to "liberate" Mosul but their plans have been repeatedly delayed. "There are preparatory operations to retake Mosul but other operations have a priority. We want to go to Mosul with the reassurance that Baghdad is safe and all the provinces in the north and the south are safe. This is the main reason that delayed us advancing towards Mosul," Amiri said. "We have a decision not to enter the city of Mosul. We will surround it from outside and leave its people and its tribes to take part while we conduct the siege." SECTARIAN SPLIT Amiri said Sunni-Shi'ite tensions galvanised by the war in Iraq and neighbouring Syria were swelling the ranks of Islamic State. The bombing of a Shi'ite shrine housing the tombs of two imams in the Iraqi city of Samarra in 2006 was the trigger for the worst sectarian carnage to engulf Iraq in the past decade, and now the Syria conflict has splintered the Middle East along the faultline dividing the two main denominations of Islam. Syria has become a battlefield in a proxy war between President Bashar al-Assad's main ally, Shi'ite Iran, backed by Russia, and his Sunni enemies in Turkey and Gulf Arab states, supported by the West. "There is no terrorist organization with the ability to recruit and organise youths like Daesh does. We should know our enemy accurately and precisely to be able to defeat them," Amiri said. "Daesh has no problem recruiting. Foreign fighters are still flocking in huge numbers to Iraq and Syria via Turkey," he added. He accused Saudi Arabia of being the breeding ground of the ultra-hardline Wahhabi ideology embraced by IS and other al Qaeda-affiliated groups. "Where does this fundamentalist, extremist Islamist ideology, come from? Where was it nurtured? Its origin is Saudi Arabia," he said, adding "we need to combat this (Daesh) ideology before we dry out its funding." Amiri's Badr fighters fought on Iran's side in the 1980-88 war against Iraq's Sunni dictator, Saddam Hussein. The militia came to dominate much of southern Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 that toppled Saddam, and during the sectarian fighting that followed. "I fought Saddam Hussein for more than 20 years. If I knew the alternative to Saddam was al Qaeda, Nusra or Daesh, I would have fought with Saddam against them," he said. "Saddam executed more than 16 family members ... but there is nothing worse than these extremist groups. They are a real danger to the whole world." (Writing by Samia Nakhoul and Stephen Kalin; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
People who take prescription opioids, which are used for treating pain, for longer than a month may have an increased risk of developing depression, according to a new study.

Pain itself can also lead to depression, but in the study, the link between depression and opioid use held even when the researchers accounted for the potential contribution of pain to depression, according to the study.

Therefore, if people who are taking opioids for pain notice they have been feeling depressed, both they and their doctors should be aware that the use of the drugs, and not just the pain, may be a potential source of the depressed mood, the researchers said.

"We really did rigorous control for pain, and we feel strongly that these results are independent of the known contribution of pain to depression," said study author Jeffrey Scherrer, an associate professor of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University in Missouri. [7 Ways Depression Differs in Men and Women]

In the study, the researchers looked at data from three large groups of people who started taking opioids around the time the study started. The first group had nearly 71,000 people; the second had nearly 14,000 people; and the third had nearly 23,000 people. The ages of the people in the study ranged from 18 to 80 years.

The people did not have depression at the start of the study. The researchers followed up with the participants for seven to 10 years, depending on which group the people were in.

The researchers found that 12 percent of the nearly 71,000 people in the first group, 9 percent of the nearly 14,000 people in the second group and 11 percent of the nearly 23,000 people in the third group had developed depression during this time.

They also found that the longer the people took the opioids, the greater their risk of depression was. For example, in the group with almost 71,000 people, 11.6 percent of those who used opioids for one day to one month developed depression, compared with 13.6 percent of those who used opioids for one to three months and 14.4 percent of those who used the drugs for longer than three months.

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And in the group with nearly 14,000 people, 8.4 percent of those who used opioids for one day to one month developed depression, compared with 10.6 percent of those who used opioids for one to three months and 19 percent of those who used the drugs for longer than three months.

The opioids included in the study were codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, levorphanol, meperidine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, morphine and pentazocine.

Many experts say that opioids are overprescribed in the U.S. There were 259 million prescriptions written for opioids in 2012, which is more than enough to give every American adult their own bottle of pills, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2014, prescription pain relievers were linked to nearly 19,000 overdose deaths.

It is not clear why the long-term use of opioids is linked to a greater risk of depression, but it may have something to do with lowered levels of testosterone, Scherrer said.

"We know that chronic opioid use leads to low testosterone in males and females, and that is known to be related to poor mood," he told Live Science. A behavioral pathway is also possible, as "some patients may start to lose control and develop early symptoms of [opioid] misuse, which is known to be related to depression," he noted.

The study was published online Jan. 11 in the journal Annals of Family Medicine.

Follow Agata Blaszczak-Boxe on Twitter. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Originally published on Live Science.

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
London (AFP) - A newly discovered story written more than a century ago by the cherished British children's author Beatrix Potter will be published in September, Penguin Random House announced Tuesday.

"The Tale of Kitty-In-Boots", a story about a black cat that leads a double life, was found two years ago by Penguin Random House publisher Jo Hanks.

Potter is best known for "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", which has sold 45 million copies and been translated into 36 languages. The publication of the newly-uncovered tale forms part of this year's celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of her birth.

Hanks found a reference to the story in an out-of-print literary history of the author.

Hanks delved into the Potter archives held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and discovered the 1914 manuscript.

"Potter fully intended to publish it. She'd written it twice, rewritten it, polished the manuscript and then had it typeset and started to lay it out in a proof dummy," Hanks told BBC radio.

The next stage would have been to illustrate it.

"Then World War I began, she got married and she was very intent on building her farming business. Those interruptions took over and meant she never went back to the tale," said Hanks.

"I think it's the best of Beatrix Potter. There's humour, there's rebellious characters. During the story we meet a couple of interesting villains."

An older Peter Rabbit makes an appearance, while old favourite Mrs Tiggywinkle the hedgehog also turns up.

"Once upon a time there was a serious, well-behaved young black cat," the story begins. "It belonged to a kind old lady who assured me that no other cat could compare with Kitty."

The book will be illustrated by Quentin Blake, best known for his work on Roald Dahl's children's books.

Blake said: "It seemed almost incredible when, early in 2015, I was sent the manuscript of a story by Beatrix Potter, one which had lain unpublished for a hundred years and which, with the exception of a single drawing, she had never illustrated."

The Royal Mint is producing a special 50 pence coin this year marking the 150th anniversary of Potter's birth. The seven-sided cupro-nickel coin shows Peter Rabbit.
Will the third time be the charm for production designer Arthur Max, a longtime collaborator with Ridley Scott and New York native who has earned Oscar nominations for Gladiator, American Gangster and now The Martian?

To tell the survival story of Mark Watney, an astronaut who is stranded on Mars after hes presumed dead during a storm, Scott, Max and the filmmaking team traveled to Wadi Rum (incidentally, also known as the Valley of the Moon) in southern Jordan, which was their location for Mars. It was a familiar backlot to Scott and Max, as it was also used for Prometheus. After principal photography, more rock formations and volcanoes including Olympus Mons were added with visual effects, while the sky was also replaced.

For the hab, the rover and the like, Max did meticulous research and got the information right from the source: NASA.

Anything we put on the screen that had a NASA logo on it had to be approved, he explains. That included the Hermes (spacecraft), the airlocks, corridors and crew cabins  anything we designed. This was near-future, not futuristic. Everything had to conform to their latest technology and research and development programs. We wanted to get it as real as possible."

Max continues: "First, I went to JPL. They have in their Pasadena facility a Mars landscape test area where they test road vehicles to see how they would survive on the terrain, and they also have a duplicate of the Curiosity Mars rover.

The next stop was Johnson Space Center in Houston. Noting that the team there is planning the next Mars mission, Max says, "they were talking about anywhere from 2025 to 2030 sending an unmanned robotic supply mission. They have various elements in development. That includes a hab, a rover, a crew capsule. We were allowed to have a look; they are engineering prototypes. Theres a lot of engineering and design elements that they are working on. My job really was to put it together and give it a look, since its a work in progress for them."

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As he found out during his visit, NASA has occasionally taken a cue from Hollywood as well. They told us in our initial discussion that they look to filmmakers for design inspiration, Max relates. From Prometheus they really liked the derelict alien ship control desk (laughs) and they used the concept of that for a test panel at one of their facilities. I never saw it  it wasnt in Texas.

With NASA and private entities such as Elon Musks SpaceX looking to the Red Planet, Max finds it all "fascinating  the adventure and exploration of the unknown. The people I spoke to are certain that theyll find some form of life. Theres water there. And even on Earth in extreme environments life has emerged."
One trillion dollars in capital left China in 2015.

Thats worse than even the most bearish China analysts could have even imagined.

A few numbers put this in perspective:

The monthly average of outflows from China used to be $11 billion.

In the first six months of 2014, $26 billion left China.

In 2014, $134.3 billion left China.

The Chinese government predicted about $455 billion in outflows for 2015.

In October, the US Treasury estimated that capital outflows from China hit $500 billion in the first eight months of 2015.

In other words, the situation has deteriorated very rapidly, and everyone got it very wrong. Last year, Chinas foreign-exchange reserves dwindled for the first time since 1992. They fell by $513 billion to $3.3 trillion.

A Bloomberg News survey found that investors think that, this year, reserves will fall another $300 billion. Of course, that was taken before everyone knew how bad the 2015 outflow situation was.

No one has time for this

The precarious situation comes at a delicate time for the country. China is undergoing the crucial transition from an economy based on investment to one based on consumption. Its battling problems like debt and overcapacity, and growth is slowing. To deal with all of this, the government needs its reserves.

You can blame a good portion of this on the depreciating value of the yuan, which has spurred holders of the currency to ditch it for something more stable.

Analysts were also way too rosy on how that would shake out, though.

The risk is that depreciation triggers capital flight, dealing a blow to the stability of Chinas financial system. Our calculation is that a 1% yuan depreciation against the dollar triggers about $40 billion in capital flight, Bloomberg economist Tom Orlik wrote in a note this summer.

The yuan has depreciated around 5% against the US dollar over the last year, so, yeah, that $40 billion figure turned out to be a little low. At Orliks expected rate, outflows shouldve been about $200 billion.

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In December, the government spent $108 billion to stop the yuan from falling too fast.

In September, star China analyst Charlene Chu  known for her bearish outlook on Chinas credit and liquidity situation  wrote out a dark scenario on foreign-exchange reserve depletion. Her worst-case scenario saw outflows from September to December 2016 hitting $180 billion. For the full year of 2016, they would hit $540 billion.

If that played out, she posited, Chinas liquid reserves would come to equal only 80% of the International Monetary Funds precautionary requirement.

Right now, even her estimates seem conservative.

Dont talk about it

That is why the Chinese government has undertaken the gargantuan task of stabilizing the yuan.

Of course, the government has tightened capital controls  though businesses find ways to get around them.

But, more colorfully, its also started threatening and short-squeezing yuan traders into submission. In an editorial on Monday, the government said that traders shorting their currency should expect to suffer huge losses.

It even went as far as to warn legendary hedge fund manager George Soros, who famously squeezed the British pound, to stay away. Soros said that China was bound for a hard landing last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

This is how you know things are serious.

Another way to tell: After the $1 trillion figure came out, a Chinese official gave a speech about the risks of currency outflows. He was swiftly arrested for corruption  a common feature of President Xi Jinpings China.

Thats a too common solution for extraordinary circumstances.

NOW WATCH: 7 inventors who were killed by their own inventions





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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will propose in his upcoming budget measures to help more than 30 million Americans save for retirement, such as automatically enrolling workers in Individual Retirement Accounts and making it easier for workers to keep savings when they switch jobs, according to the country's labor secretary. Labor Secretary Tom Perez unveiled parts of the plan on Monday before heading to California's Silicon Valley to meet with venture capitalists and technology executives about bolstering retirement savings. Obama will present a spending plan Feb. 9 to Congress that serves as an outline of political priorities but very rarely comes to fruition. This budget, proposed in the final year of Obama's presidency, is expected to hit a dead end. The proposal would also allow smaller employers to create pooled 401(k) plans. The U.S. workplace is undergoing a transformation, especially with the rise of the "on-demand" economy, which will lead workers to change jobs more frequently and face new challenges in saving for retirement, Perez said. Up-and-coming companies that provide goods and services on demand through phone apps mostly rely on freelancers who are not tied to jobs and traditional employer-sponsored retirement accounts. Perez said the IRA suggestion, which has been offered in Obama's previous budgets dating back to 2010, may have a chance. States have recently created similar programs and fueled some employers' interest in a national plan, he said. In a traditional IRA, investors only pay taxes when they retire and cash in holdings. In a "Roth" IRA, they pay taxes on the money they contribute but not when they withdraw funds for retirement. Under Obama's proposal, employers with more than 10 workers that do not offer retirement plans would have to automatically enroll workers in IRAs. Perez said the department received hundreds of thousands of comments on another effort related to retirement - a "fiduciary" standard that would require brokers offering retirement advice to put clients' financial interests first. He said he expects the final rule to be released in upcoming months. The fiduciary standard has roiled the financial services industry for half a decade, and the department had to withdraw an initial draft of the rule in 2011. It is intended to end potential conflicts of interest and protect consumers from being sold investment products that do more to line their brokers' pockets than meet their financial needs. (This version of the story corrects to delete erroneous reference to MyRA in seventh paragraph) (Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - One person died and another was injured in a tunnel collapse at France's future nuclear waste storage site in the northeast of the country, local authorities said on Tuesday. The Strasbourg prefecture said in a statement that the front of a tunnel being drilled about 500 meters (yards) deep at the site in Bure had collapsed while measurements were being taken. Nuclear waste agency Andra's Cigeo deep geological storage project is designed to bury France's highly radioactive nuclear waste hundreds of meters underground for thousands of years. The government's final investment decision on the 25 billion euro ($27.08 billion) project is not expected before 2020, but Andra has already dug deep shafts to test the soil and its future installations. (Reporting by Gilbert Reilhac; Writing by Geert De Clercq; Editing by James Regan and Adrian Croft)
Des Moines (United States) (AFP) - Republicans Donald Trump and Ted Cruz intensified their feud with frontrunner Trump branding his rival a nasty "whack job" and Cruz challenging Trump's conservatism, one week before Iowa kicks off the US presidential nominations contest.

Both men are counting on victory in the heartland state, which holds the first-in-the-nation vote in the long march to election day in November, to propel their candidacy into the top spot heading toward primaries in coming weeks in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

They are pouring resources into Iowa, with Cruz in the midst of a days-long multi-county tour and Trump engaging in more retail politicking in recent days.

Ten other Republicans are scrambling for respectability in Iowa, including Senator Marco Rubio, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Florida governor Jeb Bush.

But it is increasingly looking like a two-horse race in Iowa, where Trump and Cruz are miles ahead of other candidates in the polls.

Cruz, a first-term senator from Texas, met voters in Manchester, Iowa to tell them "we're in the final sprint. 172 hours. One week from today the Iowa caucuses will decide."

The conservative firebrand again questioned Trump's record, arguing the New York real estate billionaire has been out of step with the party when it comes to issues like taxes, gun and abortion rights, and the size of government.

"I'm happy to have a conversation about how Donald's and my records differ," Cruz said.

But as for engaging in the brutal personal counterpunching that Trump is known for, Cruz was not taking the bait.

Trump "is now insulting me every day. He can do that, that is his prerogative," Cruz said.

"I will not respond in kind because the people of Iowa... and the people of this country deserve something better."

- 'Nasty guy' -

And yet the tenor of the campaign has turned tense one week from the vote, with Cruz unveiling an anti-Trump television ad Monday, less than one hour before Trump took the stage at a rally.

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"Donald Trump. New York values, not ours," a voiceover says in the ad, hitting Trump for flip-flopping on issues like abortion and repeating Trump's comment, made years earlier, that "my views are a little bit different than if I lived in Iowa."

Trump knocked Cruz's ad campaign during his New Hampshire rally, part of his increasing verbal assaults on Cruz.

"I think the establishment actually is against me, but really coming online, because they see me as opposed to Cruz, who is a nasty guy who can't get along with anybody," Trump told CNN.

"We can't have a guy who stands in the middle of the Senate floor and every other senator thinks he's a whack job, right? You have to make deals.

"And Ted can't get along with anybody. He's a nasty person."

Trump continued his assault via Twitter, assailing Cruz as "a nervous wreck" who is sinking in the polls.

He also repeated his charge that Cruz's birth in Canada is anything but a resolved issue in terms of his presidential eligibility.

"It's time for Ted Cruz to either settle his problem with the FACT that he was born in Canada and was a citizen of Canada, or get out of race," Trump tweeted.

Trump is riding high in polls, with Cruz second. Trump secured the endorsement last week of conservative icon Sarah Palin, the 2008 vice presidential nominee.

Cruz, for his part, earned the endorsement Monday of former campaign rival Rick Perry, the onetime Texas governor who last year called Trump a "cancer on conservatism."
Can you define "everyday sexism?"

After Michael Oman-Reagan, an anthropologist and Ph.D. candidate, tweeted the Oxford University Press that their dictionary included sexist language in some of their example sentences, the publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary agreed to review them.

Oman-Reagan pointed to "rabid feminist" under the word "rabid," as well as several others.

Hey @OxfordWords, why is "rabid feminist" the usage example of "rabid" in your dictionary - maybe change that? pic.twitter.com/3zJnwZ3RLx https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZNyHuOWcAAdbC0.png:large

The word "shrill" uses "the rising shrill of women's voices" as an example.

Under the word "psyche," the example sentence is "I will never really fathom the female psyche."

Ditto for grating, nagging and promiscuous, which use the following example sentences: "her high, grating voice," "a nagging wife" and "she's a wild, promiscuous, good-time girl," respectively.

Why is a dictionary example sentence so important? In a Medium post by Oman-Reagan, he explained:

When Oxford editorially selects example sentences reproducing sexist stereotypes, they are making implicit, prescriptive statements about gender and language. If Oxford believes it is important to tell users that the word "shrill" has historically been applied primarily to women's voices, they should say that clearly, not cover it up and hide it in a usage example. There are examples of Oxford doing this explicitly with other words, like "sexism" where they say "typically against women."

And the sexism was not reserved to denigrating women. Some example sentences included praising the accomplishments of men.

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In the example for "research," the dictionary wrote "He prefaces his study with a useful summary of his own researches."

And under "doctor," the dictionary example sentence reads "he was made a Doctor of Divinity."

Oxford Dictionaries first responded with a flippant tweet to Oman-Reagan on Friday. But then apologized on Saturday after it found out that "rabid" became the most searched term on their .

"If only there were a word to describe how strongly you felt about feminism... https://t.co/mAsmjUBoOs"

1/4 We were flippant in some of our tweets yesterday. Sorry.

2/4 'rabid fan' now has the highest frequency in the Oxford Corpus & 'rabid supporter' also frequent.

3/4 We'll review the primary example sentence used for 'rabid'.

In a blog post that Oxford Dictionaries tweeted, it explained that the "best examples don't draw attention to themselves  they are so ordinary as to be downright boring." Oxford Dictionaries said that its example sentences are often sourced from vast databases of text, but conceded that the sample for "rabid" was not good, because it denigrated, instead of supported, the noun in the example.

"It was a poorly chosen example in that the controversial and impolitic nature of the example distracted from the dictionary's aim of describing and clarifying meaning," the blog post reads.

Never believe someone when they tell you that a tweet can't change the dictionary.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - The Pakistani university attacked by Taliban militants in a deadly assault last week will remain closed indefinitely until security is beefed up, staff said on Tuesday, as some teachers demanded the government issue them with weapons. Four Pakistani Taliban gunmen killed 21 people at Bacha Khan University in Charsadda in the country's northwest on Wednesday after scaling its rear walls, battling security guards and then firing into packed classrooms and hostels. University staff and students met on Monday, after briefly reopening the campus, to review security as at least 200 students protested outside to demand the government protect them. "We decided to keep the university closed for some time so we can repair the damaged building and further improve the security situation," Fazal Rahim Marwat, a professor at the university, told Reuters. He said some teachers had demanded licensed weapons for self-defence, a suggestion that is rejected by other teaching members and has reignited a debate about arming school staff. Educational institutions have become an increasingly common target for the militants waging war against the Pakistani state. In December 2014, gunmen killed 134 children at an army-run school in the city of Peshawar, about 30 km (19 miles) from the site of last week's attack. Authorities say last week's assault was planned and carried out by Pakistani Taliban militants based in neighbouring Afghanistan. Five suspects have been arrested in Pakistan for acting as "facilitators". Pakistan has launched a major crackdown against militants holed up along its porous border with Afghanistan, but the university attack shows they retain the capacity to launch deadly raids, particularly against targets where security is relatively weak. The Pakistani Taliban commander who says his fighters were behind the Bacha Khan assault released a video last week vowing more attacks on schools. (Reporting by Jibran Ahmed; Writing by Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Robert Birsel)
By Emily Stephenson

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Reuters) - Saeed Abedini, an American pastor freed this month from an Iranian prison as part of a U.S.-Iranian prisoner swap, said in a television interview aired on Monday that he was tortured and left in solitary confinement for refusing to sign a false confession and saw other prisoners being taken to be hanged.

Abedini told Fox News that while in Tehran's Evin prison he was beaten by interrogators, left with an al Qaeda prisoner who tried to kill him and watched people screaming and crying while taken to be hanged.

"Yes, in interrogation once they beat me very badly because they wanted me to write something I didn't do ... Actually it was in a courtroom that the judge closed the door and the interrogators started beating me, and at that time I got a stomach bleeding," he told Fox News.

"The worst thing that I saw was when they took some Sunnis for execution...Most of them were Sunnis, some of them were political prisoners.... I can say most were executed for their faith."

Abedini was supposed to be reunited with his wife and children on Monday at a Christian center in North Carolina, but it was delayed because the familys travel plans have been in flux day-to-day, a spokesman for the center said.

The Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove, founded by the famed evangelical minister and his family, said Abedini wanted time to adjust and reconnect with his family after more than three years of imprisonment in Iran.

Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, told Reuters last week the couple would work on their marriage. She said in a message to supporters that became public that her husband had been abusive and suffered from a pornography addiction.

Abedini arrived at the Asheville, North Carolina, center on Thursday. He and his avid supporter Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son, have so far declined comment.

Abedini, 35, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was sentenced by an Iranian court in 2013 to eight years in prison for allegedly compromising Iran's national security by setting up home-based Christian churches there.

Abedini was one of five Americans released by Iran in exchange for clemency to seven Iranians who were convicted or facing trial in the United States. The swap was announced at the same time as international sanctions on Iran were lifted in a deal with the United States and other major powers to curb Tehran's nuclear program.

(Additional reporting by Colleen Jenkins in Winston-Salem, N.C., Ben Klayman in Boise, Idaho and Eric Walsh in Washington; Editing by Frances Kerry, Diane Craft)
Luxury Italian lingerie brand La Perla has named Brazilian designer Pedro Lourenco as its new creative director.

Lourenco announced the news on Instagram, saying, "Deeply honored to take up the role of Creative Director at La Perla."

According to WWD, Lourenco will oversee the label's lingerie, sleepwear, loungewear, and accessories collections for both men and women.

The designer will debut his women's collection during Milan Fashion Week next month. Look out for reinterpretations of the corset and for undergarments to be designed for daywear.

La Perla operates 215 stories worldwide.
Manila (AFP) - Ninety-year-old Hilaria Bustamante casts a tearful gaze at a wall plastered with photos of departed fellow sex slaves, vowing to demand justice during a historic visit to the Philippines by Japan's emperor starting Tuesday.

Unbowed despite painful arthritis, the oldest known living Filipina "comfort woman" said she would join street protests to continue an unsuccessful campaign that has lasted more than 70 years.

"Many of us have died without seeing justice, but we will fight until our last breath," Bustamante told AFP in a voice trembling with anger at a shelter in Manila for the now elderly women, run by advocacy group Lila Pilipina.

"We want to tell Emperor Akihito: pay your debts. We are holding you accountable for the sufferings of the comfort women during the war."

Up to 200,000 women in Asia, many of them South Koreans but also from China, the Philippines and what is now Indonesia, are estimated to have been forced to provide sex to Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Only 70 known Filipina victims are still alive, according to Lila Pilipina.

Japanese leaders and senior officials have over the decades offered apologies and compensation money to the Filipina victims, albeit deliberately sourced from the private sector rather than the government.

- 'Insincere' apologies -

The women have deemed these efforts insincere, demanding instead an apology that comes with reparations directly from the Japanese government, as well as inclusion of the comfort women's plight in its official history books.

Seoul struck a landmark deal with Tokyo last month for a one-billion-yen ($8.3 million) payment and a "heartfelt apology" for the South Korean comfort women.

A similar deal for the Filipina victims is not on the agenda.

Despite intense lobbying from the women, the Philippine government has not initiated similar negotiations with Japan.

Philippine foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose told AFP the matter would not be raised during Akihito's visit, the first ever by a reigning Japanese emperor.

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The Philippines and Japan have become close allies since the war, and Akihito's five-day visit is to celebrate 60 years of renewed diplomatic relations.

Japan is the Philippines' biggest source of foreign investment and aid. The Philippines has in recent years also increasingly looked to Japan for military help to counter Chinese expansion in the South China Sea.

- Never-ending nightmare -

But for the comfort women, glossing over the war crimes is impossible.

"It's a nightmare that never ends. We walk with heavy hearts and we don't know who to turn to for help," Estelita Dy, 85, told AFP, as she tearfully recalled the day she was brought to a military brothel.

Dy said she was aged just 14 and buying food in a market after a long day of digging at a construction site when a truckload of Japanese soldiers started rounding up suspected spies.

Dy said she tried to run away but tripped and fell to the ground. A Japanese soldier grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the back of the truck, she said.

Dy said she stayed in the brothel for three weeks.

"Every time I was raped. I would just close my eyes, cry and pray that it will be all over soon," she said, fidgeting with her fingers to relieve anxiety.

A Filipino spy working for the Japanese helped her escape, she said.

Dy, who later married and had two children, blames her weak hearing on having her face banged on a table by a Japanese solider who then raped her.

Dy, who worked as a rice cake and soda vendor, said she was lucky her family accepted her fate.

Many others, she said, were condemned and driven out of their homes by conservative parents.

- Purple refuge -

At Lila Pilipina's rundown office in Manila's suburbs, the former sex slaves came to depend on the refuge where they found comfort in shared suffering.

The now-faded walls are painted purple, the colour of the local feminist movement.

The women there affectionately call each other "lola", the Filipino word for grandmother.

"Calling each other 'lola' shows that they are bonded by the same struggle," said Rechilda Extremadura, who runs Lila Pilipina.

"They come here to cry their hearts out. They yearn for the familiar touch of someone who understands exactly what they're going through."

Bustamante, one of only 10 Filipina comfort women physically able to join the rallies planned for this week, said her fellow women gave her the strength to continue fighting for justice.

"This is an uncertain fight, but we will not stop," she said.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has narrowed the gap with Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton in Iowa and has established a commanding lead in New Hampshire, the latest batch of polls indicate.

An Iowa toss-up: With just one week until Iowans head to the caucuses, the most recent surveys suggest Clinton and Sanders are locked in a dead heat in the Hawkeye State. A Fox News poll released Monday evening found Clinton with a 48% to 42% edge over Sanders, followed by former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley at 3%. Last month, Fox found Clinton with a 50% to 36% lead over Sanders.

The Fox poll came on the heels of an American Research Group survey released Monday finding Sanders up 48% to 45% over Clinton, and one day after the CBS/YouGov poll gave Sanders a slight 47% to 46% edge in Iowa.

The RealClearPolitics average shows a dead heat in the Hawkeye State:

A New Hampshire juggernaut? While Iowa appears to be anyone's game at this point, Sanders is the indisputable favorite heading into the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary.

Two new polls of the Granite State on Monday found the Vermonter posting double-digit leads in his neighboring state. Fox showed Sanders leading Clinton 56% to 34%, up from 50% to 37% earlier this month, while a Franklin Pierce University/Boston Herald poll showed Sanders nabbing 55% to Clinton's 39%.

On Sunday, CBS/YouGov also found Sanders with an overwhelming lead, 57% to 38%.

It's too early to call Sanders a prohibitive favorite in the notoriously wily state, though: After then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) defeated Clinton in the 2008 Iowa caucuses, polls showed him opening a clear lead in New Hampshire, where Clinton actually eked out a narrow victory. For Sanders, that experience is both sobering and encouraging: While it attests that his current lead in New Hampshire should be taken with a grain of salt, it also demonstrates that if he were to lose Iowa to Clinton, he may yet prevail in New Hampshire.

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What then? Even as polls point to the possibility that Clinton could lose the first two nominating contests, her campaign remains confident that it has built a firewall of support in the more racially and ethnically diverse states that follow, particularly in the South and West.

But dual Sanders victories could very well crack that firewall. Take the CBS/YouGov survey of South Carolina Democrats released Sunday. Buoyed by overwhelming support among African Americans, Clinton bested Sanders 60% to 38% in the poll. Only last month, however, Clinton led Sanders 67% to 31%; should Sanders come out of Iowa, New Hampshire and the Feb. 20 Nevada caucuses with significant momentum, you'd expect Clinton's lead among Palmetto State Democrats to further dwindle ahead of the Feb. 27 primary there.

The betting markets and prognosticators say this race is still Clinton's to lose. At the very least, though, it's looking like the Democratic contest will be anything but a snoozefest in the coming weeks.
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in the Vatican on Tuesday and urged Tehran to work with other Middle East states to promote peace and stop the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking in the region. Shi'ite Muslim Iran is the strongest ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Western countries back his mainly Sunni Muslim opponents in the five-year-old civil war. Many Western nations also accuse Iran of funding various militant groups which they deem to be terrorist organizations. Despite being an Islamic republic, Iran has good relations with the Holy See and the Vatican has been seeking to use its influence with Teheran to help bring peace to the Middle East. A Vatican statement spoke of the "important role Iran is called on to play, along with other countries in the region, to promote adequate political solutions to the problems that afflict the Middle East, combating the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking". "I thank you for your visit and I hope for peace," Francis told the Iranian leader at the end of a 40-minute meeting in the pope's private study in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. Rouhani, who wore a white turban and black robe, asked the pope to "pray for me". He then held separate talks with top Vatican diplomats. Rouhani is on a four-day trip to Italy and France and wants to rebuild Iran's ties with the West after financial sanctions on Tehran were rolled back some two weeks ago in the wake of its nuclear accord with world powers last year. It was the first state visit by an Iranian president to the Vatican since 1999, although President Mohammad Khatami was among the many world leaders who attended the funeral of Pope John Paul in 2005. Pope Francis has several times praised last year's deal that aims to curtail Tehran's atomic ambitions. He told the U.N. General Assembly last September it was "proof of the potential of political good will" in the international community. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis on Tuesday urged Iran to back peace efforts in the Middle East as the Islamic Republic's emergence from international isolation took a significant step forward with President Hassan Rouhani's first visit to the Vatican.

Fresh from securing the lifting of international sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear programme, Rouhani spent 40 minutes at the Vatican talking privately to Pope Francis, a strong backer of the deal with Tehran.

In a statement afterwards, the Vatican said Francis had urged the Iranian leader to use Iran's important role to promote, together with other countries, "adequate political solutions" to the problems afflicting the region and to help combat terrorism and arms trafficking.

"I thank you for your visit and I hope for peace," Francis told his guest at the end of their meeting, when journalists were briefly allowed to listen in.

A smiling Rouhani, who presented the pope with a hand-made carpet from the ancient city of Qom, replied with one of Francis's catchphrases.

"I ask you to pray for me," he said. "It was a pleasure to meet you and I wish you well in your work."

In return for his gift, Rouhani was given a medal depicting St Martin cutting his cloak in half to give to a poorly clothed beggar.

The Iranian leader also went away with English and Arabic versions of Francis's extended essay on the environmental challenges faced by the world. "Laudato Si" (Praise Be) has not been translated into Farsi.

It was the first official visit to the Vatican by an Iranian president since Mohammad Khatami was hosted by John Paul II in 1999. Khatami also attended the Polish pope's funeral in 2005.

Rouhani is on a five-day trip to Italy and France looking to drum up trade and investment to modernise Iran's economy, partly by pitching the country as a beacon of stability in a conflict-wracked region.

- Safe and stable -

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Speaking to an audience of Italian and Iranian business leaders earlier in the day, Rouhani also portrayed Iran as the ideal base for companies seeking a foothold in a region of 300 million people, reassuring would-be investors their contracts would be honoured.

"Iran is the safest, the most stable country in the entire region," Rouhani said.

"Everyone understood that the nuclear negotiations represented a win-win situation for both sides.

"Now we have created the conditions for investment and for the transfer of know-how. There has to be an advantage for both sides: we invite you to invest and we will provide stability and ensure that you can make adequate returns."

He emphasised that all sections of Iran's often-divided political class, right up to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were firmly behind the post-sanctions drive to secure the trade and investment needed to create new roads, rail links, airports and other infrastructure.

Rouhani outlined a vision of Iran being transformed into a hub for intra-regional economic development, linking the Middle East to South and Central Asia and even the Western fringes of China.

"Do not regard us as just one country but as a country at the centre of a much larger market," Rouhani said, citing the example of the port of Chabahar on Iran's southern coast.

Iran is seeking international investment to help complete a port which will provide a gateway for Indian companies seeking to do business in Afghanistan and Central Asia, as well as in Iran.

Rouhani also pledged that Tehran would do nothing to jeopordise its stability and said economic growth could help beat terrorism in the region.

"We have no intention of attacking or invading any other country. We have no intention of interfering in the affairs of any other country," he said.

"A lack of development creates the conditions for extremism, unemployment recruits soldiers for terrorism."
By Ginger Gibson WAUKEE, Iowa (Reuters) - President Barack Obama praised Hillary Clinton's political experience, a boost to her campaign as she battles an insurgent Bernie Sanders a week before the Democratic presidential nominating process kicks off. Obama's kind words for his former secretary of state, in a Politico interview published on Monday, will help Clinton as she tries to link her campaign more closely with the president and so draw in more support from his backers. While never explicitly criticizing Sanders, a senator from Vermont whose campaign is focused on pledges to redress social inequality and contain Wall Street excesses, Obama praised Clinton's experience and suggested several times that Clinton's messages are grounded in realism. "(S)hes extraordinarily experienced  and, you know, wicked smart and knows every policy inside and out  (and) sometimes (that) could make her more cautious, and her campaign more prose than poetry," Obama said. The interview was conducted on Friday and published a week before the Feb. 1 voting in Iowa, which launches the process to pick the parties' nominees for the November presidential election. Clinton, who lost the Democratic primary to Obama in 2008, was for months the clear front-runner to be the party's nominee this time around, but opinion polls have showed a surge of support for Sanders in recent weeks. She argues that while Sanders' goals on issues such as social inequality are laudable, some are unobtainable and he lacks the experience to tackle a wide range of issues. "When youre in the White House you cannot pick the issues you want to work on, youve got to be ready to take on every issue that comes your way, including those you cannot predict," Clinton told the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines on Monday. In an echo of that point that will be gratifying to the Clinton campaign, Obama said in the Politico interview, "(The) one thing everybody understands is that this job right here, you dont have the luxury of just focusing on one thing. "I think that what Hillary presents is a recognition that translating values into governance and delivering the goods is ultimately the job of politics, making a real-life difference to people in their day-to-day lives," he said. Obama, who remains very popular within the Democratic Party, has said he will not endorse a candidate in the primary but has admitted he is watching closely to see who will succeed him. All three Democrats in the race - Clinton, Sanders and former Maryland Governor Martin OMalley - were set for a prime-time opportunity to make their closing arguments on Monday night in a nationally televised town hall meeting on CNN due to begin at 9 p.m. EST (0200 GMT). The candidates were set to appear individually on stage, fielding questions from the moderators and trying to make their final pitches ahead of the Iowa voting. In the interview, Obama took issue with comparisons being made by pundits between himself and Sanders. The Vermont senator is often described as an underdog candidate who excites young voters and draws larger crowds - as Obama did in his come-from-behind primary win in 2008. "I dont think that's true," Obama said when asked whether Sanders reminded him of himself. However, Obama did note that Sanders had the "luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loose," while "Hillary came in with the both privilege  and burden  of being perceived as the front-runner." Sanders campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, agreed they are not the same, but still pointed to a similar crowd response and said Sanders enjoys a similar momentum. "They're obviously very different people," Weaver told CNN. REPUBLICANS GRAPPLE FOR BIG IOWA FINISH On the Republican side of the nomination fight, the battle for endorsements and voters gathered pace. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida appeared at a Des Moines rally with Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, who told the crowd she was not endorsing a candidate but called him "someone who is very near and dear to my heart and a good friend to me." Taking questions from reporters after the event, Rubio expressed confidence in a solid finish in Iowa. Given his current place in the polls, finishing third would likely be portrayed as a victory for Rubio. We feel very positive about it," he said. "We feel a real good vibe here. Iowa's other senator, Chuck Grassley, raised eyebrows on Saturday when he appeared at a Donald Trump event. Grassley stressed he was not providing a formal endorsement. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas picked up the endorsement of former Texas Governor Rick Perry, who dropped out of the presidential campaign last year after failing to gain traction. This was a first endorsement by a former governor for Cruz, who has received no endorsements from sitting senators despite serving in the chamber. Opinion polls show Trump, a real estate mogul, and Cruz locked in a tight battle to win the Iowa voting. Trump launched a video on Facebook arguing that the "establishment" is trying to undermine his campaign - a direct response to recent attacks by Cruz that he is part of the establishment. Being dubbed part of the establishment has taken on a strong negative connotation in the Republican campaign as candidates presenting themselves as outsiders have risen in the polls. The video got more than 370,000 views in the first three hours. (Story refiles to add dropped first name of president in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey and Roberta Rampton; Editing by Frances Kerry)
Nearly two years ago, in one of the most complex copyright lawsuits of all time, MP3Tunes founder Michael Robertson was found liable at trial for infringing the works of Capitol Records, EMI and other record labels and music publishers. After some modifications by the judge, Robertson was ordered to fork over some $15.8 million. The dispute has now been brought to a federal appeals court, which will address the liability of a company that allowed its users to upload music from third-party websites to storage lockers. But that's not the only reason to pay continued attention to this case.

In hopes of collecting the $15.8 million, Capitol Records is now investigating the circumstances of Robertson's separation from wife, Leslie Burcham. In fact, Robertson testified at trial that he was divorced, but apparently that's not the case. After Robertson was added as a defendant in the lawsuit, he and Burcham began separation proceedings. In 2012, he and Burcham executed a marital settlement agreement. Now, the plaintiff smells something rotten.

"Indeed, the timing is highly suggestive that Robertson may have separated from Burcham for the precise purpose of shielding assets from his creditors," attorneys for Capitol told a California judge on Monday.

Burcham has filed a motion to quash a subpoena for documents. The Del Mar, Calif., resident is the trustee of various trusts established by Robertson for the benefit of their children. She says the subpoena "impinges upon her financial privacy rights, violates her marital communications privilege, her settlement privilege and her tax return privilege."

Plus, she says what the record labels are after "is tremendously overbroad, seeks information that is irrelevant to Mr. Robertson's assets ... and demands production of documents from the wrong legal entity."

In opposition, Capitol says that Robertson engaged in massive copyright infringement that generated hundreds of millions of dollars in profit for him and for trusts under his family's control. The label says that Robertson has already testified that at least $155 million of his earnings were placed into the trusts, and that a family trust funded MP3tunes. And yet, he's now claiming insolvency.

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"Based on the information known to Respondents thus far, it appears that Robertson transferred significant portions of his wealth to Burcham, and to family trusts under her control, once it became clear that he faced a prospect of significant personal financial liability from the SDNY Action," states a legal memorandum. "From all outside indications, it appears that the purpose of those transfers was to render Robertson judgment-proof and thus to defraud Respondents in their capacity as Robertsons creditors."

Capitol also scorns Burcham's attempt to use a California evidentiary code providing that spouses don't have to disclose communications made in confidence with each other.

The record label opines, "Leaving aside the vague and blanket nature of Burchams assertion of the marital communication privilege  as well as the irony of her invocation of the marital communication privilege while simultaneously claiming that her separation from Robertson somehow places their finances beyond the scope of discovery  it is doubtful that the privilege applies to virtually any of the information sought by the Subpoena."

No date for oral arguments has yet been set by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in the MP3Tunes case, though according to court documents, Robertson has been denied a motion to stay enforcement of the judgment.
Geneva (AFP) - Warring Syrian parties expected in Geneva for peace talks this week must agree to "tear down the Berlin Wall" blocking aid workers from reaching besieged Syrians, a senior humanitarian leader urged Tuesday.

Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, and UN officials said they were willing to talk with any faction, including the Islamic State group (IS), if it helped deliver life-saving aid to victims of the conflict.

Peace talks, delayed by disputes over the make-up of the opposition delegation, are due to open on Friday.

United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is brokering the negotiations, has said that securing space for humanitarian workers was a top priority, with an estimated 4.5 million people living in besieged or restricted areas without regular access to aid.

Egeland, a former UN under-secretary general, said government and rebel forces could immediately pave the way for massive aid deliveries if they stopped playing "games."

He urged the rival parties to "tear down the Berlin Wall of hindrances they have built between us who can help and millions of defenceless civilians in the conflict zones."

"We need agreed nation-wide humanitarian pauses and ceasefires now," Egeland said. "It can be done from Geneva starting this weekend."

With the wrangling over the opposition delegation persisting, the UN noted that millions of Syrians who need emergency aid are in areas controlled by IS, which is not part of any internationally-recognised peace process.

As any deal on humanitarian convoys would not apply to the extremist group's territory, Egeland said he was "willing to speak to anyone to secure the access of me and my colleagues to people in need."

John Ging, operations chief at the UN's humanitarian agency (OCHA), agreed, telling reporters in response to a question about IS that the UN would "engage with any party, anywhere, anytime for the purpose of gaining access", to those who need aid.

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"There are certain parties, certain actors, who will not engage with us," he said, in an apparent reference to IS.

The peace talks, where opposition and government representatives will initially be seated in separate rooms, are expected to last six months, with the first round slated to take two to three weeks.

De Mistura's office said invitations to the approved negotiators were sent out on Tuesday, without providing any details about the delegations.
By Tori Richards SANTA ANA, Calif. (Reuters) - Authorities in Southern California have quadrupled the reward for information leading to the capture of an accused killer and two other men charged with violent felonies who continued to elude a manhunt four days after breaking out of jail. The three escapees - Hossein Nayeri, 37, Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Bac Duong, 43 - slipped away early on Friday from the Men's Central Jail in Santa Ana, about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles, triggering an intense search across the region. The Orange County Sheriff's Department, which runs the jail and is leading the manhunt, has said all three men are considered extremely dangerous. Authorities say the men cut through steel grating inside the detention center, climbed through a plumbing conduit and up to the jailhouse roof, then used bedsheets tied together to lower themselves four stories to the ground and vanished. They were charged on Monday with felony escape, and sheriff's officials appealed to members of Orange County's Vietnamese immigrant community for help in locating the inmates. Tieu, charged with a murder that authorities believe was gang-related, was described as a documented member of a Vietnamese street gang. Duong, who was being held on a charge of attempted murder, was characterized as an "associate" of a Vietnamese street gang. Nayeri, who is of Iranian descent, has a conviction for homicide and is accused in a kidnapping and torture case, authorities said. A $50,000 reward was initially posted by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service for information leading to the capture of the three men. The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to increase the size of the reward to $200,000, Supervisor Todd Spitzer said. "Make no mistake about it, this board will allocate all resources available to capture these very dangerous criminals," he said. Orange County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Jeff Hallock said the men could be armed. He declined to disclose what mode of transportation they may be using. Hallock also said authorities were investigating whether the prisoners had help inside or outside the detention center. A disturbance in the jail during which a deputy was assaulted may have been concocted as part of a plan to delay an inmate head count on Friday night and buy the escapees more time to make their getaway, Hallock said on Monday. (Reporting by Tori Richards; Writing and additional reporting Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Will Dunham)
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's prime minister pledged on Tuesday to send emergency aid to Moldova and work to bring its ex-Soviet neighbor closer to the European Union as long as it makes greater efforts to reform its system and end corruption. Moldova, Europe's poorest country which shares a border with EU member Romania and has close language and cultural links, has been in the grip of a scandal in which $1 billion was syphoned off into foreign accounts, shaking shaken public confidence in its pro-EU leaders. Speaking at a news conference in Bucharest with Moldova's new prime minister Pavel Filip, Romania's Dacian Ciolos urged Chisinau to adopt concrete reform steps in exchange for aid. "To the extent to which the Moldovan government commits to some reforms, the Romanian government is considering, in a first phase, emergency aid to help those needy Moldovan citizens to cope with the winter period, a difficult period," he said. Alluding to public protests in Chisinau against the leadership, Ciolos said: "Political stability in Moldova is important for security in the region and for Romania. We want stability ... and to see a government embarked on reforms." He added that Bucharest wanted to see evidence from the Chisinau government that it intended to implement reform before delivering an initial 60 million euro tranche of aid from an overall 150 million euro assistance package. Repeated protests in Chisinau threaten to derail Filip's chances of running a stable government at a time when Moldova sees its economy sinking and is trying to negotiate new funding from international lenders. Filip said implementing obligations under a political association agreement with the EU which it signed last year were a priority for the Moldovan government. "We'll act in such way that pro-European ways return," Filip told reporters. (Reporting by Radu Marinas; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Moscow (AFP) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday insisted that UN-backed Syria talks planned to start later this week will not be successful if Kurdish representatives are not invited.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura was due to send out invites Tuesday to opposition groups to attend the talks after negotiations were delayed several days to Friday due to a "stalemate" over the makeup of the delegations.

Lavrov said that one of the international powers backing the Syria talks -- most likely meaning Turkey -- was objecting to the participation of the Kurds and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in particular.

"Without this party, without this participant the talks cannot achieve the results that we want, a definitive political resolution in Syria," Lavrov told journalists at his main annual press conference.

Lavrov said, however, that Russia would not "veto" the talks if the Kurds were not invited and that it was up to the UN envoy de Mistura to decide which opposition groups would be asked to attend.

Turkey, which has condemned the PYD, has said that it wants to see some Syrian Kurds "around the table" at the talks.

Turkey considers the PYD to be the Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency in the mainly Kurdish southeast of Turkey since 1984.

Last month, several key opposition bodies, including rebel groups, formed a coalition known as the High Negotiations Committee to participate in the mooted talks.

But the coalition excludes Syria's main Kurdish party the PYD and a range of other opposition figures.

Ties between Russia and Turkey are in tatters over the shooting down last year of one of Moscow's jets by Ankara along its border with Syria.

Russia has been running a bombing campaign in Syria since last September in support of its longstanding ally President Bashar al-Assad, who is fiercely opposed by Turkey.
KIGALI (Reuters) - A Rwandan man who had been accused of recruiting for the Islamic State was shot and killed in the capital Kigali while attempting to escape police custody, police said in a statement on Monday. Muhammad Mugemangango, a deputy imam at Kimironko Mosque in Kigali, was under investigations for encouraging Rwandan youth to join the Islamic State, which is fighting in Iraq and Syria. No charges had been brought. "He jumped off the vehicle, whereupon he was shot so he (would not) escape but died in the process," police said in a statement about the Sunday evening incident. Police said the case remains under investigation. Most Rwandans are Christian. Muslims account for about 2.5 percent of population. After news of Mugemangango's death broke, the country's main Muslim association, Rwanda Muslims, said it planned to circulate messages condemning radicalisation to all of Rwanda's mosques. The group said it was aware that five Rwandan Muslims had gone missing after travelling to the south of the country to preach to university students. It was not immediately clear if there was any connection between the two cases. A representative of Mugemangango could not immediately be reached for comment. (Clement Uwiringiyimana; Editing by Edith Honan Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Police cleared a suspicious package on Tuesday that had led to the evacuation of a building opposite the United Nations headquarters in New York that houses the U.N. missions of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. "It's all over," said John Miller, New York Police Department deputy commissioner for intelligence and counter-terrorism. "It's a couple of household items and a framed picture, no hazard." "It may just be a gift to the mission, we don't know," he told reporters. A U.N. security official said the package was found in the Saudi Arabian U.N. mission. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols, editing by G Crosse and Grant McCool)
By Toni Clarke (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts said on Monday he placed a hold on President Barack Obama's nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration until the agency agrees to reform its process for approving opioid painkillers. Markey wants opioid-approval matters to be reviewed by an FDA advisory committee and believes the committee should consider the risk of addiction and abuse during the approval process. He also wants the agency to rescind approval of OxyContin for children and convene an advisory panel to guide that process. "Last year, the FDA approved a new pediatric use for OxyContin without convening an advisory committee even though its guidelines note that FDA decisions that relate to controversial issues or matters relating to children are particularly well-suited to advisory committee empanelment," Markey said in a statement. A "hold" is a procedure by which a senator can prevent a measure from being voted on by the full Senate. The nominee, Dr. Robert Califf, a cardiologist and researcher, is widely expected to be approved when the Senate votes on the nomination later this year, although critics argue his ties to the pharmaceutical industry are too close. A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, said it had made addressing the opioid crisis "a top priority." "Work at FDA and across HHS will continue on this important effort," spokesman Kevin Griffis said in a statement. "HHS will be in touch directly with the Senator regarding his concern." The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted earlier this month to confirm Califf as FDA commissioner, a position open since Dr. Margaret Hamburg stepped down last February. Califf, who joined the FDA a year ago as a deputy commissioner, previously held senior positions at Duke University, where he founded a large academic research center that received more than half its funding from the drug industry. He has also led multiple large-scale, company-funded clinical trials and published more than 1,200 papers. His interest in streamlining the clinical trial process dovetails with those of patient groups and members of Congress who are eager to see new drugs brought to market faster. U.S. deaths from drug overdoses hit a record in 2014, increasing 6.5 percent to 47,055, propelled by prescription painkiller and heroin abuse, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drug overdoses are seen as a major contributor to recently rising death rates among middle-aged white Americans. Since 2000, deaths from powerful, highly addictive opioids have jumped 200 percent, the CDC said, with those addicted to prescription painkillers, such as hydrocodone, increasingly turning to widely available, often cheaper heroin. (Reporting by Toni Clarke in Washington and Bill Berkrot in New York; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney)
Melbourne (AFP) - Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova for an 18th straight time despite a bout of food poisoning on Tuesday to set up an Australian Open semi-final against Agnieszka Radwanska, who has never won against the dominant American.

The six-time Melbourne Park champion heaped more misery on her long-time rival 6-4, 6-1, with the Russian fifth seed stretching her demoralising winless run against the American great to 12 years.

With Sharapova again swatted aside, the 34-year-old world number one, gunning to match Steffi Graf's Open-era Grand Slam record of 22 titles, now has the composed Pole in her sights.

The signs are not good for Radwanska, despite her convincing 6-1, 6-3 win over Spanish 10th seed Carla Suarez on Rod Laver Arena.

While her record against Williams is not yet on the scale of Sharapova, it is still dismal. They have played eight times since 2008 Agnieszka has lost the lot, taking just one set along the way.

Another ominous fact facing the Pole is that every time defending champion Williams has got past the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park, she has gone on to win the tournament.

Ahead of the Williams-Sharapova showdown, Radwanska, a semi-finalist last year, said she did not mind who she faced in the last-four clash on Thursday.

"I have nothing to lose and it does not matter who I play. Hopefully I can play my best tennis or I'll be in trouble," said the popular 26-year-old, who is on a 13-match win streak.

The Pole added that the experience she gained from making the Wimbledon final in 2012, along with three other major semis, would be crucial.

"Experience is very important in tennis. I'm happy to have that and I'll be ready for the semi," she said.

Her big-match experience pales in comparison to Williams who has won 21 Grand Slam titles, including six at Melbourne Park, and played in four other finals at the majors.

"She's been playing really well towards the end of the year, and already this year she's been very consistent," Williams said of the Pole, a friend off court.

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"She presents a completely different game, an extremely exciting game. So I think it will be a long match and it will be a good match to see where I am."

Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka faces seventh seed Angelique Kerber while unseeded Briton Johanna Konta takes on Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai in the other quarter-finals on Wednesday.

- 'Back to the drawing board' -

On a scorching hot day, the sluggish Williams, at 34 the oldest world number one in WTA history, was slow to get going against Sharapova.

She was broken on her opening serve but soon got on the scoreboard as her power serve found its range and her game started coming together.

It was a typically tight first set against her long-time rival but she finally came through after a brutal 55 minutes.

Williams, who only lost three matches in 56 last season, called the trainer out at the changeover, revealing later she had some "food poisoning issues", but she soldiered on and took control with an early break in the second set.

The Russian began wilting and Williams, who won three major titles last year, to go within one of Graf's record of 22, kept her foot to the floor and turned the contest into a rout.

It meant the five-time Grand Slam winner's demoralising jinx against Williams remains intact, dating back to 2004 when she last beat her in the Wimbledon final.

Despite yet another defeat, Sharapova tried to take away some positives.

"It's motivating because she's at a different level. She makes you go back to the drawing board, not just for me, but for many other players," she said.

"She makes you work. That's inspiring."
Chicago (AFP) - US authorities sacked six police officers Tuesday who unloaded 137 bullets into a car carrying two unarmed African Americans, killing the pair in a hail of gunfire in Cleveland, Ohio.

City officials, who have faced criticism for failing to take action sooner after the 2012 shooting, said they hoped the sackings would bring "closure" to a city struggling to rebuild trust following a series of high-profile police killings, including that of a black boy.

Cleveland pledged to overhaul its police force and aspire to "bias-free" law enforcement under an agreement reached with the US Justice Department in May.

The "consent decree" was announced two days after protesters filled Cleveland's streets following the acquittal of a white police officer charged in the November 2012 incident that left Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams dead after a car chase.

Patrolman Michael Brelo, 31, was one of 13 officers involved in the 22-mile (35 kilometer) high-speed chase.

The car of Russell and Williams had backfired as it drove past Cleveland police headquarters, and police thought the sound was a gunshot.

A total of 137 rounds were fired at their car, including 49 by Brelo. He shot the final 15 from the hood of Russell's Chevrolet Malibu.

Six officers, including Brelo, were fired and six will be disciplined. One has retired.

City officials said the officers crossed the line and endangered their fellow officers when they unleashed the barrage of bullets in just 20 seconds.

Cleveland police also faced severe criticism after Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old black boy carrying a toy gun, was fatally shot by a white officer at a playground in 2014. A grand jury declined last month to issue charges in that case.

Mayor Frank Jackson defended the amount of time it took to discipline the officers.

"What we've talked about from the beginning is conducting a process that has due process at its core and is fair," he told reporters.

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But police union president Steve Loomis said he expected the six sacked officers to get their jobs back.

"The politics in this city is absolutely appalling," he told reporters.

"It's tragic that it went down this way, but at the end of the day, two people high on crack cocaine, high on marijuana, one of them intoxicated, made the decisions that they made and we responded."
New research suggests that using a smartphone can be an effective way of motivating people to get moving and can even decrease unhealthy sedentary behavior.

The US-based pilot study brought together researchers from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, the American Cancer Society, and the technical expertise of the e-Health Technology Program at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, to measure the movement of 215 participants using accelerometers for seven consecutive days. The researchers also asked all participants to carry smartphones for the full seven days.

During the study, as well as being measured by the accelerometers, participants who reported sitting for two hours or more a day also received messages to their smartphone encouraging them to stand up and move more, as well as information reminding them that prolonged periods of sitting down is bad for health.

After the seven days, the accelerometer data showed that during the study, when compared to a control group, the participants carrying smartphones spent significantly less time sitting down and more time moving around being active, with the accelerometers recording 3% less sitting down time than the control group, equal to around 25 minutes more active time each day.

As a pilot study the authors recognize that the research has its limitations, a key one being the short duration of the study, however they still conclude that the findings are significant, commenting that, "Overall, simple smartphone prompts appear to be a promising strategy for reducing sedentary behavior and increasing activity, though adequately-powered and well-designed studies will be needed to confirm these preliminary findings."

The findings can be found online in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

A recent 2016 study showed that in severely obese individuals, even those who perform exercise are still at risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes if they lead a sedentary lifestyle. The findings suggested that decreasing sitting time, rather than just increasing the amount of time doing exercise, could be a more beneficial way to improve health, especially for those who struggle to reach the suggested quota of 30-minutes a day of moderate to vigorous exercise as recommended by the US government.

An earlier 2015 study also found similar results, with researchers suggesting that decreasing the amount of time spent sitting down was an effective way to improve health. In their study the team found that one of the most effective ways to decrease time spent sitting was setting reminders to remind us to take a break.
Nevada is one of the sunniest states in America, but recent regulatory changes have cast a long shadow over its solar industry.

In late December, the states energy regulators drastically changed incentives for solar users, upending their plans to reap the long-term financial benefits of investing in pricey solar panels.

Under the new plan, monthly fees for solar customers connected to the energy grid would increase from $12 to $40 over the course of five years. During that same time, those customers would also go from being paid full retail value for the excess energy they create to getting paid back at wholesale rates, essentially a two-thirds decrease.

Nevada solar customer Dale Matz, who invested $20,000 to purchase a rooftop solar array, said the move felt like having the rug pulled out from under [him].

Matz told TakePart that hed invested in solar with the hope that hed pay off the investment within 14 years and all but eliminate his electricity bill in the process.

Hes not alone. David Lee Taylor, a retired Vietnam veteran who lives on a fixed income, leased his solar panels in 2009 with a simple plan. During the winter I would build up enough credits to zero out my power bill for June, July, and August. Now, with the compensation rates, Ill never be able to do that.

At the heart of the debate is a renewable energy incentive scheme called net metering. Proponents say net metering solves the challenge of storing all the extra energy produced on sunny days and makes plans like Taylors possible.

Rather than investing in expensive batteries, solar users can earn one-for-one credits by sending their extra energy back into the grid. They can then redeem those credits to purchase energy on cloudy days.

Net metering turns purchasing solar panels from an environmentally conscious investment into a legitimately good deal. By decreasing the value of the credits net metering users get for creating excess energy, Matz and Taylor said Nevada has turned solar into a raw deal.

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RELATED: U.S. Coal Production Falls to 30-Year Low as Solar Powers Up

The rate changes also prompted a class-action lawsuit filed on Jan. 12 by Nevada resident John Bamforth and Stanley Schone, who claimed Nevada Energy lured them into investing in solar energy with false claims about long-term savings. Matz and Taylor said they were not involved in the lawsuit but were interested in joining.

In many ways, Nevada has served as a flash point in the debate over affordable solar energyand echoes fights in California and other states where sunshine is the sort of commodity residents want to bank on as an eco-friendly alternative to coal.

On Monday, a coalition of advocacy groups including The Alliance for Solar Choice and the Libertarian Party of Nevada launched a petition calling on Gov. Brian Sandoval to remove all three members of the states energy rate regulating committee as punishment for their ruling.

Theyve presided over the most extreme anti-solar proposal weve seen anywhere in the country, said Lauren Randall, policy manager for SunRun, one of the nations largest residential solar panel retailers and a supporter of the petition. Nevada law says that the commissioners are supposed to encourage private investing in renewable energy, and these new laws have done anything but that.

The rate changes have also had a devastating impact on Nevadas solar energy industry. SolarCity, the nations largest solar retailer, announced earlier this month that it will no longer be doing business in the state, laying off 550 employees in the process. Two other major retails, Vivint and SunRun, have pulled up stakes.

California is considering gradual reforms, which would impose higher monthly fees and modestly reduce the rate at which solar users are compensated for creating excess energy.

In Arizona, two Republican candidates for the states energy rate regulating body were accused of receiving secret campaign contributions from public utilities in exchange for promises to increase costs for solar users.

RELATED: The Koala in the Coal Mine

Despite the public backlash, public utilities have framed the battle over solar energy rates as a matter of fairness.

When asked about the rate-change decision, Peter Kostes, a spokesperson for Nevadas rate regulating committee, pointed TakePart to a statement released in late December outlining the significant overhead costs associated with maintaining the infrastructure of net-metering systems. The statement argues that net-metering customers are so highly subsidized by going solar that they are transferring the cost of maintaining the utility grid to traditional customers.

"Under existing rates, costs are being unreasonably shifted away from small commercial and residential net metering customers to other ratepayers, resulting in non-net metering customers paying higher rates to compensate for the reduced collection of revenue from net metering customers," the statement reads.

Concerns over unfairness have fueled Californias net-metering debate as well. In San Diego, the Fix My Energy Bill Coalition, an advocacy group organized to fight unfair subsidies awarded to solar users, took out a full-page ad in a local newspaper in which it claimed average customers were forced to pay up to $340 per year to cover costs associated with net metering.

Randall dismissed claims that solar customers create a disproportionate burden on energy grids, pointing to an independent study commissioned by Nevadas state legislature in 2013 that showed that solar energy users create a net savings for utility users.

In turn, Nevadas rate regulating committee has dismissed the study as being based on outdated solar pricing models.

As the debate over solar pricing rages on, users like Matz got some good news on Monday afternoon. NV Energy, a utility that brings power to 2.4 million homes, released a statement calling for residents who have purchased solar panels to be grandfathered into their existing deals.

Matz said hes happy for the financial relief but is more worried about the future of the residential solar industry.

My bottom line is Im worried about this planet, Matz said. For the existing customers, Im sure theyre all happy, but for the sake of the planet, its still not a good deal.

Related stories on TakePart:





 Las Vegas Bets Big on Solar Energy

 U.K. Renewables Beat Coal Power for the First Time Ever

 The Mostand LeastEnergy-Efficient States

Original article from TakePart
TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp <6758.T> said it will buy Israeli chipmaker Altair Semiconductor for $212 million, stepping up its investment in chip technology after strong sales of camera sensors in the last few years helped turn around the business. The Israel-based company, which has developed technology to allow small devices such as security alarms and electricity meters to connect to mobile networks, told Reuters last year that it was considering an initial public offering. Sony said it expects to close the deal in early February. (Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Miral Fahmy)
Centurion (South Africa) (AFP) - South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn will miss the five-match one-day series against England after his shoulder injury proved to be more serious than first believed.

Steyn was injured in the first innings of the first Test with what was diagnosed as a shoulder spasm. But team manager and doctor Mohammed Moosajee said on Tuesday that new scans had revealed a "bone stress reaction".

"He is undergoing therapy and oxygen chamber treatment," said Moosajee, who said Steyn might also miss two Twenty20 internationals at the end of the tour.

He said a realistic target was for Steyn to be fit for three Twenty20 internationals against Australia in March, shortly before the World Twenty20 tournament in India.

Steyn, 32, has only bowled in two of South Africa's most recent eight Tests, being injured in the first innings on both occasions, but Moosajee said the latest injury should heal completely and he expected the bowler to play a key role for South Africa.

Fellow fast bowler Vernon Philander, who has not played since suffering an ankle injury before the second Test against India last year, was still two to three weeks away from a full recovery, although he had started bowling in the nets. Philander will not play in the one-day series.

A third fast bowler, Kyle Abbott, will miss the first one-day international in Bloemfontein on February 3 after suffering a hamstring strain in the fourth Test which ended on Tuesday.

But Moosajee said he expected Abbott to be available for the rest of the series.
Madrid (AFP) - Spain's Supreme Court said Tuesday it had found the captain, British insurer and owner of an oil tanker that broke up off northwestern Spain in 2002 liable for one of Europe's worst environmental disasters.

Reversing an earlier decision acquitting the ship's Greek captain Apostolos Mangouras, the court sentenced the skipper to two years' jail and also found mutual insurance company The London P&I Club liable for the disaster, as well as ship owner Mare Shipping Inc.

The total cost of the damage has been estimated at 4.1 billion euros ($4.4 billion) and by designating those liable for the disaster for the first time, Spain's top court finally opens the way for compensation more than 13 years after the spill.

The Prestige tanker ran into trouble in rough seas in November 2002.

Six days later, damaged and adrift, it broke in two and sank off the coast of Galicia.

The accident saw 63,000 tonnes of oil spill into the sea and blacken 2,980 kilometres (1,852 miles) of shoreline in Spain, France and Portugal with sludge.

The spill caused huge damage to wildlife and the environment, as well as to the region's fishing industry, leading to an international cleanup effort.

- Ageing, malfunctioning ship -

A Spanish court in 2013 acquitted Mangouras and the ship's chief engineer, as well as a senior Spanish official, of environmental crimes over the wreck, arguing they did not act intentionally or with serious negligence.

But the Supreme Court revoked the acquittal for Mangouras, accusing him of "gross negligence" for having sailed at a time when bad weather was possible, knowing that the ship was old and that the automatic pilot no longer worked, for instance.

Mangouras' seamanship was not only dangerous, "he also created a serious risk, particularly with regards to the highly-polluting nature of the substance he was transporting," it concluded.

The London P&I Club, meanwhile, could be liable for up to $1 billion (920 million euros), though no sum has yet been decided.

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The acquittals in 2013 had caused an uproar, with thousands protesting in Galician cities.

Greenpeace had said that the decision provided "a carte blanche to the oil industry to threaten the environment and citizens".

And Spain's State Prosecutor Luis Navajas, who asked the Supreme Court to overturn the acquittals in September, called the decision "flawed" and "notoriously wrong."

Among the evidence he said had been overlooked were notes from the Prestige's former captain, Stratos Kostazos, who had complained that the tanker was in bad shape and had refused to sail in it.

The Supreme Court said Tuesday that two major energy companies -- Spain's Repsol and Britain's BP -- had advised against using the Prestige tanker, a 26-year-old vessel with a carrying capacity of 81,000 tonnes.

It added that a man who had worked for the company that managed the Prestige said the owners of the ship knew what state it was in and had dispatched it to Saint Petersburg to "die."

"But... it was decided it would make another sea crossing, which really was its final one," the court wrote in its statement.

- 'Scapegoat' -

Still, Tuesday's announcement was not met with much enthusiasm.

Greenpeace complained that the captain was being used as a "scapegoat" while other key players in the disaster were not in the dock -- including current incumbent Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was deputy prime minister at the time.

The conservative Popular Party government in power had ordered the Prestige out to sea away from the Spanish coast instead of following an emergency plan that called for it to be brought to port where the leaking oil could be confined.

And Rajoy initially downplayed the gravity of the accident, repeatedly describing the black spots that appeared in the sea where the tanker went down as "small threads of clay".

Raquel Monton of Greenpeace Spain said the exact owner of the fuel itself had never been fully determined, adding that the 4.1-billion-euros in damages sought was a "ridiculous figure."

By comparison, BP was forced to pay $20.8 billion to settle government claims for damages stemming from the deadly 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's four main party leaders will meet King Felipe for a second time next Monday and Tuesday to see whether any of them can muster enough support to form a government and break a six-week election deadlock, the palace said. Parties on the right and left have been jockeying for power in the month since the Dec. 20 vote, though none is yet in a position to cement an alliance after the political landscape fragmented at the ballot box. The parties held their first consultations with the king last week. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who wants his ruling center-right Popular Party (PP) to form a 'grand coalition' including the center-left Socialists, admitted after meeting the king last Friday that he did not yet have enough backing to seek a parliamentary confidence vote. In a statement on Tuesday, the palace said the king would meet Spain's two newcomer parties, the centrist Ciudadanos and the anti-austerity Podemos, on Monday, Feb. 1. He will then meet the PP and the second-placed Socialist Party on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Once a candidate seeks the confidence of parliament, a two-month deadline for the formation of a government comes into effect. After that, a new election would be triggered. But there is no time limit for a party leader to seek a confidence vote, meaning the stalemate could continue until either Rajoy or Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez believe they have enough support to guarantee success in leading a coalition. Chances of a leftist coalition have improved since Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias said on Friday he was willing to soften his red lines to negotiate a pact with the Socialists. However, any possible deal is still not a certainty, given the Socialists' Sanchez would need to agree pacts with several nationalist and pro-independence parties from the Basque region and Catalonia to gain a majority in the 350-seat parliament. Podemos pounced on news that an anti-corruption operation in Valencia on Tuesday had arrested 24 people, many linked to the PP, by warning the Socialists against forming a grand coalition. "Anybody that talks about political regeneration cannot enter into agreements with the PP since they would be complicit in future corruption cases," Podemos's number two Inigo Errejon said in parliament. (Reporting by Angus Berwick, additional reporting by Marta Ruiz-Castillo; Editing by Julien Toyer and Gareth Jones)
By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of U.S. states led by coal producer West Virginia and oil producer Texas on Tuesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to put a hold on President Barack Obama's plan to curb carbon dioxide emissions from power plants to combat climate change. The 26 states filed a stay application with U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts after an appeals court in Washington declined last week to block Obama's Clean Power Plan while litigation over its lawfulness goes ahead. "If this court does not enter a stay, the plan will continue to unlawfully impose massive and irreparable harms upon the sovereign states, as well as irreversible changes in the energy markets," lawyers for the states said in the latest filing. There is no immediate deadline by which Roberts must act on the request. He is likely to ask the Obama administration to file a response. He can then act on the application by himself or circulate it among the eight other Supreme Court justices. The states and several major business groups in October launched legal challenges seeking to block the Obama administration's proposal to curb carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Carbon dioxide is considered a so-called greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change. The White House said the Clean Power Plan establishes the first-ever national standards to limit carbon pollution from power plants. The plan also mandates a shift to renewable energy from coal-fired electricity. More than a dozen other states and the National League of Cities, which represents more than 19,000 U.S. cities, back the Environmental Protection Agency's rule. The rule aims to lower carbon emissions from the country's power plants by 2030 to 32 percent below 2005 levels. It is the main tool for the United States to meet the emissions reduction target it pledged at U.N. climate talks in Paris in December. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is due to hear oral arguments in the case on June 2. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan lifted cooking gas, jet fuel, and fuel oil subsidies by ending a government monopoly over the products as global oil prices slide, the finance ministry said on Tuesday, opening up the market to the private sector. All administrative constraints, taxes, and tariffs on the products are lifted and private sector companies are now allowed to use all payment methods, the ministry said in a statement. The removal of the cooking gas subsidy led to a 200 percent rise in the commodity's price, making 1 kilogram of cooking gas, also known as liquefied petroleum gas, worth 6 Sudanese pounds ($0.9885), up from 2 pounds previously. Sudan's economy was hit hard in 2011 when the south seceded, taking with it three quarters of the country's oil, estimated at 5 billion barrels of proven reserves by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Ahmed Aboulenein; editing by Adrian Croft)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African hotel and gaming group Sun International said on Tuesday that Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had launched a probe into its initial investment in the Tourist Company of Nigeria (TCN). The investigation is the latest cloud over South African investment into the continent's largest economy after Nigerian authorities imposed a $3.9 billion fine on telecoms group MTN for failing to disconnect users with unregistered SIM cards. Four Sun employees, three South Africans and one Nigerian, were detained in Nigeria last week and the company said in a statement that it had secured their release Monday night. "The EFCC still wishes to investigate the nature of Sun Internationals original investment into TCN as well as TCNs trading records and has requested that TCN provide them with information and documentation," Sun said. "Sun International has no difficulty with this request and intends to work with TCN to collate and provide the required information to the EFCC." A Sun spokesman said the group's investment to date into TCN, which runs two hotels and a casino, was $50 million. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; editing by Jason Neely)
Washington (AFP) - The US Supreme Court on Monday struck down North Dakota's last-ditch efforts to save a strict "fetal heartbeat" law that banned many abortions, weeks before another highly contentious case.

The midwestern state had hoped the top court in Washington would back the Republican-inspired law adopted in 2013 which forbids abortions as soon as a heartbeat is detected in a fetus.

A heartbeat can be detected just six weeks after conception, at a time when many women are not even sure yet that they are pregnant.

By refusing to review a lower court's ruling overturning the measures, the Supreme Court permanently blocked the law. The lower court had referred to the high court's rulings making clear that abortions are allowed until the fetus is deemed viable, around the 23rd or 24th week of pregnancy.

"We knew just going in it was going to be a long shot," the state's Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem told The Bismarck Tribune. "This is the end of what we can do."

Calling North Dakota's ban the "earliest and most extreme" in the nation, Center for Reproductive Rights president Nancy Northup hailed the decision.

"Whether in North Dakota, Arkansas or Texas, politicians simply cannot rob women of their constitutional rights," she said in a statement.

"This utterly cruel and unconstitutional ban would have made North Dakota the first state since Roe v. Wade to effectively ban abortion -- with countless women left to pay the price."

North Dakota's bid is part of a series of conservative efforts seeking to challenge the historic "Roe v. Wade" Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in 1973.

From 2011 to 2014, US states adopted no less than 231 new abortion restrictions while the number of states considered hostile to abortion rights -- with at least four types of abortion restrictions -- more than doubled from 13 in 2000 to 27 in 2014, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

The high court has also agreed to take up on March 2 a highly fraught Texas case over the legality of state restrictions on abortion clinics. Its ruling in that case could have major implications on other measures limiting abortion rights.
By Jaime Hamre

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba's tourism industry is under unprecedented strain and struggling to meet demand with record numbers of visitors arriving a year after detente with the United States renewed interest in the Caribbean island.

Its tropical weather, rich musical traditions, famed cigars and classic cars were for decades off limits to most Americans under Cold War-era sanctions, but those restrictions are fading.

Once a rare sight, Americans are now swarming Old Havana's colonial squares and narrow streets along with Europeans and Canadians.

Entrepreneurs and hustlers have responded by upping prices on taxi rides, meals, and trinkets. Cuban women who pose for pictures in colorful dresses and headwraps while chomping cigars are now charging $5 instead of $1.

Cuba received a record 3.52 million visitors last year, up 17.4 percent from 2014. American visits rose 77 percent to 161,000, not counting hundreds of thousands of Cuban-Americans.

Industry experts worry the island will be unable to absorb an even greater expected surge when scheduled U.S. commercial airline and ferry services are due to start this year.

As it is, foreigners face extreme difficulties booking hotels and rental cars, and those who hoped to discover Cuba before the hordes arrive realize they are too late.

"Cuba is over the top with tourists right now. I've seen so many Americans, it's not even funny," said Ana Fernandez, 44, of Nashville, Tennessee.

Gisela Hoiman, 46, a schoolbook editor from Berlin, hoped to see Cuba "before it changes" but was disappointed to find long airport lines, ubiquitous hucksters and masses of tourists. She was stranded in Havana when she was unable to get a spot on the bus leaving for the eastern city of Santiago."It was too much to handle, too many other tourists. We stood in line and were sent back and forth to different counters," she said from an Old Havana cafe with her large backpack parked on the floor. "I don't think Cuba is prepared."

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The United States and Cuba agreed in December 2014 to end five decades of animosity and have since restored diplomatic ties, igniting international buzz about Cuba.

The opening has benefited Cuba's small private sector, which offers restaurants and rooms for rent in family homes.

But the tourism infrastructure, with just 63,000 hotel rooms nationwide, is still largely a function of the state and has languished under decades of U.S. economic sanctions and underdevelopment.

"From offloading at the airport to restaurant availability, infrastructure is maxed out," said Collin Laverty, founder of Cuba Educational Travel, which organizes tours for legally permitted travel for Americans.

A select number of foreign-run hotels, such as those of Spain's Melia Hotels International SA , fill up fast, leaving many visitors with little option but tired state-run motels or rooms in private homes.

Some have been priced out or bumped from hotels, especially in Havana, where high-end U.S. groups reserve blocks months in advance and pay higher prices.

"It is kind of a slap in the face as it has been the Canadian and European tourists who have helped keep the Cuban economy afloat for the past 25 years," said Keri Montgomery, owner of Vancouver-based Finisterra travel.

The government is seeking more foreign investment and has plans to reach 85,000 hotel rooms nationwide by 2020, but the pace is slow and development has mostly favored beach destinations rather than Cuba's cultural centers.

Cuban officials did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

FORIBDDEN FRUIT

American tourism is still banned under the U.S. trade embargo but U.S. citizens and residents are allowed to visit under 12 categories including for religious, sporting and educational exchanges.

In one of his first moves after rapprochement, Obama made it easier for those 12 categories of travelers to go to Cuba.

The increased presence of Americans is especially noticeable in Havana, and because there has been little enforcement of the tourism ban, some are also enjoying Cuba's beaches and bars with little effort to disguise their intentions.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control has not fined any Americans for visiting Cuba since Obama took office in January 2009, its database shows.

Under President George W. Bush, OFAC fined hundreds of individuals for embargo violations, mostly for travel. More than 800 people received penalties including nearly $1.1 million in fines in 2004 and 2005 alone, according to a 2015 report by the Congressional Research Service.

California native Tony Pandola, 33, who has been leading Americans around Cuba for three years, said once-intimate experiences are now plagued by crowds.

"On this really beautiful, quiet farm there were six giant tour buses with their diesel engines running and a couple of minivans and taxis all waiting to have the same experience with the tobacco farmer," he said from Vinales, a picturesque valley west of Havana.

While many budget travelers can usually find accommodations even without booking, some are left stranded.

"I talked to a cab driver in Vinales who said they were offering tourists to sleep in the back of their car for $10," Pandola said.

Leonardo Diaz, 34, who has been working in tourism in his hometown of Vinales since he was a teen, said every room was booked in December.

"A lot of tourists have stayed in the park. That had never been seen before," he said.

Havana's international airport lacks sufficient infrastructure such as luggage trucks and passenger stairs to handle the influx, causing bottlenecks.

"It's total madness," said Roniel Hernandez, who works at the terminal receiving U.S. flights. "The airport employees are doing everything possible to satisfy visitors, but the equipment is very old and needs to be replaced."

Retired teacher Joanna Sarff finally came to Cuba after dreaming about it for 50 years, so she refused to let the inconveniences spoil her trip, saying she was more focused on plans to dance on the tables at a Buena Vista Social Club concert than the crowds.

"For me, this is a great way to experience the culture, the people, the food, the mojitos, and the cigars!"

(Reporting by Jaime Hamre; Additional reporting by Nelson Acosta; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Kieran Murray)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that some participants of the Syria peace process had been "capricious" by refusing to negotiate. "When there are attempts to put conditions for collective fight against terrorism, conditions that are irrelevant, such as 'if you agree to a regime change, for example, in Syria, then we will for real begin to fight terrorism collectively' ... that is, I believe, the biggest mistake," Lavrov told a press conference. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Andrew Osborn; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Ediiting by Dmitry Solovyov)
Beirut (AFP) - Syrian pro-government forces captured a strategic southern rebel town close to the Jordanian border after weeks of fighting, a monitor said on Tuesday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime troops and allied militia including fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iranian officers "seized control of Sheikh Miskeen" overnight with the help of Russian and Syrian government air strikes.

The town, in Daraa province, lies on a vital crossroads between Damascus to the north and the government-controlled city of Sweida to the east.

It is 12 kilometres (seven miles) from the rebel stronghold of Nawa, another key target for regime forces.

A security source had told AFP the Sheikh Miskeen was a "launching pad" for rebel operations, and one of the opposition's "centres of gravity for the whole of Daraa province".

He said seizing control of the town would sever a rebel supply route to areas under opposition control around Damascus.

Last month, government troops captured the Brigade 82 base outside the town, and they have since been pushing to capture Sheikh Miskeen.

Most of Daraa province is controlled by opposition forces, though the government holds parts of the provincial capital and a few villages in the northwest.

At least 17 people have been killed in a double suicide bomb blast at an army checkpoint in the Syrian city of Homs, the provincial governor said.

Talal Barazi told AFP that a first suicide bomber detonated explosives while in a car at the checkpoint and a second set off another blast a few moments later.
Beirut (AFP) - The United Nations on Tuesday sent out invitations for fresh Syria peace talks in Geneva later this week, including to figures excluded from a key opposition body.

"The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, has addressed invitations to the Syrian participants today," his office said in a statement.

It did not specify who had been invited, but several opposition figures confirmed to AFP they had received invitations.

Syria's leading Kurdish party however said it had not yet received an invitation.

Among the invitees are delegates from the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), a body representing key opposition groups and factions that was formed in Riyadh last year.

But invitations have also gone out to several opposition figures who are not in the HNC, which has said it should be the sole opposition delegation at the talks.

Qadri Jamil, a former deputy prime minister who was sacked in 2013 and has good ties with regime ally Russia, confirmed to AFP that he had been invited.

"I am on my way to Geneva after receiving an invitation" to the talks that are scheduled to begin on Friday, he said.

And Haytham Manna, a longstanding opposition figure who is co-chair of the political wing of a Kurdish-Arab alliance, also said he had been invited.

"I received an invitation to participate in the talks as a negotiator," he told AFP.

A member of the HNC's delegation to the talks, Fuad Aliko, said the body had been invited, but that talks over whether it would attend were continuing.

The HNC has threatened to boycott the negotiations if opposition figures other than its members are allowed to attend.

Syria's most powerful Kurdish party, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), said it had not yet received an invitation.

"Up until now, the PYD has not received an invitation to participate in the Geneva talks," said Sihanuk Dibo, an advisor to the party's leadership.

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He said the PYD was in contact with various parties to "resolve the issue in the coming hours or tomorrow."

The PYD is not part of the HNC, and powerful opposition backer Turkey has said it will boycott the talks if the Kurdish party is invited.

Ankara considers it and its armed wing to be an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Worker's party, which has waged a bloody insurgency in the mainly Kurdish southeast of Turkey since 1984.

Dibo blamed Ankara for the absence of an invite to the talks.

Wrangling over who will represent Syria's opposition has already forced the start of the talks to be delayed from Monday.

The so-called "proximity talks" are scheduled to last six months, with the first round lasting between two and three weeks, according to De Mistura.

They are part of a UN-backed plan agreed last year that envisages negotiations, followed by the creation of a transitional government, a new constitution and elections within 18 months.

They are the latest bid to end a conflict that has killed more than 260,000 people and displaced over half of Syria's population since it began with anti-government protests in March 2011.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian Kurdish PYD party expects to be invited to peace talks planned later this week in Geneva, but it is not yet clear in what capacity they will be there, the party's joint leader Saleh Muslim said on Tuesday. "We will be invited, but we still don't know in what position," Saleh Muslim, co-chair of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), told Reuters. The invitations are expected to be sent on Tuesday. Russia, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been calling for the PYD to be included in the opposition delegation, but the Saudi-backed Sunni Arab opposition has rejected that idea. Turkey, another backer of the rebellion, has also opposed the PYD's participation in peace talks in the opposition ranks. The PYD is affiliated to the PKK, which is seen as a terrorist group by Turkey and major Western states. The YPG militia, which is affiliated to the PYD, controls wide areas of northern and northeastern Syria where it has become an important ally in the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State. (Reporting by Tom Perry Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition council hoping to oust President Bashar al-Assad from power signaled on Tuesday it might accept an invitation to peace talks in Geneva but said a final decision would only be made on Wednesday. "There is consensus in the High Committee on being positive in our decision (to accept)," spokesman Salim al-Muslat told the Arabic news channel Arabiya al-Hadath. The committee has repeatedly said the Syrian government and its allies must first halt bombardments and lift blockades of besieged areas before it will join any talks. The United Nations has invited Syria's government and opposition to the negotiations, which were originally scheduled to begin on Monday but are now set for Friday. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Gareth Jones)
(Reuters) - The 17-year-old male charged in the shooting deaths of four people in northern Canada appeared briefly in court on Monday and remained in custody, media reported. Police arrested the teen, who cannot be publicly named under Canadian law because he is under 18, on Friday after a shooting at a high school and home in remote La Loche, Saskatchewan, about 600 km (375 miles) northwest of Saskatoon. He faces four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder and unauthorized possession of a firearm. Seven people were wounded. The youth appeared in provincial court in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, staring at the floor during a brief hearing in which a judge banned publishing the identities of the surviving victims, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. He will next appear in court by video from jail on Feb. 22. The teen was sensitive and quiet, and often taunted about his large ears, according to La Loche residents, the StarPhoenix reported Monday. The newspaper, citing three sources, said the gunman dared people inside the school on Friday to tease him about his ears, and spared students who had been kind to him. Donna Johnson, assistant deputy minister of Saskatchewan's education ministry, said it was unclear when La Loche students would return to school. She said the government will consult the community about the school's future, after local politicians called for it to be demolished. (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A rogue policeman collaborating with insurgents in southern Afghanistan shot dead 10 colleagues on Tuesday after first poisoning their food, an official said. The latest in a long series of so-called insider attacks took place at a checkpoint in the Chenartu district of the volatile southern province of Uruzgan, district chief Faiz Mohmmad told Reuters. He said security forces were looking for the policemen and the presumed Taliban allies who joined him in shooting his colleagues in the early hours of Tuesday. "After the shooting, the policeman and Taliban stole their weapons and burned the checkpoint and a police vehicle," Faiz Mohmmad said. The Taliban have not claimed responsibility for the attack. Uruzgan, which borders the traditional Taliban strongholds of Helmand and Kandahar provinces, was the scene of a similar incident last week when four police shot and killed nine colleagues before joining the Taliban with weapons and equipment. Insider attacks have been a major problem among security forces struggling with low morale and high desertion rates and there have been repeated instances of police and soldiers going over to the Taliban. The Taliban, ousted from power in 2001 by U.S.-led forces, have stepped up their insurgency since the withdrawal of most foreign troops in 2014 and have launched a concentrated campaign in Helmand and other southern provinces. (Reporting by Ismail Sameem; Writing by Mirwais Harooni; Editing by Nick Macfie)
A recent US study has found that teenagers who continue to text on their phones after turning off the lights for bedtime have poorer sleep and poorer grades than those who text with the lights on.

The new study, by Rutgers University, is the first of its kind to find an association specifically between nighttime texting and the sleep quality and school performance of American teens.

Led by Xue Ming, professor of neuroscience and neurology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, the team surveyed students at three diferent New Jersey area high schools.

A total of 1,537 surveys were completed and analyzed by the team to look at the length of text messages sent by respondents, whether messages were sent before or after the lights were turned off and the participants' school grades.

Results showed that students who stopped texting when the lights went out, or who texted for less than 30 minutes after the lights went out, slept for longer, felt less sleepy during the day, and performed better academically than those who continued to text for longer than 30 minutes.

When comparing boys to girls however, the study found that although girls text more and felt sleepier during the day than boys, they still outperformed then in school studies, which Ming believes is due to girls texting primarily before and not after turning off the light.

Ming explained that the negative effect on sleep once the lights go out is due to the effects of the "blue light" emitted from smartphones and tablets being intensified in the dark. This blue light delays the release of melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy and which is normally released around 9pm, meaning instead of going to bed and dropping off, you stay awake for longer. This blue light can also affect the release of melatonin even if it is emitted from the phone when eyelids are closed.

The delay in melatonin release could also be a factor in poorer school performance. "If a person keeps getting text messages with alerts and light emission, that also can disrupt his circadian rhythm", explained Ming, "Rapid Eye Movement sleep is the period during sleep most important to learning, memory consolidation and social adjustment in adolescents. When falling asleep is delayed but rising time is not, REM sleep will be cut short, which can affect learning and memory."

Ming suggested that not only should schools recognize the importance of sleep for teens and find a way to incorporate education on sleep into the school curriculum, but also noted that a later school start time could be beneficial.

The results of the study were published in the Journal of Child Neurology.
The greatest danger in visiting the Caribbean islands might not be the frequency of crimes against tourists but in the false sense of security the region can inspire. In bright sunshine, surrounded by a sparkling sea and sand, a traveler who wouldnt think of walking down a deserted street in the U.S. or Europe may feel emboldened to wander down risky paths in what seems like paradise.



This may be exactly what led to the murder of a woman in Grenada last weekend after she and her husband walked out of public view and down a deserted stretch of beach. Just as travelers need to stay vigilant in destinations threatened by ISIS and in their own hometowns, they should not let their guard down in the Caribbean, security and travel experts advise.

Miami attorney Jim Walker, who documents crime in the Caribbean and has represented passengers in lawsuits against the cruise industry, calls the region pretty but dangerous.

U.S. citizens generally think that it is safe to go to these countries for no reason other than cruise ships travel there, he told Yahoo Travel. But the murder rates throughout the Caribbean are much higher than anywhere in the U.S., with some countries having a per capita murder rate as high as the U.S.s most dangerous cities.

The beach at La Sagesse resort in Grenada. (Photo: La Sagesse)



This doesnt mean a person should avoid visiting the Caribbean. Its a diverse region with a wide set of risk factors ranging from high to very low, so it pays to do your homework on where youre going. The bottom line is as long as you take simple precautions, such as staying in areas frequented by tourists, your chances of becoming a victim as one of the 26 million annual visitors arriving here by sea or air are slim.

I feel very safe in the Caribbean when traveling on a cruise, cruise expert Stewart Chiron told Yahoo Travel. Im confident that with constant security reviews by individual lines that Ill be as safe as possible.



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There may be ports [where] Im uncomfortable to disembark and would remain aboard ship. People should always be vigilant regardless of where they travel, and determine the risks on their own as well.

Chiron gave Nassau in the Bahamas as an example of where hed exercise caution, and indeed thats an oft-cited danger zone in the Caribbean. Nassaus homicide rate of 30 people per 100,000 is comparable to that of U.S. cities such as as Miami and Baltimore.

Related: Following Murder, Is Belize Safe for Tourists?



Crime has been a major concern in the port city of Nassau in the Bahamas. (Photo: Thinkstock)



The U.S. State Department has the following to say about the Bahamas on its travel site: The U.S. Embassy has received multiple reports of tourists robbed at gunpoint or knifepoint in tourist locations in the downtown areas of Nassau, [including]  the cruise ship docks and the Cable Beach commerce areas; several of these incidents occurred during daylight hours.

This month, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a crime warning related to the sexual assault of an American tourist by a man on a watercraft. The Associated Press reports five sexual assaults on U.S. citizens by Nassau Jet Ski operators since July.



Related: TripAdvisor: Top All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean



The murder in Grenada happened near the famous La Sagesse resort, where the couple had reportedly checked in the night before. The womans body was found in a mangrove near a deserted stretch of beach about a half-mile from the resort. One source who was at the resort told the Daily Mail the couple had apparently wandered just beyond where they would have been in sight of everyone else  past the mangrove and into a deserted area.

Ive been there on previous visits to La Sagesse, and I always felt a bit spooked on that deserted beach, as if someone was watching you from the undergrowth, Sue Hardy told the Daily Mail.



Grenada has been flagged as an island to keep an eye on in terms of crime and security. (Photo: Thinkstock)



The husband reportedly escaped and ran for help, but when help came, the woman was found dead. The local site SpiceIslander Talk Shop reported that the murder weapon was apparently a cutlass, and MTV News Grenada reported that a recently released ex-convict turned himself in for the crime.

La Sagesse is 12 miles from Grenadas capital, St. Georges.

When asked about the attack, Chiron told Yahoo Travel he considers Grenada to be a great place to visit on a cruise. Im sure lines are monitoring the situation, but Im confident no adjustments will be made at this time as it appears to be an isolated incident.

International risk management firm iJet recently told Yahoo Travel it has seen a slight increase in crime in the Caribbean due to an economic downturn, and that Grenada was an island to keep an eye on in terms of crime and security. The U.S. State department says crime in Grenada is mostly opportunistic, and said that travelers should endeavor to stay in well-lit areas, and avoid walking alone whenever possible, and hotel rooms should remain locked at all times.

Here are some other parts of the Caribbean that have been flagged as places to be especially careful:

Trinidad & Tobago: The State Departments Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) gives the island nation a crime rating of critical, adding in its report, Crime in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) continues to be a serious concern, although T&T Police Service 2014 crime statistics show a decrease in overall serious criminal activity.

Jamaica has received a critical crime rating. (Photo: Thinkstock)



Jamaica: The OSAC likewise gives this nation a critical crime rating, though it does say most crimes involve Jamaican-on-Jamaican violence. Some of the major tourist areas continue to be sites for pickpocketing and petty theft, the OSAC report says. In several cases, armed robberies turned violent when the victims resisted handing over valuables.

Whether you visit these places, or places that iJet deems safer  such as the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, or Aruba  the common-sense safety tips are the same:

Do not venture anywhere out of well-known tourist areas. If it looks at all sketchy, thats probably for a reason.

Whenever possible, leave your valuables at home, including jewelry and electronic devices. Be cautious about drawing attention to yourself with flashy clothes or loud behavior.

Always lock your hotel door and use the hotel safe.

On the off chance you are robbed, do not resist. This is often when petty crimes turn fatal.

Look for travel warnings and advisories from sources such as the State Department and the OSAC.

WATCH: Best Beaches in the Caribbean

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London (AFP) - Travel operator Thomas Cook has cancelled all British bookings to Tunisia until November following a wave of violent protests across the country.

Britain's Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the north African country, which is experiencing its worst social unrest since the 2011 revolution.

"In light of this, and given that we have no clear indication as to when the FCO travel advice may change, Thomas Cook can confirm that it has taken the decision to cancel all bookings to Tunisia up to and including 31 October 2016," the British company said in a statement.

"We appreciate that this may be frustrating for our customers who have been looking forward to their holiday," it added.

"The safety and well-being of all those who travel with us is our absolute priority."

The cancellation applies to some of the operator's foreign markets, although its flights from France, Austria and Germany are still operating.

Customers who are due to travel will be able to cancel or amend their holiday to another destination.

The operator is individually contacting customers whose bookings are affected.

Hundreds of police staged a protest on Monday outside Tunisia's presidential palace to demand a pay rise, in the latest sign of the country's economic and social woes.

Apart from the political turmoil of the past five years which has handicapped the economy, the north African country also faces jihadist violence that has devastated its vital tourism industry.
Freetown (AFP) - Three youths were seriously injured in clashes with police in Sierra Leone Tuesday after authorities ordered village traders to shut up shop while they hunted for people who may have had contact with an Ebola victim, witnesses said.

Angry youths allegedly burnt down a police post in the northern village of Barmoi Luma, reports said, as police fired tear gas to disperse angry crowds.

Witnesses told AFP by telephone that three youths were seriously hurt, with one shot in the head and another in the leg.

Authorities said the trouble started Saturday when 30 local people were quarantined for having potentially had contact with Marie Jalloh, a 22-year-old who died of Ebola on January 12.

Some 50 others who may have come into contact with Jalloh went into hiding in the community, which is deeply suspicious of western treatments for the deadly virus.

A town chief told AFP that police in Barmoi Luma had ordered market traders to halt business and shops to close from Saturday "to minimise any risk of contact with the runaway contacts", and they had remained shuttered.

"This has angered residents who said the actions of the police were arbitrary since Marie Jalloh did not die in Barmoi Luma but in Magburaka," he said.

Health authorities believe Jalloh fell ill in Barmoi Luma before travelling to the city of Magburaka some 100 kilometres (62 miles) away.

Witness Fatu Jalloh told AFP: "Temper flared up this morning when the police tried to enforce the no-trading order and dozens of youths and women rushed into the streets, hurling sticks and stones at police search teams."

She added: "I saw seven people injured, three of them seriously... There were lots of tear gas smoke and people were dashing for cover."

Doctors at the Italian-run Emergency Hospital in the capital Freetown confirmed that three seriously injured patients had been brought from the area but declined to give further details.

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Police have denied using live bullets to quell the disturbance.

Francis Hazeley, a local police commander, told reporters: "We did not use live shots but used tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters."

Reports said the area was now calm, with police withdrawing to the nearby town of Kambia on the request of community leaders.

Senior officials including Health Minister Abu Bakarr Fofonah and national police chief Francis Munu were holding urgent talks with local authorities in Kambia.

Jalloh's death came just a day after west Africa had celebrated the end of the Ebola epidemic which cost 11,000 lives.

Her aunt has since also been diagnosed with the virus, with an official saying Friday that she was responding well to treatment.
The world famous comedian and avid car collector could net more than $10 million when three vintage models from his collection go under the hammer at the Amelia Island Auction in Florida in March.

The cars in question are a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, a 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR and a 1958 Porsche 365 A 1500 GS/GT Carrera Speedster. Each of which is as immaculate as it is rare and highly sought. So much so that any of the cars in question would automatically become the pinnacle of anyone else's classic car collection.

"We are grateful and honored to be entrusted with these superb examples from the collection of Jerry Seinfeld, these cars epitomize the highest of quality and pedigree," said David Gooding, President of Gooding & Company. "Jerry's keen eye for significant Porsches, the care and pride he takes in maintaining his spectacular collection and his enthusiasm and passion for the Porsche marque, makes this one of our most thrilling sales in our company's history."

In particular, the 550 Spyder, despite its racing pedigree, is still completely original -- engine, body and transaxle all match. And as well as the Seinfeld link, there is also the James Dean connection. The movie star was killed while driving a 550, helping to cement the car's place in Hollywood as well as automotive history. Little wonder that the estimate slapped on the car is $5-$6 million.

However, Seinfeld insists that parting with the cars has nothing to do with their current value. "I've never bought a car as an investment," he said. "I don't really even think of myself as a collector. I just love cars. And I still love these cars. But it's time to send some of them back into the world, for someone else to enjoy, as I have."

As well as these three classics, the March 11 auction, one of the highlights of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, is expected to feature a number of other cars -- predominantly of the Porsche variety -- belonging to the stand-up comedian although details are currently scarce.

Some have suggested that as much as 10% of Seinfeld's collection is being sold on to make room for new additions -- after all the biggest challenge to maintaining a car collection is finding somewhere to keep it as it starts growing.

Still, one thing is certain: Seinfeld's 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS will not be one of those cars going under the hammer. "I bought it from a dead guy, and it's not getting sold again until I'm dead. This car doesn't change hands without someone dying," he famously said.
By Rod Nickel WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Canada's top aboriginal chief wants more action from new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to alleviate crippling poverty and poor living conditions among the country's indigenous community, saying: "Words are easy." Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, the main political group representing the country's aboriginal people, said he would put pressure on Trudeau to deliver on election promises to his community. "It's a travesty that this quality of life persists in this great, rich country called Canada," Bellegarde said in an interview on Monday after a shooting spree in a remote aboriginal town last week. "Everyone's focused on La Loche now, saying this is not acceptable in 2016." A gunman shot 11 people, killing four, at a school and home in La Loche, Saskatchewan, an impoverished northern community with high rates of suicide, addiction and unemployment. A 17-year-old youth made his first court appearance on Monday, facing four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder and unauthorized possession of a firearm. He remains in custody. "Words are easy to say ... there has to be these investments now to get us to the same starting line as everyone else," Bellegarde said. "We've got 10, 12, 13 people living in a two-bedroom house. That affects everything." Bellegarde, who voted for the first time in the October election that vaulted Trudeau to power, said he believed the new prime minister "gets it," referring to the need to improve living standards. Less than half of Canada's aboriginal people, also known as First Nations, have typically voted in elections because many do not recognize the government's sovereignty. But anger over disproportionately high rates of violence against indigenous women, dire living conditions as well as resource development and environmental issues, prompted Bellegarde to publicly urge aboriginal people to cast ballots last year. PLEDGED HELP Trudeau, the Liberal Party leader, took power last year promising to tackle high levels of poverty, crime, bad housing and poor health among aboriginal residents who make up 4 percent of the country's population of 36 million. In December, Trudeau promised a new "nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations peoples" and an inquiry into the high rates of missing and murdered aboriginal women. The prime minister, 44, was speaking after a report found the forcible separation of aboriginal children from their families amounted to cultural genocide. Friday's school shooting occurred in La Loche which, with the neighboring Clearwater River Dene Indian reserve, embodies the dire prospects for Canada's aboriginal people. "We are living in Third World Conditions," said Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Bobby Cameron. "The mold in our homes, the cold that comes through the walls ... something's going to give." Trudeau, who plans to run deficits to stimulate Canada's struggling economy, called Bellegarde on Friday to express condolences about the shooting. The national chief urged Trudeau to demonstrate support by increasing aboriginal spending in his first budget, expected in March or April. Trudeau responded by saying it was a priority for him to repair Ottawa's strained relationship with aboriginal residents, Bellegarde said. Bellegarde said he wanted more spending on health, training, preserving languages, policing and infrastructure, such as housing, water treatment and recreation centers. Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi said on Monday he had a mandate to deal with infrastructure that is lacking in aboriginal communities, such as clean drinking water, adequate housing and proper wastewater systems. As part of our plan for the new money, we are going to be fulfilling the commitments we made in order to make sure that our First Nations  have the right infrastructure that the rest of Canadians take for granted, he said, declining to say how much money the government would spend. (Additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Peter Cooney)
By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's official environmental watchdog on Tuesday expressed concern that authorities were allowing the long-term use of pesticides linked to bee deaths despite not having enough information about the products. The federal health ministry's agency responsible for pesticide regulation can grant a five-year provisional license to some products to give manufacturers time to provide more information. Environment Commissioner Julie Gelfand said nine products had been remained conditionally registered for more than a decade, even though the agency had not gathered the data it required. Eight of the nine belong to the neonicotinoids class, which many bee keepers blame for devastating their hives. "These products continue to be used extensively in Canada despite widespread concern they may pose a threat to bees, other pollinators and broader ecosystems," she said. Pesticide use is a sensitive issue in Canada, where in July 2015 the province of Ontario became the first government in North America to curb use of seed treated with neonicotinoids, which are used to kill insects that harm crops. Gelfand said the prolonged use of products with conditional registrations means "users may come to depend on a product that is ultimately shown to be unsafe." In some cases, firms had not provided the required data for neonicotinoid pesticides. Even so, the agency continued to allow the products to be conditionally registered. In a written response, the agency said it would gather the information more quickly in the cases of products which had been granted conditional registrations. The agency said last week it would stop issuing conditional registrations on June 1. Earlier this month, the agency said available science suggested multiple factors could be responsible for bee deaths, including loss of habitat and food sources, diseases, viruses and pests, and pesticide exposure. Separately, the agency concluded there was no risk to bees from the insecticide imidacloprid when it was used to coat seeds. But it found bees could be endangered when the pesticide was used to treat soils or applied to plants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said this month that its own preliminary risk assessment of imidacloprid found that chemical residues of more than 25 parts per billion would likely harm bees and their hives and result in the bees producing less honey. Gelfand also found the agency had moved slowly to remove dangerous pesticides. It took the agency up to 11 years to remove some products deemed harmful. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson and Marguerita Choy)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - The trial of an oil truck operator charged with orchestrating the killings of two business rivals competing for work in North Dakota's Bakken oil patch began on Monday in Washington state.

James Henrikson admitted in a September plea agreement to an interstate murder-for-hire plot to kill Kristopher "KC" Clarke in February 2012 in North Dakota and Douglas Carlile in December 2013 in Spokane, Washington.

The trial was scheduled after a U.S. judge in eastern Washington granted Henrikson's request to withdraw his guilty plea in November. The judge ruled that Henrikson "has a fair and just reason for withdrawal" because he was not made aware of the mandatory minimum penalty of life imprisonment prior to entering his guilty plea, court documents showed.

He has now pleaded not guilty.

Jury selection began on Monday morning in Richland, in southeastern Washington state, Henrikson's lawyer, Todd Maybrown, and a U.S. District Court clerk in Spokane said.

Henrikson faces charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy and solicitation to commit murder-for-hire in alleged plots against several people he viewed as an impediment to his enterprises, an indictment said. He also faces a charge of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Three men who prosecutors say arranged and carried out the contract killings pleaded guilty to a host of federal charges in September and are expected to testify at Henrikson's trial, which could last four to six weeks, The Spokesman-Review newspaper reported.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington declined to comment on the trial, as did Maybrown, the attorney for Henrikson.

(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson; Editing by Alistair Bell, Diane Craft)
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey remains strongly opposed to the participation of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the main Syrian Kurdish grouping, in the opposition ranks at peace talks planned for this week, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday. If the U.S.-allied PYD, which is battling Islamic State, is to join the talks aimed at resolving the five-year Syrian civil war, its place should be on the same side as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Davutoglu said in parliament. (Reporting by Ayla Jean Yackley; Editing by Nick Tattersall)
(Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended its travel warning to another eight countries or territories that pose a risk of infection with Zika, a mosquito-borne virus spreading through the Caribbean and Latin America. Friday's warning adds Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Cape Verde, Samoa and the island of Saint Martin to a list of 14 countries and territories. The CDC has cautioned pregnant women not to travel to these areas as Zika has been suspected to lead to birth defects. The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is also known to carry the dengue, yellow fever and Chikungunya viruses. Health experts are unsure why the virus - detected in Africa in 1947 but unknown in the Americas until last year - is spreading so rapidly in Brazil and neighboring countries. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which causes mild fevers and rashes. An estimated 80 percent of those infected show no symptoms at all. Researchers in Brazil said on Wednesday they had found new evidence linking the virus to increasing incidence of microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with unusually small heads. U.S. authorities confirmed on Saturday the birth of a baby with a small head in Hawaii to a mother who had been infected with the Zika virus while visiting Brazil. The agency issued an advisory last week against travel to Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Reporting by Natalie Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Don Sebastian)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The coalition of the United States and its allies conducted 18 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Monday, the group said. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Combined Joint Task Force said three strikes in three cities in Syria hit a tactical unit, a headquarters building and destroyed two cranes. Separately in Iraq, 15 strikes near six cities hit vehicles, a bulldozer and a fuel tanker; destroyed fighting positions, mortar systems and a weapons cache; and denied access to terrain, the statement said. (Reporting by Washington newsroom)
By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. doctors are fielding a spate of calls from expectant mothers who recently traveled to countries affected by the Zika virus and fear possible exposure to the mosquito-borne infection linked to a spike in fetal brain damage in Brazil. New U.S. treatment guidelines only recommend blood tests for pregnant women with symptoms of infection. But 80 percent of Zika patients show no symptoms, leaving many women no way to know early enough to make an informed choice about their unborn children, leading obstetricians told Reuters this week. "These effects are not necessarily going to be seen at a time when the mother can decide to terminate the pregnancy," said Dr. Natalie Meirowitz of Long Island Jewish Medical Center. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising pregnant women not to travel to 22 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean where the Zika virus causing infections. The agency added eight of those countries to the list on Friday. Brazil said the number of babies born with microcephaly, a condition marked by an unusually small head, rose 10 percent to 3,893 over a period of 10 days. El Salvador officials have urged women to avoid getting pregnant until 2018 due to Zika. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates its members have received "hundreds, if not thousands" of calls from patients who had traveled to affected regions, a spokeswoman said. "It's consuming our lives," said Dr. Laura Riley, president of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and a specialist in high-risk pregnancies at Massachusetts General Hospital. The CDC is trying to determine how many pregnant women may have traveled to affected regions in the past several months. The agency issued interim guidelines this week advising doctors to administer blood tests only for pregnant women with symptoms. Some doctors are concerned that the guidelines mean other pregnant women who are at risk would not be identified. That is because 80 percent of people infected by Zika never have symptoms. For asymptomatic women, the CDC recommends ultrasounds to check for microcephaly in the fetus, looking for underdeveloped heads or calcium deposits in the brain. But microcephaly typically does not become apparent on ultrasounds until later in pregnancies, often after the 24th week when many U.S. states prohibit abortion. "That's the toughest situation that we have with the guidelines right now," said Dr. Emily Landon, an infectious disease expert at the University of Chicago Medical Center, referring to the testing recommendations. "We know women can become asymptomatic and still have Zika." LIMITS TO TESTING With no commercially available Zika tests, only the CDC and some state health laboratories are equipped to detect the virus. Riley, who advised the agency on its guidelines, said testing every woman who visited or lived in affected countries during the outbreak period could "flood the CDC." Dr. Denise Jamieson of the CDC, who helped write the guidelines, said lab capacity was just one factor in the decision to only test pregnant women with symptoms. The biggest concerns, she said, were that the tests are hard to interpret and prone to false positive results, which could lead to decisions based on inaccurate information. Jamieson said the guidelines will be reviewed for their effectiveness. Riley stressed that asymptomatic women will be offered ultrasounds. "Ultimately, what patients want to know is whether their baby's brain has been affected," said Riley. "You aren't going to know that without the ultrasound." The main benefit of testing is to put at ease women at ease, said Scott Weaver, an expert in mosquito-borne diseases at the University of Texas Medical Branch. A positive test result for Zika in a pregnant woman does not necessarily mean a baby will develop microcephaly, Landon said. Additional ultrasounds would be necessary, and even those may not show evidence of a problem early enough for a woman to take action. No therapy is available for an infected fetus that has developed microcephaly, obstetricians said. Meirowitz recently saw a patient who had vacationed in Puerto Rico during her seventh week of pregnancy, and recalls getting a mosquito bite. Because the woman, now 20 weeks pregnant, never got sick, she was not offered a blood test. "We ruled out microcephaly" after doing an ultrasound, but still had concerns, Meirowitz said. "We know from other viruses that you may not see ultrasound findings showing fetal infection right away, particularly microcephaly. That is what's so difficult." (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Richard Chang)
London (AFP) - The headteacher of a British school has written to parents urging them not to drop their children off while still dressed in pyjamas, it emerged Tuesday.

"I have noticed there has been an increasing tendency for parents to escort children to and from school while still wearing their pyjamas and, on occasion, even slippers," wrote Kate Chisholm, head of Skerne Park Academy in Darlington, northeast England.

"Could I please ask that when you are escorting your children, you take the time to dress appropriately in day wear that is suitable for the weather conditions."

The school is for children aged between five and 11.

Chisholm explained she was hoping her appeal could raise levels of achievement in the classroom.

"If we're to raise standards, it's not too much to ask parents to have a wash and get dressed," she added.
Washington (AFP) - The United States is expanding authorized exports to Cuba in the latest incremental steps to ease a Cold War-era trade ban on the communist-ruled island, the US Treasury said Tuesday.

The rule changes, which go into effect Wednesday, will allow more US exports related to disaster preparedness, education, agricultural production, food processing, public transportation and artistic endeavors.

Licenses for such exports that are deemed to be meeting the needs of the Cuban people will be granted on a case-by-case basis, the department said.

Also being removed are existing restrictions on payment and financing terms for authorized exports and reexports to Cuba, except agricultural products and commodities, it said.

The US actions "send a clear message to the world: the United States is committed to empowering and enabling economic advancements for the Cuban people," Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said.

The two countries restored diplomatic relations in July after a historic rapprochement between US President Barack Obama and Cuba's President Raul Castro the previous December.

Even so, the new openings were incremental as a more than half-century-old US trade embargo on the island remains in place, with little prospect of repeal under a Republican-controlled Congress.

The Obama instead has focused on regulatory changes to ease travel and trade between the two countries, once bitter foes and now in the midst of a tentative reconciliation process.
Chicago (AFP) - A US man who plotted to attack a Masonic temple and "annihilate" everyone inside was arrested on gun charges, officials said Tuesday.

Samy Mohamed Hamzeh, 23, had been under investigation by the FBI since September after an informant tipped them off to his plans to attack Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.

Hamzeh -- who lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- "abandoned these plans for family, financial and logistic reasons" and then "refocused his plans on an attack in the United States," charging papers said.

"It is difficult to calculate the injury and loss of life that was prevented by concerned citizens coming forward and by the tireless efforts of the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force," US Attorney Gregory Haanstad said in a statement.

"Samy Mohamed Hamzeh devised a detailed plan to commit a mass shooting intended to kill dozens of people. He also said that he wanted this mass shooting to be 'known the world over' and to 'ignite' broader clashes."

Two informants worked with the FBI to record his plans. They went to a firing range with him on January 19 and then took a guided tour of the Masonic temple.

After they left, Hamzeh spoke of how he hoped to kill at least 30 people in order to "terrify the world."

"I am telling you, if this hit is executed, it will be known all over the world," he allegedly said in a conversation translated from Arabic.

"Sure, all over the world, all the mujahedeen will be talking and they will be proud of us," he allegedly said, referring to fighters engaged in jihad, or holy war.

"Such operations will increase in America, when they hear about it. The people will be scared and the operations will increase, and there will be problems all over.

"This way we will be igniting it. I mean, we are marching at the front of the war."

Hamzeh said they would need three machine guns with silencers to carry out the attack and that the man who stood at the door has a "bigger responsibility" and has to "annihilate everyone."

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He had planned to escape by killing everyone quickly and quietly and by hiding their faces with cold-weather gear.

Hamzeh was arrested Monday after buying two automatic weapons and silencers from undercover agents.

"At no time was the public's safety placed in jeopardy," said Robert Shields, the FBI's special agent in charge of the Milwaukee region.
Miami (AFP) - An influential US panel on Tuesday called for all adults to be screened for depression, including women during and after pregnancy, marking the first time it has urged a focus on maternal mental health.

The non-binding call was issued by the US Preventive Services Task Force, an independent, volunteer panel of experts that makes recommendations about the effectiveness of various health and counseling services.

"The USPSTF found convincing evidence that screening improves the accurate identification of adult patients with depression in primary care settings, including pregnant and postpartum women," said the statement in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

It also found evidence that combining screening with "adequate support systems" may improve clinical outcomes by reducing or eliminating depression.

The guidelines update those issued in 2009 which did not specifically mention depression in women of childbearing age, but called for adult screening for depression when and where support systems allowed.

"Depression is among the leading causes of disability in persons 15 years and older," said the latest report.

It is "also common in postpartum and pregnant women."

The USPSTF "found convincing evidence" that treating adults with depression with antidepressants, psychotherapy, or both could improve patient outcomes.

It also pointed to "some harms" associated with antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) because they may increase suicide risk and are associated with "potential serious fetal harms."

Since many questions remain about when to screen and how to treat depression, some experts are calling for increased responsiveness within the medical system.

"Until there are better methods to match patients with specific forms of treatment, the best hope to improve on a B grade for patients with depression may be to adapt care systems to respond more flexibly and decisively to key events," said an accompanying editorial by doctor Michael Thase of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

As many as one in seven women suffer from postpartum depression, according to the advocacy group Postpartum Support International.
Los Angeles (AFP) - Three prisoners who busted out of a high-security California jail using bed sheets to rappel from a roof are dangerous, likely armed and possibly being hidden by local Vietnamese gang members, law enforcement officials said Monday.

The trio, one of whom is a Vietnamese gang member charged with murder, went missing from the Orange County Men's Central Jail in Santa Ana in southern California on Friday, sparking an intense manhunt.

"There's obviously ties, based on the fact that one of the individuals is a documented Vietnamese gang member," Orange County Sheriff's Lieutenant Jeff Hallock told a news conference.

"We think it's a strong possibility that he may have connected with those fellow gang members in the Vietnamese community," he added, referring to Jonathan Tieu, 20, who is behind bars on a murder charge.

Tieu, Hossein Nayeri, 37, and 43-year-old Bac Duong escaped shortly after an inmate head count, but authorities didn't realize they had gone missing until later Friday evening.

The three prisoners had apparently accessed the jail's plumbing system, used tools to cut through metal bars and made a makeshift rope using bed sheets to rappel from the facility's roof, officials said.

Authorities are not sure how the men procured the tools needed to cut bars without making any noise. It is also unclear if other inmates had assisted them.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a reward of $20,000 and the sheriff's department has also offered $30,000 -- $10,000 for each fugitive.

Duong is charged with attempted murder and Nayeri with kidnapping and torture.

Dave Sawyer, also of Orange County Sheriff's Office, told the Los Angeles Times that Nayeri had been charged in a 2012 plot to attack a medical marijuana dispensary owner.

Nayeri had allegedly driven the victim into the desert and set him on fire, then poured bleach on him and chopped off his penis before leaving him for dead.

Nayeri fled to his native Iran before his eventual arrest in Prague in 2014, the Times reported.

The Central Men's Jail in downtown Santa Ana comprises three buildings containing 900 inmates. There have been two previous jail breaks, the last one in 1989.
San Salvador (AFP) - Don't get pregnant for the next two years.

That is the warning El Salvador's government has issued women as Zika, a tropical virus blamed for causing severe birth defects, sweeps Latin America and the Caribbean.

But a spate of such recommendations from health officials in several countries has drawn derision in a region where activists say women have little control over their bodies in the first place.

Since Zika, a mosquito-borne, flu-like disease that originated in Africa, arrived in Latin America last year, there has been a rampant increase in babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads, a birth defect that can cause brain damage and death.

Brazil has been hit hardest: microcephaly cases in the country surged from 163 per year on average to 3,893 after the Zika outbreak began.

Forty-nine of those babies have died.

"If I hadn't already been pregnant when the information spread, I would have definitely postponed it so I wouldn't have to go through all this stress," said Manuela Mehl, who is 16 weeks' pregnant, in Rio de Janeiro.

"Obviously, you'll take care of your baby as best you can, but raising a child with neurological problems requires a lot of attention and dedication on the parents' part... It's a very difficult situation. It's difficult to even think about."

- 'Naive' pregnancy advice -

Fearing a generation marred by high rates of severe disability, several health ministries in the region have called on women to postpone pregnancy.

Colombia, where 11,613 people have been confirmed as infected with Zika and some 100 babies born with microcephaly, issued the same recommendation as El Salvador, but for a period of six months. El Salvador has 5,397 cases of Zika.

Ecuador warned women in "at-risk" areas against getting pregnant indefinitely. Jamaica, which has not detected any cases of the virus but warns it could be next, advised putting off pregnancy for six to 12 months.

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The advice has been mocked in some quarters and in others criticized as out-of-touch for a region plagued by high rates of violence against women, where many countries outlaw abortion and access to family planning is limited, especially for the poor.

"In a continent where unwanted pregnancies abound, it's completely naive to recommend women delay pregnancy," said Monica Roa, an abortion-rights advocate in Colombia and vice president of Women's Link International.

"There needs to be an information campaign for women who are currently pregnant about the risks and the options," she told AFP, calling the public health epidemic a "tragedy" but also an opportunity to improve sex education in the region.

"You can't just make mythical announcements that make people laugh. You need to attack the disease in people's homes, at workplaces, in schools," said Salvadoran labor leader Francisco Zelada, head of the national teachers' union.

After controversy erupted over the pregnancy warnings, Salvadoran Health Minister Violeta Menjivar toned down her ministry's message, saying the "government doesn't regulate births."

Salvadoran authorities have since limited their recommendations to telling schoolgirls to wear pants instead of skirts to avoid mosquito bites.

Criticism has also erupted in Colombia, which offered no concrete advise on how to avoid pregnancy.

- Few options -

For women who are already pregnant, there are few options in the affected countries.

Abortion is legal in Colombia and Ecuador only if the mother's life is in danger -- the case for many Latin American countries.

El Salvador's laws are more restrictive: Abortion is outlawed in all instances and punishable by up to 40 years in prison.

"The threat Zika poses during pregnancy creates a complex problem: The number of clandestine abortions is going to increase, but also the number of women jailed for aborting," said Salvadoran activist Angela Rivas.

El Salvador's anti-abortion law drew international condemnation in 2013 when a 22-year-old woman named Beatriz whose fetus developed without a brain was refused permission to terminate her pregnancy.

After the Inter-American Court of Human Rights intervened, she was allowed to have an early term Cesarean section. The baby quickly died.

"Once again, it is time to open the debate on decriminalizing abortion," said Rivas.
By Tom Miles and Ben Hirschler GENEVA/LONDON (Reuters) - The mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil, is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile, the World Health Organization said on Monday. Zika transmission has not yet been reported in the continental United States, although a woman who fell ill with the virus in Brazil later gave birth to a brain-damaged baby in Hawaii. Brazil's Health Ministry said in November that Zika was linked to a fetal deformation known as microcephaly, in which infants are born with smaller-than-usual brains. Brazil has reported 3,893 suspected cases of microcephaly, the WHO said last Friday, over 30 times more than in any year since 2010 and equivalent to 1-2 percent of all newborns in the state of Pernambuco, one of the worst-hit areas. The Zika outbreak comes hard on the heels of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, demonstrating once again how little-understood diseases can rapidly emerge as global threats. "We've got no drugs and we've got no vaccines. It's a case of deja vu because that's exactly what we were saying with Ebola," said Trudie Lang, a professor of global health at the University of Oxford. "It's really important to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible." Large drugmakers' investment in tropical disease vaccines with uncertain commercial prospects has so far been patchy, prompting health experts to call for a new system of incentives following the Ebola experience. "We need to have some kind of a plan that makes (companies) feel there is a sustainable solution and not just a one-shot deal over and over again," Francis Collins, director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said last week. The Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute is currently leading the research charge on Zika and said last week it planned to develop a vaccine "in record time", although its director warned this was still likely to take three to five years. British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline said on Monday it was studying the feasibility of using its vaccine technology on Zika, while France's Sanofi said it was reviewing possibilities. RIO CONCERNS The virus was first found in a monkey in the Zika forest near Lake Victoria, Uganda, in 1947, and has historically occurred in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. But there is little scientific data on it and it is unclear why it might be causing microcephaly in Brazil. Laura Rodrigues of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said it was possible the disease could be evolving. If the epidemic was still going on in August, when Brazil is due to host the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, then pregnant women should either stay away or be obsessive about covering up against mosquito bites, she said. The WHO advised pregnant women planning to travel to areas where Zika is circulating to consult a healthcare provider before traveling and on return. The clinical symptoms of Zika are usually mild and often similar to dengue, a fever which is transmitted by the same Aedes aegypti mosquito, leading to fears that Zika will spread into all parts of the world where dengue is commonplace. More than one-third of the worlds population lives in areas at risk of dengue infection, in a band stretching through Africa, India, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Zika's rapid spread, to 21 countries and territories in the Americas since May 2015, is due to the prevalence of Aedes aegypti and a lack of immunity among the population, the WHO said in a statement. RISK TO GIRLS Like rubella, which also causes mild symptoms but can lead to birth defects, health experts believe a vaccine is needed to protect girls before they reach child-bearing age. Evidence about other transmission routes, apart from mosquito bites, is limited. "Zika has been isolated in human semen, and one case of possible person-to-person sexual transmission has been described. However, more evidence is needed to confirm whether sexual contact is a means of Zika transmission," the WHO said. While a causal link between Zika and microcephaly has not yet been definitively proven, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the circumstantial evidence was "suggestive and extremely worrisome". In addition to finding a vaccine and potential drugs to fight Zika, some scientists are also planning to take the fight to the mosquitoes that carry the disease. Oxitec, the UK subsidiary of U.S. synthetic biology company Intrexon , hopes to deploy a self-limiting genetically modified strain of insects to compete with normal Aedes aegypti. Oxitec says its proprietary OX513A mosquito succeeded in reducing wild larvae of the Aedes mosquito by 82 percent in an area of Brazil where 25 million of the transgenic insects were released between April and November. Authorities reported a big drop in dengue cases in the area. (Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
GO TO TRIAL

The UK Law Lords, presiding at the level of Trinidad and Tobagos highest appellate Court, ruled that the repeal of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act 2011 did not specifically target the Piarco prosecutions  in which Galbaransingh and Ferguson among others, had been committed to stand trial  effectively throwing the case back into local hands.

In a 19-page judgment delivered yesterday, the Privy Council panel comprising Lords David Neuberger, Jonathan Mance, Jonathan Sumption, Robert Carnwath and Anthony Hughes put an end to the hope of the two and 40 other persons, that they will be spared prosecution under the controversial clause. In giving reasons for their decision, Lord Sumption held that the repeal of Section 34 by Parliament on September 14, 2012, simply altered the general law, by restoring it to what it had been before the controversial section was proclaimed weeks before, on August 31.

The loss of a limitation defence which had existed for only two weeks was attributable to a legitimate change in the law and not to a legislative intrusion upon the judicial function, the Law Lords ruled. They further held that rights to be acquitted and discharged without trial were a violation of the Constitution and not a normal and certainly not a necessary characteristic of a society that has a proper respect for the rights and freedoms of the individual. Lord Sumption also noted that the amending act only added emphasis to ensure that no one would have been able to take advantage of the ten-year limitation period. Parliament, having resolved upon a comprehensive repeal, could not sensibly have contemplated an arbitrary distinction between those who had been quick enough to make their application during the brief period of a fortnight, when Section 34 was in force, and those who had not, two categories whose position was for all practical purposes the same, Lord Sumption held.

Businessmen Steve Ferguson, Ameer Edoo and companies Maritime Life (Caribbean) Limited; Maritime General Insurance Company Limited and Fidelity Finance and Leasing Company Limited, had appealed decisions of the local courts which dismissed their arguments challenging the constitutionality of the amendment to the Act, which prevented the automatic dismissal of cases under the controversial Section 34.

Their matters were being used as a test case and contended that the repeal of Section 34 on September 14, 2012, was unconstitutional and in violation of the basic principles of law. In their judgment, the Law Lords noted that Ferguson, Edoo and the companies could only have succeeded on their separation of powers argument if it showed the amending legislation which repealed Section 34, specifically targeted only a limited category of people, including themselves.

The Amending Act not only looks like general legislation. It is general legislation, Lord Sumption explained. It affects all cases to which Section 34 would otherwise apply, past, present or future.

This includes a very large number of persons and cases against which it cannot have been targeted. Ferguson and Edoos argument that the current criminal proceedings against them would imperil their liberty and property was also dismissed by the Law Lords who held that the right to be acquitted and discharged without trial and irrespective of innocence or guilt was not such a right protected by the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago.

The loss of that right did not deprive the appellants of their liberty or property. It merely exposed them to a criminal trial in which they might or might not be found to have committed serious criminal offences. The fairness of that trial continues to be protected by the Constitution. If at the end of the process the appellants are convicted and sentenced, any adverse effect on their liberty and property will arise from a judicial proceeding. It will have occurred by due process of law, Lord Sumption said in the judgment.

Ferguson and Edoo also failed to convince the Law Lords that they had a legitimate expectation of being freed from prosecution under Section 34.

In this particular case, the reasons which have led the Board to conclude that the Act was constitutional necessarily mean that it was justifiable in a society with a proper respect for the rights and freedoms of the individual, Lord Sumption said.

Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard SC,  whose conduct was faulted by Ferguson and Edoo in their appeals  was also absolved by the Law Lords, who said there was no evidence Gaspard had already resolved to promote the repeal of the section when he approached then Attorney General Anand Ramlogan three days after Section 34 was proclaimed and became public.

They held it was entirely proper for the DPP to consult or advise the law officers on matters relating to the operation of the criminal law, but this does not extend to campaigning for a change which will directly affect a current case which his office is prosecuting.

It is, however, fair to say that he had been placed without warning or prior consultation in an embarrassing position, especially in the light of the outcome of the extradition proceedings and the stage which the proceedings had reached when section 34 was brought into force, Lord Sumption noted.

In their concluding reasons, the five British Law Lords further noted that there was no evidence of prejudice on the part of the DPP which will render their prosecutions as an abuse of process.
Beware the Zika virus

The event saw presentations on the topic of Zika from the aspects of the disease, regional perspective, surveillance, tourism and ethical issues, headed by Carpha executive director, Dr James Hospedales. The forum learnt that so far mosquito controls are failing to stop Zika, as seen before in the attempt against the Chik V Virus. Some persons bitten by infected mosquitos display symptoms of muscle aches, pains, fever, headache and rash.

Brazil last year saw 3,500 cases of microcephaly, which is proportionately equivalent to 300 cases developing in the Caribbean, or 20 cases in TT. Regarding ethical issues, the forum advised that key to combat the disease was good communication and helpful information.

Carpa ethicist, Dr Derrick Aarons advised, Our relevant authorities should not downplay the risks as this could lead to higher rates of preventable infections, neither should we overstate the risks. Carphas tourism and health head, Dr Lisa Indar, said individuals must take extra precautions against mosquito bites, while the region should adopt the Centre for Disease Controls (CDCs) three-tier warning system of Level 1 (Watch level: Practice usual precautions); Level 2 (Alert Level: Practice enhanced precautions) and Level 3 (Avoid non-essential travel). She said the private-sector Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and the public-sector Caribbean Tourism Organisation are each collaborating with Carpha to carry out an enhanced insect-vector control programme.

Her suggested precautions for individuals to prevent mosquito bites and so avoid the Zika Virus include using insect repellant, sleeping with nets or in screened/ air-conditioned rooms, wearing long-sleeved garments, and securing water-tanks against mosquitos.

Women who might get pregnant should particularly guard against mosquito bites.
$200M fuel subsidy savings to fund highway

Parliament yesterday approved the 2015 allocation of the sum of $200 million towards completion of the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension, a sum which Finance Minister Colm Imbert said was derived from savings in the fuel subsidy due to fallen oil and gas prices.

An increase of $200 million is being sought to retire an advance made from... treasury deposits to honor financial obligations associated with the extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin Project since the agreed long-term financing arrangements under local and international markets have not yet been sourced, Imbert told senators during debate of a procedural financial bill to close 2015 accounts.

He added that the funds were obtained from a reduction in the allocation for the Ministry of Energy.

It should be noted that following a review of the 2015 accounts, savings were identified under the sub-item, Subsidy  sale of petroleum products. This was primarily because of the decline in oil prices and its ensuing impact on petroleum product prices at the refinery, which in turn caused a significant reduction in the subsidy, the Minister of Finance said.

In summary, the average oil price and the average price of petroleum products at the refinery were substantially lower than anticipated when the subsidy was determined for fiscal 2015, and this has realised a saving of $200 million which is now being credited to the Ministry of Works and Transport for the expenditure on the Point Fortin Highway. Opposition Senator Wade Mark said the highway extension was a worthy project. Despite the ramblings and negative insinuations concerning the management of this economy... the evidence is showing that the measures employed by the Peoples Partnership were very appropriate, were very prudent and quite within the 2015 Budget allocation, Mark said, speaking during the same debate. This $200 million would have contributed to the improvement of the health, the reducing of stress, the provision of more family time, as people are able to get from one point to another in a very quick time, providing greater levels of recreation and relaxation to and from work. The UNC Senator said the funds would also contribute to increased productivity. It will also contribute to the lowering of transport costs, less fuel, less depreciation, he said. This highway seeks to open new economic spaces, increase jobs, revenues and taxes for our country. It will also contribute to an improvement in the quality of life, particularly for people who live in that region of the country.
Dont let their deaths be in vain

Garcia was addressing the boys classmates of Form 3C and Form 4A during a visit to the school.

He also told them to keep following the advice of their parents and teachers. Before speaking with the boys classmates, the minister spoke to all the students during a mid-morning assembly, where he described them as treasures.

Although you have lost two of your fellow treasures, I am asking you to bind together, to think of all the good and positive things you have been doing in this school and to carry it on especially at this time, he said. Smith and Richards were pulled out of a taxi and shot dead by unknown gunmen on Thursday last while travelling home from school. Garcia said he shared their pain and grief, but assured them that time was the greatest healer.

He also assured them that the ministry would do everything that is possible to make their school safe. Schools must be places where you enjoy the time you spend here, schools are places where you must feel a sense of identity, belonging and we will ensure you are safe, we will help you to develop that sense of identity, and that sense of belonging so in the distant future, all of you will be able to raise your heads high, having achieved all you can and fulfilling your potentials, he said.

Garcia later noted that the mood at the school was one of sadness, regret and tremendous loss as Smith and Richards were model students.

He said officials from the ministrys student support division have been in the school, offering counselling to teachers and students. He said they will remain at the school for as long as it was necessary.

After visiting the school, Garcia along with Minister of State in the Ministry of Education Dr Lovell Francis, TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) President Davanad Sinanan, National Parent Teachers Association (NPTA) head, Zena Ramatali and other officials visited the area along Picton Road, Laventille where the two boys were shot and killed, before visiting their homes and meeting with their families.
Shortage of pathologists

On January 18 last, the contract of Russian-born Forensic Pathologist, Dr Valery Alexandrov expired. Newsday also understands that the contract of Dr Hugh Von Des Vignes, will expire today. Des Vignes is currently on vacation and Burris has been left with the bulk of the workload. During last Saturday and Saturday night there were six murders, and two police killings.

This means that Burris will have to carry out all eight autopsies apart from existing bodies at the FSC. Newsday understands that the workload of Burris increased dramatically in January because of the increase in murders, and the matter of a staff shortage at the FSC was brought to the attention of Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, who promised to deal with the matter expeditiously.

Newsday understands that prior to Alexandrovs departure from the FSC he performed over 50 autopsies from the week after Christmas to January 18.

Alexandrov is now preparing those autopsy reports in the comfort of his home, and is yet to receive word on whether his contract will be renewed.

Last year Alexandrov was interviewed by a firm hired by the last administration to fill vacancies for pathologists at the FSC.
About a month ago, Shaun and I got a chance to be the hosts for some VIP guests, our friends Dustin and Lexia. It was great to be able to be the host and s...

10 years ago
What you need to know about the Octagon Art Festival on Sunday in Ames

news
China will build high speed rail in Iran

Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Saturday with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani to help construct Irans high-speed train system as part of Chinas One Belt and One Road initiative to build a modern Silk Road.

The two sides agreed to expand bilateral trade to $600 billion in the coming 10 years.

The amount of trade between Iran and China was about $52 billion in 2014 but dropped to $42 billion last year due to falls in oil prices and sanctions against Iran, the Iran State News Agency reported Friday.

The two countries also agreed to cooperate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

China has started construction of Indonesia first high speed rail project

Indonesias first high-speed railway project, being built by China, has finally started to make tracks and a ground-breaking ceremony has been held in Jakarta.

The 150-kilometer railway will link the capital with Bandung in West Java. The route will serve four stations in its first phase, including Halim, Karawang, Walini and Tegalluar.

China was selected by the Indonesian government to build the nations first bullet rail link last year. The cost of the project is estimated at U.S.$5.5 billion, with 75 percent of financing from the China Development Bank.

Chinas state railways company is pushing NSW Australia to redesign its $7 billion second Sydney Harbour rail crossing to accommodate a second deck for a high-speed rail line.

Patrick Yu, chief executive of Centurion Group, a developer which is China Rails local partner, said that it would cost only $250 million more to build one big 16-meter diameter tunnel with two decks instead of the current plan for two single-deck six metre tunnels to carry suburban trains for the new Sydney Metro.

He said that even though a high-speed rail line has not yet been approved it still made sense to build a bigger tunnel just in case. He said China would consider making up the difference in cost. Another harbour rail tunnel alignment would be extremely difficult to secure and it would take 10 years. It would be a crying pity not to have future-proofed infrastructure.

The China Rail consortium has been pushing for a $25 billion 150-kilometre high-speed rail line from Newcastle north to Campbelltown to the south-west
The Indian Air Force (IAF), once an ardent backer of the proposed Indo-Russian fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), has for the last two years sharply attacked the project. Critics say the FGFA is on the back burner to clear the way for the French Rafale fighter.

President Francois Hollande of France, who arrives in Delhi on Monday, has talked up the sale of 36 Rafales to India for an estimated $9 billion (Rs 60,000 crore).

Yet the FGFA remains alive. Last month Indian and Russian negotiators achieved a major breakthrough, agreeing to develop the FGFA at a lowered cost of $4 billion (Rs 27,000 crore) in India. That would open the doors to building of 250 FGFAs to replace the Sukhoi-30MKI.

Sukhoi is already test-flying the FGFAs precursor, which Russia calls the PAK-FA. The FGFA project involves improving the PAK-FA significantly to meet the IAFs specifications. The IAF wants some 50 improvements to the PAK-FA, including a 360-degree radar and more powerful engines.

A prototype fighter flying in India within three years. In total, 11 prototypes would be built  eight of these PAK-FAs for the Russian Air Force, and three FGFAs for India.

IAF objections to the FGFA were:

(a) The Russians would not share critical design information with India;

(b) The PAK-FAs engines are inadequate, being mere upgrades of the Sukhoi-30MKIs engines; and

(c) Paying $6 billion to co-develop the FGFA would mean that a large percentage of IAFs capital budget will be locked up.

SOURCES  Business Standard
Posted by Nogger - a legend in his own mind at | Categorized as





At the close of trading, Mar 16 London wheat was up GBP0.15/tonne at GBP110.45/tonne. In Paris, Mar 16 wheat rose EUR1.50/tonne at EUR168.50/tonne, Mar 16 corn was up EUR0.50/tonne at EUR156.75/tonne and Feb 16 rapeseed was up EUR2.75/tonne to EUR362.75/tonne.



In its first report of 2016, the EU Commission's MARS Unit said that a lack of hardiness caused by the "extremely mild weather of last December" and "an intense cold air intrusion started on 29 December 2015 in the eastern half of Europe" may have caused some crop damage.



"The sharp temperature drop combined with shallow (1-5 cm) snow cover, primarily in Poland and western Ukraine, caused some frost injuries as simulated by the model. This cold spell lasted until 6 January, and the most severe frosts reached -15 and -18C in this region. Slight or moderate frost-kill damages are predicted in eastern Poland, the Baltic States, western and southern Ukraine, Moldavia, south-western Belarus, north-eastern Romania and some regions of southern Russia.



"The possibility of minor frost-kill damages also exists in some spots of Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria and Turkey. As far as the weather forecast is concerned, no additional frost-kill damages are indicated by our model until the end of January," they added.



Their next report is due on Feb 22.



The Ukraine Ag Ministry said that the country had finished 2015 with a total grain harvest of just under 60 MMT, some 6% down on a year previously. That includes 26.5 MMT of wheat (-10%), 8.3 MMT of barley (-8.5%) and 23.2 MMT of corn (-18.1%).



Ukraine's 2015 OSR crop ended up at 1.7 MMT for a year-on-year decline of 20.8%.



Ukraine said that it had exported almost 24 MMT of grains this month, including 10.9 MMT of wheat, 8.95 MMT of corn and 3.93 MMT of barley.



The market is still trying to weigh up Russia, and what it may, or may not, do next as far as it's current export duties are concerned on wheat.



The notion that they might restrict exports further, at a time when fund money already has a sizable short position in Chicago wheat, could stimulate some supportive buying - even if US wheat is likely to see little direct export benefit.



Rusagrotrans estimated the country's Feb grain exports at 1.4 MMT, down from 1.5 MMT this month, and far lower than the record 3.85 MMT shipped out in December.



On the international tender front, Algeria are in the market for 50,000 MT of feed barley. 26/01/16 -- EU grains finished mixed, but mostly a touch lower. It was the turn of Paris grains to get a little currency boost from a weaker euro today, with the pound popping back up above the 1.30 level versus the single currency.At the close of trading, Mar 16 London wheat was up GBP0.15/tonne at GBP110.45/tonne. In Paris, Mar 16 wheat rose EUR1.50/tonne at EUR168.50/tonne, Mar 16 corn was up EUR0.50/tonne at EUR156.75/tonne and Feb 16 rapeseed was up EUR2.75/tonne to EUR362.75/tonne.In its first report of 2016, the EU Commission's MARS Unit said that a lack of hardiness caused by the "extremely mild weather of last December" and "an intense cold air intrusion started on 29 December 2015 in the eastern half of Europe" may have caused some crop damage."The sharp temperature drop combined with shallow (1-5 cm) snow cover, primarily in Poland and western Ukraine, caused some frost injuries as simulated by the model. This cold spell lasted until 6 January, and the most severe frosts reached -15 and -18C in this region. Slight or moderate frost-kill damages are predicted in eastern Poland, the Baltic States, western and southern Ukraine, Moldavia, south-western Belarus, north-eastern Romania and some regions of southern Russia."The possibility of minor frost-kill damages also exists in some spots of Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria and Turkey. As far as the weather forecast is concerned, no additional frost-kill damages are indicated by our model until the end of January," they added.Their next report is due on Feb 22.The Ukraine Ag Ministry said that the country had finished 2015 with a total grain harvest of just under 60 MMT, some 6% down on a year previously. That includes 26.5 MMT of wheat (-10%), 8.3 MMT of barley (-8.5%) and 23.2 MMT of corn (-18.1%).Ukraine's 2015 OSR crop ended up at 1.7 MMT for a year-on-year decline of 20.8%.Ukraine said that it had exported almost 24 MMT of grains this month, including 10.9 MMT of wheat, 8.95 MMT of corn and 3.93 MMT of barley.The market is still trying to weigh up Russia, and what it may, or may not, do next as far as it's current export duties are concerned on wheat.The notion that they might restrict exports further, at a time when fund money already has a sizable short position in Chicago wheat, could stimulate some supportive buying - even if US wheat is likely to see little direct export benefit.Rusagrotrans estimated the country's Feb grain exports at 1.4 MMT, down from 1.5 MMT this month, and far lower than the record 3.85 MMT shipped out in December.On the international tender front, Algeria are in the market for 50,000 MT of feed barley.
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Libyan Serraj-led unity government which has not taken office yet is already bashed for cronyism, leading some to predict its failure.

Omar Al-Aswad, who suspended his membership in the Presidency Council, accused the Council of favoritism in the appointment of the ministers of the future national unity government.

Speaking to Libya Herald, Aswad accused other members of the council of dishonesty, immorality and corruption.

According to Libya Herald, Aswad who quitted the Council upon the announcement of the cabinet last week, was disappointed and frustrated that other members did not respect the decision they all made to name a cabinet of ten ministers after the Council failed to appoint a 24 member cabinet.

Aswad explained that the Council had decided that each of the nine members of the Council would name a minister and that the Prime Minister Serraj would appoint the tenth minister; namely the minister of finance. However, Aswad refused to name a minister.

I said I would not name anyone from my own town [Zintan] to avoid accusations of favoritism, but others proceeded with the appointments and ignored the ten-minister cabinet decision, he said, adding that they finally appointed a cabinet of 32 ministers.

He claimed that a member of the Presidency Council appointed some of his close aids to ministerial positions while other members named relatives as Ministers. He also criticized the appointment of Marwan Ali Abu Sraiweil as Foreign Minister on favoritism basis while many Libyan diplomats are much more experienced.

This is unacceptable and is tantamount to political corruption, he said, predicting that such a government will fail as it will not heed Libyans demands.
As if relations between Algeria and Morocco were not strained enough, Algiers created out of nothing another uproar, announcing that it will start repatriating the Moroccans heading to Libya via Algeria as their number has been constantly increasing lately.

To give the issue an official dimension, Algerian Minister of Maghreb Affairs Abdelkader Messahel summoned on Sunday Moroccos ambassador to Algeria to protest against the massive and unusual flow of Libya-bound Moroccans from Casablanca transiting via Algeria.

Messahel informed the diplomat that Algerian authorities will repatriate Moroccan nationals and prevent them from traveling to Libya if they cannot produce documents justifying the aim of their trip.

The case of the 500 Moroccans stranded at Algiers airport since early January is thus taking a new turn.

A communique released by the Foreign Ministry stated that the current security context in the region calls for utmost vigilance and that authorities will repatriate any Moroccan travelling to Libya who is unable to justify his/her trip to Libya.

Moroccans holding work or residence permits will be allowed to transit to Libya but travelers who do not have such documents will be repatriated, said the communique.

Algerian authorities have decided to allow for this time and on an exceptional basis the transit of Moroccan nationals currently in Algiers who hold residence or work permits in Libya, the Foreign Department said.

Many analysts expressed surprise at Algerias stand and void arguments, wondering why Algerian authorities want to act on behalf of Libyan authorities, which are the sole side entitled to decide on who should enter their country and who should not. One commentator pointed out that Moroccans crime is that they want to return to Libya to resume their work or seek a job after the inter-Libyan reconciliation sealed in Skhirat, Morocco, under the auspices of the United Nations.

Many press commentators underlined that the 500 Moroccans stranded in Algiers for several days hold duly signed travel documents and should not be treated as illegal immigrants and that Algerian allegations that these Moroccans are attempting to join the Islamic State group in Libya are groundless.

In a nutshell, this is just another soap opera episode created by Algiers to nurture acrimony towards Morocco and Moroccans.
Egyptian authorities have tightened security measures throughout the country as Egyptians are commemorating this Monday the fifth anniversary of the 2011 uprising which toppled former long-time ruler Hosni Muburak.

In the build-up to the fifth anniversary, the government raised the security level and arrested a number of activists after the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and critics of President al-Sisi called for protest movements against the Egyptian President, deemed worse than Mubarak, to celebrate the anniversary.

Besides the fact that thousands of January 2011 activists have been arrested or killed, many Egyptians, who deem that the current oppression is worse than anything seen before, have chosen to stay at home and avoid further clashes with the Government which will result in arrests and killing of innocent people.

In a televised speech on the eve of this 25th anniversary, President al-Sisi warned against demonstrations which might defy security. He also paid tribute to the 2011 revolution saying that those killed during the revolution fought for noble principles and founded a new Egypt.

President al-Sissi also sought to justify his 2013 coup saying that 2011 uprising has lost the course of its genuine goals and was hijacked by some people with narrow and personal ambitions- in reference to the Muslim Brotherhood.

On June 30, 2013, another army-backed revolution swept Egyptian democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi following a huge street demonstration.

Al-Sisi then Chief of the army overthrew Morsi who along with several Muslim Brotherhood leaders would be later jailed and handed death sentences. Al-Sisi will be forced to handover the power to a care-taker but will win 2014 presidential elections.

For al-Sissi, the June 30 coup took place to restore the free will of Egyptians and continue to realize their legitimate aspirations and deserved ambitions.

Democratic experiences dont mature overnight, but rather through a continuing and accumulative process, he said, adding we are building together a modern, developed and civilian state that upholds the values of democracy and freedom.
A French appeal court has turned down the pleas submitted by two French blackmailers, journalists Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet, requesting the magistrates to discard the audio and video recordings showing them in full extortion acts.

The case of the two French journalists who attempted to blackmail Morocco and King Mohammed VI broke out last year when the two blackmailers were arrested by the French police.

The two journalists had threatened to publish a harmful book on Morocco unless they received 3 million in cash. The case dates back to last July when Eric Laurent contacted the Royal Cabinet and requested a meeting, saying he is about to publish a book on Morocco.

At a meeting in Paris with Moroccos attorneys, Eric Laurent and the other co-author of the book Catherine Graciet offered to give up the book project for three million Euros.

Rejecting these intimidation tactics, Morocco filed a complaint in France against the two authors. The French police recorded a meeting between the authors and the royal cabinet representative in order to accumulate evidence of extortion.

The judicial investigation, launched by three French judges for attempted extortion and blackmail attempt, led to the capture of the two journalists red-handed, with cash in their pockets, some 40 000 Euros each, a down-payment for an elaborate extortion plan.

The French police also found a letter signed by the gold-digger pair, pledging to never write again about the Moroccan King for the 3 Mln euro ransom.

Extortion in Frances penal code is penalized with up to 7 years in jail and a 100,000 Euro fine. Charges for blackmailing are also punished with up to 5 years in jail and a 75,000 Euro fine.

The two blackmailers have been decried for their unethical behavior by French and Moroccan media as well as by the two countries journalists associations and unions.
Around 3,000 law enforcement agents marched towards the presidential palace Carthage Monday to claim better work conditions and risk premiums while social riots across the country are still going on.

The protest has been in the pipeline since the November 2015 suicide attack in Tunis which killed 12 members of the presidential palace guard unit. Security forces in the wake of the attack lodged a set of professional demands calling for more protection.

The security forces protest comes as social riots across the country continue despite authorities attempts to ease the volatile situation prevailing in the country.

Several protests had been reported in a number of cities including Sidi Bouzid (city where the roadside vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself ablaze in 2010, igniting the 2011 revolution,) Siliana, Medenine, Kasserine, Gabes, Jendouba. However the degree of the protests has scaled down.

Prime Minister Habib Essid is expected to appear before the parliament Wednesday January 27 to explain the social unrest that engulfed the country nearly for two weeks now.

In a related report, the ministry interior relaxed the curfew from 10pm to 4am local time.

Authorities on January 22 imposed a curfew from 8pm to 5pm nationwide in an attempt to curb protests and lootings which threw the country nearly into abyss.

Tunisia hailed for its successful democratic transition has been embroiled in economic slow-down. The country recorded a near-zero GDP growth, unemployment rate is estimated at 16 per cent with around 300,000 youth in search for jobs, while the situation is more dramatic in underprivileged regions.
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"If we remain silent, we kill freedom, justice and the possibility that a society armed with information may have power to change the situation that has brought us to this point." - Anabel Hernandez -------------------------------------------
Have you ever wondered how to address climate change and CO2, or even just fossil fuels and energy, with young students? A complex and potentially heated topic, many people have argued that elementary school is too early to talk about these issues. Some teachers might even try to avoid the potential controversy by skipping over energy altogether, which is a lost opportunity for their students.



A unique and captivating and kid-friendly picture book by Gregg Kleiner in Oregon titled "Please Don't Paint Our Planet Pink!" (see Amazon for details) could provide just the path you need to talk about these tricky topics with your young students.



This illustrated childrens book asks readers: since co2 is a colorless and ordorless gas, and we cannot see it, what if someone painted all co2 on Earth as PINK so we all could SEE it? Would that be a wake up call or what?



Although the book is geared towards students in third through sixth grades, there is quite a bit of useful information for older students. For example, if you teach high school biology you could see using this book when introducing global warming to my students, due to its clear illustrations and adherence to the science. Global warming, fossil fuels, and energy usage are some of the most important concepts of our times. What students learn at a young age has the potential to influence them for the rest of their lives. This book isnt an answer to all of the problems regarding energy education, but its a start. It's a great way to get students thinking about co2 and climate change.




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.










Web: www.nscuba.org/

As of January 1, 2011 - Nova Scotia Cuba Association's e-mail and web addresses will permanently change to:E-mail: novascotiacuba@gmail.com
The familiar emergency alert system, the one where we in the U.S. occasionally hear a radio or television broadcast interruption that...
The horse and carriage auction house used by artist Frank Stella as a live/work studio from 1978 to 2005 has sold after half a year on the market. The property at 128 East 13th Street, as well as an adjacent townhouse at 123 East 12th Street that's on the same tax lot, sold to Milan Associates for $21.5 million, the Real Deal reports. The properties were sold to the development firm by Infinity Group, which purchased the properties for $9 million at auction in 2012.

Before Infinty purchased the sites, they were owned by Ultimate Realty, who planned on building a seven-story condo before switching course and selling the properties' 30,000-square-feet of air rights to the Trust for Architectural Easements. TRD reports that Ultimate entered contract to buy the properties from Infinity for north of $16 million in June 2015, but flipped the contract to Milan Associates. Got all that?

The carriage house at 128 East 13th Street is one of the last remaining buildings in New York City built to stage horse auctions. The Beaux Arts-style structure was built in 1904 and housed the Van Tassel & Kearney Auction Mart. In the 1920's, the building was leased to a candy manufacturer, and during the World War II era it was home to the Delehanty School, a vocational school that trained women for the defense industry. These days, the carriage house is the home of Capazeio's Peridance dance studio, which has a lease on the property until 2028 with an optional five year extension. The townhouse at 123 East 12th Street houses a jiu-jitsu studio and a duplex rental apartment. The East 13th Street carriage house became a New York City landmark in 2012 (PDF!), after being calendared since 2006.

 Former East Village home of artist Frank Stella sells for $22M [TRD]

 Report: Landmarked East 13th Street Building Sells For $21.5 million [EVG]

 All 126-128 East 13th Street coverage [Curbed]

 All Frank Stella coverage [Curbed]
Photographer Evan Joseph has made a career of capturing New York City's diverse architecture in its many forms: He works with high-end real estate firms to capture luxe interiors, and with construction firms to document their projects in progress. He's also released two books that explore New York City in different contexts: comparing the streetscapes of the past to their present-day counterparts, and showing what landmarks look like at night. His latest project, a book titled New York From Above, offers yet another perspective on NYC: as the title suggests, the images were all taken high above the city, either from a helicopter or from atop buildings like One World Trade Center. "My aim is really about capturing what I see as this tremendous beauty in New York," he explains. "There is a beauty here that rivals anything you see in the Grand Canyon."

The book came together almost as an accident: Joseph was working with the operators of One World Observatory to photograph the supertall and its surrounds for one of the attraction's interactive features. After submitting his images, they asked him for even more. From there, a partnership was born. "I've been working on this book for years, saving these images of New York, and I [told them], 'I think it goes really well with your idea of the view of the city from above,'" referring to the Observatory's "see forever" tagline. (Thanks to that partnership, New York From Above is exclusively distributed through the attraction's gift shop.)

Many of Joseph's images are shot from a helicopter (he's worked with the same pilot for years), which allows him to not only capture grand aerial views of the city, but also specific, detailed images of architectural elements that are simply too high to be seen normally. The image below, of the spire of One WTC, is one such case; in what Joseph calls a "serendipitous moment," he just happened to be in a helicopter that day, and had time to fly around the building and capture the steel spire from more than 1,700 feet up.

Of course, photographing the city's skyline from those great heights isn't exactly easy. Joseph and his pilot often work long hours in order to capture buildings at all times of day: in the morning light, at the mid-afternoon "golden hour," and in the evening. And that's even before taking into account the fact that the work itself is a physical challenge, one that involves getting precise locations correct high above the city. "The two of us do these really complex maneuvers in order to put me and the helicopter right over the tip of the building, or directly over the middle of Time Square looking straight down," Joseph explains. "That stuff takes some practice and is nerve racking for everybody."

Joseph has also scaled some of the city's most iconic towersthe Woolworth Building, One57, One WTC, the list goes onas part of his day job, which led to some of the images in the book. One offers a perspective of Central Park from inside Tommy Hilfiger's penthouse at the top of the Plaza Hotel; another, which was taken from the top of 432 Park Avenue while it was still under construction, shows an expansive (and rarefied) view of Manhattan. "I love being in construction sites before they put up the glass," says Joseph of that particular shoot. "To sneak up to the edge of that slab and be 60 stories above Manhattan, and to be able to see that view of New York from that location for the first time, it's really thrilling." Though not without its dangers: according to Joseph, shooting on rooftops can be just as harrowing as from a helicopter. "I actually feel safer in the helicopter that I do on those building sites," he explains.

But for Joseph, part of the thrill is in the process. "I'll do anything in the moment. I'll climb up that maintenance ladder or hold onto the edge of this water tower and shimmy up that ledge just to get myself into this perspective." That daredevil spirit informs at least one thing that this veteran photographer would still love to do: "I'd like to explore the top of both the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building a little bit more. I've explored them both from outside from the helicopter, but I'd like to crawl around up there."
Bernie felt too rebellious to sit down. Photo: JIM WATSON

With just a week to go before 2016 voting finally starts, on Monday night, Iowans got to compare the three Democratic candidates one last time. CNN only announced that it would televise the town hall at Drake University in Des Moines a week ago, and the value of squeezing in one more forum remains debatable. There were no moments that will drastically change the political landscape heading into Iowa; Bernie Sanders mainly discussed income inequality, Hillary Clinton emphasized her experience, and Martin OMalley turned in a solid performance that will be completely overlooked. On the other hand, anyone who missed the last four Democratic debates  perhaps because they were buried on weekend nights  got to hear a recap of the candidates pitches and some subtle shots at their opponents.

The candidates were never onstage together, but Sanders and Clinton were focused on highlighting their differences. When moderator Chris Cuomo asked Sanders if hes up to the whole job of being president, the senator said he has the requisite judgement, as evidenced by his vote against the Iraq War (which Clinton supported).

He insinuated that Clintons strong gun-control stance is merely political calculation. Some of you might recall that back in 2007, when she was running against Barack Obama, she also focused on that issue, he said. But she thought that Obama was too strong on gun issues. You may remember him referring to her as Annie Oakley, alright?

Sanders also doubled down on his previous ClintonDick Cheney comparison. Experience is important, but judgment is also important, he said. My own point was in talking [about] Dick Cheney, he had a lot of experience too. His policies with regard to foreign affairs was an absolute disaster. So, experience is important, but it is not the only thing.

When CNN prompted Sanders to attack, making him watch a Clinton ad, he asked why it took his rival so long to come around on opposing the Keystone Pipeline and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

As for Clinton, she repeatedly tried to paint herself as the more well-rounded candidate. Questioned about her commitment to the battle against income inequality, she said, I think its fair to say that I have a 40-year record of going after inequality  and not only economic inequality: racial inequality, sexist inequality, homophobic inequality.

When challenged on her Iraq vote, she reiterated that it was a mistake, but added, when that hard primary campaign was over and I went to work for President Obama and he ended up asking me to be secretary of State, it was because he trusted my judgment.

Like Sanders, Clinton was forced to watch one of her rivals ads. She responded with a hearty chuckle and a quote from Cuomos father, the late New York governor, suggesting the senator is all heartwarming Simon and Garfunkel videos, no action. I think thats great. I think thats fabulous. I loved it, she said. You know, look, you campaign in poetry, you govern in prose. And we need a lot more poetry in this campaign and in our country. So, I applaud that. I love the feeling. I love the energy.

Hillary Clinton on Bernie Sanders ad: "I think that's great." #DemTownHall pic.twitter.com/f8g4XMS9IM  Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) January 26, 2016

The two front-runners faced some other difficult exchanges. For instance, the first two questions posed to Clinton were basically, Why is Bernie doing so well? and a young woman challenged Sanders about describing Planned Parenthood as the establishment. (Yes, there was actually a question on reproductive rights!) Yet, Sanders was given ample time to describe his vision for going after Wall Street, and Cuomo kicked things off by noting that Clinton just picked up several newspaper endorsements and President Obama called her wicked smart.

As usual, Martin OMalleys biggest challenge wasnt Clinton or Sanders, but the medias lack of interest in him. His Q&A was rough right from the start. Cuomo pointed out that the Des Moines Register endorsed Clinton and called him, better suited as one of her cabinet secretaries than as president. Then when they turned to the audience, OMalley was asked how he can claim to address racial inequality when his policies as mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland disproportionately affected the black community.

Later, OMalley got the worst of many awkward questions when Cuomo asked whether hed like his caucus supporters to back Clinton or Sanders when he fails to reach the 15 percent threshold.

OMalley came off much better in the town-hall format than he has in the debates, and he even conjured up a decent response to Cuomo predicting his political demise. My message to the OMalley supporters across this state is this: Hold strong at your caucus, he said. Hold strong at your caucus because Americas looking for a new leader. Americas scanning the horizon. We cannot be this fed up with our gridlocked, dysfunctional national politics and think that a resort to old ideologies or old names is going to move us forward. So I tell my people hold strong.

Is OMalleys performance on Monday night going to increase his chances in Iowa? In all honesty, no. But at least viewers got a chance to hear him discuss some of his policy proposals, rather than just his thoughts on the debate moderators not allowing him to speak.
Barack Obama. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Movement conservatives are understandably (and even commendably) apoplectic with the rise of Donald Trump, who has appealed to the right-wing id without grounding his campaign in right-wing thought. But Trumps flamboyant grossness, which disdains ideas altogether, has served as a distraction from the reality that those ideas themselves are often completely unserious. That is, they do not merely reflect different value judgments held by liberals  which they do  they rest upon easily refutable untruths. The other day, I pointed out that even leading conservative intellectuals who find themselves aghast at Trump, like Commentary editor John Podhoretz, still reside within a right-wing thought bubble, unaware of obvious facts that refute their preconceptions. National Reviews Jim Geraghty rises to Podhoretzs defense, but serves only to underscore my point.

Podhoretz summarized his case that President Obamas agenda has failed by making two absurd arguments: one against health-care reform, the other against the stimulus. Geraghty evidently deemed Podhoretzs argument against health care too ridiculous to even defend, and instead offered a different argument altogether, against Obamacare, in its place. (Geraghtys argument is that Obamacare has failed to reduce premiums by the promised amount. If you want to read a refutation of that case, you can here, but Id rather not get sucked into an endlessly recursive game of knocking down silly talking points only to have them replaced with new ones.)

Geraghty does try to defend Podhoretzs case that the stimulus did almost nothing. As I noted, that notion is disputed by the overwhelming majority of economists  virtually all academic economists, as well as the entire private macroeconomic forecasting field. What theoretical or empirical point has the economics field missed that Podhoretz and Geraghty (and most members of the conservative movement) have grasped? Here is Geraghtys defense, in its entirety, of Podhoretzs claim. I have omitted nothing:

If the stimulus were a success, Democrats would be running on enacting another one, and they would be using the term stimulus. The presidents advisors contended that with the stimulus, unemployment would peak at 8 percent and steadily decline. It hit 10 percent remained above 8 percent for almost all of Obamas term. Bernie Sanders stump speech is a portrait of unending American economic woe, particularly among minorities and young people. The poverty rate and median wages havent budged. Almost 80 percent of voters say the country is still in recession. If overwhelming number of voters feel like the recession never ended more six years after the stimulus passed, why is it pretty crazy to contend the stimulus did almost nothing?

Geraghty makes two arguments here. Argument No. 1, elucidated in his first, fourth, fifth, and sixth sentences, is that the stimulus is unpopular. Democrats dont use the word stimulus, and one of the Democratic candidates  the self-identified socialist  is portraying the economy as poor. This is persuasive only if you consider public opinion infallible. Geraghty does not consider the oft-stated hypothesis, advocated by supporters of the stimulus in particular and the administrations economic agenda in general, that Obamas policies spared the country a deep depression without (yet) producing rapid wage gains that would produce widespread optimism. That Americans still feel dissatisfied with the state of the recovery may be evidence that the stimulus did not produce late-Clinton-era prosperity, but it is not evidence that the stimulus did nothing, since it does not consider the counterfactual scenario.

Geraghtys second and third sentences repeat an old and especially insipid Republican talking point: The stimulus failed because the administrations economists projected it would hold unemployment to 8 percent, and unemployment actually topped out at 10 percent. This is clearly wrong because the source of the error is entirely due to the fact that the administrations projection reflected official estimates at the time that massively underestimated unemployment levels. As we now know, but did not know at the time, unemployment was already at 9 percent when the stimulus was passed. So of course the stimulus failed to hold unemployment below 8 percent  that would have required going back in time.

Mike Grunwald made a chart showing the administrations projections in January 2009 of what the stimulus would accomplish. The chart reflected the widespread underestimate of the unemployment rate at that time:

Photo: swampland.time.com

As I noted before, we cant prove that the stimulus reduced unemployment because we cant measure exactly what unemployment would have looked like otherwise. But the talking point that the stimulus failed because unemployment exceeded the forecasted level is not a serious argument. No reasonably informed person could take it seriously. And yet this blunt and easily refuted bit of propaganda continues to circulate seven years later within the airless bubble of the conservative echo chamber.
Dont tread on the Genesee County Volunteer Militia. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Flint, Michigan, is seeing some high-profile support these days. Michael Moore and Reverend Jesse Jackson have held rallies in town. Jimmy Fallon, Mark Wahlberg, and Sean Diddy Combs have made huge water-bottle donations. Eminem, Wiz Khalifa, and Big Sean also make the list of donors. And now 30 camouflaged, open-carrying militiamen are there to help.

In some ways, a big government screwup that leaves poor people in a lurch is the perfect cause for bringing together everyone from liberal activists to dudes so right-wing they see license plates as a form of tyranny. The Genesee County Volunteer Militia arrived outside of City Hall on Sunday afternoon bearing Dont Tread on Me signs. The militia, who have pledged their support for their buddies occupying an Oregon wildlife refuge, have been handing out water bottles for the Red Cross. What happened here is a crime, Dave McKeller, a militia liaison who helped organize the rally, told the Detroit Free Press.

Flints water supply became contaminated back in early 2014 when the town began drawing from the Flint River. On Tuesday, the Michigan attorney general called it an outrage that residents are still being forced to pay for the poisonous water.

Were not going to allow [the government] to step on the people of Flint any longer, the groups executive officer, Matthew Krol, said to a crowd outside of City Hall. He was dressed in full camouflage, with a gun at his hip.If it means having to take up arms in defense  we will do that as well.

In more recognizable news of militiamen behaving badly, on Monday a man on his way to join the occupiers of the wildlife reserve in Oregon threatened on-camera to kill police officers after being pulled over on suspicion of a DUI.
Photo: Robert F. Bukaty

Maine governor Paul LePage, who earlier this month said that drug traffickers by the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty were impregnating young, white girl[s] before they leave, said today that he thought drug dealers should face the death penalty, or at least very long prison sentences.

I think the death penalty should be appropriate for people that kill Mainers, he told WMOV. Weve got to go 20 years, weve got to keep them here until they die. If you want my honest opinion, we should give them an injection of the stuff they sell.

As his interviewers tried to wrap up the interviewer, LePage interjected to add one last joke with a laugh. What we ought to do is bring the guillotine back. We could have public executions and we could even have which hole it falls in. (Huh?)



I like French history, he added.

The death penalty is definitely history in France: No prisoners have been executed there in more than 30 years. The U.S. has never used the guillotine, although several states have been legalizing or debating decidedly retro forms of the death penalty, including firing squads and the electric chair, in the past year, as lethal injection has become nearly impossible. Back in 2014, a federal appeals judge wrote in a dissent that executing someone by guillotine was probably best, although it also seems inconsistent with our national ethos.

However, this whole debate is a bit moot, as the death penalty has been illegal in Maine since 1887, after a man sentenced to death by hanging was slowly strangled.

Earlier this month, when LePage explained that he didnt mean to say that white girls were getting impregnated by drug traffickers (he meant to say Maine women), the governor noted that he was going impromptu and my brain didnt catch up to my mouth.

LePage also said that he was just going to send his State of the State to legislators instead of giving an address, because he is just sick of everyone yelling at him. It makes no sense, he complained. Last week, they tried to impeach me. This week, theyre throwing rotten tomatoes at me. Why would I go stand in front of them for an hour and a half?

New Jersey governor Chris Christie has received an endorsement from his fellow governor in the north, and said he didnt think LePages flubs were a big deal a few weeks ago. We cant judge people by one set of remarks they make, especially when they apologize and genuinely apologize afterwards, he said on MSNBC. So from my perspective, Paul LePage is a good friend of mine, he is an outspoken guy, we all know that he shoots from the hip. And when he does that theres going to be times when he says things that even he in retrospect thinks he shouldnt have said.

He did not say how many sets of bad remarks a politician had to accumulate before you could judge them.
Peter Liang arrives at a courtroom in Brooklyn, on January 20. Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

On Monday morning, the first day of NYPD Officer Peter Liangs trial, prosecutors played a 911 call made after Liang shot 28-year-old Akai Gurley in November 2014.

Hes not breathing! Gurleys girlfriend yells in the background while Melissa Lopez, a resident at the Pink Houses in East New York, tries to listen to the dispatcher. The cops shot him, she added. The cops shot him.

During the call, Gurley was lying in the unlit stairwell. Lopez told the courtroom in Brooklyn on Monday that Liang wasnt anything to help the dying man  neither was his partner. Nothing. He didnt do nothing the whole time, she said. I didnt see neither one of them do anything.

Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Marc Fliedner was a bit harsher in his summation of Liangs reaction to the shooting, which the officer has always described as an accident.

Instead of doing all he could, Liang didnt call for help, he stood there whining and moaning, Fliedner said. Liang cared only about himself. According to Gothamist, the prosecutor also said that Liangs partner  who never drew his weapon and may end up being a witness for the prosecution  What the fuck was that?

In 2014, a police source told the New York Daily News that Liang, who alledgedly said in the stairwell, Im fired, was a crying mess.

On Tuesday morning, the two police officers who responded to the scene after the shooting testified, as did Lopezs husband, Miguel Riveria. He said that he heard Liangs partner ask the officer to call in the shooting repeatedly. Officer Salvatore Tramontana said that he didnt have his gun out when entering the stairwell, and that he immediately began doing CPR on Gurley, taking over from his girfriend, when he arrived, something that neither Liang or his partner had managed to do.

Officer Andre Fernandez added that Liang looked absent while all this commotion was taking place.

Gurleys family has filed a wrongful death suit, on behalf of the dead mans young daughter. Her mother, Kimberley Ballinger, told the Daily News last year that She asks all the time if she can go to daddys house in heaven.

Liang, a rookie who had been working for the NYPD for less than two years, has been charged with the second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, leading to a rare trial of an NYPD officer charged with killing an unarmed civilian. Liang was on a routine patrol when the shooting happened, and was allegedly carrying his gun in one hand, a flashlight in another  the light was out in the stairwell. Rae Koshetz, Liangs attorney, told the courtroom that her client was in a state of shock after the shooting, which happened during an overtime shift. Liang only had his gun drawn, she argued on Monday, because he and his partner were headed up to the roof, the most dangerous place of a dangerous place.

Gurley and his girfriend had allegedly tried to take an elevator, but it was taking too long.

She added that the jury should not lump in this case with the many others involving police-related deaths around the country. The NYPD isnt on trial here, she said. This is not a referendum on policing in this country. Nor is this case about retribution.

The shooting has been linked to the deaths in Ferguson and elsewhere by activists, and the indictment happened at nearly the same time that grand juries decided not to charge officers involved with the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

Today in Cleveland, six police officers were fired over a police chase four years ago that led to the deaths of two unarmed civilians. At least 137 shots were fired at the two people.

Some believe that Liang may decide to testify later in the trial.

The prosecution is not arguing that Liang shot Gurley on purpose  but that he was being a bad cop  not holding his gun properly or taking care of the victim after the shooting. The Patrolmens Benevolent Association defended Liang at the time of the shooting, saying that Dimly lit stairways and dilapidated conditions create fertile ground for violent crime, while the constant presence of illegal firearms creates a dangerous and highly volatile environment for police officers and residents alike.

The jury will have to decide if Liang was right to have his gun out in the stairwell.
Third-world airport makes car travel obsolete.

The snowstorm that slammed the East Coast made for a brutal Monday-morning commute for many taking the trains, subways, and buses in and around New York City. And today we know the slightly above average temperatures have melted your neighborhood slush mountain into a lake-size broth of ice chunks, grime, and gasoline, with a dash of dog poop. But now its time to turn our attention to La Guardia Airport, where in these trying, post-blizzard times, the bustling transport hub may have actually laid claim to the official title of commute from hell.

Just landed at #LGA , full house tonight post blizzard pic.twitter.com/2JobP11t6e  Tiffany Abtahi (@tiffmex) January 26, 2016

Thousands of flights were canceled up and down the East Coast thanks to Winter Storm Jonas. So when airlines began flying again Monday, things were bound to be a bit chaotic as people rushed to the airports. But maybe nobody expected the massive gridlock into and out of La Guardia, a traffic jam so intense that people were stuck for up to five hours. General evening rush-hour traffic and an ambulance fire near Flushing Meadow Park added to the backlog of people desperate to get out of snow-laden New York.

Weve been stranded at LaGuardia Airport for about four hours. We dropped off Raul around 6:30, its 10:21  we still cant get out. He took off and landed already. Hes already home, one man said, as a silent rage probably burned inside of him.

Stay away from Laguardia airport. If you have a flight, change it. Don't even come near it. A video posted by Young DeX! (@therealdex) on Jan 25, 2016 at 7:25pm PST

There are people aimlessly walking with carts and luggage trying to get cabs from middle of the road in #LGA  Mallory Simon (@MallorySimonCNN) January 26, 2016

4.5 hours at LGA.finally got an uber into city. #lga  Jennifer (@jlaBoulder) January 26, 2016

Some people were so desperate they gave up, got out of their cars, and trekked along the parkways shoulder, suitcases in tow. The taxi lines also wrapped through the terminals, with people waiting up to two hours to just get in a cab.

This guy and many others are giving up in middle of highway #LGA #gridlock pic.twitter.com/XEvUYR2jkZ  Tom Pohlmann (@tpohlmann) January 26, 2016

Over three hours spent in a line at #laguardia waiting for any type on transportation to show up. I think I know what hell is. #LGA #wtf  Stephanie Bonner (@StephanieBonner) January 26, 2016

Back home after epic journey at #LaguardiaAirport. Passed the taxi line which had a 4 hour wait. Pple were straight up walking 2 Manhattan  Leah Nanako Winkler (@leahnanako) January 26, 2016

The standstill on the parkway was so horrendous it also delayed flights, reports the Post, as it trapped the jet-fuel trucks that were trying to get to the tarmac to give departing flights a jet-fuel fill-up before takeoff. That caused incoming airline delays, too, as planes couldnt land because there wasnt any place to park.

Also Monday night, a plane headed to La Guardia from Charlotte got zapped with a green laser light while soaring above Westchester. Police sent a helicopter out to search for the culprit, but no arrests have been made.

And an honorable mention also goes to a raging car fire near Terminal C Monday morning that sent dark, billowing smoke up into the sky over the airport, an ominous sign of what was to come.
The grim young conservative superstar Tom Cotton wants to slam the door on federal sentencing reform. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

You could just feel this coming during the Baltimore disturbances, the talk about an anti-police Ferguson effect and the immediately inflated evidence of an uptick in some types of violent crime in some cities. The temptation of law-and-order politics is pulling more and more conservatives away from the carefully cultivated, Evangelical-blessed, libertarian-influenced, bipartisan criminal-justice-reform movement, which was moving toward fruition in Congress.

The immediate flash point is in the Senate, where a bill to allow for reconsideration of federal sentences imposed under the idiotic regime of mandatory minimum sentences had been considered a very good prospect for enactment in this legislatively barren election year. Two of its most prominent backers were hyperconservative senators John Cornyn of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah, and it had overcome its supposedly most difficult obstacle when Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley approved it.

But now a backlash  I am using the term very deliberately  is building, led by freshman Republican senator and conservative superstar Tom Cotton of Arkansas, supported by backbenchers who pretty clearly want to show off their law-and-order credentials. Politicos Seung Min Kim reports Cottons efforts could convince Mitch McConnell to deep-six the legislation for this Congress:

Cotton, the hawkish upstart whos already made waves on the Iran nuclear deal and government surveillance programs, is now leading a new rebellion against a bipartisan effort to overhaul the criminal justice system  hoping to torpedo one of the few pieces of major legislation that could pass Congress in President Barack Obamas final year. GOP tensions over a bill that would effectively loosen some mandatory minimum sentences spilled over during a party lunch last week, when Cotton (R-Ark.), the outspoken Senate freshman, lobbied his colleagues heavily against the legislation, according to people familiar with the closed-door conversation. The measure passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last fall with bipartisan support. Cotton isnt alone. Other Senate Republicans, including Sens. Jim Risch of Idaho and David Perdue of Georgia, also registered their strong opposition during the lunch, even as Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) vigorously defended the bill, which he helped negotiate. Risch stressed this message, according to one Republican source: Shouldnt the GOP be a party of law and order? Risch declined to elaborate on his concerns over the bill, saying he was displeased that his private remarks made during a party lunch were made public. But the deepening Republican split over reforming key elements of the criminal justice system  an effort years in the making that has been powered by an influential right-left coalition  may imperil whether Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ultimately will take up the measure later in this election year.

Its easy to laugh at Rischs displeasure at being caught in mid-demagoguery, but he is unquestionably articulating views that are in the air. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, after all, likes to talk about an immigrant-driven crime wave that requires a new crackdown on the lowlifes and losers who are challenging police authorities in the cities. And his attitude seems to have softened the commitment to criminal-justice reform of his sometimes Mini-Me and now-deadly rival, Ted Cruz.

But what may most be animating this collapse of bipartisanship is not the 2016 presidential election, but the next one or the one after that: whenever it is that Tom Cotton makes his inevitable move toward the White House. Possessor of a mile-long pre-political resume (two Harvard degrees, circuit court clerkship, military service in Afghanistan and Iraq, a stint with McKinsey & Company), and already distinguishing himself as the hawkiest of hawks, Cotton is the purveyor of a grim, Calvinist, old-school conservatism that still has a lot of support in the GOP. As a House member he talked about the prospect of a debt limit breach and an ensuing recession as though it might be a good, bracing tonic for a nation too accustomed to easy credit. Hes just the guy to slam the prison door shut on those who might have gotten a tardy but life-saving reprieve from hammer-headed sentences.

If sentencing reform does succumb to Cotton & Co., its hard to figure when the next green shoots of hope for bipartisanship might appear. Right now that spring feels far away.
Fox still hasnt figured out how to handle Trump. Photo: Scott Olson/2015 Getty Images

With the first 2016 votes set to be cast in less than a week, Fox News finds itself in the unprecedented position of being in open warfare with the GOP front-runner. Tonight, Donald Trump is continuing to leave people guessing about whether he will be onstage at the Fox debate on Thursday, should Roger Ailes refuse to yank Megyn Kelly from the moderator panel. Im not 100 percent, Ill see, Trump told CNN earlier today, echoing a threat he first made on Saturday. If I think Im going to be treated unfairly Ill do something else. But I dont think she can treat me fairly, actually. I think shes very biased and I dont think she can treat me fairly.

Trumps campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told me tonight that Trump could very well boycott Fox. We havent said hell be there, and we havent said he wont be there, he said. The bottom line is Megyn Kelly shouldnt be rewarded for her media bias.

Behind the scenes, Trump has pressured Ailes to remove his fastest rising star. While campaigning in Iowa today, Trump told the Boston Globes James Pindell that he spoke with Ailes by phone and said Kelly should recuse herself.

Related Stories Donald Trump Rekindles Feud With Megyn Kelly

Fox isnt backing down. Tonight, the network released another carefully worded statement: Sooner or later Donald Trump even if hes president, is going to have to learn that he doesnt get to pick the journalists. Were very surprised hes willing to show that much fear about being questioned by Megyn Kelly.

The timid response  by Ailes-ian standards  is more evidence that the Fox chief is struggling to draft a playbook to deal with Trump. According to a Fox source, Ailess senior executives convened an emergency conference call on Sunday to discuss Foxs Trump strategy. Two more sources told me that Ailes is becoming increasingly worried about leaks from inside Fox. Hes tasked his lawyer Peter Johnson Jr. with running an investigation to ferret out sources.

It makes sense that Ailes would be worried. While it remains highly unlikely that Trump actually wont show up on Thursday, he continues to threaten the relationship between Fox News and its viewers. During his CNN interview, Trump played on Ailess leak anxiety, hinting that he has dirt on Kelly and is willing to use it. Maybe I know too much about her, he said.
Hes not here to make friends. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

On Tuesday morning, Donald Trump woke up and did what he does every morning: He appeared on so many news programs that it makes you wonder if he has access to a Time-Turner. (J.K. Rowling does seem to think he has been networking with wizards.)

This Tuesday, less than a week from the Iowa caucus, he seemed to have a specific purpose for his morning check-in with America: practicing his insulting skills by playing word-association games with the names of his greatest adversaries. As befitting the adolescent nature of this exercise, Trumps taunts did not contend with the political arguments made by those who might disagree with his candidacy, but comfortably stayed in the realm of superficial, tweet-size observations, a field in which the Republican front-runner has great expertise.

Unsurprisingly, Trump was mostly asked to offer his views on Cruz, the only threat to his electoral chances at this point, who happens to be running a few ads against the billionaire in Iowa right now.

The words that instantly came to mind were jerk, liar, nervous, Obama, nasty, and Canada.

He looks like a jerk, Trump told Morning Joe, adding, Hes a liar.

I think actually, Trump said, going for the kill, Ted is more strident than Obama, if you want to know the truth. Nobody gets along with Ted. At least some people like Obama. Nobody likes Ted. I dont find anybody that likes him. He added that Cruz is a nasty guy, he says things that are very nasty, so I have to be nastier than him and its just one of those things.

His interview on Good Morning America had the same basic story line, although he managed to compress every complaint into a non sequiturfilled paragraph. He really does lie, Trump said. Hes so nervous. I saw him the other day. He is so nervous. He is such a mess. His polls have gone down. People realize that he probably cant even run for president. He was born in Canada.

Trump, who has also been called a jerk by voters and his opponents, did not mention that he might be nervous, too, hence why he was wasting so much time talking about why he doesnt like Ted Cruz.

Ted Cruz is a nervous wreck. He is making reckless charges not caring for the truth! His poll #'s are way down!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2016

During the last GOP debate, when asked why he was suddenly going after Cruz, Trump noted that it was because now hes going a little bit better  Its true. No, its true. Hey look, he never had a chance. Now hes doing better. Hes got probably a 4 or 5 percent chance.

On Monday, Cruz told supporters that Each morning is interesting. I learn a lot about myself from Donald every day.

In an interview with Fox Business Tuesday morning, Trump was asked about Mike Bloomberg, who might get into the race if Trump and Sanders win their respective primaries. Trump didnt say he was nervous about that possibility  although he also shared the first doomsday scenario that came to mind when he pictured a hypothetical Bloomberg presidency.

.@realDonaldTrump: @MikeBloomberg would take every gun out of the U.S. and drop them in the Atlantic Ocean. pic.twitter.com/XvU9nCC36B  FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) January 26, 2016

When asked about Megyn Kelly, who is supposed to help moderate the Fox debate on Thursday that Trump is threatening to boycott, the first words to come to mind were very biased.

I dont think shes a very talented person, he told ABC News. I dont think shes a good reporter.

But hes not nervous or anything!

On Morning Joe, he was also asked about Glenn Beck, the irrelevant former Fox News host who joined the National Review anti-Trump offensive last week. Trump, a steadfast anti-crier who seemed to be in danger of overdrafting at his word bank this morning, also declared that Beck was a mess.

Every time I see him hes crying, Trump said. Hes like so emotional. What a mess.

Meanwhile, all of the other GOP candidates still think that their best chance for victory is insulting each other instead of the people who actually have a chance to win primaries in the next few weeks, a strategy that one politician told the New York Times is not helpful.
This bothers me. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call

Heading into Iowas homestretch, polls show Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton running neck-and-neck. But those numbers ignore two big hurdles lined up on the socialist senators side of the track  obstacles that give Clinton a handicap in the caucuses next Monday night.

1. Sanders draws much of his support from unlikely voters.

Every candidate running against the Establishment is also, to a degree, running against the established electorate. After all, longtime voters are the ones who elected the Washington cartel to begin with. So it isnt surprising that Sanders draws much of his support from first-time voters. The trouble is, first-time voters have a habit of becoming next time voters.

In 2008, Barack Obamas campaign was able to turn out such unlikely caucusers with hope, change, and a multimillion-dollar ground operation. But Sanders appears even more dependent on unreliable constituencies than Obama was eight years ago.

Whereas Sanders has led in three of the last four polls of random Iowan phone numbers, he has trailed in all five recent surveys based off the states voter-registration files. As the New York Times Nate Cohn notes, even Sanderss most encouraging recent poll  a CNN/ORC survey that showed him leading Clinton by eight points  had him 17 points back among those who caucused in 2008. Likewise, Clinton leads Sanders by only two points in the latest Des Moines Register poll, but is ahead by nine among those who say they will definitely vote.

Sanderss surprising competitiveness is, of course, built off his overwhelming popularity among younger voters. A recent NBC/Marist poll found Sanders winning 64 to 29 among Iowa voters under 45  and no demographic is less likely to vote than the Americans who understand Snapchat. In 2012, just 45 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds found their way to a polling station.

The Sanders campaign does draw big crowds, has an army of volunteers, and seems able to channel that metaphysical quality knowable only to our pundit-shamans  momentum. So it may just be able to get these millennials to put down their smartphones for a night of caucusing. But when they do, they could find themselves smacking into roadblock No. 2 

2. Sanders could turn out more supporters than Clinton, and still lose.

The Democratic primary isnt a democratic primary: The winner wont be determined by raw vote totals but by the allocation of delegates. This is especially significant for the Iowa caucus, where delegates are assigned on a geographic basis.

The young voters propelling Sanderss candidacy are heavily concentrated in the states college towns. More than a quarter of his supporters live in just three of Iowas 99 counties. No matter how fiercely those counties #feeltheBern, they will still award only 12 percent of the states 1,401 delegates. So even if a majority of Iowans caucus for Sanders on Monday night, if those Sandernistas arent spread out across the state, Clinton could still win by a wide margin.

Last week, Politico reported that the Sanders camp was devoting more resources to the states rural western regions. But the Clinton camp has been organizing in those areas for months  and enjoyed considerable success there in 2008. Although Obama was ultimately able to compete in Iowas red counties, he got a boost from a quirk of the calendar. MNSBCs Alex Seitz-Wald explains:

In 2008, the caucuses were held on Jan. 3, when most college students were home on winter break. That meant that Obamas army of young supporters could caucus at their parents homes all over the state, and not waste their support in Johnson or Story counties, home to the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, respectively.

The Sanders campaign has offered to provide transportation to college supporters who would be more effective caucusing in their home districts, but thats a hard sell on a school night, Seitz-Wald reports.

That said, Sanderss political revolution has overcome an astounding number of obstacles to get where it is today. Hes drawn close in the Iowa polls despite receiving virtually no support from his (recently adopted) partys elected leaders, big-dollar donors, or interest groups. Hes built a lead in New Hampshire despite facing an opponent whose popularity and prominence among Democrats is unique among historys non-incumbent presidential candidates. So no one can confidently rule out the possibility of a Sanders victory on Monday night. But so long as the polls are tied, the Vermont senator is (probably) losing.
In case the dozens of heartwarming stories and weird news clogging your Facebook feed werent enough indication, so-called viral news is a big business despite the fact that, on a not-infrequent basis, these stories are proven false. Last August, BuzzFeed investigated Central European News  one of the Western medias primary sources of tantalising and attention-grabbing stories  in an article titled The King of Bullshit News, in which they concluded that many of the agencys articles were entirely or partially fake.

Among the stories deemed fake were ones about lonely Chinese teenagers walking cabbages, a Russian fisherman saved from a bear attack by a Justin Bieber ringtone, and a man who chopped off his own penis after being told it was too small.

Now CEN and its head, Michael Leidig, are suing BuzzFeed in federal court, seeking damages of more than $11 million, claiming false and defamatory allegations. The lawsuit further argues that CENs and Leidigs reputation has been damaged, citing the fact that BuzzFeeds article is one of the first results when Googling the news agency.

Many clients of plaintiff CEN simply stopped using its news service with no inquiry about whether the charges in defendants publication were true or false, the suit states. BuzzFeed itself has written stories citing CEN reporting in the past, but following the publication of The King of Bullshit News, they went back and added editorial notes to those stories.

The suit also includes a particularly morbid note about Leidigs 50th birthday.

Reached for comment, Peter Heneghan, BuzzFeeds European head of communications, said, Were aware that the suit was filed, but we dont comment on potential litigation.
Charles McKinney. Photo: Courtesy of Pittsburgh Police

Janese Jackson Talton was hanging out at a local Pittsburgh bar on Thursday night when a man approached her near closing time. She wasnt interested, so she ignored his advances. A short time later, he followed her outside and shot her in the chest. Talton died of her injuries.

After a car chase, cops arrested 41-year-old Charles McKinney for the crime and charged him with homicide.

Last year, a woman in New York was slashed in the arm after ignoring a man who hit on her; a few months later, a New York man orchestrated a series of violent attacks against Asian women for refusing to date him. But sure, catcalling is harmless.

(h/t Jezebel)
Its about six weeks before her new late-night show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, is set to air on TBS, and the 46-year-old comedian Samantha Bee is running between editing meetings with her producers, planning an upcoming shoot in Jordan, zipping across the street to Full Frontals studio to do a walk-through, and prepping for her first rehearsal in front of network executives. She swears that her stress is under control  except for the fact that shes stopped getting her period. I guess Im doing a good job of pushing the terror onto my innards, Bee deadpans, so that I dont feel it in my brain. Then she adds, Whatever pressure Im feeling Im internalizing it in a really horrifying way. Its affecting all of my body chemistry, but thats fine. Im comfortable with it there for a while.

Its safe to say that none of the advance press around Stephen Colberts ascension to The Late Show throne included a menstruation anecdote. Which takes us pretty quickly to one of the more obvious pressures currently screwing with Samantha Bees cycle: She will be the first female steward of a late-night satire show. More than that: Shes one of only a tiny handful ever to host a late-night show of any stripe.

Bees place in the comedy pantheon doesnt look quite as unusual as it might have a few years ago, before the collective mainstream realization that women  even unapologetically feminist women  are indeed hilarious. But Bees mission is slightly different from that of her peers, including Sarah Silverman, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Amy Schumer, and Margaret Cho (who once said I didnt know if I was going to mention my period onstage, but then I figured if Richard Pryor had a period, he would talk about it). Where these women perform hilarious eviscerations of sexist culture and socialization  see Meet Your Second Wife on Saturday Night Live and The Last Fuckable Day on Inside Amy Schumer  Bee is trying to become a (humorous!) feminist voice we trust on topics outside (though certainly relating to) the female condition, like, you know, electoral politics and public policy and global warming and immigration. But to succeed at producing a weekly show that slices headline news to the quick, she must be two things that women are not always embraced for being  very funny and a little angry  and she must be those things while exuding a quality almost never afforded women: authority. Its quite a bit easier to sound like a hero in a deeper register and like a scold in a higher one, even if you are saying the same kind of words and doing the same kind of job as Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert or John Oliver.

But Bee is perhaps uniquely equipped to give this kind of role a test drive. Shes a news junkie, an unapologetic feminist; she is direct and sincere and also bitingly funny; in her corner office is a large painting of a bare-chested Vladimir Putin riding a bear, a prop taken from The Detour, a half-hour comedy she co-created with her husband, Jason Jones, planned for later this year. The absurdly silly image seems to reflect some of Bees comedic DGAF drive to make her point. When Vanity Fair last year published a photo of all-male late-night hosts, she infamously retweeted the image doctored to include her as a tattooed centaur with laser eyes.

The big bus ads for Full Frontal declare Watch or youre sexist. And she kind of means it. There are plenty of people who wont tune in because a womans voice bothers their eardrums, says Bee. Their ear canals cant handle the sound of my shrill voice talking at them about a subject. I guess I just dont really care about those people.

Full Frontal, which airs beginning February 8, will be heavy on the field segments like those that Bee did so nimbly on The Daily Show. Think of her comedic investigations of the breast-cancer-awareness-pink branding of drill bits for carcinogenic fracking, or child labor on Kentucky tobacco farms, and youll get the idea. On the day Im here, Bee and her colleagues are editing one sketch on the VAs failure to provide medical treatment for female veterans  for instance, the lack of prosthetic limbs that fit female amputees  and planning a post-Christmas trip to Jordan to interview Syrian-refugee families.

Parsing the delicate lines between horror and humor, between outrage and hilarity, Bee says, seems like an impossible task, but somehow Jo is finding a path through that material. Jo is Jo Miller, Full Frontals showrunner and Bees intellectual partner in the creation of the show. Bee calls Miller, whom she also worked with on The Daily Show, a pit bull  so unflinching and so passionate. Miller has a masters of philosophy in medieval history from Cambridge, has worked in IT and construction, and, on the day Im in the Full Frontal offices, appears at a morning meeting scarfing a tofu dog piled with fragrant sauerkraut. She keeps a cat-litter box full of booze under her desk. The reason for the booze is obvious; the litter box is for the nights she anticipates shell be sleeping in the office and will want to have her cat with her. The cat seems very malleable, very open to experiences, says Bee.

Were breaking apart stories that are not joyful, not funny at all, yet its funny, says Bee. That a lot of these stories will be told through a feminist lens seems obvious to Bee. I think theres a lack of those stories. And I love to tell those stories. And so, while not all the pieces on Full Frontal will be about women or gender or misogyny, its fair to say that plenty of them will be. Those are just the stories Im interested in.

Take, for example, the shows 1-844-4-TROLLZ rape-threat line. Callers hear a recorded message that says, in part: You have reached the Samantha Bee rape-threat line. No one is here to take your call, but your offer of nonconsensual sex is important to us, so please select from the following menu: To tell me Im a dumb bitch that needs to be raped, press 1; to tell me youre going to violate every hole in my idiot lib-tard body, press 2 To tell me you wouldnt even rape me because of how old and disgusting I am, press 4 

Its not a joke for everyone, Bee says with a small smirk. This is as dark as satire can probably be. Its also about the condition of being a woman in this business. She quickly adds that she knows threats arent exclusive to women. If you go on Facebook and read the comments under something that Kimmel did, its also super-hateful, she says. But when its directed at a woman, theres a tone change in the quality of a threat.

Bee knows this kind of humor is a gamble that may or may not pay off. Were just going to swing for it. If we only get 13 episodes, well just do the best 13 episodes that we could ever possibly conceive of, and were just planning to leave it on the floor.

Bee recently met Hillary Clinton for the first time, when the presidential candidate was a guest on the same night Bee was appearing on Seth Meyerss late-night show. Its not like we sat down and had a long heart-to-heart, says Bee. She was in, like, work mode. Bee pauses. Is she ever not in work mode? Bee, who is from Toronto, recently became a citizen and will be voting for the first time in this presidential election. She looked stricken when I asked whom she plans to vote for. I probably shouldnt talk about who I would vote for. She looks at me intensely, with a kind of eye roll of acknowledgment, and goes on, I mean  obviously.

Like Clinton, Bee has been made painfully aware of her only woman status. And like Clinton, she knows that her gender is among the things shes got working for her, even as it works against her in other ways. I think everybody acknowledged that it was time to have a woman hosting a late-night show, she says. That was in the ether, for sure, and was definitely part of why TBS did such a great job of grabbing me.

That grab came at just the moment that Jon Stewart was breaking up the band by leaving The Daily Show. But Bee and her husband, who is also a Daily alum, had been developing and pitching their own projects for years. Most of them were scripted comedies; TBS bought Full Frontal alongside The Detour, a scripted family comedy starring Jones that the couple shot this summer in Atlanta.

It wasnt like we didnt think wed take ownership of a show, says Bee. Its that we didnt think wed take ownership of this kind of show. We thought wed be doing something in the scripted vein, just to get out of what wed been doing.

As it turns out, though, shes thrilled to be in possession of this kind of show. It was in the back of my mind for a long time to do a show with a heavy field element, she says. I get something so deep from people when I talk to them. Meeting a woman from the VA whod been through 40 prosthetic mens legs was monumental to me. I took away so much from our meeting.

Shes also surprised by how much she enjoys being in charge. I love it, to a surprising degree. In some ways the opportunity defined the ambition.

On the day I visit, Bee and Miller are fielding questions about the shows set: its color scheme, its props. Those things do not come naturally to me, Bee says. I dont know how sets work. I dont know what I like about them when I look at them, I just know if I like them or I dont. When a designer shows off a drawing of the set that includes a hot-pink border, both she and Miller launch into a series of one-liners. Wheres the martini glass Im lowered into the set in? Bee asks, while Miller jokes about breast-cancer branding. When I tell Bee over a later lunch that I cant quite gauge the seriousness of their objections, she gets straight-faced. Yeah, thats not joking: Its not going to be pink.

But the dressing rooms! Full Frontals suites are left over from Bethenny Frankels daytime talk show, and Bee describes them as the absolute stereotype of what you think a Bethenny dressing room would look like: white pleather and mirror tables and little architectural bud vases. Bee says she wants to put a sign on the doors that reads I didnt do this, but she cant make any aesthetic changes for a while. Not in the first 13 episodes, she says. You have to wait and be a little bit successful first, and then you get to make those kinds of decisions.

Bee grew up in Toronto, which is where she met Jones when they were part of a touring regional childrens-theater troupe in 1996. They married in 2001 and now have three children, ages 10, 7, and 5.

She wound up in comedy almost accidentally, after having decided in her 20s not to go to law school and instead go into the wonderful, lucrative world of acting. She had a hard time getting parts and was about to give up when she wound up in a four-women sketch-comedy group called the Atomic Fireballs. Comedy felt natural to her, brought her pleasure and confidence. It was very life defining, she says of her time with the Fireballs, with whom she remains close. One of her fellow Fireballs, Allana Harkin, with whom she co-wrote the parenting blog Eating Over the Sink for Babble, is working with her on Full Frontal, commuting between New York and Toronto, where her kids and husband live.

Chicks need their chicks, Harkin tells me as we watch Bee do her walk-through on the empty set.

When The Daily Show came to film in Toronto in 2003, Bee auditioned, got the job, and moved to New York. The first year working for Daily, she says, was completely terrifying and not great. I was in a new city, my husband wasnt with me, I didnt know a soul. The transition from the friendly Fireballs to the more ruthless world of The Daily Show was also hard.

It wasnt weird because they were men, she says. It was weird because the pace of it was so fast. We [the Fireballs] laugh now about how much we honored each others shit sketches. Wed just sit around and come up with stuff and always perform it, even if we didnt like it. And nobody in the room ever wanted to say, This isnt funny. Can we drop this? We loved each other.

Bee recalls sitting in one of her early meetings at The Daily Show. It was just like killing your babies every five seconds. Youre just throwing out jokes and theyre dying. You put your little idea out there, and people are like, No, thats not good. And then they just move on so fast. And it took a minute to kind of go, Oh, not every idea is precious? Which is a great lesson.

When it was clear that things were working out at Daily, Jones joined Bee in New York, waiting on his working papers and walking the dog. Then he auditioned for The Daily Show and got a job alongside his wife. The two engage in ceaseless professional conversation; Jones is working on Full Frontal even as hes in edits on The Detour, which Bee also worked on. On the morning I visit, Jones isnt present but is texting Bee: You should really retweet my last tweet; its a good one.

Their division of domestic responsibility sounds equally reciprocal. We dont think about it too much, she says. Its natural. This week, while Bee is prepping her show, Jones has been spending time at the kids Upper West Side school, talking about their familys holiday rituals and attending the Christmas concert. All the parents know: Dont email me. Im not getting back to you, says Bee. Im not mentally organized for that stuff; I dont have the gene that lets you remember birthdays and stuff. Hes very, very good at all of that.

But she finds the immediate demands of family life offer a reprieve from her work stress. Its really helpful, she says, to have three kids at home. Because when we go home, we just go straight into chore mode. Im like a workhorse.

Bee loves to cook  and bake, even though her kids mysteriously lack a sweet tooth. Its astonishing to me. Like, if they never saw a cupcake in their life, if they never saw a cookie  They just dont care about sweet things. Extra-maddening, she says, is Im great at baking cakes. They are objectively delicious. And then its just me and a cake.

Shes also an egg obsessive. Im so fucking picky about eggs, she says with immense animation. At the farmers market near where I live, if you dont get there when theyre unpacking their vegetables, you wont get the eggs that I like. So I get up on Sunday morning, shivering. And its this farmer family, and theyre really super-nice, and every time they see me coming theyre like, Whos this crazy woman whos obsessed with our eggs?

But with two ascendant careers, two new television shows in pre and post-production, three kids 10 and under, life is not all fresh eggs and baked goods. I am a waker-upper-in-the-middle-of-the-nighter, says Bee. Thats when I feel the abject terror. And when I wake up I really wake up. I read the whole newspaper.

Late nights writers rooms  strike that, televisions writers rooms  are notoriously white pits of testosterone. The Daily Show, which was created by women, Lizz Winstead and Madeleine Smithberg, has earned quite a bit of ink for the fact that its written mostly by men. Bee wanted her show to be different not just by virtue of its host, but when it came to the people penning the words she would say.

Bee and Miller have worked hard to create a diverse production staff, carefully crafting a blind application process to make it more accessible to people who have not traditionally spent any time in writers rooms. The result is a writing staff that is 50 percent female and 30 percent nonwhite. Its a mix of experience levels as well; there is one writer who was previously at Letterman and another whose last job was at the Maryland DMV. If we dont do anything else right, we hired incredible people across the board, says Bee. Our hiring process was great.

Diversity is a problem the industry has faced for ages but has had a hard time addressing practically. Theres a lot of people sitting around in rooms discussing how to make it happen as opposed to just, like, doing it, Bee says. Asking: Do you have any 45-year-old-woman friends who you think are really talented who could submit an application to us? Do you have any black friends who are great writers who havent had a shot?

And so the show is also at work on a mentorship program, designed to draw more unlikely suspects into writers rooms. Its a little bit embryonic, says Bee, but theyve hired the playwright Winter Miller to formulate a plan to find the pockets of people who dont formally have access to this world, who want to be in this world, who have no idea how to get there, and who demonstrate some skill in some capacity and a passion for it. Bee imagines bringing mentees into the office, giving them weekly writing assignments and some instruction. So much of this is about practicing, about steeping yourself in this world, about developing an ear, an ear for writing for someone elses voice, she says. We are going to learn a lot the first time we do it. It may be janky, we dont know. Or it might be amazing, and youll find a diamond in the rough, and then youll find a job for that person  and then you start actually seeing the ratios change. Thats the goal.

If the ratio changed, maybe, in a while, there would be more female faces, beyond even Bees, in the inevitable Vanity Fair spread. Though Bee also reflects that the recent all-male photo was likely just a giant case of trolling from the same magazine that published Christopher Hitchenss assertions on womens not being funny. It felt really on purpose to me, Bee says. I mean, it was such a big misstep that if feels like a lot of brainpower went into that misstep.

Bee pauses. Did you note that their follow-up photo had Miss Piggy in it? she says, her eyes flashing. I mean, trolling times a million, like: Fixed it! Heres this puppet whos voiced by a man, whos a pig with a mans hand up her ass making her talk. That solves it!

Bee is finishing her walk-through at the empty studio, which for decades housed the sets for As the World Turns and which Bee now shares with fellow Daily grad John Oliver, whos been taping his Last Week Tonight there for two seasons. Theyll simply trade out sets between their shows. Being Olivers studio roommate is a coincidence, but when they settled on the space, Bee says, It seemed like a good sign.

Sams got a huge heart, says Allana Harkin, her Fireball friend. I cannot believe how much she has on her plate right now, from okaying tweets to this  Harkin gestures at Bee, who is standing on a box as lighting guys move around her.

A few minutes later, the two women are looking into the empty seats, where in a few weeks a studio audience will sit, trying to envision them full. Or maybe nobody will come, says Bee, speculating about how she could stock the audience with their friends and family.

Itll be just like a Fireballs show, Bee says, sounding pleased at the idea.

*A version of this article appears in the January 25, 2016 issue of New York Magazine.
Queen.



Oscar was amazing in Ex Machina but i wont say Oscar worthy...then again if Matt Demon can score one for Martian then Oscar deserved a nom at least.

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I mean, yeah. Considering some of the white guys being nominated this year for giving performances that were downright bad, I'd say Oscar getting at least a nom for this would have been nice.



But if we wanna talk about him really being snubbed, that's gotta be for A Most Violent Year. I can't believe the lack of Oscars talk for that movie. He should have been nominated for that for sure.

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I haven't watched Ex Machina so I can't comment on Oscar's performance, but in a world where Mark Ruffalo got a nom...

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Any white actor and people would be like "THAT WAS SUCH OSCAR BAIT", it'd get loads of noms, and he'd have won.





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He should've definitely won SOMETHING for AMVY or ILD.

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i say it in every post it's mentioned in but a most violent year was robbed BLIND (and not just for oscar isaac)

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Yeah. I like Oscar and everything, but I wouldn't say his role in Ex Machina is Oscar worthy.

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I love Oscar but that performance was hardly worthy of an Oscar nomination. He's a great actor and is really great in that movie but Alicia's performance was definitely the standout of that film. A Most Violent Year and Inside Llewyn Davis are among his better performances that were overlooked.



Edited at 2016-01-26 03:54 am (UTC)

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"it's boring" - kristen stewart



jk, this is amazing and i love her on jane the virgin. i'm so glad she's really making a name for herself and using her newfound star power to do something about it. i hope she posts more unknowns in the future though soon but no complaints so far

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Great work Gina!

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Queen Gina <3



And maybe now people can STFU with their dumbass assumptions that no non-black POC have spoken up about the Oscars controversy.



Edited at 2016-01-26 12:03 am (UTC)

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I love this idea!

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That's the spirit!

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I love her.

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This is awesome!

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I LOVE HER SFM

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Good on her. I'd like to see Asian actors do this, too.

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This! I'm asian and it really saddens me how severely under represented we are in Hollywood. One of the reasons why I'm looking forward to Star Wars Rogue One.

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who did they cast in rogue one?

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I am SO looking forward to Rogue One. As a mexican I love Diego Luna in it but the cast is quite diverse and it will be great to see that on screen <3 I have that one picture of the characters as my desktop background because i'm so excited haha

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she is the best!

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come through, reina!

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I like her a lot. She totally makes me want to root for her. Work, humble reina!

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omg

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ugh. don't even get me started on Jamal...

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And THAT is why I had reservations about rocking with this show. I knew some fuck shit was coming. Bye.

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lmao

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Oh god I am behind on that show and don't tell me it goes in that direction...

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who else but the queen of men, alicia keys <333



saving married men and gays from their miserable liveswho else but the queen of men, alicia keys <333

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WHAT?! OK i stopped watching in October but I'm not surprised by this move...dear lord

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I mean... I never would have pegged him as a "gold star gay." Like I can totally imagine him having had plenty of sex with women in the past.

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not sure if....

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nnnn

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as if lesbians never get erased lmao

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that's why it's just a bi erasure. I'm sure lesbians have their own erasure lol

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lol

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How is this bi erasure lol

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Get some, Ricky.

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"I'm gay,"



He then went on to say that he didn't believe in sexual labels and that "we are simply human beings with emotional and sexual needs."







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Both can be true, he chooses to identify as gay while recognizing that this system of being heterosexual/homosexual is a human creation and doesn't reflect reality.

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IA

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Is this where, like, romantic attraction comes into play? Because I've seen people call themselves like homomantic bisesexuals and things like that. I doesn't really work for me, but then everyone is different.



Edited at 2016-01-26 03:29 am (UTC)

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Ya he sounds like he's describing being homoromantic and somewhere on the bi scale tbh.



Too bad ppl aren't more aware of the distinction

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I mean, I think it's just recently become a term, but I think it is becoming more popular.

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I've seen people call themselves like homomantic bisesexuals and things like that.

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I met someone like this who describes himself as "homoflexible" (which is somewhere on the bi spectrum but has a very strong preference for the same sex, apparently. all these new terms are confusing)



I guess it worked for him, though I don't really like using that for me personally. not a fan of the split romantic/sexuality attraction either.

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I find it applies to me. I'm so indifferent to sex, perhaps a little disgusted by it at times, but I feel I definitely have the capacity to fall in love romantically. I've felt that need for emotional exclusivity with a singular person, those fairytale butterflies and territoriality, but every time my mind entertained the thought of becoming sexually involved with them, I cringe.

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in and out before this post devolves into a complete mess, bless.

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So he's had enjoyable sex with women but he's sexually and romantically attracted to men. I see.

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I've heard other people say something similar, so whatever. You do you, Ricky.

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Yum tbh I need to meet more bi men



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His self titled is a seriously great album, private emotion>*

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Private Emotion is such an underrated jewel

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I loved this song

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lol poor meja got erased. she did butcher that song with her screeching weasel vocals.

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damn i love that song!

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I love that one

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YES. I love so many songs off that album.

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That's my favourite song of his

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Private Emotion was my shit for YEARS back in the day. So underrated, yet so, so amazing.

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Is bisexuality a thing? Yes. Do I think Captain Golden Showers is one? NOPE.

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Captain Golden Showers



OMG. LMAO. Never forget.

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Captain Golden Showers? Huh?!?!?!?

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I think in Spin magazine he said he was into Peepee.

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The U.S. Supreme Court Upholds FERC Order 745: Bad News for Electric Generators and Good News for Consumers

On Monday (January 25) the U.S. Supreme Court, by a 6 to 2 decision, issued a ruling supporting the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order 745 in a case titled Federal Energy Regulatory Commission vs Electric Power Supply Association (FERC vs EPSA). The issue before the court was whether FERC could compel regional power markets in the U.S. to pay consumers who reduce their electricity usage at critical periods. And if so, at what price? Consumers have adopted a panoply of energy saving technologies collectively known as Demand Response (DR) in part due to the economic inducements offered by FERC supported tariffs.

Demand Responders argued that a megawatt saved is the financial equivalent of a megawatt produced by a power generator (with all of the environmental externalities figured in it might be worth even more). The power generators who comprise EPSA have recognized that DR would hurt them financially by reducing electricity prices and margins to the direct benefit of consumers. Related: U.S. Land Rig Count 22 Jan 2016

Adding DR to a power market is the competitive equivalent of adding more generators. Either way added competition in this case equates to lower prices for consumers and reduced profits for power generators. Given the already tough prospects for the industry, especially given where fuel prices are now, you might say that this was the last thing they needed.

The truly good news for consumers is that had the Supreme Court ruled in EPSA's favor, electricity prices could have risen by tens of billions of dollars. Also those higher prices might have provided the economic inducement to build more fossil fueled power stations at considerable cost. It was our belief that these plants, had they been built, might soon have been rendered economically irrelevant by a combination of ongoing weak demand for power coupled with an unrelenting loss of market share to renewable energy competitors.

Taking DR out of our power markets in a meaningful way might also have increased the fragility of our electrical network. One beneficial characteristic of DR is that it reduces power demand on the grid precisely at those moments when system resources are most stretched.

Weakening demand is already a major problem for U.S. power generation companies. The only hope for these entities, barring a resurgence in demand, is to raise prices ever higher to cover their considerable fixed costs. This self-annihilating business model, continued price increases for a shrinking customer base, is what's referred to as the "death spiral" in the electricity business. Related: Moodys Ponders Credit Downgrades for 120 Energy Companies

EPSA's case at the Supreme Court came as no surprise. Other businesses, facing a steep decline in customers and product usage, have attempted to squeeze some residual value from an aging product line and its captive customers. But for large wholesale power users like steel mills and supermarket chains DR now offers the prospect of a continued, dramatic decline in power prices.

Unfortunately for power generators the opposite is true. As DR continues to be adopted throughout their systems, revenues and profits will inevitably nosedive. We believe EPSA and the power generators brought this case because they saw it as a way to prevent the proverbial "camel" of competition from pushing it nose too far under the tent. Unfortunately for the power generators, this "camel" may prove to have a pretty big "nose".

At present, DR is a passive collective response to high-power prices. Appliances across the grid, Internet linked, can be programmed to "Just say no" to inordinately high power prices albeit typically for brief periods. But if we see widespread adoption of battery storage devices like Tesla's Powerwall then the electricity "game" suddenly gets new rules.

Battery storage devices, typically lithium-ion based at present, have the potential to permit heretofore passive electricity customers to become active sellers when the price is right. Hundreds of these devices, linked by software, are the equivalent of an electric power generating station but with a zero emissions environmental footprint. For the storage owning customer, instead of paying high power prices, they are now in a position to receive them instead. Longer-term this feat of technological jujitsu could wield a crushing blow to the U.S. power industry. This isn't the "death spiral". It's the Death Star. Related: Saudi Aramco Chairman Talks Oil Down

This U.S. Supreme Court decision represents yet another disappointment in an industry suffering from a seeming confluence of unfortunate circumstances. Very few people anticipated that growth in demand for electricity would approach zero. That natural gas prices would continue to decline in winter was another negative surprise.

Unfortunately natural gas sets the price for electricity in many U.S. power markets. But the biggest surprise has been the possibility that thousands of smart, internet-connected devices now have the ability to act in concert in real time. Electricity consumers are likely soon to respond to daily power price fluctuations the way they do in all other price sensitive situations: buy low and sell high.

The long-term trend in stock prices for U.S. power companies has been relentlessly negative. It's hard to see this U.S. Supreme Court decision doing much to change that bleak outlook. We eagerly await the verdict of the markets both stocks and bonds as well as the rating agencies.

By William Tilles and Leonard Hyman for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:




(Click to enlarge)

The one given in this industry is that the analyst community is consistently wrong about where the price of oil is going in the near to mid-term. Just as $100 oil was a sentiment driven price that baked in the risk of every potential negative impact on the supply chain, $28, $30 or $40 dollars is equally sentimental, assuming that any and all incremental barrels are and will be available AND demand will slow or stop.

(Click to enlarge) Related: Analysts See 2016 Oil Price Rise, While Traders Bet On Fall

2013 and 2015 forecasts. (forecasting sentiment is hard) Image Sources: EIA

So lets just step away from the current noise and focus on a non-controversial outcome that oil will be much more valuable in the future than it is today. What, exactly, will that future look like?

Todays pricing sentiment is driven by a global economic Pick 6 today

1. US production rates,

2. Saudi Arabias ability to grow production,

3. Irans latent ability to produce more oil,

4. Chinese economic slowdown and its impact on consumption,

5. Russias ability to add global production, and

6. OPECs inscrutable strategy.

Lets stipulate a couple of assumptions.

First, people will produce existing wells at rates that arent sustainable to preserve cash flow or compete for market share, because the cost to drill and bring online is already sunk. Second, new wells will not be drilled if there isnt at least an outlook to breakeven producing them. That means an expectation of a sustained price over 1-3 years or until the well has been paid out.

U.S. Production Rates

(Click to enlarge) Related: Oil Markets Are Balancing Faster Than IEA Would Have Us Believe

Image Source: Drillinginfo Production Report for Unconventional U.S. Onshore Plays (Combined MBOE 20:1) over last six years. Note the lag in production reporting means Q42015 and even some Q32015 reports are not finalized.

First, lets look at the U.S., the simplest and most transparent of the Pick 6 issues bandied about as a price driver. Certainly the unconventional revolution has been a huge factor in global production increases over the last 6 years. The item NOT generally recognized is that production typically lags drilling by some 5 months, thus the drilling in December 2014 is discernible in production records in April 2015. That analysts were alarmed at increasing production and supply during the 1st half of the year suggested that they did not understand this dynamic, nor did the business press. We predicted in April that monthly production would peak in May and then jump around between -100 mbpd and -350 mbpd for the rest of the year. When looking at additional production month over month, it is important to remember that it is building on a sloping foundation of natural decline.

For instance, in 2014, as the U.S. added some million barrels of daily production, it had to produce 2.2 million new barrels of production to do so. The slope of that foundation required 1.2 million new barrels to just flatten it out. First year production in the U.S. has had a blended annual decline that has increased from 41 percent in for 2010 era wells to 47 percent for 2013 era wells. Therefore, 2014 era wells were likely to have declined 49 percent and 2015 by 51 percent in their first year. Second year declines show less of a pattern, ranging from 10-20 percent decline from the end of the prior year. In other words, we will see real production declines in 2016 as the full impact of 2015 drilling reductions are cycled through. Depending on the variability of the second year declines, this could range from -400 mbpd to well over -1MM bpd. So, the U.S. isnt going to be the bringer of oil glut news going forward. In fact, the U.S. oil patch has severely damaged its capacity to rebound from an oil field services point of view, with companies foregoing normal maintenance to just survive. This deferred maintenance will have permanent consequences. Score: NOT a driver.

Saudi Arabias Ability To Grow Production

Whereas Saudis rig count is up, so is its production. They are producing record amounts and most analysts believe that there is little if any behind valve production. SCORE: NOT a driver

Irans Latent Ability To Produce More Oil

When sanctions hit Iran, they immediately dropped 600 mbpd from their official production levels. That they report the same production to the barrel since cause their official number to be quite suspect. Iran has not been investing in their infrastructure and they require outside dollars to reinvest in existing production, ranging from $30 billion to $500 billion over the next 5 years, depending on the source to maintain what they have. $30 oil is not an environment amenable to outside tender offers. Some claim that there will be no net new production in the near term, that Iran will merely start to recognize the production of oil it has sold in the black market. In any case, 500 mbpd new production are baked in as of last week. SCORE: NOT a driver

Chinese Economic Slowdown And Its Impact On Consumption

As the year has progressed, the Chinese economy exhibits signs of extreme duress, suggesting that demand growth could weaken materially. Imports of metals and building materials are down substantively. Oil is not. China continues to import crude oil at increasing rates, most likely taking advantage of the low price environment to strengthen strategic reserves. Chinas growing guns vs butter investment shift isnt likely a bearish sign for crude oil, either. The IEA and EIAs production growth estimates both suggest that the market isnt going to elastically respond to lower crude prices, in essence saying that lower price will not drive higher consumption for the first time ever and despite the surprise increase in consumption in 2015 SCORE: NOT a driver.

Russias Ability To Add Global Production

Russia found itself in a fun position in 2015 as economic sanctions hammered the ruble down 50%. Essentially, Russia had a half price drilling environment and was effectively hedged by its cratering currency because it pays for new wells in rubles and sells its crude in dollars. This advantage doesnt exist at commodity prices this low. Russia isnt likely to spend a buck to get back 20 cents in the first year. SCORE: NOT a driver.

OPECs Inscrutable Strategy

Forget all the rest of the Pick 6. If anyone assumed OPEC wasnt in charge of global oil prices, they were dead wrong. And by OPEC, lets be honest and say Saudi Arabia. Only Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. technically have the production base to unilaterally affect the price of crude without completely undermining their net production rates, and the U.S. regulatory environment is focused on efficiency and safety and not price, because, alone of these three, the U.S. until recently was thought to be a net beneficiary of low priced crude oil.

Saudi Arabia, tired of being the only player ceding market share in an organization comprised of members that continually and habitually cheat on their production allotments, is flexing their global geopolitical muscle to enforce their control over the organization and to affect the amount of money available to global E&P projects in light of the new beta in crude oil pricing that is recognized today. So, as a result, the U.S. finally sees production declines of the celebrated unconventionals; Iran and Russia are starved of cash, along with the rest of the OPEC members, some to the point of existential crisis. How big a stick does Saudi Arabia wield right now? Very big, I think.

So what about the U.S. oil patch? The global price of crude is as ridiculously priced today as it was at $120 per barrel. A 2 percent oversupply in a world where we cannot even measure within 5 percent with any certainty drops the price of crude over 70 percent and has every analyst that claimed just 2 years ago that we would never see crude below $100 again now claiming that we wont see oil above $40 anytime soon. They were wrong then, and they are wrong now. Related: Oil Prices Rebound Above $30. Is A Rally Finally Here?

(Click to enlarge)

Image Source:

What is different is that the cost of capital in the U.S. has gotten much higher. That wont be changing soon. Banks and other lenders have already started changing the cost of capital. Warrants are being demanded at closings. Even when oil recovers, this will not change rapidly. Watch the industry get a lot better, because their breakeven for cost of capital will have gotten worse. The oilfield service sector has suffered more than a glancing blow. It will not be able to ramp up as quickly as it was laid down. A lot of its equipment is shot for lack of proper maintenance.

The Fed is reported to be advising banks to push for asset liquidation in lieu of bankruptcy. This is actually a good idea if the point is to preserve value for lenders and equity holders. There is nothing more damaging to producing oil and gas assets as a bankruptcy trustee. Great for the eventual acquirer, bankruptcy trustees know how to make sows ears from silk purses by their reluctance to fund what Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners (TIPRO) chairman Raymond Welder calls the recurring, non-recurring expenses such as workovers necessary and common in the oilfield.

By Allen Gilmer

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A few days after Christmas I appeared on CNBC Asias Squawk Box to discuss the volatility in the oil market. Bernie Lo asked a question about OPECs strategy, and I characterized their decision to defend market share as a big, costly mistake that had already cost the group over $500 billion in 2015 and would likely cost them that much again in 2016.

I followed that appearance up with an article for Forbes called OPECs Trillion-Dollar Miscalculation (which went viral and received more than 100 times the traffic of their typical energy article). In that article I detailed the numbers behind my assertion.

Two weeks later, Continental Resources CEO and shale drilling pioneer Harold Hamm went on CNBC and reiterated my argument. He called OPECs strategy a monumental mistake for them, I might add, a trillion-dollar mistake. While there were a number of responses to Hamms comments that displayed varying degrees of schadenfreude over the huge decline in his net worth, I didnt see much acknowledgement that the point is correct. So lets review. Related: Saudi Aramco Chairman Talks Oil Down

By the time of the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, OPECs share of global oil production had been rising for years. In 1973 OPEC was producing more than 50 percent of the worlds oil. But in response to the embargo, countries all over the world implemented a number of changes to gain back some degree of energy security (addressing both supply and demand side), and OPECs market share went on a decade-long decline. By 1985, OPECs share of global oil production had fallen to 27.6 percent, but by 1995 it had once again risen to above 40 percent. In 2008, just as the shale oil boom in the U.S. was beginning, OPECs share reached 43.8 percent.

From 2008 to 2014, the U.S. added nearly 5 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil production to the market. This lessened the U.S. need for OPECs oil, and by 2014 OPECs share of global oil production had fallen slightly to 41.2 percent in 2014.

Historically OPEC  and more specifically Saudi Arabia, which is responsible for over 30 percent of the groups oil production  has functioned as the worlds swing producer for crude oil. If the world needed more oil production, OPEC could usually bring more barrels online. If the world needed less, some could be idled. The group often stressed the need for a stable oil price to ensure that global supply met global demand. Related: Oil Crash Only The Tip Of The Iceberg

Because they were losing market share  but perhaps more importantly because they saw that trend continuing  that strategy was abandoned at their November 2014 meeting. It was then that OPEC announced they would defend market share that was being lost due to the rise of non-OPEC production, especially from the United States. Some have argued that OPEC had no choice but to defend market share instead of cutting production to balance the market, but I disagree. I think Saudi Arabia pushed for a strategy that will go down as one of the greatest mistakes in OPECs history. It was a decision, I might add, that 9 of the 13 OPEC members reportedly oppose.

To review, crude oil had shown signs of being oversupplied in early 2014, and by summer prices had started to soften. By the time of their November 2014 meeting, the price had dropped from about $100/bbl in mid-summer to ~$75/bbl. In making their decision, I think OPEC believed that oil prices could fall somewhat below $75/bbl for a short period of time, and that would be enough to bankrupt a lot of the shale oil companies and allow OPEC to recapture market share. Instead, the shale oil producers slashed costs, and while some producers have gone bankrupt  and other bankruptcies are undoubtedly on the way  shale oil production has proven to be much more resilient than the Saudis and OPEC expected. It is declining at a much slower rate than they anticipated.

After that November 2014 meeting the Saudis were committed, and they have reiterated their strategy at 2 subsequent meetings. To change strategies now would be to admit they had been wrong. Following that initial meeting and the 2 subsequent meetings, oil prices have dropped to lower and lower support levels. As a result the annual difference in the price OPEC is getting today for their crude, and the price they were getting prior to their November 2014 meeting is over $500 billion per year for the group. Related:U.S. Land Rig Count 22 Jan 2016

What other choice might they have made?

At the time of their decision, the global markets were probably oversupplied by 1-2 million bpd. If OPEC had merely decided to remove 2 million bpd off the world markets  only 5.5 percent of the groups combined 2014 production  the price drop could have easily been arrested and maintained in the $75-$85/bbl range. That would have still given them 38.9 percent of the global crude oil market. For that matter, a production quota cut of 13 percent could have removed from the market a volume equivalent to all of the U.S. shale oil production added between 2008 and 2014. (Whether the Saudis could have actually enforced those quotas is another matter).

Why didnt they opt for that course of action?

I think the single biggest reason is that they were concerned that the shale oil boom would continue to expand, with production not only continuing to grow in the U.S. but in other countries with shale oil resources. It was a legitimate concern, but I think the shale oil boom in the U.S. would have peaked in a few years. With the worlds demand continuing to grow, OPEC could have just tightened up a couple of times to maintain price, and then waited for declining shale production to give them back market share.

OPEC of course reasoned that it didnt make sense that they, the low cost producer, should cut production which would prop up higher cost producers. After all, that does seem backwards. But there is a risk in that strategy. If the higher cost producers slash costs in an attempt to survive (which they undoubtedly would), OPEC could suffer through a period of much lower prices. That is in fact what has happened.

OPEC has claimed several times that their strategy is working because U.S. shale oil production is falling. But the only way the strategy actually works is for OPEC to get back to the cash flow levels they had prior to 2014. They are a very long way from achieving that.

Should OPEC go on to gain back market share, and should they manage to maintain higher margins as a result, their strategy could pay off in the long run. The one big thing they have going for them is that they still control 72 percent of the worlds proved crude oil reserves  1.2 trillion barrels. If they ultimately manage to sell those barrels and earn a few dollars more per barrel as a result of their current strategy, it could amount to trillions of dollars. (Note that because proved reserves are a function of price and available technology, their reserves estimates may plummet back to what can be produced economically at a price of $30/bbl. That will nullify much of Venezuelas heavy oil reserves).

If OPECs strategy does ultimately pay off, it will be many years before it does so. It will require a huge recovery in the price of oil. It wont be easy for them to earn back the trillion dollars in foregone revenue for 2015 and 2016. At this moment in time, it is hard to conclude that it was anything other than a big, costly miscalculation on their part. I also expect thats what the history books will eventually say.

By Robert Rapier

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
In the minerals sector  all the way from exploration projects up to mining operations  its critical to know who the potential buyers are for your product.

And in the lead and zinc space, theres a new number one consumer on the block.

Thats Korea. Where smelter Korea Zinc will this week inaugurate a massive new build-out of processing capacity for these metals.

Local press reported that Korea Zinc will hold a ceremony Friday to celebrate commissioning of an expansion at its lead smelter in Onsan, North Gyeongsang Province. Where the addition of new throughput will make this facility the largest user of lead concentrate in the world. Related: Oil Crash Only The Tip Of The Iceberg

According to estimates from analysts Wood Mackenzie, Korea Zinc had, up until now, held second place in world lead-smelting capacity. With the companys facilities representing 5.2 percent of global lead production capability  just behind Chinas Yuguang Smelting, which owned 5.8 percent of lead smelting capacity.

But the new expansion will now increase throughput at the Onsan facility by over 40 percent  to 430,000 tonnes per year, from a former 300,000 tonnes per year. Which analysts project will put Korea Zinc ahead of Yuguang Smelting for top spot in the world of lead. Related: Security Woes Threaten OPECs Second Largest Producer

Add that to the fact Korea Zinc already holds top spot globally for zinc smelting  at 4.1 percent of world capacity  and its clear this is now the center of the universe when it comes to the lead-zinc market.

Which is a critical observation for project developers in this space.

Thats because big end users like Korea Zinc represent a potential source of project funding, offtake agreements, and eventual concentrate sales. An especially crucial fact to recognize in the lead business  where there are fewer smelters globally than in other base metals like copper or zinc.

Watch for supply deals being struck by Korea Zinc with mines globally to feed its expanded facility at Onsan.

Heres to looking out for number one

By Dave Forest

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
About Give - Aways

All Give-Aways posted on the Oklahoma Transient Blog are sponsored and purchased by me, Sandy, as a special gift to say Thank You.




Since id Software released Doom in 1993, thousands of user-made WADS and maps have been and continue to be created for the Doom community's entertainment.



These are their stories.
Nurses are considered mandatory reporters for suspected minor age (under 18) human trafficking victims.





"....and a crime against humanity..." Cheryl Green MSN, RN, CNL





"...many victims suffer from chronic untreated diseases, such as tuberculosis, diabetes or asthma, as well as infestations, poor dentition, dehydration, and malnutrition."





"Victims who are immigrants were probably told that authority figures are the enemy and will seek to arrest or deport them."





Although Republicans are obstinately resistant to progressive changes in the US immigration laws, the facts are accumulating to show how human trafficking is becoming a public safety issue and even tangentially related to illegal immigration, because victims often feel like they're criminals. In fact, while illegal immigrants are worried about being deported, the victims of human traffiking are frightened, because they must hide in the shadows or face criminal charges, plus deportation. Moreover, many of them are physically and emotionally ill, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and are victims of domestic violence.

A nurse may be a victim's only point of contact outside of captivity. It's mandatory for nurses to report human trafficking of minor age children.

In other words, human trafficking is the darkest side of the illegal immigration issue. Worse, it's unlikely the trafficking will stop, just because immigration reform happnes to be resolved.





Public health is at risk for infectious diseases with this growing trafficking problem, because the victims of are usually living in poverty, or worse, and not receiving the benefit of medical care. They're a lost population.





In the magazine, American Nurse Today , an article by Cheryl Green, MSN, RN, CNL, defines the human trafficking issues.

She calls it a "crime against humanity".





IN MOST WAYS, human trafficking (modern slavery) is no different from slavery of ancient times: it's brutal, highly profitable business with no regard for its victims. Trafficking is a crime but it's often difficult for medical providers to recognize the victims and to identify how to help them.





Human trafficking falls into two broad categories:

1. Labor trafficking- typically is either forced hard labor, usually in agriculture or textile sweatshops; or domestic labor, such as working as a nanny or house servant.

2. Sex trafficking - involves forced work in strip clubs, massage parlors, pornography production or prostituion. It also may involved mail-order brides.





"Human trafficking: Preparing for a unique patient population", by Green describes the most prevalent form of slavery in the United States being "sex trafficking".





An estimated 14, 500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the US annually and 100,000 to 200,000 American minors are exploited in the sex industry. Worlwide, 2 million children and young women are trapped in sex slavery.





Consequences for the victims

Human trafficking victims face grave physical and emotional dangers every day. Research suggests initial gang rape is a common method of recruitment into slavery. Threats of repeated rape, if the victim doesn't comply with demands, are common. Some victims rescued from the sex trade report customers who didn't like condoms and paid extra to avoid using them. This puts victims at great risk for sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy and physical trauma from rape.





Physical abuse, rampant in the trafficking business, is a primary means of forcing victims to comply. A study of European trafficking victims found about 75 percent were kicked, punched in the face, burned with cigarettes, hit with objects, dragged by their hair or struck in the head. More than half had post-traumatic stress (PTSD) disorder. Also, many victims then abuse or become addicted to the drugs or alcohol, given to them by their traffickers (sometimes by force) to control them. What's more, many victims suffer from chronic untreated diseases, such as tuberculosis, diabetes or asthma, as well as infestations, poor dentition, dehydration, and malnutrition.





These facts underscore the immediate and imperative need for healthcare advocacy for victims. Unfortunately, caregivers, nurses, the public at large or public safety professionals may have limited knowledge about how to identify victims of human trafficking, especially in the healthcare setting.





Helping to rescue victims

A nurse may be the trafficking victims only point of contact with the environment outside of captivity. To help rescue victims from a horrific life they didn't choose, healthcare providers need to become knowledgeable about this crime against humanity.

Implications for nurses

In 2014, Katherien Chon, senior adviser on Trafficking in Persons, for the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, testified before Congress that roughly 75 percent of trafficked women saw a healthcare provider while they were in captivity. In most cases, this provider was in an emergency department (ED). Indeed, they are obviously seen in the most expensive emergent care setting without opportunity for follow up or access to primary preventive care.





Nevertheless, many trafficking victims can be identified in other settings where health clinics, acute-care hospital units, dental offices and jails. This encounter may be a victim's only possible entry point into the social safety nets, yet many many trafficking victims aren't identified as such in healthcare settings. Once this opportunity to identify them is lost, it may never arise again, because traffickers typically don't allow visits to care providers unless a victim's health is so precarious that she or he can't work.





Even victims who seek care may go unrecognized or be mistaken for domestic violence victims, drug addicts or prostitutes.





Failure to identify a trafficking victim in a health care facility can lead to tragic consequences or even death for that person.





Nurses are front line caregivers and therefore have the opportunity to identify victims and refer them to appropriate resources.





Recognizing trafficking victims

Although human trafficking and domestic violence victims share some common presentations, important differences exist. For example, domestic violence victims usually fear one abuser, whereas trafficking victims may fear many people because they may have multiple abusers. (If a victim is assessed for having poorly healed fractures or signs of repeated strains, this is an assessment for trafficking....)





Victims who are immigrants probably have been told that authority figures are the enemy and will seek to arrest or deport them.





Consequently, they may fear a uniform, including a nurses uniform. Also, trafficking victims tend to be more isolated than domestic violence victims, to suffer disease or malnutrition and to have little or no family contact. Also, they're more likely to be victims of substance abuse.





Some victims, although cognitively intact, may be unable to verbalize their current location, if asked. This is especially true of those trafficked into the United State from other countries. Not only are the victims in unfamiliar surroundings, but they may see little of their outside world and may not even know where they are.





Be aware that adults and children who've been coerced into prostitution in the United States aren't (not!) considered criminals. On the contrary, they're victims of human trafficking and protected under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act.





In fact, persons younger than age 18 who are involved in commercial sex exploitation fall into the legal criteria for minor sex trafficking, their traffickers are prosecutable under the law. Nurses are considered mandatory reporters for suspected minor (under 18) human trafficking victims.





Approaching a suspected victim

If you suspect a person or patient of yours is a trafficking victim, consider how to best approach him or her. Never ask outright if she or he is a trafficking victim, especially if a companion is present. Most victims probably don't know what the term "trafficking" means. What's more, few people, no matter how dire their circumstances, want to be called a victim, because they're trying to retain as much dignity as possible.





If a patient doesn't speak English, call for a medical interpreter.

Be prepared for the companion to insist that he or she can interpret, but decline this offer, explaining that facility policy allows only for certified medical interpreters. Also, consider cultural factors. For example, female victims from patriarchal cultures typically are unwilling to speak for themselves, the same, of course, for minors.





Anticipate that victims will resist help. Feelings of intense fear, shame, and helplessness may even compel some to try to leave the facility without treatment. In some cases, a companion who senses that authorities suspect the true nature of the situation may force the victim to leave. Therefore, if you suspect trafficking, make sure a staff member stays with the victim at all times. (In fact, one way to assess the risk of a person being a trafficking victim is the sense that he or she is under surveillance, at all times.) Keep in mind, of course, that many immigrants and other foreigners can't read, write or speak Englsh and are accompanied to the hospital by companions who speak for them, yet are not trafficking victims. Consequently, be careful not to base a trafficking assessment solely on these characteristics - but diligence to the issue will alert the nurse to any unusual interacton or situation.





Human trafficking victims don't receive preventive helth care, so by the time emergency or clinic providers encounter them, many health conditions may have become serious and vcitims may be in dire health circumstances. With this in mind, conduct a head-to-toe nursing assessment, providing as much privacy & comfort as possible.





Asking certain questions can help determine if the patient is a trafficking victim, without causing fear or alienation.





Be aware that repeated violent penetration may cause vaginal or anal fistulas. Even young women may have bowel or bladder incontinence, or both. Many trafficking victims have positive drug screens, infectious diseases, live or scabies infestations or tattoos with brands of gang symbols, trafficker initials or even barcodes.









Psycho-social issues are prevalent among this population. Although victims may have pronounced anxiety or panic, some may even be stoic, almost to the point of complete withdrawal.





Finally, lack of trust may lead victims to suspect you're trying to trap them into revealing information as a test of loyalty to the trffficker, putting the victim, or the victims's family, in danger. Establishing trust is difficult but crucial (!) because the trafficker most likely is the only person the victim feels they can trust and rely on.





Cheryl Green is a cardiac/medical-surgical nurse at Cone Health Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington, North Carolina.





The National Human Trafficking Resource Center is a resource for more information: 1-888-373-7888, Consider posting the phone number where patients can see it.





























Labels: American Nurse Today, Cheryl Green, domestic violence, immigrants
The opinions expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the opinions of OnMilwaukee.com, its advertisers or editorial staff.

YOU SUCK, BULLOCK, the headline blared.

Okay, I'm paraphrasing. What actually greeted my eyes in the Sunday paper was the much less personal:"Arne Duncan on Milwaukee's chronic woes: 'A national disgrace.'"

He wasn't talking about the real national disgrace, of course, which is this country's abysmal shame of how it treats the poor and minorities even today. He was talking about Milwaukee's schools. And as a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher, it's hard not to take such criticisms personally. Journal Sentinel columnist Alan Borsuk, who got that quote from former US Secretary of Education Duncan, lays out some evidence.

"The percentage of students who can read and do math at levels considered proficient or better is low," Borsuk writes of MPS. "The percentage who score at levels considered "below basic," the lowest category, is shockingly high. The racial gaps are large, almost certainly once again among the biggest in the country."

I'm not saying this isn't disgraceful, and I'm also not saying Duncan should have fixed 400 years of racial history in his seven years as education secretary. But I am saying Arne Duncan probably shouldn't be throwing stones from his glass house.

Here are five other national disgraces Duncan had a hand in that he should be worried about first.

1. Alarmingly (but artificially!) low test scores

I'm not going to rehash the whole argument here, but Duncan's brainchild, the Race to the Top (RTTT) initiative, encouraged states, including Wisconsin, to raise the bar for what counts as "proficient" on a test in the first place. Wisconsin test results released a couple of weeks ago show that only about half of our students at all grade levels are proficient or advanced in reading or math. This is much lower than the rates we used to see under the old system here.

The changed scores were sold to us as a way to make results more honest, more accurately reflective of our students' actual performance. But do you really honestly believe that one out of every two of the kids you know or see playing in the street can't read at grade level?

In fact, the results have been used to create alarm, panic and calls for "reform" where reform is not necessarily necessary. Consider the brief flurry of panic that surrounded the release of Wisconsin's class of 2016 ACT results, where the state dropped from an average of 22.2 for 2015 (of a possible 36) to an even 20.

The drop was fully expected, considering that the class of 2016 is the first one where every student took the test; previously, most Wisconsin high schools had only the college-bound take the test, which is, after all, a college entrance exam. While the wildest claims  like the drop being evidence of Governor Scott Walker's abuse of the public school system  were quickly abandoned or deemed false, plenty of districts around the state are now saying, "Looks like we have work to do!" when we know their students graduate just fine.

Districts all over the country said the same thing a few years back when the switch to Duncan's preferred test scores was made. Panic: that's a big part of Duncan's legacy. Panic that leads not only to demands for "reform," but also hasty spending to solve imaginary problems.

2. The waste of public money on private enterprise: testing

When districts look for "help" to alleviate their panic, where will they turn? Undoubtedly to one of the several large education-publishing companies, like Pearson or McGraw Hill. They make the tests, and they write the textbooks students need to pass the tests.

These companies, which spend millions a year to lobby politicians in states and Washington alike, are incredibly profitable  with much of that profit coming from tax dollars. One key component of Duncan's Race to the Top was to ensure that there was even more testing than demanded under No Child Left Behind. Never mind that RTTT encouraged states to adopt the Common Core State Standards  which is fine, I support that myself  and then required them to buy newly designed tests to match; the real evil was Race to the Tops Early Learning Challenge.

The RTTT-ELC grant application process required states to develop programs that would measure "outcomes and progress through the collection, organization and understanding of evidence," according to the Department of Education website, and implement "comprehensive data systems and using data to improve instruction, practices, services and policies." That's not-so-veiled code for testing, and testing of students in the earliest grades  even kindergarten or pre-K.

A real and vital component of Duncan's legacy in charge of this country's public education is money out of our pockets (and students' classrooms) into the pockets of shareholders.

3. The waste of public money on private enterprise: charters

The Race to the Top explicitly also called for states to raise or eliminate entirely its caps on how many students enrolled in charter schools. Like educational publishing, the charter school business is a big one for Wall Street, not only because many charter schools are operated by for-profit companies (not all, and not that many in Wisconsin or Milwaukee), but also because investment in charter schools can offer a hefty tax break.

In addition to the lobbying done by publishers for Duncan's expansion of the national testing regime, there has been plenty of lobbying done by powerful groups. I'm talking groups like Democrats for Educational Reform, backed by nominally liberal hedge fund investors or other Wall Street types, who see charter schools as win-win: They think student achievement will improve (it mostly doesn't, studies show) and there's a financial return on their investment.

Again, this "return" comes directly out of the tax money we put into our schools. During Duncan's tenure at the U.S. Department of Education, charter school enrollment rose by 70 percent, with millions going into what the Center for Media and Democracy called a "black hole" of unaccountable private charter operators. Duncan's legacy includes billions of tax dollars spent on charter schools.

4. Shrinking school budgets

I give Duncan credit for helping to get schools into the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, known colloquially as President Obama's 2009 stimulus package. The funds funneled to states and districts through the stimulus helped schools get through the leanest of the Great Recession lean years.

Since then, though, what's happened to public school budgets? They've been falling precipitously. I won't blame Duncan for the Republican Congress that regularly failed to allocate the full amount of K-12 spending that Obama asked for in his submitted budgets. But note that in the time that K-12 spending has been falling, Duncan continued to direct larger pieces of this shrinking pie to charter schools.

This includes more than $150 million to charters Duncan dispensed on his way out the door. This money didn't come on top of what was sent by the feds to traditional public schools, but rather it was sent to charters instead of to traditional public schools.

With many states still not spending as much on K-12 as they were pre-recession, federal money is an important source of income for our schools. Duncan's legacy is to redirect those funds away from schools that need it most.

5. Chicago

Arne Duncan came to President Obama's cabinet from Chicago, where he was head of the public schools there. What's Duncan's legacy? I think we all know the mess the Chicago Public Schools has been in lately, but before that, it wasn't any better.

Duncan spent his time at CPS, according to the Washington Post in 2009, "jettisoning staff, hiring turnaround specialists, shutting down (schools) deemed beyond hope. He pushed a back-to-basics curriculum, spawned dozens of charter schools and experimented with performance pay. State and federal test scores and graduation rates rose on his watch, and Chicago became a laboratory for innovation." A lot of the same things he brought to Race to the Top, in other words.

But did that work? In a word, no.

The Post notes, "Chicago trailed several cities in performance and progress made over six years. ... Chicago is nowhere near the head of the pack in urban school improvement, even though Duncan often cites the successes of his tenure as he crusades to fix public education." The rising test scores were attributed to a relaxing of Illinois' state testing requirements.

Though Duncan called what he did in Chicago a "model of reform," he has never owned up to the fact that such reform largely failed.

I don't want to defend the status quo in Milwaukee as the end-all and be-all of what public education ought to be. I am not satisfied with our achievement, either, which is why I still go to work hungry every day, support (and occasionally help lead) worthwhile district reform efforts, advocate for the district every chance I get and promote the hell out of what MPS does well despite its challenges.

But what Duncan wants, what the Republicans in Madison have long wanted, what this city's private school voucher advocates have gotten, and what  I'm afraid  even Alan Borsuk wants, is the "reform" Duncan provided in Chicago. Sound and fury signifying nothing. Change for the sake of change. "Disruption," as they say in Silicon Valley.

Look at those (artificially) terrible results, they say, and then they demand we essentially abandon the public schools  siphoning money to private companies and charter schools, cutting budgets, propping up reform ideas that haven't been proven to work.

What we really need is a belief that our public schools not only should do better, but can do better with better support. Only a very superficial reading of Duncan's legacy would show anything like that. How is that not a national disgrace?
A new breed of banks is entering the banking and financial services industry with the promise to transform banking transactions. To the unbanked, the move will give access to bank accounts. And to those who longed to get into the banking industry, it will offer the benefits (and prestige) of a bank. Whether these banks will be financially successful or not, however, is another matter.

Background

He lives in one of the poorer districts where development takes its time. Through his 85 years - since the days he manoeuvred his single-horse tanga (a two-wheeled carriage) from his small village of Bhagur in Devlali, Maharashtra - Baburao Bhomale has seen the world change and he continues to keep track of the changing world. Today tangas are history. His daughter Sindhubai is in command. Sindhu's teenaged son owns a mobile phone that connects him to the Internet and helps him to communicate instantly. He can tell whether the trains are running late, whether it will rain, what are the nearest mandi rates for his agricultural produce, and more?

There is a belief that the versatile mobile phone will usher in a fresh era in the Indian banking space - payments banks. It will not matter that Bhagur has only a few bank branches. In future, people will not visit banks, instead the banks will come to the people - most likely in the form of a mobile phone. Payments banks are here to stay - but the "challengers" have arrived.

Roadmap for Banking in India

When the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted in-principle approvals to 11 out of the 41 applicants for payments banks, it set a roadmap for banking in India. Payments banks are expected to revolutionise India's financial services - through service and price differentiation, offering customers choices and focusing on volumes instead of margins.

However, some bankers believe payments banks are more likely to complement rather than compete with conventional banks. Consequently, several conventional banks are trying to make the most of the opportunity. State Bank of India (SBI) has tied up with Reliance Industries and Kotak Mahindra Bank has formed an alliance with Bharti Airtel.

The attraction of telecommunications companies lies in their mobile penetration. However, the dawn of payments banks in India calls for more - a change in the mindset of the user and supplier of banking services. When a company becomes a bank, it triggers expectations among the staff - they wonder "what's in it for me", they expect employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and increased remuneration and benefits. On the other hand, with the introduction of fresh technology, the staff also tend to get apprehensive - they wonder whether "this new technology will lay us off or enable us". This, however, is a different sort of a bank.

Payments banks will penetrate the remotest villages - possibly with a lot of help from the mobile phone. Their success will depend on how they approach the market and their value propositions. Payments banks are naturally nimble and agile. Therefore, their responses to market trends would be quicker - they have a hi-tech, high-touch digital approach.

Rural markets, on the other hand, are fast changing - there is social awareness, due mainly to satellite television, advertising and the Internet. Computer literacy is rising and so are the levels of aspiration. All this will promote digital India and complement Aadhaar-enabled payment systems, which facilitate direct benefit transfer schemes of the government.

Coping with Competition

Competition among payments banks will heat up. Each one will differentiate itself to stand out. This throws up a need for constant innovation in the products and services offered. Payments banks will go beyond providing only financial services - the "extras" will count. They will drive continuous engagement with customers. This could take the form of reminders about customers' credit cards or cloud storage of clients' receipts.

Innovation will be crucial to hook and retain customers. Payments banks will not just offer customer delight but pleasantly surprise them. The new norm will involve knowing a customer's expectations through online activities like buying patterns, etc. Such insights would help payments banks to customise offerings and effectively target customer communication.

Payments banks will encounter two kinds of Indian customers. The young, urban, Internet-savvy ones, who will shift to mobile and wallet-based payments from credit cards, and the rural, low-income consumers, for whom bank facilities have limited penetration. Each target audience will have different demographics, adoption patterns and challenges. Consequently, this will necessitate payments banks to make different propositions.

A KPMG LLP-UBS study in 2015 revealed that users of digital channels had low brand loyalty and were likely to switch banks. The average age of the Indian digital banking channel user is about 30 years. Therefore, payments banks should focus on increased usage by customers rather than on increasing customer enrolment.

Related to this is the fact that the Know Your Customer (KYC) norm, as we know it today, is largely about verifying an individual and his or her address. This will change. The RBI has initiated steps for setting up a Central KYC Records Registry to receive, store, safeguard and retrieve the records in digital form.

What About Profitability?

But, can payments banks make money? They are highly sensitive to transaction volumes and gaining a critical mass of customers. They will, of course, keep an eye on their expenditures as well. The KPMG LLP-UBS study shows that the cost of effecting a transaction through a branch is 43 times higher than that of a mobile channel, and Internet banking is twice as expensive as that of the mobile channel. Consequently, the mobile channel seems to be the way forward. During the first three to five years we expect payments banks' servicing costs to be lower than those of other banks, though customer acquisition costs are expected to be higher. They would have to balance their focus between the large accounts of urban areas and multiple small accounts of rural areas.

Some bankers believe that payments banks must get their models right if they are to make money.

Payments banks will have a low-cost delivery model. Consequently, they would have an asset-light model that is economically viable. No marble floors, high ceilings and Romanesque pillars. No high fees for maintenance of infrastructure - only banking. If payments banks give government initiatives a leg-up, it would help their cause as well.

At the end of the day, the person who presses the button on a mobile phone must feel comfortable with digital technology. That might be one of the big challenges the challengers will overcome.



The author is Partner and Head, Financial Services, KPMG in India. Views and opinions expressed here are personal and do not necessarily represent the views of KPMG International or its member companies.
Uday Kotak, 56, believes that financial well-being is the foremost priority for most people along with staying healthy. He should know-Kotak has been managing the money of others for almost three decades now.

"We want to experiment. We want to learn. We want to see how the world is moving, and move forward"

Kotak shunned his family's commodity trading business to start afresh as an entrepreneur at the age of 26 and has since built a financial services empire around Kotak Mahindra Bank. The bank is seen as one of the most efficient in India and its investors have been generously rewarded by the stock market - its market capitalisation stacks up to a whopping Rs 1,25,000 crore.

Kotak is now aggressively looking to expand the footprint of his bank. He is fresh from his prize catch - the Bangalore-based ING Vysya Bank, snapped up by him for $2.4 billion in an all-stock deal (his own stake in the bank has fallen from around 40 per cent to 33.4 per cent). In a single stroke, Kotak Mahindra Bank's balance sheet size has pole vaulted from Rs 95,430 crore to Rs 1,06,012 crore - it is now India's fourth largest private bank after ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis bank. A couple of months ago, the bank had overtaken Axis Bank in terms of market cap.

Armed with a universal banking model (akin to ICICI Bank), Kotak Mahindra Bank plans to cash in on its expanded branch network post merger to not only reach out to more customers, but also leverage it for a host of other activities. For instance, it will allow the bank to sell insurance products to mutual funds. No wonder then, Business Today's Best Banks jury members put their stamp of approval on Kotak Mahindra Bank as the Most Future-Ready Bank.

But the real work for Kotak starts now as merging the numbers of two banks is far easier than integrating products, people, branches and technology. "We are right now going through the pangs of integration. I think the biggest challenge lies in IT and people integration," admits Kotak, Executive Vice Chairman and MD of the bank. The ING merger has contributed significantly to its SME, crop loan, foreign exchange and MNC client portfolio.

Kotak has surgically hived off the bad loans of ING Vysya Bank to a separate assets division. He calls it a 'bad bank'. The stressed loan book of ING Vysya was about 6 per cent, while it is 2.5 per cent for the merged entity. Prior to the merger, Kotak Mahindra Bank's gross NPAs stood at 1.9 per cent of its loan book. "If regular corporate banking relationship managers get bogged down with handling stressed assets, their attention gets diverted from the regular business," says Kotak, whose group has expertise in handling bad loans through its asset reconstruction business.

Kotak's merger with ING is seen as a bold move. It came at a time when the industry is facing deteriorating asset quality and capital challenges. The last big merger in the banking sector was that of HDFC Bank and Centurion Bank of Punjab in 2008. The Kotak-ING merger has impacted some key performance parameters like capital adequacy, net interest margin, net NPAs and also return on assets.

Kotak looks at the glass as half full. "That's where the opportunities are...if everything was perfect where would be the opportunity," he asks. The analyst community, too, agrees. "Whenever you have a transaction of Kotak-ING size, the benefits are not encashable in year one. Such a merger tends to provide a very strong pain for some period of time," says Rajat Rajgarhia, MD (Institutional Business) at Motilal Oswal Securities Ltd. Earlier, in a report, the brokerage had cited key risks inherent in the merger including the overlapping of some branches and integration of workforce and the challenge of improving the productivity levels of ING branches.

Kotak, though, saw the benefits from the merger. At the time of the merger, Kotak had 641 branches, while ING Vysya Bank had 573. There are 75 overlapping branches, which will be relocated soon. Kotak's focus is to get more throughput from the existing network after the core banking integration in the last quarter of this fiscal. Kotak would be absorbing most of the ING staff of 10,000 employees, taking the headcount of the bank to about 40,000.

Kotak claims the bank has a very well-balanced book with 38 per cent branches in the South, another 30 per cent in the West and the rest in the North and the East. Over 50 per cent of the branches are in rural and semi-urban areas. "We will not rush to open too many ATMs," says Kotak. The bank is working on two engines - the traditional engine (branches) and digital engine. Clearly, both have to co-exist for quite a while. "We think, in the new emerging digital world, around 1,500 branches is good enough," says Kotak. ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank have over 4,000 branches, while SBI has 16,000-plus branches.

Kotak has rolled out digital products such as 'kaypay', a payment product for sending money to Facebook friends including non customers, and Netc@rd, a single use virtual card for doing e-commerce transactions. The bank has also introduced Jifi current account and Jifi saver for depositors with social media linkages. Kotak claims that the bank is already getting 40 per cent of all its term deposits online. But the threat of disruption from NBFCs, technology companies, payments banks and small finance banks is for real. "You have to be ready for any disruption all the time. Never go to sleep," says Kotak. The bank has taken a 19.9 per cent stake in Sunil Mittal's Airtel M-Commerce. "We want to experiment. We want to learn. We want to see how the world is moving and move forward," says Kotak. Banks stay away from small ticket size transactions because those involve costs for a bank and they don't earn much. "We will learn from the payments bank model if they can make these smaller transactions profitable," he says.

The man, who also has an investment banking unit, will surely be hunting for more acquisition opportunities in the payments and small size banks space. "I am of the view that some (new players) will succeed, while some will not. Out of these (21 players), there will be one or two who will really make a difference," he says, sounding a note of caution."In India, so far, we have not seen any true bank failures. We have to be clear that as we open up, there will always be some more prudent players and some aggressive players. The system must be ready to take mortality."

Kotak, often spotted taking evening walks at Mumbai's Marine Drive, is upbeat about the future of his bank. "If I look at India from a five-year view, it's a great time to build businesses here," he says. But, to succeed, banks not only have to be future ready, but also have to win the trust of their clientele for the long haul, he sums up.


The oldest banking award in the country just got a qualitative makeover. Literally. When Business Today and KPMG - partners for this study since 1997, with the earlier ones since 1993 being partnered with Crisil - got together to plan this year's survey, we decided to continue to produce our highly regarded, financial performance-based rankings. At the same time, we decided to introduce a second phase, where a high-quality jury would decide on some new awards that would be based on things beyond the numbers. So, this year we have three new qualitative awards - for Innovation, Digital Banking and Financial Inclusion - for which all of India's top banks applied with fervour, penning their initiatives in great detail. To top it all, when the jury met, it decided to give three more subjective awards - Bank of the Year, Most Improved Bank and Most Future-ready Bank.

The jury itself comprised just the right mix of people whose collective wisdom could be banked upon (no pun intended) to capture the best performers. Former Chairman of India's largest bank, State Bank of India, O.P. Bhatt, led the way. Bhatt, who headed SBI between 2006 and 2011, when the economy swung from extreme buoyancy to a global slowdown post the 2008 Lehman crash, brought in insights about one-offs or outlier items in the quantitative numbers.

Bharat Doshi, Chairman, Mahindra Finance, an M&M veteran for over four decades, brought in the perspective of corporates, who are clients of banks. Doshi, who was part of the RBI's financial inclusion committee, was in his elements when the jury discussed the financial inclusion award.

Given the influence of technology in modern banking, the jury needed a member who could give insights about the digital and technology-led innovations that are taking place in banking. Chaitanya Kamat, MD & CEO, Oracle Financial Services India, fitted perfectly into that role. Kamat has over three decades of experience in financial services, consulting and business transformation. Before joining Oracle, he worked in the private equity space, headed a start-up and worked for Accenture.

And Ashok Wadhwa, Group CEO, Ambit Holdings Pte, brought in the intellectual bandwidth and market knowledge to make the discussion livelier.

The jury met three times - including in person, on phone and over e-mail - indicating the depth to which it took the deliberations. It discussed several issues, including penalties imposed by RBI and other regulators or investigative agencies, other qualitative factors like management profile, board strength and independent directors, organisational structure, plus details on branch expansion, technological readiness, absolute increase in current and savings account (CASA), deposit base, asset quality with restructured assets, capital adequacy, fee income over a five-year period, etc.

The outcome of these discussions can be seen in the Jury Winners table on page 96.

Quantitative Rankings

For the rankings based on pure financial performance, the data was taken from published annual reports of the banks for the period 2011/12 to 2014/15. The survey covers 65 scheduled commercial banks that had annual reports published in public domain or provided their annual reports at the time of conducting the survey prior to October 31, 2015. In total, five banks were included in the 2014/15 survey for the first time. These banks have completed four years of operations as on March 31, 2015, and their annual reports are available in public domain for this period. As in the past, scheduled commercial banks with a balance sheet size of less than Rs 1,000 crore (as on March 31, 2015) have not been considered for the survey. Further, scheduled commercial banks whose financial statements were not available to us, or banks which have not completed four years of operations in India as on March 31, 2015, or which have merged with other banks, did not form part of the survey.

The three broad ranking parameters - divided into 28 sub-parameters - are as follows:

Growth:

There are five sub-parameters in this category. They are: (a) growth over 2013/14 in deposits, alongside three-year compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of total deposits; (b) growth over 2013/14 in loans and advances, alongside three-year CAGR in loans and advances; (c) growth over 2013/14 in fee income (commissions, exchange, brokerage plus miscellaneous income), alongside three-year CAGR in fee income; (d) growth over 2013/14 in operating profit, alongside three-year CAGR in operating profit; and (e) absolute increase in market share of deposits and of current account savings account (CASA) balances.

Size:

There are three sub-parameters: size of total deposits, size of operating profit, and size of balance sheet for 2014/15.

Strength:

There are four overarching sub-parameters, each with further sub-divisions.

a) Quality of Assets

Total NPA growth ratio: additions to NPAs during the year as a percentage of average net advances; Provision coverage: provisions for NPA as a percentage of gross NPA closing balance; Net NPAs as a ratio of net advances: gross NPAs net of provisions expressed as a percentage of net advances; Restructured assets as a percentage of total average loans and advances; Outstanding restructured assets as on March 31 as a percentage of outstanding loans and advances. For the purpose of determining the rankings based on the provision coverage ratio parameter, banks having zero non-performing assets (NPAs) are assigned the highest rank in that parameter.

b) Productivity and Efficiency

Cost to income ratio: operating expenditure as a percentage of operating income; Cost to average asset ratio: operating expenditure as a percentage of average assets; Absolute increase in return on assets: basis points increase in return on assets (net profit over total average assets) from 2013/14 to 2014/15; percentage increase in ratio of operating profit to total income from 2013/14 to 2014/15.

c) Quality of Earnings

Return on assets: ratio of net profit to total assets for 2014/15; Fee income as a percentage of total income, Return on capital employed: reported net profit divided by average net worth; Net interest income as a percentage of average working funds (average total assets minus average total other liabilities).

d) Capital Adequacy

Capital adequacy ratio: capital-to-risk weighted assets ratio for 2014/15; Tier-I capital: total of equity capital and disclosed reserves.

For each bank a score is assigned for each of the 28 sub-parameters, based on its ranks on the parameters. The score under each parameter is then multiplied by the parameter's weightage. The results are aggregated to arrive at the total score.

Changes Observed from Previous Year's Survey

Banks not considered for the 2014/15 survey: In total, five banks that were included in 2013/14 survey were not considered for the survey in 2014/15.

Antwerp Diamond Bank: The bank is in process of selling off its assets and winding up operations in India.

ING Vysya Bank: Merged with Kotak Mahindra with effect from April 1, 2015.

Mashreq Bank PSC: Non availability of financials for 2014/15 from the banks despite several communications.

State Bank of Mauritius: Non- availability of financials for 2014/15 from the banks despite several communications.

Krung Thai: Balance Sheet size is less than Rs 1,000 crore, hence it has not been included as per survey methodology.

New banks added in the 2014/15 survey: In total, five banks - Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, Credit Suisse, FirstRand Bank Limited, Rabobank International and Societe Generale - were included in the 2014/15 survey for the first time. These banks have completed four years of operations and their annual reports are available in the public domain for this period.
If there is one thing that shows the extremity of stress that India's banks, especially government-owned, are facing, it is the increasing frequency with which these two words - Bad Bank - are being used in North Block, home to the finance ministry. A Bad Bank buys stressed loans of banks with high non-performing assets, or NPAs, at the market price. This way banks clear their balance sheets of bad assets but are forced to take write downs.

For instance, at a recent pre-Budget meeting with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, some economists proposed the setting up of a Bad Bank to get rid of the banking system's Rs 8 lakh crore stressed assets. It is not a new concept. China, for example, has four such banks. They ensure that restructuring, reviving or even further sale of such assets/loans gets focused attention, something that banks are at times not able to do. Some are even listed on exchanges where investors bet on their ability to make money from junk assets.

Back home, the Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak, is also experimenting with the concept. Days after acquiring ING Vysya Bank, Kotak decided to set up a Bad Bank within the merged entity by transferring NPAs and stressed loans of the acquired bank so that they get special attention. "Not everyone (referring to PSU banks) can do it as this requires specialised manpower," says a banker.

Be it Bad Bank or the Bankruptcy Bill that is at present with a Parliamentary joint committee, the market is desperately praying for an early solution to the problem of ballooning bad loans. And it would not come a day too soon. In the past four years, the gross NPAs of banks have climbed up from 2.36 per cent to 4.3 per cent of total assets to Rs 3,23,344 crore. According to the Reserve Bank of India's, or RBI's, Financial Stability Report, mining, iron & steel, textiles and infrastructure, including power and aviation, which account for a quarter of advances, have more than 50 per cent share in the total stressed loans. These sectors are critical for an economic revival. This is also constricting banks' ability to lend, delaying the recovery in corporate earnings.

The total stressed loans, including restructured assets, of a little more than Rs 8 lakh crore are almost equal to what Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu plans to invest in the next five years to spruce up the railways.

In such a scenario, for government banks, which account for 80-85 per cent share of the total NPAs, the RBI's special debt restructuring, or SDR, scheme is a godsend. Under the SDR route, banks are allowed to take majority control to restructure, revive or even sell the defaulting company to private equity, vulture or special situation funds. The rule has been invoked for over 15 companies such as Gammon, IVRCL, Monnet Ispat, Electrosteel and Visa Steel. Religare, an institutional broking firm, has estimated that the cases where banks have invoked SDR involve a debt of Rs 81,300 crore. However, a comprehensive solution, even with SDR, will not be easy to come by. "It doesn't solve the problem of ballooning NPAs but merely exacerbates it by postponing and obscuring the recognition of NPAs," it says.

Kotak also has some reservations. "If there is genuine equity, I will be happy. But if they are merely finding ways to postpone provisioning, it is not a good thing," he says. This is exactly what happened under corporate debt restructuring (CDR) where banks, in collusion with promoters in some cases, used the mechanism to merely postpone provisioning. The RBI, under Raghuram Rajan, has discontinued regulatory forbearance for CDR. It is a voluntary mechanism under which financial institutions join hands to restructure loans of companies facing financial difficulties. The aim is to revive the companies and safeguard the interests of lenders and other stakeholders.

"One of the biggest aspects of free enterprise is failing in a relatively efficient way that does not impose significant cost"

In another worrying sign, the asset reconstruction company, or ARC, space, buzzing with activity till a few months ago, has been silent for a while now. The earlier action was partly a result of ARCs buying more debt before the RBI increased their minimum mandatory contribution from 5 per cent to 15 per cent of the book value of the debt that they take. A late entrant to the ARC market, Edelweiss ARC had, in a short span, built a huge book with bad assets under management of Rs 20,000 crore. Some big companies whose bad loans Edelweiss took over include Bharati Shipyard and Electrotherm. However, it remains to be seen if ARCs are up to the job of cleaning the NPA mess. The amount of bad loans they have taken over is a minuscule part of the total NPAs. This is because they, too, have limitations. Siby Thomas , MD & CEO of Edelweiss ARC, admits there are capital constraints. "There is an urgent need for a robust legal system like a bankruptcy code to attract foreign capital like private equity," he says.

However, the question remains whether some responsibility will be fixed at the level of banks, too. While experts often end up blaming the government or the regulator, the root cause is actually the bank itself. "Banks are best suited to resolve the challenging loans," says Kalpana Morparia, the CEO of JPMorgan India. Morparia has worked for over three decades in the country's largest private bank, ICICI Bank. Clearly, PSU banks have lax credit appraisal standards and corruption, and suffer from near absence of monitoring and management bandwidth to understand risks in a modern economic environment. Otherwise, a private bank like HDFC Bank, which operates in the same environment, could not have had net NPAs of just a quarter percentage point. That is why there is a need for banks to build credit scoring models, do stress tests and carry out effective risk management. SBI Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya is one person who claims to have taken action in the stressed SME segment, where bad loan are rising the fastest. "The person who goes out and markets (the SME loan) is also the person who puts up the proposal and holds the account," says Bhattacharya. The idea is to bring a sense of ownership which, in turn, will yield results.

Rajan has also taken some steps, the most important being the creation of a database for early warning signals where banks will share stressed loan data. In an interview to BT two months ago, Rajan had said, "One of the biggest aspects of free enterprise is failing in a relatively efficient way that doesn't impose significant cost. You have to fail and stand up and walk. We need our businesses to be able to fail effectively. That is work in progress."

In the meantime, the stress in the banking system, on which the entire economy depends, is eating away banks' profitability as well as capital. This is also restricting their ability to lend to productive sectors. If something is not done urgently by banks or the government, the day is not far when our good banks turn into bad banks.
Kalim Khan, 26, cycles to every nook and corner of the Aul block in Kendrapara district, some 100 km from Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, to sell ITC's Mangaldeep agarbattis, Sunfeast Yippee noodles, Fiama/Vivel soaps and Aashirvaad flour. Till a year ago, the college dropout with a family of close to a dozen to support, was unemployed. His life changed after he enrolled for 15-day training at State Bank of India's (SBI's) Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) that it conducts under tie-ups with big companies such as ITC "Our household income has doubled. I have also taken a bank loan of Rs 50,000 to expand my business," says a beaming Khan, who earns up to Rs 8,000 a month. Khan's younger brother is now eagerly waiting for the next training programme in the district so that he, too, can join.

Khan is among the 139,805 rural youth who have got employed out of the 295,830 that SBI has trained since 2009 at its 11,160 RSETI programmes across 116 branches. It has, over the past one year, substantially scaled up the initiative by tying up with several companies such as Larsen & Toubro, Kansai-Nerolac Paints, Ambuja Cements and TVS Motors. The aim is to generate opportunities for people at the bottom of the pyramid.

Such initiatives, plus the sheer reach of its 16,000-plus branches (of which 66 per cent are in rural and semi-urban areas) and one-fifth credit exposure to agriculture and small and medium enterprise, or SME, segments, got SBI selected as the best in financial inclusion initiatives in the Business Today-KPMG Best Bank awards for 2015.

SBI's financial inclusion initiatives date back to 1951, when the first Five-Year Plan was launched. Until then, commercial banks, including SBI's earlier avatar, Imperial Bank of India, used to focus primarily on urban India. However, it was in 1973 that these initiatives started getting really big and the bank started involving all its branches in a large number of welfare activities and social causes. It was, for instance, among the first ones to support self-help groups. It has also become a serious player among banks in encouraging self-employment in rural areas through RSETI. More recently, it was at the forefront of opening no-frills accounts under the Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

SBI's seriousness about skilling of rural youth can be gauged from the fact that it keeps track of its students for two years to check on their development and ensure that they are employed. It is also using the RSETI platform to teach people about banking. "Financial inclusion is in the DNA of SBI employees," says a former chairman of SBI.

The BC Plan

India's largest bank has been actively covering inaccessible villages through its banking correspondents or BCs. BC is a representative authorised to offer services such as cash transactions in areas where the bank does not have a branch.

SBI, a pioneer in this, has close to 60,000 customer service points. "Apart from being cheap, the model creates employment for BCs, who receive commission from the bank for each and every service that they offer," says Rajnish Kumar, Managing Director (National Banking Group), SBI. "We had a three-year financial inclusion plan for covering villages and panchayats. It started with places with a population of 10,000 and then came down to 5,000 and then to 2,000. I can say we have 100 per cent achieved our objective of financial inclusion," he says.

Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana

SBI had 85 million financial inclusion accounts, of which 44.5 million were under the PMJDY, as on September 2015. Close to 50 per cent accounts under the PMJDY are active. The average balance is Rs 700. "Once more and more funds start getting transferred into these accounts under the Centre's direct benefit transfer scheme, they may become more active," says Kumar. The reason Kumar is sure about this is the integrated approach adopted by the government. "It's not just an account. It comes with credit linkage and insurance too," he says. SBI has already disbursed Rs 5,000 loan each to 170,000 account holders in the category. "All account holders under the PMJDY are eligible for the loan. But we lend only when we see regular transactions for six months." He adds, "We are being careful in lending as we can't just burden the people with debt. We also have to see if they can repay".

Kumar says the PMJDY accounts are not going to be a loss-making proposition for the bank. "These are sticky accounts, and once opened will stay with the bank for long. For instance, even if there is Rs 1,000 crore in these accounts, it gives the bank an income of Rs 50-60 crore," says Kumar. The math is simple. The bank pays the savings bank rate of 4 per cent and deploys the money at 9-9.5 per cent. "We are sure about recovering the money over a period of four-five years," he says.

Going Digital



SBI, like other banks, is betting big on digital channels, especially mobile, to reach out to people in rural and semi-urban areas. "We want small value transactions and small deposits and remittances to come through the digital channel," says Kumar. Last August, it launched its digital wallet, Buddy, for smartphone users. It is also planning to launch a similar version for feature phones to reach out to the masses. "By February-end or March we will roll out our mobile offering for phones with basic features that will be sufficient for making small payments such as buying tickets or paying for daily needs," says Kumar.

SBI is also not losing the opportunity to use the new differentiated banking licence route to achieve its financial inclusion goals. It has taken a 30 per cent stake in Reliance Industries-owned payments bank that will roll out soon to provide services in unbanked areas.



Challenges

SBI wants to touch the lives of people in many ways, but there is a high cost attached to financial inclusion initiatives, which is one of the reasons why private sector banks are not big in the space. Its aim is not only to reach people at the bottom of the pyramid but also to offer them credit, savings, investment and insurance products. "When we talk about rural and semi-urban areas, what they currently require is a basic bank account, ability to receive money in the account, small credit and social security through government pension schemes, and personal accident and life insurance. Investments are nowhere on the horizon," says Kumar.

"Due to the rising cost of acquiring customers, some banks are taking financial inclusion initiatives under the umbrella of corporate social responsibility," says a banker, on condition of anonymity,

While SBI is using every opportunity to serve the unbanked, it is also conscious of the risks. In fact, agri and SME loans are among the biggest contributors to the deteriorating asset quality. Both contribute 9 per cent each to the bank's gross non-performing assets. "It's not just about bringing more people into the banking system and giving them loans for income generation. We also have to see that they generate sufficient income to repay the loan," says Kumar.


In the unforgiving world of banking, YES Bank has been upping its competitive ante. Till recently, it was focusing on the corporate and commercial lending side of the business that has seen it rake up a balance sheet size of Rs 1.36 lakh crore in merely 11 years of operations. Even as this Mumbai-headquartered bank is rolling out its retail banking products for its next phase of growth, this mid-sized topper in the BT-KPMG Study has also seen an all-round improvement in its financials.

YES Bank's chief, Rana Kapoor, is quite sanguine about the future as he plans to increase the retail banking pie one step at a time. He says, "There is a tremendous growth projection for retail and consumer banking in a steady manner because this is not a business where you can grow and get millions of volumes, but one that is driven by a very concerted, laser-focused strategy. We are ensuring that we have an array of products in our retail bouquet, as they are complementary to savings in our country."

"We have practically ended our innings as the largest medium-sized private sector bank. We are aiming to be in the large bank category by March 2020"

YES Bank, started by first generation entrepreneurs, is a late entrant in the retail banking space, which is a cash guzzler, requiring thousands of branches, a well-established brand and an army of people. But the bank, with 18 per cent retail portfolio, plans to catch up real fast. To scale up its retail book, YES Bank is launching its credit card business in April 2016, rolling out a fund management arm to provide investment options for retail customers. A suite of retail products is needed to complement its retail brokerage business launched last year. Will it manage to ramp up its retail operations just as quickly as it did its commercial business?

With its pan-India presence - with 750 branches expanding through the hub-and-spoke model to an additional 150 branches - YES Bank has a differentiated business model vis-a-vis business loans. When most banks are looking at making large-sized term loans, this bank focused on a differentiated approach to building a loan book, disbursing close to 80 per cent of its advances towards working capital largely to the new and sunrise industries such as green energy, media and agri-business, building exhaustive domain knowledge and solid customer relationships in the process. It wants to build a similar retail experience.

A comprehensive retail package helps attract and retain customers and ramps up cheaper saving account deposits. Many of the large private and public sector banks have an over 40 per cent CASA (current account savings account) ratio. YES Bank is currently at 25.5 per cent of its overall deposits, which, two years ago stood at 17 per cent, thus showing a remarkable improvement in its ratios. The pressures of building a robust CASA is a challenge, given that some of the well-established banks have sizeable operations in this segment. Banks with a good CASA deposit base are those that are growing their lending books insistently, which provides just the fillip to their operational income. There is also a big challenge soon to come from payments and small finance banks, as they would target low-cost deposits in a big way. This potentially creams off some of the toppings on the retail banking pie. What the bank is looking at now is expanding its retail and SME loan book. "When the third phase of our lifecycle comes to a heart-stop and before the fourth phase starts in April 2020, we intend to grow retail businesses to 45 per cent," says Kapoor.

YES Bank is relying on the fact that India is a grossly under-penetrated market when it comes to retail banking products for consumers and even at the micro-SME level. Traditional retail banking is being redefined. "We believe disruption is the way to go in retail banking. We are open to working with partners. We are tying up with e-commerce companies as part of our merchant acquisition process and brand strategy," says Pralay Mondal, Senior Group President, Yes Bank.

Tapping the growth demographics will pose an enormous challenge and rapid developments in digital technology mean that YES Bank will have to move fast on its retail thrust. Not to be left behind, the bank is relying on nearly three-fourths of its 13,500 employees in retail and SME banking space.

"Disruption is the way to go in retail banking. We are tying up with e-commerce companies as part of our merchant acquisition process and brand strategy"

YES Bank is also employing mobile technology to reach the masses with new products. Kapoor reckons that with innovative use of digital technologies, service standards and quality assurance, YES Bank can provide a differentiated proposition in retail, too. Differentiation has been one of the key traits of the bank in the commercial lending business where it has been enjoying dominance in SME and corporate. When it started operations, the bank did not focus on conventional energy for its lending business as it required a larger balance sheet, but focused instead on renewable energy such as solar and wind.

When the bank sought to further scale up its operations in the green space, it raised capital through 'green bonds', both domestically and internationally, in August 2015, placing Rs 315 crore worth of bonds with The International Finance Corporation, Washington, - the first such placement in emerging markets. Now this focus on green energy is rapidly making YES Bank one of the most knowledge-rich banks in this nascent and sunrise industry.

The strategy is being replicated in other industries as well, as the bank seeks to improve its offerings in the corporate space. Kapoor is steadily increasing domain knowledge and expertise in various industries, as he reckons this is what helps build relationship capital, a strong knowledgeable risk management business and a sound service experience. "When you follow a certain industry, you are like a specialised doctor for that particular industry," says Kapoor, whose bank also tops in asset quality. "With a diagnostic and prescriptive approach, it helps to be able to also red-flag the risk early on," he adds.

That's one of the vital factors why the bank has such a strong grip on non-performing assets. When some other private banks were undergoing stress, analysts reckoned that YES Bank would also see some stress on its books. But the bank has seen a marginal increase of 0.6 per cent in non-performing loans and within the private banking space, ranks among the lowest in stressed assets.

When many other banks are selling their loans to asset-reconstruction companies, YES Bank has not sold a single one in the past four quarters, and has not refinanced using the 5:25 route - a refinancing scheme that allows banks to fund term loans. Stressed loans have been symptomatic of the deeper problems in the Indian banking sector. According to banking observers, there is a stringent level of monitoring and follow-up of YES Bank's loan book by each loan manager. Many banks don't have that rigorous approach. One other advantage the bank has is that, since it is 11 years old, it does not have a historical loan baggage that can run into a spot of bother during a cyclical downturn.

United Bank of India : Productivity & Efficiency Winner/ Mid-Sized Banks

Kolkata-based United Bank of India came under the RBI scanner two years ago for its deteriorating asset quality but now appears to be on the mend. P. Srinivas, MD and CEO of the PSU bank, is tackling NPAs differently. In 2015, he visited several regions where the bank has a presence and worked out strategies to boost productivity. Weekly review meetings are conducted to spot 'probable NPAs'. "We are monitoring the situation in such a way to ensure that slippages come down," says Srinivas. NPAs have already come down to 8.9 per cent in September 2015 from 10.78 per cent in September 2014. The bank reported a net profit of Rs 256 crore in 2014/ 15 as against a loss of Rs 1,213 crore in the previous year. Its cost to income ratio has improved - down to 0.43 per cent from 0.45 per cent in 2013/14. The bank credits its encouraging performance to higher fee P. Srinivas income and trading gains. It has also reduced its reliance on high cost deposits.

Some of the problems of stressed assets in banking cropped up five years ago, and YES Bank has been able to avoid those because of its smaller balance sheet. When Bhushan Steel sought term loans around five years ago, YES Bank was not a lender, although the bank financed working capital loans to the company. This allays the worries of refinancing. Taking corporate disclosure levels one step further, the bank has begun the practice of providing a detailed break-up of its exposure to sensitive sectors, which analysts believe is a positive step.

But somewhere the message is lost on investors. The market is not assigning a high price-earnings multiple to YES Bank (PE 12.75), as it has given to some of the marquee names in the private sector with low stressed assets. A fierce boardroom battle with Madhu Kapur, the widow of YES Bank's Co-founder Ashok Kapur, last year, has not helped market sentiments either. The challenge is to restore the confidence of the market in the growth rates of the bank.

Kapoor, though, is not perturbed as the bank is busy rolling out the next stage of growth and aiming to become a large-sized bank. He believes that the bank has navigated the stress in the economy quite well in the past four years, starting October 2011, and that will stand it in good stead in the coming years. But challenges will come from many quarters.

Deven Choksey, MD, KR Choksey, considers YES Bank to be among the better-placed banks. "It has been having some issues in terms of cost of borrowing, as it is paying higher on savings deposits. But it will get rationalised. On April 1, when marginal cost of lending comes in, banks that are retail focused will be better off as borrowing costs will come down over time," he says.

Improvement in the position of the YES Bank franchise in the retail segment is being watched by analysts for signs of rapid ramp-up. The question, however, is how soon can the bank actually ramp-up and transition to a large-scale bank? "We have practically ended our innings as the largest medium-sized private sector bank," Kapoor states. "We are aiming to be in the large bank category by March 2020." The competition has just begun.


I dont believe in extension: Raheel Sharif 26 January, 2016



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Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry

Woke Bingo ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif ended on Monday growing speculations about an extension in his tenure through a brief, but sudden statement that paved the way for the government to start considering his successor who will take up the job from him in about 10 months from now.



I dont believe in extension and will retire on the due date.



Gen Sharifs statement, quoted by a military spokesman in a tweet, shattered the quietness of the slow start to the week.



The 43-word statement issued on behalf of the army chief was meant to quash the debate on whether or not the government should give him an extension and if he would accept it.



Coincidentally, the statement came as a petition was filed in Supreme Courts Lahore registry seeking an extension for him.



Generals Maqsood, Zubair, Wajid and Ishfaq are the four most senior commanders; Nawaz Sharif to pick COAS for fourth time

It was, however, unusual for an army chief to so early confirm that he would be leaving his office on retirement. Gen Sharif, who became the army chief on Nov 29, 2013, is set to retire on Nov 30 this year after completing three years in office.



According to one of the generals close aides, Gen Sharif never had any intention of getting an extension so he thought of immediately ending all rumors in this regard.



He would be the first army chief to retire on time in two decades. His predecessors Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Gen Pervez Musharraf got extensions, while Gen Jehangir Karamat was sent home prematurely.



Gen Sharif used his brief statement to reassure the country that the army was a strong institution and his departure would not affect the fight against extremism and terrorism.



Efforts to root out terrorism will continue with full vigour and resolve. Pakistans national interest is supreme and will be safeguarded at all costs, Gen Sharif was quoted as having said.



Back in 2013 when Gen Kayani announced that he would not take an extension for a second time, Gen Sharif was not among the favourites in the race for army chief. Even after he beat all the odds to become the chief, his detractors continued to doubt him saying he lacked intelligence and operations background.



But he did not allow those shortcomings to become a handicap and proved everyone wrong.



The high point in his tenure was the start of Operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in June 2014, something from which his predecessor shied away fearing blowback. The operation is now in its last stages. He is also credited for action against militancy in Karachi and partially restoring calm in the city.



Gen Sharif has all along been supportive of the government, except for a statement at the corps commanders conference last November when he expressed reservations over civilian administrations governance. The comment presented the spectacle of a row between the civilian and military leadership. He has, nevertheless, maintained strong influence over the governments foreign and national security policies.



Gen Sharif was also the architect of the reconciliation between the Taliban and the Afghan government, which was suspended after it became public that Taliban chief Mullah Omar had died more than two years ago, but efforts are again under way to revive the process.



More lately, the general remained involved in a mediation initiative for defusing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir has, however, lately denied that Pakistan was mediating.



There was no word from the government over Gen Sharifs announcement, but opposition parties welcomed it.



Defence observers believe that Gen Sharifs decision would boost the morale of his ranks. They also do not agree that he would be a lame duck chief during the remaining part of his tenure.



Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan said: The nations respect for Gen Raheel Sharif has gone up after his statement refusing to seek an extension. Gen Sharifs statement will strengthen the institution of the army as nations are built on strong institutions.



PPP Parliamentarians President Asif Ali Zardari said: The army is a premier institution of the country, the cause of which will be best served if the tradition of extension in service is not allowed to gain roots.



Going by the book, it is the senior most three-star general who would become the next chief. But this rule is seldom observed. Even when Gen Sharif became the army chief he was third on the seniority list.



A panel of three general officers is sent to the prime minister by the defence ministry, but it is his (PMs) discretion to appoint anyone whom he thinks is most suited for the job.



The next four in line are: Lt Gen Maqsood Ahmed (currently on deputation with the UN), Lt Gen Zubair Mehmood Hayat (Chief of General Staff), Lt Gen Syed Wajid Hussain (HIT Taxila) and Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem (Corps Commander Multan).



The race is wide open but some defence analysts are of the opinion that Gen Hayat and Gen Nadeem are among the front-runners.



This would be the fourth time that PM Nawaz Sharif will get to appoint an army chief and fifth if one were to include his botched attempt to replace Gen Musharraf with Gen Ziauddin Butt in 1999.
Mullah Fazlullah reportedly been killed in Afghanistan

KABUL - Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah has reportedly been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan, Gulf News reported on Monday.



According to unconfirmed reports, a drone strike was conducted on Fazlullahs house in Afghanistan, killing at least five people, including a woman said to be TTP chiefs wife and his son.



However, there are rumours circulating on social media, and electronic media, quoting an Arab newspapers report about the death of high-value target in Afghanistan in an airstrike.
TTP activist arrested from Jamshoro

HYDERABAD: The Jamshoro police on Monday claimed to have arrested an alleged Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) activist involved in recent armed attacks on law enforcers in Karachi.



Jamshoro SSP Tariq Wilayat, who addressed a press conference in his office on Monday to share details of the arrest with the media, told Dawn by phone that Qamar Zaman, son of Ghausa Khan Mehsud, was picked up at a CNG filling station located between Nooriabad and Lunikot on Saturday.



The suspect is believed to have actively facilitated some recent attacks on law enforcers in Karachi and we are trying to verify more information we have about his activities, the SSP said.



According to the information collected by the police, he said, the suspect served as a TTP commander based in Badar Tiarazah village of South Waziristan until 2014 and moved to Jamshoro along with his family some seven/eight months ago during the military operation, Zarb-i-Azb. His family is currently staying with his brother in Jamshoro, the SSP said. The police officer said that the suspect was working as a watchman at the CNG station from where he was picked up. A Kalashnikov, 20-25 metres of the wire usually used in producing improvised explosive device (IED) and around 12 kilos of explosive material have been seized from him, the SSP claimed, alleging that he had been facilitating TTP terrorist activities in Karachi.



The suspect, he said, named Maharban, Jehangir Khan, Abdul Rehman aka Master and Syed Badshah as his associates. Abdul Rehman and Jehangir Khan were perhaps killed by law enforcers in 2015 while Maharban and Syed Badshah have fled to Tank, the SSP quoted the suspect as telling the police.



[Qamar] Mehsud, admitting that he is associated with the TTP Shaharyar group, has disclosed to us that Syed Badshah had in the past served as TTP leader Baitullah Mehsuds driver, the SSP said.
. One of the moderators from the UKDN detecting Forum (one "Puffin") decided it would be a good idea for the benefit of any met...
On Friday

Friday

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North Wildwood Police on their Facebook page reported a crest of over 9 feet during Saturday mornings high tide and flooding up to Atantic Avenue on most streets.

North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello told Philly.com that the flooding was absolutely worse than Sandy, and credited early evacuations for helping keep residents from getting stranded in their homes.





Read More: | http://nj1015.com/christie-reporter-is-making-up-criticism-about-flood-damage/?trackback=tsmclip Christie keeps downplaying flooding, says reporter 'making up' criticism | http://nj1015.com/christie-reporter-is-making-up-criticism-about-flood-damage/?trackback=tsmclip Christie, however, has said the flooding wasnt as bad as it could have been, as the water began to recede on Sunday morning.on their Facebook page reported a crest of over 9 feet during Saturday mornings high tide and flooding up to Atantic Avenue on most streets.North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello told Philly.com that the flooding was absolutely worse than Sandy, and credited early evacuations for helping keep residents from getting stranded in their homes.

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MarcelClemens/NASA/Shutterstock.com.

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A Question of Environmental Racism in Flint. In case you missed this at In case you missed this at The New York Times ; here's the intro: "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 274 pages of emails released by Gov. Rick Snyder this week on Flints water crisis included no discussion of race. Instead, they focused on costs relating to the citys water supply, questions about scientific data showing lead contamination and uncertainty about the responsibilities of state and local health officials..."





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From left, Marcus Shelton, Roland Young and Darius Martin retrieved free water on Sunday at Heavenly Host Full Gospel Baptist Church in Flint, Mich., where the water supply has been tainted."

Credit Jake May/The Flint Journal, via Associated Press

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TODAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

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Read more at: A high-resolution map based on NOAA solar irradiance data showing one measure of solar energy potential across the United States. Credit: Chris Clack/CIRERead more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-01-rapid-energy.html#jCp





Read more at: A high-resolution map based on NOAA solar irradiance data showing one measure of solar energy potential across the United States. Credit: Chris Clack/CIRERead more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-01-rapid-energy.html#jCp





Read more at: The United States could slash greenhouse gas emissions from power production by up to 78 percent below 1990 levels within 15 years while meeting increased demand, according to a new study by NOAA and University of Colorado Boulder researchers.Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-01-rapid-energy.html#jCp





Read more at: The United States could slash greenhouse gas emissions from power production by up to 78 percent below 1990 levels within 15 years while meeting increased demand, according to a new study by NOAA and University of Colorado Boulder researchers.Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-01-rapid-energy.html#jCp

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Kevin Cowtan / RSS / Met Office HadCRUT4 , Author provided.

Climate Change Denial Isn't Politically Sustainable for the GOP. Here's an excerpt from Here's an excerpt from Huffington Post : "...

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. high in the Twin Cities on Monday.. average high on January 25.. high on January 25, 2015.on the ground at KMSP.. January is running just over 1F colder than average in the Twin Cities, to date.as "Snowzilla" was bearing down on the east coast a producer at NBC News asked me to explain our collective fascination and anxiety about weather. I don't pretend to have the answer key but I have a few theories.We consider ourselves technologically-advanced, yet nobody has figured out a way to stop a storm. We are powerless in the face of nature. Our hubris does have limits. And a mega-storm is democratic, affecting rich and poor, city dwellers and suburbanites. Storms don't discriminate. They also unite us in a way few other things can.Superbowl 50 notwithstanding.Quiet weather lingers into the weekend - no drama brewing close to home, which is standard fare for an El Nino winter in Minnesota. A thaw is likely later this week into the weekend. Aslush event is possible, but ECMWF guidance keeps next week's storm south and east of Minnesota. We'll see.Although the coldest temperatures of winter are probably behind us NOAA's GFS model brushes Minnesota with a few subzero nights by late next week.A few more numbing temperature relapses? Count on it.. European guidance shows temperatures at or just above 32F from Wednesday into Sunday, followed by a cooling trend next week. A clipper-like system may arrive with a burst of mixed precipitation or wet snow late Friday into Saturday - a light, slushy accumulation can't be ruled out.I'm not buying it, not yet, especially since ECMWF whisks the storm south and east of Minnesota, but GFS guidance hints at a plowable snowfall next Tuesday and Wednesday, a possible storm spinning up along the leading edge of colder air. We're due for a little snow, but I wouldn't celebrate (or panic) just yet. Model: NOAA and AerisWeather.. Although not as cold as 7-10 days ago, models show a slow-motion temperature tumble next week; maybe a few days in single digits and teens late next week and next weekend - a couple nights below zero? Although long-range models suggest a warm bias returning much of February and March I wouldn't pack away the parkas just yet. Source: Aeris Enterprise.. 500 mb forecast winds (GFS) show a return to modified zonal flow by the evening of February 8; Pacific-moderated air pushing back into Minnesota by the second week of February.. Crippling snows from Lexington, Kentucky to the hills of North Carolina to Washington D.C. and New York City - what is impressive is the scope of 2-foot-plus snows. Here's a terrific visible image of the snowy swath left behind by "Jonas", courtesy of UW-Madison CIMSS . Map courtesy of The New York Times - it's the first time both Washington D.C. and New York City observed over 18" of snow from the same system.Warmer water = more water vapor, more potential fuel for not only summer thunderstorms but winter storms, especially Nor'easters roaring up the east coast. Here's an excerpt of an interesting article from NASA's Earth Observatory : "...The increase in precipitation doesnt just apply to rain. NOAA scientists have examined 120 years of data and found that there were twice as many extreme regional snowstorms between 1961 and 2010 as there were from 1900 to 1960...."above: "Increases in global temperature have raised atmospheric humidity". (Graph by Robert Simmon, based on data from the NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Climate Nexus takes a look at the role of unusually warm ocean water in spiking snowstorms; here's an excerpt: "...Mid-Atlantic sea surface temperatures are currently at a near-record high (at 5F to 7F above average). NCAR scientist Kevin Trenberth attributes up to half of this extra heat to global warming. Extra heat in the ocean and atmosphere fuels storms with more energy and moisture . Global warmingworking in tandem with large-scale patterns like El Nino and the warm phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation is linked to the warm ocean temperatures. This storm is being compared to 2010s Snowmageddon, which was also strengthened by warmer waters in the Atlantic (1.5F/ 3C) and high sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the Pacific , which modified the general flow of the of the atmosphere and affected weather conditions in many parts of the world...". An estimated 93% of additional heat energy produced by greenhouse gases, mainly CO2, is going into the world's oceans. This not only results in thermal expansion and rising sea levels, but higher water vapor levels, more moisture available for developing storms, especially close to the coast. Graphic above: Larry Hamilton.A post at patch.com caught my eye, showing the extent of flooding along the southern New Jersey coast. Not on the scale of "Sandy" in 2012, but there was disruption: "Severe flooding overwhelmed much of Cape May County over the weekend, as documented in the attached video posted on Facebook by Seven Mile Times. The footage shot by a drone shows a town engulfed by water as of 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning. In Ocean City, much of the flood water has receded, but power outages remain in the county. Flooding delayed Atlantic City Electrics efforts to deal with many of the outages on the coast over the weekend..." (Drone footage: Seven Mile Times).. Here's a link to the story at NJ.com . Here's a clip from a story at New Jersey 101.5 : "...Christie, however, has said the flooding wasn't as bad as it could have been, as the water began to recede on Sunday morning. North Wildwood Police on their Facebook page reported a crest over 9 feet during Saturday morning's high tide and flooding up to Atlantic Avenue on most streets. North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello told Philly.com that the flooding was "absolutely worse than Sandy," and credited early evacuations for helping keep residents from getting stranded ini their homes...": North Wildwood Police Department and Facebook . More from Reuters . It's complicated. Here's a clip from The Conversation : "...Very different conditions unfolded through winter 2013-14. By March 2014, a cold patch had developed in the Atlantic south of Greenland. It proved resilient. The cold patch again survived summer and not only re-emerged but remarkably intensified through last year, peaking in August, and persisting into November and December of 2015. In fact, across the two hottest years on record, that region of the Atlantic has stood out for actually being colder than usual . This has a big knock-on effect elsewhere. The cold patch may have displaced and invigorated the jet stream and exposed the UK to a flow of mild and moist Atlantic air from the south-west, which links it to the very unusual recent weather..."above: The Boston Globe reports; here's an excerpt: "...History says we can invent our way out of this, and thats what were trying to do, said Robert Armstrong, a professor of chemical engineering who is the director of the MIT Energy Initiative. For example, Jacopo Buongiorno, a professor of nuclear science and engineering who serves as director of the Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems at MIT, envisions a future for nuclear power  at sea. The regulatory challenges may be too great in the United States, where the number of nuclear plants has declined in recent years, but he has been working on building a plant that could be moved around the world, depending on where market conditions were favorable...": Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff.above: ". If you haven't seen this it's worth your time - a YouTube clip of entrepreneur Casey Neistat "surfing" the streets of Manhattan. It isn't often you get to pull this off (and document it!) And no, don't try this at home.. American entrepreneurialism at it's best. Here's a link and excerpt at Huffington Post : "...: Patrick Horton.: Early coating, gray sky. Winds: NW 10-20. High: 25TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Low: 13: Overcast, trending milder PM hours. Winds: SW 10-15. High: near 30: Slow clearing, almost pleasant. Winds: NW 10-15. Wake-up: 28. High: 35: Period of wet snow or mix. Winds: SW 10-20. Wake-up: 28. High: 34: More clouds than sun, not bad. Winds: SW 7-12. Wake-up: 30. High: 38: Lingering clouds, thaw lingers. Winds: NW 7-12. Wake-up: 29. High: 33: Sunny spells, turning cooler. Wake-up: 22. High: 27* Photo above courtesy of Bob and Leslie Ball in Bethesda, Maryland.Here's the introduction to a story at The Guardian : "The worlds run of record-breaking hottest years is extremely unlikely to have happened without the global warming caused by human activities, according to new calculations. Thirteen of the 15 hottest years in the 150-year-long record occurred between 2000-14 and the researchers found there is a just a 0.01% chance that this happened due to natural variations in the planets climate...". Following up on the story above, here's an excerpt of a piece from Penn State climate scientists Michael Mann at livescience.com : "...While the precise results depend on various details of the analysis, for the most defensible of assumptions, our analysis suggests that the odds are no greater than one in 170,000 that 13 of the 15 warmest years would have occurred since 2000 for the Northern Hemisphere average temperature, and one in 10,000 for the global average temperature. Even when we vary those assumptions the odds never exceed one in 5,000 and one in 1,700, respectively..."above: "Historical Northern Hemisphere mean-temperatures (black solid line) along with the estimated natural component alone (black dashed line) and five of the surrogates (colored curves) for the natural component. Temperature departures are defined relative to the long-term 1880 to 2015 average.". A story at phys.org made me do a triple-take; here are a couple of excerpts: "The United States could slash greenhouse gas emissions from power production by up to 78 percent below 1990 levels within 15 years while meeting increased demand, according to a new study by NOAA and University of Colorado Boulder researchers..."Our research shows a transition to a reliable, low-carbon, electrical generation and transmission system can be accomplished with commercially available technology and within 15 years," said Alexander MacDonald, co-lead author and recently retired director of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) in Boulder...above: "A high-resolution map based on NOAA solar irradiance data showing one measure of solar energy potential across the United States." Credit: Chris Clack/CIRE.Cue the conspiracy theories. Here's a clip from The Conversation : "...Enter denial strategy two: that if every scientific agency around the world agrees on global warming, they must be engaging in a conspiracy! Far from being an incidental ornament, conspiratorial thinking is central to denial . When a scientific fact has been as thoroughly examined as global warming being caused by greenhouse gases or the link between HIV and AIDS, then no contrary position can claim much intellectual or scholarly respectability because it is so overwhelmingly at odds with the evidence. Thats why politicians such as Republican Congressman Lamar Smith need to accuse the NOAA of having altered the [climate] data to get the results they needed to advance this administrations extreme climate change agenda. If the evidence is against you, then it has to be manipulated by mysterious forces in pursuit of a nefarious agenda...": " "In an interview with The Huffington Post at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday, Cramer predicted Republican candidates will soon have a difficult time campaigning on a platform that denies climate change. "Over the long run, and soon in the short run, its not going to be viable politically to be seen as anti-science," he explained. "All the polling shows that rising generations in particular reject that kind of thinking ... it's seen as anti-modern..." WIRED reports; here's a snippet: "...Theres an irony here: If the law finally does come down on an oil company, the charges wont be for damages done to the planet. It will more likely be the for the crime of lying to investors about the risks climate change posed to Exxons own bottom line. If corporations have an Achilles heel, its that they have an obligation to tell their investors about anything that might affect business. Climate disruption is a risk to Exxon in two basic ways, explains David Driesen , professor at Syracuse University College of Law. One is through directly disrupting their refineries and drilling operations. Through sea level rise, or intensified storms, for instance. And the second is through regulatory risks, says Driesen..."Here's a snippet of the Op-Ed at The Los Angeles Times : "...A study this month in the journal Global Environmental Change reveals not only that climate denial remains robust, but the extent to which our leaders are systematically influenced by a small number of think tanks that have upped their anti-science messaging  from policy papers to speeches to press releases  exponentially. The 19 industry-funded groups produced 16,028 of these contrarian documents between 1998 and 2013. (A content analysis found that in addition to disputing the science, they frequently questioned the integrity of specific climate scientists  modern-day witch hunts alleging mathematical and other tricks.)..."above: "A frontispiece to a tract by German legal scholar Ulrich Molitor in 1489 depicts witches brewing "weather magic." (Los Angeles Times).Dr. Abraham at The University of St. Thomas conducted an interview with Green Energy Scotland ; here's an excerpt that caught my eye: "...The resistance can be traced to how people view the balance between personal freedom and collective action for the common good. Some people will never support actions to halt climate change or even accept the science because they are afraid that if they accept the science, they will be forced to give up personal freedom. The irony is that had we taken action years ago, the problem would be much smaller than it is now. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to solve the problem...."above: NOAA.
" " A MaxAero quadcopter drone flies with a camera attached at the 2015 CeBIT technology trade fair. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The media is often referred to in the United States as the "fourth estate." In the United States, the unfiltered information that journalists provide to the public serves as an important check on the country's three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. It also helps people stay up to date with the issues of the day, giving them the news they need to make informed decisions about their elected representatives. In fact, the strong hand that the media often plays in presidential and other elections also feeds the idea of the press as the fourth branch of government.

Whichever way you slice it, the business of media is rapidly changing. Technological advances have spurred a shift to real-time, digital platforms and spawned a slew of new tools that journalists can now use to reach audiences around the world. Among those tools are increasingly-available drone devices. These tiny flying machines have the power to provide a bird's eye view of news as it breaks, particularly in situations where it would be dangerous or difficult to get a reporter on the ground [source: Smith].

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Whether it's gathering intelligence in a foreign war zone, monitoring disaster scenes or simply checking in on agricultural crops, one of the biggest benefits of drones is their ability to provide video and photo footage from hard-to-reach vantage points. Sure, a newspaper could rent a helicopter or plane to get shots of a wildfire in progress or send an intrepid reporter into the middle of a civil war. Using a $1,000 machine to do some of the heavy lifting, however, provides both financial and human cost savings [source: Smith].

Take, for example, CBS's use of a drone to capture the remote, largely abandoned Chernobyl nuclear power plant that still teems with harmful radiation after a 1986 explosion. Producers used a video camera strapped to a small quadcopter to capture what they called "a haunting postcard" from the disaster site that viewers might otherwise never see. Similarly, journalists at Russia Today were able to enhance their reporting on violent unrest in Ukraine with overhead, drone-collected video [sources: Smith, Cooke, Russia Today].

For the time being, however, the use of drones to capture news stateside faces a significant obstacle in the form of the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA currently considers media requests to use drones for newsgathering in the United States on a case-by-case basis. The government generally gives the OK only in "sterilized" locations that are commonly far from any type of action that media would actually be interested in covering [source Schroyer].

The good news for newshounds is that the drone blockade appears to be fading. A set of proposed rules issued by the FAA would allow media groups to use small drones, as long as operators first pass an aeronautical knowledge test. In the meantime, a group of news outlets that includes the New York Times, CNN and the Washington Post is currently working with Virginia Tech to test drones for news purposes. Looks like the fourth estate is getting ready to fly the friendly skies [sources: Schroyer, Somaiya].
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Artist's concept of a millisecond pulsar. Credit: NASA

(Phys.org)NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has once again proven that it is an excellent tool to search for rotating neutron stars emitting beams of electromagnetic radiation, known as pulsars. A team of astronomers, led by H. Thankful Cromartie of the University of Virginia, has recently used the 305-meter Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico to observe unidentified sources of gamma rays detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi spacecraft. As it turns out, six of these objects indicated by LAT are rapidly rotating neutron stars, with periods of a few thousandths of a second, called millisecond pulsars (MSPs). The scientists published their results online on Jan. 20 on the arXiv pre-print server.

The objects of the study were chosen from the LAT's 4-year point source catalog. The astronomers chose 34 from over 1,000 unidentified sources of gamma rays to observe them in detail with the Arecibo telescope. The catalog provided crucial spectral data that helped distinguish possible MSPs from other gamma-ray-emitting objects, like active galactic nuclei (AGNs).

"Overall, the search for MSPs in the galactic disk has been made extremely efficient by employing Fermi-LAT data in selecting radio search targets," the researchers noted in their paper posted on arXiv.

Arecibo observations were conducted from June to September 2013. The telescope's raw sensitivity and its large gain makes it a very efficient tool for finding millisecond pulsars. Thanks to Arecibo, the researchers were able to detect six MSPs with rotation periods ranging between 1.99 and 4.66 ms. One of the newly detected pulsars is a typical neutron star, a white dwarf binary with an 83-day orbital period. According to the research, the other MSPs are in interacting compact binaries wit orbital period less than eight hours.

Three of the discovered pulsars were categorized as "black widows" and two as "redbacks," while one is a more classical neutron star-white dwarf binary. "Black widows" are neutron stars in which much of the mass has been stripped away or accreted by the pulsar, leaving a companion with a mass less than 0.1 the mass of the sun. In contrast, "redback" is a term coined to describe binaries in which the pulsar is frequently eclipsed by outflows from a companion weighing over 0.1 solar masses.

The fastest MSP discovered by Cromartie's team is a "black widow" designated PSR J2052+1218. Located about 7,400 light years from the Earth, it has a pulse period of 1.99 ms. The pulsar is also intriguing for the scientists due to its short binary period, only 2.6 hours.

The "slowest" one is a "redback" that received designation J1048+2339. It has a spin rate of 4.66 ms, orbital period of six hours and is approximately 2,160 light years away.

The odd neutron star-white dwarf with an orbital period of 1980 hours was named J1824+10. It is located about 8,160 light years from our planet and has a pulse period of 4.07 ms.

Other MSPs include two "black widows": J1805+06 and J0251+26, having spin periods of 2.13 and 2.54 ms respectively. The second "redback" spins at a rate of 2.56 ms.

According to the scientists, 17 other still unidentified sources indicated by LAT are strong MSP candidates and need follow-up observations to eliminate uncertainties. Overall, 30 percent of known millisecond pulsars in the galactic disk have been detected in previously unidentified sources of gamma rays pointed out by Fermi. These auspicious results herald more future findings regarding rapidly rotating neutron stars.

Explore further Discovery of the companions of millisecond pulsars

More information: Six New Millisecond Pulsars from Arecibo Searches of Fermi Gamma-Ray Sources, arXiv:1601.05343 [astro-ph.HE] Six New Millisecond Pulsars from Arecibo Searches of Fermi Gamma-Ray Sources, arXiv:1601.05343 [astro-ph.HE] arxiv.org/abs/1601.05343 Abstract

We have discovered six radio millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in a search with the Arecibo telescope of 34 unidentified gamma-ray sources from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) 4-year point source catalog. Among the 34 sources, we also detected two MSPs previously discovered elsewhere. Each source was observed at a center frequency of 327 MHz, typically at three epochs with individual integration times of 15 minutes. The new MSP spin periods range from 1.99 to 4.66 ms. Five of the six pulsars are in interacting compact binaries (period < 8.1 hr), while the sixth is a more typical neutron star-white dwarf binary with an 83-day orbital period. This is a higher proportion of interacting binaries than for equivalent Fermi-LAT searches elsewhere. The reason is that Arecibo's large gain afforded us the opportunity to limit integration times to 15 minutes, which significantly increased our sensitivity to these highly accelerated systems. Seventeen of the remaining 26 gamma-ray sources are still categorized as strong MSP candidates, and will be re-searched.

 2016 Phys.org
Giuseppe Piazzi used this instrument, called a Ramsden Circle, to discover Ceres on January 1, 1801. The telescope is on display at the Palermo Observatory in Sicily. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Palermo Observatory

New Year's Day, 1801, the dawn of the 19th century, was a historic moment for astronomy, and for a space mission called Dawn more than 200 years later. That night, Giuseppe Piazzi pointed his telescope at the sky and observed a distant object that we now know as Ceres.

Today, NASA's Dawn mission allows us to see Ceres in exquisite detail. From the images Dawn has taken over the past year, we know Ceres is a heavily cratered body with diverse features on its surface that include a tall, cone-shaped mountain and more than 130 reflective patches of material that is likely salt. But on that fateful evening in 1801, Piazzi wasn't sure what he was seeing when he noticed a small, faint light through his telescope.

"When Piazzi discovered Ceres, exploring it was beyond imagination. More than two centuries later, NASA dispatched a machine on a cosmic journey of more than 3 billion miles to reach the distant, mysterious world he glimpsed," said Marc Rayman, mission director and chief engineer for Dawn at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

Piazzi was the director of the Palermo Observatory in Sicily, Italy, which has collected documents and instruments from the astronomer's time, and published a booklet on the discovery of Ceres. According to the observatory, Piazzi had been working on a catalog of star positions on January 1, 1801, when he noticed something whose "light was a little faint and colored as Jupiter." He looked for it again on subsequent nights and saw that its position changed slightly.

What was this object? Piazzi wrote to fellow astronomers Johann Elert Bode and Barnaba Oriani to tell them he had discovered a comet.

"I have presented this star as a comet, but owing to its lack of nebulosity, and to its motion being so slow and rather uniform, I feel in the heart that it could be something better than a comet, perhaps. However, I should be very careful in passing this conjecture to the public," Piazzi wrote to Oriani.

A Missing Planet?

Piazzi didn't entirely keep this secret. He told the press that this object was a comet, but did not provide data from his observations, which generated criticism from other astronomers. Piazzi then became sick for a time, and said he could not observe the object any more.

As newspapers spread the word that a comet had been found, astronomer Jerome de Lalande, based in Paris, wrote to Piazzi requesting relevant data in February. The Italian astronomer obliged in April, after recovering from his illness. One of Lalande's students, Johann Karl Burckhardt, performed calculations that revealed Piazzi's discovery did not have an orbit consistent with a comet's orbit. Instead, the data appeared to better fit a circular orbit.

Of course, there was no email in those days, and letters that Piazzi wrote to his friends Bode and Oriani about the so-called comet were delayed due to the Napoleonic Wars. They finally reached the astronomers in March.

The news was especially interesting to Bode because he had championed the Titius-Bode hypothesis: that the positions of planets in our solar system follow a specific pattern, which predicts each planet's distance from the sun. Uranus, discovered in 1781, fit the prediction, too. But the pattern also demanded that there be a planet, yet undiscovered, between Mars and Jupiter.

The Palermo Observatory in Sicily, where Piazzi discovered Ceres, houses a variety of historical astronomical instruments today. Credit: Elizabeth Landau

To find this missing planet, a group of German astronomers had established a society called the "Celestial Police" (Himmelspolizei in German), with Franz Xaver von Zach as its secretary, in 1800. There were 24 astronomers who each scoured a 15-degree piece of zodiacal sky for the missing object. However, Piazzi did not receive his invitation to join this group until after he had spotted Ceres.

Bode calculated an orbit based on Piazzi's data, and he believed that the object Piazzi saw was the missing planet that fit his formula (which was later discredited). Oriani, meanwhile, also calculated an orbit, and on April 7 asked von Zach to publish the news in his well-known astronomy journal, Monatliche Correspondenz, that such a planet may have been discovered.

Almost a 'Lost Comet'

As of spring 1801, besides Piazzi, no one had been able to observe the new celestial object because of cloudy skies and the object's position in its orbitit was no longer visible at night, and the sun blocked astronomers' views. Meanwhile, Piazzi still did not publish anything on the object, while he continued to refine his data. Several of his colleagues grew upset with Piazzi for holding back information. Without the data from his observations that concluded on Feb. 11, confirming his discovery would be more difficultsince February, Ceres had been lost.

Why did Piazzi hesitate to make his data public? One reason might be that, though Piazzi was a skilled observer, he didn't have a solid theoretical knowledge of astronomy, so he couldn't calculate orbits quickly. Secondly, he risked the credibility and reputation of both himself and the observatory. But while he wavered, colleagues in Germany such as Bode firmly believed that there needed to be a planet between Mars and Jupiter. It was their conviction that helped keep the work going on this object, said Ileana Chinnici, who edited the Palermo Observatory's booklet on Ceres.

"Without the determination of the German astronomers, Piazzi would have been just the discoverer of a lost comet, in the best case. They 'believed' in the existence of the planet and were driven by the endeavor to confirm it. This shows how powerful are ideas, models, theoriesyesterday as well as today," Chinnici said.

The Search for Ceres

At last, in July 1801, Piazzi worked on calculating the object's orbit and made public his data about his observations from earlier in the year. And while other astronomers had already come up with their own namessuch as Juno, Hera and Piazzi (to honor the astronomer)Piazzi himself announced that the "new star" was called Ceres Ferdinandea. The "Ferdinandea" part honored King Ferdinand of Sicily.

Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, was also the patron deity of Sicily, where Piazzi then lived and worked. Bode, who had wanted to call the object Juno, agreed on Ceres: "You have discovered it in Taurus, and it was re-observed in Virgo, Ceres of the old times. These two constellations are the symbol of agriculture. This occurrence is quite unique."

By the end of July 1801, many astronomers believed Ceres was a planet, but they needed additional confirmation and observations. Piazzi published his complete data set in von Zach's journal in September and, by doing so, got the attention of a young mathematician who would become instrumental in the fate of Ceres.

Twenty-four-year-old Carl Friedrich Gauss had been experimenting with mathematical methods for which he would later become famous. When he applied those methods to Ceres, he came up with different predictions for its position than what others had calculated. Though some were skeptical about Gauss's results, his calculations enabled von Zach to be the first to see Ceres again, on Dec. 7, 1801, followed by other prominent astronomers of the time, and by Piazzi himself on February 23, 1802.

Asteroids: A New Category of Objects

We credit Gauss for calculating the orbit of Ceres. But he did not resolve a fundamental question: What is Ceres?

In March 1802, Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers discovered a second, similar object, which later became known as Pallas. William Herschel, one of the most famous astronomers in history, then wrote an essay proposing that both Ceres and Pallas represented an entirely new class of objects: asteroids. Herschel wrote of Ceres: "if we called it planet, it would not fill the space between Mars and Jupiter with the dignity required by that position."

Though Herschel considered it an achievement that Piazzi had encountered the first example of an asteroid, Piazzi was disappointed. He thought that Herschel, who had discovered Uranus, just wanted to downplay Ceres. Piazzi wrote to Oriani: "Be they called planetoides or cometoides then, but never asteroides. [...] If an Asteroid Ceres must be called, so must also be called Uranus."

Nonetheless, the door had opened for many more asteroids to be observed. The discoveries of Juno in 1804 and Vesta in 1807 (which would later become the first target of NASA's Dawn mission) reinforced Herschel's notion that asteroids are a class of their own. Herschel coined the term "asteroid" because of their star-like appearance in telescopes. Today, we know there are hundreds of thousands of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Piazzi's Legacy

Piazzi could not have known that NASA's Hubble Space Telescope would one day deliver many intriguing images of Ceres, allowing scientists to confirm that the body is, indeed, round like Earth. He could not imagine that in 2006, long after his death, the International Astronomical Union would upgrade Ceres from asteroid to dwarf planet, receiving the same classification as Pluto, which had not yet been discovered in his lifetime. He did not know that in 2007, NASA's Dawn mission would launch from a place called Cape Canaveral in Florida to embark on an unprecedented journey to orbit Vesta and Ceres.

He likely didn't imagine that a space observatory named after Herschel would find in 2013 that there is water vapor emanating from Ceres, following up on 1992 observations of hydroxide at Ceres from NASA's International Ultraviolet Explorer.

Nor could he have guessed that on March 6, 2015, Dawn would be successfully captured into Ceres' orbit, and would spend the rest of the year sending photos and other valuable data back to Earth. He wouldn't know that scientists would use the Hubble Space Telescope's unique capabilities in November 2015 to observe Ceres in the ultraviolet spectrum, complementing Dawn's observations.

Now, as we commemorate the 215th anniversary of Ceres' discovery this month, Dawn is observing the dwarf planet from its lowest orbit ever: 240 miles (385 kilometers) from the surface. The many craters and other features that Piazzi could not see with his telescope are being named after agricultural deities or festivals, extending the theme that Piazzi began with the name "Ceres."

"Our knowledge, our capabilities, our reach and even our ambition all are far beyond what Piazzi could have imagined, and yet it is because of his discovery that we can apply them to learn more, not only about Ceres itself but also about the dawn of the solar system," Rayman said.

Explore further Mysterious dwarf planet Ceres gets ready for the spotlight
Credit: Aldina Franco, University of East Anglia

Migratory birds that are 'set in their ways' could be more vulnerable to environmental impacts - according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).

Many species of migratory birds are in decline as a result of human impacts such as climate change and habitat loss.

New research published today reveals why some species are more vulnerable than others.

It shows that species that migrate to a more diverse range of winter locations during their non-breeding season - such as White Storks, Marsh Harriers and Reed Warblers - are less likely to suffer population decline.

However species that tend to 'funnel' into smaller areas during the winter - such as Turtle Doves and Wood Warblers - have been more vulnerable to declining numbers, caused by human impacts.

Lead researcher Dr James Gilroy from UEA's School of Environmental Sciences said: "Birds are well-known for their remarkable long-distance migrations, often involving extreme feats of navigation and endurance. Unfortunately, many migratory birds are in decline, and there is an urgent need to understand what determines their vulnerability to human impacts.

"We wanted to know whether 'migratory diversity' - the variability of migratory behaviour within species - plays a role in determining their population trends."

The research team studied the migration patterns of 340 bird species in relation to their status across Europe over the last two decades (1990-2012).

Dr Gilroy said: "We found that the species which scatter across wider areas in the non-breeding season have been more resilient, whereas those that converge along narrower routes, and hence occupy smaller wintering areas, have been more likely to decline.

Lesser kestrel adult with geolocator-device that will enable researchers to find out where the bird travelled to during the winter period. Credit: Aldina Franco, University of East Anglia

"This suggests that these species may be particularly vulnerable to impacts like habitat loss and hunting in their non-breeding ranges. Species that spread across wider wintering areas, by contrast, might have a greater chance of reaching safe habitats in at least some parts of their range."

The research team also found that species classed as 'partial migrants' - meaning that their populations include both migratory individuals and others that remain in the breeding area all year round - were less likely to decline than fully migratory species, or even those that are fully resident.

Dr Gilroy said: "Many species adopt this mixed migratory strategy, including familiar species like Blackbirds and Robins. It looks like it could make them more resilient to human impacts - even in comparison to species that don't migrate at all. Many fully resident species like Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers and Willow Tits have been showing worrying declines in recent years.

"Partially migratory species also showed a greater capacity to shift their spring arrival dates forwards in recent decades, relative to fully migratory species. This trend towards earlier spring arrival might help species adapt to climate change, by allowing them to commence breeding earlier in the year as spring temperatures rise."

Resident and wintering white storks on a landfill site in Portugal. Credit: Aldina Franco, University of East Anglia

Co-author Dr Aldina Franco, also from UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, said: "The fact that migratory birds are declining globally has been troubling both scientific and conservation communities.

"We hope that this research will help relevant authorities identify ways to protect the long-distance migratory species that occupy small wintering areas. These are more likely to suffer population declines and need specific conservation efforts. Species with low migratory dispersion for example would benefit from a focus on conservation within their winter locations."

This research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and is part of a project to investigate the causes and consequences of partial migration on birds.

Explore further Birds on top of the world, with nowhere to go

More information: 'Migratory diversity predicts population declines in birds' is published in the journal Ecology Letters on January 26, 2016. Journal information: Ecology Letters 'Migratory diversity predicts population declines in birds' is published in the journalon January 26, 2016.
DNA profiling reveals grey squirrels are not as good invaders as we think, and that humans played a much larger role in spreading them through the UK.

Grey squirrels were imported to the UK from the 1890s onwards, and the traditional view is that they spread rapidly across the UK due to their ability cope with new landscapes. Different populations of grey squirrels were thought to have interbred into a 'supersquirrel' that was better able to adapt and spread.

However, new research shows greys may not be as hardy as once thought, and were helped much more by humans in their conquest of the British Isles. Dr Lisa Signorile compiled a DNA database of nearly 1,500 grey squirrels in the UK and Italy during her PhD studies at Imperial College London and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

She was able to show that different squirrel populations are still genetically distinct, meaning they did not interbreed much and did not create a supersquirrel. The difference between populations also means Dr Signorile and coauthors were able to trace where populations in new areas had come from.

In many cases, new populations of grey squirrels are not related to nearby populations, and instead have come from a long way away. The only way they could have travelled so far was by human intervention. For example, the population in Aberdeen is most closely related to populations in Hampshire, around the New Forest area.

"It has been thought since the 1930s that grey squirrels were all the same, spreading across the country as one invasion front. After a century, genetics has proved that this isn't correct. They are not that good at breeding and mixing - in fact there are clear signs of inbreeding," said Dr Signorile.

"Grey squirrels are not as crazy invaders as we think - their spread is far more our own fault." The research is published in two papers, in the journals Biological Conservation and Diversity and Distributions.

Dr Signorile also discovered that one of the worst offenders at spreading grey squirrels was the 11th Duke of Bedford, Herbrand Russell. Russell was involved in many successful animal conservation projects, but released and gifted many grey squirrels around the UK from his home at Woburn Park.

Russell also released populations in Regent's Park, likely creating the London epidemic of greys. "It was a time when we didn't know invasive species could cause so much damage," said Dr Signorile.

Although not as good invaders as previously thought, greys still outcompete native red squirrels for resources, and carry diseases that kills reds but not greys. Greys have largely displaced reds in England and Wales. "Eradication or control programs are still needed, in particular in areas where red squirrels are present," said Dr Signorile.

Scotland is one of the last places to be invaded, but humans are still helping grey squirrels move into new areas today, albeit more unwittingly. Dr Signorile also investigated where recently-spotted greys have come from.

She found that one individual that was captured on the Isle of Skye in 2010 had come from Glasgow. In this case, genetic profiling confirmed a report that the squirrel had stowed away under a car bonnet and escaped on Skye.

Dr Signorile also examined the case in Italy, where grey squirrels are more of a recent introduction and could be sold as pets until 2012. Her analysis of populations in different regions of the country confirmed an illegal trade in grey squirrels. "It illustrates that 'attractive and cute' species are often spread further by people," said Dr Signorile.

Aside from revealing the surprising result that the success of grey squirrels is in part based on our help, Dr Signorile said the study also suggests new approaches are needed to tackle their spread. "We put a lot of money into controlling grey squirrel numbers, but nobody is trying to prevent their movement and discourage people from picking them up. Decision-makers should look into preventing spreading of greys by human hands.

"The public also needs to be aware of the risk of even accidentally moving squirrels. People think grey squirrels are already everywhere, so it is not a problem, but it can be, especially in areas of Scotland where there are not yet established populations."

The findings of the genetic study could also be applied to other invasive species, said Dr Signorile, especially where human movements may play more of an important role. These include the more 'ornamental' species that are considered attractive, such as London's ring-necked parakeets and Chinese water deer.

Explore further Protecting mainland Europe from an invasion of grey squirrels
Fig.1 Upper and lower dentition (in color) of Ptilocercus kylin, compared with P. lowii (in gray-scale). Credit: NI Xijun

Treeshrews are widely considered a "living model" of an ancestral primate, and have long been called"living fossils". Actual fossils of treeshrews, however, are extremely rare. In a paper published 14 January in Scientific Reports (6), Drs. LI Qiang and NI Xijun, Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, reported a new fossil species of Ptilocercus treeshrew from the early Oligocene (over 34 million years ago) of China that represents the oldest definitive fossil record of the crown group of treeshrews and nearly doubles the temporal length of their fossil record.

These new treeshrew fossils were discovered at the Lijiawa mammalian fossil locality near Qujing City in Yunnan Province, China. Among the numerous fossil mammal specimens recovered from this fossil site are those belonging to a large form of Gigantamynodon giganteus, an unnamed species of Cricetops, and a primitive Eucricetodon comparable with Eucricetodon caducus from the earliest Oligocene of Xinjiang, China. Those species all indicate an early Oligocene age for this fauna.

The fossil species is strikingly similar to the extant pen-tailed treeshrew (Ptilocercus lowii), a species generally recognized as the most primitive extant treeshrew. It demonstrates that Ptilocercus treeshrews have undergone little evolutionary change in their morphology since the early Oligocene.

Morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analysis support the long-standing idea that Ptilocercus treeshrews are morphologically conservative and have probably retained many characters present in the common stock that gave rise to archontans, which include primates, flying lemurs, plesiadapiforms and treeshrews.

Fig.2 Reconstruction of Ptilocercus kylin. Credit: NI Xijun

"This discovery provides an exceptional example of slow morphological evolution in a mammalian group over a period of 34 million years, and it supports the suggestion that the extant P. lowii gives us a living glimpse of the first ancestor of the Archonta, our own superordinal group", said lead author NI Xijun of the IVPP, "The persistent and stable tropical environment in Southeast Asia through the Cenozoic likely played a critical role in the survival of such a morphologically conservative lineage".

This project was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Basic Research Program of China, the CAS 100-talent Program, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Explore further New cricetid rodent found from the early Oligocene of Yunnan, China

More information: Qiang Li et al. An early Oligocene fossil demonstrates treeshrews are slowly evolving "living fossils", Scientific Reports (2016). Journal information: Scientific Reports Qiang Li et al. An early Oligocene fossil demonstrates treeshrews are slowly evolving "living fossils",(2016). DOI: 10.1038/srep18627
Credit: NIH

(Phys.org)A trio of researchers with the National Institute of BioMedical Genomics, in India has found via genetic study, five distinct ancestral components for the people of India. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Analabha Basu, Neeta Sarkar-Roy and Partha Majumder describe their genetic analysis of the genomes of several hundred people from across the country and what their study revealed about Indian history.

Prior research had found evidence that suggested that the vast majority of India's people came from just two ancestral populations. The researchers with this new effort have widened that number to five, four distinct "haplotypes" on the mainland and one among the people of the Andaman archipelago.

To learn more about the ancestral history of present-day Indians, the researchers collected tissue samples from 367 people from 18 locations on the mainland and two from the Nicobar and Andaman Islands (a total of 20 ethnic groups were represented)the team then conducted a genomic analysis that allowed for comparing the lineage of those among the test group with one another and also with samples of other people held in the Human Genome Diversity Panel.

The team reports that their study revealed that the four ancestral groups they found included what they describe as people of north and south Indian ancestries, people of Austro-Asiatic descent and people with Tibeto-Burman ancestries. Those from the islands were found to share genes with present-day Pacific Islanders. They also found evidence of the first Indians coming from Africaanother later wave of people came to the area from East and South Central Asia. They also found that the earliest people tended to intermingle for many years, sharing their genes across lineages, but that came to halt approximately 70 generations ago, which equated to approximately 1,575 years agothe time period of the Gupta emperors, when the caste system was begun. Intermingling between the upper and lower castes diminished to the point that it could be seen in the genes of people alive today.

The researchers note that their study has revealed that Indian ancestry is far more genetically diverse than has been thought and also point out that they have shown that shifts in societal practices can lead to changes in the genomes of the people that live there, over many generations.

Explore further Genomic research shows Indians descended from two groups

More information: Analabha Basu et al. Genomic reconstruction of the history of extant populations of India reveals five distinct ancestral components and a complex structure, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2016). Analabha Basu et al. Genomic reconstruction of the history of extant populations of India reveals five distinct ancestral components and a complex structure,(2016). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1513197113 Abstract

India, occupying the center stage of Paleolithic and Neolithic migrations, has been underrepresented in genome-wide studies of variation. Systematic analysis of genome-wide data, using multiple robust statistical methods, on (i) 367 unrelated individuals drawn from 18 mainland and 2 island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) populations selected to represent geographic, linguistic, and ethnic diversities, and (ii) individuals from populations represented in the Human Genome Diversity Panel (HGDP), reveal four major ancestries in mainland India. This contrasts with an earlier inference of two ancestries based on limited population sampling. A distinct ancestry of the populations of Andaman archipelago was identified and found to be coancestral to Oceanic populations. Analysis of ancestral haplotype blocks revealed that extant mainland populations (i) admixed widely irrespective of ancestry, although admixtures between populations was not always symmetric, and (ii) this practice was rapidly replaced by endogamy about 70 generations ago, among upper castes and Indo-European speakers predominantly. This estimated time coincides with the historical period of formulation and adoption of sociocultural norms restricting intermarriage in large social strata. A similar replacement observed among tribal populations was temporally less uniform. Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

 2016 Phys.org
Foreign policy elites in the West were rattled in early January after news broke that North Korea had conducted an underground test of a hydrogen bomb, its first. Although many experts doubted the claim, the action drew immediate condemnation from the United States and its allies and sparked renewed calls for tougher sanctions on North Korea  and a more forceful response from China, the Hermit Kingdom's closest ally.

Earlier this month, PND spoke with Gloria Duffy, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Club of California, the oldest and largest public affairs forum in the United States, about the news and what it means for the current sanctions regime and further nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Before joining the Commonwealth Club in 1996, Duffy served as executive director of the Ploughshares Fund and later joined the incoming Clinton administration as an assistant secretary of defense, in which position she was credited with negotiating historic agreements with Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan to dismantle their nuclear arsenals, and with Russia to prevent the spread of its weapons, materials, and know-how.

Philanthropy News Digest: How worried should we be about North Korea's claim to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb?

Gloria Duffy: Well, it's just that, a claim. There's really no verification that it was a hydrogen bomb, and if it were a hydrogen bomb, it was a rather crude one. The concern is the continuing pattern of North Korea testing both nuclear devices and long-range delivery vehicles. That's the worrisome part, because they do glean data from each test, and we assume they are using that data to improve their nuclear weapons, improve the miniaturization of those weapons, and gradually build their way to having a functioning nuclear weapon on a functioning long-range delivery system.

PND: What kind of message is North Korea trying to send the United States with its actions?

GD: We like to think of ourselves as the intended target of overt messages from a country like North Korea, but it's likely they have various audiences in mind. One of the primary audiences is internal, the people of North Korea itself. There is a Communist Party Congress coming up in May, and Kim Jong-un, the country's supreme leader, clearly wants to demonstrate he's in charge, that his policies are succeeding, and that he can repel any challenges to his authority. Then there's a global audience, the main components of which are South Korea and other countries that might directly threaten North Korea or try to intervene in its affairs. So there are multiple audiences and multiple messages, but the overriding message is one of strength and power, possibly with the aim of squeezing more concessions from the United States and other countries in return for slowing down or moving away from its nuclear program.

PND: How secure is Kim Jong-un's hold on power?

GD: Well, that's a bit of a black box. There have been rumors of various challenges to him, and he's taken some actions against family members and others who he perhaps perceived as a threat. So, while his position appears to be strong, he is not immune to challenges, and I'm sure he's aware of that.
Conservatives have been waiting for a lot of i

ndictments. We figured we'd see Hillary indicted,

or we thought maybe, just maybe, we'd see a

Planned Parenthood official go down for

harvesting organs.



Well, a major indictment came down today,

but it's not at all what we expected.



A Texas grand jury issued some indictments

related to a series of undercover videos filmed at Planned Parenthood affiliates. The grand jury

i ndicted the filmmakers for tampering with a governmental record and buying human organs.

The same grand jury cleared Planned Parenthood of all wrongdoing.



From the

Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson announced Monday that

Center for Medical Progress founder David Daleiden was indicted on a f

elony charge of tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor

count of related to purchasing human organs. Another activist was also

indicted on a charge of tampering with a governmental record.



A news release announcing the indictment doesn't say what the record

was. Anderson said the grand jury cleared Planned Parenthood of any

wrongdoing.

The Center for Medical Progress released a series of videos detailing conversations From the AP The Center for Medical Progress released a series of videos detailing conversations

related to the buying and selling of fetal tissue and organs from Planned Parenthood

and its affiliates. The videos led to calls for the investigation of and the defunding of

Planned Parenthood by the Federal government.



However, attempts to defund Planned Parenthood failed. The GOP Congress
The U.S. Supreme Court refused on Monday to review lower court rulings overturning North Dakota's ban on abortion at six weeks of pregnancy  before many women know they're pregnant.



The justices turned away the State's appeal of decisions striking down the 2013 fetal heartbeat law as unconstitutional. The law never took effect, and abortion-rights supporters said it was the [strongest pro-life] measure in the country.



The high court last week rejected Arkansas' bid to enforce its own fetal heartbeat law, banning some abortions at twelve weeks. Both measures had been struck down by a unanimous panel of three judges appointed by President George W. Bush to the St. Louis-based Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

A Houston grand jury investigating undercover footage of Planned Parenthood found no wrongdoing Monday by the abortion provider but instead indicted [pro-life] activists involved in making the videos that provoked outrage among Republican leaders nationwide.



David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to purchasing human organs. Another activist, Sandra Merritt, was also indicted on a charge of tampering with a governmental record.



Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson didn't specify what record or records were allegedly tampered with in a statement announcing the indictment. [emphasis added]



"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," Anderson said. "As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us."

On top of that, this technique gets used by law enforcement and journalists every day. Would Chris Hansen face indictment for trafficking in child sex for his excellent series of stings that captured numerous pedophiles? Do narcotics officers face charges in Houston for offering to buy or sell drugs in order to catch criminals in the act?

In a statement issued Monday evening, the Center for Medical Progress said it uses the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades in exercising our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and of the press, and follows all applicable laws. We respect the processes of the Harris County District Attorney, and note that buying fetal tissue requires a seller as well. Planned Parenthood still cannot deny the admissions from their leadership about fetal organ sales captured on video for all the world to see.

Lauren Reeder is a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorneys criminal family law division. She apparently notified District Attorney Devon Anderson of her role with Planned Parenthood last [August]. Reeder is listed as a non-compensated Director on the 990 Tax Form for 2014 filed by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. [emphasis added]

by JASmiusOne body blow after another is steadily, inexorably battering the pro-life movement into outlawed, underground oblivion, while institutionalized child sacrifice enjoys full-fledged above-the-law status.1) The United States Supreme Court upheld - or, rather, declined to correct - a federal appellate court ruling that the latter had no constitutional authority on which to rule in the first place:We've been over this many times, and here comes the next remedial lesson: The United States Constitution does not mention, nor remotely hint at, even the oblique concept of abortion. It is silent on that issue. And Article III in no way, shape, or form enumerates the power of "judicial review" to the SCOTUS; which only has the power, and duty, tothe law, not "interpret" (i.e. re-write and/or legislate) it. Both ought to direct any federal judge or Justice to Amendment X: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." By any proper, originalist reading of the Founding Document,is null, void, and illegal, the SCOTUS has no power to meddle in State law, and therefore the North Dakota abortion law stands, unchallenged and unchallengeable outside the borders of that State. And, frankly, North Dakota ought to have nullifiedand put its abortion law into force almost three years ago when it was enacted.But nobody knows that judicial review is extraconstitutional codswallop, so even conservative States continue to bow the knee to this judicial tyranny. And millions of unborn children continue to perish.Such has been the status quo for forty-three years. But at least pro-lifers had the right to protest the rampaging child-killers, however impotently, and expose the grisly, Naziesque, industrial butchery of the abortion industry.Note the tense, because it's no typo How convenient. Sounds trumped up, doesn't it?And remember where this grand jury was convened: Houston.. If Planned Parenthood has the power to subvert and hijack the legal system, to obstruct justice and persecute and railroad pro-life whistleblowers of their crimes against humanity in the "reddest" State in the country, does that not speak to the rank absurdity of Tea Partiers who can only get upset at Republicans for being unable to defund PP not out of "cowardice" but because the bulk of its federal funding flows through Medicaid, which will never be repealed? Or is it just "punching down" because they don't dare draw the abortion giant's attention for fear of getting squashed, eradicated, or "disappeared"? They are functionally invincible, after all.No, you're going where Planned Parenthood isyou to go. And you're doing your job exceedingly and despicably well, wading armpit-deep through the blood and guts of the innocent every step of the way. Said Tennessee-6 Republican Representative Diane Black, "It is a sad day in America when those who harvest the body parts of aborted babies escape consequences for their actions, while the courageous truth-tellers who expose their misdeeds are handed down a politically motivated indictment instead." But also an educational one, as it is now abundantly clear how powerless the pro-life movement is and how omnipotent are its baby-slaughtering foes, regardless of the inexorable shift of public sentiment in the pro-life direction over the past twenty years.Now it's functionally illegal to even oppose infanticide. And we probably haven't seen anything yet.UPDATE (1/26): Captain Ed makes a great point about media stings being a long and heretofore cherished part of journalism:Did the grand jury even watch a single installment of theseries? PP sales reps were clearly eager and enthusiastic participants in the baby parts black market. It's a major revenue source for PP. Why would they entertain would-be "buyers" in the first place otherwise?And then, the other shoe drops Apparently the Harris County District Attorney's office was asked to recuse itself from this case for precisely this conflict of interest. Apparently they refused. And the result is this mockery of justice.And this is happening in. If the baby-killer syndicate won't permit pro-lifers a fair shake there, what chance do the latter have anywhere and at all?
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The New York State United Teachers on Tuesday filed a lawsuit, claiming that the New York State Education Department has overstepped its bounds by taking away collective bargaining rights when school districts are working on improvement plans for their teachers.

The union says that state education officials violated the Taylor Law, which governs public employee contracts. Teachers that are rated as developing or ineffective have work on a Teacher Improvement Plan with their district. However, NYSUT says the department says that the plans can be dictated by school management.

SEDs actions are inconsistent with the Taylor Law, which establishes that all teacher evaluation and disciplinary procedures are mandatorily negotiable, according to the lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court of Albany County.

Four teachers and six unions, including Schenectady and Troy, are plaintiffs in the case.

As this lawsuit clearly demonstrates, NYSUT will continue to fiercely defend the collective bargaining rights of each and every one of its members and local unions against any encroachment, said NYSUT President Karen E. Magee in a news release
DEAR ABBY: I just read the letter from Expecting in Canada (Sept. 8) and am disappointed in her daughters reaction to her pregnancy, as were you.

My own mother announced she was pregnant with my baby brother when she was 42 and my sister and I were in college. Now, 46 years later, I can say he is one of the best things that ever happened to our family. He took great care of both my parents as they grew older and was with them when each passed away. My sister and I are very close to him, even though we nicknamed him the crown prince and teased him because thats how my parents treated him.

I hope Expectings daughters will eventually embrace this great gift. If they dont, they may miss out on a wonderful experience and a lot of love.

ELDER SISTER OF THE CROWN PRINCE

DEAR ELDER SISTER: Thank you for your letter. Readers wrote to share their personal experiences as you did. Most agreed that having a child with older parents and siblings can be a life-changing event. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: I was a surprise baby. My birth mother was 40 and my birth father was 67. My sisters were 15 and 16. The older one was not happy; the younger one loved having a baby sister.

As fate would have it, my mother died when I was 7 years old. My father was too old to care for a child, so my older sister, the one who hadnt been thrilled with my arrival, and her husband became my parents. Not every day was perfect, but my life was very blessed.

My sister, whom I called Momma, became ill in her 60s, and my brother-in-law, whom I called Daddy for the rest of his life, also had health problems. I became their legs for many errands. When Daddy died I became Mommas primary caregiver.

I would like those two girls to know that the little intruder may just be the one who takes care of them someday. Im shocked that the parents would even entertain the idea of giving the baby away.

JUDY IN LOUISIANA

DEAR ABBY: When I was a junior in high school, my mother told me she was pregnant. I was disgusted and angry, and I told her so. As I reflect back on it, Im mortified that I could be so cruel. After giving it more thought, I realized I was annoyed to think my parents were sexual beings.

Teenagers that age are just coming to terms with their own sexuality. They can also be somewhat selfish and self-absorbed. While it may be a family matter to some extent, it really is between the mother and father.

My little brother is very close to me now and, more important, close to my children, who are nearer in age to him. I hope that mother wont let the temporary opinion of the daughters ruin a beautiful experience of a shared love.

CHERYL IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR ABBY: Expecting should ask her daughters to be a part of the babys life, such as going to doctors appointments, picking out clothes, decorating the room, giving name suggestions and having them participate in a baby shower. -

STEPHANIE IN ILLINOIS

DEAR ABBY: When my mother was 42, my baby brother was born. I was 17 when I became his nanny and learned how to take care of a baby. It was an experience that made me more mature. After I married, I was never able to have my own children.

Please dont listen to your daughters. I know what its like. Perhaps they are jealous that they have to share their parents. My mom and dad were the oldest parents at PTA meetings, graduations, etc., but they were proud of my younger brother. Many times people thought they were the grandparents. We shared many laughs during those years.

EILEEN IN WEST VIRGINIA
GLENS FALLS | Glens Falls Senior Center's Writers Group will feature Frieda Toth, Crandall Librarys teen department librarian, on Friday where she will discuss her new historical fiction book, "Help Wanted," which details gender inequality in the workplace.

The childrens picturebook was illustrated by Glens Falls High School graduate and New York Times best-selling author Marika McCoola.

The Writers Group meetings allow attendees to share their works and writing experiences plus participate in a question-and-answer session. Books by group members and guest authors will be available for sale. The free event starts at 1 p.m.
FORT EDWARD  A White Creek man who killed his friend in a drunken driving crash last February has pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and avoided a prison sentence after the victims family asked that the military combat veteran get help instead of a prison term.

Bryan A. Watkins, 30, of the hamlet of Eagle Bridge, was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 5 years on probation for the Feb. 14 rollover crash that caused the death of 29-year-old Hoosick Falls resident Joshua D. Foster.

Watkins had a blood alcohol content of 0.16 percent, double the 0.08 percent threshold for DWI, when the sport-utility vehicle he was driving went off River Road in the hamlet of Eagle Bridge and overturned. Foster was thrown from the vehicle and died, while Watkins and two passengers were hurt.

Watkins pleaded guilty in Washington County Court to second-degree vehicular manslaughter, a felony, and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated.

State prison sentences are standard in drunken-driving related fatalities, and vehicular manslaughter can bring a sentence of up to 2-1/3 to 7 years.

Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan said a number of factors in Watkins case led to his office seeking a Washington County Jail term, probation and participation in the countys felony drug treatment court.

Foster and Watkins were best friends from childhood, and Fosters family did not want Watkins to go to prison, he said.

Watkins was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who did two combat tours in the Middle East, and had problems acclimating to a return to civilian life. During one of his tours, a close friend of his was killed while standing next to him, Jordan said.

Hes really had to deal with a lot of challenges, Jordan said. The victims family, first and foremost, wanted him to get treatment. This was not an easy resolution.

Jordan said his office sought to make sure Watkins was held accountable, but also that the wishes of the victims family were taken into account.

The case illustrates the need for specialized veterans courts to help combat veterans who are coming home from the Middle East to get help when they are involved in criminal cases, Jordan said.

The sentencing happened last fall. Jordan said his office did not include it in its weekly news releases to the media at that time, because Watkins was participating in the countys drug treatment court, and his office has decided not to include cases with drug treatment court sentences in its press releases.

We are trying to give them a second chance, he said.

Watkins will face a 2- to 6-year state prison sentence if he does not complete the drug court program or violates probation.

His lawyer, Thomas OHern, did not return a phone call for comment Monday.
SOUTH GLENS FALLS  State Police have recovered bags of mail that a postal carrier accused of stealing mail apparently never delivered and had in his home, authorities said.

Investigators are trying to determine how far back the alleged mail theft by Thomas M. Schoen dates, and how many customers were affected. Schoen was arrested after a sting last month by the U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Office of the Inspector General, charged with felony criminal possession of stolen property and misdemeanor official misconduct.

We have recovered mail that was never delivered, said State Police Investigator Jamie Barber.

Barber would not comment on what police found, but added, It appears he has been doing this for a while.

A law enforcement source familiar with the case said that police found at least one personal backpack holding dozens of pieces of mail that werent delivered, as well as valuables believed to have come from mail deliveries.

After Schoens arrest was publicized, Barber said State Police have been flooded with calls from people who did not get mail they were expecting.

Schoen, 52, of Gansevoort, was arrested after Postal Service officials received complaints about missing mail on his route and arranged for controlled mail deliveries. He was caught opening one envelope and taking a gift card that was inside, court records allege.

Schoen is free on bail, pending further action in Moreau Town Court on Feb. 22. He was placed on paid administrative leave after his arrest.

His lawyer, Tucker Stanclift, said Schoen has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.

He was a long-term employee and never had any problems, Stanclift said.

Anyone with information in the case, or anyone who lives in South Glens Falls or Moreau and thinks they might have had mail stolen is being asked to call the U.S. Office of the Inspector Generals tip line at 1-888-877-7644.
GLENS FALLS  The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce has named George Ferone as interim president while the organization conducts a nationwide search for a permanent leader.

Ferone, who retired last year after 44 years with Tribune Media Co., served 14 years on the chambers board of directors, including two terms as chairman, according to a prepared statement announcing his appointment.

The position became vacant on Jan. 13, when Peter Aust resigned abruptly from the post during the first meeting of the chambers new board of directors. Aust has not returned calls seeking comment on his departure.

Georges experience as an executive and his deep ties to the Adirondack region and the ARCC will ensure a smooth leadership transition at the chamber, said Thomas Albrecht, in a prepared statement. Albrecht is chairman of the chamber board, as of this month.

Albrecht and other chamber officials have refused to discuss Austs exit, other than to say he left to pursue other career opportunities.

The chamber has named a committee to recruit a new president and CEO.

Ferone also serves on the board of governors of Glens Falls Hospital, the board of directors of the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition and is a member of the Queensbury Planning Board.

He has previously served on the boards of the Tri-County United Way, United Way of New York State and the Prospect Child and Family Center, according to a prepared statement announcing his appointment.

This is an exciting time for the chamber and our regions business community, as ARCC searches for its next leader, Ferone said, in a prepared statement. Our programs and services will continue uninterrupted. And with the legislative session in Albany underway, we are moving ahead with our advocacy efforts, focusing on the issues that will affect our local business community and quality of life.
Warren County supervisors on Monday formally rejected a police consolidation proposal from Glens Falls Mayor John Jack Diamond, saying they will not reconsider the issue until the Glens Falls Common Council approves consolidation.

The action came after a wide-ranging discussion about the issue, including possible costs, before the Board of Supervisors Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee rejected Diamonds proposal that would have the Glens Falls Police Department merge with the Warren County Sheriffs Office to provide police protection in Glens Falls.

Diamond made a proposal last fall in which the city would pay the county between $1.3 million and $1.4 million per year over the next 15 years to take over policing in the city.

While Diamond has been pushing the issue, the Common Council has not taken a position on it as a whole. And Warren County Sheriff Bud York said county leaders need to know if there is a desire by city leaders to divest the city of the Police Department before going any further with the idea.

We need to find out first from the Glens Falls Common Council, do you want to do this? York asked.

Several supervisors on the committee agreed with York.

I think were spinning our wheels until there is a resolution from the Common Council, Horicon Supervisor Matthew Simpson said. I think we are looking at this from the wrong direction.

I wouldnt waste another second on it, Lake George Supervisor Dennis Dickinson said.

Queensbury Supervisor at-Large Rachel Seeber said supervisors also need to know whether their constituents want the county to take on the additional expense of Glens Falls police coverage. She also suggested joint discussions between supervisors and Common Council members.

Glens Falls 1st Ward Supervisor Dan Girard said the Common Council may want to know how much of the cost the county board would agree to pick up before the council makes a decision.

Supervisors discussed some budget percentages that could be shouldered, including 90 percent to 95 percent, before passing a resolution that did not include any recommendation as to how much would be covered.

When asked for a consolidation proposal three years ago, York said the Sheriffs Office would need 23 additional officers to cover Glens Falls, and the salaries and benefits of those officers alone would amount to just under $2.5 million. There would be an additional $400,000 or so in costs to equip the officers for the change, Glens Falls 4th ward Supervisor James Brock said.

The committee unanimously rejected the Diamond proposal, as the amounts he proposed having the city pay the county would cover about a third of the Police Departments 2016 $4 million budget.

Diamond said later Monday that he would need to know how much the county would be willing to pay toward policing costs before he could approach the Common Council.

If it (Diamonds proposal) is unacceptable, what is your counteroffer? he asked. Im hoping they can come back with a counteroffer and we can continue the discussions.

Glens Falls Police Benevolent Association President Jarred Smith, whose organization has come out against the proposal, said after the meeting that the Board of Supervisors stance seemed appropriate under the circumstances.
FORT ANN  Nearly every person who spoke at Mondays Planning Board meeting agreed that a proposed new Dollar General store would be a boon to the town and perhaps spark even more development.

But more than one-third of those people said they had serious issues with the stores proposed location, 11350 Route 149, on the south side of the highway near the Cardinal Car Wash and east of St. Ann Transportation. Those were people who live in residential areas near the site, including Brookside Acres.

The board will hold a public hearing on the project at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at Town Hall, then possibly make a decision.

I dont have anything against Dollar General. I have something against where they want to put it, said Linda Richardson of Brookside Acres, one of about a dozen residents who spoke against the plan, based on the site. Its nice to have growth, but its nice to pick where you have that growth.

Others, like Ruth Esperti, said the town needs the store, and the location should not be a deciding factor.

I think its a great thing for Fort Ann, she said. We need an anchor store. Its Dollar General. Not every dollar store is the same. Not everything in there is a dollar.

Esperti was responding to Richardsons list of 11 dollar stores within 15 minutes of Fort Ann, a list Richardson printed out, taped together and presented to the board.

The site is just outside village limits, but village Mayor Richard Foran said he has been working with Dollar General for the better part of a year to bring the store to town.

People talk about traffic being an issue, but I heard the same thing 10 years ago when we put St. Ann Transportation in, and none of that has happened, Foran said.

Corinne Mantz, another neighbor, countered, saying there are not sidewalks in the area and that some similar stores in other towns bring negative issues.

I dont want us to look like Hudson Falls or Whitehall, she said.

The town does not have zoning laws, so the focus of the boards decision will be on the environmental impact of the building and whether the state Department of Transportation approves the plans.

Caryn Mlodzianowski, of Bohler Engineering of Albany, presented the project to the board for Dollar General.

She said a house on the property would be demolished to make room for a 9,100-square-foot store, which is expected to employ between 10 and 12 people.

The front of the store would be set back 112 feet from the Route 149 right of way, Mlodzianowski said. There would be 37 parking places.

Dollar General is very excited to come to town, she said.

The company is expanding rapidly and has proposed a 900,000-square-foot distribution center in Wilton off Exit 16 of the Northway. It recently built stores in Greenwich, South Glens Falls and Queensbury, and others are planned for Chester and Schuylerville.

Mlodzianowski said her firm has spoken to the Department of Transportation and expects approval.

The Planning Board voted to take lead agency status in the environmental review and set the public hearing.

Board members asked Mlodzianowski to return with some possible changes to the lighting and the facade and to bring illustrations on the planned free-standing sign.

The Schuylerville proposal is drawing some of the same type of opposition as the Fort Ann store.
HUDSON FALLS | When the students at Hudson Falls Intermediate School arrived to start their day on Monday, they received a heros welcome through a kindness tunnel.

As they walked down the hallway, they received high-fives and greetings from local police, elected officials and costumed mascots on either side.

The fanfare was to kick off the schools Great Kindness Challenge, which is a week dedicated to doing good deeds for others.

I thought it was great because we got to high-five the people who are helping our state, said 9-year-old Traben Patterson.

Traben said he is going to donate money to a local soup kitchen as one of his good deeds.

The energy in the hallways was just phenomenal, according to fourth-grade teacher Heather Craner.

The smiles were great, she said.

The Great Kindness Challenge was started by an organization called Kids for Peace in 2012 to address bullying and improve school climate, according to its website. It began with three schools in Carlsbad, California, and has grown to nearly 2.2 million children across the country participating in 2015.

Students have a checklist of 50 items such as smile at 25 nice people, hug your friend, say good morning to 15 people and hold the door open for someone. They try to complete as many of the items as possible.

Craner wanted to bring the event to the school.

The students have heard in the past from motivational speaker Rich Johns. His message is for students to work on their 99 percent, which is everything but the 1 percent that others can see. This represents their character and their actions.

Craner said school officials want the theme of kindness to permeate throughout the childrens lives.

Its not just about being kind in school, she said. Its about being kind in the community.

The school has set a goal of doing a combined 16,000 acts of kindness, according to Craner.

If we reach that, our principal Mr. (Michael) McTague will dress up in a court jesters costume, she said.

She said the school has a week of activities planned to get students in the spirit. Monday was Crazy Hat Day. Friday will be Crazy Sock Day.

Fourth-grader Brookelyn Lord, 10, said she had already checked off some items on her list. She smiled at 25 people and has complimented five people.

Fourth-grader Ethan France, 9, said he also complimented people and he helped his teacher get some Magic Markers from the library.

Washington County Sheriffs Deputy Don Jett enjoyed taking part in the kickoff.

Its a blast. Its a good time and if we can help out the kids, its always a good thing. Hopefully, they get a rapport with us so theyre willing to speak out, he said.

McTague, the principal, is optimistic that the children will reach the goal. He has his jesters costume ready.

This event fits in with the schools Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports program, McTague said. It is a good time to do this during the winter to bring this message to the forefront.

Its nice to have a nice shot in the arm in the middle of the year, he said.
A grand jury here that was investigating accusations of misconduct against Planned Parenthood has instead indicted two abortion opponents who made undercover videos of the organization. Prosecutors in Harris County said one of the leaders of the Center for Medical Progress  an anti-abortion group that made secretly recorded videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood officials trying to illegally profit from the sale of fetal tissue  had been indicted on a charge of tampering with a governmental record, a felony, and on a misdemeanor charge related to purchasing human organs. ...NYT

I didn't know grand juries could do that. Since the Ferguson shooting, it's hard to think of grand juries as anything more than tools of a corrupt system. But a Houston grand jury went and did the right thing yesterday in the face of a (yet another) example of radicals v. women's health.

Planned Parenthood was up before the jury after the "revelation" that the organization had -- quote unquote -- tried to illegally profit from the sale of fetal tissue. But the Houston jury turned on the accusers -- a couple of eager nutjobs with video cameras used to create the illusion that Planned Parenthood was in the fetal tissue business. They had infiltrated Planned Parenthood on behalf of a right wing called the "Center for Medical Progress." (Imagine a little group of guys in white with stethoscopes around their necks walking backward, in the style of old silent movies, approximating the right's notion of "progress.")

The grand jury turned on the accusers.

But the state isn't going to stop its harassment of women's clinics. The grand jury's action will remain, for time being, a short-lived, albeit delicious, moment. The Center for Medical Progress isn't giving up. Our unlovely governor will make sure the campaign against women's freedom and well-being continues.

___

What happened in Houston, of course, just makes the right angry and eager for revenge.
Quotes I Like Let me give you a tip on a clue to mens characters: the man who damns money has obtained it dishonorably; the man who respects it has earned it. Run for your life from any man who tells you that money is evil. That sentence is the lepers bell of an approaching looter.Francisco d'Anconia

I love getting older...I get to grow up and learn things. Madalyn, 5 years old, Montesorri student, and my grand-daughter

The best thing one can do for the poor is to not become one of them. Author Unknown

Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed. Francis Bacon

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Ronald Reagan

Thinking is hard work. If it weren't, more people would do it. Henry Ford

Intellectual freedom cannot exist without political freedom; political freedom cannot exist without economic freedom; a free mind and a free market are corollaries. Ayn Rand
For several years, even centuries, Ghanaians have depended on firewood and charcoal as a source of household fuel. But this has increasingly become problematic to the health the Ghanaian woman who mostly does the cooking because of the thick dark smoke it gives off.

This already complicated situation is worsened by the fact that countless trees have to be cut in the production of charcoal and firewood for everyday consumption. a reason why Amin Sulley's Zaacoal makes a strong case for reduction in emissions and climate change.

Zaacoal is the name coined from two words " Zaafi" which means hot in Hausa and Coal which is an English word for a common household energy. This is a clean, smoke- free, effective alternative to charcoal and firewood, making it a ready- to- use product for the 85% of Ghanaians who depend on charcoal as a source of fuel.

Many are baffled about how a young law student will sacrifice his law fees to chase the dream of producing, packaging and marketing charcoal.

" I am a curious person. I think carefully about phenomena and resources around me, and how best they can be maximized."

It is with this sense of curiosity that Zaacoal was born.

" I was wondering what happens to coconut waste after the fruit is consumed. And true to my suspicions there was no proper waste management system to cater for the waste. I also found out that apart from plastic, the next biggest waste menace is coconut pods."

Amin's curiosity did not end there. He began to research into how this free raw material could be recycled into something profitable.

Armed with the knowledge that local women use the pods as a source of fuel as an accompaniment with firewood, Amin began to explore further advantages of coconut pods as a more refined and useful source of fuel.

"We began exploring the possibilities of using coconut pods as a more sustainable source of fuel but it wasn't easy. We burnt it, but all we got was ash, then we canonized it to prevent oxidation. That was when it worked. We got a pure form of charcoal, that was smokeless, burnt hotter, but lasted longer than the average charcoal from firewood."

At this point, Amin and his team of two, hit black gold!

They had gotten a product that was not only environmentally friendly, but a a viable commercial venture.

" We later found out that there's a solid market for charcoal and specifically. About 80% of Ghana's population uses charcoal or firewood. This is essentially the market we are looking at."

However, little did Amin know that there was an international market waiting to swallow up the clean charcoal invention for which no tree was killed to produce.

Amin got orders from all over the world; Dubai, the U.S, and other parts of Asia for his charcoal.

" We have contracts from all over asking for over hundreds of 40- feet containers worth of Zaacoal. That was our biggest motivation, knowing that something that started as a social good, is now a viable international product."

Amin and his team had to step up their marketing to challenge their foreign competition.

" One thing that aggravated us to step up our game most, was when we heard that Ghana imports charcoal from foreign countries. Out of all the things we import, charcoal must be the last of it. We decided to change that."

Scaling up and expanding production

Zaacoal intends to scale up massively to meet the huge demands they are getting. At the core of this desire, is the need for the requisite financing to provide the machinery and infrastructure needed to meet demand.

With the help of a benevolent uncle, however, who, looking at the huge orders Amin and his team already had, decided to give them a loan to acquire the needed machinery to scale.

" Now, we are ready to expand. We have acquired the needed machinery for a full production facility of 1000 tonnes a day."
Vice President Paa kwasi Amissah Arthur at the 35th Meeting of the Convergence Council of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) called for the devaluation of the cedi and other currencies in the ECOWAS zone so as to establish a common condition necessary for adopting a single currency by 2020.

However, Wampah at a Monetary Policy meeting yesterday said the comments by the Vice president was "a general comment" and has no direct reference to the Ghanaian economy.

He said: I think it was a general comment some people felt he was referring directly to the Ghanaian economy, some of the currencies are fixed- like the CFA Franc, it is fixed to the Euro so they have no control. The Nigerian Naira has also been fixed for a while so there is a big gap between the central banks rate and that of the market of the Forex bureau market."

He further maintained the cedi's rate changes according to market conditions, be it speculative or not. He added that the changes include cedi liquidity, fiscal and monetary policies.

Our rates generally have been floating because the rates changes according to the market condition even be it speculative or not, the rate continues to change so for us there is no need to take a discretionary action on devaluation because the currency adjusts as and when the conditions change. In our situation, the movement is done according to market conditions which include cedi liquidity, fiscal and monetary policies, Wampah said.

After the Monetary Policy meeting, the country's Monetary Policy Rate was set at 26%.

On the Banks Composite index, the Monetary Policy Committee observed slower growth in the composite index as compared to the same period in 2014. The committee is of the anticipation that the medium term looks bright.
Reports reaching Pulse Business suggest that customers have fallen on the company's properties in Wa, which include, buses, trucks, air- conditioners, bulbs, stationery, electric and electronic appliances belonging to the company.

Officials from the Sunyani District Magistrates Court earlier supervised the customers to break into the office of the company to seize the assets.

Reports also have it that buses belonging to DKM's Transportation business has been the main target for customers.

The court, in its judgements, gave the order for the detention and preservation of TV sets, office equipment, vehicles and other items belonging to the company in its storerooms and offices or houses of the CEO or employees of the company.

The officials said after obtaining judgements in their favour, some of the customers had filed the necessary writs to get the authority to seize items belonging to the company for auctioning.

At a garage on the Sunyani-Abesim road, four DKM-branded buses had been parked waiting for valuation and auctioning.

The owner of the garage, who pleaded anonymity, said some customers of the company had brought the buses, with registration numbers GR 5630-15, GR 5632-15, GT 4527-15 and GN 5604-14, for valuation after they were seized.
The company issued a public offer consisting of the sale of 74,888,369 Existing ADB Shares, an offer for subscription of 75,471,698 New ADB Shares at the Offer Price, and the primary listing of all the 155,451,524 Existing ADB Shares and 75,471,698 New Shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange

In an exclusive interview with Pulse Business, the Marketing and Communications Manager of ADB, Solomon Adu Atefoe revealed that foreign investors have shown the biggest interest in acquiring the bank's shares.

" The launch of the IPO has been great. Most of the traction has been from foreign investors who have shown the biggest interest in acquiring the shares." he said.

Mr. Atefoe, therefore asked local investors to show more interest in the shares.

" We are taking steps to draw attention of local individual investors to show interest as well. Other than that, it has been great. We believe this is a great opportunity for them to own a part of a growing world- class Ghanaian business."

An ADB share is going for GHC 2.65, and the least amount of shares one can purchase is 100 shares.

"Meaning with as little as GHC265 an average investor can own an ADB share." Mr. Atefoe emphasized.

Meanwhile, some Ghanaians are cautious in acquiring ADB shares because of the recent resignation of Manager Director, Stephen Kpordzih.

But the Marketing and Communications Manager, Solomon Atefoe said there are more equally-qualified professionals to take over from Mr. Kpordzih.

" Mr. Kpordzih was a great manager, but there are equally qualified Ghanaians to equally do a good job. Change is a great opportunity for new ideas and new strategy for growth. I will assure all Ghanaians to be confident that the team has not changed."

The Bank is undertaking this offer and subsequent listing on the GSE to raise additional capital to support the Banks expansion plans and have the flexibility to finance future expansion and growth.

ADB wishes to open up participation in the Bank and share its success with the investing public and Ghanaians in general.

The BoG will also use this avenue to sell its existing stake in the Bank in order to focus on its core responsibility of regulating and monitoring the banking industry

Each application under the Offer must be for a minimum of 100 ADB Shares amounting to GHS 265.00 and in multiples of 10 thereafter.

IC Securities, all licensed stock brokers in Ghana and any other company appointed by ADB, or by IC Securities on behalf of ADB, who will be receiving applications and payments from Qualifying Applicants under the Transaction.
Yes, the employers enjoy it too, even though they are essentially the ones forking out loads of money and enticements in the chase, primarily because it can be a status booster for them.

For instance Airtel's status in Ghana, in their first year of operations, took a giant boost when the company poached the head of marketing at MTN at the time, George Andah. Andah had just been nominated as Marketing Man of the Year, and snatching him from their biggest competitor definitely turned the head of Ghanaians towards Airtel as a shrewd and formidable brand.

This notwithstanding, poaching can be detrimental to the progress of businesses, and there are practical instances to prove.

Ben (name withheld to protect his business) who is the Human Resource Manager of a reputable multinational company operating in Ghana, tells Pulse Business an interesting story about how an initial team of ivy-league- educated professionals ended up in a corporate disaster.

" My company came to the Ghanaian market with high hopes of success, and the resources to back a big ambition of grabbing [the] majority of the market in the shortest possible time."

So they headed to the labour market to get the most experienced and best educated talents from their competitors.

" We were ruthless. We wanted nothing but the best. And if they were from our competitors the better. In a short while, we were able to assemble the best of what could easily be described as the best in the country. We had two executives from a head of marketing from the and a head of treasury from ."

With all this and an average of experience of 8 years, Ben's workforce was ready to kill targets, or so he thought.

" We had high hopes. We were convinced that we had assembled the right team to take over the market, or so we thought. Only for us to find out that we had put together too many liabilities than resources."

Ben's company were meeting their targets to an appreciable level, but not smashing them as was expected with the workforce they had assembled.

" We realized that we were not quiet building the brand in the minds of customers that we had hoped for. Internally, we also realized that it was difficult agreeing on a singular, well- driven culture. And it was surprising for me, because I felt I had highly qualified professionals to achieve a powerful culture for our organisation."

Ben's employers already had an international culture, but needed a Ghana-market- specific culture, something that was proving difficult to achieve..

Meanwhile, Ben realised public impressions about the bank were in contradiction to the brand image they were trying to build. At this point the company had spent close to a million dollars on marketing.

" We found out to our utter dismay that the banking community saw us [as] an SME- biased bank. At the same time, SMEs felt that we did not have enough products for them. To them we were not an SME bank".

This is what excessive, unbridled poaching can do to a business apparently.

According to Organisational Psychologist and HR lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, Kwesi Amponsah-Tawiah, Ben's company had put together highly qualified professionals who had been tainted with the cultures of their previous employers.

"These professionals come with their idea of how things should be done, based on the culture and values of the companies they were working for, making it difficult for them to agree on a singular culture for their new company. They all are indoctrinated with the way things were done in their previous companies."

Ben's analysis of the conundrum in his company attests to Dr. Amponsah-Tawiah's assertion that the team was not coherent enough on what the company's culture must be.

"We found out that whereas the head of marketing and banking products believed that individual customers must be the company's target in the Ghanaian market, the brands communications manager was selling to SMEs. Ironically, there were also complains about how systems in service delivery were not SME friendly. It was a catastrophe for our image and brand."

This, on the face of things looks like a juvenile mistake to be made by ivy-league educated professionals, but it is very common to multinational companies who easily resort to poaching corporate leaders instead of training them.

Companies have not been intuitive enough to the phenomenon over the years even though they probably have been suffering the repercussions of this mistake.

A typical example is the increasing amounts of funds being spent by companies on team building, according to Amponsah- Tawiah.

"Have you wondered why companies are spending more on team- building? Our research shows that companies who poach more spend more on team- building. This is a fundamental consequence of excessive poaching. It gets so bad to the extent of professional bickering like little children, and will not see eye to eye."

The solution is to opt for training rather than poaching, Amponsah- Tawiah says.

" It is far better to recruit young talents out of school, train and indoctrinate them in the values and culture of your company and help them grow into it."

This may be the reason why some upward looking companies are resorting to graduate trainee programs.

One of such companies which has racked in the full benefits of an effective graduate trainee program is Vodafone.

And this is something Ben's company realised so were able to become one of the earliest companies in the Ghana's financial sector to roll out a world- class graduate trainee program.

The program has been able to turn the situation around over the years, and is currently on the path of phenomenal growth championed a generation of executives from the graduate program.

" Don't get me wrong, our ivy-league educated executives did a great job at the end of the day. We were able to build a strong culture after some time of trying, and most of them form the board of our company. Under their leadership our current management have gone on to drive the company to the top of the industry. But of course we learned a valuable lesson."
Depositors of some microfinance companies in the Brong Ahafo region had their monies locked up after the Bank of Ghana frozen the accounts of DKM microfinance and also revoke the licence of some 70 microfinance companies.

Four other microfinance operators including the CEO of DKM microfinance were arrested and arraigned before court.

They were accused of collecting various sums of money running into several millions of Ghana Cedis from their clients, promising them huge interests of not less than 50 per cent.

They have since been granted bail.

The Bank of Ghana is also seeking more powers to effectively deal with the current crisis that has hit the microfinance sector.
"More stories that are just real. For me, when I write, I get people watching, I listen and so just more stories that can really resonate. More stories that can touch you and stories that can just make you laugh," Nicole Amarteifio, "An African City" creator told Pulse.com.gh

"The reason why the show is doing well is that, people are just tired of the single stories of Africa. They want something different and this (An African City) is just different," Nicole Amarteifio concluded.

"What happens to the characters happens to me soo I love it that 'An African City' is around to capture these specific group of women. It doesn't speak to every Ghanaian woman but it speaks to these Ghanaian women. And I love that there's a platform that is telling my story and the stories of my other women," says Maame Adjei, "An African City" star.

The web series created and written by Nicole Amarteifio follows the lives of five modern Ghanaian and Nigerian women who return home after living abroad for years.

The series features Maame Yaa Boafo (Nana Yaa), Esosa E (Ngozi), Nana Mensah (Sade), Marie Humbert (Makena) and Maame Adjei (Zainab).
"We are taking him back today. Our men are already on the way," Upper West regional police commander DCOP Kwasi Duku told Pulse.com.gh

The man whose name will not be disclosed by the police was arrested in Gowlu after residents in the area notified the police of the man's activities.

"It was the effort of the community. They realised a strange person in their midst and reported him to the police." DCOP Duku said.

He however denied reports that the suspect is part of the terrorists who stormed a hotel in Burkina Faso capital killing over 20 people.

"We don't know, that is why we are taking him back," Upper West regional police commander said "He is wanted by police in Burkina Faso, we cannot tell if he is part of that attack" .
The party is predicting same for the 2012 presidential candidate of the People's National Convention (PNC) who has now formed his own party after suffering defeat in the party's presidential election last year.

Speaking on Radio Ghana's Behind thr News programme on Monday, General Secretary of the CPP, Nii Armah Akomfrah said: "It is going to be very difficult for Hassan Ayariga, the same way it is going to be difficult for Dr. Sakara pursue an independent agenda."

According to Mr. Akomfrah, people have the right to leave or join any political party of their choice since Ghana is a free country.

Although he admitted that politics is about numbers and would rather want these aggrieved members to remain within the party, the CPP will not be perturbed by such moves.

Unity talks

Commenting on plans by smaller parties within the country to join forces to form a united front, the CPP General Secretary said his that move is not priority for his outfit at the moment.
The said family have initially given government two weeks to allow them access following their rival, the Andanis refusal to do so.

The two families, Abudus and Andanis have been engaged in a chieftaincy conflict in Dagbon for some years now.

This was after the King of Dagombas and the overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II was killed on March 27, 2002.

The Abudus have subsequently indicated that they would use all available means to have access to the Gbewaa palace to perform the funeral rites of their late chief, Naa-Mahamadu Abdulai IV, if the Andanis fail to give them access to the palace.

But the Andani family have also vowed to face the Abudus squarely if they try to occupy the palace with force.

Government has therefore intensified security presence in the area to prevent any possible clash between the two rival families.

In an interview with Pulse.com.gh, the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ken Yeboah said "For now there is no problem. The place is very calm. We have beefed up security."

He however said he is yet to be informed about the impending demonstration by the Abudu family.
Magnus Nunoo, President-Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers who is also Chief Executive Officer of Mobile Water, told Ghanas B&FT the prices needed to increase since electricity tariffs increased by 59.2 percent and water by 67.2 percent, while a 27 percent tax has been added to petroleum products.

Initially the increase will go from 20p to 30p, and if the producers do not get a favourable response from government, it will go up to 40 or 50p per sachet.

Speaking to Pulse.com.gh, a section of Ghanaians expressed displeasure about the development.

Kofi, who is a cement distributor, said the news is rather unfortunate.

"If I bought pure water one for 50 pesewas...Now the load I'm taking here, sometimes the whole day is 20 pesewas. So If I drink 50 pesewas of pure water, then calculate and see. So I can't afford it," he added.

A taxi driver, Sammy, who seems helpless about the situation is pleading with government to intervene. He laments that the recent hikes in utility tariffs, coupled with increase in price of sachet water will have a serious toll on his business.

"I drink like 10 pure water a day. My wife and children at home also drink. If it happens this way, we will be in a serious mess. If there should be an increase in prices of products at all, water should be excluded," he said.

Maame, who has been selling sachet water for nine years now told Pulse.com.gh, a new increment in price will spell doom for her business.

"Customers are already complaining about the price being 20 pesewas. So if the price should go up, nobody will buy. Previously, I make more than 15 cedis a day from my business. But ever since it was increased to 20 pesewas, I barely make 10 cedis. So something must be done about it," she said.

A water tanker distributor, Ofori said he will now be compelled to fill his gallons with water from the tank.
This was made known by his lawyer Justice Sai, after a thirty minutes break to consult with client.

Justice Sai told the court his client wanted to the court to waive the extradition processes so he can return to the UK voluntarily.

The revelation caused some surprise in court which made presiding judge, Justice Merley Wood ask Mr Kent whether that was indeed t his request. Mr. Kent in return answered in the affirmative, confirming the comments by his lawyers.

The court in response ordered the AG to expedite the process of deportation while Arthur Simpson Kent is kept in BNI custody.

Mr. Simspon Kent who has been charged with murder, was brought before a magistrate court a fortnight ago for extradition processes begin, but the case was transferred to High Court on the Second hearing of the case where these revelations were made.

Earlier, officials of the United Kingdom have submitted the necessary documents needed for the extradition of British fugitive Arthur Simpson Kent who is alleged to have committed murder.

According to the state prosecutor who announced this in Court, Rebecca Adjalo, the state received the deposition in the case, authenticated by judicial officials from the UK and have subsequently forwarded it to the Ministry of Interior for the necessary action to be taken for his extradition.

Mr. Simspon Kent who has been charged with murder, was brought before a magistrate court a fortnight ago for extradition processes to begin, but the case was transferred to High Court on the Second hearing of the case.

His lawyers are however asking the court to stand down the case because they have been kept in the dark in the processes.

They also argued that Simpson Kent has been denied on several occasions, access to their client .
The group observed that Mr. Naabus incessant accusation and desperate attempts of inciting Konkombas against the current government will not be tolerated any longer and therefore must put a seal cap to them.

He accused president Mahama for giving the youth in Saboba tractor and by extension the Saboba chief a pickup in the Northern region.

Daniel Bugri Naabu, who has also incessantly accused Mahama of sidelining Konkombas in his cabinet, described the President's gesture as a desperate attempt to win the votes of the Konkomba community in 2016.

But the group in statement in congratulating the president for appointing Mr Kenneth Wujangi as Deputy Chief of Staff in Charge of Operations said Bugri Naabus incessant accusation and desperate attempts of inciting Konkombas against the government will not be tolerated any longer.

Read below the full statement:

On behalf of the teeming youth of kikpakpaang, we, the Konkomba Youth for National Democratic Congress wish to profoundly thank His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama for appointing the illustrious son of kikpakpang, a management and integrated Rural Development Specialist Mr. Wujangi Kenneth as Deputy Chief of Staff in Charge of Operations.

We the youth and entire kikpakpang are inundated with ecstasy upon the announcement of Mr. Wujangi Kenneth, former president of Konkomba Youth Association and We congratulate him for his immense contributions to kikpakpang and mother Ghana that have placed him in the limelightfor such appointment.

As youth, we are very much convinced and confident that, the worth of experience that Mr. Wujangi Kenneth has gathered throughout his life of civil and public services, coupled with selflessness and diligence at work, placed him as an ideal person in H.E John Dramani Mahamas quest of transforming Ghana.'

Mr. Wujangis timely appointment is also a clear indication that H.E John Dramani Mahama has not sidelined Konkombas in his administration as trumpeted by the disgruntled Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr Bugri Naabu and his New Patriotic Party cohorts.

Mr Bugri Naabus incessant accusation and desperate attempt of inciting konkombasagainst H.E John Dramani Mahama has also been shot at the foot and we wish to crave the indulgence of the teeming youth of kikpakpang to uphold their commitment and loyalty to the NDC party as we work to the realization of transforming lives in the Better Ghana Agenda.

More here: Bugri Naabu accuses President Mahama of bribery

We therefore advise and encourage our Konkomba politicians to assume politics of ideas than what Mr. Daniel Bugri Naabu is espousing among konkombas.

Ladies and Gentlemen, We have no doubt in our minds that Mr Wujangi will work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in him by the president as we re-invigorate the bond of commitment and unflinching support for a resounding victory come November 7, 2016.
He said the electronic-banking system introduced in some banks and being extended to rural areas is making financial transactions very easy for businesses and called on the citizens to learn more about the process.

Obaahemaa Akua Ofosua, the Queen Mother of Kade, cut the tape for the inauguration.

At a media briefing, Mr Edwin Ebo Quartey, the General Manager of the Akim Bosome Rural Bank, said the Kade branch was established in 1991 and has 15 employees including mobile bankers, a manageress, banking officers and a credit officer.

Mr Quartey said the Bank has products like fixed deposit, flexible loan terms, savings, "susu" loans, Western Union Money Gram, and E-Zwich.

Madam Rosemond Ampofoa, the Kade Branch Manageress, expressed hope that the bank would introduce new and interesting products to attract more clients.

Mr George Kumi-Brobbey, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, who gave a brief history of the Bank, said it was established in the year 1983 with eight staff at Akim Swedru but now has 81 staff in seven branches at various districts.

He said the Bank assists churches, schools and other institutions and also offers scholarships to brilliant but needy children.
Owners of the dolls claim they have 'supernatural powers,' and now the airline has moved to acknowledge the craze.

The dolls, that looks eerily child-like, will be expected to follow all the in-cabin rules such as wearing a seatbelt when instructed. In return, they will be offered drinks and snacks throughout the flight.

According to Thai News site, the dolls are 'believed to own the soul of the child, therefore, the owners put clothes on them as if they were real children, with hope that the good care the give will bring luck.'
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! 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!
Chude and Debola, who were styled by Ouch and Mai Atafo for the shoot, are co-founders and Managing Partners of Red Media Africa/The Future Project, a full service media-content, communication and development company.

RED's brands consist of The Future Africa Awards Africa, Red Media Africa, Y! Africa and YNaija.com, and they consult for international brands including Microsoft, Google, The British Council and the United States Government.

In addition to that, Debola Williams who is fondly known as Debola Lagos, is one of the brains behind and one of the young bright minds who worked with the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari in reshaping his image, advising how best to win the youth in the just concluded campaigns and polls.

Meanwhile, Chude led on the communication front for the Muhammadu Buhari campaign in 2015, through Statecraft Inc. The digitally-driven movement upset a 16-year monopoly by the previous ruling party, and set off excitement across the continent.

The cover was shot by Ty Bello, who said Wisdom looks good on everyone.. Even inferred wisdom . ..You know the one where the bible says a fool in silence maybe considered wise .. Well these men here don't do silence... They fling forth wisdom ahead of their times and are relentless in pushing the fresh insights theyre given. It was an honour to spend the day with @chudeity and @debolalagos .

Luckily it wasn't a day spent over tweaking our brains. It was Plenty of laughing .. Some worship in the corner here and there and my irresistible urge to pinch Chude's rosy cheeks ( Chude sorry ). In the end they left me inspired ..

It's surprisingly not just about them and their amazingness .. (Though..I must say these guys have all sorts of amazeballs coming effortlessly out their ears ..,) what I sensed instead was a genuine overdrive to push the continent forward. Truly honoured to photograph you.
It was gathered that the hoodlums who were said to be cultists, has stormed the area and captured the man who was also known as Ratio. They went ahead to butcher him in cold blood, while announcing to residents that they should not panic but go about their businesses as they did not come to the area to harm innocent residents but that they were after their man.

It was also learnt from residents that the anxious residents contacted the vigilance group in the area, which in turn contacted the Iponri Police Division, but by the time the police arrived, the miscreants had escaped while the police took the corpse of the murdered man, away.

A resident narrated that when the hoodlums stormed the street in the evening of the day and fired shots into the air, there was panic but that the gang calmed them down, saying they only trailed a rival member to the area, and they had no plan to unleash terror on anyone.

A shop owner on the street who gave his name as Abimbola, said the attackers came in two tricycles (Keke Marwa), and when they got the victim, they pumped bullets into his body but when the bullets did not penetrate him, they brought out cutlasses and inflicted several cuts on him, leaving dead at the end of the day before fleeing the scene.

Another resident said that the murdered man was suspected to be a member of a gang called Fagbayimu Boys in the area, and the other gang came specifically for him.

Those hoodlums had come on Tuesday to attack a shop owner and collected his phones and money. So, when we saw them again on Friday, we were afraid. But they said they knew the person they were looking for.

Minutes later, they found Dada and started shooting at him. There was a man who came to repair his car at a mechanic workshop at that time, he left his car and climbed a fence in fear. But the hoodlums continued to assure people around the scene that they should not run.
It was gathered by witnesses that the gangster who was known as Sunday Terror, was so notorious that h was feared by many during his reign.

He was reportedly shot dead on Monday, January 25, on Ondo Street in the Oyingbo area after he had been declared wanted for several robbery attacks in the state, especially a robbery which he led on New Year's day at the Okobaba area where his second-in-command, identified as Isiaka, was shot dead.

Sunday Terror mt his doom when he allegedly led his gang to unleash violence on residents of Ondo Street during which he exchanged fire with policemen who went to the scene.

A police source said he was shot several times before he finally died, as many bullets did not penetrate his body.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the gang leaders death, adding that the command would continue to ensure safety of lives.

The men of the Denton division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, responded to a distress call in the area and they had an exchange of fire with the suspect. He died in the shootout.
The accused, who pleaded not guilty, was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. According to the prosecutor, Insp. Ignatius Okeke, the accused committed the offences on Jan. 6 at about 06:00a.m. at Oribanwo town, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

Okeke said that the accused, an artisan, assaulted and rape the complainant, Mrs Janet John. Okeke said that the accused waylaid the complainant on her way to her shop, stabbed her on the head with a bottle, which made her unconscious.
Th undergraduate of the Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University, Malaysia, was handed the sentenced by Justice Lateefa Okunnu, after finding him guilty on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, cheque cloning, wire transfer and forgery.

The court found Aroke guilty of the two charges and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment on each of the two counts

The Kogi State born fraudster, the court heard, fell into troubled waters when someone he had scammed petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that he was involved in sundry fraudulent activities on the Internet.

The anti-graft agency then swung into action and investigated the Internet dealings of Aroke and the investigation revealed he was heavily involved in several romance scam that fetched him a total sum of 4,000 riaait Malaysian currency, which is an equivalent of N25 million.
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Health activists say about 240,000 patients on publicly funded treatment programmes were affected by the shortage, which began last September, forcing them to modify their treatments or stop altogether. Private-sector clinics were not impacted.

The government said a weak currency and insufficient foreign exchange had hampered its ability to finance drug imports.

Some activists said they suspected runaway election spending was behind the shortfall, but officials denied the charge.

President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his three decades in power in the Feb. 18 presidential elections

In Uganda about 1.5 million people, or about 4 percent of the population, live with the HIV virus, of whom about 820,000 receive antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, which help keep the patient's viral load low and prevent transmission.

"The Global Fund has already delivered shipments of drugs as scheduled for existing patients and is front-loading an additional 12-month supply of drugs," Seth Faison, the Fund's head of communications, said in an email response to questions, adding the 12-month supply would arrive next month.

Faison said the first consignment of the new supply would arrive in Uganda in February. But he acknowledged that front-loading the delivery of drugs, while not increasing the total amount of drugs it sends, was a "short-term solution."

"The government needs to mobilize resources to fill the gaps and find a long-term solution," Faison said.

The Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a public-private partnership set up in 2002 which has made impressive progress in tackling epidemics of those three deadly infectious diseases.

But Joshua Wamboga, who heads the Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organisations (UNASO), said that "drug holidays" - when a patient stops taking prescribed medication - could spur the development of drug-resistant HIV strains and cause patients to be more vulnerable to opportunistic infections, like malaria.
According to Leadership, the statement said Three of the suspected cases were confirmed positive of Lassa fever. One case was confirmed on the January 15, 2016 and two cases were confirmed on January 18, 2016. Eight suspected cases tested negative, while we are awaiting results for the remaining three suspected cases. The ministry has listed 447 contacts of the confirmed cases and 438 (98 per cent) of the contacts are currently being monitored.

In a bid to curb the spread of the disease, the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), Lagos State Chapter, on Monday, January 25, 2016, said that it had destroyed no fewer than 4,400 rats at six major markets in the state under its de-rat market programme.

Meanwhile, in Akwa-Ibom, the commissioner for health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, has confirmed to newsmen, the death of a 53 year old woman who tested positive to Lassa Fever.

The fear of Lassa Fever seems to be the beginning of wisdom these days.
According to Punch, Ukpong, also said another patient undergoing treatment escaped the hospital.

So far, three victims have died of the disease.

Meanwhile, in a bid to curb the spread of the disease, the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), Lagos State Chapter, on Monday, January 25, 2016, said that it had destroyed no fewer than 4,400 rats at six major markets in the state under its de-rat market programme.

Also, contrary to reports of the Lassa Fever disease surfacing in Katsina, Dr Kabir Bakori, the Medical Director of Funtua General Hospital, Funtua in Katsina State, said that the suspected isolated Lassa Fever patient, whose name was withheld, tested negative to the disease.
Buru said lassa fever, Ebola, Rabies, and Avian Influenza, which are diseases transmitted from Animals-to-Humans need serious attention. Buru, who is also the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, said in a statement that with the increasing threat and spread of lassa fever in the country, there is the need for government to use mosques and churches to sensitize the citizens on dangers of zoonosis diseases, that surround Human environment.

There are over 250 zoonotic organisms, with only about 40 being transmitted from dogs and cats. The rest of the zoonotic organisms are transmitted from birds, reptiles, farm animals, wildlife, and other mammals.
Adewole disclosed this at the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) health policy dialogue series '1' on Tuesday in Abuja.

"At Emergency National Council meeting held last week we inaugurated a committee on Lassa fever eradication because I do not believe we should be talking about control, but rather this country should sign off the obituary of Lassa fever.

"I call it an embarrassment because as a nation we cannot witness Lassa fever every year, it is rather abnormal for a nation that has resources like we should have to be witnessing such epidemic, he said.

Adewole, however, said other efforts of the government at ending scourge include existence of eight functional diagnostic centres across the country and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

According to him, there is also intensified effort by the government in establishing additional laboratories in Bauchi, Niger, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa and Ogun states.

He assured that with the strengthening of the nations epidemiology surveillance and response `Lassa fever would be put under locked and key.

Adewole further said the nation needed to be proactive and institute evidence base measures to confront varying health challenges. He assured of the Presidents commitment toward quick implementation of National Health Act which encompasses adequate and quality healthcare services to all the populace.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari will launch basic health provision funds, adding that with such measure government will be able to offer free healthcare services considerable number of Nigerians.

"The Ministry of Health will work with the Primary Healthcare Development Agency and NHIS for assured basic healthcare package for the populace, he said.

Dr Ben Anyene, Chairman, Board of Trustees, HERFON, however decried non-inclusion of the National Health Act in the 2016 budget proposal.

Speaking on the theme "The 2014 National Health Act; Funding and achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria, Anyene described its implementation as a way toward attaining universal health coverage.

He highlighted some of the areas covered by the Act to include rights and obligations of users and healthcare personnel, human resources for health and regulations, among others.

According to him, the "implementation is an emergency considering the components of the Act. However, he urged the federal and state governments to find means of capturing it in the budgets rather than focusing on international agencies funding.

The chairman blamed the challenges of implementation on political will and economic factors, among others.

"The basic constraint is the commitment to agree that we need to get this Act implemented the way it is.

"We do not need to have 100 per cent of people agreeing, but if majority of critical stakeholders believe in what we are discussing, we can drive the process.
While advocating that the allocation be increased, she said N4billion earmarked for the Ministry suggests that the APC has used and dumped Nigerian women.

She said: if the allocation in the budget was not jerked up.

The allocation to women in this budget is the least ever. Less than N4bn was allocated to women when capital projects alone are N3bn. This is not going to go down well. I think the women have been used and dumped after elections.

This is not going to go down well with us at all and this is why I'm calling for the upward review of the allocation to women, otherwise we will incur the wrath of women.

Mrs Tinubu, who also the the chairman of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs urged the Senate Committee on Appropriations to address the issue during budget defence.

When it gets to the committee level, we should find means to adjust the allocation," she said.
This was disclosed by General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Mohammed Sani Ali during a media parley in Damaturu, the state capital.

On 15th January 2016 Boko Haram Terrorists that attacked troops of 120 Battallion at Goniri were pursued, but the terrorists fled towards Ajgin, Talala and Kafa Villages, furthermore the same day 14 suspected Hoko Haram Terrorists were sighted towards Churokusko Village along Babban Gida road in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, troops of 233 Battallion Vigilantes launched an attack on the terrorists and as a result all the 14 Boko Haram Terrorists were killed, he said.

Regrettably one Soldier was wounded and another terrorists was killed as well one AK-47 rifle was recovered the following day, he added.
Pulse gathered that the women who usually access their husbands account for family needs are now crying because of the introduction of the BVN.

Mary Andrew, a widow of one of the slain soldiers, said she was crying because she can't access her husband's account.

Mary is not alone in this agony. Over 60 wives of the fallen heroes in the ongoing military 'Operation Lafiya Dole' against Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents in the North-East are also facing similar horror.

Our children are being sent out of schools because we can't pay school fees. As I speak, none of us can access our late or missing husbands bank accounts because of this policy," Mary said.

The women are crying but the men in the battle fields are making progress, winning the war against the insurgents.

Troops conducted a clearance operation at Shentimari General Area and cleared Boko Haram enclaves, recovering 78 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, military authorities said.

At Chukun Gudu, troops destroyed terrorists' camps along Jillam, Bula Butube general areas.10 terrorists were killed, 2 AK47 Rifles, 2 AK47 magazines, 2 solar panels and 2 GSM handsets were recovered with 1 Isuzu vehicle destroyed.

"Terrorists' camps/enclaves at Ngwalimiri and Gazama in Damboa Local Government Area have been cleared and 10 suspected Boko Haram members from Bego, Mesemarri and Bale villages were intercepted carrying bags containing food condiments, soaps, and other items at Mufurundi village along Damboa-Bale road. The military killed 3 terrorists at Wajirok- Ajigin," the Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General Hassan Umaru has confirmed the report, while also commending his gallant soldiers.

The military authority's breakdown of successes seems to be heart warming but that is not being achieved without casualties from the Nigeria military.

"21 terrorists were killed in Marte while 3 soldiers wounded during the encounter. One Anti Air Gun, 10 AK47 rifles,1 FN rifle,7 x 60mm MOR bombs, qty 342 rounds of 12.7mm, Qty 507 rounds of 7.62mm ammunitions, 1 Toyota Hilux, 1 Land Cruiser vehicle, 1 IED with charger were captured from the terrorists," authorities say.

The terrorists who have been waging a seven year war seeking to carve out an Islamic territory within Nigeria's North East region are beginning to surrender.

Three terrorists said to have been forced into joining the group voluntarily surrendered themselves to Damboa Vigilante Group at Kaya village even though one of the civilian JTF died of stabbing in that process.

Rugga Fulani in Dure village has also been cleared by the military, killing eight terrorists and recovering 2 AK47 rifles,2 dane guns, 3 AK47 Magazines with 38 rounds of ammunition. Wala, Tirkopytir, and Durubajuwe villages have also been cleared with 1 rusty GPMG barrel, 1 grinding machine and a dane gun recovered.

Many communities in Borno state including Afe, Kudiye, Souma, Dika, Mijigeta and Mida have been cleared, with over 20 terrorists killed.

"3 rifles, 41 motorcycles were destroyed, 370 hostages rescued and brought to the IDP camp at Dikwa. In Huyum, Jeje and Diba villages, 5 women, 12 children of the terrorists were intercepted, while four were killed," Gen Umaru disclosed.

However, widows of the men who fought and are still fighting the insurgents hardly can eat. Some of them are beggars on the streets of Maiduguri and Biu Local governments, it was gathered.

"In the last two months since the BVN came into force, we find it difficult to eat. some of us have become beggars on the streets of Maiduguri and Biu," the widow, Mary, disclosed.
The 10-man delegation, led by the United States Secretary of Commerce, Ms Penny Pritzker, told the President that they were in Nigeria to better understand the opportunities and challenges of doing business in the country.

"All these make us optimistic about working together. We are not here to sell policies, but to partner with you", Pritzker said.

She said her team was very optimistic about the President's administration's commitment to "security, good governance, fighting corruption, having reliable and regular regulatory policies".

He said: "I remain grateful for the reception accorded me and my team when we visited the United States at the invitation of President Obama. We discussed security, corruption, infrastructure, and many other issues.

"We thank America for sending experts to train our troops and providing hardware for our military because we must first stabilise the country before we can move it forward".

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who was also at the meeting, said the current challenges the country is facing is an opportunity in disguise - a chance to diversify the economy.

"It's time to diversify our economy from oil. We've always talked about it, but never got round to doing it. The opportunity has come now. We have all it takes to be an agricultural nation. We also have solid minerals and we must develop our infrastructure in order to aid business", he said.

Pulse recalls that yesterday, Jan. 25, the United States presented several to the Nigeria Army as part of its commitment to help Nigeria in combating the terror group, Boko Haram.

The delegation comprised US Ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle and three others.

Pritzker said they were in Nigeria to better understand the opportunities and challenges of doing business in the country.

She said her team was very optimistic about President Buhari's administration's commitment to "security, good governance, fighting corruption, having reliable and regular regulatory policies".

Pritzker stated: "All these make us optimistic about working together. We are not here to sell policies, but to partner with you".

President Buhari said his government would continue to welcome the support and understanding of the United States as it strives to achieve greater internal security and socio-economic progress in Nigeria.

The president applauded ongoing American collaboration with his administration on security and developmental issues.

"I remain grateful for the reception accorded me and my team when we visited the United States at the invitation of President Obama. We discussed security, corruption, infrastructure, and many other issues.

"We thank America for sending experts to train our troops and providing hardware for our military because we must first stabilise the country before we can move it forward", Buhari said.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was at the meeting, noted that though Nigeria currently faced serious challenges, it was also a time of great opportunities for the nation.
This information is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

According to the statement, Buhari, on arrival in Kenya, will join his host, President Uhuru Kenyatta and other dignitaries at a memorial service for Kenyan soldiers who were killed by Al-Shabaab in Somalia on Jan. 15.

It stated that after the memorial service in Eldoret, Buhari would proceed to Nairobi for bilateral talks on Thursday with Kenyan Government officials led by Kenyatta. It said before the conclusion of his visit, the presidents would preside over a Kenya-Nigeria Business Forum in Nairobi.

"At the conclusion of his visit to Kenya on Friday, Buhari will go on to Addis Ababa for the 26th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government."
He made the remark in a lecture at the opening of the 2016 Annual National Political Summit organised by the Save Democracy Group Africa (SDG-Africa) in Abuja.

The legislations, he said, included the Pension Reform Act, the Privatisation and Commercialisation Act, the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, among others.

He noted that the legislative arm had used its authority to stabilise the nations polity by providing the required legal framework, including the Electoral Act for the conduct of elections.

"A notable constitutional amendment was also made to insulate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from control of the President of the federation in running its affairs, he added.

Dogara, therefore, called for proper funding of the legislature, saying "we cannot actually have a vibrant, independent and highly motivated legislature ready to take on the executive for good governance and accountability on behalf of the Nigerian people without proper funding.

"A well funded legislature is cheaper in the long run.

"This is because one properly conducted investigation with NASS that is financially self sufficient could make savings that may be more than the yearly budget of the entire Assembly.

He said that the 8th national assembly would sooner than later revisit the issue of constitution amendment. In his lecture, Alhaji Maitama Sule, an elderstatesman, urged the summit delegates to find a way of making African democracy to reflect the culture of its people.

Sule said that the cultural perimeter of the people should always determine the peoples style of democracy.

"I may be wrong but I think our democracy in Africa is `Euro-centric, not Afro-centric.

"In your discussion, I will like you to see how we can make our democracy to really succeed by considering our culture.

Prof. Amos Sawyer, the President of Interim Government of Liberia said Africa was making progress in establishing and sustaining democratic institutions in spite of associated challenges. Some of the challenges, he said, included civil conflict caused by poor governance, abuse of power, the lack of ideology and internal democracy among political parties.

He said that "in spite of the imperfections, democracy remains the best form of government and many African countries are working on free and credible elections.
Malami made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during an interactive session with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice.

He said that his ministry also intends to recover 6.9 million pounds "Ibori loot" on behalf of the Federal Government.

He said: In respect of the recovery of looted assets, the ministry will engage in an agreed waive policy of using Mutual Legal Assistance Agreements or other bilateral and multilateral instruments.

''We will seek cooperation with other jurisdictions to ensure the repatriation of illicitly- acquired assets in foreign jurisdictions.

''The collaboration will equally involve the engagement of foreign-based counsel to attend to matters on behalf of the Federal Government.

''Low-hanging fruits being targeted in this initiative include 750 million dollars 'Abacha loot' as well as 6.9 million pounds of `Ibori loot.

Commenting on terrorism, Malami said that his ministry was currently processing 800 terrorism cases for prosecution.

''The resources required for the successful prosecution of these cases as well as the general coordination of the Criminal Justice Sector Act, were fully captured in the 2016 budget.
But State commissioner for information, Ahmed Sajo, who said security men were on top of the situation, added that government would compensate both injured victims and those whose houses were destroyed.

Also giving an update concerning the attack, Adamawa State Police Commissioner, Gazzali Mohammed, said that Fulani herdsmen attacked communities in the state and not Boko Haram as being speculated.

The police commissioner disassociated the terrorist group carrying out deadly attacks in the North Eastern Nigeria and blamed it on Fulani herdsmen who have had disagreement with farmers in the area. He reaffirmed the arrest of some suspects in connection with the killing adding, "They are under interrogation."

According to the Commissioner, the attack was a reprisal carried out by some herdmens over the killing of a 10-year-old fulani boy.

Mr Mohammed could not give the actual number of the suspects arrested but added that some military personnel drafted to the area also sustained injuries in the attack.

Pulse gathered that a Principal with Government Day Secondary School Koh, Mr John Buba was also killed in the attack.
According to the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Hon Ezekiel Baba-Karik , Pulse no life was lost in the accident. "Hundreds of Millions have been lost to the fire," Baba-Karik said, adding that the state government will do everything possible to assuage the sufferings of the traders.

An Eyes witness said the fire started on Tuesday morning but the traders could not contained it. "As you can see, I lost everything to this fire," Mohammed Abdullahi said. "We want the government to come to our aid" he added.
Ahmed made the suggestion when a team of Course 38 of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Ilorin on Tuesday.

He said the slide in crude oil price could be a blessing in disguise and could translate into good tidings if the country used the opportunity well. Ahmed said a shift in focus on a single product economy to agriculture and other natural resources would cushion the prevailing harsh economic realities in the country.

"Most developed countries had been challenged as their ingenuity was brought to the fore. People who live in harsh environment have no option but to be innovative.

"We should stand up, take advantage of agriculture and use it to drive an economy that will employ and also feed Nigerians. This is the time for us to take that advantage, he said.

Ahmed said it was worrisome that Nigeria was a major importer of rice despite its potentials of being the food basket of the West African Sub-region.

He added that a proper synergy between the federal and the state governments must evolve on how to properly explore and exploit vast solid minerals in the country for economic growth.

The governor called for extensive sensitisation of the citizenry that the national wealth must come from a regenerative process through the local development of primary products.

"We must take advantage of the land, the surface water, the sunshine and most importantly the population to transform this country into an economic hub, Ahmed added.

He commended the armed forces for protecting the territorial integrity of the country and called for their greater involvement in the nation building under a democratic dispensation.

Leader of the team, Brig. Gen. Moshood Jimoh said the team was in Kwara for a strategic study of the non-oil sectors potentials of the state.

Jimoh said "the theme of the course is Repositioning Nigerias Non-oil Sector as a Major Source of Revenue.
According to The Guardian, Uwujaren said the court found him guilty of the two charges and was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment on each of the two counts. The sentences are to run concurrently.

He also said Troubles came for Aroke when an anonymous petitioner wrote to the EFCC alleging that the Kogi State-born undergraduate was involved in sundry fraudulent activities on the Internet. The EFCC swung into action and investigated the Internet dealings of Aroke. Investigations showed that he was involved in several romance scam that fetched him a total sum of 4,000 riyadh (Malaysian currency).

"Aroke admitted sending the money to Nigeria through one Angela, who later helped him deposit its naira equivalent, N25 million, in a new generation bank.
The Executive Director of the group, Mr Kehinde Oluwafunso, who made the call at a news conference in Lagos, added that his organisation would ensure that justice was done to the family.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the policeman, Sgt. Stephen James, alleged to have been drunk on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, shot dead the twin brothers, Taiwo and Kehinde Oyesunle.

NAN reports that the policeman also killed a friend of the twins, simply identified as Jeje before shooting himself dead at Paulson Hotel, Anibaba Street, Ketu. The NGO, which expressed sadness over the killings, said that the communities of twins and their friend in Lagos State were mourning the demise of the young men who were in their early 30s.

"Morally, the action is highly condemnable in any sane society because it is an inhumanity to humanity and injustice.

"Constitutionally, the organisation is suing the Nigeria Police for this heartbreaking and unconstitutional action, Oluwafunso said.

The executive director said that the Nigeria Police should compensate the family of Oyesunle and rehabilitate their mother. Oluwafunso also lamented that the police did not visit the family of the deceased, particularly their mother.

The NGO called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, and the Lagos Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, to visit the family as a mark of respect for the dead.

"The Lagos State Government or the concerned authority should rename Dairo Street, Ketu, where the twin brothers lived before their death as Taiwo and Kehinde Oyesunle Street.
Mohammed, who declined to mention the name of the affected agency, said this at a news conference in Abuja.

"Actually, it is my ministry - Information and Culture. This was what had happened before we got here.

"One of the parastatals actually there was a racket in which N300,000 to N400,000 jobs were given.

"I think this involved almost 400 people and the racket was uncovered. ``I think the first 200 plus were engaged before I came in.

"What was pathetic about that particular scandal was that it involved very fairly senior officials, one was on grade level 17.Unfortunately, he is late today.

"They immediately sent out text (messages) and people paid into their designated accounts. ``They compromised IPPIS; they took IPPIS vouchers to capture these people on the payroll.

"Like I said, this is what happened before we came in, but it will be to the credit of the ministry even before we came in they stepped in.

"About 200 plus were disengaged, but when I came in I realised that the perpetrators themselves were still in the service.

"And I said `this cannot stand because somehow, somewhere, some people were trying to overturn the decisions even in the ministry and I said that such people should be dismissed.

"And I said they should not be only dismissed but (be) handed over to the police and that has been done.''

The minister urged Nigerians not to be taken in by the antics of the sponsored denunciation of the anti-graft war. He said the treasury looters, who have so much resources in their kitty, and their cohorts would throw everything but the kitchen sink at the present administration.

"But we have no doubt that Nigerians are discerning enough to know the truth which, in the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, is that unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

"This administration will neither be distracted nor intimidated by anyone into abandoning or weakening the fight against corruption, which is a war of survival for our nation.

"No amount of media or other attacks will stop the fight. The pseudo-analysts and hack writers will labour in vain in their quest to stop the train of this anti-corruption fight.

According to him, today corruption is already fighting back, and it is fighting hard and dirty.

"Sponsored articles have started appearing in the newspapers and in the Social Media, while 'Talking Heads' have started making the rounds in the electronic media, all deriding the fight against corruption as well as this administration.

"Not stopping there, they have been creating distractions by sponsoring articles in both local and international media to deride the administration's policies generally, tag the President a budding dictator and even write off his 2016 budget.

Mohammed said the sole purpose of these attacks was to distract attention from the war on corruption.

"Let's talk more about the cost of corruption. Have you noticed that whereas Nigeria's national budget has increased from just over N900 billion in 1999 to over N6 trillion in 2016, poverty has also increased almost by the same proportion?

"The reason is not far-fetched: Appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of a few looters.

The minister said when the money meant to construct roads were looted, the end result was that the roads were not built and the people suffered and even died in avoidable road accidents.

"When the money meant to provide electricity is looted, we all are perpetually sentenced to darkness.

"When the money meant for healthcare is pocketed by a few, we are unable to reduce maternal and infant mortality. These are the costs of corruption.
You will recall that George Uboh, the Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security System, accused the former EFCC boss, of diverting N1trrecovered from various individuals who looted Nigerias treasury.

Speaking further Senator Anyanwu said The period given to us to submit our report has lapsed and Lamorde has refused to honour our invitations. We have therefore, decided to put together our interim report. It is left for the Senate to take further action after we would have submitted our report.

Adding that As far as there was no restriction on the Senate by any court of competent jurisdiction, we will carry on with our assignment and we will submit our interim report on the issue probably this week.

We have not received any injunction from the court restraining us from doing our duty as far as that matter is concerned. If the Senate deems it fit to issue a warrant of arrest against him, it will be determined at plenary during the consideration of our interim report.
Akpobolokemi was arraigned along with Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee Juan, Vincent Udoye, Captain Adegboyega Olopoenia and a company, Gama Marine Nig. Ltd.

They were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with offences bordering on stealing and forgery to the tune of N754.8 million. They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following an application for bail, moved by defence counsel, Mr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Justice Raliat Adebiyi granted the first to fifth accused persons N20 million bail each, with two sureties each in like sum.

She granted the sixth and seventh accused persons bail in the sum of N2 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

She added that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means and fixed Feb. 24 for trial.

In the charge, the accused persons were alleged to have between Oct. 30, 2014 and May 6, 2015, converted more than N300 million belonging to NIMASA to their personal use.

The funds were allegedly released to them for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS).

They were also alleged to have converted, to their use, the sum of over N257 million also money released for the VIMSAS scheme.

The defendants were also alleged to have knowingly forged a document titled "Re: Request For Payment as consultant for VIMSAS Administration Services," dated May 25, 2015 purported to have been issued by Aroward Consulting Ltd.
Sani said further that some people who had been parading themselves as President Muhammadu Buharis friends would soon be tried for corruption, Vanguard reports.

The Senator, who represents the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, is said to have made the disclosure to journalists during a solidarity visit from female supporters.

Corrupt Nigerians have stashed unbelievable amount of monies in Dubai alone in the name of estates acquisition, purchase of exotic houses and business partnership in the last 16 years, Sani said.

Some have stashed raw cash. This is why the US, and Europe are making conditions for laundering of money into their countries very difficult. These crooks have now found it conducive to use the Middle East and South East Asia as their destinations. They use names of their cronies, family members and friends to siphon public funds out of Nigeria.

Some of them are APC members, who had their political upbringing in the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Sooner than later those who are parading themselves as Buharis friends, but are corrupt, will be interrogated, prosecuted because the President does not know friend or relation as far as the fight against corruption is concerned.

It was based on the information on the quantity and quality of the assets of corrupt Nigerians that President Buhari had to sign that agreement with UAE at Abu Dhabi. I can tell you that it was smart and patriotic move. Let me advise the President to steer clear of hypocrites, because it is better to live with an enemy than hypocrite because hypocrite derives joy from stabbing ones back.

Over $200 billion Dollars are stashed away from Nigeria to Dubai alone. This may the monies stolen since in the past 20 years. I am not talking about estates and bonds and other securities bought with Nigeria stolen money. Buhari is going to recover all these monies and assets with the help of UAE.

If you notice now, since the agreement, some of the corrupt persons are now rushing to Dubai to effect changes in the ownerships of the ill-gotten assets. But, they are just wasting their time. President Buhari needs the support of all Nigerians to wipe out corruption from the country. The President is on rescue mission. He needs our support.

We cannot sit down idly and watch people sabotaged Buhari, and I can tell you that since Buhari went to Dubai, there were three attempts to sabotage Buharis government. The first one was that they planted a story in newspapers that there was crisis in Buharis government because he went to Dubai.

The second one was that they planted fake lists of Nigerians that have property in Dubai, while we were waiting for the original list of those who have houses in Dubai. And the third one was to sponsor foreign media to discredit Buharis economic policies, he said.

Sani had earlier urged Buhari to extend his search for funds looted from Nige to China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand.
The police has denied receiving the warrant for the arrest of the ex-militant leader.

According to Punch, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole said We have not received the court order on Tompolo till now and that is why we have not effected his arrest.

Following the refusal of repented militant to appear before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

The EFCC has levelled different fraud allegations against Tomplo and his accomplice, the former boss of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.

In a fresh charge brought against him recently, the ex-militant leader was accused of defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N22.8b

Akpobolokemi is currently standing trial, but Tompolo has refused to show up in court, despite a court order that was issued for him to appear in court.
The party's National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Mr Edegbe Odemwingie, the party's Assistant Director (Publicity).

"The APC is not broke as erroneously reported.

"The concerned news media had unfairly and unethically twisted and misrepresented comments by the party's National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun," the statement said.

It would be recalled that the national Chairman of the party had in a news conference on Jan. 25 said "the party too is suffering from the stresses and strains of funding just like every institution in our polity.

"That also goes to tell you that we are not a party that withdraws money from security votes or from any government agency.

"We are working on plans to raise money from within the membership. That plan has matured and will soon be put into operation."
Fayose also warned Buhari that toying with him would lead to the collapse of his administration.

The governor made the comments during a recent interview with Premium Times over the weekend.

Excerpts below:

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. That is why I told you Buhari is a dictator; he can never lead a people or a government without being dictatorial. In Nigerian politics I only say the truth.

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 oh! Dont let my mother die oh! I am not in that category. Most noble men today have gone underground for fear of the unknown.

I 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 beaten in Ibadan when we queued up for essential commodities.

I remember how he stopped import duties and did a lot of things damaging to the economy, the same way he is still doing it today. 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. I am salt. He should be mindful of me. 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.

I am not impressed. I am not impressed. Buhari administration has shown the hallmark of a very vindictive leader. 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.
Aziegbemi, a former member of the House of Representatives, made the disclosure during a recent interview with Vanguard.

Excerpts below:

Whats your reaction to insinuations that the ongoing anti-corruption war is one sided?

I did not vote for Buhari in the last presidential election and I am so happy that I voted for former President Goodluck Eble Jonathan. I am happy that I did. Having said that, I think with Buhari at the helm of affairs in this country, Nigerians are in for a one chance bus. We are doomed for disaster; Buhari does not have the capacity to lead this country.

Buhari knows and if he doesnt know, that is a pity, that the office of the National Security Adviser is an office that is made to give security cover to the government of the day in whatsoever form or shape.

Security cover

He knows that the money he is talking about that the National Security Adviser gave to many people is not money from the budget of the nation. It is not. He should know if he doesnt know that the office of the National Security Adviser will be there after him and he is trying to rubbish that office.

The President knows that the office of the National Security Adviser can and is mostly used for some of those things he is accusing Col. Sambo Dasuki of. So, what Buhari is doing is shamelessly probing the political funds of the PDP though the backdoor. That is what he is doing with the Dasukigate.

I can hazard a guess that there are over twenty different accounts in the office of the National Security Adviser and not all monies that come into the office of National Security Adviser are meant for the purchase of arms. Not. If not, where did the National Security Adviser get the money to buy the three Bullet Proof Jeeps they gave him after he was attacked and almost assassinated by Boko  Haram? That money was not taken from the account meant for the Armed forces.

Everything he does is to see my perceived enemies languishing in jail, in detention. Whether that will be good for the nation, that is not his business as far as he makes sure that is what will happen.

The man has lost the capacity to rule this country, but thank God that four years is not too far, we trust the judgment of Nigerians and I am sure everybody was carried away by his anti-corruption toga, but I am sure that in as much as some of us believe that corruption should be fought, we also know that we are supposed to put in place policies that will develop the economy that would make Nigerians make money for themselves and make everybody happy in the system.

There is this belief by Nigerians that the 2.1 billion US Dollars was meant for the purchase of arms.

What he is trying to do is to paint PDP in bad light, to think that all the money that came into the office of the National Security Adviser was given to only PDP people.

No. I can guess, this is about trust, that perhaps former President Goodluck Jonathan had implicit trust in Dasuki and felt that some of the money he needed to run his campaign could be channelled through the office of the NSA.

What is really painful is that he is painting a picture that is not real, he is painting a picture that money meant for arms was being diverted into private pockets or into PDP stalwarts pockets.

Dasuki has been accused of supervising the stealing of $2.1 billion in funds which were meant for the procurement of arms for Nigerias military.
Fayose also denied making treasonable comments while criticizing PresidentMuhammadu Buhari.

The governors remarks were contained in a statement released by his media aide, Idowu Adelusi.

It reads:

APC is obviously calling for a coup-de-tat against a governor democratically elected, whose tenure is fixed and mode of possible removal from office is stipulated in the Constitution of Nigeria.

There is no point wrestling with pigs. For people with sound, discerning minds, they would, no doubt, wonder why somebody with a decent background and sound mind would refer to the governor of his state as needing psychiatric attention or not been able to survive in a law abiding society?

Politics apart, this is madness taken too far and beyond redemption. Governor Ayodele Fayose came and cleaned up the mess left by the APC government of Dr Kayode Fayemi and its hordes of blood suckers, who made Ekiti State to bleed to a point of coma. He has not only been alive to his duty as the indefatigable leader of the state, but has consistently put smiles on the faces of the people.

If the APC goons are piqued that Mr Governor is criticising the President, they can relocate to Abuja and denounce their indiqeneship of Ekiti State. They must know that Governor Fayose, like any other Nigerian, is exercising his constitutional rights of freedom of speech. He has not breached anybody's rights by constructively commenting on national issues.

It is obvious that having failed in their efforts to gained access to the Ekiti State Government through the backdoor, they now desired a situation whereby the State Government House will also be invaded by the DSS as it was done in Akwa-Ibom State, but on this one, they will fail as usual.

Governor Fayose clearly expressed his minds in the interview they are trying to capitalise on by warning that any attempt to destabilise his government could lead to the downfall of the APC government and he stands by what he said. The governor never said he was going to bring the government of President Mohammadu Buhari down.

Therefore, Nigerians do not need the apology of a group of shameless hypocrites like the APC in Ekiti State. Rather, what Nigerians need at this time is someone who can look at President Buhari in the eyes and tell him the bitter truth, and thats exactly what Governor Fayose is doing.
Okotie also urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to clean up the corruption in the country.

More than at any time in our history, we need discipline in the armed forces. And, thank God we have an ex-general, who is an epitome of discipline and transparency, in power, the pastor said according to Punch.

I urge Nigerians to support his anti-corruption campaign which aims to rid this country of PDPs legacy of a government of the corrupt, by the corrupt, and for the corrupt, he added.

Buhari has consistently expressed his determination to rid the country of the plague of corruption and has even sought the help of foreign governments to recover looted funds stashed abroad.
Sani statement is coming few days after he was accused of holding meeting with members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) from the Southern part of the state, which he debunk.

He was also controversially slammed with 11-Months suspension by the state officials of the APC, but the National Headquarters declared such a decision null "I would remain in APC as long as President Buhari is still in the APC," Sani said while distributing one hundred thousand transistor radio sets to seven local government areas under his senatorial district.

"Buhari is APC," Sani said." He said distribution of the radio was to raise the political consciousness of the people.

"We come from a part of the country where the major and most important source of information is the radio. Radio is an empowerment, a form of education and enlightenment."

"I am sharing this radio to the downtrodden within the cities and the rural areas so that they would be abreast with what is happening within their own locality, nationally and state," he said.

Senator Sani told journalists that the National body of APC has already invalidated his suspension from the party and advised the two parties to avoid any form of attack and counter attack.

"I have instructed all my supporters and followers to abide by this, but unfortunately, some people are capitalizing on the crisis for their own monetary gains.

"I am saying it in clear terms that as far as I am concerned we would abide by what the national body says," he said
The governor stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, all the 36 governors of the federation have resolved to wage war against corruption in their various states, saying that all hands must be on deck in the fight against corrupt practices.

"Corruption is not in terms of the magnitude. It is core value system that really needs to be analysed and actually see if we can get rid of it out of the fabric of our own society.

"We strongly support the fight against corruption. All the governors in Nigeria are waging the same war in their different domains, and trying to set up structures, trying to see how we can minimise, at least, if not possible to deal with it overnight to eliminate them.

"But at least we must deal with corruption even to the barest minimum, that is totally insignificant in the system and I think, that is where we are heading to. On the outcome of his meeting with the president, the governor revealed that he had a fruitful economic discussion with President Buhari, and also briefed him on the happenings in Akwa Ibom.

"Specifically, I came here today because there are some investments opportunities that we have to discuss, so I had to brief the president on these opportunities.
This was disclosed by the ).

Aroke, a student of Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University, Malaysia, was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence; cheque cloning, wire transfer and forgery.

Spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren said he was found guilty on both counts and was sentenced to 12 years in jail for each of them. Both jail terms will be done concurrently.

Troubles came for Aroke when an anonymous petitioner wrote to the EFCC alleging that the Kogi State-born undergraduate was involved in sundry fraudulent activities on the Internet. The EFCC swung into action and investigated the Internet dealings of Aroke. Investigations showed that he was involved in several romance scam that fetched him a total sum of 4,000 riyadh (Malaysian currency).
Chit Wai, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), declined to give any details about the companies he said submitted expressions of interest earlier this month.

But unlike already established operators Telenor and Ooredoo, the foreign firm that wins this 15-year license will be a minority shareholder in a joint venture with a consortium of 11, little-known public companies which are mainly focused on agriculture, as well as a government shareholder.

The obscurity of the companies poses a potential problem in Myanmar, where some entities and businessmen are still targeted by U.S. sanctions, connections to the military are not uncommon and reputational risk remains high.

The companies' lack of experience in telecoms or IT, and the complex partnership structure stipulated by the government, is also likely to complicate matters: Ye Min Aung, the managing director of consortium-member Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation said the new operator should focus on providing information that is relevant to farmers.

"Decision making will be very difficult," said Shane Thu Aung, the chairman of internet provider Redlink Communications. He previously ran a firm tipped to partner with Vietnam's Viettel as the fourth operator before that deal fell apart.

Penetration rates, however, are around 63 percent according to the expression of interest documents issued by the MCIT, which his lower than several other Southeast Asian nations.

"There is still money to be made but you are competing with three entrenched operators."
MTNs lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has sought 60 days from the court to allow for further discussions between the parties, while stating that the parties were exploring settlement options.

According to The Nation, the counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Oladipo Okpeseyi, retorted that the telecommunication firm had not been consistent in its move for an amicable resolution.

This is a matter of national importance. There has been concessions in the past and nothing happened, Okpeseyi said, according to the report.

Justice Mohammed Idris granted MTNs prayer and held that the preliminary objections and substantive application be taken together.

MTN Nigeria had been fined by the NCC in October for allegedly failing to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered subscribers.

The initial fine of $5.2 billion was reduced by 25 percent to $3.9 billion by the NCC, with a December 31, 2015, payment deadline.
Bouteflika, rarely been seen in public since he suffered a stroke in 2013, began curbing the military's influence before his re-election in April 2014, in what analysts said was preparation for his eventual departure after more than 15 years in power.

But the decree to shut the Department of Intelligence and Security, or DRS by its French initials, and replace it with the Direction of Security Services is a significant move to restructure the intelligence apparatus.

Despite presidential elections, analysts say, Algeria's politics has long been dominated by the ruling FLN party elites and the military, who engage in backroom manoeuvring for political influence in the North African OPEC state.

Bouteflika last year removed Mohamed Mediene, the DRS for more than two decades, sidelining someone who had been a major figure in past behind-the-scenes power struggles.

Mediene, one of whose nicknames was the "King of Algeria", had long played the role of political kingmaker, analysts said, influencing leadership choices in backroom tussles between civilian and military factions even while trying to maintain stability among them.

The decision to dissolve the DRS has yet to be published in the official gazette. But security sources familiar with the decision said General Athmane Tartag, a retired DRS chief, will led the new intelligence agency from his office at the presidency.

Since Algeria's 1962 independence from France, the military has long played a role in politics. But during the country's 1990s war with Islamist fighters, the DRS extended its sway over political parties, media and economy in the name of security.

For the past two years, Bouteflika had already moved to steadily ease the DRS out of civilian interests, retiring generals and restructuring parts of the military, transferring DRS roles to army officials seen as loyal to the presidency.

"The move will enable Algeria's intelligence to move from a 'secret police' to a more proper intelligence agency to adapt to ongoing regional and domestic political transition," security analyst Arslan Chikhaoui told Reuters.

Algeria is a pivotal partner in the Western-led campaign against Islamic militancy in North Africa and the Sahel region. But Libya's chaos next door, the rise of Islamic State in the region and instability in Mali are major concerns.
The latest in a long series of so-called insider attacks took place at a checkpoint in the Chenartu district of the volatile southern province of Uruzgan, district chief Faiz Mohmmad told Reuters.

He said security forces were looking for the policemen and the presumed Taliban allies who joined him in shooting his colleagues in the early hours of Tuesday.

"After the shooting, the policeman and Taliban stole their weapons and burnt the checkpoint and a police vehicle," Faiz Mohmmad said.

The Taliban have not claimed responsibility for the attack.

Uruzgan, which borders the traditional Taliban strongholds of Helmand and Kandahar provinces, was the scene of a similar incident last week when four police shot and killed nine colleagues before joining the Taliban with weapons and equipment.
As top musicians played for thousands of dancing supporters, critics said it was another example of Museveni spending freely on government patronage in a campaign to extend his three decades in office while teachers go unpaid and clinics run out of drugs.

"For 30 years, it has been the same face, the same system, the economy in the hands of a few people," said 53-year-old Steven, who did not want to give his full name. "He has the state machinery buying the election."

Museveni, whose government denies squandering state cash on campaigning for the Feb. 18 presidential vote, has brought a measure of peace and economic stability since he took control of the country in 1986 after winning a protracted bush war.

His achievements since then pleased Western allies, who value Uganda for sending peacekeeping troops to hotspots like Somalia. But as the 71-year-old seeks a fifth term, Western donors frustrated by his lengthy grip on power are calling more loudly for him and other entrenched African leaders - such as Paul Kagame in neighbouring Rwanda - to relinquish office so a tradition of peaceful transition of power can be established.

Museveni's opponents at home complain that the rebel-turned-statesman treats the treasury as his personal fiefdom in a nation that remains among the poorest in Africa.

Museveni "simply believes that anyone has a price, and he is purchasing people as if they are some chattel in some market", candidate Amama Mbabazi, a former ally who was sacked as prime minister last year, told Reuters.

RIVALS CLAIM HARASSMENT

Mbabazi and Kizza Besigye, a longtime opponent who has lost three previous elections, are Museveni's main election rivals.

They command big crowds and draw cheers when they criticise runaway government spending. Mbabazi promises to cut the budget of the State House, or the presidential office, by 60 percent.

Both candidates say the government uses the security forces to harass them and their supporters, which the police deny. When the pair were detained last year, police said they had broken the law by campaigning before it was allowed.

Government spokesman Shaban Bantariza said the idea that Museveni's party was using taxpayers' money on the campaign was "purely speculative". He said a costly bureaucracy was the "the price of democracy".

But in the budget for 2015/16, the year that covers the election, government spending rose by 71 percent, helping to push the Ugandan shilling to all-time lows.

"His entire governance is based on a system of patronage," said Nicholas Opiyo, a Kampala lawyer, in comments echoed by other observers. "The line is so blurred that you often can't tell which is the state and which is the ruling party. Museveni is the state and the state is Museveni in Uganda."

In September, the government ran out of antiretroviral HIV drugs and activists accused it of diverting funds to its election campaign. Officials denied this and blamed a shortage of foreign currency. Last year, teachers from several regions complained that they had not been paid for months.

DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

The scale of election spending is hard to establish. Museveni's party, the National Resistance Movement, does not release financial reports.

Portions of the government budget are not publicly allocated or, as with parts of the bill for security, are secret.

The State House covers the president's campaign travel and accommodation costs, but does not say how much it spends.

After the 2011 election, the European Union's observer mission said "the distribution of money and gifts by candidates, especially from the ruling party" was "inconsistent with democratic principles".

Analysts say this presidential vote follows a trend. Each election season, Museveni creates new local government districts, each with upwards of 100 new jobs, says budget analyst Godber Tumushabe.

Museveni himself has more than 100 presidential advisers, Tumushabe said, all with salaries, official cars and money for their running costs.

It was not immediately possible to obtain a list of advisers from the government. But Bantariza said: "If the opposition thinks (such positions) are useless they should have brought a bill to amend the constitution and abolish these provisions."

Opposition bills are usually shot down in a parliament dominated by Museveni's supporters.

Opponents say Museveni's campaign pledges will do little to reassure those who worry about fiscal prudence. They include a promise to give 18 million hoes to farmers, costing the Agriculture Ministry about 28 percent of its budget.

Museveni's long years in office make it difficult for many Ugandans to imagine any other leader. Most people in the young nation cannot remember another president.
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
Local woman formally charged in check fraud case

A Pahrump woman was formally charged by the Nye County District Attorneys Office for three felony counts that occurred in August.

On Aug. 31 Nye County Sheriffs deputies were dispatched to Home Depot referencing a fraud call.

Upon arrival at the business, deputies were informed that a woman, later identified as Destiny Hartman, was attempting to pay for merchandise with a fake check in the amount of $754.

During the transaction, the store manager noticed that the check was blurry and that the check machine declared it as fraudulent, according to police.

Once the clerk handed the check back to Hartman she fled the store in a hurry, police said.

The responding deputy attempted to locate Hartman in the vicinity of the store after his arrival, but was unable to find her.

Later that day the sheriffs department was dispatched to the Family Dollar Store referencing a fraudulent check. During the deputys investigation, the clerk at the Family Dollar Store indicated that the suspect was next door at a car wash.

The responding deputy located Hartman at the car wash and took her into custody. The reporting person from Home Depot came to the car wash and positively identified Hartman as the suspect in the early check fraud incident there.

Hartman was charged with two counts of burglary and one count of attempting to obtain money under false pretenses.

Two Pahrump residents formally charged with stealing laptop from parolee

A pair of local residents were formally charged in a stolen property case involving a laptop stolen from a parolee from September.

Tia Dircio and Armand Smith were formally charged with an offense involving stolen property worth at least $650 but no more than $3,500, a category C felony.

On Sept. 23 a parolee reported his laptop, which was monitored by the State of Nevada as part of the parolees supervision requirements, stolen to the Nevada Department of Parole and Probation.

The laptop was tracked down to an address on the 4600 block of Charleston Park Avenue. Nevada P and P reported that the computers camera captured a male and a female using the laptop, in addition to the female logging into Facebook under the name of Tia Green.

The responding deputy made contact with Dircio and she didnt deny having the laptop and returned it to officers, police said.

Dircio was placed under arrest and was uncooperative in answering questions regarding the laptop.

Smith was seen exiting the same bedroom as Dircio was in, where the laptop was discovered and when he was advised that he was under arrest he attempted to retreat into the house and closed the door. He was found in the kitchen of the residence and taken into custody.

Man arrested for aiming shotgun at landlord

A Pahrump man was arrested earlier this month after he reportedly pointed a weapon at his landlord.

Albert Reichenbach was taken into custody Jan. 13 and charged with a preliminary count of aiming a firearm at a human being, according to the Nye County Sheriffs Office.

Reichenbach reportedly aimed a black shotgun at his landlord when he visited the rental property that he owns where the suspect and his girlfriend live, to talk about a broken refrigerator. The victim said that Reichenbach walked outside the residence with the shotgun still pointed at him before returning inside and placing it on a coffee table.

After the victim gave his statement, sheriffs deputies interviewed Reichenbachs girlfriend, who was home at the time of the alleged incident. The suspects girlfriend confirmed the victims account of the incident.

The responding deputy observed a black shotgun sitting on the coffee table in the residence, which was loaded with four shells and had one shell in the chamber.

Reichenbach gave a conflicting story of the incident, saying he just opened the door with the shotgun, but did not point it at the victim. He said he did so because his truck was left running outside his residence and that he wanted to make sure someone wasnt trying to steal it.

After the victims statement and Reichenbachs girlfriends matching account, the suspect was arrested and booked into the Nye County Detention Center on $2,000 bond.

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @mickakers
If someone had told me that Michael Bay would direct a January-released actioner that would be among the finest of 2016, I would have laughed with disbelief.

But now Im telling you, and I hope you believe me, that 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is a fine docu-drama, one that depicts the action, the terror and the grim aftermath of battle. Although it is fictionalized, it does pay tribute to the real-life people who lost their lives and who survived the Benghazi incidents in 2012.

On Sept. 11, 2012, two United States diplomatic compounds came under attack from Islamist militants in Benghazi, a city in Libya. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American men, Information Officer Sean Smith and CIA operatives Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods (both former Navy SEALs) were killed. Bay tells the story by setting up the main characters, showing an incredible amount of action, and never lingering long on any moment.

The first people we meet include military contractors who are working for the CIA. The security team includes include Jack Silva (John Krasinski, televisions The Office), Rone (James Badge Dale, The Walk) and Oz (Max Martini, Captain Phillips), all part of a group stationed at a secret base in Libya. Their assignment is partly to protect Stevens (Matt Letscher, her). Also on hand is a CIA lead played beautifully by David Costabile (Lincoln.).

The buildup to the first attack and the bloody war  truly, this is a war movie, the kind of film that might have starred the likes of John Wayne, Lee Marvin or Glenn Ford in years past  are sights to behold. Bay sets a tranquil scene then makes the shocking transition to action, with the same explosions youd expect from the director of Bad Boys and the Transformers movies, with the same slow-motion sequences he has used in his other films.

Ive always said that Bay directs testosterone-fueled movies, and his direction works wonderfully here. He pulls no punches when it comes to the grit, gore and ear-punishing sounds of warfare.

Bays focus is almost entirely on the action, so the ensemble of characters arent portrayed for their multiple dimensions (although we do get some peeks into the lives of several warriors). Krasinskis character is the most fully developed, and he does a commendable job giving depth to Jack in a nice performance that might lead other filmmakers to see beyond his comedic roles.

The finale, which is touching and sincere, provides a somber ending to an action-packed tale.

Bay scores a hit with this one.
Bridges Catering, currently based in Princeton, Iowa, is the company that wants to buy the historic Hauberg mansion that was gifted to the city of Rock Island in the 1950s by the Hauberg family estate.

A resolution to declare the property as "surplus," thereby allowing the city to solicit bids for its sale, was on the City Council's Jan. 18 agenda, but was pulled by Mayor Dennis Pauley, citing a need for more information and confusion over the action to be taken.

His action came after the resolution became public, raising resistance from residents.

In a letter emailed Monday to the Quad-City Times, Bill Healy, a Rock Island resident who owns Bridges with other family members, explains why he thinks a purchase would be good for his business, the city and the city's residents.

Among city benefits are 12 full-time and 105 part-time jobs, property taxes, annual sales taxes in the six figures and elimination of the need to spend tax dollars to maintain Hauberg, Healy wrote.

Parks director Bill Nelson had estimated the city's maintenance cost at about $40,000 annually, not counting any out-of-the-ordinary expenditures, such as the need for a new roof (coming up in a few years, he said) or painting.

In an interview, Healy said he had been working with the city for a couple of years to find a new, Rock Island site for its business and that Hauberg seemed a good fit.

Following the removal of the "surplus" resolution from the Jan. 18 agenda, the next step will be for the city to meet with Healy and then schedule an open-to-the-public study session in which Healy can lay out his plans and answer questions, hopefully sometime in February, City Manager Thomas Thomas said Monday.

Historic preservationists and many citizens aren't likely to be swayed, however, said Diane Oestreich, secretary of the Rock Island Preservation Society. "The public support (for keeping Hauberg) is incredible," she said.

A concern raised by residents at the Jan. 18 council meeting is that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to write into a sales document enough provisions to protect the property in perpetuity, Oestreich said.

How can one ensure, for example, that the building won't be sold in the future to an entity that will eliminate public access or an owner who will sell off pieces, such as land or even interior furnishings such as stained glass or fireplaces, she said.

"We're not opposed to him (Healy), but it's not the right thing to do," she said of a sale.

A long-term lease could be more acceptable, she said. A lease would still bring in jobs and taxes, and the rent could be used for maintenance. Or the rent could be set at a nominal amount with the agreement that the lessee do maintenance.

Healy said he decided to write the letter to get his side of the story out in public and to reduce fear. "There's a lot of fear and speculation," he said.

Ironically, Healy knew nothing of the controversy his proposal had stirred up until Saturday because he had left the Quad-Cities on Jan. 15 for a cruise and had turned off his cellphone.

"Saturday morning when I turned on my phone in Miami, it was, 'Oh, my gosh,'" he said. "I read the papers, and there was comment after comment."

His open letter explains that Bridges is the largest catering company in the Quad-Cities, that it is the exclusive caterer at three of Rock Island's premier banquet facilities  the Abbey Station, the Quad-City Botanical Center and Skellington Manor  and that it has been actively looking for several years to move its operation from Princeton to the Quad-Cities.

Healy would intend to build a kitchen in the property's carriage house and use the mansion itself for offices, the sales team, taste testings (the business hosted 120 tastings last year) and for a banquet/meeting area for up to 100 people.

"We agree that the Hauberg mansion is a Rock Island treasure, but it is vastly underutilized and costly for the city to maintain," Healy wrote. "Our vision is to make the Hauberg mansion and its grounds a premier destination for the city of Rock Island and its residents.

"We feel that if the citizens of Rock Island hear our vision, they will see it as a great benefit to the property, city, community, our customers, our employees and our business."

The 20-plus-room brick mansion was built between 1909-11 for Susanne Denkmann, an heir of lumber baron Frederick Denkmann. The home became known as the Hauberg mansion after Denkmann married John Hauberg, a lawyer and major philanthropist.

It was given to the city for use as a place for meetings and small functions.
Gildas Club, in partnership with presenting sponsor UnityPoint Health-Trinity Muscatine, will host its 2nd annual Runway Red Benefit on from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, at the Rendezvous, 3127 Lucas St., Muscatine.

The event includes a style show, desserts, wine and raffle drawings. Tickets are $25 each and are available at CBI Bank & Trust, Community Bank & Trust, First National Bank and Hall Tree Boutique. Tickets also may be purchased at runwayred2016.eventbrite.com.

According to Susan G. Komen Quad-Cities, Muscatine County leads Iowa in the highest rate of breast cancer, including a rising level of late-stage diagnosis. The State Health Registry of Iowa projected 235 new cancer diagnoses in Muscatine County in 2015. Muscatine is in the top 15 counties for highest projected number of new cancers in the state.

Attendees at Runway Red help Gildas Club provide support to people with cancer and their families. Among other services, the funds raised help fund support groups, a survivorship program and educational workshops.

For more information, contact Kelly Hendershot at 563-326-7504 or kelly@gildasclubqc.org.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, isn't running for president, but look for him to be with a lot of people who are this week.

Iowa's senior senator raised lots of speculation when he appeared Saturday in Pella at a rally for Donald Trump. Grassley's office made clear he wasn't endorsing Trump, who is battling Ted Cruz for first place in Iowa with less than a week before the caucuses. But some analysts said his appearance is a sign the Republican establishment is warming up to Trump.

Grassley, who is up for re-election himself this year, even used Trump's signature campaign line that it's time "to make America great again."

It's not clear whether the New Hartford Republican will echo other campaigns' rallying cries, but he'll have plenty of opportunity.

Cruz's campaign said Monday that Grassley will appear with him Friday in Wilton.

In addition, the campaigns for John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio all said Monday that Grassley would appear with them, too. Rand Paul's campaign also says it's planning to be with Grassley and is working on scheduling.

Grassley's office said he also will be with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and is trying to arrange an appearance with Ben Carson.

"Sen. Grassley has not and will not endorse a candidate in the Iowa caucus," said Jill Kozeny, Grassley's chief of staff. "Rather, Sen. Grassley's committed to doing everything he can to elect a Republican president this year. He wants to help unite Iowa Republicans so that the Republican nominee for president carries Iowa, a battleground state, in November."

She said Grassley appeared with a dozen candidates last year and his office's offer for him to take part in campaign events was repeated to the campaigns last week.

Grassley and Cruz will be at the Wilton Community Center on Friday for a 5:45 p.m. rally.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, also is spending some time on the trail. She introduced Rubio at a rally Monday and praised his national security credentials. Rubio supported Ernst's 2014 Senate bid.

Ernst has said that she is not endorsing any candidate and has appeared with other candidates. A spokesperson said she would introduce Carson at a town hall meeting on Friday.
ANKENY, Iowa  Mike Huckabee said he fears a poor showing for him in Mondays Republican presidential caucuses could portend an end to Iowas first-in-the-nation influence.

Huckabee, speaking to reporters Tuesday after giving an address at Faith Baptist Bible College in this Des Moines suburb, said the caucuses historically have rewarded candidates who campaign on the ground, visiting as many areas of Iowa as possible and shaking as many Iowans hands as possible.

Huckabee, who won the 2008 caucuses, has resumed that style of retail politics this year, visiting each of Iowas 99 counties and holding 138 campaign events since April, according to Drake Universitys Iowa Caucus Project.

But Huckabee has been mired at the tail end of polling on the GOP race in Iowa, as has 2012 winner Rick Santorum, who has employed a similar barnstorming campaign style.

Meantime, polling front-runners Ted Cruz, who has had 76 campaign events in the same period, and Donald Trump, who has had 38 events, have held far fewer events than Huckabee and Santorum.

Huckabee said if candidates learn they can win the Iowa caucuses without spending time on the ground here, the presidential nominating process will be dominated by big-money donors, not voters.

It always has paid off. Theres never been an Iowa caucus in which people could win (taking) the shortcut. If they can this year, I think its the end of the Iowa caucus as we know it, Huckabee said. Because if in the future a candidate can go to Wall Street, go to the big banks, raise a bunch of money, come down here and throw some TV ads together, make a few appearances, just enough to say we were here, put a flag down, if they can win that way, then why will candidates go and do what Ive done, which is to go to all 99 counties and do the grassroots, person-to-person approach? They wont.

Huckabee said if presidential candidates learn they can win Iowa without devoting time on the ground, the presidential primary will become a race more about who can garner the most money to spend on advertising.

It will become a process like any other, and they people will spend their time in New York, California, Texas and Florida getting money. And itll be a shame, Huckabee said. The real losers are the American people who wont have the benefit of somebody filtering these candidates through the questions and the lenses of farmers and housewives and factory workers. Where else in America do candidates have to be held accountable in this kind of setting, face to face? I think that could be a real tragedy for the country.

Unlike other presidential candidates who have spoken here, Huckabees address Tuesday to roughly 200 Faith Baptist Bible College students was more sermon than campaign speech. He challenged students to stand up for Christian values in a world in which, he said, Christianity is being virtually criminalized.

If you think the world in which you live is a morally dark world, then all the more reason for you to be the light of the world, Huckabee said. If you are unwilling to be the light, then darkness will prevail.
DES MOINES  Progressive advocates want presidential candidates to talk more about policies that help working families get affordable child care.

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa joined others at a news conference Tuesday calling on presidential candidates to detail policies that would help families deal with the rising cost of child care.

Child care is completely out of reach for too many American families, and for too many children of low income, it means their growth and their development is stunted from the start, Harkin said. Too many children are just being denied getting up to that starting line. Its hurting them, its hurting the economic well-being of their families, and quite frankly, its hurting the economic well-being of America.

In Iowa, infant care costs an average of $9,485 per year, according to Child Care Aware of America, a nonprofit advocacy organization. That child care cost for just one child can range between 8 percent and 22 percent of a married familys annual income, or between 27 percent and 74 percent of a single parents annual income, according to the organization.

Its that kind of squeeze I think a lot of families are facing, and its contributing to the kind of debate were having on national issues right now, said Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank and advocacy organization. Yet we do very little as a country to help those families struggling with those costs.  High-quality, affordable child care is not a luxury. Its a necessity.

In Iowa, 70 percent of likely caucus-goers said they think child care is too expensive and out of reach financially for working and middle-class families, according to a poll commissioned by the Center for American Progress and conducted by liberal-leaning Public Policy Polling.

The poll also found that 69 percent of likely caucus-goers support workplace policies that include provisions for child care and paid family leave and 63 percent support child care tax credits.

We know the statistics. We know the programs that are working. Were just not taking the time and money and effort to implement them, said Tanya Keith, a Des Moines mother of three advocating for affordable child care policies in partnership with Progress Iowa.

The advocates urged Iowa caucus-goers to press presidential candidates for their plans for making child care more affordable to families.

High-quality child care levels the playing fields. It builds a better future for our kids, and it enables the parents to work, Harkin said. Im just sorry its not being discussed more than it is.
DES MOINES  Bernie Sanders does not think his campaign will turn out as many supporters as Barack Obamas historic effort in the 2008 Iowa caucuses, but Sanders does think his campaign will turn out enough supporters to win Mondays Democratic caucuses.

Sanders, the presidential candidate and U.S. senator from Vermont, was in Des Moines on Tuesday to speak to a steelworkers labor group that has endorsed his campaign.

Sanders also spoke to reporters about the state of his campaign. With less than a week until Iowans start the presidential nominating process, most polls here show a close Democratic race between Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Sanders is hoping for high turnout and new caucus-goers to boost his performance. But he doesnt expect that support will rise to the level of 2008, when a record 240,000 Iowans participated in the Democratic caucuses won by Obama.

Obama in 2008 ran a campaign which is really going to stay in the history books. It was an unbelievable campaign, Sanders said. Do I think this campaign, that we are going to match that? I would love to see us do that. I hope we can. Frankly, I dont think we can. What Obama did in 2008 was extraordinary.

Sanders said Clinton held an early advantage in this race because she started organizing in Iowa sooner and was able to draw on her experience of having run in the 2008 caucuses. Sanders said he thinks his campaign has closed that organizing gap in recent months.

I think we stand a real chance to create a large voter turnout, Sanders said. I doubt it will be as high as 2008. I wish it was. But I dont think it will be. But I think it will be high enough for us to win here in Iowa.

Because caucus math dictates Democratic candidates cannot rely on support only in the states largest population centers, Sanders said his team has been working to maximize support throughout the state.

We have some fairly sophisticated people who know about the caucus process here in Iowa, and we understand that if we get all our votes in certain communities, it is not going to do for us what has to be done, Sanders said. So were working hard all over the state of Iowa, and I think that work will pay off.

At a separate event Tuesday in Des Moines, former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, who is supporting Clintons candidacy, said her campaign organization has taken the necessary steps to maximize her support in Mondays caucuses.

Everything Ive seen, everything is just falling into place, Harkin said. I think well have a great turnout.
It will be the end of ethanol subsidies if Iowa  of all states  votes for a candidate who would end energy supports, Rick Santorum told a crowd of about 50 people on Monday.

The former Republican senator from Pennsylvania criticized his fellow GOP presidential candidates and said he has the most experience of any in the primary races. He appeared Monday during a town hall meeting at the Fairmount Street branch of the Davenport Public Library.

Santorum has lagged in the polls and told news outlets on Sunday that his campaign could end if he does not perform well in the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1.

Janet and Bill Wingler of Moline hope that does not happen. Janet Wingler said the couple is Catholic and agree with Santorum's views on the issues.

"I voted for him last time," Wingler said of the 2012 campaign.

Santorum won the 2012 caucuses, and he noted some similarities from this year to that experience. He also said one of the front-runners this year, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, would end the ethanol subsidy, while he supports it.

In fact, Santorum said his top priority, economically, is to increase manufacturing jobs in the United States. He would end regulations imposed by the Obama administration that he said harm the business environment, such as those governing emissions.

"If you want someone who is ready to govern, you know I'm a fighter," he said.

Santorum said he got into the race for three reasons:

 In 2012, he won Iowa and 10 other states before losing the GOP nomination to Mitt Romney. That was in spite of a mistake made when the caucus results were announced, which gave the victory to Romney before Santorum was declared the actual winner a few days later.

 The terror threat that exists from countries such as Iran. President Barack Obama is "delusional and dangerous" when it comes to Iran, he said.

 The threat from ISIS, which Santorum said he understands better than any other candidate.

The new movie, "13 Hours," was brought up as a member of the audience wondered how the rules of engagement are playing out in the Middle East.

"We can't just blow everything up," Santorum said, adding that U.S. soldiers should be given all they need to succeed, with the least amount of risk to themselves.

The Pennsylvania senator said he has the knowledge and experience to lead the Republican Party in 2016.

"Give me a chance to prove it," he said.
SPRINGFIELD  Social service agencies, union members, college students and others traveled to the capital city Tuesday  a day before Gov. Bruce Rauner is set to deliver his second State of the State address  to sound the alarm that Illinois is in a state of crisis.

The cause of that crisis, they say, is the first-term Republican's ongoing budget standoff with the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.

Rauner has said he's open to discussing tax increases but only after the legislators adopt parts of his "turnaround agenda," which includes changes to the way legislative districts are drawn, term limits for lawmakers and a property tax freeze paired with new limits on collective bargaining for local government workers.

The Responsible Budget Coalition, made up of more than 200 organizations from across the state, held a news conference at the Capitol to highlight some of the effects of the budget impasse. Those include the loss of support services for homeless veterans in Decatur, a 25 percent reduction in hours for all staff at a Charleston rape crisis center, and cuts to staff, hours or programs at 75 percent of county health departments south of Interstate 70, according to the group.

"It's wrong to put other issues, other agenda items, other personal agenda items, in front of coming up with a state budget," said Dan Lesser, director of economic justice at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in Chicago. "You can see the pain that's being caused by this insistence on preconditions to actually negotiating and enacting a state budget."

Julie Mavec runs Lutheran Child and Family Services' veterans assistance program in Decatur. She said her program hasn't been able to provide services such as transportation to homeless veterans since the state's fiscal year began July 1.

"I can't stress enough how important this funding is to all the veterans in my program," Mavec said.

The coalition wants the governor and lawmakers "choose revenue" to resolve the deadlock, beginning with returning individual and corporate tax rates to 5 percent and 7 percent, respectively. They dropped to 3.75 percent and 5.25 percent last year under a partial rollback of a 2011 increase.

"The Responsible Budget Coalition should know the first step in having a responsible budget is having a truly balanced budget," Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly wrote in an emailed response to a request for comment. "Governor Rauner stands ready to pass structural reforms and a balanced budget that will help fund social service programs and jumpstart our economy."

A group of union members gathered earlier Tuesday at the Illinois AFL-CIO headquarters in Springfield to urge the governor to end the standoff and work with legislators to pass a budget. Many of Rauner's policy priorities would weaken the power of labor unions.

The governor's "radical demands are holding up the budget," said Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO.

Boris Rosas and Mary Diener of Decatur, members of the Laborers union Local 159, are engaged to be married in October. They said their union jobs have helped them stay in the middle class and provide for their daughters, ages 11 and 13.

They said they wish Rauner understood the importance of their union and the impact the lack of a budget has on people's lives.

"I just want him to really focus on trying to relate to people who are making $25,000 a year," Rosas said.

Kim Clarke Maisch, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said it's unfair to lay all the blame for the impasse at Rauner's feet.

"Organized labor represents a very small percentage of the working people in Illinois, but they have done very well under the status quo," Maisch said. "And so it's no surprise that Gov. Rauner, who is obviously shaking things up in Springfield, is causing them a lot of heartache."

Despite Rauner's signals that he's open to a tax increase, it's Democrats who have refused to truly negotiate, she said.
DES MOINES  Gov. Terry Branstad urged state legislators Monday to balance their funding expectations with budgetary realities as they begin the process of resolving partisan differences on school funding, tax policy and other decisions that will shape the states fiscal 2017 spending plan.

The first challenge for the 2016 split-control Legislature is to carve the largest piece of next years budgetary pie by deciding how much new state money K-12 schools will receive for their operations next year.

Majority Republicans who control the Iowa House voted 55-43 after Mondays floor debate to give public schools an extra 2 percent in state aid, or almost $81 million, in fiscal 2017  a level that is below Branstads proposed 2.45 percent increase and halfway to the 4 percent boost majority Iowa Senate Democrats favor. Democrats who hold sway in the Iowa Senate are expected to reject the House position, and the issue is expected to end up in conference committee.

We recognize that 2 percent is not a big increase, but when you consider the financial realities that currently exist, it is an appropriate number, said Rep Ron Jorgensen, R-Sioux City, who managed Senate File 174 during Mondays debate.

He said the $134 million that would go to base school budgets, and the third year of the states education reforms would take 88 percent of the new money that House Republicans believe is available to spend next fiscal year.

Minority House Democrats challenged GOP revenue projections in arguing against the 2 percent increase they said would shortchange kids and raise local property taxes for K-12 schools to make ends meet in fiscal 2017.

This level of funding continues to tighten the choke hold we have put on our public schools, said Rep. Patti Ruff, D-McGregor, ranking member of the House Education Committee that Jorgensen chairs. Let us put a stop to this and prove to Iowans that public education is our top priority again.

Another fiscal divide emerged Monday when House Republicans parted ways with the governor in supporting a plan to couple state income tax laws with federal changes and make them retroactive to the 2015 tax years  a position that would carry an almost $96 million price tag. House Study Bill 535 cleared a subcommittee and the full House Ways and Means Committee by a 23-1 vote Monday.

In his budget proposal, Branstad proposed to couple the states tax code with federal changes (excluding business equipment depreciation) for the 2016 tax year at a cost of about $49 million, but he did not seek to make the changes retroactive to the 2015 tax year.

Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said Democrats would review the House approach, but added, we think the governor has made a proposal that is probably more manageable given the states budget. We think the governors proposal is maybe closer to where we should be.

Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, said coupling with the federal tax changes best rewards small businesses for making investments, and I dont see us changing course from that.

Well start putting the puzzle pieces together on the board, said Nunn, noting the state money to make tax coupling retroactive for 2015 would have to come out of the existing budget year.

Education is going to be a huge piece. Thats the biggest chunk of money were going to spend. But this is right up there with it. I dont see us going back and trying to take money out of (taxpayers) pockets on this.

During his weekly news conference, Branstad told reporters full tax coupling would adversely impact school funding immediately and fiscal sustainability into the future based on his five-year projections.

What Ive been told is that it basically would wipe out the opportunity, or dramatically reduce, our ability to provide additional funding (for schools), the governor said.

Thats one of the reasons that I recommended what I did. Sure, Id love to couple. But we didnt have the money to do it, so were coupling where we can, he noted. We feel that impact on the budget would make it impossible to meet the goals that we have for education funding and elsewhere.

The same was true, Branstad said, of a request made by Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey for a $500,000 state appropriation to help state and animal agriculture officials take proactive steps to be able to deal quickly and appropriately deal with future animal health emergencies like a deadly bird flu outbreak that significantly impacted Iowas egg and poultry industries  a proposal the governor did not include in his fiscal 2017 budget package.

I had to really stretch and not do a lot of things in order to recommend the 2.45 percent of supplemental state aid in addition to the $53 million that teachers are going to get for teacher leadership and compensation, Branstad said.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  The Iowa Republican caucus race is going down to the wire with Donald Trump maintaining a 2 percentage point lead over Ted Cruz.

With the race now in its final week, the New York real estate mogul leads the Texas senator 31 percent to 29 percent  the same as when Quinnipiac University polled likely GOP caucusgoers at the beginning of the month.

Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is in third place with no other candidate above 7 percent in the poll of 651 Iowa likely Republican caucus participants with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percent. The poll was conducted Jan. 18-24 using live interviewers calling land lines and cell phones.

Despite Sarah Palins endorsement of Donald Trump and Gov. Terry Branstads criticism of Sen. Ted Cruz, and despite  or because of  Sen. Cruz New York values comments, the Iowa Republican caucus remains too close to call, said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

Cruz and Trump have been running one-two in the Q-Poll since November when retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson began his slide from 28 percent and the lead into single digits. Trump led Cruz in those three months.

The poll follows those last week by Monmouth College and Loras College in Dubuque. The Monmouth poll for KBUR radio in Burlington found Cruz leading Trump 27 percent to 25 percent. Carson was third at 11 percent and Rubio polled 9 percent.

With the caucuses Feb. 1, it all comes down to turnout, Brown said.

One week before the caucuses gather, the question is which candidate has the best field organization, he said. If the events of the last two weeks havent moved the needle, one wonders what would change it in the next six days.

One factor, however, is that although only 2 percent remain undecided, four in 10 likely caucusgoers told Quinnipiac they still might change their mind.

This is an especially volatile race, Brown said.

One other factor is that 24 percent said they would definitely not support Trump, but only 12 percent said "no way" to Cruz.

One thing Brown is more certain of is that it is increasingly evident, the conservative wing of the Republican Party, at least in Iowa, is carrying the day.

Cruz is taking the lions share of the right wing among Iowa likely Republican caucusgoers, with Trump taking a good chunk and only a few scraps for the rest of the pack.

Quinnipiac found Cruz leads Trump:

 50 to 34 percent among self-professed Tea Party members

 39 to 27 percent among white, born-again evangelical Christians

 49 to 29 percent among voters describing themselves as very conservative.

Trump leads Cruz:

 29 to 21 percent among self-identified somewhat conservative voters

 37 to 6 percent among voters claiming to be moderate or liberal.

The economy and jobs is the most important issue in deciding their vote 27 percent of likely GOP caucusgoers said. Another 18 percent listed terrorism; 11 percent cited foreign policy; and 10 percent pointed to the federal deficit.

Rounding out the GOP field, Jeb Bush polled 4 percent, Carson at 6 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 3 percent, former CEO Carly Fiorina at 1 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 2 percent, Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 1 percent, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul at 5 percent, and zero percent for former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

For the complete results, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.
The distinct twang of country music last week filled Tanglewood Manor in Bettendorf. Sen. Marco Rubio took to the stage and, within minutes, made a well-warn declaration.

Schools don't teach American students that the U.S. is the greatest country to ever grace the planet, he said. But, clearly, it is. Or, perhaps, it was until Barack Obama became president.

Too many Americans don't "recognize" the country post-Obama, Rubio said. The Chicago politician "wanted" to change the U.S., for the worse by Rubio's estimation. And he apparently succeeded.

There's an innate cognitive dissonance among the American exceptionalism crowd. They demand the U.S. is somehow the greatest political entity to ever exist. Yet, after just eight short years it kind of isn't, either.

Which is it, exactly?

The logical inconsistency pervades conservative politics. Conservative politicians must stoke their base's purely subjective nationalistic leanings. But they also must argue that, while still basically the best at everything, the U.S. is less awesome than it was.

Only Donald Trump -- whose seemingly unstoppable campaign has bucked the norm for months -- goes all the way with it and avoids the illogical middle ground that traps so many of his opponents. We used to be awesome, Trump's narrative goes. But now we're not. His selling point is that, with a little work and war on political correctness, the U.S. can again attain some murky, divine greatness.

Actually, the U.S. ranks fourth in overall awesomeness, U.S. News and World report last week proclaimed. U.S. News tried to add a pinch of objectivity to the wholly gut-driven argument that one's homeland is somehow superior to everyone else. Germany led the field, based on 65 attributes, including quality of life, worldwide influence and economic development, the publication concluded. Canada and Great Britain -- with universal health care systems and relatively high top-tier tax rates -- also bested the U.S.

The U.S. does lead the pack in some notable metrics. We imprison a massive percentage of our population compared to other Western countries. Health care is hugely expensive and the results are, at best, middling, the World Health Organization last year concluded. Defense and military spending is basically off the charts, which admittedly results in legitimate foreign policy influence. And income inequality is out of line with most of the First World, too. New York isn't even the world's most powerful city. That distinction goes to London, according to 2015 rankings released by respected business and market analysts at Mori Memorial Foundation.

Thanks, Obama.

In most ways, we're not an more "free" than, say, the Germans or the Brits. Both countries tout judicial systems with similar basic protections for the defendant, for example. In fact, America's drug war -- and the insane prison statistics -- contributed to a 20th place finish in a freedom index released in 2015 by London-based Legatum Institute. Socialist Canada took that title.

In any objective sense, the U.S. is a solid Western power. But it's not the end-all, be-all. Nor were the classical Greeks or imperial Romans who also claimed species-wide superiority.

Obama didn't close the factories that, in the past century, made the U.S. the planet's industrial hub. Europe dug itself from under the rubble of World War II and China joined the global community. India modernized. The failings of any one administration, or even the country itself, can't be blamed for the redistribution of power. People can circle the globe in a day now. Information moves at the speed of light. A technological revolution birthed the global economy. The U.S. isn't the only game in town. Simple as that.

Obama voters supported him in 2008 because they wanted "hope and change." Ask them now and you'll find widespread disappointment. Obama didn't offer the national transformation that more than half the country desired. Love him or hate him, Obama has been more of the same.
About 2,500 jobs statewide, with a number of those in Washington County, will be affected by the closure of the two Covanta Energy biomass power plants located in Jonesboro and West Enfield, according to the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC). The two plants employ 44 people, with 20 of those jobs located at the Jonesboro site.

National trends in lower oil and natural gas prices, as well as changes in renewable energy standards that are causing the biomass power industry to contract, are being felt in Maine as well. The recent news that Covanta Energy's two biomass plants will be taken offline at the end of March will take a bite out of the economic engine created by the plants' operations, including the logging industries that utilize biomass collection and sales as a part of their overall economic strategy and forestry maintenance practices.

PLC Executive Director Dana Doran states in a release, "The shutdown of the two Covanta plants will have an immediate and direct effect on a large percentage of Maine loggers. Job losses as a result of the closures will be devastating for some logging companies, and the effects will be worse coming on the heels of paper mill closures in 2015 that have already placed strains on the industry by limiting markets for wood fiber."

After the two Covanta plants are taken offline, there will be only four Maine biomass power plants still in operation out of a total of 11 that operated in the past. The remaining four, owned by ReEnergy, are facing an uncertain future as well, with anticipated changes to the Connecticut Renewable Portfolio standards by 2017.

James Regan, director of communications and media with Covanta, says, "Unfortunately, this happens with some frequency in the biomass industry when energy prices are not sufficient to cover the costs of operation and fuel supply. We have experienced similar situations in the past and resumed operations when the economics improved. We will continue to evaluate the future of the facilities." He adds, "We did get a renewable energy credit in Massachusetts, but as of January 1, 2016, they implemented standards that standalone plants can't meet."

Carrie Annand of Biomass Power Associates explains that the new standards require that the waste heat generated by biomass power plants be used. The plant "would need a client nearby that could utilize it, such as a factory or a hospital," something with large square footage that would need a lot of heat, she says. "In Maine it's not practical or possible to retrofit biomass plants to meet those standards." She points to the fact that, like the Jonesboro and West Enfield plants, just about all the Maine plants are in rural locations without nearby facilities to utilize waste heat.

Each biomass plant generates around five jobs per megawatt of electricity produced. The Jonesboro plant was producing 24.5 megawatts at full capacity with 20 fulltime employees, says Regan. It operated around the clock and processed about 550 dry tons of biomass material per day. In 2009, after the plants had been purchased by Covanta, the former manager reported that the plant was using 250,000 green tons of biomass a year and had 21 employees with an annual $1 million in payroll and benefits. Regan was not able to discuss current payroll impacts of the closure, but did say that the company did not anticipate its status as a significant property taxpayer to change.

"Biomass is really important," explains Regan. "It contributes to forestry health and safety." The wood waste from harvesting trees for other purposes, such as lumber, pulp and pellet manufacture, is gathered up, chipped and used for energy production. "It complements solar and wind and also prevents wood waste from going into the landfill and creating methane." Annand elaborates, "With the biomass market in Maine we're able to extend forestry products by 30% because of materials being used that wouldn't be otherwise." In addition, while forest fires aren't usually a significant problem in Maine, in California, where a number of plants are closing, biomass production has played a role in preventing forest fires during a yearslong drought.

Biomass power plants are part of the state's overall renewable energy portfolio. According to the Biomass Power Association, biomass is responsible for 25% of Maine's overall power supply and represents 60% of the state's renewable portfolio. Wood accounts for almost onethird of New England's entire renewable supply, with Maine supplying a significant amount to the region.

"While this latest news is another challenge for Maine's logging industry, the PLC and loggers across the state will do all we can to help and to make the best of a tough situation," Doran says. "Workers at the affected plants have our support and sympathy, and we stand with them and our business partners in the biomass industry in calling for state government to act now to preserve the biomass industry before it is lost."
Chastising the Eastport city councillors at the January 13 council meeting for releasing information about the $25,000 he owes in back rent was Millennium Marine owner Cory Guimond. Standing before the sparse audience and the council, he said that he had hoped there would be more people present, including some of his employees, to hear him dispel "rumors" that had been circulating while he was away during the Christmas holiday.

Guimond cited a list of reasons why he had not been able to sell his boats as quickly as he had planned when he moved into the cityowned facility in Quoddy Village over a year ago, including delays in renovations and a fire after he had started his boatbuilding operation. He mentioned personal investments in the portion of the building that he rents. Along with company investments, Millennium received public grant funds for hiring and training purposes as well as for building renovations and the construction of hull molds.

The City of Eastport had been searching for a compositesrelated business to locate in the cityowned Guilford mill building since it qualified in 2010 for a $1.4 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant, which required a $75,000 match from the tenant, and two Community Development Block Grants for business and job creation. One portion of the EDA grant was used for building upgrades and the other portion used for equipment purchase, including an exhaust ventilation system. The grant was a partnership between the county and the city. The Canadian boatbuilder expressed an interest in the facility, citing a lack of employees in the area of his Canadian facility as well as the Jones Act and the need to have his boats made in the U.S. for ease of access to U.S. markets.

In an email interview, Guimond explains the current operations in Eastport. "It is true that the company is shipping boats to other yards to be finished. This was the plan from the beginning. This is not taking work from this area but rather adding jobs in a field that most can become part of if they so choose."

Of the $1.4 million EDA grant, $524,000 was used for hull molds used by Millennium. According to Washington County Manager Betsy Fitzgerald, the terms of the grant require that the county hold the liens to the molds for 15 years, and the building itself cannot be sold by the city for the same time period. All the terms of the grant were met, and it was closed out in 2015. Of the match required of Millennium, there is still $27,388 outstanding, says Fitzgerald. However Guimond states, "There is a discrepancy on exactly who owes who what. Millennium, the city and county are in discussion regarding this balance and other balances between the parties."

In the summer of 2014 the company was the beneficiary of the first CDBG Workforce Development Grant applied for by the City of Eastport. The $100,000 grant was used to fund a portion of Millennium's employee training during a sixmonth period. Millennium projected a sixmonth total salary and benefits cost of $264,506, of which it planned to bankroll $164,506. The application detailed employee costs for a six-month period: eight employees trained in fiberglass, laminating, gel coating and grinding at a cost per person of $18,470; one custom construction and detailing at a cost of $23,088; one in all aspects of construction and management at $44,400; one in all aspects of fiberglass and gel coating at $24,627; and one in all aspects of boat assembly and quality control at $24,627. A second grant of $100,000 was successfully applied for and drawndown for the same employee training purposes. Both grants were closed out in June 2015.

Guimond says, "Millennium has employed a high of 30 employees in 2015 and averaged about 25 throughout the past year. All positions are full-time. Today, Millennium currently has 14 people working and would have many more had employees not quit due to the spawn of negative rumors."

In addition to the grants, the City of Eastport provided the Guilford mill space free of rent from May 2014 to May 2015, for a value of $86,400, or $7,200 per month.

When Guimond asked for an apology from the city for releasing the backdue rent information to The Quoddy Tides, the council responded by asking City Attorney Dennis Mahar to explain the Maine Freedom of Access Act and the legal requirement that the city answer such a question about a business in a city-owned facility from anyone who asks.

Guimond presented to the council $15,000 in cash with a promise that the remaining $10,000 in owed rent would be paid the week of January 18. He also presented proof of insurance and other paperwork required by the city.

Guimond says, "Millennium is financially secure and has plenty of work ahead. I have over $1,000,000 in assets and inventory that is owned outright and have been working with a local bank to secure a loan to help with costs of fabricating additional molds and purchase of new equipment. In order to qualify for commercial loan, the company had to first file two years tax returns. The 2015 returns will soon be filed, and the company can proceed with its expansion as planned." He adds, "Despite a few naysayers and troublemakers, Millennium will remain focused and continue to grow as planned."
Students in South Dakota public schools would be required to use the bathrooms and locker rooms that match their biological sex under a measure a state legislative panel approved Monday.

The House State Affairs committee sent the plan to the full chamber. If passed, it would then head to the Senate. The bill also requires schools to provide "reasonable accommodations" for transgender students' bathroom, showering and changing needs upon request, said Republican Rep. Fred Deutsch, who is sponsoring the measure.

Accommodations in the legislation include a single-occupancy bathroom or the "controlled use" of a staff-designated restroom, locker room or shower room.

Deutsch said the plan is a response the Obama administration's overreach in interpretation of federal anti-discrimination law related to education. He said the bill is meant to protect the privacy of students "in the most private places in our schools."

Federal officials have said that barring students from restrooms that match their gender identity is prohibited under Title IX anti-discrimination law.

"This is obviously not an easy social issue to discuss or to try to provide solutions to," Deutsch said. "My bill is my best attempt doing my best due diligence to provide a solution that maintains our values as a state and provides common sense."

Libby Skarin, policy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, said the measure could create "a messy conflict" between state and federal law that would leave schools vulnerable to legal proceedings and the potential loss of federal funds for education.

"This bill would not only place significant harm on actual transgender kids, but it would create a legal mess," she said.

There have been two offers for pro bono legal representation in the case of litigation if the measure becomes law, said Dale Bartscher, who was lobbying for the conservative group Family Heritage Alliance.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Dennis Daugaard said in an email that he hasn't yet taken a position on the proposal. Kelsey Pritchard said the governor will be monitoring the bill.

The South Dakota High School Activities Association has a policy allowing transgender student athletes to request playing on the team of their choice. Opposing lawmakers' attempts to void that policy last session failed.

Deutsch said his plan has "nothing to do" with the activities association.
When three top administrators at Rapid City High School retire at the end of the school year, they will leave the future of the districts alternative high school in uncertain territory.

One of the options is the closure of the high school building at 601 Columbus St.

The idea of shuttering the school has come up in discussions among district administrators and Rapid City School Board members, outgoing Superintendent Tim Mitchell said, though he emphasized that if the building is indeed closed, the alternative programs it houses would live on in one form or another.

There is no consideration of eliminating the programming, Mitchell said in a recent phone interview.

Still, at a Rapid City School Board meeting Monday night, Board President Jim Hansen said to his colleagues that the district is facing significant changes.

Finding a way for the Rapid City High School programs to continue without a home before the next school year would be no small logistical feat. The alternative school has 37 teachers and 450 students. Some of the students split their time between the alternative school and the district's other two high schools, Central and Stevens.

If the building does close and the district continues the alternative schooling, Youd have put together some sort of plan as to how that would work, and that would take some very extensive conversations, Mitchell said, which is why his official recommendation is to keep the school open for the 2016-2017 school year.

But that doesnt mean closure is completely off the table.

It might come back up in future years, Mitchell said, adding that the School Board will have some tough decisions ahead about how best to manage its limited financial resources.

"We've got to confront the brutal facts of reality about where we're at," Mitchell said.

Consolidation of administrative duties at Rapid City's three high schools into two or perhaps one position instead of three is the most likely outcome of the current conversation, Mitchell said.

In addition to the retirements, another significant factor that could influence what the school board does with Rapid City High is the upcoming release of the MGT America building report. The School Board has contracted with MGT, a national educational consultant, to provide recommendations about how to improve the quality and uses of the districts facilities.

We know (the MGT report) will include the closure of schools and the consolidation of others, said district Communication Manager Katy Urban. At this point we don't know exactly what those specific recommendations will be, but we do know that there are going to be quite a few tough conversations concerning the use of space in our district.

School Board President Jim Hansen said the imminent departures of Rapid City High School Principal Deborah Steele and her two assistant principals, Jan Kappelman and Clark Richardson, have created an opportunity for the School Board to pause and take a long look at Rapid City High School.

Would it be more efficient, could it be run better, if it was moved? Hansen said. Do we need three administrators? Is it a true academy like it was set up to be, or is it just a third high school?

Closure is just one of the possibilities that came up during internal discussions, Hansen said, but no formal decision has been made to pursue it as an answer.

As for whether Rapid City High is performing its intended function, Mitchell said that question has played less of a role in the discussion of a possible closure than the upcoming retirements, the MGT report, and the district's limited resources.

Rapid City High School is a smaller learning environment  with a student to teacher ratio of 22:1  designed to give struggling students from Central and Stevens high schools a chance to recover credits.

Once the only high school in Rapid City, later the Dakota Middle School, the building was renovated in a two-phase project between 2012 and 2013 that cost $19 million. To complete the project, the district partnered with the Rapid City Performing Arts Center, which uses the auditorium in the building for community theater and musical events.

Speaking during Monday night's School Board meeting, Hansen reminded his fellow board members that just because an idea is discussed doesn't mean it will be carried into fruition. Nonetheless, Hansen said, "big changes" are ahead.

"That's not a rumor," he said. "Big changes are coming."
PIERRE | A state center that serves people whose behaviors dont allow for them to be with families or in community facilities is suffering from poor management and staff vacancies, two former employees complained on Monday to a joint committee of the Legislature.

Paul Register and Gerri Gallup said workers at the South Dakota Development Center at Redfield have been getting hurt by patients, and the high number of staff vacancies results from a bad reputation.

Register led two petition drives last year calling for changes. He presented them to officials at the state Department of Human Services in Pierre.

Sen. Deb Peters, the Senate chairwoman of the Legislatures Joint Committee on Appropriations, told Register his version of the situation seemed to contradict other information given to legislators.

Register said he quit his job on Wednesday. He was a direct-care provider and counselor making $16.19 per hour.

State Human Services Secretary Gloria Pearson told the committee that turnover last year was 35 percent at the center and the 41 current unfilled positions account for 22 percent of the workforce.

Mandatory overtime is being used to help cover the shortfall, she said, adding that the 139 patients are a challenging population.

The policy since 2014 has called for admissions to be equal to discharges so the population stays stable. There were 31 discharges and 31 admissions in 2015.

She said workforce limitations caused the cap on patient numbers. The center tries to teach different behaviors to the men, women and juveniles it serves.

People are sent to us when theyre struggling and cant be served" in their communities," Pearson said.

The 19 community-based service centers throughout South Dakota had turnover rates of 48 and 47 percent the past two years, according to Daryl Kilstrom of Mitchell, representing the Community Support Providers of South Dakota, a nonprofit that operates the private centers.

He said the community centers average entry-level wage for direct service providers is $10.35 per hour, while state government facilities typically pay about $3 more.

We desperately need to recruit and retain more staff," Kilstrom said, "but we cant increase our prices to raise wages.

Pearson gave the legislators injury and worker-compensation information.

Peters expressed skepticism about Register's complaints.

Theres a lot of things going in the opposite direction of what youre testifying for, Peters, R-Hartford, said. The numbers arent showing us what youre telling us.

The Legislatures Government Operations and Audit Committee visited the center a few years ago and could visit it again after the legislative session concludes at the end of March, Sen. Larry Tidemann, R-Brookings, said.

Redfield Mayor Jayme Akin brought several people to the committee to show the support of the city and Spink County for the center.

As a physical therapist who works throughout the region, he said there are widespread difficulties in recruiting people into that level of health care positions.

Its not unique to the SDDC. Its not unique to Redfield, he said.

Pearson said she had a long talk with Register and met with the centers leadership in early December.

She has since contracted for a confidential engagement survey of all staff so they have another route to express themselves.
LEAD | A very special Christmas gift was given to the Historic Homestake Opera House (HHOH). Fundraising efforts spanning two years were achieved in December to purchase a new grand piano, and the long-awaited instrument was finally ordered on Christmas 2015.

The installation of the new Yamaha CX Series seven-foot grand piano occured the first week of January 2016 on the theater stage of the 101-year-old building, which was built in 1914 by the Homestake Mining Company.

The theater was designated a National Landmark of American Music in 1974 by the National Music Council, South Dakota Federation of Music Clubs Bicentennial Committee, and ExxonMobil.

A kickoff donation in 2014 in the amount of $2,500 was given in the form of a Quality of Life Initiative grant awarded by the Black Hills Area Community Foundation to help fund the new Yamaha grand piano.

We are proud of our relationship with the Homestake Opera House and this project, says Liz Hamburg, executive director of the Black Hills Area Community Foundation. The Homestake Opera House adds greatly to the cultural landscape of our region.

Working with donor Matt Batchelder of Batchelder's Plummer Piano of Rapid City, the HHOH organization began planning for the instrument to become an addition to the theater. Soon, more donors began supporting the project, such as the family of the late Black Hills musician Ricky Jacobsen; the Lead High School Class of 1964, and John Senden, Wells Fargo of Spearfish.

It has been a pleasure for all of us at Batchelders to work with the Homestake Opera House on this project," says Batchelder. "Im very excited to have another one of our fine performance instruments out in the community, especially a place as iconic as the Homestake Opera House. Im looking forward to seeing all the new opportunities an instrument of this caliber will create for them.

Rapid City resident and entrepreneur Don Perdue attended the 2014 Black Hills Cowboy Christmas Concert held at the HHOH and was inspired to enhance the theater's offerings. Perdue and his son Richard Perdue pledged $24,000 in 2015 as a matching donor if the remainder of the match could be met.

Meeting the challenge match this year was Deb Rawlins, Lead; Jack and Vianne Kucera, Phoenix, Ariz.; and Bill and Marjorie Stork, Lead. Dozens of other generous individuals from the Northern Hills helped to reach the goal to purchase the Yamaha conservatory grand piano, which was ordered last week as a Christmas gift to the historic theater.

"Both the piano installation and this showcase concert are milestones," says HHOH executive director Sarah Carlson. "This landmark theater and its growing audiences deserve a proper instrument, and were so thankful to have reached this point with the help of so many. It's truly a gift lasting well into the theater's next century."

In celebration of the installation of the Yamaha grand piano, an afternoon showcase concert of accomplished and professional pianists took place on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m. at the Historic Homestake Opera House.

Performers included Mila Belakova, Rapid City; Pierce Emata, Las Vegas; Matthew Mayer, Omaha, Neb.; Paul Vande Velde, Lead; and Black Hills State University music professor Dr. Symeon Waseen, Spearfish; among others.
Prairie Hills Transit funding halved

HOT SPRINGS  Discussions on filling a council vacancy, the cost of Evans Plunge upgrades, and halving Prairie Hills public transportations funding request occupied city council at its Tuesday, Jan. 19 meeting.

Council seat vacancy

A council vacancy was created because Ward II representative, Deann McComb, no longer lives in the city  a requirement for council members.

The council discussed how to fill this opening, with Alderman Carolann Schwarzenbach wanting the issue on the first February meetings agenda.

Council wants to consult with Secretary of State Shantel Krebs on the proper procedures to follow to appoint a new member for McCombs seat, and will discuss this in February, with any action likely to come at the second meeting of the month, Feb. 15.

Evans Plunge upgrades

While reviewing incoming bills, Alderman Georgia Holmes questioned a down payment of more than $9,000 to replace carpet at Evans Plunge with a tile type of flooring material. Holmes believed this was an expense that could be postponed, since the Plunges two-year-old carpet had just been cleaned. She suggested this item be taken off the bills to be paid and reconsidered.

Council President Carl Atchely agreed, saying commercial carpeting, if it is cleaned  and the Plunges carpet was just cleaned with a commercial-grade cleaner, said City Administrator Nolan Schroeder  ought to last at least four years.

Schroeder explained that the $9,000 bill was a down-payment, half of an $18,000 total, the remainder to be paid when the new flooring tiles were installed. These tiles, Schroeder said, would replace carpeting in the gift shop, the cardio room, where there was slick tile upstairs, on the ramp to the lockers and in other locations. This was recommended by the Plunge advisory board and discussed during several advisory board meetings since last fall.

The advisory committee was concerned about wet carpet breeding mold and bacteria; where the new tile, a textured surface, much like that found in the entrance to Sonnys Supermarket, would not mold or hold moisture, Schroeder said. While the carpet throughout the Plunge had been cleaned with a commercial grade cleanera job that hadnt been done for two years  the new flooring would be easier to keep clean and maintain.

Water and carpet dont mix, said Mayor Cindy Donnell.

Alderman Andrea Kramer asked Schroeder if he thought the $18,000 expense was a good use of the money.

Yes, said Schroeder, considering the amount of new flooring.

Holmes still wondered if the expense couldnt be postponed, but couldnt garner enough support to remove the item.

Schroeder also warned the council that they would be seeing other large bills from the Plunge as renovations ramp up.

One such item, he said, would be a $30,000 expense - $15,000 down, another $15,000 for installation  to resurface the pool deck with a textured surfacing product. This would be done because the current concrete surface is slick, easy to slip on.

Schroeder noted that the Plunge advisory board considered four options with this, consulted with several manufacturers and local suppliers to find this product, which could also be used later on locker room floors and on the Plunges walls.

Citys halves Prairie Hills Transit funding

Barb Cline, of Prairie Hills Transit, from Spearfish, came to council to ask for the citys annual donation to public transportation. Cline asked for $10,000  what the city gave to Prairie Hills last year  but received only half of this, $5,000, a decision that could have a long-term repercussions on the city.

Council listened while Cline explained how Prairie Hills, a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing public transportation, including for those with specialized needs, is using federal grant moneys, and how Prairie Hills needed city and county money.

Prairie Hills aims to serve anyone who needs transportation  commuters, grocery shoppers, anyone  and tries to keep rides affordable via subsidies from local governments, grants, businesses and individuals.

Cline said Prairie Hills didnt have many income sources after receiving $1,000 from Fall River County and additional funds from the United Way, but she is working to get more funding. Prairie Hills does recoup some expenses from Black Hills Specialty Services, Fall River Health Services and Seven Sisters care facility, Cline said.

In the Southern Hills, Prairie Hills covers a 12,500 square mile territory between Hot Springs, Custer and Newell. Two employees drive two buses, although increasing ridership is resulting in a need for a third bus, she said.

Hot Springs ridership is up 500 rides from 2014, she said, the fastest growing segment of the system. Patients needing dialysis, and those with wheel chairs are the systems biggest users now, Cline said. Serving these people takes more time, requires bigger, heavier buses.

Were not a social welfare program, Cline said, we operate like a business. We come to the council because we want your support, we want you to be proud of what were doing.

And you should be proud, Cline continued. The community economic development folks should be delighted to have a public transportation program that can bring in business. We want community support, we want to be part of this.

Holmes asked about purchasing a new bus in 2014; Cline said this was a handicap-accessible vehicle, much needed. Holmes agreed that everyone in the community appreciates this service.

When Cline asked how much the city intended to donate, both Atchley and Holmes said $5,000.

At the $10,000 level we would be satisfied, but at the $5,000 level we wont be able to continue the level of service and hours as we had been doing, Cline said. $10,000 would make a huge difference.

Atchley said $10,000 was out, and one payment of $5,000 would be it. You may have to make some different decisions, he said.

Mayor Cindy Donnell asked Cline to let her know if there were people who were going to be needing rides, and suggested putting the citys contribution on a future meeting agenda.

In other business:

 Library director Dawn Johnson shared some startling figures during what she called the librarys slack period, October through December on library use. Johnson said more than 5,300 library cards are in use, and 5,375 books were borrowed through December of 2015. Autumns computer uses topped 2,000, the library website got more than 2,600 hits, E-book borrowing is up twice what it was, and the Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus event was a big hit with 100 visitors in an hour and a half.

 Council tabled a motion to update the citys Personnel Policy booklet because Alderman Tim Tescher wanted more time to go through the proposed changes. Council agreed to table this until it was discussed at the next administration and finance committee meeting, where a quorum of council members was likely to gather. However, council did approve a code of ethics for itself and the mayor, with Tescher voting against Councils code of ethics.
HURON - Ranching is deeply rooted in Mark Hollenbecks family. His great-grandparents homesteaded in Dakota Territory, however, as one of seven children, Hollenbeck grew up understanding that if ranching was in his future, he would have to take an unconventional route to get there.

It took a lot of unconventional ideas in order for me to get into the ranching business because unlike the vast majority of people who are ranching these days, inheriting the land wasnt an option available to me, explains Hollenbeck, who runs an organic cow/calf-finisher herd and a vacation rental property, Sunrise Ranch Lodge, near Edgemont.

Hollenbeck will share his story and challenge young producers to look outside the box to achieve financial stability on their South Dakota farms and ranches during the South Dakota Farmers Union Young Producers Event held in at The Lodge at Deadwood January 29-30, 2016.

The two-day event, which includes lodging, is free to members and $50 for non-members. Space is limited, so register today.

A Holistic Approach to Sustainability

When Hollenbeck talks about sustainability, youd expect the organic cattle producer to begin talking about stewardship of natural resources, but in fact, his focus begins with financial sustainability and comes full circle to investing in natural resources.

Sustainability is a big word being bantered around by everyone these days, but if you dont have economic sustainability, all the rest feels good to talk about, but if an agriculture producer does not achieve economic sustainability, all the rest is a moot point.

He goes on to explain that in an era when land is clearly valued beyond its agriculture production value, if you want to get into ranching, you cant go about it conventionally and make it. You have to look outside the box at all the opportunities available.

His journey to financial sustainability on his South Dakota ranch is quite long and takes many twists and turns.

It begins with a degree in Chemical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and a career in the energy industry. And ends where he is today, raising an organic cow/calf herd of about 125 which he also finishes on a couple thousand acres near Edgemont.

Hollenbeck also operates a vacation/event property, Sunrise Ranch, which he initially launched with the plan that it would be a hunting lodge or ranch vacation destination.

Today, the 55-year-old father of fours sustainability conversations are more focused on how he can improve soil and grassland health through various grazing management techniques.

When people ask me about my ranch, I tell them that I operate an organic cow/calf growing grass finisher operation. All farmers and ranchers are in the business of converting free -nuclear power from the sun into a usable product, he says. I think of my cattle as a combine - its how I manage the soil and grass is what will impact my profitability and sustainability.

To hear the rest of Hollenbecks story, attend the 2016 Young Producer Event. To learn more about the S.D. Farmers Union Young Producers Event and to register, contact Erin Wilcox at ewilcox@sdfu.org or 605-352-6763 ext. 118.
Illegal drug use, particularly the prevalence of methamphetamine, is fueling a rise in violent crime in Rapid City, according to the 2015 crime statistics released Monday by the Rapid City Police Department.

Substantial jumps in the numbers of robberies and murders in Rapid City in 2015 can be linked to a corresponding rise in drug arrests, which increased for the fifth straight year, Rapid City Police Chief Karl Jegeris said. He added that the rise in violence mirrors a national trend.

For the third straight year arrests for drug violations outnumbered those for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Most if not all of our violent crime has a nexus to our drug use, Jegeris said after the annual report's release on Monday.

Murders are up 75 percent over 2014, with three of the seven cases last year still unsolved. Over the preceding six years, the city has averaged slightly more than three homicides a year; with seven in 2015, the city's increase was 120 percent above average.

Last year also saw a spike in robberies to 76, including a string of holdups at casinos and convenience stores over the last seven months of 2015, marking a nearly 29 percent increase over 2014.

Jegeris said the surge in casino and convenience store robberies can be traced to the rise in drug use.

People involved with illegal drugs need quick money at times," he said. "They view casinos and convenience stores as an opportunity.

While methamphetamine use is on the rise, possession of marijuana remains a problem because of what Jegeris called the Colorado effect, with marijuana legally sold in that state making its way to South Dakota.

Arson crimes also rose substantially last year, with eight intentionally set fires doubling the average of four.

It is a rarely occurring crime, Jegeris said of the arson numbers. The percentages can be easily thrown off in a years time.

Categories showing moderate increases were aggravated assaults, with 315 cases in 2015 up 6.4 percent from 296 in 2014. Motor vehicle thefts increased slightly from 2014 to 2015, with 223 vehicles stolen, just four more than in 2014.

Despite the modest one-year increases, numbers of assaults and car thefts cases were still about 30 percent higher than the average over the preceding six years.

The increases in some categories come during a year in which police officers responded to a record 127,712 calls for service, up 7.6 percent from 2014. Detectives worked 17,162 cases and made 8,471 arrests.

One bright spot: Although burglaries stayed steady year-to-year, the trend seven-year trend shows improvement. In 2015, there were 453 burglaries in the city, but in the six preceding years, the average was 507.

Jegeris encouraged Rapid Citians to continue to be active participants in law enforcement and report any suspicious activities and also intervene with any family members or friends involved with high-risk activities.

Family member are the most effective at intervening to stop violent behaviors. When that doesnt work, the police need to get involved, he said.

Jegeris said the new year shows some signs of promise of improvement of the crime rate.

"Its very early," he said, "but things are looking much better, and Im hoping well see a reduction in 2016.

View the complete report at: rcgov.org/pdfs/Police/AnnualCAreportRapid2015_publicrelease.pdf
Life is South Dakota is filled with irony and contrasts.

Were a red state contemplating raises in teacher pay. Were small, but you cant push us around; our great police officers traveled 2,000 miles to stop a predator from harming our children.

Were tight with a penny, but weve figured out how to share things like police cars. We dont want to tax ourselves, but were all about the government's help to build roads or fight fires. We have some of the richest and some of the poorest people in the world, and were just not very good at sorting the wheat from the chaff.

Politicians of many stripes step into this swirling mix of politics and self-interest because its easy to do. It doesnt matter what you believe, you can find a constituency in South Dakota. Broadly, there are two parties vying for power, or in power simultaneously, depending on how we think about it.

There are determinists who dont trust the government and think life is predetermined by decisions we made, or circumstances we inherit, or other factors beyond our control. And there are liberals who dont trust the power of government but think government is needed to protect individual freedom and keep us from harm.

If we follow this line of thinking, Lynne DiSanto is a liberal. She supports giving a hand to those in need, like ranchers and agriculture interests and single mothers who cant make ends meet. She also wants big government to step up in the most intrusive ways imaginable and do virtual cavity searches of anyone who needs something to eat in her bill to require drug testing of welfare recipients.

She told them drugs and alcohol are not healthy. Now she wants us to have big government test their pee before they get a hamburger. Its liberalism gone wild. Some places call these kind of people Democrats. Its classical social liberalism at its finest, whatever else it might be.

Determinism is a doctrine that holds that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will... (implying) that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions.

DiSanto is certainly not one of those  even though there are good reasons why she might be. For instance, being born poor and raised on the edge of poverty is a hard circumstance to shake, just like being a kid with parents who use drugs and alcohol inappropriately. If youre drunk on the day you apply for food stamps, do we give you a breath test? If you test positive for drugs do we just send you away hungry?

Jesus is reported to have said As I have loved you, love one another. He is not reported to have said, As I have fixed you, fix one another. He didnt mention fixing at all except in the sense that if we sin and repent we are forgiven.

The forgiver is not the government, by the way. Its a higher power. Let them eat cake.
House Bill 1076 was introduced in the South Dakota Legislature to provide for drug testing for certain assistance applicants. But that title is misleading. The act provides for drug testing all applicants for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the state.

We should be gravely concerned that someone has taken it upon themselves to assume that everyone in financial straits needs assistance because theyre doing drugs.

The prime sponsor of this measure, Rep. Lynn DiSanto of Rapid City, justified the bill on Facebook noting I was a 20-year-old, single mom when my first son was born. I received welfare including food stamps, WIC and child care assistance and I have all the respect for people who are utilizing these government safeguards to better themselves and become independent and self-supporting. However, if you can afford drugs you can afford food. The taxpayers do not need to subsidize your drug habit.

Because DiSanto was once on public assistance, we should treat everyone on public assistance as drug users? This is a leap of logic that I am not able to accomplish.

As a long-time conservative Republican activist, I am deeply troubled by something that stands directly against basic American principles such as compassion, presumption of innocence, limited government and our U.S. Constitution.

Assuming the worst of program applicants is the opposite of what most would consider compassionate conservatism. A mandatory drug test for public assistance is nothing but state-sponsored class warfare against those least able to fight it. It speaks poorly of those who would insist on governments hand being that heavy. We can legislate with our minds without cutting out our hearts. There but for the grace of God, go I.

HB 1076 presumes applicants for such benefits are guilty, until bodily fluids are provided to prove innocence  and tested at the applicants own expense. That stands against one of the most basic principles of criminal justice, the presumption of innocence, which has been recognized for nearly 1,500 years.

As a proponent of limited government this measure troubles me greatly as a dangerous overreach of the authority of the state. Adding more bureaucracy for the purposes of government drug testing citizens of the state en masse and establishing the precedent that it is an acceptable thing to do so, is not a good thing for democracy.

With HB 1076, the state will be testing a significant portion of the nearly 7,000 TANF recipients and roughly 100,000 South Dakota residents who receive SNAP benefits. Ignoring the obvious concerns of expense, mass-testing tens of thousands of South Dakotans to prove them innocent also has a lot of other problems, particularly with the U.S. Constitution.

In 2014, a nearly identical Florida law found itself challenged at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which held that the state did not show a substantial special need to test all applicants to its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program without any suspicion of drug use and that it crossed the line against the Fourth Amendments prohibition on blanket government searches.

As a result of challenges from Florida and other states, a 2015 Congressional Research Study report cautioned lawmakers that state or federal laws that require drug tests as a condition of receiving governmental benefits without regard to an individualized suspicion of illicit drug use may be subject to constitutional challenge.

Do constitutional rights and an overreaching government matter so little anymore that we should cease to care about them? This conservative Republican activist disagrees. Theyre as important as ever.

If a fear of drug users utilizing SNAP or TANF is a problem for South Dakota, pass a measure to cut off benefits upon conviction of a drug crime. Our neighboring state Montana does. Its a far better path than trampling rights, trying to test thousands of people, and expanding bureaucracy into unheard of authority.

Barring that yet unvoiced fear, legislators should reject House Bill 1076 completely.

South Dakota is better than that.
Dagestan ex-mayors appeal against life sentence set for February 24

MOSCOW, January 26 (RAPSI)  Russias Supreme Court on February 24 will consider an appeal filed by Said Amirov, the former mayor of Dagestan's capital Makhachkala, against life sentence, RAPSI learnt in the court on Tuesday.

Amirov who had been convicted of killing Arsen Gadzhibekov, the director of the Investigative Committee in one of the districts of Makhachkala, and organising a 2011 terrosrist attack in a shopping mall in the city of Kaspiysk was given life sentence on August 27, 2015,

His nephew, Yusup Dzhaparov, who was a deputy mayor of Kaspiysk, was sentenced to 18 years in a high security prison and 18 months of supervised release.

Six other men who had been also convicted in this case received long jail terms ranging from 10 to 22 years.

Gadzhibekov at the time of his death worked on a number of high-profile criminal cases, including the 2010 twin bombings in Kizlyar, a town on the border with Chechnya, that left 10 killed and 270 injured. He was also investigating misconduct allegations against members of the Makhachkala city administration headed by Amirov, according to Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin.

Confident in their impunity, Amirov and his accomplices threatened and intimidated their rivals, Markin said.

In July 2014, Amirov and Dzhaparov were sentenced to 10 and eight and a half years in prison, respectively, for plotting a murder attempt on Sagid Murtazaliyev, head of the Pension Fund in Dagestan and a prominent Russian wrestler, whose plane was supposed to be shot down by a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile.
Russian national Sinyakov accused of treason detained until May 1

MOSCOW, January 26 (RAPSI)  Moscows Lefortovsky District Court ordered pre-trial detention until May 1 of Aleksey Sinyakov who stands accused of treason, the court spokesperson Yulia Skotnikova told RAPSI on Tuesday.

Skotnikova declined to comment on the case as the pre-trial hearings are held behind closed doors.

A number of treason cases were opened in the last few years in Russia.

Gennady Kravtsov, a former employee of Russias military intelligence services, was convicted of treason after it was revealed that he sent a job application letter to a Swedish defense company in 2010. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison last September.

Maxim Lyudomirsky, a head engineer at a defence contractor developing artillery systems, received a 9-year jail sentence on treason charges last November.

At the same time, treason charges were abruptly dropped last March against Svetlana Davydova, a mother of seven from western Russia. A criminal case was opened against Davydova after she called the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow and claimed that Russian soldiers might be heading to eastern Ukraine.
Russia's former border agency head faces extradition to Russia - report

Context Russia seeks extradition of former chief of border agency Bezdelov from Italy

MOSCOW, January 26 (RAPSI)  Italy aims to extradite to Russia Dmitry Bezdelov, former head of the Federal Border Development Agency who has been accused in embezzlement case, Kommersant newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Italy's court of appeals upheld in October the decision to extradite Bezdelov to Russia. The Supreme Court has reportedly left the judgment intact.

Bezdelov resigned from his post in October 2013 after a probe revealed inappropriate use of budget funds by the agency.

He was accused of unauthorized transferring about one billion rubles (about $13 million) to the Agrosoyuz bank whose main beneficiary by that time was his father, according to Kommersant.

Bezdelov was arrested in Rome in October 2014 after he had been put on the international wanted list.
Talking with the banker might be the most difficult conversation some farmers face in the near future.Its not easy to talk about getting an operating loan when the cost of production is sometimes greater than the return to the farmers. For example, to produce a bushel of corn is over $4 and for soybeans its over $9  while actual bids are more or less $3.40 for corn and $8.50 for soybeans depending on where you live.To get a feel for how producers can approach their lenders and to look at ways to save/spend their money more wisely this year, we talked with Kent Thiesse, MinnStar Bank vice president and farm management analyst of Lake Crystal, Minn.Call it a practice run. Some of his comments could help farmers feel more confident talking to their own bankers. In addition, Thiesse had a few ideas that farmers might not have considered that could help operations this year.Most Minnesota farmers, and many farmers in general, are facing 2016 crop production costs that are below breakeven levels. Farmers cant count on the weather being as cooperative as in 2015, when many regions raised 10-30 percent higher yields than average.The 2015 ARC-CO payments for corn and soybean payments issued in October 2016 are another unknown. Based on final 2015 county yields, ARC-CO payments are expected to vary from county to county.Farm operations also vary greatly on fixed and flexible expenses, based on machinery payments, land and building payments and land rents.The good news is fertilizer and fuel costs are lower. Seed costs havent changed much.Many grain farmers are coming off four-five years of good profitability.Livestock producers, who worked through high feed costs, also enjoyed better prices for about a year and a half. Now, many livestock producers are facing tight margins too.A lot of producers liquidity (or cash position) was very strong after several good years, Thiesse said.That working capital can tighten up very quickly when youre operating below breakeven levels. When producers are doing their year end analysis and looking ahead to 2016, they need to watch when their working capitol starts to get into critical ranges so they can make some adjustments.Farmers may want to look at the various segments of the operation, when faced with tight margins.That can include looking at what parts of the operation are making money and what parts are losing money. Its possible that changes can be made to those areas that are losing money, or the farmer can also exit some parts of the operation.Thiesse said its also important to consider the farm enterprise over a longer timeframe than just one year.Say a farmer was operating five parcels of land, and had owned two parcels that had made a profit for a long time. If two rental parcels were very close to breakeven, the farmer would want to keep them.If one parcel showed a loss for the last couple of years and is projecting a loss again in 2016  that is where the banker and farmer may want to talk about the importance of whether or not to keep that rented parcel.If someone purchased farmland at a very high rate in the last few years, and the payments are causing cash flow problems, it might be worth selling the land while land prices remain strong.Nobody likes to give up land  whether its rented land or purchased land. Im certainly not advocating giving up land  but sometimes you have to make some hard choices, Thiesse said. If you get into a bind where the bottom line is such that you cant make it work, and you (may) have to look in another direction. If you have a parcel and you are showing a small loss, you probably dont want to give it up based on one year.If machinery costs are dragging down an operation, farmers can look at doing some custom farming or possibly selling off some machinery or downsizing a little.Some farmers can also look at more fully using their assets. Putting up a contract hog finishing barn can generate income and provide manure for the farmland.Thiesse reminds farmers that manure has value.I think sometimes in budgeting and cash flow planning, manure is treated as a free resource, but it needs to be accounted for properly, he said, noting that farmers who have access to manure have a pretty significant asset.Some farmers may find that 2016 offers opportunities for expansion. There could be some better buys on farmland and machinery, and in the right situation, these purchases could help propel a farm forward.Farmers may also want to consider side businesses to assist with family living expenses, including accounting, consulting, carpentry or any number of fields related to their skills and knowledge.Its possible to add a new venture  like alfalfa production, livestock enterprises or raising vegetables.The one thing about non-traditional ventures is they require a different type of management, he said. If producers or families go into that, they have to be dedicated to not assume they know everything. They have to learn and find out.For other farmers, the 2016 growing season is likely to be a time to batten down the hatches, Thiesse said.Controlling costs, looking for efficiencies, lowering costs of production and adjusting marketing plans can all help this year.Some families will need to look at ways to cut family living expenses, while other families may have non-farm income that helps with expenses.If low prices continue, greater Minnesota will also be hurt and that will reduce off-farm income as well.Lower prices affect businesses in town too  when farmers arent spending as much money and money isnt turning over in the communities. When corn prices are closer to $3, its a tough adjustment for the entire rural community, he said.Thiesse encourages farmers to keep doing a great job with their bookkeeping and take the initiative to talk with others.The farmer needs to be the first person to talk with their spouse, family members or partners  rather than waiting for someone else to come to them.Farmers need to also talk with their lenders.Most ag lenders dont want to see farm operations go out of business, Thiesse said. They will help as much as they can.If you communicate early and look at options and evaluate them, usually there is a lot more opportunity to come up with something that might work.In addition, farmers need to carefully select financial consultants and resources  such as Farm Business Management instructors  that can be trusted. Knowledgeable advisors are a source of great strength when prices are low.Grain prices have been low long enough that farmers are realizing they are not going to move up soon.Its always good to have hope for high prices, but its also important to put risk management tools in place to keep the operation afloat.Everyone likes to make the big profits, but I think you need to protect your risk out there, Thiesse said. You maybe wont hit the top end of prices, but if you can make a profit, you can stay in business.
BOZEMAN, Mont.  Montana farmers planted wheat varieties developed by the Montana State University Montana Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) more than any other variety in 2015, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.USDA statistics show that Montana planted 5.8 million acres of wheat this year, with 2.2 million acres of spring and winter wheat varieties developed by MAES. MSU wheat varieties accounted for approximately $500 million of $1.2 billion wheat sold by Montana farmers in 2015, according to MSU wheat breeding specialists.Some wheat varieties developed by MSU are sold by private companies. Montana exports 20 percent of agricultural products as foreign exports and 75 percent of its wheat to Asian markets, according to the USDA.This data clearly demonstrates that our producers and consumers value wheat varieties developed by Montana State, and that these varieties bring enormous value to the Montana and global economy, said Charles Boyer, MSU vice president of agriculture. Our faculty scientists have deep experience, which provides the foundation for developing varieties that meet challenges and desires not only of Montana grain growers, but to the world market as well. Our university breeding program is vital to the states highest-grossing industry, and were committed to working with and alongside our producers for a robust grain industry in Montana.Montana producers choose to plant MAES varieties because they are specifically adapted to Montanas climate and several are resistant to common diseases and pests found statewide, said Barry Jacobsen, associate director of MAES.Our breeding program develops varieties that are specifically bred for Montanas climate and pests, while at the same, they are high-yield, high-protein and have exceptional baking quality, so they perform well for our growers and customers, Jacobsen said. Our varieties also have consistent protein content and noodle and bread making qualities, so desired by our global markets.According to the USDA, Montana is the fourth-highest state for total planted wheat in the country, fifth in the nation for winter wheat production and the second-largest spring wheat producer in the country. 2.4 million acres of winter wheat were planted across Montana this year. MAES winter wheat varieties accounted for 59 percent, or 1.4 million acres of total planted winter wheat acreage across the state. The top-seeded varieties were Yellowstone, Judee and Decade, respectively. 2.6 million acres of spring wheat were planted across Montana this year, with 32 percent, or 810,000 acres, seeded with a MAES-developed spring wheat variety. For the fifth year in a row, Vida, a hard-red spring wheat developed by MAES, was the most commonly planted spring wheat across the state. Vida accounted for 16.8 percent of all planted spring wheat in 2015, while additional MAES spring wheat varieties accounted for 13.2 percent.The Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and the MSU College of Agriculture Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology host a world-renowned plant breeding program that emphasizes both traditional and molecular approaches in plant breeding and genetics that emphasizes high yields, pest resistance and high quality. More information about the breeding program is available at http://plantsciences.montana.edu/.
Sagarmatha Network Pvt. Ltd. is the organization dedicated in the field of printing, publishing service since 2001. As part of media, we've been publishing Review Nepal, an English medium weekly registered at District Administration Office (DAO) Kathmandu with registration number 130-162-163 and reviewnepal.com as an online digital newspaper, with registration number 849-075-076 at Department of Informational and Broadcasting (DIB) from Kathmandu, Nepal since 2003.
Experience suggests that Washington often says one thing and does another, using beautiful concepts as their brand of bullying and forcefully reshaping the meaning of those concepts. For example, Washington often talks about "rules," but the world has seen the US consistently commit the most brutal violations of the rules on which the United Nations system is based. The rules they talk about are actually a framework for protecting the interests of the US and its major allies. They are also a behavioral norm to force other countries to maximize those interests.
Musings arising while living by the Arkansas River in the Mountains of Colorado, while connected to the world through the filters of media and community
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Dawn, Dec 27, 2015

by Asma Jahangir

aSHE is no more,a said my daughter over the phone, giving us the tragic news of Benazir Bhuttoas assassination. We were at a recording at Dawn studios. The news was shattering. My worst fears that she may not survive this time had come true. By that time, she had matured into a confident leader. She was clear that Taliban-style terrorism must be eliminated for Pakistan to survive, and was determined to take up the challenge.

BB expressed her resolve to take on the establishment and their militant friends some weeks before she was killed. She shared these thoughts with journalists and rights activists she met on her last visit to me. She expressed her mistrust of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. I pleaded his case, but BB gave several examples, casting doubts on his integrity. What transpired between that day and the moment she decided to acknowledge him as CJ remains a mystery for me.

Not perfect, BB was still one of Pakistanas most, if not the most, outstanding leaders. She enjoyed a luxurious life, first as daughter of a foreign minister and later as prime minister. After her fatheras hanging, she suffered a long period in jail. Yet she hardly ever reminded anyone of those agonising years she spent as a young woman.

Her suffering did not harden her but turned her into a more humane person. As a leader, she introduced the politics of tolerance. She understood human failings, was never judgemental and quick to forgive. This encouraged unscrupulous persons. Often her friends would point out that her party members were exploiting her position. She would simply say they were abooray waqt kay saathia.

Benazir was one of our most outstanding leaders.

Politics changed as BB brought back the PPP style of taking politics to the streets and villages. Her rallies were the face of the excluded, the working classes, religious minorities, badgered writers and poets and ordinary women. In her first tenure, BB banned public whipping practised by the Zia regime. She granted amnesty to jailed women and children and lifted media censorship.

Many women were placed in the cabinet and seen around Prime Minister House, previously a male domain. In her second term, BB elevated the first set of women to the high courts. These advances werenat enough. Many expected her to perform miracles by overturning Ziaas legacy within a few years. On my impatience, BB would teasingly remind me she was running a complex country, not a rights organisation.

I remember receiving a complaint that a PPP stalwart was engaged in bonded labour. As HRCP chairperson, I protested to the prime minister. Her principal secretary who was with her in Japan called to say she saw my fax and had instructed him to assure me that the government would not tolerate such practices. On my suggestion, she sent messages to all Sindhas deputy commissioners to cooperate with civil society in freeing bonded labour. Thousands were set at liberty with government support.

When journalist Zafaryab was arrested on trumped-up treason charges, some journalists asked me to speak to BB as her interior minister refused to relent. When I met BB, her foreign secretary, his wife and Shahnaz Wazir Ali were also present. After hearing me, she confirmed from Shahnaz that Zafaryab was only an idealistic communist. She ordered that the government not oppose his bail and apologised for his suffering.

BB had a sense of humour, and could laugh at herself. But she could also grieve. I met BB in London after her brother Murtazaas death. I joined the crowd she was addressing. She called for me and we hugged. She was very stressed. On her return, her government fell. I met her in Islamabad, where I was participating in a seminar. When I mentioned how charming Murtaza was she wept bitterly. A TV interview with her had to be put off. At the seminar, I mentioned BBas distress to Malik Saeed Hassan, our senior lawyer in Lahore. He immediately invited himself, Farooq Naek and other lawyers to accompany me to see BB. She was pleased but for the first time looked unsure.

BB loved this country. You could see it in her eyes a the TV footage of her landing in Karachi shows this. Yet she was accused of being a security risk and seen by our establishment and its lackeys as a traitor. She was not capable of torture or killing but was accused of conspiring to murder her own brother. Her private life was a matter of gossip.

The achattering classa as she called them, were suspicious of her, but ordinary people loved her. They knew her worth and admired the dignified manner in which she challenged her rivals. She lives in the hearts and minds of millions of us who pray for her each day we enjoy freedom in Pakistan.

The writer is a lawyer and a human rights activist.
The Conversation - January 22, 2016

by Michael Semple

(Visiting Research Professor, Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice, Queens University Belfast)

The attack on students of the Bacha Khan university in Charsadda, northern Pakistan, played out according to what has become a disturbingly familiar pattern in the region.

It was what is described by armed Islamist groups there as a afidayeen attacka . Fighters of the Pakistani Taliban, TTP, were equipped to blow themselves up, but first shot all those they encountered until they were cornered and shot by security forces.

In the run-up to the attack, TTP recruits had received commando-style training and been designated fidayeen, or fighters who are prepared to give up their lives for God. An experienced TTP commander, referred to as an austada , or professor, directed covert surveillance of the university. The ustad then devised an operational plan, including delivering the men and weapons to Charsadda without detection. It is now standard practice for the TTP commander to direct the operation by phone, staying across the border beyond the reach of Pakistani security forces.

Where the attack occurred.

One of the reasons that the university attack has been particularly shocking for Pakistanis is that it took place at a time when the country seemed to have passed the peak of terrorist violence. After a decade of military operations, the Pakistan army has by now penetrated all of the tribal agencies along the frontier. Until June 2014, TTP fighters had secure bases and bomb factories around the towns of Mir Ali and Miranshah, but these were eliminated in the armyas North Waziristan operation.

During 2015 the Pakistani government also pursued a 20-point agenda of counter-terrorism actions, designed to reduce terrorist financing, recruitment and freedom of operation throughout Pakistan a the National Action Plan (NAP). Deaths from terrorist violence in Pakistan duly fell by a third in 2015 relative to the previous year. But a spurt of other attacks during January point to the limits of what can be achieved through the military operations and NAP framework. Terrorist violence is down but Pakistan is still far from secure.

Common ground

On the same day as the university attack, a suicide bomber in Kabul blew up the staff bus of Afghan TV station, Tolo, killing seven. The Afghan Taliban had previously threatened Tolo and claimed responsibility for the attack. Over the past month, the Afghan Taliban has directed a series of fidayeen operations against a mixture of soft targets and some associated with the military.

Funeral for one of the victims of the Tolo bus bombing. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

The ustads who plot the Afghan Taliban attacks in Kabul and the TTP attacks in Pakistan developed their skills in the old camps of Waziristan. In a sense they are all graduates of the same aterrorist universitya . Both Taliban movements are still able to mount a terror campaign because they have used the time since summer 2014 to relocate themselves, reorganise their logistics, train new fighters and go back into action.

The TTP, has suffered a series of splits since 2014. The nominal emir is Maulana Fazlullah, the notorious commander from Swat a but in reality the movement now has neither a charismatic leader nor an effective central command structure.

TTP warlord Maulana Fazlullah. Salimswati, CC BY

Instead, multiple commanders who emerged while TTP held sway in Pakistanas tribal areas, have established themselves in areas along the border, beyond the control of either government.

Each commander can still draw on his original fighters, who are mainly clansmen from the Pakistani frontier tribes. But the allure of being a mujahid is still sufficient that TTP commanders in eastern Afghanistan are also able to recruit local youths. Funding is largely decentralised, as the TTP commanders have long experience in kidnapping and extortion and sustaining their fighters from criminal activities conducted under the guise of jihad.

Patterns of violence

The TTP fighters have now reverted to a more autonomous pattern of warfare. Each commander strong enough to maintain a group of fighters is free to ally with other jihadi groups or conduct independent operations. This is the opposite of the Afghan Talibanas organisational approach, which emphasises the idea of loyalty to a single emir. The TTP and Afghan Taliban pursue different strategic objectives. The Afghan Taliban is fighting to restore its Islamic Emirate to power in Afghanistan. The TTP has no prospect of overthrowing the Pakistani state but fights an existential jihad, intent on maintaining its status as mujahideen by waging war against those it has designated enemies of Islam.

Pakistanas operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan on Afghan border. Reuters stringer

The inter-connectedness of Afghan and Pakistani security is highlighted by the fact that the two campaigns of fidayeen operations run in parallel. However, the political and military leaderships on both sides of the border react differently to violence depending on where it takes place. There was horror in Pakistan at the killing of innocents in Charsadda. In contrast, many in Pakistan still cling to the idea that bombs in Kabul strike a blow against occupation. Pakistanas counter-terrorism measures have been directed against fighters who target Pakistan.

Residual sympathy and the confidence that Afghan Taliban does not directly threaten Pakistan, have kept clamping down on its operations low on Pakistanas security agenda. The idea of proxy warfare a supporting cross-border armed groups to conduct tit-for-tat attacks a also persists. By this logic, Pakistanas intelligence services have to consider the possibility that their Afghan counterparts deliberately harboured the Charsadda killers, to punish Pakistan.

No-go areas

The latest upsurge of TTP violence suggests that security in Pakistan ultimately depends on restoring security in Afghanistan. The Afghan Talibanas campaign has destabilised Afghanistan and left Afghan security forces struggling to hold onto the countryas main towns. This has created multiple no-go areas which have been exploited by the TTP and other armed groups hostile to Pakistan. It is in these areas that the old TTP commanders have been able to regroup. For a while after the December 2014 attack on the army public school in Peshawar, it seemed as if the authorities might clamp down on Afghan Taliban. In the end the Afghan Taliban was spared.

This time round, the Charsadda attack comes soon after the launch of a quadrilateral process, in which China and the US are meant to work alongside Pakistan and Afghanistan to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table. The process has so far been limited to diplomatic discussions and planning work.

The public comments of the main Pakistani delegate at the launch of the process were designed to make it clear that Pakistan has no intention of being rushed into punitive measures against the Afghan Taliban. However, if Pakistanis start to conclude that the Charsadda massacre was a predictable consequence of tolerating Afghan Taliban activities in Pakistan, this might just inject a new sense of urgency into collective efforts to end the Afghan Taliban campaign of violence.
[upated on 7 February 2016]

What Modias Pursuit of Power in Arunachal at Any Cost Means for Democracy by Rajeev Dhavan http://thewire.in/2016/02/07/what-modis-pursuit-of-power-in-arunachal-at-any-cost-means-for-democracy-21018/

The Times of India - January 26, 2016

BJP throws federalism to the winds: Arunachal doesnat deserve Presidentas Rule

by M V Rajeev Gowda in TOI Edit Page | Edit Page, India | TOI

On the eve of Republic Day, the NDA government struck a devastating blow to our Constitution by deciding to impose Presidentas Rule on Arunachal Pradesh even as a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court is examining developments in this sensitive northeastern state.

The BJP-led government argues that Article 174(1) mandates that there cannot be a gap of more than six months between two assembly sessions. This implies that the government does not recognise the assembly session summoned by its own appointee, Governor Rajkhowa. Logically it must recall the Governor immediately.

Arunachal has been boiling since some Congress MLAs rebelled against Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, and joined BJP MLAs to attempt a regime change. Who has the majority? That question must be answered on the floor of the assembly, as per the Bommai judgment.

On December 9, 2015, Governor Rajkhowa precipitated a constitutional crisis. Without consulting the council of ministers, he summoned the assembly on December 16 instead of the scheduled date of January 14, 2016. He overstepped his powers by instructing the assembly to first take up a resolution to remove the Speaker, with the Deputy Speaker (a rebel) presiding, though notice for removal was pending. He violated the Valluri judgment which states that as long as a democratically elected government exists, the Governor can only act on its advice.

In the face of public protests, the rebels were not able to enter the assembly hall. They then held a meeting in a private hall where they aimpeacheda the Speaker. Never before has India witnessed such a rump assembly. Meanwhile, a number of Congress MLAs were disqualified by the Speaker on grounds of defection.

The Speaker appealed to the Guwahati high court which stayed the Governoras actions. Another judge vacated that stay. The case is now before a Supreme Court constitutional bench which has to decide on the appropriate powers of the Speaker and Governor.

Now, though this issue is sub judice and a hearing is scheduled for February 1, the NDA government has changed the status quo, thwarting the Supreme Courtas efforts to resolve the issue constitutionally. Its action gives the Governor a free hand, as there is now no elected government to heed.

BJPas game plan is to use the provision of Presidentas Rule under Article 356 to weaken the chief ministeras support. (We are reminded of 2003, when BJP induced Congress legislators to defect en masse.) BJP has thrown federalism to the winds, disregarding the Sarkaria Commissionas stricture that Article 356 abe used sparingly, in extreme cases, as a measure of last resort, and when all available alternatives fail to prevent or rectifya the situation.

Attempting to appropriate Ambedkar, BJP commenced the Parliamentas winter session with a celebration of the Constitution. The recommendation of Presidentas Rule demonstrates that this was a mere faAade. Modi sarkar paid lip service while it plotted the destabilisation of a democratically elected government.

The sun in India rises in Arunachal Pradesh. So too does the decline of our democracy.

o o o

The Hindu, December 19, 2015

Editorial:

Unseemly turn in Arunachal Pradesh

The saddest aspect of the political turmoil in Arunachal Pradesh is that its key actors have revived unedifying practices that one would have thought the Indian polity had left behind some years ago: dissident ruling party legislators joining hands with their political rivals to bring down an elected government, holding parallel or unauthorised Assembly proceedings, and the Governor playing a partisan role. The conduct of Governor J.P. Rajkhowa in the ongoing crisis facing the Nabam Tuki government, set off by a group of ruling Congress MLAs revolting against his leadership, is questionable. In S.R. Bommai in 1994, the Supreme Court decided that the only place for determining whether a Chief Minister has lost his majority is the floor of the House, and not the Raj Bhavan. When it appeared that Mr. Tuki had lost the support of many of the legislators, the Governor could have either asked him to prove his majority when the Assembly met on January 14, 2016, or, if the matter brooked no delay, requested him to advance the session for the same purpose. There was no justification for the Governor to advance the session to December 16 on his own, and a legitimate question arises whether the Constitution permits such action. In another partisan act, he sent a message to the House to take up aResolution for removal of the Speakera as the first item on the agenda.

The Congress has been ruling the State with the support of 47 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, but 20 ruling party legislators have rallied under former Minister Kalikho Pul and joined hands with the 11-member Bharatiya Janata Party group in a bid to unseat Mr. Tuki. They accuse the Chief Minister of financial mismanagement and corruption. In a pre-emptive move against the rebels convening the Assembly on the Governoras order, the government locked down the legislature building and the Speaker disqualified 14 out of the 20 dissidents to bring down the number required for a majority. Disqualification under the anti-defection law is subject to judicial review and the rebels could have challenged the Speakeras decision. Instead, showing unseemly hurry, the Deputy Speaker, a dissident himself, arevokeda their disqualification. All the rebels, along with the BJP and independent MLAs, held a sitting of the aAssemblya at a makeshift venue, and aremoveda the Speaker and then the Chief Minister through a ano-confidence motiona. With the Guwahati High Court keeping in abeyance all the decisions taken at the rebel asessiona, and sharply questioning the Governoras action in convening the Assembly, the rest of the crisis may play out in a courtroom. Nevertheless, it would be a travesty of democracy if the current crisis results in the imposition of Presidentas Rule without Mr. Tuki being given an opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the House. The Centre should avoid any impression that constitutional norms will not be respected while handling the issue.

o o o

The Shillong Times

Constitutional crisis in Arunachal Pradesh?

Editor | Tuesday, January 26, 2016

THE Union Cabinetas recommendation for bringing Arunachal Pradesh under central rule has come in for a lot of flak considering that the case is pending before the Supreme Court. On Monday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh met President Pranab Mukherjee to explain the circumstances under which the government decided to impose Presidentas Rule in the border state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Congress Party, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Bihar CM, Nitish Kumar have lashed out at the Modi Government calling this move a reflection of the Central Governmentas political intolerance. Going by the Governor JP Rajkhowaas report the stateas constitutional machinery has broken down under chief minister Nabam Tuki.

Arunachal Pradesh was rocked by a political crisis on December 16 last year, when 21 Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 BJP members and two Independents to aimpeacha Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia from a makeshift venue in Itanagar. The Speaker called the meeting aillegal and unconstitutionala . Only 27 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, including chief minister Tuki and his ministerial colleagues, boycotted the proceedings. The matter is now before the Supreme Court.

If the Supreme Court rules the session invalid, it would amount to a constitutional breakdown because the assembly has breached Article 174 of the Constitution a mandating that the gap between two sessions of the assembly should not exceed six months. However, if the top court rules that the session was valid, it would mean that the Stateas Congress government was in a minority but unwilling to let a floor test of its strength be conducted. In that case the State Government would be violating Article 167(b) of the Constitution, which requires the Government to respond to Governor Rajkhowaas request for information regarding affairs of the state as well as legislative proposals.

Meanwhile the law and order situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the Raj Bhavan was gheraoed and access to it blocked. What is worse is that the Governor has alleged in his reports that Government officials were indulging in indiscipline, lawlessness and politicking even while the Central Government says it has evidence that a section of the bureaucracy was funding certain student groups and others pressure groups to rant against the Governor. This situation is unwarranted and it bodes ill that the office of the Governor should be the subject of so much controversy, if he was indeed fulfilling his constitutional duties

o o o

Imphal Free Press - 19 December 2015

Editorial

Arunachal in ugly crisis

The crisis developing next door in Arunachal Pradesh is ugly and unfortunate. The state, as we all are watching is steeped in controversy once again, though this time it has nothing to do with the periodic claim by China that the state is what traditionally constituted South Tibet, and therefore should rightly belong to it, triggering off vehement protest by India. The current crisis pertains to political defection, and this kind of crisis is also not unfamiliar in the state, and indeed practically all the small states Assemblies of the Northeast where the majority status of a political party can be upset by a few legislators crossing the floor. Compounding Arunachal Pradeshas crisis is what seemingly is an overt partisan role the Governor of the state, Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa is playing in arbitrating the tussle.

Like Manipur Arunachal Pradesh has a legislative assembly of 60 members, and in the last Assembly election in 2014, the Congress emerged with an absolute majority, having bagged 42 seats. The party was followed by the BJP with 11 seats and Peopleas Party of Arunachal, PPA, with 5. Two independents also returned. The PPA subsequently merged with the ruling Congress, leaving the latter with a comfortable 46 members. However, as Manipur is so familiar with, such a big majority can also prove to be the doom of a ruling party. The Anti-Defection Law, besides putting tough restrictions on legislators crossing floors in the Assembly, also puts a low ceiling on the size of the cabinet. In small Assemblies of 60 or less legislators, this number has been fixed at 12 including the Chief Minister, almost predicating unrest in the party at the time of awarding ministerial positions.

Quite apparently, Congress Chief Minister, Nabam Tuki is feeling the heat a year after assuming power with a dissident movement building up within his legislative party. It is reported that a total of 27 Congress rebel MLAs have been camping in New Delhi to demand the ouster of his government, although only 21 of them ultimately signed the petition. If these 21 join the BJP, a no confidence motion in the Arunachal Assembly now would surely mean the doom of the Tuki government. However the Winter Session of the Arunachal Assembly is due only in mid-January. The Governor stepped in here to advance the Assembly session by about a month to December 15, a move widely seen was aimed at facilitating the BJP to form the next government in partnership with the Congress rebels. He also allowed the first and foremost agenda item of the Winter Session to be a motion moved by the Opposition for the removal of the Speaker Nabam Rebia.

Speaker Nabam Rebia however refused to allow the December 16 Assembly session. He also reportedly claimed he had earlier disqualified 14 of the 21 rebels by the provisions of the Anti Defection Law. With the blessing of the Governor however the opposition and rebel Congress legislators, went ahead and held the session with Deputy Speaker TN Thongdok in the chair. Since the Legislative Assembly building remained out of bounds, the first day of the rebel session was held in a community hall and the next day in a hotel conference room. The session not only impeached the Speaker but also passed a no-confidence motion against the chief minister. It also elected former finance minister Kalikho Pul as leader of the House.

The Speaker Rebia approached the Gauhati High Court with a writ petition on December 9 and on Thursday the court stayed till February 1 the Governoras order to advance the Assembly session, describing the development in Arunachal Pradesh as disturbing. The Governor, according to reports, in the meantime has made it known he would be challenging the High Courtas stay order. The situation is also complicated because the amended Anti-Defection Law does not allow defection at all, even if the dissidents form one thirds of their original legislative party, as was the rule before the 2004 amendment to this 1985 law. A party can merge with another and this clearly cannot happen in the present case. A party can also split first and then the breakaway faction merge with another party, but for a split not to attract penal provisions of the Anti-Defection Law, at least two thirds of the legislative party has to agree to split. This number however has remained elusive for the rebels in the troubled Arunachal Congress.
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Greetings! I am a political scientist , specializing in International Relations , my research and teaching focus on ethnic conflict and civil-military relations . I watch way too much TV, and I like movies as well so I tend to write about both and find IR stuff in pop culture. I rant alot about American politics and sometimes about Canadian politics. I like to take ideas I once learned a long time ago and apply them to whatever strikes my fancy.


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Three gang-related deaths in Santa Maria on Monday bring the number of homicides in the city to five in the first month of 2016, and are raisi
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 Helpful accounting by Pew Charitable Trusts of huge state-level reforms resulting from Justice Reinvestment Initiative | Main | "Why we must rethink solitary confinement" 

January 25, 2016

Do SCOTUS watchers really expect the Justices to take up the basic constitutionality of the death penalty soon?

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this new article from The Hill reporting on the Supreme Court's denial of cert in a Pennsylvania case involving a blanket Eighth Amendment attack on the death penalty. Here is the article's discussion of the matter:

The Supreme Court announced [today] that it would not hear a case challenging the constitutionality of the death penalty. The appeal was filed on behalf of Shonda Walters, who was sentenced to death in May 2006 for murdering her next door neighbor with a hatchet and stealing his car. The U.S. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for the Eastern District upheld the lower courts death sentence, saying the court found the evidence sufficient to support her conviction for first-degree murder. In appealing the decision to the Supreme Court, Walters asked the justices to weigh in on whether the imposition of the death penalty violates the Eighth Amendments prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The court did not give any statement supporting or dissenting from its decision to reject the case. Court watchers have been expecting the justices to take up the constitutionality of the death penalty in light of a dissent by Justice Stephen Breyer last year. Experts said Breyers dissent provided a blueprint for a broad challenge to capital punishment.... The court appears to be waiting for the right case to weigh in. The case that was declined on Monday is Walter v. Pennsylvania.

I know that a lot of folks eager to have the death penalty completely abolished in the United States are ever hopeful, especially in the wake of Justice Breyer's Glossip dissent, that the Supreme Court will consider anew a wholesale Eighth Amendment challenge to any and every death sentence. But I have always considered quite significant the fact that Justice Breyer's dissent in Glossip was joined by only one other Justice; moreover, just last week every member of the Court except Justice Sotomayor voted to reinstate a number of Kansas death sentences as consistent with the Eighth Amendment (as blogged here).

I fully understand why Justice Breyer's dissent in Glossip is now prompting many capital defense attorneys to raise and seek to preserve an Eighth Amendment broadside attack on the death sentence given to his or her client. But, especially after the Supreme Court's most recent capital case work from Kansas and elsewhere, I am one "court watcher" who does not expect this kind of claim to be taken up by the Justices anytime soon.

January 25, 2016 at 06:45 PM | Permalink

Comments

My reply would be a dubious ... really?

Posted by: Joe | Jan 25, 2016 7:50:16 PM

Don't you just love things like "The U.S. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for the Eastern District"?

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Jan 25, 2016 8:03:04 PM

Breyer is the only one of nine who will "pass mutard" when he gets his interview at the Holy Gates with Saint Peter.

Posted by: Liberty1st | Jan 25, 2016 8:43:32 PM

The only case granted review by SCOTUS that had

any chance of derailing executions since Furman was McCleskey v. Kemp almost 30 years ago.

Posted by: DaveP | Jan 26, 2016 2:24:58 PM

Post a comment
 "Why we must rethink solitary confinement" | Main | "Congressionally Mandated Task Force Calls for Bold Transformation of Federal Corrections System" 

January 26, 2016

What lessons are to be learned from California's recent experiences with sentencing reform?

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this notable new post authored by Michael Rushford at Crime & Consequences (and supplemented by Bill Otis) titled "Congressional Supporters of Sentencing Reform Need to Look at California." As regular readers know, I have long pointed to California as a state to watch closely in the sentencing reform arena, and thus I am pleased to see this post urging federal legislators to look at California's modern reform experiences. But while the C&C folks seem to think the California experience should lead Congress to back away from proposed statutory sentencing reforms, I see many of the problems emphasized by the C&C folks to be a result of the abject failure of California's legislature to respond wisely with statutory reforms when there was an obvious need to improve its sentencing structures.

I have previously highlighted some of these California realities in this extended 2014 post titled "Can and should California's enduring CJ problems be blamed on those who've long opposed a state sentencing commission?". In that post, I stressed that while the tough-on-crime crowd over at C&C is eager to blame recent California developments on recent sentncing reform required by a federal court order in Plata and resulting from voter initiatives, it was this same tough-on-crime crowd that vehemently opposed and effectively blocked efforts to create a California sentencing commission to deal proactively and systematically with the state's enduring sentencing problems before they became so acute that federal court intervention was required.

The critical part of the California reform story left out from the C&C discussion is that the California legislature from 2005 to 2010 completely failed to respond in any sound way to sensible calls by sentencing reformers to deal with the state's unconstitutional prison overcrowding and the statutory sentencing problems aggravating these problems. The court orders requiring prisoner release in Plata and the voter-approved sentencing reforms passed in subsequent elections were the direct result of federal courts and Californian voters no longer being able to trust the state's elected representatives to move responsibly forward with needed state statutory sentencing reform.

In some ways, this potentially problematic, reactive-reform dynamic is already playing out in the federal sentencing system. For example, the US Supreme Court has been saying in various ways for many years that Congress needed to fix various problems with the Armed Career Criminal Act. Congress long failed to respond, and we ultimately get the Justices in Johnson striking down the ACCA statute as partially unconstitutional (which will now require the release of many offenders previously sentenced as armed career criminals). Similarly, the US Sentencing Commission and the US Department of Justice have been saying in various ways for many reasons that Congress needs to address record-high federal prison populations. I suspect the USSC concluded, after Congress failed to heed its repeated calls for broad statutory reforms, that it had to do something big itself (with DOJ's support) and thus voted unanimously to reduce guideline sentences for all drug offenses across the board and to make these reforms retroactive.

Now, after years of failing to heed calls by sentencing reformers (and the bipartisan US Sentencing Commission) to get ahead of statutory sentencing problems, much of Congress (now led by the GOP) has seemingly come to realize that failing to deal proactively and systematically with sentencing and corrections reform could produce even more long-term problems and challenges. But, yet again, the tough-on-crime crowd at C&C and elsewhere is vehemently opposed to a legislature moving forward proactively and systematically with enduring statutory sentencing problems before we get to a crisis point and other actors feel compelled to get involved due to legislative inaction.

January 26, 2016 at 10:09 AM | Permalink

Comments

Prof. Berman, this post isn't responsive to the C&C post. Whether California should have created a sentencing reform commission years ago is perhaps an interesting and important question, but the C&C post argues a different issue, to wit, whether the Plata/referendum reforms are having their intended effect of reducing costs or crime. C&C posits, plausibly, that the answer is "no." You don't seem to dispute that. So why do you think those reforms have failed? Were you opposed to the federal reforms at the time? Why or why not? And assuming that the state-level legislative reforms you support had been enacted in, say, 2005, how would they have led to different results than the Plata/referendum reforms imposed later?

Posted by: Anon | Jan 26, 2016 12:25:23 PM

I am sorry if I failed to fully explain how all of this seems connected to me, Anon, so let me elaborate with responses to your reasonable questions:

1. Plata was not about reducing costs or crime, it involved a federal court order to reduce the California prison population that was required by unconstitutional overcrowding that went on for many years. Notably, way back in 2006, then-California Governor Schwarzenegger called the state's legislature into special session to address prison overcrowding, and if they had taken even modest proactive steps to deal with the issue, I am pretty sure Plata does not play out the way it did.

2. Because of Plata, we get Gov Brown's realignment plan, which shifted inmates from state facilities to local facilities and was driven really only by the goal of reducing the state prison population at Plata ordered. Though Gov Brown may have tried to sell the plan as intending to reducing costs or crime, its blunderbuss approach showed it was really only about complying with Plata.

3. I have seen various competing reports about the impact of Gov Brown's realignment plan on crime, and my sense is that it is a complicated and very localized story --- i.e., localities that "implemented" realignment well have seen some positive crime results, but others have not. My sense is that whichever reforms are "failing" have more to do with local implementation problems (which arguably are inevitable with reactive reforms).

4. I have seen very little data-based analysis of the impact of "The Three Strikes Reform Act" (Proposition 36 passed in 2012), but what I have seen suggest that it seems to have delivered on promises to make "the criminal justice system more fair and less expensive." In addition, I believe crime hit record low levels in California in 2014.

5. The data and anecdotes around "The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act" (Proposition 47 passed in 2014) seem to me much more complicated and uncertain, though I do fear that this voter initiative was another blunderbuss approach to sentencing reform that came to pass because the California legislature lacks the will or the way to do sound proactive reform on its own.

Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 26, 2016 4:30:56 PM

Fair enough, thanks for responding.

Posted by: Anon | Jan 29, 2016 4:28:44 PM

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This well-established Blog is worth visiting on a regular basis for a wealth of information of interest to Armenian nationals and to the Armenian Diaspora world-wide. Although it has a particular role in promoting international recognition of the Genocide, the Blog encompasses much more and includes many articles of general appeal to all those concerned with Armenian affairs. 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.




Before he died, Robin Williams relisted his Italianate Napa estate, Villa Sorriso, for $29.9 million, back in April 2014. Several months after his death, Williams' family cut the price down to $25.9 million, a significant $4 million chop. Now the asking price has dropped another $3 million, down to $22.9 million, as the home gets farther into its second year on the market (it also made an appearance in 2012, asking $35 million). Williams left Villa Sorriso to his children, according to the Los Angeles Times, while the Tiburon home where he lived with his wife, Susan Schneider Williams, went to her. About 300 personal items from the late actor's estateclothing and books, as well as some artworkare currently at the center of a legal battle between Williams' children and Susan Williams; a San Francisco Superior Court judge has given the two sides until July 29 to sort things out.)

The five-bedroom, ten-bath house is finished with stucco and limestone, and its 20,000 square feet are packed with classical details (think loggias, rotundas, and one sweet bell tower). The grounds also include a four-bedroom caretaker's quarters, plus a tennis court, an infinity-edge pool, 18 acres of vineyards, and a barn fit for a small fleet of horses.



 Robin Williams' Humongous Napa Estate Now Only $25.9M [Curbed SF]

 Villa Sorriso [Cyd Greer]

 Judge gives Robin Williams' wife, kids more time to work out estate issues [LAT]

 Robin Williams Puts Napa Valley Estate Back on the Market [Curbed SF]

 Robin Williams Lists Massive Napa Valley Estate [Curbed SF]
Tragic news out of Big Sur today as two BASE jumpers have gone missing after leaping off the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge. Both are presumed dead. In a sad twist of fate, it appears that both jumpers survived the plunge off the 280 foot bridge, only to drown after being pulled out into the Pacific Ocean by a strong wave.

One jumper, Mary "Katie" Connell, safely landed the jump sometime last Wednesday, as KSBW 8 reports, but was quickly swept out of Bixby Creek.

The coast has seen huge waves recently as a result of El Nino, even leading Pacifica to declare a state of emergency this past Sunday.

The as-of-yet unidentified companion with Connell was apparently a skilled Finnish BASE jump instructor, and was filming the entire ordeal from a helmet-mounted GoPro. Officials found the camera near the edge of the creek. When they reviewed the footage, it depicted the instructor leaping off Bixby Creek Bridge, and then discarding his helmet and parachute before diving in the water in what appeared to be an attempt to save Connell.

Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal said at a press conference yesterday that jumping off the bridge is not illegal, and commented on how the helmet footage shows Connell's landing.

"She lands right about the area where the Bixby Creek feeds into the ocean," Bernal explained.

It seems the Bixby Creek Bridge is a popular, if challenging, BASE jumping spot. One experienced BASE jumper, Liz Freeman, explained to KSBW 8 what makes it so tricky  noting the short jump with a small spot to land.

"So even if you successfully made it to a small landing area, and your canopy didn't, it could pull you back into the water," she explained. "They both knew what they were getting into its risky. Not being local, they didn't quite understand about the king tides, the surf, and the weather. It's always important to know your local conditions before you go out and adventure."

"They were amazing humans, beautiful happy people stoked on life," continued Freeman. "Sad things happen to good people I guess."

Related: Watch A Guy Jump Off The Golden Gate Bridge And Survive
Santa Rosa Fire says board was charging in her front bedroom. House went up very fast. $250,000 damage pic.twitter.com/QKlmOkG3QL  Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) January 20, 2016

Less than a week after investigators say that they believe a hoverboard caused a Santa Rosa fire that killed two dogs, another Bay Area blaze has been linked to the controversial devices.

It was 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19 when firefighters responded to a Santa Rosa home with "flames shooting from the front," the Chron reported at the time.

By Wednesday, ABC7 reports, the Santa Rosa Fire Department was "fairly certain that a hoverboard charging in a child's bedroom caused" the fire.

"The hoverboard itself," a A3 Original Transboard purchased on Amazon, "was plugged in the bedroom near a bookshelf," SRFD spokesperson Paul Lowenthal told ABC7.

"The bookshelf had some indicators on it that showed that the fire had started near the ground level."

No humans were home when the fire broke out, but the family's two dogs, a labradoodle named Bella and Boston terrier named Boo, were pulled out by firefighters. Unfortunately, efforts by Fire Department personnel to resuscitate the animals were not successful, Lowenthal told the Chron.

Less than a week later, the same story: This time, in Petaluma, where KRON4 reports that at 7 last night, a homeowner says he "he heard an explosion downstairs," then saw "his daughters hoverboard was charging, burning, and exploding."

The homeowner hit the blaze with a fire extinguisher, as "the explosion sent embers and parts of the hoverboard all across the bedroom and hallway."

According to a Facebook post by the Petaluma Fire Department, "The hoverboard involved in this fire was equipped with a Lithium-Ion battery and was called the 'Mini Smart Self Balancing 2 wheel Electric Scooter with Led Light,' purchased on Amazon."

As previously reported, Amazon announced in December that they have yanked several brands of hoverboard from their site. As of publication time, however, thousands remain, including at least one described as the "Mini Smart."

In last week's case, the damage totaled around $250,000. In Monday's, the damage amounted to around $10,000.

Over 40 fires like last week's have been reported across the country, spurring strong words from The Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Consumers want and deserve answers about the safety of hoverboards, commission chair Elliot Kaye said in a recent press release sent to media.

I have directed agency staff to work non-stop to find the root cause of the fire hazard, how much of a risk it might present, and to provide consumers with answers as soon as possible.

But for David Carpenter, whose house and dogs were destroyed last week, it's too little, too late.

"It's like selling kids bombs," he told ABC7. "They're just gonna go off, you never know when I guess."

"We didn't get any warnings, didn't get any recall notices from them after we bought it...Just be careful, to the parents out there. I could have happened in the middle of the night, I could have lost my daughter."

Previously: Hoverboards Bursting Into Flames All Over, Amazon Yanks Them From Site

New Law Forcing Hoverboards Into Bike Lanes Takes Effect
The San Francisco Police Department say that they have successfully apprehended the man who allegedly drove off after slamming into a woman and child as they walked in a crosswalk Monday night.

According to SFPD, a 68-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl were in a crosswalk on the 300 block of Williams Avenue at 6:40 p.m. yesterday when they were hit.

The driver, who had yet to be named by SFPD and is described only as a 55-year-old man, struck the women with his black two-door Infinity I30, then "fled the scene," police say.

The older woman was left with a broken knee, and the child suffered head trauma. Both were rushed to an area hospital, and are expected to survive.

The driver was "later apprehended," police say, but did not offer any additional details on the collision or investigation as of publication time.

Update: The SF Examiner reports that the arrested man is named Richard Bilworth, that he was caught in a backyard at Bridgeview Drive, and that "police suspect [he] was under the influence at the time of the collision," and "was booked into county jail and faces felony DUI and hit-and-run charges."
Postcards from SF: Our homeless camp stretching 0.8 mile, both sides of the street from 13th/Otis to 13th/San Bruno. pic.twitter.com/JIMGn7L7Fi  Violet Blue  (@violetblue) January 22, 2016

Three Department of Public Works employees and two police officers folded up Penny Horton's tarp, pitched overnight at a bus stop, and told her she had to leave. Theyre being polite and friendly as always," Horton told CBS SF.

No, the DPW says they aren't moving people like Horton  the nearly 7,000 experiencing homelessness in San Francisco  because of the Super Bowl. Instead, it's El Nino. Everyone needs to seek shelter, officials insist, but with limited beds available and unpopular lottery systems to get them, the wet weather has driven more homeless people to tents and makeshift structures. For reference, see this image SFist posted last week of a nearly mile-long tent city on Division Street.

Reacting to scenes like that one, Supervisor Scott Wiener expressed concern bordering on outrage. In a letter to city officials first reported on by KQED, he called "tents in our public spaces... a public health and safety hazard for those living in them and for our neighborhoods." In the letter, addressed to the police chief, fire chief, director of public works, director of public health, head of human services, and finally, the mayors homeless coordinator, Wiener writes,





[Tents] are neither humane nor acceptable. Their growing prevalence in San Francisco represents our city's failure to provide adequate housing/shelter and assistance for those who want help, as well as a failure to make clear to those who refuse help that tents on our sidewalks and in our public spaces are unacceptable. We need to know what is driving this specific homeless population, and what we can do to promptly transition tent occupants into housing/shelter and to eliminate these tents in a humane way.

Wiener's requests are framed as questions to agency heads. "Assuming the availability of enough shelter beds, what will be done to remove illegal tent encampments from our streets? In other words, does the city intend to remove these tents as part of a transition of the tent occupants to housing or shelter, or will the law continue to be ignored, as it is being ignored today?"

Paul Boden, Executive Director of Western Regional Advocacy Project, says it's Wiener himself who's ignoring the facts. "There is simply nowhere for homeless people to go. They are sheltering themselves as best they can in leaking tents in the midst of a storm, and here Supervisor Wiener, in a low blow to people struggling to survive, calls on the City to enforce a tent ban. He seems to forget that only the most heartless San Franciscan would send humans to shiver in the cold."

Jennifer Friedenbach of the Coalition on Homelessness also took umbrage at the Supervisor's words. Mr. Weiners letter is in direct contrast to the very spirit of the City of St. Francis. His timing was telling, as was his lack of solutions. Homeless people are suffering enough, and his letter was surprisingly cruel."

As the rains continue, the visibility of homelessness in San Francisco increases. Men, women, and families pitch tents on block after block. The "timing" Friedenbach references, is of course the upcoming Super Bowl and all the spectators' eyes on San Francisco. And as has been discussed before, Mayor Ed Lee has already said that there would be "no room" for homeless people near the Super Bowl 50 Fan Village, once it was operational. Now, Justin Herman Plaza is surrounded by fencing.

Taking away peoples tents right now in the middle of these storms," Friedenbach adds, "thats about as mean-spirited as you can get.

Previously: Photo Du Jour: Division Street's Nearly Mile-Long Tent City
This blog shall address issues and concerns affecting the African American, African and Diasporan Communities and our roles and responsibilities in re-constructing a world in which we and our children can live as free, proud and productive peoples. We seek to contribute to human progress as a people true to our identity, purpose and direction. Africa Must Reunite!!!
SOUTH SIOUX CITY | South Sioux City school officials are worried a proposed Nebraska legislative bill could further reduce the district's state aid.

Local leaders discussed Legislative Bill 958, introduced by state Sen. Mike Gloor, during a legislative roundtable Monday at the South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce. The bill, as written, would impose a 3 percent cap on the growth of taxable value of agricultural land, which is part of the formula for calculating state aid for K-12 schools.

South Sioux City Superintendent Vernon Fisher said the proposed bill would hurt districts, such as South Sioux, that generate little revenue from ag property.

Earlier this month, Gov. Pete Ricketts said he plans to offset the loss by allocating $17 million for fiscal 2017 and $25 million for fiscal 2018 into the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act. TEEOSA is the states formula to calculate how much state aid goes to public schools.

The trend has been that any kind of increase in TEEOSA, or state aid, to education is the majority of that money has gone to larger urban areas, said Fisher, who noted districts in Omaha and Lincoln. The impact for South Sioux City is there has been no significant increase in state aid in my tenure here.

The bill was highlighted during the discussion by Renee Fry, executive director of the OpenSky Policy Institute, a Lincoln-based watchdog organization focused on government spending and taxation.

We do have a lot of concerns about the impact to schools, Fry said. Schools in Dakota County would lose a significant amount of revenue from that change, and while we too have seen a significant increase in ag property taxes, we dont feel this is the right solution to the problem.

Fry said had LB 958 been put into effect for fiscal year 2016, the tax levy in South Sioux would have increased by 14 cents and the school district would have lost $107,000 in budget spending. Across the state, she said the bill would have resulted in a $212 million shortfall in 2016.

In recent years, the South Sioux City district has eliminated positions and trimmed salaries in an effort to balance its budget with rising education costs and little state aid. On Monday, Fisher said the school officials have not discussed any future downsizing plans for the district.
SIOUX CITY | Hillary Clinton will make an 11th hour campaign stop to Sioux City in advance of the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses.

The former secretary of state will hold a rally at the Sioux City Convention Center at 5:15 p.m. Sunday. Doors open at 3:45 p.m.

Clinton, who has appeared four other times in Sioux City this year, is leading the polls nationally for the Democratic nomination, but is locked in a tight race in Iowa with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
NORTH SIOUX CITY | Larry Starr was arrested Tuesday by the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force with assistance from the North Sioux City Police Department.

Starr was wanted by the Iowa Department of Corrections for violation of his parole for third offense possession of a controlled substance.

NOV. 3, 2015

The U.S. Marshals Service Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force is seeking the following person:

* Larry Starr, 47. Starr is 5 feet 9 inches tall and 185 pounds. He is wanted by the Iowa Department of Corrections for violation of his parole for third offense possession of a controlled substance.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force at 712-252-0211, email siouxlands.mostwanted@usdoj.gov or text the keyword TEN99 and the tip to tip411 (847411).

Tipsters can remain anonymous and the information provided with remain confidential.
DES MOINES | Gov. Terry Branstad urged state legislators Monday to balance their funding expectations with budgetary realities as they begin the process of resolving partisan differences on school funding, tax policy and other decisions that will shape the states fiscal 2017 spending plan.

The first challenge for the 2016 split-control Legislature is to carve the largest piece of next years budgetary pie by deciding how much new state money K-12 schools will receive for their operations next year.

The Republican-controlled Iowa House voted 55-43 after Mondays floor debate to give public schools an extra 2 percent in state aid, or nearly $81 million, in fiscal 2017 -- a level that is below Branstads proposed 2.45 percent increase and halfway to the 4 percent boost favored by majority Iowa Senate Democrats. Democrats who hold sway in the Iowa Senate are expected to reject the House position, and the issue is expected to end up in conference committee.

We recognize that 2 percent is not a big increase but, when you consider the financial realities that currently exist, it is an appropriate number, said Rep. Ron Jorgensen, R-Sioux City, who managed Senate File 174 during Mondays debate. He said the $134 million that would go to base school budgets and the third year of the states education reforms would take 88 percent of the new money that House Republicans believe is available to spend next fiscal year.

Minority House Democrats challenged GOP revenue projections in arguing against the 2 percent increase they said would short-change kids and raise local property taxes for K-12 schools to make ends meet in fiscal 2017.

This level of funding continues to tighten the choke hold we have put on our public schools, said Rep. Patti Ruff, D-McGregor, ranking member of the House Education Committee that Jorgensen chairs. Let us put a stop to this and prove to Iowans that public education is our top priority again.

Another fiscal divide emerged Monday when House Republicans parted ways with the governor in supporting a plan to couple state income tax laws with federal changes and make them retroactive to the 2015 tax year -- a position that would carry a nearly $96 million price tag. House Study Bill 535 cleared a subcommittee and the full House Ways and Means Committee by a 23-1 vote Monday.

In his budget proposal, Branstad proposed to couple the states tax code with federal changes (excluding business equipment depreciation) for the 2016 tax year at a cost of about $49 million, but he did not seek to make the changes retroactive to the 2015 tax year.

Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said Democrats would review the House approach, but added we think the governor has made a proposal that is probably more manageable given the states budget. We think the governors proposal is maybe closer to where we should be given the state dollars will compete directly with money for local schools.

Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, said coupling with the federal tax changes best rewards small businesses for making investments and I dont see us changing course from that.

During his weekly news conference, Branstad told reporters full tax coupling would adversely impact school funding immediately and fiscal sustainability into the future based on his five-year projections.

What Ive been told is that it basically would wipe out the opportunity, or dramatically reduce, our ability to provide additional funding (for schools), the governor said.

Thats one of the reasons that I recommended what I did. Sure, Id love to couple. But we didnt have the money to do it, so were coupling where we can, he noted. We feel that impact on the budget would make it impossible to meet the goals that we have for education funding and elsewhere.
SIOUX CITY | Four people who sold methamphetamine in O'Brien County have been sentenced to federal prison.

Sentenced in U.S. District Court in Sioux City were Joe Leal, 49, of Hartley, Iowa, and Mackenzie Jellema, 31, of Sioux City, and Isaac Esquivel, 37, and Valerie Ortega, 30, both of Sanborn, Iowa.

Leal was sentenced to 81 months in prison, and Ortega received a 42-month prison term. Jellema and Esquivel were sentenced to four- and three-year prison terms, respectively.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the four admitted to the sale of more than 50 grams of meth, and law enforcement officers made undercover purchases and seizures from them totaling 271 grams.
Todays top picks from our online calendar. Find more events at siouxcityjournal.com/calendar.

Hike the Wild: Explore Horseshoe Bend Wildlife Area, located along a stretch of the Little Sioux River. Snowshoeing, weather permitting. Meet at the Dickinson County Nature Center, 279 170th St., Okoboji, Iowa, at 9:30 a.m. and caravan to the site. All ages are invited. Visit www.dickinsoncountynaturecenter.com or call 712-336-6352 for more information.

Gourmet Double Chocolate Caramel Apple Fundraiser: The Siouxland Humane Society will be taking orders for its Gourmet Double Chocolate Caramel Apples through Feb. 7. Call 712-252-2614 ext. 7 to place an order. Apples can be picked up 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 9 or 10 at Southern Hills Mall, Center Court and the Siouxland Humane Society at 1015 Tri-View Ave. Apples are $15 each.

When Quality Was Higher than Price: Features the history of the three prominent local department stores -- Martin's, Davidson's and Pelletiers -- that made Sioux City a true regional destination. On display at Sioux City Public Museum, 607 Fourth St., through March 6. Visit www.siouxcitymuseum.org or call 712-279-6174 for more information.
Thank you so much, Journal, for the fine Jan. 21 Opinion column by Pat Buchanan. What a rare thing to find on the Opinion page these days - an article by a lifelong, conservative Republican in praise of an initiative by President Obama.

When President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry crafted the deal in which Iran agreed not to manufacture nuclear weapons, virtually every elected Republican in Washington railed against it, calling it a disaster and predicting unimaginable repercussions for the U. S., Israel and the entire Middle East. Now here's Republican Buchanan singing its praises.

Buchanan has moved beyond childish name-calling to give an historical analysis that is balanced, thoughtful and wise. He ends by quoting Iran President Hassan Rouhami: "All are happy except Zionists, warmongers, sowers of discord among Islamic nations and extremists in the U.S."

It's enough to make one think that negotiation might actually be a viable way of solving problems. - David Schelhaas, Sioux Center, Iowa
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Heres a frequent question we get here at Small Business Trends. It concerns payments you made to vendors, independent workers and service providers via PayPal or credit card:

If my small business paid independent contractors or other businesses using PayPal or a credit card, must we send them a 1099-MISC form for federal income tax purposes?

The answer is: No.

You are not required to send a 1099 form to independent contractors such as freelancers, or to other unincorporated businesses such as LLCs, if you paid them via PayPal or credit card.

That is the case even if you paid the recipient more than $600 last year. (The normal threshold for when 1099-MISC forms are required is when youve paid the recipient a total of $600 or more.)

Instead, in the case of electronic payments, the credit card companies and payment companies will handle any required reporting.

Those electronic payment providers are required under certain circumstances to send out a different version of the 1099, called the 1099-K, instead.

We verified this information with Barbara Weltman, a tax expert and author of the JK Lassers Small Business Taxes books. She confirmed that the IRS currently does not require 1099-MISC forms to be sent for payments made electronically.

According to Weltman, The instructions to Form 1099-MISC say Payments made with a credit card or payment card and certain other types of payments, including third party network transactions, must be reported on Form 1099-K by the payment settlement entity under section 6050W and are not subject to reporting on Form 1099-MISC. So payments made by a credit card, PayPal, or gift card (any payment constituting an electronic payment) means the payer doesnt report the payments on Form 1099-K. The bank or other processor of the payments has the reporting obligation.

Instructions for IRS 1099-MISC form can be found here (PDF).

Should You Send 1099-MISC Anyway?

If in doubt, it doesnt hurt to send 1099-MISC forms to the businesses or independent contractors you paid $600 or more last year  even if you sent the payment via PayPal or used a credit card.

That is the general consensus among accountants and tax professionals.

Heres why. There are penalties for failing to send out 1099-MISC forms. But theres no penalty for sending 1099 forms if they turn out not to be required.

Weltman confirmed that some businesses choose to send 1099s anyway. Businesses are allowed to issue 1099-MISC (and may do so) regardless of the way they make payment. They just arent required to send a 1099-MISC, she adds.

For Payees, Will 1099-K and 1099-MISC Mean Double Reporting of Income?

Now lets step in the recipients shoes for a moment. Many self-employed entrepreneurs and unincorporated small businesses not only send out 1099 forms, but also receive 1099 forms.

What if you receive a 1099-MISC for income you know was paid to you or your business electronically, such as via PayPal? And what if you also receive a 1099-K form from PayPal?

Wont it mean double counting that income?

That is a valid concern.

When preparing your tax return, go over all 1099-MISC and 1099-K forms you have received. If you know that the 1099-MISC includes funds that you received via an electronic service or credit card, you will want to make sure you do not just add up the total of both forms. If you did, youd be over-reporting your income.

This can be confusing for recipients.

Theres another wrinkle. You may not receive any 1099 form for some income.

Thats because electronic payment services are only required to send 1099-K forms when the total amount paid through them is $20,000 and there were 200 transactions. Its quite possible you may not receive a 1099-K form at all, even though payments were sent to you via electronic means.

But you still are required to report all income you made.

The lesson for recipients is: dont just add up your 1099-MISC forms and 1099-K forms, to determine your reportable income.

Separately track your income. Reconcile it against your bank records, for income tax purposes.

For more information, read: Fast Answers About 1099 Forms for Independent Workers.
The viability of the so-called sharing economy including businesses like Airbnb, Lyft and Uber has been hotly debated.

One central area of contention relates to whether the sharing economy is bringing more wage-earning opportunities to more people, or simply displacing traditionally secure jobs and creating a large populace of part-time, low-paid workers.

This debate continues to play out in communities across the world where the services operate, causing commentators to weigh in with competing claims that vary in tone from alarmism to boosterism.

And now, the research community has joined the fray with deeper analysis of Airbnb operations and the operations of other similar companies.

Research on Airbnb Operations

A new study conducted by researchers at Pennsylvania State University with funding from the hotel industry has highlighted the rise of commercial activity on Airbnb, one of the most trafficked short-term online rental platforms.

The study, named From Air Mattresses to Unregulated Business: An Analysis of the Other Side of Airbnb, (PDF) focuses on hosts who rent multiple units and the length of time they are renting their units in a sample of 12 major U.S. markets.

The 12 major U.S cities where the study was conducted include the nations largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs): New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

According to the study, nearly 30 percent ($378 million) of Airbnbs revenue in these markets came from full-time operators, with rentals available 360 days a year. Each of these operators averaged more than $140,000 in revenue during a 13-month period (September 2014-September 2015).

Moreover, individuals or entities renting out two or more residential properties on Airbnb accounted for 17 percent of hosts in the twelve cities studied. This rapidly growing segment of multi-unit operators drove nearly 40 percent of Airbnbs total revenue for the 12 cities during the period studied, amounting to $500,000.

If accurate, the study, though apparently intent on discrediting Airbnb, has unwittingly succeeded in proving that the rental sharing platform is a viable tool savvy entrepreneurs can use for small business growth.

Explosion of Short-term Rental Listings on Airbnb

If you ever had any doubt that the rise of Airbnb is disrupting the hotel industry, much like Uber and Lyft are disrupting the traditional cab industry, this and similar studies (PDF) will make you a believer. And, as youd expect, old guards in the hotel and hospitality industry are not too pleased about it. They are crying foul.

The study shows an explosion in activity among multi-unit hosts and the rise of full-time operators in each of the 12 markets we analyzed. Further, operators renting out three or more units represent a disproportionate share of revenue with only 7 percent driving more than $325 million in the period studied, said Dr. John ONeill, Professor and Director of the Center for Hospitality Real Estate Strategy at Penn State University, who directed the research.

Our industry thrives on competition each and every day, operating on a level and legal playing field. And we believe new entrants to the market like Airbnb and the commercial businesses they facilitate have those same obligations, added Katherine Lugar, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, which funded the Penn State study.

Unfortunately, this report shows a troubling trend as a growing number of residential properties are being rented out on a full-time, commercial basis, in what amounts to an illegal hotel, and using Airbnb as a platform for dodging taxes, skirting the law and flouting health and safety standards, Lugar added.

This is not about home sharing, a practice that has existed for decades as a way for individuals to make a little extra cash by renting out the occasional room or home, she insisted. But, this data tells a very different story than the one told by Airbnb, who wants the face of Main Street, but the wallet of Wall Street.

As a corporation valued at more than $25 billion, continued Lugar, they have a responsibility to protect their guests and communities; they should not be enabling the corporate landlords who are clearly using their platform to run illegal hotels.

But, Airbnb Disapproves of the Study and Its Claims

According to Airbnb the study was intended to mislead and manipulate.

This study shows that the hotel industry gets what it pays for, which in this case is a specious study intended to mislead and manipulate, Nick Papas, an Airbnb spokesman, said in an email.

Airbnb is succeeding for the very simple reason that our hosts  the vast majority of whom are middle class people sharing their homes in order to create supplemental income  provide guests authentic, transformative experiences.

As far as Airbnb is concerned, its service is for the people, by the people, of the people. It provides a way for ordinary homeowners and renters to earn some extra cash from their homes and apartments. And in a recovering economy this may not be such a bad thing.

In a data analysis report the rental-sharing company released about its business in New York City, less than 2 percent of hosts in the city operated three or more units, the New York Times reports. Those landlords accounted for 24 percent of revenue. These figures contrast sharply with the data released by the Penn State researchers.

The Penn State researchers reported that 17 percent of revenue in the New York City metropolitan area came from operators listing three or more units and 32 percent of revenue came from operators with two or more listings. These higher figures put regulators on alert as they violate state zoning regulations or other laws.

Airbnb has in the past had to fend off criticism by regulators in different cities across the world with its own studies highlighting the benefits of short-term stays on local housing markets, arguing that the companys service benefits local economies (PDF).
TOP Analysis, Prognoses and News about Greek - Albanian Relations and the Region.
There are many fitness goals out there that we desire. Some of us want to be leaner and others wish to put on muscle mass. The thing is, for you to achieve your fitness goals, you need to
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
LEONARDTOWN, Md.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: http://so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at http://so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at http://so.md/expungeme.

(Jan. 26, 2016)The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.01/17/2016 TRESPASS(ING): Deputy B. Fennessey responded to Mcdonalds in Charlotte Hall, for the report of a subject passed out in the establishment. Deputy Fennessey made contact with the suspect, Joseph Aubrey Dement, age 42, of No Fixed Address, who was previously issued a Notice Not to Trespass. Dement was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. He was charged with Trespass(ing): Private Property. CASE# 2925-16.01/17/2016 THEFT: Deputy K. Molitor responded to the 45000 (Wal-Mart) block of Miramar Way in California, for the report of a theft in progress. The suspect, Joseph David Greenwell, age 18, of California, attempted to conceal merchandise and leave the store without paying. Greenwell was arrested and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. He was charged with Theft Under $100. CASE# 2898-16.01/17/2016 ASSAULT: Deputy J. Kirkner responded to the 26000 block of Yowaiski Mill Road in Mechanicsville, for the report of a disturbance. The victim alleged the suspect, William Pfeiffer, age 56, of Mechanicsville, pushed the victim against the wall during an argument. The victim displayed injuries consistent with the allegations. Pfeiffer was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. He was charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE# 2877-16.01/16/2016 ASSAULT: Deputy J. Lacey responded to the 17000 block of Jutland Drive in St. Inigoes, for the report of a domestic disturbance. The victim alleged the suspect, Shannon Johanna Dement, age 34, of Saint Inigoes, struck the victim in the face, and she bit the victim on the nose during an argument. The victim displayed injuries consistent with the allegations. Dement was arrested and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE# 2633-16.01/15/2016 POSSESSION: Deputy C. Ball responded to the St. Mary's County Detention Center for the report of possession. During the intake process, a routine search was performed on the suspect, Tina Renee Hancock, age 47, of Leonardtown. The search revealed two baggies containing suspected heroin. Hancock was charged with Possession of CDS in a place of confinement, Posses(ion) of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS), and possession of drug paraphernalia. CASE# 2554-16.01/15/2016 FAILURE TO REGISTER: The suspect, David Wayne Trent, age 63, of California is a Tier II registered sex offender residing in St. Mary's County. He received a notice to re-register as a sex offender as required by the statue. He was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. He was charged with Failing to Register. CASE# 2179-16.01/19/2016 ASSAULT: Deputy C. Stewart responded to the 21000 block of Liberty Street in Lexington Park, for the report of a domestic assault in progress. The victim alleged the suspect, Jarrett Lyle Davis, age 28, of Lexington Park, pushed the victim during an argument and began to strangle the victim. The victim displayed injuries consistent with the allegations. Davis was arrested and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. He was charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE# 3152-16.BREAKING AND ENTERING TO A MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered a motor vehicle parked at the Leonardtown Post Office. Nothing was reported missing. CASE# 3546-16.THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) stole property on the 22000 block of Three Notch Road in Lexington Park. The case is being investigated. CASE# 3451-16.BREAKING AND ENTERING TO A MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered motor vehicled parked at Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department. The case is being investigated. CASE# 3367-16, 3370-16.BREAKING AND ENTERING TO A MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) entered a motor vehicle and stole property on the 21000 block of Oakley Road in Avenue. CASE# 3403-16.CELL TOWER THEFT: In November 2015, unknown suspect(s) removed property from a cell tower located on the 23000 block of Shady Mile Drive in Clements. CASE# 3410-16.ATTEMPTED BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) attempted to force entry into a residence on the 19000 block of William Franklin Drive in Leonardtown. CASE# 3217-16.THEFT: Unknown suspect(s) removed property from a residence on the 49000 block of Cypress Way in Great Mills. CASE# 3290-16.THEFT: On January 15, 2016, unknown suspect(s) stole money from a victim's purse on the 41000 block of Fenwick Street in Leonardtown. Deputy First Class Teague is investigating the case. CASE# 2554-16.RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT: On January 15, 2016, deputies responded to the area of Midway Drive for a large disturbance with the possibility of shots fired. A check of the area revealed rounds near a driveway. Deputy First Class Teague is investigating the case. CASE# 2626-16.BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) attempted entry into a residence on the 18000 block of River Road in Tall Timbers. There was no evidence of entry into the residence, and nothing appeared to be missing. CASE# 2697-16.BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) entered a business and stole property on the 24000 block of Big Foot Trail in Loveville. CASE# 2885-16.THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE: Unknown suspect(s) stole a motor vehicle on the 21000 block of Oakley Road in Avenue, during the overnight hours. CASE# 2878-16.BURGLARY: Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into a residence and stole property on the 42000 block of St. Johns Road in Hollywood. CASE# 3087-16.
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: http://so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at http://so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at http://so.md/expungeme.

(Jan. 26, 2016)The Calvert County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.WEEKLY SUMMARY: During the week of January 19 through January 25, deputies responded to 1,014 calls for service throughout the community.BURGLARY CASE #16-3515: On January 19, 2016 Deputy P. Aurich responded to Boyds Trail, in Owings, for the report of a burglary. An unknown suspect entered the victim's home & stole a portable (Mr. Heater) propane heater. There are no known suspects at this time.BURGLARY CASE #16-4109: On January 22, 2016 Deputy P. Aurich responded to West Chesapeake Beach Road, in Dunkirk, for the report of a burglary from a shed. Suspect(s) made entry into the shed and removed flooring material, hand tools, shovels and a Dewalt air compressor.CDS VIOLATION CASE #16-3590: On January 19, 2016 Deputy S. Moran conducted a traffic stop in the area of Parkers Creek/southbound Rt 4. He arrested and transported Louis Johnson, 74, of Suitland, to the Detention Center where he was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine), possession of paraphernalia (cut straws) and alcohol traffic violations.CDS VIOLATION CASE #16-3589: On January 19, 2016, while Deputy P. Wood was processing Jamie Maguire, 31, of Lothian, at the Detention Center for an open warrant, he discovered she was in possession of an illegal substance. She was charged with possession of CDS-not marijuana (crack cocaine) and for bringing a controlled dangerous substance into a place of confinement.MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT CASE #16-4143: On January 22, 2016 Deputy T. Mohler was dispatched to Dusk Drive, in Prince Frederick, for the report of a stolen vehicle. The victim's garage was entered and a black Chevrolet Camaro was stolen sometime between August 12, 2015 and January 22nd.THEFT CASE #16-4120: On January 22, 2016 Deputy N. Gilmore was dispatched to Mills Pond Drive, in Port Republic, for the report of a theft. Sometime in the overnight hours of January 19, 2016, someone entered the victim's vehicle and stole a Vera Bradley wallet. There were no signs of forced entry.THEFT CASE #16-3787: On January 20, 2016 Deputy R. Evans responded to Prince Frederick Boulevard for the report of a theft. A registration plate was removed from the victim's car as it was parked in a parking lot.THEFT CASE #16-3758: On January 20, 2016 Deputy G. Gott was dispatched to Sneades on HG Trueman Road, in Lusby, for the report of a shoplifter. Erin Stahl, 28, of Lusby, was charged with theft less than $100 (watch and bottle of perfume) and for possession of paraphernalia (pipe).THEFT CASE #16-3579: On January 19, 2016 Deputy C. Callison was called to Calvert High School for the report of a theft. A white and gold iPhone was stolen at the school earlier in the day.THEFT CASE #16-3563: On January 19, 2016 Deputy P. Aurich was dispatched to Safeway, on Southern Md. Boulevard, in Dunkirk, for the report of a purse that was stolen from the parking lot. The victim inadvertently a purse behind and upon returning to retrieve it, discovered it was missing. The purse is described as a large Aqua colored purse. If anyone has information with regards to this theft, they are asked to contact the Sheriff's Office.
Air station to participate in annual Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield training



NAS Patuxent River is participating in the annual Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield force protection training Feb. 1-12, 2016.



Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield is an annual Navy-wide exercise designed to enhance the training and readiness of Navy Security Forces. Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield is not in response to any specific threat, but is a regularly scheduled exercise.



Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions to normal base operations at NAS Pax River, but there may be times when the exercise will cause increased traffic around the installation or delays in base access. Area residents may also see increased security activity associated with the exercise.



Commission on Aging Meeting Rescheduled



Due to weather closures, the Commission on Aging meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, January 25, has been rescheduled to Monday, February 1, at 1 p.m. at the Garvey Senior Activity Center. The address is 41780 Baldridge Street, Leonardtown, MD.



For additional information, please call the Department of Aging & Human Services at 301-475-4200, ext. *1051.



Commission for Women Meeting Rescheduled



Due to weather closures, the Commission for Women meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, January 25, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 26, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 14 inside the Potomac Building. The address is 23115 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650.



Topics will include banquet planning. For additional information, please call the Department of Aging and Human Services at 301-475-4200, extension *1680.



Community Presentation on Suicide Prevention Announced



The Healthy St. Mary's Partnership (HSMP) will host a community presentation provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The HSMP is a community-driven coalition of partners working together to improve health in St. Mary's County. The coalition mobilizes members through four action teams to address the priority health issues in St. Mary's County including Behavioral Health, Access to Care, Healthy Eating & Active Living and Tobacco Free Living.



The upcoming presentation will be held at the next meeting of the Behavioral Health Action Team (BHAT) on Friday, February 12, 2016 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at the St. Mary's County Health Department located at 21580 Peabody Street in Leonardtown. Reducing the rates of suicide in our community has been identified as a priority by the Behavioral Health Action Team.



"The loss of life from suicide and the devastating and lasting effects of that loss on loved ones and friends is a tragedy that our community can and should work to prevent," said Gerry McGloin, BHAT Co-Chair and Executive Director of Pathways, Inc. "In some segments of the population, especially, the rates are high and increasing. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, one of the featured presenters at the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration's recent Suicide Conference, is a resource that may help us form a better response."



This presentation is open to any community members who are interested in learning more about how to prevent suicide in St. Mary's County. Visit healthystmarys.com/suicide-prevention for local statistics, resources and information. Healthy St. Mary's Partnership membership is free, and all interested organizations and community members are invited to join. Visit healthystmarys.com or call (301) 475-4323 for more information or to sign up for the free HSMP e-newsletter.
Wow! What a weekend for weather. It was such a good thing we cancelled our trip to Raleigh at the last minute. It was nice to hunker down with the family and we enjoyed a fun snow day in Atlanta. The boys absolutely loved it! I hope everyone stayed warm and safe.

If youve been around here long, you know that I am a strong believer in letting your house evolve with your needs. To use the space as it makes sense for your family. In the almost six years we have been in our house, we have made some great changes that have really allowed this house to work for our growing family. The biggest one was transforming what was a formal dining room into a 4th bedroom for guests. During this switcheraoo, the dining table got moved to a den off the kitchen to become an eat-in kitchen and the attached sun room became a playroom for the boys.

Well, fast forward two years. Those rooms have served their purpose and they have served them well. But I am ready to remove the explosion of toys. Now, I know there will still be toys EVERYWHERE. But I am hoping that we can avoid them being EVERYWHERE-ALL-THE-TIME.

We are going to wait until Sweet B can work the stairs to the basement better (maybe another 6 months?) but we plan to move most of the toys down to the basement. Then, the dining room table will move to what was the sunroom turned playroom. And what is now the dining room will become a sitting room/den. Got that?!?!?!

This is something that has been brewing up with my hubby and I for a few months. And because I cant stop myself, I dreamed up three different looks for this space.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Option 3:

Pretty sure the Big Sweet would never go for option 3, but a girl can dream right? And because I have zero patience, I got a wild hair the other day and decided to just rearrange things to see how it was going to look. Of course it helps that we ordered a fun new chair from Kohls to get the ball rolling.

Kohls has a great selection of home goodies. And they are having a great sale right now. Did you know that you can stack coupon codes too? I was kind of shocked at how great of a deal this chair was with the sale price and coupon codes. We went ahead and ordered another so that we would have a pair for the room. #giddy

Here you can see how it will lay out but you are going to have to use your imagination! We plan to use two of the Madison Park chairs from Kohls and then find two more swivel chairs to go around the fireplace. A new rug, possibly some new drapes, and a new light fixture because that chandelier will follow the dining room table.

The shelves I just updated are part of this room and you can see them here with the chair.

The deer over the mantel got a winter scarf. Because #brrrrrr. The ottoman was a thrift store find and I love it!

Its amazing what a $4 grocery store bouquet and (free) yard clippings can do to ones soul in the middle of January am-I-right?

Those nailheads! LOVE!

The fabric on these chairs is great too. An apple sauce pouch has already given this chair a run for its money and I just wiped it right off. A big fat huge kiss to Kohls for helping to get the ball rolling with this room update. It will be fun to see how it all comes together over the next few months. And whats really even more exciting is that Kohls is giving one my lucky readers a $100 gift card! Just enter below.

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xoxo-

Heather
La Dolce Moda

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, 1 Las Olas Blvd., presents Bellissima: Italy and High Fashion 1945-1968, on view Feb. 7  June 5, exploring the remarkable period of creativity in Italy that gave rise to Italian high fashion (alta moda) and was notable for extraordinary contributions in art, architecture, cinema, theater and photography. Featuring more than 230 garments and Bulgari jewels, the multimedia exhibit traces the development of Italian high fashion and examines the crucial role Italy played in its international success. NSUArtMuseum.org Credit: Federico Garolla.

Stonewall National Museum & Archives

Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Dr.

The vintage images of celebrity photographer Bob Deutsch will be on the display at the Wilton Manors Gallery, Jan. 7  Feb. 14, in a new exhibition curated by Charles L. Ross, Star Struck. The photographer captured many important gay icons including Joan Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor and Barbra Streisand. Stonewall-Museum.org

Perez Art Museum Miami

1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami

A mid-career retrospective of Jaimaican-born painter Nari Ward is on display at the stunning Perez Art Museum Miami, on the shore of Biscayne Bay, through Feb. 21. Rather than chronologically, this exhibition will be organized around vital points of reference for the artist, including urban space, performance and the body, the dynamics of power and politics, ideas of migration and movement, vernacular traditions, and his native Jamaica. PAMM.org

Norton Museum of Art

1451 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach

Tiny: Streetwise Revisited, a photography exhibit by Mary Ellen Mark, is a rare examination of intergenerational poverty, radiating out to issues of homelessness, education, healthcare, addiction, mental health, and child welfare. Marks images provide powerful insight into some of the more complex challenges of contemporary American life, yet also reveal a unique 30-year relationship between an artist and her subject, a young street prostitute whom she first met at the age of 13. Norton.org.

Boca Museum of Art

501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton

The Boca Museum of Art celebrates pop icon Andy Warhol with a series of special exhibitions, including Warhol on Vinyl: The Record Covers, 1949  1987, Jan. 26  April 10; Bob Colacello: In and Out with Andy, Jan. 26  May 1; and Warhol Prints from the Collection of Marc Bell, Jan. 26  May 1, including the famous Campbell Soup Cans and images of Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and Mao. BocaMuseum.org.
The existence of a high school's Gay Straight Alliance has brought out the worst in a Tennessee community.

A pair of Tennessee teenagers felt like there was an overwhelming need to create a GSA (gay-straight alliance) to make a safe space and combat anti-gay bullying. As if to drive their point home, some very vocal parents are now calling for the removal of school staff who allowed the club to be formed in the first place. Moreover, there are students at the school who have taken to wearing "Straight Pride" signs with the GSA in a circle with a "no" slash through it.



According to a report in Global Cocktails, parents of students at Franklin County High School in Winchester, Tennessee are outraged with the school's newly formed GSA, which they are comparing to the terror group ISIS.



"Over 30 years ago, in 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed into federal law the Equal Access Act." reads a page on the high school's website explaining how the organization was founded. "Under the auspices of this Act, the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at Franklin County High School was founded in 2016."



The New Civil Rights Movement reports that a A Facebook page was set up by the parents to rally like-minded community members to voice their opinions at an school board meeting in February, which is also protesting same-sex marriage.



"Marriage is for one man and for one woman! The reason being is two female cannot reproduce and two males cannot reproduce, but if you notice one male and one female can!" wrote one user on the Facebook page before launching into the well-worn anti-gay Leviticus 20:13.



This prompted another Facebook user to comment "Shove your God and your bible up your hypocritical well you know!!!! Yallquida!"
Headlines  News & Views

LGBT Groups Awarded Knight Foundation Grants

Three South Florida LGBT arts groups will participate in a new, two-year initiative funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The Gay Mens Chorus of South Florida, Island City Stage and the Stonewall National Museum & Archives were selected to launch Converging Crossroads and were charged with creating performances, workshops, pop-up concerts and other events to build visibility for LGBT arts at the intersection of arts, society and identity beginning in the 2016-17 season.

Chorus Executive Director Mark Kent said, We know LGBT artists contribute substantially to the overall cultural fabric of South Florida. Thanks to the generosity of the Knight Foundation, we can bring those contributions to the forefront of the regions cultural identity and celebrate them.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, created by the former owners of The Miami Herald, supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts.

For more information, go to KnightFoundation.org.

Local Team Produces Mathew Shepard Opera

Opera Fusion, an innovative local company based in West Palm Beach, has set the date for the world premiere performance of Not in My Town, a new musical drama written by Fort Lauderdale composer Michael W. Ross.

Based on the shocking 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, the gay Wyoming college student who was brutally beaten and left tied to a fence, the 90-minute, one-act opera will be performed on June 17 at 8 p.m. at the Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale.

Composer Ross said, As a child, I wanted to change the world. My operas are small attempts at making it just a little bit better by shining a light on important issues.

The development of the ambitious project by the second year company is being funded by an IndieGogo.com campaign emphasizing the groups mission that the operatic genre or musical drama must take on current issues.

Tickets for the performance, set to coincide with regional Pride celebrations, are available at the groups website, OperaFusion.org.

2016 Carbonell Awards Ceremony Set



The 40th annual Carbonell Awards, recognizing excellence in regional theater, will be presented at a gala ceremony on Monday, April 4 at the Broward Centers Amaturo Theater in Fort Lauderdale.

The awards, named for the Cuban-born artist Nestor Carbonell, who designed the egg-shaped bronze trophies, are presented in best productions, actors and technical categories from hundreds of eligible productions presented by more than 25 professional theaters in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

For the hundreds of actors and theater professionals who attend the glitzy event, the ceremony is lovingly called theater prom, as they discard their costumes for creative black tie and formal apparel.

For more information, go to CarbonellAwards.com.



Art Basel Breaks Records



Despite torrential rainstorms throughout the weekend, Art Basel, the annual contemporary art show at the Miami Beach Convention Center, still broke attendance records, drawing more than 77,000 people, Dec. 3  7.

Last year, the show, which attracts wealthy art collectors from around the globe attracted about 73,000 and in 2013, nearly 75,000. Admission to the premium fare was $47.

Along with the wacky weather and the sale of a $15 million Francis Bacon oil painting, there was a non-fatal stabbing in the convention center when a woman pulled an X-Acto knife from her purse and stabbed another patron in the neck. Onlookers mistook the violence and the area later cordoned off by police tape for a piece of performance art.

The dozens of Art Week satellite fairs in Miami Beach, Wynnwood and Midtown, most of which were housed in temporary outdoor tents, did not fare as well, thanks to the weather, but attendance figures were not available. Miami-Dade officials still put that number in the tens of thousands.
A gay graduate student from Arkansas said he quit his teaching assistant position after hanging up posters that read "Tolerance = Peace," claiming the posters sparked a "hostile work environment" from school officials and students, NBC's Little Rock, Arks. affiliate news station KARK-TV reports.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock grad student, who only identified himself as Michael, said students at Osceola High School complained about the poster to parents, who then contacted school officials.

The math teacher said people took issue with the posters' rainbow peace sign.

"That was the one that drove the controversy from the church group of the assistant superintendent and the principal," he told KAKR-TV. He added he was told the school wasn't "a place to promote that agenda."

Michael said he was "under explicit orders not to talk about" his homosexuality to students.

"I never did. It had nothing to do with mathematics," he said. "Tolerance equals peace. There's nothing gay about that. That's just true."

School officials made him take down the posters and Michael claims the next month of work turned out to be a "hostile work environment."

It got so bad that Michael said he had to resign in September. He and the school district signed a separation agreement, which then sparked problems with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

"They said they would not put me in another internship nor am I allowed to come back to UALR to do an internship," Michael said.

He graded with a Master of Curriculum and Instruction degree without a teaching license, even though he passed the Principles of Learning and Teaching exam. Michael told KARK-TV the college blamed it on a "pattern of misconduct" but said he only received positive feedback at his last two student teacher positions.

"It makes me feel like less of a human," he said. "Everybody else has their advocate. Where's mine?"

Michael is filing a Title IX complaint while pursuing a Master of Mathematics Education degree and working as a teaching assistant at another school.

"I am moving forward, but this just isn't fair," he said. "I can't seem to make this wrong right no matter how hard I try."

Michael added he will not be hanging up any similar posters in the future.

"I'm just too afraid to cause that kind of controversy again," he told KARK-TV.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Gov. Mark Dayton named Appeals Court Judge Margaret Chutich to fill an open spot on the Minnesota Supreme Court Jan. 22, 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.
Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway

Michael Riedel

$27

The gossipy New York Post theater columnist dishes on the power players of Broadway and no one escapes his poison pen, especially revered composer Steven Sondheim.

The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year

Andy Cohen

$26

We love Bravo TV host Andy Cohen and this hilarious look back at a year in his life as producer of Watch What Happens Live and The Real Housewives is a breezy poolside read.

Thats What Fashion Is: Lessons and Stories from My Nonstop, Mostly Glamorous Life in Style

Joe Zee

$29.99

The former creative director of Elle magazine and co-host of FAB Life takes readers behind the scenes of the wild and wonderful world of high fashion in his latest tell-all.

Alexander Hamilton

Ron Chernow

$20

Lin-Manuel Mirandas Hamilton may be the hottest show on Broadway  and the hardest ticket to obtain  but Ron Chernows landmark biography that inspired the hit show is a click away.

The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle

Dr. Lillian Faderman

$35

This tome reads like a textbook  Faderman is a retired college professor  but its important to set LGBT history straight after that factual trainwreck that was Roland Emmerichs Stonewall.

John Kander: Hidden Treasures 1950 - 2015

Harbinger Records

$19.95

A version of the eponymous New York, New York that was rejected by film star Robert DeNiro? Hear this and other demo and archival recordings from the legendary Broadway composer.

Encyclopedia Madonnica 20: Madonna from A to Z

Matthew Rettenmund

$65

This pricy, encyclopedic 20th anniversary update gets it all down  and all right  when it comes to all things Madonna, from the Material Girls music, movies, tours, loves and more.

JACO: The Film

Robert Trujillo Presents

$19.99

Youve driven by the mural on Dixie Highway a million times, but did you know legendary bassist Jaco Pastorious called Oakland Park home and was tragically killed in a Wilton Manors bar fight?

Straight Up: A Dan Stagg Novel

James Lear

$9.99

Think Bond, Gay Bond. In his latest Dan Stagg adventure, Lear teams his titular character up with an old military pal to find out whos murdering former members of an elite special ops team.
NEW YORK  A nice match, says Jane Lynch, referring to herself and her new sitcom role. Made in heaven, if you will.

Heaven, indeed.

On CBS Angel From Hell (Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. EST), Lynch plays Amy, a spirited but scatterbrained oddball who barrels into the life of Allison, a sweet but neurotic young doctor played by Maggie Lawson, insinuating herself as a self-styled guardian angel. (Angel From Hell also stars Kevin Pollak and Kyle Bornheimer as Allisons father and brother.)

Is Amy really on a job from God? Or is she a boozy, jobless nutcase from the streets?

At one point I do something great for Allison and she says, Are you really an angel, or are you just crazy? And I just say, Does it matter?

In the process, Lynch stands tall (all imposing 6 feet) keeping Allison bemused as to just who Amy is.

Lynch admits to being a bit bemused, too.

At a recent interview in New York, Lynch reports that once her series took flight, with every new script I read, I said, This is TOO crazy! Like when Amy stops on a street corner to consult with a traffic light, which she recognizes as a fellow angel in traffic-light disguise.

This show is not going to be the sweet Roma (Touched by an Angel) Downey story, Lynch says with a laugh. And Im not Michael (Highway to Heaven) Landon. Im kind of coarse, I come from a very strange, psychotic place. But to Amy, its all perfectly natural.

The most important thing for me in playing her: stay in the heart. Amys mission is to really love somebody, and let her KNOW shes loved. No matter how weirdly Amy behaves, shes SO committed to this woman Allison!

IDYLLIC YOUTH

I grew up in a Southside suburb of Chicago, says Lynch, 55. It was idyllic. But I was plunked into a family that was not artistic, and didnt know how to deal with my emotions. I could be pretty volatile, especially when I didnt feel understood, which was 99 percent of the time. I do think that, as a young person, I suffered over that. But as I look back, it doesnt even feel like part of me  except when I act, and need those emotions. Then I can dredge it up.

BREAKING OUT

When you get out of school, you just go where the wind blows: Heres an audition, theres an audition. And before you know it, youre where youre supposed to be. And that was Second City, where Lynch was hired for the touring company.

After that, she scored lots of work onstage and in TV and films, though nothing launched her as a star. There was a part of me that said, Ohhh, whens the ship gonna come in for me? But then I would think, Why SHOULD I get a ship? And once you get over that, in comes your ship!

Her ship was a commercial for Kelloggs Frosted Flakes that was directed by Christopher Guest, who then remembered her when casting his 2000 dog-show mockumentary, Best in Show.

Another high-profile job: joining Steve Carell in the 2005 comedy hit The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

And then, of course, she stole the show, and viewers hearts, as track-suit-clad meanie Sue Sylvester in the high-school musical series Glee.

PIPING UP

When the very-busy Lynch can carve out a bit of free time, she tours with her cabaret act.

But she also sings for an audience of one  herself. Shes loved singing since childhood, and sings loads now, if only for her own amusement. And often the same song, over and over.

For instance?

This is one of them that Ive sung since childhood, she says, and offers up a song her angel Amy would endorse: I dont care what they say, I wont stay in a world without love !

NO CHOICE

There I was as a kid: a closeted homosexual who wants to be an actress. I had no choice! Wanting to act was something I was wired with when I was born. I never thought I would have success or celebrity, although I did want that. But what I wanted more than anything was to work.

Lynch attended Illinois State University. Then she entered Cornell University, where she pursued her master of fine arts degree, and there I came into my own. I did a lot of plays, all kinds of plays. I caught up with myself artistically.

COMING OUT (SORT OF)

When I was younger, I would lie in bed and go, Nobody can ever know! My parents didnt even know. Then, once I started working, I didnt march in any parades, but I wasnt hiding.

Then I got married very publicly to clinical psychologist Lara Embry in 2010. They divorced three years later. My marriage was a big thing. I live a smaller life now. Im not in a relationship, and I dont see myself in one ever again. I was never a relationship person.

But I was out there at a very important time, and Im happy about whats happened (with legal victories for same-sex marriage and other equal-rights inroads for the gay community).

Long overdue? It was as if people said, Oh, for Gods sake, lets just stop this foolishness and move on.
AT THE very end of the current governments term refugees became the main issue on Slovakias minority and human rights agenda, but for much of the previous three years the excluded Roma communities and LGBTI issues topped the agenda, according to Zuzana Stevulova from the Human Rights League non-governmental watchdog.

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Nothing significant has been achieved on any of these topics, Stevulova told The Slovak Spectator.

Read also:

Read also: Refugee crisis will stand out also in 2016 Read more

From the perspective of human rights advocates  although less so for the general public  the adoption of the Human Rights Promotion and Protection Strategy that the government aimed for all through the election term was the most important undertaking in the sector. The strategy was prepared by the Foreign Ministry, which at that time oversaw the human rights agenda and which spent a lot of time on dealing with more or less petty conflicts between the conservative and the liberal members of the Human Rights Council.

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Strategy passed

The preparation of the strategy has shown what a hot potato human rights are for government officials, Natalia Tomekova from the Open Society Foundation (OSF) told The Slovak Spectator.

[The officials] are afraid to take an active part in the discussion about the image of Slovakia as a secular country where religious faith is not a state ideology, but rather a private concern of citizens, Tomekova said.

When the strategy finally passed in February 2015, it outlined tasks like a comprehensive analysis of the state of affairs in protection of human rights. It also proposed creating a nationwide committee for education on human rights, improving the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence and intolerance and introducing equal rights and protection for those living in partnerships outside marriage.

The problem is that the whole election term we spent creating the strategy to cover up the fact that all the things formulated [in the strategy] should have already been happening, Sarlota Pufflerova, the executive director of the Citizen, Democracy, Responsibility (ODZ) non-governmental organisation, told The Slovak Spectator. The administration was acting as if it could take a break from really solving the problems in human rights area with the argument that they were busy passing the strategy, she explained.

No improvement for Roma

Problems with excluded Roma communities have been a problem in the long run and every government has thus far pledged to bring some solutions, but the situation has improved very little so far, including in the past four years.

The government apparently had no plan, no vision, and no interest in improving the position of the Roma minority, Stevulova said.

The one-party government of Robert Fico quite unexpectedly invited the opposition MP Peter Pollak to take up the post of the governments proxy for Roma communities. Pollak however did not fulfil the expectations that the Roma rights advocates have laid upon him.

Pollak and Interior Minister Robert Kalinak introduced the so-called Roma reform in 2012, focusing on six areas. Though they promised to gradually introduce the individual parts of the document, they have presented only two areas: education and law enforcement.

LGBTI rights ignored

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexual community (LGBTI) saw its rights become a major issue as part of the failed referendum on family in February 2015.

The turnout failed to surpass the required 50-percent quorum as only 21.41 percent of eligible voters (slightly less than 1 million people) went to the polling stations. The ballot questions sought to limit the use of the word marriage to only the union of a man and a woman, to ban adoption by same-sex couples, and to allow parents to opt their children out of classes dealing with sex or euthanasia at school.

Stevulova is also very critical about the fact that no attention has been paid to the rights of LGBTI people and the law still does not recognise registered partnerships for same-sex couples.

That is apparent discrimination, which is in conflict with the recent ECHR ruling in the case Oliari vs. Italy, Stevulova noted. The case resulted in a groundbreaking ruling that was delivered in July 2015, in which the court asserted that the absence of a legal framework recognising homosexual relationships violates the right to respect for private and family life.

Priorities for next term

All the problems that the state is dealing with do have a human rights perspective that should be taken into consideration, Pufflerova noted and mentioned education and health care, the two sectors that have recently gained the most attention due to the protests of teachers and nurses. President Andrej Kiska mentioned health care and schools as the most problematic areas of Slovakias life in his New Years speech too.

Education and raising awareness about human rights issues not only at schools should be among the next governments priorities, so that all those who represent public power are properly trained and understand the commitments we have in this area, Pufflerova said.

She believes the new government should also pay more attention to the rights of women and reproductive rights.

The OSF also suggests the new government should focus on the action plans that the outgoing government did not have time to pass. The next government should also avoid politically driven nominations, Tomekova of OSF said, like the recent appointment of Smer MP Viera Tomanova as the first commissar of children. In 2016, the parliament will elect a new ombudsman or ombudswoman, she noted.

What the government definitely shouldnt be doing is to polarise and fearmonger society and its citizens, Tomekova said.

Radka Minarechova contributed to this report
A responsible migration, asylum, and integration policy should be one of the priorities of the next government, but the programmes of parties leave little room for optimism, according to NGOs.

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HUMAN rights advocates expect the mass arrival of refugees to Europe to dominate the human rights agenda in 2016.

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Read also: Human rights policies still found lacking Read more

The Human Rights League has been pointing to Slovakias lack of an asylum process. Zuzana Stevulova from the Human Rights League says that the immigration and asylum-granting process in Slovakia suffers from absence of experts on the part of the government, and lack of vision.

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It has been a topic that nobody wanted to touch, Stevulova says.

Now that the topic forced itself upon the society the Slovak authorities have to deal with it.

At the moment, the issues surrounding migration are mainly covered by the Interior Ministry, which, however, focuses mostly on the security side of it, according to Stevulova. This could be different if the state had an institution that would deal with migration as a cross-sectional issue. At the moment, the Migration Office only handles asylum requests.

A responsible migration, asylum, and integration policy should be one of the priorities of the next government, Stevulova said, adding that, however, the programmes of parties in the campaign does not leave me very optimistic.

Sarlota Pufflerova, the executive director of the Citizen, Democracy, Responsibility (ODZ) non-governmental organisation maintains that there is a problem among people to understand the refugee crisis also because the authorities have been failing in preparing the citizens for the related challenges.

The discourse the political parties lead about refugees betrays their lack of basic human-rights principles, Pufflerova noted.

Tolerance is too little in the 21st century, Pufflerova said. Only those who know their own rights can picture the situation of a person who is deprived of his or her rights, and those who know Slovakias commitments in the human rights area, knows very well what the government should be doing, she said.

Radka Minarechova contributed to this report
Top EU official predicts that March summit to fix broken asylum rules will be last chance to save Schengen.

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European Council President Donald Tusks warning that the EU has only two months to save its borderless Schengen zone  as well as his bizarre aside that civilizations die from suicide, not murder  might seem to be just more hyperbole on the vexed topic of migrants. Except that it wasnt; and Tusk was right.

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Tusks two months referred to an EU summit scheduled for March 17-18, at which national leaders will try to fix the continents broken asylum policy, known as the Dublin Regulation. Under Dublin, the first country of entry is responsible for dealing with each refugees claim. But the rule became widely ignored last year after Europe was overwhelmed by a million newcomers. First, border-states like Italy and Greece stopped fingerprinting migrants and instead hustled them north; Greece was even accused of allowing conditions at its migrant camps to deteriorate, hoping that humanitarian concerns would prevent wealthier countries from returning them. After a few months, Germany embraced the inevitable and announced it would not be sending Syrian migrants back to their point of entry. But Angela Merkels generosity dismayed Visegrad nations, which blamed her for triggering an existential crisis and refused to share the burden.

So now here we are, with another 1.5 million migrants expected to arrive in 2016, according to the European Commission, even while Europe is still choking on the million who arrived in 2015. The only plan advanced so far, the relocation of 160,000 people, has been a miserable flop, with fewer than 300 actually having been moved. An enforceable, EU-wide asylum policy would seem to be the only choice come March; and yet Bratislava, Budapest and Warsaw are unlikely to swallow such a bitter pill. Moreover, Great Britain will not be excited to have Dublin scrapped, as it remains the only barrier to far higher migrant numbers in the UK; under Dublin, London has returned over 12,000 migrants to other EU nations since 2003, many more than we have received in return, according to the Home Office.

The absurd, exasperating thing is that if we all worked together, Europe could easily accommodate the 3 million asylum seekers the EC expects to arrive by the end of 2017. By cooperating better with Turkey, by allowing asylum claims to be filed at the Greek border, and by properly patrolling the Mediterranean, Europe could also make asylum seeking a more humane, less tragic enterprise. But instead  like at other tragic moments in its history  Europe seems to be at the verge of falling on its sword.

Maybe Fico is right, and its better to be white and Christian than united, tolerant and generous. Unfortunately, it looks like were about to find out.
The group, of which he was member, tried to import 100 kilos of methamphetamine into the USA.

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Slovak citizen and former member of the French Foreign Legion Adrian V., who was extradited from Thailand to the USA in November 2013, has been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison in New York. Adrian was convicted according to American federal laws after he and his accomplices attempted to import a large amount of drugs into the USA, the TASR newswire reported on January 24.

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The group tried to import 100 kilos of methamphetamine, which was manufactured in North Korea. The estimated value of this amount of the drug is around $6 million (circa 5.5 million), according to American website NK News.

Apart from the Slovak citizen, the court in New York also convicted the main perpetrator, British citizen Scott Stammerson, and three other people from China, Britain and the Philippines. Adrian V. was convicted in Slovakia in the past as well.

The extradition of the five men from Thailand to the USA took place on November 19, 2013. Thai Police Chief Somyot Pumpanmuang back then reported that the American Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) escorted the men to the airport.

Pumpanmuang said that the men are suspected of being associated with Joseph Hunter, alleged chief of a criminal network. Hunter, a former American soldier, was also caught on the Thai island of Phuket in September 2013. He was supposed to be the leader of an organisation of hired assassins. Hunter has been charged with conspiracy to kill a DEA agent and of drug trafficking.

The district court in Trnava issued an arrest warrant for Adrian V. back in 1999, when he had been charged with extortion and restricting personal freedom. His whereabouts were unknown, however. He was presumed to have joined the French Foreign Legion before fleeing to Thailand, where he is thought to have stayed until his extradition to the USA.
The Slovak arm of German carmaker VW, interesting for visitors.

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A record number of people, 17,300, from around the world visited the premises of the oldest carmaker in Slovakia, Volkswagen Slovakia in 2015. Compared with the previous year this is a 6-percent increase.

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Guided tours of the Bratislava plant that features several features that are unique in the world of the automotive industry, are an interesting alternative to historical sights of Bratislava, Lenka Holesova, head of the Event&Experience VW SK wrote in a press release. These are production of five car brands under one roof, complexity of production of several kinds of propulsion or robotising.

The month of May was the strongest in terms of the number of visitors. Apart from the EU, visitors arrived from the USA, Japan, China, Canada, Russia, Australia and Kazakhstan. A drive in a Volkswagen Touareg on an off-road course or a drive in an electric Volkswagen e-up! were also strong attractions for visitors.
Slovak President Kiska visited a requalification centre in Scotland.

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Slovakia can seek inspiration from employment support projects launched by Prince Charles, believes President Andrej Kiska, who paid a one-day visit to Scotland on January 25. Kiska visited Dumfries House requalification centre at the invitation of the Prince of Wales.

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It was in Scotland where Prince Charles launched one of the unique programmes to help a poor region as well as young jobseekers whose efforts at employment turned out in vain, said Kiska as cited by the TASR newswire. In 2015 alone, 56,000 people participated in his projects, thanks to which they can now find jobs. The overwhelming majority has also met with success on the market.

Another successful project, courtesy of Prince Charles, is one aimed at supporting start-up businesses by providing them with independent advisors.

He managed to bring together some 5,000 volunteers, former entrepreneurs and top-notch specialists in marketing, law and accounting, said Kiska. All these people help start-up businesses navigate the pitfalls during the early phase of their operations on the market.

Kiska was also introduced to a successful project sponsored by Prince Charles and designed to prepare young people for work at restaurants which is carried out at Dumfries House.

There are more of these models, said Kiska. Prince Charles promised me further cooperation and consultations, so that we could make use also in our country of some of the ideas hes been running in Scotland, England and Ireland for 40 years.

On the occasion of his visit to Scotland, President Kiska also took part in the opening of the Slovak Honorary Consulate in Glasgow.

It will serve to improve relations between Scotland and Slovakia, in order to make even better use of their potential, said Kiska.
Minister Draxler claims that the current government cannot commit the new government that will emerge from the election in March to undertake concrete measures.

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An estimated number of more than 2,000 teachers from all over Slovakia supported also by nurses and medical trade unions came to Bratislava on January 25 to express their disagreement with what they see as the long-term ignoring of their demands.

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Teachers are now in an open war, according to Vladimir Crmoman from the Slovak Teachers Initiative (ISU).

We have our weapons. Our biggest weapon is that we stick together, said Crmoman at the beginning of his speech on Slovak National Uprising (SNP) Square as cited by the TASR newswire.

Crmoman said that politicians wont break teachers, as they are teachers from their hearts. He called on the participating protesters to mobilise those who are still sitting on the fence.

Well hold out together, chanted the crowd several times.

Education really needs a change, we dont want to wait any longer, we dont want to be oppressed and be stepped on, said Crmoman. The problems are so big that change is needed, not then, but now.

Teachers held signs with slogans such as A meeting of empty pockets, Dont put on a spectacle for us and Dignity for the teaching profession. They rang bells and whistled.

They [the government] should think through as to what they will do next. Were ready to negotiate, said Branislav Kocan of ISU as cited by TASR. He added that teachers are ready to hold firm until the end.

ISUs demands are the same as those that the Slovak Teachers Chamber stipulated back in October. It wants increases in the salaries of all teachers and other professional employees in regional education by 140 per month as of 2016 and by an additional 90 as of 2017. It also demands an increase in the budget amount reserved for education.

The crowd, also including teachers from as far away as Kosice, Zilina, Banska Bystrica as well as Nitra and Trnava, then went on to the gates of parliament. The rally concluded at around 13:15.

I didnt expect this many colleagues to show up, said Crmoman. We filled the entire square ... roads. I believe the whole society mustve taken notice of something going on here and of teachers making it clear that they want change at last, not promises. And we want the change now.

Education, Science, Research and Sport Minister Juraj Draxler said after the rally that he acknowledges everybodys right to go on strike, but pointed to the timing of the protest.

The government cannot commit the new government that will emerge from the election in March, a few weeks to go before the election, to undertake concrete measures, said Draxler, and gave thanks to teachers who didnt join the initiative.

The teachers strike resulted in the shutting of 179 schools on January 25, which amounts to 2.66 percent of all schools and school facilities in Slovakia, said Draxler. Earlier in the day, ISU announced that 301 schools remained closed due to the strike.

Of 6,724 schools and school facilities in Slovakia, the largest number of those shut was in Bratislava Region  43, according to the Education Ministry. The lowest ratio of the facilities with no classes on Monday was in Presov region  a mere 0.32 percent, or four schools in total.

According to ISU, more than 11,800 teachers - of the 89,000 in Slovakia - from 763 schools joined the strike.

The minister also recollected that the salaries of teachers have been on the rise, that lay-offs of teachers for summer holiday has been outlawed, and that an authority to protect teachers has been set up. Paperwork has been reduced, too, and the ministry is also working on key documents to enhance continuing education for teachers. Teachers will also be able to take part in the drawing up of the programme of the next government, he said.

Responses of the opposition

Opposition parties Most-Hid, the Christian Democrats (KDH), OLaNO, SDKU and extra-parliamentary party SKOK have endorsed the strike. Most-Hid chairman Bela Bugar said that teachers have the right to go on strike with no heed to whether or not an election is coming up.

Weve got to give our education sector a vision that will emerge from a broad social agreement across the entire political spectrum, said Bugar as cited by TASR. The only indicator for how successful the government and ministers are must be to what extent this vision is being implemented. Such a vision should provide a permanent direction for positive changes in the education sector with the purpose of increasing the quality of the entire system and its parts, including the remuneration of teachers.

KDH MEP Miroslav Mikolasik said that teachers are not clamouring for something extra; rather, they only want to lead decent lives and stop being insulted by the state, which should protect them instead.

Prime Minister Robert Fico has disqualified himself and damaged Slovakias credit, said Mikolasik. While some time ago he did show some willingness to help teachers, for whom he now says no money is left, he's made it clear most recently that he has no such plans and has no respect for them.

OLaNO-NOVA also supported the teachers strike, writing on its profile on a social network that education is the best gift we can give to our children.

According to SDKU, the strike involves the entire context of education in Slovakia.

This is why the teachers protest isnt only about their remuneration, but about how the youngest generation will be brought up in the future, said party chairman Pavol Freso. The thousands of teachers on strike pointed to their desperate position today [Monday], but the Slovakia-wide wave of anger and frustration is a consequence of the situation in which the entire education system has found itself.

SKOK chairman Juraj Miskov urged teachers not to succumb to pressure from the Government and some of their colleagues.

Dont give in to the pressure and bossing at schools, said Miskov. Youre not doing it for yourselves, but for the future of Slovakia, the children of us all. Education must be a priority. As a parent I'm rooting for you.

Another rally is scheduled to take place in Levice (Nitra Region) this Wednesday and in Kosice on Thursday. The disgruntled teachers also seek to meet parents and the public in general so as to explain their further steps to them.
WHILE prices of electricity as a commodity are falling, Slovak consumers have not seen a corresponding reduction in their bill.

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Tariffs and taxes set by the state make up much of the difference and while this is not unique to Slovakia, analysts are calling for a repeal of these fees to make the economy more competitive.

Electricity prices, especially of commercial consumers in Slovakia, belong among those highest in central and eastern Europe, said Martin Vlachynsky, analyst of the Institute for Economic and Social Studies (INESS) think tank. This is for several reasons, but one of them is that various public policies are conveyed onto end-prices of electricity for consumers.

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Other energy market analysts agree.

The state has really put financing of its priorities in the electro-energy sector on the shoulders of end consumers, Jozef Badida, analyst from the Energie pre vas website, told The Slovak Spectator, specifying that these priorities include support for extraction of local coal, renewable energy sources, nuclear energy, highly effective production of electricity and heat from Slovak biomass, Russian gas and imported coal. We all are paying for these state priorities in the end prices of electricity.

Lenka Ferencakova, chief-editor of the website Energia.sk added that prices for the commodity oscillate, for example at the central-European power exchange PXE, below 30/MWh for this year. The final consumer price then includes transmission and distribution costs, but there is still a large portion that is open to political decisions and obligations at the national or European level.

To quantify the component of electricity prices onto which governmental policies have a direct impact INESS has created its own term  electric tax. It has calculated that this tax makes up 16.3 percent of the price an average family pays annually for its electricity consumption. This money flows into state pockets while INESS would like to see these payments excluded from the electricity price. At present the money is used to subsidise the coal industry, for example.

Though companies complain about high electricity prices, INESS admits that comparing prices is not an easy task.

In case of households there are three main groups of consumers: households using electricity just for lighting and electric appliances, those who use it for heating of water and those who also use it for heating. These prices are still regulated, by the Office for Regulation of Network Industries (URSO) while it regulates also prices for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The electricity market for large companies has been liberalised in Slovakia, but as Vlachynsky said: You have a different negotiation position when you have an aluminium works or a bakery.

Within the European Union electricity prices are monitored by Eurostat, but according to INESS this statistic should be taken with a pinch of salt as each country has its own system of tariffs and fees that may distort the results.

URSO has already pointed out that the methodology used does not take into consideration, for example, various ways of including or not including support of renewable energy sources into the end prices.

Miriam Ziakova, spokeswoman of the Economy Ministry, added that unification of the methodology of collection, processing and interpretation of data and information will be one of the dominant questions for which the planned Energy Union represents a hope for a solution. She added that while in Slovakia costs for support of production of electricity from renewable energy sources or local coal are shared by all consumers including industrial ones, in some other countries such consumers enjoy relief which reflects in the end price for privileged consumers and in the structure of the price.

Based on Eurostat, Slovakia in the category of corporate consumers with annual consumption between 500 and 2,000 MWh had electricity prices slightly below the EU28 average during the second half of 2014.

But when we narrow the view on the 11 countries of eastern Europe, end prices for companies in Slovakia, depending on consumption, rank between the first to third place, said Vlachynsky. These prices put Slovakia at a disadvantage because these are countries with which we compete for investors.

Statistics compiled by Europes Energy Portal, using a different methodology than Eurostat, show that end prices of industrial consumers with consumption 2,000 MWh per year put Slovak end prices above the EU28 average, according to INESS.

Electric tax

End electricity prices consist of the price of electricity as commodity, tariffs and fees and taxes set either by the state, URSO, distributors and others. INESS excluded costs not directly connected with production, transmission, and distribution of electricity consumed and included them into the so-called electric tax. These include subsidies electricity consumers pay to producers generating electricity from renewable energy sources, operators of highly efficient combined production of electricity and heat, brown coal mining, contribution into the National Nuclear Fund, the excise tax on electricity paid by companies, and dividends paid by the state controlled Slovak Electricity Transmission Network (SEPS).

Some of these are paid within the so-called tariff for operation of the system while Vlachynsky pointed out that this one embraces support for renewable energy resources and thus reduction of CO2 produced when generating electricity as well as support for a brown coal mine, whose only client is the power plant in Novaky  one of the big generators of CO2 in Slovakia. This tariff has increased from about 5 per MWh in 2005 to currently about 22 MWh.

INESS opines that this tax makes up 16.3 percent of the price an average family using electricity only for lighting and usage of electric appliances, but not for heating of water or heating, or 26.45 per MWh  about 60.8 per year.

For the time being consequences of erratic political decisions dating back decades have been emerging more and more intensively in the Slovak economy, the study reads, adding that mistakes have been bringing consequences only after time while their impacts increase costs for production and supply of electricity.

Thus INESS has prepared five recommendations for the economic policy in the energy and electric sector. These include (1) halting use of the energy sector as a fast and cheap source of money for financing of government policies; (2) abstaining from direct or indirect subsidising of new energy sources; (3) elimination of the electric tax and finance, for example support of workers of brown coal mining directly from the state budget, (4) ending the price regulation for households and SMEs and (5) collaborate with partners to create a long-term energy strategy.

URSOs opinion

URSO does consider the Electric Tax study by INESS to be a relevant contribution to the discussion about regulation of energy prices in Slovakia, URSO spokesman Miroslav Luptak told The Slovak Spectator, adding that INESS has not asked URSO for background papers.

The office further points out that taxes are beyond its powers and that parts of the tariff for operation of the system are set by law and that the office must respect this legal provision.

Prices of electricity in a large extent depend also on consumers; how they behave, for example the change of supplier which force their suppliers to reduce prices, said Luptak. Suppliers cannot make an excuse in terms of prices set by the office because these are maximum prices and if the price of electricity as a commodity is currently lower than the price included by the office in the set price, nothing prevents suppliers from reducing their prices.

As of the beginning of 2016, URSO reduced the maximum electricity prices for households by 1 percent and for SMEs by 1.1 percent.

In respect to the recommendations by INESS, according to URSO, they have a political character and must be solved within legislation.

The Economy Ministry added that it does not interfere into performance of powers of the independent office - URSO - that regulates prices of electricity, gas, heat and water.

In terms of other fees Ziakova said that subsidised production of electricity from renewable energy sources and local coal are a standard scheme within creation of the energy mix, i.e. the range of utilised energy sources, while not only Slovakia but also other EU member countries proceed in line with EU directives.

The Economy Ministry has assessed also alternatives of coverage of the costs of the tariff for operation of the system from other resources including the state budget in order that proposed solutions are in line with the EU legislation pertaining to state assistance, Ziakova told The Slovak Spectator. But the Economy Ministry must assess all potential proposals also from the viewpoint of (negative) impacts on other electricity consumers or the state budget where we currently do not see sufficient space for a solution.

Ziakova added that the Economy Ministry searches for possibilities to reduce power prices for the entire energy-intensive industry, but it is necessary to remark that the room for the Economy Ministry [to act] in the field of energy prices is significantly limited.

Ferencakova believes that large consumers, either companies or public institutions, can benefit from unregulated supplies and clinch contracts on the basis of their own procurement.

Thus the fight for these clients is the strongest and the most lucrative among suppliers, said Ferencakova.

She recalled that there already exists an official strategy for the energy sector while the Regulatory Policy is just being updated.

At least these two documents should be put in accord and should reflect the opinions of as wide as possible group of market participants, said Ferencakova.

In case of deregulation of electricity prices for SMEs, Ferencakova thinks that it would pay off to test this for more than one year as it had happened in 2012.
THREE events are planned for January 26, the second day of the teachers strike.

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Teachers and the public can meet in the Bratislava branch of Martinus bookshop in the morning and later in Artforum bookshop in the afternoon. There is also a meeting planned to take place in Martin (Zilina Region), according to the website of the Initiative of Slovak Teachers (ISU).

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They also delivered an admonition to the government on January 26.

We rebuke [the government] for repeated forgetting of promises, constant disturbing of the public with scandals, deliberate harm to teachers reputation, bullying and intimidation at schools, politicisation of education, disturbing the relations among teachers, headmasters and parents, truancy and unexcused absence in parliament, Viktor Krizo of ISU said, as quoted by the Sme daily.

Read also:

Read also: Dissatisfied teachers vow not to bow Read more

As many as 11,642 teachers from 776 schools are currently registered for the strike. Some secondary schools in Trnava Region ended their strike on January 26. Of altogether 1,845 teachers at 51 schools in the region, only 88 teachers at six schools continue striking. On January 25, 200 teachers protested, the SITA newswire reported.

The strike was ended at three secondary schools in Dunajska Streda and one grammar school in Trnava. Also several primary schools announced they will not strike, SITA wrote.

On the other hand, the number of schools in Liptov region increased, after two schools from Ruzomberok (Zilina Region) and one school in Liptovsky Mikulas joined the strike, the Sme daily reported on its website.

We are surveying and verifying the current numbers of closed schools, and will know the exact number during the day, Branislav Kocan of ISU said, as quoted by Sme, adding that the changes are not big.

According to the Education Ministry, 151 schools, i.e. 2.25 percent of all schools in Slovakia, are closed on January 26.

Meanwhile, the Academy of Performing Arts (VSMU) in Bratislava expressed its support for protesting teachers. They organised the screening of cartoons for January 26 and 27 (from 10:00-12:00) for children from kindergartens and primary schools. The screening will be accompanied with expert introductions and discussion with the filmmakers, who will be talking about how a cartoon is made, what technologies are used, and what the production contains. If the strike continues, the VSMU plans to open creative workshops, as reported by SITA.

Some independent MPs, who are members of the non-parliamentary Skok party, have meanwhile called on their opposition colleagues again to support the convention of a special parliamentary session, Sme wrote.
OF THE GOVERNMENTS reform tools introduced within the changes to public procurement, the electronic marketplace receives the best marks.

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It brought stricter competition, doubled savings compared with ordinary tenders, and competitions last only one week, ethics watchdog Transparency International Slovensko (TIS) wrote in its report evaluating the development of public procurements carried out in 2015.

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The system currently has only a limited impact on savings as only 3 percent of all competitions were carried out via the e-marketplace, and it was used only by every fourth village in Slovakia, TIS informed, as reported by the TASR newswire.

The public administration carried out a total of 9,600 competitions amounting to 5.1 billion last year, which is one-third less than in 2014. This was a result of fewer competitions to build highways financed through EU funds. The spending on procurements is similar to the annual income from VAT. Half of the competitions were financed via EU funds, according to TIS.

The watchdog also praised the fact that the competition among suppliers in 2015 was higher than in previous years.

The average number of bidders increased from 3.1 per competition in 2014 to 3.6 last year, TIS wrote, as quoted by TASR, adding that it is the most since 2009.

On the other hand, the competitions are still long. The average duration, from announcing the order to closing the competition, is six months, like in 2014. When drawing EU funds, the competition is up to one month longer.

TIS also evaluates efforts to prevent shell companies from competing in public procurement via a register of end beneficiaries as a failure. Only 10 percent of companies registered in the official list do not publish their real owners. This concerns construction company Vahostav, one of the biggest state suppliers, as reported by TASR.

Moreover, nobody has been imprisoned for manipulating the competitions since 2012, while 12 people were punished with a conditional sentence or financial sanction.
Theres more to Rio than bikinis and caipirinhas. The Cidade Maravilhosa (marvelous city) that is scrambling to host this years Summer Olympics wants you to know it is doing its homework on specialty coffee as well. So where can one find a decent cup of coffee in the midst of this citys endless summer? To find it we must look past some of the wonders Rio offers, such as the 120-year-old Confeitaria Colombo, a bakery, restaurant, and cafe that has become a historical heritage site. Created in the Art Nouveau style, the old hot spot attracts visitors from around the world. They come to breathe the cosmopolitan air of the place, famous for hosting prominent figures from politics and the arts since the Belle Epoque. But right now, we are in search of coffee as the main character, not in a supporting role.

Cafe Secreto was founded by Gabriela Ribeiro, a filmmaker from Santos (a port city in the state of Sao Paulo) who lived in Paris for a while before settling in Rio. In Paris, I worked in a couple of restaurants and cafes, and when I returned to Brazil, I decided to create my own cafe in Rio, a place to offer high-quality coffee. To prepare myself, I did some courses at Coffee Lab in Sao Paulo, and when I came back to, Rio I came across this amazing place available for rent, says Ribeiro.

The cafe is located on a charming dead-end street called Vila do Largo, tucked away near the Flamengo and Laranjeiras neighborhoods, wedged among a commercial area with your classic South American church, a subway station, and a busy bus stop. Business and interest, in general, seem to be growing: Daily, we receive an eclectic clientele who want to know more about the techniques and science involved in the coffee brewing, so we started an educational project with courses and workshops, tells Ribeiro.

Teaming up with her on coffee service is barista and independent coffee consultant Renato Gutierresformerly of Coffee Lab, where he worked for four years and became an instructor in barista courses, tasting, and roasting. I met Gabriela during a professional tasting course in Sao Paulo, at Coffee Lab, where she was my student. When I left that job and created my own consulting project, Barista At Work, she asked me to give her support, and since then we have started this partnership, says Gutierres, who noted upon arrival in Rio that the specialty coffee scene in town compared to a Sao Paulo or Curitiba in the embryonic stage. Finding good coffee in Rio is still pretty hard, mainly because, aside from offering a good beverage, you have to provide good service. Here at Secreto we have a range of customers, from a new generation of coffee lovers to old-school drinkers; most of them like a good coffee if it was served with a shot of knowledge as a bonus.

The regular coffee served by Ribeiro is produced and roasted by Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza, but she constantly maintains a variety of visitor beans. Among them one can find the 2014 Semana Internacional do Cafe champion for Brazil, Ninho da Aguia (Eagles Nest), from the region of Caparao in Minas Gerais, as well as fine beans of Espiritu Santo and southern Minas Gerais roasted by Isabela Raposeiras from Coffee Lab. In addition to classic espresso, at Secreto one can find AeroPress, Hario V60, and Kalita in addition to lattes, cappuccinos, mochaccinos, and, of course, amazing iced drinks with coffee and tea. (After all, we are in Rio, and we cannot run away from its warm embrace.) The menu also includes homemade cakes, naturally fermented bread, cookies, and classical Brazilian cheese bread, complete with jam, butter, and honey from small local suppliers. A last good tip for Rio de Janeiro visitors is that one of the departure points for reaching the famous Christ the Redeemer Statue is located at Largo do Machado, just 100 meters from Cafe Secreto.

Paulo Pedroso is a regular contributor to Brazilian newspapers Folha de Sao Paulo and Valor Economico, as well as Revista Espresso, a Brazilian specialty coffee magazine. Read more Paulo Pedroso on Sprudge.

Photos by Serge Pirodeau.
The biggest hurdle that Bloomberg would face as an independent candidate is that traditionally, third party candidates have not been able to fare well in US presidential elections, Eurasian Business Coalition Vice President Ralph Winnie told Sputnik.

"They have never been able to win outright. But they do have ability to affect the results for the other candidates," Winnie said.

In 1992, Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot took two votes from incumbent President George H.W. Bush for every vote he took from Governor Bill Clinton, and appealed to voters who had rejected Bush because he broke his pledge never to raise new taxes, Winnie recalled.

"In 2000, [Green Party candidate] Ralph Nader tilted the election to the Republicans. He took 3 million votes away from Al Gore, the Democratic candidate," he added.

Winnie noted that Bloomberg had very strong business credentials appealing to establishment Republicans, but he also held very liberal positions on gun control, gay rights and abortion.

"Bloomberg can take a lot of votes potentially away from the Democrats. He is the anti-Trump and anti-Sanders candidate. He is strongly opposed to Trump on the issue of guns. He is opposed to Sanders on regulating the banks and financial institutions," Winnie pointed out.

If Bloomberg entered the race, he could hurt badly Democratic frontrunner Hilary Clinton since a lot of Democrats have not been enthusiastic about her and have been looking for some alternative, Winnie observed.
Remember 'Putin's Missile'?

What we're witnessing is the phenomenon whereby "official enemies" are held guilty of "crimes" even though evidentially, the "crimes" have not been proven. It's a replay of MH17 and "Putin's Missile."

Almost as soon as the news broke of the plane tragedy in July 2014, and before anyone really had any idea what had happened, the Russophobes in the West knew exactly who was responsible. Putin! Anyone who said, "Hold on for a minute. Let's wait for the black box, analysis of the wreckage and other evidence before we start making accusations" was attacked as a "Kremlin stooge." Evidence? Who needs it when Putin and them Russkies are involved!

The same newspaper which came up with the "Putin's Missile" headline the day after the MH17 tragedy was, surprise, surprise, equally sure about who was responsible for the death of Litvinenko. "Alexander Litvinenko 'was murdered because he accused Putin of being a paedo'," The Sun declared in its headline.

It reported: "Alexander Litvinenko's murder was ordered by Moscow just weeks after he said Vladimir Putin was a paedophile, a public inquiry found yesterday." The same publication, it's worth remembering, also told us "Brits 45 mins from doom" in 2002, in relation to Iraq's non-existent WMDs.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

There's lots of other examples of how  if you're an "officially enemy"  the presumption of innocence is reversed. Take the Ghouta chemical weapons attack.

.@BBCNewsnight uncritically repeats the propaganda that Assad responsible for #Ghouta chemical attack in Aug 2013. pic.twitter.com/c14vKVw1eT  Media Lens (@medialens) December 2, 2015

Right from the first moments when we first heard of this terrible incident, it was reported as a fact that the "evil" Assad did it. Despite the official narrative unraveling at a rate of knots  Ghouta is still pinned on Assad, as if it was all 100% proven.

I've lost count of the number of articles I've read stating that "Assad gassed his own people." At the very least we should get an "allegedly" in there somewhere, but where an official enemy is concerned its always a case of guilty as charged.

Double Standards

However, when western allies are accused of committing crimes, totally different standards apply. Then it is a case of innocent until proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt.

If you say, for example that you think the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was poisoned by Israel  or even that it was "probable" or just "possible", then you're likely to be denounced as a wild-eyed "conspiracy theorist." Likewise, if you so much as hint that there might possibly have been some British secret service involvement in the death of Dr David Kelly. Or draw attention to the number of suspicious sudden deaths around the Hague Tribunal. But say that Putin "definitely" had Litvinenko poisoned, and you'll be hailed as a "respected" and "serious" commentator.

It only has to be "possible" for an official enemy to have done something bad, let alone "probable", for it to be reported as a 100% fact  without any comeback. But even if the evidence is quite strong that a western country or one of its allies has done something wrong  it's a case of "he's/she a conspiracy theorist!" The evidence, and the strength of it, has very little to do with it  it's all about politics.

The same double standards apply when an Establishment figure is accused of crimes. Establishment-friendly commentators who define "probably" and "possibly" as "certainly" in regard to the death of Litvinenko say that we don't know for sure if the late Lord Janner, accused of multiple child sex abuse crimes, but who never stood trial, was guilty. "I don't know if he was innocent or guilty and neither do you'"is the common, rather condescending refrain when these people are challenged by concerned members of the public on Twitter.
On the geostrategic level, recalling that "the Kremlin has neither forgotten Afghanistan nor the role Pakistan played in frustrating its ambitions," referring to Islamabad's assistance for jihadists fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s, the journalist, somewhat oddly, suggests that today, Russia "is pursuing a more Machiavellian approach to Pakistan and Afghanistan."

"For now," Ahmad notes, "Moscow seeks stability in both countries, [and] has lauded the Pakistani effort to curb extremism and end the insurgency in Afghanistan."

That Russia seeks stability in a region bordering the soft underbelly of Central Asia, where Moscow has struggled against Islamist terrorism and drug trafficking since the collapse of the Soviet Union, should come as no surprise to the analyst.

Instead, he argues, "in pursuit of a renewed quest for geopolitical dominance, Russia is bidding to win newer allies and markets." In Pakistan, "besides selling high-tech defense hardware, Moscow is exploiting its advances in the energy sector too. For starters, Russia will be laying a $2-$2.5 billion gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore. Rostec Corporation will start building the pipeline next year."

Just as importantly, Ahmad recalls, "Islamabad is also currently working to finalize a free trade agreement with Russia. The success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor may lead to a long-envisioned transit trade agreement with Eurasian states. Pakistan has been aiming for an FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union."

At the same time, the journalist suggests, "there is a lesser degree of warmth among members of the Pakistani business community" toward increased business cooperation with Russia. This, he notes, is related to the possible politicization of any economic relations between the two countries, exemplified recently by the downturn in economic relations between Russia and Turkey following Ankara's shoot down of a Russian jet over Syria late last year.
To make matters worse, the analyst suggests that Kiev's economic incompetence has only worsened the country's prospects, depriving them of credit needed for economic development. "Simply put," Natalia Yaresko and the Ministry of Finance, by "taking the initiative to 'forgive the country's debts to others', have made a terrible mistakeUniCredit Bank analyst Andrey Prikhodko writes that 'access to public capital markets will be completely closed to Ukraine and Ukrainian companies over the next year.'"

"Furthermore, in accordance with the memorandum on the IMF's Ninth Economic Review, the organization will reduce its lending to Kiev by two thirds. Some funds will be forthcoming via the EBRD, but these are just crumbs. In other words, there is no money for development."

Sitnikov recalled that "in 2014, big business in the US and the EU was eager to revive Ukraine's economy as a warning to Putin. However, senseless acts of cruelty and intimidation by right-wing thugs in Odessa and the Donbass have scared off potential investors. Today, 'there is no sense speaking about queues of investors lining up to open factories in Ukraine', Prikhodko writes. 'The break in economic ties with the [rebel-held Donbass] did not bring any political dividends.'Whatever Western politicians may say, foreign businessmen have said 'no' to Banderite xenophobia."

"The new authorities in Kiev simply did not have enough common sense to benefit from the 'demonization of Putin', which in 2014 had become state policy for the majority of the world's leading economies. Now, the Poroshenko/Yatsenyuk government does not even recall that nearly all of America's leading companies had once been willing to implement their own 'Marshall' plans in Ukraine. The fact that Ukrainians live much worse today than they ever did under [ousted president] Viktor Yanukovych is entirely the fault of the current political elite."

In these circumstances, Sitnikov notes, "Ukraine's economy will have to focus on the production and sale of its basic products  grains, oilseeds and ferrous metals. The problem is that the main buyers of Ukraine's agricultural sector are the oil-producing countries of the Middle East, which have introduced austerity in 2016."
On Sunday, Daesh released a video celebrating the nine militants who carried out the November 13 attacks in Paris. All of the men, including three French, four Belgian and two Iraqis, died during the attacks or in the aftermath.

"These are the last messages of the nine lions of the caliphate who were mobilized from their lairs to make a whole country, France, get down on its knees," a narration stated.

The 17-minute video singled out British Prime Minister David Cameron, and many others, as well as warning that those who they revile "will be a target for our swords."

Europol concluded that Daesh "is preparing more terrorist attacks," including copycats of the November 2008 attack in Mumbai, where coordinated bombings and shootings by multiple teams of assailants killed 164 people.

"The attacks will be primarily directed at soft targets, because of the impact it generates," the Europol report said. "Both the November Paris attacks and the October 2015 bombing of a Russian airliner suggest a shift in [Daesh] strategy toward going global."

Analysts surmise that because Daesh has continued to lose ground in Iraq and Syria, including to a US-led international coalition and the Russian military, it has begun instead to target enemies abroad.
STRASBOURG (Sputnik)  The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) during the second day of the winter session plans to discuss the report of Spanish lawmaker Arcadio Diaz Tejera on sanctions taken against parliamentarians.

"The committee also condemns the existence of national "blacklists" of parliamentarians whom the states which have drawn them up can refuse visas or entry," Tejera's reropt reads.

According to the report, "the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and its intervention resulting in a military conflict in eastern Ukraine have generated a climate of distrust against a background of a "war of sanctions."
Along with a list of traitors and aggressors Crnoja announced a plan to create a list of illegally-done privatization, lustration on all levels, and the inclusion of 1990s war veterans into all institutions and bodies of the government.

The proposed traitor register would have to be based on imprecise rebel documentation and would serve only one purpose  to incite to lynching those who were amnestied according to the Law on Abolition as far back as during (President) Franjo Tudjmans rule (in late 1990s), Index highlighted.

(Crnojas) proposal for the traitors registry is presented as a reaction to policies of former government which published a Registry of Croatian Homeland War Veterans, as a way to find out which of the over 500,000 people who have veteran status in Croatia are real veterans, and which are those who illegally acquired their status just for the benefits which it brings, Vedran Pavlic, a Croatian political analyst, commented.

When asked for a reaction, First Deputy Prime Minister and president of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union party HDZ, Tomislav Karamarko, said it is necessary to understand the veterans and their sensitivity. For a while, veterans were subjected to a witch-hunt, they were humiliated and called liars. In response to this, let us see who were the aggressors and I think it is legitimate to ask such questions. This is not a hunt against people, but a hunt for the truth, he said. He stressed that Crnoja was a war hero of the Homeland War. We support him, said Karamarko, who leads a party that won 33 percent of the votes in the November 2015 elections and has four seats in the European Parliament.
"The sense of Poland sinking into totalitarianism can be seen in the propaganda deliberately introduced into public circulation by media [networks] such as CNN," the journalist writes.

"In addition, part of the so-called opposition, removed from power in recent democratic elections, is calling for the initiation of Maidan-style protests in Warsaw and trying to challenge the democratically elected government."

"The whole thing," Stachnio notes, "could of course be [taken] with an ironic smile  on the face of it, it is looking like the ousted political, business and media establishment are getting out of their luxury cars and going into the streets to call for a repeat of Maidan. Doing this, of course, under the alleged banner of 'restoring democracy', can be read as an attempt to bring themselves back into power."

Unfortunately, the journalist warns, "these calls for the creation of a Maidan in Poland and EU intervention in order to 'restore democracy' are [also] sown on very fertile ground when it comes to the EU and Germany."

In his piece, Stachnio interviewed award-winning Polish journalist Witold Gadowski, who told him that the threat of a coup against the PiS government is real, and that the political forces which could serve the interests of a 'Polish Maidan' are already in place.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)Oslo is engaged in constructive dialogue with Moscow on the situation related to refugees on their shared border and is familiar with the Russian authorities' position of not accepting the return of refugees who provided false information about the purpose of their visit to Russia, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would not take back refugees who crossed into Norway through its Russian border, having provided false information about the reason for the trip to the Russian authorities.

"We have a constructive dialogue with Russian authorities on these matters," the head of communications of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik in an e-mail message.
The UK government's official stance on accepting refugees  which has been echoed by Prime Minister David Cameron time after time  is that the UK is donating billions in aid by funding refugee camps in both Lebanon and Jordan, and other countries should follow suit.

During his first visit to Lebanon in September 2015, Cameron urged the international community to boost spending for refugee camps in the region and said that failing to do so would mean more people would try to reach Europe.

"I would encourage others to step up to the plate and spend and invest in the way Britain has done," he said.

I'm at a refugee camp in Lebanon, hearing some heartbreaking stories. British aid is doing so much to help. pic.twitter.com/dqpCfDgVKM  David Cameron (@David_Cameron) September 14, 2015

Unsurprisingly, his international development secretary, Justine Greening, is echoing the UK prime minister's desire to curb the refugee influx into Europe  not only by funding camps in countries like Lebanon and Jordan, but also by putting diplomatic pressure on the authorities to change their laws.

Speaking to Buzzfeed, Justine Greening, expressed confidence in reaching a "groundbreaking and historic" deal with the two Middle Eastern countries at the Syria conference next week.

"I think increasingly they've reached the same conclusion I've reached  which is if they can make that leap of faith to say We can change our labor laws, maybe allow people to work legally', fundamentally that could pull in investment [so there] aren't just jobs for refugees but jobs for their people, which they need to create growth.

"In the long term, refugees will be able to go back home and the jobs will still be there, with maybe 100% Jordanians in them."

However, the Lebanese social affairs minister Rashid Derbas hadn't reached the same conclusion it seems. In what is considered a blow to the UK government and Justine Greening's efforts, Derbas rather bluntly pointed out that his country was "not a warehouse for people."

Speaking to the Lebanon-based Daily Star newspaper, Derbas said:

"Lebanon has been unstinting in its efforts to meet its neighborly and humanitarian obligations. But Lebanon is not a warehouse for people. Lebanon is weak and poor."

He reiterated the view that the international community should be looking for a way to end the war in Syria through a peaceful diplomatic solution, such as the one Russia has been pushing for ever since the crisis began.

"It is incumbent on the international community to impose a peaceful solution on Syria, so that Syrians can return to their homes. This is the solution, instead of burdening [Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey] with the consequences of its inaction and, perhaps, conspiracy."

Derbas also mentioned changing the country's labor laws, saying it was "not appropriate, considering the high rate of Lebanese unemployment," and that the education system "doesn't have the capacity to accommodate more than half" of Syrian refugee children.
"The Assembly believes that the restrictive measures targeting parliamentarians are not compatible with the very nature of parliamentarism, which requires relations to be maintained through dialogue," the resolution says. "It is afraid that the spread of individual sanctions involving the sharing of responsibility between states and individuals supporting the objectives of States is leading to an excessively moralistic trend in international law and the system of international liability, whereby, in the absence of any criminal liability, individual sanctions are supplementing the traditional sanctions targeting States."

Taking note of the existing blacklists for the lawmakers across Europe, the report to the resolution says parliamentarians are now "clearly held personally liable on account of state actions and decisions taken in fulfilling their duties, and nominative sanctions may be imposed on them by third States and international organizations through restrictive measures."

A PACE resolution in April 2014 deprived the Russian delegation of its voting rights, after Crimea became a part of Russia.

Russian lawmakers were barred from participating in PACE's three key bodies  its bureau, presidential committee and standing committee. The resolution curbing Russias rights in the Assembly was extended last year.

Last week, speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament Sergei Naryshkin said Russia would not take part in the winter PACE session and would not present its credentials for renewal. The decision also means Russia's credentials cannot be challenged in the body, which had previously imposed sanctions on the work of the Moscow delegates.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein  The Intra-Syrian talks convened under the auspices of the United Nations are allowing regional powers to install representatives of their own interests, not those of the Syrian people, Organization for Democracy and Freedom in Syria founder Ribal Assad told Sputnik.

"The problem with those negotiations they are not trying really to do what is best for Syria, they are trying to do what pleases Saudi Arabia, what pleases Iran, what pleases Turkey. And this is really not normal," Assad told Sputnik on Monday. "It is horrible, its like they are trying to Balkanize Syria."

On Monday, members of the President Bashar Assad government and opposition groups, brought together under the UNs Geneva process, were scheduled to meet to begin reconciliation talks. The talks were delayed over issues of inadequate representation among government opposition groups.
The first step in the political transition is convening Intra-Syrian talks between government and opposition groups. The talks were scheduled to take place on Monday, but were postponed due to insufficient opposition representation.

Assad, who is a cousin and political opponent of the current Syrian president, argued that a number of opposition groups were chosen by the UN, the Western powers and regional Arab states because they took up arms against the Islamic State, but share the same theocratic ideology as the infamous terror group.

"The Syrian people today want their country to be united, so that they didn't suffer all those years to have to choose between dictatorship and theocracy," Assad stated.

The Russian leadership has been correct in identifying the broader threat of Islamism, "that you cannot just fight ISIS [Daesh], you must also fight al-Nusra, Jaysh al-Islam, Ahrar ash-Sham and they are the same," Assad noted.

While the UN has not disclosed all of the opposition groups taking part in the Intra-Syrian talks, it is reported that the National Coordination Committee, the Syrian National Democratic Council and Building the Syrian State have been excluded. Moreover, Turkey has strongly opposed the inclusion of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the reconciliation talks.
Korb suggested the main problem is determining who will represent the Syrian opposition in the peace talks with the government of Bashar Assad.

"The Assad [and] Russian position is that just about everybody whos opposed to them is a terrorist," Korb claimed.

US Vice President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Korb suggested, recently mentioned escalating support for the Syrian rebels to send a message to the Assad government and Russia that they cannot dictate the composition of the Syrian oppositions delegation.

Assad is in a better position militarily because of Russian support, Korb argued, but the US-led coalition is not going anywhere. Moreover, Damascus and Moscow need to realize they cannot win and need to accept whomever the Syrian opposition puts forward to negotiate.

"What Carter and Biden are saying is we [the United States] are not folding either," Korb stated. "So you [Assad] need to talk because, until we do, we cannot focus on ISIS."

On Saturday, Biden said the United States was prepared for a military solution in Syria a day after Carter mentioned that the US military was looking to put more boots on the ground there to either enable or replace local forces. The State Department later clarified that Biden was referring to fighting the Islamic State, also known as or Daesh, which is a designated terror group outlawed in the United States and Russia.


GENEVA (Sputnik), Svetlana AlexandrovaIn order for the Geneva intra-Syrian talks to yield, they should involve all opposition groups, including Kurdish representatives, despite Turkish and Saudi opposition, Tarek Ahmad, a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"If Geneva's target is to construct a new democratic secular regime in Damascus, all parties and all sides to the Syrian conflict should be invited along with the government and the civil society," Ahmad said.

He stressed that no opposition group inside or outside of Syria could be excluded, "including Kurds, for example, just because Turks or Saudis do not want to invite them."
The Syrian Arab Army, supported by Russian Aerospace Forces, has managed to drive Islamist militants from the city of Rabia in Latakia Province, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

The military now intends to use the city, which used to be the last major Islamist stronghold in Latakia, as a staging area for offensive operations against militant forces entrenched in Idlib Province, the news agency adds.

Syrian Army sappers are currently sweeping the city, which has been held by Islamist militants for four years, looking for booby traps left behind by the retreating rebels.
Sheikholeslam referred to the statement on Sunday by Iran's Judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, who said that around 100 people had been arrested as part of the investigation, some of whom have since been released.

"The Iranian embassy has also been attacked in different countries. However, nobody, nowhere, has investigated the incident as seriously and thoroughly as we are doing now," the Judiciary spokesman said.

Mohseni-Ejei revealed that the enquiry had turned up "implications and evidence that the enemy has used some simple-minded elements in [bringing about] the violation against the Saudi embassy."

"As the Judiciary press secretary Mohseni-Ejei pointed out, judicial and investigative organs are rigorously investigating and questioning suspects," Sheikholeslam told Sputnik.

"The official results of the investigation will be announced later. But according to the information which I have now, there is proof that foreign nationals were in fact involved."

Sheikholeslam also drew comparisons with the siege of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980 by Iranian Arab separatists from the province of Khuzistan, which ended after several days when British special forces stormed the embassy.

"There were some civilians casualties as a result of the storm, but nevertheless we didnt sever diplomatic relations with the British authorities, we did not demonstrate any aggression, we kept our heads and asked the authorities of that country to punish those responsible."

"However, the behavior of Saudi Arabia has not been anywhere near as tolerant as it should have been," said the government advisor. He also compared Riyadh's response with its behavior after the stampede on September 24 at Mina during the Hajj pilgrimage.
"This," the presenter added, "was no ordinary excursionWe were allowed to see up close how the Russian military operation in Syria works. The first stop was the Russian air base. Allowing foreigners here is a completely new information policy by the Russian Defense Ministry, and one which no doubt, had been consciously chosen."

"Russia has returned as a military power on the international stage  this is the message that journalists are meant to take away from here," Christian Lininger said, speaking from the Hmeymim airbase.

"We have been told that in the four months since the beginning of the campaign in Syria, Russian military aircraft have conducted nearly 6,000 sorties, hitting over 10,000 targets. The fact that many of the shells were not destined to strike Daesh, but groups that the West has defined as 'moderate', is not something that the official representatives of the Defense Ministry denied. For them, nearly all opponents of Assad are terrorists."

"Finally, the West has been turned on to common sense, and has begun to realize that the Syrian army must liberate their own country. As for us, we will simply help them to do so," Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told ORF.


UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)The decision by the Israeli government to approve plans for building more than 150 new homes in the West Bank is deeply troubling, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said at a Security Council debate on the Middle East on Tuesday.

"These provocative acts are bound to increase the growth of settler populations, further heighten tensions and undermine any prospects for a political road ahead," Ban stated. "I urge the Israeli government not to use a recent decision by the Israeli High Court affirming a large tract of land south of Bethlehem as state land to advance settlement activities."

The Security Council holds a debate on the Middle East every month. In the last debate on December 16, 2015, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca said the world body continues to look to the Security Council for any guidance on creating new peace architecture to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
STRASBOURG (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA), announced its support for the extension of the anti-Daesh airstrikes from Iraq to Syria, giving the ruling People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) a majority in parliament on the issue.

"I think that if we decide to extend the bombingto the Syrian territory, we should really know what the effects would be  if it could promote a more sustainable solution and peace, or if it would raise the risk of accumulating more violence and would expose the Syrian citizens to even more violence. So I'm quite ambiguous about this," Tineke Strik told Sputnik, stressing the uncertainty of striking more bombs on Syria.

The Dutch legislature has to date committed 380 troops to the anti-Daesh operation in Iraq, 250 of whom manage four F-16 fighters and 130 train local forces.
Turkish officials have sought to exclude the PYD, which is viewed in Ankara as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey makes no distinction between the PKK, PYD and the Islamic State, which is also known as Daesh and is outlawed in Russia and other countries.

Ismael pointed out the Syrian Kurds agree with Lavrovs statement.

"The Kurds in Syria are an essential side in the political dynamics in Syria in addition [to] being the most effective forces to fight ISIL [Daesh] terrorists," he added.

Ismael also said the United States believes the PYD should be represented in the intra-Syrian peace talks, even though it has not voiced its support publicly.

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, who scheduled the much-anticipated talks between Syrian government and opposition delegates to be held on Friday in Geneva, began issuing official invitations on Tuesday.

Qadri Jamil, one of the leaders of the Syrian Popular Front for Change and Liberation coalition, told Sputnik that PYD chair Saleh Muslim was included in the list of moderate opposition members, but could not confirm whether he had received de Misturas invitation.

The Washington Kurdish Institute is a nonprofit organization that promotes human rights and advocates for effective solutions to Kurd-related issues. The Institute was founded in Washington, DC in 1996 by Najmaldin Karim, who currently serves as the governor of Kirkuk in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Carter explained that putting US troops on the ground is part of the new strategy to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

But Freeman argued the proposed new US strategy would disastrously backfire.

"The so-called Islamic State has been trying to entice American troops back onto its home ground," he noted.

Far from protecting the US homeland against terrorism, the return of US ground troops to Iraq would endanger it further by motivating supporters of the Islamic State to step up retaliatory attacks within the United States whenever they could, Freeman pointed out.

"[Daesh] will settle for retaliating in the United States as an interim measure, if it must," the veteran Middle East expert explained.

The more US forces were directly engaged in combat operations against Muslim movements of any kind in the Middle East, the more Daesh and other extremist groups would seize on these activities as pretexts to carry out atrocities against American civilians within their own country, Freeman argued.

"As [former US Congressman] Ron Paul observed, They're over here because we're over there. The more we're over there, the more we're going to see of them here," he concluded.

Chas Freeman is a lifetime director of the Atlantic Council and served as US Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge daffaires at the US embassies in Beijing and Bangkok. Freeman also held several senior level positions at the US Department of Defense.
UK Permanent Representative to the UN Matthew Rycroft accused Russia during the debate on Tuesday that Moscow is responsible for causing significant number civilian deaths in Syria.

"[T]here have been repeated and well-evidenced reports that Russian and Syrian regime bombing raids have resulted in extensive civilian losses," Rycroft claimed.

Churkin, however, retorted that "information regarding the numerous civilian casualties as a result of airstrikes in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, our UK and US colleagues have ignored, traditionally."

"Russia continues to provide military assistance in the campaign against ISIL and other terrorist groups at the request of Syrian authorities. For the first time they have begun to lose captured positions," Churkin told the UN Security Council.

The envoy noted Russias humanitarian activities in the Arab republic, including aid deliveries to Deir ez-Zor, where Daesh militants cut off passage to over 100,000 civilians.

Churkin roundly rejected "various allegations in connection with Russian actions in Syria."

"It is especially strange when they are spread by members of the Western coalition, which in contrast to the Russian Aerospace Forces, acts completely without transparency and inefficiently," he stressed.

Churkin further pointed to the "traditional disregard" of numerous civilian casualties caused by US and UK airstrikes in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan.

Earlier on Tuesday, the UN envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura sent out invitations for the inter-Syrian talks under Resolution 2254, with the intention of beginning the proximity talks on Friday.

The Islamic State, also known as Daesh, is a designated terrorist group that is outlawed in the United States, Russia and numerous other countries. The group has captured since 2014 huge sways of territory in Iraq and Syria, where it proclaimed a caliphate under Sharia law.
In his interview with the German television channel Das Erste on Monday, Laschet, a deputy chairman of Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU, suggested that it's time for the West to return to a policy of realpolitik, instead of limiting its international cooperation only "to those [foreign] statesman who everyone likes."

"We must once again gradually return to realpolitik," the politician, a former MEP and MP and current State MP in North Rhine-Westphalia, explained.

"How dependent are we on Mr. Putin, if we want to resolve the conflict in Syria? That's life," the politician added. "Russia is an important power, and therefore it is good that Mr. Putin is involved in the Syrian conflict. Without him, nothing will get done."
TBILISI(Sputnik)  The issue of renewing diplomatic relations between Tbilisi and Moscow are not currently on the agenda, Georgian Prime Ministers Special Envoy on Russian Affairs Zurab Abashidze said Tuesday.

The renewal of diplomatic relations is not on the agenda and at the current stage it wont be on it and our Russian colleagues know very well why, Abashidze told journalists.

Tbilisi severed ties with Moscow in 2008 after a 5-day war over the two breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
According to Ward, a diplomatic solution over Syria is the mandatory step to defeat Daesh. The security expert believes that as long as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remains in power and Raqqa is being occupied by Daesh, the Obama administration's task to eliminate the terrorist organization will not be accomplished.

He insists that Washington should push Moscow, Tehran and other regional players toward two primary objectives: to implement a cease-fire in Syria and to kick off the so-called "political transition" in Damascus.

The expert did not explain, however, why he believes Assad's stepping down would facilitate the negotiation process and allow the US-led coalition to defeat Daesh. Facts on the ground clearly indicate that it is Bashar al-Assad's Syrian Arab Army who has been successfully defeating Daesh in Syria.

To complicate matters further, it turns out that Daesh is not the only group that poses a terror threat to the Middle Eastern realms and neighboring regions.

According to the influential American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI), Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front "poses one of the most significant long-term threats of any Salafi-jihadi group."

"This al-Qaeda affiliate [al-Nusra Front] has established an expansive network of partnerships with local opposition groups that have grown either dependent on or fiercely loyal to the organization [Daesh and al-Qaeda] use terrorism as a tactic, but these organizations are insurgencies that aim first to overthrow all existing governments in the Muslim world and replace them with their own, and later, to attack the West from a position of power to spread their ideology to all of humanity," the AEI's report reads.
Although China is far removed from the Syrian conflict, it has recently taken diplomatic steps toward mending the crisis, Moritz Rudolf, Research Associate at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), points out, adding that Beijing's move has come as a surprise.

"On December 24, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem in Beijing. Shortly thereafter Khaled Khoja, the president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, arrived on January 5 for a multi-day visit," Rudolf writes in his piece for TheDiplomat.com.

"It is a novelty for Beijing to be so diplomatically active in the Middle East Beijing had never before gone beyond making rhetorical calls for a peaceful solution, explaining its reluctance to engage out of respect for Syria's sovereignty," the analyst adds.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)The credit profiles and ratings of Russian oil companies could come under pressure if taxes are raised amid plummeting commodity prices, the Fitch ratings agency said in a press release on Tuesday.

"The biggest risk to Russian oil companies is the potential for significant changes to a tax regime that previously insulated them from the impact of falling prices," the press release stated.

In October 2015, the Russian government raised the mineral extraction tax as previously planned. The government delayed, however, a cut in export duty, which could offset the tax hike.
The state claims that the laws are intended to prevent voter fraud, a virtually non-existent issue. Attorneys argue that the real motive behind the 2013 law is to protect a Republican majority in the state by making it more difficult for black and latino voters to vote.

This is illuminated by the fact that theres no legitimate basis for having this law, attorney Denise Lieberman with the Advancement Project, representing the North Carolina NAACP, told ThinkProgress. We have expert witnesses who will testify that the states rationale for the law is unsupported, that there is absolutely no evidence of in-person voter impersonation that would justify this law. Furthermore, these laws dont advance or expand peoples confidence in the voting process, as the state is arguing. They actually reduce it. So the conclusion we must draw is that lawmakers knew what they were doing.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)The United States continues to prohibit American tourists to travel to Cuba amid the announcement of sanctions relief for authorized travel between the two countries, a US administration official told reporters on Tuesday.

It is important to note that travel to Cuba for tourist activities remains prohibited by statue, the official said.

Earlier in the day, Washington announced new changes to its sanctions policy on Cuba by facilitating travel to the island nation for certain authorized purposes. The US government allowed new travel-related transactions associated with professional meetings, disaster preparedness and response projects, media and artistic productions in Cuba.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The United Kingdom's actions in regard to the former Russian FSB secret service agent Alexander Litvinenko murder case will further complicate relations between London and Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

Earlier this month, a UK inquiry into the death of Litvinenko found the Russian authorities responsible for the murder, despite failing to prove that the polonium-210 used to poison the former agent came from Russia.

"I agree with only one statement by the British Foreign Office. It said that the Litvinenko case would further complicate our bilateral relations. I totally agree with this, though it is not the Litvinenko case itself, but the show surrounding the Litvinenko case that will seriously complicate our relations," Lavrov told reporters.
Longshots prevailed in both lucrative Dover Downs handicap co-feature races when Dapper Dude won a tenacious homestretch battle to win the $30,000 Preferred and Mustang Art got up at 13-1 in the $27,500 Delaware Special on Monday, Jan. 25.

Turning for home race favourite Bushwacker (Tim Tetrick), riding a three-race win streak, had a short lead but was under duress with Major Uptrend (Corey Callahan) coming on the outside while Adventure Bound (Allan Davis) were closing along the passing lane. Coming on fastest of all was Dapper Dude behind the urging of Vic Kirby to reach the finish line first in 1:51. A razor-sharp chestnut son of The Panderosa-Dress To Suggest enjoyed an impressive record in his previous six races -- two wins, two seconds and two thirds -- racing for trainer Jim King and owner Richard Pollucci. Major Uptrend was right there finishing second with Bushwacker a tight third. The win was Dapper Dudes 21st lifetime with earnings in excess of $915,000.

The passing lane became the difference in the $27,500 Delaware Special Handicap. Marcus Miller rolled Mustang Art along the pylons to score a 1:52 conquest at 13-1 odds for trainer Jim McGuire, owners Max Walton and Greg Papaleo. A regular at the track in top events, the Artiscape-Paula Seelster gelding posted his 41st career victory good for $683,752 in earnings. Captive Audience (Callahan) came charging through the stretch to take second in front of early leader Just A Jolt (Tetrick).

Casey At Bat hit a home run in a $15,000 Four- & Five-Year-Old Male pace registering a 1:52.4 victory for Sharon White, Denise Davis and Legacy Racing. It was a lifetime record for the four-year-old gelding by Sportsmaster-Odds On Casey, conditioned by Wayne Givens. Warp Factor Three (George Dennis) was runner-up in front of Rockin Cougar (Tony Morgan).

In a second $15,000 section, Class Six keeps on winning. The Western Ideal-Can Du River gelding made it four consecutive trips to the winners circle and seventh time in his last eight outings for driver Yannick Gingras and owners Weaver Bruscemi and Burke Racing Stable with a lifetime best 1:51 triumph. Skyway Gladiator (Mike Rossi) took second with Twin B Stingray (Kirby) third.

Little Ben, a Jeremes Jet-Honeys Bud Lite gelding, driven by Tetrick for Janet Hudson and Jo Ann King, won the first of two $14,000 Male Winners-Over paces in 1:51.1. Contraband Hanover (Callahan) came between horses to just miss finishing second. Framed Art (Art Stafford Jr.) had been leading until the top of the stretch and had to settle for show money.

Baxter Stables Roll Big (Callahan) notched his second straight win in the other $14,000 division with a 1:52.2 decision. Denslow Hanover (A. Davis) closed smartly for second with Cams Director (Jonathan Roberts) third. The victory was the fourth in the last five for the Cams Card Shark-Queen Of Arts gelding.

Several streaking horses added on with victories. Arty Fosters Brioni, a son of Four Starzzz Shark-Armbro Bahama, won for the sixth straight start as Marcus Miller guided a 1:52.4 win in a $15,000 Male Claiming pace. Tom Lazzaros Rocknroll Jewel (Gingras) won his fifth in a row scoring a 1:51.2 triumph in the $20,000-$25,000 Male Claiming Handicap. Sentencing Memo (Russ Foster) took the passing lane to post his fourth straight win in a $12,000 pace for young horses in 1:53, giving owner-trainer Arty Foster a double. A nose back was early leader Suchasenceofhumor (Jim Morand) with Captain Jeremiah (Gingras) third.

SPRINGFORTH, PARADISE LOST IN $20,000 MARES OPEN TUESDAY

Springforth, a 15-1 longshot winner last week and Paradise Lost, an impressive winner stepping up, head the $20,000 Mares Open Handicap on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p.m.

George Dennis drove Jeff Clarks Springforth from off the pace before sending her to the outside and she responded with a 1:52.2 score. Bay Pond Stables Hearts And Flowers was one length behind finishing third. Howard Taylors steady Shine N Shimmer will get regular driver Corey Callahan back this week.

.

Bob Winkelmans Paradise Lost and Ross Wolfenden has been a longtime regular in top female paces. Last week, she won wire-to-wire in 1:53.2. JFE Enterprises Scandalicious and Tim Tetrick leaves from post 1. The other contenders are Elliesjet N, driven by Art Stafford Jr. for Barry Spedden, Kevin Evans, Nanticoke Racing and trainer Josh Parker. Earlier this meet, she stepped up through the ranks winning eight in a row. Janice Connors All About Kisses, reined by Vic Kirby, recently arrived from top class events at Yonkers and Foulk Stables Valerya has upset credentials.

(with files from Dover)
Trot Insider has learned that longtime horseman John Weeks has passed away at the age of 82.

Weeks, of Foxboro, Ont., passed away during the evening of Monday, January 25.

Weeks was a lifetime member of Standardbred Canada and was a horseman for 62 years.

He was best known as a trainer and was proud of his favourite trotter, Windsong Biyou, who will greatly miss him.

Johns brothers, Ken and Ed, who have since passed, were also longtime horseman.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of John Weeks.
Operation Rescue's Statement on Daleiden's Grand Jury Indictments in Texas

Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, 734-680-8007, info.operationrescue@gmail.com



HOUSTON, Jan. 26, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- Yesterday, a grand jury in Houston, Texas, that was supposed to investigate evidence presented by the Center for Medical Progress showing Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast's involvement in the illegal sale of aborted baby parts, instead indicted CMP head David Daleiden and his associate, Sandra Merritt. No true bill was issued against Planned Parenthood.



Daleiden and Merritt were charged with one felony related to tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to buying human tissue. The felony charge was in reference to actor's ID cards that were similar to California drivers' licenses.



Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue, was a founding board member of the CMP and has been sued by the National Abortion Federation and Planned Parenthood in an attempt to deflect from their obvious appalling conduct and to silence the evidence against them.



Operation Rescue issues the following statement concerning the indictments, which is attributable to Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President of Operation Rescue:

We were disappointed, to say the least, by the news that a grand jury chose to indict the investigative journalists who were trying to expose and report crimes in Houston, Texas. This has the effect of chilling the First Amendment freedom of the press and could scare crime witnesses away from coming forward for fear that they might suffer similar retaliatory prosecution.



There is now a pattern in Houston of District Attorney Devon Anderson's office covering up abortion-related crimes.



In 2013, another Anderson-controlled grand jury failed to indict Houston abortionist Douglas Karpen, who was accused by three of his former employees of murdering babies born alive during shoddy late-term abortions by twisting their heads or slashing their throats. Photographic evidence provided to me showed injuries to large aborted babies that was consistent with those claims. Operation Rescue has good reason to believe that evidence was never presented to that grand jury.



Because of the secrecy surrounding the grand jury process, it is susceptible to manipulation by a prosecutor with a personal or political agenda. In Kansas, abortion-related grand juries were so influenced by unscrupulous prosecutors who sought to cover up abortion crimes that the State Legislature is now attempting to change the laws to make the process more transparent and accountable to the people.



In Daleiden's case, once the facts are allowed to come out, which Planned Parenthood and the NAF have worked night and day to conceal or misrepresent, we have every confidence that Daleiden and Merritt will be completely exonerated. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood remains under investigation by other state agencies in Texas, which we believe will reach different conclusions than that of the Anderson-influenced grand jury in Houston.

Information on the Karpen case



Kansas bill to make grand jury process more accountable



About Operation Rescue

Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Click here to support Operation Rescue.
Save the Date: Joyce Meyer Ministries Conference Tour 2016 Coming to Winston Salem

WHO: New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer with music by Matt Redman



WHAT: Joyce Meyer Conference Tour 2016, Free to the Public



WHEN: March 10  12, 2016



WHERE: LJVM Coliseum, 2825 University Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC



Contact: Lori Potter, Joyce Meyer Ministries, 860-460-7993, LPotter@joycemeyer.org



WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Jan. 26, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- Thousands of men and women will gather at the Joyce Meyer Conference coming to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Held at the LJVM Coliseum on March 10-12, located at 2825 University Parkway in Winston-Salem, conference attendees will come together to hear author and speaker Joyce Meyer share a unique message each session. There is no charge for each of the four sessions. Special musical guest Matt Redman will also be there.



Sessions start at:

7:30 p.m. on Thursday

7:30 p.m. on Friday

10:00 a.m. on Saturday

Doors open 2 hours prior to each session

Interpretation for the deaf and hard of hearing as well as Spanish translation will be provided. This section will be reserved until 30 minutes before the start of each session.



For arrangements to cover this event, contact Lori Potter at LPotter@joycemeyer.org.



For all conference details, contact Joyce Meyer Ministries at (866) 733-5692 or visit joycemeyer.org/conference.



About Joyce Meyer Ministries

Joyce Meyer Ministries (JMM) is an international nonprofit organization that focuses on reaching people through media with a potential audience of 4.5 billion people. Impacting lives around the world, through its outreach arm, Hand of Hope, JMM provides life-changing global humanitarian and missions relief. In 2015, JMM provided more than 31.9 million meals supporting feeding centers in 33 countries and free medical care to over 225,000 people in multiple remote areas. JMM also provides support for 27 children's homes globally and provides a host of other disaster, missions and humanitarian aid. JMM also operates the Dream Center, an inner-city church and outreach center in North St. Louis. Please visit www.joycemeyer.org.
'Impartation Breakfast' with Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda, Far Beyond Attendance Expectations

Contact: Sam Rodriguez, 407-854-4400, info@cfan.org

ORLANDO, Jan. 25, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- This past Saturday, January 23rd, more than 800 attended the "Impartation Breakfast" held in San Antonio, Texas, very early in the morning. The event was planned by CfaN Christ for All Nations, the ministry founded by Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke. All tickets were sold out days in advance, and there were many people who expressed their interest when no more tickets were available.

Attendants shared breakfast in a convivial atmosphere, and they were later ministered to. Both Reinhard Bonnke and Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, President of CfaN Christ for All Nations exhorted those present to strengthen their walk in the Lord's ways.

The breakfast meeting was followed by a ministry time, with Bonnke and Kolenda praying for each attendee.

Pastor Victor Vallejo, San Antonio's TBN station manager, commented, "The impartation event definitely marked the lives of those present, with a Word challenging us, to be passionate about souls. It is definitely evident that the United States is ready for a great visitation from heaven. Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda prayed for every one of those attending the event."

Pastor Charles Flowers, of Faith Outreach Center International Church was one of those attending this breakfast. Pastor Flowers said, "The breakfast was a significantly powerful spiritual event. Both evangelists awakened in us this divine hunger for souls, and the urgent need for the leadership and power of the Holy SpiritThey were truly a Godsend."

CfaN Christ for All Nations regularly plans breakfasts of this kind, echoing the words Paul wrote to the Romans: "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me" (Romans 1:11-12 KJV).

"It was a pleasure and privilege to have shared with so many people, to be able to minister to them and strengthen our bond with the Lord, as we work in His harvest," Bonnke commented.

Upcoming "Impartation Breakfasts" will be held this year in November, for both the East and West Coast areas. For further information please contact us: 1-407-854-4400, or via e-mail info@cfan.org.

The purpose of CfaN Christ for All Nations is to fulfill Jesus Christ's commission to bring the message of salvation to all people around the world. CfaN Christ for All Nations is mainly known for its campaigns in Africa and other developing countries. In addition, the ministry seeks to actively inspire and equip the body of Christ to evangelize by means of crusades, conferences, literature, videos and TV programs.

For more information about events and what the ministry achieved in 2015, you may obtain your free copy of IMPACT magazine by clicking here.
Saudi Arabia has engaged in war crimes, and the United States is aiding and abetting them by providing the Saudis with military assistance. In September 2015, Saudi aircraft killed 135 wedding celebrants in Yemen. The air strikes have killed 2,800 civilians, including 500 children. Human Rights Watch charges that these bombings have indiscriminately killed and injured civilians.

This conflict is part of a regional power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are bombing Yemen in order to defeat the Houthi rebels, who have been resisting government repression for a long time. Iran has been accused of supporting the Houthis, although Iran denies this. Yemen is strategically located on a narrow waterway that links the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea. Much of the worlds oil passes through this waterway.

A United Nations panel of experts concluded in October 2015 that the Saudi-led coalition had committed grave violations of civilians human rights. They include indiscriminate attacks; targeting markets, a camp for displaced Yemenis, and humanitarian aid warehouses; and intentionally preventing the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The panel was also concerned that the coalition considered civilian neighborhoods, including Marra and Sadah, as legitimate strike zones. The International Committee of the Red Cross documented 100 attacks on hospitals.

Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions prohibits the targeting of civilians. It provides that parties to a conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives and accordingly shall direct their operations only against military objectives.

Saudi Arabia is also engaging in serious individual human rights violations.

In January 2016, the Saudi government executed 47 people, including a prominent pacifist Shia cleric, who had been a leader of the 2011 Arab Spring in Yemen. Many of those executed were tortured during their detention and denied due process. Most were beheaded. This horrifies us when ISIS does it. Yet State Department spokesman John Kirby protested weakly, We believe that diplomatic engagement and direct conversations remain essential in working through differences.

Also in January 2016, Palestinian artist and poet Ashraf Fayadh, a Saudi citizen whose family is from Gaza, was sentenced to death by beheading. His alleged crimes: apostasy, or renouncing Islam, and photographing women. Throughout this whole process, Amnesty International UK found, Ashraf was denied access to a lawyer  a clear violation of international human rights law.

Both Saudi Arabia and the United States are parties to the Geneva Conventions, which define as grave breaches willful killing, willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, and torture or inhuman treatment. Grave breaches are considered war crimes. Also prohibited are the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.

Although neither the United States nor Saudi Arabia are parties to the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court, that statute sets forth standard aider and abettor liability provisions. It says that an individual can be convicted of war crimes if he or she aids, abets or otherwise assists in the commission or attempted commission of the crime, including providing the means for its commission.

The U.S. government is the primary supplier of Saudi weapons. In November 2015, the U.S. sold $1.29 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia. It included more than 10,000 bombs, munitions, and weapons parts manufactured by Raytheon and Boeing, as well as bunker busters, and laser-guided and general purpose bombs. A month earlier, the United States had approved a $11.25 billion sale of combat ships to Saudi Arabia. The U.S. also provides intelligence and logistical support to the coalition. During the past five years, the U.S. government has sold the Saudis $100 billion worth of arms. These sales have greatly enriched U.S. defense contractors.

Why has the United States usually looked the other way or issued carefully calibrated warnings in human rights reports as the Saudi royal family cracked down on dissent and free speech and allowed its elite to fund Islamic extremists, in the words of New York Times David Sanger? In return, Sanger writes, Saudi Arabia became Americas most dependable filling station, a regular supplier of intelligence, and a valuable counterweight to Iran. Saudi Arabia, and close U.S. ally Israel, opposed the Iran nuclear deal.

In April 2015, the U.S. government prevented nine Iranian ships loaded with relief supplies from reaching Yemen. President Barack Obama also sent an aircraft carrier to the area to enforce the Saudi embargo on outside supplies. According to UN estimates, 21 million people lack basic services, and over 1.5 million have been displaced. UNICEF notes that six million people dont have enough food.

Moreover, the U.S. government seeks to prevent scrutiny of Saudi human rights abuses in Yemen. In October 2015, the United States blocked a UN Security Council sanctions committee proposal that would have required the committees chair to contact all relevant parties to the conflict and stress their responsibility to respect and uphold international humanitarian law and human rights law.

The U.S. government is also violating domestic law by providing the Saudis with military aid. The Leahy Law prohibits U.S. assistance to foreign security forces or military officers if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), for whom the law was named, told Foreign Policy: The reports of civilian casualties from Saudi air attacks in densely populated areas [in Yemen] compel us to ask if these operations, supported by the United States, violate the Leahy Law.

Furthermore, 22 U.S.C. section 2304 provides that no security assistance may be provided to any government which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

The Arms Trade Treaty obligates member states to monitor exports of weapons and make sure they not end up being used to commit human rights abuses. Although the U.S. has not ratified the treaty, we have signed it. Under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, a signatory is prohibited from taking action inconsistent with the object and purpose of the treaty.

The U.S. government should immediately halt arms transfers and military support to Saudi Arabia and support an independent investigation into U.S. arms transfers and war crimes in Yemen. The United States must stop participating in and call for an end to the de facto blockade so that humanitarian assistance can reach those in need, engage in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, and ratify the Arms Trade Treaty.

In an interesting twist, the Saudis contributed $10 million to the Clinton Foundation before Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State. In 2011, the year after the State Department had documented myriad serious human rights violations by Saudi Arabia, Hillary oversaw a $29 billion sale of advanced fighter jets to the Saudis, declaring it was in our national interest. The deal was a top priority for Hillary, according to Andrew Shapiro, an assistant secretary of state. Two months before the deal was clinched, Boeing, manufacturer of one of the fighter jets the Saudis sought to acquire, contributed $900,000 to the Clinton Foundation.

Hillary now says the U.S should pursue closer strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia.




I have ceased to post on this blog as I am now at steadyaku47.com All that is here have been included in that website and, where possibl...
PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

How important is political party affiliation? Some people mistakenly believe only politicians need political affiliation, which they use for support to get elected. They contend the electorate or voters, do not need to be aligned with any Party. These same people often state they support the man, not the Party. But whether they recognize it or not, they are supporting a party when they support the man.

Most of the Founding Fathers had a negative view of political parties. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington warned about political parties saying, However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion. In spite of Washington's warning, political parties were formed anyway.

From 1796 to 1828 the first political parties were formed. Starting with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, two opposing factions arose. Each was concerned with how the new government was to be organized. The Federalists believed in a strong central government. Their philosophy and beliefs would closely mirror the Democrat Party today. The Anti-Federalists strongly supported the rights of the states. They would more closely align with Republicans today.

Since the mid 1800s, the Ds and Rs have been the two major political parties in our country. Political parties flourished in our government mainly for legislative organization and expediencies sake. Why is Party affiliation important for the average voter? Party affiliation is important for three very simples reasons.

First, party affiliation is the first vote a citizen casts. When a citizen registers as a Democrat, then they are aligning philosophically with the values, beliefs, tenets, and positions of the Democrats on the issues. Party affiliation defines you are and what you stand for. It should be taken as seriously as a vote for a specific candidate. Research what each Party stands for, their positions on issues, and then align with the Party that is closest to your values. Copies of both major Party platforms are available on-line or at the local library.

Second, legislatures organize themselves and conduct business using party affiliation. The legislative branch of government is the most powerful arm of the three branches of government. Legislative bodies hold closed meeting of party members, called a caucus to decide on questions of policy or leadership. The Republicans hold a caucus meeting and the Democrats hold a caucus meeting-both at the state and federal level. Unfortunately, conservative, moderate and liberal philosophies do not hold caucus meetings or control the legislative agendas- parties do. When someone says they vote for the man, not the party, they fail to understand the power and function of a caucus system in a legislative body. The Party in the majority controls appointments, Chairmanships, the agenda and countless other things through the caucus.

Third, party affiliation should be a matter of conviction, not convenience. Often, people align with a party so they can vote in primary elections or based on family tradition or geographies. Even candidates will align, file and run affiliated with a Party they have little philosophical agreement with. That decision is made out of convenience, not conviction. While no political party is perfect or has all the answers, there is a distinct difference between the two major parties and honest citizens should align with the Party that reflects their convictions.

The Democrat Party is more liberal than the Republican Party. Liberals believe in more government control of business, the environment and speech, using large bureaucratic programs to address real or perceived social ills and constant reinterpretation of the Constitution. Liberals are more inclined to trust government than the people themselves. They see the role of government as a great provider of goods and services and have little faith in the individual to solve his own problems.

Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. Conservatives believe in less government control of the environment and business. They want fewer and less comprehensive government programs to address real or perceived social ills. They believe in personal responsibility and trust individuals to make decisions for themselves. Republicans believe in a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution. A person should find out which of these philosophies best fits their view if they wish to actively participate in the political process.

Party affiliation is important. Washingtons prophecy has come to past, and political parties have been used to empower unprincipled men, on both sides of the aisle, but like it or not, political parties are a reality in our system of government. Each concerned citizen should evaluate the philosophy, values, beliefs and tenets of each Party and align their party affiliation accordingly.


In Iran the commander of the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) recently made public the fact that the IRGC was responsible for training (and often recruiting, arming and paying) 200,000 pro-Iran fighters in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This, in general, is no secret. It was long believed that as many as 50,000 Iranian created militiamen are fighting in Syria. There are somewhat smaller forces in Lebanon (about 25,000), Iraq (over 20,000) and Yemen (more than 15,000). Pakistan and Afghanistan were not happy with the IRGC publicly admitting that Iran has sponsored local (and often illegal) Shia militias.

This is not something new for the IRGC, which since the 1980s has had an elite organization whose main job was forming pro-Iran militias in foreign countries. This is the al Quds Force, which is a component of the IRGC. Also known as the Pasdaran, the IRGC is a paramilitary force of about 100,000 full timers that insures that any anti-government activity inside Iran is quickly eliminated. To assist the Pasdaran, there is a part-time, volunteer force, several hundred thousand Basej, which can provide additional manpower when street muscle is required. The Basej are usually young, Islamic conservative men, who are not afraid to get their hands dirty. If opponents to the government stage a large demonstration, it will often be broken up by Basej, in civilian clubs, using fists and clubs.

The Quds Force is a full time operation for carefully selected men trained to spread the Islamic revolution outside Iran. The Quds force has to also deal with a major obstacle in that they are spreading a Shia Islamic revolution in a world where only 10-15 percent of Moslems are Shia. Most of the rest are Sunni, and many of those Sunni consider Shia heretics. In several countries, there is constant violence between Shia and Sunni conservatives. This has been going on long before the clerics took control of Iran in 1979 or al Qaeda (a major killed of Shia) showed up in the 1990s.

The core operatives of the Quds force comprises only a few thousand highly skilled and very dedicated specialists. There are another 10,000 or so support staff. The core personnel tend to be highly educated, most speak foreign languages, and all are Islamic radicals. They are on a mission from God to convert the world to Shia Islam, and the rule of Shia clergy. The Quds Force has been around since the 1980s, and their biggest success has been in Lebanon, where they helped local Shia (who comprise about a third of the population) form the mighty Hezbollah organization.

The Quds Force has eight departments, each assigned to a different part of the world. While the one that works in the Palestine/Lebanon/Jordan area have been the most successful, the other departments have been hard at it for over three decades and that persistence is paying off. The Palestine/Lebanon/Jordan department went into high gear in 2012 when a rebellion against the pro-Iran Syrian government made unexpected gains. For the next two years saving pro-Iranian Syria was the main task of Quds.

The Western Directorate has established a recruiting and fund raising network in Western nations. Many recruits are brought back to Iran for training, while Shia migrants are encouraged to donate money, and services, to Quds Force operations. Because many of these operations are considered terrorist operations, Quds Force is banned in many Western nations. Currently Quds operatives in the West are monitoring what ISIL is up to there and recruiting local Shia Moslems to fight ISIL in Iraq and Syria. These Shia are have also been very active in aiding Iranian efforts to embargoes on obtaining military equipment and technology.

The Iraq Department long maintained an army of anti-Saddam fighters in exile (in Iran) as well as running an intelligence operation inside Iraq. After the U.S. led coalition toppled Saddam in 2003, Quds Force moved people, money and weapons into Iraq, to form pro-Iranian political forces and militias. These forces were withdrawn by 2008 as the newly elected government demonstrated their power by forcibly shutting down any pro-Iran Shia militias that refused to disband peacefully. By 2014 Quds was invited back in as ISIL took Mosul and parts of northwestern and western Iraq. Now Quds considers their work in Iraq more important than the effort in Syria because Quds trained Iraqi Shia leaders are openly calling for a Shia religious dictatorship to rule Iraq.

The South Asia Department (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India) was active in aiding Afghan Shia who were being persecuted by the Taliban (a Sunni operation) and al Qaeda (a very Sunni operation). Quds has also been caught operating in Pakistan, where Sunni terrorists have been attacking Shia for decades.

The Turkey Department has been active encouraging Shia Kurds to commit terrorist acts. This has not been too successful as the Turks have been major enemies of Shia Iran for centuries and dedicate a lot of resources to monitoring what local, and foreign, Shia are doing in Turkey.

The North Africa Department has an operation in Sudan that long functioned in the open, despite the Sunni conservatives who run the country. This department has been caught providing weapons to the Sunni Islamic terrorists in Somalia. In early 2016 Sudan broke diplomatic relations with Iran and shut down all the Quds activities it could find.

The Arabian Department supports terrorist groups that exist in all the Persian Gulf Arab countries. The Arab Sunni governments in these nations does not appreciate Iran's support for this sort of thing. Quds quietly supported a Shia rebellion in Yemen, which has been simmering for a decade and got really successful in 2013 and by late 2014 controlled the capital and over a third of the country. But now the Arab neighbors (plus Egypt) are getting involved and in late 2015 Iran admitted its long support for Yemeni Shia. Soon after a Sunni Arab coalition entered Yemen and defeated the Shia rebels.

The Central Asian Department supports Shia and Sunni terrorists in countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union. So does al Qaeda, but the Quds operation has been more discreet.

Back in Iran, Quds kept an eye on al Qaeda leaders granted sanctuary after 2001. Even though al Qaeda has taken part in many atrocities against Shia outside Iran the Quds leadership saw this a case of the "enemy of my enemy is my friend." Actually, there is a major dispute in the Iranian government over the al Qaeda issue. But the Iranian leadership is more a federation than a dictatorship, so Quds can keep being nice to al Qaeda as long as not too many factions get mad at Quds.

The Iranian leadership, despite their radical sounding pronouncements, have actually been quite cautious. This is in line with ancient Iranian custom. Most of the Hezbollah violence in Lebanon was at the behest of Lebanese Hezbollah leaders. The same pattern has occurred elsewhere. The Quds guys usually counsel restraint, although in Iraq there has been more enthusiasm for violence. Iraq is a special case, as several hundred thousand Iranians died fighting Saddam in the 1980s, and Iranians have not forgotten.

Quds is often described as the most radical part of the IRGC while also being the smallest component. Although by their very nature Quds operations must remain discreet and secret, Quds and IRGC find it good for the image of the religious dictatorship running Iran if some Quds accomplishments are boasted about openly. Thus Quds leaders like to say that because of Quds efforts Iran now controls four Arab capitals (in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen). Given that all four of those countries are currently embroiled in wars and revolutions (often anti-Shia) the boasting appears a little premature.
One incumbent is running in the five-candidate race for two open seats.
The Clatskanie PUD has settled the last of the lawsuits brought by six former employees who claimed they were sexually harassed by former manager Joe Taffe or retaliated against by former General Manager Greg Booth.

Total settlements in the case will total about $3.56 million, most of which is covered by the PUDs liability insurance company, General Manager Marc Farmer said Tuesday.

For us it is a relief to have it closed, and we can move on, Farmer said, promising that the culture at the utility is different now and that sexual harassment will not be tolerated.

We have gone through our policies to make sure that things are in place to make sure this does not happen again. If it does, it will be reported and dealt with immediately. I dont see anything like this re-occurring, at least not on my watch, Farmer said.

The settlements have had absolutely no impact on PUD rates, Farmer said.

A federal magistrate on Jan. 7 awarded Rebecca Rakoz, the utility districts communication coordinator, and Raymond Lindsey, the agencys information technology director, a total of $468,500 each, Farmer said.

Rakoz said she was stripped of many of her duties when Booth learned shed reported him to the utilitys attorney for planning to fire four women who had reported sexual harassment.

Lindsey said Booth pressured him to search emails and phone records of employees who reported harassment to find something that he could use to terminate them. Lindsey also said Booth often criticized his Mormon religion and made unsolicited comments about their female colleagues, including how he hoped to write a book when he retired about how women couldnt be trusted in the workplace and how he wished there was only a flat fine for inappropriately touching them, according to The Oregonian.

Former employees Elisha Shulda, Gail Rakitnich, Tamela Keith and Sarah Blodgett each claimed they were groped by Taffe at least once between 2009 and 2011 and initially feared reporting him because of backlash. Shulda and Rakitnich later told police about Taffe, and authorities interviewed other employees as part of the investigation.

Shulda and Rakitnich received out-of-court settlements in May 2014 totaling $1.3 million. Keith received a $675,500 settlement and a letter of recommendation in September 2014. Blodgetts claim was settled for $650,000 last year, Farmer said.

The PUDs insurer, Special Districts Association of Oregon, has paid out all the claims except for $325,000 that remains the PUDs responsibility, Farmer said. Of that, the utility has paid out $101,000 and will pay the remaining balance over the next four years.

Two of the employees had sought to be reinstated in their jobs, but those attempts were rejected during settlement talks, Farmer added.

Taffe retired in January of 2012 and was convicted of sex abuse and harassment in February 2014 and sentenced to probation. Booth retired that same month.
Rep. Ed Orcutt has introduced a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder for the Legislature to raise taxes.

House Joint Resolution (HJR) 4215 would refer a state constitutional amendment to the November election ballot that would require a two-thirds vote, a supermajority, of both legislative bodies for any tax increase. The requirement could be waived if the Legislature referred the action to the voters, in which case a simple majority would be sufficient.

Lawmakers need to represent the will of the people. Since 1993 there have been six initiatives to put limits on tax increases. Each time it was approved by the voters, and then overturned by legislators or the courts. I believe the citizens of Washington state have earned the right to permanently protect themselves with this common sense policy, said Orcutt, a Kalama Republican and perennial opponent of tax hikes.

Recently the King County Superior Court struck down as unconstitutional Initiative 1366, a measure passed by voters last November. I-1366 would cut the state sales tax by 1 percent if the Legislature does not put the two-thirds requirement in place. The court ruled against the initiative, stating it usurped the role of the Legislature by proposing to place restrictions on its ability to raise taxes.

Opponents of supermajority requirements say it sets up a tyranny of the minority in which just a small percentage of legislators can thwart the will of the majority.

Orcutt, though, said the Legislature needs to use tax increases as a last resort. Voters have consistently supported a two-thirds supermajority. The court has said it will not stand unless it is a constitutional amendment. It is time for the Legislature to put this forth as a constitutional amendment so the voters can have the final say.

Amendments to the state constitution require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature and then approval by voters at the next general election.
"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844
tech2 News Staff

Malpe beach in Udupi district, one of the main tourist attractions in southern Karnataka, has become the first beach in India to have Wi-Fi connectivity.

The facility will be available to tourists free of cost for 30 minutes at any time of the day during their visit, an official release said.

Udupi MLA Pramod Madhwaraj launched the 247 facility at a function at the beach yesterday. He said the duration of free Wi-Fi access would be extended later.

The service is being provided by BSNL, supported by the Centres Digital Drive Initiative. Madhwaraj said the Malpe beach committee had spent Rs 80 lakh for beach development works last year. Work on road development had also been taken up at a cost of Rs five crore over the years, he said.

A report in the Hindu adds that the Wi-Fi facility will be available for 30 minutes per phone. Browsing speeds would be close to that offered by 4G, per person per day. The report adds that the Department of Tourism will pay BSNL an amount of Rs. 1 lakh every quarter for offering the Wi-Fi service.

This facility was launched on the Malpe beach at a function, organised by the District Administration, Department of Tourism and the Malpe Beach Development Committee, here.

With inputs from PTI
tech2 News Staff

Opera has released its first update in 2016 for its Opera Mini browser on the Android platform and the highlight feature is added support for 13 Indian languages including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

The other major updates include support for more than 90 languages (including 13 Indian languages), an improved download manager and a new QR-code reader and generator.

According to a study by Boston Consulting Group, more than 70% of the Indian population does not use English as its primary language. Opera thinks that adding 13 Indian languages will help it reduce barriers for people to come online.

Unlike the old Opera Mini, where the UI language was set according to the language of the Android OS, the new update lets users choose from the list of 90 installed languages. Users will also be prompted to select a language, the first time they use the updated version of the browser.

We are continuing our efforts to bring the internet to as many people as possible, not only by making it possible to access the internet on low-bandwidth networks with our compression technology, but also by making sure that our browser is easy for anyone to use and understand. The improved language support is an important part of our efforts, says Christian Uribe, Product Manager for Opera Mini.

More products and services use QR codes as an easy way to give users access to web content. Weve also included a QR code generator, so if you want to share a link with a friend nearby, you can create a QR code to any page yourself, says Christian Uribe.

Opera Mini has also added an improved download manager to improve the stability and speed of downloads, according to Uribe.
This Blog is based on the Teachings of Bhagawan Baba, Dalai Lama and some insightful incidents of life.
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The History Girls are a group of best-selling, award-winning writers of historical fiction and non-fiction. Some of us write for young adults, some for fully fledged adults.Among us, we cover every period from Classical times to World War II.Individual, entertaining, sometimes provocative: on this weekly blog on Fridays we'll share our thoughts on writing, research, reviews, and all aspects of our work. We love what we do and we want to talk about it. We hope you'll want to follow usIf you want a History Girl to appear at an event or write an article or review, please contact her via her website (links are all given on the About Us page)

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Volleyball results from Thursday

Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, 8:34 a.m. -- LAPEER COUNTY -- The Almont varsity volleyball team beat Madison Heights Lamphere and New Lothrop in a triple header at Almont Thursday. Dryden beat Bay City All Saints...

Golf and tennis regional results

Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, 5:41 p.m. -- LAPEER COUNTY -- Boys' high school tennis regionals and girls' golf regionals took place yesterday. Lapeer girls' golf placed 11th at the Div. 1 regional hosted by Oxford...

Friday night football scores

Friday, September 30, 2022 10:15 p.m.  LAPEER COUNTY  Lapeer beat Grand Blanc 39-17 at Lapeer to remain undefeated at 6-0. Almont upset Croswell-Lexington 37-26 North Branch routed Richmond 62-10 Imlay City/Dryden fell to Yale...

Summer sports camps/clinics

Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 4:40 p.m. -- LAPEER COUNTY -- Below is a list of the summer sports camps and clinics that will take place through early Aug. The regular sports update posting of high...
At least 7 missing in Meghna capsize

Chandpur, Jan 26 (UNB) - A trawler packed with up to 60 passengers capsized amid dense fog in the river Meghna after being hit by another passenger ferry, leaving at least seven people including children missing on Tuesday morning. Local police sub-inspector Safaruddin said the trawler-MV Robin-1-sank in the middle of the river around 9.30am at Haimchar upzila on its way to Paschim Eshan ghat from Telimor ghat. Police said most of the passengers swam ashore or were rescued by local people after the accident. Police and fire service officials rushed to scene and began a search for the missing. Karim Master and Nasrin Akhter, who survived the accident, told UNB that up to 60 people including some children were on board when the accident took place. Ashrafuzzaman, additional superintendent of Chandpur police, earlier told UNB that they were trying to determine the exact number of the missing.
Washington struggles to dig out after monster blizzard

AFP, Washington :

The US capital struggled to plow and shovel its way back to life Monday after a blizzard smothered the East Coast, with mountains of snow lining streets and schools and the federal government shut.

The storm was blamed for at least 33 deaths as it slammed a dozen states from Friday into early Sunday, many of them people who suffered heart attacks while shoveling, or killed on icy roads, though several died of carbon monoxide poisoning trying to keep warm in cars or homes.

Washington's subway and bus network, closed all weekend, resumed service Monday but on a very limited basis with trains running for free.

More accustomed to heavy snowfall, New York City seemed to bounce back more easily with schools in the Big Apple open and the mass transit system up and running for the most part.

But for many the thrill of a weekend spent playing in the snow, or in warm homes watching a stunning display of nature's power, gave way to the realization that, in Washington at least, the cleanup will be long and messy.

"From my estimation we got more snow than I have ever seen in Washington, DC," Mayor Muriel Bowser told CNN. "We are working hard to dig out all of our residential streets."

Under a sunny sky, the normally bustling avenues around the White House were all but deserted.

Heavy machinery equipped with powerful vacuums sucked at chest-high drifts of snow and spat it into 18-wheel trucks moving alongside at a snail's pace.

Dump trucks laden with increasingly dirty snow rumbled through the streets and crews in bright red shirts went at it with shovels. Everywhere, there was snow.

The few people out and about trudged through slush and ice and picked their way through drifts left by plows. Many restaurants, office buildings and stores remained closed.

Limited flight operations resumed from Washington's Reagan National and Dulles International airports, a day after officials battled in New York to get some aircraft off the ground.




Iran`s return to the fold sparks business bonanza for Europe

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) is welcomed by Italian President Sergio Mattarella on his arrival at the Quirinale presidential palace in Rome on Monday.

AFP, Rome :Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will on Tuesday attend an Iran-Italy business forum before meeting Pope Francis, as the Islamic Republic rebuilds ties with the West and seals multi-billion dollar deals as sanctions against it are lifted.Italian officials said contracts signed in Rome late Monday would be worth up to 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion), topped by a five-billion-euro deal for pipeline company Saipem, whose shares surged 18.5 percent in Milan on Monday.A major order for Airbus planes is expected to be confirmed in France on Wednesday, along with tie-ups with French carmakers Peugeot and Renault.Rouhani said Monday he had come to Europe with an "open for business" message in his first trip overseas since Tehran's nuclear deal with the West came into force this month. "The Iranian market offers Italian and European investors the opportunity to establish themselves in the entire region," he said.Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi added: "We have signed the first accords, but we are only at the start of a long road."Renzi said he had discussed efforts to end the war in Syria and the fight against the Islamic State group with the Iranian leader. "If we could reach agreement on the nuclear issue, we can find one on Syria. We can and we have to."Rouhani is due at the Vatican on Tuesday where Pope Francis is expected to reiterate concerns over human rights and the death penalty in Iran, as well as asking Rouhani to help protect Christians in the Middle East.The Iranian leader, who is accompanied by more than 100 ministers, officials and businessmen, will fly on to France Wednesday on the next leg of his first official European trip as president.Rouhani, a 67-year-old former academic and diplomat who is seen as a pragmatist, was elected in 2013 on a pledge to end sanctions and improve relations with the West.His trip comes a week after Tehran's deal with world powers came into force, allowing the United States and the European Union to begin lifting economic barriers brought in over Iran's nuclear programme that have long hindered its growth. "We have had friendly relations with Italy and France in the past and we want to continue our good relations with them," Rouhani told reporters before his departure on Monday from Mehrabad Airport.He also revealed that "important contracts" were in the works with Peugeot and Renault, as European companies scramble to get back into a $400-billion economy with the world's fourth-biggest oil reserves and a consumer market of 80 million people. National carrier Iran Air said on Sunday it would be buying 114 Airbus planes to modernise an ageing fleet that has struggled to stay in the air as a result of the impact of sanctions.That deal alone underlines the huge economic stakes involved in Iran's re-opening, particularly for Europe's manufacturing and engineering sectors.Iran's Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi said the first Airbuses were earmarked for delivery by March and that Iran was in the market for a total of up to 500 planes.Peugeot is tipped to forge a car assembly joint venture with Iran Khodro, reviving a partnership which generated Iranian sales of 473,000 units in its last year before the French company pulled out in 2012.Iranian media reported the deal will involve investment of 500 million euros.Iran's central bank governor said last week the country was counting on the nuclear deal unblocking some $50 billion worth of foreign investment.Italian companies have been amongst the quickest off the blocks, with a major business delegation having visited Tehran in November and some 500 entrepreneurs invited to the forum Rouhani will attend on Tuesday.Italy was formerly Iran's biggest European trading partner, but volumes have dwindled to a fifth of their former glory because of the sanctions.National carrier Alitalia said Monday it was upgrading its Rome-Tehran service from four a week to a daily flight in anticipation of increased business and tourist travel.But, amid the scramble for slices of the Iranian pie, rights groups fear Tehran's repression of political dissent and extensive use of the death penalty (700 executions in 2015 according to the UN) will be forgotten.
DU VC urges students to follow university norms

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique addressing the orientation program for the first year Honors students of various departments under the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Fine Arts of DU on Tuesday at the TSC auditorium of the

Campus Report :



Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique urged the students to follow the norms of the university properly. He said, Dhaka University authorities will take punitive measures with zero tolerance against the students who will be involved themselves in social misdeeds.

The VC was addressing the orientation program for the first year Honors students of various departments under the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Fine Arts of DU held on Tuesday at the TSC auditorium of the university. Students' Counseling and Guidance Office of DU organized the program.

Acting Director of Students' Counseling and Guidance Office of DU Mahjabeen Haque presided over the function while Dean of the Faculty of Arts Prof Dr Md. Akhtaruzzaman and Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Prof Nisar Hossain addressed it as special guests.

Prof Arefin Siddique in his speech called upon the students to become good human being to make Bangladesh a prosperous country. Only excellent academic results of the brilliant students never bring benefit to the nation, he added.

He said, students would have to equip themselves with the spirit of our Liberation War as well as come forward with leadership skills to develop socio-economic condition of general public in the country.


Work as people's trusted friends

Marking the Police Week 2016 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessing the parade of Police forces at the Razarbagh Police Line on Tuesday.

UNB, Dhaka :Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the members of Bangladesh Police to be the servants of people facing all the challenges and stand beside the helpless and endangered ones as their trusted friends."I hope the police should be the servants of people facing all the diversified challenges ...each and every police personnel should remain beside the helpless and endangered persons as their trusted friends so that people could have their confidence in you (police)," she said.The Prime Minister was speaking at the inaugural function of the Bangladesh Police Week 2016 at Rajarbagh Police Lines. Sheikh Hasina said the working areas of the police force are expanding every moment. "The police force has to play its due role in containing cybercrimes, money laundering, drug smuggling, goods smuggling, children and women trafficking alongside containing the incidents of theft, dacoity, murder and killing," she said adding that they have to play a stronger role.Hasina also mentioned that the role of the police is very much important in protecting wet and forest lands and environment. " For that purpose, we're giving the highest priority for providing modern training along with information technology for the police force."The Prime Minister said, the police is also contributing a lot towards the country's development. "If the law and order situation doesn't remain under control, it's not possible to have the socioeconomic development of the country." Hasina has directed the police to discharge their duty with the highest patriotism to maintain law and order, the existing peace, discipline and development trend. She thanked the police for their special role in combating terrorism and militancy. "A process is underway to establish a 'specialised unit' to enhance the capacity of the police to combat terrorism and militancy."Elaborating the government measures taken for the development of the force, Hasina said the number of current manpower of Bangladesh Police is over 1.50 lakh. "We want to make the force even stronger and as part of that process we've decided to recruit another 50,000 to the force."The Prime Minister said the police has been playing a laudable role in tackling all the national problems, including resisting destructive and subversive acts of BNP-Jamaat-Shibir nexus, fighting militancy, holding trial of war criminals and 10th Jatiya Sangsad elections and that of city corporation, upazila and municipalities.Pointing out that Bangladesh Police has earned widespread appreciation in UN peacekeeping missions through their efficiencies and professionalism, Hasina said necessary steps would be taken to infuse greater dynamism into its police activities in the peace missions.At the function, the Prime Minister handed over Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and President Police Medal (PPM) to 102 police members in four categories for their bravery and heroism in their services during the last one year.Of the policemen, 19 got the BPM Award and 40 the PPM Award, while 23 received BPM-Service Award and 40 others PPM-Service Award. Earlier riding an open jeep, the Prime Minister reviewed an spectacular parade of different contingents of Bangladesh Police and took salute.
32.7 kg gold worth Tk 2 cr seized at HSIA

Staff Reporter :Customs officials in a drive seized 280 pieces of gold bars weighing 32.7kg worth around Tk 15 crore from a flight at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Monday night. However, none was arrested in this connection, Customs official said. Dhaka Customs House Assistant Commissioner Shahiduzzaman Sarker said, Tipped off, a team of Customs Official launched a drive at plane of Malindo Airlines at around 11:45pm. At one stage, they found the gold bars under a seat of the flight."A case has been filed in this connection, the Customs official said.
College teachers go for work abstention

As teachers remain away from class following strike students find an exclusive moment for gossiping at Government Badrunnesa College in the city on Tuesday.

Staff Reporter :

The teachers of government colleges across the country on Tuesday started their three-day work abstention demanding removal of 'discrepancies' from the 8th National Pay Scale. The programme will end on January 28.

The teachers are observing the abstention programme under the banner of Bangladesh Civil Service General Education Association (BCSGEA).

The teachers also threatened to go for tough movement if their demands were not met.

BCSGEA President Nasrin Begum said the teachers observed the programme together demanding justice in the pay scale.

"The teachers are unhappy as the pay scale undermined them.

Teachers have been protesting since the Eighth National Pay Scale was published by a gazzete notification. On January 4 and 5, they boycotted academic activities in colleges.

The three-day 'cease work' programme was announced from the Association's general meeting on January 22.
Denmark plans to vote on confiscate assets of asylum seekers

BBC Online :The Danish parliament has begun debating a highly controversial proposal to confiscate asylum seekers' valuables to pay for their upkeep.MPs are expected to approve the proposal, which drew sharp criticism at home and abroad when it was announced. Danish authorities insist the policy brings migrants in line with jobless Danes, who must sell assets above a certain level to claim benefits.MPs are also expected to back plans to delay family reunions.The proposal to increase the wait from one year to three is aimed at discouraging new arrivals.Denmark expects to receive around 20,000 asylum seekers in 2016, compared with 15,000 last year, the integration ministry told BBC News.The bill has broad cross-party support. Denmark and neighbouring Sweden recently tightened their borders in an attempt to bring down the number of migrants and refugees. Denmark is notthe first European country to demand the assets of asylum seekers. Earlier this month, Switzerland was criticised by a refugee group for seizing assets from some 100 people in 2015. Under Swiss rules, asylum seekers have to hand over assets above $1,000 (700; 900).Danish critics have likened their government's plan to the confiscation of valuables from Jews during the World War Two. Integration Minister Inger Stoejberg was forced to announce that no items deemed sentimental would be taken. The law would apply to cash or assets worth more than 10,000 kroner (1,340 euros, $1,450) - a figure raised from 3,000 kroner following objections.UN refugee agency the UNHCR has warned that the proposals violate the European Convention on Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Refugee Convention.But both the ruling centre-right Venstre party and the right-wing, anti-immigration Danish People's Party back the bill, meaning it is likely to pass.Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen of the Venstre party has shrugged off criticism, calling the bill "the most misunderstood bill in Denmark's history". Once a champion of refugees' rights, Denmark's goal is now to make itself less attractive for asylum-seekers. Mr Rasmussen's party won a June 2015 election after promising an "immediate slowdown" of Denmark's refugee influx."The tone in the public debate about refugees and immigrants has undoubtedly become tougher," Kashif Ahmad, the leader of the National Party, told the AFP news agency.Amnesty International has said war refugees would face "an impossible choice" if the waiting period to apply to bring over their family was increased from one year to three."Either bring children and other loved ones on dangerous, even lethal journeys, or leave them behind and face a prolonged separation," said Amnesty spokeswoman Gauri van Gulik.Thousands of refugees and other migrants have arrived in Denmark this year, many of them in transit to Sweden, after arriving illegally by sea in southern Europe.Several EU states said on Monday they plan to prolong temporary border controls introduced in recent months for as many as two years, in order to reduce the number of migrants entering from neighbouring nations.The announcement came after a meeting of EU interior ministers in Amsterdam.Where Europe is failing on migrantsThe 28 member states have not agreed on an EU-wide mechanism for relocating migrants, meant to ease the burden on Greece and Italy. Only small groups have been relocated so far - and several states in Central and Eastern Europe refuse to accept migrantsThe Schengen agreement on freedom of movement is in jeopardy - Hungary fenced off its borders with Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia; meanwhile Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and France also reimposed border controlsThe Dublin regulation, under which refugees are required to claim asylum in the member state in which they first arrive, is not working effectively. Countries are no longer sending back migrants to their first point of entry to the EUThousands of migrants - many of them Syrian war refugees - still arrive daily from TurkeyProcessing of asylum applications is slow and there is a big backlog - so reception centres are overcrowdedGermany - the main destination for migrants - is rethinking its open-door policy, partly because of outrage over assaults on women in Cologne at New Year.
bKash agent shot at Tk 2 lakh snatched

Staff Reporter :

At least Taka two lakh was snatched from a bKash agent by a gang of unidentified miscreants in the city's Hazaribagh area on Tuesday morning. He was also shot at by the attackers.

The bKash agent Shohag Hossain Anik, 22, work at Krishi Market area.

Quoting the family members, Sentu Chandar Das, Sub-Inspector at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said, Shoahag was collecting money from bKash retail agents at Krishi market when seven persons on three motorcycles attacked him at 10:30am. They shot his right leg and snatched the money from him."

The victim was rushed to Dhaka Medical College & Hospital (DMCH), where he is undergoing treatment.

A general diary was filed with the Hazaribagh Police Station in this connection.
New codes needed for GMO regulation

Klaus Ammann and Marcel Kuntz :

New methods of influencing genetic traits in diverse organisms are set to become available at an increasing speed and low cost. Before, plant breeding was divided into GMOs and non-GMOs, focusing worldwide (with rare exceptions) on processes. EU regulation deals with direct DNA transfer creating transgenic organisms, defining it as a legal object called a "GMO", which is altered in a way which does not occur in nature.

We argue that future inclusion or exclusion of "gene editing" technologies from present day GMO regulation is building on a flawed conception of GMOs.

EU regulation based on misconceptions

Generally, the molecular processes of modern technologies are copied from natural ones, a view promoted for many years by Werner Arber, a Nobel Price recipient. This is why a separation between plants originating from natural against unnatural breeds has its pitfalls and is basically wrong - since many naturally occurring transgenic plants exist, amongst them the sweet potato.

Another misconception is that crops with herbicide resistance obtained by natural mutation, or by artificial mutation through chemistry or radiation, are excluded from the regulation for political reasons.

While the current EU regulation was meant to allow the use of biotechnology when proven safe, it has encouraged political polemics and stigmatisation, disinformation at a massive scale (unprecedented in the democratic world) and ultimately denied farmers the freedom of choice and scientists academic freedom, not to mention the shameless exportation of these problems to poorer countries.

Call for new regulation

In recent years, many important public institutions and researchers called for a new product-oriented regulation. "Product" should not be understood as the DNA construct, but as the final product which goes on the market (farmers and consumers do not buy "DNA products"). Globally, dozens of scientists and academies (such as the European Academies, EASAC) and others (e.g. UK House of Commons) are explicitly calling for a shift towards product-based regulation.

New plant Breeding Technologies (NBT)

Some of these new methods are applying micro-mutations at very precise genomic locations. In addition, these methods are becoming simpler and cheaper. There are regulators such as the German Consumer Protection Association (BVL) and Swedish scientists which call for the exclusion of such "gene editing" from the GMO regulation as long as such crops do not contain any "foreign" DNA. These arguments are derived from the analysis of regulatory paragraphs and present day molecular knowledge. This is a view with some merit, but which actually neglects existing potential risks which are, admittedly, low, but not non-existent.

In addition, following this logic, focusing again on DNA structures would make some fall back into the old stigmatising regulation, with all the drawbacks listed above. Moreover, it is justified to say that it is practically impossible to give a clear definition of GMOs. Others have written about the "nonsensical GMO pseudo-category", a parallel to the failed attempt to genetically define human races. Similarly, it will be difficult to define "foreign" DNA.

All these considerations mean that it is easy to predict that such a mixture of de-regulation/regulation of NBTs will encourage unnecessarily bitter disputes. Opponents have already opened new lines of argument, calling for strict moratoriums and the in-discriminatory inclusion of all NBTs into a regulatory regime.

It is obvious that opponents (some generously funded by European public money) will succeed in propagating fears over non-regulated NBTs, which will be called "hidden GMOs" as is already the case for mutagenised crops such as some HT sunflowers (some fields have already been vandalised in France).

It will indeed be difficult for non-experts to understand why decades-old GMOs are still regulated, with their regulation even strengthened or their marketing bluntly banned by the European Parliament, leaving aside science, in contrast to the advice of the European Food Safety Authority. In the meantime, novel biotechnologies should only be regulated partially.

Focus on the benefits

The benefits of modern breeding do not mean that we should remain in the old-fashioned techno-fix age and focus alone on the belief that technology will be the alpha and omega of progress in agriculture. There are plenty of data-filled papers and reviews demonstrating that the ultimate success of an introduction of new biotechnologies depends on many other factors, such as production structure, farmer lifestyle, family structure, crop ecology, landscape ecology, historical elements, as well as tradition.

We have a dream

What we actually need is a global regulatory system built on the best scientific knowledge (which evolves with time), including a possibility to differentiate according to the magnitude of risk impact related to applied technologies.

The political implication should not always be limited to more regulation, bans and bargaining over modern agriculture. At a time when many have doubts about Europe, European policy should rather be about lifting political barriers, dropping unscientific stigmatisation and shedding light on factors that will allow modern agriculture to meet the agricultural challenges facing the 21st century.

(Klaus Ammann is professor emeritus at the University of Bern, and Marcel Kuntz is Director of Research at CNRS, Grenoble).


Need to tackle non-communicable diseases

Claudiu Ciprian Tanasescu, Claudia Monteiro de Aguiar :

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the true silent killer of our time, responsible for 60% of global deaths. This number is so staggeringly high that all adult Europeans either know someone that is suffering from, or has died as a victim of, an NCD.

NCDs are not passed from person to person. They are of long duration and generally slow progression. The four main types of non-communicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. A good example of the burden caused by these diseases is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects 15-20% of the European adult population over 40 years and causes over 300,000 deaths in Europe every year.

There have been a number of positive developments in the EU since the 2011 UN Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, which our European Parliament endorsed.

Examples of these are the ongoing implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive, the new proposal on the National Emissions Ceilings Directive, the investment of 8 billion for health research under Horizon 2020, and the establishment of the Scientific Panel for Health, which will have its first meeting on 21 January 2016.

Yet, more can and should be done. The practice of regular physical activity for example, is an important pillar for a healthy lifestyle. Its physical and psychological benefits for both healthy individuals and those already suffering from chronic conditions are widely known.

Recognising its importance, the European Respiratory Society and European Lung Foundation make physical activity the theme of their annual Healthy Lungs for Life campaign, to encourage members of the public to take the active option for better lung health.

In addition, the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Regional office for Europe has recently launched its Physical activity strategy for the WHO European Region 2016 - 2025, which in WHO's own words, aims "to inspire governments and stakeholders to work towards increasing the level of physical activity among all citizens of the European Region".

We hope the European Commission will join the ERS/ELF and WHO in this call for action, and bring forward meaningful measures in this area.

The Commission must also give more support to the implementation of existing legislation, such as the Directive on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare. Such an approach is in line with the Commission's aims for better regulation and strengthening of Europe's economy through an improvement of the overall health of the European workforce and society in general.

A concrete step in this direction will be the development of the European Reference Networks (ERNs) for rare and complex diseases, foreseen in Article 12 of this directive, as a way to improve access and provision of high-quality healthcare by concentrating resources and providing clear EU-added value. The EU should offer more core support and funding for the development of ERNs.

The Juncker Plan has successfully supported important initiatives in the area of health. Good examples of this are the investment, through the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), of 70 million in new primary care centres in Ireland, and the loan of 100 million to a company active in new health treatments research. We hope and expect to see many more actions through the EFSI.

In this area, the development of a European Investment Bank (EIB) initiative dedicated to supporting projects, which aim at tackling NCDs and promote the development of advanced healthcare, would be advantageous. Evidently, the use of European funds to support such initiatives must take into account the distinct realities of the different European regions, as is the case of the outermost regions, in order to ensure that all European citizens enjoy equal access to healthcare and opportunity for economic development.

As Bill Gates and other philanthropists prove, individuals are an important part in the fight for better health. Juncker's plan allows for the empowerment of European citizens and companies, giving them the tools to contribute to a healthier and more prosperous Europe. In this, the development of a Digital Single Market plays a key role, as it brings people together and serves as a catalyser to the spread of innovation and information.

Therefore, we also need to unleash the e-health potential in the fight against NCDs.

NCDs continue to have an increasing burden on our society. Only a comprehensible framework on NCDs, which involves all policy areas, all stakeholders, and takes into account the specific realities and needs of the different regions within Europe, will successfully curb the threat that they pose to our health and our future.



(Claudiu Ciprian Tanasescu is a Romanian MEP (Partidul Social Democrat) and Claudia Monteiro de Aguiar MEP is a Portuguese lawmaker (Partido Social Democrata).
IGP says sorry asks police not to use force against citizens

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on Sunday said 'sorry' for the faults committed by police personnel contrary to the arrogance that goes with power in our country, as reported in The New Nation. The police chief also instructed policemen not to physically assault anyone, including "offenders" in their custody, because beating up the citizens is not their duty. The police remand as a source of torture is unconstitutional. Let it be stopped. There is a decision of the Supreme Court not to take an accused into police custody. The IGP revealed that he punished more than 600 policemen for indiscipline.

The IGP should be welcome for his frank and open acknowledgement of offences done by police like assaulting the citizens by terming them criminals, torturing political opponents, victimizing ordinary people, extorting by intimidation, easy cross-fire killing and many more. The excesses the police have been committing would not have happened if the police could not be used by the government as political force for their own political use.

According to the report, the IGP instructed police personnel not to club the citizens while discharging duties. He also said that police can release the detainees if the crimes are petty after obtaining an undertaking from the guardians, and if crimes are severe, police will take legal action. Such remarks have come at a time when police have been facing difficult questions about serious wrong-doing including murder, extortion etc. In our view, much damage has been done to the discipline of otherwise a potentially good police force. These policy matters should have been taught the police at the very initial stage.

It has to be said sadly that police has ceased to be people's friends, still people want to be helped by them and people seek their help.

Not only the political leadership but also top police officers have to be blamed for the bad reputation police have to bear. The orders delivered in the past by top police officers, including DIGs such as "shoot at sight", "open fire to contain troublemakers" could not encourage police to be responsible. These police high-ups had ignored that police were using excessive power against political protesters in Brahmanbaria, Tangail, Satkhira, and many other parts of the country over the past few years.

The issue is serious whether or not police will have the professional integrity and honesty as law enforcers. We have leaders to whom institution building for good governance has no importance. People pay for the police so that they make their life safe from law breakers as law enforcers.

We wish the IGP and other top officials succeed in saving the police as law enforcers. But we have proved as a nation that we are too selfish and too subservient. So we are not so optimistic that the IGP will be able to take the strong position needed.

We need to know how to earn pride for our country through discipline and honesty in the government. But we congratulate the IGP for coming out openly on the side of the people.

It affects our national image when police commit crimes and behave as political workers. No nation can earn good image by tolerating indiscipline in disciplined forces.






Vice-Chancellors must cease to be effective party workers





According to a press report the Dhaka University is thinking of taking legal action to get more than Tk. 4.38 crore back from 60 former teachers who owe the amount to the university. The teachers had taken loans from the university to get higher education abroad but neither returned the money nor joined their jobs afterwards. This contemplation of Dhaka University against recalcitrant teachers abroad is welcoming and will hopefully keep other such malefactors at bay.

A source said that 110 teachers since 1971 did not return to their jobs after the expiry of their four years long studies leave. All of them either resigned or were sacked by the university. Only eight repaid the loan of around Tk 16.1 4 lakh. There are all the ethical as well as professional issues which arise as a result of the teachers' long absence abroad. It is simply undesirable that university teachers, who have in most cases been able to travel abroad for higher studies because they are part of Dhaka University and have been granted leave of absence to pursue their studies abroad, will see nothing wrong in not coming back home. When they do not return, it is their students who suffer, for the simple and good reason that these teachers are responsible for handling significant parts of the syllabus. Indeed, during their absence, generally no new teachers are employed by the University authorities. Teachers going abroad remain on the faculty and in fact remain entitled to salaries. When they do not come back or when they do not inform the university that they do not plan to come back, the university incurs financial losses as well. A particularly disturbing fact is that sometimes some teachers, at some universities, have come back, collected their accumulated salaries and then gone back abroad. Such behaviour demeans not just the teachers themselves but society as a whole because from our teachers we expect the highest degree of integrity.

The question should be asked why after so many years the DU authority is thinking of identifying the defaulters and punishing them. And collecting money they took as loan cannot be enough for absence in teaching. Vice-Chancellor himself cannot avoid being blamed of negligence. When the Vice-Chancellors are political activists of party in power, they are not free to act for the best of the universities. They are acting to serve political interests of party in power.

The government universities are losing discipline and polluting the academic atmosphere because political activists are Vice-Chancellors. For their prestige and honour, the Vice-Chancellors of public universities must resign as party activists.
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Attendees vote on four types of bike and walking lanes at the Jan. 23 Vision and Values Workshop hosted by DOTD. photo by Robin May

Over the holidays, DOTD and the Lafayette Connector Partners announced to members of its three I-49 Connector committees  local and state leaders in the Community Work Group, Technical Advisory Committee and Executive Committee  that five months of community outreach would be added to the 18-month Context Sensitive Solutions program that kicked off in October 2015. At present, its unclear exactly what added means.

At press time, DOTDs spokesperson Deidra Druilhet could not confirm any changes to consultant contracts. Its possible that the next five months would be tacked on to the current $21 million design program for a total of 23 months of CSS programming. Its also possible, depending on the outcome of the next few months of outreach refinement, that the added five months are folded into the standing schedule.

While not exactly part of that outreach reboot, the Jan. 23 Vision and Values Workshop DOTD held at the Progressive Community Outreach Center attracted around 200 concerned citizens looking for answers and an opportunity to speak their minds. Attendees divided into groups and worked through three breakout sessions, helmed by Connector contractor consultants from Stantec and AECOM, covering the projects environmental impact, design aesthetics of a possible signature bridge and an overview of the urban freeway's vertical and horizontal alignment.

Some attendees were alarmed to learn of a planned 11-foot retaining wall splitting Downtown from neighborhoods to the east of the Thruway. Others criticized Powerpoint images of elevated freeway structures hosting farmers markets and music festivals as disingenuous and unrealistic. Familiar opponents from the Sierra Club took breakout session exercises as an opportunity to levy their 20-year-old "Teche Ridge" refrain in the form of sticky notes affixed to a Connector design map.

The event culminated with a workshop-wide voting exercise that flashed images of bike stations, cable-stayed bridges, intersections and light rail trains and asked participants to vote their preferences via smart phone or worksheet. Consultants were mum on instruction, ostensibly to avoid influencing community input, but it left many confused as to what exactly the slides represented.

"I object to getting those choices," said Freetown resident Marcella Peron. "Some of those choices dont even apply to Lafayette."

Since rekindling the long dormant project with the announcement of the CSS program in October, DOTD and their partners have stumbled through public relations gaffes that have left critics confused as to what role the community will ultimately play in the Connectors final design. The Vision workshop, billed as an opportunity to hear from the community in a substantive way, left many still skeptical of the impact public input has beyond choosing between crawfish- or accordion-themed bridge pylons.

Public dissent in this chapter of the Connectors almost 30-year saga came to a head at an Acadiana Sierra Club forum held in December. DOTDs shuffling of the CSS schedule came shortly thereafter.

Based on comment from Vision workshop attendees, the Connector team still has a long way to go to convince the public that theyre really listening.

Pick up a copy of The INDs February print edition to read IND writer Christiaan Maders sense of place report from the Vision workshop.

For more perspective on the Lafayette Connector, check out our January cover story - The Great Divide.
Brothers Chad and Todd Trahan are set to develop a multi-tenant, three-story office building near the Springhill Suites hotel in River Ranch.

Trahan Real Estate Group, which is developing 325 Settlers, will be among the Class A office building's tenants. Design by Pecot & Company Architects/Rendering by Michael Wayne Broussard



Trahan Real Estate Group, headed by brothers Chad and Todd Trahan, is set to develop a three-story office building at 325 Settlers Trace Boulevard, near the Springhill Suites hotel in River Ranch. The 14,500-square-foot office complex, for now dubbed the 325 Building, already has two confirmed tenants in addition to housing the offices of the Trahan Real Estate Group itself.

The confusion has been that Trahan Real Estate Group was occupying the entire building, but thats not the case, Chad Trahan tells ABiz. This was a building that were doing as an investment, and we have several tenants that are coming in with us already.

According to Trahan, his firm will only occupy about half of the second floor.

We already have a tenant committed for the third floor, says Trahan. Were working with a bank prospect right now for the first floor, and we already have a law firm for the other half of the first floor. And then our office, Trahan Real Estate Group, will occupy the second floor, about half of the second floor. So well have approximately 3,500 square feet to lease out.

Trahan Real Estate plans to break ground on the projected 10-month project the week after Mardi Gras, Monday, Feb. 15. Pecot & Company Architects is designing the building, and the general contractor is C.M. Miciotto & Son. Trahan says construction should be completed by years end.

This building is going to be a very nice Class A office space with kind of a fresh, contemporary design, the developer says of the buildings facade.

According to Trahan, interest among lease prospects has been strong despite the current softening of the market due to low oil prices.

Trahan says his firm has purchased the 1-acre tract of land on 325 Settlers Trace Boulevard in River Ranch and is looking at the $27 per-square-foot price range for leasing.

According to the Lafayette Parish Assessors Office, the Trahan group purchased the tract from Tuten Title Property Holdings LLC for $755,000 in August 2015. Chad Trahan declined to put a price tag on the total cost of the development at this time.
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!
KSN&C is intended to be a place for well-reasoned civil discourse...not to suggest that we dont appreciate the witty retort or pithy observation. Have at it. But we do not invite the anonymous flaming too often found in social media these days. This is a destination for folks to state your name and speak your piece.

It is important to note that, while the Moderator serves as Faculty Regent for Eastern Kentucky University, all comments offered by the Moderator on KSN&C are his own opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of the Board of Regents, the university administration, faculty, or any members of the university community.

On KSN&C, all authors are responsible for their own comments. See full disclaimer at the bottom of the page.
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.

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Illinois voters can vote early and vote by mail  but they will not be able to do either on Feb. 4, the day early and mail voting was scheduled to begin.

Mail and early voting has been delayed by lack of certification of candidates for President of the United States.

Objections have been filed against the candidacy of several candidates of both major political parties in the state of Illinois. Illinois Board of Elections is working to determine who will or will not remain on the ballot for the March 15 General Primary Election in Illinois. Certification has been completed for all other federal, state and local candidates.

Without a final certification and verification of all candidates, election officials in Illinois cannot program, print and test primary election ballots. The State Board of Elections schedule calls for all objections to be finalized on or about Feb. 11, 2016, and certified shortly thereafter. Once certification is completed, then county clerks offices can begin producing ballots for in-person and mail voters.

Jackson County Clerk Larry Reinhardt said once the objection process is complete, the state board of elections has to meet to certify the ballot. At the current time, the state board expects to complete the objection process by Feb. 11, with the board meeting by Feb. 12. Local offices can then complete their ballots.

We have to finish the programming the devices, get ballots printed and test them. We will have four or five days, when we usually have a couple weeks, Reinhardt said.

Amanda Barnes, Williamson County Clerk, said once the certification process is complete, it will take local offices a few days to prepare ballots.

We have to proof our ballots to make sure everything it correct," she said. "We are looking at hopefully having everything ready by Feb. 17."

Early and mail voting is scheduled to begin no later than Feb. 17, but there is one issue  military and overseas ballots have to go out Friday, Jan. 29.

Reinhardt said county clerks are going to have to send out a federal write-in ballots, which are basically a blank sheet with lines and boxes. Voters will have to write in the names of the candidates and office and put a check mark in the box.

We will follow up with an actual ballot when they are printed," Reinhardt said. "If we dont get the printed ballot back in time, we will use the write-in. If we do get the printed ballot, we will spoil the write-in.

There will be no change for voters who go to the polls on Election Day, March 15.

For more information, call the county clerk in your county of residence.
CAIRO  The Alexander County Housing Authoritys regularly scheduled board meeting for this Thursday has been canceled, and no new meeting date has been published for the board to formalize the executive director offer made last week to Sesser Mayor Jason Ashmore.

Interim Director Joann Pink relayed this information to the newspaper Monday evening after the newspaper asked for the agenda to Thursdays meeting. Ashmore was in the office working on Monday, according to Pink. Ashmore has not returned phone calls to the newspaper since late last week. It is unclear to the newspaper under what employment terms, if any, Ashmore is working, as the board has not approved a contract for him, or provided any other public documents outlining terms of employment.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments Maurice McGough, Region V director of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, has declined to give its blessing of the hiring of Ashmore.

McGough must sign off on the next executive director under terms of a voluntary compliance agreement aimed at resolving various civil rights laws that HUD has said the housing authority violated. When the board chose last week to hire Ashmore anyway, in defiance of HUDs directive, McGough followed up with a letter stating that HUD has determined the housing authority in violation of its compliance agreements, and its civil rights requirements.

The letter also stated that HUD is examining what possible punitive actions it may take against the housing authority in the coming days, which could include pulling federal funding, appointing a receiver and making a referral to the U.S. Department of Justice. Ashmore previously told reporters he would step down if HUD was to pull financing, though he is apparently continuing to work despite HUD threatening action that could possibly include that step. Ashmore did not clarify at the time exactly what would prompt him to step down.

Pink, in response to the newspapers request for an agenda for Thursdays meeting, said that Board Chairman Andy Clarke informed her Monday afternoon that there would be no meeting, and there is therefore no agenda.

Pink referred specific questions as to why Thursdays meeting was canceled to Clarke. He did not return a phone call from the newspaper.

Clarke had previously told the newspaper that the board planned to vote on a contract this week to formalize the executive director offer made to Ashmore. The 3-0 vote by the housing authority on Jan. 19 was to hire Ashmore, but there was no vote on a contract or any information provided or discussed regarding start date, salary, benefits or other terms of employment. Employment relationships are considered contractual, and can come in various forms including at-will employment, implied contracts based on an offer letter or employee handbook, or through a formalized contract in writing that is typically negotiated.

Historically, the executive director of the Alexander County Housing Authority has operated under terms of a formal written contract, and that is common for similar positions in other counties. That said, formal written contracts are not required for employment in Illinois. The pay, benefits and any terms of condition would be a matter of public record even if outside the terms of a written contract, though none of that has been made available at this point. The Southern Illinoisan sent a Freedom of Information Act request on Jan. 20 to the housing authority for the salaries of all employees. A response is due from the housing authority on Wednesday.

Pink, who is also the executive director of the Pulaski County Housing Authority in nearby Mounds, has been serving as interim director in Alexander County since mid-October on a rolling contract.

Alexander County housing board likely violated Open Meetings Act CAIRO  It appears members of the Alexander County Housing Authority board violated the Illi

Pink said she hasnt been informed by Clarke of when her contract with Alexander County will expire, though she said she assumes she will continue on through at least February, since Ashmores contract hasnt been finalized. Pink also said there was intended to be a transition period between executive directors.

Theresa Delsoin, a member of The Cairo Public Housing Advocacy Group for Change, which is made up of public housing residents and community members, provided the newspaper a copy of a letter she wrote this week to HUDs McGough. Delsoin thanked McGough for his recent actions concerning the lawless behavior of the Alexander County Housing Authority.

The letter continued that on Monday, Ashmore reported to work knowing that he has been rejected by your office. Our group will not recognize him as executive director and have informed tenants not to recognize him, she wrote. She said members of the group will not tolerate this behavior and stated that the group is exploring the possibility of a class-action lawsuit against the ACHA board.
MURPHYSBORO  A handful of Illinois state representatives decided to put faces to the budget quagmire emanating from Springfield, from the inability of the legislators and Gov. Bruce Rauner to agree upon a balanced budget.

State Reps. John Bradley, D-Marion, and Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, organized a press conference Monday morning at the Jackson County Health Department in Murphysboro. Several speakers, representing their individual issues and organizational concerns, spoke.

Bradley and Phelps, and Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton), also spoke, calling on the governor to stop playing games in which the area's most-vunerable people were affected.

Phelps repeated something he said former Gov. Jim Edgar had said to the governor: "Quit playing this political game," he repeated. "Your first job as a governor is to get a balanced budget."

The two called a press conference on Monday, to present the voices of some people whose livelihoods and lives have been impacted by the seven-month budget impasse, in advance of Gov. Rauner's upcoming State of the State address on Wednesday.

Here are some of the speakers from Monday's press conference:

Stephanie Brown: Autism services, like watching a 'high-stakes poker game'

Stephanie Brown is associate director of the Autism Society Illinois, Southern Illinois Carbondale Chapter, which has about 50 member families, but it was as a parent that she spoke on Monday. She estimates there are about 1,000 children with autism living south of Springfield.

Brown was pleading for restoration of funds to the Center of Autism Spectrum Disorders of SIU. She said without funding, the program will go away and negatively impact parents and children who need the services. The SIU program, she said, also worked with local school districts teaching them about autism, for free.

"I feel like I'm watching a high-stakes poker game, and the stakes are too high," she said.

What will be left will be a hole in the local treatment landscape, meaning parents will have to travel as far away as Champaign or Springfield, in state, or to St. Louis, out of state.

She noted that the Knights of Columbus facility in St. Louis already has a six-month wait list just for an appointment.

She talked about the toll that would take on a family, noting that she had to be sure she worked, to ensure she kept medical benefits to pay for the services, while noting that making and getting to an out-of-the-area appointment would require at least a five-hour commitment from any given day.

"Don't eliminate services for autism," Brown said. "There is nothing in Southern Illinois that's even a duplicate service. There are no duplication of services down here  none. So if you take away the one thing we have, there is nothing left."

"It seems they've got to come to some sort of practical, working, functioning budget that does not eliminate services,' she said.

The Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders operated on a grant, which was discontinued. The center is operating on reserves, which, at this point, could last until June, said Sherell Sparks, a licensed counselor there.

After that?

"The center will close," Sparks said.

Naomi Tolbert: 'Can't do much' without MAP college funds

Naomi Tolbert, a junior political science major at Southern Illinois University, said she is desperately waiting to receive funding from Illinois MAP program. Not just her, she said, but many other students  such as a sister who attends John A. Logan College and a brother at Southwestern Illinois College.

The first-generation college student said she works 25 hours a week in addition to carrying a full load at SIU; there's not much of anyone in the first-generation college student's family to call on for money; her 80-year-old great-grandmother tries to help, if she can. Tolbert said she was 11 years old when her mother died from breast cancer; her father has never been involved in her life.

She said higher education was the route for students to improve their livelihood, which she'd like to be able to take advantage of.

"I would like to see a decision made" on MAP funding, Tolbert said. "I can't do much if I don't have the funds to help me out."

The MAP awards, for tuition and mandatory fees, are paid directly to the student's school.

"It shouldn't be that hard for our Illinois legislature and governor to come to a consensus  ," she said.

Ben Smith: Today, a 'working-class 'schmoe'

Years ago, Ben Smith said he was on a one-way road to nowhere.

"Today, I'm a working-class 'schmoe,' " an 'average, working Joe,' he told the group gathered at the Jackson County Health Department.

He said he is in recovery for his alcohol and substance-abuse addictions and has "gainful employment" and a home to live in.

The difference was help he received through Metropolis's Light The Way, Inc., which operates the Haven House Apartments, a supportive housing development. That entity provides one-bedroom (for $457), two bedrooms (for $548) and three bedroom apartments ($650) for 14 families. They receive subsidies for their rents from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

Smith, 34, said he wanted to show the politicians that the numbers theyre looking at are not expendable people. I wanted to show its not just a number, Smith said. Theres a human being behind that and without that support (he got through treatment) I know that I would have been dead or in prison, hands-down.

When that organization started seven years ago, it was funded around $150,000 said Phyllis Thistlewood, director of housing.

By this past fiscal year, funding had dwindled to $70,000. The agency has yet to receive any state funding for its current fiscal year budget. Thistlewood said she had to lay off the agency's only full-time case manager, leaving behind two full-time employees  her job and that of a service coordinator  and a part-time maintenance worker.

"Just please, please get us back in the budget," Thistlewood said.

We need to get a budget, and human services needs to be in it," Thistlewood said. "I mean, these people, especially these homeless people, the special-needs people, people with mental illness  they need to be able to get services, and theyre not (being able to get services). As I heard someone say today, services are the key to keeping people housed, and it really is, it truly is.'

Hernando Albarracin: Underground environmental clean-ups stalled

Hernando Albarracin, a senior project manager with Chase Environmental Group, Inc., said there are about 7,000 environmental projects on hold, because they belong to owners of small gas stations who do not have the funds to clean them up yet. Those clean-up jobs can cost around $5,000 apiece, he said.

Until recently, these gas-station owners would receive a portion of money from a state fund created, in part, by those who bought gas.

Those stations are largely owned by small businesspeople like herself, noted Jennifer Woolridge, operations manager at Herlacher Angleton Associates, LLC.

"The people who have grown up in Illinois, who want to continue in Illinois, will have to fold ...," she said.

Of the impasse, she said, "I fear the longer this goes on, the less marketable we look to people."

Camille Dorris: Agency that helps homeless at risk of evicting them

For almost 30 years, the Southern Illinois Coalition for the Homeless has worked to help those who are homeless find housing, sometimes even working to fix up homes that they can live in. Its goals are to help break the cycle of poverty and reduce recidivism, by providing stable housing for those needing it.

The budget impasse, though, could have that organization doing the unthinkable, its executive director Camille Dorris said Monday.

Dorris said that would be evicting them from the very homes found for them to live in; at risk are 30 children and 28 adults, she said.

The agency that serves people in 24 counties has already sold off two of its properties in an attempt to raise money for its programming, she said.

Typically, the organization would have been able to repair a home to house someone like the Harrisburg woman who is fleeing a domestic violence situation, Dorris said.

"We can't cut back any further," Dorris said.

"The individual comes to us to provide housing for them, but the services are what keep them permanently housed," Dorris said.

Lesley Gates: Trading her $7,863 income for Rauner's

If funding goes away for programs like Light The Way, Inc.'s, Haven House, 42-year-old Lesley Gates said she has no idea where she might wind up. She lives in one of their apartments, which she manages to afford on her $7,863 a year income.

She said she moved into the housing unit five years ago, when she was dealing with a host of mental-health issues, such as bipolar disorder, manic depression, schizoid-affective disorder and some other conditions that are managed by medication. The facility has meant stability for her and to disrupt that now would interrupt her life, she said.

Gates challenged the Governor to live off her $7,863 a year income, while she managed to live on his  and, probably, give the people what they needed.

"Living on my salary, you won't make it," she said. "Give me yours and I'll give to the people who need it."
Social service agencies, union members, college students and others came to the capital city Tuesday  a day before Gov. Bruce Rauner is set to deliver his second State of the State address  to sound the alarm that Illinois is in a state of crisis.

The cause of that crisis, they say, is the first-term Republicans ongoing budget standoff with the Democratic-controlled General Assembly. Rauner has said hes open to discussing tax increases, but only after the legislators adopt parts of his turnaround agenda, which includes changes to the way legislative districts are drawn, term limits for lawmakers, and a property tax freeze paired with new limits on collective bargaining for local government workers.

The Responsible Budget Coalition, made up of more than 200 organizations from across the state, held a news conference at the Capitol to highlight some of the effects of the budget impasse. Those include the loss of support services for homeless veterans in Decatur, a 25 percent reduction in hours for all staff at a Charleston rape crisis center, and cuts to staff, hours or programs at 75 percent of county health departments south of Interstate 70, according to the group.

Its wrong to put other issues, other agenda items, other personal agenda items, in front of coming up with a state budget, said Dan Lesser, director of economic justice at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in Chicago. You can see the pain thats being caused by this insistence on preconditions to actually negotiating and enacting a state budget.

Julie Mavec runs Lutheran Child and Family Services veterans assistance program in Decatur. She said her program hasnt been able to provide services such as transportation to homeless veterans since the states fiscal year began July 1.

I cant stress enough how important this funding is to all the veterans in my program, Mavec said.

The coalition wants the governor and lawmakers choose revenue to resolve the deadlock, beginning with returning individual and corporate tax rates to 5 percent and 7 percent, respectively. They dropped to 3.75 percent and 5.25 percent last year under a partial rollback of a 2011 increase.

The Responsible Budget Coalition should know the first step in having a responsible budget is having a truly balanced budget, Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly wrote in an emailed response to a request for comment. Governor Rauner stands ready to pass structural reforms and a balanced budget that will help fund social service programs and jumpstart our economy.

In his speech Wednesday, Rauner is expected to continue his push for redistricting reform, term limits, property tax relief and other portions of his agenda, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks. Hes also expected to highlight education reforms that will focus on eliminating wasteful bureaucracy, putting more money into our classrooms, and holding our schools truly accountable for results and changes to health and human services that he believes will repair a broken patchwork of reactive, expensive, and ineffective interventions.

A group of union members gathered earlier Tuesday at the Illinois AFL-CIO headquarters in Springfield to urge the governor to end the standoff and work with legislators to pass a budget. Many of Rauners policy priorities would weaken the power of labor unions.

The governors radical demands are holding up the budget, said Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO.

Boris Rosas and Mary Diener of Decatur, members of the Laborers union Local 159, are engaged to be married in October. They said their union jobs have helped them stay in the middle class and provide for their daughters, ages 11 and 13.

They said they wish Rauner understood the importance of their union and the impact the lack of a budget has on peoples lives.

I just want him to really focus on trying to relate to people who are making  $25,000 a year, Rosas said.

Kim Clarke Maisch, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said its unfair to lay all the blame for the impasse at Rauners feet.

Organized labor represents a very small percentage of the working people in Illinois, but they have done very well under the status quo, Maisch said. And so its no surprise that Gov. Rauner, who is obviously shaking things up in Springfield, is causing them a lot of heartache.

Despite Rauners signals that hes open to a tax increase, Democrats have refused to truly negotiate, she said.
State Sen. John J. Cullerton

Education is supposed to be the great equalizer in America  the fundamental key to prosperity, happiness and success.

A good education helps to ensure students in southern Illinois can earn a living, support a family, contribute to the economy and have a greater appreciation for the world around them.

Unfortunately, Illinois makes it difficult for school districts to offer all children the best possible education because the state has the worst school funding formula in the country.

As many people around the state realize, Illinois nearly 20-year-old formula penalizes communities with higher levels of poverty and rewards those that are more prosperous. It also fails students who have greater educational needs.

Its unfair, and it cannot stand. Its time to turn around the way Illinois funds education and its childrens futures. We need a formula that levels the playing field and drives dollars to the students who need them the most.

For most communities in Illinois, trying to educate students with dollars that are awarded based on geography and wealth presents an enormous challenge  one that puts many students at a disadvantage when it comes to everything from reading scores and computer access to college acceptance rates and workplace success.

On average, Illinois spent $12,045 per student on instruction during the 2014-2015 schoolyear. But consider these figures:

 The Marion School District, with more than 4,000 students  55 percent of whom are considered low income  spent $7,700 per student last year. But the Lake Park School District in suburban Roselle spent more than $17,000 per student. About 15 percent of them are considered low income.

 Nearly every student in the Cairo School District  99 percent  is considered low income. The district spent almost $12,400 per student last year. Meanwhile, the New Trier Township High School District in suburban Northfield, with a low-income rate of less than 4 percent, spent more than $22,000 per student.

 And the Murphysboro School District  where 98 percent of the more than 2,100 students are low income  spent $11,400 per student last year. Contrast that with the affluent Winnetka School District, where nearly $20,000 per student was spent. This district has 1,800 students, a low income rate of less than percent and few English language learners.

What do these disparities say about Illinois commitment to education and to families? It says the state is OK with a system of winners and losers based on little more than ZIP codes. The result is an achievement gap that puts poor students and students of color at a measurable disadvantage, even as we demand more from schools and students.

No communities schools should be labeled bad because of a system that stacks the deck against them from the start. But thats exactly what Illinois does by tying education funding to a communitys wealth and by failing to acknowledge that students who live in poverty require more resources.

We need a new approach, and we need it now. That means a single, straight-forward model with less bureaucracy and no more special deals for some districts; more state resources to students who need extra support because of poverty, special learning needs and language barriers; and consideration of a districts ability to support local schools with local money.

This is not about taking resources away from school districts that have them now. Its about enabling students in less wealthy school districts to have the same resources and opportunities as their more affluent counterparts.

No governor since Jim Edgar nearly 20 years ago has attempted to tackle school funding reform in Illinois. I recognize the perils of the status quo, but I cant change this on my own. This is a problem that requires statewide leadership from Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Overhauling the way we support our public schools is the challenge of our time. It should be our No. 1 priority in 2016.
Fred H. Dippel

Marion

The president of the United States shed tears on national television recently about the shameless toll of the dead caused by the immoral use of firearms in our country. He had just announced some modest rules he had issued within his authority as president to help reduce this toll  30,000 to 40,000 a year are the numbers usually mentioned. We might have expected that our local elected representatives would approve what he had done, for they are sensitive and, doubtless, devout men (men only in this case). Yes, faithfully after every tragedy they have expressed their concern through vehement assertions of disapproval and probably in most cases sincere and fervent prayer.

But, no, they said the presidents actions were futile, sterile and simply would not work. They offered no suggestions as to what might work. On the contrary, they said the president was an insincere politician who was merely, selfishly, trying to create a record by which future generations of Americans might remember him more favorably. Why did they not support this worthy effort, at least in principle, if not in detail?

Because, it is believed, they are beholden to the NRA. Now, when I was a boy those letters stood for National Recovery Act, a series of laws passed by the Congress under the leadership of the then president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, to help lift the generality of Americans out of the slough of despond and deprivation that was the Great Depression. The country was in an economic crisis that makes our troubles today seem like a picnic. I may exaggerate a little. Today NRA stands for something else. It stands for a private organization that has the power of in-or-out over many too many of our elected legislators.

The leadership of the NRA see themselves as the sole saviors of our American republic. As they see it our republic can be saved only by the unrestricted ownership of any and all types of deadly firearms. Their amazing achievement is that they have convinced millions of otherwise responsible, morally sensitive men and women that it is their exclusive obligation to protect us from, not external threats, but from our own government, a rather bizarre notion, considering that that we, the people, are our government. The NRA leadership has convinced those millions that 30,000 to 40,000 lives of innocents is a reasonable sacrifice in order to guarantee them free access to and unrestrained ownership of all and any kind of deadly firearms they can afford. So, now, thanks to the NRA leadership, we Americans, who because of all of our gifts and advantages should be among the most civilized people, stand accused of having resorted to the pagan custom of human sacrifice in support of a dubious principle, that our safety lies in guns, guns and more guns.

This episode, the presidents tears and his put down by our local legislators, brings into clear focus the acute moral crisis in which we find ourselves, but which many of us are unaware of or choose to ignore. If I may borrow a cogent quotation, Whence cometh our help? Too many of our elected officials are labeled Property of the NRA. Prayer has been a wonderful palliative for outraged feelings, but by itself has produced no visible or tangible results. It is among the NRA membership that the help must be found. They have long held that to be a responsible gun owner has been a sufficient fulfillment of an obligation to their fellow Americans. It remains now to be seen whether there are enough members who see that their responsibility morally goes beyond mere safe use of their own guns, that it includes the safety of all their fellow Americans as well. When in the course of human events it becomes necessary . . . to examine ones conscience, now is the time.
JOHNSTON CITY  Hard to miss the city-run cemetery in Marion on Illinois 37, with row after row of flowered headstones lined neatly in a spacious, but manicured lawn.

For two children of Albert C. Stiritz in the community named after him just northeast of Johnston City, their final resting place is not so easily found. Its not so well-groomed.

Their grave sites, along with 28 others, have been forgotten in the growth of time manifested in tall trees, standing or fallen, thick shrubs and layers of dead leaves.

Shameful, said Helen Sutt Lind of the Williamson County Historical Society who has been reading grave markers since the 1970s. She has recorded her headstone readings in about a dozen books kept at the Societys museum in Marion.

She is also a charter member of the Frankfort Area Genealogical Society in West Frankfort and continues to serve on its board. The Society has also read abandoned sites.

Duncan Cemetery is one of 150 abandoned gravesites Lind has found across Williamson County. There are probably more. Some she has been told about cannot be found, Lind said.

Primarily found on private property, most of the historic sites are left to the whims of nature and no more, out of sight in the woods of memories lost. Few are cared for. Some had been maintained but are now overgrown, Lind said.

As with Duncan Cemetery, headstones date back to the early 1800s, left by individual families generations ago. The oldest at the Stiritz site was dated 1833, six years before Williamson County was founded. The number of burials at each site vary from one or two to up to 40.

Lind has been at Duncan twice, in 1975 and 2000. When she returned the second time, some of the headstones there 25 years before were gone. She typically finds the sites through word of mouth.

Some of the cemeteries that we have read have been destroyed, so the only record we have are pictures or what we have read (in news accounts) Lind said. Theres just so many of them.

Too many for any one group to maintain them, she said.

While Illinois has laws to protect registered and unregistered gravesites against desecration, maintenance of abandoned cemeteries tend to fall to landowners. Counties and townships are permitted to dedicate funds to clean up sites but first must receive authorization from the landowner or cemetery owner to enter the property.

Although active cemeteries are usually maintained by the owner or cemetery association, not all have provisions for perpetual care, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency states on its website. These unfunded cemeteries will eventually become abandoned due to lack of support and basic care.

The IHPA does provide tips on cemetery preservation for those interested but notes proof of training and a permit is required through the agency.

For more information about preservation, visit the IHPAs website at https://www.illinois.gov/ihpa/Preserve/Cemetery/Pages/FAQ.aspx.
State Rep. Justin Bamberg announced Monday hes supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders as the Democratic nominee for president after initially endorsing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"After taking a closer look at the senator and his policies, I believe a Sanders presidency will bring economic equality for Americans grappling with the effects of a rigged economy. He will also create opportunities for much-needed criminal justice reforms and work to restore relationships between law enforcement officials and the communities they serve," Bamberg said.

The Bamberg Democrat said Clinton didnt lose his vote so much as Sanders gained it. He was already leaning toward Sanders when they met during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally at the S.C. Statehouse.

Bamberg said they had a one-on-one discussion about the issues facing Bambergs House District 90.

A lot of the issues facing our area are issues a lot of America is facing, Bamberg said.

For instance, Bernie unequivocally takes a stand on health care that is extremely bold, he said. I agree with him. Theres no reason why every American citizen doesnt have a right to affordable health care.

Rural health care is struggling in South Carolina right now, Bamberg said. He noted the closure of the Bamberg County hospital in 2012 and the recent, temporary closure of the Barnwell County hospital.

We need to provide health care for our citizens, Bamberg said.

He also supports Sanders call for reducing the cost of higher education. Sanders college affordability plan calls for making education at public institutions tuition-free.

Students are essentially having to sell their souls in loans to further their education. Theres something wrong with that, Bamberg said.

As an attorney, Bamberg represents the family of Walter Scott, who was shot to death by a police officer in April.

He said Sanders discussed with him ways to restore trust in law enforcement and ensure communities have the money they need for officers to have body cameras.

Bamberg says he doesnt have anything bad to say about Clinton.

Its not what she did to lose my endorsement. Its what Bernie did to get it, Bamberg said.

While many political observers have assumed Clinton would win the Democratic nomination, Bamberg said Sanders has been closing the gap.

Win or lose, its the fight that matters. Its drawing attention to things that otherwise would not be talked about, Bamberg said.

Bamberg also wants to make the point that voters can, like him, continue to follow the campaigns and change their minds.

As a voter, as a citizen, you dont owe anybody anything, Bamberg said.

Sanders will face Clinton, businessman Dr. Willie Wilson and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley in South Carolinas Feb. 27 Democratic presidential preference primary.
Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office

A Cordova man is facing multiple charges after deputies used a special GPS tracking device to find two stolen vehicles on Saturday.

Roger M. Salley Jr., 18, of 115 Hemlock Court, faces two charges of possession of stolen vehicles and one count each of larceny, breaking and entering a motor vehicle and receiving stolen goods.

A deputy was driving in Cordova on Saturday afternoon when a specially designed GPS tracking system alerted him that a stolen 2007 BMW was nearby, according to an OCSO incident report.

The deputy reported locating Salley and the stolen BMW on Kim Street.

The report states that Salley appeared to be working under the hood of the BMW and boosting the battery of a small silver vehicle that was parked in front.

The deputy drove past the Kim Street residence and called for an additional deputy to assist.

After just a few moments, both deputies returned to the Kim Street address, but the silver vehicle was no longer there.

A deputy noticed that the silver vehicle was in the yard of a residence just two doors down and suddenly the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed behind nearby mobile homes.

Deputies then pursued the vehicle, which turned out to be a stolen Nissan Versa, the report said. Its driver bailed from it.

Salley tried to elude deputies, running to his residence and hiding behind the porch, the report said.

Two deputies and a constable attempted to detain him, but they said Salley refused to surrender.

Ultimately, law enforcement officials were able to get Salleys hands behind his back and handcuff them.

In other reports:

 Someone broke into the Coca-Cola facility on Fire Tower Road.

An employee reported someone broke the front window of the business and stole a Verizon table, ACER laptop and $828 in coins.

The value of the stolen items is $1,278.

 An Orangeburg woman called deputies on Friday afternoon when a family member discovered that someone broke into her home and stole the following items: a 27-inch Insignia TV, a 50-inch Hitachi TV, a 32-inch Emerson TV, a Michael Kors watch and a pair of gold hoop earrings.

The items are valued at $1,900.

 Deputies responded to a farm on Otto Street, Holly Hill, on Friday morning where a Summerville man said that his 1989 Chevrolet pickup was missing.

The man told law enforcement that he left his vehicle at the farm in September 2015 and when he returned on Friday, the vehicle was missing.

The vehicle is worth $3,500.

 A Springfield man called deputies on Thursday afternoon to report that a piece of construction equipment was missing from a worksite on Highway 4, near Orangeburg.

He said that he left the worksite and when he returned, a 2008 Bobcat T-Rex backhoe was missing from the property.

It is valued at $9,000.

He also told deputies that someone appeared to have tampered with other equipment there.
South Carolina State University is seeking extra money from the state to pay off debts and improve buildings.

The university is asking for about $30 million in non-recurring funds, including $12 million to repay a loan it received in 2014 through the states Blue Ribbon panel; $11.1 million for maintenance; $2.5 million for technology services and a security upgrade and $1.6 million for matching funds for the Clyburn Transportation Center.

University officials will discuss the budget request in a meeting Tuesday with the S.C. House Ways and Means Higher Education subcommittee.

The $12 million was originally due at the end of June 2015, but the state extended payment terms over a period of six years. However, the university is asking the state to appropriate funds to pay the bill.

The budget request says the appropriation would not only allow the university to use its revenue on some crucial needs, but would also improve the schools standing with its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Since this debt is not related to a capital project or other long-term investment, there is no revenue generated to service the debt. E&G funds will be used to pay off the debt that could be used for other critical needs, the university says in its submission to the subcommittee.

Currently S.C. State is on probation with its accrediting agency for issues related to finance.

SACS COC, our accrediting agency, would be more inclined to removing our probation status, which would restore our creditability with prospective students and donors, the request stated.

Last year, the General Assembly appropriated $4 million to help the university pay off a vendor debt that had risen to better than $13 million. It also gave the university $648, 817 to demolish two aging buildings and help decentralize its 50-year-old boiler system.

For the first time in at least five years, the institution is operating with a balanced budget.

The $11 million request for maintenance would go toward numerous projects that have been deferred during the institutions financial crisis.

Projects included in the budget include:

$3.7 million for repairs and upgrades on Truth Hall.

$2.2 million toward decentralization of the old boiler system.

$2 million for air and heat control and a new roof for the I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium.

$1.2 million for repaving roads and sidewalk repair.

$1.2 million for repairs and upgrades on Mays II.

$400,000 to upgrade Crawford-Zimmerman and $200,000 to demolish Mays I.

According to the universitys budget request, the $1.6 million in matching funds for the Transportation Center could bring in as much as $13 million in federal funds.

The university is also asking for a net increase in recurring appropriations for its general fund and $1.3 million for expansion of its Nuclear, Industrial and Civil Engineering program and the S.C. State/Savannah River Site Field Station.

The funds would include $321,000 in salaries and fringe benefits for three new faculty members, $330,000 for scholarships, $60,000 for advertising and promotion of the programs, and $45,000 for operating costs for the universitys academic program.

More than $545,000 would go to pay stipends, salaries and scholarships for the field station.

Additionally, the 1890 program is requesting $837,773 to match federal funds for areas such as agriculture/natural resources, family life, health and nutrition, youth development, community economic development and education and technology for an underserved clientele.
Holy holy holy

Street cat

Little dinosaur

Wild and untamed

Sa wat dee kha from Thailand, where, in a hilarious turn of events, we are having a nasty, wet cold snap. No part of the Asian continent has been spared; it's so cold in Shanghai that the water pipes have frozen. So much for skipping winter! Luckily my friend and travel partner, Rachel, had previously visited Thailand and warned me that it might be cooler in the north, where we now find ourselves shivering in the outdoor restaurants in which we were sweating a couple days ago. Still, I'm layered up and having the time of my life!Thailand is beautiful and wild, rich with daily devotion in the form of big, ornate temples and tiny ancestral shrines which dot the streets outside businesses and sometimes stand alone, seemingly random yet well maintained. We began our journey in Bangkok, which possesses the manic magic of New York City but with far more interesting street life. Because Bangkok is so consistently warm, so much life is lived outside. We stayed in Chinatown, which is enormous and incredibly dense. Every alleyway leads into a winding vortex of things to buy; fromunidentifiable, delicious foods, to innumerable plastic trinkets, to produce markets, to clothing stalls, you can find pretty much anything tucked away in a Chinatown back alley. The city is adorably overrun by stray cats, many of whom are so tiny and all of whom I want to bring home. We came across so many strange treasures, like the huge monitor lizards which live in the lake of a public park. They're so intimidatingly big and dinosaur-like, I can't comprehend how they're allowed to run free.As much delight as I found in BKK, after a week it electrified my being to the point of short circuit. When we boarded the night train north to Chiang Mai, it was with relief for a drastic change of pace. Thenight train was such a sweet, special experience all on its own. We opted for a 2nd class AC sleeper car, affording each of us our own shockingly comfortable bunk. Our tin can chariot lumbered and swayed through the cities growing smaller and into the lush green of the Thai countryside. Jungle opened into neatly domesticated farm land. Ban Pin. Mae Mo. Khun Tan. Occasionally we would groan to a creeping halt to pick up or drop off a lone traveler at a brightly decorated train station which seemed to have sprung directly from the earth amidst dense vegetation. I have a crush on you, Thailand.We're now passing pleasurable time in calmer, more comfortable Chiang Mai. The turn of weather led to some much needed rest after dozens of miles of walking over a week and a half of travel. I feel a terrible sense of guilt staying in and taking naps when there is so much splendor left unseen. Yet there is no way to sustain the level of activity we've been averaging over the course of this lengthy journey. After the ecstasy, the laundry...which am close to needing to do. Life still requires maintenance. Ordinary things still need to happen, even in extraordinary places. In the flow of the strange and the new, the mundane can feel delicious, though.And once again we're reminded that it's all a gift. Savor every flavor of experience.
Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship.
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Fellow Blog Readers,

I am proud to be a friend and fan of our resident photographer: Tambako the Jaguar. Unless you have seen the full body of his work, you cannot know the excellence of his talent. Therefore, I encourage you to click on the following links, "like" his Facebook page, and get to know him better. He's not only one of the most talented animal photographers out there, but he is also one heck of a nice person. Enjoy!

Tambako's bio:

http://www.flickr.com/people/tambako/

More info and images:

http://greenbuzzz.net/environment/40-exceptional-and-breathtaking-big-cat-photographs-by-emmanuel-keller/

And... tambako.ch

Friend him here:

https://www.facebook.com/tambakophotography

>^..^<
Hungarian Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) is ready to help with the financing of the project of establishing a regional DATA-center in Azerbaijan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Azerbaijan Imre Laslotsky told Trend.

He said that the economic relations between Hungary and Azerbaijan are at a very good level.

Trade turnover between the two countries in 2015 rose by five percent, said Laslotsky. I hope that it will continue to grow further. Regarding investment, the Hungarian Eximbank is ready to help finance joint projects, such as the establishment of a regional DATA-center. Generally, it is possible to implement a large number of projects. Negotiations on creation of two mutual funds in the field of computer science and private equity will continue.

The diplomat said that economic relations between the two countries should develop in a mutually beneficial manner.

I think that agriculture, as well as information and communication technologies are the most interesting spheres for Azerbaijan, the ambassador said. The matter rests in the fact that Hungary is among the countries that offer the best solutions in the field of ICT on a global level. In addition, they are 20-30 percent cheaper, which causes additional interest.

He went on to add that Hungary is ready to facilitate access of Azerbaijani companies and investors for the Hungarian market by providing them with favorable conditions.

Regarding the projects of the North-South and the Trans-Caspian international route transport corridors, Hungary itself, being a major hub in Europe, is ready to participate and support cooperation in cargo transportation, said Laslotsky. I believe that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project will create excellent investment opportunities in the region and is a good opportunity to implement the new Silk Road project.

A new 105-kilometer branch of the railroad is planned to be constructed as part of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project. The peak capacity of the corridor will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. At the initial stage, this figure will be equal to one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo.

The annual transit of goods from Iran to Russia via Azerbaijan will reach about ten million tons. The North-South railway will connect Northern Europe to South-East Asia. It will serve as a link to connect the railways of Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia.

The Trans-Caspian international transport route runs through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and then to Europe. The first test container train arrived in the Baku International Sea Trade Port from China via this route in early August.

/By Trend/
/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR and National Iranian Oil Company have discussed the development of a road map on further cooperation.

SOCAR reported that the discussions were held between SOCAR Head Rovnag Abdullayev and NIOC CEO Roknoddin Javadi in Iran on January 24.

Abdullayev voiced SOCARs interest in participation both in onshore and offshore energy projects of Iran.

The sides also discussed the prospects for cooperation with local and foreign energy companies.

They noted that Azerbaijan and Iran enjoy huge potential in various fields, including in the energy field, and realization of this potential after the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran would give a strong impetus to the development of bilateral economic relations.

The Iranian side expressed interest in SOCAR's offer. It was noted that the cooperation can cover production of crude oil, trade of oil and petroleum products, as well as joint scientific researches.

Earlier SOCAR and NIOC discussed the possibility of implementing joint projects for exploration and production of oil and gas both in Azerbaijan and Iran, as well as in third countries.

Iran shows interest in Azerbaijans offer to use its infrastructure for transporting energy resources to world markets.

NIOC holds 10-percent share in the project for development of the giant Shah Deniz gas and condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan's energy giant SOCAR, which includes production associations Azerneft, made up of companies involved in the production of onshore and offshore oil and gas, Azerkimya, chemical industry enterprises, and Azeriqaz gas distribution, is involved in exploring oil and gas fields; producing, processing, and transporting oil, gas, and gas condensate; marketing petroleum and petrochemical products in the domestic and international markets; and supplying natural gas to the industries and public in Azerbaijan.

Also, SOCAR owns gas stations in Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Georgia, and Ukraine. It has representative offices in Georgia, Turkey, Romania, Austria, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Britain, Iran, Germany, and Ukraine, along with trading companies in Switzerland, Singapore, Vietnam, Nigeria, and other countries.
A new mural by street artist Banksy has appeared opposite the French Embassy in London , criticizing authorities' alleged use of teargas in a refugee camp in Calais , France .

The image, which recreates a poster from the French musical Les Miserables, shows a young girl enveloped by CS gas, crying.

A QR code painted near to the mural links viewers to a seven-minute online video of reputed police raids on the "Jungle" refugee camp in Calais on 5 January. It is the first time the artist has created a digitally interactive mural.

The YouTube video appears to show riot police using teargas and rubber bullets against refugees. But a police spokesperson for the local prefect in Calais , denied that teargas was used in the camp, saying last week: "We do not use teargas without a good reason and use of teargas has to be authorized and it is only authorized when it is necessary."

Authorities have cleared a 100m buffer zone along the edge of the camp by a main road, citing security reasons.

The mural is the artist's latest attack on the European response to the continuing refugee crisis. In December 2015, a mural depicting Apple founder Steve Jobs appeared in the refugee camp, accompanied by commentary on the artist's website that made reference to the entrepreneur's biological father, a Syrian migrant who settled in 1950's Wisconsin .

A second mural by the artist in Calais adapted French painter Theodore Gericault's famed image "The Raft of the Medusa," but showed refugees attempting to flag down a luxury yacht. A third mural nearby showed a child looking towards Britain through a telescope, while a vulture stands beside her.

"Dismaland", a large-scale installation created by the enigmatic British artist last August, included a work depicting drowned refugees in boats. Materials used to construct the "bemusement park", a satire of the commercial theme park experience, in Weston-Super-Mare , UK have since been shipped to the Calais camp to build shelters.

The image of Jobs has reportedly been defaced repeatedly since its arrival in the camp. A protective glass plate was placed in front of it by local authorities, but this was torn down last week.

/By CNN/
Turkey is an important player in the region, said the head of EU diplomacy Federica Mogherini at a press conference in Ankara, the Turkish TRT Haber TV channel reported Jan. 25.

Mogherini said that the relations between Turkey and the EU are increasingly developing.

Ankara applied for the EU membership in 1987, and negotiations on Turkeys accession started in 2005.

Since then, the parties have agreed on 14 out of 35 technical points that Ankara must fulfill to achieve the standards required for EU membership.

In January 2015, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country is no longer interested in the EU accession.

The same year only 20 percent of Turkish population wanted the country to join the EU compared to 75 percent previously.

At the moment, the EU and Turkey are negotiating on a common action plan, which envisages the EU's financial assistance in the amount of 3 billion euros, the intensification of negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU and the intensification of the visa abolition process for Turkish citizens.

/By Trend/
The prospects of relations between Azerbaijan and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as ways to further develop this cooperation were high on the agenda of talks held between Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and OSCE PA delegation in Baku on January 25.

The delegation was led by Vice-Presidents of the OSCE PA George Tsereteli and Kent Harstedt, and OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella.

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

The sides exchanged views on the negotiations process mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. They said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the main threat to the regional peace and security.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs and all international community accept unacceptability and non-durability of the current status-quo, Mammadyarov said adding that the role and contributions of international organizations in accordance with the principles of international law and UN Charter are appreciated.

He stressed the importance of withdrawal of Armenian Armed Forces from Azerbaijan's occupied territories.

Touching upon the importance of the parliamentary diplomacy, Mammadyarov noted that Azerbaijan is interested in cooperation in this regard.

The OSCE PA delegation also met with Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, who stated that Azerbaijan is open to the cooperation with the international organizations, and with OSCE as well.

He also highlighted the important role of Azerbaijan in ensuring energy security of Europe.

The Premier stressed the importance of keeping up efforts, as well as taking real steps for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and also expressed regret that international organizations demonstrate double standards in settlement of the problem.

He stated that it is important the OSCE to take Armenia's non-constructive and insincere position into consideration, which prolongs the conflict.

Tsereteli, in turn, said Azerbaijan is one of the important countries for Europe and expressed hope that relations will be improved and bilateral cooperation will be continued in the future.

The OSCE PA delegation also met with Parliamentary chair Ogtay Asadov and deputy chair Bahar Muradova.

Azerbaijan successfully cooperates with the OSCE PA, Asadov said adding that Azerbaijan is successfully cooperating with the OSCE PA, which continues for more than 10 years.

Muradova, in turn, said values shared by Azerbaijan and OSCE serve to ensure security and cooperation in Europe.

The country will do its utmost to preserve the common values, she added.

Muradova touched upon the parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan. She said international organizations, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which observed the voting process, hailed the elections as democratic.

Tsereteli, in turn, expressed OSCE's concern about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and generally about the tensions on the contact lines.

Conflicts in this region are high on our agenda. The OSCE PA has consistently supported the work of the Minsk Group and shares its concern about increasing violence. A new level of political will is the key to progress. There is no alternative to a political settlement of the conflict, which will benefit both Azerbaijan and Armenia and their people, as well as the wider region, Tsereteli said after the meetings. It is our hope that this visit will revitalize our relations, enabling closer work on a wide range of issues of relevance to Azerbaijan and to the OSCE.


Azerbaijans tolerance is a model for other countries, said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, as he met with chairman of Azerbaijan`s State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli.

Cooper said he for the first time visited Azerbaijan back in 1972 when the country was part of the Soviet Union, adding already then the Jewish were peacefully living in the country. His second visit took place in 2010 when Azerbaijan already regained its independence. Since then the country has experienced dynamic progress. Cooper hailed independent activities of religious communities in Azerbaijan. Noting the country`s geopolitically unique location, he said people of various religious and cultural backgrounds are freely living here, enjoying equal rights.

Gurbanli highlighted democratic reforms carried out in Azerbaijan, and the government`s work to strengthen the protection of human rights.

He said Azerbaijan has historically been a land of tolerance, where representatives of various religions have lived and freely practiced their religious rituals in mosques, churches and synagogues.
As Iran is freed of international sanctions, the countrys banking system has made new arrangements with Russia to start cooperation against the backdrop of prospective booming bilateral trade in the post-sanctions era.

Russias Tempbank is going to open an agency in Iran in two months, said Mina Mehrnoosh, CEO for Planning at Irans Trade Development Organization.

Mehrnoosh who is in Moscow, leading a trade and banking delegation, said Russian banks are also ready to open LCs for Iran, Tasnim news agency reported January 25.

She added that Mir Business Bank, Bank Melli of Irans agent, is also going to boost its activities in Russia.

In meetings with Russian counterparts, Mehrnoosh and her colleagues also discussed opening accounts for Iranian companies without the companies representatives having to travel to Russia.

Tempbank has a record of relations with Irans Bank Hekmat, while Russian Financial Corporation Bank is in cooperation with Irans Bank Saderat.

Various sectors such as industrial, oil, trade, energy, and aviation are hoped to provide grounds for the two countries to improve their annual turnover of $2 billion to the target $10 billion in the near future.

Before it plunged to $2 billion due to sanctions, Iran-Russias trade turnover was $4 billion in 2013.

/By Trend/
/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

Delegation of Kazakhstan headed by Minister for Investment and Development of Kazakhstan, Asset Issekeshev, will visit Tehran on February 6-8 to held first major business event after lifting the sanctions against Iran.

During the meeting particular attention will be paid to the development of Kazakhstan's export to Iran including metal products, construction materials, pellets, grain and more.

A Kazakh-Iranian Business Forum attended by 40 representatives of Kazakh large enterprises and 150 largest corporations of Iran is also planned.

Within its framework, the sides will discuss further cooperation on infrastructure and industrial projects, as well as implementation of joint projects.

During the visit, Issekeshev will hold a number of meetings with officials, including the ministers of transport and agriculture, as well as with representatives of the business circles of Iran.

Kazakhstan will feature its opportunities and measures of state support for foreign investors.

Currently, Kazakhstan exports to Iran wheat, some oil products and valuable metals, while imports fruit, vegetables, household goods and construction from Iran.

Lifting the economic sanctions imposed on Tehran in 2005, will give a new impetus for the development of relations in many spheres between these two countries, both rich with hydrocarbon resources.



Its also new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation between the two states. If previously the relations between Iran and Kazakhstan were internal and the two countries used their capacity to meet their needs, then now the two sides can reach the level of more than bilateral. Kazakhstan can use Iranian territory to transport goods to the third countries including Afghanistan and Iraq.



Its expected that Tehran and Almaty to be keen to improve mutual cooperation in air communication, as earlier the sides declared their readiness to increase the direct flights between the two countries, which are carried out only twice a week currently.

Development of Kazakh-Iranian cooperation in transport and logistics sector is predicted to be the start of a new era for the region, since railway will connect two neighboring countries such as Iraq and Azerbaijan. And the essence of this project is that Kazakhstan will be connected with regions of the Caucasus and the Middle East.
The US has requested from Iran to help find three Americans who went missing in Iraq, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said.

If Iran is able to help, it will do so, the spokesman stated in a weekly press conference in Tehran, Trend correspondent reported January 25.

Previously, the US Secretary of State John Kerry requested Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to assist with the issue of missing Americans.

Unknown gunmen seized the three on January 15 from a private residence in the southeastern Dora district of Baghdad, Iraqi officials said. They are the first Americans to be abducted in Iraq since the withdrawal of US troops in 2011.

The three men had been employed by a small company that is doing work for General Dynamics Corp (GD.N), under a larger contract with the US Army, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Early reports accused Iran of being behind the kidnapping, including Reuters which claimed so by quoting two Iraqi intelligence and two U.S. government sources.

However, Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the Americans were abducted by criminal gangs, expressing doubt that any political motivation was behind the abduction.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said if Iran provides help, it would be on humanitarian grounds, which was there in the recent prisoner swap [with the US] as well.

Recently Iran released four Iranian-American prisoners, namely Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian; Saeed Abedini, a Christian pastor; Amir Hekmati, a former US Marine, and another inmate named Nosratollah Khosravi.

Simultaneously, the US freed seven Iranian prisoners most of whom had been arrested on sanctions-related charges.

/By Trend/ http://en.trend.az/
For the past decade, German politics has been a relatively dull affair, with Angela Merkel dominating at the national level and the major parties in agreement on all the big issues, from euro zone bailouts and refugees to the phase-out of nuclear energy.

But that may change in 2016, when five of Germany's 16 states hold elections in the build-up to the next federal vote a year later.

Not only is Chancellor Merkel looking more vulnerable than ever before because of her welcoming stance toward the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing war in the Middle East, but the rise of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has injected a new element of surprise into the political landscape.

Add to that an unprecedented splintering of the electorate, which means that six parties have a legitimate shot of entering most state parliaments, and Germany's normally cozy, consensual politics begins to look a bit less predictable, and potentially more divisive, than it has in a long time.

The wild card is the threat of an attack by Islamist extremists on German soil, a risk highlighted on New Year's Eve when authorities received a tip that Iraqi and Syrian nationals were planning suicide bombings at train stations in Munich.

It could be fatal for Merkel, officials in Berlin acknowledge in private, if such an attack were carried out successfully by people who entered Europe with the flood of migrants, as was the case with two of the men involved in the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris.

Even if Germany is spared such a horror, the refugee crisis will continue to dominate the political debate this year, polarizing voters and emboldening Merkel's opponents on the right and left.

So far the most damaging attacks have come from her conservative sister party, the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU).

"If we don't see success in limiting the tide of refugees, we could have a grassroots political tremor in Germany," said one senior government official, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

"If Merkel doesn't deliver you could see the AfD approaching 20 percent in the polls," the official predicted.

AFD ON THE RISE

Currently the AfD is polling between 8-10 percent, roughly double the 4.7 percent the party won in the last federal election in 2013, when it narrowly failed to clear the 5 percent mark needed to enter the Bundestag.

That seems relatively harmless if you compare it to other like-minded parties across Europe, like the National Front in France, the Freedom Party in Austria or the Danish People's Party, which enjoy more than twice as much support.

But the AfD's rise looks more significant when one considers that it has occurred against a backdrop of infighting and financial trouble within the party that might have crushed it.

In the past half year, the party has weathered the departure of its founder, embarrassing slurs about African reproductive habits from one of its leading politicians, and a party financing law from the government that threatened to strip bare its coffers.

In response to the new law, the AfD asked its supporters for donations and raised roughly 2 million euros in just three weeks, a testament to its drawing power.

In three state elections that are due to be held in March, the AfD's newfound strength will be on stark display.

It is on track to win 7 percent in the western states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate and roughly twice that in Saxony-Anhalt in the east.

"In every one of these elections, the performance of the AfD will be key in determining what constellations are possible," Torsten Krauel wrote in a front-page editorial in German daily Die Welt last week.

MORE FRAGMENTED

The rise of the AfD and a nascent comeback by the Free Democrats (FDP), a business-friendly, socially liberal party that was the kingmaker of German politics for decades before imploding in the last federal vote, means that there are now three legitimate right-of-center parties in Germany, including Merkel's conservative bloc.

Add to that the three leading parties of the left, the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and hard-left "Linke", and German politics looks more fragmented than at any time since reunification in 1990.

Merkel could yet emerge as the big loser from the new German political landscape if she is unable to stem the tide of refugees in the months ahead.

If she is successful, it may be her coalition partner in Berlin, the SPD, who suffer most.

The rise of the AfD and return of the FDP would make it more difficult for the SPD to form left-leaning majorities at the state or federal level, condemning it to second-tier status for the foreseeable future.

And that weakness could turn the SPD into a more confrontational and unpredictable partner for Merkel as the next federal vote in 2017 approaches.
The Syrian army has captured a key southern town from rebel forces after weeks of fierce fighting, a Syrian activist group says.

The fall of Sheikh Maskin on Monday means government forces will strengthen their hold on Deraa province, while cutting off rebel factions from key supply lines.

Deraa, the scene of the earliest protests against the Syrian government in 2011, contains routes crucial to both the Syrian army and rebel fighters.

"The town is very important for both sides. They have both fought fiercely. Now by taking it, the regime has cut off the rebels links between eastern and western Deraa," said Rami Abdulrahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks violence in the country through a wide network of local sources.

"The destruction in the town is huge."

The organisation said fighting involved government troops backed by fighters from the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, as well as air support from Russian fighter jets.

Rebel groups include al-Nusra Front, Islamic factions, and those alligned with the Western-backed Free Syrian Army.

Juan Cole, a Middle East analyst at the University of Michigan, told Al Jazeera the recent gains by government forces in Syria's south were significant, considering rebels once controlled about 70 percent of Deraa province.

Cole also underscored Russia's role in the advance.

"Largely because of Russian air intervention the rebels are being scattered. Things have just turned around 180 degrees for the regime since the Russians came in Now there is a significant reversal that will affect the rebels' logistics," said Cole.

Peace talks

A Syrian government advance on Deraa began late in December and Sheikh Maskin's fall comes amid international efforts to bring opposing factions to the negotiating table.

On Monday, the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said peace talks originally slated to start on Monday would be pushed back to Friday.

The proposed-Geneva 2 peace effort has been blighted by disagreements over which rebel groups should be allowed to attend.

The talks will also exclude al-Nusra Front, which is al-Qaeda's affiliate in the country, as well as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, which controls most of Syria's eastern half.
Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have spoken by phone and agreed progress has been made in Britain 's renegotiation with the EU.

Number 10 said both leaders saw there was genuine goodwill across Europe for Mr Cameron's aims, but accepted there was work to do to find solutions.

A spokesman said they also discussed migration and the Syria conference they will co-host in London next week.

The UK is to hold an in-out referendum on EU membership by the end of 2017.

Mr Cameron has pledged to secure a better deal for the UK in the European Union as a prelude to the referendum, in which voters will be asked whether they want to stay in the EU or leave.

There has been speculation that the PM could call the poll as early as June this year if he gets the backing of the EU's other 27 leaders for his reform demands at a summit in February.

Downing Street also said that while discussing migration during their call, both Mr Cameron and Mrs Merkel agreed that a strong external European border and close co-operation with Turkey were vital.

And they agreed that the Syria conference had "the potential to deliver a substantial increase in both financial and practical support for refugees that would help them to stay in the region".

On Monday, Mr Cameron held talks on the EU with his Irish counterpart Enda Kenny.

Mr Kenny said his personal view was that a deal was possible in February but "he couldn't speak for the other countries around the table".

David Cameron's four main aims for renegotiation
/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

After the removal of international sanctions imposed against Iran, the country's President Hassan Rouhani embarked on a four-day state visit to Italy, Vatican and France on January 25.

It has been more than a decade since an Iranian president has visited any European Union nation.

Rouhani headed a high-ranking delegation comprising of government officials, entrepreneurs and businessmen.

In Italy, President Rouhani made a hint on Tehran's interest in improving relations with Rome following the implementation of a nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.

Italy, which remains one of Irans main commercial partners despite a steep decline in trade due to the sanctions, has also expressed interest in reviving relations with Tehran and boosting trade ties.

President Rouhani and his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella expressed confidence that Tehran and Rome enjoy significant prospects for further developing relations in various fields.

The main achievement of this visit was signing of multi-billion dollar contracts covering various sectors, including health, transportation, agriculture and energy, Press TV reported.

The contracts, worth up to 17 billion ($18.4 billion), were inked in a ceremony attended by President Rouhani and President Mattarella.

Prior to the signing ceremony, an Italian official who asked not to be identified, told Bloomberg that a 5 billion accord for Saipem SpA and a 2 billion agreement for Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche are among the signed documents.

"Other companies making deals today include Gavio SpA and Fincantieri SpA," he added.

Reuters, in turn, reported that a pipeline contract worth 3.6-4.6 billion ($4-5 billion) for Italian oil services group Saipem was among the deals.

Moreover, Italian steel firm Danieli said it would sign commercial agreements worth up to 5.7 billion ($6.1 billion) with Iran. Infrastructure firm Condotte d'Acqua was also scheduled to sign deals worth up to four billion ($4.3 billion).

Iran, Italy can contribute to peace, security

Rouhani believes that relations with Italy go beyond bilateral significance and can contribute to security and stability in the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa regions.

IRNA reported that the president made this statement at a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi . the president also hailed Italy's positive role in the settlement of the dispute over Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

The Italian premier named the two countries as superpowers of beauty and culture and called for an increase of ties further than traditional oil and gas industries.

"Iran can be the hub of security, energy, human resources and development, and geopolitical importance," Rouhani said, welcoming Renzi's comments.

This was the first leg of Rouhani's four-day state visit to European countries. The Iranian president will then head to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis, while the next stop is Paris. Rouhani is expected to meet with French President Francois Hollande.
Iran and Spain are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on nuclear cooperation within the coming months, Irans atomic spokesperson said.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has said Iran and Spain will have cooperation on various nuclear fields, ISNA news agency reported Jan. 26.

We launched talks with Spain before implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA/ nuclear deal), he said.

Kamalvandi added that with the implementation of the JCPOA, the talks between Iran and Spain have been accelerated and several MoUs will be signed soon.

He also touched upon a MoU between China's Atomic Energy Authority and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to develop nuclear cooperation in nuclear sector and said the sides are still discussing the construction of two nuclear power plants in the Islamic Republics southern coastal area of Makran.

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.

/By Trend/
The Ecological Laboratory for Children, a joint project successfully carried out last year by IDEA Public Union and Sevimli Bala held its first laboratory training session of the year at the Resource Center located at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The January session of the Laboratory, which aimed at increasing the knowledge of children about the environment and wildlife, was held on The Polar Circle and its Nature.

During the session, children were informed about snow, ice and their characteristics, as well as polar animals, geography of Antarctica and other topics. Also, the young ecologists discovered how ice and snowflakes are formed, and studied dry ice through experiments.

In the course of the training session, the participants have engaged in several lab experiments and created little works of art by using various materials.

Besides offering an interesting and fun day for kids, the January session of the Laboratory, which was organized jointly by IDEA Public Union and Sevimli Bala, contributed to childrens understanding from an early age of environmental processes and their significance.

/By AzerTac/
British regulators are considering whether to allow two Iranian banks in London to resume operations after years of sanctions, two sources familiar with the matter said.



Melli Bank and Persia International Bank will only be able to operate in the UK once they have met Bank of England criteria for financial firms, the sources told Reuters on Monday.



A nuclear deal with Iran earlier this month led to the removal of European Union curbs on its banks. This could bring Iranian banks in Britain, which less than 10 years ago boasted surging profits and growing European ties, out of isolation.



Iran is set to re-engage with the banking world within weeks as international lenders link up with their Iranian counterparts using global transaction network SWIFT, Iran's Middle East Bank and a senior central bank official told Reuters on Friday.



Melli Bank and Persia International have been in talks with the regulator and the Treasury about restarting operations in Britain for months and have been placed in the New Bank Start-Up unit, unveiled last week by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to help new banks enter the market, the sources said.



The Iranian banks are now working with regulators to get up to speed with new regulation such as capital requirements, risk management and governance, before restarting operations.



Melli Bank and Persia International did not respond to requests for comment. The Bank of England declined to comment.



The UK said in a statement:



"The UK Government fully supports expanding our trade relationship with Iran and encourages UK businesses to take advantage of the commercial opportunities that will arise... However, some sanctions remain in place so UK businesses should continue to ensure they are compliant with all sanctions regimes."



Iran has had bank branches in London since the 1960s. In the early 2000s they began spinning off as subsidiaries, making it more difficult to prove a direct financial link to Iran.



Charged by the West in 2010 with helping to finance an illicit weapons program and militant groups, the banks' assets were frozen and they were barred from making new loans, and allowed only to service those loans made before EU sanctions.  Reuters
Equitable Financial Solutions (EFSOL), an Australia-based financial solutions provider, has signed an agreement with Shariyah Review Bureau (SRB), a leading Sharia advisory firm, it seeks to expand its Islamic financing portfolios.



The agreement will allow EFSOL to expand its footprint in the Sharia-compliant market, and is expected to add $100 million of new investments to its current portfolio.



EFSOL always welcomes new opportunities to illustrate how it can help Australian customers realize their dreams and aspirations with its innovative products, said Usman Siddiqui, managing director, EFSOL. Our market surveys and client feedback programs show us that the market is looking for Islamic financial services in particular those that have a commitment to excellence.



In fact, our Islamic offerings are another milestone in our longstanding dedication to meeting the Islamic financial requirements of our customers. We consider our company as one of the few standalone, genuinely Sharia-compliant financial solutions providers in Australia.



By engaging SRB, a globally-renowned Sharia advisory firm, to provide ongoing auditing and accreditation services we are stepping into the global Islamic finance sphere. Through this assignment we will also be maintaining dedicated Sharia quality assurance personnel to ensure continuous Sharia-compliance of our offerings, he added.



"Today, EFSOL serves more than 100 customers with distinction in Australia, said Hisham Fakhir, director, Funds Management of EFSOL.



In the next five years, we estimate that the companys sales and growth will be fuelled by a next-generation of tech-savvy Islamic financial solution seekers and asset management establishments. To support this, EFSOL is looking at effectively building its administration and strategically managing the Islamic financial infrastructure so as to respond quickly to rapidly growing individual needs and continue to deliver innovative products and services in the coming years.



Australia is not only a fascinating country with the worlds most robust financial economy. We have been doing business in the country for approximately 5 years and are well known as the most reliable and trustworthy solutions pioneer in the country, he added.



On the assignment of SRB to oversee its Sharia compliant plans, Fakhir said: We are excited to have a Sharia advisory firm like SRB lead our efforts in delivering EFSOLs global capabilities to customers into the region.



SRB's institutional experience in the international Islamic financial markets and deep understanding of the evolving needs of ultra-high-net-worth customers will allow us to build safe, reliable, innovative and quality-based Sharia-compliant solutions to clients in Australia, he added.



Times are changing in the world of Islamic financial markets. Operating in an increasingly demanding marketplace, more and more firms are looking to outsource Sharia Advisory solutions, said Yasser S Dahlawi, chief executive officer, SRB.



We are always on the lookout to deliver value-added solutions for clients like EFSOL and will continue to enrich our services to provide faster and efficient suite of solutions for their Sharia supervisory needs, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Kuwait's Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh said on Tuesday that he expected the price of oil for the 2016/17 budget to be set at around $25 a barrel.



Some 90 percent of the Opec country's state revenues come from oil, prompting the emir to call for measures to cut state expenditures.



Kuwaiti oil prices dropped to around $19.50 a barrel on January 21, but have since rebounded and stood around $22.60 on Monday.



Asked if a $25 a barrel would be the price for oil in the 2016-17 budget, Al-Saleh told journalists: "Around this (figure)."



Speaking on the sidelines of an oil conference in Kuwait, Al-Saleh also said that parliament would discuss studies prepared by the government on how to "ration spending" at a meeting on February 9, but gave no further details.



Kuwait's parliament last July approved a state budget for the current fiscal year, which runs to end-March 2016, envisaging a deficit of KD8.18 billion ($27 billion) - nearly half of total spending - because of low oil prices.



The budget for the year that began on April 1, 2015, featured spending of KD19.17 billion and revenues of KD12.2 billion, assuming an average oil price of $45 a barrel during the year. - Reuters
The World Bank has approved loans worth $500 million for the development of infrastructure for the industrial zones in the Upper Egypt governorates of Qena and Sohag, said a report.

Qena and sohag are two of the poorest governorates in Egypt, where urban unemployment is higher than the national average, which stood at 12.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2015.

The World Bank will finance the development of the infrastructure for the industrial zones in Upper Egypt governorates of Qena and Sohag, reported Ahram Online, citing the Industry and Foreign Trade Minister Tarek Kabil.



Last year in December, the global funder had approved the expansion of Egypt's portfolio with its subsidiary the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to $6 billion from $5 billion over the five years till 2019.
The developer of one of Saudi Arabia's biggest industrial city projects said it will speed construction of infrastructure and broaden the range of industries it accommodates as part of efforts to diversify the economy beyond oil.



With state finances under heavy pressure from low oil prices, Saudi Arabia is trying to develop alternative sectors to boost exports, create jobs and provide new revenues.



King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), a state-backed business zone on the Red Sea coast near Jeddah, is part of the effort. The zone is being developed by Emaar the Economic City (EEC) , a publicly listed firm.



Fahd Al Rasheed, group chief executive of both EEC and KAEC, said construction of infrastructure in the zone, including housing, commercial space, hotels and roads, would accelerate.



While 40 such projects have been developed since the government-backed zone was launched in 2005, 170 are planned for the next 10 years, he said in an interview.



Progress in some projects will depend on the rate at which the zone can attract new corporate tenants, as well as the strength of the Saudi economy.



But the emphasis on rapid expansion is typical of the mood among Saudi economic policy makers as a powerful new committee led by by the king's son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, tries to restructure the economy.



"What used to take two years now takes two months. What took two weeks can take a day," Rasheed said.



The zone, which includes a port, had 120 industrial tenants at the end of last year after adding 23 in 2015. Tenants include French pharmaceutical maker Sanofi, a venture involving U.S. battery maker Johnson Controls, and producers of building materials.



KAEC has a population of about 5,000 people. It is roughly doubling every year and is projected to hit 50,000 by 2020, with an ultimate target of 2 million around 2035.



Rasheed said KAEC is now planned to move beyond light industry into tourism.



KAEC also aims to develop a medical centre that would attract patients from abroad, and an educational industry providing university and vocational training, he said. Both sectors were identified as priorities by Saudi economic policy makers this week.



Rasheed did not say where KAEC would find investors for the new sectors, but the government has said it is willing to spend billions of dollars to jump-start growth in new areas by awarding contracts and procuring services from companies.  Reuters
Danube Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in real estate, building materials and interior products based in Dubai, has officially launched a new living concept that creates more life space  by turning one bedroom into two at night  within a limited household and offers greater comfort and convenience to upwardly mobile families.



The concept is being introduced in Ritz by Danube, a Dh-300 million ($81.6 million) development being planned in Al Furjan neighbourhood in Jebel Ali area of Dubai that is in close proximity to Dubai South, a 140-sq-km mixed-use development, that will host Al Maktoum International Airport and the World Expo 2020.



Danube has partnered with a Spanish home technology solutions provider that will install modular furniture in the living room with the full-size bed tucked into the wall as part of the interior home decor with a sofa set.



The bed, when released from the wall, gradually falls on the ground as a bed, ready to sleep in. Additionally, the collapsible doors provide quick and easy space division for privacy, said a statement from Danube.



The unit comes as part of a fully-furnished home offering  the Ritz  by Danube Properties which is bundling out the solutions for as low as Dh430,000 ($117,050) for a studio flat with a one-per cent monthly payment plan that is convenient to the end-users. The one per cent payment plan allows buyers to only pay 52 per cent of the total value before the possession and the rest 48 per cent will be paid in convenient EMIs.



The house price continues to decline on weak demand; however projects like RITZ by Danube fulfill an important gap in the market. The new home solution- RITZ by Danube will appeal to new couples and small families who are on the move and want a cozy, ready-made home with fitted-in furniture.

The amenities give home-owners enough space to entertain and host guests and friends over the weekend.



With property prices coming down to a more realistic level that are becoming attractive to the end-users, there is a possibility of a large-scale migration to home ownership, from rental homes.



Developers need to read the market requirements and respond to the consumers needs. When I heard about Ritz by Danube, I somehow knew that it is one project which is being developed for the masses, who aspire to own a house in Dubai," said Bollywood icon Anil Kapoor, who has bought a flat in Ritz by Danube development.



"I congratulate Danube Team for seeing this innovation through and bringing a new wave of affordable housing to the fore. I urge everyone to have a look at the show apartment to witness the latest technology in real estate," he added.



With Dubais property prices remaining lower compared to global hub cities such as London, Mumbai, Singapore and Hong Kong, the new low-price environment offers a great opportunity for consumers to benefit from not only the asset but the price appreciation of the asset when delivered.



Dubai offers one of the highest rental yields of 8-10 per cent in the worst case scenario. In most cases, the value addition leads to a rental yield of around 10-12 per cent  which means an end-user spends 10-12 per cent of the home price in yearly rent.



Rizwan Sajan, the founder and chairman, Danube Group said: "We are so excited to have Kapoor as one of customers, and to get his approval on the innovations within Ritz is a testimony to the fact that it actually is a mass product. The move reflects our focus on the end-users and their comfort."



"Ritz project is a fitting tribute to the Year of Innovation where the UAEs leadership is looking at stimulating innovation and technology to fuel the countrys economic growth as we move forward and I believe, such innovation will help stimulate the pent-up demand and convert tenants to home-owners in future," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The future global integration of healthcare could mean that the Arabian Gulf States will become an international healthcare hub by 2025, according to a top executive with one of the worlds largest healthcare providers.



The Arabian Gulf States are likely to experience the increasing levels of internal and external investment, as well as large numbers of regional patients looking for world-class healthcare closer to home.



The region, heavily burdened with the lifestyle diseases that plague the developed world, a young and growing population, and patients desire for culturally-sensitive competency when seeking care, creates opportunity for providers who can deliver local clinical excellence integrated into a global healthcare platform.



Today, we are well on our way to developing the first globally integrated healthcare system. The Arabian Gulf States are an important part of our strategy, said Dr Marc Harrison, chief of International Business Development at Cleveland Clinic, a US-based non-profit healthcare group, during the annual Arab Health Congress running in Dubai, UAE from January 25 to 28.



Via a common electronic medical record and innovative e-health offerings, Cleveland Clinic has connected its facilities in Canada and the UAE with its extensive operations in the United States.



Cleveland Clinic operates the Mubadala-owned Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a culturally coherent and quartenary sub-specialty hospital that, in the first nine months of operations, has cared for patients from more than 30 countries seeking highly specialized services. For five years, Dr Harrison served as CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, taking it from concept to full operations.



Cleveland Clinic also manages Abu Dhabi Health Services Company-owned Sheikh Khalifa Medical Center, a healthcare entity with a strong educational focus and a provider of unique services like paediatric heart surgery.



Increasingly, Cleveland Clinic is able to deliver the right care in the right place at the right time, worldwide. Our global integration is focused around two common themes, patient centeredness and Cleveland Clinic culture, added Dr Harrison. On a human level, we understand the healthcare needs of the communities we serve. We preserve the personal touch while technology allows us to collaborate on specific patient needs, across borders.



Ten years ago, replication of Cleveland Clinics culture and operations on the ground in Abu Dhabi was a concept on a piece of paper, said Dr Harrison.



Today there are more than 30 specialties and 50 subspecialties providing highly complex care to very sick patients in a multi-disciplinary fashion, including robotic cardiovascular surgery and transcatheter deployment of heart valves. As a system, we are carefully considering how to balance development of new facilities with use of distance health strategies. Clearly, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabis location and the Clinics distance health solutions will create a potent set of capabilities that will make the Arabian Gulf a global hub for world-class healthcare.



Other markets including Saudi Arabia and Qatar are rapidly developing internal capability while still sending tens of thousands of patients abroad annually. Cleveland Clinic looks forward to leveraging its capabilities to help new populations.



Cleveland Clinic participates annually in Arab Health and in 2016 has brought more than 25 medical experts from its US facilities to the congress, across disciplines such as radiology, orthopaedics, paediatrics, gastroenterology, cardiology, rheumatology, and critical care.



Cleveland Clinic will have two exhibits during the conference: Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education and Cleveland Clinic Laboratories.  TradeArabia News Service
Johnson Controls Inc, a US maker of car batteries and heating and ventilation equipment, agreed to acquire Ireland-based peer Tyco International in a $16.5 billion deal that will lower its tax bill, the companies said on Monday.



By moving its headquarters to Cork, Ireland, Johnson Controls would become the latest major US company to carry out a so-called tax-inversion after drug giant Pfizer Inc structured such a deal with Irish peer Allergan Plc last November.



While the tax benefits are not as profound as is the case of Pfizer's deal with Allergan, the news was enough to stir controversy among politicians in a US presidential election year.



"I have a detailed and targeted plan to immediately put a stop to inversions and invest in the US, block deals like Johnson Controls and Tyco, and place an 'exit tax' on corporations that leave the country to lower their tax bill," Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said in a statement.



Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton's opponent for the Democratic Presidential nomination, also criticized the deal, calling it a disaster for American taxpayers. Others saw it as an opportunity to also highlight what they argue are the weaknesses of the US tax system.



"Absent comprehensive tax reform that includes shifting to a territorial tax system with base erosion protections, Congress ought to examine viable bipartisan solutions that will effectively target and combat inversions and not tip the balance to tax-driven foreign acquisitions of US firms," said US Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, a prominent Republican.



The merger will combine Johnson Controls' commercial buildings business with Tyco's fire security offerings, accelerating Johnson Controls' transformation following its decision to spin off its automotive parts unit.



Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls has a market value $22.5 billion, while Cork, Ireland-based Tyco, which specializes in fire protection systems is valued at $14.2 billion.



The deal will create savings of at least $500 million in the first three years, the companies said. They expect to save an additional $150 million a year through tax synergies.



"The move would be consistent with Johnson Control's strategy of transforming from an auto supplier into a multi-industry leader," UBS analyst Colin Langan said in a client note.



Johnson Controls' shares ended trading in New York on Monday down 3.9 per cent at $34.21, while Tyco's shares ended up 11.6 per cent at $34.15.



Tyco was ahead of many big US industrial companies in seeking tax relief by moving its legal residence offshore. The company moved its headquarters to Bermuda from Exeter, New Hampshire in 2007, then to Switzerland in 2009, and to Cork in 2014.



Tyco said in 2014 that its move to Cork was tax-neutral and that it occurred because of Swiss laws capping executive pay and tighter immigration rules.



TREASURY THRESHOLD



Johnson Controls' shareholders will own about 56 per cent of the combined company, with Tyco shareholders owning the remainder, thanks in part to a cash consideration of about $3.9 billion that Johnson Controls shareholders will receive.



Keeping Johnson Controls' shareholders ownership of the combined company below 60 per cent was important for the company because the latest US Treasury rules, in a bid to limit inversions, placed some restrictions on deals that cross this threshold.



"The cash consideration is supplied by Tyco very much with the tax inversion in mind. This way you can engage unrestricted in strategies that free up your undistributed foreign earnings," said Robert Willens, a corporate tax and accounting consultant.



The new company, Johnson Controls Plc, will be initially headed by Johnson Controls Chief Executive Alex Molinaroli and will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. After 18 months, Tyco's George Oliver will become CEO and Molinaroli will become executive chair for one year, after which Oliver will become chairman and CEO.



Johnson Controls has been preparing to spin off its automotive seating and interiors business and said on Monday the spinoff was on track for early first fiscal quarter of 2017.



Shares of Johnson Controls have lost more than a quarter of their value since the start of 2015, while Tyco's shares have fallen over 30 per cent.



Tyco was broken up into three companies after turnaround expert Edward Breen took the helm from former CEO Dennis Kozlowski, who was convicted in 2005 of grand larceny, securities fraud and other charges.



Under Breen, Tyco spun off its electronics and healthcare businesses in 2007. He expanded Tyco's security business with the $1.9 billion acquisition of Broadview Security in 2010.



In 2012, Tyco was again broken up into three pieces - one selling valves and controls for the energy market that merged with Pentair Inc, while its commercial fire and security businesses combined into "New Tyco" and traded under Tyco's symbol. The third piece consisted of the ADT North American residential security business, now ADT Corp.



Breen is CEO of US chemical giant DuPont, which last month agreed to combine with Dow Chemical in a $120 billion merger. Tax savings were seen as a primary driver of that deal.



Centerview Partners and Barclays were financial advisers to Johnson Controls, while Lazard and Goldman Sachs advised Tyco. Citigroup Inc provided financing for the transaction.  Reuters
Imdaad, a leading provider of integrated facilities, environment and energy solutions in the GCC, has been awarded ISO 50001 certification for its successful implementation of the energy management systems.



The certification was awarded by DNV GL, one of the worlds leading certification, verification and assessment bodies with expertise in risk management, conducted the energy management systems audit of the facility.



Imdaads chief executive Jamal Abdullah Lootah and chief operating officer Mahmood Rasheed received the certificate from Alireza Ramin Majd, the regional manager (Middle East and Africa) for DNV GL  Business Assurance at its headquarters in Jebel Ali, Dubai.



As part of the preparations, Imdaad said it had implemented an energy policy and established objectives as well as created a detailed action plan to integrate energy management into its existing management systems to achieve its set goals.



The certification will ensure that the company continuously improves energy-related performance and identifies opportunities to conserve energy in its facility, it stated.



In the long run, this will ensure increased energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower operational costs, improved compliance, and enhanced company reputation, it added.



On the success, Lootah said Imdaad was always looking for ways to set new benchmarks. "The ISO 50001 certification is one such achievement that demonstrates our commitment to minimise energy consumption and reduce carbon footprints," he noted.



"We not only promote environmental sustainability among our clients but implement best practices within our own premises to continually improve the quality of our services. We are confident that the certification will be a positive leap towards a greener environment as it will help us utilize energy efficiently and optimally," he added.



Imdaads ISO 50001 certification for its headquarters is valid for three years and is subject to annual review.



Majd said DNV GL had conducted two energy management audits at the companys headquarters and found it in compliance with ISO 50001 standards.



"This will enable them to register significant savings in energy costs and minimize their impact on the environment," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The drop in Libya's oil production in recent years as a result of unrest has resulted in $68 billion in lost revenue, National Oil Corp Chairman Mustafa Sanallah said on Monday.



The country's oil production was currently at 362,000 barrels per day, dropping from 400,000 bpd after a series of attacks by Islamic State militants on Libya's largest oil terminals last week further curtailed output, Sanallah said.



He blamed most of Libya's loss in oil revenue on Petroleum Facilities Guards which seized control over key export facilities of Zueitina, Ras Lanuf and Es Sider.



"We have calculated the damage and losses due to loss of production over the past three years at $68.4 billion. More of 70 per cent of this is because of petroleum facilities guards in the whole country," Sanallah told Reuters.



Libya produced 1.6 million barrels per day before the uprising against its former leader Muammar Gaddafi.



"This problem caused a lot of damage to the country and has accelerated more with what we are seeing right now. This opened the door to terrorist groups to be in Libya ... They just controlled the oil for their benefits and personal interests and were not competent to protect our facilities in front of what is called ISIS."  Reuters
A new study has listed `factories automation as one of the top three emerging trends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the UAE in 2023. The other two upcoming trends for 2023 in the two GCC countries, according to the study by Poly, are smart liv
Kuwait's Opec governor said on Tuesday that this year would be tough, with oil prices seen recovering only after 2016 but remaining between $40 and $60 a barrel until 2020.



"The expectation (is) that 2016 will not be an easy year when it comes to prices. They can remain volatile (at) current levels ... prices will remain low," Nawal Al-Fuzaia told an energy forum in Kuwait.



"Things will be tough. From now until 2020 ... I don't think there will be big changes in the oil market in four years. We are talking about $40-60, that is after 2016," said Fuzaia, who is No. 2 in Kuwait's delegation to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries after the oil minister.



Any additional crude supplies could weaken prices further, she said, referring to Iran's return to the oil market after the lifting of international sanctions.



"The impact of the Iranian crude depends on when it would come to the market, what are the volumes and grades and where will it be marketed ... But any additional supplies from current levels will put pressure on prices."



There has been more than one request in the past six months for an Opec emergency meeting to address sliding oil prices, Al-Fuzaia told reporters on the sidelines of the conference.



"But if there was no real and clear cooperation to reduce the supplies from all sides, whether from outside Opec and heavyweight producers, there will be no (need) for a meeting," she said.



"On the contrary, if there was a meeting without a concrete outcome to cooperate, it would have a very bad impact on the oil market."



Asked about comments from a Lukoil official who said Russia needed to work with Opec to reduce supplies, she said: "Opec welcomes any cooperation from countries outside Opec to work with it to stabilise the market and reach suitable prices for all producers ... I read these comments as you did," she said.



Al-Fuzaia said earlier that Opec cannot cut oil output alone when producers from outside the group are raising supplies. The two sides should work together to stabilise the oil market, she said. - Reuters
Iran courted Western aviation firms this week with a blueprint of regulatory reforms aimed at setting aside 40 years of sanctions and rebuilding its airways with new jets.



But despite talk of a major plane order from Airbus , a raft of legal, financial and regulatory hurdles remain as Iran seeks foreign investor backing for plans to overhaul its dilapidated aviation sector.



"We are seeing massive opportunities in Iran," said Peter Harbison, chairman of the Centre for Aviation (CAPA), an Australian consultancy, adding that Tehran needed funding, organisation and manpower to do everything its airlines intend.



"Without each of those ingredients, the growth is going to be much less than optimal," he said after chairing a major Tehran aviation conference.



A shopping list for over $20 billion of Airbus jets carried to Europe by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani this week is seen as a test case for post-sanctions trade because of the sums involved and state-of-the-art financing used in the jet market.



Although Boeing jets are not involved, completing the Airbus deal depends on the approval of the US Treasury, which must approve sales to Iran of jets with over 10 percent US parts.



Even then, Iran must work out how to pay for the jets, delegates at the Iran Aviation Summit organised by CAPA said.



Iran on Monday urged Washington to remove any lingering obstacles to implementation of the accord under which sanctions were lifted in return for curbs on its nuclear activities.



"I expect a very short process. Actually we expect them to expedite all these efforts to .. open the way for legal business cooperation between Iranian and foreign entities," deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters at the CAPA event.



Washington has said Iran may still not use its financial system, raising potential difficulties for jet deals denominated in dollars. If Iran pays for its planes in euros, any money subsequently converted into dollars may create problems.



A senior Iranian official said Tehran was in touch with the US Treasury to clarify the status of such transactions. US officials could not immediately be reached for comment.



Iran meanwhile faces warnings that Western banks may hold off from backing aircraft and other deals until rules are clear.



"I think we need much more clarity on what (the US Treasury) is going to authorise or not," said Bertrand Grabowski, a managing director at Germany's DVB Bank.



In a further twist, Iranair remains locked out of a dedicated global financial system for air tickets because it is based on laws of Canada, which has not lifted sanctions on Iran.



"To have Western banks effectively financing directly aircraft to Iranian airlines is going to be a tough call. This isn't going to happen in the next 18 months," Grabowski said.



However, he said some banks may be more willing to support the activities of leasing companies working in Iran.



POSITIVE SIGNAL



Aircraft leasing companies, who control about 40 percent of the world's fleet, eagerly touted for business at the Tehran event, joined by suppliers from 35 nations offering Iran badly needed wares from avionics to airports.



"We are behind, we admit that," Deputy Transport Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan said.



"Therefore we have decided to ... look for the solutions and try to find proper responses to any questions" on funding.



Kashan said Iran was looking at joining the 2006 Cape Town Convention, a treaty of more than 60 nations designed to boost trade by protecting aircraft owners in return for cheaper financing.



"That is a very positive signal for me," said Dick Forsberg, head of strategy at Dublin-based leasing company Avolon, while warning investors Iran would not be a "gold rush".



Privately, some foreign delegates said doing business in Iran was still a complex puzzle, further obscured by upcoming elections.



President Rouhani, a pragmatist, has been trying to attract technology and investment to bolster Iran's shattered economy. But some analysts say political in-fighting, and the possibility of fresh sanctions if Iran violates the deal, worry investors.



Allies of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on state matters, have already begun to criticise new oil contracts that are also designed to attract investors.



While Iranian officials gave assurances that they would respect foreign investors' ownership rights, some delegates at the aviation conference saw potential sticking points over Iran's attitude to collateral on some transactions.



Britain's export credit agency said last week it was open to doing business in Iran, boosting the prospect of aircraft sales. But such agencies typically demand security on the jet even if the buyer is government controlled and can put up a state guarantee to pay money owed.



That may be a problem for Iran, which regards its sovereign-backed guarantees as word enough and is reluctant to offer collateral on the asset as well, delegates said.



Grabowski said Iran had reassured investors but "they need to deliver, and this is where it is going to be difficult".  Reuters
An expanded hosted buyer programme, more exhibitors and new educational features will create more opportunities to do business and learn about key trends in the meetings industry at IMEX in Frankfurt this April.

Taking place at Messe Frankfurt from April 19 to 21, the event will give qualified meeting industry buyers the opportunity to meet with suppliers from around the world in a fun and efficient environment; and at the same time learn from the best in the industry and network with peers.

More for hosted buyers

European buyers can now extend their visit to IMEX and opt in advance for a three day (two night) programme. This will give them more time to spend at the show, doing business, networking and soaking up the inspiration and new ideas. This new option makes the programme highly flexible and is in addition to the day only and two day (one night) programmes which have become well-established over the last 13 years.

Revised group appointment timings will give hosted buyers more time to explore the show floor  which will now open at 9.45 am, with no group appointments scheduled before 11 am or after 4 pm.

IMEX is set to welcome more than 20 new hosted buyer groups from around the world including Germany, Poland, China, South Africa and South America, plus UNICEO  the network for corporate event decision makers. ISES (International Special Events Society) is also bringing their Global Event Summit to the show for the first time.

Buyers have a wide choice of suppliers to meet, with many established exhibitors having increased their stand space including Croatia, New Zealand, PromPeru, San Francisco and Serbia  and hotel groups  ATA Hotels, Hilton International, Preferred Hotels and Trump Hotel Collection. Taking stands for the first time, or returning to the show, include Bahrain, Catalunya Convention Bureau, Wyndham Hotels, Uniglobe Travel and Bizzabo  a new technology exhibitor.

Enlightening education

One of the new themes running throughout the show this year is Business is personal with education sessions focusing on personal development, CSR activities and wellbeing, all designed to offer new ideas on how to change old habits of mind, body and spirit.

Elevated Leadership: The Roadmap to Unlocking Your Natural Leader will help attendees to tap into their natural leadership abilities becoming more conscious, confident, and courageous in turn elevating others. In How mastering new habits will transform your life, Pine Communication + Training will explain how to foster new habits to help participants reach their goals more easily and achieve a healthy and successful life. Shawna Suckow, chairwoman of SPiN, the Senior Planners Industry Network, is set to deliver two Deep Dives for small business owners wanting to learn how to take their company to the next level. The art of storytelling and its power to communicate, capture attention and engage is explored by Gebert Janssen from The Party- & Eventarchitect.

Another big theme for IMEX this year is the sharing economy with sessions exploring how it is reshaping the way we travel and do business. With the world of work rapidly changing, these sessions will address what we need to know about this new model for business including a high level panel discussion, due to take place on April 20, which will debate its impact on the meetings industry.

With over 180 education sessions at IMEX in Frankfurt this year, attendees are sure to find a session that matches their needs, both professionally and personally. The Inspiration Hub, home to all the show floor education, will host experts exploring hot topics such as Business Skills, Creative Learning, Diversity, General Education, Health and Wellbeing, Marketing/ Social Media, Personal Development, Sustainability, Technology, Trends and Research. CMP/CEU and ISES Points can also be accrued at a large number of sessions at the show.

Also new for this year is a series of short and snappy talks focused on Trends and Future-Think. These TED-style talks will take place at the Inspiration Hub before the show begins each day and are sponsored by Sweden.

Dedicated features

As part of the shows comprehensive education programme, PCMA Business School is bringing its prestigious Business School to Europe for the first time alongside IMEX in Frankfurt. Hosted by Congress Center Messe Frankfurt, this free of charge programme is open to all and offers executives the chance to develop core business skills and learn from an MBA level professor. An interactive session on The Outthinker Playbook  Devising Disruptive Strategies will be led by Dr Kaihan Krippendorff, renowned business strategist and consultant who will help participants explore how to cultivate new approaches to business thinking and how to adopt a fresh outthinkers approach in response to changes in the business landscape.

Exclusively Corporate @IMEX is a dedicated education and networking event solely for corporate meeting and event planners. This year, the event puts the spotlight on career development with the theme: Choose a job you love  youll never work a day in your life. The final session of the day develops this theme via a Mock Trial where participants can turn their hand to becoming prosecution and defence lawyers exploring a real, ethical scenario in an authentic courtroom setting in an engaging, entertaining educational session.

Designed exclusively for association executives, Association Day, attracts around 300 professionals from 40 countries each year. Open to all levels of association executive, Association Day offers a free afternoon of education, taking place the day before the show followed by the much-loved networking reception, Association Evening hosted by Marriott Frankfurt. This years collaborative programme has been developed in response to issues raised by participants at last years event  how to remain relevant. Charles Leadbeater is set to harness this in his keynote address. As a leading authority on innovation and creativity, he has advised companies, cities and governments across the globe and is regarded as one of the top management thinkers worldwide.

Finally, the renowned Politicians Forum brings together meetings industry leaders, representatives from government and business, professionals and academics to discuss building and sustaining a successful meetings industry. Stuart Ayres, New South Wales Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events is the keynote speaker, beginning a series of focused sessions designed to promote conversation and education among destinations and showcase well-developed techniques to improve competitiveness at a national and local level.

Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, explains: We continually consult with our buyers and intermediaries and have made changes to the programme this year to ensure that the show is truly tailored to their needs. We believe that both the buyers and exhibitors will benefit strongly from these. IMEX in Frankfurt promises a host of opportunities for all members of the meetings and incentive travel community. We know that there is no better way to do business or build a network of professional contacts and friends than face to face and we look forward to welcoming the world to Frankfurt this April.  TradeArabia News Service
AmericInn, a leading mid-scale hotel brand in the central US, is expanding overseas with plans to open at least 20 new hotels across the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent over the next five years.



Partnering with Singapore- and Dubai-based, Eaglewing Estates and Hotels, the expansion will bring an upscale, value-based hotel brand into key international markets including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and beyond.



"In 2016, we look forward to bringing our brand and its values to the exciting, high growth markets of the Middle East and India, along with the comfort, warmth and relaxation found in every AmericInn," said Paul Kirwin, president and chief executive officer of Northcott Hospitality and AmericInn.



The AmericInn Hotels and Suites brand is owned by parent company, Northcott Hospitality, a multi-generational family-owned business, successful in creating, developing, and managing hotels and restaurants for over 50 years.



AmericInn's new upper mid-scale hotels in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent will target domestic and international business and leisure travellers with short and extended stay accommodations. The hotels will deliver the brand's signature amenities and services, including the AmericInn Perk breakfast, 24-hour coffee bar, Serta Perfect Sleeper beds, relaxing pools, workout rooms, and business centres. The hotels will also be designed to meet the unique social and cultural expectations of travellers from the region including a full-service, all-day restaurant in many locations.



"With the continuing demand for mid-market hotels occurring across the Middle East and Asia, we are eager to work with AmericInn's unique design philosophy which provides both a great experience for the consumer and tremendous investment returns for the hotel asset owner," said Dinky Puri, co-founders and principle of Eaglewing.  TradeArabia News Service
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This Just In

New to Town Crier.

Immigration expert at CC

Immigration expert Peggy Orchowski will speak on A Look at U.S. Immigration Policy, at Casper College on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Wheeler Auditorium, Room 103 of the Wold Physical Science Center. The presentation is free.

Orchowski is the credentialed congressional correspondent and Washington bureau chief for the magazine Hispanic Outlook on Higher Education. As a writer for the magazine she covers both higher education and immigration issues. Her most recent book, The Law That Changed the Face of America: the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, was recently published by Rowman and Littlefield Publishers.

Following her talk Orchowski will answer questions. In addition, copies of her book will be available for purchase at a discounted price.

Tenors UnLimited in concert

England's Tenors UnLimited, including Paul Taylor, the husband of Casper-raised Lila McConigley, will perform in an ARTCORE concert at 7:30 p.m., on Thursday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. The trio has been called the "Rat Pack of Opera," and has performed worldwide since 2001. They bring a unique blend of wit, charm and vocal arrangements, as well as original compositions, to the classical crossover genre. Tickets are $12 seniors 60 and over, $13 adults, $7 students and teachers, $5 children 12 and younger. Ticket outlets: Hill Music, Bon Agency, The Shade Tree, Cadillac Cowgirl, Wyoming Music and Sonic Rainbow.

Looking for churches to help

After a Disaster is working in partnership with the Cole Creek Fire Recovery Organization to join the blessings of Casper churches with families affected in the Cole Creek fire. We are seeking churches, bible study/ life groups, Sunday school classes, to adopt a Cole Creek family and bless them for 12 months with a monthly themed blessing. We currently have seven fire families on our waiting list to be connected with a Casper church and we would love to find those churches who will come forward and help. Our phone number is 307-215-9619 Email is info@afteradisaster.org and website is www.afteradisaster.org We would love to answer any questions, give more information, and match your church with a family on the waiting list.

Pancakes at St. Mark's

St. Mark's Episcopal Church will host its traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake supper Feb. 9, from 5-7 p.m., in the parish hall, 7th and Wolcott.

Pancakes, sausages and eggs will be served. There is no charge but a free will offering will be available with proceeds going to a local charity All are welcome.

For further information, contact St. Mark's at 234-0831.

Dance to SwingSounds

Senior Dance at the Eagles Hall, 306 N. Durbin, Saturday, January 30, 2016, 7 to 10 p.m. Potluck snacks at 8 p.m., and door prize drawings at 9 p.m. Last copy of Casper Memories first edition, will be drawn along with other prizes. Admission $5 per person with music to dance by with SwingSounds Band. Dance to true western, western swing, pop, jazz and oldies but goodies. Come have some fun and enjoyment. See you there.

Robbie Daniels -- 235-5130

Arts and crafts

Find your creative side with one of the Casper Recreation Centers Arts & Crafts classes beginning Saturday or later.

A new 8-week session of All Media classes will be starting Tuesday, February 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Come and have fun exploring a favorite art medium whether it be acrylic, oil, collage or watercolor. This class for all levels begins with a critique and feedback session and is followed by creative tips from Michele. Gain inspiration from the other artists in the class. Students will also have an opportunity to present their work at a student show in early summer. The class is taught by local artist, Michele McDonald.

Brandon Bassett is back to teach adults the art of Pottery & Handbuilding. Learn not only handbuilding but throwing, glaze application and decorative techniques on low-fire clay. All skill levels are welcome, most supplies are furnished and FIRING is FREE. Class meets Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. Theres also still room left in the Youth Pottery & Handbuilding class that meets Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Join Nancy Pawlowski and learn the basics of Crochet or Knitting in this beginning class that meets Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. for four weeks. For a sample class, Nancy will be teaching a Scarves workshop using fun fur yarn this Saturday, January 30, from 1 to 4 p.m.

For registration fees and more information, stop by the Casper Recreation Center at 1801 E. 4th St., call 235-8383 or visit the website www.activecasper.com.

People's Law School begins

Have you ever wondered how our legal system works? Class is in session! The People's Law School at Casper College is back by popular demand.

The Peoples Law School is open to anyone interested in learning about the judicial system. Legal topics will be addressed by the Chief of Police, judges, and attorneys in their areas of practice, including: history and structure of the court system, laws of arrest, criminal defense/prosecution, domestic relations/family law, bankruptcy law, estate planning, and personal injury litigation. Dean Michael Shickich himself will teach the class on personal injury litigation.

Classes will be held at Casper College on Wednesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m., beginning February 3 through March 9. To sign up, send in a Community Education Registration Form and payment of your registration fee (only $25) to Casper College Enrollment Services, 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601. You can find the registration form online at http://www.caspercollege.edu/sites/default/files/documents/communityed/cc-conted-spring16-form.pdf.

The People's Law School is sponsored by the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association (WTLA). All speakers donate their time, and the WTLA covers the cost of providing the course materials.

For more information, call Michael Shickich or Karyn at the Injury Law Firm at 266-LAWS (5297).

Valentine Ladies Night Out

Friday, Feb, 5, 5 to 8 p.m., grab your girlfriends and join us at Glitzy Chicks, 1980 E. 1st Street, (corner of 1st and Beverly). SWAG bags loaded with coupons for the first 50 ladies! Eighteen different Casper businesses will share their fabulous fun products! Door prizes, snacks and fun!

Tween Monday "Paper Circuits"

Students in grades 4-6 are invited to attend our weekly "Tween Monday" program Monday, February 1 at 4 p.m. in the Natrona County Library's Crawford Room. This week you'll use copper tape, LED lights, and batteries to turn ordinary paper cards into extraordinary cards that light up! Call 577-READ ext. 122 for more information.

Reading the West book discussion

The Natrona County Library and Fort Caspar Museum will continue their book discussion series celebrating all things Western, from rugged heroes and horses to books that ride off into the sunset. Please join us on Tuesday, February 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the library to discuss "Bone Wars" by Tom Rea. The discussion is free and open to the public. To participate, pick up your copy of "Bone Wars" at the library's second floor Reference Desk. Call 577-READ ext. 2 for more information.

Facebook Security

The Natrona County Library will offer a "Facebook Security" computer class on Wednesday, February 3 at 10 a.m. in the Tech Center. This class will explain Facebook's basic and advanced security features. In addition, you will learn how to recover a hacked Facebook account and how to avoid scammers. Call 577-READ ext. 2 for more information.

Wednesday Writers

Would you like to leave a legacy by sharing your memories with the world? Practice writing, share your work and receive constructive feedback from fellow writers Wednesday, February 3 at 10 a.m. at the Natrona County Library. Call 577-READ ext. 2 for more information.

After School at the Library

Elementary-age students are invited to attend our weekly "After School at the Library" program on Wednesday, February 3 at 4 p.m. in the Natrona County Library's Crawford Room. To honor Black History Month, you'll make paper freedom quilt squares, which once combined, will create a large freedom quilt for display. Call 577-READ ext. 122 for more information.

Harry Potter Book Night

Drop by the Natrona County Library anytime between 4 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 4 to celebrate Harry Potter Book Night 'A Night of Spells.' Muggles, witches, wizards, and Potterheads of all ages can expect a bit of magic in the form of food, games, fun, and friends. Get sorted into your house by the Sorting Hat, grab a house badge, learn your Harry Potter name, brew potions, make buttons, fashion wands, and construct spell books. There will be plenty of food and drink to enjoy, such as butterbeer floats, sugar cookie decorating, and edible wands. Other planned activities include board games, coloring sheets, LEGOs, altered book poetry, word searches, and Cubeecraft. We'll also have the movies playing, and there will be a photo booth with props and a background. Come dressed in your finest wizard or muggle attire and be prepared for a night of magical excitement. Call 577-READ ext. 2 for more information.

Adult Coloring Club

Drop by the Natrona County Library anytime between 2 and 5 p.m. on Friday, February 5 for our Adult Coloring Club. Coloring isn't just for kids anymore -- it's a way for anyone to overcome stress and get back to their creative side. The Adult Coloring Club meets the first and third Thursday of every month from 2 to 5 p.m. in the library's Crawford Room for a time of relaxation, conversation, and creativity. Coloring books and pages will be available for you to turn into works of art. Colored pencils, crayons, and markers will be provided. Just bring yourself and enjoy the afternoon. Call 577-READ ext. 2 for more information.

Craftastic Saturday

The Natrona County Library will continue its monthly Craftastic Saturday arts and crafts program for adults on Saturday, February 6 at 2 p.m. in the Crawford Room. This month's activity is book page poetry  creating art and poetry from the pages of old books. No experience necessary. Craftastic Saturday is free and open to the public, and held the first Saturday of every month. Call 577-READ ext. 2 for more information.

Using pesticides safely

The 2016 private pesticide applicator training is set for three days. Register by phone at least three days in advance. Times are Feb. 8, 2 to 4:30 p.m.; Feb. 22, 2 to 4:30 p.m., and March 9, 2 to 4:30 p.m., all at Extension Agriculture Resource and Learning Center, 2011 Fairgrounds Rd. Call 235-9400 to register. Instructor is Scott Cotton, area extension educator.
Wednesdays Highlights</&h1>

Fun stuff happening Wednesday.

Wednesday support meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 10 a.m., 328 E. A St.; noon, 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 5:09 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 7 p.m., Glenrock, 615 W. Deer St. (downstairs); 7:30 p.m., 837 E. C St.; 8 p.m., Douglas, 628 S. Richards No. 5; 8 p.m., 328 1/2 E. A (upstairs), closed; 8:23 p.m., Evansville, 719 3rd, Evansville Christian Church. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1576.

Al-Anon: 7-8 p.m.,500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200, 12-24 Club, Alateen, for grades 6 and up. Info: 377-7260 or 258-1444; 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 302 E. 2nd.

Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 8 p.m., 302 E. 2nd St., Methodist Church, enter east side. Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

Nicotine Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club. Info: Pam M., 577-0518; Troy Y., 267-6326.

NAMI: 7:30 p.m., 133 W. Sixth St. Connections/All Diagnosis support group for persons with mood disorders. Info: 234-0440.

OIF/OEF Support Group: 6:30-8 p.m., Casper Vet Center, 1030 N. Poplar St., Ste. B. All OIF/OEF Veterans are invited to attend. No need to pre-register. Info: 261-5355.

Teen Addiction Anonymous: 7-8 p.m., 12-24 Club Teton Room. Info: 258-7439.

TOPS No. 35 Weight Loss: 6:45 a.m., First Presbyterian Church, 804 S. Wolcott. Weigh-in is from 6:45 a.m.-7:10 a.m. Info: 258-2603 or 234-5644.

TOPS No. 0162: 8:30 a.m., United Methodist Church, 1880 Poplar. Anyone interested is invited to join. Info: 472-4926.

Free tax help begins

The Wyoming Free Tax Service (VITA) runs through April 13. 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 or visit www.wyomingfreetaxservice.org.

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: VA Clinic, 4140 S. Poplar, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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.

Community impact at Pizza Ranch

Pizza Ranch, 5011 E. Second St., hosts Community Impact nights from 5 to 9 p.m. normally on Mondays and Wednesdays. Members of nonprofit groups bus tables for tips, and 20 percent of meal tickets from diners who mention the group are donated as well. Dine-in, delivery or pickup orders qualify. Wednesdays nonprofit is Wyoming Society for Respiratory Care.

After School Bingo

Elementary-age students are invited to attend our weekly After School at the Library program Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Natrona County Librarys Crawford Room. Come play Bingo and win prizes! Call 577-READ ext. 122 for more information.

Veteran Cigar Night

Every Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m., all veterans are invited to Veteran Cigar Night at the Casper Cigar Company, 4717 W. Yellowstone Highway, sponsored by Casper Vet Center and Casper Cigar Company. There is no cost to attend.

This is a time and place for our communitys combat veterans to relax and share their stories with other combat veterans while enjoying a good cigar. Veterans receive 20 percent off cigars. For more information, call Chris Poe at 261-5355 or christopher.poe@va.gov

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.

Tacos at the Elks

Wednesday Night Special at the Casper Elks Lodge is Taco Bar with all the fixings. All you can eat for $7. Build your own tacos, nachos, taco salad or any combination you desire with green chili and refried beans. Children 5 to 12 are $3. Also enjoy a dessert for $1. Serving from 6 to 7 p.m. or until gone. Members, significant other and guest accompanied by a member. For more information, call 234-4839.

Republican central committee meets

The Natrona County Republican Party will be hosting a Central Committee meeting to discuss the upcoming County Caucus, County Convention and State Convention at 6 p.m., at the Ramkota Hotel. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Following that discussion, Natrona County legislators will be addressing issues for the 2016 Budget Session and answering questions pertaining to budget items. All registered Republicans are encouraged to attend, however only precinct committeemen and women are eligible to vote on pending business.

Gold prospectors hear Yukon miner

The Casper Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America will hold the first meeting of 2016 at 7 p.m., at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission Building, 2211 King Blvd. The speaker is Derek Dodge, who has been seen on the Gold Rush show on the Discovery Channel. He will be talking about his mining operation in the Yukon, which is different that the show depicts it. He will bring example of the gold he finds. Everyone is invited, so come early to ensure a seat. Enter through the east door. For more information about GPAA or the Casper chapter, or about prospecting in general, contact Rick Messina at 234-0244.
The proposed Bear Lodge rare earths mine project in northeast Wyoming has been put on indefinite hold because of low commodity prices and lack of financing.

Rare Element Resources announced they were suspending further permitting and licensing efforts for the $290-million mining operation until they can find an investment partner and market conditions improve.

The news came just a week after the U.S. Forest Service issued its draft Environmental Impact Statement recommending the mining project be permitted to go forward.

The companys Chief Financial Officer Paul Zink said getting the draft EIS was a big next step, but also a reasonable point to take a step back.

I guess in some ways we felt that having the draft EIS in hand was a convenient place to pause the permitting process, temporarily, without having to go back to square one with the Forest Service, Zink said.

Zink said the market would likely need to change before they would resume the process.

We dont have any sense of when the prices could turn up, and it certainly seems like the capital markets arent getting better for those of us in the rare earth space, so we thought it was prudent to take this step at arguably a convenient point to add an additional cash conservation measure to those we have already taken, to see if we can weather this, Zink said.

Zink pointed to China as the leading producer in rare earths market.

The Chinese produce 85 to 90 percent of the worlds rare earths, and they consume about two thirds of them  so they are obviously an enormous factor in the market  and pricing has declined to the point where, at least as reported, the Chinese themselves arent making any money and havent been for some while, Zink said.  So if the big heavyweights in the business in China arent making money, its certainly a struggle for all the rest of us.

Zink further said the companys development of an innovative and promising process to separate out some of the 17 rare earth elements from the ore is also being suspended. The company has been struggling financially for some time, and with the latest belt-tightening, Zink said RER has gone from a high of around 25 employees, down to seven.

The Bear Lodge Project has been in development since at least 2011, and initially the company hoped it would be in operation by 2015, and employ upward of 160 people.

Located near Sundance in the Bear Lodge National Forest, the mine site area was expected to be about 2 square miles. The open pit mine itself would have covered 232 acres, and would have been about 500 feet deep under the Forest Services preferred alternative. The project had strong backing from the state, which traded a section of land adjacent to the mine to allow for a tailings/waste area.

There were also plans for a hydro-metallurgical plant in Upton, where some of the rare earths would begin to be separated from the ore. Rare earths are used in a wide range of applications, everything from computers and florescent lights to oil and gas operations.
The UW board of trustees approved the creation of a diversity coordinator position Friday, part of a push to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment at the school.

The special assistant for diversity will report directly to the president, and will lead the creation and implementation of a diversity plan, according to a university press release.

A committee will also be formed to work with the special assistant on the plan, develop short and long-term goals and lay out steps to reach those goals.

Outgoing President Dick McGinity originally announced the position Nov. 13, saying the University of Wyoming can and must do more, to promote diversity.

At that time, a number of protests on college campuses across the country had become national news, including a prolonged student-led movement at the University of Missouri. The protest was in response to top officials listless response to incidents of racism on campus. The schools president and chancellor both resigned.

Wyomings only state funded university has faced its own share of controversy due to lack of diversity. Days after McGinity announced his commitment to creating the new position, a number of faculty and students walked out of a diversity forum held on campus. A group of organizers first presented a list of demands, including a required social justice course for incoming freshman and targeted recruitment of minority students.

UW also investigated a racial profiling claim after a September incident at the university bookstore, when a number of St. Stephens Indian High School students were detained and searched.

A committee will vet candidates for the special assistant.

The new position is an exception to the Universitys current hiring freezea result of Wyomings projected $335 million revenue shortfall over the next two years.

We appreciate the trustees support for this important new position on campus, McGinity said in the release. Especially at a time when the state and university face considerable fiscal restraints.

UWs incoming president Laurie Nichols has expressed her support for McGinitys efforts, according to the release. Nichols will begin her tenure as president in May.
Idaho agriculture officials are asking state budget writers for $250,000 to help research and dispose 2,000 acres of contaminated fields in eastern Idaho.

Department of Agriculture Director Celia Gould made the request Monday in front of the Joint Finance Appropriations panel. She says the agency will likely request additional funds in upcoming years as part of an ongoing effort to treat the negative impacts of a pesticide used on potatoes in 2006.

According to Gould, the pesticide known as Methyl Bromide seeped into the soil and subsequently contaminated others crops that included hay, alfalfa, wheat, barley and potatoes.

The contamination wasn't noticed until a ranching family reported deformities and sickness in their herds. State and federal officials began testing in 2014.

Agency officials say this first payment will pay for the research and the disposal of 2,000 tons of infested hay.
An Obama administration move to overhaul coal sales from public lands will be put to its first test this week as companies seek to advance two major mining projects in the Western U.S.

Cloud Peak Energy and Lighthouse Resources Inc. want to mine a combined 644 million tons of coal from government-controlled reserves in Montana and Wyoming.

Federal and state officials meet Wednesday in Casper, Wyoming, to consider the requests and whether the U.S. Interior Department should continue to process them.

The meeting comes less than two weeks after Interior Secretary Sally Jewell ordered a moratorium on the governments $1 billion-a-year coal leasing program to address climate change and ensure taxpayers are not getting shortchanged.

Pending applications still can be reviewed under Jewells order, but no final decisions will be made.

The suspension could block 28 applications involving more than 1.3 billion tons of coal, according to an Associated Press review of leasing information provided by federal officials. Details on projects in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama and Arkansas were withheld by the Interior Department, meaning the amount of coal could be significantly higher.

The governors of Montana and Wyoming strongly opposed the administrations move, which includes a review period expected to last at least three years. The states hold two of the five votes on the Powder River Regional Coal Team, the panel considering the latest applications.

Coal industry opponents urged rejection of the applications to demonstrate that the federal government is sincere in its desire to overhaul coal sales and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of the fuel.

We view our job as making sure the reforms keep the coal in the ground. Preferably sooner rather than later, said Jeremy Nichols with the environmental group WildEarth Guardians. They should advance the reforms, not maintain the status quo.

Since President Barack Obama took office in 2009, Interiors Bureau of Land Management has sold 2.2 billion tons of federal coal, the AP found. All of those sales were in Western states, where companies acquired mining rights from the government in most cases for less than $1 per ton.

The moratorium also exempted pending lease sales involving 1.2 billion tons of the fuel because they have been approved but not yet completed.

Even before the moratorium, a dismal market for coal in the U.S. and abroad slowed the pace of companies seeking new reserves. The last federal lease sales in Montana or Wyoming occurred in 2012.

In September, Cloud Peak told the Interior Department that the poor market made it unlikely the company would be participating in a sale on 233 million tons of coal that the company had previously applied to lease near Wyomings Cordero Rojo mine.

Wednesdays deliberations will focus on Cloud Peaks Antelope Mine south of Gillette, Wyoming, and Lighthouse Resources Decker Mine in southeastern Montana. Both are within the Powder River Basin, an area along the Montana-Wyoming border that produces the bulk of the coal burned in the U.S.

Even if the panel recommends that the applications proceed, the mining companies have no way to predict if a sale will ever happen or if they will have to pay more in royalties and taxes once the government review is completed.

Nobody thinks it will take just three years to complete, said Tim Baker, natural resources adviser for Democratic Montana Gov. Steve Bullock. These are things you should fix as you go. You dont hold up an entire program.
CASPER  The Casper Star-Tribune was named the best daily newspaper in the state this weekend during the Wyoming Press Associations annual winter convention.

The Star-Tribune also earned top honors for editorial excellence and typography, while its reporters took home 20 individual awards.

Its humbling, and we appreciate the recognition as the best daily newspaper in the state, said Star-Tribune Publisher Tom Biermann. Well continue to set high standards for ourselves as the state newspaper.

The Powell Tribune and Lovell Chronicle were named the winners of the WPAs General Excellence awards for large weekly and small weekly newspapers, respectively, for 2015.

The awards for overall excellence in newspaper publishing were based on thorough reviews of newspapers from across Wyoming by members of the Nevada Press Association.

Its always gratifying to find out what our colleagues in other states think about our newspapers, said Toby Bonner, publisher of the Powell Tribune and newly elected president of the WPA. Given the high quality of Wyomings newspapers overall, those selected as the best can really be proud.

The General Excellence awards are among a number handed out to honor newspaper staffs for their years work in the areas of advertising, typography, editorial writing and photography. New awards were added this year to recognize the states top veteran and young journalists of the year and the states top photographers.

Winning top honors for veteran journalist was Wyoming Tribune Eagle Editor D. Reed Eckhardt, while Douglas Budget Editor Cody Tucker was named the young journalist of the year.

Photography honors, meanwhile, went to the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Jackson Hole News & Guide and Glenrock Independent, while Bradley Boner of the Jackson Hole News & Guide was the winner of a new WPA designation, the states Photographer of the Year.

The WPAs Pacemaker awards, honoring day-to-day excellence in 36 categories, were handed out earlier in the weekend.

The Star-Tribune earned 20 awards in those categories, including nine first-place awards. The Casper Journal earned major recognition with the award of the WPA Foundation Sweepstakes prize, a result of the Journal winning more individual Pacemaker awards than any other small weekly in the state.

In the area of major awards for newspapers, among daily newspapers, the Star-Tribune also placed first for editorial excellence and typographic excellence and second for advertising excellence. Placing first for advertising excellence was the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, which also won second-place honors for general excellence.

The Riverton Ranger placed second for editorial excellence, while the Gillette News-Record won second for typographic excellence.

Among large weekly newspapers  those with a circulation of more than 2,500  the Powell Tribune won top honors for typographic excellence and placed second for editorial excellence and advertising excellence.

Winning first place for editorial excellence was the Jackson Hole News & Guide, which also placed first for advertising excellence and second for general excellence and typographic excellence.

In addition to its first place finish for general excellence among small weekly newspapers, the Lovell Chronicle placed second for editorial excellence. Second place in general excellence among small weeklies was awarded to The Basin Republican-Rustler.

Winning first place for editorial excellence was the Saratoga Sun. Top honors for advertising excellence went to the Newcastle News Letter Journal, followed by the Bridger Valley Pioneer in Lyman. First place for typographic excellence was won by the Glenrock Independent, followed in second by the Greybull Standard.

In photographic competition, the Tribune-Eagle, Jackson Hole News & Guide and Glenrock Independent all won top Photographic Excellence honors, while a photo by Price Chambers called A Walk in the Park was named Wyomings Photo of the Year.

In other events during the weekend, Bonner was elected president of the WPAs board of directors, while Bob Kennedy of the Cody Enterprise was elected vice president.

WPA members also elected four new board members to fill vacancies: Laramie Boomerang Publisher Jeff Robertson, Kennedy and Kemmerer Gazette Publisher Mark Tesoro were elected to fill three-year terms on the board representing daily, large weekly and small weekly newspapers, respectively. Lander Journal Editor Kelli Ameling was also selected to fill a two-year vacancy on the board and represent large weekly newspapers.

The WPA represents Wyomings 44 newspapers in areas through lobbying, education and public relations.
For the second year in a row, professionals from the public festival and events industry will hold their annual convention in Tucson.

About 500 members of the International Festivals & Events Association and its global affiliates will return to the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in September.

Weve never gone back anywhere two years in a row. I told the local folks it was the same odds as the Powerball lottery, joked Steven Schmader, association president and CEO.

Convention attendees responded very positively to Tucson, he said, and the strong support of government, tourism and local festival officials sealed the deal.

For their international members, Tucsons desert setting was also a selling point, Schmader said.

The Southwest is unique enough, and here, with all the saguaros, it really has a feel that is very different from a lot of other places you go to, he said.

Having a group whose membership includes the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Kentucky Derby Festival return is a coup for the city, said Mia Hansen, co-founder and board member of the Festivals and Events Association of Tucson and Southern Arizona.

It proves that we are indeed a world-class festival and event city. Weve always known that, but sometimes it takes someone from the outside to point it out to us, she said.

Along with the close to 1,000 room nights and visitor spending that come with the convention, there are many benefits to the city, officials said.

The event brings in professionals from all over the world to share best practices and new ideas, Hansen said, something local festival and event organizers should take advantage of.

This convention will really help to elevate our own industry, making things even better for the already wonderful event industry we have here, she said.

Theres also the benefit of word of mouth among people known for their networking skills, Schmader said.

People in our business are highly connected. When they have a very positive impression of some place, theyll talk about it a lot, he said. I guarantee you theyre out there very positively flying the flag for Tucson.

Local officials are already working on how to top what they offered attendees last year, which included trips to Old Tucson, downtown and Fourth Avenue.

Early plans hope to play off the citys dark skies and recent designation as a City of Gastronomy by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Hansen said.
Tucson airport chief Bonnie Allin really wanted to announce some new nonstop flights at the annual meeting of the Tucson Airport Authority on Monday.

That didnt pan out, but airport officials and local business leaders are working very hard to get airlines to add new flights from Tucson to New York, Mexico and other priority destinations, Allin said at the meeting at the Arizona Inn.

We are closer today than since 2008 to having nonstop service to New York and to Mexico, said Allin, president and CEO of the airport authority.

Tucson and other smaller airports have suffered from diminished flight service as the airlines have consolidated and cut seats to stay aloft.

But Allin noted that last year Tucson saw some seasonal flights return and others added in 2015, including new Delta Air Lines service to Los Angeles International Airport, new nonstop service to Chicago OHare on United, and the resumption of seasonal nonstops to Seattle on Delta, Houston Hobby (Southwest), Minneapolis (Delta) and Portland (Alaska).

Overall, the number of available seats is up about 7 percent from last year, but the total number of passengers fell about 2 percent, mainly due to Southwests decision to drop one of its four Las Vegas nonstops, she said.

Still, progress on some routes is slow despite the Tucson airports air service incentive program, which gives airlines fee waivers and marketing support worth up to $1.4 million each for new, long-haul domestic and international flights, or up to $1 million for short-haul domestic routes.

The incentives have helped TIA add one flight, a Portland flight Alaska added in 2013, while work continues on other priority destinations such as New York, Washington, D.C., Albuquerque and Canada.

Weve learned after years of working with the airlines that you have to be persistent and patient, Allin said.

The airport has been working closely with a potential start-up carrier in Mexico on flights to Hermosillo and Guaymas, but that has not been finalized, Allin said.

Local officials were pushing hard to get a new flight to the New York area in time for the winter season, but that wont likely happen until next winter, Allin said.

The airport says local officals have been in close contact with three airlines on potential New York routes.

The effort to secure new nonstops to New York City, or nearby airports such as Newark, is being spearheaded by an air-service task force of the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber has amassed $3 million in member commitments for a fund as a minimum revenue guarantee to attract new flights by making up any revenue shortfall to the airlines.

Bill Assenmacher, who was elected to the Tucson Airport Authority board Monday, has led the chambers effort with Chamber president and CEO Mike Varney.

Assenmacher, CEO of the metal fabrication firm CAID Industries, said in an interview the chamber has been courting several airlines for New York-area flights, including JetBlue and American at JFK International Airport and United at Newark, New Jersey.

Were literally the largest city in the world that doesnt have service to New York, he said.

Chamber members are excited about adding United flights because the airline is expanding service to Europe, Assenmacher said. But talks stalled last year after Uniteds CEO stepped down and his replacement had a heart transplant, he said.

The revenue-guarantee fund is something the chamber can provide that the airport cant offer because of its reliance on airline fees, Assenmacher noted.

We really believe it can be a game-changer, he said.

Chamber members, including local auto dealers and resorts, have committed money to the revenue-guarantee fund, Assenmacher said, declining to name the donors.

The guarantee funds would only be tapped if new flights fell short of expected revenues, Assenmacher said, adding, We dont want to use this money.

Allin said the major problem remains competition from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, noting that about a million people drive from Tucson to fly out of Sky Harbor, though it can be faster and, with added expenses, about the same cost to fly from Tucson.

We have a lot of people who drive to Phoenix to take a flight to San Diego, she said.
passed away suddenly January 20, 2016 in Tucson at the age of 68. Born Leo Lionel Lynn, Jr. in Douglas, Arizona, he was best known as Butch. Butch was raised in Bisbee, Phoenix and Las Vegas but always called Bisbee, Arizona his home. He was a graduate of Bisbee High School '65, attended Cochise College and went on to graduate from Northern Arizona University. During his college days Butch was a member of a folksinging group, "the Folkmen" touring the Tucson and Arizona music circuit behind the then "pre famous" Linda Ronstadt. After his graduation from NAU with a degree in Mathematics in 1969 he moved to Dearborn, MI, for a short time where he worked for the Ford Motor Corporation and was proud to have met Henry Ford the 2nd. He moved to Reno, Nevada in the early seventies to join his father in the family car business becoming sales manager for the Sierra Lincoln Mercury dealership in Reno. After the dealership was sold in 1982 Butch then found his true career in public relations and marketing. Butch was active in the 20-30 club in Reno, many charities and was a Doctor ('87) of Reno's infamous Sheep Dip a roast of the city and State politics. He founded PressComm in Reno and through his work was able to meet and work with many celebrities and artists in representation and promotion. His personal hero, Red Skelton, became a dear relationship for Butch as he remembered watching the Red Skelton Show in his boyhood days. His time spent with Red meant the world to Butch and he often fondly recalled many stories. Butch loved life, loved to laugh, but more importantly loved to make other people laugh. He never met a stranger. He and his wife moved to Tucson in 2007 to retire to his roots and be closer to his beloved cousin, Shari Uyeda of Bisbee, AZ. He founded the Bisbee High School lunch club which meets monthly in Tucson bringing together graduates of Bisbee High and Bisbee people who love and cherish their home and their roots. He loved to photograph events and people and was never without a camera, a joke, a ready smile and a welcoming handshake or hug. He founded GART, a group of actors that reproduced the Golden Age of Radio Theater plays. He is survived by his wife, Diane; his sister, Sandy "Mary" Dortch and her husband, Terry Dortch; his half-brother, Patrick Welch; half-sisters, Chris and Cynthia Lynn and Susan Kline; nephews, Tim, Dwight, Bobbie, Steve, Justin, Keith and his nieces, Jessica and Abriana as well as cousins in Bisbee, Tucson and throughout Arizona. He was also a beloved brother-in-law, uncle-in-law and godfather. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in Butch's name be made to the Bisbee Foundation, Drawer BK, Bisbee, Arizona 85603. A Mass will be held in remembrance of Butch will be at 12:00 noon, Saturday, January 30, 2016 at St Cyril's of Alexandria in Tucson with a reception to follow at the Healthsouth Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson, 2650 N. Wyatt Dr. Arrangements by BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL.
DEAR AMY: When I was in my late 20s in the 1990s, I dated a woman for several months before I broke it off.

A couple of years ago, my current girlfriend asked me whether I regretted never having any children of my own. She asked whether I was sure that I didnt have any children I didnt know about.

I could only think of this one woman. She had a child from a previous relationship and said she put on the birth certificate father unknown, even though she knew who the father was.

I did a little searching and found out she had a son who was born several months after we broke up. I saw pictures on social media, and if you compare pictures of me at the same ages, we look a lot alike.

After a lot of thought, consultation with my attorney and information from an investigator, I contacted her. She was defiant and angrily stated that there was no way he was my child.

The boy turns 18 this month and my attorney said it would probably be best if I waited until after his 18th birthday to contact him in order to avoid legal conflict with his mother.

My questions are: Should I contact him right after his birthday? Should I wait until high school graduation this spring? Or should I leave well enough alone and do nothing?  Wondering in Indiana

DEAR WONDERING: Doing nothing doesnt seem to be an option. You have consulted a lawyer, an investigator, friends, the childs mother and now me. You are going to do something, and it is your right to make this inquiry.

It might be best to wait until after high school graduation. Your lawyer will suggest the best way to do this, possibly via registered letter, but do not do it through social media.

Beforehand, clarify your intentions: Are you offering financial support, family health history, friendship? Tell him about yourself, details about your own background. Tell him the dates of your relationship with his mother. Say you have contacted his mother but do not criticize her.

Be open to whatever reaction he might have (most likely, no reaction for quite some time). Give him all of your contact information and encourage him to get in touch. Understand that this will rock his world. Be calm, mature and understanding while he sorts things out on his end.

DEAR AMY: I made a three-course dinner for my husband, son and myself last night.

While I was preparing to serve the third course, my husband stood up and without saying anything, went to the fridge and got himself a bowl of yogurt.

I felt this was rude and disrespectful. He disagrees. We need a referee!  Angry

DEAR ANGRY: Your husband and son live in the house and they have a right to reach into the fridge. However, in the most peaceful and happy households, all members treat one another not like cooks and bottle washers, but at least as well as they would treat an honored guest or host.

Would your husband jump up in the middle of a meal and serve himself something not on the menu if he were being served at a friends house? Presumably not. Would he be happy if his son did the same? I dont think so. Is he modeling appropriate behavior? No, not at all.

If he wants to continue to be served nice three-course meals, he should be more polite when he decides to supplement his dinner, saying, Honey, thank you so much, but Im craving that cherry-berry yogurt I saw in the fridge. Mind if I also help myself to that?

DEAR AMY: In response to Woman Who Wants it All about timing a pregnancy and a career, Id like to suggest that she consider part-time employment when her children are young.

I was a fairly new teacher when I had my first son and was able to find a part-time position. It was the best of both worlds! I continued to develop my career while educating my own children emotionally and academically. When my district required me to return full time, my husband took a year to work part time to spend time with our children.  Woman Who Had It All
A Border Patrol agent shot and wounded a suspected drug smuggler Monday morning near the Arizona-New Mexico border.

The agent fired his service-issued sidearm during a struggle with a suspect at around 10:45 a.m.

The shooting came as agents were tracking an undisclosed number of suspects who fled a vehicle containing drugs in a remote area east of Apache, the Border Patrol said in a news release.

First responders provided emergency medical treatment to the suspect, who was flown to an undisclosed hospital, the Border Patrol said.

The persons condition was not known. No other information was available as of Monday night on the incident.

The shooting happened east of Arizona 80 near Skeleton Canyon, according to the Cochise County Sheriffs Office, which responded to a request for assistance from the Border Patrol at around 11:20 a.m.

The shooting site is in New Mexico, the agency said.

The Hidalgo County Sheriffs Office in New Mexico was notified of the shooting.
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  Insisting there must be fraud taking place, a Republican-controlled House committee voted Monday to make it a felony to take someone elses early ballot to a polling place.

The 4-2 party-line vote on HB 2023 came after a series of speakers, many with links to the Republican Party, said they have heard of situations where groups collect ballots and then choose to turn in only those where the vote is likely to go the way they want. They said that can be as simple as figuring out the political registration of the person whose ballot is being picked up to peering through less-than-opaque envelopes.

More than two hours of testimony, however, turned up no actual evidence beyond hearsay. Even state Elections Director Eric Spencer conceded he could point to no specific instances where someone tossed away someone elses early ballot, something that is already a crime.

But Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, who chairs the House Education Committee, said it should not be necessary to wait before outlawing what has been termed ballot harvesting.

It increases the opportunity for fraud to exist, she said.

And Rep. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, said its irrelevant whether there is fraud or not.

What is indisputable is that many people believe its happening, he said.

You cant really argue with that. And I think that matters.

Arizona is among a majority of states that provide early ballots.

Voters can request to have a ballot mailed to them to be filled out at home. They then can either mail it back in a prepaid envelope or take it directly to a polling place.

But Arizona law also permits a voter to give that ballot to anyone else to return. Spencer said 18 states have specific prohibitions against that.

Spencer said his boss, Republican Secretary of State Michele Reagan, believes it should be easy to vote and hard to cheat.

He said the envelopes used by some counties  he did not name names  are thin enough to enable someone who collects them to see how someone voted.

That creates a big temptation to cheat, Spencer said.

HB 2023 would leave exceptions for family members, those living in the same household, and caregivers for those living in nursing homes or similar facilities.

There is no question that outside groups are collecting ballots.

Stacey Morley, lobbyist for the Arizona Education Association, said teachers and parent groups will go to homes ahead of bond and override elections to make sure that people who have requested early ballots turn them in. Morley told lawmakers her groups concern is maximizing voter participation in what are often low-turnout elections.

We are very concerned this would make our teachers felons, she said. The measure carries a presumptive one-year prison term for first-time offenders.

Sierra Club lobbyist Sandy Bahr said she has personally taken someone elses ballot to a polling place if there is a chance it would otherwise not arrive on time. Arizona law counts only ballots received by 7 p.m. on election day; those arriving later are not counted even if they are postmarked on time.

And Rep. Lisa Otondo, D-Yuma, said there are portions of her rural district which do not have mail delivery, meaning someone who wants to return an early ballot has to make a special trip to the post office.

But Republican Richard Hopkins of Buckeye, who came in third in the three-way race for the two House seats in that district, told lawmakers that had it not been for such techniques, I would have been a member of this body.

His proof? Hopkins said that the margin of votes for his Democrat foes, including Otondo and Rep. Charlene Fernandez, D-Yuma, were greater in the early ballots, including those he admitted were mailed legitimately. Ultimately, he lost by 188 votes.

A similar provision was approved by lawmakers in 2013 in a package of other changes that foes said were designed to curtail voting by minorities. But legislators repealed it after foes gathered enough signatures to force the issue to a public vote.

It is unclear whether approval this year will lead to a similar effort. But Will Gaona, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, suggested to legislators that its approval could lead to a lawsuit.
PHOENIX  Arizona students from kindergarten through high school would be taught sex education unless their parents specifically object, under the terms of proposed legislation.

Too many youngsters grow up with misinformation or no information at all about sex, Rep. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, said. The result, he said, is a health crisis of both disease and unwanted pregnancies.

Separately, Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Phoenix, is pushing to repeal a law that requires Arizona schools to portray homosexuality as anything but positive in their sex-education courses.

But Josh Kredit, attorney for the Center for Arizona Policy, dismissed both measures as dangerous.

These are extreme proposals that are trying to mandate sex education for 5-year-olds, he said.

And Kredit, whose organization says that homosexuality is simply a behavior that can be modified or even stopped, said theres no reason to remove the restrictions on teachings on the subject.

I think that the policies we have in this state are good policies, he said.

Theyve been vetted and been around for a number of years, Kredit continued. And I think the proper protections are in place right now that parents appreciate them.

With Democrat sponsors, both bills face uncertain futures in the Republican-controlled Legislature. But if they get hearings, they are bound to provoke spirited debate.

Mendez said the message that is now being pushed on children is one of abstinence as the acceptable method of preventing pregnancy and disease.

But we have to prepare the other ones who are not going to listen to that message with age-appropriate, accurate information given to them by trained instructors, he said.

Were leaving them to the risk of HIV, were leaving them to the risk of pregnancy, Mendez said. And its our fault for not preparing them appropriately.

HB 2410 spells out what kinds of things must be included in sex-ed classes. It does require teaching the benefits of delaying sexual activity. But it also says classes must stress the importance of effectively using contraceptives and barrier methods to prevent unintended pregnancy and to protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Students also have to be taught about developing relationships based on mutual respect and that are free from violence, coercion and intimidation. And it encourages students to communicate with parents, other adults and health-care professionals about their sexuality and intimate relations.

Kredit, however, focused on the fact that current law makes sex education optional for schools. More to the point, it is an opt in system requiring parents to affirmatively put their children into such classes.

This is mandating 5-year-olds start having sex education, he said. Theyre trying to pull a fast one on parents that may not even know what their child is learning about.

Mendez said Kredit was being alarmist in his concern about what those in kindergarten will be told.

He said his legislation requires instruction to be age appropriate.

And what that means, Mendez said, could be as simple as answering questions about where babies come from.

Kredit said the question of sex-education courses should be left to local control.

Yet he is opposed to SB 1019, which would leave the right of how to discuss sexual orientation to local school boards.

Current law says if schools offer sex education, they cannot do anything that promotes a homosexual lifestyle.

The same statute also forbids portraying it as a positive alternative lifestyle.

And it forbids teachers from saying that some methods of safe sex, which are permitted to be taught, are safe methods of homosexual sex.

Quezada said his bill, unlike HB 2410, does not mandate schools to offer sexual education.

But he said the restriction has created problems for school districts that want to offer sex education and are just not sure what they can say about homosexuality.

The result, he said, is that lawyers have been telling school boards that the law precludes them from discussing the subject at all, regardless of whether they were portraying it positively or negatively.

That really left a big hole in the curriculum, Quezada said. And it left a lot of kids in danger that theyre not being taught some safe-sex methods.

The Center for Arizona Policy website includes an extensive section about homosexuality, including that there is no scientific evidence to show a genetic cause for sexual orientation.

There are many documented cases of homosexuals modifying their behavior and becoming heterosexual through Christian ministries and counseling, the website states.
Help India!

By Abdul Hameed and Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

Belying a perception that madrasas generally show little interest in national festivals like Independence Day and Republic Day, several Islamic seminaries in Mumbai and Patna and many others across the country, along with the nation, celebrated the Yaum-e-Jamhuriya (Republic Day) today with enthusiasm.

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Following the national tradition madrasa teachers and students gathered under the National Flag  Tiranga  hoisted it and sang the National Anthem and National Song with teachers reminding their pupils about the importance of the day and that they should be a faithful citizen of the country.







The whole Mumbai today celebrated the 60th Republic Day with joy and fervor and programs were organized at schools, colleges, and madrasas and even on the pavements.

Madrasa Rahmania in Govandi celebrated the Republic Day with the same spirit. Located in the Muslim-dominated area the madrasa has been conducting programs and hoisting flags on 15 August and 26 January for nearly 8 years and it attracts many people from its vicinity too.

The students of the madrasa presented their programs on the occasion that included the National Anthem and National Song (Sare Jahan se achchha Hindustan hamara) followed by speeches by the students focusing on the Muslims contribution towards freedom of the country.







Some years back our madrasa would not hoist the flag but at the suggestion of a municipal officer we have been doing so for the last eight years, Maulana Jalaluddin, secretary of the madrasa, told TwoCircles.net.

We hold programs on Independence Day and Republic Day to express our solidarity with the whole India and through this we tell the people about what our forefathers sacrificed for the sake of the country, said the Maulana.

With same national spirit several madrasas in Bihar including Al-Mahadul Aali, a madrasa run in Patna by the Imarat Sharia (Bihar, Orissa & Jharkhand), celebrated the Republic Day.

Located in a densely populated Muslim locality of Phulwari Shareef in Bihars capital madrasa Al-Mahadul Aali celebrated the 60th Republic Day with full national spirit.

After hoisting the Tiranga Maulana Abdul Basit, secretary of the madrasa, told the students about the responsibility of a good citizen. He emphasized communal harmony and brotherhood among the people of the country. Quoting Allama Iqbals couplet Ai Aabrood Ganga Woh Din Hai Yaad Tujhko, Utra Tere Kinare Jab Kaarwan Hamara Maulana Abdul Basit told his students that they should not forget the purpose of the caravan of their forefathers that came here. He said: We should live here peacefully and maintain good relationship with our countrymen. We must not do anything that hurts others.

While talking to some madrasa students it was noticed that like their counterparts of modern schools the new generation of madrasas know a little about Independence Day and Republic Day and some of them are confused about the history of these two days.

Waheedur Rahman and Muhammad Ajmal, Class VI students of Madrasa Rahmania say: We celebrate 26 January as Republic Day every year because the Constitution of India came into force on the very day in 1950. Correct. But Muhammad Zahid of the same class is a little confused when he says today is Independence Day and 15 August is Republic Day. Similarly Abdul Haseeb of Class IV says 26 January is Yaum-e-Jamhuriya (Republic Day) and we are celebrating the day since 1946 while Ubaidullah who did his SSC says we have been celebrating Republic Day since 1947 or 1957.


Help India!

Dr. M.H.Jawahirullah,

Kumar Chellapans Fatwas Ban Outsiders Entry into Rameshwaram Villages (The Pioneer December 16,2013) is full of falsehood, mischievous misrepresentations and blatant errors. It exposes the prejudiced, hate mongering journalist culture of the Sangh Parivars mouthpiece. The biased and motivated report exposes the unethical journalistic culture of the Sangh Parivar.

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Kumar Chellapan alleges that Fatwas (Muslim religious edicts) have been issued to ban the entry of the outsiders into Rameswaram villages. To my thorough knowledge, no such fatwa has been issued in any village in Ramanathapuram Distirct. The so-called reporter needs to learn basic facts of geography and politics. Let it be rightly known that only Pamban is in Rameshwaram island and that all the other villages located in Ramanathapuram District come under Thiruvadanai Constituency and its MLA is Suba Thangavelan of the DMK.







Kumar Chellapan alleges Ramanathapuram is represented in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by MH Jawahirullah of the Muslaim (sic) Munnetra Kazhagam (MMK), an Islamic outfit. It is true that I represent the Ramanathapuram Constituency but the political party I belong to is Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (Humanitarian Peoples Party). It is a registered political party which works for the welfare of all communities, Muslims not excluded. Further he states that The MMK was an ally of the AIADMK in the 2011 Assembly election and switched over to the DMK camp during the July 2012 Rajya Sabha election. Incidentally the Rajya Sabha elections took place in July 2013, not in July 2012. These factual errors are enough to expose his ignorance of simple political matters.

Chellapan states that Local Jamaath Councils have issued fatwas declaring Muslim-majority villages out of bounds for people even from the district itself. At the entry points to Athiyuthu, Puthuvalassai, Panaikulam, Azhagankulam and Sitharkottai are found such boards, all put up by the local Jamaath Councils. His guide Arumugam reports There are boards deep inside these villages which declare outsiders are not allowed, These allegations are totally wrong and utterly false. The truth is no such board declaring that these villages are out of bounds for non- Muslims was ever put up in these villages. There were notice boards but they carried no fatwa. They merely displayed completely innocuous restrictions against indiscriminate pasting of bills, noisy announcements from loudspeakers mounted on vehicles and parking of vehicles obstructing smooth flow of traffic. Pioneer did not corroborate its version by publishing the offensive board. The actual pictures of the notice boards are reproduced below for the benefit of anyone who cares to verify the real message and not to get carried away by rumours of nonexistent fatwas.

The message on the notice board translated into English reads as follows:

Warning: Advertising and Pasting bills without permission and using loudspeakers mounted on motor vehicles inside the village is disallowed. Those who violate this will be lawfully proceeded against. Do not park vehicles disturbing flow of traffic  Muslim Jamath Thajul Islam Sangam, Pottakavayal

There is not a single word in this notice which states that this village is out of bounds for outsiders. Further these notice boards only reinstate the existing general restrictions relating to billboards, pasting bills and loudspeakers on vehicles and are well within the ambit of Tamilnadu Open Places (prevention of disfigurement) Act 1959) and The Motor Vehicles Act. These restrictions apply to all parties and organizations irrespective of their religious or caste affiliations.

In Alagankulam both Muslim and Hindu community leaders had come to an agreement several years back and had put up boards of which one is given below. (Pioneer had not published this picture)







The translation of this into English is:

Warning: Propagation through Loud speakers, Pasting bills and writing advertisements on walls are disallowed inside the village. Severe action will be taken against those who violate this  Hindu Muslim United Sabha Alagankulam.

Quoting Senthilvel, in reality an office bearer of BJP in Alagankulam masqueraded here as a foreign exchange dealer, it is reported that the villagers are still in a state of shock as some Muslim youth slaughtered a cow in front of the Muneeswarankoil Temple. The Jamaath Council president and secretary told us that they were helpless as the youth would not listen to them. This is an unadulterated lie. No slaughter of any cow took place in the village in front of the temple.

As was their practice in previous years during the Bakrid festival, bulls were slaughtered at Alagankulam in a compounded place belonging to one Noorullah, a Jamaat office bearer. The compounds was about 100 feet away from the temple But this year a few people belonging to Senthilvels party organized a road roko protesting against this and the police booked cases against them. In Alagankulam harmonious relationship exists between Muslims and Hindus. Both communities have such cordial understanding that the Presidentship of the Panchayat is shared in rotation among Muslims and Hindus. The board put up by Hindu Muslim United Sabah is an indication of this unity.

These type of boards have been in existence in the villages for more than 30 years. Such boards have also been placed in some Hindu majority villages. These restrictions have contributed to preserving social harmony. No wonder there had been no clashes between the Hindu and Muslim communities in these villages. I should also mention that these restrictions have not been strictly implemented in these villages. I am giving below pictures posters pasted by some Hindu organisations 2 weeks ago in a bus shelter at Panaikulam one of the villages mentioned by Kumar Chellapan.







Quoting Kuppuramu , State President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Ramanathpuram District President of RSS, presented here as a lawyer it is claimed that in Pamban the Panchayath road has a board put by the Islamic extremists banning outsiders from the road: Not a public thoroughfare. Ladies move about in this place, says the board.

The photograph of the notification which Pioneer has not published is given below:

This notice is not on any public thoroughfare of Pamban. It is not on any main road. It is on the wall of a house in a narrow by-lane in the Muslim mohallah of Pamban. Four such noticeboards were put up by the local Jamaath (not by Muslim extremists) about 4 years ago following an eve teasing incident to ensure protection to women. Restriction of movement in this exclusive women passage is applicable to Muslim men as much as to others. When we have exclusive buses, exclusive seats in buses and separate trains compartments for women what is wrong is providing an exclusive passage for women in the narrow lanes?







Chellapan also quotes Kuppuramu as saying Pamban Swamy (1848-1929) a great Saivaite saint was born in Pamban. Pamban Swamy, who preached love, compassion, kindness and equality, would be turning in his grave if he comes to know what his successors have done in his place of birth. Pamban has been a peaceful village with the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities living in harmonious and cordial relationship. It has not given any space for any fascist organisation to rear its ugly head, perhaps much to the discomfiture of Sangh Parivar communalists. Pamban village also encompasses Kundukaal the place where Swami Vivekanada first landed on 26th January 1897 after his famous lecture in Chicago. The Raja of Ramanathpuram welcomed him at Kundukaal. When the Ramakrishna Mutt wanted to construct a commemorative structure in honour of Vivekanada, it had to approach a Muslim family namely the Mandapam Maraicoir family who owned that particular place. The Mutt was prepared to pay the market value for the land. However the Muslim family preferred to donate 5 acres of Land to the Mutt to build the commemorative structure. This is now known as Vivekanada Illam and was declared open in 2009. So Pamban Swamy who had many Muslim well-wishers and patrons would have been doubly rejoiced to know of the Hindu  Muslim unity which is prevailing in his birth place.

Chellappan also quotes Kuppuramu the VHP leader as saying, during the DMK regime in 2008, some Muslim youths hoisted the national flag with chappals at Vethalai village. The case was hushed up by Hassan Ali, the then MLA of the Congress there was another instance of tricolour with chappals being hoisted in Puthumadom (sic) village which too was hushed up Hassan Ali. No such event dishonouring our National flag had happened in Vethalai village. In Pudumadam five students studying in 5th and 6th standards playfully hoisted chappals for which they were charged. The police booked them and produced them in the court and they were fined Rs1000 each. There was no question of the matter being hushed up by the then MLA Mr.Hassan Ali.

Quoting VHP President Kuppuramu, Chellappan says nearly 50 per cent of the business establishments in Ramanathapuram are owned by members of the Muslim community. A Hindu can launch his business only if he gets approval from the Muslim community. This is an unwritten rule in the district This is a blatant lie. Ramanthapuram District has of course the highest Muslim population in the state in terms of percentage. Even then it does not cross 15 per cent. According to 2001 census, the District population comprises 80.41% Hindus, 14.4% Muslims, Christians 5.08% and others 0.11%. Muslims being a trading community no doubt have good number of business establishments in Ramanathapuram. Muslim business establishments in Ramanathapuram Town will be around 20 per cent and in the entire district it would be around 12-15% and not 50 percent as alleged. Moreover the Muslim NRIs and Gulf returnees have invested their hard- earned money in Ramanathapuram which has contributed to its overall development and has generated employment opportunities to all sections. It is a win-win situation for all communities. Any Hindu can open a business venture in Ramanathapuram and they do not need anybodys permission, leave alone the Muslim communitys. The charge is nothing but a naked lie, not a sin for the followers of Goebbels.

Chellapan states that according to Suba Nagarajan, a BJP leader in Ramanathapuram Religious conversion and smuggling are rampant in the district. Panna Ismail and Bilal Mohammed, who murdered Hindu leader Vellaiyappan in July 2013 at Vellore had come to Keezhakarai after the murder. The police should probe the details of their visit to Keezhakarai, If Mr. Suba Nagarajan is really in the know of such movements and activities, he should have brought them in writing to the notice of the District Police authorities. That no such complaint has been lodged is an indication about the flimsy nature of these sweeping statements. Further if at all the wanted accused, for whose capture the State government had announced awards, were really in Keelakarai, Mr. Nagarajan should have given the information to the police which would have enabled them to apprehend the criminals and prevented further murders.







Chellappan also states that Nagarajan has stated Muslims in the district are on a warpath with the Hindus since 1981. This is a misconception. By and large the Hindu and Muslim community are living in harmony and cooperation. Even in the villages mentioned by Chellappan Muslims have contributed considerably for the development of Government schools and hospitals which have benefitted all communities.

Quoting N. Suriyaprakash the Ramanathpuram Town President of BJP the article states that for the last 20 years, only Muslim candidates had been elected from this constituency. Only Muslims could be elected from this Assembly constituency, It is true that Ramanathapuram Assembly Constituency has been represented by Muslims belonging to various secular parties from 1996. What is wrong in it when someone is elected in a free and fair election? However it should be noted that prior to 1996, for 44 years (including in 1981 from when Nagarajan alleges that Muslim are on warpath with Hindus) Ramanathpuram constituency had been represented by Hindus belonging to various secular parties.

As a Member of the Legislative Assembly representing Ramanathapuram constituency I request Kumar Chellappan to read my speeches and questions in the Assembly. To his wonder he will find that I have spoken a lot about improving the infrastructural facilities and extending other facilities to help the Hindu pilgrims visiting not only the famous Shri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram but also in Thiruuthrakosamangai and Tirupullani which also house famous Hindu temples. I have taken up several issues relating to these towns in my constituency to the authorities and redressed various grievances. True Hindu leaders like Swamy Pravananda of Ramakrishna Kudil in Rameswaram would vouch for my services to all sections of the society.

Kuppuramu and the Sangh Parivar are nourishing hatred against Muslims as well as Hindus that they could not succeed in drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims in Ramanathpuram District. This news article is a reflection of their frustration. Hindus, Muslims and Christians population in Ramanathapuram District will never fall a prey to their nefarious designs and will continue to live in harmony, peace and mutual cooperation.

(Dr. M.H.Jawahirullah, Member of Legislative Assembly, Ramanathapuram Constituency, Legislative Party Leader, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi)
Help India!

By Ram Puniyani,

While on one hand a PIL has been filed for UCC, there is another significant development in this direction. This relates to the personal laws of Muslim community. That Muslim women are subject to more domination and gender injustice has been a widespread perception. While as such the Personal laws of different religious communities are not giving due justice to women, the popular focus is mainly on the Muslim community. This despite the fact that there are number of Muslim womens groups who are striving for gender just civil codes within Muslim community. The recently released Nikahnama (Marriage Norms) by Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) is one such leap by Muslim women to overcome the shackles of patriarchal grip on the Muslim women. Model Nikahnama released by BMMA (June 23, 2014) is an important step in this direction, in the direction of empowering Muslim women This tries to give the solution to various problems faced by Muslim women. It outlines the various steps for which the large section of Muslim women is longing for.

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This Nikahnama calls for registration of all marriages, calls for denial of second marriage unless there is a valid ground like death of the first wife etc, calls for minimum age of marriage for girls to be 18, (for boys 21), wife should have due place in the household even after the death of husband, divorce should be permitted in the physical presence of husband and wife both and it should be supported by legal documents, and in case of women demanding divorce, her voice should be respected and she should be allowed to keep personal belongings.







The notion that the present plight of Muslim women is due to Islam holds no water. Islamic scholars and reformers like Asghar Ali Engineer contributed tremendously to the many basic points of this Nikahnama, which is a sort of Muslim Personal Law. The major highlight of this draft is that it represents the opinions of thousands of Muslim women due to whose participation the drafting of this one took final shape. The future challenge is that this Nikahnama has to be made the basis of the personal laws and a major campaign has to be launched in support of this. While the directive principles of our Constitution call that state should attempt to evolve a Uniform civil code, the issue as such came to the forefront in the wake of historic Shah Bano judgment, where a Muslim divorcee women was granted the maintenance by the court. The opposition to this court judgment came from the orthodox section of the community and the judgment was reversed by an act of Parliament by Rajiv Gandhi Government. This was a serious mistake.

The womens movement has been asking for gender justice and many a concerned groups have been struggling for this. As we know the personal laws have been a continuation of what British had introduced and pertain only to marriage, divorce, custody of children and inheritance. While the civil and criminal laws are the same for all the religious communities, the personal laws have been based on the traditional customs, primarily patriarchal. The severe flaw in these laws is that they are heavily weighted in favor of men. While initially there was some lack of clarity about the concept of Uniformity, the womens movement in due course called for gender justice as the basis of these rather than mere uniformity.

Uniformity can very well be an amalgam of unjust laws picked from different traditions and put together. Thats not something which womens movement wants, thats something which is not in consonance with the concept of gender parity. Thats not what a civilized society should have. The twin aspect of the need for newer personal laws has been the gender equality in front of law and their introduction through a process of social reform rather than imposition by dictat from the top.

The efforts of Muslim womens groups face obstacles due to the domination of orthodox elements in the community. This situation is worst confounded due to the sense of physical insecurity following the communal violence. During last several decades the percentage of Muslims getting killed in the communal violence is close to 90%, while their percentage in the population is close to 14%. Communal violence is also the ground where women from minority community are subjected to serious sexual and physical abuse. This is what creates the sense of social insecurity, weakening their movements in a serious manner. Its not that Muslim women dont want reforms or parity in social matters; its not that Muslim men are able to hegemonize the situation due to religion or due to what Koran says. The issue at stake is the physical insecurity due to which Muslim womens groups have remained comparatively weak and unable to assert themselves within the community and society. There surely are number of groups from amongst the Muslim community asking for equality, their movement is unable to get strength due to the cancerous phenomenon of communal violence and its soial-psychological aftermath.

The Hindu right wings cry for Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is not because it is seeking for gender parity. It has been seen that this UCC can be used as a political tool to beat the Muslim community with so it has been made as a basic part of the so-called Hindutva agenda. This also needs to be seen from another angle. As a matter of fact the term Uniform has to qualified in proper perspective. It should not be a compilation of different unjust laws from different religious customs. What we need is an overhaul of the personal laws in all the religious communities and that the new laws have to be formulated on the grounds of gender justice. And secondly, they have to be evolved through the process of discussion and debate within the communities, where the women, who are the major sufferers of the prevalent laws, should have a major role in formulating them.

The step by BMMA shows the way for the communities to march in the direction of change in personal laws. On one hand this Nikhnama has been evolved through an extensive process of community participation, on the other it articulates the aspirations of Muslim women at large. Surely the laws pertaining to other religious communities also need to go through the process of similar exercise where women have a major say and the laws then act as a major mechanism for overcoming the patriarchal norms on the society. Such positive steps by social groups need a welcome modification to further broader participation to make it more representative in character.



Response only to [email protected]
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Editors note: Guwahati-based Abdul Kalam Azad had originally sent this rebuttal to India Today after he found out that its reporter had misrepresented the facts about displaced people living in pitiable conditions in camps in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) in Assam. Azad neither received any reply from India Today group nor did it publish his rebuttal.

October 7 marks the 21st anniversary of the displacement of persons camped at Hapachara camp. We take this occasion to publish Azads attempt to put things in right perspective.

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By Abdul Kalam Azad,

Guwahati: The role of media in perceptualising risk is very crucial; especially when the risk is augmented by deadliest terrorist organization with double edged potentiality to create disaster in anywhere in the world.

Ever since the declaration of Al Qaedas Ayman Al Zawahiri that his organization is going to open a new branch in India to protect the Muslims of South Asia, media has been extensively covering the issue and trying to create a perception of risk among various stakeholders to mitigate the vulnerability and disaster. It is something that the media ought to do.

But does the professional ethics of journalism permits anyone to create a risk perception out of context to make a particular community vulnerable to the risk of persecution, humiliation and marginalization?

A case in point is the story by India Today dated September 18, 2014 titled The Next Tinderbox: 160 people killed since 2011 on clashes between indigenous people and alleged Bangladeshi Muslims immigrants in Assam.







Let me put it in perspective:

On September 13, 2014, I had accompanying the author of the story to the interior areas of Bodoland Territorial Area Districts of Assam as one of the local contacts. I joined him and the team from Guwahati while another local language journalist joined us from Sidli of Chirang district of BTAD, Assam.

Though we met for the first time, it didnt take much time to get friendly. We talked about many things during our journey but radicalisation among Muslims remained at the centre. As I have spent a good amount of time with the inmates of ethnic violence induced internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in BTAD, the author asked me if I had notice any instances of radicalisation among the victims of ethnic violence.

There are numerous IDP camps within and outside BTAD area many of which are of more than 20 years old. The inmates were displaced by Bodo ethnic violence, often called as ethnic cleansing. The IDPs are living in inhuman conditions without basic amenities like food, shelter, education and health facilities.

Over the years, during my stay and working with the inmates in various camps I observed that the instances of religious practice were increasing but I felt it was obvious because even the experts of post-disaster psychosocial-support opine that religious engagement helps the victims and survivors to cope up the mental trauma due to violence.

Does it have anything to do with radicalisation or Al Zawahiris claim to open a branch of Al Qaeda in India? A clear, firm NO!

That afternoon, we visited an IDP camp at Hapachara near Bongaigaon town. The inmates were uprooted in 1993 by an ethnic violence in Sidli subdivision of Kokrajhar district (now in Chirang, after the creation of BTAD). Officially 3658 families were affected and 72 people were killed. They are still living in camps without government support.

Hapachara camp is the home to such 1118 families. I introduced the author to the inmates and informed the gathering that he will write about their apathy to create pressure on the administration which may eventually help them to get justice.

The author took a stock of the overall conditions of camp then he asked Dont the youngsters get angry? One of the inmate answered We get angry but what can we do? Police batons cool us down. President of the camp Abdus Salam Choudhury informed that two of their inmates were killed by police in 2004 when they were demonstrating in a democratic manner against government inaction.

The author informed the gathering that he was told by some youths of other camp that they wanted gun instead of relief and books. The president of the camp said that they dont require guns but school to educate nearly 500 children, whose admission are being denied in the nearby government school only because of the stigma of being displaced.

The author further iterated that having a gun (will) not only (help) kill others but to protect themselves and once they own a gun, even CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) will not come to their camp! Fortunately, nobody bought his suggestion and they remained adamant (about their stand). The authored finally winded up saying So, you only want school?

But in the story, the author didnt find it relevant to include the feedback he received from the inmates, suffering for more than two decades. Instead, he quoted an IRS (Indian Revenue Service) officer Ashiq Zamans comment about 2012 violence. We went to distribute clothes and books. Many youngsters asked if I could provide them with guns. These camps are the most fertile ground for spread of Islamist Terrorism, Zaman was quoted as saying in the story.

Incidentally, Zaman had made another statement  and quite the contrast  on September 11, 2014 on his Facebook timeline on the arrest of three poor fishermen in Majuli as suspected Al Qaeda jihadi who were later on released.

Whole Assamese media covered the news with much fanfare on the front page with sketchy details of how Jehadis can attack Assam through river route (Like the Mughals did ehh?) Well, if this is the understanding of the media about the so called Jehad and this is the preparedness of our security forces to fight jehadi elements, then God only can save Assam, Zaman had posted.

The author didnt even find this statement relevant to Al Zawahiris announcement and subsequent developments in Assam.

Another important point needs clarification: In the beginning of the story, the author has analysed the data of people killed in last three years in Assam. Actually, the data represents the killings within the four districts of BTAD area of Assam and not for entire Assam. He termed the Muslims who have 80% share in the total death toll as alleged infiltrators from Bangladesh.

Is it fair to term the Muslims of BTAD as infiltrators? Why do we hesitate to take the pain to look into their identity and history of existence in BTAD conscientiously?

As per the 2011 census, the decadal population growth in Kokrajhar district of BTAD is lowest (mere 5%) in the state? Does it mean Bangladeshi infiltration? The interesting fact is that not only the Muslims but other non-Bodos including mainstream Assamese Hindus are out-migrating from BTAD area to safer places.

If we take the data of last two decades, it would make the picture clear that Bodo extremists not only attacked the Muslims but also Adivasis, Nepalis, Bengali and Assamese Hindus etc. More than 30000 Adivasi families, who were displaced by ethnic violence in 1996 and 1998, are still living in camps. Are these too infiltrators from Bangladesh or from any other country?

The last thing I want to put forward is about my personal experience as a tenant in Guwahati which author has wrongly incorporated in the story to satisfy his perspective. It was 2007; I, along with one of my friend had a tough time to find a rented house. We found a room, but, as the author mentioned, we were warned not to consume beef as there was a temple at the ground floor.

My friend sarcastically asked the landlord whether same rule applies to pork as well; we all laughed. And we had a good time at his house. For the last three years, I have been residing in another house owned by an upper caste Hindu. I eat beef, dry fish and everything according to my appetite. The land lord has no issue.

I think it has nothing to do with Al Qaeda or ethnic violence in lower Assam. I also dont think it has merit to get published in national magazine to fuel the communal propaganda. (The author has also wrongly spelt my name).

As a disclaimer, let me make it very clear that I am forced to write this piece because I am accountable to all those victims of ethnic cleansing whom I assured that the author will publish their agony and apathy in India Today to put pressure on administration and thus to get the justice delivered to them.

On the contrary, India Today not only made them alleged Bangladeshi immigrant but also propagated that they are crying hard for guns not schools!
Patna : Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Friday urged students not to forget their own culture and try to greet each other with the countrys age-old traditions stop saying hi or hey.

Students should not forget their own culture. They should stop saying hi or hey to greet each other and should touch feet of their teacher with a pranam, Manjhi said at a function to mark the Teachers Day here.

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He announced that government will open one primary school for every 40 families in the state and work is already on to have one higher secondary school in each panchayat.

He targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modis address to school students on the occasion of Teachers Day by saying that education should not be politicised. He said that most of the students in the state government schools were unable to listen to the prime minister due to lack of infrastructure.
Help India!

Dubai : An Indian family has sought help to repatriate an accident victim lying in coma in a United Arab Emirates (UAE) hospital after the company he was working with refused to give details of his insurance policy or settle his end-of-service benefits, a media report said Wednesday.

Khulvinder, 42, was working as a foreman with a construction company based in Ras Al Khaimah when he met with an accident, but his employers are not offering him any accident compensation or settling his end-of-service benefits, Gulf News quoted his brother Balveer as saying.

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It has been a year since he has been in this vegetative state. There is pressure from every corner to discharge him from the hospital, said the victims brother.

The family is from Hoshiarpur district in Punjab.

Khulvinder was admitted to Al Jimi Hospital in Al Ain after a road accident in September last year. He had worked with the construction company for more than nine years, but the company has not responded to our request to send us a copy of his insurance claim, the brother said.

He added that the family was counting on the insurance claim to meet Khulvinders treatment expenses once he was brought back home.

He said his brothers treatment would cost more than Rs.125,000 a month at any local hospital in Punjab. We want to bring him home to his family. But how can we do it without claiming the compensation money?

The family has started a legal battle against the construction company.

Nobody was available to comment on behalf of the company.


Help India!

By TwoCircles.net, Staff Reporter

Chhattisgarh: Two weeks after rapes and assaults were reported from Chhattisgarh while security forces were conducting anti-Maoist operations, Amnesty International India in a statement asked the state authorities to investigate police inaction in the sexual assault case.

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Between 11 and 14 January, these operations were conducted in Nendra village of Bijapur and Kunna village of Sukma on 12 January.

The AI called upon authorities in Chhattisgarh to conduct a swift, thorough and independent investigation into the refusal of police officials in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh to promptly register complaints against the rape and sexual assault of Adivasi women.

The unnecessary delay in registering complaints of sexual violence against police and security forces is extremely worrying. Authorities must thoroughly investigate both the allegations of abuse and the delay, said Gopika Bashi, Womens Rights Campaigner at Amnesty International India.

According to reports, 13 Adivasi women said they were raped and sexually assaulted by police and security force personnel during search operations in Nendra village. The personnel allegedly also raped or sexually assaulted other women, threatened and beat up villagers, stole poultry, food and money.

Two men caught hold of me and dragged me inside my house. They took off my clothes, tore my blouse and pressed my breasts. One policeman raped me and said, We will burn down your houses. If it wasnt daytime, we would have killed you, said one of the victim women in her statement to AI.

On 18 January, the women tried to file a First Information Report at the office of the Bijapur District Collector  the head of local administration. The police recorded the womens statements, but said they could not register an FIR, despite being required to do so under Indian law, AI statement further reads.

The women who were raped were not able to even walk properly. Despite that, they went to file an FIR, but police officials refused to register an FIR unless the Superintendent of Police was present, womens lawyer told Amnesty International India.

On 21 January, activists and civil society groups held a press conference on the case. The police finally had registered an FIR later that day against unnamed police and security force personnel for offences including rape, gang-rape and sexual assault.

While denying the allegations, SRP Kalluri, the Inspector General of Police (Bastar), a senior police official said, FIRs are being filed, the truth is being distorted by Maoists.

Two other cases of alleged sexual violence by security forces have been reported in recent months. On 15 January, six Adivasi women from Kunna village, Sukma district met district administration officials and alleged that security force personnel had stripped and sexual assaulted them on 12 January. The police are yet to register a First Information Report in the case. On 1 November 2015, women from Pedagelur village, Bijapur filed an FIR alleging rape and sexual violence by security forces between 19 and 24 October. No charges have been filed yet in the case, reads AI statement.

The repeated allegations of sexual violence by security forces in Chhattisgarh point to a disturbing trend. The Chhattisgarh government needs to independently investigate these allegations, and ensure that anyone found responsible is swiftly brought to justice, said Bashi.
House of Lords Seats Second Woman Bishop

Bishop vonRosenberg of South Carolina To Retire (Again).

Reaction Continues to Primates Meeting

The House of Lords has just seated the Rt. Rev. Christine Hardman, Bishop of Newcastle. She is the second woman to be seated among the 26 bishops in the House. Traditionally the 26 seats are held by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishops of London, Durham, and Winchester and the 21 most senior bishops in the Church of England. However for the next 9 years under special transitional provisions, the most senior women bishops will take any openings that occur.Bishop Charles vonRosenberg, provisional Bishop of South Carolina has announced he will retire after June 26, 2016. The retired bishop of East Tennessee stepped forward to lead the rebuilding effort for Episcopalians in the coastal half of South Carolina after Bishop Mark Lawrence led a majority of parishes in the diocese out of the Episcopal Church. Bishop von Rosenberg and his wife were living in South Carolina at the time of the split. Instead of a quiet life in a warm climate, vonRosenberg has had to deal with multiple lawsuits, recreating a church infrastructure, and nuturing clusters of loyal Episcopalians who have formed congregations in areas where parishes sided with Lawrence. For more on his accomplishments and background, see the ENS story on his announcement.The commentary and interpretation of the Meeting in Canterbury of Anglican Primates (and the ACNA Archbishop) continues. Episcopal Cafe has a summary prepared by Andrew Gerns of statement from around the globe here and the Cafe also has a chart of comments by Episcopal Bishops which is updated by additional links in the comments section. The latest from Presiding Bishop Curry stresses the independence of the Anglican Consultative Council which meets in April and that the primates have no authority to dictate who may vote at that meeting. Interestingly, Norman Doe the Church of Wales canon lawyer who helped write the Anglican Covenant makes the same point. Those who have been unhappy with the direction the TEC has taken, continue to insist that the primates issued sanctions and to suggest that in three years further punishment could be forthcoming, which led blogger Mark Harris to call the Archbishop of Kenya who is chair of GAFCON, a bully. The Anglican Church in North America issued a statement on their Archbishop's participation (was he supposed to vote or not?) That takes his participation as a step towards full recognition as a member of the Communion.
Following former half-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's endorsement of Donald Trump for president, News quickly broke out of Wasilla, Alaska that 26-year-old Track Palin had been arrested. The charges filed against Palin's soninclude, but aren't limited to, domestic violence against a female.

After Palin announced her support for Trump, the story involving her son's arrest quickly went viral across the internet. The timing couldn't be worse for Palin who just hours before found herself back in mainstream American politics. Palin addressed the issue during a campaign stop for Trump in Iowa, putting the blame of her son's legal troubles and alleged PTSD on President Obama.

Recently released documentscontradict those claims,showing that Track never saw combat during his time in Iraq, as reported by Ring of Fire Radio on Jan. 25.

Palin's outburst

While addressing a crowd of Trump supporters in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Jan. 20, Palin decided to bring up what she called the "elephant in the room." Palin described her son as "hardened" and "a bit different" since returning from Iraq, and deflected the blame on the president. "It starts from the top, the question though it comes from our own president," Palin said. "When they have to look at him and wonder, do you know what we go through, do you know what we're trying to do to secure America and to secure the freedoms that have been bequeathed us?"

The White House fired back at Palin's allegations 24 hours later during a press conference.

Speaking to the media, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that the issue of "domestic violence" was not something that Palin should be speaking about, noting that, "The issues she's (Palin) talking about are quite serious and certainly issues that we take quite seriously here."

The backlash

The head of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Rick Rieckhoff responded to Palin's statement, saying she shouldn't "politicize" the issue of PTSD and hoped it "doesnt become a portable chew toy in a political campaign."

In addition, Track Palin's public records indicate that not only did he only serve one year in Iraq, which was under the George W.

Bush administration, he also didn't even see one moment of combat. An anonymous fellow solider also spoke about the issue, debunking Palin's earlier claims. Speaking as a combat vet who literally slept in the same barracks as Track Palin, his mother is wrong and her son is not a victim.
China's export policy focuses on structure upgrading Updated: 2016-01-26 07:37 By Zhong Nan(China Daily)

An electric locomotive bound for export to South Africa comes off the production line in Zhuzhou, Hunan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Aviation, transport and telecoms sectors get renewed impetus

China expects to export more aviation, transportation and telecommunications technology and products this year, and continue with an industrial upgrade at home, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

Zhi Luxun, deputy director-general of the ministry's department of foreign trade, said core to the export policy remains transforming from being a low-grade consumer-goods manufacturer to one producing higher value added products, while maintaining stable domestic economic growth.

Exports of China's rail transportation and aviation technology sectors, as well as its machine tools and rail industries, grew between 15 percent and 30 percent in 2015.

At the same time, the country's telecommunications and power-equipment industries expanded their presence in 140 countries and regions, including highly developed markets such as the European Union and the United States.

"The country's fast-growing 4G telecom networks and the Made in China 2025 strategy will further lead to improvements in productivity and resource efficiency this year," said Zhi.

"The potential benefits are even greater if they are extended to every stage of the value chain, from suppliers and manufacturers through to customers."

Shi Ziming, deputy director-general of the ministry's department of outward investment and economic cooperation, said China's rapid ongoing urbanization process has caused labor-intensive industries to struggle as they face a myriad of difficulties, such as high staff turnover, especially in the country's computer, communication and consumer electronics product manufacturing sectors.

By combining global market demand, China has gradually shifted its focus onto high-end industrial research and development, which has delivered strong technical breakthroughs in high-tech sectors such as offshore engineering, robotics, computers, communication and in upgraded consumer electronics products.

Shi said the Belt and Road Initiative will boost China's exports of high-speed rail technology and related productsnow considered the country's pillar products for high-end product exportas a number of nations, especially Southeast Asian countries look to enhance their economic growth via modern transportation networks.

The initiative, proposed by China in 2013, is a trade and infrastructure network that includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The planned network connects Asia, Europe and Africa and passes through more than 60 countries and regions.

China started construction on Indonesia's first high-speed railroad project last week, which stretches from the capital Jakarta to the city of Bandung.

The government now hopes the move will encourage more Southeast Asian countries to upgrade their rail systems.

The Asian Development Bank said recently that the proportion of China's high-end product exports surged from 9.4 percent of Asia's total annual exports in the category in 2000, to 43.7 percent in 2014.
Chinese firm to build hydropower station in Guinea Updated: 2016-01-26 13:57 (Xinhua)

WUHAN -- China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) has signed a contract with Guinea to build a new hydropower station for the western African nation, the company announced on Monday.

The Souapiti hydropower plant on the Konkoure River will have an installed capacity of 450,000 kilowatts. The plant will not only meet the power demands of Guinea but extra electricity will be transmitted to neighboring countries.

The contract is worth $1.38 billion and construction is expected to take 58 months.

The Kaleta hydroelectric power station, CTGC's first project in Guinea, saw its first generating unit going into operation last year. It will have a total capacity of 240,000 kw.

Established in 1993, CTGC is a clean energy group focusing on large-scale hydropower development and operation. It manages the Three Gorges -- a multi-functional water control system consisting of a huge dam, a five-tier ship lift and 26 hydropower generators in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.
Migrant worker rises to union leadership Updated: 2016-01-18 07:57 By Xu Wei(China Daily)

A railway construction worker was elected vice-president of the country's national trade union, as the union sought to further extend its reach to similar workers.

Ju Xiaolin, 53, was elected as vice-president of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions on Sunday during a national conference of the union's executive members, the federation said.

It was the first time the union had ever elected a migrant worker as a vice-president.

The move came as the union sought to further extend its reach to migrant workers and beef up efforts to protect their interests amid the country's urbanization push.

Li Jianguo, president of the trade unions, said during the conference that the organization will continue to increase the number of migrant workers registered with the unions and improve the quality of service provided to them.

Ju is among the country's best-known labor figures. He took part in the construction of more than 10 electrical railway systems, according to the company's website.

Improvements he made to work methods helped the company save about 6 million yuan ($911,400), it said. Ju was awarded the National May 1 Labor Medal in recognition of his contributions. He was also a delegate to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Increasing outreach to migrant workers has topped the agenda of the federation in recent years. Wang Xiaofeng, a spokesman for the federation, said in October that the unions have launched a special campaign to attract migrant workers to unions in five sectors, including express delivery and construction programs.

"The migrant workers are very flexible in their employment ... and they generally have a very low recognition level about trade unions", which makes registration work difficult, he said.

Of the country's 274 million migrant workers, only 110 million had joined trade unions by the end of 2014, according to a report by Worker's Daily on Thursday.
Marines conduct live-fire exercises in Xinjiang Updated: 2016-01-26 08:08 By Zhao Lei(China Daily)

The Marine Corps of the People's Liberation Army Navy conducted its first live-fire drills in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region over the weekend, the Navy said in a statement.

During the exercises that started on Friday at a training base in a desert, a Marine Corps battalion sent marines, artillery units and armored vehicles to launch simulated offensives against a heavily armed infantry company from the Xinjiang Military Command. Taking advantage of its better mobility and stronger firepower, the Marine Corps battalion overpowered the infantry company and occupied the designated areas, the Navy said.

It added this is the farthest and longest training operation the Marine Corps has ever conducted.

Admiral Wu Shengli, commander of the PLA Navy who inspected the event, said that marines must be trained in all geographic areas.

Senior Captain Chen Weidong, commander of a Marine Corps brigade that took part in the drills, said the operations honed and tested combat capabilities.

"They also improved our abilities in terms of combined force command, unit coordination as well as battlefield support and logistics," he said.

In addition to the Marine Corps, a special warfare regiment from the PLA Navy staged a counterterrorism exercise at the desert base during the same period. Soldiers practiced reconnaissance, encirclement, detention, hostage extrication and rapid evacuation, according to the statement.

Hundreds of marines and soldiers from the special warfare regiment departed from their bases in South China in early January. They traveled nearly 6,000 km and arrived in Xinjiang before the Cold Training 2016 Kuerle drills unfolded in mid-January. Before the live-fire exercises, they performed training for night operations, joint strikes and unit coordination.

The recent drills are the third winter training operations of the PLA Navy's Marine Corps.

The force performed its first winter exercises at the Zhurihe training base in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in 2014, and then in early 2015 a training session was opened at the Taonan training base in Northeast China's Jilin province.

Rear Admiral Li Xiaoyan, deputy chief of staff of the PLA Navy's South Sea Fleet, who oversaw the winter drills, said that this year's event took place in a more complicated environment and under worse weather conditions.

The lowest temperatures in Kuerle over the past two weeks ranged from-15C to-20C, according to the local meteorological authority.

"The realistic scenarios have enabled us to improve the marines' long-range operational capabilities and their adaptability to an extremely cold environment," he said.

zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn

Heavy machine gunners from the PLA Navy Marine Corps take part in a live-fire drill held in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Friday. Shi Jiamin / for China Daily

(China Daily 01/26/2016 page5)
Tung Chee-hwa (center), former chief executive of Hong Kong, Zhang Qiyue (right), Chinese consul general in New York, and Fred Teng, president of the America China Public Affairs Institute, pose for a photo during a Monday luncheon at the Yale Club in New York. Hezi Jiang / China Daily

"There are a lot of things we still have to do," said 78-year-old Tung Chee-hwa. "But I'm full of hope."

The former chief executive of Hong Kong gave a speech on "China's past, present and future, and her relationship with the United States" during an America China Public Affairs Institute luncheon on Monday at the Yale Club in New York.

He was joined by Zhang Qiyue, Chinese consul general in New York, and a roomful of guests - many having come all the way from Washington, where the city was shut down due to the blizzard.

Now serving as the vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the China-United States Exchange Foundation, Tung said he was optimistic about China's future.

As he put it, it's China's goal in the next few decades to reach "a well-developed economy, a fair distribution of wealth, a decent living standard, a healthy living environment, a civil and upright society, and a just society governed by the rule of law".

Acknowledging that the road was fraught with challenges, Tung offered many reasons to be optimistic.

He believes that China will benefit from the enormous size of the economy and the growing numbers in the middle-class market, the country will grow with persistent reform, and new market sectors such as renewable energy, digital economy and high-speed rail will be the answers to the decline in low-cost labor manufacturing.

Tung said he has confidence in China's financial position backed by $3.5 trillion in foreign currency reserves with zero external debt, the country's leaders who continue to challenge old thinking and make fresh changes and the hardworking Chinese people with their determination to succeed.

On US-China relations, Tung emphasized that it has never been China's intention to lead the world. "The perspective is erroneous," he said. "What China would like, like so many other developing nations, is to have a larger voice, to ensure that the needs of the developing world can be met."

Using the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as an example, Tung said that it was set up only because Asia's infrastructure development needs cannot be met by the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank.

Tung said he hopes the US will join the AIIB. "If the US and China can work together, many challenges can be overcome," he said. "There will be no limit to the common good we can do together around the world."

Asked for his take on China's stock market, Tung said it was one of the many things that China had to work on.

"It will eventually reach maturity. Give it some time," he said.

hezijiang@chinadailyusa.com
Chinese-American NYPD officer's trial begins Updated: 2016-01-26 11:28 By Jack Freifelder in New York(China Daily USA)

The trial of a Chinese-American New York City police officer for second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed man in Brooklyn began Monday with opening statements from both sides.

Prosecutor Marc J. Fliedner said Monday in state Supreme Court in Brooklyn that NYPD Officer Peter Liang acted recklessly in discharging his firearm in a darkened stairwell, and in failing to help Akai Gurley, 28, the man who had been shot.

"Akai Gurley is dead today because he crossed paths with Peter Liang, who is sitting here," said Fliedner, who serves as chief of the civil rights bureau at the Brooklyn district attorney's office.

Rae Koshetz, the defense attorney for Liang, said her client committed no crime, adding that the gun went off accidentally.

"This is not a referendum on policing in the United States," Koshetz said. "Peter Liang had no intent to hurt anybody."

Both sides agree that while Liang was on patrol on Nov 20, 2014, at the Louis H Pink Houses in East New York, he discharged his gun and a bullet, said to have ricocheted off the wall of the stairwell, killed Gurley.

After the shooting, Liang did little to help Gurley, Fliedner said in his opening statement.

Instead of helping Gurley after the gun went off, Liang "stood there whining and moaning about how he could get fired", Fliedner said.

Liang and his partner walked past Gurley, and neither officer stopped to help him by administering CPR or any other emergency aid, Fliedner told the jury.

"Neither [Liang] nor his partner asked if Akai Gurley was OK; neither asked if Akai Gurley was breathing or had a pulse," Fliedner said. "A police officer - this police officer -never even knelt down and try to fix what he'd done."

Koshetz said Liang drew his weapon because he was heading to the roof of the building, which can be a "dangerous place" in police operations, she added.

Initially, he had no knowledge that a bullet had hit anyone, but "he was in a state of shock and was hyperventilating," when he found out, she said. When Liang realized what had taken place, he tried to radio for help but could not.

"His ears are ringing, he's hyperventilating, and by the time the first police supervisor arrives, Peter is unable to communicate except to say, 'I shot Akai Gurley by accident,'" Koshetz said.

An ambulance later took Liang to the hospital, she added.

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun announced in October that Liang would go on trial in January.

In February 2015, Liang pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter and other charges in connection with Gurley's death.

Charges against the police officer have prompted a debate among members of the community about the role police have had in the deaths of civilians.

Phil Gim, a Chinese-American businessman in Queens who supports Liang, said he sees Liang's prosecution as a response to the officer's Asian-American heritage.

"He just happens to be a very convenient person to go after," Gim said in a Monday interview with CBS News.

Lumumba Akinwole-Bandele, senior community organizer for the NAACP's Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said the case is "a good sign the DA's office is moving in the right direction". "But we have a long way to go," she told CBS News.

In May, the Gurley family filed a civil lawsuit against Liang, Shaun Landau and the city's housing authority on behalf of Gurley's daughter and mother.

On the night of the incident, Liang - who had been on the force for less than two years - and his patrol partner, Landau, were working in the East New York section of Brooklyn in one of the city's housing projects.

Liang and Landau were patrolling a stairwell when Liang's gun, which was drawn, went off, police said. New York Police Commissioner William Bratton said in November that the fatal shot "appears to be an accidental discharge" of Liang's weapon.

Court documents presented by the prosecution said that Liang and Landau argued for two minutes over who would report the shooting and waited nearly 20 minutes before calling in an "accidental fire" to their superiors.

During Landau's grand jury testimony, he said he recalled Liang repeatedly telling him the discharge of the weapon was "by accident".

jackfreifelder@chinadailyusa.com
Gunmen kill 3 officials near Burundi's capital Updated: 2016-01-20 11:00 (Xinhua)

BUJUMBURA- Unidentified riding a motorcycle Monday evening shot dead three officials in a bar at Bwiza, near the Burundian capital Bujumbura city center, before riding away, the Burundian police spokesman said Tuesday.

"It was yesterday (Monday) around 17:45 (15:45 GMT) when unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle shot dead three persons with a pistol in a bar at the 6th Avenue in Bwiza, before riding away their motorcycle," said Burundian Police Spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye.

According to him, the three victims include a police officer, a senior official at the Burundian education ministry and a chief of Gatete village in the country's southern province of Rumonge.

Nkurikiye indicated that four persons as well as some other people working in the bar and some people who were taking drinks in the bar were arrested for further investigations.

He added that corpses of two men were discovered Tuesday morning at Rubirizi in palm trees in Mutimbuzi district in Bujumbura Rural province, some 12 km west of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, where they had been dumped by unidentified persons.

Nkurikiye stressed, "Investigations have been launched and we hope that it is possible to identify all phone numbers that rang the broker the day he disappeared from sight."

He added that the suspect who exploded a grenade in Gatumba town in Bujumbura Rural province on Dec. 1, 2015, killing three persons and injuring seven others was arrested on Monday in a bar in Kinyinya in Gatumba town.

"The suspect admitted to have blasted the grenade," said Nkurikiye.
UN chief welcomes nomination of Libya's new unity gov't Updated: 2016-01-20 16:05 (Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday welcomed the announcement that a new unity government has been nominated in Libya under a UN-backed plan.

Earlier on Tuesday, Libya's Presidential Council announced the formation of the Government of National Accord of Libya.

The new government, headed by Fayez Al-Serraj, comprises 32 ministers and four deputies to the prime minister. It will assume its powers after the House of Representatives' approval.

"This marks an important step towards the implementation of the Libya Political Agreement and the resolution of the crisis in the country," said a statement by Ban's spokesman.

Ban said he looks forward to the endorsement of the new government so that it can address the challenges facing the country, according to the statement.

"The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all Libyans to support the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement so that Libya can continue its democratic transition," it said.

Libya has been suffering severe political crises with two rival parliaments and governments, amid escalating violence and growing militant extremism.

The presidential council was formed under a UN-backed agreement signed by Libya's rival political parties on Dec 17 in Morocco.

The agreement said that the council must name the government within 30 days after its signing. However, the council on Sunday has postponed the announcement of the government in order to complete "further arrangements."
Afghan foreign minister to visit China Updated: 2016-01-20 19:55 By Wang Qingyun(chinadaily.com.cn)

Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani will visit China from Jan 25 to Jan 28, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei announced on Wednesday.

Both countries "attach great importance" to the official visit, Rabbani's first to China as Afghan foreign minister, and the first high-level visit between China and Afghanistan this year, Hong said.

Chinese leaders will meet Rabbani, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who invited Rabbani, will discuss various issues with his Afghan counterpart, Hong said.

The China-Afghan relationship "has kept going forward", said Hong.

The two countries last year celebrated the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the Year of China-Afghanistan Friendly Cooperation.

"We hope the visit will help implement the consensus between the two countries' leaders, plan the development of this year's bilateral relationship, push bilateral cooperation in economic and trade, security, culture and international and regional affairs, and strengthen the two countries' strategic partnership," said Hong.
7 policemen, 3 civilians killed in Egypt's Giza blast Updated: 2016-01-22 09:24 (Xinhua)

Security forces detain a man at the scene of a bomb blast in a main street in Giza, Egypt, January 21, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

CAIRO - A blast killed 10 people, including seven policemen Thursday evening as security forces raided a terrorist hideout in Egypt's Giza province near the capital Cairo, Egypt's state-run Ahram online reported.

The blast occurred when policemen attempted to defuse a bomb that was found at an apartment used as a hideout by a terrorist group in Giza's Mariotya district.

The explosion also left 13 injured; two of them are in critical conditions.

Egypt's Ministry of Interior said a security force stormed the apartment after receiving information that a group of terrorists were hiding inside.

Egypt has been facing anti-government attacks, mostly in the Sinai Peninsula, which killed hundreds of police and soldiers since 2013.

Most of the terror attacks have been claimed by Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis militant group, which has changed its name to "Sinai State" and declared loyalty to the Islamic State.

Military continuous massive operations in the peninsula have killed hundreds of militants as part of the country's "war against terrorism."
China, Iran address thirst for growth Updated: 2016-01-24 19:44 By Xing Zhigang in Teheran and Zhang Yunbi in Beijing(chinadaily.com.cn)

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right, front) shakes hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran, Iran, Jan 23, 2016. [Photo by Wang Ye/Xinhua]

Observers have expressed high hopes for China's role in helping Iran reinvigorate its economy, which has been weakened by three decades of international sanctions.

President Xi Jinping and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, agreed to upgrade their countries' two-way relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during talks in Teheran on Saturday.

Iran was the final stop on Xi's three-nation Middle East trip, with the president arriving back in Beijing on Sunday. It was the first visit to the country by a Chinese leader for 14 years.

The talks on Saturday were followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding on production capacity, minerals and investment cooperation, as well as an agreement to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative, a trans-Eurasia strategy to boost trade and connectivity.

Other aspects covered by the documents include finance, communications, culture, science and technology, and climate change.

Xi said the nations had enjoyed friendly exchanges and sincere cooperation for as many as 2,000 years thanks to the Silk Road. He said China hopes the Iran nuclear deal  the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action  can be implemented smoothly.

Rouhani said the Chinese president was the first foreign leader to visit his country after the action plan was reached, which "mirrors the level" of the friendly ties. "Iran values China's role in international affairs, and we remember China's longtime support and help," he said.

After the lifting of the sanctions on Iran, Wu Bingbing, a professor of Middle East studies at Peking University, has predicted "there will be a surge of economic demand". He said: "Iran now needs all-out, full-flung infrastructure construction, and it needs to restore its crude oil production capacity. There is a lack of investment in its energy sectors, including the gas sector."

The agreements signed in Teheran will "help rebuild the energy sector infrastructure and further boost Iran's exports", Wu said.

A joint statement issued after the presidential talks in Teheran said China and Iran had agreed to set up an annual meeting mechanism for their foreign ministers.

The statement also said China supports Iran's application for full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Iran is one of six observer nations of the SCO, which was founded in 2001. The six full members are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Pang Sen, the Chinese ambassador to Iran, said Iran is an important hub along the Belt and Road routes because it is close to the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping channel, and the port at Bandar Abbas, one of the largest in the Gulf region.

Hua Liming, a former Chinese ambassador to Iran and now a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, said Iran "made a great, proactive response" to the Chinese-proposed initiative and that the nations' friendship "has survived tests" since diplomatic relations were established in 1971.

Many Chinese enterprises "have for a long time been investing and operating in Iran", which has laid a foundation for collaboration, he said.

China has been Iran's largest trading partner for seven consecutive years and is Iran's largest crude oil market. Annual bilateral trade reached a record $51.8 billion in 2014.
China's Paris climate pledges 'reflect China's domestic desires' Updated: 2016-01-25 19:34 By Cecily Liu(China Daily Europe)

China's commitments at the Paris negotiations in 2015 are an "international reflection of China's domestic commitments," said Yvo de Boer, former secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

De Boer, who has since became the director general of the Global Green Growth Institute, said to China Daily at the World Economic Forum in Davos that China's commitment in Paris was encouraging, and shows a strong realization that China's current economic model needs to change, for growth to be more sustainable.

"Chinese commitment in Paris is a reflection of where China wants to go, and not a reflection of what China thinks the international community wants China to go. It is more as a Chinese commitment to China, than Chinese commitment to the world," said De Boer, adding that it reflects China is becoming more confident as a global power.

Under the framework of the Paris conference on climate change, China announced it aims to hit the CO2 emissions peak by around 2030 and slash CO2 emissions per unit of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 60-65 percent from the 2005 level.

In addition, China announced in September the establishment of an independent South-South cooperation fund of 20 billion yuan ($3.1 billion) to help developing countries affected by global warming, which was a significant step forward in China's climate change leadership role in the fight on climate change combat alongside developing countries.

The GGGI, an intergovernmental organization founded in 2010 to promote a new model of development, which combines economic growth and environmental sustainability, has worked on various projects in China at the provincial level, and is now ready to take these experiences to bigger projects at China's national level, said de Boer.

The economic assessments in China include aspects like how to make energy supply greener and more efficient, how to improve building quality, create better public transport systems and create more jobs in the economy simultaneously.

In recent years it has provided technical input to government officers from three bureaus in Xiangyang city and three bureaus in Hubei province as a part of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development's sustainable consumption project to build capacity and awareness to greener procurement and consumption practices to subnational authorities.

The GGGI also developed a strategic agreement with China's Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy to give policy analysis and recommendations on foundational green growth elements.

"The focus of our China projects are at the provincial level so far, which is working with provinces to understand how you can keep a strong economic growth but also creating jobs in different areas."

"Our work in the future is more at the national level. At the moment, we are working with the Ministry of Environment on the use of green indicators, for example, on how to use a five-year plan not just for economic progress but also to monitor environmental progress," de Boer said.

He said another important question in China is how to improve dialogues with the private sectors, in order to drive changes towards the intended green growth model.

A third issue China faces is how to ensure its foreign investments into other developing economies are green, and this is particularly important as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is now led by and located in China, he said.

De Boer said that the big challenge of taking the provincial projects' experiences that GGGI has accumulated in China to the national level for implementation, because China is a big country and it would be difficult to make policies in the capital and expect them to be implemented easily at the local level across the board.

"The primary concern of local governments is to realize strong economic growth. In addition, the people at city and provincial levels are not experts on climate change, so to bring the perspectives of the national decision makers to the local level would be challenging."

But de Boer is also optimistic about China's future environmental protection efforts. He said China would benefit from shifting its energy sources to greener renewable sources, as the efficiency associated with better sources of energy will bring long term energy bills down and improve air quality.

In addition, as China is a key exporter to the world economy, there would be an expectation for its products to match international standards in energy efficiency, he said.

To contact the reporter: cecily.liu@mail.chinadailyuk.com


US State Secretary to visit China Updated: 2016-01-25 19:38 (Xinhua)

BEIJING -- The United States Secretary of State John Kerry will visit China from Jan 26 to 27, at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the announcement at a regular press conference on Monday.

The two countries will exchange ideas on bilateral relations and other issues of common concern, Hua said.

"We hope that through this visit the two sides could strengthen cooperation in various areas and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties," she added.
Six schools evacuated after bomb threats: reports Updated: 2016-01-26 20:53 (Xinhua)

PARIS -- Six schools were evacuated Tuesday morning in Paris after receiving bomb threats, local media reported Tuesday.

According to the French radio, the six schools, Henri IV, Charlemagne, Louis-le-Grand, Montaigne, Condorcet and Fenelon, received "simultaneously" bomb threats in the morning.

"The threat was taken very seriously and all the students were evacuated into the yards of the institutions," France Info reported.

Till now, the police has found no bombs in the schools of Montaigne and Condorcet. Searches in other schools are still ongoing.

A suspicious bag, which could just be an abandoned bag was found at school Henri IV, Le Figaro reported on its webside.
Tablet magazine ran an article last week about Jewish Renewal. I'm honored to be quoted in that article along with several other people whose voices and perspectives I respect. Some of the material from our interview about which I was personally most excited (talking about Jewish Renewal's "spiritual technologies" e.g. chant, davenology, sage-ing, hashpa'ah / spiritual direction) didn't make it into the piece, but it's a good article and well worth reading. Here's a taste:

While Renewal insiders are proud of the numbers of communities that affiliate with Aleph and with the growing number of students at their rabbinical school, which admitted 25 students in the last year, they also argue that Renewals influence cant be counted in numbers of bodies alone.

Schachter-Shalomi hoped that Renewal would be a virus. According to Ingber, he hoped it would infiltrate and infect as it were as many places as possible. His legacy, Ingber said, is that much to the chagrin of his students, he didnt care about trademarking stuff. Reb Zalman was not a copyright, trademark kind of person, even if it meant Renewal would not receive due credit.

As a movement centered around one mans persona and charisma, Renewal is now at a critical juncture in a post-Reb Zalman era. Everything that happens now in Renewal on some level was generated by Reb Zalman, Magid explained. The consensus is that there is nobody who could or should take this place. His whole upbringing was prewar Europe, Magid added. I think that that makes it impossible for anyone to replace him. Like Carlebach and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, so, too, Schachter-Shalomi: These men bridged old Europe and new America, and nobody can do that anymore.

But if Schachter-Shalomi is irreplaceable, whats in store for the movement?
During the past twenty five days Ukraine's national currency - the hryvna - officially lost 10% of its value relative to the US dollar. During 2015 Ukraine's exports dropped at least 30.8% (the final official tally is yet to be released) to just 34.35 billion USD. Ukraine's ongoing conflict with the IMF is likely to bring further decline of hryvna, as the expected $7-billion IMF loan for 2016 seems to have been cut to just $1.7 billion, at least for now.The hryvna exchange rate programmed into Ukraine's budget for 2016 was 24.1-to-one USD, but is already around 27. One the black market - the only realistic way to exchange hryvnas for dollars in Ukraine - the rate has reached 32 hryvnas to USD as of today. Popular mood in Kiev is pessimistic at best. People are dumping hryvnas as quickly as they can, which is not easy considering all the roadblocks set up by the authorities.More significantly, Ukraine is losing its export positions where they matter the most: the hi-tech sector. Nobody really needs Ukrainian potatoes and sunflower seed oil in EU. Ukraine can be competitive in the aerospace and armaments sectors, but that's the last thing Airbus and DASA want. The EU wants some Ukrainian agricultural products, iron ore and certain types of steel - a lot less than what Russia used to buy. That's about it. This is likely to be a sad conclusion to Ukraine's quest for EU membership.
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A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, 'You are mad; you are not like us.  St. Antony the Great
What do we do to keep the lights on?, asks Andrews Daniel Andrews at a press conference on Thursday asked "what do we do to keep the lights on?" once coal fired power stations close before insisting his government had a plan to address the question.

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.
Finally the back story behind the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and the Hammond ranch, as well as other ranchs and surrounding the refuge surfaces. Rumors have now been confirmed the ranch lands do indeed contain a wealth of precious metals, minerals, and uranium that is coveted by not only the federal government, but foreign entities as well. Think TTIP.heck just think TPA. Or double heck just think NAFTA!

For nowjust think Hillary and her foundation, for they are deeply implicated in this evil scheme along with the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rosatom, and a few questionable Canadians. I wonder if Rafael Edward Cruz knows these Cuanuks?

Why not.after all this is all part of the North American Union and believe me Rafael Edward Cruzs bill to rid states of the BLM and in turn do them a favor of allowing the states who cant afford to financially maintain said lands to sell them to the PRIVATE SECTOR . WHAT CRUZ WILL NEVER TELL YOU IS . this is all part of the beauty of the United Nations New World Order Wildlands Act for the 21st Century Agenda. Those who were doubters, or thought it was just zealous chatter..look and see. Behold the plan of deceit unfolds before your own eyes.

I wrote about this in another article and many thought I needed to adjust my tin foil hat for better reception. Folks you can shoot the messenger, but at the end of the day.how are you going to shoot the real enemy? After they shoot you, its too late- game over.

It appears, Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation from Russia wanted to expand their operations into America and needed a way in. So, in 2013, Rosatom acquired a Canadian company named Uranium One as part of a slick side deal involving multiple parties. The deal allowed the Russians to maneuver their way into the Continental United States as part of a vast and extensive plan to mine Uranium ore out of states like Wyoming and Oregon.

The deal was essentially brokered by Hillary and was run through the Clinton Foundation using Canadian-backed contributions as a cover. It seems Hillary learned from Obama the art of how to use a pen to sign away America to foreigners, or did Obama learn that from the Clintons? For with bleeding ink, Hillary sold one-fifth of Americas uranium resources to the Russians.

In April of 2015, the New York Times reported how the plan worked. Here are some of the excerpts to the story.

Several leaders of the Canadian mining industry, who have been major donors to the charitable endeavors of former President Bill Clinton and his family. Members of that group built, financed and eventually sold off to the Russians a company that would become known as Uranium One.

Beyond mines in Kazakhstan that are among the most lucrative in the world, the sale gave the Russians control of one-fifth of all uranium production capacity in the United States. Since uranium is considered a strategic asset, with implications for national security, the deal had to be approved by a committee composed of representatives from a number of United States government agencies. Among the agencies that eventually signed off was the State Department, then headed by Mr. Clintons wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

As the Russians gradually assumed control of Uranium One in three separate transactions from 2009 to 2013, Canadian records show, a flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation. Uranium Ones chairman used his family foundation to make four donations totaling $2.35 million. Those contributions were not publicly disclosed by the Clintons, despite an agreement Mrs. Clinton had struck with the Obama White House to publicly identify all donors. Other people with ties to the company made donations as well.

Shortly after the Russians announced their intention to acquire a majority stake in Uranium One, Mr. Clinton received $500,000 for a Moscow speech from a Russian investment bank with links to the Kremlin that was promoting Uranium One stock.

At the time, both Rosatom and the United States government made promises intended to ease concerns about ceding control of the companys assets to the Russians. Those promises have been repeatedly broken, records show.

Read full New York Times story here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/us/cash-flowed-to-clinton-foundation-as-russians-pressed-for-control-of-uranium-company.html?_r=1

So you see, there are still some nasty things and minor details that need to be taken care of to finish this PRIVATE SECTOR sale. Things like kicking the stinking American ranchers off their land.

Since when do presidents past and present, the secretary of state, and or private foundations have the executive privilege to sell off American land mining rights that they do not own? They do not. This is a big deal.

Dianne Marshall

http://www.dcclothesline.com/2016/01/23/clinton-foundation-took-massive-payoffs-promised-hammond-ranch-and-other-publicly-owned-lands-to-russians-along-with-one-fifth-of-our-uranium-ore-2/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Uranium One has also been acquiring lands in Utah, here is their link:
Justices strike down tough

N.D.

abortion law

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  The U.S. Supreme Court refused on Monday to review lower court rulings overturning North Dakotas ban on abortion at six weeks of pregnancy  before many women know theyre pregnant.

The justices turned away the states appeal of decisions striking down the 2013 fetal heartbeat law as unconstitutional. The law never took effect, and abortion-rights supporters said it was the strictest anti-abortion measure in the country.

The high court last week rejected Arkansas bid to enforce its own fetal heartbeat law, banning some abortions at 12 weeks.

Expert:

California inmates had help in escape

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  Three California inmates who sawed through a metal grate, crawled through plumbing tunnels and shimmied to freedom down a rope made from bed linens likely had help to pull off the daring plan and also benefited from the complacency of jail staff, security experts said Monday.

The inmates vanished early Friday in a jail break eerily similar to the escape of two inmates from an upstate New York prison last summer. Those men also cut through a portion of wall hidden under a bunk bed and used piping and tunnels inside the facility to reach the outside.

The California inmates, including one who is charged with murder, were still at large Monday. Jail officials did not realize they were missing until roughly 16 hours after they were last seen because an evening headcount was delayed by an assault on a guard.

Niagara Falls may become a trickle

temporarily

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP)  New York officials are considering temporarily turning some of Niagara Falls into a trickle.

Plans to replace two 115-year-old pedestrian bridges could involve shutting down the water flowing over one section of the falls by building a temporary structure to redirect it to another.

It was done once before, for a 1969 study of erosion.

The result would be a rare look at the rock formations that lie beneath the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls on the United States side of the tourist draw, and perhaps an even more robust Canadian Horseshoe Falls, where 85 percent of the water flows over normally.

10 killed in 10 days in

Western

avalanches

DENVER (AP)  Ten people have died in avalanches across the West in the last 10 days, making this month the deadliest January for slides in nearly 20 years.

Eleven people have died in slides throughout the whole month, including four over the weekend, for a total of 14 so far this snow season, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which tracks slides across the country.

7-year-old boy dies as dog attacks him

, brother

LUMBERTON, N.C. (AP)  A 7-year-old boy died after he and his brother were attacked by a dog in North Carolina.

Robeson County Sheriff Kenneth Sealey said the attack happened at around 11:20 a.m. Sunday west of Lumberton.

Emergency responders found two brothers suffering from dog bites. Talen West was unresponsive with severe puncture wounds on his body.

His 8-year-old brother was bitten in the lower body. Both boys were taken to the hospital, and Talen died. Jaylen West was treated and released.

The dog belonged to neighbors and was found dead at the scene. It was sent to a veterinarian to evaluate the cause of death.
One in a series of periodic stories this month looking at the upcoming Iowa caucuses.

DES MOINES | The Iowa caucuses are moving into the ground and pound stage.

After months of campaigning, advertising and organizing, the final results will come down to pounding home a winning message and having the ground game to ensure hordes of energized Iowa political party activists, independents or newcomers make it to their precincts Feb. 1 and seal the deal.

So what does it take to win in Iowa in 2016?

The short answer is hard work, great timing and a fair amount of luck, said Eric Woolson, who worked for past caucus campaigns of Joe Biden, Mike Huckabee, George W. Bush, Michele Bachmann and was involved in Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's ill-fated 2016 presidential bid. He is a former Courier political reporter and editorial page editor, and also served as press secretary to Gov. Terry Branstad.

It really is just building brick by brick an organization that has a very strong foundation and then catches fire at the end, noted Woolson, who added that it doesnt hurt to also have a huge amount of financial backing and resources to put that infrastructure in place.

Although not a long-range forecaster by trade, Republican Party of Iowa chairman Jeff Kaufmann has posted an "avalanche" advisory for caucus-night turnout.

Unprecedented intensity and a slew of candidates who have been wooing Iowans for months could translate into record caucus participation, according to experts like Kaufmann, Gov. Terry Branstad and others.

Do I feel enthusiasm? I really do, said Kaufmann. We are prepared for an absolute avalanche of people. Whether that happens, I dont know.

One factor in determining the 2016 caucus outcome most definitely will be the weather. But paramount as always will be campaigns' ability to deliver boots on the ground to caucus sites.

With this years insurgent rise of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, political experts believe Iowa may be on the verge of again rewriting the political manual on how to win.

Despite the new social media and technology tools, super PAC-fueled advertising and other campaigning advances, it will still come down next Monday to the candidates best able to mobilize supporters.

If the folks that run political campaigns are trying to re-fight 2012 or even 2008, theyre guaranteed to lose, said Mack Shelley, an Iowa State professor who chairs ISUs political science department. No election is like another and youve got to be able to adapt, otherwise -- in evolutionary terms -- you either evolve or you die. As a political campaign goes, that applies just about as much as it does to species.

Both Huckabee and Santorum again have visited all 99 Iowa counties.

Weve done the grassroots work and I think thats how you win the caucuses, you do it the old-fashioned way, said Huckabee. If there is a shortcut and somebody can figure out that you dont actually have to go out and meet voters and work that hard in Iowa, I think it could be the end of the Iowa caucuses and that would be detrimental  not for Iowa, but for America.

But standing in the way of a Huckabee or Santorum repeat is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who has Iowa Family Leader CEO Bob Vander Plaats and Iowa Congressman Steve King among others within his encampment.

Unlike primaries, Iowas caucus are party-building functions that test presidential candidates organizing skills. Vander Plaats said he has been impressed by Cruzs commitment to leaving no stone unturned on caucus night.

Cruz has to be able to expand the numbers of people coming out and, if he does that, hes going to be very tough to beat, said Vander Plaats.

This environment is completely different from any environment weve ever been in, he added. You have the extraordinary Donald Trump candidacy and anybody who underestimates Donald Trumps candidacy only does so at their own peril.

You have an outsider mentality where people want to shake that system to the core right now, Vander Plaats noted.

Trumps campaign is led by Chuck Laudner, who engineered the 2012 Santorum surprise.

I think people underestimate Trump with unlimited resources and Laudner with unlimited caucus knowledge, said Vander Plaats. Also, Cruz took a one-two punch last week when Branstad hit him on the renewable fuels issue and Trump landed tea-party icon Sarah Palins endorsement in Ames.

The GOP battle for third place also has become an intrigue with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio using the airwaves and ground troops to bolster his poll numbers but governors like Chris Christie, Jeb Bush and John Kasich have also engaged along with outsider/newcomers Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina.

For other candidates like Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, expanding the base means pulling in thousands of youthful supporters from college campuses along with his liberty network that turned out in large numbers to support his dads 2012 campaign.

Sanders also is relying heavily on young Democrats to bolster his numbers in a hotly contested matchup with Hillary Clinton. Polk County Democratic Party chairman Tom Henderson said his partys rules require candidates to have at least 15 percent backing to qualify for delegates so its advantageous to have supporters spread out among precincts rather than concentrated in pockets.

You not only have to make sure that your folks turn out, they have to turn out in numbers large enough that you can actually get delegates awarded, he said, which may produce results different from what polling numbers may indicate based upon organizational strength.
WATERLOO  Sydni Grauberger knows a thing or two about trauma.

The first thing: On April 30, 2011, in the middle of the day, Grauberger was struck by a drunk driver. She was hospitalized with injuries.

The second thing: On Sept. 11, 2001, Grauberger was trying to catch a plane home to North Carolina from Mexico City. She couldnt, due to flight restrictions following the World Trade Center attacks, and was stranded in Mexicos capital for 17 days  similar to thousands of others trying to fly back to the United States after 9/11.

The first thing makes her a primary victim of trauma, for which she received help. The second thing is what Grauberger terms secondary-direct trauma  even though she wasnt in the tower when it fell, or lost someone close to her, 9/11 still affected Grauberger.

And it was that type of trauma that Grauberger has been looking into for her doctoral dissertation at Capella University in Minneapolis.

Nobody has directly looked at this type of person, she said. Most people assume theyre fine  theyre not going to be traumatized, their experience is nothing like people that lost everything.

But Grauberger knows differently. After she was finally allowed to return to the States, things werent the same. She ended up leaving her career in North Carolina to return home to her parents house in northeast Iowa. She began talking to a counselor about why her personality had changed.

After she began looking into trauma through getting her masters degree and doctorate, she was surprised to not find a single study looking at secondary trauma victims.

So Grauberger decided to embark on the first study herself, focusing on a major traumatic event in the Cedar Valley  the floods of 2008.

The people shes talked to tell her they dont feel they have the right to feel pain or loss, simply because they have not directly lost a loved one or lost a home, she said.

One volunteer helping with flood cleanup told Grauberger they had to pull their car over on the drive back to cry in private.

They didnt feel like they could say anything to anybody because they should have been fine, and it would have been really crass to say anything, Grauberger said. Another woman felt like she couldnt even say anything in her prayer group. She was struggling with what she was feeling.

Those experiences, Grauberger said, sound eerily similar to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, which only after extensive study, was named and led to public policies to help those affected by it.

Without studies and a name for their affliction, Grauberger said, people suffer in silence and shame.

Thats part of the insidiousness of PTSD, even with primary victims  they deny the possibility, she said. I dont know if its the human spirit, ego, whatever, that they disqualify the possibility that theyre even struggling with PTSD.

When she returned to Iowa, thats what Grauberger told herself, even though she had upended her life and noticed personality changes. Finally, she went to a counselor.

I said to them, This is crazy because I wasnt on one of those planes, but I think Im suffering from PTSD. And it turned out I was right, she said.

If her study leads to other studies, and those studies can one day form a body of work that may help other people in secondary-direct trauma situations  helping end the stigma and give people the help they need  thats exactly what Grauberger is hoping for.

Iowans can collectively turn this thing that impacted so many of us, and down the line help future victims of these kinds of disasters, she said. With more and more data, were able to say, OK, these types of people may need assistance after a disaster. My goal is to just start that ball rolling.
INDEPENDENCE  Candidate Ted Cruz outlined his credentials over the course of about an hour Monday afternoon as an advocate for the U.S. Constitution, Christian and true conservative politician for about 125 people gathered at the Heartland Acres Agribition Center.

Based on their T-shirt selections, many in the crowd seemed ready to caucus for the Republican senator from Texas on Feb. 1. Others admitted they are still among the undecided.

When the time came for questions, Alexis Buhr of Oelwein asked Cruz to break it down in one minute why someone should choose him.

Because its now or never. We cant get it wrong this time, Cruz said to begin his answer.

The opening line followed the theme Cruz developed during his address: America is at the edge of an abyss. But the right person in the White House can save her.

Cruz argued he is that person, referring frequently to the conservative standard bearer in the Republican Party, Ronald Reagan.

All of us are here today because our country is in crisis, Cruz said early on.

With broad strokes, he defined reasons and symptoms of the decline, including a border that is not secure, Obamacare  which Cruz said was passed based on lies and is killing jobs and family budgets  and an immoral national debt.

We are bankrupting our kids and our grandkids, Cruz said, alleging a culture of bipartisan cronyism and corruption pervades Washington, D.C., and the political system.

Cruz also touched on threats to national security, promising to correct feckless and naive foreign policies and to wage a vigorous and genuine fight against radical, Islamic terrorism.

We will have a president who will utter the words radical, Islamic terrorism, he added.

Matt Schultz, former Iowa secretary of state, and U.S. Rep. Steve King of Iowa both appeared Monday with Cruz.

Schultz noted Cruz took on President Obama, Democrats and soft Republicans. He also recommended Cruz as somebody who cares about the country more than themselves.

King suggested people of Iowa in the heart of the heartland would rise up to save residents of the Left Coast and the other Left Coast. King also said a recommendation from Iowa to voters in New Hampshire would go a long way toward a Cruz victory in South Carolina.

There is a man who checks all the boxes for me, King added.

Tim Williams of Independence arrived early and was in the audience. He saw Cruz during the candidates event Saturday in Black Hawk County and that convinced Williams to back the man from Texas.

I was leaning toward (Marco) Rubio, but he sold me. I like what (Cruz) is saying, and I believe he is a man of his word, Williams said.

In reality, Williams said he could support almost any of the GOP candidates, except Donald Trump.

Theyre all good, I think  except Trump, he said.

Even so, Williams expects the race in Iowa is now down to two men.

Its going to be between Cruz and Trump, he said.
WATERLOO  A local developer will receive incentives to tear down Logan Plaza and replace it with new medical offices and retail businesses.

Waterloo City Council members voted 6-0 Monday to approve a development agreement with North Crossing LLC, an investment group spearheaded by Ben Stroh, to revitalize the blighted commercial area at U.S. Highway 63 and Donald Street.

Councilman Tom Lind abstained from voting citing the need for more information, but the agreement providing $8 million in future tax-increment financing funds to the project drew mostly positive reviews.

My hats off to the new mayor and (Community Planning and Development Director) Noel Anderson, said Willie Smith, a resident who lives near Logan Plaza. Were finally going to get something done with Logan Plaza. Its been an eyesore for years.

Stroh, who has been successfully redeveloping the former Kmart Plaza near Crossroads Center into a new retail strip mall, has been working for at least six months to put the Logan Plaza project together.

Hes really excited and thinks this is a good project, said Strohs attorney Eric Johnson. This is an area that certainly needs some help.

Its got a lot of potential and (Stroh) sees that potential, just like on Kmart Plaza, he added. We think this could be a catalyst for great things to happen on the north end.

Johnson noted Stroh is footing the bill upfront for the acquisition and demolition of the vacant strip mall and out-lot buildings along with acquiring more than 50 acres of land north of Logan Plaza from Menards. Most of the Menards property will be turned over to the city for future retail development.

The city would then reimburse Stroh $1 million annually in TIF funds for eight years to cover those costs.

The development agreement also requires North Crossing to erect $9.5 million in tax-paying medical clinics, a restaurant and convenience store over the next three years. Those buildings would receive 50 percent property tax rebates.

Anderson said the initial projects leave plenty of room for future retail development and potentially a big box store.

While the tenants for those initial medical buildings are still in negotiations, Johnson said UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital is a projected partner.

Pam Delagardelle, UnityPoint CEO, said the hospital hopes to be involved but hasnt finalized anything to date.

We are so excited about whats happening over at Logan Plaza, Delagardelle said. We are grateful to Ben Stroh and the people in the city and on the City Council who have prioritized this project and moved it along.

Johnson said Stroh hopes to finalize the purchase of Logan Plaza from the Minnesota ownership group this week, with site development to start as soon as possible.

Former Ward 4 City Councilwoman Willie Mae Wright said shes been hoping for some good news at Logan Plaza, which has been in decline for years.

Weve been trying to deal with that for over 20 years, so I am very happy to see that somethings being done at Logan Plaza, Wright told council members.
Engine Charlie Wilson, the one-time General Motors chief executive officer and secretary of defense in the Eisenhower administration, was long misquoted as saying, Whats good for General Motors is good for the country. (He said the opposite.)

But what was good for GM in Flint, Mich., where it was founded in 1908, was not good for residents in October 2014.

City officials allowed General Motors to discontinue using Flint municipal water at its engine plant when workers complained about rust spots on newly machined parts.

It stood to reason the strange-tasting, brownish, smelly water might not be healthy for ingesting or bathing, but the city  and state  rejected citizen protests that problems existed.

Three months later, the University of Michigan-Flint shut off drinking fountains and added filters after discovering high lead levels.

Virginia Tech researchers  who have made it their mission to test for lead  found Flints levels exceeded 25 parts per billion in 90 percent of samples. Five ppb is cause for concern and 15 ppb exceeds EPA standards. Some samples topped 100 ppb; one was over 1,000 ppb.

Flint, a city of 99,700 north of Detroit, is predominantly African-American, and 42 percent live below the poverty level. With the contraction of the auto industry, it also is so debt-ridden that an emergency manager appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, has controlled its finances since 2011.

Flint and neighboring communities had used expensive Detroit water but decided to save money by piping in Lake Huron water as a part of a three-year project. As an interim measure in April 2014, the city switched to water from the Flint River, a well-known dumping ground for appliances and other waste, which was supposed to save $5 million over two years.

For some reason that no one has yet explained to us, Virginia Tech researchers stated, the Flint River water was introduced into the pipe distribution system without any measures (or even a plan) to reduce its corrosivity. Additives would have cost $100 a day.

In August 2014, high levels of fecal coliform bacteria (E. coli) were found. Residents were urged to boil their water. More chlorine was pumped into the system, but no corrosion control treatments, which made the water more corrosive.

In January and April 2015, high levels of trihalomethanes, a disinfectant byproduct, exceeded Safe Water Drinking Act standards. Residents were assured their water was still safe.

When a regional U.S. Environment Protection Agency official claimed Michigan Department of Environmental Quality tests significantly understated the waters toxicity, the DEQ branded him a rogue employee.

When a state health department epidemiologist found a three-month spike in lead levels during the summer, her supervisors called it a seasonal anomaly.

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a local pediatrician, took blood samples that showed lead levels in children had doubled and tripled since the water supply switch.

In five years, these kids are going to have problems with special education, she said. Theyre going to have cognition problems. Seven to 10 years, theyre going to have behavioral problems.

State officials ridiculed her.

Yet an email obtained from Gov. Snyders then-chief-of-staff Dennis Muchmore to a top health department official stated, Im frustrated by the water issue in Flint. I really dont think people are getting the benefit of the doubt. Now they are concerned and rightfully so about the lead level studies they are receiving. These folks are scared and worried about the health impacts and they are basically getting blown off by us.

In October, the state finally admitted Flint had a huge problem, approving $6 million to switch back to the Detroit system, although its pipes were now thoroughly corroded. President Obama recently announced $80 million would be provided to Flint. An estimated $45 million alone is needed to replace 15,000 lead service lines.

Forty-five cases of Legionnaires Disease in the area and 10 fatalities have been linked to the water.

Snyder has called Flint his Hurricane Katrina. Yet that confuses a natural disaster compounded by government incompetence with an entirely man-made catastrophe involving a basic necessity of life.

Im sorry, and Ill fix it, the governor said during his State of the State address, but that is not entirely possible.

If you were to put something in a population to keep them down for generations and generations to come, it would be lead, Dr. Hanna-Attisha said. Its a well-known, potent neurotoxin. 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. It drops your IQ, it affects your behavior, its been linked to criminality, it has multigenerational impacts. There is no safe level of lead in a child.

Infrastructure can be replaced, but not the lives and futures lost.
Q: The students in Evansdale go to the Waterloo Public Schools. Regarding the bond issue for the new school: Will the citizens of Evansdale be voting on this issue as well as Waterloo? If the issue passes and the income surtax applies will the residents of Evansdale also pay this or just Waterloo citizens? A: Yes, Evansdale citizens will be voting on this measure and paying the surtax if it passes. Evansdale is part of the Waterloo Community School District.



Q: Will anyone who has children attending the Waterloo School District pay this surtax, such as Evansdale residents and students who attend Waterloo from the perimeter of Cedar Falls? Also, will those who live out-of-town but work in Waterloo pay this surtax? A: If voters approve the bond issue Feb. 2, anyone who lives within the boundaries of the Waterloo Community School District and owes Iowa income taxes would pay the surtax. So, that does include residents of Evansdale and small portions of Cedar Falls as well as communities such as Raymond, Gilbertville and Elk Run Heights plus surrounding rural or unincorporated areas. Those who work in Waterloo but dont live within the district will not pay the surtax.



Q: Does the one-cent school tax go towards tearing down the old schools too? A: That is an allowed use. However, Waterloo Community Schools has often relied more heavily on physical plant and equipment levy funds to demolish schools.



Q: When they first proposed the new school tech center, they said it wouldnt increase taxes. Now we find it will. Why dont they use Hawkeye Community College? A: Waterloo Community Schools officials have proposed a property tax-neutral bond issue by shifting the cost to a surtax on residents state income taxes and covering a portion of the expense with 1 percent sales tax revenues. Hawkeye officials are supportive of this effort, which the district believes will benefit the college by introducing more students to what they offer and give them an early start on some of the classes.



Q. On Jan. 22 in Call the Courier Tara Thomas said the $47 million tax is a surcharge but not a tax on an individuals income. If it isnt, what is it based on? Can you explain? A. What she said is that there will be a 4 percent surtax on the Iowa income tax of Waterloo Community School District residents. So, the amount owed would be 4 percent of a persons income tax liability on line 53 of the Iowa tax form.



Q. The Waterloo Schools are proposing a surtax on individual Iowa income tax forms. Does this also apply to corporate income tax returns or are only individuals picking up the bill? A. No, it does not apply to corporate income taxes.
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By The Associated Press

Jan. 26, 2016 | SAN DIEGO, CA

By The Associated Press Jan. 26, 2016 | 02:29 PM | SAN DIEGO, CA

The Navy says an initial inspection at Naval Medical Center San Diego found no sign of a gunman or a shooting.



Navy spokesman N. Scott Sutherland said Tuesday that military police had checked Building 26 after a person reported hearing three shots in the basement earlier in the day.



The base remained on lockdown as authorities went from room to room and led personnel out of the facility.



School officials say a lockdown has ended and instruction has resumed at three schools near the medical center.



In addition, TV images showed uniformed Navy personnel walking outside the medical facility. Their hands were in the air and they were being patted down by base police as a precaution.



The Navy hospital previously said on its Facebook page that an active shooter was reported and people were told to run, hide or fight.
10. The Release Date Has Been Changed To 15th December 2017

Despite being just under two years from release, Star Wars: Episode VIII is probably the most hyped movie currently in the cinematic pipeline: is there anybody out there, who, having seen The Force Awakens, isn't incredibly psyched to see what happens next? After the roaring success of J.J. Abrams' brilliantly entertaining follow-up to 1983's Return Of The Jedi, fans old and new of George Lucas' space saga await the next chapter with baited breath. Unfortunately, there's a long way to go and the movie - like its predecessor - is likely to unveil itself in a slow myriad of secrets and red herrings. Simply put, information regarding the film - at this point - is super thin. Still, that doesn't mean there aren't some facts out there regarding Episode VIII - not to mention a fair few tidbits, rumours and juicy fan speculation. So let's take a look, breaking down everything Disney has revealed so far with regards to the upcoming flick.Despite the fact that Episode VIII was originally positioned for a release in May 2017, it turned out that such a thing was, as expected, too good to be true. So it was recently announced by Disney that the follow-up to The Force Awakens won't arrive in cinemas around the world until December 15, 2017 (seven months later than everybody originally thought they'd be getting it). Still, some good did come of this: Avatar 2's intended December 2017 release has been cancelled and the film was put on hold (who needs more Avatar?). Sadly, Disney moved the very unnecessary Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales into Episode VIII's old release slot. So, yeah: you get that in May 2017 instead.
10. El Diablo

There are certain things that Warner Bros. have encouraged us to get hyped for in Suicide Squad  Jared Letos new take on the Joker, Margot Robbies Harley Quinn, Will Smiths Deadshot, and that car chase sequence featuring Ben Afflecks Batman. The trailers and posters have pointed towards these as the highlights of the film, suggesting that the other characters aren't worth as much of our attention. David Ayers upcoming DC Comics-based villain team-up movie is sure to have a few tricks up its sleeves, though. It has a huge ensemble cast, stuffed full of lesser-known baddies, impressive supporting players, and as-yet-unnamed mystery characters. Theres every chance that these guys could steal the show, right from under Leto's nose. If ever a comic book film was primed for a few surprising standout performances, its this one. This is a movie where even the smallest characters are played by hardened Hollywood stars and proven awards winners. So here are ten characters that could end up unexpectedly wowing audiences...Only seen fleetingly in the trailers so far, El Diablo is a former gang member with the power to summon flames. In the comics, he handed himself over to the police after realising that a house he had torched to collect a debt had contained women and children. Hes likewise in prison at the start of the film, being kept in check by a water-pipe prison to restrict the use of his powers, suggesting perhaps the film is sticking to those tragic origins. Jay Hernandez  the actor portraying him, you might have seen in the first two Hostel films and/or sci-fi TV epic The Expanse  backs this up, saying that he just wants to stay out of the fight, suggesting that he's still harbouring regret over the people he accidentally killed. That's not going to be sum of the character though. In the trailer he appears properly enraged at one stage. Could it be that this version of El Diablo has something of a spilt personality? Perhaps hes a pacifist at heart but is capable of really losing his rag when circumstances dont go his way. Theres certainly standout potential in that - an aspiring-to-be-peaceful character with a fiery temper that let's him down. Should be interesting.
The long-mooted Blade Runner sequel, starring Harrison Ford (returning as Rick Deckard) and Ryan Gosling, is to begin principal photography as early as July of this year, according to a new story from The Hollywood Reporter . Anyone who's been following the slow development of the film, since 2011 (when original director Ridley Scott was still in the hot-seat to direct), will be breathing a sigh of relief that it's finally happening... provided they're excited about the prospect of an addition to the franchise thirty years on, anyway. We all saw how Prometheus turned out. The Blade Runner sequel has great potential considering the currently-attached director is Dennis Villeneuve, who has been impressing critics and audiences for a few years now with output like Sicario, Enemy, Prisoners and Incendies. For a film as artistic and dream-like as Blade Runner, it's a real coup getting an auteur of Villeneuve's caliber. Currently, there's no release date set for the film, and no other cast members announced other than Gosling and Ford (the latter of which is only tipped to appear in the third act of the movie, according to producer Ridley Scott). But expect a cavalcade of information as we draw ever closer to its planned production start date.
Planning to Retire Soon!

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Moiyattu Banya is Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Women|Change|Africa. She has over 10 years plus experience on working on women and gender issues both on the African continent and in the diaspora and has lead digital campaigns, and communication strategies for a multiple of women owned brands and organizations. Out of her passion to tell stories both in the digital space and in writing, she created WCA in 2012. The platform has celebrated over 50+ brands, companies and organizations owned by African women living both in the diaspora and on the continent. In 2014 she was selected out of 200 women to participate in the African Womens Development Fund Creative Non Fiction Writing Course in Entebbe Uganda an experience that forever changed her writing journey. She is a social entrepreneur by training and has a masters in social enterprise and administration from Columbia Universitys School of Social work.
On 21 January 2016, the European Parliament passed an urgent resolution on the situation in Ethiopia  condemning the use of violence by the security forces against Oromo peaceful protesters in particular, and drawing attention to the increased number of human rights violations in Ethiopia more generally. The resolution also highlights the dire situation in the Ogaden region and calls for a credible investigation into atrocities committed in the country. Importantly, as stressed by UNPO at multiple occasions, the resolution calls for greater scrutiny by the EU of its development assistance to Ethiopia, to ensure it is not contributing to further human rights violations.

A recent plan by the Ethiopian Government to expand its capital city, Addis Ababa, into surrounding Oromo lands has caused mass demonstrations among the Oromo community over the past months. Since November 2015, at least 140 peaceful protesters have been killed, and many more imprisoned. Ethiopia, being an important partner to the European Union in terms of ensuring security and stability in the Horn of Africa, and one of the major recipients of European development aid, the EUs legislative body made a clear statement through its resolution of 21 January, that there has to be an end to the ongoing human rights abuses and brutal suppression of dissenting voices by the Ethiopian government.

The adoption of the resolution came only a week after a protest in front of the European Parliament in Brussels  which brought together more than 100 Oromos, sympathizers and UNPO staff. During the debate that preceded the vote, long-term and newer supporters of the peoples of Ethiopia, including MEPs Ana Gomes (S&D), Jordi Sebastia (Greens/EFA), Isabella Adinolfi (EFDD), Mark Demesmaeker (ECR), Jiri Pospisil (EPP), Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea (ALDE), Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE-NGL) and Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D), raised their concerns over the recent events in Oromia and the overall human rights situation in Ethiopia. The text, supported by seven parliamentary groups and authored by more than 65 MEPs, was adopted in plenary without amendments.

Following an earlier plenary debate on the situation in Ethiopia last May  which fell short of resulting in a resolution, UNPO is delighted to see that European Parliament has not forgotten the plights of the Ethiopian peoples. In this context, UNPO will continue to work closely with its members, partners and MEPs to demand human rights protection and democracy in Ethiopia.

For more information, please see the press release of the Peoples Alliance for Freedom and Democracy on the EP resolution
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.
Jan 25, 2016 | By Andre

Continued investment into education should be an important element in every governments growth strategy. Each and every generation has to be educated and brought up to date for 21st century living or the ability to produce a skilled workforce will begin to suffer. So its great to hear that during a press conference held today at the Kulleg Maria Regina boys secondary school in Mosta, Malta, the government announced an additional 15.4 million of funding into new equipment and infrastructure. The news couldnt come soon enough, it seems, as local teachers had been complaining the equipment they had been working with up until now was too slow and inefficient that it hindered learning instead of advancing it like it's designed to do.

While a good chunk of the investment will be spent on laptops, tablets and interactive whiteboards, considerations have been made in providing students with the tools many believe to be essential in shaping the world of tomorrow. Included in this list is the purchase of 76 3D printers and 28 3D scanners. Project coordinator Joe Mamo has gone on to say that this technology is expected to shape the future and that other schools around Europe have also invested in similar forward looking technology toward their curriculum.

It was said students were finding more and more stimulation outside of the classroom thanks to what is available on the internet, so this investment in technology should reinvigorate the sometimes uninspired classrooms with the ability to design and modify their ideas before turning them into physical reality with modern 3D printing technology.

Deputy Prime minister Louis Grech further stressed of the growing gap between what is learned at school and what is expected in the working world. Saying that one cannot teach for the future with yesterdays tools. Overall, this welcome investment in technology will allow teachers to better prepare for their lessons, waste less time and increase efficiency. Students in turn will have an increased ability to interact more closely with the the teachers and the subjects they are learning about.

Of course, no government expenditure program comes without controversy. 12 million of the 15.4 million is supposed to be coming from EU funds while the remainder directly from taxes. The EU money is supposedly part of a resource reassignment plan from an infrastructure fund that has been riddled with controversy since late last year. The Coast Road fund, paid for by the EU, came under scrutiny after the European Court of Auditors (ECA) decided that the correct procedure for awarding developer contracts was not followed. As a result, it was recommended that 25 percent of the EU funds allocated to the project be withheld until all concerns had been addressed.

A member of the auditors group stressed that the ECA is the guardian of every single penny spent by member states and EU institutions. Once an irregularity is flagged, then it is obvious that several eyes will open in Luxembourg over how the other projects are being handled in Malta. This goes right to the crux of public procurement.

As things stand, the 12 million EU funded portion of the just announced education investment comes out of the 25 percent of the Coast Road funds that are currently being withheld. And while the deputy prime minister says an agreement is in place to allow the funding to be reassigned, others worry financing issues still remain.

Regardless of how the money is eventually sourced, the forward thinking strategy put forth by the Education and Employment Ministry of Malta should be admired. Any stagnation in a populations education system limit the children of any generation in terms of achieving success in todays fast paced, competitive world. 3D printing and 3D scanning technologies will undoubtedly be a part of this world so the time is now to invest into this future.

Posted in 3D Printing Applications

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Steven Nash wrote at 1/28/2016 5:04:32 AM:Hey , This is a great resource on latest education technology trends of 2016 for teaching-learning spaces. I am myself quite excited about tinkering with many new education technology tools as well as deeply embedding the best of edtech resources from 2015 in our classrooms.This year I am placing my bets on Open educational resources, microlearning, (More)Coding in Classroom, Connecting with Internet of Things and Developing Maker Spaces. I actually just compiled a really thorough guide of Top 5 Emerging Education technology Trends of 2016 of my own. I think you might find it interesting to read. Looking forward to more such delightful reads from your feed.




Paula Findlen at The Nation:

On a cold, wet day in January 2008, Robert Batchelor decided to take a peek at a map in Oxfords Bodleian Library, an old and venerable collection founded in 1602 and filled with arcane treasures. Anyone who has ever used the library may recall the oath that all readers are required to take (formerly in Latin, but nowadays in English, I think) not to remove, deface, or injure any of the librarys books, let alone bring in any fire or kindle onea great temptation in a library originally devoid of any artificial heating source, especially for a generation that had just discovered the lure of Virginia tobacco. Batchelor, a historian of Britain and Asia, was about to fly back to the United States, where he teaches at Georgia Southern University, but this unusual itemA very odd mapp of China. Very large, & taken from Mr. Seldensbeckoned. With the help of the Bodleians curator of Chinese collections, David Helliwell, he retrieved it from the bowels of the library. The map was in a fragile, indeed ruinous state, disintegrating on the stiff linen backing that had deformed it during a botched preservation job a century earlier. Helliwell would later recall that he had seen the map before, but without recognizing its full import. Batchelor was enchanted and enthralled. Here was a hand-painted map of East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia and India that raised a myriad of interesting questions.

Housed in the Bodleian since 1659, the map had previously belonged to an English lawyer named John Selden (15841654), who, in a codicil to his 1653 will, singled it out as a prized possession: a Mapp of China made there fairly and done in colloure together with a Sea Compasse of their making and Devisione taken both by an englishe commander. The 2008 rediscovery inspired a great deal of speculation about how the map had arrived at the Bodleian, and who had made it.

more here.
C.J. Polychroniou in TruthOut:

Europe is in turmoil. The migration and refugee crisis is threatening to unravel the entire European integration project. Unwilling to absorb the waves of people fleeing their homes in the Middle East and North Africa, many European Union (EU) member states have began imposing border controls.

But it is not only people from Syria and Iraq, as mainstream media narratives would suggest, who are trying to reach Europe these days. Refugees come from Pakistan and Afghanistan and from nations in sub-Saharan Africa. The numbers are staggering, and they seem to be growing with the passing of every month. In the meantime, anti-immigration sentiment is spreading like wildfire throughout Europe, giving rise to extremist voices that threaten the very foundation of the EU and its vision of an open, democratic society.

In light of these challenges, EU officials are pulling out all the stops in their effort to deal with the migration and refugee crisis, offering both technical and economic assistance to member states in hopes that they will do their part in averting the unraveling of the European integration project. Whether they will succeed or fail remains to be seen. What is beyond a doubt however is that Europe's migration and refugee crisis will intensify as more than 4 million more migrants and refugees are expected to reach Europe in the next two years.

Noam Chomsky, one of the world's leading critical intellectuals, offered his insights to Truthout on Europe's migration and refugee crisis and other current European developments  including the ongoing financial crisis in Greece  in an exclusive interview with C.J. Polychroniou.

More here.
Adam Kirsch at The New Yorker:

To get a sense of how Johann Wolfgang von Goethe dominates German literature, we would have to imagine a Shakespeare known to the last incha Shakespeare squared or cubed. Goethes significance is only roughly indicated by the sheer scope of his collected works, which run to a hundred and forty-three volumes. Here is a writer who produced not only some of his languages greatest plays but hundreds of major poems of all kindsenough to keep generations of composers supplied with texts for their songs. Now consider that he also wrote three of the most influential novels in European literature, and a series of classic memoirs documenting his childhood and his travels, and essays on scientific subjects ranging from the theory of colors to the morphology of plants.

Then, there are several volumes of his recorded table talk, more than twenty thousand extant letters, and the reminiscences of the many visitors who met him throughout his sixty-year career as one of Europes most famous men. Finally, Goethe accomplished all this while simultaneously working as a senior civil servant in the duchy of Weimar, where he was responsible for everything from mining operations to casting actors in the court theatre. If he hadnt lived from 1749 to 1832, safely into the modern era and the age of print, but had instead flourished when Shakespeare did, there would certainly be scholars today theorizing that the life and work of half a dozen men had been combined under Goethes name.

more here.
American Institute of CPAs president and CEO Barry Melancon said the AICPA is pushing the Internal Revenue Service to improve its services for both taxpayers and CPAs while preparing to become a more international organization.

During a wide-ranging speech Tuesday in New York at a meeting of the Accountants Club of America, Melancon gave an update on the AICPA and the future of the profession.

Basically the service levels in the Internal Revenue Service to preparers and taxpayers are at an all-time low, he said. To use a South Louisiana French term, it sucks. We do not have a 21st century IRS, and we are not likely to get one in the short term. Were not going to get one because the Congress absolutely loathes the Internal Revenue Service and the leadership of the Internal Revenue Service.

Melancon discussed some of the political challenges facing the IRS in Congress, and the $290 million that Congress earmarked in last months tax extenders legislation toward improving taxpayer service and cybersecurity and combating identity theft.

They refuse to fund the Internal Revenue Service with any additional dollars, he said. In the last tax extenders bill, it looked like they funded it, but it was sort of a shell game, moving dollars around. And it is not going to change with this administration and this Congress and this IRS commissioner. On the political side, bridges have been burned and it is just not going to change. We have been big advocates that it needed to change. We have actually been on the Hill advocating for specific, dedicated funding to the IRS only for customer servicewhich, by the way, the IRS hates because they want just general fundingand even on that, we couldnt get any traction from Congress.

Melancon hopes to make some headway this year. We have called upon Treasuryand we are working with the Department of Treasury, which is the IRSs bossto convene a group in 2016 prior to the results of the election, prior to us moving into a new election, to map out a vision of what a 21st century IRS might look like so that when we have new players and a new Congress and a new deal, weve got a blueprint to try to get that done, he said. Treasury has not yet been totally receptive to doing that, but we envision a forum in which preparers and not just CPAs, but lawyers and enrolled agents and others, come to the table, with representatives of the Service, representatives of Congress, and try to create a meeting of the minds, a rational way rather than the irrational political way. Hopefully we can be successful with that. No guarantees.

Melancon pointed out that an identity theft bill currently moving through Congress may provide an opportunity for the AICPA to address some of those concerns. He also discussed the lawsuit that the AICPA has filed against the IRS over the IRSs Annual Filing Season Program for voluntary tax preparer education and testing, which the IRS introduced after its Registered Tax Return Preparer program for mandatory testing and education was invalidated by the federal courts in 2013 in the case of Loving v. IRS (see AICPA Sues IRS over Voluntary Program for Tax Preparers).

We still have a lawsuit pending with the IRS as it relates to their tax preparer registration process, which is effectively their desire to do it, said Melancon. They dont have the authority to do it, but it is their desire to do it, to create a new system of regulation for purposes, frankly, of creating a national brand of tax return preparers that would compete with enrolled agents and CPAs, and maybe to a lesser degree lawyers. Its got a lot of warts in it. We had entered into an agreement with the IRS. That agreementnot because of what we said, but because of the way the IRS tried to implement itwas thrown out by the courts. Then the new commissioner came in and tried to put in something that was no longer part of our compromise, and we tried to get it back on track and he didnt want to hear that. So that led us to the situation we have.

Melancon would like to see Congress pass legislation to reinstate the original program. We would actually accept a legislative solution that would go back and put into law what we had compromised on, he said. That is a tactic were trying to do, but the IRS wants blanket authority to do whatever they want, and we cannot support that.

International Expansion

Melancon also discussed the AICPAs plans to create an association of international CPAs in partnership with the London-based Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, an expansion of their joint venture in creating the Chartered Global Management Accountant designation (see AICPA Proposes New Association with CIMA).

Our members in business and industry are a growing part of the profession today, said Melancon. We have 412,000 members today, the highest number ever at the Institute, and the business and industry group is a very dynamic group. What companies expect of the people they employ is changing dramatically, just like what public accounting firms have to deliver is changing dramatically. We are trying to address that from a skillset perspective with the credential we have today called CGMA, Chartered Global Management Accountant. We created that with a partner in the U.K., as opposed to doing that by ourselves.

He explained how the two organizations are taking their partnership to a new level. Were actually engaging our membership right now to integrate AICPA and CIMA from a strategy, operations and management perspective so that we would create a different type of voice on a global stage, a 600,000-member global organization to speak about the profession, said Melancon. Its not a merger per se. In associations, you dont typically do true mergers like you would in a corporate. Its an integration of strategy, operations and management. Our members will be asked to vote on that in the spring after tax season. Its got a lot of support. In fact, as we stand here, 45 different states have passed resolutions of support, and I expect it to be 49 by the end of this week. That is a big evolution.

Melancon explained that the new association would be a plus, particularly for younger accountants. It is important for the next generation, he said. About 36 percent of next-generation accountants believe that they should have the opportunity and want to have the opportunity to work overseas for some part of their career. It is also important from the footprint perspective as it relates to business and industry versus public practice.

Accounting Standards

Melancon was asked by Accounting Today about the readiness of CPAs for the new accounting standards that the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board are rolling out in areas such as leasing and financial instruments.

There are a lot of people in the profession who are not going to like the leasing standard when it comes out, he responded. I think they are unaware of the changes that are coming out. The IASB is passing international standards and the FASBs U.S. standards are not exactly the same. I will say in this case, the FASB has listened to the business input on practicality a bit more than the IASB. Its going to take a huge amount of work from the corporate perspective to implement this, so its going to be a change that I think the profession is going to have to ramp up on.

Melancon sees an even bigger impact from the revenue recognition standard that was issued by FASB and the IASB last year, whose effective date has been deferred by both boards for a year.

For the revenue recognition standard, which is an even bigger change as relates to certain industries, the FASB has already delayed the implementation date one year, he said. I think thats a message to the profession theres a lot of work to be done. I hope it isnt taken by the profession as a notion that you can just wait another year to even focus on it. The concept is to be focusing on it in order to get it done. Those are very big standards. I think the financial instruments standard is a little narrower, and it is controversial because theres a debate in Washington. Its how you measure reserves, loan losses, etc.  All three of those combined are a pretty significant change in accounting standards, and were doing a lot of awareness work to try to make that happen, but there is a way to go.

Melancon also responded to another question from Accounting Today about a proposal from SEC chief accountant James Schnurr to allow supplemental use of some International Financial Reporting Standards by U.S. companies while still requiring use of U.S. GAAP.

The chief accountant said were not going to adopt IFRS, were not going to allow IFRS in the United States, basically under his watch while hes there with [SEC chair] Mary Jo White, said Melancon. But he does support implementing a process where a U.S.-based company can put IFRS information in their financial statements basically as supplemental information, which they previously could not do without certain provisions associated with it. Theyre loosening that up so a company could apply that. I think this SEC understands the importance of the U.S. as a player in the IFRS world. After all, investors in the U.S. invest in foreign companies that use IFRS and foreign companies that are dual-listed in the United States use IFRS in the United States. I think its important for the American regulatory system and the American profession that we play in the IFRS space, even though it is not going to be something that we get done as a total switch in the short term. Whether in the long term it happens, it could, but in the short term its not going to happen. And I think what Jim Schnurr and Mary Jo White are doing is theyre trying to tell the rest of the world that we want to play in this space. We dont want to be just off on an island. They want to show some degree of some support. I think thats important. I think its bad if the United States is not a player in the IFRS space because if in fact we ever get there, were going to loathe the day that we werent a player in that particular space. Its a small step, but at least its a step, and I think it can be used on the international stage.

War for Talent and Diversity

During the speech and a later Q&A period, Melancon covered a wide range of topics, including the need for greater diversity in the profession and the expanding number of young CPAs.

Speaking about the younger generation, we continue to have record enrollments in accounting, he said. Beginning in 2005 until today, we had record enrollment in accounting, with the exception of one year when it was flat, and beginning in 2008 until today we had record graduates in accounting, except for one year when it was flat. Thats good news. We are in a war for talent. Every business in this room, every business in this city, every industry, every profession is in a tremendous war for talent. There are some pretty big changes happening demographically.

But he emphasized the need for greater diversity among accountants. We are not as diverse as we need to be, he said. We have incredibly talented role models in our profession from a diverse perspective, but we do not have sufficient numbers to reflect what society as a whole is reflecting. Its about business. The economic reality is our profession serves entrepreneurial capital, whether we work for a company or are doing an audit or tax work, were serving entrepreneurial capital. Entrepreneurial capital is increasingly diverse in this country. It is not a trend. It is a certainty that will continue.
More than a dozen Internal Revenue Service employees misused their government-issued charge cards, but the extent of the confirmed purchases totaled less than $600, while another case of potential misuse totaled less than $2,350, according to a new report.

The report, from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, found the IRS properly identified and reported 13 instances of confirmed purchase card misuse and two instances of purchase card misuse pending final agency action. TIGTAs own independent review found one additional instance of potential purchase card fraud and four additional instances of purchase card misuse pending investigation or final agency action. The 13 confirmed purchase card misuse cases reported by the IRS collectively totaled almost $600.

However, the potential purchase card fraud case involved the purchase of two electronic tablets and 37 other items for personal cardholder use, totaling almost $2,350.

The violations represented a small fraction of the total number of cardholders and purchases. Between April 1 and September 30, 2015, the IRS purchase card program included 3,095 purchase cardholders. IRS records show that these cardholders made 41,328 purchases totaling almost $14.5 million with their purchase cards. In addition, cardholders with the authority to write convenience checks (an alternative method of payment used with vendors who do not accept purchase cards for payment of goods and services) wrote 164 checks totaling a little more than $73,000.

TIGTA also reviewed the IRSs current charge card guidance and determined that the IRS established policies and controls designed to mitigate the risk of fraud and inappropriate government travel and purchase card practices, including controls that address centrally billed travel card accounts. The report, which TIGTA is required to issue on a semi-annual basis, made no new recommendations, but key IRS officials reviewed the report before it was issued and agreed with the facts it presented.
(Bloomberg) Johnson Controls Inc., already exiting the auto-industrys supply chain after decades as a key player, is now seeking to shed its U.S. corporate citizenship in a multibillion-dollar tie-up with Tyco International Plc.

The deal, announced early Monday, marks the latest attempt by a historic U.S. company to reduce its tax bill through a so-called inversion, a maneuver that allows U.S. corporations to acquire foreign-domiciled companies and shift their legal address to reduce their tax rates.

The move would also bring an end to Tyco as a stand-alone company after it transformed from a diversified holding company into an operating one focused on fire and security products that complement Johnson Controls buildings-efficiency business. Tyco itself got a foreign tax address in the late 1990s through an inversion, as part of a takeover of the security company ADT, which was incorporated in Bermuda. Inversions have become more frequent since 2012 and have emerged as an issue in the U.S. presidential race, with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton among those calling for an end to the practice.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Democrat seeking the partys presidential nomination, said the merger would be a disaster for American taxpayers.

If you want the advantages of being an American company then you cant run away from America to avoid paying taxes, Sanders said in an e-mailed statement.

The corporate tax rate in Ireland, where the new Johnson Controls Plc will be based, is 12.5 percent, among the worlds lowest, compared with 35 percent in the U.S., the highest in the developed world.

Certain corporate tax laws mean an independent U.S. company could end up paying more taxes than an identical U.S. company owned by a foreign parent. Since 1982, more than 50 American companies have reincorporated in low-tax countries.

Tyco, which is based in Ireland and run from Princeton, New Jersey, is now a maker of commercial fire and security systems with a stock-market value of $13 billion as of Friday. The combined company will have its primary operational headquarters in North America in Milwaukee.

Tax Savings

The companies project at least $650 million in savings, which the companies said would be achieved over three years, including $150 million in annual tax savings. The merged company will start to see some tax benefits immediately, meaning the estimated synergies arent back-end loaded, Johnson Controls Chairman and CEO Alex Molinaroli said in a conference call with analysts. The cost of executing the cost-savings will be about the same $650 million.

We see from day one being able to leverage the combined distributions, the combined customer base that we serve, said Tyco CEO George Oliver. More importantly, leveraging a lot of our innovation will enable us to put all of our capabilities together to be able to capitalize on the trend in smart buildings.

Shareholders of Johnson Controls will own about 56 percent of the combined company and receive aggregate cash consideration of about $3.9 billion, the companies said in a statement Monday. The companies expect the deal to close by the end of September. Johnson Controls shareholders may choose one share of the combined company or $34.88 a share in cash.

Seating Spin

Johnson Controls is continuing with its plan to spin off its automotive-seating operations, slated by year-end. A consummated deal would complete the transition of Johnson Controls from a diversified manufacturer of auto parts, batteries and building controls into two more focused companies. A merger also would end of one of the last vestiges of Tyco, the onetime conglomerate that divided into multiple companies after former Chief Executive Officer Dennis Kozlowski was forced out in 2002 and later went to prison.

Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls has been trying to reduce its reliance on the auto-parts industry, which accounted for about 54 percent of its fiscal 2015 sales. Molinaroli will remain chairman and CEO of the combined company for 18 months after the closing, while Oliver serves as president and chief operating officer, as well as director. Then Oliver will become CEO while Molinaroli serves as executive chairman for a year, until Oliver takes both roles.

Johnson Controls has been on a multiyear trajectory to transform into a true industrial growth company. I think this acquisition fits well in that strategy, said Noah Kaye, an analyst at Oppenheimer & Co. Fundamentally, we see this as a company with advanced energy storage and advanced building controls capabilities and the Tyco products should integrate well.

Johnson Controls recent announcement that it will merge with Tyco International plc shows that U.S. companies are still seeking, and finding, ways to change their incorporation to foreign countries, despite hot pursuit of expatriation devices by Treasury and the IRS, said Bloomberg BNA managing editor for international tax Bruce Reynolds, in a statement emailed to Accounting Today.

Early Earnings

Johnson Controls also said that it earned an adjusted profit of 82 cents a share in its fiscal first quarter, while Tyco said it earned 42 cents. Both figures were within or better than the companies forecasts. Johnson Controls will report full earnings Jan. 28 and Tyco on Jan. 29.

Tyco shares jumped 11 percent to $33.99 at 2:29 p.m. New York time. Johnson Controls slipped 2.5 percent to $34.70.

Johnson Controls is falling because executives never clearly explained the benefits the deal would bring for shareholders, said Sachin Shah, a special situations and merger arbitrage strategist at Albert Fried & Co. Shah also said Oliver estimated Tyco shareholders would receive at least a 30 percent premium for their shares in the proposed deal. The company never explained the math behind that premium, which left him with little confidence in the transparency of the deal, Shah said.

This in theoryand strategically as wellcould be a good deal, Shah said. But the terms seems inadequate. The communicationtheres a dislocation between what theyre saying and what the terms are.

Oliver said on a conference call that the 30 percent is based on potential gains such as at least $650 million in synergies over the next few years. The premium is 13 percent based on the 30-day volume-weighted average share price, he said.

Centerview Partners and Barclays Plc provided financial advice to Johnson Controls. For Tyco, Lazard is lead adviser, Citigroup Inc. is providing financing and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. also provided financial advice.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and A&L Goodbody are legal advisers to Johnson Controls; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Arthur Cox are Tycos legal advisers.

With assistance from David Welch, Ed Hammond, Zachary R. Mider, Phil Serafino and John Lear.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has reversed a judgment of the District Court for the Northern District of California in an income tax refund action brought by Al Davis, former principal owner of the Oakland Raiders, and his wife Carol Davis.

The court held that the breach of a closing agreement between the IRS and the partnership that formerly owned the Raiders did not invalidate the tax assessments, which were properly assessed within the statute of limitations.

The partnership settled with the IRS under a closing agreement that allowed the partners a designated amount of time to review and comment on the proposed tax liability calculations before any assessments were made. The IRS breached the closing agreement by making certain assessments without giving the Davises a second opportunity to review the calculations.

The partnership and the IRS were involved in long-running Tax Court litigation. In 2005, the partnership and the IRS reached a settlement over tax years 1988 through 1994. The closing agreement, which concluded the litigation, was signed by Davis. In a suit filed just before his death, Davis asserted that the assessments were invalid due to the breach.

The district court held that breach invalidated the assessments and entered judgment for Davis. The Ninth Circuit, in Davis v. United States (filed January 25, 2016), reversed, holding that the assessments were valid.

The court held that the breach entitled Davis to a contractual remedy but did not invalidate the assessments.

At bottom, the problem with Daviss argument is that his obligation to pay taxes validly and accurately assessed comes from the Internal Revenue Code, not the Closing Agreement, which only specified the treatment of certain Partnership income as inputs to the calculation of his taxes, the court stated. The IRSs failure to perform its contract with the Partnership cannot relieve Davis of his statutory obligation to pay taxes; nothing in the Closing Agreement provided that any taxes assessed on the partners pursuant to statute would be rendered invalid if the government failed to perform.
The Air Force is taking the future of airpower to international audiences in England this summer.The 56th Fighter Wing from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, will send F-35A Lightning IIs to fly in a heritage flight and to be on public display at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Royal Air Force Fairford, England. They will also be on public display at the Farnborough International Airshow. This will be the first time the Air Force sends an F-35 to an overseas airshow."We're very excited about demonstrating this capability to the world," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "The F-35 represents a new way of thinking about data integration, weapons and tactics. We're thrilled to highlight the program and the amazing Airmen who support this cutting-edge fighter."The Air Force Heritage Flight program features modern Air Force fighter aircraft flying alongside World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War-era aircraft in a dynamic display of our nation's airpower history."Being a part of these heritage flights allows the world to learn more about the F-35 and at the same time see just how far airpower has come over the years," said Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, the 56th Fighter Wing commander. "The F-35 will be the backbone of the Air Force fighter fleet and represent the future for the U.S., our partners and allies. This will be a great opportunity for everyone to see how amazing the F-35 is."The Royal International Air Tattoo is scheduled for July 7 through 9, and the Farnborough International Airshow will be July 11 through 17. For information on the Royal International Air Tattoo, click here , and for more information on the Farnborough International Airshow, click here
STRATCOM chief talks nuclear deterrence, modernization

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 Commands workforce, the STRATCOM commander said here Jan. 22.



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 todays 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.



Russias programs



Haney noted Moscows 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 dont 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.



Chinas 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 the 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.



Americas nuclear deterrent



Americas 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 his command is working in this area. For example, weve established an academic alliance program focused on developing a community of interest of deterrence and assurance in the context of national security.



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 Departments 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.
Hurricane Hunters gather forecast data on record-breaking blizzard

The Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew a different kind of mission from Keesler Air Force Base Jan. 22 to gather data on the blizzard that hit the Eastern Seaboard.



The blizzard began dropping snow on the area early Jan. 22, and was a record-setter for three cities, leaving 29.2 inches in Baltimore, 31.9 inches in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and 34 inches in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, according to the National Weather Service.



The 53rd WRS crew flew along the eastern coast from Florida up to the New York City area over the Atlantic Ocean, dropping sondes ahead of the storm to gather information and to send it back to the NWS, where forecasts and predictions are made.



While the Hurricane Hunters are best known for flying into hurricanes, the winter storm mission is a bit different.



"A hurricane is more of a fluid flight with lots of changes, whereas with winter storms, everything is already set," said 1st Lt. Leesa Froelich, a 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer. "We also fly as high as we possibly can, but in a hurricane we're at 10,000 feet."



"Much like in a hurricane, we drop sondes down to the surface that collect information on the storm's wind speed and direction, as well as the barometric pressure and temperature," said Staff Sgt. Jesse Jordan, a 53rd WRS loadmaster.



During the flight, reports were coming in that Washington D.C. had received 19 inches of snow, said Froelich. By Sunday, the city saw 22-35 inches of snow to the west, north and northwest of the Beltway, and 18-24 inches inside the Beltway.



The Hurricane Hunters flew two flights in this storm. This is the second winter storm the squadron has flown this year, but they continue to be ready for anything else that develops during this winter storm season.


Dehdradun Police has issued an alert about a suspected terrorist entering the Uttarakhand capital. The city police has released a CCTV photo of the suspect and asked people to be on alert.

Uttarakhand DGP BS Sidhu said that a group of eight men may try to create trouble in the state. Sidhu said the police have received information that one of the members of the group has sneaked into Dehradun.

Security forces are at maximum alert across the country in view of Republic Day. Intelligence agencies have warned that terror groups may try to strike in major cities on Republic Day.

The senior police officer said they received the information through a video clipping but refused to share the source of the footage provided to the police.

Police have released a photograph of the suspect after investigating the video clippings, he said.

Sidhu refused to share any detail about the suspected man, who is hiding in the city or its fringes, but said that police have been put on high alert and an intensive hunt has been launched to nab him.

Earlier this month, 4 suspected ISIS members were arrested from Roorke for planning to target the Kumbh mela in Haridwar.

On Monday, two Al Qaeda suspects were arrested in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Police said the two  Akram Sheikh alias Masood and Mohammad Nasim are reportedly associated with Al Qaedas wing with the terror groups Indian branch.
The US capital struggled to plow and shovel its way back to life Monday after a blizzard smothered the East Coast, with mountains of snow lining streets and schools and the federal government shut.

The storm was blamed for at least 33 deaths as it slammed a dozen states from Friday into early Sunday, many of them people who suffered heart attacks while shoveling, or killed on icy roads, though several died of carbon monoxide poisoning trying to keep warm in cars or homes.

Washingtons subway and bus network, closed all weekend, resumed service Monday but on a very limited basis with trains running for free.

More accustomed to heavy snowfall, New York City seemed to bounce back more easily with schools in the Big Apple open and the mass transit system up and running for the most part.

But for many the thrill of a weekend spent playing in the snow, or in warm homes watching a stunning display of natures power, gave way to the realization that, in Washington at least, the cleanup will be long and messy.

From my estimation we got more snow than I have ever seen in Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser told CNN. We are working hard to dig out all of our residential streets.

Under a sunny sky, the normally bustling avenues around the White House were all but deserted.

Heavy machinery equipped with powerful vacuums sucked at chest-high drifts of snow and spat it into 18-wheel trucks moving alongside at a snails pace.

Dump trucks laden with increasingly dirty snow rumbled through the streets and crews in bright red shirts went at it with shovels. Everywhere, there was snow.

The few people out and about trudged through slush and ice and picked their way through drifts left by plows. Many restaurants, office buildings and stores remained closed.

Limited flight operations resumed from Washingtons Reagan National and Dulles International airports, a day after officials battled in New York to get some aircraft off the ground.

More than 22 inches (56 centimeters) of snow paralyzed Washington, while the 26.8 inches that fell in New Yorks Central Park was the second-highest accumulation since records began in 1869.
Whatever incident happened at the Shani Shingnapur temple on Republic Day is highly disgraceful. It is an act of misogynistic patriarchy continuation. Section 144, which prohibits assembly of more than ten people in an area, has been invoked in Ahmednagar. The women were planning to storm into the temple, as a symbolic gesture to break the gender barrier at the shrines sanctum sanctorum. If women can give birth to a man, then why should we discriminate and not allow them to worship a particular god. Everybody should have equal right. I want to ask why the women are denied entry into the temple. God hasnt made these rituals, it has been made by few people to debar womens entry from temples.

Today is Republic Day and the father of the Indian Constitution Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar had said that the Constitution gives equal rights to all of us. The society and the people need to understand that men and women are on the same platform in this country.

People from all over the country visit this place to perform Puja by pouring oil on Shani Devs idol. In Hindu mythology, it is said that Hanumanji and Shani Dev are God following (Brahmacharya) and hence, woman are forbidden from touching their idols. Today, women are at par with men in all fields and are playing a vital role in the nations progress then why people continue to follow age old norms where women is not allowed entry in some temples. They also wanted the government to intervene in this matter and frame legislations for removing gender based discriminations.

A Lord Shani temple in Ahmednagar district performed a purification puja after young woman offered worship to the idol placed on a platform in November last year. At a time when women are fighting for priesthood all over the world, incidence like this comes as a shocker. However, this is not entirely unexpected as a number of such incidences are becoming common over the years. Women are always being discriminated on different pretext. The feminist organizations along with progressive male organizations must take up this issue very seriously. Raja Ram Mohan Roy would be in tears to see his India in such a state after two centuries when he kickstarted social reforms. This is not just a religious issue; but a social conditioning too. Earlier this week, one Sunni religious leader claimed that women were only meant to rear children. People need a sacred text to look up to amend their archaic beliefs. Only our constitution can provide such a sacred template.

In the year 2000, Narendra Dabholkar led a campaign demanding entry for women into the Shani Shingnapur temple. The trail-blazing activism by rationalist firebrand Narendra Dabholkar, who was killed by right-wing elements, and his Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS) to combat the ban on women entering temples was a vital phase in the organisations untiring efforts to strive for gender equality in Maharashtra. While the struggle commenced with the usual raucous noises from the right-wing patriarchy, it culminated on a happy note with these very sections joining in the cause to uphold the dignity of women across the State.

However, the right-wing political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena, along with several fringe Hindutva groups, prevented the campaigners from entering the iconic temple. After heated arguments with district officials intent on averting trouble, the campaigners were sent into jail for the next two days. In 2011, in an obvious effort at garnering goodwill by appearing to fight for womens equality, the BJP and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena worked for ensuring the entry of women into the legendary Mahalaxmi temple in Kolhapur district. In a single stroke, a 2,000-year-old tradition, emblematic of overweening patriarchal codes, bit the dust.

If God do not wish to be unholy by worship of a female, He (being Almighty) Himself should have prevented her. He did not do that means either He is not Almighty or He wishes to be worshipped by female. No God can ever become unholy if He is truly a God. Purifying God is an unholy act for which all the responsible person should be punished, because God cant be impure. Authorities at the Shani Shingnapur temple also suspended seven workers for negligence while one trustee resigned taking moral responsibility in November last year. Priests bathed the idol with oil and milk, while all shops in the vicinity remained closed till the ceremony was over.

The Shani Shingnapur temple attracts thousands of devotees daily. Worshippers of the famous Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi make it a point to visit the Shani Shingnapur Temple also. The practice of barring women from the inner sanctum of religious places is prevalent in some of Maharashtras most revered shrines, one of them is the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai. The dargahs trust has cited menstruation as one of the reasons for not allowing women into the mazaar. In response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by activists Noorjehan Niaz and Zakia Soman of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, the trust said many religions impose restrictions on women owing to menstruation, perceived as unclean or embarrassing.

In the Hindu community a girl, after she reaches puberty, is barred from entering the prayer room or performing any religious prayers during her menstruation. The only reason mentioned in our scriptures is that she is (ashudha) unclean during that period. Let us go back to see when, where and why this custom started. During those days, ladies would have take their bath either in the river, pond or near the well. During the time, when the girl would be in menstruation, it would be an awkward to bathe together with the rest of the ladies, as it would probably pollute the water. Since, the ladies did not bath and there were no bathroom facilities for the rest of the day during the menstruating period, they would naturally be termed unclean during that time. Hence, they were being barred from the clean places in the house, namely the prayer room or the kitchen. This is, as far as the physical aspect of being (ashudha) unclean, goes. However, when the scriptures spoke of ashudha, they may have not only meant the physical aspect but the mental aspect as well.
Then there's Cinderella's "new context". You didn't think that Cinderella, who has been a teenager since 1950 when she debuted in her first Disney film, got away without having sex all this time, did you? Can't let a storybook princess maintain her decades long reputation for innocence, not in 2016 when there are so many drugs and medical services for her to sell - to children. Nope. Cinderella is all grown up now. Cinderella is shown in the lab with a needle in her arm getting blood drawn to test her for STD's, because, as the poster on the wall behind her head says "ONE IN TWO SEXUALLY ACTIVE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL GET AN STD BY 25". You just can't make this stuff up. CINDERELLA. What age is into Cinderella? 3? 5? 7? 9? Oh, now, wait a minute. Nine year old girls ARE targeted (their word, not mine) for the HPV vaccine. So, they get the babies ready for the idea that they're going to get this vaccine when they are just barely out of diapers so that by the time they reach the ripe old age of 9, they accept it without questioning because all their Disney friends got it and did just fine. Slick.

Sepulveres and Lugo show the Disney cartoon characters that millions of children love and admire in various medical situations. Tiana is shown getting an HPV vaccine. Mulan is in the gynecologist's examination chair shaking his hand before putting her feet into the stirrups for her "cervical cancer screening". Belle is shown in the clinic picking up (I kid you not) "emergency contraception" (behind her are brochures on Birth Control, one partially hidden by the nurse's (?) head says in red "Your Sexual...", and then right behind Belle's head is a large picture of an IUD, white and blue on bright red).

In Forbes' Jan. 20th "Pharma & Healthcare" section (where they tell us what Pharma wants us to "know"), there is an article titled, " Even Disney Princesses Need HPV Shots, Cervical Cancer Screenings and STD Testing ". In this activist sales pitch dressed up as science journalism, Forbes contributor and self-assigned savior of the world's children from their own parents (and non HPV vaccine prescribing doctors), Tara Haelle, reports how "writer and sex ed speaker Danielle Sepulveres and artist/illustrator Maritza Lugo...collaborated on a series of illustrations at Sepulveres' Tumblr showing Disney princesses visiting their gynecologists to raise awareness for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and all the healthy behaviors that women can take to reduce their risk of this almost completely preventable cancer." Apparently "Sepulveres became frustrated last fall when she and fellow writer friends had trouble successfully pitching stories to write about Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month in September. After sharing her frustration in a blog post at a cervical cancer "cervivors" site, she decided she needed a new approach to catch people's attention when January rolled around." So she teamed with artist Lugo "whose website features a style well suited to placing icons like Cinderella and Mulan in a new context".

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse than the Surgeon General using Elmo on Sesame Street to hawk vaccines to the tiniest and most impressionable among us, Forbes steps up to the plate this month to compete for Most Disgusting Abuse of Marketing Drugs Directly To Children Award.

I saw one more. Jasmine and Aladdin are shown discussing family planning options with a doctor. Can you imagine your 7 year old proficient reader asking you, "What's family planning, Mommy?" "What's an STD?" "What's emergency contraception?".

There is a positive aspect to this sorry hijacking of fairy tales by Pharma and Fiends though. While consistently loyal Pharma friendly Forbes published this piece by Haelle, Sepulveres indignantly reveals on her Tumblr blog that plenty of other editors rejected the story:

*Important to note that this month, pitches to female editors about this topic were ignored or rejected by The Daily Beast, Cosmopolitan, The Establishment, Buzzfeed, Glamour, The Cut and several others.*

So, it is good to think that other editors realized how outrageously inappropriate this is on so many levels. Science journalists influencing minors to opt for certain medical and pharmaceutical products and services with or without using beloved Disney characters is marketing directing to children and it is disgusting. It's not that cervical cancer isn't a problem. There are lots of problems. It's that these women are not the children's parents and they are overstepping their bounds. They are trampling on parental rights and authority. They are trying to wedge their message between young children and their parents using Disney characters. If these women want to teach, they can reach out to parents with their message and then they should politely and respectfully wait for acceptance or rejection of that message. And they should take yes or no for an answer and know that there are BOUNDARIES. They have no right to push parents aside and go straight to the children with their biased, controversial, agenda. That goes for Surgeon General Murtha and Sesame Street too.

Unicef's Bo Viktor Nylund outlines the problem in an article in The Guardian, "Marketing and advertising to children: the issues at stake",

Marketing to children has expanded to include messaging at points of sale, childrens clubs, sporting events, concerts, websites, social networking sites and even in schools. Marketing messages may introduce children to inappropriate content like violence, sexualization and unrealistic body images....

Nylund's article was not specifically about HPV vaccine and sex education linked to various products and services, but it applies to these products and services as well, even and especially when they are marketed to children by government officials like Murtha. It is an overreach to market drugs and medical services directly to children that parents may not agree with. Birth control and cultural/religious ideals of sexual practices are personal as are decisions over what services and products will be chosen for use. These are not decisions for minors (no matter what California has decided - if they think children are able to make medical decisions then they should also grant children over the age of 12 the right to vote, but I digress). It is most interesting that the article states that Disney is one of a number of companies that has "already taken steps to integrate children's rights considerations into their marketing and advertising strategies."

So, would Uncle Walt and his successors at Disney approve of Tiana, Cinderella, Alladin, Belle and Mulan being used to sell controversial vaccines, IUDs and emergency contraception directly to kids (or even to adults for that matter)? I wonder, has Disney approved? If so, I want to know if Disney was paid for the use of these characters, how much and by whom?

Outrageous marketing of "sex ed" to very young children without their parent's consent aside, some may be thinking that this campaign is ok because HPV vaccine is proven safe and effective and necessary to prevent cervical cancer and other conditions linked to HPV viral strains. That's the sales pitch - the message the CDC puts out. But it isn't true. HPV vaccine is extremely controversial and has been from day 1 when the first version was introduced in 2006 (we're on version 2 now with the poorly tested Gardasil 9). In 2013 the Japanese government withdrew their recommendation for the vaccine because of concerns of serious adverse side effects. The HPV vaccine is also in big trouble in other countries including India, France, Spain and Denmark. Gardasil's history can be found in "Gardasil, License to Kill?", which is chapter 19 of the book, Vaccine Epidemic. That chapter is downloadable for free here.

No one knows if the HPV vaccine can or will prevent cervical cancer, but we do know that some children who receive this vaccine get very sick and many have tragically died. In his January 16, 2016 open letter of complaint to WHO, Dr. Sin Hang Lee explains the scientific rationale behind the serious adverse events including deaths after HPV vaccine. He conclusively shows that these illnesses and deaths are not coincidental to the vaccine's administration and he also proves using emails that he obtained that the damning science has been deliberately hidden from policy makers and the public.

Tara Haelle is one science journalist who needs to catch a scientific clue and she needs to learn her place. Her place is NOT between parents and their children. Her place is not in raising other people's kids. Like "The Daily Beast, Cosmopolitan, The Establishment, Buzzfeed, Glamour, The Cut and several others", Tara Heale and her Forbes' editors should have had the sense and (we can only hope) scientific understanding to reject Sepulvedes' transgressive and grossly inappropriate campaign.

Postscript: At the end of Haelle's Forbes' piece, she announces that she is writing a parenting book with Ms. :o) Emily Willingham, titled, The Informed Parent: A Science-Based Resource for Your Child's First Four Years. That's right, folks. These two will be explaining the "science" of parenting a child up to age 4 (notably a particularly vaccine intensive time) to parents so that parents no longer have to rely on, to paraphrase the intro to their book on Amazon: know-nothing friends, other parents, in-laws, and I will add, the growing number of doctors and scientists who don't agree with the Haelle/Willingham(Pharma/CDC) definition of "credible" science. Haelle with her infamously opinionated and not very scientifically credible partner, Willingham, apparently have their sights set on getting in between everybody because they're the experts and no one you know, including your doctor, knows as much as they (and their puppeteers) do.
From Truth In Media. Please visit the site for the video.



Ben Swann is an investigative journalist working tirelessly to dissolve the left/right paradigm prevalent in most mainstream media narratives. As a news reporter and anchor in the earlier days of his career, he has gained a wealth of experience while earning two Emmy Awards and two Edward R. Murrow awards. In addition to heading the Truth In Media Project, Ben is the prime anchor at WGCL-TV in Atlanta, GA. He can be seen anchoring live at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. A stream is available at cbs46.com.



The debate over whether vaccines cause autism has become one of the most controversial disputes in this country. In this episode of Truth In Media, the focus is not on whether vaccines are responsible for autism. The issue at hand here is a study that was performed at the CDC and the question of whether the agency was complicit in a cover-up over a decade ago.

For over two years, Truth In Media has explored the allegations of Dr. William Thompson, a CDC scientist who came forward in 2014, hired a whistleblower attorney, and claimed that important data regarding a study on vaccines and autism was eliminated.

Thompsons claims have led to a divide among Americans, with some believing that Thompsons allegations are credible and should be investigated further, and others convinced that the documents Thompson handed over mean absolutely nothing. In December 2015, Ben Swann was the first journalist to obtain the documents from Congressman Bill Posey.

In this episode, Swann further examines not only Thompsons claims, but also the documents related to the study, with the assistance of doctors, journalists, authors and former CDC specialists who joined Swann in discussing every document that was handed over.
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Assyrian Girl Who Fled ISIS in Iraq Selected to Appear on 'The Voice Kids'

Mirna Hana, an Assyrian refugee from Iraq, sings on the Voice Kids. An 11-year-old Christian girl who fled Iraq because her family was threatened by ISIS has become an Internet sensation after her "The Voice Kids" performance went viral.

Mirna Hana, a Chaldean Christian, sang an Iraqi classic followed by "Frozen's" "Let It Go" during her audition to an impressed group of judges on the show, which is a kids-only version of the popular televised singing contest.

"We arrived here in Lebanon and everyone knows that situation in Iraq and Know ISIS threats and murders and how people are escaping and leaving their homes," Hana's father explained in an excerpt from the show published online. "We received a threat that they are planning to kidnapped our little daughter, so we had no choice than to run away. We escaped and left everything behind including my job."

Hana got her big break when she was accepted to perform on the Lebanese version of the "The Voice Kids."

Her brother arrived at her school to surprise Hana that she was to perform for the "Voice" judges in Lebanon..

"Since I was a little girl, I was dreaming to sing and today my dream is coming true," she said when her brother told her the good news.

"We arrived to Lebanon seven months ago. I was so upset that we had to leave our country and leave my school. Even I was happy not go to the school. But we had no choice," Hana said. "I took my clothes and ran away. When we arrived at Lebanon and I started to go to school, I felt that we do not have any more friends or relatives here."

Hana's performance earned her the opportunity to continue on in the competition. Since her performance was published on Youtube, over 18 million people have watched her sing.
January 26, 2016

CAIRO  Egypt hopes to crack down on food fraud and prevent epidemics by strengthening its safety regulations  quickly.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has instructed authorities to form a committee to develop and pass a food safety law. Observers say the expedited order has rekindled hopes for a strong committee that monitors markets, enforces the law and prevents fraud. On Jan. 4, Sisi met with Abla Abdel-Latif, president of the Economic Development Board, and board member Mohsen Helmy to discuss several issues, including the committee.

The committee will be completely independent of all ministries and government parties, and will be directly linked to the president so it can perform its oversight role properly.

Hussein Mansour, head of the Egyptian Food Safety Authority  the unit tasked with forming the committee  talked about expectations for the committee.

He told Al-Monitor, The main task of the committee is to monitor all food products, like dairy and meat, and all health-related issues. It will also conduct the necessary tests and laboratory exams to ensure food safety. The food products will be subject to tests to confirm their quality and production standards before being put on the market.

The committee will also oversee the way that meat is cut, transferred and frozen, as well as its safety standards, he said. The situation in slaughterhouses is chaotic, and health requirements are almost absent. Moreover, the transportation of meat allows the spread of diseases. Some people transport the meat without covering it, which exposes it to car exhausts, soil, insects and microbes.

Mansour admitted there is a crisis in Egypts food market in light of poor oversight. This is an undeniable reality, he said. But following the presidents instructions to form a committee, we will now have a food safety bill. This will be the only law strictly related to food products in terms of monitoring, observation and follow-up.

Currently there is a hodgepodge of regulations  some more than a century old. These laws that date back to 1893 are archaic and unable to keep up with scientific developments, new monitoring methods or even the developed training programs, Mansour said.

Based on official figures, there are 17 food safety monitoring bodies in Egypt, and there have been around 2,446 relevant pieces of food legislation since 1893.

Mansour added, The new law will eliminate the problem of multiple parties conducting lab exams to test food products and will regroup them under one food safety committee allowed by law to carry out tests and analyses without referring to any other body. The committee would also enjoy full independence in implementing its job. This would forbid any attempts to deceive citizens in the quality of food products offered to them.

There are 3,000 factories established according to the law and complying with standards and regulations governing food products, but they only produce 20% of food produced by factories. The rest of the factories often do not abide by any rules, laws or oversight regulations. This makes it harder for factories that strictly follow government regulations to compete and also poses a huge health threat to citizens.

Recently, the slaughter of donkeys has been on the rise at several farms and slaughterhouses. In June 2015, investigators in Faiyum province found a farm that slaughters donkeys and distributes them to butchers who sell them as food fit for human consumption. Investigators found 50 slaughtered donkeys ready for sale, while 300 others were waiting to be slaughtered.

Consequently, the General Authority for Veterinary Services, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, announced a plan to monitor the number of donkeys and horses in the provinces. Thus, the authority will confront what the local press has deemed the donkey slaughter mafia.

Fathi Abdul Aziz, head of the monitoring and distribution department at the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade, told Al-Monitor, The ministry launches daily campaigns to detect any fraud in shops. It has not spared any effort to catch outlaws. Several cases of commercial fraud were caught after it was discovered that shops were selling expired meat to citizens.

Abdul Aziz said, When cases of commercial fraud are discovered, we file a report, shut down the place and refer its owner for public prosecution, by virtue of law No. 48/1941 combating fraud and deception.

Article 10 of that law states that if the fraud is repeated, the contravening party shall be sanctioned by imprisonment for a period not less than five years and a penalty of 30,000-60,000 Egyptian pounds ($3,800-$7,700), or of a value equivalent to the amount of the goods involved, whichever is higher.

Sayyed Ahmad, a member of the Tourist Guides Union, told Al-Monitor, Food contamination not only affects citizens public health and infects them with diseases, it also impacts tourism in Egypt. Some countries are warning their citizens who are planning to visit Egypt how to prevent diseases by avoiding food from unknown sources sold by street vendors or drinking unclean potable water to avoid epidemics like hepatitis.

Mohammad Sayyed Massoud, executive manager of the Egyptian Food Security Information Center, welcomed news of a food safety committee. In a Jan. 4 press release, he underlined the importance of facing food fraud and checking for compliance with food safety standards. He told Al-Monitor, Food contaminants infect many Egyptians with diseases.

He said that the food safety law needs to be enacted as soon as it is ratified by parliament, and that the president is pushing for the law to be implemented in the next few months.
January 26, 2016

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Milk and dairy factories in Gaza have steadily defied the Israeli siege imposed since 2007, maintaining capacity and productivity in the face of imported milk and dairy products from more modern and more productive factories in Israel and the West Bank. Despite their technological and financial vulnerabilities, the Gaza factories have become a critical part of the livestock sector, which has declined due to the various wars with Israel.

In the Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City, lies the Dalloul cheese factory, in operation since 1998. The enterprise had to move three times between 2008 and 2014, after being shelled by Israel for allegedly sheltering rockets. The factory's owner, Mamoun Dalloul, 40, rebuilt it every time.

This factory is my source of livelihood and the only work that I know. It was bombed during Operation Cast Lead in 2008, and also in 2010 when Israel was carrying out series of night strikes, and it was bombed in the war of 2012. The storage facilities were also bombed in the last war, in 2014, under the same false security pretenses.

Before the 2012 conflict, Dalloul had written a letter to European Union headquarters in Gaza City, ultimately in vain, in an attempt to get international protection for his facility. The factory ended up being bombed, and Dalloul could not receive compensation from the United Nations because it was targeted for supposed security reasons.

The Dalloul cheese factory has grown over the years, but it is still a small operation compared with plants in the West Bank and Israel. It returned to production less than a year after the 51-day 2014 war.

Dalloul told Al-Monitor, Our products, from baladiya cheese, to feta cheese, to yogurt, etc., are sold throughout the Gaza Strip. But we could not restore production of yellow cheese after the damage of the last war, because the machinery we need is barred from entering through the Karam Abu Salem crossing.

Like other Gaza-made products, Dalloul's face stiff competition from imported goods. He explained, We can now produce high-quality Egyptian feta cheese. It has a good market. But we are facing competition on yogurt and other products that have alternatives, which are imported from the West Bank and Israel. They are offered throughout the year at lower prices, and they are of high quality, which attracts consumers who are looking for cheaper products.

According to the Ministry of National Economys latest report, which Al-Monitor obtained, from January through November 2015 Gaza businesses produced 5,058 tons of milk, 10,624 tons of yogurt and 3,432 tons of assorted cheeses. The ministry counted a total of 11 dairy factories, which produce some 23% of Gazas total annual dairy needs.

About 50% of the milk that the Dalloul factory uses is in liquid form, while the other 50% is powder imported from Israel. The factory would like to use more natural milk, but production at cattle farms is insufficient, according to Dalloul.

One of Dallouls milk suppliers, Ibrahim Abu Shaar, owner of Ibrahim Abu Shaar Farms, told Al-Monitor, Cattle farmers productivity is lower than before. The factories pay 1.8 shekels [$0.45] per liter of milk, which costs the farms 1.6 shekels [$0.40] [to produce]. This forced many farmers to sell their cows or slaughter them during the last Eid al-Adha.

Taher Hamad, director of the Ministry of Agricultures Animal Production Department in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, Dairy cows produce annually about 17,000 tons of milk in the Gaza Strip, covering 15% of the Strips needs. Hamad said the livestock sector began to shrink in 2008 for a number of reasons, noting, Israeli authorities put many restrictions on the export of high-quality dairy cattle from Israel to the Gaza Strip, and further explained, Demand for cows in Israel is high, which is why it [Israel] does not export cattle except those that are old, have low production, or birth defects.

Citing other factors, Hamad asserted, The high price of imported feed and the lack of natural pastures have increased costs for farms. That is in addition to the deaths of cows during the 2014 and previous wars, which led some farmers to stop breeding dairy cattle.

According to Ministry of Agriculture statistics obtained by Al-Monitor, about 142 out of 150 cow breeding operations in Gaza were damaged in the 2014 war. This heavy loss reduced the number of dairy cows to 2,600 head, whereas in previous years more than 5,000 had been recorded.

In the Nuseirat refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip, Mustafa Eid, 34, owner of the Khalij factory, complained of the lack of raw material needed for dairy production, such as salt and powdered milk, which is used as a substitute given the shortage of natural milk.

Despite the high production costs, Eid has decided to stay in business. He told Al-Monitor, We are trying to satisfy consumers who are looking for the cheaper product. But some consumers do not buy national products made in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip and choose to buy Israeli products, because they view them as of higher quality since they are subject to consumer protection controls.

The owners of the Dalloul and Khalij factories both said they follow quality standards even though they have not received quality standard certificates from the Palestine Standards Institution (PSI). Their factories are technically subject to routine monitoring by the Ministries of Health and the National Economy.

Hani Matar, director of the Export Promotion Department in the Ministry of National Economy in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, however, Factories operating in the Gaza Strip do not receive certificates for health and quality standards because the entities authorized to do so, including the PSI, have stopped operating in Gaza since 2009 because of the internal Palestinian division. Because of our weak capabilities, all we [the ministry] can do are periodic follow-ups and lab tests to ensure consumer protection. But there is a significant deficiency in our capabilities and screening tools.

Matar further stated, The Ministry of Economy is facing difficulty supporting domestic production because imports [are not being restricted] to supply tax revenues that alleviate the worsening fiscal deficit of the Gaza Ministry of Economy.
January 25, 2016

On the afternoon of Jan. 21, settlers from Hebron entered two vacant houses near the Tomb of the Patriarchs. The invaders claimed they had bought the houses legally, but failed to present the police with bills of sale to prove it. They refused to vacate the premises and became unruly. By the end of the week, there was a minor political crisis after Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon made the obvious decision and gave orders for the settlers to be evicted.

The prime minister was away at the time, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Yaalon, who was aware of the implications of such an action for the stability of the ruling coalition, acted quickly and resolutely. He knew he would be attacked, but probably miscalculated the intensity of the coordinated attack on him from within the coalition. Not only did radical Knesset members like Bezalel Smotrich lash out at him, but also senior Cabinet ministers like Yariv Levin and Zeev Elkin, and even Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein. It was a full day later that the prime minister backed Yaalon up.

The eviction was planned for Jan. 22, a Friday morning. Over the course of several hours, the office of the defense minister tried to explain to the settlers that without the ownership documents, eviction was the only option. But the other side refused to listen. Not a single representative of the settlers leadership, a minister or right-wing Knesset member was willing to mediate between the sides. Yaalon, a senior Likud member, was subjected to insults and ridiculous accusations such as claims that he was discriminating against the settlers. He was left virtually on his own in the battle over the rule of law.

After the eviction, the storm that erupted with the invasion of the houses grew wilder. Smotrich and two Likud lawmakers  Oren Hazan and Ayoob Kara  presented an ultimatum, announcing that they would boycott Knesset votes until the settlers are allowed back into the premises from which they were evicted. Senior Likud ministers pointed fingers at Yaalon and claimed that to score points with the general public, he was taking advantage of the prime ministers absence to stir things up  even at the expense of endangering the integrity of the coalition. The defense ministers explanations that the settlers' actions were a gross violation of the law were to no avail. He and his people kept saying that settling the territories was a project dear to his heart, but no one on the other side would listen.

It turns out that behind the scenes, tremendous pressure was brought by Hebron residents on Knesset members and ministers to get them to oppose the defense minister. Knesset members who rejected these appeals updated Yaalons office, conscious all the while of the sword of the Likud primaries hanging over their heads. In response to the pressure, Yaalon adopted a tougher tone. He turned to the ministers and Knesset members and asked them to act responsibly instead of stirring things up, saying, The conduct and comments of several politicians verge on recklessness and damage the national backbone. Anyone violating the law does the opposite of protecting the settlements.

But the Likud members were unmoved by this appeal of their senior party figure. They kept giving in to the powerful settlers. At a certain point on Friday afternoon, Yaalons aide Itzik Ashkenazi tweeted that the participation of HaBayit HaYehudi in the Cabinet is harmful to state security, to the rule of law and to the development and success of the settlements. Ashkenazi, a veteran politician, was careful not to go after the Likud ministers who were keeping quiet for tactical reasons. If he could have, he would probably have called them cowards. Ashkenazi's efforts to help his boss made Yaalon look even lonelier.

There were also a number of kind souls among the settlers who sent Yaalon messages of support, such as local council heads Eli Shviro of Ariel, David Elhayani of the Jordan Valley and Oded Revivi of Efrat. The three are members of the moderate group of the Judea and Samaria settlers in the Likud, a group that understands that activities like invading houses in Hebron only damage the settlement enterprise. In fact, for years theirs was the prevalent view in the Likud, until groups on the extreme right realized that they would have to act from within the ruling party to enhance their influence on the state. The massive Likud registration drive among the settlers created a new pressure group within the party that started intimidating the partys Knesset members and ministers and was the main cause of the radicalization at the top Likud echelons. Absurdly, these groups generally dont vote for the Likud in the general elections, but rather for HaBayit HaYehudi or parties further to the right. Yaalons circle has started dubbing these party members plants, in keeping with the spirit of the times.

The storm that erupted over the weekend in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus narrow coalition will not topple the government, but it serves as a sign of things to come. It fits in well with the hostile atmosphere created by HaBayit HaYehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett, who faces off against Netanyahu and Yaalon and insults them time and again without compunction. During Bennetts speech Jan. 19 at the Institute for National Security Studies, he declared that the main threat facing Israel is the stagnant thinking of its top leadership. Bennett seems to have made a strategic decision to position himself as an alternative to Netanyahu on the right. He, too, doesnt know how long this coalition can last, and he wants to be ready for elections.

Yaalon, on the other hand, has remained isolated in his battle for the rule of law, except for the faint declaration of support from Netanyahu. In an interview with Army Radio on Jan. 24, he once again took a courageous stand against those who attack him. With Knesset member Smotrich and a few others, unfortunately within my party, too, within my faction, I dont have a common language, the defense minister said. I hope the Likud movement, which follows in the footsteps of [late Prime Minister] Menachem Begin and not in the footsteps of these marginal figures, will know how to purge itself on this matter and take the right path.
January 25, 2016

In June, Saudi Arabia announced that it would reopen its embassy in Baghdad after a 25-year rift. Iraqi officials, including President Fuad Masum, had visited Riyadh on Nov. 12, 2014, paving the way for friendlier relations. Saudi Ambassador to Iraq Thamer al-Sabhan said Dec. 16 that the embassy had completed its preparations and that the diplomatic mission would soon head to Baghdad.

But Saudi Arabias execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Jan. 2 stirred anger on the Iraqi street and led to demands that the Saudi Embassy not be allowed to officially reopen. Iraqi perceptions about Saudi Arabia are generally negative, with the country seen as a troublemaker and a supporter of Sunni jihadis. The Saudi Embassy is in Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses most governmental offices and foreign embassies; Saudi Arabia also has a consulate in Erbil.

The closure demands came from Shiite parties and militias, among other social forces and figures. The head of the Sadrist movement, cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, called on Jan. 2 for demonstrations in front of the Saudi Embassy. He also demanded that the government prevent the opening of the Saudi Embassy in our beloved Iraq," saying, "Tyrants have no room among us.

The Dawa Party parliamentary bloc demanded on Jan. 1 that the Saudi Embassy be closed before it fully reopens and that Saudi detainees in Iraq who have been convicted of terrorist acts be executed in response to the Saudi execution of Nimr.

The League of the Righteous, which has representation in parliament and its own armed group within the Popular Mobilization Units that are fighting the Islamic State (IS), demanded on Jan. 2 that the Iraqi government review the decision to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia.

The head of the Badr parliamentary bloc, Qasim al-Araji, said he considered the killing of Nimr a serious crime, and demanded that diplomatic ties with Riyadh be cut immediately.

These sentiments echoed loudly through Shiite cities in central and southern Iraq, where demonstrations were held to demand that diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia be severed. The slogans raised focus on different issues linked to Saudi behavior in recent years, including the repression of the Shiite opposition in Bahrain, the offensive on Yemen and support for jihadist groups opposing the Syrian government. Among other demands, the demonstrators called for a boycott of Saudi products.

In Baghdad, security forces blocked protesters attempt to enter the Green Zone and break into the Saudi Embassy.

In light of this commotion on the streets, the Iraqi government has distanced itself from the strained Saudi-Iranian ties following the execution of Nimr and other developments, such as the storming of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran on Jan. 2 and the rupture of ties between the two countries. The government also turned a deaf ear to Iraqi Shiite forces close to Iran that demanded that ties be cut with Saudi Arabia.

On Jan. 6, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari offered to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Neither party has, however, responded to his offer. Middle East Online reported, Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Jamal said Jan. 5 that in a phone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Jaafari confirmed that the Saudi mission is safe and the Iraqi government is committed to its protection.

The official Iraqi position was incomprehensible to some extremist circles. Although it has condemned the execution of Nimr, Iraq also supported the Saudi position against Iran in the closing statement of the Arab League meeting on Jan. 10. This statement condemned the attack against the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and supported the Saudi position against Iran, demanding that Iran stop interfering in Saudi affairs.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis government seems to be trying to adopt a position neutral to the conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iraqs situation is currently complicated by the war against IS and the economic crisis caused by declining oil prices. Abadi seems to be looking to preserve any potential support in the fight against IS, which challenges the existence of the Iraqi state itself.

Abadi took office with a moderate and conciliatory stance compared with his predecessor, Nouri al-Maliki; this requires Abadi to take the middle ground in domestic and regional crises.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani assumed a prominent role in the appointment of Abadi to his current post and supports the normalization of ties with Saudi Arabia. In his Jan. 2 statement on Nimr's execution, Sistani avoided escalation and fueling the sectarian conflict in the region.

The official political and religious positions in Iraq do not support a confrontation with Saudi Arabia, despite popular Shiite pressure to avoid normalizing ties.

Nimrs execution has added fuel to a fire that still smolders between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. It should be noted that the relationship between the two countries was completely broken when dictator Saddam Hussein attacked Kuwait in 1991. Ties remained severed after 2003 as many Iraqis viewed Saudi Arabia as a major troublemaker in Iraq. Nimrs execution also intensified stances opposing Saudi Arabia in the region and in Iraq. It also placed Iraqi political and religious figures with a moderate point of view toward Saudi Arabia in a difficult position, and perhaps strengthened the extremists stance.

The demonstrations against Saudi Arabia in Iraq and the demands that the Saudi Embassy be shut may mean that the execution of Nimr has led to the rise of extreme voices against Saudi Arabia in Iraq. As a result, Saudi Arabia must evaluate the vulnerable sectarian situation in the region so as not to provide extremists with excuses nor weaken the moderates who can hold dialogue and reach understandings that will serve the interests of the two countries and the region as a whole.
January 26, 2016

Houses in Hebron should be treated just like houses in Tel Aviv, said Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev, lashing out at her Likud Party colleague Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon during the Jan. 24 Cabinet meeting that dealt with, among other issues, the eviction of settlers who broke into two homes near the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron.

And what if someone should want to buy a house in the heart of Nablus? Yaalon countered. He then went on to say that first of all, one must ascertain that the purchase is legal and second, In communities in the center of the country, there are no repercussions for defense and diplomacy as there are in Hebron.

The settlers usually skip over the first obstacle with relative ease. They convince the court that the building was bought legally. Then the minister of defense signs the permit they need to occupy the house, and they can pack their things and move in. The process often takes less time than getting approval from the Tel Aviv municipality to move into a house in the city. Such was the case with the so-called House of Contention into which settlers moved in April 2014, having received a permit signed by Yaalon, dubbing it the House of Peace.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already expressly promised, The minute the permits are approved, the settlers will be able to return to the homes, as has happened in similar cases in the past. But then, what about the security repercussions of which Yaalon spoke? Its hard to believe that the prime minister and defense minister are of the opinion that allowing radical right-wingers into the heart of such a volatile Arab town, especially at this time, is the right move in terms of security. And what about the diplomatic repercussions? Barely a week has gone by since US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro expressed criticism of the governments settlement policy, on Jan. 18. The Americans know full well that even if nine Supreme Court justices rule that the Hebron houses were purchased legally, the areas military commander reserves the right to prevent the settlers from moving in. It would take just one short phone call from the defense ministers office. But judging by past experience, even under defense ministers from the Labor Party, this authority will not be used.

As far as Yaalon is concerned, when it comes to construction for Jews in the West Bank, everything is legal. On a visit to outposts in Samaria in the summer of 2009, Yaalon said, Unfortunately, the term illegal has taken root. This term is in itself illegal. According to him, These are outposts established with full authority and permission, and only the planning and construction process has not been completed. Thus, the problem is not what the ambassador argued: There seem to be two standards of adherence to the rule of law: one for Israelis and another for Palestinians. The root cause of the problem is not in the discriminatory enforcement of the law, but rather with a discriminatory policy designed to push aside the Palestinians and settle Jews in their stead.

This is how its carried out: Between 2010 and 2014, Palestinians living on West Bank lands designated as Area C submitted 2,020 requests for building permits. Only 33 of them (1.5%) were granted. The zoning plans that the Civil Administration approved for settlers apply to 282,174 dunams. On the other hand, zoning for Palestinians in Area C has only been approved on 18,243 dunams  less than 1% of the land there. The planning for each settler covers an area 13 times as big as that planned for every Palestinian.

On the other hand, as far as demolition orders are concerned, the Palestinians are way ahead. Some 77% of the demolition orders issued by the Israeli Civil Administration since 1988 were for buildings located on land recognized by Israeli authorities as being under private Palestinian ownership. Everything is done legally  sanctioned by the law of the occupation, which the international community views as violating international law.

The Hebron-Yaalon affair enables the defense minister to set himself apart from outlandish politicians such as Miri Regev, and to portray himself as the Likuds "responsible adult." But for those with short memories, here is a selection of the tunes he has sung in recent years:

As far as Im concerned, Jews can and must live for eternity in all of the Land of Israel  the virus which is Peace Now and the elites, if you will, cause grave damage (Yaalon at a conference of the Likud's Jewish Leadership movement, headed by former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin, August 2009).

Jewish Leadership movement, headed by former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin, August 2009). The only thing that can save us is for Secretary of State John Kerry to get the Nobel Prize and leave us alone  Kerry, who is motivated by an inexplicable obsession and a sense of messianic fervor, cannot teach me a single thing about the conflict with the Palestinians (Yaalon in a conversation with Yedioth Ahronoth, January 2014).

Its temporary. Now there is a certain administration in the US. The US is leading this policy, but this administration will not be around forever (Yaalon at a meeting with Samaria high school students who complained about the halt of construction beyond the Green Line, December 2014).

The US cant sit on the fence with regard to the Middle East (Yaalon at the December Saban Forum in Washington).

With such a moderate politician, who needs radicals? But given the way things are, all Yaalon has to do is to temporarily refuse to obey the settlers orders to get a medal from the media for his determined stand vis-a-vis the radical right in his party. Mazal Mualem wrote for Al-Monitor this week that Yaalon was left virtually on his own in the battle over the rule of law. The fact that he is a member of the government alongside a convicted felon like Interior Minister Aryeh Deri enhances his image as "Mr. Clean."

Even Knesset member Tzipi Livni of the opposition, considered a political dove, praised the defense minister, who was not afraid to take a risk by confronting members of the Likud central committee and discharged his duty to protect security and the rule of law. In other words, absent a songbird, even a crow can be considered a nightingale.
January 25, 2016

Hamas has been able to avoid taking sides so far in the mounting tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but the higher the pressure rises, the more likely the movement will be forced to choose.

On Jan. 3, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran after Iranian demonstrators attacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, protesting the Saudi execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Some countries in the region, including Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Morocco and Egypt, sided with Iran in the dispute, while others sided with Saudi Arabia.

It is no secret that Hamas ranks have been torn in the dispute, as the Palestinian Islamic movement seems keen on maintaining relations with both parties. However, by remaining silent, Hamas is risking the wrath of both sides.

Hamas relationship with Saudi Arabia witnessed a major breakthrough following Hamas leader Khaled Meshaals visit to Saudi Arabia in July. Meanwhile, Hamas and Iran are continuing political talks in Beirut to improve their relations.

In this context, Sami Khater, a member of Hamas political bureau residing in Doha, Qatar, told Al-Monitor, It is none of Hamas business to interfere in the bilateral relations between Arab and Islamic countries. The movement hopes consensus and understanding would prevail among them, because what they have in common  the Palestinian cause and unity of blood and religion  is stronger than their differences on borders and political disputes. It is still early to talk about what repercussions the Saudi-Iranian dispute will have on the Palestinian cause, and we hope that this dispute will not negatively affect our cause.

On Jan. 6, Ismail Haniyeh, deputy head of Hamas political bureau, sent letters to leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan and Turkey urging them to support the Jerusalem uprising and the steadfastness of the Palestinian people. However, he did not address a letter to Iran. It seems Hamas might be hoping Iran wont invite Meshaal to visit right now, as Hamas wants to avoid being accused by Saudi Arabia of siding with Iran. Meshaal last visited Tehran in November 2012.

Hamas has had strong relations with Iran in the past. Iran provided financial and military support for Hamas from 2006 to 2012, and the movement thanked Iran for this support, which helped it face the Israeli siege after Hamas victory in the 2006 legislative elections. But the relations weakened significantly when the Syrian revolution broke out in early 2011, as Hamas did not support the Syrian regime and its oppressive measures against the revolution. As Hamas and Iran support different sides in the Syrian revolution, Hamas may find it difficult to make a move toward Iran because of the negative Arab perception of the Iranian role in the region, as noted Jan. 18 by Al Jazeera Center for Studies in Qatar.

Yet, a Hamas media official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that communication channels between Hamas, Saudi Arabia and Iran are still open.

Hamas seems well aware that it needs to maintain relations with Saudi Arabia, which sees itself as the leader of the Sunni world. At the same time, the movement is unlikely to distance itself from Iran, which has provided Hamas with financial and military support off and on.

Further complicating the issue, Hamas is aware that Irans influence in the region could increase now that the international sanctions have been lifted, at a time when the Saudi economy is deteriorating due to declining oil prices.

Osama Hamdan, head of Hamas international relations, told Al-Monitor, Hamas relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia are not new, given the movements need for the Islamic nations support, and Hamas is steadily working on improving its relationship with the two. The movements contacts have not been severed with the Iranians, as Hamas refuses to involve the Palestinian cause in the regional crises.

Abdel Sattar Qassem, a political science professor at An-Najah National University in Nablus in the West Bank, told Al-Monitor, Hamas should consider its needs before taking a stance on the Saudi-Iranian crisis. It ought to know whether it needs money or weapons. While the first option is available with Saudi Arabia, the second is available with Iran alone, and there is no third option for Hamas. Therefore, it would be in the movements interest to remain silent about what is happening between Saudi Arabia and Iran, all the while staying close to Iran, given the military support that the country provides the movement with  although support for the movement is currently suspended. If Iran or Saudi Arabia asks Hamas for a clear position, then the movement should refrain from making any statement.

For his part, Youssef Rizqa, former minister of information in the previous Hamas government, told Al-Monitor, Despite the fact that [Hamas] has interests with both parties, it was not asked to mediate to reconcile them with each other. However  just like Iran asked Hamas for a position on the Syrian crisis, Saudi Arabia asked for a similar position on the Yemeni crisis, because Hamas is a resistance movement that has an influence on the Arab public opinion.

If the Saudi-Iranian crisis reaches the point of military confrontation, Hamas could be forced to pick a side  and pay a steep political and financial price no matter which it chooses.
January 26, 2016

On a trip to Italy and France to boost economic times after the nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers, Irans President Hassan Rouhani met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The meeting is a sign of improved European-Iranian ties as Rouhani attempts to bring his country out of economic and political isolation. During meetings with Italian officials, Rouhani emphasized his desire to recover from the era of sanctions that damaged his countrys economy and relationship with European countries.

The last time an Iranian president met with the pope was 16 years ago in 1999 when former President Mohammad Khatami met with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. While Khatamis Dialogue of Civilizations never came to full fruition, Rouhani has picked up the mantle of attempting to reduce tensions with European countries and establishing cooperation with the promise of enduring ties.

Rouhani left Tehran for Europe Jan. 25. He told reporters that his main goal would be to improve ties with countries that Iran had positive ties with before the nuclear sanctions. Iran faced nearly 10 years of increasingly more stringent UN Security Council resolutions, including United States and European Union sanctions over its nuclear program.

Rouhani, who was accompanied by six of his ministers and a number of advisers, said his focus on this trip would be to expand ties in the fields of industry, universities, agriculture, tourism, and medical and environmental equipment. Rouhanis Vice President Eshag Jahangiri remained behind in Tehran to continue negotiations with the Guardian Council over the disqualification of parliamentary candidates for the February elections.

At a meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Rouhani said, The two countries in the previous years, due to unfair and wrong sanctions, were not able to use their mutual opportunities and capacities, but now is the time to make up for that. Mattarella said, Various trade and industrial companies are very eager to have a presence and cooperation with Iran. He added, With investment and an active presence, we are looking to make up for the opportunities that the sanctions took away from Italy.

At a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Rouhani again struck the theme of making up for lost time, saying, Italy at one time was the first trade partner of Iran within the European Union. And we are certain in this new chapter cooperation between the two countries will increase. The two leaders signed 14 documents of cooperation, including in the fields of transportation, railways, education, security, port cooperation and agriculture.

Iranian Reformist media has been optimistic about Rouhanis trip, and some encouraged the president to go even farther than Europe to improve the economic conditions of the country.

An article in Ghanoon argued that the quality of technology of the West is better than the East and wrote, Four industrial countries in Europe are competing with another, and Iran can take advantage of this competition. However, the article cautioned that Iran must not ignore the United States because much of European technology comes from America. The article said that Iran must address its issues with the United States so that economic and energy relations could be established and Iran can balance its relationship with China and Russia, two countries that the author reminded readers voted in support of UN Security Council resolutions against Iran.

Rouhani will next travel to France where he will meet with French President Francois Hollande.
January 25, 2016

Mohammed bin Salman, the deputy crown prince of Saudi Arabia and, at age 30, the youngest defense minister in the world, holds many sensitive responsibilities. He sets prices for gasoline and services in the kingdom, handles terrorism issues and tackles the influence of Iran and its regional allies. Some Saudis have high hopes about Salman, while others are concerned because they feel they are being forced to pay the bills of past failures and ambitious future projects.

The Saudi stock market posted heavy losses two hours before the market closed Jan. 17, as oil prices plummeted below $30 a barrel. This coincided with the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran.

Before unveiling its budget Dec. 28, the Saudi government implemented a number of precautionary measures to minimize repercussions of the drop in oil prices, which it knew would only worsen with Iran set to make its big comeback to the oil global market. The government also reduced its 2016 budget, projecting a deficit of 326 billion Saudi Arabian riyals ($86.9 billion). These measures also included withdrawing 244 billion riyals from the Saudi general monetary reserves during the first half of 2015.

In August, the Saudi government issued 20 billion riyals worth of treasury bonds that were sold to a number of public sovereign institutions and local commercial banks.

The Ministry of Finance also applied austerity measures in October by instructing government authorities to cut spending on new projects and return nondisbursed amounts to the ministry's account.

On Dec. 29, Saudi Minister of Finance Ibrahim al-Assaf was quoted as saying to Al-Hayat newspaper, Saudi Arabia will gradually apply a value-added tax of 5% as of the beginning of 2016. Saudis thus entered 2016 anxious and pessimistic about the future. Long lines of cars stretched for hours outside gas stations on the evening of Dec. 29. The oil price hike will kick in as per the Saudi Cabinet decisions.

In its Dec. 28 session chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, the Cabinet announced new fees on numerous services and the lifting of subsidies on numerous goods, notably petroleum derivatives. Thus, the Cabinet set the price of 95 octane gasoline at 0.90 riyals per liter, up from 0.60 riyals per liter (91 US cents per US gallon, up from 60 cents) and raised the price of 91 octane gasoline from 0.45 riyals per liter to 0.75 riyals per liter.

As the Saudi public was still puzzling over the oil price increase, the Saudi Cabinet took citizens by surprise Jan. 2 and announced the government had executed 47 people  including 41 Saudi Sunnis and four Shiites, along with controversial Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. The executed were described by Saudi authorities as straying apostates involved in terrorist acts and inciting violence.

The death penalty issued against Nimr and the others had been upheld by the Supreme Court in October and was passed on to the Saudi king for approval the same month. Yet the execution wasn't implemented until Jan. 2. So far, Saudi authorities have not explained whether the delay was caused by routine administrative and security procedures or was related to other reasons.

Residents of the predominantly Shiite Qatif province  which is adjacent to oil wells in eastern Saudi Arabia and which witnessed the 1979 Qatif Uprising calling for freedom and equality  were more enraged by the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr than by the price increase of oil derivatives and public services affecting the standards of living of all citizens, whether Sunnis or Shiites.

It seems Riyadh successfully exploited Nimr's execution in the media and at diplomatic levels. For one thing, he was convicted along with Sunnis accused of terrorism, probably to make sure the Saudi ruling was not seen as biased and sectarian.

Riyadh was also very careful to choose the day of the execution to overshadow the decisions to increase the prices of oil derivatives and public services and divert the public's attention. It also allowed Riyadh to ultimately portray Iran's anger about Nimr's execution as a kind of interference in Saudi affairs and a sectarian incitement.

Mohammed bin Salman gave an interview to The Economist on Jan. 4. In his answer to the first question on the executions, he said the government had observed all of the rights of the convicts before judgment was rendered and that the Saudi court does not make any distinction between convicts.

In the interview, he denied any taxes had been imposed, other than the 5% value-added tax on accessories, soft drinks and cigarettes.

Saudi Arabia had never imposed any tax system in the past, except on foreign companies operating inside the kingdom, who are taxed 20% of their profits and 5% of annual transfers. However, the Saudi Department of Zakat and Income Tax does collect a 2% zakat (obligatory charitable payment) from Saudi and Gulf companies operating in Saudi Arabia. The total revenues of the department amounted to 30 billion riyals ($8 billion) in 2015.

Answering The Economists question of whether he believes more taxes can be imposed in Saudi Arabia without increasing the peoples representation in the Saudi monarchy, the prince said, Again, one thing is not related to the other. This is not a decision from the government against the people. Rather, he said, the government represents the people and does not make decisions about reforms without conducting workshops that include a variety of citizens.

The prince's answer was vague. What did he mean by saying taxation and the peoples representation in the Saudi monarchy are not related? Did he intend to say that the decision-makers in the ruling family  the king and the crown princes  will allow the people to take part in power apart from paying taxes or on the contrary?

However, the fact that the prince asserted to The Economist that he will rely on workshops to introduce new reforms to a major state such as the kingdom of Saudi Arabia  while neglecting the role of elected municipal councils, the Shura Council and the need for an elected parliament  does not bode well for the monarchy.

There are clear signs that the descendants of the founder, King Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, have the same logic as their parents in terms of making unilateral decisions. The Saudis did not know where their money went in the past and will not know where it is going now  all they know is that they will pay a lot.
January 26, 2016

WASHINGTON  United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura formally issued invitations on Jan. 26, for Syria peace talks that are due to start Jan. 29 in Geneva and last for six months, as the Syrian opposition, meeting in Saudi Arabia, signaled it would seek clarifications on the talks before deciding if it would attend.

In a sign of the tremendous strains on the fragile diplomatic efforts, de Mistura announced that the relaunched peace talks would not, at least initially, have the Syrian government and opposition delegations meeting in the same room, but would have diplomats shuttling between delegations in different rooms. In addition, because agreement could not be reached to include Syrian Kurdish parties, among others in the Syrian opposition delegation, de Mistura issued a third set of invitations to a dozen individuals and groups, as well as women and nongovernmental organization (NGO) figures, that Russia wanted included.

Noting the past failed Geneva II Syria peace effort, which collapsed two years ago, de Mistura said the approach this time would be different  by holding rolling proximity talks over six months and canceling any high-profile opening ceremony.

This is not Geneva III, de Mistura told journalists at a press conference at the UN in Geneva Jan. 25. This is leading to what we hope will be a Geneva success story, if we are able to push it forward.

There are political risks, de Mistura acknowledged. But those political risks and tensions  should take into account that our line  is clear: no preconditions, at least to start the talks.  The rest is open.

It is going to be uphill, he added.

The agenda for the talks will be on two tracks: governance  new governance, new constitution and new elections  and humanitarian, with a focus at the beginning of the talks on trying to get a broad cease-fire and expanding humanitarian aid access in the country, de Mistura said.

Syrian opposition leader Riad Hijab, who heads the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee, received an invitation to select 15 members to attend the Geneva talks, the UNs resident correspondent Nabil Abi Saab reported.

Twelve others were invited as consultants and advisers, plus womens groups and NGOs, Saab said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said it would become clear soon if the parties backing Bashar al-Assad are serious about a political solution.

We are going to know very quickly, in a month or two or three, whether these guys are serious, Kerry told journalists in Laos Jan. 25. The Russians and Iranians are at the table, and theyve signed on to a cease-fire, to an election, to a new constitution and to what they call a unity government but everybody else calls a transitional government.

Regarding reported Syrian opposition complaints that the United States was pressuring them to come to Geneva with no agreed preconditions or a timetable for Assads departure, Kerry said the US position had not changed.

We hope that they will fully understand we support getting a cease-fire, we support getting humanitarian access, Kerry said. Weve said 100,000 times, Assad cannot be part of the long-term future of Syria because you cant end the war if he is. Its very simple. Nothing has changed.

The 20-member International Syria Support Group that Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov helped establish last fall to try to bolster de Misturas efforts is tentatively due to meet on Feb. 11 to iron out difficulties that arise in the first days of the Geneva talks, Kerry also said.

Editor's note: This article has been updated since its initial publication.
January 26, 2016

The high-profile visit by US Vice President Joe Biden to Turkey last weekend produced little satisfaction and much annoyance in Ankara, especially with regard to Washingtons position on the state of democracy in Turkey and on certain developments in Syria.

Many analysts see Bidens awkward talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as a harbinger of tense moments to come in what are already strained ties between the two countries. Few, however, expect a break in ties because neither can afford that.

Ankara expected criticism from Biden with regard to what independent human rights organizations and media watchdog groups say is the hounding of journalists critical of the governments policies and academics opposed to its current war against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The governments irritation, however, intensified when Biden met members of civil society groups and prominent journalists known to be in the governments crosshairs, expressing solidarity with them ahead of talks with Erdogan and Davutoglu.

"When the media are intimidated or imprisoned for critical reporting, when Internet freedom is curtailed and social media sites  are shut down and more than 1,000 academics are accused of treason simply by signing a petition, thats not the kind of example that needs to be set," he told reporters. Biden was referring to the imprisonment of Can Dundar, the editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet who is in prison for reporting on the governments illegal arms shipments to anti-regime groups in northern Syria.

He was also referring to the 1,128 academics being investigated for a petition they signed against the way the government has been conducting its war against the PKK, involving great collateral damage.

Ankaras answer to Biden was not long in coming. Encouraging terrorism is a crime anywhere in the world. I dont know who prepared Mr. Bidens program, but it is clear they did not want him to see the full picture of what is happening in Turkey, Davutoglu told reporters prior to meeting Biden.

The pro-government media was also quick to lambaste Biden. Under the headline Look who's talking, a Yeni Safak editorial argued that 75 academics had been fired in the United States for claiming Washington was behind the 9/11 attacks. It also claimed that criticizing Israel was illegal in the United States and went on to ask whether Biden was also in solidarity with whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Julian Assange.

However, differences with regard to the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the umbrella organization of the Syrian Kurds, and the People's Protection Units (YPG), its military wing, emerged as the principal stumbling block in Bidens talks with Davutoglu and Erdogan. Turkey considers the PYD and YPG terrorist organizations because of their links to the PKK. The United States, however, has allied itself with these groups in Syria and does not treat them as terror groups.

Ankara is now demanding that the PYD be barred from the Geneva talks on Syria, but appears to have made little headway in this respect during Bidens visit. Differences on this score were also visible during the joint press conference Davutoglu and Biden held after their talks.

Despite Davutoglus multiple references to the YPG as a terrorist group, Biden restricted himself to merely saying that the United States supports Turkeys fight against the PKK and studiously refrained from addressing either group.

Turkey is said to be considering boycotting the Geneva talks if the PYD is represented there in any shape or form. Murat Yetkin, the editor-in-chief of Hurriyet Daily News and a prominent columnist for Radikal, explained the reasons behind Ankaras strong opposition to the PYD.

Ankara, for security reasons, does not want a PKK-linked Kurdish group controlling an entire belt along the 910-kilometer [565-mile] Turkish-Syria border. The Turkish government thinks that a stronger PYD means a stronger PKK, which could further antagonize Turkeys terrorism problem originating from the Kurdish issue, Yetkin wrote for Hurriyet Jan. 26.

Pointing to a complicated picture, Yetkin said that boycotting the Syria talks could make life difficult for the Turkish government. He added, however, that it would not make it easier for other countries and parties either.

Retired Ambassador Unal Cevikoz, who lectures on international politics at Istanbuls Kadir Has University and also writes for Radikal, pointed out that the PYD does not just have US support, but also the support of Russia and Iran.

They consider the PYD one of their most important allies in the fight against [the Islamic State] in Syria and believe it has to have a place in the future Syria, Cevikoz argued in his column earlier this week.

Cevikoz went on to maintain that Ankaras insistence on opposing the PYD was also leading many countries to question whether Turkey is sincere when it says it wants to see a swift end to bloodshed in Syria.

While meeting Biden in the plush surroundings of Istanbuls Ottoman-era Yildiz Palace, Erdogan reportedly also stressed that the PYD was a terrorist organization that must not be at the table on Syria.

Tellingly, however, the press conferences planned for after the Erdogan-Biden talks was canceled, fueling speculation that the sides did not want their differences on this and other issues to be come out in front of the media.

Yasin Aktay, a deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party who is also a columnist for Yeni Safak, argued that the US side would suffer the consequences of remaining deaf to Ankara's exhortations about the PYD.

The US has already damaged the understanding between allies by supporting the PYD and its extensions, which are involved in acts of enmity against Turkey, Aktay wrote in his column. He warned that the price of cozying up to a merciless terrorist organization could be losing Turkeys friendship.

One topic on which a partial agreement was reached during Bidens visit was the question of Turkeys controversial deployment of forces in Bashiqa, near Mosul. Iraq considers the move a violation of its sovereignty and has demanded that the Turkish troops be withdrawn.

In a recent phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, US President Barack Obama also called for the Turkish troops to be withdrawn and demanded respect for Iraqs territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Unidentified Turkish officials told the press later that the sides had decided during Bidens visit to strengthen coordination and proceed with new initiatives on the Bashiqa camp, though they did not elaborate.

Deniz Zeyrek, the Ankara correspondent for Hurriyet, cited unidentified sources as saying that the camp in Bashiqa, where a small number of Turkish soldiers have been training local forces against IS, will be turned over to the US-led coalition.

According to the arrangement, the Iraqi forces will also have a presence there to reaffirm Iraqi sovereignty. The deal, however, has not been finalized because Baghdad has yet to endorse it.

The bottom line is that divisions between Ankara and Washington were not bridged during Bidens visit. All signs indicate that disagreements between the two countries on these issues will continue. This does not mean, however, that there will be a break in ties.

Turkeys need for the United States has increased after its relations with Moscow soured to the point of near-enmity following the downing of the Russian jet in November. Washingtons need for Turkey, on the other hand, especially with regard to using strategically placed Turkish bases in the fight against IS, will also continue for the foreseeable future.

Most analysts agree that this mutual dependence will ultimately ensure that the sides continue to stress their relationship as a strategic partnership, even though it may not appear to be so at times, and prevent existing tensions from boiling over.
January 25, 2016

In mid-January, Turkey finally granted Syrian refugees the right to work legally, five years after the influx from its war-torn southern neighbor began. However, many of the more highly qualified Syrians who fled to Turkey have already made their way to Europe, either as selected migrants or by braving clandestine sea and land journeys.

In dealing with the incessant wave of refugees, Ankara had focused on accommodation, and the issue of work permits was not treated as a priority. Similarly, combing out more highly qualified, well-trained Syrians and benefiting from them was not seen as something worthy of quick action. An overwhelming number of working refugees were employed illegally in low-paid, unattractive jobs.

Shortly before the larger-scale granting of work permits formally took effect Jan. 15, the governments spokesman, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, said that out of 2.4 million Syrians who had taken refuge in Turkey since 2011, only 7,351 had been given work permits  a striking figure illustrating how Syrians were shut off from the labor market. Only better-off Syrians who had the means to start their own small- and medium-scale enterprises had acquired work permits, while the rest were employed illegally as cheap labor.

Now, a new chapter has opened for the Syrians in Turkey. The Jan. 15 regulation covers all Syrians who have completed their registration procedures in the country. However, they will be able to work only in the provinces where they reside, and the number of Syrians in a given workplace will be limited to 10% of the total staff.

While explaining the reasons for the regulation, Kurtulmus conceded that, Certain people used to come here on brain-hunting missions, taking the highly qualified, educated [Syrians] to their countries. The Syrians are not just children selling tissue at traffic lights.

Yet a large number of the more highly qualified Syrians are already among the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have made it to Europe. They are gone. By granting Syrians work permits, Turkey is trying to stop the remaining, more highly qualified Syrians from going to Europe, as Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan recently said. In an interview with Haberturk television on Jan. 16, Akdogan said, European countries  admit Syrians who belong to certain categories [of] qualified labor. Turkey, too, has shortages in certain fields. There are also some other fields where a bit less qualified people can work. The Labor Agency makes announcements for open positions in certain fields but no one would apply.  [Syrians] can be employed in various fields. If we hadnt issued the work permits, the qualified labor force would have gone to other countries and we would have been left with a much different picture.

Some, however, believe the governments move was too little, too late. Erdogan Toprak, a senior lawmaker for the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), lamented that Turkey had for the third time failed to take advantage of a big influx of qualified labor since the First World War.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, Toprak said, During World War I, there was a significant migration wave from Russia to Turkey. They were well-educated people, but Turkey failed to properly employ them  and they went to Europe. During World War II, well-educated, sophisticated people came from Germany, including scientists, mathematicians and so on. A very small number of scholars were employed in places like Istanbul University, while many others were not and let go. Most recently, the educated people who came from Syria could have been treated in a different category. Yet they saw well the opportunities and tried to make their way to Europe as soon as possible. Turkey failed to benefit from those people.

Toprak said the flight of qualified people was the worst blow Syria took from the civil war, stressing that compensating for the loss would take long years even if the conflict ended soon. The flight of capital can be recuperated, but making up for the qualified human resources will take at least 20 years, he said.

The CHP deputy criticized the government for defining the Syrians as a flexible labor force. They use this term in the sense of cheap labor, implying that [Syrians] can be employed below the minimum wage, Toprak said. Seeing the Syrians as cheap labor is a mistake. Qualified people cannot be a flexible labor force. With this approach, the [qualified] people who remain in Turkey will be lost as well.

In an intriguing column on Dec. 15, Saim Tut from the Dirilis Postasi daily offered firsthand accounts of how qualified Syrians were wasted. What have we done to help educated and qualified Syrians who are trying to open a permanent room of life for themselves in this country, which they see as the closest to them? Nothing, the columnist wrote. Most recently, I helped a young pharmacist, a graduate of [Damascus] Kalamoon University, to get a job as a footman at the restaurant of a benevolent friend of mine.  Yesterday, I went with a heavy heart to [Ankaras] Esenboga Airport to see off my friend Firas, a nuclear engineer from Hama, to Germany. A few months ago I wrote an article titled Wash the dirty dishes well, Syrian engineer! And yes, this had happened right before my eyes. Just how benevolent, how glorious we are!
January 25, 2016

A sensational news report appeared in the Turkish press last week. The journal Gercek Hayat claimed that the United Arab Emirates' administration was involved in a secret, multinational operation to topple Turkey's government and even promote a military coup. The report from a sister publication of impassioned Turkish administration supporter Yeni Safak media group  which specializes in sensational and usually unsubstantiated reports  didnt have much of an impact on Turkish public opinion.

Most Turks believe that the Gulf countries are dedicated supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to data from the Stock Market Council of Turkey, before every election in Turkey, Gulf emirates send billions of dollars to Turkish financial markets, contributing significantly to sustaining Erdogans economic success. The Gulf states invest extensively in the real estate and media sectors, to which Erdogan pays particular attention.

On Dec. 1, Abu Dhabi shocked Ankara when UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan denounced Turkeys downing Oct. 24 of a Russian plane. He later retracted his statement.

Though the Yeni Safak report was not widely acknowledged, it did give some credence to opinions that relations between Ankara and Abu Dhabi are not as good as people may think.

The reality is, there is genuine tension behind closed doors between the countries. For example, the UAE has not appointed an ambassador to Ankara for about a year. UAE diplomatic sources also noted the UAE has delayed the appointment of Turkeys ambassador to Abu Dhabi by withholding the necessary accreditation for eight months.

The UAE is vitally important to Turkey and Turkish business. The UAE is Turkeys second-largest market in the Middle East after Iraq and ninth-largest overall export market. The emirates buys on average $4.6 billion worth of goods and services annually from Turkey. Turkey can't afford to lose such an important market, especially while its economy is shrinking and exports are declining.

Turkeys exports to the Gulf countries have increased substantially over the past three years, except to the UAE. The same is true for the tourism sector. Although there has been a major increase in the number of tourists coming from the Gulf countries, the same isnt true for the UAE. All these numbers suggest a major problem between Ankara and Abu Dhabi.

Veysel Ayhan, an associate professor at Abant Izzet Baysal University and chairman of the International Center for Middle East Peace, said relations between Turkey and the UAE began to sour after the 2013 coup in Egypt. While Erdogan opposed coup leader and now-President Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Gulf countries led by Saudi Arabia strongly supported Sisi.

Most Gulf countries [oppose] the Muslim Brotherhood ousted by the coup in Egypt. Turkeys taking a position on the side of the Brotherhood was not received well in the region. We know that there are deep differences of opinion between Erdogan and the UAE government. This may well have spilled over to economic relations.

Turkish maritime sources told Al-Monitor that for the past six months Turkish companies have been encountering myriad problems in their efforts to use the UAE for their trade with the Middle East and Asia. Transal Maritime officials, who have been sending many ships to the UAE, confirmed that since Nov. 24 they have been experiencing problems with crew visas. Some smaller Turkish maritime companies said they are having similar problems. Transal officials said they have asked the Turkish Foreign Ministry for a speedy solution to the problem.

A Turkish manager who works in the UAE but did not want to be identified said the problems in doing business with the UAE have been going on since the coup in Egypt. "Work is moving much slower compared with the old days. We are facing serious problems with visas and residence permits," the manager said.

Erdogan and his AKP, which has ruled Turkey for 14 years, have tried hard to maintain good relations with oil-rich Arab emirates. Erdogan, who is never sparing in his harsh criticism of Sisi, has not said one negative word about Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, which are major financial backers of Sisi.

The pro-government media controlled by Erdogan until now did not report much about these souring relations. But last week's story about a coup plot  while questionable  could well signal that a change may be in the offing.

Should the tension escalate, Erdogan will have to make a choice between its second-largest trade partner in the Middle East or the Muslim Brotherhood that he identifies with.

Figures are quite illustrative. Turkeys trade relations with Gulf countries follow a path parallel to diplomatic relations. According to official statistics, Turkey had exported $12.8 billion to regional countries in 2013, but the outlook changed in 2014 when that figure regressed to $9.1 billion. In the first 11 months of 2015, the total further declined to $8.8 billion.

How will this tension  not openly discussed, but seriously disturbing the Turkish business world  be resolved?

Ayhan thinks the crisis will be solved when regional dynamics change.

Gulf countries are seriously concerned with the return of Iran to the world's politics and economy," Ayhan said. "Undoubtedly, it is the Saudis who are most upset. They are exerting major efforts to restore friendly relations between Erdogan and UAE officials. I believe there will be some changes, which may also mean settling the problems with the UAE."
Many Alabamians have heard the story of Joe Cain, the Confederate veteran who is credited with restarting Mardi Gras in Mobile following a hiatus in celebrations during the Civil War.

In 1867, the year after Cain dressed as a fictional Chickasaw chief named Slacabamorinico and led a small band through town playing drums and horns, Cain was joined in his revelries by 16 of his fellow Confederate veterans, including John "Gus" Hines, a local theater set designer who would make a name for himself designing Mardi Gras floats.

According to "The Civil War Era and Reconstruction: An Encyclopedia of Social, Political, Cultural and Economic History" by Mary Ellen Snodgrass, Hines' first float design was a decorated coal wagon for the 1867 event. Together with Cain and their friends, Hines formed the Lost Cause Minstrels.

In 1868, Hines designed a parade for the Order of Myths with the theme "Lalla Rookh," the title character in an 1817 romance novel by Sir Thomas Moore.

After that, Hines designed floats for Mardi Gras in Mobile and other cities, according to the Dole Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of South Alabama. The library has a collection of 36 of Hines' diaries with his notations about building floats and theater sets, as well as 126 drawings of float designs from 1867-1921.

Hines was born in 1847 and died in 1922. During the war, he served in the 10th Virginia Heavy Artillery, Company A. After the war, he and his wife lived briefly in New Orleans before moving to Mobile.

The headstone on Hines' grave in Mobile's historic Magnolia Cemetery is marked "OOM-1868, IM-1869, KOR-1874," which commemorates his membership in Order of Myths, Infant Mystics and Knights of Revelry.

His son, Emile Albert Hines (1870-1926), would follow in his father's footsteps.
Collegeville shooting

Birmingham police responded to a shooting in the Collegeville area on Jan. 25, 2016. (Jonathan Grass/jgrass@al.com)

Birmingham police are investigating two shooting incidents that happened almost simultaneously Monday night. Not much information was released, but all three victims received serious injuries.

Officers say two gunshot victims were found at a gas station in the 400 block of 10th Street North at about 10 p.m. Police say the learned they were shot in a nearby alley and went to the gas station to call for help.

One the victims had life-threatening injuries. The other was soon stabilized. Both wee transported to UAB hospital.

Police say one person was taken into custody for questioning.

At about the same time, a man was shot at the Collegeville public housing area on 32nd Avenue North.

Police did not release what happened but said a man was shot multiple times and transported to the hospital. His condition is not yet known.

It is not yet clear if police have a suspect in custody.

A Collegeville employee said this is at least the third shooting there within the last few weeks.
A judge on Monday found probable cause for the capital murder charge against a Birmingham teen in the Jan. 13 shooting death of shooting death of a young customer during a violent holdup at the Jack's restaurant in Pleasant Grove.

Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff Circuit Judge David Carpenter, after a preliminary hearing in which an investigator testified, sent the case against 19-year-old Roderick King to a grand jury for review and possible indictment.

King is charged with capital murder in the death of 21-year-old Ashton Blake Roberts at the Jack's restaurant along Park Road in Pleasant Grove. He also has been charged with first degree armed robbery at Papa Murphy's in Hueytown and is the lead suspect in a robbery in Fairfield, both of which happened in an hour and 15 minutes prior to the Jack's robbery and slaying.

Prosecutors also are seeking to revoke King's bond in a 2014 case where police say shots were fired during a robbery at Burger King in Hueytown.

Carpenter set a March 3 hearing for King's request to be treated as a youthful offender in the capital murder case and the other robbery case and for the bond revocation.

Pleasant Grove Police Lt Danny Reid testified Monday that video showed, and witnesses reported, a black male wearing all black - black cargo pants, a hoodie pulled over a Chicago Bulls cap and a rag or shirt pulled up over the face - at the robberies in Fairfield at 7:30 p.m., the one at 8 p.m. in Hueytown and the 8:45 p.m. one at Jack's in Pleasant Grove.

During the robbery at Jack's the suspect demanded everyone get on the ground and he fired one shot from what looked like a pistol-grip AK47 type weapon, killing Roberts, Reid said under questioning from Assistant cutoff Jefferson County District Attorney Ted Mills,

A 7.62 shell casing was found at the Jack's restaurant scene, Reid said. The front end of the barrel also was recovered at the scene but investigators have not recovered a rifle in the case, he said.

Reid said that Pleasant Grove police were working with Hueytown and Fairfield police during the evening because of the similar robberies that had taken place in those cities. Video of the robberies were recovered at all three restaurants and the suspect in all three robberies wore what appeared to be similar clothing but the suspect's face wasn't visible, he said.

At the robbery in Hueytown police there found a cellphone and an unspent 7.62 caliber bullet lying on the ground where a witness had seen the suspect's car. Hueytown police, who had known King from their previous investigation, found King's photo on the phone's lock-screen.

Shell casings recovered from the Fairfield robbery, where there was a shootout, also were 7.62 caliber of the same type as used in the other two robberies, Reid testified.

When looking for King later that evening in Dolomite where he lived Hueytown police ran into King's girlfriend who told them she had loaned King her car - a gray metallic Honda Accord, Reid said. A witness at the Jack's robbery in Pleasant Grove had said the suspect had driven away in a silver car. A witness at one of the other robberies had described it as gray.

Birmingham Police about 1:15 a.m. that night spotted King drive the car into a club, The Palace, on Third Avenue West in Birmingham where his girlfriend worked, Reid said. King got out of the car and into a white Marquis with his brother, he said.

King had on a hat similar to the ones in the video and underneath some coveralls he had black cargo style plants, both similar to the ones in the videos, Reid said. Inside his pants was an unspent 7.62 round like the ones found at all three robbery scenes, he said.

King's defense attorney, Edward Reynolds, argued that police didn't have anyone who could testify it was King who committed the robberies or any forensic evidence linking him to the crimes.

Mills, however, argued the similarity in clothing, the bullet found in King's pants matched the ones recovered at the robbery and that King had dropped his cell phone at the other robbery.

Police have search warrants for King's FaceBook page and his cell phone, but have not yet looked at them yet, Reid said.

Carpenter agreed with prosecutors and found probable cause for the capital murder charge against King.

King has been held without bond since his arrest and Reynolds asked Carpenter to set one at today's hearing.

Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff Assistant District Attorney Bill Veitch argued against a bond pointing to the circumstantial evidence in the case with the clothing and cap, and the live bullet found in King's pants after his arrest.

Reynolds told Carpenter that there is no direct evidence tying King to the crime. No witnesses can point to King as the one who robbed Jack's and killed Roberts. And as to the circumstantial evidence, there is nothing unique about the black clothing, the Chicago Bulls cap, or the gray or silver car reported by witnesses who did not get a tag number, he said.

Carpenter, however, denied the request to set a bond for King.

Reynolds said after the hearing that King maintains he wasn't at the Jack's that night and didn't kill Roberts. But he admitted it is a "uphill fight" for King because people can be convicted on circumstantial evidence.

Reynolds also denied the description of King as being un-remorseful.

King is also represented by attorney Marcelyn Angwin.

Reid said after the hearing that he was "100 percent" sure that King was the one who committed the robbery and killed Roberts.

Reid, in a statement to AL.com, also praised the teamwork involved in the case. "Today is just the first step in the long process toward justice, and there is still much to do," he said.

"This has been a team effort between several agencies and the DA's office, but the Pleasant Grove Police Department simply could not have made the arrest of King without the assistance of the Hueytown police detectives," Reid stated. "Their immediate aid and expertise is the only bright spot from this terrible and heartbreaking crime."
One of the two men charged with capital murder in the 2014 slaying of a retired Birmingham firefighter and two-tour Vietnam veteran was sentenced to life in prison Monday after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

With his plea Romell Markee Cunningham, 30, avoids the possibility of a death penalty if he had been convicted at his trial, which had been set for March 14.

Cunningham and Kamal Potts, 24, were charged in the April 23, 2014 slaying of 66-year-old Howard Arthur McKee.

Prosecutors with the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office in the Bessemer Cutoff dropped three capital murder charges against Cunningham in exchange for his guilty plea to felony murder.

Jefferson County Cutoff Circuit Judge David Carpenter sentenced Cunningham to life in prison as part of the plea deal.

Cunningham apologized to McKee's family. "I pray that one day they will be able to forgive me," he said.

Potts had pleaded guilty in September and was sentenced to life. Under his plea deal Potts also agreed to "testify truthfully" at Cunningham's trial.

Cunningham and Potts will eventually be eligible for parole under their life sentences.

Assistant Cutoff District Attorneys LeAnna Huddleston and Adrienne Ward Belcher prosecuted the case.

Attorneys Billy Jewell and Edward Reynolds defended Cunningham.

McKee was killed in broad daylight at his West Harlem Avenue home after he confronted the burglars with a machete.

McKee, called "Ham" by his Birmingham Fire and Rescue co-workers, was retired from the department. He had worked at Station No. 25, across from Lawson State.

According to arrest records Potts, his girlfriend Shamara Sankey, and Cunningham went to McKee's home on West Harlem Avenue about 2:45 p.m. to carry out a burglary. They knocked on the door and, when they didn't get an answer, kicked it in and went inside.

Potts started taking the TV from the living room and Cunningham went farther into the home. McKee surprised Potts and Cunningham, who then fled the home with the victim's TV.

McKee grabbed a machete and chased them outside. The suspects got into their vehicle and Cunningham pulled out a chrome .38 - caliber handgun that authorities said he had with him inside the house.

Potts grabbed Cunningham's hand while he was holding the gun, and they fired several shots at McKee from inside the car. One of the rounds struck McKee, and he collapsed.

Potts then picked up the TV off of the ground. The television, police said, had McKee's blood on it. They put it in the car and fled to the Birmingham community of Titusville.
A 29-year-old man was gunned down this morning as he ran from a barrage of bullets aimed at him.

The shooting happened just before 8:30 a.m. near the intersection of 45th Street and Eighth Terrace North in the Morton Simpson Village public housing community.

Police say the victim, whose name has not yet been officially released, ran about 100 yards from where the first shell casing was found before he collapsed in a grassy area near one of the apartment buildings.

Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards said the victim was shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead on the scene, becoming the city's seventh homicide victim of 2016.

Dozens of onlookers gathered at the morning scene, including the victim's grieving mother. She said she just found out yesterday her cancer had returned, and then was awakened this morning to news of her son's shooting death. She asked that his name not be released until a prison chaplain could notify her other son.

The victim was well-known throughout the neighborhood where he ran a mobile car cleaning business.

Eldridge Knighton, Resident Council President of Morton Simpson Village, said he opened the neighborhood office up this morning and then went back to his nearby home. "I went home to pray and and when I came back, there was a body on the ground,'' Knight said. "It's a shocker."

The city's ShotSpotter gunfire detection system alerted police to the shooting. Residents said they hear at least 10 shots fired. "This community has really calmed down and this is our first homicide of the year here,'' Knighton said. "Residents informed me they heard a lot of gunshots and he came running around the corner. It's something I will have to address."

Police said the shooter or shooters fled the area in a gray pickup truck. They don't yet know what led up to the killing.

The investigation is ongoing. Police have not yet announced any arrests. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham police at 205-254-1764 or CrimeStoppers at 205-254-7777.
Indigenous Australians say the national holiday is deeply offensive and should be dubbed Invasion Day.

Sydney, Australia  For many Australians the national Australia Day holiday is a chance to celebrate their country with a day off from work and a drink. For Indigenous Australians, it is a day of protest and mourning.

Several thousand Indigenous Australians and their supporters marched through the streets of Sydney to protest at what they have renamed Invasion Day, which marks the 1788 establishment of the first British penal colony.

For them, the fact that the country continues to celebrate its national holiday on January 26 is deeply offensive and, in response, rallies were held in major cities across the country.

Today is a day for protest. It is not a day for singing and dancing, Aboriginal poet and Bidjara elder Ken Canning told a gathered crowd.

Carrying signs reading: National Day of Mourning, Invasion Day is not a Holiday, and No Pride in Genocide, protesters made their way through Sydneys central business district chanting and blocking traffic.

Im sorry if we are inconveniencing you, but we have been inconvenienced for 228 years, Canning told police officers who tried to direct the protesters away from major roads.

As the rallying group weaved its way past pubs, restaurants and shops, onlookers, many of whom were in the city celebrating the holiday in Australian flag-themed attire, took photos.

Australia Day is a date linked to whiteness, colonialism and perpetuating the myth that Aboriginal people dont belong in this country, so it is important that we always resist that, Jack Gibson, of the Wiradjuri nation, told Al Jazeera.

The high levels of poverty, land-rights abuses and the disproportional imprisonment rate among Aboriginals were some of the many concerns raised by activists.





A lot of blood has been spilled on this land, and it still hasnt been recognised, even to this day. Its important for them to know that their people died fighting for this land, and we are still fighting today for our rights, said Caine Carrol, a public servant who was joined by his children at the protest.

The land that belongs to no one

Invasion Day protests are nothing new, and the issue continues to gain the national spotlight in as non-indigenous Australians increasingly shun traditional Australia Day barbecues and events to join the protests.

Mark Humphry is one such protester. Im proud of many things about my country, but the way we continue to treat Aboriginal Australians is certainly not one of them, the 52-year-old teacher told Al Jazeera.

When Australia was colonised, the British used the doctrine of Terra Nullius, a Latin term meaning land that belongs to no one. The British have never signed a treaty with any indigenous tribes, and Indigenous Australians were not included in the census until 1967.

The way the government and non-indigenous Australians celebrate Australia Day has also changed significantly over the years. Mark McKenna, a history professor at Sydney University, said that the kind of national flag-waving patriotism that is a common sight on Australia Day would have been unthinkable before the 1990s.

In the 1960s and 70s, as the country was moving away from Britain, the Australian government consciously set up January 26 as a celebration and tried to whip up nationalism, he told Al Jazeera. We were looking for a story that was our own.

There is hardly any discussion about Australias convict history and what it means. It has somehow been severed from its origins as a date and turned into a feelgood, flag-waving thing. We dont reflect much, McKenna said.

History wars

The 1990s in Australia are often referred to culturally as the  history wars because of the academic debates surrounding Australias colonial history, particularly the violence inflicted upon Indigenous Australians.

It wasnt until 2008 that the Australian government apologised to the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal children forcibly removed from their families and placed in missions and with white families by the government.

In the past several years, official celebrations of Australia Day have also changed to incorporate Australias multiculturalism, for instance, in naturalisation ceremonies, where migrants are officially granted citizenship are commonly held on the day.

 We can look at our past with great pride and with some regret, but we are not defined, let alone trapped by our history, as many other nations are, said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at one such citizenship ceremony on Tuesday, after acknowledging Indigenous Australians long history on the continent.

Nakkiah Lui, an actress and playwright who has a Gamilaroi-Torres Strait Islander heritage, rejects the idea that Indigenous Australians could ever feel included in the national holiday. Along with many others, she wants the celebration date to be changed.

While we are a multicultural and fairly cohesive society, it still means Aboriginal identity isnt included in this idea of what Australia Day is, Lui told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Australia: Creating a Nation

Celeste Liddle of the Arrernte nation, who is a trade unionist and a writer, said the continued celebrations on the day showed ignorance and a country yet to honestly come to terms with its history.

The day celebrates the stealing of land and the beginning of the decimation of the longest-continuing culture and peoples of the world, she told Al Jazeera. Most people who live here have little knowledge of settlement, massacres, indigenous cultures and the like  and most continue to see all this as being of little worth.

However Liddle disagrees with the idea of simply changing the national holiday to a different date.

Until we have a treaty, there is no other suitable date for this country to commemorate, she said.

Follow Jarni Blakkarly on Twitter: @jarniblakkarly
Amsterdam, the Netherlands  Child refugees face unacceptable risks on their way through Europe. Among these risks are illness, trafficking, exploitation, sexual abuse and even death. European countries are seriously failing to protect these children on the move.

This is the conclusion of a report on the safety of child refugees by the Taskforce on Children on the Move, an initiative of 41 ombudspersons for children from 33 European countries.

The rights of refugee children are merely a footnote in the European Union-agenda on migration, whereas they should be at the core of it, said Marc Dullaert, the chairman of the Network of European Ombudspersons for Children, during the presentation of the report, yesterday in Amsterdam.





The situation is now all the more urgent, Dullaert said, because the number of child refugees coming to Europe has increased dramatically. In June 2015, 16 percent of all migrants crossing the Mediterranean were children. By December this number had more than doubled to 35 percent.

In 2015, at least 337,000 children were registered as asylum seekers in Europe, but their real number is believed to be much higher.

Dangerous journey

The journey across the Mediterranean is very dangerous for children, according to the report.

One third of all migrants who die during the crossing are children. For the ones who survive a difficult and traumatising journey lies ahead.

When child refugees arrive in Greece, they are wet and cold, said Dullaert. Some suffer from hypothermia, which can lead to serious illnesses like pneumonia. We know of cases where babies died of hypothermia. There is a serious lack of immediate help at the shores in Greece. In Lesbos, for example, refugees have to walk 70km to the reception centre, Dullaert said.

According to the report, the situation in the transit centres along the Western Balkan route is often deplorable. Only 22 to 45 percent of the centres have been winterised, which means children have to sleep in unheated tents or sheds at temperatures below zero.

Sanitary facilities are often inadequate. This is really shameful. We all know that each year theres a winter. That is a fact of life we can prepare for, said Dullaert.





Some children face sexual abuse and violence in the transit centres. At the chaotic border controls children run the risk to be separated from their parents. Unaccompanied children are prone to become victims of trafficking, sexual exploitation or extortion by smugglers. They also run the risk to be placed in detention, in some cases even for several months.

All these European countries that refugees pass through have signed the European Convention of the Rights of the Child. They cannot turn a blind eye to this situation, said Dullaert.

A call for action

The report calls upon the European Commission to immediately develop an action plan to protect refugee children. An important practical change would be the improvement of the transit centres on the route through Europe.

The centres should be equipped with heating, warm water, blankets and warm clothes. Child-friendly spaces and separate sleeping areas for men and women and children should be created.

On a political level the report urges European countries to an increase the possibilities for family reunification, instead of decreasing them as some states are now trying to do.

Furthermore, the report calls for priority to be given to orphans and families with children in the relocation schemes for the 160,000 refugees who are now in Greece and Italy but need to be redistributed among other European countries.

READ MORE: Child refugees in Macedonia

What the effect of the ombudspersons call for action will be, remains uncertain.

As childrens ombudspersons we cannot force governments to take action, Dullaert said. We can only put this issue on the agenda. But we have already been invited to present our report at several important summits. So it will certainly be discussed in the biggest international forums.

We are very happy with this report, said Margot Ende, director of SOS Childrens Villages Netherlands, one of the NGOs setting up child friendly spaces in transit centres in the Balkans.

This survey draws attention to the problems of child refugees and that is a very good thing. But it remains to be seen if concrete measures will be taken immediately to improve the lot of these children. Many of the problems described in the report have been known for quite some time, and yet so far nothing has been done about it. There really is need for action.
India celebrated its 67th anniversary of becoming a republic with celebrations across the country on Tuesday, including a military and cultural parade through the capital.

French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, with maximum security measures employed to thwart any threats.

The French leader joined President Pranab Mukherjee and Premier Narendra Modi as the military parade marched through a central avenue near the Presidential Palace.

India celebrates the day its constitution was adopted  January 26, 1950  as Republic Day.

French soldiers also took part in the parade. It is thought to be the first time a foreign army contingent has participated in Indias celebrations.

The parade included marching troops, military bands, tanks, and other hardware.

Colourful floats from various Indian states, traditional dances, and gymnastics by children were also part of the event.
A bit of the Chinese business-is-business attitude is perhaps what the boiling Arab-Iranian tensions now badly need.

Jews and Arabs should settle their differences in a Christian manner. That famous line by Charels Durning, the Governor of Texas, in Colin Higgins film, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, received a bit of tweak during the recent visit to the Middle East of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Now it appears that Iranians and Arabs might settle their differences in a Chinese manner.

Xis just-concluded visit to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iran reveals the most spectacular difference between the Chinese version of international relations and the manner in which the United States and its European allies go about making a mess of things by trying to micro-manage the world.

The Chinese president visited Egypt at a time when Egyptians were gearing up to mark the fifth anniversary of their January 2011 revolution, and he visited Saudi Arabia and Iran at a time when the relations between the two countries was at its historic low, endangering any remote possibility of a peaceful resolution to the bloody Syrian mayhem.





But he seemed to be entirely oblivious to all such otherwise historic traumas as he single-mindedly pushed his countrys economic interests.

Business is business

Xi visited these leading Arab and Iranian capitals at a time when the plunge in the Chinese economy had forced a shut down of its stock market and caused Beijing to further devalue its currency.

That in itself is sending an ominous message to investors, according to analysts, for all the governments stimulus efforts simply arent working.

ALSO READ: Chinas vision of the Middle East

Xi obviously had his own economic reasons and agenda when he visited the US in September 2015 or the UK in October, and his quick visit to the Arab and Muslim world. More to the point, he seemed oblivious to the dominant political problems of the region. How could that be?

With the lifting of economic sanctions, unfreezing of billions of Iranian money, and the passing of recent legislation that punishes anyone ... visiting Iran, the US government has effectively shot itself in the foot... by

For the Chinese, business is business  an entirely American dictum that the Chinese have warmed up to, apparently savouring more than Americans these days.

With the lifting of economic sanctions, unfreezing of billions of Iranian money, and the passing of recent legislation that punishes anyone including businessmen visiting Iran, the US government has effectively shot itself in the foot and given the Iranian market like a bunny rabbit gift basket to the Chinese to enjoy. With contracts worth $600bn the Chinese gratefully accepted the gift.

The Chinese pivot into the mess of what the US and the European Union imperialist strategists have termed their Middle East is now a rising indicator of a calamitous region reduced to unrecognisable ruin by the US and its European and regional allies by way of overriding economic developments by political domination.

Mapping the world

As the thing that calls itself the West tries to conquer the world politically to rule it economically, the Chinese are doing exactly the opposite: Mapping the world in economic detail from which may emerge a bona fide political order.

The Chinese leadership do not as much ignore as sidestep the political conundrum of the region. It does not interest them. They have a gargantuan economy to run, and to run it they must cross over their borders deep into Asia, Africa, Latin America, including the US and EU. They did not create the bloody mess in Syria, Iraq, or Afghanistan to try to fix it. The US and its allies did  and they can never fix it.

According to the BBC: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said he and Mr Xi had signed a comprehensive 25-year document on strategic relations. They also discussed terrorism, instability in the Middle East, as well as science, modern technology, culture, tourism  security and defence issues.

Rouhani is here trying to sell the Chinese economic interest in terms of Iranian political preferences. But the Chinese could not care less. That 25-year document, 17 contracts, and $600bn price tag is what interests them most.

The Chinese indulging in the neoliberal economic logic of globalisation, to be sure, will in no shape or form correct its destructive forces stacked up against the poorer nations, or against the poorer segments of the richer nations.

But at least they sport no political hubris in spreading their economic priorities, nor do they fancy any moral manifesto of trying to fix the calamities afflicting the region.

A bit of nonchalant Chinese business is business attitude is perhaps what the boiling Arab-Iranian tensions now badly needs.

The Chinese want to buy their oil as cheaply as possible, sell their own goods and services back to them as expensively as possible, and in the process make sure the navigational routes between the East and South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf remain safe, sound, and trouble-free. What mess the US and its EU and regional allies have created inland is their business.

The Chinese are beating the West at its own game without any End of History fanfare or any Class of Civilization hot air.

Hamid Dabashi is Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
All the warring sides in Iraq and Syria are guilty of flagrant abuses against civilians.

There is a general consensus about the barbarity of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and the threat it poses. Differences emerge, however, over who is doing most to counter this barbarity, with political point-scoring and competing agendas emphasising the division.

The consensus over ISIL is fuelled by its unashamed publicising of such atrocities, in contrast to the vehement denials by its various enemies when similar accusations are levelled against them.

Yet this barbarity is undermining ISILs cause as it fosters the view that parties fighting the group must, by mere virtue of their opposition to it, be benevolent in their intentions and actions, or at least represent more palatable alternatives to it.





This impression belies the reality on the ground. The fact is that all the warring sides in Iraq and Syria are guilty of flagrant abuses against civilians.

The inability or refusal to acknowledge this is hindering the hearts-and-minds component of the fight against ISIL, which must be an essential factor in its eventual demise.

Many documented abuses

Just as the uprising by Iraqi Sunnis against Al-Qaeda years earlier led to that groups defeat in their country  something US forces and Iran-backed Shia militias could not achieve on their own  so too is it crucial to encourage those living in ISIL-controlled areas to reject its medieval rule.

The likelihood of this, however, is greatly reduced by the many documented abuses committed against them by forces that capture territories from ISIL.

ALSO READ: Diagnosing Iraqs problems

These revenge attacks are fuelled by suspicions of local support for the group, or at least acquiescence in its rule. Even if these suspicions were valid, it would not justify abuses against civilians, but they are often predicated simply on the absence of local revolt, or on the mere fact that residents are Sunni, like ISIL fighters.

Even if these suspicions were valid, it would not justify abuses against civilians, but they are often predicated simply on the absence of local revolt... by

Such thinking ignores the countless abuses committed by ISIL against Sunnis  who typically constitute the majority of the victims of jihadist groups  and fundamentally misinterprets local sentiment.

Firstly, people are fearful of rising up against ISIL, which has carried out massacres against those who have done so  including Sunni tribes in Iraq and Syria  and has executed its own members who try to desert, sometimes en masse.

Secondly, residents have little faith that the forces that replace ISIL will treat them any better. There is a solid basis for this mistrust.

Burning Arab villages

A United Nations report last week documented alleged violations and abuses of international human rights and international humanitarian law by Iraqi security forces, Shia militias and Kurdish fighters.

Kurdish forces are often touted as among the most reliable and accountable against ISIL, with frequent calls to increase support for them.

However, last week Amnesty International accused Kurds in northern Iraq of bulldozing, blowing up and burning down thousands of homes in Arab villages.

The displacement of Arab communities  appears to be used to punish them for their perceived sympathies with [ISIL], and to consolidate territorial gains and establish control over disputed areas of the country, said Amnesty.

Three months earlier, the human rights organisation highlighted the deliberate displacement of thousands of civilians and the razing of entire villages  amounting to war crimes by Syrian Kurdish forces allied to the US-led coalition against ISIL.

Also last year, Human Rights Watch said Iraqi Kurdish forces had destroyed Arab homes in areas captured from ISIL that they want to incorporate into the Kurdish autonomous territory.

They also confined thousands of Arabs in security zones in areas of northern Iraq captured from ISIL since August 2014, barring displaced Arabs from returning to their homes, while permitting Kurds to return to those areas and even to move into homes of Arabs who fled.

Shia militias

Iran-backed Shia militias are portrayed by their allies as a vanguard against ISIL on the ground. However, Human Rights Watch has highlighted numerous atrocities and repeated abuses by these militias against Sunni civilians, killings and abductions that mark a serious escalation in sectarian violence, and mass extrajudicial killings that may be evidence of war crimes or crimes against humanity.

ALSO READ: Why the caliphate survives

Amnesty International said militias enjoy total impunity, and are ruthlessly targeting Sunni civilians on a sectarian basis, committing war crimes and other gross human rights abuses.

It was reported last week that Russian air strikes in Syria have killed more than 1,000 civilians, including more than 200 children, since they began less than four months ago.

Meanwhile, between 332 and 498 civilians in Iraq and 364 and 498 in Syria were killed by US-led coalition air strikes between August and December, according to a conservative estimate by the organisation Airwars, which tracks and archives the air campaign against ISIL. There are reports of up to 2,104 civilian deaths in total from coalition air strikes.

The Syrian regime is by far the biggest killer of Syrians, and its Iraqi counterpart is a serial human rights abuser that, while being ever-more reliant on Shia militias, is consistently accused by Sunni tribes of not providing them with sufficient support to take on ISIL. This adds to resentment over the unfulfilled promises of integration and opportunity that encouraged Iraqi Sunnis to rise up against Al-Qaeda.

With an array of parties displaying a disregard for the welfare of civilians under ISIL rule, and even under their own, they are alienating a vital component in the groups demise. That is not only morally reprehensible but counter-productive  assuming that their intentions are genuinely to defeat ISIL, rather than use the spectre of its expansion to further their own agendas.

Sharif Nashashibi is an award-winning journalist and analyst on Arab affairs.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
How did a non-native force such as ISIL make headway in Afghanistan within a year?

Aimal Faizi is an Afghan journalist and former spokesperson for former Afghan President Hamid Karzai from 2011-2014.

We will bury ISIL in Afghanistan. This was the stark warning from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, speaking to the BBC in Davos last weekend.

After welcoming the United States administrations decision to give full authority to the US military to target ISIL affiliated groups in Afghanistan, Ghani says Daesh has confronted the wrong people and they need to know the consequences.

But are these the words of a defiant leader, or is Ghani now simply an embattled president desperately trying to justify a never-ending war, led by the US, in Afghanistan?

And after 15 years of an aimless and failed war against a mythical enemy, why should Afghans allow another US war to take place, this time with a new enemy, the so-called Islamic State, in Afghanistan?





The extension of the current unfruitful war on terror taking place in Afghan homes and villages will only make the US a country on a perpetual war footing, but not one that attempts to defuse conflicts and in turn improves security, stabilising Afghanistan and indeed the region.

Rules of engagement

In May 2015, in an opinion piece for Al Jazeera, I wrote: Never mind the assurances, the US is determined to prolong its war and its presence in Afghanistan, and ISIL is preparing the ground for it.

Just last week, US President Barack Obamas administration loosened its rules of engagement for US troops in Afghanistan and the new authorisation places ISIL in the same category as Al-Qaeda in the country. US forces can now kill ISIL [militants] in Afghanistan just for wearing the T-shirt or waving their flag.

READ MORE: The US is needed to battle terror in Afghanistan

The change comes as the Pentagon earlier stated that the existence of other extremist groups in Afghanistan, such as ISIL-Khorasan Province, which could develop an interest in attacking US persons, allies and interests, requires a US presence in the region that can continue to monitor and address threats, even as the US builds an Afghan capability to deter terrorist exploitation of Afghan territory.

The report adds that ISIL in Afghanistan is fighting for the establishment of a safe haven and it has successfully seized pockets of terrain in the country.

But I quiz the US military leadership on the hows and whys of ISILs progress in Afghanistan. How has ISIL, a non-indigenous force, progressed in Afghanistan under the close watch of the US? Who are its militants and how and where do they get their support from?

How did ISIL make headway in Afghanistan?

Official US statements on the topic are riddled with contradictions. On February 12, 2015, speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General John F Campbell, the top US commander in Afghanistan, stated: We are keeping our eye on the potential emergence of the Islamic State.

Nascent threat

How has ISIL, a non-indigenous force, progressed in Afghanistan under the 'close watch' of the US? by

Later, he affirmed that ISIL remains one of his priority intelligence requirements and its threat is nascent. In June 2015, the Pentagon asserted that it closely watches ISIL in Afghanistan. In their messages, the US military sources were describing ISILs activities as limited recruiting efforts and its affiliates were named rebranded Taliban.

In the US, the leadership described ISIL as being in its exploratory phase and downplayed its presence in Afghanistan.

So it has come as a great surprise to many to see the Afghan president exploit fears of ISIL in the country, laying the groundwork for the extension of US military presence and ongoing operations.

On the national and international stages, Ghani called Daesh [ISIL] terrorism version 6 and windows 7.0, comparing it to Al-Qaeda, as described by him, Windows 1.0.

In July 2015, he even went as far as proposing Afghanistan be used as a regional hub in the fight against ISIL by the US, after meeting with the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Kabul.

READ MORE: Dead or alive, Mullah Omar will not matter

Meanwhile, between July and December 2015, unimaginable atrocities were committed by cold-blooded terrorists coming from the FATA region (belonging to the Pakistans state-sponsored terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba) on the Afghans, mainly in the eastern part of the country, under the name and black flag of ISIL.

Non-indigenous force

Afghans perceive ISIL as a non-indigenous force and the terrorist activities taking place under its name as part of a foreign intelligence design, spreading from neighbouring Pakistan into their country. Afghan parliamentarians continue to blame the US and the Afghan national unity government for not curbing ISIL activities in the country.

First deputy of the Lower House of the Parliament, Zahir Qadir accused Ghanis government of inaction and backing Daesh [ISIL] in the eastern province of Nangarhar. Residents of the province and Afghan senators claimed that ISIL militants are being dropped by unidentified helicopters at night in their areas.

All this further increases suspicions about Washingtons objectives and motives in Afghanistan and, of course, for the region. In order to counter the growing threat of terrorism in Afghanistan, Russia, Iran and China now seek unlikely alliance with the Taliban as they see interests objectively coincide.

This begs the question, with the presence of some 9,800 US troops and several thousand NATO military personnel in Afghanistan, how did ISIL, a non-native force, make such headway in the country within a year? Is this a failure on the part of the US military and should they be held accountable for ISILs progress? Finally, why should Afghans now take more US bombs for it?

The US must embrace the protection of Afghan lives, and this should be central to its war policy in the country. Alongside Russia, China, India and Iran, Washington should commit to building cooperative diplomatic and political solutions to maintain security and peace.

Or else, perpetual US military operations within Afghanistan will not be a game changer in achieving security and defeating terrorism; rather they will form a policy of invasion, occupation and empire.

Aimal Faizi is an Afghan journalist and former spokesperson for former Afghan President Hamid Karzai from 2011-2014.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
US realignment with Russia will lead to more not less extremism.

Listening to Staffan de Mistura during Tuesdays press conference, I could only shake my head in amazement. The charming UN mediator has tried to fudge and blur the true nature of the diplomatic process hes fronting, but he left little doubt in my mind as to whos dictating the preconditions for a Geneva-3.

The Swedish Italian diplomat insisted that there would be no Syrian precondition to the kicking off of what he called proximity talks between the regime and various delegations, but he neglected to mention that the entire diplomatic process has been hostage to Russian-Iranian preconditions.

The shift in the Wests approach to Syria started on September 30, 2015, with the Russian military intervention on the side of the weakened Syrian regime.

The Obama administrations timid reaction to the Russian aerial bombings of the Syrian opposition groups, many of whom it presumably supported, only emboldened and expanded Moscows role in the ruined nation.

Consequences of Russias interference

Although he warned of the dangerous consequences of Russias interference, US President Barack Obama has in reality built on the Russian military involvement.

The US-Russian-led international Syria meetings in Vienna on October 30 and November 14 revealed Washingtons true intentions. The latter meeting came against the backdrop of the Paris attacks, and for all practical purpose, focused the Wests attention on fighting ISIL, instead of ridding Syria of Assad.

After the meeting adopted a far-reaching road map that ends in 2017, US Secretary of State John Kerry invited Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to New York on December 18. At the UN, the US embraced the Russian draft for a new UN Security Council resolution on Syria, despite opposition from Washingtons Middle East allies such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

OPINION: How to make Syria peace talks work

UNSC resolution 2254 gave the diplomatic process a new momentum, but it also stripped the Syria opposition of much of its gains. It also mandated De Mistura to designate the opposition representatives to be officially invited to the talks.

Previous agreement about a transitional Syrian government with executive powers that sidelines Assad, has apparently been replaced with a Russian plan of unity government with Assad on top, leading to elections in which Assad can run.

Ultimately, as Russias foreign minister boasted, Moscows military intervention has turned the tables in its favour in Russia, and its ally the Syrian dictator while, in the words of US Secretary of State John Kerry, US interference in Syria is focused on fighting terrorism only.

Slippery slope

Kerrys statement contradicts previous US positions and policies, that provided support, albeit meagre, for the opposition, and underlined the need for Assad to go.

Washington and Moscow might have swapped positions, and De Mistura has proven far more pleasant than Dennis Ross, but the cynicism of the world's superpowers is just the same. Except this time around, it's Russia that's dictating the process. by

From the outset, Obama has raised the expectations of the Syria people, but the US did little or nothing about the genocide carried out against them. An estimated quarter of a million Syrians have perished and millions more have been displaced by war over the past five years, mostly at the hands of the regime.

But the US president backed down even when the Syrian regime trampled over Washington and the worlds redline regarding the use of chemical weapons. The Obama administration accepted a Russian proposal to disarm Assad of his weapons of mass destruction without a fight, but the regime has since turned ever bloodier.

On the political front, it was the US that worked along with its allies to help unite the Syrian opposition; first in the Syrian National Council and later in the National Coalition, which Washington believed was inclusive, and recognised it at the end of 2012 as the sole representative of the Syrian people.

And last December 8-9, the Syrian National coalition met with other groups, including the two most formidable fighting groups, Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam, and agreed on the negotiation teams as well as a vision of a democratic and civil Syria that respects human rights.

Deja-vu all over again

However, by the end of 2015, Washington had changed its position once again, or more accurately, it had realigned its Syria policy with Moscows, strategically, politically and diplomatically. In essence, it has turned its back on the Syrian people who struggled, fought and died defending against the Russia-supported Assad regime.

OPINION: Peace process in Syria  Talk, talk, kill, kill

De Misturas diplomatic nudge and fudge over Syrian proximity talks reminds me of more of the same diplomatic jargon one heard from the failed Oslo Process over the years.

Washington and Moscow might have swapped positions, and De Mistura has proven far more pleasant than Dennis Ross, but the cynicism of the worlds superpowers is just the same. Except this time around, its Russia thats dictating the process.

What both parties dont see (or perhaps they do!), is that their attempts to sacrifice the Syrian people in the fight against ISIL will resolve nothing. It will instead lead to more extremism, instability and violence.

Marwan Bishara is the senior political analyst at Al Jazeera.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Rights group says dozens of juveniles have been put to death since 2005, as at least 49 others still face execution.

Dozens of people who were arrested in Iran for crimes committed before they turned 18 remain at risk of the death penalty despite recent reforms, with many having already spent years on death row, according to a report by Amnesty International.

The human rights groups 110-page report, released on Tuesday, said that Iran executed at least 73 juvenile offenders between 2005 and 2015, including at least four last year.





Iran is one of the worlds largest users of the death penalty, ranking second behind China in 2014, according to the most recent figures from Amnesty.

Amnestys researchers were able to identify the names and locations of 49 juvenile offenders who face the death penalty, though the group notes that actual numbers could be higher. A 2014 UN report put the number of juvenile offenders at risk of execution at more than 160.

Most of the 73 juvenile offenders Amnesty identified who were put to death over the past decade were convicted of murder. Others were executed for crimes such as rape, drug-related crimes and national security offences such as enmity against God.

Reforms not enough

Iran is a country of law and has an independent judiciary  unlike the neighbouring Arab countries for example,  which means that the Iranian legal system takes due diligence in its sentencing guidelines, Hassan Hanizadeh, the editor-in-chief of the Meher News Agency in Tehran, told Al Jazeera. Those executed were major drug dealers who were using Iran as a transit country to smuggle drugs into Europe and other countries.

As far as Amnestys report and other Western organisations that accuse Iran of illegally executing people, one must question the motives of these organisations before taking their reports as credible information, Hanizadeh said. These international groups deal with these issues from a political perspective and often try to smear Irans reputation out of political motives and political agendas.

Amnesty noted that reforms introduced in 2013 give judges more discretion to take into account juvenile offenders mental maturity and the potential to impose less harsh punishments. The Supreme Court has since said that juvenile offenders facing execution could have their cases retried.

Additional reforms introduced last year require that cases involving juveniles must be heard in special juvenile courts.

But Amnesty urged Iran to do more, stating that despite some juvenile justice reforms [the country is still] maintaining laws that permit girls as young as nine and boys as young as 15 [the age the government considers them to have reached puberty] to be sentenced to death.

The report highlighted more troubling aspects of Irans judicial system, including the juveniles lack of access to legal counsel, lack of protection against coerced statements and torture.

Although Iran also revoked a criminal article that previously violated convicted death row inmates the right to appeal, Amnesty said that it is not clear whether this amendment can be applied retroactively to people whose death sentences have already been approved.

In late October, the United Nations special investigator on the human rights situation in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, warned that executions in Iran have risen at an exponential rate since 2005 and could top 1,000 in 2015.

He said Iran put more people to death per capita than any other country, adding that the majority of executions did not conform to international laws banning the death penalty for juveniles and non-violent offenders.

The head of Irans Human Rights Council, Mohammad Javad Larijani, subsequently dismissed the UN report as a collection of baseless accusations.
The formation of a unity government in Libya has been dealt a blow with the rejection on Monday of the 32-member cabinet proposed by the countrys new Government of National Accord.

The cabinet was rejected by the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HOR), Libyas internationally recognised parliament. The nine-member presidential council that heads the Government of National Accord, or GNA, nominated the cabinet last week.

The new government is intended to replace two administrations that have been competing for control of Libya since mid-2014: the internationally recognised government based in Tobruk in the northeast, and the unofficial Government of National Salvation based in Tripoli.

The HOR demanded the reduction of the cabinet to 17 members, and rejected the proposed removal of Khalifa Haftar, the head of the Libyan National Army, a group of militias affiliated to the eastern government.

The creation of the GNA was mandated last month in a compromise agreement between representatives of the rival administrations and other political stakeholders  the culmination of a year-long process of UN-sponsored negotiations. The presidential council was given a month to agree on a list of personalities to form the new government, and it completed the task two days after the scheduled deadline.

Ending the situation of parallel governments  each with its own parliament and a host of militias fighting on its behalf  is critical to Libyas future stability and prosperity.

READ MORE: Libya  A tale of two governments

Clashes between the two administrations have prevented a co-ordinated approach to the marketing of oil, contributing substantially to a drop in oil production to fewer than 400,000 barrels a day (b/d) from 1.6 million b/d before the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The December 17 agreement was signed under intense international pressure from the United Nations, the United States and several major European nations, all of which have been calling persistently for a unity government. The outside interest in Libya is not altruistic: Nations that intervened in 2011 in support of the rebellion against Gaddafi may feel a certain degree of responsibility to help guide the war-torn country towards some kind of workable peace, but their real concern is the threat posed to Europe by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.





ISIL has taken advantage of the absence of a united government in Libya and of the clashes between opposing militias to carve out a substantial swath of territory along the countrys Mediterranean coast. The group has made a base in the oil town of Sirte, Gaddafis former home, and several other towns along Libyas oil crescent. In recent weeks, ISIL has carried out a number of successful strikes against the countrys oil infrastructure.

The longer Libya is without a united administration, and the longer disparate militias fight each other rather than team up against ISIL, the more successful the group is likely to be. ISIL-controlled territory on Europes doorstep provides an ideal base from which to launch attacks against European nations, using established people-smuggling routes across the Mediterranean.

To combat this threat, it appears increasingly likely that the US and some European countries will intervene against ISIL in Libya, as they have in Iraq and Syria.

Some kind of external intervention becomes ever more likely in light of the latest ISIL offensive, said Mattia Toaldo, a policy fellow for the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Italy, France, the UK and the US have all shown an appetite for intervention.

The European Union stands ready to support Libya in the fight against violent extremism, according to a statement this month from the European Council. Germany will not be able to evade responsibility for contributing its share, defence minister Ursula von der Leyen said in an interview last week.

It has been widely reported that French planes have carried out reconnaissance missions over Libya, and according to the state-owned Algerian newspaper El Khabar, the US, France and the UK have informed the Algerian government that they are making preparations to launch air strikes against ISIL in Libya, although Western officials have not committed to this in public statements.

Meanwhile, Robert Ford, the former US ambassador to Syria, said during a hearing of the Armed Services Committee of the House of Representatives that it will be important  to help a new Libyan government and to help it control territory, and we will need to be ready to do that.

The more you have attacks like this by ISIL, the less the West will be inclined to wait for an invitation from the government. by Mattia Toaldo, analyst

In an abstract sense, building up a Libyan national army might be desirable in the long run, but it wont get results in the short term, so we may see a shift towards targeted [air] strikes, or enabling strikes by Egypt, Richard Mallinson, a geopolitical analyst at Energy Aspects, told Al Jazeera.

Still, in recent months, outside powers have maintained that they will take action in Libya only at the invitation of a unity government. For this reason, establishing a united administration has become a matter of great urgency.

There are still several procedural steps, however, before such an intervention could happen.

First, the HOR must be convinced to approve the GNA. Next, the GNA needs to establish itself in the countrys capital, Tripoli. The final step is an invitation from the GNA requesting foreign intervention.

The problem for the West, however, is that each of these steps is in doubt. The HOR ruled that it will consider an amended proposal in the next 10 days. But it is far from clear that the HOR will reverse its decision. It has yet to express support for the December 17 peace deal or the presidential council.

Meanwhile, there is no sign of the Tobruk government stepping down. Last week, municipal council officials in Bayda, a town near Tobruk where key members of the eastern government are based, ordered the executive to leave the town due to public protests over its failure to provide essential services. The nearby Marj council invited the government to relocate there, according to the Libya Herald.

The GNA, which is currently operating out of a hotel in Tunis, faces an even greater challenge in establishing itself in Tripoli. The General National Congress (GNC)  the parliament affiliated to the Government of National Salvation  is wary of a deal that in effect means it has to give up all legislative authority to the HOR. Some members even suggested scrapping the agreement and starting again.

Still more troubling for the GNA is a statement from the leader of the GNC, Khalifa al-Ghwell, ordering the arrest of members of the 18-strong temporary security team appointed by the presidential council should they stray on to territory controlled by Libya Dawn, a coalition of militias affiliated to the GNC.

Theres an issue of legitimacy for a unity government operating out of Tunis, Mohamed Eljarh, a Libyan national and non-resident fellow at the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, told Al Jazeera. Many are calling it the government in exile.

READ MORE: Libyas chance to fight off ISIL

Even if the GNA can overcome the odds and somehow secure recognition from the HOR and the compliance of Tripoli to relocate to the capital, it is by no means sure that it will extend the invitation for Western intervention.

Nobody is thinking about requesting foreign intervention at the moment, Ibrahim Dabbashi, Libyas ambassador to the UN, said last month. We are willing to fight [ISIL] ourselves.

Ahmed Mateeq, the GNAs deputy prime minister, said in response to UK plans to send 1,000 soldiers to train Libyan troops that at the moment I dont think we could accept that, and that Libyans preferred to look after the Libyan soil ourselves.

In some ways, the GNA is in a no-win situation. Im not sure the GNA would say yes to an intervention, and even if it did, and it didnt have the support of the Libyan population, it would put it in an uncomfortable position, Toaldo said.

If the GNA does not extend an invitation to the West to intervene, they may consider an intervention without authority from the Libyan government. Last November, following ISIL attacks in Paris, the UN unanimously approved a resolution calling on governments to take all necessary measures in the fight against ISIL.

Given that ISIL attacks on Western citizens in Tunis and Sousse last year were carried out by fighters trained at a camp in the Libyan town of Sabratha  and in light of the recent escalation of ISIL attacks in Libya  certain countries may decide that they have sufficient grounds for an intervention without Libyan sponsorship.

The more you have attacks like this by ISIL, the less the West will be inclined to wait for an invitation from the government, Toaldo said, noting that this would reflect poorly on the legitimacy of the GNA. If even a limited intervention takes place without the formal assent of the Libyan government, it will show Libyans the irrelevance of the GNA.
Rogue officer drugged colleagues before 10 were shot dead in central Uruzgan province.

An Afghan policeman drugged and shot dead 10 of his comrades in the central province of Uruzgan early Tuesday.

Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

The policeman who had connections with armed militants first poisoned his comrades and than shot all of them during the night in a checkpoint, Dost Mohammad Nayab, a spokesman for the governor of Uruzgan, told the DPA news agency.

Weapons and ammunition were missing from the checkpost and a police vehicle was burned following the attack.

The suspect was on the run, said Nayab.

A convoy of police heading for the checkpoint on Tuesday repelled a Taliban attack with no casualties sustained, he said.

So-called green-on-blue attacks, when Afghan soldiers or police turn their guns on international troops or colleagues, have been a major problem during NATOs long years fighting alongside Afghan forces.

The killings have bred fierce mistrust among local and foreign forces even as the rate of such incidents has dropped in recent years.

Two US service members were killed in August last year when an Afghan soldier opened fire in southern Helmand province.
Henry Worsley collapsed from exhaustion only 48km from achieving his goal after an almost 1,600km journey.

A British adventurer attempting to become the first person to cross the Antarctic alone and unsupported has died after collapsing from exhaustion, days from reaching his goal.

Former army officer Henry Worsley was nearing the end of the almost 1,600km trek when he called for help and was airlifted off the ice on Friday.

His family said on Monday that Worsley, 55, died following complete organ failure at a hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile. He had undergone surgery a day earlier for bacterial peritonitis  an infection of the tissue lining the abdomen, which can lead to septic shock.

Pulling supplies on a sled, Worsley was trying to complete Ernest Shackletons attempt of a century ago to cross the Antarctic via the South Pole. Shackletons journey turned into a desperate survival mission after his ship, the Endurance, was trapped and sunk by pack ice in 1915, leaving his team stranded.

His successful effort to reach help at a remote South Atlantic whaling station and rescue his men is considered a heroic feat of endurance.

Worsleys ancestor, Frank Worsley, was skipper of the Endurance on Shackletons voyage.

Henry Worsley decided to abandon his journey on Friday after being unable to leave his tent for two days.

The 71 days alone on the Antarctic with over 900 statute miles covered and a gradual grinding down of my physical endurance finally took its toll today, and it is with sadness that I report it is journeys end  so close to my goal, he said in a final statement from Antarctica.





Shackletons granddaughter, Alexandra Shackleton, said Worsleys death was a huge loss to the adventuring world.

Outdoorsman Bear Grylls said he was devastated at the loss of one of the strongest men [and] bravest soldiers I know.

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, a patron of the expedition, said he and his brother, Prince Harry, had lost a friend.

He was a man who showed great courage and determination and we are incredibly proud to be associated with him, William said.

Worsleys wife, Joanna, said the expedition had raised more than $140,000 for wounded troops.
The Danish parliament has passed a package of measures to deter refugees from seeking asylum, including confiscating valuables to pay for their stay, despite protests from international human rights organisations.

The measures, which include extending the reunification time period after which family members outside can rejoin refugees in the country from one year to three years, were passed by an overwhelming majority on Tuesday.

The bill, which allows the confiscation of refugees cash exceeding 10,000 kroner ($1,450), has prompted comparisons to Nazi Germany, which confiscated the goods of Jews during World War II.

The Council of Europe, a human rights watchdog, said the law could violate fundamental property rights.

READ MORE: Denmarks controversial immigration bill

However, Kristian Jensen, the Danish foreign minister, and Inger Stojberg, the immigration minister, argued on Monday, during a debate at the European Parliament, that the proposed law is fair and in line with the Danish welfare model and compatible with international rules.





We  think that it is fair and reasonable that those asylum seekers who do bring enough assets with them should cover the costs of their food and lodging during the asylum process, Stojberg said.

When you have such a broad, universal welfare system as the Danish one, this is also based on this basic principle that if you can support yourself you have to do so, she added.

The law will also allow for asylum seekers belongings to be searched.

Cash and proceeds from the sale of valuables belonging to refugees will be used to pay for their stay in Denmark.

Valuables that have sentimental value, such as wedding and engagement rings, will be off-limits, however.

While many have focused on the confiscation of valuables, critics suggest that it is the part of the bill relating to reunification of families that is most alarming.

The new law will mean that refugees will have to wait three years after being granted asylum before they can apply to be reunited with their family. The current law permits them to do this after one year.

Jonas Christoffersen, the director of the the Danish Institute for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera that the right of refugees to be reunited with their family is protected by numerous international conventions ratified by Denmark. We believe the government is overstepping international law by implementing this bill.

The bill was passed as the minority government of right-leaning Liberals had secured backing from others, including the main opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigrant Danish Peoples Party.

Wrong direction

Liberal and left-wing European Union parliamentarians criticised the proposed bill and took aim at a new provision in Danish law that would delay family reunification for up to three years for people in need of temporary protection.

This law  goes completely in the wrong direction, Cornelia Ernst, a far-left German politician, said on Monday.

READ MORE: Denmark urged to reject cruel refugee laws

Refugees completely liquidate their households  if they even still had one  and take their last money and valuables with them, which you now confiscate. How can you ensure there is proportionality here?

Cecilia Wikstrom, a Liberal Swedish politician, said: You will never, ever convince me that this is either responsible or proportionate.

It does not matter how serious the situation or how strong the pressure [is], we are the richest region on the planet. And if we are not taking responsibility, tell me who should do it then?

In response, Jensen argued that his country was doing its share by providing significant funding for humanitarian aid.

The northern European country has one of Europes highest numbers of asylum seekers per capita and expects a further 25,000 to arrive this year, Stojberg said.
At least 20 people killed in multiple bombings in the central city with ISIL taking responsibility.

Multiple bombings targeted a government-run security checkpoint in the central Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people, Syrias state-run news agency reported.

The attack was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

Homs Governor Talal Barazi told the SANA news agency the checkpoint was hit first by a car bomb, which was then followed by a suicide bombing.

Syrian state television broadcast footage of the aftermath of the Homs bombing, showing extensive damage to shops and apartments around the site of the explosion in the Zahra neighbourhood, which is inhabited mostly by members of President Bashar Assads Alawite sect.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of informants across Syria for its news, said the death toll had climbed to 25, with 15 of the casualties being security personnel.

The Observatory said witnesses at the scene said the first bomber attracted a crowd by shouting curses about the Homs governor, then blew his vehicle up.

ISIL said it was responsible for the carnage, according to a report from the Aamaq news agency, which is affiliated with the group.

Homs, which was once known as the capital of the revolution, is Syrias third-largest city and was one of the first to rise against the government in 2011.

Government forces have since managed to expel most fighters from the city but much of it has been destroyed.
Paris police fired tear gas and taxi drivers lit bonfires on a major highway during nationwide strikes and protests over working conditions and competition from non-traditional services such as Uber.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls agreed to an emergency meeting with taxi drivers on Tuesday afternoon, in an apparent attempt to defuse tensions.

The Black Tuesday protests are the latest challenge to the Socialist government as it tries to modernise the economy and find Frances place in an increasingly globalised, online marketplace.





Hundreds of flights were cancelled as air traffic controllers joined civil servants, hospital workers and teachers for the day of strikes.

At Orly airport, one protester was injured in the leg when a shuttle bus forced its way through a blockade. Police said the bus driver was arrested.

About 300 taxi drivers, furious over upstart competitors such as Uber, blocked the capitals ring road at a key intersection in the west of the city, lighting fires and throwing smoke bombs.

Dozens of taxi drivers tried to march on to an eight-lane bypass, but police pushed them back with tear gas.

Today our survival is at stake, we are fed up of meetings and negotiations, said Ibrahima Sylla, spokesman of the Taxis de France collective.

Nineteen protesters were arrested from a total of 1,200 drivers on strike around the capital, police said.

There is a right to protest  even during a state of emergency, said Valls. But violence is unacceptable.

Adding to the chaos, one in five flights in and out of Paris  affecting both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports  was cancelled because of a strike by air traffic controllers over pay and conditions.

Air France said it would operate all its long-haul flights and more than 80 percent of its short and medium-haul flights in France and elsewhere in Europe, but that last-minute delays or cancellations cannot be ruled out.

Budget airline Ryanair said that it had cancelled more than 200 flights, and EasyJet had cut 35 flights, mostly within France but also affecting Italy, Switzerland and Spain.

The taxi strike could mean access to airports in Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Marseilles was greatly disrupted, Air France warned.

France banned Ubers low-cost UberPOP service  which used unlicensed drivers  a year ago, but taxi dispatchers in Paris say business has still shrunk by 20 to 30 percent.

Uber flouted the UberPOP ban for several months, triggering a spate of violent protests in June.

The San Francisco-based company finally shut down the low-cost service in July after two of its French bosses were arrested and charged with misleading commercial practices [and] complicity in the illegal exercise of the taxi profession.

Meanwhile some 5.6 million civil servants were told to down tools to protest against labour reforms proposed last September affecting pay and career advancement.

The striking unions  who led up to 120 demonstrations across France on what the daily Le Parisien newspaper dubbed Black Tuesday  also claim they are protesting against job losses totalling some 150,000 since 2007 and say the hospital sector is especially in need of new jobs.
Ethiopians able to prove Jewish identity promised acceptance again, after thousands of families were split up.

Gondar, Ethiopia  The Israeli government says it plans to restart its law of return programme in Ethiopia.

Under the Aliyah rule, anyone who can prove their Jewish identity can move to Israel.

Israel stopped the programme for Ethiopians in 2013, saying there was no one left who met the criteria  a move that split up thousands of families.

For example, the family of Werkenshe Akalu, an Ethiopian Jew, left for Israel in 2013 but she was unable to follow. I feel lonely here because all my family are in Israel, Akalu told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Ethiopian Jews  not Jewish enough

Feleke Gobas parents and grandparents were allowed to settle in Israel in 2003. He said he does not know why his application was not accepted.

His mother passed away in Israel and he was unable to afford to travel and see her before she died.

Now I hope I can go to Israel before my father dies, even just for one day, said Goba.

However, in light of the governments recent change of heart, critics say Israel arbitrarily makes changes to increase the Jewish population, and treats Ethiopian Jews as second-class citizens.

Last year, Ethiopian Jews clashed with police in Tel Aviv during protests against institutionalised racism.

READ MORE: Ethiopias secret Jews

In Hebrew, Aliyah means the journey to Israel.

The Jewish Agency, which helps to organise the immigration of Jews to Israel, denies accusations that the government applies the law of return arbitrarily.

Ethiopian immigration to Israel is the only example of a Western democracy investing money to bring people from Africa to serve as full-fledged citizens of that country, and not for other purposes, Avi Mayer, Jewish Agency spokesman, told Al Jazeera.

So I think it does speak to Israels reason for existing, Israels ideology of serving as a homeland for all Jews around the world.

About 135,500 Jewish Israelis of Ethiopian descent live in Israel; more than 50,000 of whom were born inside the country.
PM Netanyahu accuses UNs Ban of encouraging terror after he criticises illegal settlements in occupied West Bank.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted angrily to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons comments about Israeli settlements, accusing the UN chief of encouraging terror.

Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East in New York on Tuesday, Ban criticised Israel over reports it was planning to build 150 new homes in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

These provocative acts are bound to increase the growth of settler populations, further heighten tensions and undermine any prospects for a political road ahead, he said.





Continued settlement activities are an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community. They rightly raise fundamental questions about Israels commitment to a two-state solution.

Ban went on to say that Palestinian frustration is growing and that, as oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism.

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 165 Palestinians, including bystanders, unarmed demonstrators and attackers. At least 25 Israelis have also been killed.

In a statement on Tuesday night, Netanyahu said that the comments of the UN secretary-general encourage terror, adding that the UN lost its neutrality and its moral powers long ago.

There is no justification for terrorism. The Palestinian terrorists dont want to build a state, they want to destroy a state, and they state that proudly, Netanyahu said, according to Israeli media.

They want to murder Jews everywhere and they state that proudly. They dont murder for peace and they dont murder for human rights.
Malaysias Attorney General said on Tuesday that $681m transferred into Prime Minister Najib Razaks personal bank account was a gift from the royal family in Saudi Arabia and there were no criminal offences or corruption involved.

I am satisfied with the findings that the funds were not a form of graft or bribery, Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali told a press conference.

There was no reason given as to why the donation was made to PM Najib. That is between him and the Saudi family, he said.

He said no criminal offence was committed by Najib in relation to three investigations submitted by Malaysias anti-graft agency, and no further action would be taken.

Najib returned $620m to the Saudis as the money was not utilised, he said.

Najib has been under fire since the donation came to light last July, along with billions of dollars in debt built up by state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Despite it all, the prime minister remained steadfast, vehemently denying any wrongdoing, and rejecting calls for his resignation.

Najib said the announcement confirmed what I have maintained all along: that no crime was committed.

This issue has been an unnecessary distraction for the country, Najib said in a statement. Now that the matter has been comprehensively put to rest, it is time for us to unite and move on.

The scandal has shaken investors in Southeast Asias third-biggest economy and rocked public confidence in the coalition led by Najibs United Malays National Organisation party, which has held power since independence in 1957.

Al Jazeeras So Rahman, reporting from Kuala Lumpur, said the attorney generals announcement was unlikely to turn down the political heat on Najib.

This issue is not going die. Malaysia is heading towards a general election within the next two years. It will be interesting to see how the opposition reacts, and how the ruling party reacts too. Even some of the back-benchers within the ruling party were very unhappy, said Rahman.
Pontiff stresses Irans important role in the region during landmark meeting with President Rouhani.

Pope Francis has urged Iran to back peace efforts in the Middle East as the countrys emergence from international isolation took a step forward with President Hassan Rouhanis first visit to the Vatican.

Fresh from securing the lifting of international sanctions imposed over Irans nuclear programme, Rouhani spent 40 minutes at the Vatican on Tuesday talking privately to Pope Francis, a strong backer of the deal with Tehran.

In a statement afterwards, the Vatican said Francis had urged the Iranian leader to use Irans important role to promote, together with other countries, adequate political solutions to the problems afflicting the region and to help combat terrorism and arms trafficking.





I thank you for your visit and I hope for peace, Francis told his guest at the end of their meeting, when journalists were briefly allowed to listen in.

A smiling Rouhani, who presented the pope with a handmade carpet from the ancient city of Qom, replied with one of Francis catchphrases.

I ask you to pray for me, he said. It was a pleasure to meet you and I wish you well in your work.

The Vatican pontiff in turn bestowed a medal depicting St Martin giving his cloak to a shivering man, saying the gesture represented a sign of brotherhood.

The two leaders highlighted the importance of inter-religious dialogue and the responsibility of religious communities in promoting reconciliation, tolerance and peace, the Vatican said .

The last time when leaders of the two communities met was when Pope John Paul II received former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami in 1999.

READ MORE: Irans Rouhani starts historic visit to Europe

Rouhani is on a five-day trip to Italy and France looking to drum up trade and investment to modernise Irans economy, partly by pitching the country as a beacon of stability in a conflict-wracked region.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rouhani met Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, along with a 120-strong delegation, to promote business worth billions of dollars between the two nations.

Now we have created the conditions for investment and for the transfer of know-how, he said.

There has to be an advantage for both sides: we invite you to invest and we will provide stability and ensure that you can make adequate returns.
Russian president has amassed secret wealth by using state funds for years, US official tells British broadcaster.

A senior United States treasury official has called Russian President Vladimir Putin a picture of corruption who uses state assets for his own personal gain.

Adam Szubin, acting treasury secretary for terrorism and financial crimes, said in an interview with the BBCs Panorama programme that the Russian president has been amassing secret wealth for years.

Weve seen him enriching his friends, his close allies and marginalising those who he doesnt view as friends using state assets. Whether thats Russias energy wealth, whether its other state contracts, he directs those to whom he believes will serve him and excludes those who dont. To me, that is a picture of corruption, Szubin was quoted as saying.

Szubin declined to comment on a 2007 Central Intelligence Agency report that estimated Putins wealth at $40bn, but he said the Russian leaders stated wealth is an underestimation.

He supposedly draws a state salary of something like $110,000 a year, Szubin said. That is not an accurate statement of the mans wealth, and he has longtime training and practices in terms of how to mask his actual wealth.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday brushed aside the comments.

Its an official accusation, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in a conference call. [Bilateral] relations are now in such a state that a lie like this is unlikely to aggravate them even further.

Putin repeatedly said he has read press reports about his immense wealth  including that he was even the worlds richest man  but has denied those as nonsense.

The report came just days after a British inquiry concluded that Putin was likely to have approved a 2006 Russian intelligence operation to murder ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 in London.
Georgian prime minister rejects Russian foreign ministers claim, saying government is in control of troubled region.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow has intelligence showing that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group is operating a training base in the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia, a claim immediately denied by Tbilisi.

Lavrov made the allegation at his annual press conference on Tuesday, saying ISIL militants are using this hardly accessible territory to train, rest and replenish their supplies.

Long-running volatility in the Pankisi region previously led to Russia imposing visa restrictions on Georgian citizens in 2000. More recently, the area has been known as a hot spot for ISILs recruitment of fighters to take part in the war in Syria.

Despite his claims about the ISIL base, Lavrov also said on Tuesday that he was ready to meet his Georgian counterpart to start restoring diplomatic ties, which were severed after the five-day war in 2008 over Georgias breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili responded to Lavrovs claims, denying the existence of an ISIL base inside Georgian borders and saying that his government was in full control of the Pankisi Gorge.

A few people from this Gorge went to Syria to fight in the Islamic State, though a strict control is imposed on their entry back to [Georgia], Kvirikashvili said.

I can directly say that there is no terrorist threat in the Pankisi Gorge at the present time.

He also responded to Russias recent move to simplify visa requirements for Georgian citizens, saying it was a very positive decision.

READ MORE: Why Georgians in a remote Pankisi valley are joining ISIL

But he said the restoration of diplomatic relations with Moscow would come with preconditions relating to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.

The relationship between Russia and Georgia has been tense since former pro-West president Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in Tbilisi in 2003.

The tension started to bubble over in 2006 when Moscow imposed an embargo on Georgian wine and mineral water imports and used cargo planes to deport thousands of Georgians.

The confrontation led to a five-day war over Georgias breakaway region of South Ossetia in 2008.

Georgias current government started making efforts to improve the relationship with Russia after it came to power in 2012, but diplomatic ties remain to be forged.
Kurdish PYD leader says his faction not yet invited to take part in negotiations scheduled to start on Friday.

The UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has sent out invitations to the Syrian participants of the Geneva talks scheduled for Friday.

Preparations for the talks have been beset by problems including a dispute over who should represent the opposition.

The UN did not say on Tuesday who had been invited or how many groups might participate.

De Mistura said in a news conference on Monday that the talks will take begin in Geneva on January 29 and are expected to last for six months.

He said the talks will push for a nationwide ceasefire for all parties other than the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-Nusra Front armed groups.

OPINION: Has the West betrayed the Syrian people?

After the invites were sent out, conflicting reports emerged of which groups and individuals had finally been invited.

One contentious issue has been whether or not the powerful Kurdish faction that controls wide areas of northern Syria would be invited.

Russia, an ally of Syrias president, has sought to expand the opposition delegation to include the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), as well as other individuals it believes represents Syrian society.





The Syrian opposition platform created in Saudi Arabia last month, who were meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday to decide whether to send their delegation to the talks, say the PYD should be part of the government delegation.

Al Jazeeras James Bays, reporting from Geneva, said that the PYD leader was not invited to the talks.

We spoke to the PYD leader, Salem Muslim, who is in Switzerland but said he was not invited to the talks, Bays said.

Turkey said earlier on Tuesday that it opposes the involvement of the PYD or its armed wing, the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), in the Geneva talks.

Turkeys Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said that Turkey will boycott the talks if the PYD are invited.

The oppositions High Negotiations Committee (HNC), which was formed in Riyadh, said it would decide on Wednesday whether to take part.

The committee said it is waiting for a response from the UN to a set of requestsand if their conditions are not met, the group will not attend the talks.

The Syrian government has already said it will attend.

Syrian army captures key town

The latest diplomatic developments came as the Syrian army announced a major victory, capturing the key southern town of Sheikh Maskin from rebel forces after weeks of fierce fighting .

The fall of Sheikh Maskin on Monday means that government forces will strengthen their hold on Deraa province, while cutting off rebel factions from key supply lines.

Deraa, the scene of the earliest protests against the Syrian government in 2011, contains routes crucial to both the Syrian army and rebel fighters.

OPINION: How to make Syria peace talks work

Multiple bombings also targeted a government-run security checkpoint in the central Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people, Syrias state-run SANA news agency and opposition activists reported.

The attack was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists across Syria, said the death toll had climbed to 25, with 15 of the casualties being security personnel.

The Syrian conflict has killed at least 250,000 people, according to the UN, and more than half of Syrias pre-war population of 22.4 million has been internally displaced or have fled abroad.
Fall of Sheikh Maskin to government forces cuts off rebel supply routes while securing regimes hold on Deraa province.

The Syrian army has captured a key southern town from rebel forces after weeks of fierce fighting, state media and activists say.

The fall of Sheikh Maskin on Monday means that government forces will strengthen their hold on Deraa province, while cutting off rebel factions from key supply lines.

Deraa, the scene of the earliest protests against the Syrian government in 2011, contains routes crucial to both the Syrian army and rebel fighters.

The town is very important for both sides. They have both fought fiercely. Now, by taking it, the regime has cut off the rebels links between eastern and western Deraa, said Rami Abdulrahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks violence in the country through a wide network of local sources.

The destruction in the town is huge.

READ MORE: Syria talks to seek ceasefire, exclude al-Nusra and ISIL

The Observatory said fighting involved government troops backed by fighters from the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, as well as air support from Russian fighter jets.

Rebel groups involved in the battle include al-Nusra Front and some aligned with the Western-backed Free Syrian Army.

The Syrian state news agency, SANA, said the army had taken full control of the town and dismantled explosive devices planted by the rebels.

Rami Khouri, from the American University of Beirut, told Al Jazeera that military help from Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah over the past year had turned the tide for government forces.

Without these three support groups, the Syrian government would probably have vanished because they were really in bad shape about a year ago, said Khouri.

Theres a shifting pattern of control on the ground and its important because when the [peace] talks go ahead in Geneva, and if they achieve ceasefires, who controls more land will gain more political, economic, and humanitarian power.

Juan Cole, a Middle East analyst at the University of Michigan, told Al Jazeera that recent gains by government forces in Syrias south were significant, considering rebels once controlled about 70 percent of Deraa province.

Cole also underscored Russias role in the advance.

Largely because of Russian air intervention, the rebels are being scattered. Things have just turned around 180 degrees for the regime since the Russians came in  Now there is a significant reversal that will affect the rebels logistics, said Cole.

Before Sheikh Maskin, the army, backed by Russian strikes, recaptured another key rebel base  the town of Rabia in the northern province of Latakia. It was the last rebel-held town in the province and provided an important supply route to Turkey.

Peace talks

A Syrian government advance on Deraa began late in December and Sheikh Maskins fall comes amid international efforts to bring opposing factions to the negotiating table.

On Monday, Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, said that peace talks originally scheduled to start on Monday would be pushed back to Friday.

The proposed Geneva 2 peace effort has been blighted by disagreements over which rebel groups should be allowed to attend.

The talks will also exclude al-Nusra Front, which is al-Qaedas affiliate in the country, as well as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, which controls most of Syrias eastern half.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday argued strongly against Turkeys demand to keep a leading Kurdish group out of Syrias peace talks, and said he expected the UN envoy to resist blackmail by Turkey and others, reflecting the sharp differences that remain.
Researchers call for new incentives for drug companies after outbreak of mosquito-borne virus spreads to 21 countries.

Researchers say developing a vaccine for the Zika virus  suspected of causing brain damage in babies  could take up to five years, as health experts called for new incentives for drug companies.

The Zika outbreak, which the World Health Organisation says is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile, follows the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which also caught health authorities off guard.

Weve got no drugs and weve got no vaccines. Its a case of deja vu because thats exactly what we were saying with Ebola, Trudie Lang, a professor of global health at Oxford University, told Reuters. Its really important to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible.

Large drugmakers investment in tropical disease vaccines with uncertain commercial prospects has so far been patchy, but the pace of the outbreak has demonstrated how quickly little-known diseases can emerge as global threats.

We need to have some kind of a plan that makes [companies] feel there is a sustainable solution and not just a one-shot deal over and over again, Francis Collins, director of the US National Institutes of Health, said last week.

The Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute, which is currently leading the research on Zika, says it plans to develop a vaccine in record time, although its director has said this is likely to take three to five years.

British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline also told Reuters on Monday that it was studying the feasibility of using its vaccine technology on Zika, while Frances Sanofi said it was reviewing possibilities.

30 times more cases

Brazils Health Ministry in November announced that it suspected that links existed between the mosquito-borne Zika virus and a foetal deformation, known as microcephaly, in which infants are born with smaller-than-usual brains.

The WHO has described circumstantial evidence of the link as suggestive and extremely worrisome.

Brazil has reported 3,893 suspected cases of microcephaly, the WHO said last Friday, more than 30 times more than had been reported in any year since 2010.

The outbreak has prompted El Salvador, Eduador and Colombia to warn women to delay getting pregnant.

ZIKA VIRUS: Women told to delay pregnancy for two years

The diseases rapid spread to 21 countries and territories of the region since May 2015 is caused by a lack of immunity among the population and the prevalence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito that carries the virus, the WHO said.

The pace of the outbreak prompted Margaret Chan, the WHOs director-general, to call for changes in how the organisation responds to emergencies.

The complexity of humanitarian emergencies underscores the need for transformational changes in our response capacity, she said.
A date has been set for talks to start in Geneva, but serious doubts remain over what can be achieved.

As the war in Syria comes close to entering its sixth year, diplomats and delegates are gearing up for talks in Geneva on Friday.

The negotiations have already been delayed because of disagreements over who should attend.

The United Nations envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, says he has sent invitations to delegates and that the list is as inclusive as possible, but it is still unclear who has been invited.

Talks to end the war were last held in Geneva in 2012 and again in 2014.

On Inside Story, we ask: Are meaningful discussions likely to go ahead this time? And is a peace deal possible?

Presenter: Peter Dobbie

Guests:

George Sabra  President of the Syrian National Council

Oubai Shahbandar  Managing director of Orient Media

Noah Bonsey  Senior Syria analyst for the International Crisis Group
Freely grabbing inspiration from all manner of styles, the Neapolitan bandfunctions as a high- efficiency musical omnivore, digesting and reworking different aspects of seemingly disparate raw materials into a seamless, organic whole. All You Can Eat, an appropriate title for the band's fourth long player (and their third for MoonJune), doesn't appear to be the product of mindless gluttony. Quite the contrary, the music on this disc sounds more like the product of a slow, thoughtful distillation.Italy has long been a hotbed of hybrid musical forms. During the early 1970s, bands such as Area Canzoniere del Lazio (with saxophonist) and Aktuala (an early landing spot for), juxtaposed jazz, classical, rock, avant-garde, and the folk music of the Mediterranean region to create music of stunning originality and lasting value. Slivovitz is cut from the same cloth. Completely eschewing paint-by-numbers fusion cliche and overbearing technical displays, the music on All You Can Eat is characterized by strong, nearly indelible, melodies, satisfying grooves, and improvisations that rely equally on soulful expression and instrumental virtuosity. Slivovitz' sound is also quite unique, as the formidable 5-man front line consists of electric guitar, violin, saxophone, trumpet, and harmonica. He man behind the mouth harp, Derek Di Perri , doesn't stay in one bag for too long. His solo on "Passannante" is in a sparkling, highly technical stylesimilar towhereas his solo "Currywurst" is surprisingly gritty and blues-inflected.The tunes, composed by guitarist(also a permanent member of's new electric band), saxophonist Pietro Santangelo and trumpeter Ciro Riccardi are complex, multi-sectioned and somewhat unpredictable. Though largely based in a funky jazz-rock style, "Mani in Faccia" ("Hands in the Face") and "Currywurst" take all manner of compositional twists and turns. "Oblio" starts out as a haunting, somewhat rustic, ballad before exploding into frenzied-style riffage. "Persian Nights" and "Hangover" are pretty similar to one another. Brooding, resolutely minor key, and dominated by romping 6/8 rhythms, these pieces sound like something off of the Tzadik label. The most heavily-composed pieces, "Yahtzee" "Oblio" and "Barotrauma," still leave plenty of space for improvisation. Yet, each are extremely well-integrated and come across as complete musical statements rather than a series of difficult riffs played in rapid succession.It's worth pointing out that the subtitle to "Barotrauma," "La Zappa su piedi," doesn't refer to the late, great composer / guitarist. Rather, the phrase is an Italian colloquialism that meansroughlyto shoot oneself in the foot. Immensely appealing and full of musical surprises, All You Can Eat, does everything but.
Ferit Odman is an on demand and busy jazz drummer based in Istanbul . He started his music studies in Sweden as an AFS exchange student (1999), got a full scholarship to get his B.A. in Music at Istanbul Bilgi University (2001), attended the School For Improvisation workshops in NYC (2004), and has been granted a Fulbright Scholarship to further build on his studies at William Paterson University (2006). He spent / played two years in NYC and holds a M.M. (Master of Music) degree in Jazz Performance. He has three albums as a leader and played over 30 recordings. Odman recently performs with TRT Big Band and Turkish pianist Kerem Gorsev, while leading his own quintet and touring around Europe.DrumsWhen I was 11.Swinging.Back to the basics.Just recorded my last album with my dream band.North Sea Jazz Festival, Nardis Jazz ClubDameronia With Strings. The use of string arrangements, which is very rare for a drummer's album as well as the fact that it's recorded, mixed and mastered purely analog to vinyl. That means you'll hear exactly what we played that day, without any digital corrections. This is a tribute that I worked on meticulously in honor of my favorite pianist/composer, Levee Low Moan.Keeping the tradition alive., Letters (Paytone), The Thought Of You (Blue Note), Graylen Epicenter (Mythology Records), With Strings (Verve), Out Of The Afternoon (Impulse!);, Kelly At Midnight (Vee Jay Recordings);. Roll Call (Blue Note);Clifford Brown and Max Roach, Study In Brown (Polygram);The Engine Room, A History Of Jazz Drumming From Storyville to 52nd Street (Proper Records).People to go out, check out live music and buy hard copies.Just released my third album as a leader: Dameronia With Strings.No fearsA lost soul.
Comedians from Gainesville and across the U.S will perform improv for four days during the 10th annual Gainesville Improv Festival in one location, unlike past years.

Individuals and groups will perform twice a night from Wednesday to Saturday at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in the Squitieri Studio Theatre, said Skyler Stone, an organizer for the event. In past years, the first two nights were held at High Dive, a bar in downtown Gainesville. About 24 troupes will perform, with four in Theatre Strike Force, a UF student improvisation group.

Tickets cost $11 for the public and $8 for students for Wednesday and Thursdays shows. Friday and Saturday tickets cost $15 for the public and $12 for students.

Stone said he started the festival with his friend Tom ODonnell. They are both UF alumni and were involved in Theatre Strike Force.

It really had a large impact on our lives, Stone, 38, said. We really wanted to do something to showcase Gainesville.

Stone, who graduated from UF in 2001, said he likes watching new acts from around Florida. The state didnt originally have that many troupes, but that has changed, he said.

Were always excited to see the improv scene across the state grow and thrive, he said. We take a pinch of the credit.

Stone said he hopes the festival makes people excited to watch comedy.

Theres an air of magic, he said. You kind of are in awe. Its a spectacle.

Kira Silverman, Theatre Strike Forces president, said about 20 members from the organization are performing in four different groups during the festival.

The 22-year-old said she enjoys the festival because it gives her the chance to meet new people.

You wouldnt really think that Gainesville has a really big comedy scene, the UF psychology senior said. Its a whole community of people coming together to do improv in one city, and its awesome.

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Mark Kendall is traveling from Atlanta to perform his one-man show titled The Magic Negro and Other Blackness in Gainesville for the first time.

He said he performs because he likes the simplicity of comedy. He said his show has topics that make people uneasy, such as race relations and racial profiling, but he wants to make the audience laugh.

If it goes well, you can get a reaction from someone even if they disagree with what you throw at them, he said.

Contact Kaitlyn Newberg at knewberg@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @k_newberg.
UF student political organizations are registering students to vote in Floridas presidential primaries.

In Florida, voters must register with a political party by Feb. 16 in order to vote in the primaries, said Natalia Perez Santos, the director of outreach for UF College Democrats. The organization hosted a training session Monday to teach students how to register others to vote.

Not a lot of students even know how to register, said Perez Santos, a UF political science and history junior. All they have to do is take two minutes to fill out the form.

College Democrats trained about 10 new volunteers Monday. She said the group registers students on campus to vote while on Turlington Plaza every week Monday to Wednesday.

We register all people at our table, regardless of party affiliation, the 20-year-old said. We like to serve as a resource for the greater community on campus to be politically engaged.

She said the College Democrats dont officially endorse a specific candidate for the primaries.

She said the organization registered about 10,000 people to vote in the 2012 presidential election and about 2,000 people for the 2014 midterms, which usually have lower voter turnouts.

We hope to be able to register just as many as we have in the past, Perez Santos said.

Richard El-Rassy, the UF College Republicans chairman, said his organization is working with the Republican Party of Florida to register students to vote. He said the organization registers students on campus about twice a month and during events such as debate-watching parties.

El-Rassy, a UF finance sophomore, said he is excited to register students to vote so they can exercise their right to elect leaders who represent students values.

My first official act as chairman was to register all of my executive board members to vote in Alachua County, the 19-year-old said.

El-Rassy said UFs College Republicans do not endorse presidential candidates until after the primaries.

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As an organization, were not specifically supporting one candidate, he said.

El-Rassy said the organization polls members to determine which candidate has the most support among students.

Currently, the Republican that has the largest support from our members is Marco Rubio, he said.

The candidate with the next largest support among College Republicans was Ted Cruz, followed by Donald Trump, he said. He said despite who wins the primaries, the organizations goal is to get the best candidate into the presidential office.

Thats the real driving point behind everything, El-Rassy said.

Contact Kaitlyn Newberg at knewberg@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @k_newberg.
More UF students will spend their Spring Break volunteering this semester than ever before.

The students will serve communities throughout the U.S. and abroad through UFs Center for Leadership and Services Florida Alternative Breaks from Feb. 27 to March 5.

The trips, which include food, transportation and housing, cost between $100 and $1,400. They are student-led and engage participants in social issues through hands-on volunteering opportunities over school breaks.

Students can go on domestic or international trips ranging from a weekend to a full week, Joshua Funderburke, the centers executive director, said.

He didnt expect so many spots to go so quickly. Of the 156 students the center can take, 116 have already signed up as of press time, he said.

This is by far our best year for sign-ups, Funderburke said. Theres only about 40 spots left and people are coming in every day to sign up for them.

Students can sign up until Feb. 12, unless the program fills up before that.

These trips are trying to push people out of their comfort zone, he said. Its all about education, service and reflection.

The trips are kept small, with eight to 12 students on each, Funderburke said. This allows students to bond with one another.

Students will volunteer in places such as Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the southeastern U.S.

Lucy Toman, a UF industrial and systems engineering junior, said she has already been on two FAB trips, one of them during Spring Break.

Community service is a mindset, Toman said. Its a way to live your life, not just something you do on a Sunday.

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While on a trip to Atlanta two years ago, she worked with fifth-grade teachers to merge a public and a charter school, since there wasnt enough demand for both and each served students of different backgrounds, the 21-year-old said.

This Spring the trips will cover topics such as womens empowerment, community development, education inequity and environmental issues.

Its not just a week-long trip, Toman said. This program can have an effect on you that lasts your entire college career.
UF professor researches foodborne diseases

A UF researcher has found that one in 10 people globally suffer from foodborne diseases.

Arie Havelaar, a UF professor who studies global food safety, said he has been studying 31 different disease-causing agents such as bacteria, viruses and chemicals for eight years. Foodborne diseases can make people sick and are more common than people realize, Havelaar said.

Havelaar said he hopes his study will educate people on how frequently foodborne illnesses occur. The 31 agents were selected from more than 200 bacteria and chemicals by seeking out which ones resulted in the most illnesses or deaths.

We document about one out of every 10 people globally suffers from foodborne disease, Havelaar said. It is an important spectrum of diseases that needs to be effectively controlled. He said he hopes the research helps combat the number of people who contract foodborne diseases.

It means that governments need to give it priority, and everybody in the food industry needs to be aware that they are basically in control of the safety of the foods, Havelaar said.

Havelaar said he also wants his research to help people when they are choosing food. The food they buy may carry disease-causing agents and should be prepared properly. The majority of foodborne illness affects children in low-income countries, such as those in Africa and Southeast Asia, Havelaar said. However, disease prevention should be enforced globally.

Prevention is necessary everywhere, even in places like the U.S. and Europe, Havelaar said.

- Maddie Haist

Research suggests farmers should use 10-day forecasts

In a study published in the journal Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, researchers found that Australian wheat farmers who use a 10-day forecast had the best success in increasing crop yield.

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Senthold Asseng, the lead author of the study and professor of agricultural and biological engineering, started the study in Australia but moved to Gainesville five years ago to continue his research at UF.

He said that when farmers reviewed short-term forecasts before making decisions about managing their crops, they had better success in the long term with the number of crops that could be harvested.

You can change the management of crops based off this forecast and make more money from agriculture, Asseng said.

He said that expected profits from better crop yield will encourage farmers to look at weather 10 days in advance.

I think Australia, when they become aware of this study, will change their practices, Asseng said. Money could be made from this knowledge.

He used new technology to conduct his research, he said. This allowed him to combine simulation models to better understand the different effects that weather has on crops.

Asseng believes the next step in his research will be to replicate the study in new regions and hopes that new funding will allow him to continue his research in the southeastern U.S.

This is a very important agricultural region, he said, because of the high number of crops that can grow there.

- Meryl Kornfield

Research shows DNA can be preserved in antifreeze, hand sanitizer

UF researchers have found that DNA can be preserved in materials such as antifreeze, which is used to lower the freezing point of water-based liquids, and hand sanitizer.

The study, published in the journal Invertebrate Systematics, found that these cheaper and less dangerous materials could make it possible for citizen scientists or scientists out in the field to keep DNA specimens intact.

Andrea Lucky, an assistant research scientist for the study, said the researchers wanted scientists who lack professional tools to be able to collect and secure DNA samples.

Researchers used materials different from those typically used to preserve DNA, she said. Before this study, scientists used 95 percent ethanol or pure propylene glycol, which are both dangerous and expensive.

The DNA of ambrosia beetles was tested in the study, Lucky said. Researchers stored the insects in various mediums for about a week to see how well-preserved their DNA would be.

Lucky said she supervised the lab that Sedonia Steininger, the lead author of the study, used to complete her research. The researchers in the study also collaborated with a scientist in North Carolina.

The next step in this research is to figure out how long specimens can be preserved, she said.

Short term preservation  about a week or so  works great, she said.

Lucky said she hopes this will be a cheaper and easier way for scientists to collect and preserve samples.

This opens the door for broader participation, she said.

- Meryl Kornfield
Muslim students learned about stress and how to control it Monday night.

The Islamic Center of Gainesville and Islam on Campus hosted Majed Mahmoud, a mechanical engineer, for an audience of about 30 students. Mahmoud spoke about the text of the Quran, telling students stress is inevitable and to remain calm when faced with it.

Asad Haroon, a 22-year-old UF biology senior, said he attended Mahmouds last speech in September 2014 and looked forward to the advice he would give.

He is not only a student of Islam, he is also a professional, Haroon said.

Mahmoud focused on the Arabic word fitna, which refers to the trials and tribulations an individual goes through in life.

Your true colors appear when you go through a hardship, he said, during the speech.

Mahmoud broke his speech into two parts, with a prayer in between. He focused on how students perceive and deal with obstacles and the stress that comes with them.

I think he is a really great speaker, said Rania Saboungi, a UF microbiology and cell science sophomore. He knows how to reach out to the youth.

Haroon said he related to the topic. With the stresses that come from being a student, he relieves the tension with prayer.

Prayer is big, he said. It helps put everything back in perspective.

Mahmoud told the room that the Muslims living today are being tested more than any generation before.

People will be tested according to their commitment to their religion, he said.

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However, Saboungi said he felt that the audience didnt need to be Muslim to relate to the message of the speech.

Anyone practicing a religion or not can relate to this, she said. A lot of things he said are universal thoughts that make sense.

Contact Meryl Kornfield at mkornfield@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @MerylKornfield.
Paul Rudd is speaking at UF next month.

Rudd will speak at 8 p.m. on Feb. 1 at the Stephen C. OConnell Center. Accent Speakers Bureau is paying Rudd and the moderator, Dave Itzkoff, a New York Times culture reporter, a combined $90,000. Rudd will talk about his experiences as an actor.

Accent and the Jewish Student Union are hosting the event. No tickets are required for entry.

Doors will open at 7 p.m., said Stephanie Ursitti, the vice chair of promotions for Accent. They expect to have enough seating for all who attend, but students and Gainesville residents should expect long lines.

Ursitti said Accent has had Rudds appearance in the works for a couple months. Students have requested him to come speak.

We know that this is something people are interested in, she said.

Rudd played Scott Lang in Ant-Man. He has also starred in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Knocked Up, This Is 40, Role Models, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Clueless.

Wesley Huffman, a UF telecommunication senior, said hes excited to see Rudd speak. He said he hopes Rudd gives advice to aspiring actors like him.

The life of an actor isnt the most glamorous thing, but Paul Rudd has made it, the 21-year-old said.

Contact Caitlin Ostroff at costroff@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @ceostroff.

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Students and Gainesville residents sang traditional chants together Monday night to celebrate the Jewish holiday Tu BShevat.

Tu BShevat, which is the Jewish new year for trees, is a holiday that traditionally celebrates the agricultural cycle in Israel. About 20 UF students celebrated the holiday at Chabad UF by eating fruit and listening to musician Dror Sinai, said Rabbi Aaron Notik.

He said the day is a time for Jewish students to come together as a community and reflect on their cultural roots.

Nicole Gomez Dror Sinai, artist and founder of Rhythm Fusion Inc., chants in celebration of Tu B'Shvat, the New Year of trees, at Chabad on Monday.

Thats really the lesson of this holiday, he said. Whats really important for us is to grow and maintain strong roots. Thats what allows us to grow strong, to blossom and flower.

He said students celebrate the holiday by eating seven traditional foods, including fruit and wheat, that grow in Israel. Some students planted trees in honor of the day on the Plaza of the Americas on Monday morning.

The students sat in a circle and sang along with Sinai, who played hand drums and sang songs in Hebrew and Yiddish.

Sinai said he likes the holiday because it emphasizes humans relationship with the environment.

The human and the trees actually need each other to grow, he said. Theres magic in it.

Nicole Gomez Myles Marcus, a 19-year-old UF mechanical engineering freshman, fills a plate at Chabad on Monday. He said he came to celebrate Tu B'Shvat as part of his religion and because he thought Chabad was always fun.

Catheline Runager, a UF sociology sophomore, said it was her second time celebrating Tu BShevat after she converted to Judaism her first semester at UF.

They have some awesome music, the 20-year-old said. Its a great way to celebrate the holiday with fruit.

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She said she had always felt drawn to Judaism and goes to Chabad UF every Friday to connect with her faith and meet new people.

The people here are great, Runager said. It helps my love for Torah blossom.

Contact Kaitlyn Newberg at knewberg@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @k_newberg.

Attendees clap along to chants at Chabad's Tu B'Shvat celebration Monday. Tu BShvat, which began at sunset on Sunday and ended at nightfall Monday, is celebrated in Israel as an ecological awareness day.
Drones are not the silver bullets weve made them out to be. On one hand, they facilitate our objectives by killing high-value targets without risking American lives. But on the other hand, we have to deeply consider the consequences, ranging from civilian deaths to the deception and secrecy with which our government conducts these drone strikes.

Despite these objections, the Obama administration and advocates continue to champion drones as a viable strategy, and according to the latest 2015 Pew data, 58 percent of Americans agree with using drones to target extremists. So, lets re-examine this together.

First off, the civilian-to-militant death ratio is disgraceful. Roughly estimated at one in every five from the Bureau of Investigative Journalism's data, the civilian death rate is a direct result of the way we implement drone strikes. We develop our terrorist kill list from both signals intelligence, such as cellphone and computer communications data, and pre-crime, which is determined by an individuals recorded background and possible connections to terror networks.

How accurate are such data collection methods? Well, a 2013 Pentagon study thoroughly details their inaccuracies given the remote geography of our target areas in Yemen and Somalia. Further compounding the inaccuracy is the fact that the nearest U.S. air base to such target areas is in Djibouti, making reconnaissance flights difficult because our aircraft spend half of their flight time simply making the complete journey.

So, sometimes our drones target and kill only militants. Other times, we have cases like the first Obama-authorized strike in Yemen in December 2009, when we targeted a village with only one al-Qaida affiliate and wound up killing 41 civilians, including 14 women and 21 children. Likewise, just a year ago in January 2015, a CIA-intelligence failure resulted in one of our drone strikes in Pakistan killing two hostages, one American and one Italian. There is effectively no oversight on our government agencies authorization of drone strikes, which has resulted in a gradual shift from Bushs ground war in the Middle East to Obamas drone war.

Dont get me wrong: I like the president, and I believe he operates with good intentions. However, when our use of drones has increased eight-fold since the Bush administration and a preponderance of civilian casualties gives innocent families a tangible reason to fear and hate the U.S., we need to reconsider our strategy.

Even Malala Yousafzai, in her sit-down with Obama back in August 2013, challenged the president on his drone strategy by arguing, Innocent victims are killed in these acts, and they lead to resentment among the Pakistani people. If Malala says drones are no good, we should probably listen. On the administrations lack of accountability and transparency, weve killed eight terrorist-affiliated American citizens with drones on the basis of war crimes without any attempt to process them through a military court or tribunal, as is their constitutional right of due process.

To paraphrase Jeremy Scahill, a renowned war reporter, what does it say about us when we become complacent with our executive branch authorizing the assassination of fellow American citizens without any presentation of evidence to the public or a judicial review? And none of the countries in question  Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia  are engaged in a declared war with the U.S., which implicates a myriad of concerns regarding international law.

Bear in mind that were discussing the drone legacy of Obama: the supposed pacifist, lame duck and ineffectual president, who displays American weakness to the rest of the world. With the 2016 election rapidly approaching, we must ask ourselves: What happens when a potential Trump or Cruz presidency assumes such unrestrained power?

With this image in mind coupled with resumed, Obama-authorized drone strikes in Pakistan in 2016, hopefully you now sense the urgent need for us all to have a conversation about drones and when to use them, who can authorize them and how they should be used.

David Hoffman is a UF history and physics sophomore. His column appears on Tuesdays.

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Its been three weeks since the governor of California, Jerry Brown, issued a state of emergency regarding the ongoing Aliso Canyon gas leak that has spewed up to 58,000 kilograms of methane per hour since Oct. 23. Without doing too much math, that equates to about two and a half months since the natural gas well released a trove of delightful job-creating and completely harmless vapors into the atmosphere before any declaration of emergency took place.

My apologies, did I say completely harmless? I meant noxious and carcinogenic. So carcinogenic in fact that, in an effort to save their skins, the folks at Southern California Gas Co. were revealed to be understating the levels of benzene emitted from their gracious gift to the Southern Californian atmosphere. As I understand it, this latest infraction was taking the spotlight away from the companys initial decision not to promptly inform any of the nearby residents when the leak first began. And though I, like many Southern Californians, love the smell of capitalism in the morning, Id like to be able to breathe first.

I say folks because, well, in these great United States, in the spirit of foregoing unison as we are wont to do, we have decided that corporations are people. And by we, I of course mean five robed Sith Lords who feign to know whats best for the people.

SoCalGas was merely the owner of the second largest gas storage facility at Aliso Canyon Oil Field. But through perseverance, peerless leadership and not having to worry about vexing regulation, they have secured their place as pioneers in the destruction of our planet. Once thought to be the my-bad to trump all other environmental disasters, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has now been surpassed by the Aliso Canyon gas leak in carbon footprint size. And you know what they say about folks with large carbon footprints.

However, while corporations enjoy the benefits of personhood, they seem to evade any consequences that might befall a person should they, I dont know, decide to ruin the breathing air for thousands of others in their neighborhood or destroy swaths of marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. Did I mention they are also putting thousands of people out of work?

Yet even in the face of such flagrant offense, there are masses of Americans who flock to the defense of those newest to personhood and remain convinced that any regulation toward companies like these will hinder productivity and increase unemployment. For in the argument in favor of unfettered business practices by large oil and natural gas companies, the jobs of those whose livelihoods focus on the ecology of their communities are worth nothing in comparison to those on the oil or gas rig.

Regulations finally rode in on Saturday  more Don Quixote than Gandalf during the Battle of Helms Deep  when the South Coast Air Quality Management District voted to implement new restrictions toward the gas company and set future rules for others. But those eager to see justice served have not had their due and most likely will not. While its obvious that regulation concerning operations that are inherently dangerous to workers and the environment needs to increase, theres a point thats missing.

This isnt an anti-capitalist manifesto  its anti-greed. Weve tried greed for far too long in our nation and in nations beyond. Both the private sector and the government are at fault for the disaster thats still going on in Southern California, due both to SoCalGass determination to keep the public deaf, dumb and blind to the severity of the situation and the governments lack of action and ongoing catering to illicit business practices such as these. A look at other man-made environmental crises reveals not bureaucracy as the sole assailant, but unchecked greed as well.

The destruction of our environment is the fight of my time and of yours. Its ours. And while there are those pioneers in technology who are bringing us away from indifferent pollution, it is up to those who actually care to demand that those concerned only with quarterly reports be held responsible.

Justin Ford is a UF journalism junior. His column appears on Tuesdays.

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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...
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker arrived in Lagos, Nigeria to kick-off a fact-finding mission with senior U.S. business executives who comprise the Presidents Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA). Chaired by Secretary Pritzker, the Council was formed to advise the President on ways to strengthen commercial engagement between the United States and []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

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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]
Making Hydrochloric Acid from Household Ingredients I used to do this when I was young. Im uncertain now: could it not be consider...
Sanders, who is riding a burst of enthusiasm in Iowa, reiterated his calls for free tuition at public colleges and universities and defended his call for raising Americans' taxes in exchange for lower heath care costs, as he opened the candidate forum Monday night.

Yes, we will raise taxes, said Sanders, an admission rarely heard in presidential campaigns. We may raise taxes, but we are going to eliminate private health insurance premiums for individuals and businesses.

Sanders would replace the nation's existing employer-based system of insurance with one in which the government becomes a single payer, providing coverage to all. It would eliminate co-pays and deductibles, and Sanders' argues, bring health care spending under control.

A self-described democratic socialist, Sanders cast his governing philosophy Monday as one reflecting that the right for economic security should exist. But he sidestepped a question about whether his policies would mean an era of big government.

Sanders and Clinton spoke separately, fielding questions predominantly from voters still undecided ahead of the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses, which kick off the nominating process.

Clinton pushed back at suggestions that she's new to the economic issues that have been at the center of Sanders' campaign.

I think it's fair to say I have a 40-year record in going after inequality, said Clinton, adding that she's also fought inequality on the basis of race, gender and sexual orientation. While the questions she faced where less specific on policy, she emphasized that the tough challenges a president faces  an implicit suggestion that Sanders is proposing unrealistic ideas.

Clinton was put on the defensive by a young voter who said many of his peers view her as dishonest. She vigorously disputed that notion, suggesting it was the result of decades of attacks from her political opponents.

They throw all this stuff at me and I'm still standing, Clinton said. When asked later if she was slow to apologize for controversial use of private email and a personal Internet server while serving as secretary of state, Clinton said, I think that's a fair criticism.

O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland, has struggled to win support in the race, despite aggressive campaigning in Iowa. He was cheered enthusiastically when he cited climate change as the top issue young people in America should be concerned about.

O'Malley was pushed on what his supporters should do on caucus night if  under the quirks of the Iowa process  they don't reach a minimum level of support in their local precinct. Should that happen, the O'Malley backers would have to pick another candidate.

But O'Malley said his message was simply: Hold strong at your caucus.

The latest Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics poll found Clinton with 42 percent, Sanders with 40 percent and O'Malley with just 4 percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers. The poll, conducted between Jan. 7 and 10, had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points, suggesting it could be a toss-up between the former secretary of state and the Vermont senator.

Over the weekend, The Des Moines Register, the most influential newspaper in the state, endorsed Clinton and on the Republican side, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

The evening came after Obama praised Clinton in a Politico interview published Monday. While never explicitly criticizing Sanders whose campaign is based on containing Wall Street excess and redressing social inequality, Obama found kind words for Clinton.

Shes extraordinarily experienced  and, you know, wicked smart and knows every policy inside and out  (and) sometimes (that) could make her more cautious, and her campaign more prose than poetry, Obama said.

I was really touched and gratified when I saw that, said Clinton, who has touted her close ties with Obama on the campaign trail and cast herself as best positioned to build on the president's policies.

Obama took issue in the interview with those who compare him with Sanders, an underdog who excited young voters and draws large crowds as Obama did.

I dont think thats true, Obama said, adding that Sanders has the luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loos, while Hillary came in with both the privilege  and burden  of being perceived as the front runner."

The previous Democratic event featuring all three candidates, a debate on Jan. 17, was marked by sharp exchanges as Clinton and Sanders tangled repeatedly over whos tougher on gun control, Wall Street and health care.

Wire services
Two former technology employees at Walt Disney World in Florida are suing Disney and the outsourcing companies they say colluded to break the law and replace workers with less costly immigrant labor.

Representing both former employees, attorney Sara Blackwell filed lawsuits in Tampa federal court Monday against Disney and two consulting companies, HCL Inc. and Cognizant. Both outsourcing companies are known for submitting large numbers of applications for H-1B visas.

Blackwell said her clients, Leo Perrero and Dena Moore, were among 250 tech workers laid off by Disney last year. The lawsuits seek class-action status, and aims to "kick them [outsourcing companies] at their business model, to stop them from systemically abusing the immigration system," Blackwell told the Orlando Sentinal.

Blackwell said Disney is colluding with consulting companies to abuse visas meant to fill specialty occupations and replace American workers with immigrants.

By law, H-1B visa holders cannot replace American workers. The suit alleges that is what Disney and the two companies did. According to preliminary filings, Blackwell said the employees were offered bonuses to train the new workers who would replace them.

The H-1B visa was designed in 1990 ago to allow American businesses to hire temporary foreign workers with "highly specialized knowledge" when they "cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce." 85,000 of such visas are issued annually, but tech companies say more are needed to make up for the lack of American workers with proper science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training. The visa has become a hot-button issue in tech, and Congress has increased the fees companies that employ large numbers of workers on H-1B visas must pay.

Disney said in a statement that the lawsuits are based on an unsustainable legal theory and are a misrepresentation of the facts. Cognizant said in a statement that it complies with all U.S. regulations regarding the visas.

An email sent by The Associated Press seeking comment from HCL wasnt immediately returned.

According to the Sentinel, the outsourcing firms said in forms under oath that working conditions of "similarly situated employees would not be adversely affected," according to the lawsuits.

"Every time they file these, they are lying and falsifying documents," Blackwell is quoted as saying. "Disney is aware there are these requirements and Cognizant and HCL are lying."

Al Jazeera with The Associated Press
Only 14 percent of state legislators are minorities, according to a report released on Monday. That number is far below the racial and ethnic makeup of the U.S., with minorities making up 40 percent of the population.

The New American Leaders Project surveyed state lawmakers in 2015 and found that black politicians held about 9 percent of the seats, Hispanics about 4 percent, Asian-Americans about 2 percent and Native Americans less than 1 percent.

Sayu Bhojwani, the president and founder of the New American Leaders Project, said the major political parties could do more to help usher more minority candidates to state-level offices. She also called for more support for minority candidates after they decide to seek office and for foundations to invest in preparing future lawmakers.

"Part of the reason for the representation gap is  the existing and traditional parties are not reaching out and encouraging Asians and Latinos and Latinas to run," she said.

Having more minority officeholders at the state level would mean minority communities would have someone who not only understands their issues but also likely has experienced what they are going through, Bhojwani said. "If we could reduce the barriers, we could have a much more representative government," she added.

The survey also found a gender gap in state legislatures, with women holding 24 percent of the lawmaking jobs and men holding 76 percent.

Republicans held a decisive advantage, with 56 percent of state-level legislative positions; Democrats have 43 percent, and third-party candidates or independents hold the remainder.

The Associated Press
President Barack Obama said Monday he will ban the use of solitary confinement for juvenile and low-level offenders in federal prisons, citing the potential for "devastating, lasting psychological consequences" from the use of the isolation as punishment.

"It has been linked to depression, alienation, withdrawal, a reduced ability to interact with others and the potential for violent behavior," Obama wrote in an op-ed posted Monday evening on The Washington Post's website. "Some studies indicate that it can worsen existing mental illnesses and even trigger new ones. Prisoners in solitary are more likely to commit suicide, especially juveniles and people with mental illnesses."

The president said he hoped the changes he has ordered in the treatment of federal prisoners would serve as a model for reforms by state and local corrections institutions.

In making his case for changes, Obama cited the case of Kalief Browder, who at 16 was arrested on suspicion of stealing a backpack and sent to the Rikers Island facility in New York for three years.

Browder was kept in solitary confinement and, according to his lawyer, beaten by inmates and guards. He was never tried and was released in 2013. He killed himself last year in his mother's Bronx home.

Solitary confinement, Obama wrote, is increasingly overused on people such as Kalief, with heartbreaking results.

Obama asked the Justice Department to review the use of solitary confinement last summer, as part of the administration's increased focus on the criminal justice system. Activists have been pushing for changes to the prison system, and the U.S. use of solitary confinement as a punishment for inmates has come under international scrutiny.

The department review yielded a series of recommendations and 50 "guiding principles," which officials said would aim to ensure solitary confinement was an increasingly rare punishment used as an option of last resort when inmates posed a danger to staff, other inmates or themselves.

The changes would also expand treatment for the mentally ill and ensure that inmates in solitary can spend more time outside their cells.

Obama said the reforms would affect roughly 10,000 inmates in the federal system. Roughly 100,000 people are in solitary confinement in the U.S., he said, adding that he hoped the changes would serve as a model for reforms at the state level.

Some states already are making changes.

New York prison officials agreed last month to overhaul the use of solitary confinement with reforms aimed at reducing the number of inmates sent to restrictive housing.

Facing a lawsuit, California agreed in September to stop the practice of isolating gang leaders for unlimited periods.

Mississippi, Arizona and Ohio have agreed to changes under legal pressure.

Al Jazeera with wire services
Chinese shares plunged more than 6 percent to 14-month lows on Tuesday after oil prices dropped again, reviving concerns about global growth and prompting a sell-off in the world's equity markets.

After a rebound on Friday and early Monday, crude prices fell back below $30 a barrel, not far from last week's 12-year lows, ending a couple of days of gains for Wall Street stocks.

China's fickle stock markets have now slumped about 22 percent so far this year on concerns about the slowing economy and confusion over the central bank's foreign exchange policy.

China's outstanding margin loans  money investors borrow to buy stocks  declined for 16 consecutive sessions to Jan. 22, the longest losing streak on record, with 209 billion yuan ($32 billion) worth of leveraged bets unwound during the period.

In a move that could help ease market strains, Japan and China, Asia's two largest economies, said on Tuesday they were working to create a new framework to discuss economic policy coordination, such as steps to stabilize the yuan, the Nikkei newspaper said.

China's central bank has jolted global financial markets twice in six months by allowing sharp, sudden slides in the currency, only to step in aggressively to stabilize it.

Chinese state media also weighed in on Tuesday to warn billionaire investor George Soros against betting on falls in the yuan or the Hong Kong dollar.

Soros, dubbed the man who broke the Bank of England when he made more than $1 billion from shorting sterling in 1992, has said he is betting against the S&P 500, commodity-producing countries and Asian currencies, though he has not specifically mentioned the yuan or Hong Kong dollar.

The central bank has also been making plenty of liquidity available to the banking system to avoid any cash squeeze ahead of long Lunar New Year celebrations beginning in early February. Traders said on Tuesday that the bank would inject 440 billion yuan into the money markets, the biggest daily injection in three years.

The decline in the yuan and concerns about the country's growth prospects have fuelled a flight of capital out of the world's second-largest economy which policymakers are struggling to contain.

January has already seen a slew of weak economic data, and on Tuesday the nation's top economic planner said rail freight, a barometer of industrial activity, fell 11.9 percent by volume last year.

Reuters
The three candidates vying for the Democratic Partys presidential nomination squared off Monday night in Des Moines, Iowa, just one week before the states first-in-the-nation caucuses. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley shared moments of concord and contrast as they made their final nationally televised pitches before the official start of the 2016 electoral cycle  even if they never shared the Drake University stage.

Dismiss Share Overlay Share on Social Link to Video copy copy Embed Video <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/embed.html/content/ajam/watch/shows/morning-news/2016/1/clinton-sanders-spar-over-specifics-in-iowa" class="AJAM-video--embed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Dismiss Share Overlay Clinton, Sanders spar over specifics in Iowa Link to Video copy Dismiss Share Overlay Clinton, Sanders spar over specifics in Iowa copy Embed Video <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/embed.html/content/ajam/watch/shows/morning-news/2016/1/clinton-sanders-spar-over-specifics-in-iowa" class="AJAM-video--embed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> True, each contender was there, but because this was not a sanctioned debate under rules established by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the three presidential hopefuls had to appear separately. Billed by sponsor CNN as a town hall, it differed from the four DNC-approved candidate forums in another significant way: The event took place on a weeknight during prime time. While the Republicans will air their seventh prime-time debate on Thursday, the Democrats scheduled their four official debates on weekend nights, mostly adjacent to national holidays and often opposite major sporting events. This burying of the debates at times when TV viewership is typically low has been criticized by OMalley and Sanders and is widely seen by campaign observers as an awkward attempt by the DNC and its head, Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, to preserve Clintons front-runner status. But that strategy (for lack of a better word) now appears flawed in two ways: Sanders has drawn even with or moved ahead of Clinton in many opinion polls in Iowa and New Hampshire  which holds its primary election Feb. 9  and Republicans, whose weeknight debates have dominated television news ratings, have garnered the lions share of coverage over the last six months. So Mondays forum seemed like an attempt to recapture some electoral energy. As was the case in all the official Democratic debates, the three surviving candidates proved spirited and, on the whole, accurate advocates for their party and their platforms.

The vision thing

Sanders was first to address the assembled Iowans. He took on the criticism that while he might have a grand and positive vision for the United States, he lacks the pragmatism and experience necessary to implement even incremental change. In response, he turned to his long record of government service. I am probably the most progressive member in the U.S. Senate, he said. But I have over the years, not only in the Senate but in the House, worked with Republicans when there was common ground. When I was in the House, in a number of years I got more amendments passed on the floor of the House working with Republicans than anyone else. He highlighted recent work with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., to pass comprehensive repairs to the veterans health system. Sanders reiterated a challenge to the status quo that has been one of the hallmarks of his career. Criticizing a campaign finance system that helps elect a government sensitive to the concerns of the rich donor class, he seemed to say that an incrementalist approach is not enough. If we are serious about rebuilding the American middle class, if we are serious about providing paid family and medical leave to all of our people, if we are serious about ending the disgrace of having so many of our children live in poverty, the real way to do it is to have millions of Americans finally stand up and say, Enough is enough, for people to get engaged in the political process, to finally demand that Washington represent all of us, not just a handful of very wealthy people, he said. It was a call for involvement that is necessary not only to Sanders vision but also to his campaign. The latest Iowa polls that rely on samples of likely caucus attendees tend to give Clinton the edge, while surveys that use a broader definition  anticipating a larger turnout of first-time participants  put Sanders even or ahead. It was an unanticipated increase in new voters that helped Barack Obama upset Clinton in 2008. Sanders had the chance to revisit and refine many of his trusted talking points. Asked repeatedly by host Chris Cuomo whether a Sanders administration would bring back the era of Big Government, the candidate tried to explain how the current system has redistributed wealth from the working class to very top of the economic ladder. He said that what his critics might label tax hikes are more than made up for by eliminating health insurance premiums, rebuilding infrastructure and expanding aid programs such as Social Security. The era of protecting the middle class and working families is certainly something that I will make happen, he said.

Speaking to the goodness

Next onstage was OMalley. A distant third in opinion polls, the relative youngster in the race (he is 53, compared with 74-year-old Sanders and 68-year-old Clinton) has often had to plead for equal attention in DNC-sanctioned debates. At the town hall, given equal time, the candidate, jacketless with rolled-up shirtsleeves, moved about the stage (and once stepped off it) to express the excitement he says he still feels about his presidential run. I'm honored to be able to offer my candidacy in the company of Secretary Clinton and Sen. Sanders, said OMalley. If you look at our Democratic primary and the debates we've had, we're certainly doing a much better job of speaking to the goodness within our country rather than to fear and anger and loathing like we've heard from Republicans. The first question for him from the audience challenged the onetime Baltimore mayor for the zero tolerance policing he advocated at the city and state level and how it exacerbated racial inequality in the criminal justice system. It seemed a particularly tough question, but it is one OMalley has had to field on several occasions since he was interrupted by a Black Lives Matter protest last summer during a candidates forum at Netroots Nation in Phoenix. This time, he did say black lives matter without trying to qualify it, but he continued to defend his tough-on-crime approach as one that brought down rates of violent crime and saved lives. OMalley said he wanted to improve how we police the police but immediately returned to what he thought was a successful program without clearly addressing the issue of racial justice. In general he seemed to face the toughest audience interrogation  on health care costs, help for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, aid to small farms and his pitch to younger voters. He was able to pivot deftly to his talking points, which were usually well articulated and mostly in line with the populist and activist tone of this years Democratic campaign. But for the man well back in the race, it still felt like a practice run, albeit one that was very well rehearsed.

Contrast
When the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce hired economist Tom Cunningham to fill a newly created position in July, one of his first assignments was to study the potential economic consequences if religious freedoms legislation is enacted in Georgia.

The idea was, This stuff could make an impact, said Cunningham. It was clear there were potential losses associated with bad outcomes from the legislation.

This was clear to him because Indiana was targeted by a wide range of boycotts after its version of the law passed only months earlier. The boycotts were based on widespread public opinion that the law sanctioned discrimination against LGBT people.

Cunninghams study, released in November, estimated that Georgia could lose at least $1 billion if such a law is passed in the state. The same month, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, a tourism agency, produced a report predicting similar losses for the state. Around the same time, former state Senate Majority Leader Ronnie Chance began meeting with a small group of business leaders concerned about the issue.

The growing sense of unease came to a head earlier this month, only days before Georgias 2016 Legislature convened, with the launch of Georgia Prospers, a coalition of several hundred businesses, including large corporations emblematic of the state such as Coca-Cola, Home Depot and Delta Airlines.

The coalitions purpose: to oppose discrimination of any kind, said Chance, now a spokesman for the group. In fact, the first thing you think of when you think of the South is racial discrimination. No discrimination is good, with the history we have.

He took pains to point out that the coalition is not an advocacy or lobbying group, with no mention on its new website of SB 129  the third attempt in Georgia in three years to pass the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (or RFRA, modeled after the federal law of the same name). Nonetheless, the group may well be a game changer in the ongoing conflict over such legislation and a sign of things to come in state-by-state battles over the issue.

Its definitely a bellwether, said Robin Fretwell Wilson, a professor of law at the University of Illinois and the author of Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty.

At least two similar groups have launched in recent months: Texas Competes and Indiana Competes. Jeremy Pittman, the deputy field director of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., said these coalitions have formed also as a result of the increased visibility of LGBT employees in Americas workplaces.

Jessica Shortall, a founder of Texas Competes, said the group is concerned about the brand of Texas. The point is to avoid law or policy that would be perceived as discriminatory, and the Texas groups website, unlike Georgias, makes specific mention of the LGBT population. It is well known that in Texas, the rhetoric against the LGBT population ramps up during the legislative session, she said. And rhetoric affects brands as much as legislation.

Cunningham wrote in his report that social media amplified public reaction to Indianas legislation, with the state the subject of more than 1 billion negative Twitter impressions in the weeks after passing its RFRA. People use social media to target a company or region based on what they believe to be true, said Suzanne C. Makarem, an assistant professor of marketing at Virginia Commonwealth University and the author of a study, cited in Cunninghams report, about Twitters role in consumer boycotts.

State Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, and a sponsor of SB 129, has said that his law is not like Indianas and is meant only to ensure that government may not interfere with any persons practice of religion without demonstrating compelling interest. It does not allow discrimination against LGBT people, he has insisted  although the legislation got stuck in committee in 2015 after anti-discrimination language was added. He did not return repeated requests for comment.

But his former colleague Chance said what matters is how any legislation is perceived. At some point, he said, perception becomes reality. Its easy to say a specific legislation is not going to do this or that, but by the time its passed, its too late.

Still, the states business community is being careful about not appearing to take a stance on the legislation  despite disparaging comments McKoon has made about large corporation CEOs not [being] from Georgia and having different values.

William Pate, the president and CEO of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, said, Its not my job to decide whether the state should pass this bill or that. My job is to let legislators know the potential economic impact.

But Pittman noted that major corporations have lobbyists in every state and that those efforts dovetail with projects like Georgia Prospers.

It would seem Georgia Prospers has the backing of too many major corporations to be ignored. Theres no way you can blow these people off, Wilson said. Theyre too much a part of the economic power base.

The academic, who advises legislatures on RFRA, thinks such groups will show up elsewhere, and pressure advocates, legislators, religious leaders and others to work together. Combining religious liberty and anti-discrimination will get traction, she said. Its going to pull people to the table to finally listen to each others interests.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has requested a federal investigation of the police shooting of a young black man, along with a broader look into the department.

Lee asked for the probe of the Mario Woods shooting in a letter to U.S. Attorney Gen. Loretta Lynch that was made public Monday.

The letter, dated Jan. 21 and released Monday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, said Lee is "inviting transparency and accountability" in the department.

"We seek answers, not just to the facts of Mr. Woods's case," Lee said, "but also answers about how as a Police Department and a City we can build deeper, stronger trust between law enforcement and the communities they're sworn to protect."

Many, including Woods' family, had urged the mayor to ask for the probe, and Lee was joined in the request by city supervisors London Breed and Malia Cohen.

An after-hours message left with a Department of Justice spokeswoman asking for a response to the letter was not immediately returned.

The furor over the Woods shooting dominated the end of Lee's first term and the start of his second, which began earlier this month. His inaugural speech was interrupted by angry protesters, as were remarks he made on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
A rogue Afghan policeman drugged and then shot dead 10 of his colleagues in the country's volatile south early Tuesday, officials said, the second insider attack on police in just over a week.

The Taliban infiltrator then stole their weapons and fled their police outpost in the Chinarto district of Uruzgan province, authorities said, triggering a manhunt.

The attack, which took place just after midnight, is part of the Taliban's unprecedented winter campaign of nationwide violence despite a renewed international push to restart formal peace talks.

"Our investigation shows that this policeman collaborated with the Taliban, drugged his colleagues and killed them when they were unconscious," Dost Mohammad Nayab, the spokesman for Uruzgan's governor, told AFP.

Deputy provincial police chief Rahimullah Khan confirmed the account and said an operation was launched to track down the killer.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, giving a different account, said nine policemen were killed after armed men captured the police outpost in Chinarto. "Our mujahedeen seized several weapons, including AK-47s, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades," he said.

On Jan. 17 nine Afghan policemen were shot dead in Uruzgan by four rogue colleagues said to be Taliban infiltrators.

Insider attacks  in which Afghan soldiers or police turn their guns on their colleagues or on international troops  have been a major problem since the U.S.-led coalition's ouster of the Taliban in 2001. The Afghan military, built from scratch since then, has struggled with insider attacks, high casualty rates and mass desertions. Stretched on multiple fronts as the insurgency expands, Afghan forces have largely fought the ascendant Taliban on their own since NATO's combat mission formally ended in December 2014.

In recent months the Taliban briefly captured the northern city of Kunduz, the first urban center to fall to them in 14 years of war, and have seized territory in the opium-growing southern province of Helmand.

The uptick in violence comes amid renewed international efforts to revive peace talks with the Taliban, which are locked in a contest for supporters with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.

Delegates from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States convened in the Afghan capital, Kabul, last week for a one-day meeting seeking a negotiated end to the 14-year Taliban insurgency. The first round of the road map talks was held in Islamabad, Pakistan, earlier this month as the four nations try to lay the groundwork for direct dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban.

Taliban representatives were notably absent in both rounds, and analysts caution that any substantive talks are still a long way off.

The Taliban have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets in Afghanistan this winter, when fighting usually abates, underscoring a worsening security situation.

Observers say the intensifying insurgency is a push by the Taliban to seize territory in an attempt to wrangle greater concessions when the talks formally start.

Agence France-Presse
Israel has occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and other Palestinian territories since the Six Day War in 1967. Palestinians demand the territory as part of their future state. However, Israeli settlements constructed on seized lands have hindered peace negotiations and the formation of a viable Palestinian state.

All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. Specifically, U.N. Security Council Resolution 446 states: The policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

More than 500,000 Israelis live in more than 200 Jewish-only settlements and unofficial outposts  which are communities unrecognized or serviced by the Israeli government  in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Last week, Israel approved the seizure of some 380 acres of Palestinian land in the West Bank to further expand settlements near Jericho.

The last four months have seen an increase in violence that has killed at least 149 Palestinians and 25 Israelis. Israel blames the violence on Palestinian incitement. Palestinians say the attacks stem from frustration at nearly five decades of Israeli military rule.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said Ban's comments "give a tail wind to terrorism," and he said the U.N. "long ago lost its neutrality and its moral strength."

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour later told reporters that all 15 council members acknowledged that Israel's settlement building is "the main obstacle to any meaningful political process," and he said the Palestinians are meeting with all council members to assess their readiness to act this year.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the international community should create a "specific and credible political horizon" for a solution to the tensions in the region.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi said Israel should take the lead in calming tensions, and he said the Security Council "should seriously consider the question of providing international protection to the Palestinian people." He gave no details, but Mansour said new council member Egypt would take the lead in exploring that issue.

The comments by Ban and others came after Netanyahu this week said his government is committed to West Bank settlements. Ban said he was "deeply troubled" by new reports that Israel's government has approved plans for more than 150 new homes in settlements in the West Bank.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the council that the United States "strongly opposes settlement activity" but added that "settlement activity can never in itself be an excuse for violence."

Al Jazeera and The Associated Press
The United Nations Security Council should place an arms embargo on South Sudan, and the country's President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar qualify to be sanctioned for atrocities in its two-year civil war, U.N. monitors said in an annual report.

The confidential report, by a U.N. panel that monitors the conflict in South Sudan for the Security Council, stated that Kiir and Machar are still completely in charge of their forces and are therefore directly to blame for killing civilians and other actions that warrant sanctions.

The 15-member Security Council has long threatened to impose an arms embargo, but veto-wielding permanent council member Russia, backed by council member Angola, has been reluctant to support such an action. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on Monday he was concerned that an arms embargo would be one-sided because it would be easier to enforce against the government.

The panel asked the council to blacklist "high-level decision makers responsible for the actions and policies that threaten the peace, security and stability of the country."

The names of the individuals the panel recommend for sanctions, in the form of an international travel ban and asset freeze, were not included in the body of the report. But a diplomat familiar with the contents told Reuters that a highly confidential addendum calls for blacklisting Kiir and Machar.

A political dispute between Kiir and Machar, who was once Kiir's deputy, sparked the civil war. But it has widened and reopened ethnic fault lines between Kiir's Dinka and Machar's Nuer people. More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

The panel wrote, "There is clear and convincing evidence that most of the acts of violence committed during the war, including the targeting of civilians ... have been directed by or undertaken with the knowledge of senior individuals at the highest levels of the government and within the opposition."

However, the panel said the government was responsible for a larger share of the bloodshed last year. "While civilians have been and continue to be targeted by both sides, including because of their tribal affiliation, the panel has determined that, in contrast to 2014, the government has been responsible for the vast majority of human rights violations committed in South Sudan [since March 2015]," the U.N.'s panel coordinator, Payton Knopf, told the Security Council sanctions committee on Jan. 14, according to prepared remarks circulated to council members.

The South Sudan mission to the United Nations in New York was not immediately available to comment on the report.

The conflict in oil-rich South Sudan, whose 2011 secession from Sudan long enjoyed the support of the United States, has torn apart the world's youngest country. The U.N. panel reported that some 2.3 million people have been displaced since war broke out in December 2013 and about 3.9 million face severe food shortages.

The U.N. report described how Kiir's government bought at least four Mi-24 attack helicopters in 2014 from a private Ukrainian company at a cost of nearly $43 million.

"They have been vital in providing an important advantage in military operations, have facilitated the expansion of the war and have emboldened those in the government who are seeking a military solution to the conflict at the expense of the peace process," according to the report.

Knopf told the council that Machar's rebels were trying to "acquire shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to counter the threat of attack helicopters, specifically citing the need to continue and, indeed, escalate the fighting."

Both sides signed a peace deal in August but have consistently broken the cease-fire, and human rights violations have "continued unabated and with full impunity," the panel wrote.

According to the report, those violations include extrajudicial killings, torture, sexual violence, extrajudicial arrest and detention, abductions, forced displacement, the use and recruitment of children, beatings, looting and the destruction of livelihoods and homes.

The panel said that almost every attack on a village by the warring parties involved the rape and abduction of women and girls and that "all parties deliberately use rape as a tactic of war, often in gruesome incidents of gang rape."

Knopf told the council committee that the human cost of the war was comparable to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen relative to South Sudan's population of 12 million. And he said there was "a real risk of even larger-scale mass atrocities within South Sudan."

Wire services
From its inception in 1945, the United Nations has been involved with education on a global scale. The U.N. views education as crucial to eradicating poverty, building peace and fostering intercultural dialogue, and it remains committed to a holistic and humanistic vision of quality education worldwide. Yet there has been a dramatic shift in the U.N.s educational mission from supporting a well-rounded, humanistic conception of education to one that focuses on teaching children the hard skills necessary to participate in the global economy. This turn began with the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) and has intensified with the Sustainable Development Goals that launch this month. One of the new targets, for instance, is to increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship by 2030. The U.N. has thrown its weight behind what Finnish scholar Pasi Sahlberg calls the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM). According to Sahlberg, there is a global unified agenda to rebuild educational systems to benefit multinational corporations. GERM began in the U.S. and United Kingdom, and has spread throughout the world. GERM is committed to educational standardization, a focus on literacy and numeracy, high-stakes testing and centralized control of the schools. According to Sahlberg, this movement limits the role of national policy development and paralyzes teachers and schools attempts to learn from the past and also to learn from each other. In other words, GERM disempowers communities and educators and forces them to teach a narrow set of skills measured by standardized tests. The U.N.s sustainable development goals articulate many admirable ideals, including eradicating poverty, combating HIV/AIDS, reducing inequality and ensuring environmental sustainability. According to Sahlberg, preparing students to tackle global problems requires encouraging creativity and experimentation among schools and teachers. While several recent U.N. reports mention teaching critical thinking and protecting human rights, the focus is on helping multinational corporations control, for their own benefit, education systems around the globe. For those who think that this is a problem, the time to protest is now.

Private sector partners

Last fall, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke about the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations Private Sector Forum. He supports the U.N.s goal of universal Internet access because it creates new jobs, lifts people out of poverty and gives millions of children access to affordable learning tools. For Zuckerberg, there is a confluence between the U.N.s education agenda and Facebooks development of personalized learning platforms. The U.N. maintains that the business community should view the U.N.s education agenda as a chance to pilot technologies, enter markets, train workers and increase profits. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon makes this pitch in a report entitled The Smartest Investment: A Framework for Business Engagement in Education. According to Ban, the business world needs a skilled, innovative workforce, and investing in education creates a generation of skilled people who will have rising incomes and demands for products and services. The U.N. promises to help corporations think about how their business policies and practices can impact education priorities.

The U.N. should recommit to the ideal of humanistic education that recognizes many diverse ways for human beings to learn and to flourish.

First, the report advises business leaders to convince peers to commit to education reform. The report mentions building sustainable societies and saving lives, but the main theme is that the U.N.s education agenda promotes economic growth and expands business opportunities for companies. For instance, corporations may want to work with the U.N. because consumers have indicated a willingness to buy  and reward  socially conscious brands. Next, according to the report, corporations may improve education by funding organizations with a record of social impact, supporting business schools to train education leaders or piloting technology to improve delivery outcomes in remote communities. The report makes little mention of education being an end in itself or a means to transform the worlds economic or political structure. Finally, the report suggests that corporations should work with like-minded businesses, governments, the World Economic Forum and the Global Partnership for Education, a multilateral public-private partnership focused on delivering a quality education to all girls and boys. The report provides examples of how the U.N. has profitably worked alongside corporations such as Hess, Discovery Communication, Sumitomo Chemical and ING Bank. In the words of one functionary, the U.N. considers working with the private sector as a necessity not an option. The U.N. leadership does not seem concerned that the organization should have different priorities than multinational corporations or that the private sector may prefer to train workers rather than educate citizens to think for themselves.

The skills agenda
Assessing the impact of human-induced climate change

This image shows confidence in attributing observed impacts to regional climate trends, irrespective of the cause for those climate trends. Blue symbols indicate impacts where the observed climate trend has been attributed to anthropogenic forcing with at least medium confidence in a major or minor role. The confidence bars indicate the combined confidence of the impact and climate attribution step, so confidence can be lower than medium for icons in color as a result of low confidence in impact attribution. The respective climate driver is indicated by the color of the confidence bars (red, atmospheric air temperature; violet, ocean surface temperature; blue, precipitation). Impacts corresponding to regional climate trends with no, very low or low confidence in attribution to anthropogenic forcing are shown in grey. A low confidence in climate attribution results mainly from lack of monitoring, lack of a clear precipitation response, and inconsistency between the direction of reported trends and trends documented in global observational products

over the default period [Credit: Gerrit Hansen, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research]

TANN

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The past century has seen a 0.8C (1.4F) increase in average global temperature, and according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the overwhelming source of this increase has been emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants from human activities. Scientists have also observed that many of Earth's glaciers, ecosystems and other systems are already being impacted by rising regional temperatures and altered rainfall amounts and patterns.What remains unclear is precisely what fraction of the observed changes in these climate-sensitive systems can confidently be attributed to human-related influences, rather than mere natural regional fluctuations in climate. So Gerrit Hansen of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany and Daithi Stone of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) developed and applied a novel methodology for answering this challenging question. Their work was published inTheir computer modeling-based study focused on various particular regional impacts around the world identified in the last IPCC report (such as melting glaciers and snow ice in Europe, changes in terrestrial ecosystems in Asia, wildfires in the state of Alaska, etc.). The IPCC report listed over 100 such impacts of various kinds in various regions across the globe. The Hansen-Stone study focused on the regional climate trends relevant to these impacts over the 40-year period 1971-2010.Using a sophisticated algorithm, the study essentially required satisfaction of three distinct types of tests. First, the algorithm assessed the adequacy of the available climate data--the so-called observational record--related to the particular regional impact over the 40-year period. Was the data sufficient to provide a basis for understanding what actually had been taking place? Next, the algorithm determined whether the climate models the researchers used provided sufficient resolution or detail concerning regional climate so as to be considered an appropriate source of information. Finally, the researchers examined collections of model simulations with and without human emissions factored in to understand to what degree human emissions were responsible for a given impact, by comparing these simulations against observed trends.The result of each test of data set quality or of observation-simulation agreement was expressed as a numerical score, and then these scores were merged into an overall measure of confidence in the hypothesis that human-generated emissions have affected the regional climate, ranging from "none" to "very high.""There are many ways we could combine the scores," says Stone, "but we found that it didn't matter which plausible method we used--the results all pointed to the same conclusions."Their analysis revealed that almost two-thirds of the listed impacts related specifically to the warming over land and near the surface of the ocean could confidently be attributed to human-generated emissions. However, the researchers could not find the same kind of link for trends in precipitation.According to Stone, cases where the link between human-generated greenhouse gas emissions and local warming trends were weak were often due to the fact that the climate observational record was insufficient in those regions to build a clear picture about what has been happening over the past several decades."Previous analyses linking observed impacts to climate change have been generic in nature, addressing whether there is an influence of human-related warming on impacts globally, without an inference to individual impacts," says Hansen. "Our analysis is the first to bridge these gaps for a large range of impacts, by assessing the role of human-related emissions in each impact individually, including impacts related to trends in precipitation and sea ice.""Studies linking emissions to climate change impacts provide the most stringent test available for evaluating the accuracy and confidence of our projections of impacts in a future warmer world," says Wolfgang Cramer, Director of the Mediterranean Institute for Marine and Terrestrial Biodiversity and Ecology in Aix-en-Provence, France. "With these tests, we can be much more confident in our calculations of how a 4C world will differ from a 1.5C world. It is crucial that we continue to develop and maintain observational efforts around the world in order to continue documenting how the world is responding to our greenhouse emissions, as well as to agreed reductions in those emissions."
ServisFirst Bancshares in Birmingham, Ala., has entered the Florida's Tampa Bay area after hiring the former chief executive of Bay Cities Bank.

The $5.1 billion-asset company said in a press release Tuesday that it also hired a team of bankers who had worked at the Tampa, Fla., bank. The parent company of Bay Cities sold itself to Home BancShares in Conway, Ark., in October.

Greg Bryant, who was also Bay Cities' president, was named CEO of ServisFirst's Tampa Bay Region team. Gwynn Davey, Pat Murrin, Jennifer Noel and Jonathan Zunz rounded out the bankers hired to staff the new commercial banking group.

Separately, ServisFirst said that its fourth-quarter profit increased 31% from a year earlier to $19.8 million. Net interest income rose by 25% to $43.2 million, based on solid loan growth and a stable net interest margin.

Noninterest expense increased by 45% to $19.1 million.
Here we are, with gas prices going through the floor and the budgets of Russia and Saudi Arabia in free fall, and Trump is up and Clinton is down and Obama is a busted flush and everyone is Mad as hell and they are not going to take it anymore.

But I say dont get mad, dont even get even. Get Happy!

I know that everyone is mad at the GOP establishment for lying to us, running for election as tough conservative mastiffs, and then legislating like lap-dogs. But meanwhile the two top GOP presidential candidates are anti-establishment, at least for now. Get Happy!

Are you mad that Donald Trump is sucking all the oxygen out of the room? Yes, but he has singlehandedly punched back twice as hard on the fascist PC thugs that had cowed this nation into shameful silence on race, sex, and gays. Nobody, not for twenty years, had figured out how to do what Trump has done. Now, all of a sudden after years of stalemate in the trenches on the PC front we have a breakthrough. Get Happy!

Everywhere we look, things are a mess. The economy is barely growing; the Obama foreign policy is worse than Bush. We havent done a thing to reform entitlements; weve spent billions on crony capitalist green energy; race relations are worse than ever. And now Muslim jihadis are shooting up government employee Christmas parties. But this is good. The only way to get change is for the ruling class to be screwing up so badly that even the man in the street gets it. That is the meaning of Lenins famous line: the worse the better. You cannot hope for a Bolshevik Revolution unless the Czar is seen to be a blundering idiot. You cannot hope for a sensible conservative program of reform unless the liberal politics of free-stuff handouts seems to be failing to deliver the goods. Get Happy!

Are you mad about the mess that President Obama has made of his presidency, as in Worst President Ever? Think of the alternative: Hillary cruising to election like Bush senior in 1988. Really, things couldnt be better. Liberals in the 2000s thought they were going to heaven with their Emerging Democratic Majority. So they might have done if President Obama had structured the stimulus and Obamacare and Dodd-Frank into bipartisan bills with a few strategic purchases of Republican votes. Then we might have had a stronger recovery. Then he and the Democrats could have argued that they knew how to bring everyone together to get things done. Instead he was buying Democratic votes to get strictly partisan bills passed to do stupid administrative state stuff that denies the facts of settled science, that the economy is much too complicated for politicians to manage with 2,000 page bills and bureaucrats to manage with 20,000 pages of regulations. Hey, even a simple thing like veterans health care is too hard for the average unionized bureaucrat. So the Democrats big government agenda is failing in plain sight. Get Happy!

Think about immigration. The global governing elite has been shoving unrestricted immigration down our throats since forever. Now the whole thing has blown up in their faces. A year ago Mattress Girl was naming and shaming us with the rape culture on campus, and Jackie was writhing on the broken glass. Now we have real rape in Europe, courtesy of the plucky Muslim migrants, and the ruling class there is running for cover, and the whole ruling-class immigration policy is in the toilet. Get Happy!

(But I think that the petition to get migrant activist Emma Watson to spend a week alone with the Muggles at 4 Privet Drive is a bridge too far.)

Are you mad that Donald Trump is a clueless demagogue with no ideas? Dont worry, there is more to being a cavalry officer than big moustaches and a babe-magnet pelisse. If the Donald cant come up with the beef, hes toast. Get Happy!

Are you mad that the birthers are harassing Ted Cruz for being birthed in Canada? Dont worry. If the brainiac Cruz cant talk his way around Mounties handing out Canadian birth certificates, then he is no true politician and doesnt have the chops to be president. Get Happy!

Are you mad that Hillary is getting away with blue murder on the emails front? So is everyone else except Chelsea. Get Happy!

All I am trying to say is that, if you are feeling angry and frustrated, do not despair. Frankly, I get most discouraged when the ruling class is in the drivers seat and the mainstream media is purring like little fluffy kittens. Instead here we are, suffering under what Glenn Reynolds calls the worst political class in American history. Dont get mad, Get Happy!

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also see his American Manifesto and get his Road to the Middle Class.
Hillary Clinton claims the email scandal that hovers over her presidential campaign is all about politics. Shes right, but not in the sense that she would like people to believe, i.e., that a vast right-wing conspiracy is persecuting her -- again. In fact, she has undoubtedly violated the laws of the United States with her reckless and dangerous use of a private email account that exposed the most highly classified documents the country possesses to foreign intelligence services. That she has not already been charged and locked up (as would have happened to almost anyone else who did the same) is because of politics. Under the law of the political jungle her status and power have protected her. But the law of the jungle only protects the strong. And as Hillary grows weaker politically, her vulnerability to the laws of the United States grows considerably. If this trend continues, Hillarys down-trending political weakness will intersect with the up-trending evidence against her, and when that happens, the jaws of American justice should snap tight on Mrs. Clinton.

The recent revelation that Special Access Programs documents (commonly known as "code-word level" when I worked in the State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research many years ago) were among the classified documents that passed through Hillary Clintons unsecured private email is shocking. But in a pure legal sense, the level of classification makes no difference under the relevant statutes. No classified documents can be transferred into in unsecure environment, whether deliberately or by negligent conduct.

That the FBI merely continues to investigate the case is mostly a matter of politics based on Mrs. Clintons remaining clout. Likewise, that Mrs. Clinton can denounce as a political attack the report of an independent inspector general identifying her violations (by a man appointed by President Obama and confirmed by a then Democrat Senate) and not be laughed out of public life is purely a matter of her political status.

Thus, the significance of the code-word documents is political not legal. As anyone who has worked with classified documents knows (including FBI Director James Comey and the agents that serve under him) the case against Mrs. Clinton for mishandling documents at lower levels of classification was already cut and dried. The code-word documents make the likely damage to national security worse, heightening the political pressure on Clinton.

President Obama described Comey as possessing fierce independence when he appointed the FBI Director. Since that was Obamas description, we can assume Comey is something less than that, though that is not to say he is a complete tool of this administration, like his nominal superior, Attorney General Loretta Lynch. He no doubt maintains a degree of independence, both because that is his charge as FBI director, his own political history (he worked for the previous Republican administration) and probably his own desire not to be seen as totally beholden to the president.

On the other hand, in considering whether to move against Mrs. Clinton, Comey has a lot to weigh, regardless of his loyalty to the president or his independence. Going after Clinton if the president clearly opposes it (as appears to be the case) is not only politically dangerous for Comey personally, but his agency as well.

Even if Comey is principled in the matter, and doesnt regard his own political fortunes as paramount, he might feel that moving against the presumptive nominee of one of the countrys two major parties will be reasonably seen by many as an illegitimate political move. He would be in effect a kingmaker, denying the American people the right to make their own judgements about Mrs. Clinton in a general election. Of course, one can make the same argument the other way -- that Comey, in treating Mrs. Clinton differently from an ordinary citizen, is violating both the letter and spirit of our Constitutional system, which is fundamentally based on equality before the law.

It is quite obvious that Comey will not let purely legal considerations guide him, or he would have already referred charges against Mrs. Clinton to the Justice Department. An airtight case against Clinton on multiple charges will help insulate the FBI against charges that the move is political. So the FBI continues to accumulate evidence, while Comey likely keeps a finger to the political winds.

Therein lays the significance of the code-word documents. While the level of classification doesnt directly impact legal liability, it does have political implications in and out of government. Within the intelligence community there must be increasing agitation over the revelations, which have almost certainly led to serious security breaches thanks to foreign hacks on Mrs. Clintons vulnerable private server. And even if the average citizen has never heard of SAP classification, the idea that documents above top secret that passed through Clintons unsecured server will stick a little better in the fleeting public consciousness.

But Comey probably thinks he need more, and this helps explain why the FBI is also investigating whether Mrs. Clinton misused her position as Secretary of State to favor contributors to her family foundation. And as I surmised here, it is likely that the FBI is also investigating charges relating to a deliberate cover-up of the matter by removing data from Clintons private server. These charges, added to the security violations, will make it easier for Comey to buffer accusations of a purely political referral to the attorney general.

The final element is Clintons own political strength. As long as she was the strongest member of the herd, she could keep the FBI at bay, but as she weakens politically she becomes increasingly vulnerable. Taking out the inevitable Democrat candidate makes Comey a kingmaker, but taking out someone who is not even the Democrat front-runner is another matter. Clinton is decidedly not the inevitable nominee, polling behind Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire, with Iowa a tossup. In general, her campaign looks ever more nervous. Clinton is an awful politician who has not generated any real enthusiasm except with big donors and liberal women over a certain age. Her evasions and lies regarding the email scandal chip away further at her already low level of perceived honesty, whereas Sanders has endeared himself to the Democrat base not only by his leftist positions, but his apparent forthrightness. Thus, he benefits from the email scandal even though he refuses to attack Clinton on it, making him seem principled to boot (to the Democrat base at least.)

Hillary Clinton fundamentally is not a powerful political animal but rather a woman who rode her husbands coattails to national prominence. Her chronic political liabilities have been demonstrated again and again, which is why the aura of inevitability was so critical to her both in 2008 and today -- not only to dissuade potentially dangerous rivals from opposing her, but to fend off her multifaceted malfeasances, not limited to the email scandal. As Clintons political vulnerability becomes obvious, her legal jeopardy increases. Predators in the wild and in politics do not like to strike unless and until the prey is weak and vulnerable. Clinton is almost there. The FBI is probably waiting.
Folks, my political activism is not rooted in winning elections at all cost. It is about preserving what I grew up thinking we were as a country -- my corny love for my country, belief that good triumphs over evil, and my sense of right and wrong. I know. I know. I sound like a bad Frank Capra movie. However, I will not apologize for who I am.

Numerous times, I have shared that my dad was among a handful of blacks who broke the color barrier becoming Baltimore City firefighters in the early 1950s. Despite humiliating, racist, and unfair work conditions, Dad won Firefighter of the Year two times. Well, I am sorry folks, but that made a huge impression on me. All my dad wanted was an opportunity to compete for the job; no lowered standards or special concessions due to his skin color. Dad's example taught me not to run around thinking everyone owes me something.

Striving for excellence and doing things God's way won Dad the respect of his white fellow firefighters who once resented him. One of Dad's most vehement adversaries risked his life, going back into a burning building and saved Dad's life. The incident birthed a lifelong friendship between the two men.

Employers hire employees to benefit their business. Period. The more you benefit my business via education and heightened skills, the more valuable you are to me, the more I increase your pay to keep you. Such reasoning is not evil or unfair. And yet, today in America, unskilled workers are demanding a starting hourly wage enough to raise a family with flat-screen TVs and cell phones. This mindset is arrogant, wrong and actually cost jobs when implemented. I do not care that some folks do not like me saying this. Demanding a minimum wage that is not rooted in economic sense reflects the new entitlement mindset; a deterioration of who we are as a country.

I also have a huge problem with people trashing achievers and thinking that they are entitled to what others have worked for. This mindset troubles me to my core. When you read the autobiographies of many achievers, the common thread is they paid a great price to become successful. While others were dating and partying, future achievers where studying, working long hours, two and three jobs, sacrificing relationships, risking and often losing their life savings. Then, when an entrepreneur finally makes it, everyone has their hand out demanding their portion; claiming the achiever is the beneficiary of white or some other absurd privilege. It turns my stomach folks. The owner of a small meat processing company told me his employees' salaries were higher than his for the first ten years.

At my local gym, the dozen or so televisions in front of the aerobic exercise machines illustrate the relentless promotion of America's cultural rot; everything from sexual deviancy to lie-filled liberal bias news reporting and people celebrated for behaving badly.

Folks, I am so sick of various groups of Americans running to microphones to claim their victim status. It is so beneath the legacy of our founders. What has happened to backbone, self-reliance and true grit? If I hear one more wimpy millennial whine about not feeling safe, I will barf.

Every Oscar season, black actors now demand that black films, producers and actors receive Oscar nominations or Hollywood will be accused of racism. In essence, held hostage. Thus, mediocre black movies and performances must be awarded or else. Well, Hollywood, you created this monster, relentlessly promoting the narrative that America is a hellhole of racism. Your chickens have come home to roost.

As I said, folks, my political activism is all about restoring and preserving who we are as a people, a great nation.

Planned Parenthood does a little dance every time they score an intact dead baby head because it can be sold at a premium price. And yet, politicians kiss the baby killers' derrieres and fund them annually to the tune of $500 million for political purposes. Who and what are we becoming, folks?

These are the reasons why I disagree with those who say the social issues do not matter. Let's just elect a candidate who will get our economy in order and seal our border; someone who will compromise, negotiate and punt the social stuff. Building on a foundation of the economy and border security alone is like building on sand. It ain't enough folks.

Here I go sounding corny again. America is exceptional because it was founded/built on the rock (God) and the extraordinary unique idea of individual freedom and liberty. Government cannot tell you what to say, think and how to worship. And yet, such infringements are happening more and more in America today. We are losing our country and our morals and far too many Americans do not see it.

It is crucial that we elect a leader who is rooted in the Constitution and faith in God, just like our founding fathers. That presidential candidate is Ted Cruz.

Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American

LloydMarcus.com
The New York Times has published a long front-page article on the lower per barrel price of oil that has occurred during the last few months. Times writer Mr. Binyamin Appelbaum is nonplussed by the fact that he is not seeing an inverse upturn, or even a slight uptick, of our economys growth resulting from this lower oil cost. This is a puzzle to pundits who believe in Keynesian economic theory. Since the days of the New Deal, Keynesian economists have taken it as an axiom that more money in the hands of consumers means more demand, which in turn leads to an increase of production, and a surging bull economy. This theory has been the bulwark of socialist economics for over one hundred years. It is used to justify endless entitlement programs where the government borrows, prints money, and taxes people to plow into various programs which will enable people to increase their purchasing power. This injection into the macroeconomic wallets of the citizens is presumed to be the shot-in-the-arm needed to restore an ailing economy (this includes all those shovel-ready jobs of the stimulus package of 2009, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). A continuous flow of such injections should mean continuous health of the economic body.

By the same logic, lower prices for any reason also act to stimulate demand. The premise is that any economic event that increases demand will increase production. For Karl Marx, it was the worker who added value to products and whose need actually was subsidizing those filthy rich, bourgeois capitalists. However, for the Keynesian, it also was not the capitalist  either investor or manager  who drove the economy, but the consumer. Thus, Keynes again took the spotlight off of capitalists as the drivers of the economy, and placed the locus of true development elsewhere.

But at the same time, in the area of foodstuffs and commodities like corn, wheat, pigs, etc. it was determined in the 1930s that lower prices for the consumers were not good because if the prices were too low, the food producers would be driven out of business. Too many farmers were hungry, broke, and even bankrupt. So the idea of food subsidies was born, whereby farmers were paid to limit production so food prices would be artificially higher. In this way, technically, the government is not fixing food prices as in a communist society, but is manipulating market conditions in order that prices might adjust within certain preordained acceptable limits.

Additionally, even before the New Deal, railroad freight rates were controlled. At first there was regulation to prevent collusion between railroads and certain shippers who received more favorable rates than others. This was a good example of government regulation to assure the ethical conduct of business since corporate favoritism obviously implied bribery, not the market, as the underlying malfeasance. However, agricultural political pressure portraying itself as populism eventually led to the fixing of freight rates by the government (clearly under the political guidance of agricultural politicians). This had the effect of fixing the price of a key element in agricultural overhead costs, and thus bringing more predictability into their income stream.

This drive to provide avenues for increased market demand and also to assure greater market stability have been the twin engines of much of Federal economic policy and intervention for almost 100 years. The Adam Smith idea of free markets expressed in his classic work The Wealth of Nations has been perceived as being in need of significant adjustments, although it has not been completely rejected. Cycles of prosperity and recession or depression led to the creation of institutions  in particular, the Federal Reserve System  which would offset the extreme highs and lows of the Smith free market marketplace. Ironically, the Great Depression that began in 1929 came after the Fed was created, and the Fed stood by as a helpless giant while the economy collapsed.

Similarly, taking the U.S. off the gold standard in 1933 was considered a pro-growth step. Tying the amount of money in circulation to this time-honored commodity, was seen by the Keynesians advising Franklin D. Roosevelt as an undue restriction on the amount of money that could be printed and distributed. They believed that an increase in the money supply was needed to feed and fuel consumption in order to jump start the economy as the Keynesian model required. The Supreme Court found this dramatic step to be lawful under the Constitutional powers of the U.S. Treasury. One implication/side effect of this action was to ratify Keynesian economics as being good for the USA.

As we moved towards the end of the 20th century, the Keynesian twin goals of stability and driving up demand extended itself to global markets. The General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) in particular was a way for the left-wing Keynesians to drive up demand for worldwide goods by adjusting U.S. import tariffs downward for goods made outside the U.S., thus redistributing dollars and wealth worldwide to weaker economies. The Keynesian theory here would be that as the wealth of poorer countries increased, the demand worldwide for more advanced U.S. goods and services would be increased. Thus, just as demand would supposedly drive recovery in the USA at times of depression or recession, and keep us from going too far down when there is a slump in the business cycle, the worldwide redistribution of trade flows would lift the world economy. GATT would lessen global slumps, and ultimately redound to the benefit of the U.S. economy. The U.S. has yet to see the benefits of this presumed worldwide upturn. Our international trade balance is still negative.

These Keynesian principles were buttressed by a renewed acceptance of David Ricardos principle of comparative advantage first enunciated in the 19th century as a principle for international trade. In one of his classic books, On The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, published in 1821, Ricardo wrote, To produce the wine in Portugal, might require only the labour of 80 men for one year, and to produce the cloth in the same country, might require the labour of 90 men for the same time. It would therefore be advantageous for her to export wine in exchange for cloth [and have their cloth producers working instead to produce wine]. But while the free trade principles expressed by Ricardo, endorsed by the leading economics professors and pundits, has led to an increase in worldwide wealth since 1970, U.S. News and World Report indicated that the USA lost 3.2 million jobs to China alone since 2001. The outsourcing of American jobs has been a grave problem that has been talked about, but not properly addressed, for over forty years.

Now we are in a position to answer the question the New York Times failed to answer in its article about lower oil prices not growing our economy. First, increase in consumer or business demand based on fuel cost savings can go to purchasing products manufactured worldwide, and not only in the U.S. Thus, to the extent there is consumer stimulation of the economy, it is no longer mainly stimulation to the U.S. economy. Second, America has become a service economy. Thus, if for example the healthcare industry is growing in the U.S., people are not getting sicker at a greater rate if oil prices decline. If advertising is booming with hundreds of cable TV stations and thousands of internet popups, those services are not increasing because of money saved. Third, areas that really drive an economy will not be affected by gains enjoyed from lower gas or heating oil costs. What are airlines doing with the extra moneys they are saving through lower costs? What are electric power companies doing with the savings accruing to them? Are they hiring more people? Are they buying more airplanes? Are they lowering prices? No. They are giving themselves bigger bonuses and investing the money to make more money. Money creating money-without-production is inherently a bubble, and all bubbles must burst.

The Keynesian model is deeply flawed. Rate setting ruined the railroads as a profit-making industry. Keynesian economics did not stop the Great Depression, nor did it take us out of that depression. Lower fuel prices are a blessing to the consumer, but can never be the stimulus the Keynesians expect them to be. Consumption does not drive the economy. Individualism and opportunity capitalism drive a growing economy. Deregulation drives a growing economy. Low taxes drive a growing economy. Cheap labor drives a growing economy. Those are the conditions that helped us to become an economic superpower at the end of the 19th century, and they are still the basis for economic growth.
The ongoing interpretations concerning natural-born citizenship may eventually become a moot point. With the burgeoning immigration of groups of people who have little to no devotion to American ideals but who will have children born on American soil, one can easily envision that, in the not so distant-future, an American-born individual schooled in the hatred of jihad could conceivably occupy the White House.

Already the radical Muslim Brotherhood has "built the framework for a political party in America that seeks to turn Muslims into an Islamist voting bloc." The U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) aims to elect Islamists in Washington in order to institute sharia law and dismantle the American Constitution.

The Center for Security Policy's Star Spangled Shariah: The Rise of America's First Muslim Brotherhood Party is part of its Civilization Jihad Reader Series (Volume 5). The Center asserts:

[T]he Muslim Brotherhood has been actively infiltrating American government and society since shortly after the Second World War. But March 2014 marked a significant step forward for the Brotherhood in America. Some of its key leadership figures joined together to establish the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), the first political activist group in this country to be openly associated with the jihadist Muslim Brotherhood. Formation of the USCMO was announced ... [in] March 2014, just blocks from the U.S. Capitol Building. At the podium were: Ousama Jammal, Secretary General USCMO and past President of The Mosque Foundation; Naeem Baig, President, Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA); Nihad Awad, National Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); Mazen Mokhtar, Executive Director, Muslim American Society (MAS); Imam Mahdi Bray, National Director, American Muslim Alliance (AMA)[.] The significance of this move is best understood in the context of what the Muslim Brotherhood itself calls 'civilizational jihad,' a term used in its 1991 strategic plan: An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal of the Group in North America. As the Explanatory Memorandum states, the Brotherhood's mission in America is 'destroying Western civilization from within,' preparing the way for its replacement by the rule of Islam's supremacist code, shariah (Islamic law). Unlike more immediately violent Brotherhood off-shoots  for example, al-Qa'eda, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the Islamic State or HAMAS, the Brotherhood in the West has generally taken care to operate stealthily, under the radar, even to the point of sometimes denying its very presence in the United States.

And it has been stunningly successful.

Obama continually exhibits a preference for Islam and has, over the period of his two terms, shown a "willingness ... to engage in dialogue, outreach, and collaboration with self-identified jihadis." In February 2015, at a White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremism, Obama actually said that "the notion that the West was at war with Islam was an 'ugly lie.'" Furthermore, he asserted that "when people feel marginalized, that opens a door for the terrorist ideology." He implied that Americans who criticize Islam are guilty of provoking Islamic terrorists. This, coupled with the disturbing in-depth piece by Soeren Kern entitled "Islam and Islamism in America" for the period January-March 2015 wherein one learns that Representative Andre Carson (D-Indiana), a convert to Islam with extensive ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, was appointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence should make one shudder.

Obama's appeasement toward Iran and his indifference to the jihadist danger in Europe and America have paved the way to what the jihadists crave  Islamization of America. Obama is the prelude to this Islamization, since his "fundamentally transforming the United States of America" has helped "advance the Brotherhood's 'civilization jihad agenda.'" For example, Obama stated he was "committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they could fulfill zakat," or charitable giving, but conveniently glossed over the fact that this charitable giving requires a fixed percentage to be donated to jihad.

The USCMO is actually the "first religious identity political party" in the history of America. And while it projects "an image of patriotic transparency," it is, in fact, "shrouding its actual anti-Constitutional activities and objectives." Its members participate in anti-Semitic, pro-Hamas, pro-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrations and raise funds for Islamic Relief USA. According to Ryan Mauro at the Clarion Project, "IRUSA is the American branch of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), based in the United Kingdom." In 2014, the United Arab Emirates banned IRW as a terrorist group. In fact, under the guise of philanthropy and social welfare, the organization raises funds for Hamas. Mauro explains that IRUSA "donated to a fundraiser for the Chicago chapter of CAIR in March 2012 and the annual joint MAS-ICNA [Muslim American Society-Islamic Circle of North America] conference in December 2012." Yet in 2011, "an anonymous high-ranking Justice Department official was quoted as saying, 'ten years ago we shut down the Holy Land Foundation. It was the right thing to do. Then the money started going to KindHearts. We shut them down too. Now the money is going through groups like Islamic Relief[.]'"

In 2014, the USCMO joined anti-Israel protesters in downtown Chicago. This "Stand with Gaza" event marked USCMO's "first public demonstration in solidarity with Hamas, the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Recall that Hamas' Covenant commits it to the "destruction of the Jewish State of Israel."

USCMO financially supports U.S. representatives Keith Ellison and Andre Carson. Their remarks made at the Muslim Brotherhood political party banquet held in June of 2014 have never been made public. Both of these elected American politicians are committed to "mobilizing the Muslim political machine in the United States." Carson has stated that "America will never tap into educational innovation and ingenuity without looking at the model that we have in our madrassas, in our schools, where innovation is encouraged, where the foundation is the Quran." Neither Ellison nor Carson has explained why he was participating at a USCMO event in an official capacity.

Is it a coincidence that USCMO debuted in Illinois politics in 2014, considering Obama's own roots in the windy city?

As the 2016 presidential election looms, the USCMO is attempting to "fortify Muslim citizenship rights." Obama is rushing to bestow citizenship on immigrants in part "by adjusting Justice Department rules so that those who want to help with the citizenship process can get their credentials quicker." In addition, there is a "blitz of television promotional spots" aimed at enticing legal permanent residents who have been here for a minimum of three years to take the test.

And while it has been clarified that Pine Bush High School in New York did not compel students to say, "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under Allah," this can be taken as yet one more incremental step toward softening American sensibilities  reciting the pledge in any other language still must maintain the truth of the translation, which clearly this did not do.

Daniel Greenfield explains that "[w]hat ISIS accomplishes by brute force, the Muslim Brotherhood does by setting up networks of front groups. Both ISIS and the Brotherhood control large Muslim populations. ISIS conquers populations in failed states. The Muslim Brotherhood however exercises control over populations in the cities of the West. We could bomb Raqqa, but can we bomb Dearborn, Jersey City or Irvine? This is where the Caliphate curve truly reaches its most terrifying potential."

Moreover, "we are not at war with an organization, but with the idea that Muslims are superior to non-Muslims and are endowed by Allah with the right to rule over them, to rob them, to rape them and enslave them. ISIS is the most naked expression of this idea. But it's an idea that everyone [such as the Muslim Brotherhood and the USCMO] on the Caliphate curve accepts."

I urge everyone to obtain a copy of Star Spangled Shariah in order to comprehend the depth and breadth of the Muslim Brotherhood's desire to install sharia law into America. It is very evident that "the United States of America faces a clear and present danger from the Muslim Brotherhood through the United States Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) members because of their shariah compliant agenda that supports and advocates jihad."

Sharia is a supremacist and totalitarian law that is totally and absolutely incompatible with the Constitution. It is imperative that Americans understand this difference and demand the passage of American laws for American citizens. Furthermore, Americans must publicly object to the conversion of churches into mosques.

Ultimately, Americans need to question candidates about their views on Islam and sharia. The duplicity of the Muslim Brotherhood and the USCMO have to be continually exposed if the Republic is to survive. This is, indeed, a civilizational conflict between freedom and slavery.

Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com.
Americans are fed up and not going to take it anymore because the establishment Demicans -- the odious union of backstabbing Democrats and Republicans -- in DC are colluding with the rich donor class at the expense of the vast majority of voters.

The donor class is made up of those individuals and groups with deep financial pockets who finance elections and enrich politicians. George Soros is an example of a donor class dignitary but the public unions, including teacher unions, are also platinum card-carrying members of the donor class because of the huge amounts of money they spend making sure the policies that will enrich them at the expense of the rest of America are enacted.

Demicans serve as the front men for the donor class and are rewarded with fawning reviews in the MSM and significant amounts of financial wealth. By being the public face of policies that the people dont like, the Demicans keep the heat off of the members of the donor class and give false hope to the people that the donors agenda can be stopped through the ballot box.

In recent days it appears that the donor class is finally feeling empowered enough to be willing to step out of the shadows and claim their rightful place as the rulers of America.

Donald Trump is a self-acknowledge member of the donor class. How often have you heard him boast about how much money he has given to politicians and the influence hes received as a result? Thats a succinct definition both of what it means to be a member of the donor class and of why there is a problem in DC.

Now Trump claims that when hes president, things will be different. But given Trumps -- to be charitable -- fluidity on the issues its far from clear why we should expect any real changes from a Trump administration.

Keep in mind that whenever Trump says what a great dealmaker he is, hes saying that his deals always work out well for Trump.

A donor class member who actually holds the reigns of power supported by a Demican-run Congress would be a great result for Trump.

By looking at Trumps history of deals, we can see there is good reason to be concerned that Trump only likes deals where he wins; he doesnt seem to be so thrilled about win-win propositions.

For example, Trump has blustered about how well he handled his four bankruptcies but he seems oblivious to the people who were short changed because he managed to slither out of his debts leaving honest folks holding the bag.

Similarly, while he talks about getting rid of illegals, he also says hell let them back in; shades of Rubio. When asked, he admits there may be illegals working at his businesses but apparently the illegality of that is not too troublesome to him.

While his past statements are clear -- hes pro-abortion and pro-gays in the military -- his more recent conservative rhetoric is more ambiguous -- make America great again -- and lacking in details. Hes said that his sister, a strong pro-abortion feminist district court judge, would make a great Supreme Court justice, that has to call into question where his real loyalties lie.

Then there are the issues of eminent domain, where Trump is advocating the right of government to take from private citizens to enrich more politically-connected private citizens, and ethanol subsidies -- where Trump is pushing crony capitalism to get votes in Iowa, just like the Demicans. Its pretty clear that Trump is not bothered by businessmen with more political juice getting first dibs at the taxpayers money.

In many ways, Trump is just like the Demicans. He talks a good game now while running for office, but back when he wasnt trying to make a deal with the American people his positions were dramatically different.



It would seem to an impartial observer that Trump, a card-carrying member of the donor class, is using the same tired old Boehner/McConnell playbook. Tell them what they want to hear to clinch a deal thats good for us and then do what we please between elections.

Odds are that Trump is a donor in populist clothing.

If youre supporting Trump because hes standing up to the Demican establishment, you need to ponder for a moment who Trump is trying to win for -- you or himself?

The vast majority of Americans are fed up with the Demicans and agree at a visceral level with Trumps populist rhetoric demanding that we throw the bums out. But just as we agreed with the Republicans rhetoric before the 2014 election and yet were betrayed by the Demican majority, we need to be sure that whomever we support for president is actually going to walk the walk not just talk the talk.

If there were no alternative to Trump, then supporting him would be less problematic, but the reality is that there are other Republican candidates who are both more principled and more likely to overthrow the Demicans than Trump; Cruz, and Santorum.

Donalds below-the-belt attack on Cruz, using hardcore left-wing liberals as his source, is another sign of how Donald is all about getting a good deal for Donald. If Cruz cant be president, then any child born to an American military family when they were stationed overseas cant be president. Does any sane American think that was the intent of the Framers? Yet Trump went there first to attack Cruz. And Trumps followup was about some perfectly legal loans. Then Trump informed us that Cruz is a nasty guy.

Which raises the question why is Trump going all personal against Cruz rather than debating Cruz on the issues?

The answer is obvious; Trump is afraid to debate issues with Cruz because when Trump was going all donor class liberal for decades, Cruz was standing for the American people.

If youre thinking about voting for Trump youre not a bad person and your feelings are perfectly reasonable, but you should ask yourself the following questions:

1) If you reject Rubio because of his immigration stand in the past why dont Trumps much worse stands on a wide spectrum of issues in the past concern you? Do you really think that Trump is more trustworthy than Rubio?



2) Why would it be a good idea to put a card-carrying and proud member of the donor class, the group that created the Demican mess we have in DC, into the White House?

3) Trumps trying to make a deal with you -- based on his track record, why do you think hes not going to ensure you get the short end of the stick?

4) If Trump is really different than the Demicans, why is Trump standing up for ethanol subsidies in Iowa while Cruz is standing up for smaller government and the elimination of crony capitalism?

Finally, remember its not a choice between Paul Ryan and Trump -- its a choice between a strong, consistent, articulate Cruz and Trump. Odds are if you pick Trump for the right reasons, wanting to get rid of the Demicans, youll end up suffering a bad case of bait and switch marketing. But you know what youll get if you back Cruz.

You can read more of toms rants at his blog, Conversations about the obvious and feel free to follow him on Twitter
Since the outbreak of attacks and attempted attacks against Israeli citizens that began in October 2015, human rights groups such as B'Tselem have been rushing to the defense of Palestinian residents, who are allegedly being subjected to collective punishment by the Israeli military.

In its latest breathless report, filed from occupied Hebron, B'Tselem dedicates the vast majority of its time and space to testimonials of men and women who are positively chaffing under the "sweeping restrictions imposed by the security forces on the movement of Palestinians in Hebron[.]"

According to the prominent group of academics and attorneys that constitute B'Tselem, "This policy of separation  constitutes collective punishment of residents unfortunate enough to live or work in areas close to where settlers have chosen to live. As such, these restrictions are immoral and unlawful."

B'Tselem and other leading non-governmental organizations are generating much publicity of late  and much applause from their European donors  by portraying the Israeli military as a thuggish, jackbooted human rights violator punishing entire communities suspected of supporting terrorists.

Human rights groups around the world kick up a storm whenever elderly Palestinian women and schoolchildren are inconvenienced by the establishment of yet another checkpoint in Hebron. Yet has any war waged at any point in human history not involved the effective use of collective punishment?

While defined as a war crime by the United Nations, no democracy in history has been able to refrain from the use of what's commonly termed collective punishment. Similar to unintended civilian casualties of war, collective punishment is a necessary if unfortunate component of a sovereign nation's deterrence capability.

As B'Tselem continues to document and educate the public about Israel's human rights violations, one can only imagine how much more good this august group could do on behalf of repressed peoples around the world if it weren't singularly focused on the greatest evil being perpetrated in our lifetime: the conquest and subjection of the West Bank.

If only B'Tselem could dedicate a bit more time, effort, and treasure to eradicating collective punishment outside of colonized Palestine. Tibet would be free. Ukraine would be reunited. Morocco would return Western Sahara. Spain would allow the Basque separatists to...well, separate.

It's a crying shame that B'Tselem and other like-minded groups weren't around during World War II, to document and draw attention to some of the most outrageous examples of collective punishment.

While the controversial fire-bombing of Dresden killed an estimated 25,000 civilians during World War II, the Allies' act of collective punishment also succeeded in keeping over a million Germans out of the German army; from manning anti-aircraft defenses; from making ammunition and from doing urgent repairs. In addition, Dresden housed factories that were producing weapons and equipment for the Nazi war effort. Germany was forced to surrender three months after the Dresden bombing.

Another joint United States-United Kingdom collective punishment effort was the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While the war in Europe had already concluded, the Allies prepared for what was anticipated to be a very costly invasion of the Japanese mainland. The Japanese had repeatedly refused to accept the Allies' demands for unconditional surrender, even if it meant facing "prompt and utter destruction." President Harry Truman estimated that the bombings, while continuing to generate scholarly debate, saved up to half a million U.S. lives.

With the help of B'Tselem and other human rights advocates, what a wonderful world it could have been. France would be speaking German, and Korea would be a Japanese province.

Fortunately, we live in more enlightened times. Unremitting attacks on the legitimate right of a sovereign state to engage in acts of proportionate deterrence against those suspected of leading, supporting, or benefiting from terrorism isn't just a dream, but an undeniable reality.

In a world gone mad B'Tselem's dance card is full. Israel's measured use of collective accountability is similar to the policies and practices of the world's most liberty-minded countries.

Australia, take heed. Once B'Tselem is through with Israel, your Aboriginal policy is next.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenian government plans to boost the attractiveness of the investment environment in the sector of urban development and simplify the procedures for construction. As Armenpress reports, the implementation of the mentioned works is involved in Armenian governments priority projects.

The project aims at improvement of mechanisms contributing to the development of state-private sector partnership avoiding regulations causing additional burden in construction processes and particularly aims at improvement of permission system for construction in simplified terms.

At the same time, based on norms defined by the Armenian law on Licensing, it will be needed to simplify the procedures of granting licenses for the implementation of constructions and technical control as well as, according to the norms defined by the Armenian Republics law on Urban development, clarify the conduction order of urban examination.
Compulsive liars lie with ease and without guilt. Often they are so caught up in their lies that they don't realize the distinction between fact and fiction. Their lies may be plausible on the surface, requiring some effort to disprove. Often the lies present the liar in a favorable or flattering light or else seek to hide failure.

Does Hillary Clinton fit this picture?

Hillary Clinton has a long history of tall tales. Some designed to make her appear brave, such as her lie about coming under sniper fire during a trip to Bosnia in 1996. Others connectED her to someone famous, such as her claim to be named after Sir Edmund Hillary. Except that Sir Edmund, at the time of Hillary Clinton's birth, was simply Ed, an obscure New Zealand beekeeper.

Big deal  just embellished stories, like "the fish that got away." But what about when the lies are profound, involving national security or American lives?

Mrs. Clinton lied about a video causing the Benghazi terror attack and is now doubling down, denying she lied to the victims' families about the video, blaming her fabrication on the "fog of war." There's also her emails, which she lied about to Congress and the American people. These aren't the inconsequential fabrications about whom she was named after, but serious false statements involving loss of American life and compromised U.S. foreign policy and national security.

Perhaps Hillary's lies are a recent phenomenon, related to some illness or injury. Hillary suffered a concussion, or traumatic brain injury, in 2012. One of the side effects of such injury is confabulation, a type of unintentional lying that portrays the liar in a favorable light and that the liar is totally unaware of. This might explain some of Hillary's more recent fibs.

But lying is not a recent phenomenon for Mrs. Clinton. William Safire, of the NY Times, wrote in 1996 that Hillary "is a congenital liar." He noted a string of deception beginning in Arkansas and following her to the White House  cattle futures, Travelgate, Whitewater, lost billing records, and missing FBI files, to name some of her most prominent deceptions and cover-ups.

Going even farther back in history to the 1970s, Hillary Clinton was fired from her staff position on the Watergate House Judiciary Committee over "lies and unethical behavior."

Is a pattern of compulsive lying by a presidential candidate a legitimate concern? Are Mrs. Clinton's lies about Benghazi and emails part of a longstanding pattern? Are they consequences of her traumatic brain injury, described by her husband as "a terrible concussion that required six months of very serious work to get over"? Or worse, are her lies part of a more significant personality disorder?

Will the media investigate and analyze Mrs. Clinton's pattern of deception and her suitability, or lack of, for the presidency? Will the political fact-checkers scrutinize Hillary's claims in the same way they do for Donald Trump? Or will they instead marvel at her ability to lie in the same way prominent Democrats stand in awe at Bill Clinton's skill as a liar?

What can't be ignored is a pattern of deceit, raising red flags as to the suitability of Mrs. Clinton for commander-in-chief. Simply looking the other way under the guise of a Hillary-ism  "What difference does it make?"  is not enough.

Brian C Joondeph, MD, MPS, a Denver based retina surgeon, radio personality, and writer. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA) is a grassroots movement that was formed in Germany a little over two years ago. The scale of their rallies has rapidly grown. And now theyre organizing mass demonstrations for February 6, to be held in cities across Europe.

For those not familiar with PEGIDA, or for those who want to learn more, heres a bit of background:

PEGIDA provides a structure for citizens to come together to celebrate national pride and to express opposition to Merkels suicidal open-door immigration policy that has allowed in throngs of Muslims from Islamic countries  a policy that is destroying Germany in unthinkable ways.

If youve ever seen a video of a PEGIDA march, youll notice young and old, healthy and infirm, day or night, in all kinds of weather  patriotic Germans show up and wind their way through the streets. Some carry flags while others hold signs. There is often an eerie silence, though occasionally a chant breaks out or you can hear the national anthem being sung. (See here, here, here, here, here, and here for a sample of videos from a few of their marches.)

The size of the demonstrations is often large, with numbers reaching into the tens of thousands. Beginning in October, the group organized weekly marches in Dresden and other cities primarily located in the eastern part of Germany (which is likely no coincidence, given the regions history and peoples firsthand knowledge of life under totalitarian rule).

But the core values embraced by PEGIDA are spreading beyond the eastern part of Germany. A recent study cited at the Gatestone Institute showed increasing numbers of Germans coming around to the hard truth about Islam and its incompatibility with Western culture. Another poll noted in an article at Deutsche Welle showed that nearly 30% of Germans believe that PEGIDAs marches are justified and that 13% of them would attend a PEGIDA march if one were held in their hometown. (And yes, these numbers are still absurdly low in light of the madness that is unfolding, but the numbers represent a shift toward reality. One can only hope Germans will continue to wake up, though it remains unclear if it is already too late.)

In addition to increasing support across Germany, as noted at the outset of the post, PEGIDAs reach is now expanding into other European countries as their base of support grows. Gates of Vienna notes that PEGIDA is in Austria, Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland and Great Britain. The movement has good connections from Vlaams Belang, through the French Front National, the British EU-hostile UKIP and the nationalist parties of Eastern Europe, to the Italian Lega Nord.

Reporting on the upcoming mass demonstrations, Deutsche Welle reports:

Germany's anti-immigration movement Pegida has signed a declaration with like-minded groups from 14 European countries, agreeing on joint protests in February. The associations warn of Islam conquering Europe. (snip) The anti-immigration groups from different EU states have agreed on international protests on February 6, dubbed the Day of the European Patriots. The protests are to be held in Pegida's stronghold of Dresden as well as in Prague, Warsaw and other European cities. (snip) The representatives of the far-right movements signed a joint Prague declaration, warning that the history of Western civilization could soon come to an end through Islam conquering Europe.

As you might imagine, PEGIDA is controversial as the left tries to paint them as neo-Nazis (theyre not) and dangerous right-wingers (as if its dangerous to love your country and want to protect it from ruin). Its also common for peaceful marches to be infiltrated by people who start trouble in order to taint PEGIDAs reputation. The German government is, of course, staunchly against them, and it is typical to see police out in force at their demonstrations  more police than Germany appears able (or willing) to muster to protect its citizens from such horrors as mass rape.

So far, despite the opposition, PEGIDA is not only persevering, but winning over more and more Europeans. Perhaps too slowly, too late, and too little.

I hope not. And pray.

May God bless every patriot. May February 6 be a day when a sea of Europeans takes to the streets. May they be safe, be heard, and be effective.

Cheering them on from across the pond, as they say. We watch, wait, wonder, and worry. Is this our future? (Answer: If there is not a dramatic and immediate course correction, then yes. It is.)

(To read more about PEGIDA see here, here, and here.)
One of the often repeated memes from the Republican Party establishment against a Trump presidency is that he will somehow tarnish the partys image. This assertion has caused me to question: what exactly is this image of the party that they claim Trump will tarnish?

The RNC touts Republicans as the big-tent party that wants to attract members from all voting blocs. However, if we look back to the last two presidential elections, neither John McCain nor Mitt Romney was able to peel off a substantial number of minority voters. Obviously, for some reason, the GOPs image is not one that is attractive to many people from different voter blocs. The main reason why Trump has risen in the polls is because of his crossover appeal.

A few weeks ago, I was listening to talk radio on my commute from work here in liberal California. Ann Coulter was the guest on the show. As she was promoting her latest book Adios America, people were calling in saying that they were registered Democrats, but they were going to vote for Donald Trump because he's not a typical Republican. How is that for the GOPs image? Some members of the black community are saying that they do not see Trump as black or white, Democrat or Republican. They say their support for him is because they see him simply as a man. When I hear and read comments in support of Trump, I conclude that if anything, he might improve the partys image rather than tarnish it.

Many commentators, writers, and pundits are stating that the Republican party is engaged in a civil war. This time the civil war is over Donald Trump instead of slavery. The fighting is getting so intense that the entire intellectual staff of writers at the National Review Online published a special issue warning the GOP base against Trump the deceiver.

The GOP establishment is constantly warning us that we are being lied to by Trump. My response to their warning is, so what? We are used to being lied to. Trump may well be lying to us (we will know only once hes in office), but so have our elected officials in Congress in both parties.

Rush Limbaugh took the media and the GOP to task over their over-the-top criticism of Trump by pointing out that they themselves have squandered all creditability. Not only did our elected officials in Congress stab us in the back by giving President Obama everything he asked for in the current ominous bill, but after a conservative group exposed Planned Parenthoods baby butcher business, the Republican Congress undermined the hard work by voting to continue to fund them.

If there is anything I can say about Trumps candidacy, it is that he has laid bare for all to see the true mentality of the GOP establishment. We have learned that not only are they out of touch with what concerns their base, but they don't seem to care that they are. Jeb Bush says Trump cannot insult his way to the nomination, yet that is exactly what he and the GOP establishment is trying to do to us. In fact, Bush said that his intent was to win the nomination without the support of the conservative base. If that's not an insult, what is?

As for NROs so-called conservative intellectual writers attempt at educating the GOP base as to who is or is not a conservative, I contend that one can always tell what an organization really stands for by who and what it chooses to embrace or reject. One of the reasons I stopped reading National Review Online was because many of its staff writers rejected Sarah Palin. Regardless of your personal opinion of Palin (which should not be part of the political discussion to begin with), no one can say that she has not been consistent in supporting conservative agendas. In addition, Republicans won the House of Representatives in 2010 largely because of Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. Yet NRO rejects her while at the same time embracing establishment members like Marco Rubio and Paul Ryan, of whom neither has a record of supporting conservative policies. Now that Trump is beating their establishment guys in the polls, the NROs writers have the nerve to lecture the GOP base on who is not a true conservative.

David Brooks, a so-called conservative writer and pundit, says that neither Trump nor Cruz is electable. What does electable mean? What are the qualifications for electability? Are voters not the ones who determine a candidates electability? In an attempt to explain Trumps lead in the polls, the GOP establishment and the media paint his supporters as angry. What is wrong with being angry? The fact that Nikki Haley and the establishment GOP are not angry at the state of our country is a damning indictment on them, not on the angry conservative base.

Christian Commentary (http://patriciascornerblog.com), or contact the author at patdickson@earthlink.net. Follow her on Twitter at @Patrici15767099.
Slowly, to be sure, but at last some universities and some police departments in university towns are beginning to fight back against students who protest imaginary microaggressions with real illegal macroaggressions. A few months ago, University of Missouri communications assistant professor Melissa Click communicated her displeasure with student journalists who were videoing her leading a demonstration on campus. They captured on video her enraged face and uplifted arms as she called out, "I need some muscle over here" to remove the non-protesting students.

The Missouri state legislature discussed firing her.

The student videographer filed a complaint with university police.

And now the Columbia, Missouri city prosecutor has charged Click with misdemeanor assault.

Well, good. Precious, fragile students aren't the only ones entitled to a safe space free of microaggressions; indeed, it is time for them to learn that the world is full of unsafe spaces inhabited by some nasty macroaggressors and to learn how to deal with them. This university employee certainly didn't do that; Click didn't even do her job. I hope that the university student disrupters will finally learn something valuable from their excessive temper tantrum. Isn't that why they're in school?

Update from Thomas Lifson:

Readers might be interested in correspondence American Thinker received from the University of Missouri J-School, following publication of this blog post by the same author:

Subject: For Ethel C. Fenig I am sending this on behalf of David Kurpius, dean of the Missouri School of Journalism. Suzette Heiman Director of Planning and Communications 573-529-xxxx Ms. Ethel C. Fenig American Thinker Dear Ms. Fenig, I wish to clarify an item in your Jan. 6, 2016, article, Not needing muscle to fire communications instructor who communicates with muscle. Dr. Melissa Click is an assistant professor in the MU Department of Communication in the College of Arts and Science. Until Nov. 10 she held a courtesy appointment with the School of Journalism, which allowed her to work with a small number of graduate students on their master's or doctoral committees. She never taught a course in the journalism school. The distinction about Dr. Clicks academic home is an important one to ensure that readers, including alumni and prospective students, are not misled. We are contacting the source to correct the error there. We request that the correction, update or clarification be appended to your article in the digital archive so that the misrepresentations harm to the reputation of the nations first school of journalism can be minimized as soon as possible. Thank you. David D. Kurpius Dean Missouri School of Journalism

AT responded:

Dear Dean Kurpius, The blog post in question clearly stated: After the video, with a close-up of her angry face, went viral, she smugly martyred herself the next day, offering an insincere apology along with her resignation as a courtesy instructor in the university's esteemed School of Journalism department, where she did little. However she retained her lucrative position in the school's separate Department of Communications. I do not see a basis for the concern you express. Cordially, Thomas Lifson, PhD Editor in chief

AT never heard from them again.
Syrian refugees have had a hard time these past fews months with a lot of them having to relocate due to war. Millions of refugees packed their bags and left for a much safer and fulfilling life in Europe. With a brand new world surrounding them, refugees will soon have to accommodate by learning a new language and essential skills so they can continue where their lives stopped before the war in Syria broke out. Known for their large sum of donations, Google has provided a $5.3 Million grant for nonprofits. The launch of Project Reconnect is a joint endeavor with NetHope that plans on giving Chromebooks to nonprofit organizations that are helping refugees recover from those tragic events.

The Chromebooks that will be handed out to Syrian refugees will help them get back on their feet. As we all know, Chromebooks have a good track record when it comes to education and and have been used in schools due to their easy setup and large collection of learning and educational apps. Chromebooks also have the ability to be configured to a central administrator which is what many institutions use. The Director of Google.org, Jacquelline Fuller, said Chromebooks can run educational games, language courses, and also have information for the asylum application process that many refugees will need. All of these programs will certainly help refugees accelerate their lives as they continue their journey in new and uncertain lands.

Google is really hoping that supporting these nonprofits will help with the refugee crisis going on in Europe. Google has provided a website that nonprofits can visit so they can apply for Chromebooks. The grant will supply each nonprofit up to 5,000 Chromebooks, with their first line of giveaways starting March 1st. After the first wave they plan on having another distribution scheduled immediately after. This initiative will be a huge help for students like Ahmed, who Fuller mentioned in the refugee access and education post on Googles blog. Now more people who are in his situation can now have access to a plethora of information that can set them on the track to success and finishing their studies so they can pursue their dream career.
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona is right around the corner, and HTC is one of the OEMs which might release their flagship during the tradeshow. Keep in mind, however, that HTC has been rumored to release this handset in March, so it is possible that theyll unveil it after MWC. That being said, the HTC One M10 aka HTC Perfume has been mentioned quite a few times thus far in various rumors and leaks. The latest rumor that came knocking said that the device will be announced in March, and available for purchase in April. THats not all though, a separate leak suggested that HTC actually intends on launching two variants of the device, one for the Asian market (MediaTek-powered), and the other one for Europe and the US (Snapdragon-powered).

With that in mind, lets see what a new rumor has to say, shall we. This new info actually comes from @evleaks, a well-known tipster. According to him, the device is coming to AT&T, though thats not exactly a surprise, the One M10 (or whatever its name ends up being) will probably going to be available through every major carrier in the US. Now, thats not the only thing @evleaks revealed, he also hinted that the One M10 might resemble One A9 quite a bit by saying: if you like the A9, youll love the M10. Now, this might indicate that the phone will be made out of metal, and sport a physical home button and a fingerprint scanner below the display. Take this info with a grain of salt, as it usually goes with such rumors. Chances are well see more similar rumors before the phone gets announced, so stay tuned for that.

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Aside from two processor variants, were still not sure what will other One M10 specs look like, but we can always guess. The Helio X20 and Snapdragon 820 variants of the device are a possibility at this point, but we also expect this phone to pack in 4GB of RAM, and HTC will probably make sure that more than one internal storage option is available. Front-facing BoomSound stereo speakers will almost certainly make a comeback here, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow will come pre-installed on this smartphone. Thats pretty much it as far as One M10 (aka Perfume) goes, well make sure to keep you in the loop, stay tuned.
Opera, one of the most popular browser apps available on multiple platforms has just updated one of their browser apps for Android, Opera Mini, which now sits at version 14 and brings in a list of new features and languages for users. Alongside the new features and added language support, Opera Mini has gone through a number of changes over the past year ranging from app updates with improvements to the experience to a whole new logo to represent the Opera brand, all while giving the Opera Mini browser a new look and modernized design to keep things fresh for users.

While the design of the app hasnt changed since the most recent visual tweaks, this most recent update bringing the browser to version 14 adds in language support for 13 Indian languages which includes Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. With more languages in the Indian region now supported in the app, Opera is widening the potential user base for the browser on Android in the country which is continuing to grow the number of smartphone owners. No matter what language users choose to be their main, they can swap on the fly fairly easily from the settings menu at any time they wish, making this a great browser for anyone who speaks and reads multiple languages. While more language support is always a good thing it isnt the only new thing about Opera Mini 14, as a handful of new features and improvements to the browser have also been added.

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As of today, Opera Mini 14 now has a QR code reader and generator for anyone that may have the need to use one at any given time, and there is now in-app camera support for uploading files. Alongside these two new changes, Opera Mini has improved the success rate for direct downloads within the app, making it even easier and faster to download whatever it is users need. Opera has also improved the search capability by adding in a custom search engine per category so searching for stuff within the app should be a lot simpler and faster as well.
Motorola has been through the ringer these past five years, having been bought by Google and then sold to Chinese Lenovo, the company has been on one of hell of a ride over the past few years. In that time, Motorola introduced their new Moto line of smartphones, with the most notable being the Moto X and Moto G. The firm quickly became known for producing devices with little to no customization on top of Android, just thoughtful additions and tweaks here and there. This also gave their customers pretty speedy updates compared to their competitors, and when Motorola launched the 2014 Moto X, it was one of the first devices to get the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Things werent so quick with Marshmallow last year, but many of Motorolas newest smartphones have the new Android software already running on their hardware.

That means that some of their custom apps need to be tweaked and updated for the new Android software, and that means their custom Gallery app. Before Google Photos came along, and stock Android was left with a pretty lackluster gallery option, the Motorola Gallery became something of a cult favorite, and its now getting updated to support Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It doesnt appear that there are any major changes from the previous versions, and considering this is the first update in the past few months, this is presumably just an update to ensure it works perfectly on devices running the latest version of Android. The Camera app from Motorola is also getting the same treatment here, but gains a couple extra features, namely better focus and exposure controls.

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Many Motorola users will probably not notice much has changed in these two key apps, but thats partly the point. Keeping software familiar is a big deal for users, as is keeping things running smoothly. So, after a big update like the bump to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, its good to see that Motorola is keeping their software up to speed. Those that havent got the updates yet should check the Play Store on their Motorola device, and if not it should be their in the next few days or so.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. David Duchovny has plenty to celebrate on January 25.He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Armenpress reports, citing Dailymail website.

The actor, 55, was joined at the special ceremonyOn January 25 morning by Chris Carter, the creator of The X-Files who cast him in the role of Fox 'Spooky' Mulder back in 1998.

'I wouldn't have a career without Chris and his show The X Files. That really made everything happen for me as an actor,' Duchovny told the fans gathered to congratulate him.

Fourteen years after the show based around alien abductions, UFO's and the paranormal ended, Fox TV decided to bring back The X-Files for a limited season of six episodes. Duchovny reunited with Gillian Anderson, as Dana Scully, for the revival that has its second episode Monday night on Fox. Early figures indicate the return of the sci-fi series that enjoys cult status was a winner, racking up an audience of about 13.5 million and a 5.1 rating among adults aged 18 to 49.

He told Variety website: 'Its tangible and something that feels like itll last a while. Thats something special and something to reflect upon I think.'

'I grew up on 11th Street and Second Avenue in New York and the Second Avenue Deli was (a block away). They had their own walk of fame in front of the deli with stars of David on the street. I thought maybe Id get one of those one day, but this is even better,' he said.

The actor was also joined at the event by Garry Shandling, the comedian who helped launch his fledgling career on The Larry Sanders Show. Others in attendance included the actresses Maggie Wheeler, Claire Hoult and Pamela Adlon.

In addition to The X-Files, Duchovny has starred in the TV series Californication and Aquarius, and the movies Playing God, Evolution, Zoolander and The House Of D, which he also directed.
With the Galaxy S7 set to be announced next month in Barcelona  and reports suggesting an early March release date  the rumor mill for the Galaxy S7 has been churning pretty quick. Weve got another rumor coming out this morning that is a bit interesting. When Samsung went to the unibody design last year, eliminating the removable back the company also eliminated the removable battery and microSD card slot. Two features that had been staples for the company in recent years. Many long-time Samsung users werent too happy with that decision, but it appears that at least one of those features is making its way back to the Galaxy S7.

It appears that the Galaxy S7 will be utilizing a hybrid dual-SIM tray here. This is something weve seen in Asia quite a bit. In fact, the last few smartphones from Meizu have had a hybrid Dual-SIM tray. Where one slot is for the SIM and the other can support another SIM card or be a microSD card slot. Allowing for companies to stick with the unibody design, but also give users the ability to expand their storage. Samsung is rumored to be doing the same thing this time around. This wouldnt be the first smartphone that Samsung has done this with either. The recently announced Galaxy A9 (2016) also uses a hybrid Dual-SIM card slot.

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This hybrid dual-SIM slot actually kills two birds with one stone. As it gives customers the ability to use a microSD card while still keeping that unibody design. But it also means that everyone can have a dual-SIM smartphone. Instead of leaving that model in Asia and other parts of the world where dual-SIM smartphones are pretty popular. This could mean one model for everywhere but the US. Unfortunately the US is still going to require several models due to the carriers here.

Its important that we treat this as a rumor. As its currently not confirmed, and likely wont be until Samsungs Unpacked event at Mobile World Congress which will likely be February 21st, 2016. Although they have not made an announcement just yet. However, this is also not the first time weve heard rumors and seen leaks of the Galaxy S7 sporting a microSD card slot.
Currently, only a small percentage of Android devices are running a version of the latest release of the operating system called Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Those include Googles Nexus devices, obviously, but some OEMs like HTC, Motorola and LG have already released the update for some of their own devices. Samsung usually takes some time before the company starts updating its devices, in fact, there wasnt an official list of devices that were going to get updated. Then again, the company has been testing beta software in some regions, so we know all of the changes that the company is including in the update and alongside the changes included by Google, Samsung customized some visual aspects of the UI. A few lucky Galaxy S5 phones have even been updated to Marshmallow already, so we know that the update has to be getting closer to its official release.

There have been a few leaked documents with Samsungs plans for the Marshmallow update which displays which devices are planned to get the update and what the dates are for each device, although theres still no official confirmation on the leak. Now, another document has leaked, supposedly containing current information about the updating process for Samsungs devices. The document reveals that the update has been approved by the company so it should be released shortly, at least for unlocked devices. Carriers usually take longer before they release such updates because they need to test them on their own variants first. The first devices that will get updated, according to the document, will be the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+, and it could happen as soon as February. The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge could receive Marshmallow in February or March. The Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge could get updated in March or April. Once again, theres no way to confirm if the listed devices are getting updated in that time frame, but it doesnt sound very unlikely.

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The past leaked documents showed that these devices would get the update in the first quarter of the year, as well as some more variants of the Galaxy S5 and some Dual-SIM versions of the Note 4 and the Galaxy S6. Still, there could be additional devices receiving the update in the following months. The new flagship devices, on the other hand, which are expected around March would most certainly launch running Marshmallow out of the box.
Last year was an interesting year in terms of software updates. Not because major versions of Android are hitting devices much quicker than they have been since say, Android 4.4 KitKat, but because Googles hand was forced into taking mobile security a little more seriously. While Google takes security in Chrome extremely seriously, and put up good money to ensure its security, they were often found to be lagging behind where Android was concerned. Apps, like the aforementioned Chrome browser, can be updated independently, but when something like Stagefright appears, Google has no choice but to update Android itself. That gave birth to monthly security updates, and a requirement fro manufacturers  such as Samsung, LG and Motorola  to list the month and year of its security update. Now, Samsung is outlining the devices that will be getting the January 2016 security updates, but youre unlikely to see them any time soon.

The Samsung devices listed to get such an important and integral update are only flagship devices from the past couple years and they include: the Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Active, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Tab S and Galaxy Tab S2. Despite the fact that these list reads like a lot of devices, thats just really a snippet of the devices that Samsung release each year. It doesnt include any of the cheaper Galaxy Tabs that are found all over the world, sold cheaply on carriers and stores across the globe, nor does it include any of the Galaxy A devices that were just launched at the end of last year. Regardless, these updates are subject to carrier approval just as any other update from Samsung is, so its unlikely the majority of users will see an update until February.

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Those interested in these security updates can take a look at the source link to see the bugs and vulnerabilities fixed in these updates. While things arent great right now, it is good to see Samsung following Googles lead here, but if they really want to keep their devices and their users secure they need to expand the list of devices slated to get such updates and also speed up the roll out of them.
Security has certainly become big business in the last year or two. While, the notion of security has always been at the forefront of consumers minds in general, thanks to the number of hacks, breaches and otherwise, that have occurred of late, it has recently become much more of a hot topic and thereby, much more of concern for manufacturers, carriers and consumers alike. This is largely why a select few companies, Google included, announced that they would start pushing out more regular updates to their main devices. Updates which were security focused and scheduled to arrive on a monthly basis, thereby, keeping devices protected from even the more recent vulnerabilities which come through.

With January almost coming to a close, it would be expected that all those involved would have pushed out their updates by now or are in the middle of doing so. If you are a Samsung device owner and wondering where your security update is, then it looks like it is now officially on its way to your device. The company has today confirmed on their support site that the January security update is now rolling out to devices. However, in terms of specific devices, that information is currently not available as Samsung have only listed the general major flagship models tag to define which devices will receive the update. As such, it is largely expected that this will be the bulk of the 2015 major devices and maybe some select 2014 major flagship models as well.

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As this is only a security update, there wont be much on offer for the end user to note. This is designed to be a security fixing exercise and as the announcement details, the update includes the security patches that were released by Google earlier in the month and also those which are more specifically targeted towards Samsung devices. As such, if you own a Samsung device and see an update arriving soon enough, then this will be your monthly security update. Those interested in finding out more, can head through the source link below and read the full announcement from Samsung.
Sony is one hell of a consumer electronics firm, and whether or not youre a fan of their products, theyve been pushing the envelope for decades now. Things havent gone quite so well for them over the past five years or more, but the firm is enjoying success in areas you perhaps wouldnt expect them to. Their South Korean rivals, Samsung, enjoys success in many of the same areas that Sony do, and the two trade blows, but in the smartphone market its clear which one of them enjoys more success. While Sony isnt doing so well in the mobile market in terms of smartphone sales and market share, the firm has resolved to remain a key part of the industry, selling camera components to the majority of manufacturers out there. Their latest acquisition should definitely help them bring in revenue from selling components, too.

As Reuters is reporting, Sony is set to purchase Altair Semiconductor for a cool $212 Million. Rather than your traditional processor firm, Altair was founded back in 2005 by ex-Texas Instruments execs and specializes in chips for wireless, such as 4G LTE chipsets. Despite being based in Israel, the firm was instrumental in the creation of the Japanese XGP standards for 4G networks and even WiMax solutions. Sony expects to close the deal before the end of February, and right now its unclear what Sony hopes to do with the firm.

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This announcement follows the deal that Sony and Toshiba had made before the end of 2015 for the former to buy the latters imaging business for roughly $155 Billion. Camera sensors and hardware is where Sony makes a good portion of their money in the mobile world, so getting involved in communication chipsets via Altair might not be a bad idea, but just what they hope to accomplish is unclear. Altair is far from a top-tier manufacturer like Qualcomm or even MediaTek, but judging from the relatively small amounts Sony is spending on these two acquisitions it seems Sony is just looking to expand their portfolio. Building up a good foundation of talent and networks from these purchases could set Sony up for the next few years where selling components and hardware solutions are concerned.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Production volume of fruits and vegetables in Armenian greenhouses, according to operative statistics, amounted to 23.7 thousand tons in 2015, 11.3 thousand tons of which was exported. It is predicted that the production will amount up to 30 thousand tons in 2016. Last year, 90% of 11.3 thousand fruits and vegetables of greenhouses was exported to Russia, Armenian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Robert Makaryan mentioned in the interview with Armenpress reporter.

According to him, the greenhouses work efficiently in Armenia and their export volumes will increase in the future as well. According to Robert Makaryans data, greenhouses have produced the main part of 1680 tons of tomato and 3850 tons of cucumbers exported from Armenia in 2015. While in 2014 these indexes amounted to relatively 220 tons and 416 tons. Radish production is a new direction in greenhouses. Around 3 thousand 189 tons radish was exported in 2015.

Referring to the issue of cold storage of fruits and vegetables in Armenia, the deputy minister mentioned their capacity amounts to 45 thousand tons, most of which are fully loaded. It is anticipated that the number of cold storages and their capacity will be increased in the future.

According to his data, only in 2015, 3.45 million tons of grapes, apples, quinces, pears, cherries and persimmon kept in cold storages was exported from Armenia.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited all world leaders to a signing ceremony on 22 April for the historic climate agreement that was reached in Paris in December last year. The ceremony will be held in UN Headquarters in New York.

As the UN press service informs, the Secretary-General intends to use the occasion of the signing ceremony to further engage leaders from business and civil society to put the new agreement into action.

Last year in Paris, the 196 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change reached an historic agreement to combat climate change that will spur actions and investment towards a low-carbon, resilient and sustainable future. It is the first agreement that joins all nations in a common cause based on their historic, current and future responsibilities.

In his invitation, the Secretary-General thanked heads of state and government for their leadership in combating climate change.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Second days work of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) kicked off in Strasbourg on January 26. The 2 anti-Armenian reports are evolved in the agenda. Armenpress presents a live streaming by means of PACE official website.

The two anti-Armenian draft resolutions prepared by a former PACE member from the UK, Robert Walter titled Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan" and by an MP from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milica Markovic on Sarsang reservoir are on the second day of PACE Winter Session.

Hay Dat office in Europe initiated online public voting in social network against anti-Armenian reports involved in the agenda of Pace. More than 8.000 people participated in the mentioned voting.

Ex-president of PACE Anne Brasseur delivered a press-conference prior to the launch of the session, during which she announced that there are numerous proposals to cancel the discussions over the anti-Armenian resolutions. She added that the final decision whether to hold the discussions or not is after the Assembly. Hay Dat office in Europe also informed Armenpress that there is possibility for the mentioned resolutions not to be put to the vote.
(ANSA) - Strasbourg, January 26 - Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland on Tuesday encouraged Italy to pass a civil unions bill guaranteeing rights for gay couples.

"I encourage #Italy to ensure legal recognition for same sex couples as per @ECHR & as in majority of @CoE states," he tweeted. A civil unions bill that would extend rights enjoyed by straight married couples to committed gay couples - such as the right of one spouse to inherit the other's property or pension, or to make decisions in their stead should one partner be incapacitated - is now before parliament.

Catholics across the political spectrum object to a measure in the bill allowing gay spouses to adopt their partner's biological children.

The European Court of Human Rights in July 2015 condemned Italy for failing to give gay couples legal "recognition and protection", and said the State must change its laws to remedy that.

"The legal protection currently available in Italy to same-sex couples...not only failed to provide for the core needs relevant to a couple in a stable and committed relationship, but it was also not sufficiently reliable," the human rights court said in its ruling.

The court also ordered the State to pay damages of 5,000 euros to each of the three gay couples who brought the case against Italy to Strasbourg, and awarded another 14,000 euros to cover legal costs.

Premier Matteo Renzi has said his government would introduce laws on same-sex unions this year.

Lawyers for the three couples said the ruling was "a very positive result".

The Strasbourg court noted that opinion polls have shown that a majority of Italians favour legal recognition for same-sex unions.

It added that Italy's Constitutional Court has "repeatedly called for such protection and recognition".

Neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions between same-sex partners are legally recognized in Italy but some cities, including Rome, have a civil union register.

The court said that was not enough.

Where registration of same-sex unions with the local authorities was possible - only in a small share of municipalities in Italy - this had "merely symbolic value" as it did not confer any rights on same-sex couples, the court said.

The three couples in the case have been together for years, living in Trento, Milan and Lissone respectively, and all had asked their municipalities to recognize their marriages.

In February, Italy's highest appeals court rejected same-sex marriage, saying there was nothing in the Constitution that requires the government to extend marriage rights to gays.

However, the Cassation Court added then that homosexuals have the right to a "protective" law that would ensure same-sex couples have the same rights as unmarried Italian couples.

The European Parliament in March called on EU member States that have not already done so, to recognise civil unions and same-sex marriage as a civil and human right.

The Strasbourg-based court was established in 1959 by the European Convention on Human Rights.

Of the 47 member States of the Council of Europe, an organization that promotes human rights, 24 have such legislation, the Strasbourg court added.


(ANSA) - Rome, January 26 - Following is a list of accords - seven institutional and 10 industrial - signed in Rome by Italian Premier Matteo Renzi and visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

- Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the Italian Economic Development Ministry and the Iranian Commerce Ministry and Industry and Mines Ministry.

- Memorandum of Understanding for joint cooperation between the Italian and Iranian Health Ministries in the health, pharmacological and medical devices sectors.

- Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian Education Ministry and the Iranian Health Ministry.

- Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian Transport Ministry and Iranian Urban Development Ministry. These ministries also signed a Memorandum for railway and high speed cooperation.

- Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian and Iranian Agriculture Ministries.

- Three accords between Iran and the Port of Trieste.

- A strategic accord for bilateral relations between Italy's SACE export credit agency and the Iranian Central Bank.

- An accord between Italy's SAIPEM (engineering, oil and gas drilling and construction) and the Persian Oil and Gas Company.

- An accord of cooperation and development between Italy's Fincantieri shipbuilding company and Iran's Rezaien.

- An accord between Italy's Ansaldo Energy (power generation plants) and Iran's Industrial Development & Renovation Organization IDRO Group - the Danieli Group is involved in three agreements, for a value of 5.7 billion euros, according to the Italian group.

- An agreement between Itinera and Condotte (large-scale infrastructure and civil construction) and Iran's Kayson (engineering and construction).


(ANSA) - Rome, January 26 - Visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted Tuesday that Premier Matteo Renzi will visit Iran sometime this year. "Italian PM @matteorenzi will travel to Iran in the coming months to boost economic ties. #ConstructiveEngagement" Rouhani tweeted on what is the second day of his Italy visit. Renzi and Rouhani signed 17 agreements on Monday evening.

"We signed the first agreements, but it's just the beginning," Renzi said at a joint press conference with the Iranian leader last night.

"There are sectors in which we can and must work more".

The Italian premier also said Iran "can play a key role in the stability of the entire region" and that he has said so "to all our friends in the region - from our Saudi friends to our Israeli friends, to all those who seek peace in the region".

Rouhani responded that Iran "must create the conditions" for Italian and European investors "because part of the Iranian market offers itself to European investors, so that together we can access the great market that surrounds us".


(ANSA) - Rome, January 25 - Italy and Iran are to sign multi-billion-euro agreements in the minerals sector during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Rome, a member of the delegation from Tehran told Iranian agency Tasnim on Monday.

"Contracts worth $5.4 billion are ready for investment with Italy in the mineral sector," said Iranian Trade Minister Mehdi Karbasian, who also heads up state-owned holding company Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development & Renovation (IMIDRO). The contracts "need to be perfected and signed" in the next few hours, he added. IMIDRO has over 50,000 employees and is active in steel, aluminium, copper, and cement production and in exploiting mineral deposits.


YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The adoption of 2 anti-Armenian reports in Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe cannot have a vital impact on the issue of on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Political scientist Alexander Manasyan expressed such opinion during the meeting with journalists on January 26. The adoption of these reports and its consequences do not bother me as only OSCE Minsk Group has a mandate over the resolution of NKR conflict. So the adoption of the mentioned reports cannot have a significant impact, the political scientist emphasized as Armenpress reports.

He added that Armenian delegations in PACE and either European structures should change their attitude and work style, be more active and enterprising. No matter how much we say that only Minsk Group has the regulatory mandate over NKR conflict settlement, Azerbaijan anyway creates an image causing conflict which is not favorable for us. We must be able to oppose such initiatives of Azerbaijan, must have a clear concept of how to prevent Azerbaijan's steps, the politologist mentioned.

According to him, members of the Armenian delegation to PACE, Armenian MFA representatives continuously speak of Azerbaijani "caviar diplomacy", insist that Azerbaijan bribes mane delegacies of PACE but in reality it's not something to be discussed. We should not worry about what Azerbaijan is doing. We need to discuss and understand how we can prevent their steps, Manasyan added.

Alexander Manasyan believes that the Armenian delegation members should consult with Armenian experts to develop joint actions in order to reverse the actions of Azerbaijan. I have never seen our MPs to discuss the subject with experts before attending any session. While it should be mandatory, which will allow them to do more deep analysis and understand how they should operate, the political scientist concluded.

The two anti-Armenian draft resolutions prepared by a former PACE member from the UK, Robert Walter titled Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan" and by an MP from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milica Markovic on Sarsang reservoir, are on the agenda of PACE Winter Session. The reports will be put to the vote on January 26.
(ANSA) - Vatican City, January 26 - Pope Francis told visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Tuesday that he hoped for peace.

Speaking after their talks at the Vatican, the pope told Rouhani: "Thank you for your visit and I hope in peace", according to the press pool.

Taking his leave, Rouhani asked the pope to pray for him.

He said the meeting "pleased me a lot", adding "I wish you well in your work," according to some of those present.

After the private audience between the pope and Rouhani, the Iranian delegation met Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Msgr Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

Tuesday was Rouhani's first visit to a pontiff, on the first trip to Europe by an Iranian president in 16 years.

The Iranian president arrived for his three-day visit Monday, when he met Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi.

He will visit the Colosseum Wednesday morning before flying on to Paris.


(ANSA) - Rome, January 25 - A decision to cover up several nude statues at Rome's Capitoline Museums during a visit on Monday by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stirred a furore.

The move was apparently made as a form of respect for Iranian culture.

Furthermore, wine, which is forbidden by Islam as it is alcoholic, was not served at institutional ceremonies either on Tuesday, ANSA sources said.

"The covering up of the statues in the Capitoline Museums during Rouhani's visit is a sign of excessive zeal," Luca Squeri, an MP for ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's opposition, centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party, said Tuesday. "Respect for other cultures cannot and must not equal the negation of ours. This is not respect, it is the cancellation of differences or, worse still, submission. "It's confirmation that when (Premier Matteo) Renzi speaks of identity and integration, he is talking nonsense.

"You should not hide identity and there can be no integration if we don't value our identify". Rouhani met Renzi, President Sergio Mattarella and other institutional figures on Monday, when Italy and Iran signed 17 different agreements.

He met Pope Francis in the Vatican on Tuesday and discussed the recent accord on Iran's nuclear programme and Iran's role in helping solve conflicts in the Middle East, among other issues. Matteo Salvini, the leader of the rightwing Northern League, said covering up the statues in the Capitoline Museums was "madness" and blasted Renzi welcoming a man "who would like to wipe Israel from the face of the Earth".


(ANSA) - Vatican City, January 26 - Pope Francis's audience Tuesday with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani lasted about 40 minutes, the press pool reported. The president was accompanied by 12 people including one woman, the translator. The pope was flanked by a priests who acted as translator. The pope spoke in Italian and Rouhani in Farsi. Among the Iranian delegation was Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, while Iran's ambassador to the Holy See was also present.

Rouhani gave the pope a hand-made carpet from the holy city of Qom and an illuminated book. The pope gave the president a medal showing St Martin. "It shows St Martin cutting his cape," the pope said, "to cover the poor man. It's a sign of freely given brotherhood". Francis also gave Rouhani a copy of his ecological encyclical Laudato Si', in English and Arabic, there being no Farsi edition.


(ANSA) - Rome, January 26 - Visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani asked Pope Francis to pray for him on Tuesday.

In a 40-minute audience with the leader of the Catholic Church, the Iranian chief gave the pope a hand-made carpet from Iran's holy city of Qom, and an illuminated book. Francis reciprocated with a medal of St. Martin symbolizing brotherhood, and a copy of his ecological encyclical Laudato Si' (Praised Be) in English and Arabic, there being no Farsi edition. The two leaders then talked about the recent accord on Iran's nuclear programme and its role in helping solve conflicts in the Middle East, the Vatican press office said.

"Thank you for your visit and I hope for peace", Francis said.

Taking his leave, Rouhani asked the pope to pray for him.

He said the meeting "pleased me greatly", adding "I wish you well in your work," according to some of those present. Tuesday was Rouhani's first visit to a pontiff, on the first trip to Europe by an Iranian president in 16 years. Earlier on Tuesday, Rouhani addressed an Italy-Iran Business Forum.

"We must engage in a win-win economic collaboration," he told participants on what was his second day in the nation's capital. "Iran is currently the safest and most stable country in the entire (Middle Eastern) region" and is now open to foreign investors after years of sanctions, Rouhani said. "Iranians know Italy and your work - they trust Italians," he said. The leader added that Islam's Koran, or holy book, teaches interfaith tolerance between Christians, Jews and Muslims. "The church, the synagogue and the mosque sit side by side," Rouhani said. "We must first preserve the church, then the synagogue, then the mosque - this is the culture of tolerance the Koran teaches us". Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni hailed renewed relations with Iran - and the oil, raw material, transportation and other business deals being signed between the two nations - as a sign that the late Enrico Mattei's dream of dialogue and economic collaboration "has become reality". Mattei (1906-1962) organized Italy's Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi (ENI) state-owned fuel company after World War II, and negotiated oil deals with Iran and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. "When we began our activities in Iran, we were dreamers," Gentiloni said, quoting Mattei.

The Iranian chief arrived for his three-day visit Monday, when he met Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi. He will visit the Colosseum Wednesday morning before flying on to Paris.


- ROME - The partnership between the Italian academic world and the Moroccan one has been strengthened with an agreement between two major universities. The accord between the Universita Telematica Internazionale Uninettuno and the Al Akhawayn University - on the wishes of the rectors Maria Amata Garito and Driss Ouaouicha - was signed in the presence of Italian education minister Stefania Giannini and her Moroccan counterpart Lahcen Daoudi.



The main points of the agreement call for collaboration on research programs, professor exchanges, the creation of joint education and the beginning of joint professional courses. The work will be conducted through mixed commissions to create joint curricula and issue educational degrees that will be recognized in Morocco, Italy and the rest of Europe. The agreement will also enable Uninettuno and Al Akhawayn to work together to develop e-learning programs from the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez, with the aim of offering education for all students from the Mediterranean, Africa and Europe that would not otherwise be able to frequent degree courses that require a physical presence. ''Our two universities,'' Rector Garito said, '' base their didactic activities on the principle of democratic access to knowledge and knowledge sharing, so that everyone is recognized as having the right to education and training, regardless of gender, religion, language, or economic and social conditions.'' Both of the universities are firmly committed to the development of modern academic programs and the use of new technologies to better respond to labor market needs. (ANSAmed).


(by Francesco Cerri) (ANSAmed) - MADRID, JANUARY 26 - After Greece and Portugal, the anti-establishment Left is inching to power in Spain with post indignado Podemos party getting closer to government in a possible alliance with Pedro Sanchez' Socialists.



The country has been blocked since the legislative elections of December 20 that ended up with a fragmented Congress with no clear majority. Outgoing premier Popular Mariano Rajoy gave up his efforts to form a government, on Friday. At least for now. The ball has now fallen in the court of Psoe secretary Pedro Sanchez, who arrived second with 90 parlamentarians against PP's 123.



Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias, immediately called for a coalition government with the Socialists claiming six ministries, the most pivotal ones for his party, as well as the chair of deputy premier for himself. His diktats enraged the Socialist barons who have been at odds with Sanchez since the day of the elctions, their worst electoral performance in history.



Regional presidents, as well as a former party leader such as Alfredo Rubalcaba denounced the request as ''humiliating'' and for the PSOE and called the position of the young 'Podemites' arrogant.



Party heavyweights such as Felipe Gonzales or Andalusian president Susana Diaz are also growing increasingly irritated.



Sanchez and Iglesias spoke over the weekend. The first clarified he would rather have a PSOE minority government externally supported by Podemos, but Iglesias cautioned that if he was not empowered to 'guarantee change' there would be no Sanchez government.



King Felipe , on Wednesday, will re-open consultations with party leaders before entrusting a new premier with a mandate after Rajoy's refusal sent the ball into Sanchez' court who will now need to fight to be entrusted with the premiership.



However, the path towards a Psoe-Podemos government, that needs to secure the support or the abstention of Basque nationalists and Republican Catalan Independentists of Erc with a simple majority and on a second vote in order to go through, remains uphill.



That said, it remains the only alternative to a return to the polls in spring.



Despite his 123 seats out of 350, Rajoy stumbled in the face of a veto by all other parties.



Sanchez is seeking to replicate the 'Portuguese model' iof Socialist Antonio Costa in Spain. Costa was defeated at the ballots by Conservative Pedro Passos Coelho, but he managed to obtain the mandate thanks to support from the radical Left of Bloco de Esquerda, which is close to Podemos Tsyriza and Communists.



However, the Socialist 'barons' have put many red lines before their secretary: 'no' to an agreement with Podemos if Iglesias continues to call for a referendum on the independence of Catalonia,'no' to pacts with Seccessionist forces or forces favourable to the 'right to choose' such as Pnv.



On the other hand, without them Sanchez does not hold enough seats to go to the Moncloa and save himself from a likely Psoe internal revolt.



The first moment of truth for a Sanchez-Iglesias pact will be Saturday, when the Socialist barons inside the Psoe Federal Council will have to decide whether to give the greenlight to a 'Portuguese government' in Spain.


UPDATE 11.48  The Constitutional Court ruled today that the Special Pensions Act for mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen and deputy chairmen of county councils was unconstitutional, thus acknowledging the notification submitted by the Government.According to sources, the Constitutional Court decision, which has not yet been made public, is to be submitted to the Government.The Pensions Act for local officials will be returned to the Parliament for debate to agree over the CC magistrates' decision on the bill.The government has notified the Constitutional Court of Romania on December 26, in relation to the scope of the special pension law for mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen and deputy chairmen of county councils.According to the Executive, the notification concerns the breach of several articles of the Basic Law by creating privileges for certain local elected representatives and raises uncertainty over the financial impact of applying a legislative act that would result in a budget deficit above the limit approved by Parliament, almost 400 million lei.
President Klaus Iohannis will have talks today with the new Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Pavel Filip. The meeting is held only a week after the Moldovan Premier took office in Chisinau and it's Filip's first formal visit abroad. The latter will also have a meeting today with the head of the Cabinet in Bucharest, Dacian Ciolos. The two Prime Ministers will examine together the reform agenda of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement, as well as the Romanian-Moldovan joint projects. Pavel Filip's visit to Bucharest takes place against the backdrop of massive protests sweeping the streets of Chisinau, where the opposition is collecting signatures in favour of holding early elections.




Pope Francis may visit Romania in 2018, according to official sources quoted by romania-insider.com. The Pope will come to our country for the ceremonies marking the anniversary of 100 years since the Great Union.



Pope will honor in this way the invitation addressed by President Klaus Iohannis last year when he went to the Vatican. The Pope then accepted the invitation, as announced by the Presidential Administration. Details of the visit will, however, be put in place through diplomatic channels.



This would be the second visit of a Vatican Pope to Romania, after the visit of Pope John Paul II in May 1999.



However, the visits details still needed to be negotiated on diplomatic channels.


YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. From May 15, 2016 direct flights will be conducted in Doha-Yerevan-Doha directions. Press secretary of the General Department of Civil Aviation Ruben Grdzelyan informed Armenpress that the flights will be conducted by Qatar Airways by A320 aircraft 4 times a week.

Head of the General Department of the Civil Aviation Artyom Movsesyan highly appreciates the preparedness of Qatar Airways experienced staff and amiable attitude. I am happy that our two-year long negotiations came out to be effective, he mentioned.

CEO of Qatar Airways Akbar Al Baker considers that Doha-Yerevan-Doha flights will grant Armenians with a good opportunity to travel in 150 directions conducted by the airline.
The Bodnariu family drama could overturn the system all over Europe! This is being said by a specialist in human rights, denouncing the abuses committed by the Child Protection in Norway.He has tried to recover the five children whom the State has taken from the Bodnarius arms. It's almost impossible, especially because no one knows where the children are kept, not even the Romanian government.A team from the Observer went to Bergen, Norway, tracking the case which inflamed the continent. It is the town where the Bodnarius lead their fight. A cold and different world, that three thousand kilometers separate us from, along with many more habits and mentalities.Here, the clash of civilizations gives rise to dramas. The Bodnarius know best. Two parents from whom the State has taken five children in a few hours without a social investigation after one girl complained that she was abused at home.Marius Reikeras, Legal Adviser to the Bodnariu family talked to us about the authorities abuses . He claims that the five brothers, Norwegian and Romanian citizens alike, have been hidden.Marius Reikeras accuses the Barnevernet  the Child Protection in Norway - that they violated the human rights.Hardly the exception, the Bodnariu case can be the Romanian drama which will change the Norwegian and European system.For the five million Norwegians, the system is an absolute benchmark and a way of life.About the system errors, we talked to the Bodnarius. In their home in Bergen, once full with five children, now deserted, Ruth and Marius have welcomed us and have revealed to us unknown details about the ordeal they have been going through. Watch an exclusive interview tomorrow on the Observer show.Source: Observator.tv
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. MP of the "Republican Party of Armenia" /RPA/ faction Sukias Avetisyan does not consider the discussion of future plans with the "Armenian Revolutionary Federation" party as incidental. The MP told journalists that when the text of the Constitutional Reforms was being discussed, the Republicans tried to cooperate with other political forces as well, in which we did not succeed.

Todays negotiations with the "Armenian Revolutionary Federation" related to the future plans are the natural continuation of that process. The cooperation with the political parties will continue after the adoption of the Constitution by political consensus. We have upcoming discussions about the changes to be made to the Electoral Code, negotiations on the latter with the political forces are also expected. It is not clear whether a coalition will be formed after those negotiations. I think, we must not hurry in making predictions, Sukias Avetisyan said.

In reply to the journalists question, whether the issue of distributing portfolios had been discussed with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation", MP Avetisyan noted that nothing is being concealed.

I have no information, but had there been such a discussion, I think, it would have been announced. Nothing is being concealed.

The MP added that the possibility of forming a coalition after the parliamentary elections is not ruled out either.
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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!

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Beijing envoy says all US dollars will have a Chinese signature on them by 2018

Benjamin FulfordThe shift in the center of global power is accelerating with a strong push being made to ensure all oil and other international commodities are traded in Chinese dollars or Yuan and not Khazarian so-called US dollars, multiple sources agree. All US dollars will have a Chinese persons signature on them by 2018, according to a special envoy sent to the White Dragon Society by Chinese royals based in Beijing. He promised to send a photograph of these dollars to this newsletter after he returns to China.As a part of this push, Chinese President Xi Jinpings visited Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran to promise a huge industrial and infrastructure development carrot if Middle Eastern oil was sold in Yuan, Pentagon sources said. The Chinese were too polite to mention the stick that was the alternative to this carrot. However, news reports coming out after Xis visit to Saudi Arabia indicated Xi was furious at being snubbed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef. Instead he was only able to see senile King Salman and his son, the deputy crown prince.Nayef has long been close to the Americans and is deeply involved in ISIS and other such matters, CIA officials say.To see how much things have changed in the US for Saudi Arabia, watch the following 6 minute Congress hearing featuring Congressman Hank Johnson getting recently retired US Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford to admit Saudi Arabia is the main sponsor of radical Wahhabist Islam.The Saudis are now in surrender mode and are just waiting for higher level fights to conclude before they kiss the feet of the winner, White Dragon Society sources say.Pentagon sources were more forthcoming, explaining that the problem had now been traced to Turkey, Germany and of course, the Bush/Clinton neo-con Nazi Khazarian faction in the US.For this reason the US military got Presidential Spokesperson Barack Obama to call Russias Vladimir Putin on January 13th. In that conference, the Pentagon and Russia agreed toincrease military to military relations beyond the fight against ISIS in Syria and make it one against the Khazarian mafia worldwide. Defense Intelligence Agency Chief General Mike Flynn is now a back channel for communications between Russian Military Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and General Joseph Dunford, the de-facto US Commander in Chief.With the backing of the Russian and Chinese military, as well as the Pentagon, the overwhelmingly strongest military force on the planet, Dunford then met last week with the heads of NATO in Brussels to tell them that Turkish President Recep Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel would have to go because of their involvement in creating the ongoing European refugee crisis, among other things.To underline this, Turkish Billionaire Mustafa Koc met his maker in what appears to be a message to the oligarchs to dump Erdogan. Mustafa, who was heart attacked on January 21st, was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and top Rockefeller representative in Turkey.Pentagon sources also blame the Khazarian mafia, and their Turkish surrogates, on the death of 12 Marines in Hawaii on January 14th. The payback against Turkey will involve a bloody coup as well as attacks on Turkish infrastructure and overseas bases in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Qatar and Somalia.General Dunford further met with his French counterparts last week to coordinate an attack against Khazarian proxies in Libya. The French military are also being asked to join the battle against the Khazarian mafia, which they have agreed to do.Continue Reading at .... http://benjaminfulford.net/2016/01/26/beijing-envoy-says-all-us-dollars-will-have-a-chinese-signature-on-them-by-2018/
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rejected the report prepared by British parliamentarian Robert Walter (he is no longer PACE member-edit.) Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan". 66 MPs voted in favor and 70 MPs against the report.

Speeches censuring the anti-Armenian reports were delivered during the January 26 session of PACE Winter Session. Representatives of European People's Party (EPP), Christian Democratic and Socialist parties voice against the adoption of the reports. French MP Rudy Salles representing EPP stated that representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milica Markovic, prepared the report Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water without visiting the region the report touches upon.

Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to go on with the negotiations over peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and such reports may rather hamper the settlement process, Armenpress reports, Salle expressed such a conviction.

Speaking about Robert Walters report Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan", French PM Rene Ruke (Socialist) recalled the statements issues by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair states, which find the subversion of Minsk Group format inadmissible. Instead of supporting the viewpoint of one of the sides, the reporter should rather take steps to reinforce the position of the Minsk Group. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, being an institution enjoying high reputation, must strive to establish non-formal dialogue between the sides, Ruke said, stating that he will vote against the report. He considers Walters report as biased and finds such behavior improper.

Hay Dat office in Europe initiated online public voting in social networks against anti-Armenian reports included in the agenda of PACE. More than 8.000 people participated in the mentioned voting.
Hong Kongs bishop emeritus will address the congress in Cebu. Catholic blogger says, "In my experience young people who participate in the Mass in Latin find that it challenges them to dig more deeply into the Catholic faith. The young like to be challenged after all!"

Cebu (AsiaNews) Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, will celebrate the votive Mass of the Most Blessed Sacrament, according to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, on January 26, at 4:30 p.m. at Asilo de Milagrosa, Gorordo Avenue, in Cebu city, site of the 51th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC), on the theme: "Christ in you the hope of glory".

The Societas Eccelsia Dei Sancti Ioseph (Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph)  Una Voce Philippines organized and sponsored the traditional Latin Mass (TLM) to be celebrated by the cardinal.

Card Zen, who regularly celebrates the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, also called traditional Latin Mass since May 2006, plans to speak today, the IECs second day.

The celebration in the Latin rite is authorised by the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum issued by Pope Benedict XVI's on July 7, 2007, which extended to the whole Church the Motu proprio of Pope John Paul II, issued for Ecclesia Dei in 1988, which allows individual bishops to choose places where the Latin Mass can be celebrated.

"In my experience, the young who attend the TLM find that it challenges them to delve more deeply into the Catholic faith. The young like to be challenged after all," said Catholic blogger Carlos Antonio Palad. Latin does not stop those who do not speak the language because the latter was part of the lives of Filipino Catholics for 450 years. Even when the Mass was still in Latin, Filipinos attended assiduously.

Palad, who is part of the Defensores Fidei Foundation, said the worshipper finds in the TLM "a form of worship where the Church does not try to get along with the times." He added that with Latin, there is only "worship and the Catholic faith, without attempts to make it more 'fashionable' or more acceptable to modern tastes."

Palad said TLM attendance in the Philippines has been growing through the years since the Summorum Pontificum came into force.

"When the Summorum Pontificum was promulgated in 2007, there were only three places in the Philippines that had the TLM with the bishops' permission. Today there are 14 places with every Sunday Mass plus some other places with monthly or weekday Masses," he explained. He added that those who come are mostly "very young and enthusiastic."

Dean Louis Bascon, a 25-year old teacher at the Paco Catholic School, plans to travel to Cebu to attend this once in a lifetime celebration. He says he is drawn to the TLM because of "the sense of reverence, the sense that something great is really happening right in front of me, what people actually call the sense of the sacred, the very clear feeling that you are encountering the Lord Himself."
by Giorgio Marengo

The countrys Catholic community is the world's youngest. On 28 August, it will celebrate the ordination of Deacon Joseph Enkhee-Baatar. One of us has it made! And if he did it, others will follow his example. We are sure that there will be many after him." An indigenous Catholic minister will be able to connect our faith with what our traditions.

Ulaanbaatar (AsiaNews)  On 28 August of this year, Mongolias tiny Catholic community will welcome its first native priest, Joseph Enkhee-Baatar, at a service in Ulaanbaatars Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral led by Mgr Wenceslao Padilla, apostolic prefect of Mongolia.

In December 2014, the future priest was ordained deacon by Mgr Lazzaro You Heung-sik, bishop of Daejeon. Fr Giorgio Marengo, a Consolata missionary present in the country since 2003, sent AsiaNews the following piece in which he describes the reaction of his community of faithful to the news.

The small Catholic community in Arvaiheer (21 people) joyfully welcomed the news that on 28 August Enkhee-Joseph will be ordained as the first native priest of Outer Mongolia. In Chinese-controlled Inner Mongolia, there have been priests in the past century, but none in independent Mongolia. Enkhee will be the first.

Sitting around the table, sipping some suutei-tsai (a salty tea with milk) after Sunday Mass, parishioners expressed their views about the news. Obviously, they are happy about it.

For some, "Enkhee has shown that he is very patient and disciplined if he has managed to train for so long and in a foreign country." In fact, Enkhee spent many years at seminary in Daejeon, South Korea, the guest of the local diocese.

The faithful know that becoming a priest is a demanding process, especially in terms of self-discipline. Some actually can hardly believe it. Still "One of us has it made! And if he did it, others will follow his example. We are sure that there will be many after him."

In reality, no one knows him personally. When they were baptised, he was already in Korea to study. Of course, they their love and prayer went along with him to the faraway place.

"For us it is very important that the new priest be Mongolian because he will speak our language like one of our children or one of our siblings. More importantly, he will be able to link the faith to our traditions."

Such a goal is quite legitimate. For a religion still seen as "foreign", having a native minister can mean a lot both in terms of the relationship with local secular authorities, who so far have had to deal with foreigners (us missionaries). At a deeper level, they also know that Enkhee will be able to do a lot to reconcile traditional Mongolian practices and the Catholic faith.

"We expect that a Mongolian priest knows better how to explain our faith to those who have questions; this way, he can help us on our journey of internalising the same faith."

A flicker of satisfaction and joy can be seen in their eyes: pride in being Mongolian. As one woman says, he will be able to connect our faith with what our ancestors passed on to us and made us what we are: Mongolians. For Catholics in Arvaiheer, This is the greatest wish. And they will count on Enkhee for this.

Eventually, the conversation shifted to television where a Christian woman was able to respond intelligently to a journalists provocations, showing that her faith did not go against the deepest values she had received.

For a moment, the faithful forgot about Enkhee and began asking me to help them understand how Catholics must participate in family or social events in which the others follow the countrys dominant Buddhist tradition. Everyone talked about their experience. I listened to them and tried to offer some suggestions.

Ultimately, our role as missionaries is to foster the encounter with Christ. After that, it will be up to them re-define their cultural identity in the light of the faith, and find their place in society. The first Mongolian priest will help in this, as long as he can remain humble and attentive after he meets a lot of people in August.

Let us also hope that his fellow Mongolian Catholics will help him keep his feet on the ground, and become a minister of mercy and holiness who accompanies them in the inculturation of their faith. With a lot of praying and through a simple life.

Meanwhile, we Consolata missionaries shall remain, unless a wave of extreme nationalism does not force us to leave. Perennial outsiders, we are pilgrims and visitors, the seed that falls to the ground and disappears, so that the Church may be born.
Fr Darick Paul D'Souza was ordained in early January by Mgr Hinder in Abu Dhabi. Son of migrant parents, his calling came when the apostolic vicar of southern Arabia was ordained bishop. I never really imagined that one day I would become a priest, he said. In fact, despite having a good job, I had to become a priest." For now, my place is in India."

Bangalore (AsiaNews)  Fr Darick Paul D'Souza is one of two Indian priests ordained by the apostolic vicar of southern Arabia earlier this year. He comes from an Indian Catholic family that moved to Dubai in search of work when he was very little. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), his parents raised their children according to Christian teachings.

I never really imagined that one day I would become a priest, the newly ordained clergyman said. Yet when Mgr Paul Hinder was ordained bishop of Arabia, something struck me. I realised there was something beautiful in the consecrated life, in bearing witness to the Gospel. That ceremony made me realise that I had to be in the service of God and humanity. The calling became increasingly clear.

Speaking to AsiaNews, he described how his priestly vocation developed. At first I did not think it that was my task, but then I realised it was Gods calling. Being raised Catholic in the UAE was possible, he explained, because freedom on religion is guaranteed in the seven Emirates.

The Emirates are a hospitable and peaceful nation. Although 90 per cent of the local population is Muslim, Catholic immigrants can freely profess their beliefs, without restrictions. Indeed, here religion is strengthened and kept alive by the Christian community and the local church. "

Approximately 80 per cent of the resident population comes from other Asian countries, like India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Workers find their place society and economically help their families back home.

Fr Darick Paul had a good, well-paid job in information technology. He was an adult when he developed his vocation, conscious of what it meant for his future life.

"I spent two years developing my vocation, he explained, but in the end I realised that it was inevitable. So I told Mgr Hinder I had to become a priest. That was my choice."

As for bearing witness to the Gospel in a Muslim country, he noted, Our mission in this part of the world is a great challenge, bearing witness to our faith in a respectful manner, without trying to convince anyone; only to show with facts the beauty the Gospel. This is also Pope Francis message."

Other challenges came after his calling. "I went to my employer and told him I wanted to quit my job. Then, he told me that the company was willing to offer me a better position. I was shocked; I did not know how to handle the situation." Still, the "decision was irreversible."

After six more months at the firm to meet his job obligations, the new priest undertook an initial period of novitiate in Sri Lanka followed by training in Karnataka, his parents home state, with the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin.

After his ordination in Abu Dhabi, he went back to Karnataka. For now, he will be assistant priest at St Anthony Catholic Church in Bangalore where his activities will be mostly confessions and finances. However, I am not ruling out going back to the Emirates; my vocation developed there. For now though, my place is in India."
by Bernardo Cervellera

Today's meeting raises hope for regional stability and a stop to the slaughter of Christians, condemned to oblivion at the hands of al Qaeda and Isis, who are also Irans enemies. The dialogue between cultures, religions and peoples that began under Khatami, frozen under Ahmadinejad, can now start again. Moderate Islam is also useful to Iranian youth, nauseated by the ayatollahs and the Revolutionary Guards. The Catechism and Catholic theologians are available in Persian translations.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  There are many reasons to be happy for todays meeting between Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The foremost one is hope.

Not since Mohammed Khatamis presidency (1997-2005) has an Iranian leader visited the Vatican. During his tenure, Khatami sought to open a cultural and religious dialogue between Iran and the Catholic Church.

Unfortunately, he was succeeded by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a Holocaust denier whose threats (real and imaginary) against Israel and the international community virtually ended all contacts.

With Rouhanis victory, moderates are back in power, which raises hope for renewed dialogue based on respect and openness to ideas of co-existence of religions and peoples.

Rouhanis success is good for the Vatican and the Catholic Church, often seen in the Muslim world as representing a Western religion responsible for materialism, colonialism, and immorality, an easy a scapegoat in places like Pakistan, Iraq, or Egypt. . . . where Christians are attacked to strike at the West even though the latter are indigenous to the East, locally rooted for many centuries before the advent of Islam. His victory is also good for Islam in Iran.

Khomeinis revolution turned Shia traditions upside down, imposing religious controls and Sharia (like in Saudi Arabia), as well as an antagonistic attitude towards everybody else. Yet, historically Shiism was always more mystical and more open to dialogue with other cultures.

Today, Khatamis legacy is still felt, as exemplified by the institutes responsible for the Islamic Encyclopaedia, whose many tomes show the influence and openness of Islam in the fields of science, philosophy and religion.

Last year I visited the University of Religions and Denominations in Qom. One of its activities is the translation of sacred texts from various traditions, like Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. Some of its scholars have even translated the catechism of the Catholic Church into Farsi, with an introduction by Card Jean-Louis Tauran.

Going back to a more open and mystical form of Shiism would be good for Iranian society where 50 per cent of the population is made up of young people. Increasingly disgusted by the politicisation of mosques and heavy-handed social controls, young Iranians are turning their backs to the mullahs and the Pasdaran, the Revolutionary Guards, object of their mockery.

Politically, the regimes survival is at stake because of the rise of al Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) group, who are ethnically cleansing Arab societies of the polluting presence of Christians and their modernity and openness.

Getting Iran on board in the fight against IS, the talks on Syria, in Iraq and Lebanon would bring some balance to the regions tense situation.

In Iran, Christians are ghettoised, banned from missionary activity, but their life is relatively safe, not exposed to incidents and attacks, with better guarantees that in the neighbouring Gulf States and the Arabian Peninsula.

For Iran, survival remains a main goal. To the extent that the country grows and moderates get stronger, Iran will provide jobs to its population.

The Green Wave, the protest movement sparked by Ahmadinejads rigged 3009 victory, was drowned in blood, but those individuals and civil society groups who took part in it are still alive and want nothing more than to be freed from the ayatollahs and the economic stranglehold of the Pasdaran. Without moderates in power, Iran could slide towards domestic strife.

A moderate victory could lead to increased contacts and trade with the international community. Italy, where Rouhani undertook his first foreign trip after the lifting of sanctions, has already signed agreements worth 17 billion euro. France, Germany, and the United States expect to get their share of Iranian trade.

From this point of view, for Rouhani the meeting with Pope Francis Rouhani allows Iran back into the international community, a bit like what the Vatican Secretariat of State did for US-Cuban relations.

Human rights remain a problem in Iran: death penalty, incarceration, censorship, restrictions on social media, etc. This is the old Iran, against which Rouhani is fighting.

The successful nuclear agreement, the acceptance of UN monitoring, and the release of US prisoners are steps to follow. Hence, we should befriend Rouhani, not condemn him.
To me, the specifics of the details of this case aren't as important as the bigger picture. This is a essentially a limiting of a citizens freedoms by monitoring his personal behavior based not on guilt or proven history, but on suspicion. And it doesn't matter if it's a strong suspicion or just a hunch, the man is being treated as a criminal based on suspicion only.



And when you boil it down to what this is at its core, it's not that great a leap to think that a sexual risk order protocol such as this could be used as a model to attempt to prevent other undesirable behaviors. How about a domestic terrorist risk protocol (which may already be in place in the US), or a political activist protocol, or a robbery risk protocol? if one can have personal freedoms limited and behavior monitored based on a suspicion, then what's in place to stop a fearful public from allowing its law enforcement to expand the risk practice to other groups? If one speaks out against his government's policies too much, can he be made to notify the court when he plans to travel? If someone is poor and suspected as more likely to commit theft, will he be required to notify authorities prior to entering any bank?



History shows that our freedoms are never taken away in one swooping motion, they're taken incrementally without much notice and with the expectation that this usurpation of liberty will lead to greater safety for the whole. So we allow it, we're not bothered by it because it doesn't affect us and we see it as a way to keep ourselves safer. And it works, so it's expanded in other ways to keep us safe, and eventually we have a preventive police state.



This case doesn't sit well with me, not for what it is, but for what it can become.
Active Shooter Reported At Naval Medical Center In San Diego

Trending News: No Shooter Found At Naval Medical Facility

Why Is This Important?

Because at this rate 2016 isn't going any better than 2015.

Long Story Short

An active shooter has been reported at Naval Medical Center San Diego

Long Story

Moments ago, the L.A. Times reported an active shooter situation at Naval Medical Center San Diego. Personnel located in the building have been urged to run, hide or fight. Theres no word yet as to how many shooters there are or how many (if any) people have been wounded.

**!ATTENTION!** An active shooter has just been been reported in building #26 at Naval Medical Center San Diego. All... Posted by Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) on Tuesday, January 26, 2016

#Breaking: Authorities are responding to an active shooter situation at Naval Medical Center https://t.co/GrTcM3MSzr https://t.co/B3tRacTeqy  The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) January 26, 2016

The local CBS outlet has live coverage of the events here.

Building #26 is exceptionally large, housing both wounded Marines and Sailors, as well as a fitness facility. Reporters on the scene haven't seen anyone enter or exit the building.

Naval Medical Center San Diego on lockdown after active shooter is reported in building #26 https://t.co/NR3uHhJQR7 pic.twitter.com/YsK9tM074P  Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) January 26, 2016

The Navy just confirmed that the children housed within the on-base childcare facility are safe and accounted for. The shots rang out at about 8:00 am PST, though no outlets have yet confirmed if they were shots at all.

If accurate, reports of a shooting at yet another Naval facility will hit a little too close to home for some. In September of 2013, a mentally unstable former contractor accessed the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. and went on a shooting spree. 12 people were killed and three were injured before police were able to kill the man in a stairwell. The building, then simply known as "building 197," was closed for over a year and was renamed to honor shipbuilder Joshua Humphries.

Update: The Navy is reporting that the initial alarm mentioned three shots heard in the basement, where the building's security office is located. The Security officer, however, is uninjured and reports hearing no gunshots.

Update 1:00 pm: Police have completed a sweep of the building, with no injuries or gunman found.

Navy spokesman just told me security team completed one sweep of Naval Medical Center San Diego, no casualties, no gunman located.  Tom McKay (@thetomzone) January 26, 2016

It's possible that nothing's happening, and someone heard something that sounded like gunshots. A similar incident happened at the Humphries building this year in Washington, when a few employees thought they heard gunfire. It turned out to be a false alarm, likely a falling object (maybe a filing cabinet).

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question: What's responsible for what feels like an uptick in shootings?

Disrupt Your Feed: Not again.

Drop This Fact: A shooting at the Washington, D.C. Navy Yard resulted in the death of 12 people.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) must be cautious in its interferences and formulations in terms of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. German MP Axel Fischer, representing European Peoples Party, expressed such an opinion during the discussion of the anti-Armenian reports at PACE Winter plenary Session. Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement is under the auspices of OSCE Minsk Group, and we must be cautious in our formulations and interferences. I once had the chance to say in Armenia that it is a brilliant example how France and Germany managed to find ways for dialogue after the World War II, when the people of those two countries hated each other. I wish to see the same for the future generations of Armenia and Azerbaijan, so that they are able to shake hands and build their future, Armenpress reports, Fischer stated.

John Howell, representing European Conservative Group stated that the OSCE Minsk Group must be granted with an opportunity to go on with the mission of peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. I comprehend the announcement stating that the progress in Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement has been slow in the last two decades. But we should not forget that the Minsk Group has also made achievements. It is precisely the Minsk Group that should be granted with opportunities to solve the issue and go on with the process. We have not gathered here to doubt why the Minsk Group was established or how the sides must settle the confrontation, the MP said.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rejected the report prepared by British parliamentarian Robert Walter (he is no longer PACE member-edit.) Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan". 66 MPs voted in favor and 70 MPs against the report.

Speeches censuring the anti-Armenian reports were delivered during the January 26 session of PACE Winter Session. Representatives of European People's Party (EPP), Christian Democratic and Socialist parties voice against the adoption of the reports.
On the eve of Australia Day, the national holiday when people in the country mark the arrival of the first fleet of British ships in 1788, political leaders have signalled that they want a Republic.The British flag was raised at Port Jackson in New South Wales on 26 January on what was to become Sydney, named after the then British Home Secretary Lord Sydney. To this day the British monarch is also the monarch of Australia. While it is very much regarded as a symbolic role, Queen Elizabeth II and the British royal family are tremendously popular in Australia and when a referendum was held in 1999 the Australian public voted 55% to 45% against a Republic.However, now seven of the eight State leaders have signed a declaration calling for an Australian head of state to replace the Queen. Western premier Colin Barnett did not sign the document, saying that he supports a Republic but does not feel it is the right time.Many people in Australia believe that when the Queen dies, she will be 90 this year, it might be a good time for a change. But the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) campaigns for change as soon as possible.However there is evidence that the majority of people in Australia do not support change. The last nationwide poll in 2014 found that just 42% support the idea of a Republic. Many also feel that to "ditch" the Queen would be disrespectful in a year when she marks her 90th birthday."More and more people realise that in the 21st century it is ludicrous for Australia to find our heads of state from one family of un-elected English aristocrats living in a palace in London," said Peter FitzSimons, ARM chairman.However, the Australian Monarchist League argues there is no widespread public support for replacing the monarchy. National chairman Philip Benwell said that an ARM petition for change has gathered just over 4,000 signatures and therefore does not have strong public support.Benwell criticised the timing of the petition, ahead of Australia Day. "Australia day should be a day of national rejoicing, not division. And we feel that Peter FitzSimons is introducing this sort of thing to divide the Australian people," he said."Politicians want a republic so that they can have more power and authority. We will have a President who will be selected by the parliament and the parliament will therefore control that president. At the moment we have a sovereign head of state and the Queen who is totally above party politics," he added.Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, Andrew Barr, backs change. "I believe Australians deserve to have a head of state who is Australian, someone who lives in our country and represents our values and belief. Our ties with the Monarchy continue to reflect a nation of the past. Itis time for us to grow up and stand on our own two feet," he said.Meanwhile, the talk of the town is unlikely to be about the Queen as millions of Australians have a day off and celebrate, whether they are aware of it or not, the day Australian became a monarchy.There will be barbeques, beach trips, fairs, festival and citizenship ceremonies where Australianis newest citizens pledge their allegiance to a country they have chosen to live and work in. It is also a day when Australians are encouraged to celebrate the diversity of a nation where almost half of the nation were born abroad.
Hi guys,



I am a new member desperately seeking information re moving from UK to Perth, Australia where my brother-in-law reside,(My husband's real brother).



My husband has been self employed for 25+ years but his skills are not on the skillset, (Owned snack vans) while i'm a soon-to-be postgrad Business Technology graduate looking to hopefully emigrate to Australia.



Anyway, i have been looking at different visa entries to a point where i feel like i'm going in circles.



So far, there are 2 visas that do stand out;



1. Student Visa - I have applied for two entry level jobs in Perth but have been advised by the employers that without 1+ years' experience in my chosen field,i need ' refresher' qualifications from an Australian University. Based on our finances(Course fees,our child's fees,living cost etc), this is a route that we can afford for me to retrain for 6-12months and hopefully, get onto the employment ladder. Having spoken to one or two universities in Western Australia,This means that the next university intake will be either in Oct 16 or Jan 17.



2. Family Visa - His brother is more than ready to sponsor us but i can still become a student here if i do not find any job but my husband is worried that he may not find any job for him. Plan B would be for him to start a snack bar over in Perth once he becomes well conversant with the area.



My questions are;



1. Which visa carries more weight regarding our situation please?

2. We have a child who will be going to secondary school in end August 16. What kind of visa would be suitable for us and when would be the best time to enrol our child into an Australian Secondary School please?

3. How long must you be in Australia before you become self- employed please?

Any advice will greatly be appreciated.



Kindly note : Sorry for the long post.



Thanks in advance guys..
MPV

The upcoming Opel Meriva is expected to be launched late this year or in early 2017 as an MY 2017 car, so buyers interested in the vehicles unique FlexDoor configuration still have time to buy the current model.The third generation of Opels subcompactis expected to share its underpinnings with the future Peugeot 3008. The partnership between PSA Peugeot-Citroen and General Motors was signed in 2012 and they eventually ended up making three projects in collaboration.One of these projects includes the production of a B-segment MPV at the General Motors factory in Zaragoza, Spain. The company makes its Opel Corsa there, among other models. Other projects of the General Motors - PSA Peugeot-Citroen partnership involve the production of a C-segment crossover utility vehicle at the PSA plant in Sochaux, France, along with the production of a B-segment light commercial vehicle at the PSA factory in Vigo, Spain.Going back to the Meriva prototype, we notice an approach that has moved to a more crossover look. The prototype seems to have received a larger tailgate door. The car still features a large degree of camouflage, but the handles of the rear doors are unmistakably placed to a regular position, and the respective doors will open facing the back of the vehicle.The upcoming Opel Meriva and its sister Peugeot-Citroen models will likely share engines, transmissions, and technology. We expect the two alliance partners to figure out a way to blend their diesel- and gasoline-engined powerplants in the most efficient offering possible.Initially, the alliance between PSA Peugeot-Citroen and General Motors involved a much larger plan. The two companies were supposed to build a midsize sedan together, along with a new subcompact hatchback. The decision meant a common platform for the Opel Insignia and its Peugeot-Citroen equivalents, the 508 and C5. Furthermore, the partnership was supposed to bring together the successor of the Opel Corsa with the upcoming generations of the Peugeot 208 and Citroen C3. However, the plan did not pan out, and the two partners decided to restrain their collaboration.
If we are to believe sources close to the house of Noale, Aprilia currently has no bike for Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl to test. So far, the Italian manufacturer tested the new electronics that will be used in the 2016 rendition of the RS-GP at Valencia, with Bautista crashing twice and being rather reserved as to how the machine performs.According to the same source , Bautista and Bradl said they were worried about the new Michelin tires, the new electronics and the bike itself, which they haven't gotten to even see until now.Bradl added that the entire electronic package for 2016 needed thorough improvements in almost all areas. "On acceleration the traction control is not good enough and with the engine brake you cannot really trust it. I couldn't find confidence," he said.Aprilia is, therefore, likely to miss the Sepang test and the Australian one at Phillip Island, opting in favor of a private one at the Losail circuit in Qatar. Not only that Qatar is much closer to Italy than Australia or Malaysia but Aprilia can also benefit from the lack of disturbing factors that are usually associated with official tests.The Losail test is said to take place early in March, just ahead of the final official test. This means that Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl will only have two rounds of tests to put the 2016 Aprilia RS-GP through its paces and try to make ends meet.Mike Di Meglio might also get to see the new bike and take it for a spin before the contracted riders can do so, making sure that at least everything is in place. As to how the team and the two factory pilots will be able to put together the new tires, new electronics, and the whole new bike, this is a thing only time (and the Qatar test) will tell.
During the 21-day trip, customers will be taken to five continents, eight countries, nine of the worlds best hotels, and they will be spoiled with the best driving routes the world has to offer.Starting in Europe, the guests are introduced to the twisting mountain roads of Monaco, the coastal highway to Portofino, and the incredible surroundings of the Italian lakes. In the first leg, customers will stay near the Lake Como and in the remote Dolomites region of the Alps and will participate in bespoke activities, such as a personalized fragrance making class and a glacier picnic, in the peaks of the Alps, where they will be transported by helicopter.The second leg will see the guests leaving the beautiful Europe and heading for Marrakech, where they will visit the arid desert around Ouarzazate and will take a trip into the Atlas Mountains.The Arizona desert represents the third leg of the journey, where customers will stay at the Amagiri Resort in Utah, a one-of-a-kind 600-acre paradise built around a central swimming pool. Activities for this leg include hiking and scrambling excursion into Antelope Canyon, private dinner under the stars at a local Sandstone Butte, and breakfast in Zion National Park.In the fourth leg, guests take an overnight flight to Chile, to experience the Atacama Desert, known as the driest non-polar desert in the world. Apart from making driving excursions in one of the most impressive surroundings on earth, they will be taken to the Alamo Observatory, a 1 billion pounds telescope that can see the beginning of time.The guests will finish their incredible trip in Sydney where they will experience a VIP bridge climb and behind-the-scenes access to the Opera House. On the second day, they will take a stunning drive through the vast, rugged wilderness, and will have breakfast standing knee deep in an estuary enjoying fresh oysters and local sparkling wine.We set out to design a trip worthy of the ultimate luxury SUV and thanks to our partners at Abercrombie & Kent we have achieved just that. From Europe to Australia, this trip is all about the epitome of luxury but done so in a Land Rover way, the unexpected, the off-the-beaten-track and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences, said Mark Cameron, Land Rover Experiential Marketing Director at Jaguar Land Rover.This one-of-a-kind trip starts at 100,000 pounds per person based on two travellers and is being offered through Abercrombie & Kents boutiques located in Harrods London, City of London, Abu Dhabi and Monaco, as well as via online enquiries.
The state of New Mexico has become the first US state to bring Volkswagen to court over this issue, and the lawsuit also involves the Audi and Porsche brands for their respective diesel engines that were fitted with emission defeat devices.The lawsuit accuses Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and their subsidiaries in the United States of violating the states air quality standards, along with engaging in aggressive marketing campaigns to pass off certain diesel models as clean and efficient.The state of New Mexico is not the first entity to sue Volkswagen on its Dieselgate situation, though, as the US Justice Department brought the German company to court on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency. In the case regarding the EPA, Volkswagens penalties for violating the Clean Air Act could add up to over $20 billion in fines.In Asia, South Korea wants to sue Volkswagen as well , on similar charges. Judging by how things are going in this case, the German company could be caught up in many legal battles worldwide by the time 2016 is over.Citing an Associated Press story, Autoblog reports that dozens of state attorneys general have teamed up for this civil investigation. On the other side, Volkswagens spokespersons have declined to comment on the upcoming legal battle.According to the initiators of the lawsuit, between 4,000 and 10,000 affected models were delivered to New Mexico. The prosecutors of the case want to start a trial with a jury and seek damages and penalties.In the worst case scenario, Volkswagen could be fined for each day of its vehicles violating the states air quality act. The nitrogen oxide emissions of the affected cars exceeded the maximum emission limits by up to 40%.
Hammond pleaded guilty to four counts and, on Friday, January 22, was sentenced to serve six months consecutively for each offense. He will spend at least one year in jail, followed by a two-year driving ban and an extended re-testing period.Now, you know how it usually goes in such cases. Not-that-smart riders record their antics, which often include speeding way above the legal limits on certain sectors of road, and occasionally adding passing in no-passing zones, wheelies and other things that would not make cops or judges happy.Then they upload these videos to social platforms and brag about their deeds. Sooner or later, a cop in the region would see these videos and start an inquiry that ends with the identification of the "hero" and all the legal consequences that derive from his or her deeds.However, it was not the case for Hammond, at least not with the social platform mistake. Two policemen saw Hammond on the A27 at Chichester, on April 29 this year, riding his Honda Fireblade at an estimated 80 mph (129 km/h) in a 50 mph (80 km/h) zone, wheeling and passing several vehicles.The cops pulled the rider over and seized the card in his helmet cam. An inspection of the memory card revealed around 150 video clips that showed Hammond on his motorcycle repeatedly breaking speed limits. The record was doing 110 mph (177 km/h) in a 30 mph (48 km/h) zone, while the top speed was 153 mph (246 km/h).Now, the online communities are debating whether Hammond should have received a harsher penalty or a lesser one. Some say he is a menace to road safety, and we can't argue that WSBK speeds on countryside roads are a healthy habit.On the other hand, his very 150 recordings (and try to imagine how much he has ridden all in all) without an incident are a testimony to his skills as a rider.And what's worse, some fellows in the UK provide examples of drivers who have committed much worse crimes and were sentenced to two years in jail. Visordown reader Rogerborg mentions this is the same sentence "that drunk driver Brian Hampton got for fraudulently insuring his car, driving while banned, smashing into the back of 16 year old moped rider Jade Clark, smearing her down the road, then driving off and leaving her to die."What's your take on this?
STRASBOURG, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted rapporteur Milica Markovics (Bosnia and Herzegovina) draft resolution on Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water making some changes and revisions to the draft. 98 MPs voted for, 71  against. 40 MPs abstained.

There was criticism towards the reports in the speeches given during the session.

MP Rudy Salles (France, Member of the Group of the European People's Party,) emphasized that Markovic prepared the reports without ever being in the location. He added that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed to continue the dialogue on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and such reports would endanger the settlement process.

Armenpress tries to get in touch with the Armenian delegates to PACE for more details concerning the modified provisions of the report which was done before the voting to make the text more balanced.

Earlier today PACE refused to adopt draft resolution on Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan by rapporteur Robert Walter (no longer a PACE member). 66 MPs voted for, 70  against the report.
The 2015 Chevrolet Volt, photo by Kareem Girgis.

The U.S. Department of Energy has offered $58 million in funding for vehicle technology advancements through its Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan program, the agency has announced.

The agency will offer $55 million for projects in the areas of energy storage, electric drive systems, materials, fuels and lubricants and advanced combustion. Two innovative projects at CALSTART and the National Association of Regional Councils will receive $3 million to develop systems that help companies combine their purchasing of advanced vehicles, components, and infrastructure to reduce incremental cost and achieve economies of scale, Secretary Ernest Moniz announced.

"Our work refining cars that are efficient, affordable and can plug into the grid will also help propel us to even greater progress on reducing pollution and boosting energy security," Moniz said.

These technologies will help save American consumers money and decrease carbon emissions by increasing the fuel efficiency of conventional cars and trucks, while also supporting DOE's EV Everywhere Grand Challenge to make plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) as affordable to own and operate as todays gasoline-powered vehicles by 2022.

The federal government overhauled the ATVM program in 2014, following several high-profile failures from companies who recieved DOE loans, including Fisker Automotive, who recieved a $529 million committment from DOE before declaring bankruptcy. Other loans have gone to successful companies such as Ford Motor Co. and Tesla Motors.
In December 2015, EU demand for new commercial vehicles registered a strong increase (+14.8 percent), totaling 191,826 units over the month and marking one year of consecutive growth, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).

Growth was sustained across all commercial vehicle segments. Italy (+23.2 percent), Spain (+23.0 percent), the UK (+20.3 percent) ended the year posting double digit percentage gains in December, followed by France (+9.4 percent) and Germany (+8.7 percent), according to ACEA research.

In 2015, the EU market showed a consistent uplift (+12.4 percent) and rose for the third year in a row, exceeding 2 million commercial vehicles registered (2,079,322). During the year, Spain (+36.4 percent) showed the most significant increase, followed by the UK (+16.7 percent), Italy (+13.2 percent), Germany (+4.3 percent) and France (+3.1 percent)  all performing better than 2014, according to ACEA research.

In December 2015, new registrations of light commercial vehicles totaled 160,518 units, up (+13.5 percent) compared to December 2014. This marked the 28th consecutive month of growth in the segment. Italy (+23.9 percent), Spain (+23.8 percent), the UK (+14.6 percent), France (+8.7 percent), and Germany (+5.6 percent) all posted registration gains, according to ACEA.

In 2015, 1,713,850 new vans were registered in the EU (+11.6 percent). All major markets saw their demand for vans increase over the year, in particular Spain (+36.1 percent), the UK (+15.6 percent) and Italy (+12.4 percent), according to the ACEA research.

In December 2015, new truck registrations in the EU totaled 27,315 units, up (+23.7 percent) compared to December 2014. The UK market finished the year strongly (+75.6 percent) after showing decline in October. Also Spain (+19.5 percent), Germany (+19.5 percent), France (+13.2 percent) and Italy (+10.1 percent) showed large upturns at the end of 2015, according to the ACEA research.

In 2015, 325,689 new trucks (+16.2 percent) were registered in the EU. Looking at the five major markets, Spain (+38.4 percent), the UK (+24.5 percent), Italy (+21.3 percent) and France (+10.3 percent) posted the highest increases over the year, according to the ACEA research.
Photo courtesy of District of Columbia.

More than 2 feet of snow fell along the East Coast and middle Atlantic regions over the weekend, leading transportation agencies to work around the clock to clear snow and ice, while closing highways and streets in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia.

During the historic snow storm, hundreds of commercial drivers were stranded in their trucks, a Kentucky transportation worker died when his plow truck slid off the road, and a District of Columbia worker abandoned his stuck plow on a residential street.

As many as 200 tractor-trailers were stranded Friday overnight on Interstate 77 north of Charleston in West Virginia. Hundreds of vehicles, including commercial drivers, were stranded on the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Pittsburgh. In Maryland, the I-270 and I-70 from I-81 in Washington County to the Baltimore Beltway had reopened as of 7 a.m. Sunday, reports the Boston Globe.

The City of Philadelphia lifted its snow emergency at 10 p.m. Sunday, allowing vehicle parking along snow emergency routes. The city canceled trash collection Monday after using the sanitation trucks to clear streets. The city deployed 600 street and fleet employees and 400 plow drivers, reports the Inquirer.

A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet worker was found dead in his snow plow truck just before 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, reports WDRB. Christopher Adams, 44, had been plowing roads when he ran off the side of Highway 115, reports WKU Public Radio.

A D.C. worker abandoned his snow plow after it became stuck in a residential neighborhood on 33rd Street NW around 6 p.m. Saturday. Residents decorated the truck with holiday lights, reports the Washington Post.
Dan Petlon.

Auto Europe, a global car rental aggregator, has named Dan Petlon as its new chief information officer.

Petlon replaces Steve Grant, who after 22 years, will be transitioning into retirement.

We are pleased to welcome Dan to our executive leadership team, said Imad Khaldi, CEO of Auto Europe. In the past year, we have made a number of strategic hires in preparation for the growth we are forecasting for 2016. Dan will be an invaluable asset as we work to scale our infrastructure and IT team to better support our global customers and partners.

Petlon has over 18 years of experience in information technology. In 2014, he was named one of Computerworlds Premier 100 IT Leaders while working as chief information officer for Enterasys Networks. Prior to his years in the commercial sector, Petlon began his career serving in the United States Navy.

"I am thrilled to be joining the team at Auto Europe at such an important time in its growth, said Petlon. I look forward to the exciting work ahead as we improve the scale of our platform and team to continue to deliver the smooth rental experience our customers have come to expect."
Cape Air, one of the biggest independent regional airlines in the U.S., has cut another route, citing a shortage of pilots. The airline, which cancelled a route in Montana last week, will no longer fly from the Providence, Rhode Island, airport to Block Island, a popular vacation destination about 40 miles away. Trish Lorino, a spokesperson for Cape Air, told AVweb this week the airline doesnt expect to cut any more routes, and has a robust training program  with enough pilots in the pipeline to keep its airplanes flying. Some pilots have volunteered to fly extra routes, and the airline also is continuing to actively recruit new pilots, including retired airline pilots, she said. All of the requirements for new pilots are postedon our website, she added.Cape Air hopes to revive the Providence-to-Block Island route next year, Lorino said.

New FAA rulesthat took effect in 2014, requiring at least 1,000 hours instead of 250 for an ATP, have led to complaints from some airlines that its harder to find qualified pilots. Lorino said the airline would need 155 pilots to serve all of its usual routes but only has 100.The Rhode Island Airport Corporation has reached out to New England Airlines, which operates flights to Block Island out of Westerly, to cover the route from Providence for this summer.Without the Block Island service, vacationers flying into Providence would have to drive about 30 miles to catch a ferry or to reach the Westerly airport.Cape Air flies a fleet of 83 twin-engine Cessna 402s, four Britten-Norman Islanders, two Cessna Caravan amphibians and two ATR turboprops.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. No document exists over Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, there have been a number of proposals initiated by the Co-chairs, which did not lead to the conflict settlement and currently they are kept at OSCE Secretary General. Armenpress reports RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced about this during the annual summing press conference in Moscow. Commenting on the remark of a journalist that media reports circulate information that allegedly there exists a document called Lavrov proposals, the Russian Foreign Minister clarified that there is neither Lavrovs nor someone elses document.

There are a number of documents, 4 or 5, maybe 6, I do not remember now, which were prepared by the Co-chairs during different phases of negotiations over Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, when there were talks that there was a necessity to prepare a document clarifying the key principles of the negotiations as the first step and afterwards, based on those principles, peace truce, which would be legally binding instead of having political nature. Different options of that document which underwent evolution during 2007-2011 were handed over to OSCE Secretary General by the Co-chairs and they are now kept in the vault of that organization. Those are the only papers that can be regarded as documents. None of those officially existing documents have led to any practical solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the works are carried out in line with the principle nothing is agreed if everything is not agreed. As you know, the Russian side has made efforts since 2010, when Dmitry Medvedev was the President, to find a solution to the issue which has not been agreed by the sides yet. And that policy helped to progress in some sense, but later quite a long interruption occurred, after which, in June 2011, reaching an agreement over the key principles failed at Kazan summit. Afterwards, when President Putin was reelected, he met with the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we attempted to make additional efforts aimed at the solution of the conflict by the assignment of the three presidents. Searches for a solution to the problem are now conducted on the level of ideas and sonorous thoughts. I have had a number of meetings with my Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts and we have discussed all that with the American and French Co-chairs as well. No other documents, except those kept at the OSCE, do not exist. The rest are searches, as I already mentioned, thoughts, Sergey Lavrov said.
26 January 2016 10:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Sadigova

Azerbaijani armed forces have restored its control over the Odundag commanding ground located between the Azerbaijans Gazakh district and Armenias Noyemberyan settlement.

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has confirmed news, stating the national army keeps under control the Odundag commanding ground.

The commanding ground has been strengthened from a tactical point of view and through engineering works, said the ministry on January 25.

Armenia keeps under occupation 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territories, ignoring their international calls to respect the international rule of law and withdraw from the occupied lands.

Armenia frequently stages provocations in the contact line to break the peace process mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group to achieve a solution to the lingering conflict.

In this situation Azerbaijan improves its military forces, spending big amounts of money to ensure its state security.

Azerbaijani expert Uzeyir Jafarov praises the progress that the army has achieved.

"The Azerbaijani army achieves more and more success in the light of recent developments," he noted.

Jafarov believes that this step can cause serious modifications in the conflict between the two South Caucasus countries. Jafarov said .

He also noted that this step can cause serious modifications in the conflict between the two South Caucasus countries.

Armenia pursues aggressive policy, and is unwilling to come to the table in the sake of peace.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.

The peace talks have been largely fruitless so far despite the efforts of the co-chair countries over 20 years.

The sides to the conflict currently hold talks based on the renewed Madrid principles, which envisage return of occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control, ensure the right of all internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their former places of residence, future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh and etc.

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26 January 2016 13:44 (UTC+04:00)

By Gordon Brown

The Sustainable Development Goals, which the international community adopted in September, include a commitment to provide every child with access to free primary and secondary education by 2030. Finding the additional $20 billion per year, or more, that will needed to deliver on this commitment is one of the central objectives of the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity.

The commission was established last September by the Norwegian prime minister, and co-convened with the presidents of Malawi, Chile, and Indonesia and the director-general of UNESCO. Its members, including five former presidents and prime ministers, three former finance ministers, six Nobel Prize winners, and three of the worlds most successful business leaders  Jack Ma, Aliko Dangote, and Strive Masiyiwa  will report their findings to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the co-conveners in September. On January 24, we met in London to chart the way forward.

The challenge is daunting. Some 60 million primary-school-age children have no access to formal education. Of the roughly 590 million who are attending school, some 250 million  roughly two in five  are failing to learn the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. And some 60% of school pupils in developing countries do not meet basic mathematics standards.

If current trends persist, by 2050, children in most regions of the world will receive, on average, ten or more years of schooling  up from three years in 1950. Some countries in Africa, however, will lag far behind, with just 3-4 years of schooling on average. If we maintain a business-as-usual approach, it will take more than a hundred years  well into the twenty-second century  before every child is provided with an opportunity to complete his or her schooling.

Even as education levels play an increasingly important role in economic growth, the funds needed to raise them have failed to materialize. International development aid for education has fallen by nearly 10% in recent years  and government spending in low-income countries has failed to make up the difference.

In 2002, education accounted for 16% of total domestic spending in poor countries. Today, the figure is just 14%. Meanwhile, outlays for health increased from 9% to 11% of total spending. And, to make matters worse, in many of the countries with the greatest need for education  including Pakistan and Nigeria  governments are spending too little on it (sometimes as little as 2% of national income).

Nor is the money  when it is made available  spent equitably. In low-income countries, almost half of all education funds are spent on the most educated 10% of children. Very little trickles down to street children or boys and girls in remote rural areas, conflict zones, or urban slums.

According to UNESCO, the ratio of pupils to qualified teachers in the Central African Republic, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, and South Sudan is more than a hundred to one. And those teachers receive little support, encouragement, or feedback. Good teachers are undoubtedly the key to quality education; but they can do only so much if they are not provided with skilled supervision, a well-organized curriculum, and access to technology.

The phrase universal education will mean nothing if it does not apply to children living in huts, hovels, and refugee tents. When war or disaster strikes, the international community rightly mobilizes funding for food, shelter, and health care. All too often, however, financing education is only an afterthought. With refugees spending more than ten years away from home, on average, this neglect cannot be allowed to continue.

Fortunately, progress is being made in this area. In an exciting experiment in Lebanon, schools have been put on double shifts in order to accommodate the countrys Syrian refugee population. Local children attend in the morning, and in the afternoon, Syrian refugee children study in the same classrooms.

The program has been a stunning success, providing schooling for some 207,000 children who might otherwise have been deprived of an education. And plans are underway to expand the program to cover one million children in Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan. The biggest obstacle to what would be a spectacular achievement  as is so often the case  is a shortage of money.

It is to support efforts like this one that the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity was formed. UNICEF leader Anthony Lake, UNESCO head Irina Bokova, and Global Partnership for Education Chair Julia Gillard have lent their support to a platform for the provision of education in emergencies, a proposal that I hope will be formalized at the World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey in May. And it is my goal that by the end of the year we will also have a timetable to provide primary and secondary education to every child in the world  and the funding with which to achieve this most important of objectives.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: A payment plan for universal education

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26 January 2016 13:56 (UTC+04:00)

By Aynur Karimova

The recent World Economic Forum in Davos once more confirmed Azerbaijan's reputation of a reliable partner of Europe, which wants to see Azerbaijan among its friends.

European business circles reiterated their will to cooperate with Azerbaijan, to expand operation in the Azerbaijani market, to implement projects and to make huge investments.

Azerbaijan was presented at the WEF in Davos for the tenth time. The World Economic Forum is a non-governmental organization which holds annual meetings of the world's leaders and managers of the leading business companies to discuss the most challenging issues of the global world.

This year WEF awarded President Ilham Aliyev with a badge of Davos club of honorary members, marking his tenth participation in the forum.

The topic of this year's Davos forum was "The fourth industrial revolution" which was attended by 2,500 delegates from 140 world countries.

Azerbaijan, a small country located in the Caspian Sea shore, remained an attractive partner for many countries thanks to its political stability and strong economic indicators.

President Aliyev attended The New Energy Equation session of the World Economic Forum, where he spoke about the problems that drop of crude prices and devaluation of the national currency caused to Azerbaijan.

He said Azerbaijan was preparing itself for the so-called post-oil era in about 20 years from now. "It was a surprise for us, and, at the same time, it was a stress for our economy," he said.

In this situation the country prefers not to fall into panic, but to change tactics promptly. So, it is an appropriate time for Azerbaijan to make reforms.

"We have started fundamental reforms of our financial sector, economic reforms, export-oriented non-oil economy production to forget about the oil factor. As I said before, we were trying to prepare ourselves for this period maybe in 15-20-25 years from now on. But now we have to do it now. And I think that we will cope with this situation," he said.

Azerbaijan is able to manage the crisis, President Aliyev noted.

"Azerbaijan's economy is stable and sustainable and we have large reserves in our sovereign wealth fund, therefore we can compensate this situation," he added.

Azerbaijan is optimistic in the future of the global economy, as the crude market had experienced even the lower oil prices before. "There was a time, I remember, when we launched our major oil development projects in 1994, the price was $12 and it seemed to be very normal. And when we were planning the development, I remember, we thought about optimistic scenario which was $22 so now we are very close to that optimistic scenario of twenty years ago," he recalled.

At a time when economic and financial crisis is shaking the global markets, Azerbaijan is doing its best to protect national economy.

Growth pace of the national economy has tripled in Azerbaijan over the past 10 years, while poverty and unemployment ratios have sharply diminished with measures of both now standing at 5 percent.

The development of the non-oil sector has become one of the main priorities of Azerbaijan. The non-oil sector is considered the driving sector of the country's economic development. Azerbaijans economy is already diversified, with the non-oil sector accounting for about 70 percent of the GDP. In 2015, the non-oil industry grew by 8.4 percent and the country is aimed to rapidly develop the non-oil sector in the coming years.

The WEF presents a good opportunity to meet with representatives of various countries, the leadership of major international companies and enterprises, and discuss important issues of mutual interest.

The main topic of discussions of meetings held by President Aliyev in Davos was cooperation, implementation of new projects, further expansion of relations and establishment of new contacts.

Azerbaijan holds a pleasant profile of a reliable partner, enabling it to succeed at a table of talks. The discussions in Davos well mirrored that the county is set for cooperation.

Attracting more investments remains in focus and the country offers the most favorable conditions to foreign investors. Low foreign debt of the country standing at 12 percent of the GDP, and the foreign currency reserves equal to the country's GDP in the overall sum makes Azerbaijan even more attractive in this regard.

The government continues economic reforms, improves the business environment in the country, eliminates unnecessary inspections, renews the licensing situation, and ensures the transparency of the economic and financial sectors.

Attending the Davos forum Azerbaijan reiterated its will to take active part in global processes, to protect its national interests and do whatever is necessary to minimize the role of oil factor in its economy. The present economic and political conditions in the world set new challenges for the development of non-oil sector and export of non-oil products to the world market.

In these circumstances Azerbaijan will redesign its economic development scenario and re-draft its state budget for 2016 to better cope with the global requirements.

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26 January 2016 09:47 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on January 25 on allocation of 20 million manats to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.

The funds to be transferred from the Presidential Reserve Fund will be spent to increase the amount that is envisaged in the 2016 state budget for financing the targeted state social assistance.

The decree was signed to strengthen the social protection for low-income families who need the targeted state social assistance.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection was tasked to ensure financing, while the Cabinet of Ministers was entrusted to solve other issues arising from the decree.

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26 January 2016 11:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Aynur Karimova

The prospects of relations between Azerbaijan and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as ways to further develop this cooperation were high on the agenda of talks held between Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and OSCE PA delegation in Baku on January 25.

The delegation was led by Vice-Presidents of the OSCE PA George Tsereteli and Kent Harstedt, and OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella.

The sides exchanged views on the negotiations process mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. They said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the main threat to the regional peace and security.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs and all international community accept unacceptability and non-durability of the current status-quo, Mammadyarov said adding that the role and contributions of international organizations in accordance with the principles of international law and UN Charter are appreciated.

He stressed the importance of withdrawal of Armenian Armed Forces from Azerbaijan's occupied territories.

Touching upon the importance of the parliamentary diplomacy, Mammadyarov noted that Azerbaijan is interested in cooperation in this regard.

The OSCE PA delegation also met with Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, who stated that Azerbaijan is open to the cooperation with the international organizations, and with OSCE as well.

He also highlighted the important role of Azerbaijan in ensuring energy security of Europe.

The Premier stressed the importance of keeping up efforts, as well as taking real steps for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and also expressed regret that international organizations demonstrate double standards in settlement of the problem.

He stated that it is important the OSCE to take Armenia's non-constructive and insincere position into consideration, which prolongs the conflict.

Tsereteli, in turn, said Azerbaijan is one of the important countries for Europe and expressed hope that relations will be improved and bilateral cooperation will be continued in the future.

The OSCE PA delegation also met with Parliamentary chair Ogtay Asadov and deputy chair Bahar Muradova.

Azerbaijan successfully cooperates with the OSCE PA, Asadov said adding that Azerbaijan is successfully cooperating with the OSCE PA, which continues for more than 10 years.

Muradova, in turn, said values shared by Azerbaijan and OSCE serve to ensure security and cooperation in Europe.

The country will do its utmost to preserve the common values, she added.

Muradova touched upon the parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan. She said international organizations, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which observed the voting process, hailed the elections as democratic.

Tsereteli, in turn, expressed OSCE's concern about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and generally about the tensions on the contact lines.

Conflicts in this region are high on our agenda. The OSCE PA has consistently supported the work of the Minsk Group and shares its concern about increasing violence. A new level of political will is the key to progress. There is no alternative to a political settlement of the conflict, which will benefit both Azerbaijan and Armenia and their people, as well as the wider region, Tsereteli said after the meetings. It is our hope that this visit will revitalize our relations, enabling closer work on a wide range of issues of relevance to Azerbaijan and to the OSCE.



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26 January 2016 16:44 (UTC+04:00)

The Ecological Laboratory for Children, a joint project successfully carried out in 2015 by IDEA Public Union and Sevimli Bala, held its first laboratory training session of the year at the Resource Center located at the Academy of Public Administration under the Azerbaijani President.

The January session of the laboratory, which aimed at increasing the knowledge of children about the environment and wildlife, was held on The Polar Circle and its Nature.

Children were informed about snow, ice and their characteristics, as well as polar animals, geography of Antarctica and other topics. Also, the young ecologists discovered how ice and snowflakes are formed, and studied dry ice through experiments.

During the training session, the participants have engaged in several lab experiments and created little works of art by using various materials.

Besides offering an interesting and fun day for kids, the January session contributed to childrens understanding from an early age of environmental processes and their significance.

IDEA launched by the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva in 2011 is aimed at promoting public awareness of environmental issues and action, collaboration with youth, education in the field of environmental problems and finding proper solutions for them.

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26 January 2016 13:11 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Orujova

The implementation of the State program on socio-economic development of Azerbaijans regions in 2014-2018 is being discussed in Baku on January 26.

President Ilham Aliyev is attending the conference dedicated to the results of the program.

Each year we discuss the implementation of this program, define the directions for further activity. The implementation of this program is our very successful step, he said.

The head of state said the third program was adopted in 2014 and is being successfully implemented.

The president said that in 2004, when the first program was adopted, the task was set so that Azerbaijans districts would develop in an accelerated manner.

Infrastructural projects should be implemented in districts, jobs, social enterprises need to be created, so that the countrys development would be comprehensive and sustainable, President Aliyev said.

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YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Komitas is a hero in Armenia but only now he gets known in the world, prominent composer and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki mentioned about this after making a tour in Komitas museum-institute on January 26.

I do not think that many composers have such a wonderful museum. There is a very good museum and it is Chopin Museum which is of the same sizes. Berlioz Museum in France is also beautiful. Komitas has become a hero in Armenia. It is very difficult to be a hero composer but he managed to do so, renowned composer mentioned, as Armenpress reports.

Krzysztof Penderecki believes Komitas only now becomes known in the world. We know Komitas in Poland; we are playing his creations. Composers are not always important as political figures, he mentioned.

Renowned conductor states he has never performed Komitas creations but his choral songs are fantastic, and they are often sounded in Poland.

Accompanied by the Director of the Komitas Museum-Institute Nikolay Kostandyan, maestro made a tour in cultural center, got acquainted with the exhibits and the museum's history. Nikolay Kostandyan granted Penderecki with book and Komitas CD.

Born on November 23, 1933, in Debica, Poland, Krzysztof Penderecki began studying composition under Franciszek Skolyszewski. He later studied at the Krakow Conservatory under Artur Malawski and Stanislaw Wiechowicz and graduated in 1958. He was then appointed as a professor at the Conservatory. Between 1966 and 1968, Penderecki was a lecturer at the Volkwang Hochschule fur Musik in Essen, Germany. In 1968, he received a grant from the German Academic Exchange Organisation  DAAD. He was appointed rector of the Krakow Conservatory in 1972.

Krzysztof Penderecki's first public appearance on an international level was in 1959 at the Warsaw Autumn Festival. There he performed Strophen, one of three works for which he received first prizes at the 2nd National Young Composers Competition. The other two works were Psalms of David and Emanations.

In 1968-69, Penderecki wrote his first opera, The Devils of Loudun, commissioned by the Hamburg State Opera where it had its world premiere in 1969. Since then, this work has been produced numerous times, has been broadcast, televised, and released on record.

In 1972 Penderecki began his conducting career. Since that year, he has been seen on the podiums of the most important orchestras of the world.

Krzysztof Penderecki was invited to join the Honorary Committee of the Year of Chopin Celebrations 2010 at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Lisbon, Tokyo and Rome.
26 January 2016 15:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Sadigova

The Russian foreign minister said his country is making efforts to help the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh to find a peaceful solution.

"Together, we are looking for new ideas and are holding "brainstorming" on the issue, Sergey Lavrov said.

There are a number of documents regarding the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which were prepared by the OSCE Minsk Groups co-chairs, said Lavrov at a news conference in Moscow on January 26.

There is no document that contains all the nuances for solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Lavrov added.

He said that these documents, which have evolved over several years, now are regarded as the documents on Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.

Since the principle of "all or nothing" is important in this conflict, the mediators and the parties continue to work on finding ways to resolve it, he added.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that the status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unacceptable. Russia, which is believed to have essential influence on Armenia, is considered a key in brokering a lasting solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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26 January 2016 18:18 (UTC+04:00)

By Aynur Karimova

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and Azerbaijan seem to open up new page in the relations after the recent depression.

The suspension of the activities of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Baku in June 2015 and the refusal of the organization to send an observation mission to Azerbaijan to monitor the November 2015 parliamentary elections in the country, considerably soured the relations between the two.

The organization is interested in elevation of cooperation with Azerbaijan to a new level in the spirit of constructiveness and understanding, Vice-Presidents of the OSCE PA George Tsereteli said at a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on January 25.

Tsereteli, who led the OSCE PA delegation together with Vice-President Kent Harstedt, and OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella, discussed the significance of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OSCE PA during this meeting.

Tsereteli once more reiterated that Azerbaijan is among the priority countries for the OSCE PA.

He thanked President Aliyev for Azerbaijan's participation in the projects carried out by the OSCE.

President Aliyev expressed hope that Tsereteli's visit to Baku will be fruitful and beneficial for both sides.

Azerbaijan and the OSCE are cooperating in combating terrorism, promoting religious tolerance in Azerbaijan, and improving cooperation between governmental institutions and civil society organizations in the fields of combating human trafficking and domestic violence, while supporting good governance projects.

Azerbaijan is also cooperating with the OSCE in the field of democratization and in this regard, the organization regularly observes elections in Azerbaijan.

Conflicts high on OSCE agenda

Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the OSCE, which is brokering in the solution of its most painful conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh with neighboring Armenia.

Cooperation with the OSCE plays a key role in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The OSCE created the Minsk Group in 1992 with an aim to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is co-chaired by France, the Russian Federation, and the United States.

Azerbaijan joined the OSCE in 1992, soon after signing the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris and the Charter for European Security - the main instruments of the organization.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which emerged after Armenia's territorial claims on Azerbaijan in 1988, was top on agenda of the meetings that OSCE delegation had in Baku.

Prime Minister Artur Rasizade stressed in a meeting with the OSCE delegation the importance of taking real steps for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and also expressed regret that international organizations demonstrate double standards in settlement of the problem.

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, in turn, drew attention to Armenia's keeping under control over 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, stressing the importance of withdrawal of Armenian Armed Forces from Azerbaijan's occupied territories.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs and all international community accept unacceptability and non-durability of the current status-quo, Mammadyarov said.

OSCE for larger cooperation

After the meetings Tsereteli voiced a hope that this visit will revitalize the relations, enabling closer work on a wide range of issues of relevance to Azerbaijan and to the OSCE.

The OSCE PA believes that parliamentarians from Azerbaijan and Armenia can play an important role in reducing tensions, including through the organization's platform for dialogue and interaction.

We also discussed the Assemblys support for reforms in the political, social and economic spheres," Harstedt said. "The OSCE PA shows its respect for Azerbaijan by advocating continued work on democratic standards and political freedoms in the country. We stand ready to further engage with the countrys leaders, parliamentarians and civil society to promote OSCE principles and implementation of commitments, including in the sphere of elections.



OSCE parliamentarian Vigenin reiterated the Assemblys request that an OSCE field presence be re-opened in Baku to support Azerbaijan in its implementation of OSCE commitments.

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26 January 2016 16:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Sadigova

January 26 marks the 24th anniversary of a Dashalti operation carried out by the Azerbaijani Army to regain the Dashalti village from Armenian armed units.

Despite going down in history as a heave defeat of the Azerbaijani Army in the First Karabakh War, the Dashalti operation is proof of a valor and heroism of the Azerbaijani servicemen.

The operation was launched on January 25, 1992 at 20:00 and was led by former Defense Minister, Major General Tajeddine Mehdiyev.

The operation was carried out in order to liberate the village of Dashalti in the Askeran region near the Shusha city. Three platoons of the newly created Azerbaijani Army comprised of volunteers as well as the defense battalion of Shusha were participating in the operation.

Having entered into Dashalti from the direction of the Nabilar village, as a result of tactical mistakes, lack of communication between groups, data leaks and betrayals of conductors, Azerbaijani soldiers, coming from the village Nabilar in Dashalti, were ambushed and killed.

The other platoons suffered considerable casualties and managed to retreat.

The Azerbaijani Army lost more than 90 soldiers, while most are still remaining missing, according to the official data.

The Armenian side lost about 80 servicemen during the operation.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.

The peace talks have been largely fruitless so far despite the efforts of the co-chair countries over 20 years.

The sides to the conflict currently hold talks based on the renewed Madrid principles, which envisage return of occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control, ensure the right of all internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their former places of residence, future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh and etc.

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26 January 2016 18:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Orujova

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a report on inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan who are deliberately deprived of water at its Winter Session in Strasbourg on January 26.

PACE cannot ignore the problems of Nagorno-Karabakh and the sufferings of the ordinary people who are facing the shortage of water from the reservoir controlled by Armenia, said MP Milica Markovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who prepared the report.

The matter rests in the population of the Council of Europe and the OSCE member-state and the humanitarian and social problems concerning us directly, she said.

The problem of providing the Azerbaijani population with drinking water is very important, she said. Despite the Azerbaijani authorities all efforts to provide the population with drinking water, it is not enough for irrigation.

She said that the Armenian side has refused from cooperation on the issue.

Sarsang reservoir was built during the USSR in 1976 to provide residents of the border areas with water and irrigate agriculture.

However, Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.

After the occupation of these lands, Armenia uses this reservoir as a tool of humanitarian and ecological terror. In winter months, the Armenian side intentionally opens the floodgates and creates conditions for overflooding the surrounding areas.

In summer months, Armenia does not allow to use the reservoir. As a result, there are serious problems in providing people with water, irrigating agriculture and preserving biodiversity.

Markovic noted that the use of water, according to the international conventions, is an integral part of human rights.

The session also discussed the report on Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan prepared by MP Robert Walter (UK).

However, the PACE that prefers to stand neutral in this conflict, did not adopt the second report. Sixty-six parliamentarians voted for the report, while 70 were against and 45 abstained.

Armenia is an occupant: Azerbaijans representative to PACE

Armenia is an occupant, sell black for white, and attempts to deny the facts, which are described in the reports of PACE co-rapporteurs Markovic and Walter, Azerbaijani parliamentary representative to PACE Rafael Huseynov said during the hearing of the reports on Azerbaijan at the session.

Armenias actions make the Azerbaijani population of the region suffer. The rapporteurs are impartial and are trying to help both countries, but Armenia does not want to see the truth, he stressed.

Armenia has lost a sense of reality, although it would be useful to read both reports calmly and draw the necessary conclusions, Huseynov said.

Adoption of resolution is the success of Azerbaijani diplomacy: analyst

Adoption of one of the two reports on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region at such a forum as the PACE, in spite of the significant presence of pro-Armenian forces, in favor of Baku is the success of Azerbaijani diplomacy, Azerbaijani political scientist Fikret Sadikhov told Trend.

This document states that the people in these regions are faced with environmental and humanitarian problems.

Speaking about the second report, Sadikhov said although it was not finally adopted, it is not completely rejected and blocked at all.

Some concerns still exist between those who abstained. I think that this is not the last attempt to address the problem at the PACE session and the attempts will continue, he added.

International recognition of sovereign rights

The fact that the PACE adopted the resolution can have a positive impact on the peace process over Nagorno-Karabakh, French senator Nathalie Goulet told Trend.

This clearly shows who the aggressor is. Armenia obviously takes a wrong position from a historical point of view and from the point of view of international law, said Goulet.

Adoption of the resolution in favor of Azerbaijan is crucial, she stressed adding that this is a step towards international recognition of the historical and legal rights of Azerbaijan on the occupied territories.

Europe's unresolved conflicts problem

New president of the organization Pedro Agramunt noted that Europe still has a problem of unresolved conflicts.

He called the unresolved conflicts one of the challenges for the PACE. Such conflicts as Nagorno-Karabakh, Transdniestria, the conflict in the east of Ukraine and Georgia, have not yet been settled, the president stressed.

The regular session of the PACE started in Strasbourg on January 25 and will end on January 29.

During the first day of session, Anne Brasseur, Former President of the PACE said, it is necessary to find a solution over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Brasseur stressed that it is necessary to find a solution in order to advance in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, because it has been going on for so many years and there is no step forward.

Brasseur further noted that the debates during the session will contribute to the settlement of the conflict, adding that the PACE does not take anyone's side in this conflict.

It is necessary to find a solution to the conflict and ensure the rights of both sides. The solution will not be found as long as mutual accusations are made, she said, adding that casualties on both sides are also unacceptable.

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Nigar Orujova is AzerNewss staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar

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26 January 2016 18:05 (UTC+04:00)

The OSCE mission has today conducted a monitoring on the contact line of troops near Alibayli village of Azerbaijan`s Tovuz region, Azerbaijans defense ministry reported on January 26.

The monitoring held in accordance with the mandate of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office ended without an incident.

The monitoring was held, on the Azerbaijani side, by field assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Yevgeniy Sharov and Peter Swedberg.

On the opposite side, the monitoring was conducted by field assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Hristo Hristov, Jiri Aberle and Simon Tiller.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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26 January 2016 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Insurance companies seek to get concessions from private clinics to provide services for health insurance, said Orkhan Bayramov, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Insurers Association on January 25.



He said the issue was discussed at a meeting with leaders of insurance companies, held with the participation of Namig Khalilov, the head of the State Insurance Supervision Service.

We discussed how insurance companies can reduce the cost of health insurance, as well as the possibility of changing the service provision format under this type of insurance, the chairman said.

Bayramov considers wrong to increase the prices for medical services because of rising drug prices.

Not all health services are related to medications, therefore its not right that private clinics raise prices for their services, because all other costs, such as electricity or taxes remained the same for them, he noted.

Bayramov added that insurers will discuss these issues with their partners, and partner clinics refuse talks, then insurance companies can cease cooperation and redirect their customers to other clinics.

A total of 27 insurance companies are operating in Azerbaijan. In 2015, fees for medical insurance amounted to 72.9 million manats and payments made up 51.3 million manats.



Bayramov further emphasized that insurance companies are not interested in increasing the insurance fees, adding that although many insurers enjoy the right to provide services for health insurance, in practice only seven or eight companies are engaged in it.

The chairman also touched upon the compulsory insurance of liability of owners of vehicles (OSAGO), noting that Azerbaijan does not plan to raise tariffs on this field.



He said the tariffs will not rise even if unprofitability of this kind of insurance will grow, as today the main issue is to reduce the costs of insurance companies. We are talking about administrative costs, commission paid by insurance agents, etc., he noted.

Payments worth of 22.7 million manats were made through OSAGO in 2015. Compared to the 2014, the volume of payments decreased by 15 percent, while the number of requests reduced by 10 percent.

The average amount of insurance payments in connection with damage to vehicles was 1,155 manat last year.

Bayramov went on saying that the State Insurance Supervision Service under the Azerbaijani Finance Ministry will direct new guidelines on the calculation of the rates for voluntary car insurance to insurance companies.

Fees for voluntary motor insurance CASCO have been reduced since 2014, namely after the decision of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan to tighten lending conditions. CASCO is mainly sold through banks. At the same time, now the car market is experiencing a period of stagnation, and import of cars in the country reduced. All this affects the insurance market and, in particular, CASCO, he said.

Bayramov noted that last year the association together with the State Insurance Supervision Service and insurers developed a mechanism for the calculation of CASCO tariffs.



Each insurance company has its own portfolio and we recommend to determine the tariff in accordance with this portfolio, he emphasized.

The State Insurance Supervision Service under the Azerbaijani Finance Ministry sees no need to increase the minimum requirements for the total capital of insurance and reinsurance companies, Head of the State Service Namig Khalilov told Trend.

Our requirements to the total capital are not so small, especially this is a minimum requirement. At a certain volume of business, these requirements are automatically increase, he noted.



He further added that insurance companies have no problem with the fulfillment of requirements for total capital. Following the first devaluation of the manat in early February 2015, the insurance companies have transferred their funds into the foreign currency, and after the second devaluation in December, this led to increase of the cash resources in the manat terms, the head of the State Service said.

In this connection, problems with capitalization of insurance and reinsurance are not expected in the near future.

The requirement for the minimum total capital of insurance companies is 5 million manats.

For the newly established insurance companies the minimum capital requirement is defined at 10 million manats, while the requirement for the minimum amount of aggregate capital of reinsurance companies is 20 million manats.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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26 January 2016 17:33 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan, land of mesmerizing nature and captivating history, has recently turned into a favorite destination for tourists and many are eager to visit this unique country bringing together East and West.

The government is now working hard to simplify life for tourists by introducing new visa opportunities, which will encourage many to visit Azerbaijan that is still largely undiscovered by international travelers.

Visas centers for arriving passengers will start working in all international airports of Azerbaijan from February 1, 2016, the national airline AZAL reported.

The citizens of the Gulf States including Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, as well as Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore will be able to get 30-day visa for a single stay in the country.

This will be exciting news for all sport fans as the country will host the European Gran Prix Formula 1 this summer and the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017.

Earlier, Azerbaijan simplified visa regime with the European Union.

Moreover, time to obtain electronic visas is expected to be reduced twice for tourists coming in Azerbaijan. This offer has already been submitted to the Parliament.

Currently, appeal to obtain electronic visas by travel agencies are considered by the appropriate executive authority within 10 days. Under the amendments to the Migration Code, the time limit will be reduced to five working days.

The amendment aims to improve the procedures for entry of tourists into the country.

Tourists coming to Azerbaijan through travel agencies can obtain electronic visa.

At present, documents required in Azerbaijani embassies for getting a visa are as follows: 1 application form, 2 color photos (3x4 cm on a white background), passport or ID document, an invitation, tourist voucher, or other information confirming the purpose of visit, and a receipt confirming the payment of the state duty.

Moreover, Azerbaijan plans to continue simplifying its visa procedures. While earlier, all tourists despite the budget needed to book a hotel room in order to get a visa to Azerbaijan, soon will be able to stay in cottages or private apartments as well.

Currently, the country can accommodate over 35,000 tourists in its 530 hotels, which include a series of luxury hotels  Jumeirah, Excelsior, Hilton, Four Seasons, Fairmont, JW Marriott, Kempinski  as well as many budget hotels for cost-conscious travelers. The country also plans to operate world famous 2-3 stars hotels.

Prices for accommodation in the country start from $15 and increase depending on the hotel class and amenities provided.

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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews staff journalist. Follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar

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26 January 2016 12:43 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Orujova

Hungarian Eximbank has expressed readiness to invest in establishing a regional DATA-center in Azerbaijan, Hungarian ambassador to Baku Imre Laszloczki told Trend.

The project on regional DATA-center is implemented with the support of the UNDP. The first such DATA-center in the region will ensure stable operation in case of failure of any node of the system, as it will have an availability index of 99.985 percent.

The economic relations between Hungary and Azerbaijan are at a very good level, he stressed. Trade turnover between the two countries in 2015 rose by five percent. I hope that it will continue to grow further.

With regard to investment, the Hungarian Export-Import Bank is ready to help finance joint projects, such as the establishment of a regional DATA-center, the ambassador stressed.

Laszloczki further added that there are possibilities to implement a large number of projects.

Negotiations will continue on the creation of two mutual funds in the field of computer science and direct private investment, he said.

Economic relations between the two countries should develop mutually beneficial, according to the diplomat.

I think that agriculture and information and communication technology are the most interesting spheres for Azerbaijan, he said stressing that Hungary is among the countries that offer the globally best solutions in the field of ICT.

In addition, they are 20-30 percent cheaper, which causes additional interest.

Moreover, Laszloczki said, Hungary is ready to facilitate access of Azerbaijani companies and investors to the Hungarian market by providing them with favorable preferential conditions.

Speaking about the projects on transport corridors North-South and the Trans-Caspian route, he said Hungary itself as a major hub in Europe is ready to participate and to support cooperation in transportation.

I believe that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project will create excellent investment opportunities in the region and is a good opportunity to realize the project of a new Silk Road, the ambassador summed up.

The sides enjoy a huge capacity for the development of trade and economic cooperation, as Hungarian companies consider the Azerbaijani market as an alternative to the Russian market, on the background of EU sanctions. Hungary is also a good platform for Azerbaijani investors.

So far, the two countries have signed almost 40 documents. Moreover, the governments of both countries have expressed interest in increasing bilateral trade.

Cooperation between the two countries also covers areas such as industry, energy, tourism, agriculture, trade, environmental protection, water management, ICT, culture, sports, science and others.

The trade turnover between the two countries in 2014 increased by 2.9 times, and in January-February 2015 amounted to $2,881 million, according to Azerbaijans data.

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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews staff journalist. Follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar

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26 January 2016 14:07 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Stockholm has hosted a draw ceremony to distribute a total of 37 countries into one of the two 2016 Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals, scheduled for May 10 and 12 here.

The first semi-final will have 18 participants including Azerbaijan, Russia, Croatia, Finland, Moldova, Armenia, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, San Marino, Cyprus, Malta, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Iceland, Austria.

The second Semi-Final will bring together 19 representatives from Belarus, FYR Macedonia, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Switzerland, Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Georgia, Norway, Romania and Slovenia.

Azerbaijan has not yet determined its representative. But some local media reported that a winner of the musical project The Voice Azerbaijan will represent the country at Eurovision 2016.

Currently, the project sees the battles and the winner is possible to be announced in March.

The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm is going to be the biggest contest for years with 43 participants, equaling the record set in both 2008 and 2011. It is the second time in history the city hosts the contest.

The so-called BIG 5 -- Germany, UK, France, Spain and host country Sweden are automatically qualified to compete in the Grand Final scheduled for May 14.

Ukraine will return to the contest after a one-year absence and Bosnia Herzegovina, which last competed in 2012, will also participate. Both countries have 100 percent qualification records to the Grand Final. Croatia and Bulgaria will return to the contest for the first time since 2013.

Australia, which finished 5th in the Grand Final in 2015, will return to the contest. Unlike last year, they will compete in one of the Semi-Finals in Stockholm.

Azerbaijan debuted at the contest in 2008 and has always presented remarkable shows since then. On its fourth attempt with Ell and Nikki's Running Scared song, the Land of Fire won the event, bringing the contest to Bakus Crystal Hall in 2012.



Last year Azerbaijani representative Elnur Huseynov, who competed for the second time at the contest after his debut in 2008, placed 12 with his mystical ballad Hour of the Wolf.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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26 January 2016 16:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Aynur Karimova

Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR and National Iranian Oil Company have discussed the development of a road map on further cooperation.

SOCAR reported that the discussions were held between SOCAR Head Rovnag Abdullayev and NIOC CEO Roknoddin Javadi in Iran on January 24.

Abdullayev voiced SOCARs interest in participation both in onshore and offshore energy projects of Iran.

The sides also discussed the prospects for cooperation with local and foreign energy companies.

They noted that Azerbaijan and Iran enjoy huge potential in various fields, including in the energy field, and realization of this potential after the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran would give a strong impetus to the development of bilateral economic relations.

The Iranian side expressed interest in SOCAR's offer. It was noted that the cooperation can cover production of crude oil, trade of oil and petroleum products, as well as joint scientific researches.

Earlier SOCAR and NIOC discussed the possibility of implementing joint projects for exploration and production of oil and gas both in Azerbaijan and Iran, as well as in third countries.

Iran shows interest in Azerbaijans offer to use its infrastructure for transporting energy resources to world markets.

NIOC holds 10-percent share in the project for development of the giant Shah Deniz gas and condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan's energy giant SOCAR, which includes production associations Azerneft, made up of companies involved in the production of onshore and offshore oil and gas, Azerkimya, chemical industry enterprises, and Azeriqaz gas distribution, is involved in exploring oil and gas fields; producing, processing, and transporting oil, gas, and gas condensate; marketing petroleum and petrochemical products in the domestic and international markets; and supplying natural gas to the industries and public in Azerbaijan.

Also, SOCAR owns gas stations in Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Georgia, and Ukraine. It has representative offices in Georgia, Turkey, Romania, Austria, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Britain, Iran, Germany, and Ukraine, along with trading companies in Switzerland, Singapore, Vietnam, Nigeria, and other countries.

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STRASBOURG, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian delegation to PACE is grateful to those PACE delegates that took principled stand and refused the report by Robert Walter which was dangerous for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. The latter is emphasized in the statement spread by the Armenian delegation. Armenpress reports that the statement reads:

The voting of the disputed reports took place during January 26 plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Armenian party has carried out corresponding activities related to the issue, including meetings with PACE delegates, introducing their position and concerns about the formulations made in the reports which did not comply with the international community and first of all the approaches and statements spread by OSCE MG Co-chair countries - France, Russian Federation and the USA.

The resolutions greatly misrepresented the history and essence of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and impermissibly interfered in the process of the conflicts peaceful settlement. The statements made by the OSCE MG on January 22, 2016 and earlier, as well as speeches given by numerous delegates testify to the aforementioned fact.

The members of the Parliamentary Assembly, realized the full responsibility of the moment, refused through the voting Robert Walters infamous resolution Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan

As regarding the resolution about the Sarsang Reservoir; a number of PACE MPs, despite the opinion of the international community, displayed a unilateral approach by voting in favor of the resolution, thus giving a political content to a humanitarian-technical report.

We express our gratitude to all those PACE delegates that took principled stand and displayed complete understanding of the political settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict during the voting of the two resolutions and refused by their resolute position Robert Walters report which was dangerous for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.
26 January 2016 12:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Delegation of Kazakhstan headed by Minister for Investment and Development of Kazakhstan, Asset Issekeshev, will visit Tehran on February 6-8 to held first major business event after lifting the sanctions against Iran.

During the meeting particular attention will be paid to the development of Kazakhstan's export to Iran including metal products, construction materials, pellets, grain and more.

A Kazakh-Iranian Business Forum attended by 40 representatives of Kazakh large enterprises and 150 largest corporations of Iran is also planned.

Within its framework, the sides will discuss further cooperation on infrastructure and industrial projects, as well as implementation of joint projects.

During the visit, Issekeshev will hold a number of meetings with officials, including the ministers of transport and agriculture, as well as with representatives of the business circles of Iran.

Kazakhstan will feature its opportunities and measures of state support for foreign investors.

Currently, Kazakhstan exports to Iran wheat, some oil products and valuable metals, while imports fruit, vegetables, household goods and construction from Iran.

Lifting the economic sanctions imposed on Tehran in 2005, will give a new impetus for the development of relations in many spheres between these two countries, both rich with hydrocarbon resources.



Its also new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation between the two states. If previously the relations between Iran and Kazakhstan were internal and the two countries used their capacity to meet their needs, then now the two sides can reach the level of more than bilateral. Kazakhstan can use Iranian territory to transport goods to the third countries including Afghanistan and Iraq.



Its expected that Tehran and Almaty to be keen to improve mutual cooperation in air communication, as earlier the sides declared their readiness to increase the direct flights between the two countries, which are carried out only twice a week currently.

Development of Kazakh-Iranian cooperation in transport and logistics sector is predicted to be the start of a new era for the region, since railway will connect two neighboring countries such as Iraq and Azerbaijan. And the essence of this project is that Kazakhstan will be connected with regions of the Caucasus and the Middle East.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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26 January 2016 10:47 (UTC+04:00)

Boeing did not send any representatives to the Iran Aviation Summit 2016, summit Secretary Ahmadreza Bayati said, Tasnim news agency reported.

The company needs to receive permission from the US Treasury Department, Bayati said, adding most likely the department has not issued permission for the companys presence at the summit.

Bayati further said that two US companies operating in the fields of air plane leasing and technical issues are involved in the event.

He did not unveil further details about the companies.

Bayati further said that Boeing should settle its problem with the US administration on selling planes to Iran, otherwise it will lose the Iranian market to its rival Airbus.

Iran Aviation Summit 2016 mainly focuses on leasing, not buying, aircraft by Iran in the post-sanction era.

Bayati earlier said that as a result of the fall in oil price and the lack of enough budget, it may be impossible in the next one or two years to buy aircraft.

Among the leasing aircraft companies present at the summit, Bayati mentioned two European Avolon and AerCap companies.

The second motive behind the event, according to Bayati, is to invite large banks and financiers, which are professionally active in leasing and selling aircraft, to come and invest in the Iranian aviation industry.

In addition to Iranian aviation-affiliated companies, more than 160 foreign companies from 35 countries have attended Iran Aviation Summit 2016.

Abbas Akhoundi, the Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development said Jan. 23 that Iran will sign a contract for the purchase of 114 Airbus during Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis visit to France which is scheduled for January 27.

He further said that Iran currently has 256 passenger planes with 150 of them operational.

The USled sanctions on aircraft and spare parts exports to Iran have left the Iranian airlines saddled with not only some of the oldest fleet in the Middle East, but in the world.

Iranian officials say the country needs to buy up to 500 passenger planes in the next 10 years to renovate its ageing fleet.

The analysts believe that Irans air fleet will grow, however in the near term the country will have to settle for the lease of planes.

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26 January 2016 15:10 (UTC+04:00)

By Aynur Karimova

After the removal of international sanctions imposed against Iran, the country's President Hassan Rouhani embarked on a four-day state visit to Italy, Vatican and France on January 25.

It has been more than a decade since an Iranian president has visited any European Union nation.

Rouhani headed a high-ranking delegation comprising of government officials, entrepreneurs and businessmen.

In Italy, President Rouhani made a hint on Tehran's interest in improving relations with Rome following the implementation of a nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.

Italy, which remains one of Irans main commercial partners despite a steep decline in trade due to the sanctions, has also expressed interest in reviving relations with Tehran and boosting trade ties.

President Rouhani and his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella expressed confidence that Tehran and Rome enjoy significant prospects for further developing relations in various fields.

The main achievement of this visit was signing of multi-billion dollar contracts covering various sectors, including health, transportation, agriculture and energy, Press TV reported.

The contracts, worth up to 17 billion ($18.4 billion), were inked in a ceremony attended by President Rouhani and President Mattarella.

Prior to the signing ceremony, an Italian official who asked not to be identified, told Bloomberg that a 5 billion accord for Saipem SpA and a 2 billion agreement for Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche are among the signed documents.

"Other companies making deals today include Gavio SpA and Fincantieri SpA," he added.

Reuters, in turn, reported that a pipeline contract worth 3.6-4.6 billion ($4-5 billion) for Italian oil services group Saipem was among the deals.

Moreover, Italian steel firm Danieli said it would sign commercial agreements worth up to 5.7 billion ($6.1 billion) with Iran. Infrastructure firm Condotte d'Acqua was also scheduled to sign deals worth up to four billion ($4.3 billion).

Iran, Italy can contribute to peace, security

Rouhani believes that relations with Italy go beyond bilateral significance and can contribute to security and stability in the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa regions.

IRNA reported that the president made this statement at a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi . the president also hailed Italy's positive role in the settlement of the dispute over Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

The Italian premier named the two countries as superpowers of beauty and culture and called for an increase of ties further than traditional oil and gas industries.

"Iran can be the hub of security, energy, human resources and development, and geopolitical importance," Rouhani said, welcoming Renzi's comments.

This was the first leg of Rouhani's four-day state visit to European countries. The Iranian president will then head to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis, while the next stop is Paris. Rouhani is expected to meet with French President Francois Hollande.

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26 January 2016 14:55 (UTC+04:00)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that economic development and creating job opportunities are proper solutions to encounter terrorism and violence problems.

Rouhani made the remarks while addressing the Iran-Italy business forum in Rome, Jan. 26, Irans State IRINN TV reported.

He further said that Iran is the most secure country in the region as the Islamic Republic has trustworthy regulations for investors.

The Islamic Republic has never violated its commitments under any condition, Rouhani said.

He added that removal of international sanctions against Iran has paved way for attracting foreign investment in Iran which will create a change for exporting the products to international markets.

Irans economy was stifled by the 12-year-old sanctions, which were lifted on Jan. 16 according to the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 (the US, the UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany).

Rouhani said that the sanctions harmed both Iran and the EU, adding economic development requires suitable cooperation among nations.

He said that Tehran is ready to accept foreign investment and technology as well as the entrepreneurs in the country, underlining that there is no differences among Iran's political factions about need to attract foreign investment.

Rouhani underlined that any form of investments should be beneficial for both sides.

Win-win policy must be followed in economic fields, he said.

The Iranian president further added that Tehran enjoys vacant capacities following the sanctions removal.

The Islamic Republic seeks to develop its railroads and ports, Rouhani said adding development of agriculture sector also has high importance for Iran and its neighboring countries.

Referring to the aspects of Iran-Italy economic ties, Rouhani said that Iranian nation trusts Italy and its industry.

Italian industry is in line with our needs, he said, adding Tehran and Rome have common experiences in various sectors including leather, foodstuff and pharmaceutical.

Irans economy suffered from lack of transparency, indiscipline and international sanctions over past years, the president said, adding economic indexes are improving now in the country.

The Iranian president arrived in Rome on Jan. 25 on the first leg of his trip to three European destinations including Italy, Vatican and France.

Rouhani left Tehran at the head of a high-ranking delegation, which includes government officials, Iranian entrepreneurs and businessmen.

Iran and Italy signed multi-billion dollar contracts covering various sectors including health, transportation, agriculture and energy.

The contracts, worth up to 17 billion euros (USD 18.4 billion), were signed in a ceremony attended by Rouhani and his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella in Rome on Jan. 25.

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26 January 2016 17:07 (UTC+04:00)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani met with Pope Francis on the second day of his historic visit to Europe, the official website of the president reported on January 26.

The visit is the first meeting of an Iranian president with leader of the Catholic Christians after 16 years.

The Vatican is expected to release a statement on the meeting later in the day.

President Rouhani arrived in the Vatican City this morning and was welcomed by German Archbishop Georg Gaenswein.

The Iranian president arrived in Rome on January 25 on the first leg of his trip to three European destinations including Italy, Vatican and France following the implementation of a nuclear agreement between Iran and the six world powers.

Rouhani left Tehran at the head of a high-ranking delegation, which includes government officials, Iranian entrepreneurs and businessmen.

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26 January 2016 18:10 (UTC+04:00)

The British banking officials have granted the Bank Melli Iran with a permission to resume the activity of its subsidiary in the UK, a senior official said.

Abdolnaser Hemmati, the head of bank Melli Iran, has said that the subsidiary is authorized to resume its activity in London as British regulators have issued the required permission, IRNA news agency reported

He further added that the Bank has 17 branches abroad which experienced restrictions due to international sanctions over the past several years; however the restrictions will be gradually removed as sanctions have already been lifted.

As part of measures taken in a bid to intensify the sanctions on Tehran due to its nuclear program, Irans banking system experienced several restrictions that had a catastrophic impact on Irans economy.

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 on January 16.

The statement said the EU confirms that the legal framework, providing for lifting of its nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions, is effective.

Melli Bank plc is a UK incorporated bank, licensed and authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority and conforms to all UK accounting standards and disclosure requirements. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank Melli Iran which had a presence in London since 1967.

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YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The adoption of the resolution headlined Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) pours water over mill of Azerbaijans propaganda. Armenpress reports Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan made a note about the aforementioned on his Twitter micro blog.

PACE resolution on Sarsang Reservoir pours water over mill of Azerbaijan's propaganda aimed at undermining Nagorn Karabakh peace process, he stated.

On January 26, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted rapporteur Milica Markovics (Bosnia and Herzegovina) draft resolution on Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water making some changes and revisions to the draft. 98 MPs voted for, 71  against. 40 MPs abstained.

There was criticism towards the reports in the speeches given during the session.

MP Rudy Salles (France, Member of the Group of the European People's Party,) emphasized that Markovic prepared the reports without ever being in the region. He added that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed to continue the dialogue on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and such reports would endanger the settlement process.
William Jackson Food Group (WJFG) has seen pre-tax profits rise to 18m for the year ending 25 April 2015, from 15.8m the year before.

Turnover for the Yorkshire-based owner of brands including Jacksons Bakery and Aunt Bessies also rose to 276m for the year, compared to 269m in the previous year.

The group, founded in 1851, has enjoyed strong growth in the past five years from its portfolio of four food businesses: Aunt Bessies, MyFresh, Abel & Cole and Jacksons Bakery.

WJFG said: The year has not seen any let-up in the difficult economic conditions facing customers. The retail environment has also been difficult in the year, so it is pleasing to see that our diversified portfolio of businesses has enabled both sales and profit growth.

The report also said: There are undoubtedly challenges in the commercial world in which we do business. However, the board continues to believe that the opportunities for profitable growth outweigh the potential impact of the risk and uncertainties which face the group.

Sustainability

In December 2015, WJFG secured funding from Lloyds Banks mid markets and strategic finance teams, which will allow it to pursue a range of growth opportunities. It also announced that it hoped to provide food security to a farming community in Malawi, Africa, as part of a 225,000 five-year charity project.

Norman Soutar, chief executive of WJFG, said of the project: Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, so to be able to apply our expertise to the important pursuit of food security in Malawi is a powerful use of our knowledge and skills.

Elsewhere, Aunt Bessies has signed up to a three year deal to sponsor ITV programme Im A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.
Supermarket giant Tesco will be censured by the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), following a year-long investigation into its payment terms.

Britains biggest retailer breached the Groceries Supply Code of Practice by delaying payments to suppliers and demanding extra fees, according to the findings of a year-long investigation.

The allegations stated that Tesco delayed payments to suppliers and demanded payments from businesses for more prominent positioning of their products within stores. Tesco has admitted there are likely to have been instances where it breached the Code of Practice.

In its annual report, Tesco said: Regrettably, we have concluded that there have been a number of instances of probable breaches of the Code, which fall short of the high standards we expect to uphold in our dealings with our suppliers.

In September 2014, Dave Lewis, Tescos chief executive, revealed that a shortfall had been found in the retailers accounts relating to payments from suppliers. Tesco was accused of bringing forward payments to flatter its financial results. The company suspended nine executives, and chairman Sir Richard Broadbent left in the aftermath of the scandal.

But the GCA cannot fine Tesco for the results of this investigation, because the offences were allegedly committed before the government handed the GCA the power last year to fine a company up to 1% of its annual revenue. The investigation is the GCAs first since it was launched in 2013.

Good for small businesses

Tracy Ewen, managing director of IGF Invoice Finance, said: The news that the GCA will reprimand Tesco over its treatment of suppliers is good news for small businesses in the UK. For many in the supply chain, Tescos payment terms have been unsustainable due to delays in payments and unexpected changes in contract terms.

This is a reality that SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] have had very little power to change in the past; the GCA stepping in to censure Tesco over its behaviour is a step forward in helping small businesses tackle the constant stream of unfair payment terms coming from large corporations.

Tesco announced last year that it planned to simplify its payment terms, however these will not be brought into effect until June.

She added: Suppliers have been left waiting for the news of the Small Business Commissioner, which was promised as part of the Enterprise Bill, so substantial support from government is still uncertain. In the meantime, there are options available to smaller suppliers to cover the gap between completed work and money in the bank. Businesses must ensure to make use of any free financial advice available, before pressure from larger customers impacts their growth or operations.

There is no direct link between this and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into a 326m accounting scandal at Tesco, which is nearing its completion. The retailer could face a fine of up to 500m for this, according to City analysts.

Tesco, the SFO and the GCA declined to comment. Tescos share price dropped by almost 3% on 25 January.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenian member of Turkish Parliament, Markar Esayan from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), who is known for supporting the Turkish governmental frames, voted in favor of Robert Walters failed anti-Armenian report. As Armenpress was informed from the official website of PACE, Markar Esayan voted in favor of the pro-Azerbaijani report Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan like other Turkish parliamentarians.

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rejected British MP Robert Walters (He is already not a member of PACE) report Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan. 66 MPs voted in favor of and 70 MPs - against the report.

In fact, Yesayan also voted in favor of the report of MP from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milica Markovic on Sarsang reservoir which was adopted by certain amendments.

During the PACE winter session of January 26, speeches condemning the mentioned anti-Armenian reports were sounded. European Peoples, Christian Democratic and Social-Democratic parties voted against the adoption of the mentioned reports.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Artak Zakaryan considers Azerbaijani and pro-Azerbaijani efforts failed. As Armenpress reports, MP referred to the voting on 2 anti-Armenian reports in PACE on his Facebook page.

Azerbaijani and pro-Azerbaijani efforts are failed. PACE rejected the report entirely distorting the Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict. That way a major step hampering the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group and peaceful settlement was blocked. Majority of MPs in PACE banned Azerbaijan from engaging in deception and endangering peace in the South Caucasus. I thank all the people who did everything for the sake of right and fair victory. I am grateful to the parliament members of PACE who voted against it, or at least did not take part in the Azerbaijani adventures or abstained from it. I express gratitude to all of them one by one. Thanks to our state and public institutions, my fellow MPs, representatives of the diplomatic corps, Diaspora organizations and individual people for a unified and effective work, MP wrote.

Referring to Milica Markovics report, Artak Zakaryan expressed confidence that Azerbaijanis are not interested in water. It tries to hide humanitarian titles under political texts that in one word should be called ruse. I think it will not hamper the further activities of the OSCE Minsk Group, Zakaryan emphasized.

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rejected British MP Robert Walters (He is already not a member of PACE) report Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan. 66 MPs voted in favor of and 70 MPs.

At the same time the report of Milica Markovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water was adopted with certain amendments. 98 MPs voted in favor of and 71 MPs  against the report.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani met on January 26 at Vatican, marking the first meeting between a pontiff and an Iranian head of state since 1999. The meeting continued for 40 minutes, Armenpress reports.

Their meeting came on the second of a four-day visit by Mr. Rouhani to Italy and Francehis first trip overseas since sanctions on Iran was loosened earlier this month.

Most of the Mr. Rouhanis visit is focused on jump-starting Irans economic relations with Europe, but the meeting with Pope Francis drew particular interest due to the close ties the Vatican and Iran have enjoyed for years.

The Vatican has repeatedly called for a negotiated settlement to Syrias nearly five-year-old civil war and supported Irans participation in that process, over the objections of Arab and Western states that seek Mr. Assads ouster.

Last year, the Holy Sees representative to the United Nations institutions in Geneva called Iran an integral part of the dialogue and negotiation for peace in the Middle East and particularly for a common, coordinated and reasonable response to Islamic State in Syria. In October, Iran was invited for the first time to join multilateral talks to end the Syria crisis.

The Vatican is expected to release a statement on the meeting later in the day.

In a speech to the Italian business community earlier Tuesday, Mr. Rouhani quoted the Quran, saying that the church, the synagogue and the mosque must live side by side.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Republic of Armenia Finance Minister Gagik Khachatryan, deputy director of the Asia Department of French Development Agency, Jean-Claude Pires and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier signed a loan agreement on January 26.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Armenia, the French Development Agency will provide Armenia with 75 million loan with 20 years maturity, 6 of which is a grace period. The loan will be provided based on Republic of Armenia long-term development strategy 2014-2025 and 2014-2017 Government program.

Signing the agreement is a huge step for the development of agriculture in our country, which will also create new jobs, Finance Minister Gagik Khachatryan noted, adding that in the near future it is necessary to elaborate new ways for cooperation with France. The implementation of the program will give an opportunity to alleviate lack of water in Ararat valley, Jean-Francois Charpentier said, stating that it will also save electricity.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan advises NKR leadership not to pay attention on false substance of Sarsang Reservoir report at PACE and continue the policy which they have implemented during these years. Armenpress reports he said that the NKR authorities have adopted the right path in terms of water resource management and water policy and particularly those works must go on in Sarsang Reservoir.

I would advise not to focus on the false substance and continue water policy particularly in Sarsang Reservoir, where proper social activities are underway, Ohanyan said.

On January 26, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted rapporteur Milica Markovics (Bosnia and Herzegovina) draft resolution on Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water making some changes and revisions to the draft. 98 MPs voted for, 71  against. 40 MPs abstained.
The Mosley Motel, which has been called a den of criminal activity, is scheduled to be auctioned off on Friday.



"Were actually really looking forward to this property selling and being developed into something that is a positive for our neighborhood," said Brenda Gordon, Historic Kenwood president.

For years, neighbors, police and city leaders have complained about the nuisance property located at 401 34th Street North in St. Petersburg.

"Theres been a lot of drug dealing and prostitution associated with that property," Gordon said. "Its a seedy, ugly, unsavory kind of a property."

"The Mosley Motel has been a crime den in our city for a long time," said City Council member Amy Foster. "Our nuisance abatement board has tried to work with them and provide some stipulations and they havent been able to follow those stipulations and that area is really ripe for redevelopment."

The nuisance abatement board has been fining the motel $100 a day since Dec. 8. According to court records, HSBC Bank is asking for a final judgment foreclosure because the Mosley Motel owner, Michael Shimshoni, owes more than $6 million.

"Hes one of our most notorious slum lords in the city," Foster said. "He has over 100 properties, most of them have liens and lots of issues."



Bay News 9 requested an interview with Shimshoni but instead a Mosley manager, Al Kadury, 50, responded. Kadury said things have improved at the Mosley Motel compared to years past and he believes the city has an agenda to shut it down. The manager also said he is worried about what's going to happen to the 100 children who live at the motel. Foster said she has already been talking to the Juvenile Welfare board about those children.

"I know that itll be difficult," she said. "But I believe that our city will step up and figure out a way to handle that."

According to city records, St. Petersburg Police were called out to the Mosley Motel more than 400 times in 2015. Officer Mike Christian said the calls range from noise complaints, to drugs, prostitution and aggravated battery.


The Dozier School for Boys has been at the focus of horror stories of abuse and cruelty.

On Tuesday, the Florida Legislature is taking up measures that would provide compensation for the families of those boys. Lawmakers are trying to decide whether the state should help pay for proper funerals for the victims, and if so, how much they would cover.

Controversy has surrounded the Marianna reform school for decades, as many of the students who attended told stories of abuse and death.

Researchers from the University of South Florida were able to find the remains of 55 boys whose bodies were hastily buried around the school in unmarked graves.

So far, seven of those bodies have been positively identified. A few have even been buried again, like Thomas Varnadoe, who died at Dozier in 1934. Researchers found his remains, and his relatives held a service near their family plot.

"I think it's probably self-explanatory," family member Glen Varnadoe said. "It's been 81 years of not having closure, and having it in a deserving manner for him instead of the undeserving manner that he got it at the Dozier Reform School for Boys."

Varnadoe's family paid for the service.

After everything that has happened, state lawmakers will discuss helping the families with that expense, providing compensation for other victims who have already been identified.

The families could receive between $5,000 and $7,500 to help cover the cost. Tuesday marks the beginning of that discussion, and there's more to come.

Lawmakers are also talking about what to do with the artifacts they uncovered, as well as the site itself. Some are pushing to make it a memorial for the victims.


The Kumquat Festival is coming up this weekend in Dade City, but farmers say disease means this year's harvest is as low as it has ever been.

The bacterial disease, known as citrus greening, has devastated Florida's citrus crops. However, a cure could be around the corner.

Greg Gude with Kumquat Growers in Dade City is among the farmers affected by citrus greening.

Its been kind of real sad to look out here every day," Gude said. "You get depressed because every day it looks worse and worse and worse."

Gude said his farm currently has about 40 acres of kumquats - about 4,000 trees - and they've lost more than half of it. They also used to grow oranges but those have been wiped out too.

With the combination of the tree being weak, the citrus greening, the foot rot from all the moisture weve had, has just destroyed most of our groves, Gude said.

Sen. Bill Nelson listens as UF researchers explain how the laser treats plants that have been infected with citrus greening.

But help could be here soon. On Monday, Sen. Bill Nelson met with researchers from the University of Florida's Citrus Research Education Center.

The researchers created a laser that cuts a small incision in the leaf of an infected tree, injects it with an antimicrobial and then applies a wax to repair the incision and protect the leaf from further damage.



When the antibacterial solution is sprayed on, it's absorbed right into the tree and goes to work to kill the deadly bacteria, Nelson said.

The researchers hope to test the new technology on larger scale operations this spring, after it receives approval from the federal government.

Gude said he hopes the new technology will work.

Were just looking for answers," he said. "Them finding the cure to greening would be the greatest thing."

Kumquat growers say they will have enough kumquats for the festival this weekend but will run out about three months earlier than usual.

The annual festival is expected to draw around 40,000 people.
New bills are coming to the table as the Florida Legislature heads into Week 3 of the 60-day regular session in Tallahassee.

A big talker this week revolves around three bills that are focused on abortions and the clinics that perform them.

House Bill 865, called the "Florida For Life Act," prohibits abortions altogether. House Bill 1411 revises the requirements on clinics providing abortion care.

Both of the bills passed through the Health Quality Subcommittee on Monday and are moving through the House.

The Senate Health Policy Subcommittee on Tuesday is expected to discuss Senate Bill 1722, which also creates more guidelines for clinics. The bill redefines the third trimester, stating it starts at the beginning of the 24th week instead of being defined as after the 24th week of gestation.

The new legislation also restricts the use of public funds for health care clinics providing abortions. As defined by the bill, any state or local governmental funds may not benefit organizations that own or operate facilities that perform abortions unless those abortions are for medical purposes or for pregnancies conceived through incest or rape.

The Planned Parenthood in Orlando on Monday held a rally and asked local leaders to reconsider the bills, claiming each one has unconstitutional elements to them.

"We need to shift the conversation and really talk about women's safety and women's health," said Anna Eskamani, director of public policy for the Planned Parenthood in Orlando. "If legislators were serious about that, they wouldn't be pushing these kinds of bills."

If passed, Senate Bill 1722, as well as the two House bills, could continue to the House and Senate floors for consideration before a final vote.
Two children that were reported missing early Tuesday morning of Indian River County are believed to be with a man wanted for murder in a deadly shooting in Vero Beach, police said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a missing child alert for Edward Gamez, 4, and Lizeht Gamez-Flores, 11 months old.



Edward is 3 feet tall, weighs 30 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. Lizeht is 1 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 15 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

The children were last seen near the 100 block of North Oak Street in Fellsmere. They may be in the company of Edward Geovani Guardado Gamez, 24, and Maria Maricela Flores Lopez, 21.

According to the Vero Beach Police Department, Edward Geovani Guardado Gamez is wanted in connection with the Jan. 21 deadly shooting at 1576 Highland Ave. After a "lengthy and ongoing investigation," an arrest warrant was obtained for Gamez for first-degree murder with a firearm and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm.

Vero Beach police said Gamez should be considered armed and dangerous.

If you see the children or the adults, do not approach them.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the children or the adults is asked to call the Fellsmere Police Department at 772-571-1360, Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-TIPS (8477), the Vero Beach Police Department at 772-978-4600, or 911.
The Navy said Tuesday that a report of three gunshots heard in the basement of a building at Naval Medical Center San Diego came from a single witness.

The Navy hospital previously said on its Facebook page that an active shooter was reported and people were told to run, hide or fight. However, center spokesman Mike Alvarez wouldn't confirm there was an active shooter.

First responders and dog units were clearing the building. The medical center remains on lockdown and a shelter-in-place order has been given.

Navy Region Southwest spokesman Scott Sutherland says the shots were reportedly heard in the basement of the center's Building 26.

All non-emergency personnel were asked to stay away from the area.

A dozen unmarked SUVs  some with flashing lights  entered the center through the emergency room driveway gate around 9 a.m. A San Diego County Sheriff's Department armored truck followed minutes later.

San Diego police Officer Travis Easter said police received a notification call from military police at 8:03 a.m. of shots fired but assistance was not requested.

Alvy Furlong, whose husband had surgery at the hospital last night, told KGTV-San Diego a nurse came in and said to be prepared for possible evacuation.

"The doors are closed and locked," she said. "All of the windows have been covered."

Traffic backed up around the facility during the morning rush hour.

Nearby San Diego High School, Roosevelt Middle School and Garfield Senior High School were locked down as a precaution, according to Linda Zintz, spokeswoman for San Diego Unified School District.

The 272-bed, multispecialty hospital and ambulatory complex is located on about 78 acres in the southeast corner of Balboa Park, about 2.5 miles from downtown, according to its website. Center staff is comprised of more than 6,500 military, civilian, contractor and volunteer personnel.

NMCSD personnel deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Djibouti and aboard the USNS Mercy, the website said. The facility is affiliated with 19 civilian nursing schools, training more than 400 students per year in clinical rotations.

AP writers Christopher Weber and John Antczak in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Regular session of Armenia-Iraq inter-governmental commission kicked off in Baghdad on January 26. The session was co-chaired by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia, Armen Yeritsyan and Agriculture Minister of Iraq Falah Zeidan. The Armenian delegation is comprised of representatives of Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Energy, Health, Economy, and Agriculture. Economic and humanitarian cooperation issues are included in the agenda of the session.

During the session the sides particularly underlined the activation of cooperation in different spheres and particularly the significant growth in trade and economic relations between Armenia and Iraq during the recent years. The working groups discussed issues of deepening cooperation and finding new ways.

As Armenpress was informed from the Department of Press, Information and Public Relations of MFA Armenia, in the sidelines of the visit Minister Yeritsyan met with the President of Iraq Fuad Masum and conveyed the greetings and best wishes of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to the friendly people of Iraq. The Minister stated that the people of Armenia and Iraq share a lot of historical common aspects, lived side by side for centuries in the same environment and the Armenian authorities are committed to reinforce the friendship and foster bilateral cooperation by all means.

The importance of establishing direct flights and parallel to it, developing land routes, as well as expansion of interaction of business representatives were emphasized.

President Masum conveyed greetings and best wishes to the Armenian President and people. He clearly highlighted the presence of Armenians in Iraq and their contribution in the development of the country. The President mentioned that the Armenian presence in Iraq has a history of centuries and Armenian trace can be found in many regions of the country, and the issues of concern for the Armenian community are always under the attention of the authorities.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia expressed special gratitude to the Iraqi authorities for their assistance rendered to the Armenian community.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia continues military and military-technical cooperation within the framework of the action plans, particularly with the Russian Federation. Defense Minister of Armenia told about this in the summing press conference, adding that there are no problems in that regard. Armenpress reports that to the question why the arms purchased by the $200 million loan have not arrived in Armenia yet, the Minister said,

Military and military-technical cooperation is implemented within the framework of the action plans, particularly with the Russian Federation. Today we not only ensure military-technical cooperation with Russia, but, moreover, within the framework of the contract we implement activities to obtain military techniques and precision-guided munition. Armed Forces Command Staff knows what to do in this regard and does everything in time, Seyran Ohanyan said.
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Long before she became the future queen, the Duchess of Cambridge was just a regular girl growing up in England.

Take a look through the gallery above for a look into her life before she became the Duchess of Cambridge.
Lamar University has appointed Brandon Price as its inaugural Ben J. Rogers chair for Entrepreneurial Studies in the College of Business.

Price is a career businessman, scientist and entrepreneur who holds a doctoral degree in biophysics from the University of Michigan and is active in entrepreneurial startups like Nascent Biotech, a Florida-based clinical-stage developer of a treatment for brain cancer, and OcuSciences, a Michigan-based developer of a retinal metabolic imaging tool for early detection of diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.

As the Rogers Chair, Price will work with the colleges, institutes and centers  primarily the College of Business and the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship  at Lamar to teach business planning, how to start innovative enterprises, engage in outreach to area businesses and entrepreneurs and connect the university to business and academic communities throughout North America, Latin America and Europe.

The Rogers chair was established to make entrepreneurship an area of excellence in the College of Business. The gift from the Rogers family honors the legacy of Ben J. Rogers and the role Lamar University has played in the Rogers' lives.

"Our father, a champion for higher education, had enormous faith in Lamar University and its ability to foster an environment for students to achieve," said Regina Rogers.

"We are very pleased to have Brandon Price as the Ben J. Rogers Chair," said Henry Venta, dean of the College of Business. "He brings not only outstanding academic credentials but practical entrepreneurial experience from an exceptional career that will enhance his leadership in this vital area for the college and for Southeast Texas. The endowment and the name  because of the great reputation of Ben Rogers  have enabled us to attract an individual of the highest caliber."
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of the Republic of Armenia once again officially denies the media reports that the adversary has taken control of a position in Tavush Province. Nothing like that has happened. This was the sharp answer of the Minister. Armenpress reports that Seyran Ohanyan said in the summing press conference that the borders of the country are impregnable and there has been no advancement of positions by the adversary.

The borders of the Republic of Armenia are impregnable today: They are protected by relevant Corpses and there have been no changes in the arrangement of our positions, neither the adversary has expanded its positions, the Minister said.
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A Liberty County constable arrested Monday on suspicion of lying to an investigator about his relationship with a man jailed for pretending to be a cop faces two challengers in a re-election bid that is just 34 days away.

Joslin, 47, was indicted on a perjury charge last week and arrested Monday after a detective interviewed two sources, including the suspected fake cop, who contradicted statements Joslin gave to authorities while under oath in October, a signed affidavit shows.

If convicted, Joslin faces up to one year in jail and could be fined up to $4,000.

Joslin, a Republican seeking a second term in the precinct that covers Cleveland, will face two opponents on the primary ballot March 1.

No Democrats have filed to run, meaning the next four-year term will be determined then unless no candidate tops 50 percent of the vote. In that case, there would be a run-off.

He faces Jeff Ashworth and James W. McQueen. Both are Liberty County sheriff's deputies.

Joslin is accused of lying about his relationship with Michael Gelagotis, a 43-year-old Beaumont man jailed since September on charges of impersonating police and unlawfully possessing body armor.

Before his arrest last year, Gelagotis was convicted at least twice of impersonating police - in Jefferson County in 2009 and in Ohio eight years earlier.

A signed affidavit supporting Joslin's arrest cites two sources as saying Joslin and Gelagotis worked together multiple times on law-enforcement security jobs, which the investigator said contradicted statements Joslin made while under oath.

Gelagotis, one of the sources, told an investigator that he would cover Joslin's shifts at security jobs open to police officers as secondary work and that Joslin would pay him in cash at a later date, according to a signed affidavit.

A second, unnamed source told the investigator that Gelagotis either worked with or relieved Joslin at least four times in September 2014, according to the affidavit.

The source told the investigator that Gelagotis wore a badge on his hip and "always" had more than one gun on the job.

Joslin, while under oath, told a detective in October that Gelagotis "never worked any extra jobs from me and never covered any pipeline extra job spots for me," according to the affidavit.

Gelagotis has no record of being a Texas police officer, according to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Read the complete story in the Beaumont Enterprise.

EBesson@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/EricBesson_news
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A Liberty County constable lied under oath about helping a man previously convicted of impersonating a police officer obtain an off-duty security job, Jefferson County prosecutors said Monday.

John Joslin, 47, Liberty County's Precinct 6 constable, was arrested and arraigned Monday afternoon. He is the second commissioned police officer to be arrested in connection with a wide-ranging investigation into a man who has been jailed since September on charges that he impersonated police for at least the third time.

Joslin is charged with perjury in connection to the Michael Gelagotis investigation, which prosecutors say was impeded by Joslin's false statements to detectives.

Gelagotis, who faces two felony charges of impersonating a police officer, worked an extra job with the constable's office for a pipeline company, according to prosecutors.

When Joslin gave his sworn statement on Oct. 27 of last year, he said Gelagotis never worked any extra jobs for his office, the Jan. 20 indictment states.

Joslin arrived at the Jefferson County Courthouse Monday afternoon in handcuffs, dressed in his constable's uniform. His bond was set at $5,000.

The perjury charge is a Class A misdemeanor that carries up to one year in the county jail and a $4,000 fine.

Chris Tritico, an attorney representing Joslin, said he received an email Monday morning from the district attorney's office with no information about the charges.

"The next thing I knew, Mr. Joslin was under arrest," Tritico said. "There's no need for intrigue. There was no need to go and arrest him. All they had to do was call me and he would have happily gone down there and posted bond."

Gelagotis, 43, is accused of using a fake badge to impersonate a lawman and buy gear intended for police.

Some of the purchases were stamped with his name and the seal of a Liberty County constable's office, according to a signed Beaumont police affidavit supporting the arrest.

Gelagotis previously was convicted of impersonating police locally in 2009 and in Ohio eight years earlier.

Joslin told The Enterprise in November that he believed Gelagotis worked at a small Louisiana police department, and he made Gelagotis an "honorary" deputy for one night at a Houston Rockets game only because of the event.

The designation is mostly meaningless, not like "reserve deputy" status constables can offer through their commissioners courts, which allows people without official certification the authority of a police officer while they're on duty.

The pair had a relationship that included Gelagotis doing work on his office's cars free of charge, Joslin said.

Gelagotis, Joslin said, was never given access to badges, guns or other equipment - other than the vehicles he worked on.

Joslin said he was not aware Gelagotis bought shirts, badges and gear bags with his office's patch, as the arrest affidavit alleges.

EBesson@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/EricBesson_news BScott@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/BrandonKScott
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IN THE BOARDROOM

John Roby, manager of corporate affairs for the Port of Beaumont, announced his retirement on Monday.

Roby, who has worked at the port for 36 years - more than a third of the port's existence - will be succeeded by Clayton Henderson, assistant general manager of the Sabine-Neches Navigation District.

In assessing Roby's impact on the port, executive director Chris Fisher told port commissioners that it was Roby who told him to "take a look" at Jefferson Energy Companies, which built an oil storage terminal on the port's Orange County side and now provides about 20 percent of the port's revenue.

Roby's catchall job title also includes the port's public relations, government affairs, manager of transportation and marketing.

"Your name is synonymous with the Port of Beaumont," commissioner Bill Darling told him.

In his own remarks to commissioners Monday, Roby said he's proud of the growth he helped accomplish, particularly through Jefferson Energy Companies.

"It's transformational," he said.

Have an item for In the Boardroom? Email LocalNews@BeaumontEnterprise.com
SOUTHEAST TEXAS TALES

Orange was sitting on a powder keg in the summer of 1941 and no one knew it.

Because of a swell in U.S. Navy wartime ship building, the city's population had grown from 7,500 to 15,000 in just 10 months. City officials feared the number would rise as high as 35,000 before the year's end.

The powder keg had nothing to do with the weapons being made in the city. It was the city's overtaxed sewer system and lack of civic facilities that had engineers scrambling to come up with ways to keep residents healthy, safe and entertained.

Municipal engineer Charles P. Smith, fearing an epidemic, told officials during a heated town hall meeting that they needed a better sewer system and new police department, fire station, port building and schools to accommodate the influx of people.

Military personnel also needed a place to blow off steam, some said.

The projected cost for all of these projects was $700,000. That's the equivalent of $11.7 million today.

President Roosevelt approved $75,000 for a new government recreation building in Orange, which had been designated a defense area city.

The spot chosen for the proposed USO hall was Anderson City Park, a city block surrounded by Cypress, 13th, and 14th streets.

Within 24 hours of the contract being awarded, construction materials arrived on site. The plans called for a single-story building of brick, concrete and wood, 161 feet long and 88 feet wide.

The USO (United Service Organizations) and the Orange Recreation Council were tasked to work together and select interior furnishings.

The target completion date was set for early December so that servicemen stationed away from their families would have somewhere to gather for the Christmas holiday.

By late fall, the whole town was abuzz about the USO, which was expected to include a lounge, club, game room, a stage, kitchen and a photo processing darkroom.

Although the YMCA would spearhead operations, Federal Security Administration Field Representative R. Warren Kimsey stressed to the townspeople that it was still a federal building and should be treated the same as the post office.

When the building was dedicated in January, the Orange Pilot Club furnished flowers and the Orange Boy Scouts Troop No. 1 showed up in full uniform.

The Rev. Ed Barcus of the First Methodist Church gave the invocation. A unit of Orange High School's band, the Bengal Lancers, played patriotic music.

Cold drinks were served from the new snack bar, and the Bengal Debs, a unit of the Bengal Guards, provided music for an hour of dancing.

The principal speaker was Beaumont Judge J.M. Combs. He encouraged the audience to remain physically and mentally fit for the difficult times to come during the war.

Speaking of the new recreation center, Combs said, "Building of battleships and other ships does not constitute the entire program delegated to Orange; it is highly important that something be done to build and sustain the morale of the people, which is of as much importance at home where preparations are made for victory, as on the battlefield."

He stressed that recreation was needed by all the people, and that the USO building should be the community center for everyone.

And it became that. From dominoes to dances, the hall had something for everyone.

The Texas National Guard took over the facility in the late '40s and turned it into an armory. The community was still allowed to use the building as a community center when the Guard wasn't working or training there.

The building burned sometime in the 1950s, and in 1961, the property was sold to the Orange Independent School District.

West Orange Middle School sits on a portion of the land where the old USO hall once stood.

Southeast Texas Tales is a weekly feature that revisits regional history.
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A grand jury convened to investigate whether a Houston Planned Parenthood clinic had sold the organs of aborted fetuses on Monday cleared the clinic and instead indicted the undercover videographers behind the allegations, surprising the officials who called for the probe and delighting supporters of the women's health organization.

The Harris County grand jury indicted David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, both of California, on charges of tampering with a governmental record, a second-degree felony with a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison. It also charged Daleiden, the leader of the videographers, with the same misdemeanor he had alleged  the purchase or sale of human organs, presumably because he had offered to buy in an attempt to provoke Planned Parenthood employees into saying they would sell.

Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson announced the indictments in a statement, noting the probe had lasted more than two months.

THE BACKGROUND: Undercover Planned Parenthood video targets Houston clinic

"As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us," said Anderson, a Republican. "All the evidence uncovered in the course of this investigation was presented to the grand jury. I respect their decision on this difficult case."

An arrest warrant was issued late Monday; documents detailing the charges were expected to be available Tuesday.

The videographers, who had posed as employees of a company that buys tissue and filmed interactions with Planned Parenthood executives, issued a statement saying they had not committed any crimes.

EXPLAINER: What you need to know about the Planned Parenthood controversy

"The Center for Medical Progress uses the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades in exercising our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and of the press, and follows all applicable laws," the statement said, adding, "Planned Parenthood still cannot deny the admissions from their leadership about fetal organ sales captured on video for all the world to see."

Planned Parenthood has denied any such admissions or wrongdoing, calling the videos heavily edited and saying it has never profited from selling fetal tissue, only received reimbursements for the costs of preserving the tissue for research, which is legal. The group sued Daleiden last month.

Anderson's statement said the grand jury "cleared (Planned Parenthood) of breaking the law."

Still, the dozen videos released by the Center for Medical Progress of Planned Parenthood clinics around the country already have had a huge impact, including an effort in Congress to defund the organization.

In Texas, lawmakers are studying new laws on fetal tissue donation, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission said it will drop Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid program.

More probes pursued

The Harris County investigation was one of several that began in the state after the center released footage of a Houston clinic executive casually discussing the methods and costs of preserving fetal tissue, which Republican state officials said was proof the organization was making a profit.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a tea party firebrand from Houston, was the first to call for the Harris County District Attorney's Office to investigate. He also directed a state Senate committee to conduct its own probe.

On Monday, Patrick issued a statement saying the Senate probe would continue because "the horrific nature of these videos demand scrutiny and investigation."

Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, who also ordered their own investigations, released statements saying they would continue.

"The fact remains that the videos exposed the horrific nature of abortion and the shameful disregard for human life of the abortion industry," Paxton said.

Planned Parenthood officials declared victory, however, saying they felt vindicated after being cleared by the lengthy non-partisan investigation.

"It's great news because it demonstrates what we have said from the very beginning, which is that Planned Parenthood is following every rule and regulation, and that these people came into our buildings under the guise of health when their true intentions were to spread lies," said Rochelle Tafolla, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, which runs the Houston clinic as well as facilities in Louisiana.

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast previously has acknowledged donating fetal tissue in 2010, but has said it did not make any profit then and has not even donated since.

Across the country, two Planned Parenthood branches currently participate in tissue donation programs, according to the organization.

The National Abortion Federation was more direct in its celebration of the indictments.

"As we've known all along, David Daleiden is the one who broke the law, not abortion providers," said Vicki Saporta, the abortion-rights group's president and CEO.

Legislation sought

Daleiden, 27, has said he was a "child of a crisis pregnancy" and has been involved with anti-abortion work since he was 15. He was involved in undercover video work by a group called Live Action in 2007.

He spent years working on the effort on fetal tissue, which is not studied often today, but in the past has helped lead to several medical breakthroughs, including an early polio vaccine.

Planned Parenthood has said he secretly recorded staff and patients at least 65 times over the last eight years. The organization also has alleged that Daleiden used aliases, obtained fake government identifications and formed a fake tissue procurement company to gain access to private areas and record private conversations to be deceptively edited.

THE BACKLASH: Abbott wants harsher penalties in wake of Planned Parenthood videos

The second indictment suggests the grand jury found that he went too far in trying to provoke Planned Parenthood to admit to selling tissue. That charge, for intentionally buying or selling a human organ, is punishable by up to a year in jail while tampering with a governmental record could result a sentence of up to 20 years.

That would be a high price to pay, despite the success that Daleiden had in sparking investigations and legislative studies.

The indictments did not appear to have any chance of slowing those efforts.

In fact, one prominent anti-abortion activist suggested that they were more proof that laws needed to be changed.

"I think the grand jury decision today shows that we have very weak laws when it comes to this," said John Seago of Texas Right to Life. "The Legislature needs to address this."

Brian Rogers and Samantha Ketterer contributed to this report.
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In the annals of long-lost dogs, this one must be a record.

Ginger, a Yorkshire terrier who disappeared from her Miami home 10 years ago, was recently found in a northwest Houston subdivision, about a block from busy West Little York.

The tiny dog and her Miami family have been reunited because Ginger had a microchip, and the man who found her on his way to work made sure she got a checkup.

Houston communications consultant Katharine Fraser, whose boyfriend, Byron Black, picked up the dog, told about the incredible encounter in her blog, The Sage Leopard. As described by Fraser, Ginger was wearing a big red bow but had matted fur where she wasn't balding.

When the microchip scan came back with 10-year-old contact information in Miami, Fraser said she was initially dejected, thinking it couldn't possibly be current.

She was stunned, then, to get a call from Yajaira Fuentes, the dog's overjoyed owner in Miami. Fraser said she was also shocked that nobody else had taken the dog to a vet during the decade she'd been lost.

After a flurry of text messages with Fuentes and one false start at the airport, Fraser and her friend got the dog onto a plane bound for Miami, with expenses paid by Fuentes.

"She really stepped up," Fraser said Monday by phone. "She was thinking about flying here but decided it made more sense (to fly the dog home)."

Now reintegrating into the Fuentes household with two other dogs, a parakeet and a ferret, Ginger will need some surgeries to remove tumors.

Fraser said she and Fuentes have stayed in touch about the dog on Facebook and by text message. Ginger is taking medication and appears to be doing better, Fraser said.

"The dog looks happier," she said.

Meanwhile, Fraser said she and Black have kept an eye out for a lost-dog notices but haven't seen any indication that somebody in Houston is looking for Ginger.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan does not rule out that Azerbaijan may further escalate the border situation as a result of domestic problems and economic crisis.

Armenpress reports that Seyran Ohanyan states that it in no way impacts the Armenian Armed Forces. Moreover, the army is ready to withstand any escalation. Armenian Armed Forces are ready to any development on the border. Command staff and the soldiers of the army stand side by side and are well aware what to do and are ready to defend the security of the Motherland, Ohanyan said, adding that the combat readiness of the Army, as well as preparedness are on a high level.
Bridge City has a lot going for it - good schools, many single-family homes, a growing business presence. But none of that will matter much if the city's water is substandard. At long last, this nagging problem appears to be heading toward resolution.

Last year the City Council approved a major construction project to fix to a long-standing problem with water discoloration. By late February city residents should finally see consistently clear water when the new filtration system kicks in.

The cost was not cheap, especially for a community the size of Bridge City - $1.4 million, about $200,000 more than last year's original estimate. But this was a project that Bridge City couldn't afford to put off any longer, no matter the price.

Rust-colored tap water is just about the biggest turnoff possible for people or businesses planning to move to Bridge City. Just imagine having an entire laundry load ruined by bad water.

Even more important is the potential health risk. Although no major illnesses have been connected with the off-colored water, there's no way it's good for anyone, especially children.

Bridge City's dilemma inevitably brings to mind far more serious problems in Flint, Michigan. City officials there switched the intake source for the city's water supply in 2014 to a local river instead of Lake Huron. It was cheaper. It was also deadly. The Flint River was loaded with corrosive chemicals that let lead leak from water service pipes. For nearly two years city residents were poisoned with toxic water that could cause untold health problems.

That shouldn't happen anywhere in modern America. Local and state officials have to monitor potential health hazards like this and head them off long before anyone is harmed. It's a basic responsibility of government. It's why people pay taxes.

Help came too late for Flint. It's a good thing it came in time for Bridge City.
U.S. health inspectors have found deficiencies at Theranos' lab in Newark, Calif., and the blood-testing company could face suspension from the Medicare program if it does not fix the problems, according to The Wall Street Journal.

People familiar with the matter told WSJ the deficiencies were found during a CMS inspection. The specific problems regulators identified have not been released, but people familiar with the matter told WSJ the inspection results are expected to be publicly released soon.

Brooke Buchanan, a Theranos spokeswoman, told WSJ the company does not have CMS' audit report from last year's inspection of its California lab.

It will be a significant blow to Theranos if the CMS inspection report includes adverse findings, as the Palo Alto, Calif.-based startup has already suffered regulatory setbacks. For instance, in October, the Food and Drug Administration found that the company's proprietary vials called "nanotainers" were an uncleared medical device, according to WSJ. Theranos is now only using its exclusive Edison technology to collect and test tiny nanotainers of blood for just one test.

More articles on Theranos:

A lot happened at Theranos in 24 hours: 10 things to know

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Theranos CEO says business is better than ever, as emails suggest DOD scrutiny since 2012
Brandon Williams has joined Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala., as CFO of the 607-bed full-service acute care hospital.

Here are five things to know about Mr. Williams.

1. Prior to Brookwood, he served at East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, S.C., where he was responsible for oversight of the facility's financial operations for the previous four years. Brookwood and East Cooper Medical Center are both part of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare.

2. He has been with Tenet for 12 years, serving in various finance roles in hospitals and at the corporate headquarters.

3. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves as an advisor and CFO mentor in the Tenet Finance Academy.

4. He earned a bachelor's degree in management from the Georgia Institute of Technology, based in Atlanta, and a master's degree in business administration from Milledgeville-based Georgia College and State University.

5. Mr. Williams succeeds Doug Carter, who was promoted to the market office to serve as CFO in the Brookwood Medical Center/Baptist Health System network in central Alabama.

More articles on executive moves:

Dr. Patrick Battey takes over CEO role at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital: 7 things to know

HCA of North Texas makes 2 new hires: 8 things to know

Englewood Hospital and Medical Center names CNO: 5 things to know
Many Fortune 500 CEOs are rather shy on social media, with some lacking a social presence of any kind, according to Fortune. This is hardly surprising, as many high-profile leaders tend to regard social networking as a distraction or even a potential liability.

However, the fourth annual "Social CEO Report" from Domo and CEO.com found social media use among Fortune 500 CEOs is slowly on the rise, according to Fortune.

Here are six key takeaways from the report.

1. The increasing presence of CEOs on social media platforms is due in large part to the addition of new CEOs or new companies to the Fortune 500 list rather than because individuals who have been on the list for some time are changing their habits.

2. LinkedIn is the most popular social network for CEOs. While more executives have signed up for Twitter in the four years since Domo and CEO.com began compiling the "Social CEO Report," they are generally not very active on the platform.

3. Less than half  39 percent  of CEOs reported being active on social networks, but none demonstrated activity on "all six networks," which include Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

4. Seventy percent of CEOs engage on only one social network.

5. Just two CEOs  including Marc Benioff of Salesforce and Dara Khosrowshahi of Expedia  are on at least five of the specified six networks.

6. The most engaged CEO on the Fortune 500 list in 2015 was Jack Salzwedel of American Family Insurance, who tweeted nearly 350 replies last year.
U.S. Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said this week he placed a hold on President Barack Obama's nomination for commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, according to a Reuters report.

Here are six things to know about the issue.

1. Last year, President Obama nominated Robert Califf, MD, a prominent cardiologist and medical researcher, as the next commissioner of the FDA.

2. But Sen. Markey said he placed a hold on the nomination until the FDA agrees to reform its process for approving opioid painkillers, according to the report.

3. Specifically, the senator wants an FDA advisory committee to look over opioid-approval matters and believes the committee should consider the risk of addiction and abuse while they are considering approval, according to the report. He also wants the agency to repeal approval of OxyContin for children and put together an advisory panel to guide that process, the report notes.

4. Dr. Califf's nomination is widely expected to be approved by the Senate later in 2016.

5. However, critics contend his ties to the pharmaceutical industry are too close, according to Reuters. Dr. Califf joined the FDA as deputy commissioner in 2015 from Durham, N.C.-based Duke University, where he had served as a professor of medicine, a leading pharmaceutical researcher and the vice chancellor for clinical and translational research.

6. Meanwhile, a spokesman for HHS, said it had made addressing the opioid crisis "a top priority," according to Reuters. "Work at FDA and across HHS will continue on this important effort," spokesman Kevin Griffis said in a statement, according to the report. "HHS will be in touch directly with the senator regarding his concern."

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ACHE's Chicago chapter names 2015 award recipients
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump backed a traditionally Democratic policy Monday, calling for Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, according to The Hill.

He told a crowd in Farmington, N.H., the main roadblock to this policy, despite that it could save billions, is the pharmaceutical companies, according to the report. The policy was banned in 2003 as part of the Medicare prescription drug law, according to the report. Frontrunner Democrats Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) have also backed this idea.

According to The Hill, the policy has "little hope in Congress," as Republicans focus primarily on just a few companies with dramatically high drug prices.

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Bernie Sanders takes back 'establishment' remarks about Planned Parenthood

Ted Cruz wrongly claims he lacks health insurance because BCBS left Texas market

How connected is your CEO? 6 things to know about top execs on social media
As physicians look for ways to reduce the clerical load associated with EHR data entry, they are increasingly turning to medical scribes.

Scribes help physicians with EHR navigation, retrieval of diagnostic results, documentation and coding. This allows the physician to free up time for patient care.

Yet while the use of scribes is growing, the position remains minimally regulated. There are no requirements for certification, for instance. Any certification received by scribes is voluntary, and the minimum qualification to work as a scribe is a high school diploma.

Here are 17 things to know about scribes.

Basic duties and numbers

1. Scribes typically go with the provider into the exam room and document the patient's encounter with the provider. The provider may also dictate the patient encounter to the scribe, and the scribe gathers data for the physician such as nursing notes, prior records, labs and radiology results, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians.

2. "Medical scribes do the bulk of documentation for the provider, says Michael Murphy, MD, cofounder and CEO of ScribeAmerica, which provides scribes to hospitals and medical practices. "They're tracking down labs, they're notifying of delays, they're helping in scheduling appointments. They're basically handling 80 to 90 percent of the ancillary duties for providers."

3. The American College of Medical Scribe Specialists estimates 20,000 scribes were employed by the end of 2014, and it expects this number to grow to 100,000 scribes by 2020.

4. As of April 2015, at least 22 companies supplied scribes across 44 states, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. The largest company is ScribeAmerica, with more than 5,000 scribes in more than 570 healthcare facilities across 44 states.

Benefits

5. A study published last year by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found physician productivity in a cardiology clinic was 10 percent higher when scribes were used. The study compared the productivity during routine clinic visits of 10 cardiologists using scribes versus 15 cardiologists without scribes. According to the study, physicians with scribes saw 9.6 percent more patients per hour than physicians without scribes. Physician productivity in a cardiology clinic, overall, was 10 percent higher for physicians with scribes.

6. This same study showed physicians with scribes generated an additional revenue of $24,257 by producing clinical notes that were coded at a higher level. Total additional revenue generated was $1.4 million at a cost of roughly $99,000 for the employed scribes.

7. Additionally, another study showed correlation between a scribes system and thousands of dollars in savings per patient. The study compared standard visits (20-minute follow-up and 40-minute new patient) to a scribe system (15-minute follow-up and 30-minute new patient) in a cardiology clinic. Direct and indirect revenue combined resulted in $2,500 more per patient with the use of scribes.

8. While the use of scribes has resulted in increased productivity and a revenue boost, evidence also suggests scribes may improve clinician satisfaction, as well as patient-clinician interactions, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

The authors identified five peer-reviewed studies from 2000-2014 assessing the effect of medical scribes on healthcare productivity, quality and outcomes. Three studies assessed the use of scribes in an emergency department, one assessed the use of scribes in a cardiology clinic and one assessed the use of scribes in a urology clinic. Two of the studies reported scribes improved clinician satisfaction, and one study reported improved patient-clinician interactions.

9. Dr. Murphy says scribes are helping alleviate productivity challenges associated with EHRs, but they are also helping providers through the transition to ICD-10 the 10th version of the World Health Organization's medical classification system that took effect Oct. 1, 2015.

Regulations

10. CMS does not provide official guidelines on the use of scribes, but has responded to direct inquiries about using scribes, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians.

11. CMS does not bar non-physician providers, such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, from using scribes.

12. A scribe does not need to be employed by the hospital they work at, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians. Hospitals may use scribes to bridge volume gaps, enabling a smaller number of physicians to treat a greater volume of patients, says Dr. Murphy.

13. The provider must add and sign an addendum to the scribe's note when the scribe makes an entry on a paper medical record and correction is needed, rather than cross out or alter what the scribe has written, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians.

14. The Joint Commission does not endorse or prohibit the use of scribes. The Joint Commission permits scribes to document the previously determined physician's dictation and/or activities, but does not permit scribes to act independently, with the exception of obtaining past family social history and a review of systems, a technique providers use to get the patient's medical history.

Education and training

15. As of January 2016, the average pay for a medical scribe is roughly $12 an hour, or $29,595 annually, according to PayScale. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide salary information specific to medical scribes. However it does provide data for medical transcriptionists. According the bureau's latest numbers available, from May 2014, the average pay for a medical transcriptionist is $17.11 an hour.

16. The general minimum qualification for medical scribes is a high school diploma, although some pre-med students work in medical scribe positions to gain experience from shadowing physicians, according to an article published by U.S. News & World Report.

17. Scribes are not required to go through a certification process. However, there are organizations, mostly scribe service vendors, that train and certify scribes, one of which is the American College of Medical Scribe Specialists.

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Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health-Crawfordsville looks to attract more physicians through medical school partnership: 4 things to know
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Arman Hayrapetyan, arrested with regard to the case of the gang neutralized in Nork Marash by the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia on November 25 was released on January 25. Hayrapetyans advocate Hermine Mikayelyan told Armenpress about this. Arman Hayrapetyans detention has not been extended and signature for not leaving is applied as precautionary measure, lawyer Mikayelyan said.

Hayrapetyan was employed at the Public TVs satellite broadcasting department.

Nelly Minasyan, Srbuhi Ayvazyan, Lilit Torosyan, Hayk and Hrant Vardanyans arrested with regard to the same case were also released on January 25.

Armenian citizen, former resident of Yerevan, Artur Vardanyan residing abroad arrived in Armenia in 2015, formed and headed a criminal group. According to preliminary agreement, the group illegally acquired a large number of weapons and ammunition concealing it in a rented house in Nork district of Yerevan.

In joint searches with the Police on November 25, different rifles, pistols, grenade launchers, grenades, explosive materials and equipment, cartridges, bullets etc. were discovered. Artur Vardanyan and 9 members of the criminal group were discovered in the house during the searches. The criminals have been arrested.

A criminal case has been initiated in Investigative Department of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia in accordance with parts 1 and 2 of Article 223 and part 3 of article 235 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.
The question of whether Harvard Medical School in Boston should be renamed in return for a significant financial gift, possibly as high as $1 billion, is being pondered among members of the Harvard community, according to a report from STAT.

Here are five things to know about the issue.

1. Faculty members have been discussing the idea of selling the naming rights for the medical school to the highest bidder, according to Dr. John Rowe, chair of the board of fellows that advises the medical school.

2. Some in the Harvard community have expressed enthusiasm about the idea, while others are more apprehensive. According to the report, supporters deem the idea a good way to move medical research forward and pay off annual deficits at the medical school, but others are reluctant about tampering with the Harvard Med brand by selling it.

3. In the end, the decision to rename any Harvard school is up to President Drew Gilpin Faust and the Harvard Corp., according to STAT. Ms. Faust's office declined to disclose to STAT whether it would consider selling the naming rights to the highest bidder.

4. If Harvard did rename its medical school, it wouldn't be the first time Harvard has sold naming rights. Harvard renamed its public health school last year in return for a $350 million gift, followed by the engineering school for $400 million, according to the report.

5. Jay Loeffler, MD, a professor at Harvard Medical School who published two articles on the subject, told STAT the number of medical schools named after donors has increased from 15 to at least 26 in the past seven years. Examples in the last decade include Perelman School of Medicine at UPenn in Philadelphia, Alpert Medical School at Brown University in Providence, R.I., and Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.
The following healthcare mergers, acquisitions and general partnerships took place or were announced in the past week.

1. Montefiore Health System expands NY footprint

Bronx, N.Y.-based Montefiore Health System expanded its hospital network, as a deal for St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, N.Y., to become a member of Montefiore received regulatory approval.

2. 2 Philadelphia health systems finalize merger deal

Aria Health System and Jefferson  a newly formed organization that includes Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health  entered into a definitive agreement, which lays out the terms of how the two Philadelphia-based systems will integrate.

3. Jefferson and Kennedy Health explore merger

Philadelphia-based Jefferson health system and Kennedy Health in Voorhees, N.J., signed a letter of intent to pursue integration.

4. Catholic Medical Center to partner with Monadnock Community Hospital

Catholic Medical Center, a 330-bed hospital in Manchester, N.H., and Monadnock Community Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital in Peterborough, N.H., signed a letter of intent to explore an affiliation.

5. Anderson Hospital, Community Memorial Hospital sign affiliation deal

Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Ill., and Community Memorial Hospital in Staunton, Ill., signed a letter of intent to affiliate, allowing the two hospitals to move into a due diligence period to work out the exact structure of the deal.

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California's four largest health plans  Kaiser Permanente, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California and Health Net  may owe up to $10 billion in back taxes pending the outcome of a historic court case, reports San Jose Mercury News.

Below are 10 things to know about the lawsuit brought against Kaiser, Health Net, Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross that could cause the health insurance giants to pay back taxes.

1. The case centers around the state's Constitutional provision that requires insurers to pay a 2.35 percent state tax on premiums.

2. Kaiser Permanente, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California and Health Net have traditionally avoided paying the tax. The health plans argue they are not insurers, but rather healthcare service plans that provide medical services for fixed monthly fees. As healthcare plans, they say they are not subject to the state insurance tax.

3. The plans contend they are regulated under the Department of Managed Health, and pay a tax based upon their volume of business. Critics argue this fee is millions of dollars less annually than the traditional insurance tax.

4. The four health plans account for 70 percent of the state's health insurance market.

5. The allegation the plans are essentially gaming the system underlies a lawsuit filed in July 2013 against the state by Michael Myers, MD, a California family physician. Mr. Myers argued Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Shield should be considered insurers, and the state should collect eight years of back taxes from each.

6. The lawsuit was originally dismissed by a superior court judge. However, a 2nd district state court of appeal in Los Angeles upheld the legal claims against Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross in 2015, and allowed the case to proceed to trial.

7. The lawsuit was expanded to include Kaiser and Health Net, at which point Consumer Watchdog joined the case in favor of the plaintiff.

8. Should the court rule against the health plans, they will be required to pay $10 billion in back taxes and $1 billion annually going forward. The back taxes could go to funding California's overwhelmed Medi-Cal program.

9. Some industry experts worry consumers will end up footing the behemoth tax bills through significantly higher premiums.

10. Court proceedings officially began Jan. 22.
Former President Bill Clinton delivered the keynote address at the 4th annual World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit in Dana Point, Calif., sharing a story of a time his own family was affected by a medical error, according to The Orange County Register.

Mr. Clinton recounted the story of his cousin, who was sent home from a local clinic that thought she had the flu, to an audience of physicians, hospital executives, policymakers and patient advocates. The condition of the cousin worsened, he explained, and she went on to die several days later in a hospital with sepsis, according to the report.

"I just started thinking about all the people going to big, urban hospitals and how in that kind of operation, how easy it is to let the little things drop through the cracks," Mr. Clinton told the audience.

He went on to say the patient safety movement could achieve large-scale success in reducing medical errors and eliminating preventable patient deaths, with the hard work of the audience members and other healthcare professionals who are similarly situated to make a difference.

Mr. Clinton is a longtime supporter of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation. His appearance at the summit was one of several health-related stops he made in California before his foundation  the Clinton Global Initiative  hosts its own annual Health Matters Activation Summit, according to the report.

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Just 17.4 percent of ambulatory care nurses reported that they comply with all nine standard precautions for infection prevention, according to a study in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Researchers from Northwell Health in Great Neck, N.Y., surveyed 116 registered nurses working in ambulatory care settings about their compliance with standard precautions, knowledge of hepatitis C virus and behavioral factors that influence compliance.

The nine standard precautions are listed below.

Provide care considering all patients as potentially contagious Wash hands after removing gloves Avoid placing foreign objects on my hands Wear gloves when exposure of my hands to bodily fluids is anticipated Avoid needle recapping Avoid disassembling a used needle from a syringe Use a face mask when anticipating exposure to air-transmitted pathogens Wash hands after providing care Discard used sharp materials into sharp containers

The standard precaution with the highest rate of compliance was wearing gloves (92 percent) and washing hands after providing care (82 percent). Next was wearing a face mask (70 percent).

"Self-reported data might be an overestimate of actual compliance and that makes these results of particular concern for potential exposure to bloodborne diseases," according to the study authors. "Overall, the ambulatory care nurses chose to implement some behaviors and not others, and this behavior puts them at risk for acquiring a bloodborne infection."

The authors also emphasize the importance of finding the reasons for noncompliance and how to encourage total compliance with all nine standard precautions.
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Chocolate has been banned at Alltwen Primary School in south Wales because a pupil has an allergy to it

Chocolate has been banned at a primary school in south Wales because one pupil has an allergy to it.

Alltwen Primary School in Pontardawe, Neath Port Talbot, took the bold decision after saying the treat could make one of its youngsters "very ill" - and has even barred teachers from eating chocolate in the staff room.

While the decision has not been universally popular, head teacher Owain Hyett insisted the drastic action was justified.

In a letter to parents, he said: "Unfortunately, one of our pupils has been diagnosed with a chocolate intolerance and can become very ill if in contact with chocolate.

"Sadly the pupil is also highly sensitive to chocolate if it is airborne or being eaten by another pupil.

"To maintain the safety of this pupil our school will be adopting a no-chocolate policy for all pupils and staff. All areas of the school will be chocolate-free including the staff room and office.

"The catering department are working with the school to amend our dinner menu by replacing any chocolate products.

"We also ask that you ensure that there are no traces of chocolate in our pupils' packed lunches or school bags."

The move has divided opinion among parents at the school - with some saying they supported it while others said a total ban was excessive and unenforceable.

One mum, who did not wish to be named, said: "There must be other ways of keeping this child safe than banning chocolate across the whole school.

"How are they going to police it anyway? Are they going to go through every child's lunchboxes?"

According to the website Newhealthguide.org, true chocolate allergies are extremely rare.

It says: "Most of the time when someone has an allergic reaction to chocolate, it is actually a reaction to the additives that are put with the chocolate when it is processed. When chocolate is manufactured, it can have up to 300 ingredients added if not more."

As well as causing shortness of breath, a chocolate allergy can cause stomach ache as well as nausea.
Shes the leader of one of the top five companies in Northern Ireland, but we only hear about her when things go wrong. Sara Venning (43) has been chief executive of Northern Ireland Water since 2014. Shes the fifth chief executive of the government company (or goco) set up to replace the Water Service in 2007.

Last January, the company dealt with interruptions to supply affecting around 10,000 homes following industrial action over pension reforms, as its 1,300 workers moved from a final salary scheme to a career average pension scheme. Agreement was reached with the union and the company and its staff are now through the first year of the increased staff pension contributions which were the sticking-point for staff.

Mrs Venning acknowledges it was undoubtedly the toughest period in her career of nearly 20 years in utilities.

It was character building and the most sustained period of continual work pressure and thinking.

But it tends to bring out the best and the worst. The worst was that none of us wanted to see customer impact, and there was customer impact.

The best was that the team of people who were here were so focused and worked so hard. It was undoubtedly a test, but the support of the team around me meant we got through it and came out stronger.

Ultimately, the working relationship with the union has improved, she says  and she hopes that union and company can work together to implement changes in future.

Those changes could include more freedom over how we organise ourselves and pay our staff.

Already, efficiency levels have been improved. Mrs Venning says the firm has closed the efficiency gap with the best company in Great Britain from 49% to 13% and hopes to reduce that gap to 5% in coming years. She wants to bring the company through more challenging reform in future.

We have probably taken a lot of low hanging fruit, so were probably going after some of the more difficult stuff. Were up for that.

She grew up as the eldest of four children in the centre of Cookstown and always had a passion for organisation.

My first job was in my grandfathers clothes shop, Eastwoods Clothing Co in Cookstown, and from the start, I wanted to reorganise it. They had an electronic till but hardly used it, so I soon changed that.

She excelled in science and maths at school in Dungannon Academy, so studied a Masters in electrical and electronic engineering at Queens University, Belfast, graduating with a First.

Her job as chief executive is to keep NI Water providing clean water to around 795,000 properties and she wants the public to know its successes.

Were public sector and have delivered a lot. The water is clean and its safe and the environment is protected and the improvement in the company has been very big since 2007. We have taken 60m out of our cost base, had delivered every single business plan put forward in externally verified way and increased customer service. If youre expanding your business, we are there to support.

The company presents both regulatory and statutory accounts. Its regulatory accounts for 2014/15 show annual turnover at 370m, with pre-tax profit 62m. The statutory accounts report annual turnover of 426m and profit before tax of 131m. Economist John Simpson points to the regulatory accounts as the ones which bear most comparison with commercial realities.

Her salary has also been scrutinised. Between 2014/15 she was paid 147,000, which included back pay relating to the earlier financial year. She is happy to discuss the matter.

If I look at my salary, I think I am very fortunate. I think back to how Ive lived here all my life and Ive applied for every job Ive got. I started off getting paid 10 on a Saturday, so I didnt come from a privileged background. My first job in NIE was paid something like 14,000. For me, everything I applied for was about the challenge and the job and less so about the salary.

I know I have a good salary, but thats because I applied for a job with that salary.

We have 1,300 employees, a turnover of 370m and a capital programme of 140m. Im responsible and accountable for all of that. I took 5m out of our costs last year, so if you wrote that up as a job and decided how much would you pay  compared with water companies in the UK, NI is getting tremendous value for money, thats all I can say.

I have a good salary, yes, its the salary that comes with the job. I should be judged on what I do. Is your water clean, are your services improving and are you getting what we are promising, and more?

Its undoubtedly a success story, but it has been won through hard work and risk.

Along with Elaine Birchall of SHS Group, Darina Armstrong of Progressive Building Society and others, shes one of a handful of women leading our top 100 companies. Shes also one of the youngest. But gender doesnt preoccupy her.

Right through engineering I have been in the minority and worked on the basis its what I know and what I can do, not whether Im male or female.

She joined NI Water after 14 years at NIE.

I have greater seniority now and that brings its own challenges and responsibilities. I think as CEO you are the ultimate decision maker and ultimate person of accountability. Youre right at the top and the buck completely stops with you.

Most of the time through your career, you look to one side and think, were all in this together or such as such has my back. But when youre the boss, theres just you.

Thats a role you develop into as you grow through different roles. You get more comfortable with leaving the pack behind as you start to lead.

She describes NI Water as asset-intensive. Those assets  including 26,000 km of water mains  bring large capital requirements. What she wants is a medium term financial settlement with the Executive which will enable NI Water to plan ahead for capital investment and know how much funding it will be getting, beyond planning only on a financial year basis. In the wider UK government there are large capital programmes being run that can require more than one year budgeting programmes, and it can be done.

Id like our Executive to put in place that medium-term financial settlement. It needs to be recognised that water and sewerage is a key part of infrastructure and making sure its fit for purpose is crucial.

But there are competing priorities and as a service, NI Water is silent.

You certainly dont wake up in the morning and think, isnt that wonderful and so clean, so plentiful.

It is naive to think that anyone wakes up and thinks that; I know that I dont.

Businesses are charged for water, but domestic customers arent, with that element of cost subsidised by the Department for Regional Development (DRD). Shes determined to avoid pronouncing on the rights and wrongs of charging. Thats a decision that the Executive need to make. For us, Im focused on the outcome. I just need the funding. If you give me that, Ill deliver efficiency, services and the infrastructure. Government has a choice on continuing to subsidise it and thats entirely within their gift.

Mrs Venning lives in Glenavy with husband Martin and their three daughters, Caoimhe (14), Niamh (12) and eight-year-old Cara. Though she emphasises its early days in her childrens education, she says engineering is a good field to work in and one shed encourage her children into.

Its hugely interesting and for me, I chose it because I was good at it.

Theres always a right answer in engineering. I like something with a right answer thats not subjective.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenian exports to Canada have increased by 35%. Ambassador of Canada to Armenia John Kerr told the journalists about this on January 26.

At the end of 2015 we recorded that Armenian exports to Canada have increased by 35%. Canada is a major investor, particularly in some companies of Kapan city. We pay much attention to economic relations as a means to expand the relations between the two states, Armenpress reports, the Ambassador said.

Referring to expected investments in Armenia, the Ambassador stated that they are working in that direction. We try to attract the attention of Canadian companies so that they come and invest in different spheres of Armenia, he added.

Diplomatic ties between Armenia and Canada were established on January 31, 1992. Armenia opened its embassy in Canada in 1995.
Another view of thenew library at the University of Roehampton

What the new library at the University of Roehampton will look like

Co Antrim firm Creagh Concrete has announced a 5m deal to build a new library at the University of Roehampton in England.

The Toomebridge business, which makes concrete products, said it was one of many major contracts it would be announcing this year.

It will work on the Roehampton University project for around 10 months.

And Co Tyrone concrete manufacturer Acheson & Glover also announced that its biggest contract - also in Great Britain - was well in progress.

Creagh Concrete managing director Seamus McKeague said the company was entering 2016 "in confident mood".

The firm is also working on a new 3m flooring project at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast's York Street, a 2.1m car park in Leeds and a new 1m school project in London.

In common with other construction-related firms in Northern Ireland, it's been seeking work in Great Britain.

A survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) earlier this month said nearly half of all work done by the province's building firms was being done outside Northern Ireland.

Creagh Concrete's Roehampton deal involves building an exposed concrete frame with brick-faced facade.

Mr McKeague said it would be working with architect Feilden Clegg Bradley after already completing work with the firm at Manchester Metropolitan University Student Union.

The managing director added: "We hope to make more significant announcements in the coming weeks and months as Creagh Concrete develops its range of contracts and expertise."

The firm has said it's made a successful turnaround over the last year and hired 100 more staff during 2015. It now has 650 full-time staff and contractors on its books.

Meanwhile, Acheson & Glover in Co Tyrone, which also makes concrete products, has announced it's taken on 33 new staff to work on a project with Carillion to build eight schools in Great Britain.

The firm said the deal with the listed support services firm was its "biggest ever". Acheson & Glover's chief executive Raymond Acheson led a buy-out of the company in 2014.

New roles created by the firm include operative staff and roles in human resources and digital marketing.

Managing director Stephen Acheson said: "At a time when our manufacturing industry is facing challenges, positive news such as the creation of new jobs is most welcome.

"Winning contracts of this nature in Great Britain enhances our reputation for quality products and service delivery.

"It showcases our capabilities in this arena and marketplace and will only seek to secure future wins, which in turn creates more jobs for Northern Ireland and encourages indigenous construction activity on our own shores."

Acheson & Glover now employs around 380 people.
Five of nine B&Q stores in Northern Ireland face closure

The owner of B&Q and Screwfix has unveiled plans to bolster annual profits by 500m over five years, as it looks to step up its financial performance.

Kingfisher said the 800m strategy would help it become a "single, unified company" and return 600m to shareholders within three years through a share buy-back scheme.

The company said a key part of the plan would be to ramp up its digital operation and open more trade-focused Screwfix stores across Europe.

There are nine B&Q stores in Northern Ireland, though five have been earmarked for closure, and eight Screwfix outlets.

Shares fell more than 3% in early trading, with some City analysts underwhelmed by the plan.

The announcement comes in the wake of a shake-up in the home improvement sector after rival retailer Homebase was taken over by Australian business Wesfarmers in a 340m deal earlier this month.

Kingfisher chief executive Veronique Laury said the new strategy would focus on "three key pillars of creating a unified, unique and leading home improvement offer, driving our digital capability and optimising our operational efficiency".

She added: "With a clear roadmap now in place alongside clear long-term targets, the size of the five-year opportunity is significant. We do acknowledge the challenges ahead."

Ms Laury announced cost cuts last March, including shutting 60 stores in two years, hitting 3,000 jobs in the UK and Ireland.

Kingfisher notched up like-for-like sales growth of 2.4% at its DIY chain in the quarter to October 31, fuelled by strong sales of outdoor seasonal goods and building products. Its Screwfix arm raced ahead over the same period, with store sales up 13.3% thanks to strong growth in the housing market.

Its UK and Ireland retail profits rose 14.2% to 80m in the third quarter.

But its French business - where it trades as Castorama and Brico Depot - continued to struggle, as weak consumer confidence and declines in the housing and construction markets saw sales edge just 0.1% higher.

The weakness of the euro against the pound also compounded its woes in France, with retail profits diving by 15.7% to 109m.

Analyst Kate Calvert at Investec said the returns for shareholders in the plan were "insufficient for the execution risk".

Ms Calvert added: "There are a lot of moving parts and no guarantee that all the costs will fall out and the profits come through."

Kingfisher also said that a former Amazon director, Rakhi Parekh, would join the Kingfisher board as a non-executive director from February 1, with Janis Kong stepping down after nine years on the board.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has revealed that building work has begun on the company's new data centre in Ireland. The facility - reportedly costing 200m (152m) - is being built in Clonee, just outside Dublin. It is Facebook's sixth data centre and only the second in Europe, after Lulea in Sweden.

"Data centres deliver all of Facebook's services to you. They're some of the most complex machines ever created," Mr Zuckerberg (right) said in an online post.

All the racks, servers and other components have been designed and built from scratch as part of the Open Compute Project, an industry-wide coalition of companies dedicated to creating energy and cost-efficient infrastructure solutions and sharing them as open source.

The 31,000 sq m Clonee data centre will be run on 100% renewable energy and it will be naturally cooled by air from outside - with a special filtration system used to remove salt from the air due to its proximity to the Irish Sea.

"We're glad to be investing in Ireland, to become a part of the Clonee community, and to continue building the massive infrastructure that connects our global community," Mr Zuckerberg said.

About 2,000 people will be employed during the different construction phases and dozens of people will be employed at the facility on a permanent basis when it opens in 2018.

The Clonee site is being opened due to the company's rapid global expansion: it doubled its number of daily users from just 500m in 2011 to more than a billion by the end of 2015.

Niall McEntegart, a Louth native, currently heads up Facebook's data centre in Sweden, and said Clonee was chosen for a variety of reasons, with its proximity to Dublin, where the tech giant has its European headquarters, being perhaps the most obvious one.

"It created a level of synergy that we don't have anywhere else on the planet in Facebook," he said. "There is good access to power and fibre. The climate is really good and the country is stable politically, seismically even, in terms of earthquakes it is good. Availability in relation to labour as well was huge, there is a huge skills pool in Ireland in relation to data centres."

Meath County Council chief executive Jackie Maguire hopes Facebook's presence will help attract similar companies to the region. "For every one job you create, there is a spin-off of at least three or four additional jobs, whether it is in hotels, catering facilities or services like that," she said.
Food markets wil be held four or five times this year at venues on the university's estate

Queen's University is to hold a series of food markets on campus aimed at raising the profile of local producers and introducing foreign students to Northern Ireland flavours.

Elmwood Hall on University Road will host the first event, on February 9, coinciding with Chinese New Year.

"We'll have a Chinese theme, with dragon dancing from the Queen's Chinese Society and up to a dozen stands with a range of different foods," said Brian Horgan, head of campus food and drink.

"We plan to hold food markets four or five times over the year, at Elmwood Hall and other venues on the Queen's estate. They're aimed at our international students, to give them an introduction to the range of food available here, as well as the 2,000 or so staff who work here and the local community in south Belfast.

"We held a global food market at Elmwood in October and it was very successful.

"It got us thinking that this is something we could do more often. Closer to the summer we hope to hold an outdoor market on the Medical Biology Centre site on Lisburn Road."

Queen's has advertised for local traders to take part in the markets and hopes to attract the type of artisan producers and coffee specialists who regularly trade at the popular St George's Market in Belfast.

"We hope to offer people a bit of variety, to let them try something new. It all ties in with the Year of Food and Drink, and around December we plan to hold a major two-day event, celebrating the best of Northern Ireland food," said Brian.

Brian is responsible for all the on-site catering at Queen's and has just taken over running the bars and restaurants at the Students' Union. "We have a major emphasis on quality local produce right across the campus," he said. "With the banqueting in the Great Hall, in particular, we insist on local food. All of our meat comes from Carnbrooke in Dromara and we try to buy fresh, seasonal local vegetables. It's about supporting local as well as reducing air miles. We're committed to carbon management."

Brian revealed that Queen's is to open a new ground floor cafe in the atrium of the redeveloped law library, due for completion this summer.

It will seat up to 100 people and open in time for the new academic year in September.
Bridlington's town crier David Hinde is said to be the world's loudest

Catherine Zeta-Jones said filming the new movie version of TV classic comedy Dad's Army reminded her how much she loves the UK.

Her affection may not have extended to the British weather though as the cast huddled under umbrellas on a damp red carpet at the film's world premiere in Leicester Square.

The Welsh actress, 46, kept all eyes off the rain clouds in her low-cut teal dress as she joined co-stars Toby Jones, Sir Tom Courtenay and Sir Michael Gambon.

Now based in Los Angeles with husband Michael Douglas and their two children, Zeta-Jones said filming it in England was like "coming home to a cup of Ovaltine".

She said: "It was everything I hoped it to be, it was all these great actors, knew their lines, knew what they were doing.

"We were laughing all the way through it and it just reminded me how much I love being in the UK to work and to be with British actors.

"It's nice to come home and this was like coming home to a cup of Ovaltine, nice and cosy."

The big screen version of the Second World War-set BBC sitcom, which ran from 1968-77, sees Zeta-Jones plays journalist Rose Winters, whose arrival in Walmington-on-Sea to report on Captain Mainwaring's (Jones) Home Guard sets pulses racing and proves a distraction while the group try to smoke out a German spy in their midst.

Suddenly the fate of the nation falls in the hands of the Home Guard played by an all-star British cast which also includes Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, Bill Paterson as Frazer, Daniel Mays as Walker and Blake Harrison as Private Pike.

Sir Michael says the set was full of laughter.

"It was nothing but laughing and fooling around. I was mucking around with all of them," he said.

It was not too difficult for Sir Michael to get into character as he said was just like gentle but doddery Private Godfrey, best remembered for perpetually nodding off and being excused for his weak bladder.

He joked: "I'm like Godfrey, I'm always mooching around, I'm not doing anything right, I forget things. If someone says left, I turn right. I'm not very bright up here."

Filming felt like "coming home" for the last two surviving cast members of the original TV version: Frank Williams revives his role as Reverend Timothy Farthing in the new film and Pike actor Ian Lavender has a cameo.

Williams said: "It takes me back to a very happy time in my life when I was doing Dad's Army originally and as my scenes are in the church hall, it was very much like coming home again."

Lavender admitted he was jealous of the new Pike, who not only has a girlfriend in the new film, but, he discovered, gets to share a kiss with Zeta-Jones.

"Blake kept that one quiet from me! If they'd have put that in my script, I'd have done it for half the money," he laughed.

All the cast acknowledged the risk involved in remaking such an well-loved show - which can still attract three million viewers for TV repeats - but hope it will introduce a new audience to the characters.

" I think it's so touching and heart warming it'll inspire a whole new generation of lovers of Dad's Army," Zeta-Jones said.

The film is out in UK cinemas on February 5.
A collaboration with Idris Elba's Green Door Pictures will be one of the highlights when BBC Three moves online from February 16.

The Luther star said: "I'm looking forward to working with BBC Three and giving new writers and actors a chance to show what they can do."

Controller Damian Kavanagh mentioned he had a budget of 30 million per year for creative ideas at a preview event for the new BBC Three in London.

"We're reinventing our offer for young people and this is just the start," he added.

The venture with Elba's production company is to deliver a series of short films from new writers featuring new on-screen talent working alongside established on-screen talent.

"We will be bold, we will be British and we will be creative," Kavanagh promised as he enthused about new drama Clique, new documentary Black Power and new factual Unsolved: The Boy Who Disappeared - described by some as the British version of US podcast Serial, but with video.

One key drama will be Murdered By My Father, a film about an honour killing from the same team that made the award-winning Murdered By My Boyfriend.

Familiar BBC Three programmes such as Stacey Dooley Investigates and Bafta award-winning Life And Death Row will continue to be available online.

Building on the success of his Suicide And Me exploration, Stephen Manderson, AKA Professor Green, returns to BBC Three with two new documentaries: one on youth homelessness and another on dangerous dogs.

Two new formats for online are The Daily Drop and The Best Of, with the latter bringing together original long form programmes and a range of new content, including short form films.

The Daily Drop is home to BBC Three's new stream of daily content including short form videos, blogs, social media, image galleries, trending stories and daily updates from news and sport.

T ony Hall, director general of the BBC, called the move "risky" but he hailed the corporation's vision.

"We have always been innovators," he said. "We should continue to be innovators. We are the first broadcaster in the world to work out what it's going to be like in this on demand world.

"This is new and let's be clear, it's also risky, but risky in the way it should be risky because if we don't take risks, who's going to?

He continued: "I love the way that programmes from BBC Three provoke such strong reactions too. There's a confidence about the way that the team has dealt with really tough, challenging subjects whether it's talking about suicide, drugs, sex or gender."

Hall underlined the new BBC Three's commitment to breaking new names.

"I think that is one of the most important roles of the BBC - backing new talent, finding new talent, giving new talent a chance to speak, to find its voice and to have confidence - it's so important.

"I want people to look back on the new BBC Three as being the place that spotted the next James Corden, the next Aidan Turner, the next Sheridan Smith. I can point to people who got their first chance on BBC Three because in this new world that's part of what BBC Three has stood for in the old world as well."

Switch-over night on February 16 will see episode one of the new series of Cuckoo, the first film from the new series of Life And Death Row, and Live From The BBC, featuring some of Britain's best new comedians, made available exclusively through BBC Three's new online platform and BBC Three on iPlayer.

Mr Kavanagh said: "BBC Three is a badge of quality and shorthand for content that will stimulate emotions and provoke reactions. It's the same award winning programmes freed from the constraints of linear TV, and because we're freed from the schedule we can use whatever format and platform is most appropriate."
X-Files star Gillian Anderson jokingly implored "may his soul be forgiven" as her sci-fi series sidekick David Duchovny unveiled his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Anderson, who was unable to attend the ceremony, sent a spoof telegram in which she appeared to mistake the tribute for his funeral.

In the message, which was read out at the unveiling, she wrote: "He was a nice man. A kind man. Quite smart. He liked avocado and pilates. Actor, writer, friend. He will always be my shining star. May his soul be forgiven and rest in peace."

Anderson and Duchovny, who both found fame in The X-Files, will return to their roles as Special Agents Mulder and Scully for six new episodes which will be shown on Channel 5 in February.

Duchovny was joined by the series creator Chris Carter, as well as his co-stars from raunchy comedy Californication, for the star ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard.

Speaking afterwards, he said: It's indescribable, there are so many memories that come back.

"I came out to Los Angeles in 1988 trying to make enough money to live and work, that was all I was concerned about was can I pay the rent and act.

"I've been able to have so many great relationships in the business so for me it stands for all those days when I get to collaborate with those people who are smarter and better than me and can teach me so much. They have a little piece of this."
Up to 20,000 people in Northern Ireland suffer from dementia yet still there is confusion about the debilitating illness which can rob people of their most precious memories.

Now, Alzheimer's Research UK has launched its Fightback campaign which features actor Christopher Eccleston (below) talking about his late father Ronnie who suffered from dementia before he passed away from pneumonia in 2012. The former Doctor Who actor can be seen on social media talking about how this cruel disease robbed his dad of personality as the condition took over.

The founders of Alzheimer's Research say their aim is to educate people about the different types of dementia while searching for a cure, and not accept it as an inevitable consequence of growing old.

Meanwhile, local actor Jimmy Nesbitt also added his weight to the cause by speaking about how important it is for groups such as Alzheimer's Research to find a way of stopping this devastating illness, after he lost his mum May to Alzheimer's Disease in 2011.

Author Terry Pratchett, who died last March, having been diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007, was also a staunch advocate of research, having donated substantially to the trust and made a BBC documentary chronicling his experiences with the disease.

We talk to local people who are dealing with the affects of dementia on their loved ones.

Roisin Cartmill (43) is a residential social worker. She lives in Londonderry with her husband Tony and children Jason (26) and Bethany (14). Her mother Ann Mooring (76) suffers from dementia. She says:

My mum Ann was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago. At first she just kept forgetting things and then it progressed until it wasn't safe for her to live by herself any more.

Six years ago she went into a care home which was more like an assisted living facility where she could come and go as she pleased.

Again, her condition deteriorated and she needed more help, so about three years ago she was put in a care home which is dedicated to helping those with dementia.

Since mum was diagnosed with dementia, we've found the health care services to be very good. We didn't know if we would be able to get mum a place in a home which would give her the right kind of care - you hear about so many bed shortages these days. We've been very lucky with social workers and services, so mum has always had the right kind of care.

I'm the second youngest of six girls - Marie, Karen, Jackie, Angela, myself and Joanne - and from the very beginning we've all been involved in mum's care and keeping in contact with the social workers. We've all felt part of the decision-making process and although mum's condition has deteriorated now, as far as she could be, she was always involved in the decisions about her care, too.

Sometimes mum recognises all of us with no trouble at all but other times she doesn't. It's actually easier on her now that she has progressed - before, when she had more awareness, she would get upset if she couldn't remember things or places.

Sometimes she doesn't know who I am, so I never call her mummy straight away. I wait to see if she can remember me so that I don't upset her. She usually knows there's some kind of relationship there.

She will say to me that she doesn't know who I am in her head but she can feel me in her heart. She will wonder if I'm her mother, sister or daughter. You can get a sense of what she remembers when you first walk in to see her.

It can be upsetting for all of us - we're a very close family and there wouldnt be a day that goes by when Im not in contact with some of my sisters. We have a schedule drawn up so that at least one of us goes and see our mum every day.

We do a lot of things for mum  it was the centre activity co-ordinators idea to create a memory box for mum.

We spent a whole night putting things into the box and telling the story behind each item.

My mum was always very glamorous and would never been seen outside without her hair done and we all joke that the last thing shell wonder about is if her hair is okay.

Now we have the box and well go through it and the centre staff go through it with her, too. We have everything in there from photos to old newspaper articles.

We had to have the Oil of Olay moisturising cream in there too  she always showed us how to moisturise upwards to prevent wrinkles.

We take mum out all the time, too  one of her favourite things to do before she got sick was to go for a drive to Buncrana and get a pink and white poke.

Now when we take her to do that, its like the first time for her all over again and she loves it just as much.

Mum always loved music and there was always a radio playing in her house.

Now if you put on music that she likes shell remember it and start singing along. She loves having her family around her, too, so we still throw a big party for her birthday each year.

We do think that all of this is helping mum. I think relationships are one of the most important things  she might not know which one of us shes talking to but she will remember the relationship.

Una Trainor (32) is a trainee counsellor and she lives in Castlewellan with her husband Francis and their three children Katie Rose (13), Aine (10) and Frances (5). Unas dad George Walsh suffered from dementia for 10 years before he passed away in November 2014, aged 76. She says:

Dementia is the cruellest of all illnesses. It robbed me of my dad and my children of their grandfather. I used to say dad had died without dying and was alive without living.

He took a stroke when he was about 67 and that left him confused and with the onset of dementia.

Up until then he had been a big, fit healthy man. He was a really tall man and was known as a gentle giant, who everyone loved. He had worked in the building trade for years and then as a bouncer on the door in a club.

The hardest thing in the beginning was watching my mum feed and dress her husband. It was heartbreaking and so hard for mum. In the end, she took ill and we thought it was just stress, but she was diagnosed with inoperable cancer on Christmas Eve and died the following March.

That left my six siblings and I to care for my dad and eventually we found a really good nursing home in Spa, Ballynahinch. They were fantastic with him, but it was a slow painful decline.

Slowly, he stopped recognising us and was able to do less and less for himself.

The worst thing was that my grandmother had dementia and dad always said if that ever happens to me please just end my life with tablets and a bottle of Vodka.

We had to watch him suffer and he would cry out like a baby wanting his mum. Watching the person you love so much and look up to most in the world fade away is devastating.

Every day I would visit dad and hope he would recognise me and that there would be some kind of interaction but he never knew who any of us were.

Once a month all the siblings would get together in the nursing home and on those occasions we would see him smile and laugh along with us. It was as though he knew his whole family had come together.

I used to play music to him all the time, as he had loved a singalong, but he never showed any interest.

He would just sit there looking lost and crying. He was dead inside and already gone.

In the end we used to pray that he would be released from the torture he was going through, as it wasnt fair and no one wanted to watch it.

He wasnt our dad and we knew he wouldnt want this.

Dad was a big jolly man who would walk for miles and now he was sitting helpless and lost.

Suddenly, he was the child and I was the parent looking after him.

He lost loads of weight and was just fading away.

I do worry that this condition is hereditary as my grandmother had it and then my dad. I would never want my children to have to go through what we went through and watch that.

You wouldnt wish it on anyone.

For more details visit, http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/
Standing strong: Ken says his outlook on life has changed following his illness

Great help: Ken McBride is full of praise for the care he received at the cancer centre

A year ago this month, Greenisland man Ken McBride's life changed dramatically when he heard the words 'you have cancer'. Now, one year on and as the dad-of-one continues to go through treatment, he is backing the new Cancer Research UK 'Right Now' campaign which urges people to take immediate action to help increase survival rates for cancer.

Highlighting the reality of cancer - and thanking his own special support team - is what's driving Ken to back the highly charged and emotional TV, poster and radio campaign which is designed to show the reality of cancer for patients like Ken, their friends and family.

The powerful films - which feature real patients in real-life moments - are a compelling call for everyone to take action right now in the battle against the disease.

For Ken, his support team sprang into action when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2015. Now he wants to say a special thank you to them for being there.

"And that's why I'm backing the Right Now campaign," he says.

"Many people like me have to face their own cancer journey every day. With the help of the campaign I'm urging people across Northern Ireland to take action right now to help fund vital research which will help more people beat this devastating disease."

Ken (54), a self-employed project manager, is married to Helen (55) and has one son Jamie (28), living in Scotland.

Like anyone, receiving a cancer diagnosis came as a shock and Ken says one year on the experience has completely changed his perspective on life.

He had symptoms for some months before going to his GP - and was shaken to be told that if he had left it any longer the outcome could have been very different.

As part of his support for the new charity campaign he is also encouraging all of us not to hesitate if we suspect all is not well.

Ken recalls: "I had known for some months something was wrong as I had been getting up around six or seven times at night to visit the toilet.

"Sometimes I felt a real urgency but when I went to the loo, nothing happened.

"My GP was great. He did a questionnaire with me and carried out blood tests. He got the ball rolling immediately and referred me to a urologist

"I saw the urologist in November 2014 and during December had further tests and scans; and obviously it was on my mind all over Christmas that year."

Despite his fears, though, Ken was not prepared for the news.

"The diagnosis of prostate cancer left me completely shocked - when those words are said to you it is a blow.

"Right from the start, though, the oncologist and all the staff in the Cancer Centre in Belfast City Hospital were amazing. I was immediately put at ease and all my fears were allayed."

Ken says the treatment he received after his diagnosis was first class with the specialists telling him about what lay ahead while encouraging him to ask questions.

"Although it is hard I wanted to know all about my treatment, so that I understood how and why something was going to affect me.

"One the biggest problems when you get a diagnosis like that is the unknown. The uncertainty of it all can play havoc with your mind but the staff at the hospital made it easy for me to cope."

Meanwhile, Ken was offered the chance to take part in a huge clinical trial - the Stampede trial - which is being funded by Cancer Research UK and has already improved outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer.

Clinical director at the Cancer Centre, Professor Joe O'Sullivan explains the significance of the trial: "The Stampede trial, which has been running in Belfast for over 10 years, is one of the most important clinical trials ever in advanced prostate cancer.

"Over the years, the trial has been testing various additions to standard hormone therapy in men with the more serious variety of prostate cancer. This has led to practice-changing improvements in the treatment of this disease.

"The Stampede trial is an excellent example of how research should be at the core of delivering high quality cancer care.

"Myself and my team are forever grateful to the courageous men who have been part of this trial in Belfast."

Ken didn't hesitate when asked to take part in the trial and found, at the heart of his treatment was a group of people who would be with him all the way. The team helped him to cope with side effects and understand how a clinical trial could help his own recovery, and potentially, other cancer patients in the future.

He explains: "I was prescribed hormone treatment in tablet form in order to shrink the tumour which was replaced with hormone injections after a few weeks.

"Since the beginning of my treatment, the subject of taking part in a trial was discussed and I was happy to take the opportunity. I had a series of scans followed by radiotherapy treatment. The hormone injections have continued throughout the radiotherapy and will do so for a number of years to come."

While his family have been there for him throughout and continue to be, Joe has also been really encouraged by the support from the medical team.

He says: "Alongside my loved ones, I've also had incredible support from nurse Adrina O'Donnell - from answering the many questions I had following my diagnosis to explaining the different treatment options available to me - for which I am very grateful.

"My experience means I understand all too clearly why Cancer Research UK's work is so important. It is a surprise when you go to the cancer centre for the first time. I thought it would be like going into my doctor's waiting room but it was more like an airport lounge, there were so many patients there.

"Up to 350 people a day attend for radiotherapy and there are 10 machines going constantly - that was a great leveller.

"There are patients with all forms of cancer - it is no respecter of age, gender or position.

"You need to park your dignity at the door - but I was encouraged to ask questions and I was given an explanation of what was happening at every stage and why it was happening."

Although Ken's cancer was aggressive, he was relieved to be told it had not spread.

As the Greenisland dad continues his treatment, he says life now has changed for him as a result of his illness.

"It does change your perspective on things.

"It's hard to put into words but I appreciate things a lot more now and things which would have annoyed me before I now find in the grand scheme of things are not that important.

"There are not enough adjectives to describe the care I received in the cancer centre. Helpful, professional and knowledgeable the staff put me completely at ease - something which made my journey a lot more bearable."

He adds: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to support the Right Now campaign as I feel I want to give something back. And if my support leads to one person going to see their doctor and being diagnosed early it will have been worthwhile."

Jean Walsh, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Northern Ireland, says: "We would like to thank Ken for his support. His experience shows cancer has a massive impact on the person who has been diagnosed with the disease and everyone around them.

"Every hour someone in Northern Ireland is diagnosed with cancer.

"And right now, there are people province-wide who are providing invaluable support for them, including doctors, nurses and scientists to best friends, colleagues and neighbours.

"They show the power we all have to make a difference and that's why we're calling on everyone to take action right now in the fight against cancer."

For more information on how to help beat cancer sooner, visit www.cruk.org
The Business Side of Green Blog is where Peter Arpin gets to interact with the community on an ongoing basis. Here, Peter will share his thoughts and ideas when it comes to helping our community move towards a more sustainable future. Peter is also looking for your ideas and thoughts to promote and share through the Arpin Broadcast Network and its affiliates, Arpin Group, Arpin Van Lines and Arpin International Group.
The Education Minister has again been urged to consider a rethink after it emerged that his decision to stick to letter grades for GCSEs could lead to 25 subjects being taken off the table in Northern Ireland.

John O'Dowd confirmed that 12 GCSE subjects - including business studies and law - will not be available for pupils here after 2017.

Earlier this month two English exam boards - AQA and OCR - announced they would no longer offer GCSEs in the province.

That came after Mr O'Dowd announced Northern Ireland would stick to letter grading instead of moving to the numerical system that England is adopting.

As well as the dozen subjects now axed, doubt remains over an additional 13.

Business studies; economics; environmental science; expressive arts; further additional science; general studies; human health and physiology; law; linked pair maths; applications of maths; computing, environmental and land based science, and methods in mathematics will no longer be available to our pupils.

They were offered by the English boards, but will not be offered by either local exam board CCEA or a Welsh board that has stuck with Northern Ireland.

The subjects that remain in doubt are mostly languages and include Polish, Urdu, modern Hebrew, Punjabi, Chinese, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese and Turkish. CCEA currently offers a GCSE in business studies, which attracted 2,631 entries last year.

It also offers GCSEs in business communication systems and applied business.

In 2013/14 some 114,930 of the GCSEs sat in Northern Ireland were set by local board CCEA, while 34,336 were set by AQA, and 4,403 by OCR.

A smaller number - 883 - sat exams set by Welsh board WJEC, which will still operate here.

Another examinations board called Edexcel (Pearson) has not yet announced whether it will remain in the Northern Ireland GCSE market.

The figures came to light following an Assembly question asked by DUP education spokesman Peter Weir.

He expressed concerns about reduction of choice for young people.

"No pupil should be denied the opportunity to take a GCSE subject as a result of an inflexible approach, and with 12 subjects due to be unavailable to pupils in 2017, and 13 in doubt, it shows the scale of work that needs to happen.

"The solution lies in the minister adapting his position to ensure that the other boards can re-enter Northern Ireland, make available these courses and provide competition and choice."
An artists impression of the new Belfast Islamic Centre

Belfast Islamic Centre (BIC) is planning a move to larger premises in the city.

The charity, which is affiliated to the Muslim Council of Great Britain, is currently based in Wellington Park in south Belfast.

It held a briefing session for local political representatives yesterday about the plans.

The proposal is for the new centre to be based in the former Aldersgate House, which the Islamic Centre has acquired.

The building on University Road will become a community facility and prayer space.

Dr Saleem Tareen, the Islamic Centre's chairman, said: "The centre hopes to move into its new premises by the end of 2016.

"As the Muslim community in Northern Ireland increases, so does our requirement for additional space.

"Our existing premises are no longer fit for purpose and BIC has been striving to secure an alternate place for its activities and worship for some time.

"BIC has now purchased Aldersgate House on University Road, where we intend to relocate our Islamic cultural centre, allowing us to operate more efficiently and effectively in a modern facility.

"We believe that the new location, given its proximity to Queen's University Belfast, will be beneficial not only to Muslims, but to the wider community in general.

"The new centre will also be a more suitable space in which we can welcome visiting business people as they explore possible investment into Northern Ireland.

"Our plan is to move into the new premises by the end of the year."

The new base will include the prayer space, a drop-in centre, educational facilities and a coffee shop open to the public.

It will also serve as a place for interfaith and intercultural dialogue and debate.

In his statement, Dr Tareen thanked politicians and the public for their support.

"We wish to acknowledge with gratitude all the people of Northern Ireland for their continuous support all these years and hope that will continue in the future," he said.

"Our ambition is to flourish as a community, alongside our neighbours of all faiths and none, and to serve the Muslim community while continuing to play our full role in the cultural and economic life of Northern Ireland."

Independent councillor for the Botanic area, Ruth Patterson, said she was looking forward to seeing the proposal when the planning application was submitted to Belfast City Council.

There are more than 4,000 Muslims living in Northern Ireland, according to the BIC.
A missing 39-year-old man has been found following a police and family appeal after they grew concerned for his welfare.

Thomas Lyttle was last seen at approximately 5pm on Monday January 25 near the junction of the Stranmillis Road and Malone Road in south Belfast.

Police confirmed he had been located on Tuesday afternoon and thanked the public for their assistance with the appeal.
A British exit from the European Union "would create serious difficulties for Northern Ireland", the Taoiseach has said.

Enda Kenny issued his stark warning after meeting Prime Minister David Cameron at Number 10 in London yesterday.

Mr Kenny pledged his support for the British Government in its attempts to negotiate EU reforms in the areas of sovereignty, competitiveness, economic governance and migration ahead of the so-called 'Brexit' referendum.

The Taoiseach said all of the UK Government's issues of concern "can be concluded successfully and strongly in the interests of everybody throughout the union."

Mr Cameron said his government has made "good progress" in the negotiations.

Mr Kenny, who previously warned that a 'Brexit' could mean a return to border controls with Northern Ireland, was asked how it could impact on the peace process. "The guns are silent and this has taken a great deal of work from so many people over so many years," he said.

"We've complemented the politicians who've lived up to their responsibilities in respect of the fresh start which took 10 weeks before Christmas to finalise.

"We should not put anything like that at risk and, from our perspective, it [a British exit from the EU] would create serious difficulties for Northern Ireland were that to happen," he cautioned.

Meanwhile, Mr Kenny invited Mr Cameron to come to Ireland as part of the 1916 Easter Rising centenary commemorations.

Mr Kenny said the pair had discussed the "comprehensive, inclusive, sensitive" centenary celebrations of the rebellion.

Mr Cameron acknowledged the anniversary of "important events in our shared history". He added: "We'll mark them, as we should, in a spirit of mutual respect, inclusiveness and friendship."

Suggestions last year that a member of the Royal family could be invited to take part in the main State celebrations provoked an outcry. The proposal was then binned and a decision taken that will see Dublin-based ambassadors as the only representatives of foreign governments asked to attend events on Easter weekend.
The discovery of a high-powered Armalite assault rifle raises worrying questions about IRA decommissioning, an MLA said.

A police search of an industrial estate on Strabane's Dublin Road unearthed the weapon and ammunition which District Commander, Superintendent Mark McEwan, said would have been used to murder police officers.

Users of a gym on the estate were evacuated during the operation which began on Friday and continued into Saturday.

Superintendent McEwan would not be drawn on the condition and age of the weapon but confirmed it was an Armalite.

Armalites smuggled from the US in the 1970s and 80s were widely used by the Provisional IRA in attacks against police and Army during the Troubles.

They were used in many PIRA attacks, such as the 1975 Bayardo Bar attack in Belfast.

An IRA unit opened fire on the pub - killing two in gunfire - and then fired at women and children at a nearby taxi rank.

Mr McEwan said: "This was part of our ongoing investigation into violent dissident republican activity and a group called the New IRA in particular.

"We have recovered a weapon which is suspected to be an Armalite assault rifle and some ammunition along with that.

"A weapon of this nature is designed for one thing and it is to kill people, and we believe it was in the hands of people who were intending to kill police officers.

"It has significant power and to use a weapon of this nature in a built-up area is completely disregarding the safety of anyone in that area."

The new IRA is believed to have been formed in 2012 from previously separate dissident republican organisations.

Ulster Unionist MLA Ross Hussey said he will be interested to see what a forensic examination of the weapon will uncover.

He said: "It is discoveries such as this that bring us once again on to the issue of what was decommissioned during that process. We have no way of knowing if absolutely every weapon in the hands of the IRA was put out of action or were some held on to by the quartermasters of the IRA. Given the weapons recovered on both sides of the border by the PSNI and the Garda recently, it is clear that a quantity is old Provisional IRA stock.

"Sinn Fein often demand truth and transparency from others.

"It would be helpful if they were to call on the IRA Army Council to come clean on what was decommissioned and more importantly what was not.

"Whether these weapons are now in the hands of the old IRA, the new IRA or the Real IRA makes no difference, they are all the same organisation to me."

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland warned that dissidents could attempt an escalation in threat approaching the centenary of the Easter Rising.

Chairman Mark Lindsay said: "The attackers were marshalled, driven by hate and some misplaced ideas. They need to be condemned and ostracised. We need to put these would-be killers out of business and, for that, we need the help of the community."

SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan said the discovery of the weapon was deeply worrying.
A drink-driver who claimed he was living in the car after becoming homeless has been jailed for eight months.

Peter James Hall, 29, was imprisoned for the motoring offences and a separate assault on a hospital worker.

A judge at Belfast Magistrates' Court also activated a previously suspended jail term as part of the overall sentence.

Hall, with an address at Summerhill Drive in Dunmurry, was granted bail pending an appeal.

He was convicted of driving with excess alcohol, having no insurance, driving while disqualified and obstructing police.

A second charge sheet involved common assault, assault on police and damage to police custody check-in equipment.

Hall was stopped in a car while over the limit on the city's Lisburn Road last March.

Defence barrister Sean O'Hare told the court his client bought to Vauxhall Vectra because he was homeless and needed somewhere to live.

Hall had been moving the vehicle when he was arrested, the lawyer added.

In October last year he was detained again for allegedly punching a male nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

He also lashed out at a police officer and then damaged an electrical cable belonging to the PSNI.

That incident occurred just 24 hours after he received a suspended four-month jail term for unrelated matters.

Mr O'Hare described Hall as a vulnerable individual with a number of problems.

Activating that sentence, District Judge Nigel Broderick decided to impose another four months for the new offences.

He then agreed to release Hall on bail ahead of a planned appeal against the total right months behind bars.
Prosecutors said the arson attack was carried out near Banbridge last week while the alleged victim and his wife were out seeking police help for the suspected intimidation

A man's home was set on fire after blackmailers allegedly tried to threaten him into selling major amounts of drugs, the High Court has heard.

Prosecutors said the arson attack was carried out near Banbridge last week while the alleged victim and his wife were out seeking police help for the suspected intimidation.

Details emerged as bail was granted to one of three men accused of targeting him over a 3,000 debt.

Stephen McCabe (30) of Mourneview Park in Newry denies charges of kidnapping, blackmail, arson with intent to endanger life and burglary.

McCabe and two other men allegedly picked the victim up on January 17 and drove him to a forest area.

It was claimed one co-accused told the man he owed 3,000, and would have to sell 5,000 tablets and half a kilo of grass.

Prosecution counsel Conor Gillespie said that the suspect threatened to burn out the alleged victim's house, break his legs and leave him without "a tooth in his head". The court heard McCabe allegedly enquired: "Should we just take him up to the top of the hill and do him now?"

According to Mr Gillespie the man was also told he would be put in the forest and never found again.

The barrister claimed the victim was given a deadline to agree by noon the following day and then left on a dual carriageway, having to walk for 30 minutes before phoning a taxi home.

He added that the man's wife also claims they received threatening text messages on January 18, including one warning that they would be burnt out if police were alerted.

"Lo and behold, an hour after they reported the matter to police the house is on fire," Mr Gillespie said. No-one was in the semi-detached property when firefighters put out the blaze, which is suspected of being started deliberately in a first-floor bedroom.

A television set had also been stolen from the home.

McCabe emphatically denies any involvement in either the threats or suspected arson attack.

Defence counsel Damien Halleron said his client had picked the man up, but dropped him off on learning he wanted to go to Belfast to speak to "nefarious individuals".

Mr Halleron also argued there is no evidence that McCabe was anywhere near the house on the day of the fire.

"He has an alibi that he was at his child's school on that day," the lawyer added.

Granting bail, His Honour Judge Lynch emphasised that his decision was based purely on personal grounds and the particular needs of McCabe's child.

He ordered the accused to lodge a 1,000 cash surety and banned him from entering Banbridge in Co Down as part of the release conditions.
Samuel Leathem had been drinking at his cousin's flat in south Belfast when he died from an overdose of drugs, including a legal high

A court has heard how a father-of-one found dead on a sofa after he took deadly synthetic cannabis had suffered from anxiety.

Samuel Leathem had been drinking at his cousin's flat in south Belfast when he died from an overdose of drugs, including a legal high.

The 24-year-old's body was found on the sofa by his cousin, Martin Nesbitt who is an Afghan war veteran, an inquest heard.

In June 2014 the pair had been drinking alcohol and taking the 'designer drug' AB-Chminaca which is a legal high widely available to buy online.

Mr Nesbitt admitted to purchasing the legal high but told police he understood it to be a different drug.

Coroner James Henry Rodgers stated that Mr Leathem's death was "untimely in the extreme and totally unnecessary".

He added: "It's all too clear that the drugs and alcohol combination proved fatal."

His cause of death was recorded as a combination of the legal high, diazepam and alcohol toxicity.

Samuel's GP told the inquest that he had taken Oxazepam, which is used to treat anxiety, for seven years. She also stated that he had broken up with his partner and had not been sleeping because of this in the months leading up to his death.

The Belfast man, who lived with his mother in Trillick Street in the east of the city, was a father to a two-year-old girl.

His mother Jean Leathem last saw him alive two days before his death when he left her home to go and watch a parade in the city centre.

By the following evening, Sammy, as he was known, had not returned home and Ms Leathem attempted to contact him but he failed to answer his mobile.

The next day, his sister received a phone call from a friend who said she heard Sammy had died.

Ms Leathem rushed to Mr Nesbitt's flat where her son's body was discovered.

During yesterday's inquest, she repeatedly told the court that her son did not take drugs but knew that her nephew Martin did.

A previous statement from Mr Nesbitt's neighbour, Alice Morrow, who did not attend the inquest, was read out in court.

She stated that at about 11am on June 23, she was in her home when Mr Nesbitt knocked on her door.

She said he looked terrible and was pale.

"He could not get any words out but said that his cousin was dead "in there" and pointed to his flat."

Ms Morrow discovered Samuel sitting upright on the sofa with his head tilted.

"He looked as if he was sleeping," she said. "I went over to touch him and he was cold and I couldn't find a pulse.

"I was in shock and Martin kept saying it was his fault. I tried to calm him down as he was upset and crying. I started to tidy up the room and could see traces of white powder on top of the table."

Constable Kevin Deehan told the court that Mr Nesbitt said they had taken speed some five hours before his cousin's death.

Constable Craig Tuner also told the court that he saw Mr Nesbitt attempt to dispose of the white powder in a drain outside the flats. However, he recovered the bag which was later examined.
Arlene Foster said it would be up to the people of the UK to decide the best way forward

Stormont's First Minister has defended the Irish Taoiseach's right to voice an opinion on Brexit, but warned that people in Northern Ireland "don't take too kindly to people telling us what to do".

Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster's comments came after DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds characterised Enda Kenny's remarks about a UK exit from the EU as "disrespectful and counter-productive".

After holding talks with Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street on Monday, Mr Kenny warned that leaving the EU would could create "serious difficulties for Northern Ireland".

While not the first occasion the Taoiseach had raised concern about the impact of Brexit north of the border, his remarks prompted a robust response from Mr Dodds.

In turn, Fianna Fail's spokesman on Foreign Affairs Brendan Smith described Mr Dodds' comments as a "regrettable throwback to a time of cross-border insults and groundless suspicion".

Commenting on the exchanges, Mrs Foster told RTE: "It will be for the people of the UK to decide what's the best way forward. And we don't take too kindly to people telling us what to do."

She added: "I am saying to Enda: if you have an opinion, that's your right to have that opinion, and if you want to express it, that's your right as well, but we here in Northern Ireland will make our own determination in relation to Europe."
Lord Justice Weir branded some of the excuses offered by state agencies for the lack of progress as preposterous

A senior judge has accused the Government of failing to properly resource a series of long-delayed inquests into almost 100 Troubles deaths in Northern Ireland.

Lord Justice Weir branded some of the "excuses" offered by State agencies for the lack of progress as "preposterous".

The judge is conducting a major review of the stalled inquests on behalf of Northern Ireland's Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan.

There are 56 cases relating to 95 deaths stuck in Northern Ireland's coroners' system.

Delays in security checking classified police and military papers ahead of disclosure to the Coroner's Court have repeatedly been highlighted as the main obstacle in the way of progress.

During a hearing related to the inquest of loyalist paramilitary shooting victim Terence McDaid, the judge was again told disclosure by the PSNI and Ministry of Defence was being hampered by lack of resources.

Barrister Mark Robinson, representing the MoD and PSNI, insisted work on all 56 cases could not be done simultaneously.

Judge Weir responded: "They could be done simultaneously if they were adequately resourced.

"The only thing stopping them being worked on is an absence of resources and the Government provides the resources.

"These cases are being delayed because the Government is not adequately funding the work."

At Monday's hearing in Belfast Laganside Courts, Judge Weir made clear that the Government, not the Coroners' Service, was obligated under international law to hold human rights-compliant inquests. He said he has yet to find a "reasonable explanation" for the delays - "other than a disinclination to do the work".
A Navy ship specialising in mine detection is to dock in Belfast this Friday.

HMS Quorn and its crew - nicknamed the Fighting Aces - will arrive for a weekend's shore leave after a busy operational period.

Recently the complement of 44 completed a seven-month deployment in the Arabian Gulf keeping shipping lanes safe, especially for UK trade. The crew is due to return to Bahrain by the end of this year.

Looking forward to his time in Belfast is operations officer Lieutenant Griffiths (25).

"A maritime city like Belfast always offers a warm welcome," he said.

"Belfast is a fantastic and vibrant city. It has special significance to me as it was the first port I visited with the crew."

While HMS Quorn is at anchor the vessel will be opened up for visits by Sea Cadets and Navy Reservists from HMS Hibernia. After leaving Belfast she will return to her home port of Portsmouth.
The row in the Assembly is over nurses' pay

Stormont's Health Minister has questioned claims that nurses are leaving the profession due to an on-going pay dispute.

Simon Hamilton told the Assembly he had seen no evidence of nurses quitting or recruitment difficulties in the profession.

Mr Hamilton had been challenged on the issue by Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy during Assembly question time.

Nurses' representatives have threatened industrial action over the terms of pay award set by Mr Hamilton for 2015/16.

Mr Hamilton has said the majority of healthcare staff will receive a one-off additional payment equating to 1% of their salary this year.

Health unions have criticised both the substance of the pay award and how it was implemented, claiming they were not fully consulted.

During question time, Mr Murphy claimed there was "dismay in the nursing profession" and said this was having an effect "on people leaving the profession and perhaps even on the ability to recruit people to the profession".

Mr Hamilton replied: "The Member's premise is that there is a difficulty in recruiting and retaining nurses.

"Some people have made those arguments, but I have seen no empirical evidence to back them up. I would put an argument back to those people, which is that nurses' pay in Northern Ireland is a little below the pay in other parts of the United Kingdom, but it is about 99% of that.

"The average pay in Northern Ireland, for example, is 86% of what it is in England so, in that respect, nurses' pay is keeping in line with national pay in a way that many other professions are not."

The minister said the unions' pay demands would have costed his department 40 million.

He added: "The 40 million that it would have cost to meet that pay demand would have been the entirety of what we are putting into tackling waiting lists in Northern Ireland."

If nurses vote for industrial action, it would stop short of a strike, rather a work-to-rule form of protest, with steps such as a refusal to work unpaid hours.
The car after it was set alight in the Ebor Street area of Belfast on Tuesday Morning, The Fire service attended the scene. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Police are treating a car set on fire in south Belfast as a racially motivated hate crime.

At around 2am this morning police received a report of a car on fire in the Ebor Street area.

Police attended along with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the fire was extinguished.

The car was extensively damaged as a result of the incident.

The incident is being investigated as a racially motivated hate crime.

SDLP South Belfast MLA Claire Hanna condemned the attack and called on local representatives to be proactive in countering racism.

Ms Hanna said: "This stupid and destructive attack does not reflect the attitude of the people of south Belfast, who recognise that diversity makes us stronger and is something to be welcomed.

"Research repeatedly shows that immigration is good for our economy and the majority of people in south Belfast celebrate and embrace the area's diversity.

"Following this attack we will hear widespread condemnation from various representatives and they are right to do so, but what is more important than condemnation of crime is their vocal and visible support for diversity in our community.

"It's 2016 and the movement of people is a global reality. Everyone in Belfast needs to accept that so that we can begin to relegate incidents like this to the past."

Inspector Jamie Hughes is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact officers in Lisburn Road on the non-emergency number 101.

Information can also be passed anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A serving PSNI officer has gone on trial for driving over a pedestrian with an armoured police vehicle and fracturing his leg while attending the scene of an arson attack in Co Down

A serving PSNI officer has gone on trial for driving over a pedestrian with an armoured police vehicle and fracturing his leg while attending the scene of an arson attack in Co Down.

Constable John Wright, (42), whose address was given as c/o Downpatrick PSNI station, denies a single charge of careless driving by causing grievous bodily injury to Gary Smyth at Meadowlands in Downpatrick

On the opening day of the trial at Downpatrick Crown Court, prosecution lawyer Laura Ivers told the jury that Constable Wright was attending the scene of an arson attack with other police colleagues and emergency services in the town's Meadowlands estate on August 31, 2014.

Ms Ivers told the jury of seven men and five women: "Mr Wright agreed to move the armoured police vehicle to allow better access to the scene for fire crews.

"He moved that vehicle and struck a pedestrian, Mr Gary Smyth, causing him to fall to the ground.

"Shortly after, Mr Wright reversed the same police vehicle over the lower part of the pedestrian's body, causing him a number of serious injuries.

"It is not suggested by the prosecution that Mr Wright did this deliberately or maliciously. It is, however, the prosecution case he did this without the requisite awareness of the surroundings of the area, carelessly, by not seeing Mr Smyth, and further failed to be aware of the pedestrian who he ran over the lower part of his body."

The prosecutor told the trial, presided over by Judge Sandra Crawford, that during the incident Mr Smyth sustained a number of serious injuries, including a fractured right leg, a fractured right elbow and also a wound to his right leg.

"Mr Smyth spent some time in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he required surgery for his injuries," said Ms Ivers.

"You will hear from Mr Smyth that on the evening of Sunday, August 31, 2014 he was at his home in Meadowlands; he had a few drinks and he was settled for the night when police called to his house around 10pm and told him there was a fire in the adjacent property and he would have to leave his house.

"Mr Smyth did leave his house and then became aware of what was happening outside. He then turned to go back into his house to get some of his belongings but police officers stopped him and directed him to go down a flight of steps to get away from the fire," she added.

The court was told Mr Smyth went down the steps and towards his mother's house on the estate.

Ms Ivers continued: "Mr Smyth will say that as he was walking across the car park, he was hit from behind and he was knocked to the ground which he believed was by a car. He will say that while he was lying on the ground the car went over his leg."

Ms Ivers told the jury that they will watch CCTV footage of the incident showing the police vehicle striking Mr Smyth twice.

The jury also heard that a PSNI sergeant examined the vehicle subsequent to the incident and "found no damage" to it.

The prosecutor said that Constable Wright was interviewed in October 2014 and told police investigators that he was driving the vehicle on the evening of the incident and was moving it to give fire crews better access to the arson scene. Constable Wright explained that he reversed the vehicle and "felt a bump under the wheels and thought it was the kerb". He added that when he moved to get out of vehicle, he noticed legs under his driver's side.

"Mr Wright says he tried to get help by sounding the car horn. He remained at the scene and gave first aid." Ms Ivers told the jury that once they had heard all the evidence in the case, "you will be in no doubt of his guilt of the charge he faces". The trial continues.
Claims of waffling abounded during Assembly question time at Stormont, with one minister accused of it and another admitting it.

Environment minister Mark H Durkan was overheard telling a colleague "that was pure waffle" as he took his seat after answering a question on the restoration of historic buildings.

The SDLP representative later took to Twitter to explain, claiming he felt "frustrated that I had been unable to give a better, more concise answer to an important supplementary question. I felt I waffled".

Mr Durkan's comment, which was audible on the Assembly chamber's microphones, came ahead of Health Minister Simon Hamilton being accused of serving up his own waffle.

After the DUP minister answered three questions in an allotted 30 minute slot for scheduled queries, Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy raised a point of order with Principal Deputy Speaker Robin Newton.

"I have been in the House for 18 years, and I think that this is the first time that I have had to complain," he said.

"It is in relation to the performance of the Health Minister today. Despite your efforts to remind him that he had two minutes, he managed to answer only three questions. That is a disgrace. I ask you to go to the Deputy First Minister and First Minister and tell them to advise ministers to waffle less, give more answers and get through the business."
It's a deeply disturbing and unfortunately all-too-familiar claim. The IRA's north Belfast commander in 1993 was an informer who passed his handlers information that potentially could have prevented the Shankill bombing.

The very idea that seven innocent men and women and two young schoolgirls were allowed to die is nauseating.

As Michelle Williamson, whose beloved parents Gillian and George were killed in the blast, said last night: "It makes me sick to the stomach to think that mum and dad are lying in their graves and their deaths, along with the others, could have been prevented."

It must now be asked if the intelligence services put their agent before civilian lives, or if they were playing a cynical political game knowing an atrocity would strengthen the hand of those who wanted peace.

Yet we mustn't let the IRA off the hook either.

The Provos learned this information after decoding encrypted documents stolen in the 2002 Castlereagh break-in.

Yes, that's the break-in Sinn Fein insisted the IRA didn't do and said was a securocrat plot to damage it.

The IRA has sat on this information for up to 14 years. It certainly didn't rush to the bereaved families with disclosure.

It must be asked why the Provos have chosen to release it now.

There's some speculation that it's been leaked by a prominent north Belfast republican who fell out with the leadership following the murder of Gerard 'Jock' Davison last year.

Whatever the case, the IRA will employ the material in its endless battle for position with the British over the past. This document can be used to help lessen IRA culpability for the Shankill bomb.

The focus is now falling on what the security forces did and didn't do to prevent the atrocity.

The State, as the upholder of the rule of law, must be held to far higher standards than any paramilitary groups.

If the police tipped off Johnny Adair and the UDA that a bomb attack was imminent, but left Shankill shoppers to be slaughtered, that would be clear, unequivocal State-sponsored murder.

Yet the IRA still carries prime responsibility for the Shankill bomb regardless of whether one police agent was involved or not. The attack was planned not by a single individual, but at Belfast Brigade leadership level, and approved by the Army Council on which senior Sinn Fein politicians sat.

Both the Shinners and the State have many questions to answer about the dirty war - and the truth doesn't seem to be on either side's agenda.
The Fijian government, which seized control of the country in the 2006 coup, insists the weapons are for its peacekeeping troops. However, opposition politician have hinted at something more sinister.

The sudden arrival of expensive military equipment has raised alarm bells at home and abroad and prompted experts to question what exactly Russia stands to gain from the tiny archipelago nation.

A secret Russian consignment of weapons landed in the Fiji capital, Suva, on 14 January, arousing suspicions about Moscow's motives in the South Pacific.

The contents of the 20 containers have not been made public, but the country's opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party has speculated they may contain guns, tanks, a helicopter and other military equipment. Russian military experts are also due to travel to the nation soon to train local forces.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama's government described the shipment as "aid" and says the guns will be sent to Fijian peacekeeping troops working on United Nation missions around the world.

But the opposition argues the secrecy is suspicious. "The covertness of getting this across without notifying the public, without notifying parliament," Social Democratic Liberal Partys Ratu Isoa Tikoca told Radio Australia.

His party raised fears the weapons could be used against the local population. "Given Fijis history, I think they have reason to be concerned," Paul Buchanan, of the 36th Parallel Assessments, a geopolitical risk assessment consultancy in New Zealand, told ABC News.

Experts say Fijis blossoming relationship with Russia represents its continuing pivot away from western countries, with Australia and New Zealand holding little influence or leverage. "They've been replaced by the Chinese, by the Russians increasingly and, to a lesser extent, by the Indians," said Buchanan.

"The Fijians will tell you that it is merely a case of not putting all of their eggs into one basket because they believe they've learned the hard way that dependency on just one or two larger powers has not served their national interests," he added.

So want does Russia want in return?

For Moscow, the transfer may have begun as "simply transactional", Jenny Hayward-Jones, the director of the Melanesia Program at the Lowy Institute, told The Guardian. "But it would be naive to say that Russia does not have intentions. And it will be aware of the perceptions this will create."

Buchanan, meanwhile, believes this is an ongoing battle for political influence in the region. "I think this is an opening pawn move in whats going to be a much longer chess game," he said.
Bangor man Ben Gleave who was mistaken for Ben Needham who went missing in 1991

A bizarre case of mistaken identity has pitched a man from Northern Ireland into a bureaucratic nightmare.

While living in Canada 10 years ago, a neighbour told police that Co Down man Ben Gleave was in fact missing English schoolboy Ben Needham, who disappeared from a Greek island in 1991. The little boy was just 21 months old when he went missing.

Mr Gleave gave the Mounties DNA samples and documents to prove he was not the missing boy - and heard nothing more.

Now, a decade later, thanks to police emails leaked to the media and a story in a national newspaper, Mr Gleave, who is now 28, is once again being forced to prove he is not the missing child.

Unknown to Mr Gleave, the Canadian police sent his DNA to a private investigator working for Ben Needham's grief-stricken parents, and not to South Yorkshire police who were investigating the boy's disappearance.

It's understood the private investigator lost the DNA samples - and Canadian police have not explained why the materials were not sent to South Yorkshire Police.

Mr Gleave was horrified to learn that his DNA samples had gone missing. He has offered to take another DNA test to again prove beyond doubt who he really is - but no-one from the authorities has been in contact with him.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last night, the Bangor slimming consultant's voice trembled with emotion.

"This is turning into the worst day of my life. This whole thing is making my life hell. It's a disaster. I want my name ruled out - I am not Ben Needham," he said.

"I have my birth certificate: I know who I am. The Canadian police told me that if no-one got in touch with me, I had nothing to worry about.

"And no-one got in touch with me for 10 years," Mr Gleave added.

He declined to share his feelings about the neighbour in Canada who first contacted the police.

But he said he felt it was wrong that the hopes of the parents of the missing boy should be raised by the mix-up.

"I just don't know what I have to do to clear this up. I thought all this was behind me."

A clearly upset Mr Gleave said: "What can I do? Who do I contact? The business is having a terrible effect on my life: it's affecting my business, and it's affecting my family."

The Belfast Telegraph tried to contact South Yorkshire Police last night in order to put them in touch with Mr Gleave, but the force could not be reached.

Ben, from Sheffield, vanished on July 24, 1991, after travelling to the island of Kos with his mother and his grandparents. The youngster would now be 25.
This is the moment a gunman opened fire at police during serious disorder in Lurgan.

On Sunday night officers came under sustained attack for a number of hours with more than 100 petrol bombs thrown at police cordons in the area of the Lake Street alert.

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At one point a gunman emerged from the crowd and fired at least one shot at police.

It can be seen around 1 minute 55 seconds into the footage.

Dissident republicans were blamed for the violence and a senior police officer said those responsible were "no better" than Islamic State terror group Daesh.

Video footage from the hours of trouble on Sunday night has emerged which appears to show the gunman firing.

Police in the Co Armagh town remain on high alert after coming under sustained attack from rioters, some reportedly as young as eight years old, while attempting to make safe a potential bomb on the railway line.

It came as police probed the second bomb alert in 24 hours - after examination the two suspicious objects were later declared as hoaxes.

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 Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on January 25 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph The scene on Lake Street in Lurgan, Co Armagh, where a security alert on the main Belfast to Dublin railway line continues. Trouble flared overnight as security forces tried to deal with the incident with petrol bombs being thrown at police along with a gunshot being fired. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Land Rover damage after more than 100 petrol bombs thrown. Pic: PSNI Lake Street in Lurgan, Co Armagh, where a security alert on the main Belfast to Dublin railway line continues. Trouble flared overnight as security forces tried to deal with the incident with petrol bombs being thrown at police along with a gunshot being fired. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on January 25 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Lake Street in Lurgan, Co Armagh, where a security alert on the main Belfast to Dublin railway line continues. Trouble flared overnight as security forces tried to deal with the incident with petrol bombs being thrown at police along with a gunshot being fired. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Lake Street in Lurgan, Co Armagh, where a security alert on the main Belfast to Dublin railway line continues. Trouble flared overnight as security forces tried to deal with the incident with petrol bombs being thrown at police along with a gunshot being fired. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye A gunshot was fired at police during serious disorder linked to an ongoing security alert in County Armagh on Sunday. Officers came under attack on Lake Street, Lurgan, from more than 100 petrol bombs. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Lake Street in Lurgan, Co Armagh, where a security alert on the main Belfast to Dublin railway line continues. Trouble flared overnight as security forces tried to deal with the incident with petrol bombs being thrown at police along with a gunshot being fired. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on the 25th January 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Lake Street in Lurgan, Co Armagh, where a security alert on the main Belfast to Dublin railway line continues. Trouble flared overnight as security forces tried to deal with the incident with petrol bombs being thrown at police along with a gunshot being fired. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on the 25th January 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Officers came under attack on Lake Street, Lurgan, from more than 100 petrol bombs. The PSNI said police were on the receiving end of "orchestrated, intense and prolonged violence". Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on the 25th January 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Officers came under attack on Lake Street, Lurgan, from more than 100 petrol bombs. The PSNI said police were on the receiving end of "orchestrated, intense and prolonged violence". Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on the 25th January 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on the 25th January 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on the 25th January 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on the 25th January 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Lurgan , UK - January 25, Pictured is police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on the 25th January 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on January 25 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on the 25th January 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on the 25th January 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on January 25 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on January 25 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police and ATO at the scene of an alert in the Lake St Area of Lurgan on January 25 2016 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook

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Twenty five paint bombs, bricks and other masonry were thrown by a large and aggressive crowd who gathered at around 9pm and remained until the early hours of the morning.

No police officers or members of the public were injured however a number of police vehicles were damaged.

Helicopter air support, specially trained riot police from other parts of Northern Ireland and dog teams had to be brought to deal with the trouble.

Speaking at a press conference Superintendent David Moore said: "The people that are behind this have no ideology, they have nothing to offer, in many respects they can be compared to Daesh, they have got little to offer but destruction in their own communities."

Daesh is a name for the terror group also known as Islamic State which is fighting for territory in Iraq and Syria.

"We are very lucky not only to be dealing with the loss of life or serious injury to a police officer but we could be dealing with any member of the community in the same position this morning."

Mr Moore added: "The work of dissident republicans is evident here, not in any way organised, because it is the easiest thing to drop something on a railway line and have someone drunk batter on the window of a crossing guard's booth.

"It is the easiest thing to make phone calls...to try their best to confuse the police response.

"Eventually we deployed in a very careful, tactically sound way and what did we find? Five hours of sustained violence waiting for us."

The violence and disruption caused by the alerts were met with widespread condemnation.
Undated family handout photo of Zoe Ireland Drake, who weighed just 850 grams when she was born at 25 weeks after a flight was diverted to Dublin. PA

Premature baby Zoe Ireland Drake has arrived safely home in Tennessee.

It was an emotional homecoming for her mum Jenny who unexpectedly went into labour while on a transatlantic flight from Paris to North Carolina last October, when she was just 25 weeks pregnant with Zoe.

The flight was diverted to Dublin and Zoe was born shortly afterwards in the Rotunda Hospital, weighing just one pound and 13oz.

The generosity of an anonymous donor who pledged the remaining 30,000 needed for a special medical charter flight home made it possible for the family to jet out of Dublin early on Saturday.

Little Zoe was flown into Nashville on an AirMed International critical care hawker jet on Saturday evening.

Finish

She was then brought to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital where she was set to finish up some antibiotics.

Doctors were this week making sure that she was healthy enough to go home, following the long flight.

Jenny told the Herald yesterday that they were thrilled to be home. The family are from the city of Murfreesboro, in Tennessee.

"Zoe did great on the flight," she said. "We are hoping to get her home sometime next week.

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"I'm seeing my sister for the first time in three months in about an hour.

"Please thank the Irish people again for taking us in as their own.

"We will definitely be back, and this time I actually plan to do some sightseeing," she said.

Jenny said that she now has a second home, and she and her husband Gavin can't wait to bring Zoe and her son Aiden (3) back one day to show them the city where Zoe was born.

The couple had needed to raise 67,000 to fully cover the cost of the medical flight to take baby Zoe home.

Predicament

A GoFundMe account had raised 38,000.

Jenny spoke of their predicament when she did an interview on RTE radio with Ray D'Arcy last Monday.

The following day, the radio host surprised her with the news that a donor had come forward, and offered to put up 30,000 for the flight home, but the man wanted to remain anonymous.

Herald
Karen Smith and Noel Collins (centre front) join a coalition of Irish civil organisations launching the Robin Hood Tax Campaign Ireland at the Mansion House in Dublin

A coalition of trade unions, NGOs and rights groups has called on the Government to back a Robin Hood tax on bankers and stockbrokers which could raise up to 360 million euro (273m) a year.

The campaign said the current Fine Gael-Labour coalition is ignoring an opportunity for a financial transaction tax which is being taken up by 10 other European states.

The European Commission is trying to target speculators on the world money markets by proposing a tax of 0.1% on trading in bonds and shares and 0.01% on derivatives.

The Claiming Our Future group, which is spearheading the campaign in Ireland, said half the money raised should be used to reverse cuts in public services, a quarter to fight poverty in developing countries and the rest on tackling climate change.

Spokeswoman Anna Visser said politicians have been reluctant to declare support.

"What we are really saying here is that it's imminent in terms of the 10 countries so it's time to get on board," she said.

"Once something like this is up and running and the world does not end the argument is even stronger that the tax is something relatively small but revolutionary."

Analysis from the Nevin Economic Research Institute claimed the Robin Hood tax would boost the economy by creating 9,250 jobs through the investment in infrastructure, tax cuts and the increase in public services.

Campaigners also claim the levy would not damage Dublin's valuable International Financial Services Centre.

Under the proposals brokers, traders and bankers could only avoid the tax if they stopped all business with countries that have the levy in place.

The campaign has support from the likes of Oxfam and Trocaire, trade union umbrella group Congress and a large number of its affiliates, National Women's Council Ireland and environmental groups including Friends of the Earth.

Similar campaigns are running in the US and have the backing of Senator Bernie Sanders, a potential democratic nominee for the presidential race.

Claiming Our Future held a series of meetings with politicians in Dublin in an attempt to pressure them to support Ireland joining Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia by enforcing the financial transaction tax.

It is expected a European agreement involving those countries under "enhanced co-operation" - a voluntary directive for states in the bloc - will be finalised by June with the first taxes being collected in 2017.

Ms Visser said the Green Party and People Before Profit have committed to the campaign in their manifestos.

"The response from some of the bigger parties is more cautious," she said.

"They have responded with the argument that we don't think stack up such as that it would displace financial institutions to other countries. They think they would be moving to London."

Eurostat surveys of the financial transaction tax after it was proposed in 2011 showed 64% support across the European Union but in Ireland only about half of those surveyed backed the idea.
Enda Kenny has asked David Cameron to visit Ireland for the commemorations of the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule.

The Taoiseach said his Downing Street counterpart would consider the invitation in due course "if that is appropriate".

Speaking after their meeting at Number 10 in London, Mr Kenny said the pair had discussed the "comprehensive, inclusive, sensitive" centenary celebrations of the rebellion.

"I have invited the Prime Minister to come over himself at some time during the year, if that is appropriate, and obviously he will consider that in due course," he said.

Mr Cameron acknowledged the anniversary of "important events in our shared history".

"We'll mark them, as we should, in a spirit of mutual respect, inclusiveness and friendship," he added.

Government suggestions last year that a member of the Royal family could be invited to take part in the main State celebrations provoked an outcry.

The proposal was then binned and a decision taken that will see Dublin-based ambassadors as the only representatives of foreign governments asked to attend events on Easter weekend.

However, Dublin's Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys has since hinted the Prince of Wales could be invited to some of the peripheral events.

Two weeks ago Mr Kenny declared his disappointment in Northern Ireland's new First Minister Arlene Foster's plans to snub commemorations.

The rising in Dublin was a seminal moment in Irish history which ultimately led to partition and the creation of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Ms Foster denounced the event as an attack on the State and democracy which more recently, she said, gave ''succour'' to violent republicans in Northern Ireland.

Throughout 2016, more than 40 State ceremonial events will be held as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.

The climax will be a parade along Dublin's main thoroughfare O'Connell Street - where the Proclamation of Independence was declared outside the General Post Office.

Oxford and Cambridge Universities are among major UK institutions marking the anniversary.

Centenary celebrations at London's Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican Centre, as well as venues in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff and other cities are among more than 87 events in the UK throughout the year.
West Midlands Police faces a big fine after an officer had part of his trigger finger sliced off by a machine used for cutting up seized weaponry

A police force is facing a hefty fine after a counter-terrorism firearms officer had part of his trigger finger sliced off in a cutting machine used to destroy seized guns.

West Midlands Police admitted breaching workplace safety rules in failing to ensure staff welfare over the incident and will be sentenced later at Birmingham Crown Court.

The incident involved an experienced officer and took place at a force facility on July 16, 2014.

The force said it had now introduced "stringent measures" for weapons disposal to prevent any repeats.

Assistant chief constable Marcus Beale, speaking after the force's conviction last week, said: "Following the officer's injury in July 2014, the force put in place stringent measures to increase the safety of our staff when disposing of firearms.

"Providing a safe working environment and safe working practices is always a priority for West Midlands Police."

He added that the officer was still employed with the force.

Mr Beale added: "Throughout the period, we have supported the officer and are delighted that he has recently been able to resume his specialist firearms responsibilities.

"At the earliest opportunity we have implemented necessary steps to prevent this type of incident from happening again."

West Midlands Police, which is the largest police force outside the Met, had already pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Former Liberal Democrat mental health minister Norman Lamb says the human impact of the figures is intense

Unexpected deaths among mental health patients under NHS care have soared by more than a fifth over the last three years, according to new figures.

The data, obtained by the Liberal Democrats under Freedom of Information laws, also shows the number of mental health patients attempting or committing suicide has risen by 26% since 2012-13 to 751 last year.

Overall, the number of serious incidents - cases requiring an investigation - climbed by 34% to 8,139 in 2014-15.

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb, a former mental health minister under the coalition government, said some services were "struggling to cope" and had been left "threadbare" by underfunding.

He told the Guardian: "Significant numbers of unexpected deaths at the Mid Staffs NHS trust caused an outcry and these figures should cause the same because they show a dramatic increase in the number of people losing their lives.

"NHS England and the Government should set up an investigation into the cause of this as these figures involve tragedies for families around the country and the human impact is intense."

The figures, from NHS England and covering 58 mental health trusts, show the number of serious incidents has risen year-on-year from 6,074 in 2012-13 and 7,345 in 2013-14.

There were 1,713 unexpected deaths of in-patients or those cared for at home during 2014-15, up 21% from 1,412 in 2012-13.

It comes amid mounting pressure on the health service to improve the way patient deaths are investigated and reported.

Last month Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt ordered a review into NHS trusts following a report into Southern Health, which showed the trust had failed to probe the deaths of hundreds of people since 2011.

Labour mental health spokeswoman Luciana Berger said: "This drastic increase in the number of people losing their lives in NHS care is utterly appalling and tragic for all families involved. It must act as a serious wake-up call for ministers.

"At a time of rising demand, the Government has presided over service cuts and staff shortages, with devastating consequences."

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: " The rise in the number of unexplained deaths and suicides is extremely concerning.

"These deaths must be investigated fully, so that other families will never have to go through this terrible ordeal.

"We are hearing from an increasing number of patients on our National Helpline who have mental health issues and cannot access the services they need.

"The Government must recognise the wider crisis that mental health care is facing in this country by strengthening the provision of services for these vulnerable patients."

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Any death of a person with mental health problems is a tragedy, and it's right that the NHS is open about when they happen and the action that is taken to stop them happening again.

"As Professor Sir Simon Wessely said this morning, these figures are partly a result of improved reporting around serious incidents.

"We have given the NHS more money for mental health than ever before, with an increase to 11.7 billion last year, and are introducing access and waiting time targets for the first time.

"We have made it clear that local NHS services must follow our lead by increasing the amount they spend on mental health and making sure beds are always available."
Andrew Bailey has been appointed head of City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority

The Deputy Governor of the Bank of England has been appointed as the new chief executive of the City watchdog.

Andrew Bailey, who is currently the head of the Bank's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), which oversees banking stability in the UK, will remain in his current post until a successor is found.

His move to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will see him leave the Bank after 30 years.

Earlier this month the FCA was forced to deny it had been ordered to drop its wide-ranging review into banking culture by the Government.

Critics have accused Chancellor George Osborne of urging the FCA to drop the probe in a bid to end so-called banker bashing.

Mr Bailey, who has been appointed for a five-year term, succeeds Martin Wheatley, the FCA's tough former boss, who left the organisation in September.

Last year Chancellor George Osborne called for a "new settlement" to end banker bashing and was widely reported to have ousted Mr Wheatley, raising concerns about political influence at the regulator.

The FCA's head of enforcement, Tracey McDermott, has been in charge on an interim basis since and was considered a front-runner to take the top job. But earlier this month she ruled herself out of the race to lead the body.

At the end of December the FCA dropped its probe into banking culture, set up in the wake of the billions banks paid out in fines over attempts to rig the Libor bank rate lending market.

The Chancellor and the Bank of England were both forced to deny they played any part in that decision.

Mr Osborne said: "Andrew Bailey is the outstanding candidate to be the next chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, and I am delighted that he has agreed to lead it.

"We have cast the net far and wide for this crucial appointment and, having led the Bank of England's response to the financial crisis, Andrew is simply the most respected, most experienced and most qualified person in the world to do the job."

Mr Bailey, who has been head of the PRA since April 2013, said he wanted to make the FCA "effective and successful".

He added: "The new system of financial regulation in the UK depends for its success on both conduct (FCA) and prudential (PRA) regulators achieving their objectives given by Parliament.

"Recent developments have shown that the most pressing issue in the system right now is the need for stable leadership at the FCA."

Mr Bailey, as head of the PRA since 2013, has had overall responsibility for the prudential regulation and supervision of around 1,700 UK banks, building societies and other financial services firms.

In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis he also oversaw the introduction of tighter rules on how much capital banks should hold against their loans in a bid to make them more stable.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney said Mr Bailey's "work in helping to manage the crisis and then to develop the post-crisis regulatory framework has been exemplary".

"He has made the PRA a highly respected and effective regulator and built a team of exceptionally dedicated colleagues," he said.
A primary school headteacher has written to parents requesting they take time to get dressed in the morning and stop dropping their children off in their pyjamas.

Kate Chisholm, headteacher at Skerne Park Academy, Darlington, made the appeal after she had noticed an increase in the amount of parents wearing nightwear to the school gates.

It also included wearing them to school assemblies and meetings.

In the letter she said: "I have noticed there has been an increasing tendency for parents to escort children to and from school while still wearing their pyjamas and, on occasion, even slippers.

"Could I please ask that when you are escorting your children, you take the time to dress appropriately in day wear that is suitable for the weather conditions."

She said her aim was to help set a good example for the children and said that so far she had received a positive response.

"We are trying to raise standards and get better outcomes for the children and we noticed a lot of the parents are turning up to school as well as meetings and assemblies wearing pyjamas, if we're to raise standards it's not too much to ask parents to have a wash and get dressed," she said.

"I have had loads of support from the community and people saying it's about time something was done. I have had far more positive responses than negative.

"If I get the parents on board then we often get the children too and in order to get the best chances for the children we have to raise the bar with the parents."

Phil Naylor, a parent who has children at the school, said: "We all support the school and I hope this helps get the message across to parents.

"It's disgraceful, we should be guiding our children not giving them bad habits."

Last week a headteacher in Somerset took similar actions when she wrote a letter to parents complaining of the "dirty and unkempt" state children where arriving to school in.

Judith Barrett, principal of St Michael's Academy in Yeovil, said she had noticed an increasing number of children coming to school "in a pretty shocking state".

The letter referred to it as a "pretty poor indictment of the parenting skills of some of our families" as she said many children were getting themselves to school while their parents were still in bed.
Critics had already warned the decision to remove a third of the Incident Response Units could have "disastrous consequences for human safety"

Emergency decontamination units used in previous flood defence operations were among those axed in Government cuts, the Press Association has learned.

And union chiefs have ordered a health and safety review over concerns firefighters called out to deal with chemical spills or fires involving hazardous materials could face delays in being decontaminated.

Critics had already warned the decision to remove from service a third of the Incident Response Units (IRUs) equipped to deal with a "dirty bomb" and other major incidents posed a terror risk with "disastrous consequences for human safety".

Now there are fears it has compromised the capacity to deal with the sort of devastating floods which hit parts of the UK over Christmas.

Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said: "I urged ministers to put these plans on hold last month but they axed a third of these emergency vehicles at the height of the floods.

"Yet again, David Cameron's crude cost-cutting hindered the country's ability to cope with flooding.

"The plans were hatched in secret, without any public information or consultation. Ministers must make a statement to Parliament about the impact of this decision on the country's ability to respond to national emergencies."

Deployments of the scrapped Incident Response Units (IRUs) were revealed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the Press Association.

Logs showed one of the units taken out of service on December 31 - based at Bovey Tracey in Devon - was used for "decontamination of firefighters and other agencies" during the massive floods that affected the Somerset Levels and other parts of the West Country in 2014.

Another was sent twice from the fire station at Godstone, Surrey, "to assist the Environment Agency with erecting dams" as the South East also struggled to cope with burst rivers.

IRUs based in Wimbledon and in East Greenwich, London - among the four of the capital's 10 units being scrapped - were sent to provide shelter using tents designed to house showers for mass decontamination.

Units were also deployed in 14 "hazmat" incidents in the last two years - being called on to decontaminate firefighters in four cases and provide lighting to assist their work in another.

Half of those were in Cambridgeshire, where the axed IRU at St Neots was on "pre-determined attendance".

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said that raised questions about what cover would be in place in areas that included the units as part of their standard response.

He told the Press Association he would ask FBU health and safety officials to establish what action was being taken to ensure firefighters are not put at risk.

In another eight cases, units were sent out to fires and used once for decontamination of firefighters.

DCLG refused a request to release risk assessments of the cutbacks, carried out in conjunction with the Chief Fire Officers' Association (CFOA), on the grounds of "national security".

It concluded that 43 IRUs were sufficient "in order to meet the scale of event identified within the national resilience planning assumptions".

The 22 deemed surplus to requirements were taken out of service "almost immediately", it explained, because their power respirator protective suits (PRPS) were about to pass their expiry dates.

New suits are being bought for the units that remain in service.

The Government said the move would not compromise safety because it was " better to issue all front-line responders with the training to begin decontamination rather than wait for specialist services to arrive".

Mr Wrack said it appeared however that the cost of replacing the kit was a motivation for the scaling down, despite the UK's terror threat level being at "severe", meaning an attack is considered "highly likely".

In the event of a chemical or biological attack people "are going to waiting longer" to be decontaminated, he said, despite speed being a crucial factor in responding.

While it made "perfect sense" for forces to use the IRUs for non-terror responses, he said the withdrawal would leave forces having to find alternatives - still at taxpayers' expense.

"It's robbing Peter to pay Paul," he said

DCLG did not give details of how much cash the move would save in reduced central government funding to local forces for the operation of the IRUs, which were introduced as a national anti-terror measure in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the US.

"The calculation will be made and the amounts for 2016/17 published later in the year," it said.

The move - which Labour said was made without consultation - emerged days before the axe fell in a CFOA briefing note leaked to Mr Burnham.

Disposal of the units is under review by the CFOA.

IRUs are equipped to provide mass decontamination facilities at incidents where large numbers of people have been exposed to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials.

Showers, protective clothing and detectors are among the equipment on board the trucks, which are ready at all times to be taken out by specially-trained firefighters from local brigades.

:: The IRUs being axed are those based in: Alfreton, Derbyshire; Broughton, Buckinghamshire; Blandford, Dorset; Bovey Tracey, Devon and Somerset; Burton, Staffordshire; Canley, West Midlands; Cheltenham, Gloucestershire; East Greenwich, London; Godstone, Surrey; Hereford, Hereford and Worcester; Morecambe, Lancashire; Penzance, Cornwall; Plaistow, London; Slade Park, Oxfordshire; Southern, Leicestershire; St Albans, Hertfordshire; St Neots, Cambridgeshire; Stalybridge, Greater Manchester; Stanmore, London; Walsall, West Midlands; Wimbledon, London; Winsford, Cheshire.

A Government spokesman insisted that there was " no extra risk to the public through withdrawing the excess units".

Standard fire engine hoses were used in the vast majority of cases where firefighters' clothing and boots needed to be washed down after being in contact with contaminated flood water, officials pointed out.

The spokesman added: "Public safety is our number one priority.

"We are reducing the number of units which respond to contamination incidents because some of them are surplus to requirements.

"Research and experience shows that speed is of the essence in dealing with major incidents, which is why it is better to give all front line responders the training to begin decontamination straight away.

"Half of the units were not used in 2015 or 2014 and on those rare occasions they were deployed, they were not used in the type of incident for which they were commissioned."
George Osborne faces further questions over the Google tax deal, with calls for greater transparency about how the 130 million settlement was reached.

London Mayor Boris Johnson called for "clarity" on where Google's profits are made and senior Tory backbencher David Davis said the amount of back tax the firm has agreed to pay was a "very small number".

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has defended the deal, with a senior official insisting that it was collecting the "full tax due in law".

But shadow chancellor John McDonnell wrote to Mr Osborne demanding details of the settlement and questioning whether he or anyone else from his team in Number 11 was involved in the arrangement.

He asked when Mr Osborne was first aware of the deal and whether he or a ministerial colleague personally signed it off.

Mr McDonnell also asked whether Number 10 was involved in discussions of the deal before it was announced.

Claims that the settlement covering 10 years from 2005 amounted to a 3% tax rate have been rejected by officials and ministers, but Mr McDonnell asked: " What is HMRC's understanding of the effective tax rate faced by Google over the past 10 years as a result of this settlement?"

Mr McDonnell also raised a Times report that HMRC had never challenged Google's assertion that it did not have a "permanent establishment" in the UK.

"Such a claim is obviously critical to the entire tax issue," he said.

He told Mr Osborne: " When times are tough it is more important than ever that everyone pays - and is seen to pay - their fair share. I know that many are concerned about the tax treatment of large companies and it is important for public trust that HMRC is fair and transparent in its dealings with such companies."

Mr McDonnell said there appeared to be "disagreement about the significance of the deal at the highest levels of Government", with Downing Street not repeating Mr Osborne's claims of "victory" and a "major success".

But Downing Street rejected the suggestion that Number 10 was distancing itself from the Chancellor and insisted no ministers were involved in the arrangement between HMRC and Google.

"The Prime Minister and the Chancellor are of the same mind on this," a Downing Street spokesman said. "This was a good deal."

Mr Johnson told Sky News that people wanted "clarity on where their profits are being made and an agreement on how much they should be paying".

Former Tory leadership contender Mr Davis, vice chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on tax responsibility, said firms should not be covered by the same tax confidentiality rules as individuals and the arrangement should be put "entirely in the open".

"Otherwise people are always going to be saying 'this is too small a number'," he told Sky. "It is a very small number."

Jim Harra, HMRC's business tax director general, told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "We only accept the full amount of tax, interest and penalties that is due, otherwise if we can't reach an agreement on that amount we will go to tribunal. We certainly don't apply any rate of tax other than the statutory rate that Parliament has published."

Google has taken advantage of lower tax rates in Ireland to base parts of its business there, and Mr Harra acknowledged "m ultinationals do have capabilities and resources to structure themselves in the most tax-efficient ways, from their point of view" but "we have some rules that protect us from avoidance".

Responding to the claims in The Times that a French investigation was seeking a settlement three-times that agreed by HMRC, he said: "We will have to wait and see what the outcome of any inquiry in France is, there has certainly been no disclosure that there has been any outcome.

"I am satisfied that we have carried out a thorough investigation and we have collected the amount of tax that is due under the law and I am quite happy to be held to account for what we have done."
Google has got off "lightly" with its 130 million UK tax payback deal, says one of the stars of a TV show that saw small firms in a Welsh town "go offshore" with their accounts.

The search engine giant has been criticised after agreeing to pay back the Treasury - which critics say brings its 10-year tax bill to effectively just 3% of an estimated 7.2 billion profit.

Most British businesses currently pay corporation tax on 20% of their profits.

Steve Lewis, who featured in the BBC Two show The Town That Took on the Taxman, branded the situation as "ridiculous".

He said: "Google must have been over the moon with how lightly it got off. They probably thought all their Christmases and New Years had come at once.

"If you look at their turnover for the UK it is eight figures - the money they should pay back should have been around 1 billion, not 130 million.

"If a small firm makes an error with its tax return there's no tolerance whatsoever. You're not in any position to negotiate - you have to pay the fine plus interest."

On Monday, the UK Government denied that Google's deal to pay 130 million in taxes owed over the last 10 years amounted to a "lower special rate" for the internet giant.

Treasury Financial Secretary David Gauke told MPs: "The statement made by Google... is solid evidence companies are changing their models because we have strengthened the rules."

Google's sales were valued at 3.8 billion in Britain during 2013 but it paid just 20.4 million 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.

Businessman-turned-TV star Mr Lewis believes there is little incentive for big companies to change their current tax practices.

The 63-year-old has since attracted almost 140,000 signatures with an online petition calling him to succeed HMRC's outgoing chief Lin Homer. That support comes following his appearance in the BBC show which saw small traders in Crickhowell, mid Wales, uncover techniques used by multinationals to avoid paying tax.

Mr Lewis, who runs the town's Number 18 Cafe alongside his wife Sam, said: "It's not just Google who are doing it either - there are lots of massive companies who have great PR about their 'corporate social responsibility' and then pay little in the way of tax.

"Regardless of whatever the tax code is or the business rates are, the philosophies of some big companies seem to be to achieve a target of zero per cent tax.

"Yes, what they are doing is not illegal and you can also say it's clever in a way too - but it shows a total lack of social responsibility."

The father-of-six believes rather than changing the law, it is people power that can force the hand of big firms.

He said: "If I became the next chief executive of HMRC I would make it a priority to publicly shame big companies who put in aggressive tax returns.

"The only way to make them change is to fear their profits and brand will be damaged.

"I'm planning to launch a big social media campaign later in the year which will target a different big company each month.

"Companies need to change their behaviour into thinking that if they file tax returns of low amounts such as 3 or 5% then they could be putting their brand and profits at risk."
A housing firm is to stop making asylum seekers wear wristbands to claim food after an outcry from campaigners.

The brightly-coloured wristbands were handed out to refugees staying at Lynx House in Cardiff so they could claim breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Bosses at Clearsprings Ready Homes, a Home Office contractor, initially insisted the bands were discreet and did not single out residents, but a human rights group called them "appalling".

The issue was also raised in Parliament by Labour's Stephen Doughty, who said the bands were "stigmatising" asylum seekers.

In a statement to the Guardian, Clearsprings said it was "grateful for feedback to help improve the safety and effectiveness of their services".

The firm said: "Asylum seekers who spend their initial few weeks at out full-board accommodation in Cardiff have been provided with wristbands since May 2015 to ensure they receive the services they are entitled to and to make sure those more vulnerable asylum seekers have access to their specific requirements.

"As in numerous such establishments where large numbers of people are being provided with services, wristbands are considered to be one of the most reliable and effective ways of guaranteeing delivery.

"We are always reviewing the way we supply our services and have decided to cease the use of wristbands as of Monday 25 January and will look for an alternative way of managing the fair provision of support."

A temporary system would be used until photo ID cards could be introduced in the next few weeks, the paper said.

Earlier, the Welsh Refugee Council (WRC) claimed the wristbands echoed the yellow star Jewish people were forced to wear during the time of Nazi Germany.

WRC policy officer Hannah Wharf said: "We have raised the matter many times with the Welsh Government. It harks back to the Nazi regime with people being forced to wear a Star of David and stand out.

"It's absolutely appalling, it is treating people like lesser beings. It is treating them like animals lining up to feed."

Mr Doughty, MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, called for an investigation into the firm during an urgent question in the Commons.

Immigration minister James Brokenshire replied: "I do expect the highest standards from all contractors including that there is no issue of stigma attached to those under their care, and if there is evidence to suggest that this is not the case, it will be treated with the utmost seriousness."

It follows a similar controversy in Middlesbrough, where asylum seekers said they had been targeted by racist thugs after being housed behind red front doors in the Teesside town.
The BBC Three venture with Idris Elba's production company will deliver a series of short films from new writers featuring new on-screen talent working alongside established talent

A collaboration with Idris Elba's Green Door Pictures will be one of the highlights when BBC Three moves online next month.

The venture with Elba's production company is to deliver a series of short films from new writers featuring new on-screen talent working alongside established talent.

The Luther star said: "I'm looking forward to working with BBC Three and giving new writers and actors a chance to show what they can do."

Controller Damian Kavanagh revealed he had a budget of 30 million per year for creative ideas at a preview event for the new BBC Three in London.

"We're reinventing our offer for young people and this is just the start," he said.

"We will be bold, we will be British and we will be creative," Kavanagh added as he enthused about new drama Clique, new documentary Black Power and new factual Unsolved: The Boy Who Disappeared - described by some as the British version of US podcast Serial, but with video.

One key drama will be Murdered By My Father, a film about an honour killing from the same team that made the award-winning Murdered By My Boyfriend.

Familiar BBC Three programmes such as Stacey Dooley Investigates and Bafta award-winning Life And Death Row will continue to be available online.

Building on the success of his Suicide And Me exploration, Stephen Manderson, AKA Professor Green, returns to BBC Three with two new documentaries: one on youth homelessness and another on dangerous dogs.

Two new formats for online are The Daily Drop and The Best Of, with the latter bringing together original long form programmes and a range of new content, including short form films.

The Daily Drop is home to BBC Three's new stream of daily content including short form videos, blogs, social media, image galleries, trending stories and daily updates from news and sport.

Tony Hall, director general of the BBC, called the move "risky" but hailed the corporation's vision.

"We have always been innovators," he said. "We should continue to be innovators. We are the first broadcaster in the world to work out what it's going to be like in this on demand world.

"This is new and let's be clear, it's also risky, but risky in the way it should be risky because if we don't take risks, who's going to?

He continued: "I love the way that programmes from BBC Three provoke such strong reactions too. There's a confidence about the way that the team has dealt with really tough, challenging subjects whether it's talking about suicide, drugs, sex or gender."

Hall underlined the new BBC Three's commitment to breaking new names.

"I think that is one of the most important roles of the BBC - backing new talent, finding new talent, giving new talent a chance to speak, to find its voice and to have confidence - it's so important.

"I want people to look back on the new BBC Three as being the place that spotted the next James Corden, the next Aidan Turner, the next Sheridan Smith. I can point to people who got their first chance on BBC Three because in this new world that's part of what BBC Three has stood for in the old world as well."

Switch-over night on February 16 will see episode one of the new series of Cuckoo, the first film from the new series of Life And Death Row, and Live From The BBC, featuring some of Britain's best new comedians, made available exclusively through BBC Three's new online platform and BBC Three on iPlayer.

Mr Kavanagh said: "BBC Three is a badge of quality and shorthand for content that will stimulate emotions and provoke reactions. It's the same award winning programmes freed from the constraints of linear TV, and because we're freed from the schedule we can use whatever format and platform is most appropriate."
Labour MPs will choose a new member of the party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) tomorrow after kicking out an aide to Jeremy Corbyn.

Steve Rotheram was forced to step down after the parliamentary party voted overwhelmingly to bar Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS) from acting as the backbench representative on the body.

The MP for Liverpool Walton was already on the NEC when he was appointed as the leader's PPS in September.

A secret ballot is being held to fill the vacancy, with Shabana Mahmood - who quit the Labour frontbench when Mr Corbyn took charge - competing against George Howarth - who defied the leader to back bombing Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

An effort to get Mr Rotheram reinstated had been expected at tonight's meeting of the NEC, where Mr Corbyn's allies have a slender majority.

However, the bid was apparently abandoned following legal advice that the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) was entitled to change its own standing orders.

A showdown over a controversial move to expand the NEC's terms of reference, potentially giving it more power over policy-making than the shadow cabinet, has also seemingly been delayed.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has accused British officials of "slander" over claims Vladimir Putin probably authorised the killing of Alexander Litvinenko

Russia has angrily hit back after an official inquiry found the killing of dissident ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko was probably authorised by President Vladimir Putin.

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned it would "certainly worsen" relations between London and Moscow and even suggested that British officials could be sued for slander.

The inquiry report published last week by Sir Robert Owen found Litvinenko died after ingesting radioactive polonium administered by two Russian agents in a London hotel in 2006 in an operation probably signed off by the Russian leader.

But at a news conference in Moscow, Mr Lavrov bitterly denounced the findings saying "grave accusations" had been made against the Russian leadership but there was "absolutely no proof" for the inquiry's conclusions.

"If an experienced lawyer takes up the case and analyses those facts and the statements made by top British government officials, there is enough material for a slander case," he said.

"All conclusions are based on the testimony of some specially selected witnesses, who are not objective ... or the testimony which has been classified, so it has remained unclear who have given it and whom it has been given to."

Mr Lavrov compared the report to the Dutch inquiry into the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine - which found it was brought down by a Russian-made missile - and made clear it would have consequences for diplomatic relations.

"We heard what David Cameron and other Cabinet members have said. I particularly liked British Prime Minister saying he was shocked and that the inquiry has confirmed what they knew from the start," he said.

"It reminds me of what our American colleagues were saying after the crash of the Malaysian Boeing that they were waiting for a conclusive Dutch report even though we know already who had done it. It's obviously the same logical pattern in the Litvinenko case and in the Boeing case.

"I could only agree with the British Foreign Office saying that the Litvinenko case will further damage our relations. I fully agree with that, but it's not the Litvinenko's case, but a show around the Litvinenko case, that will hurt our relations. They will certainly worsen."

Following the report's publication, Home Secretary Theresa May said the findings were "deeply disturbing" and that Russian ambassador had been summoned to the Foreign Office to account for the Kremlin's role.

She also announced that the European arrest warrants had been issued for the two main suspects - Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun - and that asset freezes had been put in place against them by the Treasury.

The latest row comes at a difficult time for the Government as British diplomats are seeking to find ways of working with Moscow to end the Syrian civil war.
Middlesbrough has taken more than its fair share of asylum seekers, local politicians say

Asylum seekers must be more fairly dispersed around the country, MPs and council leaders from the areas with the highest concentrations have told the Home Office.

Politicians from some of the 10 councils in the country with the largest ratios of asylum seekers to residents said the situation, at a time of cuts to public services, was unacceptable.

Those top 10 were all in Northern England, Scotland or Wales, in places already struggling with unemployment deprivation.

It followed a policy started in 2000 to disperse asylum seekers away from London and the prosperous South East.

Outspoken Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk was furious that the Government was "dumping" asylum seekers in towns like his, causing a strain on schools and health services.

He said: "Rochdale is a cohesive community. We are quite diverse, but this is really upsetting the apple cart and it is creating tension.

"You have groups of asylum seekers, who through no fault of their own have nothing to do because they are not allowed to work, wandering around the town centre, not speaking English."

Dave Budd, the elected mayor of Middlesbrough, which is the only local authority to have surpassed the Government's guideline of 1:200 asylum seekers to residents, said it had "far exceeded its fair allocation".

The town, where one in every 173 residents was an asylum seeker living in dispersed accommodation, was at the centre of the red doors controversy last week.

It emerged some asylum seekers felt stigmatised because their accommodation provided by Jomast, sub-contracted by services giant G4S, had red doors.

That made some feel they were easily picked out by racists and vandals. As a result, it was agreed the front doors would be repainted a variety of colours.

Stuart Monk of Jomast, and Peter Neden and John Whitwam of G4S, will be quizzed about the controversy today by the Commons Home Affairs Committee.

Geraint Davies, Labour MP for Swansea West, which is sixth in the national list, was also unhappy with the way asylum seekers were dispersed.

He said the Government should not exploit Swansea's "warm welcome" by "over-burdening us and not providing the resources that are needed to support asylum seekers".

A spokesman for Newport City Council, eighth on the list also mentioned Cardiff, which is ninth, saying their multi-cultural societies meant asylum seekers were welcome, but that those diverse communities also had issues with deprivation.

The council was working with the Home Office to reduce the impact of having concentrations of asylum seekers in particular areas, he said.

The issue is a particularly sensitive one. A contractor in Cardiff providing accommodation for asylum seekers came under fire this week for giving some clients wristbands which they had to wear to get meals.

In Glasgow, third on the national list, the Scottish Refugee Council did not say the city was overburdened, but did call for a national review of the housing contract, saying it had "grave concerns" about how asylum seekers were housed.

It said Middlesbrough's red doors issue was an example of the Home Office's "poor oversight" of how private contractors house vulnerable people.

Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of Bury Council and lead member in Greater Manchester on asylum seekers, said they have made the point "very clearly to government that we consider the high concentration of asylum seekers - relative to other parts of the country - currently accommodated across our area to be unacceptable".

Greater Manchester covers Rochdale in second position, Bolton in fifth and Oldham in 10th on the national list.

The Home Office said it will work with councils that raise concerns about asylum dispersal.

A spokesman said: "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection and we are committed to providing safe and secure accommodation while applications are considered.

"Asylum seekers are housed where there is appropriate accommodation available. Agreements between the Government and participating local authorities are voluntary and have been in place since 2000. We review these arrangements regularly and all asylum intake has to be approved by the local authority involved.

"We work closely with local authorities to ensure that the impact of asylum dispersals is considered and acted upon.

"We will work with any local authority that raises concerns about asylum dispersal."
The UK is facing an electricity supply crisis, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers has warned

The UK faces an electricity supply gap of up to 55% by 2025 because of the closure of coal and nuclear plants, the government is being warned.

Plans to plug the gap by building combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants are "unrealistic", according to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

A report detailed the impact of closing all coal-fired power stations by 2025, ageing nuclear stations stopping generating power, and growing demand for power.

The institution said the UK does not have the resources or the skilled workers to build the number of power stations needed.

The report's author, Dr Jenifer Baxter, said: "The UK is facing an electricity supply crisis. As the UK population rises and with the greater use of electricity use in transport and heating it looks almost certain that electricity demand is going to rise.

"However, with little or no focus on reducing electricity demand, the retirement of the majority of the country's ageing nuclear fleet, recent proposals to phase out coal-fired power by 2025 and the cut in renewable energy subsidies, the UK is on course to produce even less electricity than it does at the moment.

"We cannot rely on CCGTs alone to plug this gap, as we have neither the time, resources nor enough people with the right skills to build sufficient power plants. Electricity imports will put the UK's electricity supply at the mercy of the markets, weather and politics of other countries, making electricity less secure and less affordable.

"Currently there are insufficient incentives for companies to invest in any sort of electricity infrastructure or innovation and worryingly even the Government's own energy calculator does not allow for the scenarios that new energy policy points towards. Under current policy, it is almost impossible for UK electricity demand to be met by 2025."

A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said: "We are the first country to propose an end date to using unabated coal and we will do so in a way that maintains energy security, which comes first.

"New gas power stations are being built and we are investing in cleaner energy, such as nuclear and shale gas, to ensure hardworking families and businesses have secure, affordable energy supplies they can rely on now and in the future."

Brian Strutton, the GMB union's national secretary for energy, said: "This report is right to highlight the looming shortage of electricity generation within the next decade. That's why GMB and others have consistently called for more direct government investment and incentives for the private sector to invest in securing the nation's future energy supply.

"The Government needs to spell out a proper long term plan - they can't keep kicking this can down the road much longer."
Item No "x x x. The elements of the crime of theft as provided for in Article 308 9 of the Revised Penal Code are as follows: (1) t...
The schools watchdog said that any school heads wishing to ban the full face veil where it hinders learning could expect his full support

Schools that allow pupils and staff to wear face veils which hinder learning could be ruled "inadequate", the head of Ofsted has said.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, the chief inspector of schools in England, has given his "full support" to schools and colleges which "decide to take a stand against the inappropriate wearing of the veil".

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has previously backed schools that want to ban Muslim girls from wearing face veils and suggested teachers should also be barred from wearing the garments.

Sir Michael said Mrs Morgan was right to support schools and other institutions which "insist on removing face coverings when it makes sense to do so".

He said: "I am concerned that some heads and principals who are trying to restrict the wearing of the full veil in certain circumstances are coming under pressure from others to relax their policy.

"I want to assure these leaders that they can rely on my full backing for the stance they are taking.

"I have also made clear to my inspectors that where leaders are condoning the wearing of the face veil by staff members or by pupils when this is clearly hindering communication and effective teaching, they should give consideration to judging the school as inadequate."

Sir Michael's comments were met by dismay by some teaching unions and the Muslim Council of Britain which said Ofsted did not need to resort to "the megaphone of the media to show that it is flexing its muscles".

But the Ofsted chief said he was determined to ensure "discrimination, including on the grounds of gender, has no place in our classrooms".

He added: "We want our schools, whether faith schools or non-faith schools, to prepare their pupils equally for life in 21st century Britain. We need to be confident our children's education and future prospects are not being harmed in any way."

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said Sir Michael was threatening schools and risked alienating pupils and teaching staff.

Kevin Courtney, the NUT's deputy general secretary, said: "Effective communication between pupils and staff is essential to effective teaching and learning.

"However, Sir Michael Wilshaw once again has chosen to issue punitive diktats to threaten schools through the use of 'inadequate' Ofsted judgments, rather than enabling them to develop their own sensible and appropriate policies on the wearing of religious clothing at school.

"Rather than assisting school leaders, this will have the effect of alienating many staff and pupils."

Last week Sir Michael told BBC2's Newsnight that he would back banning veils and said school inspectors had found the covers were causing communication problems in the classroom on occasions.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said he would back institutions that have "sensible rules" over Muslims wearing full-face veils but ruled out imposing a French-style ban on full-face veils in public.

A spokeswoman for the Muslim Council of Britain: "We are a country that prides itself in accommodation and fair play. It is a shame that the niqab - the full face veil that a minority of Muslim women wear - has become a polarising issue when it need not be.

"Accommodation can also be made around the niqab as well and Ofsted need not have resorted to the megaphone of the media to show that it is flexing its muscles."

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: " Schools will now apparently be judged inadequate on the basis of an inspector taking exception to a pupil or member of staff wearing a veil and deeming it a barrier to communication.

"Ofsted should be driven by evidence. Where is the evidence that demonstrates that wearing the veil is a barrier to teaching and learning?"

A Department for Education spokesman said: " We fully support Sir Michael's statement. We are pleased that Heads and school leaders who choose to implement policies which restrict the wearing of the veil to support effective teaching and learning will receive Ofsted's backing.

"It is also clearly right that if the wearing of the veil is interfering with education in schools that should trigger action from Ofsted."

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), said: "Head teachers are able to use common sense to determine whether their staff or pupils' mode of dress has the potential to hinder learning, and to establish rules accordingly.

"Formalising this sensitive issue into yet another tick-box that can be used to fail schools is unhelpful and extreme.

"Schools will already be marked down for lack of communication and/or ineffective learning in the classroom - specific guidelines on veils is unnecessary."
Concerns were raised about Medway Secure Training Centre following revelations aired on the BBC's Panorama programme

The director of a G4S-run facility for young inmates which is at the centre of abuse and mistreatment allegations is stepping down following high-level criticism of its management.

Ralph Marchant is standing down with immediate effect at Medway Secure Training Centre in Rochester, Kent, but will remain employed by the private security firm, the Press Association can reveal.

It is understood there are no allegations relating to the conduct of Mr Marchant, who is being replaced on an interim basis by Ben Saunders - the director of the immigration removal centres at Gatwick.

The development came after Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick said managerial oversight had failed to protect young people at the centre for inmates aged 12 to 17.

Inspectors have "significant concerns" about the facility following allegations of abuse and mistreatment of youngsters aired on the BBC's Panorama programme this month.

An undercover reporter captured footage showing staff mistreating and abusing inmates, and boasting about using inappropriate techniques to restrain youngsters.

Other allegations included claims that staff tried to hide their actions by ensuring they were beneath CCTV cameras or in areas not covered by them.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove announced the appointment of an independent improvement board to provide "increased oversight" at Medway.

G4S has also been ordered to put in place an improvement plan, which the board will oversee, Mr Gove added in a written ministerial statement.

Inspectors who visited the centre after the programme was broadcast found evidence of "targeted bullying of vulnerable boys by a small number of staff in addition to the conditioning of new staff".

In a report published on Tuesday, Mr Hardwick recommended a commissioner be immediately established to provide extra oversight at the centre.

Body-worn cameras should also be used across all institutions holding children, with staff expected to record all incidents involving the use of force, he added.

The troubling claims at Medway come after Ofsted inspectors had praised the centre following an inspection in September 2014.

Its report noted: "The overall effectiveness of Medway Secure Training Centre to meet the needs of young people is judged good with outstanding features."

In the latest inspection, carried out on January 11, a small number of young inmates described some staff using "insulting, aggressive or racist language", inspectors found.

And staff failed at times to challenge poor behaviour, with some youngsters reporting feeling unsafe in areas not covered by CCTV cameras.

Mr Hardwick said: "Managerial oversight failed to protect young people from harm.

"Effective oversight is key to creating a positive culture that prevents poor practice happening and ensuring it is reported when it does."

Some of the concerns raised in the report were not confined to Medway or the secure training centre model, Mr Hardwick went on.

A high turnover of staff was a feature at Medway, reportedly in the region of 50% of the basic grade custody staff.

Mr Hardwick said appropriate staffing levels are now in place and extra independent oversight has been provided by the Youth Justice Board and Barnardo's advocates.

Other recommendations were for new inspections of all secure training centres to see whether the concerns raised at Medway are widespread.

Shadow prisons and probation minister Jo Stevens said the Government should put all G4S-run prisons, STCs and detention centres into special measures.

She said G4S contracts should be reviewed and that the company should not be considered for bidding while management teams are sent in to work alongside staff.

The HMIP and Ofsted visit this month saw 20 young people spoken to out of 55 held at Medway.

Since the Panorama broadcast, five men have been arrested by Kent Police on suspicion of either child neglect or assault. All have been bailed to April.

G4S has sacked five members of staff, two others identified in the programme have been suspended and one other has been removed from operational duty as inquiries continue.

One of the employees who has been suspended works for Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL).

Lawyers at Leigh Day are dealing with a number of inquiries from people alleging abuse relating to Panorama's disclosures.

Peter Neden, regional president of G4S UK and Ireland, said: "As part of a programme of measures to respond to recent events at the Medway Secure Training Centre, we are committed to supporting an independent review commissioned today by the Ministry of Justice.

"We welcome today's announcement by the Secretary of State that he has appointed a team of independent experts to conduct the review.

"We also announce the appointment of Ben Saunders as the interim Centre Director for Medway STC. Ben is a qualified social worker with extensive experience of working with vulnerable people and will give the ministry's independent improvement board our full support."
Sir Michael Caine and Sir Michael Gambon have differing views on the EU referendum

Sir Michael Gambon said it would be "wrong" for Britain to vote to leave the EU.

The veteran actor is the latest star to lend his voice to the referendum debate, which has seen Sir Michael Caine also speak out in the past week.

Speaking at the premiere of his new film Dad's Army, Gambon said: "I hope we don't. I don't think we should leave the EU, it would be wrong. I don't think it's right."

He did not go into the reason behind his response, unlike Sir Michael Caine who backed an exit and said Europe was run by "thousands of faceless civil servants".

Asked which camp he would back in the in/out referendum, he said: "I don't know what to vote for. Both are scary. To me, you've now got in Europe a sort of government-by-proxy of everybody, who has now got carried away. Unless there is some extremely significant changes, we should get out."

Pressed by Radio 4's Today host Nick Robinson, he said: "I sort of feel certain we should come out."

Sir Michael Gambon's comments come on the same day as the ballot paper for the EU referendum was released.

It asks voters to cross a box to either remain or leave the EU.

It is clear how both Sir Michaels will be voting.
Tesco repeatedly and deliberately delayed payments to suppliers in a widespread practice designed to improve its financial position, an investigation has found.

Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) Christine Tacon said she was most shocked at the discovery of how widespread the supermarket giant's actions were, saying that "practically every supplier I spoke to had evidence of delays in payments."

However, the report was met with silence from the suppliers themselves, with representatives claiming it was still "a brave business" that was prepared to talk about their difficulties with Tesco.

Ms Tacon's long-awaited 84-page report found Tesco "seriously" breached an industry code by intentionally delaying payments to suppliers and made unilateral deductions.

She made a series of recommendations to stop the practices, saying the retailer should be more transparent in its dealings with suppliers, but could not impose a financial penalty because this power was only given to her after she launched her investigation.

She said: "I found that Tesco knowingly delayed paying money to suppliers in order to improve its own financial position.

"The length of delays, their widespread nature and the range of Tesco's unreasonable practices and behaviours towards suppliers concerned me."

A four-week deadline has been set for Tesco to say how it plans to implement the recommendations.

Tesco group chief executive Dave Lewis apologised and said he accepted the GCA's findings.

He said: "In 2014 we undertook our own review into certain historic practices, which were both unsustainable and harmful to our suppliers. We shared these practices with the Adjudicator, and publicly apologised. Today, I would like to apologise again. We are sorry.

"Over the last year we have worked hard to make Tesco a very different company from the one described in the GCA report. The absolute focus on operating margin had damaging consequences for the business and our relationship with suppliers. This has now been fundamentally changed."

A Federation of Small Businesses spokesman said the organisation had received many requests to speak to suppliers involved but had been unable to find anyone prepared to talk.

He said: "We have been unable to find a business prepared to speak out on this. It's a brave business that is prepared to come forward and speak out on the issue of late payments."

Duncan Swift, partner and head of the food advisory group at accountancy firm Moore Stephens, said the GCA's report "at last makes a statement that doesn't pull its punches to say that Tesco's behaviour was unreasonable".

But he said: "Does it go any further than that? No. Can suppliers expect any redress? No.

"Also, the review only covers the second half of Tesco's mis-statement period and is silent on the probability that these bad behaviours went on much earlier."

Mr Swift added: "If a supplier was to raise these sorts of difficulties in the form of legal action seeking redress, that would be seen as hostile by the supermarket and the relationship would be ended.

"And this could be seen as the case by other supermarket buyers too. It's a small world."

The GCA's report is separate to the ongoing Serious Fraud Office investigation into a 326 million accounting black hole at the supermarket.

The SFO launched a probe in October 2014 after the discovery of a 263 million hole in profit expectations at Britain's biggest supermarket. It was later found to be 63 million bigger than this.
Sara Keays leaving hospital in London with their daughter Flora Elisabeth in 1984

Lord Parkinson, one of Margaret Thatcher's most loyal lieutenants, has died aged 84 after a long battle with cancer, his family has announced.

The Tory grandee masterminded the general election campaign that delivered her thumping majority in 1983, and held a series of senior posts in her governments.

But the revelation that he had a love child with a former secretary curtailed his career, ensuring he never secured one of the great offices of state - despite Thatcher's apparent wish that he should be her successor.

David Cameron led tributes to the former cabinet minister, saying he had been "part of an extraordinary political generation".

As a grammar school pupil who went to Cambridge, becoming a chartered accountant and enjoying a successful business career before entering parliament, Cecil Parkinson had much in common with Baroness Thatcher.

According to Charles Moore's recent authorised biography of the former prime minister, Parkinson was her "favourite" in the cabinet and she wanted to make him foreign secretary after he ran the successful 1983 campaign.

When he told Thatcher that his ex-secretary Sara Keays was pregnant, she apparently told him: "Anthony Eden leapt into bed with any good-looking woman. You can sort this out."

Yet they agreed the secret scandal meant he could not take a high profile role, and instead he became secretary of state for trade and industry. Despite Thatcher's efforts to protect him, Parkinson was eventually forced to resign when the situation emerged publicly the following autumn.

He was later rehabilitated as energy secretary and transport secretary, but never really shook off the controversy.

He quit government along with Thatcher in 1990 and entered the House of Lords two years later.

In 1997 Parkinson made a brief surprise comeback as Tory chairman in the wake of the party's electoral hammering.

He retired from the Lords last September as his health deteriorated.
Steven Woolf, who is of mixed race, will say non-white voters have been the "losers" in the present immigration system

Agreement on the UK's renegotiation of its relationship with the EU may be delayed beyond next month's Brussels summit by the pressure of other urgent problems facing the 28-nation bloc, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has suggested.

Mr Hammond said it would by "inappropriate and unwise" for the UK to insist on sealing a deal at the European Council summit on February 18-19, which will be held amid the continuing migration crisis.

But he acknowledged that a June date for the in/out referendum promised by David Cameron will become "much more difficult" if no agreement is reached in February, and "impossible" if there is no deal at the following summit in March.

Speaking to the House of Lords EU Committee, Mr Hammond confirmed that, although the referendum could be held at any time before the end of next year, the UK Government wants the renegotiation settled "well before" the French and German elections in 2017.

His evidence came as v oters were given their first sight of the European Union referendum ballot paper in documents tabled by ministers in Parliament, which set out detailed rules for the vote and leave the door open to a June referendum.

The draft regulations must be approved at least 10 weeks before the UK is asked to decide whether to remain in the EU.

T he timing of their production suggests the Government has not ruled out an early vote - though David Cameron has sounded increasingly cautious notes about his prospects of securing a renegotiation deal in time, and Downing Street declined to comment on suggestions he has pencilled in June 23 as a favoured date.

Asked whether he believed a deal in February was possible, Mr Hammond told the Lords committee: "It is much more important to get the right deal than to get a quick deal, and we have to recognise the fact that the EU has got a couple of other issues on its plate.

"Also, the British negotiation is number one on our European agenda, but I'm afraid it isn't number one on the European agenda, I think it's fair to say, of any of our partners, except perhaps for the Irish.

"The reality of the situation is we have to recognise that there are a lot of other very important issues chewing up the bandwidth and chewing up time at the Council ...

"I think it would be inappropriate of us and it would also be unwise of us to try to push our agenda ahead of other things which the other EU member states will see as being pressingly urgent to discuss at the February Council.

"But we are still confident that there will be a substantive discussion on this issue. We are hopeful that between now and then we will be able to get to a position where we can get that agreement at the February Council."

Mr Hammond left no doubt that the Government is aware of the potential difficulties of delaying a vote to 2017, when France holds presidential elections in April and May and Germany its parliamentary elections between August and October.

The Foreign Secretary said: "We are focused on the fact that there are major French and German general elections in 2017, and if this was not resolved during the course of 2016, we would have to think very carefully about how the realities of those election campaigns interacted with this debate, so we would certainly hope that it would be resolved well before then."

Asked whether failure to secure a deal in February would make a vote before the summer impossible, Mr Hammond said: "If we get a deal done in February, it will be possible to hold a referendum in June, if we choose to do so. There is technically enough time.

"If the deal is not done in February, that would become much more difficult. Certainly, if it is not done in March, it would become impossible because of the timescales provided for in the Bill."

Mr Hammond said he expected European Council president Donald Tusk to provide proposals on the UK renegotiation for discussion at the Brussels summit within the next seven-to-10 days.

February's European Council summit is the deadline for holding a referendum before the summer, but the Prime Minister has acknowledged there remains work to do to win over fellow leaders, notably on moves to curb EU migration to the UK.

Reports today suggested June 23 was Downing Street's preferred date for a snap referendum - though that would coincide with a scheduled EU summit, a potential headache for the PM.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "I'm not going to speculate on specific dates. The key focus is on the negotiations and getting the best deal for the British people, and that is what we are doing."

Meanwhile, former prime minister Tony Blair warned that a vote to leave the EU would be followed by a second independence referendum north of the border which would see Scotland quit the UK.

In an interview on French radio station Europe 1, Mr Blair said: "There is a little-noticed dimension which is that, in my opinion, if the UK votes to leave Europe, Scotland will vote to leave the UK. It is extremely serious for Great Britain."

Speaking in French, Mr Blair said he expected Mr Cameron to secure the package of reforms to British membership which he is seeking, and to lead the Remain camp in the referendum campaign.

"There are big strategic and economic reasons to remain in Europe," said the former PM.

"I am worried because there will be a vote and it is always possible that people will vote for leaving Europe. But I hope not and I believe not."

By law, the referendum must be held by the end of 2017, with autumn 2016 still seen as favourite if a deal is not agreed in February.

Orders setting down the conduct of the vote, the process for designating the principal campaigner on each side and for the timings have to be approved at least 10 weeks before polling day - though the Electoral Commission recommends it should be six months.

A June referendum would therefore fall outside the watchdog's "best practice" advice - which is not legally binding.

The proposed ballot paper is headed "Referendum On The United Kingdom's Membership Of The European Union" and reminds voters to put a cross in only one box.

Beneath is the question: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?" followed by the two options: "Remain a member of the European Union", or "Leave the European Union".

In another step towards the referendum, campaigners have been told they can register with the Commission - and must start recording all donations and loans above 7,500 - from February 1.

Responding to Mr Blair's comments, Scottish National Party Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins said: " If Scotland is taken out of the EU against its will then obviously there will have been a fundamental breakdown in what should be a partnership of nations and it is highly likely that this would trigger an overwhelming demand for a second Scottish independence referendum."
The Duke of Cambridge (left) with Henry Worsley, who was raising funds for the Endeavour charity

Worsley, 55, from Fulham, London, died after he was airlifted off the ice 30 miles short of crossing the Antarctic unsupported

The family of polar explorer Henry Worsley have spoken of the "great comfort" they have taken following his death in knowing the huge impact he had on so many people.

The 55-year-old adventurer was aiming to complete the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic and was 30 miles from his goal when he had to be airlifted from the ice after falling ill. He died on Sunday.

Worsley was raising money for the Endeavour Fund, which helps wounded and sick servicemen and women, and since his death donations have soared to more than 215,000, with gift aid, over double his 100,000 target.

His family said: " We are hugely grateful for the incredibly kind messages of support and sympathy we have received from people all over the world.

"Thank you to everyone who has shared their warm wishes and fond memories of Henry. It is a great comfort to our family to know that he has had an impact on so many people's lives."

Worsley, from Fulham, south-west London, radioed for help as he tried to complete the unfinished journey of his lifelong hero Sir Ernest Shackleton to mark the 100th anniversary of Shackleton's expedition.

In a poignant last message posted online on Friday, he said: "My summit is just out of reach."

He resolved to "gather my thoughts in a final message in the coming days" and finished with the words: ''This is Henry Worsley, signing off, journey's end.''

His wife Joanna Worsley rushed to Chile where her husband had been flown for surgery for bacterial peritonitis - an infection in the abdomen - but was unable to reach him before he died from complete organ failure. Plans are being put in place to repatriate him to the UK, while Foreign Office staff are supporting Ms Worsley.

Scores of tributes were left on the Virgin Money Giving page for the former lieutenant-colonel.

One donor, Philip Smith, wrote: "I had the privilege of serving with Col Henry briefly with 2RGJ in Kosovo and was greatly saddened by the news of his death. What better epitaph than service and sacrifice for the benefit of so many others."

His death also inspired messages from the young, with teenager Amy Rose writing: "I am 16 years old, but I think I will remember Mr Worsley and I hope I will carry his spirit with me when I face challenges."

British astronaut Tim Peake paid tribute from space to his fellow explorer, tweeting: "Thoughts are with the family & friends of Henry Worsley - a true explorer, adventurer & inspiration to many."

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner tweeted: "My last memory of explorer Henry Worsley who died crossing Antarctica: our dinner together in Kandahar, full of plans for his next adventure."

The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, whose Royal Foundation manages the Endeavour Fund, also expressed their sadness at the news.

William, who was patron of the expedition, said he and Harry had lost a friend as he paid tribute to Worsley's ''selfless commitment'' to fellow soldiers.

:: Henry Worsley's fundraising page is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ShackletonSolo
At least 14 people have been killed in an attack in the central Syrian city of Homs

At least 20 people have been killed in multiple bomb blasts which targeted a government-run security checkpoint in the central Syrian city of Homs, the official news agency said.

The attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, came as government forces retook a strategic town from opposition fighters and militants in the south of the country.

Homs governor Talal Barazi told the SANA news agency that the checkpoint was hit "first by a car bomb, which was then followed by a suicide bombing".

IS claimed responsibility, according to a report by the Aamaq news agency, which is affiliated with the extremist group.

Syrian state television broadcast footage of the aftermath of the Homs bombing, showing extensive damage to shops and apartments around the site of the explosion in the Zahra neighbourhood, which is inhabited mostly by members of President Bashar Assad's Alawite sect, an offshoot of Islam.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group which relies on a network of informants across Syria for its news, said the death toll had climbed to 25, with 15 of the casualties being security personnel.

The observatory said witnesses at the scene said the first bomber attracted a crowd by shouting curses about the Homs governor, then blew his vehicle up.

Homs, which was once known as the "capital of the revolution", is Syria's third largest city and was one of the first to rise against the government in 2012. Government forces have since managed to expel most militants from the city and much of it has been destroyed.

In southern Syria, government forces took control of the town of Sheikh Meskin, culminating an offensive that began in late December to retake the town after seizing the Brigade 82 military base nearby.

Sheikh Meskin lies near the highway connecting Damascus and the Jordanian border and connects the Syrian capital to Daraa, a border town held by opposition fighters.

Heavy fighting has continued outside the town, between forces loyal to the government and opposition fighters, supported by al Qaida's Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front.

The observatory reported Russian and Syrian air strikes were supporting the offensive.
An Afghan policeman turned his weapon on fellow officers as they were sleeping in their quarters near a checkpoint in the country's south, killing 10, a provincial spokesman said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the killings, the latest in so-called "insider attacks" involving a fellow soldier or a policeman who either carry out an attack or help insurgents stage an assault.

The bodies were discovered at a checkpoint in Chinarto district, according to Dost Mohammad Nayab, the spokesman for the governor in Uruzgan province.

The shooter killed his fellow policemen while they were asleep late on Monday night and then fled the scene after stealing all their weapons and ammunition, Mr Nayab said.

"The police units have launched an operation to locate and arrest the shooter," Mr Nayab added.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi said the attacker was their man and that he was now with the Taliban.

Insider attacks have been common in Afghanistan, especially in remote areas where the Taliban have a strong presence. Taliban insurgents have been known to wear Afghan police or military uniforms to stage attacks on Afghan or foreign troops. Others have opened fire apparently on their own accord.

Last week, nine policemen were killed after a policeman from the same checkpoint opened fire at them in Dehrawad district, also in Uruzgan province. On the same day, another policeman killed four others at a checkpoint in Lashkar Gah, the capital of southern Helmand province.

The Taliban have stepped up their attacks on Afghan soldiers and police in recent months. US and Nato forces formally ended their combat mission at the end of 2014, leaving Afghan security forces in charge of public safety in the country.
Argentina says it keeping up efforts to control a locust infestation threatening crops in at least three states.

The country's agricultural inspection agency said in a statement on Tuesday it has controlled 31 new outbreaks of the insect in the states of Catamarca, Santiago del Estero and Cordoba.

But farmers of the Rural Confederations of Argentina told local newspaper Clarin that it is the worst locust infestation in decades.

The government has responded with a task force that includes state and municipal agents as well as farmers.
The Australian government has come under mounting pressure to appoint a head of state to replace the Queen, as the country celebrated its national day.

Every Australia Day, marked on January 26, an eminent citizen is made Australian of the Year in recognition of their contribution to national society.

The 2016 Australian of the Year, former army chief David Morrison, said in his acceptance speech that he intended to use his new public profile to campaign for Australia severing its constitutional ties to Britain.

A referendum that would have replaced the Queen with an Australian head of state was soundly defeated in 1999, with then prime minister John Howard campaigning against change.

But support for the so-called Australian Republic Movement, which advocates for an Australian head of state, is growing and Mr Morrison said it was time another referendum was held.

"I am a member of the republican movement, I have been a republican all my life. When I was serving in the army, these views were very private," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"Now, without giving it undue resonance, I do intend to at least contribute to a national debate, if we're going to have one, about where we might go in the future."

This week, all but one of the leaders of Australia's eight states and territories signed a declaration of support for the Australian Republican Movement's quest to have a national vote on Australia becoming a republic by 2020.

On Australia Day last year, former conservative prime minister Tony Abbott, a staunch monarchist, created a furore by announcing that he had made the Duke of Edinburgh a knight.

Many thought Mr Abbott should have used the national day, which marks the arrival of the first British colonists in Sydney in 1788, to honour a worthy Australian.

Mr Abbott was replaced in September by prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was chairman of the Australian Republican Movement at the time of the 1999 referendum.

But many in his government want the Queen to remain Australia's head of state and after becoming prime minister, Mr Turnbull said he was in no hurry to sever the nation's constitutional links to Britain and did not believe there should be another referendum until after the Queen's reign ended.

"Frankly, there was more momentum in the late 1990s than there is now," he told reporters, referring to the public mood.

"I've led the Yes case for a republic into a heroic defeat once, I've got no desire to do so again."

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said Australia should not delay in holding a referendum.
The Danish parliament has approved a controversial law allowing authorities to seize refugees cash and valuables, and delay them being reunited with their families.

Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen called the proposals the most misunderstood bill in Denmark's history in the wake of international criticism.

His minority government had been widely expected to win todays vote with the backing of the opposition Social Democrats and anti-immigration Danish People's Party.

The United Nations warned the measures would fuel fear and xenophobia but Danish politicians claimed they were about creating equality between migrants and Danes.

Arriving asylum seekers will be allowed to keep up to 10,000 kroner (1,000) in cash and valuables but anything above that will be seized to pay for their stay.

Denmarks original proposals set the threshold at 3,000 kroner (300) for cash and tangible assets of considerable value but it was increased in the wake of international criticism.

Authorities also exempted sentimental items like wedding rings after comparisons were made to the treatment of Jews by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.

The current figure is in line with welfare rules for Danes, who must sell assets worth more than 10,000 kroner (1,000) before they can receive state benefits.

A spokesperson for the Danish government confirmed that body and luggage searches will be carried out but said asylum seekers will always be able to keep assets which are necessary to maintain a modest standard of living, e.g. watches and mobile phones.

Those people who can manage by themselves shouldn't have assistance from the state, migration minister Inger Stoejberg said.

But critics have accused Denmark of seeking to send a message to refugees as the country seeks to slow arrivals.

The country received 21,300 asylum applications last year, one of the highest rates per capita in the EU, and has introduced tougher border controls alongside neighbouring Sweden.

Tuesdays bill includes several other measures regarding asylum seekers, including raising the waiting period before refugees can apply for their families to join them from one year to three.

The legislation also allows officials to consider integration potential in resettlement cases, cut temporary residence permits to two years and increase administrative fees.

Nils Muiznieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, wrote to Denmarks immigration minister to oppose the property seizures.

I believe that such a measure could amount to an infringement of the human dignity of the persons concerned, he said.

The family reunification delays have also been heavily criticised, with Denmark being accused of violating the European Convention on Human Rights.

Jonas Christoffersen, the director of the Danish Institute for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera: The right of refugees to be reunited with their family is protected by numerous international conventions ratified by Denmark.

We believe the government is overstepping international law by implementing this bill.

Independent
Danish politicians have voted to let police seize valuables worth more than 10,000 kroner (1,000) from asylum seekers to help cover their housing and food costs while their cases are being processed.

After more than three hours of debate, the minority Liberal Party government's bill was adopted in an 81-27 vote, with the support of the opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People's Party - Denmark's two largest parties. One politician abstained and 70 others were absent.

Amendments were made, including raising the value of items the asylum seekers can keep from 3,000 kroner (300) to 10,000 kroner. That brings it in line with welfare rules for Danes, who must sell assets worth more than 10,000 kroner before they can receive social benefits.

Denmark received about 20,000 asylum seekers last year while its neighbours Germany got 1.1 million and Sweden 163,000.

"We are talking about a real exodus," said Martin Henriksen, immigration spokesman for the populist Danish People's Party. "More needs to be done: we need more border controls. We need tighter immigration rules."

Opponents criticised the government for tightening Denmark's immigration laws and called for a common European solution to the continent's immigration crisis.

"This is a symbolic move to scare people away" from seeking asylum in Denmark, said Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, of the opposition left Red-Green Alliance that opposed the law.

Denmark is not the only country taking such action. Some German states do take funds from refugees and Switzerland requires asylum-seekers to hand over cash of more than 1,000 francs (685).

The bill was part of a raft of measures that included extending from one year to three the period that family members must wait before they can join a refugee in Denmark.

Denmark had already tightened its immigration laws last year, reducing benefits for asylum seekers, shortening temporary residence permits and stepping up efforts to deport those whose applications are rejected.
An Israeli woman has died of injuries she suffered in a Palestinian stabbing attack in a West Bank settlement

An Israeli woman has died of injuries she suffered in a Palestinian stabbing attack in a West Bank settlement, according to a Jerusalem hospital.

Hospital spokeswoman Hadar Elboim identified the victim as 23-year-old Shlomit Krigman.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said Ms Krigman was wounded when two Palestinians went on a stabbing rampage outside a mini-market in Beit Horon on Monday.

Another Israeli woman suffered minor injuries before a security guard shot both assailants dead, she said.

Police found two home-made pipe bombs near the scene of the attack, Ms Samri said.

Security camera footage showed the owner of the store using a shopping trolley to prevent the two attackers from entering.

Ms Samri identified the attackers as Ibrahim Allan, who was in his 20s, and Hussein Abu Gosh, who was a teenager.

The attack in Beit Horon, which lies north-west of Jerusalem, is the third stabbing inside an Israeli settlement since last week.

Ms Krigman is the latest fatality in four months of Palestinian attacks - mostly stabbings, shootings and also car-ramming assaults - that have killed 26 people on the Israeli side.

At least 149 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including 104 said by Israel to be attackers.
Japan's emperor has said his nation must remember the tremendous loss of life in the Philippines during the Second World War as he and his wife left for a four-day visit to the country.

"Many Filipinos, Americans and Japanese lost their lives in the Philippines during the war," Akihito said in a short statement before departing from Tokyo with Empress Michiko.

"Especially in the battle in Manila, a tremendously large number of innocent Filipino civilians were victims. Upon making this visit, we need to bear this in mind at all times."

Japan occupied the Philippines during the war and the 1945 battle for Manila between the Japanese and US and Philippine forces levelled the capital.

The 82-year-old emperor will pay his respects at memorials for both the Philippine and Japanese war dead.

Japan-Philippines relations have improved dramatically in the 70 years since the war. Japan has become a major aid donor to the Philippines and the countries are deepening security ties in the face of China's military rise.

The emperor's trip follows visits to the Second World War battle sites of Palau last year and Saipan in 2005. He also prayed for Japanese and US war-dead in Iwo Jima in 1994.

Akihito is the son of former emperor Hirohito, under whose name Japan waged the Second World War. Akihito was 11 when the war ended.

His role is symbolic and he holds no political power. He is relatively popular with the Japanese public.

Michiko was the first commoner to marry into the Japanese royal family.
Prime minister Najib Razak was under pressure to resign over the financial scandal (AP)

Malaysia's prime minister has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing after the attorney general said nearly 700 million dollars (493m) channelled into his private accounts was a personal donation from Saudi Arabia's royal family.

The announcement has ended months of uncertainty for Najib Razak, who has come under intense pressure to resign over the issue in his biggest political crisis since he took power in 2009.

But the announcement by attorney general Mohamed Apandi Ali did not clear up the mystery over the money as he did not say why the Saudi royals made the donation to Mr Najib, nor give any details on what the money was to be used for.

Mr Apandi said investigations by the country's anti-corruption agency showed that no criminal offence was committed as the 681 million dollars transferred into Mr Najib's accounts between March and April 2013 was "given without any consideration" by the Saudi royals as a personal donation.

He said Mr Najib returned 620 million dollars to the Saudis in August 2013 as it was not utilised. He did not say what happened to the remaining 61 million (43m).

The anti-corruption agency met and recorded statements from witnesses, including the donor, he said.

"I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly," Mr Apandi said.

"Based on the evidence from witnesses and supporting documents submitted, I am satisfied that no criminal offence has been committed in relation to the said (681 million dollars) donation."

Mr Najib has been grappling with deep unhappiness over his leadership, with massive street rallies in August calling for his resignation, after documents leaked in July suggested that about 700 million dollars was deposited in his private bank accounts from entities linked to indebted state investment fund 1MDB.

He denied any wrongdoing and later said the money was a donation from the Middle East. Since then he has expelled critics in his government, sacked the then attorney general probing him and cracked down on the media that had helped keep him in power.

Opposition MP Tony Pua slammed Mr Apandi's decision, saying the fact it was a personal donation did not rule out corrupt motives or transactions.

Mr Pua said Mr Apandi provided no new or convincing information to support his decision.

The scandal started with investigations into 1MDB, which was set up in 2009 by Mr Najib to develop new industries. But it amassed 7 billion in debt after its energy ventures abroad faltered. Critics have long voiced concern over its massive debt and lack of transparency. Mr Najib still chairs its advisory board.

The political scandal partly contributed to the Malaysian currency plunging to a 17-year low last August.

Mr Apandi also cleared Mr Najib of corruption at government-owned SRC International, a firm linked to 1MDB, over another 7 million from SRC that was deposited into Mr Najib's account between December 2014 and February 2015.

He said there was no evidence to show Mr Najib was aware of the money transfer, nor that he had given his approval.

Mr Apandi said Mr Najib thought that all payment made from his accounts came from the donation by the Saudi royal family. No further details were available.

Support for Mr Najib's ruling coalition has eroded in the last two general elections. It won in 2013, but lost the popular vote for the first time to an opposition alliance.
There is intelligence that 13 Taliban fighters from neighbouring Afghanistan are planning suicide attacks on schools in Pakistan, according to a government memo

Pakistani authorities have closed all the schools in the country's largest province, Punjab, following an alert over possible militant attacks.

A government memo obtained by the Associated Press said there is intelligence that 13 Taliban fighters from neighbouring Afghanistan were planning suicide attacks on schools in Pakistan.

The province's education minister, Rana Mashood Ahmad, announced late on Monday that Punjab schools would remain closed till the end of the month.

He did not cite the government alert but said the closures were due to harsh winter weather and heavy fog in the province.

The warning comes a week after a breakaway Taliban faction attacked a north-western university and killed 21 people, mostly students. The university reopened briefly on Monday but then closed indefinitely to give students time to recover from the incident.
(Warning: Spoilers below.)

"The X-Files," in its Sunday return to Fox after almost 15 years, opens on 1947 Roswell, New Mexico.

Of course it does.

There are many reasons why "My Struggle"  the first episode in a miniseries of six reuniting David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson's Mulder and Scully  well, why it struggles.

For one thing, the now-former FBI agents and lovers speak only in shallow taglines. What could have been soul-baring exchanges about why they fell out of love, or why they've drifted where they have, instead take the form of brain-dead bickering about wanting to believe and the truth being out there.

Duchovny's no more alive for his monologues. Clunky and overly earnest, they truly mark just how far dramatic TV has passed by writer and series creator Chris Carter in the past decade and a half. It's no coincidence "The X-Files" stopped being good almost in perfect step with the clock stroke from the '90s to the 2000s.

There's also the repugnance of Carter drawing up an obnoxious Alex Jones-Bill O'Reilly composite, casting the obnoxious Joel McHale to play him, and then, most obnoxious of all, making him right. About everything. (What happened to likable kooks like Max Fenig?)

What really hurts "My Struggle," though, has everything to do with the episode opening on the fabled UFO crash at Roswell. Simply put: The show's point of view proves it can no longer be trusted.

I'll back up. What "My Struggle" sets out to do is pick up a conspiracy "mytharc" pieced together over nine seasons and two movies  an arc that tied together green-blooded aliens and their black oil life force, invincible alien super soldiers and the shadow government spooks they replaced, the disappearance of Mulder's sister and the complicity of his father  and swiftly drop all of it in the trash bin.

So, how does it do that? The same way it did in season five: It suggests it's all, somehow, a hoax. One engineered to keep people  read: Mulder  from the real truth.

The first time "The X-Files" did this, we got a fun half-season of skeptic Mulder and believer Scully. Then the hoax was itself proven a hoax, and the mytharc resumed.

However, it's easier to see this latest narrative cleanse having a permanent effect. A new "The X-Files" needed a new mytharc, because after the dismally overwrought series finale "The Truth," there was just no continuing the old one.

I get that. But by debunking the old mytharc, "The X-Files" asks us to disregard seasons upon seasons of sights to the contrary. We saw the alien bounty hunter and his high-tech ice pick, the acidic green bubbling from the spines it pierced. We saw the rebels torch the Syndicate in that hangar, their alien eyes sealing to signal the murderous trap they'd set. We saw so much.

And now, in "My Struggle," we see Roswell. We see the crash, we see the pilot and its execution, and we see the lab where the salvaged tech is put to terrifying use on human subjects.

But why? Why, in 10 seasons and two movies of "The X-Files," are we just seeing Roswell now? There's a simple, disconcerting answer: Because Chris Carter and co. can show it.

That's the real truth of "The X-Files": Visuals rule. They've guided the show more than anything else  more than its story and more than its characters. Whether it's a leaf vortex in a Pacific Northwest forest, a conning tower bursting through Arctic ice or just a little green man, Carter has always conceived the show through what he can show us. Now that he can reasonably afford to show that UFO crashing in Roswell, he's finally shown us that.

But because "My Struggle" dismissed so much of what Carter has shown us before, "The X-Files" has given us even less reason to want to see what he'll show us next. And to believe it.
Paris police have fired tear gas and taxi drivers lit bonfires on a major highway amid nationwide French strikes and protests over working conditions and competition from non-traditional services such as Uber.

One in five flights were cancelled at Paris airports and other flights faced delays as air traffic controllers staged a walkout and taxi drivers disrupted roads. I-Tele television reported that a taxi driver was injured at Orly Airport while trying to block a bus entrance.

Some teachers and other public servants are also on strike over a range of issues including wages, education reforms and working conditions.

It is the latest challenge to Francois Hollande's Socialist government and its stop-start efforts to modernise the economy.

Hundreds of French taxis, joined by a few from Belgium and Spain, blocked a massive intersection leading into western Paris, causing disruption throughout surrounding avenues.

Dozens of taxi drivers tried to march from the Porte Maillot intersection on to an eight-lane bypass, but police pushed them back with tear gas. Some drivers set pre-dawn bonfires put out by firefighters.

Traditional taxi drivers are protesting against what they consider unfair competition from Uber, which has faced a string of legal challenges in France. Previous protests have also turned violent.

Uber drivers "vandalise professionals who are paying taxes, who respect the rules", said Rachid Boudjema, 37, president of the taxi drivers union in Marseille, where striking drivers caused traffic jams around the city and its Marignane airport. He described "American cowboys" who "want to destroy our system, the system we are all attached to".

Uber sent a message to French customers warning of potential violence around Tuesday's protests, saying the goal of the protest is "to put pressure on the government to ... limit competition".

It warned that limiting app-based car services would raise costs, put drivers out of work and send customers back to the era "before apps and smartphones".

Prime minister Manuel Valls met with taxi drivers in an apparent attempt to defuse tensions.

He condemned the drivers' violence but promised to strengthen a police crackdown on the competing taxi services they are protesting against.

He is also forming a panel of taxi company representatives and government ministers to discuss reforms in the sector.
Slower growth in China is one reason behind the fall in oil prices

Asian stock markets sank on Tuesday, led by a plunge in the Shanghai index, after a renewed slump in the price of oil kept investors on edge about the global economy.

The Shanghai Composite dropped 6.4% to finish at 2,749.78, the lowest since December 2014, when the index was beginning a rally that peaked last June.

Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 2.4% to 16,708.90, South Korea's Kospi slipped 1.2% to 1,871.69, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 2.3% at 18,904.23. Other regional markets were also mostly down.

Plunging oil prices have been hitting profits at energy companies and leading investors to fear that the fall in energy costs could add to deflationary pressures in major economies.

Slower growth in China is one reason for oil prices to fall. The slide also reflects oversupply, including new sources of production such as shale oil in the US. Oversupply is set to be compounded by the lifting of sanctions on Iran, allowing it to resume oil exports.

Cynthia Jane Kalasopatan, of the Singapore Treasury Division of Mizuho Bank, said: "Concerns about a supply glut in global oil markets, with Iran oil adding to existing stock along with uncertainties in China were probably the key factors" in the oil price drop.

She added: "Sentiment remains fragile; thus on and off shift in sentiment is not so surprising."
Weight Watchers stock is gaining again, thanks to Oprah Winfrey's weight loss.

The company's shares soared on Tuesday after a new commercial starring Winfrey aired where she says she has lost 26lbs on Weight Watchers.

Winfrey said during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that she started on the plan in August.

Winfrey bought a 10% stake in the weight-loss company in October. Its stock is up more than 90% since then. Winfrey is a natural fit for the company: Her struggle with weight was a frequent topic of her former talk show.

"I love bread!," Winfrey says in the new commercial. "That's the genius of this programme. I lost 26lb and I have eaten bread every single day."

Winfrey posted the ad online Tuesday to her nearly 31 million Twitter followers.

Weight Watchers has also made changes to its plans recently to better fit in with Winfrey's message of living a healthy and happier life, and not just focusing on weight loss.

Shares of New York-based Weight Watchers International rose 21% to 13.44 US dollars in afternoon trading. But they are still down about 21% from a year ago.
Human rights abuses have continued despite a peace deal signed by President Salva Kiir, pictured, and rebel leader Riek Machar, a UN panel says

Both South Sudan's president and a rebel leader merit sanctions because their troops have targeted civilians and broken international law, a United Nations panel of experts has said.

The report, obtained by The Associated Press, also calls for an arms embargo on the oil-rich but economically-devastated country where the UN says tens of thousands have been killed since fighting broke out in December 2013.

The panel found that despite a peace deal signed by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar in August, human rights abuses including torture, sexual violence, extrajudicial killings and the recruitment of child soldiers, continued "unabated and with full impunity".

"There is clear and convincing evidence that the majority of acts of violence committed in the course of the war ... has been directed by or undertaken with the knowledge of senior individuals at the highest levels of government and within the opposition," the report says.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon urged the African Union to address South Sudan's failure last week to meet a deadline to establish a transitional government of national unity, a key step in implementing the peace deal.

The new report portrays the civil war as competing tribes locked in a fight for political power and personal gain.

In Unity state, the panel accused Kiir's top military commanders, including army chief of general staff Paul Malong and director general of the internal security bureau Akol Kur of planning and executing a "scorched earth" campaign.

In one incident in October, about 50 men were taken by government-affiliated forces and killed, with their bodies dumped by a road. UN staff "located and photographed the bodies, already in an advanced state of decay, nine days later", the report said.

The panel found Machar to be implicated in similar acts, but it noted that the rebels have faced significant challenges due to their inability to acquire enough ammunition.

The report makes clear that both sides have continued to pursue arms from abroad.

As of mid-December, the government had at least three attack helicopters and was waiting for the delivery of another from a Ukrainian company, Motor Sich, the report says.

And the panel said it had evidence indicating that as of mid-September, South Sudan's government was trying to arrange payment for another four attack helicopters from a Uganda-based company, Bosasy Logistics.

The opposition has received ammunition and arms from neighbouring Sudan, the report says.

The UN Security Council has repeatedly threatened to take further action against those who stand in the way of peace in South Sudan, but has been blocked by opposition from Russia and Angola.
For some time opinion polls have shown a desire from people in Northern Ireland that our children should learn together.

Despite overwhelming support, there is no clear strategy to end segregation in our education system and only 7% of pupils attend "integrated" schools.

We have a Shared Schools Strategy, but there are justifiable concerns that while it pays lip-service to sharing, it is chiefly a way of avoiding genuine integration, devised by politicians who are suspicious of the concept.

When we talk about integrated education we are usually describing schools which welcome and include children irrespective of their background. Of course, schools which operate outside the integrated sector could argue they satisfy that description as well.

It's therefore a good time to define clearly what comprises an integrated school and challenge non-integrated schools to identify as such - if they meet the criteria - so that they, too, can wear the badge of inclusion and grow the non-segregated sector.

Existing integrated schools can work with other schools where sharing is prevalent to draw up an appropriate definition and advise on any changes needed to governance or practice. In this way we can build a more accurate picture of the changes which have taken place across our education system in the last 20 years.

However, we must be realistic and appreciate that some schools are hampered by history and location when it comes to their make-up. It doesn't mean that they shouldn't seek to remove barriers to inclusion and to make themselves attractive to all sections of our society.

Integrated schools have shown that it is possible to normalise our education system and offer an alternative to dividing children on sectarian lines. They show that we can accommodate diversity within this society.

We have an opportunity to ensure that we genuinely share Northern Ireland, so that we live and work together constructively for our mutual benefit.

Integrated education shows that many within our society are striving to tackle the sectarianism and racism which lay at the heart of the conflict that unfolded here. It's an honest effort to make sure that those mistakes are not repeated.

And, in addition, it's focused on ensuring that our children have a world-class education, which seeks to bring out their talents and equip them with the skills they need to live happy and productive lives.

TREVOR RINGLAND

Holywood, Co Down
Given the enormous disconnect that exists between the Assembly and public opinion in Northern Ireland - not to mention the ongoing downturn in voting - it's actually surprising that there have been so few genuinely independent voices elected since 1998.

Opinion poll and anecdotal evidence suggests that substantial numbers of non-voters are unhappy with the "same-old same-old" parties and would welcome the opportunity to vote for "something different".

Yet there has been very little obvious sign of the "something different". And, given the fact that so many people - again, most of them non-voters - believe that the current party political stalemate is unlikely to deliver much in the way of change, it's also surprising that so few independent voices have taken their chances and thrown their hats into the electoral ring.

But the biggest surprise of all, I think, is that since 1998 only one person who could be described as a genuinely independent candidate has been elected to the Assembly.

That was Dr Kieran Deeny, who was elected for West Tyrone in 2003 on the sole ticket of saving the Tyrone County Hospital from closure. He topped the poll and cost the SDLP what had been considered a safe seat.

He stood again in 2007, this time on the issue of the impending closure of a Sion Mills branch surgery, but had to wait until the seventh count for election. He didn't stand in 2011.

In the first Assembly (1998-2003) three independent unionists were elected, but within a matter of weeks they had formed the United Unionist Assembly Party.

In 2003 Robert McCartney and David Ervine were elected as the sole representatives of the United Kingdom Unionist Party and PUP, so were not, specifically speaking, independent MLAs.

In 2007 Dr Deeny was again returned as the sole independent, with Brian Wilson elected as the sole representative of the Green Party.

Sinn Fein's Gerry McHugh resigned from the party in November 2007, described himself as an independent, and then joined Fianna Fail in November 2009.

In 2011 Jim Allister and Steven Agnew were the sole representatives of the TUV and Greens, with David McClarty (having been deselected by the UUP before the election) elected as an independent unionist.

Since then McClarty has died and been replaced with Claire Sugden. David McNarry was expelled from the UUP and now sits for Ukip.

Basil McCrea left the UUP and sits as an NI21 representative; while John McCallister has sat as UUP, NI21, and now as an independent unionist.

And while the so-called "naughty step" may now be occupied by Allister, Agnew, Sugden, McNarry, McCrea and McCallister, not one of them is a fully-fledged independent since both Sugdeon and McCallister are clearly on the pro-Union side of the fence, even if they don't belong to a particular party.

Would the Assembly be better if it had more independent voices? Well, given the contributions made by Allister, Agnew and McCallister in terms of their Private Member's Bills and the very thoughtful contributions from Sugden on a whole range of issues, the answer would probably have to be yes.

McNarry and McCrea have also made their voices heard - although, like the others, the pecking-order nature of Assembly procedures means they often have to wait a very long time and find themselves addressing fewer than a dozen other MLAs.

McCrea is also using social media - particularly Periscope and other video devices - to enhance his role as a sole voice and, quite often, invites his followers to tune in to his running commentary on what is happening during Assembly debates and committees.

It's certainly a novel approach, which may have something to do with his view that mainstream media is too negative and no longer as interested in him personally, so it will be interesting to see if it plays a significant part in his bid to be re-elected in May.

That said, if you are a lone voice with few opportunities to be heard then it makes sense to maximise those opportunities by other means, as he is doing.

More independent voices will also be increasingly important if, as seems likely, we will not have a proper Opposition after the election.

The Fresh Start document promised a role for those parties which were entitled to Executive places, but chose not to take them: but the role seems to me to be very limited.

McCallister's Opposition Bill is still in the system, but time isn't on his side and it doesn't look like the DUP and Sinn Fein will be prepared to support the more radical and most important elements of it.

My guess is that, if the UUP and SDLP have the chance to take Executive seats in May, they'll take them rather than spend four years in an Opposition that will have few teeth and precious little bite.

It's also worth bearing in mind that legislation going through the Assembly cutting back on the number of departments and MLAs (whose numbers will be slashed by 18 from 2020) will also strengthen the hand of the Executive parties and reduce the chances of smaller parties and independents being elected.

That is potentially very bad news - particularly in the absence of any evidence whatsoever that the relationship between the "big two" parties is likely to improve anytime soon.

Which brings us to the media. It is not the job of the media - let alone columnists and commentators - to serve as the official Opposition in Northern Ireland.

But we seem to have been forced into that role because there is no Opposition in the Assembly (and just because a party or individual MLA chooses to describe themselves as the Opposition doesn't mean that they are the Opposition), and there are no independents to act as "watchdogs".

As it happens, most of us who spend our lives watching the Assembly would much rather be talking about genuine socio-economic/big ticket stuff than having to try and make sense of yet another pointless, manufactured spat.

But, in the absence of that era-changing legislation and flooded with Press releases in which the parties bitch about each other, it's really no surprise that we gravitate towards the negative. In the next few weeks the organisations, individuals and non-voters who are most concerned about a dysfunctional Assembly and the lack of credible alternatives within its ranks are going to have to decide if they are concerned enough to put their case to the electorate.

We need new parties. We need genuinely independent voices.

We need a bona fide Opposition.

We need to narrow the disconnect between government and governed.

The next mandate will include the 21st anniversary of this Assembly: it would be good to have something to celebrate.
City

 Melissa J. Vanzile, 24, 6 Myrtle Ave., Apt. 1, Auburn, was picked up on a warrant Jan. 25 and charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

 Megan R. Condes, 22, 8 Sheridan St., Auburn, was picked up on a warrant Jan. 25 and charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

 Adam C. Smith, 30, 7445 County House Road, Auburn, was picked up on a warrant Jan. 26 and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

 James A. Ford, 70, 170 Murray St., Apt. H3, Auburn, was picked up on a warrant Jan. 25 and charged with forcible touching.

 Maryssa A. Dobbs, 22, 14 Parker St., Auburn, was charged Jan. 26 with second-degree obstructing governmental administration.

 Jerry L. Mead Jr., 29, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, was charged Jan. 23 with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and attempted fourth-degree criminal mischief.

 Christopher D. Leader, 52, 16 N. Fulton St., Auburn, was charged Jan. 23 with petit larceny.

 Ashley M. Hester, 28, 108 E. Genesee St., Auburn, was charged Jan. 24 with second-degree burglary and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

State

 William H. Kelly, 44, Syracuse, was charged Jan. 25 with third-degree burglary.

 Robert L. Ward, 43, Weedsport, was charged Jan. 23 with issuing a bad check.

 Jazmin A. Hernandez, 25, Brooklyn, was charged Jan. 23 with second-degree introducing prison contraband.

 Phillip E. Holtby, 21, Union Springs, was charged Jan. 24 with DWI and aggravated DWI.

 Latonya M. Ward-Summers, 38, Rochester, was charged Jan. 23 with first-degree introducing dangerous prison contraband.
Now that the word Islam no longer terrifies me, I can stand up against Islamophobia with understanding.

From, 21st Century Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, we read, Christian Science requires us to improve our intentions. Hatred is to become extinct through kindness. Lust is conquered with purity. Revenge is triumphed over with charity, and deceit is defeated with honesty. Starve errors in their early stages if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success.

Most people are are busy getting through the day, going to work, paying bills, and trying to help others that we eventually have to face that which terrorizes us, even our own fears. From 21st Century Science and Health,While respecting all that is good in the Church or out of it, ones dedication to Christ is more on the ground of demonstration than of profession. In conscience, we cant stay in a mindset we have outgrown. We are enabled to heal the sick and overcome sin by understanding more of the divine Principle of the deathless Christ.

Healing is possible. Inevitable. It comes by not getting distracted by the masks that hate and fear and egomania wear. Everytime we let go of the old and put on the new (Ephesians 4:24) we notice progress and courage in the understanding of a meaningful life.

Four things Ive learned:
AUBURN | For leading police on a chase from Auburn to Moravia in a stolen pickup truck, a Skaneateles man is headed to prison.

Christopher Vanholtz, 33, of 918 Old Seneca Turnpike, Skaneateles, was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Mark Fandrich to an indeterminate prison sentence of two to four years.

Vanholtz pleaded guilty in November to fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle.

He will spend two to four years in prison for the stolen property charge, and one year in jail for the fleeing a police officer charge, each to run concurrent to one another. In addition to prison time, Vanholtz will pay $4,455.17 in restitution.

This sentence satisfies any pending charges and traffic violations as a result of the crime, according to the district attorney's office.

Vanholtz was pulled over in Auburn on Sept. 27 after police identified the 2004 Chevrolet pickup truck that was reported stolen a few days prior. He initially complied and turned off the vehicle, but then started it up again and sped away, troopers said.

He was eventually apprehended and arrested when the truck was stuck against a tree blocking its path, damaging the vehicle. At the time of his arrest, Vanholtz was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, fourth-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument and third-degree fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.

"With it all said and done, I'm just more ashamed of myself for letting things get out of hand," Vanholtz said. "I apologize to the court for even having this matter here."

Vanholtz has spent the last decade in and out of prison. He was previously convicted of second-degree assault in November 2003, when he stabbed an unarmed 18-year-old outside a residence in Auburn during a confrontation. Fandrich sentenced him in 2003 to 2 1/2 years in prison followed by 1 1/2 years of post-release parole.

He was also convicted of first-degree attempted burglary in May 2006.
French President Francois Hollande (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi travel by subway to launch the International Solar Alliance in Gurgaon, Jan. 25, 2016.

The International Solar Alliance whose cornerstone was laid Monday by India and France has the potential to address the issue of climate change if all 122 nations envisaged in the plan find common ground, analysts said.

The alliance is loaded with the potential of acting as a strategic coalition for nations most affected that have the least means to mitigate and adapt to climate change, they said.

An extension of Decembers Paris Climate Conference, the global strategic alliance would also create new avenues of cooperation between developed and developing countries, they said.

The headquarters of the alliance is to be set up at Gurgaon, a satellite town of New Delhi. Its foundation stone was laid by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande prior to Indias Republic Day.

Breaking security protocols amid heightened terror threats, the two leaders arrived at the venue, bordering the national capitals boundary, via subway. Hollande was the chief guest of this years Republic Day on Tuesday.

Modi, whose government had announced an ambitious target of 190,000 megawatts of electricity from renewable sources with 100,000 megawatts from solar power alone, proposed the global solar alliance to Hollande during the Indian leaders state visit to France last April.

Abundant sunlight

According to the plan, the alliance would include 122 countries between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, which have abundant sunlight available for more than 300 days in a year.

The alliance is supported by more than 100 nations including Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Cameroon, China, New Zealand, Cuba, Egypt, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Mauritius, Paraguay, Philippines, Senegal, South Sudan, United Arab Emirates, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

The alliance aims to promote joint research, sharing of information, knowledge and technology, joint ventures and to establish financial mechanisms to bring down costs of solar energy.

The member countries are expected to sign a formal accord during the signing of the Paris Agreement on April 22 in New York.

There are many kinds of associations working in the world. OPEC countries have an alliance. There are G20, G4 and SAARC alliances. India placed an idea before with world that if petroleum producing countries could unite, African countries can become one, European countries can become one, then why not to erect an alliance in the world of countries which receive sunlight for over 300 days in a year, Modi said.

Just like the UN is in America but it is for the world, like WHO, which is for the world, in the same way, the headquarters of this International Solar Alliance is a heritage of the world and would function independently, he said.

Holland pledges funding

Hollande pledged 300 million euros ($325 million USD) on behalf of the French Development Agency to finance the initial projects for next five years.

The challenge is to raise, at a global level, the Euros 1,200 billion in investment required to develop this energy by 2030. The aim is for 1,000 gigawatts to be installed over the next 10 years, Hollande said.

The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency and Solar Energy Corp. of India each contributed $1 million USD to the alliance.

Expressing optimism on the future of the solar coalition, Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, said, The plan could be a good platform for South-South cooperation in the exchange of technology and development to reduce costs. It is now up (member nations) to put together money and technology.

The alliance is, however, not the only solution. It is equally essential to bring down the consumption and emissions from the transport and industry sector, Bhushan said.

Believing that scaling is necessary to establish costs, Amit Kumar, an energy expert and dean of the distance and short-term courses in TERI University, said, The 5,000 megawatts of installed capacity is only one-20th of the target set of 100 gigawatts. There is scope of improvement and much more needs to be done.

Cautioning against the bureaucratic mechanism, he said, It is important that the alliance becomes more of operational framework than a forum of policy advocacy and studies.
A Jakarta Police medical officer shows a photograph of Afif, aka Sunakin, a previously jailed militant who participated in the Jan. 14 terror attack in Jakarta.

Indonesias militant deradicalization programs remain weak with no political agreement on which types of extremism are considered dangerous, a senior conflict analyst from Jakarta said Tuesday.

Founder and director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) in Jakarta Sidney Jones said such program in the worlds most populous Muslim nation are not well-targeted and have not emerged from a thorough study of where and how radicalization takes place.

The key to developing more effective programs is to ground them in more in-depth research about how and where individuals are radicalized in the first place, she told the International Conference on Deradicalization and Countering Violent Extremism 2016 in Kuala Lumpur.

Ministers, senior officials and counterterrorism experts from 19 countries gathered in Malaysias capital for the two-day talks aimed at improving strategies to counter Islamic State (IS) militants and other violent extremist groups.

High alert

Jones said that while research does not guarantee success, programs that are not based on concrete data are almost guaranteed to fail. Interviews and analysis of biographical data are key, she argued.

Indonesias National Anti-Terrorism Agency and government agencies have access to more confidential data. Especially in the age of Islamic State (IS), that information must be the foundation on which prevention strategies are built, she said.

The agency  known by its Indonesian acronym BNPT  was established in 2010 after suicide bombings at two major Jakarta hotels and the discovery of a plot against then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, all in 2009.

Indonesia also suffered the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings, targeting tourist areas in the south of that island and killing some 230 people combined, while injuring hundreds more. Those attacks were carried out by al-Qaedas Southeast Asian affiliate Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

Since then, Indonesias elite counterterrorism police force Densus 88 has been credited with reining in the terrorist threat but also accused of excessive use of force and arresting innocent people.

The BNPT, meanwhile, has engaged former radicals and guest clerics from the Middle East to speak in prisons and schools.

The country remains on high alert after an attack combining bombings and shootings in Jakarta two weeks ago left four civilians and four attackers dead. IS claimed the attack, its first in Southeast Asia.

At least two of the attackers were former prison inmates who had served their sentence and been released.

A major headache

Jones said the emergence of IS has helped Indonesia to focus on deradicalization programs with an emphasis on counter-narratives on social media. But she admitted only a handful of new ideas have been put forward.

She stressed that extensive research should be conducted on Indonesian IS militants who were stopped or deported while heading to Syria.

This group now totals almost 200 people, more than half of them women and children under the age of 15, she said.

Unlike the wild figures of 600 or 800 Indonesian fighters that one sometimes sees, a better estimate is 250 to 300. That still could constitute a major headache for Indonesia, if and when they return home, although most have no intention of doing so, she said.

Anywhere, any time

Speaking about Singapores Religious Rehabilitation Group, a community-government partnership to fight terrorism, Dr. Mohamed Ali from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) said the countrys leaders understood quite early the threat of terrorism.

As these threat groups were active outside Singapore and were not within the reach of Singapore. The government had to incorporate the participation of the Muslim community to deal with the threat, the NTU inter-religious studies expert said.

He added that IS operatives have changed strategy and now new recruits dont need to head into Syria or Iraq.

Today, they dont need to take that journey. They are here and now being brainwashed to make imminent attacks anywhere at any time, he told BenarNews.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabias Chief of Ideological Security under the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Abdulrahman Al Hadlaq, said the Kingdom had designed several specialized deradicalization programs to staunch terrorism activities with experts leading at the forefront.

I think we have 200 professors working part-time in this program. Its a huge program and it is a very effective program, Abdulrahman told BenarNews.

He added the program is conducted by rehabilitation centers such as the Muhammad bin Nayef Center of Counseling and Care on the outskirts of the capital, Riyadh.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (center) is surrounded as he leaves the International Conference on Deradicalization and Countering Violent Extremism in Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 25, 2016.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Tuesday it is time to put a financial scandal behind him now that the attorney general has cleared him of potential corruption charges over nearly U.S. $700 million deposited into his private bank accounts.

The findings followed a thorough investigation by the relevant institutions, and he has confirmed what I have maintained all along: that no crime was committed, Najib said in a statement.

Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali earlier in the day announced that no criminal offense had been committed and that the U.S. $681 million- (2.08 billion ringgit-) sum transferred into the PMs accounts was a personal donation from Saudi Arabias royal family.

The attorney generals announcement ends an investigation at the national level into a scandal that engulfed Najib for the past six months and led to calls for his resignation.

This issue has been an unnecessary distraction for the country. Now that the matter has been comprehensively put to rest, it is time for us to unite and move on, Najib said.

Apandi announced that his office was closing out investigations into the matter and other cases in which Najibs name had surfaced since July, and which have been linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), an indebted state investment fund whose advisory board is chaired by the PM.

I will now redouble my focus on the key issues that matter to Malaysia, especially combating the threat of terrorism, and strengthening the economy in the face of global headwinds, Najib said in reacting to Apandis announcement.

It came on the second day of an international conference on deredicalization and countering violent extremism, hosted by the Malaysian government and attended by senior officials from 18 other nations, including the United States and other Western countries.

Satisfied

In a statement, the attorney general said there was no evidence showing that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly.

Evidence obtained from the investigation does not show that the donation was given as an inducement or reward for doing or forbearing to do anything in relation to his capacity as a Prime Minister, Apandi said, referring to the$681 million deposited into Najibs accounts between late March 2013 and early April 2013  during the run-up to that years general election.

The $681 million was given to him without any consideration by the Saudi royal family, the AG said, but the prime minister gave back U.S. $620 million (2.03 billion ringgit) to the donor in August 2013  after the May 5 election  because the sum was not utilized.

The attorney general did not explain what happened with the rest of the $681 million given to Najib.

[I] am satisfied that as no criminal offense has been committed, there is no necessity for Malaysia to make a request for a mutual legal assistance to any foreign States for the purpose of completing the criminal investigation by the MACC in relation to the said RM2.08 billion donation, Apandi added, referring to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

He also cleared the prime minister in investigations of financial wrongdoing in SRC International, a government-owned firm linked to 1MDB.

Najibs name may have been cleared at the national level, but 1MDBs name surfaced last year in investigations under way in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States, according to the Wall Street Journal. In September, the U.S.-based paper reported that the FBI had opened a money-laundering probe in connection with 1MDB.

Executive plumber

Malaysians reacted angrily to Tuesdays announcement.

The fiddler plays to the tune of the payer, a Malaysian, who lives in Negeri Sembilan state and requested anonymity, told BenarNews by phone, alluding to the relationship between Apandi and Najib.

Another citizen, a resident of Kedah state, called Apandi an executive plumber.

Najib appointed Apandi as the nations top lawyer after sacking Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail in July, who was then leading an investigation into the allegations of corruption of against the prime minister.

On the same day that Apandi cleared the prime minister, the attorney general was named to the board of directors of Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH), an indebted government-linked organization that provides financial services to Malaysian Muslims who plan to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Malaysian media reported.

While the announcement by the AG was rather anticipated, to say the least, it couldn't have come at a worse time, the source from Kedah told BenarNews on condition of anonymity.

Today it was revealed that Tabung Haji's reserves are in the red. As if to rub salt into the nation's wound, AG Apandi was today appointed to the board of Tabung Haji, he said by phone.

Echoing the criticism of the AGs move to clear Najib of potential corruption charges, members of the political opposition questioned Apandis integrity.

The attorney-general should not have been involved in the decision affecting the PM because he was appointed by the PM, Reuters quoted Democratic Action Party parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang as saying.

This will cause people to ask whether the AG carried out his duty professionally, freely and fairly, opposition leader Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said, according to Agence France-Presse.
Nathee Chitsawang of Thailand's Institute of Justice addresses the International Conference on Deradicalization and Countering Violent Extremism 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 26, 2016.

The number of terrorism suspects in overcrowded prisons in Thailand is growing, affecting the management and rehabilitation of inmates, an official from a government-funded institute told an international counterterrorism conference Tuesday.

Most of the suspects are believed held in Thailand's insurgency-torn south, where rebels in Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia have launched bomb attacks and shootings since 2004, targeting mostly troops or police but also civilians.

The current prison population is three times larger than total capacity, Thailands Institute of Justice (TIJ) Deputy Executive Director Nathee Chitsawang told the final day of a two-day conference on deradicalization and countering violent extremism, hosted by Malaysia.

Nathee did not provide the number of inmates in prisons in the country or in any of the southern provinces in Thailand, which he acknowledged has faced a prison overcrowding crisis for more than a decade.

But he said that although more than 50 percent of prisoners in Thailand are drugs-related offenders, the situation seems to be getting worse when the number of terrorists in prison has continued growing.

The overcrowding in correctional facilities has a major impact on the available space and limited resources to provide them with the proper treatment programs and activities, he said.

In addition, the prisoner classification process cannot be done efficiently under the situation of mass imprisonment, he lamented.

Nathee said most prisons were not designed to hold terror suspects, adding that the correctional settings have to be specially designed and planned for terrorist inmates.

Pre-trial prisoners

Another obstacle to rehabilitating terror suspects is that most of them have not been convicted of any offences, he said.

About 90 percent of the terrorists are pre-trial inmates because [they] have not been sentenced yet, he said.

The problem is that when they are still the pre-trial prisoners, they are likely to refuse to attend the treatment programs, he said, adding that only informal dialogue is held to change their behaviours.

Nathee also called for harmonization in the deradicalization programs inside and outside Thai prisons.

He said the majority of prisoners in southern Thai provinces are held together with terror suspects.

The segregation of treatment can help to prevent them from recruiting more members among the prisoners, he said.

The TIJ, which is affiliated with Thailands Ministry of Justice, works on prison reforms and makes efforts to boost research and capacity-building in fighting crime and upholding justice.

The London-based International Centre for Prison Studies said on its website that there are 314,858 prisoners in Thailand, citing statistics as late as December 2015.

According to a former Muslim rebel leader, identified only as Ma-ae, there are over 300 rebels in jail in Thailands Deep South and in Bangkok's maximum-security Bang Kwang prison.

Ma-ae, an ex-leader of the Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO) who was released from prison last year, said in September that he believed there were 40 rebel prisoners in Yala, 40 to 50 in Narathiwat and about 80 in Pattani. Those three provinces and four districts of neighboring Songkla make up the Deep South region.

There are also a total of 150 rebel prisoners in Songkla prison and in Bang Kwang prison.

Compassion

Ministers and officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 10-member blocs strategic partners  the United States, France, Australia, Britain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, China and Italy  attended the conference.

Nathee said that Thai prison authorities divided terror suspects into three groups  the hardcore leaders with strong motivations and ideologies, the staff or soldiers and the supporters of militant groups.

He added the supporters and soldiers do not adopt any ideologies but typically joined the groups for high pay and are believed linked to illegal drug trafficking. Their rehabilitation is focused on equipping them with vocational skills and improving their personal attitudes for enhancing employability after release.

He said leaders of militant groups are rehabilitated by showing genuine compassion, easing concerns on their family members, transferring them to correctional facilities in their hometowns and providing visitation rights and personal help.

Pimuk Rakkanam contributed to this report.
Congressman Katko, in his vote to defund Planned Parenthood, demonstrates his lack of dedication in protecting womens health care and access to vital services like PAP smears, cancer screenings, and STD/STI testing. Instead of supporting the women in his district, he chose to believe heavily doctored videos and went against his 2014 promise not to defund Planned Parenthood. More than anything, this vote shows Congressman Katkos inability to protect the community he serves, placing the interests of the House Republicans over his constituents. It shows that Katko would rather listen to people who want to limit womens reproductive rights rather than the needs of low-income women and families in his district and around the nation who rely on Planned Parenthood for their health care. His position is out of line with his district, where a poll conducted last year found that seven in 10 voters in New Yorks 24th congressional district self-identify as pro-choice.

Historically, banning abortion, one of the safest medical procedures available and only a small percentage of Planned Parenthoods services, has done nothing to actually decrease the rate of abortions. Instead, those who seek the procedure turn to illegal and life-threatening options. Doctors accounts of a time pre-Roe VS. Wade are filled with horrific images of what women turned to when a safe and legal abortion was not possible. Things proven to decrease unwanted pregnancies like birth control and sex education are part of the services Planned Parenthood provides to the communities they serve. His stance puts womens lives at risk and runs in direct opposition to the small government he claims to support. Katkos votes place the government between women and safe health care services.

In reference to Colleen Deacons announcement that she was running for Congress, Katko wrote, We need to be ready for whatever comes our way. I wonder if he is ready to face the women and low-income families who he has failed to protect.

Michelle Lee

Aurora
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
Nigerian online television and film distribution service iROKO on Monday announced $19m worth of new deals, including with French giant Canal+, to boost operations and take-up across Africa.

The deals for content development and capital funding come just weeks after US streaming giant Netflix expanded to 190 countries, putting them in direct competition with the Lagos-based firm.

"We're taking Nollywood content to Africa," iROKO founder Jason Njoku told AFP in an email, referring to Nigeria's domestic film industry.

"We have plans to dub content into French, Swahili, Zulu -- so we'll stand apart from Netflix in terms of localisation of content. We are going narrow and deep into local content.

"However Netflix entering into the African market is really exciting, as it reveals the huge potential of the market. For us, we're flattered to be mentioned in the same breath as them."

iROKO, whose operation has been dubbed "the African Netflix", said in a separate statement it aimed to produce "at least 300 hours of original content in 2016, with the expectation of doubling that by 2018".

Mobile phone use has exploded in Africa in recent years and firms such as Njoku's have tapped in to increasing Internet access through smartphones and the popularity of Nigeria's film industry across the continent.

Nollywood is the world's second-biggest film industry in terms of production, is estimated to employ some one million people and contributes 1.2 percent of Nigeria's GDP.

As part of the new deal, Canal+ Overseas boss Jacques du Puy joins the iROKO board, the statement said.

The Paris-based firm's chief financial officer Fabrice Faux said the investment would lead to a "scale-up in French-speaking Africa, with clear ambitions and the means to reach them".

Source: AFP
I have said before that when it comes to fitness, I avoid gyms. This can probably be traced back to a traumatic experience at the hands of an Arnold Schwarzenegger lookalike, Sergeant Major Ed Schuster, a PT instructor in my army recruit days.

One day, screaming his lungs out at me for being "a liddel girl!" (and that was the most polite thing he said), he stopped the lesson and forced me to climb a rope to the top of the roof twice, while all my mates took an extended break. Sar' Major Schuster went on and on about my weak arms. To this day, then, I do not like showing up at a gym because I am afraid most of the women there will have bigger biceps than I do.

(I can run - as Ed discovered a few weeks later when I did a mile in five minutes in a platoon PT test - and I was also the top triathlete in Namibia for three years in a row, so I can swim. True stories.)

Despite my aversion to gyms, the Virgin Active TV ad definitely connects with my desire to do something about strengthening my leg muscles to sort out the knee problems I get when I run.

The Virgin Active 'Get off your ass' TVC.

Being shown as it is in the aftermath of the excesses of the festive period, the ad speaks to all those New Year's resolutions of getting fit and taking charge of one's life. We see all manner of people who are in physical, and social, ruts - and we can relate. Then we see them getting off their asses (as the punchline, in a catchy song, goes) and taking charge of their lives.

It is upbeat, it is funny and the timing is perfect. So Orchids to Virgin Active and to Ogilvy and Mather, Cape Town.

A break-up is a traumatic time.

You know the relationship has gone to hell in a handbasket, but you have had so much time together you just can't let go and look for that last chance, hoping something will happen to change your mind. As Gladys Knight and the Pips sing: "Neither one of us wants to be the first to say goodbye."

That is how it has been with us at home this week. Not maritally - but in our long-term business relationships.

When I heard from a young colleague that Wi-Fi internet was not only accessible and fast in the Kenya capital, Nairobi, it was also free, I despaired. I have a Telkom ADSL line and, in the past three weeks, had had to contact the call centre six times.

The average time for me to get through to a human to speak to was 30 minutes, so that was three hours of my life I'll never get back. To pass the time, I now sit with a newspaper or book and watch TV, with the phone headset attached to my ear.

There has to be a better solution than this. (I am open to suggestions: email me on az.oc.lni@yrees.nadnerb if you've discovered the Holy Grail of reliable internet connectivity.)

I was all set to give Telkom the heave-ho and, for the first time in my life, not have a landline telephone, and then I dealt with a very pleasant and efficient man at the call centre.

I was so gobsmacked I forgot to ask his name. He deserves an Orchid and his company an Onion. He may have prevented this break-up, but I wonder how long it will be before the divorce is final.

*Note that Bizcommunity staff and management do not necessarily share the views of its contributors - the opinions and statements expressed herein are solely those of the author.*
TV.AE, a regional online content platform launching on 1 March 2016, will broadcast one live seminar from the Inspiration Stage each day of the annual Dubai Lynx, being held from 6-9 March 2016.

The focus of this year's programme, the Future of Creativity, will see the Inspiration Stage host 19 seminars full of thought-provoking concepts, game-changing work and global perspectives, while the new Arabic Stage throws a spotlight on fresh creative thinking emerging out of MENA.

The daily session will be determined via a people's vote, which will invite the industry to vote on the seminars that they most want to see. From 31 January, voters will have two weeks to decide which sessions they want to watch. Additionally, one session from each day of the Arabic Stage will be available to view post-festival.

Emma Farmer, Festival Director, Dubai Lynx, said, "Nearly 2000 delegates experience Dubai Lynx every year but we know that there are many more who would like to be there but cannot. Together with TV.AE, we want to support the industry by giving a bit of the Festival back. We have a wealth of outstanding regional and international speakers, all delivering valuable insights on creativity and the industry. We want everyone to benefit and get inspired."

Marwan Saab, General Manager, TV.AE commented, "We are excited about this partnership. One of the key reasons we're launching TV.AE is to celebrate and support the creative diversity and talent that exists in our region. The partnership with Dubai Lynx, the region's premier creative festival, is a perfect match."

The full content programme is available at www.dubailynx.com and provides details on the sessions from the Inspiration Stage that can be voted for. The three winning sessions will be announced the week of 29 February 2016.
SAN FRANCISCO, USA: Internet giant Google paid Apple a billion dollars in 2014 to be the go-to search tool on iPhones, Bloomberg reported, citing court documents.

The rare glimpse into financial figures typically kept private by Google and Apple was provided by an Oracle attorney during a court hearing in San Francisco last week, according to Bloomberg.

A transcript of the proceeding was not among documents available at the court's digital filing system on Friday, in the wake of a move by Google lawyers to have it redacted and sealed.

An Oracle attorney had revealed that Google, a subsidiary of corporate parent Alphabet, paid a billion dollars in the year 2014 alone to secure its position as the default search engine on iPhones, Bloomberg reported.

Google lawyers argued that Oracle "improperly disclosed highly sensitive, confidential information" regarding revenues and profits related to its Android mobile operating software, a copy of the motion showed.

Android revenue details cited by an Oracle attorney in open court last week had been labeled "Highly Confidential - Attorney's Eyes Only," Google contended.

According to Bloomberg, an Oracle lawyer also said in court that Google had $22bn in profit from Android, which it makes available free to mobile device makers. The first Android-powered smartphone launched in 2008, and the software now powers more than 80 percent of smartphones sold worldwide.

The figures were made public briefly during a long-running legal fight over whether copyright-protected elements of Java code made by Oracle were used in Android without permission. While Apple is not a party in the case, Oracle lawyers argued that the impressive sum of money Google takes in from Android must be factored in by the court.

Source: AFP
MARCELLUS | Marcellus bassoonist Greg Quick got an assist from his wife, Debbie, at the Meet the Orchestra program Jan. 20 at the Marcellus Free Library.

The program is designed to introduce families to symphony orchestras, their players and the instruments while connecting children to music-themed books. It was billed for young children, but Marcellus' audience on a snowy night was made up of mostly interested adults.

Before Greg Quick started, Debbie Quick invited the children in the audience to sit on the floor around her while she read, Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo. She got an assist from a young musician in the audience, Gabe Hoag, who turned pages for her as if she were playing an instrument.

Greg Quick started his talk with the fact that his bassoon is but one small dot in the huge world of music. This is why he thinks music education is so important in a curriculum. Music is something that is all around all the time and has been in existence as long as humans have walked the earth.

"Performing is great, but having a sense of music is for everyone," he said.

The bassoon is a woodwind with a double reed mouthpiece. It has been thousands of years in development. The bassoon Quick plays is different than the ones Mozart and Beethoven wrote for.

He asked if anyone knew why it was called a woodwind and a boy, Daniel Kermes, raised his hand and said, Because it is made of wood, which was correct.

Dating back to Persia, the bassoon is most often used as a blending instrument. Its sound is made from wind blowing through a series of attached wooden tubes. Bassoons are made of plastic, as are other woodwinds such as the oboe, clarinet and flute but also often use a mountain maple that grows in Europe and North America.

Its a long process to make the bassoon, Quick said. It is meticulously made with the difference of thousandths of an inch mattering.

The reeds are made from a unique form of cane that is only grown in a few places. One can buy them already made, but he prefers to fashion his own. He said he spends more time making reeds than he does practicing. He makes four reeds to find one that works properly.

Quick picked up his bassoon, asked the audience to guess the tune and then played a few familiar notes written by French composer Paul Duka that were used in a popular 1940s Disney cartoon.

One audience member guessed Peter and the Wolf, but Quick said no, though the bassoon does play a role in that composition. Another audience member guessed Fantasia, which was correct. It was the music played in the Sorcerers Apprentice, starring Mickey Mouse.

Thanks to the media, the bassoon is often thought of as the clown of the orchestra, Quick said.

He played a sampling of Bach and finished his presentation with "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." He also played a bit of "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

After the talk, those interested  mostly the children  gathered around to see him disassemble his bassoon and pack it into a rectangular case.

Skaneateles sophmore Amelia Huba came up to meet Quick. She has been playing the bassoon since 6th grade, although she was first enchanted with the instrument at a Monica Ellis concert in second grade. She said she wasn't big enough to play it at that time.

"It's entirely based on hand size," Quick said. "Its an instrument one must grow into."

Huba said she wasn't looking to play it professionally but wanted to continue with it during her college career. Quick said one can purchase a new, decent bassoon starting at $6,000.

His was a German-manufactured Puchier that cost $30,000. He has since put more than $15,000 into it. He said there is a huge market today in China for another German brand, Heckles, that costs $75,000.

Quick shared a bit more bassoon history as he packed away his instrument. He said 400 years ago, Vivaldi wrote 39 bassoon concertos but didnt play the bassoon. Instead, as most art was supported by a religious organization or the state, he was being supported by a monastery.

There was a particular young nun in a convent nearby who played the bassoon. Her instrument would have had only three keys, whereas today's bassoons have more than 12 keys. These concertos are said to have all been inspired by her playing.

After being the principal bassoonist in the now defunct Syracuse Symphony, Quick has taken a position with the Detroit Opera Company. Originally from that area, he is dividing his time between Michigan and Marcellus, where he still performs as Symphoria's principal bassoonist.

Symphoria is the professional symphony orchestra based in Syracuse. The Meet the Orchestra library presentation was a Symphoria event, promoting the full-orchestra concert for kids this Saturday morning, Feb. 6 at 10:30 a.m. in Inspiration Hall, Syracuse. The program will start with Copeland and end with Williams' main theme from "Star Wars."
SKANEATELES | Kindergartners at Waterman Primary School know that Sally likes to play ball with her friends and Kerry likes to play Minecraft on his iPad. They know that both children like to go to birthday parties.

The kindergartners also know that both Sally and Kerry have autism  and they learned how they can accept their new friends' differences and how they can help them cope should Sally or Kerry become one of their classmates.

During KidSpeak, an interactive puppet workshop about autism spectrum disorders presented by a group from the Developmental Evaluation Center of Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse, the puppet characters and the adults behind them introduced the children to the disorders and taught them to put a human face on autism and connect with those different from them.

Led by Dr. G  played by Mardie Ninno  and Mrs. S  portrayed by Mary Warren  the presentation introduced two puppet characters, Sally and Kerry, who each have autism but show different signs of the disorders in their actions. Warren handled Sally, while Charissa Taylor handled Kerry.

"I bet the kids at Waterman would be good friends to someone with autism. I heard they choose to shine," Warren said, invoking the elementary school's motto.

As Sally came out to meet the kindergartners, Warren explained that the child gets nervous in new situations, so the group tries to keep things the same for her as much as possible, such as setting out her favorite stool to sit on.

Kerry, meanwhile, likes to keep a schedule so that he always knows who he is meeting and what he is going to do. When there is something special happening, they try to get it in the schedule ahead of time to prepare him.

As Kerry spoke rapidly about his favorite numbers, seven and three, and his favorite game, Minecraft, Sally sat humming, rocking and waving her stuffed frog.

"She does those things when she's nervous or anxious. She does it to calm herself," Ninno explained to the kindergartners, noting that they may have similar things they do to calm themselves.

When Kerry inadvertently got too close to Sally, the girl started screaming  another sign that she was upset.

"Sometimes Sally gets really nervous or anxious if someone gets in her personal space," Warren told the kindergartners, noting that they too like to have space between themselves and their friends.

Warren pointed out that Sally communicates through an iPad, pointing to "yes" or "no" on a board, using sign language or even writing things down, though she does communicate verbally

"Sally can talk, but she can't always get the words out at the right time," she said. "Even though she can't always talk, she does have things she wants to say and she does have ways to say them."

The group walked the kindergartners through each of the five senses and explained how children with autism may have sensitive senses, such as preferring the taste of certain foods over others or disliking loud noises.

Their sense of balance also may be off, so they may have trouble standing on one foot or learning to ride a bicycle.

"Sally and I do not have a great sense of balance," Warren said. "Sometimes, riding on a bus makes us sick."

The group also used a science experiment  mixing "special anger powder" in a glass of water  to show how children with autism experience the same emotions that kindergartners do and can similarly exhibit a meltdown if they get upset about certain things.

"We want you to remember what that feels like," Ninno said after the water boiled over the top of the glass. "If you see a friend, maybe you could let them know you know how they feel. Think about ways you can make them feel better."

After the presentation, Ninno said the program was written eight years ago and the group performs it in five counties across central New York for children in grades K-4 as well as at daycare centers and recreation centers.

With one in 68 children now being diagnosed with autism  one in every 54 boys, in whom the disorder is more common  she said the goal is to teach children that their peers with autism really are not different from them, so they should treat them with respect as they would anyone else.

Though the group had never visited Waterman before, she said they did appear in Skaneateles before when the Skaneateles YMCA and Community Center hosted the KidSpeak presentation for its young members.

"Skaneateles as a community has been very receptive to all this, which is a great thing," Ninno said.
Death threats have been received by the Czech publishers of UNHCR educational material about refugees

26. 1. 2016

cas cteni 1 minuta





"We are receiving death threats. People even telephone us. It is massive," says Zuzana Vodnanska, the head of the "Hello, Czech Republic" project in Prague. Over the past few days, she has received about 50 emails containing hate speech. Ms Vodnanska works for the Prague-based META organisation which has produced a Czech version of an UNHCR education project for schools. The project consists of comics and films. The material traces the journeys of a Kurdish and an Afghani teenagers who are trying to escape war in their countries and to get to Europe. It also tells a story of a nuclear catastrophe in the Czech Republic which forces its inhabitants to leave their country for a country in Asia, where they experience cultural difficulties. The Czech Education Ministry has refused to distribute the material to Czech schools because "they would be unnecessarily frightened by this and there is no need for children to participate in a serious adult conversation". The UNHCR project has also been publicly condemned by Czech President Milos Zeman as "idiotic and dangerous propaganda".

The META organisation is gathering together the death threats and the hate mail and will forward them to the UNHCR office in the Czech Republic. UNHCR will then apparently contact the Czech police.

The UNHCR office in the Czech Republic has refused to comment.

Source in Czech HERE

0
MARCELLUS  The Marcellus Movie Madness Family Film Festival, also known as M3F3, is bringing the bright lights and red carpet of Hollywood to the village of Marcellus.

In its first month, the community-based, human-scale festival has garnered dozens of entries, with the majority of them from outside the United States. This includes a number of submissions from Iran, where United Nations sanctions have recently been lifted.

The festival organizers really envisioned submissions to be from upstate New York, so this is a surprising development.

The festival is slated to take place Friday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Marcellus Free Library, 32 Maple St., Marcellus. Deb Grousset, an Amber resident who works at the library, is thrilled the festival is being held in the village.

Im proud to be part of a new festival," she said. "Its going to be a lot of fun. Who knows how big it will get? Weve run movie nights at the library for years, but this is something else. Were starting small for now."

The festival was started after the success of a similar festival in the United Kingdom started by Robert McCaffrey and David Perilli in 2015.

The Dorking Film Festival showed historical and contemporary films with a local flavor from Dorking, Surrey and the southeast country. It had 900 submissions and was a great success.

Why not try the same thing in Marcellus? Most everyone has a video camera in their hands nowadays, thanks to smartphones, and the people are so creative. It is just a short step with a little software to create a homemade movie.

We have an amazing part of the world as our backdrop, Grousset said.

The festival wants to get local, amateur filmmakers making films. The library plans to hold filmmaking workshops this summer to support the festival, and the town of Marcellus has plans to hold an outdoor, walk-in movie event in the park as part of the festival.

M3F3 has a wide variety of categories, including animation, comedy, environment and local history. M3F3 is a nonprofit, community-based organization in its first year of operation using Filmfreeway, a web-based festival organizing organization from Canada, to manage the submissions.

For more information, contact Lewis McCaffrey at (315) 278-1530 or visit m3f3.org.
ALBANY | State health officials on Monday reported progress curbing Medicaid costs for 6.3 million New Yorkers, telling lawmakers annual spending growth has dropped to 1.4 percent.

Testifying at a budget hearing, Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said overall quality of care has improved along with growing enrollment. He also said the state has made progress against AIDS, with no new mother-to-child transmissions of the virus that causes it.

"More work remains to be done," Zucker said.

The Cuomo administration proposed spending $63.3 billion for medical care of low-income residents in the coming fiscal year starting April 1, the largest single component of its proposed $145.3 billion budget. Half of Medicaid is federally funded.

Several New York City legislators faulted Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to make the city pay for its own annual growth in Medicaid costs, about $195 million for the second half of the coming year.

"This is an outrageous clawback," said Sen. Martin Golden, a Brooklyn Republican. The proposed city payment would reach $735 million by 2020, he said.

Zucker and state Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson said New York City accounts for more than half the state's Medicaid expenses. They are committed to working with the city in efforts to avoid the need for it paying more, they said.

Other lawmakers questioned the lack of budget specifics about paying health care aides more under Cuomo's proposed $15 minimum wage.

"Where are we going with the minimum wage?" said Sen. Kemp Hannon, who chairs the Senate Health Committee. "The whole system will be affected."

Zucker noted the proposed wage increases would be phased in over several years and will be part of the budget discussions.

The system has accommodated increased reimbursements before, Helgerson said. He cited another benefit of higher wages. "It helps to ensure we have a stable work force. ... That will lead to better patient outcome."

Dennis Rosen, New York's Medicaid inspector general, said his office made $250 million in fraud recoveries over nine months last year for the state, while preventing $1.1 billion in improper costs. The greatest fraud amount comes from the provider end of the system, not Medicaid recipients, he said.

The Healthcare Association of New York State said the governor's budget avoids key issues, the outstanding $200 million in receivables from the failed insurer Health Republic and an estimated $570 million impact on hospitals and health systems from the proposed minimum wage increase.

The Community Health Care Association said community health centers that serve 1.8 million New Yorkers are facing several "hidden" cuts this year, including a $54 million deficit in indigent care reimbursement.

The Greater New York Hospital Association said funding to support hospitals now on a statewide watch list is critical.

Last year, the state was able to provide $325 million to help sustain 28 safety net hospitals. The administration proposing $450 million for the coming year, Zucker said.
Hsan Win Tun's sister said: "On Friday noon, three army personnel in plainclothes first entered into the Sittwe Market. Later three more army personnel in uniforms arrived there and detained Hsan Win Tun and Kyaw Soe Moe. Both of them were blind-folded and then brought to an army vehicle that took them away.

The army officials gave the families no reason for the men's arrest, both of whom are in their thirties and work in the fish market at Sittwe.

The families believe that the men were arrested on suspicion of being connected to the recent fighting between the Burma Army and the Arakan Army.

Kyaw Soe Moe's sister said they did not protest when the men were arrested because the army personnel had their guns out. She said that there were no civilian administrators or police personnel present at the time of the arrest and the army personnel had not given them any official letters.

Narinjara telephoned Sittwe Police Station for more details, but nobody was willing to give them any further details.

Previously, on 21 January, three other Arakanese men were detained by the army for suspected links with the Arakan Army. One of the three, Ko Maung Aye, is a prominent social worker from Laik Khamaw Village. His family members said that the army had also not given them any information as to what had happened to him.

Edited by Mark Inkey for BNI
Daw Aye Nu Sein, a lawyer who advocated for his release, said: "I met him at Sittwe Prison after his release, he is in good health."

Ko Maung Win was detained by the army at his home at La Har Gyay Village in Minbya Township on 23 May 2015 for suspected links to the Arakan Army. Later police prosecuted him under Act 17 (1), the Unlawful Associations Act, which stipulates that it is illegal to have any contact with illegal associations such as the Arakan Army.

On 29 September 2015 he was sentenced to three years imprisonment and hard labour by the judge at Minbya Township Court.

About 52 political prisoners were released from jails around Burma on 22 January as part of the presidential amnesty. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) claims that there are more than 78 political prisoners still in prison and hundreds more are facing politically motivated prosecutions.

The AAPP has welcomed the presidential amnesty for political prisoners, but it is continuing to demand the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma.

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
Ms Hazac was carrying a bag on her head when police on night patrol stopped her in Myo Oo Village-Tract. When the they searched her bag they found the yaba tablets wrapped in yellow cloth packages.

Ms Hazac, the daughter of Sultan Ahmed from Wra Thik Kay Ward in Maungdaw, was charged under Section 15/19 of the drug smuggling act.

Previously, on 31 December, police seized over 1.7 million yaba tablets in the western Arakan border towns of Buthidaung and Maungdaw. According to Aung Myint, a police officer, the tablets had been prepared for smuggling to Bangladesh.

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
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Primary voting will begin next Monday and as of today there are no signs that Donald Trump will not be the Republican nominee for president.

According to a new CNN poll, Trump's national lead has increased and the next closest candidate is miles behind.

Trump has topped the 40% mark for the first time in CNN/ORC polling, standing at 41%. That more than doubles the support of his nearest competitor, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who notches 19% support in the poll. No other candidate hit double-digits. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio landed at 8%, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 6%, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 5%, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 4%, and the rest at 3% or less.

Trump also maintains substantial leads in Iowa and New Hampshire according to most polls and he holds an enormous lead in South Carolina.

If Trump wins the first three primary states, the GOP nomination could be locked up long before the Democratic nomination because Trump also holds substantial leads in most southern states and other candidates will begin dropping out.

This could be a very awkward year for the Republican party. We have footage of virtually all of their candidates declaring Trump unfit to lead. We have the receipts.
You can't say this happened in a "gun-free zone" because this is where they keep all the guns.

A Mississippi gun store owner and his son were shot and killed by customers who were apparently upset that repairing their guns isn't free.

A gun-store owner and his son were killed in a shootout with two customers after an argument over a $25 firearm repair fee, police told NBC station WDSU. [...] The customers, who are also a father and son, had visited the store to collect a firearm that had been dropped off for repair. They became irate after being told it was not ready and there would be a $25 service charge, the Pearl River County Sheriff's Office told WDSU.

Part of me wants to say 'fine, let all the gun fetishists kill each other. Who cares?' but I know the overwhelming majority of victims are innocent people. Children and unsuspecting bystanders are killed on a daily basis by the proliferation of guns.
Bobby Jindal may be out of office, but commitments his administration made while he was governor will haunt Governor John Bel Edwards for years.

The New Orleans Advocate details the various incentives and business deals the Jindal administration committed the state to without actually setting aside money to pay for any of it.

In the upcoming 2016-17 budget year, the Edwards administration will owe an estimated $50 million to companies from Jindals economic development deals, about $11 million from the state construction budget and another $39 million in direct cash from the general fund. That doesnt count spending from any tax break programs through which companies in Louisiana can lessen what they owe the state.

The Edwards administration will owe at least $155 million to various businesses and corporations over the next four years not counting tax breaks, and while that may not sound like a lot, it's significant because this debt will prevent the state from spending more money on other more important programs.

Jindal made these commitments without carving out pay-fors, effectively putting them on the state credit card. You could say the Fiscally Irresponsible governor had no choice because the state couldn't afford to cover these commitments and incentives, but that was also his fault. Jindal spearheaded the movement to drastically lower state taxes which emptied the state's coffers.

It make take the entirety of Edwards' term to reverse the fiscal damage done to the state by Hurricane Jindal and it will require cooperation from the state legislature.
Republicans in Tennessee are very concerned that same-sex marriage will destroy the institution of marriage and, to that end, they've launched a campaign to destroy the institution of marriage before same-sex marriage has a chance to.

The head of the Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT) has filed a lawsuit in state court which alleges that all marriage licenses issued in the state since last Summer are invalid and at least one lawmaker in the state legislature has introduced a resolution to co-sign the lawsuit.

State Rep. Susan Lynn (R) has filed a resolution in the House supporting the lawsuit. I have dozens of sponsors, and the message of my resolution is clear, she claimed. We as a state have been violated, and we expect the doctrine of separation of powers and the principles of federalism reflected in our Constitution to be upheld. According to the state legislatures website, Lynns resolution already has at least 16 cosponsors, all Republicans.

The lawsuit alleges that the Supreme Court's ruling against gay marriage bans effectively voided the state's laws sanctioning any marriage and, with no law on the books, no one gay or straight can legally be married.

I don't believe I've ever hated anything as much as these people hate gay marriage. They hate it so much they'd be willing to invalidate all marriages if it prevents even one gay couple from tying the knot.

I certainly don't expect they will succeed, but their position is clear.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette (R) is responsible for defending the Snyder administration in a class-action lawsuit filed by the citizens of Flint, but he has also hired a special counsel to investigate the poisoning of Flint water.

The special counsel he hired, however, has donated to both Schuette and Governor Snyder.

Schuette, whose office is also responsible for defending Snyder in the class action suit, vowed to establish an ethics-based conflict wall between him and his investigation team, and the team defending the governor and state departments against Flint water-related law suits. As part of this effort, he appointed [Todd Flood] to be special counsel and former Detroit FBI Chief Andrew Arena to assist the investigation.

I just don't have a lot of confidence when a Republican administration says they will establish an 'ethics-based wall' between their own interests and the interests of citizens. I could neither read or type that with a straight face.

The unfortunately-named Todd Flood, who will serve as special counsel, donated to Schuette's campaign in 2010 and 2014. Flood also donated to Governor Snyder's campaign in 2010 and 2014.

This isn't funny but I can't help it. I'm still laughing.
The new William Shatner-narrated documentary The Colorful Montreal Expos can be seen across much of North America Tuesday night at 9 p.m. Eastern on MLB Network, but it isnt airing in the city or the province the Expos played in. Thats because, as noted by Tim Capper and JP Kirby, MLB Network isnt currently carried on any cable or satellite providers in Quebec. The network was approved in Canada in November 2012, thanks to Rogers bidding to bring it in, but only officially launched north of the border in January 2014 as part of Rogers most recent MLB rights deal, and is currently only carried by Rogers and (since June 2015) SaskTel.

Neither of those companies offers TV services in Quebec; Rogers Cable focuses on Ontario and Atlantic Canada, while SaskTel is only in Saskatchewan. Thus, we wind up with the weird situation of a documentary on a team thats not being shown where that team actually played. That situation doesnt seem terribly likely to change in the near future, either, as there hasnt been much talk about other Canadian providers picking up MLBN. There have been plenty of tweets about it from the aggrieved, though:

@MLBNetwork I had to download this from internet 'cause MLBNetwork doesn't air in Canada, u made me into a criminal! https://t.co/uYzvLGFk3O  Vito Signorile (@VitoSignorile72) January 2, 2016

Now that we're in the dead of winter, it would sure be nice to watch @MLBNetwork in Canada. But @Rogers is preventing that. Shame. @CRTCeng  Greg Beaulieu (@Greg_Beau) January 4, 2016

@MLBNetwork Hi, just found out you're broadcasting a doc on the Expos next week. How can people in Canada who aren't Rogers customers watch?  Kamila Hinkson (@HinksonK) January 19, 2016

@MLBNetwork @jonahkeri @MLBNetworkPR Will this be aired in Canada for those of us who don't have MLBNet thanks to @Shawhelp's non-carry?  vegaskev (@vegaskev) January 26, 2016

Expect to see many more tweets along those lines as the documentary airs and fans everywhere outside of Quebec (and much of the rest of Canada) comment on it.
Shivering Facts About North Korea: Think Before You Visit North Korea Pulse oi-Iram Zaz

North Korea is a place where you must think twice to visit, as it is the country with very strict and weird laws. After reading this article, you will feel lucky that you are not a citizen of that country.

Human rights in North Korea are limited and people have no liberty to wear, eat and do other normal things by themselves, as for each and every thing they have to abide by their government's rules and regulations.

There is also no right to freedom of speech and they have to watch T.V., listen to radio, music and watch other programmes only after they are marked legal by the government.

The prisoners are subjected to the most inhuman acts, physical abuse and forced work. Even the 2 subsequent generations have to bear the imprisonment. It is very difficult to visit North Korea, and even if it is just for tourism purpose, they do keep a close eye on you.

To add to these miseries, the citizens of North Korea are even not allowed to leave the country if they feel suffocated in there because of the strict laws. North Korea has the worst human rights violations and is being globally condemned.

Here are some shivering and bizarre facts about North Korea. Read to know more.

Imprisonment Is Given Even To Families In North Korea, if a person is imprisoned for a crime, he may be given a three-generation punishment. This means even if he is done serving the punishment period, his 2 subsequent generations will have to serve the same punishment. Internet Use Banned People in North Korea can't use Internet with freedom, the exception being the government authorities. They have one domestic network known as Kwangmyong, which connects them internally to North Korean cities and not outside that. The Leader Was Fed To Hungry Dogs It recently came in the news that a North Korean leader was locked in a cage of many hungry dogs who ate him up. Kim Jong Un fed his uncle to hungry dogs after North Korea announced execution of the supreme leader. World's Most Restricted Borders The border between North and South Korea is the most militarised and protected in the world. North Korea built a fake village to get South Koreans to come in that village, so that they can trap them. This village is visible from the border and is known as Kijong-Dong (Peace Village), but is a ghost city. No Motor Vehicles It is also said that only military and government officials can own motor vehicles in North Korea. Freedom of movement is also restricted to the citizens and is highly controlled. Style According To Government Women have to style according to the recommended 28 hairstyles and married women have to keep their hair short. Single women have to keep long hair and keep their hair loosely tied or untied. Men are not allowed to grow their hair more than 5 cm and for older men it is 7 cm. No Free Time People in North Korea have to work for 6 days in a week and the other day left, they have to do some forced voluntary work. This means that they hardly have time to spend for themselves. Happy to be born in India! Wearing Jeans Is Illegal In North Korea, wearing jeans is illegal, as it may symbolise American imperialism. This can be considered as the least weirdest thing about North Korea, as the rest too are very bizarre.
Azar was charged with first-degree murder, but the jury had the option of convicting him on the lesser included offense of second-degree murder, which does not require premeditation. The jury also found him guilty on one count of marijuana possession and seven counts of weapons misconduct for possessing firearms as a prohibited possessor. Azar had a prior felony conviction, which means he was not legally allowed to own firearms.
By Patricia Harris and David Lyon, Correspondents

Through January 31, the New Hampshire Liquor Commission is sponsoring a series of events that give consumers a chance to meet winemakers and owners and taste their bottles. The celebration draws more than 60 wine personalities and feature events in every corner of the Granite State. Free bottle signings and tastings are taking place daily, mostly in the late afternoon, at the 79 New Hampshire Liquor Commission stores around the state. Nightly wine flights and dinners ($20-$95) are set for restaurants and conference centers. One of the more intriguing educational events is the 2016 Cellar Notes, pitting Old World cabernets and merlots versus New World examples. The $45 seminar and tasting takes place on Wednesday, January 27 at the Puritan Conference & Event Center, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester. See the festival's web site for more details: www.NHWineWeek.com.
PHOENIX -- Arizona youngsters from kindergarten through high school would be taught sex education unless their parents specifically object under the terms of proposed legislation.

Rep. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, said too many youngsters grow up with misinformation or no information at all about. The result, he said, is a health crisis of both disease and unwanted pregnancy.

Separately, Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Phoenix, is pushing to repeal a law that requires Arizona schools to portray homosexuality as anything but positive in their sex education courses.

But Josh Kredit, attorney for the Center for Arizona Policy, dismissed both measures as "dangerous.''

"These are extreme proposals that are trying to mandate sex education for 5-year-olds,'' he said.

And Kredit, whose organization insists that homosexuality is simply a behavior that can be "modified or even stopped,'' said there's no reason to remove the restrictions on teachings on the subject.

"I think that the policies we have in this state are good policies,'' he said.

"They've been vetted and been around for a number of years,'' Kredit continued. "And I think the proper protections are in place right now that parents appreciate them.''

With Democrat sponsors, both bills face uncertain futures in the Republican-controlled Legislature. But if they get hearings they are bound to provoke spirited debate.

Mendez said the message that is now being pushed on children is one of abstinence as the acceptable method of preventing pregnancy and disease.

"But we have to prepare the other ones who are not going to listen to that message with age-appropriate, accurate information given to them by trained instructors,'' he said.

"We're leaving them to the risk of HIV, we're leaving them to the risk of pregnancy,'' Mendez said. "And it's our fault for not preparing them appropriately.''

HB 2410 spells out what kinds of things must be included in sex-ed classes.

It does require teaching the benefits of delaying sexual activity. But it also says classes must "stress the importance of effectively using contraceptives and barrier methods to prevent unintended pregnancy and to protect against sexually transmitted infections.''

Students also have to be taught about developing relationships based on mutual respect and "free from violence, coercion and intimidation.'' And it encourages students to communicate with the parents, other adults and health care professionals about their sexuality and intimate relations.

Kredit, however, focused on the fact that current law makes sex education optional for schools. More to the point, it is an "opt in'' system requiring parents to affirmatively put their children into these classes.

"This is mandating 5-year-olds start having sex education,'' he said. "They're trying to pull a fast one on parents that may not even know what their child is learning about.''

Mendez said Kredit was being alarmist in his concern about what those in kindergarten will be told.

He said his legislation requires instruction to be "age appropriate.'' And what that means, Mendez said, could be as simple as answering questions about where babies come from.

Kredit said the question of sex education courses should be left to local control.

Yet he is opposed to SB 1019 which would leave the right of how to discuss sexual orientation to local school boards.

Current law says if schools offer sex they cannot do anything that "promotes a homosexual lifestyle.''

The same statute also forbids portraying as a "positive alternative lifestyle.'' And it forbids teachers from saying that some methods of safe sex, which are permitted to be taught, are safe methods of homosexual sex.

Quezada said his bill, unlike HB 2410, does not mandate schools to offer sexual education.

But he said the restriction has created problems for school districts that want to offer sex education and are just not sure what they can -- and cannot -- say about homosexuality. The result, he said, is lawyers have been telling school boards that the law precludes them from discussing the subject at all, "regardless of whether they were portraying it positively or negatively.''

"That really left a big hole in the curriculum,'' Quezada said. "And it left a lot of kids in danger that they're not being taught some safe-sex methods.''

CAP's web site includes an extensive section about homosexuality, including that there is "no scientific evidence'' to show a genetic cause for sexual orientation.

"There are many documented cases of homosexuals modifying their behavior and becoming heterosexual through Christian ministries and counseling,'' the web site states. "This strengthens the case that homosexuality is a behavior based on choice, not on genetic fate.''

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Home invasion

Police arrested a man for breaking into a Sunnyside neighborhood apartment to steal lotions, body sprays and prescription medications last Tuesday.

According to the police report, the victim was in a back room of her home in the 1800 block of East Sixth Avenue at about 5 p.m. when her 11-year-old niece told her a man they did not know was in the victim's room. The suspect left after the victim confronted him.

Afterward, the victim found a kitchen knife and a half-eaten tortilla on the ground in her bedroom. Cables to her DVD player had been cut. A prescription bottle full of antibiotics was missing, as well as several bottles of scented lotions and body sprays.

The bottles were in the suspects possession when police found him running away in the area of North East Street and East Fourth Avenue. He appeared to be intoxicated.

Deray Curtis Begay, 35, was arrested and charged with second-degree burglary, misdemeanor property damage, resisting arrest, trespassing and failure to provide a truthful name when detained. He was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility.

Stolen vehicle

Flagstaff police are looking for a stolen vehicle.

According to the police report, the victim told police a woman he had just met spent the night of Jan. 18 in his room at Pinecrest Motel, located at 2818 E. Route 66. The victim kicked out the woman the next morning shortly before 11 a.m. When he exited his hotel room about 5 minutes later, he saw his vehicle leaving westbound on East Route 66. He was unable to see the driver. His keys were also missing from his hotel room.

The stolen vehicle is a black 1997 Ford F-150 pickup truck with Arizona license plate number BKR0480. The investigation is ongoing.

City and county residents who want to report a crime but wish to remain anonymous may call Silent Witness at 774-6111 or (877) 29-CRIME, submit a tip online at www.coconinosilentwitness.org, or text the word Flagtip along with your information to 274637 (CRIMES). Rewards of up to $2,000 are given for information that leads to an arrest.
WASHINGTON (TNS)  When Congress is away, the people will play. Amid the weekends historic snowfall and its digging-out aftermath, Washingtonians went to Capitol Hill in droves to enjoy their new-found freedom to sled. It is hard to imagine, when looking out at ski resort-like atmosphere on the House side of the grounds on Jan. 24, that it took an act of Congress to allow sledding.

More people in the pool than theres water, said area resident Sam Swiller, who came with his wife, Ahnna Smith, and their daughter Shaw and dog Sully, along with hundreds others, to the West Front to enjoy Sundays party on Capitol Hill.

Congress was away this weekend, of course. The House was in recess last week, and the Senate left town on Jan. 21, beating the first flakes of the so-called Snowzilla that paralyzed the East Coast and shut down transportation networks across the region.

On Monday, the federal government and the D.C. Government remained closed, and Metro was running a limited service for trains and buses. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser advised residents to stay off the streets unless it was essential.

But it was Congress that allowed sledders on the Hill, at least according to statute.

Last year in March, neighborhood families defied a decades-old law prohibiting sledding on the grounds, and Capitol Police largely looked the other way. But local officials pushed for that to be official, removing the threat of arrest or ticketing from winter-time fun.

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., last year had pushed the Capitol Police Board to waive the sledding ban. She was denied in March, but went on to help secure support for a policy rider in the year-end omnibus appropriations bill that stated police should consider the family-style neighborhood that the Capitol shares with the surrounding community and not enforce the ban. So the legislative branch and the president signed off on looking the other way. Sledders were free to come on down.

And boy did they. Even during some of the heaviest snowfall on Saturday, people came for the slippery, inclined fun.

On Sunday, even without benefit of Metro, which had suspended service throughout the weekend, and with roads at best mildly passable, the pilgrimage to the Hill was in full force.

They may have fancy sleds, but we have more heart, said one woman, clutching some cardboard siding. The diversity in sledding vehicles was striking: plastic discs, old-style wood and steel Rosebud types that wouldnt be out of place in a Norman Rockwell painting, an air mattress, even left-over placards from the Jan. 22 March for Life fished out of the garbage cans lining the Capitol complex.

Snowball fights, nonpartisan of course, broke out at the bottom of the Hill. Some snowboarders carved out some space for themselves. Some enterprising winter athletes fashioned jumps. The House side of the lawn eventually got so crowded in the afternoon that some parents shifted south and established a bunny hill so their kids didnt have to compete with the teenagers and adults dominating the main course.

Inevitably perhaps, folks went from marveling at Sundays crowds to bemoaning them. No one sleds there anymore. Its too crowded, Tim Krepp, paraphrasing Yogi Berra, tweeted shortly before noon. Krepp was one of last years sled-in ringleaders and is a Capitol Hill resident who challenged Norton for her seat in Congress in 2014. He and his family stayed a little while on the West front, then headed inside for hot chocolate and Irish coffee.

Contacted later and asked if he was surprised at what he helped wrought, Krepp said via email, I am a little surprised as the Hill, objectively speaking, is not strictly speaking a great sledding hill. But I think it speaks to its roll as a community gathering space, a place that if you go to it, you will see someone you know. No need to arrange things ahead of time, no coordinating schedules, just show up and youll see friends and neighbors. Weve been cooped up and need a little social interaction. Also, nothing quite gets people to do something like being told they couldnt. Theres more than a little defiance here.
Prominent members of the Botswana Movement for Democracy BMD have embarked on a rigorous campaign to recruit members in the Ngami Constituency.

This follows a poor performance of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) at council and parliamentary levels in the constituency during the 2014 general election.

Ngami constituency, which has been known as a stronghold of opposition, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) was won by the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) with 7063 votes. The BCP got 7015, while UDC came last with 802 votes. Speaking in an interview with this publication BMD secretary general, who is also Member of Parliament for Mochudi West, Gilbert Mangole disclosed that their campaign, known as BMD Membership Drive aims at promoting the UDC Moono, which is not well known in the Northern part of Botswana.





We started BMD membership drive at Bobonong and the results were positive, which bolstered our resolve and hopes, he said, adding that although they encountered challenges of lack of resources, they have so many chances in the Ngami constituency. That is why we decided to have BMD membership drive, he said.

He said they are going around the District to mobilise and register new members, saying they are now targeting BMD members only and that the other parties in UDC will do the same drive in areas where they feel attention is needed until they are certain of such areas. Mangole who was unable to reveal the number of registered new members because other teams were scattered all over the district, highlighted that the youth are showing interest in their tour and their response is positive and they are registering high numbers.

He was hopeful that they would do well in the constituency in the next election. He said they have received so many members from other political parties especially the ruling BDP, adding that their intentions include bringing about political change in the country.

Mangole called on the youth as the drivers of change to stand up and help them fulfil their target in the upcoming election and take over government. About the ongoing talks with BCP, Mangole expressed hope that they would yield positive results so that all the opposition parties confront the BDP as a single force in the 2019 general election.
The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Friday, Jan. 22:

The Islamic State abducts, rapes and enslaves women. It massacres Christians and Yazidis. It beheads hostages and puts homosexuals to death. It organizes terrorist operations against civilians in cities like Paris, and its followers continue the work in San Bernardino, Calif., and elsewhere.

Given such unfathomable and appalling crimes, it is sometimes difficult to explain why the world should be particularly distressed by the groups wanton destruction of monuments, holy sites and antiquities. These are, after all, just structures of brick, stone and mud, just physical representations of human culture. A single life is worth more than the oldest temple, by most peoples estimates.

Nevertheless, the news last week that the 1,400-year-old St. Elijah monastery  also known as Dair Mar Elia  just south of Mosul, Iraq, was razed by the Islamic State cant help but cause anguish and outrage.

The group has not taken credit for the demolition of the 6th century monastery, but satellite photos tell the story. And of course such an act is entirely in line with the Islamic States determination to wipe the region free of Christian and other idolatrous cultures that it believes are contrary to its pure interpretation of Islam. The group blew up the 2,000-year-old Temple of Baalshamin in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria, as well as the mosque of the prophet Yunus in Mosul, and it has damaged or destroyed dozens of other tombs, churches, mosques and shrines in ancient communities like Nineveh and Nimrud using explosives and bulldozers. Libraries and museums have been pillaged of art and manuscripts, and subsequently ruined by rampaging the Islamic State fighters wielding pickaxes and sledgehammers.

It goes without saying that the damage to the monastery in Mosul, to the temples in Palmyra and to other ancient structures must be measured against the unspeakable human devastation the Islamic State has left in its wake, including thousands of civilian victims, mostly Muslims. But the buildings and manuscripts and works of art matter too. They are, after all, tangible records of humanitys ambitions, achievements and values, physical representations of how far society has come  or failed to come  in recent centuries, of who we were and who we are now. The Islamic States efforts to erase the historical record go hand in hand with its efforts to erase the people with whom it disagrees.

In the end, the solution to both problems is the same. President Barack Obama is right when he says that the Islamic State is unique in its brutality and that the world must unite to degrade and ultimately destroy it.

Sin tax rationale goes up in smoke

The following editorial appeared in The Orange County Register on Monday, Jan. 18:

New York state offers a classic example of the failings of sin taxes. Facing a budget crunch in 2010, the Legislature increased the cigarette excise tax by $1.60 per pack (58 percent), to a total of $4.35 per pack, by far the highest cigarette tax in the nation. In New York City, which additionally imposes its own $1.50 excise tax, on top of the $1.01 U.S. excise tax and sales taxes, taxes have tripled the cost of a pack of cigarettes, to $13 or $14 a pack.

The tax was intended to serve two contradictory goals: enhancing state revenue and raising prices so high as to encourage people to stop smoking. Of course, the more people quit smoking, the smaller and less stable a cigarette tax becomes as a funding source. At the time, the state estimated that the tax would bring in an additional $290 million a year.

The tax almost met that estimate the first year, bringing in an additional $250 million, bringing the total to $1.6 billion. But overall cigarette tax revenue has plunged 25 percent since then, falling $400 million from that peak five years ago, and last year was $1.2 billion, less than before the 2010 tax was imposed.

People simply changed their behavior to avoid the tax, by seeking out cheaper alternatives, such as e-cigarettes and vaporizers, purchasing cigarettes online, crossing state lines to make their purchases, buying from black market vendors or getting their cigarettes from the hundreds of American Indian outlets, which do not have to pay state taxes.

Higher taxes have led to skyrocketing cigarette smuggling, which now accounts for 58 percent of the market in New York, the highest rate in the nation, according to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Mackinac estimates that, if California were to adopt the $2 per pack cigarette tax increase proposed by Democratic state Sen. Richard Pan its smuggling rate would double, from 31.5 percent to 63 percent, even surpassing New Yorks.

To the extent that taxes are necessary, they should be fair and broad, not targeted at certain politically unpopular people and industries or used to engage in social engineering. Sin taxes should thus be eliminated, as politicians are among the last people to be trusted with determining and punishing sins.

Earth sends more warnings about warming

The following editorial appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday, Jan. 21:

Ignore those shivers over this weeks single-digit temperatures. NASA and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday that 2015 was the hottest year in 136 years of record keeping.

The 2015 average temperature was 58.62 degrees Fahrenheit, 0.29 degrees higher than 2014s, NOAA said. Scientists put the blame on the El Nino ocean-atmosphere interaction and human-caused global warming.

The announcement came two days after the journal Nature Climate Change published a study showing that the amount of man-made heat energy absorbed by the oceans has doubled since 1997. Both revelations are more evidence that humans must pay more attention to environmental changes confronting the planet.

Utilizing data stretching from the British research ship Challenger in the 1870s to statistics from the 1990s, ocean researchers reported that the Earths waters absorbed 150 zettajoules of energy from 1865 to 1997. But it took only 18 more years for the oceans to soak up another 150 zettajoules. This is both astounding and disturbing.

Because the subject of climate change is so politically contested, independent studies like those reported this week continue to be important. The ocean research was conducted by the Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Penn State University and other reputable institutions.

Determining how human activity has raised the temperatures of the oceans and the air requires the constant gathering of evidence from many sources. These reports, of course, will be followed by other data. The latest findings are two more independent signs that climate change deniers need to stop and smell the science.

Obamas gamble on immigration can still pay off

The following editorial was written by Bloomberg View editors:

Two months ago, President Barack Obama gambled that his immigration policies had a better chance of winning a majority on the Supreme Court than in Congress. Its a bet he never should have made. Now that the court has accepted it, however, he needs to win  not for his own sake but for that of future presidents and the millions of immigrants it would help.

The Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to hear the Obama administrations appeal of a case putting its immigration policy on hold. The policy allows immigrants who are in the country illegally but have children who are citizens or green card holders to remain in the country and apply for work permits  provided they have been in the country for five years and stayed out of trouble with the law. There are about 5 million such residents.

The policy was bound to end up before the court. Days after Republicans captured control of both houses in the 2014 elections, Obama announced that he would not wait for the new Congress to pass legislation fixing the nations long-broken immigration system. Instead, he acted unilaterally.

Now, if the Supreme Court finds that the attorneys general who brought the case have standing to sue, it will have two questions to answer. The first is whether the Obama administration should have undertaken a formal rule-making process, with a notice and comment period, before carrying out this change. The second is whether the president overstepped his authority by ignoring existing law.

The second question is more consequential. The Constitution requires the president to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. The trouble is, it would be impossible  and economically disastrous  to attempt to deport the 11 million people residing here illegally.

Furthermore, the courts have never curtailed the executive branchs authority to manage immigration. In 1930, President Herbert Hoover stopped immigration of all people except those with the means to support themselves, even though he had no explicit legislative authority to do so. Since then, presidents of both parties have used their authority to allow immigration, and block deportation, outside of legislatively granted channels. The Supreme Court should not curtail the presidents authority to manage the countrys borders in the absence of enabling legislation.

The courts decision will probably come after the two parties have selected their presidential nominees. It will inevitably split the parties and keep immigration at the center of the presidential debate, which is right where it belongs  because whichever way the Supreme Court rules, legislation remains necessary to fixing the problem.

The Obama administrations immigration legacy will be at best a temporary fix to part of the problem. But its a legacy that should stand until Congress, not the court, acts.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/01/2016 (2459 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon School Division trustees got their first look at the how children will be registered for French immersion kindergarten for the 2016-17 school year, a process that will involve a controversial lottery process for the citys sought-after single-track French immersion program.

Assistant superintendent Mathew Gustafson outlined the plan at a board meeting on Monday evening, following the boards decision to use a lottery process to decide who gets into programs with more demand than space.

Gustafsons report proposes the application process to French immersion kindergarten will start on Feb. 1 and run until 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 25. Applications can be submitted by paper, in person or electronically to the office of the superintendent.

The division guarantees all students who wish to register in French immersion will have access, and be able to attend the school their sibling attends. Once those students are placed on their schools enrolment list, random number generator software will assign students to their desired school.

When capacity is reached at Ecole Harrison, which is expected to happen, remaining students will be placed onto a wait list in a randomly selected order and placed on the Ecole New Era School enrolment list.

In previous years, parents have lined up overnight to register their child at Harrison, the only school to offer the single-track option in Brandon. There are no capacity limitations at New Era or Ecole OKelly School in Shilo, the two BSD schools that offer dual-track French immersion.

Kerri Lynn Gudz, appearing as an Ecole Harrison parent, was the only delegation at Mondays meeting. She criticized several board members for the dialogue they used during the debate on the lottery in the previous meeting.

The board will respond to Gudz at its Feb. 8 meeting, board chair Mark Sefton said. Trustees were also provided a copy of a letter written by Karen Gillespie, who had spoken out against the lottery in a previous meeting.

The BSD has planned for three information sessions regarding registration: Thursday, Feb. 4, at OKelly, Monday, Feb. 8, at New Era and the following day at Harrison. All meetings start at 6:30 p.m.

Last year, five to seven students were turned away from the single-track program, according to Sefton.

 tbateman@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @tombatemann
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Benedict, while the "father of the new liturgical movement" (in my estimation at any rate), is not the new liturgical movement; as such the new liturgical movement does not die with the end of his papacy.



- Shawn Tribe, New Liturgical Movement
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/01/2016 (2459 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this period of the evolution, slowly but importantly, of equality between the sexes, the line in the song all thy sons command should clearly be changed, to remove the obvious masculine bias, in favour of some alternative.

 Edward Broadbent, House of Commons, June 27, 1980

For a second time, Liberal MP Mauril Belanger has put forward a bill to change the wording of Canadas national anthem.

Belanger is determined, he says, to change the second line of the anthem from true patriot love in all thy sons command to in all of us command, as a way to make our national song  at least the English version  more inclusive.

This isnt the first time Belanger has brought this initiative forward. An identical bill was defeated in April of the last session of Parliament, under the then-Conservative government. The outcome at the time was predictable  only five Tories voted in favour of the bill, together with both NDP and Liberal members of the opposition, ensuring that the bill would not pass.

Now with a Liberal majority in place, no doubt Belanger thinks the time is ripe for change.

Certainly this will not be the most important affair to come before the House of Commons as this current government presides over a stagnant national economy, job losses in several sectors, a future and much needed debate over the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement and likely intense discussions over Canadas crafting of physician-assisted dying legislation.

But a government is made of many parts, and many people. And while a large number of the comments made on The Canadian Press story seem dismissive of the Liberal MPs private members bill  some are downright hostile to the notion of even debating the issue  a federal government is quite capable of doing several things at any given time.

And there will always be other pressing issues that someone believes should be higher up on the list of government priorities. So if not now, when? While this topic may not carry the same weight as pressing economics or end of life issues, any move to de-gender Canadas national anthem surely deserves some discussion.

Heres a quick history lesson about the lyrics of the Canadian anthem. O Canada was a favourite of citizens for decades, long before it was officially recognized by Parliament in 1980.

According to the website singallofus.ca, Judge R. Stanley Weir, who authored the original poem, amended his lyrics several times. The original second line, for example, read True patriot love thou dost in us command.

Yesterdays story by The Canadian Press on the anthem erroneously suggested that Weir changed this line at the time of the First World War presumably to honour men in the armed forces. Apparently the line was actually changed in 1913  one year before the start of the Great War  though the historical record does not give any reason for the change.

Certainly in all thy sons command rolls off the tongue a little easier, so perhaps thats one possible explanation. But wed only be speculating.

At any rate, the English lyrics are hardly sacrosanct. But there is fair concern that  much like the debate about abolishing or reforming the Constitution  agreeing to make any changes to one of Canadas beloved national symbols would open a Pandoras box of demanded revisions.

Why do we still say home and native land for example? Or how about taking God out of the equation  leaving the reference in offends atheists. While thats going a bit too far, perhaps, having our national icons be reflective of the whole of the population  not just our sons  really isnt that hard to fathom.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Manitoba women getting the right to vote, and run for office  a right that women like Nelly McClung had to fight for before it finally spread to other provinces and the country as a whole.

Perhaps now is as good a time as any to revisit this question of lyrics and inclusion.
100 new jobs are being created at Equifax in Dublin.

The IT company, which organises data on consumers and businesses, is opening a new centre on Sir John Rogersons Quay.

It has said recruitment is already underway for the highly skilled positions.

Speaking on the announcement Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton branded the new jobs as very welcome news.

Business Services is a key sector which we have targeted as part of our Action Plan for Jobs, and we have put in place actions specifically aimed at attracting research and development activity to Ireland.

Todays announcement that Equifax, a world leading company in its specific area, is establishing a Research and Development Centre in Dublin, with the creation of 100 extra jobs, is very welcome news as part of this plan.
Major multinationals are stalling on plans to invest in the UK while eyeing up Ireland in the event of a Brexit, the Central Bank chief has said.

Professor Philip Lane also blamed the sliding value of sterling on mounting fears over the in/out referendum on whether Britain should remain part of the EU.

Before a parliamentary watchdog in Dublin, the governor of Irelands Central Bank said he was sure international companies were holding off on decisions about locating in the UK until after the vote.

I have no doubt, it has to be the case that any sensible major firm considering where to make a location decision, and if the competition is between UK and Ireland, Im sure any rational firm is going to stall for a few months, he said.

So, I think the number one issue is delay, it is going to delay decisions about projects.

Appearing before the Oireachtas Finance Committee, he added: I think we are seeing sterling weaken in recent weeks, which is partly (due to) speculation ahead of a Brexit risk.

Then, what happens after that, whether firms decide to come here (to Ireland) instead of the UK, and so on, I think there is a lot of different scenarios.

Its hard to make strong predictions about that effect.
EasyJet says fewer people are flying after the terror attacks in Paris and the suspected bombing of a Russian airliner in Eygpt.

Both Paris and Sharm el Sheikh have been important destinations for the airline, but it will not now fly to Sharm until the end of May at the earliest. It said both events had dented its revenues at the end of 2015.
Tesco in the UK repeatedly and deliberately delayed payments to suppliers in a widespread practice designed to improve its financial position, an investigation has found.

Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) Christine Tacon said she was most shocked at the discovery of how widespread the supermarket giants actions were, saying that practically every supplier I spoke to had evidence of delays in payments.

However, the report was met with silence from the suppliers themselves, with representatives claiming it was still a brave business that was prepared to talk about their difficulties with Tesco.

Ms Tacons long-awaited 84-page report found Tesco seriously breached an industry code by intentionally delaying payments to suppliers and made unilateral deductions.

She made a series of recommendations to stop the practices, saying the retailer should be more transparent in its dealings with suppliers, but could not impose a financial penalty because this power was only given to her after she launched her investigation.

She said: I found that Tesco knowingly delayed paying money to suppliers in order to improve its own financial position.

The length of delays, their widespread nature and the range of Tescos unreasonable practices and behaviours towards suppliers concerned me.

A four-week deadline has been set for Tesco to say how it plans to implement the recommendations.

Tesco group chief executive Dave Lewis apologised and said he accepted the GCAs findings.

He said: In 2014 we undertook our own review into certain historic practices, which were both unsustainable and harmful to our suppliers. We shared these practices with the Adjudicator, and publicly apologised. Today, I would like to apologise again. We are sorry.

Over the last year we have worked hard to make Tesco a very different company from the one described in the GCA report. The absolute focus on operating margin had damaging consequences for the business and our relationship with suppliers. This has now been fundamentally changed.

A UK Federation of Small Businesses spokesman said the organisation had received many requests to speak to suppliers involved but had been unable to find anyone prepared to talk.

He said: We have been unable to find a business prepared to speak out on this. Its a brave business that is prepared to come forward and speak out on the issue of late payments.

Duncan Swift, partner and head of the food advisory group at accountancy firm Moore Stephens, said the GCAs report at last makes a statement that doesnt pull its punches to say that Tescos behaviour was unreasonable.

But he said: Does it go any further than that? No. Can suppliers expect any redress? No.

Also, the review only covers the second half of Tescos mis-statement period and is silent on the probability that these bad behaviours went on much earlier.

Mr Swift added: If a supplier was to raise these sorts of difficulties in the form of legal action seeking redress, that would be seen as hostile by the supermarket and the relationship would be ended.

And this could be seen as the case by other supermarket buyers too. Its a small world.

The GCAs report is separate to the ongoing Serious Fraud Office investigation into a 326 million accounting black hole at the supermarket.

The SFO launched a probe in October 2014 after the discovery of a 263 million hole in profit expectations at Britains biggest supermarket. It was later found to be 63 million bigger than this.
A coalition of trade unions, NGOs and rights groups has called on the Government to back a Robin Hood tax on bankers and stockbrokers which could raise up to 360m a year.

The campaign said the current Fine Gael-Labour coalition is ignoring an opportunity for a financial transaction tax which is being taken up by 10 other European states.

The European Commission is trying to target speculators on the world money markets by proposing a tax of 0.1% on trading in bonds and shares and 0.01% on derivatives.

The Claiming Our Future group, which is spearheading the campaign in Ireland, said half the money raised should be used to reverse cuts in public services, a quarter to fight poverty in developing countries and the rest on tackling climate change.

Spokeswoman Anna Visser said politicians have been reluctant to declare support.

What we are really saying here is that its imminent in terms of the 10 countries so its time to get on board, she said.

Once something like this is up and running and the world does not end the argument is even stronger that the tax is something relatively small but revolutionary.

Analysis from the Nevin Economic Research Institute claimed the Robin Hood tax would boost the economy by creating 9,250 jobs through the investment in infrastructure, tax cuts and the increase in public services.

Campaigners also claim the levy would not damage Dublins valuable International Financial Services Centre.

Under the proposals brokers, traders and bankers could only avoid the tax if they stopped all business with countries that have the levy in place.

The campaign has support from the likes of Oxfam and Trocaire, trade union umbrella group Congress and a large number of its affiliates, National Womens Council Ireland and environmental groups including Friends of the Earth.

Similar campaigns are running in the US and have the backing of Senator Bernie Sanders, a potential democratic nominee for the presidential race.

Claiming Our Future held a series of meetings with politicians in Dublin in an attempt to pressure them to support Ireland joining Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia by enforcing the financial transaction tax.

It is expected a European agreement involving those countries under enhanced co-operation  a voluntary directive for states in the bloc  will be finalised by June with the first taxes being collected in 2017.

Ms Visser said the Green Party and People Before Profit have committed to the campaign in their manifestos.

The response from some of the bigger parties is more cautious, she said.

They have responded with the argument that we dont think stack up such as that it would displace financial institutions to other countries. They think they would be moving to London.

Eurostat surveys of the financial transaction tax after it was proposed in 2011 showed 64% support across the European Union but in Ireland only about half of those surveyed backed the idea.
News coverage from Israel is often distorted if measured against the 'Code of Ethics' guidelines of journalism. The origins of bad news about a country thus lie with numerous foreign media. This project exposes one of many methods used.Bad News from the Netherlands has raised major international interest since it appeared on the web in October 2007. Many thanks are due to all those who have contributed news, ideas and financing. Support us to expand this project.Act against the biased media: start a bad news blog about another country. If you want to use this layout, please contact us at the e-mail address below.

Do It Yourself

The "Bad News Movement" is not a franchise, but consists of

independent initiatives of which Bad News from the Netherlands is the first. Yet as the initiator of the movement, we would like to make a few suggestions to those who want to establish similar projects:



1. Always keep in mind the target of the blog: showing only negative items about a country makes its society aware of how some of their media distort the image of Israel.

2. Focus on items from leading sources such as the government, major media, well-known institutions.

3. Do not concentrate on one or a few areas. Deal with as many major aspects of the country as possible: government, politics, justice, media, culture, civil society, etc.

4. Do not exaggerate issues beyond what is mentioned. A collection of bad news is bad enough without blowing up the facts. Let the facts speak for themselves.

5. While one can draw part of the information from the more sensational papers, let them not dominate the blog.

6. Do not emphasize ethnicity of people where it is irrelevant to the issue.

7. When necessary, provide comments on issues which require it, but try to present the majority of issues without comment.


By Daniel McConnell and Elaine Loughlin

Former Minister and Independent TD Michael Lowry has hit out at comments from Health Minister Leo Varadkar who said he has issues with the law, saying Mr Varadkar should desist from such commentary having made a mess of the health service.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin echoed his Labour colleague Alan Kellys stance saying the party would not rely on Mr Lowrys support to form a Government.

Mr Lowry said

Read More:

The former minister said Mr Kellys decision to categorically rule him out of the next government smacks of his customary arrogance.

Mr Lowry said he has refused to have discussions with anyone before the election, as to do so would be presumptuous and arrogant.

This Government have so many broken promises, they should ask themselves why has that majority evaporated and why are they not certain of having a majority, Mr Lowry said.

Mr Lowry launched a stinging attack on the Labour Party deputy leader today, adding he has jumped on the bandwagon.

"In relation to Alan Kelly, Id just say that his comments smack of his customary arrogance. Effectively what hes trying to do is circumvent the will of the Tipperary people, Mr Lowry said on Tipp FM and on Newstalk radio.

"The bottom line is that thankfully we have a democracy, elections are due, and elections are about the people have their say and electing their representatives, he said.

Mr Lowry said that only the people will decide who is elected, not the media or political pundits.

Its not the media, its not the political pundits. Its not threats and innuendo from Alan Kelly that will make the decision, its the people who will make the decision known, he said.

He also criticised comments from Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin this morning. Mr Martin said it was okay for Fianna Fail to accept his support before the Moriarty Tribunal made adverse findings against him.

Fianna Fail has ruled out doing business again with Mr Lowry.

Speaking this morning party leader Micheal Martin said the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal relating to Mr Lowry are something that all political parties cannot fudge".

He said: You cant dodge those. They are very real and significant conclusions by the judge.

The bottom line is that we would not be doing business.

I am surprised at Micheals comments, as the Tribunal was sitting week after week, and he was more than happy of my support then. In fact, they damn right needed it, Mr Lowry said.

Since last weekend, Fine Gael and Labour ministers have been dogged by questions about Mr Lowry.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Joan Burton have both attempted to dodge the question, but Mr Kelly took a different stance.

Mr Kelly said: Just to be categorical on it, the Labour Party would never work with or ask for the support of anyone like Michael Lowry.

The Moriarty Report found that Mr Lowry conferred benefit on businessmen Denis OBrien, who made or facilitated payments to the former Communications Minister. There were no findings that Mr Lowry benefited from payments and Mr Lowry has rejected the findings.
The Environment Minister Alan Kelly has accused the body that represents architects of being "disingenuous and hypocritical".

It comes after the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland said Mr Kelly's new smaller apartment sizes announced last month cannot be built because minimum room sizes
A 39-year-old man is appearing in court this morning charged in connection with an armed robbery at a shop in Dublin yesterday, which was foiled by an off-duty garda.

The incident happened around 1.30pm in Stoneybatter. The raider pulled a gun on the newly-qualified officer, who successfully disarmed and restrained him.
Residents in Tipperary say drones are being used by burglars to spy on their homes.

A number of farmers and businesses in Littleton and Two Mile Borris have reported sightings of the remote controlled gadgets flying at night - which is illegal.
SAS soldiers who shot dead eight IRA men and a bystander as they attacked a police station in the North acted excessively, a lawyer for the bereaved claimed.

Solicitor Peter Corrigan claimed the targets could have been arrested as they entered the Co Armagh village of Loughgall in May 1987, avoiding the bloodshed which followed.

Mr Corrigan called for reopened inquests into their deaths to be held speedily.

He said: The reason for the promptness and expedition is so that there is no perception in the public that the state are colluding or acquiescing in an unlawful act.

The SAS intercepted the IRA unit as it launched an attack on a police station in the village.

Anthony Hughes, 36, was killed after being caught up in the gunfire.

Mr Corrigan added: The state authorities had prior knowledge and did not effect arrests when they entered Loughgall  they acted disproportionately and excessively.

He said the case should be among the most urgently dealt with by a coroners system in Northern Ireland which is under great pressure with a backlog of dozens of legacy inquests.

The lawyer said: It flies in the face of expedition and promptness that we still dont have a date set for an inquest...so that the public can have confidence that the state are properly investigating controversial murders like this case.

Lord Justice Weir is reviewing all the inquests to determine when they can be held or if the coroners system is not capable of dealing with some of them.

Controversy has long surrounded the Loughgall ambush with claims the SAS team continued to fire on a number of the IRA men with heavy machine guns as they lay wounded on the ground.

The IRA members killed were Jim Lynagh, 32; Padraig McKearney, 32; Gerard OCallaghan, 29; Tony Gormley, 25; Eugene Kelly, 25; Patrick Kelly, 32; Seamus Donnelly, 19; and Declan Arthurs, 21.

The UKs Advocate General ordered the new inquest after considering issues of national security.
Barcelona forward Luis Suarez says he would only play for Liverpool if he were ever to return to the Barclays Premier League.

The 29-year-old left Anfield in a 75m move during July 2014, having scored 84 goals and come close to helping Liverpool win the title.
Danish politicians have voted to let police seize valuables worth more than 10,000 kroner (1,300) from asylum seekers to help cover their housing and food costs while their cases are being processed.

After more than three hours of debate, the minority Liberal Party governments bill was adopted in an 81-27 vote, with the support of the opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish Peoples Party  Denmarks two largest parties. One politician abstained and 70 others were absent.

Amendments were made, including raising the value of items the asylum seekers can keep from 3,000 kroner (400) to 10,000 kroner. That brings it in line with welfare rules for Danes, who must sell assets worth more than 10,000 kroner before they can receive social benefits.

Danish government spokesman Marcus Knuth says the bill has been misunderstood.

He said: "We are simply asking that if asylum seekers, in the rare case where they do come with enough means to pay for themselves, then following exactly the same rules as for Danish citizens on unemployment benefits - if you can pay for yourself then you should pay for yourself before the Danish welfare system does it."

Denmark received about 20,000 asylum seekers last year while its neighbours Germany got 1.1 million and Sweden 163,000.

We are talking about a real exodus, said Martin Henriksen, immigration spokesman for the populist Danish Peoples Party. More needs to be done: we need more border controls. We need tighter immigration rules.

Opponents criticised the government for tightening Denmarks immigration laws and called for a common European solution to the continents immigration crisis.

This is a symbolic move to scare people away from seeking asylum in Denmark, said Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, of the opposition left Red-Green Alliance that opposed the law.

Denmark is not the only country taking such action. Some German states do take funds from refugees and Switzerland requires asylum-seekers to hand over cash of more than 1,000 francs (910).

The bill was part of a raft of measures that included extending from one year to three the period that family members must wait before they can join a refugee in Denmark.

Denmark had already tightened its immigration laws last year, reducing benefits for asylum seekers, shortening temporary residence permits and stepping up efforts to deport those whose applications are rejected.
An Israeli woman has died of injuries she suffered in a Palestinian stabbing attack in a West Bank settlement, according to a Jerusalem hospital.

Hospital spokeswoman Hadar Elboim identified the victim as 23-year-old Shlomit Krigman.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said Ms Krigman was wounded when two Palestinians went on a stabbing rampage outside a mini-market in Beit Horon on Monday.

Another Israeli woman suffered minor injuries before a security guard shot both assailants dead, she said.

Police found two home-made pipe bombs near the scene of the attack, Ms Samri said.

Security camera footage showed the owner of the store using a shopping trolley to prevent the two attackers from entering.

Ms Samri identified the attackers as Ibrahim Allan, who was in his 20s, and Hussein Abu Gosh, who was a teenager.

The attack in Beit Horon, which lies north-west of Jerusalem, is the third stabbing inside an Israeli settlement since last week.

Ms Krigman is the latest fatality in four months of Palestinian attacks - mostly stabbings, shootings and also car-ramming assaults  that have killed 26 people on the Israeli side.

At least 149 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including 104 said by Israel to be attackers.
Pakistani authorities have closed all the schools in the countrys largest province, Punjab, following an alert over possible militant attacks.

A government memo obtained by the Associated Press said there is intelligence that 13 Taliban fighters from neighbouring Afghanistan were planning suicide attacks on schools in Pakistan.
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The Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce is planning a new festival it hopes will draw visitors to Beatrice.

The Chamber hopes to launch an Oktoberfest this year, featuring beer from area breweries and live music. A proposal calls for the German-influenced event to be held in Chautauqua Park, and the city council was approached Monday night regarding the event.

Chamber Director Lora Young said the event will be held Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Tabernacle at Chautauqua Park.

Its going to be a music festival, she said. Were going to bring in some food vendors. Were going to gear this event towards adults and looking at a permit time of mid afternoon on Oct. 8 to midnight.

With the citys blessing, the event would feature a fenced in area around the Tabernacle. Councilman Dwight Parde raised a concern regarding parking.

It was proposed that shuttles be available to the Oktoberfest area.

Councilman Robert Morgan expressed concerns about drunk drivers leaving the area. Young said the event would feature a police presence to assist with any issues.

Mayor Stan Wirth pointed out Oktoberfest would be similar to the annual Ribfest event, which hasnt been problematic.

It wouldnt be much different than Ribfest, he said. We really havent had any issues with Ribfest, and we did have uniformed policemen that would walk through and people were pretty aware of the fact that they just need to behave themselves.

Patrick Ratigan, a member of the chambers board of directors, said the music would be a variety of older rock, though there will be a polka presence earlier in the day.

The idea is to provide a good mix so that were drawing a wide range of age groups, he said. We do have to throw a polka band in there because you cant have a German fest without a little bit of that going on.

I think itll be a great time. Itll be a good event. The chamber is trying to add more events through the year, bring more people to town, encourage people to come to Beatrice for fun. I think this is a good thing to add.

No decision was made by the council regarding the event, and a vote will likely be held at a future meeting.
Members of non-profit superannuation funds should be given the right to vote on who is appointed to their fund's board of trustees to represent their interests, the Governance Institute will tell a Bernie Fraser led review of governance in the sector.

"Super fund members should have voting rights to appoint, and unseat, the trustees who represent their interests in the management of their compulsory retirement savings. Much like shareholders in listed companies have the ability to vote for their directors," Governance Institute chief executive Steve Burrell said.

Governance Institute chief executive Steve Burrell thinks superannuation fund members should have the right to vote for their own directors. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Among other ideas the peak body for chartered secretaries and other governance professionals wants Mr Fraser to consider is the creation of an independent superannuation governance council  modelled on the ASX Corporate Governance Council that oversees directors of listed companies.

Australian Council of Trade Unions, a peak body of 46 affiliated unions, rejected the plans that would disperse their member's powerful voting rights by extending them to individuals.
Bob Ellis, the colourful former Labor speechwriter and playwright credited with derailing the Liberal Party leadership ambitions of Bronwyn Bishop in the mid-1990s, has emerged from the political grave with an offer to assist Dick Smith unseat the former Speaker in Mackellar.

Mr Ellis, 73, who made the shock announcement in July last year that he only had weeks to live due to aggressive liver cancer, said his health had improved and his cancer remained in remission.

Bob Ellis says his cancer is in remission and that he is ready to work towards ending Bronwyn Bishop's political career. Credit:James Alcock

He told Fairfax Media he was ready to again work towards ending the political career of Mrs Bishop, who he described as "the worst Speaker in the history of the Westminster system".

Mr Ellis, a long-time resident of Palm Beach, believes Mr Smith, who is also a constituent in Mackellar, would beat Ms Bishop if he contested. Fairfax Media revealed last week that the entrepreneur had been approached by figures in the aviation industry urging him to run.
It's the political equivalent of copying each other's homework - but a pair of Liberal MPS who filed remarkably similar overseas study tour reports appear not to have broken any rules.

Liberal MP Nola Marino confirmed to Fairfax Media she "collaborated" with colleague Louise Markus to produce the travel reports about a study tour the pair took to Papua New Guinea.

Nola Marino says she and Louise Markus 'collaborated' on their reports. Credit:Andrew Meares

The pair of five-page reports - which are the only requirement the Finance Department imposes on MPs returning from taxpayer-funded overseas trips that can cost thousands of dollars - cover a six-day journey to PNG as part of the Pacific Partnership Humanitarian Civic Assistance program from June 29 to July 4 last year. Large blocks of text in the report are almost, but not quite, identical.

On its website, Finance states MPs must be aware of sensitive material they may learn when they submit an overseas study tour travel report within 30 days of returning overseas. It asks that MPs keep their reports to five pages and notes that "the responsibility for accuracy, completeness and presentation of a report rests with the individual Senator or Member". No mention is made of "collaboration".
Brisbane talk radio station 4BC has given up on one of its last remaining local shows, with the Afternoon program now to be networked from Sydney.

Clare Blake's contract was not renewed last year and Kim Mothershaw was filling in for her over summer.

Sydney radio presenter Chris Smith. He's back  almost.

But on Tuesday, Macquarie Radio revealed it would not be replacing the show with a local presenter, instead Chris Smith's afternoon show would come in from Sydney.

It comes after local programming was scrapped in breakfast and mornings last year to be replaced by Sydney presenters Alan Jones and Ray Hadley respectively.
Dane Gallion was so worried about public shootings that police say he committed one.

Last Thursday, Gallion popped a Xanax, ate a pizza and downed a 22-ounce (650 millilitre) beer. Then the 29-year-old headed to an evening showing of 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi in the Seattle suburb of Renton, Washington.

But not without his handgun.

Despite a Regal Cinema prohibition against firearms, Gallion sneaked his piece into the cinema. He was, he later told police, "concerned about recent mass shootings in public places". So concerned, in fact, that he kept his gun unholstered and tucked into his waistband, according to the Seattle Times.
Tony Ozanne is a world away from Australia's annual festival of beer and barbies.

The Gungahlin businessman uprooted his life in Canberra earlier this month for a job in Pakistan's cultural, intellectual and artistic hub, Lahore.

Former Canberra man Tony Ozanne says Australia Day is a time to reflect. Credit:Peter Braig

But how does one indulge in the more jingoistic Australia Day pursuits in a country where you need a permit to drink a beer? Where an egg and bacon roll for brekkie is off the menu? Even his Australian flag is boxed up and still being cleared by customs.

"So now I find myself here on Australia Day eve with what I am sure will be 'another day' with not even a chance to celebrate, have a beer or fly the flag," he writes on his blog, An Aussie in Lahore.
Canberra teenager Ineka Voigt wants to see a "message of reconciliation" continue to spread after an enormous response from the public to her Australia Day Google drawing.

Ms Voigt, 16, won a competition last year to have her picture of a reunited Indigenous mother and child featured on the search engine's homepage on January 26.

Ineka Voigt with her drawing on the Google homepage. Credit:Rohan Thomson

At the time she said the date, alternatively known as Invasion Day or Survival Day, meant her image took on extra significance.

"It's important for us to recognise our achievements [on Australia Day], but also look at the atrocities. I believe that the stolen generation is one of the greatest atrocities in Australia's history," she said.
Chinese shares plunged more than 6 per cent to 14-month lows on Tuesday after oil prices dropped again, reviving concerns about global growth and prompting a sell-off in the world's equity markets.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended down 6.4 per cent after a late selling frenzy at 2749.79 points, its lowest close since December 1, 2014.

The CSI300 index of the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen dropped 6 per cent to 2940.51, also its lowest since the beginning of December 2014.
Area taxpayers may be asked to vote this year on a nine-figure bond issue for major changes to all three Southeast Community College campuses.

The SCC Board of Governors discussed again on Monday overhauls to the Beatrice, Lincoln and Milford campuses, which would cost between $508 million and $518 million total, with $369 million of that funded by a potential bond issue.

The measure could be on this years November ballot. First, the college will send a survey to residents throughout its district of 15 counties sometime between February and March. The board will use the results to decide whether it will move forward with the issue and open it up to voters.

The tax levy would be 3.9 cents per $100 of property valuation, meaning if a person owns a home worth $150,000, he or she would need to pay about $59 each year for several years toward the projects. For a $50,000 home, it would be about $20 per year.

The Clark Enersen Partners, an architecture and engineering firm out of Lincoln, started in the fall of 2014 creating the 10-year master plan for SCC that it finished pitching to the board on Monday. Space-planning firm Paulien and Associates collaborated in the process.

The plan details a total overhaul to the SCC-Beatrice campus, including the addition of an outdoor amphitheater and a new agriculture complex, arena, equipment and conference center. A drive would loop around the entire campus and include five entrances.Project planners said the new campus would feature a very obvious front door to the campus and a new student center that would serve as the natural hub and center of life of the campus.

The plan for the Beatrice campus also features several other reconstructed and additional buildings, including new student housing. There is currently a waiting list for student housing on the SCC Beatrice campus.

Changes to the campuses would happen in phases over the course of several years.

The board reviewed the plan for the Beatrice and Milford campuses in an October meeting and the plan for the Lincoln campuses on Monday. The Milford campus would see a major but not total overhaul.

Project planners of The Clark Enersen Partners proposed on Monday two different plans for the Lincoln campuses. Their recommendation is to add a campus in the future Telegraph District between O and K streets and Antelope Valley Parkway and 24th Street. The area is being developed by Speedway Propertes and Nelnet and may feature retail shops, condos and office space.

The current 88th and O campus would become a technical campus, housing skilled labor programs. The small Energy Square campus at 11th and O streets and the Continuing Education Center at 68th and O streets would both close. A separate plan would consolidate all SCC programs at the 88th and O campus.

The college is also working to add learning centers in lesser served or more rural parts of the 15-county district, which SCC President Paul Illich said is a very, very important part of the colleges mission."

Firms predict a 193 percent enrollment increase at the Beatrice campus by year 2025.

If the board moves for the issue to be on the ballot, it will be the first general obligation bond any Nebraska community college has proposed to the public. SCC proposed bonds most recently to the public in the mid-1990s and in the early 2000s.
Australia's biggest supermarkets are standing by Australian honey producers in the wake of international researchers claiming Australian honeys are the most contaminated in the world.

Woolworths and Metcash, which owns the IGA brand, haven't altered honey supply agreements, saying all the food, including honey, they stock complies with Food Standards Australia New Zealand guidelines.

The food regulator and several Australian academics have also backed the quality of Australian honey, dismissing research published in the Food Additives and Contaminants scientific journal.

All but five Australian honeys tested had more contaminants than the European Food Safety Authority would consider safe or tolerable, according to the report.
Search engine Google has been commended for weighing in on the controversy surrounding the Australia Day holiday, publishing a doodle depicting the stolen generation to mark the divisive day.

The artwork, called "Stolen Dreamtime", was drawn by Canberra Year 10 student Ineka Voigt and depicts an Aboriginal woman mourning her stolen children "and a life that never was".

Google's Australia Day artwork. Credit:Google

The Google 'doodle' reflects the raging national debate over the holiday which celebrates the the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Harbour in 1788.
Why wait for change to come when you can make it yourself?

It's a theme that unites a number of recipients of Australia Day honours from the arts world who have devoted their time to projects that bring art to the masses, or shared their personal fortunes to build up arts institutions.

Allan Myers gave $10 million to the University of Melbourne. From next year he will be its chancellor. Credit:The Age

"If I'm in a good mood I forget about all the hard times and I think about just how wonderful it's been," David Handley says. The founder of the 20-year-old Sculpture by the Sea adds: "It's been so exciting to have had an idea that percolated over for eight or so years and have had so many people respond to it."
January 26 not only marks Australia Day, it is also the anniversary of the day on which the New South Wales governor was overthrown in an armed coup.

The 1808 Rum Rebellion is the subject of a short exhibition by ceramic artist Bern Emmerichs at Scott Livesey Galleries.

Work by Bern Emmerichs from Michael Sedunary's book William Bligh: A Stormy Story of Tempestuous Times.

The artist has also worked with author Michael Sedunary on a children's book, by Berbay Publishing, that will be launched at the gallery on Wednesday, February 3.

Emmerichs has created a number of ceramic panels that bring to life the tumultuous times and the outrageous characters of the events, when Governor William Bligh (he of HMS Bounty fame) was deposed by the thirsty men of the New South Wales Corps.
Carr's humour is at odds with his presentation  he's well spoken, well dressed and has the demeanour of a middle-class English gent (he studied at Cambridge) but his no-holds-barred jokes take aim at anything and everything. Incest, bestiality and paedophilia were all fair game for his tightly written gags. This is politically incorrect humour at its blackest.

Carr has developed a reputation in Britain as a comedian who pushes the boundaries of good taste, and his performance at a packed Hamer Hall was no exception.

British comedian Jimmy Carr is probably best known to Australian audiences for his frequent guest appearances on various panel shows, notably QI. But if anyone attended Funny Business expecting the PG-rated, gentle humour of Stephen Fry's popular trivia show, they were in for a rude shock.

Despite these topics, there's something refreshingly old-fashioned about Carr's comedic style. The material may be edgy, but the structure of his jokes feels almost vaudevillian in tradition. There's no real theme linking anything together  it's just a series of rapid-fire, well-written jokes that had the audience laughing even when, deep down, they knew they shouldn't.

Clocking in at more than two hours, including an interval, the second half of Carr's show didn't quite meet the highs of the fast-paced first. A segment where he read texts sent in by the audience during the interval, while fun, felt like filler, and his invitation of heckles slowed the pace down (mainly due to the poor attempts of the would-be hecklers in the audience).

Carr finished up by sharing some of the jokes that had previously got him into trouble (in particular, a joke about amputee soldiers returning from Iraq). Although some parts of the media have reacted hysterically to some of these gags, it's clear Carr hasn't been cowed by his mainstream success  he's not playing it safe or nice. In the end, as he says himself, even if a joke is 100 per cent wrong, it's still worth telling if it's funny.
Australians want a new national flag - but not too different from the existing one, it seems.

A survey of more than 8000 people has found that this design, in which the Federation Star and the Southern Cross continue to feature prominently on a blue background, was the most popular among voters.

Gone is any sign of the Union Jack and instead, the national colours of green and gold feature in a wave-like design at the bottom of the flag, called the Southern Horizon.

The Alternative Australian Flag Survey was conducted by Dr Benjamin T Jones, an adjunct research fellow at Western Sydney University, and aimed to find out Australians' attitudes to their flag and how they would feel if it was changed.
A 27-year-old Malaysian man has been caught trying to smuggle almost five kilograms of cocaine into Sydney by concealing it inside boxes of chocolate, authorities allege.

The man appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday, charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine inside his luggage.

Australian Border Force says would-be drug smugglers are becoming more creative.

Officers from the Australian Border Force allegedly found the boxes when they examined the man's bags after he arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

Initial testing confirmed that the pellets inside the boxes were positive for cocaine, authorities claim.
During my travels around the Third District this week, I thought often of those traveling from our state to Washington, D.C., for the March for Life. Despite frigid temperatures and an impending blizzard, this years march went on undeterred. I admire this dedication to defending the sanctity of human life and wish I could have been in Washington to meet with participating Nebraskans, as I have had the opportunity to do many times.

About 20,000 people participated in the first March for Life in 1974. Recently, this number has grown into the hundreds of thousands as people flock to the nations capital to show their support for a culture of life. Each person marching in D.C. represents many more Americans who believe defending the sanctity of human life is essential to defending freedom.

Abhorrent practices by Planned Parenthood, as shown in a series of videos, remain at the forefront of many peoples minds. I have heard from thousands of Nebraskans in recent months wanting the organization to be held accountable for its atrocities against the unborn and to stop receiving federal funding. Taxpayers should not be forced to compromise their consciences.

Planned Parenthoods 2014-2015 annual report reflected a 27 percent drop in cancer screening and prevention services, and an 11 percent drop in services overall. In contrast, by analyzing the organizations yearly reports, the Susan B. Anthony List found Planned Parenthood has performed nearly one million abortions over the past three reported years alone.

With Planned Parenthood receiving more than $500 million in taxpayer funds annually, the organizations own reports show why these dollars must be directed elsewhere.

Earlier this month, Congress sent an Obamacare repeal bill to the Presidents desk which also defunded Planned Parenthood and redirected those funds to other community health providers. Not surprisingly, President Obama vetoed the legislation. However, getting this bill through Congress and directly to the President was a positive step forward in this effort. I also voted in favor of the Defund Planned Parenthood Act in September and will continue to support legislation to stop the flow of taxpayer dollars to this organization.

As one of 12 states which have enacted the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act into state law, Nebraska is an example to the rest of the country in its commitment to protecting the unborn. This legislation recognizes an unborn child who has reached a probable stage of development of twenty weeks is capable of feeling pain and prohibits abortions past twenty weeks of pregnancy.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act at the federal level. This important bill passed the House in May. We also passed the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in September to enforce stronger criminal penalties on abortion providers who deny medical care to children who survive an abortion procedure.

Respect for human life must be a cornerstone of public policy. To everyone who has devoted their time and effort to the cause of life, including those who braved the threat of a historic snowstorm in Washington, thank you. I will continue to stand with you and defend those who cannot defend themselves.
The operator of the Hazelwood Mine is locked in a bitter dispute over a sinkhole that could cost the community up to $100 million to fix.

Less than two years after the Hazelwood mine fire choked the area in smoke and ash, the Latrobe City Council has sought an urgent meeting with the Andrews government, warning it faces a crippling bill after legal action by the mine's owner.

Dispute over repairs to a local drain could cost the people of Morwell a packet. Credit:Eddie Jim

The mine operator, Hazelwood Power Partnership, is challenging a Supreme Court finding that it is responsible for maintaining the Morwell Main Drain, a 4.9 kilometre channel.

If successful, the challenge could leave the Latrobe City Council facing a bill it estimates could be as high as $100 million to maintain and relocate the drain.
Update: The weather warning has been cancelled.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued the severe weather warning for the northern country, north central and north-east districts just before 4pm on Tuesday.

Rainy conditions are forecast for Melbourne for the rest of the week,. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Up to 30 millimetres of rain is expected to douse Wangaratta on Wednesday. Mount Buller and Shepparton are bracing for falls of up to 23 millimetres, while 18 millimetres are forecast for Albury-Wodonga.

Duty forecaster Tony Nguyen said showers and thunderstorms were likely to hit early on Wednesday morning and would continue throughout the day.
Bangkok: Malaysia's attorney-general said on Tuesday that he had closed an investigation into transfers of hundreds of millions of dollars into Prime Minister Najib Razak's personal bank accounts because no laws had been broken.

The decision, which was greeted with outrage and cynicism by the opposition, appears to prolong the embattled premiership of Mr Najib, who has struggled to explain why nearly $US700 million ($1 billion) had been transferred to him.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak says the accusation he is corrupt "has been comprehensively put to rest". Credit:AP

Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi told reporters at a hastily convened news conference on Tuesday in the country's administrative capital, Putrajaya, that he had ordered the anti-corruption commission to close the investigation into the money Mr Najib received.

Mr Apandi, who was appointed by the Prime Minister last year after the previous attorney-general abruptly left office, said the largest amount, $US681 million, "was a personal donation" from the Saudi royal family.
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian authorities on Tuesday launched a search for a boat carrying up to 35 people, after 13 bodies washed up on a beach in the southern state of Johor.

Police discovered the bodies at a beach in near the town of Bandar Penawar earlier in the day.

A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) boat during search and rescue (SAR) operations in September 2015 in Hutan Melintang, Malaysia. Credit:Getty Images

District police chief Rahmat Othman said the boat had come from Indonesia and was carrying illegal migrants. Up to 35 people were believed to have been on the boat, police said.

Authorities in Jakarta said the boat had capsized after being hit by strong waves.
India and Vietnam are enhancing security ties in a move likely to heighten tensions with China over territorial disputes in the flashpoint South China Sea.

Vietnam has approved India setting up a satellite tracking and imaging centre in southern Vietnam that will that will give Hanoi access to pictures from Indian earth observation satellites that cover Asia, including China and the South China Sea.

India has 11 earth observation satellites in orbit that can provide military intelligence, with existing ground stations in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Brunei, Biak in eastern Indonesia and Mauritius.

Carlyle Thayer, an expert on Vietnam from Australia's Defence Force Academy, said the new tracking facility shows that India's and Vietnam's interests are "converging over China and the South China Sea."
With the start of the second year of a two year cycle, senators jump right into floor debate. Many bills left over from last session are scheduled right away. The first few on this list resulted in long hours of discussion and some of those required a cloture vote to cease debate before a final vote could be taken.

With that in mind, what do flying sky lanterns, donating ones organs, poker, and pigs have in common? Obviously, debate on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. In the past several days senators have discussed banning sky lanterns due to the potential, and in some instances realized fire risk. LB 18 by Senator Johnson advanced.

Senator Watermeir had a bill that would require a person to indicate if they would like to have their name placed on an organ donation list. The bill is on second round of debate.

Is poker a game of skill or a game of chance, thus making it gambling? LB 619 was filibustered and a motion for cloture (to cease all debate) failed. This moves it to the bottom of the bill list. It most likely will not come back up for debate.

Jan. 20, we began debate on LB 176. This bill, by Senator Ken Schilz, would remove the restriction of packers owning hogs from farrow to finish and processing. This issue has two clearly divided lines. Smaller, independent hog owners want to keep the protection in place which prevents packers from owning hogs. Their argument against the bill is eventually independent producers will be shut out of the open market with no place to sell their hogs because the packers will only use hogs produced by their contracted farmers.

Those in support argue that Nebraska is the last state to prohibit packers from owning hogs. This group states that Nebraska hog production is flat while surrounding states have seen double and triple growth in hog production; and that raising contracted hogs provides a safety net to producers. I have heard from both sides, those strongly supporting and opposing the issue. I listened carefully to the debate on the floor of the legislature. Great arguments were made for and against. The preponderance of the calls and emails received favored rejection of LB 176. Ultimately, that was the deciding factor for my decision to vote against LB 176, although the bill did advance. There will be further debate.

On Jan. 22 I introduced my first two bills for this session before committee. LB 721 would create a licensure process in the Department of Health and Human Services for surgical first assistants. These are people who help the surgeon and are directed by the surgeon before, during and after the surgery. The second bill, LB 722, creates the Stroke System of Care Act to improve the overall outcomes of stroke patients. It would designate hospitals as a Comprehensive Stroke center, a Primary Stroke Center or an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital; and emergency medical service protocols would be developed to assure consistent care across the state.
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This engine was really purring!

Heroic Windsor Terrace students, motorists, and a pair of police officers joined fur-ces to rescue a hapless 2-month-old kitten that ran inside the wheel of a running car on Ocean Parkway on Monday afternoon  saving both the cat and the drivers faith in humanity.

The community was unbelievable, and the two cops, it was so nice to see the police officers do a really wonderful job, said Geraldine Cassone, the Windsor Terrace resident whose car became a temporary refuge for the frightened fur ball, and is now its adoptive parent. Im so happy to be a New Yorker after experience I had today.

Cassone says the high-stakes ordeal began at around 12:35 pm, at the service road leading from Park Circle onto Ocean Parkway, where she spotted the little lady scurrying through traffic and slammed down on the brakes.

The kind-hearted driver leapt from her vehicle and beckoned for the wayward feline with open arms, but the rascal went for the wheel-well of her 2010 Subaru Outback instead.

And that is where she stayed for more than 20 minutes, as Cassone, passers by, and drivers stuck in gridlock behind her kitty-laden crossover tried in vain to urge the cat from its rubbery refuge.

New Yorks cuddliest: This kitten still doesnt have a name  but it does have a home! NYPD

Eventually, Cassone corralled a few high-school students to help roll the car over to the curb  relieving the pent-up traffic and catching the eyes of Officers Christopher Rinelli and Kenia Marte, who rushed over to lend a hand.

The cops then worked diligently for two-and-a-half hours to liberate the mini mouser, eventually using a jack to lift the car up and grab the grungy gal from underneath, according to Cassone. At one point, Rinelli was literally on his back in the snow straining the save the kitty, she said.

He was lying on the ground trying to get it, said Cassone. They were just unbelievable.

Cassone  a pet lover who formerly owned a three-legged dog and a squirrel monkey  says either she, or any one of her three kids, will now adopt the kitten, which is still unnamed.

Shes beautiful, she said. Shes going to get a good home at my house or with one of my children.

As of Monday afternoon, the kitty was at Sean Casey Animal Rescue, which will treat it for an eye infection then look after it while waiting for Cassone to return from a well-deserved Caribbean vacation, for which she will depart next week.

Wheely brave: Officer Christopher Rinelli atempts the daring rescue of the un-named kitty. NYPD
Henry Joseph Darger (April 12[?], 1892-April 13, 1973) was a reclusive American writer and artist who worked as a janitor in Chicago, Illinois. He has become famous for his posthumously discovered 15,145-page fantasy manuscript called The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave Rebellion, along with several hundred drawings and watercolor paintings illustrating the story. Darger's work has become one of the most celebrated examples of outsider art. [Wikipedia]
"It's release day for Helen Lowe's Daughter Of Blood -- not just here NZ but in the US, UK, an Australia as well and of course she is celebrating in style with a virtual party on her blog.





Let's Welcome Daughter Of Blood



There'll be more happening throughout the day with interviews, guest posts, including a Reddit Fantasy AMA, a number of interviews around the world and guest features coming up on the week on SF Signal, TOR.com and more. To join in, just click onThere'll be more happening throughout the day with interviews, guest posts, including a Reddit Fantasy AMA, a number of interviews around the world and guest features coming up on the week on SF Signal, TOR.com and more.

Visit Helen's blog for details!"










Looking for the big games to watch in Week 9? We have them right here.
During the final flash-forward look at the end of the Arrow episode Blood Debts eagle eyed fans noticed something amiss. Felicity is no longer wearing her engagement ring to Oliver. It led many people to wonder and speculate over the meaning of the missing prop. Is it possible it was a mistake on productions part or an intentional clue? Arrow star, Stephen Amell, is here to clear up the confusion.

Amell was at the Heroes and Villains Fan Fest in New Jersey when he opened up on the mysterious flash-forward. Comicbook.com reports that Amell said of Felicitys missing ring, Felicity is not wearing her ring in that flash forward scene, and that was not a mistake. Spoiler alert, I probably mess it up. Of course, the I in that sentence refers to Amells character Oliver Queen and no one can probably say theyre surprised by that information. Disappointed, maybe, but surely it comes as no shock that Oliver can screw up his seemingly perfect relationship with Felicity.

Arrow: The Big Problem with Olivers Son >>>

If Felicity and Oliver have broken up, or at the very least called off their engagement, it would explain some of Felicitys anger in that scene. Granted, Felicity could be angry about whoever funeral she just attended but she doesnt seem too thrilled when Oliver gets into the limo either. Its a far cry from their romantic canoodling in the back of limo when they first got engaged in Dark Waters. Its pretty clear that Oliver and Felicitys relationship is in for some tough times.

The reason for their break-up might have already been revealed. In The Flash crossover episode, Legends of Yesterday Felicity found out about Olivers illegitimate child with a former girlfriend. A child that Oliver was keeping secret because of the mothers (insane) wishes. Felicity didnt take too kindly to be lied to and broke up with Oliver, only for Barry Allen to run so fast he reversed time. This ended up saving the day and Olivers relationship. However in the current timeline, Oliver is still keeping up a relationship with his son and without Felicitys knowledge. Id put good money on the secret coming out (again) and Felicity breaking up with Oliver (again).





Arrow: Were Looking at the Grave Mystery All Wrong >>>

Whatever the reason for the break up, its unlikely that its permanent. The pairing is too popular, and frankly too important on Arrow, to be gone forever. The mood in that limo is chilly but Oliver and Felicity are still sharing a limo, things cant be that bad between them. Its more likely that this will be another off period in Oliver and Felicitys ongoing on-and-off relationship because its a TV show.

But what do you think? Is there a permanent Olicity break up in the coming? What will Oliver do to mess it up? Does it involve his secret relationship with his son? Or is it more tied into the grave mystery? Is it possible that it involves both?

Arrow season 4 airs Wednesdays at 8pm on The CW.

(Image courtesy of The CW)
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October 3, 2022

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Hundreds  if not thousands  of new and returning TV shows and movies are released every month  your options of what to watch are endless. Variety, they say is ...
Chinese New Year celebration at UB features traditional, contemporary performing arts

The sixth annual Chinese New Year celebration at UB will feature traditions that include traditional Chinese dance.

This celebration is for Chinese people, and it is also for many Asian people and for people in Western New York and across America. It is becoming a global event.

BUFFALO, N.Y.  The University at Buffalos Confucius Institute and the Chinese Club of Western New York will present their sixth annual Chinese New Year celebration on Feb. 7 from 2:30-5 p.m. at UBs Center for the Arts.

The popular free event often fills the CFAs Mainstage Theatre to capacity with impressive performances that illuminate the beauty of Chinese art, culture and language through music, storytelling, comedic dialogue and martial arts.

This celebration is for Chinese people, and it is also for many Asian people and for people in Western New York and across America, says Jiyuan Yu, UB professor of philosophy and director of the Confucius Institute. It is becoming a global event.

We are from different cultural traditions, but we are sitting together to enjoy and learn from each others culture, he says. This is a beautiful picture, and this is what makes living in Buffalo and in America so great, no matter how cold the weather.

This years celebration actually takes place on the eve of the Chinese New Year, a holiday based on the lunar calendar. Each annual cycle is represented by one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and 2016 is the year of the monkey.

In China, the arrival of the lunar New Years is a public holiday celebrated in many ways. On the CFA stage, the diversity of commemorating the event is condensed into a cultural showcase.

In China, the specific celebrations depend on the region and customs, says Emily Sheng, president of the Chinese Club of Western New York. Its as though were taking the different ways people celebrate and combine them all into one show.

Sheng says approximately 150 CC-WNY members from variety of CC-WNY dance groups and chorus groups will perform at the gala show. The highlight programs are: Miao, Xijiang and Tibetan group dances; solo Jiang dance and waltz dance; a folk chorus performance inspired by the film Miao Miao; a musical performance on the traditional Chinese instrument hulusi, a clay flute; and numerous singing performances.

Other highlights include a powerful vocal performance by two top Chinese language students at City Honors School, says Bruce Acker, associate director of the Confucius Institute.

The artistry of this performance and all the afternoons other performances will be fantastic, he says.

The afternoon also features:

A vocal performance of Beijing Welcomes You, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games theme song, by students from Nardin Academy.

Musical performances by the orchestra and chorus from Lewiston-Porter High School.

Xiangsheng, or Chinese cross-talk, a traditional humorous dialogue style by students from St. Josephs Collegiate Institute.

A vocal performance by the student chorus at Fletcher Elementary School.

A performance of various Chinese folk songs by the Lewiston-Porter High School Orchestra, plus the schools chorus.

More than 80 students will perform, says Yu. Its an impressive show that also demonstrates how American students are enjoying music from different cultures.

The celebration also features a martial arts demonstration by the Gold Summit Martial Arts Institute with Shifu Erin Markle performing and leading students in various kung-fu styles.

While many of the performances are traditional, the afternoon also features some of Chinas most famous contemporary music.

The Confucius Institute, which places instructors in classrooms as early as kindergarten, combining Chinese cultural education with Mandarin language instruction, will present their annual awards recognizing student excellence in Chinese language study.

CC-WNY is the largest not-for-profit Chinese ethnic organization in the area. The club provides year round events, activities and education for its members and the Western New York community.

The institute has more information about the celebration. Contact UBs Bruce Acker at 716-645-7919 or backer@buffalo.edu. Details are also available at www.confuciusinstitute.buffalo.edu or www.cc-wny.org.
International Timber marked the 350th anniversary of its parent company Saint Gobain by planting 350 sapling trees at sites across the country.

Teams from International Timbers six sites donated and planted 350 saplings at nominated locations across the country including schools, hospices and parks. The chosen sites were nominated because they would benefit from young trees being planted, where there was educational or aesthetic benefit to be had.

The sites included Falkirk Community Trust Callander Park, to replace trees that had been lost through storm damage, and Juniper Urban Wildlife Centre, a project to transform a wasteland into a wildlife reserve. Fifty trees also went to Wellacre Academy in Manchester, where students will care for and study the trees.

Kerry Wardle, marketing manager at International Timber said: We thought the planting of 350 trees was a fitting tribute to Saint Gobain and a testament to the long history of the brand. We hope our 350 trees will live to be 350 years old and provide a lasting tribute to be enjoyed by generations to come.
The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) raised over 4,000 for its nominated charity, Walking with the Wounded, at its annual Burns Supper held in Edinburgh on 22 January.

With 250 people attending, including BMF chairman, Peter Hindle, MBE, vice chairman, Stewart Pierce, incoming Scottish regional chairman, Ian Glass of Grahams, and special guests Gordon Nelson, director, FMB Scotland and FMB Scotlands president, Robert Wilson, this was the BMFs biggest Burns Night event to date.

Burns Night celebrates the life and works of Scotlands national poet or bard, Robert Burns. Guests enjoyed the traditional piping in and addressing of the haggis, and an entertaining toast to the Immortal Memory of the Bard by Ian Park, who has been toasting his memory for over 40 years.

John Newcomb, BMF managing director, said: Im delighted that this event has established itself amongst members both north and south of the Scottish border. Our thanks go to sponsors Easy Trim, Marley Plumbing & Drainage, Natural Paving and Stonemarket, and to all those who donated raffle prizes for their generous support, as well as to everyone who helped raise such a fantastic sum for our nominated charity.

The total sum raised included a successful 1,600 auction bid by John Cameron (Plumbers & Builders Merchants) for an atmospheric oil painting of the Edinburgh skyline by Walking with the Wounded ambassador, Stewart Hill. Mr Hill, who suffered a traumatic brain injury while serving in Afghanistan, discovered his talent when he began painting to deal with post injury depression. He is one of many wounded service personnel who have been helped by the charity, and during the evening gave a moving account of its work and the 1,000 mile fundraising walk of Britain that he and other ex-service personnel completed last autumn.
This just in, Santa Claus must register with the FAA. In past years, he was given a holiday dispensation but with the assault on Christmas from the fruitcakes, this year he must register his sleigh as a drone.New regulations recently put in place will not allow Santa or his Reindeer to land on public property. This is in keeping with the ban on all things religious in the Public Arena. Elves are exempt from any of these regulations since they are a protected minority. Santa has been ordered to appear in court to show "just cause" on his employment practices and his failure to pay $15 Minimum wages to his employees.The IRS is also investigating Santa's finances. It appears that he spends inordinate amounts of money on raw materials and travel to deliver his gifts but reports no source of income. His status as a nonprofit may be revoked unless he provides a proper accounting of his finances. When asked how Santa does all this for free, Bernie Sanders replied "no comment" Everyone is afraid to ask Hillary to explain how a nonprofit foundation can possibly be required to follow the law.Donald Trump tweeted "This is what happens when you don't have a secure border. I will build a wall between the USA and the North Pole and I will make Santa pay for it. I'm not even sure he is a citizen. I demand to see his birth certificate"When asked to comment on Santa Claus, President Obama responded that he was obviously one of the 1% because you never hear the name of any of his helpers and he claims all the credit for his good fortune. The President also commented that there is no evidence that Santa has any ties to any Muslim terrorist organization but could be a member of a supremacist group that maintains a listing of "Naughty and Nice" and is a proponent of the use of a lump of Coal. His origins are reportedly from Europe and not the Middle East.There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that Santa is a member of the NRA since many of his gifts throughout the years have included Cap Pistols, Military Style plastic rifles and para military clothing. He was even responsible for giving "Ralphie" the dreaded a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and "this thing which tells time". Ralphie was later seen shooting the BB gun in his backyard and almost shot his eye out.Santa may also be guilty of redlining neighborhoods because he distributes his gifts in a disproportional manner. He usually gives the best gifts to the richest neighborhoods and often bypasses the public housing projects.Snopes has investigated allegations regarding the real existence of Santa Claus and revealed that he may in fact be a security threat that requires tracking by NORAD."Back in 1955, NORAD's predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) was based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At Christmastime of that year, a Sears department store advertisement placed in a Colorado Springs newspaper featured a picture of Santa urging children to "Call me on my private phone and I will talk to you personally any time day or night." Unfortunately, the phone numberincluded in the ad was either misprinted or misdialed, and a child who called ended up not on the phone with St. Nick but on a top secret line to one Colonel Harry Shoup, the officer on duty that day at CONAD. Rather than informing his juvenile caller they had reached a wrong number and brusquely instructing them to get off the line, Col. Shoup opted to play along and asked his staff to accommodate the inquisitive youngster by providing them with updates on Santa's Christmas Eve progress." SnoopesLastly, Santa uses various surrogates to hide his true identity. Generally, these surrogates appear in shopping malls and street corners, often reeking of alcohol and trying to appear jolly.
Bordentown exhibit showcases items belonging to Joseph Bonaparte

The Bordentown Historical society is gaining international attention for its Joseph Bonaparte exhibit, former King of Spain and brother of Napoleon.
KARL-MARIA PFEFFER, RPHI:

"SkyTower, un deceniu de succes si o resursa importanta pentru comunitatea de afaceri"
The fast-track task force formed by the Centre to revive the mobile manufacturing ecosystem is scheduled to have a meeting on January 28, where it is expected to discuss the revival of the mobile handset manufacturing unit which was earlier run by Finnish electronics manufacturer Nokia, in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai.

A high-level team of the task force, headed by its chairman Pankaj Mohindroo, also the national president of Indian Cellular Association, has confirmed the development. He, however, was not available for further comments immediately.

The meeting will be attended by department of electronics and telecommunication, department of commerce and department of revenue, representatives from Tamil Nadu government and others.

Earlier in August last year, the task forced requested the Tamil Nadu government to set up a similar committee of the state government to help restart the now- defunct Nokia plant at Sriperumpudur as well as to revive the electronic manufacturing ecosystem in the state.

The meeting scheduled later this week is a follow up of the earlier meeting.

It also asked the Tamil Nadu government to announce a package for the revival of Nokia plant as the state is the highest stakeholder in the issue.

Nokia, once an iconic mobile handset maker, in 2014 decided to shut down its plant at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai.

The company said it decided to stop production at its Chennai plant from November 1, 2014 in the absence of orders from its new parent firm (Microsoft), which terminated the mobile purchase agreement.

It may be noted, global software major Microsoft Finland-based Nokia's global devices and services business, including assets in India for $7.2 billion on April 25, 2015. The company decided to suspend manufacturing handsets from its Chennai plant though it could not take possession of it due to legal battles over a tax notice from the Tamil Nadu government and the Supreme Court. The government has put a freeze on Nokia's assets due to a tax dispute over an estimated Rs 23,000 crore.

Following this, the state government has also slapped a tax demand notice for around Rs 2,400 crore.

The factory employed around 8,000 people directly.
On December 3, the Union ministry of drinking water and sanitation informed Parliament that around 51.78 per cent rural households and 12.63 per cent urban households were defecating in the open.

The ministrys data was till November 30, 2015. But five days later the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) brought out a report on the implementation of the total sanitation programme for the period 2009-10 to 2013-14, suggesting the ministry might have inflated the number of new toilets in the country.

The CAG report went on to blame the state governments for poor implementation, diversion of funds, defunct toilets and violation of norms behind the poor record of the total sanitation programme.

Experts say the claim made by the ministry in Parliament appears unrealistic on many accounts. The first doubt arises when the ministrys figures are compared with the findings of the 2001 and 2011 census reports and those by the WHO and UNICEF.

For instance, the ministry said 51.78 per cent rural households practised open defecation in the country by the end of November 30, 2015. Whereas the open defecation figures in Census 2011 and 2001 were 69.3 per cent and 78.1, respectively.

It means the Union and state governments reduced the scourge by 17.52 percentage points in nearly five years when the similar reduction was a mere 8.8 percentage points in the last census decade. Moreover, a joint report by the UNICEF and WHO says India reduced open defecation by 18 percentage points in two decades from 1990 to 2012.

Thus either the government actually managed to reduce open defecation at a breakneck speed or its latest figures are grossly exaggerated.

The first scenario appears unlikely. The CAG in its report on the total sanitation programme noted that the state governments spent less than half of the total funds available to them in those five years, where the government has claimed to having lowered open defecation by 17.52 percentage points. Except for the current financial year, the spending on construction of toilets remained less than 50 per cent.

A close look at the achievements of the state governments and the funds spent by them reveal more disturbing trends. States like Odisha, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have the highest number of households defecating in open.

Out of these eight four states, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, have reduced open defecation by more than 26 percentage points in nearly five years. These states are governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which also rules at the Centre.

A benefit of doubt can still be given to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for their large spending, but figures for Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh create reasonable doubts.

By the end of 2001 and 2011, Jharkhand had 93.4 and 92.4 per cent rural households with no toilets, respectively. The figure came down to 66.01 per cent by the end of November 2015. This happened when the expenditure of total funds available in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 was 14.65, 10.68, 25.41, 49.3 and 101.29 per cent, respectively.

The CAG found that 66.34 per cent toilets in the state were defunct.

Chhattisgarhs experience is similar. By the end of 2001 and 2011, Jharkhand had 94.8 and 85.5 per cent rural households without latrines. The figure declined to 55.63 per cent by the end of November, 2015. The expenditure of total funds available in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 was 63.54, 15.8, 34.61, 20, and 69.81 per cent, respectively.

The CAG found 58.87 toilets defunct in this Maoist-infested state.

There is another aberration in the data. Open defecation in Jammu and Kashmir is on the rise in all the available data despite the state having spent over 60 per cent of funds.

The discrepancies in data mean either the ministry of drinking water and sanitation ostensibly inflated the figures presented to Parliament, akin to what the CAG has pointed in its latest report, or the fault lies with the census department, which has failed to notice the large number of toilets having been built in the states.

The CAG in its report accused the ministry of drinking water and sanitation of reporting 326.75 per cent extra toilets in Jharkhand over the census figures. Similarly, the excess figures for Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh stand at 198.78 per cent, 182.29 per cent and 172.40 per cent, respectively.

LESS THAN ENCOURAGING







% of total available funds spent by states







Defunct toilets in vgarious states (% of total)






Banquet Speech of President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the banquet hosted in honour of HE Mr. Francois Hollande, the President of French Republic on January 25, 2016

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Your Excellency President Francois Hollande, Distinguished members of the delegations of India and France, .

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Distinguished Guests, .

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Ladies and Gentlemen, .

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President Hollande, I am delighted to welcome you and the esteemed members of your delegation to India on this very special occasion, which is historic in many ways. Tomorrow, when you preside as the Chief Guest of Indias 67th Republic Day celebrations, France will make history as the only country to have been accorded this honour a fifth time. When your distinguished French Infantry troops march in step with Indian troops in the parade tomorrow, they will make history yet again by being the first-ever foreign contingent to do so. I recall with great pleasure, my meeting with you here, three years ago, and feel privileged to welcome you back in India once again this time as the Chief Guest of our Republic Day celebration. .

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For me, this is not just history in the making it is a testimony to the enduring bonds between our two civilisations and our two people; it is a tribute to our long-standing and strategic partnerships. It is emblematic of our two national mottos: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" and Satyameva Jayate", coming together, with the power to inspire the world to achieve the universal ideals of peace and justice. .

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Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, .

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The friendship between India and France is driven by a remarkable similarity in the ideals and aspirations of our people. Our civilizations have interacted with each other over the centuries, united by a shared vision of the world we want to live in - a world that is premised on individual liberty, freedom and equality; a world that respects pluralism and democracy; a world that seeks tolerance and peaceful co-existence. The deep bonds of our time-tested friendship are only set to strengthen in the years ahead, anchored as they are in this rich, unshakeable foundation. .

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Today, France is Indias leading partner in strategic sectors like defence, space and civil-nuclear cooperation. While our partnership in defence is several decades old; I am happy that our ties are being further strengthened with the robust participation of French private enterprises in Make in India initiative through joint ventures in defence production and manufacturing. .

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Our rich cooperation in the space sector is now five decades old and is increasingly contributing to the worlds understanding of our planetary resources, our ability to fight climate change and fathom the unexplored mysteries of space. France is also a key partner in our quest for harnessing nuclear energy to provide reliable and affordable energy for all. .

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While our cooperation in science and research, education, culture and health is growing, I am glad that the Government of France and the captains of French industry are actively partnering India in our ambitious developmental initiatives, infrastructure, smart cities, clean energy, railways and skill development. .

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Excellency, I am glad that you started your visit to India in Chandigarh, a city that is a monument to the genius of Le Corbusier. The unveiling yesterday of the historic findings of an Indo-French archaeological team dating back to 2.6 million years and the proposed Indo-French partnership in Mars exploration, juxtapose the incredible breadth of our partnership - from jointly plumbing the depths of history to joining hands to explore the stars and the skies. .

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Mr. President, Chandigarh is also the capital of Punjab and Haryana, a region from where more than a century ago, thousands of Indian soldiers fought Frances battle during the First World War and close to ten thousand of them today lie buried in scattered cemeteries in France, having made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of France. .

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As we did then, so must our two countries fight resolutely now for freedom from the forces of intolerance, extremism and terrorism. The dastardly terror attacks in Paris and Pathankot have underlined the urgency for countries like ours to combat this existential threat to humanity and human civilisation. .

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We also need to combat the shared challenge of climate change. Excellency, we laud your leadership and commitment in forging the Paris Agreement on climate change which paves the way for our collective endeavour to safeguard our planet for future generations. We must now ensure that the world walks the path of sustainable development through sustainable lifestyles. .

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Excellency, we have begun the New Year with fresh hopes and dreams and a resolve to jointly overcome the challenges facing us. We live in difficult times characterized by violence, fundamentalism and inequality. But we also live in times of brilliant innovation, of great creativity, of unparalleled global interaction. I am confident that your visit heralds new beginnings in scaling new heights in our bilateral relationship and in our common quest for peace, stability and prosperity for all. .

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With these words, ladies and gentleman, may I raise a toast to the friendship that has always existed between the peoples of India and France and to ever closer cooperation between our two countries. .

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Ladies and Gentlemen, .

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I invite you to please join me in raising a toast: .

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- to the good health of His Excellency President Francois Hollande; .

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- to the continued progress, prosperity and well-being of the friendly people of France; and.

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- to the lasting friendship between our two peoples and countries Vive La France and Jai Hind! .

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Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice to visit Rajasthan from tomorrow . .

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice consisting of 10 MPs from Rajya Sabha and 20 MPs from Lok Sabha will visit Rajasthan and Maharashtra from 27.01.2016 to 01.02.2016. .

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The Committee will visit several organizations like Rajasthan Electronics and Instrumentation Ltd. on Status of Public Grievance Redressal Mechanism and Governments policy of reservation in Organisations of the Central Government", Rajasthan High Court Complex and National Law University in Jodhpur, Rajasthan on January 28 & 29, 2016. .

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The Committee will proceed to Mumbai on January 29, 2016 and will visit organizations like Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers, SIDBI, Industrial Development Bank of India, MTNL and Cotton Corporation of India. .

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The Committee will visit Nagpur Central Jail to review the functioning of Legal Aid Clinic in Jail on January 31, 2016. .

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Terrorist attacks on India and France are an attack on the fundamental values of liberty, freedom and universal brotherhood, says President Mukherjee

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The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee received His Excellency Mr. Francois Hollande, the President of the French Republic and Chief Guest of the Republic Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday (January 25, 2016). He also hosted a banquet in his honour. .

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Welcoming the French President, President Mukherjee congratulated him on the successful CoP-21 in Paris. The President said the growing strength of India-France strategic partnership in defence, space, civil nuclear energy and security demonstrates high mutual trust and understanding between the two countries. .

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The President appreciated the French President for his leadership and resolute action in the wake of the dastardly terror attacks in Paris in November last year. He said the French Presidents response reflected the spirit and determination of the people of France to not let the terrorists succeed. India appreciates the support and solidarity expressed by France for India in the wake of the attacks in Pathankot. Whether in Paris or Pathankot, terrorist attacks on democracies such as India and France are an attack against fundamental values of liberty, freedom and universal brotherhood. Terrorism is a global threat and it poses a threat to all nations. No cause can justify terrorist acts. It is imperative that the world act in unison against terrorism, without political considerations. .

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In his banquet speech President Mukherjee said France made history as the only country to have been accorded the honour of being Chief Guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations a fifth time. When the French Infantry troops march in step with Indian troops in the parade tomorrow, they will make history yet again by being the first-ever foreign contingent to do so. This is not just history in the making it is a testimony to the enduring bonds between our two civilisations and our two people; it is a tribute to our long-standing and strategic partnerships. It is emblematic of our two national mottos: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" and Satyameva Jayate", coming together, with the power to inspire the world to achieve the universal ideals of peace and justice. .

.

The President said the two countries must fight resolutely for freedom from the forces of intolerance, extremism and terrorism. The dastardly terror attacks in Paris and Pathankot have underlined the urgency for countries like India and France to jointly combat this existential threat to humanity and human civilisation. .

.

The President said friendship between India and France is driven by a remarkable similarity in the ideals and aspirations of our people. Our civilizations have interacted with each other over the centuries, united by a shared vision of the world we want to live in - a world that is premised on individual liberty, freedom and equality; a world that respects pluralism and democracy; a world that seeks tolerance and peaceful co-existence. The deep bonds of our time-tested friendship are only set to strengthen in the years ahead, anchored as they are in this rich, unshakeable foundation. .

.

The President said while our cooperation in science and research, education, culture and health is growing, he was glad that the Government of France and the captains of French industry are actively partnering India in our ambitious developmental initiatives, infrastructure, smart cities, clean energy, railways and skill development. .

.

The President said the unveiling of the historic findings of an Indo-French archaeological team dating back to 2.6 million years in Chandigarh and the proposed Indo-French partnership in Mars exploration, juxtapose the incredible breadth of our partnership - from jointly plumbing the depths of history to joining hands to explore the stars and the skies. Chandigarh is also the capital of Punjab and Haryana, a region from where more than a century ago, thousands of Indian soldiers fought Frances battle during the First World War and close to ten thousand of them today lie buried in scattered cemeteries in France, having made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of France. .

.

The President said we have begun the New Year with fresh hopes and dreams and a resolve to jointly overcome the challenges facing us. We live in difficult times characterized by violence, fundamentalism and inequality. But we also live in times of brilliant innovation, of great creativity, of unparalleled global interaction. He said the French Presidents visit heralds new beginnings in scaling new heights in India-France bilateral relationship and in the common quest for peace, stability and prosperity for all. .

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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.
Three of Indias top business schools figure among the 100 best globally, according to the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking for 2016. These institutions  the Indian Institute of (IIM), Ahmedabad; IIM, Bangalore; and the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad  have all improved their positions on the list from a year earlier.

While IIM, Ahmedabad, has moved two spots up to the 24th place, ISB has climbed four steps to be ranked 29th. IIM, Bangalore, has jumped from 82nd last year to 62nd now.

The first on the list is Frances INSEAD, for its one-year programme. For a course that has half the tenure, its fees are lower than those of the top three US schools.

INSEAD joins Harvard Business School, London Business School, the Wharton School, and Stanford Graduate School of Business, in the elite club of schools that have reached the number-one spot. The other four schools occupy the remaining spots in the top five, for their respective two-year programmes.

The top spot is a first not only for INSEAD but also for the one-year MBA, which is proving increasingly popular worldwide, including among some US business schools.

Created just a decade ago, the one-year, full-time residential PGPX programme from IIM, Ahmedabad, is ranked number one for the career progress of its alumni this year.

Widely regarded as the top business school in India, and ranked 15th in the world in FTs 2015 Masters in rankings, IIM-A is also famous for its 100-acre campus and its teaching space designed by American architect Louis Kahn.

The 2016 ranking includes nine new schools, two of which appear for the first time. Renmin University of China School of Business is the best-ranked new entrant, at 43rd. The remaining seven schools had appeared previously but did not make it to the ranking in 2015.

The proportion of women studying at ranked schools is rising. In 2015, 35 per cent of MBA students were women, compared with 30 per cent in 2005. Last year, the proportion of female students had topped 40 per cent in 27 schools, a leap from just four a decade ago. Chinese schools lead the way in this respect, with women accounting for 44 per cent of students overall and 59 per cent at Renmin University of China School of Business.

However, the proportion of female business school faculty remains low overall, at about 27 per cent. Merage School of Business at University of California Irvine is the most gender-balanced, with women accounting for 46 per cent of the faculty.

The average-pay gap between men and women increases from 14 per cent before their MBA to 19 per cent three years after graduation, the FT ranking shows.
While French President Francois Hollande has been invited as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations on 26th January, the 35th Infantry Regiment of France and the Musical Infantry Regiment will march along with Indian troops in the parade.

This will be the first time that a foreign contingent will march down Rajpath with the Indian Army as part of Republic Day celebrations.

The band is composed of 50 musicians and the Regiment animates official and formal ceremonies, being an essential element of public relations and a vehicle of communication for the French Army.

Being based in Lyon, many of its performances take place in the southeast quarter of France, but it also travels in the rest of mainland France and abroad during numerous international festivals. It has a wide and diverse repertoire.

Earlier, from 6th to 17th January, 56 "Gaillards" from the 35th Infantry participated in the third edition of the Indo-French military exercise, SHAKTI, in the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, along with the 2nd Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, which fought in France during World War I.

"The French and the Indian troops were able to share their experience in a wide range of counter-terrorism operations, including in semi-urban conditions, under United Nations mandate," an official press statement said.

French President Francois Hollande will be the fifth French president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations over the decades.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah, who has been re-elected to the top party post, met senior party leader M.M Joshi at his residence here on Tuesday to seek his blessings.

Earlier, Shah had met veteran leader L.K. Advani to seek his blessings.

Advani and Joshi had skipped Shah's election and post-win celebrations at the BJP headquarters on Sunday.

The duo had earlier criticised Shah's leadership after the BJP's humiliating defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections.

Under Shah's leadership, the BJP scaled new heights by coming to power in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir. However, the party had to face defeats in Delhi and Bihar assembly elections, triggering some rumblings in the BJP.
The Board of Directors of Apollo Energy Company Ltd., an Apollo Hospitals Group Company, at a meeting here has, approved the divestment of 23.3 percent shareholding in Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company Ltd. ("Apollo Munich") to its joint venture partner, Munich Re of Germany for Rs. 163.5 cr. The proposed transaction values Apollo Munich at Rs. 703 cr.

Completion of the proposed transaction is subject to applicable regulatory approvals and execution of customary agreements, which is expected to be completed at the end of the first quarter of 2016. Post consummation of the transaction, Apollo Hospitals Group's shareholding in Apollo Munich shall stand reduced from 74.4 percent to 51.1 percent. Correspondingly, Munich Re's shareholding in Apollo Munich shall move to 48.7 percent and 0.2 percent will be held by employees. Apollo Hospitals shall continue to hold its stake in Apollo Munich.

Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company Ltd. and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., welcomed the development and said, "Insurance is a key element for making quality healthcare facilities accessible to the masses. The show of confidence from our JV partner will go a long way in helping the Group achieve its vision of 'Healthcare for all'.

Shobana Kamineni, Whole Time Director, Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company Ltd. and Executive Vice-Chairperson Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., said "We are delighted that Munich Re has decided to increase their shareholding in our insurance venture. The transaction highlights the strong position of Apollo Munich as one of India's leading and most trusted standalone Health Insurance Company. It also demonstrates the commitment of both the partners to further expand the operations of Apollo Munich."

The opportunity for Munich Re to increase its shareholdings was provided through the decision of the Indian Government in March 2015 to increase the foreign direct investment cap in the insurance sector from 26 percent to 49 percent.

With the increase in shareholding, Munich Re strengthens its presence in India which is one of the key markets for the company.

Doris Hopke, the member of the Munich Re Board of Management responsible for Munich Health, said: "India's population structure, increased life expectancy and positive economic development will usher in a steep rise in medium-term healthcare spending. Since its start in 2007, Apollo Munich Health Insurance has shown exceptional, often above-market growth rates. With the increased stakeholding, we are strengthening our position for sustainable and profitable growth in this region. Apollo Munich Health Insurance is committed to make quality healthcare easy and accessible"

Axis Capital acted as the financial advisor to Apollo Hospitals group for the transaction.

It was in 1983, that Padma Vibushan awardee Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India's first corporate hospital - Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Over the years Apollo Hospitals has established itself as home to the largest cardiac practice in India with over 160,000 cardiac surgeries. Apollo Hospitals is also the world's largest private cancer care provider and runs the world's leading solid organ transplant program having conducted over 1,500 solid organ transplants in 2014-15 alone.

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Now, as Asia's largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes 9,215 beds across 64 Hospitals, 2,100 Pharmacies, over 90 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 110 plus Telemedicine Centres and 80 plus Apollo Munich Insurance branches panning the length and breadth of the Country. As an integrated healthcare service provider with Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy capability, 12 plus medical education centres and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical breakthroughs with the most recent investment being that of commissioning the first Proton Therapy Center across Asia, Africa and Australia in Chennai, India.

Apollo Munich Health Insurance, one of the largest private sector health insurance company offers comprehensive health insurance plans for individuals, families, senior citizens and corporates. The wide array of products cover health insurance, travel insurance and personal accident insurance plans. The company has approximately 8 percent of the retail health insurance market. Apollo Munich Health Insurance covers over 4 million members. It distributes its products through agents, bancassurance, corporate agents, strategic partners, sales associates and direct channels. The company has 100 offices across the country. In the financial year FY2015, gross written premium income stood at INR 861 cr and a profit before tax of 0.67 INR cr.

Munich Health, one of three segments within Munich Re, alongside primary insurance and reinsurance was established in 2009. Its purpose is to pool the global health expertise in reinsurance, primary insurance and risk-management. Munich Health serves insurance companies in more than 40 countries, and primary insurance clients in over 100 countries. In the financial year 2014 Munich Health achieved a profit of 109m on premium income of over 5.3bn.
Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday greeted President Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of India's 67th Republic Day.

"Best wishes and congratulations to you and the People of India on Republic Day," Turnbull tweeted.

He also thanked President Mukherjee for his wishes to the Government and people of Australia on their Day.

India celebrates its 67th Republic Day today as the capital, under a blanket of heavy security, geared for the grand celebrations.



ALSO READ: Modi greets nation on Republic Day

The special attraction this year is the 35th Infantry Regiment of France and the Musical Infantry Regiment will march along with Indian troops in the parade.

French President Francois Hollande will be the fifth French president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations over the decades.
Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday greeted President Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of India's 67th Republic Day.

"Best wishes and congratulations to you and the People of India on Republic Day," Turnbull tweeted.

He also thanked President Mukherjee for his wishes to the Government and people of Australia on their Day.

India celebrates its 67th Republic Day today as the capital, under a blanket of heavy security, geared for the grand celebrations.

The special attraction this year is the 35th Infantry Regiment of France and the Musical Infantry Regiment will march along with Indian troops in the parade.

French President Francois Hollande will be the fifth French president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations over the decades.
Bangladesh war crimes accused Emdadul Haque died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday morning from several health-related complications. He was 78.

The Daily Star quoted prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman, as saying that he was admitted to the hospital soon after his January 6 arrest for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity in 1971 in the Brahmanbaria area of Bangladesh.
The Bollywood celebrities on Tuesday took to their Twitter handles to greet the nation on the occasion of India's 67th Republic Day.

Amitabh Bachchan: "Happy Republic Day .. 2016 !! January 26 .."

Rishi Kapoor: "Happy Republic Day to one and all!!"

Priyanka Chopra, who will be honoured with Padma Shri this year said: "Proud to be Indian & so thankful for everything this wonderful nation has given me!Happy Republic Day"

Nimrat Kaur: "Immense gratitude for all your love !!Here's Team #Airlift wishing you all a very Happy Republic Day !!"

Sonam Kapoor: "While we look up to salute the Indian flag, here's to remembering our unsung heroes! #RepublicDay #Neerja"

Preity Zinta: "#HappyRepublicDay Folks Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country ! Ting"

Alia Bhatt: "Happy Republic Day!!!!"

Arjun Rampal: "Happy Republic day everyone. Let's work to make INDIA the greatest. Do your best. Jai Hind"

Atul Kasbekar: "Jaaaaaai Hinnnndddd.Happy #RepublicDay To All The Fabulous Natives"

Sajid Khan: "Proud to be an indian...HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY"

Karan Johar, who recently topped the headlines with his comment on 'Intolerance' row tweeted: "Happy Republic Day......"

Mika Singh: "Happy Republic Day everyone :) proud to be an Indian :) Bharat Mata Ki Jai :)"

Indian film fraternity has always contributed to the pride of this nation in their own way. This year B-Town biggies like Rajnikanth, Anupam Kher, Udit Narayan, Priyanka Chopra and Ajay Devgn will be conferred with the highest civilian 'Padma' awards to mark their contribution.
Chinese naval hospital ship -- The Peace Ark -- has returned to a military port in Zhoushan, in the country's eastern Zhejiang Province, after a 142-day-long voyage around the Pacific Ocean.

The ship took part in the military exercise "Peace and Friendship 2015," which was jointly held by China and Malaysia in Malaysia last September, before embarking on "Harmonious Mission-2015."

During the mission, the naval ship visited Australia, French Polynesia,United States, Mexico, Barbados, Grenada and Peru. It also carried out free clinical and humanitarian services during its journey.

The medical crew aboard the Peace Ark, which set sail from its port in Zhoushan on Sept. 7 last year, performed 59 surgeries and treated more than 17,400 people during the journey.

In addition, more than 9,400 foreign citizens paid visits to the ship.
The Congress on Tuesday dubbed the President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh as 'murder of democracy' by the BJP-led Centre and accused it of misusing power.

"Bharatiya Janata Party wants its government everywhere. You can't impose President's rule because people didn't favor you. We will fight in the court and also tell the people how the BJP misuses its power. It is very unfortunate and it is a murder of democracy," Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI.

Kharge further ruled out that Arunachal is a sensitive area and if anything goes wrong there, then the BJP would be held responsible for that.

Echoing similar sentiments, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala tweeted, "Republic's founding principles of Democracy & Federalism gutted by Modiji on Republic Day! Will fight Central Rule in Arunachal tooth&nail."

"Sun rises in India's east. BJP, however, eclipses Constitution's ethos by imposing Central rule in Arunachal. Federalism trampled by Modiji," he added.

President Pranab Mukherjee today gave his assent to imposition of central rule in Arunachal Pradesh. Two days back, Union Cabinet had recommended President's Rule following the political crisis in the state.

In December last year, Arunachal Pradesh was rocked by a political crisis as 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to impeach Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue.

The move was termed as illegal and unconstitutional by the Speaker. The rebel group MLAs congregated at a community hall after the state Assembly complex was allegedly sealed by the local administration, and impeached Mr. Rebia in an impromptu session chaired by Deputy Speaker.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has decided to hear on January 27 the Congress' plea challenging the Cabinet decision.
School choice giving families options to find best educational alternatives

CJ Photo by Kari Travis

Donovan Coates-St. Remy and his mother Betti found Cathedral School, a private Catholic institution, their best option. Donovan attends with the help of an opportunity scholarship.

RALEIGH - Ten year-old Donovan Coates-St. Remy loves science club, geography club, and his Windows 10 ThinkPad. He would have none of these things if not for North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program, a tuition voucher system that provides funding so he can attend Cathedral School, a private Roman Catholic institution in Raleigh."This year is our first year with the Opportunity Scholarship Program," said Donovan's mother, Betti Coates-St. Remy. "I didn't really know about it until I'd read up on it. When we applied [for the scholarship] I was like, 'if we get in, we're definitely doing this.' And we did. We were just so excited."Donovan attended a charter school prior to enrolling at Cathedral School, and though the institution was good, the atmosphere didn't provide enough of an academic challenge for her bright, precocious middle school boy, Betti said.That's when she decided to explore other options. After discovering the school voucher program through online research, and after visiting several private schools in the area, she and her husband decided the learning opportunities and hands-on instruction at Cathedral School would be the best fit for their son.Donovan is one of thousands of North Carolina students who have benefited from at least one version of school choice, which allows parents from every economic background to depart traditional public schools and select options they believe will serve their children better - using vouchers, enrolling in charter schools, or educating their children at home. National School Choice Week , a nationwide educational and promotional campaign highlighting these options and advocating wider availability of them, begins today and runs through Jan. 30.Betti said.Since his enrollment, Donovan's grades have increased, and his attitude toward academics also has improved, Betti said.Betti said.Donovan is just one of eight students at Cathedral School who have received an opportunity scholarship, and school principal Donna Moss would like to see the program grow in the coming year - not only within her institution, but also statewide.Moss said.Enacted by legislation in 2013, the Opportunity Scholarship Program was subjected to a host of legal challenges regarding the use of public tax dollars to fund private school tuitions before July 2015, when the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled the law constitutional.The program now has awarded more than 2,500 children $4,200 vouchers to attend private schools during the 2015-16 school year, and is on more solid footing with parents who are looking for reliable education options, says Terry Stoops, director of research and education studies at the John Locke Foundation. But though the voucher program is moving forward, challenges remain.Stoops said. "And these are issues that can be worked out with minor changes to the law, or minor changes put in place by the SEAA that makes it easier for parents and private schools to accommodate the scholarship program."One of those issues is a conflict between private school and scholarship enrollment periods, Moss said., Moss said.Families will continue to benefit from opportunity scholarships, according to Betti, who says she's blessed to give her son the education and future he deserves.Betti said.
While the market demand for digital cameras is shrinking due to rapid spread of smart phones and so on, Fujifilm's "X series" is constantly expanding its market share since being launched five years ago.

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Fujifilm recently announced new products of X-series.

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"We are really proud of what has been achieved and are very excited by the possibilities for the future. But none of this could have happened without the tremendous support of our retail partners, distributers, "X-photographers", and X series users. You have been part of this fantastic journey and I thank everyone of you for your support over last 5 years to make these cameras come real," said Shigehiro Nakajima, President and COO, Fujifilm Corporation

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Fujifilm has been expanding sales of X-series cameras because it has close relationship and communication with users internationally.

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The company put focus on usability through innovation of technologies. Actually, a lot of users from abroad joined the event and celebrated new products.

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They are a kind of fans of X-series and Fujifilm that has been engaged in diffusion and development of Photo Culture since it was established in 1934.

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Also, these photos showed at the event are voluntarily provided from users without Fujifilm paying money and asking for it.

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Among the professional photographer who joined the celebrations is Zack Arias.

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"I love them. It's just, when I'm holding it, shooting with it, it just feels like it has a soul. It has personality. And it's quiet. It's small. It's just a perfect little camera," said Zack Arias, a Photographer

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One Japanese company has developed sensing facility to monitor real age of human being.

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After taking an image of the face, this facility shows age by special algorism.

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Next step is checking brain waves. This procedure realizes to monitor his balance of autonomous nervous system, tolerance to stress and stiff of artery.

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It is enabled by this company's original algorism for pulse analysis.

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After monitoring 50 years old person's stress and artery situation internal age 48 is indicated. Also its data is reflected to his face photo

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"Usually, a doctor introduces figure of medical check and advice. But the patient hesitates to change his habit of life by such instruction. This problem is overcome by visualized method. It will accelerate concern to his health," said Yoshiki Oka, Sharp Corporation

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An image on the wall is reflected by a small projector kept in the jacket

Very small projector module enables this niche and free-hand reflection. Biggest subject of this facility was focusing of image. Micro electro mechanical system enables operation of light source of leaser.

"It is necessary to reflect laser light to micro electro mechanical system with accuracy. It requires high level technology. But this facility realizes to reflect image on to uneven surface. Any place will be a monitor to reflect image. I expect expansion to ASEAN and India. We can develop market of the facility which enables free hand work or wherever reflection of image," Oka added.

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Such devices are significant for Japan's growing aging society and rest of the world.
Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) B. S. Sidhu on Tuesday said that a high alert has been sounded after police had received inputs on the movement of some suspects in Dehradun on the occasion of Republic Day.

"On this occasion, we don't want to take any chances with the security arrangement in the state. We had inputs of movement of some suspects in the state, have issued an alert. We have also circulated an image of a suspect," Sidhu told ANI here.

"We don't think that Uttarakhand is a soft target as the police is on high alert and efficient. We believe that 'One should hope for the best but be prepared for the worse'," he added.

A high alert has been declared and police teams instructed to remain on their toes after a suspicious man was spotted in Dehradun.

The image of a suspect has been made by the police and people have been asked to contact the police if they spotted the person.

The Local Intelligence Unit and the police teams are searching the 'suspicious' man.
Joshua Jackson seems to have pitched his ideas for 'Dawson's Creek' reunion.

The 37-year-old actor starred as Pacey Witter in the TV series, which aired its final episode in 2003, said that if the creator Kevin Williamson resurrect the show then they really need to figure out a way around Michelle Williams' character Jen's death, reports Chanel 24.

"I guess she could come back as a ghost, or they could do it like Dallas did and have someone wake up and find her alive in the shower 20 years later. That could work!" said Jackson.

Meanwhile, Katie Holmes is less hopeful for a reunion of the popular teen drama.

The 37-year-old actress shared previously that Dawson's Creek is very special for them but some things are better when it stays the way it was.

"I would love to get together with everybody, but I'm not sure a reunion would be as fulfilling as what we all want it to be," she said.
Malaysia's top prosecutor has cleared Prime Minister Najib Razak of corruption in a long running financial scandal that has gripped the attention of the nation.

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The Attorney General's office said the 681-million dollars that Najib received in his bank account was a personal donation from the Saudi royal family.

Critics, however, had alleged that the money had come from a state-owned investment fund.

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Najib has consistently denied these accusations and faced pressure to resign, reports The Daily Star.

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Anti-corruption officials have previously said he received the money as a gift from a foreign funder.

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The Attorney General's office, however, cleared that the amount was a 'personal donation'from the royal family in Saudi Arabia, transferred between the end of March and early April 2013.
The nation is celebrating the 67th Republic Day on Tuesday amid elaborate security arrangements.

President Pranab Mukherjee unfurled the flag and took salute of the parade at Rajpath in the capital.

During the function, President Mukherjee conferred the country's highest peacetime gallantry award Ashok Chakra to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami posthumously.

For the first time in the history of Republic Day parade, a 76-member French Army contingent took part.

Military prowess and achievements in different fields, country's diverse cultural and social traditions were showcased during the parade.



ALSO READ: French soldiers take part in Republic Day parade

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti to the martyrs, who laid down their lives in the battle field for the country. The heads of the three services of Armed Forces also paid their homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh unfurled the flag at his residence in the national capital.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah hoisted the national flag at the party headquarters in New Delhi.

In Madhya Pradesh, the main function was organised in Bhopal. Governor Ramnaresh Yadav hoisted the tricolour and inspected the parade at the Lal Parade ground in the state capital. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unfurled the national flag in Ratlam district headquarters.

Different programmes are being held across the state to mark the occasion. A Bharat Parv programme based on songs, dances and poetry will be organized in all the districts this evening to remember the contribution of martyrs.

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs M. Venkaiah Naidu hoisted the national flag in Hyderabad. Minister of State of Labour Bandaru Dattatreya and other leaders were also present there at the celebrations.

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa unfurled the tricolour in Chennai. Governor K. Rosaiah and other government officials were also present.

In view of recent terror attacks in Paris and at the Pathankot air base, stringent security measures have been taken to avoid any untoward incident.
Nepal on Tuesday received 40 ambulances and eight buses from India on the occasion of the latter's 67th Republic Day.

India's Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae handed over keys of 33 ambulances and six buses to different charitable organisations and schools during a function held inside the Indian Embassy premises.

The remaining seven ambulances and two buses were gifted by the Consulate General of India in Birgunj to different organisations.

The function in Kathmandu was attended by over 2,500 people, including diplomats, journalists, social activists, business community leaders and government staff. Ambassador Rae also presented books to 52 libraries, schools and training institutes of Nepal.

Widows and dependents of ex-servicemen and disabled ex-servicemen were handed over cash incentives and blankets by the Indian envoy.

Ambassador Rae after hoisting the Indian national flag read out President Pranab Mukherjee's address, which stressed that India today is a rising power fast emerging as a global leader in science, technology, innovation and start ups and whose economic success is the envy of the .

Songs were sung by students of Kendriya Vidyalaya and Modern Indian School. The Nepal Army band also delivered melodious music.
Actress Sofia Vergara has sued the beauty company Venus Concept for using her name without her permission.

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The 43-year-old actress has filed a 15 million dollar lawsuit against Venus Concept for using her image and name to promote its products at exhibition booths, trade shows and on the internet, Us magazine reports.

The 'Modern Family' actress, who was first linked to the company ahead of the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards in August 2014, claimed that the beauty company has used her image for their advertisements without her permission.

Vergara, who already has endorsement deals with Cover Girl, Head & Shoulders and Rooms 2 Go, has been battling with Venus Concept company for more than a year.
The Goa Police on Tuesday detained a Syrian after he was found missing during his overstay in the country.

"We had got information that a person from Syria was missing during his overstay in country. His location was said to be around Goa. Yesterday, we traced him and interrogation is underway," said Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg.

The interrogation of the detained Syrian assumes significance in the wake of the recent death threats to Prime Minster Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar over beef ban in the country.

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The message was sent through an anonymous postcard which had ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) written on it.
Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay hoisted the tricolour marking nation's 67th Republic Day here on Tuesday.

Unfurling the flag, the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile wished India on the occasion.

"Tibetans inside and outside Tibet, either in spirit or in person, will join to celebrate the 67th anniversary of India's Republican Day," said Sangay.

India has been very kind and generous in hosting Tibetans for all these years, added Sangay.

President Pranab Mukherjee unfurled the flag and took salute of the parade at Rajpath in the capital country as celebrated its 67th Republic day today.

French President Francois Hollande attended the function as chief guest. Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minster Narendra Modi, Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar were among other dignitaries present on the occasion.

India won independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, but it was not until January 26, 1950, that the nation declared itself a sovereign republic state with the adoption of its constitution.
Citizens of Tripura on Tuesday defied a militant boycott call to participate in India's 67th Republic Day celebrations.

The main programme was organized at the Assam Rifles parade ground in Agartala where Governor Tathagata Roy unfurled the tricolour. He also inspected the parade and took the guard of honour.

"I was invited for the 26th January (Republic Day) celebration and came to attend the programme along with the large gathering here. I travelled 200 km from Panisagar along with many tribal people to see the programme," said Dalia Debbarma, a Spectator

Different paramilitary forces, state police and NCC cadets participated in the parade, which was followed by a colourful cultural programme.

Arjuna awardee gymnast Dipa Karmakar enchanted the people along with her team with floor exercise while others performed yoga.

The boycott call was reportedly given by at least four militant organizations.
Tom Campbell

The big story in 2016 will be the March 15th Primaries and November 8th General Elections, campaigns that promise to be loud, negative and ugly. The airwaves will be flooded with commercials, making it difficult for challengers to defeat incumbents.Republican legislative leadership moved all the primaries to March so our state might be a player in determining who gets the party presidential nominations. Their efforts might backfire because the State GOP decided to allocate convention delegate votes proportionally, instead of on a winner-take-all basis. Some major GOP presidential candidates might forego active campaigns here to concentrate on states where they can get a bigger payday. The outcome of the presidential nominations will likely determine November's winners. If an ultraconservative Republicans is nominated, the 28 percent unaffiliated vote might mark the Democratic ballot at the top and provide coattails for other Democrats.Look for angry white males to vote in large numbers in Republican Primaries. Several key contests include the U.S. Senate, Gubernatorial and 2nd and 3rd Congressional districts.Traditional wisdom says Richard Burr and Deborah Ross get the nod for the U.S. Senate, while Pat McCrory and Roy Cooper win the gubernatorial primaries. Josh Stein should win the Democratic Attorney General's nomination, but the GOP contest between Buck Newton and Jim O'Neill bears watching, as does the Democratic primary for Treasurer between Ron Elmer and Dan Blue, III.With no organized opposition, the Connect NC Bond campaign will pass, but not by the big margins of past bond referendums. Supposedly non-partisan Court of Appeals elections will see big money trying to influence outcomes. Justice Bob Edmunds will be retained. Look for more partisan decisions by our appellate courts in important cases.There's a statistical impossibility that Democrats will win majorities in the legislature, but watch to see if Democrats can gain enough seats to overcome veto-proof majorities in the Senate and House.The State Board of Education will work to adopt new curriculum standards for public schools, made difficult because the Academic Review Commission failed to recommend reforms in Common Core math and lawmakers interferering in this process.Our General Assembly convenes in April for "the short session" and we don't expect major legislation to pass, although the exiting Senate leadership will attempt another round of tax reforms that move us further from an income tax to sales tax system. Lawmakers should have surplus revenues with which to give teachers and state employees 2 to 3 percent pay increases.New UNC President Margaret Spellings takes office in March and won't have much of a honeymoon because of residual issues she inherits, as well as organized opposition to her selection. She will focus on affordability, accountability and accessibility for public universities. UNC Chapel Hill will get more NCAA sanctions as a result of the ongoing academic scandal.Until the second half of 2015, the "Carolina Comeback" was somewhat lackluster but will pick up steam in 2016, just not at the fast pace enjoyed during the go-go 90s.Medicaid Reform will begin taking shape but nothing dramatic will occur, as DHHS must obtain approval from the federal CMS and it won't happen in 2016. Medicaid expansion won't be considered.Nobody can predict breaking news, weather issues and other events, but 2016 already has many moving parts and should be fun to watch.
Tuki further refused to rule out possibility of talking to rebel Congress leaders in the state, who are behind toppling his government.

"The matter is coming in the Supreme Court tomorrow. I have consulted my legal counsel they will take up the matter in Supreme Court," Tuki told reporters after meeting Sibal.

Tuki had earlier in the day slammed the Centre for imposing President's rule and vowed to knock the doors of the Supreme Court in this matter.

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President Pranab Mukherjee earlier in the day gave nod to imposition of centre rule in Arunachal Pradesh. The Union Cabinet had yesterday recommended President's rule in the state.

The Congress Party has, however, dubbed the government's move as 'unconstitutional' and alleged that it exposed the dictatorial tendencies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his people.

Earlier today, the Centre said that it was their 'constitutional right and responsibility' to end the crisis created by the Congress in the state.

Arunachal Pradesh was rocked by a political crisis on December 16 last year as 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with BJP's 11 MLAs and two independents to impeach Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue. The Speaker termed the move as illegal and unconstitutional.
At least 15 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in two explosions that rocked Syria's central city of Homs.

A booby-trapped car-bomb ripped through a pro-government district of Syria's central city of Homs, followed by another explosion carried out by a suicide bomber, Xinhua reported.

The bombings targeted the al-Zahra neighbourhood inhabited by the Alwaite minority to whom the ruling elite in Syria belongs.

The neighbourhood, along with other districts of Homs loyal to the government, has suffered from repeated suicide bombings as well as rocket and mortar fire from rebels entrenched in Homs, Syria's third largest city.
Twenty-one of the 50 most violent cities in the world are located in Brazil, according to a Mexican NGO.

The NGO, Citizen Council for Public Security and Penal Justice, on Monday ranked cities with a total of over 300,000 inhabitants away from war zones by their murder rates in 2015, Xinhua reported.

Caracas topped the list. Venezuela has a murder rate of 119.87 murders per every 100,000 inhabitants. San Pedro Sula in Honduras ranked second, followed by San Salvador, El Salvador's capital.

Out of the 21 Brazilian cities on the list, Fortaleza, in the northeastern region, was at the top. It was followed by Natal (13th), Salvador (14th) and Joao Pessoa (16th).

Surprisingly, Brazil's largest cities Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, which are widely regarded as very violent, did not show up in the list.

According to the NGO, South America has 32 violent cities, the highest number among all continents.
A booby-trapped vehicle tore through a security headquarter of the Syrian rebel, Ahrar al-Sham Movement, in the northern province of Aleppo on Monday, killing 23 people, including 19 militants and injuring tens of others, a monitor group reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the "powerful explosion" rocked the rebel-held district of al-Sukary in eastern Aleppo city, Xinhua reported.

It added a suicide bomber detonated his booby-trapped fuel tanker in the security zone of the Ahrar al-Sham Movement, killing four civilians, including a woman and a child, and 19 militants, including at least four commanders. The bombing also destroyed three buildings.

The London-based watchdog group said the death toll could likely rise as many militants were critically wounded and people were under the rubble. No party claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ahrar al-Sham, a Salafist rebel movement that enjoys close ties with Turkey, is a coalition of multiple Islamist and Salafist units that coalesced into a single brigade in order to fight against President Bashar al-Assad.
Nearly 3.5 million tourists visited Cuba in 2015, the National Statistics and Information Agency (ONEI) reported.

A total of 3,524,779 visitors travelled to Cuba in 2015. A majority of them were leisure travellers, with nearly 10,000 arriving by cruise ships, Xinhua news agency reported.

Foreign visitors came mainly from Canada, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Spain. In Latin America, Cuba's leading tourism markets were Mexico and Venezuela.

The island also saw an increase in the number of American visitors following the restoration of diplomatic ties between Cuba and the US, and the easing of travel restrictions imposed by Washington.
At least 48 people including 10 policemen were killed on Tuesday during anti-militancy operations in Afghanistan, an official said.

At least 18 militants were killed when the security forces launched a major offensive against a Taliban bastion in Dand-e-Ghori district of Baghlan province, Xinhua quoted a senior official as saying.

The Taliban is yet to comment.

Similar operations in Khogiani district of Ghazni province on Tuesday left 10 militants, including a group commander, killed, another official said.

A total of 10 police personnel were also killled during the operations, the official added.

Taliban militants confirmed the clash, saying militants were fighting the government forces in Khogiani district over the past two days.

In another violent incident, a Taliban loyalist disguised himself as a policeman and first poisoned and then killed 10 policemen in a checkpoint in Uruzgan province on Tuesday.
Promising India's unwavering support for UN's development and peace ideals, Syed Akbaruddin presented his credentials Monday to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the 21st Permanent Representative of India to the world body.

Welcoming him, Moon said that he appreciated India's significant role at the United Nations as a long-trusted partner of the multilateral system.

Reiterating India's commitment to the UN, Akbaruddin assured Ban of his fullest support in helping fulfill the priorities Ban had set for this year, including the quest for peaceful political solutions for international problems and working towards the developmental goals of Agenda 2030.

Akbaruddin brings to the crucial diplomatic posting at the heart of the 193-member organisation a trove of rich experience and contacts from his stints at an international body, as the organiser of the recent India-Africa Summit and from serving as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's de facto spokesperson during his many foreign tours.

Akbaruddin succeeds Asoke Kumar Mukerji who retired at the end of last year.

This is the second turn at the UN for Akbaruddin, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1985. He served in India's UN Mission as a first secretary from 1995 to 1998, when he focused on Security Council reform, a matter that assumes urgency in his current role as the long-delayed process is finally gaining traction.

Another topic he specialised in the 1990s assignment was peacekeeping, which continues to be an area of major contribution to the UN by India. Currently 7,798 Indians are serving in UN peacekeeping operations. Historically India has been the biggest contributor to UN peacekeeping, having sent more than 180,000 Indian troops to 48 of the 69 UN missions so far.

Akbaruddin also brings an insider's insight into the workings of international organisations from his work at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from 2006 to 2011. He worked at the IAEA as the head of external relations and as the special assistant to the director-general.

His most recent position at the External Affairs Ministry was as Chief Coordinator of the India-Africa Forum Summit held last October in New Delhi with all 54 African nations participating. With Africa forming the largest single group at the UN, this experience gives him a rich Rolodex of contacts.

Before that he was the External Affairs Ministry' official spokesperson from 2012 to 2015 when he attended several multilateral and bilateral meetings at the ministerial and prime ministerial levels. Since Modi does not have a prime ministerial spokesperson, Akbaruddin also served as his spokesperson during Modi's hectic itinerary of international visits.

Akbaruddin's diplomatic postings include Counsellor at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and various positions in missions in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor on Tuesday booked a two-bedroom flat in 'Ritz by Danube' housing project here and sought similar investments by fellow Indians.

Addressing a press conference in this populous city of the United Arab Emirates, the veteran actor was in his element as he told media persons how it was his "Sindhi" wife Sunita Kapoor who okayed the deal in Mumbai a fortnight ago.

"I am an actor and must admit that I do not have that nose to smell business, but my better half being Sindhi is apt at it" he said amid guffaws from those he was addressing.

Calling Dubai his "second home" which over the years had endeared itself to him and his family, he said the "deal appeared lucrative" as real estate was set to appreciate in value in the city owing to the World Expo-2020.

He said Danube Group chairman Rizwan Sajan informed them about Spanish technology being used in the project to optimise the use of space, which was another reason to go in for the buy.

Sporting a beard and dressed in a black suit to match, Kapoor admitted candidly how he was behaving like a real estate agent himself by praising the Danube Group's project.

The actor later told IANS that property in Mumbai was "out of reach for even the richest" and that he and his wife had a harrowing time in finding an appropriate place for their actress daughter Sonam Kapoor.

"Either the place was not good or it was not affordable," he said, contrasting his experience in Mumbai with his Dubai buy which was "both within reach and good".

Sajan said 'Ritz by Danube' was a 300 million Dh project being planned in Al Furjan neighbourhood in Jebel Ali area that was in close proximity to Dubai south, the Dh 120 billion and 140-square km mixed use development, which will host the Al Maktoum International airport and the World Expo 2020.

(Mohit Dubey can be contacted at mohit.d@ians.in)
Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao da Silva has arrived here to finalise his move to Real Betis. He is expected to commit until the end of the current season with a contract that can be extended for three years.

Damiao comes from Brazilin club Cruzeiro, with which he ended contract in late 2015. He arrives at Betis on a free transfer and said on arrival on Monday that he is "very happy" to play in La Liga, reports Efe.

A delegate of the Betis first team, Victor Antequera, received the South American striker and accompanied him to the club offices, where he will sign after a medical examination.

The Brazilian striker, 26, had never played for clubs outside Brazil until now, having started his career at Internacional, with which he won a Copa Libertadores and a Recopa Sudamericana.
After once trudging through war-torn Sri Lanka, their first outside India, Buddhist monks of the prominent Drukpa Lineage are now undertaking a similar foot journey for peace in Myanmar, which has witnessed decades of ethnic turbulence. The Drukpa monks are mainly based in India's Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir and have a long history of promoting inter-faith peace and celebrating diversity.

The country's former military government is on the cusp of a major transition to a pro-democracy setup under Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy last November won the first openly-contested elections in 25 years.

"This 'padyatra' or foot journey encompasses the message of peace and harmony. Our yatras or marches spread consciousness about the importance of harmony and reconciliation," Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche told IANS here as the journey began.

Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, who is leading the journey, is the spiritual regent to the Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual head of the Drukpa Order with over 1,000 monasteries across the Himalayas.

The motto of the peace journey, according to him, is to rejuvenate the spirit of hope, love, peace, harmony and oneness. It will culminate here on January 29.

A spokesperson for the Drukpa Order said a three-day World Buddhist Peace Conference, organised by the Sitagu International Buddhist Academy, on the sidelines of the peace march, concluded on Sunday. It saw delegates from 65 countries.

Myanmar President Thein Sein, besides many dignitaries, attended its opening ceremony.

He said with a new government poised to take over, this unique walk for peace will pass through some key cities and smaller towns, where tens and thousands of locals will be joining in.

The Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual head of the 1,000-year-old Drukpa Lineage, had formerly undertaken a cycle expedition in India along with his followers and over 250 'Kung Fu nuns'.

The expedition, which entered India from Nepal last November, has been focussed on environment consciousness, women empowerment and peaceful coexistence.

'Kung Fu nuns' are Buddhist nuns who grow up learning the martial art. They belong to the Druk Amitabha Mountain nunnery based in the hills overlooking Kathmandu.

The first foot journey outside India was undertaken by Drukpa monks in Sri Lanka in 2013.

Mahinda Rajapaksha, then Sri Lankan president, had launched the peace march comprising 500 monks, nuns and general participants from India, Nepal, Bhutan and 16 other countries, apart from Sri Lanka.

That too was led by the Gyalwang Drukpa, whom the UN honoured with the Millennium Development Goals Award in September 2010 for promoting environmental education and gender equality.

Just two months after the flash floods that devastated the Leh region in 2010, the Drukpa Order, with around 9,000 people, planted 50,033 willow saplings in 33 minutes and 25 seconds over a 112,000 sq yard area near Ladakh's famed Hemis Monastery.

Two years later, the Gyalwang Drukpa led 9,814 people in planting 99,033 trees in less than one hour.

In 2009, the Buddhist monk, who is active in Nepal and India, along with a team of hundreds of monks, nuns and volunteers, trekked through the 475-km long highway that passes through rugged Himalayan ranges from popular tourist destination Manali in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in the Ladakh region to create awareness about the hazards of non-biodegradable waste.

They collected 60,000 plastic bottles, 10,000 chewing-gum wrappers and 5,000 cans of carbonated drinks, according to a post on the Gyalwang Drukpa's website.

The present Gyalwang Drukpa is the twelfth incarnation of the founder of the Drukpa lineage.

The Drukpas are best known for taking their meditation practice off the mat and into the world - converting compassion into action to tackle the world's challenges.

(Vishal Gulati is in Myanmar at the invitation of the Gyalwang Drukpa. He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
With the passage of the recent Omnibus travesty, word leaked out that the legislation could QUADRUPLE the amount of guest worker visas issued per year. Our buddy and friend Thom Tillis teamed up with Maryland's Babs Mikulski in the US Senate to make it all happen.There is a geat investigative piece on the liberal site Buzzfeed that details how this visa program regularly gets abused by American employers:A previous BuzzFeed News report found that many of those foreign workers suffer a nightmare of abuse, deprived of their fair pay, imprisoned, starved, beaten, sexually assaulted, or threatened with deportation if they dare complain.At the same time, companies across the country in a variety of industries have made it all but impossible for U.S. workers to learn about job openings that they are supposed to be given first crack at. When workers do find out, they are discouraged from applying. And if, against all odds, Americans actually get hired, they often are treated worse and paid less than foreign workers doing the same job, in order to drive the Americans to quit. Sometimes, as the government alleged happened at Hamilton Growers, employers comply with regulations by hiring Americans only to fire them en masse and hand over the work to foreign workers with H-2 visas.What's more, companies often do this with the complicity of government officials, records show. State and federal authorities have allowed companies to violate the spirit - and often the letter - of the law with bogus recruitment efforts that are clearly designed to keep Americans off the payroll. And when regulators are alerted to potential problems, the response is often ineffectual.[...]Some may try to apply libertarian arguments to all this. Let people hire who they want to hire. Actually, this is NOT the free market in action. It is the government manipulating the market - by bringing in all of these poor people from impoverished countries to work -and driving down wages. (Getting paid $2 American per hour is like winning the lottery for a Jamaican. For an American, it's undoable, unless you are a waiter or a waitress ALSO raking in huge, honkin' tips.)For what it's worth, the federal government's Office of Foreign Labor Certificiation shows Florida, Texas, and North Carolina having the most guest worker visas certified in 2014.The Buzzfeed piece offers up examples where American applicants are being told they need to not bother applying:
Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang will offer a 144-hour visa-free entry for international transit passengers from January 30, in renewed efforts to boost business and tourism.

The new policy, unveiled on Tuesday, covers travellers from 51 countries and regions, including the US, Russia, Britain, Australia, France and Japan, Xinhua quoted the public security ministry as saying on Tuesday.

They can enjoy a 144-hour stay in the Yangtze river delta upon entry via Shanghai's air, sea and railway ports, Jiangsu province's Nanjing Lukou International Airport, and Zhejiang province's Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, provided they have third country visas and tickets to leave the country or region within 144 hours.

Shanghai, Zhejiang's capital Hangzhou and Jiangsu's capital Nanjing have allowed 72-hour visa-free entry for international transit passengers since 2013.

Under the previous policy, transit passengers could only enter through the airports of the three cities and were not allowed to travel to areas outside of the city.

Apart from doubling the time of their transit stay, the new policy also allows international passengers to travel to all three provincial areas in the Yangtze river delta, an economic powerhouse in China.

The move signals intensified efforts to increase international tourism and commercial and trade cooperation as well as the flow of talent, the ministry said.
Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton is portraying herself as the most effective potential guardian of President Barack Obama's legacy.

Her rival Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, sought to pitch himself as the true personification of change -- at a CNN Democratic town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday.

Sanders argued that though Clinton has wide experience, she was wrong on key issues such as Iraq, trade, the Keystone Pipeline and Wall Street regulation.

Saying she was "really touched" by Obama's praise for her in a recent interview, Clinton pushed back against questions that asked why some younger voters were less enthusiastic about her candidacy than that of Sanders.

And pressed on whether she was late in addressing income inequality, she said she has spent decades combating inequality of all kinds.

"There are very different visions, different values, different forces at work, and you have to have somebody who is a proven fighter -- somebody who has taken them on and won, and kept going, and will do that as president," she said.

Sanders said: "We need a political revolution. We are touching a nerve with the American people who understand that establishment is just not good enough."

Sanders also dismissed Clinton's political record, seeking to prove he was closer to the Democratic Party base and just as prepared to be president as Clinton.

The third Democratic candidate, former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley, argued that he represented a generational change in that neither Sanders nor Clinton could match.

Latest polling shows Clinton and Sanders locked in a tight contest in Iowa, where both parties hold caucuses, essentially party meetings, on February 1.

In the most recent CNN Poll of Polls, Sanders edges Clinton 46 percent to 44 percent in Iowa, with O'Malley at 4 percent.

Sanders also tops Clinton handily in New Hampshire, which holds the first primary on February 9.

The Iowa contest is particularly important to Clinton, who lost the state in 2008, setting in motion Obama's path to the White House.

Nationally, however, Clinton tops Sanders 52 percent to 38 percent nationally while O'Malley is far behind the two top candidates at just 2 percent, according to a new CNN/ORC Poll.

Meanwhile, Obama, who has tried to stay neutral between Clinton and Sanders, said Monday that his former secretary of state faces both the "privilege and burden" of being the Democratic presidential front-runner.

On the other hand, "Bernie came in with the luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loose," he said, in an to the interview with Politico.

Obama said he has spoken to both Clinton and Sanders about 2016, albeit in general terms.

"We've had a conversation broadly about the importance of a Democrat winning (with Clinton), and I've had conversation with Bernie, about issues that he's interested in or concerned about," he said.

Obama also criticised Republicans, saying the party has moved farther to the right after John McCain ran against him in 2008.

"And that's where, ultimately, any voter is going to have to pay attention is the degree to which the Republican rhetoric and Republican vision has moved not just to the right but has moved to a place that is unrecognizable."

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam on Tuesday said the conduct of legislative business should be in a meaningful manner.

The statement came a day after President Pranab Mukherjee, on the eve of Republic Day, advocated strict adherence to debate, dissent and decision-making in parliament.

Sathasivam was speaking after witnessing an impressive parade held at the Central Stadium here on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day.

"I emphasise that the conduct of the legislative business should be carried out in a meaningful manner, justifying the expectations of the common man and keeping the healthy trends of a democratic polity, graduating to maturity," said Governor Sathasivam, a former chief justice of the country.

Observing that India was a pluralistic society that was at once multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural, he said: "It is, therefore, imperative that we should attain inclusive growth, maintain communal harmony and sustain human dignity."

"We should also ensure transparency and accountability in governance at all levels," he said.

The governor also appreciated the efforts of the Oommen Chandy government in making dream projects a reality with the work commencing on the long-cherished Vizhinjam Seaport Project and other major events like the successful conduct of the 35th National Games.
Amid a boycott and shut-down called by northeastern militant outfits, the 67th Republic Day was celebrated peacefully across Assam with official functions well attended by people from different walks of life.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi hoisted the tricolor at a function here and said the government would set up a memorial in the state to honour the people who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country from the colonial rule.

"To show our deepest respect and gratitude to all freedom fighters for their selfless service to the nation, my government has decided to set up a Freedom Fighter Memorial," Gogoi announced.

Steps have also been taken for raising freedom fighter's pension to Rs.20,000 in the current year, he said, noting that the pension in 2001 (the first of his 14 consecutive years of chief ministership) was only Rs.1500.

Gogoi said his government would deal with all kinds of terrorism strongly and has brought 13 militant outfits of the state to the negotiating table so far.

He hoped that the peace talks with the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) faction that supports negotiations would get momentum now after the extradition of the outfit's general secretary Anup Chetia from Bangladesh.

The chief minister appealed to the anti-negotiations faction of ULFA led by Paresh Baruah to shun the path of violence and join the national mainstream.

Highlighting the developmental works of his government, Gogoi announced that all the colleges in Assam were to be connected with Wi-Fi network for the betterment of the students community.

"Assam has also become the first state in the country to adopt sustainable development goal mission," he said.

Gogoi took the opportunity to criticise the central government, saying Assam has been suffering because its 'special category' status has been curtailed.

"There have been fund cuts under some of the flagship programmes and other important central funds in the past one year. The development programmes have been stagnant due to the fund cut," said Gogoi.

He said he has given several memorandums to the Prime Minister, appealing to him to continue the 'special category' status for the state and the centre-state funding pattern of 90:10 for all centrally sponsored schemes.

Gogoi slammed the central government for suspending the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) without which, he said, "no one will come to invest in the state".

Gogoi also touched upon the issue of six communities demanding the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, saying his government had all along been recommending to the central government that Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshis, Chutia, Moran, Motok, Tea tribes and ex-tea tribes communities be given that status.

"Without affecting the interests of the existing ST population of the state, I appeal to the government of India to resolve the issue at the earliest," he said

Gogoi added that he has already submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister on the issue of granting ST status to the six communities.
Actor Dhanush, who is "excited" about making his Hollywood debut in Iranian-French director Marjane Satrapi's "The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir Who Got Trapped In An Ikea Cupboard", will start filming for it from June, said a source.

"Dhanush will start shooting for his portion of the film from June 15. He is expected to shoot for nearly three weeks. The film will be shot in Italy, Morocco and France (apart from India)," a source close to Dhanush told IANS.

He will be sharing the screen space with "Kill Bill" star Uma Thurman in the film, which is a comedy adventure tale based on Romain Puertolas's bestselling debut novel with the same name, which came out in 2014 and has been translated into 35 languages.

Dhanush earlier took to Facebook to share his excitement about his overseas debut.

"I am very excited by this opportunity to work in a full length Hollywood film 'The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir Who Got Trapped In The Ikea Cupboard' for the first time."

"The director Marjane Satrapi felt I would be apt for this role and I feel there are many facets I can explore for this character. I thank my fans and media for constantly standing by me and pushing me to explore new endeavours and challenges all the time," read his post.

The novel that the film is based on relates to the pilgrimage of a con man from India to an IKEA store in Paris which turns into a philosophical odyssey.

The film will follow his journey from New Delhi to Paris where he falls in love with a woman and accidentally gets deported along with a band of African refugees to the far corners of Europe against his will.

The film will also feature "Bandit Queen" actress Seema Biswas, Alexandra Daddario, Barkhad Abdi and Laurent Lafitte.
A team of US researchers has designed a material that can be used to encapsulate human pancreatic cells before transplanting them.

In tests on mice, they showed that these encapsulated human cells could cure diabetes for up to six months, without provoking an immune response.

The findings of researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston Children's Hospital and several other institutions offer a way to fulfill the promise of pancreatic islet cell transplantation.

This approach "has the potential to provide diabetics with a new pancreas that is protected from the immune system which would allow them to control their blood sugar without taking drugs", said Daniel Anderson of MIT's department of chemical engineering.

Anderson is the senior author of two studies describing this method in journals Nature Medicine and Nature Biotechnology.

He and his colleagues began by exploring chemical derivatives of alginate, a material originally isolated from brown algae.

Alginate gels can be made to encapsulate cells without harming them and also allow molecules such as sugar and proteins to move through, making it possible for cells inside to sense and respond to biological signals.

After creating a library of nearly 800 alginate derivatives, the researchers performed several rounds of tests in mice and nonhuman primates.

One of the best of those known as triazole-thiomorpholine dioxide (TMTD) was used in tests on diabetic mice.

They chose a strain of mice with a strong immune system and implanted human islet cells encapsulated in TMTD.

Following implantation, the cells immediately began producing insulin in response to blood sugar levels and were able to keep blood sugar under control for 174 days -- the length of the study.

"The exciting part of this was being able to show, in an immune-competent mouse, that when encapsulated these cells do survive for a long period of time, at least six months," noted Omid Veiseh, a senior post-doc at the Koch Institute and Boston Children's hospital.

The cells can sense glucose and secrete insulin in a controlled manner, alleviating the mice's need for injected insulin, he added.

"The combined results from these two papers suggests that these capsules have real potential to protect transplanted cells in human patients," noted Robert Langer, senior research associate at Boston's Children Hospital.

The researchers now plan to further test their new materials in nonhuman primates, with the goal of eventually performing clinical trials in diabetic patients.

Researchers from Harvard University, University of Illinois at Chicago, the Joslin Diabetes Center, and the University of Massachusetts Medical School also contributed to the research.
After attending the Republic Day parade here as chief guest, French President Francois Hollande departed from India on Tuesday evening.

"Thank you President@fhollande for visiting India & gracing our Republic Day celebrations. PM@narendramodi @Elysee," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted.

The parade down Rajpath on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day was marked by a contingent of the French 35th Infantry Regiment -- elements of which served in India in 1781-84 -- marching along with the Indian military. It was the first time a foreign army unit took part in the event.

During the course of Hollande's visit, 14 agreements were signed between India and France, including in the areas of science and technology, railways and space after bilateral discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hollande here on Monday.

Sixteen other agreements were signed between the two countries after an India-France Business Summit held in Chandigarh on Sunday.

Another highlight of the French president's visit was the laying of the foundation stone of the headquarter of the newly-launched International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the inauguration of its interim secretariat at Gurgaon near here.

France committed 300 million euros ($325 million) for the initial projects of the ISA.
Online hotel-booking engine and air aggregator Goibibo has been ranked No.1 by Morgan Stanley, which said it had been rated on top by hoteliers across parameters comprising higher booking volumes, confirmed bookings, last-minute bookings, backend and IT support, insights and market intelligence.

The report said Goibibo is also the fastest-growing hotels' OTA (online travel agency) in India. Goibibo's hotels facing technologies is also the most used amongst hoteliers.

"We are excited that we have achieved the No.1 position in India in the hotels category. We have been able to achieve the same by strengthening network effects, providing superior user experience on mobile and delivering powerful tools and technologies to thousands of hotels," said Ashish Kashyap, founder of ibibo (comprising Goibibo, redBus and Ryde).

Hotel bookings on Goibibo are diversified and come from across categories and geographies: 45 percent comes from 0-2 star rated hotels, followed by 38 percent from 3 star category and 17 percent from 4-5 star rated hotels.

Business destinations contribute close to 45 percent of hotel bookings, while leisure destinations constitute about 55 percent of volumes.
Mizoram Governor Nirbhay Sharma on Tuesday praised the civil society and NGOs for making it one of the most peaceful states in the country.

"People of the state, civil society and NGOs must get appreciation for this success," the governor said after unfurling the national flag at the Assam Rifles Ground here on the occasion of Republic Day.

He said the Mizoram government was determined to continue its flagship programme - the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) - and had decided to extend the programme for another five years.

"The NLUP has made good progress in uplifting the economy of the state, stopping 'jhum cultivation' (slash and burn method of farming), providing sustainable means of livelihood to the people and stable farming," Sharma said.

He said the Mizoram economy grew at 8.45 percent, more than the all India average.

The governor said construction of the 60 MW Tuirial Hydro Electric Project was in full swing and the project was expected to be commissioned this year.

Three more small power plants were expected to be completed by next year, he said.

Mizoram is also trying to achieve the number one position in literacy percentage in the country, he said.
Echoing security concerns as terror threats resurfaced, French President Francois Hollande is seeking lawmakers' approval to extend the state of emergency for another three months.

Hollande has announced a bill to prolong the state of emergency would be presented during a cabinet meeting scheduled for Feb. 3, hoping to win large endorsement of his draft law "on protection of the nation," Xinhua news agency reported.

On November 19, the National Assembly voted for the government's proposal to extend state of emergency to three months which is expected to expire on February 26.

To his followers, prolonging state of emergency was the adequate measure to ensure security at home and foil any potential terrorist attack in the country which is among the top targets of militant cells due to its military offensive in Syria, Iraq and Sahel region.

"I think prolonging state of emergency is a good idea and it's useful right now, because it contributes to our security. We need to constantly be vigilant against everyday threats," French Defene Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told France 24.

Gunmen stormed simultaneously restaurants, coffees shops, theatre hall and stadium in Paris on November 13, 2015, killing 130 people. Hollande declared a state of emergency a day later.

Speaking to the BBC from Davos, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said: "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."

By intensifying air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq, Hollande announced a war against terrorism and boosted security measures at home, Xinhua said.

According to a YouGov survey for iTele new channel published earlier this month, 77 percent of respondents reported they are in favor of the state of emergency which empowers the police to conduct house searches without judicial warrants and arrest suspects.

Since November 2015, the police have conducted more than 3,800 raids seizing 500 weapons. Some 300 people were placed into custody, according to official figures.

However, the proposed constitution reform to make it easier to impose a state of emergency also gives fuel to Hollande's domestic critics who say the law would undermine the Republic values and freedom of expression and gathering.

Pierre Laurent, head of French Communist Party, said: "This measure is useless in fight against terrorism and dangerous for the future of the Republic."

In a statement posted on its website on Friday, the French Human Rights League expressed its objection to the government's law, which it said was "the path of arbitrariness and violation of fundamental rights".

According to a group of UN experts on human rights, the state of emergency measures "do not seem to adjust to the fundamental principles of necessity and proportionality".

They noted a "lack of clarity and precision of several provisions of the state of emergency and surveillance laws," adding they "impose excessive and disproportionate restrictions on fundamental freedoms".

A nationwide protest against the government's constitution reform is scheduled for January 30.
India's 67th Republic Day was celebrated across cities and towns on Tuesday, with the country's military might on display in the capital where French troops made history by joining the impressive parade.

French President Francois Hollande, the chief guest, watched admiringly the 90-minute splendour where President Pranab Mukherjee took salute from the military. It ended with colourful tableaux marking India's cultural diversity, a daredevil motorcycle show and a grand flypast by air force fighters.

Across the country, governors and chief ministers unfurled the national flag and took salute from military and police units. The celebrations went off peacefully everywhere.

A contingent from the French 35th Infantry Regiment - elements of which served in India in 1781-84 - got the honour of leading the marching contingents and it performed with panache, preceded by a pipes and drums band. It is the first time a foreign army unit took part in the event.

The French apart, there was much that was different this time. The armoured element was bare-boned - just the T-90 Bhishma main battle tank and the BMP infantry combat vehicle - the marching contingents were fewer, as were the massed bands.

In another break with tradition, the young recipients of the National Awards for Bravery came up towards the end.

At the official function at the Maualana Azad stadium in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra hoped the state will get an elected government soon.

He also paid tribute to late chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, whose death on January 7 led to Governor's Rule in the troubled state. Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti, tipped to lead a new PDP-led government in the state, attended the Republic Day event in Srinagar.

In Srinagar, separatist leaders were put under house arrest to foil protests.

In Maharashtra, Governor C.V. Rao unfurled the national flag and took the ceremonial salute in Mumbai. Lakhs of people enthusiastically took part in events in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and elsewhere.

The day was celebrated across Karnataka with patriotic fervour. Governor Vajubhai R. Vala hoisted the tricolour and reviewed guard of honour at the Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru.

Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah unfurled the national flag at the Marina beach in Chennai and took the salute from contingents of the armed forces. Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and thousands of people enjoyed the colourful floats.

In Vijayawada, Governor E.S.L. Narasimha said with double-digit growth in the first half of the current fiscal, Andhra Pradesh was making big strides despite the problems following its bifurcation.

In Patna, Governor Ram Nath Kovind hoisted the tricolour and took salute at an impressive parade. He said the rule of law prevailed in Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hoisted the flag at his residence.

The main event in Rajasthan took place in Bikaner, where Governor Kalyan Singh unfurled the Indian flag in a packed Karni Singh Stadium. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje attended the event.

Odisha Governor S.C. Jamir unfurled the tricolour in Bhubaneswar. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hoisted it in Cuttack. Maoist calls to boycott the celebrations failed to evoke any response.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal unfurled the national flag at Bathinda as his father and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, 88, is unwell.

Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki unfurled the flag in Chandigarh. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar did so in Gurgaon.

West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi took the salute at a colourful marchpast from the army, navy and air force personnel on the Indira Gandhi Sarani in Kolkata. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also attended.

The Left Front formed a human chain in the city in support of secular values.

The northeast joined the festivities with enthusiasm.

In Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi unfurled the national flag and vowed to work for peace in the state.

In Aizawl, Governor Nirbhay Sharma praised the civil society and NGOs for making Mizoram one of the most peaceful states in the country.

After hoisting the tricolour, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy spoke on steadily improving India-Bangladesh ties and better connectivity between Dhaka and northeastern cities.

Republic Day was celebrated in all nine districts of Manipur without any major untoward incident despite boycott calls and general strikes called by militants. A few hundred trucks, buses and other vehicles were stranded along the national highways as a result of the general strike call.
Indian and Chinese armies on Tuesday held border personnel meetings on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region to commemorate India's 67th Republic Day.

The Indian Army's Udhampur headquartered Northern Command spokesman, Colonel S.D. Goswami told IANS here: "On the occasion of the 67th Republic Day of India, Ceremonial Border Personnel Meetings between the troops of Indian Army and Chinese People's Liberation Army were held in eastern Ladakh."

"At the Chushul-Moldo Meeting Point, the delegations were led by Brigadier R.S. Raman and Senior colonel Cheng Zheng Shan while at the Daulat Beg Oldie Meeting Point, the delegations were led by Colonel B.S. Uppal and Lieutenant Colonel Duanyug Kang," Goswmi said.

"The proceedings commenced with ceremonial flag hoisting of both the countries followed by the military commanders of both sides delivering speeches which exuded warmth and a spirit of friendship and bon homie."

"Thereafter, a cultural programme showcasing vibrant Indian culture and traditional grandeur was organised."

"Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment," Goswami said.

"The delegations parted amidst feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC."

"Both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling of upholding the treaties and agreement signed between the governments of the two sides to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LAC," the official added.
An international team led by an Indian-American scientist has identified 10 new genes associated with the autoimmune disease lupus -- a debilitating condition where the body's immune system becomes unbalanced and attacks its own tissues.

Swapan Nath, a scientist with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), and colleagues analysed more than 17,000 human DNA samples collected from blood gathered from volunteers in four countries - South Korea, China, Malaysia and Japan.

Of those samples, nearly 4,500 had confirmed cases of lupus, while the rest served as healthy controls for the research.

"We know lupus has a strong genetic basis but in order to better treat the disease, we have to identify those genes," said Nath.

From that analysis, the researchers identified 10 distinct DNA sequence variants linked to lupus.

The disease affects nearly five million people worldwide, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.

"These findings mark a significant advance in our knowledge base for lupus genes," said Judith James, director of OMRF's Autoimmune Disease Institute.

"For every gene we identify, it brings us closer to uncovering the trigger for this puzzling disease. It's good news for researchers and patients alike," he added.

In the study, one gene in particular, known as GTF2I, showed a high likelihood of being involved in the development of lupus.

"Its genetic effect appears to be higher than previously known lupus genes discovered from Asians, and we surmise that it now may be the predominant gene involved in lupus," Nath noted in a paper published in the journal Nature Genetics.

The ultimate goal, said Nath, is to understand the disease better and develop personalised intervention therapies for patients based on their genetic makeup.
Indian and Pakistan armies on Tuesday exchanged greetings and sweets on the occasion of the Republic Day at the Line of Control (LoC) here.

"On the occasion of the 67th Indian Republic Day, troops of India and Pakistan exchanged sweets at Poonch-Rawalakot crossing point and Mendhar Hot Spring crossing point in Krishna Ghati sector of Jammu and Kashmir," Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta told IANS here.

The officers of the two neighbouring armies have been holding periodic flag meetings to ensure peace on the LoC in Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday celebrated the Republic Day on Tuesday, with Governor N N Vohra saying the state will benefit the most from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's peace initiative vis-a-vis Pakistan.

The official Republic Day functions in both Srinagar, the state's summer capital, and Jammu, the winter capital, passed off peacefully.

The main Republic Day function was held at the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu where Vohra hoisted the national flag and took salute at an impressive parade of the army, security forces and school children.

Speaking on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day, Vohra said the people of the state would be the greatest beneficiaries of the peace initiative started by Modi between India and Pakistan.

The governor also paid tribute to late chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, after which the state was brought under governor's rule.

"I hope the elected government will soon assume office in the state," he said.

Vohra also spoke about the dedication and devotion to duty displayed by the army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and central paramilitary forces in maintaining peace in the troubled state.

He praised the residents of border areas for cooperating with security forces.

Senior civil and military officers attended the main function in Jammu, where school children and cultural troupes entertained the audience with their programmes highlighting the country's unity in diversity.

A thick security blanket was thrown around the stadium. More than 1,000 security personnel were deployed.

In Srinagar, the main function was held at the Bakshi Stadium where Divisional Commissioner Asgar Samoon hoisted the national flag and took salute at a parade.

Former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and People's Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti attended the function.

This was the first public appearance of Mehbooba Mufti after her father passed away on January 7.

In all other major towns across the state, district magistrates took salute.

All separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah were placed under house arrest in Srinagar to prevent them from disrupting the Republic Day functions.

Separatists had asked people to observe January 26 as a "black day" to attract international attention to the Kashmir issue.
Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday celebrated the Republic Day on Tuesday, with Governor N.N. Vohra saying the state will benefit the most from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's peace initiative vis-a-vis Pakistan.

The official Republic Day functions in both Srinagar, the state's summer capital, and Jammu, the winter capital, passed off peacefully.

The main Republic Day function was held at the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu where Governor Vohra hoisted the national flag and took salute at an impressive parade of the army, security forces and school children.

Speaking on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day, Vohra said the people of the state would be the greatest beneficiaries of the peace initiative started by Modi between India and Pakistan.

The governor also paid tribute to late chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, after whose death the state was brought under Governor's Rule.

"I hope the elected government will soon assume office in the state," he said.

Vohra also spoke about the dedication and devotion to duty displayed by the army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and central paramilitary forces in maintaining peace in the troubled state.

He praised the residents of border areas for cooperating with security forces.

Senior civil and military officers attended the main function in Jammu, where school children and cultural troupes entertained the audience with their programmes highlighting the country's unity in diversity.

A thick security blanket was thrown around the stadium. More than 1,000 security personnel were deployed.

In Srinagar, the main function was held at the Bakshi Stadium where Divisional Commissioner Asgar Samoon hoisted the national flag and took salute at a parade.

Former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti attended the function.

This was the first public appearance of Mehbooba Mufti after her father passed away on January 7.

In all other major towns across the state, district magistrates took salute.

All separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah were placed under house arrest in Srinagar to prevent them from disrupting the Republic Day functions.

Separatists had asked people to observe January 26 as a "black day" to attract international attention to the Kashmir issue.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday termed as "groundless" recent accusations by a US official that Russian President Vladimir Putin was corrupt.

Earlier British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) published an article and video featuring US Department of Treasury (DoT) official Adam Szubin, who said that Putin was corrupt.

"We've seen him enriching his friends, his close allies, and marginalising those who he doesn't view as friends using state assets.

"Whether that's Russia's energy wealth, whether it's other state contracts, he directs those to whom he believes will serve him and excludes those who don't. To me, that is a picture of corruption," BBC quoted Szub, who "oversees US Treasury sanctions," as saying.

In response, accusing the BBC report as another media hoax, Peskov expressed great surprise that the "unfounded slander" was given by a US official.

"This makes the situation different, this is an official accusation," Peskov said, adding that "content of this BBC report is pure speculation and defamation."

"Proof is needed because the voicing of such accusations from a department like the US Treasury without any concrete facts casts doubt on the department itself," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Peskov as saying.

According to Peskov, the new comments were unlikely to negatively affect US-Russia relations as the bilateral ties are currently "not in their best shape."

"To the extent that such deceitful comments are unlikely to complicate the situation even more," Peskov said.

The US-Russia relations has serious deteriorated over the two-year-old Ukrainian crisis, while both sides also disagreed about various international key issues including Syrian crisis and anti-terrorism fight.
They are young, energetic, brave and are even willing to risk their lives to save that of others.

They are the special 25 brave sons and daughters of India, who saved several lives while putting themselves in life-threatening situations and not worrying about their own well-being. Hailing from different parts of the country, they received the National Bravery Awards for 2015 from President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan on Friday evening for showing exemplary courage without expecting anything in return.

On Tuesday, these bravehearts were part of the Republic Day parade on the magnificent Rajpath, with the president taking the salute and his French counterpart Francois Hollande the chief guest.

Gaurav Kawduji Sahastrabuddhe (15), Shivampet Ruchitha (8), Arjun Singh (16), Aromal S.M. (12), Ramdinthara (15), Rakeshbhai Shanabhai Patel (13), Nilesh Revaram Bhil (9), Joena Chakraborty (10), Bhimsen alias Sonu (10), Kashish Dhanani (10), Vaibhav Rameshwar (9), Dishant Mehndiratta (12), Chongtham Kuber Meitei (12), Angelica Tynsong (13), Mohit Mahendra Dalvi (14), Nithin Philip Mathew (13), Sarwanand Saha (15), Beedhhovan (14), Anandu Dileep (14), Maurice Yengkhom (14), Abhijith K.V. (15), Sai Krishna Akhil Kilambi (14), Muhammad Shamnad (14), Abinash Mishra (17) and Shivansh Singh (13) are the courageous children who saved lives of others without fearing for their own.

Two of them - Gaurav Kawduji Sahastrabuddhe of Maharashtra and Shivansh Singh of Uttar Pradesh - were honoured posthumously as they died while helping others in trouble.

Sahastrabuddhe died on June 3, 2014 while trying to save four boys from drowning in a lake. They were playing near Ambazari lake in Nagpur district when one of them slipped and fell into it.

On seeing this, the other three dived into the water to rescue him but they too started drowning. Sahastrabuddhe then jumped into the lake and saved them one by one but he himself got so tired in the process that he could not save himself and died.

Similarly, Shivansh Singh died while trying to save his friend Vivek, who fell in the Saryu river while bathing.

Vivek was in deep water and was drowning when Shivansh Singh reached there to help him. He tried his best and brought Vivek near the shore. However, Vivek had died by that time and Shivansh Singh also died after a while as he got very tried in the process.

Their mothers received the award from the president on behalf of their brave sons.

The bravehearts, who looked cheerful after receiving their awards, had one sentiment in common that they would serve the country or would continue helping people in need as they grow up.

"I would like to serve the nation as I grow up," Rakeshbhai Shanabhai Patel told IANS, adding: "We all should help each other in whatever way we can."

"Serving the nation is my dream. I think we should continue to serve our country in whatever way we can," he said.

Patel had saved a boy from drowning. He struggled for over 35 minutes in a well that the boy had fallen into while playing.

Joena Chakraborty helped her father retreive his mobile phone from a miscreant as she caught him the leg while he was trying to run away after snatching the device. "Anybody

who has done something wrong is to be challenged," Chakraborty told IANS.

"The moment I realised that my father's mobile phone was snatched by a man, I, without loosing a second, started chasing him. He had a blade in his hand but it did not deter me to grab him by his legs," she said. Passers-by caught the snatcher and handed him to the police.

Sarwanand Saha of Chhattisgarh, who saved a man from drowning in flood water, said that helping others in difficult situations should come naturally to people.

"I was returning from school when I saw a man drowning. I immediatelyjumped into the water and pulled him out of it," he told IANS, adding that he did not fear for his own life as "it all happened without any warning".

On what he would like to do after completing his education, Saha said serving the nation was his dream and he will try to join the defence forces.

He, however, also believed that one can serve the country even without being in the forces as "serving the less privileged could also be very satisfying".

(Sushil Kumar could be contacted at sushil.k@ians.in)
One militant was killed on Sunday in a brief gunfight with the security forces in Kashmir's Shopian district.

Police said militants fired at a mobile vehicle check-post (MVCP) of the security forces in Pahnoo village of Shopian district this evening after which an encounter started.

Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said: "A joint MVCP was fired at by terrorists in Pahnoo village in Shopian district at 8 p.m today (Sunday).

"In retaliatory operation, one terrorist was killed. Operation is in progress in the area."

--IANS

sq/nir

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over the years, the Republic Day parade in the national capital has come to be associated with an equal mix of military precision and a glimpse of the country's diverse cultural heritage and so it was on Wednesday - except that everything this year was rather business-like and minimalistic.

The display of military prowess was without flourish. President Pranab Mukherjee took the salute from an enclosed podium on the magnificent Rajpath boulevard as the chief guest on the occasion, French President Francois Hollande, looked on at the passing men and machines of the services.

For the first time, a contingent from the French 35th Infantry Regiment - elements of which had served in India in 1781-84 - was given the honour of leading the marching contingents and it performed with panache, preceded by a pipes and drums band and saluting in a rather unusual style with the right hand held straight across the chest.

The celebrations began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi - dressed in a brown bandgalla suit and sporting a saffron Gujarati turban - driving to the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial to the Unknown Soldier at India Gate and laying a wreath in honour of the countless Indian soldiers who have died in battles since World War I.

Modi then drove up to the saluting base to receive Mukherjee and the visiting French president.

The President's Bodyguard presented the national salute, the tricolour was unfurled and the national anthem was played to set the tone for a rather poignant moment - the posthumous presentation of the Ashok Chakra, the country's highest gallantry award in peacetime. It was presented this year to the widow of Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of the Parachute Regiment, who laid down his life while fighting terrorists in the Kashmir Valley last Septmeber.

The emotion on Mukherjee's face was visible as he presented the medal and the citation to Goswami's widow.

The French contingent apart, there was much that was different this time around. The armoured element was bare-boned - just the T-90 Bhishma main battle tank and the BMP infantry combat vehicle - the marching contingents were fewer, as were the massed bands.

Then, instead of a marching continent of ex-servicemen, there was a tableau dedicated to them in the first part of the parade, an army dog squad with handlers made an appearance after 26 years, and the camel-mounted troopers of the Border Security Force brought up the rear of the parade's military element.

Still, there were the perennials, most notably soldiers of the Parachute Regiment trotting down in quick time in full battle gear, tableaux and marching contingents of the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, and also a representation of the central paramilitary forces like the CRPF and the Assam Rifles.

There was, of course, the stirring martial music: "Jai Bharati", "Galaxy Riders", "Desh Hamara Anmol Hai", "Vijay Bharat", "Deshon Ka Sartaj Bharat", "Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja" and "Assam Rifles Ka Sipahi Desh Ka Shan Badhaye", to mention just a few.

But, in another break with tradition, the young recipients of the National Awards for Bravery came up towards the end, followed by the children's pageant, a daredevil motorcycle display by the Corps of Signals, and a grand flypast by fighters, heavy-lift transports and helicopters of the Indian Air Force.

In between all this were the tableaux, 23 of them, representing 17 states and six central ministries, showcasing among others the government's flagship Digital India and Swachh Bharat initiatives.

The tableaux, presenting India's varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage, came as a welcome relief as they showcased the country's progress in different spheres. What particularly caught the eye were floats from Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam but one surely what the Central Public Works Department offers year after year - fully fabricated out of flowers and depicting a variety of themes.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the three service chiefs, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, cabinet ministers, a host of dignitaries and a group of women achievers seated in a special enclosure were on hand to witness the hour-and-half long parade.

As the event ended, the stands quickly emptied out, with many perhaps wondering what Beating Retreat ceremony on Saturday, the precision display by the massed bands of the three services which brings the Republic Day celebrations to a close, would have in store.

(Vishnu Makhijani can be contacted at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
"At issue in the latest round of scrutiny are changes made to House Bill 38, part of which sought to drastically reduce the number of agencies required to receive printed copies of appellate court decisions.

"State law requires more than 1,000 copies of appellate division reports be distributed to more than three dozen agencies and groups of government officials - including judges, clerks of court, and numerous law libraries."

"The News and Observer and the Charlotte Observer have concentrated on the fact that Printelect prints the majority of ballots used in every election in NC (86 out of 100 counties) and that they charge considerably more than other printers. They have also pointed out that Printelect is the sole agent for Election Systems and Software (ES&S). ES&S is the only certified election equipment vendor in NC.

Some more facts mentioned in their articles: "Printelect is a subsidiary of Owen G. Dunn Company in New Bern. The company's president, Owen Andrews, is a long-time friend of Governor Perdue and Gary Bartlett, Executive Director of the State Board of Elections." Bartlett shared an especially close relationship with Andrews, even going on ocean fishing trips on Andrews's boat."

Two Charlotte media organizations, the Charlotte Observer and WBTV , ran stories last week about a legislator who appears to have made stealth changes to legislation that would possibly benefit some of his contributors. On December 17th, the Charlotte Observer ran a story about Rep. David Lewis, (R-Harnett) making last-minute changes to a technical corrections bill that appeared to protect a state contract of a campaign contributor.On the same day, WBTV reported about another occasion where Lewis appeared to make changes to another bill to aid a different campaign contributor who also happens to have a state printing contract.In this case, the contributor who was helped is Owen Andrews. Andrews owns Capital Marketing Solutions, the company that holds an Administrative Office of the Courts printing contract. According to WBTV, that five-year contract is worth about $2.1 million to Andrews.While these recent stories illustrate the behind the scenes way some things get done by some elected officials in the state legislature, the WBTV story got my attention not because of what or how Lewis did it, but because of the contributor who Lewis appears to be helping.I wrote a blog about Owen Andrews way back in 2010 when the Democrats controlled the legislature and the governor's mansion. According to my blog;I went on to write in my blog that the media had not mentioned the fact that Printelect programs the voting machines for North Carolina counties. "So it will not only sell the voting equipment to all 100 counties, and print ballots for 86 counties and provide equipment maintenance services, but also program the equipment to record the votes cast."And nothing much has changed in the world of elections when it comes to printing ballots and buying and selling voting machines. Owen Andrews' Printelect is still the solitary agent/vendor for ES&S in North Carolina. So you now understand why I am interested in the fact that Andrews has resurfaced again as a friend and contributor to powerful people in state government - powerful people who can help him with his state contracts.Moreover there is one more thing to add to the WBTV Rep. David Lewis story that so far has not been mentioned. Rep. Lewis has been Chairman of the House Elections Committee for the past five years.And, when it comes to campaign contributions, Andrews definitely knows where his bread is buttered. Except for contributions to former state legislator Republican Jean Preston, who was a member of the Joint Select Committee on Electronic Voting Systems, Andrews had never contributed to a Republican until September 2, 2011 when he contributed $250 to the Committee to Elect Thom Tillis. Tillis became Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2011 after the Republicans had won a majority in both legislative houses for the first time in history. In September of 2011, Tillis had just completed his first session as Speaker of the State House.Since 2011, Andrews has mostly given to Republicans, with few exceptions. The most notable are two $500 contributions (one in 2014 and the other in 2015) to Attorney General Roy Cooper, who is running for governor against Pat McCrory in 2016. Andrews has contributed $9,000 to Governor McCrory's Campaign since February 2012. He gave no money to McCrory in his first run for governor in 2008. Andrews had previously donated $16,250 to former Perdue's campaign. The gubernatorial contributions are important because the governor appoints the members of the State Board of Elections (SBOE) and the SBOE makes the ultimate decision on voting machine vendors, etc. for the state.Since 2000 Andrews has given Democrat candidates and committees a total of $64,787.80. To Republican candidates and committees the total from Andrews is $30,750. The totals for both sides is a drop in the bucket compared to the money he has made off of state contracts.In the case of the Democrats' relationship with Andrews , we knew Perdue and Bartlett not only knew him, but were friendly. We can't conclude this is the case of the "new" leadership, but an appearance of quid pro quo, especially when it comes to elections, can be just as serious as the real thing.It's time to re-evaluate our voting equipment. The legislature has passed legislation requiring every county have some sort voting equipment that will produce paper ballots and many counties are getting ready to buy all new equipment. This would be a major windfall for Andrews. Let's erase any advantage that Andrews has and get some competition in this state.
A Muslim women's group on Tuesday came out in support of women's entry into the Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra,

charging "male-dominated bodies" which run shrines with bias.

The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan said it supports demands by Hindu women to be allowed to enter the chabutra or sanctum sanctorum at the well known temple in Ahmednagar.

"We salute the women activists for their democratic protest and assertion of their right to worship in the face of all odds placed by the patriarchal male temple administration," it said in a statement.

"We condemn the discriminative arrangement at the temple and urge the temple trustees to correct their stand in line with the principles of gender justice enshrined in the constitution."

Andolan co-founders Zakia Soman and Noorjehan Safia Niaz said they were shocked at the imposition of Section 144 by the district administration to bar the women from proceeding peacefully to the temple.

Condemning the police action, the group urged the Maharashtra government to "immediately take steps to correct this continued denial of justice to women devotees at the temple".

The group said religious trusts presiding over temples, dargahs and churches must come clean and make amends to the patriarchal practices that have kept women out of places of worship.

"God or deities or pirs are not private properties of any individuals or trusts.

"Religions of the world - Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism - do not discriminate between the genders.

"The temple and dargah trusts do not have the authority either from religious or legal sources to discriminate against anyone.

"We call upon the male-dominated trusts and bodies to correct their stance urgently, failing which more and more women are bound to protest and demand their right to worship," the group said.
The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has called for $2.8 billion in 2016 to assist 43 million children in humanitarian emergencies across the world.

At least 25 percent of this appeal will be used in child in emergencies, with plans to increase the number of children living in crises and receiving from 4.9 million at the beginning of 2015 to 8.2 million this year, Xinhua reported.

"By educating the minds of children and young people we are building hope so they can envisage a better future for themselves, their families and their societies and help break the cycle of chronic crisis," said Unicef's director of emergency programmes Afshan Khan.

"Basically, if a child doesn't go to school for five years, you lost a generation," she added, with particular reference to the plight of children in war-torn Syria.

Five million Syrian children will access to both inside the country and neighbouring states as part of Unicef's 2016 appeal, which has doubled since this time three years ago.

Current estimates reveal that one in nine of the world's children now live in conflict zones, with children living in countries affected by conflict twice as likely as those in other countries to die of mostly preventable diseases before they reach the age of five.

"Across the world, millions of children have been forced to flee their homes due to violence and conflict. The global refugee crisis is also a protection crisis for children on the move, who are at increased risk of abuse, exploitation and trafficking," Khan said.

Unicef indicated that $1.16 billion of the appeal were allocated to life-saving aid needed for Syria and the Syrian refugee crisis in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

A total of $30.8 million were requested to address the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe, while $180 million were called upon for the Yemen crisis.
Odisha Police on Tuesday launched a search operation after four suspected terrorists, claimed to be Iraqi nationals, who fled from a hotel here just before a police team swooped down on it.

Police suspect the four had plans to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations in the state capital.

Incidentally, the hotel is located barely 300 metres from the place where the Republic Day celebrations were held.

The foreigners had come to stay in the hotel on Monday night but when the authorities asked them to produce their passports for identification, they could not. This raised suspicion about their movement.

"The four suspected terrorists had come to Bhubaneswar in a car bearing a Delhi registration number and checked into the hotel, identifying themselves as Iraqi nationals," Police Commissioner R.P Sharma said.

"However, they fled the hotel after the hotel authorities asked for thier identity proof," he added.

Sharma said the number plate of their car was also found to be fake.

"We had a tip-off about suspicious movement of some people and a suspected terror attack on Republic Day in Bhubaneswar," Sharma said.

Deputy General of Police K.B. Singh said raids were on in different parts of the state and in Bhubaneswar to trace the men.
Pakistan must actively assist India to bring to justice terrorists who oversaw the attack on the IAF base in Pathankot, two Pakistani experts said in remarks published on Tuesday.

Sikander Ahmed Shah, a former legal adviser in the foreign ministry, and Abid Rizvi, an expert on international law, said it was clear that Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was responsible for the January 7 attack.

"JeM is not an indigenous Kashmiri group; it constitutes mostly extremists from Punjab who are known to have perpetrated acts of terrorism," they said in a column in the Dawn.

Pointing out that the attackers were dressed in Indian Army uniform while using lethal force against the airbase, "such action would also constitute perfidy, a war crime under international law".

They added: "The attack on the airbase will undoubtedly influence future interactions between India and Pakistan, and the two countries must collaborate on curbing regional ."

Terrorists who India says belonged to JeM and came from Pakistan raided the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, killing seven security personnel. Security forces killed all six terrorists.

India is pressing Pakistan to take action against the JeM leadership and all those who masterminded the attack.

Shah and Rizvi, however, said Pakistan must "distinguish between acts of terror and a genuine struggle for liberation".

"Going forward, Pakistan must ensure that it must not sacrifice the Kashmiri cause at the altar of fostering better relations with (India) while at the same time opposing in all its forms."
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday gave his approval to the cabinet recommendation to impose central rule in Arunachal Pradesh, official sources said.

"It's done," a Rashtrapati Bhawan official told IANS, when asked if the president had given his nod to central rule following political turbulence in the Congress-ruled northeastern state.

The union cabinet had on Sunday recommended President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, inviting strong criticism from the Congress and others.

The president, who had been urged by the Congress not to approve central rule in the state, is said to have discussed the Arunachal situation with Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday.

Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa had on December 9 advanced the date of the convening of the assembly session.

The move was criticized by the Congress, with its leader Kapil Sibal saying the governor should not have acted on a resolution by the Bharatiya Janata Party legislators and two independents.

On January 18, the Supreme Court said it would examine whether Rajkhowa's decision of advancing the assembly session to December 16 to take up the resolution for the removal of Speaker Nabam Rebia was valid or not.

Rebia was removed as speaker by 14 rebel Congress legislators backed by BJP legislators on December 16 at an assembly session held in a community hall in Itanagar that was presided over by the deputy speaker.

The 14 rebel Congress lawmakers were earlier disqualified by Rebia. The deputy speaker, before moving the motion removing Rebia as speaker, restored the membership of the 14 legislators.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday gave his approval to the cabinet recommendation to impose central rule in Arunachal Pradesh and keep the legislative assembly in suspended animation.

"President of India has signed a proclamation under article 356(1) of the constitution, imposing President's Rule in relation to the state of Arunachal Pradesh and keeping the legislative assembly of the State in suspended animation with effect from January 26," said a home ministry statement.

"Taking cognisance of the constitutional breakdown that has taken place in the state as reported by the governor of Arunachal Pradesh, the union cabinet in its meeting held on January 24, had recommend to the President to issue such proclamation," it added.

The president, who had been urged by the Congress not to approve central rule in the state, is said to have discussed the Arunachal situation with Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday.

Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa had on December 9 advanced the date of the convening of the assembly session.

The move was criticized by the Congress, with its leader Kapil Sibal saying the governor should not have acted on a resolution by the Bharatiya Janata Party legislators and two independents.

On January 18, the Supreme Court said it would examine whether Rajkhowa's decision of advancing the assembly session to December 16 to take up the resolution for the removal of Speaker Nabam Rebia was valid or not.

Rebia was removed as speaker by 14 rebel Congress legislators backed by BJP legislators on December 16 at an assembly session held in a community hall in Itanagar that was presided over by the deputy speaker.

The 14 rebel Congress lawmakers were earlier disqualified by Rebia. The deputy speaker, before moving the motion removing Rebia as speaker, restored the membership of the 14 legislators.
It was the protest over the ABVP disrupting the screening of a documentary at Delhi University, and not over the hanging of Yakub Memon, which led to an argument between two student groups at Hyderabad Central University (HCU) and the subsequent suspension of five research scholars, one of whom committed suicide.

The Ambedkar Students Union (ASU), other student groups and even faculty members claim that the alleged protest over hanging of 1993 Mumbai bombings convict Yakub Memon was mentioned in the report of the sub-committee of the executive council following the intervention of two central ministers. Interestingly, the earlier report of the proctorial board committee which conducted an inquiry into the incident made no mention of the protest against Memon's hanging.

"The executive council made no fresh inquiry but dragged the issue of Yakub Memon's hanging in its report when it nowhere figured in the probe by the proctorial board," HCU Students' Union president K.P. Zuhail told IANS.

The ASU members were protesting on August 2 over an incident at Delhi University, where the ABVP disrupted screening of 'Muzaffarnagar baqi hai', a documentary on the Muzaffarnagar's riots. The protesters termed the ABVP's action as 'hooliganism'.

It was after this protest that ABVP president Susheel Kumar made this comment on Facebook: "ASA (Ambedkar Students Association) goons are talking about hooliganism..feeling funny'.

On the night of August 4, ASA members went to Susheel Kumar's hostel room and made him write an apology. "The security officer was also present when Susheel Kumar gave a written apology," said Dontha Prasanth, one of the students who was later suspended.

Susheel Kumar, however, alleged that ASA members assaulted and one of them even kicked him. He later lodged a complaint with university authorities and was admitted to a private hospital for a surgery for appendicitis.

The proctorial board in its interim report of August 12 said it found no evidence that Susheel Kumar was assaulted. The report, which was prepared in the absence of Susheel Kumar's deposition, strongly warned for posting "such comments on Facebook". It also strongly warned the five ASA members for going to Susheel Kumar's room at midnight and asking for an apology instead of complaining to the appropriate authorities.

It was on August 17 that Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya wrote to union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani. He claimed that ASA had staged a protest against Memon's execution and when Susheel Kumar protested against this, he was manhandled. Dattatreya, a Lok Sabha member from Secunderabad, also wrote that Hyderabad Central University has become a "den of casteist, extremist and anti-national politics".

The proctorial board, in its final report on August 31, imposed a complete suspension on the five students.

However, on a request by the students, then vice chancellor R.P. Sharma revoked the suspension and decided to form a fresh committee of the proctorial board to look into the issue. This committee was never constituted.

In the meantime, the HRD ministry sent at least five reminders to the university authorities between September 3 and November 20 last year with reference to Dattatreya's letter.

P. Appa Rao who took over as the new vice chancellor on Sharma's retirement, formed a sub-committee of the executive council which suspended the students.

Subsequently, Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, one of the five suspended students, committed suicide triggering nation-wide protests which are still continuing. Appa Rao then went on leave but the students are demanding that he quit. The university has also established a judicial commission to probe Vemula's suicide.

(Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at m.shafeeq@ians.in)
The 67th Republic Day of India was celebrated with usual fervour across Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.

Governor Ram Naik took the salute at the ceremonial parade here. After hoisting the tricolour, he called on the people of the state to work for unity and prosperity of the state and the country.

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav along with his family, ministerial colleagues and bureaucrats were also present at the event as dozens of tableaux rolled down on the Vidhan Sabha road as part of the pageant.

As school children, attired in colourful dresses marched past the VVIP enclosure, while the political leaders and general public on both sides of the road loudly cheered and applauded.

The tableau depicting the Lucknow Metro Rail evoked biggest cheer.

Similar functions were held in many parts of the state where ministers, senior officials and district magistrates took the salute.

The Bharatiya Janata Party also celebrated the Republic Day at the party office.

Congress party celebrated the day at the party office, as former minister Ram Krishna Dwivedi unfurled the national flag. Various state party leaders attended the special occasion.

Security was beefed up across the state on the Republic Day in the light of intelligence inputs that terrorists might target the parades and functions at some places.
The 67th Republic Day was celebrated with gaiety, fervour and enthusiasm in Rajasthan on Tuesday.

Governor Kalyan Singh unfurled the national flag in a packed-to-capacity Karni Singh Stadium during the state-level function in Bikaner, over 340 km from here.

Singh took salute and inspected the guard of honour amidst cheers and applause from the spectators.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and senior officials were also present on the occasion.

Personnel from the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), Rajasthan Police, government railway police (GRP), home guards, traffic police, NCC cadets and school children participated in the parade.

School children and artistes then performed folk dances to patriotic songs. Daredevils team of police performed acrobatics on motorcycles.

The governor also honoured officers, employees and police personnels for distinguished and meritorious services.

There was tight security in place in and around the stadium and in Bikaner town.

In Jaipur, Bharatiya Janata Party's state unit president Ashok Parnami unfurled the national flag at the BJP state head office while state Congress president unfurled the national flag at Pradesh Congress Committee office.

Reports of similar functions also came in from Bharatpur, Tonk, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota and other major cities of the state.
Religion should be a bridge between people, not a wedge, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told participants in conference on religious minorities in Muslim countries in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh.

"Inter-faith dialogue is necessary and urgent. Religious leaders have a responsibility to help heal differences in their communities," Xinhua cited the UN Chief as saying at the conference "The Rights of Religious Minorities in predominantly Muslim Lands: Legal Framework and A Call To Action", which kicked off on Monday.

"There are no quick remedies, and solutions will have to come from within," he said, calling for common work to preserve and reinforce diversity and dignity across the Middle East.

He noted that the UN will continue to support efforts to end the cycles of violence and discrimination, including through the alliance of civilizations initiative, the human rights up front effort and the recently issued plan of action to prevent violent extremism.

He said the history of the Middle East is rich with examples of co-existence and pluralism, and warned that today's unresolved conflicts, violent extremism and injustice were endangering the region's people, destroying centuries-old social fabrics and undermining economic and social progress.

This three-day meeting brings together prominent scholars, experts, religious leaders, and government officials.
News Release:

National School Choice Week 2016 is January 24-30

Background:

"The Opportunity Scholarship Program expands school choice in North Carolina through scholarship grants for eligible children in kindergarten through 12th grade." (North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, http://www.ncseaa.edu/)

"Program provides funding of up to $4,200 per year for eligible children who choose to attend a participating nonpublic school." (North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, http://www.ncseaa.edu/)

Opportunity Scholarship Applicants increased for the 2015-2016 school year.

2014-2015 school year: 5,558 total applicants and 4,218 eligible applicants (North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, "Opportunity Scholarship Program Summary Of Data," http://www.ncseaa.edu/)

2015-2016 school year: 7,761 total new applicants, 5,545 eligible new applicants and 1,112 renewal applicants (North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, "Opportunity Scholarship Program Summary Of Data," http://www.ncseaa.edu/)

This years budget expanded funding for the Opportunity Scholarship Program by $14 million over the next two years.

"The proposed budget would expand opportunity scholarships by $14 million over the next two years to increase the number of low-income kids who can attend private schools. This summer, the N.C. Supreme Court ruled private school vouchers constitutional, which reversed a ruling last summer by a superior court judge." (Barry Smith, "New Budget Could Double Opportunity Scholarships," Carolina Journal, 9/24/15)

Liberal groups file lawsuit challenging the Opportunity Scholarship Program.

"The N.C. Association of Educators and N.C. Justice Center are sponsoring the lawsuit, arguing that the vouchers are a broad assault on the state's public schools as it funnels taxpayer money to private schools." (Reema Khrais, "NC Groups Sue State Over 'Unconstitutional' Private School Vouchers," WUNC, 12/12/13)

Roy Cooper and Ken Spaulding oppose school choice.

"Overcrowded classrooms for public school teachers and layoffs for teacher assistants to fund private school voucher programs." (Roy Cooper, Op-Ed: North Carolina: Threatening Fifty Years of Progress in Ten Months, Huffington Post, 1/23/14)

(Roy Cooper, Op-Ed: North Carolina: Threatening Fifty Years of Progress in Ten Months, Huffington Post, 1/23/14) "'The endorsement by the NCAE will not deter me from filing for Governor,' [Ken Spaulding] he added, 'and will not deter me from fighting for our rank-and-file public school teachers to reinstate 'teacher tenure' and will oppose 'private school vouchers' which are bleeding money away from our public schools.'" (Laura Leslie, "NCAE endorses Cooper early in gubernatorial race," WRAL, 12/9/15)

Roy Cooper supporters, the North Carolina Association of Educators, oppose Opportunity Scholarships that give low-income students financial assistance to attend private school. (Mark Binker, "NC Supreme Court says vouchers are constitutional," WRAL, 7/23/15)

Roy Cooper chose not to appeal Superior Court injunction against the opportunity scholarship program, forcing Republican state leaders Tillis and Berger to intervene.

"Lawmakers and the state's chief lawyer disagree on how best to defend a pair of lawsuits challenging North Carolina's new school voucher law." (Mark Binker, "Cooper, lawmakers split on how to pursue vouchers case, WRAL, 1/14/14)

(Mark Binker, "Cooper, lawmakers split on how to pursue vouchers case, WRAL, 1/14/14) "In a news release Friday, House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, were critical of Attorney General Roy Cooper's refusal to ask higher courts to strike down a Superior Court injunction against instituting the program." (Mark Binker, "Cooper, lawmakers split on how to pursue vouchers case, WRAL, 1/14/14)

(Mark Binker, "Cooper, lawmakers split on how to pursue vouchers case, WRAL, 1/14/14) "Late Monday, House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger made good on their threat to seize the reins from Attorney General Roy Cooper in the school voucher litigation, asking the Supreme Court to let them step in and press their case for letting the voucher program move forward." (Sharon McCloskey, Tillis and Berger jump into the voucher lawsuit, NC Policy Watch, 4/16/14)

Speaker Moore and President Pro Tem Berger fought to have the Opportunity Scholarship move forward for the 2015-2016 school year.

"Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) filed a motion Tuesday asking the state Supreme Court to allow the controversial school voucher program to proceed for the 2015-16 academic year while the high court continues to debate the constitutionality of allowing families to use public dollars for tuition at private schools." (Lindsay Wagner, "Berger, Moore ask NC Supreme Court to allow school voucher program to go forward this fall," NC Policy Watch, 6/24/15)

North Carolina Supreme Court upheld Opportunity Scholarships.

"The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled 4-3 Thursday that the state's voucher program that gives taxpayer support for low-income students to attend private schools is constitutional." (Mark Binker, "NC Supreme Court says vouchers are constitutional," WRAL, 7/23/15)

Contact: Kara Carter

NCGOP Press Secretary

kara.carter@ncgop.org

Raleigh, N.C.  The North Carolina Republican Party today released the following statement in honor of National School Choice Week:said NCGOP Chairman Hasan Harnett.Passed into law in 2013 by Governor McCrory and the Republican-led General Assembly, the Opportunity Scholarship Program provides scholarship grants of up to $4,200 per year to help eligible low-income children in kindergarten through 12th grade attend a participating private school. Later that year, the law was challenged in a lawsuit sponsored by two liberal advocacy groups, the N.C. Justice Center and the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), seeking to limit opportunities for North Carolina's students.Although he has defended the state, Cooper has also spoken out against the scholarship program.While Attorney General Roy Cooper initially defended North Carolina against the challenge to the Opportunity Scholarship, he then decided not to appeal an injunction by the Superior Court to stop the program. State leaders, then House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, stepped in and asked the North Carolina Supreme Court to intervene. On July 23, 2015, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld the Opportunity Scholarship Program. Thanks to Republican leadership, this year's budget expanded the Opportunity Scholarship Program by $14 million over the next two years to give more children an opportunity to succeed.
Jordan's senior parliamentary official said on Tuesday that finding a just solution to the Palestinian issue and ending the Israeli occupation are key to restoring stability in the Middle East, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

At a joint press conference with a visiting British parliamentary delegation, the Lower House Palestine Committee President Yehya Saoud said resolving the Palestinian issue through a just and lasting solution is the key to ending wars in the region.

He also stressed on the Palestinians' rights to freedom and independence, calling for an end of Israeli violations at holy sites in Jerusalem, urging the British to take a firm stance against the violation.

Over the past four months, the Israelis and the Palestinians have been locked in waves of violence, during which stabbing, car- ramming, and shooting attacks by the Palestinians have claimed the lives of 24 Israelis and a US citizen.

At least 150 Palestinians have been killed during that period, some in clashes with Israeli security forces in protests, while more than half were alleged attackers who were shot down at the scene of the attacks.

Israeli leaders blame the Palestinian National Authority for incitement to violence behind the wave of attacks, fueled by strife over the site of the al-Aqsa mosque (or Temple Mount) in east Jerusalem, holy to both Jews and Muslims, which are now under Jordan's stewardship.

The Palestinians, on their part, charge Israel's occupation of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, ongoing since 1967, and the dim prospects of establishing a Palestinian state in these territories in accordance with the two-state solution, are to blame for the upsurge in violence.

Yehya Saoud said his country will continue to defend the holy sites in Jerusalem and provide services to Palestinian refugee camps in spite of limited resources.

The British officials also voiced their support for Jordan's efforts in resolving the Palestinian issue.
Rome, Jan 26 (IANS/AKI) Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has pledged to wage a war aganst terrorism "to the bitter end, without equivocation".

"Everyone must do their part -- to the bitter end, without equivocation," Rouhani said on Monday at a meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Earlier, Mattarella described terrorism as "one of the main threats to the international community".

Rouhani is visiting Italy and France on the first trip to Europe by an Iranian leader for 16 years.

and dialogue were the only way forward to resolving regional conflicts which impact the international order -- from Yemen to Syria and Libya, Rouhani and Mattarella agreed.

Aimed at reviving trade relations and signing multi-billion dollar deals with Italian and French companies, Rouhani's visit comes after international sanctions against Iran were lifted last week following Iran's agreement to scale back its nuclear activities.

During his two-day visit to Rome, Rouhani will meet Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Pope Francis together with his 120-member delegation to attend a bilateral business forum.

Italy is one of Iran's top trading partners.
At least six Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in the US drone strikes in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The coalition force aircraft carried out airstrikes against IS militants' hideouts in Baandar and Baro Kali villages of Achin district, Xinhua cited the ministry statement as saying.

The mountainous Achin district bordering Pakistan has been the scene of heavy clashes between IS militants and Afghan security forces backed by the pro-government militias over the past couple of months.

The IS group has yet to make comments.
A Syrian national, allegedly overstaying in India, was picked up and detained by Goa Police from an offshore casino off Panaji late on Monday night, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

Speaking to IANS, Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg said police and intelligence agencies were questioning the Syrian national, but refused to divulge his name for "security reasons".

"Our police team picked him up from an offshore casino last night after receiving information that he was overstaying in India after expiry of his visa. We have detained him and he is being questioned by police and agencies," Garg said.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Republic Day celebrations, said police had "picked up" one person as a security measure and "we're questioning him".

Parsekar, however, denied any possible terror link to detention.

Sources said Goa Police were informed about the Syrian national's presence in Goa by the central intelligence agencies.

"We were told that a Syrian national had illegally overstayed in India and had dropped off the radar. He was eventually tracked down in Goa. We acted on a tip-off by a central government agency," sources said.

Less than a week ago, yet another Syrian national, Mussa Alareef, was quizzed by officials of the Pororim police station for overstaying. He was eventually booked under the relevant sections of the Passport Act.
Telangana has conceived a unique Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy to make the state the most preferred technology investment destination in the country, Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan said on Tuesday.

In his address at the main Republic Day celebrations at Parade Grounds here, he said that the youngest state of India is seen as a global investment destination given its progressive policies in infrastructure and power.

Narasimhan, who is the governor of the two Telugu states, rushed to Hyderabad after unfurling national flag and reviewing the parade at the main celebrations at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, his cabinet colleagues and top officials attended the ceremony.

The governor pointed out that Telangana has notched up IT exports of Rs.68,258 crore with as many as 1,300 companies including 500 global firms having their operations.

The IT Infrastructure Region (ITIR) being promoted with the central support in and around Hyderabad is geared up to generate IT exports of Rs.235,000 crore eventually with a projected direct employment of nearly 15 lakh and indirect employment of nearly 53 lakh. This may fetch additional tax revenue to the state of over Rs.30,000 crore.

The state launched T-Hub, the largest startup incubator in the country, with 70,000 square feet space in Hyderabad. The second phase with an investment of Rs.150 crore and built up area of 3 lakh square feet is scheduled for rollout by the end of this year.

Under its investor friendly initiative TS-iPASSs, the state has attracted Rs.25,000 crore investment by permission for setting up of 1,013 industrial units with employment potential of 75,000.

Narasimhan pointed out that Hyderabad accounts for 20 percent of India's total pharma exports. The government plans to set up new pharma city with public private partnership to cement the state as a leader of pharma sector.

Several mega industrial programmes like Hyderabad-Warangal industrial corridor and textile hub at Warangal were initiated to kickstart the economy and enhance employment opportunities for youth.

He said the state created a landmark with a budgetary outlay of more than Rs.1.15 lakh crore for 2015-16 with a plan allocation of more than Rs.52,000 crore. Under this, the per capital plan allocation has doubled compared to financial year 2013-14.

The government is spending Rs.43,000 crore exclusively on welfare sector. "This testimony of the commitment to significantly improve public spending for the development of the state," he said.

He said the government through its policies and strategies ended chronic power deficit and made the state free from bane of power cuts. The goal is to make available 25,000 megawatt of additional power.

Mission Kakatiya, one of the flagship programmes, is aimed at reviving 45,300 irrigation tanks with an outlay of Rs.22,500 crore over next five years.
Its demise was predicted as far as back as the 1930s but it endured, and even in our day, despite the internet and Google Maps allowing us to access any part of the world virtually on our devices, travel writing will stay as the best window into other cultures, says a panel of travelogue writers.

Travel writing "is one of the most ancient forms of literature, predating the novel by thousands of years and a form that has 'appeared simultaneously and independently throughout the world", said writer William Dalrymple as he kicked off "The Travel Session", featuring legendary travel writer Colin Thubron, Anthony Sattin, and Gerard Russell among others, at the final day of the Jaipur Literature Festival on Monday.

Thubron, who has over half a century experience of travel to exotic and rarely-frequented (then) places across Europe and Asia after chronicling his first journey in "Mirror to Damascus" (1967) - the one such work on the Syrian capital in over a 100 years, contended that the end of travel writing was predicted in the 1930s, but "it refused to die".

Internet, Google Maps may have allowed people to virtually plot the entire globe and view from the comforts of one's home, but he maintained that "the feeling of being in the place is different to seeing it on the desktop" and expressed confidence that although different generations might approach travel differently, the impulse for adventure remained the same.

"One must dare to do something special, as it always yields into something great," said Thubron, whose other works include "Among the Russians" (1983), "Behind the Wall: A Journey through China" (1987), "The Lost Heart of Asia" (1994), "In Siberia" (1999), and "To a Mountain in Tibet" (2011).

British journalist and writer Sattin, who read from his book "The Pharaoh's Shadow: Travels in Ancient and Modern Egypt", a nuanced and evocative journey in time and space through the country's past to its conflicted present, said his experience showed him that the way ancient Egyptians lived thousands of years ago continues to define existence there even today.

Indian journalist Salil Tripathi, who has been to over 50 countries, said he likes looking at places "through their literature or their people or their history", while American writer and journalist Alex Shoumatoff noted how adventures can be inspired from the strangest of places.

In his case, it was a piece about India's northeastern state Mizoram, "wedged between Myanmar and Bangladesh", in a Canadian newspaper and he was so interested in it "decided to investigate, and ended up writing an article about the rat infestation in the bamboo plants in the region, and its affect on the locals".

Despite visiting and writing about several unique places in her "Small Wars Permitting: Dispatches from Foreign Lands" (2008), British journalist and author Christina Lamb, who quipped that she felt she was there on false pretenses since she was at the festival as The Sunday Times foreign correspondent, not as a conventional travel writer.

Reading from "Farewell Kabul: From Afghanistan to a More Dangerous Place", she mentioned her experience of visiting Guantanamo Bay, which she described as "the strangest place" she had ever been to, where she saw instances of inhumane treatment, but also such a "complex toilet flushing system was so complex that she had to receive a military briefing on it" and how "people seemed more worried about bumping into iguanas than the human rights violations going on".

Russell, a former British diplomat, mentioned some experiences of encountering several unique but obscure and dying religions he had encountered in the Middle East including the Mandeans, Yazidis and Samaritans, which he had described in "Heirs to a Forgotten Kingdom", and maintains are the last surviving examples of the curious, hidden links between today's religions.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
Governor K.N. Tripathi unfurled the tricolour and took the salute at a colourful march past as West Bengal celebrated the 67th Republic Day on Tuesday.

Units from the army, navy and air force took part in the customary parade showcasing sophisticated weapons on the Indira Gandhi Sarani.

Kolkata and West Bengal Police personnel, the fire brigade, NCC cadets and school children also took part in the parade which drew huge crowds.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, several ministers, bureaucrats and members of the diplomatic corps were present at the programme held under tight security.

To mark the day, the Left Front led by the CPI-M formed a human chain in the city, harping on the country's unity and integrity.

Led by Left Front chairman Biman Bose and CPI-M state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra, a host of Marxist leaders and activists joined the chain and urged people to stand up against communal intolerance.

The national flag was hoisted at various union and state government offices in the state.

A large number of organisations, educational institutions and clubs also celebrated the Republic Day throughout the state by hoisting flags and organising march past by students and children.

Flags were also unfurled at the headquarters of political parties in the city.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today announced a special 10 per cent discount for those purchasing dwelling units constructed by the state's housing board and free flavoured milk once a week to children in Anganwadi centres.

"Earlier Chhattisgarh Housing Board was providing 10 per cent concession on purchase of houses only to government employees. But now everyone can avail this privilege," he said addressing the 67th RepublicDayfunction held in insurgency-hit Bastar district.

"From now onwards, a special 10 per cent concession will be provided to everyone on purchase of houses built by the housing board," he added.

Amid tight security, the CM unfurled the national flag at Jagdalpur district headquarters in Bastar where a boycott called by Naxals failed to evoke any response.

High security was being maintained across Bastardivision afterNaxals put up posters and banners asking people to boycott Republic Day celebrations and oppose French President Francois Hollande's visit.

Singh said children enrolled in the state's 50,311 aanganwadis will be provided warm, flavoured Devbhog brand milk once a week.

"It is a small yet constructive step in the direction of malnutrition eradication. If this experiment turns out to be successful, it will be implemented on a wider level," he said.

The Chief Minister claimed malnutrition has decreased from 52 per cent to 32 per cent over the last one decade and now the target is to bring it further down to 25 per cent.

He also expressed confidence that Naxalism will soon be uprooted from the state.

"The biggest battle to preserve unity and integrity of India is being fought in remote areas of Bastar region. Security forces and local residents have made significant contribution with their patience, courage, and intellect," he said.

"Our strategy is to make integrated efforts for security and development. I believe the day not far when Naxalism will be uprooted and the biggest threat to internal security will come to an end," he added.

Speaking about deficient rain that led to drought in many



parts of the state in last Kharif season, Singh said, "For the first time in the last 12 years drought has struck the state in such a big way that 117 of its tehsils have been declared as 'drought-affected'".

"I had requested my farmer brothers to be patient and not lose hope in this hour of crisis. Because of their patience and courage, we could face this difficult situation," he said.

Underling the importance of connectivity for development, he said, "An elaborate action plan has been chalked out to bring about a connectivity revolution in state under which Rs 60 thousand crore will be spent on infrastructure development including roads, railways, electricity and telecom."



"We have launched Chief Minister's 11-point programme for integrated development of extremely backward tribes. Effective steps are being taken to benefit tribal people and forest dwellers from trade in small forest produce so they may reap the profits they deserve without interference of middlemen," he added.
Eleven persons, allegedly belonging to a Hindu outfit, were today arrested near here when they were on their way to Katchatheevu, an islet in the Palk strait, to hoist the Indian national flag.

Police said the group were proceeding in two cars from Thanjavur, 150 km from here, to Rameswaram and planned to take a boat to Katchatheevu to unfurl the tricolour.

They were stopped following a tip-off and arrested.

The group allegedly belonged to 'Hindu Ezhuchi Peravai', a local Hindu outfit at Thanjavur, police said.

Referring to recurrent instances of attacks and arrests of Indian fishermen in the Palk bay, chief minister Jayalalithaa had in her letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated her government's opposition to the 1974 and 1976 Indo-Sri Lanka agreements ceding the Katchatheevu islet to the island republic.

Jayalalithaa had also recalled she had filed a case against it in Supreme Court.
At least 17 people were killed in a double suicide bomb blast at an army checkpoint in the Syrian city of Homs today, the provincial governor said.

Talal Barazi told AFP that a first suicide bomber detonated explosives while in a car at the checkpoint and a second set off another blast a few moments later.
Two primary school students, who were missing since January 24, were today found dead in a well at Kamarajapuram in Varushanadu area, police said.

The students, identified as Lokesh and Chandru, both 6-year-old, had been missing since Sunday after they left their local panchayat school.

On a complaint from the parents, a case was registered and searches launched to trace them.

Today, locals found bodies of the boys in the well on the outskirts of the village, police said.
Six prestigious schools in central Paris and 14 schools in Britain were evacuated today following hoax bomb threats.

The Paris schools received practically identical calls between 10:20am (0920 GMT) and 11:20am, French police said.

Students at Charlemagne, Fenelon, Montaigne, Condorcet, Henri IV and Louis le Grand schools, all in up-market districts of the French capital, were moved to secure areas while police carried out searches.

The alerts were lifted for all six schools by the end of the afternoon.

In Britain, four London schools also received calls.

Six schools in the Birmingham area in central England and four in Cornwall, southwest England, reported similar incidents.

"Four schools across London this morning all reported receiving calls claiming suspicious devices had been left in their premises," a Scotland Yard spokesman told AFP.

"They were evacuated as a precaution. The premises were searched. Once those were completed the incidents were stood down and they are being treated as malicious communications."



A Devon and Cornwall Police spokeswoman told AFP that four secondary schools in Cornish towns "received calls suggesting a potential security threat".

All four were evacuated but by 9:00am (0900 GMT), "there was quickly found to be no threat and no risk to any children or staff. Enquiries are continuing into the matter".

West Midlands Police Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said: "Police intelligence suggests there is no credible threat behind the calls.

"They mirror the hoaxes several schools received just a few days ago.

"Local police officers have been sent to the affected schools to carry our checks and to offer reassurance.

"A police investigation is under way to find the person responsible.
Working towards the goal of making Maharashtra a "open defecation free" state, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao today said 50 towns in the state will become 'swachh' by the end of 2016.

"Government is working towards the goal of making Maharashtra open defecation free and ensuring 100 per cent segregation, collection and processing of municipal solid waste as an extension of 'Swachh Maharashtra Abhiyan'. I am happy to state that 50 towns will become 'swachh' by the end of this year," Rao said in his address after unfurling the national flag on Republic Day at Shivjai Park here.

The Governor said as a tribute to former President late APJ Abdul Kalam, the government has launched 'APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Yojana' to provide free nutritious meal to pregnant women and lactating mothers in tribal areas of the state.

As the nation celebrates 125th birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar this year, the state government has earmarked Rs 125 crore for the purpose, Rao said, adding that it is a matter of pride for Maharashtra that two of the five places chosen by the Centre to develop 'Panchteerths', on the life and work of Ambedkar, are located in the state.

On the drought situation, Rao said many parts of the state are facing drought this year, affecting 15,747 villages in the current kharif season.

"Government has announced a special package of Rs 10,512 crore during the winter session of state Legislature for farmers' relief. Of this, Rs 2000 crore has been disbursed to the affected farmers," he said.

Rao said the government has launched the late Gopinath Munde Farmers' Accident Insurance Scheme to render social and economic security to farmers and their families.

"Government will implement the new Pradhanmantri Fasal



Bima Yojana to enable individual small farmers get full compensation for crop damage due to natural calamities in the Kharif season. The scheme will benefit the farmers who have not availed any loan," Rao said.

He said that encouraged by the success of 'Aaple Sarkar' phase I, the government has launched phase II of the project that enables people to share their ideas, suggestions and grievances with the government.

"In order to strengthen the safety and security of citizens, government has decided to bring many parts of state under digital surveillance. I am pleased to state that Pune has become the first city to be brought under CCTV surveillance. It has also been implemented in South Mumbai."



He added that as part of its commitment to promote skill development, a special drive has been launched to provide apprenticeship training to one lakh youths under the trade apprenticeship scheme.

The Governor also informed that the state's first IIM has been commissioned in Nagpur.

(REOPENS BES 3)



In Nagpur, district guardian minister Chandrashekhar



Bawankule unfurled the flag at the Kasturchand Park ground.

He said all efforts will be made to make Nagpur a smart city. Both the Centre and the state are initiating steps for its all round development, he said.

"Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are committed to make Nagpur a developed city," the state's Energy Minister added.

"The state has been facing acute drought for the past few years and CM was serious on efforts to resolve the water crisis through the 'Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan'," he said.

On the lines of 'Make in India', the state government was implementing 'Make in Maharashtra' and is providing opportunities for setting up small scale units, he said.

IG Police Ravindra Kadam from Nagpur Range and Assistant Sub Inspector of Police Bhaskar Wankhede, both of whom will be awarded the Police Medals this year, were felicitated by Bawankule on the occasion.
A rich kaleidoscope of India's



cultural diversity and achievements along with its military might was on display at the Rajpath today during 67th Republic Day parade where French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest.

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Army's Remount Veterinary Corps' Dog squad, draped in uniform, received the loudest cheers from the crowd as they marched down the Rajpath. After a gap of 26 years, the Indian Army's unsung heroes made it back to the parade.

Around 36 out of 1,200 Labradors and German Shepherds, which are used to detect explosives and landmines in restive northern Kashmir, underwent weeks of training before being paraded.

Incidentally, a street dog strayed on the Rajpath minutes before the Republic Day programme began, leading to some commotion in the audience seated nearby.

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Colourfully bedecked camels, a contingent of the Border Security Force (BSF), used for patrolling in the Thar Desert region in Rajasthan and Gujarat strolled down the ceremonial boulevard as bandsmen riding their backs played martial music.

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A French military contingent marched down the Rajpath, a first by any foreign armed force. In 2009, an Indian contingent had participated in France's annual Bastille Day parade.

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In some jaw dropping action, Army's stunt riders showed off some of their daring skills on Royal Enfields, forming human pyramid and lotus on the two-wheelers.

The NDA government's flagship programmes like Swachh



Bharat Mission, Digital India and green energy were showcased on tableaux at Rajpath with focus on mega schemes like Namami Gange, solar and wind power.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande were seen engaging in conversations on several occasions during the one-and-a-half-hour-long event. Modi was understood to be explaining various things to the French president.

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Donning a light brown bund-gala and a marigold-coloured headgear (safa), Modi waved to the people in front of the dais where dignitaries were seated.

After seeing off President Pranab Mukherjee and Hollande, the Prime Minister, prompted by the cheers of people, crossed the Rajpath to come closer to the people and waved to them before getting back in his car.

Security personnel kept up with him as he got close to the visitors' enclosure where people were seated.

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For the first time, the parade saw an ex-servicemen tableau where Army veterans showcased their role in nation building.

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Braving early morning chill, a large number people flocked to the Rajpath to witness the majestic parade. Initially, both the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the India Gate were hardly visible due to fog. But later, it became clearer which also allowed the flypast.

Last year, when US President Barack Obama graced the occasion, there was persistent drizzling which however did not deter people who cheered the performers as they went by.
Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu today said development of agriculture was the top priority for her government though industrial progress was also necessary to make the state progress.

Unfurling the national flag during her 67th Republic Day address, Murmu said development of agriculture was the state's priority.

Industrial development was also necessary to make the state prosperous, she said adding, the government was focused to provide a balanced, inclusive and environment-friendly development.

All possible efforts were being taken to develop education, health and finding solutions to unemployment, she said.

"...Efforts are on in setting up ITI and two development centres each in 10 naxal-affected districts of Chatra, Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Palamau, Latehar, Garhwa, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Lohardaga and Gumla," she said.

To make the state investment-friendly, she said labour laws were being simplified and the state had already put in place Jharkhand Industrial Park Act 2015, Food Processing Industry Act, 2015 and Jharkhand Feed Processing Industry Act, 2015.

These efforts, she said, resulted in the World Bank ranking Jharkhand third among the three states in the country in the category of 'Ease of Doing Business'.

For women self-sustenance in villages, the government is providing cows with 90 per cent grant, she said.

The government has already completed 810 of the 1,110 km road network target for 2015-16, she said.

The Governor said a total of Rs one crore would be given under the 'Chief Minister Panchayat Encouragement Prize Scheme' to encourage Swacch Bharat Mission, eradication of superstitions like witchcraft and abstaining from alcohol to the best Panchayat/Panchayat Samiti/district.

For the welfare and dignity of widows above 18 years of



age, the government is providing Rs 600 per month as allowance. Those who are heads of their families would be given houses under Baba Sahib Bhimrao Ambedkar Awas Yojana.

Besides, relentless campaign was on to root out child labour and those who were freed have been rehabilitated, she said, adding efforts were also on to bring back migrated persons. A helpdesk has been set up to advice, train and connect such people with employment-oriented schemes.

Murmu said the Jharkhand government has taken several initiatives to make the state-free from fear and security. The steps taken by it against ultras in the last two years had resulted in reducing extremism.

The government had also taken steps to help youths, who have strayed, to return to the mainstream.

Elaborating other steps taken by the government, she said natives hailing from scheduled districts would get in Class III and Class IV jobs for the next ten years which would give them legitimate right and they could contribute in the state's development.

Attractive tableaux of different government departments were taken out on the occasion.
Senior diplomat Syed Akbaruddin has presented his credentials as India's new permanent representative to the United Nations to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Receiving the credentials yesterday, Ban welcomed his appointment as the top Indian diplomat to the UN and appreciated the significant role India plays at the powerful world body as a long-trusted partner of multilateral system.

The former high-profile spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated India's commitment to the UN and assured the secretary general of his support in helping the UN achieve its ideals and priorities Ban had set out at for 2016, including that of Agenda 2030 and the quest for peaceful political solutions for all problems, an official statement said.

Akbaruddin, India's 21st Permanent Representative at the UN, succeeds Asoke Mukerji who demitted office on December 31.

Prior to this appointment, Akbaruddin was the chief coordinator of the India-Africa Forum Summit -- a milestone event with participation of all 54 African states held in October 2015 in New Delhi.

Immediately before that, he was the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs from 2012 to 2015. He is known for his effective use of social media for diplomacy outreach.

A 1985-batch Foreign Service official, he has represented India's interests in various capacities, promoting friendly ties across the globe.

He has also served as an international civil-servant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from 2006-2011.

In that capacity, he worked as Head of External Relations and Policy Coordination Unit and also as the Special Assistant to the Director-General of the IAEA.

Akbaruddin had previously served at the Indian Mission to the United Nations as First Secretary during 1995-98 and focused on the UN Security Council Reform and Peace-Keeping.

He was a member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative & Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) during 1997-98.

He has also served as Counsellor at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

He is proficient in Arabic.

During 2000-2004, he was the Consul-General of India, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and prior to that he was the First Secretary in Riyadh and Second Secretary/Third Secretary in Cairo, Egypt.

In his first few speeches soon after this arrival early this month, Akbaruddin urged the UN to show a common resolve to rise above semantic definitional differences and work on the long overdue Comprehensive Convention on International terrorism.
Dozens of people who were arrested in Iran for crimes committed before they turned 18 remain at risk of the death penalty despite recent reforms, with many having already spent years on death row, according to a report by Amnesty International released today.

The London-based group also found that Iran has executed at least 73 juvenile offenders between 2005 and 2015, including at least four last year.

Amnesty's 110-page report intensifies pressure on Iran at a time when Tehran is working to rebuild relations with the West following last year's landmark nuclear deal.

The agreement came into force this month after Iran took steps to curb its nuclear program, leading to the lifting of crippling international sanctions.

Yesterday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Rome at the start of the first European trip by an Iranian president in almost two decades.

The visit, which will also include stops at the Vatican and France, is expected to lead to a raft of business and trade deals.

Iran is one of the world's largest users of the death penalty, ranking second behind China in 2014, according to the most recent figures from Amnesty.

Most executions overall in Iran are carried out for drug smuggling. The country straddles a major narcotics trafficking route linking opium-producing fields in Afghanistan to Europe.

Amnesty's researchers were able to identify the names and locations of 49 juvenile offenders who face the death penalty, though the group notes that actual numbers could be higher. A 2014 UN report put the number of juvenile offenders at risk of execution at more than 160.

The majority of the 73 juvenile offenders Amnesty identified who were put to death over the past decade were convicted of murder. Others were executed for crimes including rape, drug-related crimes and national security offences such as "enmity against God."



The group noted that reforms introduced in 2013 give judges more discretion to take into account juvenile offenders' mental maturity and potentially impose less harsh punishments, and that the Supreme Court has since said juvenile offenders facing execution could have their cases retried.

Additional reforms introduced last year require that cases involving juveniles must be heard in special juvenile courts. Still, Amnesty says more must be done.
Anchor Electricals, owned by Panasonic Corporation, is aiming to be the export hub for the Japanese conglomerate for Africa, South Asia and Middle East markets in categories like switches, switchgear, fans and luminaries.

Anchor is also exploring opportunities in the solar segment in the country. It has has set a target of 100 MW in installations by 2018 in this segment.

"We have started solar segment and exports last year. We expect these to grow at a rapid pace in the near future," Anchor Electricals' Director - Sales and Marketing, Ashok Gangar told PTI.

Presently, the company is making switches, switchgear and wiring devices for Panasonic brand. It also has plans to make luminaries.

"Panasonic is making big investments in Anchor in India and it could be a hub for exports to Africa, South Asia and Middle East markets," he said.

Anchor is exploring possibilities to export all of its products.

"We have already started the process to get British Standards approval, which is required for exporting to the Gulf markets," Gangar said, adding that the company has also started design changes as required.

Presently, the company is trying to get approval for switchgear, switch, some lighting products and fans.

"As soon as we would get the (British Standard) approval, we would start exporting," said Gangar.

In the solar segment, apart from selling equipments, Anchor is executing several EPC projects.

"Anchor plans to aggressively expand in the solar panel and EPC business and has set an ambitious target of 100 MW in installations by 2018, Panasonic's foundation centenary year," he said.

Anchor Electricals had a turnover of Rs 1,839.5 crore in 2014-15.

"This year (2015-16), we are expecting it to be around Rs 2,100 - 2,200 crore," he said, adding that the company is growing with a CAGR of 15 per cent.

Presently 75 per cent of its total revenue comes from the power business, which comprises switches, switchgear, wires and cable verticals. Rest 20 per cent is from lighting and the remaining from ancillary businesses, including exports.

Panasonic had acquired Anchor in 2007.
US-based health and fitness chain Anytime Fitness said it plans to double the number of gyms in the country to 40 by the year end and will focus on satellite towns and tier-II cities.

"We have opened 20 units right now and we are projecting to have 20 more by the end of this year. So we would double our size," Anytime Fitness' Director of International Operations Eric Keller told PTI.

"Apart from Delhi and Mumbai, now we are looking the other underserved markets here to provide world-class workout centers," he added.

The company, which recently opened a new center at Model Town area of North Delhi, is planning to have five centers each in Gurgaon and Delhi.

Chennai, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore regions would contribute 10, while it is looking to open 10 gyms in Punjab.

"We are coming up majorly in Punjab, where we are looking at centers like Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Chandigarh," Anytime Fitness India Managing Director Vikas Jain said.

The new centers would be mainly franchises, although the company is looking at other models as well.

On being asked about expected network of Anytime Fitness in the coming years, Keller said:" India has potential to have at least 100 of them in next 3-4 years... As franchise is more accepted and demand for our business model is growing, I do not see any reason that we would not have 500 gyms or more in next 15 years."



However, he added that availability of suitable real estate in large cities is a challenge, although growth potential is good for the next 5-10 years.

On its global performance, Keller said, "This was the first year when we opened more gyms outside North America than in that region. Now, we have over 3,000 units worldwide."



The company is seeing good growth in emerging economies, particularly South East Asia.

"We are also establishing ourself in the Latin American market," he said.

The Minnesota-headquartered firm had a revenue close to USD 1 billion in 2015. It has presence in around 20 countries in North America, Latin America, Europe, Oceania, Middle East and Asia.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today announced to extend all out support to farmers, who intend to take up zero budget natural farming.

"AP government will provide all out support to motivate farmers to turn towards zero budget natural farming," he made announcement at a farmers' training programme here.

On the occasion, Naidu felicitated Subhas Palekar, pioneer of zero budget natural farming on getting the Padma Shri award.

Naidu requested Palekar to stay at least ten days a month in Andhra Pradesh to develop it as a model state in natural farming in the entire country.

The Chief Minister also announced at least seven hours of uninterrupted power supply for farming and free distribution of sprinklers and rain guns for judicious use of available water.

Reiterating his commitment to develop Rayalaseema as a horticulture hub, Naidu said the state would get rid of water crisis by interlinking of rivers.
Andhra Pradesh Editors Association President and Journalist VVR Krishnam Raju has said that the state has several opportunities in tourism sector as it is bestowed with a 900-km coast.

"Andhra Pradesh has several monument buildings, temples and 900-km of coast area, which attract large number of foreign tourist. And hence the state has several opportunities in tourism sector," Raju said at a programme here to mark the national tourism day yesterday.

"Development of the tourist spots, will create employment opportunities to large number of people besides earning foreign exchange to a great extent.

"Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore had concentrated on tourism sector attracting large number of tourists and are earning huge foreign exchange", he added.

Raju said the state government should concentrate and give priority to develop medical tourism, adventure tourism and eco-tourism in the state.
Arunachal Pradesh today came under central rule with President Pranab Mukherjee giving assent to the Union Cabinet's recommendation on such a course following political instability in the state.

Official sources said the President signed the proclamation two days after the cabinet held an unscheduled meeting on Sunday to recommend that the northeasten border state be brought under central rule.

Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju had said the cabinet was forced to take the decision because of a Constitutional breakdown as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state Assembly.

Yesterday Mukherjee called Home Minister Rajnath Singh and put some queries to him on the need for the imposition of President's rule even as Congress, the ruling party in the state, met him and opposed the cabinet decision.

The party urged the President not to give assent to the cabinet decision saying the issue was before the Supreme Court which has decided to hear the Congress petition tomorrow.

Other major opposition parties had also attacked the Centre's decision saying it amounted to "murder" of democracy while the BJP said the crisis was of Congress' making because it had lost numbers in the Assembly.

Arunachal Pradesh has been rocked by a political crisis since December 16 last year when 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to 'impeach' Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as "illegal and unconstitutional" by the Speaker.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court decided to hear on January 27 the Congress plea challenging the Cabinet decision.

The petition seeking urgent hearing was mentioned before Chief Justice T S Thakur, at his residence, who directed the matter to be listed for hearing on Wednesday.

The Union Cabinet's decision was based on state Governor



Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa report.

Up in arms against Tuki, 21 rebel party MLAs, including 14 disqualified a day before, with the help of BJP and independent legislators, congregated at a community hall after the state Assembly complex was 'sealed' by the local administration, and 'impeached' Rebia in an impromptu session chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok.

27 MLAs in 60-member Assembly, including the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues, boycotted the proceedings.

A day later, in a bizarre turn of events, opposition BJP and rebel Congress MLAs congregated in a local hotel to "vote out" Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and to "elect" a rebel Congress MLA in his place but the Gauhati High Court intervened to keep in "abeyance" decisions taken at the rebel "session".

A "no confidence" motion moved by BJP MLAs and Independent MLAs was "adopted" with Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok, who is also a rebel Congressman, in the Chair. A total of 33 members in the 60-member house, including 20 dissident Congress MLAs, later "elected" another dissident Congressman Kalikho Pul as the new "chief minister" of the state.

The Chief Minister had also written the President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking their intervention to "uphold" the Constitution in the face of the "unprecedented murder" of democracy and "bypassing" of a democratically- elected government by the Governor.

Angry over the Governor's action in calling a session of the Assembly bypassing the government, the Congress had paralysed the Rajya Sabha for two days during the winter session.

In the High Court, Justice Hrishikesh Roy observed prima facie the Governor's decision to advance the Assembly session to December 16, 2015 for taking up the impeachment proceedings against the Speaker was in "violation of Article 174 and 175 of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court has referred a batch of petitions on the Arunachal Pradesh crisis to a Constitution Bench.

Rebia, who has challenged in Gauhati High Court various decisions of the Governor and Deputy Speaker including his removal from the Speaker's post, had alleged that the High Court's Acting Chief Justice had "erroneously rejected" his plea, filed on the judicial side, in administrative capacity. He had also sought recusal of Justice B K Sharma from hearing his plea.

Rebia was removed from the post of the Speaker by 14 rebel Congress MLAs, disqualified by the Speaker, and BJP MLAs on December 16 in an assembly session presided over by the Deputy Speaker in a Community Hall in Itanagar. The Deputy Speaker, before removing Rebia from Speaker's post, had also quashed the disqualification of the rebel Congress legislators.

Another bench of the High Court later overturned Justice Roy's order and dismissed the Speaker's petition.

(Reopens DEL 46)



Later, a statement from the Union Home Ministry said the President has signed a Proclamation under Article 356 (1) of the Constitution, imposing President's Rule in relation to the state of Arunachal Pradesh and keeping the Legislative Assembly of the state in suspended animation with effect from January 26, 2016.

"Taking cognisance of the constitutional breakdown that has taken place in the state of Arunachal Pradesh as reported by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, the Union Cabinet in its meeting held on January 24, 2016 had recommended to the President of India to issue such a proclamation.

"In pursuance of this proclamation, all the functions of the Government of the state of Arunachal Pradesh and all the powers vested in or exercisable by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh under the Constitution or under any law in force in that state, which have been assumed by the President by virtue of the said Proclamation, shall, subject to the superintendence, direction and control of the President, will also be exercisable by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh," it said.
The Centre today brought Arunachal Pradesh under President's rule and kept the Assembly under suspended animation after more than a month of political turmoil and in the midst of a raging battle in the Supreme Court, a decision that came under strong attack from Congress and other parties which called it "murder" of democracy.

After intense consultations over the last two days, President Pranab Mukherjee today gave assent to the Union Cabinet's recommendation, accepting the ground that there was a "constitutional breakdown" in the state.

"Taking cognisance of the constitutional breakdown that has taken place in the state of Arunachal Pradesh as reported by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, the Union Cabinet in its meeting held on January 24, 2016 had recommended to the President of India to issue such a proclamation," said a Home Ministry statement.

It said the President has signed a Proclamation under Article 356 (1) of the Constitution, imposing President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and keeping the Legislative Assembly of the state in suspended animation with effect from today.

The President signed the proclamation two days after the cabinet held an unscheduled meeting on Sunday to recommend that the state be brought under central rule.

Minister of State for Home Kirren Rijiju had said the cabinet was forced to take the decision because of a Constitutional breakdown as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state Assembly.

Congress, JD-U, CPI and AAP attacked the Centre's decision as "murder" of democracy and federalism and accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of "insulting" the highest court of the country that is right now hearing the matter.

BJP, however, defended the decision saying it needs to be seen from multiple perspectives and is as per Constitutional mandate and in turn accused the Congress of politicising the issue.

"This is murder of democracy...The matter is sub-judice and government has acted in haste. It is a clear-cut insult to the highest court of the land. Democracy has been murdered," Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal compared the imposition of President's rule to an Emergency-like condition. "Prez rule in Arunachal Advaniji was right in saying that there are Emergency-like conditions in the country," he tweeted.

Yesterday, Mukherjee called Home Minister Rajnath Singh



and put some queries to him on the need for the imposition of President's rule even as Congress, the ruling party in the state, met him and opposed the cabinet decision.

The party urged the President not to give assent to the cabinet decision saying the issue was before the Supreme Court which has decided to hear the Congress petition tomorrow.

Arunachal Pradesh has been rocked by a political crisis since December 16 last year when 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to 'impeach' Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as "illegal and unconstitutional" by the Speaker.

The Supreme Court decided to hear on January 27 Congress plea challenging the Cabinet decision.

The petition seeking urgent hearing was mentioned before Chief Justice T S Thakur, at his residence, who directed the matter to be listed for hearing on Wednesday.

The Union Cabinet's decision was based on state Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa report.

Up in arms against Tuki, 21 rebel party MLAs, including 14 disqualified a day before, with the help of BJP and independent legislators, congregated at a community hall after the state Assembly complex was 'sealed' by the local administration, and 'impeached' Rebia in an impromptu session chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok.

27 MLAs in 60-member Assembly, including the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues, boycotted the proceedings.
Nath Goswami of the Special Forces, who took part in back-to-back operations in Jammu and Kashmir which resulted in killing of 10 terrorists in 11 days before being martyred, was today posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, the country's highest peacetime gallantry award, by President Pranab Mukherjee.

The award was received by Bhavna Goswami, widow of Goswami, at the country's 67th Republic Day.

Goswami was killed at Hafruda forests in Kupwara district in fierce gunbattle with terrorists, but not before he killed two himself and helped in killing another two.

Army sources said Goswami had been actively involved in three such operations in which ten terrorists were killed and one, captured alive in 11 days.

In the first operation, three Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in Khurmur, Handwara on August 23.

Then, he again volunteered for a second back-to-back operation in which three more Lashkar terrorists were killed and another Sajjad Ahmad alias Abu Ubed Ullah captured alive during the two day-long fierce fire fight in Rafiabad on August 26-27.

Goswami once again volunteered to be part of an ongoing operation launched in the dense Hafruda forest near Kupwara, Kashmir.

This was his last operation but not before he killed two terrorists.

According to the citation, at about 8.15 pm on September 2, there was a fierce encounter with four terrorists wherein two of his comrades were injured and pinned down.

He, along with his buddy, dashed forward to rescue their injured colleagues, knowing well the risks to their own lives.

"He first assisted in eliminating one terrorist. Sensing grave danger to three of his wounded colleagues, Lance Naik Mohan with utter disregard to his own personal safety, charged at the remaining terrorists drawing intense fire from them.

"He was hit in the thigh. Unmindful, he closed in and eliminated one terrorist, injured another and was again shot in the abdomen. Undeterred by his injuries, he hurled himself on the last terrorist and killed him at point blank range before succumbing to his wounds," the citation read.

Goswami not only killed two terrorists, but also assisted in neutralising the other two and save the lives of three of his wounded colleagues.

He was awarded Ashoka Chakra (posthumous) for exhibiting most conspicuous gallantry in personally eliminating two terrorists and assisting in evacuation of his wounded colleagues.
At least 50 people have died of swine flu in Russia since last month, according to calculations based on data from regional authorities, as the virus seems to gain ground in the country.

authorities in the southern region of Rostov told RIA Novosti state news agency on Monday that an additional two people had succumbed to the virus, bringing the region's swine flu death toll to eight.

Officials in the nearby Volgograd region meanwhile have said that at least 11 people have died of swine flu.

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 one in the southern region of Adygea.

A first deadly case of swine flu was also reported this week in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in March 2014.

Swine flu deaths have also been reported in the Bryank, Belgorod and Vladimir regions, among others.

Russian minister Veronika Skvortsova said Monday that the swine flu situation in the country was "completely under control."



As of Friday, 18 deadly swine flu cases had been reported in the former Soviet republic of Armenia since the start of the year.

Authorities in neighbouring Georgia meanwhile said they had recorded three deadly cases of the virus.

In nearby Iran, swine flu has left 112 dead and put more than 1,000 people in hospital since mid-November, authorities said late last month.

A major outbreak of the H1N1 virus sparked a World Health Organization pandemic alert in June 2009, after it emerged from Mexico and the United States.

The outbreak killed around 18,500 people in 214 countries. The alert was lifted in August 2010.
President Pranab Mukherjee has said that terror attacks on Paris or Pathankot are against fundamental values of liberty and freedom.

The President made these comments at a banquet he hosted in honour of French President Francois Hollande at the Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday.

Appreciating the French President for his leadership and resolute action in the wake of the dastardly terror attacks in Paris in November last year, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson quoted Mukherjee as saying that these determined steps show France will "not let terrorists succeed."



"India appreciates the support and solidarity expressed by France for India in the wake of the attacks in Pathankot. Whether in Paris or Pathankot, terrorist attacks on democracies such as India and France are an attack against fundamental values of liberty, freedom and universal brotherhood.

"Terrorism is a global threat and it poses a threat to all nations. No cause can justify terrorist acts. It is imperative that the world act in unison against terrorism, without political considerations," he said.

The President, the spokesperson said, added the two countries must fight resolutely for freedom against the forces of intolerance, extremism and terrorism.

"The dastardly terror attacks in Paris and Pathankot have underlined the urgency for countries like India and France to jointly combat this existential threat to humanity and human civilisation," he said.

Mukherjee added that the growing strength of India-France strategic partnership in defence, space, civil nuclear energy and security "demonstrates high mutual trust and understanding" between the two countries.

(Reopen DEL45)



The President said friendship between India and France is driven by a remarkable similarity in the ideals and aspirations of our people.

"Our civilisations have interacted with each other over the centuries, united by a shared vision of the world we want to live in- a world that is premised on individual liberty, freedom and equality, a world that respects pluralism and democracy, a world that seeks tolerance and peaceful co-existence," Mukherjee said.

He said the deep bonds of our time-tested friendship are only set to strengthen in the years ahead anchored as they are in this rich, unshakable foundation.

The President said while mutual cooperation between the two nations in science and research and other sectors is growing, he was glad that the French government and captains of their industry are actively partnering India "in our ambitious developmental initiatives, infrastructure, smart cities, clean energy, railways and skill development."



He also talked about Hollande's visit to the country as the chief guest of the Republic Day parade and the importance India attaches to the invited country.

The President said France was the only country to have been accorded the honour of being chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations for the fifth time.

When the French Infantry troops march in step with Indian troops in the parade (today), they will make history yet again by being the first-ever foreign contingent to do so, he said.

"This is not just history in the making, it is a testimony to the enduring bonds between our two civilisations and our two people, it is a tribute to our long-standing and strategic partnerships.

"It is emblematic of our two national mottos: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" and "Satyameva Jayate", coming together, with the power to inspire the world to achieve the universal ideals of peace and justice," the President said.

He said India has begun the New Year "with fresh hopes and dreams and a resolve to jointly overcome the challenges facing us."



"We live in difficult times characterised by violence, fundamentalism and inequality. But, we also live in times of brilliant innovation, of great creativity, of unparallelled global interaction," he said adding the French President's visit "heralds new beginnings in scaling new heights in India-France bilateral relationship and in the common quest for peace, stability and prosperity for all."



Mukherjee congratulated Hollande on the successful organisation of the Paris climate summit as he recalled that thousands of Indian soldiers hailing from Punjab and Haryana fought France's battle during the First World War and close to ten thousand of them today lie buried in scattered cemeteries in France, having made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of France.
The Pakistani university which was attacked by Taliban militants last week had been asked to enhance security a day before the assault but its management turned a deaf ear to the advice, police said today.

On Wednesday, four heavily-armed terrorists attacked Bacha Khan University (BKU) named after the iconic Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in the volatile Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province which is located about 50 kilometres from here, killing 21 people, mostly students.

District Police Officer (DPO) Sohail Khalid Khan told told the elected District Assembly Charsadda that he had informed the administration of BKU to enhance security measures.

He said that a team of police headed by DSP Raza Muhammad had visited BKU a day before the incident and had expressed dissatisfaction over security arrangements and brought the same in the notice of varsity's administration.

The DPO was responding to queries made by the district members in the district councils meeting.

Moreover, the administration was also informed that anything terrible could happen in the varsity but the university's administration turned a deaf ear to their notice.

Khan said that the security cordon at Tehsil level was being reviewed and would be updated wherever there was any shortcoming. He said the soil of Afghanistan was used in attacks in Pakistan.

An emergency meeting of the District Council Charsadda was convened to deliberate upon the BKU tragedy and security environment developed in the district. The district members said that despite security alerts only four security guards were on duty out of a total of 55.
Malaysian police said 13 bodies, believed to be Indonesian illegal immigrants, were found washed ashore after their boat capsised in bad sea conditions.

District police chief Rahmat Othman said the bodies of four men and nine women were discovered on a beach in southern Johor state by members of the public today.

He said authorities found an overturned wooden boat not far from the beach, which had likely capsized before dawn. Rahmat said the boat was believed to be carrying 30 to 35 people, most likely Indonesians trying to sneak into the country.

A search and rescue operation is underway but is being hampered by high tides and choppy seas, he said.

Such tragedies are not uncommon in Malaysia. Many Indonesians are willing to risk their lifes by traveling on boats believed to be old and unsafe to work in Malaysia illegally, or to return to their hometowns.
Chandigarh will become an "ideal Smart City" with all-round improvements being planned in the Union Territory, including in the areas of transportation and e-governance, Haryana and Punjab Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki said today.

Efforts are also being made for providing round-the-clock water and power supply and ensuring environmental protection in the city which was selected in the first phase of the Centre's ambitious 'Smart City' initiative, added Solanki, who is also the UT Administrator.

"When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 'Smart City' plan, we were confident that Chandigarh would get selected in the first phase. And that did happen.

"As the Administrator of Chandigarh, I assure you that it will turn out to be an ideal smart city," the governor said in his speech during a Republic Day function here.

In order to make Chandigarh a smart city, Solanki said, "We are making efforts to ensure 24-hour water and power supply, better transportation, environmental protection and e-governance."



He further said that Chandigarh has "already taken the lead" in the area of e-governance.

"Steps are being taken to make Chandigarh a smart city. These include e-Sampark, e-Jan Sampark, M-Sampark, e-Stamping, e-Education, e-Campus, e-Saksham, e-Payment and Gram Sampark. We have also formulated three projects which will be the lifeline of this city.

"An MoU has already been signed for a Chandigarh-Mohali- Panchkula Metro-link. Another MoU has been signed to provide airport-like facilities at Chandigarh railway station based on the pattern of developed countries," he said.

Chandigarh is considered to be one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture.

Solanki also touched upon the contribution of Punjab and Haryana in making India sufficient in foodgrains.

"In the industrial sector too, Punjab and Haryana have great achievements to their credit. We have world-class institutions that provide education in specific fields. We also have a modern rail and road network, industry, excellent communication services, latest technologies," he said.

Talking about Haryana, he said that people there had through their hard work made it a leading state.

"When it (Haryana) came into existence in 1966, doubts were expressed whether this backward state would ever become self-sufficient. We are proud that Haryana, once considered backward, is now one of the developed states," he said.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has asserted before the judicial commission probing the solar panel scam that there was no need for him to undergo polygraph test as he has done "nothing wrong".

"What is the need for that? (lie detector test). I have not done anything wrong. None has doubts that I have done anything wrong," he said to a query during a cross examination.

The CM had deposed before the commission for more than 14 hours yesterday. The testifying that started in the morning ended in the wee hours today.

Chandy made a similar remark on the lie detector test to reporters outside the government guest house.

He told the commission that the charges against him and his office were 'politically motivated'.

This is the first time a Chief minister in Kerala is appearing before a judicial commission.

The commission was on its final stage of evidence taking on the scam that broke out in 2013 and caused a huge embarrassment to the Congress-led UDF government.

The Kochi-based commission held the sitting at government guest house here to enable Chandy depose as per his earlier request.

Rejecting charges that he and his office had helped Team Solar Company that committed the fraud, Chandy had said that after the scam broke out, the government had taken steps to bring the 'fraudsters' -- Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha S Nair -- before law.

The CM had said that his government had ensured punishment to the fraudsters who were committing the crime since 2005 and that the conviction and sentence of the accused clearly showed his government's commitment towards the scam, he added.

Chandy had also hit out at the opposition, saying they had so far not brought before the commission a single shred of proof to support their charges that he and his office had helped the Team Solar Company.

Opposition CPI(M)-led LDF had launched a massive stir demanding Chandy's resignation as the scam took a political turn after it emerged that two members of the CM's staff -- Tenny Joppen and Jikkumon -- had alleged links with Saritha.

Government had appointed retired High Court judge Sivarajan as one-man commission on October 23, 2013, to probe the scam.

The scam pertains to cheating several persons of worth crores of rupees by Saritha and Radhakrishnan by offering solar panel solutions. The duo allegedly canvassed business by using high-level names, including that of Chandy.

While Saritha was granted bail after being behind bars for about nine months, Radhakrishnan is still in jail in connection with the murder of his wife.
Hailing the efforts of security forces and locals for maintaining peace in the Naxal-affected pockets of Chhattisgarh, Governor Balramjidas Tandon today exuded confidence that the state would soon be "free from the clutches" of Maoist menace.

"Security measures and development activities have gained momentum in the Maoist-hit Bastar region. Security forces and local people have played a crucial role in maintaining law and order (in the region) and protecting unity and integrity of the country,"he said addressing the 67th Republic Day function at the police line grounds here.

"I am confident that the state will soon get rid of Maoist menace and Bastar will witness the light of inclusive development," he said.

Tandon also lauded measures being taken by the state government for the welfare of drought-hit farmers.

"This year, Chhattisgarh is going through a severe drought situation and around 80 per cent of the tehsils in it were drought-affected. In this situation, the state government is with farmers and making every possible effort to provide relief," he said.

According to him, financial assistance, waiving farm loans and free power supply to farmers were some of the steps taken by the state government.

Appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching 'PM Crop Insurance Scheme', he said the farmers of Chhattisgarh will be benefited of it.

Speaking on the clean India campaign, the Governor said, "We are swiftly heading to achieve goal of 'Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat' (clean India, healthy India) with the concentrated efforts of administration, public representatives and community."



"I am happy that 1,200 villages of the state have been freed from open defecation while the target is to cover 5,000 villages under the campaign by the end of this year," he said.

"The state government has been giving special attention to the development of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward castes, labourers and down trodden.

"A special programme has been launched for the inclusive development of special backward tribes and the target under it will be accomplished within two years," the Governor added.

Appealing people to contribute in campaign against



malnutrition, he said, "Several schemes are being run for the betterment of health of women and children in the state. It is our responsibility to take care of new born babies. We have to make joint efforts to prevent malnutrition."



Tandon also said the government is also focusing on quality education and enhance employment for youth.

"International Institute of Information Technology has been set up at Naya Raipur while Indian Institute of Technology will be established at Bhilai which will help youth to attain better higher education," the Governor said.

He also informed that the target is to setup Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in each development block of Chhattisgarh and the state has been ranked fourth among top five states as per the 'EaseofDoingBusiness' rankingwhich is a great achievement.

Tandon further said laying new railway lines in Surguja and Bastar division will pave the way for a "new era of development" in the those areas.

Earlier, he unfurled the tricolour and received guard of honour from the joint parade of the state police, Chhattisgarh Armed Police, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, a squad of Special Armed Force (Madhya Pradesh) police, women squad of state police, National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme, Scouts and Guides here amid tight security.
China has deported a Swedish human rights activist detained earlier this month for allegedly posing a threat to national security, the government said today.

Peter Dahlin, who worked for the Chinese Urgent Action Working Group, disappeared on January 4 as he prepared to board a flight to Thailand and appears to have been caught up in a crackdown on human rights lawyers.

Dahlin's group has said it offered training to lawyers who have tried to use the tightly-controlled judiciary to redress apparent government abuses.

State broadcaster CCTV last week aired footage of a dazed and harried-looking Dahlin apologising to China for his alleged actions.

"We have deported him," Hua Chunying, a foreign ministry spokeswoman, told a regular press briefing.

Michael Caster, a US-based spokesman for Dahlin's group, said on Twitter that the Swede had been "expelled from China".

His Chinese girlfriend, who had also been held "is no longer in detention but, contrary to some assertions, has not left the country", he added.

Dahlin's detention came as China considers a new law to control the activities of foreign non-governmental organisations which has raised widespread concern among overseas groups.

Another Swedish national, China-born Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai, disappeared from Thailand late last year before reappearing on Chinese national television in police custody.

He confessed to a mainland drink-driving offence dating back years and said he did not want Stockholm to interfere with his case.

Gui was rumoured to be among those preparing a tell-all book about the love life of President Xi Jinping.

Beijing only rarely accuses foreigners of endangering state security, a crime which can involve a heavy sentence.

"I welcome the fact that Peter Dahlin can now be reunited with his family in Sweden," Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said in a statement Monday.

"This is the result of close contacts between the Swedish foreign ministry and Chinese representatives.
At a time when the Centre is seeking public participation for its clean Ganga campaign, an RSS-linked Muslim outfit has decided to spread awareness about it amongst community members on checking pollution of the river.

150 members of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), at a meeting held in Varanasi recently, took a vow for a Swachh Ganga and Swachh Bharat.

"We decided that we must work towards stopping pollution of Ganga," MRM national convener Mohammad Afzal said.

As part of their efforts, MRM workers will reach out to community members and erect hoardings urging against polluting the river, Afzal said.

"It is the government which will clean the river. But to ensure the river remains clean in a sustainable manner, public participation is required. Therefore, our people will put up banners in areas through which the river flows. We will also see that measures taken by Centre are followed," he said.

The 2,525-km river flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

During the meeting held between January 20 and 21, the Manch also appealed members of Hindu and Muslim communities to "sit together" to find out a solution to the vexed Ayodhya's Ram temple construction issue.

"(Mughal emperor) Babur was a foreign invader. Lord Ram is ours and we are his. Hence, members of both Hindu and Muslim communities should sit together and find out a solution to this (temple issue)," Afzal said.

The MRM also held a 'milk party' during the Varanasi meeting to send out a message that its consumption is "healthy", while that of beef was "unhealthy".
Coast Guard Eastern region today retrieved a body of a boy who was missing since yesterday after he along with two of his friends were swept into the sea by strong waves when they were bathing near Thiruvottiyur.

Coast Guard helicopter "Helo" located the body of the 13-year-old boy and it was later handed over to local police, an official release said.

Tamil Nadu Coastal Security police informed the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre about the missing of the boy who was believed to have drowned along with his friends yesterday.

Along with Coast Guard ships, the helicopter was also engaged in the search operations.

Four boys went for a swim in the Tiruvottiyur sea yesterday. All of them were swept into the sea by the strong waves. However, local fishermen managed to rescue one of them.
Constitution architect B R Ambedkar's legacy, Mahatma Gandhi's crusade for freedom in Bihar's Champaran, an art university in Chhattisgarh and Swachh Bharat and Digital India campaigns were among the themes for this year's Republic Day tableaux that wowed the crowd at the majestic Rajpath today.

A total of 23 tableaux were on display at the ceremonial parade with 17 of them belonging to various states and Union Territories.

Goa's tableau was the first among the states to roll down the boulevard themed on its Jagor folk dance. Gujarat was next to follow, showcasing the rare natural abode of Asiatic lions in Gir.

Sikkim and Jammu and Kashmir were next in line, with the latter's float portraying rural development through technology.

Rajasthan's vivid replicas of Hawa Mahal drew loud cheers as spectators were left in awe with exquisite craftsmanship.

Chandigarh depicted the 'City Beautiful' designed by legendary architect Le Corbusier which also carried its circular portrait on its side and models of his famed creations of the capital city.

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 also found their place in the ceremonial parade.

Among other states which registered their presence included Assam, Tripura, Odisha, West Bengal, showcasing the Baul music tradition, Madhya Pradesh's white tiger safari, Uttar Pradesh's zardozi heritage, Karnataka and Uttarakhand.

The Bihar tableau showcased Gandhi's fight against the indigo system in Motihari in Champaran district that led the foundation for his greater role as the man who brought his country to freedom from the yokes of imperialism.

The tableau had model of the SDO court where the Mahatma was tried during his visit there in 1917 and the trial was also depicted in relief at the rear of the side portion of the float.

Chhattisgarh showcased a model of Kahiragarh Music and Art University as its theme, and the mock-up of the red building drew cheers from the crowd.

However, there was no tableau from Delhi for the third consecutive year.

The tableau of Gujarat depicted rare and exotic varieties along with the Sidi community settled in the Gir forest, performing their traditional dance. Similarly, the Tamil Nadu presented the lifestyle, appearance, manners and customs of Toda tribe of Nilgiri district, one of the six primitive tribal groups of the state.

Madhya Pradesh took pride in depicting its rare breed of



white tiger while Karnataka displayed its Kodagu - land of coffee.

The tableau by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry had a figurine of Ambedkar holding the Constitution in one hand and the other arm outstretched.

Commemorating Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary, the tableau showcased Parliament House, a replica of a grand memorial to him at his birthplace Mhow in MP, and a scene of handing over of the Constitution by him to the first President Rajendra Prasad.

One side of the tableau also showed an image of the 125th year commemorative coins in Ambedkar's honour, while its back side featured an image of a commemorative postage stamp.

It also showcased a postal stamp and two commemorative coins.

The tableau of Ministry of New and Renewable energy had a theme of 'Mega watt to Giga watt' highlighted research and technology development in new areas such as ocean, tidal energy and hydrogen.

Drinking water and sanitation ministry's tableau was based on the theme of Swachh Bharat while Digital India was showcased by Ministry of Communications and IT.

The front portion of the tableau was designed like a printer to highlight digital services of India post. The props accompanying the tableau represented various gadgets like mobile phone, tablet, USB drive, chips while the base was shaped as mouse in a computer.

The tableau of Election Commission projected the inclusive and ethical participation for a stronger democracy showing model polling stations, ramp for handicapped and special facilities for elderly and other awareness programmes.
An Uttarakhand Police Commando deployed in Governor Krishna Kant Paul's security today fell during the Republic Day function at the Parade Ground here, sustaining a head injury.

30-year-old Sanjay Gairola tripped and fell as he ran towards the Governor's convoy to usher him into the ground, officials here said.

He was rushed to the Doon hospital where he was detected with an injury in the head. However, his condition is out of danger, doctors at the hospital said.

Soon after the Republic Day function was over, the Governor, Chief Minister Harish Rawatand DGP B S Siddhu visited the hospital to enquire about the commando's condition and instructed doctors there to provide him with the best medical care available.
A CRPF squad that fought terrorists who attacked a police station in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and saved lives of numerous unarmed policemen last year have been decorated with top police gallantry medals this Republic Day.

Two of the personnel, constables Suraj S Mohite and Satish Kumar, have been decorated posthumously with the President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG) while two others have been given PMG for the operation that took place on March 20, last year at the Rajbagh police station.

Only three security personnel have got the top PPMG this year, out which two are Mohite and Satish.

The attack had taken place a few days after PDP-BJP coalition government in J-K had come had assumed office and the brave CRPF men saved the day as the police 'thana' that came under attack had a number of unarmed personnel posted for regular administrative duties.

Apart from Mohite and Satish, the Central Reserve Police Force squad leader, Deputy Commandant Pawan Kumar and constable Rakesh Kumar have been awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) for their dare-devil exploits in neutralising the two terrorists, who had launched a 'fidayeen' attack.

Both Mohite and Satish, their citation said, "displayed raw courage in moving out of their barracks and positioning themselves between the troopers (unarmed ones) and the militants in a manner so as to halt the advance of the militants".

The duo were present in the police station as part of a CRPF platoon on operational tasks and were alerted by their colleagues and a sentry guard about the entry and attack by the two militants.

The militants wore army fatigues and told the gate sentry



that they have come to hand over three suspects to the police and hence were allowed in, the citation said.

"Having succeeded in neutralising one of the militants and despite sustaining severe injuries, they (Mohite and Satish) ensured that the second militant did not succeed in entering the barracks. Beaten by their fierce determination and valour, the second militant hid himself in a room and was subsequently neutralised," it said.

It said despite sustaining serious injuries, they "held to their positions and after coming face to face with the terrorists fired and gunned down one of the terrorists".

They were martyred in the police station after they received a number of bullet shots.

DC Pawan and constable Rakesh soon after came in as reinforcement party from a near-by CRPF location and Pawan, taking the help of a bullet-proof vehicle, went close to the room where the second militant was hiding and shot him dead, it said.

After the end of the operation, three security personnel and two civilians were killed while the two militants were neutralised by the CRPF team belonging to the 121st battalion of the force deployed in the area for counter-insurgency tasks.
Czech politicians of all stripes joined forces today to slam the country's outspoken president after he publicly mulled using a Kalashnikov machine gun to get rid of the prime minister, a political rival.

Both leftists, President Milos Zeman and Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka were once allies but their relationship has soured amid Europe's record migrant crisis, with Sobotka supporting but Zeman staunchly opposing the influx.

Asked at a public debate yesterday on how people could get rid of the pro-migrant Sobotka, Zeman said: "There is only one democratic option, which is a general election."



"A non-democratic option is a Kalashnikov," added the 71-year-old veteran leftwinger, the first-ever directly elected president of the Czech Republic, referring to the iconic Russian-made weapon.

"I hope he meant it as a joke, because it's disgusting," Vojtech Filip, head of the opposition Communist party, told local media.

Poking fun at Zeman, who is known for liking a drink, Christian Democrat MEP Pavel Svoboda tweeted a picture of Rambo actor Sylvester Stalone gripping a Kalashikov with the caption: "Will the president be able to hold the Kalashnikov himself, or will he hire someone to do it?"



"This is unworthy of a head of state. He keeps provoking, splitting society, something a good politician would never dare do," added Petr Fiala, head of the right-wing Civic Democrats.

Sobotka, who started his political career 20 years ago as a legislator for the Social Democrats led by Zeman at that time, dubbed the president's statement "stupid, unnecessary, and I will not react to it."



"We are most likely the only country in the civilised world where the president openly calls for killing the prime minister," Sobotka said on Twitter.

"I can deal with it myself, but I'm upset by the fact that Zeman has scared my children, the whole family and friends," added the 44-year-old father of two small boys.

Sixty percent of Czechs believe their EU and NATO state of 10.5 million people should not accept refugees from war-torn countries, the Czech Academy of Science found in a December poll.
One of the students on hunger strike over the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula was today shifted to varsity's health centre after his health deteriorated.

"One of the seven students who are on the indefinite hunger strike was admitted to university health centre following the deterioration of his health," Ravindra Kumar, chief medical officer said.

"He was semi-unconscious in the afternoon. He was taken to the health centre. His condition is stable now," Kumar said.

The second batch of seven students sat on indefinite hunger strike day before yesterday after the first batch was forcibly taken away and admitted to hospital on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) today handed over a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to Rohith's mother Radhika.

The cheque was given by TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy at the varsity campus.

"It (Rohith's suicide) is very sad. Congress will fight until the culprits are punished. From Telangana Congress side we have given Rs 5 lakh to Rohith's mother. We will support the bereaved family in (all) possible ways," Reddy told reporters.

"The (Central) government is handling the issue of appointment of interim Vice Chancellor (VC) in an irresponsible way. They should remove the VC immediately and appoint another person. We demand that both the central ministers (HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya) be sacked," he said.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice said it had earlier requested the Indian People's Tribunal (IPT) to send a fact finding team to investigate Rohith's death.

The IPT team comprising Justice (Retd) Suresh H, Desi Disa Editor Sujata Surepalli, CBC Federation Chairman U S Rao, Researcher Meena Menon and senior advocate Gayatri Singh in its report said the death of Rohit was caused by acts of omission and commission of the authorities.

The JAC for Social Justice of HCU has also given a call for shutdown of universities across the country tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Hyderabad police foiled attempts to take



out a 'peace' rally towards Tank Bund and took over 50 protesting students in preventive custody.

Scores of students, under the banner of Osmania University JAC and University of Hyderabad JAC assembled near the People's Plaza as per their plan to take out a 'peace' rally towards Ambedkar statue at Tank Bund.

As the protesting students holding banners and photos of Rohit raised slogans seeking justice and marched towards Tank Bund, police immediately took them into preventive custody and foiled their attempts to hold the rally in view of prohibitory orders near Secretariat.

"They were not allowed to take out the rally and as many as 54 protesters were placed under preventive arrests," J Surender Reddy, Assitant Commissioner of Police, Saifabad Division, told
Debate on intolerance is irrelevant as Indian culture is the most sensitive one in the world since time immemorial, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Kailash Meghwal said here today.

"Those who have returned their awards actually got these in the previous Congress regime, and neither the Congress nor left parties have digested the overwhelming majority and victory of BJP in the previously held Lok Sabha and Assembly polls," Meghwal said after hoisting the tricolour at Vidhan Sabha pemises



Intolerance issue was raised jointly by Congress and Left parties as they have not overcome their defeat in the polls, he further alleged.

The intolerance was prevailing in some countries where people of other religions were not even allowed to live properly and freedom of expression was limited, he said.

Intolerance had "cropped up during previous Congress regime," he said.
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Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi today thanked all security personnel for their contribution to making the 67th Republic Day celebrations in the national capital a "grand success".

Delhi was put under a tight ground-to-air security cover with thousands of armed personnel keeping a vigil for the official parade, where French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest.

Minutes after the parade was over on Rajpath, Bassi tweeted, "I thank all security forces for partnering with us & making Republic Day celebrations a grand success. Jai Hind."



Bassi lauded the Delhi Police Band and parade contingent for "a magnanimous display" and also congratulated his "back-end technical & control room team" for ensuring foolproof security.

"Be it 24x7 vigil, winter chill or high security threat, nothing has deterred your spirit. I raise a toast to every single man & woman of DelhiPolice" the Delhi top cop said on twitter.Com.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala today said the nation should not forget its diversity, 'which is our basis' in its journey towards progress.

"Both social and economic development is included in our country's developmental perimeter because ours is a diverse country. We will have to progress, keeping in mind inclusive development of all," Vala said.

"While focusing on development based on technological research, we should not forget our diversity, because it is our basis" he said, unfurling the Tricolour at the 67th Republic Day celebrations here.

The day was observed amid heightened security in the wake of the recent arrest of six suspected terrorists with ISIS links from Karnataka and also a threat letter received at the office of the Consulate General of France here.

Vala, who took the salute during the ceremonial parade, said all should together strive towards making the country more powerful and work for all round development of the state.

He said secularism is the 'backbone' of the country and culture and it has been rightly tailored in the Constitution.

Complementing the state government for its progressive initiatives like mobile governance, amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act and new industrial policy, Vala also made a special mention about Karnataka's participation in popular central government programmes like Smart Cities and Digital India.

The first ever participation of a dog squad in the parade, march past by a Maharashtra Police contingent and disabled students were among highlights of today's Republic Day celebrations here.
Health-conscious consumers snapping up everything from electric toothbrushes to kitchen appliances drove up 2015 profits at electronics giant Philips as it seeks to spin off its historic lighting business.

Posting last year's earnings results, the Dutch giant said today that net profit attributable to shareholders was 645 million euros (USD 700 million) compared to 415 million euros in 2014 -- a hike of 55 per cent.

Total sales were up to 24.2 billion euros, or 2.0 per cent on comparable rates, fuelled by rising demand and eyeing a healthy order book in North America and Europe, the company said.

The results were a welcome bounce back for the Amsterdam-based company after it saw profits tumble by almost two-thirds in 2014, blamed on slowing markets in Russia and China.

In a sign that it is not all plain sailing ahead though, Philips said it recorded a net loss in the final quarter of 2015 of 45 million euros, compared to a profit of 139 million for the same period the previous year.

"Overall 2015 was a solid year for Philips, as illustrated by consistent performance improvements in the face of ongoing" economic challenges, said chief executive officer Frans van Houten.

The Amsterdam stock market welcomed the with shares on the AEX index up 5.6 per cent to 24 euros in morning trading.

Among the successes of 2015 were sales of medical equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging scanners which leapt by 4 per cent once rates were adjusted.

Amid global economic uncertainty, Van Houten remained prudent, predicting "moderate comparable sales growth" in 2016 as Philips seeks to streamline operations by splitting its healthcare-lifestyle business from its lighting section.

"Taking into account ongoing macro-economic headwinds and the phasing of costs and sales, we expect improvements in the year to be back-end loaded," he cautioned.

The lifestyle business has been steadily growing for Philips, and it hailed strong sales in 2015 of juicers, soup-makers and mixer-grinders -- perhaps fuelled by the current trend for healthy shakes and drinks.

Men's personal care products also boomed, particularly in China, with shavers and male groomers being popular favourites.

The company's restructuring is expected to be completed this year, with analysts predicting Philips -- which employs some 106,000 people around the world -- could eventually sell off what was once one of its core businesses.

Philips also abandoned its television production business a few years ago, bowing to Asian competition.

Philips sold its first light bulb a few years after it was founded in 1891, but for the past dozen years has focused on medical equipment, which now accounts for more than 40 percent of sales.

"Philips is on schedule to be able to complete the separation of the lighting business in the first half of this year," the company said in its statement today.
The European Commission will unveil tomorrow an ambitious proposal to more closely regulate Europe's auto sector, the EU's top industry official said, in an effort to repolish the bloc's image that was tarnished by the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

The Commission, the EU's regulatory arm, will propose to take greater authority on deciding which car models are approved to drive on European roads, a responsiblity for now handled by national regulators.

"We need a stronger supervision in Europe in which the Commission has the power to carry out checks, and order recalls if needed," said EU Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska in a editorial published today in Belgian daily l'Echo.

The EU has been particularly embarrased in the VW scandal, in which Europe's biggest car maker was found to have fitted 11 million diesel engines worldwide with devices aimed at cheating emissions tests.

Critics accuse the Commission of turning a blind eye to years of clear evidence that Volkswagen was using software to cheat on emissions tests, with Brussels afraid to take on Germany's powerful auto industry.

"The Dieselgate scandal was not only embarrassing because VW had been caught cheating; it also highlighted in a very public way the failure to enforce European legislation," said Cecile Toubeau of anti-pollution lobby Transport and Environment.

The Commission has said it has had no power to weigh in on the evidence and has pointed the finger to national regulators that in most cases -- most notably in Germany -- rely on tests executed by experts from the car companies themselves.

The proposal tomorrow is geared towards "guaranteeing that car tests are more independent by checking who is paying for the service and to whom the service is tasked," said the EU's Bienkowska.

Tomorrow's proposal will take at least months and possibly years of negotiations among EU lawmakers and national governments.

Germany's Volkswagen admitted in September having installed software on diesel vehicles worldwide that allows them to cheat pollution tests, sparking a scandal that could cost it tens of billions of dollars.
Sahibzada Yaqoob Ali Khan, a former Pakistan army general-turned diplomat and the country's foreign minister in the 80s and 90s, has died. He was 95.

Khan, who passed away last night, retired from Pakistan Army as lieutenant general in 1971 and then embarked on a career as a diplomat.

He remained Pakistan's ambassador to France, the United States and the Soviet Union from 1972 to 1982.

Khan served as foreign minister from 1982 to 1991. He also served as caretaker foreign minister from 1996 to 1997.

President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have expressed grief over his demise.

The Prime Minister lauded Khan's meritorious services for the country as a seasoned diplomat during his career.
Congress today came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of imposition of President's rule in party-ruled Arunachal Pradesh declaring that it would the decision "fight tooth and nail".

"Sun rises in India's east. BJP, however, eclipses Constitution's ethos by imposing Central rule in Arunachal. Federalism trampled by Modiji."



"Republic's founding principles of Democracy & Federalism gutted by Modiji on Republic Day! Will fight Central Rule in Arunachal tooth&nail," party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said in a series of tweets.

His tweets came within hours of President Pranab Mukherjee approving Union Cabinet's recommendation to impose central rule in the northeastern state.

Earlier, another Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said, "This is murder of democracy... The matter is sub-judice and government has acted in haste. It is a clear-cut insult to the highest court of the land. Democracy has been murdered."



He also said that the government in a sensitive state has been disturbed and claimed that "senior (union) ministers were involved in horse trading".

"It is now up to the democratic values, if any, left in this government to take a position and for the judiciary to set things right," he said.

A Congress delegation led by Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad had yesterday called on the President to protest against the Centre's move dubbing it as "coercive federalism".
At least five persons went missing today in Bangladesh when an overcrowded boat capsized in the Meghna river after being hit by an oil-laden vessel.

Most of the passengers managed to swim across the shore but five are still missing, said Haimchar police's Sub Inspector Anwar Hossain.

The boat, carrying 50 passengers, capsized after it was hit by the cargo vessel in the Meghna river in Chandpur district, bdnews reported.

Fire service divers have already reached the spot for rescue operations, he said.
The 67th Republic Day parade at the majestic Rajpath delighted not just thousands of Indians present there but also drew cheers from several foreign nationals including the French, many of whom attended the ceremonial function for the first time.

61-year-old Danish Jan Petersen, on his maiden visit to India, said, he felt happy to join in the celebrations.

"In Denmark, we are not used to so much colours, so the parade came as a nice surprise and a visual treat. I felt glad to have attended the event, people are also very kind...I was in Jaipur earlier and had seen the Hawa Mahal there and when I saw the replica of the iconic monument, it felt great that I had alread seen it," Petersen, who recently returned from Rajasthan, told PTI.

A resident of Kolding city, Petersen came to see the parade, accompanied by his fried Ulla, a doctor.

French officials, part of the delegation accompanying French President Francois Hollande, and press members from that country who attended the event, were seen cheering various contingents and tableaux that paraded on the ceremonial boulevard.

"It was wonderful to be here and it felt lovely to see India celebrating her Republic Day and France joining in here as represented by our President," a visiting French official said.

Young Chinese friends Zhou Shenquan and Chen Yi from Hubei Province gushed about their experiences after the parade, particularly watching acrobatics by the motorcycle daredevils.

"We have our National Day Military Parade in China once in five or ten years, and the last time it happened, we couldn't get the tickets. So, you see, we have seen the Indian parade before the Chinese one," said 27-year-old Shenquan, a financial consultant.

This was Shenquan second visit to India and Yi's first, but both attended the event on the Rajpath for the first time.

"People are very friendly and hospitable and, we were happy to be part of this occasion which means so much for India," Yi said.

"We had seen the motorcycle daredevilry video on the web in China only but saw it in India for the first time," she said.
Four militants, involved in kidnapping and attacks on Pakistani security forces, were killed today during an exchange of fire in the troubled southwestern Balochistan province.

"The clash occurred in the Winder area of Lasbela district where a search operation was being carried out," a spokesperson for the Frontier Corps said.

He said the militants were killed during an exchange of fire with security forces.

The security personnel recovered a hand grenade and SMGs from the militants who were involved in kidnapping for ransom, extortion, attacks on security forces and other crimes.

The spokesperson didn't disclose the identities of the militants or which outfit they belonged too.

In a separate incident, two bullet-riddled bodies were found in the coastal town of Pasni near Gwadar.

The two may have been killed in an exchange of fire with security forces, the Pasni Police Station Officer (SHO) Imam Bahkash Baloch said. The two had been missing for over a year.
A high alert has been sounded in Odisha after four men, presenting themselves as Iraqi nationals, disappeared when asked to produce their identity proof at a hotel here last night, with police suspecting them to be terrorists.

The four men, with an estimated height of 6.5 feet and speaking in Hindi or English, came to the hotel in a car with a Delhi registration number which turned out to be fake, police said.

"The four persons who fled the hotel before the police reached there could be terrorists... The four suspected terrorists had claimed to be natives of Iraq," said Director General of Police (DGP) K B Singh.

"They came in a car bearing Delhi number plate. However, verification of the car's registration number showed that it was fake," he added.

Siba Narayan Mohapatra, the hotel manager who interacted with one of the four men, said "While one of them came to the hotel reception desk, three others were inside the car parked outside. The CCTV has captured the picture of one suspected terrorist and the vehicle used by them."



Commissioner of Police R P Sharma said they had come to stay in the hotel at about 9 pm last night but fled when they were asked to produce identity proof before being given rooms.

"The four persons wanted two rooms at the Hotel Arya Mahal," Sharma said, adding the police got information from the hotel staff who suspected their movement.

The police have seized the CCTV footage from the hotel.

"In the wake of the incident, the security of the Chief Minister's carcade has been beefed up. We don't want to take any chances and have heightened security and frisking," Sharma said.

The Special Task Force (STF), led by IG Arun Bothra of Crime Branch of Police, has started investigation into the incident and launched an operation to trace the four men.

The team searched different hotels and lodges to locate the missing suspected terrorists.

"We are not sure whether the four persons are still in the state capital or not. Security personnel have been verifying CCTV installed at different places along Master canteen area," said a senior police officer.

The police have also appealed to the public to inform them if they come across any suspected persons.

(Reopen DEL33)



Odisha police this evening released CCTV grabs of the vehicle and one of the suspected persons.

While Superintendents of police of all the districts have been alerted, the police have intensified frisking and checking in the state capital besides sealing all the entry and exit points to Bhubaneswar, the Commissioner of Police said.

Sharma said the police suspected that there was a plan to disrupt the Republic Day celebration as the suspicious men attempted to stay in a hotel which is barely 300 metres from the state level parade venue at Mahatma Gandhi Marg.

"We had tightened security since last night after disappearance of the four suspected persons," Sharma said.

The STF has questioned the hotel staff and others who had interacted with the suspected persons.
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
Four persons, including a married couple, allegedly committed suicide by hanging themselves in their houses in three separate incidents in different parts of the national capital, police said today.

In first incident, which took place in south Delhi's Andrews Ganj area, body of a 23-year-old driver Dharmender was found hanging from the ceiling of his house while body of his 20-year-old wife, Reena, was found lying nearby, a police official said.

The couple, both native of Badaun in Uttar Pradesh and married about one-and-a-half year ago, were living not near to a slum cluster where Dharmender's relatives lived.

They had frequent fights as Dharmender was an alcoholic.

According to police, last evening, they had heated argument over the issue, and after that they both did not take calls from their relatives for a long time.

When Dharmender's sister went to check on them and she found Dharmender hanging from the ceiling and Reena lying nearby, said the official.

Dharmender's sister raised an alarm, following which the police were informed. The couple were rushed to a hospital, where they died.

Preliminary investigations suggest that they both hanged themselves, as Dharmender's body was found hanging by the time the matter came to light while Reena's body fell off the ceiling and a stole was found wrapped around her neck, the official said.

In other incidents at Ranjit Nagar, a man and a woman, said to be in a relationship hanged themselves in their houses.

The man has been identified as Mohammed Ayub while the woman as Gudiya, both residents of a slum cluster.

Ayub worked in a soap factory but he did not go for work today and in the afternoon, his mother found his body hanging from the ceiling of his room, said an official.

By the time police team reached there, they received a call about another body being found in the same neighbourhood.

The deceased was identified as Gudiya, said the official.

During investigations, it came to light that they were in a relationship, he added.
Aiming at reducing the journey time between New Delhi and Chandigarh, Railways have undertaken a pilot project jointly with French experts to run a train at 200 km per hour.

A core team comprising 30 experts from France and India has been constituted to conduct a study and submit a report to the public transporter by December this year.

According to a senior Railway Ministry official involved in the high speed project, "The pilot project will also provide recommendations for upgrading nine high-priority passenger lines to provide semi-high-speed service over a total of 6,400 km rail network."



In addition, three banks and more than 15 French rail industry companies, including Alstom, Thales, Vinci, ETF, Vossloh Cogifer, Actia, Elno, Lumiplan, Railtech, Keolis, will monitor the study.

The official said, "We are working together with the SNCF (French railway) on the pilot project to upgrade the 245-km Delhi-Chandigarh passenger line, under a deal signed last December."



An implementation study financed equally by France and India will examine various proposals for upgrading the line to semi-high-speed service up to 200 kmph.

SNCF will also team up with Indian Railways to renovate two stations - Ambala and Ludhaiana - between New Delhi and Chandigarh.

Railways had recently launched a programme to upgrade 400 stations to global standards.
Paris police fired tear gas and taxi drivers lit bonfires on a major highway today amid nationwide strikes and protests over working conditions and competition from non-traditional services such as Uber.

One in five flights were canceled at Paris airports and other flights faced delays as air traffic controllers staged a walkout and taxi drivers disrupted roads. I-Tele television reported that a taxi driver was injured at Orly Airport while trying to block a bus entrance.

Some teachers and other public servants are also on strike over a range of issues including wages, education reforms and working conditions. It's the latest challenge to Francois Hollande's Socialist government and its stop-and-start efforts to modernize the economy.

Hundreds of French taxis, joined by a few from Belgium and Spain, blocked a massive intersection leading into western Paris, causing disruption throughout surrounding avenues.

Dozens of taxi drivers tried to march from the Porte Maillot intersection onto an eight-lane bypass, but police pushed them back with tear gas. Some drivers set pre-dawn bonfires put out by firefighters Tuesday morning.

Traditional taxi drivers are protesting what they consider unfair competition from Uber, which has faced a string of legal challenges in France. Previous protests have also turned violent.

Uber drivers "vandalize professionals who are paying taxes, who respect the rules," said Rachid Boudjema, 37, president of the taxi drivers union in Marseille, where striking drivers caused traffic jams around the city and its Marignane airport. He described "American cowboys" who "want to destroy our system, the system we are all attached to."



Uber sent a message to French customers warning of potential violence around Tuesday's protests, saying the goal of the protest is "to put pressure on the government to ... limit competition." It warned that limiting app-based car services would raise costs, put drivers out of work and send customers back to the era "before apps and smartphones.
Geeta, the deaf and mute girl who returned to India from Pakistan, today hoisted a tricolour at an event here on the occasion of Republic Day.

She hoisted a 21 x 14 feet national flag in the presence of hundreds of people at Regal crossing here. She also danced to the tunes of patriotic songs. The event was organised by 'Apna Samooh.'



"I am very happy to hoist the tricolour in the land of Mahatma Gandhi. I was waiting for this moment since the time I was in Pakistan. Every Indian should honour the national flag," she said in sign language.

Geeta, who is staying at an institution here for the hearing impaired, said she was very to return to India and "wants good Indo-Pak relations."



"I didn't get an opportunity to study during childhood... now I am concentrating on completing my studies," she added.

Last year, On October 26, nearly 15 years after she accidentally crossed over to Pakistan, Geeta, whose story has touched people on both sides of the border, returned to India.

Geeta, now 23, was reportedly just 7 or 8 years old when she was found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express by the Pakistan Rangers at the Lahore railway station.

She was adopted by the Edhi Foundation's Bilquis Edhi and lived with her in Karachi.

Her story came to light after the release of Salman Khan starrer 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' in which the hero unites a girl separated from her Pakistani mother who was visiting India.
Buoyed by the output growth of 9% by CIL, the government has asked the world's largest coal miner to ensure that it meets the target of 550 million tonnes for the current fiscal.

Coal India, which accounts for over 80% of the domestic coal production is eyeing an output of one billion tonnes by 2020.

"In a meeting held this month, Coal Ministry asked Coal India to ensure that it meets the output target for the current financial year," an official said.

The meeting was chaired by Coal Secretary Anil Swarup.

ALSO READ: Coal India to spend Rs 200 crore on initial technical upgrade

The official further said the government appreciated the Coal India (CIL) for an output of 373.45 million tonnes (MT) in the April-December period of fiscal 2016, registering an increase of 9% over 342.39 MT produced in the same period of the previous fiscal.

Swarup had earlier said the state-run miner is set for a record production of 550 million tonnes this fiscal.

"Coal India is likely to hit a record production in the range of 540 MT to 550 MT in the current fiscal," Swarup had said earlier.

He had said the coal behemoth, which could hardly manage an increase of 31 MT of coal between 2010 and 2014, recorded an increase of about 32 MT in the last fiscal.

The official said that increased production has not only resulted in enhanced energy production but also made available coal stock for 24 days with power plants, from the earlier three to seven days.

Apart from increased production, increased offtake could also be possible with availability of higher number of rakes, which went to 204 per day in the current fiscal as against 182 in the last fiscal, Swarup had added.
Government is planning to create coastal economic zones along the country's 7,500-km long coastline covering many states, ports and special economic zones having uniform policy to further boost manufacturing.

"There is a thinking in the government that there should be a port-led development as was done in China where cities were granted special status of open coastal cities. These cities enjoyed special policies of the government," a senior official told PTI.

Though India has many ports, there is no cluster or a section of coastline that enjoys special status and incentives.

However, there are special economic zones (SEZ) where investors can set up their manufacturing base and get incentives like tax exemption, speedy regulatory clearance, round the clock power and security.

"SEZ's have made a difference, but we want to create coastal economic zones where investor will be provided host of incentives and facilities uniformly across many town, cities, ports and states," the official said.

Elaborating further he said: "Like in China, these zones would attract investment as well as workforce to create facilities to manufacture not only for domestic production but for exports in large quantities. That is what China did."



The idea is, however, at the conceptual stage. After firming up the proposal, the ambitious plan could be announced by the Prime Minister himself like in the case of 'Make in India', the official said.

In the present scenario, these coastal economic zones could come up in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The official said: "India has not exploited its potential and capacity to manufacture and export world over. The country has required workforce and ports. Once the proposal firms up then investment is not a big issue.
Iran has excluded Hassan Khomeini, grandson of the founder of the Islamic republic and a cleric with ties to reformist politicians, from contesting elections to the country's powerful Assembly of Experts.

The decision, revealed by Khomeini's son today, was taken by the Guardian Council, a conservative-dominated committee that decides who can run for public office.

Khomeini was among hundreds of candidates ruled out of standing for the assembly, which monitors the work of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

With an eight-year term of office, its 88 members may also be responsible for picking the 76-year-old's eventual successor.

The rejected candidates have until Saturday to appeal.

Voting for the assembly will take place on February 26, the same day as parliamentary polls.

Following Iran's recent nuclear deal with world powers led by the United States, both elections are seen as crucial to shaping the country's future direction.

Khomeini is the grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Islamic revolution that ended the reign of US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

The elder Khomeini, a firebrand conservative who railed against pervasive Western influence, died in 1989.

He remains revered - his image present in every public office, on Iranian banknotes and on countless murals in Tehran and other cities.

His grandson's candidacy for the assembly would have been the first time since the late leader's death that the famous family name would have been returned to politics.

At 43, Khomeini is significantly younger than most of the current members of Assembly.

But he was not verified as having sufficient religious competence to contest the ballot, his son said on his Instagram account, which has 199,000 followers.

In a post including a picture of his father studying religious texts, Ahmad Khomeini said the Guardian Council verdict came despite "testimony from dozens of religious authorities".

"It became definite last night (yesterday)" that his father had not been classed as "mojtahed", or sufficiently learned in Islam, to take a place on the assembly, he wrote.

A member of the Guardian Council said on January 5 that Khomeini had failed to attend a qualifying exam.

But in his post Khomeini's 18-year-old son cast doubt on that being the grounds for his father's exclusion.

"In my opinion the reason for non-verification is clear to everyone, especially given that some others' ijtehad ("knowledge" in Farsi) has been verified without them sitting for the exam," he wrote.

The Assembly of Experts is comprised solely of clerics. A final list of candidates is expected on February 9.
Gujarat Government has served a show-cause notice to former IPS officer Rahul Sharma, for allegedly committing irregularities while serving in Rajkot in 2012.

The notice, dated January 12, was served on Sharma on January 17.

Recently, on January 22 Ahmedabad bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has quashed a departmental charge sheet given to him on the charges of not returning a CD of call records of 2002 post-Godhra riots.

Sharma, who had taken voluntary retirement a year ago, has become a practicing lawyer now.

In this fresh notice, the state Home Department has alleged that Sharma, a 1992 batch IPS officer, committed "intentional irregularities" when he was posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Armed Units in Rajkot during 2012.

The notice asks Sharma to explain the "unnecessary" payment of around Rs 3,000 given to his driver and gunmen as daily allowance for staying back at his house in Gandhinagar on two different days during his sanctioned leave period in February 2012.

On two different occasions, Sharma asked his driver and gunmen to stay back at Gandhinagar for a day, which caused a loss of around Rs 3,000 to government, the notice says.

"Sharma broke the rules by taking leave without prior approval and made illegal use of government vehicle and human resources," the notice alleges.

In the notice, the state government also asked Sharma to explain the delay of three months in the payment for using government vehicle for personal trips in February 2012.

The notice says that Sharma needs to furnish his explanation within ten days of receiving the notice. If he fails, then government will initiate necessary action, believing that Sharma is not interested to furnish the reply.

According to Sharma, he will take a call on the notice soon. "I have received the notice on January 17. I am asked to furnish my reply in ten days. I will take necessary action in due course," Sharma said.
The Madras High Court has directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to continue with the exercise of how best experts could be involved for renovation of heritage temple and idols.

"Necessary assistance can also be provided by the central government/Archaeological Survey of India, on both the issues," it said.

The court was hearing a PIL taken up suo motu by it last year, according to which, improper restoration work by the state government and HR&CE department had resulted in damage to idols and heritage temples.

The court had then appointed senior advocate P S Raman as amicus curiae of the committee formed to look into the matter. It also directed the HR&CE department only to go slow and undertake only urgent repair works.

When the matter came up, Justice M Sathyanarayanan said "Once again we are faced with a situation where the meeting was fixed by the commissioner almost on the anvil of the hearing and that too, by one day's notice. At the cost of repetition, we say this does not sub-serve the cause and shows disrespect for other person's time."



The judge then said the committee members had agreed to provide their suggestions for computation of a manual. Once the suggestions were obtained, the department had to prepare a draft manual within the next month. It would then be discussed by the committee members. "The learned amicus curiae and the department are free to obtain suggestions from persons other than committee members."



The matter has been adjourned to April 21.
Brazil's health minister says the country is sending some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading Zika, a virus suspected of causing birth defects but he also says the war is already being lost.

Marcelo Castro said that nearly 220,000 members of Brazil's Armed Forces would go door-to-door to help in mosquito eradication efforts ahead of the country's Carnival celebrations. Agency spokesman Nivaldo Coelho said today that details of the deployment are still being worked out.

Castro also said the government would distribute mosquito repellent to some 400,000 pregnant women who receive cash-transfer benefits.

But the minister also said the country is "badly losing the battle" against the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

"The mosquito has been here in Brazil for three decades, and we are badly losing the battle against the mosquito," the ministers said as a crisis group on Zika was meeting in the capital, Brazilia.

A massive eradication effort eliminated Aedes aegypti from Brazil during the 1950s, but the mosquito slowly returned over the following decades from neighboring nations, public health experts have said. That led to outbreaks of dengue, which was recorded in record numbers last year.

The arrival of Zika in Brazil last year initially caused little alarm, as the virus' symptoms are generally much milder than those of dengue. It didn't become a crisis until late in the year, when researchers made the link with a dramatic increase in reported cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect that sees babies born with unusually small heads and can cause lasting developmental problems.

The World Health Organization repeated today that the link remains circumstantial and is not yet proven scientifically.

But worry about the rapid spread of Zika has expanded across the nation, and the hemisphere beyond. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised pregnant women to reconsider travel to Brazil and 21 other countries and territories with Zika outbreaks.

One of them, the US territory of Puerto Rico, reported 18 confirmed cases of Zika today, though none involve pregnant women.
"I am well and perfectly fine," NCP leader Sharad Pawar tweeted today apparently to dismiss speculation about his health.

"Thank for your good wishes," said the 75-year-old leader whho is admitted in a Pune hospital since Sunday evening for 'minor kidney problem' and 'water retention'.

His tweets came after speculation on social media about his health condition.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai, NCP's Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare said Pawar is doing "fine" and will be discharged in the next 1-2 days.

"Pawar saheb had to be hospitalised after he suffered a reaction to a medicine that he was taking, but after being treated he is fine. Once he is released by tomorrow evening or day after tomorrow in the morning, he will start with his usual work," he told reporters.

Dr Parvez Grant, Managing Trustee and Chief Cardiologist of Ruby Hall clinic, where the Maratha strongman was admitted on January 24, had said Pawar was suffering from a 'minor kidney problem' and 'water retention'.
Photojournalist Steve McCurry, noted for his thought-provoking pictures including the iconic 'Afghan Girl', says he undertook several train journeys across the length and breadth of India in search of the perfect photo and "liked Kolkata a lot."



"Train stations are a microcosm of life. Like people living on the platform. The stations are full of activity, they are so crowded, so lively. When I was here in 1985, most of the people travelled through trains," McCurry told PTI in an interview here.

The photographer, whose picture of an Afghan refugee girl in 1984 made it to the cover of the National Geographic magazine, has collated photos taken across the country, capturing lives of everyday people in extraordinary settings into his new book titled "India by Steve McCurry".

During his sojourns, McCurry visited cities like Mumbai and Delhi, but admits it was the city of Kolkata, which caught his eye.

"I liked Kolkata a lot, there is a whole lot of culture, art, photography, poetry, the colonial architecture. The city has a lot of characters. It has a lot of activity on the streets, it is always a wonderful surprise whenever you visit Calcutta," he said.

The prolific photographer who first came to India in 1978 pointed out that in a space of over 30 years the country had changed a lot and change was but inevitable.

"Nowadays you have cell phones, all those Ambassador cars are gone," he said, adding "Progress is unstoppable, it is inevitable, it's the way things evolve."



The illustrious photographer said that while photographing in India, McCurry observed that people "lived their lives in public."



"Children playing, people working in the street, I think it's the people living their lives in public, in most part of the world people's lives are private," he said.

McCurry's "India" explores the lives of everyday people in extraordinary settings: from the Ganesh festival on Chowpatty beach in Mumbai to the Kolkata railway station before dawn; from the flower markets of Kashmir to the streets of Old Delhi; from the mountains of Ladakh to Bollywood.

The book has reproduced in a large format with captions 140 images taken across the Indian subcontinent, many previously unpublished and is accompanied by an introductory essay from historian and writer William Dalrymple, who hosted the photographer at the just concluded Jaipur Literature Festival.

The tome has been published by Phaidon, UK who has partnered with Roli Books to bring the book to the Indian sub-continent.

After several years of freelance work, the US-born McCurry



made his first of what would become many trips to India. Traveling with little more than a bag of clothes and another of film, he made his way across the subcontinent, exploring the country with his camera.

It was after several months of travel that he found himself crossing the border of Pakistan. There, he met a group of refugees from Afghanistan, who smuggled him across the border into their country.

Emerging in traditional dress, with full beard and weather-worn features after weeks embedded with the Mujahideen, McCurry brought the world first images of the conflict in Afghanistan, putting a human face to the issue on every masthead.

Since then McCurry went to create stunning images from across the world. His work spans vanishing cultures, ancient traditions, contemporary culture as well as international and civilian conflicts including Burma, Sri Lanka, Beirut, Cambodia, Philippines, Gulf War, former Yugoslavia and Tibet.

A high point in his career was the rediscovery of the previously unidentified Afghan refugee girl, Sharbat Gula, after almost two decades since taking original photograph of her that many described as the most recognisable photograph in the world today.

McCurry said he never thought that the photograph would evoke such a response around the world.

"I was in a refugee camp near Peshawar. I went to a girl's school and I saw that little girl. She has this amazing look, and I took her picture and it ended up on the cover of the National Geographic magazine," he said.

"There was amazing reaction around the world, I had never dreamed that it will become such a popular picture," he said.

After travelling the world in search of beautiful photographs, McCurry has shifted his focus closer home.

Working alongside travel writer Paul Theroux, he shot several pictures for Theroux's new book 'The Deep South' which concentrates on the southern region of America.

"The south was a different place 50 years before, it has a strong regional character, so it's kind of interesting. As we travel around the world, we thought why don't we take some rest and do something in our country," he said.
Federation of Tamil Nadu Agricultural Association today termed as "national shame" the import of cooking oil and hit out at the government for "neglecting" domestic farmers' interests, particularly coconut and ground nut growers.

Despite plenty of coconut,ground nut and gingelly available for extracting oil, the government was importing palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia to supply through the Public Distribution System at Rs 30 per kg, with 50 per cent subsidy, association secretary S Nallasamy said in a release here.

He termed as 'national shame' the import of cooking oil and accused the government of 'neglecting' domestic farmers' interests.

If the government provides 50 per cent subsidy to coconut, ground nut and gingelly oil and supply through PDS, the Indian farmers will be protected, since there was no remunerative prices for these crops, Nallasamy claimed.
India's military prowess and multi-hued images of the country's rich cultural diversity and achievements in various fields were on display at the majestic Rajpath on Tuesday during 67th Republic Day parade, which was graced by French President Francois Hollande as the chief guest.

Thousands of people on both sides of the imposing Rajpath, India's ceremonial boulevard facing the seat of power Raisina Hills, braved the winter chill and cheered loudly as the marching contingents and tableux went past them.

The capital, particularly the Central and New Delhi areas, were brought under unprecedented security blanket as thousands of personnel kept a hawk-eye vigil to thwart any untoward incident. There were intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the city.

Hollande was seated between President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who wore a marigold coloured 'safa' (turban). Modi was seen explaining things to Hollande on several occasions during the one-and-a-half-hour-long event. This year the duration of the parade has been curtailed from more than two hours to 90 minutes.

A French military contingent also marched down the Rajpath, a first by any foreign armed force. In 2009, an Indian contingent had also participated in France's annual Bastille Day parade.

Apart from India's missile firing capability T-90 'Bhishma' tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles, the highlights of the parade also included a canine squad.

The synchronised military and police contingents led by General Officer Commanding (Delhi), Lt General Rajan Ravindran marched proudly to the lilting tunes of the bands through Rajpath where Mukherjee, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, took the salute from a specially erected dais.

Earlier, Hollande, who is on a three-day state visit, arrived with Mukherjee and was received by Modi who introduced him to the three services chief -- Army, Air Force and Navy.

Alongside Hollande, the fifth French President to attend the celebrations, the parade was watched by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, BJP President Amit Shah and the country's top political and military brass, besides the diplomatic community.

Minutes before the parade began, Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the three service chiefs laid wreaths at 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the war memorial at the India Gate where an eternal flame burns in memory of those who laid down their lives defending the frontiers of the nation.

Before the start of the ceremonial parade, Mukherjee presented the Ashok Chakra (Posthumous), highest peacetime gallentry award, to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Force) for his bravery in fighting with terrorists on the intervening night of September 2/3 last year in Haphruda forest at Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. The award was received by his wife Bhavna Goswami.
India on Tuesday gifted 40 ambulances and eight buses to different organisations in Nepal on the occasion of its 67th Republic Day.

India's Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae handed over keys of 33 ambulances and six buses to different charitable organisations and schools during a function held inside the Indian Embassy premises.

The remaining seven ambulances and two buses were gifted by the Consulate General of India in Birgunj to different organisations.

The function was attended by over 2,500 people including diplomats, journalists, social activists, business community leaders and government staff.

The ambassador also gifted books to 52 libraries, schools and training institutes of Nepal.

The widows and dependents of Ex-servicemen and disabled Ex-servicemen were handed over cash incentives and blankets by the Ambassador.

Ambassador Rae after hoisting the Indian flag read out President Pranab Mukherjee's address, which stressed that India today is a rising power fast emerging as a global leader in science, technology, innovation and start ups and whose economic success is the envy of the world.

On the occasion, students of Kendriya Vidyalaya and Modern Indian School presented different songs. Nepal Army band also presented melodious music enthralling the audience.
Sri Lanka is a key part of India's "neighbourhood first" policy as New Delhi has an abiding interest in the country's security, the Indian envoy here said on Tuesday.

Indian High Commissioner Y K Sinha, addressing a gathering here on the occasion of India's 67th Republic Day, said an important element in strengthening bilateral ties will be deepening economic and commercial relations.

Sri Lanka continues to be a key part of India's "neighbourhood first" policy, Sinha said, adding that, India has an abiding interest in the security of Sri Lanka and remains committed to its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The High Commissioner highlighted that the last year has been quite transformative for Indo-Lanka relations.

He noted that four high-level bilateral visits within 90 days of the formation of a new government in Sri Lanka last year "heralded a new chapter in our relations".

The momentum of these relations will be maintained by the expected visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for the Joint Commission Meeting, he said.

India's total development assistance commitment to Sri Lanka is now about $2.6 billion, covering all areas of contemporary relevance.

Sinha stated that the India's flagship housing project in Sri Lanka, which aims to construct 50,000 houses, is proceeding well with around 44,000 houses constructed till date.

The third phase, to construct 4,000 houses in the Central and Uva Provinces will be launched very shortly.

Sinha pointed out that President President Pranab Mukherjee had highlighted that despite facing many challenges in 2015, India is poised to become the fastest growing large economy with a growth rate of 7.3 per cent.

The High Commissioner noted that there had been an increase in air connectivity between the two countries and the tourist arrivals from India in Sri Lanka was growing.

He also recalled that in pursuance of the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka, the e-Tourist Visa (eTV) scheme has been extended to Sri Lankan nationals from April 14, 2015, and the fee for Sri Lankan nationals was subsequently reduced.
Pledging India's commitment to the UN, new permanent representative Syed Akbaruddin assured Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of his support in helping the world body achieve its goals.

While presenting his credentials to Ban as India's new permanent representative to the UN, Akbaruddin also promised him of his fullest support in the body's quest for peaceful political solutions for all the problems.

Receiving the credentials, Ban welcomed his appointment as the top Indian diplomat to the UN and appreciated the significant role India plays at the powerful world body as a long-trusted partner of multilateral system.

The former high-profile spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated India's commitment to the UN and assured the secretary general of his support in helping the UN achieve its ideals and priorities Ban had set out for 2016, including that of Agenda 2030 and the quest for peaceful political solutions for all problems, an official statement said.

Akbaruddin, a 1985 batch IFS officer, is India's 21st Permanent Representative at the UN and succeeds Asoke Mukerji who demitted office on December 31.

Akbaruddin had previously served at the Indian Mission to the United Nations as First Secretary during 1995-98 and focused on the UN Security Council Reform and Peace-Keeping.

Prior to this appointment, he was the chief coordinator of the India-Africa Forum Summit - a milestone event with participation of all 54 African states held in October, 2015 in New Delhi.

Immediately before that, he was the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs from 2012 to 2015. He is known for his effective use of social media for diplomacy outreach.

Akbaruddin has represented India's interests in various capacities, promoting friendly ties across the globe.

He has also served as an international civil-servant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from 2006-2011.

In that capacity, he worked as Head of External Relations and Policy Coordination Unit and also as the Special Assistant to the Director-General of the IAEA.

In his first few speeches soon after this arrival early this month, Akbaruddin urged the UN to show a common resolve to rise above semantic definitional differences and work on the long overdue Comprehensive Convention on International terrorism.
Troops of India and China today held ceremonial Border Personal Meetings at two places on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh sector of Jammu and Kashmir, expressing commitment towards enhancing the cordial relations and maintaining peace along boundary.

The ceremonial meetings were held to coincide with the 67th Republic Day of India, said Defence PRO Northern Command.

"At the Chushul - Moldo Meeting Point, the delegations were led by Brig R S Raman and (China's) Senior Col Cheng Zheng Shan while at the DBO-TWD Meeting Point, the delegations were led by Col B S Uppal and (China's) Lt Col Duanyug Kang," the spokesman added.

The proceedings commenced with ceremonial Flag Hoisting of both the countries which was followed by the military commanders of both sides delivering speeches in which warmth and a spirit of friendship and bonhomie was reflected.

Thereafter, a cultural programme showcasing vibrant Indian culture and traditional grandeur was organised, he said.

"Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment," he said adding they parted amidst the "feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)".

Both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling of upholding the treaties and agreements signed between the governments of the two sides to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the PRO said.
A UK-based Indian-origin man who had travelled to the US from London on a business trip has alleged that he was held for 13 hours by the immigration officials and was deported because of his skin colour.

Amreet Surana, who works for a UK security company, was held in Detroit while trying to catch a connecting flight to the firm's branch in Arizona.

The 24-year-old said that he had the relevant Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) form, which allows citizens of 38 countries, including most of Europe, to travel to the US without a visa.

"I believe I was profiled because of my appearance," Surana told the BBC.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has not specified the reason for Surana's deportation but say that the ESTA did not guarantee a traveller would pass US border checks.

Surana, from Leicestershire in the Midlands region of England, said that he was stopped when he landed at Detroit Airport from Heathrow on January 17 and then sent to be interviewed by immigration officials.

He told them he worked as an international business manager for Nottingham-based Octavian and was visiting its US branch in Phoenix.

"In the space of 20 minutes they concluded that I was an illegal immigrant working in America, denying a US citizen a job," Surana claimed.

"I was threatened with fraud, I was threatened with banishment from the US and imprisonment. You feel dehumanised to the extent that you feel like a piece of dirt on the floor," he said.

He was then allegedly held for 13 hours, during which time his photograph and fingerprints were taken, and his belongings searched.

He was allowed to sleep in an unused interview room but was given little food or water, he claimed.

"The whole experience was traumatic, frightening, embarrassing, stressing and haunting for me and my family. I have never had a criminal record. I have an education and an international executive job.I wish this on nobody, he said.

In a statement, CBP said that it "firmly denies any claims that a traveller can be subject to an admissibility interview because of racial profiling.

"CBP is charged with inspecting all travellers regardless of nationality, race, sex, religion, faith or spiritual beliefs. Accusations of lengthy detentions by CBP are also incorrect.

"CBP officers offer food and water before boarding a return flight within eight hours of the traveller's arrival into the United States," the statement said.
Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in-charge Vice Chancellor Vipin Srivastava issued a fresh appeal today urging the students, agitating over the suicide of dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, help restore normalcy on the campus.

In an appeal put up on the varsity website Srivastava said the University activities have come to a standstill due to continued blockade of academic and administrative facilities because of the agitation.

This will lead to a delay in the completion of courses affecting the employment and higher education prospects of the students, he said.

"Besides, disbursement of fellowships, scholarships and salaries (especially class IV and contract employees) is getting delayed inordinately," he said in the appeal.

He mentioned the HCU administration has taken two steps within its "realm" - withdrawal of punishment given to the students and an ex-gratia of Rs 8 lakh to the Vemula's family.

Vemula and four other students, all from the dalit community, were suspended last year by the varsity for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader.

HCU has already revoked suspension of the four students, following uproar over Vemula's suicide on January 17.

"The University reiterates its appeal to the students and requests the parents and public to bear with us while we make earnest efforts to restore the normalcy at the earliest," the interim V-C further said.

Srivastava said he and the HCU fraternity deeply condole the "tragic and untimely" death of Rohith Vemula.

Srivastava had yesterday appealed to the students to withdraw their hunger strike, saying the deadlock could be resolved only through dialogue and that the administration should be allowed to function.
Public sector oil firms IOC, BPCL, HPCL and EIL will invest Rs 1.5 lakh crore in setting India's biggest refinery on the west coast, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.

Indian Oil Corp, the nation's biggest refiner, will build a 60-million tonne a year oil refinery in Maharashtra along with Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) and Engineers India Ltd (EIL), Pradhan said in a twitter post.

"Refinery to be built in 2 phases (40+20 million tonnes); 1st phase will have more than Rs 1 lakh crore investment (biggest in India)," he said.

IOC has been looking at west coast for a refinery as catering to customers in West and South was difficult with its refineries mostly in the North. HPCL and BPCL have also been looking at a bigger refinery because of constraints they face at their Mumbai units.

"The refinery will produce petrol, diesel, LPG, ATF and feedstock for petrochemical plants in plastic, chemical and textile industries in Maharashtra," said Pradhan, who discussed the setting up of the refinery with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai yesterday.

"Govt of Maharashtra and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas will closely work for early identification of land for refinery and finalisation of details of project," he added.

Fifteen million tonnes a year is the biggest refinery any public sector unit has set up in one stage. IOC recently started its 15 million tonnes unit at Paradip in Odisha.

Reliance Industries holds the distinction of building the biggest refinery in India till now. It built its first refinery at Jamnagar in Gujarat with a capacity of 27 million tonnes, which was subsequently expanded to 33 million tonnes.

It has built another unit adjacent to it for exports, with a capacity of 29 million tonnes.

The refinery being planned by the state-owned firms will be bigger than that. The phase-1 itself will be bigger than any one single unit. It will cost Rs 2,500 crore per million tonnes and for the full 60 million tonnes it will cost Rs 1.5 lakh crore. It will also be accompanied by a petrochemical complex.

Being on the west coast will provide the unit a natural advantage of easily sourcing crude oil from the Middle-East and Africa, officials said.

Also, moving products to consumption heartland will not be difficult.

IOC has six refineries with a total capacity of 54.20 million tonnes. It also has subsidiary refineries with 11.50 million tonnes capacity. Paradip has taken its refining capacity to 80.7 million tonnes.
Iran's return to the international fold has accelerated as President Hassan Rouhani sealed multi-billion dollar deals with Italian companies keen to capitalise on the lifting of sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Italian officials said contracts signed in Rome late yesterday would be worth up to 17 billion euros (USD 18.4 billion), topped by a five-billion-euro deal for pipeline company Saipem, whose shares surged 18.5 per cent in Milan yesterday.

A major order for Airbus planes is expected to be confirmed in France tomorrow along with tie-ups with French carmakers Peugeot and Renault.

Rouhani said he had come to Europe with an 'open for business' message in the aftermath of Tehran's nuclear deal with the West.

"The Iranian market offers Italian and European investors the opportunity to establish themselves in the entire region," he said.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi added: "We have signed the first accords but we are only at the start of a long road."



Renzi said he had discussed efforts to end the war in Syria and the fight against the Islamic State group with the Iranian leader. "If we could reach agreement on the nuclear issue, we can find one on Syria. We can and we have to."



Rouhani is due at the Vatican today before flying to France the next day on his first official European trip as president.

It is also his first overseas trip since the nuclear deal came into force earlier this month, clearing the way for Iran to rebuild its relationship with the West.

The Iranian leader is accompanied by more than 100 ministers, officials and businessmen.

Rouhani, a 67-year-old former academic and diplomat who is seen as a pragmatist, was elected in 2013 on a pledge to end sanctions and improve relations with the West.

"We have had friendly relations with Italy and France in the past and we want to continue our good relations with them," Rouhani told reporters before his departure yesterday from Mehrabad Airport.

He also revealed that "important contracts" were in the works with Peugeot and Renault, adding to a burgeoning list of deals being struck as European companies scramble to get back into a USD 400-billion economy with the world's fourth biggest oil reserves and a consumer market of 80 million people.
Iran's president asked Pope Francis to pray for him today after the two men held private talks at the Vatican, part of an Iranian effort to take a more prominent place on the world stage after a nuclear deal with Western powers.

Hassan Rouhani's visit to the Holy See saw the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian president since 1999. Iran, which agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for an end to economic sanctions, is eager to carve out a bigger role in mediating Middle East conflicts. Francis' papacy has been marked by mediation and conflict resolution.

The Iranian leader is on a four-day European swing to boost Iran's image abroad as well as to rehabilitate economic ties with a continent that had been a big trade partner before sanctions.

"I ask you to pray for me," Rouhani told Francis after their 40-minute meeting. He called the visit by the leader of a Muslim country to the head of the Roman Catholic church "a real pleasure."



Francis thanked Rouhani for the visit and added: "I hope for peace." He gave the Iranian a medal depicting St. Martin helping a poor man, an act Francis called "a sign of unsolicited brotherhood."



Rouhani brought a gift of a hand-made rug. He told the pope the red-toned carpet was made in the Iranian holy city of Qhom.

Rouhani arrived for the late-morning, closed-door meeting in a motorcade of some two dozen limousines. Security, already tight around the Vatican following the November 13 attacks in Paris, was even more rigid than usual. Police kept tourists and Romans from walking too close to the colonnade ringing the square before and during the visit.

In his nearly three years as pope, Francis has stressed mediation as the best way to solve conflicts. He played a key role in helping Cuba and the United States to normalise their relations after decades of strict embargo.

Tehran is keen on re-establishing energy and other economic ties with Europe, long a dependable trading partner. Iran also wants to end decades of diplomatic distance with the West in the wake of the landmark deal with six nations, including the United States, to curb Tehran's nuclear activities and end economic sanctions.
Israel's defence ministry has approved plans to build 153 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank, a spokeswoman for the Israeli settlements watchdog Peace Now has said.

Hagit Ofran yesterday said the plans were adopted last week, and involve small settlements in the Ariel area in the northern West Bank, the Carmel settlement in the Hebron area and the Gush Etzion settlement bloc.

According to the NGO, the move marks the end of an informal construction freeze in the Palestinian territory that lasted 18 months.

Peace Now said on December 28 that Israel was working to revive and extend plans for new Jewish settler homes in the contentious area of the occupied West Bank known as E1.

In a report it said was based on government data obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request, the group said the housing ministry was seeking to build 55,548 units in the West Bank - including two new settlements - of which more than 8,300 homes would be in E1.

E1 and the adjacent Maaleh Adumim settlement form an Israeli buffer east of Jerusalem that the Palestinians say would divide the West Bank and badly hurt the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state.

"The area of Maale Adumim and E1 is one of the most sensitive areas in terms of the chances for two state solution," Peace Now wrote.

"For these reasons, whenever an Israeli leader tries to promote the plans in E1, the international community strongly condemns them."



The United States, the United Nations and the European Union oppose all Israeli settlement building but have voiced particular concern about plans for E1.

In 2013, faced with international pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vetoed construction of some 1,200 homes there but Peace Now said the housing ministry had hired architects to prepare fresh blueprints.

"This planning, which contradicts any possible commitment to a two-state solution, continues," said last month's Peace Now report, although it also added that the plans could be years from fruition.

"They must be approved by the minister of defence and then go through the approval process of the planning authority," the English-language report said.

US-backed peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel collapsed in April 2014 amid bitter mutual recriminations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today accused the UN chief of "encouraging terror" after Ban Ki-moon spoke of Palestinian frustration at Israel's occupation and said it was natural to resist.

"The comments of the UN Secretary General encourage terror," Netanyahu said in a statement. "There is no justification for terror. The Palestinian murderers do not want to build a state, they want to destroy a state.
A spokeswoman for Israel's former President Shimon Peres says he has left hospital after he was rushed to the emergency room for the second time in two weeks.

The 92-year-old Peres was taken to Tel Hashomer hospital on Sunday night with chest pains, days after he suffered a mild heart attack.

After doctors detected an irregular heart rate, Peres was monitored in hospital as a precaution.

Spokeswoman Ayelet Frisch said today that "all the tests are normal and he feels wonderful."



Peres, a Noble Peace Prize laureate, completed his seven-year term as president in 2014.

He remains active through his non-governmental Peres Center for Peace, which promotes coexistence between Arabs and Jews.

In his seven-decade political career, Peres also served three brief stints as prime minister.
An Israeli woman stabbed by two Palestinians in a West Bank settlement has died of her wounds, a spokeswoman for Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem said today.

Another woman who was less severely wounded in the same attack yesterday at a grocery store in Beit Horon settlement, northwest of Jerusalem, was being treated at another hospital.

The two attackers were shot dead by security guards. Israeli police said one was in his early 20s while the other was a teenager.

The attack was the third inside a West Bank settlement since January 17, when an Israeli woman was stabbed to death at the entrance to her home in Otniel.

According to public radio, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the army to submit a "comprehensive plan" to better ensure the security of settlements.

Violence since October 1 has killed 159 Palestinians and 25 Israelis, as well as an American and an Eritrean, according to an AFP count.

Many of the Palestinians killed have been attackers, while others have been shot dead by Israeli forces during protests and clashes.
Italy's desire to court visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani extended to covering up classical nude sculptures in the museum where he met Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, it emerged today.

The two men made speeches in Rome's Capitoline Museum after a signing ceremony which saw Italian companies tie up 17 billion euros (USD 18 billion) worth of deals with the Islamic Republic.

A huge statue of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius on a horse featured prominently in many of the photographs of the event.

But nude statues, including a Venus dating from the second century BC, had all been covered up in temporary wooden cartons, removing the risk of them creeping into any of the shots -- or catching Rouhani's eye.

The museum cover-up was not the only step Italy took to ensure the Iranian visit passed off smoothly.

As Rouhani refuses to attend official meals at which any alcohol is available, wine was strictly off the menu at both lunch with President Sergio Mattarella and dinner with Renzi.

According to media reports, France has baulked at making a similar placatory gesture, leaving diplomats preparing for Rouhani's visit to Paris from Wednesday with a major protocol headache.
Japan's emperor said today that his nation must remember the tremendous loss of life in the Philippines during World War II, as he and his wife Empress Michiko embarked for a four-day visit to the Southeast Asian country.

"Many Filipinos, Americans and Japanese lost their lives in the Philippines during the war," Emperor Akihito said in a short statement before departing from Tokyo. "Especially in the battle in Manila, a tremendously large number of innocent Filipino civilians were victims. Upon making this visit, we need to bear this in mind at all times."



Japan occupied the Philippines during World War II. The 1945 battle for Manila between the Japanese and U.S. And Philippine forces leveled the capital city.

The 82-year-old emperor will pay his respects at memorials for both the Philippine and the Japanese war dead.

Japan-Philippines relations have improved dramatically in the seven decades since the war. Japan has become a major aid donor to the Philippines, and the countries are deepening security ties in the face of China's military rise.

The emperor's trip follows visits to the World War II battle sites of Palau last year and Saipan in 2005. He also prayed for Japanese and U.S. War-dead in Iwo Jima in 1994.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, the chief protagonists of a bitter turf war in the national capital, sat together in the VIP enclosure at Rajpath during the Republic Day parade.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and PWD Minister Satyendar Jain were also present as military contingents, dance troupes and tableaux from various states rolled down the majestic Rajpath.

The seating arrangements of several other top leaders like Congress President Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Amit Shah also came under focus of roving TV cameras.

Sonia and Shah were seated in the same row, with a gap of two seats between the two, as they cheered the marching contingents, esecially young cadets from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and boisterous cultural performances.

BJP patriarch L K Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani sat close by as well. TV cameras frequently captured Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, cheering and clapping.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Justice of India T S Thakur sat next to each other in the front row of the VIP enclosure.

Meanwhile, Delhi, which last showcased a tableau in 2013 parade, did not have one this year too.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had triggered a political controversy last year by claiming that Kejriwal had not been invited to attend the parade which had US President Barack Obama as the Chief Guest. The allegations had come amidst a bitter electoral battle being fought then.

Kejriwal and Jung have been involved in a protracted tussle over several issues since the AAP government assumed office in February last year, including over the control of Delhi Police and the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi government.
A top GE Capital official made no guarantees Monday that the company will keep 170 jobs in Billings, although the official recognized their importance in Montana, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said Monday.

Tester was part of a Montana delegation that spoke with Jeff Bornstein, chief financial officer for parent company General Electric, about the fate of GE Montana Center of Excellence on Billings' West End.

Last fall, the Connecticut-based company announced it was selling its commercial lending and leasing businesses to Wells Fargo for $30 billion, leaving the future of the Montana facility in limbo.

The bottom line here is were still early in the process," Tester told The Gazette following the half-hour talk. "I think GE is committed to Montana. I felt good getting off the call."

Tester was joined in the phone conference by a fellow Democrat, Gov. Steve Bullock, and two Republicans, Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zinke.

Tester said Bornstein spoke positively about the Billings facility, which handles a diverse set of financial operations, including commercial truck financing, licensing and insurance work. He added that its possible GE could keep some of the jobs.

Whatever number they end up with, I dont think its going to be because of a lack of effort. Theyre going to work hard. They feel good about Montana, he said.

The $9.3 million operations center on Hesper Road is owned by Big Sky Economic Development, which helped GE get public dollars to expand in Billings. The company received at least $1.75 million, mostly in incentives from taxpayers, to expand in Billings.

Whether it stays or not, GE is obligated to continue making lease payments to Big Sky on the building through 2021. The lease was for 12 years.

In a written statement, Daines blamed federal regulations for forcing GE to sell its finance arm.

"It's deeply concerning that the future of these jobs remains uncertain," Daines said in the statement. "As the company restructures its operations, in part because of ill-conceived and burdensome regulations like Dodd-Frank, and considers its next steps, I strongly urge GE to continue to coordinate with other companies and the Billings community to meet its legacy obligations."

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was approved by Congress in 2010 and gave federal authority to break up banks too big to fail. While GEs core business is in manufacturing, the company fell under Dodd-Frank regulation because of its large finance arm.

Steve Arveschoug, president of Big Sky Economic Development, said he speaks with GE executives weekly and was happy that a bipartisan group of Montana elected officials support the Billings center.

I think we have some strong commitment from senior leadership at GE to help develop a solution, he said.

He and Tester both said theyll know more in late March, when the Wells Fargo deal is expected to close. Arveschoug added that hes begun making overtures to officials at Wells Fargo about the center.

Bullock released a written statement about the call, saying his goal was to reaffirm requests to keep the center open.

To its credit, GE continues to work hard at finding a solution that will ultimately keep these high-paying jobs in Billings, and I remain committed to helping them in their endeavors, Bullock said in the statement.
Kenyan forces pulled out of two towns in southern Somalia today and Islamic extremists quickly moved into one of them, residents said.

The Kenyans' withdrawal came after an attack by Islamic extremists who claimed to have killed many Kenyan peacekeepers recently, residents said today.

The town of El-Ade, where the January 15 attack happened, is "no man's land now" after Kenyan troops started withdrawing early Tuesday and heading toward the Kenyan border, said resident Ahmed Hassan. He said many residents started returning to their homes after the Kenyans left.

Residents of Badhadhe, another town in Somalia's Lower Jubba region, told The Associated Press that Kenyan forces stationed there had also withdrawn toward the border.

Following the Kenyans' withdrawal from Badhadhe, militants from the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab took over and started searching homes, according to resident Mohamed Ali.

Kenyan officials have not said how many troops were killed in the attack on Kenyan forces in El-Ade, but al-Shabab claimed to have killed about 100 Kenyan soldiers. Al-Shabab also claimed its fighters seized armaments and military vehicles in that attack.

Al-Shabab opposes Kenya's military presence in Somalia and has carried out many attacks inside Kenyan territory. Despite being pushed out of Somalia's major cities and towns, al-Shabab continues to launch deadly guerrilla attacks across the Horn of Africa country. The group frequently targets African Union troops, government officials and foreigners.
US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Beijing today evening for meetings with senior government leaders, with North Korea top of the agenda following the reclusive state's fourth nuclear test earlier this month.

The top US diplomat will also raise concerns over Beijing's "problematic behaviour" in the South China Sea and the thorny issues of humans rights and civil freedoms, a senior State Department official said.

North Korea is expected to dominate the talks between Kerry with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and other senior officials, as the community seeks to squeeze Pyongyang with fresh sanctions following its latest nuclear test on January 6.

China is North Korea's chief diplomatic protector and economic benefactor, but those ties have been strained as Beijing loses patience with Pyongyang's unwillingness to rein in its nuclear weapons ambitions.

"The Secretary has made no secret... Of his conviction that there is much more that China can do by way of applying leverage (on Pyongyang)," the US official said.

The South China Sea will also be discussed as tensions and territorial disputes in the vital waterway between Beijing and its neighbours in Southeast Asia -- backed by Washington -- threaten to degenerate into conflict.

"The continuing tensions and problematic behaviour by China in the South China Sea is very much on the Secretary's mind and something that he will certainly discuss in depth," the US official said.

"Finally, Kerry will raise with his hosts "what we see as a very significant tightening of political space for civil society and for NGOs," the US official said.

Kerry's visit to Beijing is the last leg of a three-continent tour that began in Davos with stops in Saudi Arabia, Laos and Cambodia.
Disney World and two outsourcing companies have been slapped with a federal lawsuit by two of its former technology staff alleging that they conspired to displace American workers with cheaper foreign labour brought to the US on H-1B visas, mostly from India.

The two former employees -- Leo Perrero and Dena Moore, who were among 250 Disney tech workers laid off from their jobs at Walt Disney World in Orlando in January 2015 -- have also dragged two IT companies HCL Inc and Cognizent Technologies into this class action lawsuit.

The lawsuit aim to "kick them [outsourcing companies] at their business model, to stop them from systemically abusing the immigration system," said their attorney Sara Blackwell in a statement.

However, Disney denied having done any wrongdoing.

"These lawsuits are based on an unsustainable legal theory and are a wholesale misrepresentation of the facts," the company said in a statement.

Disney said it hired more than 100 people back into other roles and offered Moore another position at comparable pay.

It said hundreds of employers use H-1B visas and it complies with all applicable employment laws.

In a statement, Cognizent claimed that it fully complies with all US regulations regarding H-1B visas.

"We have a robust internal compliance team that ensures our practices are not merely compliant with existing laws in letter and spirit, but also adhere to best practices," the company said.

The lawsuit alleges that Disney along with HCL and Cognizent violated federal law as the outsourcing firms mislead when filling out forms to sponsor workers for the visas.

"Every time they file these, they are lying and falsifying documents. Disney is aware there are these requirements and Cognizant and HCL are lying," Blackwell said.
Joining the nation in celebrating the 67th Republic Day, Kerala Governor Justice (Rtd) P Sathasivam today stressed upon the need of conducting the legislative business in a 'meaningful manner' and ensuring a transparent governance.

"I emphasise that the conduct of the legislative business should be carried out in a meaningful manner, justifying the expectations of the common man and keeping the healthy trends of a democratic polity, graduating to maturity," he said in his address after unfurling the national flag and inspecting the ceremonial parade at the Central Stadium here.

Since ours is a pluralistic society, it is imperative that we should attain inclusive growth, maintain communal harmony and sustain human dignity, he said.

"We should also ensure transparency and accountability in governance at all levels," the Governor added.

Emphasising the need to be more vigilant about terror threats the country is facing, he said "the Pathankot episode comes as a rude shock which is a timely reminder and crucial warning that we have to be doubly vigilant and alert so as to thwart terrorist threats from both inside and out."



Sathasivam also cautioned about the difficulties faced by farmers in the state, who are exposed to vagaries of the monsoon and exploitation by middlemen.

"Sustainability of agricultural operations and the modernisation is one of the key parameters for the economic stability of any state", he said stressing upon establishment of an adequate and efficient administrative mechanism to ensure reasonable returns to them.

He also urged the state government to have innovative programmes in tapping the full potential of demographic dividend for the advancement of the state.

The Governor also mentioned various development projects taken up by the state government including Vizhinjam Seaport Project and Kochi Metro Rail.

Various contingents, including armed forces, Central Reserve Police, Railway Protection Force, cadets of NCC, student police cadet and Bharat scouts and Guides and mounted police took part in the parade.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and senior officials were also present.

Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan hoisted the flag at Kerala High Court in Kochi.

Republic Day celebrations were also held in district headquarters across the state.

(REOPENS MES2)



At the Southern Naval Command (SNC) in Kochi, its Flag



Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral A R Karve presided over the Republic Day celebrations and urged all to rededicate themselves to the cause of national security and nation building.

Ater paying floral tributes to martyrs at the War Memorial in the city, he reviewed a Ceremonial Parade in which 24 platoons, including six Armed platoons, participated. The parade was commanded by Commander Chandra Kanth Kothari and accompanied by the SNC band playing stirring martial music.

In his address,Vice Admiral Karve, urged everyone to rededicate themselves towards the cause of national security and nation building as envisaged by the architects of the country's Constitution.

He cautioned personnel of the SNC against 'inappropriate' use of social media as a trend observed among other service personnel in the recent past, but welcomed any suggestion from anyone for improvements in any sphere.

Republic Day was also celebrated at the Coast Guard local headquarters at Fort Kochi in which District Commander (COMDIS) DIG MV Pathak inspected the 19 men ceremonial guard and parade.
Malaysia's government said today that a piece of debris found on Thailand's southern coast was not from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The announcement appeared to end speculation about a link to the doomed aircraft, coming a day after Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said the metal panel was probably from a rocket it manufactured.

Malaysia's transport ministry said a team of experts from the government and Malaysia Airlines had examined the debris in Thailand.

"From their detailed report, they have ascertained that the part assembly number, wire bundle number and bolts part number do not match those of a Boeing 777," a transport ministry statement said.

Saturday's find of the debris stirred speculation it may be part of MH370, a Boeing 777 that vanished on March 8, 2014 with 239 people on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Investigators believe the plane went down in a remote part of the Indian Ocean, though the cause of the disappearance remains a mystery.

Last July a two-metre-long wing part known as a flaperon washed up on a beach on the French-held Indian Ocean island of Reunion, thousands of kilometres from Thailand.

French authorities subsequently confirmed it was from MH370.

Nothing further has been found despite an extensive Indian Ocean search.

Yesterday, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said images of the debris found in the Gulf of Thailand featured serial numbers indicating it may be from a rocket it made for launching satellites.
The Maldives' foreign minister today accused a former president of politicising a 30-day medical leave from prison by engaging in a media campaign in Britain.

The government allowed Mohamed Nasheed, a former leader of the Indian Ocean archipelago who is serving a 13-year sentence for ordering the arrest of a judge while in power, to go to Britain for surgery for chronic back pain.

Soon after arriving in Britain, Nasheed met British Prime Minister David Cameron and held a conference with journalists, actions that showed his "primary goal was to court publicity in the United Kingdom," Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon said in a statement.

"This is not medical leave, but media leave," she said, adding that Nasheed's busy itinerary "undermines the notion that his medical condition is grave enough to warrant treatment abroad."



Her statement came a day after Nasheed implied that he may not return to Maldives immediately. Nasheed told reporters in London that he would return, but the question is "how and when."



Maumoon stressed that Nasheed has committed a serious crime. Nasheed has appealed the conviction.

"The opportunity for Mr Nasheed to clear his name remains in the Maldives, not in the TV studios of London or Los Angeles," she said.

Nasheed, 48, became the Indian Ocean nation's first democratically elected president in 2008. He grabbed international attention by holding a Cabinet meeting underwater to highlight the threat from rising sea levels to the low-lying archipelago.

He resigned in 2012 after losing support from the military and police and was convicted last year.

The UN working group on arbitrary detention has said that Nasheed was unlawfully imprisoned and has called for his release.

Nasheed says his back pain comes from torture during earlier bouts of imprisonment. His legal team is pressing London and Washington to impose asset freezes and travel bans on senior Maldivian officials until Nasheed and other political prisoners are freed.
Security forces found a mass grave in the Iraqi city of Ramadi containing the remains of at least 18 people killed by the Islamic State group, police said today.

Ramadi was recaptured at the end of last month from IS, which overran large parts of Iraq in 2014 and has repeatedly carried out mass killings and other atrocities in areas it controls.

"So far, we have removed 18 bodies including five members of the police, and work is continuing to remove the remaining victims," police Major Tareq Abdulkarim told AFP.

The mass grave in the Al-Jamiya area of central Ramadi, which was found yesterday, is "expected to contain the bodies of 40 victims," Abdulkarim said.

He added that the victims were from Ramadi and were executed by IS in May 2015, when the jihadists succeeded in overrunning the city.

Doctor Shakir Ahmed al-Hajj said that medical staff were working to disinter the victims and that "dozens" of bodies had been removed from the grave so far, while the work was still ongoing.

And Sabah Karhout, the head of the Anbar provincial council, confirmed that the grave was discovered and said the victims had either been shot or beheaded.

Militants had held shifting parts of Anbar capital Ramadi since early 2014, but IS only succeeded in overrunning the entirety of the city last May.

Iraqi forces recaptured Ramadi after months of fighting during which surrounding areas were retaken from the jihadists, setting up the final push into the city centre.

IS has suffered major losses since the height of its territorial control in 2014, but still controls significant areas of Anbar and Nineveh province to its north, as well as in neighbouring Syria.
The capital was today brought under an unprecedented ground-to-air security cover with thousands of armed personnel keeping a tight vigil for the 67th Republic Day celebrations where French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest.

The area around Central Delhi was turned into virtual fortress in view of intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the city.

Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, central security agencies and NIA busted a module by arresting 14 militants linked to terror group ISIS.

The group had planned to carry out sensational strikes at important installations and its members had also visited the capital, official sources said.

Commandos with light machine guns were deployed at 10 strategic locations and anti-aircraft guns remained positioned at two vantage points in the capital.

The entire region of Central and New Delhi had nearly 50,000 security personnel drawn from Delhi Police and central security forces guarding every nook and corner.

Special arrangements were made at the historic Rajpath where India's military might was on display.

Hollande was seated along with Pranab Mukherjee and host of VVIPs including Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The enclosure of the VVIPs was put under a multi-layer security ring with Presidential Guards and officials of SPG and NSG guarding the two inner-most orbits and Delhi Police entrusted with guarding the outermost circle, said a senior official.

Special patrolling teams, comprising three officials including a commando, were deployed in New Delhi area within two-kilometer radius from India Gate.

Senior officials said snipers have been put on 45 buildings overlooking Rajpath besides providing a similar cover along all the buildings along the parade route.

Gunners have been given clear instructions to bring down any aerial object flying without permission. A 'NOTAM' (Notice to Airmen) has been declared from 10.35 AM to 12.15 PM during which no flights will land or take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

"Specially trained police personnel with light machine guns have been deployed at 10 strategic spots in New Delhi area," a senior police official said.
Malaysia today said the metal debris found washed up on a beach on Thailand's southern coast was not from Flight 370 that disappeared mysteriously about two years ago, yet again dashing hopes of families seeking a closure to the fate of the 239 people on board the plane.

Malaysia's transport ministry said the team of experts sent to Thailand found that the debris -- covered in barnacles and measuring two metres wide and three metres long -- did not match those of the missing MH370.

"From their detailed report, they have ascertained that the part assembly number, wire bundle number and bolts part number do not match those of a Boeing 777," said the transport ministry in a statement.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the part numbers found on the recovered debris were not listed in the MAS B777 Illustrated Parts Catalogue manual.

"Based on these identifying details, the team has confirmed that the debris does not belong to a B777 9M-MRO aircraft (MH370)," Liow said in the statement.

A large piece of curved metal had washed ashore in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in Thailand on Saturday where villagers reported it to authorities, stirring speculation that the debris may be part of MH370 that vanished on March 8, 2014 with 239 people - including five Indians - on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Investigators believe the plane went down in a remote part of the Indian Ocean. But the cause of the disappearance remains a mystery.

In July 2015, a two-metre-long flaperon wing part washed up on a beach on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion and was confirmed to be from the flight, marking the first concrete evidence that it crashed.

Nothing has been found since, despite more than 80,000 square kilometres of the seafloor being searched, based on satellite analysis of the jet's likely trajectory after it diverted from its flight path.

Speculation on the cause of the plane's disappearance has focused primarily on a possible mechanical or structural failure, a hijacking or terror plot, or rogue pilot action.

"We will continue to keep the next of kin and public updated on any latest developments of MH370. We remain committed to continue the ongoing search in the southern Indian Ocean," minister Liow said.

On Sunday, he said that the search for the missing plane is ongoing in the Indian Ocean and its second phase is expected to be completed by June.

Australia has led a multinational search that has so far cost more than USD 120 million.
An unidentified militant was today killed in a gunbattle with security forces in South Kashmir's Anantnag district.

An encounter broke out at 4 AM in Kokernag district. A militant was killed and his identity is yet to be ascertained, police said.

Firing has stopped and a search operation is on in the area, they said.
Union minister Venkaiah Naidu today accused Asaduddin Owaisi of indulging into communal politics by appealing citizens to vote for MIM in forthcoming civic polls if they don't want ban on consumption of beef like in other states.

"(Generally) what anybody (political leaders) say in elections? If we come to power, we will get piped water, roads (for people)...The party (MIM) is saying new things. Vote for us if you want beef. Beef for you (people) and development for us," Naidu said addressing a campaign meeting at Saidabad here in support of the BJP-TDP combine for the February 2 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.

The senior BJP leader said he had no objection about people's culinary preferences.

"I don't to get into what to be eaten. Except humans (flesh), everybody has the right to eat anything. Let them eat, no objection. But, the point is...They are trying to divide people on religion basis," he said.

Naidu said the MIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) led by Owaisi should explain why the Old City area of Hyderabad remained backward.

Pointing out that MIM is not in the fray from Saidabad ward, he alleged the party had a tacit understanding with others.

"MIM is the major enemy to the development of Hyderabad," he said.

Referring to some parties wooing Seemandhra natives who are called "settlers", Naidu said all those living in Hyderabad have equal rights.

Addressing a public meeting here yesterday, Owaisi had said that a ban on consumption and sale of beef may be imposed in the city if MIM was not voted to power in the polls.

"I am not trying to scare you. But, the fact is if we don't come to power, there may be a scope for ban on beef (in Hyderabad) on pretext of faith," he had said.

Owaisi also said that such a ban will hit the poor and also beef traders hard as it happened in Maharashtra.
Union ministers and political leaders were among thousand of spectators who cheered at the military contingents, dance troupes performances and tableaux from various states during the Republic Day parade today at Rajpath.

Union Ministers Suresh Prabhu and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore took the lead in cheering the marching contingents of the Parachute Regiment and NCC girls.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad cheered the tableau from his state of Jammu and Kashmir, while Union ministers D V Sadananda Gowda and Ananth Kumar along with their family members clapped when the Karnataka tableau drove past Rajpath.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi was seen cheering young artists from Odisha who performed the state's Sambalpuri folk dance.

TV cameras focused on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar -- who was sitting in the VIP enclosure along with President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande -- when the Goa tableau crossed the enclosure.

Parrikar was the former Goa Chief Minister.
Mizoram governor Lt General Nirbhay Sharma today appreciated the support of civil society and voluntary organisations in the state for maintaining Mizoram's status as "one of the most peaceful states in the country".

Addressing the people at the Assam Rifles ground here on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day after unfurling the Tricolour, Sharma urged the people to work for the objectives that would make Mizoram a place where all can live with dignity, peace, prosperity and happiness.

He said the state government was committed to continue the flagship programme of the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) which came into force on April 1, last year and has decided to extend the programme for another five years.

"The NLUP has made good progress in uplifting the economy of the state and is providing sustainable means of livelihood to the people," the Governor said.

The Mizoram Economic Survey, 2014-15 has reflected that the economy of the state grew at 8.45 per cent which is higher than the all India average, he said, adding that the survey has also highlighted reduction of area under 'jhum' cultivation by over 21 per cent, which could be attributed to the positive impact of the NLUP.

On the power sector, he said construction of the 60-megawatt Tuirial Hydro Electric Project was in full swing and the project was expected to be commissioned during 2016 while Thawva Small Hydel project (3MW), Kawlbem Small Hydel Project (3.5 MW) and Tuiriza and Tuiching Small hydel projects (100 KW each) were expected to be completed by 2017.

On the education front, Sharma said a total literacy drive was being conducted across the state with special focus on south Mizoram's Lawngtlai and Lunglei districts and also Mizoram-Tripura-Bangladesh border districts, with a view to achieve the number one position in literacy per centage in the country.

He added that impetus was also given to bamboo sector development to tap the high bamboo potential in the state.
Amid production concerns due to back-to-back drought, the government has issued a tender for importing 5,000 tonnes of pigeon peas (tur) to boost domestic supply and control prices.

This is the second tender floated by state-owned MMTC this month. The earlier one was for import of a similar quantity of tur for delivery in February-March.

Fearing a flare up in pulses prices again in 2016 due to little improvement in domestic output, the government has directed MMTC to import more pulses to improve supply and check price rise. The prices of pulses are already ruling high at around Rs 180 per kg.

As per the tender document, MMTC has invited global bids for import of 5,000 tonnes of pigeon peas of the latest crop from Myanmar, Malawi, Mozambique or any other origin.

Both technical and price bids should be submitted by February 10 and tenders will remain valid till February 16.

MMTC said bids should be for a minimum quantity of 2,500 tonnes and the shipment should reach Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Chennai port by April 15.

The trading firm had last year imported 5,000 tonnes of tur dal to check prices. It however did not get response for an import tender for urad.

Expecting low production for a second year in a row, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had recently asked the Commerce Ministry to direct trading firms to speed up the process of imports in order to overcome any output shortfall.

Pulses production in 2015-16 crop year (July-June) is expected to be much below the earlier estimate of around 18 million tonnes because of poor sowing of rabi crops. Production in 2014-15 was at 17.38 million tonnes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today bid a warm farewell to French President Francois Hollande who left India after his three-day visit, expressing confidence that their discussions would further deepen the bilateral ties.

"Thank you President @fhollande for visiting India & gracing our Republic Day celebrations," said Modi in a tweet as the French President left the country.

"India's friendship with France is special... Am sure the discussions during President @fhollande's visit will further deepen our relations," he said in other tweets. He also tweeted in French language to bid goodbye to Hollande.

During his visit, Hollande visited Chandigarh and held talks with Modi.

The two sides signed 30 pacts, including an MoU for the purchase of 36 French Rafale aircraft even though persisting differences over the pricing of the fighter jet came in the way of final multi-billion dollar deal being concluded.

The talks between the two leaders focused on ways to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, security, civil nuclear energy and sustainable development.
A mysterious balloon-shaped object was today shot down by a Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft in Rajasthan's Barmer district, bordering Pakistan, after the IAF radar detected it on a day the country was celebrating the Republic Day.

IAF officials said the object was flying in from the western sector (implying Pakistani side) and was shot down this morning.

"Between 1030 and 1100 hours today, an unidentified balloon shaped object was picked up by IAF radar. An IAF fighter was launched which intercepted the object and brought it down. Further investigation is underway," an IAF spokesperson said.

No one was hurt nor was any damage caused to the property in the area, IAF spokesman said in Jaipur.

The incident happened in Barmer, nearly 500 km from Rajasthan capital Jaipur, where some villagers have reported an incident of certain metal pieces falling down from the sky.

Police said a team led by Additional SP Jassaram Bose found about five pieces of a triangle kind of metallic objects but it was not an explosive material.

These pieces were handed over to IAF, police said.

It said people of Gugardi and Panavara villages under Pachpadra Thana area heard the defeaning sound blasts in about five km radius.

Quoting Manoj Singh, an eyewitness, police said the blast sound was heard five times and something fell down after an aircraft flew by.

Similar blast sounds were heard last year in January month at Sinleejageer village, and IAF was probing that incident too, the police said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was today cleared of any criminal wrongdoing regarding nearly USD 700 million donation from Saudi Arabia's royal family channeled into his private accounts, in a major relief for the beleaguered premier who has been under intense pressure to resign over the financial scandal.

Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali in a press conference said that investigations by the country's anti-corruption agency found no evidence to show that the USD 681 million donation was "an inducement or reward for doing or forbearing to do anything in relation to his capacity as Prime Minister".

He said that no offence was committed as the money transferred into 62-year-old Najib's accounts between March and April 2013 was "given without any consideration" by the Saudi royal family as a personal donation.

"Based on the evidence from witnesses and supporting documents submitted, I am satisfied that no criminal offence has been committed in the relation to the said donation," Apandi said.

He said there were no evidences to prove that Najib had any knowledge nor had he given any approval for the transfer of the monies from the account of government-owned SRC International into his personal accounts.

"Based on the facts and evidences as a whole, I as the Public Prosecutor am satisfied that no criminal offence has been committed by the Prime Minister in relation to the three investigation papers. I will return the relevant investigation papers to MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) today with instructions to close the three papers," he said.

He said there was no evidence to show that the donation was a "form of gratification given corruptly".

He said Najib returned USD 620 million to the Saudi royal family in August 2013 as the money was not utilised. He did not elaborate and did not say what happened to the remaining USD 61 million.

The anti-corruption agency recorded statements from witnesses, including the donor, he said.

Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua slammed Apandi's decision, saying the fact it was a personal donation does not rule out corrupt motives or transaction.

Pua said Apandi provided no new or convincing information to support his decision.

In his biggest political crisis since he took power in 2009, massive street rallies were held against Najib in August calling for his resignation after documents leaked in July suggested that about USD 681 million was deposited in his private bank accounts from entities linked to indebted state investment fund 1MDB.

1MDB was set up in 2009 by Najib to develop new industries.

Najib had denied any wrongdoing and said the money was a donation from the Middle East. He has said that the money was "political funding".
Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli does not have a Facebook account, the government said today, rejecting as "fake" a social media site operated in his name.

The Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) has expressed serious concern about the fake Facebook being operated in the name of Prime Minister Oli, a senior official said.

Pramod Dahal, Press Advisor to Oli, in a statement clarified that Prime Minister did not have a Facebook account, be it in his personal capacity or official.

Hence, the existing one is fake account, the state-run National Agency (RSS) quoted Dahal as saying.

The OPMCM added that since there was not any personal Twitter account being run by the Prime Minister, it is wise to overlook the contents posted in these social networking sites.

Oli, however, has been marking his presence in cyber space through his official twitter account '@PM_Nepal', the press release noted.
A Nepalese man was arrested with charas worth Rs 51 lakh from Sonauli area on Indo-Nepal border here by Sashstra Seema Bal (SSB), a senior official said here today.

The accused, identified as Sikander Paual (30), was arrested yesterday during a routine checking and 5.1 kg of charas were recovered from him, SSB commandant K S Bankhothi said.

Paual was later handed over to the police, which is probing his links.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's daughter Dr Anita Bose Pfaff wants a DNA test to be conducted to establish whether the ashes kept in a Japanese temple are her father's, but believes that the 1945 aircrash in Taipei was the "most likely cause" of his death.

"I believe that the plane crash is the most likely cause of his death," Pfaff said when asked whether she believes in the theory that her father died in an air crash near the Taihoku aerodrome in Taipei on August 18, 1945.

However, she said she wants a DNA test of the ashes kept in an urn at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo to ascertain whether the remains belong to the freedom fighter.

"A DNA test could provide proof, provided that the bones are not too badly charred for extracting DNA," Pfaff, the only child of Subhash Bose and Emilie Schenkl, told PTI in an interview from her home in Stadtbergen, Germany.

Bose family sources said the 73-year old German economist, who is likely to visit India next month, may urge the government here to talk to Japan for conducting DNA test of the remains kept in the Renkoji temple in Tokyo.

On whether the recently declassified documents sufficiently proved Netaji's death in the aircrash, Pfaff said "while I have only looked at a few files, I get the impression that a death certificate is not contained."



Asked about her opinion that Bose was not treated with as much respect as were leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Pfaff said: "That certainly seems to be the case for the official treatment.

"But the general public, the so-called man in the street, however, seem to have kept his memory alive in a very touching way. It was a shame how the Indian government treated the INA veterans for decades."



To a question about Nehru's approach towards Bose, she merely said, "Since their relationship lasted over many years, it was multi-faceted, I imagine. In many aspects they held similar views, in others their views differed.

Asked about her reaction to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's



recent remark that Netaji's death has been used for "petty politics", Pfaff said, "On the part of some people this is true, according to my opinion.

"However, many of his relatives such as my uncles and my mother very genuinely wished that he might have survived the crash or not been in it. Their love for him made the acceptance of his death too hard to bear."



Reacting to the declassification of Netaji files by the Centre and West Bengal government and whether these documents would help solve the mystery behind the legendary freedom fighter's "disappearance", she said was "indeed happy".

"It was high time. Most likely we shall find out that for 90 per cent of the files there has been no reason whatsoever not to declassify them decades ago. I rather doubt that the declassified files will reveal anything very spectacular about my father's death," she said.

She said she agreed with the view that declassification should have been done much earlier.

On whether Netaji's birthday should be declared a national holiday, she said, "I believe there are better ways of keeping Netaji's memory alive than a national holiday."



On whether she has any plan to pen a book on her father, she said, "I did not have the good fortune to know him personally beyond the age of four weeks. I cannot say much about him. But together with my niece and other women in our family, I have plans to write a book about my mother."



Anita, a former Professor of Economics at the University of Augsburg, is married to Prof Martin Pfaff, who was a member of German Parliament Bundestag, representing the SPD or the Social Democratic Party. They have three children - Peter Arun, Thomas Krishna and Maya Carina.
The Montana Attorney General's office has issued an arrest warrant for a New Mexico man suspected of promoting the prostitution of two women in Billings.

Lavodrick Terelle Hogues, 29, is wanted for aggravated promotion of prostitution after a Montana Division of Criminal Investigations agent made contact with two women through Backpage.com, arresting them on Dec. 22.

Phylicia Zubia, 21, was charged in Yellowstone County District Court with aggravated promotion of prostitution. A 17-year-old minor was extradited back to her home state of New Mexico due to juvenile arrest warrants.

The women told investigators they had traveled from New Mexico to Texas through North Dakota before stopping in Billings. Zubia said the women had made their money by offering sex for money, according to charging documents.

Zubia was taken into custody at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility.

While Zubia was in jail, the DCI continued to investigate the case, including listening to Zubia's jail calls.

Zubia made frequent calls to a man named Hogues, whom she called "Daddy."

Zubia told DCI agents the women worked alone and she was in charge of the money, arranging the ads and handling the men.

After obtaining cellphone records of conversations between Zubia and Hogues, the agents suspected Hogues was the women's pimp. Zubia insisted he was her fiance, though Hogues is already married, according to charging documents for Hogues.

The text messages between the two show that Zubia kept Hogues updated on where the women were, how many men they saw and how much money they were making.

Zubia would text photos of the women to Hogues, and he would tell the women they looked "stunning" and they were going to "take the world by storm." He would tell the women they'd "better get to making some money," according to charging documents.

The $25,000 warrant for Hogues is out of Yellowstone County District Judge Russell Fagg's office.
Jan Adhikar Party leader and Lok Sabha MP from Bihar Pappu Yadav today said there is no "intolerance" in the country and added that politicians rake up the issue in order to garner votes.

"I don't find any intolerance. Politicians are vitiating the atmosphere. The country needs another round of mass movement to root out such politicians who are raising this issue (intolerance) to appease their vote banks," he said here after attending several programmes.

Speaking to media, the Madhepura MP said, "Politicians today have become puppets in the hands of capitalists and they have close nexus with criminal-minded elements. Such politicians are like termites who are making this country hollow from inside."



However, Yadav, who himself is facing several criminal cases, refused to comment when asked if people with criminal background should be barred from entering the Parliament.

The former RJD MP, who was expelled from the party last year, took potshots at the grand alliance government in Bihar and alleged that the Nitish-Lalu duo is leading the state into 'jungle raj' (lawlessness).

"Nitish has surrendered himself before (RJD chief) Lalu Yadav and dreams of becoming PM. Criminal-minded people in the state are feeling safe now," he said.

Yadav, whose life will be subject of a film to be helmed by an American director of Indian-origin, said the poor among upper castes, too, should get reservation in government jobs and education institutes.

He said there is need to ponder over reservation and added that while tribal people and dalits should continue to get its benefit, poor people from the upper castes should also be given the advantage of quota.
A revamped Libyan unity government will be proposed within 10 days, an official said today, after the internationally recognised parliament rejected an initial lineup in a blow to peace efforts.

World powers have urged Libya's warring factions to back the unity government formed last week under a UN-brokered deal aimed at ending political paralysis which has fuelled the rise of jihadists.

But the internationally recognised legislature, based in eastern Libya, yesterday voted against endorsing the proposed 32-minister cabinet headed by businessman Fayez al-Sarraj.

Lawmakers criticised the government as too large and also objected to an article in the UN-brokered accord giving the cabinet the power to approve top security and military positions.

Sarraj will present a new "more restrained" unity government for approval by parliament, said Fathi Ben Issa, adviser to the unity government.

"We will respect the deadline of 10 days," he added.

A militia alliance including Islamists overran Tripoli in August 2014 and set up its own rival parliament in the capital as the recognised lawmakers fled to the east.

The Islamic State jihadist group has exploited the turmoil to expand its influence in the country and launch attacks on key oil facilities.
A Goa-based NGO has expressed surprise over the state government's move to hand over land for the proposed greenfield airport in North district to a private entity when it does not hold any stake in the project as indicated by the Union Civil Aviation ministry.

"Union Civil Aviation ministry has indicated that Goa government will not hold any stake in the proposed greenfield airport at Mopa but will have representation on the Board of Directors with veto powers. This came as a surprise to us," NGO Gen Next President Durgadas Kamat said in a statement issued here.

A Civil Aviation ministry official was also recently quoted as saying that Goa will not have any stake in Mopa airport project.

"Mopa will have the distinction of being the first airport project in India where the state government will not be owner, even partially," Kamat said.

"Not being share holder is indeed surprising as land is being given by Goa government. A total of 381 acres of land worth Rs 3000 crore has been given for the project. As Goa government is giving prime land for the project it has to be a shareholder in it," he demanded.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has already issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to four private companies in connection with the airport project, the first phase of which would be completed in 2019.

The NGO has also said the airport will bring in huge influx of people in the village changing the demography.

"Goa is already threatened with uncontrolled migration, the airport project will add to it," Kamat said.

The representative of Travel and Tourism Association of



Goa (TTAG) urged the director to take action against harassment of tourists by the trolley pullers, andthose who dirty thepremises.

"The Bureau of Immigration was urged toimprove services at the earliest as the coming seasonstarting from October wouldseea huge rise in tourist arrivals for eTVfacility at Dabolim," a tourism department statement said after the meeting.
For the third year in a row, India did not display any of its nuclear missiles during the Republic Day parade.

In 2013, India had displayed the Inter Continental Ballistic Missile Agni V during the Republic Day Parade. The chief guest at that time was Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

However, when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came in as the Chief Guest in 2014, no ballistic missiles were displayed.

India at that time was negotiating a civil nuclear deal with Japan, the only country to have suffered an atom bomb attack.

The nuclear missiles were also missing during the Republic Day Parade last year when US President Barack Obama was the chief guest.

Asked why ballistic missiles are not being displayed, Maj Gen Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff Delhi Area of Indian Army said deterrence is not about showcasing everything we have.

"Certain platforms are in open domain which are not showcased. There are some items which are not showcased every time," he had told reporters recently.

However, he added that some items could come back next year as displays are done on a rotation basis.

The Army, which has been talking about the 'Make in India' initiative, chose to display Russian T 90 tanks instead of the indigenous Arjun tanks developed by the DRDO.

The Army displayed Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles and Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System.

The Navy displayed flight deck operations on the new aircraft carrier Vikrant, under construction at the Kochi Shipyard, and the indigenously constructed submarine 'Kalvari' by Mazagaon Dock, having 'Made in India' tag on them.

Among the fighters displayed by the IAF, there were five French Jaguars.
Nepal's Prime Minister K P Oli today said it would not be appropriate to visit India until the "border blockade" ends, linking his maiden foreign trip next month to the normalisation of situation at the border.

"It would not be appropriate for me to visit India unless the situation returns to normal," Oli told a select group of journalists at his office here when asked whether he will visit India if the current "border blockade" continues.

Oli alleged that India had imposed an "unofficial border blockade" and said that the country will soon lift it.

The Prime Minister said the government is keeping a close eye on separatist movements in Terai.

Oli is expected to travel to New Delhi early next month on his first foreign visit as Prime Minister. Earlier, there had also been speculation that the Communist leader could visit China ahead of India.

During his telephonic conversation with Oli a couple of months ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited him to visit India at an appropriate time.

No Nepalese Prime Minister has visited India after Prime Minister Modi's two trips to Nepal last year.

Nepal government has alleged that the "border embargo" had been imposed by the Indian government, a claim which India has denied.

India has made clear that the obstruction in the movement of goods through the Indo-Nepal border was due to the protests by the Madhesis.

Nepal is facing acute shortage of cooking gas, petroleum products, medicines and other essential goods due to the five- month-long blockade of key border trade points with India due to the protests by the Madhesis.

Oli's remarks come after the announcement by Madhesis of new protest programmes yesterday.

Nepal's parliament on Saturday 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.

The amendments addressed two key demands of the Madhesis -- proportionate representation and seat allocation in the Parliament on the basis of population.

Madhesis have rejected as "incomplete" the constitutional amendments passed by the Parliament for failing to address their concerns over redrawing borders.

The agitating Madhesi community that shares strong cultural and family bonds with India is demanding demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. At least 55 people have been killed in the protests.
In a major reform, US President Barack Obama has banned solitary confinement for juveniles in prisons, saying the practice is overused and can cause long-lasting and devastating psychological consequences.

Obama made these announcements in an op-ed in The Washington Post titled "Why we must rethink solitary confinement". It came as part of a series of reforms aimed at reducing the use of solitary confinement in federal jails.

"These include banning solitary confinement for juveniles and as a response to low-level infractions, expanding treatment for the mentally ill and increasing the amount of time inmates in solitary can spend outside of their cells," he wrote.

These steps will affect some 10,000 federal prisoners held in solitary confinement. Obama also directed all relevant federal agencies to review these principles and report back to him with a plan to address their use of solitary confinement.

He also cited the case of Kalief Browder, who in 2010, aged 16, was accused of stealing a backpack and was put into the notorious Rikers Island prison in New York to await trial.

Browder was released in 2013. Having never stood trial, he struggled to cope with the trauma of solitary confinement and killed himself at the age of 22.

There are as many as 100,000 people held in solitary confinement in US prisons - including juveniles and people with mental illnesses. As many as 25,000 inmates are serving months, even years of their sentences alone in a tiny cell, with almost no human contact, he wrote.

Research suggests that solitary confinement has the potential to lead to devastating, lasting psychological consequences, he said.

"It has been linked to depression, alienation, withdrawal, a reduced ability to interact with others and the potential for violent behaviour. Some studies indicate that it can worsen existing mental illnesses and even trigger new ones.

Prisoners in solitary are more likely to commit suicide, especially juveniles and people with mental illnesses," Obama wrote.

Observing that the US is a nation of second chances, but the experience of solitary confinement too often undercuts that second chance, Obama wrote that those who do make it out often have trouble holding down jobs, reuniting with family and becoming productive members of society.

"Imagine having served your time and then being unable to hand change over to a customer or look your wife in the eye or hug your children," he said.

He wrote that reforming solitary confinement is just one part of a broader bipartisan push for criminal justice reform.

"Every year, we spend USD 80 billion to keep 2.2 million people incarcerated. Many criminals belong behind bars. But too many others, especially nonviolent drug offenders, are serving unnecessarily long sentences," he said.

According to the Guiding Principles released by the White House, inmates in all prisons should be housed in the least restrictive setting necessary to ensure their own safety, as well as the safety of staff, other inmates, and the public.
Pakistan has asked Afghanistan to take action against the perpetrators of the terror attack on the Bacha Khan University in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa that killed 21 people and to bring them to justice at the earliest possible.

Afghan Charge d'Affaires Syed Abdul Nasir Yousafi was called to the Foreign Office yesterday to convey Pakistan's concern regarding the use of Afghan soil by certain terrorist elements in the attack on the university.

"He was told that investigations have revealed that handlers of this terrorist act were operating from Afghan territory and used Afghan telecommunication network for planning and executing this attack," the Foreign Office said.

Pakistan maintains that handlers were in Afghanistan and directing the attack. The relevant details on the incident had already been shared with the Afghan side, it added.

Pakistani authorities asked Afghanistan to "take action against the perpetrators of this heinous act of terrorism and extend cooperation to Pakistani authorities to bring them to justice," it said in a statement.

At least 21 people, mostly students, were killed and several others injured when armed militants stormed the university campus and opened fire on them in Charsadda town last week, an year after over 150 people, mostly students, were killed in an attack on an army-run school in Peshawar.
Police in Pakistan today claimed to have thwarted a terror bid by defusing a 5 kg pressure cooker bomb planted outside a school here, days after Taliban attacked a prominent univarsity near here.

The bomb fixed in the cooker was planted outside Foundation Public School in Bashirabad area of Peshawar city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The bomb disposal squad defused the bomb, a police official said.

Some unknown armed men gave the pressure cooker to a boy to keep it inside the school. The boy, however, kept it in front of the school, he said.

The police said that it was not known yet that either school was the target or the owner of the school.

Meanwhile, four Improvised Explosive Devices fastened with electric pylon of high-tension wire in Paharipura area of Peshawar city were defused by the police.

On January 20, heavily-armed militants stormed the Bacha Khan University and opened fire on students and teachers, killing 21 people.
Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today greeted their Indian counterparts on India's 67th Republic Day, wishing the country "stability" and "prosperity".

"President and PM of Pakistan greeted Indian counterparts (President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi) on India's 67th Republic Day, wishing India stability and prosperity," a Pakistani government source said.

Meanwhile, the Republic Day was also celebrated at the Indian High Commission here with High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale unfurling the Indian tri-colour, an event attended by many top officials and Embassy staff.

Indo-Pak ties have recently witnessed many ups and downs after the decision to engage in a "Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue".

The India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary level talks, scheduled for January 15, were deferred in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack.
Pakistani authorities today closed all the schools in the country's largest province, Punjab, following an alert over possible militant attacks, according to a government notice.

The warning comes a week after a breakaway Taliban faction attacked a northwestern university and killed 21 people, mostly students.

That school - the Bacha Khan University in the northwestern town of Charsadda - reopened briefly yesterday but then closed indefinitely to give students more time to recover from the incident.

The government memo, which was obtained by The Associated Press, says there is intelligence that 13 Taliban fighters recently entered the country from neighboring Afghanistan and were planning suicide attacks on schools across Pakistan.

The schools in Punjab would remain closed till the end of the month, said the province's education minister, Rana Mashood Ahmad. He did not cite the alert but said the closures were due to harsh winter weather and heavy fog.

Schools were also closed in southwestern Baluchistan province for the usual winter break there.

In the northwest and the south, schools remained open and it was not immediately clear if there where additional concerns that prompted the closures in Punjab.

The Charsadda attack revived memories of the horrific December 2014 Taliban attack on an army run school in the nearby city of Peshawar that killed 150 people, 144 of them children.
Dr. Ron Smith served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968. He is a Wyoming native and practiced internal medicine and infectious disease at the Billings Clinic. This is part of his Vietnam story. For the complete interview, go to www.billingsgazette.com/Vietnam.

Gazette: What was life like for you before the Army?

Smith: "Well, I was finishing my residency at the University of Washington, and I had been the chief resident at the VA hospital. Being a procrastinator, I had not joined the Berry Plan, where you are given so many years and then you go into the military. Being a procrastinator, I thought, 'Gee, maybe I ought to see what my doctor's draft status is down in Wyoming,' so I called and they said, 'We're drafting three, and you're No.3.'

"I had interviewed down in Wyoming and here at Billings Clinic and at Missoula. So, I called them and said, 'I'm going into the Army.' As time went on, I heard that I would not go in until October. The residency ended the 30th of June. I was wondering what we were going to do and how we were going to feed the family, if you will. So, the people at the university said they'd find a spot for me for a few months, which was very nice.

"But, Allan Goulding an internist at the Billings Clinic, who was sort of the recruiter and said that we were losing one their internists and could I come for three months because that's vacation time and everyone wants to be out in the mountains? We said sure, and they found a house for us to rent, mostly furnished. So we were here until early July until the end of September, and it was a great experience."

Gazette: I don't think a lot of people realize that you weren't necessarily given a special exemption because you were a doctor.

Smith: "You are, and you aren't. It was a special draft called 'the doctors draft'  totally different from the other one. For one thing, we were much older. But the big thing: You should go to Butte or Cheyenne for a physical exam or you may volunteer  obligated volunteer for two years, but you can come in as a captain. I said, 'What happens if I just want to be drafted?' And they said, 'Well, you won't be practicing medicine.' That did not seem like a good deal. And that's one of the big differences. One of the peculiar things is that you suddenly go from being a civilian to being a captain."

Gazette: Did you have any military background?

Smith: "I had two years of (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) at the University of Wyoming."

Gazette: Do they put doctors through boot camp?

Smith: "It's called 'military service school' down in San Antonio. It's six weeks. That's the first thing you do and they teach you how to wear the uniform, where to put the insignia, how to march, which is hilarious because you have all these men with many years of education and we all had two left feet.

"Then you got to do some interesting fun things  a night compass course. You have to go through an infiltration course where you crawl underneath a barbed wire and there's live machine gun fire on top of you. It's like playing guns when you were a kid in a way. You also didn't want to get scared and stand up. They watched you very well.

"One sort of funny thing happened: There was a very large orthopedic surgeon there and they had dug this special trench for him because he did not fit under the wire. It was obvious where he was going."

Gazette: On one hand, you're a doctor completing a residency and then you go to the Army, and that doesn't necessarily translate.

Smith: "It does and it doesn't. It's one of the differences about being a physician in the military as opposed to a draftee. Your job is to take sick or wounded people. There was always some tension the Army way and what we thought was the proper way. Of course, we were young cocky guys who just had lots of training, so there is some tension there. If you have any sense at all, there's a line as to where you can go and where you can't. The military knows their business well. It is sort of an interesting relationship.

Gazette: I imagine practicing medicine is a lot different in a combat zone than if you'd just stayed here, right?

Smith: "Everybody was young in Vietnam. Everybody's not young in a general internal medicine practice."

Smith went to the 93rd Evacuation Hospital, which was in Long Binh.

Gazette: How does practicing medicine differ and what's it like? Are you seeing the same types of cases?

Smith: "As an internist, you did not care a lot for injured people, just like if you get hurt in the Billings hospital, you'd see a surgeon or an orthopedist or an (emergency room) doc. You had an assorted day. You had clinics that you'd go to. You were on call. You got all of the admissions from 4 p.m. until 7 the next morning and we admitted the patients during the day that came, internal medicine patients that were screened in the ER.

"... The days that you were on call you could get many, many admissions and other times  there was lots of boredom in between. There was this scheme that we forwarded the 1st Infantry a lot. They'd go out on an operation and the surgeons would be very busy for several days and everybody was flown in on helicopter. They'd be very busy and then about three days later, people with fevers would start coming in, and we'd get very busy. In between, it was often very boring, and we all wanted to be busy. It was easier spending your year being busy other than sitting around griping. We played volleyball and softball at times."

Gazette: What were the conditions like in a hospital in Long Binh and how did it differ from what you were used to? What was Vietnam like?

Smith: "Everybody says that when they opened the door of the plane, it was like a blast furnace and that's just absolutely true. It's unbelievable. At Tan Son Nhut, you could hear 'harassment and interdiction fire,' which wasn't aimed at anyone, but in case someone was trying to sneak in. Hearing that at night was a bit unnerving. It was hot and humid and people mentioned the smells. It was a different place and pretty interesting.

"Then, when I finally got assigned, we drove to Long Binh, 23 miles away, and was interesting to see the tropics. I'd never been to the tropics before  a totally different lifestyle, a small community, look like very frail buildings that would blow away but don't seem to. Long Binh was a huge logistical base. Our hospital was sort of toward the north end of it. It's pretty barren. A lot of things were paved. There was hardly any vegetation in this logistical center.

"Our hospital was interesting in that the wards were made up of four quonset like buildings which were hooked together in a cross. It was very efficient. The center part was the nursing station where the charts were kept. Each branch where were the beds were on each side. It was very efficient. In terms of work, it was not unlike being in a regular hospital. It wasn't like being at Deaconess or St. V's like I was the previous summer. Those were pretty plush. This was basic. But it was quite efficient."

Gazette: Was it primitive as far as the technology and the care? Was it basic but adequate?

Smith: "We didn't have as many lab tests or quick as you could get it here. Looking back that many years ago, the number of lab tests now are just huge compared to what we had. We could get the basic stuff done and the equipment was fine. We had X-rays, and it was long before the days of CT scans and MRIs. People were experts at reading malaria smears."

Gazette: When you got there, what was your first impression of the hospital and Long Binh?

Smith: "It was very strange. As I think about it, there was a tropical lethargy, especially when you get there, and it's hot and humid, and you're wearing these fatigues and you're sweating and miserable. I thought when I got to the hospital there'd be people greeting you and helping you out, but everybody just didn't seem to care. They had the blahs, and I had the depression and blahs. But that gradually changes as you get to know people.

"Someone took me on a tour, and I stayed in a GP medium tent for several months, which turns out was pretty good living. We could roll the sides of it up to get a little cool, semi-cool breeze. The roads were dirty roads and they gradually paved them. We used to laugh and say, 'We think we're going to win the war because we're going to pave all of Vietnam.' There were some other docs in the tent, some from Mayo Clinic, who were assigned to the 36th Evac Hospital on the other side of Long Binh."

Gazette: You're not seeing the guys coming in right off combat, right? Those guys, I imagine, need surgeons or trauma specialists.

Smith: "Usually not, but we had a couple of mass casualties where everybody chipped in. Guys would come in by helicopter who had high fevers, diarrhea and a wide variety of illness, and we would be the medical officer of the day would decide whether they would be admitted or whether they could go back. Your colleagues in your specialty would be on call during the day, taking turns admitting patients."

Gazette: You were married at the time. Did you have a family?

Smith: "I had two kids."

Gazette: We haven't heard much of that. Most of the vets we've spoken with may have had a wife, but how was that for a family?

Smith: "It was very difficult. ... I had a son who was about 2, and our daughter was 9 months old. Communication was difficult. I actually found some old letters that my wife and I have been reading. I'd be talking about one thing and she'd be writing about another. Sometimes, you'd get three at a time, sometimes none for 10 days. It was very frustrating. ... You didn't know what was going on at home."

Gazette: What were the most common things that you treated  that came to you?

Smith: "You get colds and flus, and diarrhea was very common. You could get high blood pressure in some people. Asthma in some. They'd tried to screen individuals who had asthma out of Vietnam, not coming there because many people had asthma reactions when they got there. That was fairly common. Chronic diseases that you see so prominently here, diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, things like that  that was almost unheard of. We did have one heart attack while I was there."

Gazette: Because those are diseases associated with older, sedentary populations, and that was not Vietnam?

Smith: "Most everybody was young, in their 20s and 30s."

Gazette: So you saw malaria, and we've heard a lot about malaria. That was a concern?

Smith: "People with malaria are very ill, fevers of 105, 106. They're shaking and their temperature goes way up, and then they start to sweat and then they're shaking because they feel cold. They're very, very ill. There's a significant mortality rate to malaria."

Gazette: Could you cure them and would they go back?

Smith: "We'd cure them, and they'd go back in the field. There's all kinds of malaria.

"I have to tell you a story: Gen. (William) Westmoreland was coming to visit our hospital and he hadn't been there as far as I knew and that's a big deal. This was supposed to be a secret, surprise visit. That wasn't true at all.

"Some of his adjutants came and talked to us and they said, 'Doctor, Gen. Westmoreland will be visiting most of the wards, but not the medical wards.' Of course I said, 'What?' He said, 'No, they're there with malaria because they did not take their anti-malaria pills. ... I said, 'That doesn't work for falciparum malaria, which is the kind we have. That's totally resistant.' He said, 'The general will not be visiting the ward because they're sick because they didn't take their pills.' I said, 'Colonel, that's not true.' ... He very sternly looked at me and said, 'The general will not be coming.'
The Paradip Refinery of Indian Oil, which is set to be dedicated to the nation on February 7, will massively boost the bottomline of the largest oil marketeer to the tune of 20-30%, thanks to the latest technologies deployed at the facility that's coming up after a delay of 14 long years.

The massive delay in completing the project has led to a cost escalation of over Rs 3,500 crore at Rs 34,555 crore and an interest payout of Rs 7,500 crore, the company said.

The commissioning of Paradip Refinery by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 7, will take the total number of IOC refineries to 11. Its last greenfield refinery was commissioned in 1998 at Panipat which has an annual capacity of 15 million metric tonne (mmt).

Paradip is also the first greenfield coastal refinery of Indian Oil.

ALSO READ: Odisha wants review of MoU with IOCL for Paradip refinery

"This refinery will boost our profit by as much as 20-30% from next year. Testing and trial runs of various units have now been completed, with the petrol unit being the latest one to go on-stream on January 17.

"From next month, we will be operating at 60% of its 15 mmt capacity," IOC executive director and Paradip Refinery in-charge Ramjee Ram told PTI during a recent plant visit.

Ram said his optimism comes from the fact that the refinery is likely to boost the average gross refining margin of Indian Oil by $6-7 a barrel to $15-16 a barrel next fiscal at the prevailing crude prices from the present low level of $10-11 a barrel.

He further said the refinery will be using mostly high sulphur crude, though it can refine all types of crudes and one of the reasons for high profitability is this focus on high sulphur/heavy crude which is cheaper by $2-3 a barrel.

IOC hopes to procure the crudes from Latin America and Angola for Paradip, which are mostly heavy crudes. IOC will use the output serve Odisha, Jharkhand, MP, Chhattisgarh and Andhra markets apart from export to Southeast Asian countries.

The refinery will turn 15-million metric tonne of crude per annum into petrol, diesel, cooking gas, kerosene, aviation fuel and naptha.

Ram, however, was quick to add that "at 7.7% the internal rate of return (IRR) of the project is not very lucrative. Ideally, it should not have been under 13-14%, and so now we must look at all recoveries within eight years."



The low IRR, a tool to calculate the return on investment of a project, is primarily due to the cost over-run and the high interest cost so far incurred on the project due to excessive delays in the commissioning(, he said.

As the project was delayed by 14 years, it led to a cost escalation of over Rs 3,500 crore, taking the total cost to Rs 34,555 crore and an interest payout of Rs 7,500 crore even before the project commissioned, Deputy General Manager for Finance Sukumar Banik said,



The IRR would have been even lower had the company not refinanced some of its debt, he said.

This has forced the company to extend its repayment period to 14 years from the earlier set deadline of eight years, he added.

The Paradip Refinery can produce Bharat Stage IV auto fuels now, but with an additional investment of around Rs 3,500 crore, its products can meet the Bharat VI norms, Ram said.

The sprawling complex in South-East Odisha will also have an around Rs 35,000 crore petchem project and is spread over 3,350 acres and was first mooted by the PV Narasimha Rao government way back in July 1992. The ground breaking was done by the then premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee in May, 2002.

Ram said further that unlike other refineries, which take up to three years to reach 80% capacity utilisation, IOC will reach that utilisation level by March, 2017, and full capacity by shortly thereafter. From next month it will be running at 60% capacity.

The project faced one road block after another, including the exit of foreign partner, Kuwait Petroleum. The state government then withdrew its incentives for the project, setting it back by four years.

It also faced resistance from the locals and delays in approvals. Work was disrupted by two cyclones that hit the east coast in 2013 and 2014, Executive Director for Branding and Communication Indrajit Bose said.

The company is building a new pipeline between Paradip and Hyderabad to ferry the products to the Southern markets, he added.
Genes that influence people's health also shape how effectively they think, according to a new study which suggests that those with better overall health are likely to have higher levels of intelligence.

Researchers analysed data from around 100,000 people which could help them discover why some people develop particular diseases and others do not.

To test the findings, researchers gathered data from previous genetic studies of other mental and physical health factors - such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and autism.

When they compared each person's mental test data with their genome, they found that some traits linked to disease and thinking skills shared the same genetic influences.

"In addition to there being shared genetic influences between cognitive skills and some physical and mental health states, the study also found that cognitive skills share genetic influences with brain size, body shape and educational attainments," said Ian Deary from the University of Edinburgh in the UK, one of the researchers.

"The study supports an existing theory which says that those with better overall health are likely to have higher levels of intelligence," said Saskia Hagenaars from University of Edinburgh.

"The research highlights the importance of investigating biological pathways that influence both cognitive function and health related traits," added Sarah Harris from University of Edinburgh.

The findings were published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
City Police have banned private use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs), more popularly known as drones, from tomorrow as part of security arrangement for the upcoming International Fleet Review (IFR) here.

Police have prohibited all non-governmental agencies, organisations and individuals from launching drones in the city's airspace from January 27 to February 9.

Addressing the media this evening, Police Commissioner Amit Garg said drones will pose a security threat and hence their private use has been banned in view of IFR, which will be held in the port city from February 4 to 9.

Rehearsals for IFR, which will see participation of Navies from several countries, will begin from January 27.

Over 15,000 security personnel along with those drawn from National Security Guard (NSG), Special Protection Group (SPG) and paramilitary forces will be guarding the coastal city during IFR, which will be attended by many VVIPs and international delegates, he said.
Pope Francis today asked Iran to back peace efforts in the Middle East as the Islamic Republic's emergence from international isolation took a significant step forward with President Hassan Rouhani's first visit to the Vatican.

Fresh from securing the lifting of international sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear programme, Rouhani spent 40 minutes at the Vatican talking privately to Pope Francis, a strong backer of the deal with Tehran.

In a statement afterwards, the Vatican said Francis had urged the Iranian leader to use Iran's important role to promote, together with other countries, "adequate political solutions" to the problems afflicting the region and to help combat terrorism and arms trafficking.

"I thank you for your visit and I hope for peace," Francis told his guest at the end of their meeting, when journalists were briefly allowed to listen in.

A smiling Rouhani, who presented the pope with a hand-made carpet from the ancient city of Qom, replied with one of Francis's catchphrases.

"I ask you to pray for me," he said. "It was a pleasure to meet you and I wish you well in your work."



In return for his gift, Rouhani was given a medal depicting St Martin cutting his cloak in half to give to a poorly clothed beggar.

The Iranian leader also went away with English and Arabic versions of Francis's extended essay on the environmental challenges faced by the world. "Laudato Si" (Praise Be) has not been translated into Farsi.

It was the first official visit to the Vatican by an Iranian president since Mohammad Khatami was hosted by John Paul II in 1999. Khatami also attended the Polish pope's funeral in 2005.

Rouhani is on a five-day trip to Italy and France looking to drum up trade and investment to modernise Iran's economy, partly by pitching the country as a beacon of stability in a conflict-wracked region.

Speaking to an audience of Italian and Iranian business leaders earlier in the day, Rouhani also portrayed Iran as the ideal base for companies seeking a foothold in a region of 300 million people, reassuring would-be investors their contracts would be honoured.

Iran is seeking international investment to help complete a port which will provide a gateway for Indian companies seeking to do business in Afghanistan and Central Asia, as well as in Iran.
"Dear Pope Francis," 10-year-old Mohammed begins, "Will the world be again as it was in the past?"



Signed "Respectfully yours," the boy wrote from a Jesuit- run school for refugee children in Syria and was treated to a long and personal answer from the pope himself. So were 29 other children who posed questions to Francis in letters from around the globe for a new book poignantly illustrated with their own artwork.

The book, "Dear Pope Francis," is out March 1 from Loyola Press in Chicago. It's a project that likely wouldn't have materialized without the help of Father Antonio Spadaro, a Jesuit like the pope and the director of La Civilta Cattolica, a Roman Catholic journal published in Rome.

Tom McGrath of the Jesuit-founded publishing house co-edited the book with Spadaro after reaching out to the priest for help. Spadaro brought about 50 letters with questions to the pope so he could select 30. Spadaro sat with the pope as he responded to each. Francis often complimented the artwork of the children.

"He knows Pope Francis very well," McGrath said of Spadaro. "We tried to make it as easy for the pope as possible." The pope's response to Mohammed spoke in part of suffering and the people who inflict it.

"There are those who manufacture weapons so that people fight each other and wage war. There are people who have hate in their hearts. There are people who are interested only in money and would sell everything for it. They would even sell other people," he wrote.

More to Mohammed's point, Francis answered: "No, when the time comes, the world will not be as it was. It will be far better than it was in the past."



The 30 kids in the book range in age from 6 to 13. In all, about 250 letters were received in 14 languages from 26 countries around the globe. The pope wound up with about 50 letters from which to choose.

Spadaro said via email that the pope truly pondered when answering the children.

"Often he looked off into space and tried to imagine the child in front of him," he said. "And in his gaze I saw care, love."



Loyola will publish the book in English and Spanish. As an international Jesuit project, it will also be published simultaneously around the world, including in Brazil, Indonesia, Slovenia, Mexico and India.

"The pope is eager to meet them," McGrath said. "He was quick to say he would like to make that happen." They'll be traveling with their parents from China, Ireland, Argentina, India, Canada, Kenya, Singapore, Australia, the United States and the Philippines.
Pope Francis has concluded an annual weeklong prayer for Christian unity by making a sweeping apology for Catholic wrongs committed against other Christians and by announcing he will visit Sweden to mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation.

The one-day trip Oct 31 to the southern city of Lund, where the Lutheran World Federation was founded in 1947, will be the first papal visit to Sweden since Pope John Paul II toured five Scandinavian nations in 1989.

Francis has followed in the footsteps of his predecessors by encouraging efforts to heal the rifts with Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox, evangelicals and other Christian denominations. But Francis has also used personal friendships to forge ahead where official dialogue has stalled.

Yesterday, Francis celebrated an annual vespers service to mark the end of a weeklong prayer for Christian unity which this year also falls during Francis' Holy Year of Mercy.

In his homily, Francis asked forgiveness for the "sin of our divisions" an appeal he made in June last year during a visit to a small evangelical house of worship in northern Italy.

"As the bishop of Rome and pastor of the Catholic Church, I would like to invoke mercy and forgiveness for the non-evangelical behaviour of Catholics toward Christians of other churches," he said yesterday. "At the same time, I invite all Catholic brothers and sisters to forgive if today, or in the past, they have suffered offence by other Christians.

"We cannot cancel what has happened, but we don't want to let the weight of past harm continue to pollute our relations."



Earlier yesterday, the Vatican said Francis' visit to Sweden will "highlight the important ecumenical developments that have taken place during the past 50 years of dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans." It will include a common worship service based on a recently published Catholic Lutheran liturgical guide to help churches commemorate the Reformation anniversary together.

The Catholic Church estimates there are about 150,000 Catholics in Sweden, including 113,000 registered members, according to Kristina Hellner of the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm.

Martin Luther's challenge to the Catholic doctrine of indulgences in 1517 is remembered as the start of the Reformation, from which the Protestant churches originated out of criticism of the Church of Rome led by the pope.

Significantly, when Francis issued his apology yesterday, he said he was doing so as bishop of Rome, a title he often emphasises in ecumenical settings where the primacy of the pope is still a cause for tension.
Precision Camshafts is set to hit the capital tomorrow to raise about Rs 410 crore through an initial public offering (IPO).

The IPO, which closes on January 29, would be made through a fresh issue aggregating up to Rs 240 crore and an offer for sale of up to 91,50,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each.

Price band for the offer has been fixed at Rs 180-186 per share. At the upper end, it will garner Rs 410 crore.

From six anchor investors, the company has raised Rs 123 crore by selling shares at the upper price band of Rs 186 apiece.

It allotted a total of 66.16 lakh equity shares to anchor investors at a price of Rs 186 each (including a share premium of Rs 176 per share), aggregating to Rs 123 crore.

The anchor investors were -- SBI Mutual Fund, IDFC Mutual Fund, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, HDFC Trustee Company Ltd, Birla Sunlife Trustee company and Canara Robeco Mutual Fund.

Proceeds from the fresh issue would be utilised for establishment of a machine shop for ductile iron camshafts at the export oriented unit (EOU) in Solapur, Maharashtra at a cost of Rs 200 crore and for other general corporate purposes.

The company also proposes to set up two new machine shops at Solapur, for ductile iron camshafts and assembled camshafts respectively, by fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2018.

SBI Capital Markets, HDFC Bank and India Infoline are the book running lead managers to the issue.
Puducherry celebrated the 67th Republic day with Chief Minister N Rangasamy unfurling the national flag and giving away awards to police personnel for extraordinary service.

This is the second successive year that he has unfurled the flag at the celebrations as the acting Lt Governor, A K Singh, is in Port Blair to celebrate the day in Andaman and Nicobar islands, of which he is the Lt Governor.

Puducherry has been without a regular Lt Governor since July 2014.

After inspecting a guard of honour by Puducherry Police, the Chief Minister took the salute at a march past by contingents of police, Home Guards, Ex-Service, students of government and private schools.

He laterpresented the Lt Governor's police medals for extraordinary service to Superintendent of Police S Venkatasamy, Inspector of Police Chinta Kodandaraman and to another Inspector L V Senthil Kumar.

A number of police officials were presented Lt Governor's commendation certificates for extraordinary service.

A memento was presented to Herman Ep De Blic Madeleine, a Belgian, who is rendering humanitarian services through her organisation 'Volontariat' here since last 54 years.

Commendation certificate and memento was also handed to special police officer and social worker Pudumai Balakrishnan and to the renowned Bharathanatyam exponent J Nandhini.

A number of schools were given the Chief Minister's and Education Minister's rolling trophies in recognition of their best performance in public exams in 2014-15.

Various governments and Public Sector Undertakings presented tableaux on the occasion.

Cultural programme by school children added to the glitter of the celebration.

Delegates of National Youth Project from various states also presented their respective states' cultures.

Earlier Chief Secretary Manoj Parida announced that IGP Praveer Ranjan and Inspector Rajasankar Vellat (Secretary to IG of Police) had been selected for President's Police medals for meritorious services.

The Chief Minister later unfurled the national flag on the Assembly premises.

(REOPENS MES5)



Later Rangasamy hosted an 'at home reception' on the lawns of Rajnivas.

Speaker V.Sabapathy, Ministers, legislators, former Chief Ministers M D R Ramachandran and S. Ramasamy, officials of various departments, political party leaders and freedom fighters were among those who attended.
With intelligence inputs warning of a possible terror strike, unprecedented security measures were put in place across the country for Republic Day celebrations that passed off peacefully today.

However, a few incidents including an encounter in South Kashmir where an unidentified militant was killed, and a bomb scare sparked by an unclaimed bag at a Pathankot railway station set off alarm.

The national capital was brought under an unprecedented ground-to-air security cover with thousands of armed personnel keeping a tight vigil for the 67th Republic Day celebrations where French President Francois Hollande was the Chief Guest.

The area around Central Delhi was turned into a virtual fortress in view of intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the city.

The measures were adopted in the aftermath of the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase.

Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, central security agencies and NIA busted a module by arresting 14 militants linked to terror group ISIS, who, officials claimed, had planned to carry out strikes at important installations.

Commandos with light machine guns were deployed at 10 strategic locations and anti-aircraft guns remained positioned at two vantage points in the capital.

The entire region of Central and New Delhi had nearly 50,000 security personnel drawn from Delhi Police and central security forces guarding every nook and corner.

Special arrangements were made at the historic Rajpath where India's military might was on display.

Hollande was seated along with President Pranab Mukherjee and host of VVIPs including Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The VVIP enclosure was put under a multi-layer security ring with Presidential Guards and officials of SPG and NSG guarding the two inner-most orbits and Delhi Police entrusted with guarding the outermost circle, said a senior official.

Senior officials said snipers have been put atop 45 buildings overlooking Rajpath besides providing a similar cover along all the buildings along the parade route.

Gunners have been given clear instructions to bring down any aerial object flying without permission. A 'NOTAM' (Notice to Airmen) has been declared from 10.35 AM to 12.15 PM during which no flight will land or take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

A special control room has been monitoring as many as



15,000 CCTV cameras installed across Central and New Delhi, with 200 high-tech digital cameras installed in the parade route, an official said.

As many as 1,000 traffic officials have been issued revolvers so that they can deal with any untoward incident amid heavy security arrangements across the city involving around 25,000 police officials.

In Punjab, additional personnel were posted at bus stands, railway stations and government buildings. Similar arrangements were in place in Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

However, in Pathankot, an unclaimed bag at a railway station sparked a security scare in the district where police and agencies are on high alert following the terror strike at air base early this month, in which seven security personnel were killed.

People were swiftly evacuated from the area and rail traffic had also been halted or diverted for the time being on the route, police said. Bomb disposal and dog squads were summoned to identify the contents of the bag, which has been covered by sand bags, they said.

"A bag has been found at the railway station. We are taking all precautions. We are verifying its content," R K Bakshi, Pathankot SSP, said.

He said that security agencies were taking no chances and as a precautionary measure, they had cleared the area.

In South Kashmir's Anantnag district, an unidentified militant was killed in a gunbattle which broke out around 4 AM. In Jammu and Kashmir, security had been stepped up across the Valley to thwart any plan by militants to disrupt the celebrations.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Police detected a CCTV grab of a terror suspect seen in the company of seven to eight others who couldbe his associates, prompting the authorities to sound an alert across the state.

The DGP's office in Dehradun said the CCTV grab has been released on WhatsApp with an appeal to people to help track down thesuspect seen with seven to eight persons standing close to him in the background who could be his associates.

An alert has been sounded in the state and a search launched to trace the suspect, a source at the DGP's office said. Coming close on the heels of the arrest of four terror suspectslinked with ISIS from Roorkee in Haridwar district, the recovery of the CCTV grab assumes significance.
The delegation accompanying French President Francois Hollande and embassy officials here expressed happiness over the two countries coming together to celebrate India's 67th Republic Day.

Hollande was the chief guest at the ceremonial parade on the Rajpath where India's military might and cultural diversity and achievements in various fields were on display.

French officials, part of the delegation accompanying Hollande, and press members from that country who attended the event, many for the first time, were seen cheering various contingents and tableaux that paraded on the ceremonial boulevard.

"It was wonderful to be here and it felt lovely to see India celebrate her Republic Day and France joining in here as represented by our President," a visiting French official said.

"We are about 100-115 people in the delegation and we saw something really wonderful," he said.

A senior French Embassy official, requesting not to be named said, "There are five ministers as part of the delegation -- Defence, Culture, Finance and Public Accounts, Energy and Foreign Affairs."



Smartly attired marching contingents, the camel contingent, motorcycle daredevilry team and cultural programmes from various states also won the hearts of the French.

Creating history, a contingent of French soldiers today marched down the Rajpath leading the Republic Day celebrations, the first time foreign soldiers took part in the military parade since independence.
Health insurance is supposed to protect us from catastrophic medical costs. But sometimes it doesnt.

Some eye-popping air ambulance bills prompted the 2015 Montana Legislature to order a study. The Economic Affairs Interim Committee has heard from insured patients who were billed tens of thousands of dollars for medical flights provided by services that dont participate in insurance networks.

The air ambulances may be among the largest-dollar complaints, but surprise bills have been all too common in the U.S. health care system.

Nearly seven in 10 individuals with unaffordable out-of-network medical bills did not know the health care provider was out of their network when they received the care, according to a recent survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Besides getting unexpected bills from a provider who doesnt contract with any insurance plans, patients also can get stuck with higher out-of-pocket costs when a doctor or other provider isnt in your particular insurers network. For example, the insurance policy might pay 80 percent of an in-network bill, but only 60 percent out of network. Even if a hospital is in your network, the anesthesiologist or surgeon might not be.

Its nothing short of devastating, Jesse Laslovich, chief counsel for the state insurance commissioner, said last week. We are totally at the mercy of out-of-network providers.

So it pays for patients to check these things out in advance. But what about emergencies? When patients and families dont have time to research who is in network and whos out?

Lets consider the private, for-profit corporation that provides ground ambulance services in Billings and Bozeman. American Medical Response participates in Medicare and its in networks for insurance companies, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, the largest carrier in the state, according to Brian Hansen, operations in Billings. Those practices limit patients out-of-pocket costs. The state insurance commissioners office hasnt had any recent complaints on AMR.

In fact, the state regulators dont hear air ambulance bill complaints from Billings either. St. Vincent Healthcare operates a medical helicopter service that responds to accident scenes to transport seriously injured people, and also has fixed-wing aircraft that can transport patients from one hospital to another. Billings Clinic operates a fixed-wing air ambulance that transports patients between hospitals. Both Billings Clinic and St. Vincent participate in insurance networks, so they cant bill patients for more than what a policy will cover.

Most of the air ambulance bill complaints received from Montanans involved hospital-to-hospital flights, Laslovich said. Some hospitals failed to inform patients and families about the potential cost differences  and about the choices of providers available.

In Gazette news stories, Holly Michels reported about cases in which patients werent informed that they had a provider choice. They were told about a for-profit air ambulance, but not that is was outside insurance networks. They werent told that hospital-based air ambulances in Great Falls and Billings are in insurance networks.

The first remedy is improved patient information.

In November, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which Montana insurance commissioner Monica Lindeen led last year, approved its Network Adequacy Model Act. One of its aims is to protect patients against surprise medical bills for emergency services and for planned services at in-network facilities when care is delivered by out-of-network providers. The model should be a guide for Montana and other states grappling with difficult issues of protecting consumers from surprise medical bills.

The very nature of the problem means that consumers will be hard pressed to take action to avoid surprise medical bill situations absent intervention by policy makers, Karen Pollitz concluded in her Kaiser report earlier this month.

A call list that provides patients, emergency medical professionals and physicians with information on which air ambulances are in what insurance networks is essential to protect patients. Hospitals should have to get informed consent to call an air ambulance that isnt in any insurance network. Insurance companies must make network provider information easily available to customers.

This is a complex issue and we commend lawmakers for taking it up for interim study. We call on the committee members to draft legislation for 2017 that will greatly reduce the incidence and amount of surprise air ambulance bills.
French Army soldiers today created history by marching down the Rajpath during the Republic Day parade, becoming the first foreign military contingent to take part in the celebrations.

Led by Lt Col Paul Bury of the French Army's 35th Infantry Regiment, one of the oldest regiments of France, the 76-member contingent marched before an audience that included President Pranab Mukherjee, visiting French President and Chief Guest Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Forty-eight members of 'The Music of the Infantry', a ceremonial band based in Lyon in France, played two military tunes at the parade as the spectators cheered them.

Talking about the Republic Day, Bury, who has twice served in Afghanistan, has said it was a matter of pride and honour for his men to participate in the celebrations and the march past on the Rajpath.

Maj Gen Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff Delhi Area of Indian Army, said the parade was evolving, and added that a foreign contingent should be a regular affair.

The French Army's 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. It has varied combat experiences, having served in Algeria, Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan among other places.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army also showcased its T-90 'Bhishma' tank, capable of firing missiles, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles and Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System.

The marching contingents of the army included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Parachute Regiment, the Corps of Signals, the Rajput Regiment, the Garhwal Rifles, the Assam Regiment, 11 Gorkha Rifles and Remount Veterinary Corps Dog Squad.

The grand finale of the parade was a spectacular fly-past by the IAF. It commenced with the 'Chakra' formation, comprising three Mi-35 helicopters in 'Vic' formation, followed by the 'Hercules' formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in 'Vic' formation.

Trailing them was the 'Globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30s fighter planes.

Next in line was the fighters, where five Jaguar combat aircraft flew in arrowhead formation, another five MiG-29 air superiority fighter planes called the 'Tridents' flew in Fulcrum style.

Then the breath-taking 'Trishul' formation comprising three Su-30 MKI of No. 24 Squadron flew over the Rajpath, and once in front of the saluting dais, the Su-30 MKI aircraft split upwards, making a Trishul in the sky.

The fly-past concluded with another Su-30 MKI carrying out a 'Vertical Charlie' manoeuvre over the saluting dais.
Rajasthan today joined the nation in celebrating the 67th Republic Day with Governor Kalyan Singh hoisting the tricolour at a function here.

During the event attended by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Chief Secretary CS Rajan, Director General of Police Kapil Bhatt, and other senior IAS and IPS officers, the governor also gave away 45 awards and merit certificates.

The governor took the salute as jawans of RAC, Mahila Battalion, Gujarat Armed Battalion, Bikaner District Police, Traffic Police, Railway Police, Jail Police, Border Home Guards, Urban Gards, and students of NCC and Scouts and Guides marched past as part of the official parade.

Two Additional Directors General of Police (ADG) -- Dr Bhupendra Singh of Jodhpur division and Rajiv Dasot of Armed Battalion -- received awards for their outstanding contribution to the police department.

Meanwhile in Jaipur, Kalicharan Saraf, Rajasthan Education Minister, hoisted the Indian flag at Chogan stadium and took the salute.

In his address, Saraf said that the Raje government has accorded top priority to education. He also noted that basic changes have been made to the teacher recruitment process.

Also, a State Regulatory Boardhas been set up to monitor the activity and official functioning of private colleges and institutions, he added.

Meanwhile, commenting on the reported sale of fake degrees to students at Jodhpur National University (Private), Saraf said an administrator has been appointed to take stock of the situation.

After the parade, Saraf said it was unfortunate that miscreants had blackened the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Dudu on the eve of Republic Day.

Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Kailash Meghwal unfurled the tricolour at the Vidhan Sabha.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will visit Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh next Tuesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the launch of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).

Gandhi would visit Bandla village, where the UPA government's flagship scheme was launched in 2006, Congress state unit president N Raghuveera Reddy said here today.

He alleged that the NDA government has not implemented the NREGS, now known as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, properly.
Red Ribbon Advisory Services, part of UK-based Red Ribbon Asset Management, has partnered with Mehta Fincon Services to raise funds for startups.

"Mehta Fincon will help raise money for Red Ribbon's upcoming startup projects from south Gujarat," the company said in a statement.

Red Ribbon promotes scalable projects that are incubated by investing its own capital in specifically chosen projects that meet their stringent selection criteria for incubation.

"Through this partnership, we expect to build investor base for our upcoming projects such as Modulex and Eco Hotels. We would be happy to partner with investors from Gujarat in this unique investment opportunity," Red Ribbon Advisory Services Chief Executive Aditya Kanoria said.

Modulex offers flexible and tailored modular buildings, while Eco Hotels plans to create 10,000 rooms in 10 years.
Warring Syrian parties expected in Geneva for peace talks this week must agree to "tear down the Berlin Wall" blocking aid workers from reaching besieged Syrians, a senior humanitarian leader urged today.

Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, and UN officials said they were willing to talk with any faction, including the Islamic State group (IS), if it helped deliver life-saving aid to victims of the conflict.

Peace talks, delayed by disputes over the make-up of the opposition delegation, are due to open on Friday.

United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is brokering the negotiations, has said that securing space for humanitarian workers was a top priority, with an estimated 4.5 million people living in besieged or restricted areas without regular access to aid.

Egeland, a former UN under-secretary general, said government and rebel forces could immediately pave the way for massive aid deliveries if they stopped playing "games."



He urged the rival parties to "tear down the Berlin Wall of hindrances they have built between us who can help and millions of defenceless civilians in the conflict zones."



"We need agreed nation-wide humanitarian pauses and ceasefires now," Egeland said. "It can be done from Geneva starting this weekend."



With the wrangling over the opposition delegation persisting, the UN noted that millions of Syrians who need emergency aid are in areas controlled by IS, which is not part of any internationally-recognised peace process.

As any deal on humanitarian convoys would not apply to the extremist group's territory, Egeland said he was "willing to speak to anyone to secure the access of me and my colleagues to people in need."



John Ging, operations chief at the UN's humanitarian agency (OCHA), agreed, telling reporters in response to a question about IS that the UN would "engage with any party, anywhere, anytime for the purpose of gaining access", to those who need aid.

"There are certain parties, certain actors, who will not engage with us," he said, in an apparent reference to IS.

The peace talks, where opposition and government representatives will initially be seated in separate rooms, are expected to last six months, with the first round slated to take two to three weeks.

De Mistura's office said invitations to the approved negotiators were sent out today, without providing any details about the delegations.
The 67th Republic Day was celebrated in Gujarat with Governor O P Kohli unfurling the national flag at Veraval town of Gir-Somnath district.

Chief Minister Anandiben Patel was also present at the ceremony.

The state-level programme was held in Gir-Somnath district this time following the tradition started by former chief minister and currently Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to observe such functions outside the state capital, Gandhinagar.

An impressive parade, tableaux, displaying various schemes of the state government, and cultural programme were presented at the Veraval's Sadbhavna Ground.

Chief Minister Anandiben Patel later tweeted "saluting the tricolour always gives a unique sense of pride."



"Tableaux of various departments gave an insight into important features of differing GoG (Government of Gujarat) initiatives and projects," she tweeted.

"I congratulate Gir-Somnath district administration for wonderfully hosting state-level celebrations of 67th Republic day," she further said. She also praised the bravery displayed by the women police officers.

Various ministers unfurled tricolours at different district headquarters.

In the Gujarat High Court acting chief justice Jayant Patel unfurled the flag at a programme attended by sitting and former judges.

Flags were unfurled at the BJP and Congress state office also.

General public also celebrated the Day with patriotic fervour by hoisting the flag on their rooftops. Impressive functions were held at various government and private schools.
The 67th Republic Day was celebrated across Uttarakhand today with great fervour as Governor K K Paul hoisted the tricolor at the historic Parade Ground in the presence of Chief Minister Harish Rawat and a host of other officials.

The flag-hoisting was followed by a march past and a ceremonial salute by contingents of Indian Army, ITBP, SSB, Homeguards, Prantiya Rakshak Dal, NCC and Mounted Police.

Tableaux from various departments of the state government were taken out.

Later, amid tunes of patriotic songs played by police bands, the Governor honoured police personnel for their distinguished service.

Paul remembered the heroes of India's freedom movement and makers of its Constitution and called upon people of the state to preserve the glory of the occasion by working for the progress of the state.

Republic Day was celebrated ceremoniously with great fervour throughout the state.
The 67th Republic day was celebrated with usual gaiety and fervour throughout Himachal Pradesh.

The Governor Acharya Devvrat unfurled the national flag at the historic Ridge Maidan at the state level function here and also took salute at an impressive march past.

Colourful functions marked by impressive march past and cultural programmes were held at district and Sub-divisional headquarters across the state.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, his wife and former MP Pratibha Singh, MLAs, Chairpersons of Boards and Corporation, Civil and military officers including Chief Secretary P Mitra and DGO, Sanjay Kumar and several other dignitaries were present at the state level function at the Ridge.

Presiding over the R-Day function at Nahan Vidhan Sabha Speaker B B L Butail said that Himachal had emerged as role model of development for Hilly state and emerged as a leading state on the world map.

The present State Government had fulfilled its all promises during last three years and new milestones of development had been set during this period.

Presiding over the function at Dharamsala, Health and Family Welfare minister Kaul Singh Thakur said that the State Government was strengthening the health services and three new medical colleges would be opened in the State at the earliest.

He said 110 new health institutes have been opened during last three years besides filling up 600 posts of the doctors.

The Cancer unit at IGMC Shimla was being strengthened by spending Rs 90 crore and a new building was under construction at KNH Shimla.

He said Rs 150 crore had been spent to develop Tanda Medical College into super speciality hospital and another mother child care hospital was being established at Mandi.

While, 22 new Sub Tehsils had been opened in the State during last three years besides eight new Sub Divisions.

At Solan, Food and Civil Supplies and Transport Minister G S Bali said that CCTV would be installed at 17 more bus stands and 300 new buses would be added to the bus fleet of HRTC.

He said that State Government was providing three pulses, edible oil and salt to all ration card holders of the state and 13.90 lakh quintal food items were provided to ration card holders of district on subsidized rates.

Three lakh nine thousand 678 people were being benefitted in the district under Rajiv Gandhi Ann Yojna, he added.

Presiding over the function at Chamba, Multipurpose Power



Projects (MPP) and Power Minister Sujan Singh Pathania said that the government was subsidizing electricity to domestic consumers to the tune of Rs 996 crore.

He said domesticand non-domestic consumers were also being provided LED bulbs at the cheaper rates and this scheme would go a long way in conservation of the energy.

Speaking at district level function at Bilaspur, Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri paid rich tributes to the brave soldiers of who sacrificed their lives for the country.

He congratulated the Bilaspur district administration for launching ascheme with a view to improve the child sex ratio which was a noble idea and would go a long way in improving the sex ratio.

Presiding over the district level function at Hamirpur, Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said under the visionary leadership of chief minister Virbhadra Singh the state had made spectacular progress and said that so far 1,07,887 youth hadbeen benefitted under the Skill Development Scheme.

Efforts are on to give boost to industrial sector and the State Government had reduced the stamp duty and fee on transfer of land use by 50 per cent to attract entrepreneurs.

Excise and Taxation Minister Prakash Chaudhary was chief guest at Una while Social Welfare and Empowerment minister Dhani ram Shandil presided over the function at Kalpa in Kinnaur, Ayurveda Minister Karan Singh at Mandi and Rural development minister Anil Sharma at Kullu.

The governor Acharya Devvrat hosted 'At home' at Raj Bhawan on the occasion of Republic Day.
President Hassan Rouhani today described Iran as the safest and most stable country in the Middle East as he urged international investors to help modernise the country's sanctions-hit economy.

On the second day of a landmark visit to Europe, the Iranian leader also pitched the Islamic Republic's potential for companies seeking a base in a region of 300 million people and vowed the government would never interfere in private business deals.

"Iran is the safest, the most stable country in the entire region," Rouhani told an audience of Italian and Iranian business executives on his first overseas trip since the lifting of sanctions linked to Tehran's nuclear programme.

"Everyone understood that the nuclear negotiations represented a win-win situation for both sides," Rouhani said.

"Now we have created the conditions for investment and for the transfer of know-how. There has to be an advantage for both sides: we invite you to invest and we will provide stability and ensure that you can make adequate returns."



Rouhani emphasised that all sections of Iran's often- divided political class were firmly behind the post-sanctions drive to secure the trade and investment needed to create new roads, rail links, airports and other infrastructure.

The vision was to transform Iran into a hub for intra- regional economic development, linking the Middle East to South Asia and even the Western fringes of China.

"Do not regard us as just one country but as a country at the centre of a much larger market," Rouhani said, citing the example of the port of Chabahar on Iran's southern coast.

Iran is seeking international investment to help complete a port which will provide a gateway for Indian companies seeking to do business in Afghanistan and Central Asia, as well as in Iran.

He vowed Tehran would do nothing to jeopordise its stability and said economic growth could help beat terrorism in the region.

"We have no intention of attacking or invading any other country. We have no intention of interfering in the affairs of any other country.

"A lack of development creates the conditions for extremism, unemployment recruits soldiers for terrorism," he argued.

Italy was Iran's largest European trade partner before the impact of sanctions shrunk annual exchanges from over seven billion euros (USD 7.58 billion) to 1.6 billion last year.

Italian companies are now scrambling to get back into the country.
Looking to exit the stalled 4,000 MW Krishnapatnam power project, Reliance Power has written to Andhra Pradesh government suggesting that it could be done on similar lines to that of Tilaiya UMPP, which was acquired by procurers from the company.

The Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Power has said the Krishnapatnam UMPP, which was awarded to it in 2007, could not be taken forward due to escalated coal cost from Indonesia, among other factors.

The Krishnapatnam Ultra Mega Power Project (KUMMP) is located in Andhra Pradesh while Tilaiya plant was in Jharkhand.

Reliance Power has informed the Andhra Pradesh government the procurers of Tilaiya UMPP -- which was stalled for over five years -- have accepted the termination of power purchase agreement and decided to purchase the entire shareholding in the project Special Purpose Vehicle from the company by way of mutual discussion with the developers.

"We are fully confident that the issues pertaining to KUMPP can also be resolved in the same spirit by following similar principle by parties," CEO of Reliance Power N Venugopala Rao said in a letter to the Andhra Pradesh government last month.

An email query to a spokesperson of Reliance Power did not elicit any response.

"We are fully confident that the issues pertaining to KUMPP can also be resolved in the same spirit by following similar principle by parties," CEO of Reliance Power N Venugopala Rao wrote to the state government last month.

"We, therefore, request you to kindly consider similar resolution for KUMPP by purchasing the ownership of the project SPV with its assets including land from the present owners on mutually acceptable terms and return the Performance Bank Guarantees furnished by us," Rao said in the letter.

Andhra Pradesh Energy Secretary Ajay Jain told PTI that they are in talks with other state governments and would shortly call for a meeting to discuss the issue.

"A similar formula (applied by the Jharkhand government in respect to 3,960 megawatt Tilaiya ultra mega power project) has to be applied because five states are involved now. Shortly, we will call a meeting of all the procurers as this company is not going to take up the project," Jain told PTI.

"The land is still with them. That is the whole idea where we can take over the project and implement it. (If everything goes well) we will call tenders," he said.

According to him, if the central government allots domestic coal, then the project can become viable.

Coastal Andhra Power Limited (CAPL), a Reliance Power Limited subsidiary, was awarded the Krishnapatnam UMPP in 2007 and the power produced by the project was to be shared by four states -- Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Later, Telangana was added as it was carved out of AP in June 2014.

Southern Power Distribution Company Limited, an Andhra



Pradesh government power utility, on behalf of power procurers of rest of the states had in 2012, issued a notice to CAPL that it would encash the bank guarantee of Rs 300 crore as penalty besides terminating the contract as the project work has been stopped for over three months.

Citing high coal prices from Indonesia among others, CAPL had stopped the work at Krishnapatnam UMPP. The tariff for the project was fixed at Rs 2.33 per unit.

Jain said that as per the stay orders of Delhi High Court, the power utility could not encash the bank guarantee given by the Reliance company.

Reliance Power said the company was writing this letter without prejudice to any CAPL's rights and contentions against the procurers including a petition pending before the Delhi High Court and other arbitrations before Indian Council of Arbitration.

The company had given the termination notice in April last year for terminating the contract for the Tilaiya UMPP in Jharkhand.

Principal Secretary, Department of Energy, Jharkhand, S K G Rahate had said that 18 procurers in 10 states decided to accept the termination notice given by Reliance Power which was implementing the project.
WASHINGTON  In the spring of 2014, as a team of experts was examining what ailed the U.S. nuclear force, the Air Force withheld from them the fact that it was simultaneously investigating damage to a nuclear-armed missile in its launch silo caused by three airmen.

The Air Force on Friday gave The Associated Press the first substantive description of the accident after being questioned about it by the AP for more than a year.

The accident happened May 17, 2014, at an underground launch silo containing a Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM. The silo, designated Juliet-07, is situated among wheat fields and wind turbines about 9 miles west of Peetz, Colorado. It is controlled by launch officers of the 320th Missile Squadron and administered by the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base at Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The Air Force said that while three airmen were troubleshooting the missile, a "mishap" occurred, causing $1.8 million in damage to the missile. The service declined to explain the nature of the mishap, such as whether it caused physical damage, saying the information is too sensitive to be made public.

The three airmen were immediately stripped of their certification to perform nuclear weapons duty. The missile was taken offline and removed from its silo. No one was injured and the Air Force said the accident posed no risk to public safety.

More than a year later the three airmen were recertified and returned to duty.

At the time of the accident, a group of nuclear weapons experts was nearing the end of a three-month independent review of the entire U.S. nuclear force, an examination prompted in part by a series of AP stories on troubles within the force. The experts were operating on orders from then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who asked them to begin their review in March. They reported their results to him June 2.

The AP asked Lt. Col. John Sheets, spokesman for the Air Force Global Strike Command, which is responsible for the ICBM force, whether the May 17 accident had been reported to the Hagel-appointed review group. The experts were looking at a range of issues, including shortcomings in training, equipment, morale and leadership.

"No. The accident was going through the investigative process when" the review teams made their visits to ICBM bases, Sheets said. Pressed further, he said he could say no more and referred questions about this to the Pentagon, which did not immediately comment.

The Accident Investigation Board did not begin its work until Aug. 25, more than three months after the mishap. A safety investigation was begun sometime earlier. The Air Force denied an AP request for the accident investigation report in 2015 under the Freedom of Information Act.

Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said Saturday the fact that the Hagel review group was not told about the accident "raises questions about what other accidents and incidents may have been overlooked by that investigation."

On Friday evening, the AP was given a brief summary of the report. It said the Minuteman 3 missile "became nonoperational" 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 disclosed.

The investigation report summary said there were four contributing factors to the accident, and two were identified. 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.

Sheets said it is possible that some or all of the three could still face disciplinary action.

The summary said the central cause of the mishap was established by "clear and convincing evidence," but the Air Force would not disclose the cause or the evidence. It said the cause is cited in the investigation report. The Air Force refused to make that public, saying the report is classified, even though the service's own policy requires the public release of accident board reports.

The amount of damage to the missile  $1.8 million, according to the Air Force  suggests that the airmen's errors might have caused physical damage, Kristensen said. If so, he said, it could have been categorized by the Air Force as a "Bent Spear" event, which is an official reporting code word for a significant nuclear weapon incident. The Air Force refused to reveal how it categorized the Juliet-07 accident.

"By keeping the details of the accident secret and providing only vague responses, the Air Force behaves as if it has something to hide and undermines public confidence in the safety of the ICBM mission," Kristensen said.

Sheets, the Global Strike Command spokesman, said Pentagon leaders were briefed on the results of the accident investigation in December. Members of Congress also were briefed, he said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today backed a claim by a German-Russian teenage girl that she was kidnapped and raped by foreigners in Berlin, after German police rejected her account.

"We are now working with her lawyer. He is working with her family, with our embassy," Lavrov said at his annual press conference.

"It is clear that the girl - absolutely for sure not voluntarily - disappeared for 30 hours," Lavrov added.

Berlin police last week rejected a claim by a 13-year-old German-Russian teenager that she had been kidnapped and raped by foreigners. The girl had gone missing in Berlin, reportedly on her way to school, on January 11.

She subsequently returned and filed a police report, with her parents telling investigators she was kidnapped by three men at a railway station in eastern Berlin.

The girl described the men as coming from "southern countries and speaking broken German", saying they drove her to an apartment where they raped and beat her, according to German media reports.

The case has sparked outrage and allegations on far-right and Russian media of an official cover-up.

The case has prompted parallels with German police's initial silence over a spate of sex assaults on New Year's in Cologne that women said were carried out mainly by Arab and North African men.

Germany took in nearly 1.1 million asylum seekers last year, mainly from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, and pressure has been mounting on Chancellor Angela Merkel over her welcoming stance toward refugees fleeing war.

Lavrov said he regretted the of Liza's disappearance had "been hidden for a very long time for some reason."



Russian state media outlets have also rejected the German police findings, calling them an attempt to cover up the crime. Pro-Kremlin NTV channel went as far as to claim that "in Germany and in Sweden, residents are regularly raped by refugees.

"There are several cases of sexual assault but the local authorities and police hide these facts and do not open criminal investigations," it said.
Russia's foreign minister has rejected the conclusion by a British judge that former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko had been poisoned by two men acting at the behest of Russia's spy agency as a "show" lacking substance.

Minister Sergey Lavrov said today that Judge Robert Owen's conclusion was based on testimony of hand-picked witnesses who he said lacked objectivity and classified testimony. Lavrov added British officials' statements on the issue could be viewed as slander.

Owen said he was certain two Russians with links to the security services had given Litvinenko tea containing a fatal dose of radioactive polonium-210 at a London hotel in 2006. He said there was a "strong probability" the poisoning came under the direction of Russia's FSB spy agency and President Vladimir Putin probably approved it.
The Saudi royal family provided a USD 681 million "donation" that has engulfed Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in scandal, his attorney general said today in a statement clearing the premier of graft allegations.

Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali said a review of evidence compiled by the country's anti-graft agency showed that the money was a "personal donation from the Saudi royal family", but gave no further details.

Najib has for months fended off accusations that the huge payment made into his personal bank accounts in 2013 was siphoned off from a now-struggling state-owned company that he had launched.

But until now, the source of the money has not been specified, other than claims by Najib's government that it came from unnamed Middle East donors.

"I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly," Apandi said in a statement after a review of evidence gathered by Malaysia's anti-corruption agency.

"Evidence obtained from the investigation does not show that the donation was given as an inducement or reward for doing, or forbearing to do, anything in relation to his capacity as Prime Minister."



The past fund transfers were revealed last July just as Najib was battling separate allegations that hundreds of millions of dollars were missing from deals involving the state company, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Najib and 1MDB have strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

But the political opposition and even critics within Najib's ruling party have called for a wide-ranging and independent investigation, accusing the prime minister of sabotaging official probes.

Shortly after the fund movements were revealed, Najib provoked fierce criticism by sacking Malaysia's previous attorney general -- who was investigating the matter -- and installing Apandi, who has ties to the ruling party.
The second phase of T-Hub, the start-up incubator set up here in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode by Telangana government, would be launched with an investment of Rs 150 crore by the end of this year, Governor ESL Narasimhan said today.

"My Government launched the first phase of T-Hub, the largest start-up incubator in the country located at Gachibowli with a built up area of 70,000 sq feet.

"The second phase of T-Hub with an investment of Rs 150 crore and built up area of 3 lakh sq feet is scheduled for roll out by end of this year," he said in his Republic Day address.

T Hub is a PPP between the state government and premier academic institutes such as IIIT-Hyderabad and International School of Business.

The state has notched up exports of Rs 68,258 crore in the IT sector with as many as 1,300 IT firms, including 500 global companies, having their operations, he added.

The government attracted industrial investments of over Rs 25,000 crore after launching its industrial policy named TS-iPASS (Telangana State Industrial Project Approval and Self-certification System).

The government has accorded permission for setting up 1,013 units with an employment potential of over 75,000 skilled and unskilled labour, the Governor said.

Noting that Hyderabad accounts for approximately 20 per cent of India's total pharma exports, he said the state government plans to set up a new 'Pharma City' in PPP mode.

"In the last 19 months, my government has successfully identified and prioritised the needs of people and its economy and has launched several flagship programmes like the 'Mission Kakatiya', 'Mission Bhagiratha', 'Double bed room housing for poor' to usher in an era of unparallelled welfare and development in the state,"Narasimhan said.

Law and order has been effectively maintained with no major incidents affecting peace, he said.

The Governor unfurled the National Flag and reviewed the Parade earlier. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and other leaders were present.

The Republic Day was celebrated in the offices of different political parties. Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu hoisted the National Flag in the BJP office here.
Self-taught artist Thornton Dial, who transformed discarded junk into sculpture and painted in bright colors and bold lines, has died at his home in Alabama.

He was 87.

Maria May, of the African-American art-preservation group the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, said Dial's family passed along the information that the artist died yesterday near Birmingham.

Born in 1928 to sharecroppers in rural west Alabama near the Mississippi line, Dial made things from materials he found for years. His work frequently dealt with history, politics and race relations.

After working for decades in a boxcar factory, Dial came to wide attention in the art world in 1987 when he met Atlanta collector Bill Arnett through another self-taught artist who lived in Birmingham, Lonnie Holley. Arnett said Dial began pulling works out of an old poultry house the first time he visited the artist.

"I knew I was witnessing something great coming out of that turkey coop," Arnett, who began the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, said in a statement. "I didn't know at the time that it wasn't simply the sculpture that was special. The man who had created it was a great man, and he would go on to become recognized as one of America's greatest artists. I can't think of any important artist who has started with less or accomplished more."



Dial's works are in collections including the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington and the High Museum in Atlanta. His drawings and painting are typically priced in the thousands of dollars in online art markets.
Senegal's spokesman for the Ministry of Justice says that police questioned about 900 people over a couple of days as part of a heightened security operation after attacks by jihadis in Burkina Faso and Mali.

Soro Diop said today that the operation by police in both the Dakar and Thies regions starting Friday resulted in arrests of about 520 people for offenses ranging from holding drugs or counterfeit currency to not having proper documentation for vehicles.

Diop said police took the measures in response to the growing threat of extremism in the region. He said Senegal has taken increased security measures since the attack on a hotel in Bamako, Mali last year that killed 20 people.

Despite Senegal's reputation as a peaceful country, Diop warned that residents must stay vigilant.
A B.Tech student and her brother were today booked for allegedly assaulting a traffic police home guard at Nagaram area here after he clicked their photo of driving their two-wheeler down a one-way lane, police said.

The girl, identified as Harshita, and her brother Sai Kishore engaged in argument with the traffic home guard Venkatesh Yadav after he clicked them driving the two-wheeler on a wrong direction (one-way), Keesara police station inspector P Guruva Reddy told PTI.

"The girl and her brother argued with the traffic cop and allegedly assaulted him," the inspector said, adding that the duo were not arrested.

They are booked under section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of IPC, Reddy said, adding that notices will be issued against them.
A turbaned Sikh, who was forced out of Donald Trump's election rally after he protested the Republican presidential frontrunner's anti-Muslim speeches with a 'Stop Hate' banner, has said that he plans to take his peacful protests to other rallies of the real-estate tycoon.

Arish Singh, a former editor of a local newspaper 'Little Village' and a comedian, was thrown out of a Trump rally in Iowa on Sunday after he interrupted Trump's signature anti-Muslim speech by displaying the banner.

"I am a not a Muslim. But you don't have to be a Muslim to stand against anti-Muslim bigotry," Singh, a resident of Chicago, tweeted yesterday afternoon.

"I did interrupt him. I did say, 'why do you give shelter to white supremacists. Why do we have white supremacists robocalling in Iowa?' I did say that as we dropped the banner," Singh told the publication in an interview.

Singh said that he decided to interrupt the speech due to a series of remarks by Trump - such as his suggestion that the US ban all Muslim immigrants - which have coincided with a rise in incidents of xenophobia and bigotry against Sikhs and Muslim Americans.

While Trump has not attacked Sikhs directly, Singh pointed to a series of hate-crimes perpetuated against Muslim Americans over the past months.

It is part of the Sikh tradition to stand up to injustice, regardless of where it might manifest, he said, adding that he plans on protesting during Trump's rally in Iowa City.

When Singh saw that white supremacists began robo-calling in Iowa in support of Trump, he said that was the "last straw," Little Village reported.

"I don't really care about Trump himself or his political party, but this sort of movement that he's emboldened - this sort of fascistic element that genuinely identifies with fascism, that's willing to commit hate-crimes - that's something that's real that needs to be confronted, and you can't just let that go without comment, and I think that's kind of how it's been treated," Singh said.

Singh said he was not sure, if Trump in his comment in hat was trying to make any kind of slur against him.

"Whether he was trying to make any kind of slur against me is kind of irrelevant. It's clear what his politics are as far as ostracizing and scapegoating people for their background. I think he's left no real mystery there," Singh said.

"I believe we're banned from the premises for a year," Singh said.
Actress Sofia Vergara has filed a USD 15 million lawsuit against a beauty company for using her image without permission.

The 43-year-old "Modern Family" star claimed that the Venus Concept used her name and likeness without her permission to promote its products through multiple advertising materials, reported US magazine.

The lawsuit stated, "Vergara tried the Legacy treatment, but ultimately did not like it, finding that it was a waste of time and money with little in the way of any results."



It also stated that "(Vergara) would not use it again, and certainly would not endorse it nor agree to appear in an international advertisement campaign to promote it," and she didn't "recommend the Venus Legacy product or services."



The Colombian actress was first linked to Venus Concept ahead of the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards in August 2014.

She has been battling with the company for more than a year now.
Extending greetings to countrymen on the 67th Republic Day, Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed the hope that democracy, equality and justice will prevail and perpetuate.

Sonia said she expresses her "solidarity with over a billion fellow Indians who live the idea of India in their heart and soul against all odds".

"Congress President Sonia Gandhi has extended her greetings on the occasion of Republic Day. Recalling the founding principles of our Republic, Gandhi hoped that sovereignty, democracy, equality and justice will always prevail and perpetuate," an AICC statement said.

Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Amit Shah were seen seated in the front row two seats apart at the Republic Day celebrations on the majestic Rajpath.

In his brief message, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said on twitter, "Greetings to everyone on Republic Day.

(Reopens DEL3)



Meanwhile greeting the people on the occasion of Republic Day, Congress Vice President Rahul said it is a day to reaffirm and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution.

"Happy #RepublicDay. A day to reflect,reaffirm & celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution, (sic)" said Rahul in a tweet.
A number of South Asian groups held a candle-lit vigil outside the Indian High Commission here to protest the death of a dalit scholar in Hyderabad University and express solidarity with the students' hunger-strike there.

The protesters, representing groups like South Asia Solidarity Group, CasteWatchUK and Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations, among others, handed over a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the vigil yesterday calling for the dismissal of members of his cabinet.

"We are deeply disturbed and saddened to hear of the death of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula in the University of Hyderabad," the letter said.

The protesters demanded dismissal of HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya. They also demanded resignation of University Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile over what they described as his "casteist action".

"Take urgent and effective measures to end the institutional discrimination against Dalits in Indian institutions of higher education," the letter said.

The other groups involved in the protest include the Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance, Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Southall, Shri Guru Ravidas Global Human Rights Organisation UK, Voice of Dalits International, Cambridge South Asia Watch and King's College London Feminist Society.

The dalit student Vemula, who committed suicide, was among the five research scholars who were suspended by Hyderabad Central University in August last year and also one of the accused in the case of assault on a student leader.

The 'Justice for Rohith Vemula' campaign in India has brought together a number of universities to draw up an action plan.
Spanish police said today some 10 people had been detained in the eastern region of Valencia in a fresh corruption case that also allegedly involves a former high-profile member of the incumbent Popular Party (PP).

This is the latest in a long list of scandals to have hit Spain's long-established PP as well as its rival Socialists, angering Spaniards and contributing to the rise of upstart groupings Podemos and Ciudadanos which came third and fourth in December elections.

A source at the Guardia Civil police force, who refused to be named, told AFP the detentions were part of "a probe into an alleged corruption network involving different public administrations in Valencia," revolving around "getting commissions in exchange for public work (contracts)."



The source said 10 people had been detained so far, including the former PP president of the region, Alfonso Rus.

The PP has been in the line of fire as scandal after scandal has embroiled the party.

Just Friday, Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria announced the resignation of one of her main associates tainted by a corruption scandal at a state-run water company he once oversaw.

The corruption issue cost incumbent Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy a lot of votes in December's general elections as Spaniards grow ever-more exasperated, as it did the Socialists who have also been hit hard by graft cases.
Spanish police said today that 24 people had been detained in the eastern Valencia region in a fresh corruption case that allegedly involves a former high-profile member of the ruling Popular Party (PP).

It was the latest in a long list of scandals linked to Spain's long-established PP as well as the rival Socialists, angering Spaniards and contributing to the rise of upstart parties such as Podemos and Ciudadanos which came third and fourth in December elections.

A source at the Guardia Civil police, who refused to be named, told AFP the detentions were part of "a probe into an alleged corruption network" involving different public administrations in Valencia which involved "getting commissions in exchange for public work" contracts.

The source said 24 people had been detained so far, including the former PP regional president Alfonso Rus.

The party has come under increasingly pressure following a string of scandals.

On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria announced the resignation of one of her main associates in connection with a corruption scandal at a state-run water company he once oversaw.

Corruption cost Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy many votes in December's elections along with Socialists who have also been hit hard by graft cases.
A Sri Lankan court today remanded the chief of a Buddhist extremist organisation to custody until February 9 for threatening people, public officials and misbehaving in an open court.

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) chief Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera surrendered to the Homagama police this morning after an arrest warrant was issued against him by the court yesterday.

The BBS has been blamed for creating communal disharmony targeting the minority Muslim community. The group had led an anti-Muslim campaign since 2012.

The Homagama magistrate's court ordered his remand custody until February 9 for threatening an individual and public officials and misbehaving in the open court.

The monk had threatened the wife of missing journalist Pradeep Eknaligoda during the court proceedings yesterday. He had made an inflammatory address to the magistrate also.

The BBS campaign was also seen as a reason for the defeat of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as minorities favoured his rival Maithripala Sirisena in the presidential election last year.
Backing the campaign by women activists to break gender bias and enter the sacred sanctum of a Shani temple, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today said the movement is justified as there is no scriptural sanction for discriminating against female devotees.

The campaign by Bhumata Brigade, whose plan to offer prayers at the sacred platform in Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district, about 250km from here, was foiled today, also got support from various activists and rights groups from across the country.

"Women are justified (in seeking to enter the sacred sanctum of the temple) as there was no sanction to gender discrimination in our scriptures.

"If men can enter, women too can...Different temples follow different rules, but if men can enter a place, (of worship) women can also do so. There is no scriptural sanction for any gender discrimination," he said.

"Many people are not even aware of such a thing so we need to educate our people that women and men have equal rights. A few years back women were not allowed to chant 'Gayatri mantra' but today women are learning Vedas (scriptures) and becoming priests in Pune," Sri Sri said.

"Awareness (on gender equality) has to be created, scriptures have to be understood properly. It is the work of religious and spiritual leaders to make people understand. Though they may be following some traditions, it has no scriptural injunction," he said.

"In some ways this is good that people are taking a stand, in another way we need to bridge the gap. It should not become just an ego issue and people hold on to their stands."



The founder of Art of Living, an educational and humanitarian movement, said religious leaders should intervene in such issues.

"This can be resolved without much friction if the religious people take a pro-active role... I am with them (the women). They want to claim their right to worship.

"The other side is, they fear if they do something which has not been done for centuries, may be some bad thing will happen. This sort of psychological fear or concern needs to be addressed.

"Shani bhagwan won't be angry at you for allowing women. Shani bhagwan will be very happy for women coming inside and offering prayers," said the popular religious guru, who has been this year chosen for Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian award.

I Women and human rights activists and leaders also backed



the campaign and said preventing female devotees from entering temples was no way justified in modern era.

Former Chairperson of Maharashtra State Women Commission Susie Ben Shah said "God is equal to all and right to worship is also equal to all. Why should there be gender bias in praying to God? All should be allowed in the temple."



Former bureaucrat and advocate Abha Singh said there were enough statutory provisions that give woman equal rights everywhere.

"When the Constitution provides for equality before law, how can women be banned from entering Shani Shingnapur Temple? Outdated practices need to be shunned. If women are agitating for entering the temple, they are within their fundamental rights to do so," she said.

"However, it (the campaign) should not lead to law and order problem. Government must take steps to maintain peace," she said, adding if CrPC Section 144 has been imposed (around the temple to ban assembly of people) then it should not be violated.

Mumbai BJP spokesperson Shaina NC expressed the hope Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would intervene to end the protest.

"I am very much confident that our Chief Minister would intervene in the matter and facilitate dialogue between agitating women and temple authorities. But nobody should take law into their hands," she said.

Shaina said the protesters should understand that the State administration has to to ensure there is no violence while dealing with such emotional issues.
A person with a Bangladeshi passport has been arrested from the city for taking snaps of a Defence medical facility, the police today said.

Mohammed Noor Islam, who was working as a wage labourer at the Command Hospital within the Alipore Police Station limits for the last one week, was detained by Command Hospital authorities after he started taking snaps of the medical facility using his mobile phone while coming out after finishing his work last night around 10 PM, they said.

Personnel from Alipore Police Station were called and Islam was arrested after his reasons for taking the photos of the Hospital were found "unsatisfactory", an officer of Alipore Police Station said.

Noor's mobile has been seized and sent for forensic test and Kolkata Police Special Task Force (STF) has started a probe into the matter.

"We are looking to the fact that whether he has got any links with any terror group. We are also asking him why he was taking photos of the hospital," an officer of the STF said.
Intending to contest the civic body polls next year, Swaraj Abhiyan, the group formed by expelled AAP leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, today said it has opened 100 offices in the national capital.

The development assumes significance as the group has plans to launch a political party.

If the group does join the fray, it will be directly pitted against AAP in the elections with the Arvind Kejriwal- led party expected to go all out to wrest the MCDs from BJP.

The Abhiyan -- which is made up mostly of former AAP volunteers -- aims to establish "rapport with people, build its cadre base and solve people's problems", said a leader of the group.

The Abhiyan has also indicated it would contest the Punjab polls scheduled to be held next year.

The Abhiyan leader said that the group has opened offices in 100 municipal wards in the national capital with Yadav inaugurating an office in ward No.145 of Palam this morning.

In Punjab, the group has backed Bhai Baldeep Singh, who is contesting a bypoll next month as an independent candidate from Khadoor Sahib.
Sweden is holding a Turkish cargo ship in a southwestern dock, port authorities said today, amid reports that it was carrying explosives and was bound for the Middle East.

The Panamanian-flagged Whiskey Trio, belonging to a Turkish company called Trio Shipping, has remained at the Varberg port in Halland county since Friday.

Thomas Astrom, a senior official at the Swedish Transport Agency told AFP, "we are prohibiting them from leaving port, mainly for safety reasons, but also because of the working conditions for the crew."



The alert was raised by a seafarers' union after a Whiskey Trio crew member told it that he was not given permission to see a doctor despite being ill.

The Transportarbetareforbundet union on its website decried "a rusty ship with poverty wages," which it said was "laden with rockets and explosives ."



The transport authority, questioned by AFP, did not reveal the nature of the ship's cargo which was scheduled to leave for the Netherlands.

The authorities did though speak of multiple breaches of safety rules, notably in the areas of fire safety and safety and rescue equipment.

The poor living conditions were also cited, including dirty and dilapidated cabins, outdated food and insufficient water points.

The Aftonbladet daily, without citing sources, said the ship was carrying explosives ultimately bound "for the Middle East.
Syrian pro-government forces captured a strategic southern rebel town close to the Jordanian border after weeks of fighting, a monitor said today.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime troops and allied militia including fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iranian officers "seized control of Sheikh Miskeen" with the help of Russian and Syrian government air strikes.

The town, in Daraa province, lies on a vital crossroads between Damascus to the north and the government-controlled city of Sweida to the east.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today insisted that UN-backed Syria talks planned to start later this week will not be successful if Kurdish representatives are not invited.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura was due to send out invites today to opposition groups to attend the talks after negotiations were delayed several days to Friday due to a "stalemate" over the makeup of the delegations.

Lavrov said that one of the powers backing the Syria talks -- most likely meaning Turkey -- was objecting to the participation of the Kurds and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in particular.

"Without this party, without this participant the talks cannot achieve the results that we want, a definitive political resolution in Syria," Lavrov told journalists at his main annual press conference.

Lavrov said, however, that Russia would not "veto" the talks if the Kurds were not invited and that it was up to the UN envoy de Mistura to decide which opposition groups would be asked to attend.

Turkey, which has condemned the PYD, has said that it wants to see some Syrian Kurds "around the table" at the talks.

Turkey considers the PYD to be the Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency in the mainly Kurdish southeast of Turkey since 1984.

Last month, several key opposition bodies, including rebel groups, formed a coalition known as the High Negotiations Committee to participate in the mooted talks.

But the coalition excludes Syria's main Kurdish party the PYD and a range of other opposition figures.

Ties between Russia and Turkey are in tatters over the shooting down last year of one of Moscow's jets by Ankara along its border with Syria.

Russia has been running a bombing campaign in Syria since last September in support of its longstanding ally President Bashar al-Assad, who is fiercely opposed by Turkey.
BUTTE  Leeann Lundgren saved her mothers life and squelched a family house fire before it grew much worse late Saturday.

Sitting in the living room with her mother, Joanne McClafferty, Leeann responded quickly when Joannes lit cigarette and medical oxygen combusted, catching Joanne and her recliner on fire.

I dont usually move that fast, said Leeann, 48, developmentally disabled and normally slowed by myotonic muscular dystrophy. I havent done anything like that in my life.

As soon as the flames ignited, Leeann jumped up, removed her mothers oxygen tube from her lap, threw it on the floor, and turned off the oxygen tank.

Reacting instinctively, she grabbed a pillow to smother the flames on her mothers lap and torso. Then Leanne grabbed a nearby bottle of water to douse other flames.

I was too slow to walk to the kitchen, Leanne recounted on Monday. It was automatic for me to reach and pour the water.

She also had the presence of mind to sit her mother upright again in the chair, then push the Lifeline medical alert bracelet on Joannes wrist. It automatically alerted the Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department, ambulance and police, who arrived shortly.

She didnt hesitate  she just did it, said Wendy Hazlett, director services professional at Silver Bow Developmental Disabilities Services. Hazlett takes Leeann shopping and teaches her other life skills.

She takes care of everybody in that household, Hazlett said.

Leeanns younger sister, Jamie, 43, was in her basement bedroom at the time, but not yet asleep. Leeann, too, hadnt retired for the evening.

I was still up, watching TV with mom and my cat, Pluto, added Leeann.

By the time the fire department and other emergency services arrived, the fire was safely out. The ambulance transported Joanne to St. James Healthcare, where she was then flown to the burn center at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Eldest daughter Tara Wood, 49, of Maple Valley, Washington, said her mother suffered third-degree burns mostly to her midsection and back. She spoke from her mothers hospital room on Monday.

As for the doctors prognosis, Tara said: We dont know any of that yet.

Tara does not have the same disease as her sisters and mother.

Joanne was able to speak with her daughters by phone to help alleviate their fears.

My mom called on Sunday and told me, You did wonderful, said Leeann. '''Thank you for being so quick.

Stopping a fire that could have been much worse is only one of Leeanns gifts. She also works at BSW hanging clothes, doing dishes and organizing donated toys. BSW serves people with disabilities and special needs.

She was able to put the fire out and that really did mitigate a potentially serious situation, said Butte-Silver Bow Fire Chief Jeff Miller. The fire was out when our guys got there.

Angie Pratt, the family caregiver, greeted the emergency responders outside upon their arrival. Leeann and Jamie called her before and after the fire incident ahead of her regularly scheduled visit.

Pratt takes care of all three family members, all of whom suffer from myotonic muscular dystrophy, a type of dystrophy that affects muscles and sometimes other organs. The diseases often affects several family members and usually strikes in adulthood.

BSW staff consider Leeann a hero for saving her mothers life.

Cindy Ruffner, BSW consumer services secretary, said the staff conducts emergency drills monthly and does safety training with clients, but not specific to oxygen-smoking hazards.

The fire burned the recliner and part of Joannes blanket, as well.

Its just a miracle that the fire didnt go up the wall, said Hazlett. I think of how much worse it could have been. Everything happens for a reason.

Chief Miller, relieved the fire did not burst out of control, stresses that smokers not light up inside a house where an oxygen tank is present:

I know its hard, said Miller. Its common sense, but I want to reiterate: If you have oxygen in the home, nobody should smoke. Every year we have somebody whos injured and its usually the patient. Its just so dangerous.

Leeann was treated royally at BSW on Monday for her quick-thinking heroics that ultimately saved her mother, her sister, herself and her beloved pet.

"We made a big deal out of it  ," Ruffner said. "Then Leeann started to cry when it hit her. She herself doesn't move very fast due to her dystrophy."

We usually work on math skills, but todays a special day, added Hazlett, leading Leeann down the BSW hallway. Were going to McDonalds for lunch.
Three foreign nationals have been detained, one of them a Syrian in connection with a letter threatening to harm Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as security was stepped up at vital establishments and crowded places in Goa.

A Syrian national, whose identity was not disclosed, was detained last night and he is being questioned, Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg told reporters today when asked about progress in the threat letter case.

The letter, received at the State Secretariat on January 13, had "ISIS" written on it and threatened to harm Modi and also Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Sympathisers of the terror outfit are suspected to be involved in radicalising youth in India.

"His(Syrian national) visa has expired and he has been overstaying," Garg added.

Two more foreigners - from Yemen and Nigeria - were taken into custody from a casino last night and are being interrogated separately, said another police official, adding they were staying in the State after expiry of their visas.

Meanwhile, vigil at key establishments and crowded places has been stepped up in Goa, which saw additional rush of domestic tourists over the weekend due to Republic Day holiday.

"The Government is concerned about security of citizens and is taking all measures required," Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters on the margins of an event here.

"Superintendents of Police of both districts (South and North Goa) have reviewed security around vital establishments under their jurisdiction. Gun-wielding policemen have been posted at at these places," another officer said.

Police have increased surveillance at the beaches, churches, temples and other popular tourist spots, he said.

Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) Bosco George said security of VIPs has also been revamped.

"We requested Parrikar to accept 'Z' plus security cover while in Goa and he has agreed. Parrikar was moving around without 'Z' plus security cover in Goa (his home state) during his visits," George said.

Police have also intensified night patrolling, he said.
A rogue policeman drugged and then shot dead 10 of his colleagues in southern Afghanistan today, officials said, the second insider attack on police in just over a week.

The Taliban infiltrator then stole their weapons and fled the police outpost in the Chinarto district of volatile Uruzgan province, authorities said.

"Our investigation shows that this policeman collaborated with the Taliban, drugged his colleagues and killed them when they were unconscious," Dost Mohammad Nayab, the spokesman for Uruzgan's governor, told AFP.

Deputy provincial police chief Rahimullah Khan confirmed the account and said an operation had been launched to track down the killer.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, giving a different account, said nine policemen were killed after the militants captured the police outpost in Chinarto.

So-called insider attacks -- when Afghan soldiers or police turn their guns on their colleagues or international troops -- have been a major problem during NATO's long years fighting alongside Afghan forces.

On January 17 nine Afghan policemen were shot dead in Uruzgan by four rogue colleagues said to be Taliban infiltrators.
Australian authorities have charged a teenager with collecting documents on ways to stage terrorist acts, officials said today, reportedly including advice on carrying out a successful stabbing and making a bomb.

The 18-year-old from the western Sydney suburb of Guildford was arrested late Monday and charged with "three counts of collecting documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts", the New South Wales joint counter-terrorism team said.

The boy allegedly obtained an image of a document in Arabic "which provides instruction on how to carry out a successful stabbing attack, connected with the preparation for a terrorist attack", the Sydney Morning Herald reported, citing police charge sheets.

He also allegedly had an Arabic document that gives information on how to make an improvised explosive device, the newspaper reported.

The images of the documents were allegedly collected by the teenager in December and January, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported, adding that one of them was allegedly published by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

The teenager, who appeared in a Sydney court Tuesday, did not apply for bail and will return to court on February 2. Media named him as Sameh Bayda.

Canberra has been increasingly concerned about home-grown extremism and raised the terror threat alert level to high in September 2014.

Authorities have conducted a series of counter-terrorism raids in various cities, while the government has passed new national security laws.

The government has also cracked down on Australians attempting to travel to conflict zones including Syria and Iraq.

A 17-year-old was last week charged with making threats on social media that led to Sydney's iconic Opera House being evacuated in a security scare.

In December five people including a 15-year-old boy were charged in Sydney over a terror plot targeting a government building.

And in October a civilian police employee was shot dead by a boy, also 15, outside police headquarters in western Sydney. The teenager was killed in an exchange of gunfire with officers.
Researchers led by an Indian- origin scientist have successfully identified 10 new genes associated with lupus - a debilitating chronic autoimmune disease where the body's immune system becomes unbalanced and attacks its own tissues.

They analysed more than 17,000 human DNA samples collected from blood gathered from volunteers in four countries - South Korea, China, Malaysia and Japan.

Of those samples, nearly 4,500 had confirmed cases of lupus, while the rest served as healthy controls for the research.

From the analysis, researchers identified 10 distinct DNA sequence variants linked to lupus.

It can result in damage to many different body systems, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart and lungs.

"We know lupus has a strong genetic basis, but in order to better treat the disease we have to identify those genes," said Swapan Nath from Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) in US, who led the study.

One gene in particular, known as GTF2I, showed a high likelihood of being involved in the development of lupus, researchers said.

"Its genetic effect appears to be higher than previously known lupus genes discovered from Asians, and we surmise that it now may be the predominant gene involved in lupus," Nath said.

"These findings mark a significant advance in our knowledge base for lupus genes," said Judith James from OMRF.

"For every gene we identify, it brings us closer to uncovering the trigger for this puzzling disease," James said.

Understanding where and how the defects arise will allow scientists to develop more effective therapies specifically targeting those genes, researchers said.

The findings were published in the journal Nature Genetics.
Thai health authorities today said they had placed 33 people in quarantine after an Omani national seeking medical help in the kingdom tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

The unnamed man, 71, arrived in Thailand Friday with a fever that doctors in Oman could not treat, Thai officials said.

His positive testing for the contagious disease, which killed more than 30 people in South Korea last year after an outbreak, sparked a scramble to locate anyone who might have been in contact with the man.

"There are 33 people under observation," the Thai Public Health Ministry said in an update Tuesday.

Thai authorities said there were at least 40 people who came into contact with the man who were deemed to be at high risk including 22 passengers on his flight, two taxi drivers, four hotel staff, 11 hospital staff and one relative.

MERS, which first appeared in Saudi Arabia in 2012, is considered a deadlier but less infectious cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed hundreds of people when it emerged in Asia more than a decade ago.

South Korea only recently announced an end to an outbreak of MERS which infected 186 people, killing 36 and forcing the quarantine of more than 17,000 people.

Thailand is a major regional tourist hub and many people also fly there to seek medical treatment.

It is particularly popular among wealthy Middle Eastern patients with many of the top Bangkok hospitals providing Arabic language services.

Analysts say the country's status as a medical tourism hub leaves it potentially vulnerable.

But Thai health authorities have previously moved swiftly to contain earlier outbreaks.

Last year an Omani man also tested positive for MERS, leading to the quarantine of more than 170 people. He was successfully treated and went home.

Amnuay Gajeena, director-general of Thailand's Disease Control Department, said the condition of the latest MERS patient was positive.

"His condition is stable today, no fever, but a little cough. He can eat and is able to go to the restroom," he said in a statement.
Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy today appreciated the state government's endeavour to develop the state on par with others and commended the fact that it was the only state in the Northeast where the National Food Security Act was implemented last year.

Addressing the people at the Assam Rifles ground here after unfurling the Tricolour on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day, Roy appealed to the people to work with the objective to make Tripura a developed state.

He said Tripura remained the only state in the north-eastern region where the National Food Security Act was implemented last year and 25.02 lakh people were getting rice at the rate Rs 2 per kg.

Again, it was the only state in the country which could provide jobs for more than 88 days to rural people under MGNREGA for last two years.

The Governor said the rate of literacy of Tripura is the highest in the country which was 96.82 per cent, and that more than eight lakh children were studying in 4,818 schools of the state.

Roy said railway tracks from Dharmanagar to Agartala would be converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge by this March while a new broad gauge line would be laid up to Udaipur in Gomati district, about 55 km from here, by this year end.

Two 'border haats' along the Indo-Bangla international border in Sabroom in South Tripura district and Kamalasagar in Sipahijala district were set up last year and two more 'border haats' would come up in Dhalai and North Tripura district to enhance trade with neighbouring Bangladesh, he said.

Roy said one sophisticated Land Custom Station was inaugurated on January 6 last at Srimantapur in Sipahijala district bordering Comilla district of Bangladesh.

He said Agartala airport would soon be upgraded to an international airport to facilitate better communication. Roy said relations with Bangladesh were improving and a bus service to Kolkata via Bangladesh has started last year.
On the occasion of Republic Day, Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged sweets at various places along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir which was witness to repeated exchanges of gunfire till some months back.

The troops of the two countries exchanged sweets at Kaman Post on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road in Kashmir at Teetwal in Tangdhar sector of Kashmir, defence sources said in Srinagar.

The sweets were also exchanged by the troops at Poonch-Rawalakot crossing point and MendharHot Spring crossing point in Krishna Ghati Sector of Jammu, defence spokesman said.

Exchange of sweets also took place at International Border in R S Pura sector of Jammu district.

Till only some months back, the LoC and IB was witness to repeated exchange of gunfire between the troops of the two countries.
Two Bangladeshi-origin persons holding French passports with refugee status were arrested here today for allegedly overstaying in India, the police said.

The landlord of the house where the duo were staying has also been arrested, they said.

Mahananda Sraman (35) and Mintu Barman (32), the two French nationals, were detained and later on arrested after they went to the Security Control Organisation office in Bhowanipore in the southern part of the city to extend their visa to stay in the city.

"The duo overstayed in the country after their visa expired last December. Today they came to the Security Control Organisation office and after failing to explain their overstay here, they were detained. We got a call from Security Control officials following which they were arrested," an officer of Bhowanipore Police Station told PTI.

While Sraman and Barman have been booked under the Foreigners' Act section 14A (remaining in any area in India for a period exceeding the period for which the visa was issued), their landlord Biswajit Pathak was arrested for defending (canvassing) the duo, the officer said.

Initial probe into the matter showed that both Sraman and Barman were Buddhists by religion and were residents of Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar till 2005, he said.

"In Bangladesh they were tortured, after which they decided to flee to France. They went to France in early 2006 where they managed to stay in hiding. Then they managed French passports with refugee status for themselves. They planned a trip to India and entered the country in September last year and had also visited Bodh Gaya in Bihar," the officer said after a brief interrogation of the two.

"We are looking into their background and running a check on every aspect of their stay here. Going by the recent alerts, we are not taking any chance," he added.
The World Health Organization says it suspects a link between the mosquito-borne Zika virus and a rare birth defect that gives babies abnormally small heads but says so far the evidence is circumstantial.

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier says the "big task" is to try to establish a link between the virus and microcephaly, which involves abnormally small heads in newborns and can affect brain development.

He said the UN agency plans a special session Thursday on the virus during a Geneva meeting of its executive board. He said the virus has been associated with close to 4,000 microcephaly cases in Brazil, and El Salvador, Panama, Colombia and Cape Verde also have "large outbreaks."



Lindmeier told reporters today the "huge increase" of Zika cases "gives a lot of reason for concern.
The UN children's agency is launching a USD 2.8 billion appeal to help children in the midst of humanitarian emergencies across the world this year.

UNICEF director of emergency programs in Geneva Sikander Khan says about one-quarter of that appeal aims to go for education, which the agency considers a "life-saving measure for children" at a time when war has shuttered many schools.

The appeal is part of a broader funding drive by the UN humanitarian agency that targets 76 million people in 63 countries.

The largest single chunk of UNICEF's appeal USD 1.16 billion is targeted for Syria and countries including Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan that have taken in millions of refugees from Syria's war. The appeal hopes to help some 5 million Syrian children inside and outside Syria.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.  When the June 1987 issue of Playboy hit the stands, Carmen Berg's secret was out.

The 23-year-old Bismarck native had not even told her parents the magazine would feature her as its nude centerfold.

"It was so conservative, and there was a lot of backlash from North Dakotans from the beginning," said Berg, now 52.

She was the first and only Playmate of the Month to hail from North Dakota. And she'll remain the state's only contribution to the nude Playmate pantheon, as Playboy current's issue is its last to include photos of naked women.

"At first, when I became a Playmate, you know, people thought negatively and they thought that it's pornography and that I am that type of person," Berg said recently by phone from Beverly Hills, where she lives with her husband.

But after she did some interviews with local media, she said, people started to embrace her.

"It didn't take long, and then I would come back to North Dakota for different autograph sessions," she said.

What followed was a lengthy modeling career, a job working for a plastic surgeon, and her current career: real estate agent.

Through it all, she said, Playboy was a blessing. It helped her win connections, and fellow Playmates and Hugh Hefner have been like family to her. Plus, she's still invited to all the parties.

That's why Berg is saddened by the coming changes at the magazine founded in 1953, a move the magazine hopes will distinguish itself in the age of easy-to-access Internet pornography.

When the March issue is released, the first to show off Playboy's newfound modesty, it's bound to be a downer for Berg. She believes the nudes had artistic and social merit.

"It helped to elevate women to be themselves, whether they wanted to be very sexual, if they wanted to be very conservative; either way, it's fine," she said. "They don't have to be locked into a certain way."

'One of those girls'

It started with a few Polaroids.

Berg, 20 years old and working as a trainer at the Bismarck YMCA, had her boyfriend snap a few pictures of her, then she sent them to Playboy headquarters.

"We would go to people's homes and there would be Playboy," she recalled. "All the guys would always say, 'Look at those girls,' and I'd think, 'I want to be one of those girls.'"

She never told her parents anything about it, even after Playboy called up and told her she would be flown to Chicago for a test shooting.

Three years later, the issue hit the stands, and some of the reaction was negative. Her parents "were very shocked, very shocked," she recalled. But they got over it. "They came around," she said.

It took interviews with the Bismarck Tribune and KYFR to convince people in the area that Berg, a 1981 graduate of Century High School, hadn't "turned into this crazy person," she said.

Berg appeared several more times in the magazine.

Joining the family

Being Playmate of Month has its perks.

Berg said it helped jump-start a modeling career that lasted until she was 29.

"It opened many doors for me, and I see it with my other Playmate sisters," she said. "If they present it in the right way, you're able to meet very affluent people, you're welcomed into different social circles and if you use your head, you can use it and really move forward with your life."

You also get to party at the Playboy Mansion, which may not be hosting parties for much longer because it was recently listed for sale.

Berg lived at the mansion for a time. She said she was "freaked out" in the beginning, but found that she was never pressured to drink or smoke.

"I was very conservative," she said, which was fine because the philosophy at the mansion was that "you don't have to do anything you don't want to."

"They respected me how I wanted to be, and I didn't criticize how others wanted to be," Berg said.

The Playboy family, she said, has been with her through breakups and career changes.

Berg speaks highly of Playboy boss Hugh Hefner, whom she met a few months before her first pictures were published in the magazine. The two clicked over their shared love for animals.

Even Berg's 90-year-old mother likes Heffner.

"She would go up to the mansion and actually her and Hefner are the same age, so over the years they've had little chats here and there," Berg said.

Nudes have merit

Eliminating nude pictures from the Playboy is a mistake, Berg said.

"I believe that the pictures that Playboy creates are very artistic and so completely different than the pornography that you see on the Internet," she said. "To me, it's art."

But more than that, the nude pictures helped women define their own sexuality, she said.

Hefner, Berg said, "has done so much for women and changing the way people think, and I really believe been on the forefront for women to embrace their sexuality and to be open about being sexual, where before, if you look back, it was pretty conservative for women."

Berg ran a fashion photography studio before moving in 1997 to Los Angeles, where she worked for a plastic surgeon.

For the past decade, she's been working as a real estate agent in Beverly Hills, and clients still like to bring up her connection to Playboy.

"Most of the time, they want me to get them into a party," she said.
The supporters of United Students Democratic Front (USDF) were allegedly beaten up RSS cadres near Hedua park while protesting over the death of Rohith Vemula.

The allegation was denied by the state RSS leadership.

According to USDF supporters, as the procession reached near Hedua park, the RSS cadres tried to stop them and after failing to do so, assaulted them.

"When we tried to proceed towards the RSS office, they started abusing us. When we protested, they assaulted us brutally, even women were not spared," a USDF supporter said.

Denying the allegation, the RSS leadership said, "We had come to know through social media that they will be protesting outside our office. We had arranged for sweets and water to serve them. But, after they came near Hedua they started burning sacred threads. It might be some locals who had assaulted them, but we are not involved in this."



According to the police, 17 USDF activists, including five women, were arrested. Later on, a divisional commissioner visited the spot.

Dalit PhD scholar Rohith Vemula was found hanging in a hostel room inside the University of Hyderabad campus earlier this month. His suicide has triggered numerous protests across the country.
Ashes from the Popocatepetl volcano have rained down on the airport of the central Mexican city of Puebla, prompting authorities to temporarily shut down operations.

Four explosions and 39 low-intensity exhalations of ash were recorded between Sunday and yesterday at the 5,452-meter (17,887-foot) volcano, according the National Disaster Prevention Center.

Jesus Morales, director of the Puebla state civil protection department, said yesterday airport operations would be closed for three hours so that workers can remove ash from the runaway.

The shutdown will not affect any flights as none are due to land during that time, he said.
Faced with a growing a jihadist threat, West African nations are scrambling to boost security but are seeing visitor numbers fall as foreign governments warn their nationals about the risks.

"The alert is being taken very seriously," said a Senegalese security source after police carried out a weekend of security operations in a bid to tackle the "terrorist threat".

Some 900 people were detained, mainly for security checks.

The situation is being taken particularly seriously in Dakar's Corniche district, which is home to many hotels, he said.

Hotel security has been stepped up after 30 people were killed earlier this month in a deadly attack on a top Burkina Faso hotel and a nearby restaurant in the capital Ouagadougou.

Senegal is "an island of stability in an ocean of instability," said Bakary Sambe, researcher on religious radicalism at Gaston Berger University, referring to the unrest gripping Mali to the east and Nigeria further south where the Boko Haram jihadists are active.

"It is increasingly a strategic retreat area for western organisations" and occupies a "privileged position" in the region, he said.

That, however, is now making it an attractive target for destructive forces, "a symbolic target, because in attacking Senegal, you hit many interests," he said.

Mohamed Fall Oumere, security expert and director of the Mauritanian newspaper La Tribune, said he expects Islamist attacks to extend westwards to countries such as Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mauritania which have hitherto been largely spared "because of the security noose" around the area.

The jihadists want to send three messages, Oumere says.

One is to France, telling them that their 2013 intervention in Mali "remains unresolved" while another is to France's allies to warn them that "they are still in the firing line," he said.

The third is a message to the Islamic State group, a competing Islamist faction, "which will unfortunately result in much damage and bloodshed," he said.

Northern Mali fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012 but they were largely ousted by a French-led military operation launched in January 2013 although large swathes of the area remain lawless and prone to attacks.
Around 400 women activists, who tried to head for Shani Shinganapur temple in Ahmednagar district defying prohibitory orders to worship the deity, were released by police this evening after detaining them for a few hours.

Ahmednagar police stopped the activists of 'Ranaragini Bhoomata Brigade' protesting against the alleged gender bias by the temple authorities, led by Trupti Desai, at Supa, about 70 km from the temple premises, foiling their bid to offer worship at the sacred platform, traditionally barred for women.

The detained women were lodged in a marriage hall at Supa, where they were held by women police personnel.

"We detained Trupti Desai and other activists. After taking action under the relevant sections of the Bombay Police Act, they were released on bail in the evening," said Additional Superintendent of Police, Ahmednagar district, Pankaj Deshmukh.

"We took utmost precaution to avoid any confrontation between villagers of Shani Shinganapur and the women activists and the latter has been asked to go back to Pune," he added.

The activists were later sent back to Pune in busloads, police said.

Desai condemned the police action prohibiting their march to the temple town saying it was a "black day for women and an insult to the Constitution".

"We are going to meet the Chief Minister and request him that government should take over the temple trust and allow both men and women inside the core area of the temple, ending the gender bias and discrimination," she said after their release.

An activist of the Brigade, Priyanka Jagtap, alleged that the protesters were handled "roughly" by police despite peaceful nature of their demonstration.

Trupti Desai's husband, Prashant Desai, said, "Although we were heading to the temple peacefully, police stopped our buses and restricted us from taking blessings from the Lord Shani."



The temple is dedicated to Lord Shani, the personification of planet Saturn, and women devotees are not permitted at the platform as per the tradition followed by the shrine.
(Reuters) - Apple Inc sold fewer iPhones than expected in the latest quarter, seeing its slowest ever-growth in shipments, as the company began to feel the effects of economic softness in the critical Chinese market.

Apple said on Tuesday it sold 74.8 million iPhones in the three months ended Dec. 26, the first full quarter of sales of iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. The 0.4 percent growth in shipments was the lowest since the product was launched in 2007.

Shares of the stock slipped 1.5 percent in after-hours trading.

STORY:

KEY POINTS:

* The company's first-quarter net profit rose 1.9 percent to $18.36 billion, while sales increased 1.7 percent to $75.87 billion - both records.

COMMENTS:

J.J. KINAHAN, CHIEF STRATEGIST AT TD AMERITRADE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS:

"It's disappointing to see them miss on an already downward adjusted sales number and the fact is that with their iPhone growth slowing what was needed was a product to be excited about. And there just hasn't been a product to be that excited about recently.

"Pressure on the shares will continue without a well defined plan to grow sales or a new product."

OPHIR GOTTLIEB, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CAPITAL MARKET LABORATORIES, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA:

"Apple results were largely in line with expectations given the supply chain warnings. Wall Street is missing the forest for the trees as Apple has built a line of innovation coming that is breathtaking ranging from the seismically disruptive Apple TV, to the enormous promise of Apple Pay.

"Apple's further inroads into India make this company incredibly compelling as an investment, regardless of the today."

MICHAEL JAMES, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF EQUITY TRADING, WEDBUSH SECURITIES, LOS ANGELES:

"Typically they guide conservatively to the following quarter, which they did. The big point in guidance was $51.5 billion; estimates were $55 billion. That might account for some of the selloff.

"I think the direction of the stock tomorrow will be determined by Tim Cook's commentary on the conference call in terms of his tone, color and guidance for China, given China accounts for a quarter of revenues."

ERIC KUBY, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, NORTH STAR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, CHICAGO:

"It seems like they did a reasonably good job of setting expectations correctly. I don't think anybody was thinking that there was going to be a positive surprise, but I don't think there's anything here that's particularly negative. They're going through, as (CEO) Tim Cook said, a turbulent period coming off a fantastic run, so things are slowing down but this is no surprise to anybody. When you think of how close they came in on all of these estimates: they shipped 74.8 million iPhones versus estimates of 75.5 million. That's pretty good optics that people had.

"The company basically is an iPhone company right now. That's where they make all of their money, so there's an enormous amount of attention on those numbers.

"I think these numbers are going over reasonably well. I think this is probably the most followed stock maybe in the history of the world and analysts got this pretty close to right in terms of what the quarter was going to look like.

"They didn't say anything that made it seem like there was anything wrong with the franchise. People wouldn't come away from it and say it's over for them."

BRIAN BLAU, ANALYST, GARTNER, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA:

"While Apple had a relatively good quarter in terms of overall revenue performance, it's clear that weakening demand for iPhone will impact the company in the coming years. That weak demand will set expectations that Apple may not be as profitable or even as popular in the future, and that alone has many worried about what will happen if iPhone can no longer drive the revenue and profits. That said, it's important to note that Apple has a wide variety of products in market and we can assume there are many more planned, in addition to the large resource base they can tap for research and development and expansion efforts."

DAVID MEIER, MOTLEY FOOL FUNDS, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA:

"Even though there was a miss and a guide lower, it seems as though the market was expecting this. The company's slowing growth in iPhones is certainly enough to give you pause, however, the interim or 'S' upgrade of the iPhone has not always fared as well as the straight number upgrade. Apple got a big bump from the change in form factor for the 6 from pent-up demand for a larger screen, so being a little flat from that bigger bump is not that big of a deal to me. This doesn't change my opinion about just how high-quality this company is and how strong the management team is."

(Americas Economics and Markets Desk; +1-646 223-6300)
By Anya George Tharakan and Supantha Mukherjee

(Reuters) - Apple Inc is expected to report a 1.3 percent increase in iPhone sales in the holiday quarter, its slowest ever and a far cry from the double-digit growth investors have come to expect.

Apple sold 75.5 million iPhones in the October-December quarter, according to research firm FactSet StreetAccount, 1 million more than what was sold in the year-ago quarter.

Shares of Apple, which will announce earnings after markets close on Tuesday, were trading up 0.3 percent at $99.76, after dipping to $98.07 in morning trading.

Analysts say the bad is already priced into the stock.

Irrespective of the anticipated lackluster iPhone sales, Wall Street expects Apple to report its biggest-ever profit and revenue in the first quarter.

Analysts on average expect Apple to report a profit of $18.14 billion in the first quarter and revenue of $76.59 billion, according to Thomson I/B/E/S.

Demand has weakened for the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, which boasted record weekend sales when they launched in September.

These devices have fewer distinguishing features than their popular predecessors, especially the bigger-screen 6 and 6 Plus phones that were launched in 2014 and grabbed the attention of Asian customers who until then favored the bigger screen phones offered by the likes of Samsung Electronics.

"Apple has become a victim of their own success," FBR Capital Markets analyst Daniel Ives said. "... many customers are either buying an older, cheaper iPhone 6 or waiting for the iPhone 7."

China, the company's fastest-growing market, may also have weighed on results, as a slowdown in the economy forced consumers to tighten their purse strings.

To make matters worse, for the March quarter, Apple is expected to forecast a drop in iPhone sales - its first ever.

This was foreshadowed by disappointing forecasts from the company's Asian suppliers including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

Apple is expected to sell 54.6 million iPhones in the March 2016 quarter, according to FactSet, down from 61.2 million iPhones a year earlier.

Analysts said the company will have to wait until the launch of the iPhone 7, expected later this year, to return to growth, as buyers upgrade to the latest version.

Apple shares have fallen nearly 10 percent since the start of October, steeper than a 2.2 percent decline in the S&P 500 index. The stock trades at 10 times forward 12-months earnings versus Alphabet Inc's 21.5.

(Reporting by Anya George Tharakan and Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Savio D'Souza)
By John Miller

ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis wants every puff of its emphysema drug Onbrez to go into the cloud.

The Swiss drugmaker has teamed up with U.S. technology firm Qualcomm to develop an internet-connected inhaler that can send information about how often it is used to remote computer servers known as the cloud.

This kind of new medical technology is designed to allow patients to keep track of their drug usage on their smartphones or tablets and for their doctors to instantly access the data over the web to monitor their condition.

It also creates a host of "Big Data" opportunities for the companies involved - with huge amounts of information about a medical condition and the efficacy of a drug or device being wirelessly transmitted to a database from potentially thousands, even millions, of patients.

The potential scale of the so-called "Medical Internet of Things" has not been lost on pharmaceutical and tech firms around the world, both big companies hunting growth and smaller ones looking to provide bespoke products and services.

It has created unlikely alliances.

Novartis' domestic rival Roche has also teamed up with Qualcomm and Danish diabetes drugmaker Novo Nordisk has partnered with IBM on cloud-linked device projects, for example, while healthcare device maker Medtronic is working with a U.S. data-analytics firm Glooko.

GlaxoSmithKline, meanwhile, is in talks with Qualcomm about a medical technology joint venture potentially worth up to $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

However, with the opportunity comes risk.

Security experts warn that hacked medical information can be worth more than credit card details on the black market as fraudsters can use it to fake IDs to buy medical equipment or drugs that can be resold, or file bogus insurance claims.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are 35 million U.S. hospital discharges a year, a billion doctor and hospital visits and even more prescriptions, much of which is stored in cloud databases.

CLOUD CONCERN

Now the "Medical Internet of Things" is introducing more and more web-connected devices into the equation and pushing even more confidential patient data on to the cloud.

This is creating potential new opportunities for thieves seeking to penetrate medical companies' security where they may target names, birth dates, policy numbers, billing data and the diagnosis codes needed to obtain drugs, say experts.

"The weakest link tends to be the medical device itself," said Rick Valencia, senior vice president of Qualcomm Life, Qualcomm's four-year-old healthcare unit. "They weren't designed with the idea in mind that they would be going over the network and the information would be residing in cloud infrastructure."

Medtronic, the world's largest standalone medical device maker, said in 2014 it lost patient records in separate cyberattacks at its diabetes business.

"The more information, the easier identity theft is and the more valuable the profiles that the hacker can sell to third parties," said Erik Vollebregt, a lawyer in Amsterdam who specialises in medical device cybersecurity and privacy.

He said it could also be possible for criminals to hack into web-connected medical devices, and threaten the lives of patients, to blackmail the manufacturer.

Despite no documented patient-endangering hacks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned last year an infusion pump could be vulnerable to attack and asked healthcare providers to stop using it.

SMART LENS

Novartis aims to have its inhaler for chronic lung disease, to be on the market by 2019. Other pharma-tech alliances include Aerocrine and Microsoft, which are working together on a cloud project to analyse data from allergy and asthma patients.

Google is, meanwhile, working with French drugmaker Sanofi to collect and analyse information from diabetes sufferers. The U.S. tech giant also has a partnership with Novartis to develop a smart contact lens that can monitor diabetics' glucose levels.

All the companies involved in such projects say they are going to extreme lengths to protect patients' data from hackers.

Philips has turned to San Francisco-based identity-management software maker ForgeRock to keep data from the Dutch company's medical devices from falling into the wrong hands.

Software security expert Marie Moe, of Norway's SINTEF scientific research foundation, said the wireless ports in the pacemaker that keeps her heart beating left it vulnerable to intrusion - but that she could not survive without the device.

"Wireless interfaces are a great benefit to certain patient groups," she told . "But as a security researcher, I know connectivity also means vulnerability."

(Additional reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago, Jim Finkle in Boston and Ben Hirschler in London; Editing by Pravin Char)
The staff of San Luis Obispo County's planning commission this week recommended that commissioners reject the project because of "significant and unavoidable" impacts from toxic emissions and contaminated water to fires and explosions if trains derail or leak.

That recommendation came a week before a public hearing Feb. 4-5 on whether to grant permits allowing the company to build the 41,000 barrels per day project first proposed in 2013.

It is one of several rail projects on the U.S. West Coast that have undergone lengthy environmental reviews while facing heated opposition in light of fiery crude train crashes since mid-2013.

"We understand that there are concerns about the project and we look forward to addressing questions" in the review, Phillips spokesman Dennis Nuss said on Tuesday.

The Benicia Planning Commission will hold a similar hearing Feb. 8, with more if necessary, on Valero Energy Corp's proposed 70,000 bpd rail project - also delayed pending reviews - at its refinery there.

Unlike other proposals that aim to receive both light inland U.S. and Canadian heavy crude via rail, the Phillips project would handle just heavy crude at its Santa Maria refinery in Arroyo Grande, California.

That plant is built to process heavy oil produced in California. Once initially processed, it moves via pipeline more than 200 miles north to the company's refinery in Rodeo near San Francisco to turn into fuels. The two plants' combined capacity is 120,200 barrels per day.

Phillips proposed the rail project because California oil output is shrinking and the company wanted another source of crude. The company had hoped to start up in 2014, but environmental reviews pushed final consideration of permits to 2015 and then this year.

Crude by rail has declined since mid-2014 as U.S. oil prices slid more than 70 percent and discounts of domestic crude to global crudes that once topped $20 narrowed to less than $1.

Cheaper domestic crude helps cover extra transportation costs of rail, but a narrow spread entices coastal refiners to take imports instead.

Last month Phillips started up its own joint-venture rail loading terminal in North Dakota, shipping crude loaded on railcars from trucks to its New Jersey refinery, Nuss said.

(Reporting By Kristen Hays; Editing by David Gregorio)
By Lawrence White

HONG KONG (Reuters) - HSBC's board meets on Wednesday to consider moving headquarters to Hong Kong, and concerns about China's increasing influence over the financial hub and its independent status may be a factor in the decision, said a senior source at the bank.

At the two-day meeting, directors will also focus on the bank's strategy, with a decision on the domicile issue possibly coming as early as this week.

Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver will lead the board in assessing the results of a nine-month review into a potential relocation, drawn up amid worries over tighter regulation and higher taxes in Britain.

The bank may also want to be closer to faster-growing Asian markets, which account for around two thirds of its profits.

reported that a relocation to Hong Kong is unlikely to save the British bank much tax, and may actually increase its bill, while signs Beijing is encroaching on Hong Kong's partial autonomy are further playing on directors' minds.

"The situation in Hong Kong appears to be getting worse. You have to wonder if the city will remain a suitable base for an independent-minded, top global financial institution," said an HSBC insider, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Since independence from British rule in 1997, Hong Kong has been governed under a "one country, two systems" formula, which gives it partial autonomy from mainland China.

That has ensured judicial independence, a key attraction for international companies seeking an Asian base, and prevented mainland police from operating in the financial centre.

But a series of disappearances among Hong Kong's bookseller community has prompted fears that mainland Chinese authorities may be using shadowy tactics that erode that formula.

AT LEAST 11 FACTORS

Lee Bo, one of the owners of a publisher and bookshop specialising in books critical of China's Communist Party leaders, vanished in December amid widespread speculation that Chinese authorities may have abducted him in Hong Kong and spirited him across to China for an investigation.

Lee, a British passport holder, surfaced on Saturday, meeting his wife at a guesthouse in mainland China, Hong Kong police said.

HSBC in Hong Kong declined to comment on whether Lee's disappearance could be a factor in the domicile decision.

Earlier this month, thousands of people took to the streets of Hong Kong demanding to know the whereabouts of the men, who were all linked to a publisher that was reportedly planning a new book on the private life of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

So far, Chinese authorities have not responded to multiple requests for comment from Reuters, nor have they made any substantial statements explaining Beijing's role in the disappearances nor the fate of the men.

HSBC's review of whether to relocate considers at least 11 factors, the bank has said, including the transparency and robustness of the business and legal environments in a given city as well as its long-term stability.

The bank has never publicly said which financial centres it is considering for a possible relocation, but Hong Kong, HSBC's main base since its creation 150 years ago until 1993, is viewed as the favourite by analysts and investors.

Staying in London would mean the bank remains in one of the world's largest financial centres, although that might be affected by Britain's possible exit from the European Union following a referendum that could take place later this year.

Local regulators including the Hong Kong Monetary Authority have said they would welcome a move to the Asian city, a major source of global revenues for HSBC.

Yet, as Chinese growth slows to its weakest in a quarter of a century and Hong Kong's own growth suffers, those revenues' contribution may be eroded.

(Editing by Mike Collett-White)
By Yashaswini Swamynathan

- Procter & Gamble Co returned to organic sales growth in the second quarter as the world's largest consumer products maker benefited from higher prices and a sharper focus on a leaner portfolio.

P&G also posted a better-than-expected profit, helped by costs cuts, sending its shares up nearly 3 percent to $79 on Tuesday, outperforming the broader consumer staples index.

The company's organic sales, which exclude the impact of currency, divestitures and acquisitions, rose 2 percent in the quarter ended Dec. 31.

These sales had dropped 1 percent in the previous quarter, the first decline since 2008.

The company has been increasing prices more rapidly in the past few quarters, a strategy that boosted organic sales growth in the latest quarter, but led to a drop in volumes.

P&G is focusing on core brands such as Gillette, Pampers and Tide to revive sluggish growth, which analysts have blamed on the company's slow reaction to trends in important markets such as China.

The results showed that P&G's new chief executive, David Taylor, would be able to correct the company's missteps, RBC Capital Markets analyst Nik Modi said.

But he cautioned that P&G was far away from a successful transformation.

P&G now expects to reduce non-manufacturing costs by 25-30 percent by 2016, a year ahead of schedule, Chief Financial Officer Jon Moeller said on a conference call.

Moeller said the strong dollar would not discourage P&G from investing, forecasting the company's media spend would increase in the double-digit percentage range in the second half of 2016.

But he said P&G's ability to raise prices would be somewhat lower than it has been due to the weak economic environment.

The company, which gets nearly two-thirds of its sales from outside North America, said it would sharpen its focus on higher-margin brands in India.

P&G said the strong dollar reduced second-quarter sales by 9 percent and that it now expected sales in 2016 to be hit by 7 percentage points, more than the 5-6 percentage points impact it had forecast previously.

However, the company said it still expects full-year sales to decline in the high-single digits.

P&G's second-quarter sales fell 8.5 percent to $16.92 billion, slightly below analysts average estimate of $16.94 billion, according to Thomson I/B/E/S.

Net earnings attributable to the company jumped 35 percent to $3.21 billion, or $1.12 per share.

Excluding items, it earned $1.04 per share, beating estimates by 6 cents.

(Reporting by Yashaswini Swamynathan in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Savio D'Souza)
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto Plc has agreed to sell one of its last remaining coal mines in Australia to a group owned by Indonesia's third-richest man, Anthoni Salim, continuing an exit from coal as it battles a sharp slump in prices.

Rio Tinto said on Monday it was selling its Mount Pleasant thermal coal assets in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales to a private company, MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd, for $224 million plus royalties.

MACH is an entity owned by Indonesian conglomerate Salim Group.

The royalties from the mine would only be paid when coal prices top $72.50 a tonne, well above the current price of $47.37 .

"We believe Mount Pleasant can have a very positive future under its new owners with different priorities for development and capital allocation," Rio Tinto copper and coal chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques said in a statement.

The sale of the Mount Pleasant mine, which has marketable reserves of 474 million tonnes, follows Rio Tinto's sale of its stake in the Bengalla joint venture last year for $606 million and leaves it with the Hunter Valley Operations and Mount Thorley Warkworth mines.

(Reporting by Sonali Paul)
(Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> and Suzuki Motor Corp <7269.T> are discussing a potential partnership from a variety of angles, with cross-shareholdings a possibility, the Japanese financial daily Nikkei reported, without identifying its source.

The two automakers are looking to take advantage of each other's know-how and capitalise on demand for compact cars in India and other emerging economies, the Nikkei said.

Toyota and Suzuki could not be reached for comment outside regular business hours in Japan.

(Reporting by Anet Josline Pinto in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
By Huw Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - The World Economic Forum (WEF) has created a new task force with Bank of England Governor Mark Carney and his counterpart at the Reserve Bank of India, Raghuram Rajan, to study how rapid changes in technology affect financial stability and growth.

The group, formed partly at the request of Carney, includes Bank of America Chairman and CEO Brian Moynihan and HSBC Chairman Douglas Flint.

"The group will focus on the inclusion of emerging market economies in the global financial system, technology-enabled innovation, and the economic cost benefit of post-crisis regulatory reforms," the WEF said in a statement.

Michael Corbat, CEO of Citigroup, and BlackRock Chairman and CEO Laurence Fink are also members, along with Min Zhu, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, and Liu Mingkang, a research fellow at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The task force will look at emerging markets, technology, regulatory and monetary policies, loss of trust in financial services, and financial inclusion.

The WEF's annual meeting in Davos last week discussed what it called the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or the idea that technological advances will allow even greater levels of automation, transforming the global economy in profound ways.

WEF Managing Director Giancarlo Bruno said the timing of the task force's creation was consistent with the WEF's focus on the Fourth Industrial revolution.

"Its work will look into the implications of innovation on stability of the financial system and its role as growth engine," he said.

The task force aims to publish a comprehensive suite of recommendations and actions during the Davos annual meeting in early 2017.

Carney also heads the G20's Financial Stability Board which writes and coordinates regulation for the world's main financial centres, meaning the recommendations are likely to be given a hearing by world leaders.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Andy Bruce and Raissa Kasolowsky)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Zurich Insurance said on Tuesday it had hired Mario Greco from Italy's biggest insurer Generali to take over as chief executive effective May 1.

"I am honoured to be asked to join Zurich at this critical juncture for the insurance industry," Greco said in a statement. "Like many global players, the company has faced market challenges in recent times but I know that Zurich's strong global franchise, the breadth of talent and the powerful brand provide all of the ingredients for our future success."

Speculation that Generali CEO Greco, who ran Zurich's main general insurance business before joining Generali in August 2012, could return to the Swiss firm has been bubbling since mid-December. Earlier, reported that Greco was stepping down from Generali and was likely to rejoin Zurich.

(Reporting by Joshua Franklin; editing by David Clarke)
It was announced today that the construction of the N25 New Ross Bypass PPP scheme will be developed over three years and will create between 250-300 jobs during construction phase.



The project is scheduled for completion in 2019.



It is the fourth transport PPP to be signed by the Government since 2012. It follows the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy PPP project, which was signed in October 2015; the Gort/Tuam PPP project, which commenced construction in 2014 and which is on target for completion in 2018; and the Newlands Cross/M11 Arklow to Rathnew scheme which was completed in July 2015.



Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin today commented, "This project uses our successful Public Private Partnership model and will be of huge economic benefit to the south east, as well as improving the quality of life for the people of New Ross. I am also especially pleased that between 250 and 300 jobs will be created during construction."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
It was announced today that global company, Equifax, have opened a new information technology (IT) talent centre in Dublin to address the companys growing global information technology needs.



The opening of the Dublin centre further expands Equifaxs global footprint which provides information solutions in nineteen countries on four continents.

The company already has a presence in Wexford that houses its database management, customer and consumer activities in relation to its consumer credit referencing services for UK-based clients. This location opened in 1994 and employs approximately 90 full-time employees.



The Dublin centre, located in the heart of the South Docks on Sir John Rogersons Quay, will focus on developing innovative new solutions to support Equifax operations around the world. Over 100 highly skilled research and development positions will be available, with hiring already under way.



The opening of the new facility comes as a result of support from the Department of Jobs through IDA Ireland, the agency responsible for industrial development and attraction of foreign direct investment.



Equifax gathers and maintains information on over 600 million consumers worldwide and over the years has evolved its business model from a traditional consumer credit focus to a company that uses unique trusted data, technology and innovative analytics to help its customers make informed decisions.



Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton commented, "Business Services is a key sector which we have targeted as part of our Action Plan for Jobs, and we have put in place actions specifically aimed at attracting research and development activity to Ireland.

"Todays announcement that Equifax, a world leading company in its specific area, is establishing a Research and Development Centre in Dublin, with the creation of 100 extra jobs, is very welcome news as part of this plan. I wish Paul and his team every success with this great project."



Source: www.businessworld.ie
It was announced today that a partnership between private sector companies and the health service to develop groundbreaking Irish healthcare products and research has been set up by the Government.



The hub was set up on a pilot basis in 2012 at University College Cork.

Following evaluation of the pilot, the Government decided to scale the project up to the national level with direct financial support being provided by Enterprise Ireland and in-kind support being provided by the Health Service Executive including dedicated staff.

Following a competitive process a consortium led by University College Cork, with partners including Cork Institute of Technology, Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland Galway, was appointed to host Health Innovation Hub Ireland.



Minister for Health Leo Varadkar and Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton have announced 5 million in funding over five years for the Health Innovation Hub.



The new partnership will allow Irish healthcare companies to easily access the health service to test their products and services, increasing the chances of developing commercial ideas and creating jobs

Furthermore, the health service will have easy access to innovative companies who can provide solutions to the problems that it faces, making it cheaper and easier to deliver better health-care to more patients.



A new Hub Director will now be appointed, who will guide the Hub through the next five years. The first call for proposals will be made later this year. A Stakeholder Advisory Group will also be set up to act as a forum between suppliers and users.



CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Julie Sinnamon commented, ""The Health Innovation Hub will improve the efficiency of the commercialisation process of new technologies, products and services, benefitting the health sector and society as a whole."



Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar added, "More than 100,000 people are employed in the public health sector and as many again with private healthcare providers, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, medical devices, and in research and development. The life sciences sector accounts for a lot of our export revenue and is a major source of inward investment."

He continued, "The Health Innovation Hub is an opportunity to build on this by creating linkages between the health service and industry to develop new products and services that we can use to improve our own health service at home and sell as products and services abroad."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
New research detailing the value of the design sector in Ireland has been published today by the Business and Employment Minister, Ged Nash.

The research shows that the Design sector accounts for 20% of total Irish exports and that 2.5% of the Irish workforce are employed in design roles.



Furthermore, Irelands design-sector exports are higher relative to the UK.

The findings were released today during Showcase, Irelands International Creative Expo which is taking place at the RDS in Dublin.



Source: www.businessworld.ie
Johnson Controls Inc, a U.S. maker of car batteries and heating and ventilation equipment, agreed to acquire Ireland-based peer Tyco International Plc in a $16.5 billion deal that will lower its tax bill, the companies said on Monday.

By moving its headquarters to Cork, Ireland, Johnson Controls would become the latest major U.S. company to carry out a so-called tax-inversion after drug giant Pfizer Inc structured such a deal with Irish peer Allergan Plc last November.

While the tax benefits are not as profound as is the case of Pfizer's deal with Allergan, the news was enough to stir controversy among politicians in a U.S. presidential election year.

"I have a detailed and targeted plan to immediately put a stop to inversions and invest in the U.S., block deals like Johnson Controls and Tyco, and place an 'exit tax' on corporations that leave the country to lower their tax bill," Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said in a statement.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton's opponent for the Democratic Presidential nomination, also criticized the deal, calling it a disaster for American taxpayers. Others saw it as an opportunity to also highlight what they argue are the weaknesses of the U.S. tax system.

"Absent comprehensive tax reform that includes shifting to a territorial tax system with base erosion protections, Congress ought to examine viable bipartisan solutions that will effectively target and combat inversions and not tip the balance to tax-driven foreign acquisitions of U.S. firms," said U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, a prominent Republican.

The merger will combine Johnson Controls' commercial buildings business with Tyco's fire security offerings, accelerating Johnson Controls' transformation following its decision to spin off its automotive parts unit.

Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls has a market value $22.5 billion, while Cork, Ireland-based Tyco, which specializes in fire protection systems is valued at $14.2 billion.

The deal will create savings of at least $500 million in the first three years, the companies said. They expect to save an additional $150 million a year through tax synergies.

"The move would be consistent with Johnson Control's strategy of transforming from an auto supplier into a multi-industry leader," UBS analyst Colin Langan said in a client note.

Johnson Controls' shares ended trading in New York on Monday down 3.9 percent at $34.21, while Tyco's shares ended up 11.6 percent at $34.15.

Tyco was ahead of many big U.S. industrial companies in seeking tax relief by moving its legal residence offshore. The company moved its headquarters to Bermuda from Exeter, New Hampshire in 2007, then to Switzerland in 2009, and to Cork in 2014.

Tyco said in 2014 that its move to Cork was tax-neutral and that it occurred because of Swiss laws capping executive pay and tighter immigration rules.

Johnson Controls' shareholders will own about 56 percent of the combined company, with Tyco shareholders owning the remainder, thanks in part to a cash consideration of about $3.9 billion that Johnson Controls shareholders will receive.

Keeping Johnson Controls' shareholders ownership of the combined company below 60 percent was important for the company because the latest U.S. Treasury rules, in a bid to limit inversions, placed some restrictions on deals that cross this threshold.

"The cash consideration is supplied by Tyco very much with the tax inversion in mind. This way you can engage unrestricted in strategies that free up your undistributed foreign earnings," said Robert Willens, a corporate tax and accounting consultant.

The new company, Johnson Controls Plc, will be initially headed by Johnson Controls Chief Executive Alex Molinaroli and will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. After 18 months, Tyco's George Oliver will become CEO and Molinaroli will become executive chair for one year, after which Oliver will become chairman and CEO.

Johnson Controls has been preparing to spin off its automotive seating and interiors business and said on Monday the spinoff was on track for early first fiscal quarter of 2017.

Shares of Johnson Controls have lost more than a quarter of their value since the start of 2015, while Tyco's shares have fallen over 30 percent.

Tyco was broken up into three companies after turnaround expert Edward Breen took the helm from former CEO Dennis Kozlowski, who was convicted in 2005 of grand larceny, securities fraud and other charges.

Under Breen, Tyco spun off its electronics and healthcare businesses in 2007. He expanded Tyco's security business with the $1.9 billion acquisition of Broadview Security in 2010.

In 2012, Tyco was again broken up into three pieces - one selling valves and controls for the energy market that merged with Pentair Inc, while its commercial fire and security businesses combined into "New Tyco" and traded under Tyco's symbol. The third piece consisted of the ADT North American residential security business, now ADT Corp.

Breen is CEO of U.S. chemical giant DuPont, which last month agreed to combine with Dow Chemical in a $120 billion merger. Tax savings were seen as a primary driver of that deal. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Regius Professor of Laws at Trinity, Professor Mark Bell has today claimed that one quarter of us will develop mental or behavioural disorders during our lifetime and for many this can lead to job loss.



Furthermore, almost six out of ten people believe that openness about mental health impacts negatively on job prospects.

This comes ahead of his inaugural lecture entitled 'Mental Health and Employment in Ireland: Is Equality Law the Solution?' which he will deliver this evening in the Edmund Burke Theatre, Trinity College at 6pm.



Professor Bell commented, "There is strong evidence of persistent labour market disadvantage experienced by people with mental health problems.

"Research suggests that the odds of those with emotional or psychological disabilities being outside the labour market are nine times higher than those without disabilities. Recent court cases also reveal that sometimes employers do not comply with their duties, and that some individuals can find it difficult to seek help.

"Workers can face other barriers in asserting their rights, such as having the emotional and financial resources to pursue a claim. Stigma also continues to deter individuals from speaking about mental health problems in the workplace."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket group, "seriously breached" a legally binding code to protect suppliers in order to prop up its own finances as it battled an industry slowdown, the country's grocery watchdog ruled on Tuesday.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), Christine Tacon, launched an investigation into Tesco last February in the wake of the firm's 263 million pounds profit over-statement, revealed in September 2014.

A separate Serious Fraud Office investigation is ongoing.

"The length of the delays, their widespread nature and the range of Tesco's unreasonable practices and behaviours towards suppliers concerned me," Tacon said, issuing a series of recommendations to Britain's biggest retailer.

"I was also troubled to see Tesco at times prioritising its own finances over treating suppliers fairly."

The accounting scandal, which contributed to one of the biggest annual financial losses in British corporate history, led to the departure of several top Tesco executives and plunged the firm into a crisis it is still to fully recover from.

Tesco said on Tuesday it accepted the findings of the report and would continue to work with suppliers to build trust after working hard over the past year to change the business.

"I would like to apologise again. We are sorry," said Tesco's Chief Executive Dave Lewis in a statement.

"We have changed the way we work by reorganising, refocusing and retraining our teams and we will continue to work in a way which is consistent with the recommendations."

Tacon found Tesco acted unreasonably by delaying payments to suppliers, often for lengthy periods of time, and has told the group to introduce significant changes to its practices.

Tacon expressed concern about three key issues: unilateral deductions from suppliers, the length of time taken to pay money due to suppliers, and in some cases an intentional delay in paying suppliers.

She said Tesco's breach of the Code was serious because of the varying and widespread nature of the delays in payment.

The GCA has recently been given powers to fine supermarkets, but they came too late for the Tesco case.

Tacon's recommendations include stopping Tesco from making unilateral deductions from money owed for goods and giving suppliers 30 days to challenge any reduction. If challenged, Tesco will not be entitled to make the deduction.

Tesco has been given four weeks to say how it plans to implement the recommendations.

Lewis, who had to handle the fallout from the accounting crisis shortly after becoming CEO, has already acted to improve compliance and change the way Tesco works with suppliers.

Earlier, this month the firm reported better-than-expected Christmas trading, indicating it may finally be on the mend. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The United States on Tuesday announced changes to its sanctions on Cuba, lifting export payment and financing restrictions and facilitating airline travel in Washington's latest move to ease the U.S. embargo on the Communist-ruled island.

The amendments, which take effect on Wednesday, "will remove restrictions on payment and financing terms for authorized exports and re-exports to Cuba of items other than agricultural items or commodities," according to a statement from the Treasury and Commerce Departments.

The changes will facilitate travel to Cuba by allowing blocked space, code-sharing, and leasing arrangements with Cuban airlines, it said.

They will authorize additional transactions dealing with professional meetings, disaster preparedness, information and informational materials, concerning transactions incident to professional media or artistic productions in Cuba, it said.

The latest changes come as Washington and Havana move closer toward normal relations after more than half a century of hostility that followed Cuba's 1959 revolution. The two countries restored diplomatic ties and reopened embassies last summer.

"Today's amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations build on successive actions over the last year and send a clear message to the world: the United States is committed to empowering and enabling economic advancements for the Cuban people," Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said in the statement. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
When is hurricane season? Here's what you need to know in South Texas
COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi ROTC cadet freshmen Peter Vourganas hangs off the side of the Center for Science building before rappelling down during training Friday. The programs growth contributed to the first 5K run and push-up challenge scheduled for next month. In celebration of its 10th year as an independent battalion, there are hopes to make it an annual event.

SHARE COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES A Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi ROTC cadet rappels down the side of the Center for Science building during training Friday. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Two Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi ROTC cadets wait in the doorway leading to the roof of the Center for Science building for their turn to rappel down the side during their training Friday. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES A Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi ROTC cadet rappels from the roof and down the side of the Center for Science building during training Friday.

By Beatriz Alvarado of the Caller-Times

Not everyone is cut out for the strict regimen: 6 a.m., 4-mile runs with the biting wind coming off the Corpus Christi Bay. Those who do follow a simple motto: Embrace the suck.

That's because Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Army ROTC Islander Battalion cadets know tasks like that are always a little easier when done as a team, said Stephanie Shutak, the cadet captain.

"That's the perfect motto for anyone in (our) position," the 21-year-old New Braunfels native said. "You just have to suck it up and keep going. But it all comes back to having people to your left and right ... and being a friend to as many people as possible."

Camaraderie among the cadets is seen during physical challenges and in the halls of the university, said Lt. Col. Curtis Johnson, a professor of military science. He said the battalion is thriving, and its success is in large part due to the binding struggles and feats that ring true to the about 120 students enrolled in the elective curriculum.

A diploma is required to be commissioned as an officer and students can enroll throughout their higher education career. Johnson said the leadership-driven curriculum that is the flagship of the program makes for better performing students. Cadets graduate faster and with higher GPAs, he said. And they "just keep coming back."

"They enjoy what they are doing," Johnson said. "They treat this as a club. You will catch them in the building in study groups supporting each other. Part of being a leader is to support one another in that way."

The program's growth contributed to this year's first 5K run and push-up challenge scheduled for next month. In celebration of its 10th year as an independent battalion, there are hopes to make it an annual event, said ROTC cadet and event organizer Trey Weber.

"Now that the program is bigger, we can make this a tradition," Weber, 21, said.

The event slated for the university's Homecoming Week also will celebrate the 100 year mark of the founding of Army ROTC.

Shutak, a nursing major, also works as the battalion S1 personnel officer. Looking after the battalion's logistics while attending nursing courses has tested her, she admits, but the challenges only made for a deeper understanding of her potential.

"I didn't think I was going to make it at first," she said. "It's good to see if you are up for the challenge."

Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Martinez, whose been part of the battalion since his freshman year, said similar hardships were made easier by the older mentors he now calls friends.

"You see these guys every day. You see your character and leadership skills grow together," he said. "You become lifelong friends."

Twitter: CallerBetty

IF YOU GO

What: TAMU-CC Army ROTC Islander Battalion 5K run and push-up challenge

When: Saturday, Feb. 6

Where: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi campus, Hammerhead Parking Lot

Cost: Through Feb. 5: $15 youth and students, $20 adults; Feb. 6: $30 youth and students; $35 adults; $5 push-up challenge

Information: www.rotc.tamucc.edu/5k.html
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By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times

Two longtime employees of a nonprofit that works with area law enforcement on child abuse cases have resigned as Texas Rangers continue investigating the organization.

The Rangers first confirmed their investigation into the Children's Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend in September, according to Trooper Nathan Brandley. He declined to comment on the nature of the investigation.

Since the investigation got underway, the center's executive director Mindy Jimenez and her husband, Ricardo, a forensic interviewer, have resigned. Justice of the Peace and board president Joe Benavides confirmed their resignations, but said he was not sure why they did so and declined further comment.

The couple, who both worked for the center for several years, could not be reached for comment.

Under the employment history on Mindy Jimenez's Facebook page, it shows she worked at "An Ungrateful Place."

A woman who answered the phone at the center Monday said the new executive director, Diane Crosson, was unavailable for comment.

Board members, district attorney Mark Skurka and Assistant Police Chief Mark Schauer, referred calls seeking comment on the investigation to Benavides.

The center provides forensic interviews to children for law enforcement and CPS for several local counties. Recorded interviews are often used in criminal cases and interviewers are called as witnesses in court.
GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES

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By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times

A 23-year-old man was taken to the hospital after he told police he was beaten by six men with sticks while loud music played to cover his screams.

Corpus Christi police officers arrived about 9 p.m. Monday to the 500 block of Lakeside Drive to find the 23-year-old victim hanging his head out of the house yelling for help, according to a news release.

Several people ran to the back of the house and jumped over a fence to escape when officers arrived, the release stated. A 37-year-old woman was found and taken into custody. She was arrested on suspicion of evading arrest or detention, a Class B misdemeanor. The Caller-Times typically does not name individuals arrested on suspicion of a misdemeanor.

The 23-year-old man had several injuries to his head, including a large gash on his forehead and was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial. Investigators believe the men involved in the incident were gang affiliated.

Twitter: @Caller_Jules
Caller-Times archive Hannah Overton (center) smiles as attorneys Cynthia Orr (left) and John Raley (right) escort Overton out of the Nueces County Jail in 2015. She will talk on the Dr. Phil show about the prison ministry she started last year.

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By Krista M. Torralva of the Caller-Times

Hannah Overton  whose 2007 capital murder conviction captured national attention  is scheduled to talk on the "Dr. Phil" show about the prison ministry she started last year after her release.

Show officials said they are taping Tuesday in Los Angeles, but did not immediately have an air date.

Overton started a Bible study soon after she arrived at a Gatesville prison to serve a life sentence. Members of her church, Calvary Chapel of the Coastlands, sent Bible studies and Christmas cards to other prisoners while advocating Overton's innocence.

A jury convicted Overton of capital murder in the salt poisoning death of Andrew Burd, a 4-year-old boy she and her husband, Larry, were in the process of adopting. Prosecutors and police argued that Overton force-fed Andrew spicy seasoning and mistreated him.

Defense lawyers sought to prove his death was accidental, caused by a rare medical condition that caused him to have high levels of sodium.

After seven years in prison, the state's highest criminal court overturned her conviction in 2014 and sent her case back to Nueces County for another trial. Last year, District Attorney Mark Skurka dismissed the charge against her.

Overton began visiting her former prison and started the nonprofit organization, Syndeo Ministries.

Syndeo is a Greek word meaning "bound" and the ministry's mission comes from Hebrews 13:3  "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."

"That scripture was written to all believers. It wasn't just written to people that were actually bound with them, but in my case I was and I will never forget, " Overton told the Caller-Times about a month after obtaining nonprofit status.

Earlier this month, Overton and her husband were on a Chicago television station talking about the ministry.

Twitter: @CallerKMT
Caller-Times file Leonard, a golden retriever mix, waits to be adopted in January 2013 at Animal Care and Control.

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By Natalia Contreras of the Caller-Times

People Assisting Animal Control and Denny Bales Diamonds donated heartworm test for dogs Monday to the city's Animal Care Services, officials said.

The groups worked together to donate the tests to the shelter, which stopped testing animals last week, PAAC President Cheryl Martinez said.

"Because of the lack of funding the shelter can't test every animal anymore. Right now they can only test the ones being adopted," Martinez said.

The groups donated 200 tests to Animal Care Services and hope to continue to raise more funds to help the organization.

"If we have the chance to keep helping we will," Martinez said. "Anyone who donates to PAAC donates to Animal Care Services."

Twitter: @CallerNatalia
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By Matt Woolbright of the Caller-Times

Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority's marketing director resigned from the agency following three days of paid administrative leave.

CEO Jorge Cruz-Aedo told the Caller-Times Sarah Whetstone handed in her letter of resignation Monday after a "frank discussion about her employment status" earlier that morning. Whetstone was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday by Cruz-Aedo, who was out of the country. He returned to work Monday.

In a statement, Whetstone said she enjoyed working for the agency and advocating for the transit-dependent population of the area, but decided to resign after determining she had done "as much good as I can to that end given the limitations of my position."

"I poured my heart into the position, and now it's time to move on," she said.

The resignation is effective immediately, and Kelly Coughlin, the agency's assistant director of marketing, is being promoted to fill the position until a permanent director is named.

Cruz-Aedo said while two recent incidents were factors in the decision to place her on leave, the decision ultimately was more about the overall fit for the organization. Whetstone was still on the agency's six-month introductory probation for new hires.

"It was not just one thing in general," Cruz-Aedo said. "It was the relationship, and how it was evolving and developing."

The first of the two factors was an unauthorized email Whetstone sent earlier this month to state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, that drew the ire of RTA leaders. That email outlined the agency's stance on RTA's funding, which had been called into question by a county commissioner's letter to Hunter.

The second was strained relations with at least one local media outlet, Cruz-Aedo said.

Twitter: @reportermatt
Adofl Hitler Biography





Adolf Hitler is leader of Nazi Germany. After being appointed foreign minister in 1933, he finished the democratic institutions of the republic and established a one-party dictatorship (the Nazi party, short for National Socialist Party), from which brutally repressed all opposition and prompted a formidable propaganda machine at the service of their ideas : superiority of the Aryan race, and pan-Germanic nationalist fervor, revanchist militarism and anti-Jews.









The doctrine of "living space" and Pan-Germanic ideal of uniting the peoples of German language would lead to an aggressive expansionism; in support of its belligerent policy, Hitler rearmed Germany and reorganized and modernized its army it into a fearsome machine. France and Britain agreed the annexation of Austria and occupation of Czechoslovakia, but the German invasion of Poland finally unleashed World War II (1939-45), the first phase gave Hitler control of the whole of Europe, except Britain. The failed invasion of Russia and the US intervention reversed the course of the war; despite the inevitable defeat, Hitler rejected any negotiation dragged Germany into a desperate resistance and committed suicide in his bunker a few days before the fall of Berlin.





Biography

Son of an Austrian customs, his childhood was spent in his youth in Linz and Vienna. The formation of Adolf Hitler was scarce and self, as soon as he received education. Vienna (1907-1913) failed in his vocation as a painter, malvivio as tramp and saw its racial prejudice at the sight of a cosmopolitan city, whose intellectual and multicultural vitality it was completely incomprehensible. From this period dates his conversion to German nationalism and anti-Semitism.

In 1913 Adolf Hitler fled the Austro-Hungarian Empire for no military service; he fled to Munich and joined the German army during World War I (1914-18). The defeat made him go into politics, upholding an ideology of nationalist reaction, marked by the rejection of the new democratic system of the Weimar Republic, whose politicians accused of betraying Germany accepting the humiliating peace terms of the Treaty of Versailles ( 1918).





Back in Munich, Hitler joined a small far-right party, which soon became the main leader and renamed as National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP). The party declared nationalist, anti-Semitic, anti, anti-liberal, anti-democratic, anti-peace and anti-capitalist, although the latter revolutionary social component would be soon forgotten; such motley ideological conglomerate, mainly negative, fed on the fears of the German middle classes to the uncertainties of the modern world. Influenced by the fascism of Mussolini, this movement adverse to both existing as the whole trend of progress, represented the reactionary response to the crisis of the liberal state that war had accelerated.

But Hitler soon raise their propaganda. In 1923 he failed in a first attempt to seize power from Munich, supported by armed militia of Ludendorff ("Beer Hall Putsch"). He was arrested, tried and imprisoned, though he spent only one year in jail and a half, took time to translate their extremist political ideas in a book called Mein Kampf and designing the broad lines of its future action.





Again released since 1925, Hitler was the Nazi Party expelling potential rivals and surrounded himself with a group of faithful collaborators like Goering, Himmler and Goebbels. The deep economic crisis that since 1929 and the political difficulties of the Weimar Republic gave him a growing audience among the legions of unemployed and disaffected willing to listen to his demagogic propaganda, wrapped in a paraphernalia of parades, flags, anthems and uniforms.



The Third Reich



Skillfully combining the legal political struggle with the unlawful use of violence in the streets, the National Socialists or Nazis were gaining electoral weight until Hitler (who had never obtained majority) was appointed head of government by President Hindenburg in 1933. Since the Chancellery Hitler destroyed the constitutional regime and replaced by a one-party dictatorship based on his personal power. Thus began the so-called Third Reich (Third German Empire, after the Empire Holy medieval and the Empire of 1871, disappeared with the First World War), which was not a totalitarian regime based on extreme nationalism and the exaltation of racial superiority without any scientific basis (based on stereotypes that contrasted with the ridiculous figure of Hitler himself).





After the death of Hindenburg, Hitler fuhler or "leader" of Germany was proclaimed and subjected the army to take an oath of fidelity. The bloody repression against dissidents culminated in the purge of Nazi own ranks during the "night of the long knives" (1934) and the establishment of a total police control of the company, while the persecution of Jews, which began with the racist Nuremberg Laws (1935) and the pogrom known as "Kristallnacht" (1938), lead to the systematic extermination of European Jews from 1939 (the "Final Solution").



Hitler's foreign policy was the key to their promised reconstruction of Germany, based divert attention from internal conflicts to an aggressive foreign policy. He aligned himself with the Italian fascist dictatorship, with which intervened in aid of Franco in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), a dress rehearsal for the subsequent world war; and he completed alliances with the addition of an anti-Soviet alliance in Japan (Anti-Comi n tern Pact, 1936) to form the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis (1937).





Convinced militarist, Hitler began to reform the country to enforce its demands by force (restoration of compulsory military service in 1935, remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936); thereby reactivated German industry, reduced unemployment and almost overcame the economic depression that had brought him to power.



Then, leaning on the Pan - german ideal, he demanded the union of all German-speaking territories, first withdrew from the League of Nations, rejecting peaceful methods of arbitration (1933); then he forced the Dollfuss assassination of Austrian President (1934) and the Anschluss or annexation of Austria (1938); then invaded the Czech Sudetenland, and after Western diplomacy deceive promising not to have more ambitions (Munich Conference, 1938), occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, the split into two and subjected to a protectorate; still allowed snatch Lithuania Memel territory (1939).

Second world war

When the conflict over the free city of Danzig led him to invade Poland, France and Britain reacted and the outbreak of World War II (1939-45). Adolf Hitler had prepared his forces for this great confrontation, which he said would allow expansion of Germany to achieve global hegemony (Hossbach Protocol, 1937); in anticipation of the outbreak of war he had strengthened its alliance with Italy (Pact of Steel, 1939) and, especially, had concluded a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union (1939), agreeing with Stalin the partition of Poland.

The modern Army had prepared scored brilliant victories on all fronts during the first years of the war, making Hitler own almost all of Europe through a 'blitzkrieg' occupied Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Yugoslavia and Greece (while Italy, Spain, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Finland were her allies, and countries such as Sweden and Switzerland declared a benevolent neutrality).





Only Churchill's Britain resisted the attempted invasion (aerial Battle of Britain, 1940-1941); but the fate of Hitler began to change when he launched the invasion of Russia (1941), responding to both the basic anti ideal of Nazism as the draft snatch the "inferior" Slavic race this the "vital space" dreaming to magnify Germany. From the Battle of Stalingrad (1943), the course of the war was reversed and Soviet forces began a counteroffensive that would not stop to take Berlin in 1945; simultaneously, he reopened the Western Front with the massive contribution in men and weapons from the United States (involved in the war from 1941), which allowed the Normandy landings (1944).





Defeated and all his projects failed, Hitler saw his colleagues began to leave him while Germany itself was destroyed by the allied armies; in his limited world view there was no room for compromise or surrender, so that dragged his country to disaster. Having shaken the world with his dream of world hegemony of the German "race", causing a total war on a global scale and unprecedented genocide in concentration camps, Hitler committed suicide in the Chancellery bunker where they had taken refuge a few days after the entry of the Russians in Berlin.





Extracted from

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Robert Gerlach

Panhandling will just move to rest of city

Regarding the recent action of the "City Council of Downtown Corpus Christi," where they banned panhandling in their city. You know the city, the one where the mayor said she would continue to pursue developing Destination Bayfront (i.e. downtown) despite the vote against it. One has to wonder what logic went in to that decision. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that once the ban is enforced downtown the problem moves to another location (that would be the part of the city where the rest of us live). If it is logical and reasonable to resolve the panhandling problem by banning it in part of Corpus Christi, why on earth isn't it just as reasonable and logical to ban it in the entire city? Oops! I forgot for a moment, it was "Downtown Corpus Christi's City Council," not the one the rest of us helped elect.

Elections are coming.
A new group of private equity, consulting firms and agricultural companies from China emerged as unlikely players in a complicated competitive space for investing in the communications industry, according to a summary of 2015 M&A activity from R3.

Top 10 deals

The 10 largest deals for 2015 reflect the diversity of the leading M&A players as well as the rise of China based investors.

Acquirer Agency HQ WPP Chime UK LEO Group Wan Sheng Wei Ye () China Providence Equity Clarion Events UK Hakuhodo DY SidLee Canada Omnicom Grupo ABC Brazil WPP Bruin Sports Capital US WPP STW Communications Australia Lecron Group New-mix China WPP Essence UK Lecron Group ProTrend China

WPP leads the way

WPP led all firms with 42 acquisitions (35 percent of the total) with a total sales value of US$1.56 billion (29 percent), covering six continents, with the Chime UL and STW Australia as standouts. WPP has been very shrewd in capitalizing when the time is right. The increased investment in Australia came with their dollar in decline and the STW stock down from its March 2015 peak. Chimes stock was also down from 2014 highs.

Asia-based acquirers gain prominence

Five of the top 11 holding groups in R3s report are based in Asia, and four of the top 10 deals came from these firms. While Dentsu completed more than 25 deals and Hakuhodo invested in Canadas most famous global agency, Sid Lee, it was the Chinese agricultural companies Leo Group and Lecron creating the most unlikely of deals.

Leo Group, a manufacturer of pumps for water irrigation, expanded on its 2014 investments in digital agencies with four more deals valued at more than $500 million. Meantime, a Chinese chemical company, Shandong Lecron Group, announced three large deals of similar digital firms valued at $494 million.

Its no secret that China has created its own digital ecosystem, and these investors have seen rising stock as a result of some of these deals.

APAC M&A League Table

China M&A League Table

Global M&A League Table

The rise of the consultants?

In 2015, both Accenture and PwC became active players in this spacewith Accentures investments in six digital agencies covering five different continents, and PwC staking an investment in Hong Kongs Fluid Group. The definition of a digital agency is still to settle down, and a number of consulting firms, including McKinsey and Accenture are exploring opportunities to diversify. This is going to add pressure to agency relationships.

Other observations:

Havas makes some big bets: Havas announced nine deals in 2015, up 383 percent in terms of investment from the previous year. Its acquisition of FullSix and CSA gave it more scale in Europe and other deals ranged from the US, UK, Canada and Vietnam. Havas is firmly committed to enhancing its village concept, which is a clear point of differentiation, and highly motivating to the right group of marketers.

Havas announced nine deals in 2015, up 383 percent in terms of investment from the previous year. Its acquisition of FullSix and CSA gave it more scale in Europe and other deals ranged from the US, UK, Canada and Vietnam. Havas is firmly committed to enhancing its village concept, which is a clear point of differentiation, and highly motivating to the right group of marketers. A quieter year for Publicis Groupe: Publicis Groupe did half as many deals as the previous year's 20, with 93 percent less investment in M&A. Based on its November announcement, this was an important year for internal alignment and consolidation. We expect that future years in their new structure might highlight some gaps that need to be filled.

Publicis Groupe did half as many deals as the previous year's 20, with 93 percent less investment in M&A. Based on its November announcement, this was an important year for internal alignment and consolidation. We expect that future years in their new structure might highlight some gaps that need to be filled. Interpublic, Omnicom make strategic moves: Both Interpublic Group and Omnicom took the softening of the Russia and Brazil markets to increase their equity in their long term partners. Neither holding group has a strong recent history in the acquisition space, with just 17 deals between them globally in the last two years, compared to 155 from their European counterparts WPP and Publicis Groupe.

2016 outlook

R3 anticipates that this wave of acquisitions will continue through the coming year. We foresee a continued interest in Asia Pacific, which represented 38 percent of all investments in 2015. New agencies are continuing to grow fast, particularly in China, where there is a totally different ecosystem.

We also expect more Asia-based firms to spread westward. We have already seen this with Dentsu, Bluefocus and Cheil in past years, and we expect more to follow suit.

Finally, we would look to more of the consulting firmsfrom Accenture, to BCG to McKinsey, to continue to build their offering in this space. They already have strong relationships with the CEOs and CFOs on their clientsits only a matter of time for them to extend this to the CMOs.

See all R3's M&A league tables
| BY Lynchy |

Apart from Droga5 snaring both the Ad Age and Creativity Agency of the Year titles, there are other Aussie expat connections in the annual honours list from both titles.

R/GA, led by its Aussie expat global CCO Nick Law (bottom left), was #2 on the Ad Age A-List and included on the Creativity Innovators list, while Aussie expat John Mescall (bottom right) contributed to McCann New York being ranked #3 on the Ad Age A-List.

Saatchi & Saatchi New York took out the Creativity Innovators Comeback Agency honor. The agency is headed by Aussie expat Brent Smart and American chief creative officer Jay Benjamin (pictured top). The latter made his creative rep as creative partner to Andy DiLallo at Saatchis Sydney and Auckland and later at Leo Burnett Sydney, where the pair were joint executive creative directors.

And Johannes Leonardo, New York was named one of Ad Ages Ones to Watch in 2016. The agency is led by Aussie expat Leo Premutico (right) and his South African partner Jan Jacobs.




| BY Lynchy |

Australian retail ad industry icon David Mattingly, the former chairman and CEO of Y&R Mattingly, has today been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

Equally legendary Australian adman Michael Ball (above right), the former chairman of The Ball Partnership (since morphed into WCRS, Euro, then Havas) was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), adding to a previously awarded AM honour.

Mattingly (above left), who retired in 1998, started his career at Monahan Dayman Adams in Melbourne in the 1970s where he eventually founded the agencys retail arm MDA Mattingly. When Myer closed its advertising department it appointed the agency to handle its massive ad account. Others clients soon joined Myer at the agency, including Safeway.

MDA Mattingly eventually became Mattingly & Partners, then Y&R Mattingly, before folding into GPYR.

Good friend and former colleague Jim Aitchison, author of Cutting Edge Advertising, summed up Balls contribution to the industry in both Asia and Australia back in 2003.

Says Aitchison: Ball has witnessed more change than most. He joined the fledgling Ogilvy & Mather New York in 1960, when there were fewer than 100 on the staff.

Twenty-five years later in Asia, he founded one of the worlds most creative agency brands, The Ball Partnership. Today, he breeds cattle, serves on Australias National Trust and the board that runs the Australian capital, Canberra. David Ogilvy is still his advertising hero. David was, to my mind, the most important advertising person in the 20th century. Like most people in advertising, he was egocentric, but he had something that no other agency had, or has now  a culture, which was written down and taught by gentlemen with brains. I was grateful to have spent 25 years of my life with a guy who was the true genius of the advertising industry.
| BY Lynchy |

After six years leading the agency, Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand CEO Nicky Bell has decided to leave in March and current GM, Paul Wilson will take over the leadership, promoted to managing director.

Bell was recruited in 2010, charged with leading the turnaround of the Saatchi & Saatchi brand in New Zealand and went on to successfully transform the culture and capabilities of the agency with a focus on creative thinking across all departments and the integration of digital.

Says Bell: Its been a privilege to work with the hugely talented, good hearted people here at Saatchi & Saatchi. Im so proud of the transformation we were able to drive within the business and our culture. Our team, along with some incredible client partners, made this role a real joy.

And its great to be leaving the agency in such talented hands. Paul is a natural leader. Our clients and people trust and respect him. He has an amazing eye for the work, the kind of drive and optimism thats infectious, and the guts to deal with the tough stuff in our business. Gus and Corey are brilliant buggers, and they make me laugh every day. Theyve have had a stellar first year as joint ECDs. The three of them, along with the incredible leadership team, are going to do amazing things.

Says Wilson: Im genuinely stoked to be given this opportunity. Weve got an awesome team, great clients and some exciting projects on the go already this year. 2016 is shaping up nicely. Ive learnt a huge amount off Nicky in my time here. She is a great leader and an awesome human being. We will really miss her.

Wilson joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 2013 from Colenso, where he was joint Head of Account Management and running the agencys largest piece of business BNZ Bank. Prior to that,Wilson spent five years at DDB New Zealand.
The group weblog of the Texas A&M University Germany Biosciences Semester Study Abroad Program
Monday, January 25, 2016 at 7:41PM

Foursquare is usually used for checking into places and discovering new places while youre in the area. The company is taking a new approach though with its new feature. Trip Tips will let you invite your friends and family to help you plan your next vacation. You just need to type the place you plan on visiting in the search bar and Foursquare will give you a link you can send out to friends and family. The responses youll get will be tabulated by the site and then placed into a map that can be saved on your phone, making it much easier to access these spots when you need them.

Source: Foursquare
Professor Chennupati Jagadish started life in a small rural village in Southern India. He studied by kerosene lamp and could not walk the distance to get to the closest rural high school after primary school ended. His father was a teacher and wanted his son to have every educational opportunity. So his family allowed him to live with his maths and science teacher for three years.
Shyni Thomas came to Canberra with her husband Jojo Mathew and children Leya, 13 and Antus, 10, four years ago when she was offered a job as a nurse at Calvary Hospital and her husband become a theatre assistant at the National Capital Private Hospital.
The Alice Miller School will run from 10.30am to 5pm to reflect teenagers' sleep patterns. Research has consistently shown that teenagers need more sleep and starting school later could have huge benefits. "I want this issue to be treated seriously, " Marsden said.
State officials say they are launching a months-long review of the criminal justice system with the intent of rolling out proposed legislation they say could lead to cost reductions as well as fewer repeat offenders.

Lawmakers and officials gathered Tuesday in Memorial Hall in the state Capitol to announce the effort, to be conducted by the nonpartisan Council of State Governments Justice Center.

The first meeting between the group and the interim Incarceration Issues Committee followed the announcement in the Roughrider Room, where both groups began reviewing initial data gathered from stakeholders.

North Dakota is the 25th state to be involved in what the Justice Center calls a data-driven justice reinvestment approach improving criminal justice. The primary goals are to reduce costs and instances of repeat offenders and to improve public safety.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple and legislative leadership approached the organization last fall about conducting the review. Since the Justice Center receives funding from the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance and The Pew Charitable Trusts, there is no cost to the state.

Weve always believed North Dakota is one of the safest states, Dalrymple said. We always strive to do better.

Sen. Ron Carlisle, R-Bismarck, chairman of the Incarceration Issues Committee, said the group will meet with the committee several times over the interim and provide a final report with suggestions for legislative changes.

What were looking at is one all-encompassing bill, said Carlisle, who told the Justice Center that lawmakers need a final report by mid-November, when interim committees release final reports of their work.

Marc Pelka, deputy director of programs and state initiatives for the Justice Center, said the challenges of a states criminal justice system cant be changed overnight. But by reviewing the system with leaders in all three branches of government, he said positive steps can be taken.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to what works. This will be a North Dakota approach through and through, Pelka said.

The group provided committee members with county jail and prison population numbers since 2005.

North Dakotas prison population has risen from 1,329 in 2005 to 1,751 in 2015, an increase of 32 percent. The population in the states county jails has nearly doubled over the past decade, from 959 in 2005 to 1,754 in 2015, an increase of 83 percent.

Nine counties are building or expanding existing jail facilities: Bottineau, Burleigh, McKenzie, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Rolette, Ward and Williams counties.

Leann Bertsch, director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said reducing repeat offenders and getting treatment to those who need it are important aspects of improving the corrections system in the state.

Our overall goal is a safer North Dakota. Its not about being tough on crime its about being smart on crime, Bertsch said.
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Three college students who first met while attending a Catholic high school in Florida have launched a scholarship fund to help others experience faithful Catholic education at a Newman Guide college. As we went off to different colleges, we kept in touch and found time to catch up whenever we returned []
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.
''I am not a member of any organized political party," Will Rogers quipped in the last century, "I'm a Democrat."

If today's Republican Party were organized, if its storied "establishment" were even a shadow of the leviathan its detractors claim, the world would look very different. Republican Party leaders would long since have organized an advertising campaign in the early caucus and primary states to show voters that Donald Trump is: 1) nothing resembling a conservative, 2) not a friend of the working class, 3) not a particularly successful businessman (despite inheriting a vast fortune, he's managed to clock four bankruptcies) and 4) temperamentally unfit to be president.

Instead, as FiveThirtyEight reports, the amount of money the big super PACs have spent on television ads against Donald Trump in the past month was zero. By contrast, the biggest target of super PAC negative ads was Marco Rubio. Of 47 filings in the past month, 35 were anti-Rubio.

This looks less like a political party than like the Hemlock Society.

The favorite target of conservative ire is the left-leaning news media. Yet for the past six months, conservative outlets have joined with liberal ones to offer Donald Trump all the free publicity he could ask for. They've strewn his path with roses as he flayed one genuine conservative (Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal, Scott Walker) after another, withholding their bouquets only when Trump reared finally (as he was bound to do) on Ted Cruz. Cruz's strategy to praise Trump until Trump attacked him may have been good politics, but it fits Winston Churchill's definition of an appeaser as one who "feeds a crocodile, hoping that it will eat him last."

I understand, or think I understand, why liberal media types have been so cordial to Trump. He's ratings gold and they suspect that he would be the least-viable Republican nominee. As Nate Silver noted, Trump has the highest unfavorable ratings of any candidate of either party. Though his approval has improved among Republicans since last June, it has declined among independents and Democrats, leaving him still the candidate least likely to win a general election.

Polls this far from an election are not dispositive by any means, but they tell us something. So what explains the behavior of conservative radio and television hosts? I'm open to suggestions.

Marco Rubio, arguably the most electable Republican candidate, has been hammered by Jeb Bush's super PAC for months. What's the gravamen? Rubio missed some votes in the Senate because he's running for president. Bush is firing a slingshot. He cannot go after Rubio's one weakness, his immigration stance, because Bush shares it.

Rubio is the most articulate, thoughtful, inspiring and consistently conservative of any Republican running. His message that "America owes me nothing but I owe America a debt I can never repay" is in the best tradition of this land of opportunity. He has the highest favorability ratings among all voters of any Republican (except Ben Carson). Rubio has backed off his support for the kind of immigration reform embodied in the Gang of Eight bill. So, should this be his Achilles heel?

Trump, insofar as he has positions and not mere blurts, was an immigration dove as recently as 2013, and Ted Cruz unambiguously endorsed increasing (that's right) the number of legal immigrants (because, he explained, permitting high-skilled immigration is pro-growth) as well as providing a path to legalization for those already here. He told Princeton's professor Robert George in 2013 that his amendment "would mean the 11 million who are here illegally would all come out of the shadows and be legalized."

Cruz now says that his amendments were "poison pills" designed to reveal the Democrats' insincerity. But listen to his own language at the time: "I want to see common sense immigration reform pass. But the only way to do so is to find a middle ground, and right now they're unwilling to do so, and I think many of the Hispanic advocacy groups in particular are being played. They're being played by partisans who want the deal to fail, because they want to use it as a campaign issue rather than to pass it. And I hope that strategy doesn't work."

He opposed offering citizenship, which Rubio supported, but he now adamantly denies that he favored legalization at all. That's borderline Clintonian. Of all the Republican candidates, only Rick Santorum seems to have maintained a consistent hard line about immigration.

Cruz has shown integrity on other issues (like ethanol subsidies) and deserves fair consideration from conservatives. But Rubio is being unfairly tarred for his only lapse, and one in which he was hardly alone. Meanwhile, the vulgarian unguided missile atop the polls gets a pass from everyone about everything.

(Mona Charens syndicated column appears in the Tribune on Tuesdays.)
Recently the U.S. Energy Information Administration projected that U.S. coal-fired power generation will continue to decline and be offset by an increase from renewable sources. Coal is projected to decrease from 34 percent of generation in 2015 to 33 percent in 2017.

Chinas economy is growing more slowly than at any time in the past two decades. More than 190 nations have agreed that public policy must limit carbon dioxide emissions in efforts to slow climate change. Much of the Western United States is in severe drought that forced California city dwellers to cut water use by 20 percent. Some rivers in the Northwest are running so low that wildlife managers have trucked fish to spawning areas.

Against this backdrop of changing energy markets, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., visited Billings to again condemn President Barack Obama for killing coal. As much as Daines and many other politicians enjoy bashing Obama (and he deserves some criticism), the president isnt the coal industrys biggest problem.

The market has changed. Neither Daines, nor Obama nor the legislatures of the coal states control the market. Montana is an exporter of coal and coal-fired electricity. Those export customers in Washington state are plenty worried about the warmer, drier climate that is affecting their land, water and livelihoods. They want cleaner energy than Montana presently produces at Colstrip, where units 1 and 2 are the oldest, most inefficient.

The promise of Montana coal export markets is evaporating with the drop in global demand. As George Will wrote recently, China is buying less coal and other commodities.

Take a look at how the market has changed the value of coal-fired power plants. Last month, the Associated Press reported that Talen Energy reduced the market value of its share of Colstrip plants by 87 percent in the past two years, cutting the value to $45 million. The former owner, PPL Corp., wrote down the value of its stake by more than $400 million in 2013.

What drove down the value of the Colstrip plant? Relatively cheap natural gas is a bigger factor than emission-reducing federal rules, according to a power sector analyst with UBS who told the AP: The prospects for coal versus natural gas have deteriorated.

Gatherings such as the recent event hosted by the taxpayer-funded Big Sky Economic Development provide a great venue for venting and rallying. Unfortunately, trying to control the market isnt a viable option. Instead, Montana leaders must seize the opportunity to transition our energy industry to meet the demands of customers now and into the future.

Montana must look forward. Its likely that the newer units 3 and 4 at Colstrip will continue to support jobs for many years to come. But demand for coal at the plant will be reduced as new, cleaner energy generation (gas, wind and solar) serve customers what they want.

We dont want anyone to lose jobs, but in a dynamic economy jobs are lost and new jobs are created. Any Montana workers who will be displaced by changes in the coal and electrical industries deserve training and support to land good, new jobs.

Our state has been creating jobs steadily. There will be new jobs, regardless of what happens to coal.

Montanas leaders in government and business should host summits on energy diversification. Lets figure out how to provide what energy customers want and how to best transition out of the energy they dont want.

 Billings (Mont.) Gazette
Just when you thought that the Takata ordeal was over, US regulators announced a new recall of about 5 million vehicles which may carry the potential harmful airbags.



The new action covers some vehicles not previously affected by the scandal, bringing the number of units recalled to 28 million, with 24 million vehicles affected in the United States  according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Apparently, this move was partly prompted by the death of a man in South Carolina after he hit a cow in his 2006 Ford Ranger pick-up, and metal from a ruptured inflator penetrated his neck when the airbags deployed. The incident occurred last month, on December 22, bringing the total death toll to nine people in the United States.

Moreover, Reuters reports that this is the first time it happened in a non-Honda vehicle, and that the 5 million units covered by the new recalls for inflators in driver-side airbags include about 1 million units with systems similar to those installed on the Ranger.

We are saddened to hear about the drivers death and offer our sincere condolences to the family of the driver, Ford spokesman John Cavangany told Autonews in an e-mail. We are working with the agency to review the available information, but we have very limited information at this point. If we find an issue with our vehicles, we take prompt action to address customer safety.

NTHSA also stated that approximately 4 million other vehicles will be recalled due to additional testing on Takata driver-side air bags, including models from Honda and VW.

This comes after twelve other automakers have previously recalled more than 23 million Takata airbag inflators in more than 19 million vehicles, making this action one of the largest safety recalls ever.

PHOTO GALLERY
 Palestinian Cleric: ISIS Must Conquer Rome, Washington and Paris | Main | How is the Outsized Financial Aid to Palestinians Used? 

January 26, 2016

Hamas: Despair Is Not the Reason for Palestinian Violence



Murderous attacks against Israelis by Palestinian Arabs are not the result of despair, according to Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, the U.S.-designated terror group that rules the Gaza Strip.

According to Israel Hayom, Haniyeh declared in a speech at a rally on Jan. 19, 2016:

This intifada is not the result of despair. This intifada is a jihad, a holy war fought by the Palestinian people against the Zionist occupation. Only a holy war will drive the occupier out of Palestine.?

Haniyehs statement contradicts a common news media assertion that is frequently embraced also by politicians, policymakers and activists.

As CAMERA has noted, many major U.S. news outlets have alleged that Palestinian terror attacks are the result of disillusionment? or despair? supposedly brought about by a lack of a Palestinian state and/or existence of Israeli settlements (Washington Post Obscures the ObviousPalestinian Hatred of Jews,? Oct. 21, 2015). Many reports or commentaries written from this perspective omit Palestinian rejection of several U.S. and Israeli offers of a two-state solution in exchange for Palestinian-Israeli peace, including those made in 2000, 2001 and 2008. Such coverage also overlooks the many troubling statements made by Palestinian Arab leaders that make clear why they incite attacks against Israelis: a hatred of Jews and of a Jewish state.

Haniyehs statements run counter to those of figures such as U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon whoamid Palestinian terror attacks against Israeliscited Palestinian youth? who suffer in hopelessness? as a principal cause (Israel-Palestinian Violence: U.N.s Ban Ki-Moon Jets to Region Amid Tensions,? NBC News, Oct. 20, 2015).

A 2015 report by the European Unionwhich recently has enacted discriminatory labeling of Israeli goods produced in West Bank Jewish communitiesasserted that the root causes? of the terror attacks are the lack of economic and political prospects? for Palestinian Arabs. Yet, the actual cause-and-effect cycle has been Palestinian rejection of opportunities to negotiate political prospects, followed by intensified terrorism, followed by Israeli restrictions, including, on employment in Israel.

Some commentators who claim to be pro-Israel also have asserted that despair is a principle driver of Palestinian violence. Responding to Palestinian assaults and murders, commentator Peter Beinart claimed the Israeli government is reaping what it has sowed? because Palestinian terrorism is a demented response to Israels denial of basic Palestinian rights.?

The Hamas leaders call for a holy war is little different from that of previous Palestinian Arab leaders, such as the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, who formed the Army of the Holy War to attack the fledging Jewish state in 1948. Husseinis collaboration with Nazi Germany in World War II included recruiting Bosnian Muslims for SS units considered responsible for war crimes by Yugoslavia. Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) head Yasser Arafat invoked pan-Arab or pan-Islamic slogan and imagery against Israel and Jews as he deemed expedient.

Nor does todays Hamas rhetoric noticeably differ from the rhetoric endorsed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its dominant Fatah movement that oversees daily life for virtually all Arabs in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). As CAMERA has noted, both Fatah and PA officials have called for war against Israel (see, for example, Fatahs Constitution).

Haniyehs statement should have struck journalists as man-bites-dog,? that is, newsworthy. But the outright dismissal of the despair? narrative from a Palestinian leader may not be recognized as such yet. Such is the blinding power of a conventional, though false narrative.







Posted by SD at January 26, 2016 02:16 PM

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Reborn German carmaker Borgward is returning to the Geneva Motor Show this year with what it mystifyingly describes as More than just a world premiere.



Geneva was the place it announced its comeback last year, some five decades after it went bankrupt, when a consortium of investors with Chinese backing, led by the grandson of the original company founder, Christian Borgward, re-launched the brand.

Borgward followed up with the presentation of the near-production BX7, a luxury SUV aimed at models like the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September of 2015, with plans to begin sales initially in China this year.

The only clue we get for its new Geneva motor show debut is a single cropped picture of what may or may not be the rear of a concept car . Borgward officials have previously said that the company wants to create a range of cars in the small, compact and mid-size segments, penned under the guidance of design boss, Einar Hareide, who has worked for Volvo and Saab in the past.

Update: As one of our readers pointed out in the comments, the press release picture was from Borgward s Frankfurt motor show booth

Photo Gallery
Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and even Fiat vehicles will be heavily featured by FCA at this years Houston Auto Show, where the likes of the 2017 Pacifica, the Jeep Cherokee Overland and Grand Cherokee SRT Night edition are set for their Texas debuts.



Fresh off its debut at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica will be one of the biggest stars in Houston, thanks mainly to its high levels of functionality, versatility and its bolder styling.

On the other hand, Jeep is approaching this event while celebrating its 75th anniversary lineup of vehicles, featuring exclusive green exterior paint (Sarge Green, Recon Green or Jungle Green, depending on model), low gloss bronze wheels, bronze and orange exterior accents, unique interiors with exclusive seats and a whole bunch of 75th Anniversary logos. The brands newest model, the Cherokee Overland will of course take center stage.

Attendees will then be able to experience the cars during an indoor off-road driving course set in the 25,000-square-foot exhibit.

While Dodge and SRT fans will probably gather around the mighty Hellcat models and their 707 HP, but also the Durango, nicknamed the Full-size SUV of Texas, those looking for a truck will head over to the Ram display in order to check out the Ram 1500 Rebel, Ram Limited editions and of course the Ram 1500 Eco Diesel, with its best-in-class fuel economy.

Last but certainly not least, comes the FIAT brand with models such as the 2016 Fiat 500X, which is the latest addition to the FIAT lineup in North America.

The 500X comes with an AWD system, plus a full array of safety, comfort and convenience features, going hand in hand with its five trim versions and 12 exterior colors.

The 2016 Houston Auto Show will take place this week between January 27 and the 31st.

PHOTO GALLERY
The limited-run Ferrari F60 America may have been introduced back in October 2014, but only now has the first unit been delivered to its thrilled owner.



The car was handed over to the customer by Ferrari of San Francisco during Cavallino Classic held throughout the weekend in Florida.

Created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Ferraris operations in North America, each F60 America is believed to have cost $2.5 million and were only offered for customers in the United States. It is believed that all ten units will be adorned in the same color scheme and livery reflecting that of the original Ferrari 275 GTS4 NART Spider of 1967.

Despite being based around the F12 Berlinetta, the F60 America has a totally custom body and is actually a convertible. The front fascia includes slim headlights running up the bumper and along the bespoke hood which also incorporates two large air extractors. Other special design touches are the restyled taillights, prominent rear rollover hoops and the more in-your-face rear diffuser.

As with the initial show car, this recently-delivered F60 has a two-tone interior that includes a red leather drivers seat and black leather for the passenger seat.

PHOTO GALLERY
The long-awaited 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet is set to debut alongside the renamed C43 AMG at Marchs 2016 Geneva Motor Show.



Based around the C-Class Coupe, the Cabriolet will be the fourth body style offered for the W205-generation C-Class and make use of a folding softtop, rather than a retractable hardtop like the BMW 4-Series Convertible.

Beyond its newly designed roof, the C-Class Cabriolet will essentially remain identical to the coupe and be offered with the same range of four-, six- and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. Certainly the most of exciting of them all will be the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 of the existing C63 AMG sedan, estate and coupe models.

As for the C43 AMG, it will launch after the German automaker recently decided to ditch its AMG Sport brand and instead incorporate these models into the real AMG model range. With that in mind, GTspirit reports that the C43 AMG will replace the C450 AMG Sport moniker and make use of the same 3.0-liter V6 with 362 hp on tap.



Rendering courtesy of RM Design

PHOTO GALLERY
According to a recent analysis of loyalty rates from Forbes, which sourced data compiled by Experian Automotive, the Range Rover sits atop a list of cars most likely to be bought again by brand-loyal customers.



Whether or not customers will keep buying the same make/model over and over can depend on several factors, including superficial ones such as marketing and how the car is portrayed compared to its nearest rivals. Other factors, such as brand loyalty or overall brand satisfaction can lead to customers returning to the very same automaker when its time for them to trade in their car.

Experian Automotives study revealed that Subaru ranked first in terms of customer loyalty, with 67.7% of its buyers returning to purchase another model once they decided it was time to part with their old one.

On top of that, we learned of 10 different models coming from 9 separate car manufacturers which tend to enjoy the most repeat business in the industry, as over 40% of their owners return to purchase the exact same model once their lease expires or they simply decide its time to get something newer.

Without further ado, here are the 10 models that, according to the study, tend to keep customers from jumping ship.

#1  Range Rover



Loyalty rates indicate that the Range Rover generates 48.2% repeat business, therefore topping the list. This is especially remarkable considering the fact that there is a huge amount of competition within the large premium SUV segment, yet the RR still manages to differentiate itself from its rivals.

Once SUVs from Bentley and Maserati hit the streets, things might change for the British SUV builder, though until then, all we can do is try to appreciate this car as much as its owners obviously do.

#2  Mercedes-Benz S-Class



The quintessential German luxury saloon is second in terms of customer retention, with a rate of 46.6%. The fact that more luxurious rivals such as those wearing Rolls-Royce and Bentley badges are far costlier to own, might also play a role in the S-Class success with its own client base. Then again, its not like it takes a lot of convincing for people to keep enjoying their flagship Mercs.

#3  Lincoln MKZ



Generating a 44.8% repeat business is no small feat for this semi-premium saloon from Lincoln. Whether its Matthew McConaughey or simply the cars design and interior features that are responsible for this impressive performance, is something we cant know for sure.

#4  Mercedes-Benz 2500 Sprinter Van



Despite a report from last year indicating that US buyers tend to steer clear of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter because of its premium badge, the van still has a healthy 44.8% loyalty rate. This may indicate that once both individuals as well as fleet customers get accustomed to driving a Mercedes-Benz, they prefer to not go back to non-premium models, even within this segment.

#5  Nissan LEAF



As successful as the LEAF has proven to be since its launch, Nissan is still thinking up ways in which to endear new and repeat customers to their best-selling EV. The figures show that current LEAF owners have bought/leased the same car again in 44% of cases, which means that it must be doing something right.

#6  Ram 1500



Out of all the heavy duty pick-up trucks available in the US, its the full-size Ram 1500 that gets re-purchased by 42.9% of its previous owners. In terms of overall sales though, the Ram still trailed the Chevy Silverado and Ford F-Series by a hefty margin through the first three quarters of 2015.

#7  Lexus RX 350



To say that Lexus midsize SUV is simply popular would be an understatement. It has enjoyed a lot of success in the US ever since the Japanese manufacturer started selling it as an alternative to gas-guzzling SUVs, and in doing so, is currently bringing back customers at a rate of 42.7%.

#8  Hyundai Genesis



Genesis brand aside, this almost-premium saloon still goes by Hyundai, and is enjoying a healthy 42.5% consumer loyalty rate. With a starting price of just $38,750 MSRP, its easy to understand why people would consider it a smart alternative to other, much more costly models.

#9  KIA Soul



If its a quirky car that you want, they dont get much quirkier than this, the KIA Soul. Its looks, alongside its comfort features such as the heated steering wheel and heated/cooled front seats are part of the reason why 42% of customers come back for more.

#10  Subaru Forester



Even though Subaru, as a brand, has the most loyal customers in the industry, the popular Forester only brings its owners back into the showroom 41.1% of the time. Dont get us wrong, its still very impressive, only not as impressive as the previous 9 models.
Photo: Contributed - by the snow measuring dog Time to retrieve your dog powered snow-measuring device.

This past weekend, an unexpected blizzard containing wind and snow and traffic jams swept through several eastern US states.

The entire world was surprised and saddened that such a bad thing could happen. That it could snow was surprising enough, but to the horror of all, there was wind, too.

BBC ran an entire section dedicated to this unusual winter weather event. They offered nanosecond-by-nanosecond updates on the situation, along with as much advice as they could find for their downtrodden American friends across the pond.

One of the most important, and most clearly needed, was a list of three critical tips on surviving a snowstorm.

Photo: Contributed - BBC

The number three BBC tip for surviving a snowstorm:

Make sure you have at least three gallons (13.5 litres) of drinking water per person, per day

The number two BBC tip for surviving a snowstorm:

Tape the windows with bubble wrap to keep the heat in

Aaaaaand (drum roll please) the number one BBC tip for surviving a snowstorm:

Use your dog to measure the snowfall

Yes, this bears repeating. The number one tip for surviving a snowstorm is to use your dog to measure the snowfall. Measuring the snow level is critical to survival because: Cool facebook update.

Number three is a no-brainer. A snowstorm is probably going to make you extra-thirsty. And the snow outside cannot be melted into water because maybe you cant get to it. Pro Tip: If you forgot to get your emergency water supply, turn on the kitchen tap.

Number two is solid. It goes without saying that citizens will have enough bubble wrap at hand to cover all their windows. If not, why not? Pro Tip: If you popped all your emergency bubble wrap for fun, youre going to die, and its your own damn fault. Bubble wrap is for windows, not for fun.

Number one is awesome. When it is time to measure your snow, it is important that you dont just look out the window to see how deep it is, especially if the bubble wrap is distorting your view. Besides, the frequent bathroom runs to get rid of the gallons of water youve been consuming leave little time for looking out the window. So you just toss the dog out there, what the hell, hes not doing much anyway.

There are, however, some concerns with using a dog as a snow measuring device:

Bad: What if your dog reports back using metric and you only know imperial? If your power is out, you will have no way to google a measurement conversion.

Worse: What if your dog is a Chihuahua? It could be early spring before you see him again.

Even worse: What if you don't have a dog? Will a cat do?

Intolerable unacceptable worst case scenario: You manage to get a measurement by sacrificing your dog to the elements, and suddenly the power goes out. Yes, thats right. You have your measurement, but no facebook to show off. No dog, either.

Photo: Contributed - the cat If your dog is busy, you can attempt to use your cat snow-measuring device. Warning: Use this device at your own risk.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: Contributed

The City of Kamloops will be conducting emergency repairs to its Juniper water booster station.

To proceed with the repairs, the utility division will need to conduct tests on the water distribution system to ensure continued water supply to all affected areas throughout the work.

Testing will begin on Thursday, continuing until Friday.

North Kamloops, Brocklehurst, Westsyde and Valleyview may experience lower-than-normal water pressure with a possibility of increased turbidity during this time.

The water supply may be discoloured due to disturbed deposits in pipes  it is not harmful as the water has been disinfected.

Air may also be present in the piping.

Running a cold water faucet should eliminate both air and discoloured water problems.
There has been a lot of discussion lately on the billing practices of Fortis when it comes to natural gas. Being as I have just received my natural gas bill for January, I would like to add my 2 cents.

After looking closely at my bill this month, a charge of $91.66 is showing as the total from December 17th, to January 21st. Out of that total, the amount of actual natural gas consumed has a monetary value pegged at a grand total of $17.05.

In conclusion then, a total of $74.61 was charged for intangibles? $74.61! That means that 82% of my bill goes to everything other than the actual commodity I paid for.

While I realize the excuses I will receive in response will all be related to installation charges, holding charges, reading charges etc., the truth of the matter is that most of the capital costs for this infrastructure was built many years ago, with our taxes by the way, through what used to be B.C. Natural gas.

Maybe I can find a way to charge Fortis for all the capital costs I have incurred in relation to this our B.C. gas?

Line from the main gas line, (main line was installed 30 years ago)? Water heater and installation? Furnace and ducting?

If this is not outright government sanctioned robbery, I dont know what is.

Todd Bradley
Photo: Google Street View

Vernon's Canadian Tire is going to need some help moving into the largest store in the B.C. Interior.

Plans are well underway to move into the former Target space at Village Green Centre. General manager Mark Corson says about 50 people will be hired to help with the big move.

We will need people to set up the new store while our staff continues to run this store, said Corson.

A job fair will be held Feb. 6 at the mall, in a vacant space between Bootlegger and Northern Reflections, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Corson said once the new store is set up, the number of additional people needed will shrink, but some will stay on.

The current store employs close to 100 people, and Corson isn't sure how many more will be needed.

The current Canadian Tire location is 35,000 square feet with a 5,000-square-foot awning area. The new store will be a whopping 69,000 square feet, making it the largest in the region.

The exact opening date has not been officially announced, but it is expected to open by June.
Photo: Thinkstock.com

Two homes have been evacuated in Nakusp after police discovered possible explosives in a nearby house.

RCMP executed a search warrant at 9 a.m. at a residence in the Canyon Trailer Park, located on 9A Avenue, following an ongoing investigation of illegal possession of explosives.

When police arrived, one man was found in the residence. He co-operated with officers and was taken into custody when officers located what appeared to be dynamite.

Cpl. Dan Moskaluk says RCMP took immediate public safety precautions and evacuated two residences at the mobile home park.

Nakusp RCMP officers located what may be explosives during the execution of a search warrant at a residence early Monday morning, he said.

Officers removed the man from the home and immediately notified the nearby residents, advising them of the situation and that it was a necessary precaution that they be evacuated until the items could be properly examined and dealt with by the B.C. RCMP Explosives Detection Unit.

Moskaluk says local emergency response agencies and the local hospital have been notified of the situation in addition to local town officials.

An explosives detection service dog has been called to the scene, and the bomb squad that is en route.

Our main priority is the safety of our residents. The area is secured at this time, and we will await the arrival of our explosives detection resources prior to continuing any further. It is anticipated that this incident will carry through well into the evening, said Moskaluk.

Castanet will have more details as they become available.
 Hamas: Despair Is Not the Reason for Palestinian Violence | Main | Where's the Coverage? Israeli Women Being Murdered by Terrorists 

January 26, 2016

How is the Outsized Financial Aid to Palestinians Used?

The Palestinians are among the world's largest (if not the largest) per capita recipients of international financial aid. The reason for disproportionate aid to the Palestinian Authority appears to stem from the desire of at least some donors to promote Palestinian-Israeli peace. This though the PA isnt negotiating for peace and has rejected repeated Israeli-U.S. offers of a "two-state solution" in exchange for peaceful coexistence.

In fact, Palestinian leaders rejected a two-state solution and peace with Israel in 2000, 2001 and 2008 and the current PA leadership insists on various conditions before peace negotiations can take place, including: Israel must accede to the demands that it accept heretofore unacceptable Palestinian pre-conditions such as refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and  right of return? of millions of Arabs (nearly all of whom have never lived in Israel) which would result in engulfing Israel with Arab Muslims, effectively destroying it as a Jewish state and Western style democracy. Some critics characterize the disproportionate aid as buying off the corrupt PA leadership or propping up the PA against the possibility of a Hamas takeover of the West Bank similar to its ouster of the PA in the Gaza Strip.

Israel's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Hotovely (pictured above) wrote an Op-Ed about the matter (Wall Street Journall, "Where Does All That Aid for Palestinians Go?," Jan. 25, 2016). Among other things, she asserted that:

Large amounts of foreign aid to the Palestinians are spent to support terrorists and deepen hostility [against Jews]. For years the most senior figures in the Palestinian Authority have supported, condoned and glorified terror. "Every drop of blood that has been spilled in Jerusalem," President Mahmoud Abbas said last September on Palestinian television, "is holy blood as long as it was for Allah." Countless Palestinian officials and state-run television have repeatedly hailed the murder of Jews. This support for terrorism doesn't end with hate speech. The Palestinian regime in Ramallah pays monthly stipends of between $400 and $3,500 to terrorists and their families, the latter of which is more than five times the average monthly salary of a Palestinian worker. According to data from its budgetary reports, compiled in June 2014 by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the PA's annual budget for supporting Palestinian terrorists was then roughly $75 million...



Minister Hotovely source, in addition to the PA's annual budget, is Global Humanitarian Assistance (an organization funded by the governments of Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom) particularly its Palestinian section.

Ms. Hotovely points out in her closing remarks,

Donors to the Palestinians who support peace would do well to rethink the way they extend assistance. Money should go to economic and civic empowerment, not to perpetuate a false sense of victimhood and unconditional entitlement. It should foster values of tolerance and nonviolence, not the glorification and financing of terrorism.

Note: The United States is a major donor to Palestinian agencies, including the PA.

Posted by MK at January 26, 2016 02:44 PM

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Photo: Contributed

A police officer who used a dog leash to make an improvised tourniquet is one of 21 officers from the RCMP's Lower Mainland District who were recognized at an award ceremony Jan. 21, at BC RCMP headquarters.

The award recipients were lauded for outstanding contributions, for reaching a milestone in their career or as special recognition for their actions.

Various award certificates were handed out, including the Commanding Officers Certificates of Appreciation for police officer actions.

Awards ceremonies are an exceptional opportunity to reflect on all of the hard work that police officers do each and every day, said C/Supt. Jodie Boudreau, Lower Mainland District Assistant Commander.

Whether they have put their own wellbeing and safety at risk to help save another, whether their efforts were crucial to an investigation, or they are being recognized for their exemplary service, these members embody the qualities required to be a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

One of the recipients included Const. Manny Bahi who was presented with the Commanding Officers Commendation for Outstanding Service and the St. John Lifesaving Award for his actions in September, 2014.

Bahi attended a reported break and enter and stabbing where he found a male bleeding with life-threatening injuries.

He improvised, and used a dog leash as a tourniquet which he applied to the males wound. The police officers quicks assessment and decisive action that day resulted in the victims recovery.

Other highlights included police officers commended for bravery.

Some of these incidents included a police officer arresting a suspect lunging at him with a knife; a police officer running into a burning Burnaby apartment building to save people as they cried for help; a police officer saving an individual ready to jump off a bridge and a police officer who interrupted a violent home invasion in progress.

In all of these incidents police officers put their own lives at risk, went into situations without knowing what the outcome would be, all to help others in need.
Photo: Contributed - Flickr/BC gov't

Premier Christy Clark has sharp words for what she calls "the forces of No" in British Columbia who mount resistance efforts to government initiatives purely out of a fear of change.

Clark made the comments during a news conference where she fielded questions about opposition to the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership, environmental concerns over liquefied natural gas development and tax breaks for the mining industry.

She says negotiating trade pacts and resource developments involves tough, but potentially rewarding benefits and she would rather be known as an achiever than a quitter.

Clark's comments drew the ire of First Nations leaders and the Opposition New Democrats who signed a declaration demanding that a proposed LNG plant on Lelu Island on B.C.'s northern coast be scrapped.

Lax Kw'alaams hereditary Chief Yahaan says his people view the proposed Pacific Northwest LNG project as a threat to their salmon-fishing culture, and Clark's comments do not consider the deep connection his people have with the Skeena River.

Clark also welcomed former B.C. finance minister Carole Taylor as an adviser on her government's policy issues.
Photo: Google Maps

The province says the costs of building a bridge from Nanaimo to Gabriola Island outweigh the potential benefits.

A feasibility study into the project says the bridge could technically be built, but would not be as cost-effective as the current ferry link.

The study by engineering consulting firm CH2MHill examined road connections, construction costs, operation and maintenance costs, travel time, reliability and environmental impacts.

Possible road and bridge options in the report ranged in cost from $258 million to $520 million, with the average project cost estimated at $359 million.

Transportation Minister Todd Stone says in a release that there is simply not enough compelling evidence to justify the bridge.

He says the existing ferry service is the best way to ensure coastal communities are connected in an affordable, efficient and sustainable manner.
Photo: Kate Bouey

Medical marijuana clinics in Vernon want city council to put the brakes on RCMP action against them.

A delegation appeared before council Monday with three RCMP officers looking on from the audience, including the superintendent of the North Okanagan detachment, Jim McNamara.

In a written presentation, council was asked to instruct the RCMP to make cannabis offences their lowest priority pending new federal regulations.

Stop looking at us as a problem and more of a solution, said Jeff Gaudette of MMJ Total Healthcare, representing three of the five store-front dispensaries.

Gaudette agreed medical marijuana clinics have proliferated in other cities and could do so in the North Okanagan. One gets shut down, two open.

He said there were others in the community, including mobile marijuana shops and people operating from their homes.

Municipalities should have control and regulate the number of locations of businesses, he told council, stressing the need for regulation of the industry to ensure standards of quality.

Gaudette also rejected the suggestion B.C. liquor stores sell marijuana products if the substance becomes legal in Canada.

He called for a patient centre model.

People get medical benefits from cannabis, said Gaudette, and consultations are necessary.
Photo: Contributed - UBC

Hundreds of pages of documents relating to the resignation of a former University of British Columbia president have become public, but they don't reveal why Arvind Gupta relinquished his post.

The university has released 861 pages of documents in response to a series of Access to Information requests, including meeting agendas, receipts, emails and the terms of Gupta's resignation.

Gupta abruptly left his job in August, just one year into his five-year term, saying he would return to his academic career as a computer science professor.

Emails show UBC board of governors chair John Montalbano wanted to have a "confidential discussion, not captured on email" with Gupta just days before board members received notice about a meeting where they would discuss the president's resignation.

An agreement dated Aug. 6, 2015, shows UBC agreed to top-up Gupta's $446,750 salary until Jan. 31, 2016, and that he would be given a year's leave of absence from Feb. 1, 2015 to Jan. 31, 2017, plus a $130,000 research grant.

Montalbano stepped down in October after an investigation into a professor's claims that she was intimidated after writing a blog post suggesting Gupta lost a "masculinity contest" with the school's leadership.
Photo: CTV

Vancouver has been named the third most unaffordable housing market in the world.

Demographia International released the rankings in its 12th annual Housing Affordability Survey.

Hong Kong and Sydney are the only markets where housing is more expensive. San Jose, Calif., was just behind Vancouver, followed by London.

The study used 2015 home sale data from 87 metropolitan areas in nine countries and ranked prices as a multiplier of median pretax household income.

A multiplier of 5.1 is considered severely unaffordable. Vancouver's rating was a whopping 10.8, meaning homes cost more than 10 times the average household income.

Kelowna came in with a multiplier of 6.4.

The most affordable cities studied were in the U.S., with a median multiplier of 3.7. Hong Kong topped the list with a 19 rating.

A total of 4,578 homes sold in Vancouver for more than $1 million last year. That's up 46 per cent from 2014.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: Thinkstock.com

A man was rushed to hospital early Tuesday morning after crashing through a concrete barricade.

On Jan. 26 at 2:08 a.m., police received a report of a single vehicle accident on Highland Road.

A pickup truck had lost control and rolled over.

It appears the vehicle lost control while traveling at a high rate of speed and crashed through a cement barricade and went off road, explains Sgt. Edward Preto.

The male driver was the single occupant and was injured in the accident. He was transported to Royal Inland Hospital for treatment.

Preto says the RCMP Traffic Analyst is currently on scene investigating the accident.

Highland Road is currently single-lane-alternating traffic until the investigation is completed.
Photo: Contributed

Cpl. Jean-Rene Michaud is back at work.

The Kamloops RCMP officer recently returned to work more than 13 months after he was shot multiple times Dec. 3, 2014.

"He has returned to work in an administrative, gradual capacity," said Cpl. Cheryl Bush.

"It's certainly great to have him back in the office."

There is no time frame for a return to active duty.

Michaud, who was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of the shooting, has undergone numerous surgeries since the incident.

He was shot during a traffic stop that sparked an intense manhunt in Kamloops.

Kenneth Michel Knutson, 37, faces four charges including attempted murder with a firearm and discharging a firearm with intent to wound or disfigure.
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
 New York Times "Terrorism" Double Standard | Main | Hamas: Despair Is Not the Reason for Palestinian Violence 

January 25, 2016

Palestinian Cleric: ISIS Must Conquer Rome, Washington and Paris



In a lecture delivered at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Palestinian Arab cleric Sheikh Abu Taqi al-Din al-Dari said the terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or IS) must conquer Rome, Washington and Paris? for the sake of Allah.?



According to a report by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), an organization that translates Arab and Iranian media, al-Daris exhortations were posted on the Internet on Jan. 16, 2016.



In that posting, al-Dari said:



"Nowadays, power means shooting  the shooting of shells, missiles, and so on. With regard to the natural and original battles of the Muslims, (we say that) the relationship of the Abode of Islam with the abodes of the infidels is one of war. Therefore, the Islamic state must prepare and then act to annex those countries (to the Abode of Islam), and to impose its control and authority over those countries. If the (infidel) authorities and regimes refuse to allow the Islamic state to impose the rule and order of Islam over their countries, they must pay the jizya poll tax [a tax that some non-Muslims living under an Islamic state must pay]. If they refuse that too, they should be fought for the sake of Allah.?



The basic principle? the Palestinian cleric said, is that the Islamic state should work to conquer the world through jihad for the sake of Allah.?



CAMERA has noted other instances of incitement by Palestinian Arab religious officialsmany of which have occurred at the al-Aqsa mosque often described as Islam's third-holiest site after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. For example, on Oct. 24, 2015 a Palestinian cleric named Abu Ahmad called for the restoration of an Islamic caliphate and the destruction of the Jews, the Americans and the Russians (Palestinian Cleric: Restore the Caliphate and Murder the Jews,? Nov. 5, 2015).?



The grand mufti (religious figure) of Jerusalem has even delivered sermons at the al-Aqsa mosque supporting the terrorist tactic of suicide bombings (Terminate Wakf Authority Over the Temple Mount,? The Jerusalem Post, Jan. 26, 2015).



The Waqf (religious authority) oversees the al-Aqsa mosque and the Palestinian Authority (PA) appoints its grand mufti. The mosque is located on Judaisms holiest site, the Temple Mount.



Since September 2015, violent attacks against Israelis have followed the PA-propagated libel that Israel planned to destroy al-Aqsaa tactic Palestinian leaders have used to encourage anti-Jewish violence in 1929, 1996 and 2000 among other instances, as CAMERA has noted (Incitement over Temple Mount Leads to Palestinian Violence, Again,? Sept. 16, 2015).



In November 2015 the PA rejected a proposal from Israel and Jordan for 24-hour surveillance of the Temple Mountdespite the fact that PA President Mahmoud Abbas has used Western worries over rising ISIS support in the West Bank to maintain support for himself as the only alternative (Why Palestinians Do Not Want Cameras on The Temple Mount,? The Jerusalem Post, Nov. 3, 2015.



Is Abbas worried that the videos would not only prove the PA promoted al-Aqsa is endangered? libel to be a lie, but also that anti-Jewish and anti-Western sermons and actions would be displayed for the world to see? Yet, given the lack of coverage of the exhortations by Palestinian Arab clerics, perhaps such concerns would be overblown.

Posted by SD at January 25, 2016 03:25 PM

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Siam Cement Group eyes Vietnam expansion

26 January 2016

Thailand's Siam Cement Group plans to expand its operations in Vietnam, especially in the cement and petrochemical sectors.



"Our target is that we must have a cement factory here, but by when we still cannot say. We're studying if we should invest on our own or through a joint venture," Dhep Vongvanich, SCG's Vietnam executive director, told The Nation newspaper.

Meanwhile, Vongvanich added that SCG would continue with the construction of the US$4.5bn Long Son integrated petrochemical complex in the southern Ba Ria  Vung Tau Province, despite the recent withdrawal of Qatar Petroleum, one of the four key partners in the project.





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OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Connie Moran told The Mississippi Press Tuesday she "absolutely" intends to seek a fourth term as Mayor of Ocean Springs next year.

In recent days, there had been speculation that Moran was telling close associates she would not run again, but Moran quickly put those rumors to rest.

"There is absolutely no truth to that," Moran said. "I absolutely intend to run again. I haven't discussed it much with anyone, but the few people I have spoken with I've told that I will definitely run."

The 59-year-old Moran is a native of Ocean Springs. She was elected to her first term as mayor in 2005 -- taking office just six weeks before Hurricane Katrina struck the Mississippi coast.

Moran, a Democrat, won reelection in 2009, narrowly defeating Republican challenger Scott Walker. She became the first Ocean Springs mayor since the 1800s to serve three consecutive terms when she defeated Republican John McKay in 2013, garnering 62 percent of the vote.

In 2011, Moran was the Democratic nominee for state treasurer, but was defeated by Republican Lynn Fitch.

The next municipal elections are scheduled for the fall of 2017. Thus far, no potential challengers have come forward.
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- A Hurley woman who was arrested on multiple DUI charges after a 2012 crash which killed a 4-year-old and seriously injured four others was on powerful prescription medications at the time of the crash.

According to the Sun Herald, court records indicate Carissa Dawn McCary tested positive for multiple drugs, including methadone, an opiod used to help alleviate withdrawal from narcotics.

A Jackson County Grand Jury has indicted McCary, 40, on felony DUI/causing death for the death of 4-year-old Darren Gaspard Jr. of Starks, La., and on three counts of felony DUI for the disfigurement of three others in the Gaspard family, and one count of felony child endangerment for serious injuries to McCary's own teenage child.

She was also arrested after the accident for probation violation stemming from a felony conviction for possession of precursors to making methamphetamine.

The accident occurred about 9:15 p.m. on Nov. 28, 2012, in Hurley in front of Sassy's Restaurant.

Darren Gaspard died the next day at the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile.

He was in a Dodge Dakota pickup truck with his family, but was ejected when the truck was struck head-on by a Toyota Camry driven by McCary.

McCary, who had a child in her vehicle, drifted into the eastbound lanes and struck the Gaspards, who had just pulled onto the highway from the Greer's supermarket parking lot.

Darren Gaspard, 24, was the driver of the pickup truck. The other passengers were 8-month-old William Gaspard and Jessica Gaspard, 25. They were all injured, leading to the additional DUI charges.
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Restoration of the historic LaPointe-Krebs house in Pascagoula continues. The home is believed to be the oldest building in Mississippi.

(Tyler Carter/Gulflive.com)

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- After delays caused by Hurricane Katrina, progress in restoring the historic LaPointe-Krebs house in Pascagoula is back on track.

The LaPointe-Krebs house is believed to be the oldest building in Mississippi, and said to be the oldest in the entire Mississippi Valley, as it dates back to 1730, during the French Colonial period.

According to Melanie Moore, a member of the committee overseeing the restoration, the house was used as a residence until the 1930s. Moore is excited about the progress that has been made so far and what is to come.

"We meet each month to hear the report of progress made in restoring this historic house which is a Mississippi Landmark," Moore said. "This month the team carefully raised the west end of this building and the walls are made of oyster shells, mud, and moss mixture to level it with the rest of the house and it went well."

While the house was undergoing the beginning phases of restoration back in 2005, the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina placed the project at a standstill. With $1.2 million dollars in grant money provided by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the project is back on track.

Along with the house, the committee plans to reopen the museum, a separate building on the property with professionally designed exhibits to showcase the old house, its former inhabitants, and the local history according to Moore.

"The exhibits will be installed in April or May, so we will be open for the summer," she said. "The historic house will need another couple of years depending on how fast grant opportunities come in. Depending on how the funds come in, the house can take another year and a half, otherwise, it could be another two or three years, just depends on funding."

Ken P'Pool, the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History had an interesting take when it comes to the revival of the LaPointe-Krebs house.

"The house can be described as human being in regards to feeling bad and going to the doctor."

"You don't want to go to the doctor and just have him operate on you," P'Pool said. "You want him to run some tests first and make sure he has identified exactly what the problems are and what the best treatment for those are and that is the process we have been going through."

P'Pool also said there are few buildings with similar makeup to the La Pointe-Krebs house in America.

"It has some unusual problems to it and there are very few people around who have the experience in dealing with those so we have had to spend a good deal of time researching the problem, getting the right consultants together, and determining what would be the best methodology to go about solving the issues of the house."

As unique of a restoration project that this is, trial and error will be part of the equation in restoring the La Pointe-Krebs house to its former glory, according to P'Pool.
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Gulfport armed robbery suspects (left to right): Joseph Wilson, Michael Mason and Monica Wickward.

(Gulfport Police Department)

GULFPORT, Mississippi -- Two men and one woman have been arrested and charged with the armed robbery of a Gulfport tobacco and beer store Monday.

According to Gulfport Police Sgt. Damon McDaniel, officers responded to a call of a robbery at the Tobacco and Beer Discount Store on E. Pass Road around 1:24 p.m. Monday.

Police learned that a white male suspect had entered the store and approached the store clerk, brandished a handgun and demanded money. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the suspect fled the business in a vehicle.

The incident was captured on the store's surveillance video.

Police gathered descriptions of the suspect and the vehicle, which was dispatched to area officers and neighboring law enforcement agencies. A short time later, the suspect vehicle was stopped by Biloxi police near the intersection of Popps Ferry Road and Pass Road.

The vehicle was occupied by Michael Dwaine Mason, 38, of Biloxi; Monica Kristy Wickward, 35, of Biloxi; and Joseph Lee Wilson, 39, of Eight Mile, Ala. Mason was identified as the suspect who robbed the store and all three were taken into custody.

Mason, Wickward and Wilson were each charged with armed robbery and transported to the Harrison County Adult Detention Facility under bonds set by Justice Court Judge Melvin Ray -- $200,000 for Mason; $100,000 each for Wickward and Wilson.
Even if Anthony had a year to analyze and dissect each piece...(he couldn't tell if it would)... stand the harsh light of public exposure.

WUWT insider Willis Eschenbach tells you all you need to know about Anthony Watts and his blog, WattsUpWithThat (WUWT). As part of his scathing commentary , Wondering Willis accuses Anthony Watts of being clueless about the blog articles he posts. To paraphrase: Click here to read more.
Holy Jaysus

Strange & Familiar: Architecture on Fogo Island from Site Media inc.

Last week I had choices to make. I could go to a Toronto volunteer night, a ward advocacy meeting, a public presentation about the plans for a park beneath the Gardiner Expressway, or a see a film documenting the Fogo Island project designed by Newfoundland born, but Norway based architect, Todd Saunders . I went with my heart and the heart wanted to go home.This project by the Shorefast Foundation , primarily funded by philanthropist Zita Cobb is fascinating for many reasons. Cobbs own story is amazing. She grew up on Fogo but moved away to study and found success in the booming fibre optics industry of the 90s, eventually rising to position of CFO, making her one of the top paid female executives in North America. When she tired of the tech industry, she cashed out her significant holdings (making almost $70 million by some accounts), bought a yacht and sailed the world. She set up a school in Africa and created scholarships for promising students in her home town. When someone approached Cobb saying, You realize, youre paying our children to leave. she had to rethink her philanthropy. Thus the project to create six studios for visiting artists (four have been built) and a boutique inn with all the mod-cons for tourists. The inn and the arts projects are intended to be the germ of a greater economy; the inn needs staff, linens, furniture, someone to make the furniture, maintenance, food service and on and on.The film highlighted much of the foundations other work such as creating a punt race organized to showcase a boat building internship program but the star of the show is the strikingly minimal architecture perched atop beautiful rocky outcrops. The wonderful balancing act Saunders manages is how these structures speak directly with the landscape and of the vernacular architecture once so common in rural Newfoundland. Even Saunders himself is overcome by the power and beauty of what he, Cobb and the builders of Fogo have created together when he makes his first winter site visit. You can hear him exclaim, Holy Jaysus! within the roar of the wind and water and ice. In design circles, you get sort of use to see beautiful little wooden boxes set like jewels on a craggy shore but usually in Scandinavia. I think Canadians and Americans are awestruck to see that this architectural statement and place of such natural beauty belongs on this side of the Atlantic.Unfortunately, it takes a wealthy over achiever and a talented architect to fight against what time has worn away. Outport towns and the culture they incubated and nurtured are more history than future. The wonders of the Internet and the ease of global travel have overwhelmed local traditions which have withered in the wake of modernity. When I go to St. Johns I hear more accents than ever before, people brought to the city by oil bringing their expertise and their own voices. Yet you hear fewer and fewer distinct Newfoundland accents. When I was in high school, I could recognize accents from the east end of St. Johns, from St. Phillips, from Trepassey, Bay Roberts, Gander or Corner Brook. My ear is no longer so attuned but Ive been told anecdotally that you just dont hear the really thick accents in younger Newfoundlanders. As globalization brings us closer together it decimates what distinguishes us from each other.At one point during the film we see an accomplished craftsman and boatbuilder. As he shows the cameras his collection of rough hewn lumber selected for quality and shape, I was struck by how my own father spoke about how his grandfather would choose wood in the very same way. Seeing the wharves and houses of Fogo, Tilting and Joe Batts Arm I couldnt help but be reminded of the times we visited the now abandoned island where my father grew up. Was it nostalgia? Sentimental feelings? A romance for a faraway and isolated place or some more inherent connection to the sea? I dont know, but I let myself get lost a little bit on those rocks and for a moment I could smell the ocean air, feel the salt spray, the cold of the open water and the warmth of the shore.

Labels: architecture, film, landscape, movies, Newfoundland, video
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Its Australia Day! Well sort of, actually it was yesterday in Australia but I wont bore you with all that time zone nonsense. Australia Day marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales and raising of the Flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by a guy who might possibly be one of the iSpy answers this week (see what I did there?). Australia day is celebrated with community festivals, concerts and citizen ceremonies but we plan to celebrate with an iSpy Search!

Heres a quick reminder how to participate in iSpy Search:

Throughout the day we will tweet clues via @Swagbucks on Twitter with a Swag Search link to help you spot the answer ( remember to click the Swag Search link, aside from spotting the answer you might just get a search win ).

As soon as you solve the clue enter the answer , in ALL CAPS in the Swag Code box . If you are among the first x-number of people to enter the code correctly, you will be instantly awarded x-number of SB. The numbers of winners for each clue and the amount of SB won will change but will be announced prior to the question.

Each question has a new batch of winners  you have the potential to win a total of 16 SB today from iSpy Search alone ! Each question is open to all Swagbucks members in all countries.

Please do not share the iSpy Search answers on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, or other social media channels. These are wholly different than our daily Swag Codes and are for our users who do the work. Similarly, there will be neither mobile push notifications nor SwagButton notifications when the answers are active.

Hints on how to win:

Follow @Swagbucks on Twitter.

Use the Swag Search link in the clue to find the answer ( and possibly get a search win )

Todays iSpy Search breakdown:

The first 4,000 people to enter the correct answer in the Swag Code box to the first iSpy Search today will win 3 SB .

The first 3,000 people to enter the correct answer in the Swag Code box to the second iSpy Search today will win 4 SB .

The first 2,500 people to enter the correct answer in the Swag Code box to the third iSpy Search today will win 5 SB .

The first 3,000 people to enter the correct answer in the Swag Code box to the fourth iSpy Search today will win 4 SB .

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below and we will do our best to answer. We look forward to your feedback throughout the day.

-Team Swagbucks
As the telecom infrastructure world moves to software, there are still anti-pundits that question the ability of software to scale and be reliable. Call them hardware bigots. But their position is totally understandable. Hardware has scaled in telecom for decades, and hardware architectures have proven to deliver five 9s reliability. But the data and IT type architectures utilizing commercial off the shelf (COTS) equipment and oversubscription models have proven just as reliable. In these architectures, if a unit goes down there are others available to take up the slack. And with the stacking of these units, they have proven to be just as scalable as well.

This has required software to manage and control the COTS and/or software based offerings. And as NFV has moved telecom infrastructure inexorably more towards software, these load balancing and scalability architectures are becoming more and more important. Building large-scale and highly-reliable applications was a challenge that the web application world has solved with Application Deliver Controllers (ADCs), essentially an intelligent load balancer for web, database, and other network-based traffic.

This model can be applied to real-time telecom communications. However, specialization will likely be required in the real-time SIP communication world because the requirements of voice and video calls are different than the requirements of accessing web pages or getting email. Real-time is critical and cannot be treated as other network-based traffic. Weve already seen in management of software media servers specs from the IETF (RFC 6917) and 3GPP (TS 23.218) that call for a Media Resource Broker (MRB) to direct traffic to/from Telecom Application Servers and media servers.

For ADCs that are deployed in a real-time telecom software-based infrastructure environment, specialization is required because there are some shortcomings for web-focused ADCs. Namely, poor handling of RTC protocols, no support for WebRTC, and

SIP support issues including the ability to intelligently handle layer 5/6 traffic and SIP 3xx and 4xx messages. These are critical for deploying an ADC throughout the IP infrastructure when real-time voice and video are deployed.

Which leaves two choices  deploy a new real-time ADC next to a web-focused ADC, (which is a great choice if you already have an ADC deployed), or deploy the real-time ADC in the telecom focused environment (which would also be able to handle the web based ADC requirements).

In the future, Ill cover some use cases for a real-time ADC. Stay tuned.
Dear Deb and Colleagues,

Your mention of Bernie Sanders campaign raises the question for me, What should we ask from candidates in the way of policies to advance a democracy-in-schools movement? Sanders proposals for expanded government benefits like health and education dont yet have a civic side.

Today there is great deal of skepticism toward government. But people, especially young people, show eagerness to help make change.

Developing ideas for how government can be of the people not only for the people after the election would create a model of citizens as producers, not simply consumers.

We worked in this vein in our Reinventing Citizenship initiative with the Clinton White House from 1993-95, developing ideas to overcome the gap between citizens and government. A team led by Carmen Sirianni, our research director, created a proposal for a Civic Partnership Council, chaired by the Vice President, that would coordinate civic engagement practices across agencies. It helped to shape the 1995 Clinton State of the Union address and had support from William Galston, White House policy director. Polling by Stan Greenberg showed a lot of potential interest. But Washington maneuvers of the administration eventually thwarted the idea.

There are examples from the past of large-scale government efforts that catalyzed civic engagement, creating alternatives to government as simply a service provider. These could help overcome popular alienation from government and generate new ideas.

Jess Gilberts terrific new book, Planning Democracy: Agrarian Intellectuals and the Intended New Deal (Yale University Press, 2015) describes an extraordinary if little known case during the Roosevelt presidency.

From 1938 to 1941, a group of agrarian leaders in the Department of Agriculture worked with land grant colleges, Cooperative Extension workers, and community leaders to develop a democracy initiative built on continuing education and cooperative land use planning. Supported by Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace, they included M. L. Wilson, undersecretary of agriculture, Howard Tolley, chief of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics and engaged intellectuals like the anthropologist Ruth Benedict, Charles Johnson, author of The Negro in American Civilization and others.

Against scholarship which has maintained that the US Department of Agriculture in the New Deal was led by condescending technocrats, Gilbert shows that the agrarian leaders were organic intellectuals of the Midwestern family-farming class. They created a counter-narrative that challenged the dominant American Dream where the ideal is making a lot of money. They respected local cultures, local histories, family farming, and the intelligence of ordinary people. Their philosophy, drawing on John Dewey, was education for a democratic way of life. They believed that democracy required continuous learning, personal growth, cultural adjustment, and civic discussion, writes Gilbert.

The agrarian leaders worked with farm groups, churches, farm unions, youth clubs, professional and business groups, and government agencies. They trained about 60,000 discussion leaders, and catalyzed tens of thousands of discussion groups on topics ranging from family farming and soil erosion to the meaning of democracy. They also organized schools of philosophy to educate educators in topics such as the challenges facing modern societies. They sponsored lectures for hundreds of USDA employees on democracy, with leading intellectuals of the day. All conveyed the idea that democracy is something people make together, not simply consume.

The initiative ended in late 1941 after Henry Wallace left the department to become Vice President and the Farm Bureau, the big farmers organization, mounted fierce opposition. But the effort, called the Program Study and Discussion, was immense. Three million farm men and women took part in local discussion groups across all regions of the country. Tens of thousands participated in 150 schools of philosophy. A key lesson for our age of dysfunctional us-versus-them partisanship: all materials included critics of the administration, from left and right, as well as supporters. This was a cross-partisan different kind of politics.

The effort also succeeded in launching a process of participatory land use planning across the country. Among other things, it helped birth soil conservation districts and generated plans for preventing soil erosion and fertility depletion and protecting family farms.

Could we propose something analogous for a new administrations Department of Education?
"Aladdin" opened at New York's New Amsterdam Theatre in 2014, scored five Tony Award nominations and continues to play very profitably. It's based on the 1992 animated movie of the same name, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. (The late Robin Williams played the Genie.) Casey Nicholaw, who helmed "The Book of Mormon," is the director and choreographer of the musical.
Theres less than a week less before the Iowa caucuses, the very first contest in the 2016 presidential race. And, according to polling, just three candidates have a shot at winning the state on the Republican side (mega-real estate developer Donald Trump, who is at the top of polls, plus U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, of Texas, and Marco Rubio,



of Florida).

On the Democratic side, two candidates seem to have a good chance: former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont.

So what kind of a record do each of these candidates have when it comes to education? And what have they been saying about the issue on the campaign trail? Were going to spend the next week telling you.

First up is Marco Rubio, third place in the polls in Iowa, according to the realclearpolitics average. So whats his edu-record and where has he been on K-12 on the campaign trail?

Heres your rundown:

1. Rubio wants to get rid of the U.S. Department of Education.

Rubio is far from the only candidate who has said we should abolish the Education Department Cruz and Trump are in the same camp. But its still an interesting position for someone who is running in the so-called establishment lane for the GOP nod. (By contrast, two other comparatively moderate contenders, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich have said they just want to slim down the department. )

Consider this along with Rubios vote against the Senate version of the Every Student Succeeds Actwhich scales back the federal role in K-12 considerably, but not as much as some conservatives would have likedand its clear that the Florida senator is really running to the right on K-12 policy.

2. Rubios no fan of the Common Core State Standardsand hes attacked his rivals for

Early on in the campaign season, Rubio distanced himself from Bush , a political mentor, by saying he didnt support the common core. Now hes used the standards to attack other GOP rivals, including Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a common core fan-turned-hater. (Check out the exchange between Rubio and Christie during the most recent Republican debate .) The interesting part: Rubio had a chance to vote against federal involvement in common core when the Senate considered the Every Student Succeeds Act. But he didnt take it.

3. Rubio has rushed out to hug school choice.

Rubio doesnt have a comprehensive K-12 education plan out yet. (To be fair, none of the contenders in either party do either, except Bush.) But its a good bet his plan will put a premium on school choice. Hes sponsored legislation to make tax credits available for private school tuition and worked with Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., on charter legislation. He also gave the thumbs-up to big school choice bills sponsored by Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Tim Scott, R-S.C. Some of Rubios top rivals, including Bush and Cruz, have also talked up choice.

4. Even though he voted against the Senate version of what became ESSA, and isnt a fan of the common core, Rubio has supported standards and accountability at the state level.

In his book, An American Son: A Memoir, Rubio said he was very proud that as speaker of the Florida House we continued the accountability-based education reforms begun by Jeb Bush. Namely, the state raised the standards for math, science, and language arts to better prepare students for college, for technical schools and for success in the global marketplace. So no common core, but high standards are good, it would seem.

5. Hes very interested in job-training and college access.

That makes Rubio a great fit for the 2016 campaign, which has focused way more on post-secondary issues than improving K-12 schools. Rubio collaborated with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on a bill that would bring transparency to the process of picking a college. And he worked with Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., on a bill to create American Dream accounts that help low-income students prepare for college. During debates, Rubio has also hit that theme, saying a couple different times that America needs to step up its game on vocational education.

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Loyola University student Michael Fasullo, right wearing tie, speaks at a news conference on the sidewalk near Loyola University in Chicago on Jan. 25, 2016. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Just a day before nontenured faculty members at Loyola University of Chicago cast final ballots on whether to unionize, students at the Roman Catholic school faced a conduct hearing Monday after demonstrating their support for dining hall workers trying to negotiate a new union contract.

Lillian Osborne, 22, who hopes to graduate in May, said she and other students could face probation or suspension for a Nov. 20 demonstration that started on a lawn and ended inside a dining hall, where students confronted a supervisor during business hours to express their solidarity with employees. After explaining their rationale to a manager for Aramark, the food service company negotiating with workers, students cheered and peacefully disbanded, Osborne said.

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Loyola said it did not disapprove of the students' demonstration or its subject matter, but questioned the disruption the protest might have caused. The students said the administration expects to issue its decision later this week.

"As a Jesuit, Catholic university, we strongly believe in, and welcome, debate and differing views on campus," said Kristin Trehearne Lane, a university spokeswoman. "We support students who express their views through respectful and responsible means."

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But Osborne said the administration's decision to try the students after receiving a complaint from the Aramark supervisor raises questions about the administration's rationale and sincerity.

"We can see in the complaint letter written by the Aramark manager who filed the charge against us  he said the union and workers misled students and we should be re-educated on the issues," Osborne said. "That gives us a lot of perspective on what this is really about."

The controversy comes amid a heated debate between the school's administration and its nontenured faculty, who wrap up a secret ballot Tuesday on whether to organize a union. Students say they are simply acting out the Jesuit values they learned at Loyola and echoing Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, who delivered a passionate defense of the labor movement in a speech in September to the Chicago Federation of Labor.

"I have come today to tell Chicago's workers, the Catholic Church is with you; Pope Francis is with you; I am with you," he said.

When pressed at the time on whether he would direct Chicago-area Catholic universities to support unions on their campuses, Cupich said he didn't have the authority to tell them what to do.

"Nationally this is a discussion going on with regard to adjunct faculty members across universities, whether Catholic or whatever," he said. "As a Catholic bishop I have absolutely no involvement or control over hiring policies and labor policies of any of the Catholic (higher education) institutions."

But the argument made by Loyola and St. Xavier University, a Catholic university with campuses in Chicago and Orland Park, differs from secular universities. Both schools have argued that their Catholic identity should bar the National Labor Relations Board from helping faculty organize a union and push for a collective bargaining agreement. In rulings last year, the NLRB disagreed, saying it did have the right to intervene at Loyola and other religious schools. The issue of whether those rulings apply to St. Xavier is still pending and Loyola still could appeal.

In a video posted on the university's website earlier this month, Loyola's interim president John Pelissero said his opposition to a faculty union does not contradict church teachings. He believes the Service Employees International Union is not the right union to represent teachers. The best way to resolve issues is to collaborate without a third party, he said.

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"Catholic social teaching recognizes the significant contribution that unions have made related to workers' rights," Pelissero said. "But it does not suggest unions as the only means to achieve our goals."

Matt Hoffmann, a longtime adjunct instructor who earned his Ph.D. at Loyola, said calling the union a third party is a misleading tactic.

"The bargaining team is going to be made up of faculty and we're going to do it in a democratic manner," he said. "We are the union."

Votes in the faculty election will be tabulated Wednesday.

Since the contract with dining hall workers expired Aug. 31, the workers' union, Unite Here Local 1, has unsuccessfully demanded higher wages, access to health care and protection for immigrant workers such as language accommodations and time off for immigration proceedings.

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According to the union, Aramark employees on many other college campuses have access to health care, but not at Loyola.

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Peter Kirstein, a labor history professor at St. Xavier, said more Catholic schools are finding that church teachings are expensive to uphold. In many cases, such as food services, schools have outsourced the labor and, therefore, the collective bargaining responsibilities. Even so, Kirstein said, administrators should recognize their moral obligation to require that companies provide health care and a living wage.

"Universities need to have less fear about justice," he said. "Workers who want to organize in a union  they're not selfish. They're not radical. They're poor and people don't want to be poor."

Dan Abraham, organizing director for Loyola's dining hall workers, said he has seen more college students in general step up to support workplace justice and union contract negotiations on their campuses. Students at Catholic schools often justify their solidarity in the values of the very institution that's challenging them.

"That overall is a positive for us," Abraham said. "There's nothing like having the pope behind you."

mbrachear@tribpub.com

Twitter @TribSeeker
Wayne Watson, the former president of Chicago State University, violated school policy when he made false accusations against board members, a state ethics inquiry found. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

The former president of Chicago State University acted without integrity and violated school policy when he made false allegations against two board members as they were trying to push him out, a state ethics investigation found.

Wayne Watson's conduct "went against the expectation that employees act with integrity when representing the university, and raises serious questions and concerns as to his leadership of the university," according to a report released last week by the Governor's Office of Executive Inspector General, which investigated the matter.

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Watson's presidency at the Chicago public university ended Dec. 31. He now has the title of "president emeritus" and will be paid his annual salary of about $200,000 until his contract ends June 30, a school spokesman said.

The state investigation zeroed in on a few chaotic weeks in late February and early March 2013 when the university's board of trustees, then led by chair Gary Rozier and vice chair Zaldwaynaka "Z" Scott, decided to seek new leadership at the South Side university. They had negotiated with Watson that he would take a yearlong sabbatical and had named an acting president, but Watson then decided he wanted to stay in office.

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As the full board was set to meet on Watson's future, Watson sent a four-page letter to trustees Feb. 26 that alleged Rozier and Scott were retaliating against him because he wouldn't accede to their pressures to hire and reward their friends, according to the report. At the same time, the board had hired a law firm to investigate whether Watson was having a relationship with a university employee and whether that employee received improper benefits because of it, according to the state report.

Trustees decided March 8 that Watson would remain as president as they decided whether any action should be taken for his alleged violation of school policy related to the employee. Ultimately, Gov. Pat Quinn named new trustees to replace Rozier and Scott, and Watson's contract was extended until June 2016.

The state investigation began after the ethics office received two complaints Feb. 28, 2013  one about the alleged misconduct by the former board members and another that included a copy of Watson's letter.

The ethics investigators, after interviewing Watson and the former board members, determined that Rozier and Scott did nothing wrong, and instead found "wrongdoing" by Watson.

Watson's letter "contained numerous false accusations ... for which President Watson had no evidentiary support," the report said. In two interviews with investigators in late 2013, Watson backed away from the allegations he had made.

Watson told investigators the letter was "written in haste because he wanted to get it to board members before they took action to remove him as president," according to the report.

"This, paired with the fact that President Watson made such serious allegations that he now admits were untrue, is troubling and suggests President Watson made these claims only in an effort to discredit Mr. Rozier and Ms. Scott, and keep his job," the report states.

The investigators concluded that Watson's conduct violated the university's human resources policy that states all employees are expected "to act with integrity at all times in the workplace, or when representing the company."

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The ethics office recommended that Chicago State's board "take whatever action it deems appropriate" with respect to Watson. A draft report was provided to trustees in September.

The board decided not to discipline him. Board chair Anthony Young told the Tribune on Tuesday that he thought the investigation was "flawed" and that Watson already planned to step down as president.

"How can we issue disciplinary action on an investigation that never notified him of the charges or gave him an opportunity to respond?" Young said.

In a reply included with the ethics report dated Jan. 4, Watson's attorney wrote that the investigation violated Watson's due process rights because investigators never informed Watson that he was a target of the review, and therefore the final report "is unreliable."

He also argued the university's policy manual was not enough to form the basis for a finding of wrongdoing, and that Watson was unaware of any employee who had been disciplined "solely for violating the HR manual."

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"An improper and unjust finding by the OEIG that President Watson ran afoul of a sentence in an HR Manual cannot negate President Watson's lifetime of commitment and service," wrote Watson's attorney, Robert Markin.

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Markin told the Tribune that Watson "prepared the letter in good faith based on what he understood at the time."

"Years of investigations, lots of interviews, lots of state resources expended to find that someone violated a sentence in the employee manual," Markin said. "They seemed to have been searching for something to find."

Rozier and Scott did not return calls from the Tribune, and school spokesman Thomas Wogan declined to comment.

Watson began as president of Chicago State in 2009, and previously was chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago. Thomas Calhoun, an administrator at North Alabama University, took over as president Jan. 1.

jscohen@tribpub.com

Twitter @higherednews
A Chicago man sentenced to life in prison in connection with a gang-related triple slaying could get a new trial in Cook County Circuit Court after a state commission found substantial evidence he was tortured by Chicago police detectives in 1991.

Ivan Smith, 43, alleges two Chicago police detectives stretched him across a bench in a cafeteria of the Tipton County Jail in Tennessee, laid a phone book on his chest and beat it with a wooden stick until he agreed to confess to a triple homicide, according to the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission. Smith said he was coached by one of the prosecutors on his 21-page statement.

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The two detectives, James O'Brien and Joseph Stehlik, had served in Area 3, which was headed by disgraced former Cmdr. Jon Burge, though Burge was suspended a few days before the detectives interviewed Smith.

After considering one of the detective's lengthy history of complaints and another suspect who also accused police of abuse, the commission voted in November to refer Smith's case to a Cook County judge for a postconviction hearing.

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At the hearing, Smith and his attorneys will appear before a judge to argue that his confession was coerced. A judicial ruling in Smith's favor would likely lead to a new trial in which both sides would be able to call witnesses, and the court would decide whether any evidence from the prior trial would be admissible.

About 260 cases have been submitted to the commission since its formation in 2009. Seventeen have been referred to a circuit court, 31 have been dismissed, 82 are pending and about 130 are believed to be outside of its jurisdiction.

Smith, who has been imprisoned since he was 20, was convicted of three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder in May 1994. Two of Smith's co-defendants also were found guilty and two others were acquitted.

On Aug. 7, 1991, Smith, a member of the Black Disciples gang, drove his gray Chevrolet Chevette by a building in the 6500 block of South Peoria Street, where gang members from the rival Gangster Disciples were selling drugs. Smith threw up gang signs and shouted gang slogans after which a Gangster Disciple on the third floor of the building shot his car. As Smith drove away, he shouted that he would be back, according to court documents.

Later that night, a taxi and a red Chrysler LeBaron slowly rolled by the building. Three people were shot, including 13-year-old Rhenardo Bussle, who died of a gunshot wound to the back.

A few minutes later, the same taxi was reportedly used in a second drive-by shooting nearby, in the 500 block of West 71st Street, where three people were shot, two fatally.

Police later found the taxi abandoned with the steering column peeled back and numerous shell casings strewn throughout the interior.

In testimony from Smith's co-defendants and one of the victims, Smith was tied to the car, though no physical evidence linked him to the cab.

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Smith's attorneys Larry Dreyfus and Elliot Zinger characterized the confessions and witness testimony as "totally bogus" because of inconsistencies between the co-defendants regarding where each was sitting, including some testimony that put some in different cars altogether.

In November 1991, Smith was arrested at his mother's home in Ripley, Tenn. Five people traveled to Tipton County Jail for an extradition hearing: two Chicago police detectives, two prosecutors and a court reporter.

The extradition party's accounts sharply contrast from Smith's.

According to Smith, O'Brien slapped his face and hit him in the back of his head. When Smith didn't respond to another one of O'Brien's questions, O'Brien punched Smith in the chest. O'Brien then forced Smith's shoulders onto the bench, Stehlik laid a phone book on Smith's chest and they repeatedly struck it until Smith eventually agreed to cooperate and gave a statement to the court reporter.

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O'Brien and Stehlik denied the accusations of mistreatment.

Though the commission acknowledged not all of Smith's claims were viewed as credible, they pointed to several troubling discrepancies in authorities' accounts of the visit.

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Smith alleged it was roughly two hours before the court reporter took his statement. Some in the extradition party said there was a delay in taking Smith's statement because there wasn't a typewriter in the building, prompting them to have one brought from another county. However, a retired Tipton County sheriff said at that time there were several typewriters in the building and the court reporter said she did not recall a problem regarding a typewriter.

The commission also lent credence to 36 complaints filed against O'Brien, including one by George Anderson, who alleged Stehlik and O'Brien obtained his confession by using a pipe or hose to beat a phone book held over his chest. Anderson's case also has been referred to court for further judicial review.

In addition, a Cook County Jail guard testified that he wouldn't accept one of Smith's co-defendants into his wing of the jail because of bruises on his face and a noticeable limp. That defendant, who was among those acquitted, alleged he had been slapped in the face and kicked in his genitals during his interrogation.

tbriscoe@tribpub.com

Twitter @_tonybriscoe
The leather vests worn by the Outlaws Motorcycle Club will be held as contraband, a McHenry County judge ruled April 17, 2015. (McHenry County sheriff's office)

The notorious Outlaws Motorcycle Club has not backed down in its effort to get authorities to return leather vests and patches that were seized after a 2012 bar fight.

After failing to persuade a McHenry County judge last year to return the gear, club lawyer Joel Rabb argued his case Tuesday in front of the 2nd District Appellate Court in Elgin.

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McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather had ruled that vests were "contraband" that were used "to facilitate street gang activity." People affiliated with the Outlaws  which Rabb has said is a civic organization, not a gang  wore the vests when they instigated a brutal attack on patrons at the Lizard Lounge outside Wonder Lake, leading to charges against several members.

Four members who were arrested later pleaded guilty to various charges and, as part of their plea deals, forfeited their motorcycle vests.

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Rabb said one of the vests was returned, which he said shows rightful ownership and should prompt the return of the other three.

He said it's the club patches on the vests, rather than the vests themselves, that members most want back. He argued that the patches were wrongly seized because they belong to the club, not the individual members, and that a piece of clothing cannot be compared to guns or cars that can be confiscated if used to facilitate crime.

When witnesses and victims testified about the bar fight, "nobody stated they felt uncomfortable because of the leather patches," Rabb said.

Appellate Judge Joseph Birkett pointed out that the organization is known to "have a reputation" for criminal activity.

Rabb said members of the club, also known as the American Outlaw Association, are a "microcosm" of all types of people.

"There is good, there is bad, there is ugly," he said, adding that the club's reputation has been skewed by reality TV and the movies.

"Each member stands alone," he said. "Simply being a member of the Outlaws is not a crime."

Judge Mary Seminara-Schostok asked why the return of the patches was so important.

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Rabb said they convey "a certain level of pride" for Outlaw members and contended that confiscating them is a violation of free speech rights.

"Wearing the vest in and of itself is not a crime," he said. "What role did the vests play in facilitating gang activity? It's a far stretch to say the vests substantiate criminal activity." He maintained that "gang activity was never established in the forfeiture hearing."

But McHenry County Assistant State's Attorney Jana Blake Dickson said experts previously testified that members wore the patches "to bolster" the gang's presence in the bar and "to intimidate" people when they entered.

When Birkett asked about the state's interest in the patches, Dickson replied: "I imagine (it's) getting the patches off the street and making it harder to use (the patches) as a threat."

Rabb said the club mass-produces the patches and any member can wear them, so confiscating the ones in question does nothing to get other patches off the street.

No ruling was announced Tuesday.

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Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel addresses the media after the Illinois Mentoring Partnerships IMPACT Awards breakfast Jan. 22, 2016, at the Union League. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

For the first time, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has released text messages that show him conducting official business on a city-issued cellphone, a move that comes as he faces sharp scrutiny on what information he makes public after fighting for months to keep the Laquan McDonald police shooting video under wraps.

Emanuel disclosed the text messages in response to an open records request, a decision made as the Chicago Tribune is suing the mayor on the grounds he violated state law by refusing to release emails and text messages sent and received on his personal accounts that pertain to public business.

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The mayor's text messages to senior city officials cover a six-day period in late December when a Chicago police officer shot and killed two people on the West Side, including an unarmed mother of five. Emanuel's direct and often shorthand messages show the mayor was concerned about how the story was playing in the media and what policies City Hall should roll out in response.

The texts portray Emanuel, who was 1,500 miles away on a family vacation in Cuba, as getting frequent, detailed updates after the shooting. That's in contrast to how Emanuel has described his knowledge of the McDonald shooting. The mayor has said he was not fully briefed until five months after the shooting and was not aware that police officers' reports were dramatically at odds with the video until 13 months later  after Emanuel had agreed to pay a $5 million settlement to McDonald's family.

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But in the first police shooting since a judge forced Emanuel to release the McDonald video, the mayor was exchanging text messages with interim police Superintendent John Escalante less than four hours after it happened. Police Officer Robert Rialmo shot and killed teenager Quintonio LeGrier, who allegedly swung a bat at him, and Bettie Jones, a 55-year-old neighbor, at 4:30 a.m. Dec. 26 in West Garfield Park.

"Any updates I should know about?" Emanuel texted Escalante at 8:20 a.m.

"Yes sir. Fatal police involved shooting," responded Escalate, who Emanuel appointed last month after firing former police Superintendent Garry McCarthy in the wake of the McDonald scandal. "Can you take a call or call me?"

Emanuel's next text message to Escalante was redacted with black ink by City Hall, so the complete context of the top cop's response to it is unclear: "Yes for shooting officer," Escalante texted. "I will find out about partner. She was 55 yrs."

The mayor then gives the interim superintendent some advice: "Check out minister. Can be helpful." Escalante indicated some calls had been made on that front, to which Emanuel responded, "Good." The mayor's aides redacted the rest of the text message.

A no-texting policy

City Hall released Emanuel's text messages late Friday in response to a Tribune open records request that sought, in part, the mayor's text messages from Dec. 25-30. It marks the first time the Emanuel administration has publicly acknowledged the mayor conducted city business via text messages. Emanuel previously had been unclear on the matter.

There also is a distinction between the text messages Emanuel released and what the Tribune is seeking from the city in court.

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The lawsuit centers on Emanuel's use of personal phones and devices, contending that the mayor's practice of using a non-city phone and personal email allows him to conduct the public's business without scrutiny and contributes to a "lack of transparency."

The text messages the Emanuel administration released are from a city-issued phone. Emanuel still has not released any texts or emails from his personal phone or accounts.

The administration has stated it is not required under the state's open records law to produce emails or texts from the mayor's personal accounts or phones because those communications are not stored by City Hall. In the lawsuit, the Tribune argued the law requires the city to preserve all emails and text messages about public business, regardless of whether the messages were sent from a government-owned or personal-account phone.

In releasing the text messages, the administration cited an exception to a policy of no texting on city-issued phones.

"Mayor Rahm Emanuel was in Cuba, necessitating his occasional communication via text message on the Mayor's City-issued device due to limitations on internet and other forms of communication," Emanuel spokeswoman Chloe Rasmas wrote, adding that the mayor's text messages were forwarded to his city email account so they would be preserved.

Despite the administration's reference to "the Mayor's City-issued device," an Emanuel spokesman said Monday the mayor does not have a government cellphone.

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"The Mayor does not have a city-issued cell phone," Adam Collins emailed in a statement. "However, he sometimes uses a city-issued device when he goes on international trips due to web-infrastructure or security reasons."

Collins would not say how many cellphones the mayor uses, whether city-owned or personal.

Asked if Emanuel's trip to Cuba was the first time the mayor had used a city phone to send text messages, Collins responded in an email, "We are not aware of any other circumstance like this in which the mayor used a city-issued cell phone to conduct business via text message."

Collins would not say whether he asked Emanuel if he'd used a city phone for texts prior to the Cuba trip, instead repeating the "we are not aware" answer.

When the Tribune previously requested text messages from Emanuel's city-issued phone, the administration replied that it had "no responsive documents." Records show City Hall's no-texting policy was enacted in September 2011  two months after the Tribune first requested Emanuel's texts.

The Emanuel administration's no-texting policy, however, applies only to city-issued phones. Collins said the city does not have a policy on whether city employees, including the mayor, are allowed to conduct city business on personal phones.

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The release of the text messages also is the first time the administration has acknowledged Emanuel used a taxpayer-funded phone to communicate as mayor.

In 2012, Emanuel was asked by a Tribune reporter if he had a city-issued cellphone.

"OK, of all the issues I've got to handle, you think I check on whether I've got a city-issued telephone?" Emanuel responded, later adding, "I have a cellphone. I call my staff on a cellphone. That's the answer."

Emanuel also was asked if he texted. "No, not really," he replied. "Not unless I get my 11-year-old to do it for me."

In an another interview last year, Emanuel sought to convey his improving relationship with top adversary and Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis by noting that he texted her. Then he backtracked.

"She gave me ideas. I texted her back. I gave her some," Emanuel told the Tribune. "I texted her  not texted  I communicated with her."

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'Mayor here'

The mayor's text messages, a total of 54 in 10 different exchanges with senior city officials, cover the period surrounding the Dec. 26 police shootings.

The shootings came as Emanuel already was under fire for his handling of the McDonald case. The mayor didn't release the police dashboard camera video until well after his April re-election, when a judge rejected his argument that doing so would hinder ongoing state and federal investigations. On the same November day the video was released, Officer Jason Van Dyke was charged with murder, leaving Emanuel facing weeks of street protests, allegations of a cover-up and calls for him to resign.

Against that backdrop, Emanuel's text messages from Cuba showed him moving quickly to respond to the LeGrier and Jones shootings.

"Mayor here," Emanuel texted Janey Rountree, his deputy chief of staff for public safety, before asking for contact information for Jones' relatives.

The mayor also texted his chief of staff, Eileen Mitchell, to tell her "IPRA must be on scene," a reference to the Independent Police Review Authority that investigates police shootings. "Yes. Am up to speed," Mitchell responded. "Our call disconnected on my end."

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Emanuel was notified about another police shooting the same day, this one after an altercation on the South Side.

"We just had another police involved shooting with hits in 022 but I have no details yet," texted interim police superintendent Escalante, using the number of the police district where the shooting occurred.

"People ok or fatal," Emanuel asked.

"Just happened," Escalante wrote back. "I will get details. Individual struck by police gunfire struck in wrist, hand, arm."

Emanuel later asked if the South Side shooting was a fatality and Escalante said he was about to get an update from a local commander.

"Good," Emanuel texted back. "Would like to know what the officer was responding to." Escalante replied with the address where the shooting happened, and told the mayor it involved two brothers fighting in the street and that the "offender turns pistol on officers" before being shot.

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"2nd brother is fully cooperative as is a good witness neighbor," Escalante wrote.

"Ok," Emanuel texted back.

Emanuel's text messages also show he was keenly concerned with the media coverage of the LeGrier and Jones shootings.

"Media acting breathlessly?" the mayor texted Mitchell, his chief of staff. She responded that the police had released a statement on the shooting, and that the 911 calls from the incident were "being reviewed. No plan to release at this time."

"You are positive no publi negative reaction," Emanuel wrote, not typing the letter "c" in "public." It was a question that went unanswered in the texts that were released.

On the morning of Dec. 28, Emanuel and Collins, a spokesman, exchanged text messages on news coverage of the shootings.

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"Eileen said Kelly indicated that you all are getting a lot of calls about my trip?" Emanuel asked Collins. "Also is that a sense we have a crisis."

Collins wrote back, "The question is if you are home or when you will be home."

Later that day, Emanuel press aides announced the mayor would be back in Chicago. Emanuel asked Collins how news of his imminent return was being reported.

"Return trip is still too new to make an assessment on how it is playing," Collins responded.

"My view is not my first choice but the right choice," Emanuel texted.

The mayor also texted with senior adviser David Spielfogel about rolling out a new "de-escalation policy," a reference to new guidelines for police to defuse potential standoffs without using lethal force. Emanuel also referred to efforts to add more Tasers to the Police Department.

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"We in a better place," the mayor asked.

"Press is all weather," Spielfogel replied, referring to a winter storm. "Internal planning going well."

Emanuel and Spielfogel then traded messages about the policy response to the police shootings. Those were followed by two messages redacted by City Hall before the mayor texted, "Ok good" before asking "Am I in those stories"?

"Yep," Spielfogel texted the mayor. "Statement and picture."

jchase@tribpub.com

bruthhart@tribpub.com
Wooing undecided Iowa voters, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on Monday night each cast themselves as life-long champions for tackling economic inequality, but offered differing visions for addressing the nation's problems.

Sanders, who is riding a burst of enthusiasm in Iowa, reiterated his calls for free tuition at public colleges and universities and implementing a single payer health care system that would cover all Americans, even though he'd raise taxes to pay for the latter proposal.

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"Yes, we will raise taxes," said Sanders, an admission rarely heard in presidential campaigns. "We may raise taxes, but we are going to eliminate private health insurance premiums for individuals and businesses."

Sanders and Clinton spoke separately at a CNN town hall forum, fielding questions predominantly from voters still undecided ahead of the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses, which kick off the nominating process.

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Clinton pushed back at suggestions that she's new to the economic issues that have been at the center of Sanders' campaign.

"I think it's fair to say I have a 40-year record in going after inequality," said Clinton, adding that she's also fought inequality on the basis of race, gender and sexual orientation. While the questions she faced where less specific on policy, she emphasized that the tough challenges a president faces  an implicit suggestion that Sanders is proposing unrealistic ideas.

Clinton also embraced favorable comments from President Barack Obama published in Politico Monday which looked very much like an endorsement, though Obama has said he won't formally back a candidate in the Democratic primary.

"I was really touched and gratified when I saw that," said Clinton, who has touted her close ties with Obama on the campaign trail and cast herself as best positioned to build on the president's policies.

While Clinton has led the Democratic field for months, she's being challenged anew by Sanders in Iowa, as well as in New Hampshire, which votes second in the primary contest.

The latest Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics poll found Clinton with 42 percent, Sanders with 40 percent and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley with just 4 percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers. The poll, conducted between Jan. 7 and 10, had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points, suggesting it could be a toss-up between the former secretary of state and the Vermont senator.

Sanders, an independent from Vermont, who caucuses with Democrats on Capitol Hill, has energized young voters in particular with his call for a "political revolution."

"We are touching a nerve with the American people who understand that establishment politics just aren't bold enough," Sanders said Monday.

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A self-described democratic socialist, Sanders cast his governing philosophy as one reflecting that "the right for economic security should exist." But he sidestepped a question about whether his policies would mean an era of big government.

The 74-year-old Sanders pledged to release his medical records before Iowa votes, saying there's nothing in the papers that will surprise anybody. And while Sanders typically avoids veering into personal topics, preferring to focus squarely on policy, he spoke emotionally about what his late parents would think to see their son running for president.

"This would be so unimaginable," Sanders said.

Clinton was immediately put on the defensive by a young voter who said many of his peers view her as dishonest. She vigorously disputed that notion, suggesting it was the result of decades of attacks from her political opponents.

"They throw all this stuff at me and I'm still standing," Clinton said. When asked later if she was slow to apologize for controversial use of private email and a personal Internet server while serving as secretary of state, Clinton said, "I think that's a fair criticism."

O'Malley has struggled to win support in the race, despite aggressive campaigning in Iowa. He was cheered enthusiastically when he cited climate change as the top issue young people in America should be concerned about.

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O'Malley was pushed on what his supporters should do on caucus night if  under the quirks of the Iowa process  they don't reach a minimum level of support in their local precinct. Should that happen, the O'Malley backers would have to pick another candidate.

But O'Malley said his message was simply: "Hold strong at your caucus."

Associated Press
DES MOINES  Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton attacked Republican front-runner Donald Trump - without ever saying his name - for denigrating Muslims with a call to bar Muslim foreigners from entering the country.

"It's not only shameful and contrary to our values to say that people of a certain religion should never come to this country, or to claim that there are no real people of the Muslim faith who share our values," Clinton said. "It's not only shameful and offensive, which it is. I think it's dangerous."

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Clinton said Trump's rhetoric would hamper U.S. abilities to make alliances with majority-Muslim countries - and alienate U.S. Muslims as well.

Clinton used her segment of CNN's three-candidate Democratic "town hall" to stress the central message of her campaign: that her wide experience in Washington makes her best-qualified to achieve liberal goals. She is trying repel a challenge from Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), who has called for more far-reaching policies and rejected Clinton's approach as incrementalist.

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Clinton was asked: Could she really work more effectively with Republicans, whom she referred to in one debate as her "enemies."

"It was kind of tongue in cheek. And I consider them worthy adversaries, which they are," Clinton told moderator Chris Cuomo. "When I'm actually in office, they say very nice things about me."

As a way of summing up her approach, Clinton quoted a saying from Cuomo's father, former New York governor and Democratic legend Mario Cuomo: "You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose."

Clinton was also challenged about her honesty and her unexpected struggles in the primary during CNN's "town hall" for Democratic candidates Monday.

Clinton spoke last of the three candidates, and her session began with an awkward inquiry from moderator Chris Cuomo: How are you in a close race with a socialist?

Clinton laughed, loud and long and without any trace of actual mirth. "Look, it's a great country. Despite what one of the Republicans says. And we are all, on the Democratic side, having a spirited debate."

It did not get much easier: later, a young man in the audience - who supported that "democratic socialist," Bernie Sanders - questioned Clinton's honesty, an implicit reference to Clinton's use of a private email server to hold government emails. She responded by saying, essentially: You haven't been paying attention very long, have you?

"They throw all these things at me, and I'm still standing," Clinton said of her foes, noting that she's been targeted in past scandals, but has never been knocked down. But some people who are new to politics - "They go, 'Oh my gosh, look at all of that" - and don't understand the context, Clinton said, waiving her arms in mock panic. The real reason for the attacks, she said: "I've been on the front lines of change and progress since I was your age."

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Clinton was the final Democratic presidential contender to take the stage Monday in Des Moines, exactly one week ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) went first, and former governor Martin O'Malley followed.

The forum comes at a key juncture in the race, with recent polls showing Clinton's once-formidable lead over Sanders, the "democratic socialist" senator from Vermont, having vanished.

O'Malley faced a jarring question in CNN's "town hall" for Democratic candidates Monday: If you don't succeed, who should be your voters' second choice?

Moderator Chris Cuomo noted that, in some caucusing precincts in Iowa, candidates who don't win support from 15 percent of voters are declared not viable, and their voters are released to find someone else. If the polls are right, that might be O'Malley's sad fate in some places: Even after months of campaigning, he is still polling at less than 5 percent in Iowa.

So, Cuomo said, O'Malley might offer some words of advice to his caucus-goers, once they can't caucus for him. "What is your suggestion to them?" Cuomo asked.

O'Malley, not surprisingly, didn't buy the premise of the question.

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"Hold strong, at your caucus," he said, as the crowd applauded. "Hold strong at your caucus, because America's looking for a new leader." O'Malley then repeated his youth-based argument, which held that his rivals, Sanders and Clinton, are leaders from the past: "We cannot be this fed up with [the state of American politics] and think a resort to old ideologies or old names is going to move us forward," he said.

O'Malley - who also served as mayor of Baltimore - also defended his record on racial issues and policing, saying he should be judged in light of the crime he inherited.

"In 1999, our city of Baltimore had become the most violent, the most addicted, the most abandoned city in America," O'Malley said. "We were burying over 300 young, poor, black men every single year. And yes, black lives matter."

Sanders, during his 45 minutes on the stage, criticized Clinton for showing poor judgment on foreign policy and for moving too slowly to embrace liberal positions on Wall Street regulation and climate change.

He tried to rebut Clinton's argument that her experience in Washington makes her a better candidate. "Experience is important. But judgment is also important," he said, concluding a litany of contrasts with Clinton. He said that the former vice president Dick Cheney - a hated figure among Democrats - also had a long Washington resume: "He had a lot of experience too."

Sanders was asked about a TV ad run by Clinton that implicitly knocked Sanders for his limited focus on economic issues. He stood up.

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"Don't leave!" said moderator Chris Cuomo. "We have another 15 minutes."

"This calls for a standing-up response," Sanders said. He began by saying that he respected Clinton's record in public service. Then he listed all the things he felt she'd gotten wrong during that service, beginning with Clinton's vote in favor of the Iraq War while she was a senator from New York.

"The truth is that the most significant vote and issue regarding foreign policy that we have seen in modern history is the vote on the war in Iraq. OK. That's a fact. I voted against the war in Iraq," Sanders said.

The format allowed people in the audience to ask questions, although Sanders often did not let them finish before letting out grunts or half-words that showed he was already ready to answer.

At one point, Sanders was asked about his age. Cuomo said Sanders would be 75 on the day he was inaugurated.

"I'm going on 75! So are you!" Sanders said. He said he was in good health, and pledged to release medical records that showed it - before the Iowa caucuses next Monday.

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Sanders opened the forum by taking a question about a word that has shadowed his campaign since its beginning: what does "socialism" mean to him?

"What democratic socialism means to me is that economic rights, the right to economic security, should exist in the United States of America," said Sanders, who calls himself a "democratic socialist." He said the term means that government listens to the middle class as much as it listens to the rich, and that government helps students have access to college. "Creating a government that works for all of us, not just a handful of people on the top. That's my definition of democratic socialism."

Sanders was then asked about his plans for universal, government-provided health insurance. He made an admission that most candidates would be loath to make in any national forum: "We will raise taxes. Yes, we will." But, Sanders said, that's because government would take the place of private insurers - and his system would save money on balance for middle-class Americans.

"We may raise taxes, but we also are going to eliminate private health insurance premiums," Sanders said. He has found himself on the defensive in the last few days, as Clinton's campaign has said that Sanders' plans would be both politically unworkable and alarmingly expensive.

Leading up to the town hall, Clinton continued to criss-cross the state Monday. Her campaign also continued to spar with Sanders over gun control and other issues on which they say Sanders has changed his positions.

The Clinton campaign accused Sanders of "caving to pressure" eight times in 10 days on a series of issues, including his statements on Iran and his position on repealing a key law that prohibits federal funding for abortions.

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And the campaign criticized Sanders for a mailer sent out to voters that called him "A lifelong advocate for gun safety." Instead, the Clinton campaign "fixed" the flyer to say: "A lifelong advocate for gun companies' safety from liability."

The mailer, which the Sanders campaign said was sent to 233,000 households, sought to burnish his credentials on an issue that has dogged him for much of the campaign.

Sanders, who represents a state with little gun control, has a mixed record on the issue, having voted against the landmark Brady Bill and for legislation granting legal immunity from gun manufacturers and deals when their products are used to commit a crime.

The mailer highlighted other votes Sanders has taken to ban assault weapons and strengthen background checks.

On the campaign trail, Clinton referred to Sanders only as her "esteemed opponent," and largely stuck to her measured argument for her candidacy - that "the hard, patient, persistent way is the best way to accomplish our goals."

During a full day of campaigning, Sanders largely stuck to his primary message of rebuilding the middle class. At a stop in Iowa Falls, he heard from several audience members struggling to stay afloat financially, include one woman who was in tears as she told him about not be able to afford to pay her bills and not having enough money to buy presents for her children while she waited on a disability payment.

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"Thank you. Thank you," Sanders said. " It is not easy for people to stand up and share their stories."

He said was running because for president because there are so many stories like hers.

To comply with a Democratic National Committee rule limiting the number of formal debates, Monday's town hall calls for the candidates to take questions separately from moderator Chris Cuomo and the audience. Sanders, O'Malley and then Clinton will each have 30 minutes on stage, according to CNN.

In recent weeks, the former secretary of state has turned far more aggressive, seeking to put the Vermont senator on his heels on issues including gun control, health care and reproductive rights.

Clinton has also argued that she is the only candidate prepared to do the entire job of being president - a not-so-subtle dig at a competitor whose campaign has focused largely on economic issues. She has suggested that Sanders is not pushing realistic policy ideas, citing as a prime example his plan for a single-payer, Medicare-for-all health plan.

Aides say Clinton is expected to use the CNN forum to continue to highlight what she sees as defining differences with Sanders.

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Sanders, meanwhile, has been taking aim at Clinton more directly than ever. In a Washington Post interview over the weekend, he said Clinton was running a "desperate" campaign incapable of generating the kind of excitement his has. Sanders sharply questioned Clinton's association with David Brock, who runs a pro-Clinton super PAC, repeatedly calling him a "hit man," and he said he expects the Clinton campaign to throw "the kitchen sink" at him to try to blunt his momentum.

At the same time, Sanders has stepped up his attacks on Clinton for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees from banking and corporate interests in the run-up to her 2016 campaign. He has singled out her payments from giant investment firm Goldman Sachs, suggesting that undercuts her ability to pursue serious Wall Street reform.

For O'Malley, Monday night represents a final chance to be seen as relevant before a national audience. Despite spending more time in Iowa than either Clinton or Sanders, O'Malley has remained mired in the single digits in polling.

Under the complicated rules of the Iowa caucuses, in most of the 1,681 precincts, a candidate must get 15 percent support to be considered viable. Otherwise, his supporters must align with another candidate or sit out the rest of the process.

Some longtime caucus-watchers think that dynamic could tip a close race in the direction of either Clinton or Sanders, depending on who is the more popular second choice of O'Malley supporters.
This presidential election season seems to be setting records for expecting the unexpected. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' initial challenge to Hillary Clinton qualifies for inclusion on the unexpected list, but so does another aspect of his bid for the presidency. For one of the rare times in the history of the United States, a Jewish person is running for the top national office.

Sanders claims he is proud to be Jewish but is not "particularly religious." Given this admission, he would seem to be one of the estimated 1.2 million Americans who can be considered cultural Jews. Although Sanders' Jewish status is unquestioned according to Jewish law given that he is the child of a Jewish mother, his cultural Judaism stands in sharp contrast to the vocal commitment to observance that was the trademark of Joseph Lieberman, who ran for president in 2004 and was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000.

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In order to understand the nature of Sanders' Jewish cultural identity, one has to appreciate the significant role the Jewish tradition, which includes both Jewish law and Jewish culture, has played in the lives of those raised as Jews. Although people think of culture and law as completely separate entities, the reality is people create both culture and legal systems in response to historically specific circumstances and environmental influences. Any legal system not only reflects, but also shapes, its surrounding culture.

Consider this example from American law. In 1966, the Supreme Court held in Miranda v. Arizona that any custodial interrogation suspect has certain rights, such as "the right to remain silent." These warnings quickly became part of both police practice and popular culture. In 2000, the Supreme Court held that the Miranda warnings had become so embedded in popular culture that they could not be overturned legislatively. Therefore, after 1966, the law transformed the culture; in 2000, the culture transformed the law.

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The Passover Seder that Sanders apparently attends illustrates how this synergy between law and culture operates in the Jewish tradition. The origin of the Seder is biblical, but the contours of the modern Seder were shaped by the rabbis in Talmudic times. During this period, the Greco-Roman tradition of symposia and banquets, with its emphasis on intellectual discourse, may have influenced the Seder's focus on storytelling and discussion. Today, less traditional Jews often vary the format and content of their Passover Seders, which in general have become a popular symbol of Jewish culture. In truth, only the most observant Jews understand that Jews participate in a Seder because they are obligated to do so under Jewish law.

As the development of the Passover Seder illustrates, given that Jews have lived as a minority population in numerous nations and regions, Jewish law also has been influenced by many surrounding majority cultures. So it is fair to say that the Jewish tradition incorporates not only the strictly legal precepts formulated by the rabbis, but also the cultural practices popular among Jews and even their non-Jewish neighbors. For example, many of the familiar customs pertaining to the ritual circumcision of a male child, know as a bris, were adapted from the Christian baptism ceremony. This is not at all surprising given that baptism itself replaced circumcision in early Christianity.

In light of this intersection between law and culture, those who claim to be cultural Jews cannot help but embrace a degree of Jewish law and tradition regardless of whether they are aware of, or acknowledge, this reality. This is also true of Sanders, who was born in heavily Jewish Brooklyn in the 1940s. Consider that the liberal causes and social action models that attract Sanders and many other Americans of all religions derive in large part from the Torah's command to leave the edges of the fields untouched to benefit the poor and others who are socially disadvantaged. When Sanders expresses concern for the economically stressed working class, he is most certainly tapping into this aspect of Jewish legal tradition.

According to the well-known joke, Jews are accustomed to evaluating just about everything in terms of whether "it is good for the Jews." But whether the election of culturally Jewish Bernie Sanders as president of the United States is good for the Jews probably depends on which Jews you ask. Identity politics is particularly tricky for the American Jewish community given that it is more varied than just about any other religious group. There are several Jewish denominations and significant differences exist between, and even within, these groups.

A 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center shows that the majority of Orthodox Jews tend to be politically conservative, and this group is not likely to believe that a Sanders presidency will be good for the Jews. Also, even though 70 percent of the American Jewish population still votes or leans toward the Democratic Party, many may view Sanders as just too liberal. A survey conducted by the American Jewish Committee showed that less than 18 percent of Jews favored Sanders as their first-choice presidential candidate. Further, his views on Israel display a seemingly neutral tone that accords with some segments of the American Jewish community, but by no means most, for whom Israel is a high priority.

All of this suggests that whether Sanders is good for the Jews probably is best answered by another familiar old Jewish joke: "Ask two Jews and you'll get three opinions!"

Roberta Rosenthal Kwall is a professor at DePaul University College of Law. She is the author of "The Myth of the Cultural Jew: Culture and Law in Jewish Tradition."
I could have been in Saxony, the birthplace of the German anti-immigrant movement Pegida: People with German last names were trying to convince me that immigrants were hogging the benefits in their almost all-white state.

But I was in Muscatine, Iowa, in a high school gym where a Donald Trump rally was about to begin.

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"I worked with them at Allsteel," said Pat Treiburger, 63. Allsteel, an office furniture manufacturer, is a big employer in the town of 23,000. "They made no secret that they were coming for the benefits. They talked about bringing their girlfriends and tons of children to feed off the system. I was working my butt off, and they were laughing in my face."

Muscatine County's population is more than 90 percent white, and the state of Iowa has an immigrant population of less than 150,000, or 4.8 percent of the total  one of the smallest percentages in the U.S. (immigrants account for 3 percent of Saxony's population). Yet people said that Iowa was a major hub for Mexican immigration and that Trump was the man to stem the tide.

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I have heard and read all kinds of explanations for Trump's front-runner status among Republicans in many states, ranging from his charisma to the authoritarian leanings of his backers, but I reserved judgment until I saw Trump campaign. On Sunday, I waited in line with perhaps 2,000 of his supporters in Muscatine. It was freezing, and I suspect some people bought Trump campaign hats just to keep their ears warm. Merchandise hawkers plied the line, offering badges inscribed with "Blue Lives Matter" (a reference to the police) and "Hillary for Prison."

The people in line gave a bewildering variety of answers to the question of why they supported Trump. "The national debt needs taking care of," said Matt Zaehringer, 32, a truck driver. How would Trump do that? "Like he takes care of his bank account."

Trump's wealth and supposed business acumen were a talisman. "He's a businessman, not a politician," Matt Nichols, 37, said. "I am a small-business owner, so that's important to me."

I didn't get the impression that these people wanted an authoritarian leader, someone who would take care of them. They appeared to be drawn to aspects of Trump's personality and political stances.

Then Trump arrived on stage and it became clear that his political skills weren't the reason for his appeal. I'm from Moscow, and my standards for political charisma and technique are pretty low. This was one of the worst political speeches I have heard. Trump rambled for more than an hour without completing a sentence. He went off on unexpected tangents. One such aside involved eminent domain  the power of governments to take over private property for development. It's not a hot campaign issue in Iowa: It was the theme of an anti-Trump attack by Sen. Ted Cruz in a campaign ad that few in that gym had seen.

As the speech meandered, Trump supporters started milling about and talking to one another. The other candidates I've seen in Iowa  the Democratic front-runners, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders  had kept their audiences riveted. Sometimes, the billionaire appeared to remember why he was there and hit his talking points: support for police and the military, the Second Amendment, America's greatness on the international stage. He got some applause.

Donald Trump supporters wait to greet the candidate during a Trump rally in Muscatine, Iowa, on Sunday. (Daniel Acker, Bloomberg)

But the crowd really went wild when two protesters appeared in the bleachers, bearing a sign that said "Love Always! Trump Hates." They were escorted out to chants of "Trump! Trump!"

The crowd roared again when Trump boasted that he drew bigger audiences than Sanders and complained that television networks refused to acknowledge his popularity. And they made noise when he said "stupid" was a better word for the government than "incompetent."

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I began to wonder whether the people around me were really buying Trump's promises to build a wall to keep out immigrants, lower the public debt, make the military stronger or be "the best jobs president in history." They shouted "Trump," pumped their fists in the air as if they were defying all the bosses who had wronged them and all the politicians who had ever tried to sweet-talk them.

"He is the only one who can represent me in a honest way," said Rick Sharp, 64, a defense contractor. "He doesn't owe anyone anything, and he can say what he thinks."

With his lack of restraint in insulting powerful people, his financial independence and his unfocused anger at the perceived stupidity of the political elite, Trump has become a Sanders for people who don't believe in a redistributive state. He personifies their dream of making a lot of money and telling the boss to take a hike.

Trump  as he seldom misses an opportunity to remind his audience  is smart, and he knows that this, and not any campaign promise, is why people support him. At rallies, his volunteers distribute placards saying "The Silent Majority Stands with Trump." He says what most of his supporters think, but dare not say. The wave he rides is purely negative, and the lack of specific proposals is no problem.

Trump, however, may not have this silent majority figured out. On my way back from the rally, I drove through Moscow, Iowa, a community of about 250 just north of Muscatine. I saw a man driving up to a shed with a truckload of firewood and I stopped. Had he heard about the Trump rally in Muscatine?

"Yeah," he said. "Keep 'em away. I don't even pick up the phone these days because it's always these politicians calling. It's a running joke with us, 'Who is it today, Hillary or maybe Barack or somebody else?' We're gonna get what we're gonna get, is what I say."

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He wouldn't give his name. I guess he preferred to remain silent.

Bloomberg

Leonid Bershidsky, a Bloomberg View contributor, is a Berlin-based writer.
New Jersey student Marley Dias is on a mission: to collect 1,000 books that feature black girls as protagonists, and donate them to a Jamaican school.

Dias, an 11-year-old Philadelphia native, kicked off the #1000BlackGirlBooks drive in late 2015, but new attention from local media has pushed her campaign into the spotlight.

Speaking to Philadelphia news station Fox 29, Dias said the idea came up when she was talking to her mom about the dearth of literary heroes that she could relate to.

In my 5th grade class, we were only reading books about white boys and their dogs, and I understood why my teacher wanted us to read those books because those are the books he could connect with, but I didnt necessarily connect with them myself so I was really frustrated, she said.

From 1994 through 2012, only about 10 percent of childrens books featured people of color , according to data collected by the Cooperative Childrens Book Center.

The #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign has already amassed more than 400 books, and hopes to collect the rest by Feb. 1. The books will be donated to Retreat Primary and Junior School and Library in St. Mary, Jamaica, where Dias mom, Johnson Dias, lived as a child.

Along with two of her friends, Dias also leads BAM, a social support network for adolescent girls organized through the GrassROOTS Community Foundation, which was established by Johnson Dias.

Donations can be sent to: GrassROOTS Community Foundation, 59 Main Street, Suite 323, West Orange, N.J. 07052

More on cultural competency:
The Waterleaf restaurant at the College of DuPage will reopen the week of Feb. 9 as a student-run operation. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

The College of DuPage has agreed to pay the federal government thousands of dollars after the Internal Revenue Service identified nearly 100 instances in one year in which administrators wrongly expensed meals at the campus' high-end restaurant, according to documents obtained by the Tribune.

The IRS determined that "a significant and substantial number" of Waterleaf restaurant meals charged on college house accounts  44 percent in 2013  did not have a business purpose or had insufficient documentation. As a result, an IRS audit found, they should be considered taxable employee compensation.

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That means the college must pay taxes on those 2013 tabs, including a $724 dinner for trustees and senior administrators before a board meeting, $1,488 in alcohol and appetizers for an "administrators after-hours" gathering and a $154 bar bill for post-meeting drinks.

The college has tentatively agreed to pay the federal government $4,569 in taxes on $18,351 in restaurant bills from that year, an amount slightly lower than originally proposed. While the audit only covered 2013, the college also will be charged another $2,739 for taxes on 2014 tabs, an amount negotiated without additional auditing, school officials said.

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A Tribune investigation last year found that senior administrators and school trustees spent more than $350,000 in taxpayer and donor money at the restaurant during the 3 1/2 years it was open. They charged meals and alcohol to three house accounts, much like a system used at a private country club. The college or its fundraising foundation then paid the tabs, even though the receipts often failed to indicate who was at the meals or the reasons for them.

The IRS findings are the latest in a series of blows suffered by the college since the Tribune exposed the Waterleaf spending. Both federal and state grand juries have subpoenaed records related to the house accounts, and the school's accreditation agency cited the tabs when placing the school on probation late last year, saying they raised "questions about whether the institution follows its own ethics policies and operates with integrity."

"The college has new leadership, a new board that has worked hard to ensure that proper controls are in place," college spokesman Joseph Moore said. "We are confident going forward that expenses are being accounted for appropriately."

Trustee Charles Bernstein, who led a task force charged with analyzing the restaurant's finances, said he was unaware of the audit but not surprised by its findings.

"It reaffirms what the public knew: There were abuses by the previous administration," said Bernstein, who was elected in April. "Even though the amounts are not huge when compared to the college's budget, it sends a really bad message. It does not set a proper example and it shouldn't be done."

The Waterleaf tax payments are part of a larger $24,989 tentative settlement with the government that also includes taxes on some employees' health club dues and other matters, school officials said.

The IRS is expected to soon sign off on the final amount, which will have to be approved by the board of trustees. The payment will come from the school's operating fund.

IRS spokesman Joe Munoz declined to comment Monday.

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The agency began the review of Waterleaf bills last summer when, during a routine audit of the school's 2013 finances, the restaurant expenses were being exposed.

According to school records, college officials charged about $130,000 in 2013 to the three house accounts used by then-President Robert Breuder, senior administrators and executives of the college foundation.

Of those, IRS agents determined that 95 tabs totaling $18,351  or 14 percent of that total  either did not have a valid business expense or lacked documentation to decide. They initially flagged about $55,000 in receipts, but the college provided enough documentation to lower that amount.

The IRS rejected a variety of receipts, including small lunches hosted by administrators, large meals enjoyed by trustees and bar tabs picked up by the foundation.

Agents did not consider whether the expenses were in keeping with school policy or if they were the best use of the college's money. Instead, they examined whether the bills met the federal government's definition of a business expense. Legitimate business reasons include when an employee must be available for an emergency call or doesn't have enough time to get a meal; to promote goodwill; and to attract prospective employees.

They also did not distinguish between college and foundation funds being used to pay the expenses because the house accounts were run through the college. The IRS holds the organization  not the individual employees  responsible for covering the tax bill, and college officials said they have no plans to seek reimbursement because it is easier and potentially less expensive for the school to pay the bill itself.

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Of the bills flagged by the IRS, nearly four dozen were expensed on the account tied to Breuder, an oenophile who had defended the restaurant as a marketing tool. The government nixed a $207 "agenda planning" dinner and a $104 executive management team lunch held on the same day, and it determined that Breuder improperly expensed a $90 bar tab for a "ladies night" that included martinis, Champagne and wine. No guests were listed on the receipt.

The government also did not allow a $327.60 bill submitted as "Wozniak Family Dinner Per Breuder," an apparent reference to Trustee Joseph Wozniak. The receipt  which was not turned over as part of the Tribune's open records request last year  includes scallops, filet mignon, a Grey Goose martini and the corkage fees for two wine bottles.

Wozniak could not be reached for comment.

Breuder's attorney said he had not reviewed the audit and could not comment on the findings.

"However, during his tenure at COD, Dr. Breuder complied with board and COD policies regarding employee requests for reimbursement of business expenses," said the attorney, Martin Dolan.

For bills under $300 that did not have documentation, school officials said they decided to pay the taxes rather than try to justify them.

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"We weren't able to find in some cases the documentation to explain why it was a business expense and it was not necessarily worth the additional expense of finding that documentation," Moore said.

The IRS concluded that at least six dinners held for trustees and administrators prior to monthly board meetings, totaling more than $5,000, did not qualify as business expenses.

Moore declined to speak about the trustee dinner bills, citing "multiple legal proceedings." Breuder and two fired financial administrators are suing the college for wrongful termination.

Auditors did allow some board meals, including a holiday dinner that cost $2,300 for 16 guests and featured 12 bottles of wine. They also approved a senior manager's dinner held on the following night, in which 18 bottles of wine were listed on the $3,572 bill.

Other examples of accepted expenses include: $705 in meals and room rental during a retreat for senior managers, a $3,600 "community night" dinner hosted by the school's marketing department and a $1,700 dinner to honor former foundation board members.

The college earlier this year closed all the house accounts at Waterleaf and then shuttered the professionally-run restaurant, which had lost more than $2 million since it opened in late 2011.

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Starting this semester, which began Monday, the restaurant will be operated by students in the college's culinary and hospitality program for academic credit. It will be open to the public three days a week for lunch and dinner starting the week of Feb. 9. The multi-course meals, including wine with dinner, will cost $17 for lunch and $25 to $60 for dinner.

Students will take on all the restaurant roles, from chef to server. Students in the beverage management class will work in the restaurant's bar, and special events and activities will be offered throughout the semester.

"It is a great opportunity," said Tim Meyers, coordinator of the college's culinary and baking program. "We are looking forward to showcasing the students' talents absolutely and bringing them a great learning experience as well."

jscohen@tribpub.com

sstclair@tribpub.com

Twitter @higherednews

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Twitter @stacystclair
Cleveland Trying to Avoid Paying for Police Misconduct

In March 2012, an off-duty police officer shot and killed Kenny Smith outside a Cleveland bar. Although Cuyahoga County prosecutor Tim McGinty initially said Officer Roger Jones "correctly and heroically took action to protect the safety of the citizens of Cleveland," Smith's family was awarded $5.5 million in a wrongful death claim in September.

Smith's family has yet to see any of that money, and they possibly never will. That's because Cleveland's law department is trying a new way around paying millions in civil judgments against the city's police officers.

Ideal Indemnification

Normally, a city, as the employer, is on the hook for the negligent acts of its employee police officers. Although public officials enjoy some qualified immunity from civil lawsuits, if police officers have violated an individual's "clearly established" statutory or constitutional rights, they can be sued. If the individual, or the individual's family, wins the lawsuit against the officer, the city will often pay the award.

As Cleveland Scene reported, this is how it worked in the city: "Under state law and the terms of the union contract, chronically cash-strapped Cleveland indemnifies officers in the cases where they've been personally found liable, meaning ultimately, taxpayers foot the bill for an officer's misconduct." And in the ten years from 2004 to 2014, Cleveland paid out over $10 million in police misconduct cases.

A New Deal

But the days of indemnification may be over. Cleveland is reportedly refusing to indemnify Officer Jones and others while at the same time paying their legal fees as they declare bankruptcy. If successful, this would mean Cleveland is off the hook for the civil judgments, and the victims who were awarded damages may never get paid.

The legal maneuvering comes on the heels of the Justice Department's investigation last year that found the Cleveland Division of Police "engages in a pattern or practice of the use of excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution." Given the DOJ settlement, the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, and the acquittal of Officer Michael Brelo (who fired 49 of 137 rounds into a car following a high-speed chase that killed two people) Cleveland has been at the forefront of the police brutality conversation. But if this legal gambit works, expect quite a few cities to follow suit.

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Fox Valley residents shouldn't worry that a lead poisoning outbreak like the one in Flint, Mich., could strike the local water supply, municipal officials said this week.

Some area water treatment authorities said they have been hearing from customers who want to know whether the water flowing through pipes and into their homes is safe. They emphasize that their work is regulated, monitored and tested in a systemic process that ensures drinking water is safe.

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Water Director Kyla Jacobsen is planning to address the Elgin City Council on Wednesday evening to assure residents that the water drawn from the Fox River and area wells is safe to use.

"What has happened in Flint has definitely caught our attention," said Todd Hoppenstedt, public works director of Montgomery. "We don't like to see something like this happen anywhere  it's terrible what they are going through," he said.

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Monitoring water supplies from the Fox River and local underground sources is a 24-hour, seven day a week process, according to experts responsible for protecting drinking water.

In Batavia, Water and Sewer Superintendent John Dillon said the city is in the process of preparing a fact sheet for residents to highlight the safety precautions that have been in place for years that meet Illinois EPA regulations to ensure safe drinking water.

"The issue really started back in the 1990s when the EPA issued new regulations for lead and copper," Dillon said Monday.

That's when Batavia started adding orthophosphate to protect the city's water treatment system.

"It's put in there to provide a film on the inside of plumbing to help mitigate any chance of lead or copper coming into contact with the water," Dillon said.

Batavia had to come up with a plan in the mid-1990s because some homes exceeded acceptable levels for lead. Batavia was one of 60 communities in northern Illinois that had to come up with a plan to ensure the drinking water was safe, he said.

"The EPA said we can't solve each home's problems, but towns like Batavia can do something at the water treatment plant to help all customers," Dillon said.

The city of Aurora, which gets its water from the Fox River and wells, provides information on its website about the city's water sources, the testing and data as well as the magnitude and expansion of the system.

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Dan Ferrelli, media relations manager for the city of Aurora said there are approximately 750 miles of underground pipes that supply water to Aurora's homes and businesses.

"As for the situation in Flint, that pertains to lead in their drinking water. Federal regulations require communities to sample their water distribution systems every three years for lead and copper. Aurora performed this regulatory sampling in 2015 and met all requirements," he said.

Montgomery's Hoppenstedt emphasizes that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency requires all municipalities to adhere to stringent rules.

"Everything we do is required by the Illinois EPA  it's not us taking a stab at it," Hoppenstedt said.

Montgomery utility supervisor Jack Rosenstiel said the town has five deep and four shallow wells, as well as three water treatment plants and three certified operators.

"There is daily testing to check for chlorine, fluoride, iron ... and monthly water sampling is done as required from the EPA," Rosenstiel said.

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The village's five wells are tested for contaminants such as fecal coliform and e.coli. The village is on quarterly and yearly schedules as well, he added. There is another schedule to test 30 sites for lead and copper, he said.

"Our numbers have been within the parameters and in compliance," Rosenstiel said.

Rosenstiel said Flint's surface facility for drawing from a river is more "susceptible" to contaminants than what the village uses for its water resources.

"Drawing from aquifers is more stable," he said.

If residents are concerned with elevated lead levels in their home's water, homeowners can flush the tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using the tap for water either for drinking or cooking. Residents can call the U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water hotline at 800-426-4791.

Aurora has posted information on laboratories that can provide assistance with testing for lead. Those are First Environmental Laboratories, 630-778-1200; Eurofins/Underwriter's Laboratory, Inc., 800-332-4345 and Environmental Monitoring Technologies, Inc 800-246-0663.

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"We know what it takes to provide safe drinking water so when we hear of a municipality having difficulty, we feel for them," Hoppenstedt said. "I guarantee you if a community in Kane County were having issues all of the neighboring communities would be willing to help whether with knowledge-based or with technical assistance  we try to help each other. We are a tight-knit group and work together as much as possible."

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon News.
This age-progressed image shows what Rachel Mellon might look like today. The 13-year-old went missing from her Bolingbrook home 20 years ago. (National Center for Missing and / Handout)

As he marks the 20th anniversary of his daughter's disappearance, Jeff Skemp is realistic.

He does not think a major breakthrough or new tips will result from a memorial planned for Sunday. Rather, it is a time to remember his daughter, Rachel Mellon, who went missing Jan. 31, 1996. She was 13.

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"I don't have any expectations except to have a day to remember what happened 20 years ago," he said. "Maybe someday we get the answer to what happened that day, but I'm at peace with the fact that Rachel's in a better place."

The Bolingbrook girl had stayed home from school with a sore throat the day she disappeared. Her step-father, Vince Mellon, told police Rachel had gone to take a nap when he went out to walk the dog. One of her siblings was the first to notice she was missing later that frigid day.

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Vince Mellon and Rachel's mother, Amy Mellon, were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in 2000. Investigators took hair, blood and saliva samples from Vince Mellon, the last person to have seen her. No one has ever been charged in her disappearance. Amy Mellon and Vince Mellon could not be reached for comment.

Skemp organized memorials on various anniversaries of his daughter's disappearance but did not plan to do one this year until her friends called him. Skemp and Rachel's friends will host the memorial, which will also honor more than 200 other missing persons from Illinois, at BJ Ward Elementary School at 2 p.m. Sunday. The school, which was formerly a middle school, is the last one Mellon attended before she disappeared.

"For those of us who knew Rachel, she's an unforgettable person," Skemp said. "This is something we need to do every once in a while ... get together and remember Rachel and talk about her and what she meant to us."

Family and friends of other missing persons also will be at the memorial, where 200 balloons will be launched to remember their loved ones.

Though the case is old, local police said the investigation continues.

"The case is rather active," said Lt. Carter Larry, a spokesman for the Bolingbrook Police Department.

A new detective was recently assigned to the case after the former detective handling the investigation retired. Investigators recently met with the Will County State's Attorney's Office to review Mellon's case and other open cases.

"(It was) just to give it a fresh set of eyes and review some of the old documents to see if something was missed," he said, adding investigators continue to check on leads involving Rachel's disappearance.

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Among those expected to participate in the memorial is Sharonrose Zane-Neu, whose sister, April Zane, went missing from the family's Frankfort home in 1977. April was 17.

"I hope not just for April, but for every person who is missing in Illinois," Zane-Neu said.

Skemp said he hopes the memorial will help shine a light on older cases and other cases that may not have attracted as much media attention as Rachel's case.

"We're raising awareness to the many, many missing people that are out there," he said.

Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter.
Dennis Hunke of Plainfield was honored posthumously as a Carnegie hero for trying to help an 84-year-old woman who lost control of her vehicle in Aurora. (Overman-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation / Handout)

Scott Van Duzor remembers the day he saw his employee of 27 years die a hero.

Van Duzor, owner of Van Duzor Construction, Inc., stopped by an Aurora job site to drop off a few things for carpenter Dennis Hunke of Plainfield in October 2014. The two were chatting through the driver's-side window of his truck when an 84-year-old woman lost control of her vehicle as she backed out of a nearby driveway and into the road.

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Hunke, 51, walked over to help the woman after she rolled into a yard across the street, Van Duzor said. As he spoke with her through her open driver's-side door, she stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, knocking him to the ground. Hunke died shortly thereafter.

Hunke was recently honored posthumously by the Carnegie Heroes Fund Commission, named for Pittsburgh steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who was inspired by stories of heroism during a coal mine disaster that killed 181 people, including a miner and an engineer who died trying to rescue others.

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"It did my heart good to hear that," Van Duzor said. "He needed to be recognized."

For Hunke's family members, the honor has helped as they grieve the loss of the father and husband.

"My husband had a purpose," said Kathy Maloney of Plainfield, Hunke's window.

Maloney said the award especially helped her 16-year old son as he grapples with his father's death: "Dad didn't die uselessly," Maloney said.

Hunke was one of two area men recognized in December by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. Established in 1904 in New York, the award recognizes those "who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others," officials said. The group awards medals and cash several times a year. It has given away $37.7 million to 9,821 awardees or their families since 1904.

Eighty-five were recognized as Carnegie heroes in 2015 throughout the United States and Canada. Four of those, including Hunke, died in their rescue attempts.

Kevin O'Connor, 42, of Ottawa, also received the award for his efforts in a fatal kayak accident on the Fox river in Geneva. O'Connor was visiting downtown Geneva in April 2014 with family when he emptied his pockets and jumped in the Fox River after a kayaker had been thrown from his canoe. The paddler's boat overturned going over a small dam, officials said. Another man in the boat, a 26-year-old from Bloomington, died in the accident.

Geneva police Officer Chuck Parisi remembers stepping out of his patrol car and watching an unconscious man float under the State Street bridge.

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"My first thought was, we've gotta get this guy out of the water," Parisi said.

Fortunately, Parisi said, O'Connor was on the side of the river and jumped right in, without needing time to remove the equipment and gear that would hold up a police officer.

"It's not something you would normally expect someone to run in and do," Parisi said. "It would have been a lot worse if he hadn't done that."

O'Connor, said he was "humbled and shocked" by the honor. When he got to the kayaker, the man had stopped breathing and was slipping out of his life jacket, O'Connor said. The former police officer put the kayaker in a headlock, pounded his chest and swam to shore.

At the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, investigations manager Jeffrey Dooley said he and his staff comb U.S. and Canadian newspapers daily in search of heroes. They then pull police reports and interview witnesses to determine whether someone qualifies for the prize.

"It makes you appreciate the fragility of life, some of these," Dooley said.

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O'Connor said he was surprised to learn other Carnegie winners died in their rescue attempts.

"It kind of gives you a wake-up call," O'Connor said. "I was one of the lucky ones."

Winners, or their next of kin, will receive a medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission and a $6,000 award, officials said.

gbookwalter@tribpub.com

Twitter @GenevieveBook
Family and friends gather Jan. 25, 2016, outside the south suburban Lansing apartment where Summer Mitchell, 18, lived before she was found dead a day before with a gunshot wound to the chest. (Dennis Sullivan / Chicago Tribune)

Lansing police on Tuesday continued to investigate the death of an 18-year-old woman who was found in her apartment Sunday morning with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Summer Mitchell was discovered about 11:20 a.m. Sunday in the 17700 block of Commercial Avenue. She had single gunshot wound, police said. A semi-automatic pistol and a single spent shell casing were next to her body.

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Evidence collected at the scene has been sent to the Illinois State Police Forensic Laboratory for analysis.

Police said preliminary results from an autopsy conducted Monday are being withheld until forensic analysis is completed.

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Lansing police said Tuesday that Mitchell's live-in boyfriend gave them a voluntary statement. Chicago police on Monday recovered Mitchell's unoccupied Pontiac Grand Am, which had been reported missing after her body was found.

Lansing Police Department spokesman Fabian Newman said the investigations division "has been in constant contact with the family throughout the entire incident to share our findings. We are continuing to investigate and classify this case as a death investigation."

LaSaunya Mitchell, who identified herself as Summer's stepmother, said Monday that Summer was a senior at Kenwood Academy in Chicago. She was taking classes online to increase the number of credits toward graduation and wanted to be a police officer.

Summer had moved from the family's South Side neighborhood and followed her boyfriend to the south suburbs.

LaSaunya Mitchell said the family called for emergency medical help Sunday morning after the mother of Summer's boyfriend called them, saying Summer was injured.

Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call 708-895-7150.

Dennis Sullivan is a freelance reporter.
Supreme Court: Ban on Mandatory Juvenile Life Sentences Is Retroactive

Back in 2012, the Supreme Court held that mandatory life sentences for juveniles without the possibility for parole are unconstitutional. The question at the time, and one that has been posed to state courts ever since, was whether that ruling applied to inmates already serving life sentences for juvenile convictions.

And now we know the answer. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court decided that its ruling in Miller v. Alabama is retroactive, and those that were previously sentenced to mandatory life terms as juveniles must be eligible for parole. Let's take a look at the Court's ruling.

No Discretion, No Justice

In Miller, the Court found that mandatory life without the possibility for parole violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. While such sentences were still allowed, they could not be mandatory and judges and juries must be given discretion when it comes to sentencing juveniles.

Henry Montgomery was just 17 when he killed a deputy sheriff in 1963. The jury in his case returned a verdict of "guilty without capital punishment," which, under Louisiana law, required the trial court to impose a sentence of life without parole. After such sentences were deemed illegal under Miller, Montgomery appealed his sentence, but was denied by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

If Substantive, Then Retroactive

Writing for the majority opinion, Justice Kennedy reversed that ruling, stating, "When a new substantive rule of constitutional law controls the outcome of a case, the Constitution requires state collateral review courts to give retroactive effect to that rule." Miller was that kind of substantive rule, and therefore all prior mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles were violations of that rule.

That doesn't mean that Montgomery will be freed -- states can remedy these violations by extending parole eligibility to juvenile offenders. It's now up to Henry Montgomery to argue that he is not the same troubled youth who committed murder, and that "children who commit even heinous crimes are capable of change." But at least now he'll have the chance to make that argument.

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Family and friends gather Jan. 25, 2016, outside the south suburban Lansing apartment where Summer Mitchell, 18, lived before she was found dead Sunday with a gunshot wound to the chest. (Dennis Sullivan / Chicago Tribune)

LaSaunya Mitchell burst into tears while clutching a coat that had been removed from a Lansing apartment where, according to police, 18-year-old Summer Mitchell had been found dead Sunday with a gunshot wound in her chest.

"This is the coat I bought her for Christmas," LaSaunya Mitchell said Monday outside the apartment in the 17700 block of Commercial Avenue where Summer had lived. LaSaunya said she was Summer's stepmother and had raised her since she was 3.

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Summer Mitchell was found dead about 11:20 a.m. Sunday after Lansing police responded to a "medical emergency," police said. Late Monday afternoon, police were still investigating the death with the help of Illinois State Police.

Results from an autopsy conducted Monday by the Cook County medical examiner's office were pending, police said in a news release. No other information about the investigation was provided.

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Family members said Summer shared the apartment with her boyfriend. They said that they have not been in contact with the boyfriend since Summer's death and that Summer's car is missing.

LaSaunya Mitchell said Summer was a friendly, outgoing individual who was a senior at Kenwood Academy in Chicago. She was taking classes online to increase the number of credits toward graduation, and she had recently purchased a dress for prom.

"She loved going to school," LaSaunya Mitchell said. "She was a great student, a great student."

Chicago Public Schools officials did not return calls for comment.

"She was the best person ever," LaSaunya Mitchell said. "She always wanted her life to be just a little bit better."

Summer Mitchell, who had been working at a discount store in Lansing for three months, spent her free time watching police shows and programs on the Lifetime network, LaSaunya Mitchell said. She wanted to be a police officer.

"Yup," said her uncle, Andrew Holmes. "She wanted to be in law enforcement."

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

He said Summer, the youngest daughter of Calvin Mitchell's 15 children, was "the spark of the family; she always kept a smile."

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But LaSaunya said things changed when Summer moved from the family's South Side neighborhood and followed her boyfriend to the south suburbs.

"To keep her from being late to school, we bought her the car on her birthday," she said. "Now we can't find the car, we can't find him.

"We can't do anything for my baby," she said.

LaSaunya Mitchell said the family called for emergency medical help Sunday morning after the mother of Summer's boyfriend called them, saying Summer was injured.

Calvin Mitchell, arriving later Monday afternoon to assist the dozen family and friends gathered to help remove Summer's belongings, tearfully told reporters Summer "was somebody I loved that I lost."

Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call 708-895-7150.
Southlanders are opting for vacations in Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, largely due to the short, direct flights and all-inclusive resort packages. Hawaii remains somewhat popular, area travel agents say, but food is very expensive there. For example, Old Lahina Luau in Lahina, Maui, features a traditional pig roast for a fixed price of $105 person for the buffet dinner including drinks. These men dig out the hog in front of hundreds of guests before serving it. About 500 people attend this luau each night. This photo was taken in December. (Erin Gallagher / Daily Southtown)

Bad weather means good business for some Southland travel agents.

"We always say when the weather hits 12 degrees, we work 12 hours a day," said Debra Sullivan, owner of New Lenox Travel.

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Southlanders in large numbers are escaping "Chi-beria's" winter chill for destinations warmer and more tropical.

Travel bookings are up significantly, fueled largely by the strengthening economy and lower travel prices, according to Beth Mosher, a spokesman for AAA Auto Club, which operates in 11 states, including Illinois.

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The club saw its largest number of travel bookings ever  up 33 percent from last year  at the annual Travel and Adventure Show, an expo held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont earlier this month.

"Prices were very good at the show, but the economy is really, really fueling this," Mosher said.

The stronger economy is giving people greater confidence about their job stability, prompting them to spend more of their disposable income on travel, she said.

In addition, Mosher said 63 percent of club members are scheduling travel seven months to two years in advance, much sooner than in years past. Travel partners, such as hotels and airlines, are responding to the advance bookings with more incentives and better pricing, she said.

However, last minute travelers can still get great deals, Mosher said.

Flossmoor's Diamond Point Travel co-owner Peggie Kovatch agreed. People who are flexible in their dates and locations can benefit from last-minute discounts.

"As long as there is some flexibility in their travel, chances are we can get them a good deal for hotels that aren't sold out (and) for flights that aren't sold out," Kovatch said. "It happens."

According to a number of local travel agents, Mexico remains at the top of the list for the Southland's winter travelers.

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"Mexico is a destination that remains very popular," Mosher said. "Especially in Chicago, as we're freezing, people just want to get away where people can relax on the beach, and Mexico provides that."

Mexico also offers the all-inclusive resorts, which charge a fixed price for all food and drinks.

"There are no surprises," Kovatch said. "You know exactly how much you're going to spend."

Kovatch said that if travelers call on Tuesday, for example, she can often find last-minute bargains for the weekend, so long as the travelers don't mind if they go to Cancun or Punta Cana, for example.

Depending on the time of year they travel, Southlanders can expect to spend about $1,200 to $1,500 per person for seven nights, including airfare, for an all-inclusive higher-end resort in Cancun. Very often, that will also include food, drinks and gratuity, she said.

Cancun is in the same time zone as Chicago, making shorter vacations easier. Non-stop flights to Cancun out of both O'Hare and Midway airports are another plus for travelers seeking warm temperatures.

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"You can be on the beach in three to four hours," Sullivan said.

Another destination gaining popularity is Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

"It's become very popular in the last five to eight years," Kovatch said. "Even Southwest Airlines flies nonstop out of Midway."

Like Mexico, the Dominican Republic offers beautiful beaches and all-inclusive packages.

"A lot of folks who have traveled to Mexico a number of times see that as a new, different destination," Mosher said, referring to Punta Cana.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Another up-and-coming location is South America, she said. Mosher likened it to the new Europe, because of its rich history. The ecotourism of the Galapagos Islands there is drawing more tourism.

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Still, many Southlanders, like Marsha Been from Manhattan, are loyal to their Florida vacations. Been will be among a group of about 25 friends and family heading to the Sarasota area in April.

"I've done it every year for 40 years," Been said. "I walk out the back door and I'm on the beach. I walk out the front door and I'm at the pool."

Been joins the group at the same condo every year.

Opportunities to escape the cold in the dead of winter are seemingly endless.

"Give us a call, and we'll get you someplace warm," Kovatch said.

Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Elgin Water Director Kyla Jacobsen said the department treats and tests the water supply to make sure it is safe to drink and won't corrode pipes. (Mike Danahey / The Courier-News)

Water Director Kyla Jacobsen will be addressing the City Council Wednesday evening to assure residents that Elgin's drinking water is safe to use.

"After what happened in Flint, Mich., we've been getting calls," Jacobsen said. "So Friday I suggested to City Manager Sean Stegall that we talk about our water at the meeting."

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Jacobsen said that Elgin currently gets about 90 percent of its water from the Fox River, with the rest coming from wells. It has been getting most of its water from the Fox River since the Leo Nelson Riverside Drive Water Treatment Plant opened in 1982 and expanded in 2000.

The city also has agreements to supply water to Bartlett and Sleepy Hollow. Jacobsen noted that Aurora gets as much of 70 percent of its water from the Fox, too.

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"I'm confident that our supply is safe," Councilwoman Tish Powell said. "The city takes measures to do so, does testing and follows guidelines to have clean water."

"For the hardness and mineral content, we soften our water," Jacobsen said. "To control alkaline and pH levels we use limestone and ash."

According to reports, under orders from a state-appointed emergency manager to cut costs, Flint had stopped adding corrosion-fighting substances to its water supply even as it switched to the Flint River, a particularly corrosive source of water. Reports claim the polyphosphate Flint could have used to address potential issues would have run about $100 a day.

Reports stated that in spring of 2014 Flint switched from using water provided by Detroit, which uses Lake Huron as its source, to getting its water from the Flint as a temporary measure as the city waited for a state-run pipeline to be finished that also would take water to treat from Lake Huron.

Without the right treatment, the corrosiveness led to Flint water turning brown with iron from the city's pipes leaching into it. In homes that had lead pipes the water became contaminated with lead  and the lead made its ways into people.

A native of Michigan, Powell said, "What happened in Flint is disappointing. Having clean water is something we shouldn't have to worry about."

Powell said while towns feel pressures to cut costs, if what's been reported is correct, "the consequences of making those cuts were not acceptable." Powell also noted that reports are indicating a breakdown on several levels in how the government should function.

Elgin's water supply is treated to prevent pipes from corroding and for other factors to make sure it is safe to drink. (Mike Danahey / The Courier-News)

"If people want services, you have to pay for them someway," Mayor Dave Kaptain said.

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Jacobsen and Powell noted that any time a town switches the source for its water there is testing to be done.

As is, Elgin tests its water with samples taken every two hours, Jacobsen said. Those tests include ones to measure corrosiveness. Elgin also flushes its lines once a year.

Jacobsen said that any home built prior to 1960 could have lead pipes. Elgin maintains the mains and lines to Buffalo boxes  the devices through which homes and businesses connect to the city's water supply. The city also has been consistently replacing older mains as part of its extensive and ongoing infrastructure projects, she noted.

According to Jacobsen, in the early 1990s, the EPA mandated testing on water coming out of home pipes. Originally Elgin tested 100 homes  50 with copper pipes and 50 with lead, she said. With no issues found, the EPA now requires 60 of those same homes have their water tested. Originally, the tests were done in winter and summer each year, then just summer, and now, per the EPA, are done once every three years, Jacobsen said.

Jacobsen said she and the department are vigilant about testing and following guidelines.

"I'm like a dog with a bone when it comes to regulations," Jacobsen said.

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Kaptain recalled it was controversial at the time for Elgin to decide to get its water from the Fox instead of wells, but extensive testing and the system put in place assure the water would be safe.

Kaptain worked for more than 30 years for the Fox River Water Reclamation District before retiring 10 years ago. The district provides wastewater treatment for Elgin, South Elgin, West Dundee, and parts of Sleepy Hollow, Streamwood, Hoffman Estates and unincorporated St. Charles Township,

The crisis in Flint, Kaptain said, might be another sign of what can happen when regulating agencies are understaffed and overworked. He said when he worked at the water reclamation district, the EPA would test samples every month back in the 1970s, which eventually became once every six months, then once a year by the time he retired.

MDanahey@tribpub.com
About a dozen Evanston Township High School students will spend the next five months identifying ways to encourage those who suffer from depression to take their medication as prescribed under the mentorship of representatives from a Deerfield-based pharmaceutical company.

The project is part of a statewide initiative by the Illinois Science and Technology Institute dubbed the Research and Development STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Learning Exchange. Allie Barwise, managing director of ISTI, said this is the third year the nonprofit has facilitated the Learning Exchange, which matches groups of high school students with corporations and research institutions in an effort to spur student interest in STEM fields and careers.

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This is the first year ETHS students will participate in the Learning Exchange, said Linnette Hill, who teaches health science at the school and will lead the dozen juniors and seniors through the project. The group was matched with Takeda Pharmaceuticals partly because of Hill's background as a nurse, Barwise said.

This year, the second in which Takeda has participated in the Learning Exchange, the company offered ETHS students, in addition to students at Oak Park River Forest High School and Maine South High School, the choice to tackle the challenge of medication adherence as it relates to patients who suffer from either depression, obesity or diabetes, said Daaron Dohler, Takeda's VP head of operations, research and development strategy and professional affairs.

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ETHS students chose to focus on depression, Hill said, due in part because a recent city survey listed mental health access and stigmatization as a top concern.

Students will work with mentors from Takeda and Hill to address medication adherence, otherwise known as "compliance," which refers to "patients taking the medication as it's scheduled to be taken, that means the correct time of day, the correct frequency," Dohler said.

Medication adherence is something nearly everyone can relate to whether they take a prescription drug on a regular basis or a daily vitamin, Dohler said. He added that it's an issue the entire pharmaceutical industry struggles with.

"These are real world problems, not just book problems where you can flip to an answer key in the back of a book," Dohler said. "Number one, this is an issue we deal with as a company and we also thought it was an issue students could relate to."

One of the reasons he said Takeda chose those diagnoses for students to focus on was that there is some prevalence of all three in teenagers.

"(The students) may have a chance to understand, from the perspective of a teen, why is it difficult to take medications every day and what solutions can they come up with for teenagers," Dohler said.

Though the pharmaceutical company manufactures a drug designed for individuals with major depressive disorder in adults, Dohler said the student will receive no specific product information from mentors and there will be no emphasis on any particular prescription drug.

His company's intent, Dohler said, is to provide an educational experience and exposure to a real world problem to the students, and in exchange they hope to receive some creative ideas that may lead to "real improvements we can make to make sure the products get to patients who need them the most."

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Hill said the first meeting with Takeda mentors was scheduled for Jan. 26. To prepare for that meeting, she said, the class has been working for the past month to gain a better understanding of depression as a disease.

All of Hill's students are highly motivated to move forward with this project, she said, and most plan to pursue careers in the health care field.

As part of their research, the students will also engage with the community on the issue and work with local health organizations, she said. Hill said she hopes this work will help educate the community and erode the stigma that surrounds a long-standing mental health problem.

"If we can educate peers in the building, and educate peers and other individuals in the community, that will make me a very happy teacher and also a very happy health care professional, she said.

A team of Evanston students will be selected to present their findings to all the companies involved in the Learning Exchange and students from other high schools at the Motorola Mobility office inside the Merchandise Mart in Chicago on May 19, Barwise said. A separate group of students at ETHS are also working on a challenge related to cyber security as part of the Learning Exchange alongside mentors from Argonne National Laboratory and will present their findings at the event as well, she said.

Both Hill and Dohler called the project a win-win for the students, Takeda and the community at large.

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"I'm excited to see (the students) get excited," Hill said. "It makes me feel good as a teacher. They are learning so much and to see that and open their eyes to something is very special for me."

Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Supreme Court Further Limits Juvenile Life Without Parole Convictions

Four years ago, in Miller v. Alabama, the Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences without parole were an unconstitutional violation of the Eighth Amendment. Since then, there has been significant debate about Miller's reach: are automatic life without parole sentences verboten only for offenders sentenced after the Court's ruling, or should childhood offenders from long ago be given the opportunity of parole?

Today (while the rest of Washington took the day off to shovel itself out of the snow) the Court settled the debate, ruling that Miller applied retroactively and that all mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional, whether the sentencing took place five days or 50 years ago.

A Lifer at 17

Henry Montgomery killed East Baton Rouge, Louisiana deputy sheriff Charles Hurt in 1963. The crime occurred just a few days after Montgomery's seventeenth birthday. He was eventually found "guilty without capital punishment" on his second trial, after the Louisiana Supreme Court found that "public prejudice" had tainted his first prosecution.

That verdict meant that Montgomery was sentenced automatically to life without the possibility of parole. After almost five decades of prison, the Court decided Miller and Montgomery sued to have his sentence reviewed. The Supreme Court of Louisiana, however, ruled that Miller does not have retroactive effect. While Miller would have prevented Montgomery's sentence had he been tried in 2013, it had no effect on sentences that were final before the decision.

Substantive Constitutional Rules Require Retroactive Effect

The Supreme Court disagreed, however, interpreting Justice O'Connor's plurality opinion in Teague v. Lane. Under Teague, a new constitutional rule doesn't generally apply to final convictions. However, there are two exceptions to that retroactivity bar: when the rule is a "substantive rule of constitutional law," such as rules forbidden certain types of punishment, or "watershed rules of criminal procedure." Miller falls into the first category, the Court said.

State collateral review courts must give such substantive rules retroactive effect, Justice Kennedy wrote for the majority. "When a State enforces a proscription or penalty barred by the Constitution," Kennedy wrote, "the resulting conviction or sentence is, by definition, unlawful."

Like Miller, today's ruling in Montgomery v. Louisiana doesn't ban juvenile life without parole altogether. But it does open up the chance of parole for many once-young offenders whose crimes did not reflect "an irreparable condition," but rather than "the transient immaturity of youth."

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A proposed ordinance would let wireless carriers put antennas and utility boxes on La Grange utility poles and street lights, allowing WiFi signals in some areas of the village. (Pioneer Press / Chicago Tribune)

Areas near La Grange's Metra train stations and the Lyons Township High School campus are expected to be highly sought for the installation of equipment designed to improve wireless access.

The village is considering an ordinance that would help it respond to requests from wireless carriers for permission to install their small cell antennas and associated equipment on decorative or utility poles in these areas and others throughout the village.

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One carrier, Verizon Wireless, has already applied to install its equipment in La Grange and several other carriers have expressed interest.

"There is a lot of demand around train stations. People want to have access to WiFi," Village President Thomas E. Livingston said Monday.

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The units, which include antennas and boxes that measure about 2 to 3 feet square, are an alternative to tall cellular towers.

"There are tens of thousands of small cells planned in the next 10 years across the country," village attorney Mark Burkland, said during a discussion of a proposed ordinance regulating small cell wireless telecommunications equipment.

The ordinance would regulate a wide variety of issues related to the equipment, including where they can be placed and, to some extent, what they may look like.

As part of mulling this issue, village officials have created a priority list of areas where equipment may be installed. Areas where people tend to be, such as the train stations and places that already have a concentration of utility poles, are more likely to have more of the equipment than residential neighborhoods.

"It pushes these facilities outside of residential neighborhoods and into areas that are already populated with utility poles," Burkland said.

The antenna are usually installed higher on the poles and the boxes are mounted at least 8 feet above grade on the poles, said Burkland, who noted that the village's decorative street lamps stand about 35 feet high.

Some Village Board members raised concerns about the equipment and where it may be placed. Trustee David McCarty said he'd rather see the boxes mounted on the ground than on the poles.

"The objection to me is that massive boxes equipment (could be) hanging just over my height when I jump," he said.

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The village would allow the equipment only on village-owned poles, allowing more control over the equipment, The village also would receive rent for the equipment.

A proposed rent of $250 per month per unit is too low, said a couple of trustees.

"I want to get top dollar on those leases whatever that might be," said Trustee Mark Kuchler.

Burkland said he continues to analyze the market to learn what an appropriate rent would be.

McCarty said he'd like to see other provisions in ordinance such as requiring that the boxes be a uniform color and that they not be allowed to have any signs on them. McCarty also is not embracing the idea of allowing the antennas and boxes on La Grange's turn-of-the-century street lamps.

"I think it would be nice to find a pole that's not our decorative poles," he said. "It's never good to put new technology into an old box. It generally messes things up."

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The Village Board plans to discuss the matter again at its meeting at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Rd., La Grange.

amannion@tribpub.com

Twitter: triblocalam
Two men and a woman were shot outside Nardo's in unincorporated Lake Bluff last Christmas. (Jim Newton / Pioneer Press)

Lake County officials have revoked the liquor license of a bar in unincorporated Lake Bluff where three people were shot early Christmas morning.

After a Monday hearing regarding eight alleged violations lodged against Nardo's BBQ Bar and Grill, County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor, who serves as the county's liquor commissioner, ruled the bar would lose its license for a year and the owner would then have to petition for a new license.

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"This is very serious. It's not normal to have a shooting at one of the bars in our jurisdiction," Lawlor said.

Three people were wounded when gunfire erupted about 1:30 a.m. Dec. 25 in the parking lot of the bar. All three have since been released from the hospital.

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Nardo's, owned by Rita Usher, was accused of six violations after the shooting: permitting the possession and/or discharge of a firearm, permitting a battery, permitting disorderly conduct to occur on the premises, serving alcohol to an intoxicated person, permitting the sale of alcohol to a minor and remaining open to the public during restricted hours.

Usher pleaded guilty to remaining open during restricted hours and not guilty to the other five Dec. 25 violations. She was then found guilty of the remaining violations, Lawlor said.

According to the county, Nardo's was previously accused of permitting a battery and permitting a disturbance last August. Usher was found not guilty of both violations, Lawlor said.

All of the violations were of county liquor ordinances. Usher faces no criminal charges or fines.

Usher may appeal Monday's decision to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, and if she does, the revocation will automatically be delayed until the appeal is completed, Lawlor said.

Attempts to reach Usher for comment were unsuccessful. She consented to proceed with Monday's hearing without an attorney present, Lawlor said.

Two Lake County sheriff's deputies testified at Monday's hearing in regard to the December violations, and a third deputy testified about the August allegations.

Detective Christopher Covelli, a spokesman for the Lake County sheriff's office, said Monday that the investigation into the shooting remains open, despite one person already being charged.

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Saladine A. McKinney, 23, of the 1700 block of 16th Street in North Chicago, has been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated unlawful discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. (Lake County Sheriff's Office photo / Handout)

Saladine A. McKinney, 23, of North Chicago, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated unlawful discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, Covelli said.

Covelli said police are investigating others as persons of interest.

Police said two men and a woman were shot outside of Nardo's after an argument that started inside the bar and moved to the parking lot, Covelli said.

He said a man and woman were shot in the back, and a second man was shot in the leg.

Nardo's should have been closed by 1 a.m., Lawlor said.

jrnewton@tribpub.com

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Twitter @jimnewton5
Banners of the states that had been supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt for the presidential nomination grouped around the speakers' platform when it became apparent from the opening remarks of William McAdoo that Roosevelt was about to be nominated. Chicago Tribune photo published July 2, 1932. Copyright Notice: Chicago Tribune (Chicago Tribune)

According to the Republican National Committee, 2,472 delegates will be heading to Cleveland this July to take part in choosing a Republican candidate for president of the United States. Likewise, 4,763 will go to Philadelphia the same month to choose a Democratic candidate for president, according to the Democratic National Committee.

Among those who may attend are six residents of Lake Forest who are registered as delegates for Republicans, according to the website of the Illinois State Board of Elections. They are Reeve B. Waud and Alexander Stuart for Jeb Bush, Joseph Mislinski for Chris Christie, Dale Miller for Carly Fiorina, Adam Sachs for Rand Paul and Eugene Cummings for Donald Trump.

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In Lake Bluff, Brian Dupuis is registered as a delegate for Bernie Sanders at the Democratic convention.

"Each state is allocated a number of delegates depending on how big the state is," said Robert Bruhl, clinical assistant professor in the political science department at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "The bigger states send more delegates."

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Rules on who gets to go vary by state. In Illinois, if you're an active member of a political party but not an elected official, you can talk to the state party about being a delegate, he said.

"They can just be rich people who donated money to the party," Bruhl said.

Brian Dupuis of Lake Bluff, who is registered as a delegate for Bernie Sanders, said he was asked by someone active with progressive Democrats if he was interested in being a delegate.

"I've never been to a Democratic National Convention or any political action convention," Dupuis said. "I'm looking forward to it."

For Dupuis to attend, Sanders will have to win the Democratic primary in Illinois. Only delegates whose candidate wins the primary in Illinois get to take part in their respective conventions, Bruhl said.

Delegates from those states where primaries are held are required to vote for the candidate chosen in the primary, at least initially, he said.

"After the first vote, if the convention doesn't elect a candidate, those delegates can vote for anybody," Bruhl said.

That, however, hasn't happened for years.

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"By the time the primaries are done, one of the candidates has enough delegates committed to him or her to win the nomination," Bruhl said. "Conventions in the last 30 years have not been decision-making events. They have been coronations."

Dale Miller of Lake Forest, a registered delegate for Carly Fiorina, can remember before that.

"In the old days, you didn't know the candidate until halfway through the convention," Miller said. "When I was a kid, you'd watch TV and you'd wait to see who the delegates elected."

mlawton@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @reporterdude
Northbrook police have charged a Northbrook teenager with criminal sexual abuse of a child in an Internet-related case.

Matthew S. Stock, 19, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex and "grooming" a minor for illegal sex, both felonies, according to Northbrook Police. He also is facing a misdemeanor charge of criminal sexual abuse, police said.

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Police have not revealed the age or home municipality of the alleged victim, or the circumstances of the incident, but the specific abuse charge, under Illinois law, relates to sexual conduct with a victim who is at least 13 years of age but under 17 years of age, with the alleged offender being less than 5 years older than the victim.

The offense of "grooming" relates to enticing or soliciting a child, or a child's guardian, for sex through electronic means, according to the state criminal code. "Traveling" may be charged when the individual travels any distance to commit such an offense.

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Northbrook Police Commander Mike O'Malley said Monday the alleged crime took place in Northbrook, and the female victim was an Illinois resident.

Police said Stock, of the 1400 block of Cedar Lane, turned himself in Jan. 20 at Northbrook Police headquarters, was subsequently charged, then released on $80,000 bond. Stock could not be reached for comment.

Stock, according to a Cook County State's Attorney spokesman, was in 2014 convicted of misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor common battery in separate cases. The spokesman said he was sentenced to parole  which has been served  in the first case and received a conditional discharge in the second.

ileavitt@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @IrvLeavitt
Man who tried to rob store using sledge hammer jailed

A Lowell man was sentenced to four years for attempted robbery of a Cedar Lake store.

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Jason Veenstra, 28, admitted on Friday that he and two others tried to rob Casey's General Store. On Aug. 18, 2014, the three rode together to the store at 10405 W. 133rd Ave. Veenstra went inside carrying a sledge hammer and tomahawk, which he slammed down on the counter in announcing the robbery.

The store employee picked up the phone and called police. When she told Veenstra she'd called, he ran to the car and he and the two others left.

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Defense attorney Andres Kyres presented testimony from Veenstra's boss, the owner of a group of restaurants. Nathaniel James Gresham said Veenstra, who is part of the kitchen staff at one of the restaurants, is an asset to the operation, has a positive attitude and is reliable.

Kyres said when his client committed the attempted robbery, he'd been kicked out of his home after his mother learned of his drug use. "You name it, he was doing it," Kyres said, referring to cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. "He hit rock bottom," he said.

After spending about three months in the Lake County Jail, Veenstra was released and has maintained his sobriety since, Kyres said.

Deputy prosecutor Eric Randall said the crime was caught on video surveillance and Veenstra received a benefit in pleading to a lesser offense.

Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell commended Veenstra for the progress he's made in getting his life on track. Veenstra will serve two years in Lake County Community Corrections, and the remaining two years on probation.

Attempted murder, battery charges for Gary man in shooting

Charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery resulting in serious bodily injury and battery with a deadly weapon have been filed in Lake Superior Court against a Gary man in connection with a Jan. 15 shooting.

Dion Troy Clayton, 22, of 5117 Indiana Place, was charged with shooting R.J. McQuay, who told police he was wounded at least six time in his legs and lower body.

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McQuay, his half-brother and his cousin had arrived at his cousin's residence about 9 p.m. Jan. 15 in the 1400 block of East 51st Avenue in Gary when a black Chevrolet Impala pulled up from behind and turned off its headlights. McQuay and his half-brother got out of the car and walked to the back of his cousin's residence. The front seat passenger leaned out the window and began firing, an affidavit states. McQuay said at least 10 shots were fired.

Two of the men identified Clayton as the shooter, records state.

McQuay's cousin said Clayton was upset with him because a friend who is a licensed gun dealer refused to modify two Glock 17 handguns to make them fully automatic, records state.

After the shooting, the Impala crashed. Inside, police found an extended 22-round Glock magazine, records state. The car was registered to a woman who police think is Clayton's cousin, records state.

McQuay was taken to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary and transferred to an Illinois hospital, where he has undergone two surgeries and is scheduled for a third.

Daughter charged with exploitation of dementia patient

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The daughter of a dementia patient has been charged in Lake Superior Court with exploitation of an endangered adult and theft.

Sheila C. Miller, 55, of Country Club Hills, Ill., gained power of attorney over the man, who lives at a Hobart nursing home.

Adult Protective Services contacted the man's other daughter, who told authorities she has been handling his finances and that no power of attorney had been agreed on for the man..

The nursing home director told police Miller had been visiting in recent months after not being in to see her father for more about 18 months. She checked him out twice, including Oct. 19 when she caused a disturbance and police were called, records show.

Miller's sister called police on Jan. 20 after learning a quit claim deed had been filed on the man's property in the 1300 block of Dearborn Street in Gary. Miller is listed as the owner, and power of attorney paperwork was on file, records state. The deed was recorded on Oct. 1, and the power of attorney paperwork on Aug. 23. The home was listed for sale in November.

Police said Miller also gained access to the man's savings account in Illinois and withdrew $4,000 of the $6,000 that had been earmarked for the man's funeral and burial expenses.

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Calumet City man convicted of dealing drugs near school

A Lake Superior Court jury convicted a Calumet City, Ill., man of three counts of dealing cocaine, possession of cocaine and maintaining a common nuisance on Friday.

Devon Levell Hunter, 30, faces 20 to 50 years on each dealing count. Police said Hunter sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant working with Hammond police in November 2013.

Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez scheduled a Feb. 24 sentencing hearing.

During opening statements, deputy prosecutor Sean Mullins outlined the deals, which occurred within 1,000 feet of Lafayette Elementary School on Nov. 20, 2013, Nov. 21, 2013, and Nov. 25, 2013, at the informant's residence in the 500 block of Summer Street. Children could be heard playing outside on recordings of the transactions.

On Jan. 15, 2014, a detective who had worked the case saw a white Porsche driven by Hunter during an earlier deal pull into Edison Elementary. Police arrested Hunter after finding cocaine in the car's cup holder, Mullins said in his opening statement.

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Deputy prosecutor Michelle Jatkiewicz questioned the informant about the drug transactions. The informant called "JB"  identified in court as Hunter  and asked for crack. Police outfitted the informant with a camera after checking for contraband and providing buy money.

Defense attorney Jack Friedlander told jurors the informant was approached by police following an arrest for drug dealing. He said the informant was facing 20 to 50 years but chose to "work it off" by snitching on Hunter. Before evidence began, Friedlander told jurors they would only see Hunter's face once during the first transaction. "It's a frame," he said.
Charles Prewitt, director of maintenance for the Gary Community School Corp., points to damper vents, at the Roosevelt College and Career Academy in Gary, that were sealed off because they wouldn't close. (Carole Carlson / Post-Tribune)

Students returned to warm classrooms Monday at the Roosevelt College and Career Center in Gary.

Ministers, community leaders, and Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson arrived at the school Monday morning for a tour, but Sabrena Davis, the school's superintendent, said she didn't want classes to be disrupted.

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Freeman-Wilson said a tour has been set up for Tuesday. "We had a very productive conversation and I think everyone is focused on getting resources for all school buildings," she said.

School wasn't expected to reopen until Wednesday, but school officials told students on the school website Sunday that classes would resume Monday.

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In the past two weeks, students have missed several days because the building's aging heating system didn't provide enough heat. Gary Community School Corp. maintenance workers, and a contracted company worked to restore heat to the building, whose original section went up in 1923.

Angered by the lack of heat that forced them out of school, several students and staff members protested in front of the school last week. The students also said the building lacked working water fountains.

Student council president Cary Martin, who led the protests, said Monday he's glad changes were made. A band student, he said he's still focused on mold that he said was in the band room. That area has been closed to students for more than a year.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Cheryl Pruitt said others from the community toured Roosevelt on Saturday. "There's nothing wrong with the building. We're not going to fight against one another. All of our children deserve to have adequate funding," she said on Monday.

Pruitt said there were about 670 students in the 400,000 square-foot building that the district has to heat. The school district brought in safety-rated space heaters for some of the classrooms with heating problems.

EdisonLearning Inc., a private for-profit education turnaround company, has run the academic programs at Roosevelt since 2012 under a contract with the Indiana Department of Education. The state invoked a "takeover" clause in a 1999 state accountability law to remove Roosevelt from the management of the Gary Community School Corp. because of years of poor student performance.

The move was a costly one for the district, which loses about $5 million each year in tuition support to EdisonLearning. From the beginning, there's been bickering over who was responsible for maintenance and other day-to-day tasks at the school. The state's contract with EdisonLearning expires at the end of the school year. The future fate of the school isn't known.

The district is facing financial hardship as it copes with reduced enrollment, shrinking state funding, and aging school buildings. A state-appointed financial specialist is trying to trim costs, with an eye on reducing labor.

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ccarlson@post-trib.com

Twitter: @ccwriterPT
The village of Western Springs may investigate tapping into Lake Michigan water for the Ridgewood subdivision, where residents continue to complain about water quality.

The village dealt with water issues throughout the system after one of its deep wells was offline last fall and a series of water main breaks, but a new study presented Monday suggests some improvements can be made in Ridgewood to avoid future problems.

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The infrastructure study, conducted by the engineering firm Baxter & Woodman at a cost of $49,100, focused on four major infrastructure areas of the subdivision: water and sanitary sewer lines, stormwater runoff and roads in the subdivision, located south of 55th Street and east of Wolf Road. Residents there have complained of low water pressure, taste and odor concerns.

Carolyn Grieves, an engineer with Baxter & Woodman, said because the subdivision is the farthest from the water plant, and because so many of the pipes and water mains dead end there, the water basically stops running. Water needs to continue to circulate and run through pipes, and the ending of the water lines are causing some problems there, Grieves said.

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Water main breaks have also been an issue in the subdivision, and villagewide, with close to 50 percent of the town's water mains more than 60 years old. The village reported 111 main breaks in Western Spring 2013, and 71 in 2014.

One improvement made in Ridgewood last summer was the process of ice pigging, in which pipes are cleaned out to reduce sediment. A contract for $36,000 with Utility Service Company, Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., for the work was completed in August. Grieves said the action was successful, and it should help improve quality of the water.

She also said it could be possible for the village to look at pumping in Lake Michigan water for that section of town if problems continue. The Timber Trails subdivision, south of Ridgewood, uses Lake Michigan water, while most of the village of uses water from an aquifer, pumped through deep wells. But Grieves said the village would have to get permission from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources before any work could be done on bringing lake water in.

Village Trustee James Horvath said the possibility of using Lake Michigan water in Ridgewood has come up before, and is something the village could consider. No cost estimates were given on the option.

Another option would be a process to line pipes with a plastic interior coating to help strengthen them from future breaks, and to add an new pumping station in Ridgewood. The study estimated costs as much as $920,000 for these improvements.

Other topics included some flood control options for the subdivision, costs to improve the aging roads and possibly adding sidewalks to Ridgewood.

Village President Bill Rodeghier said the report gives the village a good "to-do list" of improvements needed in the Ridgewood area.

"It outlines what needs to be done in that area, and things we need to put on our plates in the future," Rodeghier said.

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David Heitz is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
In 1947, the price of a candy bar in British Columbia rose from 5 to 8 cents, and the local teenagers organized a surprisingly effective "strike" that soon spread across the country. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll follow Canada's unlikely "candy bar war," which gripped the nation for 10 days before ending with a surprising twist.

We'll also take a grueling automobile ride across 1903 America and puzzle over the intentions of a masked man.

Show notes

Please support us on Patreon!
The latest issue of China Briefing Magazine, titled A Guide to Chinas Free Trade Zones, is out now and available to subscribers as a complimentary download in the Asia Briefing Bookstore through the months of January and February.

Contents:

Getting in the Zone: Understanding Chinas FTZs

Navigating Chinas FTZs: Market Access, Tax Systems and Registration Procedures

Expert Commentary: Additional Considerations when Investing in Chinas Free Trade Zones

The speed of change in China has continued at breakneck pace over the past year. At the beginning of 2015, three new Free Trade Zones (FTZs) had been announced in the country. As 2016 gets underway, FTZs in Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian have all become fully operational, and the already existing Shanghai FTZ has been greatly expanded.

With Shanghai the nations de facto financial center and Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian key manufacturing, shipping and trading hubs, Chinas FTZs have understandably caught the attention of foreign investors seeking to enter a more liberalized Chinese market. The new zones provide fresh and unique opportunities at a time when China is facing ever greater competition from some of its neighbors, and form part of the governments goal to spur investment outside of the well-established Yangtze River Delta region.

In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we examine Chinas four Free Trade Zones and discuss the differences and strongpoints that exist in each of them. We begin by providing an introduction to the FTZs, and then take an in-depth look at the market access conditions, registration procedures and tax environments of each. Finally, we highlight some of the key considerations that foreign companies should be aware of when choosing an FTZ to invest in.

Regardless of whether youre an SME seeking to outsource manufacturing costs, a financial leasing company, or a retailer looking to sell to the Chinese market, the FTZs offer incentives that can benefit you. With our experience of setting up companies in each, Dezan Shira & Associates can be your guide to investing in Chinas Free Trade Zones.



About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email china@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. 

Importing and Exporting in China: a Guide for Trading Companies

In this issue of China Briefing, we discuss the latest import and export trends in China, and analyze the ways in which a foreign company in China can properly prepare for the import/export process. With import taxes and duties adding a significant cost burden, we explain how this system works in China, and highlight some of the tax incentives that the Chinese government has put in place to help stimulate trade.

How to Restructure an Underperforming Business in China

In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we explore the options that are available to foreign firms looking to restructure or close their operations in China. We begin with an overview of what restructuring an unprofitable business in China might entail, and then take an in-depth look at the way in which a foreign company can go about the restructuring process. Finally, we highlight some of the key HR concerns associated with restructuring a China business.

China Investment Roadmap: the Automotive Parts Industry

This issue of China Briefing presents a roadmap for investing in Chinas automotive industry. We begin by providing an overview of the industry, and then take a comprehensive look at key foreign investment considerations, including investment restrictions, tax incentives and manufacturing requirements. Finally, we discuss foreign investment opportunities in a part of the industry that receives substantial government support: new energy vehicles.
 Flash

(People's Daily Online/Aaron Choi)

According to statistics recently released by the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of Chinese tourists as well as their expenditure ranked top among all foreign tourists visiting Japan.

Haunted by the data, the Japanese Government has already taken some measures to solve its strong reliance on Chinese tourists by adding seven more resident offices in countries like the Philippines and Italy.

Japans Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei, Japanese Business News) published an editorial on Jan. 22 noting there were 19.73 million foreign tourist visits to Japan in 2015, hitting a new historical record.

However, the number of tourists from Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea made up 72 percent of the total, tourists from Southeast Asia and India only 11 percent, and 13 percent are from Europe, America, and Australia.

The editorial pointed out that a shadow has risen on Chinese tourists' strong demand for shopping due to Chinas economic slowdown. In addition to that, the trend of purchasing Japanese goods online has been increasing. Hence any tourism relying on Chinese tourists and their shopping needs faces a potential risk in the future.

The Nikkei claimed that Japan should be more actively attracting tourists from Southeast Asia, Europe and America since these tourists pay more attention to the unique experience Japan has to offer rather than purely shopping, so they are more likely to become return tourists.

Besides the additional resident offices in seven foreign countries, Japan is also planning to make satellite TV programs for these countries about traveling to Japanese. In the meantime, Japan is also considering how to keep encouraging and increasing the number of Chinese tourists coming to Japan.
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Canada will sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement at a meeting in Auckland, New Zealand on Feb. 4, International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said Monday.

But that does not mean the Canadian government will approve the 12-country treaty, she wrote in a letter posted on the website of her department.

"For Parliament to full evaluate the merits of the TPP and for consultations to continue, Canada needs to stay at the table with the other TPP countries," Freeland said in open the letter to Canadians.

"That means when the 11 other countries convene to sign the Agreement next week, Canada will attend as well."

"Not attending", she said, "would mean withdrawing from the TPP altogether, even before Canadians have had an opportunity to fully debate its implications."

However, Freeland noted that "signing does not equal ratifying" and that "only a majority vote in our Parliament can allow the Agreement to take force."

"Signing is simply a technical step in the process, allowing the TPP text to be tabled in Parliament for consideration and debate before any final decision is made."

Last year, the previous Conservative government under former prime minister Stephen Harper announced an agreement-in-principle on Oct. 5, two weeks before the federal election, which the Liberals won and formed a majority government. Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Freeland trade minister last November.

On Monday, Freeland pointed out that countries have up to two years to consider ratifying the pact, which cannot be renegotiated.

But "just as it is too soon to endorse the TPP, it is also too soon to close the door," Freeland wrote in her open letter.

She said that over the last months of public consultations, she has received feedback from thousands of Canadians about the agreement, which involves such major Pacific-Rim nations as the United States and Japan.

"Many feel the TPP presents significant opportunities, while others have concerns," said Freeland. "Many Canadians still have not made up their minds and many more still have questions."
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Japan's Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko [File photo]

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko departed from Tokyo on Tuesday for a five-day trip to the Philippines to mourn the victims of World War II and to mark the 60th year of the normalization of ties between the two countries.

While the couple visited the Philippines in 1962 as crown prince and princess, the trip marks the first ever official visit by a sitting Japanese emperor to the Philippines.

Prior to the royal couple's departure from Tokyo's Haneda airport, the emperor noted that among the 1.1 million Filipino lives lost during the war, many of them were innocent civilians.

"In the Philippines, many lives of Filipino, U.S. and Japanese people were lost during the previous war. Especially, an enormous number of innocent Filipino civilians fell victim in the urban combat in Manila," the emperor said.

He added that "We'd like to carry out this visit while always bearing this in mind."

The trip came at the request of Philippine President Benigno Aquino who invited the royal couple to visit the Philippines during a state visit he made here in June last year.

The royal couple have been visiting some countries that were brutalized by the Imperial Japanese Army before and during WWII with the Philippines being the latest on the list.

The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) launched air strikes on the then U.S. occupied Philippines on Dec. 8, 1941, which was the same day the IJA attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, leading to an intense escalation in the war in the Pacific region.

Japan's occupation of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, began in early 1942. In a month-long battle between Japan and the U.S. in Manila in 1945, around 100,000 innocent Filipino civilians perished in the city.

Following the royal couple meeting with members of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers after their arrival in the Philippines, they are scheduled to attend an official event at the Malacanang Palace on Wednesday as state guests.

The Emperor is expected to deliver a speech at a welcome banquet at the palace.

On Friday, the couple will travel to Caliraya on the outskirts of Manila to pay their respects at a local war monument, erected to commemorate the lives lost during the war. They will also visit a cemetery to pay their respects, specifically to the lives of Filipinos lost during the war.

The royal couple are scheduled to return to Japan on Saturday.
Crofton Black is a British counterterrorism investigator who has spent years tracking down the detritus of extraordinary rendition  a polite euphemism for the government practice of snatching people, flying them to a distant country, and torturing them.

Now, with photographer Edmund Clark, he has published Negative Publicity: Artefacts of Extraordinary Rendition, a spiral-bound discordant coffee-table book filled with reproductions of "invoices, documents of incorporation, and billing reconciliations produced by the small-town American businesses enlisted in detainee transportation," accompanied by first-person accounts of trips to black sites, interviews with survivors of rendition and their families, and a recreation of the CIA's black site network.

British photographer Edmund Clark and counterterrorism investigator Crofton Black have assembled photographs and documents that confront the nature of contemporary warfare and the invisible mechanisms of state control. From George W. Bush's 2001 declaration of the "war on terror" until 2008, an unknown number of people disappeared into a network of secret prisons organized by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agencytransfers without legal process known as extraordinary renditions. No public records were kept as detainees were shuttled all over the globe. Some were eventually sent to Guantanamo Bay or released without charge, while others remain unaccounted for. The paper trail assembled in this volume shows these activities via the weak points of business accountability: invoices, documents of incorporation, and billing reconciliations produced by the small-town American businesses enlisted in detainee transportation. Clark has traveled worldwide to photograph former detention sites, detainees' homes, and government locations. He and Black recreate the network that links CIA "black sites," and evoke ideas of opacity, surface, and testimony in relation to this processa system hidden in plain sight. Negative Publicity: Artefacts of Extraordinary Rendition, copublished with the Magnum Foundation, its creation supported by Magnum Foundation's Emergency Fund, raises fundamental questions about the accountability and complicity of our governments, and the erosion of our most basic civil rights.

Negative Publicity: Artefacts of Extraordinary Rendition [Edmund Clark and Crofton Black/Magnum Foundation]





(Thanks, Ben Goldacre!)
China Aid

Translated by Carolyn Song. Written in English by Brynne Lawrence.

(Tianjin, ChinaJan. 25, 2016) China Aid learned from an anonymous source on Tuesday that officials in Chinas northern Tianjin denied a lawyers request to meet with his client, an arrested church elder, due to a failure to confirm the relationship between the defendant and the family member who hired the attorney.

According to the source, Chinese law contains no legal statute requiring proof of kinship between a family member who elects to hire the defendants lawyer and the incarcerated person. Government officials said that, even if a family member hired a lawyer, the prisoner would dismiss him because he already has government-provided lawyers working on his case. The source insisted that, since the lawyer could not meet with his client, the authenticity of the pastors decision to choose state-selected attorneys could not be confirmed.

Chinese police refused to discuss the situation further.

China Aid exposes religious freedom abuses, such as those experienced by the church member and his lawyer, in order to promote religious freedom and rule of law in China.

China Aid Contacts

Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director

Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.chinaaid.org


Omaha motorcycle mechanic Justin Anderson, an Iraq war veteran, converted his electric wheelchair into a snowplow that he uses to clear his neighborhood sidewalk and the school across the street from his house.



"I want to help inspire other veterans with mobility issues," Anderson told KMTV. "There are still things you can do that you thought you might not be able to do after your injury."






Jan 23, 2016

6:31 pm HKT

 A trio of recent repressive actions by the Chinese party-state represents a disturbing three-pronged attack that treats legality as an unnecessary burden on governance over society, and illustrates how far China is willing to go to snuff out dissent.

The actions include the arrest of seven lawyers accused of subversion and four others charged with lesser offenses; the televised confession of a China-based Swedish citizen who worked for a rights NGO and has been charged with endangering state security; and the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers and publishers One reemerged on CCTV to confess to a prior crime years earlier, and a second has written to his wife from Shenzhen to say that he has been assisting in an investigation.

Arrests for subversion of state power

The lawyers who have been arrested have all been in the forefront of defending controversial activists. Seven are accused of subversion of state power, an offense that has been on the books since 1997 but infrequently used. More commonly, activists such as Pu Zhiqiang have been convicted for the lesser charges of inciting ethnic hatred and picking quarrels. (Pu received a three-year sentence that was simultaneously suspended for the same length of time; however, because of his conviction, Pu is barred from practicing law.) Conviction for subversion can lead to a sentence of anywhere from three years to life in prison.

A group of Chinese protest against the disappearances of Hong

Kong booksellers, outside the Consulate General of The

Peoples Republic of China, on January 10, 2016 in Los

Angeles. Ringo Chiu/ZUMA Press

Three of the other lawyers were charged with the lesser offense of inciting subversion against state power which, according to a recent posting by Chinese Human Rights Defenders, is used against individuals who express criticism of the government and is punishable by a sentence of up to five years. One other person, a paralegal, has been charged with assisting in destruction of evidence; other lawyers have been detained incommunicado or forcibly disappeared for at least six months.

The arrests raise the severity of the charges by aiming at speech related to subversion  rather than acts. Foreign experts are dismayed; Eva Pils (Kings College London) comments that the situation is basically about as serious as it gets for human rights advocacy.

The arrest of the human rights lawyers is a continuation of the crackdown that exploded in July, but the rise of the accusation of subversion raises the odds of harsher punishment.

Arrest and televised confession of Swedish citizen affiliated with a human rights NGO

A Swedish man in his 30s, Peter Dahlin, a co-founder of the Chinese Urgent Action Working Group (China Action) that organizes training programs for human rights defenders, was detained in early January, on a charge of endangering state security. On Wednesday, he was paraded on China Central Television and shown admitting to have broken Chinese laws, in a televised confession that has been denounced by rights advocates as coerced.

According to a statement from China Action, the NGO focuses on land law and administrative law and trains non-lawyers to provide pro-bono legal aid to victims of rights violations. Dahlin is in need of daily medication due to affliction by a rare disease; Chinese state media reports say he is receiving it, but no other information has been available. Chinas Foreign Ministry says it is granting Swedish consular officials access to him, although no information has been available on his whereabouts.

This detention appears to be yet another response to activities by an NGO that are intended to provide assistance to victims of rights violations. The organization claims that it relies only on Chinese law to resist illegal conduct such as arbitrary detention and property demolition. One of Dahlins colleagues has since stated publicly that the groups priority was to empower Chinese citizens with legal knowledge and that it was funded by grants from the European Union and embassies.

The Chinese party-state has been trying to control rampant violation of land rights, but why should an NGO be penalized for such a strategy? It is likely that the Chinese purpose is to send a very strong message to discourage foreign organizations that attempt to assist Chinese who strive to strengthen the rule of law.

Disappearances of Hong Kong booksellers

Four Hong Kong booksellers and publishers of books critical of CCP policies and President Xi Jinping disappeared from Hong Kong without any record of a legal transit. A fifth, Gui Minhai, a Swedish citizen, left his home in Thailand and has just reappeared on CCTV to state that he had voluntarily returned to China after 11 years to confess to a fatal hit-and-run accident. The other four include Lee Bo, a British citizen. This week it emerged that Lee has written to his wife from the mainland, telling her that he went there voluntarily and is assisting concerned parties in an investigation.

Gui had published several books in Hong Kong about the private lives of Chinese leaders, and was supposedly preparing to publish another on President Xi Jinpings love life. The book store that he co-owned has since closed.

Many questions have been raised about the missing men and Chinas silence in response to foreign queries. If any of these five were abducted or otherwise forced to go to China, such actions would constitute violations of the 1997 agreement when the United Kingdom handed Hong Kong over to the PRC. This would represent a disconcerting willingness to ignore the obligation that China undertook at the time the colonys handover took place to permit Hong Kong to have its own legal system as part of its exercise of a high degree of autonomy. The disappearances cast a dark shadow over freedom of speech in Hong Kong.



The crackdown on rights activism marks further erosion of Chinese legality

The problems discussed here are not isolated, but reflect a widening expansion of controls over all kinds of speech in China. A recent article on The Decline of Independent Journalism in China concludes that investigative reporting is increasingly losing out to a format whose most prominent feature is sunny headlines about government work and the daily activities of Xi Jinping. The current crackdown appears to be a continuation of relentless pressure by Beijing to expand its authoritarian rule, which makes any of its invocations of the rule of law a travesty.

Stanley Lubman, a long-time specialist on Chinese law, is Distinguished Lecturer in Residence (ret.) at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He is the author of Bird in a Cage: Legal Reform in China After Mao (Stanford University Press, 1999) and editor of The Evolution of Law Reform in China: An Uncertain Path (Elgar, 2012).





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In Japan, sex drives have plunged so low that young, libido-challenged men are sometimes referred to as "soushokukei-danshi" or herbivore boys.

Think that is harsh, then consider local condom maker Sagami Rubber Industries Co, battling a shrinking, aging and now increasingly frigid Japanese clientele. It is no wonder then that the company is getting some relief from the popularity its prophylactics are enjoying across the sea.

Demand for foreign-brand rubbers has surged in China, and its tourists visiting Japan in record numbers are loading up, so much so that Sagami's thinnest product has sold out. Now the Kanagawa-based company is limiting the volumes it is dispatching from its remaining product inventory to avoid some shops missing out before the Feb 8 Lunar New Year, President Ichiro Ohato said.

"Thanks to this inbound business, we're suddenly facing shortages," said Ohato, 67, whose grandmother founded the business in 1934. "Retailers have been bombarding us with calls every day, telling us they want more and more."

Chinese consumers are attracted to the "high quality" of Japanese condoms, especially following safety concerns about China-made ones, said Masashi Mori, an equities analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG in Tokyo, in a telephone interview.

Shanghai police seized 3 million fake condoms made locally from inferior, foul-smelling materials, the People's Daily reported in April. Two years earlier, Ghanaian authorities said 1 million imported condoms made by a Chinese company burst during sex and contained holes, the Guardian newspaper reported.

"Japan has become a shopping mecca for Chinese tourists due to the desire for 'Made in Japan' goods, the unique shopping experience the country provides for Chinese tourists and in addition the recent duty-free status now granted to tourists," said Jared Conway, research manager for Japan with Euromonitor International.

Mori said he is optimistic about the long-term prospects for Japanese condom makers. "If China really does make the transition from investments to consumer spending, people are going to want to trade up and use better products," he said. "So there's still lots of room for growth."

To ramp up production, Sagami is expanding one of its two factories in Ipoh, Malaysia. It is also planning to build a third factory there to boost output, Ohato said. By spring, he wants to double the volume of extra-thin condoms it produces for the Japanese market to 80 million a year.

These products, made out of 0.02 millimeter-thick polyurethane, sell at retail for twice as much as Sagami's standard latex offering, going for 1,000 yen ($8.5) for a six-pack. It is Chinese demand for these more-expensive condoms that have caused the most frequent shortages, Ohato said. It is also what prompted him to begin distributing them directly in China earlier this month.

China may help Japan-focused Sagami counter a dwindling population and a stagnant domestic economy, not to mention lackluster demand for condoms. While sales of high-end polyurethane condoms have helped buoy profit, demand for Sagami's rubbers peaked in the mid-1980s, Ohato said.

"Things were on the decline from there, and it's been terrible since 2000," he said. "There's no question that Japanese people are using condoms less and less."

He continued, "their sex-drive has waned. It's not like this overseas. It's really bad in Japan."

Lovers in Japan are the least amorous, having sex 45 times a year on average, according to the 2005 Durex Global Sex Survey, which polled more than 317,000 people from 41 countries. Greeks, on the other hand, have sex an average of 138 times a year, compared with 96 in China, the survey found.
Rurual workers receive training as homecare service workers at a company in Ulanqab, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. With support from the local government, more than 3,000 rural workers have been trained free of charge. [Photo/Xinhua]

Liu Guihua used to work three hours every Sunday afternoon to help clean my home for a payment of 80 yuan ($13), but last week Liu told me she was going to return to her hometown in Anhui province early next month for the coming Spring Festival holiday.

Liu was the helper that my mother recommended to me early last year after her hard work had won our trust. I hate to do chores at home during the weekend, especially after five days of office work, so looking for Liu's successor became an urgent matter for me.

Since I had little contact with housekeeping companies it was really a headache for me until I thought of seeking applications via my smartphone. I browsed my software application store and was surprised to find that there were so many apps devoted to providing door-to-door home cleaning services.

I downloaded Yunjiazheng, which is headquartered in Shanghai but provides nationwide online- to-offline door-to-door housekeeping services. It has hundreds of contracted workers in Beijing, providing live-in nannies, care for the elderly and long-term part-time home cleaning. Yunjiazheng charges 25 yuan per hour for my home cleaning, which is 1.7 yuan per hour cheaper than what I paid Liu.

I realized that word of mouth is an important standard that would allow me to identify the quality of the services on offer. I tried to search for customers' comments on Yunjiazheng and some other apps such as Jiazhengwuyou and Ayibang, but I failed to find any because these apps only do business by cooperating directly with housekeeping companies.

I was sorry to see they do not have an instant messaging function similar to that on JD.com or Tmall.com for potential customers to study other people's shopping experience before making a choice. This is a feature that apps of this kind should introduce in the future.

As a result, I had to search online for such comments, and after comparing them with offers from some other applications such as Jiazhengwuyou and Ayibang, I decided to choose Yunjiazheng's offer. Yunjiazheng passed my order to a Beijing housekeeping company for it to arrange a worker for me according to my requirements.

Home service workers with a better level of education or professional skills are more popular. They can get more pay than those who come from rural areas with a low education level.

Zhao Yuxi, a Beijing-based housekeeping company boss, told me that many of his company's employees are in their 40s from remote rural areas, and they only have a primary-level education. Despite the fact many of them have a weak educational level, they still have certain advantages, he said. For example, in order to compete for orders on apps many of them have bought smartphones, he said.

Meanwhile, some families also have different preferences. For example, a Shanghai family would be unlikely to hire a cook from northern China. For them, a native of Shanghai is likely to be the best choice.

Since consumers can do comparative shopping by browsing housekeeping apps on their smartphones, home service workers have to improve their competitiveness. As a result, vocational training has become a profitable industry. Although there is no official data on vocational training schools, provinces and regions have set up strong vocational training industries as they witness a growth in the number of migrant workers.

No doubt, the battle is becoming fierce in the domestic housekeeping market as an increasing number of app-armed startups are challenging the traditional housekeeping companies by providing attractive offers in a variety of services at competitive prices. With an estimated market value of more than 1 trillion yuan, the housekeeping service industry is continuously growing with the participation of various apps.

However, according to Chinese media reports, there is still great room for improvement, as only about 30 percent of China's migrant workers have so far undergone vocational training. A lack of technical knowledge is the main obstacle preventing them from becoming professional workers, home service workers in particular.
Shanghai Tower (the highest in the picture), a new landmark of Shanghai's financial hub Lujiazui.[Provided to China Daily]

Shanghai plans to launch 100 major projects this year, with a total investment of 835.52 billion yuan ($127 billion), China Securities Journal reported online on Monday.

These projects include 22 industrial projects, 16 society projects, 55 infrastructure projects, and seven projects involved in promoting integrated urban and rural development, the website said, citing the annual local "two sessions", which opened on Sunday.

The two sessions refer to meetings of 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.

According to the draft of Shanghai's 13th five-year plan, over the next five years, the value added output of strategic emerging industry will account for 20 percent of Shanghai's total output value, while the share of the manufacturing industry is 25 percent.

The city's total output value exceeded 2.49 trillion yuan last year, with a year-on-year growth of 6.9 percent, according to a report released by the Shanghai Municipal Statistics Bureau.

In particular, the tertiary industry experienced growth of 10.6 percent with a total value added output of 1.69 trillion yuan, accounting for 67.8 percent of the city's total output value, up 3 percentage points year-on-year.
WUHAN -- China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) has signed a contract with Guinea to build a new hydropower station for the western African nation, the company announced on Monday.

The Souapiti hydropower plant on the Konkoure River will have an installed capacity of 450,000 kilowatts. The plant will not only meet the power demands of Guinea but extra electricity will be transmitted to neighboring countries.

The contract is worth $1.38 billion and construction is expected to take 58 months.

The Kaleta hydroelectric power station, CTGC's first project in Guinea, saw its first generating unit going into operation last year. It will have a total capacity of 240,000 kw.

Established in 1993, CTGC is a clean energy group focusing on large-scale hydropower development and operation. It manages the Three Gorges -- a multi-functional water control system consisting of a huge dam, a five-tier ship lift and 26 hydropower generators in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.
BEIJING - China's commercial crude oil stocks edged down 0.72 percent in December from November, while stocks of refined oil products rose by 5.26 percent, according to new analysis by Xinhua News Agency.

Last month, China's imports of crude oil hit a record high of 32.94 million tons, while its domestic output came in at 18.15 million tons, the data showed on Monday.

Gasoline stocks increased by 6.9 percent as the government temporarily lifted restrictions on fuel price rises. Partly due to fears that rapid increases in oil consumption may worsen air quality, China's top economic planner has suspended the price capping on domestic refined oil products twice since Dec 15.

By the end of December, China's diesel stocks had grown 2.93 percent due to sluggish industrial demand, according to the report.
China National Building Material (CNBM) Group and China National Materials (Sinoma) Group are soon to roll out a reorganization plan, the two firms announced on Monday, heralding a new round of State-owned enterprises (SOE) reforms this year.

The reorganization proposal is currently under discussion and awaits regulatory approvals, said eight of the SOEs' mainland-listed subsidiaries in a filing to the stock exchange.

Except the trading suspension of Sinoma Science & Technology Co, the other seven subsidiaries rose on Tuesday morning. Sinoma Energy Conservation surged by the daily limit of 10 percent. Five rallied more than 7 percent on Monday before the announcement.

The move came as the country launched broad-stroke guidelines on SOE reform last year and unveiled restructuring plans for several conglomerates.

The CNBM Group has been chosen along with the State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC), China National Cereals, Oils and Food stuffs Corp (COOFCO), China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group (CECEP) and China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) to pilot reforms in ownership, management and supervision, according to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).

The CNBM Group, a Fortune Global 500, operates businesses expanse from cement, glass and new material production to engineering and logistics and has a total asset of over 410 billion yuan ($62.3 billion).
An increasing number of Chinese are opting for spending Spring Festival overseas, according to a report by Mafengwo, a major tourist information-sharing website, released on Tuesday.

Tourism destinations around the globe are expected to see nearly 40 percent more Chinese tourists during the Spring Festival holiday that begins on Feb 7, possibly the highest number on record, despite the holiday traditionally being a season for family reunions.

"It's a new fashion to spend Spring Festival abroad traveling instead of gathering with families and relatives," said Ma Yutao, head of Mafengwo's data center.

"Packages for independent tourists in Asian destinations witnessed a 600 percent increase this year, with Thailand, Japan and South Korea especially popular with Chinese travelers."

A report by Mafengwo shows that nine of the 10 most popular overseas destinations are in Asia, including Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

According to Mafengwo, many choose to go abroad during the Festival as they find the seven-day vacation too precious, while loosened visa requirements for Chinese, more convenient flight connections and preferential policies to ease overseas travel also facilitate the increase.

"Countries like Singapore, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam have a simplified visa application process for Chinese, which will encourage more trips abroad," Ma said.

Chinese outbound tourists also saw an increase in spending, with online booking per capita for overseas independent trips up 30 percent to 6,800 yuan this year, Mafengwo said,

Figures from the China National Tourism Administration reveal that Chinese tourists paid more than 120 million visits overseas in 2015, with 5.18 million of those paid to foreign countries and regions during Spring Festival. That's an increase of 10 percent year-on-year.

"People used to care about the price more, but now they focus more on the quality of the trips," Ma said.
A man checks stock prices at a brokerage in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Jan 26, 2016. [Photo/IC]

Chinese stocks are back to their original point over a year ago, as market concerns have sent the benchmark Shanghai gauge below the 2,800 level.

The Shanghai Composite Index sank 6.4 percent to 2,749.79, marking its lowest close since December 2014, while the Shenzhen Component Index slumped 7 percent to close at 9,483.55.

Nearly a thousand stocks at the two markets tumbled by the daily limit of 10 percent on Tuesday, as the plunge swept across financial firms to mining and electronic sectors.

The recent fraud in acceptance bills and capital outflow have sparked market concerns, said Guojin Securities in a note, adding that liquidity strain often appear before Chinese New Year holiday.

Two employees of the Beijing branch of Agricultural Bank of China were reported on Friday to be under investigation for allegedly taking 3.9 billion yuan ($592.8 million) of bank's acceptance bills out of the branch's safe and cashing the same through repurchase transactions.

Such rule violations and discipline breaches have been rising since last year, according to a latest survey released by the China Banking Association and global accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers

Foreign firms are keen to invest and enhance their earning abilities in China, said a government official on Monday, dismissing the rumor on some firms' withdrawal from the country.

The CSI Index tracking some of the largest-cap stocks in Shanghai and Shenzhen tumbled 6 percent on Tuesday to 2,940.51.
Chinese banks and insurance companies are embracing public-private partnership (PPP) projects, with several giants setting up special funds lending to these ventures.

China Construction Bank Corp (CCB) is teaming up with Chinese State Construction Engineering Corp to set up a PPP Fund, Yu Jingbo, vice-president of CCB said. The initial scale would be 100 billion yuan($15.4 billion).

CCB is also partnering with insurance giant Ping An Group to fund a PPP project. It is also cooperating with Beijing-based Dayue Consulting Co in financial consulting of PPP projects.

The Chinese government is inviting non-public capitals to participate in infrastructure building and public utility projects through the much-touted PPP model. After the first batch of 30 "role model PPP projects" announced in Nov 2014 that were worth 180 billion yuan, the Ministry of Finance announced the second batch of 206 "role model projects" in Sept worth total investment of 65.9 billion yuan. A third batch is expected to be released this year.

Ren Huichuan, general manager of Ping An Group said the insurance giant is applying to set up an industry asset manager company. Among various investment targets, PPP projects are "the most important".

"Internationally, insurers and pension funds are the most important investors in PPP. PPP projects often involve huge capital and the return period could be more than 10 years, that fits well with insurers," Ren said.


Classical nude statues at Italy's Capitoline Museum were covered up this week in anticipation of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit. Some politicians and art critics called out the stupidity. From The Telegraph:



The president's aides were also reportedly anxious that he not be photographed too close to a giant bronze statue of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius on horseback.





The Iranians objected to what one Italian newspaper delicately described as "the attributes" or genitalia of the huge horse, which dates from the second century AD.
Chinese stocks plunged to their lowest level in 13 months on Tuesday.

The Shanghai Composite Index fell by 6.42 percent, its biggest loss since the first week of January, to close at 2,749.79 points. The ChiNext startup index in Shenzhen tumbled by 7.63 percent.

The sell-off triggered a market stampede as more than 1,000 stocks fell by the 10 percent daily trading limit.

Li Xunlei, chief economist at Haitong Securities, said, "It was panic selling amid a reduced risk preference from investors." But Li said the sell-off did not necessarily suggest any further deterioration of the economy.

The sell-off intensified during the afternoon despite the People's Bank of China pumping 440 billion yuan ($66.9 billion) into the market to ease liquidity pressure ahead of Spring Festival. It was the most in market funding for a single day in nearly three years.

Investors' shrinking appetite for the volatile market was highlighted by the continued reduction of shareholdings by margin traders who borrowed money to buy stocks.

Hong Hao, chief strategist at investment bank BOCOM International in Hong Kong, said the bearish trend is not over despite the monetary authority's intervention to calm fluctuations in the renminbi exchange rate.

The Shanghai index has slumped by 22 percent this year.

Analysts have attributed the decline to various factors, including concerns about a slower economy, slumping oil prices as well as unsettled global markets.

The market volatility has also triggered investors' concerns over the health of the Chinese banking sector.

Global rating agency Moody's Investors Service said in a report, "Chinese commercial banks show little direct holdings of listed stocks, except for associated companies, so their direct exposure to recent stock price volatility is low."

But it warned that some banks that are more involved in extending stock loans, distributing stock-related wealth management products and providing custody services to stock funds could see pressure on their asset quality and profitability if market weakness persists.
Jin Liqun,president of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. [Photo/China Daily]

China has no intention of exercising its veto power over the newly established 57-member Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, according to the lender's president.

This is despite the fact that the country has this right because of its economic size, Jin Liqun said.

There are still many countries on the waiting list, and when the new members join, Chinas voting power will be reduced. Such de facto veto power will be lost gradually, Jin said.

He was speaking to China Daily at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos last week.

Members of the AIIB, which has been set up after two years of negotiations, have agreed on a crucial decision-making process by introducing a fixed special majority, comprising two-thirds of the number of members and representing three-quarters of the voting power.

China, the largest AIIB shareholder, now holds 26.6 percent of the voting power, Jin said. We will not increase the special majority to keep Chinas veto power in the future, he said.

Jin said this is a major contrast to older institutions such as the World Bank, in which the United States has maintained its veto power by amending the articles of agreement. This increased the special majority when its voting power was reduced after new members joined.

Jin said that when China put forward the idea of setting up the AIIB, many doubts and concerns were expressed, but the bank has now become accepted by many countries.

This is the process of China gaining credibility and building up mutual trust by collective consultation and making decisions on democratic approaches, he said.

But he said that the banks inauguration is just the first leg of a long journey and that the most important thing is to recruit staff members to make his words become a reality by meeting the infrastructural demands of countries in need.

He said the bank has not started to recruit new staff members, but he aims to seek between 100 and 150 professionals worldwide this year.

There is no rush to expand and we need to look for qualified talent and experts carefully, Jin said. The bank currently has a staff of 50.

Unlike the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, which have sometimes set up offices in different countries, the AIIB will call on the experience of the private sector and assign experts and staff members in each business field, Jin said.

When there are projects in a country, we will send our staff there, and when the projects are completed, we will leave, he said.

When the number of projects increases in a country or region, Jin said the bank will probably set up a regional hub or liaison office.

But we will avoid duplication between headquarters and regional hubs in decision-making, he said.
Li Caisheng, founder of Shenzhen Eagle Brother UAV Technology Co Ltd [Photo/China Daily]

Li Caisheng knows well how hard and time-consuming the task of spraying pesticides in the farmland could get.

The founder of Shenzhen Eagle Brother UAV Technology Co Ltd, an active participant in the development of agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles, or farm drones, was born in a peasant family.

Li believes there is an urgent need for an efficient alternative to the onerous farmland task.

It is reported that work efficiency of farm drones can reach 40 times compared to humans, while 50 percent of pesticide and 90 percent of water can be saved.

That's why, he founded Eagle Brother. The agricultural UAV sector, Li thinks, offers huge business opportunities as well. "The market for agricultural UAVs could reach hundreds of billions of yuan. There is a huge space out there to explore."

The Shenzhen-based company has expanded not only in the domestic market but to Malaysia and Thailand.

With the acceleration of the agricultural modernization process, demand for advanced farming devices has been growing significantly in China.

The China Science Daily reported last month that about 100,000 units of agricultural UAVs will be needed by 2020.

Sensing a potential opportunity, a number of drone makers are stepping into the market.

In November 2015, Shenzhen-based DJI, the world's largest maker of consumer-level drones, launched its first agricultural drone, the MG-1, marking its diversification into the industry-level drone market.

The Ministry of Agriculture issued an action plan in February 2015 to curb the increase in pesticide usage to zero by 2020.

The plan envisages promotion of use of modern agricultural machinery, including UAVs, to enhance the utilization ratio of pesticides while reducing their use.

The Chinese government has also moved to offer subsidies to encourage use of drones in agriculture.

In Henan province, for instance, farmers are given subsidies to cover 30 percent of the cost of farm drones, in addition to subsidies from the local government.

But Li believes the high cost of agricultural UAVs could pose problems. A farm drone could cost anywhere between tens of thousands of yuan to hundreds of thousands of yuan, taking it beyond the reach of small-scale planters. This factor could impede wide application of the aerial technology.

"Poor support services, including ordinary after-sales service, is also a big challenge for the development of the industry," Li said.

Some market researchers, however, point out farm drones may not be the best solution in all regions now.

In places where agriculture is intensive, like western Xinjiang region, advantages of pesticide spraying by drones are obvious, said Jean Xiao, a research analyst at market intelligence firm IDC.

"But in regions like Guangdong province, where farmlands are relatively scattered, human work is still a more efficient way of farming."
Shenzhen Art-Tech R/C Hobby Co Ltd, for years the leading maker of toy-like but functional aircraft models, is gradually gaining traction in the unmanned aerial vehicles or UAV market.

Its drones, products of years of research and development, are finding application in police and security operations.

The company is confident the emerging sector would bring it a new life.

In 2014, the company's anti-terrorism drone, the UAV AT-100 model, was inducted into the operations of the special police unit in Kashgar, western Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The UAV AT-100 is a hybrid drone powered by petrol and battery. It is capable of taking off and landing at a height of 3,000 meters above sea level. It can fly for as long as 90 minutes with a 10-kilogram payload.

The law enforcement unit of Songgang area in Shenzhen's Bao'an district has also introduced the drones in its daily operations.

"Police UAVs play an irreplaceable role in emergencies and daily security affairs," said Lin Weidong, president of Art-Tech R/C Hobby.

"Drones can greatly improve the speed of police response to situations and enhance their work efficiency. This means, there will be a huge market potential in the sector."

In November 2015, Xinhua news agency reported Liu Daolin, deputy director of the Police Aviation Administration Office at the Ministry of Public Security, as saying that police UAVs are a new type of equipment that is finding wider application in the public security sector.

More than 300 police drones had been deployed in over 150 departments in 25 provinces so far, Liu was quoted as saying.

For long, China has been faced with the problem of shortage of police forces. For instance, Beijing was said to have only 24 police personnel for every 10,000 people in 2013. The percentage, though higher than that of many other Chinese cities, was still low compared with leading cities in other countries, which typically score 40.

Increasing penetration of police UAVs is set to ease the problem. Lin admitted technological breakthroughs have to be made before the device could be applied in dangerous and complicated situations.

"At the moment, police UAVs can be used only for surveillance and detection. In criminal cases which require police UAVs to work in small spaces with strong signal interference, the device is incapable of working effectively with its current technology," he said.

Lin believes police drone makers should strive to make the device more intelligent, so it could carry out more functions like human characteristics identification, video information search, so forth.
Foreigners in Shandong province receive permanent residence cards from the local entry and exit administration after living for several years in China. Gong Hui / For China Daily

"I am so happy I finally got Chinese permanent residence after staying in China so many years," said Ada Jen, a US citizen and administrator at an international school in Beijing.

"The permit could bring me more convenience, such as opening a bank account, applying for a driver's license or buying houses," she said.

Jen has lived in China for more than 20 years and obtained a green card in early 2012 after qualifying as an important foreign expert in the country, but many of her friends are not so fortunate.

"Many foreigners in China want to get a Chinese green card, but they are facing practical difficulties to meet the high requirements," she said.

Jen is just one of the more than 600,000 foreigners who were living in China by the end of 2013 and China issued only about 5,000 permanent residence permits between 2004, when the green card policy was introduced, and 2013, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

The country's permanent residence permits have been called "one of the most difficult to obtain in the world" due to the high requirements involved. Since 2015, China's authorities have pledged to lower the threshold to apply for China's green card and streamline the procedures for applicants.

In June, the Ministry of Public Security issued a notice to lower the threshold for permanent residency for foreigners serving in some government-affiliated institutions and scientific or research centers.

The ministry said foreign experts in such institutions who are at assistant professor level or above, have worked at that level for at least four years and lived in China for three years with good tax records, would be able to apply for permanent resident permits at their local entry and exit management department.

Launched in 2004, China's green card policy offers permanent residency for desirable foreign experts and people with large investments or who have made outstanding contributions to the country.

In recent years, the policy is "lagging far behind practical needs to attract more talented people and investments from overseas," said Wen Guohui, a press oficer at the Ministry of Public Security.

Chinese authorities have been working on draft regulations to lower the threshold on offering permits to foreigners working in science research institutions, he said.

"Such measures will play an essential role in attracting more high-level foreigners and overseas Chinese to contribute more to China," said Hong Daode, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law.

After obtaining green cards, foreigners "enjoy the same rights as Chinese when they invest in business, purchase a house and apply for a driver's license," he said.

Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization, said better immigration policies would help the country recruit overseas professionals and attract more foreign investment.

"More foreign capital may come with the arrival of more foreigners. It will raise their expectations about the opportunities that China will offer," Wang said.

zhangyan1@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/24/2015 page4)
A foreigner shows his permanent residence permit in Shanghai on April 12, 2005. [Photo/IC]

Many foreign experts living in China say that obtaining a "green card" has not given them all the rights equal to Chinese residents that they thought they could expect.

"It was so appealing to me to obtain a Chinese green card, but later I felt it didn't help me as much as I had thought it would in my daily life in China," said Noyan Rona, the chief representative of the Shanghai office of Turkish Garanti Bank.

Chen Xinhua, director of the Norsk Statoil Chinese Working Office, said, "Though I got the green card (in 2004), I can't open bank accounts or buy train tickets with it".

The permanent residency permits, which China began issuing in 2004, are among the most difficult to obtain in the world due to the high requirements involved.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, more than 7,300 foreigners had obtained green cards by 2013, but more than 600,000 foreigners live in China.

In June, the Ministry of Public Security eased the requirements and streamlined procedures for foreign applicants who served in some government-affiliated institutes and scientific and research centers.

According to the ministry, foreigners who are assistant professors and researchers or higher, have worked and lived in China for at least three years and have good tax records may apply for permanent residency permits at the local entry and exit management department.

The ministry said that foreigners who are granted green cards have the same rights as Chinese people when they purchase houses, buy train tickets, invest in businesses, apply for driver's licenses or enroll their children in Chinese schools.

"But in fact, the policy hasn't been implemented effectively," Chen said. "If the Chinese government wants to attract more overseas talent, it should carry out the policy and offer us (green card holders) the same treatment as citizens and favorable policies, instead of issuing powerless papers."
Research shows that nonhuman primates can be used to study human brain disorders

Chinese researchers have successfully created autistic monkeys by implanting autism-related genes into monkey embryos.

The monkeys are the world's first nonhuman primates to show the effects of autism and will play an important role in studying the pathology of the condition and exploring effective intervention and treatment.

The research has demonstrated the feasibility of studying brain disorders with genetically engineered primates, according to neuroscientist Muming Poo, a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.

"For quite a long time, there has been little good drug innovation in autism due to the lack of suitable animal models. This work will allow researchers to conduct deeper studies into autism and the brain's working mechanism," Poo said.

Patients with autism spectrum disorder, one of a range of neurodevelopment problems, usually exhibit defects in social interaction, stereotyped repetitive behaviors, anxiety and emotional difficulties.

In recent years, the incidence of autism has continued to rise globally, and there is no effective treatment. According to a national epidemiological investigation into the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder, about four in every 1,000 Chinese children between age 6 and 12 have the condition.

"In this regard, the creation of an autism animal model to carry out related studies has been a major goal in both medicine and neuroscience," said Qiu Zilong, researcher at the Institute of Neuroscience at the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Qiu Zilong's lab, working with the team of another researcher, Sun Qiang, used transgenic methods to alter the genetic code of the monkey by implanting a synthetic human autism-related gene, MECP2.

In the future, the researchers will try to find out which defects in the neural circuits led to social interaction disorders and repetitive behaviors, as well as how the autism gene influences brain growth and function, Qiu said.

This research was to be published online in Nature on Tuesday.
More than 3,900 officials lost their eligibility to be promoted in 2015 because they concealed personal information in reports, Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.

As an effort to ensure clean governance, officials in leading positions are required to report personal information annually since 2010, including property owned, investments, marriage status and occupation of next-of-kin.

Only a small percentage of the reports are examined, although checks increased to 10 percent last year from 3 to 5 percent in 2014. More than 439,000 officials at or above the deputy department director level were checked last year.

Of the officials whose eligibility was canceled, 160 were found to be in violation of Party discipline and received punishments, while 124 were removed from their posts or demoted.

Residential property is a key point of the check, according to a report by Beijing Youth Daily on Monday. The Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee requires officials to report residences, commercial housing, factory buildings, storage, self-built houses and carports. Even if they have sold the property, they must still report the sale if the ownership has not been transferred yet. Property under the names of a spouse or child are also required by the report.

According to Beijing Youth Daily, an official in Hunan province understated 1 square meter for his house, and was asked to hand in an explanation on this issue.

The requirements are more detailed this year. The form for officials in Beijing has increased to 10 pages.

Heilongjiang province and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region instructed their officials that miscommunication with a spouse or child is not an excuse for misreporting. Some provinces require a spouse's signature.
A tanker unloads vehicles imported from Japan at a port in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, in September. Liang Xu / Xinhua

The export hub of Guangdong province aims to see positive growth in exports of 1 percent this year, despite the continued downward pressure on the country's foreign trade, according to a government work report released on Monday.

The economic powerhouse set its growth rate during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) at 7 percent, maintaining "medium-to-high speed" development, Guangdong Governor Zhu Xiaodan said as he delivered the report at the annual local legislative session, which opened in Guangzhou, the provincial capital.

The province saw its GDP grow by an average 8.5 percent a year during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15).

"We will deepen the readjustment of our economic structure, and transform and upgrade the real economy to establish a new industrial system that is competitive in the world," Zhu said.

The province had an annual growth rate of 7.3 percent in exports from 2011-15. The value of exports hit 4 trillion yuan ($615 billion) in 2015, an increase of 0.8 percent year-on-year, while the country's exports dropped by 1.8 percent.

Guangdong, which contributed to 28.3 percent of the country's gross export value last year, will be able to maintain positive growth this year, according to Chen Wanling, director of the research center for international trade and economics at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

"Guangdong has been adjusting the product mix and type of trading for its exports as well as diversifying target markets since the 2008 financial crisis. The years of effort have achieved initial success and helped the province keep a steady growth in exports," Chen said.

"Products with higher added value are on the rise," he said.

Although the volume of exports to traditional markets such as Hong Kong, Europe, the United States and Japan is decreasing, Guangdong is seeing trade with South Korea, which has signed a free-trade agreement with China, grow quickly. It also has the potential for growth in trade with Southeast Asian nations, Chen said.

This year will be crucial to the transformation of China's export structure, as the country changes from a major exporter of consumer goods to a major exporter of high value-added products and complete sets of equipment, Zhi Luxun, deputy director-general of the department of foreign trade at the Ministry of Commerce, said on Monday.
From laptop storage to jewelry evaluation, shops give more than quick cash

College students and their teachers in need of quick cash or secure storage for their belongings are turning to pawnbrokers for low-cost loans and as a safe haven for their cars and electronics.

A junior, surnamed Ma, from Chengdu, Sichuan province, offered his laptop, for which he paid about 6,800 yuan ($1,033), to a pawnshop near his school. The shop's electronics appraiser, Su Xu, offered a 2,800 yuan loan. Ma only accepted 500 yuan.

In a month, when he returns with the receipt and 500 yuan, he need only pay an extra 21 yuan, 4.2 percent of the loan, according to China's pawn industry rules, to retrieve his computer.

"The extra money is like a safe custodian fee," Ma said. "I need not bring the computer with me for the crowded train journey home during the Spring Festival rush, and I do not want to leave it in my dorm either, for safety concerns, as the campus is almost empty for a month during the winter vacation."

Ma shared his pawn story on his micro blog, and many college students, whose hometowns are far from their schools, commented about how it was a clever and practical solution.

Xie Juanjuan, a pawnshop manager on Wanhe Road in Chengdu, told West China Metropolis Daily that her shop loans money to students and their teachers, who obtain loans on their cars during their school breaks.

"We get business from college students before their summer or winter vacations. They regard pawnshops as a safe place," Xie said.

Not everything is exchangeable for quick cash. Su's pawnshop won't accept items for which it cannot determine a value, say a set of cookers which an owner claims are "made with advanced technology", for example. "For electronic products, the pawn period should not exceed three months, in most cases, because digital gadgets develop so fast that if their owners cannot redeem them, it would be very difficult for the pawnshops to resell them," Su said.

The first pawnshop on the Chinese mainland was opened in Chengdu in 1987 after China's reform and opening up in the late 1970s. Currently, there are 343 pawnshops in Sichuan, with most focusing on real estate and cars. Personal, everyday items account for very little of the business.

Zhang Zhen, a pawn broker in Chengdu, said his pawnshop has reliable measures in place to ensure the safety of pawned items, which run the gamut of personal belongings. When an owner fails to return for an item, it's sold in the shop.

"It is much easier to find buyers for electronic products, gold and watches than luxury women's handbags," he said.

Jewelry, real estate and automobiles are popular pawn items, and their owners use pawnshops as a means of obtaining money quickly for pressing needs. "If their owners fail to redeem these loans, it is easy for pawnshops to resell them again in the market," Xie said.

An amateur jade collector, surnamed Zhang, in his mid-40s in Chengdu, said he often goes to Xie's pawnshop to look for "quality but cheap" jade. He bought a pair of jadeite pendants for about 7,000 yuan.

"Pendants of that quality are priced at tens of thousands of yuan at the department store. It is a good deal," Zhang said. "More importantly, the appraisers in the pawnshops have already helped to identify the authenticity and quality of the jade, which is a very professional test for amateurs in the jade market."
Jamie Love is one of the founders of Knowledge Ecology International (formerly the Consumer Project on Technology), a super-effective activist NGO that helped to establish low-cost, global access to HIV/AIDS drugs.

I've known Jamie for more than a decade, when he and his partner/wife Manon Ress brought me to Geneva to work alongside them at the United Nations' World Intellectual Property Organization. I watched him work the system, switching easily from good cop to bad cop as the case demanded. He pulled together a huge and amazing coalition that ultimately sidelined a punishing Internet treaty  incidentally, that victory spurred the US Trade Representative to kick off closed-door, secretive alternatives like ACTA and TPP.

The Guardian's Sarah Boseley has a fantastic profile of Love, starting with his early days as a high-school dropout who ended up in an Alaska fish cannery where he railed against the racial discrimination against his Filipino co-workers and organized a name-and-shame campaign to pressure doctors who wouldn't take Medicaid patients. Ultimately, Love returned to school, getting a masters at Harvard and a doctorate at Princeton, then going to work as a campaigner with Ralph Nader.

It was after his Nader years that Love became one of the leading campaigners for equitable access to live-saving pharmaceuticals, working with governments and intergovernmental organizations to impose compulsory licenses on drugs that allowed them to be made domestically at a fraction of the cost. He pioneered the Access to Medicines Treaty, building an alliance with Medecins Sans Frontieres that began to scare the hell out of Big Pharma.

I'm proud to count Love as a colleague and friend, and I learned a lot from this profile of one of the world's great unsung heroes.

Love had won, but he had made enemies in the companies fighting to defend their intellectual property rights. He discovered that private detectives had been hired to spy on him. "One day a guy came over and knocked on our door. We opened the door and the guy said, 'You don't know me. I know you. For the past two years it's been my job to follow what you do every day,'" Love recalled. The man had just been fired from PhRMA (the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) and wanted to let Love know he was being watched. Love's organisation was also struggling for funds. As they moved into global issues, Nader, whose organisation focused on the US, stopped bankrolling them. Other philanthropic foundations in the US pulled out of work on intellectual property (Love believes this was a result of lobbying from drug companies and other corporations that campaigners had targeted). They slimmed down, pared back the staff, stayed in budget hotels, but they kept going.

Big Pharma's worst nightmare

[Sarah Boseley/The Guardian]

(Image: Jamie Love asks the guy from WIPO a question, Fred Benenson, CC-BY)
Lanterns are hung in a street in Shaoxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province. Lanterns in China have a long history and they have become synonymous with Chinese culture. Even today, they are still made and enjoyed by the Chinese worldwide. They were used as a means of artistic expression, in terms of functionality, design and decoration. Chinese streets in both cities and towns are decorated with red lanterns during festivals, especially Chinese Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival and Lantern Festival. [Photo/Xinhua]
While many Cantonese rushed out to enjoy the city's first snowfall in more than six decades, Luo Yangkun was accompanied by his daughter-in-law to visit the Guangzhou Grandbuy Department Store on Sunday.

The 65-year-old senior resident purchased a heater and a pair of cotton trousers at the store.

"I'm not taking a bath without heat," Luo said.

"Unlike many northern Chinese cities that are heated, the temperature indoors is as cold as the outside in Guangzhou," Luo told China Daily on Monday.

"It is only the young people who go out when it snows. When I visited the department store, I still felt very cold even with all my winter clothes on," he said.

Chen Weiying, a housewife in Guangzhou's Yuexiu district, said she didn't dare go out because of the extremely cold weather on Sunday.

"I have to use electric blanket when I go to bed at night," she said.

According to the city's Teemall Shopping Center, sales of heater, down garment, woolen sweaters, quilts and related products doubled in the past three days.

Sales of similar products in the Guangzhou Grandbuy Department Store also witnessed big growth over the weekend.

The Guangzhou meteorological department said the cold weather and rainfall would continue this week after the city saw its first snow with temperatures dropping to below zero Celsius on Sunday.

Relevant departments have urged locals to take effective measures to fight the cold and prevent them from getting sick.

All the shelters in Guangzhou have been open to those in need since Sunday.

In the Tianhe rescue center alone, an average of more than 100 people arrived to seek help since the beginning of year, up 40 percent from the same period last year, said Ma Yingzhi, office director of Guangzhou rescue management center.

More than 50 flights arriving and leaving Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport had been canceled or delayed by Monday noon.

According to the Guangzhou Bureau of Agriculture, 52 hectares of fruits, 50 hectares of vegetables and 21 hectares of potatoes have been affected by the disaster in Zengcheng district alone. Another 230 hectares of vegetables in Huadu and 1.6 hectares of sugar cane in Baiyun were also affected.
The big data map of migration published by Baidu shows the busiest routes on the first day of the Spring Festival travel rush.

Big data on travel patterns shows that while many people are leaving metropolises for family reunions during the Spring Festival travel rush this year, some will be traveling in the reverse direction for the same reason.

The data published by search engine Baidu shows that on Jan 24, the first day of this year's Spring Festival travel rush, Beijing and Shanghai are the busiest cities with the combined outbound traffic taking up 40 percent of the whole amount.

Besides, Beijing is the city with most people arriving on the first day of the travel rush and Shanghai comes third. In previous years, metropolises like Beijing tend to become "empty cities" during the Spring Festival holidays as a great many migrant workers and students leave for their hometown.

According to a staff member from Baidu, the influx of people to big cities is probably due to the fact that many young people have settled in these cities and chose to let their parents come to big cities to join them for the Spring Festival.

Passengers walk to board an extra train bound to Anqing city, East China's Anhui province, at Beijing West Railway Station on Jan 24, 2016. The train marks the start of travel rush of the 40-day Spring Festival travel. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Data published by China Railway Corp, the country's railway operator, shows that in the seven-day period prior to the New Year's Eve, Guangzhou tops the list of cities with most outbound passengers  2.39 million passengers will leave the city during this period  followed by Beijing and Shanghai. This is the first time that the CRC published such big data.

Wuhan, a traffic hub in Central China, takes the first place on the list of passenger arrival volume, with around 1 million people expected to get to the city in the run-up to the Spring Festival, followed by Guangzhou and Beijing.

In terms of traffic along the routes, Beijing to Shanghai is the busiest of all routes. Other busy routes include train journeys from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to places in central and western China, where a lot of migrant workers and college students come from.

This year's Spring Festival travel rush lasts for 40 days from Jan 24 to March 3.
Night view of the Yongning Gate  the oldest gate in the ancient city wall of Xi'an, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). [Photo/IC]

Xi'an, Shaanxi province, will be one of several venues for China Central Television's Spring Festival Gala for the year of Monkey, which will be aired on Feb 7.

CCTV, which has presented the gala annually since 1983, announced over the weekend that the Yongning Gate  the oldest gate in the ancient city wall of Xi'an, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)  will be part of the big show.

A landmark of Xi'an, the Yongning Gate has been the location for many important events. The city, which is the hometown of President Xi Jinping and the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, was where Xi received Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India in May.

The TV gala will have its main venues in Beijing, with five other venues  Xi'an, Quanzhou in eastern Fujian province, Guangzhou in southern Guangdong province and Hulun Buir in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region  to show people nationwide celebrating the most important festival together by singing the same song at the same time.

The size of Xi'an equals to about six London with the similar population of more than 8 million.

Once Xi'an was chosen to be one of the venues for the gala, citizens showed their enthusiasm for joining the event on the eve of Spring Festival.

Many have been asking the local authority how to participate in the TV broadcast at the Yongning Gate, but detailed plans have not yet been released.

Usually, tickets for the gala are not for sale, but are given by invitation.

"Our city is becoming more modern than before. I am glad the gala will be held here, which will attract more tourists and foreign visitors, said Lin Jingjing, a college student at Xi'an International Studies University.

Guo Lifei, a college teacher, said she is proud of Xi'an, which is her hometown, but she will stay at home to watch the show on TV rather than attending because it is too cold this winter.

This year will be the second time for Xi'an to be a gala venue.

In 1996, the gala set two locations  Shanghai and Xi'an, in addition to Beijing as the main stage.

As China's One Belt, One Road Initiative becomes increasingly important in the country's economic growth, Xi'an, as the stat of the ancient Silk Road, has gradually shown its advantages.

The local authorities are building a major logistics center in the city because of its position in western China.
HONG KONG - Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is looking to peddle his Hyperloop mass transit solutions in China, hoping to see high speed non-rail networks in place within a decade.

On Tuesday, Musk told assembled guests at Startmeup Venture Forum in Hong Kong that the new concept currently undergoing trials in test tracks in California could someday whisk commuters through element-resistant tubes, eliminating the daily crawl through Hong Kong's cross harbor tunnels in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The CEO of the Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) said riders will be whisked along within enclosed tubes in pods at speeds of beyond 700 mph, with the promise of eliminating traffic gridlock problems in high density cities like Hong Kong and in many of the mainland's major cities.

While Hyperloop Technologies is also in talks to bring the technology to Russia, Hyperloop chief operating officer Bibop Gresta said in Davos, the revolutionary mode of mass transit will likely take upwards of a decade to reach the global market, Musk said in Hong Kong.
Hainan province outlined its economic and social development goals for 2016, including GDP growth of nearly 8 percent and poverty alleviation for 180,000 rural residents, on Tuesday at the start of the fourth session of the Fifth Hainan Peoples Congress.

Liu Cigui, the province governor, delivered a government work report that forecast provincial economic and social development for the year. Local general public budget revenue is expected to grow by 8 percent, fixed investments by 10 percent and total volume of retail sales of consumer goods by 8.5 percent. Urban incomes are projected to grow by 7 percent and rural incomes by 8.5 percent.

The consumer price index is expected to grow around 3.5 percent.

Urban jobs are projected to increase by more than 90,000. The registered unemployment rate in cities and towns is expected to fall below 4 percent.

Liu said the Hainan province economy maintained steady growth in 2015, despite downward pressure and a shortage of electricity. The GDP in 2015 reached 370.28 billion yuan ($56.2 billion), an increase of 7.8 percent.
BEIJING - Wang Baoan, head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), is being investigated for "severe disciplinary violation," according to the top anti-graft body of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Wang, 52, is also the secretary of the leading Party group of NBS, said a statement released late Tuesday by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Wang was appointed the current posts in April last year, after serving as vice minister of finance, according to his resume at the NBS official website.
The exhibition of the Hangzhou-based China Academy of Art's folk crafts museum features daily-use items made by grassroots artisans in the southern reaches of the Yangtze River.[Photo by Wang Kaihao/ China Daily]

The geographic area of Jiangnan, which is to the south of Yangtze River, figures in many Chinese novels and history books.

The Hangzhou-based China Academy of Art, which is a government school in the provincial capital of Zhejiang, is now offering more on the area's lifestyle by way of a folk crafts museum on its premises. The museum that combines old Jiangnan aesthetics with modern design was opened in September.

Kengo Kuma, a Japanese architect, mixed elements of traditional houses and contemporary styles to shape the space. The 2,000-square-meter exhibition hall, for example, resembles a local village. The way in which Jiangnan's earlier residents lived are visible as one just enters the museum.

The World of Crafts in the Countryside of Jiangnan is the museum's exhibition.

Museum director Hang Jian says he didn't select the exhibits based on their value as cultural relics alone but also by judging their designs. It is worth reminding society to "pay more attention to traditional craftsmanship and lifestyles", he adds. The museum is among the country's largest such attempts at preserving folk crafts.

"A museum usually shows the finest pieces it collects to reflect the best techniques in preservation," Jin Xiaoyi, co-curator of the ongoing exhibition, says of the daily-use items shown here, in a marked departure from approaches of other museums on intangible cultural heritage that emphasize the longevity and complexities of such processes.

The idea behind such displays is to celebrate grassroots artisans "who are closer to ordinary people" rather that just having the works of "top masters with comfortable lives", she says.

Hundreds of Chairs with Hundreds of Forms, a part of the exhibition, has chairs with various functions collected from local communities.

"Chairs are an important component of industrial design and reflect people's lives," Jin says. "Their simple shapes actually contain complex design theories and show an artisan's skills."

Following on the same lines is another part of the exhibition called Study the Phenomenon of Nature, which includes some 100 old window panes. And while they don't come with delicate wood carvings, their simple structures reflect traditional styles and their potential usefulness in the modern world. Such window panes are rarely seen in today's China.

"Children now don't have the luxury of being cared for in such a manner," Jin tells China Daily, while pointing at some delicate chairs for children on show.

In another sectionTao in Daily Usea dazzling kaleidoscope of baskets, tools, dinnerware and other items are presented to depict a story of simplicity. Many of the exhibits here appear closer to contemporary tastes even if they belonged to the early 20th century or earlier.

"When today's Chinese talk about gadgets with delicate designs, they often think of Japan," Jin says. "I want them to know we also once had many such designs. But war, social upheaval and other reasons led them fade away from society before we noticed."
Engravings by Zao Wou-ki will be exhibited in the artist's hometown, Nantong, Jiangsu province. The late artist's engravings are titled with the years when they were completed, such as the three paintings pictured above (from left)1974, 1987 and 1969.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Chinese-born French artist Zao Wou-ki's engravings will be shown in Nantong two years after his death.

Two years after the death of Zao Wou-ki at his home in Switzerland, a show of his engravings is finally coming to Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province, where he was raised. While he was still alive, the Chinese-born artist had wanted the show to be held simultaneously in Paris and Nantong in 2012, but that remained an idea until more recent times.

Zao (1920-2013) was a leading light of postwar art in France, where he spent years of his life before moving to Switzerland.

Born in Beijing, he was among the world's top-selling artists of Chinese descent with each piece of his work fetching millions of dollars at auction houses even today.

Zao's show will be unveiled on Thursday at Nantong Museum and will display 67 lithographs, six copperplate etchings and seven books of illustrations. It will run through May 25.

It is the first solo show in China of his works since his death.

The master's wife, Francoise Marquet, who is also president of Zao Wou-ki Foundation, described the engravings' show as "very special" in a written preface.

The show's curator, Peng Chunmei, says: "For four years, we have been making efforts to bring the show to Nantong. It is a good attempt to display his canvas in China."

Zao's parents moved from Beijing to Nantonga city that is 90 minutes by road from Shanghaiwhen he was an infant. He studied Chinese calligraphy until age 14 and then left for neighboring Hangzhou to start training in oil painting. He emerged as an exceptional artist who merged Chinese and European aesthetics in his works.

His abstract oil paintings, rich in the use of color, light and shadows, are widely bought by museums and private collectors across the world.
President Xi Jinping is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at a ceremony in Riyadh on Jan 19. Xi arrived in Saudi Arabia on the first stop of a three-nation tour of the Middle East. Reuters / Saudi Press Agency

The world has lived through a period of incessant warfare under Pax Americana when interference in the domestic affairs of countries in the disfavored nation list of the Empire is the norm. Regime change, false flag incidents, support of terrorists aka freedom fighters or vice versa were the key features of a World Order that was in disorder.

Has the world grown tired of wars and looking for an era of peace when warfare under whatever pretext or provocations be condemned? President Xi Jinping has gone on a tour of Africa followed by the Middle East with a mission of peace, commerce and economic development under the guiding principle of no interference in the domestic affairs of nation states.

After his African trips last year, Xi' s latest schedule included the visits to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran in one week. Only a major power with good relations to countries locked in a conflict would be welcomed by the warring states. Egypt' s relation with the two economic powers of the Middle East is at best tentative and measured.

China did not visit these countries to sign military alliances or to engage them by taking sides in their conflict. Xi' s trips were purely for economics and economic diplomacy. Though nothing much was revealed in the visit to Riyadh, Xi was warmly received by the House of Saud and the King himself. There were hints that both countries would ink a comprehensive strategic partnership during the visit.

In Egypt, the two countries signed economic agreements involving US$15b in investment projects. Similarly, several billions of contracts were signed in Tehran. Xi was warmly received equally in Egypt and Iran despite the rivalry and tension in the region.
The MS St. Louis, an ocean liner carrying 900 Jewish refugees, left Nazi Germany seeking sanctuary in North America, but it was turned away by every nation it appealed to. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll follow the so-called "voyage of the damned" and the plight of its increasingly desperate passengers.

We'll also discuss the employment prospects for hermits in Seattle and puzzle over the contentment of a condemned woman.

Show notes

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Four listed companies announced on Friday that their independent director Song Chang is under investigation by the China Securities Regulatory Commission for suspected insider trading and short-swing trading.

Song is a professor at Renmin University of China, who has been called "the busiest independent director" by the media, because he has been an independent director of more than 10 listed companies in the past.

It is not uncommon for scholars who are the independent directors of listed companies to violate regulations.

It shows independent directors, who are supposed to "take no position other than as a board director and have no relationship with the company or its major shareholders that may affect independent and objective decision-making" are not always independent and fail to perform their legal obligations. Some independent directors are only nominal posts in order to meet the regulatory requirement, and those in the position fail to play their intended role of improving corporate governance, protecting the interests of small and medium shareholders and enhancing transparency in listed companies.

Yet compared to ordinary investors, independent directors have more access to inside information. The authorities should be vigilant against rent-seeking by independent directors, and universities should be aware that some scholars form an interest community with the listed companies, which may undermine their interests.
Volunteers and empty-nest seniors make Yuan Xiao, a typical food for Lantern Festival, in Handan, Hebei province, March 3, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Besides concerns over whether decision-makers can resolve the widening gap between the country's pension account and its ageing population, people are also worried about whether the government can provide adequate public care facilities for the elderly.

With China's rapidly aging population, care for the elderly is a problem decision-makers can no longer um and ah over.

It is traditional in China for senior members of a family to be cared for by younger members. But it is now a brutal fact that many couples have no time to look after their elderly parents as both the husband and wife are working. This means they either have to pay someone to look after their parents or rely on public care facilities for the elderly.

However, by the end of 2015, China had more than 6.6 million nursing beds for the elderly, around 30 beds for every 1,000 elderly.

The lack of public facilities and understaffing make it necessary to explore a new model of care services provision for the country's growing elderly population.

Policymakers in Beijing are pushing for a home-based care model for the aged. At a session of Beijing's people's congress on Sunday, the municipal authorities said they are studying the feasibility of paying children to provide care for their elderly parents and pushing for the establishment of a home-based care service model. Such a policy, if adopted and implemented as announced, may prove a useful reference for other regions.

Offering financial compensation to those caring for their elderly relatives will help reduce the economic burden on families and make such care more feasible.

Family care for the elderly will probably also be more welcome to most elderly as it will allow them to feel the affection of their children and grandchildren and thus help them enjoy a happier time in their remaining years.
A young woman makes a phone call with her mobile phone while driving her car on the 5th of November in 1999. [Photo/IC]

THE ZHUHAI municipal committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy in Guangdong province has proposed criminalizing the use of mobile phones while driving because of the number of accidents caused by such behavior. Despite the traffic law banning the use of phones while driving, many drivers choose to ignore it. Yanzhao Evening Paper on Friday commented:

Using a mobile phone when driving can distract a driver's attention. Studies show that reactions are 30 percent slower than normal and the risk of an accident is four times higher. Texting while driving is particularly dangerous as texting drivers are 23 times more likely to have an accident.

Article 62 of the Regulations on Implementing the Road Traffic Safety Law clearly states that drivers are prohibited from using a mobile phone, and offenders will be fined 200 yuan ($30) and get two points off their license. But such punishments are insufficient to deter drivers from using their phones.

About 20 percent of drivers use their phones while driving to make calls, send text messages or check their social media accounts, the Ministry of Public Security's Traffic Management Bureaus said on its micro blog during the National Day holiday.

In fact, just as there are campaigns to catch those driving under the influence of drink or drugs, there should be crackdowns on drivers using their phones while driving.

A public awareness campaign should also be launched so drivers better understand the risks of driving while using a phone.
A woman plays with a girl on a street outside the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Nov 8, 2013.[Photo by Zou Hong/Asianewsphoto]

EAST CHINA'S Shandong province is soliciting public opinions on a draft amendment to the family planning regulation, which will reduce the fines for those who give birth to more children than allowed. Zhu Hengshun, a National People's Congress staff, called for other provinces to follow suit, the Beijing News comments on Monday:

The fines on those giving birth to more children than legally allowed are imposed because the extra children consume resources so those with more children should pay the State for the additional consumption.

That principle originated in the years when China had to slow its population growth to save resources. Today new births are no longer considered a burden.

Thus it is time for the authorities to change tack. Some scholars have even proposed cancelling the fines because they are no longer necessary.

If the fines cannot be cancelled at the moment, at least make them lower so as to avoid discouraging people from giving birth. Current practice allows each provincial area to levy its own fines, which are always high. In Shandong province, for example, a couple has to pay three to six times the average annual income of their city.

Shandong is making progress by lowering the standard to three times, which is worth encouraging. We call for other areas to follow suit, too.
During the period of its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), China intends to pursue a new development mode that will be "higher in quality, more efficient, fairer and more sustainable". Agriculture will be fundamental to this, given its significance to both food and environmental security.

China produces about three-fourths of the combined total value of production of all Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Globally, it is the largest producer of products such as potatoes, wheat, tomatoes, rice and apples. Its own agricultural products are supplemented by imports of agro-food products from all over the world to ensure food security.

But food security not only means enough food is available, but also the food that is available is not over-consumed or wasted. At present, industrialized Asia (China, Japan and South Korea) contributes 28 percent of the total food wasted in the world, which is estimated at 1.3 billion tons per year.

For industrialized Asia, three stages of the supply chain need special attention: postharvest handling and storage, distribution and consumption. The handling and storage stage of the supply chain accounts for 20 percent of the food wasted in the region, another 14 percent of food is lost at the distribution stage, while some 31 percent is wasted during the consumption stage, which is the third highest globally.

That vegetable losses in industrialized Asia account for about 11 percent of global food losses is of special concern, as this region accounts for more than 50 percent of global production and consumption.
People at a railroad station in Seoul watch a news report on Wednesday after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced that it had conducted its first hydrogen bomb test. JUNG YEON-JE/AFP

Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye announced recently that her government will consider the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, an advanced US anti-ballistic missile defense system, in the ROK.

Park's comment came after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea early this month carried out its fourth nuclear test since 2006, giving rise to speculation about the THAAD missile defense system's deployment, which has the potential to readjust the regional strategic structure and trigger an arms race in East Asia.

Unlike the ROK's previous ambiguous "Three Nos" policy - No Request, No Consultation, No Decision - Seoul's more favorable stance toward the US defense system is becoming clear, so too is Washington's strategic ambition.

The THAAD system, if deployed in the ROK, will obviously have a negative impact on regional security. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei has reiterated Beijing's stance that a country should consider other countries' safety and interests as well as the peace and stability of the whole region when seeking its own safety.

Strategically, the possible deployment of the THAAD system in the ROK would further worsen the peninsula situation, fueling the arms race between the ROK and the DPRK and leaving less room for China's neighborhood policy.

As Japan also showed interest in introducing the THAAD system last month, the ROK, and Japan could witness substantial progress in their military alliance with the US, which might even incubate a sort of "Asian NATO", if both Tokyo and Seoul decided to deploy the US system on their soil.
VIENTIANE - Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongloun Sisoulith on Monday met with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry.

The two sides discussed a series of issues covering Laos' unexploded ordinance (UXO) problem, trade, health care and child nutrition, among others.

Kerry arrived in Lao capital Vientiane on Sunday.

The US has expressed desire to utilise Laos' 2016 ASEAN chairmanship to further improve trade and diplomatic ties with the rapidly developing country.

According to statistics from the National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector in Laos, from 1965 to 1973, the United States dropped some 2 million tons of ordinance on Laos during the Vietnam War, including 2.7 million cluster bombs which are designed to break apart and release a payload of smaller bombs. As many as 30 percent of these bombs did not explode.

Before 2008, an average of 300 people had been killed and countless more injured from accidents related to UXO in Laos each year. At present, 41 out of 46 poor districts in Laos still suffer UXO contamination.

Kerry's visit to Laos follows that of his predecessor, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in July 2012.
US Secretary of State John Kerry says goodbye as he boards his plane in Vientiane, Laos, Jan 25, 2016, before leaving for Phnom Penh, Cambodia. [Photo/Agencies]

Chinese and American experts have low expectations for US Secretary of State John Kerry's trip to China, Laos and Cambodia, where he is seen as trying to seek Beijing's support to punish the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for its latest nuclear test while looking for countries in Southeast Asia to gang up on China over the South China Sea issue.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced on Monday Kerry's trip to Beijing from Tuesday to Wednesday, a trip that she said "China hopes to help deepen communications on a series of important issues and promote coordination and cooperation in various fields".

Kerry began his tour in the Laotian capital of Vientiane on Sunday and then Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A senior State Department official on Sunday described China as the dominant player in the two countries, both economically and politically.

Over the years, the two countries have long opposed US efforts to rally ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) against China on the South China Sea issue.

In a background briefing, the senior official described Kerry's trip to Laos and Cambodia as laying the groundwork for the summit that the US President Barack Obama will be hosting at the Sunnylands retreat in California from Feb 15-16 with the 10 ASEAN leaders.

Laos is the chair of ASEAN in 2016. Obama hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Sunnylands in June 2013.

Many Chinese believe that the US is biased in handling the maritime territorial disputes in both the South and East China seas.

It was reported that Kerry's trip to Beijing was added after the DPRK declared on Jan 6 that it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.

The US believes the test was not a powerful hydrogen bomb, but it has been pushing for stronger United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea and also hopes China would use more of its leverage unilaterally.

"It almost goes without saying that the issue of the DPRK and its recent nuclear test will be on the top of the agenda," said the senior State Department official, adding that the South China Sea is also "very much on the secretary's mind and something that he will certainly discuss in depth".

According to the official, Washington believes that China has so far not exerted enough pressure on the DPRK and that it is important for China to join the US, the Republic of Korea and Japan in presenting a unified front.

Ted Carpenter, a senior fellow of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, described the US policy as "incredibly arrogant, short-sighted".

He said deciding to place more pressure on Pyongyang entails various risks for Beijing, while the United States and its East Asian allies would be the principal beneficiaries. China's leaders will be reluctant to adopt such a course even under the most favorable circumstances.

"Beijing certainly is not likely to take such risks if the United States is simultaneously trying to organize the ASEAN countries into an anti-China bloc. Kerry should grasp that reality," Carpenter told China Daily on Monday.
CANBERRA - Newly-appointed Australian of the Year David Morrison has said that "unfair" religious, racial and gender-based discrimination is still rife throughout Australia, using his Australia Day speech to call for greater acceptance.

Speaking on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television on Tuesday, the former army chief said racial and religious discrimination, among other forms of prejudice, in Australia should not be allowed going forward.

"We hold people back in this country for the most peculiar of reasons -- their gender or the God they believe in or the color of their skin or sexual orientation," Morrison, a former Lieutenant General in the Australian Army, said.

"It's not how we should progress."

Morrison received the prestigious Australian of the Year award on Monday evening for his work in striving toward gender equality.

He said the nation should particularly aim to do more to positively recognize the members of Australia's Islamic community.

"Without doubt there has been a great focus on the Islamic community; a lot of the commentary I think has been very unfair," Morrison said.

"I think we need to listen to the men and women of Islamic faith who are part of Australia's society.

"We need to understand the challenges they face."

"We need to see where the rest of Australia can work with them."

Morrison is well known as the general who told soldiers who cannot accept female colleagues to "get out" of the military. He has since worked tirelessly to promote women's rights in the military and in general society.

"I was starting to become increasingly angry about the fact that the institution and the culture was denying people -- women, but others as well -- the opportunity to reach their potential," he said.

Australians celebrate the Australia Day on Jan 26 every year.
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.
A senior diplomat and special envoy of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping will visit Laos and Vietnam from Tuesday to Saturday.

The trip by Song Tao was announced on Monday by a spokesperson with the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

A former vice-foreign minister, Song is now head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, a department in charge of party-to-party exchanges.

The trip was announced as the ruling party in Laos elected a new chief while the political reshuffle of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is underway.

In the Laotian capital Vientiane, the 10th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) closed on Friday afternoon after the election of the party leader.

Xi sent a congratulatory telegraph to Bounnhang Vorachit, the new party secretary-general, on Friday.

In Hanoi, 1,510 delegates are attending the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), which officially opened on Jan 21 and will run until Thursday.

The Congress is set to produce a new Politburo and Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee, which will pave the way for the election of the country's new leadership, Xinhua news agency said.

A vote is set for Tuesday to elect 200 members of the 12th CPV Central Committee, 180 official and 20 alternate ones, Xinhua reported.
Fisherman Gabriel Barreto walks on the shore of the Magdalena river, the longest and most important river in Colombia, in the city of Honda, Jan 14, 2016. While flooding and intense rain wreak havoc on several countries in Latin America, El Nino brings other harmful effects to Colombia with severe drought. [Photo/Agencies]

MEXICO CITY - After displacing over 100,000 South Americans with severe floods in 2015, the El Nino weather phenomenon is expected to wreak more havoc in the region well into 2016.

The global phenomenon -- triggered by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central Pacific that disrupt weather patterns -- robbed rain from southeast Asia as it inundated parts of Latin America late last year.

In a Dec. 29 report, Josh Willis, a project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), said satellite images potentially showed "we have not yet seen the peak of this El Nino," mainly because the amount of extra-warm surface water has continued to increase.

Some two weeks later, on Jan 13, Colombia's meteorological institute (IDEAM) labeled the 2015/2016 El Nino as "the second strongest on record," adding it "continues in its stage of greatest intensity."

Extreme weather in parts of Latin America shows El Nino remains active.

Colombian environmental authorities in mid-January issued a red alert in several departments (states) affected by excessively high temperatures and drought during the Southern Hemisphere's summer season due to El Nino.

One of the departments worst hit so far is Huila, where 4,000 heads of cattle have perished from drought, which local officials are trying to fight by building deep wells and water reservoirs.

Other departments, such as Boyaca, are struggling with water shortages and forest fires. In the first two weeks of 2016 alone, 45 forest fires razed up to 116 hectares of woods.

Colombia's Environment Minister Gabriel Vallejo warned that temperatures in Tolima, where a health emergency was declared, are four degrees Celsius higher than the average for this time of year.

Other parts of the country, meanwhile, have seen crops ruined due to cold snaps.

Farmer Leandro Silva, a resident of Subachoque, in the department of Cundinamarca, told Xinhua what the local situation was by phone. "Here our crops have been damaged. The potatoes ruined, the grass ruined due to frost and the summer's not over.... I don't know what the weather will bring if this summer continues."

Silva said he couldn't recall living through a similar crisis due to weather.

"The water levels, the aqueducts are already being rationed ... the banks need to help the growers, because they are charging more interest," said Silva.
India's Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers march during India's Republic Day parade in Srinagar January 26, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW DELHI - India on Tuesday displayed its military might at its 67th Republic Day parade in the national capital, with French President Francois Hollande as the chief guest.

The parade started in the morning under unprecedented security that included deployment of 5,000 policemen and 15,000 para-troppers, anti-aircraft guns and around 1,000 snipers amid terror threats.

The Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy displayed their tanks, guns, air craft and models of warships and submarines on Raj Path, an iconic road at the heart of the national capital.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee took salute from the passing forces at the parade, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the French president looked on.

Tableax of various Indian states were put on display, alongside the military, as the nation glued on to TV sets to watch the celebrations.

Though the parade this year was shorter as there were fewer marching contingents, a contingent of French soldiers added to the colours of celebrations.

The marching contingents were led by the French 35th Infantry Regiment that was deployed in India between 1781 and 1784.

Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari, the country's main opposition Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior Indian ministers all were present on the occassion.

Gallantry awards were also given to families of martyrs of the Indian armed forces and children by the Indian president.

The parade ended with spectacular displays by fighter jets of the Air Force, and the presidential bodyguards escorted the Indian president and his French counterpart back to Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The French president, who had arrived in India on Sunday on a three-day tour, will wrap up his visit and leave for Paris later in the day.
Egyptian youths browse through Chinese books translated into Arabic during a ceremony marking the start of China Book Week in Cairo, on Tuesday. HOU LIQIANG / CHINA DAILY

Egyptians' interest in the Chinese language has grown as trade between China and Egypt reaches record highs. But as more students choose to learn Chinese and more universities start Chinese departments, there is great shortage of Chinese teachers in Egypt.

Omayma Ghanem, a professor of the Chinese language at Ain Shams University, which opened its Chinese department in the 1950s, said there were only 11 Chinese majors in her class when she graduated from Ain Shams in 1983. Now there are more than 2,000.

When Cairo University started its Chinese department in 2004, it had 20 students  now there are 60 in each year of study. And the number of students in Cairo University's Confucius Institute, launched in 2007, grew from 30 to 1,200 a year, said Rehab Mahmoud, director of the university's Department of Chinese Language and Literature and dean of the Confucius Institute. Egypt now has two Confucius Institutes  the other is in Suez Canal University.

Ghanem said that more Egyptian universities are opening Chinese departments.

The list includes Al-Azhar University, Suez Canal University, Fayoum University, Pharos University, Helwan University and Misr University for Science and Technology. Moreover, Confucius Institutes are helping to set up Chinese classes at some junior and senior high schools.

Ghanem said that Port Said University, Suez University and Bani Suef University are also considering opening Chinese departments.

"There are far from enough Chinese teachers. 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," she said.

Because of the shortage, Ghanem is also the director of Chinese departments at other universities. From 2005 to 2011, she held that post at Suez Canal University, and she is now also director of two Chinese departments in Fayoum University, one in Faculty of Tourism and Hotels and the other in the Faculty of Literature.

"Ain Shams University has rich experience in teaching Chinese, so universities usually turn to it for help when they start a Chinese department," she said.

Liu Xing is a Chinese professor at the North China Institute of Science and Technology who currently works at Cairo University's Chinese department.

According to Liu, "China is an increasingly common topic in Egyptian and other Middle Eastern countries' media as trade between China and Egypt continues to increase. This has strongly aroused Egyptians' interest in and desire to learn Chinese."

In 2014, trade between China and Egypt reached a record high of $11.6 billion, and China's non-financial direct investment in Egypt rose to $100 million, increasing 86 percent year-on-year. China is Egypt's biggest trade partner.
File photo of Jim O'Neill, speaks at the 1st China-UK Business Leaders Summit in London, June 2, 2014. [Photo/IC]

China is definitely on track in terms of its real GDP growth, said Jim O'Neill, British Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, who is also famous for the creation of the "BRICS" acronym, grouping together Brazil, Russia, India and China as potential growth powerhouses of the future.

"China so far is growing more than I had assumed. If China grows by only 6.5 percent for the rest of the decade, it means it grew by 7.5 percent for the decade as a whole," said O'Neill at the 48 Group Chinese New Year Gala Dinner that was held at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Monday.

The former Goldman Sachs chief economist is pleased that China is giving more importance to supply-side reforms.

"It seems to us that the supply-side structural reforms on many sectors is something that China needs to do and it is really encouraging that the government is talking about this as the way it is and I hope it will continue to adjust in a way that the latest data shows it is adjusting," said O'Neill.

Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to Britain, delivers a speech at the 48 Group Chinese New Year Gala Dinner that is held at the Dorchester Hotel in London, Jan 25, 2016. [Photo courtesy of Chinese embassy website]

"The reforms will be helpful for China-UK trade relations, and will be in the interest of Britain," said O'Neill.

Chinese President Xi paid a state visit to the UK last October, achieved landmark results and opened the "Golden Era" for relations between China and the UK.

To put China's new normal into perspective, China's 6.9 percent growth, at the volume of $10 trillion dollars, is the equivalent to India growing by 35 percent or the United Kingdom growing by nearly 22 percent, so 6.9 percent is the envy of any developed countryaccording to O'Neill.

Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to Britain, also attended the gala dinner and delivered a speech.

Liu read out a message from Meng jianzhu, secretary of the Party Central Political and Legal Affairs Committee of the CPC central committee, who praised the 'Icebreakers' spirit that has inspired generations of the members of the 48 Group Club, which dates back to the early 1950s and has been since then committed to promoting China-Britain links.

Liu said he is full of expectations for the new year, especially for China's development and enhanced China-UK relations.

"I have high expectations for continuous development in China in the new year. 2016 marks the beginning of China's 13th Five Year Plan that will help put China's growth on a more solid foundation and create opportunities for sustainable growth in the long run," said Liu.

Liu acknowledged that China is now at a crucial stage of economic shift and upgrading.

"China's economy is entering a phase of what we call the "new normal" - with moderate growth but improved economic structure," he said.
London Eye and the River Thames. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Bilateral trade between China and the UK in 2015 is consolidating as the two countries commit to building a global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st Century, according to a Chinese senior diplomat.

The Sino-UK economic collaboration was given a boost when President Xi Jinping made a state visit to the UK last October, the first by a Chinese leader in a decade, during which over 30 commercial deals worth 40 billion pounds ($57 billion) were agreed, says Jin Xu, minister counsellor of the economic and commercial officer of China's embassy in Britain.

The deal between China's General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) and EDF Energy was signed in the presence of Chinese President Xi and Prime Minister David Cameron during the State Visit and formed part of an 18 billion pounds investment program.

With 6 billion pounds of investment, CGN will take 33.5 percent of the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in Somerset, which was the largest single inward investment ever brought to Britain from China. It was also the first time that Chinese business made an investment on nuclear plant in a developed country.

The global economic slowdown in 2015 has taken its toll on international trade as a whole and China was no exception. China's total import and export volume dropped 7 percent from the same period in 2014 whilst trade volume with European Union was down 8.2 percent.

Despite the overall difficulty and complication in trade last year, bilateral trade between China and the UK still reached $78.54 billion, only dipped 2.9 percent, reflecting the complementary nature and great potential of relations between two countries.

The UK remains China's second largest trading partner in the European Union whilst China stands the second largest of the UK outside the EU.

Trade mainly involved valued added goods, such as vehicles, aviation and communications systems in which electro-mechanical products accounted for over 40 percent of China's total export to the UK, making China Britain's biggest supplier of such goods.

The past year saw some major mergers and acquisitions in the UK from Chinese investment, totalling 22 deals, Jin says.

Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric Co bought UK-based subsea equipment manufacturer, Specialist Machine Developments Ltd, for about 229 million pounds ($326 million).

Geely unveiled 300m pounds ($427.6 million) investment in new R&D and manufacturing facility for London Taxi Company in preparation for the introduction of the next generation electric and ultra-low emission Black Cab.

The Chinese footwear retailer C.banner International Holdings took over the 255-year-old British toy retailer, Hamleys, from France's Ludendo Groupe, which has owned the chain since 2012, for 100m pounds ($142.6 million)

According to Jin, finance, energy, property, research and development centres, healthcare, aviation and retail are among popular sectors for Chinese companies investing in the UK.

In September, HNA Group, the parent company of China's privately-owned Hainan Airlines, acquired 30 South Colonnade, a landmark office building in Canary Wharf, one of London's major financial districts.

Ping An Life Insurance (Group) Co of China Ltd in January 2015 took over another landmark site, Tower Place in the City of London, after it bought the Lloyds of London building a year and half ago.

Jin also says that China-UK financial ties are being further enhanced as London is set to become the main offshore RMB centre.

In 2015, the Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) of China Construction Bank was listed on the London Stock Exchange, which was the first LSE listed RMB denominated money market ETF which can be traded and settled in RMB, sterling or the euro.

People's Bank of China issued 5 billion yuan-denominated one-year bonds in London, the first ever to be issued outside of China and Hong Kong, which was seen as a major boost for London as an international financial centre and the main western trading hub for the yuan.

Last October, Agricultural Bank of China completed its debut sale of $1 billion dual currency bonds in London, the first "green bond" from a Chinese bank, which are usually issued to fund environment-friendly projects.

Jin is confident Sino-UK trade and economic relations will remain steady this year as bilateral relations are further deepened and both nations complement to each other in trade.

China's economic rebalance will not only boost its own growth but also offer greater opportunities for China-UK economic collaboration, Jin says.

To contact the reporter: wangmingjie@mail.chinadailyuk.com
(Photo : Getty Images/Paula Bronstein) The massive Myanmar Parliament building is seen surrounded by high gates and wide 10 lane roads in this photo taken in the Myanmar capital, Naypyidaw.

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China and Myanmar are likely to begin mending frayed ties this year as a parliament dominated by Aung San Suu Kyi's political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), takes charge over Naypyidaw for the first time after winning the general elections last November.



Sino-Burmese relations have deteriorated under Myanmar's outgoing president Thein Sein, who began distancing the country from China in favor of closer ties with the US and Japan as soon as he took power in 2011.



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In February last year, fierce fighting broke out between the Tamadtaw -- Myanmar's armed forces -- and the Kokang, an ethnic minority group rumored to have deep and long-standing connections with the Chinese military. When stray Burmese bombs killed eight Chinese civilians in southwestern China, Beijing angrily ordered live-fire military drills near the Myanmar border.



The incident soured relations between the two former allies, and added to the already simmering distrust that attended their diplomatic exchanges.



Quiet Overtures



But analysts say the bitterness in recent Sino-Burmese relations will probably give way to a renewal of ties in the months ahead, thanks mainly to good old-fashioned political foresight and deft diplomacy on the part of Beijing.



In the past years, China has made quiet overtures toward high-ranking members of the Myanmar opposition, including Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi, who met with China's President Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing in June last year. Some observers have suggested that Beijing may have foreseen the opposition's victory in Myanmar's 2015 elections, and has been building the foundations for improved relations with Naypyidaw.



The Financial Times attributes China's resurgent interest in Myanmar to a growing competition with Japan for strategic influence over the country, which commands a key trade route to the Bay of Bengal. Then there is also a strong desire among Beijing's policymakers to demonstrate to the world the progress of China's "One Belt, One Road" program.



Speculation aside, however, the pro-democracy icon Suu Kyi -- who many agree will play a dominant role in the future of Burmese politics -- will have to confront huge challenges in managing Myanmar's dealings with its neighbor to the northeast.



Peace, Progress and Pragmatism



In an article for the New York Times, veteran journalist Jane Perlez notes that many people in Myanmar still see China as a heavy-handed neighbor interested only in building oil pipelines and extracting timber and jade from their country. Suu Kyi risks antagonizing this fairly large section of Burmese society should she appear too keen to accommodate China's quiet offer of renewed partnership.



The Tamadtaw, too, constitute another -- perhaps even more serious -- concern.



Policy expert and writer Min Zin says Burmese military and intelligence officials blame Beijing for much of the unrest and rebellion among the heavily-armed ethnic armies in northern Myanmar, including the Kokang.



Any improvement in the relationship between Naypyidaw and Beijing therefore puts the Tamadtaw's still powerful generals -- who retain control over key cabinet portfolios and 25 percent of Myanmar's parliament -- in an awkward position.



Even so, Myanmar's northern ethnic tribes are of Chinese descent, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is said to exercise enormous influence among their leaders.



This has led some analysts to speculate that the Chinese government will -- at one point in the next few months -- dangle the possibility of a ceasefire with the rebel groups in exchange for the NLD's much-needed cooperation.



These same analysts say Suu Kyi -- who has, in her role as a politician, proved to be a consummate pragmatist -- is likely to seize the opportunity for peace with the northern tribes. Myanmar's generals are unlikely to oppose such a deal, so long as the NLD consults them first.



Myanmar needs peace if it wants to build an economy that actually works, and most analysts agree that is precisely the kind of support that China is best positioned to provide



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Tagschina-myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, National League of Democracy (NLD)
(Photo : Reuters) Global Risk Insights (GRI) has issued a report that claims Taiwan's President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (above) is likely to move toward a reversal of the island's progress toward a union with China.

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Taiwan will strengthen its ties with the United States, Europe and Japan in the coming years, diverting the island's reliance on trade with China toward a larger pool of partners in the international community, according to a report issued recently by a US-based risk analysis organization.



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The respected policy analysis and advisory organization Global Risk Insights (GRI) issued a report on Monday that says Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen is likely to move toward a reversal of the island's progress toward a union with China.



"Instead of courting China, Tsai wants Taiwan to break away and 'craft a model of new Asian values in Taiwan' and interact with 'like-minded democracies' like the US and Japan," the report says, referring to a speech Tsai delivered before an audience of diplomats last September.



Anywhere but China



Tsai's economic policy emphasizes innovation over efficiency. This economic protocol -- if successfully implemented -- will reduce Taiwan's reliance on China, where some 40 percent of the island's exports currently go, says the report.



The report notes that Taiwan's president-elect has already expressed her desire to negotiate with the US over Taiwan's eligibility to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.



"It is in our national interest to have strong and healthy relationships here by expanding our economic and cultural ties, and engage in dialogue on regional security and economic integration, such as joining the TPP," said Tsai in September. "Mutual trust, respect and communication will form the three pillars of these relationships."



The GRI report -- entitled, "Tsai's dynasty: Taiwan's new approach to China" -- suggests that such a move would be consistent with the objectives of Tsai's "Southbound Policy," which involves direct investments in the countries that comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India.



"North, south, east, west, Tsai is looking for new opportunities," the report observes, "anywhere but China"



"Just an Option"



The GRI report also highlighted Tsai's ambiguity toward the "One China" policy, and says she is unlikely to shed more light on her views on the issue. Given the convincing margin of her election victory, there is little pressure on her to do so, the report says.



The controversial policy -- also called the "1992 Consensus" -- is based on agreement that holds both Beijing and Taipei to the principle that there is only one China. The accord, however, allows both sides the freedom to interpret that idea as they see fit.



"Having helped Lee Teng-hui articulate the pro-independence 'state-to-state relations' narrative in [the] 1990s, Tsai is probably more radical at heart," says the report.



Tsai has in the past insisted that the 1992 consensus -- and the "One China" policy it upholds -- imposes a limit on Taiwan's choices for the future.



She argues against this limitation, and has repeatedly stressed that the "status quo" she seeks is one that ensures "the options of the Taiwanese people."



"The 1992 Consensus is just an option," Tsai said, "but not the only one."



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TagsChina-Taiwan relations, Taiwan President-elect Tsai lng-wen, One China principle
(Photo : YouTube) Photo of Swedish human rights activist Peter Dahlin. China has released Dahlin after keeping him in detention for almost three weeks.

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China has expelled Swedish human rights activist Peter Dahlin, who has been under the detention of Chinese authorities since Jan. 4, on charges of 'instigating confrontation against the state'.



An official spokesperson from the Swedish Embassy in Beijing confirmed on Tuesday that Peter Dahlin had been released from detention and expelled from the country, but refused to comment any further.



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Dahlin's close colleague Michael Caster also confirmed his release. Caster further revealed that Dahlin's girlfriends, a Chinese national who was detained along with him, has also been released.



Dahlin's release comes shortly after the Swedish Embassy expressed concerns over the arrest of its few citizens (including Peter Dahlin) via Weibo on Monday.



"Two of our citizens have 'confessed' on China's national broadcaster, and we feel unsettled about this kind of action," read a statement from the embassy's official Weibo accounts.



Peter Dahlin was detained for the activities of his organization 'China Action'.



Peter Dahlin was detained on January 4th for the activities of 'China First', an organization that he founded to provide legal assistance tohttp://admin.chinatopix.com/pages/publish/publish/form.php?se_status=1&getstring=se_status%3D1%26amp%3B&page=1&w=u&ar_id=75456 people alleging human right violations in the country.



Chinese authorities accused China Action of instigating confrontation and gathering information to distort report.



Peter Dahlin confessed to these charges on Chinese TV on January 18th.



He said "I violated Chinese law through my activities here, I've caused harm to the Chinese government, I've hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. I apologies sincerely for this and I'm very sorry that this ever happened".



Following Peter Dahlin's confession on Chinese TV, many human right organizations and the Sweden Embassy reportedly started exerting pressure on Chinese authorities for his release.



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(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) The Sano family travelled from the USA all the way to China in search of their Chinese adopted son's biological family before a genetic disease claims the boy's hearing ability and soon his eyesight when he reaches adulthood.

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An American woman embarked on an unforgettable journey to find the family of her Chinese adopted son. From the United States, they travelled all the way to Ningbo, Zhejiang Province with the hope that someone will help her find the boy's biological family before he goes blind.



Fortunately, Molly Sano's public plea on behalf of her 3-year-old adopted son Bennett reached Shi Boning, the director of the Hearing Diagnosing and Screening Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University.



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Shi immediately browsed through the center's records and found a boy born on April 1, 2012 with a similar case. Without hesitation, he called the father's registered contact number that was luckily still active. About three days after Sano appeared on national television, the heart-melting reunion between Bennett and his biological family came to fruition



Sano reportedly adopted the deaf boy in Ningbo in 2014. In December last year, Bennett was diagnosed with Usher syndrome, a genetic condition leaving him not only deaf, but also blind when he reaches adulthood. Sano wanted to let the boy see his family roots even before the disease claims his vision.



Upon meeting her son, Bennett's biological mother burst into tears. Bennett, whose Chinese name is Long Miao, was about 6-week-old, when his father abandoned him and left a letter by his side to explain why. He wrote that his family cannot afford another child with disability, citing that Bennett's older brother was also deaf. His parents are factory workers who earn only about 1,000 yuan ($152) every month.



On May 18, 2012, both parents decided to give the boy up, leaving him in the south gate of a stately residential location. The father allegedly did not leave the boy out of his sight until a security guard picked him up and took him to a local police station. He was then transferred to the Enmei Child Welfare Association in Ningbo, from where Sano adopted and took him with her to Seattle.



The father's letter made it clear that they left the boy because they were advised by doctors that Bennett needed a cochlear implant, something the family could not afford. Sano and her husband Chris, who is also deaf, said that they will let Bennett decide whether he wants to have an implant or not later on. As of now, he is being taught to sign by her adoptive mother, who is also a sign language interpreter.



Sano shared photos and stories of Bennett's life abroad with his family. He is reported to be growing like a normal child in a family of four. The two mothers exchanged WeChat contacts, and Sano promised to keep Bennett's biological family updated.



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TagsMolly Sano, Usher syndrome, Bennett, adopted son, biological family
(Photo : Getty Images) Australia plans to conduct 'freedon of navigation' exercises in the disputed South China Sea.

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Despite the heightened tension between China and other claimant countries over the issue of 'freedom of navigation' patrols in the South China Sea, Australia is reportedly considering conducting military exercises near China's reclaimed islands, testing Beijing's hold on the disputed waters.



Reports indicate that Australia's national security committee has been briefed about the possible military repercussions of such an assertive act, but Canberra remains keen on the planned exercises saying that it will be beneficial to its military operations.



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"Freedom of Navigation"



Australian defense officials said the planned exercises were part of the topics discussed between Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and White House officials during his recent visit to the US.



The so-called "Freedom of Navigation" exercises are intended to send a signal to Beijing to loosen its tight grip on the disputed international waterway.



Although no decision has been made by Australian defense and military authorities, it has been reported that the Australian navy and air force have already operated in the South China Sea and were, in fact, warned by the Chinese military.



Routine patrols



Reports indicate that Australian RAAF aircrafts, flying from its Butterworth air force base in Malaysia, routinely patrols the disputed waters to help ensure peace and order in the region.



Last November, an Australian aircraft flew near China's construction work in the disputed Spratlys islands during its routine patrol.



China's state-run newspaper, the Global Times, in an editorial, threatened Australian forces saying " It would be a shame if one day a plane fell from the sky and it happened to be Australian.



War



Last year, People's Liberation Army Navy Admiral Wu Shengli was quoted saying to a US admiral that war would erupt if the US continues to test China's sovereignty over the islands.



The US Navy has been actively patrolling the waterway and in October sent one of its modern missile destroyers--the USS Lassen--within 12 nautical miles of an island build by Beijing in the contested Spratlys.



Artificial Islands



China started building and reclaiming islands in the South China Sea, particularly in the Spratlys and Paracel reefs and islands, in 2014.



Despite protests from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, who have overlapping claims in the Spratlys, Beijing has continued to build airstrips, seaports, and other facilities on the islands.



The United Nations has already laid out its territorial policy in regards to the South China Sea, but China has dismissed it.



Standardized formula



The United Nations had said that it does not accept the validity of territorial claims around artificially-built islands.



A standardized formula, it said, for the calculation of the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has been in place since World War II.



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TagsExclusive economic zone, artificial islands, Beijing, Australian military, Freedom of Navigation
(Photo : Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images) China has handed over its second batch of relief goods to Pakistan worth $3.5 million.

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China delivered more than $3.5 million worth of relief goods to earthquake-stricken Pakistan on Monday.



The 20 million yuan worth of relief goods were handed over by Beijing for Pakistani residents, who were affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the country on Oct. 26 2015.



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Handover ceremony



Sun Weidong, Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, and Major General Asghar Nawaz, chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), were present during the handover ceremony in the Pakistani capital islamabad.



"Since China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners of cooperation sharing weal and woe, we can feel the sufferings of the Pakistani people and stand firmly with the Pakistani side. We will do our utmost for the relief of people in earthquake-stricken areas," Ambassador Sun said during the ceremony.



Extreme gratitude



Pakistan General Asghar expressed deep and emotional gratitude to the Chinese people and government for their compassion for Pakistani citizens and their unwavering commitment to extend help during difficult times.



"China is the only country from which Pakistan has received aid following the earthquake that shows deep and sincere relations between the two brotherly countries," the NMDA Chairman said.



Chinese authorities said the second batch of relief goods include 2,950 tents for the Pakistani people, who are still without shelter.



10 million yuan



China had handed over its first tranche of relief goods worth 10 million yuan or about $1.6 million shortly after the earthquake hit, killing 280 people and wounding close to 2,000 others.



General Asghar said the first batch of goods included 300 tents, 20,000 blankets and 60 electricity generators.



Asghar said China was the first country to have responded to calls for help by the Pakistani government by sending humanitarian aid on November 5 last year.



President Xi jinping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang respectively sent their sympathies to their Pakistani counterparts days after the earthquake hit the nation.



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Tags$3.5 million worth of relief goods, Pakistan, Beijing-Pakistan ties, Chinese Ambassor to pakistan Sun Weidong
(Photo : Getty Images) More than 31,000 prisoners have been released after they were pardoned by the Chinese government last year.

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The Chinese government has granted amnesty to over 31,000 prisoners, according to an official statement released on Monday.



The amnesty deal, adopted by the country's top legislature and approved by President Xi Jinping, released a total of 31,527 prisoners who were mostly juvenile when they were detained. The pact was signed on August 29, 2015. All the pardoned prisoners - including war veterans (young and old ones) were released by the end of the year last year.



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According to the amnesty deal, four categories of prisoners were given pardon: (1) those who fought against the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the civil war against the Kuomintang; (2) those who participated in wars to uphold national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity after 1949, but those who were guilty of serious crimes like graft, organized crime and terrorism as well as repeat offenders were exempted; (3) those aged 75 years and above and who are suffering from a physical disability, making them unable to do self-care; and (4) those who committed crimes under 18 years old and have received the maximum three years in prison sentence, or have less than a year to serve, but those convicted of rape, homicide, narcotic offences and terrorism were exempted.



Of the total number of prisoners released, the first category had 50 recipients, the second had 1,428, third had 122 and the fourth had 29,927.



With such a huge number to be released, the judicial bodies as well as courts and prison officers all exerted effort to review the prisoners' criminal records, examine judgments and ensure the identities of the said prisoners.



The amnesty is in line with the Criminal Law 2011 that permits leniency in punishing the elderly. Since 1949, this is the eighth amnesty granted by the Chinese government. The move symbolizes "the spirit of the rule of law and humanity."



Prisoners released without employment, who are unable to work, or who are without a source of income or anyone to support them will be given basic living allowances.



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Tagsamnesty deal, china, pardon
(Photo : Matt Cardy/Getty Images) A Chinese university graduate tried to solve his hair loss problems, but died of overdosing on a prescribed herbal medicine.

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A man, who had just graduated from a university in China, has died from overdosing on a plant-based tonic used to treat hair loss. He was apparently treating himself in preparation for a job.



Twenty-six year old Cui Fei of Anhui province graduated last summer from the Central South University of Forestry and Technology located in Changsha, southern Hunan province, according to Anhuinews.com.



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In preparation for a job once he graduates, Cui sought help to treat his hair loss problems in January 2015. He found help attwo hospitals in Anhui.



First Cui was given a prescription from Jin'an hospital. He initially received a prescription of two weeks of tonics that included a plant called Heshouwu (or He Shou Wu) which is commonly used to treat hair loss in traditional Chinese medicine.



Although he became sick while in the course of treatment, he continued and finished taking the prescription.



With the hair loss problem not solved after the first course of treatment, Cui sought help from another hospital. The second hospital reportedly gave him another medicine that also contained the said plant.



In August, Cui was still taking the medicine prescribed by the second hospital when he was found to have drug-induced liver damage. Two months later, his liver failed.



Cui died December 31. Cui is reported to have taken a total of nearly 3 kilograms of heshouwu.



According to the China Food and Drug Administration, heshouwu is potentially dangerous to a person's liver when taken orally. In fact, in July 2014, the Administration released warnings stating the possible side effects of taking the plant.



The use of heshouwu (also known as Chinese knotweed) has been associated with liver problems such as jaundice, abnormal liver functions and hepatitis.



While Cui's family has accused doctors of negligence in prescribing the medicine containing heshouwu, a deputy director for Jin'an said that the hospital has no responsibility for his death.



What our doctors prescribes is very common in treating hair loss. The dosage was within limits, the deputy said. We asked patients to come to the hospital to check for side effects every two weeks.



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TagsCui Fei, heshouwu, Jin'an hospital, Central South University of Forestry and Technology
(Photo : Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) A Chinese guitarist who had musician's dystonia has regained his guitar-playing ability after surgery. He strummed his guitar throughout the surgery.

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A Chinese musician, with a rare disease that made him unable to play his instrument, had brain surgery  and played his guitar while on the operating table.



The musician, who is reported to be surnamed Li, is a guitarist from northern China's Jilin province, according to Southern Daily.



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He was faced with a rare disease called Musician's Dystonia, a disease that renders his fingers weak and incapable of playing his musical instruments, as well as making him unable to write.



Li has been suffering from the disease for about 20 years. As the condition did not have any medications that could treat it, his situation became worse as time passed by.



Li eventually decided to undergo brain surgery, which is the only way to treat the disease.



Cai Xiaodong, the director of the department of neurology at the 2nd Peoples Hospital in Shenzhen, Guangdong, performed the brain surgery on Li to address the problem. The surgery took place Monday.



The brain surgery lasted for about an hour. Li had to remain conscious as Cai implanted medical electrodes into his brain. Cai then used electricity to stimulate the neurons that controlled Li's finger muscles.



For his part, Li needed to try to move his fingers during the surgery to check if the electrodes were effective. While the operation progressed, he found his fingers regaining movement and dexterity, and tried to show off some advanced guitar techniques while Cai was still working on him.



[The surgery] has immediate effects, Cai said. Li has regained 80 per cent of the use of his finger muscles.



The remaining 20 per cent will return through rehabilitation, Cai added.



The electrodes that were implanted in Li's brain are powered by batteries that were also implanted under the skin on his shoulder. The batteries are expected to last about 10 years.



Musician's Dystonia, also known as Musician's cramp, is a neurological movement disorder that can affect different body parts as well, including the eyes, neck and hand, says Dystonia.org. It can also affect a person's voice.



A study has found that it can be caused by intense use of a musical instrument.



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TagsMusician's Dystonia, Musician's cramp, Cai Xiaodong, Guitar
(Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Chinese police have caught a bungling burglar who got stuck in a window.

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Apparently, small-sized windows are a great help in protecting homes. Chinese police have caught a burglar who got stuck in a window as he tried to escape.



A woman from Kunshan, Jiangsu province, came home one day and found out that her bedroom had been ransacked, reports CCTV.



According to the woman, the burglar probably heard her going inside the house and tried to escape through the bedroom window. The thief, however, got his head stuck.



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Police released footage showing the bumbling thief in a difficult situation.



My necks jammed! the footage showed him shouting.



The burglar was arrested after police chiseled away one of the window's bars. He was trapped in the window for about half an hour before his release, reports Jiangsu Television.



The man was found to be a seasoned housebreaker. He has been charged with burglary.



Bumbling law-breakers in different places



Although the news might sound funny, bumbling law-breakers are a menace that can be found in different parts of China.



For example, in 2014, a bumbling robber in Liaoning tried his best to run away with a 90-kilogram bag of money, but to no avail. He was then arrested.



Burglars of the bumbling kind are not only found in China. Recently, a would-be burglar was also caught trapped as he attempted to infiltrate a university building in England.



The Telegraph reports that two students returned to the Nottingham Trent University at 2:30 a.m. local time from a night out to find the man screaming and crying because he got stuck in the Arkwright building last week Friday.



At first, the students thought that the man was also a student. After finding out that the man was already 27, they realized that it was quite unlikely.



Firefighters and police came to free the man. He said he had been hanging there for about five hours.



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TagsBurglar, Robber, Fail, Bungling burglar
(Photo : YouTube) Lenovo Y Gaming Surround Sound Headset is now available for $69.99.

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Chinese smartphone and computer manufacturer Lenovo introduced its latest gaming peripherals called Lenovo Y surround sound headset at the Consumers Electronic Show 2016 this month for the price of $69.99.



This new headset is part of the line up in the Lenovo Y Gaming family. The Y Gaming Surround Sound Headset features an all black and red appearance, making it more stylish and unique compared to normal headsets in the market today. The structure of the outer edges of each cup are made of hardened black plastic. Each ear cups then sits on an arm that is covered in a faux leather finish that is warm to be touch and it feels premium.



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What makes this headset stand out is its built-in virtual surround engine. The headset is capable of frequency tuning, which allow this device to simulate the experience of having a subwoofer and three satellite speakers pointing towards the user.



This headset is suitable for gamers who love immersive gaming experience through excellent sounds and good graphics. Using this device, users can experience premium audio output making gaming more exciting.



Lenovo Y Gaming Surround Sound Headset also features a detachable boom microphone that is connected to the left ear cup of the device. It is suitable for in-game chat, talking directly with fans over YouTube Gaming and Twitch. In addition, it also support USB. When the device is plugged into a PC with the USB port, the Y Gaming logo glows an angry red.



Lenovo Y Gaming Surround Sound Headset is recommended for gamers who love stylish and cheap PC peripherals. The headset is now available for purchased for the price of $69.99.



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TagsLenovo, lenovo y gaming surround sound headset, Lenovo Update, CES 2016, lenovo y gaming
In search for unity, Pope apologizes for Catholic Church's treatment of other Christians 26 January, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , |

ROME (Christian Examiner)  Since 1964, the Catholic Church has recognized Christians of other denominations as "separated brethren" who might still enjoy salvation through the mother church in Rome  a conclusion only reached after four centuries of contentious relations and warfare between Catholics and Protestants in Europe and a millennium-long rift with the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Now, Pope Francis is seeking "mercy and forgiveness" for the way the Catholic Church has treated those religious dissenters.

During a homily Monday in the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Francis said "there cannot be an authentic search for Christian unity without trusting fully in the Father's mercy. We ask first of all for forgiveness for the sins of our divisions, which are an open wound in the Body of Christ."

"As bishop of Rome and pastor of the Catholic Church, I want to ask for mercy and forgiveness for the behavior of Catholics towards Christians of other churches which has not reflected gospel values. At the same time, I invite all Catholic brothers and sisters to forgive if they, today or in the past, have been offended by other Christians. We cannot cancel out what has happened, but we do not want to let the weight of past faults continue to contaminate our relationships. God's mercy will renew our relationships," Francis said.

The pontiff's remarks came at the conclusion of a weeklong emphasis on praying for Christian unity and as part of the Jubilee year in which the church is focusing on the theme of mercy. At the beginning of the evening prayers, Pope Francis invited other religious leaders, including Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Metropolitan Gennadios and Anglican Archbishop David Moxon, to join him in the final blessing.

The church leaders had walked through the basilica door together, Pope Francis said, to remind them "the only door which leads to salvation is Jesus Christ our Lord, the merciful face of the Father."

Such ecumenical gestures are increasingly more common among Catholic leaders, but whether or not Rome can be fully reconciled with its "separated brethren" remains to be seen. There are long standing differences.

As bishop of Rome and pastor of the Catholic Church, I want to ask for mercy and forgiveness for the behavior of Catholics towards Christians of other churches which has not reflected gospel values. At the same time, I invite all Catholic brothers and sisters to forgive if they, today or in the past, have been offended by other Christians. We cannot cancel out what has happened, but we do not want to let the weight of past faults continue to contaminate our relationships. God's mercy will renew our relationships.

The eastern half of the Christian church broke with Rome in 1054 over issues surrounding liturgy, language, and theology (namely about how the Spirit of God comes to man). The Anglican Church broke in 1534 during the reign of Henry the VIII over his divorce from Catherine of Aragon and, while the English Church returned to Rome under the reign of "Bloody Mary" from 1553-58, after the ascension of Elizabeth I in 1559 it forever became Protestant in theology.

"While we journey together toward full communion," said Pope Francis, "we can begin already to develop many forms of cooperation in order to favor the spread of the Gospel  and walking together, we become aware that we are already united in the name of the Lord."

Pope Francis began his homily by referencing 1 Corinthians 15:9-10, in which the Apostle Paul acknowledged that his past persecution of the church made him suspect to many. God used the circumstances, he said, to illumine the faith.

"'I am the least of the Apostles ... because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace in me was not without effect.' That's how the Apostle Paul sums up the significance of his conversion," Francis said.

"Beyond the differences which still separate us, we recognize with joy that at the origin of our Christian life there is always a call from God Himself. We can make progress on the path to full visible communion between us Christians not only when we come closer to each other, but above all as we convert ourselves to the Lord, who through His grace, chooses and calls us to be His disciples. And converting ourselves means letting the Lord live and work in us. For this reason, when Christians of different Churches listen to the Word of God together and seek to put it into practice, they make important steps towards unity. It is not only the call which unites us, but we also share the same mission to proclaim to all the marvelous works of God," the pontiff said.
Several faith leaders were asked to write brief comments about the future of Roe. I was glad to see that I was not the only person asked who sees life as beginning at conception and who is ready to see Roe overturned.
'Impartation Breakfast' with Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda, Far Beyond Attendance Expectations

Contact: Sam Rodriguez, 407-854-4400, info@cfan.org

ORLANDO, Jan. 25, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- This past Saturday, January 23rd, more than 800 attended the "Impartation Breakfast" held in San Antonio, Texas, very early in the morning. The event was planned by CfaN Christ for All Nations, the ministry founded by Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke. All tickets were sold out days in advance, and there were many people who expressed their interest when no more tickets were available.

Attendants shared breakfast in a convivial atmosphere, and they were later ministered to. Both Reinhard Bonnke and Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, President of CfaN Christ for All Nations exhorted those present to strengthen their walk in the Lord's ways.

The breakfast meeting was followed by a ministry time, with Bonnke and Kolenda praying for each attendee.

Pastor Victor Vallejo, San Antonio's TBN station manager, commented, "The impartation event definitely marked the lives of those present, with a Word challenging us, to be passionate about souls. It is definitely evident that the United States is ready for a great visitation from heaven. Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda prayed for every one of those attending the event."

Pastor Charles Flowers, of Faith Outreach Center International Church was one of those attending this breakfast. Pastor Flowers said, "The breakfast was a significantly powerful spiritual event. Both evangelists awakened in us this divine hunger for souls, and the urgent need for the leadership and power of the Holy SpiritThey were truly a Godsend."

CfaN Christ for All Nations regularly plans breakfasts of this kind, echoing the words Paul wrote to the Romans: "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me" (Romans 1:11-12 KJV).

"It was a pleasure and privilege to have shared with so many people, to be able to minister to them and strengthen our bond with the Lord, as we work in His harvest," Bonnke commented.

Upcoming "Impartation Breakfasts" will be held this year in November, for both the East and West Coast areas. For further information please contact us: 1-407-854-4400, or via e-mail info@cfan.org.

The purpose of CfaN Christ for All Nations is to fulfill Jesus Christ's commission to bring the message of salvation to all people around the world. CfaN Christ for All Nations is mainly known for its campaigns in Africa and other developing countries. In addition, the ministry seeks to actively inspire and equip the body of Christ to evangelize by means of crusades, conferences, literature, videos and TV programs.

For more information about events and what the ministry achieved in 2015, you may obtain your free copy of IMPACT magazine by clicking here.
Operation Rescue's Statement on Daleiden's Grand Jury Indictments in Texas Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, 734-680-8007, info.operationrescue@gmail.com



HOUSTON, Jan. 26, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Yesterday, a grand jury in Houston, Texas, that was supposed to investigate evidence presented by the Center for Medical Progress showing Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast's involvement in the illegal sale of aborted baby parts, instead indicted CMP head David Daleiden and his associate, Sandra Merritt. No true bill was issued against Planned Parenthood.



Daleiden and Merritt were charged with one felony related to tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to buying human tissue. The felony charge was in reference to actor's ID cards that were similar to California drivers' licenses.



Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue, was a founding board member of the CMP and has been sued by the National Abortion Federation and Planned Parenthood in an attempt to deflect from their obvious appalling conduct and to silence the evidence against them.



Operation Rescue issues the following statement concerning the indictments, which is attributable to Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President of Operation Rescue: We were disappointed, to say the least, by the news that a grand jury chose to indict the investigative journalists who were trying to expose and report crimes in Houston, Texas. This has the effect of chilling the First Amendment freedom of the press and could scare crime witnesses away from coming forward for fear that they might suffer similar retaliatory prosecution.



There is now a pattern in Houston of District Attorney Devon Anderson's office covering up abortion-related crimes.



In 2013, another Anderson-controlled grand jury failed to indict Houston abortionist Douglas Karpen, who was accused by three of his former employees of murdering babies born alive during shoddy late-term abortions by twisting their heads or slashing their throats. Photographic evidence provided to me showed injuries to large aborted babies that was consistent with those claims. Operation Rescue has good reason to believe that evidence was never presented to that grand jury.



Because of the secrecy surrounding the grand jury process, it is susceptible to manipulation by a prosecutor with a personal or political agenda. In Kansas, abortion-related grand juries were so influenced by unscrupulous prosecutors who sought to cover up abortion crimes that the State Legislature is now attempting to change the laws to make the process more transparent and accountable to the people.



In Daleiden's case, once the facts are allowed to come out, which Planned Parenthood and the NAF have worked night and day to conceal or misrepresent, we have every confidence that Daleiden and Merritt will be completely exonerated. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood remains under investigation by other state agencies in Texas, which we believe will reach different conclusions than that of the Anderson-influenced grand jury in Houston. Information on the Karpen case



Kansas bill to make grand jury process more accountable



About Operation Rescue

Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Click here to support Operation Rescue.

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Rev. Steven Andrew Calls USA to Repent of Abortion; Rebukes 'Unjust' Houston Grand Jury

Contact: Rev. Steven Andrew, USA Christian Church, 877-537-8734



SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 26, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- The USA has been called to repent of abortion and Planned Parenthood by Rev. Steven Andrew. This came after the Houston grand jury didn't indict Planned Parenthood but indicted the lead investigator, David Daleiden, who caught the non-profit on video selling baby's organs. "Our consciences should convict us of abortion and Planned Parenthood. The unjust grand jury's charges must be dropped. The USA is outraged at this injustice," he said.



The compassionate pastor leads USA Christian Church and inspires millions of people with the Gospel. He gave the following prayer to lead the nation in repentance and to seek God's help for Daleiden:

Father,



Our consciences convict us. The USA repents of abortion and Planned Parenthood. Drop the charges on David Daleiden. We want a Christian government.



In Jesus' name. Amen.

The pastor's new book of hope, God's Plan for the USA, gives Biblical proof that abortion has caused God's strong judgment on the USA. He shows in the book that judgment is seen by unjust leaders and widespread corruption (Psalm 106:37-42). "But God has given us 7 Bible Truths in the book that will end judgment and heal our land," he said.



After the Houston grand jury's decision, Mike Huckabee said, "Harvesting human organs is beyond barbaric, it's unimaginably grotesque and evil. And it's a sick day in America when our government punishes those who expose evil with a smartphonewhile accommodating those who perform it with a scalpel." The pastor's social media graphic contains a shortened version of Huckabee's quote.



God's Plan for the USA provides a detailed action plan to save our nation. Deciding to honor life and to turn away from everything against Jesus Christ, including abortion, is part of God's plan. The riveting, free sample chapter describes the current dangers the USA faces and is a wake up call to turn to God for survival and protection.



The ministry leader also reminds people of God's forgiveness by Jesus Christ dying on the cross. He asks people to be saved and to have their consciences purged of all guilt through Jesus Christ.



"God gives hope to those who have participated in an abortion. The Bible says that Jesus' blood cleanses consciences from sin (Hebrews 9:14). By applying Jesus' blood to your conscience, the guilt from shedding innocent blood is removed," he said.



God's Plan for the USA (ISBN 9780977955091) is available wherever books are sold.
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.
China: Church authorities dismiss pastor who protested against cross removals

The influential pastor of China's largest church has been removed from his position in what is thought to be retaliation for his outspoken opposition to the country's crackdown on Christianity.

Gu Yuese served as pastor of Chongyi Church in Hangzhou, which attracts around 10,000 people every Sunday to multiple services. He has publicly opposed the government campaign to tear down the crosses that identify church buildings. The advocacy group China Aid says his removal may be connected to this and described his dismissal as an abuse of religious freedom.

According to the local Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and the China Christian Council the aim of the dismissal was to "move one step closer towards the proper self-establishment and management of church locations by the two Christian organisations in Hangzhou, promote the normal rotation of the principal Christians in charge of churches and sort out the interpersonal relationship between the province and the two municipal [Christian] organisations".

Gu will be replaced by Pastor Zhang Zhongcheng, vice-chairman of the Hangzhou Chinese Christian TSPM Committee.

Reacting to the announcement, Gu Yuese and and his wife Zhou Lian Mei, who teaches Bible classes at the church, issued a statement thanking the congregation for its support and affirming their commitment to the church.

They say: "Regardless of how the situation will be after this, we will inevitably continue serving at Chongyi Church if there is no other guidance from the Lord himself! Of course, the manner [of service] may change, but our love of the Lord and his flock will never change, because we are the Lord's servants! Thank God!" The statement continues: "Increasingly, we feel God's good intentions in this storm. It will refine every impurity in our ministry team to the greatest extent and compel us to love the Lord and people more purely."

The demolition campaign against crosses on churches in Zhejiang province has seen hundreds removed or damaged. Journalists covering the story have been intimidated and arrested and at least 20 Christians, including pastors and deacons, are being held in prison.

Also held is human human rights lawyer Zhang Kai, who provided legal advice for churches in their resistance to the campaign. He had represented more than 100 churches fighting orders to remove their crosses. Zhang wrote and distributed a 'Cross Activists Handbook', advising church leaders on how they can use China's own constitution  which guarantees religious freedom  to defend their rights.
'Convert or leave': Minority Muslim group threatened in Indonesia as persecution grows

A minority Muslim group has been ordered to convert to Sunni Islam or face expulsion in Indonesia.

The move by Bangka-Belitung, made up of two main islands off South Sumatra, is the latest in a series in which religious minorities including Christians and Shi'ite Muslims have faced harassment and complained of a lack of protection.

"The Ahmadiyah have a right to live in Bangka," Fery Insani, a senior official in the local government, told Reuters.

However he said: "In a meeting with community leaders and religious figures, all of us have agreed that it is forbidden for them to conduct activities like spreading their faith."

The Ahmadiyah self-identify as Muslim and follow the teaching of the Qur'an but regard an Indian preacher, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, as a "messiah" who came after the Prophet Muhammad. This belief is considered heretical by Indonesia's mainstream Muslim population which is the largest in the world.

"The Ahmadiyah congregation are not allowed to spread their religion," said Bangka Island's most senior bureaucrat in a letter seen by Fairfax Media. "Ahmadiyah followers in Srimenanti village must immediately repent in accordance with Islamic sharia that there is no prophet after the prophet Muhammad." He said if they did not follow this ruling, a meeting had decided they must immediately leave Bangka and return to their place of origin.

The threat marks an ongoing persecution against minority religious groups from Indonesia's hardline Muslims despite the fact the constitution guarantees religious freedom.

Around 1,000 members of a group called Gafatar were evacuated from their homes following violence in West Kalimantan last week and authorities have banned the minority group which they describe as radical and dangerous. This came after hundreds of Muslims forced the local government to tear down several churches in the conservative province of Aceh last year, claiming they lacked proper building permits.

"We hope the police can guarantee security for the Ahmadiyah people in Bangka and that the local government guarantee our rights as citizens," said Yendra Budiana, a Jakarta-based spokesman for the Indonesia Ahmadiyah Community.

A spokesman for the religious affairs ministry declined to comment on the issue.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
Donald Trump could be 'unstoppable' if he wins Iowa vote next week, Ted Cruz concedes

Republican presidential candidate said next week's Iowa caucus could make or break his campaign, admitting for the first time that front-runner Donald Trump "could be unstoppable" if he emerges as the winner in Iowa.

Cruz made the candid assessment of the race for the Republican nomination on Monday in a meeting with evangelical pastors, Fox News reported, citing a video of the meeting obtained by the Christian Broadcasting Network and The Brody File.

Cruz, who is closely trailing Trump in Iowa polling, appealed for more support from the evangelical pastors to have a chance of beating the billionaire real estate mogul.

"If Donald wins Iowa, he right now has a substantial lead in New Hampshire, if he went on to win New Hampshire as well, there is a very good chance he could be unstoppable and be our nominee," Cruz reportedly said in the video.

"So even if you're thinking about another candidate, the simple reality is there's only one campaign that can beat Trump in this state, and if conservatives simply stand up and unite, that's everything," Cruz said.

The Texas senator described the race between himself and Trump as "an absolute dead heat."

However, three recent polls of the Iowa race show Trump increasing his lead over Cruz several weeks after Cruz managed to come very close to matching his poll numbers.

Trump now holds an 11-point lead over Cruz in the latest CNN/ORC and Fox News polls in Iowa. But pundits said Cruz could still narrow the gap if he succeeds in getting support from the remaining candidates in the race.

Young Ted Cruz sought 'world domination'

Meanwhile in another video that has gone viral on social media, a teenage Cruz is shown talking about his life goalsamong them "world domination."

The video was posted online Saturday by a YouTube account called "Young Ted Cruz." It's the only video on the account, CNN reported.

Off-camera, someone asks Cruz, then a student at Second Baptist High School in 1988, what are his aspirations.

"Aspirations! Is that like sweat on my butt?" Cruz replies. "Oh, I seewhat I want to do in life. My aspiration is to, oh, I don't know ... be in a teen tit film."

Then, he reconsiders. "Well, other than that? Uh, take over the world," he says. "World domination. You know: rule everything, rich, powerful, that sorta stuff."

The Cruz campaign acknowledged the video on Monday, saying the comments were all in good fun.

"Good to see that young Ted also had a great sense of humour," said Cruz campaign adviser Rick Tyler.
EU is 'running out of time' to deal with migrant crisis, says top official

The European Union edged closer on Monday to accepting that its Schengen open-borders area may be suspended for up to two years if it fails in the next few weeks to curb the influx of migrants from the Middle East and Africa.

Shorter-term dispensations for border controls end in May. EU migration ministers meeting in Amsterdam decided they may be extended for two years  an unprecedented extension  because the migrant crisis probably will not be brought under control by then, according to the Dutch migration minister, who chaired the meeting.

Some ministers made clear such a  theoretically temporary  move would cut off Greece, where more than 40,000 people have arrived by sea from Turkey this year, despite a deal with Ankara two months ago to hold back an exodus of Syrian refugees. More than 60 have drowned on the crossing since January 1.

Greek officials noted that closing routes northward, even if physically possible, would not solve the problem. But electoral pressure on governments, including in the EU's leading power Germany, to stem the flow and resist efforts to spread asylum seekers across the bloc are making free-travel rules untenable.

"We are running out of time," said EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos. He urged states to implement agreed measures for managing movements of migrants across the continent  or else face the collapse of the 30-year-old Schengen zone.

But the Dutch minister, Klaas Dijkhoff, said time has effectively already run out to preserve the passport-free regime. The system has allowed hundreds of thousands of people to make chaotic treks from Greece and Italy to Germany and Sweden over the past year.

"The 'or else' is already happening," he said. "A year ago, we all warned that if we don't come up with a solution, then Schengen will be under pressure. It already is."

Under pressure from domestic opinion, several governments have already reintroduced controls at their borders with fellow EU states. Those controls should be better coordinated, said Dijkhoff, whose government last year floated the idea of a "mini-Schengen", which critics saw as a way for Germany and its northern neighbors to bar the influx from the Mediterranean.

Fear and loathing

But the EU executive and leading power Germany are bemoaning a nationalistic tide that could put at risk not just Schengen but the euro and even the foundations of the EU. In that light some diplomats saw the talks in Amsterdam as another scare tactic from those refusing to close the door to migrants.

"The discussion is full of these apocalyptic predictions," one said. "But things won't really change in two months."

With many EU states, vocally led by the ex-communist East, refusing to take in significant numbers of refugees, the only way to stop chaos in Europe was, he said, to stop arrivals in Greece. Given legal and moral obligations to pluck people from the sea, that leaves the EU reliant on uncertain ally Turkey, which is seeking European cash and other favours.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who opened her country's borders to Syrians fleeing civil war last summer, is under mounting pressure to halt the inflow, after more than a million migrants entered Germany last year.

Unless the numbers drop before Merkel meets fellow EU leaders at a summit in mid-February, some form of border closing by the bloc's leading power would be increasingly likely  not least as Germans vote in key regional elections in March. That decision would have a knock-on effect across Europe.

The Commission, the EU executive, is already reviewing whether Greece's difficulty in processing constitute "persistent serious deficiencies" on the external EU frontier. Such a finding would justify a historic move to allow states to re-impose controls on those arriving from Greece.

The Commission is due to make recommendations next month. Athens would then have three months to respond. Existing measures taken by some states under a different rule expire in mid-May. Minister Dijkhoff made clear that few expect the situation to improve by then, so the longer-term suspension should be ready.

Under that rule, Article 26 of the Schengen code, countries could re-impose controls on documents for six months, renewable three times, until May 2018. EU officials acknowledged, however, that no one knows what would happen after that if governments were not prepared to return to the status quo before last year.

Schengen on the brink

"Everyone understands that the Schengen zone is on the brink," said Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner, whose government has warned it will limit entry to migrants.

Her Swedish colleague, Anders Ygeman, whose government called a halt after taking proportionately the greatest share of refugees, told Reuters that if Greece and Italy failed to set up "hot spot" centers to separate refugees from possible terrorists and economic migrants, then they would face isolation from the Schengen area.

Appearing anxious to calm a confrontation with Athens  which had already clashed with Berlin last year over bailout loans to keep Greece in the euro zone  the German interior minister was more reserved: "Blaming people in public doesn't help," Thomas de Maiziere said.

Senior EU officials have warned of the costs to trade that new border checks could impose, although few analysts foresee a return to lines halted at frontiers around Germany, France or the Benelux countries, across which millions commute daily to work.

The EU has taken various steps to give cash-strapped Athens financial assistance to deal with the crisis, but many member states believe Athens is not using that enough. The EU has now proposed establishing over the coming months a common European Border and Coast Guard to tighten control of the EU frontiers.
Government defeated by bishop's motion on child poverty

The Bishop of Durham spearheaded a move which defeated the government in the House of Lords last night.

Peers voted by a majority of 92 to force ministers to think again over plans to change the way child poverty is measured.

The government wants to scrap current indicators of poverty to focus instead on "drivers" of the problems such as inter-generational factors like worklessness and educational attainment. This would involve removing the previous measurement which focused exclusively on financial indicators and defined poverty as household income of 60 per cent less than the national median.

The motion tabled by the Bishop of Durham and voted through last night will force the government to include the income-related measurements in an annual report to Parliament.

Although he acknowledged income levels should not be the only indicator, Bishop Paul Butler said they were still highly significant.

"It is also possible to understate the importance of income, or the lack of it, especially among those of us who have plenty," said Butler.

"There is also a wealth of academic evidence pointing to the damaging effect income poverty has on children's wellbeing, including their health, education and future employment prospects."

Butler said his proposal would not reinstate an income-based definition of poverty but would ensure income was measured alongside social indicators.

However government ministers said adding income figures to a report would be a "symbol of the old world".

"This is of huge importance to us as we want to move away from these types of drivers and instead focus on the right type of actions," said work and pensions minister Lord Freud.

He said "life chances" were a much better way of understanding what was happening and directing resources to tackle the problem effectively.

The proposals were announced by work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith last July to much dismay from child poverty campaigners.

It is the latest in number of government defeats in House of Lords where, unlike the House of Commons, they do not hold a majority. Liberal Democrat and Labour peers have joined forces to defeat the government numerous times, including on tax credits which prompted a u-turn from Chancellor George Osborne.

However, the government will have the opportunity to override the Lords when the bill is reconsidered in the House of Commons later this year.
Hilary Clinton: I am disappointed Christianity has been used to condemn and judge

US Presidential hopeful Hilary Clinton gave an unusual insight into her faith as she spoke to voters in the crucial state of Iowa on Monday.

In a small school in Knoxville, the former Secretary of State told how Christianity had influenced her life and criticised politicians who used Christianity as a tool to "condemn" and "judge", according to Time.

""I am a person of faith. I am a Christian. I am Methodist," Clinton said in response to an audience question.

"My study of the Bible and my many conversations with people of faith has led me to believe that the most important commandment is to love the Lord with all your might, and to love your neighbour as yourself. That is what I think we are commanded by Christ to do," she said.

More than three-quarters of voters in the key Primary state of Iowa consider themselves Christians. Nearly one-third say they are evangelicals who tend to swing towards Republican candidates.

"I have been very disappointed and sorry that Christianity, which has such great love at its core is sometimes used to condemn so quickly and judge so harshly," she said in a clear dig at Republican candidates' opposition to Syrian refugees.

"There is so much more in the Bible about taking care of the poor, visiting the prisoner, taking in the stranger, creating opportunities for others to be lifted up."

Clinton, who grew up in a Methodist household, told the audience her mother taught her about Christianity.

"I am by no means a perfect person," she added.

"I will confess that to one and all. But I feel the continuing urge to try to be better, to try to be more loving even with people who are quite harsh."

"I am in awe of people who can truly turn the cheek every time," Clinton said.

"Who can go the extra mile that we are called to go. Who keep finding ways to forgive and move on. Those are really hard things for human beings to do."

Jessica Manning, a 36-year-old high school counsellor who asked the question said she was convinced by Clinton's answer.

"I didn't know how strongly she felt about speaking about her Christianity. Some of the Republicans are using it to gain votes but she doesn't do that a lot."
Hundreds of thousands expected to protest against same-sex unions in Italy

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators are expected to turn out in support of 'traditional family' in Italy on Saturday as the government debates legalising same-sex partnerships.

A week after pro-gay demonstrators took to the streets in Rome, Catholic leaders in Italy have organised a "Family Day" for those opposed to the legislation to gather at Circus Maximum in the capital.

The government will begin debating civil partnerships later this week. There are indications however that the legislation could fail in the upper chamber, where it will be voted on by secret ballot. Italy is the only country remaining in Europe to recognise neither civil partnerships nor gay marriage. In the UK, England, Wales and Scotland recognise both. Northern Ireland recognises civil partnerships but not gay marrige. The Republic of Ireland voted in favour of gay marriage last November.

Defending the importance of the traditional family model, Cardinal Angelo Bangasco, president of Italy's Bishops' Conference, said the family is a "treasure chest of relationships, generations and genres, of humanism and of grace" in which children are the "jewel in the crown".

He said their welfare must prevail over all else, as they are the weakest and most exposed. Echoing words of Pope Francis, he said children needed a father and a mother. "The family is an anthropological fact, not ideological."

He also defended the right of Christians to have their voice heard. "Believers have the duty and the right to participate in the common good with serenity of heart and constructive spirit." He urged the laity of the secular world "to include the divine law in the life of the earthly city" and shoulder their responsibilities in the light of Christian wisdom and "with eager attention" to the teaching of the Church.

He said: "We must never forget the identity of the family and its importance for stability and economic development of the country, as well as the essential role played by the education of future generations."

Earlier this month a poll in Italy showed 46 per cent in favour of civil unions for same-sex couples and 40 per cent against. However, more than half, 55 per cent, opposed same-sex marriage and just 38 per cent were in favour. More than eight in ten opposed adoption by same-sex couples.
Iraqi Christians seek refuge in Czech Republic after asylum offer

More than 150 Iraqi Christians will be settled in the Czech Republic after the country opened its doors to the asylum seekers.

The first of a group of 153 fleeing from Mosul, Iraq, arrived in Prague on Sunday after the Czech government offered them asylum despite opposing the EU mandatory plan to resettle 120,000 asylum seekers. The government said it wanted to offer support on a voluntary basis.

Ten landed at Prague's international airport and were taken to a hotel near the central city of Jihlava, where they will spend the first couple of months.

They will stay there while they learn Czech and then in the second half of 2016 will be allowed to seek employment. Half of the 153 refugees accepted are children.

Alongside Slovakia, the Czech Republic has only agreed to accept Christians.

"So we have come here first to provide a secure life for our families, and secondly, to get a job and do something here in order to serve society as well as to take care of our families," one refugee, Majeed Kurdi told CBN News.

"Being a Christian in Iraq means giving your life. And living under the tents and camps in Iraq is something really, really hard for the Christians," he said.

The Czech government has said it will share the expenses for the move and their stay with NGOs. Churches will help them settle, according to the Washington Post.

Unlike in some instances of asylum, the refugees will be allowed to stay in the Czech Republic after the conflict in Iraq is over.
Italian evangelical churches help open 'humanitarian corridor' to 1,000 refugees

An Italian ecumenical mission is in Lebanon to finalise details of a project that aims to relocate 1,000 refugees to Italy on humanitarian visas "to save people from embarking on deadly journeys across the Mediterranean.''

Marco Impagliazzo, the head of the mission, said the $1.42-million project was launched following an agreement signed by the Community of Sant'Egidio, the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy and the Waldensian Table in cooperation with the Interior and Foreign Affairs Ministries.

The project will allow about 1,000 asylum seekers currently in Morocco, Lebanon and Ethiopia to travel to Italy with a humanitarian visa, the cost of which will be provided by the associations themselves, Impagliazzo said, according to Gospel Herald.

"The project resembles a peace treaty because it allows us to save numerous lives and avoid exploitation by traffickers,'' Impagliazzo told the Associated Press. "It will allow people who have the right to enter our country to finally do so, avoiding the so-called journeys of death.''

The visa has another advantage: security. Under the project, he said security "will be at its maximum" compared to those arriving on boats, because "thorough checks will be carried out and digital fingerprints taken.''

According to the plan, the first goal is to airlift an initial group of about 100 of the most vulnerable refugees, most of them Syrians who are sick, disabled or elderly, or women alone with young children, from a Lebanese camp by the end of January or early February, said Impagliazzo.

After arriving in Italy, the refugees will begin the asylum process. Once the required security checks are conducted, the consulate will then process their visas. The first "humanitarian corridor'' will open with the refugees taking a commercial flight to Italy.

The refugees will take part in an integration programme, which will include Italian lessons, help with finding a job and school enrolment for children, said Impagliazzo.

Luca Maria Negro, president of the Federation of Evangelical Church in Italy, expressed satisfaction with the project, saying the presence of foreigners in Italy "is not just about welcoming others, it is also good for the country's economy and pension system.''

He said: "It cannot be that in Italy today there is still no space for a woman who needs to give birth just like Jesus' mother at Christmas.''

Carlotta Sami, a spokeswoman for UNHCR in southern Europe, said they hope more countries will follow this example.

U.N. refugee agency representatives said they welcome private sponsorship initiatives that enable vulnerable or needy refugees to reach safety and start new lives in third countries.

Eugenio Bernardini, the moderator of the Waldensian Table, said there is currently one million euros available for the project and that other donations are expected, Vatican Insider La Stampa reported.
'Madam Secretary' season 2 episode 13: Is Russell going rogue on Olivia?

Russell (Zeljko Ivanek) is hatching something up his sleeves in the upcoming episode of the CBS series "Madam Secretary."

In "Invasive Species," CarterMatt reports that the White House Chief of Staff is withholding important information from Elizabeth (Tea Leoni). This will come as a surprise to fans of the drama series, as the two always work as a team in protecting President Dalton's (Keith Carradine) administration at all cost. Whatever Russell may be hiding, it must be kept under the lid for a while, especially to the people at the State Department.

Meanwhile, Henry (Tim Daly) will be dealing with a lot of family drama. The synopsis reveals that his father will pass away. His sister Maureen (Kate Burton) is reportedly angry at him for not spending time with the old man before he died. As an asset to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Henry has been kept busy with the recent Russian crisis. He saved the administration by preventing Elizabeth from accusing the other country outright that it was the mastermind in the attack against Air Force One.

The death of his agent Dmitri (Chris Petrovski) also depressed him. When it comes to saving his country, Henry is always reliable 24/7. Sadly, his family life suffers due to his busy schedule. His sister's angst is justified, as he barely saw his dad before the sad incident. The McCords will even be dismayed to find out that some of the family secrets are about to be exposed and "open old wounds" for the members. What kind of skeletons are they hiding in the closet?

With her husband facing such difficult times, Elizabeth is bound to give him all the support she can while doing her work as Secretary of State. So far, things are going well for her and the Dalton administration. They were able to convince the Myanmar president to sign the Pacific Rim Trade Agreement last time. This would pave the way to the Asian Country's modernization, with the construction of hydroelectric dams.

"Madam Secretary" season 2 airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.
Michael Gove says his Christianity informs his justice policy: 'I believe in redemption'

Justice secretary Michael Gove today said his Christian faith informs his prison policies, telling a critical Tory MP: "I believe in redemption".

Gove rejected criticism from Philip Davies, a Conservative MP who sits on the justice committee, who said that Gove had "gone native" at his department.

Davies, who is on the right-wing of the Conservative party, accused Gove of being more liberal than his predecessors, jibing "come back Ken Clarke, all his forgiven". The MP for Shipley attacked the secretary of state for "hanging off every word" of the Howard League for Penal Reform, which Davies described as the "NUT of the justice system".

"When will the secretary of state get back his mojo and actually put the victims of crime at the heart of what he is doing?" Davies asked.

Gove, however, quickly retaliated.

"I am not sure that MPs on the Opposite [Labour] benches would agree I've become a sandal-wearing muesli-munching vegan vaguester. I think they would probably say I'm the same red in tooth-and-claw blue Tory I have always been," he told Davies.

"It's because I am a Conservative I believe in the rule of law as the foundation stone of our civilisation.

"It's because I'm a Conservative I believe that evil must be punished. But it's also because I'm a Conservative and a Christian that I believe in redemption.

"The purpose of our prison system is to keep people safe by making people better."

Gove was given the role of justice secretary after the 2015 general election and handed the task of repealing the human rights act in favour of a British bill of rights  one of the most controversial aspects of the Conservative manifesto.

However since May, Gove has been less controversial than in his previous role of education secretary. He has reversed a number of unpopular policies of his predecessor Chris Grayling, much to the delight of campaigners.

He has abandoned Grayling's ban on prisoners receiving books and also scrapped the criminal courts charge. He has also ditched a ministry of justice contract that would have meant the UK government was involved in construction of Saudi Arabian prisons.

His latest rebuke to the right of his party will only delight campaigners further.
Of mice and men: How archaeology confirms a Bible story

Question: What links a great English poet, a small clay cylinder and a plague of mice?

The answer is Sennacherib  and the story is fascinating.

Sennacherib was the king of Assyria from 705-681 BC. His reign was dominated by a long struggle with Babylon, officially part of the Assyrian Empire but continually struggling for independence. But he also fought a campaign against the Kingdom of Judah under King Hezekiah, and thanks to the biblical record and Sennacherib's own archives  found on clay tablets in his city of Nineveh  we know quite a lot about it.

The Bible tells the story in 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chronicles 32 and Isaiah 36-37. The stories agree in their essentials, and paint a picture of Jerusalem reduced to desperate straits. Sennacherib had overthrown the northern kingdom of Israel and extorted a huge tribute from Hezekiah. By his own account he captured 46 fortified cities and various other small communities. He says he took more than 200,000 people captive  a devastating blow when a country's wealth was measured in the number of bodies it had available to till its fields.

While Sennacherib remained at Lachish, around 25 miles away, Jerusalem was besieged, with the populace on the verge of starvation. In 2 Kings 18 the Assyrian field commander calls contemptuously on Hezekiah to surrender. Morale in the city is so low that Hezekiah's officers ask him to speak in Aramaic rather than Hebrew, so that the people won't understand his threats (he refuses).

But rather than surrendering, Hezekiah prays. Isaiah, the court prophet, stiffens his spine with a promise that God will intervene. Sennacherib hears news that he is under attack from Egypt and makes plans to withdraw. Before he can do so, however, we're told: "That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning  there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there (2 Kings 19: 35-36). In 2 Chronicles 32:21 it says that God "sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king". Sennacherib returned home and was assassinated in the temple by one of his own sons  possibly crushed under the statue of a huge winged bull.

So, what about the small clay cylinder? That's the Taylor Prism, now housed in the British Museum. It was discovered, wonderfully preserved, among the ruins of ancient Nineveh by Colonel Taylor in 1830. Only 38 cm high and 14 cm wide, it describes Sennacherib's campaigns against Judah, recording that he "shut him up like caged bird" in Jerusalem.

The English poet is George Gordon, better known as Lord Byron. He wrote a remarkably vivid and stirring poem called The Destruction of Sennacherib based on this story. It begins:

"The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,

And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;

And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,

When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee."

The deaths of the Assyrian host are described like this:

"For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,

And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;

And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,

And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!"

Byron's poem concludes:

"And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail,

And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal;

And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword,

Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord!"

Lastly, what about the plague of mice? This part of the story isn't found either in the Bible or in Sennacherib's records. But the Greek historian Herodotus records that he attempted to invade Egypt (and he would have gone by way of Judah) but was frustrated "at the gates of Egypt" by a plague of mice, who ate the bowstrings and quivers of his army. Scholars think that this may be a garbled memory of what happened outside Jerusalem and that the "angel of death" may have been a plague carried by rodents that wiped out his forces.

The Bible isn't just poetry and wise teaching. It's history too, and sometimes this history is confirmed from outside its pages. Through it all, we learn of God's eternal care for his people.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
Ofsted chief backs ban on face veils in schools

Ofsted inspectors can downgrade schools for allowing staff and pupils to wear a face veil if it is a "barrier from learning", its chief inspector has announced.

Sir Michael Wilshaw has written to all inspectors instructing them to mark down institutions "if they judge the wearing of the veil is acting as a barrier to learning and to positive social interaction".

Under the new policy, schools will be judged "inadequate" if wearing a face veil on the part of pupils or staff is seen to be "hindering communication and effective teaching".

The Ofsted chief said he was concerned some heads were "coming under pressure" to relax a ban on veils. He said he wanted to reassure schools which ban or restrict veils they "can rely on my full backing for the stance they are taking".

"I am determined to ensure that discrimination, including on the grounds of gender, has no place in our classrooms," Wilshaw said in a statement.

"We want our schools, whether faith schools or non-faith schools, to prepare their pupils equally for life in 21st century Britain. We need to be confident our children's education and future prospects are not being harmed in any way."

The announcement came after the education secretary Nicky Morgan said it was up to schools to decide on uniform policies. However Ofsted's policy, which seemed to go further than Morgan's comments last week, received "full support" from the department for education.

A spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain said "accommodation" was needed over wearing the veil.

"It is a shame that the niqab - the full face veil that a minority of Muslim women wear - has become a polarising issue when it need not be."

Dr Sheik Howjat Ramzy, director of Iqra Institute in Oxford and former head of an Islamic school, went further and said the move was "unjust" and "picking on Muslims in particular".

"I believe he's totally wrong and this is totally unjust. Ofsted is picking on faith schools, specially Muslim schools. There is nothing wrong with wearing the head veil," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"Not many pupils wear the veil. The veil doesn't make pupils intelligent or not. It gives them their identity and some security. Pupils have the right to wear the veil if they go to Islamic schools. That is no problem."

Ofsted's latest controversial announcement comes amid an ongoing debate over whether it should be allowed to inspect out-of-school educational settings. A new policy from the education department would allow inspectors into any institution educating children for more than 6-8 hours a week.

However many MPs and church leaders have expressed concern this would mean churches and youth groups could face Ofsted inspections.
Pope Francis seeks Protestant forgiveness for past persecution

Pope Francis asked Protestants and other Christian Churches for forgiveness for past persecution by Catholics as the Vatican announced on Monday he would visit Sweden later in the year to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Speaking at an annual vespers service in St Paul's Basilica in Rome attended by representatives of other Churches, he asked "forgiveness for the un-gospel like behaviour by Catholics towards Christians of other Churches". He also asked Catholics to forgive those who had persecuted them.

The Vatican announced that on October 31 Francis would go to the southern Swedish city of Lund, where the Lutheran World Federation was founded in 1947, for a joint service with Lutherans to launch Reformation commemorations that will continue throughout the world next year.

Martin Luther, a German, is credited with starting the Protestant Reformation in 1517 with writing 95 theses  said to have been nailed to a church door in Wittenberg  criticising the CatholicChurch for selling forgiveness from sins for money.

It led to a violent, often political schism throughout Europe and Christianity, prompting among other things the 30 Years' War, the destruction of English monasteries, and the burning of numerous "heretics" on both sides.

Catholic traditionalists have accused Francis of making too many concessions to Lutherans, particularly in a common liturgy that both Churches will use during the 2017 commemorations.

They say the Common Prayer document, which will be used during the pope's visit to Lund, excessively praises Luther, who was condemned as a heretic and excommunicated.

Francis, however, has made dialogue with other Churches and faiths one of the hallmarks of his papacy.

He has already visited the Lutheran church of Rome, the Waldensian protestant community in northern Italy, and Rome's synagogue. This year he is due to become the first pope to visit the Italian capital's mosque.

While his predecessors have visited Protestant churches, Francis has come under criticism from traditionalists who accuse him of sending confusing signals about inter-faith relations.

They have also contested guidelines issued this month for the shared liturgy.

"The Reformation and Martin Luther are repeatedly extolled, while the Counter-Reformation and the Popes and Saints of the 16th century are passed over in total silence," the traditionalist blog Rorate Caeli said.

Theological dialogue between Roman Catholic and Lutherans began in the late 1960s after the Second Vatican Council. But Catholics and Lutherans are still officially not allowed to take communion at each other's services.

When he visited Rome's Lutheran church last year, traditionalists attacked Francis for appearing to suggest in answer to a question that a Lutheran woman married to a Catholic man could decide for herself if she could take communion in her husband's church.
Pope meets Iranian president, asks him to help stop Middle East terrorism

Pope Francis has met with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in a private audience at the Vatican.

Rouhani is on a four-day visit to Italy and France aimed at building diplomatic and commercial relationships.

The visit follows the enactment of a historic nuclear deal which saw Iran demolishing much of its capacity to produce weapons-grade nuclear material in return for a lifting of the sanctions that have crippled its growth.

The meeting at the Vatican was the first between a Pontiff and an Iranian leader since 1999. It lasted for around 40 minutes.

According to the Catholic News Service it concluded with the Pope saying: "I thank you very much for this visit. I have high hopes in peace."

In response, President Rouhani asked Francis to pray for him and wished him well.

A statement by the Vatican said the two discussed Iran's role in finding political solutions to the strife in the Middle East and stopping the spread of terrorism.

Pope Francis also raised the question of the "promotion of human dignity and freedom of religion".

In an earlier speech, Rouhani quoted the Qur'an, saying that "the church, the synagogue and the mosque must live side by side". He added: "It lists them in that order  with the church first and the mosque last. This is no coincidence."

Rouhani gave the Pope a book of reproductions by painter Mahmoud Farshchian and a rug made in the Shi'ite holy city of Qom.

In return, the Pope gave him a copy of his encyclical on the environment and a medal showing St Martin using his cape to cover a poor man. Francis described this as a "sign of brotherhood".
Record-shattering star explosion stuns scientists; supernova said to be 570 billion times brighter than the sun

We may not have noticed it on Earth, but in space, an extremely powerful explosion recently took place that has left scientists stunned.

In study published last Jan. 15 in the journal Science, space researchers reported having spotted from across the universe a record-shattering supernova or star explosion that is 570 billion times brighter than the sun.

The massive supernova, officially named ASASSN-15lh and given the catchy nickname "Assassin," was reported to have released energy 200 times more than the normal stellar explosion and emitted brightness twice that of the previous record-holder.

Because of its sheer intensity, the stellar explosionfirst observed in June 2015 by twin telescopes in Cerro Tololo, Chilewas classified under the category of "superluminous supernovae."

Subo Dong, an astronomer from the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University in China, said this massive supernova has broken all existing records.

"ASASSN-15lh is the most powerful supernova discovered in human history," Dong said in an interview with National Geographic.

Dong explained that it would take some 90 billion years for our own sun to match the energy produced by the record-breaking supernova.

So why was the "Assassin" this powerful? Its discoverers believe that this is because of the fact that it was born of an extremely massive starmore massive than what had been thought possible.

After the star's violent explosion and death, it left behind a highly magnetised, rapidly spinning neutron star, which is incredibly spread 10 miles across the universe.

Although the "Assassin" produced so much energy and brightness, it will not have an effect on Earth, since the stellar explosion took place billions of light years away from our planet.

Nevertheless, space enthusiasts can turn their attention to another supernova remnant in the constellation Taurus that can easily be spotted at this time of year by just using simple binoculars and telescopes.

This supernova remnant, the Crab nebula or Messier 1, is visible in the evening southern sky for observers in temperate northern latitudes.

The Crab nebulla, named as such because it resembles a ghostly crab, is located 6,000 lights-years from the sun. It is a remnant of a supernova that took place a millennium ago.
Seeking Pakistan nukes? Saudi Arabia says it will do whatever it takes to protect its security against Iran

Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir has shunned questions on whether the Kingdom was trying to purchase nuclear weapons from Pakistan, and instead warned of the threats posed by Iran after the latter regained billions of dollars worth of frozen assets as a result of the nuclear deal with the United States and other powers.

In an interview with CNN, Al-Jubeir said he cannot publicly speak about the rumoured Saudi attempt to purchase nuclear weapons but stressed that Saudi Arabia will do whatever measures are necessary to protect its security.

"I am not going to get into details of discussions we have with foreign governments, and certainly not allied governments. I'm sure you understand. I would not discuss these things in a public forum, certainly not on television,'' he told CNN.

"Saudi Arabia is committed to two things. I always say two things, we do not negotiate over our faith and our security. Saudi Arabia will do whatever it takes in order to protect our nation and our people from any harm. And I will leave it at that," Al-Jubeir said.

The remarks came a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned both countries against indulging in trade of nuclear weapons, saying there will be "all kinds of NPT consequences" if Riyadh went ahead with any such plan.

Kerry issued the warning amid media reports that Saudi Arabia is trying to buy nuclear weapons from Pakistan. Top Pakistani leaders have in recent weeks warned Iran of serious consequences if it attacked Saudi Arabia, which many analysts see as a nuclear threat from Islamabad to Tehran.

"I discussed the bilateral relationship with Pakistan, which is a strategic one. We discussed the regional situation. We discussed ways to promote security and stability in the region. We discussed the negative and aggressive Iranian interference and the affairs of the region," Al-Jubeir said.

He said Iran should stop interfering in the affairs of other regional countries, adding that many countries are now concerned over Iran's getting billions of dollars as a result of the deal.

"I think most countries in the world are concerned that Iran will use these funds in order to fund its nefarious activities rather than use them to develop its country and improve the living standards of its people. I hope I'm wrong," he said.

"Iran should cease to support terrorism. Iran should cease to assassinate diplomats and blow up embassies. Iran should cease to support militias whose objective is to destabilise countries in the region. Iran should cease its policy of negative propaganda in the region. Other than that, things should be fine with Iran.''

He then berated Tehran for reportedly harbouring the leadership of Al-Qaeda, including one of Osama bin Laden's sons. He said the country "has been aggressive and has demonstrated no inhibitions in using terrorism."

Al-Jubeir also lashed out at Iran for allegedly providing and recruiting troops in a sectarian war in Syria that has allowed Bashar al-Assad to murder more than 250,000 of his people and to render 12 million of them refugees or displaced persons.
'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' season 8 episode 13: NeNe Leakes arrives in Jamaica

This week on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," Kim Fields tried to get the other ladies to embrace their natural beauty by inviting them to a makeup-free brunch. But not everyone was onboard as some of the ladies came with a full face of makeup, and Kenya Moore took offense at the invite, saying that she is a grown woman who doesn't need to be told what to look like.

For her Beatless Brunch, Kim went all out and sent an audiobook as an invitation to the ladies to celebrate "where the canvas is when it's a little more blank." A few of the ladies were hesitant to go without some makeup, so Kandi Burruss, Phaedra Parks, and Cynthia Bailey came with a much toned-down version of their everyday looks. Sheree Whitfield gamely went bare-faced, but Porsha Williams and Kenya both wore a full-face of makeup.

At brunch, Kenya decided to confront Kim about the invitation because she doesn't need to be told what to look like, but Kim appeared to pay no attention to her complaints.

On her blog, Kim shared what was running through her mind during brunch. She started by saying that she was happy that they all showed up because when one does something different, "you really don't know what to expect."

"Second, 'beatless' was a theme, not a mandatory requirement," she continued. Kim added that the only thing that was on her mind is ensuring that her guests have a good time.

Next week, the drama between Kenya and Kim continues as the two argue over Cynthia's commercial shoot in Jamaica. Cynthia made the two co-directors of a TV spot for her sunglass line, and the two are refusing to work together. Meanwhile, NeNe Leakes surprises the other ladies when she arrives unannounced in Jamaica.

In the midseason trailer of the show, the ladies are having dinner when NeNe shows up with her husband. Everyone seemed shock at her arrival and NeNe tells the camera that the ladies should "pick their faces off the floor."

"NeNe goin' to be always around now," said NeNe. "And she never leavin'. Never!"

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Bravo.
UN Secretary-General says religion should be a bridge, not a wedge, in Middle East

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for religion to be a bridge between people, rather than a wedge, at a conference focussing on religious minorities and their rights in Muslim countries.

During the conference entitled "The Rights of Religious Minorities in predominantly Muslim Lands: Legal Framework and A Call To Action", Ki-moon emphasised that "inter-faith dialogue is necessary and urgent", according to the Shanghai Daily.

"Religious leaders have responsibility to help heal differences in their communities. There are no quick remedies, and solutions will have to come from within," he said.

Over three hundred Islamic scholars and government ministers of religion from Muslim-majority nations  including Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Iran  are expected to be attending the forum. Organisers hope to issue a declaration promoting the Charter of Medina, which was issued by the Prophet Muhammad in 622 AD. It ensured the protection of religious minorities, including Christians, which is deeply rooted in traditional Islamic law.

Ki-moon drew the conference's attention to the rich history in the Middle East of tolerance and co-existence, highlighting that the violent extremism present today undermines the social make-up of the region.

He said the UN would continue to support the effort to counter and end cycles of violence and discrimination through initiatives such as the Alliance of Civilizations and the Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.

The conference, which is running from the 24-27 January, is hosted by the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies alongside the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Why is the idea of women worshiping at the Western Wall significant?

The Israeli government is set to hold a historic vote on Sunday, regarding whether to allow men and women to pray together at the Western Wall. Almost three years after the idea was first raised, a plan has developed to create a space where both men and women can pray together at the holiest of Jewish sites.

This might not sound like huge news in itself; you may be aware that both men and women are allowed to pray at the Wall, just not together. However, there are significant implications for the Western Wall and those who oversee it if the proposal goes through.

Currently, prayer services at the wall are supervised by the ultra-Orthodox Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which does not tolerate women singing in public. This does not sit well with Conservative and Reformed Jews who wish to pray there as they see fit.

So what actually is the Western Wall?

The Western Wall, or the Kotel as it is known in Hebrew, is the holiest site for the Jewish faith. It is the largest remaining section of the wall that surrounded the Second Temple, which was destroyed in 70 AD.

Why is it significant?

Unlike in Christianity, whose followers believe that God's presence  the Holy Spirit  dwells inside believers, according to the Jewish faith the presence of God dwells in particular places. In Jewish tradition, the Holy of Holies was the innermost area of the ancient Temple, where the presence of God himself dwelt, and it contained the Ark of the Covenant, symbolising Israel's relationship with God as his chosen people.

The Holy of Holies was destroyed in 70 AD along with the Temple and the Western Wall is the remnant closest to where it used to be, making it a pilgrimage point for Jews living in diaspora..

OK, so it's important. But why do they need an egalitarian space for prayer? Isn't there a women's section already?

Yes. Good knowledge. There's a partition in the plaza in front of the Wall so that women and men are able to pray separately, in accordance with Orthodox Jewish tradition.

On any day of the week you will hear boisterous public services and songs on the men's side of the partition. Faint whisperings are usually all that can be heard from the female side, however, as women not allowed to sing in public according to Orthodox ruling.

So, yes, women are allowed to pray at the Western Wall, but their actions are prohibited. They are not able to pray and worship freely.

Who is fighting for men and women to pray together?

The two main alternatives to Orthodox Judaism, Conservative and Reformed Judaism, both seek to change the way that women are restricted at the Wall. They do not agree with the Orthodox position on women remaining silent during worship.

The fight so far has been pioneered by The Women of the Wall (WOW), a group set up over 25 years ago with the sole purpose of changing "the status-quo that is currently preventing women from being able to pray freely at the Western Wall". They hope to secure women's ability to sing, read the Torah aloud, and wear religious garments such as the tallit, tefillin and kippah.

They have fought for this by various means, including holding monthly prayer services on Rosh Chodesh, donning religious garb and carrying the Torah. Their first meetings in the 1980s were met with violence, as protesters threw chairs and tear gas at worshippers. But their campaign has had significant successes; in May 2013 a judge ruled that WOW prayer gatherings were not illegal, and the first service held after this ruling was attended by 400 people. In 2014, members became the first women to light menorahs at the Western Wall and then in April last year, some read from a full-size Torah at the site for the first time. (Torahs are usually stored in the men's section, which is not open to women, but a number of men smuggled them over).

The Women of the Wall have agreed they would move their monthly service to the egalitarian prayer space. This was not accepted by all members of the movement, though, and some have subsequently split off to form a splinter group. However, the mainstream Women of the Wall have sought to work with the change which is promoting the egalitarian treatment of worshipers.

How likely is it that a unisex prayer space will actually happen?

A source close to the proceedings told Haaretz that the probability of the legislation passing was about 50/50, while another observed that "whatever happens, there is clearly a lot of goodwill on all sides."

There are a number of logistical issues remaining, such as what size the egalitarian prayer space should be. Also up for debate is the control of the "upper plaza", which is an area of the site that is not currently part of a prayer section. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, who looks after the Western Wall, is yet to accept the upper plaza as a national site. If he were to, military ceremonies involving both men and women would be held there.

If the vote goes through on Sunday, it will change the face of the holiest site in Judaism. It will mark a significant shift toward egalitarianism in Israel, opening up the Western Wall to non-Orthodox Jewish tradition, and pointing towards a cross-denominational tolerance.
Women bishops one year on: Why it's still a cause for celebration

A year ago today I was on the early morning train up from London to York for what turned out to be a momentous day. I spotted a number of clergy, decked out in their full garb, and two women vicars sat across from me, giggling the whole way. The excitement was palpable: this was what we'd been waiting for. (And not just because Adrian Chiles called me "yet another under-dressed Christian woman" live on the radio. I wasn't wearing a coat.)

The consecration of the Church of England's first woman bishop Libby Lane at York Minster was magnificent. Even the shouting dissent of Rev Paul Williamson, a lone protester who stepped forward declaring, "No. Not in my name. Not in the Bible," when the congregation was asked to assent did not succeed in altering the mood. His voice was drowned out by a resounding chorus of those in support. And perhaps rightly, he served as a timely reminder that there remain people in the Church who hold to the traditional belief of male-only ordained roles.

As the day went on, celebrations continued. TV stations and broadcasters flocked to the scene, and hundreds of people milled around the Cathedral, wanting to be a part of it. Men and women embraced, and more than a few tears were shed.

Since Lane's consecration, seven more women bishops have been appointed; two of them  Bishops Rachel Treweek and Christine Hardman  to sit in the House of Lords as Lords Spiritual, and more will be fast-tracked in under government legislation. It's been a remarkable year. Yet in an interview with the Independent last weekend, Lane said: "One of the most moving things about this extraordinary year is how ordinary it has been."

The appointment of women bishops is "the new normal," she added. "The Church has moved so quickly... the appointment of women bishops is [now] as expected as the appointment of men."

This, surely, is something worth celebrating. That men and women are now given the opportunity to flourish freely in the Church, and follow God's calling into consecrated leadership. That the Church has finally aligned itself with the model Jesus offered in valuing people fully, regardless of gender. That  just as the first people to report Christ's resurrection were women  so too, now, can women proclaim freely from the pulpit that Christ is risen, and he welcomes and equips all.

And what is perhaps even more exciting, are the opportunities this new season will offer to young women throughout the Church of England and beyond. Lane and her fellow women bishops are a sign that all are invited to partner with God, and to bring their gifts to the table.

"If a young woman thinks her choices are limited, lifts her eyes and thinks, 'Perhaps I can do something extraordinary,'," Lane says, "that's a good day."
In addition to pursuing federal and corporate funds to save an imperiled John Biggers mural, Blue Triange Multi-Cultural Association leaders have embraced the 21st century way of raising dollars fast: They've created a GoFundMe page.

Lucy Bremond, who coordinates a group of community center supporters called the Blue Triangle Friends, set up the site  https://www.gofundme.com/BlueTriangleCC  on Saturday.

The 1953 indoor mural, "Contribution of Negro Women to American Life and Education," is endangered by a leaky ceiling at the Third Ward community center.

The page, which states a $205,000 goal (the price for a roof replacement), had not collected any funds as of early Tuesday morning. The site features a photo of Biggers standing in front of the mural. Potential donors had been directed to the organization's web site since last week's Chronicle story reported the dilemma about the prized painting.

The mural is "incredibly stable," according to Museum of Fine Arts, Houston curator Alison de Lima Greene, who examined the work on Monday.

Biggers, who died in 2001, was the longtime chairman of the art department at Texas Southern University. Considered one of the most important black American artists of the 20th century, he taught, influenced and mentored next-generation Houston muralists including Bert Samples, Jesse Sifuentes and Harvey Johnson.

Since Blue Triangle acquired the community center in 2000, its shoestring budget has enabled it only to patch the roof,, said Charlotte Kelly Bryant, the association's founding president and current executive director.

Waterproofing of 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.

In addition to the Go Fund Me page, contributions via PayPal can be made by visiting www.the-bluetriangle.org and clicking the DONATE button.

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January 21, 2016 | Beloved painting by Houston muralist in peril



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Police are searching for a man who apparently snatched merchandise from a pharmacy early Tuesday morning when he hid inside the store as workers closed and locked up the business in west Houston.

The apparent burglary occurred about 1 a.m. at a CVS store on Westheimer near Yorktown, said Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department.
The 10 U.S. Navy sailors held by Iran will face a reintegration program at their home base that will last longer than the time they spent in confinement.

The sailors, assigned to a squadron in San Diego, were taken into custody at gunpoint on Jan. 12 and spent about 16 hours in detention before their release. They returned over the weekend to their home base.
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Workers had lots of cleanup to do Tuesday morning after suspects rammed a pickup into a convenience store and snatched an automated teller machine from a business in southwest Houston.

The smash-and-grab burglary occurred about 3 a.m. at the Quik Food Store at 5402 Birdwood near Braesmont, according to the Houston Police Department.
Dear Abby:

I just read the letter from "Expecting in Canada" (Sept. 8) and am disappointed in her daughters' reaction to her pregnancy, as were you.

My own mother announced she was pregnant with my baby brother when she was 42 and my sister and I were in college. Now, 46 years later, I can say he is one of the best things that ever happened to our family. He took great care of both my parents as they grew older and was with them when each passed away. My sister and I are very close to him, even though we nicknamed him "the crown prince" and teased him because that's how my parents treated him.

I hope "Expecting's" daughters will eventually embrace this great gift. If they don't, they may miss out on a wonderful experience and a lot of love.

Elder Sister of the Crown Prince

Dear Elder Sister:

Thank you for your letter. Readers wrote to share their personal experiences as you did. Most agreed that having a child with older parents and siblings can be a life-changing event. Read on:

Dear Abby:

When I was a junior in high school, my mother told me she was pregnant. I was disgusted and angry, and I told her so. As I reflect back on it, I'm mortified that I could be so cruel. After giving it more thought, I realized I was annoyed to think my parents were sexual beings.

Teenagers that age are just coming to terms with their own sexuality. They can also be somewhat selfish and self-absorbed. While it may be a family matter to some extent, it really is between the mother and father.

My little brother is very close to me now and, more important, close to my children, who are nearer in age to him. I hope that mother won't let the temporary opinion of the daughters ruin a beautiful experience of a shared love.

Cheryl in California

Dear Abby:

"Expecting" should ask her daughters to be a part of the baby's life, such as going to doctor's appointments, picking out clothes, decorating the room, giving name suggestions and having them participate in a baby shower.

Stephanie in Illinois

Dear Abby:

When my mother was 42, my baby brother was born. I was 17 when I became his nanny and learned how to take care of a baby. It was an experience that made me more mature. After I married, I was never able to have my own children.

Please don't listen to your daughters. I know what it's like. Perhaps they are jealous that they have to share their parents. My mom and dad were the oldest parents at PTA meetings, graduations, etc., but they were proud of my younger brother. Many times people thought they were the grandparents. We shared many laughs during those years.

Eileen in West Virginia

DearAbby.comDear AbbyP.O. Box 69440Los Angeles, CA 90069Universal Press Syndicate
Saint Death or Sante Muerte, the cult religion followed by millions can be found almost anywhere in the Americas. For 14 years people have publicly celebrated their devotion to this skeletal figure when before this reverence was only done in the shadows.

While Santa Muerte is worshiped by people involved in narco gangs it's not just something that criminals are in to.
The co-founder of Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Ben Cohen, is feeling the Bern -- in Cohen's case, "the Churn" -- to help Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

Cohen has come up with a new flavor of ice cream, called "Bernie's Yearning," tweeting: "A new Bernie Sanders ice cream was born."

"Nothing is so unstoppable as a flavor whose time has finally come #Feel the Bern@Bernie's Yearning," Cohen wrote on Facebook.

The ice cream is not for mass distribution, but only for a select few. The Sanders campaign has set up a contest for some lucky supporter to win 40 pints."

Nothing is so unstoppable as a flavor whose time has finally come #FeelTheBern #BerniesYearning: http://ow.ly/Xv3o1 Posted by Yo Ben Cohen on Monday, January 25, 2016

Bernie's Yearning consists of a milk chocolate disk covering the top of a plain mint ice cream. It is, Cohen told MSNBC, designed to show that "the huge majority of economic gains that have gone to the top 1% since the Great Recession."

Ben & Jerry's was long ago sold by its founders to Unilever, leaving Ben Cohen time for activism.

He brought much-appreciated ice cream to demonstrators at Occupy Wall Street in Manhattan's financial district.

Cohen came West in 2013 to campaign for a Washington ballot initiative to require labeling of genetically modified foods and seeds. He set up shop at north Lake Union, gave out literature and free ice cream, and made other stops around the state.

It was a delicious antidote to the huge corporate-funded, money-laundering campaign that the Grocery Manufacturers Association and Montsanto were mounting against the initiative. (They barely beat it, but Attorney General Bob Ferguson has sued the association over setting up a front group and concealing the names of its big donors.)

With Bernie Sanders, however, federal campaign finance laws came into play . . . rules easily evaded by SuperPACS but applicable to citizen campaigners.

The Sanders campaign had to supply the ingredients, supplies and services to make Bernie's Yearning.

Cohen and co-founder Jerry Greenfield cannot give more than $2,700 directly to Sanders, but their labors are unrestricted. Hence, "Bernie's Yearning" was churned up in Cohen's kitchen.

Unilever is keeping a distance from the enterprise, tweeting to Politico: "This was created by Ben as a citizen. The company is not involved."

The packaging reflects a corporation keeping things at arm's length. Instead of "Vermont's Finest," it says "Vermont's Finest Senator."

The pints say "Ben's Best" instead of Ben & Jerry's.

The test of "Bernie's Yearning" is likely to be the candidate's reaction. The 74-year-old Sanders is a super-serious, somewhat grumpy guy notoriously impatient with any distraction from his message.

Will the namesake ice cream bring a goofy grin to his face?
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The fields and open spaces of the Johnson Space Center stretch toward the horizon in the view from the six-story tower at the new Independence Plaza exhibit at Space Center Houston, while a 159-ton Boeing 747 lies below.

On Saturday, the center opened the attraction, which showcases the 747 with a replica space shuttle on top - a testament to the NASA shuttle program's roots at the Johnson Space Center.

"You're not going to find this anywhere in the world," said Space Center Houston President and CEO Richard Allen. "It's iconic."

The opening of the exhibit culminates four years of efforts.

An exposed section of the 747's interior is lime-green, with concave metal beams and supports.

The section shows the jet's original hull, space center officials said. Up a narrow spiral staircase, the cockpit sits behind a barrier, displaying an array of dials, gauges and levers. Engineers have said that the plane itself is in great condition and capable of making flights.

The best way to pass through the exhibit is from the top down, said exhibits manager Paul Spana. Elevators and stairs can take visitors up six stories, where they can enter the replica space shuttle.

Informational displays and exhibits, including binoculars and an American flag used during missions, line the edges of the cargo bay. Visitors can explore the kind of cramped quarters where astronauts would have lived for weeks.

Going downstairs to the 747, visitors can walk the length of the plane. There are interactive exhibits on wind tunnels and a quiz designed by a NASA psychologist that determines the best career match at Johnson Space Center for visitors.

One of its main features is a model 747 housed in a glass case. The model is the same one that NASA engineer John Kiker used to prove his theory that a plane could in fact carry the space shuttle.

Space Center Houston first received the replica shuttle in 2012 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and was gearing up to open that as an attraction when it received the 747 from the Johnson Space Center, Spana said.

The decision not to award Houston a real space shuttle irked many area residents. Actual space shuttles are on display at the Kennedy Space Center; the California Science Center in Los Angeles; a Smithsonian museum in northern Virginia, outside Washington; and at a museum in New York City.

But Allen said visitors would never be able to go inside a real orbiter as they can inside the replica.

It wasn't until 2014 that Space Center Houston was able to dismantle the 747, transport it and set the shuttle on top. Since then, construction has drawn the curiosity of visitors.

"When I first heard about it, I just said that's world-class," said Frank Marlow, a retired NASA pilot who flew the 747 space shuttle carriers.

Space Center Houston hit close to 1 million visitors in 2015, the highest number in its history, Allen said.

According to a study by University of Houston-Clear Lake economics professors, Space Center Houston generated $73 million in "business activity for the greater Houston area that resulted from Space Center Houston operations," said economics professor Jason Murasko.

Administrators hope the new exhibit will boost those numbers further.

To learn more about Space Center Houston's new exhibit, check the website: spacecenter.org/independence/
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Upon walking in, you're greeted by a brown, 20-year-old African spurred tortoise named Merton trudging past the door and eventually maneuvering his way around a large cage of chinchillas.

Birds chirp in the background, a bright yellow snake unfurls behind glass barriers and a 2-foot iguana scales the outside of its cage to the top.

For Clear Creek ISD students, Merton and the rest of the animals in Seabrook Intermediate's Living Materials Center are an integral part of their science studies. Students volunteer their mornings or evenings to help out there; while teachers can bring the animals to their respective campuses for an excursion to the classroom.

The center was so significant to two sixth-graders seven years ago that they started a fundraiser to benefit the center.

Since then, their annual Walk on the Wild Side 5K has grown into a districtwide community event, and attendance has nearly tripled.

The two boys, now seniors at Clear Falls High School, are Mitch Gaines and Connor Turley.

"It's grown so much. More people involved has meant less work for us," said Gaines, a lanky 17-year-old youth with thin-framed black glasses who sported a baby blue "Walk on the Wild Side" shirt as he visited Seabrook Intermediate a few days before last weekend's event. "We could just be off on the sidelines during all the action."

Sunday's walk at Taylor Lake Village Park, 500 Kirby Drive near Seabrook, raised more than $3,000 for the center.

Tasked with coming up with a community service project when they attended the school, Gaines and Turley, 17, focused on how to raise money for the center, which houses more than 60 species of animals from around the world. In six years, their walk has provided more than $20,000 for items like new habitats, heat lamps and toys for the animals.

"We already worked (there); so it seemed sensible," Gaines said as he petted a ferret named Jerry.

The boys pitched the idea of a family fun walk and tapped into the Seabrook National Junior Honor Society and the Science Magnet Program to help develop the event. Although their mothers helped with the heavy lifting early on - setting up meetings, paying any fees and driving them around - the boys became the primary organizers.

Now they are now preparing to hand the event off to new organizers for its eighth installment next year. District officials have narrowed their list of potential successors to a mother-son duo.

When she arrived three years ago, Heather Green, the science manager at the center, said she was flabbergasted to see that two kids had orchestrated something so meaningful to the district. She said their dedication to helping the center over the years is what stands out most about them.

"The animals mean everything to these students, they really look at them as friends," she said. "We're able to do amazing things with the money Connor and Mitch have raised."

"It just seemed cool to help," said Turley, who works as paid staff at the center four days a week helping feed the animals and corral any that may try to escape.

"It's an awesome feeling to see how the event's grown," said Turley, who wore a burnt-orange Texas Longhorns T-shirt. "It's cool to support something you love."

Anne Smith, the center's elementary science coordinator, calls the walk a "treasured resource" for the center, which also serves high school students.

"We're so proud of what they've done," she said of Gaines and Turley. "The walk has blossomed into a wonderful annual event."

The boys said organizing the event over the years has taught them better communication and planning skills. Gaines recalls the earliest years of the event when attendance hovered around 80 to 90. Now, the walk attracts up to 250.

While neither has decided where they'll attend college next fall, Gaines is considering studying engineering in Massachusetts. Turley hopes to get into the University of Texas-Austin and said he's considering a field where he can continue to work with animals. The teens joke about returning next year as participants.

Still, Turley admitted he's sad this chapter in his life has closed.

"We've been doing this for so long, you know," he said. "It's sort of like a tradition is ending."
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The trolley will go clang, clang, clang when the musical "Meet Me in St. Louis" comes to the stage next month at Cypress Woods High School.

Highlights of the Feb. 4-6 production will include 18-year-old senior Ashlyn Maddox's performance of her favorite song in the show, "You Are For Loving," and a huge finale set at the 1904 World's Fair.

"There are big sets, big lights and big sound," said stage manager Blake Elliott, 17, who is also a senior.

The 1989 Broadway show is based on the 1944 MGM musical that starred Judy Garland as Esther Smith and introduced the songs "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "The Trolley Song" and the title tune, among others.

More Information Want to go? What: "Meet Me in St. Louis" Where: Cypress Woods High School, 13550 Woods-Spillane Blvd., Cypress When: 7 p.m. Feb. 4-6, 2 p.m. Feb. 6 Tickets: $10 mezzanine, $15 orchestra Information: 281-213-1800, showtix4u.com See More Collapse

The stage show was nominated for four Tony Awards, including best musical, score (Hugh Martin and Ralph Blame), book (Hugh Wheeler) and choreography.

The Cy Woods production is less about Esther than the movie classic, said Maddox, and more about her eight-member family. Members include Esther's parents, three sisters, one brother and a grandfather. They are played by Nick Ables, Samuel Hackett, Rose Hayden, Cameron Hill, Robbie Littlefield, Delaney Smith and Saylor Swick.

"The show focuses on them as a family, but it's a huge company, with a lot of people involved in big song-and-dance numbers," said Maddox, whose parents are James and Kelli Maddox of Northlake Forest.

Among the ensemble are members of the school's drill team, the Cy Woods Crimson Cadettes, said Holly Knott, the school's assistant theater arts director.

"They fill in as members of the community while singing and taking part in all major dance numbers," said Knott, who assists director Toby Drake, who is the school's theater arts director.

Knott also serves as a musical director on the show along with choir director Jason Womack.

Among other faculty members involved are technical theater director and set designer Marc Duncan, choreographers Lauren Reilly and Ashtyn Burttschell, and orchestra conductor Victoria Campion.

Cody Eggleston portrays Esther's love interest, John Truitt, the boy next door.

Other cast members are Kaylyn Atkinson as the Smith family's cook and housemaid, Katie, and Jax Collum as Rose's love interest, along with Dalvin Davis, Madison Friedhoff, Jeremiah Nigh, Gabriel Qulies, Hunter Schwartz, Christian Spiers, Savannah Stamps and Grace Womack.

"Meet Me in St. Louis" will be entered in the 14th annual Tommy Tune Awards, a program that's sponsored by Theatre Under the Stars in Houston.

Students who are involved in the production at Cy Woods are eligible to apply for scholarships that TUTS will present to top applicants who plan to pursue a theater-related major in college.

Maddox hopes to major in musical theater, while Elliott, whose parents are Chad and Rene Satterfield of Staplewood Farms, will seek a bachelor of science in stage management at the University of Evansville in Indiana.

Scholarship recipients will be announced along with winners in 15 categories, such as best ensemble/chorus, in a Tony Awards-style ceremony April 19 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston.
As debate over same-sex marriage strains international bonds of the Anglican Communion, Fort Bend County Episcopal churches find themselves in limbo.

Reflecting a dilemma faced by other congregations in the county, the Rev. Stephen Whaley of All Saints Episcopal Church in Stafford says his 120-member parish worries about the dispute between the international Anglican community and its branch based in the United States, the more liberal Episcopal Church.

His parish and those of other local priests are part of both the international Anglican Communion as well as the Episcopal Church.

"We share the same rituals and the same structure and the same worship," Whaley said of the worldwide Anglican Communion. "We're pretty good at wrestling with these issues without vilifying each other."

But, he added, "There already has been division. Only time will tell how all of that will unfold."

The Episcopal Church welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals to worship. It consecrated its first openly gay bishop in 2003, and, in 2015, at its national convention held every three years, approved trial liturgies for same-sex marriage ceremonies.

Most Anglican branches in other countries condemn homosexual relationships and define marriage as between a man and a woman.

After more than a decade of tensions, archbishops in the Anglican Communion limited the Episcopal Church's involvement in the international community for the next three years.

"The international community would prefer that we slow down," Whaley said, a sentiment that his congregation shares.

Members wonder what will happen at the Episcopal Church's general convention in 2018, when the trial liturgy used to conduct same-sex marriages could be approved for permanent use.

Whaley thinks that could alter the relationship between the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion even more, and should there be a split, he's not sure what his church would do.

The Episcopal Church is divided into dioceses, including six in Texas. The diocese allows its 153 parishes to choose whether to conduct same-sex marriages. Only about half a dozen now do, said Carol Barnwell, diocesan communication director.

Both Whaley's parish and that of Rev. Scott Thompson - Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Sugar Land - have opted not to.

Despite this, Thompson said that leaving the Episcopal Church because of an issue like same-sex marriage is out of the question. But it hasn't always been at Holy Cross, which has slightly more than 200 members.

About 10 years ago, before Thompson became rector, Holy Cross' priest and a third of its congregation left because of the Episcopal Church's liberal stance on gay marriage, nearly ending the parish's existence, Thompson said.

"Most people who wanted to leave have pretty much left," Thompson said.

The rest are willing to stick out the next three years of the Episcopal Church's limited involvement in the international community.

Despite his loyalty to both the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, Thompson said, "I haven't got a clue" about what will happen after that.

As Whaley and Thompson await the 2018 national convention, they've focused on their local ministries, from weekly church services to outreach, ranging from offering services to incarcerated individuals to providing meals and shelter for needy children and families.

As the 2018 General Convention nears, Whaley said his congregation will make their thoughts known to their bishop, and the delegation from their diocese who will attend.

Though Whaley joked there would have to be divine intervention for him or members of his parish to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies, he said loyalty to the Episcopal Church is an integral part of his faith.

It's also important to Rev. Bert Baetz, the rector at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Richmond, which has several hundred members.

"I follow the direction of my bishop," he said, and in the future, "we will continue to look to our bishop and follow his lead."
As Tomball's population continues to boom, so does the need to diversify housing options in the city.

That need has driven The Harris County Housing Authority, in partnership with The ITEX Group, LLC, to begin construction on a new retirement community in Tomball.

The Retreat at Westlock, under construction at 24055 Tomball Parkway, will have 140 units. It is expected to be complete in 12 to 15 months, depending on the weather, said Horace Allison, executive director of the Harris County Housing Authority.

The three-story, 166,762-square-foot community is available to residents 65 and over, whose income is 30 percent to 60 percent of the median income in the area.

More Information More details The Retreat at Westlock is under construction at 24055 Tomball Parkway and is expected to be complete in 12 to 15 months. Rent prices will range from $390 to $936 per month. See More Collapse

The Harris County Housing Authority expects the community to fill up fast.

"Whenever we have developed other senior property the response has be overwhelming, in that all of our senior properties end up with a waiting list of residents desiring to gain admission because of the location, quality, security, management, operation and amenities provided," Allison said.

The Retreat at Westlock will offer one- and two- bedrooms units, with rent prices ranging from $390 to $936 a month.

The Harris County Housing Authority is not yet taking applications. The agency will begin taking applications once construction is closer to completion.

The Housing Authority expects the number of seniors living in the area and the need to continue to rise over the next decade.

"As current homeowners age in place and as younger homeowners' parents begin to age, we believe both segments will be looking for quality affordable housing in their immediate area of residency," Allison said. "The senior population is growing nationally as improved health and medical care advancements allow increased longevity."

While there is not onsite healthcare at the Retreat at Westlock, the community works with various providers in the area to offer services to the residents based on their qualifications and needs, Allison said.

Opening of the 6.7-mile, $73 million Tomball Tollway and construction of the Grand Parkway, coupled with the business growth in the area, including nearby campuses of Exxon Mobil Corp., Baker Hughes, Southwestern Energy and Noble Energy, has meant a population boom for the region.

And with mobility improvements and further business growth, new housing developments are continuing to sprout in the Tomball region.

The Retreat at Westlock is adding to the growth of multi-family housing communities in Tomball.

The number of apartments in the Tomball area has doubled in the last two years, said Bruce McClenny, president of Apartment Data Services in Houston, which analyzes apartment trends throughout the region.

There are 5,127 units in the area now, compared with 2,500 a year ago, he said.

The growth has helped fill a void of multi-family housing in the area, McClenny said.

In the last year, there have been about 1,300 apartment units added in Tomball at four communities, McClenny said.
Near the meandering waterway and amid high-end bars and restaurants is a chic art space that's bringing fine arts to The Woodlands.

Glade Gallery, which opened in December, features internationally renowned figurative artists in its intimate showroom next door to the popular Hubbell and Hudson Bistro.

On display is the show "The H'art of Doru Nuta," which features paintings and sculptures from the prolific Romanian artist Doru Nuta that have never been on display before.

"Figurative art is timeless. There's universality about it," said Dragos Tapu, who opened Glade Gallery.

More Information Want to go? What: Glade Gallery, featuring "The H'art of Doru Nuta" When: Thursdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; exhibit runs through March Where: 24 Waterway Ave. Online: gladegallery.com See More Collapse

Tapu and his curatorial assistant, Julia Fisher, worked with Nuta for two years commissioning the work before finally bringing the pieces together in The Woodlands.

Nuta's work features traditional figurative imagery, like the female nude, alongside modern portraits, like that of tattooed and pierced woman with rocker blue hair on a rich, deep red background titled "Ich Bin Eine Berlinerin." Like many classically-trained figurative artists, Nuta works with live models, and each painting includes bits of his muses' own stories.

Robert Rosenthal, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the Boston Children's Hospital who was visiting family in The Woodlands, appreciated the nuances in expressions and gestures of each piece.

"I think the artist's facial and body expressions are quite distinctive. I think he has a great feel for the head, face and neck. He respects the body very much. I'm an orthopedic surgeon, so I appreciate the work that he puts into it," Rosenthal said. "His respect for precision is quite remarkable."

Glade Gallery is unique in Montgomery County. Although a handful of art galleries exist in the area, none exclusively feature figurative art or strictly work with professional artists with international reputations. Glade Gallery hopes to feature two to three solo shows a year in its space in The Woodlands. The gallery is expected to serve as an educational tool for residents and Houston-area artists alike as well as a way to sell fine art to collectors.

"As a gallerist, you have two hats: as a dealer and as an educator. The very reason that I wanted to open a gallery is because I felt the lack of such a place here, and (fine art) is a part of our existence and education as people," Tapu said.

Although oil commodity prices have dipped, causing companies to make cuts, consolidate or shutter, Tapu doesn't consider the art on display at Glade Gallery as "home decor," rather it is an investment. London-based global auction house Sotheby's, which rakes in almost half of all global art auction sales, had an aggregate of about $5.6 billion in sales for 2015, even amid global financial turmoil and energy market uncertainties. Although it was a drop from its record-breaking year in 2014, when it raked in $6.1 billion, 2015 was still better than previous years.

"It's an investment, not a home decoration. Typically when there's an oil downturn, art investment goes up," Tapu said. "They collect for the enjoyment of their lives and also to pass down to their children."

Glade Gallery may not be a Sotheby's - the retail value of Nuta's dozen or so works on display is $600,000 - but Tapu hopes to tap into a global arts market and bring that to potential investors in The Woodlands.
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Sheriff's deputies arrested 40 people in a major bust of an alleged Texas cockfighting ring they say was run by a major cocaine distributor in the area.

The bust was made during a raid shortly before noon Jan. 23 on a home south of Midland, according to the Midland Reporter-Telegram.

There, officers recovered 30 live roosters, several dead birds, 46 ounces of cocaine, guns and about $32,000. Also found were rooster cages, as well as sharpened razor blades, or "gaffs," that are tied to roosters' feet to make their fights more brutal.

James Durbin

Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter told the Reporter-Telegram that the alleged cockfighting ring was being operated by the homeowner, Lionel Garcia, 35, of Midland, whose wife owns the house.

Take a look at this: Cockfighting continues in underground rings in Texas and the U.S.

Painter called Garcia "a heavy cocaine distributor," according to the Reporter-Telegram, and said he and his wife charged spectators $20-$100 to watch cockfights and participants as much as $1,000 to enter four roosters into the fights. They also sold beer to spectators and were "known to have cocaine and large amounts of money at the cockfights," according to court records.

Midland County Sheriffs Office

Agencies participating in the bust included the Midland County Sheriff's Office, Ector County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Read the full story on the Midland Reporter-Telegram: Cockfighting event hosted by 'heavy cocaine distributor'
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A 24-year-old Austin man previously convicted of sexual assault of a child faces charges of having sex with an underage boy he met at a LGBTQ+ group.

Ever Jose Medrano has been charged with sexual assault of a child, according to a Travis County arrest affidavit.

Medrano was first placed on the Texas Department of Public Safety's registry of sex offenders in 2010 for aggravated sexual assault of a child.

RELATED: Neighbors defend Austin-area piano teacher accused of inappropriately touching 2 girls under 10

Austin police officers responded to a sex crimes call on Nov. 3 during which the alleged victim told police that he and Medrano had carried on a consensual relationship after meeting at Out Youth, according to a Jan. 22 arrest affidavit.

The alleged victim told police on Nov. 10 that he met Medrano when he was 14 years old. Medrano was 20 at the time, he told investigators.

The relationship turned sexual after a game of "truth or dare" in December 2012, according to the affidavit.

Medrano and the teenager then had multiple sexual encounters between December 2012 and January 2014, the teen told police.

RELATED: Ex-South Texas teacher who had sex with 17-year-old student sues him for filming encounter

The 24-year-old initially denied having a sexual relationship with the alleged victim during a Dec. 18 interview with police.

However, Medrano told police that he would stay at the teenager's house overnight, sleep in his room, brother's room or on the couch.

According to the affidavit, Medrano told police he did not have sexual contact with the alleged victim during that time but did say there was some "spooning."

Medrano later told police that he had engaged in sexual activity with the victim once he had turned 17 years old, the legal age of consent in Texas.

RELATED: NEISD elementary teacher arrested on aggravated sexual assault of a child charge

According to its website, Out Youth is an organization that "serves the Central Texas LGBTQ+ (lesbian/gay/bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning) youth and their allies with programs and services to ensure these promising young people develop into happy, healthy, successful adults."

Out Youth told news station KEYE TV: "The person mentioned in the affidavit was never an employee or volunteer at Out Youth. Nor did the alleged incident occur on Out Youth property. Because there is a pending investigation, Out Youth is unable to comment further on the situation."

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports
A man attacked a prosecutor after he was just convicted on a child molestation charge in an Alamogordo, N.M., courtroom, Albuquerque's KRQE-TV reports.

Michael Cox, 31, was charged and later found guilty of fondling an underage girl. Upon hearing that verdict, Cox charged Deputy District Attorney Scot Key, pushing him to the ground.
Neck-and-neck

This race could hardly get more riveting. Six days before the Iowa vote, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are basically tied for the lead. And party leaders can't decide: Do they invest in a desperate attempt to boost the fledgling moderate Republican candidates, or do they choose between the two candidates who've aligned themselves squarely against Washington D.C., and who are largely seen as unlikely to beat the Democratic nominee.

There's no good answer.

But Republican leaders are reading a new Quinnipiac University poll with dismay. It shows Trump and Cruz with backing by 31 percent and 29 percent of likely Republican voters, respectively  a wide lead over the rest of the pack.

In a New Hampshire poll, Trump took 33 percent to Cruz's 14 percent, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich took 12 percent.

In a national CNN/ORC poll released Tuesday, Trump clocked an impressive 41 percent support of likely Republican voters, with two thirds of those polled predicting he wins the nomination. Cruz took 19 percent, and no other Republican candidate broke double digits.

Upping attacks

Both leading Republicans have shown signs of anxiety. In Iowa Monday, Cruz told a group of pastors that if Trump won the Hawkeye State "he could be unstoppable and be our nominee."

Also Monday, a pro-Cruz super PAC launched a $2.5 million campaign with attack ads against Trump. That represented one of the first major moves of Cruz's various backing PACs, which lay relatively dormant for months, even after raising almost $40 million in the first half of 2015.

Now those PACs could be driven to spend by a restless suspense, as the potential for a Cruz victory looms. When the committees formed, there was wide consensus among party officials and political pundits that Cruz stood little chance of mounting a significant campaign. Now his backers stand a plausible, if still very difficult, chance of actually putting him in the White House.

Trump, who rode a similar rise to the top, is continuing his attacks on Cruz, accusing the Texas senator Tuesday morning of "just saying lie after lie."

Forced to choose

The Trump-Cruz dynamic leaves party leaders confounded. They'll have to decide between the two of them, but they don't want either to win. Both candidates built a platform on trashing the leadership of even conservative politics.

Even before his presidential run, Cruz annoyed most of the Senate with his audacity as a freshman. Months into his first ever elected position, he broadly criticized some of the assembly's most senior Republican members. As a presidential candidate, he pledges to overturn the hypocrisy and entrenched interests of the Republican establishment.

It's safe to say that Cruz will outwardly admonish against support from the party powers, but he's also sure to lose if that support falls behind his opponent.

Trump, however, isn't a friend to the party either. He often touts lines like, "our politicians are stupid."

As tensions build, The New York Times reports that a big turnout is expected in the Iowa caucuses next Monday.
THE LEAD: Grand jury clears Planned Parenthood, indicts two anti-abortion activists, by the Chronicles Brian Rosenthal.

The Harris County grand jury indicted David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, both of California, on charges of tampering with a governmental record, a second-degree felony with a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison. It also charged Daleiden, the leader of the videographers, with the same misdemeanor he had alleged  the purchase or sale of human organs, presumably because he had offered to buy in an attempt to provoke Planned Parenthood employees into saying they would sell.

-- REAL TALK: This is the first win for PP in Texas in a very long time, even as so many questions are still stuck in court. But if the responses Monday by Ken Paxton, Dan Patrick and Greg Abbott show us anything, its that the long-term effort to shut down PP has allies in Austin that will make a Harris County grand jury look very, very small by comparison.

Welcome to Tuesday, Takers. Jeb Bush will be at a Houston fundraiser today as GOP establishment fears of a Trump or Cruz nomination grow. What do you think will happen? Email me at bobby.cervantes@chron.com or tweet me @BobbyCervantes.

-- TODAY: Chancellors from Texas' six public university systems are expected to make an appearance at a legislative hearing this week that will tackle campus carry and open carry. UT System Chancellor Bill McRaven, Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp, and their counterparts at Texas Tech, the University of Houston, North Texas and Texas State have been invited to testify at a Tuesday meeting of the Senate Committee on State Affairs, reports the Chronicles Lauren McGaughy.

-- Texas conservatives reassessing the Republican Party, by the Chronicles Mike Ward. Similar sentiments are not hard to find in surrounding communities, from Taylor, an east-county farming center, to Pflugerville and Round Rock, urbanized bedroom communities near Austin, in a week when Trump garnered the highly-coveted endorsement of conservative GOP icon Sarah Palin.

And while plenty of Cruz campaign signs hint at his support in the county, political observers say Trump has helped trigger another trend: Conservative voters are reassessing just what it means to be a Republican in this presidential election year, a trend that could trickle down to voting in state and local races.

-- Perry surprises with Cruz endorsement, but heres what it means now, by the Chronicles Mike Ward. In New Hampshire, where Cruz faces a similarly tough political fight with real estate mogul and frontrunner Donald Trump, observers watching the runup to that state's Feb. 9 Republican primary predict Perry's support will have less impact, despite the longtime Texas governor's well-known campaigning skills. 

Perry was reported to be en route to Iowa and could not be reached Monday for comment, though former top aides described him as relishing the opportunity to campaign for Cruz in Iowa and to try to keep Trump from winning.

-- Garcia is playing offense in bid to unseat Green in CD-29, by the Chronicles Rebecca Elliott. Months after mounting a passive, ultimately unsuccessful Houston mayoral campaign, Adrian Garcia has swiftly taken on the role of attack dog in his bid to oust longtime U.S. Rep. Gene Green from the 29th District in the Democratic primary.  Political observers said Garcia's about-face reflects lessons learned from his recent loss and the nature of a quick primary challenge.

-- MALDEF files lawsuit challenging immigrant harboring law, by the Chronicles Kelsey Bradshaw. House Bill 11, written by state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, and passed last year, states that penalties for human smuggling would be increased and that the number of Texas Department of Public Safety officers on the border would go up as well. MALDEF is challenging the bill, saying it creates a new felony offense of immigrant harboring in which people can be arrested for giving shelter to undocumented immigrants.

THE CALENDAR

-- SENATE:

9:00 a.m.  State Affairs (Senate Chamber)

10:00 a.m.  Business and Commerce (E1.012)

1:00 p.m.  Finance (E1.036)

-- HOUSE:

10:00 a.m.  Culture, Recreation & Tourism (E2.010)

SPEED READ

Texas Take: Perry backs Cruz, but not before speaking his mind, Houston Chronicle

Clinton campaign just hired its first Texas staffer, Houston Chronicle

Tomlinson: Routine volatility returns to the markets, Houston Chronicle

Cornyn a peacemaker as GOP rift on criminal justice widens, Austin American-Statesman

Adler offers new measure dropping fingerprint mandate for Uber, Lyft, Austin American-Statesman

The Interview: Annise Parker, The Texas Observer

Who are Rubios top five Texas donors? The Dallas Morning News

Bush to attend fundraiser in Houston Tuesday, The Dallas Morning News

Cruz ad hits Trump on New York Values in Iowa, Houston Chronicle

Rubio: Cruz, who once defended Chinese company, cant be tough on China, The Dallas Morning News

A Clinton-Castro ticket gets put to an early test, Los Angeles Times

As Bloomberg weighs WH run, Iowa votes ask, Who? Associated Press

Obama bans solitary confinement for juveniles in fed prisons, Associated Press

Obama to focus on expanding access to retirement accounts, Associated Press

As Popes trip to border nears, Catholics wonder what his message will be, Texas Tribune

QUOTE TO NOTE

It entails walking across the street and handing these papers to the clerk. I feel confident I can accomplish that task.

-- Ted Cruz recalled responding to a top lawyer for George W. Bushs presidential campaign in 2000 who wanted the now-senator to take some papers to a federal district court. READ: Before rise as outsider, Cruz played inside role in 2000 recount, by the NYTs Matt Flegenheimer.

RACE TO 2016

-- NEW:  The Iowa Republican Caucus is a two-man race going down to the wire with Donald Trump at 31 percent and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at 29 percent among likely Republican Caucus participants, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is at 13 percent, with no other candidate above 7 percent. MORE.

-- Cruz, Clinton call for calmer talk ahead of Iowa contest, by APs Josh Lederman and Catherine Lucey. Campaigning at a pizza place, Cruz passed up an opportunity to take a swipe at Donald Trump, who has been hitting Cruz as the Texas senator has climbed in the polls. Until recently, Trump and Cruz had avoided direct confrontation on the campaign trail, but Trump's description of his opponent as a "nasty guy" seemed to invite a response. 

Clinton, campaigning before a Jewish organization in Des Moines, said she hoped for a cooling off of some of the heated rhetoric in the presidential campaign. Without singling out any candidate or party, she said politicians should be "under some level of scrutiny for what they say."

-- Ted Cruz, under siege in Iowa, tries to play underdog, by The Washington Posts Philip Rucker and Robert Costa. Still, a loss in Iowa  the state where Cruz has campaigned the most and where the GOPs deeply conservative base seems a natural fit  would call into question the depth of his coalition. Also at stake is the credibility of his vaunted data and field operation, which in Iowa is believed to be more sophisticated than any other Republicans.

-- As Donald Trump and Ted Cruz soar, GOP leaders exasperation grows, by The New York Times Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns. The establishment candidates and their allies have spent approximately $35 million attacking one another, and there is no sign that they plan to relent anytime soon. A super PAC supporting Mr. Bush is targeting Mr. Rubio on the air in Iowa and New Hampshire for reversing himself on an immigration overhaul. And late last week, the same group began broadcasting a commercial in New Hampshire assailing Mr. Kasich for expanding health care in Ohio under the Affordable Care Act.
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.
For the past few weeks, liberals have sought to blame Republican governor Rick Snyder for the lead contamination plaguing Flint, Michigans municipal water supply. In office since 2011, Snyder has publicly expressed concern, declared an emergency, activated the National Guard to help distribute bottled water, filters, and test kits, and asked the state legislature for $28 million in emergency funding to address the situation. But some on the left are demanding a villain, and ritual vilification. Thus, in her closing statement at the last presidential debate, Hillary Clinton expressed outrage (and urged every single American to be similarly outraged) at Snyders supposed indifference to the plight of Flint residents, even suggesting, risibly, that the governor would have handled the matter differently if the residents were affluent and white instead of poor in many ways and majority African-American. Bernie Sanders went further and called on Snyder to resign.

This is nonsense, and all the caterwauling is simply the Lefts standard narrative in matters of municipal mismanagement. The essential facts are undisputed. While waiting for a new, long-planned pipeline to Lake Huron to be completed, in 2014 Flint began using the Flint Riverpreviously used for short periods as a backupas the primary water source for city residents. Though the river water itself was not tainted, without proper treatment it was corrosive enough to leach lead and other heavy metals from Flints aging pipes, which caused residents to be exposed to high lead levels. Remarkably, this contamination went undetected for 18 months. Some children in Flint exposed during that time have tested positive for lead, a potent neurotoxin. The city has now switched back to the previous (safe) water source, and state officials are conducting testing and distributing filters, but beleaguered Flint residents understandably remain alarmedand uncertain of who to blame.

The fact is, Flint is an urban wastelandcrime-ridden, impoverished, brokebecause it is and for decades has been run by incompetent (and in some cases corrupt) politicians who have betrayed their unfortunate constituents. Clinton, Rachel Maddow, Salon.com, and Michael Mooreall of whom have been heaping blame on Snydershould instead be criticizing the inept local elected officials who ran Flint into the ground over a decade ago. Formerly a vibrant automotive hub flush with high-paying union jobs, Flint has been in economic freefall since the late 1980s. Thats when excessive labor costs and burdensome work rules negotiated by the United Auto Workers led General Motors to relocate production facilities, causing massive layoffs from which Flint never recovered. GM employment in the city fell from a 1978 high of 80,000 to less than 8,000 by 2010.

GMs departure was accompanied by urban decay, rampant crime (Flints per-capita violent-crime rate is seven times the national average), unemployment, poverty, and white flight. Flint has shed half its population since peaking at around 200,000 in the 1960s. About 40 percent of Flint residents live below the poverty line. Due to a shrinking tax base and undisciplined spending (especially on bloated city payrolls and lavish pensions for city employees), by 2002 Flint had accrued $30 million in debt, triggering the first in a series of state-imposed financial emergencies.

During this period of de facto financial receivership, Flint didnt maintain its infrastructure (including water mains) adequately, andstrangelyfailed to plan for its own supply of potable water. For nearly 50 years, Flint had gotten its water from the Detroit Water and Sewage Department, even though Detroit is about 75 miles away. While that source was safe and reliable, the rates Detroit charged were high and continued to increase. As a cost-saving matter, in March 2013 Flints all-Democratic mayor and city council voted 7-1 to obtain the citys water from another source (Lake Huron), upon the completion of a pipeline expected to be ready in 2016. Detroitalso under a state-appointed emergency managerpromptly retaliated against Flint by announcing that it would discontinue providing water in the spring of 2014. City officials now argue about who is responsible for the decision to use the Flint River as the substitute water source and for failing to install a commonly used corrosion-control system to prevent the leaching.

The mayor and city council who presided over this debacle are attempting to shift responsibility to the emergency manager, Darnell Earley (himself a Democrat), and to Governor Snyder for appointing him. Clearly, the decision to use the Flint River as the primary water source without appropriate testing and treatment was a mistake. Even worse was the failure to detect the problem for 18 months. Numerous officialsfederal, state, and localhave resigned in the wake of the lead-contamination discovery, including regional EPA head Susan Hedman, the head of Flints water-treatment plant, and top officials at the state environmental agency (whose workers are represented by SEIU Local 517).

As a matter of municipal governance, however, providing services such as public safety, roads, sewers, and clean water are local, not state (let alone federal) responsibilities. If Flints mayor and city council failed to discharge their responsibilities in a prudent and competent manner, they should be held solely accountable for that dereliction. For local officials to blame an emergency manager (appointed due to their own mismanagement) for not avoiding an error they caused is like the proverbial son who murdered his parents and then threw himself on the mercy of the court, seeking leniency on the grounds that he is an orphan.

The apogee of silliness over Flints tainted water, however, is the suggestion that Republican presidential candidates personally help distribute bottled water in Flint, raise funds to help affected residents, and take similar actions to demonstrate their compassion towardor solidarity withthe residents of Flint. It is past time for the residents of failed cities to recognize the cause of the maladies that afflict them, vote out incompetent officials, and accept responsibility for self-government. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once described state and local governments as laboratories of democracy, where citizens may try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country. Experimentation is good, but it is essential to assign responsibility for public policy mistakes. Otherwise, we lose the lesson of the experiment, and were doomed to repeat it. In Flint and other failed cities, the results of the experiment are clear. Profligacy, mendacity, and negligence produce poor resultsincluding, ultimately, misery and danger. Flintlike Detroitis a case in point.

Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
Women in Online Work  program pentru femeile care isi doresc sa munceasca in companii internationale, de la biroul de acasa
No one will say it out loud but violence, not refugees, is what the press is usually covering in Calais, France, the newest front in Europes ongoing refugee crisis.

Earlier this month, authorities in the English Channel port announced plans to begin bulldozing a migrant camp, called the Jungle, where between 4,000 and 6,000 people have lived for the past year. But instead of a confrontation, residents of the camp complied with police warnings to abandon a small section of the Jungles edge, moving elsewhere in the shantytown. When the bulldozers arrived last week, backed by a phalanx of riot police, only five or six journalists and a handful of local volunteers were there to meet them. Without a showdown, there was no story.

But wasnt the media missing something? Across the continent in Greece, the refugees are covered as victims of a humanitarian crisis. In Calais, the same groups are often covered as one side of a violent conflict between dangerous foreigners, local residents, and French police.

The Jungle, located on a former landfill barely a mile from the English Channel, has become a stopover point for thousands of refugees, most of them young men from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Sudan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran, who are trying to make their way to England after crossing the Mediterranean on leaky boats and boarding packed trains from eastern Europe.

Most have family in England or speak English, and believe their job prospects and chance of obtaining asylum will be better there than in France. To cross the channel, they typically sneak into the backs of cargo trucks, which often stop in traffic before entering the underwater tunnel to England. The camps are a place to live while waiting, and serve as a staging area for the nightly crossings.

As the crisis grew this month, coverage of the refugee trails western end has split along the same lines as Europes debate over migration. Coverage of the migrants has often portrayed the camp as crime-ridden and the people living there as dangerous. At the same time, some stories have started to depict the Jungle and a second camp in nearby Dunkirk, both run largely by the refugees themselves, as examples of their self-sufficiency, and exhibit A in the case for relaxing migration laws.

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Earlier this month, the UKs Independent newspaper opted to look at the self-sufficiency argument in a long opinion piece by actor Joylon Rubinstein. There are over 70 restaurants and cafes in the Jungle, countless small shops selling toothpaste, toilet paper and chocolate. There are two churches, three mosques, a theatre, a library, and a womens centre, the story argued.

On the other side, breitbart.com, which is far less sympathetic to the migrant case, posted a video that captured a Dutch journalist being mugged at knifepoint in the Jungle, and accused volunteers and NGOs working at the camp of downplaying the incident. On Sunday, the Daily Mail ran a first-person account by Maaike Engels, one of the two reporters attacked. The film evoked a wild array of responses from both sides of the immigration debate, she wrote. We were accused of being Right-wing, pro-Muslim Lefties, rank incompetents and even hoaxers.

A divergence in coverage between a right-wing American website, a conservative UK content farm, and a centrist newspaper is predictable. But the parallel, contradictory stories emerging from the camps mirror the political debate over migration in Europe, where growing right wing movements call the refugees threats to safety and jobs, while supporters of liberal settlement policies claim immigrants benefit European cultures and businesses. At its most extreme, the coverage has grown partisan enough to misrepresent key facts. A couple of days after the attack on the Dutch journalists, Breitbart posted a story about Calais with video of refugees burning some abandoned tents, using the unverified imagery to claim, inaccurately, that the camp had burned down.

Even when both sides get their facts right, the reporting from Calais paints a confusing picture of whats happening on the ground. Last week, Vice published a photo essay from the smaller Dunkirk settlement, where winter rains and freezing temperatures threatened the lives of at least 2,000 people camping in a flooded field, including dozens of school-age children, most from Kurdish families. The wrenching photos of the Dunkirk camp, termed even worse than the Jungle, suggested an acute human rights crisis being ignored barely an hour from London.

At the same time, Agence France Presss photo blog published a story from the Jungle showing a far less desperate situation. There were shots of refugees participating in the camps lively evening social scene involving two dollar plates of Tandoori chicken, 50-cent cups of spiced tea, and plates of Afghan flatbread hawked by enterprising migrants.

So what, exactly, is the story in Calais?

Theres this fascination with the terrible conditions in the Jungle, says London-based photographer Shannon Jensen, who has covered Calais for Time and The Washington Post.

Just the fact that theres mud and theres trash, even to the people living there, thats not the big deal, she says. Coverage of conditions in the camps has overshadowed the more important story of the migrants nightly attempts to sneak into England. Every night [theyre] going out thinking, This night could change my life. I could be killed, or I could make it, or I could come back dejected again. She says shes been surprised by how few reporters have made the short walk to the nearby border fence, or accompanied migrants on an attempted crossing. I think its crazy, because thats the obvious story to do. In October, Jensen joined a group attempting to sneak into a truck, and wrote a story on the death of Nawall al Jende, a 26-year-old woman from Daraa, Syria, who was struck by a car during the attempt.

If those stories arent being told more often, its not for lack of access. Residents of the Jungle have been willing to speak to the press, though some are suspicious of larger media outlets. A BBC crews effort to interview a young Afghan man who said hed been abused by riot police with tear gas came to naught after the young mans uncle cautioned him not to trust the British networks reporting on refugees.

This place, it is a very bad place, its true, says Khan Hamadzai, an Afghan resident of the Jungle. No one wants to be here of course. The police dont want us here, French dont want us, but they will not let us leave to England. Why? That is what I would like to know.

Its a good question, and not a bad storythe political fight over the fate of the people camped at the edge of the 26-mile-wide English Channel is an ongoing issue. At the Jungle, meanwhile, the near-nightly deployments of tear gas have become small media events, with reporters hanging around the camp at sundown inevitably trading information over the location of police vans, and weighing concern about being in the Jungle at night against a desire to catch a gassing on video.

Over the weekend, between 200 and 400 residents of the Jungle forced their way into Calais nearby ferry port and boarded a ship to England, causing police and ferry crews to respond with tear gas and water canons. French plans to close the Jungle by March are moving forward. More conflictsand more stories about themare likely in the coming weeks.

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For many, the decline in Washington reporting by local newspapers is another symptom of the crisis plaguing traditional media. Cuts to Washington bureaus have been met with alarm about the death of watchdog journalism, raising concerns that journalists might no longer patrol the halls of Congress, rooting out corruption and keeping local representatives on task.

As of 2014, 21 states had no local newspaper staff on Capitol Hill.* The number of regional and local newspaper journalists in Washington is down by almost a third since the late 1990s, according to a recent Pew report.

While the numbers themselves might prompt concern, regional reporters may not actually be doing the job we think theyre doingthey may not, in fact, be serving as watchdogs. Rather, some may have become cogs in the spin machine.

In fact, the Pew report should make us stop and think about whether and why DC correspondents from local newspapers really matter. The results suggest correspondents suffer from an in-the-Beltway mentality, and while journalists keep a close watch on Congress, they fail to connect the activities in Washington to local impact. Instead, DC correspondents focus on government and politicians rather than citizens.

There is much theoretical research in political communication and journalism studies that contends that watchdog journalists should root out corruption. There are many glorious tales of journalists doing just thatsuch as the often-cited example of The San Diego Union-Tribunes 2006 Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of then-Congressman Randy Duke Cunninghamoften followed by the sad note that the newspaper has no Washington correspondent anymore.

The reality is that there has been little empirical data attesting to the effectiveness of journalists in Washington and their impact on local communities, and actually, little data that connects Washington reporting to actual civic engagement outcomes, like voting.

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Journalists, meanwhile, defend their work. Regional reporters are a proud bunch; there arent many left, and most view their jobs as conferring a weighty responsibilityafter all, they are often the only people in Washington covering the federal government for their local communities. They also see themselves as having a special role in doing substantive enterprise work, even though Pew finds little evidence of much enterprise at all.

In an interview with CJR, Omaha World-Herald Washington correspondent Joseph Morton explained what he sees as his mission: We are here to tell our readers what their elected officials are doing as well as just more generally what is going on in the federal government and how it affects them. He cited his take on the recent $305 billion highway bill and how it might affect Iowa and Nebraska.

But at least according to one quantitative measure, they arent doing such a good job. DC reporters for regional outlets stay focused on Congress, but often not in a way that connects the news back to citizens, with only 34 percent of stories framing the impact around citizens, according to the Pew study. Journalists cover Congress over half the time, with federal agencies receiving attention only 20 percent of the time.

The report itself is matter-of-fact, but a scolding is implied:

Here, the data suggest that D.C.-based reporters, as they closely track the ins and outs of Congress, tend to present the news in a way thats more likely to stay focused inward on Washington, rather than connecting the dots to the local communities that are served by the paper.

The regional journalism findings were drawn from a content analysis of eight newspapers around the country, four with DC correspondents and four without them. While just a snapshot, they meet strong social science standards and can reasonably be seen as indicative of the broader landscape.

Todd Gillman, the Dallas Morning News Washington bureau chief and president of the Regional Reporters Association, took issue with the results. I didnt understand why they framed [local impact] this way, he tells CJR.

There has been much scholarship bemoaning horse-race and personality-driven political reporting as being a poor guide for citizen action. University of Washington Professor W. Lance Bennett notes that this kind of work can undermine issue-based reporting that might provide more useful information to the electorate.

DC correspondents dont see it this way. Surprisingly, they make an argument that Beltway-focused coverage is actually advantageous and useful to local communitieseven if a personality-driven story might not say much about how a federal decision impacts readers back home.

Jessica Wehrman, a Washington correspondent for The Columbus Dispatch, explained how personality profiles that talk about the politician rather than his activities can help readers. On a basic level, its what is their lawmaker like, is he or she a backslapper, a deal maker, averse to the process of new laws? Its not just issues that voters need to know about, she says; coverage of personalities in Congress also matters because it gives voters an understanding of how those leaders govern.

Yet Pew notes: The heavy focus on Congress often carries through to an inside Washington lens. The report even quotes a number of journalists talking about getting sucked into the bubble of the Washington mentality, with a reporter from MinnPost describing his need for a reality check because his editor will remind him, nobody in Minnesota cares about that.

While Gillman, the Dallas Morning News bureau chief, says that some reporters get caught up in inside-the-Beltway jargon and gobbledygook, he argues that most are much more focused on finding ways to make our reporting relevant to those back home.

Pew associate research director Jesse Holcomb cautions that the findings certainly didnt speak for every single regional reporter or every single daily newspaper with a DC correspondent. But Pews work provides an impetus to ask these hard questions about what DC correspondents are and what value they bring. Some political scientists, like John Zaller of UCLA, argue that journalists shouldnt be covering mundane daily events, but should instead provide substantive coverage when there are real consequences for citizens, sounding a burglar alarm.

Of course, journalists and media critics argue there are intangible benefits to having boots on the ground, whereby journalists can keep an eye on Congress, but these advantages are much harder to quantify.

In fact, the Pew report offers what may be some of the first evidence that there is not much enterprise reporting coming out of Washington. For all types of journalists covering WashingtonDC-based staff of local newspapers, newspaper staff not in DC, wire service reporters, or other national media outlets (like broadcast or digital only)fewer than one in eight stories qualified as enterprise reporting using Pews metrics. Rather, about 80 percent of the stories were the result of something someone in government said or in response to something that government did.

While journalists report feeling stretched too thin, they also say there is still a place for enterpriseand perceive themselves as doing quite a bit of it. Editors still say they want enterprise stories. Cheryl Carpenter, the Washington bureau chief for McClatchy, argues that enterprise is a proud tradition for the newspaper chain.

What I can tell you about my job is that a very, very large [part], perhaps, the majority are enterprise weekend pieces, says Wehrman, the correspondent for The Columbus Dispatch and the Dayton Daily News. She gave the example of a story she had written on immigration hurdles for Ohio residents, including one whose husband had been deported and stranded in the Middle East for the past six years.

Theres a fundamental problem, though, with asking journalistsor anyoneto respond to critiques that question the work they do. And in social science, theres a methodological problem too, a self-report bias that makes it hard for people to accurately assess what they do as opposed to what they say they do.

Most observers of journalismand journalists toowould like to think that the work they do in Washington is making a difference. But there is little actual data that quantifies their impact. Not only do we need to know more about the work journalists are doing in DC if we are to justify their being there, we also need to ask hard questions about whether they are doing their jobs well rather than assuming that their sheer existence is some kind of normative good.

If we can answer these questions, well not only improve Washington reporting, but perhaps also make the case that it really does matterand even have some evidence to back it up.

*An earlier version of this story misstated the number of states with no local newspaper staff on Capitol Hill.

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Nikki Usher is an associate professor at The George Washington University in the School of Media and Public Affairs. She is the author of two books, Interactive Journalists: Hackers, Data, and Code and Making News at The New York Times.
Counting every raindrop or measuring every gust of wind is impossible, but New York is getting closer with a uniquely extensive statewide system of automated weather stations that should paint a dramatically clearer picture of developing storms.

Described as the new gold standard of automated systems, the long-planned network of 125 weather stations stretching from the shores of Lake Erie to the tip of Long Island is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Fourteen stations are already transmitting temperature, pressure and other data every five minutes. When all the stations are operating, forecasters, emergency officials and ordinary weather wonks will be able to get a fine-grained look  a million data points a day  that will hopefully lead to better predictions.

Thats the problem with the current network. There are serious gaps and so you cant see enough of the weather as its evolving, said Chris Thorncroft, chairman of the University at Albanys atmospheric and environmental sciences department.

Thorncroft is helping lead the development of the New York State Mesonet, which is being funded with a $23.6 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The new system will augment the 27 stations now used by federal forecasters.

People in New York will never be more than 25 miles from a station. The new system will also take in types of data that the current stations do not, such as soil temperature and moisture, and solar radiation. Each site even transmits pictures every five minutes.

Select data from the working stations is already being posted to the Web.

Slightly more than half the states have some kind of network of stations augmenting those the federal government relies on. But the dense and sophisticated network being built in New York will surpass the sophistication of the current gold standard system in Oklahoma, according to Curtis Marshall, the National Mesonet program manager.

Oklahoma Mesonet manager Chris Fiebrich said that states 120-station network, which dates to the early 90s, provided crucial information for public safety officials and meteorologists last year, the wettest in Oklahomas history.

Every season, at least, the Mesonet proves its value in just recording incredibly extreme weather, Fiebrich said.

Discussions about a New York Mesonet began in earnest after the Catskills were deluged by the remnants of Hurricane Irene in 2011, Thorncroft said. Record-setting rain had fallen in areas without a gauge, leading to delayed information, he said. A year later, Superstorm Sandy sent a surge into the New York City area and killed 53 people in the state.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been promoting the weather detection system since 2014, though not always in a welcoming way. The governor mentioned the coming forecast improvements that November as the Buffalo area dug out from a jaw-dropping 7 feet of snow. His claim that the weather service was off in its own snow forecast turned out to be fighting words to meteorologists who had spent days warning about a major storm.

Actually, the National Weather Service will take the data into their own system and use it for their own forecasts. Raymond OKeefe, meteorologist-in-charge at the services Albany bureau, said forecasters have already used data from the existing stations to check on whether local ground was frozen before a recent soaking rain as a way to forecast runoff. The attraction to OKeefe is simple: more data going into models, better data coming out.

Better observations, better predictions, better forecasts, better warnings, he said.

Utilities and other businesses wanting the data sent to them will pay a fee.

New Yorks Mesonet is temporarily housed in a sub-basement at the University at Albany until newer space is ready elsewhere around the campus. The automated stations will look pretty much the same, with 30-foot metal towers topped by wind sensors. Most are being built in open fields, though five New York City stations will be on rooftops. Some of the stations, mostly in the Adirondack Mountains and the adjacent Tug Hill Plateau, will measure snowfall.

Significantly, 17 stations will be able to measure conditions in the atmosphere miles above, a job done now on a much more limited basis now by weather balloons. Marshall, at the National Weather Service, said such vertical profiling is done in some other areas, but not in the systematic way New York is deploying them.

Thorncoft called the array of profilers a game changer, since they will provide much more real-time information about three-dimensional aspects of the atmosphere.

Knowing whats happening now will allow you to say something intelligent about the next few hours, he said.
General Motors Co. just watched the first big court case over an admitted deadly defect in its cars melt down as an Oklahoma postman who claimed GM ruined his life dropped his suit, accused of lying.

The case was the plaintiffs own pick  the first of six bellwether trials used in mass litigation to help each side weigh its strengths and weaknesses  and one of the biggest disasters for a high-profile personal injury action in recent memory.

We are pleased that the case is over without any payment whatsoever to the plaintiff, a GM spokesman, James Cain, said in a statement.

For GM, thats one down, hundreds to go.

Americas biggest automaker may have just blown the first plaintiffs out of court, but it still faces a fusillade of claims. Plaintiffs lawyers will have to be extra vigilant to avoid another devastating loss in court, and the second bellwether case, this one selected by GM, is well positioned to go the automakers way. Yet powerful claims remain over the engineering flaw in GMs ignition switches. The jury in each trial will hear details of a persons life being turned upside down, and how GM covered up the flaw for years to save cash.

Apparent Lies

Since the jury never got to weigh the postmans case on the merits of the faulty ignition switch itself, the failed litigation wont affect the remaining cases, said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Automotive Safety.

The purpose of these bellwether cases is to test the legal theories. The allegations that the plaintiffs lied had nothing to do with the merits, Ditlow said.

Robert Scheuer, the Oklahoma mail carrier at the center of this first, busted trial, will walk away empty-handed. He had claimed the defective switch in his 2003 Saturn Ion disabled his air bag in an accident that led to neck and back injuries. The case collapsed after GM found evidence undermining several claims. They included the nature of Scheuers injuries and his familys eviction from their dream house after the wreck, which they blamed on memory loss from the accident and a check they said Scheuer forgot to send.

The apparent lies the plaintiff and his wife told the jury ended the trial early, Cain said in the statement.

Victor Pribanic, a lawyer for the family of James Yingling, a 35-year-old man who died 17 days after his 2006 Saturn Ion crashed in Pennsylvania in November 2013, has the third case, set for trial in May in federal court in New York. Pribanic said its rare for clients to lie in court.

Ive been doing this for years, and I can count on one hand the number of people who would come into court and tell a fib, he said.

Whats a Win?

Yingling, a laborer who was opening up a used car lot at the time of his death, crashed into a culvert and a bank. The lawsuit claims the ignition switch failed, cutting off power, causing Yingling to lose control of the Saturn. His air bags didnt deploy, Pribanic said.

Fridays Scheuer meltdown wont have an effect on his case, Pribanic said. You have to spend time with your clients, and you need to know them, including any rust spots, Pribanic said. The Yingling trial will be focused on the accident and the death. In the Scheuer case, he said, the pursuit of an allegation that the plaintiffs lost a dream home because of the accident opened it up to the attack that destroyed it.

Calling this a win is a stretch, said plaintiffs attorney Derek Potts, who represents dozens of clients alleging personal injuries or deaths caused by GM ignition switch failures. A win would be a defense verdict. The case was dropped because of a collateral issue, Potts said.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman, who oversaw the Scheuer trial, had harsh words for the plaintiffs Thursday afternoon, when he granted GMs request to show jurors evidence that Scheuer and his wife, Lisa, had fabricated the story blaming GM for their eviction.

Plaintiffs have only themselves to blame for the fact that this case has become such an outlier, Furman said after sending jurors home for the day. Quite frankly, I would have thought counsel would do more due diligence before selecting this case for trial than obviously happened.

To have any trial end in such an unexpected and unfortunate way is disappointing, especially given the time and effort we put into getting ready, Scheuers attorney, Robert Hilliard, said Friday. There are legitimate concerns about the safety of this vehicle as a result of this defect. A jury needs to decide, and thats unrelated to a dream house issue. The next jury will have that opportunity.

Every Rock

Hilliard filed claims in federal court on behalf of hundreds of people, alleging injuries and deaths connected to the defective ignition switches. General Motors last year agreed to pay $275 million to settle nearly 1,400 of these. Only a handful of his cases were left pending, including Scheuers.

Plaintiffs lawyers now have to look more closely at clients who are going to trial, particularly those who are set as bellwethers, Potts said.

For all of us, this is a reminder of how important that process is. You have to be very careful, Potts said. Defendants will turn over every rock, look behind every tree to discredit the plaintiffs case, or the plaintiff, he said.

Thats just what GM intends to keep doing, Cain said.

We have assembled a legal team that is thorough, dogged and tireless in seeking the truth, and they are very skilled at resolving issues in a way that is fair and just to both sides, Cain said.

Look Out, GM

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said he assumes plaintiffs lawyers in the coming trials are preparing their cases as fully and carefully as possible because they need to win as many of the remaining cases as possible to move the MDL [multidistrict litigation] cases to settlement.

But unexpected damaging revelations can strike either side of a dispute, he said, including GM, which is in court over its own engineering failures.

These lawsuits against General Motors are the result of errors that took place on GMs part, which emerged over the course of many years and eventually became public information, said Larry Dubin, a professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. So it can happen to either side when theres a lack of investigation.

The case is Fleck v. General Motors LLC, 1:14-cv-08176, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
A federal court has ordered repayment of more than $1.6 million in claim money paid to an Alabama couples business after BPs 2010 Gulf Oil Spill.

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbiers order says the payment to Vision Design Management was nearly entirely based on fraud.

The ruling issued this week identifies Barbara J. Stokes and Scott B. Stokes as the owners of the corporation. Barbiers order grants a March 2015 motion for return of the money filed by the oil spill claims administrator, Patrick Juneau, and a court appointed master overseeing the claim process, Louis Freeh.

Barbara Stokes declined immediate comment when reached by telephone Thursday. In a letter to the court last year, she denied wrongdoing and said she and her husband dont have money for restitution.

According to court records, the claims center that was established after the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico awarded more than $2.1 million to Vision Design Management, a consulting business. The figure was based largely on the companys submitting of financial documents indicating it had brought in $821,462.98 in revenue in 2009, the year before the spill.

But the Deepwater Horizon Economic Claims Center later found that checks totaling more than $773,000 came from a construction loan taken out by another Stokes-owned company, Summerplace LLC.

The claims center said the money wasnt revenue for Vision Design but a pass through of payments for expenses for a Summerplace construction project.

An attorney for Vision Design Management received more than $500,000 of the claim award. The court records show that the attorney returned the money and no longer works for the Stokeses.

The claims center, Barbier wrote, showed clearly and convincingly that the award was nearly entirely based on fraud.

Given that at least 92% of Vision Designs claimed revenue was a fiction, the Court finds it is proper to order Vision Design to pay restitution of the entire settlement amount (less the amount returned by Vision Designs former counsel), Barbier wrote.

In last years letter, Barbara Stokes said the claim was legitimate.

Vision Design Management was formed in 2007 and was profitable and worked very hard to make a good business, Stokes wrote. The oil spill stopped it!

The Deepwater Horizon explosion killed 11 people and sent millions of gallons of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico for months, disrupting numerous businesses in the gulf states.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
'JeruZalem' Is an Israeli Horror Film That Will Scare the Religion Out of You

In an era of watered-down horror films, JeruZalem breathes life into the genre. The film was shot in Jerusalem, giving it authentication, while its religious subtext will incite a fear so primal that you will find yourself clutching a Bible before the final credits roll.

One of the biggest successes of this film is its setting. Set in the Holy City of Jerusalem, JeruZalem leads off with a quote that will set up the entire premise: "There are 3 gates to Hell, one in the desert, one in the ocean, and one in Jerusalem." Playing off of our fears of the unknown, wound tight to a firm backing in religion, JeruZalem plays with forces that we know little about and hope to never see.



JeruZalem is a found footage film (at its core) that employs new technology as its lens. The film utilizes Google Glass as its camera, giving us a window into the film and a perspective that is distracting at times, but is an interesting idea to run with. It holds up better than a handy cam film would have. I think that, had Google Glass been a bigger success than it was, this perspective would have translated l lot better. It is a bit difficult to get used to in the beginning, but as the film progresses, becomes an essential tool to the main characters. This is an ingenious way of giving the viewer some side story and fleshing our character background.

The Paz brothers (Doron and Yoav Paz) are the visionaries behind the film, and toy with the ideas of Hell on Earth, without trampling all over the Holy Land. The pacing was great throughout the film, and the sound is truly horrifying. The synopsis of the film is, Sarah and her friend, Rachel, travel to Tel Aviv for vacation. When they meet someone in transit, they are whisked away to Jerusalem, unfortunately one of the Gates of Hell open up and unleash Hell on Earth.

This is a great film, with genuine scary moments. The use of the POV as a tool, rather than a method is something to be commended. It allows certain moments int he film to shine, and give the filmmakers some interesting obstacles to throw at the main characters of the film.

It pains me to see that this film had some horrifying creatures, that looked great up close as well, but were limited by the budget of the film, and had to resort to brief glimpses, and half distorted shots most of the time. Danielle Jadelyn (Sarah) doesn't get a ton of screen time as the main character in the film, due to the fact that she is wearing the smart glasses, but there really is no big standout character in the film, so this is not a big issue to me.

JeruZalem is an interesting film, that should not be passed up due to its budget short falls. Go see this film, it will scare the Hell out of you! I cannot wait to see what the Paz brothers could do with a larger budget.

 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

TagsHorror, Indie Film, independant film, Jerusalem, jeruZalem, Paz Brothers, Danielle Jadelyn, Trailer, Footage
Summit County Court

Edward Coffman was sentenced Tuesday for sexually assaulting a foreign exchange student.

(Cleveland.com)

AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron man will spend 18 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old foreign exchange student.

Edward Coffman, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony. Summit County Common Pleas Judge Todd McKenney sentenced him Tuesday to the maximum prison term for the charge. McKenney had discretion to sentence Coffman to probation in the case.

"I can't think of a more vulnerable position she could be in," McKenney said referring to the victim. "She's a minor, in someone else's home, in a foreign country, where she doesn't speak the language."

Coffman will be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years after his prison sentence ends.

The 14-year-old girl was living with a host family in central Ohio. She visited Akron to meet with Coffman's family, who was friends of the host family.

Coffman flirted with the girl two days prior to the assault. He assaulted girl July 18 or 19, 2014 at his home in the 1400 block of Neptune Avenue.

Akron police began investigating after the girl reported the incident to her host family and went to a Columbus-area hospital for treatment. The girl told social workers there that she was sexually assaulted during her stay in Akron.

Police matched Coffman with DNA found the girl's sexual assault kit. A court psychiatrist found Coffman to be at a high-risk for reoffending.

Assistant Summit County Greg Peacock argued for a prison sentence, despite the victim and her family asking for no prison time for Coffman.

"He was in a position of trust," Peacock said. "His behavior was atrocious."

Defense attorney Jonathan Yoder argued that a different test found Coffman at a low-risk of reoffending. He also said Coffman had no prior criminal history and was remorseful about the incident.

Coffman apologized for the incident. His family wept audibly as he was led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

"There isn't a day that goes by and I don't think about it," Coffman said. "This really will never happen again."
Akron police 3

A 13-year-old girl was accidentally shot by her boyfriend while he was shooting at a target with his father's gun, police reports say.

(File photo)

AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron teen accidentally shot his 13-year-old-girlfriend in the stomach with his father's gun, Akron police said.

The teen was arrested on charges of felonious assault. His case is in Summit County Juvenile Court.

The boy's father, Tony Cox, 43, is charged with possessing a weapon despite having a felony record. His case has been bound over to Summit County Common Pleas Court.

The teen and his girlfriend attended First Night Akron on New Year's Eve at Lock 3 park. They left about 10 p.m. and went back to the teen's house in the 800 block of East Crosier Street. He grabbed his father's gun and began shooting at a garbage can with a target painted on the side for practice, according to court records.

The teen accidentally shot his girlfriend in the stomach. He drove her to his grandmother's house. The grandmother drove the girl to Akron Children's Hospital, court records say.

The two teens initially told police that a fight broke out at Lock 3 near the parking deck. They said a group of men started fighting, someone fired gunshots and that they ran back to their car and discovered that the girl had been shot.

Detectives asked officers working security at the event about a shooting. No one called to report gunshots or fighting from the Lock 3 that night, police said.

Officers questioned the teens again. They both admitted they made up the story about the Lock 3 fight, police said. The boy then told police he used his father's gun for the shooting.

Akron officers found the revolver on top of the refrigerator in the home, according to court records.

Cox is not allowed to possess a gun because of a criminal history that includes two convictions for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity in crack cocaine trafficking cases.

He was sentenced to serve four years in prison in 2010 in one case and three years of probation in a similar case in 2000.

He also was sentenced to one year in prison in 2008 for two counts of domestic violence and one count of possessing a weapon as a felon.
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Cleveland City Council is considering legislation that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products everywhere but in designated smoke shops, where tobacco makes up 80 percent of the inventory.

(Plain Dealer file photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - In an effort to keep tobacco products out of the hands of Cleveland's youth, City Council took another step this week toward banning the sale of flavored tobacco everywhere but in designated smoke shops.

The legislation, which Council's Health and Human Services Committee passed on Monday, has stirred controversy -- and we want to know what you think.

We invite you to put yourself in the shoes of a Cleveland City Council member. Read about the issue here, then cast your vote below.

The backstory

The ordinance was introduced in July as part of a larger legislative package aimed at curtailing smoking in Cleveland.

In December, council passed legislation increasing the legal sales age of tobacco from 18 to 21. That same day, council also passed a resolution calling for the city to embrace a policy of hiring only non-smokers in the coming years.

But council held the flavored tobacco ordinance for further hearings, amidst controversy over its financial impact on local store owners and the exception carved out for smoke shops, most of which are on the city's West Side.

What the proponents say

Councilman Joe Cimperman, who sponsored the ordinances, and health experts who have presented before council, have argued that the benefits of the ban far outweigh any financial hardship store owners might experience by losing tobacco sales.

Advocates of the initiative argue that flavored tobacco - which includes e-cigarettes and comes in thousands of varieties, such as fruit and candy flavors -- is largely marketed and sold to minors as a gateway to smoking addiction.

The controversy

But the question of how the city would enforce the new law remains, acting Health Commissioner Natoya Walker Minor acknowledged Monday. Enforcement likely would fall to the city's Health Department, which already struggles to keep up with its current workload and has weathered heavy criticism for its failure to mitigate the city's scourge of lead-laden homes.

Councilman Zack Reed argued during Monday's hearing that the city already has failed to hold store owners accountable for selling to minors or illegally selling loose cigarettes.

Store owners have pointed out that the difficulty in enforcing the ordinance would create unfair competition between stores owners who would follow the law and those who would not.

Now cast your vote, Council member ....
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Dominick Palazzo, the brother of former Cuyahoga Heights school district technology director Joseph Palazzo, was charged Tuesday for his suspected role in a scheme to defraud the district of more than $3 million.

(File photo)

AKRON, Ohio -- The brother of the former technology director at the Cuyahoga Heights School District was charged Tuesday with helping defraud the district out of more than $3 million.

Dominick Palazzo, 42, is charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to launder funds. The U.S. Attorney's Office charged Palazzo via a criminal information, which usually means a plea agreement is forthcoming.

Prosecutors say Palazzo, a Broadview Heights resident, aided his brother, Joseph, in billing the school district for technology services that were not provided. His brother, Joseph Palazzo, is serving a prison sentence of more than 11 years for his role in the scheme.

Michael Maloney, Palazzo's attorney, said Tuesday that he has been working with the U.S. Attorney's Office for some time and has "reached what we think is a fair resolution for everyone involved."

The information states that Palazzo and others created corporations, several of which are shell companies, in order to bill the school district. One of the companies that prosecutors say he funneled money through was The Jump Yard, a children's recreation and party center in North Royalton.

Prosecutors say Joseph Palazzo issued more than $3.3 million worth of school district checks to companies owned by his brother and others. Once the company owners received checks from the district, they would keep half the money and give Joseph Palazzo the other half, the information states.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is seeking forfeiture of $25,409.53 from Dominick Palazzo. The information shows that Palazzo has also already paid $18,000 per an agreement with the United States.

The scheme was uncovered by an audit done by the Ohio Auditor's Office. Auditor Dave Yost said at the time that the stolen amount was "one of the largest findings for recovery" that his office has ever issued.

In addition to Cuyahoga Heights, the 900-student district serves Valley View and Brooklyn Heights.

Joseph Palazzo resigned in February 2011 as the school board prepared to fire him. He is serving his sentence at a minimum-security prison in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Several other people were prosecuted on related charges in state and federal court.

Dennis Boyles was sentenced in 2013 to 27 months in prison. He was released in November. Another defendant, Barnarr King III pleaded guilty to his role in state court and was sentenced to five years community control.

David Donadeo was indicted in 2013. He has not faced his charges because he is a fugitive, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko said.

The school district filed several lawsuits to recoup the stolen money. Superintendent Tom Evans said Tuesday that the school has gotten back more than $2 million, and that its attorneys are continue to go after the rest.

Updated with comments from Palazzo's attorney and the school district superintendent.
Typically Cramer would recommend Home Depot because it sells shovels, but now he thinks it has become too big to be pigeonholed. He also thinks Deckers , the maker of UGG boots, has become too unreliable, and snowmobile company Polaris has been crushed by Japanese competition.

"Is there a decent way to play winter storm Jonas, or is it merely a huge pain in the neck that may have ruined your weekend?" the " Mad Money " host asked.

For months, many retailers have been hit hard because the weather has been so warm that they could not get rid of their winter apparel.

As the East Coast digs itself out of one of the worst blizzards in recent history, Jim Cramer decided to take another look at retail and see if investor portfolios could take advantage of the cold weather.

If you want to play winter storm Jonas, I think Columbia Sportswear is the way to do it.

That left Cramer with Columbia Sportswear , the family run-company that is practically a one-stop-shop for winter gear. It houses various brands such as Montrail, Mountain Hardware, PrAna sustainable yoga and climbing apparel, Sorel boots and its main Columbia brand.

Columbia Sportswear is due to report earnings on Feb. 10, and Cramer does not expect anything spectacular.

Read more from Mad Money with Jim Cramer

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"But the thing about the stock market is that it's a forecasting machine, which means if investors now believe that this cold weather is here to stay, then they will probably think that Columbia's next quarter could turn out to be a lot better than they had been anticipating," Cramer said.

Cramer also suspects that investors may not be aware of Columbia's major transformation. No longer is Columbia just a place to pick up a new jacket for the blizzard. It has also introduced fashionable brands that can be worn year round.

So while the upcoming earnings release will be all about the holidays, and not the sudden change in cold weather, Cramer thinks the recent blizzard could be a game changer. Columbia has a history of outperforming its competitors, and it could happen again.

"If you want to play winter storm Jonas, I think Columbia Sportswear is the way to do it," Cramer said. (Tweet This)

Cramer recommended for investors to put a small position before the company reports, and then buy more into weakness. Especially since the quarter it is about to report won't reflect any of the new-found winter blizzard positives.
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In a world where stocks are trading in lockstep with the price of oil, Jim Cramer finally found the one company that could do enough to break away from the packMcDonald's . Steve Easterbrook is the CEO of McDonald's that took over the helm of the fast food giant, and Cramer thinks is the reason why the company reported stellar earnings on Monday that allowed the stock to soar to $119. McDonald's reported a 5 percent increase in global same-store sales, and U.S. same-store sales rose 5.7 percent. "Frankly, that's extraordinary. I was looking for 4 percent and people thought I was dreaming," the "Mad Money" host said. However Cramer could not share the same positive feedback for the financial sector on Monday, as stock like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs remained in a world of hurt. Read More Cramer: McDonald's turnaround just getting started



Cramer reminded investors just how important a company like Schlumberger is to the future of the oil patch. In fact, he attributed Friday's rally in crude to Schlumberger, which prompted him to believe that oil could find a bottom in 2016. "What the heck made that rebound possible, and why do I expect that the $25 to $26 level might turn out to be a floor for crude?" the "Mad Money" host asked. It all came down to the very moment that oil service company Schlumberger reported a fantastic quarter on Thursday, and spoke on its conference call Friday. The company confirmed that many oil players had drastically reduced spending, and cutbacks in production for places like Colombia, Mexico, Brazil and Australia. Ultimately, Cramer thinks that the demand and supply will finally fall into balance in 2016. He would not go long on oil or oil stocks yet, though. "Other than perhaps a trading bounce to the $34 to $35 range, this call can't get you any further. After listening to the company called Slob though, I think oil holds in the $20s and bottoms at last in 2016," Cramer said. Read More Cramer: Where oil will bottom in 2016

Another stock that was on Cramer's radar on Monday was Kimberly-Clark, the large household consumer packaged goods company that makes everything from Huggies diapers, to baby wipes to Kleenex tissues. The stock was holding up against the rest of market, but was then slammed on Monday when it reported earnings that were widely perceived as disappointing. Were the numbers really that bad? To find out if this could be a stock to buy on weakness, Cramer spoke with Kimberly-Clark's chairman and CEO Tom Falk. "Yes the strong dollar was a headwind for us this year, but to overcome that and deliver absolute earnings growth while returning cash to shareholders was a pretty good performance I think," Falk said.
Crude storage is soon to see the drop that filled the cup.

Storage is near capacity constraints, bringing a lot more volatility to the market, Jeffrey Currie, global head of commodities research at Goldman Sachs, told CNBC's "Closing Bell" on Monday.

"When we look at these storage levels in Cushing, Oklahoma, which is where the Nymex prices, there's about 3 million barrels of spare storage capacity, which is nothing in the grand scheme of things," he said. "The fact that we saw cash prices separate from forward prices, tells us that we broke the cash-and-carry arb."



The oversupplied market may see more crude adding to the glut, as Iraq's Oil Ministry told Reuters on Monday that it looks to beat last year's record output, in 2016.

After the news, fears of oversupply crawled into the market and WTI fell 5.75 percent, breaking a two-day winning streak (where it gained nearly 14 percent), to close at $30.34.
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For more than a month, Facebook has been trying to convince Indian regulators to lift a ban on its Free Basics program but recent developments indicate the social media giant isn't having much success. Launched alongside telecom operator Reliance Communications , Free Basics was designed to bring more Indians online by offering Reliance customers complimentary access to a range of Internet sites. It was first unveiled last year under the name Internet.org as part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's goal of universal digital access, especially for the 30 percent of Indians living below the poverty line. But it's come under fire from net neutrality advocates and cast doubt on the social media giant's strategy in emerging markets (EMs). The program is currently pending approval from regulators who are concerned about carriers charging different prices for digital content.

The crux of the problem lies in the fact that Free Basics content won't incur data costs but other sites will, angering activists who argue that all Internet content should be treated equally. With explosive mobile penetration, India is Facebook's biggest market after the U.S., making such a ban especially significant. A stinging letter from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) last week has fanned the flames further. Earlier this month, officials consulted Facebook on the topic of data pricing for different websites but the firm's response was apparently less than satisfactory. Addressed to Facebook India's public policy director Ankhi Das, TRAI accused the company of using the consultation as a chance to shamelessly promote Free Basics, saying its replies had "the flavor of reducing this meaningful consultative exercise into a crudely majoritarian and orchestrated opinion poll." In response, Das said Facebook did its best to cooperate with TRAI's request. "While we did not include all of the specific language drafted by TRAI, we did deliver a request for additional information and included in the draft email the exact language from the four specific questions posed in the consultation paper. More than 1.4 million Indians responded by submitting revised comments that addressed these questions."

Bad press

TRAI's letter is just one of many criticisms being hurled at the 12-year old company. The content available on Free Basics is in itself questionable, according to Mahesh Murthy, co-founder of Mumbai-based venture capital firm Seedfund. The list includes Bing, Wikipedia, ESPN, Accuweather, BBC News, and dictionary.com, but noticeably excludes pages frequented by Indians, such as YouTube, Google , Amazon , Flipkart, LinkedIn , Twitter , or Rediff, Murthy points out. "From friends in the publisher community, I understand that Facebook has approached virtually every single site of significance in India and asked them to join the program. Most of them declined for two reasons: no site wants to hand over user data to Facebook and they believe in net neutrality," he told CNBC. Twitter and Google, which owns YouTube, are known rivals of Facebook while Amazon is fast becoming one as Facebook launches an e-commerce marketplace. Chris Daniels, vice president of Facebook's internet.org campaign, told CNBC that the service is open to any developer that complies with technical guidelines. "Free Basics is not intended to be the whole internet, but it is open to any developer that wants to bring their internet service onto the platform....We are happy to have anyone on the platform." Instead of offering access to a limited number of sites, Murthy recommends Facebook offer the full internet by subsidizing carrier costs. By using the same amount of capital spent on Free Basics advertising [up to $100 million], Facebook could have connected 5 million people, a number 50 times larger than what it achieved with Free Basics, he said. For its part, the social network said it has explored several other connectivity models but none work as well as Free Basics.

Altruistic vs corporate intentions

Murthy likens Free Basics to digital apartheid, saying it primarily serves Facebook's interests rather than upholding the idea of connectivity as a basic human right. Facebook needs a story to support its inflated valuation, which is well above other tech names such as Google, he said. Facebook's 12-month forward price-to-earnings (P/E) stands at 34.03, according to Reuters, with third-quarter revenues of $4.5 billion. For the corresponding periods, Google parent Alphabet's P/E was 21.84 with revenues of $18.68 billion. Both tech firms are due to report fourth-quarter earnings within the next week. Acquiring a large number of users is the best way to justify Facebook's valuation, said Murthy. "This large number can only come from China and India. China doesn't let Facebook in, which leaves India. That's what Free Basics India is all about: finding a story to make sure Facebook stock doesn't fall to the same P/E as Google's." To its defense, Facebook says it launched Free Basics to make the world more open and connected. "We're not making money on this, but if our efforts contribute to getting everyone online, we will fulfill our mission as a company...In the very long term, it's true that more people online is better for Facebook, but it will be good for the whole internet ecosystem and for society too," said Daniels. After 30 days of using Free Basics, there are 8 times more Indians who have paid for and are using the full Internet than those who have chosen to continue only using Free Basics, he continued, adding that this clearly demonstrates that Free Basics is an effective strategy for bringing people online.

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EMs strategy

Regardless of Zuckerberg's intentions, tech analysts agree that gaining new users is vital to Facebook's business plan in EMs. Typically, there are two key ways social media companies can grow: acquiring more users and more revenues per user, explained Bob O'Donnell, president and chief analyst at market research and consulting firm TECHnalysis Research. But in EMs, revenues per person tend to be lower so the former option is Facebook's best bet, he said. "Given the relatively low Internet connectivity rates in India [and other EMs], that's probably why Facebook is placing so much effort on associating themselves with connectivity. In theory, that means new Internet users will almost immediately become new Facebook users as well." The company has adamantly denied that, saying Free Basics users don't require Facebook accounts.

Consequences
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China's stocks have tumbled since the start of the year, entering bear territory, but they still aren't looking attractive, Ha Jiming, vice chairman of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management for China, told CNBC. The Shanghai Composite is down around 21 percent since its most recent high of 3,651.76 on December 22, leaving it in a "bear within a bear" market. The index is off around 44 percent from its 52-week high of 5,166.35, set June 2015. The selloff across Chinese markets has decked valuations: The Shanghai index is trading at 11.4 times forward earnings, compared with a long-term average of 14.4 times, according to data from Nomura. But that's not the whole story. "When people compare fundamentals and direction of capital flows, they probably find the current level of China stocks is still too expensive," Ha told CNBC's "Squawk Box." "If you compare the economic situation with the second quarter of 2014 when the index was at the level of 2000, today's economic fundamentals are much worse," he said.

"At that time, gross domestic product (GDP) was growing at 7.3 percent compared to now below 7 percent. At that time, industrial profit was growing 11 percent compared to almost zero now. At that time you had no capital outflow to now you have massive capital outflows." China's economic growth rate slowed to a 25-year low of 6.9 percent in 2015, as the world's second-largest economy continues to shift away from its manufacturing roots and toward consumption. At the same time, the country suffered almost $700 billion of capital flight in 2015, according to the Institute of International Finance. Local companies rushed to repay overseas loans as the yuan depreciated, while global investors grew increasingly wary of the country's economic slowdown and Chinese authorities' interventions in financial markets. The country's foreign-exchange reserves also fell by $512.66 billion in 2015, a record drop for the country, which was in part attributed to Beijing's moves to prop up the yuan.
It's that time again! Jim Cramer rang the lightning round bell, which means he gave his take on caller favorite stocks at rapid speed:



Cypress Semiconductor : "They give you this return of capital yield  which is pretty amazing  which is 5.45 percent. At $8 I can't count this anything other than to buy the stock. But we are in a world of hurt bear market for certain stocks, including that one."

Boston Scientific : "It's an inexpensive stock. I do prefer Edward's Lifesciences, I think they've got the better mouse trap. That's where I'm going in that group."

Fifth Third Bancorp : "I shutter at the banks, to say something good about a bank. Fifth Third is a good bank but I can't count on us buying it right now. This group has got to wash out, and it's not washed out yet."

Covanta Holding : "It's got all these little businesses and I don't really understand it. But it's got a 7 percent yield, which now at this point says whoa be careful. It no longer says that is an opportunity. It says be careful. Those big yields are now red flags in this market."

Read more from Mad Money with Jim Cramer



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Kroger : "Everybody thinks it's a good stock. And that's really the issue. It's the place to hide. I thought it was a good stock, you thought it was a good stock. The fact is that it's a good company, but all stocks are going down right now. It just has to be until we get some clarity from the Fed. My checklist is driving all stocks down, and I'm not going to get in front of it other than to say that I think Kroger is doing a great job and one day the market will come to its senses."

Mattel : "I saw the Goldman upgrade, I thought it was good but now because it has an upgrade it's got a little pump into it. You've got to let the stock come down now. I think that in the end, Mattel is a good company and I believe that the yield is safe. But now the stock is up on a bad day, that means it's down tomorrow."

Linear Technology : "The stock I like in that group is LRCX. I like Lam, I think that is the company that is doing the best. They are all going down, but that is my favorite."

Canadian Natural Resources : "I'm not recommending any fossil fuel stocks here. None. I can't. I've got enough problems with all of these great tech and food stocks. None."
Crude oil futures pared gains in late trading Tuesday, after American Petroleum Institute data showed crude oil inventory had a larger-than usual weekly build, The Wall Street Journal reported.

US oil inventories increased by 11.4 million barrels in the latest week, an unnamed source told the Journal. U.S. government data on the weekly inventories is due Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. ET.

"This is a mega build As a result of refinery maintenance season. There can only be more weeks like this ahead. Inventories will only getlarger from here," said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital. "We're going to see more fireworks."

Brent crude was up 59 cents, or 1.87 percent, at $31.07 a barrel after the report. U.S. crude was last trading up 57 cents at $30.51, after it settled up $1.11, or 3.66 percent, at $31.45 per barrel.

Oil prices rose as much as 6 percent earlier Tuesday, sending both Brent and U.S. crude briefly above $32 a barrel, on hopes OPEC and non-OPEC producers were inching closer to a deal to reduce output in the face of one of the biggest supply gluts in decades.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has renewed calls for rival producers to cut supply alongside its members, but Russia, seen as key to any deal, has resisted so far.

But the oil minister of Iraq said on Tuesday OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and top non-OPEC producer Russia are showing signs of flexibility about agreeing to tackle an oil glut that has pushed prices to 12-year lows.

"We have seen some flexibility from the brothers in Saudi and a change in tone from Russia," Adel Abdel Mahdi, whose country is the second-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said.
"I've never liked bathroom odor." Suzy Batiz sits on a toilet displayed in the middle of an office festooned with feminine pastels. She is wearing a sea-foam green dress, suede boots, with flowing blonde hair, perfect makeup and tasteful jewelry."Let's just get rid of poop odor," she continues, "and then we can really solve the world's problems." (Tweet This)

Getting rid of "poop odor" has become Batiz's obsession. It led her to create Poo-Pourri, an oil-based spray you put on the surface of toilet water before you go. "The oil creates a layer, and whenever the poo goes in, it actually encapsulates it, it sort of 'wraps' the odor."

Since 2007, 17 million bottles of Poo-Pourri have sold. Annual sales now top $30 million. "We actually pride ourselves on being 'Number 2,'" Batiz said.

Poo~Pourri founder Suzy Batiz. Erika Santoro | CNBC

Never has success smelled so sweet. That said, Batiz's journey toward what she calls "global poo domination" has had plenty of bad moments.

"I grew up without a lot of money, so what happened is I made things," the Texas mother of three said. First, Batiz painted clothes and sold them out of her car. At age 17, she created denim covered pumps. Guess asked her to come to New York, but she chickened out after her mother convinced her that "they're going to chew you up and spit you out." By 19, Batiz owned a bridal salon. That venture proved costly. "I went bankrupt by the time I was 20." She would declare bankruptcy a second time after trying to start a website in 2000 matching recruiters with potential employees based on corporate culture. "I was just 15 years too soon."

Batiz called the second bankruptcy "the biggest blessing of my life," because it forced her to downsize and focus. "You know, you're always going to be afraid," she said, "but what happens is you keep getting up in the morning, showing up for work, because there's a passion within you." Read More Manservant: What women (and some men) really want

Finally, her brother-in-law talked to her about a crazy idea. Could she come up with a better way to trap and remove bathroom odors? He knew Batiz liked working with aromatic oils, and the idea of an oil spray was born. Testing began. "My best friends and family would come over, and they would say, 'I've got to go to the bathroom,' and I would say, 'What are you doing? What are you going to do in there?'" No one had to do more testing than Batiz's husband, Hector. One day, after nine months of trial and error, he walked out of the bathroom and declared, "We are going to be millionaires!"



Poo~Pourri founder Suzy Batiz with her husband Hector Batiz at Poo~Pourri headquarters in Addison, Texas. Erika Santoro | CNBC

Batiz began giving the spray to friends, who began telling other friends about it. In 2007, she and Hector took $25,000 of their own money to begin manufacturing Poo-Pourri. She started selling it in small stores. Other stores started calling.

Finally, after six years of growing slowly, Poo-Pourri posted a hilarious online ad in 2013. The cheeky commercial stars a proper young woman with an English accent sitting on a toilet. "You would not believe the mother lode I just dropped," she says with a grin. The ad has been viewed over 37 million times. (Side note  Batiz said only four actresses would audition for the commercial, before she chose Bethany Woodruff for the role).





Poo~Pourri founder Suzy Batiz with her product. Erika Santoro | CNBC

Poo-Pourri had now gone viral, and suddenly the company had $4 million in back orders. Just as suddenly, their manufacturer announced sprayers couldn't be shipped for 16 weeks.

"It was horrendous." Batiz said. Poo-Pourri got thousands of emails from customers. No one at the sprayer company would help expedite her order. "I ended up going on LinkedIn, and I emailed the CEO," she said. "I called him and I said, 'I'm going to be on the first flight in the morning. I'm going to camp out in 48 hours, and I'm going to sit in your office, because I want you to tell me eye-to-eye that you can't help my company, because I'm going under.'" She got a response the next day. "I was in the American Airlines lounge, and his VP of global sales called me and said, 'Don't hop on a plane, we're going to help you.'"




Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Andrew Burton | Getty Images

Check out the companies making headlines after the bell Tuesday: Shares of Apple whipsawed after the closing bell Tuesday, landing lower after the company reported fiscal-first-quarter earnings that beat analyst estimates but came in below expectations on revenue, iPhone sales and more. The tech giant posted quarterly earnings of $3.28 per share on $75.9 billion in revenue. Apple suppliers like Knowles , Cirrus Logic and Skyworks Solutions saw similar volatility after the report.

AT&T shares saw downward pressure in extended trading after the company met quarterly earnings expectations but fell short on sales. The Dallas-based telecommunications company posted revenue of $42.12 billion, when analysts had expected $42.75 billion, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters.

Cloud and software company VMware posted an earnings and revenue beat that sent the stock popping after hours  only to later fall almost 5 percent. Revenue came in at $1.87 billion, versus $1.85 billion expected, and earnings per share were $1.26 adjusted, versus the $1.25 estimate. The company had seen shares prices slashed by 40 percent over the past year after it was acquired by Dell and announced staff cuts. Capital One Financial shares were boosted modestly in extended trading after beating earnings estimates, despite reporting that its net income fell 17 percent, to $920 million, as it booked charges for restructuring and for the closure of its acquisition of GE Healthcare.

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A giant metal frame standing several yards wide rises up nearly 200 feet inside the Michoud Assembly Facility, NASA's massive 832-acre space park outside New Orleans. "What you're looking at is the largest welding system in the world," said Jackie Nesselroad. She is leading a team from Boeing that's welding together the world's most powerful rocket, the Space Launch System. "It's about the coolest job on earth." SLS is not a rocket that will be reusable, like the one Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin just landed for the second time in a row. It is not a system like the one that Elon Musk's SpaceX contracts out to NASA for ferrying supplies to the International Space Station. Instead, the SLS has one customer and one mission: to take Americans into deep space.



Mars is a million times further away than the space station. It's all about discovery. There isn't a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, so to speak. Paul Wright senior manager, Boeing

The goal is Mars. The program will cost billions. "It is designed for beyond low-Earth orbit exploration with humans," said Frank McCall, the deputy program manager from Boeing who called SLS "a mission that is long overdue." The first unmanned test flight is slated for late 2018. By 2021, the rocket is supposed to carry astronauts aboard the Orion space capsule built by Lockheed Martin . "The first crewed mission  will be a mission that goes to the far side of the moon, literally farther than we've ever gone before in manned spacecraft," said NASA SLS manager Patrick Whipps. This year alone, Congress is giving NASA $2 billion for SLS, and much of that funding is going to the core rocket built by Boeing. That core includes powerful liquid hydrogen and oxygen fuel tanks, which will give the first version of the rocket 8.5 million pounds of thrust. "That's 31 747s at full power," said Boeing engineer Tony Castilleja. That thrust will be even greater in later versions. It also makes SLS the most powerful rocket in history. "This is the only rocket that can cut the time in half and double the science and double the exploration."

An artists rendering of Boeing's most powerful rocket, the Space Launch System or SLS. Source: Boeing

Why does NASA have to pay so much, and why does it need to own the rocket? Musk has plans to get to Mars on his own, so why not just ride along with SpaceX? NASA management believes deep space exploration is so big, so expensive, so fraught with risk, that it needs to own the mission. "Mars is a million times further away than the space station," said Paul Wright senior manager for test and evaluation at Boeing. "It's all about discovery. There isn't a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, so to speak." At least not yet.

The good news for Boeing and NASA is that Americans are once again infatuated with space. The credit goes to everything from the bold visions of billionaires like Musk and Bezos to films like "The Martian." Congress voted to give NASA a raise in 2016 to $19.3 billion  more than the agency requested. The SLS program is hoping for continued funding to pay for more trips, because beyond the first two missions, the way to Mars isn't clear. Perhaps the rocket system could take astronauts back to the moon, or to an asteroid. It all depends on how the first two missions go, how much it costs, and what other competing priorities there are through 2035. Boeing is trying to keep costs down (relatively speaking) by reusing technologies from the space shuttle programs, such as the engines and solid-fuel rocket boosters. McCall doesn't see that as looking backward. "Why reinvent the wheel if the wheel works?"

NASA is also exploring new technologies for the program down the road, such as using nuclear energy to take the Orion capsule all the way to Mars. NASA's Whipps said astronauts will also need new spacesuits. Instead of wearing suits for a few hours a day on spacewalks outside the space station, "we'll be using the spacesuit literally every day, sometimes many hours every day, on the surface of Mars or an asteroid." The suits will have to be stronger, and astronauts will need the tools to repair them on site. "When you're 40 or 60 million miles away from your home planet, there is not a depot to take parts back to," Whipps said. For now, however, the focus is building the rocket, making it lighter, and keeping the SLS program on budget and on time. The core rocket will be unpainted to save on hundreds of pounds of white paint that was only for cosmetic purposes. Boeing has revamped the welding facility at Michoud to create welds that weigh less, and it's reduced the number of tools needed from two dozen during the Shuttle program to only six or seven for SLS.

A giant metal frame standing several yards wide shoots up nearly 200 feet inside the Michoud Assembly Facility, NASA's massive 832-acre space park outside New Orleans. Source: Boeing

Meanwhile, at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, NASA is spending $76 million this year to build two new towers where Boeing will test the fuel tanks. The liquid hydrogen tank alone will stand 130 feet, and testing could begin later this year. "The biggest challenge for us is we are going to be doing all these tests  the engine test, the liquid hydrogen tank, the inner tank and the liquid oxygen tank, almost all at the same time," said Boeing's Wright. Those tests ultimately will determine the rocket's limits. "We're going to qualify those by testing all the way to failure," said NASA's Tim Flores. For him, knowing the rocket's limits, and making sure SLS is safe, has gotten personal. His 11-year-old son recently decided he wants to be an astronaut when he grows up, and Flores believes someone his son's age will be the first human on Mars. "Now I think, 'Am I making the right decisions with the things that I'm doing?'" he said, standing atop a test tower in Alabama. "My son might actually be on one of those flights."
The fundamentals of real estate still hold up, even when there is an elephant in your warehouse. Supply and demand are favoring the U.S. industrial space, despite fears of China's slowing economy sucking the wind out of the sector's sails.

Prologis , the largest warehouse REIT in the nation, reported strong fourth-quarter funds from operations on Tuesday, beating expectations by 2 cents per share. Revenue of $643.2 million was considerably higher than expected, up 43 percent from one year ago.

"The dynamics of the business are very positive," said Prologis CEO Hamid Moghadam. "Rental growth is by far the biggest driver, because we've driven occupancy as far as we can. There is a lot of room to run on the rent side, and the reason for that is very constrained supply. The development machine has not kicked in."



Hamid Moghadam, chief executive officer of Prologis. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Warehouse has benefitted strongly from retail's move online. As companies strive to get goods to consumers faster than ever before, they are filling warehouses, especially those close in to major metropolitan markets. Read MoreReal estate's least sexy sector is red hot Prologis, which, according to its website, owns more rooftops than any other real estate company, reports its properties are 97 percent occupied, the highest occupancy rate Moghadam said he has seen in his 30-year career. Its customers include Amazon, Home Depot , FedEx , UPS and Wal-Mart.

"Demand is modest," he admitted, "But when you overlay that on tight supply, it is really giving us pricing power and rental growth like I've never seen before."

Moghadam brushes off concern that warehouse demand could be hurt by a slowdown in China's economy.

"There is still a pretty spectacular rate of economic growth. Exports from China are definitely slowing down, but domestic consumption in China is growing at double-digit rates, and that creates warehouse demand in China, and we're active in china," he said.

China accounts for 5 percent of Prologis' gross business and 1 percent of its earnings.

Chinese exports may be slowing, but the volume is still substantial. In addition, analysts say lower U.S. gas prices are bolstering consumer spending, which benefits the warehouse sector.

"Our propensity to buy stuff isn't going away, and China's propensity to produce stuff more cheaply than we can isn't going away," said Mitch Roschelle, a partner at PwC.

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China's economic problems are not as bad as they appear in spite of the current market tailspin, the chief executive of German industrial giant Siemens told CNBC.



"The real economy in China is a lot better than people are talking about right now. There is obviously some weakness in terms of real estate and the finance sector but as far as our business is concerned, we do see some decent growth in healthcare, which was very, very strong with double-digit growth in China," Joe Kaeser, chief executive of Siemens, told CNBC on Tuesday.

Kaeser was speaking to CNBC after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. While the meeting in the Swiss Alps had included a lot of "doom" about China, Kaeser said such pessimism was unfounded  particularly as Siemens' had seen a positive trend in the country.

Siemens had recovered "a lot" of market share in China and had seen good activity in the power generation and energy management field, Kaeser said, adding: "So we're actually pretty happy with what we're seeing in China relative to what their structural challenges are."
The world is still three minutes from the apocalypse. That was the announcement from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on Tuesday, at a news conference held simultaneously at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

Dick Patrick Studios | Getty Images

Global tension, the modernization of nuclear arsenals and threats from climate change have all left the bulletin's members convinced the world still faces too many grave threats to dial the minute hand back from its "Doomsday Clock." The Doomsday Clock was created by former Manhattan Project scientists in 1947, originally to highlight the dangers of nuclear war. Over the decades, its scope has grown to encompass other threats. Rachel Bronson, executive director and publisher of the bulletin, announced from Washington that "the clock remains at three minutes to midnight. It remains the closest it has been in 22 years." A recent North Korean nuclear test is a reminder of the dangers of nuclear proliferation.


They like their plans, and they're likely to keep their plans.

Despite suffering from a past heart attack and diabetes, Kentucky resident Mary Blair was able to receive medical coverage through Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Luke Sharrett | The Washington Post | Getty Images

Despite continued Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare, a key component of the law that has given millions of people health coverage  Medicaid expansion  could prove very difficult to undo, experts say. A growing number of states have signed up for that expansion of the government-run program for poor people, or are discussing doing so. Hospitals are becoming accustomed to the money that comes with expansion, and a majority of new enrollees are saying they are happy with their coverage. The difficulty of getting rid of Medicaid expansion, which uses federal dollars to give health benefits to previously ineligible adults, was sharply underscored this fall by the election of ardent Obamacare foe Matt Bevin as governor of Kentucky. The Republican Bevin originally promised to repeal expansion of Medicaid in Kentucky, where about 400,000 have joined the Medicaid rolls since the Affordable Care Act was implemented. He since has backed away from that vow. Bevin most recently has talked about redesigning the state's Medicaid program, but has not yet offered a plan. At the same time, this month the new Democratic governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, has signed an executive order to expand Medicaid. That state expects about 300,000 people to join its Medicaid rolls by this summer. Louisiana is the 31st state to expand Medicaid; Washington, D.C., also has expanded benefits. Three other states, South Dakota, Wyoming and Virginia, are discussing such a move.

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The addition of those states would provide the program even more critical mass and complicate efforts at widespread repeal or a piecemeal undoing. "I do think we've reached the tipping point," said Diane Rowland, executive vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation. "It's part of the fabric of our health-care system now." "I think there are still states that are strongly resistant to it, but I think the tide is beginning to sweep more states in," Rowland said. Before expansion, traditional state Medicaid programs, which are jointly run and split costs roughly evenly with the federal government, rarely covered poor adults who did not have dependent children. After the ACA became law, states that adopted expansion offered benefits to nearly all adults who earned up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which this year is $16,242. A 2012 Supreme Court decision made expansion optional for states. Initially, less than half the states adopted expansion, with many GOP-led states refusing to expand because of their opposition to Obamacare. But since then a number of states that were headed by Republican governors  Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania  accepted expansion.

Rowland said one thing that could "sweeten the pot" for the 19 remaining holdouts is President Barack Obama's plan to propose a budget that would have the federal government fully finance the costs of Medicaid expansion for three years in future states that enter the program. Under the ACA, the federal government paid 100 percent of the costs of newly eligible Medicaid recipients in the program's first three years: 2014, 2015 and this year. The federal share of the costs then will drift down over time, but by law will go no lower than 90 percent. Obama's proposal would give new states in the program the same, full, three-year funding deal that the initial adopting states got. Even if that proposal doesn't pass, the federal government's 90 percent subsidy for the costs of newly eligible Medicaid recipients as of 2020 would continue to act as an incentive for states to adopt expansion. Sara Collins, vice president for health-care access and coverage at the Commonwealth Fund, pointed out that in expansion states, hospitals have seen a sharp reduction in their expenses due to "uncompensated care"  the costs of treating people who don't have health insurance. Health providers in nonexpansion states have taken note of that. "Hospitals and (health) providers have put significant pressure on their leadership to push forward in the states that haven't expanded," Collins said. Earlier this month, the White House's Office of Management and Budget tweeted a message that said if the 19 nonexpansion states were to expand, more than 4 million people would gain health coverage, and $4 billion "in uncompensated care costs could be avoided."

The potential to lose that kind of financial aid would also come into play in any discussion about repealing Medicaid expansion in an individual state, or if a new Congress and president tried to do so on a national scale. So would the issue of yanking coverage from people who were previously uninsured. Collins said that there is no firm number on how many previously ineligible Medicaid recipients now have coverage due to expansion. But she said that "the majority" of the 13.5 million people who have joined the overall Medicaid rolls since October 2013 are people who wouldn't be covered if expansion wasn't available. Commonwealth Fund surveys have found that among "people who have enrolled in Medicaid, large majorities of them are satisfied with it," Collins said. "I think there is very strong support among people who have gained insurance through expansion."

If those expansion beneficiaries lost coverage, "they would have very few options" for health coverage, Collins said. People who earn less than 100 percent of the poverty level are not eligible for federal subsidies to help buy private Obamacare insurance plans on government marketplaces. "People would lose coverage in large numbers" if expansion was repealed, Collins said. Two years ago, the Obama administration took sharp criticism when about 4 million people with private insurance were informed by their insurers that their plans were being canceled because they were not ACA-compliant. Although most of those people obtained coverage elsewhere, elected officials remain aware of the potential for political backlash if significant numbers of insured people risk losing coverage.
Recent market fluctuations are part of natural law, one investor says, but how policy makers manage the "chaos" will decide who will come out on top.

In a note published Tuesday, Salman Ahmed, Chief Strategist at Lombard Odier Investment Management, likened recent volatility to the second law of thermodynamics  a theory which suggests that the natural state of the universe is chaos rather than order, but notes that humans can help delay and maneuver around this "natural state of affairs."

"The last few weeks in global risky asset markets have been a timely reminder about this underlying law of nature which governs the nature of both our world and the universe," Ahmed writes.



Brendan McDermid | Reuters

Markets have dropped significantly since the start of January, with the first week alone marking the worst ever five-day opening to both the Dow and .

"Indeed, as things stand right now, policymakers' ability to manage this increased "entropy" (disorder) in global risky assets will decide which camp (bulls or bears) will come out on top in the coming months and quarters," he explained.

Central banks are likely to deliver further easing in the coming weeks as they become more sensitive to financial conditions, Ahmed said.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi last Thursday suggested further easing could be announced at the bank's March meeting. Some also expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to strike a more dovish tone at their next meeting despite launching its first rate hike since 2006 last December.
Logo of HSBC bank Adam Jeffery | CNBC

HSBC's possible relocation to Hong Kong is unlikely to save the British bank much tax - one of its reasons for maybe moving abroad - and could actually increase its bill, a Reuters analysis of the company's filings shows. HSBC said last year that it was considering a possible shift overseas from London, citing higher taxes and tighter regulation in Britain and a desire to be closer to faster-growing Asian markets. Analysts said HSBC's former home Hong Kong, with a corporate tax rate of 16.5 percent against a British rate set to rise to 26 percent, was the most likely destination. Some investors have said weakening growth in Asia and a reduction in a British levy on banks' asset bases announced last year, argues for HSBC to stay put. But some analysts say Asia's better long-term growth opportunities and Hong Kong's lower tax rate may yet hold attractions for the bank.

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A Reuters examination of corporate filings shows that Hong Kong may offer HSBC fewer tax advantages than many believe. That's because HSBC will struggle to move enough profit to Hong Kong to benefit from its lower tax rate. Indeed, it may have to report more income in Britain if it moves, since many of the overhead and borrowing costs now booked in Britain may in future be offset against more lightly taxed Hong Kong profits. Also, Hong Kong's less generous treatment of share bonuses may cost HSBC millions of dollars in tax deductions each year. Crawford Spence, Professor of Accounting at Warwick Business School, who has studied international groups' tax planning, said the Reuters analysis showed the "commonsense understanding" that HSBC would receive a big tax benefit was too simplistic. "They may not be saving much money at all on this particular aspect," he said. HSBC declined to answer questions on possible changes in its structure and their tax impact. "The board is considering at least eleven criteria for long term shareholder value, one of which includes the tax system which needs to be transparent, fair and competitive," a spokeswoman said in a statement. HSBC moved to London from Hong Kong in 1993 after it bought Midland Bank. However the climate for banks in the city has become increasingly hostile since the 2008 crisis with regulators bringing in tougher rules on capital and bankers' pay as well as imposing heavy fines for a litany of misdeeds that has scarred the industry. While regulators in Asia have followed suit with tighter rules on bank capital and liquidity, the region's relatively strong showing in the 2008 crisis means lenders there have faced less of the public and political backlash seen in Europe.



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Low UK profits

HSBC's ability to cut its tax bill by moving from Britain is constrained by the fact that it doesn't declare much taxable profit in Britain. Britain is a lucrative market for HSBC, generating over $15 billion in net interest income and fees in 2014, the most recent full year for which data is available. However, the bank reported an accounting loss in Britain in 2014 and had a tax charge of $69 million for the year. This is despite the fact its British retail bank, which has tens of thousands of staff, produces what Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver said last August were "excellent returns". HSBC's investment bank, which is headquartered in London, had profits of $8 billion in 2014, while its commercial bank, which also has a significant British presence, had profits of $9 billion. A key reason for the modest British taxable result is that much of the group's overhead costs are booked in Britain, such as top management salaries and central support functions. Also, since HSBC borrows most of its debt via British-registered companies, its annual report shows, it is also entitled to British tax deductions on bond coupons and other interest costs. HSBC's accounts show group overhead expenses of around $9 billion a year. Hong Kong, which does not bear the same share of group overhead costs as London, generated over $8 billion in profit on almost $13 billion of revenue in 2014, filings show.

The bank declined to say how much of its group costs would be booked in Hong Kong as part of any overseas move. However, analysts said the change could be significant. Chris Wheeler, banks analyst at Atlantic Securities, said regulatory rules mean that if HSBC moved its main holding company to Hong Kong, it would have to raise more debt there, rather than in Britain. "It would have to be in Hong Kong. It would have to be in the holding company," he said. If these costs were no longer booked against UK income, the UK profits would rise and face UK tax. Of course, booking costs in Hong Kong would depress taxable profits there, reducing the tax bill there. However, that's not the kind of tax arbitrage companies usually target. "You're better issuing (debt) out of a higher tax jurisdiction than a lower tax jurisdiction," said Gary Greenwood, an analyst at Shore Capital who covers HSBC. Banker bonuses In the area of executive pay, HSBC could find itself losing UK tax deductions without any corresponding saving in Hong Kong. In response pressure from investors and regulators, banks are increasingly paying senior bank executives their bonuses - often worth millions a year - in shares. Britain allows companies to take tax deductions in relation to newly issued shares paid to employees, even though this does not represent a cost to the company itself. Hong Kong does not, according to its Inland Revenue Department.
A unified, national power grid could be the cheapest and greenest way to keep the lights on in America.

This image of the continental United States at night is a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012. Source: NASA

Doing things like selling electricity from a solar farm in Texas to a household in a state farther north would be cost-effective  while cutting carbon emissions  if the United States were unified on a single power grid, according to a new study. A team of researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Colorado, Boulder, developed a computer model that designed the most cost-effective systems for delivering electricity across the United States, based on weather, land use and electricity consumption data. They found that an area as large as the United States would be best powered mostly by renewable energy sources linked to a single national electrical grid system.

Currently, power in the United States flows over a cluster of separate electrical grids that are maintained by many local or regional utilities. Replacing that arrangement with a single grid would allow the contiguous 48 states to depend more heavily on solar and wind energy and dramatically reduce carbon emissions, while keeping costs low and meeting projected demand increases.

"If you have this large area to trade electricity  because the wind is always blowing somewhere or the sun is shining  you basically get access to areas where wind and solar are cheap, in a national market," said Alexander MacDonald, co-lead author and recently retired director of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) in Boulder. MacDonald said the study could act as a tool for policymakers, and he likens the idea of a national power grid to the national highway system that was begun during the Eisenhower administration. "If we set up a national interstate for electrons, we would basically see a transformation to low-carbon energy without an increase in cost. That is what our study shows," MacDonald said. The group published its findings in the journal Nature Climate Change on Monday.

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Co-author Christopher Clack, a mathematician at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, said the team designed the model to pick only the most efficient designs in its simulations, without regard for environmental concerns or other constraints. "We are completely agnostic about which technologies to pick," Clack told CNBC. "We just tell it to pick the cheapest costs for the grid. It turns out if you do that on a large scale, more and more wind and solar gets deployed." The reason for this is that the large distribution area solves one of the biggest problems renewables have: they're intermittent. Unlike fossil fuels or nuclear power, solar cells and wind turbines produce power only when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. Sometimes they produce more power than customers need, at other times they may not produce enough to meet demand.

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A fledgling energy storage industry and body of research has emerged to try to find a solution to the intermittency problem. MacDonald told CNBC that battery research is still a necessary and promising field, but the model his team designed does not require electricity storage. Instead, as Clack said, the researchers' model "uses space and time as storage." "If you can get these big-enough areas, you can transmit power across the grid more effectively," Clack said. "Just by doing that, you help reduce the intermittency of wind and solar." The researchers built software that combines three things: land use data on where various types of power-generating facilities can operate; electricity use, and weather.



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Designs and plans have been drawn up for the world's tallest building. Its location? Basra, in the south of Iraq.



Designed by architecture practice AMBS and described as a "beacon for Iraq's future," at its highest point the proposed Bride will stand at 1,152 meters. The construction will be made of four conjoined towers, the tallest of which, Tower 1, will stand 964 meters high, with a 188 meter high antenna.

While this will make it the world's tallest building, its architects say that their priority when designing was altogether different. "That was never the ambition," Marcos De Andres, director at AMBS Architects, told CNBC in a phone interview.

"It was to build the most advanced, sustainable vertical city," he added. "It's the most logical way of doing it a conjoined system of towers that are connected horizontally. It's the most stable structure."

With stability comes safety, according to AMBS, with the towers offering "several alternative access and escape routes via horizontal and vertical circulation."

A city nestled on the shores of the Shatt al-Arab river, Basra is a crucial cog in Iraq's oil industry and home to the country's main port.

If the project is seen through and realized on the ground, it would offer a good news story for the country, which has been blighted by conflict and unrest for the last 13 years.

The Iraqi government is currently battling to regain control of territory lost to Daesh  otherwise known as ISIL  whose forces have overrun large swathes of the country, including the major northern city of Mosul. The U.K. government currently advises against all but essential travel to Basra.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Rouhani had held "held friendly and constructive talks geared towards enhancing bilateral cooperation and deepening consultation on the main regional and international issues," the Italian government statement said on Monday.

Among the deals struck on Monday were a pipeline contract worth between $4 billion and $5 billion for oil services group Saipem, up to 5.7 billion euros in contracts for Italian steel firm Danieli and up to 4 billion euros of business for infrastructure firm Condotte d'Acqua, Reuters added.

In his first visit to Europe since his election in 2013, Rouhani and his 120-strong entourage of business leaders and ministers began their continental tour in Rome on Monday and are due to head off to France on Wednesday. Already multi billion-dollar deals worth up to 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion) have been signed, according to Italian officials quoted by Reuters.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is in Europe as he tries to drum up trade and investment with European businesses after years of sanctions and economic and diplomatic isolation.

Ahead of the trip, the Iranian government stated on its website that Rouhani's aim was to "develop relations with European Union countries and the trip to Italy and France is aimed at growth and development, as well as job creation for the country."

"This trip is happening during a very important historic point and post-JCPOA (the "joint comprehensive plan of action" commonly known as the Iran deal on its nuclear program) and post-sanctions era and, therefore, it is significantly important," Rouhani told reporters as he left for Europe. The Iranian leader also tweeted that he was looking forward to exploring opportunities in Italy.

Tweet

Rouhani is expected to address an Iran-Italy business forum on Tuesday and will then meet Pope Francis where human rights issues and ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including Syria, are expected to be discussed. The trip comes as Iran itself tries mend relations with the West after almost economic sanctions on the country were expanded in 2006 for its alleged building of nuclear weapons.

That isolation came to an end after trade restrictions were lifted earlier in January after Iran was deemed to have complied with international obligations to curb its nuclear program. Iran has certainly wasted no time in signing deals in an attempt to get its economy back on a global stage.

On Sunday, Reuters reported that Iran planned to buy 114 aircraft from European plane maker Airbus as soon as March The republic could need as many as 500 new planes over the next three years, lawmaker Mahdi Hashemi, the chairman of the parliament's Development Commission, said.

Read More Iran's stock market roars as sanctions go away



More announcements could be announced on Wednesday as Rouhani heads to Paris. He is expected to be received at the Elysee Palace on Thursday but there will be no state dinner for Rouhani and his ministers after France refused an Iranian request for no wine to be served at such an event. Italy was reportedly far more compliant by agreeing to the request from the strict Islamic Republic.

There was some scepticism from analysts over the trade deals. Wolfango Piccoli, co-president of Teneo Intelligence, said the deals should be scrutinized.

"Trailing along with him will be an entourage of businesspeople, bankers and ministers. It will be important to ignore the numbers that will be bandied around concerning the various accords that are being signed and instead pick through any more concrete trade agreements and deals as this will be the area in which the first real commercial exchanges will take place," Piccoli said in a note on Monday.

"Investment agreements will take far longer to negotiate and much of the information that is released about such putative deals this week will be largely hyperbole."

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The World Bank has cut its price forecast for 80 percent of the world's major commodities as oversupply and weaker emerging market growth prospects weigh on demand.

In its latest report, out Tuesday, the bank has cut its 2016 forecast for crude oil prices to $37 per barrel, down from $51 per barrel in its October report, citing the sooner-than-anticipated resumption of exports by the Islamic Republic of Iran and greater resilience in U.S. production.

Narvikk | Getty Images

Oil prices fell by 47 percent in 2015 and are expected to decline, on an annual average, by another 27 percent in 2016, according to the World Bank. The bank, which serves as a key lender to developing countries, said it anticipated a gradual recovery in oil prices over the course of the year, describing the sharp oil price drops at the end of 2015 and early 2016 as not "fully warranted by fundamental drivers of oil demand and supply." "High-cost oil producers are expected to sustain persistent losses and increasingly make production cuts that are likely to outweigh any additional capacity coming to the market. Demand is also expected to strengthen somewhat with a modest pickup in global growth," the bank said it is latest commodity markets outlook, published on Tuesday. Oil prices tumbled to $28 earlier this month, lows not seen since 2003, on expectations that the market would flooded by renewed supplies from Iran after sanctions were lifted against Tehran. Prices continued to hover around $30 per barrel on Tuesday. Beyond oil markets, all main commodity price indices are expected to fall in 2016 due to persistently large supplies, and in the case of industrial commodities, slowing demand in emerging market economies. In all, prices for 37 of the 46 commodities the World Bank monitors were revised lower for the year.
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Timeline of events

Nov. 9: Former UM System President Tim Wolfe and MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin resign.

Nov. 10: Click apologizes for the incident and resigns a courtesy appointment with the Missouri School of Journalism.

The White House press secretary and Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder released statements supporting Schierbecker and Tim Tai, a freelance photographer also documenting the event.

Nov. 11: Schierbecker said he filed a "municipal simple assault" complaint against Click with the MU Police Department.

Janna Basler, the MU Director of Greek Life, is also seen in the video with her arms outstretched walking toward and eventually touching Tim Tai, a student photojournalist on assignment for ESPN. Basler was placed on administrative leave.

Jan. 25: City Prosecutor Steve Richey files a simple assault charge against Click.
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SHARE University of Memphis student filmmaker Kevin Brooks won a Sundance Ignite fellowship for his short film "Keep Pushing."

By John Beifuss of The Commercial Appeal

Following in the footsteps of such Memphis moviemakers as Craig Brewer and Ira Sachs, Kevin Brooks hopes to get a boost from the Sundance Film Festival  not as a professional with a new movie but as a student participant in a program aimed at "emerging filmmakers" with a "clear artistic passion" for cinema.

Brooks, 22, a lifelong Memphian and a senior in the College of Communication and Fine Arts at the University of Memphis, is one of five filmmakers ages 18-24 who were selected to participate in Sundance Ignite, a new program intended to encourage and develop what a Sundance news release calls "powerful new voices in the next generation of filmmakers."

As a Sundance Ignite fellow, Brooks was flown to the Sundance Film Festival on Tuesday for an "intensive" Sundance experience. During the final week of the festival in Park City, Utah, he will watch movies, participate in various creative exercises, pitch projects, enjoy "meaningful industry exposure" and meet his Ignite mentor, Sultan Sharrief, writer-director of "Bilal's Stand," a 2010 Sundance premiere about an African-American Muslim family. Sharrief will act as Brooks' professional mentor for the next year, offering guidance, feedback, support and connections as Brooks works to develop his next project.

The Sundance Ignite application asked would-be participants to submit a short film that was "innovative and bold, so that sparked my attention," said Brooks, who was chosen from among some 300 applicants nationwide. The film he submitted is the 6-minute "Keep Pushing," a nonfiction narrative about a skateboarder that is a followup to "Skate Is Life," a Brooks short film that screened in November at the Indie Memphis Film Festival and at last year's GoPro High-Tech Filmfest at the U of M. Like "Pushing," "Skate"  which took the top prize at the GoPro fest  showcases glorious, gliding camerawork, shot by small digital cameras that capture what could be called a skateboard's point of view.

"It has really a nice mood to it, and beautiful images," said U of M professor Craig Leake, who helped sponsor Brooks' application.

A graduate of Harding Academy, Brooks said he has been making films since age 5, "when my dad brought home a video camera. I used to make little short films with my action figures, with stop-motion animation. And through that I learned the mechanics of telling stories with images."

In recent years, he's made several music videos, many showcasing Memphis rappers. "Doing music videos taught me a lot about being visual and getting an idea across real quickly."

Brooks said he is a big fan of director Paul Thomas Anderson. "'There Will Be Blood,' 'The Master,' 'Boogie Nights,' I love those  the way he creates this universe in the film where you feel like you're there, everything is so authentic. Lately, I've been getting into older cinema  John Cassavetes, Tarkovsky. Just like Paul Thomas Anderson, he puts you inside his world."

At Sundance, Brooks hopes to see "Dark Night," the new movie (inspired by the 2012 movie theater massacre that occurred during a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises") from Tim Sutton, whose previous feature was the micro-budgeted art film "Memphis." Local filmmaker Morgan Jon Fox was assistant director on the Florida-shot "Dark Night," which debuted this week to rave reviews (Variety called it "a sobering rumination on the mindset of a suburban America simultaneously obsessed with and plagued by gun violence"). Also earning much praise at Sundance are the "heartbreaking" (per The Hollywood Reporter) "Christine," co-produced by Memphis-born Nick Case, and "Little Men" ("a little movie brimming with little truths about modern life," according to Variety), the latest from Ira Sachs. Another premiere with a local connection is "The Hollars," produced by Memphis-based Ben Nearn for his Sycamore Pictures company. Meanwhile, stalking the streets of Park City will be former Indie Memphis executive director Erik Jambor, serving as a member of the narrative features jury for the Slamdance Film Festival, another celebration of independent film that runs concurrently with Sundance.

Brooks said he enjoys Sutton's work because "I love movies that try to, I don't know, blend philosophy and film together." But the possibility of meeting filmmakers he admires isn't the only reason Brooks is thrilled about going to Sundance. "I'm excited and nervous because it's my first plane ride."

Film Events

A pair of Memphis film initiatives emerge from holiday-season hibernation next week.

Sponsored by Crosstown Arts and Indie Memphis, the free "Shoot & Splice" filmmaking forum  which offers practical advice as well as theoretical debate  returns at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with a panel discussion titled "Acting on Camera & Working with Actors," hosted by Memphis-based Corey Parker, an actor with credits both local ("One Came Home") and national (a recurring role on "Will & Grace"). Free and open to the public, the event marks the launch of the third season of Shoot & Splice, making the series one of the city's most unheralded arts successes. As always, the event is held at Crosstown Arts at 430 N. Cleveland.

Also co-branded with Indie Memphis and taking place at Crosstown Arts, but a night earlier  at 6:30 p.m. Monday  is a free public workshop hosted by "Film Fatales," a nine-month-old group that describes itself as "a collective of Memphis female filmmakers who meet regularly to support each other, collaborate on projects and discuss topics in film." Described as the inaugural event in a planned "Film Fatales Speaker Series," the talk will be led by Memphis deputy film commissioner Sharon Fox O'Guin, who will discuss the financial incentives and assistance available to local filmmakers. As with Shoot & Splice, networking and socializing are part of the attraction; the events are intended to help foster a genuine community spirit among Memphis filmmakers and film fans.
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By Jody Callahan of The Commercial Appeal

Memphis police were looking Monday night for a man accused of stabbing his wife Sunday afternoon.

Freddie Willingham, 33, was being sought on a warrant accusing him of attempted first-degree murder. The incident happened about 5:20 p.m. in the 3000 block of Queensgate not far from the airport.

According to police, officers found the 32-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds. She was taken to the Regional Medical Center in critical condition. She told police that her husband stabbed her in the head and chest.

Police said Willingham may be driving a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee with the Tennessee tag W1157D. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.
By Yolanda Jones of The Commercial Appeal

Memphis police continued to search Monday for the woman wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of couple outside a Northeast Memphis apartment Friday.

The shooting occurred in the 2100 block of Westchester Circle at Sycamore Lakes Apartments at 3:27 p.m. Friday.

Eddie "E.J." Tate Jr., 38, was found in the parking lot with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A second victim, his girlfriend, Edwina Thomas, 33, was taken to the Regional Medical Center where she later died. Police said Thomas was 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 taken into custody.

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.

Seay was charged with three counts of accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. She was released from jail Saturday after posting a $10,000 bond.

No information on the second suspect has been released by police.
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By Jody Callahan of The Commercial Appeal

Memphis police were investigating two separate shootings that left two men dead Monday night.

The fist shooting happened a little before 6 p.m. in the 1400 block of Rainey in the Frayser area. One male was shot and taken to the Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Witnesses told police that three men in their early 20s were seen leaving in a maroon SUV.

Then, around 9:15 p.m., police received another call, this time to the American Inn at 3265 Elvis Presley in Whitehaven.

Officers found one man with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police had made no arrests in either case late Monday.
Water from the Memphis Sands aquifer sees daylight for the first time since being pumped from the deep below Memphis as it runs through a series of aerators to add oxygen back into the water and help remove carbon dioxide. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)

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By Ryan Poe of The Commercial Appeal

Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division on Tuesday will ship 12,000 bottles of Memphis tap water to Flint, Michigan, city officials said.

Flint has received national attention since the discovery that its water source had exposed thousands to dangerous levels of lead since 2014. President Obama this month declared the crisis a federal state of emergency.

Bernal Smith, publisher of the New Tri-State Defender, approached Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland's administration about helping Flint, and they agreed on the water donation, city spokeswoman Ursula Madden said.

Memphis-based FedEx will ship the water at no charge, she said.
Wanda Halbert

By Ryan Poe of The Commercial Appeal

Shelby County Chancellor Jim Kyle said Tuesday that he'll allow former Memphis City Court clerk candidate Wanda Halbert to bring in an expert to inspect the county's voting machine data  if she shoulders the cost.

Halbert, a former City Council member who lost the citywide Oct. 8 election to Kay Robilio by fewer than 2,000 votes, filed suit Oct. 30 against the Shelby County Election Commission over discrepancies between voting machine data and the commission's final tally of votes.

She alleges that the election commission isn't reconciling voting tabulation discrepancies and wants a "forensic audit" to see why the discrepancies are happening and provide evidence, if there is any, to challenge the election.

Halbert said she doesn't know how much the inspection will cost, but that she'll move forward with hiring an expert. If her expert finds significant problems with the voting data, she could seek to overturn the election in a trial scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on March 22.
SHARE Memphis Light Gas and Water Division, the City of Memphis and FedEx prepare to send 12,000 bottles of water to Flint, Michigan on Tuesday.

By Tom Charlier of The Commercial Appeal

A forklift made trip after trip to load a FedEx truck parked outside Memphis Light, Gas & Water Divisions administration building Tuesday as the city with famously good water prepared a delivery for the city with notoriously foul water.

Within minutes, five pallets containing 12,000 bottles of water were ready to be transported to Flint, Michigan, where a state of emergency has been declared as a result of dangerous levels of lead contamination in the municipal system. The shipment is expected to arrive at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan on Thursday.

The water was donated by MLGW, which draws its supply from a deep, pure aquifer hundreds of feet underground. FedEx is transporting it by truck free of charge.

The impetus for the donation came from a phone call by Bernal E. Smith II, president/publisher of The New Tri-State Defender, to City Hall asking if Memphis could help residents of the troubled city in Michigan. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland credited MLGW President Jerry Collins and FedEx officials for the quick response to Smiths query.

The 500 cases cost the utility $4,100 -- a de minimis amount in the scheme of things, Collins said. The cases were purchased from a private firm that bottles MLGW water for special events.

Memphis water is unusually pure, requiring very little treatment, because most of it fell as rain thousands of years ago and has been trickling through the sand and gravel deposits of the Memphis Sand aquifer ever since. Despite a 22 percent rate increase that took effect this month, Memphis enjoys one of the lowest water rates of any major city.

We have, if not the best, some of the best water in the world, Strickland said after a news conference announcing the donation.

Flints water crisis began two years ago when the city switched its source from Lake Huron to the Flint River, whose more polluted and corrosive water caused lead to leach from pipes. Lead is highly toxic and especially dangerous to children, who can suffer brain damage and learning and behavioral problems after sufficient exposure.
January 21, 2016 - Andy Rambo exits the warmth of this semi-heated tent outside the Shelby County Schools board of education on Avery where he is among 84 parents camped out to increase the chances of securing a place for their children at an optional school. The parents, most of which were trying to get children into the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy, were hopeful the early State of Emergency declaration for Tennessee might lead to getting placeholder numbers to return Monday morning so they don't have to sleep in the cold with an expected winter storm rolling across the Mid-South. "Worst case senario you can get in your car to escape the cold." Rambo said. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)

SHARE January 21, 2016 - Theresa Starling (left) and Lisa Enson huddle around a heater in a make shift warming tent erected by parents camped outside the Shelby County Schools board of education on Avery to increase the chances of securing a place their their children at an optional school. The parents, most of which were trying to get children into the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy, were hopeful the early State of Emergency declaration for Tennessee might lead to getting placeholder numbers to return Monday morning so they don't have to sleep in the cold with an expected winter storm rolling across the Mid-South. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)

By Micaela Watts, Chalkbeat Tennessee

Bundled up in coats, hats and gloves and sitting in a circle around a portable heater, parents Ginger Lord, Sandra Yarbrough and Teresa Starling explained what was motivating them to camp outside of Shelby County Schools' headquarters building for six days amid freezing temperatures, rain, snow and hail.

They were first in line last week to apply for the district's optional schools, and all three were seeking a spot for their children in the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy, a two-year-old optional middle school on the edge of Midtown that has become the school of choice for families seeking a high-achievement public education for their kids in Memphis.

"There's 50 spots for sixth grade at STEAM for students outside of the district," explained Yarbrough, who lives in Cordova, outside the school's zone. "They can't guarantee me I'll get a spot. There were over 1,300 parents here last year. So, I'm third in line. You gotta do what you gotta do."

Shelby County Schools offers 47 optional schools and programs, each with theme-based learning designed to fit children's needs and interests in a district known primarily for low-performing schools.

Every year for the last decade or so, parents have camped on the central office lawn during the week before optional school applications are distributed in order to secure a spot for their children. The hot schools vary from year to year. Among them have been White Station Middle, Grahamwood Elementary and Snowden Middle  all with academic programs that put kids on the college prep track.

This year, the hot school is Maxine Smith STEAM Academy for grades 6-8, which offers an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. The school has a partnership with Christian Brothers University and each student is issued an electronic tablet as part of the school's blended learning program. There are rigorous honors courses, and students must have mostly As and Bs and score at or above the 65th percentile on state achievement tests to be eligible to attend.

The district created the school two years ago to increase options for parents seeking high-performing middle schools with a STEM focus.

"Parents have told me that they're hearing about how great STEAM is at their workplaces, or their church. They're hearing about STEAM in their communities," said Linda Sklar, director of optional schools.

She adds that STEAM has a reputation as a small school with exceptional teachers and a strong principal, Lischa Brooks.

It's enough motivation for parents like Lord, Yarbrough and Starling to endure wet and cold weather and make arrangements for a six-day campout in the middle of Memphis.

As the first parents in line, they have certain responsibilities, including keeping a roll of all parents who are camping out before district officials handed out applications at 6:30 a.m. Monday. About 30 parents were already on the rolls for this year's "tent city" by Thursday.

The district handed out bar-coded applications on a first-come, first-served basis Monday. By 1 p.m., 1,300 had been picked up. Last year, SCS says, 2,700 applications were turned in by the Friday deadline.

Each year, parents complain that there's got to be a better system. And each year, district administrators assure them that there is. They say camping out isn't necessary.

Last January, Sklar said, "99.9 percent of the 2,717 people that applied on the first day were able to get in a school of their choice, if their child met the requirements."

Next school year, Maxine Smith STEAM Academy will have 100 openings for sixth-grade students. Fifty spots are reserved for students who live within 2 miles of the school; the rest for those who live beyond that radius.

Parents say they don't know what a solution to camping out would look like, but it might be to develop more high-quality schools like STEAM.

"The best way would be for every child to have the same quality of education," said Elizabeth Manoah, camping out to get her son in STEAM. "For people to have to wait in order for their child to get a quality school,  that's not right."

Chalkbeat Tennessee is a nonprofit news organization covering educational change in public schools. Read more about Tennessee education news at tn.chalkbeat.org.
January 25, 2016 - Flanked by fellow voucher opponents, Amber Sherman (center) heckels a group of school voucher supporters after they crashed her press conference to speak out against the voucher system at the Board of Education offices Monday afternoon. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

SHARE January 25, 2016 - School Voucher supporter Roxie Nunnally (left) listens to Shelby County School Board member Stephanie Love after a press conference called by opponents of the Voucher system at the Board of Education offices. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

By Jennifer Pignolet of The Commercial Appeal

A media conference to speak out against a school voucher bill making its way through the state legislature turned into a clash between groups on both sides of the issue Monday afternoon.

The group against vouchers called the rally, but many refused to let a group of voucher supporters state their counterpoint when approached on public property outside the Shelby County School Board of Education office by members of the media.

Mendell Grinter, Tennessee's state director for the Black Alliance for Educational Options, endured repeated calls of "cop-out" and "sell-out" from the anti-voucher crowd as he spoke to the media.

"The reality is all of our children are not getting the same great education," Grinter said, emphasizing that vouchers are about school choice.

The bill, which would give students in districts with struggling schools public money to go to private schools, is scheduled for discussion in the House Finance Committee Tuesday. Last week, the bill made its way out of a key finance subcommittee, previously the biggest hurdle voucher bills have faced.

The group against the bill, which included SCS board members Stephanie Love and Mike Kernell, called the rally to address what they said were issues of accountability for private schools and underfunding for public schools.

"As an educator from Arlington, I know the voucher bill and the movement behind it targets all public schools, not just low test scores," Tennessee Education Association president Barbara Gray said.

Kernell took a practical approach to his reasoning against the voucher bill, pointing out that one student leaving public school with a voucher means a classroom of 30 students is shorted $8,000 in state funding.

"That means we might not be able to hire a teacher's aide for that classroom," Kernell said. "That leaves the other 29 students in the lurch."

Price Harris, a parent of two students in the Germantown Municipal School District, said he took time off from work to join the group of about 15 parents, teachers and board members protesting vouchers.

"Any bill that takes one dollar out of the public schools for anything is wrong," Harris said. "They have to (make) do with so little as it is now."

As the anti-voucher group made their case, the group of voucher supporters stood quietly nearby, holding signs and wearing scarves commemorating School Choice Week, which is this week.

But when asked for a reaction, Roxie Nunnally, a supporter of the voucher program, also had to speak over interruptions from the anti-voucher crowd. She said she also is a supporter of public education.

"We just think the students need more options," she said.
December 18, 2013 - In this file photograph a FedEx jet taxis to the Memphis hub. A tax break for FedEx was approved by the city of Collierville's board.

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By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal

FedEx asked Collierville for a 20-year tax break in exchange for keeping its big information technology center in the town, and on Monday the board of mayor and aldermen complied, voting to give the global shipping giant a new tax break deal expected to run through 2038.

The vote was 4-2. Voting yes were Mayor Stan Joyner and Aldermen Maureen Fraser, John L. Stamps and John Worley. Aldermen Tom Allen and Billy Patton voted no.

FedEx's high-paying jobs have shaped the town's economy and culture, and its presence serves as a selling point as the town tries to recruit more businesses. The vote also illustrates that in such tax break matters, companies frequently hold most of the power, because governments fear that if they don't provide the financial support the company wants, another community will.

Worley publicly pointed toward the example of General Electric, which this month announced it was moving its headquarters from Fairfield, Connecticut, to Boston.

"We need to keep FedEx and... if we don't vote this in today, I'd be willing to bet there will be a hundred phone calls calling FedEx, 'Bring your headquarters to us. We'll take care of you.' "

The aldermen voting no said the benefits to FedEx will come at the cost of other taxpayers and that the town should have negotiated harder. "I think everybody should pay their fair share," Allen said.

The town's tax breaks will last 20 years. The vote also covers a 15-year Shelby County tax break, the maximum the county allows.

FedEx opened its World Technology Center complex in 1998. The 20-year tax breaks it received that year will expire around the beginning of 2019. The company has said it's negotiating renewals of leases.

Under the current tax break deal, FedEx enjoys nearly a 100 percent write-off of town property taxes. Its current annual payment to the town totals $1,400, said finance director Mark Krock. Under the new agreement, the company would have 75 percent of its town taxes written off, and it would pay significantly more to the town, about $326,000 per year, according to a work sheet distributed earlier this month.

Including both town and Shelby County taxes, the company would pay an estimated $25.2 million over the course of the new tax break deal and save about $75.5 million, the work sheet says.

FedEx wrote in its application for tax breaks that it employs 2,425 professional workers with an average salary of $95,000 and 75 clerical workers with an average salary of $45,000. An additional 400 contractors work at the site at a salary described by the company as "unknown."

Patton asked several pointed questions about the contractors and related issues, including how many FedEx employees had taken a recent buyout offer. Company spokesman Patrick Fitzgerald said in the meeting that he didn't have that information.

Patton, a former FedEx information technology employee who now owns a Collierville computer store, said in the meeting that he believes contractors are paid less than the FedEx employees, about $50,000 or $60,000 a year. He also repeated a criticism he'd made in an interview with The Commercial Appeal: that FedEx is training foreign contract workers, then sending them back to continue the job overseas.

"So these are not employees that will seek to buy new homes," he said in the meeting. "These are temporary employees who will take American jobs back to India."

The FedEx employees present at the meeting didn't respond to Patton's accusation about contractors. Last week Fitzgerald declined to answer questions from The Commercial Appeal about contractors.

Among the people speaking in favor of FedEx was John J. Barrios, chairman of the Collierville Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He said in the meeting the organization's directors unanimously voted last week to support the further tax breaks. "We feel like FedEx is an ideal corporate citizen. It's important to our community and our economy."
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By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal

A pair of second-term DeSoto County legislators have been named to Senate committee chairmanships by Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves.

Sen. Chris Massey of Nesbit, who represents DeSoto County's Senate District 1, will head the Ethics Committee, which deals with questions of ethics in government and public office. Sen. David Parker of Olive Branch, who represents District 2, will serve as chairman of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, overseeing issues related to Mississippi's National Guard, veterans and other military-related matters.

Both senators are Republicans, as is Reeves.

In addition to their chairmanships, each DeSoto senator also will serve as committee co-chairs: Massey on the Housing Committee, and Parker on the Local and Private Committee.

The appointments were part of Reeves' complete list of Senate committee assignments unveiled Monday for a four-year term that started in early January. Committee assignments in the House have not yet been released.

Parker, an optometrist, said Tuesday afternoon he met earlier in the day with veterans affairs groups to begin getting up to speed on their priorities.

"As the son of a World War II vet, I think I can sympathize with their needs," Parker said. "I plan on meeting with them more in the next couple of weeks to find out what's important."

In his role as vice chairman of the Local and Private Committee, Parker said he plans to champion legislation that will return more sales tax revenue to DeSoto County.

"I'll be backing legislation that would send another 1.5 percent to the county," Parker said.

Local municipalities receive 18.5 percent of locally generated tax revenue. The bill Parker is pushing would gradually raise the local share to 20 percent over a three-year period.

He said his leadership role on the Local and Private Committee allows him to promote such measures, which he said are needed as DeSoto County deals with growth and economic competition.

"The challenges DeSoto faces due to our population growth and proximity to Memphis requires flexibility in local government," Parker said. "When the state makes exceptions to general policies for specific needs in an area, that will go through the Local and Private Committee."

Massey, like Parker, is taking on a new subject as head of the Ethics Committee. He too is spending time getting acquainted with the topic and meeting with others to get up to speed before bills are introduced.

"Right now, I think everybody is still trying to get their feet on the ground as the session really begins to get underway," Massey said.

In other committee appointments, the lieutenant governor  who oversees the Senate  kept the same leadership in place on the Senate's two powerful money committees.

Sen. Eugene "Buck" Clarke of Hollandale will remain chairman of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Joey Fillingane of Sumrall will stay on as head of Finance, which handles tax and bond bills.

Also, Reeves replaced Sen. Chris McDaniel as chairman of the Elections Committee and moved him to chairmanship of the less-powerful Constitution Committee. McDaniel, a tea party favorite, fell out of favor with Reeves and the rest of the GOP establishment over his long, and ultimately unsuccessful, fight to unseat Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Mississippi.

On the House side, it remains to be seen how much influence DeSoto County will have when committee appointments are announced after a major turnover that saw four Republican incumbents unseated by upstart candidates who had the support of a group backing charter schools.

Former Reps. Pat Nelson, Wanda Jennings, Forrest Hamilton and Gene Alday were unseated, respectively, by Ashley Henley, Steve Hopkins, Dana Criswell and Dan Eubanks.
Photos by Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal A family member is comforted outside 733 Dunlap following a fatal fire Monday morning. The fire marked the citys first fire fatality of 2016.

SHARE Memphis firefighters look back at a house at 733 Dunlap after they extinguished a fire there Monday morning. The body of a 56-year-old woman was found in the home. Her name was not released, but neighbors said she was a longtime resident of the Smokey City area.

By Yolanda Jones of The Commercial Appeal

A 56-year-old woman died in a house fire Monday in North Memphis, fire officials said.

It was unclear what started the fire just before 9 a.m. in a bedroom of the home in the 700 block of Dunlap Street, Memphis Fire Department spokesman Lt. Wayne Cooke said.

"She was found in the bedroom of the home," Cooke said. "We are not sure at this time what caused the fire.''

Distraught family members stood across the street from the home after the fire. The front of the brick home was damaged by the blaze.

Neighbors said the woman, who fire officials had not identified, was a longtime resident of the Smokey City area and had two sons.

"It's a sad day. She was a real nice lady," said neighbor and family friend Darryl Becton.

Neighbor Dianne Peete added, "This hurts. She was great."

This is the first fire fatality in the city this year. Last year, the city recorded 10 fire deaths.
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Call him a gadfly, slick lawyer or wily businessman, but if you really knew John Jay Hooker, you knew that he was sincere in the causes he espoused, including his last one.

Hooker, 85, a prominent figure in Tennessee politics for five decades, died Sunday after suffering from metastatic melanoma. His last days were spent fighting to make physician-assisted suicide legal in Tennessee.

His repeated runs for political office earned him the "gadfly" label, but he was bulldog in his efforts to reform campaign financing, how judges are appointed and other causes to improve the human condition.

And, over the course of his life, he gave Tennesseans something to smile or laugh about.

Perhaps U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis summed Hooker up best, calling him "brilliant, bodacious and brash. ... He thought big and he acted on those thoughts and beliefs ... he was lifetime progressive."

Tennessee has seen its share of political gadflies over the decades and most, if not all, have had little to offer in terms of substance. That is what made Hooker different. He had substance.
SHARE Mendell Grinter

By Mendell Grinter

To expand opportunity and equity in education for more children, Tennessee lawmakers should pass House Bill 1049  the Tennessee Choice and Opportunity Scholarship Act.

Far too many children in our state, particularly from low-income households, find themselves in schools, where their chances for success are diminished the moment they enter the schoolhouse doors.

Thirty-four percent of low-income eighth-graders, including 49 percent of African-American eighth-graders, read below basic level (or at levels of functional illiteracy), according to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress.

One of every three low-income students who begin high school, including one out of every five African-American teens, lacks the knowledge and academic skills he or she needs to graduate, complete any form of higher education and excel in adulthood.

One of the underlying reasons so many children struggle is because their parents do not have access to high-quality educational options. Some 10,100 Tennessee students attend high schools where less than 67 percent of them will be promoted from freshmen to seniors, according to America's Promise Alliance.

African-American students make up 88 percent of children trapped in those schools. Research shows that even before high school, adequate educational opportunities are lacking for our children. Only 6.5 percent of Tennessee middle school students (and only 5 percent of African-American seventh- and eighth-graders) were able to access algebra, a key academic course that contributes to college and career success.

The state has increased the number of public charter schools, but it is not enough. All children deserve equal opportunities to receive great teaching and learning every day, from the time they begin kindergarten until they graduate from high school.

By introducing means-tested Opportunity Scholarship programs, we can expand equity and access to high-quality schools for more children in Tennessee. According to a recent poll by the Black Alliance for Educational Options, 64 percent of African-American voters in Tennessee said they support Opportunity Scholarship programs for children in their communities.

Through these programs, low-income and working-class parents can help their children escape failing schools. Children should not be denied access to great schools based on their family's inability to pay.

By expanding access to private schools, legislators in other states are helping low-income students succeed and excel. High school graduation rates increased by 12 percentage points for children in the District of Columbia using the city's opportunity scholarship program. In Milwaukee, the opportunity scholarship program improved college enrollment and completion rates by as much as 7 percent, according to research conducted by Patrick Wolf of the University of Arkansas.

The benefits of opportunity scholarship programs extend beyond the students who participate. As Anna Egalite of North Carolina State University detailed in her study of such programs in Indiana and Louisiana, the initiatives modestly improved student achievement (across the board) in traditional public schools.

Through supporting Opportunity Scholarships, Tennessee legislators can cast a spotlight on the need to improve learning environments and outcomes for every child, which in turn will benefit the community at-large and grow the local economy.

All Tennessee children deserve educational opportunities that can help them become knowledgeable and employable. It is our hope that our lawmakers will continue to support legislation for Opportunity Scholarship programs. Doing so will help to make the shared goal of providing high-quality educational options for every child a reality.

Mendell Grinter is Tennessee state director of the Black Alliance for Educational Options, a national nonprofit education advocacy organization founded in 2000 to increase access to high-quality educational options for African-American children.
MONT BLANC and the Mercantour National Park are two of the latest additions to be mapped by the increasingly mis-titled Google Street View.

The Mont Blanc project has been carried out in part to continue to visually map the decline of glaciers on western Europes highest peak as this video explains.

Google teamed up with mountain guides to document several routes on the Mont Blanc massif and record the history of exploration in the area. Here is a good starting point for virtual treks.

Over the past few months Google workers have also taken to the hills of the Mercantour National Park, using a rucksack camera called a Trekker to record walks.

The Mercantour is the first national park in France to be given such a treatment, with 19 routes captures by the multi-angled camera.

While the Google Street View car, recognised around the world for capturing some pretty strange goings-on, has been left behind, not all the work has been done on foot (the shadow of a skimobile appears in some of the winter shots).

To see it, go to Google Street View and drag across the yellow figure onto the walking routes.

The Mercantour was designated a national park in 1979. Marchs Connexion has a feature on the development of Frances national parks.

To subscribe to the print edition of Connexion click here.

Photo:Google Street View
Peter Smallbone is a Conservative activist living in Birmingham and a former Councillor for the city.

The West Midlands. The only emotion the term is likely to engender, if any, is one of mild confusion. Its basically just Birmingham isnt it? But you get MEPs for the West Midlands, so it must be fairly big, right?

This is where the identity crisis begins. To start with, there are at least two West Midlandses: the six-county region that elects seven MEPs; and the much smaller county that includes, inter alia, the cities of Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton.

The latter was created in 1974 with a corresponding County Council. During the councils brief existence, it was frequently criticised for being authoritative and out of touch, as well as a Labour thorn in Thatchers side. By 1985, the Conservative government had lost patience and scrapped it the following year, along with five others and the much more widely remembered Greater London Council.

For some reason, the old county structure was never put back and the West Midlands struggled on for the next thirty years, its identity kept alive largely by the eponymous police, fire and public transport services.

Things are set to change with the creation of the West Midlands Combined Authority. As in Greater Manchester, the concept really does promise a devolution revolution, with considerable money and power transferred from Whitehall to Wolverhampton, West Bromwich and Walsall.

Sadly, when it comes to communication and public engagement, all of the signs so far point to the WMCA repeating the mistakes of its County Council forebear. The name is the first problem. Greater Manchester have come up with a really good name for their combined authority: they have called it Greater Manchester Combined Authority. It works because Manchester is a real place. But as weve already seen, the West Midlands is not, so the name West Midlands Combined Authority is pointless.

To compound this rather depressing point, let us now turn to what WMCA laughingly describe as their Open Survey, intended to solicit the views of ordinary Brummies, Wulfrunians and Silhillians. You can find it here. Question Four goes like this:

By better coordination of strategic issues on economic development, regeneration and transport across the region and by improving partnership working through the creation of a Combined Authority, councils will be better placed to secure more effective and convenient local government and better services in general.

This is a sentence (note a sentence) of which the old West Midlands County Councils apparatchiks would surely be proud. So detached in its irrelevance. So untouchable in its banality. So resplendent in its incomprehensibility. Indeed, it is one of two questions in the survey to post a negative readability score.

The only hope lies in the deal that WMCA recently struck with the Treasury. The most interesting and important commitment in the full deal document, which as you would expect by now is entirely absent from the summary document, is a new, directly elected Mayor for the West Midlands.

The first mayoral election will be in May 2017, so if past performance is anything to go by, we have around another year to put up with more of the same from the West Midlands Combined Authority. But the authority already has an image problem. To avoid the fate of the old County Council, the new mayor will need to get a grip on this, and quickly.
Nick Timothy is Director of the New Schools Network and a former Chief of Staff to Theresa May.

I like the idea of more autonomy for schools, people often tell me, but I do have a problem with faith schools. After a short pause, they usually go on to say, well, I dont really mean faith schools, I mean Muslim schools.

Its not difficult to see, given the dangers we face from extremism and radicalisation, why people jump to this conclusion. In the last couple of weeks alone, we have seen a six-year old English child in Luton posing as a jihadist for photographs, apparently in tribute to Jihadi John. We have learned that more than four hundred children below the age of ten have been referred to Channel, the deradicalisation programme. And we have read reports that a private Islamic-ethos school in London suspended one of its pupils simply for talking to a student of the opposite sex.

But those who argue that there should be no role for faith and religion in the school system are wrong. For starters, our education system is for historical reasons inextricably linked with religion. Any attempt to disentangle schools from the Church of England  and other churches and faith groups, for that matter  would be a perilous walk through a never-ending legal minefield. An Education Secretary who tried to take the churches out of education would not just be courageous, in theYes, Minister sense of the word, he or she would be suicidal. And such an approach would not only be controversial, it would be counter-productive: parents like faith schools and the ethos and high standards they tend to bring. They are significantly more likely to be rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and 1.8 million children  one in four pupils  are educated in them.

Okay, some will say, interfering with the Church of Englands role in education is a legal and logistical nightmare, but do we really want any more faith schools? But why  since we are now a multi-faith society  should the right to have your children educated in accordance with the values of your faith be limited to some religions and not others? The positive arguments in favour of Anglican and Catholic faith schools apply just as well to those of other religions, too.

There are many good examples of existing faith schools to choose from. Nishkam High School, a Sikh-ethos, multi-faith free school in Birmingham, the Tauheedul Islam Boys High School, an Islamic-ethos free school in Blackburn, Krishna Avanti, a Hindu-ethos free school in Harrow, and Alma Primary School, a Jewish-ethos free school in London, are all providing an excellent education for their pupils  and they are all teaching their children how to grow up in accordance with the pluralistic values of modern Britain. Clearly, there should be enough good school places in the local system to ensure that parents who dont want to send their children to a faith school should not be forced to do so, but that is not an argument against the existence of faith schools.

But what about the minority of people who try to abuse the school system to impose divisive beliefs on impressionable young children? It should go without saying that there need to be strong rules in place to make sure that a schools curriculum, its uniform, disciplinary and admissions policies are appropriate and in accordance with British values. And there needs to be a structure in place to enforce these rules aggressively and make sure that nobody abuses the trust placed in them by parents and society as a whole.

But lets remember that the most notorious example in this country of schools being taken over and run by religious hardliners  the Trojan Horse plot in Birmingham  did not involve a single faith school. The schools that were targeted were a mixture of academies and schools maintained by Birmingham City Council. The lessons of the Trojan Horse plot were not, therefore, about the rights and wrongs of faith schools, free schools or academies, but  as Peter Clarke made clear in his report  about poor governance, inadequate Ofsted inspections, and negligence by Birmingham City Council which failed to intervene appropriately.

So given that extremist takeovers can take place in schools that are not faith-designated, it would be odd to conclude that in response to Trojan Horse we should clamp down on faith schools. Retreating into an anti-faith mentality would penalise the majority of parents because of the actions of an extremist minority, but it would be a grave error for bigger reasons than that. As the experience of France tells us  which has banned the burqa and bars religion from its schools  aggressive secularism does not work. It goes against the grain of human nature, it makes us less likely to understand one another, and it risks driving certain religious practices underground. If we do not, for example, give parents the chance to educate their children in a school based on their religious values  a state school that can be easily inspected and regulated  they are likely to rely on private schools and supplementary schools which will inevitably be harder to keep tabs on.

But that does not mean the Government cannot do more to use the schools system to fight extremism and promote integration. First, it should encourage the growth of new and existing school chains so schools that are mono-racial and mono-religious because of their geography are incorporated into multi-racial and multi-religious trusts. This would make it easier to get children from different backgrounds in divided communities like Birmingham and Blackburn to mix between schools without having to resort to policies that amount to social engineering.

Second, the Government should create a new category of need when it considers new free school applications. This would mean that schools can be established not just when there is basic need, caused by a rising school age population, or educational need, caused by poor standards in the local area, but where there is social need, caused by a lack of social mixing between communities. People who want to set up non-denominational schools or multi-faith schools that bring children together, like the Collective Spirit free school in Oldham for example, perhaps with catchment areas designed to encourage a mix of pupils, should be given permission to open accordingly.

Third, the Government should abolish its admissions rule for faith-designated free schools  which requires a school, when it is over-subscribed, to limit the number of pupils it accepts on the basis of faith to fifty per cent  and replace it with a more effective approach. The existing rule fails according to its own objective: it does little to increase the diversity of Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu schools, because for now at least they are unlikely to appeal to parents of other faiths. But the rule is effectively discriminatory for Roman Catholics: it prevents them from opening new free schools because it is almost certainly against canon law for a Catholic Bishop to set up a school that turned away Catholic pupils on the basis of their Catholicism. Given that there is growing demand for Roman Catholic schools, which are more likely to be ethnically diverse than other schools, more likely to be in poor areas, more likely to be rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and more likely to provide what parents want, the rule should be replaced by a legal duty on faith schools to ensure that their pupils mix  perhaps through sport, performing arts, or school visits  with children of other backgrounds.

This is a much better approach than trying to close down faith schools, relying on discriminatory admissions rules and ignoring parents wishes. We wont succeed in bringing together our divided communities by pretending to be something were not, penalising people for what they believe, or trying to turn others into something they do not want to be. We will bring communities together by encouraging people, especially young people, to understand, respect and like one another for what they are. So next time there is a debate about how to tackle extremism and there are calls to push faith into the margins  whether it is in schools, society or in public life  we should resist those calls and do what conservatives always do. Instead of trying to re-make man in an unrealistic, idealised image, we should be pragmatic and go with the grain of human nature.
If George Osborne wants one thing other than to become Prime Minister, its to become Prime Minister without turning into Gordon Brown.

The parallels  a Chancellor who aspires to take over from the personally popular leader whom he helped to secure the top job  have always suggested themselves. Osborne has resisted any impetus to become bitter or resentful towards his friend and Downing Street neighbour (though some argue he has given in to the temptation to use his control of the purse strings to buy popularity), but now he faces the most tricky period of his plan.

Think back to what happened with Brown. He engineered a coronation as party leader, bottled the election that never was, and thus became Prime Minister without holding an election. His ideological and character flaws played a major part in his downfall, but the manner of his ascent cast a shadow over his judgement and his legitimacy from the outset.

Brown was Osbornes first, and most serious, opponent in the Treasury brief. As a result, the Chancellor studied him extremely closely and his errors will no doubt be at the forefront of Osbornes strategising mind as he makes his plans.

The first hurdle  winning the Conservative leadership  is far from guaranteed. He wont find himself unopposed in seeking the job. Indeed, learning from Browns mistake in crushing all opposition, I suspect he would prefer to fight and win rather than be crowned.

Octopus Osborne has worked hard to extend his patronage within the Parliamentary Conservative Party to ensure a place in the final two  after that it will be in the hands of the Party membership.

But if he does win, what then? Given the impact on Browns premiership of that disastrous decision to hype up a snap election and then balk at the last moment, he may well want to go to the country to secure his mandate. After so long as the loyal right hand man, he wants to be more than just a continuity candidate, getting on with Camerons mission using the majority that Cameron won. A General Election would allow him to mark the beginning of a new era, not just the new boss, same as the old boss.

The state of the Opposition lends weight to the argument. Rather than run the risk of Corbyn being knocked off his bike or overthrown by Labours relatively moderate rump, or  worse  allowing the Corbynites to effect a transition to an anointed, younger and less immediately obviously extreme successor, it would be hugely tempting to force Labour to face the voters in their current state of disarray. The electorate which rejected Ed Miliband as untrustworthy with the economy and national security would surely judge Corbyn, McDonnell and their unpalatable platform even more harshly.

It would obviously be desirable for Osborne to begin his leadership with a General Election. But would it be possible? Im sure its by coincidence that The Times mentioned yesterday that the Fixed-term Parliaments Act  a dreadful piece of constitutional litter which should never have been granted to the Liberal Democrats  would need to be dealt with first.

The Act often causes a lot of confusion, with its demands for a double vote of no confidence, or a supermajority to call a snap election. But in reality its quite simple. It would have caused a headache for a minority Conservative Government (as I wrote last March, when such a thing seemed possible) but it would pose little issue for a newly-minted Prime Minister, at the head of a Conservative majority government.

It would go one of three ways:

Either Osborne (or Boris, or May, or whoever else might be the next leader) could propose a General Election, and dare Corbyn or his MPs to demonstrate their cowardice by refusing to provide the two-thirds majority required to vote the motion through.

Or the new Prime Minister could rally Conservative MPs to simply repeal the Act  a simple approach, though one which would pose a slight risk of being thwarted by a rebellion.

Or, the most secure route, someone could propose a vote of no confidence in the Government, giving the Opposition 14 days to form a new Government, at the end of which the Conservative majority could simply vote that they had no confidence in the proposed alternative administration, and an election would be declared.

If that election comes to pass, and it delivers an increased Conservative majority as anticipated, then there would be plenty of opportunity to get rid of the Fixed-term Parliaments Aact with a simple vote to repeal, banishing it back to the dusty Lib Dem ideas folder whence it came.

Whatever one might think of the Chancellor, theres no denying that he plays a long game. Id be surprised if this hasnt been written into his plan for quite some time.
Some troubling things have been happening on university campuses of late  student unions have long been bastions of painfully extreme political correctness, but many appear to have gone into overdrive. Edinburgh has banned students from laughing during union speeches, East Anglia has banned sombreros as a racist symbol, Cardiff students tried to ban Germaine Greer from delivering a lecture and Oxford University tied itself into knots in the autumn by banning a free speech magazine.

Its a disturbing trend  so-called safe space policies are being used to put a stop to exactly what university should be about, namely intellectual experimentation, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and an open battle of ideas.

Happily, not all students are either taking part in this censorship or simply ignoring it as another outgrowth of weird student union politics. The Evening Standard reports that three LSE students have founded a speakeasy society, specifically with the intention of challenging this new puritanism:

The Speakeasy is planning three campaigns: inviting people who have been no-platformed (prevented from speaking) to talk, another recounting the history of free speech and the third, called Expose Yourself, debating ideas that people might be uncomfortable with.

Good on them. No doubt their opponents will try to close it down, and no doubt the row will attract even more people to be interested in free speech  as always happens when po-faced commissars try to shut people up. Should they ever need a speaker from the Tory side of things, Id be happy to oblige.
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Angela Kane representative for Disarmament Affairs of German UN from 2012-2015 expressed her concern about the lethal technology and said that the world is complacent in taking proactive methods to protect the humanity. "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. According to the scientists, deploying autonomous weaponry could unleash a new era of warfare. "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," as reported by Discovery News

Russell also added that he did not anticipate a day in which the robots are fighting the human wars and one side ends up saying "OK you won, so you can have all our women."

In an open letter last July, more than 1,000 science and technology experts, including renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking, said that it is only a matter of when the weapons with the autonomous decision making will be developed will be possible in the next few years and not decades. They collectively called for a prohibition on these autonomous weapons that may not be easily controlled by humans. They also warned that the world is at a risk of being in the clutches of artificial intelligence powered arms race. They also pointed out about the risk of these weapons falling into the wrongful hands of violent extremists, Discovery News reported

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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There are some genetically engineered monkeys that have been injected with a rare human gene related to autism by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The attempt has been to understand brain malfunctions in the disorder leading to behavioral problems, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The transgenic monkeys mirror the "social isolation and repetitive behaviour" observed in most "autism spectrum disorders".

"We think this transgenic monkey offers a unique model to study human autism disorders," said Zilong Qui, lead researcher.

The monkeys displayed some psychiatric symptoms of autism, which included "pacing in circles and decreased social interaction", reports MIT Technology Review.

A couple of the apes even fell very sick just as shown by human children with the autism gene defect.

Chinese researchers are also using the genetically modified monkeys so that they can examine related diseases such as Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease. The experiment has raised a controversy, but many believe that the study is important in order to arrive at some conclusions regarding the disease.

"For understanding the human brain, we better have an animal model with a brain very close to the human brain," said Mu-ming Poo, director of a neuroscience institute in which five teams are developing transgenic monkeys in order to study various movement-related problems. "We think a nonhuman primate is absolutely required in the long run for the development of drugs for human psychiatric diseases."

However, even though the research is understood to be very beneficial, it might not get duplicated in the U.S. due to the "higher price and heightened controversy surrounding research on non-human primates", according to Scientific American.

The findings were published in Jan. 25,2016 issue of Nature.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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Since 1981, cancer has been cited as the number one killer in Japan. It was responsible for the 29% of the 1.27 million deaths according to 2014 cancer mortality rate data.

In order to minimize the number of deaths due to cancer, the health ministry commissioned a 10-year cancer survival rate study which yielded both good and bad news. A 2007 law mandated health authorities to establish a special council tasked with the burden of bringing cancer deaths down within a 10-year target according to Japan Times.

The survey revealed that cancer patients have an average 58.2% chance of survival for the next 10 years and 63.1% for another five years.

Japan's National Cancer Center-led study is the world's first involving a careful analysis of 35, 287 cancer records of patients who received treatment between 1999 and 2002 at 16 various specialized facilities under the Japanese Association of Clinical Cancer Centers.

Although more than half of cancer patients are estimated to survive for the next ten years of their lives, the study also presented other insightful findings on cancer mortality in Japan.

Findings show that chance of survival and mortality vary according to cancer type. Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer have 90.9% chance of staying alive for 10 years. High markers also include breast, cervical, and uterine cancers which all have more than 70% survival rate as mentioned in a report by The Motley Fool.

Low markers are deemed very dangerous with survival rate under 30% such as bile duct, esophagus, gallbladder, liver, and pancreatic cancers.

However, doctors warn the public to remain vigilant and avoid complacency as some cancers (e.g. breast & liver) have higher risk of recurrence than others.

The positive reduction in cancer mortality reflects the overall improvement of cancer treatment that focuses on early detection and prevention.

"Cancer treatment is improving, and the 10-year survival rate of those getting treated now will be even higher," remarked Tomomitsu Hotta of the National Cancer Center as quoted saying by Asian Nikkei Review.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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Children's welfare advocates in the UK has stepped the public discussion over the case of Dylan Seabridge, an eight-year-old boy from Wales who died of scurvy at home in 2011.

The concern was raised after leaked official report revealed that the local social and education services in Wales failed to place home-schooled Dylan under the government's radar.

The young Dylan succumbed to scurvy after collapsing in his own home before being rushed to a nearby hospital. The wider implication of the case is that it sends a nationwide imperative for locating and identifying others like home-educated Dylan who may have also slipped under the government's welfare radar.

"This is a rare case, but I don't think that Dylan Seabridge is the only child who is completely under the radar in Britain. We should be learning what we can very clearly from this case and as quickly as possible," remarked Sally Holland, Wales' children's commissioner as quoted saying by The Guardian.

Local education and social services units in Wales are currently being criticized for their apparent failure to monitor and prevent the child's deteriorating condition despite being informed of Dylan's worsening health a year prior to his death. The disease could have been easily cured or prevented had the government only paid adequate attention.

According to Daily Mail, a concerned teacher and a lawyer had alerted local officials regarding the child's predicament- Dylan received his education at home under the care of his mother who had mental health problems.

The case was initially brought to public light after the post-mortem exam revealed that scurvy- a deficiency in Vitamin C and other essential nutrients- was the reason for the boy's untimely death.

A report by The Telegraph said that the parents, Glynn and Julie Seabridge, were initially taken to police custody for neglect and ill-treatment but were later released pending a thorough review of their case by the local court.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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People who work at hookah bars have a high risk of being exposed to secondhand smoke, a new study reported.

The researchers set out to examine how working at a hookah bar can affect one's health especially since "hookah [water pipe] use is often exempt from clean indoor-air laws that protect people from secondhand smoke," senior author Terry Gordon said. Gordon is a toxicologist and professor in the department of environmental medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center located in New York City.

The team noted that in New York City, there are about 140 hookah bars and lounges.

For this study, the researchers recruited 10 hookah bar employees and tested them after they were finished with their work shifts. The team found that the employees had inhaled large amounts of carbon monoxide and nicotine. The team also found evidence of inflammation that could be tied to lung disease in the employees.

In some of the workers, the effects of inhaling hookah air were similar to the effects seen in people who were heavy cigarette smokers.

The researchers wrote in their study, "These results demonstrate that hookah bars have elevated concentrations of indoor air pollutants that appear to cause adverse health effects in employees. These data indicate the need for further research and a marked need for better air quality monitoring and policies in such establishments to improve the indoor air quality for workers and patrons."

"Ours is the first study that links poor hookah bar air quality to damaging effects in workers, and the results recommend closer monitoring of this industry to protect the public," Gordon said reported by HealthDay via U.S. News and World Report.

The researchers added that oftentimes, young people think that hookah is a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes. However, more studies are finding evidence that hookah is not as safe as people might think.

"Our findings challenge the belief that secondhand exposure to hookah smoke is safe," Gordon said. "We hope that our paper leads to larger studies of indoor air quality and regulations that protect workers and patrons."

The study's findings were published in the journal, Tobacco Control.

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Selective Humanity Of Iranian Human Rights Organisations

By Rahim Hamid

26 January, 2016

Countercurrents.org

Human rights principles in the modern era were founded based on agreements that were supposed to recognise and grant basic human rights to different groups of people regardless of their race, colour, religious beliefs and geographic locations.

Based on these agreements, every human being has inherent rights including freedom of conscience, equality in the enjoyment of pursuit of happiness in terms of civic, cultural, legal and political rights.

These rights have been adopted by many countries, and the governments are obligated to abide by these international conventions to respect the dignity of all people.

In recent years, a number of Iranian human rights organisations have been established abroad. An important question is why the course of activities of these institutions is almost always directed on Tehran's residents and the central parts of Iran, ignoring the most marginalised parts of the country?

There are many questions that need to be answered about the performance of Iranian human rights activists. To investigate the performance of the Iranian human rights organisations, I have reviewed and listed the experiences and interactions of ethnic groups, in particular, Ahwazi Arab rights campaigners who have so far had contact with the Iranian human rights organisations.

The central domain of concern to Iranian human rights activists:

The core attention of the majority of Iranian rights groups has broadly been devoted to spotlight the violations that are committed against persons that live in Tehran capital and central Persian regions. These organisations in their written goals claim that they are seeking democracy, civil freedom and putting an end to racial oppression and discriminations but such stated objects have never been put into actions when they deal with the human rights issues linked to Ahwazi Arabs as well as other ethnic groups. Until about two years ago, there has not been even a simple statement or action by Iranian human rights organisations denouncing the execution and persecution perpetrated against the Arab people of Ahwaz. Only after many actions carried by Ahwazi activists only two or three organizations, among dozens of Iranian human rights organisations, took action by revealing the human rights violations in Ahwaz. The other organisations engaged in ultra-racist duplicity to evade highlighting the Ahwazi plight.

Iranian human rights activist ways of dealing with human rights violations in Ahwaz

Due to intense security environment in Ahwaz, filled with ongoing threats to the families of the Ahwazi prisoners as well as the accompaniment of the heavily censored Persian media outlets, the blackout on regime violations inflicted upon Ahwazis has become an excuse frequently made to Iranian human rights activists. Allegedly, as a result of the lack of information about the victims, they are denied the news of violations exercised by the regime in Al-Ahwaz. But, when it comes to the issue of persons in the Iranian capital and other Persian regions, these so-called Iranian rights organisations in many cases basing their reports on guesses and predictions, have been several statements expressing their grave concern about the human rights situation of Persian people there.

Biased judgment and political orientations adopted by Iranian rights activists:

Many Iranian human rights organisations affiliated with political opposition groups such as Iranian National Front known for having Persian-centered , ethnocentric, and anti-Arab sentiments benefit from media blocks imposed during the crackdown on Ahwazi Arab activists and promoted charges pressed against Ahwazis by the Iranian clerical regime. In the meeting organized by the Solidarity Network for Democracy and Human Rights in Iran, two members of its Central Committee have called five of Ahwazi Arab civic and cultural activists of Al-Hiwar Institute who were sentenced to the death penalty by the Iranian Supreme Court, terrorists. These individuals based their accusations on falsehoods promoted by the Islamic Republic regime against Ahwazis and have shamefully sided with the regime' defamatory charges. They demanded that all human rights organisations should ignore these activists and should not cover their cases. This attitude led to the eventual executions of two of them and life sentences for the rest These well-educated and highly respected individuals, labeled terrorists by the Iranian activists were demanding abolition of discrimination against Arab people of Al- Ahwaz, ending the unlimited looting of the natural resources of this region, , an end to the ethnic cleansing policies of cultural assimilation, the stopping all water transfer projects that destroy agriculture, and immigration of the original inhabitants of the region of Al-Ahwaz after the confiscation of agricultural land, among other demands.

Another example of heinous acts by Iranian human rights organisations is deliberate manipulating and distortion of the facts related to Ahwazi Arabs, such as the report on human rights violations of Ahwazi Arab people that has been documented by Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. The Geography and History section of the report has misrepresented points that give a false account of the reality of Ahwazi Arab people as those who wrote it apparently were attempting falsification of history and denial of the existence of the entire Ahwazi people.

Also, it is not consistent with the content of the report, which is supposed to be objective and on human rights and should not go beyond that.

It should not have entered into misleading historical issues that are apparently distorting the image of the Arab people of Al-Ahwaz.

Such statements that are asserted in the introduction of the report are mentioned without referring to any credible sources and solely aimed at discrediting the historical existence of this people as it considers them immigrants came from Saudi Arabia during the advent of Islam.

These statements are parroting the same false claims of the former Pahlavi regime, and the current Islamic Republic regime. These statements that deemed Ahwazis as immigrants are regarded as another type of infringement of rights of these people who were not recognized as indigenous citizens who have full and comprehensive rights. Such remarks are based in an exclusionary and racist narrative that contributed to the distortion of the history of our people. This legal organisation should not be used for any other purpose than defending human rights principles.

There are elements of the Iranian racist political parties that infiltrated the Iran Human rights Documentation Center. Such elements who call themselves as reformists rather than exposing the human rights abuses committed by the Iranian regime, are seeking to advance their hidden prospective political agenda under the guise of Human rights principles. Falsifying facts and using distorted terms that are a far cry from the human rights defense will result in serving the Iranian regime policy.

Ahwazi Arabs are the indigenous people of AL- Ahwaz and not immigrant and scattered nomadic clans as is outrageously claimed by the Iran Human rights Documentation Center. Ahwazi people have lived for thousands of years on their historic land, and they have their shared Arabic language and culture, history and consciousness, and are proud of this.

What was mentioned in this document is no different from the violations committed by the Iranian regime, but indeed, it appears more heinous because it was issued by a legal institution aimed at defending the violated rights of the oppressed people and not promoting false facts on history and background of people through its legal and international status.

The goal of such statements is to take away the right of self-determination from Ahwazi Arabs .The formal and fixed stands of most Iranian human rights organisations and political nationalists are utterly clear in that they are opposed to recognizing the right for self-determination of non-Persian nations that are caged in so-called the integrity of Iran.

They believe that any recognition of self-determination right for the oppressed non-Persian nations like Ahwazi people and other non-Persian nations will be a start or an excuse for the disintegration of Iran. They must bear in mind that the self _determination is not a sin, but it is the right of a people .The Iranian nationalists whose racism has deafened and blinded them to perceive the inescapable reality are claiming that Ahwazi Arabs, TurkAzari, Kurds, Turkmen and Baluchi are not considered nations, but they are just a group of ethnic minorities. So, they are not qualified to self-determination under the covenants of international law.

Trivializing human rights violations in Al-Ahwaz

One of the ways that has been used by the Iranian human rights organisations, especially the Solidarity Network for Democracy and Human Rights in Iran, to trivialize and underestimate the human rights abuses committed against Ahwazi Arabs along with other non-Persian ethnic groups is to introduce the human rights violations against political and cultural activists along with persons charged with rape, drug trafficking, other offenses. Listing the political and cultural activists of Ahwazi and other ethnic groups in a statement that from the start is thoroughly focused on violations in central Persian parts and thus minimizes of the extreme pain and suffering of Ahwazis and other ethnic groups for the benefit of Persian activists. Including their names (Ahwazis) equally next to criminals at the end of the statement is ineffable contemptuous act by Iranian centralist so-called rights advocates against Ahwazi and other ethnicities.

We can see that if a pro-Reformist Iranian activist based in Tehran is detained or summoned to the Intelligence service for interrogation all the Iranian rights organisations start issuing several statements demanding swift actions to be taken by Amnesty and Human Rights Watch. Their campaigns will be followed with constant media coverage till fate and situation of that person become fully apparent; one example is Nasrin Sotoudeh, the pro-Reformist Iranian female civil activist. The number of actions, letters, and statements issued for Nasrin by Iranian rights organisations cannot be compared with the all of the statements that were issued for all Ahwazi political prisoners at the verge of execution.

Above all,when these organisations have taken part in the UN or other human rights meetings, Ahwazi Arab activists are not permitted to be involved or participate as part of the Iranian human rights delegations.

Moreover, according to a number of witnesses who took part in such meetings, Iranian human rights activists, despite having sufficient information about human rights violations in Ahwaz and Baluchistan and other parts of the country, even did not mention any of the abuses against these groups. It seems that the regions of Al- Ahwaz, Baluchistan and other non-Persians regions in the eyes of these Iranian racist activists are safe and secure, and Human rights violations occur exclusively in the capital and center parts of Iran.

Unfortunately, many Persian people and some people who have assimilated into Persian culture are not eager to defend those nations rights, though they are violated by the Iranian regime and these nations are treated as second-class citizens. What adds an insult to injury; even Persian human right activists prefer to be silent about this brutality that is carrying out by Iranian regime against Arab cultural and political activists. In 27 November2015, an Ahwazi political prisoner died in prison after spending seven years behind the bars under very suspicious circumstances, and none of those Persian human rights activists condemned it.

This is the ultimate intellectual backwardness of Iranian mentality that at the end of 2015 they do not understand nor respect values such as equality of nations, individual rights, and civic liberties for everyone, and instead view their race as the superior one.

These people are suffering from the disease of racism. They refuse to understand that having human values will identify the superiority of people and distinguish them from others. This painful and dangerous situation because there are racist people at the center of power of the Iranian regime who have influence in Iranian rights organisations abroad. These elements have been caused so many people to be deprived of their rights and freedoms and be under oppression and discrimination.

In the end, would like to express our gratitude of Human rights watch and Amnesty international organisation and also two or three Iranian human rights organisations that during the last two years have shown an honorable position in defense of political prisoners and cultural activists of Al- Ahwaz.

Rahim Hamid is an Ahwazi Arab writer






American Jews And Israel: A Divorce In The Making?

By Alan Hart

26 January, 2016

Alanhart.net

In a very interesting piece on his web site (Mondoweiss) Philip Weiss has speculated that the day is coming when American Jews will divorce Israel.

If it really happens the president of the day will be free to use the leverage America has to cause or try to cause Israel to end its defiance of international law and denial of justice for Palestinians. And if an American president gave that lead European governments would follow him or her.

According to Weiss an important sociological trend is underway.

American Jews, even mainstream ones indoctrinated to love Israel, are breaking more and more publicly with the Jewish state. The Netanyahu government is proving to be embarrassing to American Jews; they do not want to be associated with rightwing apartheid policies The divorce that we have long predicted on this site is now on the horizon; and in years to come this separation will yield an even bigger reward: mainstream American Jews will declare themselves anti-Zionist.

In support of his speculation Weiss quoted Gary Rosenblat. Hes a hard-core supporter of Israel and the editor and publisher of The Jewish Week. In an article for it and as summed up by Weiss he revealed that Jewish leaders are saying that its getting impossible to sell Israel to young Jews.

American Jewish leaders confide that generating support for the Jewish state is becoming increasingly difficult these days  even within the Jewish community, and especially among younger people.

The hard fact is that Israels leadership is moving in a direction at odds with the next generation of Americans, including many Jews, who want to see greater efforts to resolve the Palestinian conflict and who put the onus for the impasse on Jerusalem. It is not only President Obama who feels that way Whether or not it is fair, the strong perception today is that the Israeli government is moving further right, and intransigent, at a time when the rest of the world is fed up with the Israel-Palestinian impasse.

A related point made in Weisss article was that when the present generation of major Jewish funders passes raising substantial dollars for Israel will be much harder.

Weiss concluded with this prediction.

This crisis will not end until American Jews declare Zionism is racism. And one day they will.

Serious consideration of whether Weiss is guilty of wishful thinking and being naively optimistic or could be proved right by events to come requires the asking and answering of this question.

Why, really, have the overwhelming majority of the Jews of the world, American Jews especially, supported Israel (the Zionist not Jewish state) right or wrong and/or remained silent even when they were deeply troubled by its policies and actions?

Its worth recalling for starters that prior to the Nazi holocaust, and as I document in detail in my book Zionism: The Real Enemy of the Jews, most Jews of the world did not support Zionism and many were opposed to it. Those who voiced their opposition believed the Zionist enterprise was morally wrong. They also believed it would lead to unending conflict. But most of all they feared that if Zionism was allowed by the major powers to have its way it would one day provoke anti-Semitism.

Though it was Britain that gave Zionism a spurious degree of legitimacy with the Balfour Declaration in 1917, if there had been no Nazi holocaust it is most likely that there would have been no Israel because without Adolf Hitler as its best recruiting sergeant Zionism would probably have failed to command enough financial and political support to impose its will on the Palestinians.

Also to be recalled is that from the creation of Israel mainly by Zionist terrorism and ethnic cleansing in 1948 until the Six days War of 1967 most Jews of the world were not much interested in Israel. At an early point in its life Prime Minister Ben-Gurion was very concerned that not enough Jews were coming in to start a new life there and give Israel the manpower needed for territorial expansion. One consequence of Ben-Gurions concern was that Mossad agents posed as Arab terrorists and bombed Jews out of Iraq and into Israel.

It was the 1967 war that dramatically changed how most Jews of the world thought about Israel and that was because they believed without question the big, fat lie Zionism told in the countdown to the war.

The lie was that the Arabs were intending to attack and that Israel was in real danger of being annihilated.

The truth was that despite some stupid Arab rhetoric to the contrary which played into Zionisms hands, the Arabs were NOT intending to attack. It was a war of Israeli aggression not self-defense.

For those readers who still believe that Israels Jews were in danger of being driven into the sea I recommend Chapter 1 of Volume Three of my book which is titled America Takes Sides, War With Nasser Act II and the Creation of Greater Israel.

In this chapter I quote a number of Israeli leaders who years after the events in most cases said on the record that they knew that Arabs were not intending to start a war. Here are just five examples.

In an interview with Le Monde on 28 February 1968, Yitzhak Rabin, who was Chief of Staff in the 1967 war, said:

I do not believe that Nasser wanted war. The two divisions which he sent into Sinai on 14 May would not have been enough to unleash an offensive against Israel. He knew it and we knew it.

On 14 April 1971, a report in the Israeli newspaper Al-Hamishmar contained the following statement by Mordecai Bentov, a member of Israels wartime national government.

The entire story of the danger of extermination was invented in every detail and exaggerated a posteriori to justify the annexation of new Arab territory.

On 4 April 1972, General Bar-Lev, Rabins predecessor as Chief of Staff, was quoted in the Israeli newspaper Maariv as follows.

We were not threatened with genocide on the eve of the Six Days War and we never thought of such a possibility.

In the same newspaper on the same day, General Ezer Weizman, who was Chief of Operations during the Six Days War, was quoted as saying:

There was never any danger of annihilation. This hypothesis has never been considered in any serious meeting.

In an unguarded public moment in 1982, Prime Minister Menachem Begin said this:

The Egyptian army concentrations did not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We decided to attack him.

But the vast majority of the Jews of the world (probably 99 percent of them) believed Zionisms pre-war propaganda. They were absolutely convinced that the Arabs were about to attack and that Israels existence was in real danger. In the absence of the truth, which was not on the mainstream medias agenda, they were brainwashed by Zionist propaganda.

One result of Israels stunning military victory was that most Jews of the world were not only greatly relieved, they were proud like never before to be Jewish and campaigners for Israel. Some took Israels victory as indication of Divine Intervention, proof that the Jews were indeed the Chosen People and evidence that God would be with Israel whatever it did.

And that was the beginning of the real love affair between most Jews everywhere and Israel.

Now to my answer to the question of why, really, the overwhelming majority of the Jews of the world, American Jews especially, have supported Israel right or wrong and/or remained silent even when they were deeply troubled by its policies and actions.

For starters it has to be said that criticism of Israel can and does tear Jewish families apart. And that alone seems to be reason enough for some (many?) American and European Jews to remain silent.

But theres much more to it.

The root cause of American and European Jewish support for Israel right or wrong and/or silence on the matter of its defiance of international law and denial of justice for the Palestinians is the unspeakable fear that Holocaust II may at some point be inevitable.

This fear is the product of persecution on and off down the centuries which climaxed with the Nazi holocaust and Zionisms propaganda to the effect that the world has always hated Jews and always will. Zionisms message to the Jews of the world is in effect, You will need Israel one day so dont question whatever it does to keep itself secure..

It is therefore not surprising that very many Jews of the world believe that in the event of another great turning against them Israel will be their refuge of last resort, so, they tell themselves, say nothing and do nothing that could assist Israels enemies and put this insurance policy at risk.

Despite all of that I think its not impossible that Weiss could be right and that time and events will see American (and European) Jews breaking with Zionism and all its represents. But in my view it wont happen as a consequence of more and more Jews becoming embarrassed by Israels policies and actions. Embarrassment is not a strong enough motivation to cause the Jews of the world (American and European Jews especially) to do what they must if they are to best protect their own interests.

What is it that they must do?

Short answer  they must open their closed minds to the truth of history as it relates to the making and sustaining of the conflict in and over Palestine that became Israel.

If they did they would discover that Israels existence has never, ever, been in danger from any combination of Arab military force and that it could have had peace with the Palestinians many years ago on terms which any rational government in Israel would have accepted with relief.

In other words, exposure to the truth of history would prove to them that Zionisms version of it  a version to which most Western politicians and the mainstream media are still attached  is, generally speaking, a pack of propaganda lies.

Perhaps even more to the point is that exposure to the complete truth of history would make American and European Jews of today aware of the warnings that were voiced by Jewish leaders who opposed Zionism before the Nazi Holocaust. As I indicated above, their main fear was that if Zionism was allowed by the major powers to have its way it would one day provoke anti-Semitism.

What it has been provoking for many years is a rising, global tide of anti-Israelism, but the danger for American and European Jews is that this could be transformed into anti-Semitism if American and European Jewish support for Israel right or wrong is interpreted as complicity (even if by default) in Zionisms crimes.

The most explicit warning of this danger was delivered by Yehoshafat Harkabi, the longest serving Director of Israeli Military Intelligence in his 1986 book Israels Fateful Hour. In my book I quote him at length but here in one paragraph with my emphasis added is the essence of his warning.

Israel is the criterion according to which all Jews will tend to be judged. Israel as a Jewish state is an example of the Jewish character, which finds free and concentrated expression within it. Anti-Semitism has deep and historical roots.

Nevertheless, any flaw in Israeli conduct, which initially is cited as anti-Israelism, is likely to be transformed into empirical proof of the validity of anti-Semitism. It would be a tragic irony if the Jewish state, which was intended to solve the problem of anti-Semitism, was to become a factor in the rise of anti-Semitism. Israelis must be aware that the price of their misconduct is paid not only by them but also Jews throughout the world.

If Harkabi was alive today (he died in 1994), and given that Israel is not going to change course and that its brutal oppression of the Palestinians will only get worse and worse, I think he might agree with me that unless the Jews of the world divorce themselves from Zionism, anti-Israelism will be transformed into anti-Semitism at some point in the future.

Its that vision of the future that ought to motivate American, European and other Jews of the world to come to grips with the truth of history and the conclusion it invites  that Zionism is their real enemy.

The problem for some and perhaps many American, European and other Jews of the world is that divorcing Zionism would mean that they were saying, in effect, that they no longer had need for the insurance policy of Israel as a refuge of last resort. And that would raise a perfectly valid question. How can they be certain they will be safe and secure in their American, European and other homelands if they do abandon the Zionism?

My answer (as in my book) is this.

After the Nazi holocaust, and because of it, the giant of anti-Semitism would have gone back to sleep, remained asleep and, in all probability, would have died in its sleep  IF Zionism had not been allowed by the major powers, first Britain and then America, to have its way, as Balfour put it right or wrong.

In that light I say there is every reason to believe that the Jews of the Western world will remain safe and secure if they demonstrate by divorcing Zionism they are not complicit, even by default, in its crimes.

Alan Hart is a former ITN and BBC Panorama foreign correspondent. He is author of Zionism: The Real Enemy of the Jews. He blogs at http://www.alanhart.net and tweets via http://twitter.com/alanauthor




How Much Public Service Is There In A Career In Indian Public Service?

By Moin Qazi

26 January, 2016

Countercurrents.org

Does a career in the Indian bureaucracy mean a life of 'public service'? Certainly not. All it means is a lifetime of serving the most despicable lot of politicians ever to be found in the world. It means a career that will rub out your individuality, dull your intellect, and corrupt your morals. You will enter a fine young person; you will retire as someone you yourself will not be able to recognize, barring a few courageous exceptions. Many youngsters begin their careers with loads of ambition and a stock of dreams, waiting to dazzle the corporate world with brilliance, confident that the corner office is theirs for taking. They enter the office on the first day expecting a welcoming committee. Here their dreams end and reality takes over.

I firmly believe that a sensitive official cannot smoothly manage and drive a grassroots revolution of a new development program. Vision is one thing, creativity is another. But what can you do when you are up against a calcified bureaucracy, fickle minded villagers who change their opinions faster than they close their clothes and local drunkard goons who can stab you without provocation. . There were times when I felt a letter from a superior as a prelude to a career obituary. I have tremendous sympathy for several development bankers whom I have seen suffer the taint and stigma of vigilance strictures and sometimes even dismissal from their service for a small slip in a career studded with professional achievements and sacrifices of the entire family

Bosses goad the performers to cross the tramlines making them go berserk and commit professional hara-kiri. The system was paralyzed with precedents, so every year we accreted new ones. The British bequeathed us hierarchical machinery-but, boy, when it comes to hierarchical institutions nobody can teach India anything. Today our bureaucracy is twenty times more bureaucratic, our snobberies more snobbish, our deference to the chain of command more cringing and decorous, our worship of paper more entrenched.

Behind the gleaming images of icons of successful development crusades is the untold saga of the sacrifice of the field staff who hold the fort as brave grassroots warriors. Their careers are consigned in the heat and dust of the nether world whose plot lines are as ghastly as those of the kingdom of dacoits. The grassroots staff remained in constant fear of such elements. I found several senior executives who had astounding cerebral powers that were rarely matched by their social skills and their obsession with lucrative careers and snobbery towards other pursuits rarely allowed them to devote time to developmental work. Development work is dirty, you have to soil your hands,you have to cope with crude elements at the lower dregs of society .it was too much an expectation from a status conscious manager If you care about your mission, and your community, then it hurts when colleagues let you down, your social enterprise stumbles, funding is denied, or other hurdles materialize. Business schools dont teach you how to fight goons; risk mitigation strategies like sophisticated metrics and business algorithms cant hold water in the face of the mad frenzy of plundering bandits; technological gadgets cant speak the language of humanism.



One of the discouraging features of Indian democracy is the politicization of rural society. A decade back, villages had a very remote link with political parties. Those who contested panchayat elections were elected on the strength of their electoral merits, irrespective of their ideological stripes. Cast did remain a strong card, but the candidates character played a critical role. The growing tendency of village groups to seek outside political support for solution to local development issues has ruptured the traditional social structure. Each leader in a village has a political master in the nearest town. All these developments have made the village social structure highly complex and confusing. In the coming years rural assignments for officials of government and banks are going to become hazardous on account of the growing criminalization of villages. The new roads and highways that provide a fast passage not just to towns but also to metros have demolished the concept of village republics.

Some may feel that their position is hopeless, that there is nothing they can do. The system is too strong for them. Perhaps the best antidote to this despair is to study the examples and lives of those who have fought against the odds and succeeded. In every country there are some courageous people  political and religious leaders, civil servants, workers in voluntary agencies, academics, scientists, and others  who have refused to give in, who have stuck by their principles and whose lives shine as examples to others of what can be done. For those who side with the poor, too, there may be unexpected floods of support. But not all can expect recognition or to become folk-heroes. For most of those who put the last first, the satisfaction and rewards are not fame, but in knowing that they have done what was right, and that things are, however slightly, better than they would have been. Their small deeds may not command attention; but in merit, they may equal or exceed the greater and more conspicuous actions of those with more freedom and power.

For the test is what people do. Social change flows from individual actions. By changing what they do, people move societies in new directions and themselves change. Big simple solutions are tempting but full of risks. For most outsiders, most of the time, the soundest and best way forward is through innumerable small steps could be just nudges and tiny pushes. Slower and smaller steps also help building up peoples adaptability to changes. We should look for small innovations, not just blockbusters. Big hits are rare, but too many executives swing for the fences with each new innovation. This not only marginalizes people who work on smaller projects, but also tends to result in projects modeled on existing market successesthat is, not that innovative. Truly new concepts often spring from smaller beginnings It is easier for native populations to embrace small innovations and cultural shifts. The tough resistance occurs only when the new initiative appears to supplant the existing traditions. Many small reversals then support each other and together build up towards a greater movement. The lives of many people already show a will to make reversals, to put the last fist. Some contribute from a distance. Others work directly with and for those who are rural and poor, helping them to gain more of what they want and need and to demand and control more of the benefits of development.

Small gains well consolidated as part of a sequence can mean more than big gains which are unstable and short-lived. By changing what they do, people move societies in new directions and themselves change. Big simple solutions are tempting but full of risks. Many small reversals then support each other and together build up towards a greater movement. Some contribute from a distance. Others work directly with and for those who are rural and poor, helping them to gain more of what they want and need and to demand and control more of the benefits of development.

Several development successes have occurred in less than optimal settings often under appalling conditions of weak governance ,widespread corruption ,minimal infrastructure ,deep-rooted social divisions and poorly functioning judicial system. In each case ,creative individuals saw possibilities where other saw hopelessness.They imagined a way for ward that took into account local realities and built on local strengths they were willing to experiment and ignore the skeptics ,until the skeptics became supporters and often partners working to bring about change on a larger scale

Moin Qazi is a well known banker, author and Islamic researcher .He holds doctorates in Economics and English. He was Visiting Fellow at the University of Manchester. He has authored several books on religion, rural finance, culture and handicrafts. He is author of the bestselling book Village Diary of a Development Banker. He is also a recipient of UNESCO World Politics Essay Gold Medal and Rotary Internationals Vocational Excellence Award. He is based in Nagpur and can be reached at moinqazi123@gmail.com




Modi Regime Forces President Mukherjee To Take Note Of Intolerance, Violence

By Samar

26 January, 2016

Countercurrents.org

Mature republics must take note of problems plaguing them. Alas, they do not always do so. It is heartening to see, therefore, the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, taking note of some of the biggest problems plaguing India at the moment- problems that can unravel despite gains the country has made in 69 years of its existence. He observed, profoundly, that the forces of violence, intolerance and unreason do not harm individuals, they rather hit the very core of nationhood. To quote him

Our finest inheritance, the institutions of democracy, ensure to all citizens (sic.) justice, equality, gender and economic equity. When grim instances of violence hit at these established values, it is time to take note. We must guard ourselves against the forces of violence, intolerance and unreason.

Things reaching this point so that the President has to take note of them on the joyous day, the eve of Republic Day, must worry every citizen of India. They must think what has brought a country that should have been worried about continuing hunger, the biggest humiliation as the President had noted in his acceptance speech, that forces millions of their compatriots to go to sleep on an empty stomach every night. They must have been thinking about ways to tackle malnutrition that leads to the stunting and wasting of a huge section of its children and has been referred to repeatedly, as a National Shame.

President Pranab Mukherjee, one must acknowledge, never lost sight of these pressing concerns and did rightly so. He had asserted the need for elimination of hunger, deprivation and marginal subsistence from the base of the countrys expanding population, even in his address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day 2013. He had, in fact, called this the primary purpose of wealth creation.

India should have been worrying about its slowing economic growth, too, as it would cause loss of jobs and add to already high rates of unemployment in the country. This too had figured in President Pranab Mukherjees concerns consistently. One can easily recall that in his 2013 speech, he mentions very clearly that the young cannot dream on an empty stomach, a theme that kept recurring in his speeches.

This is why India must be concerned about the forces of violence, intolerance and unreason replacing real issues it needs to deal with urgently. These forces, as President Pranab Mukherjee noted, do not hit an individual alone. They undo the whole system meant to protect everyone. They may start with manufactured rages against the most vulnerable sections of the citizenry but seldom do they stop at that. They target all. It is just that they ensure doing that, one by one.

A problem much bigger than this, however, is the way these forces target public institutions, justice institutions being the foremost of them and try to delegitimise them. They try to supplant justice mechanism with rages over hurt sentiment, pretended or real. They throw serious criminal charges against those dissenting with them with impunity and substitute the required legal process with violence. They try to take the judiciary out of the equation and bring in mob justice.

All of this, one must recognize, compromises the rule of law and the justice institutions meant to enforce it. They have started drawing blood in India with a number of rationalists killed for their beliefs. They have started forcing people into committing suicide by labelling them anti-national, the suicide of Rohith Vemula, a young Dalit student being the latest addition to the list.

They do not stop at jeopardizing the criminal justice system alone. They also compromise the states capacity to ensure social justice, to fight hunger and all the deprivations that come with it. A people fighting for mere survival in the face of such an onslaught wont dare to queue up in front of a public distribution system shop (ration shops). That is, if the shopkeeper dares to open the shop in such an atmosphere,s in the first place. That is, also, if the state with limited resources gets left with some for such shops and other schemes while being forced to spend a huge part of it to combat such forces.

It is sad to see the need to fight these forces of violence, intolerance and unreason becoming the most pressing one for the republic. It is ominous to see that they have occurred in the Presidents speech while the ones like need of eliminating hunger, deprivations, unemployment and so on have disappeared for the first time. The republic must take note of this if it does not want to turn into what many of its neighbours have become.

Samar is Programme Coordinator - Right to Food Programme Asian Legal Resource Centre / Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong






Women Decide To Worship In Shani Shingnapur Temple:An Effort For Religious Equality

By Dr. Vivek Kumar Srivastava

26 January, 2016

Countercurrents.org

Today on republic day, about 1500 women decided to worship in Shani Shingnapur Temple in Maharashtra where women are barred from worship. A bold step, a collaborated effort, an effort for justice and equality, the chosen day is day of equality, hence their efforts are genuine, arduous and symbol of strengthened civil society and womens power. The recent news is that Women activists headed to Shani temple in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra were stopped at Supa village, 70 km from the shrine. Police later confirmed that Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai has been detained and taken to Supa Police Station. Pune-based womens outfit, Ranragini Bhumata Brigade on Tuesday went ahead with its plan to offer worship at the Shani Shingnapur temple, defying strong local opposition and administrative diktat. (The Hindu, 26th Januarry 2016, http://www.thehindu.com)

The fact at the ground level is that there is not only gender discrimination but there is also caste discrimination because dalits are not allocated same status as the upper castes Hindus are allocated in the temple worshipping.

The truth is that women and dalits are not allocated similar status in several of the temples although constitution clearly states equality. As read: under article 25 (1) Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion. (2) Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any existing law or prevent the State from making any law(a) regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice; (b) providing for social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.

Why is it so then? Answer lies in the fact that constitutional values have not been adopted by most of the people of different religions. Moreover intellectual bases of Hindu religion have also been misused; the religious bases of Hinduism in deep ancient times originated with the efforts of Rishis who in Vedic age had no gender discrimination as Ananya, Ghosha, Apala like Rishi Girls maintained equal status with males but things started to decline in Later Vedic period when establishment of structured caste system occurred, a transition from functional caste system, helped upper caste people to capture the power. They now decided to formulate rules and regulations for the Hindu community. They formulated these for their own benefits and segregated the lower castes from religious affairs, women were also put at lower status. Thus Hindu religion in fact became the Brahminical religion which had the base of inequality among the human beings as the equal treatment to all would have diluted their power system, hence Hindu religion gradually became the religion of only few. This system has still continued. Dalits and women got such treatment as these were weak and unoraginsed.

Even in the recent time the influence of this class was so strong that they opposed the abolition of Sati System for which Raja Ram Mohan Roy had to go Britain to tell the legislators what the truth was. In fact upper caste Hindu Brahmins had placed their argument to British authorities that such abolition will be intervention in their religion, thus monopolizing the Hindu religion, finally Raja Ram Mohan Roy prevailed; but the reality is that this segment of Hindu society has made rules for all including the Hindu widows and several thousands of widow women, having been persecuted in every manner, are living horrible life due to perverted rules of in Mathura-Vrindavan area.

Dalits have realized that they will not get equal status in the Brahmin dominated Hindu religion, hence they are shifting from Hindu religion to more equalized religion of Buddhism. The major problem of Hindu religion is that its rules, regulations are made by upper castes. Its institutions are controlled by upper castes. Several top religious authorities of the religion are also not in mood to reform the religion. They on the other hand treat Hindu religion as their personal fiefdom.

Supreme Court has clearly spelt out that only basic and integral tenets of any religion are important. In this background to make rules for the temple, to decide the dress code for temple entry, to decide the living ways for the widows and to create lower castes and segregate lower castes on the basis of castes are not true tenets of Hinduism. As Supreme Court has clearly defined that Hinduism is a way of life. It is therefore not based on any conservative thoughts and everyone has equal share in it.

With these arguments it is necessary that Hinduism should be reformed by the liberal forces within the religion. The discriminatory rules should be challenged by all, finally Hinduism is not a religion of any single caste or gender and none has authority to lower women and dalits.

The truth of ages is that no religion can ever be based on discrimination. There is great need to emphasise that India as a country cannot progress as long as the Hinduism is not properly reformed in which equality of every sort is granted to all. It is so because as long its major religion is unequal till then its people will remain unequal. There is clash between constitutional values and religious values but constitution overpowers all.

Hence there is need to understand the long term impact of womens efforts for temple entry. The base of human civilization cannot be singular that male will only possess authority but the civilisation can progress only when all the people without any gender discrimination or castes discrimination are allocated equal value. This needs to be understood by those who run the business for the religion.

Dr. Vivek Kumar Srivastava is Assistant Professor, CSJM Kanpur University (affiliated College) and Vice Chairman CSSP, e mail-vpy1000@yahoo.co.in




Santosh Yadav and Somaru Nag

By Our Representative

In development, which is likely to further add to the eroding image of the Modi government vis-a-vis human rights and freedom of expression, some of the top world world bodies have thrown their weight behind the campaign to release two Chhattisgarh journalists, Santosh Yadav and Somaru Nag , arrested last year for their alleged Naxalite connections. Those who have signed the letter include Joel Simon, Executive Director, Committee to Protect Journalists; Andrew Heslop, Director, Press Freedom, World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers; Anthony Bellanger, General Secretary, International Federation of Journalists; Daniel Calingaert, Executive Vice President Freedom House; and Karin Deutsch Karlekar, Director, Free Expression Programs, PEN American Center.These organizations have joined Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director, Human Rights Watch, and Aakar Patel, Executive Director, Amnesty International India, to write a letter to Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, and Union home minister Rajnath Singh, among others, expressing their deep concern over the journalists continued detention.Somaru Nag and Santosh Yadav were held in July and September 2015, respectively. The letter wants authorities to drop all charges against Nag and Yadav, and to ensure a safer working environment for journalists in the state, adding, they were victims of a situation in which journalists are "caught between Maoists and government forces.Authorities arrested Yadav, a freelance journalist, whose reporting included allegations of human rights abuses by the police "against adivasi or tribal communities" on September 29, 2015. Police accused Yadav of "rioting, criminal conspiracy, and attempted murder", associating with a terrorist organization and supporting and aiding terrorist groups.As for Nag, who covered rural issues such as access to water and electricity for "Patrika" newspaper and others, was arrested on July 16, 2015, with police accusing him of being a Maoist sympathizer and collaborating with a group of villagers to set fire to equipment being used to build roads in the state. Nag faces charges of "banditry, arson, and criminal conspiracy under the penal code as well as under the Arms Act."Agreeing that for decades, Maoist groupsdesignated as terrorist organizations by the Indian governmenthave led an insurgency in the central tribal areas of the country, the letter states, Unfortunately, journalists have been caught between Maoists and government forces.Quoting a research by New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the letter says, Police often pressure, harass, or abuse journalists in an effort to silence their critical reporting or compel them to serve as informants. Meanwhile Maoists have been responsible for attacking journalists they accuse of being informants for police.Thus, While Maoists claimed responsibility for the 2013 murder of veteran journalist Sai Reddy of Deshbandhu, he had also faced harassment at the hands of police, the letter says.In a disturbing development, the letter says, last month, police officials in Chhattisgarh circulated cartoons on mobile messaging and social networking sites linking journalists to Maoists, pointing out how such actions could further endanger journalists who are already vulnerable to violence from all sides.Seeking the journalists "swift release", the letter wants the Chhattisgarh chief minister to abide by his commitment in a meeting last month with local journalists to find a resolution, insisting, We ask that you do all in your power to ensure their swift release, and to take immediate steps to address the violence and harassment that journalists face in the state.
Indiana students and schools deserve better, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Superintendent David Smith said Tuesday when, after the Indiana State Board of Education approved A-F school accountability grades for the 2014-15 school year  five months late.

Across the state 56.7 percent, or 1,188 Indiana schools, earned an A; while only 2.6 percent received a failing grade. Of the remaining Hoosier schools, 19.4 percent earned a B, 15.2 percent earned a C, and 6.1 percent got a D.

The grades approved Tuesday are higher than officials had anticipated because the :hold harmless calculation is factored in.

Last week, Senate Bill 200 passed the Indiana House, allowing schools to choose the highest of their A-F grades between 2014 and 2015. For example, if a school got a D this year but a B last year, it can keep the B.

CANVASS PODCAST: Teacher retention in high poverty schools

But Smith said the release of the grades, based on a flawed ISTEP test, indicate the phrase hold harmless is merely another attempt by many to gloss over the harmful outcome of their previous actions.

When school reputations are damaged, Smith said there is no holding harmless.

In the EVSC, 15 schools earned the top grade: Cynthia Heights, Scott, Oak Hill, Delaware, Hebron, Helfrich Park, Thompkins, Highland, Perry Heights, Plaza Park, Evans, Tekoppel, West Terrace, Central and North.

Five EVSC schools got an F: Caze, Glenwood, Lodge, Washington, and the Academy for Innovative Studies.

Smith reminded board members at their Monday night meeting that ISTEP scores were released three different times, and that the EVSC still has more than 500 undetermined scores, multiple students with different scores for the same test, and some missing tests.

To say that its been botched is, I think, being generous, he said.

EVSCs B schools are: Daniel Wertz, Harper, New Tech Institute and Reitz; C schools: Stringtown, Vogel, Stockwell, Dexter, Fairlawn, North Junior, Harrison and Bosse; and D schools: Lincoln, Cedar Hall and McGary.

The grades are used to measure student academic growth, graduation rates and college and career readiness. Theyre also used to help determine teacher pay, school funding and possible state takeover of low-performing schools.

But House Bill 1003, which unanimously passed the Indiana Senate last week, protects teachers from bad ISTEP scores. Similar to SB 200, the law allows teachers to use ISTEP scores on their year-end evaluation only if the scores help them. If not, the scores cant be used.

While Smith said he appreciates the efforts of state leaders for not allowing ISTEP scores to negatively impact teachers, he said its difficult to understand and explain how the flawed scores are inappropriate for one component of accountability, but acceptable measures for school grades.

Warrick County School Corp. Superintendent Brad Schneider, along with other Indiana superintendents, spoke during Tuesdays state board of education meeting. Schneider also acknowledged state-level efforts, but encouraged leaders to fix the very broken system. Schneider said teachers and students deserve a fair, transparent and easy-to-understand assessment.

ISTEP is none of those, he said.

In Warrick County, 12 schools received an A: Castle South, Yankeetown, Castle Elementary, Elberfeld, Lynnville, Castle North, Loge, Oakdale, Chandler, Newburgh Elementary, Sharon Elementary and Castle High School; three got a B: Tennyson Elementary, Boonville Middle School and Boonville High; while Tecumseh Jr-Sr High School got a C.

Other local school grades include:

In the Metropolitan School District of Mount Vernon, Farmersville and Marrs earned an A; Mount Vernon High School a B; and West Elementary and Mount Vernon Junior High both got Cs.

All four Metropolitan School District of North Posey County schools earned As.

In the Catholic Diocese of Evansville, all but four schools earned an A. Those four schools  Holy Redeemer, Rivet Middle & High School, Corpus Christi and St. Theresa  got a B.

Signature School, Evansville Christian School and Evansville Day School all earned As. Evansville Lutheran School got a B. And Joshua Academy got a D.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz said in a statement, saying shes pleased to release 2015 accountability grades, but that Indiana should move away from labeling schools and students.

I support accountability, she said. But I support accountability that makes sense. I look forward to implementing Indianas new student-centered accountability system which more accurately reflects the great work happening in our schools and communities every day.
By Zach Oswoski

There will be no state takeover for two local schools after the Indiana State Board of Education passed a resolution approving the schools ongoing efforts to turn around academic performance.

Caze Elementary School and Washington Middle School both received a sixth consecutive F grade after the board approved ISTEP school grades on Tuesday. Under current law, that makes the two Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. facilities eligible for a state takeover, but the board decided to let those schools continue with their current course of action.

The resolution cited significant progress being made at the schools as a reason for declining a state takeover. Several board members also said the decision was an extension of the hold harmless policy adopted by the state for the 2015 ISTEP scores.

CANVASS PODCAST: Teacher retention in high poverty schools

Senate Bill 200, signed into law last week, allows a school to keep its 2014 ISTEP grade if it is better than the 2015 grade. Those changes were already factored into the grades released Tuesday. The only group of schools not helped by SB 200 are schools such as Caze and Washington, which received back-to-back Fs.

Board member Sarah OBrien said it made sense to shield all schools after the problems of the 2015 ISTEP test.

While I do acknowledge the great work thats happening in the schools right now, OBrien said, my support for this resolution is simply based on the same principle that were applying to all the other schools.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz said the resolution doesnt reset the clock for the schools, but simply extends the hold-harmless policy adopted by the board.

The intent is not to give anyone a hiatus, Ritz said. This just says we support those schools ongoing work.

Board members said there have been meetings with the two schools and they are satisfied with the work in progress. Representatives from both schools are expected to give an update to the board at its Feb. 3 meeting.

The resolution was approved after the board approved 2015 school accountability grades. Statewide, 56.7 percent of schools, 1,188 total, got an A grade, while just 2.6 percent, 55 schools, got an F grade. Those numbers have the provisions from SB 200 factored in. Previously leaked grades before the hold harmless language showed as many as 17 percent of schools would have been failing.

Superintendents from around Indiana spoke at the meeting, calling for an end to ISTEP. The superintendents, including Brad Schneider from Warrick County, said the current system is not transparent and difficult to understand.

Schneider said ISTEP is leading to students and parents resenting the test and teachers becoming discouraged.

Im greatly concerned about the morale of our teachers, Schneider said.

The 2016 ISTEP will be administered by Pearson, taking over for McGraw Hill.
Local Hindu community celebrates opening of new temple

After five years of construction, a new place of worship in the area is open to the public following a three-day festival.
For many authors, a blog gives them the chance to interact with their readers directly. A good author blog must attract new visitors while maintaining a loyal readership, provide interesting content that fills a gap within the marketplace, and seamlessly transition into those who are buying your books. These are just some of the reasons authors can do well with a blog. The question is how can you improve your blog? In place of sharing your favorite diet tips, short stories and mysteries are among my top suggestions.

Mystery blogging started out as a short form of blogging. Blogs revolving around crimes and criminal activities were all the rage before the Internet made it easy to bring this form of blogging to millions of new authors. If you have a story to tell, theres no better way than to tell it through writing. Mystery blogs provide authors with a quick way to share their stories with the world.

Another author blog idea is to create a static website. There are several reasons to choose a static website for your blog. One reason is that search engines are always crawling the Internet. When using a static website, your site will be indexed much faster. Another reason to create a static website is that many Internet users prefer websites that are not linked to from other sites. Another benefit of blogging is that it allows you to get short ideas down on paper and test ideas on your readership. You can talk about all aspects of life from exercise, to pets, to cooking and beyond.

One final reason to use a static website as an author blog is that its hard to update a blog using links. Blogging platforms such as WordPress allow updating of blogs without linking. Linking is the preferred method for authors because it improves the overall value of their books.

Another great blogging platform for mystery authors is to utilize guest blogging. Most blogging platforms such as WordPress allow authors to place a link to their website in each of their posts. This provides mystery readers with a quick way to find out about new books by having the authors website link to their latest book marketing blog post. Guest blogging provides authors with another avenue to promote their books.

As authors continue to realize the importance of blogging and publishing books online, many more authors will take advantage of blogging opportunities. Mystery bloggers have discovered that they can market their books and their authorship by utilizing a variety of blogging platforms. Creating a book-marketing blog is simple and can lead to increased book sales.
Following up on my earlier post, here is a second draft of amendments to Florida Statutes. I have rearranged and expanded some of the provisions and also added comments explaining some of the language.



Another issue is what to do about the existing judgments. I have some thoughts on that, also, but I don't want to delay the publication of this proposal.



strikeout

921.141 Sentence of death or life imprisonment for capital felonies; further proceedings to determine sentence.--



(1) SEPARATE PROCEEDINGS ON ISSUE OF PENALTY.--Upon conviction or adjudication of guilt of a defendant of a capital felony, the court shall conduct a separate sentencing proceeding to determine whether the defendant should be sentenced to death or life imprisonment as authorized by s. 775.082. The proceeding shall be conducted by the trial judge before the trial jury as soon as practicable. If, through impossibility or inability, the trial jury is unable to reconvene for a hearing on the issue of penalty, having determined the guilt of the accused, the trial judge may summon a special juror or jurors as provided in chapter 913 to determine the issue of the imposition of the penalty. If the trial jury has been waived, or if the defendant pleaded guilty, the sentencing proceeding shall be conducted before a jury impaneled for that purpose, unless waived by the defendant. In the proceeding, evidence may be presented as to any matter that the court deems relevant to the nature of the crime and the character of the defendant and shall include matters relating to any of the aggravating or mitigating circumstances enumerated in subsections (5) and (6). Any such evidence which the court deems to have probative value may be received, regardless of its admissibility under the exclusionary rules of evidence, provided the defendant is accorded a fair opportunity to rebut any hearsay statements. However, this subsection shall not be construed to authorize the introduction of any evidence secured in violation of the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of the State of Florida. The state and the defendant or the defendant's counsel shall be permitted to present argument for or against sentence of death.







(2) ADVISORY SENTENCE VERDICT BY THE JURY.--

After hearing all the evidence, the jury shall deliberate and render a verdict an advisory sentence to the court , based upon the following matters:





(a) Whether sufficient one or more aggravating circumstances exist as enumerated in subsection (5) have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt;





(b) Whether sufficient aggravating circumstances exist to warrant a punishment of death;





( b c) Whether sufficient mitigating circumstances exist which outweigh the aggravating circumstances found to exist; and







( c d) Based on these considerations, whether the defendant should be sentenced to life imprisonment or death.





(3) FINDINGS IN SUPPORT OF SENTENCE OF DEATH IN THE PENALTY PHASE.



(a) The jury's decision regarding whether one or more aggravating circumstances have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt must be unanimous. The jury shall specify in writing which aggravating circumstances it unanimously finds have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, which it unanimously finds have not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, and which it cannot agree on.





(b) If the jury unanimously finds that no aggravating circumstance has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant shall be sentence to life imprisonment.





(c) If the jury is unable to agree unanimously on whether one or more aggravating circumstances have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, the court shall dismiss the jury and impanel a new jury to retry the penalty phase. If the jury agrees unanimously that at least one aggravating circumstance has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt but is unable to agree on others, the jury shall proceed to the determinations under paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subdivision (2).





(d) In making the determinations required by paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (2), each juror may consider any aggravating or mitigating circumstance he or she has individually found to exist by a preponderance of the evidence and may assign it as much or as little weight as he or she believes is appropriate.





(e) The jury's decision regarding whether the defendant should be sentenced to life imprisonment or death must be unanimous. If the jury agrees unanimously that one or more aggravating circumstances has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt but is unable to agree unanimously on the penalty, the court shall receive the verdict as to aggravating circumstances, dismiss the jury, and impanel a new jury to hear evidence and make determinations according to paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (2). If a second jury is unable to unanimously agree on the penalty, the jury shall report to the court how many jurors recommend a sentence of death and how many recommend a sentence of life imprisonment, and the court shall independently make the determinations required by paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (2).







(f) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subdivision, the court may overturn the jury's verdict in the penalty phase if the facts suggesting a contrary verdict are so clear and convincing that virtually no reasonable person may differ. This standard applies equally whether the jury's final penalty determination was death or life imprisonment.





Notwithstanding the recommendation of a majority of the jury, the court, after weighing the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, shall enter a sentence of life imprisonment or death, but if the court imposes a sentence of death, it shall set forth in writing its findings upon which the sentence of death is based as to the facts:



(a) That sufficient aggravating circumstances exist as enumerated in subsection (5), and



(b) That there are insufficient mitigating circumstances to outweigh the aggravating circumstances.

In each case in which the court imposes the death sentence, the determination of the court shall be supported by specific written findings of fact based upon the circumstances in subsections (5) and (6) and upon the records of the trial and the sentencing proceedings. If the court does not make the findings requiring the death sentence within 30 days after the rendition of the judgment and sentence, the court shall impose sentence of life imprisonment in accordance with s. 775.082.



Comment: The existing subdivision (3) is completely replaced. The remainder of the section is unchanged.



(4) REVIEW OF JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE.--The judgment of conviction and sentence of death shall be subject to automatic review by the Supreme Court of Florida and disposition rendered within 2 years after the filing of a notice of appeal. Such review by the Supreme Court shall have priority over all other cases and shall be heard in accordance with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court.



(5) AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES.--Aggravating circumstances shall be limited to the following:



(a) The capital felony was committed by a person previously convicted of a felony and under sentence of imprisonment or placed on community control or on felony probation.



(b) The defendant was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to the person.



(c) The defendant knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons.



(d) The capital felony was committed while the defendant was engaged, or was an accomplice, in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit, any: robbery; sexual battery; aggravated child abuse; abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult resulting in great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement; arson; burglary; kidnapping; aircraft piracy; or unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructive device or bomb.



(e) The capital felony was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest or effecting an escape from custody.



(f) The capital felony was committed for pecuniary gain.



(g) The capital felony was committed to disrupt or hinder the lawful exercise of any governmental function or the enforcement of laws.



(h) The capital felony was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.



(i) The capital felony was a homicide and was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification.



(j) The victim of the capital felony was a law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of his or her official duties.



(k) The victim of the capital felony was an elected or appointed public official engaged in the performance of his or her official duties if the motive for the capital felony was related, in whole or in part, to the victim's official capacity.



(l) The victim of the capital felony was a person less than 12 years of age.



(m) The victim of the capital felony was particularly vulnerable due to advanced age or disability, or because

the defendant stood in a position of familial or custodial authority over the victim.



(n) The capital felony was committed by a criminal gang member, as defined in s. 874.03.



(o) The capital felony was committed by a person designated as a sexual predator pursuant to s. 775.21 or a person previously designated as a sexual predator who had the sexual predator designation removed.



(p) The capital felony was committed by a person subject to an injunction issued pursuant to s. 741.30 or s. 784.046, or a foreign protection order accorded full faith and credit pursuant to s. 741.315, and was committed against the petitioner who obtained the injunction or protection order or any spouse, child, sibling, or parent of the petitioner.



(6) MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES.--Mitigating circumstances shall be the following:



(a) The defendant has no significant history of prior criminal activity.



(b) The capital felony was committed while the defendant was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance.



(c) The victim was a participant in the defendant's conduct or consented to the act.



(d) The defendant was an accomplice in the capital felony committed by another person and his or her participation was relatively minor.



(e) The defendant acted under extreme duress or under the substantial domination of another person.



(f) The capacity of the defendant to appreciate the criminality of his or her conduct or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of law was substantially impaired.



(g) The age of the defendant at the time of the crime.



(h) The existence of any other factors in the defendant's background that would mitigate against imposition of the death penalty.



(7) VICTIM IMPACT EVIDENCE.--Once the prosecution has provided evidence of the existence of one or more aggravating circumstances as described in subsection (5), the prosecution may introduce, and subsequently argue, victim impact evidence to the jury. Such evidence shall be designed to demonstrate the victim's uniqueness as an individual human being and the resultant loss to the community's members by the victim's death. Characterizations and opinions about the crime, the defendant, and the appropriate sentence shall not be permitted as a part of victim impact evidence.



(8) APPLICABILITY.--This section does not apply to a person convicted or adjudicated guilty of a capital drug trafficking felony under s. 893.135.







The usual conventions apply. Added language is in. Deleted language is in. Regular roman type is unchanged language. Statutory language is indented, and commentary is flush with the left margin.No change needed here.What the jury returns is no longer an advisory sentence, it is a verdict, just like the guilt-phase verdict.Aggravating circumstances serve two functions, and they are now explicitly broken out in separate paragraphs. Revised paragraph (a) refers to the objective fact-finding that goes into determining eligibility to be considered for the death penalty. For example, a person has either been previously convicted of another capital felony or he has not. This paragraph implements the key holding ofthat the finding of at least one aggravating circumstance must be made by the jury and must be made on proof beyond a reasonable doubt. This is what makes a case death eligible.Once the hurdle of paragraph (a) has been cleared, the jury enters the area of making a value judgment, an individualized determination as to whether this defendant should be sentenced to death for this crime. The first question is whether the aggravating circumstances are sufficient, if not outweighed by mitigation, to warrant a punishment of death. For example, not every murder for pecuniary gain deserves a death sentence, even if there is no mitigation.Continuing on with the process, the defendant is entitled to try to convince the jury that mitigating circumstances outweigh the aggravating, even if the crime would otherwise warrant a death sentence.Here the jury comes to its final sentence verdict. As the Supreme Court recognized inv.the week after, it no longer makes sense to speak of burdens of proof in this area. The Constitution does not require this decision to be made by the jury, but most states vest it there, and it is better to regard this decision as a verdict rather than the confusing "advisory sentence" of existing law.: The finding of an aggravating circumstance is a critical moment in the case. The thrust ofis that this finding must be treated the same as a conviction of a higher degree of murder. The Supreme Court has gone back and forth on whether unanimity is required for a verdict of guilt, comparev., 176 U.S. 581 (1900) withv., 406 U.S. 404 (1972), and it would not be wise to depend onremaining the law. That precedent may be the next one thrown under thebus. It is also prudent to require that the jury specify the aggravating circumstances found. If a problem is later found with one of them, that will be harmless error for the eligibility determination if one or more unimpaired findings still stand.A unanimous verdict that none of the alleged aggravated circumstances has been proved to the requisite level is the end of the penalty phase, and the jury need go no further.Continuing with the principle that an aggravating circumstance is like guilt of a higher degree of murder, a hung jury results in a mistrial, and a new jury is impaneled. As long as they find one unanimously, though, the jury need not be considered hung. They can proceed with each juror considering the circumstances he or she believes has been proved.This individual juror consideration is required for mitigating circumstances. Seev., 494 U.S. 433 (1990). This paragraph makes therule reciprocal. Aggravating circumstances proved by a preponderance of the evidence but not beyond a reasonable doubt cannot be used for eligibility but can and should be considered in the weighing process. Having different standards for aggravating and mitigating places a thumb on the defendant's side of the scale. Such an imbalance is appropriate for guilt but not for sentencing.Here we come to a critical point. There are two kinds of death sentencing procedures that are loosely called "unanimity requirements," but only one really is. A true unanimity requirement is a requirement that the jury be unanimous. Some states say the jury must be unanimous but then say that if it is not the defendant gets a life sentence. This is a single-juror veto, not a unanimity requirement. There are numerous cases where a murderer clearly deserves death and most of the jurors so vote, but a small minority (sometimes even a single juror) impose their will on the others through a single-juror veto law. The gross miscarriage of justice in the case of Aurora, Colorado theater mass murderer is the best-known example, although reports vary as to whether it was one holdout or as many as three.This proposal adopts the method of California and Arizona, that a hung jury in the penalty phase results in a retrial of only the portion on which the jury is hung. In Arizona, if a second jury is also hung, the state gives up and sentences the defendant to life in prison. The Jodi Arias case is the best-known example. This proposal provides that the second jury report its results and that the trial judge make the final decision.does not apply to the final sentencing decision, only to the finding of an aggravating circumstance. Although there is some sloppy language in theopinion that has been cited to argue that the final decision is included as well, that would be such massive overthrow of well-established law that it is nearly inconceivable the Supreme Court would actually embrace it. If the inconceivable happens, this proposal would effectively be same as the Arizona system.As is generally true in criminal law, there needs to be some latitude to override extreme jury verdicts. The standard in this paragraph is the standard in existing law for a judge to override a jury verdict of life and impose death instead, the rule ofv., 322 So. 2d 908, 910 (Fla. 1975). This proposal would make the standard reciprocal as to the jury's final sentencing determination. It is not reciprocal, however, for a jury finding of no aggravating circumstances. Although the Supreme Court's jurisprudence on the Double Jeopardy Clause as applied to capital punishment has been confused and inconsistent, the plurality portion ofv., 537 U.S. 101, 112 (2003) indicates that a finding of no aggravating circumstances "would operate as an acquittal," precluding an override. Given thebasis of this portion of, a viewpoint that has triumphed in, it would be prudent to regard this as a Double Jeopardy bar and not attempt an override in this situation, no matter how clearly wrong the jury may be.
Whats new? The risk of an unintended collision between U.S. and Chinese ships or planes has grown as the two sides expand military activities in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Heightened political tensions increase the escalatory potential for such an incident and make crisis management more difficult. Why does it matter? Although a full-blown military conflict remains unlikely, an inadvertent collision or misinterpreted signal of impending action could precipitate a crisis that deepens U.S.-China tensions and creates greater uncertainty and instability bilaterally, regionally and globally. What should be done? The U.S. and China have different perspectives on desirability of risk reduction, but there is room for incremental progress on crisis management. Washington and Beijing should better implement existing maritime rules of the road and hotlines, reinvigorate defence dialogues and develop better understanding of possible escalation pathways through crisis simulations.

Executive Summary

Rising tensions between the U.S. and China, combined with larger military deployments by both powers in the Asia Pacific, have increased the risk of a crisis sparked by miscalculation or an unintended collision in the air or at sea. Existing crisis management mechanisms have contributed to stability in the relationship, but in the face of growing competition, heightened by the war in Ukraine, the two sides must identify ways to bolster them, even if at the margins. In some cases, the most promising option may be to focus on better implementing existing mechanisms  including hotlines to communicate during crises and maritime rules of the road to prevent incidents. But there is also room for greater ambition, particularly when it comes to defence dialogues. Resuming and expanding these dialogues, possibly to include joint crisis simulations, would allow Beijing and Washington to signal their intentions more clearly and, down the line, might advance mutual understanding of possible escalation triggers that can help both sides manage the associated risks more effectively. The strategic competition between the U.S. and China is increasingly framed by both sides as a rivalry between their respective domestic political systems. On one hand, Washington presents itself as waging a battle for democracy and against autocracy, spurred among other things by President Joseph Bidens desire to champion values that his predecessor, Donald Trump, treated with visible contempt. On the other hand, Beijing casts itself as the defender of Chinas Communist Party-led system, which it says represents a different form of democracy that has delivered huge benefits for the Chinese people. The competition has intensified amid the conflict in Ukraine, where Beijings backing of Moscow and Washingtons support for Kyiv have reinforced the mutual sense that the two countries are engaged in a globe-spanning struggle. As they jockey for position, both sides put forward narratives that raise the stakes of their sparring, reduce the space for compromise and make it more difficult to limit the risk of confrontation. Making matters even more fraught, the bilateral contest has become increasingly militarised in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. began to increase the tempo of its military activities to challenge and deter what Washington sees as Chinas attempts to undermine what the U.S. refers to as the rules-based international order, which it has led for decades. For its part, China has been both rapidly advancing its military capabilities, and increasing and routinising its military and paramilitary presence along its periphery. It has, for instance, expanded its presence in disputed areas and at key maritime chokepoints. Beijing argues that these measures are necessary to protect its national security and sovereignty, which it asserts are under threat. With high-level dialogue intermittent in recent years  there was no leader-level contact between the two countries defence ministries from August 2020 until April 2022  the environment is ripe for the two governments to misjudge each others intentions, particularly around sensitive issues concerning the South China Sea and Taiwan. Indeed, in the autumn of 2020, Beijing misinterpreted a series of U.S. actions as indicating a possible U.S. plan to attack Chinese outposts in the South China Sea. Though U.S. officials helped defuse tensions by conveying to China through defence communication channels that no attack was planned or under way, the episode illustrates the intensifying risks. With the two militaries aircraft and vessels operating in close proximity to each other, the chance of a collision is ever present. Should a major incident occur at sea or in the air in contested areas where the two governments have opposing views of their rights and obligations under international law, tensions could ratchet up quickly. Heightened competition will incline decision-makers to perceive hostile motives behind the other sides actions. Once an incident is made public, officials on both sides will come under domestic pressure to take tough, escalatory public stances that reduce the space for accommodation in private. While the likelihood of a full-scale military conflict is low, a collision is likely to place both militaries on high alert and may lead to military reinforcements around the incident zone  creating additional risks going forward.

Crisis management mechanisms ... can help reduce the odds of Washington and Beijing slipping into a conflict neither desires.

Whether the two governments can prevent an accident or misinterpretation from escalating into heightened tensions or worse rests on officials capacity to show restraint and exercise prudence. Crisis management mechanisms cannot ensure that the latter will prevail, but they can help reduce the odds of Washington and Beijing slipping into a conflict neither desires. Several such mechanisms exist: maritime rules of the road, including the 1998 Maritime Military Consultative Agreement (MMCA) and associated 2014 Rules of Behaviour that aim to promote safe encounters; the 1998 presidential hotline and 2008 Defense Telephone Link that seek to provide timely communications between the two governments during and before a crisis; and recurring defence dialogues that help to clarify intentions and reduce strategic miscalculation. All these have contributed to overall stability in the bilateral relationship, which has not seen a major incident since 2001. But those mechanisms have been imperfectly implemented and were not designed to address dangers that are emerging as the relationship becomes more contentious. While there is room and need for improvement, change will likely be incremental and difficult. Part of the challenge is that the parties have asymmetric interests in risk reduction. Washington seeks to make encounters safer so that Asian seas and skies afford a more predictable environment for the U.S. military. Conversely, Beijing resists providing too much clarity for U.S. operations as a means of discouraging the U.S. militarys presence in its periphery. Bilateral efforts to expand or to make legally binding the 2014 Rules of Behaviour are likely to founder for this reason. Nevertheless, it remains important for the two sides to continue to review compliance with the Rules and other relevant international rules and norms, not only in the bilateral MMCA consultations, but also in multilateral forums such as the Western Pacific Naval Symposium and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus mechanism, where the two sides interests in risk reduction may be more aligned and discussions less politicised. Similarly, it may not be useful to pour effort into augmenting existing communications channels, or hotlines. Centralised decision-making in Chinas political system, in which the leadership tightly controls all forms of exchange with the U.S., means that engaging in timely crisis communications will remain a challenge. That said, both sides should emphasise the importance of these channels within their own systems, and it is worth exploring prospects for shortening the notification and response times of the Defense Telephone Link  which played an important crisis prevention role in the autumn of 2020. There may also be room for improvement in the area of dialogue. Given how prone Washington and Beijing are to misinterpreting each others intentions, more occasions for exchange may help the two sides read each other better and mitigate the risk of miscalculation in crisis scenarios. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe should make clear their mutual commitment to resuming all working-level dialogues within the framework of the Policy Dialogue System; an early opportunity to do that would be on the sidelines of the June Shangri-La Dialogue. This framework, put in place in 2020, tries to balance the U.S. desire to focus on risk reduction with the Chinese desire for forums in which to press the U.S. to scale back its presence in the Asia Pacific. Ideally, the two sides would also engage in crisis simulations to deepen understandings of where specific escalation triggers lie, though in current circumstances it will be difficult for them to be transparent about how they would react. At a minimum, they should participate in such exercises at the Track 1.5 level. While rising U.S.-China competition has generated greater interest in strengthening crisis management capabilities on both sides, neither sees the level of risk as so intolerably high that it must significantly adjust its approach. For this reason, and barring a crisis that grabs decision-makers attention, it is likely that any step to improve crisis management will result in only incremental, hard-to-measure forward movement. Given the poor state of relations, however, and the potential consequences of confrontation, even such minor progress would be welcome. Taipei/Brussels, 20 May 2022

I. Introduction

Chinas rise in the Asia Pacific and the resultant relative decline of U.S. economic influence and military capability have intensified competition between the two countries, with far-reaching implications for the global economy and international security. One important consequence of the increasingly confrontational relationship, in which ideological competition plays a role, is that the risk of military conflict between the U.S. and China in the Asia Pacific  while still low  has increased. War between the worlds leading powers, both armed with nuclear weapons, would come at a devastatingly high economic and political cost, potentially imperilling much of the worlds maritime trade, but it is a remote prospect. A more immediate danger is a prolonged political crisis resulting from an accidental military collision. Such a standoff could further inflame tensions in the relationship, engender greater global economic instability and make it more difficult for third countries to balance their relationships with both Beijing and Washington. Already, the intensifying rivalry has impeded U.S.-China cooperation on major global issues, for instance prompting Washington and Beijing to compete over rather than cooperate in distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Tariffs applied amid the U.S.-China trade war have heightened uncertainty around global trade and supply chains. Most Asia Pacific governments, deeply tied to Chinas economy but reliant on U.S. security guarantees, have to walk a careful line. The crisis in Ukraine has further entrenched assumptions in the two capitals that competition is necessary and will be protracted. For Washington, Beijings political and moral support for Moscows actions is evidence for the view that the world is splitting into two opposing, irreconcilable camps  democratic and autocratic  with Russia and China aligned in the latter. Despite limitations in the analogy, the war has also sharpened worries among Washington policymakers that Taiwan could be the next Ukraine, and focused minds on how to gird Taiwan for invasion and how to safeguard U.S. interests in the region. For Beijing, Washingtons relative success in unifying Europe and other allies behind economic and military pressures on Russia adds to its anxieties about the staying power of U.S. leadership, which may be greater than it would wish, its own economic dependency on the West and its prospects of unifying with Taiwan. Beijing believes that Washington provoked Moscow into attacking Ukraine and now seeks to prolong the conflict to weaken not only Russia, but China too.

Conflicting interests over Taiwan and the South China Sea are two key drivers of bilateral friction.

Conflicting interests over Taiwan and the South China Sea are two key drivers of bilateral friction. Beijing claims Taiwan, an island approximately 180km east of China, as part of its territory and seeks to unify it with the Chinese mainland, even if the task requires military force. While Washington does not recognise Taiwan as an independent nation, it believes the islands status should be peacefully resolved. The U.S. seeks to deter a Chinese military invasion by supplying Taipei with defensive weaponry. It has left ambiguous whether it would militarily intervene if China invaded. The South China Sea, a semi-enclosed sea linking the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific, has three groups of land features: the Pratas Islands in the north west, the Paracels in the north east and the Spratlys in the east. Overlaying disputes among China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan over the sovereignty of land features and sovereign rights in the waters around the features is a struggle between the U.S. and China over competing visions of maritime orders that advance their respective interests. A major aspect of the South China Sea disagreement is Chinas expansive maritime rights claims, which were invalidated by a 2016 ad hoc tribunal constituted under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The U.S. endorses the ruling, although it is not itself a party to UNCLOS, but China rejects it. Also important are divergent interpretations of the navigational rights that UNCLOS grants to user states like the U.S. in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) (the area extending 200 nautical miles, or nm, from a states coastline) and territorial seas (12nm from the coast) of coastal states like China. For most of 2021 Washington and Beijing were at odds over the framing of the bilateral relationship, with each making clear that on issues like human rights abuses in Xinjiang, the end of Hong Kongs political autonomy, Taiwan and the South China Sea the two sides positions remain far apart. Until 20 April, when U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Chinese General Wei Fenghe by telephone, there had been no high-level defence contacts since the Trump administration was still in office. Officials and scholars in both countries recognise the growing risks of U.S.-China competition, especially given dwindling diplomatic interaction in recent years. Experts on both sides call for improvements and embellishments to the crisis management mechanisms  in particular, operational rules that help make military encounters safer, hotlines and dialogue for the purpose of exchanging views  that have been created to reduce the risk of conflict between the two powers. This report explores the respective views of Beijing and Washington on risks in the bilateral relationship and crisis management, and makes recommendations with respect to the latter. The report focuses in particular on the tensions that arise from the two militaries growing presence in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. It does not attempt to address the full range of risks that exist in the bilateral relationship  the impact of Chinas growing nuclear capabilities on strategic stability, for instance, or the potential escalation pathways created by the advancing cyber, space and artificial intelligence capacities of both countries. Because of COVID-19 travel restrictions and other security concerns, all interviews were conducted remotely, via telephone or video conference platform. All interviews with Chinese experts are anonymously attributed; the preponderance of Chinese experts interviewed are currently or formerly affiliated with government or military think-tanks.

Cmdr. Robert J. Briggs and Cmdr. Richard D. Slye monitor surface contacts from the pilothouse of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin. PHILIPPINE SEA, April , 2021. CRISIS GROUP, Petty Officer 3rd Class Arthur Rosen, US Navy.

II. The New Normal: Risky Competition

A. The Increasing Stakes of U.S.-China Competition

The U.S.-China relationship has settled into an openly competitive dynamic in which decision-makers on both sides are more risk-tolerant and see the introduction of friction as necessary for achieving national objectives. Importantly, both governments see competition as partly about a rivalry of domestic systems and contending visions of world order. The fact that both governments view the contest through an ideological lens increases the likelihood that one or the other will perceive an unintended military collision or a spike in tensions around a longstanding dispute as a high-stakes event that tests the credibility and effectiveness of the political system it espouses, making conflict management more difficult. Following years in which the Trump administration chipped away at democratic institutions and norms at home and pursued a foreign policy centred on U.S. unilateralism, Washington is anxious to, as President Joe Biden put it, prove democracy works. The administration assesses that what U.S. officials refer to as the international rules-based order is under stress from autocracies and that the U.S. must work with other democracies to ensure that the world remains democratically-led and governed by the existing order. Washingtons view of the rules-based order can be broadly defined as the U.S.-led post-World War II system of international institutions, rules and norms, which the U.S. sees as the basis of global prosperity and stability  as well as the foundation on which U.S. moral authority and global influence rest.

The U.S. assesses China to be the only competitor potentially capable of challenging the existing international system.

Within this worldview the U.S. assesses China to be the only competitor potentially capable of challenging the existing international system, pointing to what it characterises as Beijings use of coercion and (in some cases) aggression, along the Line of Actual Control with India, with Taiwan and with neighbours in the East and South China Seas as indicative of Chinas threat to the rules-based order. In the face of Beijings growing confidence in its own institutions, U.S. officials also believe that a key element of competing with China is getting things in order at home to demonstrate to its rival that the U.S. political system can perform. Chinas long-term objective is to achieve national rejuvenation by 2049, defined as becoming a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious. The leadership believes that it faces a world undergoing major changes unseen in a century, a transitional period in which U.S. unipolar power has ended, but Beijing is not yet strong enough to assume a position as Washingtons peer. Party writings exhorting the bureaucracy to actively create a positive external environment and to extend an important period of strategic opportunity suggest that Beijing believes its management of this transitional period, and in particular its thwarting of U.S. efforts to form anti-China coalitions, is a key determinant of the pace and trajectory of its development and rise. Beijing views Washingtons emphasis on ideological differences between democracies and autocracies as a rebuke of its socialist system with Chinese characteristics, aimed at diminishing on the international stage the moral authority and legitimacy of the Chinese system and the Communist Party of China (CPC). Washingtons criticism of Beijings policies in Xinjiang and Hong Kong and its deepening engagement with Taiwan, in particular, reinforce longstanding anxieties in Beijing that external forces are attempting to change Chinas political system and to undermine the CPC. In response, Beijing has more openly embraced the notion that rivalry between Western and Chinese political systems is a key aspect of competition, arguing not only that its own institutions are a form of democracy, but that the system is successful because of what it has delivered for the Chinese people.

B. Competition through Military Presence

Military signalling is playing an increasing role in the bilateral relationship. Demonstrations of military resolve are particularly prominent within and around the first island chain, an area where the two governments see national interests at stake and where a shift in the balance of military power increasingly in Chinas favour has accelerated a struggle for military advantage. The first island chain is a string of islands composed of Japans Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, the Philippines and Borneo that enclose the waters bordering China. Washington and Beijing each views the expansion of its own military presence and exercises in the area as rightful, normal and necessary for achieving the objectives discussed below, while regarding the others military presence and activities as implying hostile, aggressive intent.

A. Chinas outward push to achieve national rejuvenation

China believes that ensuring control of what it calls its near seas, within and around the first island chain, is essential to its defence, as well as its national rejuvenation, part of which is the goal of becoming a maritime power. Accordingly, the capabilities of Chinas military, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and its presence within and around the first island chain have rapidly grown in the last two decades. By one measure, the number of Chinese naval vessels has tripled, from 110 ships in 2000 to 360 in 2020. Chinese military exercises take place regularly, at times in several seas at once; according to Chinese state media, the PLA conducted 120 drills over three months in 2021 in the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. Chinese strategists view the first island chain as a hostile fortification that the U.S. and other foreign forces could use to constrict or block the movements of Chinese vessels and aircraft from its near seas out to the western Pacific. In response, Beijing has increasingly sent its warships and aircraft through key passageways along the chain, including waterways between Japans islands and near the western entrance of the Bashi Channel, a main thoroughfare for submarines that lies just south of Taiwan. Beijing regards controlling its near seas as a necessary condition for achieving unification with Taiwan and defending its claims in the East and South China Seas. Moreover, Beijing believes that alongside growing military capabilities it should demonstrate its increased ability to defend these interests and related sovereign claims before both domestic and international audiences. Near-daily sorties near the Bashi Channel are intended to credibly convey to several audiences the depth of Beijings resolve to unify Taiwan with the mainland. Around the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which both China and Japan claim, Beijing maintains a continuous presence of coast guard vessels to advance its assertion of sovereignty. In the South China Sea, Beijing has outfitted artificial islands it built with military assets and structures, including anti-air and anti-ship missiles, radar platforms and hangars that can accommodate military aircraft. Beyond significantly expanding Chinas ability to project military power across the disputed Sea, the outposts also facilitate the regular presence of Chinas coast guard there. When South East Asian claimant states exploit oil and gas resources in their EEZs in areas that overlap with Beijings expansive claims, China dispatches coast guard and research vessels to patrol and conduct surveys nearby. Beijing regards such responses as essential for demonstrating resolve and for deterring other South East Asian claimant states from what China sees as provocations.

B. U.S. defence of a rules-based order

The U.S., which has enjoyed military dominance in East Asia since World War II, believes that bolstering its military deterrence in the region is important for providing security for itself and its allies, for ensuring its access to Asian markets and for promoting U.S. values. Washington is concerned that Chinas increasing ability to limit U.S. access to, and operations within, the first island chain during a potential conflict will hamper it in responding to events affecting U.S. interests or those of partners and allies. For instance, Chinas DF-26 anti-ship ballistic missile can strike a moving U.S. target from 4,000km away, long before a U.S. aircraft carrier could come near Chinas periphery. Senior U.S. military officials assess that unless they strengthen deterrence, China will be emboldened to engage in aggression against U.S. allies and partners and to displace what Washington calls the rules-based order. As one element of deterrence, the U.S. began stepping up its military presence in Chinas periphery under the Trump administration, calculating that the operational risks of doing so paled alongside the strategic risks of not being present. As one former senior official put it, If we are not operating in their space, we are ceding to their claims. In April 2021, a Chinese defence spokesperson said the number of activities conducted by U.S. warships and surveillance aircraft in the sea areas around China had increased by more than 20 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, compared with the same period in 2020.

Washington uses freedom of navigation operations to challenge what it believes are Chinas excessive claims in the South China Sea.

According to publicly available information, U.S. freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea steadily grew between 2015 and 2020, from one to ten operations per year; in 2021, the number declined to five. Washington uses freedom of navigation operations to challenge what it believes are Chinas excessive claims in the South China Sea; claims that it argues wrongly restrict navigation and overflight rights and freedoms guaranteed under international law. These operations generally involve a U.S. warship sailing within 12nm of a Chinese outpost in the South China Sea or through Chinese-claimed waters around the Paracel Islands. In response to Chinese attempts to deter South East Asian claimant states from exploiting seabed natural resources, the U.S. for the first time in May 2020 dispatched warships to conduct presence operations near a standoff at sea involving the Malaysian-chartered drillship West Capella and Chinese survey and law enforcement ships. In September 2021, the U.S. deployed an aircraft carrier close to an Indonesian oil rig that was subject to similar Chinese pressure. As for the Taiwan Strait, U.S. naval transits through the strait reached a record thirteen in 2020; in 2021, the number  twelve  was almost as high again, in a sign of Washingtons concern about Chinas increasing ability to forcibly unify with Taiwan through an invasion. The scale and complexity of U.S. military exercises, including with partner countries, also appear to be increasing. In August 2021, for instance, the U.S. Navy conducted its largest exercise in a generation, involving its fleets in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, as well as British, Australian and Japanese ships and planes. Public data for U.S. reconnaissance flights in Chinas periphery is scarce and incomplete, but it suggests that the tempo of operations is high. A Beijing-based think-tank reports that the U.S. conducted nearly 1,000 reconnaissance sorties in the South China Sea in 2020 and 1,200 in 2021. Reconnaissance missions can provide the U.S. with intelligence on Chinese military movements and exercises and are also a means of demonstrating U.S. military presence. Just as Washington sees aggressive intent behind Chinas increased military and paramilitary presence, Beijing has long viewed the U.S. military presence along its periphery as provocative, hostile and unjust. It officially describes U.S. reconnaissance activities and freedom of navigation operations as undermining Chinas national security. Chinas position reflects a deeply held view that the U.S military presence along its periphery is a deliberate attempt to injure Chinas national dignity.

C. The Risks of Miscalculation and Escalation

A. Strategic miscalculation and misperception

The competitive lens through which decision-makers in Beijing and Washington are interpreting developments, coupled with an uptick in military operations and decline in dialogue, raise the potential for the two governments to misread each others intentions at the strategic level over sensitive issues, such as the South China Sea and Taiwan. For decades, Beijing and Washington have relied on certain overlapping, though not convergent, understandings to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Beijings position is that there is only one China of which Taiwan is a part. Its objective is unification with Taiwan  which it sees as critical to national rejuvenation and the CPCs legitimacy  and it holds out the possibility of using military force to achieve this end. Washington recognises the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, acknowledges Beijings position on Taiwan and says it has no intention of pursuing a policy of one China, one Taiwan. But it maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and believes that the question of Taiwans sovereignty is unsettled and should be resolved peacefully between the two parties. The executive branch is mandated to provide Taiwan with defensive arms and to maintain its capacity to resist any attempt at force or coercion that would jeopardise the security or the socio-economic system of the Taiwanese people. Though the two positions diverge in certain respects, they have allowed both sides to arrive at a modus vivendi by which Washington maintains a delicate balance between Beijing and Taipei within the bounds of its commitments to both sides, while China pursues peaceful unification. This tacit arrangement allowed the U.S. and China to normalise relations in 1979. It has helped keep a fragile peace since then. Nevertheless, Chinas rapid military modernisation and more assertive military posture in the region have altered U.S. perceptions of the threat that China poses to Taiwan, causing Washington to consider a Chinese military invasion of Taiwan possible and to question its own ability to prevail if it were to intervene to prevent forcible reunification. Competition with Beijing has also led Washington to attach geopolitical stakes to Taiwan that extend far beyond the island itself; as one former U.S. official put it, U.S. strategists are increasingly understanding Taiwan as a first battle of the U.S.-China contest over the future of Asia. The Biden administration has deepened Washingtons unofficial ties with Taipei, reframed the Taiwan problem as an international issue with regional security implications and worked to reduce Taiwans international isolation, in a reflection of both Washingtons determination to deter Chinese aggression and the importance attached to Taiwan.

Beijing in turn sees Washington as cynically employing the Taiwan issue as a pressure point in the larger bilateral competition.

Beijing in turn sees Washington as cynically employing the Taiwan issue as a pressure point in the larger bilateral competition. It believes that Washingtons deepening engagement on Taiwan dangerously alters the status quo by strengthening Taiwans claims to independence and forestalling Beijings plans for unification. It has responded with more acts of military and economic coercion that further confirm Washingtons suspicions. Though the U.S. has made clear its policy is not to support Taiwans independence, its posture has led China to question how far the Biden administration will go to convey its commitment to Taiwan. A direct conflict over Taiwan is only a remote possibility in the near term, but the current dynamism, in which the two sides are tussling over a new equilibrium, will motivate both Washington and Beijing to keep showing resolve in ways that generate tensions and uncertainty over intentions. In the South China Sea, tensions have risen as growing Chinese military capabilities and assertiveness have prompted Washington to push back politically and militarily. For Washington, Beijings ability to exercise control over the South China Sea in peacetime and to deploy paramilitary and civilian assets across the breadth of the waters it claims raises questions about whether an even more capable China will attempt to restrict or deny U.S. access to the area in the coming years. As noted above, the U.S. has since the Trump administration stepped up its military operations and deployments in the area. In a July 2020 statement, furthermore, Washington explicitly rejected Chinas claims to offshore resources across the South China Sea, in accordance with the 2016 award. Previously, the U.S. had taken no position on the maritime dispute and was more narrowly focused on upholding U.S. freedom of navigation and overflight. In the autumn of 2020, the Chinese government appeared to misread U.S. actions as signs of intent to initiate a limited conflict in the South China Sea. Theories of a U.S. October surprise attack on Chinese outposts in the Spratly Islands began to circulate widely in Beijing that July, abetted by a sharp decline in the bilateral relationship and Washingtons rejection of Chinas maritime rights claims. A popular article by a retired Chinese military official argued that Trump was very likely to provoke a military conflict with China in the Spratlys as a means of securing his re-election. The piece pointed to the closing of consulates in Houston and Chengdu, the shift in Washingtons South China Sea policy and what Beijing saw as pre-war tactical and technical reconnaissance activities in the Sea as evidence of an impending U.S. attack. According to a former U.S. defence official, by mid-October, Chinese government anxieties had gone off the rails. The U.S. assessment of Chinese concerns was based on official statements made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the PLA, the views of military officials and Chinese scholars, and the content of state media, as well as the PLAs large-scale military drills and heightened readiness. U.S. officials responded by directly informing Chinese officials that the U.S. would launch no such attack. Following these conversations, in October 2020 a Chinese defence spokesperson refuted media reports of a possible U.S. attack, saying the U.S. side has no intention of creating a military crisis with China. The event illustrates the potential for the two governments to radically misunderstand each others intentions, though it wound up providing a positive example of how they can communicate in exigent circumstances.

B. Sparks from a collision at sea or in the air

The two governments use of increased military presence in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait to send political signals means that the probability of encounters between U.S. and Chinese forces in the air and at sea and related risks have likely risen. Both Chinese and U.S. experts say interactions are mostly safe and professional, due in part to the familiarity the two sides have accrued from decades of operating in proximity. Nevertheless, the recent history of encounters is sprinkled with near misses and accusations of unsafe, unprofessional behaviour. Decision-making on these occasions, which are highly stressful, is left to individuals who are susceptible to human error, and who, influenced by their governments political attitudes, may be motivated to act assertively on the front lines. As a Chinese analyst put it, Humans have emotions and lose control. There are new risk factors as well. Encounters are occurring under new scenarios, including in areas where the maritime claims of South East Asian states and China overlap, and in the southwestern corner of Taiwans air defence identification zone. Close encounters between U.S. and Chinese military vessels and aircraft tend to occur during the U.S. military operations that Beijing most strongly opposes, but that Washington believes are important for upholding its prerogatives under international maritime law. Historically, these have concerned U.S. survey and surveillance activities in Chinas Exclusive Economic Zone, an area stretching out 200nm from the mainland coast. In recent years, however, information publicised by the two governments and media suggest, anecdotally, that the types of interaction that lead to close calls are more diverse. In many cases, Chinese warships and aircraft tail, or more rarely, attempt to intercept and drive away U.S. vessels and aircraft conducting freedom of navigation and reconnaissance activities as a means of registering protest and discouraging more such operations. In September 2018, a Chinese warship steamed directly at a U.S. Navy destroyer conducting a freedom of navigation operation, in an attempt to push the vessel out of the area within 12nm of Gaven Reef, a rock feature China has built up in the Spratlys. The two ships came within 41m of each other; the U.S. vessel prevented a collision by manoeuvring out of the way. In 2018, the U.S. Pacific Fleet reported eighteen unsafe and/or unprofessional encounters with Chinese military forces in the Pacific between 2016 and late 2018; officials quoted in the media said at least three of these involved Chinese fighter jets making unsafe intercepts of U.S. surveillance planes. According to a Pentagon official, nine concerning incidents involving U.S. and Chinese aircraft occurred between March and May 2020. Encounters take place around military exercises; in April 2021, a Chinese official said a U.S. destroyer conducting reconnaissance on a Chinese aircraft carrier formation seriously obstructed operations and threatened the safety of both sides.

For Beijing, key objectives included safeguarding Chinas sovereignty and national dignity, as well as avoiding appearing weak before the Chinese public.

The one collision that has occurred between Chinese and U.S. forces  now more than two decades ago  offers a useful case study of the challenges of managing such incidents. On 1 April 2001, a U.S. EP-3 reconnaissance plane and a Chinese fighter jet unintentionally ran into each other, killing the Chinese pilot and forcing the U.S. crew to make an emergency landing on Hainan Island (Chinas largest island, to the south of Guangdong province). China blamed the collision on the U.S., and initially demanded an apology for the Chinese pilots death and the EP-3s landing without permission. For Beijing, key objectives included safeguarding Chinas sovereignty and national dignity, as well as avoiding appearing weak before the Chinese public. The U.S. wanted the return of its crew and aircraft, but it did not want to apologise because it believed the Chinese pilots recklessness had precipitated the incident. A key concern for Washington included appearing bullied by China in the eyes of the U.S. public or peoples and governments in the Asia Pacific. One Chinese perspective on the incident described the U.S. insistence on its right to conduct spying activities in Chinas EEZ and Washingtons demand that Beijing return the crew and aircraft without expressing regret in return as evidence of callousness and Washingtons tendency to maximise its interests above all else during a crisis; at the time, Beijing described this U.S. position as the logic of hegemony. A U.S. account said U.S. officials saw Beijings response to the incident as attaching worryingly little importance to the facts of the collision and international norms for handling the incident. The parties ultimately arrived at a pragmatic solution, which involved the U.S. sending a letter saying it was very sorry for the loss of life and for entering Chinese airspace without verbal clearance, but not apologising for the collision itself. This workaround resulted in the U.S. crews repatriation; China returned the EP-3 three months after the incident. Importantly, neither side insisted on settling what caused the collision or who was responsible. While experts on both sides concur that a collision at sea or in the air is unlikely to result in all-out war  as neither side desires such a confrontation  they also tend to agree that, in the present political climate, such an incident could escalate in a way that is hard to control, leading to a period of heightened military tensions and political crisis. As a Chinese scholar emphasised, the essence of crisis is not peaceful. After a major incident, both governments are likely to engage in a game of chess to secure maximum benefit, even while they seek to avoid outright conflict. With bilateral competition intensifying and cast in an ideological light, both sides may attach higher stakes to the defence of national interests during a crisis or even see opportunities to further national interests. One party may be tempted to use an incident to signal its own position more forcefully to the other as a means of shaping its rivals future behaviour or of gauging its rivals resolve in a dispute. PLA strategic thinking characterises crises as creating both risks and opportunities; among the latter are chances for conflict parties to show their bottom line, find out their opponents cards and finally reach a compromise. U.S. officials also sometimes see crises as opportunities not just to better understand Washingtons adversaries, but also to advance the U.S. strategic agenda. By way of illustration, one Track 2 exercise indicates that if an unintended collision between U.S. and Chinese vessels were to ground a U.S. warship within Chinas declared straight baselines around the Paracel Islands, waters over which Beijing considers itself sovereign, China might respond by denying the U.S. access to the site of the incident. Such a response, meant to defend Chinese interests, would also set up a test of U.S. resolve. The U.S. does not recognise Chinas baselines and it would therefore consider the incident site to be on the high seas, where it has the right to navigate and deploy assistance. In the exercise, both teams dispatched military vessels and aircraft to the collision site, bringing two militaries tasked with directly opposing missions into close proximity, before a compromise was identified.

De-escalation is not a foregone conclusion.

But de-escalation is not a foregone conclusion in these scenarios, when bargaining would be influenced by public opinion and the potentially flawed assumptions of decision-makers. Because of the increasingly competitive frame in which both Washington and Beijing cast their bilateral relations, once an incident is known, both will come under domestic pressure to assert their views on fault and make their follow-on demands resolutely and quickly, reducing the space for negotiation. During the EP-3 episode, the first statement from the U.S. publicising the incident brought a tough Chinese reply, setting off a heated exchange that contributed to the political impasse. At several points, both sides chose to state their positions publicly before consulting with the other side and before ascertaining all the facts, locking them into positions that made private compromise more difficult. Those unhelpful dynamics would likely be magnified in the present environment. In the face of rising domestic nationalism, Beijing will seek to defend Chinese dignity and may prioritise publicly blaming the U.S. over managing the fallout. PLA writings emphasise the importance of actively guiding domestic and international public opinion during a crisis to shore up support for Chinas position. In the U.S., being tough on China is one of the few foreign policy stances that commands bipartisan consensus. The Biden administration would have much less space to show flexibility around assignment of responsibility for an incident than the Bush administration had in 2001. Heightened distrust will make it harder for decision-makers with incomplete information to discern the other sides intentions, whether regarding the incident itself or its aftermath. According to one media report, in the months leading up to Russias invasion of Ukraine, Chinese officials repeatedly responded with scepticism to U.S. intelligence of the Russian troop build-up; instead of being persuaded by the information, they thought Washington was trying to sow discord between Moscow and Beijing. In a crisis, misinterpretation could result in disproportionate responses, with escalatory effects.

III. Mismatched Interests and Crisis Management

U.S.-China crisis management mechanisms have existed since the late 1990s and largely fall into three categories: 1) consultations and rules that promote operational safety; 2) defence and military dialogues; and 3) crisis communication channels or hotlines. Most existing mechanisms emerged from the political momentum generated by two summits  one attended by Presidents Bill Clinton and Jiang Zemin in 1998 and another bringing together Presidents Xi Jinping and Barack Obama in 2014. On the whole, the existing mechanisms have contributed to a stable bilateral relationship that has been free of major incident since the 2001 collision, but they have also fallen short of their full potential. While it is difficult to measure, some experts argue that the mechanisms are one reason why the two militaries interactions at sea and in the air have become more professional in the last two decades, including by helping socialise the PLA to standard international practices. At the same time, the existing guardrails remain underdeveloped and underutilised, in the words of one former U.S. government official, contributing to fears in Washington and Beijing that they are insufficient for preventing or managing a crisis amid rising risks. A review of how the two parties have used the existing mechanisms can help identify where improvements of implementation can be found and how the mechanisms themselves can be strengthened.

A. Mechanisms for Promoting Safer Encounters

A. Asymmetric interest in risk reduction

The Maritime Military Consultative Agreement (MMCA) and Rules of Behaviour create overlapping mechanisms for managing the risk of military encounters between U.S. and Chinese forces. Since 1998, the MMCA has provided the two countries military officials with a framework for almost yearly consultations on safe maritime practices. In 2014, to complement the MMCA, the two governments produced the Rules of Behaviour and its annexes, which reaffirm the parties adherence to communications procedures and navigation safety protocols in existing international conventions and codes, including UNCLOS, the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) and the non-binding Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES). The Rules encourage vessels and aircraft that encounter one another at sea or in the air to actively communicate, to maintain safe distance to avoid the risk of collision and to refrain from making reckless manoeuvres or taking actions that could be misinterpreted  for instance, simulated attacks. Beijing and Washington review implementation of the Rules together in the MMCA yearly meetings. As noted, China regards U.S. military activities along its periphery as disrespectful of Chinas sovereignty and national security concerns and suggestive of U.S. hostile intent. Against this backdrop, China seeks to balance two imperatives in its engagement with the MMCA and the Rules of Behaviour. Beijing is uninterested in a crisis; it wants to keep a lid on tensions with Washington in order to pursue its goal of national rejuvenation as unhindered as it can be. But Beijing is also disinclined to make it easy for Washington to maintain its military presence on Chinas doorstep. It is concerned that overly clear deconfliction commitments could encourage U.S. operators to be less restrained. For Beijing, the primary source of risk is U.S. military presence; placing the onus on China to exercise restraint ignores this root cause. As a Chinese analyst put it, Dont come, and then it will be safe. Chinese experts also argue that the mechanisms provide safety for U.S. military operations near China but are less beneficial for the PLA, whose operations near the U.S. remain infrequent by comparison.

In balancing its interests, Beijing complies with the existing mechanisms selectively.

In balancing its interests, Beijing complies with the existing mechanisms selectively. It participates in MMCA consultations  to signal its desire to prevent a major incident with the U.S.  but seeks to maximise its position by using these discussions to also register its protest of the U.S. military presence in ways that take away from discussions of operational safety. The U.S. sees things differently. It believes its operations and presence in the area are in accordance with international law and therefore legitimate. It seeks to make encounters safer so that its military can operate in a more predictable environment; for Washington, the source of risk is the recurrence of encounters that arise from unprofessional, unsafe Chinese behaviour. U.S. experts say the MMCA platform was established precisely so that the two sides could discuss technical and operational safety issues in a format shielded from the discussion of larger differences. They note that other mechanisms are in place for the two governments to engage on policy issues.

B. Falling short of potential: The MMCA and Rules of Behaviour

Despite the MMCA and Rules of Behaviours contributions to a relatively stable relationship, Washington and Beijings mismatched interests and ambiguities found in the Rules themselves limit the effectiveness of both. MMCA meetings are often consumed with disagreement over whether policy issues  namely Chinas security concerns  should be included in the agenda. They have thus produced little progress on clarifying what safe encounters should look like. In 2005, the two sides created a Special Policy Dialogue mechanism in order to discuss policy problems separate from safety concerns under the MMCA. These meetings evolved into the Defense Policy Coordination Talks in 2006, a dialogue that still exists. But the two sides have yet to establish a pattern of meaningful engagement. In December 2020, they failed to convene a scheduled MMCA meeting again because of a dispute about what its agenda should be, in a particularly public spat. In a more positive sign, the two militaries came to an MMCA meeting in December 2021, though statements issued by each side showed that differences over objectives remain wide. As for the Rules of Behaviour, these remain a weak instrument because of their non-binding nature, the ambiguity of certain key terms they contain, and limits in the scope of the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding and 2015 annex that sets them out. Among their most important provisions, the Rules and their annex concerning air-to-air encounters encourage safe distance between vessels and safe separation between aircraft, while at the same time noting that these concepts are circumstantial. For instance, they recommend considering visibility, traffic density and navigational hazards when determining safe distances between vessels. Yet whether an encounter is considered safe is inherently subjective; a close interception that occurs at high speed might be unsafe in the hands of an inexperienced operator but perfectly safe in the hands of an experienced one. Though it is not feasible to reach a universal definition of safe, MMCA consultations could help narrow the gap in interpretations. Progress on this front has been limited, however, for the reasons noted above.

Both U.S. and Chinese experts agree that the Rules [of Behaviour] do not extend to maritime encounters that take place in either countrys territorial seas.

The Rules do not necessarily apply to the encounters that are most likely to result in a potentially escalatory incident. Both U.S. and Chinese experts agree that the Rules do not extend to maritime encounters that take place in either countrys territorial seas. Because U.S. warships conducting freedom of navigation operations and Chinese vessels often encounter each other in parts of the South China Sea where China claims a territorial sea exists and the U.S. disagrees, there is no meeting of the minds as to where the Rules apply. The 2015 air-to-air annex of the Rules contains major caveats that make measuring compliance difficult if not impossible, saying military aircraft that encounter each other in flight should operate consistent with the navigational safety and communications procedures found in the Chicago Convention to the extent practicable when compatible with mission requirements and implement those in the CUES in good faith. (The rules detailed in the air-to-air annex draw heavily from the convention and the CUES.) Because the Rules of Behaviour are non-binding and contain elements of ambiguity, they are difficult to enforce and susceptible to politicisation. As a Chinese analyst put it, the operationalisation of the rules requires a positive political atmosphere. There is nothing in the tentatively worded Rules to prevent Chinese actors from adopting more muscular responses to U.S. operations when it feels it is politically necessary or useful in light of Chinas view that displays of U.S. military resolve must be met by comparable shows from the Chinese side. At the same time, ambiguity about what constitutes an unsafe encounter also gives U.S. actors the space to at times unconstructively charge Chinese operators with being unprofessional and unsafe for political reasons  for instance, to appear tough on China before domestic audiences  rather than strictly technical ones.

B. Defence and Military Dialogues

In recognition of the role regular communications between defence and military officials can play in minimising misunderstanding and reducing distrust between the two governments, Washington and Beijing have over the years engaged in regular contact. High-level exchanges at the defence secretary/minister level and between senior military officials generally take place during bilateral visits on the sidelines of multilateral meetings by video teleconference or through bilateral mechanisms that also involve the two countries diplomats  for instance, the Diplomatic and Security Dialogue under the Trump administration. Recurring dialogues at the working level play a key role. Aside from the MMCA mentioned above, the Defense Consultative Talks established in 1998 involve the U.S. under secretary of defense for policy and PLA deputy chief of general staff; the Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue established in 2014 convenes the U.S. assistant secretary of defense and the director of Chinas Office for International Military Cooperation; and the Defense Policy Coordination Talks created in 2006 bring the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense together with the Chinese deputy director of the Office for International Military Cooperation. Notwithstanding these many channels, however, maintaining continuity in U.S.-China dialogue has historically been a challenge. Both governments, particularly Beijing, have occasionally cancelled or delayed meetings as a low-cost but highly indicative policy tool, to protest actions taken by the other side. After the U.S. sanctioned the PLA in 2018 because it had purchased arms from Russia, Beijing called off discussions between the two sides joint staff departments. The effect has been to curtail exchange precisely when it is most valuable, during periods of heightened tension.

Interest in [U.S.-China] dialogue has faded, particularly in Washington.

Interest in dialogue has faded, particularly in Washington, where critics point to Chinese officials tendency to repeat talking points rather than engage in discussions, their lack of seniority compared to U.S. delegates and the absence of tangible results as evidence that dialogue is not valuable. The new U.S. thinking is tied to the overall shift of approach toward China, from an engagement policy that assumed Chinas domestic and foreign policies would change in ways the U.S. prefers if bilateral ties deepened to one premised on the idea that no amount of dialogue will alter Beijings calculus and that U.S. should approach discussions with China from a position of strength. Washingtons studied disdain for engagement that is not explicitly results-oriented or reciprocal has prompted a rebuffed Beijing to respond with its own demands for dialogue on an equal footing. Still, Beijing has since 2017 described military-to-military ties as a stabilising factor overall  a perspective that, if it prevails, could curb Chinas interest in using defence relations as a signalling device as competition grows. High-level dialogue has thus been intermittent since 2017, while the number of defence visits, communications and exchanges has declined, from a peak of 41 in 2014 to fewer than twenty per year during the Trump administrations tenure. Before late April, as mentioned above, there had been no contact between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and any of his Chinese counterparts. At the working level, the Defense Consultative Talks and the Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue last took place in 2014 and 2019, respectively. The Defense Policy Coordination Talks and the MMCA consultations both occurred in 2021. During the Trump years, perhaps because the overall course of relations had become more unpredictable, Beijing began accepting additional dialogue mechanisms that explicitly concerned crisis prevention and communications. Beijing agreed in 2017 to a Joint Staff Dialogue Mechanism that would promote direct communication at the three-star level for crisis mitigation, and in 2020 to establishment of a Crisis Communications Working Group to discuss crisis communication, prevention and management concepts. Both mechanisms convened only once. The Joint Staff Dialogue Mechanism held a first meeting in November 2017; Beijing cancelled a second meeting in 2018 because of U.S. sanctions. The Crisis Communications Working Group last met in 2020. Chinese officials willingness to use the word crisis signals acceptance of the increasing risks and the possibility of having to manage a confrontation with Washington. According to a former U.S. official, in late 2020 the U.S. and China also agreed to the establishment of a new Policy Dialogue System that would more tightly weave together existing defence dialogues into a single system, with the aim of making the defence relationship more routine and more resistant to political disruption. The system would prioritise discussion of risk reduction and crisis communications, linking those discussions to broader dialogue about the causes of crises, in an attempt to balance U.S. and Chinese interests. Mention of the new framework in the U.S. Department of Defense 2021 annual report on China suggests that Washington believes the parties have come to agreement on this new mechanism; it is unclear, however, whether Beijing is fully on board.

C. Crisis Communications

Timely, high-level communications that convey clear messages of intent are crucial for effective crisis management and de-escalation. Two main U.S.-China crisis communication channels exist  a presidential hotline established in 1998 and a Defense Telephone Link established in 2008 between the U.S. Department of Defense and Chinas Ministry of National Defence. The effectiveness of the presidential hotline in the event of a U.S.-China crisis is questionable. Clinton used the hotline to ask Jiang to help dissuade Pakistan from testing nuclear weapons following Indias May 1998 tests. But a year later, after U.S. bombs hit the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, the initial U.S. request for a call from Clinton to Jiang went unanswered (Jiang accepted a call a week later during which Clinton apologised to China, saying the bombing was an accident). Neither side used the presidential hotline during the 2001 EP-3 incident. Because the Defense Telephone Link was not designed to facilitate immediate communications, and instead provides a secure channel for scheduled communications to take place between senior military and defence officials, its value during a crisis would likely be limited. Under current arrangements, each side has to request a call at least 48 hours in advance and respond within 24 hours of receiving a call request. But the role the Defense Telephone Link can play in crisis prevention  as opposed to crisis management  appears significant. The two governments have in recent years increased their use of the Link: the Pentagon reported two high-level calls in 2017, three calls in 2018, six in 2019 and seven in 2020. Moreover, the Link helped reduce misunderstanding during the October surprise scare of 202o, when discussions began circulating in Beijing of an impending U.S. attack on the Spratlys. After learning of Chinas concerns, several U.S. defence officials used the Link to communicate to their Chinese counterparts that their analysis was inaccurate. Chinese officials told U.S. officials the information they had shared was extremely important.

Beijing ... appears non-committal about setting up actual hotlines that could be used during a crisis.

While Washington has made clear its interest in establishing additional hotlines to improve communications during a crisis, Beijing seems less enthusiastic. Beijing has been increasingly open to talking to Washington about crisis prevention and communications  as mentioned previously, it agreed to two new dialogues in 2017 and 2020  but appears non-committal about setting up actual hotlines that could be used during a crisis. When asked by the media about whether they share the U.S. interest in additional hotlines, Chinese foreign ministry officials said bilateral hotlines already exist. For their part, defence officials expressed scepticism about Washingtons motives given increased U.S. military deployments to Asia. The doubts suggests that Beijing is interested in discussions of hotlines only if they can provide it opportunities to raise objections to those deployments. U.S. experts and officials question whether China would communicate during a crisis, even with additional channels, pointing to past episodes in which Beijing did not do so. Following the EP-3 incident, U.S. embassy calls to the Chinese government went largely unanswered for twelve hours  and the officials who did answer supplied no information. The first statement from China on the incident was issued at roughly the same time as its first meeting with the U.S., meaning the Chinese position was likely formed prior to consultations with the U.S. Chinese experts argue that the past is not indicative of the future in this regard and that Beijing would pick up the phone if a real crisis occurred. A key impediment to the effective use of a communications channel is Chinas increasingly centralised decision-making, which tends to prevent communications from occurring in a timely manner, whether during a crisis or not. Until the leadership makes a decision on how to respond to a new development or crisis, any attempt to communicate will likely be one-way, with Chinese officials unable to provide substantive information in return. Unlike senior U.S. officials, senior Chinese officials do not have the authority to decide on their own whether to engage in communications with their U.S. counterparts. For instance, when a U.S. official wants to speak to a Chinese counterpart using the Defense Telephone Link, the call does not directly reach the office of the intended counterpart; requests must be approved through an intermediary body, the Central Military Commissions Office for International Military Cooperation. Different approaches to crisis communications might also impede timely communications during a crisis, even if additional channels were to exist. During a crisis, Chinese officials might believe that the very act of initiating communications signals acceptance of responsibility for an incident and thus that the aggrieved party should not make the first move. Beijing might therefore refrain from calling first if it considered Washingtons actions leading up to a crisis to be illegitimate or if it perceived itself as the victim.

IV. Making the Most of U.S.-China Crisis Management

The risk of a crisis between the U.S. and China has grown. Washington and Beijings embrace of strategic and systemic competition, which the Ukraine crisis has only intensified, has seen both governments tolerate more friction in the relationship, and increasingly rely on military operations and presence for purposes of political signalling. The most sustainable means of reducing conflict risks involves reaching political accommodation around the South China Sea, Taiwan and other flashpoints. Reduction of the two militaries presence and operations in and around the first island chain would also lower tensions. Efforts on those fronts should be encouraged, but they are unlikely to produce results in the foreseeable future given the perceived stakes, conflicting interests and absence of good-will. In the interim, it is incumbent on the leaders of the worlds two leading powers to develop better ways to contain moments of crisis and high tension. The improved implementation of some crisis management mechanisms, and the expansion of others, is likely to be the best way to do this. For starters, the two governments should continue to use the existing MMCA platform and Rules of Behaviour, emphasising the importance of both, internally, to their own bureaucracies. Limitations notwithstanding, these mechanisms remain the best vehicles for helping the two militaries reach a common understanding of what safe encounters are and for creating accountability for unsafe behaviour. The MMCAs focus on improving operational safety is important to maintain given that no other platform addresses safety issues (whereas many discuss policy differences and security concerns). The inauguration of the Policy Dialogue System, which places periodic MMCA consultations within a framework that includes dialogues focused on policy issues, may help address Beijings reservations about delinking operationally focused discussions from a broader policy conversation that allows them to air their objections to Washingtons military presence in the region. As for the Rules of Behaviour, Washington and Beijing are unlikely to develop  through bilateral channels  either more detailed or legally binding rules that improve operational safety. The two parties could, however, pursue regular multilateral discussions that review compliance with existing international rules and norms more broadly, including those found in COLREGs, the Chicago Convention, CUES and UNCLOS, and, through that process, reduce the ambiguity surrounding terms and definitions. Raising these issues in multilateral channels could help depoliticise discussions and has the potential to appeal to Beijings regional interests. While the PLA presence off the U.S. coast is limited, it is increasing in the waters and skies off the shores of its East Asian neighbours. China, like the U.S., will thus likely have an interest in cultivating a degree of predictability for such operations. Such an approach is unlikely to produce binding new commitments, but it could help further enmesh the two parties and the region in existing commitments.

Review of the existing norms for military aircraft encounters would be particularly useful.

Review of the existing norms for military aircraft encounters would be particularly useful given that binding rules specific to such encounters do not exist in any international convention. Discussions could take place in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defence Ministers Meeting Plus mechanism, or ADMM-Plus, which includes defence ministers of the ten South East Asian nations and its dialogue partners China, the U.S., Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Russia. In 2018, the defence ministers of South East Asia adopted the first multilateral, non-binding guidelines for encounters between military aircraft. Singapore, the chair of the 2018 discussions, could float the idea of expanding adoption to include the eight ASEAN dialogue partners. In the same vein, talks about how to determine what constitutes a safe distance between vessels in various scenarios could take place in the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, the forum where the CUES was developed. That platform comprises more than twenty navies, including those of China, the U.S., Australia, Japan, Korea, Russia and Singapore. In the spirit of reinforcing reliance on existing tools, the two sides should also recommit both internally and bilaterally to making regular use of the Defense Telephone Link, which proved to be an effective crisis prevention mechanism when concerns about a potential U.S. attack in the Spratlys emerged in Beijing in 2020. As noted above, each side is supposed to provide 48 hours advance notice before a requested call and respond within 24 hours of receiving the notice. Beijing and Washington might try enhancing the crisis prevention utility of the telephone link by abbreviating these intervals, perhaps halving the advance notice requirement period to 24 hours and the response time to twelve hours. Efforts to create new hotlines are unlikely to produce results or to be useful during a crisis, because of the limitations previously raised. As for the dialogue formats that have been created over the years, the two sides could take several useful steps to make the most of them. First, they should capitalise on the momentum created by the April minister-level call by organising a meeting between Austin and Wei at the June Shangri-La Dialogue. That meeting would be an opportunity for the sides to commit privately to the Policy Dialogue System as part of a larger common objective  to shield defence dialogues from the political volatility, so that, as China proposed in 2017, military-to-military ties may serve as a stabilising force in the overall relationship. As noted, the System could prove a useful framework for mitigating Chinese reservations over discussions related to risk reduction and crisis management mechanisms. While the U.S. believes the Policy Dialogue System  created in the Trump administrations final months  is still in place, it is unclear whether China shares that understanding. Having reaffirmed their commitment to the system, the two sides should then resume engagement across all levels. Discussions in the MMCA and the Defense Policy Coordination Talks (at the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense and Chinese deputy director of the Office for International Military Cooperation level), which took place in 2021, are critical to maintain. Officials should also resume discussions at the under secretary-PLA deputy chief of general staff level, in the Crisis Communications Working Group and in the Joint Staff Dialogue.

[US and China] should actively use the Joint Staff Dialogue Mechanism and the Crisis Communications Working Group to develop a better understanding of each others perspectives and approaches to crises.

Given current levels of distrust between Washington and Beijing and the potential for policymakers to misread the intentions of the other side when tensions spike, the two sides should actively use the Joint Staff Dialogue Mechanism and the Crisis Communications Working Group to develop a better understanding of each others perspectives and approaches to crises. The Joint Staff Dialogue Mechanism, which has not met since 2017, and convenes the two militaries in discussions on crisis mitigation, and the Crisis Communications Working Group, which last met in 2020, are the only two dialogues that explicitly address crisis prevention and communications. That Beijing agreed to establish these dialogues is a good sign, suggesting that it is increasingly open to talking about how to manage crises even as it remains non-committal about actions that reduce risk for U.S. military operations. Beyond restarting these dialogues, U.S. officials should seek to include simulations and table-top exercises as part of these discussions. Simulations are useful for identifying particular triggers of unintended escalation. In addition to their information-sharing and educational value, they could also motivate each government to reflect on and clarify its own internal protocols during a crisis. If, given the current political environment, official discussions at this level of specificity are impossible, the two governments could coordinate and empower crisis simulation discussions at the Track 1.5 level. Finally, even as it seeks to reinvigorate and enrich dialogue in various formats, the U.S. will need to manage internal expectations of what this will produce. Beijing will likely continue to be less transparent than Washington wishes and to dispatch representatives with less decision-making authority than their counterparts; these moves reflect Chinese bureaucratic culture and structure as much as the degree of importance Beijing attaches to its relationship with Washington. Nor will Chinese representatives bend easily to U.S. remonstrations, no matter how much the U.S. may feel that it is in the right. As a former U.S. official put it, If the yardstick [for dialogue] is that China admits they are wrong and they start following U.S. preferences, youll never have success. For its part, Beijing should be aware of how its approach to dialogue feeds perceptions in Washington that talking is no longer worthwhile. The less it seizes opportunities for meaningful engagement with Washington, the greater the chance that Chinas actions will be misconstrued, and Chinese perceptions and interests discounted in U.S. decision-making. In sum, each side should be clear-eyed that dialogue is unlikely to produce desired changes in longstanding policies or behaviours on the others part and both should avoid making such change to the metric for success. Rather, the sides should look at these exchanges as an opportunity to facilitate regular temperature-taking, clearer signalling of strategic intent and information collection, all of which can help manage growing frictions in the relationship.

V. Conclusion
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Lockheed IT Business To Merge With Leidos, Creating $10B Federal Superpower

Michael Novinson

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Lockheed Martin plans to merge its $4.7 billion government IT business with $5 billion powerhouse Leidos, creating the worlds largest pure-play U.S. government solution provider.

The $5 billion deal will create a 33,000-employee public sector partner with $10 billion of annual sales and capabilities across the intelligence, defense and civil spaces, according to the companies. Lockheed Martin shareholders will own 50.5 percent of the combined company, which will retain the Leidos name, while Leidos shareholders will retain the remaining 49.5 percent.

"We believe this is the best strategic fit to position for growth while unlocking tremendous value for the shareholders of both corporations," Marilyn Hewson, president and CEO of Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin, said during an investors call Tuesday morning. "This transaction is really a win-win."

[Related: Reported Potential Deal For Lockheed Could Vault CACI To Top Of Government SP Space]

Investors, though, might see it differently, with Lockheed's stock price falling 2.3 percent, to $206.65 per share, since the deal was announced and Leidos' stock price tumbling 7.2 percent, to $49.78 per share. Leidos is financing the entire transaction, making a $1.8 billion, one-time payment to Lockheed Martin and issuing $3.2 billion worth of company stock to Lockheed shareholders.

Leidos CEO Roger Krone and CFO Jim Reagan will keep their current roles after the merger closes in the second half of 2016, with members of Lockheeds senior IT staff joining the Leidos leadership team. The combined company will be headquartered in Reston, Va., currently home to Leidos.

This transaction is the type of event that is often sought after but rarely found, Krone said during the call Tuesday.

Leidos did not respond to a CRN request for additional comment, while Lockheed Martin declined to comment further.

The deal comes just two months after CSRA claimed the mantle as the largest U.S. government partner, thanks to the merger of CSCs $4.1 billion government business and $1.4 billion federal solution provider SRA. The combined Leidos-Lockheed IT business will dwarf CSRA, posting nearly twice as much revenue each year.

Both companies have been struggling to grow top-line results on their own. Lockheed's Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS) business unit saw calendar year 2015 sales tumble 1 percent, because of increased competition and lower customer funding levels, while Leidos' revenue for its most recent fiscal year -- which ended Jan. 30, 2015 -- fell 12 percent.

Before the merger announcement, Leidos was projecting mid-single-digit sales growth for 2016.

The companies expect the merger will allow them to slash $120 million of annual expenses by the end of 2018, with $60 million coming from merging similar businesses and consolidation operating units, $50 million coming from gains in labor base scale and $10 million coming from real estate and supply chain synergies.

In terms of scale, Reagan said Leidos post-merger should be better positioned to win network modernization deals, thanks to Lockheed's high-end cybersecurity work with a number of Department of Defense customers.

The combined success is also expected to have success competing for aviation modernization contracts, thanks to Leidos' airport engineering and security systems and Lockheed's experience around airport modernization and traffic management.

From a consolidation standpoint, Krone said, Leidos intends to combine like capabilities, but doesn't have any more detail at this juncture. The merger is expected to have a negligible impact on profitability in the first year after closing, but to boost profitability in the second year and thereafter.

The combined company will do 45 percent of its business in the civil and commercial space -- Lockheeds leading sector -- 35 percent of its business in defense -- Leidos' strongest sector -- and 20 percent of its business around intelligence, where Leidos has a more significant presence.

Lockheed's strong presence in Europe and Australia will also double Leidos' international presence from 3 percent of overall sales to 6 percent of overall sales.
Cloud News

Jitterbit Secures $20M In Venture Funding, Sets Sights On Data Integration Dominance

Joseph Tsidulko

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Jitterbit, a data integration vendor that bridges chasms between rival software and systems, Tuesday welcomed an infusion of venture capital.

With a $20 million investment from KKR, the Alameda, Calif.-based software company will set its sights on scaling operations to meet an ambitious goal.

"The time is right for us to take this round of money, invest in a big way and emerge as a leader in this space," George Gallegos, Jitterbit's CEO, told CRN.

[Related: Jitterbit Seeks To Bring Harmony To The Cloud]

Jitterbit was founded some 10 years ago, but only started building its customer base in the past five years.

In 2012, it accepted its only previous round of funding from strategic investors Salesforce and Autodesk.

Since then, the company has grown to around 30,000 customers. Among that customer base are 800 enterprise accounts, including companies such as Shell, Time-Warner, Jim Beam and Accenture.

The business of enabling data integration across platforms and clouds is exploding, Gallegos said.

Enterprises are looking for a connective fabric that makes it possible for disparate solutions to communicate with each other, and Jitterbit's Harmony platform breaks down silos with real-time data integration powered by APIs, he said.

Integration-as-a-Service, as the technology is increasingly referred to, represents a $10 billion market with no clear leaders, Gallegos said.

For Jitterbit, the goal is to use the KKR investment to double the business over the next three years, at which point the company might be in a position to go public, Gallegos told CRN.

One initiative that was launched with the intent of helping realize that goal was development of an industry-specific solution for health care -- the vertical that presents the greatest challenges and biggest opportunities for integration across diverse data sources.

Jitterbit's health-care solution is already being used by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, he said.

"There's a big challenge to unlock that health-care information thats currently sitting in electronic medical records systems," Gallegos told CRN. "We're becoming an expert in how to connect to those systems and deliver solutions."

Jitterbit CTO Ilan Sehayek told CRN that through some 50 health-care customers -- including a number of large medical providers and pharmaceutical companies -- Jitterbit developed a deep understanding of that industry's needs.

Health care is fertile ground for integration vendors, Sehayek said.

Laws and regulations mandate health-care providers keep records proving the quality of care. But many of those systems weren't designed to improve patient care, and now the providers are hoping to gain valuable patient insights by sharing their data.

At the same time, there are "many new applications being introduced into health care. Whenever that happens, there's a lot of opportunity for integration," Sehayek said.

About a year ago, Jitterbit began hiring employees with expertise in creating solutions specific to that industry.

"We decided to get our technology and solutions at a place where we're well-suited for what's going on in health care," Sehayek told CRN. "Its a fairly open field, but you need expertise to know what data you're looking for."
Cloud News

Microsoft Goes After Amazon Web Services With Tech That Lets Azure Cloud Run In Data Centers

Kevin McLaughlin

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Microsoft on Tuesday unveiled its first Technical Preview for Azure Stack, a new type of software that lets customers take advantage of Azure public cloud functions from within the friendly confines of their data centers.

The Azure Stack preview, which will be available Friday, lets Microsoft customers run private clouds that are compatible and interoperable with the Azure public cloud.

Customers that run Azure Stack on premise, in conjunction with the Azure cloud, will benefit from a "standardized architecture, including the same portal, a unified application model, and common DevOps tools," Mike Neil, Microsoft's corporate vice president for enterprise cloud, said in a blog post Tuesday.

Alex Brown, CEO of 10th Magnitude, a Chicago-based Microsoft Azure partner, described Azure Stack as a step toward giving customers a common infrastructure that spans the private and public cloud.

"Azure Stack is basically like running the Azure public cloud in a private data center," Brown told CRN. "It offers a seamless operating experience that will be interesting and compelling to large corporate clients that want to run the hybrid cloud model."

[Related: Microsoft Partners: Fed-Up VMware Customers Are Switching To Azure Cloud]

As part of its hybrid pitch, Microsoft is including Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service in Azure Stack so organizations can make them available to their end users without switching management tools, said Neil in the blog post.

Azure Stack also uses APIs that are "identical" with the Azure cloud, making it easier for developers to write apps in Microsoft's .NET or open source programming languages, Neil said in the blog post.

Brown sees Microsoft's Azure Stack efforts as being primarily focused on Amazon Web Services, the public cloud kingpin, as opposed to VMware, its main data center rival.

"The story here is more about AWS than it is about VMware, as the VMware ship has already sailed," Brown told CRN. "Azure Stack enables an incredibly important and compelling hybrid story that is very important for many organizations."

An AWS spokesman declined to comment.

Brown said 10th Magnitude has had success in getting VMware customers to use Azure Site Recovery (ASR), a service that replicates VMware workloads into Microsoft's public cloud for disaster recovery purposes.
Networking News

Partners: Juniper's Acquisition Of BTI Will Bring Welcome Boost For Software Sales

Mark Haranas

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Partners say Juniper Networks is striving to boost its software sales in 2016 with the acquisition of software networking specialist BTI Systems unveiled Tuesday.

"Juniper wants to get to 30 percent of its revenues derived from software sales within five years, and this is obviously going to help that effort," said Chris Becerra, president and CEO of Terrapin Systems, a San Jose, Calif.-based solution provider and longtime Juniper partner. "They do have to get more software-based sales and they need a team that can come in there that has sold software from Day 1, and that's one of the challenges with Juniper. ... Historically, they're a hardware business and they're set up to sell as a hardware business, and you really have to change your sales force thinking to think about software sales."

Ottawa, Ontario-based BTI Systems provides cloud and software defined networking (SDN) solutions to content, cloud and service providers.

[Related: Juniper Networks Reveals 5 New Enhancements To Its Partner Program In 2016]

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

During Juniper's Ideas/Connected partner event this month, partners said Juniper CEO Rami Rahim told solution providers that the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based networking vendor hopes to increase its software sales from representing less than 10 percent of overall revenue today to 30 percent within five years.

"They can't get to 30 percent on their own, so they have to acquire companies to get to that 30 percent," said Becerra. "This specific acquisition looks more to enhance their service provider play, but maybe there's an enterprise play as well and it does include cloud providers."

Juniper unveiled its last acquisition more than two years ago with its plan to acquire Wide Area Network Design Laboratory (WANDL) for $60 million.

"I think they need to do a similar [acquisition] with a company that's more targeted toward the enterprise software sales -- maybe some monitoring or a software analytics play that is catered toward the enterprise," Becerra said.

The acquisition will also boost the networking vendor comeback in the U.S. service provider market, according to Reno, Nev.-based market researcher Synergy Research Group.

For the third quarter of 2015, Juniper's U.S. service provider routing market share rose to 28 percent from 24 percent year over year, according to Synergy. Networking rival Cisco's U.S. share, in comparison, dropped to 49 percent, down from 53 percent the year before. The research group said Juniper's U.S. market share had not reached that height in more than four years.

Jonathan Davidson, executive vice president and general manager of Juniper Development and Innovation, wrote in a blog post Tuesday that the acquisition will accelerate the delivery of open and automated packet optical transport solutions that integrate with its NorthStar SDN Controller and include network management features that enable end-to-end provisioning of new services.

"The combination of BTI Systems' accomplished team, innovative and open solutions with Juniper's longstanding switching and IP routing expertise positions the company well to take advantage of the fast growing DCI and Metro markets," Davidson wrote.

Like other partners, Becerra said he believes the benefits of onboarding new BTI software sales experts to Juniper will trickle down to the channel.

"It does bring in these teams that know how to sell software and hopefully transfer that knowledge to Juniper's team on how to sell software and how to get their channel partners to sell software, because a lot of us are heavy on the software side too," said Becerra.

The deal is expected to close during the second quarter of 2016.
Networked HP LaserJet printers, which have been made available to the public by the organizations hosting them, offer potential attackers a ready-made Anonymous FTP server. At present, there are thousands of these devices online.

The exposed printers were the focus of a new blog post by Chris Vickery. Vickery has previously worked with Salted Hash on a number of stories  including database leaks that exposed class records at SNHU, 3.3 million Hello Kitty fans, 191 million voter records, and an additional 18 million voter records with targeted data.

He was also the researcher that exposed the configuration issues with an HIV dating app (which led to the app maker threatening to infect the owner of Databreaches.net), and the researcher who discovered 13 million MacKeeper records.

These days, when he isn't doing security research, he's working for MacKeeper directly, as the parent company Kromtech offered him a job shortly after CES.

On Monday, Vickery outlined the risks associated with the exposed printers, calling them a soft target in an email to Salted Hash. A quick search on Shodan to confirm his findings returned thousands of results.

The exposed printers are located all over the world. A majority of the devices are in the United States. They're hosted on IPs associated with Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T, as well as universities in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Hawaii, and the University of Southern California.

There are also printers exposed in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Spain, Germany, Poland, Russia, and the U.K.

As one would expect, these printers are active 24/7, but even in sleep mode they'll host files. Moreover, the odds of an internal audit actually examining the contents of a printer's hard drive are slim.

By targeting the exposed printers, an attacker can use them as a staging point to host scripts or tools that can be downloaded when required. They can also use the printers as a means to host malicious websites and direct victims to them directly.

"There are a few free, open source pieces of software that can be used to upload and interact with HP printer hard drives over port 9100. After uploading to a printer, the file can be accessed by visiting http://<Printer_IP_Address>/hp/device/<File_Name> with any web browser... It doesnt take much creativity to realize that even highly illegal materials could be stored this way," Vickery wrote.

"Naturally, you may be wondering why I am highlighting this problem. Wont it just help amateur hackers elevate their game? Disclosing vulnerabilities will always be a double-edged blade. Sure, some people will take advantage of the information, but its my sincere belief that anyone seeking tips on how to protect themselves should also be made aware," Vickery added.

Organizations that are concerned should ensure that access to port 9100 is restricted and that all networked printers are behind a firewall.
Prediksi Juventus vs Empoli 22 Oktober 2022 Selamat datang di situs Prediksi Bola jitu terpercaya. Berikut Bocoran prediksi pertandingan sepak bola antara Juventus vs Empoli. Prediksi Juventus vs Empoli 22 Oktober 2022 Prediksi Juventus vs Empoli  Laga pertandingan Italian Serie A antara Juventus melawan Empoli akan dilaksanakan segera pada tanggal 22 Oktober 2022 yaitu []
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reportedly could pay $21.5 million to Level Global Investors, the hedge fund whose offices in Greenwich were raided in 2011 by the FBI, with the fund subsequently shut down.

The SEC indicated it would not fight a Level Global request that a 2013 settlement be vacated, according to Reuters, following separate federal appeals court decisions overturning the convictions of Level Global co-founder Anthony Chiasson and trader Todd Newman of Diamondback Capital Management in Stamford. Federal prosecutors have dropped multiple cases since the Newman decision, with federal judges raising the standard of proof in some instances of insider trading.
GE is "moving," all right. Image source: GE.

Boston has rolled out the red carpet for General Electric with a host of tax breaks and incentives. But the #makeGEpay hashtag, now trending on Twitter, isn't the welcome it was hoping for.

Much of the reporting (and tweeting) surrounding the company's move from its longtime home in Fairfield, Conn., to neighboring Massachusetts, has focused on the pros (it "could finally give the Boston business community a helipad!") and the cons ("a punch in the stomach for Connecticut") for the two locales. Far more interesting for shareholders is, what does it mean for GE's bottom line? And will it inspire other Connecticut conglomerates to follow suit (lookin' at you, United Technologies )?

First, the good stuff

The package of goodies from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston total some $151 million, mostly consisting of state grants and a $25 million property-tax break from the city. This deal doesn't include $125 million in promised infrastructure improvements.

That's a lot in exchange for moving just 800 jobs to Boston. Nobody's denying GE got a pretty sweet deal. In fact, this is the source of the #makeGEpay hashtag: Some Bostonians feel as if the deal is a little bit too sweet.

But even $125 million is just a drop in the bucket for a company that has annual revenues north of $148 billion. Even if the incentives package had been twice as large, it wouldn't mean much for investors -- remember, there are administrative costs to a relocation as well.

Which brings us to the (ostensible) reason GE made the move in the first place: taxes.

The taxman cometh

While GE's press release about its current move doesn't cite any reason in particular for leaving its longtime home, the most obvious -- and most cited in the media -- is Connecticut's new corporate tax structure, enacted last year. Many Connecticut corporations, GE among them, objected to it and questioned whether they would stay in the state if the measure was passed.

GE had issues with multiple features of the new tax plan. According to the Tax Foundation:

The state's budget included $500 million in new corporate tax revenue. The largest change was switching the state to combined reporting. Combined reporting changes how businesses treat the income of affiliated subsidiaries. Under combined reporting, a corporation must include income from its subsidiaries in its tax calculations, instead of each component being taxed individually. The plan also increased the sales tax on data processing from 1 percent to 3 percent.

Connecticut's corporate tax rate of 9% is one of the highest in the nation. So, through combined reporting, more of GE's profits would be taxed at this relatively high rate, starting this year.

The thing is, Massachusetts is an odd place to escape to, if escaping taxes is what GE is after.

Out of the frying pan

Massachusetts -- long derided as "Taxachusetts" -- has a corporate tax structure that isn't all that different from its neighbor's. True, its corporate tax rate is lower than Connecticut's, but only by a piddly 1%. It also has combined reporting, so GE isn't escaping that particular policy.

Sussing out the overall effects of this change in headquarters on GE's bottom line is tricky. WNPR in Connecticut reported that GE paid no state income taxes on its $4.2 billion in U.S. profits in 2014. It's tough to see, then, how this move is going to affect GE's bottom line: It doesn't get much cheaper than free.

In a statement of response, a GE spokesman told the station that "GE paid $3.0 billion in cash income taxes worldwide last year, including in the U.S. In addition, GE paid more than $1 billion in other U.S. state, local, and federal taxes." No further breakdown was available.

In 2014, GE reported its effective overall tax rate as 17% (excluding GE Capital earnings, the taxes on which are not included in GE's tax calculations), or $1.6 billion. Even if this move resulted in a reduction of its total tax liability from 17% to 16% (which would be an incredibly huge impact), it would only reduce the corporation's tax liability by about $100 million, to $1.5 billion. That's hardly going to register on the company's $15.2 billion bottom line.

It's also why United Technologies is unlikely to leave Hartford for greener pastures. United Technologies is Connecticut's largest private employer, with 22,000 jobs in the state. And the state has been very generous with the company in return: It received a $400 million subsidy deal in 2014. That kind of money is sure to outweigh any potential tax benefits of relocation.

The Foolish bottom line

GE's departure to Boston may well save the company some money in state income taxes and yield it some nice incentives from its new home. But ultimately, the move means more for GE employees -- who will probably pay a lower personal income tax in Massachusetts -- than it does for GE shareholders. Likewise, shareholders of other Connecticut companies such as United Technologies shouldn't get their hopes up about a big payday, either.

The next billion-dollar iSecret

The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something at its recent event, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here.

The article How Will General Electric's Relocation Affect Shareholder Returns? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Copyright  1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Something weirdly funny is going on with employers. They spend a lot of time and energy looking for and recruiting the right talent. Then they focus on employee engagement and retention to try to ensure that that talent sticks around. Yet, good employees keep leaving.

Related: 6 Steps to Create an Effective Employee Onboarding Experience

So, what is everyone doing wrong?

Simply put, nationwide, onboarding processes are broken. In a 2015 ALEX survey of 400 new employees, 17.5 percent of respondents said they didnt understand performance expectations for their position until fully 90 days of work had passed. And 11.3 percent said at the time of the survey that they still didnt have a firm understanding.

Unfortunately, theres no one-size-fits-all solution for the onboarding problems these survey findings suggest. Each individual organization needs to take a close look at its process to see where theres room for improvement. And to do that, employers need to understand the different metrics they can use to analyze how well their onboarding process is functioning.

Here are four questions to ask about your own onboarding and the metrics you can use for measuring and tracking, to improve your process:

1. Did new hires receive the tools they needed for success?

No one can expect new employees to grow into A-players if they arent given the tools, resources and knowledge they need. This includes basics, like a computer and an employee handbook, of course, but it extends to the type of training and support new employees receive.

A 2015 TinyPulse survey of more than 400,000 employees found that 24 percent of respondents said they were less productive because they lacked the tools they needed to excel. Mix that with the general confusion that comes along with being new, and you have a recipe for onboarding disaster.

One solution is to schedule check-ins with each new employee to see what else could have made his or her transition easier. Having these meetings after 30, 60 and 90 days provides a clear picture of what tools are helping and which are hindering new hires.

For example, if you uncover consistent reports by new sales employees that they feel unsure during their first few interactions with clients, you should develop training that gives them more confidence about what the organization expects.

Also, keep track of which training and tools are ineffective or unnecessary and which should be introduced sooner rather than later during onboarding.

2. Are goals clearly defined?

Sometimes, expectations for individual roles seem crystal-clear to employers because theyre so familiar with the needs of the organization to begin with. But new employees need a deeper explanation of what theyre doing and how it impacts the company.

By ignoring goal alignment during onboarding, employers are setting up new hires for failure.

Its important to clearly define goals for each position and for the organization as a whole, as well as connect those measurements of success with the individuals career goals. That way, everything an employee does has purpose.

As early in the onboarding process as possible, discuss what milestones your new employees are expected to meet and when. By giving them something to work toward, both employers and employees have a way to assess to what degree new hires are on the right track.

Throughout onboarding, remind new additions of the goals that have been set. And recognize the progress they are making. This will not only encourage them to keep working hard, but also tie in their performance with measurable successes that improve engagement.

Related: 10 Tips for Successfully Onboarding Your New Hire

3. Do new hires understand the organization?

New employees can start out strong, but if they truly don't understand or fit with the company, their success will be short-lived.

The assumption tends to be that if a worker comes into the office every day, he or she learns what the company is really about. But all too often, things like company values, culture and other distinguishing characteristics fall through the cracks.

In a 2015 Achiever survey of 397 full-time American employees, 61 percent said they did not know their companys mission or cultural values, and 60 percent didnt know their company's vision.

Ideally, employees should get a good understanding of these things before being hired, but its also important to make important issues part of the onboarding itself. So, find ways to educate new hires about the company and make connections with its mission, values and culture.

Then ask your new employees about how these factors impact and motivate their performance. This will help employers find ways to strengthen the relationship their employees have with the organization and to help new hires become more engaged with their work.

4. Have they become a part of the team?

Co-workers have a powerful influence on one other. A 2015 Virgin Pulse survey found, for 40 percent of employees surveyed, that their colleagues were the aspect of their company that meant the most. In addition, 66 percent said co-workers improved their productivity.

Given these findings, its important to make sure that your new employees feel that theyve integrated with the rest of the team. Ask new hires if they feel like theyre fitting in. Incorporate team-building activities into the onboarding process. Even if those activities entail just regular departmental lunches or a buddy system to show them the ropes, make an effort to assimilate new employees to help them be successful in the long run.

When it comes to refining onboarding, its up to employers to measure and track their process effectiveness. By identifying and making necessary changes, employers can ensure that everyone makes the transition from a new employee to a valuable high performer.

What other metrics are important when it comes to measuring quality of onboarding? Share in the comments below!

Related: How to Avoid the Most Costly Onboarding Mistakes

Related:

4 Ways to Determine If Your Onboarding Is Broken

Why Companies Need to Think Carefully About Onboarding

6 Steps to Create an Effective Employee Onboarding Experience



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
HARTFORD - A Derby man, linked to a steroid distribution ring involving a former Newtown police sergeant, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.

Frank Pecora, 54, faces up to 20 years in prison after entering the plea in federal court here.
BRIDGEPORT  The city school board has voted 5-4 to ask the state attorney general whether the contract it has with Interim Schools Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz is on solid legal footing.

Some members of the board remain unconvinced that state statutes allow the terms of Rabinowitzs employment, even after getting assurances from Board of Education Attorney Thomas Mooney.

Board member Maria Pereira, at a meeting Monday at Johnson School, called it a conflict of interest for Mooney, considered by many to be an expert in education law, to weigh in on the matter, since he once was Rabinowitzs attorney and played a role in her current contract.

We can not seek advice from our attorney, Pereira said. He is incredibly conflicted.

Pereira said she questions whether Rabinowitz was entitled to a full salary in her first year, and whether the reason given to keep her on for second year at full salary would passes legal muster.

Board Chairman Dennis Bradley, also an attorney, told Pereira she was giving legal advice she was not qualified to offer.

Rabinowitz is technically retired, and under state statutes can only serve as superintendent in a high-needs district at full salary for up to two years while collecting a state pension. She started in March 2014.

The second year is allowed, with the approval of the State Retirement Board, which Rabinowitz received before the board voted to extend her contract through June 2017.

After the second year, unless the law is changed, Rabinowitz can only collect 45 percent of her salary, which she has agreed to do.

The school board is moving forward to find a permanent replacement for Rabinowitz, a process expected to take through the end of Rabinowitzs contract.

Many see the questions about her contract as an attempt by some board members to get rid of Rabinowitz before her term is up. Board member Sauda Baraka expressed surprise that anyone would think that.

Baraka was a driving forces for bringing Rabinowitz to the district, but also voted against extending her contract last year. She also helped raise questions about Rabinowitzs legal standing last month, along with Pereira and Howard Gardner, another board member.

We are asking for clarification. Baraka said. I dont think we are asking for one other thing.

But during the public portion of the board meeting, a dozen or more community members, school administrators and teachers warned the board they would be making a colossal mistake by bringing on another interim while the search for a permanent superintendent is under way.

We encourage you to honor the contract and keep the interim superintendent in place, said Mary Pat Healy, executive director of the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition. Healy credited Rabinowitz with helping restore confidence in the district.

We cant afford another black eye on Bridgeport, Healy said.

Bob Hannafin, dean of the College of Education at Fairfield University, said Rabinowitz has forged a true partnership since she came to the district.

We see and observe many positive changes, Hannafin said.

Batalla School Principal Hector Sanchez, who is head of the administrators union, said he suffered a mild stroke on Friday, but felt it was important to come to the meeting to support Rabinowitz.

She is a true instructional leader, Sanchez said. She has moved the district forward in a manner not seen in many years.

Rob Traber, a teacher and president of the Bridgeport Education Association, said his executive board voted unanimously that it has complete confidence in Rabinowitzs educational leadership.

We hope she remains in her position to the end of her current contract, Traber said. It is in the best interest of our students.
BRIDGEPORT - Mayor Joseph Ganim pledged during last years comeback campaign to set the bar for transparency.

He had to do so given the fact his prior tenure running Connecticuts largest municipality ended in 2003 with a corruption conviction.
Education site, Niche, has released its 2016 rankings of the best private high schools in the country and four Connecticut schools landed in the top 100 nationally.



The site gave each school a grade for academics and student culture and diversity. They also used data from "various government and public data sets, Niche's own proprietary data, and 123,218 opinion-based survey responses across a variety of topics from 16,688 current students, recent alumni, and parents."



Click through to see the top 10 private high schools in Connecticut. Read more.
What's going on in and around Somerset County?
Democrats demand DeSantis share plans on restricting abortion

Abortion is among the biggest campaign topics. But Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and many Republicans are silent as the midterm election nears.
The once popular college hangout Newbys will open its doors again Tuesday, more than a year after it closed.

The bar is being leased to Larry Thompson, 29, who worked at several bars and restaurants including South Mouth in Boulder, Colorado, which he owned.

Thompson even worked at Newbys while he was a student at the University of Memphis.

Restaurants  thats all I know, Thompson said.

Thompson plans on changing a few things in Newbys.

For one, hes adding draft beer, which according to Thompson, Newbys has never had in the past.

Thompson is also adding a smaller patio in the back to add more parking spaces and upgrading the restrooms. There will also be HDTVs, which he said will be great for watching Memphis Tiger games.

Thompson is sticking to Newbys longstanding tradition of live music.

He said hes not sure who will play opening night, but he has a few of his favorite musicians in mind.

I would love to have the North Mississippi Allstars, Thompson said.

They may end up being too popular to be a feasible choice, but Thompson has other backup plans, like Kingfish, a rising young blues musician from Clarksdale, Miss.

Newbys first opened its doors in 1975, owned by David Newby Harsh, who ran the place until he suffered a stroke in 1996. In January 1997, he sold the bar to Todd Adams, who was working there as a bartender at the time.

Newbys was forced to fore- close in November 2014, and Loeb Properties Inc. purchased the property a month later.

Thompson said patrons can expect to be served as fast as humanly possible because millennials dont like to wait.

I bought a pizza oven that pumps out pizzas in less than two minutes, Thompson said.

One of the most important things to Thompson is the food, which he says will always be cooked using fresh ingredients. He says there will definitely be pizza and wings, both of which he has some experience with.
As countless people clamour for a recipe they think might bag them a mate, others are starting to wonder: do we need to worry if our partner leaves the house with cookware?

by Samantha Selinger-Morris
1 In his latest film, The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio wrestles with a grizzly bear. Among those who auditioned for the supporting role was Britains own Rupert Bear, but director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu decided to go for a more rugged look.

Rupert is one of the old school and refused point blank to take off his yellow-check trousers for the cameras, so Alejandro was forced to look elsewhere, reports one source.

2 The bear finally chosen for the role was a virtual unknown. Originally spotted prowling in Canadas Kluane National Park, he had previously only played walk-on parts in bear-based amateur dramatics.

In his latest film, The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio wrestles with a grizzly bear. Among those who auditioned for the supporting role was Britains own Rupert Bear, but director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu decided to go for a more rugged look

I just adored my little grapple with Leo, he says of his famous scene in The Revenant. Hes an absolute poppet and we had the most marvellous giggle about it afterwards.

The bear now wants to turn his hand to a stage musical. Theres simply no reason some of the great hit musical roles  Jean Valjean in Les Mis or Maria in The Sound Of Music, for instance  shouldnt be played by a bear, but Broadway can be very prejudiced when it comes to those of us in the bear community.

The Revenant bear currently lives with his partner, Bruno, in a mock-Tudor mansion in Beverly Hills, where he boasts an unrivalled collection of scented candles, and is said to be a leading Scientologist.

3 Confronted by a grizzly bear, whats the best course of action? Its a question that continues to divide the experts.

Rupert lost out on the role in The Revenant as he refused to remove his yellow check trousers

Some say scramble uphill, so as to appear superior, while others argue that it is best to scoot downhill, so as not to represent a threat.

However, a spokesman for the Canadian National Federation of Bears considers neither method to be foolproof.

Show-offs and cowards both taste equally delicious to us, he says. Instead, he advises filling your pockets with broccoli before setting off, and then taunting your assailant with it if attacked. We cant bear the stuff. Sometimes just saying Broccoli! is enough to make us stick our paws in the air and run away, he adds.

4 For some years now, Winnie the Pooh is said to have nursed a grudge against Paddington Bear. It all stems from envy, confides a mutual friend. For decades, Winnie was the go-to bear for all British publishers and film-makers. Then Paddington suddenly arrived on the scene, the new kid on the block with his suitcase and souwester, and Winnie was hopping mad.

Of course, when they meet on chat-shows, awards ceremonies and so on, they greet each other like long-lost friends. But, behind the scenes, its a very different story. Winnie often rants for hours on end about how Paddington stole all his best ideas and that hes got no right to be here.

5 Early last year, rumours began to surface that Pooh had secretly reported Paddington to the immigration authorities, but it is an allegation he continues to deny.

Absolutely not  I would never ever do such a thing, he says, before adding: But the fact remains that, for all his very real talent, Paddington arrived in this country as an illegal stowaway from Darkest Peru and, frankly, if he does not have valid papers about his person, then it is only right and proper that the relevant authorities should be alerted.

Early last year, rumours began to surface that Pooh (left) had secretly reported Paddington (right) to the immigration authorities, but it is an allegation he continues to deny

6 Experts advise that brown bears and grizzly bears are highly dangerous, but teddy bears less so.

There have been only three reported attacks by teddy bears in North America in the past two years, says a senior spokesman for the Stuffed Animals Consortium. And, lets face it, they were all reacting to extreme provocation. How would you like your head to be twisted around 360 degrees, and then be tossed across a room like a deck quoit?

Winnie often rants for hours on end about how Paddington stole all his best ideas and that hes got no right to be here A source close to the bears

7 For centuries, bears have caught salmon by dipping their paws into rivers, but in certain parts of North America they have now begun to favour fishing rods. A decent rod is so much more convenient and stops your paws getting sopping wet, says a leading bear.

8 Brown bears regularly catch human beings by quietly letting themselves in through the back door, then lying down and acting like rugs. Its so much easier than roaming around in the freezing cold on the off-chance, reveals one bear.

Others stick their heads through walls and pose as hunting trophies for days on end until the time comes to pounce.
When an inadequately-trained call handler at the NHS 111 telephone 'hotline' failed to recognise that baby William Mead was dangerously ill, his fate was sealed.

Even though William, by his mother's harrowing account, was in obvious distress  vomiting, crying continually, coughing, exhausted and 'just staring into space'  the handler, who had no medical training, didn't recognise the case as an emergency, so didn't refer it to a clinical expert.

The following morning  to the incomprehension and incalculable grief of his parents  a happy, normally healthy one-year-old was dead.

When an inadequately-trained call handler at the NHS 111 telephone 'hotline' failed to recognise that baby William Mead was dangerously ill, his fate was sealed

But it was far more than one catastrophic mistake that caused William's death. He was the victim of a catalogue of blunders and missed opportunities that starkly exposes the deepening crisis in GP services and out-of-hours NHS care.

As our investigations unit reveals today, in the three months before his death, William had had six GP appointments at a local medical centre without his serious chest infection being diagnosed.

An NHS report concludes the GPs may have been reluctant to send him to hospital because of pressure to cut referrals, or prescribe antibiotics because of a national drive to reduce their use.

Even when William's parents did speak to an out-of-hours doctor on the night he died  six hours after first calling 111  he was too busy to make a house call and said it was best to 'let him sleep'.

These deep-seated systemic problems undoubtedly stem from Labour's botched GP contracts in 2004, which allowed family doctors to opt out of evening and weekend work.

The resulting collapse of confidence in the replacement locum services saw patients flooding A&E units, many of which remain dangerously overcrowded.

The 111 service was meant to keep less seriously ill patients away from hospital but William's case lays bare its fatal flaws. Even the NHS itself now concedes the hotline is not 'sensitive' enough to identify seriously-ill children.

So yes, by all means make 111 safer by putting more clinical staff on duty but it can never be a substitute for actually seeing a doctor.

Even when William's parents (Pictured: Paul and Melissa with baby William) did speak to an out-of-hours doctor on the night he died  six hours after first calling 111  he was too busy to make a house call and said it was best to 'let him sleep'

Until faith is restored in out-of-hours care  and that means GPs taking responsibility for their patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week  this crisis will never be solved. And William Mead will have died in vain.

Puerile scare tactics

WITH the brazen use of some deeply suspect statistics, Lord Rose  head of the campaign to keep Britain in the EU  yesterday claimed that splitting from Brussels would cost the average household 3,000 a year.

Based on a profoundly unscientific analysis of outdated figures by the pro-EU Confederation for British Industry (which to its eternal shame once lobbied furiously for us to join the euro), the calculation was instantly derided as 'cloud-cuckoo economics'.

But the intention was clear: use any tactic  however dishonest  to scare voters rigid about the risks of leaving. It is a pitiful spectacle that demeans Lord Rose and his fellow campaigners.

Before taking a decision which will shape our political destiny for a generation or more, the British public deserves a mature debate on the facts  not a puerile barrage of dodgy statistics.
For schoolboys in the Seventies, the name of Charlotte Rampling was synonymous with only one thing: full-frontal nudity

For schoolboys in the Seventies, the name of Charlotte Rampling  one of the most subtle and intelligent actresses of her generation  was synonymous with only one thing: full-frontal nudity.

'Phwoar!' said my friends, leering at photographs of Rampling baring her breasts (and more) while smoking a cigarette in an explicit 'art house' movie.

'Disgusting!' said supporters of Mrs Mary Whitehouse, appalled that the daughter of an English colonel should specialise in sexually provocative roles and pose nude for Playboy.

Rampling shrugged off their outrage, and continued to pose nude well into her 60s.

Now, however, the actress faces a different sort of outrage  one that she can't dismiss with a languidly raised eyebrow.

On Friday, she told a French radio station that complaints about the lack of black actors in the list of Oscar nominees were 'racist to whites'.

'One can never really know, but perhaps the black actors did not deserve to make the final list,' she added.

As a result, Rampling has been called a 'moron' and a 'posh racist'. One Twitter user spat: 'She was never really acting when she played the villain.'

Even Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former president Bill, leapt into the fray, describing Rampling's comments as 'outrageous, ignorant and offensive'.

This is the nastiest row to break out in Hollywood since a drunken Mel Gibson told a police officer that '****ing Jews' were responsible for all the wars in the world.

Yet Rampling, who celebrates her 70th birthday next month, was not drunk and nor is she a racist. She thought she was merely venting her frustration. Perhaps she felt safer doing so in French, which she speaks fluently.

Why was the reaction so explosive? One obvious reason is that Rampling is herself nominated for a Best Actress Oscar this year for her role in the film 45 Years.

Another is that Will Smith, rated by Forbes as the most 'bankable' film star in the world, is boycotting this year's Oscars because all the nominees are white. This reflects 'a regressive slide towards separatism, towards racial and religious disharmony', the Men In Black actor claims.

Why was the reaction so explosive? One obvious reason is that Rampling is herself nominated for a Best Actress Oscar this year for her role in the film 45 Years

I think Smith is right: relations between whites and blacks in America are now almost as tense as they were during the battle for civil rights in the Sixties.

But it is absurd to imply the elderly, Democrat-voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have passed over black actors because of the colour of their skin.

This is the same Academy that twice nominated Smith for an Oscar  and both times he lost out to another black actor.

Will Smith's conspiracy theory, and the apocalyptic reactions to Rampling's admittedly outspoken words, do suggest an unfortunate readiness to think the worst of white people and their motives. However understandable its roots, is there not a form of reverse prejudice at work here?

No one denies that blacks in the U.S. suffer from racial inequality. African-Americans make up 12 per cent of the overall population, but 60 per cent of the prison population. They are twice as likely as whites to be unemployed  and that is even true of black graduates.

There's also evidence that American police forces employ a significant number of trigger-happy white racists.

But there's also robust evidence that the U.S. has become dramatically less racist in recent years. In 1958, only 4 per cent of Americans approved of inter-racial marriage. In 2013, the total was 87 per cent.

There's been a similar decline in anti-black racism in Britain, as well.

Even so, it's perfectly reasonable to argue that in both countries racism still exists and that blacks suffer from it more than whites.

What seems unfair is to howl down someone like Rampling just for suggesting that sometimes  sometimes  prejudice does cut both ways.

Another is that Will Smith, rated by Forbes as the most 'bankable' film star in the world, is boycotting this year's Oscars because all the nominees are white

It is reasonable  because we have hard evidence to back it up  to argue that certain members of black and other ethnic minorities are racists.

Some of them direct their racism against each other. In 2013, the BBC Asian network asked its listeners: 'Are you surprised that Asian letting agents are discriminating against black tenants?'

Some racism is anti-white, on both sides of the Atlantic.

In an extreme example of this sort of racism, the Rev Jeremiah Wright, for many years Barack Obama's pastor in Chicago, has preached sermons portraying the American government as a cabal of white supremacists and described the Supreme Court as 'a closeted [Ku Klux] Klan court'.

On this side of the pond, research in 2008 found almost one in three white people believed they were the victims of racial prejudice in Britain.

Fifty-eight per cent said they believed they suffered more racial prejudice now than five years earlier, compared with 44 per cent interviewed in 2001. The figure for ethnic minority communities had hardly changed, at 32 per cent.

In 2012, a black journalist named Bim Adewunmi complained on Twitter about the use in the media of the phrase 'the black community'. Diane Abbott MP, now Shadow Secretary for International Development, tweeted back at her: 'White people love playing 'divide & rule'. We should not play their game.'

If a white politician had ascribed such malevolence to black people in general, she would not be in Parliament today, let alone on the front benches. Abbott found herself in hot water, but managed to persuade her political bosses and the media this was merely one of her trademark 'gaffes'.

Reasonable human beings know that bigotry and prejudice can lurk in every heart. Pretending otherwise is both hypocritical and an insult to our intelligence

I happen to have a soft spot for Diane and wouldn't have liked to see her hounded out of public life on the basis of an angry tweet. What does bother me is her means of escape.

Having said something that could be considered mildly racist, she was able to fall back on the support of the liberal zealots who have turned social media, and especially Twitter, into places where what Will Smith calls 'separatism' and 'disharmony' flourish at the expense of reasoned debate.

It would be a stretch to describe all these tweeters as 'digital thought police'. Many of them are more like parking wardens, nagging and ticking off members of the public for minor  and often unintended  infractions of the rules they have devised.

These rules dictate that any statement that offends any minority is an aggressive act that should be punished. If the offence is caused by a statue, as in the case of Oxford's memorial to 19th-century colonialist Cecil Rhodes, then it must be pulled down.

Referring to 'anti-white racism', as Rampling did, is perhaps the ultimate crime. Young social media obsessives believe either there is no such thing, or that even if anti-white racism exists it is 'inappropriate' for white people to comment on it.

This one-way view of prejudice is not confined to race. It's shared by many feminists, who can be even more shrill than anti-racists. (By using the sexist word 'shrill', by the way, I've just committed an 'aggressive' act.)

One of their core beliefs is that women can't be sexist in the way that men are deemed sexist. Consider last week's National Television Awards where the TV moment of 2015 went to Aidan Turner  as Poldark  whipping his shirt off to reveal his rippling muscles.

Imagine the uproar if the award had gone to War & Peace's Tuppence Middleton  or any other actress  for getting topless. But Oona King, former Labour politician and head of diversity for Channel 4, defended her right to ogle Aidan  arguing that actors getting nude doesn't damage their careers the way it would for actresses.

In itself, this incident couldn't be more trivial. But it's another demonstration of the tendency of the right-on to think they can never be guilty of the sins they so stridently ascribe to their enemies.

Rather than helping defeat racism or sexism, these dogmatic extremists are in danger of alienating those who might otherwise be sympathetic to their cause.
A woman has published a social media diary of her six-month battle with breast cancer.

Michelle Dexter, from Leigh-On-Solent, has detailed her treatment - from her diagnosis through to being cancer-free - in touching photos posted on Facebook.

The 34-year-old, had been with her partner, Matt Jones, for just seven months when she was given the news that she had HER2, a type of breast cancer, in May 2015.

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Michelle Dexter, 34, has now finished her cancer treatment and is looking forward to the future with her fiance Matt. The project manager from Leigh-On-Solent was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2015

Michelle before her lumpectomy 8 June 2015 (day 29 of her ordeal), left, and after her IVF treatment on 10 July (day 61), right. She took photos to keep friends updated, and also to raise awareness for young girls

Michelle was told her treatment might ruin her chances of having children and was forced to make the decision between freezing her eggs or risking infertility by going through a possible early menopause.

Michelle, a project manager for Vodafone, decided to go through IVF, and shared her ordeal on Facebook, documenting her journey by taking photographs every step of the way - from her lumpectomy to her IVF treatment and even six gruelling rounds of chemotherapy.

She told FEMAIL: 'I wanted my loved ones to know what was going on, but I also wanted to reach out to young girls and raise awareness. When was told what my options were, I didn't have a clue what to do. I spent a lot of time on forums trying to decide whether to have IVF or not.'

Eventually, the couple - who were in the process of moving in together - decided to have Michelle's eggs extracted and fertilised with Matt's sperm. They now have one frozen embryo which can be implanted when they decide they are ready to have babies.

Michelle said: 'I thought it was important to show that it wasn't all doom and gloom.'

Michelle, pictured on the day of her first chemotherapy treatment on 23 July (day 74 of her ordeal), had to wear a -10C cold cap to stop her hair from falling out

With fiance Matt during her first chemotherapy session on 23 July. Michelle said she wanted people to know that it wasn't 'all doom and gloom' but admitted it was often hard to stay strong throughout her ordeal

Michelle first noticed something was wrong last Easter. She said: 'I was helping to decorate Matt's flat as we were going to sell up and move in together. I felt a pain in my left breast area.

'Then that night, when I was in the shower, I felt a lump.'

At first her doctor suggested it could be hormonal, but when the lump was still there few days later, Michelle was referred to a breast clinic in Windsor, London, for a biopsy.

On 13 May, Michelle was called back in: the results showed she had HER2, a form of cancer in her left breast. Doctors explained that the best course of action would be a lumpectomy, followed by preventative chemotherapy.

Michelle had her last chemotherapy session on 5 November, and shared her new with her Facebook friends

Michelle in hospital with fiance Matt, who accompanied her to every treatment. The pair are now planning their wedding for 2017 and plan to start a family in the future

But they stressed that the treatment could bring on an early menopause, rendering Michelle infertile. They offered her the option of having IVF and freezing her eggs.

'I was in shock,' Michelle said. 'I couldn't believe I was being told I had cancer at just 34.

'I don't have children but I knew that I wanted to one day. Me and Matt had spoken about it before. I just went home that night and talked about it for hours with me parents and with Matt.'

Eventually the couple decided that IVF would be the best course. Michelle had her lumpectomy on 8 June 2015, and asked Matt to snap a photo of her before going into the operating theatre.

She then embarked on a course of IVF, travelling to London every other day for two weeks for endless tests and scans. Michelle even had to do her own injections.

Michelle during her chemotherapy treatment. She had six sessions between 23 July and 5 November

Michelle said one of the hardest part was filling in the consent forms, having to answer 'difficult questions' about what would happen to their embryo if she died or if the pair split up.

She had her eggs removed one Friday morning in July 2015, at which point they were fertilised and frozen.

She then received a call early the next morning to say that one embryo had survived.

'We were over the moon,' Michelle said. 'We call it "our little frozen embryo".'

Michelle then embarked on a three-month course of chemotherapy, which saw her wearing a -10C cold cap to keep her hair falling out.

She decided to continue taking photos to share with friends and loved ones on Facebook at every step of her treatment.

Michelle, pictured with her fiance Matt, on 5 November (day 179 of her ordeal) felt it was important to stay optimistic throughout her treatment

'I didn't know what to expect, but it was like a vicious cycle,' Michelle said. 'I'd feel tired, achey and nauseous for about two weeks after each treatment, then just when I was beginning to feel better, I'd have the next round. It was hard to be strong.'

On 18 October, Michelle and Matt celebrated their first anniversary - and during a seaside walk, Matt proposed.

'It made the last round of chemotherapy easier,' Michelle said. 'I had so much to look forward to.'

Now, apart from injections and regular oncologist appointments, the have put Michelle's cancer behind them, and are now busy planning a trip to New York and their wedding in 2017.

'It has completely changed my outlook on life,' said Michelle, who is now cancer-free. 'I think about things more and I just want to look after the people around me and do more.'
Sentimental viewers took to Twitter after watching a couple who met on The Undateables celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

After finding love on the show two years ago Brent Zilwood, 23, who has Tourette's syndrome and his model wife Challis Orme, 26, let cameras join them as they mark their anniversary with a romantic trip to Amsterdam.

And last night the couple melted hearts all over again after Challis declared that her first 12 months as Brent's wife had been 'the best year of my life'.

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Brent Zilwood, 23, who has Tourette's syndrome and his model wife Challis Orme, 26, are celebrating their first wedding anniversary in Amsterdam after meeting on Channel 4 show The Undateables

Challis says that the first 12 months as Brent's wife has been the best year of her life

'I get to spend the rest of my life with this person having these ridiculous adventures, doing silly things,' she said.

Besotted husband Brent also gushed about their union, saying: ' Every day feels magical, it's all unpredictable.'

And Twitter users seemed equally besotted with the pair, with Jen Banane writing: I will never get bored of your love story. @Bretntzillwood and @challiszillwood.'

Jon Tedman tweeted: Brents story on #Undateables is always the one that hits me in all the feels,' while Georgia-Mae wrote: Nowhere near enough @Bretntzillwood and @challiszillwood BOOO! Can they just get their own show now. Tar.'

Karen Revell gushed that the pair were 'adorable' while Pace Davis said they were a 'beautiful couple'.

But it seemed some tweeters only had eyes for Brent. Dave Brown wrote: Absolutely delighted for Brent. He was (is) always one of my favourite #Undateables

Jess Bamford tweeted: Brent is adorableperfect man! while Sammi gushed: YAY BRENT!! Absolutely love him!! My favourite #undateables person ever.

Swade hailed the Tourette's sufferer a 'legend' while Matt Jenkinson wrote: Brent on #undateables is absolutely brilliant. I want to marry him not chalice.

Tonight's episode sees them travel to the Dutch capital for a romantic break to celebrate one year as man and wife, and Brent admits that before he met Challis such a trip would have been impossible.

The couple who live in Hertfordshire were watched by millions as they had their first date in an Exeter pub on the Channel 4 programme.

Even when Brent called Challis 's***head' while they sat at the bar she wasn't deterred.

A year on they became the first couple from the show to marry, tying the knot in Vegas one year to the day they first met.

Last night's episode saw them travel to the Dutch capital for a romantic break to celebrate one year as man and wife, with Brent admitting that before he met Challis such a trip would have been impossible.

Challis and Brent became the first couple from the show to marry, tying the knot in Vegas one year to the day they first met

'Before I met Challis I was terrified of travelling. I couldn't get on a train, I couldn't get the Tube on my own,' he said.

'Hell no, I'd probably still be back in Plymouth hiding under my bed, scared of the real world.'

And he revealed that his condition is now a lot easier to deal with thanks to having his wife by his side.

'Managing my Tourette's has become less of a battle because being with Challis has made me confident,' he explained.

'Today now I'm happy, I'm in a better place, I'm with Challis, I'm in love. My Tourette's is coming out because it's excited, it's happy and it wants to get involved with that.'

The show saw the couple toast their happiness with champagne in plastic cups on a park bench, and discuss their plans to start a family one day.

'When we do have kids if the kid has Tourette's - 50/50 chance,' Brent began.

'I wouldn't care because you'd be the perfect role model,' Challis interjected. 'You'd be able to teach them things. You'd be the best dad ever.'

Brent and Challis first met in front of TV cameras in an Exeter pub where six months later he proposed

'Managing my Tourette's has become less of a battle because being with Challis has made me confident,' Brent explained

Challis, from Teignmouth, Devon, knew about Brent's condition when they met and was too concerned about the butterflies in her stomach to worry about his disorder, which makes him swear and twitch uncontrollably.

Millions watched Brent's search for a soulmate including a romance with a 19-year-old barmaid which fizzled out.

Brent and Challis first met in front of TV cameras in an Exeter pub where six months later he proposed

After six months together, Brent, from Plymouth, took her back to the pub where they met and proposed with a platinum and amethyst crystal ring and a scrapbook of their relationship together.

On the last page he'd written, 'What happens next depends on how you answer my next question.'

He then proposed and Challis immediately said yes.

The couple married in Las Vegas before Christmas, and spent five days in the Nevada city.
A transgender beauty pageant is offering sex change surgery as the top prize for contestants.

The 2016 Miss Transsexual Australia pageant, to be held in Melbourne on January 30, offers winners a gift voucher for free male-to-female sex reassignment surgery at Kamol Hospital in Bangkok.

The prize, which includes return airfares, accommodation and cash, it valued at $20,000, but co-pageant organiser Gayzha Davao said prize winners are not obligated to undergo the procedure.

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Reining pageant queen: The current Miss Transsexual Australia title holder is J.O Rojas (right) who was crowned in 2015

Beauty queens: Contestants at the 2015 Miss Gay and Miss Transsexual Australia Beauty Pageant

'The choice of sex change surgery is purely up to the winner,' Ms Davao said.

'She can choose to have a sex change, or, undergo cosmetic or plastic surgery services other than a sex change, at one of the Thailand's top cosmetic and plastic surgery hospitals.

'As a beauty pageant organiser, our role is to raise awareness and promote acceptance and positive images of transgender people.

'We are not promoting surgery for transgender people. We are saying that surgery is an option for some transgender people to help them complete their transition journey.'

Surgery prize: The pageant has offered free male-to-female sex reassignment surgery as its top prize, pictured are contestants Karina Lago (left) and Yasmin London (right)

According to the Thailand Law Reform, patients that wish to undergo sex reassignment surgery in Thailand must adhere to medical guidelines.

These include approval from at least two psychiatrists and the person having lived their desired sex for at least one year.

In addition, the Kamol Hospital website said patients must be 20 years of age or have permission from their legal guardian or parent, have taken female hormones for at least one year, must have felt feminine feelings for a long time and must feel disgusted with their sexual organ.

Option only: 'We are not promoting surgery for transgender people. We are saying that surgery is an option for some transgender people to help them complete their transition journey,' a pageant organiser said

Different options: If they do not wish to undergo sex change surgery, contestants can opt for alternative cosmetic or plastic surgery options, pictured are contestants Andrea Smith (left) and Nadia Chin (right)

A Miss Transsexual Australia spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the prize was donated by Kamol Hospital and was selected as 'no one else made an offer of sponsorship'.

It is the first time the prize has been offered in the pageant.

'The pageant is more widely known in the transgender communities in Thailand and Philippines than it is here,' he said.

'If an Australian hospital made such an offer then it would be considered, but as you know Thailand has much more experience in this kind of surgery than any other country.'

Glitz and glamour: This is the first time surgery has been offered as a prize in the contest, pictures are Miss Gay and Miss Transsexual contestants

Personal choice: Ms Daveo said: 'the winner who believes surgery is the only option will welcome the prize', pictured are contestants Talissa Andrada (left) and Alyssa Luck (right)

Eight contestants from across Australia will take part in the pageant, which will run alongside a competition for female impersonators and drag queens.

The spokesman said if the winner wants to undergo sex reassignment surgery, the prize is appropriate.

'Certainly the winner who believes surgery is the only option will welcome the prize,' Ms Davao said.

Festival fun: The Miss Transexual Australia pageant will be held as part of the Midsumma Festival, pictured is contestant Laura Robertson

Facing discrimination: 'Life is not easy for a transgender, same as it is not easy for all members of the LGBTIQ community,'a spokesman said

The Miss Transsexual pageant will be held as part of the Midsumma Festival.

Contestants will be judges on their costume, swim wear and evening wear followed by a question and answer session for the top three contestants.

The pageant spokesman said the Australian community was slowly adjusting to the transgender community, but discrimination was still an issue.

'Life is not easy for a transgender, same as it is not easy for all members of the LGBTIQ community,' he said.
A photograph of a volunteer firefighter nursing her newborn that sparked debate on social media on Monday has also inspired many mothers to sign up.

The Country Fire Authority shared a picture on their Facebook page of one of their volunteers, Angela Joy, breastfeeding her baby while in uniform at a community event.

The snap, taken by Ms Joy's husband, also a firefighter at the Tallygaroopna station in northern Victoria, has attracted a staggering 34,500 likes.

Natural: A Country Fire Authority volunteer has been praised for sharing a photo of her breastfeeding her baby while decked out in her uniform

After the photo was posted, the CFA commented on the image to clarify Ms Joy's baby was in no danger as the image was taken at a community event

Ms Joy shared the photo when the CFA put a call out for pictures that represented Australia.

'The photo was really about showing the diversity in the CFA,' Ms Joy, who also owns a cloth nappy business, told Daily Mail Australia.

'The fact that it was shared and supported makes me feel proud to be a part of the CFA.'

The mother-of-four said she has already been contacted by multiple mothers who were wary of joining due to their family commitments, but are now convinced they can do both.

Inspiring: The mother-of-four said she has already been contacted by multiple mothers who were wary of joining due to their family commitments, but are now convinced they can do both

'I've received messages from young women in volunteer brigades saying that they want to be like me when they're older. They want to be still volunteering even after they have children,' Ms Joy said.

'I'm really pleased with the positivity the photo has received'.

'CFA is made up of thousands of volunteers from all walks of life,' CFA CEO Lucinda Nolan told Daily Mail Australia.

'We asked our members for photos that were uniquely Australian and Angela sent through her photo. We believe it's a great example of the diversity of our organisation.

'It's also a beautiful photo that highlights not just the CFA family but that CFA supports family life.

'It's an image not usually associated with firefighting so we wanted to use it as a way to breakdown people's perception of our workforce and what our organisation stands for today.

'The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, which is what we expected.'

Tribute: 'I've received messages from young women in volunteer brigades saying that they want to be like me when they're older,' Ms Joy told Daily Mail Australia

While the majority praised the natural moment between mother and child, and applauded the CFA for promoting the diversity of its volunteers, there were a vocal minority who took issue with it.

Benita Panagopoulos- Morello wrote: 'WHY??? This does annoy me that women feel the need to post a picture while breastfeeding... im a mother of twins who breastfeed both too but im so bloody over all these women trying to prove some point that it should be allowed to flop your boob out and do it anywhere...

'More power to you, but seriously be a little discreet and respect others around - sure feed your baby anywhere but cover yourself i understand its natural but so i going to the toilet [sic].'

'Im disgusted,' wrote Tracey Menz. 'Im all for breastfeeding in public im all for promoting women's rights im all for publicizing what a great job volunteers do in the cfa and without them we would be in alot of trouble but there is a time and place for everything and this is just ridiculous [sic].'

Reception: The image received thousands of positive comments, dubbing Ms Joy an 'amazing mother,' and a 'role model'

Facebook user Asher Oxford also questioned the motivation behind the CFA's post. 'But why intentionally show it,' he wrote.

'Why congratulate a woman for breastfeeding as if its not normal for women, calling her brave and powerful. If she's brave, then all mothers are, and if everyones brave, nobody is [sic].'

Ms Joy said that the photo wasn't trying to make a political statement, and that some people aren't experienced with breastfeeding, so she wasn't surprised there were some negative responses.

'The positive outweighs the negative,' Ms Joy said of the social media reaction. 'Some people are uneducated and have a lack of experience with breastfeeding so the negative response is unsurprising.'

But for every negative response, there were many more who praised the picture.

However, not everyone was supportive and a few dubbed the post as 'unnecessarily controversial'

'Raising a newborn and also volunteering for firefighters,' wrote Kavita Vecchi. 'What an amazing person. Well done.... you are a role model.'

Fiona Kennon added: 'Love this picture which so beautifully captures the diversity and family friendly values of the CFA (Country Fire Authority), an organisation which is primarily run by volunteers like Angela! This photo of Angela taken at a CFA community event shows an amazing lady who is doing an awesome job at balancing her family life with her volunteering commitments.

'Most CFA volunteers would spend minimum 10 hours per week just on training and maintenance, on top of that they spend time planning and running community events and fundraisers throughout the year. All of this is in addition to their primary function of being on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.

'They risk their lives fighting fires, attending car crashes and other emergency situations (sometimes being deployed far away from home for days or weeks at a time). Thank you to all the CFA volunteers who spend their lives juggling commitments and give up important time with their family and friends to keep the rest of us safe!'
An Australian photographer has published a powerful series of photographs on Facebook and Tumblr with the message that sexual assault victims are never to blame.

Rory Banwell, a professional photographer based in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, said she decided to start the project when she and her husband Alex found out she was pregnant with a girl in 2014.

'Someone actually said to Alex that it was "time to buy a gun" and we were so disappointed that people's initial reactions were that we would need to protect her, purely because of her gender,' Rory told Daily Mail Australia.

Never asking for it: Photographer Rory Banwell is trying to fight rape culture with her project 'Still not asking for it'

Beautiful and powerful: The photographs feature women with tape covering their nipples and anti-abuse messages on their bodies

Rory said she was so shocked that people would be so flippant about the fact that they thought her daughter would need to be protected, rather than focusing on the perpetrators of abuse.

'I decided I needed to do something; being a photographer, I knew that I could use this medium to accomplish my something and so "Still Not Asking For It" was born,' Rory explains.

The idea for the imagery of the project came from a photograph Rory saw of a woman named Alex, who was at a Slut Walk Rally in Toronto with tape covering her nipples and 'Still not asking for it' written on her torso.

'I liked the idea that regardless of what anyone is wearing, there is no excuse, no justification and no invitation for someone to sexually assault them,' she said. 'I decided that by emulating her original photograph, I could create a powerful message and collection of photographs.'

No means no: Women in the photographs are standing up for their right to not be assaulted

Say no to silence: The women in the photos are speaking out

Regardless of what anyone is wearing, there is no excuse, no justification and no invitation for someone to sexually assault them

The project, which is documented on Rory's Tumblr and Facebook pages, features a range of half-naked women with tape covering their nipples and anti-abuse messages on their body, just like the original photo she drew inspiration from.

The black and white photographs are simple, with the models standing against blank background to emphasise the messages on their bodies,all of which are about supporting victims and respecting women.

Rory herself modelled in one of the photos for the original project photoshoot in 2014. She was pregnant at the time, and holding a sign that says 'I don't want my child to be born into a society that accepts sexual violence'.

Respect women: Photographer Rory Bansell doesn't want her daughter to experience sexism and abuse

Since the post has gone viral on Facebook, gaining thousands of likes and shares, Rory has decided to expand the project with the hope of holding an exhibition in Sydney at the end of the year. She wants to travel more around Australia, photographing a range of models from all over the country.

'I would like to include many more genders, races, cultures, ages into the project in the future. I am hoping that I can increase the diversity within the project so that it will reach a larger cross section of society,' Rory says.

To enable the project to continue, Rory has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for more photoshoots around Australia, including travel and exhibition costs.

More to come: The project is set to continue, with Rory travelling around Australia to photograph more women

Angry men: Rory says men have left abusive comments on her Facebook post about the project

Although it has had a lot of support, Rory has also received angry and disrespectful comments on Facebook, something she has been extremely disappointed in. Commentators, most of whom are male, have written messages such as 'Have an abortion' on her photo, or left comments insulting the women modelling for Rory.

The amount of backlash the post has received, Rory says, shows how much education is lacking on the subject of sexual assault and abuse, and how far we still have to come to fix the problem.

'In our schools, in our community, we need to talk about these problems so that we can address them as adults and try to find a solution. Until we make it an accepted problem that needs an answer, women will keep dying, others will continue to be assaulted and be too scared to come forward,' she said.

'All I want the project to achieve is conversation: 'I want people to talk about sexual violence and how prevalent it is,' Rory said.

Ultimately Rory says she just hopes that those who see the photographs and are moved by them with consider the message she is trying to communicate.

'All I want the project to achieve is conversation. I want people to talk about sexual violence and how prevalent it is,' Rory said.

'Whether it is domestic violence, rape or even sexual harassment; all I hope is to inspire an open dialogue about what we can do to change the terrifying statistics that are included in the project.'

All shapes and sizes: Women of all ages, shapes and sizes participated in the project

Never the victim's fault: Rory says women should never feel they are to blame for assault




As you sit reading this, there is every chance you are sipping from an Orla Kiely mug. Or wearing one of the designers dresses. Or cuddling up with one of her cushions.

But the businesswoman behind the brand that has taken over middle-class homes says she isnt keen on people buying new things.

In fact, she thinks we all have too much stuff already.

Despite having a range that spans more than 180 products  many of which carry her distinctive stem-and-leaves pattern  Miss Kiely said: The world is full of stuff, and it is too much.

Orla Kiely, 52, says the world is 'full of too much stuff'

I dont like our throwaway culture. Its very sad when you see sofas chucked out on the front doorstep.

'I love things that last. My mother would have re- covered a sofa.

Miss Kiely, 52, added that revamping old possessions used to be a way of life, saying: When I grew up, it was always about giving things a new lift. I like that.

However she confessed that her products contribute to the problem of excess. I am adding to it, she said.

But I hope that people who buy my stuff will keep it for ever. At the end it is still cluttering. People want new things.

Miss Kiely, who was born in Dublin but is based in London, has seen her designs soar in popularity since launching her brand with her husband in 1997.

John Lewis stocks her products, and the firms aspirational, middle-class image has been affirmed by the Duchess of Cambridge, who has attended events in dresses by Miss Kiely.

Items in the Orla Kiely range cost as much as 175, and include everything from umbrellas and homewares to phone cases, toiletries, watches and birdhouses.

Stocked in stores including John Lewis, items in the Orla Kiely range can cost up to 175. Left, stack 'em high with three bowls for 45 and right, home tweet home - a birdhouse for 23

The designer also claims to have coined the laminated tote bag. We were the first to do it, she told the Radio Times.

Two weeks before London Fashion Week, I challenged the factory to produce them, and it did. People just love them. Even in the summer, they dont want unlaminated now.

She is also frequently compared with Cath Kidston, who produces items with distinctive floral patterns.

However she insists their ranges are quite different. Cath Kidston? We are often classed together. She does great things! she said.

But it is a different product. They [Kidston items] are more accessible, with great prices.

'I dont know how they do it.

The firms aspirational, middle-class image has been affirmed by the Duchess of Cambridge, who has attended events in dresses by Miss Kiely. The Duchess of Cambridge is pictured left wearing an Orla Kiely bird-print dress and right, in a pleated grey dress by the Irish designer

Miss Kiely will next week appear as the star judge on BBC2s Great Interior Design Challenge.

It was much more challenging than I thought, she said. Contestants are expected to do an amazing design with a specific brief in a very short time.

Her advice for home decoration includes grouping accessories in threes and using upward-facing lights, because they are more flattering.

Homeowners should also use off-white paint instead of magnolia, she says, and use flowers to brighten a room.
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From the spectacular setting to the starry front row (and not to mention the covetable clothes), the Chanel show is one of the highlights of the fashion month calendar.

And the luxury fashion house's creative director, German designer Karl Lagerfeld, pulled out all the stops to make his haute couture show Paris fashion week's most talked-about spectacle.

The silver-haired head honcho transformed Tuesday's show venue - The Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees - into a Chanel-esque doll's house complete with a giant house-like podium for his world-famous models to grace.

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Chanel's creative director Karl Lagerfeld pulled out all the stops to make his haute couture show Paris fashion week's most talked about spectacle - by transforming his runway into a giant doll's house complete with perfectly manicured lawn

Karl's guests, including Cara Delevingne and her pet dog Leo, Anna Wintour, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Diane Kruger, were led up a garden path to a perfectly manicured lawn and timber runway.

Kendall Jenner - who has long been a firm favourite of Karl's - led a starry group of models down the runway during Karl Lagerfeld's hugely-anticipated show.

The clothes horse, who is one of the world's most in-demand models of the moment - looked ethereal in a plunging black gown with tweed embellishment as she proved her worth on the runway.

She offset her look with corked black wedges - a footwear style long championed by the Duchess of Cambridge - and wore her hair pulled into two low chignons. Her doll-inspired beauty look was completed with bold eye make-up consisting of three feline flicks and a fashionably pallid complexion.

She was followed by her best pal Gigi Hadid and her little sister, Bella, who both looked resplendent in Karl's luxury garments.

Always an innovator, Karl promised to do his bit for the environment by pledging to recycle the entire wooden structure after today's eco-friendly show.

The silver-haired head honcho transformed the venue into a Chanel-esque doll's house, which looked striking beneath the domed roof

His number one girl Kendall Jenner was, of course, walking in the star-studded show and looked incredible in a plunging black gown with her hair pulled into two low chignons

Kendall Jenner - who has long been a firm favourite of Karl's - led a starry group of models down the runway

Stunning sisters Bella, left, and Gigi Hadid also made an appearance in the show and stunned in Karl's couture gowns that have been designed with his richest clientele in mind

Bella, Gigi and Kendall prove they play together and work together as all three A-listers walked in the glittering doll's house-inspired show in Paris on Tuesday

Gigi, 20, chanelled an eco warrier wearing a muted palette of ivory and gold teamed with a cape, whilst Kendall stunned in a black gown. Both women wore Karl's cork wedged shoes, which were notably inspired by his timber setting

Gigi, 20, who is dating Zayn Malik, looked like an eco warrier wearing a muted palette of ivory and gold. The young star wore a strapless dress over culottes - perhaps a nod to a trend Karl is spearheading - and completed her look with a cape in the same hue.

Her wedges were identical to Kendall's - but in silver rather than black - and her dress came complete with a small pouch, no doubt designed to house the social media savvy star's phone.

Likewise, Bella's ensemble - an intricately beaded white gown with cutaway shoulders - came with an embellished pouch attached to a gold belt.

Of course, tweed featured heavily and was updated this season in the form of a voluminous boucle jacket complete with a boater neckline.

Dresses, which were fluid and conservative in length, came embellished with the most high-end metals, flowers, beads and pearls.

These garments are targetted at the fashion house's richest clientelle and will be made in limited numbers and sold for thousands of pounds in the warmer months.

German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and Argentinian model Mica Arganaraz (C) and French model Baptiste Giabiconi acknowledge the audience at the end of the Chanel fashion show

German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld acknowledges applause, flanked with models during the finale of his Spring/Summer 2016 Haute Couture collection for Chanel

Karl's designs were as lavish as ever and came with tulle capes and dresses adorned with gold and silver sequins

Karl picked Argentinian model Mica Arganaraz as his leading lady and she appeared through the doors of the dolls house with the main man at the end of the show. She was accompanied by her very modern and handsome groom: French model Baptiste Giabiconi

Many of the models' ensembles came accessorised with a loosely tied belt bag for an iPhone

Italian model Mariacarla Boscono presents a creation from the Spring/Summer 2016 Haute Couture collection as she struts along the manicured lawn runway

Models line up inside the dolls' house at the Chanel show, which was one of Karl's most eco-friendly offerings to date

Dresses, which were fluid and conservative in length, came embellished with the most high-end metals, flowers, beads and pearls

Of course, tweed featured heavily and was updated this season in the form of a voluminous boucle jacket complete with a boater neckline. Karl gave a nod to his social media savvy fans - and models - with a new accessory just about big enough to house an Iphone

Last year was Kendalls first solo bridal appearance in a show; in December 2014, she walked the runway as a joint bride with Cara Delevingne in the Chanel head honchos show in Salzberg. Today, however, it was all about Mica

Mica looked ethereal in a blush, textured floral column dress, which came with a bridal train that swept the wooden floor and was offset with a glamorous hoodie

Every model graced the runway in the same shoe: a round-toe cork wedge with a curved heel in a variety of colour combinations

Karl promised to do his bit for the environment by pledging to recycle the entire wooden structure after today's show

Other models to make an appearance on Karl's world famous catwalk included industry stalwart, Edie Campbell, and Lindsey Wixon - famed for her doll-like features and gap tooth.

Kendall and co's hair was pulled into what hairstylist Sam McKnight, who worked backstage, is hailing a 'Chanel croissant', and the stroked eyeliner flicks were designed to frame the models' faces.

Each season, Karl Lagerfeld hand-picks a 'bride' to close his couture show; someone he deems to be the star of his runway.

Last year was Kendalls first solo bridal appearance in a show; in December 2014, she walked the runway as a joint bride with Cara Delevingne in the Chanel head honchos show in Salzberg. Cara Delevingne has also made a solo appearance as a bride twice before.

Today, however, Karl picked Argentinian model Mica Arganaraz as his leading lady and she appeared through the doors of the dolls house with the main man at the end of the show. She was accompanied by her very modern and handsome groom: French model Baptiste Giabiconi.

Mica looked ethereal in a blush, textured floral column dress, which came with a bridal train that swept the wooden floor and was offset with a glamorous hoodie.

Karl's long-time best friend and favourite model, Cara Delevingne, who has served as his 'bride' in previous shows and starred in countless campaigns, swapped a spot on the runway for a place on the front row.

The model, who has spoken candidly of focussing on her acting career, looked chic in a gold and silver sequin embellished sheer ensemble.

Clearly cork wedges - a footwear trend the Duchess of Cambridge has long championed - are going to be big business come spring

Models - including Bella Hadid, left, and Molly Blair, right - had their hair pulled into what hairstylist Sam McKnight, who worked backstage, is hailing a 'Chanel croissant', and the stroked eyeliner flicks were designed to frame the models' faces

Blouses were fluid and came with plunging necklines, clinched waists and were all teamed with corked heels

Model Cara Delevingne swapped the runway for the front row as she watched the show with her dog, Leo

Cara took a break from the catwalk and instead watched the show from the front row - and even brought her puppy along with her

Cara clutched onto her little puppy as she joined the fash-pack at the star-studded show

Bond girl Monica Bellucci, left, A-lister Gwyneth Paltrow, centre, and Vogue head honcho, Anna Wintour, right, all arrived at the show

Gwyneth Paltrow and Karl Lagerfeld pose together at the star-studded show
Since announcing they are expecting their first children together, Terry has been carefully documenting his girlfriend's pregnancy on social media

Earlier this month, the two celebrated their impending arrival with a risque baby shower featuring personalized condoms as party favors

cradle support strap, which is meant to ease the discomfort of pregnancy

Terry Richardson has been documenting his pregnant girlfriend's growing baby bump for months, and in his latest photo the controversial photographer has captured her posed with 'bondage' straps over her stomach.

The 50-year-old took to Instagram on Monday to share the photo of his 32-year-old girlfriend Alexandra 'Skinny' Bolotow's stomach wrapped in a prenatal cradle support strap. And while she is wearing a common device meant to ease the discomforts of pregnancy, Terry put a racier spin on the clinical-looking white straps.

'Bondage,' the first-time father captioned the image of his partner, who is expecting twins in the spring.

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Whips and chains: Terry Richardson photographed his pregnant girlfriend Alexandra 'Skinny' Bolotow wearing a prenatal cradle support strap and shared the 'bondage' image on Instagram on Monday

Growing family: The 50-year-old revealed in October that he and his 32-year-old assistant-turned-girlfriend are expecting twins

In the photo, which was shot from the neck down, Alexandra is wearing a simple white bra. The prenatal cradle is strapped over her stomach and appears to be taking some of the weight of her belly off of her pelvis.

On Alexandra's hip is a tattoo of a coiled up black whip, which is certainly keeping with the bondage theme of the photo.

More than 15,800 people liked the image, although some were quick to point out that Alexandra is actually donning a pregnancy support device. Meanwhile, one woman kindly suggested a support pillow for Alexandra to help keep her comfortable during the last months of her pregnancy.

Earlier this month, Terry and Alexandra celebrated their impending arrival with an X-rated baby shower that was on par with his history of shocking photo shoots.

Eschewing the traditional stork-themed decorations many might select for such a happy occasion, Terry instead opted for a variety of lewd and crude accessories and party favors that looked as though they would have been better suited to a wild bachelorette party than a baby shower.

Sharing images from the event, which took place on January 10, on his Instagram account, Terry offered his fans a sneak peek into the different details that went in to ensuring that the couple's baby shower stood out as being the only one of its kind.

Strange humor: Terry and Alexandra posed in front of the iconic Bates Motel sign dressed as Joseph and the Virgin Mary for their quirky Christmas photo

Personal style: Earlier this month, Terry and Alexandra threw a risque baby shower featuring condoms as party favors along with toys and games shaped like a man's genitalia

Starting off with the table decorations, Terry posted an image of a party-themed spread, which was decorated with a variety of toys and games, many of which were shaped like a man's genitalia. Even the tablecloth came complete with a garish 'Let's Party' penis print.

And then there was the cake, an element of the party which Terry seemed most happy about. But forget your traditional gender reveal cake, which some couples choose to cut open at their baby showers, because, just as with the rest of their party, Terry and Alexandra chose instead to have something slightly more in your face.

In celebration of their unborn baby twins, the cake saw a mini model of mother-to-be Alexandra created in icing, with the naked figure leaning back on a red blanket, legs spread, while two small heads poke out from in between them.

Lying alongside the figure is a small iced dog, presumably meant to represent the couple's puppy, which they are often seen out walking in New York City.

The bizarre baked creation appears to be a tribute to an image posted on Terry's Instagram account just a few months ago, which saw Alexandra lying naked on her side on a red tartan blanket, however in this image just her baby bump, ribs and legs were visible, as opposed to her entire body.

And while some might have seen the cake creation as being somewhat out of place at a baby shower, photographer Terry appeared to have been over-the-moon about the confectionery treat, proudly posting an image of it on his Instagram, while writing: 'Such a fun baby shower yesterday! We were so touched by all the love and good vibes (and this great cake!).'

Party favors! Terry also revealed that the couple had special personalized condoms at the shower, which had been printed with sonogram images of their unborn babies

Graphic cake: In place of a traditional gender reveal dessert, Terry and Skinny served their guests this somewhat graphic creation, complete with an iced figuring of the mother-to-be

The final picture shared from the event revealed the rather ironic party favors which guests appear to have received on their way out: personalized condoms printed with a copy of Alexandra's sonogram images, along with the incredibly graphic pun: 'Skinny's babies: c***ing soon.'

Terry and Alexandra's baby shower comes just a few weeks before the photographer's former assistant is predicted to give birth, and marks the latest in a long line of unique ways the couple has chosen to celebrate their pregnancy.

For example, when it came to celebrating Christmas, the couple went all out to create a comedy card that all their family members, friends, and fans would enjoy, dressing up as Joseph and the Virgin Mary, before posing in front of the iconic Bates Motel for a photograph.

And throughout the pregnancy, Alexandra's changing body shape has also been documented by Terry in a series of artistic nudes, the most of recent of which was posted just a few short weeks ago.

True to form, Terry shared the silhouetted image, which was taken from the side, and focuses in on his girlfriend's swollen stomach and breasts, on his Instagram account, captioning the picture with one simple word: 'Momma.'

He then added a double heart emoji, no doubt in celebration of the two babies that the couple are expecting in the spring. The image also shows the top of Alexandra's bottom, as well as a trace of long underarm hair.

Momma: Throughout Alexandra's pregnancy, Terry has been documenting her changing body shape with a series of nude portraits, including this most recent one, which was captured in December

Loving portrait: Terry took this intimate photo of Alexandra showing off her baby bump two months ago

And although the risque snap might seem shocking to some, for the proud parents, it has become something of a tradition during the two months since they confirmed that they are expecting.

At the end of November, Terry shared a picture of Alexandra lying down on her side on a rug, totally naked, with an arm covering up her breasts. He captioned the picture: 'Party of three.'

And two weeks before that, in early November, Terry shared his first image of Alexandra flaunting her baby bump, which saw his former assistant posing in a pair of tights and a lacy black bra, with her hands behind her back, sticking out her bump.

'Happy Hump Day,' Terry wrote as the caption.

The pair certainly seem to be having fun documenting the various stages of their pregnancy - with almost all of the photos including a witty caption, or a fun-filled element.

Earlier this month, Terry posted an image of his assistant-turned-girlfriend at a doctor's appointment, having had her exposed bump decorated with ultrasound gel which was used to draw two smiley faces - one for each of their twins.

Don't worry, be happy! Terry shared this image of Alexandra at a doctor's appointment with two ultrasound gel smiley faces to represent each of their twins

'Hump day': Alexandra posed for this image not long after their confirmed that they are expecting

Terry captioned the photo: 'Don't worry be happy.'

The photographer first confirmed his girlfriend's pregnancy this fall by posting a picture of the announcement featured in New York Post's Page Six on his Instagram page.

'Babies' first Page Six shout out!' he wrote. 'We weren't planning to make this news quite so public quite so soon, because we are very cautious after going through some very difficult and heartbreaking losses, and always afraid of jinxing it, but since the cat is out of the bag...

'Skinny and I are very excited to let you guys know that we are expecting TWINS in the spring!!!

'This has been a difficult journey and we are so thankful to be surrounded by so much love and support from our friends and family, and some incredibly smart doctors!

'I'm sure the kids will be excited to use this as a Throwback Thursday one of these days!'

Fall day: The couple are pictured walking around New York City's West Village in November, when Alexandra's bump was just beginning to show prominently

Celebration of success: The photographer, who is known for his sexually explicit images, has had 20 years of his work honored in a new photography book, Terry Richardson: Volumes 1 & 2: Portraits And Fashion

Star-studded portraits: Terry photographed James Franco in drag for the cover of trans magazine Candy in 2010 (left), and he photographed Cindy Crawford getting a Champagne shower in December 2012 (right)

Alexandra has stood by Terry's side among many alleged scandals, starting as his intern before becoming his full-time employee. While she was an intern in 2004, she was photographed performing oral sex on the photographer while wearing a tiara labeled 'slut'.

Other explicit photos of her that were taken by Terry appear in his 2005 book, Kibosh. After the famed photographer received countless accusations of sexual misconduct by multiple models, for which he was never actually charged, Alexandra came to his defense.

'I think part of being a strong woman is owning the decisions that youve made in your life,' she told New York magazine for their cover story on the photographer in 2014. 'Trying to put the onus onto someone else for your own decisions is really cowardly and kind of dishonest.'

Terry has photographed countless celebrities, including Beyonce and Miley Cyrus, however, the photographer, who is known to many as 'Uncle Terry', has been accused of pressuring models into posing for sexually explicit photoshoots and performing unwanted sexual acts with him on set.

Terry has continued to deny the allegations, writing on his blog that he was 'really hurt by the recent and false allegations of insensitivity and misconduct'.
A young Muslim woman has conducted a powerful social experiment in Central London.

Muna Adan blindfolded herself and stood in the city's bustling Trafalgar Square in front of a large cardboard sign, which read: 'I am a Muslim, not a terrorist. If you trust me, give me a hug!!'

The 18-year-old was inundated with countless loving embraces - dubbed 'trust hugs' - from passing strangers during the tear-jerking exercise.

Muna Adan blindfolded herself and stood in the city's bustling Trafalgar Square in front of a large cardboard sign, which read: 'I am a Muslim, not a terrorist. If you trust me, give me a hug!!'

Muna decided to hold the provocative experiment in response to the rising number of anti-Muslim sentiments in the capital.

A passer-by known only as 'Mimi' captured the emotional scenes and posted them to her Twitter account under the caption, 'Look what this girl did today in the streets of central london, bless her!'

The four photographs have been 'liked' over 20,000 times and shared by nearly 22,000 people since they were uploaded to social media on January 24.

One picture sees Muna, dressed in a long grey coat and black winter boots, standing alone next to square's famous fountain.

In another heart-warming snap Muna is barely visible amongst half a dozen smiling teens as they embrace her in a group hug

Muna crouches down and is tenderly held by a toddler in a pink padded jacket as her mother watches on

In another heart-warming snap Muna is barely visible amongst half a dozen smiling teens as they embrace her in a group hug.

Muna crouches down and is tenderly held by a toddler in a pink padded jacket as her mother watches on in one image and is seen sharing a joke with an elderly man in another.

Speaking to Buzzfeed News after the experiment, Muna said: 'You always see negative stories about Muslims, so I wanted to do something about it.'

She said she was approached by 'Orthodox Christians, French people, Brazilians, Germans  all saying, "I love you".'

Muna was inspired by a similar stunt she'd seen that took place overseas.

In November, a Muslim man ventured into Paris' Republic Square following the terrorist attacks.

The guy blindfolded himself and stood with a placard which (roughly translated) asked: Im a Muslim and Im told Im a terrorist. I trust you, do you trust me? If yes, hug me?

As a tearful crowd of mourners look on, one by one, Parisians approached the man and embraced him.
Her big sister is known for her signature rock chick look of skinny jeans teamed with a leather jacket and a band T-shirt.

But Lottie Moss, 18, showed that while she may share supermodel Kate's good looks, she can easily rock a much fresher, preppy style.

The up-and-coming model has landed a major new campaign as the face of Botkier - a New York based handbag brand.

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Lottie Moss, 18, sister of supermodel Kate is the new face of New York based handbag brand Botkier

One shot sees her cuddle a cute Pomeranian dog while rocking a ladylike taupe two-piece

In a newly released set of images, shot by photographer Mark Iantosca, she lets the handbags - which retail for an average of 150 - take centre stage as she rocks a variety of cute outfits in pastel shades.

Shot in iconic locations around New York, Lottie can be seen strolling through Central Park in a white mini skirt with a front pleat, teamed with a light jumper in baby pink while sporting a baby blue Botkier shoulder bag.

Posing by the banks of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, the fresh-faced model sports an oversized black tote with chevron patterned side panels.

In another image, she shows off her slender legs as she struts down the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, wearing a white long white jacket and matching strappy heels, while carrying a grey tasseled clutch.

The fresh-faced model's natural beauty shone through in the campaign shot by photographer Mark Iantosca

Lottie takes a stroll in Central Park in a white mini skirt with a front pleat teamed with a light jumper in baby pink while sporting a baby blue Botkier shoulder bag

She also cuddles a cute Pomeranian dog while rocking a ladylike taupe two-piece.

Discussing her new role, Lottie told WWD: Ive been a big fan of Botkier New York since the inception of the brand, so when they approached me to star in their spring campaign, it was a no-brainer for me.

'The brands sophisticated, edgy designs rooted in New York Citys culture resonate well with me.

Lottie's campaign will debut on Botkier's website at the beginning of February and represents her first big booking since she was chosen as the face of Red Valentino in 2014.

Lottie says that she's a fan of the brands sophisticated, edgy designs rooted in New York Citys culture

The porcelain-featured teen posed by the banks of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, sporting an oversized black tote with chevron patterned side panels

The porcelain-featured teen signed with her sister's agency Storm when she was only 13 - a year younger than Kate was when she was discovered at New York's JFK airport in 1988 aged 14.

She was spotted by a model scout when she was a bridesmaid at Kate's wedding to rocker Jamie Hince in 2011.

Despite standing at only 5ft 5in, she made her runway debut at Paris Fashion Week last year in the Sonia Rykiel show, strutting behind fellow fashion royalty, Georgia May and Lizzy Jagger.

Her first assignment was for a high-fashion editorial spread in Dazed and Confused, the magazine co-founded by Jefferson Hack, Kate's ex-boyfriend and father of her daughter Lila Grace.

Lotties' campaign will debut on Botkier's website at the beginning of February and represents her first big booking since she was chosen as the face of Red Valentino in 2014

Lottie shows off her slender legs as she struts down the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, wearing a white long white jacket and matching strappy heels, carrying a grey tasseled clutch

She's also starred on the glossy pages of i-D and Teen Vogue magazines alongside Bella Hadid and Kylie Jenner, and modelled in a Beats by Dr. Dre advert. And she posed for Calvin Klein Jeans, 21 years after Kate did her first campaign with the brand.

Lottie is the daughter of Kate's father and his second wife Inger. After completing her A-levels in media and fashion photography in Sussex, she plans to move to London to pursue her career in modelling full time.
Less than a month after Balmain rolled out its fashion campaign featuring the original supermodels of the '90s, Giorgio Armani is hot on its competitor's heels with a series of ads starring women who are in their 40s and 50s.

Models Eva Herzigova, 42, Nadja Auermann, 44, Stella Tennant, 45, and Yasmin Le Bon, 51, are featured in the 81-year-old Italian designer's stunning black and white spring/summer 2016 campaign, modeling the classic pieces that make up the label's New Normal collection.

'I wanted four iconic women with strong personalities to show that feminine beauty is ageless,' Armani, explained in a press release. 'I chose Peter Lindbergh, with whom I have collaborated several times, because his photographs are timeless and are true to real life.

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Famous faces: Models Eva Herzigova, 42, Stella Tennant, 45, Yasmin Le Bon, 51, and Nadja Auermann, 44, (from left to right) star in Giorgio Armani's New Normal spring/summer 2016 campaign

Still got it: The ageless beauties, who can be seen modeling the luxury label's collection featuring modern classics, were at the height of their careers in the '80s and '90s

The 81-year-old designer said he chose Yasmin, Eva, Nadja, and Stella for the campaign because they are 'iconic women with strong personalities'

'I wanted to convey a sense of reality, of clothes that offer natural elegance and the normality of everyday life.'

In the images shot by Lindbergh, the models can be seen posed wearing sharp blazers, nautical stripes, trouser suits, and crisp collared shirts.

The New Normal range is described as a selection of 'timeless pieces' that are 'distinguished by being styles possessed of an essential sophistication'.

Just right: Photographer Peter Lindbergh can be seen mussing up Yasmin's hair during the shoot in Paris

Au naturel: Close-up images from a behind-the-scenes video show that the women are wearing very little, if any, make-up

And with that concept in mind, Armani sought out four 'authentic women' who just happen to be world-famous models for the ad campaign, which he said is more than simply 'fashion photographs'.

'Nadja Auermann, Yasmin Le Bon, Stella Tennant and Eva Herzigova show themselves for what they are today: deeply fascinating women, with a proud look and without artifice,' he explained.

The women are undoubtedly timeless beauties, and while Yasmin was one of the highest earning models in the 1980s, Eva, Nadja, Stella, and Yasmin made names for themselves in the 1990s.

Strike a pose: Individual shots show Nadja modeling iconic separates from the New Normal collection

Whirlwind: Eva's blonde hair can be seen blowing behind her as she poses in a cleavage-baring blazer

Classic style and beauty: Stella struck a pose while modeling nautical stripes and trousers

They worked alongside the fashion industry's original supermodels: Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington, Helena Christensen, Elle Macpherson and Linda Evangelista.

A behind-the-scenes video from the shoot sees the women posing both together and alone. At one moment Lindbergh can be seen mussing up Yasmin's hair to give her the look of effortless elegance.

And while Armani may have mastered the look of sophistication and grace, Balmain has proved that women in their 40s are sexier than ever.

Catwalkers: Nadja can be seen walking the runway at the Chanel Haute Couture show in 1992 (L), while Yasmin is pictured modeling Versace's fall 1992 collection (R)

Fashion legends: Eva is pictured on the runway in 1995 (L), while Stella can be seen striking a pose on the catwalk during a Valentino show in 1999 (R)

Better than ever: Earlier this month, French label Balmain debuted this sexy black and white ad staring '90s supermodels Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, and Naomi Campbell (from left to right)

Earlier this month, the label's creative director, Olivier Rousteing, unveiled a sizzling black and white spring/summer 16 campaign starring Cindy, Naomi, and Claudia, who were photographed by famed photographer Steven Klein.

Rousteing, who is known for working with young models and social media stars such as Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and Jourdan Dunn, said that working with the original supermodels of the '90s was a dream come true.
Amal has amassed such an impressive collection, stepping out in more than 25,000-worth of coats over

She may have glossy hair, endless legs and Hollywood star George Clooney at home  but when Amal Clooney arrived at Downing Street to meet David Cameron at the weekend, there was only one thing women were coveting ... her coat.

Chic, beautifully tailored and adorned with a trio of decorative gilt brooch buttons, shaped like a hand, a lobster and a cats face, it was a masterclass in winter dressing.

Stylish, figure-fixing and  perhaps most importantly  warm, a great coat can be the most important item in a womans wardrobe.

Which perhaps explains why human rights barrister Amal has amassed such an impressive collection, stepping out in more than 25,000-worth of coats over the past two years.

While such decadent ensembles may raise eyebrows among her Left-leaning colleagues, 37-year-old Amal clearly believes that when it comes to coats, you get what you pay for.

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Arriving at No 10 at the weekend, Amal's navy coat (left) is a classic with a twist - quirky glit brooches. In contrast Amal's style was pure Paris in this 1,400 boucie car coat (right) by Giambattista Valli

Arriving at Heathrow, Amal's 3000 Dolce & Gabbana flocked dress coat (left) is more first class than economy. In New York in 2014, her 995 fuchsia Balenclaga coat (right) grabs attention

Wearing a 3000 suede turquoise Burberry Prorsium ternch (left) out to dinner. Wrapping up against March's Manhattan chill in a 600 lipstick-red number (right) by Paule Ka

Dining with George, Amal is no wallflower in a bold, sunflower yellow double-breasted coat, (left) costing 565, by Paul & Joe. Giambattista Valil's flamboyant leopard-print adds glamour - as it should for 2000.

She shows a more masculine edge in 1345 leather and wool Versace (left). Amal Clooney layers this 2,460 caramel suede Gucci number (right) over a 3,000 Alberta Ferretti chiffon dress for dinner with her parents in New York last May

A vintage find - this navy and cream Sixties courreges style (left) is 8000 from an online retro shop. In Notting Hill in June, Amal slips on this gingham Tome coat (right). But you'd have hoped the 995 would include sleeves
A pill commonly used to treat nausea could be key to a good night's sleep for millions who are affected by snoring.

Early results suggest that taking the tablet before bed reduces sleeping problems by almost a third, and now a larger trial is under way.

The drug, dronabinol, is already widely used to tackle nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and works mainly by suppressing activity in the part of the brain that triggers vomiting.

In sleep apnoea the tissues in the mouth collapse repeatedly during the night

It's now being used to help in sleep apnoea, where the tissues in the mouth collapse repeatedly during the night.

Muscles in the airway naturally relax as we fall asleep. For most people, this does not pose a problem. But in sleep apnoea, the tissue collapses, which shuts off breathing for at least ten seconds at a time, before the brain realises breathing has stopped and sends a signal to contract the muscles and open the airways.

The patient normally wakes with a jolt. In mild sleep apnoea, this can happen once every ten minutes; in severe patients, sleep can be disturbed every two.

Sleep apnoea is particularly common in middle-aged men who are overweight, as excess fat around the neck puts pressure on the upper airways during sleep.

The snoring sound is produced by vibrations of the tissues as air is forced through the obstructed airway.

The drug dronabinol is made from a man-made form of chemicals found in cannabis [file photo]

As well as causing loud snoring, sleep apnoea temporarily deprives the body of oxygen and, if left untreated, can contribute to long-term problems such as heart disease and stroke.

The standard treatment is with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), where the sleeping patient wears a face mask that delivers pressurised air to prevent tissue collapsing and the airway closing.

This is very effective, but patients often find the mask cumbersome and research suggests nearly a third never use it or abandon it within a year.

The drug dronabinol is made from a man-made form of chemicals found in cannabis, and acts on cannabinoid receptors in the hypothalamus region of the brain that control appetite, which is how it helps with the nausea caused by chemotherapy.

But it also appears to stimulate certain muscles through this mechanism - in sleep apnoea, it is thought to firm up the genioglossus, the muscle between the chin and the tongue that controls tongue movement. This stops the tongue relaxing to the point where it blocks the airways during sleep, thereby reducing snoring.

Patients will be given either dronabinol or a placebo to take an hour before sleeping in a lab

In an initial study, doctors at the University of Illinois tested the drug on 17 patients with severe sleep apnoea. They took a pill an hour before bedtime for three weeks. Patients slept in a sleep lab and researchers monitored them overnight, taking note of the number of times an hour their sleep was disrupted due to snoring. The score was checked against the Apnoea Index - a score of five to 15 sleep disruptions an hour is classed as mild sleep apnoea; 15 to 30 is moderate and more than 30 is classed as severe.

The results, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, showed an average 32 per cent drop in waking episodes.

Now, U.S. firm RespireRX is carrying out similar research, measuring changes in sleep disruption of 120 sleep apnoea patients.

In the study, taking place at two U.S. universities, patients will be given either dronabinol or a placebo to take an hour before sleeping in a lab. The results should be available within 18 months.

Dr Kirstie Anderson, a consultant neurologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, said it was not clear from early trials how effective dronabinol would be compared with CPAP, adding: 'CPAP stops snoring completely, although not everyone gets on with it.'

Meanwhile, a yeast found in the Japanese wine sake could help tackle insomnia. Researchers gave 48 people a supplement or placebo to take over four days.

The scientists monitored participants' brain activity while they slept and found the yeast supplement improved sleep quality, says the Journal of Sleep Research.
Margaret Markfort was learning to horse ride with her daughter when the horse bucked, She was thrown to the ground and fractured her spine

A new keyhole operation for spinal injuries can mean patients walk out of hospital the following day. Margaret Markfort, 50, an IT manager and mother-of-two, had the procedure after a riding accident last month, as she tells ROGER DOBSON.

THE PATIENT

On the afternoon of the Sunday after Christmas, I was ten minutes into a riding lesson with my 11-year-old daughter Bethan, when the horse I was riding started bucking.

When he then started to twist, I was thrown off, landing heavily on my left-hand side. It was not so much a fall as a feeling of flying through the air.

I struggled up on to my knees. There was intense pain in my lower back and I felt sick. The instructor was telling me to get back on the horse, but I didn't think I could.

As the pain and sickness showed no sign of stopping, my husband Simon drove us to East Surrey Hospital. With hindsight, we should have called an ambulance, but at this point we weren't aware that I had broken my back, and that sitting in the car risked serious damage to my spinal cord.

Once we arrived, I was seen very quickly. There were eight doctors around me, telling me not to move and checking all my limbs. They were incredulous that I'd walked in from the street. Fortunately, my spinal cord wasn't damaged, but CT scans found a fracture in one of the bones in my lower back.

They told me we could wait to see if the spine repaired itself - I'd have to be kept as still as possible for it to knit together properly. But the preferred option was to refer me to specialists at St George's Hospital, in London, for surgery to fit metal supports to take the load off the injured bone while it healed.

I was taken there the next day. My surgeon, Mr Crocker, explained they wanted to try a new minimally invasive technique of fitting the metal rods. This would mean a much quicker recovery.

Mr Crocker was very direct. He said there was a small risk of paralysis. I was concerned, but felt that surgery was the better option.

Lying still in a hospital bed for months would have been a considerable strain for my family.

She had a new type of spinal operation which means she could leave hospital the next day

Two days later, I went in for surgery and it took around three hours in all under general anaesthetic. When I came round, it was more discomfort than pain that I felt, mostly on my left side where I'd fallen, although I did have a morphine drip.

Amazingly, I was able to walk and move around the following morning and I went home the day after that.

Such a quick recovery is not something you expect after fracturing your spine. Only a few hours earlier, I had been told there was a risk of being paralysed.

I'm still taking strong painkillers and, because of the metal supports in my back, things like bending over to put on shoes are still quite difficult and painful - but each day is an improvement on the last. The plates will be removed in around eight to 12 months' time, once the bone has healed.

Hopefully, I will be back to normal then. Will I continue with the horse riding? I would like to, but I will have to wait and see what Mr Crocker recommends.

THE SURGEON

Matthew Crocker is director of neurosurgery and a consultant neurosurgeon at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London.

We estimate there are more than 10,000 spinal fractures a year in the UK.

Accidents of all kinds are the most common cause. The vertebrae create a canal that protects the spinal cord. A break in one of them risks damage to the nerves in the spinal cord, which can lead to paralysis.

'Such a quick recovery is not something you expect after fracturing your spine'

Margaret's fracture was in the 11th vertebra in her lower back and was very unstable, meaning the damage was severe and the bone was unable to carry the body's weight properly.

If not treated appropriately, this can cause the broken bone to collapse further, causing long-term pain.

The ligaments that hold one bone to another were also torn. This can mean the broken bone starts to separate from the surrounding bones, putting pressure on the spinal cord and leading to progressive numbness and weakness or even paralysis, which may be permanent.

Treatment for fractures depends on the severity.

It can involve bed rest, external bracing with a collar or a body brace, or surgery to fit long titanium rods in the spine that take the load off the broken bone, like a scaffold, while it heals, allowing the patient to walk around without doing further damage.

Traditionally, this involved major open surgery with a large incision (up to 25cm) in the back and cutting through large areas of muscle, and stripping muscle away from the spine.

This can cause long-term damage to the muscles. There can also be considerable blood loss, so blood transfusions may be required.

It also involves a relatively long stay in hospital - five or more days.

However, for the past two years we have been using a new minimally invasive approach through eight small holes made in the skin, which means a much faster recovery for patients.

The DIY-analogy would be that instead of taking out a wall to fit a new kitchen in one piece, we assemble it through the letterbox.

It's been made possible by the development of hollow screws, just as strong as the solid ones used in the traditional procedure, that can be inserted and screwed in place over a guide wire.

This means the surgeon doesn't have to open up the back to be able to see where to put the screws.

All the instruments that go with the screws, as well as the metal rods, can be inserted in the same way.

I'm still taking strong painkillers and, because of the metal supports in my back, things like bending over to put on shoes are still quite difficult and painful

Under general anaesthetic, we make eight small incisions in the skin, four on each side of the spine, two above and two below the fracture, about 4 cm either side of the spine.

A hollow guide needle, the size of a regular knitting needle, is hammered into each of the holes and the bones above and below the fractured bone.

A guidewire, about 50cm long, is threaded through each needle until it also reaches the bone.

A hollow screw, attached to a tiny hollow screwdriver, goes over the wire and is screwed into the bone at each point - eight screws in all.

The needle and the wire ensures that the screws are placed with millimetre-accuracy and minimises the chance of damaging the spinal cord or nerves.

Multiple X-rays are also taken 'live' throughout, to help us navigate.

Next, via the top two guide needles, we insert two long rods, about 16cm in length, under the muscle and skin, one on either side of the spine. We fit them from the top screw on one side to the bottom screw on the same side.

The rod is attached to all four screws on each side. The screws anchor the rods to span the broken bone to stop it collapsing as the patient stands up and moves.

Finally, the hollow needles are removed and the tiny incisions stitched.

Once the bone has healed, after eight to 12 months, we remove the screws and the metalwork though the original incisions.

It really is a new paradigm in treating spinal patients. It gives the very best chance of a full recovery, and most people are able to walk out of the hospital the next day.

ANY DRAWBACKS?

'The procedure involves less muscle stripping and retraction than conventional procedures, with potentially less blood loss, which is particularly important in the multiply injured patient,' says Ian Harding, a consultant spinal surgeon at Bristol's Spire Hospital.

'However, where a patient only has one fracture, the advantages may not outweigh the risks, such as increased exposure to X-ray radiation, misplacement of screws and inability to bone graft if needed, which cannot be done with minimal-access surgery.'
Workers at New York City hookah bars are inhaling hazardous levels of carbon monoxide and nicotine while at work, a new study has claimed.

Tested as they left their shifts, ten hookah bar employees were found to have elevated levels of toxins and identifiable markers of inflammation that are linked to airway and heart diseases.

In fact, some of those tested had results akin to those seen in heavy cigarette smokers, an ironic result given that many young people see hookah pipe smoking as a 'safe,' hip alternative to cigarettes.

Tested as they left their shifts, ten hookah bar employees were found to have elevated levels of toxins and identifiable markers of inflammation that are linked to airway and heart diseases.

WHAT IS HOOKAH Hookah, an ancient form of smoking, in which charcoal-heated tobacco or non-tobacco based shisha smoke is passed through water before inhalation, is rapidly gaining popularity among adolescents in the US. Advertisement

This is the finding of the study, 'Secondhand hookah smoke: an occupational hazard for hookah bar employees,' led by researchers at New York University's College of Global Public Health (CGPH) and Langone Medical Center, published online January 25, 2016 in Tobacco Control.

According to the study authors, New York City now has approximately 140 hookah bars and lounges, traditionally frequented by people of Middle Eastern and Indian descent, and increasingly, by young people of all backgrounds.

The practice involves smoking shisha, a fruit-flavored, often tobacco-based material using a water pipe or hookah.

'Hookah use is often exempt from clean indoor air laws that protect people from secondhand smoke,' says toxicologist and senior study author Terry Gordon, PhD, a professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine at NYU Langone and at the university's CGPH.

'Ours is the first study that links poor hookah bar air quality to damaging effects in workers, and the results recommend closer monitoring of this industry to protect the public.'

Secondhand smoke exposure is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States, responsible for 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 35,000 heart disease deaths annually among Americans that never smoked.

Beyond health consequences, the new study identified airborne nicotine in the four hookah bars surveyed even though tobacco-based shisha is banned in these venues in New York City.

HOOKAH HEALTH RISKS Studies estimate one hookah session can be the equivalent of smoking from 10 to 40 cigarettes. Dr. Richard Hurt of the Mayo Clinic said that's because of the long duration of a hookah session. 'When you smoke a cigarette, a person smokes it maybe for just a few minutes and then you're through with it. 'But hookah sessions are social and people sit there for an hour or so kind of puffing on these things, thinking that the water is filtering out all the bad stuff, when the reality is it does not do that,' Hurt said. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health reports a single hookah session delivers 1.7 times the nicotine, 6.5 times the carbon monoxide and 46.4 times the tar of a single cigarette. Advertisement

The research team found that indoor air pollutant concentrations varied, but they were directly proportional to the number of people smoking and water pipes used.

Many of the hookah lounges had no open windows or doors to ventilate the smoke, say the study authors.

Specifically, researchers found that the average level of exhaled carbon monoxide rose markedly after the workers' shifts, with readings from two of the 10 workers greater than 90 parts per million, which is similar to those seen in heavy tobacco smokers.

Additionally, blood levels of inflammatory signaling proteins (e.g. forms of interleukin, interferon, and tumor necrosis factor) were found to be significantly higher in workers after their shifts. Such proteins are part of normal immune responses, but also central to heart disease and cancer when present in too high levels.

'Our findings challenge the belief that secondhand exposure to hookah smoke is safe,' Gordon says.
Doctors are investigating whether there really is a link between the weather and pain.

Patients with chronic conditions such as arthritis often report that their symptoms are worse when the day is damp, or cold, experts say.

Now medics are asking thousands of sufferers across the country to take part in their research by providing data using their mobile phones.

And they hope that soon the information could be used to provide a daily pain forecast, in a similar way that the pollen count is now included in weather forecasts.

Patients with chronic ailments such as arthritis are being asked to record their symptoms every day. These will then be compared against the weather to see which climatic conditions may affect health

Dr Will Dixon, a rheumatologist and clinical epidemiologist at the University of Manchester, said: Were asking people to download an app on which they can score their symptoms every evening  it takes less than a minute.

Then the GPS on their phone will automatically collect the weather data wherever theyve been that day.

Collectively that brings together a massive data set through time that we can analyse.

If we understand the relationship between weather and pain then we hope that well be able to forecast pain.

Dr Dixon, who has been a doctor for nearly 20 years, added: At almost every clinic I have, the patients say the weather affects their pain, but when you ask individual patients what it is about the weather, they have different answers.

They might tell me that the (air) pressure affects their joints, or its because its damp.

If we could forecast when a persons symptoms would be bad, patients could plan their lives better, said Dr Dixon.

One in five people aged 50 or above has osteoarthritis in the knee  its hugely prevalent, he said.

It causes stiffness in the knee and pain when you walk that bit further.

A bad day might restrict the amount of activity you can do, so, knowing that youll have a bad day on Thursday and youve got shopping to do, you might do it on Tuesday instead.

Carolyn Gamble was diagnosed with a form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis at just 18.

The 36-year-old University of Manchester student said: It causes pain and fatigue  most of the pain is in my neck and hips but it can be full-body.

People with chronic conditions like arthritis often report their symptoms as worse when the weather is cold and damp, experts say. They want to record data to create a pain forecast for sufferers

It interferes with every aspect of my life. I take six tablets and an injection which suppresses my immune system, because the condition is auto-immune.

If its really hot and humid I get a full-body flare but equally if its cold and humid I get a flare-up as well.

A pain forecast would enable me to change my behaviour and activity and manage my life better, she added.

Perhaps I wont book so many meetings on that day, or wont travel so much, she said.

It would also reassure her that she wasnt inadvertently doing something to make her condition worse.

If we understand the relationship between weather and pain, we'll hopefully be able to to forecast pain Dr Will Dixon, University of Manchester

She said: From a patients perspective, we always want to know whats causing the pain. Im often thinking is it something Im eating, something Im doing?

If its the weather, you know its out of your control so you can stop thinking what is it Ive done?

The research team will be collecting the data throughout 2016 and hope to have a conclusion by the summer of 2017.

Anyone in the UK aged 17 and over with arthritis or chronic pain can take part, all they need is a smartphone, Dr Dixon said.

'The question of how the weather affects our health has been around for more than 2,000 years, but its only now with widespread modern technology that we have the ability to answer it, said Dr Dixon.

He added: People taking part in this study will be helping to answer a question that even the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, couldnt resolve, and which hasnt been resolved since.

Thats what epidemiology is all about  drawing patterns and inspiration from large groups of people to provide insights which we couldnt otherwise achieve this time with the help of their smartphones.

Were keen to get as many people as we can. Every person counts.

In the future, knowing the link between weather and pain could also help with treatment options, said Dr Dixon.
Now carries a medical card after condition was mistaken for

Alicia Goss, 19, had a condition which can make her unsteady on her feet and slur her words, which bouncers and others have mistaken for being drunk

A student who was regularly refused entry to clubs for appearing drunk has discovered her symptoms were being caused by a life-threatening disease.

Alicia Goss was diagnosed with Wilson's disease, a genetic disorder which causes a toxic overload of copper in the body.

The mystery illness had left her unable to walk straight and struggling to speak properly.

But while the 19-year-old appear may sometimes appear intoxicated, she has been forced to be teetotal after discovering it has caused severe liver damage.

She is now on medication to keep her symptoms under control and is responding well to treatment.

The first year student, from Orpington, Kent, was diagnosed with the rare illness in December 2014 after months of struggling through her A-levels.

'I couldn't write properly - my pen would randomly flick out of my hand and my handwriting was atrocious,' she said.

'I also suffered a lot with bad pains in my knees and joints.

'By October, after starting uni, my hands would shake and my speech started slurring - it was like I was drunk.

'My dad kept telling me something wasn't right, but I just explained it away as nerves after starting at uni.

'I'd go to the pub with my friends and bouncers wouldn't let me in, they thought I was drunk or on drugs.

'People would even shout at me in the street because I couldn't walk in a straight line, and give me strange looks because they thought I was wasted.'

Wilsons disease is a disorder where sufferers have a higher than normal amount of copper in their body and can cause damage to the liver, brain and other organs.

A genetic defect prevents the liver from being able to metabolise and remove unnecessary amounts of copper from the body as it normally does.

The sociology student went to see her GP who put the symptoms down to the stress of going to university.

But her condition quickly deteriorated to the point she could no longer walk and she was wheelchair bound, forcing her to drop out of her course at Canterbury Christchurch University.

Alcia Goss, meeting Joey Essex on a night out, has been refused entry to some pubs and clubs for appearing drunk. She has been diagnosed with Wilson's disease, where the body cannot get rid of excess copper

She was referred for an MRI scan before neurologist diagnosed her with Wilson's disease.

'By that point my symptoms were really bad - I couldn't hold anything because my hands shook so badly, my legs would give way if I tried to stand and I would fall over a lot, and my speech was slurred,' she said.

WHAT IS WILSON'S DISEASE Wilsons disease is a disorder where sufferers have a higher than normal amount of copper in their body. An overload of copper is poisonous and can damage the liver, brain and other organs. The overload is caused by a genetic defect that prevents the liver from being able to metabolise and remove unnecessary amounts of copper from the body as it normally does. If Wilsons disease is diagnosed early enough it can be effectively treated. When it is not treated, the disease is always fatal. The disease is estimated to affect one person in 30,000 worldwide and occurs with about the same frequency in both men and women. Copper taken in from eating is absorbed by the small intestine. From there it is bound to a protein that circulates in the blood (albumin) and transported to the liver to be stored. Normally, any copper the body doesnt use is carried away by bile  a fluid produced by the liver to aid digestion  and excreted from the body. Biliary excretion is the only means of removing copper. When this is not working properly an accumulation (build-up) of copper in the body will follow. This accumulation of copper will lead to serious and possibly irreversible damage to the liver if not treated. Source: British Liver Trust Advertisement

'It was almost like being paralysed, I couldn't do anything by myself - my dad even had to carry me to the bathroom.

'I even had to spend four months in a wheelchair. It was absolute torture.

'If I didn't have such an amazing mum and dad I wouldn't have got through it, my family have been incredible.'

Miss Goss has been on medication since January last year and her symptoms are now under control, although she still suffers from fatigue.

Tests revealed her parents both carry the faulty gene which is how she ended up with the disease.

Her sister Elise only has one abnormal gene so is a carrier but will not become ill.

Miss Goss, who has since returned to her studies, now takes a medical card with her and has a web page saved on her phone, ready to show to bouncers and bar staff who think she's had a few too many.

'When my symptoms were at their worst I really struggled - it was so visible and impossible to hide,' she said.

'The slurred speech really got to me - I'm such a chatty, lively, bubbly person, but I retracted into myself because I didn't want to hear how bad my voice had become.

'I want to raise awareness of Wilson's disease, because so few people have heard of it - even medical professionals.

'People shouldn't judge a book by its cover - on the surface I might have looked drunk, but there was more to it than what people saw.'

Dr Godfrey Gillett, a consultant in clinical chemistry and inherited metabolic disease at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said Miss Goss showed both liver and neurological signs and symptoms.

He said routine blood tests performed by her family doctor had showed a low platelet count, which is not uncommon in the disease.

However, her liver function tests had come back normal so doctors weren't immediately alerted to the possibility that her low platelets could be due to problems with her liver.

Alicia Goss is not back at Canterbury Christchurch University after treatment and carries a medical card in her purse to show bouncers the symptoms are caused by the illness

She began to develop tremors, problems with walking and slurred speech over Christmas 2014 which led to the family seeking more advice.

'A couple of my patients have been reported to the police by members of the public because of the symptoms, which can make them appear drunk - patients often have to carry around clinic letters to show to police and other people who question them,' said Dr Gillet.

It was almost like being paralysed, I couldn't do anything by myself - my dad even had to carry me to the bathroom

'The presentation of symptoms making patients look drunk is quite common and can lead to misconceptions, especially in teenagers - parents and doctors can often jump to the conclusion that the patient may have been drinking or doing drugs due to the slurred speech and tremors.'

He said her treatment on penicillamine, which removes excess copper, together with vitamin E has shown positive results so far.

'It's a touch and go situation, because unfortunately patients do tend to deteriorate when they first start treatment - it can take up to a year to see improvement,' he said.

'In March, I wasn't sure if Alicia would be able to go back to university in September - but she began to turn the corner not long after she came to see me, and by August she was very much better and well on the way to going back to uni six weeks later.
Couples who use contraception are three times more likely to have regular sex than those who don't, new research has revealed.

Well-educated women and those who want children in the next two years are the most likely to have had sex in the last month, the study found.

Researchers looked at the health questionnaires of more than 210,000 sexually active women of childbearing age in 47 countries.

The women were asked whether they had engaged in sexual intercourse during the previous four weeks and whether they were currently using contraception.

Couples who are married or co-habiting are three times more likely to have had sex in the last four weeks than those who aren't using a form of birth control, a study has found

Of the women who were currently using contraception, 90 per cent reported having sex in the previous four weeks.

This dropped to 72 per cent of the women not using contraception.

The findings by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggest those who were not using contraception may be substituting less regular sex to reduce their risk of pregnancy.

Lead author Suzanne Bell said the findings were key to encouraging women to have healthier and safer sex lives.

'We want women to have better, healthier, safer sex lives by separating sex from pregnancy and childbearing. Contraception does that, she said.

'Knowing how often women have sex  and what role contraception plays in that  can give us a better understanding of how meeting our family planning goals of improving access and meeting demand might impact people's lives beyond decreasing lifetime fertility.'

The study found women between the ages of 20 and 29 were the most likely to have had sexual intercourse recently.

But while the amount of sex and contraception are linked, experts have warned against the assumption that that improved access to contraception would lead to more frequent sexual intercourse.

Concerns about the side effects of hormone-based contraception and misconceptions it can cause infertility or cancer were often given as reasons why women don't use contraception.

Others stated they were not having sex often and therefore had no need to use contraception.

The findings by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggest those who were not using contraception may be substituting less regular sex to reduce their risk of pregnancy

Before modern contraception was widely accessible in Europe and the United States, birth rates were already on the decline.

Couples who were wishing to avoid an unwanted pregnancy used methods such as abstinence or withdrawal.

Knowing how often women have sex  and what role contraception plays in that  can give us a better understanding of how meeting our family planning goals Suzanne Bell, Johns Hopkins

In terms of differences between countries, the West African nation of Benin had the lowest proportion of married or cohabiting women reporting having had sex recently at 61 per cent.

Jordan in the Middle East had the highest at 94 per cent followed by Rwanda in East Africa at 92 per cent.

Ms Bell, a doctoral student, added it has long been thought that sexually active women of childbearing age need contraception if they do not wish to become pregnant.

But she argues, the need for contraception - over 220 million in developing countries - may have been overestimated.

This is because many of these women are not having regular, or any sex.

As a result, risk of pregnancy is not the same for all women.

However, she says that contraceptive counseling is often inadequate in the developing world and women need better information about their contraceptive options to empower them to make the best decision on how to prevent unintended pregnancies.
Its high caffeine content has made made it a firm favourite for people needing to kick start their day.

But there have long been fears that coffee can trigger dangerous heart palpitations, deterring some people from drinking it.

Now, however, scientists say drinking a strong coffee in the morning can deliver a much needed boost without setting the heart racing.

New research has shown that regular caffeine consumption does not trigger potentially dangerous heart palpitations - and can actually be good for cardiovascular health.

The scientists found consuming caffeine does not lead to extra heartbeats, which although common, can lead occasionally lead to heart or stroke-related deaths.

Researchers at UCSF found that regular caffeine consumption did not cause heart palpitations and could have cardiovascular benefits

Instead, scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, suggest people are missing out on some of the potential health benefits of caffeinated food and drinks, such as chocolate and tea.

Dr Gregory Marcus, behind the study, suggested it was time for the guidelines to be re-considered.

'Clinical recommendations advising against the regular consumption of caffeinated products to prevent disturbances of the heart's cardiac rhythm should be reconsidered, as we may unnecessarily be discouraging consumption of items like chocolate, coffee and tea that might actually have cardiovascular benefits.

'Given our recent work demonstrating that extra heartbeats can be dangerous, this finding is especially relevant.'

Excessive premature atrial contractions (PACs) are a common kind of heart arrhythmia, or heartbeat that is beating too fast, too slow, or irregular.

One of the most common symptoms is heart palpitations or someone having an unusual awareness of heartbeats and have been linked to stroke and death,

Premature ventricular contractions, where the heart skips a beat, (PVCs) have been linked to an increase in heart failure, coronary artery disease and death.

The study analysed chocolate, coffee and tea consumption in more than 1,000 people and found no differences in the number of palpitations

The researchers said both abnormalities have been tied to caffeine consumption through studies and trials, but these studies were performed several decades ago and did not use PACs and PVCs as a primary outcome.

But health guidelines state that if a patient's history is consistent with premature extra beats, potential exacerbating factors - such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine - should be eliminated.

Other online medical resources for clinicians offer similar recommendations.

A growing body of evidence indicates that there are potential cardiovascular benefits of several common caffeinated products such as coffee, chocolate and tea.

Those findings have resulted in uncertainty among doctors when it comes to counselling patients on consumption of these products, with patients possibly reducing their intake to avoid presumed cardiac issues.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, analysed coffee tea and chocolate consumption of 1,388 randomly selected participants, excluding those with persistent extra heartbeats.

Of the total participants, 61 per cent had more than one caffeinated product daily.

The researchers found no differences in the number of PACs or PVCs per hour across levels of coffee, tea and chocolate intake.

More frequent consumption of these products was not associated with extra heartbeats.

'This was the first community-based sample to look at the impact of caffeine on extra heartbeats, as previous studies looked at people with known arrhythmias,' said lead author Shalini Dixit.
As the devastating Zika virus rampages through the Caribbean and Latin America - and threatens to hit parts of the US such as Florida - more and more questions are being asked about how it can be transmitted.

The virus has been linked to birth defects in thousands of Brazilian babies, born with heads smaller than normal and undeveloped brains.

Symptoms include a rash, fever, conjunctivitis and headache and to date, 21 countries have been affected.

At the moment, there is clear scientific evidence the virus is transmitted by the same type of mosquito that spreads other tropical diseases, such as dengue fever, chikungunya and yellow fever.

But there are also fears the virus may be passed on through sex, following two reports in medical literature.

The Zika virus has been blamed for causing severe brain damage to newborn babies. Pictured, Estafany Perreira holds her five-month-old nephew David Henrique Ferreira, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil

At the moment, there is clear scientific evidence the virus is transmitted by the same type of mosquito that spreads other tropical diseases such as dengue fever - the Aedes Aegypti

One states that Zika was found in the semen of a man from Tahiti, the other that the virus was passed from a husband to his wife after intercourse.

But is there really a risk?

In a statement issued this week, the World Health Organisation said there was still insufficient evidence to make the link.

But these research papers argue otherwise.

One, published in 2011, details the story of Professor Brian Foy, who claims he passed Zika to his wife through sex.

Professor Foy, a biologist from the University of Colorado, contracted the virus while on a field trip to Senegal.

He and his colleague had been collecting mosquitoes in a south-eastern village called Bandafassi, where they were often bitten.

HOW ELSE COULD ZIKA POTENTIALLY BE TRANSMITTED? In a statement this week, the World Health Organisation addressed other concerns about how the virus may be spread. It said: Zika can be transmitted through blood, but this is an infrequent mechanism. Standard precautions that are already in place for ensuring safe blood donations and transfusions should be followed. There is currently no evidence that Zika can be transmitted to babies through breast milk. Mothers in areas with Zika should follow the WHO recommendations on breastfeeding. This is exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding with complementary foods up to 2 years or beyond. Advertisement

Five days after his return home, Professor Foy fell ill - his symptoms included extreme tiredness, swollen wrists, rashes and painful urination.

He also had skin problems and what appeared to be blood in his semen.

A few weeks later his wife also developed similar symptoms, along with extreme sensitivity to light, but their four children were unharmed.

The scientists were baffled as to what Mrs Foy had caught until a year later when, on a hunch, they carried out a battery of tests and concluded that sexual contact between the couple was the most likely cause.

Professor Foy and the co-authors of his paper, published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, believe it is the first instance of sexual transmission of a mosquito-born virus between humans.

Such a possibility has been explored before among animals, but not in humans.

In his paper, he added the crucial final piece to the puzzle: Patients 1 and 3 (Mr and Mrs Foy) reported having vaginal sexual intercourse in the days after patient 1 returned home but before the onset of his clinical illness.

My wife wasn't happy with what happened afterwards.'

But there are also fears the virus can be passed on through sex after two reports in medical literature. One states that Zika was found in the semen of a man from Tahiti, the other that the virus was passed from a husband to his wife after intercourse

Then there is the case of the Tahitian patient who was found to have the Zika virus in his semen - leading the scientists reporting his case to conclude it can be transmitted through sex.

Writing in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases last year, they explained how the 44-year-old had developed symptoms of the virus during an outbreak in French Polynesia.

These included a low-grade fever, a lack of energy and joint pain.

Two weeks after recovering however, he noticed blood in his semen and sought treatment.

And because he had recently experienced symptoms of Zika, he was referred for tests at the country's Institut Louis Malarde, in Papeete.

In his paper, Dr Didier Musso, director of the infectious disease unit, explains the patient had no signs of conditions that usually cause blood in the urine - such as a urinary tract infection or inflammation of the prostate.

He had also not come into physical contact with anyone who was actively suffering with the Zika virus.

But further tests revealed the virus was present not only in his semen - but also in his urine.

The latter finding, the researchers say, could also help when diagnosing people at a late stage.

In a statement this week, the World Health Organisation addressed other concerns about how the virus may be spread. For example, there is currently no evidence Zika can be transmitted to babies through breast milk

Despite this, the jury is still very firmly undecided on the issue.

In a statement issued this week, the World Health Organisation said there was still insufficient evidence to make the link.

'The role of Aedes mosquitoes in transmitting Zika is documented and well understood, while evidence about other transmission routes is limited,' it said.

'Zika has been isolated in human semen, and one case of possible person-to-person sexual transmission has been described.

'However, more evidence is needed to confirm whether sexual contact is a means of Zika transmission.'

And Dr Marcio Nehab, a paediatrician and infectious disease specialist at Fiocruz, a research institute in Rio de Janeiro, stated this week that the focus was still very much on mosquitoes.

'We still need a lot of study to conclude that sexual transmission can happen because little is known about the Zika virus.

'At the moment, we have to care more about the known vector, which is the mosquito, as the virus transmission route.

ZIKA: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TERRIFYING VIRUS WHAT IS ZIKA? The Zika (ZEE'-ka) virus was first discovered in monkey in Uganda in 1947 - its name comes from the Zika forest where it was first discovered. It is native mainly to tropical Africa, with outbreaks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. It appeared in Brazil last year and has since been seen in many Latin American countries and Caribbean islands. An Aedes Aegypti mosquito on human skin in a lab in Cali, Colombia. Scientists there are studying the genetics and biology of this mosquito, which transmits the Zika virus The World Health Organisation says Zika is rapidly spreading in the Americas because it is new to the region and people are not immune to it. Furthermore, the Aedes aegypti mosquito (pictured) that carries it is just extremely widespread ARE THERE SYMPTOMS? Experts think most people infected with Zika virus don't get sick. And those that do usually develop mild symptoms - fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes - which usually last no more than a week. There is no specific medicine and there hasn't been a vaccine developed for it, which is the case for some other tropical illnesses that cause periodic outbreaks. WHY IS IT A CONCERN NOW? In Brazil, there has been mounting evidence linking Zika infection in pregnant women to a rare birth defect called microcephaly, in which a newborn's head is smaller than normal and the brain may not have developed properly. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which typically causes mild fevers and rashes, although about 80 per cent of those infected show no symptoms Brazilian health officials last October noticed a spike in cases of microcephaly in tandem with the Zika outbreak. The connection to Zika is still being investigated, and officials note there are many causes of the condition. Nearly 4,000 cases have been recorded. Meanwhile, doctors have noted increased reports of a nerve condition called Guillain-Barre that can cause paralysis. But the link to the Zika virus is not clear; other infections can spark the problem, including dengue fever. CAN THE SPREAD BE STOPPED? Individuals can protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellents, and wearing long sleeves and long pants - especially during daylight, when the mosquitoes tend to be most active, health officials say. Eliminating breeding spots and controlling mosquito populations can help prevent the spread of the virus Advertisement








Researchers have reported a second case that suggest Alzheimer's can be transmitted during medical treatments.

Swiss doctors found signs of the disease in the brains of people who died of the rare, brain-wasting CreutzfeldtJakob disease (CJD).

Before their deaths, the individuals had all received surgical grafts of dura mater, the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord.

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Swiss doctors found signs of the disease in the brains of people who died of the rare, brain-wasting CreutzfeldtJakob disease (CJD). Stock images of brains scans shown - the red colours are a warning of Alzheimer's Disease, the green a normal healthy brain.

The autopsies, revealed in the Swiss Medical Weekly, found that in addition to the damage caused by the prion protein that causes so called 'mad cow disease', five of the brains displayed some of the pathological signs that are associated with Alzheimer's disease, the researchers from Switzerland and Austria report.

They say the find is 'highly unusual and suggests a causal relationship to the dural grafts.'

The grafts were prepared from human cadavers and were contaminated with the prion protein that causes CJD.

'Further studies will be needed to elucidate whether such pathology resulted from the seeding of A aggregates from the grafts to host tissues,' the team wrote.

'Whilst the iatrogenic transmission of aggregated A is one of several possible explanations for the findings reported here, the growing circumstantial evidence for such transmission should prompt a critical re-evaluation of the decontamination procedures for surgical instruments and drugs of biological origin, with the goal to ensure the complete absence of potentially transmissible contaminants.'

Earlier this year, a potentially explosive study has provided the first evidence that the devastating condition can, like mad cow disease, spread through 'medical accidents'.

The British researcher, Professor John Collinge, said we 'need to rethink our view of Alzheimer's and evaluate the risk of it being transmitted inadvertently to patients'.

Following the second case, he told Nature 'Our results are all consistent.

'The fact that the new study shows the same pathology emerging after a completely different procedure increases our concern.'

Neither study implies that Alzheimer's disease could ever be transmitted through normal contact with caretakers or family members, the scientists emphasize.

One of the UK's leading brain surgeons warned that we don't know if the techniques used sterilise medical instruments are effective and said that the research 'must be taken seriously'.

However, others urged caution, saying the study was small and it does not prove that Alzheimer's disease is contagious.

At least 500,000 Britons are living with the incurable condition and, until now, it was thought it was either caused by faulty genes or a combination of bad luck and ageing.

Professor Collinge, of University College London stumbled on the link with Alzheimer's when inspecting the brains of eight people who had died from CJD, the human form of mad cow disease.

They had caught CJD after being given injections of human hormones as children to treat growth problems.

To his great surprise, he found a protein that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's in the brains of seven of the eight of the patients.

In four of them, levels of the memory-robbing amyloid beta protein were 'severe'.

Writing in the prestigious journal Nature, he said that those studied were aged between 36 and 51 and such brain damage is 'simply not seen' in people of that age.

With no evidence that CJD somehow triggers the build-up of the protein, Professor Collinge said the most likely answer is that it, like the CJD, had been lurking in the hormone injections.

None had actually developed full-blown Alzheimer's but they may have done if they had lived longer.

Some 1,850 British children with growth problems were treated with hormones extracted from ground up brain tissue before the procedure was banned in 1985.

Around 1,500 are still alive and Professor Collinge said some of them may still develop Alzheimer's disease.

Professor John Collinge, from University College London, has warned in a potentially explosive study that the devastating condition, Alzheimer's (pictured) can, like mad cow disease, spread through 'medical accidents'

Worryingly, there is no complete record of who was treated  meaning many will have had no advance warning of the bombshell.

The study also has implications for the wider population.

Professor Collinge said the similarities between the amyloid beta protein of Alzheimer's and the prion protein that causes CJD means we must question if the two can spread in the same way.

He said it is possible that contaminated medical instruments, blood transfusions and dentistry could all lead to the amyloid beta protein being passed from one person to the next.

The protein 'sticks avidly' to metal surfaces, such as surgical instruments, and it isn't clear if it is killed off by conventional sterilisation techniques.

In no way does this suggest that Alzheimer's disease is in any way contagious. You can't catch it by living with someone with Alzheimer's disease or by caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease Professor John Collinge, UCL

Professor Collinge said that while transmission by blood transfusions is 'possible', surgical contamination is a bigger threat.

Even dentistry can't be given the all clear.

The professor said: 'I think one would have to consider whether certain types of dental treatment are relevant', adding that more research would be 'prudent'.

However, he stressed that he had not proved that the seeds of Alzheimer's can be passed from person to person and urged people not to panic.

Professor Collinge said: 'In terms of people worrying about this, it is important you understand that this relates to a very special situation, where people have been injected with extracts of human tissue.

'In no way does this suggest that Alzheimer's disease is in any way contagious.

'You can't catch it by living with someone with Alzheimer's disease or by caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease.

'I don't think anyone should delay or rethink having surgery on the basis of this finding.

'I don't think that any immediate action needs to be taken.'

Richard Kerr, president of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons and a consultant brain surgeon, said: 'This is new information in a field of highly complex scientific enquiry that needs to be taken seriously.

Professor Collinge said it is possible that contaminated medical instruments and blood transfusions could also lead to the amyloid beta protein being passed from one person to the next

'With such a small study, however, further research is needed so we can learn more about transfer and whether existing decontamination procedures are effective.

'This will inform any clinical decisions that need to be taken to manage and reduce even the smallest risk to patients.'

Masud Husain, an Oxford University professor of neurology, described the research as 'beautiful' but cautioned it must be kept in context.

Dr Doug Brown, of the Alzheimer's Society, said the findings were 'interesting' but contain 'too many unknowns'.

Professor Collinge said the similarities between the amyloid beta protein of Alzheimer's and the prion protein that causes CJD means we must question if the two can spread in the same way. He warned dental procedures cannot be given the all clear, and urged for more research to be conducted (file image)

He added: 'Injections of growth hormones taken from human brains were stopped in the 1980s.

'There remains absolutely no evidence that Alzheimer's disease is contagious or can be transmitted from person to person via any current medical procedures.'

The Department of Health stressed that the study didn't provide any evidence that Alzheimer's can spread through medical procedures.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, said: 'This was a small study on only eight samples.

'We monitor research closely and there is a large research programme in place to help us understand and respond to the challenges of Alzheimer's.

'I can reassure people that the NHS has extremely stringent procedures in place to minimise infection risk from surgical equipment, and patients are very well protected.'
Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami laid down his life fighting terrorists in the jungles of Kupwara, J&K

Never hesitant to offer himself for any tough operation, Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami lived up to his unflagging fighting spirit in September last year when he laid down his life fighting terrorists in the jungles of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir.

His wife Bhavana will receive Ashok Chakra, the countrys highest peace-time gallantry award, on January 26 for the heroism of her commando husband, who sacrificed his life while saving colleagues during a deadly exchange of fire with the terrorists, last September.

Lance Naik Mohan Nath of 9 para had already taken part in a series of operations in which around 10 terrorists were killed when he was tasked for another assignment on September 2.

The terrorists were hiding in the Haphruda forest in Kupwara, North Kashmir.

Two soldiers of the Armys team were stuck in the hail of bullets after taking hits.

Lance Naik Mohan Nath was undeterred by the heavy fire as he closed in to save his colleagues, one of whom was his senior.

He not only brought them to safety, but also killed two terrorists in the process.

Indian Army jawans serving at the borders of the country. (file picture)

His bold charge, however, left him seriously wounded, and he later succumbed to his injuries.

His citation described him as an intrepid and indefatigable commando.

He is survived by Bhavana and their nine-year-old daughter, who live in Haldwani. Bhavana belongs to Indra Nagar in Nainital district of Uttarakhand.

Goswamis electric presence is often missed by his colleagues, who remember his eagerness to join all the hazardous missions.

The para commando is the sole Ashok Chakra winner this year on the Republic Day.

Subedar Mahendra Singh of Goswamis 9 Para (Special Force) has also been awarded Kirti Chakra, the second highest gallantry award.

Most of the gallantry awards have been awarded to the soldiers taking part in the counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

There are eight Shaurya Chakra winners this time, including colonel Santosh Yashwant Mahadik of 41 Rashtriya Rifle who was killed battling terrorists in Kupwara in November last year.

Two other para commandos, Major Praphul Kumar Bhardwaj and Major Anurag Kumar, have also been awarded Shaurya Chakra.

Lance Naik Satish Kumar, who was killed in an operation in Boban Watsar forest of Handwara, was awarded Shaurya Chakra on December 5, 2015.

Apart from the gallantry awards for the army soldiers, air force and navy officers also received honours for their valiant efforts in saving lives.

Wing commanders Nirmal Kumar Bakshi and Rajiv Dobhal have been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (gallantry) for rescuing victims of the earthquake in Nepal in May last year.

Naval commander Sanjay Shukla received the nau sena medal (gallantry) for saving the lives of 19 personnel onboard MV Jindal Kamaskhi when it was stuck in bad weather.

Pathankot hero gets Kirti Chakra

By Mail Today Bureau

Kirti Chakra for Sepoy Jagdish Chand killed during recent Pathankot attack

Sepoy Jagdish Chand, who fought with a terrorist and killed him before being shot down during the Pathankot Air air base attack this month, was awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second highest gallantry award in peacetime.

Chands citation read: Unmindful of his own safety ran after the closest terrorist, chased and overpowered a terrorist.

He snatched the terrorists weapon to shoot him dead. In the process, two more terrorists in vicinity opened fire on Chand killing him on the spot.

BSF bus attack martyrs to be honoured

By Mail Today Bureau

A BSF constable and two civilians were conferred with the Shaurya Chakra, the third-highest bravery award during peace time, for showing their exemplary courage while overpowering terrorists.

This conflict has led to the capture of Mohammed Naved in Udhampur in August, last year.

Local resident Bikramjeet and Rakesh Kumar Sharma took on an armed terrorist and eventually captured him leading to his arrest.

Constable Subhendu Roy, driver Daljit Singh and constable Godhraj Meena, all occupants of the BSF bus who came under the attack, have also been decorated with gallantry medals.

Roy is the lone recipient (posthumously) of the top medal - the President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG).

Constable Rocky (left) made the supreme sacrifice when a BSF convoy came under heavy fire. Constable Subhendu Roy (right) is the lone recipient (posthumously) of the top medal for gallantry.

Constable Rocky has been awarded for his gallantry as he made the supreme sacrifice when a BSF convoy came under heavy fire as a lone militant armed with automatic weapon suddenly appeared before the BSF bus.

Constable Rocky of 59 Battalion BSF received grievous bullet injures and started bleeding profusely. However, without caring for his injures, he effectively engaged the militants by firing bullets from his personal weapon.

He was also constantly shouting and asking the occupants of the bus to duck down and remain low to avoid casualties.

"Despite this, he did not lose control over the bus and brought it to a safe halt avoiding collision in hilly terrain, thereby demonstrating excellent presence of mind," read his award citation.

The militant then opened a heavy volley of fire on the occupants of the bus and moved around the stationary bus firing relentlessly from all around.
A well-funded network of ISIS-inspired group Janood-ul-Khalifae-Hind, or the Army of Caliph in India, has emerged as a new threat to the country.

Investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have revealed that there is a larger financial nexus involved in the group's recruitment process.

After busting the 14-member module following a nationwide crackdown, the investigators have launched another manhunt as the probe has revealed that those arrested had recruited several others, and also arranged finances for some to travel to Syria and join terror group ISIS.

Fourteen members of ISIS-inspired Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind were arrested by the NIA last week (Picture for representation).

The NIAs application seeking custodial interrogation of those arrested said that they were in communication with some active members through chatting applications in order to motivate them to join ISIS.

Sources said the new terror group Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind had gained a pan-India presence in a short time, planning terror strikes across the country, and was looking for recruits willing to travel to Syria.

Investigations have revealed the group is making efforts to establish a channel to procure explosives and weapons. It is also trying to identify locations for terror training camps, and motivate new recruits to target police officers and foreigners in India, and to carry out terrorist activities in various parts of India.

The arrests were made as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and security agencies carried out a manhunt ahead of Republic Day amid heightened intelligence inputs that the module could strike during the celebrations.

Sources said most of those arrested 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. He was reportedly indoctrinating young Indians and convincing them to be part of ISIS before being killed on the battlefields of Syria.

His name figures in intelligence reports among the six Indians who have died fighting for ISIS.

Initial investigations have indicated that the remnants of Indian Mujahideen in India were being used by the Armar brothers, who - through their old contacts - were recruiting in the name of ISIS.

Following the arrests, security agencies are making efforts to identify more recruits in states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Telanagana.

The NIA had registered a case in December 2015 after credible information was received that the Islamic State was engaged in radicalisation of Indian youth and motivating them to join the terrorist outfit.
Maulana Anzar Shah Qasmi was arrested on January 9

The six terror suspects arrested from different parts of Karnataka by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) last week were ardent followers of Maulana Anzar Shah Qasmi (nabbed earlier this month) and had split recently over ideological differences.

All six suspects frequently met Qasmi and discussed their strategy in the jungles of Devarayanadurga near Tumakuru, 79 kilometre from Bengaluru.

The NIA is piecing together information obtained from various sources, after interrogating the terror suspects in the national Capital.

The focus on terror-related activities in Karnataka has been restricted to the communally sensitive coastal Karnataka region and a few districts, such as Hubballi, Chikkamagaluru and Kalburgi.

As a consequence, Karnataka police sources say the terror suspects set up an informal base in Tumakuru, which is an educational hub, to evade police monitoring.

Our personnel are now combing the Devarayanadurga forests to ascertain whether these terror suspects went beyond routine meetings to conduct any arms training. Whatever material evidence we have gathered so far have been handed over to the NIA. We will continue to monitor the movement of the suspects friends in Karnataka, the sources added.

It is said that Syed Mujahid Hussain Pasha, who was arrested by the NIA, facilitated the Tumakuru meetings for the group members.

The Devarayanadurga forests are more of a picnic spot. Even a meeting of the terror suspects could easily pass off as a picnic. We are speaking to their accomplices. More arrests by the NIA are not ruled out, the sources said, noting that surveillance had been increased in Tumakuru as well the neighbouring Chitradurga district.

The NIA has learnt that a few months ago Qasmi and six suspects parted ways over ideological differences. While the terror suspects were inclined towards the ISIS, Maulana was following the al-Qaeda policy.
Aung San Suu Kyis political credo is founded on the importance of the individual response

I was fortunate to be a part of the first Irrawaddy Literary Festival - the first of its kind Myanmar has known in perhaps half a century.

It was organised at the Inya Lake Hotel, Yangon in February 2013.

Winter and early spring are the traditional seasons for literary talks. This particular morning was cool, the air having lost its chilling bite, and indolent, cotton-ball clouds were reflected in the blue waters of the Inya Lake.

Aung San Suu Kyi arrived amid unprompted and seemingly unending applause. She was the festival patron and was to participate in two of the panels.

During the course of discussion, she confessed to her lack of admiration for the character of Ulysses, and in the same breath declared Victor Hugos Jean Valjean to be an all-time favourite.

This was greeted with surprise and the possible reason was debated at length.

I too wondered the thought going round in slow, concentric circles in my mind.

Uff, I will think of it tomorrow, I finally decided - why does everything in Myanmar have to be so complicated?

That tomorrow came after many days and months, even as I read Suu Kyis writing - her speeches, columns, essays, letters - and heard the numerous speeches delivered with the same unwavering confidence at numerous forums.

And by the time my translators were beating a hasty retreat when they saw me approach and my husband was willingly choosing a rerun of I Love Lucy over me, I saw the first rays of light dawn!

Both Ulysses and Les Miserables (of Jean Valjean fame) are tied together by the same theme - the relationship of the central protagonist with the community that surrounds him, a community that by turn sustains him and confines him, and which is largely unfavourable, at best unfamiliar and pejorative.

To understand Suu Kyis thoughts on this bond that binds a man with his community, or to expand that thought a bit further, a man with his nation, we would have to rewind back a few years to a time when she wrote her first essays on Burmese nationalism.

I believe that in both essays Suu Kyis aim remains the same: under the discussion of past history and contemporary literature, there is an urgent desire to find answers to probe the rationale behind Burmese society as it has evolved, and understand individual responses which have given Burmese nationalism its particular flavour.

For me, Suu Kyis future political credo and the nationalism she preaches are founded on this single comment: the importance of the individual response.

She speaks of individual response when she narrates anecdotes from her fathers life, in her references to Gandhi or to U Vinaya and U Pandita, the revered Buddhist monks, or in her frequent citing of Buddhist Jataka stories while she addresses the Burmese masses.

Her re-reading of the old Buddhist tale of Padasari is similar.

It is the individual who lies at the centre of Suu Kyis philosophy, an individual who eventually determines the kind of community he builds around him.

And it is this individual who helps her in her reinterpretation of Buddhism, or of the political credo which is the blessing and bane of our times - democracy.

Rather than a top-down, authoritative, state-driven set of directives which these concepts often devolve into, she presents them as non-coercive philosophies driven by and meant for the sustenance and growth of the individual.

But then where does this leave the community and the nation? Well to explain that we will need to remember her emphasis on reflective viriya, ie, an individual who is equally driven by physical endeavour and intellectual prudence and add to that yet another of her favourites, active myitta (loving kindness) and then blend them together.

And according to Suu Kyi, for an individual to be able to assume the role designated for him in the social web (or nation), there is need to personally adopt the twin themes of active myitta and reflective viriya.

So to go back to our initial question: why Jean Valjean and not Ulysses? Isnt Ulysses, an old man who has seen many wars and yet when confronted by a still hearth, dauntlessly resolves to seek a new path, the very epitome of viriya?

No, in Suu Kyis logic: for in his disdain for his aged wife and weariness in governing a savage race is expressed a selfish urge for self-actualisation at the cost of country and people.

In contrast, Jean Valjeans journey is one of the spirit. After his long and hard life at the galleys, as he re-enters society he expresses little urge to escape or rebel. Instead, he learns of the redemptive powers of love and remains willing to seek out what is good. I wish I could end the piece here.

But unfortunately it is hard to ignore the voice of sceptics to whom Suu Kyis beliefs might appear quixotic.

So perhaps at this point we could stop to examine some of the policies which she has outlined over the past years - policies on education and the ailing economy which if implemented can give her philosophy a practical outreach.

If there is the proverbial fly in the ointment, it is in Suu Kyis consistent interpretation of the Burmese national identity in terms of a restricted Burman-Buddhist identity.

Suu Kyi had started in the 1980s by speaking of a compulsive nationalism which enshrouded Myanmar. Today, as the nation stands at a vital crossroads, perhaps there is need to tread with caution.
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While the fearsome elite para commandos performing a strenuous double march got the adrenalin pumping, the easy steps of the French contingent set the perfect pace for the 67th Republic Day parade on Rajpath.

Amid tight security, scores of people braved the winter chill to witness the grand event, which saw a march past by a foreign contingent for the first time.

With French President Francois Hollande as the chief guest, personnel from the French 35th infantry regiment of the 7th armoured brigade went down in history when they walked down the road from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate.

French President Francois Hollande, pictured with PM Modi, attended the parade as the chief guest

Indian Army paratroopers showcase their grit at the Republic Day parade

The BSFs camel contingent, which was not part of the grand rehearsals, made a spectacular sight as it ambled down Rajpath

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi (right) with her political rivals, Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Manohar Parrikar

The parade had all its usual flavour, including an impeccable display by various regiments of the Indian Army, and the showcasing of soft power.

The military display had T-90 tanks of Russian origin rolling down Rajpath with gun-mounted infantry combat vehicle BMPs in tow.

The special forces contingent, sporting their signature maroon berets, returned to the parade this year after a gap. Also making a comeback was the Indian Army dog squad. The German Shepherds and Labradors matched steps with their handlers in a display of impeccable man-animal synergy.

The visiting French delegation accompanying the president, the bike stunts by Daredevils, and the colourful camel contingent were the biggest draw, with cellphones emerging the moment the mounted BSF soldiers passed the dais.

For the first time, a contingent of French soldiers took part in the Republic Day parade

The woman contingent of J&K's Indian Reserve Police pictured during celebrations in Srinagar

The Indian Army dog squad made a comeback to the parade, with the German Shepherds and Labradors matching steps with their handlers

An Indian Air Force helicopter unfurls the Tricolour in style, while tight security oversees proceedings on the ground

A bird's eye view of the 67th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in the Capital

The colourful tableau of West Bengal brightened the grey day during the R-Day ceremony

A Tornado from the Army Service Corps breaks a wall of tubelights at Manek Shaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru on Republic Day

Arvind Kejriwal and his wife Sunita greet BJP leaders during the At Home reception

Women power was showcased as well with the Troop Level Radar, the indigenous radars, led by Major Neha Singh. The CRPF contingent also featured 148 women.

Flight Lieutenant Shashikala Maitri and Shilpa Bhatla were a part of the Indian Air Force contingent.

In a first, military veterans had their representation on display in the parade amid their continuing agitation over OROP. The tableau, which was put out by the Directorate of Army Veterans, showcased the role of veterans in nation-building.

The grand finale was the fly-past by IAF fighter jets. The sky had cleared by the time the Sukhoi-30 MKIs and the Jaguars roared passed the saluting dais to wild cheers.
On January 19, two days after Rohith Vemulas death, Mail Today published an article titled: Red, saffron hues in student suicide.

My colleague Siddhartha Rai reported that though the political atmosphere has become one in which the Dalit discourse, of which Vemula was a votary, has come to loggerheads with the right wing, Vemula was as critical of the Left ideology as of the Right - as his Facebook posts suggest.

The Left has not only been guilty of criminal negligence to the Dalit cause, but of atrocities against them as well

While in his suicide note Rohith has not held anyone responsible for his extreme step, the circumstances that led to his death indicate that he was dejected with the developments in his life.

"While Vemula was extremely critical of the Hindu right and the Narendra Modi-led Central government, he did not have words of appreciation for either the Left or its leaders.

"His only mascot was Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, and to a large extent Jyotiba Phule.

"His October 28, 2015 Facebook post read: Not left, not left liberals and not even left radicals. Only radical Ambedkar can liberate us," the report read.

Like Snowzilla, the monster blizzard that has snowed in large chunks of eastern America, the Twitter hashtags, Facebook posts, and Op-ed columns that followed Vemulas suicide buried the fact that the dreamy-eyed scholar was as critical of the political Left as he was of the openly discriminatory and casteist sentiments of the Right.

Rais report says Vemula seems to have grown disillusioned with the Left movement on the HCU campus. He had been a member of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the students arm of the CPI(M), but had resigned from it and joined the Ambedkar Students Association.

In one of his posts on Facebook, dated October 23, Vemula also accused the SFI of trying to pitch Dalits against Dalits and called the SFI casteist.

Any observer of caste and the political Lefts disturbing ambiguity towards it will tell you Rohith was right.

While paying lip-service to a classless, caste-less society, the Left has not only been guilty of criminal negligence to the Dalit cause but of atrocities against them as well.

I have little knowledge of the politics and social realities of Andhra Pradesh, but let me recount the hypocrisy and criminality of the Left Front in dealing with Dalits in the 34 long years it ruled and ruined West Bengal.

The Left has not only been guilty of criminal negligence to the Dalit cause, but of atrocities against them as well. soon after, a quick solution was offered by the village education committee comprised of local Left leaders: Hire another cook, an upper caste!

Students from various institutions participated in a silent protest against the Indian government in Mumbai

After the mid-day meal incident Anandabazar Patrika ran a series on the plight of Dalits in Bengal villages (panchayats in most of these were ruled by the Left).

The findings were alarming: In village after village, the survey found Dalit families were marginalised, Dalit kids were made to sit separately in school and denied access to libraries and other facilities.

But it is the carnage at Marichjhanpi, a tiny island hidden in the Sundarbans archipelago, that remains a classic example of the Lefts caste bias

In the late 1970s, soon after the Left came to power, an about-toretire head of the department of Sanskrit at a reputed university in Kolkata threw a fit over an application for a lecturers post. The applicant was a Namashudra, a Dalit, and the professor told his colleagues that a shudra couldnt be allowed to teach Sanskrit. Mind you, this was the 70s and reservation for SC/ST/OBCs was still a chimera.

The candidate, a first-class degree holder, had applied purely on the basis of merit. The professor, a card-carrying Left ideologue, garnered tacit political support to scrap the application. No reason was cited for the refusal. All that the candidate got to know was that a more deserving candidate had been selected.

It may be tempting to gloss over this incident as a one-off instance of prejudice that shouldnt mar the bhadralok ethos that the Left celebrated during its rule where any display of caste was scoffed at. But theres more.

In November 2004, students at a primary school in Birbhanpur village in Bankura district refused to accept mid-day meals as the cook was a bagdi woman, an untouchable.

As Op-ed hacks from Kolkata newsrooms cried Disgrace, politburo member Biman Bose issued a statement: The matter has been resolved through detailed discussions.

But when a similar incident took place in Purulia districts Dumurdi village and should be recounted every time Left leaders protest when a Rohith Vemula is evicted for being Dalit.

The arson, rapes and murders that form the backdrop of Amitav Ghoshs The Hungry Tide resulted in the forcible eviction of nearly 10,000 settlers, most of them lower caste Hindu refugees from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.

Around 6,000 huts were set on fire, plain-clothes policemen opened fire and killed unarmed refugees, refugee women were abducted and gang-raped in police stations. All under the watchful eye of the Left Front government.

So what prompted an elected government to evict a people who had started new life in a godforsaken island?

The official explanation was Marichjhanpi belonged to reserve forest area and refugees had no business being there. But Janata Dal MPs who visited the island after the carnage said there was no reserve forest there to begin with.

Why then? Some of the survivors of Marichjhanpi who I have interviewed for my book on the carnage say the Left Front had began the process of building its Muslim vote-bank in the Sundarbans by giving ration cards to Muslim migrants from beyond borders. It had no space for Dalits!

Rohith Vemula is dead. The political Right has lots to answer for. But will the Left look into the mirror?
On 3 February the government will brainstorm with all states and Union territories (UTs) to review and rev up Prime Minister Narendra Modis flagship sanitation programme.

There will be a strict scrutiny of the status of toilet-building. Claims regarding open-defecation-free villages will be put to multi-layer verifications.

Indias mounting garbage crisis is also on the agenda.

About 95 lakh toilets have been constructed during the first year of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) that Modi launched in October 2014.

PM Narendra Modi wielded the broom in the Capital 15 months ago to launch the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

The target is 6.84 crore new toilets in rural areas by 2019, and zero open defecation in Indias 2.5 lakh gram panchayats comprising 6 lakh villages.

Roughly half of Indias population relieves itself outdoors - a serious risk to health.

Following reports of not much changing on the ground, PM Modi wants to reboot SBM and sought a revised action plan on all that needs to be done to realise his Clean India dream by Oct 2, 2019.

He has already received ideas from a group of secretaries after they were told enough is enough, and it is time for real action.

Before meeting the PM, the group spoke to ministries, states, industry, civil society and local bodies.

The renewed focus is on peoples involvement, sustainability and time-bound results.

Drinking water and sanitation minister Chaudhary Birender has written to all chief ministers, asking each of them to send in a minister and an officer who will represent them in the meeting that would also review the progress made in the Centres water for all scheme.

The meeting will discuss what new initiatives are needed to make the two schemes a success.

This was followed by a letter from Satyabrata Sahu, a joint secretary in the in the ministry of drinking water and sanitation (MDWS), to all states and UTs, underlining how the access to safe and adequate drinking water was key to the success of Swachh Bharat.

Saraswati Prasad, an additional secretary in the MDWS, has also sent in a missive, saying the minister would hold the daylong meet that would, among other things, look to adopt best practices from across the country.

Modi wielded the broom in Delhi 15 months ago to launch the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, fuelling hopes of cleaner public places, better waste management and eradication of open defecation in villages by 2019.

While toilet building has picked up pace, and the prime minister has been able to nudge people into caring for hygiene, many believe the initial enthusiasm has been waning.

As for water, a person does not get the minimum 40 litres of safe drinking water a day in about 25 per cent of the total 17,13,003 habitations in the country.

A total of 3,60,415 habitations are partially covered. Groundwater contamination is a serious public health crisis, particularly in rural pockets, affecting over 3.61 crore people in 63,831 pockets across half of Indias districts.
President Pranab Mukherjee could not mingle freely with the guests at his home for security reasons

Keeping in mind the security threat, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not mingle freely with the guests at the Presidents home in Rashtrapati Bhawan on Republic Day.

Breaking away from the past, demarcated pathways were created to allow the President and Prime Minister to meet the public.

On earlier occasions, the President used to freely mingle with the people.

The French President Francois Hollande was seated in the VVIP enclosure, which was expanded this time to include cabinet ministers and senior BJP leaders.

Shah meets Joshi

BJP chief Amit Shah met the party veteran Murli Manohar Joshi at his residence on Tuesday to seek his blessings on his re-election. Earlier, Shah had met veteran leader LK Advani.

Both Advani and Joshi had skipped Shah's re-election and post-win celebrations at the BJP headquarters on Sunday.

The party veterans had raised questions on the partys leadership after their humiliating defeat in the 2015 Bihar assembly elections that saw them lose to Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Rajnath in Kerala

Kerala visit: Rajnath Singh will be attending a seminar on community policing

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be visiting Kerala on Wednesday.

The minister will be attending a seminar on community policing among other engagements in the state.

On a day-long visit, Singh will first attend the national seminar on community policing in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Union minster will also be inaugurating the celebrations for the Student Police Cadet day-2016 which will be held at the Jimmy George Indoor Stadium in the Kerala state capital on Wednesday.

35 new HC judges

The Collegium headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur has approved the appointment of over 35 candidates as High Court judges.

It approved appointments to the High Courts of Madras, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Allahabad, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

The Law Ministry has reportedly started working on the procedure of appointment of these candidates.

The apex court, by giving a go-ahead to over 35 names, has made it clear that the names of those in the pipeline can be cleared as per the original Memorandum of Priocedure, a senior government official said.

All is well

Sharad Pawar thanked his supporters for the good wishes - but added that he is quite well.

NCP leader Sharad Pawar scotched all rumours about his ill health by tweeting: I am well and perfectly fine. Thank for your good wishes.

The 75-year-old leader has been in a Pune hospital since Sunday evening for 'minor kidney problem' and 'water retention'.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the NCP's Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare said Pawar is doing fine and will be discharged in the next 1-2 days.
Planning to visit the municipal office any time soon for a birth certificate, trade, or health licence, or to get a building plan sanctioned?

You will most likely be disappointed, as over 1.5 lakh employees of the three MCDs have decided to go on strike over non-payment of salaries.

This may lead to an unprecedented breakdown of civic services in the Capital as employees, including those from sanitation, health, education, engineering and other departments, have threatened to strike from February if their salaries are not paid immediately.

Delhi generates approximately 9,000 metric tonnes of waste every day. There are over one lakh sanitation workers waiting for salaries.

As a token of protest, they will be on a three-day strike from Wednesday. If their demand still remains unfulfilled, they will go on indefinite strike.

Even senior officers like directors, deputy directors and assistant commissioners have not been paid their salaries since October last year.

Some Group C and D employees have recently been paid their salaries, but senior officers are yet to get paid.

Notwithstanding the monetary dispute between the Delhi government and the BJP-ruled MCDs, employees have decided to protest at Jantar Mantar, outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals residence and the Civic Centre, the headquarters of the North and the South Delhi Municipal Corporations.

MCD officials said that as a result of the protest, services that the MCDs provide will be hampered.

MCD employees will protest against the non-payment of salaries which are due for months and is resulting in immense financial burden for them. The Capital will suffer for at least three-four days from Wednesday, said Rajender Mewati, general secretary of the United Front of MCD Employees Associations.

Officials expressed helplessness, saying the Capital will be buried under heaps of garbage as sanitation workers and supervision staff will be on strike.

Delhi generates approximately 9,000 metric tonnes of waste every day. There are over one lakh sanitation workers waiting for their salaries.

While the issue of sanitation workers being unpaid has been pending for some time, employees of other departments have also been hit by the fund crunch.

The employees union said they would also demand the unification of the three municipal corporations as they feel it is the only way to cut short the expenses of the civic bodies.

Notably, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has also proposed unification of the three civic agencies. On the other hand, the Delhi government has set up a team to audit the accounts of the MCDs before extending any monetary aid.

The Aam Aadmi Party has also been alleging financial bungling by the BJP-ruled MCDs.

AP Khan, general secretary of the Forum of MCD Engineers, said: The state government and authorities of civic agencies are resorting to blame game and have ignored the interest of the employees. No engineer in the three corporations has been given salary since November. It has been a year since the issue has been dragging on. While some employees have received salaries for October, there are some who have still not been paid their salaries.

Another senior official from north corporation said 50 per cent of the staff of north and east corporations have not received their salaries. The salary expenditure of north corporation is Rs 220 crore per month, while it is Rs 80 crore for the east corporation.

The MCD claims to have undertaken several measures, including meeting the chief minister and President Pranab Mukherjee in a bid to emerge from this crisis. It has even proposed to sell off its properties to pay the staff.

However BJP leaders, who run the MCDs, said Kejriwal has made it a political issue ahead of the MCD polls in 2017.
The Delhi governments decision to monitor the daily performance of doctors through a mobile application has not gone down well with the medical fraternity.

According to senior government officials, doctors from Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital and Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital have conveyed their disinterest in using the mobile application.

For administrative duties, doctors have to specify the number of meetings - if any - that they attended, number of files they disposed of, and other tasks.

Doctors from Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital (pictured) were less-than-positive about the application

They also have to specify the number, nature and duration of classes they took and the number of students who attended these lectures.

The plan to monitor doctors work through a mobile application is not at all justified. We have prepared a representation and will soon be submitting it to the government. We condemn the entire plan, a senior doctor from DDU told Mail Today.

We are dealing with a large number of patients on a daily basis. Sometimes, a patient takes a lot of time and we end up dealing with a single case only. How is it justified to calculate our work by looking at the number of patients? We do not agree with this concept and will reach out to the government, a senior doctor from Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar hospital told Mail Today.

The Delhi government recently issued a notice to all hospitals asking them to use the web-based monitoring system.
The sleepy town of Shani Shinganapur, also known as a village without doors and latches, woke up to a massive controversy over gender discrimination at the Shani temple.

Around 400 women had announced their plans to break the centuries-old tradition that does not allow women devotees to climb the sacred platform.

As a preventive measure, the same number of women from the Ranaragini Bhoomata group were detained 60 km away from the temple town.

Women led by Trupti Desai (circled) tried to enter the Shani temple in Shani Shingnapur, Ahmednagar

The group, led by Trupti Desai, was set to enter the platform of the Shani Shinganapur temple.

According to rituals, women are not allowed to climb the sacred platform. A female devotee had climbed the platform a few days ago, leading to a huge debate over gender bias in temples.

The temple premises had turned into a fortress with heavy police presence. The sanctum sanctorum was barricaded with women police constables and temple trust guards placed at every nook and corner of the town.

The charity commissioner had already issued a notice last week against any such protests, citing law and order issues. The village council too had passed a resolution on Monday opposing the protests.

Meanwhile, huge posters calling the protests anti-religion were put up across the city by radical Hindu organisation Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Jan Jagran Samiti.

Around 500 women gathered outside the temple premises to stop the protesters from entering the village. Police machinery was beefed up to avoid a possible confrontation.

Protesters are welcome but they should not break the tradition as it is a question of faith, president of the temple trust Anita Shete told reporters in the morning.

Meanwhile, Trupti Desai and other protestors were detained at Supa on the border of Ahmednagar district. The group staged a rally to obstruct the road while calling the move illegal.

Talking to reporters after the detention, Desai said that stopping women from entering the temple on Republic Day is an insult to the Constitution.

As the group of protesters was detained, villagers in Shinganapur celebrated by bursting crackers.

Meanwhile, sources told Mail Today that the government is likely to initiate talks between the villagers, temple trust, and the protesters to find a solution to the problem.
Buying a second-hand laptop? Beware - it might be a stolen one.

The sale of stolen computers is thriving in the national Capital, and recovery of such devices is negligible.

An estimated two dozen laptops go missing or are stolen from Delhi and the NCR on a daily basis.

In theory, stolen laptops can be traced as they carry a unique serial number - but police claim telecom providers do not register the devices

According to the police, if a mobile phone is misplaced or lost, the security agencies get help from the telecom service providers to track its location using the unique IMEI number.

Similarly in the case of laptops, this can be done through Media Access Control address (MAC address) as each laptop carries a unique number.

Police officers allege that as the telecom providers do not register the devices, it becomes an impossible task for the cops to trace them.

Police said that it becomes easy to track a person if the location of the device is known, but in most cases of stolen laptops it meets a dead end as there is no help from the telecom service providers.

As smartphones have IMEI number, laptop carries MAC address. All stolen phones are tracked through IMEI. Even in cases of heinous crimes, we take help of the mobile location which is given by service providers. But cases of laptop theft reaches a dead end as there is no support from the telecom service provider. They do not register it in their system and therefore fail to furnish its location, a senior officer of Delhi Police cyber cell said.

The officer added that there are many crucial cases which can be cracked if MAC addresses are given, but they are still pending as officers could not track the device used to commit the crime.

These days all the laptops are connected to internet. Even stolen laptops are being resold. As soon as a stolen or missing laptop gets connected to the internet, the telecom operator should inform the cops - but telecom companies do not have mechanism to track it, the officer added.

Like mobile phones, cases of laptop theft have seen a sharp rise.

Stealing laptops from parked cars is among the most common street crime nowadays. There are also many cases when the user misplaces his/her laptop or forgets it. In such cases police are also reluctant to register an FIR and simply note down a missing complaint.

Surprisingly, even after having the information that stolen laptops immediately reach the markets for resale, the Delhi Police or their counterparts in Noida and Gurgaon have not managed to bust any of these gangs who are involved in the crime.

As per the Delhi Police record, their elite force - the Crime Branch and Special Cell - managed to recover 17 laptops in 2015. These recoveries were part of the total seizure they made.
Shareholders in Britains grocers have had a rough ride over the past few years.

Fierce competition from discounters Aldi and Lidl and changing shopping habits in favour of convenience stores and home deliveries have squeezed profits and sent shares tumbling.

Investors have been waiting for the sector to bottom out so they can pile in and enjoy the rebound.

Research suggests Morrisons, the UKs fourth largest supermarket chain, may have turned a corner. Its shares have sunk 40pc over the past five years, rival Tesco has fallen 61 per cent and Sainsburys has slipped 38 per cent in comparison.

But analysts at broker Shore Capital reckon there is a potentially exciting outlook and a sea change in prospects at Morrisons.

Hard times: But research suggests Morrisons, the UK's fourth largest supermarket chain, may have turned a corner

It says a new management team has had early success with improved trading, and the firm has a strong financial position as well as owning farms and abattoirs giving it more control over the products its sells.

However, shares, in the supermarket giant fell 1.2p to 160p yesterday as it was dragged down by problems engulfing market leader Tesco. Analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald suggested Tesco is about to be implicated in a criminal fraud investigation that could mean huge fines.

This sent shares in Tesco down 3 per cent or 4.85p to 155.7p. Sainsburys was also down, falling 2p to 231.6p

But it is a different story at Morrisons where it is moving beyond past troubles.

Clive Black, an analyst at Shore Capital, said initiatives aimed at turning the business around seem to be gaining traction.

He said: The last 12 months have been one of considerable frustration, heavy lifting but also achievement to our minds. There is a clear focus upon Morrisons customers and what the business can control in making that experience better.

The key has been to improve the experience for shoppers within its main chain of supermarkets, and that has meant dropping prices, sprucing up tired stores and setting itself apart from rivals.

This is being done through what it calls Market Street  its army of butchers, bakers and fishmongers who work with the fresh produce that come from suppliers as well as its own goods.

Morrisons is also the only grocer who sources and processes much of the fresh foods found on its shelves.

On a financial level the grocer is also different to rivals in owning a higher proportion of the freehold of its stores which means it has valuable property which underpins the financial position of the business.

It has sold its M-Local convenience business and also closed around 5 per cent of under performing shops.

This is the heavy lifting to which Black refers and it is this, combined with sales that have responded to improvements on the shop floor, that point to the beginnings of a turn around.

However, investing in the grocery sector is for the brave. Morrisons also comes with its own unique problems. It does not have much of a presence in the fast growing convenience sector and is behind its rivals in selling groceries online. It does not have much of a clothing offer and has no stores abroad.

On the broader market it was a fall in metals prices that hit the mining stocks while the banks were hit by renewed concerns over regulatory fines. This caused the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks to close down 23.01 points at 5877.

Brent Crude also fell, down by more than a dollar to $30.88 as Opec, the oil cartel, called for broader co-operation to help prices rise.

Germanys Dax and the Cac 40 in France were both slightly lower.

It was over supply in the commodities markets that hurt miners. BHP Billiton fell 9.1p to 639.8p, Antofagasta was down 9p to 363.2p, and Rio Tinto dropped 44.5p to 1609p.

The banks were lower over fears they would have to put aside billions of pounds more to cover more mis-selling of payment protection insurance.

Lloyds Banking Group was 3.72p lower at 63.14p, after JP Morgan cut its target price for the stock, Barclays was down 8.9p to 181.5p, Royal Bank of Scotland fell 10.8p to 251.3p and HSBC fell 6.1p to 473.5p.

The biggest faller on the FTSE was another retailer, B&Q-owner Kingfisher, whose plan to revamp the business was poorly received by the market.

The firm, which also owns Castorama in France, has different own brands in each of the chains its runs and wants to unify this. It also faces competition from Australian firm Wesfarmers who bought UK rival Homebase recently. Kingfisher lost more than 6pc, closing at 323.9p.

The biggest risers in the FTSE 100 were Glencore, up 2.27p at 80.85p, Sage, up 13.5p at 568p, Berkeley Group, up 82p at 3547p, and Persimmon up 37p at 1948p.

Shares in technology recruiter Interquest Group rose 1p to 82.5p following a positive trading update in which it said it was on course to meet full-year targets.
Illegal defeat devices fitted to Volkswagen cars installed to actively cheat US emissions tests were an 'open secret' within the carmaker, new reports in Germany have alleged.

Newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung said managers and staff within the engine development division knew of, or were involved in, the incorporation of the cheating software after coming under pressure from senior management to make diesel engines pass strict US test standards.

Claiming to have seen leaked results of VW's own internal investigation, the German title said the devices had been discussed at the manufacturer since 2006, though senior management wasn't informed until 2011.

Open secret: A whistleblower claims Volkswagen engine developers opted to fit defeat devices as they struggled to meet US emissions targets while under pressure from the management board to clean up diesels

Sueddeutsche Zeitung cited evidence given to investigators by a whistleblower in the engine development department as part of the internal inquiry.

It said that staff members in the team were tasked by the management board to find a cost effective solution to develop clean diesel engines for the US market.

However, instead of reporting back to say the targets were not achievable within the limitations given, technicians and managers agreed to go ahead with fitting defeat devices to the cars to fraudulently pass the tests to allow them to go on sale in the United States.

'Within the company there was a culture of 'we can do everything', so to say something cannot be done, was not acceptable,' Sueddeutsche Zeitung quoted from the VW internal report.

'Instead of coming clean to the management board that it cannot be done, it was decided to commit fraud.'

The paper claimed devices were fitted to vehicles from November 2006, though only a small circle of people knew it was taking place.

Details leaked in the report claimed the engine management software provided by Bosch was adapted by the department in Wolfsburg  the location of Volkswagen's headquarters  with staff confident that regulators would not be able to detect the engines operating differently under regulatory examination.

The whistleblower said senior management outside the department was not notified of the defeat devices until 2011, though when informed there was no reaction to face the issue head-on.

Senior management were claimed to be kept in the dark about the defeat devices until 2011, though there was no response then

Leaked reports emerged just days before confirmation that New Mexico is the first US state to file a lawsuit against the German brand.

Directed by attorney general Hector Balderas, the state has accusing Volkswagen of breaching legal emissions limits and of deceiving customers.

In a statement released this week, it said: 'Supported by a massive advertising campaign, defendants claimed that superior engineering allowed their cars to perform better, consume less fuel and emit fewer harmful pollutants than diesel cars of the past, making them a great fit for eco-conscious consumers. In fact, the complete opposite was true.'

'Defeat device' in the US but not in the UK, according to VW boss

According to VW UK boss Paul Willis, the software should not be referred to as a 'defeat device' at all this side of the Atlantic, as he insisted it did not break European rules on testing.

Willis, VW's managing director in the UK, told the Commons' Transport Select Committee that the software wasn't a defeat device because it is not 'part of the emissions control system' and was therefore compliant with EU regulations.

His statement was met with some criticism from MPs.

Willis told the Transport Select Committee that software did not break European law so should not be referred to as 'defeat devices' in the UK

SNP's Stewart McDonald responded saying: 'You seemed to dance on the head of legal jargon as to whether or not it was a defeat device or whether it does or does not break European laws.

'You have perverse environmental regulations, you've treated European customers with disdain, you've treated regulators like bureaucrats and people are quite fed up.'

Mr Willis, who had confirmed that UK customers would not be receiving compensation from the carmaker, replied: 'I absolutely refute what you're saying.

'Volkswagen is an upstanding company. It cares about its customers, it invests billions, it invests more money than any other car company in technology and it is important that we get to the bottom of this.

'I don't agree with what you say that we treat people with disdain.'

Willis said the equivalent of the $1,000 offered to owners of affected cars in the US was going to be spent on speeding up the recalls of all 1.2m UK vehicles caught up in the scandal  a process that is due to kick off at the end of the month.

Volkswagen is scheduled to give the first public results of its emissions-cheating internal investigation at an annual shareholders' meeting in April.
Investors have reason to be impatient with Britains pharmaceutical champion GlaxoSmithKline. In spite of the boast that it has the best pipeline of new drugs of any of the big global pharma groups, it has struggled in recent times.

Earnings per share have been uneven. But after two better quarters it is forecasting a stronger 2016. Share price performance has been, however, unimpressive and it still has to lift the cloud of a probe by the Serious Fraud Office over historic bribery allegations.

Under-performance has attracted the attention of the UKs most garlanded investment guru Neil Woodford.

Key sector: Pharmaceuticals is one of the few areas where Britains competitive edge in global markets is well established and GSK and AstraZeneca are flagships for British based R&D

It has also aroused the unwanted attentions of an American activist investor Och-Ziff which, with a 0.5 per cent stake, scrapes into the top 40 shareholders. Both argue GSK is too complicated and would be better broken down.

Woodford wants to see four separate enterprises: consumer health care, vaccines, HIV treatments and ethical drugs and the R&D which goes with it.

There is also a secondary plot. It is argued that chief executive Sir Andrew Witty has made a Horlicks of management and new chairman Sir Philip Hampton (fresh from RBS) may have to exercise his right to displace him and finance director Simon Dingemans formerly a Goldman Sachs alumnus.

It is almost a decade since Witty took the helm and it is my understanding that succession planning is already under way.

All of this is fair game and activist investors are often good at identifying underlying problems as we have seen at firms as different as fund manager Alliance Trust and Rolls-Royce.

But it should be noted that the big beast GSK investors are BlackRock and Legal & General and they will be among the final arbiters of GSKs future.

From the vantage point of UKplc nothing could be more damaging than a full scale break-up of GSK.

Pharmaceuticals is one of the few areas where Britains competitive edge in global markets is well established and GSK and AstraZeneca are flagships for British based R&D.

They have also become significant investors in bio-tech ensuring the UK has a foothold in new medical breakthroughs.

The only obvious split might be a sell-off of GSKs Horlicks-to-Panadol consumer products division.

Even that has a useful purpose in that it evens out some of the cyclicality that comes with the development of new medicines.

One only has to look back at the fate of Cadbury Schweppes to see the danger of break-up. Initially it was persuaded by activist investor Nelson Peltz to float Schweppes in 2008.

It became a sitting duck two years later for Kraft to buy the rest. Britains last large-scale chocolatier, Cadbury ended up in Kraft offshoot Mondelez which has been upsetting consumers ever since with its whimsical changes to chocolate eggs and Dairy Milk.

Broken into several pieces, GSK would be a plaything for investment banks which would end up merging the parts into Merck, Pfizer, Reckitt or anyone else they could entice into a deal.

It would be case of immediate gratification for investors (and executives who would see options vest) and a longer-term setback for R&D and the countrys ability to turn its investment in science based universities and R&D grants into economic gain for the nation.

GSK needs a big balance sheet and strong cash flow to remain cutting edge so as not to end up a bit player in a foreign owned, non-tax paying health sciences conglomerate.

Staying put

HSBCs review of its future domicile has paid off handsomely. In spite of the damaging disclosures of bad goings-on at its Geneva private bank it has been hugely successful in squeezing concessions out of the Treasury.

The super tax on bank assets was abolished so as to free HSBCs overseas assets from the net. More recently an investigation into Geneva was vanished.

All this is very helpful, but was it really ever going to move? The US authorities were unlikely to have rolled out the red carpet after the banks culpability for money laundering and sanctions busting.

A return to its native Hong Kong would mean swapping the UK enforcers for the Beijing thought police who have disappeared booksellers, brokers and journalists.

It is not clear that such a complex bank would be welcome in Canada. France might be an option for the EU regulatory passport. But would be an unlikely choice for tax reasons.

That leaves good old Blighty and the benign interference of the Bank of England as the most likely choice.

Opening Gates

George Osbornes proposal to partner with Bill Gates and spend 500million a year over the next five years to combat malaria in Africa is an excellent way of spending the foreign aid budget.

But it is not new. Similar joint initiatives with Gates, with less cash on the table, were launched by Gordon Brown as chancellor in 2004 and again as prime minister in 2008.
GlaxoSmithKline has kicked off the search for a chief executive to succeed embattled Sir Andrew Witty.

With the drugs giant facing pressure from powerful shareholders, it is understood the board has started succession planning.

Witty, who was paid 3.9million in 2014, joined Glaxo in 1985 and took over as chief executive in May 2008 after Jean-Pierre Garnier retired.

Under pressure: GlaxoSmithKline boss is looking for a new boss to replace Sir Andrew Witty (pictured)

His future is in the hands of chairman Sir Philip Hampton, the former Royal Bank of Scotland chairman who took the helm in May.

The London arm of Och-Ziff Capital Management, the activist hedge fund headquartered in New York, has urged Hampton to shake up the board since building a 0.5 per cent stake in Glaxo.

Och-Ziff is said to believe it is when, not if Wittys tenure comes to an end and wants a plan, or road map, put in place in the coming months.

The pressure from Och-Ziff follows calls from Neil Woodford, one of Britains most influential investors, to break up Glaxo.

Woodford, a top 20 shareholder in Glaxo through Woodford Investment Management, this month said it should be split into four separate companies.

Glaxo shares, up 8.5p to 1400p yesterday, are down nearly 7 per cent in the last 12 months but up 22 per cent since Witty took over nearly eight years ago.

The firm has struggled in recent years amid the decline of its asthma drug, Advair.

There are tentative signs, however, that a turnaround is under way and earnings will bounce back this year.

Management is pinning its hopes on the companys lung drugs Breo, Anoro and Incruse as well as from its HIV business, a star performer thanks in part to Tivicay, a new antiretroviral.
Luton-based budget airline easyJet suffered a 3.7 per cent drop in revenue per seat in the final three months of last year as terrorist attacks in Egypt and Paris hit bookings.

During the final months of 2015, easyJet cancelled 684 flights, compared to 468 during the same period a year earlier.

Most cancellations were flights to Egyptian resort Sharm El-Sheikh, which the airline has suspended flying to until at least 27 May since the downing of a Russian A321 aircraft, probably by terrorists, in November.

Revenue impact: Luton-based airline easyJet suffered a 3.7 per cent drop in revenue per seat in the final three months of last year as terrorists attacks in Egypt and Paris hit bookings

Total revenue in the group's fiscal first quarter slipped by 0.1 per cent to 930million, but the airline said it expects pretax profits for the 12 months to 30 September 2016 to 'remain in line with market expectations' at around 738million.

While revenues fell in the quarter, passenger numbers in the three months to December 31 increased by 8.1 per cent to 16.1 million, with capacity climbing 7.3 per cent to 17.8 million seats.

People are also spending more money while on-board, the airline said. 'Non-seat revenue' increased by 12.7 per cent in the period, driven by a 'good performance' in in-flight sales.

Carolyn McCall, the budget airline's chief executive, said: 'easyJets excellent customer proposition combined with low oil prices has allowed it to offer lower fares which has driven an 8 per cent increase in passenger numbers in the first quarter.

'The easyJet customer-centric strategy of giving passengers low fares to primary airports continues to be executed well.

'This year we will consolidate that with a relentless focus on cost reduction which is already delivering. This will ensure that easyJet continues to win and continues to grow revenue, profit and dividends.'

The airline said it delivered 16million of 'sustainable savings' in the quarter, driven by its 'Lean cost programme.'

easyJet shareholders are to be rewarded with a dividend of 55.2p per share on March 18, 21.6 per cent more than a year earlier.

Trolley service: People are also spending more money while on-board, the airline said, with 'Non-seat revenue' increased by 12.7 per cent in the period, driven by a 'good performance' in in-flight sales

Rival discount carrier Ryanair has talked of a price war in Europe as airlines raise capacity and compete against each other in a low oil price environment, but there is limited direct competition between it and easyJet.

Robin Byde, an analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald, said: 'EZJ has made a good start to the year. Demand is strong, revenue per seat for forward bookings is positive and costs are under control.

'The outlook statement is fairly limited at this point but states that full year expectations remain in line with market consensus.

'We expect consensus FY16 forecasts to remain unchanged but clearly the outlook is positive. We maintain our BUY recommendation on good fundamentals, an attractive PE valuation and dividend yield.'

Meanwhile, Gert Zonneveld, an analyst at Panmure Gordon, said: 'Trading in Q1 2015/16 was broadly in line with expectations, with a better than expected cost performance offsetting revenue weakness. We retain our Buy recommendation.'
Iron grip: Russian president Vladimir Putin is facing a deep recession and a tumbling oil price

Russias shattered economy has suffered its worst year since the financial crisis as the collapsing oil price and painful sanctions take their toll.

Official figures showed output fell 3.7 per cent in 2015  its weakest performance since 2009  following growth of just 0.7 per cent in 2014.

The country is struggling to dig itself out of a deep recession at a time when the price of oil, its main export, is hovering around a 12-year low having crashed 75 per cent in around 18 months.

Economic sanctions imposed by the West over Russias land grab in Ukraine have also hit business amid international concerns over President Vladimir Putins iron grip on the country.

The countrys currency, the rouble, fell to a record low against the US dollar last week.
Tesco is set to be hit with 500million of fines as bosses face being named and shamed today over an accounting scandal that has rocked the supermarket.

The first of three investigations into Tesco is due to report this morning. Regulator the Groceries Code Adjudicator will reveal how the grocer mistreated its suppliers.

The probes, which include others by the Serious Fraud Office and the accountancy watchdog Financial Reporting Council, relate to a 326million accounting black hole that plunged the group into crisis last year. In April Tesco reported a staggering 6.4billion loss.

Probes: Tesco has been investigated by the Serious Fraud Office, the Groceries Code Adjudicator and the Financial Reporting Council over a 326million accounting black hole that plunged the group into crisis last year

Investigators have been looking into claims that payments made by suppliers to the chain were used to prop up profits and to what extent senior management at the firmm may have cooked the books.

It is alleged suppliers would make payments to secure better positioning of their products on promotion within the supermarkets shops and that the timing of these payments was manipulated to inflate Tescos profits.

A second investigation by the Serious Fraud Office is also expected to report back. This could see senior bosses at Tesco charged.

Last night City experts were predicting huge fines from the investigations could total as much as 500million.

Yesterday a retail expert at broker Cantor Fitzgerald warned Tesco investors that the grocer could be fined 1 per cent or more of its UK grocery sales or 350million on 35billionn of sales.

Individual prosecutions of directors of the company involved and punitive fines by the SFO could mean the total could be as much as 500million.

Tescos shares fell more than 3 per cent to 155.7p on the news yesterday.

In a note entitled A Question of Gross Misconduct, Cantors Mike Dennis said the scope of the fraud is far greater and we believe covers more categories than first suggested.

He estimates supplier cash payments grew by 1.7billion over the last five years to 2.4billion by February 2014 and accounted for 30 per cent of Tescos total cash profit.

Dennis warned the outcomes of the probes will help the case for a shareholder group that is seeking compensation from the share price collapse of Tesco.

Tesco Shareholder Claims Limited (TSC) launched proceedings last March, claiming for between 50p and 70p per share due to the collapse in its share price.

If they were successful the claim could run into billions.

The case is supported by the leading litigation firm Scott + Scott, which brought a similar case against Tesco in the US. In terms of legal costs the members of the TSC will not have to contribute unless the claim is successful.

The grocery adjudicator Christine Tacon began her investigation into the grocer in June 2013, when the GCA was created.

Last year Tacon said she had formed a reasonable suspicion that the retailer had breached the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.

It the most serious cases it can name and shame bosses at fault, and impose fines. The SFO probe was launched in October 2014 and is due to report back soon.

The SFO would need to launch a criminal trial, which could lead to prison terms for anyone convicted of fraud.
The UK's top financial watchdog position has gone to the current deputy governor of the Bank of England who heads up the banking regulator there.

Andrew Bailey will take over as chief of the Financial Conduct Authority, a position that has been vacant since Martin Wheatley left it in September amid rumours of political pressure.

Mr Wheatley was widely seen as pro-active, interventionist and an enemy of financial fat-cats - and unsurprisingly many in the City found his approach heavy-handed and ill-thought-out.

Mr Bailey is currently head of the Bank's Prudential Regulation Authority, which oversees banking stability in the UK, and will remain in his current post until a successor is found.

Why did the watchdog cross the road? Andrew Bailey is heading from the Bank of England to the Financial Conduct Authority...

Last year Chancellor George Osborne called for a 'new settlement' to end banker bashing and was widely reported to have ousted Mr Wheatley, raising concerns about political influence at the regulator.

Earlier this month the FCA was forced to deny it had been ordered to drop its wide-ranging review into banking culture by the Government, after critics have accused Mr Osborne of applying pressure.

Mr Bailey, who will leave the Bank of England after 30 year, has been appointed for a five-year term.

The FCA's head of enforcement, Tracey McDermott, has been in charge on an interim basis since and was considered a front-runner to take the top job. But earlier this month she ruled herself out of the race to lead the body.

At the end of December the FCA dropped its probe into banking culture, set up in the wake of the billions banks paid out in fines over attempts to rig the Libor bank rate lending market.

The Chancellor and the Bank of England were both forced to deny they played any part in that decision.

FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY VS PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY FCA The country's leading financial regulator took over most of the responsibilities and powers of the Financial Services Authority, which it superseded in 2012. It is an independent, not a Government, organisation and funded entirely by the firms it regulates. But it is accountable to the Treasury and the Government. It aims to ensure the financial industry is run with integrity and that customers of financial companies get a fair deal. It regulates the conduct of more than 70,000 businesses  and tries to ensure the good functioning and integrity of markets. PRA When the FSA was disbanded in 2012 it was felt the financial crisis had highlighted the need for a specific watchdog to focus on the prudential supervision and regulation of banks and building societies. The PRA, which is a subsidary of the Bank of England, also oversees credit unions, insurers and investment firms. Its purpose is to protect and improve the stability of the UKs financial system through regulation and supervision. It works alongside the FCA and has two statutory objectives: to promote the safety and soundness of financial companies and the financial system, and to secure protection for policyholders.

Mr Osborne said: 'Andrew Bailey is the outstanding candidate to be the next chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, and I am delighted that he has agreed to lead it.

'We have cast the net far and wide for this crucial appointment and, having led the Bank of England's response to the financial crisis, Andrew is simply the most respected, most experienced and most qualified person in the world to do the job.'

Mr Bailey, who has been head of the PRA since April 2013, said he wanted to make the FCA 'effective and successful'.

He added: 'The new system of financial regulation in the UK depends for its success on both conduct and prudential regulators achieving their objectives given by Parliament.

'Recent developments have shown that the most pressing issue in the system right now is the need for stable leadership at the FCA.'

Mr Bailey, as head of the PRA since 2013, has had overall responsibility for the prudential regulation and supervision of around 1,700 UK banks, building societies and other financial services firms.

In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis he also oversaw the introduction of tighter rules on how much capital banks should hold against their loans in a bid to make them more stable.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney said Mr Bailey's 'work in helping to manage the crisis and then to develop the post-crisis regulatory framework has been exemplary'.

'He has made the PRA a highly respected and effective regulator and built a team of exceptionally dedicated colleagues,' he said.

The appointment was broadly welcomes in financial circles.

Chief executive of insurance giant Aviva, Mark Wilson, said: 'He is a good choice. Consumers and the market will benefit from a strong and fair regulator.'

The Association of British Insurers tweeted: 'We look forward to working with Andrew Bailey as part of our continuing engagement with the FCA.'

Consumer groups hoped Mr Bailey will be a strong consumer champion.

Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith said: 'We urge the new chief executive of the FCA to have an unwavering focus on cleaning up financial services to ensure it works in the best interests of consumers.
Vladimir Putin's ex-wife Lyudmila has married a man 21 years her junior, according to reports in Moscow.

The 58-year-old former Russian first lady appears on official records to have changed her name as if she is now the spouse of a known friend, dashing businessman Arthur Ocheretny, 37.

If she has wed him, it mirrors the Kremlin strongman's rumoured relationship with Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva, also in her 30s.

But it is also in stark contrast to rumours that the former Aeroflot stewardess had found sanctuary by shutting herself away in an Orthodox Church nunnery. There is no confirmation of the union as marriage certifcates are not public in Russia.

Lovebirds? Vladimir Putin's ex-wife Lyudmila, 58, has married Arthur Ocheretny, 37, according to reports in Moscow

Putin and Lyudmila, right, announced their divorce in July 2013. Since then she all but disappeared from view while the Russian president forbids any questions about his private life although he made clear in 2014 that he was happy in his love life

Mr Ocheretny's previous job was at a company called Art Show Centre, which organised parties for United Russia - Putin's political party - and energy giant Gazprom.

Putin and his wife announced their divorce in July 2013.

Since then she all but disappeared from view while the Russian president forbids any questions about his private life although he made clear in 2014 that he was happy in his love life.

Ocheretny is reported as heading the Centre For Interpersonal Communications and Literature Education publishing house in Moscow, both of which have been previously associated with Lyudmila Putina.

His previous job was at a company called Art Show Centre, which organised parties for United Russia - Putin's political party - and energy giant Gazprom.

A St Petersburg property known to have been owned by Lyudmila's family is now listed on official state records as belonging to Lyudmila Alexandrovna Ocheretnaya, with the name as well as date and place of birth matching those of the former first lady.

Had she wed Ocheretny, this would be her married name.However, marriage records are not open to public scrutiny in Russia.

It cannot be excluded that there has been an element of subterfuge, perhaps an attempt to give Lyudmila some privacy after her years in the limelight - in which she felt uncomfortable.

Against this, in recent years she had clearly achieved anonymity - having been seen in public only once since she and Putin announced their divorce after attending a Bolshoi Theatre performance together.

Had she wed Arthur Ocheretny, (pictured) this would be her married name.However, marriage records are not open to public scrutiny in Russia

In 2014, Putin told Russians he would not contemplate remarrying until Lyudmila was happily betrothed

Sobesednik.ru - an independent media outlet - also reported that she holds a passport in the name Ocheretnaya issued on 2 February 2015.

'It is very possible that the change of family name was caused by purely innocent reasons,' stated the website.

'But having received a written request on the whether he (or any of his family members) has personal relations with the ex-wife of the president, Arthur Ocheretny for some reason preferred not to reply to deny the allegations.

'At the same time he did not deny any part of Sobesednik.ru's information about the new surname of (Lyudmila Putina).'

Yet the pair have not been pictured together but they appear to be 'friends' on social media.

Putin is rumoured to be a partner of gymnast Kabayeva, now 32, while the president and his ex-wife have two daughters aged only a few years younger than Lyudmila's suspected new husband.

Daughter Maria is now 30, and Ekaterina is 29.

Opposition journalist Georgy Alburov, linked to Putin foe and anti corruption campaigner Alexey Navalny, examined the online newspaper's evidence and declared it to be a 'brilliant investigation'.

'We have double checked everything, verified it, asked for all the register papers and confirm everything,' he said.

A St Petersburg property known to have been owned by Lyudmila's family is now listed on official state records as belonging to Lyudmila Alexandrovna Ocheretnaya, with the name as well as date and place of birth matching those of the former first lady

The pair have not been pictured together but they appear to be 'friends' on social media

The former first lady 'has been supporting Centre for development of interpersonal communication (CRMK) which is headed by 37-year-old Artur Ocheretny.

'Sobesednik calls him the new husband of Lyudmila Putina.'

Little is known of Ocheretny but he has a son aged around ten years old.

On social media he 'likes' pro-Putin stories and last summer appeared to enjoy a holiday near Biarritz in France.

In 2014, Putin told Russians he would not contemplate remarrying until Lyudmila was happily betrothed.

'First I have to see my ex-wife Lyudmila Alexandrovna married, and only then think about myself,' he told a televised question and answer session when asked about how long Russia would have to wait for a new first lady.

A German friend recalled Lyudmila describing Putin as a 'vampire' and there were unsubstantiated rumours of him having extra marital affairs as a KGB spy stationed in Dresden during the Cold War.

The Kremlin denied as 'complete nonsense' reports also emerging from Germany that Putin was a wife beater.

Putin was rumoured to have been a lover of Kabayev for six years before their divorce announcement but little proof exists that the speculation is true.

The former first lady has been allegedly supporting Centre for development of interpersonal communication (CRMK) which is headed by 37-year-old Artur Ocheretny

Arthur Ocheretny's social media page shows plenty of pictures of him running and cycling

In 2014, Putin told Russians he would not contemplate remarrying until Lyudmila was happily betrothed

While there is no confirmation, the former Russian first lady appears on official records to have changed her name as if she is now the spouse of a known friend, dashing businessman Arthur Ocheretny, 37

In December 2014, Putin acknowledged during a press conference that his personal life was 'all right'. He stated: 'A friend of mine from Europe, a big chief, asked me: 'Listen do you have a love?'

''What do you mean?', I asked him. 'I mean, do you love someone?'

''Well, yes'.

''And does someone love you?' I said: 'Well, yes.'

'I wonder if he thought if I gone wild. So then he said 'Oh well thank God for that' - and downed a shot of vodka.

'So everything is all right, don't you worry.' said Putin.

There was speculation his anonymous friend from Europe was Silvio Berlusconi but this was never confirmed.

At the time, Putin stressed that he is 'kind relations' with former wife Lyudmila.
On Saturday, a snowmobile rider died in an avalanche in Montana

Two were killed in Wyoming, while one died in Washington on Sunday

Four people were killed in avalanches the weekend, making this January the deadliest for slides in nearly 20 years.

Ten people across the western states have died in the last 10 days, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which tracks occurrences across the country.

A total of 11 deaths have been caused by avalanches since the new year.

Two skiers were killed on Sunday after they were caught just outside the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in western Wyoming. A third person was trapped by the snow but survived.

Two skiers died in an avalanche just south of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming on Sunday. This month is the deadliest January for slides since 1997 (file photo)

On the same day, one person was killed and another was injured in an avalanche near Mount Baker (file photo) in Washington State

Their names have not been released, but a spokesperson from the resort told CBS they were visitors who were in a popular out-of-bounds area where warning signs are posted.

On the same day, one person was killed and another was injured by an avalanche in Washington state near the Mount Baker ski area.

The victim's body has not been recovered. Rescue teams continue to search the area, which is not accessible by ski lifts.

On Saturday, one of three snowmobilers riding in the Whitefish Mountains in Montana was killed after being buried.

Experts say that seemingly small changes in conditions can make a big difference in risk and that a long period without fatalities can give people a false sense of security.

Avalanches can be caused by large snowstorms followed by rain in the Pacific Northwest, while weak layers of snow are often hardened by cold and dry weather in the Rocky Mountains.

Forecasters Spencer Logan, left, and Mike Cooperstein, right are pictured at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which tracks occurrences across the country

January is often a time when those weak layers can cause problems in the Rockies.

In parts of Colorado, where two people have died in avalanches in different parts of the state this month, new snowfall was unable to adhere to the hardened layer underneath, according to Spencer Logan, a forecaster in Colorado.

He said: 'It's the kind of recipe that's just waiting for someone to find the wrong spot and trigger an avalanche.'

He added that this month has been the deadliest January since 1997.

The details of the Washington slide are still being investigated but it appears two people were buried in a small slide when a larger avalanche was somehow triggered, said Benj Wadsworth, executive director of the Northwest Avalanche Information Center.

Conditions were actually worse in Washington's Cascade mountains last week after rain flushed out a lot weak snow.
Ruelas, who had a learning disability, was suspended for a day

When the girl fell to the floor, he left and carried her to the nurse's office

A teenager who was suspended from school after helping a girl who was having an asthma attack won't return and will be homeschooled instead, his mother has said.

Anthony Ruelas, 15, was at Gateway Middle School in Killeen, Texas, when his classmate's asthma attack began.

The teacher emailed the nurse and asked the students to sit and remain calm. She was waiting for a response when the girl collapsed and fell to the floor.

Anthony Ruelas, 15 (right), was suspended from Gateway Middle School in Killeen, Texas, after helping a classmate who had an asthma attack. His mother Mandy Cortes (left) said he won't go back and she will homeschool him instead

Ruelas uttered an expletive about not waiting and picked up his classmate, leaving the classroom to carry her to the nurse's office, his mother said.

He was suspended for a day last week after disobeying his teacher.

Ruelas's discipline referral form reads: 'During 5th period another student complained that she couldn't breathe and was having an asthma attack.

'As I waited for a response from the nurse the student fell out of her chair to the floor. Anthony proceeded to go over and pick her up, saying "f***k that we aint got time to wait for no email from the nurse." He walks out of class and carries the other student to the nurse.'

Mandy Cortes, Ruelas's mother, said she will homeschool her son rather than have him return to Gateway Middle School.

'I was proud of him for the way he handled the situation,' she said, adding that he has a big heart.

Ruleas's discipline referral form says the teacher emailed the nurse when Ruelas's classmate complained she couldn't breathe and her asthma attack began. The teacher was waiting for a reply when the girl collapsed

Ruelas (pictured in the middle) disobeyed his teacher's instructions when he uttered an expletive about not waiting for the nurse's email and picked up his classmate to carry her to the nurse's office

The girl later told Ruelas that she was OK and didn't remember being carried to the nurse's office, Cortes said.

She has been frustrated with the school as her son has worked to overcome a learning disability.

Last week's suspension persuaded her to take care of his education at home and she may try to enroll him in a public school next year.

School officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment today.

The Killeen school district said in a statement last week that it 'applauds the efforts of students who act in good faith to assist others in times of need'.
U.S. presidential candidate Ted Cruz has claimed that Australia's 1996 firearms buyback led to a significant increase in sexual assaults on women - as the debate about gun control takes centre place in the race for the White House.

Republican Senator Cruz, who is vying to win the top job, made the comments during an interview with American radio host Hugh Hewitt on January 12.

'And as you know, Hugh, after Australia did that, the rate of sexual assaults, the rate of rapes, went up significantly, because women were unable to defend themselves,' Cruz told the conservative radio host.

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Ted Cruz falsely claimed in an interview that sexual assaults on women in Australia jumped after tough gun laws were introduced

'Women were unable to defend themselves,' Cruz incorrectly told a conservative radio host.

However, a subsequent analysis by the Washington Post's Fact Checker column, which measures the factual accuracy of political figures' comments, rated Cruz's claim a 'whopper' -- the paper's worst rating on its Pinocchio Test.

The John Howard government implemented sweeping gun reform in response to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, in which Martin Bryant killed 35 people.

The 1996 National Firearms Agreement led to the buyback of 650,000 guns in a few months and stricter controls on licensing and ownership, especially of automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

The Washington Post found there was no 'significant spike' in sexual assaults after the buybacks and described the senator's statements as a 'false characterization'.

It attributed a gradual increase in sexual assaults between 1996 and 2014 to increased reporting.

It also said there wasn't prevalent use of handguns for self-defense before 1996.

Norm Legg, a project supervisor at an Australian security firm, crouches on a pile of guns bought back after the Port Arthur mass shooting in 1996

Policeman Mick Reolandts holding a military-type shotgun, one of 4500 set to be melted down in Sydney in 1997

The paper's analysis drew on a range of data, including reports by the Australian Institute of Criminology and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

It also interviewed Samara McPhedran, senior research fellow at Griffith University in Australia and chair of the International Coalition of Women in Shooting and Hunting.

Gun control has been thrust into the centre of the 2016 presidential race, following a tearful condemnation of gun violence by President Barack Obama earlier this month.

Obama announced plans to tighten gun control through a number of executive actions, which have been attacked by Republican front runners Senator Cruz, Jeb Bush and Donald Trump.

A memorial for victims of the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, in which 35 people were killed

The remains of the Hobart guesthouse from which gunman Martin Bryant led his deadly assault
Donald Trump said he doubted former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was going to jump into the presidential race, but he needled the fellow billionaire's business anyway.

When CNN's Wolf Blitzer suggested that Bloomberg  a business media magnate worth $36.5 billion, according to Forbes  had many more billions than the Republican frontrunner, Trump scoffed, 'I don't believe that, I don't believe that.'

'It's a technology company,' Trump said, suggesting that if someone came in and created a better version of the Bloomberg terminal, the centerpiece of Bloomberg's fortune, he'd go belly up.

'So I think it's very fragile,' Trump continued. 'I like real estate better.'

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Donald Trump sat down with Wolf Blitzer today and talked about Michael Bloomberg - who Trump doubted was going to enter the race, but still knocked his media business anyway

Michael Bloomberg is reportedly mulling a third-party presidential run - inspired by Donald Trump's dominance in the Republican polls and Hillary Clinton's weakened stance in the Democratic race

This weekend the news seeped out that Bloomberg was considering jumping into the race, motivated by Trump's dominance in the Republican primary and Hillary Clinton's apparent weakness to Bernie Sanders in the Democratic one.

Clinton reacted by saying she'd 'relieve him of that' by simply winning the Democratic nomination.

Sanders said he loved the idea of running against two billionaires.

'And I think the American people do not want to see our nation move toward an oligarchy where billionaires control the political process,' Sanders noted.

Trump was almost giddy about the idea of more competition.

'I'd beat him and I'd love to do it actually,' was Trump's response today during the sit-down with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

In the interview, Trump suggested that he and Bloomberg would be the only two candidates to self-fund their campaigns and then used the opportunity to segue the conversation into more attacks on his rivals.

'Ted Cruz has totally, totally conditioned down to the oil companies,' said Trump.

Cruz is the biggest threat to Trump winning the Iowa prize a week from today in the state's Republican caucuses.

Polls that came out yesterday had Trump, once again, ahead, but the Hawkeye State race has narrowed in recent weeks.

Trump also pinched an old favorite during his conversation with Blitzer.

'You look at Jeb Bush, poor Jeb, here's a guy who spent $100 and some odd million dollars already and he's almost last,' Trump began.

Trump also chided Bush for having his mother, former first lady Barbara Bush, formally express her support.

'I said Jeb, your mother can't help you with ISIS, she can't help you with these people Jeb, you've got to do it yourself,' Trump said. 'What Jeb Bush has done to the Bush family is very sad,' Trump added, saying the former Florida governor has 'disgraced himself.'

Trump said he hasn't give a ton of thought to the Democrats  except to hit Clinton on her husband's past sex scandals  because he needs to pick off the rest of the Republicans first.

'The first thing I have to do is  we had 17, now we're about down to 12 or 13,' he said of the crowded GOP field. 'I've got to get rid of them.'

But that doesn't mean he hasn't given thought to his general election strategy.

'i will win,' he stated. 'I think I have a chance to win New York,' he continued, explaining how he defended his home state against attacks from Cruz, who mocked Trump for having 'New York values.'

'Nobody ever defends New Yorkers,' Trump said. 'I'm going to win Pennsylvania. I'm going to win West Virginia, I'm going to win Virginia, I'm going to win in Michigan, because I protect the car industry.'

However, a third-party run by Bloomberg could throw a wrench in those plans.

'I don't know, Trump said. I don't think he's going to do that. I don't think he's going to run actually, but I may be wrong.'




George Osborne, pictured, is facing three inquiries over his deal with Google that will see the internet giant pay 130m to cover a decade of back-taxes

George Osborne was facing three inquiries over his sweetheart deal with Google last night  amid claims that the tax rate agreed with the internet giant may be as low as three per cent.

The Chancellor faced a barrage of criticism over the deal that will see Google pay just 130million to cover a decade of back-taxes.

Downing Street yesterday distanced itself from Mr Osbornes claim that the agreement was a victory for the taxpayer, as Tory MPs queued up to demand further action to extract tax from Google and other giant corporations that contribute little or nothing in the UK.

Both Google and HM Revenue and Customs are now set to be hauled in front of MPs to explain the deal, after the Commons public accounts committee and the Treasury committee last night launched separate inquiries.

Sources at the National Audit Office revealed they are also poised to investigate the deal.

Treasury committee chairman Andrew Tyrie said tax law had become a piece of elastic that allowed corporations to get away with paying almost nothing.

He said: The complexity of tax law is turning what should be a straightforward principle  that everybody should pay the correct amount of tax  into a piece of elastic.

For corporation tax the problem is exacerbated by the globalisation of economic activity and any liability to tax that accompanies it.

Labour said the deal set a dangerous precedent, and asked why ministers were settling for so little, when Italy was demanding 1billion from Google.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said analysis by experts suggested the effective rate of tax faced by Google is around 3 per cent  against the current corporation tax rate of 20 per cent.

Treasury minister David Gauke dismissed the figure, saying Google was paying a higher rate of tax on its profits in the UK.

But he flatly refused to tell MPs what the real rate was, or how it had been calculated.

Labour MP Rachel Reeves, a member of the Treasury committee, said the deal was an insult to taxpayers.

She added: A lot of people are struggling to fill out their tax returns right now  they cant go and have a word with HMRC and say, I think Ill just pay 1,000 this year. They have to pay their fair share.

The deal with Google announced on Friday covers a period dating back to 2005. Mr Osborne hailed it as a victory for the action weve taken.

But Downing Street repeatedly refused to endorse his comments yesterday. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Its a step forward, but of course there is more to do.

London Mayor Boris Johnson also hit out at the derisory tax settlement, and called for reform of the tax system.

Mr Osborne dodged scrutiny of the deal in the Commons yesterday, preferring to press ahead with a pre-arranged trip to Liverpool with Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates.

Instead, it was left to Mr Gauke to deal with the criticism from MPs on all sides.

Google has agreed to pay just 130million in taxes dating back to 2005. The amount was branded 'derisory' in light of the fact that the firm racked up sales of 4.5billion in Britain in 2014 alone

Tory Anne Main asked why HMRC had allowed Google to avoid paying its taxes for so many years and fellow Conservative Mark Garnier questioned whether the internet giant had broken the law.

Mr Gauke flatly refused to disclose details, citing taxpayer confidentiality.

He insisted the deal was good for Britain, and said it provided solid evidence that firms were responding to strengthened rules.

Googles sales were valued at 3.8billion in Britain during 2013 but it paid just 20.4million in UK taxes that year.

Between 2006 and 2011 the companys revenue in the UK hit around 12.6billion but its corporation tax payments for the period totalled 11.2million.

It said: After a six-year audit by the tax authority we are paying the amount of tax that HMRC agrees we should pay.

'Governments make tax law, the tax authorities enforce the law and Google complies with the law.
The family of an unarmed Texas man shot dead by police inside an Arizona hotel last week are demanding authorities release body cam footage of the shooting, which they claim was a homicide.

Daniel Shaver, 26, a traveling businessman from Granbury, was fatally shot by a police officer on January 18 inside the La Quinta Inn in Mesa.

Police were called to the hotel amid reports of a man pointing a gun out the window of a fifth-floor room.

According to Shaver's family, the father of two traveled with two pellet rifles because of his work with pest control.

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Killed: Daniel Shaver, 26, a traveling businessman and father-of-two from Granbury, Texas, was fatally shot by a police officer on January 18 inside the La Quinta Inn in Mesa, Arizona. He is pictured here with his daughters Natalie, 6, and Emery, 3

Scene: Shaver was on a business trip to Mesa, Arizona, where he travels for work often. Police were called to his hotel, the La Quinta Inn, around 9.20 p.m. on January 18

Devastated: Laney Sweet, Shaver's wife, does not believe her husband would have seemed threatening to police and has demanded answers

Six officers arrived at the scene around 9.20 p.m. and said that Shaver was found in his room with a woman.

The woman complied with police and left the room, however officials said Shaver was difficult.

Mesa Police Detective Steve Barry said Shaver repeatedly reached toward his lower back, concealing his hands.

'Based on the initial report of the suspect having a gun, not complying with commands and reaching behind his body, the officer felt threatened and discharged his weapon, striking the suspect,' Barry told The Tennessean.

Shaver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Barry confirmed that Shaver was not armed at the time of his death.

The pellet rifles were later found inside the room.

According to Laney Sweet, Shaver's wife, the way police have explained the incident does not sound like something her husband would do.

Family torn apart: Daniel Shaver is seen here with his wife, Laney Sweet, and their children Natalie and Emery

'All of the details are not clear right now,' Sweet told the newspaper.

'Daniel passed away in the hallway of his hotel, unarmed. His friends and family are hurting. We want to know why the officer felt justified to fire his weapon.'

She added to Fox 4: 'What justified six police officers feeling so threatened?'

On a GoFundMe page set up in the aftermath of Shaver's death, Sweet wrote that the officers were wearing body cameras and requested to see the footage.

She also said that there were two people in Shaver's room at the time the police were called - a man and a woman - and that the two were guests at the hotel who had befriended Shaver.

She believes someone must have been holding one of Shaver's rifles.

Laney Sweet says her common law husband, Daniel Shaver, was wrongly shot by police in Mesa, Arizona

'I want to hear the 911 calls and see what footage is on the body cameras,' Sweet told The Tennessean.

'My kids deserve answers to make as much peace as possible with a horrible tragic situation.

'We want to know why my husband is dead.'

The couple have two daughters - Emery, 3, and Natalie, 6
David Cameron's integration tsar has blasted 'hand-wringing' liberals for failing to tackle forced marriage and other abuses in Muslim communities.

Louise Casey said some officials were 'so wrapped up in political correctness' they ignored shameful scandals which led to vulnerable women and children being harmed.

Miss Casey, who chaired the Government's troubled families unit and led an investigation into social services in Rotherham  where Asian sex gangs had abused as many as 1,600 children  is carrying out a review of how to boost integration in the most isolated communities.

Louise Casey said some British officials were 'so wrapped up in political correctness' they ignored shameful scandals which led to vulnerable women and children being harmed across the country

Commissioned by the Prime Minister, this is looking at how to help migrants learn English, as well as other ways of boosting women's job prospects.

But Miss Casey claimed one issue was that the liberal elite had turned a blind eye to problems within some Muslim groups.

Speaking to the Policy Exchange think-tank in London last night, she said: 'We let forced marriage happen because we were so wrapped up in political correctness and wanting our multicultural Britain. We forgot to talk about equality and we forgot to talk about equal rights.

'We forgot that a girl of the age of eight is being promised to someone. That is not a Muslim issue, that is an equality issue.'

David Cameron's integration tsar has blasted 'hand-wringing' liberals for failing to tackle forced marriage and other abuses in Muslim communities (file image)

Miss Casey said more effort had been expended on 'Tipp-Exing out the word 'Pakistani' on folders in Rotherham' than addressing the root causes of the problems.

She added: 'This is not just about a particular community not wanting to integrate. It is about those people on the outside who have been hand-wringing.'

She said her report into the failure of some sections of society to integrate, due to be published in March, would criticise those liberals 'with some force'.

Her comments will be a blow to those public figures  particularly under New Labour  who championed multiculturalism, the Left-wing doctrine which encourages migrants to keep their own traditions rather than integrate into British ways.

In a keynote speech last July, Mr Cameron made clear that failures of integration had allowed extremist ideas to gain traction  resulting in around 700 British Muslims travelling to Syria to join Islamic State. Counter-terror police say about half are thought to have returned and could pose a threat.

A Whitehall source said Miss Casey was useful to ministers as she could deliver 'hard truths' to the Muslim community that they could not. She rose to prominence as Tony Blair's anti-social behaviour tsar.
New York politician Anthony Weiner looked forlorn as he stepped out in the city, hours after a documentary chronicling his disastrous mayoral campaign premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Weiner torpedoed his bid in 2013 when he was caught in a sexting scandal for the second time, sending lewd texts and photos to various women.

The former member of the House of Representatives seemed lost in thought as he walked on a New York City sidewalk wearing headphones, both hands in his pockets.

The documentary named Weiner, taken from some 400 hours of footage filmed with Weiner's permission during his mayoral campaign, premiered yesterday at the Sundance Film Festival, just before he was seen outside.

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Anthony Weiner stepped out in New York City hours after a documentary telling the story of his disastrous 2013 mayoral bid premiered at the Sundance Film Festival

Weiner and his wife, top Hillary Clinton adviser Huma Abedin, were offered to see the documentary before it was released but the couple said they didn't want to see it, director Josh Kriegman told Daily Mail Online

Daily Mail Online was there to see the no-holds-barred portrait of the former US Congressman as he crashes and burns, taking his wife Huma Abedin - Hillary Clinton's close friend and political advisor - with him.

The 90-minute film which will be in theaters in May and on Showtime in October reveals Huma's pain, humiliation and anger.

At one point she says her life's 'like living in a nightmare.' But she stands by her husband after he publicly admits violating her trust.

Still, when he goes to vote in the election she refuses to go with him, on the counsel of an advisor believed to be one of Hillary Clinton's aides.

Huma's biggest 'indignity' is when one of her husband's sex text girls - urged on by radio disc jockey Howard Stern - chases him through a McDonald's as he tries to prevent her from confronting him.

Hot-tempered Weiner is frequently seen having meltdowns, in one of which he almost comes to blows with a Jewish man who calls him a 's***bag' and another where he threatens to 'kick the a**' of TV talk show host Laurence O'Donnell.

The former member of the US House of Representatives had resigned his seat in 2011 after he was caught sending lewd photos of himself to women on social media

Widespread TV coverage of both run-ins don't seem to worry him.

After watching tape of the 'scumbag' incident, he's more irritated that one of the TV cameras has revealed his bald spot than the argument and he laughs while watching his fight with O'Donnell.

Even as his political - and personal - life is falling apart around him he's cracking jokes.

After another of his sexting bimbos threatens to tell her story, he's filmed in his car, cackling as he tells one Rodney Dangerfield one-liner after another.

And again he seems more irritated by a TV camera revealing his bald spot than by the girl's revelations.

Despite all the setbacks, lurid scandals and mocking from late night TV hosts, in the end he still refuses to quit.

Just before he garnered a paltry 4.93 per cent of the mayoral vote, he's seen on camera asking himself, 'If I had more time, could I rebound again?'

In the midst of his humiliation and embarrassment - all captured on film - the cameraman asks him, 'Why have you let me film this?' It's the same question many of the people in the Sundance audience were asking.

'It took a lot of work and therapy to forgive him. I love him and have forgiven him.' Huma agreed - reluctantly - to appear with her husband at a press conference after another sexting scandal broke during his run for New York City mayor

Weiner says that he doesn't regret it. 'I wanted to be viewed as the full person I was. It's kind of like, "Besides that Mrs Lincoln, how was the show?"'

The first part of Weiner shows old footage of the fiery, passionate representative from New York, an outspoken rising star in the US Congress.

Suddenly the archive film in 2011 shows news clips of photos of bulging men's underwear that Weiner had sent to one of his sexting gals. Even Wolf Blitzer of CNN is seen asking Weiner: 'Are these your underpants?'

First he hedges, then he admits it, expresses regret and refuses to resign. Then he does resign and, fast forward two years and he decides enough time has passed for him to revive his battered political career and run for Mayor of New York.

Weiner sent several shirtless selfies to women during his marriage, including this one

Enter Josh Kriegman, Weiner's one time chief of staff when he was a New York Congressman. Kriegman had left politics to launch a career in movies and he approached his old boss and still close friend about documenting his mayoral campaign.

Weiner - with visions of capturing on film his triumphal return as Mayor, agreed.

'He was not far removed from a really disgraceful sexting scandal,' said Kriegman after yesterday's screening.

'This was a remarkable comeback story. Then things took a turn - and we kept filming.'

Kriegman could have no way of knowing just how much 'things took a turn.'

One of the first questions Weiner is asked on camera is how Huma felt about him going back into politics.

She supported him, says Weiner. 'She was eager to get her life back that I had taken from her. I wanted to clean up the mess I made and running for mayor was the strongest way to do it.'

Scenes show the Weiners' happy home life, playing with their toddler son Jordan and their pets.

Huma hits the campaign trail with her husband, helping to raise money, leading the campaign volunteers and being the perfect political wife.

At one fundraiser, dressed in a striking red dress, she tells the crowd, 'I love my city and I believe in my husband.'

Within months he's running first in the polls, despite the naysayers and critics, including Donald Trump, who said at the time, 'We don't want perverts elected in New York City.'

The filmmakers include lots of clips of women working on his campaign and singing his praises along with scenes of Weiner kissing babies while a crowd of New Yorker chant, 'Everybody deserves a second chance.'

Weiner is shown triumphantly telling his campaign staff ,'We're back.' But here, director Kriegman is just setting up his audience. In July of 2013, the bomb dropped.

The documentary movie, called Weiner, is taken from some 400 hours of footage filmed with Weiner's permission during his mayoral campaign in 2013. He and his wife, pictured after the ceremonial swearing in of the 112th Congress in Washington, take center stage

Huma, Weiner's wife, is a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton. She took the stage with her in December 2015 after a Democratic presidential primary debate in New Hampshire

Reports started surfacing that Weiner had been up to his old tricks, sending lewd texts and pictures to female pen pals.

Watching a TV report of website Dirty.com airing seedy revelations about her husband posting the texts under the name Carlos Danger, Huma shakes her head in disgust. She paces in front of him, staring at him with an angry look that says 'Not again.'

Despite her obvious fury, Huma remains calm.

She even coolly tells a staffer to 'look happy' when she leaves the couple's New York apartment which at the time was besieged by reporters.

Huma agrees - reluctantly - to appear with her husband at a press conference where, with a smile that looks forced, she tells reporters that she had faced the same crisis two years earlier.

'It took a lot of work and therapy to forgive him. I love him and have forgiven him.'

What's not clear from that is, has she forgiven him for the old transgressions - or the new ones?

He gets irritated by his communications director Barbara Morgan playing devil's advocate and posing questions he might be asked by reporters.

'Was it multiple people or just the one? Do you think you're suffering from any kind of addiction?'

He waffles and snaps at her giving no definitive answers.

Weiner apologizes to his campaign team but adds that they must 'go on' and 'look normal.' It doesn't satisfy several of the let-down crew. 'I'm frustrated at your lack of clarity with me,' says one. 'I feel like we were left in the dark,' says another.

Weiner confesses that he did 'these dumb things' but adds 'It's behind me.'

Documentary co-director Elyce Steinberg flatly denies claims that Hillary Clinton pressured the moviemakers to take out some sensitive parts of the film

In Weiner, a Clinton aide advises Huma not to go with her husband Anthony Weiner to vote in the election as it would not be wise to be seen in public with him that day. He took their son Jordan along instead

Then, out of the woodwork comes 23-year-old Sydney Leathers, claiming that she'd been having phone sex with him 'sometimes five times a day.' She made a sex tape for Vivid, plus an interview in which she detailed some of their sexy phone calls.

Appearing on Lawrence O'Donnell's show on MSNBC and the host asks him, 'What's wrong with you?'

Weiner loses his temper, yelling at O'Donnell, 'Bigger guys than you have been trying to knock me down.' When O'Donnell repeats the question, Wiener tells him to stop 'or I'll come on this show and kick your ass.'

Later he tells the movie cameraman he 'hates bullies.' But while watching a tape of the O'Donnell encounter, he starts laughing, prompting an obviously shocked Huma to ask: 'Why are you laughing - it's bad.'

He says: 'It's funny.' She shoots him a look of bewilderment, then finally walks out of the room saying: 'I can't watch any more.'

When a New York newspaper uses a front page photo of Huma asking 'What's wrong with you?' meaning why is she staying with her beleaguered husband, a frustrated Weiner springs to her defense saying: 'It's not fair to her - I've created this problem.'

I wanted to be viewed as the full person I was. It's kind of like, 'Besides that Mrs Lincoln, how was the show?' Anthony Weiner

It was a low point for Huma. When a cameraman asks her how she's feeling, she says, with a sad look: 'It's like living in a nightmare.'

Four weeks before the election he'd gone from first to fourth in the polls, with an 'unfavorability rating' of 80 percent - yet he's filmed in his car with Barbara Morgan, rattling off Rodney Dangerfield jokes.

His campaign adviser 'Phillippe' - Hillary Clinton's close aide, Phillippe I. Reines - saw nothing funny in the faltering state of Weiner's bid for mayor and on the phone he tells him, 'There's no chance to win any more.'

When Weiner suggests putting out a message saying 'I ain't quitting,' Reines gives a resounding no and tells Weiner that if he goes that route, it would be 'a solo flight.'

At a town hall meeting, where he's heckled by several people, he admits he 'violated the trust of my wife'. But then he defiantly adds'New Yorkers don't quit - I won't quit.' In the car afterward though, he drops the bravado and admits, with a look of exhaustion , 'I'm done.'

Two weeks before election day comes filmed meltdown No. 2. In a visit to a diner, a guy wearing a yarmalke (skullcap) calls Weiner a 'scumbag.' Weiner comes back with 'It takes one to know one' and from that point it escalated into a screaming match, with the two men nose to nose, matching insults, all in front of the TV news cameras.

Several witnesses of the diner incident were left shaking their heads. 'Why didn't he just walk away,' one old man tells the camera. After the incident, Weiner seems more irritated - yet again - by one of the TV cameras revealing his bald spot than the fight.

Sydney Leathers, 23, claims she had phone sex with Weiner - 'sometimes five times a day'. She made a sex tape for Vivid, plus an interview in which she detailed some of their sexy phone calls

Hillary's name is brought back into the movie - yet again - when a reporter, suggesting that Weiner's scandal made him a political liability for his Clinton advisor wife, asks him if Huma would have to make a choice between him or Hillary, he refused to answer.

Huma meanwhile is becoming more and more reluctant to make campaign appearances and things start getting snippy between them.

When she says she doesn't want to face reporters because she won't know what to say, he says, 'You could say I think Anthony is doing an amazing job' - at which she throws him a look of disgust and shrugs.

In another exchange she asks what she should be doing in his campaign and he snaps, 'act like you're married to me.'

On election day, Reines advises Huma that it would not be wise to be seen in public that day with Weiner so she refuses to cast her vote alongside him.

Instead he takes their son Jordan along to cast his ballot and tells reporters that his wife isn't with him because of a scheduling conflict.

It took a lot of work and therapy to forgive him. I love him and have forgiven him Huma Abedin when her husband is caught sexting for a second time

To make matters worse - if that's possible - Sydney Leathers, whom Weiner's staff have given the code name 'Pineapple' appears on Howard Stern's radio show saying Weiner had 'p***ed her off because he lied on TV that he'd changed - and I'm the living proof that he didn't.'

When Leathers revealed that she'd never actually met Weiner in person, the ever mischievous Stern suggested she should go out and confront him on election day, along with a camera crew.

She camps outside Weiner's office and one of his staffers announces it's time to 'execute the McDonald's plan.'

This involves sneaking Weiner out through the back of a nearby McDonald's and there's a hilarious sequence in the movie with Leathers chasing as he makes his escape.

While it may be funny, the McDonalds incident also summed up the humiliation Huma's been put through by her husband. 'I'm not going to face the indignity of being accosted by that woman,' she tells him.'

After yesterday's Sundance screening of Weiner, Kriegman's co-director, Elyce Steinberg flatly denied recent claims that Hillary Clinton had pressured the moviemakers into taking out some sensitive parts of the film - although did not appear to deny that there had been attempts to do precisely that.

'No footage was taken out because of pressure from Hillary Clinton,' she said. 'Our hope is that the film can be part of the political conversation.'

Kriegman also denied other reports that Anthony and Huma Weiner had asked to see the movie before its release but were turned down. 'We offered to show it to them a while ago,' he told Daily Mail Online. 'But they said they didn't want to see it.'

Watching a TV report of seedy revelations about her husband's continued sexting, Huma shakes her head in disgust, the documentary shows
This is the inspiring moment an Ohio teen stole the spotlight at his high school dance show, spinning, flipping and break dancing - despite the fact that he has no arms or legs.

Gabe Adams made it on the 29-person dance team as a sophomore at Davis High School in Kaysville last year, but he was only 12-years-old when he secretly taught himself to dance.

The routine he created himself and practiced for months was enough to get Gabe a spot at his junior high school talent show, surprising his family and receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

Gabe Adams, who was born with arms or legs, made it on the 29-person dance team as a sophomore at Davis High in Kaysville last year (pictured here in a modern dance performance in 2015)

Gabe was only 12-years-old when he secretly taught himself how to dance, practicing his routine for months before earning a spot at his junior high school's talent show

Gabe was adopted by Janelle Adams and her husband Ron, both 57, when he was a baby in Brazil. Janelle said she heard the story of the abandoned baby boy born without limbs and couldn't forget him

It wasn't an easy secret to keep from his 13 siblings or parents, who adopted Gabe from a Brazilian orphanage when he was just a baby.

Janelle Adams, 57, heard the story of the abandoned baby boy born with no arms or legs and couldn't get him out of her mind.

'I kept wondering, "How would I feed him? How would I dress him? How would we teach him to walk?'", she told People Magazine.

'It felt right. Bringing him to Utah with us was just something we were supposed to do.'

Fast-forward seventeen years and being limbless hasn't stopped Gabe from eating, writing or walking up the stairs on his own, not to mention swimming and jumping off the diving board.

Gabe credits his incredible accomplishments with the fact that his parents never saw him as disabled, despite his Hanhart Syndrome.

Being limbless hasn't stopped Gabe (pictured here during a January routine at Davis High School) from eating, writing or walking up the stairs on his own, not to mention swimming and jumping off the diving board

Gabe credits his incredible accomplishments with the fact that his parents never saw him as disabled, despite his Hanhart Syndrome

'They helped me see myself as a normal boy who could find independence,' he wrote in a Huffington Post article in 2010.

'I just needed a different approach to accomplish things.'

Gabe learned that lesson when he was eight months old, rolling himself across the room and biting his older brother in the leg after he stole his pacifier.

It took him a year to learn how to walk when he was a child, but now Gabe is more than comfortable moving on his own when he isn't using his wheelchair to get to class.

And the teen has since mastered holding a pencil, using a fork or turning pages in a book with just his neck, shoulder and chin, as the congenital defect left him with a partially-developed tongue.

Dance has only given Gabe even more independence, giving him a whole new outlet to express himself.

It took him a year to learn how to walk when he was a child, but now Gabe is more than comfortable moving on his own when he isn't using his wheelchair to get to class

'I've just always wanted to be something more than the kid in the wheelchair,' he told People.

'I feel a freedom whenever I dance. Nothing else comes close to it.'

Gabe is an inspiration to his dance team, but his teacher says he's just like every other teenage boy with 'the same hopes, desires and dreams'.

'He's articulate and mature,' Kim King told the magazine. 'And has never wanted to be seen as the boy with limitations.'

In 2010 Gabe wrote about his very first time jumping off a diving board, and what it meant when heard the applause.

'A sound that reminded me it was no ordinary task I had accomplished,' he wrote. 'It was the sound of gaining my independence.'

As Gabe continues to dance with his team, there's no doubt that sound will continue to follow him.
Universities should be exempt from Freedom of Information laws so they can hide details of the six-figure salaries given to senior staff, a representative said yesterday.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said telling the public how much some senior staff were earning was damaging and made it harder to recruit staff from around the world.

She also complained about the burden of bureaucracy that the Act put upon universities and the cost of responding to requests for information from the public.

Nicola Dandridge, pictured receiving a CBE from the Queen, chief executive of Universities UK, said revealing how much some senior staff earn made it harder to recruit

Last year a Daily Mail investigation into public sector pay and perks revealed a series of bumper salary deals for university leaders.

In one case, Professor Neil Gorman pocketed 623,000 in one year as vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, including 250,000 in bonuses.

The highest pay deal for a university employee was given to an unnamed Oxford academic who pocketed 630,000 in a year - more than four times the Prime Ministers salary.

The investigation also found the head of the London School of Economics spent 60,000 in a year on business class flights for work trips - as well as claiming 18,000 for furnishing, phone expenses, and private medical insurance.

Miss Dandridge made her comments in evidence to a government commission into reforming the law.

Separately, the Department for Business is also considering whether universities should be removed from FOI despite receiving almost 4billion a year in taxpayers money.

She argued universities spent 10million a year answering requests for information and there was no level playing field with private education institutions.

But a member of the commission panel, former Home Secretary Jack Straw, said there was no prospect of universities being exempted from the law.

He said that apart from demands from universities themselves be excluded from the law, the commission had received no evidence to suggest they should be.

She cited the disclosure of salaries for academics when asked what an example of the kind of damaging information they were forced to release.

Pushed on the issue, she pointed to salaries for senior members of staff such as the heads of fundraising.

The obligation to disclose salaries for senior posts under FOI could discourage good candidates from applying, she said.

But last night Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: It is preposterous to say that good candidates could be dissuaded from applying for posts because their salary could be disclosed.

A fair amount of taxpayers money goes into universities and the public therefore have every right to know where their money is going.

This sort of weak reasoning to try and keep information hidden shows contempt for those who are footing the bills and must be challenged.

The vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, pictured, earned more than 600,000 in one year

Other public bodies exposed for their wasteful spending by FOI requests called for the Act to be severely limited.

Chris Hopson, speaking on behalf of NHS trusts and other health bodies, said the cost limit for fulfilling requests should be slashed by one third and officials should be able to include the time they take censoring material in the calculation.

He said removing the cost of responding to FOI would allow them to hire 14 full time nurses. The Local Government Association said without FOI they could spend more money on filling potholes.

But Maurice Frankel, director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information said FOI acted as a deterrent for wasteful spending by public bodies.

Its a deterrent because it discourages them, for example, from considering a management away day in Barbados and makes it more likely theyll do it in the office.

Bob Satchwell, of the Society of Editors, said in his evidence that there needed to be a change in approach from public authorities.

Its a matter of trying to get the default switch into a different place.
A grandmother who claims she put a 33million lottery ticket through the wash could be united with her winnings thanks to CCTV.

Susanne Hinte, 48, says she had a ticket with the winning numbers on it but washed it in a pair of jeans and now faces a six-month wait to find out if she has won.

The shopkeeper who sold her the ticket has now revealed that he has CCTV which could prove the time at which it was bought.

Susanne Hinte may be aided by CCTV in her quest to show she won 33million on the lottery before accidentally washing her winning ticket with her jeans

Natu Patel, who runs the shop where Ms Hinte bought the ticket, says he has CCTV of her buying it

Today Ms Hinte spent a third day holed up at in her house today and she refused to answer the door of her 145,000 detached home.

Ms Hinte's children, Brandon, 17, and Natasha, 28, turned up at her home in a blue Renault Scenic along with another man at around 3pm.

They spent ten minutes in the property before leaving, but declined to speak to reporters.

Natu Patel, 64, who runs Ambleside News around the corner from Ms Hinte's home, said: 'I remember the lady who claims she bought the ticket coming into buy the ticket either on the Friday before the draw or on the day of the draw. As far as I can remember she bought a lucky dip.

'If the ticket was bought from our shop we will definitely have that person on CCTV.

'I have not watched the CCTV and have not been asked to hand it over to Camelot. There are strict rules about when to hand over CCTV. You have to have permission from the particular person in the footage.

'Camelot are handling it in there way and I am letting then do this. The situation has become a bit of a nightmare but there you go.'

Organisers of the lottery know the time and place that the winning ticket was bought but have not revealed the information publicly.

They said today they can examine CCTV as part of their investigations into damaged tickets.

A spokesman said: 'We may look to review CCTV footage, where it exists, of when the winning ticket was purchased as part of an investigation into a lost, stolen or damaged ticket claim  but this is just one source of information we are able to use in an investigation.'

Ms Hinte, 48  who has sent her water-damaged ticket to lottery firm Camelot  has been called before magistrates at least seven times for outstanding fines dating back to 2003, it emerged today

Ms Hinte's second husband, Nick Scott, 44, of Malvern, Worcestershire, yesterday admitted that he is unsure about her lottery story.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE CLAIM THEY ARE WINNERS OF 33M JACKPOT Camelot said hundreds of people have claimed that they are the winners of the unclaimed 33million jackpot. In its latest statement on the outstanding half-share of its record 66million Lotto jackpot, Camelot said: 'We have the discretion to pay prizes in respect of stolen, lost or destroyed National Lottery tickets only if the player has submitted a claim in writing within 30 days of the relevant draw. 'If the player can provide sufficient evidence, we will investigate and consider the validity of the claim. Given the interest in the missing 33million ticket-holder, we have received hundreds of claims of this nature. 'All of these are currently being considered on a case-by-case basis, and we will follow up with all claimants directly to advise them whether their claim will be investigated further.' A spokesman declined to comment on whether the number of claims was in the high or low hundreds, but said their volume meant the evaluation process would take time. The spokesman added: 'We have not released details of the shop where the ticket was bought and no retailer would have been informed that they have sold the winning ticket. 'We still would urge all players to check their tickets and contact us if they think they have the winning one.' Shopkeeper Natu Patel, who helped Ms Hinte to submit a claim after she went to his store in the Warndon area, said the hunt for the winning ticket had created a 'genuine buzz' across Worcester. Responding to news that so many other people have also come forward with claims, he said: 'We'll just have to sit back and wait to see what happens.' Advertisement

Mr Scott told The Sun: 'I have to say it sounds too good to be true. I'm still in touch with Sue as our lad lives with his mum but I just don't know the truth. I'm hoping and praying she's the winner.

'We never divorced so technically I could put a claim in for half. But she's already told me she'll look after me and the kids.'

Mr Scott added that he would be angry if it turned out his ex had made it all up.

It also emerged last night that Mrs Hinte has been called before magistrates at least seven times in the past for outstanding fines dating back to 2003, was also fined 600 and handed six penalty points as recently as May 2014.

Lottery bosses have warned they will take action against people who try to con them out of the jackpot after it emerged that hundreds of people have come forward claiming to have a lost, damaged or stolen ticket with the six winning numbers.

Camelot said it was considering each claim on a 'case-by-case basis' after confirming the winning ticket was bought in Worcester.

A Camelot spokeswoman said: 'With prizes of this size, it's perfectly normal to receive lots of claims from people who genuinely think that they may have mislaid or thrown away what they believe was the winning ticket.

'That's what we're seeing now - and we are looking into all of these claims as part of our efforts to find the rightful ticket-holder.

'However, if we believe that somebody has intentionally attempted to defraud the National Lottery, then, just like any other company, we reserve the right to take whatever action we consider is appropriate.'

John Plimmer, a former detective at West Midlands Police, said anyone caught making a fraudulent claim could face jail.

Mr Plimmer told the Mirror: 'If there is evidence someone deliberately tried to con Camelot to get their hands on 33 million then obviously that's a crime.

'They wouldn't have to successfully claim the money to be found guilty. Anyone convicted could be looking at a heavy custodial sentence.'

Ms Hinte reportedly made contact with Camelot advisers on Friday, claiming her winning ticket no longer had a readable date or barcode.

Under the terms of its licence, Camelot has discretion to pay prizes in respect of stolen, lost or destroyed tickets if a player has submitted a claim in writing within 30 days of the draw.

Appearances: The qualified nurse had been summoned to Worcester Magistrates' Court (pictured) six times in as many years, including a summons over the failure to pay 2,205 in 2010

Camelot has said that even if a winner with a stolen, lost or damaged ticket is identified, the money will not be paid out for at least 180 days so others can get in touch. If the Worcester prize goes unclaimed after a deadline of July 7, the money will be donated to good causes, the lottery operator added.

Camelot said it had not released details of the shop where the winning ticket was bought and no retailer had been informed that they sold the winning ticket.

A spokeswoman said: 'We would only release details of the shop if we received a valid claim and the ticket-holder subsequently took publicity. We still would urge all players to check their tickets and contact us if they think they have the winning one.'

Married couple David and Carol Martin, both 54, from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, won the other half of the 66 million jackpot, the UK's biggest Lotto prize.

The six winning numbers from the January 9 draw were 26, 27, 46, 47, 52 and 58.

Ms Hinte's daughter, Natasha Douglas, 28, refused to comment on her mother's court record.

Questions continue to surround Miss Hinte yesterday after it emerged she had two different dates of birth on public records.

She is registered at her address under the names Hinte and Scott with the dates of birth December 4, 1967 and April 12, 1967.

There are also eight different phone numbers registered to the address where she has lived since 2008.

Despite still being technically married to roofer Nicholas Scott, 39, from Malvern, Worcestershire, she uses her maiden name Hinte. She is also said to have used the surname Hannalohre.

She is also known as Sanne, the German version of Susanne, and her online dating profile name is sanneScott1234.

On her profile, which features several pictures of her in seductive poses, the tattooed mother and grandmother-of-four describes herself as a 'dare devil'. She also claims to have a PhD.

She writes: 'I enjoy spending time with my family and friends enjoy cooking and goin out for meals aswell as goin to a club now and again still.

'Everyone deserves happyness in life so my outlook in life is tat if ur lucky enaugh to find it then u should hold on to it as u neva no if u goin to be that lucky again. Afta all life is to short as it is.

'I should be worth it cuz afta all i could end up being the woman of ur dreams u neva neva no.lol xx'
Fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) have caused untold misery by allowing users to stake 100 a time on games including roulette and poker (file image)

Profits on highly addictive gambling machines have rocketed over the past year, it emerged yesterday.

Fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) have caused untold misery by allowing users to stake 100 a time on games including roulette and poker.

They are so addictive they have become known as the crack cocaine of gambling.

Figures obtained by the Fairer Gambling campaign group reveal that Ladbrokes alone now makes more than 1,000 per week per machine  up 9 per cent in just one year.

Paddy Power and Coral have also seen profits rise, thanks to an increase in the numbers using the terminals.

The figures come just weeks after David Camerons former speechwriter, Claire Foges, urged him to clamp down on the fiendishly seductive machines in an article for the Mail.

Miss Foges, the Prime Ministers former speechwriter, wrote that FOBTs were sirens on the rocks to the weak-willed.

The promise of quick riches sucks people in like quicksand, eventually drowning them in misery, she wrote.

It is time for the Government not just to speak out, but to act on fixed-odds betting terminals. They are a scourge on High Streets across Britain.

If the Government has any guts it will reduce the maximum stake allowed  or, better still, ban them. These misery machines are doing our society no good at all.

In the first nine months of 2015 Ladbrokes made 1,006 per terminal every week  up from 923 over the same period in 2014.

Paddy Powers weekly FOTB profits went up 4 per cent from 1,319 in the first six months of 2014 to 1,373 in the first six months of 2015.

At Coral, profits went from 957 to 986 between the first nine months of 2014 and 2015  up 3 per cent.

Ladbrokes said its growth came mainly from 2 stakes and it took responsible gambling very seriously.

Last night Adrian Parkinson from Fairer Gambling said the rise in profits showed that self-regulation had failed.

Miss Foges, the Prime Ministers former speechwriter, wrote that FOBTs were sirens on the rocks to the weak-willed (stock image of the machines at a William Hill bookmakers in London)

Again player losses on what are described as the crack cocaine of gambling continue to rise unabated, he said.

Despite government measures, supposed tighter self-regulation by the bookmakers and removal of window advertising of the machines, profits this year are up half a billion on five years ago.

The bookmakers are busy trying to look like they are doing something to help players stay in control but the reality is that we are seeing thousands of these roulette machines being smashed up by players who have lost everything on them.

We know that one in three players are addicted to them and for our high streets we can see the increasing dominance of betting shops replacing traditional retail outlets.

Losses on these machines, now amounting to over 1.6billion a year, will not be curbed unless you deal with the stake and that is the crux of the issue that the Gambling Commission and government fear taking on.

A spokeswoman for Ladbrokes said: Our growth has largely come from lower staking levels at 2.

At Ladbrokes we take responsible gambling very seriously and despite gambling related harm across the betting industry remaining low, we are continuing to implement measures to help those who may develop gambling related problems.

The Daily Mail has campaigned against the scourge of FOTBs on our high streets.

Last month, the Metropolitan Police said it had recorded hundreds of violent incidents including assault linked to the machines.
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Nearly 3,000 dogs from across the world came out to prove which breed is the best at the Rose City Classic Dog Show in Portland, Oregon last weekend.

From Thailand to Portland, the fluffiest chow chows and the tiniest terriers made an appearance at the Portland Expo Center to confirm whose bark was as big as their bite.

Two clubs, the Tualatin Kennel Club and the Dong Fancier's Association of Oregon hosted two dog shows over four days and saw 175 of the 180 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. The competition even featured the newest breed recognized by the AKC: The American Hairless Terrier.

'It's an obsession, I can tell you that. I gave it up for 10 years and never felt complete. I came back, got an Afghan, and here I am, a happy camper,' Denise Kelly, an owner from Idaho showing her Afghan, told Oregon Live.

The Rose City Classic Series of Dog Shows is one of the largest and most popular dog events in the United States, its website says, and has been running for six decades.

Judges critiqued the dogs in the categories of obedience, agility and best of breed. The standards the judges used to rate the dogs are more than 200 years old and through video technology and DNA testing, the standards are occasionally updated.

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A fluffy Pekingese grins while showing off its formidable mane at the Rose City Classic Dog Show in Portland, Oregon on January 24

This Golden Retriever strikes a pose while its owner shows the pure bred dog off for the judges at the Portland Expo Center

Pampered pups: An American Cocker Spaniel (left) has its ears taped while a Bichon Frise (right) gets a blow dry

Staring down the competition: A collection of collies hangs out after being groomed for the competition ahead

Beauty routine: An Afghan Hound named Chance (left) gets a bath while another dog yawns while it gets a scrub down from its owner

A Miniature Schnauzer named Hoodoo is groomed by its owner. The breed originated in Germany and can live for 15 years

An American Cocker Spaniel has its ears taped in preparation to be shown. Owners tape their dogs ears to encourage them to stand up

How's my hair?: An American Cocker Spaniel (left) is groomed and blow dried while a fluffy Chow Chow is shown to the judges

Aria, a Poodle from Tacoma, Washington, is primped and primed to be shown. The breed originated in Germany as a water dog

A terrier (left) and a poodle (right) wait in the grooming area of the Rose City Classic Dog Show in Portland, Oregon before being shown

Old English Sheepdogs are judged Rose City Classic Dog Show. This breed of dog was developed by herders in England as early as 1771

It's not easy being pretty: A Newfoundland is washed. This breed originates in Canada and can be black, brown, white and black or gray

An Old English Sheepdog (left) seems to smile while it's groomed while Tag, a St. Bernard (right) from Everett, Washington, gets a blow dry

Oreo, a Smooth Saluki, takes a rest at the Rose City Classic Dog Show. Salu-ki is an ancient Sumerian word translating into plunge-earth

Getting the perfect look: These dogs are brushed and clipped to get their fur looking fantastic for the judges

An Old English Sheepdog and its owner rest in between judging. The dogs are scored in obedience, agility and best of breed categories
Donald Trump continues to be hounded by allegations that he raped his ex-wife in 1989.

The aspiring presidential candidate has long dismissed reports that he sexually violated Ivana Trump in a rage after a painful plastic surgery operation to cover a bald spot on his head.

However, as the real estate mogul keeps insisting he - unlike Hillary Clinton - has nothing to hide in his personal life, the allegations have resurfaced in a new documentary.

The Mad World Of Donald, which will be screened by British news network Channel 4 on Tuesday night, takes a close look at the man who may be president as he campaigns around the country, speaking to his followers, his critics and a few who have gotten close to him over the years.

One of the interviewees, according to The Sun, is author Harry Hurt III, who described the moment Trump allegedly assaulted Ivana in his 1993 book Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J. Trump.

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Allegations have resurfaced claims made by Donald Trump's first wife Ivana that he 'raped' her in 1989. Above, the Trumps arrive at a New York party the same year

Ivana said during a divorce deposition that the violent sexual encounter occurred after her plastic surgeon put Trump in pain with a bald spot removal operation. Above, they appear together at an event in September

Online news magazine The Daily Beast brought up the claims in July, noting that Ivana later backed away from her use of the word rape and said that she felt 'violated' during the sexual episode rather than 'raped'.

At the time a Trump spokesman told Daily Mail Online: 'This is an event that has been widely reported on in the past, it is old news and it never happened.

'It is a standard lawyer technique, which was used to exploit more money from Mr. Trump -- especially since he had an ironclad prenuptial agreement.

'It is just a way for the badly failing and money losing Daily Beast, which has been reporting inaccurately on Mr. Trump for years, to get some publicity for itself.'

The spokesman has been contacted for an up-to-date response to the allegations.

The alleged violent sexual encounter revealed in the book by reporter Harry Hurt III was said to have stemmed from a incident where the future presidential candidate became mad after a plastic surgeon used by Ivana left her husband in pain from a bald spot removal operation.

Trump's ex-wife later said that she felt 'violated' during the incident but did not mean 'raped' in the criminal sense. Above, Ivana Trump in 1989

'Your f****** doctor has ruined me,' Trump allegedly said before what the book describes as a 'violent assault' where he tore out pieces of her hair and 'jams his penis inside her for the first time in more than sixteen months'.

Ivana Trump allegedly told her 'closest confidantes' that her husband had raped her.

She later clarified her words in a foreword to the book saying: '[O]n one occasion during 1989, Mr. Trump and I had marital relations in which he behaved very differently toward me than he had during our marriage'.

'As a woman, I felt violated, as the love and tenderness, which he normally exhibited towards me, was absent. I referred to this as a rape, but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.'

A Notice To The Reader on the book said that Ivana's statement 'does not contradict or invalidate any information contained in this book'.

Donald Trump denied the allegation in 1993, criticized it as 'obviously false' and labeled Hurt III as having no talent.

The divorce was ultimately granted on Trump's 'cruel and inhuman treatment' of his wife. She is legally barred from speaking about the marriage without his permission.

Beyond the allegations, the Daily Beast piece garnered attention for a member of The Trump Organization's defense of his boss.

Special counsel Michael Cohen reportedly told the outlet that it was impossible for rape to happen within a marriage.

'Youre talking about the front-runner for the GOP, presidential candidate, as well as private individual who never raped anybody,' Cohen was quoted as saying.

'And, of course, understand that by the very definition, you cant rape your spouse.'

The lawyer, whose LinkedIn page says that he has worked for the Trump Organization for more than eight years, appeared to double down on his words.

'It is true,' he reportedly said. 'You cannot rape your spouse. And theres very clear case law.'

New York's marital exemption law regarding rape ended in 1984.

A person close to the candidate told DailyMail.com in July: 'In regards to those assertions, No one speaks for Mr. Trump but Mr. Trump.'

Cohen, who told the Daily Beast that he had read the relevant pages of Ivana's deposition, gave a lengthy defense of Trump's actions regarding the 1989 case

The 1993 book Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J Trump (left) revealed the deposition rape statements. Trump denied the allegations and said that author Howard Hurt III (right) had no talent

'She felt raped emotionallyShe was not referring to it [as] a criminal matter, and not in its literal sense, though theres many literal senses to the word,' he said.

His statements echoed the message from the businessman's first wife that appeared on the first page of Lost Tycoon.

However, the Daily Beast's article claimed they received more from Cohen than the Trumps' standard line on the incident.

The piece written by reporters Tim Mak and Brandy Zadrozny saw Cohen explode with statements such as: 'You write a story that has Mr. Trumps name in it, with the word ''rape,'' and Im going to mess your life upfor as long as youre on this frickin planetyoure going to have judgments against you, so much money, youll never know how to get out from underneath it'.'

The Daily Beast piece also circulated widely because of statement's made by Trump Organization special counsel Michel Cohen in which he said that spouses cannot rape each other. Above, Trump in 2011

Cohen allegedly told the reporter that he would 'come after' the news outlet's reporters for running a story about the 1990s allegations

'And I will come after your Daily Beast and everybody else that you possibly know,' Cohen reportedly told the outlet. 'So Im warning you, tread very f****** lightly, because what Im going to do to you is going to be f****** disgusting. You understand me?' the Daily Beast quotes him as saying at another point.

'So you do whatever you want. You want to ruin your life at the age of 20? You do that, and Ill be happy to serve it right up to you,' he allegedly said.

The bitter episode is a key element of the new British documentary.

It also features an interview with popular English television presenter Selina Scott, who is one the few who got to know Trump after she came to New York City in 1995 to film a profile about the real estate tycoon.

Scott, 64, says in the documentary that Trump was charming at first but that things began to change when he realized he would not have any control over the profile.

And when the ITV profile did run, putting Trump in a negative light as it questioned some of his business dealings and wealth, Scott claims that his behavior became 'extremely abusive' and 'pathetic' at the same time.

'Basically  hed lost control and basically because I think that because he realized he couldnt charm me into portraying him the way he wanted to be portrayed,' says Scott in the documentary.

'He called me a loser, he said that I was sleazy, that I had come on to him, asking for dates.'

It was a far different story when the two first met, with Trump even saying on camera of Scott during the filming of the profile; 'I love beautiful things. Thats why I like you so much She is beautifuleven though she doesnt believe it.'

Scott says that this all changed however after the profile aired and Trump 'declared all-out war' against her in a rather unexpected way - by starting his own letter-writing campaign.

'I must have got about 12 or 13 of them in the first instance And they were extremely abusive,' says Scott.

'I just thought "This is a bit pathetic, hell get over it," and then they kept on coming and coming and coming.'
At the weekend, an epic tragedy played out on the shores of the North Sea: the stranding of four enormous sperm whales.

Latest reports indicate that the creatures  measuring up to 48ft in length  which beached near Skegness and Hunstanton, may come from a pod of at least 17 which originated in the deeper waters around Norway.

A fifth whale was found yesterday at Wainfleet in Lincolnshire on a stretch of coastal marshland used by the RAF for war-time practice runs with Dambuster bouncing bombs, and until 2009 as a weapons range. Sightseers were told to keep away for fear of unexploded ordnance.

Latest reports indicate the creatures - measuring up to 48ft in length - which beached near Skegness (shown) and Hunstanton, may come from a pod of at least 17 which originated in the deeper waters around Norway

Some whales have had graffiti of CND signs and other anti-nuclear slogans daubed on their skin, and one of them exploded following a build up of methane gas as a post-mortem was being carried out. Security guards have been posted to stop scavengers trying to cut out the whales teeth as souvenirs or to trade on the black market. Meanwhile, 12 other whales have beached on German and Dutch coasts.

This is a story which stirs us to deep emotion. For centuries, such animals have stranded on these shores  but not in these numbers. For anyone who loves the creatures, it is a heartbreaking scene.

According to new scientific reports, these magnificent marine mammals  the largest predators on Earth, real-life Moby Dicks bigger than any carnivorous dinosaur and capable of growing up to 70ft long  are also the most social vertebrates, after human beings.

And it is in that loyalty, one to the other, that the root of this tragedy lies.

Sperm whales, like other toothed whales which include dolphins and killer whales  are defined by the company of their fellow animals. They are utterly loyal to one another. If one weakened whale decides to strand, rather than drown (these are, of course, air-breathing mammals), its companions will follow it.

Sperm whales also have the largest brain of any animal that has ever lived  it weighs up to 19lb compared to an average of 3lb for a human brain. And that brain confers on sperm whales abilities of which we cannot even conceive.

The worlds greatest expert on these animals, Dr Hal Whitehead of Dalhousie University in Canada, who has studied them over 20 years, says they exhibit emotions such as joy and grief, and live in complex societies in which separate pods often show distinct cultural differences and have their own dialects.

They also have a telepathic ability to communicate with each other  it is as if there were some unspoken, fraternal suicide pact among the giants that ended up on our shores.

Would-be rescuers tried to refloat one of the North Sea sperm whales, which stranded at Hunstanton on Friday. But weighing 30 tonnes, these animals are just too vast to save.

Rob Deaville, of the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (the Government-funded team formed by experts from the Zoological Society of London), was called to the scene of the Norfolk strandings, along with his colleague, Matt Perkins and team leader Paul Jepson.

Tragedy: Anti-nuclear slogans and graffiti saying 'man's fault' was sprayed onto the animals in Skegness

Their job is to take samples and, if possible, perform necropsies (the animal version of an autopsy) to find out why the animal died. The results they gather will provide vital clues to help solve the mystery of these creatures deaths.

Deaville told me how these events present logistical and ethical problems. The team has a policy of euthanising animals if they reach them when they are still alive, he says, because they are just too big to save.

But even that presents an issue: to deliver a deadly dose to these leviathans requires vast amounts of horse tranquiliser, and still there is no guarantee of success.

An animal this size is difficult to kill in a humane manner. Sometimes experts resort to explosives. Often, however, the experts arrive too late. A whale out of the supporting sea will crush its organs under its own weight, expiring painfully on the sand.

But why did they strand? Bad weather may be to blame, disorientating the animals sense of direction. One sick animal may lead the others into dangerous places. The shallow waters of the North Sea are not fit for these deep-diving creatures.

They are, in effect, natural submarines  one of the most mysterious, and miraculous animals in the ocean. Mature male sperm whales have been proved to dive a mile deep. They can stay down for more than two hours (the record is two hours and 50 minutes), withstanding oceanic pressure which no human could bear.

There, they feed on squid  sometimes giant squid, 40ft long. Those white scratch marks you can see on the heads of the Skegness whales have been left by the squids tentacles. The trouble is that the North Sea is simply not deep enough for such foraging and cannot provide them with the kind of food they need to sustain their vast bulks.

So what were they doing here? Unlike females, male sperm whales  which these animals were  roam to northern latitudes in search of food. They navigate the ocean bed by detecting electro-magnetic patterns imprinted in the Earths crust. It is believed tiny ferrous particles in their heads act as compasses.

Anti-nuclear campaigners graffitied the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament logo onto one of the whales

They also use their sonar  the echo-locating clicks produced by their huge foreheads (or, more strictly speaking, noses, which take up a third of their body) to sense their surroundings. They can use these clicks to communicate, too, as well as to create the loudest sound in the animal kingdom, equivalent in decibels to a jumbo jet taking off and capable of stunning or killing their prey at some distance.

Perhaps these giants mistakenly followed a food source into shallow waters. Another possibility is that they were disorientated by sonar exercises carried out by naval ships and seismic surveys for oil  research has shown in the past that these have prompted whales to strand.

For whatever reason, these animals took a wrong turn, from the North Atlantic, into the North Sea.

A further possibility is pollution from the chemicals we have allowed to escape into the oceans. Although legislation has limited these emissions, heavy metals from industry such as mercury, lead and chromium, linger on the sea bed, and can be stirred up by dredging and trawling.

These then enter the marine food chain  and eventually the squid and fish that the whales eat. Because sperm whales sit at the top of that food chain, the polluting particles lodge in their fat.

They are joined by other chemicals  organochlorines and PCBs from fire retardants used on furniture, to chemical fertilisers used in agriculture which are known to cause infertility, among other problems.

If a whale suffers stress, then their body fat starts to break down, releasing these chemicals into the animals blood stream. The result is a compromised immune system, and a very sick whale.

Worse, whales also ingest plastic discarded by us. Sperm whales have been found with dozens of plastic bags and other litter in their stomachs, significantly limiting their ability to digest food.

It is a combination of all these factors that causes sperm whales to strand. Joined by their comrades, their fidelity results in the awful scenes on our eastern shores, and others in Europe, at the weekend. Yet the terrible arrival of these beasts expiring on our shores is by no means new. Indeed, such events were regarded in the past as omens of Gods displeasure with our behaviour.

Grim discovery: This is the fifth whale discovered on marshland on the Lincolnshire coast this afternoon as the death toll hit 17

There is a remarkable history of sperm whales stranding on the East Coast and other shores bordering the North Sea. For while we know their navigation systems can be affected by modern-day hazards such as pollution and naval sonar, they have always been susceptible to illness or bad weather.

In the 16th century, the great German artist Albrecht Durer died of a fever caught when he tried to reach a stranded sperm whale in the marshes of Zeeland, on the Dutch coast. A spate of sperm whale strandings in Holland in the 17th century was commemorated in Delftware pottery and numerous paintings and engravings.

In some cases, dead whales exploded from gas build-up in their bodies, infecting spectators with what was assumed to be a fatal miasma. Today, scientists warn onlookers that cross-species or zoonotic infections can be caught from dead whales.

Most famously, a sperm whale that stranded off Holderness in 1825 became the property of the local aristocrat, Sir Clifford Constable, of Burton Constable Hall near Hull.

Uniquely, he was allowed precedent over the whale, which elsewhere would have been automatically the property of the monarch  as whales stranded on English shores still are.

After being studied and dissected by a celebrated local surgeon, this legendary whales skeleton was put on an iron frame and exhibited in the grounds of his estate.

It has only recently been rediscovered and, restored, is now displayed in the Great Barn at Burton Constable. This, incidentally, is the only whale mentioned in Herman Melvilles novel Moby-Dick that actually existed.

During the 19th century, the sperm whale provided the oil that lit the cities of New York, London, Paris and Berlin, burning in lamps and the finest, smoke-free candles. Indeed, we owe the measure of light itself, the lumen, to the time it took these candles to burn. It is strange that an animal of the darkest depths should have furnished us with light.

Sperm whales get their name from that oil, called spermaceti, believed by early hunters to be semen. We now know it has bio-acoustical properties, and is used by the whale to amplify its sonic clicks.

Tragedy: It is believed that the whales entered the North Sea from deeper waters near Norway but they are trying to work out how 17 ended up dead in Skegness and Hunstanton in the UK after another 12 ended up dead along the Dutch and German coastline

The same oil lubricated the machines of the Industrial Revolution. Before the discovery of mineral oil in 1859, the western world ran on whale oil. These animals were part of an economic, industrial process. Even their teeth were valued, the great ivory canines carved and engraved with pictures as scrimshaw.

President Kennedy was a particular collector of them, and had his favourite examples displayed on his desk in the Oval Office at the White House. Hence the scavengers after whales teeth on Skegnesss beach.

But luckily these creatures are now protected by UK and international law. Trade in such items, like that of elephant ivory, is illegal  although it still goes on covertly.

Even rarer is the strange material known as ambergris, produced in the intestines of whales when the beaks of the squid they eat lodge in the walls of their lower gut.

Hunted or stranded whales have been found with hundreds of thousands of such beaks  shiny, black snapping mechanisms like parrots beaks and composed of keratin, like human fingernails  and a kind of fatty cholesterol forms around them. Some lumps of ambergris may contain many squid beaks.

We value them for their beauty and majesty

The biological reason for it may be to protect the whales guts from ulcers, but it only seems to happen to around 1 per cent of the animals. Expelled from the whales rear end, the result matures in the sea, and exudes a remarkable odour.

Examples can reward their finders with tens of thousands of pounds, since ambergris has a unique ability to fix the volatile oils used in modern perfumes, and is still highly prized by perfumiers.

So when we ponder why we are so affected by the plight of these animals, surely it is because of the vexed history that we share.

We once killed and butchered these creatures for our own ends. And in what we hope to be enlightened times, we value them not for their oil, teeth or other products, but for something much purer  their intrinsic beauty and majesty.

I have been lucky enough to see sperm whales, many times. I have shared the waters off the Azores with them, coming eye-to-eye with them in the sea.

They are placid, sentient animals, with such a highly developed sense of their own selves that sperm-whale expert Hal Whitehead has suggested they might have their own rudimentary notions of religion.

Meanwhile, theres one optimistic note to take from the sadness of what weve witnessed over the weekend. And this is a reminder of the heartening notion that we, as a species, actually do care about the other creatures with which we share this fragile planet.
A U.S. pastor freed from an Iranian jail as part of a prisoner swap has claimed he was beaten for not signing a false confession and witnessed men being dragged from their cells to be hanged.

Saeed Abedini has claimed in a television interview he suffered a stomach bleed after interrogators, in a room next to a judge-controlled courtroom, beat him for refusing to sign the documents.

The 35-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen was jailed for eight years in 2013 for setting up home-based Christian churches in Iran, which the state claimed compromised its national security.

Saeed Abedini (pictured), a U.S. naturalized citizen, also claimed he was left alone with an Al Qaeda prisoner who tried to kill him

Mr Abedini told Fox News that while in Tehran's Evin prison he was also left with an Al Qaeda prisoner whotried to kill him and watched people screaming and crying whiletaken to be hanged.

'Yes, in interrogation once they beat me very badly becausethey wanted me to write something I didn't do.

Saeed Abedini is pictured with Congressman Robert Pittenger at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, on January 20

Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of Saeed Abedini, is pictured in the home of her parents in West Boise, Idaho, January 20, as his release was announced

'Actually itwas in a courtroom that the judge closed the door and theinterrogators started beating me, and at that time I got astomach bleeding.

'The worst thing that I saw was when they took some Sunnisfor execution. Most of them were Sunnis, some of them werepolitical prisoners. I can say most were executed for theirfaith.'

Mr Abedini, a pastor, was freed this month as partof a U.S.-Iranian prisoner swap negotiated by the Obama administration as part of the deal which lifted the country's international sanctions.

He was one of five Americans released by Iran in exchange for clemency to seven Iranians who were convicted or facing trial in the United States.

Mr Abedini was supposed to be reunited with his wife andchildren on Monday at a Christian center in North Carolina, butit was delayed because the family's travel plans have been 'influx day-to-day,' a spokesman for the center said.

The Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove, founded bythe famed evangelical minister and his family, said Mr Abediniwanted time to adjust and reconnect with his family after morethan three years of imprisonment in Iran.

Mr Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, told Reuters last week the couplewould work on their marriage.
The blizzard has subsided and Manhattan is up and running once again.

But people in Queens, East Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island claim they have been neglected by Mayor Bill de Blasio's emergency clean-up operation.

Posting pictures of entire streets caked in two feet of snow, Twitter users fumed that even ambulances and fire trucks are getting stuck two days after the storm hit.

The uproar was reignited when De Blasio responded by saying the real problem is residents who clean their cars and 're-block their own streets'.

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People in Queens (pictured) claim they have been neglected by Mayor Bill de Blasio's clean-up operation

Posting pictures of entire streets caked in two feet of snow, Twitter users fumed that even ambulances and fire trucks are getting stuck two days after the storm hit

It comes despite a dramatic increase in the number of snow plows deployed to clear New York City streets this winter compared to last year's already sizable fleet.

Reacting to the outcry on Monday, the mayor tweeted to insist 'I hear you, Queens', adding that 850 plows will be circulating the borough.

But his words were drowned out by complaints that continued on Twitter late into the night.

'Everytime it snows, my dead end block is always forgotten by the city,' one Twitter user tweeted at De Blasio, sharing a picture of a snow-filled street.

Another user in the Ridgewood area of Queens posted a picture of a street where car roofs poked out of the snow. 'When are you coming? Still waiting 2 days later,' she said.

And another wrote: 'I believe the @NYCSanitation has been working non-stop, but it hasn't been efficient. You need to re-evaluate this system.'

Cars can barely be seen poking out of the snow in this photo posted by a Queens resident on Monday

As Manhattan was up and running again, Queens remained at a standstill on Monday

Republican councilman Eric Ulrich, who serves Woodhaven in Queens, held a press conference on Monday in the middle of a snow-filled street, hitting out at De Blasio.

He branded the situation 'a recipe for disaster', describing how crucial streets connecting the main roads are inaccessible.

One street has snow covering four blocks.

'We were the forgotten borough in this storm,' Ulrich fumed.

Manhattan dwellers have also hit out at De Blasio as streets are clear but crosswalks are not.

Many have taken to walking in the streets rather than the sidewalks, which are surrounded by mountains of snow and deep icy puddles.

In order to cross the street from one sidewalk to another, New Yorkers are having to jump across meter-long puddles or climb on top of snow piles and jumping over the other side - a near-impossible challenge for elderly or disabled residents.

On Saturday, De Blasio encouraged people to leave their plowed-in cars all week after a one-day record of 26.6 inches fell in Central Park.

People are seen running across the snowy streets in Queens as 26.6 inches fell on the city's streets

The first day saw residents delightedly snow fighting. But as Monday rolled around, anger set in

A store closes due to heavy snow in Queens of New York City on Saturday

People took to the streets with shovels but their efforts could do little to dent the record 26.6 inches of snow

A resident tries to clear snow from a sidewalk in Queens on Saturday

On Saturday, De Blasio encouraged people to leave their plowed-in cars all week after a one-day record of 26.6 inches fell in Central Park

New York's transit authority said partial service on the Long Island Rail Road was restored on three of its 12 branches and diesel train service was operating on three other branches.

The problems were due to switches and tracks that were refrozen overnight due to low temperatures.

New York City subways, buses and Metro-North Railroad service were operating on a normal schedule Monday.

Snow-covered cars and driveways blocked by snow from plows are causing headaches for many New Yorkers.

Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, resident Peter Quamina said on Monday that he spent hours over the weekend shoveling out the front of his driveway only for it to be blocked again by sanitation plows.

The director of a charter school in Brooklyn, Wanda Morales, says trains will be the preferred option for many of her teachers. Normally the street parking around the school is reserved for teachers, but that's suspended until Wednesday.
The Duchess of Sussex has spoken to Variety about a wide-range of issues including 'misconceptions' about her since she married her royal husband in 2018 - especially after the Oprah interview - and claiming their 'love story' had inspired the world because 'people love love'. Meghan took part in a glamorous photo and video shoot for the magazine where she wore a 4,657 Jason Wu dress and spoke about her recent trip to the UK with Harry where their pseudo-royal tour was interrupted by Her Majesty's death aged 96 on September 8. But in a hint that her death had been troublesome for Harry, who reportedly found out about the passing of his grandmother the just five minutes before the rest of the world, she said of the days and weeks afterwards: ' It's been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said: "Now she's reunited with her husband".' Harry had looked heartbroken as he arrived at Balmoral after learning the Queen had died on a private jet travelling alone without his wife. He stayed for 12 hours, apparently refused to have dinner with King Charles and Prince William and also took a backseat at the funeral where he was not allowed to salute irrespective of his military service. But despite claims that she and Harry have set out to damage the Royal Family since emigrating in 2020, Meghan told Variety that she remains 'proud' of her relationship with Queen and had a 'nice warmth' with her, calling Her Majesty a 'matriarch'. She said: 'There's been such an outpouring of love and support. I'm really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time. What's so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her'.
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This is the story of a 25-year-old Washington mechanical engineer who decided to quit his high-paying job, sell and donate his belongings and travel from the state to Chile.

But first, Dwyer Haney needed a boat. And to learn how to sail.

It was on The Rascal, as he lovingly dubbed his 1960 Seafarer Tripp 30, that Dwyer would embark on his life-changing two-year voyage.

His goal was to ski into the fjords of Chile, but along the way Dwyer sailed under the Golden Gate Bride, swam with dolphins and weathered more than a couple of storms.

Dwyer Haney was 25 when he decided to give up his mechanical engineering job in Washington and sail to Chile

His goal was to ski into the fjords of Chile, but along the way Dwyer sailed under the Golden Gate Bride, swam with dolphins and weathered more than a couple of storms

A number of friends joined Dwyer throughout legs in his journey and one party was so massive it almost sunk the boat, dubbed The Rascal

It has been a complete 180 from his life back home.

'My life has gotten infinitely simpler and I'm completely and totally free to do whatever I want, whenever I want' Dwyer wrote on Imgur.

'The wind costs me nothing and drives me wherever I want to go.'

Dwyer had $75,000 in the bank before his journey, saved up from four years of intense work in the mechanical engineering world.

He knew he needed an adventure, deciding between the sailing trip, a dirt bike trip around Alaska, or living in a log cabin in the America West.

'I eventually decided that the sailing trip would bring me furthest from my comfort zone,teach me the most, and have the lowest impact on the environment' he wrote in a Reddit IAmA.

'I dedicated myself wholly to researching and planning the trip before I finally put in my notice at work.'

The 12,000 mile trip began in Bellingham, Washington, the starting point before Dwyer sailed down the Oregon and California coasts to Mexico.

Dwyer saw plenty of Dolphins throughout his journey, which started in Bellingham and saw him sail down the Oregon and California coasts

By the time he reached Mexico, half of Dwyer's diet was form the sea (although he let this fish go because he knew it would spoil)

Dwyer had $75,000 in the bank before his journey, saved up from four years of intense work in the mechanical engineering world

He knew he needed an adventure, and deciding on the sailing trip because it would bring him the furthest from his comfort zone

Dwyer rode out hurricane season in the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, but one storm almost cost the life of a friend watching his boat when he flew back home for a family reunion.

They communicated back and forth through text messages as Hurricane Odile hit, but after Dwyer found out the boat's anchor chain broke off and the boat was swept on the beach there was silence.

'The hours that followed were the most horrifying of my life,' he wrote. 'I wasn't sure if she had just lost cell service or if something had gone horribly wrong.'

'I eventually got a call from the Air Force that my emergency responder had been activated.'

'My friend had been swept from the bow of the boat b ya massive wave and had spent 8 hours clinging to the mangroves, battling hypothermia, and waiting for dawn and rescue.'

Dwyer's friend was fine and Rascal survived with just a bit of scratched paint.

There were other storms and a particularly scary engine fire, but there were also visiting friends, boat parties and plenty of beers - not to mention being surrounded by the beautiful simplicity of the sea.

'There was no single experience that changed me the most, instead its the sum of the last year of beauty,' Dwyer told Reddit.

'Every sunset, every dolphin escort, every volcano I skied, and every beach I walked is a part of me now. I'll be able to carry them with me for the rest of my life.'

Dwyer bought The Rascal and learned how to sail before his epic 12,000 mile voyage

On one leg of the trip Dwyer sailed 37 days non-stop by himself across the Pacific

Dwyer made it a point to never miss a sunset or a sunrise throughout his journey

'I really and truly treasure this planet in a way that I would never have been able to comprehend before I left.'

The Voyage of the Rascal also gave Dwyer, who at one point sailed 37 days non-stop and solo across the Pacific, a new sense of confidence.

'I exposed myself to a lot of challenge and a fair bit of risk during the last two years and that's definitely changed my personality,' he wrote.

'I'm much more confident and sure of myself than when I started because I know what I'm truly capable of.'

By the time he got to Mexico, almost half of Dwyer's meals came straight form the sea. And he made sure not to miss a single sunrise or sunset.

And in December Dwyer finally accomplished the goal he first set for himself two years ago and skied off the Rascal and into the fjords of Chile.

Only a month later, he announced that the voyage was officially complete.

Now Dwyer is gearing up for his next unknown challenge. Meanwhile, the Rascal is up for sale in Chile, waiting for its next adventure.
Malaysia's prime minister has been cleared in a corruption probe after a 480million transfer into his personal account by Saudi Arabia's royal family was deemed 'a gift'.

Najib Razak was cleared of any criminal offence by Malaysia's attorney-general - sparking anger among members of the country's opposition party.

The ruling came after months of pressure on Najib to resign over the scandal and accusations that the appointment of the attorney-general by the prime minister himself suggested a conflict of interest.

Najib Razak (pictured) was cleared of any criminal offence by Malaysia's attorney-general - sparking anger among members of the country's opposition party

The involvement of the Saudi royal family is an unexpected twist in the saga over the mysterious funds transfer and the troubles of indebted state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), whose advisory board Najib chairs.

'I am satisfied with the findings that the funds were not a form of graft or bribery,' Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali told a news conference.

Apandi said in a statement that $620million was returned to the Saudi royal family in August 2013, about five months after the transfer, because it had not been utilised.

'There was no reason given as to why the donation was made to PM Najib, that is between him and the Saudi family,' he said.

Apandi said no criminal offence was committed by Najib in relation to three investigations submitted by Malaysia's anti-graft agency and that no further action would be taken.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had earlier said the funds were a political donation from an unidentified Middle Eastern benefactor.

The attorney-general said in a statement he would return to the MACC papers pertaining to the three separate investigations with instructions to close all three cases.

At the height of the scandal in mid-2015, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail - who had led probes into 1MDB - was replaced by Apandi, a former federal court judge with strong ties to Najib's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party.

The ruling came after months of pressure on Najib to resign over the scandal and accusations that the appointment of the attorney-general by the prime minister himself suggested a conflict of interest

'The attorney-general should not have been involved in the decision affecting the PM because he was appointed by the PM,' said Lim Kit Siang, parliamentary leader of the opposition Democratic Action Party.

'It was very controversial circumstances when Gani Patail was sacked. It is a conflict of interest,' he said.

Najib, who has weathered repeated calls from opposition leaders and establishment figures to quit, has denied any wrongdoing and says he did not take any money for personal gain.

His office declined to make any comment on the attorney-general's findings.

The scandal has shaken investors in Southeast Asia's third-biggest economy and rocked public confidence in the coalition led by UMNO, which has held power since independence in 1957.

However, Najib still enjoys the backing of most of UMNO's powerful division chiefs. Even his fiercest internal critics, such as influential former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, accept that he cannot be unseated.

Two of the anti-corruption commission papers that Apandi reviewed related to SRC International, a former 1MDB subsidiary that is being probed for an alleged misappropriation of funds worth 4 billion ringgit (650million).

A Wall Street Journal report, which Reuters has not verified independently, had said 42 million ringgit (7million) of the funds channelled into Najib's account originated from SRC.

1MDB is under investigation by law enforcement agencies in Switzerland, Hong Kong and the United States, media and sources have said.
Shocked witnesses have described a loud bang and a grisly scene after a man plunged to his death from Australia's tallest building.

The man fell from the Gold Coast's Q1 skyscraper on Monday, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported, his body crashing onto the ground on Hamilton Avenue in full view of passersby about 2pm.

Witnesses have said one of the man's dismembered limbs was clearly visible on top of a glass awning for several hours afterwards.

A man fell to his death from the Q1 tower the Gold Coast on Monday

One Q1 SkyPoint employee said he 'wished he could forget' witnessing the fall, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Holidaymaker Frank Mercuri said a women described watching the incident to him as 'like the footage from 9-11', the paper reported.

The owner of Osaka Kaiten Sushi, which is about 30 metres from the entrance of the building, told the Daily Mail Australia his staff were startled by the noise.

View from the Q1 tower. The skyscraper in Surfer's Paradise is Australia's tallest building

"My people said they heard a big thing dropping -- a big noise," said Jimmy Makiyama.

Staff realised something bad had happened once a large number of police started to gather near the entrance to the building, he said.

Makiyama said he was unaware of any similar incidents in the two years his restaurant had been open.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious and have referred it to the coroner.
Nearly 1,000 parents a month are contacting police after being attacked by their own children, it was claimed today.

Police allegedly investigated almost 11,600 domestic violence cases involving under 17s last year, with Merseyside being the worst region with more than 2,100 calls.

A boy aged four in West Mercia and a five-year-old girl in Cumbria were said to have been among the children probed, with almost 1,450 youngsters charged and more than 1,000 cautioned.

Fists raised: Police allegedly investigated almost 11,600 domestic violence cases involving under 17s last year, with Merseyside being the worst region with more than 2,100 calls (file picture)

The results were revealed in data issued by 43 police forces in response to a Freedom of Information request, according to a report by Sun reporter Tom Wells.

The newspaper also claimed that Leicestershire Police cautioned a boy aged 12 for attacking a 49-year-old woman and a girl aged 14 for assaulting a 32-year-old woman.

Enver Solomon, director of evidence and impact at the National Childrens Bureau charity, told The Sun: 'Should people call police, or is it a parenting issue?'

A Home Office definition of domestic violence issued last May states that it can only take place between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members.

Action: It was claimed that Leicestershire Police (based in Hamilton, Leicester, above) cautioned a boy aged 12 for attacking a 49-year-old woman and a girl aged 14 for attacking a 32-year-old woman

Children under ten cannot be charged with committing a criminal offence, although they can be given a Local Child Curfew or a Child Safety Order.

Children under ten who break the law regularly can sometimes be taken into care, or their parents could be held responsible.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has been warning since 1995 that the UK's threshold of ten  set in 1963  is incompatible with its obligations under the UN's convention on children's rights.
Future New York subway cars could look a lot more like the London Tube and Paris Metro, a new design released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has revealed.

The MTA's new model featured a train with an open gangway configuration, which seals the space between the cars and allows passengers to move from one to another without fear of falling off.

This style is predicted to increase passenger capacity by 10 percent in each car, increasing safety and creating more space.

Future New York subway cars could look a lot more like the London Tube and Paris Metro, a new design released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has revealed

The MTA's new model featured a train with an open gangway configuration, which seals the space between the cars and allows passengers to move from one to another without fear of falling off

New Yorkers won't see these prototypes until 2020 - at least earliest - but the MTA said it plans to spend $52m on 10 open gangway cars for two full-length trains, The New York Daily News reported.

But Big Apple residents will get to see some changes sooner rather than later.

This month Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that riders will soon have Wi-Fi and cell phone service as part of a plan to upgrade the century-old transit system.

Cuomo said the five-year, $29 billion plan will restore New York's legacy of building big for future generations.

The plan includes subway countdown clocks, replacement subway cars and mobile charging stations on subway cars.

New Yorkers won't see these prototypes until 2020 - at least earliest - but the MTA said it plans to spend $52m on 10 open gangway cars for two full-length trains

The style is predicted to increase passenger capacity by 10 percent in each car, creating safety and more space

Thirty stations, which help to serve, 9 million people daily, will be completely overhauled.

Many of the changes had previously been announced, but Cuomo said that they will be expedited with Wi-Fi in every station by the end of 2016 and cellphone service by the end of 2017.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority also plans to replace transit buses and complete bridge and tunnel repairs.

Subway stations will be redesigned - and will be cleaner and easier to navigate.

While the plan isn't as big as transportation advocates wanted, Cuomo says it's a vital investment in the city's future.

The MTA is saying the entire system is technologically behind the rest of the world.
Phillips, who played piano at his church, was bodyguard to rapper Future

The former bodyguard of hip hop artist Future has been shot dead.

Michael Tanner Phillips, 27, was at home in Jonesboro, Georgia, with his pregnant wife on Monday afternoon when an unidentified gunman arrived at the door, Fox 5 reports.

After a loud argument overheard by neighbors at around 1pm, Phillips was shot dead, the report claims.

Recently married, Phillips has played the piano at his mother's church in the city since he quit bodyguard work in 2011.

His highest-profile job was with Future, the Atlanta-born rapper who has topped the Billboard 200, toured with Drake, and collaborated with Rihanna.

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Michael Tanner Phillips, the 27-year-old former bodyguard of rapper Future (pictured), has been shot dead

'Some of the neighbors heard some arguing and some gunshots,' Lt Frank Thomas of the Clayton County Police Department told Fox 5 outside Phillips' home on Monday.

'We are still interviewing them and trying to piece together what happened,' he added.

No arrests have been made and the gunman remains at large, he said.

On Monday afternoon, Phillips' pregnant widow as well as friends and relatives could be seen weeping outside the property.

Members of his church, Hand Of Faith Deliverance, also stopped by the house in shock, Fox 5 reported.
A rural coffee shop has been blasted on social media for a sign which said they would be open on national d***head day.

A blackboard sign was put up at the Mister Jones cafe on Monday, a day before Australia Day which said: Yes, were open on national d***head day.

Outrage at the cafe in Bermagui, five hours south of Sydney, has grown after it a photo of the sign was shared to a popular Facebook page and went viral.

A blackboard sign was put up at the Mister Jones cafe on Monday, a day before Australia Day which said: Yes, were open on national d***head day'

An image of the sign was posted to Meanwhile in Australia on Monday, and has since been liked and shared more than 6,600 and 3,100 times, respectfully.

The majority of the 1,800 comments on the post are chastising the Mister Jones cafe, while some have hijacked the Facebook page for the business and left poor reviews with a one star rating.

Some outraged at the sign appear to have made up seeing rats and cockroaches scurrying away and being served coffee that tasted like diarrhoea or bong water.

Many called the cafe 'disgraceful' or 'un-Australian'.

Outrage at the cafe in Bermagui, five hours south of Sydney, has grown after it a photo of the sign referring to Australia Day as 'D***head Day' was shared to a popular Facebook page and went viral

The image of the sign referring to Australia Day as D***head Day was also shared to pages including Truthophobes  Exposing the Truth about Islam and Aussie Infidels, who also shared pictures of the owners.

According to one customer who wrote in support of the Mister Jones cafe, owners have since taken the sign down just in case some pissed hoons wanted to throw bottles.

The customer also said there was a queue out the door for the coffee bar, unaffected by those outraged at the sign.

Keith Dowden, Bermagui Chamber of Commerce president, confirmed the sign had been removed, Bega District News reported.

The same cafe reportedly had a sign at its entrance on Australia Day last year which said: Strictly no patriotism beyond this point.
Mary Bennett, 29, has been arrested after she allegedly faked a cancer diagnosis and obtained $25,000 in gifts and donations

A Georgia nurse has been arrested for allegedly obtaining $25,000 in free trips, donations and gifts for a cancer diagnosis police said she never actually had.

Mary Bennett, 29, first said she was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer in 2013, detailing her struggle on social media as she shared she had been laid off from her job.

Bennett, from Cumming, also wrote about her quest to fulfill her bucket list, which led to people paying for her to go on a hot air balloon ride, skydiving, and a trip to New Orleans.

One fundraiser paid her way to Houston, Texas with $4,000 in donations so that she could receive an alleged medical treatment, according to Inside Edition.

Donation pages were set up in honor of Bennett's bucket list, detailing her plight with titles such as 'Moving Mountains for Mary'.

'I just wanted to tell you all, thank you! I am so appreciative for the donations and the orders that people have placed,' Bennett wrote in a post on one such Facebook page.

'It's certainly hard going thru cancer (sic) at any age. But for this to be the 2nd time in my short 27 years has certainly made me wiser and humbled'.

Bennett, who had 'Ovarian Cancer Survivor' written on her Twitter bio, promised friends and family she would repay their generous donations by paying it forward through her career as a nurse.

She also shaved and placed bandages on her friend, and told people the cancer had spread and she had four tumors on her brain and brainstem, according to Forsyth County Sheriff's Deputy Epifanio Rodriguez.

Bennett first said she was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer in 2013, detailing her struggle on social media as she shared she had been laid off from her job

'Her family was completely in the dark,' he told Inside Edition.

'She would go to these doctors and her family would take her, but no one ever actually went in with her. She was not actually having procedures...She went to the extreme.'

Authorities said there is no record of Bennett receiving any kind of cancer treatment anywhere.

A felony first-degree forgery charge was added after officials said Bennett, who has already been charged with misdemeanor theft by taking, faked letters from a cancer institute claiming she was a patient.

Rodriguez said the Emory Winship Cancer Institute had not only never treated Bennett, they had never even heard of her.

Bennett's misdemeanor charge could be upgraded to a felony depending on how many more people have proof they were allegedly tricked by Bennett.

Rodriguez said a dozen additional people have called saying they are victims of her alleged hoax.
The Danish parliament has approved a series of controversial proposals aiming to make the country a less attractive destination refugees and migrants.

The measures were passed by an overwhelming majority with the main centre-left opposition Social Democrats voting in favour as Denmark's political landscape shifts to the right thanks to the popularity of anti-immigrant Danish People's Party

Measures include confiscating migrants' valuables in order to finance their upkeep while they seek asylum, and making it harder to bring family members to Denmark once they have a right to remain.

The proposals have been severely criticised by the United Nations as well as international media, where the measures have been compared to the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany.

Tougher measures: Police escort a family from Syria seeking asylum in Padborg, Denmark, earlier this month as the government vote on a new bill set to make the country 'less attractive' for refugees and migrants

Denmark had previously been seen as more of a thoroughfare, with many migrants and refugees passing through on their way to Sweden.

However, in December last year, the Swedish government introduced a cap on migrants and mandatory ID-checks on its borders, meaning more people have stayed in Denmark.

Lawmakers in Copenhagen hope the bill will reduce the influx of migrants and help new arrivals of refugee status.

The most controversial measure on the bill is the introduction of police searches and confiscations of cash and valuables.

Danish police will be able to search luggage of asylum seekers and seize cash exceeding 10,000 kroner (1,025), as well as any individual items valued at more than that amount.

The proposed measures include confiscating asylum seekers' valuables in order to finance upkeep, which has seen the Danish government being compared to Nazi Germany

Wedding rings and other items of sentimental value will be exempt.

The Danish government has defended the request that asylum seekers sell valuables and offer up cash, as the same rules apply for all Danish citizens who wish to qualify for social benefits.

'We are saying that if you want to come to Europe you should stay clear of Denmark,' said Martin Henriksen, a spokesman for the anti-immigration Danish People's Party.

The new bill will also makes it harder for family members left behind to join asylum seekers in Denmark once they have been granted residency - even if they are refugees.

Being a refugee - fleeing war but not individual prosecution - will not longer qualify for the highest form of protection status under Danish law, and they will have to wait three years instead of one year before applying for family reunifications.

Once the application has been filed, the process can take years, and refugees would have to pay the transportation costs of family members they bring to the country.

The waiting time has prompted allegations that Denmark will violate the European Convention on Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Refugee Convention.

Critique: Migrants enter a train to Copenhagen from Flensburg, northern Germany, in November last year

Amnesty International said the move could 'have a devastating impact on families, including their rehabilitation from experiences of trauma and their ability to integrate and adapt to life in a new country.'

Residence permits would be shortened from five years to two for refugees and asylum seekers facing persecution based on their race, nationality, religion, political beliefs or association with a specific social group.

In addition, the requirements for permanent residency applications now include new Danish language requirements and the person must have been employed for 2.5 of the past three years rather than three out of five years.

The selection of 500 yearly UN quota refugees will be based on their 'integration potential' which includes criteria like language abilities, education, work experience, age and motivation. The criteria were first introduced in 2005 by a right-wing government but were later rolled back.

The bill has sparked international outrage, especially in the US, where the Washington Post noted that confiscating jewellery from refugees had 'a particularly bitter connotation in Europe' where the Nazis seized gold and valuables from Jews and others during the Second World War.

Several organisations, including the UN High Commission for Refugees, also censured the Nordic country for the proposal, as well as for others that will delay family reunification and make acquiring refugee and residence status more difficult.
A little boy struck down with Salmonella after eating at a Sydney bakery with his family is expected to be in hospital until Thursday and is suffering severe 'cramping, stitches,' and a fever.

Damian Sullivan took his son Cooper, 11, and his five-year-old daughter Tia to enjoy a chicken schnitzel roll at Box Village Bakery in Sylvania in Sydney's south on Sunday.

Cooper became incredibly sick overnight and was rushed to his local doctor and later admitted to Sutherland hospital, where he has gotten increasingly 'worse.'

Mr Sullivan told Daily Mail Australia close to 100 people have been struck down with food poisoning after reportedly eating at the same bakery, but NSW Health maintain the number is closer to 60.

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Cooper Sullivan was struck down with Salmonella (pictured) after reportedly eating at a Sydney bakery with his family and is expected to be in hospital until Thursday

Customers consumed hot chicken rolls or chicken schnitzel rolls at a Sydney bakery before falling ill. Daily Mail Australia understands the bakery is Box Village Bakery (above)

'Cooper came into my bedroom on Sunday night, jumped on the toilet and was there all night basically,' Mr Sullivan told Daily Mail Australia.

'When we got to the hospital the staff asked if we had eaten at the Box Village Bakery and said they had been inundated with patients who ate there.

'When we went back after Cooper was admitted, there were six other people on drips with Salmonella poisoning.'

Mr Sullivan said Cooper has since gotten worse and is expected to spend at least two more nights in hospital.

In a video taken by his mother, the little boy bursts into tears after as he lay on a hospital bed on Tuesday.

'I don't feel too well, I've got stiches (sic) and cramps, bad pain,' Cooper tells his mum in the video, grimacing and with a canula inserted into his hand.

Mr Sullivan said he and his daughter, who also consumed chicken schnitzel rolls from the bakery, have begun to feel slightly unwell themselves.

Damian Sullivan took his son Cooper, 11, and his five-year-old daughter Tia to enjoy a chicken schnitzel roll at Box Village Bakery in Sylvania in Sydney's south on Sunday

Following its shut down, a note was spotted outside the bakery on Tuesday, saying: 'You made my family very sick.'

After becoming incredibly sick overnight, Cooper was rushed to his local doctor and later admitted to Sutherland hospital, where he has gotten increasingly 'worse'

A NSW Food Authority spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that trading at the bakery has been suspended while the outbreak is being investigated.

'We have issued a prohibition notice on the premises. It is not operational,' she said.

Dr Mark Ferson, who is the public health director for south-east Sydney, told Daily Mail Australia 40 people had presented themselves at The Sutherland and The St George hospitals over the weekend with symptoms of food poisoning.

Of those who went to hospital, 13 people were admitted for medical treatment and about a dozen who had spoken to the Department of Health reported they had eaten at the same place, which Daily Mail Australia understands to be Box Village Bakery.

A spokesperson from Sutherland Hospital confirmed to Daily Mail Australia an additional 27 people were treated on Tuesday for Salmonella, but none were admitted.

The bakery owners have been contacted for comment on the matter.

A mother claims her sons got food poisoning after eating a hot chicken roll and a chicken schnitzel roll. Above is a stock photo of a chicken schnitzel roll

People have started leaving notes outside the bakery, saying: 'You made my family very sick'

A NSW Food Authority spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that trading at the bakery has been suspended while the outbreak is being investigated

About 40 people presented themselves at The Sutherland (pictured) and St George hospitals with symptoms of food poisoning

Following its shut down, a note was spotted outside the bakery on Tuesday, saying: 'You made my family very sick.'

Mr Sullivan said he placed his own note on the door of the bakery after he noticed the bakery 'incorrectly' stated it was closed for renovations. His note has since been taken down.

'It's not right for them to do that they need to tell the truth so I wrote: "be careful poisoning outbreak  dont eat here".'

One mother, Katrina, told 2UE radio her 17-year-old and 19-year-old sons were struck down by food poisoning and were so ill that she had to send her husband down to the local medical centre because she did not want to risk them waiting for a long time inside.

'The only reason why we didn't take [our sons] to hospital was because they couldn't get out of the bathroom long enough to travel anywhere,' she said.

Another man said five of his friends had been struck down after eating at the same place.

Dr Ferson told 2UE radio people had presented themselves to the hospital with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.

Of those who went to hospital, 13 people were admitted for medical treatment and about a dozen who had spoken to the Department of Health reported they had eaten at the same place

A NSW Food Authority spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that trading at the bakery has been suspended while the outbreak is being investigated

Public health director for south-east Sydney Dr Mark Ferson added three patients had salmonella. Above is The St George Hospital

'People started becoming sick on Friday and the hospital informed us on Sunday that they were getting a number of patients in,' he said.

'A number of the people we've spoken to have eaten at a bakery in the Shire. We've passed that information onto the food authorities who have closed the place down so there's no more risk.'

Dr Ferson told Daily Mail Australia three people were confirmed to have salmonella out of five samples they had tested.
The spiritual leader of the militant group behind the Bali bombings has arrived in court amid cheers of 'God is great' as he continues his bid to be freed from prison.

Radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir's court appearance was surrounded by 1800 police and military personnel in Central Java on Tuesday for his hearing, which has drawn hundreds of his supporters.

During the trial Mr Bashir appears to lift the Koran above his head in front of several district court judges.

Raising the Koran: Radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir founded the group behind the Bali bombings but was jailed in 2011 for supporting a terror training camp in Aceh

Abu Bakar Bashir (C), enters the courtroom at the Cilacap District Court on January 26, 2016 in Cilacap, Central Java, Indonesia

Known in Australia as the spiritual leader of the militant group behind the 2002 Bali bombings, Jemaah Islamiah, Bashir was acquitted of masterminding that attack on appeal

Known in Australia as the spiritual leader of the militant group behind the 2002 Bali bombings, Bashir was acquitted of masterminding that attack on appeal.

But he is now seeking early release from his 15-year sentence in 2011 over his support of a terrorist training camp in Aceh.

It was in this camp that police say those responsible trained for the January 14 assault in Indonesia's capital.

High security: Bashir's court appearance was surrounded by 1800 police and military personnel in Central Java on Tuesday for his hearing, which has drawn hundreds of his supporters

A leader at the former military training camp in Aceh, Komarudin, told the court Mr Bashir was not an early supporter of the group, nor were their activities 'for terror'.

But the leader at the former military training camp in Aceh, Komarudin, told the court Mr Bashir was not an early supporter of the group, nor were their activities 'for terror'.

It was only after the camp was surrounded by police that Mr Bashir was contacted via the internet for help.

'We asked for his support in praying because he is the eldest among the clerics (so) his prayer would be granted,' Komarudin said.

'Abu Bakar Bashir is the chosen one. Allah has given him the courage to speak justice,' he added later.

Few were let inside the court itself, many of the Bashir enthusiasts have been left to peer over the complex's walls or to follow the proceedings on screens outside




But said still likes ideas of Communism 'very much'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin for placing 'an atomic time bomb' under Russia by drawing administrative borders along ethnic lines.

The harsh criticism of Lenin, who is still revered by communists and many others in Russia, is unusual for Putin, who in the past carefully weighed his comments about the nation's history to avoid alienating some voters.

Though acknowledging that he sincerely believed in Communist ideology when he served in the KGB, Putin denounced Lenin and his government for brutally executing Russia's last czar along with all his family and servants.

Putin (left) criticised Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin (right) for placing 'an atomic time bomb' under Russia by drawing administrative borders along ethnic lines

The Russian president denounced Lenin (pictured) and his government for brutally executing Russia's last czar along with all his family and servants

'Why did they kill them? Just for the sake of concealing a crime,' he said during Monday's meeting with pro-Kremlin activists in the southern city of Stavropol.

Then, he accused Lenin of ruining the Soviet Union by conceiving a federative state with its entities having the right to secede.

'It was an atomic time bomb under our state which would later explode,' he said, arguing that Lenin was wrong in a dispute with Josef Stalin who advocated a unitary state model.

Putin alleged that providing regions with autonomy contributed to the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.

In particular, the Russian president criticised Lenin for drawing borders along ethnic lines and used the example of Donbass to illustrate the Soviet leader's destructive legacy.

Donbass is an industrial region in Ukraine where a pro-Russia separatist rebellion flared up weeks after Russia's March 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

More than 9,000 people have been killed in the conflict since April 2014, and clashes have continued despite a February 2015 peace deal.

Putin said that Lenin and his government whimsically drew borders between parts of the U.S.S.R., placing Donbass under the Ukrainian jurisdiction in order to 'increase the percentage of proletariat' in a move Putin called 'delirious'

Vladimir Lenin is still revered by communists and many others in Russia

The body of the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin lies in the Mausoleum on Red Square in Moscow

He said that Lenin and his government whimsically drew borders between parts of the U.S.S.R., placing Donbass under the Ukrainian jurisdiction in order to 'increase the percentage of proletariat' in a move Putin called 'delirious.'

In Monday's comments, Putin also blasted the Bolsheviks for making Russia lose World War I in their quest for power, making Russia suffer defeat by Germany and cede large chunks of territory just months before it lost World War I. 'We lost to the losing party, a unique case in history,' Putin said.

He also said that he still likes the ideas of theoretical communism 'very much' and proudly admitted that he still keeps his Communist Party membership card at home.

'In contrast to many functionaries I did not throw my membership card away or burn it in public,' he told supporters in the southern city of Stavropol. 'I still keep it at home.'

'I cannot say that I was a hardline advocate of the communist ideology,' he said. 'Yet my attitude to all this was very delicate.'

Putin said that while serving in the KGB he liked  and continues today to like  communist and socialist ideas 'very much.'
A mystery pensioner who died on a remote hillside could have been making a final pilgrimage to the scene of plane crash that killed his family more than 65 years ago, police believe.

Detectives in Greater Manchester have spent six weeks investigating the death of the unidentified individual after he travelled more than 200 miles to Saddleworth Moor where his body was found.

And despite still not knowing the mans identity, police think he could have a family connection to the horror crash at the hill involving a British European Airways Douglas Dakota, which killed 24 people.

Mystery man: Detectives in Greater Manchester have spent six weeks investigating the death of the unidentified individual after he travelled more than 200 miles to Saddleworth Moor where his body was found

Saddleworth Moor: The body was found close to the summit of Indian's Head above Dovestone reservoir

Now detectives, who admit nothing can be ruled out in the puzzling case, are looking into whether the man  thought to be in his 70s  could have been related to a victim of the crash in August 1949.

Detective Sergeant John Coleman of Oldham CID told Sun reporter Guy Patrick: We have opened the files on the crashed DC-3 and are examining the names of all those who survived and died.

The unidentified man is of an age that ties in with the crash and could be related to someone on it. He could have been making a pilgrimage to the plane crash site to remember a relative or friend.

Mystery surrounds the death of the smartly-dressed pensioner who took the train from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly on December 11 and climbed a large hill in atrocious weather.

The man was wearing slip on shoes and had 130 in cash in his pockets and three train tickets he purchased the day before.

His body was found on a track close to the summit of Indian's Head above Dovestone reservoir close to the Peak District on December 12.

Accident: Despite still not knowing the mans identity, police think he could have a family connection to the crash at Saddleworth Moor involving a British European Airways Douglas Dakota in 1949, which left 24 dead

He is believed to have started his journey in London, before taking the train to Manchester and heading to the village of Greenfield the day before.

IS MYSTERY MAN LINKED TO VICTIMS OF 1949 CRASH THAT KILLED 24? The crash in 1949 left 24 people dead after the plane from Belfast struck a mist-covered hill in Saddleworth, some 15 miles away from its intended destination of Manchester Ringway Airport. A doctor at the scene said that he saw bodies scattered all over the place and there were 'a few survivors lying groaning on the hillside but some of them died before I could attend to them. A report later found the crash was caused by an error in navigation, incorrect approach procedure and failure to check the position of the aircraft accurately before the descent from a safe height. Advertisement

Detectives are unclear if he was a Londoner, or had just taken to a visit to the capital.

Officers identified the man in footage taken in Ealing, West London, of him walking 'backwards and forwards' as he went to a train station at 9am. He arrived in Manchester shortly after midday where he walked around the shops at the station where he bought some food.

The man then headed to the city centre before making his way to Saddleworth and visited a pub at 2pm, where he asked how to get to the top of the 1,500ft peak.

The landlord said he spoke with a northern accent but didn't sound as if he was local to the area. The landlord told him he wouldn't be able to climb the mountain in the dark or in heavy rain but he did anyway.

Witnesses saw him about a mile up the hill at around 4.30pm and again about three quarters of the way up. He was wearing black slip-on shoes, a blue coat and a white shirt with a collar.

Investigation: Officers are appealing for anyone who recognises the man - seen on CCTV at Ealing Broadway train station in West London - to get in touch. Police are not treating his death as suspicious

Notorious: The man - who is believed to be aged in his 70s - went to a peak overlooking the moor where Ian Brady (left) and Myra Hindley (right) buried their victims in the Sixties

His body was found the next morning, lying face-up on a boggy section of track, with head pointing towards the mountain summit, his legs together and arms by his side.

He could have been making a pilgrimage to the plane crash site to remember a relative or friend Detective Sergeant John Coleman

The peak overlooks the moor where murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley buried their victims in the Sixties.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious and believe he lay down on the spot and died.

Despite numerous appeals, officers have been unable to identify the man, who was carrying no documentation or had any scars, marks or tattoos on his body. Searches of DNA databases have found no matches.
Google set to pay 380m in France despite UK being its largest base

Google is set to pay three times more back tax to France than the UK, despite making three times as much money and employing four times more staff in its British outpost (pictured)

The Government was today accused of incompetence after agreeing Google could pay 130milllion in tax even though the web giant is about to hand over three times more in France.

Aggressive French officials are close to getting 380million from Google even though Britain is its biggest market outside the US and employs thousands more people than in France.

Paris tax bosses have refused to accept Google's ploy of funnelling its international sales via Dublin to benefit from Ireland's lower tax rate.

George Osborne hailed the 130million deal as a 'victory' for the taxpayer but critics branded it 'derisory' because Google has made around 6billion in profit in the UK in the past decade.

Yesterday even Downing Street distanced itself from the Chancellor's claims and the agreement is now going to be subject to three inquiries.

Both Google and HM Revenue and Customs are now set to be hauled in front of MPs to explain the deal, after the Commons public accounts committee and the Treasury committee last night launched separate inquiries.

Sources at the National Audit Office revealed they are also poised to investigate the deal.

HMRC officials have taken six years to get the the internet giant to pay back just 130million to cover a decade of back-taxes.

This means they have been taxed at a rate that may be as low as 3 per cent - although the Government is still refusing to disclose what they charged them for 'confidentiality' reasons, minister David Gauke said yesterday.

David Davis, vice chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on tax, says Google should be paying around 200million in tax every year and called for it to put the 'sweetheart deal' and its UK finances 'entirely in the open'.

The Tories have long been accused of cosying up to the tech giant and Mr Davis told MailOnline: 'It makes it all the more important that both Google and the Government are absolutely transparent about this tax deal'.

Mr Davis also said HMRC had for years been 'appallingly poor' in its negotiations with big businesses in the past, which includes Google, Vodafone, Amazon and Apple.

He said: 'HMRC has 101 different measures that are punitive for small businesses or normal citizens but not companies like Google. You shouldn't allow big businesses to negotiate a lower tax rate because they create jobs, corner shops could not negotiate that so why should they.

'It is not difficult to solve, money earned in this country should be taxed in this country no matter where you say your nominal office in Dublin or Luxembourg is'.

HQ: This is Google's UK reception at one of its central London offices, where thousands are employed, but it insists that it has no 'fixed base' in Britain

HOW GOOGLE FUNNELS ITS MONEY VIA A WEB OF COMPANIES TO SHRINK ITS TAX BILL Web: This is Google's complicated web of holding companies that allows the web giant to reduce its international tax bill. Google US has set up two Irish companies, one of which is based in Bermuda, with a middle company in the Netherlands. The network allows revenue from around the world to be sent back to Bermuda via Ireland and Holland, with their generous tax rates, allowing Google to reduce its tax bill Google manages to reduce its tax bill by using a set of subsidiary companies across the globe. The network - nicknamed the 'Double Irish and Dutch Sandwich' - is hugely controversial but totally legal. Google moved its headquarters for Europe, the Middle East and Africa to Ireland in 2008 to benefit from the country's lower tax rate on profits. In Britain, its biggest market outside the US, Google is classified as having no 'fixed base' so none of its sales are technically made in the UK. It means when a British company buys a Google advert for the UK, for example, the money goes straight to Dublin, meaning it pays little tax to the UK Treasury. After paying Ireland's lower corporation tax rate of 12.5%, international profits are then funnelled via Google Netherlands Holdings, taking advantage of generous tax laws there. The profits are then sent to Google's main overseas company, another Irish business domiciled in Bermuda - where the corporation tax rate is zero. This complicated arrangement is explained by experts as the Double Irish and Dutch Sandwich - with the Irish businesses being the bread and the Dutch subsidiary being its filling. It means that Google's overseas tax rate on all its profits falls to around five per cent when in the UK it would have to pay 20 per cent. Though this process has been branded 'immoral' by MPs, it is not illegal and Google says it has abided by international tax rules. The company also says its Bermuda operation does not impact the tax it pays in the UK. Executives say the reported UK profit margins are far below the group average because most of its algorithms and codes, which drive the company's profits, are developed outside the country. Google still pays the majority of its taxes in America, but on its American profits only. Advertisement

The French authorities have been aggressively chasing Google for more than 500million euros, furious at the tax avoidance ploy used by the firm, which registered all European sales in Dublin and benefitted from the lower tax rate in Ireland.

'We have a hard time believing that some 150 well-paid salespeople with advanced degrees employed by one particular company in France are nothing more than busboys for Ireland,' a French official said last year, according to The Times. Italy is also reportedly demanding 1billion from Google.

George Osborne, pictured, is facing three inquiries over his deal with Google that will see the internet giant pay 130m to cover a decade of back-taxes

Google uses a complicated web of businesses across the globe to reduce its tax bill and still claims it has no 'fixed base' in the UK despite its plans for a 1billion central London office housing up to 5,000 staff. Currently its thousands of UK employees are split between two offices.

Yet it still says it has no permanent establishment in Britain.

David Davis believes that Google makes around 1.2billion a year in profit from UK sales and therefore should pay around 200million in tax.

But its tax set-up allows the business to send UK sales revenue through an Irish subsidiary and legally avoid corporation tax in Britain.

That cash is then funneled via Holland, which offers a tax break too, and on to a holding company in Bermuda, which has a zero rate of corporation tax.

Money from Google's other international businesses is sent to Bermuda in the same way.

MPs on all sides demanded further action to extract tax from Google and other giant corporations like Apple, Starbucks, Amazon and Facebook that make huge sums in the UK but pay little or no tax.

The Times has also reported that HMRC officials failed to question Google's claim that it had no 'permanent establishment' in the UK.

Meg Hillier, who chairs the Commons public accounts committee, said it was just a 'cosy deal', adding: 'It beggars belief that they didn't challenge that basic question (of no fixed base). It underlines my real concerns about HMRC not keeping up with the big guys.'

The heavily criticised deal was probably signed off by HMRC chief Lin Homer, nicknamed 'Dame Disaster'.

Jim Harra, HMRC's business tax director general, today said he understood public frustration that there was 'an inevitability' that corporations like Google will pay less tax than domestic firms.

But he told BBC Radio 4's World at One: 'We only accept the full amount of tax, interest and penalties that is due, otherwise if we can't reach an agreement on that amount we will go to tribunal. We certainly don't apply any rate of tax other than the statutory rate that Parliament has published.'

Google has taken advantage of lower tax rates in Ireland to base parts of its business there, and Mr Harra acknowledged 'multinationals do have capabilities and resources to structure themselves in the most tax-efficient ways, from their point of view' but 'we have some rules that protect us from avoidance.

'I am satisfied that we have carried out a thorough investigation and we have collected the amount of tax that is due under the law and I am quite happy to be held to account for what we have done.'

French authorities have been aggressively chasing Google for more than 500million Euros, furious at the tax avoidance ploy used by the firm, which registered all European sales in Dublin and benefitted from the lower tax rate in Ireland. Pictured is Google's office in Paris

Interpretation: Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell today drew Google boss Eric Schmidt, 60, and appears to compare getting cash from the internet giant to squeezing pus from spots

Britain is Google's biggest foreign market, and the UK wing has four times as many staff as Google France.

GOOGLE PLANS NEW 1BN LONDON OFFICE DESPITE ITS TAX STATUS Google is planning to build a brand new 1billion London office 'worthy of standing for 100 years' and housing up to 5,000 staff - but maintains it has no 'permanent' UK base. With a rooftop pool, an indoor football pitch and a private climbing wall, Googles vision for its Kings Cross headquarters sounded more like a giant holiday camp than an office. The architects plans showed pictures of staff cycling between meetings, and lounging about in cosy nooks in a carefully manicured roof garden. But Google boss Larry Page last year ordered the extravagant plans be ripped up because they were too boring. Mr Page, who co-founded the American technology giant, ordered the UK team to go back to the drawing board. Google originally hoped that the 1bn development would be ready in 2016, but that deadline is now looking more than a little ambitious. Building work on the site behind Kings Cross has not started, putting the project at least a year behind schedule. Google is known for its unusual offices around the world, which often feel more like a playground than a work space. The sprawling Mountainview site boasts an on-site bowling alley, a volleyball court, yurt-shaped meetings rooms and pods for staff who want to sleep, not to mention 19 free restaurants and 60 snack kitchens. Googles offices in Londons Victoria - one of two in the capital - includes a room stocked with musical instruments, like a teenage boys fantasy bedroom. Advertisement

Tax expert Steve Lewis, who featured in the BBC Two show The Town That Took on the Taxman where locals took their businesses offshire, branded the situation 'ridiculous'.

He said: 'Google must have been over the moon with how lightly it got off. They probably thought all their Christmases and New Years had come at once.

'If you look at their turnover for the UK it is eight figures - the money they should pay back should have been around 1 billion, not 130 million.

'If a small firm makes an error with its tax return there's no tolerance whatsoever. You're not in any position to negotiate - you have to pay the fine plus interest.'

Mr Osborne has faced a barrage of criticism over the deal with HMRC, which covers money owed since 2005.

And even Downing Street yesterday distanced itself from Mr Osborne's claim that the agreement was a 'victory' for the taxpayer, as Tory MPs queued up to demand further action to extract tax from Google and other giant corporations that contribute little or nothing in the UK.

Treasury committee chairman Andrew Tyrie said tax law had become a 'piece of elastic' that allowed corporations to get away with paying almost nothing.

He said: 'The complexity of tax law is turning what should be a straightforward principle  that everybody should pay the correct amount of tax  into a piece of elastic. For corporation tax the problem is exacerbated by the globalisation of economic activity and any liability to tax that accompanies it.'

Labour said the deal set a dangerous precedent, and asked why ministers were settling for so little, when Italy was demanding 1billion from Google.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said analysis by experts suggested 'the effective rate of tax faced by Google is around 3 per cent'  against the current corporation tax rate of 20 per cent.

Treasury minister David Gauke dismissed the figure, saying Google was paying a higher rate of tax on its profits in the UK. But he flatly refused to tell MPs what the real rate was, or how it had been calculated.

Labour MP Rachel Reeves, a member of the Treasury committee, said the deal was an insult to taxpayers. She added: 'A lot of people are struggling to fill out their tax returns right now  they can't go and have a word with HMRC and say, 'I think I'll just pay 1,000 this year.' They have to pay their fair share.'

The deal with Google announced on Friday covers a period dating back to 2005. Mr Osborne hailed it as 'a victory for the action we've taken'.

Google has agreed to pay just 130million in taxes dating back to 2005. The amount was branded 'derisory' in light of the fact that the firm racked up sales of 4.5billion in Britain in 2014 alone

Downing Street today played down reports that it was distancing itself from the Chancellor, who had described the deal as a 'victory' and a 'major success'.

'The Prime Minister and the Chancellor are of the same mind on this,' a Downing Street spokesman said. 'This was a good deal. There is no difference in the position - the Prime Minister and Chancellor's view on this is the same.'

OTHER GIANTS IN THE DOCK: MAJOR FIRMS AND CORPORATION TAX Facebook: The social media titan paid just 4,327 in corporation tax in 2014, despite reporting UK revenues of 105million. Apple: The US-based technology firm behind the iPad and the iPhone made 34billion in profit during the year to September 2014. Experts estimate that the UK accounted for 1.9billion of that profit, but the firm only paid 11.8million in British corporation tax. Amazon: The online shopping giant took 5.3billion in sales from British shoppers in 2014 but paid just 11.9million in tax after announcing profits of 34.4million. Starbucks: The coffee chain paid just 8.6million of tax over 14 years between 1998 and 2012 when sales totalled 3billion. But latest company filings show it paid 8.1million in corporation tax for last year on profits of 34.2million. Advertisement

The spokesman said the tax settlement was agreed with Google by HMRC, adding: 'No ministers were involved in agreeing this deal. It is done by HMRC on an operational basis.'

He added: 'The key point on this is that HMRC is satisfied with the tax due and what it has collected.'

The spokesman said he was aware of 'speculation' that France is seeking more than 500 million euros from Google, but added: 'Clearly at this stage, there's no outcome, so it does remain to be seen how much they get.'

London Mayor Boris Johnson also hit out at the 'derisory' tax settlement, and called for reform of the tax system.

Mr Osborne dodged scrutiny of the deal in the Commons yesterday, preferring to press ahead with a pre-arranged trip to Liverpool with Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates. Instead, it was left to Mr Gauke to deal with the criticism from MPs on all sides.

Tory Anne Main asked why HMRC had allowed Google to avoid paying its taxes for so many years and fellow Conservative Mark Garnier questioned whether the internet giant had broken the law. Mr Gauke flatly refused to disclose details, citing taxpayer confidentiality. He insisted the deal was good for Britain, and said it provided 'solid evidence' that firms were responding to strengthened rules.

Google's sales were valued at 3.8billion in Britain during 2013 but it paid just 20.4million in UK taxes that year. Between 2006 and 2011 the company's revenue in the UK hit around 12.6billion but its corporation tax payments for the period totalled 11.2million.

It said: 'After a six-year audit by the tax authority we are paying the amount of tax that HMRC agrees we should pay. Governments make tax law, the tax authorities enforce the law and Google complies with the law.'

Revealed: The incredibly close links between Google and Downing Street

David Cameron and the Tories have links to the very top of Google going back decades.

The Prime Minister has enjoyed a special relationship with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who made billions making the business into a global powerhouse.

For years Mr Schmidt was on Mr Cameron's business advisory board, which is used as a 'sounding board' on business matters, but the Google executive left in July.

The billionaire has reportedly also offered Mr Cameron on economic policy.

Former Google CEO and now executive chairman Eric Schmidt chats to Prime Minister David Cameron at a drinks reception in 2012 - and has in the past advised Cameron on economic matters

Links: Steve Hilton was David Cameron's policy guru and his wife Rachel Whetstone (together left) was a Google PR executive who worked for the Tories (right with Boris Johnson)

The links do not end there because Steve Hilton, once the Prime Minister's closest political adviser, is married to Rachel Whetstone, who was vice-president of global communications at Google until last year before she moved to Uber.

Rachel Whetstone is a former No 10 aide and was Michael Howard's director of communications when he was Tory leader and Mr Cameron is godfather to her younger son.

Mr Hilton was godfather to Ivan Cameron, the late eldest child of David and Samantha.

Hilton and Whetstone have been called the 'most powerful couple in Britain' while she and Mr Cameron have known each other since starting at Conservative Central Office in their early 20s.

Hilton and Whetstone later bought an Oxfordshire holiday home close to the Camerons.

Last year Mr Hilton, who quit as Mr Cameron's former chief strategist, admitted too many of those at the heart of government go to the same dinner parties and send their children to the same schools.

Mr Hilton warned: 'Regardless of who's in office, the same people are in power. It is a democracy in name only, operating on behalf of a tiny elite no matter the electoral outcome.'

In 2013 David Cameron, accompanied by his wife Samantha and their daughter Florence, went to the wedding of a Naomi Gummer, a senior Google executive with the brief of 'public policy'.

She was previously a political adviser to Jeremy Hunt when he was Culture Secretary in charge of internet regulation  so he was in attendance too.

Guests: David Cameron and his wife Samantha attended the wedding of Naomi Gummer, right with husband Henry, a senior Google executive with the brief of 'public policy'.

The Hilton/Whetstone axis is not the only relationship between Google and Government.

Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, has long been close to Downing Street and has in the past advised Cameron on economic matters.

In 2006, Mr Cameron travelled from visiting Google in Silicon Valley to Bournemouth to address the Conservative Party conference.

Then in 2010 when Cameron announced a review of Britain's intellectual property laws as the founders of Google have said they could never have started their company in Britain'.

In 2012 it emerged that Tory ministers held meetings with Google an average of once a month.

Official records show that David Cameron met Google executives three times and Chancellor George Osborne four times.

Google has held five meetings with the UK government over the past two years to discuss launching driverless cars in Britain.

It is not just a case of former government policy staff exiting through Westminster's 'revolving door' to Google  it works the other way too.

Tim Chatwin was Mr Cameron's head of strategic communications and had worked closely with Mr Hilton since the start of the Cameron modernisation project. He joined Google after the 2012 Tory conference.

Amy Fisher was once Google's PR chief for European affairs and later bagged a job advising then Justice Secretary Chris Grayling.

Tim Chatwin was Mr Cameron's head of strategic communications and joined Google after the 2012 Tory conference

LABOUR WRITES TO CHANCELLOR AND TELLS HIM: THESE ARE THE 8 QUESTIONS YOU MUST ANSWER ON THE 130M GOOGLE TAX DEAL Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell today wrote to George Osborne demanding more information on Google's tax bill. In his letter he said that there are eight questions he must answer: Firstly, please can you clarify exactly when you were first made aware of the details of the deal with Google? Did you (or any other Treasury Minister) personally sign it off, and were other Ministers involved in the settlement?

What discussions, if any, did you or members of your private office have with HMRC and with Google representatives about the deal?

Did HM Treasury and HMRC discuss details of the deal with Number 10 before the announcement was made?

What is HMRC's understanding of the effective tax rate faced by Google over the past 10 years as a result of this settlement?

Are you confident that this deal will not undermine international co-operation on tax avoidance, such as the OECD base erosion and profit shifting scheme?

Can you clarify whether Google is changing the company structures that enabled this avoidance to take place over the past decade?

What concerns, if any, do you have that this agreement creates a precedent for future deals with other large technology corporations?

To help ensure HMRC is best placed to address complex issues like this will you now halt the programme of HMRC staffing cuts? Advertisement

Is the Google sweetheart deal another blunder by HMRC boss Dame Disaster?

Google's 130million 'sweetheart deal' with the taxman could be another blunder by HM Revenue and Customs boss nicknamed Dame Disaster.

HMRC has refused to say who signed off on the Google agreement but Treasury sources have said that the deal is likely to have been signed off by Lin Homer.

It is not the first 'sweetheart deal' agreed with HMRC as her predecessor Dave Hartnett also signed off agreements which saved Starbucks and Vodafone millions or even billions in tax payments.

High life: Dame Lin Homer is pictured here sipping champagne on a plane after an HMRC crisis and as boss it is likely she has signed off the Google deal

An inquiry into Google's tax arrangements started in 2009 when Mr Hartnett was in charge before he left in 2012 and Mrs Homer took over.

Her tenure has been tarnished by a string of blunders and she will stand down two years early in April with a pension worth 2.2million.

Her 35-year career in the public sector has been dogged by a string of scandals and failures.

Previous HMRC boss Dave Hartnett, pictured, also signed off agreements which saved Starbucks and Vodafone millions or even billions in tax payments.

In 2005, as chief executive of Birmingham City Council, she was caught up in a postal votes scandal, which a judge said would have 'disgraced a banana republic'.

Election judge Richard Mawrey said Mrs Homer, acting as the city's returning officer, had 'thrown the rule book out of the window'.

She went on to become the 200,000-a-year boss of the immigration system, at the time it was branded 'not fit for purpose' by the then Home Secretary John Reid.

During her time in charge it emerged that 1,000 foreign criminals had been mistakenly released, and 450,000 asylum case files were discovered dumped in boxes at the Home Office.

She later became head of the now defunct UK Border Agency, where she was criticised by MPs for a 'catastrophic leadership failure'.

Despite the criticism, she was rewarded with a new post as head of HMRC.

At the time of her appointment, in 2012, the Home Affairs Committee said it was 'astounded' that she was being promoted to become the chief executive at Revenue & Customs adding: 'The status quo, in which catastrophic leadership failure is no obstacle to promotion, is totally unacceptable.'

Recently pictures emerged of her as she raised a glass of champagne in first class, this is the head as she jetted off to America as her department floundered.

Days before her summer holiday last July she announced that 18million of the 60million annual calls to the HMRC helpline were never answered by staff.

Dame Lin was forced to set aside an extra 45million to improve customer service because so many calls were never picked up or were met with a busy tone.

She said at the time: 'Despite our best efforts, our call performance hasn't been up to scratch and we apologise to all those customers who have struggled to get through to us'.

But instead of staying in the UK, photographs from her husband Ian's Facebook account reveal they still went to America for a summer break.
Bernie Sanders has admitted he will raise taxes if elected to the White House as part of a plan to provide broader access to education and health care.

In a showdown with Hillary Clinton aimed at wooing undecided voters in Iowa, he cast himself as a champion for tackling economic inequality.

Sanders, who is riding a burst of enthusiasm in Iowa, reiterated his calls for free tuition at public colleges and universities and implementing a single payer health care system to cover all.

Bernie Sanders, pictured during a town hall forum in Iowa, has said he will raise taxes in an admission rarely seen during an American presidential campaign

However, he has handed the Clinton team an easy point of attack with an admission this would come from raising taxes.

In an admission rarely heard in US presidential campaigns, he said: 'Yes, we will raise taxes.

'We may raise taxes, but we are going to eliminate private health insurance premiums for individuals and businesses.'

Speaking separately at a CNN town hall forum, the two candidates fielded questions predominantly from voters still undecided ahead of the February 1 Iowa caucuses, which kick off the nominating process.

Clinton pushed back at suggestions that she's new to the economic issues that have been at the center of Sanders' campaign, and offered a competing vision for dealing with them.

At the event, Sanders got in the first salvoes by saying his judgment, not Clinton's experience, is the most crucial quality for the next commander-in-chief.

Clinton argues that as a former secretary of state and former senator from New York, she is the more experienced White House candidate.

Hillary Clinton tells the town hall meeting in Iowa that her CV qualifies her to be president

Clinton, anxious to put down a threat from the democratic socialist, faced the challenge of convincing Democratic voters not to be swayed by Sanders' populist rhetoric and promises for more government programs.

Sanders cited Clinton's 2002 Senate vote to authorize the Iraq War and her prior support for the Canada-to-Texas Keystone Pipeline as evidence that her experience is misguided.

Clinton has shifted her position on both issues, while Sanders opposed both from the start.

'Experience is important but judgment is also important,' he said.

Sanders also defended his call for raising taxes to fund a 'Medicare-for-all' program, U.S. infrastructure and tuition-free college education.

Clinton has been making the case that her time as secretary of state and a senator from New York, make her more experienced.

But on the town hall stage on Monday, she pushed back at Sanders' judgment argument by evoking Obama, who remains popular with Democratic voters and was critical of her Iraq War vote when the two competed in 2008.

Clinton, who lost the Democratic primary to Obama in 2008, was for months the clear front-runner to be the party's nominee this time around, but opinion polls have showed a surge of support for Sanders in recent weeks.

She argues that while Sanders' goals on issues such as social inequality are laudable, some are unobtainable and he lacks the experience to tackle a wide range of issues.
Romanian career criminal Toader Articuci has been jailed after he broke into two homes late at night just two weeks after heading to the UK

A Romanian career criminal with a string of previous convictions has been jailed after he broke into two homes late at night just a fortnight after arriving in the UK.

Toader Articuci, 30, of Ipswich, Suffolk, had already piled up convictions for robbery and dishonesty in his native Romania, before heading to the UK.

Articuci had denied burgling a house on August 8 last year and burglary with intent to steal at a nearby home the same day.

But Ipswich Crown Court heard the newly-arrived Articuci struck his first property at about 12.30am before stealing keys to a hire van and a mountain bike.

Four hours later he was foiled in a bid to burgle his second target. The woman resident was fast asleep but was awoken by her barking dog Polly and then heard a bang.

The mother went to the back bedroom and saw the window open and a jewellery box and her son's trainers on the bed.

She alerted police and an officer stopped Articuci in the area as he peddled the stolen mountain bike.

The intruder was found to have keys on him to a hire van and they were traced back to the first home he had just burgled.

A footprint was also left in the upstairs bedroom of the second house which matched the shoes Articuci was wearing.

Jailing Articuci for two years, Judge Martyn Levett said the Romanian had previous convictions in his homeland for offences including dishonesty when he was a teenager and robbery when he was 25.

Articuci had accommodation and was earning 200-a-week when he launched his mini-crimewave, the court heard.

Judge Levett said the burglaries had caused 'profound distress' for the householders who had been asleep at the time.

The repeat Eastern European offender was thrown behind bars after he was found guilty of burglary and burglary with intent to steal in Ipswich.

Jailing Articuci for two years at Ispwich Crown Court (pictured), Judge Martyn Levett said the Romanian had previous convictions in his homeland for offences including dishonesty when he was a teenager and robbery when he was 25

Articuci has already piled up convictions for robbery and dishonesty in his native Romania, the court heard.

The immigrant is the latest of more than a dozen foreign criminals - including rapists and robbers - to commit offences after arriving in Suffolk without law enforcement agencies being aware of their criminal history.

Since the beginning of 2012 at least 13 European Union nationals with criminal records in their own countries have appeared before Suffolk courts.
Riot police were called in to break-up a mass brawl involving hundreds of asylum-seekers in Germany, in a dispute over alcohol.

More than 200 Muslim refugees came to blows in the early hours of Sunday morning, after one group reportedly spotted another group drinking alcohol and branded them bad Muslims.

Some 32 police cars were sent to the Leiman centre in the southwestern state of Baden-Wurttemberg to quash the outbreak of violence.

Mass violence: The Leiman migrant centre in southwestern Germany, where more than 200 asylum-seekers clashed in the early hours of Sunday. Some 32 police cars had to be called to the site to break up the brawl

Clash: The violence escalated rapidly after a group of Pakistani men at the centre condemned a group of Afghan refugees for drinking alcohol, and called them 'bad Muslims' (file image of police at Tempelhof migrant centre, in Berlin)

The brawl is thought to have broken out as a result of friction between different factions of Islam at the centre, which is home to some 500 asylum-seekers.

A group of Pakistani men at the centre condemned a group of Afghan refugees after they were allegedly spotted drinking alcohol, before the two groups clashed and sparked the all-out brawl.

Five people had to be taken to hospital, while 10 Afghan refugees were taken to a police station to sober up  although no arrests were made.

Just two police cars were originally sent to the centre after reports of violence, according to German media Focus, but they quickly had to call for back up after being faced with the more than 200-strong crowd.

It is the latest report among many of violence breaking out at migrant and refugee centres.

In October, German official Rainer Wendt, the leader of Germanys police union, claimed refugees were taking part in so-called organised mass brawls.

He claimed refugee and migrant centres were experiencing proper power struggles between different groups who have different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The official further insisted the magnitude of the crisis is being hidden from the public to avoid panic.

Just two police cars were originally sent to the centre after reports of violence, but they quickly had to call for back up after being faced with the more than 200-strong crowd (file image of a handcuffed refugee at Tempelhof refugee centre in Berlin)

In November, a mass brawl broke out at Germany Tempelhof migrant centre in Berlin that resulted in 500 people being evacuated.

It came just hours after another mass fight saw migrants attack each other with fire extinguishers at a refugee shelter in the Berlin suburb of Spandau.

Tensions escalate quickly in the centres, where often traumatised people from different cultures are forced to live side-by-side in often over-capacity accommodation.
The captain of the yacht where Hollywood star Natalie Wood spent her final hours is cashing in on the boat's notoriety by auctioning off artefacts and pictures of the doomed actress on board.

Dennis Davern was the skipper on board the Splendour, the 60 foot yacht, where Miss Wood fell overboard and mysteriously drowned in 1981 off Santa Catalina island in California.

She had been on board the yacht with her husband Robert Wagner and one of her co-stars from the film Brainstorm, Christopher Walken.

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A selection of pictures showing Natalie Wood on board the Splendour. Also featured on the pictures are Robert Wagner and Sean Connery. The pictures are to be auctioned off on Thursday

Also available for sale is the surface of a coffee table with the name of the yacht in black letters next to two tan seagulls

Also included is a urved quarter board with the name 'Splendour' in shadowed brown letters on dark brown wood

Now it has emerged that wooden artefacts from the boat are to be auctioned off on Thursday in Los Angeles.

The lot includes a curved quarter board with the name 'Splendour' in shadowed brown letters on dark brown wood.

Also included is the surface of a coffee table with the name of the yacht in black letters accompanied by two tan seagulls.

There are also six original photographs from the Splendour's archives, with Miss Wood featuring in three of the pictures.

The yacht's captain Dennis Davern is selling the items. In the past he has been accused of cashing in on Miss Wood's death

Also featured in the images are Robert Wager and former James Bond actor Sean Connery.

A letter of authenticity from Mr Davern, the captain of the yacht, comes with the lot, which goes up for sale at Nate D. Sanders Auctions.

The lot has been given a reserve price of $10,000 but it is expected to go under the hammer for a lot more.

However, Mr Davern has previously been accused of cashing in on the boat's past.

In 2006, he published a book called 'Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour', which details what might have caused Miss Wood to end up drowning in the water.

The investigation into her death to be re-opened in 2011, with police saying there had been 'substantial new evidence'.

Mr Davern claimed that a fight had broken out between Wagner and actor Christopher Walken, who was also aboard to yacht.

He said that after Wood went to bed, he heard the fight continuing in her cabin, including sounds of a physical struggle.

Mr Davern claims Wagner waited several hours after his wife disappeared to call authorities.

However, Duane Rasure, a retired detective sergeant for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, accused Mr Davern, the boats skipper, of cashing in from his part in the death.

He said: 'Obviously he was trying to sell a book and make money off of it. And I think that's the whole purpose behind his - his writing this book.'

Wood, who was 43 when she died, burst into child stardom in 1947 playing little Susie, the girl who didn't believe in Santa Claus, in 'Miracle on 34th Street'

On the night she died, the Hollywood actress was on board the yacht with her husband Robert Wagner, pictured

If I have ever the slightest inkling there was a murder, something suspicious, I would have worked it, Rasure says.

I did not cover for anybody and I wouldn't cover for anybody. I don't care about their celebrity status. They were people.

Wagner, now 85, admitted he had a fight with his wife on the night of November 28, 1981, but said she was not in her cabin when he went to bed.

Miss Wood had been on board the yacht, pictured, alongside her husband and her Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken

He maintains he had nothing to do with her death, though said he feels personally responsible for not looking after her.

Wood, who was 43 when she died, burst into child stardom in 1947 playing little Susie, the girl who didn't believe in Santa Claus, in 'Miracle on 34th Street.'
A British holidaymaker died of alcohol poisoning after sharing four buckets of vodka and Red Bull during a 36-hour binge in Thailand, an inquest heard.

Engineer Peter Nicholson, 29, had downed more than 20 bottles of lager, drank shots of Sambuca and Jack Daniels and cola during his first day of his trip to the country.

But his consumption of the energy drink from the so-called 'Thai buckets' masked the effects of his alcohol intake - and he didn't realise how he was drunk he was.

Peter Nicholson, 29, died of alcohol poisoning after sharing four buckets of vodka and Red Bull during a 36-hour binge in Thailand. He is pictured drinking from the buckets during an earlier trip to Thailand

The father-of-one was found dead the following morning in his hotel room in Bangkok when friends failed to wake him up.

Tests showed he was more than four times over legal drink-drive limit.

The Thai buckets, an infamous part of the country's Full Moon Parties, are filled with spirits, ice and a mixer of choice and usually drunk through straws - making it almost impossible to keep track of the amount of booze consumed.

An inquest into Mr Nicholson's death heard that the father, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, would regularly holiday in Thailand and had built up a network of friends in the South-East Asian country.

On May 31 last year he booked a last-minute trip to the country having already visited Thailand just weeks earlier.

He had his first pint in the departure lounge at Manchester Airport while waiting to board a flight to Qatar - then began downing cans of lager and Jack Daniels with coke during the seven hour flight.

He eventually arrived in Bangkok on a connecting flight but then went out that evening with his friends.

His friend Daniel Wilson told the inquest: 'We were in contact on the day I was going away and the others had already set off. He said he was going to ring up and book a flight now.

'He said, "come round to mine and bring your suitcase". We had some pizza and a pint before we got on the plane. On the first flight to Qatar we had four small cans of lager. We also had four mini bottles of Jack Daniels with coke.

'Peter slept most of the second journey. He was drinking a lot of water when he was waking up. We had five or six bottles of lager in the afternoon when we arrived.'

He said the pair then went sightseeing and both drank an iced tea before they got ready to go out for the night.

The father-of-one, pictured left with his friend Daniel Wilson during his trip, was found dead the following morning in his hotel room in Bangkok when friends failed to wake him up

Mr Nicholson, pictured left during a previous trip to Thailand, died last year following the 36-hour drinking binge

From around 7.30pm Mr Nicholson drank more than 20 bottles of strong lager and consumed shots of Sambuca.

Mr Wilson returned early to his hotel but Mr Nicholson and two other friends stayed out and shared the buckets of vodka and Red Bull before returning at 1am.

Back at the hotel Mr Nicholson was said to be 'laughing and joking' in his bedroom and ordered food.

He was found dead at 9am the following day by Mr Wilson. The group had planned to move on to the party town of Pattaya.

Mr Wilson said: 'I didn't want to believe what was happening. It was really cold in the room as the air con was on really low. I tickled Peter's feet to try and get his attention but his feet were really cold. He just looked asleep.'

A post mortem-examination revealed Mr Nicholson had 341 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 mililitres of blood. The legal driving limit of 80mg.

An inquest into Mr Nicholson's death heard he would regularly holiday in Thailand and had built up a network of friends in the South-East Asian country. He is pictured right on an earlier trip to the country

A post mortem-examination revealed Mr Nicholson, pictured above on one of his many trips to Thailand, had 341 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 mililitres of blood in his system

Further tests showed he had 452mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine. Deaths from alcohol toxicity are expected at levels of 350mg.

The hearing was told Mr Nicholson was 'not a big drinker' and toxicologist Julie Evans said he may not have known just how drunk he was because of the combination of vodka and Red Bull.

She said: 'There are some concerns around the process of people consuming vodka and Red Bull. It is a stimulant. It can counter the effects of alcohol and people consume more alcohol not realising how intoxicated they are. It is called "wide-eyed drunk".

'When you mix Red Bull with vodka you are risking masking the effect of alcohol on the body. In the absence of any other pathological finding, the most likely cause of death is alcohol toxicity.

'If he was not a heavy drinker then the risk is higher at a lower concentration. He would have just gone to sleep and not woken up.'

Mr Nicholson's mother Irene said: 'He was a hard-working lad and very popular. He kept himself fit and would run regularly. He enjoyed going on holidays and had been to Thailand a number of times.

'He did like to have a drink but wasn't a heavy drinker. On the Saturday he asked if I could take his daughter. He said he was going away for two weeks and asked her what she wanted for her birthday. She said, "just surprise me dad".'

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, coroner Alison Mutch told Mr Nicholson's family: 'A significant amount of alcohol was consumed during the course of the day. He clearly consumed in excess of 20 bottles of lager and probably significantly more than that.

Mr Nicholson (left and right) was said to be 'laughing and joking' in his bedroom and ordered food when he returned from his night out but he was found dead the next day

'In addition it is likely he had at least one shot of Sambuca and also vodka mixed with Red Bull. The alcohol readings are very high and carry a high risk of death. This must have been a dreadful event in your lives and very hard for us to imagine how awful it must be to wave somebody off and to see them in good health knowing they have gone on holiday to Thailand.

'Their intention was to have a good time and everybody appeared to be having a good time and enjoying themselves but to end in such a very tragic way must be extremely difficult for all of you.'

After the hearing, Peter's sister Joanne, 31, added: 'He was very outgoing and almost a father-figure to me, even though I'm older. He was a brilliant dad.
Britain and Germany are deadlocked today over how to define a 'worker' as Berlin insists migrant workers earning just 7,000 should be allowed to claim benefits.

British officials, with less than a month until David Cameron wants a deal on EU membership, have insisted this is 'way too low' and want a figure of at least 13,000 in a bid to meet key British demands to slow immigration to Britain.

Number 10 insists 'progress' is being made on the talks ahead of a crunch summit on February 19 but resolving a stand off over who is able to claim in work benefits is crucial to getting a deal.

David Cameron, pictured in Downing Street on Monday at his meeting with Enda Kenny, has reportedly been told by the Germans a worker should be defined as someone earning 7,000. Britain is hoping to persuade Chancellor Angela Merkel, pictured yesterday, to raise the figure to at least 13,000

Germany has said a minimum salary of 7,000 is what should define a worker under EU law - but Britain insists the figure, which is roughly the minimum wage for 20 hours a week, would make no difference to the number of eastern European migrants travelling to the UK for low paid work.

A British official told The Times that Downing Street was pushing for 13,000 - around full time minimum wage work - but this is still far short of the 35,000 minimum earnings threshold for non-EU migrants.

They said: 'The initial suggestion from Germany is 20 hours times the minimum wage, which is about 7,000.

'Downing Street was worried this was way too low and are pushing for something closer to 13,000.'

The new clashes come as June 23 has emerged as a potential date for the referendum if a deal can be struck next month.

As well as new talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr Cameron met the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Downing Street yesterday and the PM is due to visit both Sweden and Denmark this week.

The furious pace of visits is expected to continue while the outlines of a deal are due to be presented in writing by European Council president Donald Tusk next week.

Following the call with Mrs Merkel, a Number 10 spokesman said: 'On the UK renegotiation, they agreed that there had been progress since December's European Council and that there was genuine good will across the EU to address the British people's concerns in all four areas.

'Both concluded that there was more work to do ahead of the February European Council to find the right solutions.'

At a Downing Street press conference with Mr Kenny, Mr Cameron insisted: 'We need to get that agreement. It is possible for it to happen in February. If there is a good deal on the table, I'll take that deal to the British people.

'If it is not there, we've got plenty of time. I would rather get it right than do it in a rush.'

Mr Kenny said it was critical for Ireland that Britain stayed in the EU, insisting while there remained 'complications' in the talks they were 'solvable'.

He added: 'Europe will be much stronger with Britain as a central and fundamental member.'

He added: 'I have not seen President Tusk's paper yet and obviously the Prime Minister has pointed out himself his view on whether it's absolutely necessary that we should do it in February.

'My belief is that of the four issues that are on the table there, there are still complications with one or two of those.

'But I think these are issues which can be sorted and can be agreed.

'I would hope personally that it might be possible to do it in February but then I can't speak for all of the other countries around the table.'

Mr Cameron, pictured on the steps of Downing Street with his Irish counterpart yesterday, has continued a furious pace of meetings with EU allies

French farmers would riot if Britain left the EU without a trade deal because they 'can't afford' not to sell their food into the UK, Vote Leave claims

French farmers would riot if they were not allowed to trade in the UK following a British exit from the EU, Vote Leave has claimed.

Spokesman Jon Moynihan insisted Britain's trade relationship with the EU would continue regardless of what happens in the referendum because countries on the continent 'can't afford' not to do a deal.

In an attempt to head off claims by the In camp that leaving the EU would be dangerous for Britain, Mr Moynihan today insisted 'nothing will happen' the morning after a Brexit vote because it would only trigger new talks on the terms of the UK's departure.

Vote Leave spokesman Jon Moynihan today predicted French farmers would 'riot' if Britain left the EU without a trade deal. Pictured: Protests in Calais during a strike by French employees of MyFerryLink

The new intervention in the referendum campaign comes a day after Lord Rose, the chairman of Britain Stronger in Europe, came under fire for using 'spurious' statistics on the benefits of the EU.

Mr Moynihan, the former executive chairman of PA consulting, today told the BBC: 'The day we vote to leave the EU, nothing at all will happen, we will still have exactly the same relationship.

'Then they will enter into negotiation. At the end of it we will have a relationship with the EU.

'It is highly unlikely it will be the sort of disastrous relationship that they claim.'

He added: 'Every single country in Europe, apart from Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Luxembourg, has a surplus with us.

'The French export huge amounts of food to us - the French farmers would riot if they thought we were going to enter into a trade war.'

Mr Moynihan said the EU 'cannot afford not to have a free trade deal with us' because 'they export far more to us than we export to them'.
New York Port Authority advises passengers to allow extra time for journey

Flights in and out of the airport also suffered delays due to Storm Jonas

A car caught fire on the approach to the airport causing major delays

Drivers travelling to LaGuardia airport have been hit by major delays after a number of incidents blocked roads leading to the terminal building in New York.

The traffic jam was caused by an incident on the Grand Central Parkway after a car had burst into flames.

Buses, taxis and fellow motorists all faced significant delays as they approached the airport due to the number of incidents.

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Passengers using LaGuardia airport yesterday suffered significant delays driving to the terminal building

Some people complained they had been stuck for more than two hours in the mammoth traffic jam

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled over the weekend, although yesterday's delays were caused by congestion and a fire on one of the roads approaching the airport buildings

New York Port Authority warned passengers intending to fly to arrive at the airport at least an hour in advance of their scheduled boarding time.

Some motorists have spent more than two hours trying to access the airport according to angry Twitter users.

Dan Littlewood wrote: 'I survived the LaGuardia Traffic Jam of 2016.

Dan Friedman said: '1000s of people, inc me, trapped in a gridlocked LGA. No cabs, no buses. Nada. It's a traffic disaster.'

Jane Wexler asked: 'What's going on at LaGuardia 2night? Missed flight - complete traffic jam.'

Travelers using the airport also complained that they had difficulty in securing a taxi from the terminal

Storm Jonas is likely to have caused $1billion worth of damage.

Many of the deaths from the storm have related to traffic accidents and heart attacks caused by the exertion of clearing snow.

One man in North Carolina was shot dead when he tried to help a motorist who had slid off the road.

Air travel remained seriously affected as some 1,603 U.S. flights were canceled on Monday, with Newark Liberty International Airport, New York's LaGuardia Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport the hardest hit, according to FlightAware.com.
A Welsh MP has told asylum seekers in Cardiff to stop 'moaning' about having to wear brightly coloured identification wristbands - because he had to do the same thing on his all-inclusive beach holiday.

David Davies said he 'couldn't believe' the way refugees had reacted to being made to wear plastic bracelets while being put up in the Welsh capital.

Issued but yesterday scrapped by Clearsprings Ready Homes - the housing association providing temporary accommodation on behalf of the Home Office - the asylum seekers were told they had to keep the bands on at all times or they would not be fed.

David Davies MP (pictured) has told asylum seekers in Cardiff to stop 'moaning' about having to wear brightly coloured identification wristbands - because he had to do the same thing on his all-inclusive beach holiday

Issued by Clearsprings Ready Homes - the housing association looking after them on behalf of the Government - the asylum seekers (pictured) were told they had to keep them on at all times or they would not be fed

Those given accommodation by Clearsprings Ready Homes, sub-contracted by the Government to put up asylum seekers in the likes of Lynx House (pictured), were being told to wear the wristbands at all times

Many reacted by saying they were being 'stigmatised' and made easy targets for abuse and harassment by wearing the the red, blue and silver bracelets that granted them three meals a day.

But the Tory MP has branded their response 'outrageous' after the identification process was likened to the plight of Jews in Nazi Germany.

If having to wear a little red wristband to get meals and walk 10 minutes to a centre is the worst thing that's ever happened to him then he doesn't have a valid asylum claim and shouldn't be here David Davies MP

Davies said he had to do the same when he was holidaying in Hungary last summer, where the wristband he wore granted him unlimited food and drink at his beach side hotel in Hungary.

He added that if wearing one was the worst thing to have happened to those complaining then they should not qualify for asylum in the UK in the first place.

Speaking on LBC Radio this morning, he said: 'What's the big deal? This gentleman has come over here to this country and has been welcomed by the generosity of the British taxpayers, put up in good accommodation and offered three square meals every day.

'If having to wear a little red wristband to get meals and walk 10 minutes to a centre is the worst thing that's ever happened to him, and the other things that were happening to him are a lot less worse than that, then he doesn't have a valid asylum claim and shouldn't be here.

'Last summer I was on holiday at Lake Balaton in Hungary with my family. The Retro Hotel expected us to wear wristbands when we ate our inclusive meals so people couldn't just walk in off the beach to claim a free meal.'

His comments come as housing bosses in Middlesbrough were seen painting the front doors of homes that had largely been provided to refugees (pictured this morning), making them easily identifiable

The move sparked outcry last week, with critics again blasting it as being similar to the way the Nazis treated the Jews in Germany in the lead up to the Second World War. Workmen are seen painting the doors grey this morning

The doors were today changed from the distinctive red colour which marked them out from other residents. Pierre Degrando Bagoda-Guen outside his property with his undercoated door prior to being painted green

He added: 'All that's been asked of him is to wear a wristband that proves that he is who he says he is, so he doesn't get meals to which he is not entitled. I think that's not a big ask in the scheme of things.

'To try and compare this to Nazi Germany is an insult, frankly, to the six million Jews and many other people who were killed by the Nazis.'

Mr Davies then advised the refugees who said they had been abused by passing motorists who could see their wristbands to 'wear a jumper' if they wanted to avoid such verbal attacks.

However, following complaints from human rights groups and refugee campaigners, the red wristband policy has been dropped by Clearsprings.

The firm told Mail Online: 'Asylum seekers who spend their initial few weeks at out full-board accommodation in Cardiff have been provided with wristbands since May 2015 to ensure they receive the services they are entitled to and to make sure those more vulnerable asylum seekers have access to their specific requirements.

'As in numerous such establishments where large numbers of people are being provided with services, wristbands are considered to be one of the most reliable and effective ways of guaranteeing delivery.

'We are always reviewing the way we supply our services and have decided to cease the use of wristbands as of Monday 25 January and will look for an alternative way of managing the fair provision of support.'

A temporary system would be used until photo ID cards could be introduced in the next few weeks.

Stephen Doughty, MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, has called for an investigation into the firm during an urgent question in the Commons, in which he said the policy 'stigmatised' asylum seekers.

Immigration minister James Brokenshire replied: 'I do expect the highest standards from all contractors including that there is no issue of stigma attached to those under their care, and if there is evidence to suggest that this is not the case, it will be treated with the utmost seriousness.'

Rahumullah Ahmedi, 36, and next door neighbour Ajmal Kadari (left), 37, both from Afghanistan, outside their front doors in Costa Street, Middlesbrough, which were painted red by Jomast, a subcontractor of services giant G4S

Asylum seekers in Middlesbrough have said they are pleased that their families are no longer the target of abuse

Around 150 migrant homes are living in houses with the distinctively coloured doorways, which residents claim led them to being a target for racist vandals

Mr Davies' comments came as housing bosses in Middlesbrough were seen painting the front doors of homes that had been provided to refugees, making them easily identifiable.

CITIES OVERRUN BY MIGRANTS DEMAND FAIRER DISPERSION MPs and council leaders from areas with the highest concentrations of refugees are calling for them to be shared more equally across the country. They have branded the situation, at a time of cuts to public services, unacceptable. Outspoken Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk insisted the Government 'dumping' asylum seekers in towns like his is causing a strain on schools and health services. He said: 'Rochdale is a cohesive community. We are quite diverse, but this is really upsetting the apple cart and it is creating tension. 'You have groups of asylum seekers, who through no fault of their own have nothing to do because they are not allowed to work, wandering around the town centre, not speaking English.' Dave Budd, the elected mayor of Middlesbrough, which is the only local authority to have surpassed the Government's guideline of 1:200 asylum seekers to residents, said it had 'far exceeded its fair allocation'. One in every 173 residents in the town is now an asylum seeker. Geraint Davies, Labour MP for Swansea West, which is sixth in the national list of regions with the most refugees, was also unhappy with the way they were being dispersed. He said the Government should not exploit Swansea's 'warm welcome' by 'over-burdening us and not providing the resources that are needed to support asylum seekers'. Newport City Council, eighth on the list, said their multi-cultural societies meant asylum seekers were welcome, but that those diverse communities also had issues with deprivation. Councillors in Manchester, Glasgow, Bolton and Oldham also voiced concerns. A Home Office spokesman said: 'Asylum seekers are housed where there is appropriate accommodation available. Agreements between the Government and participating local authorities are voluntary and have been in place since 2000. We review these arrangements regularly and all asylum intake has to be approved by the local authority involved. 'We will work with any local authority that raises concerns about asylum dispersal.' Advertisement

Around 150 migrant homes had distinctive red doorways, which led them to being a target for racist vandals.

It sparked outcry when discovered last week, with critics again blasting it as being similar to the way the Nazis treated the Jews in the lead up to the Second World War.

But workers today began painting the houses' doors, that are owned by subcontracted Jomast, with a grey undercoat.

The change in colour came as a huge relief to Beston Sharifie, 35, from Iran, who has lived in Middlesbrough for three years with his children and has suffered cruel taunts and abuse from passers-by.

The father-of-three said: 'We are all really happy and full of relief that the doors are not going to be red any more.

'Someone came to our home yesterday and said that there would be people coming to paint the door a different colour and then two men came this morning. They painted our door grey, it is still quite wet.

'I love England and the people around here but while we have lived in the area, it has got worse over the years.

'Eggs were thrown at our house and now people say unkind things to us because we are refugees.

'The change in the doors is a good thing because now no one will know that an Asylum Seeker lives here, our home looks just like any one else's on our street.'

Beston's son Yuset travelled with his father on foot through Turkey before arriving in the UK in the back of a lorry.

He is also pleased that his family are no longer the target of abuse.

The 12-year-old said: 'We are now just like any home in Middlesbrough, I am very happy that our door has changed colour.'

Stuart Monk of Jomast, and Peter Neden and John Whitwam of G4S, will be quizzed about the door issue today by the Commons Home Affairs Committee.

It has emerged that a similar scheme was in operation in west London until yesterday, where properties provided to refugees all had distinctive red number plaques.

As many as 31 three-bed, semi-detached homes in Longford, near Heathrow, are being used as temporary accommodation for migrants.

They all had the brightly coloured signs beside their front doors.

One local man: 'As much as we don't want them here, it's not right they should be segregated in this way.'

In west London, private properties provided to refugees and their families had distinguishable red number signs by their entrances. As many as 31 three-bed, semi-detached homes in Longford, near Heathrow, are being used as temporary accommodation for migrants

The houses are owned by multi-millionaire hotel mogul Surinder Arora and are believed to have been sub-contracted by the Home Office for migrant and refugee use.

The plaques were changed yesterday following the outrage in Middlesbrough.

A spokesperson told The Sun: 'As a consequence immediately put in place a programme to change the colour of door numbers to blend in.
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Three of the dead sperm whales which were washed up on a British beach are now being covered in sand to stop them being moved by the tide before they are taken to a landfill site to rot.

The majestic creatures are thought to have died at sea before beaching at Skegness in Lincolnshire and have since become something of a gory tourist attraction, with people taking selfies with the corpses and some scavengers even attempting to cut off 'trophies' from the creatures.

Today East Lindsey District Council Council workers began covering up the bodies with sand to stop them being moved by the high tide and a spokesman confirmed they will then be taken to a landfill site.

Today East Lindsey District Council Council workers began covering up the whales' bodies with sand to stop them being moved by the high tide and a spokesman confirmed they will then be taken to a landfill site

A bulldozer and a digger move the whales washed up the beach at Skegness, Lincolnshire, to an area where they can be covered in sand

'We are well rehearsed when it comes to removing whales from the beach, we have had a few down the years including one which is bigger,' a council spokesman said. 'The whale at Lagoon Walk, which was further out on its own, moved overnight in the high tide so it is now further up the beach.

'We are preparing to move the whales, but it won't be today. Today, we are bringing in tractors to cover the whales in sand so they don't move again.

'Because there are three of them we need to find landfill that's deep enough. We are almost there but we have to do it properly.

'We are putting sand on them this afternoon because if we don't they could move further along the beach where it might be more difficult to reach them.'

The bodies of the whales were cordoned off by council workers in a bid to protect the carcasses as they are examined by scientists trying to work out why they died.

The dead sperm whales are now being covered in sand to stop them being moved by the tide before they are taken to a landfill site to rot

The bodies of the whales have been temporarily covered in sand in a bid to prevent them being moved along the beach by the tide

East Lindsey District Council is hopeful that the whales will be able to be moved from the beach tomorrow, after formal permission is granted by the Marine Management Organisation.

Yesterday, a build-up of methane gas caused one of the whales to explode as marine biologists collecting samples for a post-mortem examination cut at its skin and blubber, with shocked witnesses describing a bang and a 'huge blast of air' followed by a foul stench.

The three whale carcasses were found on the Skegness beach on Sunday morning, after another was washed up on beach in Hunstantonm, Norfolk, on Friday.

A fifth whale was also found at former RAF bombing range in nearby Wainfleet - five miles from Skegness - on Monday, and is believed to be from the same pod.

Graffiti has been sprayed on the bodies of two of the whales on the beach near Gibraltar Point in Skegness. Messages reading 'Fukushima RIP', 'CND' and 'man's fault' have been written in white lettering on the bodies of the whales.

This is the moment a ghoulish trophy hunter was caught ripping teeth from one of the dead sperm whales washed up on a British beach

The bodies of the whales in Skegness (one on which is pictured) have been cordoned off by council workers in a bid to protect the carcasses as they are examined by scientists trying to work out why they died

Scientists from the Zoological Society of London were carrying out post mortem examinations on the whales yesterday, and experts are investigating whether the group are linked to 12 sperm whales that have washed up on the Dutch island of Texel and the German islands of Wangerooge and Helgoland since January 11.

Samples have been collected from four of the five whales, but the team from the Zoological Society were struggling to reach the fifth whale, which was washed up yesterday on a former Ministry of Defence bombing range, which could contain live explosives.

The samples will then be brought back to London to be analysed in the hope that this could explain why the whales died.

It is thought that the sperm whales accidentally entered the North Sea - where the sea floor is not particularly deep.

As the animals rely on sonar to navigate, when they end up in a shallow sandy seabed, they can become disorientated and die.

Richard Johnson of the UK Coastguard said: 'We believe that the three whales at Skegness died at sea and then washed ashore.

'We are advising members of the public to stay away from the beach. We have informed the Receiver of Wreck and we are expecting an officer from the Zoological Society of London to attend the scene and carry out tests on the whales.'

A fifth whale was also found at former RAF bombing range in nearby Wainfleet - five miles from Skegness - on Monday, and is believed to be from the same pod

Meanwhile shocking photos have emerged of a ghoulish trophy hunter was caught ripping teeth from one of the dead sperm whales washed up on a British beach.

Scavengers have been seen going down to the coast at night with knives and pliers to steal 'trophies' from the corpses.

One picture which was posted online shows a man, who has not been identified, apparently cutting out the teeth of one of the whales.

WHAT COULD HAVE DRIVEN THE WHALES TO THEIR DEATHS? There are a number of theories about why the 17 whales may have been split up and died. Many were dead before they were washed up. Hunger? The most likely reason for the deaths is that they were short of food and may have gone searching for squid or fish in dangerous shallower water Submarines? Sonar from submarines can confuse or even deafen whales, according to environmentalists, and if they were spooked by one the pod may have panicked and split up. Wind farms? Researchers at the University of St Andrews have found that the noise made by offshore wind farms can interfere with a whale's sonar, and can in tragic cases see them driven onto beaches where they often die. Advertisement

Daryl Hind, 30, caught the trophy hunter on camera when he went down to look at the 45ft-long whales last night.

In the snap the man, who is wearing jeans and a grey top, can be seen using a torch to light up the 30,000 tonne mammal's mouth as he removes the teeth.

'I went up to see the dead whale last night and some sad act was cutting his teeth out,' delivery driver Mr Hind wrote on Facebook.

His post attracted the attention of other social media users, disgusted at the souvenir hunters' actions.

Pauline West said: 'How low will some people stoop, I'm sharing this public, I hope someone does name him, he should be ashamed.'

Helen Jones added: 'Thing that worries me is the fact that they don't know what the whales died from and here is this bloke cutting it teeth out with no gloves on.'

And Suzanne Allsop said: 'That's disgusting.'

Lincolnshire Police confirmed they are investigating the photo, and a spokesman for the force said taking parts of the whale might be an offence under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

'It's such an unusual circumstance so it's something that the Wildlife Crime Officer will need to look into in more detail,' he said.

East Lindsey District Council has now warned people to stay away from the three dead whales on the beach in Skegness.

'It's sad that people have taken this opportunity to [scavenge for trophies],' a spokesman told MailOnline.

'They are magnificent creatures and it's understandable that people would want to go and have a look at them, but the message is "look but don't touch".

'There are risks associated with dead animals.'

'We would urge people to stay behind the cordon,' a council spokesman said. 'We are just trying to go through the correct process - we want to know why they died and beached here.

'We are not aware of the law around taking things from these animals but it's so sad that people will not listen to our advice.'

FORAGER SUGGESTS DEAD WHALES COULD BE EATEN BY THE PUBLIC A pensioner who famous for dining on road-kill, says the washed-up sperm whales could be eaten by the public. Arthur Boyt, 76, from Davidstow, Cornwall, has been feasting on dead animals such as weasels, hedgehogs, squirrels and otters for years and says the sperm whales shouldn't go to waste. Mr Boyt, who ate a dolphin he found for Christmas dinner - says it is perfectly natural and legal, and that one three-tonne sperm whale could make enough stew to feed 2,2032 people. 'I think it would be very interesting to have a bite', he said. 'I have looked at those photos and they look fresh. If I was up there I would be tempted to take some home. 'Regulations do say that it's wrong to take any part of a cetacean it's the responsibility of the beach owner to dispose of it. 'If you take a piece home, you are disposing of it and you are helping the beach owner.' Advertisement

Experts are investigating whether the group are linked to 12 sperm whales that have washed up on the Dutch island of Texel and the German islands of Wangerooge and Helgoland since January 11
Standard taxis are furious about threat posed by online competition, US-based Uber service

By midday police had made 20 arrests, mainly for public order offences

Fighting broke out as masked protesters stopped cars during rush hour

Mass strikes across France exploded into violence today as Paris taxi drivers brought roads to a standstill in a protest against the threat posed by Uber and other online competitors.

There was fighting on the ring road of the French capital as masked men and women stopped cars and other vehicles in the morning rush hour.

By midday there were 20 arrests, mainly for public order offences. Most were in the Porte Maillot area of the city.

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Fire starters: Mass strikes across France exploded into violence today as Paris taxi drivers brought roads to a standstill

Smoke filled the main Paris ring road as protesters torched tyres and blocked traffic during busy rush hour

Standard taxis are furious about the threat being posed by online competition, and especially the US-based Uber service

'We are here to protest against worsening conditions in our industry,' said one protestor, as he set fire to a tyre.

Soon, flames and thick black smoke could be seen all over the road, as terrified drivers tried to steer away.

Standard taxis are furious about the threat being posed by online competition, and especially the US-based Uber service.

Police warned drivers to stay off the roads, as 'go slows' by taxis were also used to block major thoroughfares.

Flames and thick black smoke could be seen all over the road, as terrified drivers tried to steer away

A taxi driver was seriously injured at Orly airport, south of the capital, as a shuttle bus tried to force its way through a blockade

Police warned drivers to stay off the roads, as 'go slows' by taxis were also used to block major thoroughfares.

Riot police were used to try and clear the blockages, with baton charges and tear gas used to keep demonstrators back.

A taxi driver was seriously injured at Orly airport, south of the capital, as a shuttle bus tried to force its way through a blockade.

He was later arrested for endangering life. A Paris police spokesman said the other 19 arrests for 'public order offences around the ring road in Porte Maillot'.

In turn, other drivers threw stones at the bus's windows and forced passengers to get off the bus.

Riot police were used to try and clear the blockages, with baton charges and tear gas used to keep demonstrators back

A Paris police spokesman said the other 19 arrests for 'public order offences around the ring road in Porte Maillot'

There was fighting on the ring road of the French capital as masked men and women stopped cars and other vehicles in the morning rush hour

Taxi drivers demonstrate by blocking the traffic on the peripherique by setting tyres on fire this morning

British travellers were warned about severe delays as air traffic controllers and civil servants also went on strike. Air traffic controllers meanwhile went on strike in protest over pay and recruitment.

The French civil aviation authority DGAC called on airlines to cancel one in five flights, while Air France said it would cancel 20 percent of its short- and medium-haul flights in France and elsewhere in Europe.

A spokesman for Air France added that 'last minute cancellations' could not be ruled out.

EasyJet said it had cancelled 35 flights, mainly within France but also to or from Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

Hundreds of thousands of civil servants and teachers were on strike, motivated by anger over a pay freeze and a poor salaries.

Paris taxi drivers block the access to Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport as part of the protest against competition from taxi app company Uber

British travellers were warned about severe delays as air traffic controllers and civil servants also went on strike
British security services were warned about a infamous IRA bombing which killed nine people in Belfast in 1993 but failed to stop it, it was claimed today.

The Shankill Road bombing was one of the most shocking of the country's Troubles, with two children among the dead in a botched attempt to blow up a meeting of Ulster Defence Association (UDA) leaders.

It emerged this week that a document said to have been stolen from police in 2002 claims that an IRA operative involved in the bombing was a British informant who told MI5 of the plan.

The Shankill Road bombing in Belfast in 1993 killed nine. It has now been claimed MI5 was warned about it

A relative of one of the victims has now complained to the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland over the claims.

The encrypted document which makes the link is said to have been taken by the IRA during a break-in on the headquarters of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 2002.

After it was deciphered, it is said to state that a highly-placed IRA figure, known only as AA, was working as an informant to special branch at the time of the 1993 bombing.

The Irish News reported that AA informed his handlers in the British intelligence service but they either ignored him, failed to act in time or allowed the attack to go ahead.

The IRA was hoping to kill UDA leaders as they met in a room above Frizzell's fish shop on a busy Saturday in 1993, but the group rearranged the meeting and only innocent shoppers were the victims.

It was reported this week that AA is still alive and living in Northern Ireland, despite his double agent role in the region's bloodiest era.

It is claimed an informant called AA, reportedly the man in this picture, told security services about the plan

A spokesman for the Police Ombudsman's Office said today: 'We have received a complaint which centres on two concerns; that police had information which would have helped them prevent what happened and that the police investigation into the bombing was compromised and they failed to deliver justice to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack.

'We will now assess that complaint to see if and when we would begin an investigation into these allegations.'

Investigators will want to establish if information from AA could have allowed British security services to prevent the bombing.
In campaigns have insisted Out must spell out what a deal would look like

Vote Leave play down fears of the implications of Britain quitting the EU

Jon Moynihan said exports to the UK would drive a new deal post-Brexit

French farmers would riot if they were not allowed to trade in the UK following a British exit from the EU, Vote Leave has claimed.

Spokesman Jon Moynihan insisted Britain's trade relationship with the EU would continue regardless of what happens in the referendum because countries on the continent 'can't afford' not to do a deal.

In an attempt to head off claims by the In camp that leaving the EU would be dangerous for Britain, Mr Moynihan today insisted 'nothing will happen' the morning after a Brexit vote because it would only trigger new talks on the terms of the UK's departure.

Vote Leave spokesman Jon Moynihan today predicted French farmers would 'riot' if Britain left the EU without a trade deal. Pictured: Protests in Calais during a strike by French employees of MyFerryLink

The new intervention in the referendum campaign comes a day after Lord Rose, the chairman of Britain Stronger in Europe, came under fire for using 'spurious' statistics on the benefits of the EU.

Mr Moynihan, the former executive chairman of PA consulting, today told the BBC: 'The day we vote to leave the EU, nothing at all will happen, we will still have exactly the same relationship.

'Then they will enter into negotiation. At the end of it we will have a relationship with the EU.

'It is highly unlikely it will be the sort of disastrous relationship that they claim.'

He added: 'Every single country in Europe, apart from Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Luxembourg, has a surplus with us.

'The French export huge amounts of food to us - the French farmers would riot if they thought we were going to enter into a trade war.'

Mr Moynihan said the EU 'cannot afford not to have a free trade deal with us' because 'they export far more to us than we export to them'.

The Vote Leave board member said Canada's deal with the EU was a 'very good example' - although that took a number of years of negotiations to be sealed.

'I don't think that we need to take eight years,' he said as he hit out at the tactics of the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign to remain in the EU.

'The other side are trying to create 'Fud' - fear, uncertainty and doubt. They are trying to say 'It's terribly dangerous, a leap into the unknown to leave'.'

Lord Rose insisted yesterday every household is 3,000 a year better off because of EU membership and businesses who import and export to the EU are 670,000 better off.

He challenged the various Out campaigns to come up with answers on what a post-EU future would look like for Britain.

But Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: 'Remain in EU's Lord Rose using entirely spurious figures this morning that no one will believe. Exciting future outside of EU not in.'

He added: 'Outside EU we can have trade and co-operation with our European neighbours whilst negotiating our own trade deals globally. Win-win.'

Vote Leave claims that membership of the EU costs 350 million a week, but Mr Moynihan acknowledged some of that money came back to the UK - although elements of it were spent on 'foolish EU vanity projects'.

Britain Stronger in Europe chairman Lord Rose, left, opened up the week's referendum campaigning yesterday but was accused of using 'spurious' figures by Nigel Farage, right at a Grassroots Go campaign event

'We do get some money back, but the point is we don't say how that money is spent.

'We get less than half of the money back, we don't get a choice as to how it is spent - there are bridges to nowhere up in the far reaches of Scotland that are built, agricultural subsidies - some of which probably we would want to keep but not all of which we would want to keep.

'It's probable that, at the end of the day, we would want to spend something like 20% of that money. The other 80% would be available to us.'

He played down talks of a merger with Leave.EU, the other main group campaigning for Brexit.

Although one group will be officially designated as the official campaign to leave, Mr Moynihan said that might not be until next year if the referendum is held in 2017.

'I don't think there is any need for the kind of monolithic group that people talk about,' he said.
Officers in Birmingham, London and Cornwall said the threats were a

A Russian Twitter group could be behind a series of bomb threats which saw thousands of pupils evacuated from 14 schools in Britain and six in Paris.

The group, which called themselves 'Evacuators 2K16', invited pupils to get in touch if they wanted to 'get out of school'.

And today, after children were removed from six schools in Birmingham, four in London and four in Cornwall, the group was closed down.

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Police attended Bristnall Hall Academy, in Oldbury, today after the school received a bomb threat call

Messages on the Russian group's website read: 'We LOVE to cause mayhem and 'We hate authority'

A French police car is seen outside the Lycee Henri IV, in Paris. It was one of five schools in the capital to receive bomb threats

In one message the group, who goes by the Twitter handle @Ev4cuati0nSquad, said: 'Schools in Paris dropping like flies', while in another they said: 'How's the West Midlands doing?'.

The profile picture was of Russian president Vladimir Putin and the email address contained a .RU domain, which is linked to the country.

West Midlands Police said calls were made in 'quick succession' to Oldbury Academy, Holly Lodge High, Bristnall Hall Academy, George Salter High School, Earls High School and Four Dwellings Upper School, which are all in Birmingham.

They confirmed that they would be looking at various lines of inquiry.

The bomb scares came exactly a week after three of the six West Midlands schools were evacuated when they received what turned out to be hoax calls.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police say four schools, two of which are believed to be Ricards Lodge School and Raynes Park High School, were also evacuated over threats.

A spokesman for the Met said the incidents were being treated as 'malicious communications'.

Humphry Davy School, in Penzance, (pictured) was evacuated before children returned to their classrooms

Ricards Lodge High School, in London, also received a similar threat and a cordon was put in place following an evacuation of the school

A Russian Twitter group, called Evacuators 2K16, could be behind a series of bomb threats which saw thousands of pupils evacuated

The people behind the group wrote a series of tweets following today's evacuations from schools in Paris and the UK

In one Tweet, the handle @Ev4cuati0nSquad wrote: 'How's the West Midlands doing?' - where six schools were evacuated

At the same time officers in Cornwall said secondary schools in Penzance, St Ives and Truro also received similar calls and the school's headteachers decided to carry out the evacuations.

The four schools affected by the hoax calls were St Ives School and Humphry Davy School in Penzance and Penair School and Truro High School for Girls in Truro.

Head teacher of Humphry Davy School, Bill Marshall, said 'I would like to commend all of our students and staff for reacting in such an impeccable way, especially given the really poor weather.

'We acted on information given at 8:30am and after finding that there was no issue the pupils returned to their class rooms, I really must thank everyone for their co-operation.'

A spokesman from Devon and Cornwall Police said there was found to be no threat or no risk to any children or staff

Meanwhile, West Midlands Police confirmed officers were investigating the threats but said intelligence experts believe there is 'no credible threat'.

Schools in the West Midlands, Cornwall, and London were all evacuated this morning following the threats

A parent's vehicle blocks the entrance of Leasowes High School in the West Midlands after they were called in to collect their children following the bomb threat

Bristnall Hall Academy (pictured) was one of 14 schools, across the country, to receive the threat today at around 9am

Police are pictured outside of Raynes Park High School, in London, following a series of bomb threats to 14 schools across Britain

Police in the West Midlands said calls were made in 'quick succession' to the six schools, including Bristnall Hall Academy (pictured)

Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes, said: 'Police intelligence suggests there is no credible threat behind the calls.

'They mirror the hoaxes several schools received just a few days ago.

'Local police officers have been sent to the affected schools to carry our checks and to offer reassurance.

'A police investigation is underway to find the person responsible for the calls.'

The local authorities responsible for the schools confirmed they were evacuated to 'ensure the safety of pupils'.

Councillor Darren Cooper, leader of Sandwell Council, said: 'Four Sandwell secondary schools received bomb threats this morning and the police were immediately alerted.

West Midlands Police said calls were made in 'quick succession' to six Birmingham schools, including Four Dwellings Upper School, above

Pupils were also evacuated from Oldbury Academy, in Birmingham, following today's bomb threat calls

Pupils from Leasowes School in Halesowen, West Midslands, (pictured) were all evacuated last week because of bomb scares

'To ensure the safety of pupils, head teachers at the schools made the decision to evacuate and pupils were sent home for the day.

'We are supporting the schools with their decision to put the children's safety first.

'Last week students and schools showed a sensible and rapid response to these threats and that should be the case again today.'

SIX SCHOOLS EVACUATED IN PARIS FOLLOWING BOMB THREATS Pupils were evacuated from six Paris high schools following similar threats today. According to local reports, the schools included Henri IV, Louis-le-Grand, Montaigne, Condorcet and Fenelon. They say that bomb threats were also made at Charlemagne. 'The students are in the schoolyard and we are waiting for the bomb squad,' said a spokesman at Louis Le Grand in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres area, one of the schools involved. Reports suggest that each school received an anonymous call in which a bomb threat was made but no devices have been found. Advertisement

Councillor Ian Cooper, cabinet member for children's services for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, said: 'Earls High school in Halesowen was evacuated after a bomb threat phone call this morning.

'Police are investigating the call but say there is 'no credible threat'.

'We are working with West Midlands Police on this incident but would like to reassure parents that the situation was dealt with quickly and safely and there are no suggestions of any threat to any other schools in the Dudley borough.'

A Twitter account called 'Evacuators 2k16' is claiming responsibility for the threats, saying they intend to cause 'mayhem'.

The profile for @Ev4cuati0nSquad, which has now been suspended, says: 'We are 6 individuals based internationally.'

In a post early yesterday the account appeared to offer to issue bomb threats if pupils want to 'get out of school for a day'.

Oldbury Academy, Bristnall Hall Academy, Holly Lodge High, and Leasowes School in Halesowen, West Mids., were all evacuated last week because of bomb scares.

Police searched all four sites but said no bombs or suspicious objects had been found.

Speaking at the time, Superintendent Richard Youds said: 'These false and malicious calls resulted in lost opportunities for local young people, many of whom are preparing for exams.

Oldbury Academy sent a messages to pupils via Twitter to warn them of today's closure

'They also wasted valuable police time which would have been better spent targeting criminals, supporting victims and preventing crimes.

'Officers are aware of similar calls made to schools outside of the West Midlands area around the same time.

'As part of the investigation, officers will work to establish if these are linked.'

The threats come just over a month after every school in Los Angeles was shut down following a hoax that claimed to be written by a bullied Muslim and was inspired by a recent plot from the hit TV series Homeland, it has been revealed.

More than 640,000 children were ordered to stay home after the district's superintendent received an email from a self-professed extremist jidahi threatening to attack schools with nerve gas, bombs and rifles.

An almost identical email was sent to school officials in New York City, but the Mayor and NYPD Police Commissioner declined to take the same action.




Isambard Kingdom Brunel's school report has revealed that the celebrated engineer's teachers 'had brilliant expectations of his future', but thought his Latin needed work.

The previously unseen report was written for a 15-year-old Brunel in 1821 after while he was studying at the Institute of Monsieur Massin in Paris, where he excelled in maths, drawing and German.

His behaviour was rated as 'beyond reproach', but staff warned that the boy who would go on to become one of Britain's most prolific engineers would have to cope with his less satisfactory Latin, 'as much as it will be possible'.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel's school report (pictured) has revealed that the celebrated engineer's teachers 'had brilliant expectations of his future', but thought his Latin needed work

Brunel, the son of French engineer Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, was sent to school in Paris in 1820 when he was 14.

Teacher Mr Massin wrote: 'This young man gave to all his teachers the fullest satisfaction, and he provides brilliant expectations for the future.'

Brunel, pictured in front of the ss Great Eastern, was described by being 'beyond reproach' by teachers

The genius behind the ss Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge was also described as being 'very good' at maths, German and drawing, and won several school prizes.

He was also awarded a '2nd honourable mention' in drawing, 2nd division.

The report is among several items donated by a private collector which will go on display for the first time at a new 7.1m museum dedicated to the engineer when it opens in Bristol in 2018.

Called 'Being Brunel', it is currently being built on Bristol's harbourside alongside the ss Great Britain, his famous iron-hulled steamship.

The museum will contain more than 14,000 exhibits from the University of Bristol and around 1,500 personal artefacts donated by a private collector, Clive Richards.

These include one of his famous cigars, half-smoked, found inside a leather-and-aluminium cigar case with 'I.K.B Athenaeum Club Pall Mall' stamped on the front.

Brunel, a 40-a-day smoker, did a lot of networking at the Athenaeum Club, close to his London offices, having been a member there since 1830. He also wrote of his membership and visits to the club in his diaries.

The case could hold 48 cigars in two separate compartments, along with a small document wallet for stamps and business cards, while the cigar serves as a reminder to the famous photograph of Brunel in front of the chains of the ss Great Eastern, smoking a cigar in his muddy trousers and boots.

A selection of silverware gifted to Brunel by the Great Western Railway Company in 1845 will also feature in the new museum, as will a rare photo portrait of his father Sir Marc taken in the 1840s at Bath's 'Photographic Institution'.

As part of the ss Great Britain Trust's project, Brunel's Grade II Listed Drawing Office where he built the ss Great Britain is being restored to how it looked in the 1840s.

Brunel had launched the ss Great Britain in Bristol in 1843 as the world's first great ocean liner. The iron-hulled steamship was most experimental steam ship of her time and revolutionised travel and set new standards in engineering, reliability and speed.

Other artefacts going on display include one of his famous cigars, half-smoked, found inside a leather-and-aluminium cigar case with 'I.K.B Athenaeum Club Pall Mall' stamped on the front

A rare photo portrait of Brunel's father Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, which was taken in the 1840s at Bath's 'Photographic Institution', is also going on show

THE BEYOND REPROCH YOUNG MAN WITH BRILLIANT EXPECTATIONS: ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL'S TEENAGE SCHOOL REPORT INSTITUTE OF Mr MASSIN, CHEVALIER OF ST.-LOUIS, OFFICER of the University, Doctor of Letters, and Member of the Royal Academic Society of Sciences. 2nd Semester of the Classic Year 1821. REPORT OF Mr Isambard Brunel Pupil of the Class of Maths and of French. Place of Compositions. This Pupil obtained, at Secondary School: The 1st Prize of Element. Maths. At the Institute: the Prize of the Semester of the Class of Maths The Prize of Elementary Maths The Prize of French Language, of History, and of Geography (?). The 2nd honourable mention in Drawing. 2nd division. Religious homeworks: - Properly fulfilled. - French Language: - He improved - Latin Language: - He will deal with it as much as it will be possible. - Analysis: - Good - History: - Good - Geography: - Good - Maths: - Very Good - Drawing: - Very Good - German Language: - Very Good, a lot of diligence - Health: - Good - Behaviour: - Beyond reproach. - This young man gave to all his teachers the fullest satisfaction, and he provides brilliant expectations for the future. Advertisement

After being left to rust in the Falkland Islands she was rescued and returned to Bristol in 1970, where she has been painstakingly restored and transformed into a popular tourist attraction.

Being Brunel, due to open in 2018, is expected to provide a further boost to tourism in Bristol.

Matthew Tanner, Chief Executive of the ss Great Britain Trust, said: 'This is an important milestone for this new venture, which is one of the most ambitious and exciting projects we've carried out since the ss Great Britain was salvaged and returned 8,000 miles from the Falkland Islands.'

The ss Great Britain Trust needs to raise an additional 248k to complete the 7.1m project, which received a 4.7m grant from Heritage Lottery Fund.

The new museum, Being Brunel, due to open in 2018, is expected to provide a huge boost to tourism in Bristol

An artist's impression of how the new museum will look alongside the ss Great Britain when it opens in two years time

An actor playing Brunel starts work on the demolition of the North Range buildings in the Great Western Dockyard, which will be replaced with the new museum
A New Jersey elementary school science lab has a new pet after a lizard was found in a kindergartner's salad.

Sally Mabon and her kindergartener, Faye, unwrapped a bundle of tatsoi greens and discovered the lizard.

The three-inch reptile had been refrigerated for days in a salad that was purchased by Mabon at a local grocery store.

A tiny green lizard, known to New Jersey elementary school science lab students as Green Fruit Loop, was discovered in a salad that was purchased at a local organic foods store in Princeton

The lizard survived for days in a refrigerator before being found by Faye (pictured) and her mother

Mabon said: 'I was definitely surprised to find the anole and concerned that it was likely dead.

'I called out to Faye who was upstairs to come see and we discussed whether it was dead or maybe just hibernating and decided to put it in a Tupperware container.

'We left for swim class and when we got home he had gone from dark brown and limp to alive and green, which was pretty amazing.'

Mabon, who used to live in California, said that she wasn't disgusted or taken aback by the lizard in the salad because it's a sign that the produce is fresh and truly grown without pesticides'.

Riverside Elementary School science teacher, Mark Eastburn, told NJ.com that the green anole lizard had been cold and lifeless after being confined in a refrigerator for days.

The lizard has since been warmed and lives in a cage in Eastburn's class and the kindergartners have nicknamed it Green Fruit Loop.

It has also become the science lab mascot for Eastburn who was able to teach a few lessons on how the lizard got into the leaves, where it came from and what it eats.

Eastburn also noted that the lizard is eating on her own and refers to it as a 'her' because her head resembles those of female anoles that he has seen.

Green Fruit Loop, an anole lizard common in the southeastern US, now lives in a cage at the Riverside Elementary school where one teacher believes it is a 'she' because of the shape of her head

He said green anole lizards live in the southeastern United States, from Texas to North Carolina, but this one may have traveled from Florida.

Eastburn said: 'It probably has some moderate adaptation to the cold which is why it made it through.'

The tatsoi was bought from Whole Earth Center, a Princeton natural foods store whose produce is 100 per cent organic.

A store produce manager says greens are cleaned as they're stocked and that the lizard must have been tucked away in a leaf.

It's possible that the tiny lizard could have traveled from Florida tucked away under a leaf and ended up in the Whole Earth Center natural foods store
The European Union is committing 'ritual suicide' with its migration policy, according to the Slovak prime minister.

Robert Fico urged the 28-member bloc to stop the inflow of migrants and called the EU's proposed quota system for distributing migrants a 'complete fiasco'.

His warning came as the Netherlands' EU commissioner Frans Timmermans claimed 60 per cent of those flocking to Europe were economic migrants and not fleeing from war.

Robert Fico urged the 28-member bloc to stop the inflow of 'illegal migrants' and called the EU's proposed quata system for distributing migrants a 'complete fiasco'

The 51-year-old Slovak leader, a left-winger known for his anti-immigrant rhetoric, told Czech newspaper Pravo: 'I feel that we in the EU are now committing ritual suicide and we're just looking on.'

Fico, whose party is expected to win a general election in March, said the EU should first of all stop the influx of 'illegal migrants'.

'If it takes until late 2016 or 2017 for Europe to set up its planned border and coastguard force, the EU will have killed itself,' Fico said, adding that Slovakia had 300 police officers ready to deploy at the external borders of the passport-free Schengen area.

'We often stew in our own juices, tackling quotas which are nonsense... and in the meantime several thousand migrants arrive in Europe every day,' the premier said.

Slovakia, a eurozone member of 5.4 million people, has filed a lawsuit against the EU-proposed quota system for distributing migrants across the continent, just like neighbouring Hungary.

Fico said the system had turned out 'a complete fiasco' and that thousands of migrants distributed according to quotas were impossible to integrate in Slovakia.

Slovakia, a eurozone member of 5.4 million people, has filed a lawsuit against the EU-proposed quota system for distributing migrants across the continent, just like neighbouring Hungary. Migrants are pictured walking across the Macedonian border into Serbia

'If, based on temporary or permanent quotas, someone forces us to import 50,000 people with completely different habits and religions - and these are mostly young men - I can't imagine how we could integrate them. We can't,' he said.

'They would end up in a space with its own life and its own rules, and this is why I'm saying this idea is wrong and unfeasible.'

Holland's EU commissioner Frans Timmermans claimed more than half of those coming to Europe as asylum seekers are not fleeing conflict.

He told Nos: 'More than half of the people now coming to Europe come from countries where you can assume they have no reason whatsoever to ask for refugee status. More than half, 60%.

He said he based his claim on figures from European border agency Frontex - statistics that are yet to be made public.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has invited fellow EU members Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to a special summit on migration next month as the bloc grapples with the record migrant crisis, the Czech prime minister said on Tuesday.

More than one million people reached Europe in 2015, most of them refugees fleeing war and violence in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

'The Czech Republic will call an extraordinary summit of the Visegrad-four countries for February 15,' Premier Bohuslav Sobotka said, specifying that the migrant crisis would top the agenda.

His spokesman was not immediately available to give details.

The Czech Republic holds the rotating presidency of the so-called Visegrad group, which brings together four central European ex-communist countries.

All four have rejected the EU's plan for quotas to distribute migrants across the continent.

They have instead insisted on tighter border control for the 26-member passport-free Schengen zone and other steps that would reduce the influx of refugees and migrants into Europe.

More than one million people reached Europe in 2015, most of them refugees fleeing war and violence in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
El Chapo was recaptured recently after escaping from prison in July

He said a 'boisterous' guard dog and hourly checkups keep him awake

But through a lawyer, he has complained about being unable to sleep

Drug lord El Chapo is imprisoned after being recaptured for the third time

El Chapo, pictured during his recapture in January, has complained of being unable to sleep in jail

Mexican Drug Lord El Chapo has complained he is unable sleep properly since being re-jailed due to a 'boisterous guard dog' and hourly checkups.

El Chapo's lawyer, Jose Gonzalez, said that his infamous client cannot sleep in his cell, which is guarded by dogs and where prison officers come and check on him every hour.

The notorious criminal boss is currently being held at Altiplano prison, in Almoloya de Juzrez, Mexico, after being recaptured on January 8.

In the text, which he passed to Gonzalez via a third party, El Chapo writes: 'I haven't been able to sleep at all.

'They wake me up to take the register every hour during the day and every two hours at night, and there is a dog next to me which barks a lot and stops me sleeping.'

His lawyer has also stated in the public declaration that Guzman has not 'seen his family since before he was detained'.

He also puts this down to a 'complete lack of facilities, as there are no phones in the rooms'.

The president of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, has explained that the State Attorney General for the republic is working to 'accelerate' the extradition of El Chapo to the U.S.

El Chapo, considered by the country's Department of the Treasury as the 'most powerful drug trafficker in the world', escaped from a maximum security jail in 2015 through a one mile tunnel which burrowed up through the floor of the shower in his cell.

Officials claimed his meeting with actor Sean Penn was instrumental in leading them to his recapture, after facilitating an interview which was subsequently published in Rolling Stone magazine.

Meanwhile, actress Kate del Castillo, at the center of a Mexican money laundering probe after she helped Hollywood star Sean Penn interview drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, said Mexico's government wants to 'destroy her,' Univision reported over the weekend.

Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez has said that there were 'indications' the actress may have used money from Guzman to help finance her tequila business.

'I have no reason to give explanations to the press.

'If I don't talk its because my lawyers told me not to because the government wants to destroy me,' the actress said in a message to Univision, which published the comment on its website.

A publicist for del Castillo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An official for Mexico's attorney general's office declined to comment on the remarks, but noted that Gomez has guaranteed that the presumption of innocence will be respected.

El Chapo's lawyer, Jose Luis Gonzalez Meza (pictured), passed on the drug lord's concerns to the media
Britain could be sued for slander over an inquiry which blamed the death of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko on Moscow, it was claimed today.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claims the independent probe - which said it was probable that Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered Litvinenko's killing - contained groundless accusations against the Kremlin leadership and left many questions unanswered.

Speaking today about the six-month probe, Mr Lavrov also warned the explosive findings would seriously complicate Russian-British ties.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right today during a news conference) claims Britain could be sued for slander over an inquiiry which blamed the death of Alexander Litvinenko (left) on Moscow

His comments come after Sir Robert Owen concluded that Vladimir Putin 'probably' ordered the 2006 death of the former KGB employee due to 'highly personal attacks' - including claims Putin was a paedophile

His comments come after Sir Robert Owen concluded that Mr Putin 'probably' ordered the 2006 death of the former KGB employee and said there were 'several reasons' why Russia wanted Mr Litvinenko dead.

The report told how Litvinenko's 'highly personal attacks' - including allegations that the Russian President was a practising paedophile - may have been among the motives for his death.

The 328-page publication, which comes nine years after Mr Litvinenko's death on British soil, has now sparked an international diplomatic row between Britain and Russia.

John Sparks, Sky News' Moscow correspondent, said Mr Lavrov made the comments at a news conference today about the inquiry.

David Cameron has condemned the 'appalling' murder but admitted he still needs to work with Russia

Mr Sparks said: 'Quite emotional language he was using - he said we were guilty of speculation, of exaggeration, a good savvy lawyer will probably get the UK sued for slander.'

In the report, Sir Robert said Mr Litvinenko - who accused the Russian president on his death bed - was killed by FSB spies Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun after they slipped radioactive polonium 210 into his teapot at a Mayfair hotel in central London.

Sir Robert said he was 'sure' the two assassins placed the polonium in the drink knowing it would kill their target.

After the publication of the inquiry, Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina urged Britain to impose sanctions on Russia.

Prime Minister David Cameron agreed the 'appalling' findings of the report confirmed what ministers had believed since 2007 - that the Kremlin had ordered an assassination on the streets of London.

But he said the Syria crisis meant Britain had to have a relationship with Russia albeit one with 'clear eyes and a cold heart'.

It prompted the Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko to claim there had been a 'whitewash' to cover up the 'incompetence' of the UK's security services and that it 'unacceptable' for Britain to link Russia to a state-sponsored assassination.

The report was also dismissed as an example of 'subtle British humour' that would do nothing but 'poison' bilateral relations.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Mr Putin, said: 'It is an inquiry that is taking place in Great Britain and in this case it is not a topic that is of interest to us, or that is on our agenda.'

The death of Litvinenko marked a post-Cold War low point in Anglo-Russian relations, and ties have never recovered.

Marina Litvinenko, holding a copy of the explosive report, has urged the British government to take harsh action against Russia based on the findings

The Foreign Office is eager to avoid a full-blown row, partly because Mr Putin's cooperation is badly needed in the fight against Islamic State terrorists.

Litvinenko, 43, a fierce critic of Mr Putin, was given polonium in a cup of green tea during a meeting at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair. It took him three weeks to die.

On his death bed, he accused the Russian president of plotting to kill him.
Sugar lovers have inundated Australias largest confectionery company with requests for their favourite party mix lolly to be sold separately.

Allen's has taken consumer criticism on board and are running an online poll asking the public which Classic Party Mix treat they would most like to see 'go solo'.

After a successful Facebook campaign brought Allen's jelly tots back to shelves in August, shoppers began to use the same tactic and inundate the company's page with requests for peaches and cream, black cats and racing car lollies to be sold separately from the mixed bags.

'I'm not normally a complainer, but can you start making a bag of only peaches and cream PLEASE. It's the only reason I buy party mix and two is just not enough,' customer Kylie Lowdell urged on social media.

Allen's lollies have once again taken consumer criticism on board and are running an online poll (pictured) asking the public which party mix lolly they would most like to see 'go solo'

'Can you please, please, please make a bag dedicated to your delicious peaches and cream lollies,' loyal customer Shireen King (pictured) wrote on Allen's Facebook page

Shoppers began to inundate the company's page with requests for peaches and cream, black cats and racing car lollies to be sold separately

The company responded to the demand by introducing a poll to its website, asking which 'Allen's lolly should go solo,' out of the three favourites.

According to their Facebook page, the poll closes on February 5 and the selected bag will be exclusive to Woolworths stores across the country.

The peaches and cream lolly appears to be the most popular among consumers, with pictures of the sweet and requests for it to it to be separated flooding Allen's social media pages.

'Can you please, please, please make a bag dedicated to your delicious peaches and cream lollies. I see so many people making this same request, you will clearly benefit from following through with what your loyal customers would love for you to do,' Shireen King wrote.

'Make peaches and cream lollies available for separate purchase! They are the only reason that I (and everyone I know) buy the party mixes,' customer Breanne Kovacs said. 'I will buy so many kilos of them!'

The peaches and cream, black cats and race cars are currently only available to be purchased in the classic party mix bag

The peaches and cream lolly appears to be the most popular among consumers, with pictures of the sweet and requests for it to it to be separated flooding Allen's social media pages

Allen's lollies responded to most of the suggestions, saying they were 'taking its fans' feedback on board'

Jessie Coad admitted she frequently shops at the 'five cent mix' lolly shops to specifically buy a bag of the 'beautiful light orange and white half domes.'

'I snap at people when they try to take these ones out,' she said.

Allen's lollies responded to most of the suggestions, saying they were 'taking its fans' feedback on board.'

The bananas, red frogs, snakes, pineapples, milk bottles, jelly babies and strawberries and cream lollies have already been separated from the party mix and can be purchased on their own.

In August, Allen's lollies announced they would be bringing back jelly tots after an enormous Facebook campaign insisted the company made a mistake in discontinuing the sweet.

The Bring BACK Allens Jelly Tots page and its 330 followers managed to catch the company's attention, who announced the product is returning 'by popular demand,' News.com.au reported at the time.

The bananas, red frogs, snakes, pineapples, milk bottles, jelly babies and strawberries and cream lollies have already been separated from the party mix and can be purchased on their own

In August, Allen's lollies announced they would be bringing back jelly tots after an enormous Facebook campaign insisted the company made a mistake in discontinuing the sweet

The red frogs and milk bottles are available for separate purchase and many shoppers believe this should be extended to other favourites

The company was slammed early in 2015 year for downsizing the iconic Killer Python from 47 grams to 24 grams.

They also announced the cutting of vintage favourites Spearmint Leaves and Green Frogs due to poor sales, to the annoyance of fans.

Allen's are not the only company to bend at the request of consumer criticism.

In August, Streets ice cream announced the release of a family-sized 1.25L tub of the beloved Golden Gaytime, which is now available from ice cream freezers in grocery stores across the country for $6.99 each.

The mission was launched by Jesse James McElroy, from Sydney, after he realised it was impossible to share the popular dessert on a paddle pop stick with anyone else.

'I was on the phone to my ex late at night, who is living in America, and she said 'bring me some ice cream' so I said 'I'll bring you a Gaytime', Mr McElroy told Daily Mail Australia in August.

'But then I realised, I can't share it - why isn't it in a tub? Why hasn't anyone thought of this idea? I freaked out and created a group when I was in the shower at four in the morning.'

The tub version was introduced shortly after Mr McElroy's Facebook post, which garnered almost 50,000 shares.
It was found 1.5miles away from his grandmother's house

Autopsy results released Monday indicated no foul play in the death of 2-year-old Noah Chamberlin

The desperate search for two-year-old Noah Chamberlin (pictured far right with his family) has ended in tragedy after the boy's body was found just outside the search area in Chester County, Tennessee

The tragic death of a 2-year-old Tennessee boy who was found dead in the woods near his home last week has officially been ruled an accident.

On Monday, officials released preliminary autopsy results showing little Noah Chamberlin died of hypothermia.

The toddler's disappearance during a walk with his grandmother and 4-year-old sister launched a desperate week-long search that ended in sadness last week when his body was found in a wooded area just a mile from his Pinson home.

District Attorney General Jerry Woodhall released the autopsy results on Monday as public speculation mounted over the boy's death.

Since the beginning of the search, law enforcement have said there was nothing suspicious about the boy's disappearance, but that hasn't stopped several people from starting online campaigns, demanding a thorough investigation.

'Upon the recovery of the body of Noah Chamberlin it was sent for an autopsy. This autopsy was performed at the State Medical Examiner's Office in Nashville, Tennessee.

'The preliminary results of this autopsy are that his death was the result of hypothermia and there were not signs of foul play.

'My office maintained constant contact with the agencies involved during the search for Noah. Based upon the information received, it is my opinion that there are no criminal acts,' Woodhall said in a statement.

Final autopsy results will be finished in eight to 16 weeks.

Meanwhile, family spokesman Andy Morris issued a statement.

'Noah got done playing so he laid down and took a nap and he woke up in front of his creator.If you have to pick a way to go, thats the best way,' Morris said.

The Chamberlin family has scheduled a funeral for Wednesday.

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Police say his death was a 'tragic accident' and said he was found in a clearing. Pictured above with his mother and father and 4-year-old sister

Little Noah's body was found on Thursday, about 1.5miles from his grandmother's house in Chester County, Tennessee.

Police say his death was a 'tragic accident' and would only reveal that his body was found in a clearing.

Just hours earlier, investigators said they were adamant he was still alive, insisting they had found crucial evidence in woods near where he had last been spotted.

Desperate search: The search for the boy drew hundreds of volunteers from around the state

Headquarters: Above, search crews are parked on the side of the road searching for the boy after he went missing earlier this month

Sheriff Weaver and Madison County Sheriff John Mehr believe Noah's death is a tragic accident.

'Just like grandma said, she turned her head for a minute and he was gone. There were trails everywhere,' Weaver said.

'Everybody we talked to talked about how he ran all the time, jumped over tables, ran, just nonstop,' Mehr added. 'He loved to hide. We had people tell us that even adults would run after him, and they couldn't catch him.'

According to WBBJ, his remains were found just outside a grid searchers had spent days scouring.

Law enforcement had covered roughly 1,000 acres of land searching for the little boy and expanded their efforts every day in a bid to track him down.

Investigators hit out at conspiracy theorists who speculated that the boy's parents, Jacob and Destiny Chamberlin, were behind the disappearance.

Skeptics have been calling on officers to raid the family's home, with wild accusations claiming the child was covered in wet concrete or buried under an outhouse on the family property.

'We have interviewed the entire family multiple times. We can find no reason, none whatsoever, to discredit them,' Chester County Sheriff Blair Weaver said at a press conference on Tuesday, according to the Jackson Sun.

Madison County Sheriff John Mehr added: 'The family has been cooperative and supportive. The FBI and TBI have been doing background and support (operations) for us. A behavioral science unit has been called in to assist.'

Noah (pictured in his father's arms as a baby) was reported missing at 1.19pm last Thursday after he disappeared while on a walk in the woods behind his grandparents' Pinson home

Chester County Sheriff Blair Weaver hugs a member of the community at the conclusion of a prayer service for Noah Chamberlin at Chester County High School on Wednesday

Noah was reported missing at 1:19pm last Thursday after he disappeared while on a walk in the woods behind his grandparents' Pinson home, law enforcement officials said.

His grandmother had taken him and his four-year-old sister on a nature hike when she said she lost sight of him.

Authorities said the trio had sat down to talk while in the woods and when the grandmother turned around, he was gone.
A Colorado homeowner shot and killed a man who tried to rob his home while answering a Craigslist advert, and now faces an investigation by police.

Officers in Jefferson County said the man, who has not been named, was meeting two buyers at his home in Littleton on Sunday morning after listing some collectibles and household items online.

But when the two men arrived they tied him up before taking the keys to his grey Ford Escape and attempting to drive away.

A homeowner in Colorado was tied up by two men who answered a Craigslist advert on Sunday before they took his car keys and attempted to steal his grey Ford Escape (pictured)

However, the man managed to free himself, grabbed a handgun and went outside before opening fire on the pair, ABC News reports.

Officers say he hit and wounded the man inside his grey Ford, which rolled into a neighbor's front yard before coming to a stop.

The man, who has also not been identified, was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.

The homeowner also fired at a man inside a yellow or gold Mustang, but he was apparently uninjured and managed to get away.

The homeowner managed to get loose before taking a handgun outside and opening fire on the men, hitting and killed one who was inside the Ford Escape, while a second man in a Mustang fled the scene

Police say the homeowner was at home with his wife at the time, though she was unaware of what was happening.

The couple, who were uninjured, were taken for questioning by deputies before later being released from police custody.

Officers say they passed details of the incident along to the Jefferson County District Attorney, and it is not yet clear whether the homeowner will face charges.

Cops are still looking for the second man, described as Hispanic and in his 40s, after discovering the Mustang around 20 miles away from where the incident took place.
were condemned and evacuated in 2010 due to dangerous proximity to the edge of the bluff

Huge chunks of cliffs have been crumbling into the ocean since mid-December

prompted by storm damage to the coastal city of 40,000 located about 10 miles south of San Francisco

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The City of Pacifica, California, has declared a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of several homes perched atop coastal bluffs that are at risk of crumbling into the ocean as a result of relentless El Nino storms.

Dramatic drone footage posted on YouTube over the weekend captured huge chunks of the cliffs falling into the surf, with condemned apartment buildings atop teetering precariously on the edge.

Residents were forced out of two compromised clifftop homes Monday, joining the inhabitants of several other nearby properties and apartment buildings abandoned in past years.

Living on the edge: This screengrab from a drone video recorded on Saturday January 23 shows chunks of a bluff along Esplanade Avenue in Pacifica, California, crumbling into the ocean

Doomed: Several of the buildings were condemned and evacuated in 2010 due to their dangerous proximity to the edge of the bluff

'Before' picture: This undated image shows two apartment buildings (in red square) along Esplanade Avenue prior to the storm damage

More trouble ahead: Two more compromised clifftop residences were declared uninhabitable on Monday, just days after the oceanside California city declared a state of emergency

Uninhabitable apartments, in danger of collapsing into the Pacific Ocean, line Esplanade Ave

Officials drilled reinforcement rods into the bluffs and coated the cliff-faces with reinforced concrete to try and buy some time

The beginning of the end: Storms in 2003 began shearing off huge chunks of the sandstone cliffs in Pacifica

Steps away from the void: Parts of homes and their back patios were left precariously hanging over the watery abyss

Waves lap at an eroding bluff at the San Francisco RV Resort in Pacifica, California

Workers gather above an eroding hillside at The Bluffs at Pacifica Apartments in Pacifica

Pacifica city manager Lorie Tinfow on Friday declared a local state of emergency, prompted by storm damage to the coastal city of 40,000 located about 10 miles south of San Francisco.

El Nino is hitting the citys coastline very hard and creating almost daily reports of impacts to both public and private property, she said in a statement.

Storms in 2003 began shearing off huge chunks of the sandstone cliffs in Pacifica. Several of the homes and apartments were abandoned in 2010 and are currently awaiting demolition.

Officials since then shored up the bluffs, stacking rocks at the base of the cliff to break the crashing waves. They also drilled reinforcement rods into the bluffs and coated the cliff-faces with reinforced concrete.

The cliffs had held in the last four years of drought, but the bluffs have proven no match for the constant onslaught of massive waves and rainstorms brought about by El Nino.

On the brink: A private house overlooking the ocean in Pacifica is seen hanging over the abyss, just a few steps away from the crashing waves

The ocean has been chipping away at the cliffs of Pacifica for years, and El Nino has only accelerated that process

Stormy weather: Meteorologists expect El Nino to last into March, likely bringing more storms and erosion in its wake

Clinging to their homes: Some residents were reluctant to leave their condemned homes, saying they cannot afford to move

El Nino is caused by a shift in the distribution of warm water in the Pacific Ocean around the equator.

Usually the wind blows strongly from east to west, due to the rotation of the Earth, causing water to pile up in the western part of the Pacific.

This pulls up colder water from the deep ocean in the eastern Pacific.

However, in an El Nino, the winds pushing the water get weaker and cause the warmer water to shift back towards the east. This causes the eastern Pacific to get warmer.

But as the ocean temperature is linked to the wind currents, this causes the winds to grow weaker still and so the ocean grows warmer, meaning the El Nino grows.

This change in air and ocean currents around the equator can have a major impact on the weather patterns around the globe by creating pressure anomalies in the atmosphere.

Boulders shore up an eroding cliff below an apartment complex Monday in Pacifica, California

Storms have damaged a seawall and the Pacifica Pier, popular with tourists and anglers, partially closing it

Pacifica Mayor Sue Digre says the ferocious waves in recent weeks have been relentless and longer from north to south than any she's seen during her 25 years of living in the city

Jonathan Levine stands in his doorway after learning he would have to evacuate his oceanside apartment Monday

Eileen Horan (left) and Garth Yeaman (right) carry some of their belongings after being forced to evacuate their apartments

Danger zone: A notice was taped to a door at one of the condemned buildings along Esplanade Avenue alerting residents that it has been deemed unsafe for human occupancy

The dramatic YouTube video shot by Duncan Sinfield, of Storyful, using a drone equipped with a camera, shows a large piece of the cliff breaking off under a vacated apartment building along Esplanade Avenue overlooking the ocean.

Parts of other homes and their back patios were left precariously hanging over the watery abyss.

Storms have also damaged a seawall and the Pacifica Pier, popular with tourists and anglers, partially closing it, reported San Francisco Chronicle.

Skies over Northern California have temporarily cleared, following a series of pounding January storms, but meteorologists expect El Nino to last into March, bringing more crashing waves and downpours.

Officials on Monday tagged an apartment complex of about 20 units at 310 Esplanade Avenue as unsafe, ordering residents to pack their things and be out by sunset.

Residents scrambled to find someplace to go, with the American Red Cross stepping in to offer temporary housing for the evacuees.

Jonathan Levine, who had lived in there for more than a year, said he would stay with friends. I dont want to leave, he said. It was just matter of time.

But some residents were more than a little reluctant to leave their homes.

'You guys are going to have to physically drag me out,' Michelle McKay told the local police chief on Monday. 'I'm not leaving!'

Officials on Monday tagged an apartment complex of about 20 units along Esplanade Avenue as unsafe, ordering residents to pack their things and be out by sunset

An house stands on the edge of an eroding cliff with the Pacifica Pier in the background Monday

The 55-year-old resident said that with rents in the Bay Area at an all-time high, she has no money to rent another apartment, reported KTVU.
A young woman died after becoming wedged between two sofas in an Australian hostel while on a dream gap year holiday, an inquest has heard.

Kristina Rennell was found collapsed between two chairs at a hostel in Mildura, in north western Victoria, while on a once-in-a-lifetime trip around the world with her friend at the start of 2015.

The friends had travelled through south east Asia before arriving in Australia, where Miss Rennell started work on a farm on June 8.

Kristina Rennell was found collapsed between two chairs at a hostel in Mildura, in north western Victoria, Australia, while on a once-in-a-lifetime trip around the world with her friend at the start of 2015

However just a week-and-a-half later the 21-year-old was found slumped unconscious at the Sunset Backpackers hostel after she had been drinking by another traveller who then raised the alarm.

Emergency services rushed to her aid and CPR was performed but she was unable to be saved. She died in hospital on June 19 last year, six months into her travels.

Fellow backpacker Melissa Newby said Miss Rennell had been lying in a strange position when she found her in the Sunset Backpackers hostel.

'Her head was kind of stuck between the two sofas,' she said.

'Her body was folded up with her legs up against the wall. Her head looked like it was stuck.

'It looked like she was jumping around and got stuck.'

Miss Rennell had been seen on CCTV footage walking around and leaping upstairs shortly before her death, a coroner said.

The inquest, in Reading, Berkshire, heard that a post mortem examination was unable to find a clear cause of death.

The 21-year-old was found slumped unconscious at the Sunset Backpackers hostel (pictured) after she had been drinking by another traveller who then raised the alarm

While Miss Rennell had been on beta-blockers and had a history of palpitations, no cardiac problems could be found, although they sometimes do not leave signs in the young.

The pathologist discounted postural asphyxiation from the position she was found in as contributing to her death and any inhalation of vomit was negated by the CPR which was carried out.

While she had consumed some alcohol, the levels were not found to have been high enough to have been fatal or significant in her death.

The cause of her death was recorded as unascertained and Peter Bedford, senior coroner for Berkshire, today gave an open conclusion in the 'sad' and mysterious death.

Miss Rennell's tweets before her death showed her enjoying the travelling lifestyle, exploring new cities and making friends in hostels.

In a final tweet the day before her death, she said: 'First time I've had a room to myself since I left, just cleaned it top to bottom and it is delightful - so nice to have my own space.'

She told a friend travelling was 'good' but she'd 'never been so tired' in her life after starting physical farm work.

Miss Rennell's tweets before her death showed her enjoying the travelling lifestyle, exploring new cities and making friends in hostels

Miss Rennell, from Penn, near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, previously backpacked around Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, enjoying top tourist spots such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai, as well as going to a half moon party and exploring the coast.

Her friends paid tribute to her online after her sudden death and raised 1,000 in her memory for the National Tremor Association.

Delia Halsey wrote: 'I can't find the words. So lovely and so young - a joy to all the family and living on in the minds and hearts.'

Mike and Pam Mellor said Miss Rennell was a 'shining star who will burn bright forever.'

Georgia Brown tweeted that her friend had been 'taken far, far too early,' while Fred Tongue said she had been a 'wonderfully positive and happy girl.'

Hollie Wheeler shared a link to the Oasis song Whatever and wrote: 'Kristina Rennell my beautiful best friend, you're free to be whatever...'
Authorities are searching for a man they say defecated twice inside a stairwell of a Pennsylvania library.

The Lower Merion Police Department posted surveillance footage to Facebook on Monday afternoon asking the public to help identify the suspect in the video who they said left an 'unwanted present' in a stairwell, Philly.com reported.

The man, who police later identified but did not release his name, allegedly defecated twice in the stairwell of Ludington Library in Bryn Mawr on December 17.

Lower Merion Township Police posted surveillance footage to Facebook on Monday afternoon asking the public to help identify the suspect in the video who they said left an 'unwanted present' in a library stairwell

The man, who police later identified but did not release his name, allegedly defecated twice in the stairwell of Ludington Library in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on December 17

On Monday afternoon, police said a 'tentative identification' had been made in the case, however it was unclear if the man has been charged.

In the video, which has since been removed from the department's page, the suspect is seen walking past bookshelves in the library before passing through a reading area.

He is then seen taking off his coat and entering a stairwell before the video ends shortly after.

On Monday, police wrote thanking their Facebook friends as they confirmed a tentative identification had been made in the case.

'A tentative identification has been made in the case of criminal mischief at Ludington Library,' police wrote.

The department's post quickly led to witty remarks from residents concerning the incident.

In the video, the suspect is seen walking past bookshelves in the library before passing through a reading area. He is then seen taking off his coat and entering a stairwell before the video ends shortly after

Police have referred to the incident as criminal mischief. It is not clear if the man has been charged

One resident, Hugh Ehrenberg, wrote in the comments section, 'Will there be an attempt at a ballistic match?'

Resident Barbara Hayman followed up by asking: 'Were there any skid marks?'

Another resident, Joe Singer, added that the 'entire scenario just stinks.'

Meanwhile, resident Michele Cohen said she was glad police identified the suspect but wrote that people should have sympathy for the man's mental well-being.

'I am glad they identified him. We should have some sympathy. He clearly has a problem,' she wrote.

On Monday, police wrote thanking everyone and confirmed a 'tentative identification' had been made in the case

Police responded to Cohen calling her concern sincere and that she was correct.

'Our investigators will work through all issues present and proceed with empathy and integrity,' police wrote.

Police later added that they were were 'grateful for the good humor of our FB friends.'
Pleaded guilty to manslaughter and wrongly claiming 27,000 in foster fees

Dumped him back in his cot and did nothing until her husband came home

Shook him so violently 23-month-old was left with massive brain injuries

Baby was struggling to eat without

Wendy Hardy, 46, assaulted Harry Aspley just months after taking him into her home. She was pictured smirking outside court on the day she admitted manslaughter

A smiling foster mother has been jailed for more than six years after shaking a 23-month-old baby to death and blowing 27,000 of ill-gotten child care fees on a holiday and car.

Wendy Hardy, 46, assaulted Harry Aspley just months after taking him into her home in December 2012.

When he struggled to eat without vomiting on March 26, 2013, she lost her temper and shook him so violently he suffered massive brain injuries.

Hardy then dumped him back in his crib at her home in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire, only calling an ambulance when her husband David returned from work two hours later.

Harry was rushed to Leicester Royal Infirmary but died of his injuries five days later.

Hardy was yesterday jailed for six-and-a-half years after admitting manslaughter and fraud.

She was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter when she appeared at Leicester Crown Court in November.

At that appearance, she was seen grinning outside the court room.

Sentencing her at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, Judge Jeremy Baker said: 'Harry was a very vulnerable child.

'As an experienced foster parent you would have known all too well the risks of treating him in the manner you did.

'Knowing you had seriously injured Harry, you failed to seek prompt medical help.

'After such attention was given to him, you lied about the circumstances of his injuries.'

The court heard Hardy and her husband David, 36, had fostered children from five years from their 300,000 four-bedroom detached home.

Before and during their time with Harry, the couple had been incorrectly receiving money for fostering two other children no longer in their care.

Harry was rushed to Leicester Royal Infirmary (pictured) but died of his injuries five days later. Hardy was yesterday jailed for six-and-a-half years after admitting manslaughter and fraud

Hardy was yesterday jailed for six-and-a-half years at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting manslaughter and fraud

They spent 27,460 of that money on a new car and a holiday to Turkey.

Mr Hardy earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of converting criminal property.. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years.

THE CHECKS ON CARERS To become a foster parent, applicants must contact their local council. Some councils use agencies to place children into care. The council or agency carries out a disclosure and barring service check for criminal record  although Warwickshire councils website states minor offences committed some time ago may not exclude you from fostering. A health check is also carried out to ensure the parent will be able to care for the child. They will attend a group session with other applicants and a suitability assessment. If successful, their file is sent to an independent panel which decides. Foster parents get an allowance up to 216 a week  according to location and age of the child  and are reviewed each year by the council or agency. Advertisement

The couple were also charged with cruelty due to neglect as Harry lost more than a quarter of his body weight during the three months in their care.

Those charges were ordered to lie on file and could be proceeded with in the future.

Nick Lumley, defending Mrs Hardy, said the incident had been the result of a 'perfect storm' of issues.

He added that the couple had lacked help from social services in caring for Harry, who had suspected autism and was losing his muscle control, in the months they were caring for him.

He said: 'This was as far removed from a conscious and deliberate killing as might possibly be imagined.'

Helen Johnson, defending Mr Hardy, told the judge her client was the sole carer for two young children.

Detective Superintendent Neil Castle, who led the investigation, described the death as tragic, adding: Harry was being looked after solely by Wendy Hardy when he sustained the injuries that led to his death.
David Cameron dismissed Jeremy Corbyn's call for the UK to take in thousands of migrants camped in squalid camps in Calais, saying it would only act as a 'magnet' for more to make the dangerous journey from the Middle East.

The Labour leader wants the Government to grant asylum to all migrants with a British connection and has urged European authorities to find a way of resettling all 9,000 people currently living in tents in Calais and Dunkirk.

But the Prime Minister said the comments suggested Corbyn supported an 'entirely open-door migration policy' that would only lead to the camps expanding even more.

Scroll down for video

David Cameron described Corbyn's demand for UK to take in thousands of Calais migrants as 'the wrong approach'. Above, the Prime Minister in Downing Street yesterday as he met Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny

Jeremy Corbyn told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on ITV's This Morning show that the number of refugees the UK Government had agreed to take in was the 'equivalent of a few tube trains'

He insisted Britain already granted asylum to those who could prove a family link to the UK.

'I think it would be a very bad move to make Calais a magnet for even more people to come by saying there was some sort of direct access from Calais into the UK, as Jeremy Corbyn seems to be saying.

'That is the wrong approach,' Cameron said last night.

Rebutting Corbyn's demand for Calais migrants with British links to be let across the Channel, Cameron added: 'It is important to understand that under the existing Dublin rules if someone claims asylum in another European country  in France or in Italy or in Germany  and they can prove a direct family connection then they are able under the Dublin regulations to come to Britain.

'That is a different matter.

'We talk about children who may be alone in Europe or elsewhere able to make that claim under the Dublin regulations so they can be reunited with their families.

'That is a different matter and is in the Dublin regulations and of course we support [it].'

Corbyn made the comments yesterday after his two-day visit to the migrant camps in northern France.

Speaking to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on ITV's This Morning show, he called on Cameron to take a 'more human' approach to the refugee crisis that has engulfed Europe over the last year.

Labour leader urged European authorities to find a way of resettling all 9,000 people currently living in camps in northern France. Above he is mobbed by migrants, protesters and journalists at a migrant camp in Dunkirk

'I'm not saying all 9,000 should come. Start with those that have a British connection and a British passport - that's an obvious one.

'And the Home Office can let up a bit and be reasonable in those cases.'

'Britain is taking 20,000 over five years - that is the equivalent of a few tube trains Jeremy Corbyn

He added: 'Germany has taken several hundred thousand people already, Austria less but taken a lot.

'Britain is taking 20,000 over five years - that is the equivalent of a few tube trains.

'There is a refugee crisis on Europe's borders, there is a refugee crisis in the world. We can't ignore it, we can't wish it away.

'We have to deal with the political causes - the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, the war in Syria, the war in Libya.

'But in the meantime we cannot just ignore the fact that there are a large number of people in a very serious, deeply depressed state and they need our help.

Labour leader visited migrant camps in Calais and Dunkirk during a two-day visit last weekend

'I think there should be a system agreed with all European countries to take some people so we all take a share.'

Over the last few days ministers have signalled they could agree to take in up to 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees.

Responding to an urgent question from Labours Yvette Cooper on the issue yesterday, immigration minister James Brokenshire said the Governments policy on child refugees was under review.

Cooper, who chairs Labours taskforce on refugees, said 26,000 children had fled to Europe without a family relation over the last year.

Her comments came as Cameron came under increasing pressure from his own Tory MPs to offer more help to refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.

Sir Eric Pickles, who served in Camerons Cabinet in the last Government as the Communities Secretary, drew parallels with the Kindertransport scheme that rescued children from Nazi Germany in the months before the Second World War broke out.

'We need to remember that the last train that was disrupted by the war, only two of those children survived and they along with their families were killed. But I think there are some clear parallels that we need to address,' he said in a Commons debate yesterday.

'We need to remember the enormous contribution that the Kindertransport made to this country: distinguished doctors, distinguished surgeons, members of both houses [of parliament] were saved by that.'

On Sunday Justine Greening, the International Development Secretary, said Britain's approach to the migration crisis had 'evolved' and confirmed the UK was reviewing its response to what Save the Children has calculated are 3,000 children in Europe travelling without their parents.
Amreet Surana says he was prevented from entering the US because of the colour of his skin

A British businessman flying to his company's US office says he was stopped at the border and deported 'because of the colour of his skin'.

Amreet Surana, from Thurmaston in Leicestershire, was on a routine trip to Arizona as part of his role for a security company when the incident happened.

After he landed in Detroit to catch a connecting flight, he says he was taken away by US border guards and, after 13 hours 'with little food or water', put on a flight back to Britain.

The 24-year-old says that during his grilling by border guards on January 17 he was accused of being an illegal immigrant who was 'depriving a US citizen of a job'.

He says he spends up to three months a year in the US as part of his executive role with his company, Octavian Security.

Mr Surana told MailOnline: 'I was taken to an interview room and after 20 minutes it was determined that I was an illegal immigrant.

'I was then held in another interview room for 13 hours before I was flown back. I only managed to get food by giving someone some money and asking them to get me something.

'I don't think it could have been a problem with my ESTA visa as other people from my company have gone on the same visas and had no problem.

'The only thing I think it can be is due to my appearance and racial profiling.'

Mr Surana, who is Sikh, says he was asked if he was a Muslim and said no. He added: 'The worst thing was the way I was treated, like a criminal. I don't see why I had to be treated like that and I wouldn't want anyone to be treated in the same way.'

He now fears he will be unable to travel to the US, making it very difficult for him to carry on with his job.

US Customs and Border Protection have denied racially profiling Mr Surana and his claims of a 'lengthy detention'.

The incident is said to have happened at Detroit airport as Mr Surana attempt to switch to a connecting flight

Officials have however failed to confirm why he was refused entry to the US.

The case comes after London's Mohammad Tariq Mahmood, 41, his brother and their children, aged between eight and 19, said they were stopped at the departure gate at Gatwick airport and told their visas to the US had been revoked.

He claimed the family were barred from flying 'because they are Muslim'.

It later emerged that a Facebook page linked to Taliban and Al Qaeda was registered to Mr Mahmood's address, which he insisted he had no knowledge of.

Last month, imam Ajmal Masroor, who claims he has preached against extremism and has previously travelled to the US, was also prevented from boarding a flying in similar circumstances to Mr Mahmood.
A greengrocer has caught Britain's biggest freshwater fish by netting a 68lbs 1oz carp after waiting 10 years for a bite.

Dean Fletcher, 53, hooked the giant mirror carp known as 'The Parrot' at Cranwells Lake at the Wasing Estate in Berkshire, beating the previous record by nine ounces.

Mr Fletcher, from Caversham, near Reading, had first targeted the fish, named because its mouth resembles a bird's beak, a decade ago, and spent seven years on the waiting list to become a member of the fishery.

Greengrocer Dean Fletcher has caught Britain's biggest freshwater fish by netting this 68lbs 1oz carp named The Parrot after waiting 10 years for a bite

After he was finally allowed onto the lake, he went fishing every week for three more years before finally achieving his goal.

Mr Fletcher spent 30 minutes reeling in the fish, and at one stage had to wade into the water when it darted behind a sunken tree.

His stunned friend weighed it for him before telling Mr Fletcher to look at the scales himself when he realised the reading was beyond the existing record.

The pair immediately alerted the head game keeper who turned up at the bank with a set of digital scales to verify the claim.

Mr Fletcher's catch has beaten the eight year old record held by Oz Holness who caught the legendary carp named Two Tone in 2008 weighing 67lbs 8ozs.

Mr Fletcher spent 30 minutes reeling in the fish, and at one stage had to wade into the water when it darted behind a sunken tree

After returning the record carp back to the lake alive and well, Mr Fletcher celebrated with a cup of tea and a steak dinner.

'The reason I joined the lake in the first place was because of the Parrot,' he said. 'Although it was nowhere the record it was still regarded as a big fish.

'But it took me seven years to actually join and then I fished one night per week for the last three seasons. I must have caught every fish in that lake apart from the Parrot.

'I have never caught it before but I suspected it was him when I started playing it and felt the sheer weight at the end of the line. My knees started going a bit.

'My friend weighed it and when he did he just said "you had better come and have a look at this".

'When I saw the reading there was a lot of effing and blinding.

'The head keeper came out with some digital scales and there were another four blokes who came by to have a look so there were plenty of independent witnesses.'

Me Fletcher, who has been carp fishing for 37 years, added: 'My phone went into meltdown afterwards, it all went a bit crazy.

'It is very nice and I feel proud to now hold the record. It is very strange that nobody else in Britain has caught a bigger freshwater fish than me.'

One of the first anglers to congratulate Mr Fletcher was Mr Holness, who tweeted: 'Big up my man Dean Fletcher. Big carp, big buzz. Congratulations mate!'

Mark Hibbs, the manager at the fishery, said: 'We are proud to have such a wonderful fish in our waters. I knew The Parrot would break the UK record it was just a matter of when. Well done to Dean.'

Mike Heylin, chairman of the British Records Fish Committee, said Mr Fletcher's application will be rubber stamped at the next committee meeting in June.

He said: 'We have had a verbal claim from the claimant and the forms have gone out to him.

'There has to be two witness of the capture and two witnesses to the weighing. The scales also need to be verified.

Mr Fletcher, from Caversham, near Reading, had first targeted the fish, named because its mouth resembles a bird's beak, a decade ago, and spent seven years on the waiting list to become a member of the fishery

'An interim record will then be adopted until the committee next meets in June when it will be rubber stamped and a certificate will be issued.

'But I don't see any reason why Dean's catch will not be accepted.'

The British carp record is the most sought-after in the angling world, dating back to 1902 when a specimen weighing 17lb 9oz was caught. in Lincolnshire.

The title changed hands numerous times over the next 50 years before Richard Walker caught a 44lb common carp in Herefordshire in 1952 - a record that lasted over 40 years.

Roddy Porter beat it in 1995 with a 53lb 15oz fish in Northamptonshire before the late Two Tone came on the angling scene at Conningbrook fishery in Kent.
Mystery surrounds the discovery of a second safe found hidden within the walls of drug lord Pablo Escobar's former home in Miami Beach.

Amid hopes it could be filled with hidden loot stashed by Escobar during his reign as the world's most powerful crime boss, property owners moved quickly to hide it off-site.

It comes just days after a first safe discovered during the building's demolition was stolen when thieves hoping to claim leftover riches from Escobar's $20billion drug empire broke onto the site.

The white metal safe (pictured) is the second safety deposit box to be found stashed inside the walls of the $10million home, which was once owned by Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar

It is not yet known what is inside the safe, but the property owners have pledged to keep it under close watch

It comes just days after a first safe discovered during the building's demolition was stolen when thieves hoping to claim leftover riches from Escobar's $20billion drug empire broke onto the site

Christian de Berdouare, the property owner, told the Miami Herald: 'This is real. Its still locked. Its very, very heavy. We cant believe it - now Pablito is my best friend.'

During the decades he spent at the head of Colombia's Medellin cartel, Escobar earned so much money that he struggled to find places to keep it.

Much of it was packaged and hidden inside the walls of his many residences, while more was spent on lavish boats, houses and parties.

Mr de Berdouare, who has previously stated he wanted to search the site for loot, said he believed the heavy metal safe contained gold or diamonds.

Miguel Mato was operating the excavator when they discovered the second safe yesterday.

He said: 'As I pulled down the wall, the wall actually fell and broke through the floor,' NBC Miami reported.

'There was like a chamber, and the safe was in there. It feels good, you know. We actually did this job hoping we would find something.'

One week ago it emerged the first safe found on the building site had disappeared and police had launched a theft investigation.

The current property owners said the first safe located in the property was stolen before the bulldozers arrived

It is believed the thieves may have been tipped off about the presence of the safe underneath the marble floor

The $10million home, which has its own pier and a view across Biscayne Bay, was owned by Escobar in the 1980s

It was confiscated by U.S. authorities following the drug lord's death but was later bought by businessman Christian de Berdouare

He has said he plans to scour the site for hidden loot before rebuilding a newer home on the property site

The $10million home, which has its own pier and overlooks Biscayne Bay, is being demolished so Mr de Berdouare can rebuild something more modern.

Jennifer Valoppi, his wife, told reporters: 'It was in the ground under some marble and was discovered by some of our workers, but before we even had a chance to remove it, it was stolen, so we've been working with the police on that.'

The couple bought the property in 2014 and immediately hired a team of workers to seek money, drugs or jewellery that may have been hidden in the structure.

The owners said that Escobar had sometimes visited the house, but did not live there permanently.

The notorious Escobar, who was killed on December 2, 1993 in Colombia's Medellin by security personnel, acquired the mansion in 1980 but it was seized in 1987 by U.S. authorities.

'We have put together a team and we have had all kinds of people... with metal detectors, sonar, all kinds of things, in order to determine if there is anything hidden,' Mr De Berdouare said.

He said it was possible that valuables other than money were hidden in the house.

'It could be cash, could be gold, could be jewelry, could be dead bodies - could be anything.'
Doug Richard (pictured outside court today) was a member of 'Seeking Arrangement', where he chatted with a young teenager in December 2014

An American website where a former Dragons' Den star met a 13-year-old girl for sex boasted it had 'four sugar babies for every sugar daddy,' a court heard today.

Millionaire Doug Richard, 57, was a member of the free-to-join Seeking Arrangement site, where he chatted with the young teenager in December 2014.

After convincing her to send him naked photos, the married father-of-three then paid for her and a 15-year-old friend to travel from their homes in Norwich to London.

Once inside the pre-booked 149 apartment, the one-time advisor to David Cameron asked the older girl if she wanted to be his slave before spanking her younger friend's bare bottom, it is alleged.

The technology entrepreneur admits sexual activity did occur with the 5ft tall child, who weighed less than 6 stone, but claims it was consensual and he believed she was at least 16 at the time.

Richard, who quit the popular BBC show after failing to invest a penny in the second series, also insists any money that changed hands was to assist with travel expenses and not to secure the sexual services of either girl.

Details of the website - which offers users 'upfront and honest relationships' - emerged in court as DC Caroline Fisk was called to give evidence in Richard's trial at the Old Bailey.

The officer said only those over 18-years-old can become members of the site.

DC Fisk explained that the service is separated into three different profile zones - one each for 'sugar daddies, sugar mummies or sugar babies.'

The website claimed that perks of being a 'sugar baby' included 'financial stability' and 'bills no longer [having] to be a concern'.

Details of the website - which offers users 'upfront and honest relationships' - emerged in court as DC Caroline Fisk was called to give evidence in Richard's trial at the Old Bailey. DC Fisk explained that the service is separated into three different profile zones - one each for 'sugar daddies, sugar mummies or sugar babies'

It also encourages young women to 'be pampered, indulge in shopping sprees, expensive dinners and exotic travel.'

Older men are offered 'four sugar babies for every sugar daddy', with the claim: 'The odds are in your favour with thousands of attractive women looking to meet now.'

Richard, of Islington, north London, denies three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and a charge of paying for sexual services of a child.

The trial continues.
MP broke down as she read out letter describing the rape of a girl aged 12

But she warned: 'There is nothing but trauma for you at the other end'

Tory MP Nusrat Ghani has attacked British jihadi brides who think joining ISIS is like going on an 'exotic' package holiday

The first woman to become a Tory Muslim MP has attacked British jihadi brides who think joining ISIS is like going on an 'exotic' package holiday.

Nusrat Ghani, who broke down in tears as she challenged the sister of 'Jihadi Sid' ISIS executioner Siddhartha Dhar last week, has also revealed she can't understand why anyone would want to wear a veil.

The MP for Wealden in East Sussex, claims women are being lured to Syria with the promise of living an 'exotic' life in a new country.

But she said: 'This is no package-holiday deal.

'There is nothing but trauma for you at the other end. Being a jihadi bride is signing up to someone who might die at any moment... and you belong to him.'

Ms Ghani said she was worried by the number of girls choosing to cover their faces at younger ages, and deemed it inappropriate within schools or in legal settings.

'For me the question is, "Why would you choose to wear a face veil?" I find it very hard to believe  as a feminist  that you want to cover up your face, and become absolutely anonymous. I cannot identify, I cannot see your individuality, and I struggle with that.'

Ms Ghani, who revealed she was the first woman in her family to go to school, said that ISIS is using an extreme version of Sunni Islam called Wahhabism to mislead young Muslims about their religious heritage.

She told the Evening Standard: 'Youve got to get into that space early on, and say, "Youre British. You need to appreciate all the liberties that we have here."

Last week, as the sister of ISIS executioner in chief 'Jihadi Sid' faced the Home Affairs Committee, Ms Ghani broke down in tears as asked her: 'Do you still think he's a good man?'

Konika Dhar had told MPs her brother Siddhartha had been 'brainwashed' since converting to Islam and fleeing Britain for Syria with his wife and children to join the terror group.

Overwhelmed: This is the moment Tory Nusrat Ghani broke down as she described a MailOnline article about how ISIS fighters enslave, rape and murder young Yazidi women

Upset: Ms Ghani apologised as she became upset, left, when she asked Konika Dhar, pictured right today, if her brother Siddhartha was a good man

Ms Ghani read reports to Miss Dhar from Yazidi women who had described in their own words how ISIS fighters enslaved and raped them - and watched as they murdered loved-ones.

In an extraordinary moment she then wept as she said: 'One of the women states 'one of the saddest things I remember is this little girl, 12 years old, and they raped her without mercy'.'

She stopped to compose herself before turning to committee chairman Keith Vaz and adding: 'I'm so sorry'.

Explaining why she cried the Tory MP told MailOnline afterwards: 'The hearing was overwhelming. I had been reading the article today about how 10 and 12-year-olds are being raped and killed.

'It is the true reality of Daesh - this is what they wish to export - rape, enslavement and murder.

Jihadi Sid fled to Syria with his pregnant wife and four children and posed later holding his newborn and an AK-47 when he arrived in ISIS capital Raqqa (pictured)

'I also get so upset about people who leave Britain for Syria to join this terror group because there is no glory in what they are doing'.

Ms Ghani said she felt she needed to ask if Jihadi Sid's sister felt he was still a good man even though he may be ISIS new executioner in chief.

She said: 'I think she was extraordinarily brave to give evidence - she must still be in shock.
A primary school headteacher has written to parents to ask them to stop dropping off children while wearing their pyjamas.

Kate Chisholm, headteacher at Skerne Park Academy, Darlington, is urging the adults to dress properly so they set a decent example to pupils.

She complained about the trend after noticing an increase in the number of parents wearing pyjamas and slippers at the gates - with some even attending school assemblies and meetings in nighttime attire.

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Primary school headteacher Kate Chisholm (pictured) has written a letter to parents to ask them to stop dropping off children while wearing their pyjamas

She wrote the letter (pictured) after noticing an increase in the number of parents wearing pyjamas and slippers at the gates - with some even attending school assemblies and meetings in nighttime attire

She wrote: 'I have noticed there has been an increasing tendency for parents to escort children to and from school while still wearing their pyjamas and, on occasion, even slippers.

'Could I please ask that when you are escorting your children, you take the time to dress appropriately in day wear that is suitable for the weather conditions.'

Ms Chisholm said her letter was not a 'judgement' but was in a bid to set good example for the children.

'If we're to raise standards it's not too much to ask parents to have a wash and get dressed,' she said.

'I have had loads of support from the community and people saying it's about time something was done. If I get the parents on board then we often get the children too and in order to get the best chances for the children we have to raise the bar with the parents.'

Today, headteacher Kate Chisholm defended her decision, saying the trend had 'escalated', particularly for the afternoon pick-up.

'Then there were some parents turned up in pyjamas to see their children in the Christmas performances and even for parents evening,' she said. 'It is now becoming the norm.

'It is important that parents are role models and for them to see that they should maybe not attend events in nightwear.

Phil Naylor (left), a parent who has children at the school, received the letter and said he supports the request but Connie (right) who has a niece at the school, disagreed and turned up in nightwear in protest

'That they should not sit around in pyjamas because they don't have to get dressed for work.

'I don't give two hoots how people dress at home, I just think if they're a good role model for their children and want them to get a job and better yourself then they ought to get dressed.'

DARLINGTON: KEY STATISTICS Darlington, a market town in the north east county of Durham, is home to around 106,000. Its crime rate of 68.65 incidents per 1,000 people is higher than that of County Durham, whose rate is 49.08. Its overall employment rate is 2.7 per cent - a drop of 0.9 per cent from last year - while the rate among under 18s is five per cent. There are several engineering companies based in the town but the biggest employer is mobile phone giant EE, which provides around 2,500 jobs. Advertisement

She added: 'I do believe it's possibly the case that pyjamas have become more trouser-y but I really don't think it's too much to ask.'

Ms Chisholm said she had mainly had support from the parents who received the letter.

'I've had lots of positive remarks from parents at the school and in the community,' she said. 'But I have also had negative remarks, mainly from those people who choose to wear pyjamas.

'But in the next breath they have told me they consider that I dress too nice for work. Us staff have a dress code and the children have a dress code too. It's about us all feeling part of a team.

'I imagine there might be some people who keep up wearing pyjamas for the next six months to prove a point.

'I can't force people to get dressed but I will keep sending letter home in the hope that they decide to put on a pair of jeans.'

Incredibly, even after the headteacher issued the letter, a mother turned up at the school to collect her child dressed in her pyjamas.

The woman, who did not wish to talk, refused to give her name, and was dressed in a dressing gown, slippers and pyjamas.

The headteacher at Skerne Park Academy, Darlington (pictured) is urging the adults to dress properly so they set a decent example to pupils

She simply said: 'I do not agree with the letter.'

Mrs Vanessa Watts, 42, has a daughter, Crystal, seven, who goes to the school.

She said: 'I do know some people who turn up in their pyjamas so I don't want to knock them - they can wear what they want - but I personally wouldn't do it.

'I like to get dressed to go out. To be honest it happens so often that I don't even think I notice it so much anymore. It has become normal.'

Phil Naylor, a parent who has children at the school, added: 'We all support the school and I hope this helps get the message across to parents.

'It's disgraceful, we should be guiding our children not giving them bad habits.'

Five years ago, parents and carers in Middlesbrough were also requested to stop wearing pyjamas on the school run.

Headteachers across 11 schools requested that mums and dads show decency and respect when attending school premises.
A former central Ohio elementary school teacher who a prosecutor said preyed on 'girls who had divorced parents' was found guilty of more than 40 charges involving the sexual assaults of several students.

Matthew Rausenberg, 40, was convicted on Monday in Delaware County of 34 counts of gross sexual imposition, four counts of kidnapping and three counts of pandering sexually oriented materials.

A jury deliberated more than eight hours before finding the former second and third grade teacher guilty on 41 of 42 counts.

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Matthew Rausenberg, 40, a former central Ohio elementary school teacher was found guilty of more than 40 charges involving the sexual assaults of several students

A message seeking comment from his attorney, Thomas Waldeck, was not immediately returned on Tuesday.

Rausenberg resigned from Arrowhead Elementary School in Lewis Center, north of Columbus, after his March arrest. The allegations against him date back to 2006.

A disturbing eight-minute video that Rausenberg took on his cellphone was the cornerstone of the prosecution's case as it showed him groping one of his second-grade students after he sat her on his lap while she worked on a Mother's Day Card, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O'Brien said he assaulted young female students who 'wouldn't make a fuss' and filmed himself groping and molesting a second-grader after she told him to stop.

'He picked on girls who had divorced parents,' O'Brien said.

'He picked on girls who were anxious, who were shy, who were new to the community.'

Waldeck questioned the credibility of a witness, now 17, and her mother who waited several years to speak out.

'For six years they did nothing,' he said.

Rausenberg resigned from Arrowhead Elementary School in Lewis Center, where he was a teacher for 12 years, after his March arrest. The allegations against him date back to 2006

An expert witness testified earlier that sexual assault victims often do not initially tell anyone and have trouble understanding what happened to them, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

Rausenberg is facing up to life in prison at his sentencing on Thursday.
A school has banned chocolate for all children and teachers - because one little boy has a super-sensitive intolerance.

Bars, sweets and even biscuits containing traces of chocolate are forbidden for the one child who could fall ill if he comes into contact.

Teachers are even barred from chocolate biscuits in the staff room in case particles of the food are passed 'airborne' to the young boy.

Parents were today fuming over the blanket ban of all chocolate from the 260-pupil school.

Alltwen Primary School in south Wales has banned chocolate from the entire school site because one pupil is allergic to the sweet treat

The boy - who has not been named - could fall ill just from being in the same room as where chocolate is present.

Education bosses at Alltwen Primary School, near Swansea, South Wales, have banned the sweet treat from the canteen, staff room and playground.

Head teacher Owain Hyett wrote to parents saying: 'Unfortunately one of our pupils has been diagnosed with a chocolate intolerance and can become very ill if in contact with chocolate.

'Sadly the pupil is also highly sensitive to chocolate if it is airborne or being eaten by another pupil.

'To maintain the safety of this pupil our school will be adopting a no chocolate policy for all pupils and staff. All areas of the school will be chocolate-free including the staff room and office.

HOW CHOCOLATE CAN CAUSE AN ALLERGIC REACTION AND BE TRANSFERRED IN THE AIR If someone has an adverse reaction to chocolate it is often caused by the cocoa and additives included in the product's ingredients, according to www.newhealthguide.org. Chocolate can have up to 300 ingredients in a recipe - with cheaper versions of the popular treat more likely to have a variety of additives than more expensive purer forms. In a worst case scenario the allergic reaction could prove fatal - with chocolate typically containing many ingredients which can cause serious complications such as milk. Symptoms of someone having an allergic reaction to chocolate include shortness of breath, rash, restlessness, heartburn as well as itching. An allergic reaction is caused by the body creating histamines and antibodies to fight the proteins in chocolate which create the problem. The Food Standards Agency warns businesses involved in food preparation of the dangers of cross-contamination through the air. Its advice is to use dedicated extraction fans and air conditioning units in areas where there is a possibility of cross-contamination to try and lower the risk. Advertisement

'The catering department are working with the school to amend our dinner menu by replacing any chocolate products. We also ask that you ensure that there are no traces of chocolate in our pupils' packed lunches or school bags.'

The super-sensitive intolerance can cause respiratory distress, dizziness, burning sensation in the throat, swelling in the mouth and around the face, anxiety, behavioral problems, vomiting and diarrhea.

But one parent, who asked not to be named, said the ban 'would deprive' other children at the school.

She said: 'I feel sorry for pupils with allergies but banning chocolate for all children is not right, whatever next?

'What happens when the child who is allergic goes outside of school? Do they ask everyone not to eat chocolate? What if I have chocolate in my pocket in the yard at pick up time? Will we have chocolate police at the gate?

'Will this lead to staff wasting their time inspecting all the lunch boxes? How will this make my children feel?

'There must be another way of safeguarding the allergic child without depriving mine and other children of chocolate.'

But another woman said: 'My daughter attends this school and I agree with the head if I were to disobey school rules and gave my daughter chocolate and she went near the pupil myself and my daughter would feel terrible if that child fell ill or ended up in hospital.'
Lebanese authorities believed they had captured an Israeli 'spy vulture' - before realising the bird had simply been tagged by conservationists.

The bird of prey was found in the town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon this morning having flown over the border from Israel.

Lebanese media reported that the vulture was captured and tied to a tree amid fears it was carrying spy equipment.

Lebanese authorities believed they had captured an Israeli 'spy vulture' - before realising the bird (pictured) had simply been tagged by conservationists

But it was later released when the device it was found to be carrying turned out to be a transmitter after the bird was introduced into the wild to boost dwindling numbers in the region.

Tags on the bird's leg showed it came from Israel while its honing device originated from Tel Aviv University, according to Haaretz.com.

The vulture, which had a 6ft 5ins wingspan, was set free in an Israeli nature reserve in Golan Heights recently and was spotted less than three miles from the border when it was captured.

According to Haaretz, local reports said: 'It would not be the first time residents of south Lebanon have found birds  including birds of prey  that serve Israel for research purposes.

The bird was later released when the device it was found to be carrying (right) turned out to be a transmitter after it was introduced into the wild to boost dwindling numbers in the region. A tag (left) showed it had come from Israel

'After examining the bird to make sure it was not carrying listening or spy equipment it was returned to nature.'

Israel's Nature and Parks Authority said that vulture was spotted on the outskirts of Bint Jbail, some 2.5 miles from Israel's northern border on Monday.

The Jerusalem Post reports that a similar Israeli vulture was captured in the southern Lebanon village of Kfar Kila three months ago.
Jamee Hiatt, 31, was arrested last week on charges she slept with one of her students, who is now 14 years old

A married former middle school teacher was ordered held on $250,000 bail and barred from seeing her two young children as she was arraigned on charges of sleeping with a 13-year-old student.

Jamee Hiatt, 31, was mostly silent as she appeared in Jackson County, Michigan court for her arraignment on Monday, answering questions with just 'yes' and 'no' responses, according to MLive.

The married mother-of-two was arrested on January 22 after investigators reportedly found evidence of her relationship with one of her students.

The relationship allegedly took place during the 2013-2014 school year when Hiatt was a teacher at Leslie Middle School. The victim is now 14 years old, but was between 13 and 14 at the time, authorities have said.

Jackson County Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Walker says Hiatt confessed to the relationship after confronted with the accusations, saying she had sex with the male student on at least five occasions.

The victim, however, said it was more like every other day for an unspecified amount of time, and that they sometimes met at Hiatt's home to engage in sexual contact.

Walker also says Hiatt offered the boy a cellphone, money and 'even went so far as filing guardianship over him' so he could live in her home.

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Hiatt was teaching at Leslie Middle School (above) during the 2013-2014 school year when the abuse allegedly happened

In court on Monday, Hiatt was arraigned on one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with multiple variables and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person at least 13, but younger than 16.

The first count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison while the second charge is punishable up to fifteen years.

Judge R Darryl Mazur called the charges 'serious' as he ordered Hiatt held on $250,000 bail. If she posts her bond, Hiatt will be barred from having contact with the victim as well as any children - including her own two kids under the age of seven.

Hiatt confirmed in court that she has been married for the past eight years.

Hiatt resigned from her new position at Woodworth Elementary School in January - the same months he was arrested.
Swedish police were forced to run for their lives after being attacked by a mob of asylum seekers as they tried to relocate amid allegations a 10-year-old boy had been 'raped repeatedly' at a refugee centre.

Officers entered the centre in Vasteras to save the young boy who had been reportedly attacked repeatedly by asylum seekers at the centre.

Initially, staff in the centre tried to remove the boy but were stopped by the mob. Instead the staff called police for backup.

Swedish police, file pic, were forced to run away when they were attacked by a mob at the asylum centre

The incident happened last week in Vasteras, pictured, after authorities received reports that a 10-year-old child was being abused repeatedly at the refugee centre in the city, but were unable secure the youngster

One of the officers told the Vestmanlands Lans Tidning newspaper: 'Even more people appeared behind us. I was mentally prepared to fight for my life. We were 10 police officers in a narrow corridor. And I hear someone yell that there is an emergency exit.'

The incident happened last Wednesday, before a 15-year-old asylum seeker in Sweden was accused of murdering a girl working in a refugee centre.

According to Russia Today, Police Union Director Lena Nitz said: ' Many of the problems we are now facing help to prove the point that Swedish police have long been underfunded and understaffed.' , Police Union Director Lena Nitz, told TT news agency.

This follows the murder of Alexandra Mezher, who was stabbed to death at a refugee centre in Molndal, near Gothenburg on Sweden's west coast.

A police spokesman did not give details about the mans age or nationality but confirmed he had been arrested for murder.

One report suggested the killer was 15 years old.

The incident involving the child happened in the week before Alexandra Mezher's murder in Gothenburg

Swedish police have demanded more resources to stem rising violence linked to the migrant crisis.

Police spokesman Thomas Fuxborg said: These kinds of calls are becoming more and more common.

Were dealing with more incidents like these since the arrival of so many more refugees from abroad.

Sweden is struggling with a record influx of migrants and asylum seekers.

The attack came as National Police Commissioner Dan Eliasson requested 4,100 additional officers and support staff to help fight against terrorism, carry out migrant deportations and police asylum facilities.

According to the Swedish Migration Agency, the number of threats and violent incidents at asylum facilities more than doubled from 2014 to 2015 as Sweden witnessed a record number of migrant arrivals.

In 2014, there were 148 incidents and in 2015 that number jumped to 322.

But arson attacks targeting asylum shelters have also surged, with at least two dozen centres reduced to ashes or damaged by fire last year.
An Uber driver pulled a gun on a passenger he feared might vomit in his $75,000 Lexus.

Patrick McDonald, 67, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and misdemeanor battery after the incident in Bradenton, Florida, on Friday night.

McDonald had picked up Shane Fabry, 27, and at least one other passenger at around 8pm, The Smoking Gun reports.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Manatee County Sheriffs Office, Fabry had felt unwell, and asked the driver to pull the car over in the event that he began to vomit.

Uber driver Patrick McDonald (left) was charged after pulling a gun on passenger Shane Fabry (right)

But when McDonald stopped, Fabry told him he was feeling better and no longer felt he would throw up  but the driver still insisted he get out of the car

The affidavit states the defendant told the victim that he needed to get out the car and that he was not to throw up in his $75,000 vehicle.

According to the report, McDonald then exited his vehicle and attempted to pull Fabry out of the car by pulling on his arm.

Fabry said he told McDonald he would get out and the driver did not need to physically force him.

He told authorities McDonald then took on an aggressive fighting stance before reaching into the drivers side of the car and pulling out a black semi-automatic handgun.

He told investigators that McDonald pointed the handgun at him. McDonald admitted grabbing the gun, but denies pointing it at anyone.

The affidavit states the Uber driver 'told the victim that he needed to get out the car and that he was not to throw up in his $75,000 car. File photo

He told authorities he only pulled it out because he feared for his life. When asked by police why he was afraid, he said his passengers had been talking about sticking d**ks in his ear.

Authorities arrested McDonald without incident and he was released on Saturday after posting a $2,500 bond.

An Uber spokesman told Daily Mail Online: 'This driver's account has been deactivated as we continue to gather the facts regarding this incident.

'We stand ready to provide law enforcement with any information that would be helpful to their investigation into this matter.'

The ride-for-hire company prohibits the possession of firearms of any kind inside their vehicles.

Uber's firearms prohibition policy states: 'We seek to ensure that everyone using the Uber digital platform - both driver-partners and riders - feels safe and comfortable using the service.

'During a ride arranged through the Uber platform, Uber and its affiliates therefore prohibit possessing firearms of any kind in a vehicle.
SWAT teams have swept a naval hospital in San Diego after a suspected gunman reportedly fired shots into the air and found no signs of a shooting or a shooter.

Tactical units started searching the building and placed it on lockdown after a witness reported hearing three shots coming from the basement.

Naval Medical Center San Diego posted on its Facebook account a little after 8am on Tuesday; 'An active shooter has just been been reported in building #26 at Naval Medical Center San Diego. All occupants are advised to run, hide or fight.

'All non-emergency response personnel are asked to stay away from the compound.'

The Naval Medical Center said that the initial sweep of the building could not substantiate the report of a shooting, but they are still investigating and the FBI is on the scene.

Among those who were assisting were U.S. marshals, the Chula Vista Police Department and the California Highway Patrol.

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Naval Medical Center San Diego (above) said there was a report of an active shooter at the facility

San Diego Police confirmed reports of a shooter and SWAT and FBI were both seen arriving on the scene to investigate

Military personnel were evacuated with their hands raised at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego during the first sweep

'The investigation of Building 26 continues. First responders and Navy working dog units have conducted an initial top down inspection of the building and have not located any casualties or evidence of a shooting having taken place,' said Navy officials.

'There have been no reported casualties at this time. There is a secondary, more thorough floor by floor inspection taking place at this time.

'The medical facility remains on lockdown and a shelter in place order remains in effect.'

Navy spokesman Jon Nylander had said earlier in the day; 'Apparently someone said they heard three shots in the basement of Building 26. Maybe they did or not is not the point; thats what they reported, so thats why we responded accordingly.

'We havent gotten any reports of any injuries.'

The Facebook post went up a little after 8am on Tuesday morning

A San Diego Police SWAT vehicle arrives outside of the Naval Medical Center San Diego

Captain Curt Jones, commanding officer of Naval Base San Diego, spoke to the media after the first sweep of the building, saying: 'We have done a number of clearing sweeps of the building and as of this time, we have found nothing that substantiates those reports.

'We are continuing to clear the building to ensure there are no casualties and theres nothing thats not quite right in the building.

'I can tell you the person who reported the gunshots was in the building at the time and reported that they thought they heard three gunshots.'

He then added: 'As of now we have found absolutely nothing that indicates there were any shots fired. There are no casualties at this time.'

When asked to give information about the person who reported the incident he said he refused to identify the individual.

People are evacuated from a building at the Naval Medical Center after shots were reportedly heard

Capt. Curt Jones, Commander of Naval Base San Diego, speaks to members of the media during a news conference Tuesday

The 272-bed, multispeciality hospital and ambulatory complex is located on about 78 acres in the southeast corner of Balboa Park, about 2.5 miles from downtown, according to its website. Center staff is comprised of more than 6,500 military, civilian, contractor and volunteer personnel.

NMCSD personnel deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Djibouti and aboard the USNS Mercy, the website said.
Svetlana Lokhova, who won a 3.2 million payout after being dubbed 'crazy Miss Cokehead' by colleagues after suffering a nervous breakdown is now suing them for libel

A banker who won a 3.2 million payout after being dubbed 'crazy Miss Cokehead' and 'schizo nightmare' by colleagues after suffering a nervous breakdown is now suing them for libel.

Svetlana Lokhova won an employment tribunal case over claims of sex discrimination, harrassment, victimisation and unlawful dismissal from the London branch of Russian bank, Sberbank CIB, in March last year.

The tribunal found she had been forced to leave her job after being driven to a breakdown, and that she was unlikely ever to work in the banking sector again.

Now the Cambridge graduate is suing two of her male former colleagues for libel, claiming they waged a vicious 'campaign' designed to ruin her professional reputation.

The 34-year-old has launched a High Court libel case against her direct manager, David Longmuir, and Piotr Tymula - over comments made in emails to other colleagues.

She claims that Mr Longmuir labelled her 'crazy Miss Cokehead' and 'schizo nightmare' and the hearing of her case against him is pending.

But Mr Tymula's lawyers are now urging Mr Justice Dingemans to throw out her case against him, insisting he did not use such 'derogatory remarks' and that his emails were not damaging to her reputation.

They also contend that her claim against Mr Tymula was brought 'too late' and the court should refuse to hear it.

Ms Lokhova worked in the bank's equity sales team from June 2011 until April 2012 - which was her second period of employment at the organisation.

Her lawyers told the judge that, both before and during her employment, she was the subject of a 'sustained campaign' to wreck her reputation and future career prospects.

They also claimed Mr Longmuir and Mr Tymula were 'key protagonists' in this campaign.

Her barrister, David Sherborne, added: 'In particular, they opposed her re-employment by the bank, were openly hostile towards her, and sought to drive her out of her job.'

Mr Sherborne argued Ms Lokhova should be entitled to sue Mr Tymula over two emails he sent to three colleagues about her, which he said made 'baseless and very serious allegations' regarding her competence at work.

He said: 'Plainly, the making of such serious allegations to a limited amount of work colleagues and your direct and ultimate superiors cannot be dismissed as having no real impact on your reputation and not being worthy of the court's resources.

Now the Cambridge graduate is suing two of her male former colleagues for libel, claiming they waged a vicious 'campaign' designed to ruin her professional reputation

'The damage to Ms Lokhova's reputation and the injury to her feelings caused by the emails must be seen in the wider context of the sustained and vicious campaign by Mr Tymula and other members of the equity sales team to ruin her professional reputation and future career prospects.'

He also said Ms Lokhova had launched her case against Mr Tymula as soon as she became aware of the two emails.

But Justin Rushbrooke QC, for Mr Tymula, said the emails were 'unremarkable' in light of the general 'unhappiness and concern' that Ms Lokhova's arrival in the team was causing at the time.

He said Mr Tymula's contribution towards the discussion could be described as a 'drop in the ocean' and there was no evidence he was involved in a defamatory 'campaign' against her.

Lokhova won an employment tribunal case over claims of sex discrimination, harrassment, victimisation and unlawful dismissal from the London branch of Russian bank, Sberbank CIB (pictured), in March last year

Mr Rushbrooke also said there was 'not the slightest evidence' the emails had caused any harm to Ms Lokhova's reputation - as they were sent to other colleagues who already held her in 'disesteem' and whom she held a low opinion of.

He added: 'We say, when you look at what was said and when you look at the realistic possibility for it to have caused any damage to Miss Lokhova, in the eyes of those three publishees, and furthermore, when you look at what she thinks of those three publishees, you are in the territory of the absurd to let this litigation continue.'
The fundraising page set up by polar explorer Henry Worsley who died just 30 miles short of his Antarctic goal has reached more than double its target.

The adventurer had already achieved his goal of 100,000 for the Endeavour Fund when he radioed for help and was airlifted off the ice as he attempted to become the first adventurer to cross the Antarctic alone.

The 55-year-old, from Fulham, south west London, was trying to complete the unfinished journey of his lifelong hero Sir Ernest Shackleton to mark the 100th anniversary of Shackleton's expedition.

29 December: Swathed in fur after making 'good mileage' at the beginning of the ambitious solo trek

6 January: Gap-toothed grin after biting into a frozen snack, that the crew described as 'dental drama'

8 January: Worsley tweets a pictured of him looking tired, taking a rest day after an upset stomach

And since his death on Sunday, money flooded into his fundraising page, and the total is now exceeding 206,000 and still climbing.

The Endeavour Fund charity helps wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women and is managed by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Tributes were left on the Virgin Money Giving page for the former lieutenant-colonel.

One donor, Philip Smith, wrote: 'I had the privilege of serving with Col Henry briefly with 2RGJ in Kosovo and was greatly saddened by the news of his death. What better epitaph than service and sacrifice for the benefit of so many others.'

British astronaut Tim Peake paid tribute from space to his fellow explorer, tweeting: 'Thoughts are with the family & friends of Henry Worsley - a true explorer, adventurer & inspiration to many.'

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner tweeted: 'My last memory of explorer Henry Worsley who died crossing Antarctica: our dinner together in Kandahar, full of plans for his next adventure.'

The Foreign Office confirmed it was Mr Worsley's wife Joanna.

16 January: The explorer enjoys a cigar but he starts to suffer from lack of food and high altitude

18 January: A punishing day on 'hellish' soft snow tests Henry's determination on the epic trek

21 January: Wrapped up in his tent and nearing the end of the trek before collapsing 30 miles short

Ms Worsley went to Chile where her husband was flown to undergo surgery for bacterial peritonitis - an infection in the abdomen - but was unable to reach him before he died from complete organ failure.

Plans will be put in place to repatriate the explorer to the UK.

The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry expressed their sadness at the news.

William, who was patron of the expedition, said he and Harry had lost a friend as he paid tribute to Mr Worsley's 'selfless commitment' to fellow soldiers.

In a poignant last message posted online on Friday, Worsley said: 'My summit is just out of reach.'

He resolved to 'gather my thoughts in a final message in the coming days' and finished with the words: 'This is Henry Worsley, signing off, journey's end.'

The great Edwardians whom Mr Worsley sought to emulate  Sir Ernest Shackleton, Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen  were in their late 30s or early 40s when they took on the 'worst journey in the world'.

They were also accompanied by teams of men, pack animals, tractors and sled dogs. Even then, they failed more often than they succeeded.

Mr Worsley had to drag almost 330lbs of kit for more than 1,000 miles across the southern tundra in temperatures approaching minus-50C.

His father was General Sir Richard Worsley, who fought with the Rifle Brigade in the Middle East and Normandy during the Second World War.

Sir Richard had retired as Quartermaster-General in 1982. Two years earlier his son had joined the Army straight from school and was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets.

Over the next 35 years  he retired in October  he served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, both with his parent regiment and as a member of the Special Forces.

Mr Worsley was a formidable soldier, both in physical powers and leadership skills. Those who served under him in the SAS were unstinting in their tributes.

Towering strength and willpower: Henry Worsley training for his mammoth feat

Former SAS soldier and author Chris Ryan tweeted: 'One of the very best officers I served with. A great loss of a brave man.'

Another former SAS NCO told the Mail: 'He was one of those quiet, steely and determined individuals who attracted great respect in the regiment.

'He would set you in the right direction and gave you the confidence to get on with the task.'

A soldier who served under Mr Worsley said: 'He was a fiercely capable leader of men.'

In 2000, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given command of the 2nd Battalion Royal Green Jackets.

He was ground commander of the initial British military intervention in Afghanistan in late 2001. Five years later, he again led the way as force commander of the first British ground units to be deployed in Helmand province. In summer, the temperatures there can reach 50C. But Worsley's private interests lay in far colder climes.

Since he was a child, he had been fascinated by Shackleton. This stemmed from the fact that a distant relative, Frank Worsley, had been skipper of Shackleton's ship the Endurance on the ill-fated 1914-17 attempt to cross Antarctica by foot.

The Endurance got caught in pack ice before even reaching Antarctica and the 28 members of the expedition were stranded for months. After the ship eventually sank, Mr Worsley, Shackleton and four others set off in a 20ft open boat on what became one of the great feats of navigation and survival.

Guided by Mr Worsley, the party sailed 800 miles to South Georgia where they reached a whaling station and were able to organise the rescue of the men they had left behind.

Henry Worsley admitted he was 'obsessed' with such feats. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of Shackleton and his relative.

Tragically close: Henry Worsley trekked more than 900 miles and collapsed just 30 short of the finish

His first polar expedition took place in 2008, marking the centenary of Shackleton's earlier Nimrod Expedition, which had attempted to be the first to conquer the South Pole.

Mr Shackleton's party got within 97 miles of their objective before being forced to turn back.

Mr Worsley's expedition followed the same route, one which was also used by Robert Falcon Scott in his last attempt. This time the Britons succeeded.

Family man: Henry Worsley with wife Joanna, son Max and daughter Alicia

But for Mr Worsley it was not enough. At the age of 50 a new polar centenary was beckoning.

Now he wanted to recreate the 1911-12 race to the Pole between Scott and Amundsen. Worsley led one team on the shorter Amundsen route. Another team followed Scott's route. Hundreds of thousands of pounds were raised for wounded soldiers.

Before he left, Mr Worsley spoke of how Scott and his men, who died on the return journey having been beaten to the Pole, remained an inspiration to the Armed Forces. 'There was a tremendous sense of patriotism,' he said. 'They were doing everything they could to plant the Union Jack on the last place in the world.' History repeated itself  Mr Worsley's team won the race to the Pole.

Still he wasn't done. There was a final challenge which would give him a unique place in polar history  the never-before-achieved solo walk across the continent.

'As a child it was the images of Shackleton stranded and surviving on the pack ice that gripped my imagination,' Mr Worsley said before he set off in November.

'When I joined the Army I was attracted by the leadership style of Shackleton, who I thought was a terrific role model for a young officer. The leadership qualities he valued most were optimism, patience, idealism and courage.'

All qualities that Mr Worsley himself had in spades.

Before he left for his final challenge, Mr Worsley spoke of the experience of standing alone on the ice. 'No one conquers the Antarctic,' he said. 'It's always in charge. If you're very lucky, it'll allow you to achieve your goal and let you get home safely.'

His wife Joanna and children Max and Alicia painted messages on his skis to get him through the 'dark days'. One said: 'You can do it, Dad.'
Sergio Zambrano, 42, of Florida has been accused of sexually sexually abusing a 12-year-old Portland girl

A 42-year-old Florida man is accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl he met on Instagram and allegedly convinced to send him nude photos before flying to Portland and spending the weekend with her.

Sergio Zambrano is said to have lied about his age when he met the girl about three weeks ago on Instagram and engaged in sexually-explicit chats with her, according to a police report.

Authorities said Zambrano then flew to Portland from his Florida home and spent the weekend with the girl, who told her parents she was spending the weekend at a friend's house, The Oregonian reported.

After the girl's parents learned their daughter was not with a friend, they reached her on her cell phone and Zambrano took her home, police said.

Her parents then took her to a Portland hospital for treatment for non-life threatening injuries before contacting the police.

Officers and detectives from Portland Police Bureau's Child Abuse Team were able to locate Zambrano who was taken into custody on Monday in a room he rented at a Motel 6.

He was booked on charges including second-degree rape, second-degree sodomy, first-degree sex abuse, unlawful sexual penetration, using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, encouraging child sex abuse and luring a minor.

Zambrano is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday afternoon, according to The Oregonian.

The Portland Police Bureau encourages parents to talk to their children about appropriate activity on social media as well as the dangers that exist in the virtual world.

Families who want to learn more on how to prevent child sexual exploitation are encouraged to visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at http://www.missingkids.org.
Felix Peltier, 27 (pictured outside court), conned his way into victim Maria Asmussen's home before battering her with a full bottle of Champagne

A French property developer has avoided jail after battering a woman over the head with a Champagne bottle when she refused to have sex with him.

Felix Peltier, 27, conned his way into victim Maria Asmussen's home and hopped into her bed hoping for a one-night stand.

But when she refused, he grabbed her by the throat and tried to throttle her before landing three blows on her head with a full bottle of Champagne.

Bloodied and bruised, Ms Asmussen grabbed a kitchen knife to fend off Peltier's advances and forced him out of the flat.

Peltier claimed he had only swung the Champagne bottle in self defence when a kinky sex game got out of hand, but an Old Bailey jury found him guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

During today's hearing, it was revealed he was cautioned by police in December last year for an eerily similar attack at Gem nightclub in Soho.

In that assault, he 'walked through the dancefloor, removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves before taking hold of a bottle on the bar'.

The court was told he then snuck up behind his victim and struck him over the head with the bottle.

When found guilty today, Pertier gasped audibly and whispered 'I'm not guilty', burying his head in his hands.

Judge Stephen Kramer QC was then told he has a previous conviction for drink driving, so chose to adjourn sentencing until later this afternoon to make a decision on how he should proceed.

However, after returning to the courtroom, the Frenchman breathed a huge sigh of relief as the judge handed him a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, meaning he escaped a jail term.

Pertier then told the court he has given up binge drinking after accepting he has a problem with his temper when drunk.

Judge Kramer said he would spare him an immediate prison term as Ms Asmussen had escaped serious injury.

'Count yourself lucky the injuries she sustained as a result of your assault were not worse than they actually were,' he said.

'Had they been worse, you would have gone straight to prison today.

'Let this all be a lesson to you.'

Peltier, who now hopes to return to his job in student property development with the Bouygues Group, decided to target Ms Asmussen as they both emerged from a night out at Raffles, the private members bar in the Kings Road, Chelsea.

Peltier claimed he had only swung the Champagne bottle in self defence, but an Old Bailey jury found him guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. During today's hearing, it was revealed he was cautioned by police in December last year for an eerily similar attack at Gem nightclub in Soho

Both had been drinking gin and tonics at the exclusive venue into the early hours of September 21, 2014, the court heard.

Peltier - who was labelled 'arrogant' during the trial - hopped into Ms Asmussen's taxi and then conned his way into her flat in Walton Street, Knightsbridge, asking for a glass of water.

Once inside, he stripped to the waist and jumped into her bed, pretending to be asleep when Ms Asmussen tried to get rid of him.

'I tried to pull him out of the bed, then he became very aggressive', she said.

He grabbed my neck with both hands. I could breathe but very badly. He left marks on my neck and my ear Victim Maria Asmussen

'He grabbed my neck with both hands. I could breathe but very badly. He left marks on my neck and my ear.

'He very angrily jumped out of the bed and looked for his t-shirt to go home.'

Peltier then pushed her to the ground and decided to try and steal a bottle of Champagne from the kitchen on his way out.

When Ms Asmussen tried to wrestle the bottle from him, Peltier swung it three times at her head, leaving her covered in blood from a deep wound to her forehead.

Ms Asmussen, who still suffers panic attacks and was forced to move house in the aftermath of the assault, grabbed a kitchen knife to defend herself.

Prosecutor Peter Walsh said Peltier had targeted his victim - who worked at Cafe Rouge near Harrods - for a one-night stand as soon as he saw her outside Raffles at around 4am.

'The defendant's arrogance, you might think, is apparent in so quickly sizing up Ms Asmussen outside Raffles as an easy target for sex', he said.

'They had never spoken to each other, let alone met inside Raffles and they had not set eyes on each other.

Peltier, who now hopes to return to his job in student property development with the Bouygues Group, decided to target Ms Asmussen as they both emerged from a night out at Raffles (pictured), the private members bar in the Kings Road, Chelsea

'In such a short time, a matter of seconds, he had sized her up as being easy sex when they were complete strangers waiting for a taxi.'

He added: 'The arrogance he displayed outside Raffles in sizing Ms Asmussen up as easy sex and he would go for her is reflected in him grabbing the bottle as compensation for no sex.

'He was nicking it, stealing it, that was his entitlement. If he wasn't going to get sex he would have the expensive bottle of Champagne.'

Peltier, who holds dual US and French citizenship, claimed Ms Asmussen sparked the violence when he refused to have sex with her.

He suggested she had initiate S&M-style foreplay, biting down hard on his finger, but got angry when he refused to join in.

But Mr Walsh told the court Peltier had concocted a pack of lies to hide the fact he had angrily lashed out at Ms Asmussen when she rejected him.

'She was a woman struggling to fight off a younger, fitter man, 6ft 2inches, easily able to overpower a person such as Ms Asmussen', he said.

'She was more than entitled in those circumstances of terror in her own home to grab a knife to defend herself against a man intent on having sex with her against her will.'

Peltier, who has been suspended from the job he has held since 2013, was captured by police clambering over a metal gate outside Ms Asmussen's block of flats.

She suffered cuts to her head and inner thigh and bruising round the neck from the assault.

He was today ordered to complete 100 hours community service, pay 1,000 prosecution costs and 500 to Ms Asmussen.
Police are investigating whether a ten year old Russian girl was 'won' by a middle aged man after her father 'lost to him in a game of cards'.

The child was missing for 48 hours after her abductor grabbed her as she walked to school - in the remote village of Volochaevka in Russia's far east - before driving off in his red car.

The kidnapping was witnessed by an 11-year-old boy who reported it to his teachers.

Ekaterina Bachurina (pictured) was missing for 48 hours after her abductor grabbed her as she walked to school - in the remote village of Volochaevka in Russia's far east - before driving off in his red car

After being arrested, Sergey Ponomarev (left) told police he 'won the girl' in a card game against her 30-year-old father Alexander Bachurin (right)

Ekaterina (Katya) Bachurina spent at least one night with the man, named by police as Sergey Ponomarev, 40, when he told hotel staff she was his daughter.

After being arrested, he told police he 'won the girl' in a card game against her 30-year-old father Alexander.

The father has been detained now, and is being quizzed by police.

Investigators are also examining other macabre scenarios, namely a suspicion that the child was to be used as a sex slave or that she could have been sold to a black market gang trading in human body parts.

The kidnapper took the girl on a terrifying 300 miles odyssey after seizing her in Volochaevka village, which is in the Jewish Autonomous Region

Having checked into the hotel in Progress (shown by the letter 'B' above), a village in Amur region, he moved out a day later as a massive police and volunteer hunt got underway in the Russian Far East

'The child is now in hospital in Khabarovsk where initial checks suggest she was not sexually assaulted, and suffered no physical injuries,' reported The Siberian Times.

A woman dubbed Ponomarev's 'accomplice' is also being held.

The kidnapper took the girl on a terrifying 300 miles odyssey after seizing her in Volochaevka village, which is in the Jewish Autonomous Region.

Having checked into the hotel in Progress, a village in Amur region, he moved out a day later as a massive police and volunteer hunt got underway in the Russian Far East.

Sergey Ponomarev ditched his car and walked the girl through the snow before being given shelter by a man in a village house which police stormed. They freed the girl, and arrested the man

Then he ditched his car and walked the girl through the snow before being given shelter by a man in a village house which police stormed. They freed the girl, and arrested the man.

Ekaterina's mother Olga Pogarskaya, 29, claimed her ex-husband would not have bet on his daughter in a card game.

'I do not believe he could do this,'' she said.

'Whatever he is, he is still her dad. He loves her very much. They often see each other.

'As soon as the offender told about it, Alexander was immediately arrested by the police.'
Councilman Robert Battle, who has been sworn into office despite being in jail awaiting murder charges

An East Chicago Councilman has been sworn into office despite being in jail awaiting drug and murder charges.

Robert Battle took the oath of office from behind bars at the Porter County Jail in Indiana after he was re-elected to his council seat in November.

It came just a month after it was announced he would be facing charges filed by the federal government after being accused of murdering Reimundo Camarillo Jr in cold blood during a drug deal.

Sheriff David Reynolds told the Chicago Tribune that an official was brought in to the jail to carry out the swearing-in ceremony.

He said: 'There is no reason for me to deny it legally.

'He could have chosen to be sworn in via video conferencing but opted for an in-person oath.'

Battle, a Democrat, won his seat on East Chicago Council in November, when he ran unopposed and received 308 votes.

But despite being in jail, Indiana law allows him to retain his seat and collect his $42,365 salary and pension benefits, which could total $12,000.

He will only be stripped of his title if he resigns, admits the charges, or his found guilty in court.

It is believed Democratic party leaders hope that Battle will eventually quit.

Meanwhile his attorney John Cantrell said his client will keep up with city business from behind bars.

He told the Washington Post: 'He is presumed innocent until he is proven guilty.

'If he is acquitted, hell keep his job.'
A beauty queen who claims she was Bill Clinton's mistress has posted a dramatic warning on Facebook that if she dies by 'suicide' no-one should believe it - because Hillary had previously 'beat me down so I'd lose everything'.

Sally Miller, a one-time Miss Arkansas, warned that she believed she could be killed for revealing what she said were threats and intimidation by Clinton allies concerned that their methods would be revealed to voters.

'Please share. Consider this a warning. Trust me, no one is safe,' Miller wrote.

'In this election year, if you read I died.by committing suicide.dont believe it. Sally Miller.'

Sally Perdue, now known as Sally Miller, was the 1958 Miss Arkansas and in 1994 claimed she had an affair in 1983 with then-Gov. Bill Clinton

Miller posted this message on Facebook, asking readers to 'please share'

Her long Facebook post contains claims that she is being watched and followed by associates of Clinton's campaign.

'She doesnt care if I discuss my affair with Bill---thats old news,' Miller wrote. 'She wants to make certain I dont write about her actions----how she paid professionals to stalk me, frighten and threaten me, and, ultimately, finish me off.'

Outside of social media, the Facebook post has been reported by InfoWars.

Miller's allegations of an affair with Bill Clinton in 1983 - when he was governor of Arkansas - was first made in 1994.

She described herself as one of the former president's one-time alleged lovers, joining a list which includes Gennifer Flowers and 1982 Miss American Elizabeth Gracen.

In 2005, she received a $90,000 settlement from a Pennsylvania school that had discharged her after discovering her past claims about Clinton.

Miller used Facebook to detail a series of what she describes as attacks on her by Hillary Clinton, remarking at one point, 'I did a good job of hiding in China for 10 years after Hillary cause [sic] me to lose a job and almost my life.'

According to InfoWars, Miller believes her upcoming book is the source of the attention. She has said she intends to describe her affair with Bill Clinton as well as his alleged drug use during their time together.

Former President BIll Clinton has been campaigning for his wife since the start of the year in New Hampshire, Iowa and other states

The Democratic presidential front-runner in Oskaloosa, Iowa on Monday

Miller is the latest woman to surface from Bill Clinton's past with allegations which may damage his wife's campaign.

Bill Clinton's infidelities are infamous and his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky even led to his impeachment in 1998.

He also admitted a sexual liaison with Flowers, a former Arkansas state employee, and, as president, he paid $850,000 to settle a long-running sexual harassment lawsuit with Paula Jones.

In addition to Lewinsky, Flowers and Jones, former White House volunteer aide Kathleen Willey claimed that Clinton sexually assaulted her in a private study just off the Oval Office in 1993, during his first term. Willey never filed a legal claim against Bill Clinton over the incident but did write about it in a 2007 book.
Thirty years after watching her husband die in a fiery crash as the space shuttle Challenger disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, the widow of the shuttle's commander says she has learned to forgive the human errors that led to the tragedy.

Thursday marks the 30th anniversary of the January 28, 1986, Challenger disaster that left a nation in shock and seven NASA crew members dead, including commander Dick Scobee and school teacher Christa McAuliffe, who had been selected from an applicant pool of over a thousand to be the first-ever teacher in space.

Millions of Americans were watching on live television as the Challenger broke apart in the air after only 73 seconds in flight, crashing in pieces over the Atlantic Ocean near the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The space shuttle Challenger takes off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 28, 1986

Left, Dick Scobee and his surviving wife June Scobee-Rodgers. Right, Scobee-Rodgers at a memorial service in 2011

'On that cold January morning, all of the Challenger families were together in Florida to watch the launch,' commander Scobee's widow, June Scobee-Rodgers, remembered in a video posted by the Challenger Center Monday.

'Our fellow Americans, including thousands of students, watched on televisions around the country.'

In an interview with CBS, Scobee-Rodgers described her feelings that morning.

'You can imagine, we were on top of the world,' she said, speaking of herself and her husband.

'We married as teenagers, he wanted to be a pilot, I wanted to be an educator, we worked together, helping each other with college, careers, two wonderful children. It was the top of our careers, the top of our lives, I mean, he is now the commander of the space shuttle!' Scobee-Rodgers told CBS.

'But to our shock, our numbing disbelief, the unthinkable happened,' Scobee-Rodgers said in the Challenger Center video.

Dramatic images of the spacecraft's disintegration show huge plumes of smoke in the air over the Kennedy Space Center

The explosion occurred only 73 seconds after the space shuttle Challenger took off from the ground

Frederick Gregory (foreground) and Richard O Covey, spacecraft communicators at Mission Control in Houston watch helplessly as the Challenger shuttle explodes on take-off, killing all seven members of its crew

The crew of the Challenger, circa 1985: (back row, left to right) Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik, (front row, left to right) Michael Smith, Dick Scobee and Ronald McNair.

A little over a minute after take-off, witnesses on the ground, including Scobee-Rodgers and the families of the other crew members on board, saw the spacecraft disappear in a fireball that left a thick trail of gray smoke.

Scobee-Rodgers told CBS she saw the solid rocket boosters come 'screaming off in the wrong direction, and explosions. I don't have to be told it's a "major malfunction", I'd seen enough launches, I knew.'

'It was a scary, terribly numbing. I couldn't even walk down the stairs. I fell, my son reached over and helped me, I was so numb and stiff, paralyzing, from viewing that.'

The deadly crash was later found to have been caused by a faulty rubber seal that had hardened in the cold weather and failed to block an outburst of burning gas from the rocket boosters that were used to propel the shuttle into space.

An investigation into the crash indicated that some of the crew members survived the explosion and that they were likely killed either during the descent or as the crew cabin hit the ocean.

In a report from the investigation into the disaster, an official wrote that the crew cabin landed in the ocean at a speed of 207mph, two minutes and 45 seconds after the Challenger broke apart.

In that time, the official wrote, at least three of the crew members activated their emergency air supplies, indicating that they were alive as they descended.

Left, Dick Scobee, the commander of the Challenger. Right, Christa McAuliffe, a school teacher and crew member

'The forces on the Orbiter at breakup were probably too low to cause death or serious injury to the crew,' the report states, adding that the crew 'possibly, but not certainly, lost consciousness' after the explosion.

The post-crash investigation also revealed that officials had been warned in advance that the rubber seal that caused the accident was not functioning properly, but that they decided to push forward with the launch anyway.

Upon learning the results of the investigation, Scobee-Rodgers was outraged.

'I think everyone was angry - surprised, shocked and angry,' Scobee-Rodgers told CBS.

'I remember they had all the families together in Washington, D.C., my son was with me, a cadet at the Air Force Academy, and he pounded the desk, hard, when they announced that. We were very upset.'

June Scobee-Rodgers, widow of Dick Scobee, commander of space shuttle Challenger at a memorial service at the Kennedy Space Center, January 28, 2011

In the three decades that passed, Scobee-Rodgers went on to remarry and started the Challenger Center along with other surviving crew family members.

The center is dedicated to 'carry on the spirit' of the space project by 'continuing the Challenger crew's educational mission,' according to its website.

In the end, Scobee-Rodgers said, she learned to forgive those responsible for the tragedy.

'You can't go through life without forgiving. You just can't go on without forgiving. We're all human, we all have human flaws. But NASA learned so much, people learned so much from that, now there are textbook lessons about accidents like Challenger and the human flaw of expectations.'

June Scobee-Rodgers and late husband Dick in an undated photograph. Dick died when the spacecraft he was commanding disintegrated shortly after take-off

June Scobee-Rodgers and Dick Scobee are pictured cutting cake on their wedding day
Unusual sights can frequently be spotted on mopeds in South-east Asia, from live chickens to families of five.

In this video however, filmed in Thailand from a vehicle driving alongside, a dog is seen perched behind his owner holding the man's umbrella in his mouth.

The clearly well-trained Labrador rests his front paws on the rider's shoulders and sits upright on the seat.

Got your back: In this video, filmed in Thailand from a vehicle driving alongside, a dog is seen perched behind his owner holding the man's umbrella in his mouth

Ready for anything: The well-trained Labrador rests his front paws on the rider's shoulders and sits upright on the seat

While the Thai man wears a white mask covering his mouth, the dog brandishes a long, hooked brolly and seems content in his butler-like role.

Those filming can be heard laughing at the spectacle.

Neither the man or the dog where any form of protection, but helmets are rarely worn in South-east Asia.

Thailand is ranked second in the world in terms of traffic fatalities, with 44 deaths per 100,000 people (5.1 percent of Thailands overall deaths), according to statistics from the World Health Organization and The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute in the United States.

In December, British 32-year-old Rebecca Leanne Shawn was killed in a horror motorcycle crash on the holiday island of Phuket in southern Thailand.

She had been hit by a pick-up truck which also injured another Brit.

23 percent of the world's road traffic death's are motorcyclists.

Night ride: While the Thai man wears a white mask covering his mouth, the dog brandishes a long, hooked brolly
The first unmasked pictures of Jihadi John wearing combat gear and wielding an AK-47 in the Middle East have been published by the Islamic State a week after the terror group confirmed his death.

Images of Mohammed Emwazi showing him armed and bearded in a location believed to be in Syria have been released and shared on social media.

The 27-year-old Londoner was killed on November 12 after US intelligence established where his wife and child were living. He was 'evaporated' by a drone strike as he left the premises in Raqqa.

Killer: This picture of Londoner Mohammed Emwazi, aka Jihadi John, has been released by the Islamic State

First pictures: The two images released by ISIS are the first of Jihadi John unmasked in the Middle East

ISIS last week paid tribute to the executioner - once the world's most wanted man - in a bizarre obituary that praised him as an 'honourable brother' and highlighted his 'sincerity, ambition and enthusiasm'.

Emwazi, who was six years old when his family moved to London from Kuwait and grew up in North Kensington,had been known to intelligence services in the UK since at least 2009 and had been on a list of potential terror suspects.

Despite a ban prohibiting him from leaving the country, Emwazi first escaped Britain in 2011, when he headed to Lisbon.

He returned a short time later but successfully evaded border control again to leave for good in 2012.

After making it to Syria, he became ISIS executioner in chief, filmed beheading western hostages in sickening propaganda videos.

Emwazi was involved in the murders of British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, American journalists Steven Sotloff and James Foley, American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig (also known as Peter Kassig) and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto.

Evaporated: ISIS has paid tribute to the Londoner - once the world's most wanted man - in a bizarre obituary

JIHADI JOHN: FROM LONDON BOY TO 'SADISTIC AND MERCILESS KILLER' Mohammed Emwazi was six years old when his family moved to London from Kuwait. He grew up in North Kensington, where a network of Islamist extremists was uncovered in recent years. As a child he was a fan of Manchester United FC and the band S Club 7, according to a 1996 school year book. His former headteacher in London recalled a 'hard-working aspirational young man'. She said he had been bullied at school but insisted she was not aware of any radicalisation of pupils there. He later went on to study information technology at the University of Westminster. Emwazi then worked with an IT firm in Kuwait during a stint in the Gulf and was described by a former boss as 'the best employee we ever had' and a 'calm and decent' person. He was known to intelligence services in the UK since at least 2009 and had been on a list of potential terror suspects. Court papers connected Emwazi to a network of extremists known as 'The London Boys' - originally trained by al-Shabab, Al-Qaeda's East Africa affiliate. One hostage who fell under his control in the ISIS group's hub in Raqqa talked of a 'cold, sadistic and merciless' killer. Advertisement

In the videos, the tall masked figure was clad in black and speaking in a British accent.

He began one of the gruesome videos with a political rant and a kneeling hostage before him, then ended it holding a large knife in his hand with the headless victim lying before him in the sand.

Alan Henning was a Salford taxi driver, who volunteered as an aid worker in Syria in 2013, after being deeply affected by the plight of orphaned children in the war-torn country.

The 47-year-old was kidnapped and held hostage for 10 months.

Despite worldwide appeals and calls for mercy by his family, the terror group released a video in October 2014 of him kneeling in an orange jumpsuit in the desert as he was beheaded by Jihadi John.

David Haines was a former RAF aircraft engineer, from Perth, Scotland, who turned to humanitarian aid in 1999. He was kidnapped in March 2013 and was subject to a failed rescue mission by American forces in July 2014.

A video of the lead up and aftermath of Haines' beheading, entitled 'A Message to the Allies of America', was released by ISIS in September last year.

At the end of the video, Emwazi said to the camera: 'If you, (David) Cameron, insist on fighting the Islamic State then you, like your master (Barack) Obama, will have the blood of your people on your hands.'

Steven Sotloff was an American-Israeli journalist who was kidnapped by ISIS militants in Aleppo, Syria, in August 2013.

A video of his death was released in September 2014, prompting President Obama to warn ISIS that the US will take action to 'degrade and destroy' them.

James Foley was reporting on the Syrian civil war as a freelance journalist when he was abducted.

His captors spent months trying to negotiate a deal with U.S. authorities, his employers and his family, demanding 130million euros for his release.

He was subjected to many mock executions, tortures and beatings during his time in captivity, before he appeared in an ISIS murder video in 2014.

Emwazi aged around seven (left) at St Mary Magdalene CE Primary School in Maida Vale, London, and aged 15 (right), in the playground of Qunitin Kynaston Academy in North London, in May 2004

After making it to Syria, Emwazi became ISIS executioner in chief, filmed for sickening propaganda videos

Former US army ranger Abdul-Rahman Kassig (also known as Peter Kassig) was 26 years old when he was beheaded.

He had been involved in aid work in Lebanon and Syria when he was captured, while on his way to deliver food to refugees in Eastern Syria.

He converted to Islam while in captivity and changed his name to Abdul-Rahman in December 2013.

In November 2014, ISIS released a video which showed Kassig being killed.

Japanese journalist Kenji Goto appeared in an ISIS video in January 2015, when Jihadi John proclaimed to Japanese prime minister: 'Because of your reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war, this knife will not only slaughter Kenji, but will also carry on and cause carnage wherever your people are found. So let the nightmare for Japan begin.'

The US military said in November that it was 'reasonably certain' Emwazi had been killed in an airstrike.

Emwazi's obituary, published in ISIS' online magazine Dabiq last week, praised him for allowing an injured jihadi to 'use' a female sex slave he had been given as a gift.
Dave Martin Benjamin is being questioned by police over the rape and murder of Atlanta anesthesiologist, Jessica Colker

The father of the suspect being quizzed over the brutal murder of an American tourist in Grenada exploded with fury when asked about his son.

Joseph Benjamin refused to talk about his son David who is in custody for the death of Jessica Colker on a deserted beach.

David Benjamin has spent more than 36 hours in police custody after handing himself into his local police station a day after the killing.

He has not been charged, but remains the only suspect in the murder of 39-year-old Colker.

An autopsy found Colker, from Atlanta, Georgia, died from an extensive skull fracture and asphyxia.

She is also believed to have been raped but the autopsy report makes no mention of a sexual assault.

Her distraught husband Brian Meloti spent Tuesday with officials at the US consulate in Grenada's capital of St George.

He is preparing to fly back to their home in Atlanta with his wife's body after it was released for burial by a medical examiner on the island.

The death of Colker has sent shockwaves through the small Caribbean island which depends heavily on tourists, particularly from the US.

A spokesman for the Grenada Tourist Board failed to respond to calls from Daily Mail Online to talk about the impact the murder would have on future tourism.

But the death of Colker is the main topic of conversation on the island which unlike some other Caribbean islands has a reputation as being entirely safe to visit.

Murdered: It has been confirmed that Jessica Colker, (pictured here with her husband Brian Melito) was killed while she walked along a beach in Grenada on Sunday

No questions: Murder suspect David Benjamin's father Joseph Benjamin was furious today when he was questioned about his rapist son being accused of the brutal killing

Crime scene: The remains of the police investigation at the site where Jessica Colker was murdered. Officers tried to help save her life but were unable to

Peaceful: The Le-Cheasere beach where Jessica Colker was murdered after going for a walk with her husband on the first full day of her vacation. The bay is a popular place because it is quiet

Forensic search: Police had investigated the area where Jessica Colker was attacked

As his son was being questioned by detectives his father was clearing up empty bottles of beer from a makeshift bar next to his home in Coals Gap on the eastern side of the Caribbean island.

When approached by a Daily Mail Online reporter Mr Benjamin at first refused to acknowledge his son was in police custody.

He then shouted out aggressively: 'I have got nothing to say to you  talk to the police.

'I don't want to say anything. The police are the only ones who can help you now. I can't say anything.'

Neighbors said his son David had been living with his father since being released from prison in December having been jailed for raping a young girl.

Sentenced to 15 years he is thought to have been released early after serving five years.

The Benjamin family home is a ten-minute walk from the Le-Cheasere beach in the parish of St David where the attack took place on Sunday afternoon.

Colker and her 62-year-old husband, a doctor, were on their first full day of their vacation when they were attacked.

The couple had walked along a trail from the La Sagesse hotel to a deserted crescent shaped beach that can only be reached by following a path through a dense mangrove.

It would have taken the couple at least 15 minutes to reach the secluded spot where waves from the Caribbean crash onto the beach.

When Daily Mail Online visited the murder scene the area was deserted.

Less than ten yards in from the beach yellow police tape could still be found wrapped around a palm tree where it had been used to seal off the murder scene in the dense undergrowth.

Police said Dr Meloti was not injured and ran the half-mile back to the hotel to raise the alarm.

Home: This is the bar shack where David Benjamin was living with his father until the murder of Jessica Colker. He had only just been freed from prison

Village: David Benjamin was living in Coals Gap, which is ten minutes from the scene of the crime

Held: St Davids police station, where David Benjamin is being questioned over the murder of Jessica Colker

Police spokesman Sylvan McIntyre said officers from the local police station attended the scene but nothing could be done to save Ms Colker.

McIntyre, who attended the murder scene, said Colker was fully clothed when found.

At the La Sageese hotel one of the managers who would only give his name as Mike told how he drove a distraught Brian Meloti to the US embassy.

He said: 'He was in complete shock and not saying anything. What could he say?'

Mike said Dr Meloti and his wife had only planned to stay at their hotel for two days before moving on to another hotel.

He said the deserted beach where the attack took place was part of a trail around the Le Cheasere beach.

'It is a popular trail. It is isolated and quiet and that is why so many people like it,' he said.

A day after the murder David Benjamin walked into the St David's police station to hand himself in.

Police sources on the Caribbean island said Benjamin was freed in December after serving 15 years.

Traveler: These pictures of the Atlanta anesthesiologist date from 2014 when she took a vacation to Italy with her new husband

Marriage: This picture of Jessica Colker and Brian Melito was posted to their wedding registry website ahead of the ceremony on November 1, 2014

Tragic: Jessica Colker was killed on a deserted stretch of sun-splashed beach about twelve miles outside the capital of the Caribbean island of Grenada. Above are her shoes that she kicked off before going off on a walk

Helped: Hotel worker Mike drover Brian Meloti to the US embassy and said he was 'in shock'

A police source told Daily Mail Online: 'Benjamin was set free in December. He had been locked away for the rape of a young child.'

Benjamin, who has three teardrops under his left eye that in gang culture means he has killed or is prepared to kill, has not yet been charged.

He is being held at St George's Police station in the island's capital and was questioned by detectives.

Grenada Police spokesman Sylvan McIntyre said of Benjamin: 'What I can tell you now is that he is in custody. He was not captured, but he turned himself in and our investigations will continue, as we believe he can assist us with our investigation into the incident.'

Until recently the set jail term for rape in Grenada was 15 years.

A recent amendment to the criminal code means that any person who is convicted of rape is sentenced to prison for a maximum of 35 years.

Grenada's criminal courts have been dominated by sexual offenses, accounting for more than one-third of all the cases before the High Court for trial.

Colker was a registered pediatric anesthesiologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

She and her husband are both seasoned travelers and first met at a dance workshop in Costa Rica according to their wedding website profile.

They say they had a smoothie together on the second day of the class and then spent the rest of the week 'dancing, talking, surfing, eating great food, swimming in the ocean under the stars and generally falling in love.'

They became engaged in August of 2014 and wed in November of 2014 in Atlanta.

In their statement issued on Monday afternoon, the US Embassy said they were 'working closely with officials investigating Ms. Colker's death'.

Brief stay: Brian Melito and Jessica Colker had only planned to stay at La Sagesse hotel for two nights when she was brutally attacked

Death in paradise: Grenada is one of the more southern Caribbean islands and the La Sagesse Hotel is marked on the map in relation to the capital, St George's

Murdered: Canadian tourist Linnea Veinotte was killed in December in Grenada and her alleged murderer is currently in custody

Police in St George's confirmed that 'at about 12.00 noon on Sunday January 24, 2016, it was reported to the police that a woman, who was in the company of her male companion went missing following an attack by a man at Le-Cheasere beach in St David.

'A search was mounted in the area and a person later identified as the missing woman was found dead.

'A suspect is currently in custody assisting police with their investigation.'

Colker is the second tourist to have been murdered on the island in just over a month.

In December, Canadian Linnea Veinotte was murdered and suspect, Akim Frank, is charged with her murder. At the time police said the killing was an isolated incident and the island was safe for tourists.

According to the hotel's website the resort is 'Grenada's Best Romantic Getaway'.

Its Facebook page says: 'Blending the elegance and charm of an English country house with the tropical climate, beautiful palm tree shaded beach and lush vegetation, this wildly romantic hideaway offers a wonderful opportunity for recreation, relaxation, nature appreciation and the ambiance in which to enjoy it.'

A staff member at the hotel said then had been told not to talk about the incident.
He was jailed for five years and placed on Sex Offenders Register for life

Clarkson, also a teaching assistant, had repeated sex with the 14-year-old

Daniel Clarkson, 25, has been jailed for five years for sexual offences involving two underage schoolgirls

A 'highly manipulative' teaching assistant has been jailed for five years for sexual offences involving two underage schoolgirls.

Daniel Clarkson, 25, bombarded the pupils, aged 14 and 15, with thousands of explicit texts, emails and had repeated sex with the 14-year-old.

Cambridge Crown Court heard how one of Clarksons victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was so traumatised she resorted to self harm.

Clarkson, who also worked as a police special constable, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

In a statement, the mother of one of Clarkson's victims told the court: 'I hate him for what he has done.

'My daughter had panic attacks in the classroom and on one occasion we had to take her to A&E.

'She even took an overdose of seven tablets.

'My daughter's education has suffered and I feel like I have let my daughter down.'

The court also heard how Clarkson lied about having a daughter that died and even sent a photo of himself holding a young girl to gain sympathy with one of his victims who had recently lost her grandmother.

He was also involved with a drama group for vulnerable children and worked as a special constable for Cambridgeshire Police, based at Parkside police station in Cambridge.

Prosecutor Wayne Cleaver said Clarkson was employed at a school, which cannot be identified, from September 1 2014 until his resignation on April 21 2015.

Mr Cleaver said: 'On May 13 2015 the school made police aware of concerns about the defendant's unprofessional behaviour.'

The defendant sent messages via Snapchat, including one which read: 'I'm going to run my hands up and down your thighs'. In another Clarkson wrote: 'I'm going to pin you against the wall.'

The defendant also sent a video of himself which left the victim feeling 'very distressed.'

The court heard how in less than a year, Clarkson exchanged thousands of messages with one of the victims, as well as making telephone calls to her.

Mr Cleaver said that on four dates in March, April and May 2015 there was penetrative sexual activity between the defendant and one of his victims.

The 'highly manipulative' teaching assistant, who also worked as a police special constable based at Parkside police station in Cambridge (pictured), bombarded the pupils, aged 14 and 15, with thousands of explicit texts

'The victim even visited a doctor to acquire the contraceptive pill suggesting sexual activity was not an infrequent occurrence,' said the prosecutor.

'The defendant even claimed he had a young child that had died. This coincided with the victim losing her grandmother suggesting the defendant concocted an emotive invention to gain sympathy with her.'

Clarkson, from Kingston-upon-Hull, East Yorkshire, was arrested on May 20 last year.

In her statement, the mother of one of Clarkson's victims added: 'I failed to protect her and that has made me feel like a rubbish parent.

'I struggle to be intimate with my husband because I keep thinking that is what he did to my daughter and it makes me feel dirty and disgusted.

'He preyed on my daughter's vulnerability.'

Sentenced: Cambridge Crown Court (pictured) heard how one of Clarksons victims was so traumatised she resorted to self harm. The PCSO was jailed for five years and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life

Clarkson was barred from communicating with any child under 16 and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Emily Culverhouse, defending, said: 'Daniel had wanted to accept his actions and wishes to say sorry to both of the girls and their parents.'

Judge Gareth Hawkesworth said in closing: 'You engaged in a clear process of sexual grooming and cruel deceptions.

'You caused severe psychological damage and I believe you to be a highly manipulative man.'

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Sloan, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: 'The crimes committed by Daniel Clarkson were very serious and that is reflected in the sentence handed down by the court today.
A 14-year-old boy from Washington state has suffered horrific facial injuries and likely permanent nerve damage after falling and hitting his head while playing a game called 'duct tape challenge.'

Speaking from his hospital bed this week, Skylar Fish said he is lucky to be alive in the wake of the January 16 incident.

The teen and his friends were playing a game in which a person is bound with duct tape and tries to break free - something they had done before after watching videos online showing other people performing the stunt.

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Lucky to be alive: Skylar Fish, 14 (pictured left before accident) suffered severe facial injuries and nerve damage after attempting the 'duct tape challenge'

Disfigured: Fish required 48 stitches on his head and sustained likely permanent nerve damage after falling and smashing his face against a window frame and wall

This time, Skylar's friends wrapped him in tape while he was standing.

As he was trying to free his arms and legs from the adhesive tape, Skylar fell, hit his head against a metal window frame and then smashed his face against a concrete wall, crushing his left eye socket and causing a brain aneurysm.

'When I think about it, it seems like I was hit by a car,' Fish told KIRO7.

The Renton teen was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where he got 48 staples from ear to ear to close the head wound.

Fish also sustained bleeding in his brain that required an emergency surgery and pinched nerves in his eye, reported the station Q13 Fox.

On Monday, Skylar was transferred to Children's Hospital, where he will spend the next few weeks re-learning how to perform basic everyday tasks as part of an inpatient rehabilitation program.

His doctors are still not sure if the teen would ever regain sight in his damaged right eye.

Dangerous game: The Renton, Washington, resident sustained the injuries after having his friends wrap him in duct tape on January 16

Uphill battle: Skylar spent nearly two weeks in a hospital before being transferred to a rehabilitation facility to continue his recovery

Close call: Skylar's mother, Sarah (right) says the boy came very close to dying, having suffered a brain aneurysm in the aftermath of his fall

Sarah Fish, Skylars mother. said had her son hit his eye an inch to the side, or had his friends not flipped him over while he was choking on his own blood, he would have died.

Since Skylars accident, Ms Fish has been using social media to warn other parents about the dangers of the duct tape challenge.

A quick search of YouTube has revealed tens of thousands of videos going back at least three years showing young people wrapping themselves or others in duct tape.

They're just looking out what's fun, what's cool, what's gonna impress their friends, she said. They're not thinking, What if I fall and hit my head.

Ms Fish has launched a GoFundMe campaign asking for donations to help cover her son's mounting medical bills.
Alcohol was not served at Rouhani's lunch and dinner with Italian premiers

Wooden placed around a Venus statue dating back to second Century BC

Italy has covered up some of its most iconic nude statues so as not to upset the visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

A wooden box was placed around several pieces, including a Venus dating back to the Second Century BC, at Rome's Capitoline Museum.

Both Rouhani and Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi spoke at the museum after a signing ceremony which saw Italian companies tie up 12.5billion worth of business with Iran.

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Before: Marble statues stand proudly in Rome's Capitoline Museum where Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi both spoke after 12billion worth of deals between the countries was agreed

After: Wooden crates were placed around several pieces including a Venus statue which dated back to the second Century BC

The decision to hide iconic artwork from the Muslim president was condemned by some, including the Superior Council for Cultural Heritage at the Italian culture ministry, Guiliano Volpe.

He told broadcaster Rai3: 'You can not hide your culture, your religion or history itself. It was the wrong decision... We must enhance rather respect and differences.'

The museum cover up was not the only step Italy took to ensure the Iranian visit passed went smoothly.

Wine was not served at Rouhani's lunch with President Sergio Mattarella, or his dinner with Renzi, because he refuses to attend official meals where alcohol is available.

The Italian government and private companies signed more than a dozen accords during Rouhani's visit to Rome today.

The Danieli Group, a metals industry concern, signed around 4.3billion in deals to supply Iran with machinery and install steel and aluminum plants in the Islamic Republic.

No thank you: Wine was not served at Rouhani's (right) lunch with President Sergio Mattarella, or his dinner with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (left), because he refuses to attend official meals where alcohol is available

 Slide me  Cover up: The decision to hide iconic artwork from the Muslim president was condemned by some

The Saipem oil company agreed a memorandum of understanding with the Parsian Oil and Gas Development Company to upgrade two refineries, but the details of the money involved were not released.

The Italian State Railway also signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Iran's high-speed railway. It will offer technical assistance on a 250 mile high-speed line, followed by other projects.

Shipbuilder Fincantieri signed several deals, including one to develop a new shipyard in the Persian Gulf.

Iran is signing business deals across Europe as its president embarks on a tour of the continent to restore contacts ,after years of economic sanctions and international isolation.

Most sanctions were dropped last week after Iran agreed with world powers on a plan to limit its nuclear capabilities.

Companies including oil suppliers and car manufacturers are now fighting to take advantage of the opening of the country of nearly 80million people.

Esteemed company: Pope Francis (left) held a private audience with Rouhani (right) at the Vatican

Some business deals are ready to be inked but others are still in negotiation as a few sanctions not related to the nuclear program remain in place, particularly by the U.S., on the trade of goods that could be used for military or intelligence purposes.

'I'd say the light went from red to orange,' the CEO of carmaker Renault-Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, said last week, when the sanctions were lifted. 'We're waiting for it to go from orange to green.'
He said: 'If the UK votes to leave Europe, Scotland will vote to leave the UK'

Tony Blair today warned that Britain quitting the EU would also end in Scotland leaving the United Kingdom.

The former Labour prime minister admitted he is 'very worried' about the result and consequences of the upcoming EU referendum, which could be as early as June.

Speaking in Paris he said that a vote to leave would certainly spark a second vote on Scottish independence, which he believes would also end the Union.

In an interview on French radio station Europe 1, Mr Blair said: 'There is a little-noticed dimension which is that, in my opinion, if the UK votes to leave Europe, Scotland will vote to leave the UK. It is extremely serious for Great Britain.'

Warning: Tony Blair, pictured left and right in Paris today, has warned a vote to leave the EU will also lead to the break up of the Union

Surrounded: A large security team accompanied the former Prime Minister after he was interviewed by French radio

When he was in power Mr Blair was said to have reservations about devolution to Scotland in case it led to the break-up of the Union.

The last referendum in 2014 ended in a narrow victory for the Better Together campaign but the former Labour leader believes a new vote would lead to an independent Scotland.

The SNP have repeatedly insisted Scotland should be pulled out of the European Union by a eurosceptic English electorate.

Responding to Mr Blair's comments, Scottish National Party Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins said: 'If Scotland is taken out of the EU against its will then obviously there will have been a fundamental breakdown in what should be a partnership of nations and it is highly likely that this would trigger an overwhelming demand for a second Scottish independence referendum.'

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said that if Britain left the EU a second referendum would be 'unstoppable'.

The Scottish first minister has said that trying to scare voters into backing the status quo - which she branded 'project fear' - will fail.

Speaking on the BBC One Andrew Marr programme on Sunday, Ms Sturgeon said: 'While there are differences between the Scottish campaign and a European referendum, there are undoubtedly analogies and if the In campaign behaves the way the No campaign behaved in the Scottish referendum I fear it will lose.

'In the Scottish referendum the two campaigns started miles apart in the polls, we had a thoroughly negative, fear-laden campaign from the No campaign, which almost lost.

'In the EU referendum the two campaigns are much closer to start with and if the In campaign falls into the trap of the No campaign, I fear it will lose.'

Ms Sturgeon, pictured with David Cameron during Downing Street talks last year, says that the Brexit will cause a new Scottish referendum on independence

It came as the ballot paper for the historic EU referendum was unveiled for the first time today.

Britain's future membership will be determined by tens of millions of voters filling in one box with a simple black cross.

They will be asked 'Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union'.

Voters will choose between answers reading 'Remain a member of the European Union' or 'Leave the European Union'.

The wording of the question was a subject of hot debate and the Government was forced to amend it while the legislation for the referendum was going through Parliament.

The proposed form is shown in draft regulations laid before Parliament on the conduct of the national poll, one part of the legislation which must be approved at least ten weeks before the UK is asked to decide whether to remain in the EU.

There are also hints the referendum could be held on June 23 to avoid a clash with Home Nation matches at Euro 2016 in France.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland have all qualified for the tournament and holding it on matchday would damage turnout.
After 3.5 hour surgery, she is recovering at Stony Brook University Hospital

A 64-year-old woman in New York had been waiting a year and a half for a kidney transplant when her doctors called to announce they had found the perfect match in South Carolina.

Storm Jonas was already brewing, but paramedics battled through whiteout conditions to ensure both Melanie Chirichella and the organ could reach Stony Brook University Hospital in Long Island in time for the surgery.

The resulting journey was daring and treacherous, as the clock was ticking since Friday morning, when the organs were removed from a brain-dead patient more than 825 miles away from the hospital.

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Paramedic Pete Amato, right, defied the wind, snow and ice caused by Storm Jonas to transport Melanie Chirichella, pictured, into Stony Brook University Hospital so she could receive a kidney transplant

The 64-year-old who suffers from diabetes, had been waiting for a kidney transplant for more than a year and a a half. A perfect match was found in South Carolina, and it had to travel more than 825 through the blizzard to Long Island, New York

Chirichella, whose kidneys were damaged by diabetes, was elated when her doctors called on Saturday. She said: 'It was like a miracle. I almost fell off the bed.'

Ideally, doctors try to transplant a kidney within 24 hours of its removal, but this can be extended to 48 hours under the right conditions.

The two kidneys, one bound for a different patient at New York City's Presbyterian Hospital, had left Charleston, South Carolina, on a Delta flight Friday evening.

The storm had already begun to disrupt air travel, but this flight managed to arrive on schedule, as airlines are informed when a transplant organ is aboard.

As a result, the flights get special status to avoid delays and the organs are kept in the cockpit with the pilots.

The kidneys arrived at the New York City offices of the donation coordinator, just as snow began to fall in New York, but it took another 12 hours until the necessary tests were completed.

By Saturday morning, both the organs and Melanie had to battle through howling winds and heavy snowfall to make it to Stony Brook.

Melanie only lived about 20 miles away in Bohemia, New York, but emergency crews initially said there was no way an ambulance could take her given the weather conditions.

Paramedic Pete Amato, however, was undeterred.

A decade ago, his brother had received a lifesaving kidney transplant. He knew there wasn't time to waste.

Amato's brother received a life-saving transplant years ago, so he understood the gravity of the situation. Chirichella, right, was intially told there was be no way an ambulance could navigate through whiteout conditions

He hopped behind the wheel of a hospital SUV, turned on the lights and sirens and hit the road.

'This needs to happen,' Amato remembered thinking. 'I knew the sense of urgency.'

As he drove along the Long Island Expressway, his SUV was nearly hit by a tractor-trailer and he watched a Jeep spin out of control.

'My fear was that someone was going to crash into us or that we'd get stuck,' Amato said.

Meanwhile, Wilson Lee, an organ preservationist, was given the job of delivering both kidneys with the help of another driver.

They had to stop at Presbyterian Hospital to donate the other kidney first, but got stuck trying to drive up a hill.

The two eventually made it after their SUV was pushed to the top by a city sanitation vehicle.

After a three and a half hour surgery, Chirichella (right) is now recovering well, doctors said. She kissed Amato (left) on the cheek when he visited her hospital room after the transplant surgery

After the delivery, they ditched the car and waited 45 minutes for an ambulance for the 60-mile drive out to Long Island.

They had to stop every 15 to 20 minutes to de-ice the windshield because the wipers couldn't keep up. 'It was really hard to see,' Lee said. 'There was a lot of snow. A lot of wind.'

But they kept going, delivering the kidney to Stony Brook at 4:12 p.m.

Chirichella underwent a three and a half hour operation, and is now recovering well, doctors said.

On Tuesday, Amato visited Chirichella in her hospital room. As she saw him for the first time since he wheeled her into the hospital, Chirichella leaned over and kissed his cheek.

He recalled the moment he arrived at her door in the snow to take her to the hospital.

'I saw the look on your face  that shock when I got there,' he said. 'Somebody wanted us to meet.'
A meteorologist for The Weather Channel who crashed his car into an Atlanta parking garage at high speed committed suicide, authorities said today.

Nicholas Wiltgen, 39, died on Sunday evening when he plowed his Volkswagen Eos through a wall at the Colony Square Mall, smashing through to the adjacent W Atlanta-Midtown hotel.

Police spokeswoman Kim Jones said that Wiltgen's vehicle traveled 20 feet inside and hit a hotel worker in a storage area, who was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Initially investigators said that Wiltgen may have suffered a heart attack at the wheel but on Tuesday, Mark Guilbeau, senior investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, said Wiltgen had acted to take his own life.

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Nicholas Wiltgen (pictured), who crashed his car through an Atlanta parking garage wall at high speed, committed suicide, authorities said today

He died on Sunday evening after he plowed his Volkswagen Eos through a wall at the Colony Square Mall

His friend, John Merideth, posted a heartfelt tribute to Facebook mourning the 'loss of an incredibly beautiful soul.'

'Nick Wiltgen was my friend, my love and one of the most intelligent and curious men I have ever had the good fortune of meeting.

'His death, like so many parts of life, is unfathomable.'

Wiltgen had spent the weekend tweeting the effects of winter Storm Jonas, betraying none of the turmoil he may have been experiencing.

After smashing into the wall, hotel staff rushed out and tried to perform CPR on Wiltgen, but he died at the scene.

Police spokeswoman Kim Jones said that Wiltgen's vehicle traveled 20 feet inside and hit a hotel worker in a storage area, who was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

After the crash, police said Wiltgen (pictured) may have suffered a heart attack at the wheel.

A witness said he was travelling at a 'very high rate of speed' before the impact.

Cameron Clayton, president of product and technology at The Weather Channel told AJC.com: 'We have lost a treasured member of The Weather Channel family

'Nick Wiltgen was at Weather for more than 15 years as a senior digital meteorologist and integral member of our content team.'

Al Roker, co-anchor of The Today Show, said on Twitter his thoughts and prayers are with Wiltgen's family.

John Meredith also wrote a touching tribute on Facebook to Wiltgen. He said: 'Today I mourn the loss of an incredibly beautiful soul'

He had been tweeting throughout the weekend about the blizzard that caused chaos on the East Coast

Wiltgen joined The Weather Company as a senior radio broadcast meteorologist (left) in October 2001, and he stayed for almost 11 years, delivering on-air forecasts. He moved to the digital side in May 2012

'His smile, expertise and camaraderie will be missed,' Roker said.

Mark Elliot, a meteorologist with The Weather Channel, said he was saddened by the loss of his friend and colleague.

Wiltgen received a bachelors degree in meteorology in 1998 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, according to the university.

He then worked as an agriculture/ energy commodities forecaster at Planalytics business and weather consulting from 1998 to 2001.

In October 2001, he joined The Weather Company as a senior radio broadcast meteorologist and he stayed for almost 11 years, delivering on-air forecasts for radio affiliates, the AJC reported.

Wiltgen was also a familiar face on air, appearing on The Weather Channel from time to time to discuss featured digital stories

Al Roker, co-anchor of The Today Show, said on Twitter his thoughts and prayers are with Wiltgen's family

One of Wiltgen's colleagues Richard Lewelling also paid tribute to the weatherman on social media

He then moved to the digital side in May 2012, producing and delivering a wide range of weather and nature content for The Weather Companys digital platforms.

He was promoted to senior digital meteorologist in December 2014, where he led and supervised the digital meteorology team.

Wiltgen was also a familiar face on air, appearing on The Weather Channel from time to time to discuss featured digital stories.

Gossip writer Perez Hilton was one of the celebrities outside the meteorologist profession to pay tribute

Another Weather Channel employee Mike Seidel also posted his respects on Twitter after hearing of Wiltgen's tragic passing

One of his colleagues Richard Lewelling wrote on Facebook: 'My heart is broken today as one of my colleagues and friends was killed yesterday in an automobile accident as a result of a medical condition. Nick was only 39 years old and had a great passion and dedication to our craft.

'You always see the spark in those who truly love the weather and Nick had that spark. He loved his work, his friends and his family and I don't think any of us who knew him will forget him.

'In all the years I have known him... He never complained but always had a great smile, a great attitude and a laugh I still hear today. We are all going to miss you Nick.'

 For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here
Rose West - who previously gave Baby P's mother tips on protecting her identity outside of prison - has now befriended child rapist Carole Fishburn, it has been reported.

The pair are said to have spent time in each others cells, reading and watching television, while 62-year-old serial killer West shows Fishburn the ropes on how to order treats and magazines.

Branded 'wicked, depraved, and dangerous' by a judge, Fishburn was jailed for 16 years in December for a series of vile sex attacks against young girls.

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Best mates: Serial killer Rose West (left) - who previously gave Baby P's mother tips on protecting her identity outside of prison - has now befriended child rapist Carole Fishburn (right) inside the pair's high security prison

But she's now been taken under West's wing at high security prison Low Newton in County Durham.

A source told The Sun: 'In prison it is a case of birds of feather flock together and these two women have a lot in common.

'West has been showing her the ropes on the wing  how to order treats and magazines and they have been spending time in each others cells, reading and watching telly.'

Fishburn was convicted of a total of 11 charges including rape, sexual activity with a child, inciting a child into sexual activity, taking and distributing indecent images and child cruelty.

The 42-year-old gave one of the youngsters alcohol before sexually assaulting her, and abused another whilst forcing the girl to watch pornography.

Fishburn has been taken under West's wing at high security prison Low Newton in County Durham (pictured)

At Newcastle Crown Court Judge Deborah Sherwin told Fishburn: 'You are obsessed with sex involving young children.

'Your behaviour was wicked and depraved and the complainants have been deeply affected by it.

'They have been greatly traumatised by what you did to them, each of them suffers graphic flashbacks, panic attacks, anxiety and depression.'

West, who was convicted of a total of ten murders in 1995, lives in Low Newton prison at a cost of 50,000 a year to the taxpayer.

West, whose husband killed himself shortly before the pair were due to stand trial for 12 murders, is said to have given Baby P's mother Tracey Connelly (pictured) lessons in how to protect her identity

There the psychopath enjoys listening to The Archers on Radio 4, playing Monopoly, embroidery, cooking and shopping from catalogues.

She also loves beauty products from Avon and trinkets from Argos, which she has delivered, according to well-placed sources.

It has been reported in the past that her cell features a TV, radio, CD player and her own bathroom.

Sex-obsessed West, whose husband Fred killed himself in 1995 shortly before he was due to stand trial alongside her for 12 murders, has also had a series of lesbian affairs behind bars.

In 2013, she is said to have given Baby P's mother Tracey Connelly lessons in how to protect her identity.

Connelly was jailed indefinitely with a minimum term of five years in May 2009 for letting her lover and his brother torture her 17-month-old son Peter to death in Haringey, North London in 2007.

She was freed on licence just over two years ago but, according to the Daily Star, received advice from West and other murderers before being taken to a secret location.

However, she was recalled to HMP Styal in Cheshire less than 18 months later having been accused of selling pornographic pictures of herself to perverts obsessed with her notoriety.

Last month it was revealed Connelly faces two more years in jail after the parole board ruled she still poses a danger to society.
An Arkansas resident has been infected with the rapidly-spreading, mosquito-borne Zika virus, health officials confirmed Tuesday.

The virus, which has been spreading throughout the Americas in recent years and has been linked to birth defects, is known to cause fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes, but is not deadly, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The unidentified Arkansas resident had recently returned from a country in the 'Central American-Caribbean region' when they realized they were infected, an Arkansas health department spokesperson told Daily Mail Online.

A map by the CDC showing countries and territories where the Zika virus is being actively transmitted

A mosquito of the Aedes species, which has been known to transmit the Zika virus

The spokesperson would not specify which country the infected person had visited.

The recently infected individual is out of the infection period, which means they are not at risk of spreading the virus, said Meg Mirivel, interim public information officer at the Arkansas Department of Health.

Arkansas is home to the Aedes species of mosquitoes, which are known to spread the virus.

If an infected person is bitten by an Aedes mosquito in the United States, there is risk that the virus will spread domestically, according to Mirivel.

'Thankfully we are in the winter months so there are not many mosquitoes out right now,' Mirivel said.

Dr. Joon Lee holds processed mosquitos in a tube in his lab at the UNT Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas in this June 17, 2014 file photo

A link between the Zika virus in pregnant women and children born with microcephaly, a rare condition where the baby has an unusually small head, is currently being investigated, according to the World Health Organization.

An increase in babies born with microcephaly was observed simultaneously with a wide-spread outbreak of Zika in Brazil in 2015, according to the WHO.

Other states that have reported cases of the Zika virus include Hawaii, Illinois, Florida and Texas.
Oprah Winfrey made $12million in just over an hour on Tuesday all thanks to a Tweet about her love of bread.

The company's shares soared Tuesday after a new commercial starring Winfrey aired where she says she has lost 26 pounds on Weight Watchers.

Winfrey posted the ad online Tuesday to her nearly 31million Twitter followers and shares of New York-based Weight Watchers International Inc rose 21 per cent from $11.49 to $13.44 between 1pm and 3pm during afternoon trading.

Winfrey owns just under 6.4million shares of Weight Watchers, and as the shares of the company rose on Tuesday, so did Winfreys wealth, all the way to $12million, according to Market Watch.

'I love bread!' Winfrey says in the new commercial. 'That's the genius of this program. I lost 26 pounds and I have eaten bread every single day.'

Big news: Oprah Winfrey revealed she has lost 26 pounds since she started on Weight Watchers in a new commercial for the company

Healthy life: Winfrey posted the ad online and shares of Weight Watchers International Inc. rose 21 percent by the afternoon (Winfrey making salad at her home above)

Teammate: Her best friend Gayle King has lost 14 pounds since she began doing Weight Watchers on September 12 (above last June)

Winfrey bought a 10 percent stake in the weight-loss company in October. Its stock is up more than 90 percent since then.

Winfrey is a natural fit for the company as her struggle with weight was a frequent topic of her former talk show.

Weight Watchers has also made changes to its plans recently to better fit in with Winfrey's message of living a healthy and happier life, and not just focusing on weight loss.

Oprah's best friend, CBS This Morning anchor Gayle King, began posting photos of the success she was having with the weight-loss program last September. She has now lost 14 pounds.

'Watching the scale go down... Started@weightwatchers sept 12th &wish it was more loss! But as fellow fatty mc fat fats know once you break a barrier it is a victory ! No more weight in the 180's (we hope),' King wrote on Instagram in October.

The 61-year-old then updated her followers one week later and showed that she had lost two more pounds, writing; 'You know it's a brand new day when the weight that use to send you to the fetal position now has you doing the happy dance.'

And just this past weekend she revealed she is down again, writing; 'Bummer ONLY 8 tenths of a pound! Better going down than up I know. Weight Watchers points still working for me. But I do wish it was FASTER!'

Down and down: King has lost 14 pounds since she started on Weight Watchers in September (above in October)

Real: Winfrey (left in 1992, right in 1998) has openly discussed her struggles with her fluctuating weight over the years

Winfrey, 62, bought approximately 6.4million shares of Weight Watchers. The company's board expanded from nine to ten members with Winfrey's inclusion.

The Artal Group remains the company's biggest shareholder, owning more than 50 per cent of the company.

The five-year agreement has additional successive one-year renewal terms.

Winfrey has always been very frank and open about her own struggles with her weight.

In 1988 she famously rolled out a wagon full of fat on her much-loved talk show to celebrate her 67-pound weight loss, but soon after began putting on the pounds again.

She was at her biggest just a few years later in 1992, at which point she began working with personal trainer Bob Greene.

Six years after that she landed the cover of Vogue - and was asked to lose some more weight.

The magazine's editor Anna Wintour revealed in a 2009 interview with 60 Minutes; 'It was a very gentle suggestion. I went to Chicago to visit Oprah, and I suggested that it might be an idea that she lose a little bit of weight. I said simply that you might feel more comfortable.'
A mother wants her multi-millionaire former husband jailed after he was accused of doctoring documents with Tipp-Ex.

Sally Nightingale, 55, who lives in 12th century Grade-I listed Appleby Castle in Cumbria, said estranged husband Christopher, 56, owes her about 1.5million, has 'deliberately misled' her and failed to produce documents.

Mrs Nightingale accused Mr Nightingale of being in contempt of court and wants him jailed.

She was told she would receive 1.5million from a share sale, but it was then cut to just 83 - almost 20,000 times less.

Sally Nightingale (left), 55, said estranged husband Christopher (right), 56, owes her about 1.5million

Detail of the alleged cover-up emerged today as judge Sir Peter Singer analysed the latest stage of the Nightingales' money battle at a public hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

The High Court heard how financial aspects of the divorce appeared to have been settled in 2009 (following their split in 2008).

But she is still due a large sum from the sale of her ex-husband's shares in Citadel100, a multi-million pound company he helped to found.

He had agreed to give her a quarter of his holding in the Dublin computer systems firm and said she would receive around 1.5million.

But that was slashed to 83 after he claimed the sale had been 'very hard work' and more complicated than expected. Instead of 6.6million, Mr Nightingale claimed he only received 330.

But she believes her husband spent the whole of the fortune in nine months.

In a previous hearing Mr Nightingale said he had worked hard for his money, adding: 'Sally doesn't appreciate it because she never had to work.'

Mrs Nightingale, with son Eddie, accused Mr Nightingale of being in contempt of court and wants him jailed

Patrick Chamberlayne QC, who is representing Mrs Nightingale, had outlined the background to the case in written documents given to the judge.

He said Mrs Nightingale was 'trying to establish the whereabouts' of the 1.5 million which was owed to her following a previous hearing in March 2014.

Mr Nightingale had 'deliberately misled' Mrs Nightingale and had not produced 'all the relevant documents' despite being ordered to do so.

Mr Chamberlayne said Mr Nightingale had been questioned about documents at a private family court hearing in October.

He added: 'It became clear that he had doctored documents with Tipp-Ex and covered up photocopying in order to conceal the truth contained in those documents.

'His explanations were wholly implausible.'

The couple had married in 1984, separated in 2008 and have three adult children.

Mr Nightingale had been a lawyer but in 1996 had left the legal profession to 'pursue entrepreneurial activity'.

Mr Chamberlayne said Mr Nightingale had been 'actively dishonest' towards Mrs Nightingale.

He listed two 'assets' - a chateau in France and a library at Appleby Castle - which might be worth tens of thousands of pounds.
Shows Binner making decision to end his life, finally going through with it

The BBC will broadcast the final moments of assisted suicide campaigner Simon Binner, it has been reported.

Binner, who had aggressive motor neurone disease, ended his life at the Eternal Spirit centre in Switzerland in October after announcing his suicide plan on professional networking site LinkedIn.

A documentary called 'How to Die: Simon's Choice' - which was filmed over the last few months of his life - will be shown on BBC2 next month.

His story was shot amid a fiery parliamentary debate about assisted suicide and gives the arguments made by both sides, the Guardian reported.

Simon Binner, who had aggressive motor neurone disease, ended his life at the Eternal Spirit centre in Switzerland in October after announcing his suicide plan on professional networking site LinkedIn (pictured)

Mr Binner wanted his death to drive a change in the law but his wife Debbie was relieved when the assisted suicide bill was defeated in September.

'I've always been quite anti-assisted dying,' the Guardian quoted Debbie as saying in the upcoming documentary.

She added: 'It's one of those dinner-party conversations you have, never dreaming that you'd ever actually be having the conversation.'

Mr Binner decided to take matters into his own hands and book himself into a Swiss assisted dying clinic in Basel.

Camera followed his journey from June and documented the decision he made with his family to go through with the plan.

Mr Binner ended his life through assisted suicide at a clinic called Eternal Spirit in Basel, Switzerland (pictured)

Mr Binner wanted his death to drive a change in the law but his wife Debbie (pictured) was relieved when the assisted suicide bill was defeated in September

The BBC's head of documentary commissioning, Patrick Holland, said: 'This is a hugely important and powerful film about one of the most contentious issues facing families in the UK.

'Simon, his wife, family and friends have allowed us into their lives as they face one of the biggest dilemmas imaginable.

'Together they confront the terrible choices involved, with love and humbling candour.'

His family were said to be coping well at their home in Purley, south London, when they returned home from Switzerland without him.

A family source said at the time: 'They're doing as good as they can be under the circumstances. Debbie came back from Switzerland yesterday. It's hard times though.'

Mr Binner's 18-year-old step-daughter Chloe Drury (pictured) died from the rare bone cancer Ewing's Sarcoma in 2013 after being refused access to potentially life-saving cancer drugs

Mr Binner's stepdaughter Hannah Drury posted a photo of the 57-year-old Cambridge graduate and his wife on social media with the caption: 'My beautiful inspirations.'

Before her husband's death, former Sky News presenter Mrs Binner had told how he decided to kill himself in January this year as he drove home from receiving the diagnosis and that she had struggled to accept his 'terrifying' decision.

The documentary is due to air on February 10.
Distant relatives of Donald Trump still live in the sleepy German village where his grandfather was born, but locals describe the anti-immigrant presidential hopeful as 'spooky'.

Kallstadt - a village with a population of just 1,200 people and where stuffed pork belly is the local dish - is the ancestral home of the Trumps.

Donald's grandfather Friedrich Drumpf left the village in western Germany in 1885 seeking a better life.

Sleepy: Donald Trump's grandfather Friedrich was born in the village of Kallstadt in western Germany

Kallstadt is home to just 1,200 people, but numerous people claim to be distant relatives of Donald Trump

The Donald's grandfather Friedrich left Kallstadt in western Germany and arrived in New York when he was 16

Bernd Weisenborn, a local restaurant owner, said: 'My father is Donald Trump's third cousin, but we don't talk much about the Trumps in the family.'

Many feel it is ironic that Trump, who has made himself notorious both in America and around the world with his anti-immigrant rhetoric, should himself be the offspring of immigrants.

'If his grandfather had been treated the way Trump wants to treat immigrants, he would never have made it,' said Veronika Schramm, a local.

Friedrich was 16 when he arrived in New York and began working as a barber. He later managed a hotel in California, before opening a bar for gold prospectors in Yukon, Canada.

Friedrich returned to Kallstadt to marry his sweetheart Elisabeth Christ, who lived across the street from him when he was growing up.

The local history books record how Bavaria, the rulers of the town at the time, would not let him settle back in the town because he had forfeited citizenship by emigrating.

Family: Donald Trump's (left) grandfather Friedrich (right) left the German village in 1885 seeking a better life.

Picturesque: Many people feel it is ironic that Trump is the offspring of immigrants, considering his anti-immigrant rhetoric

Still standing: Trump's grandfather's house (centre) remains in the village with a sign at the gate reading: 'God sees everything, but my neighbour sees even more'

Donald Trump's grandfather Friedrich returned to Kallstadt to marry his sweetheart Elisabeth Christ

WHO WAS DONALD TRUMP'S GRANDFATHER FRIEDRICH DRUMPF? Donald Trump's paternal grandfather was Fred Trump - originally called Friedrich Drumpf and born in Kallstadt, Germany in 1869 - came to America at the age of 16 with empty pockets. After Fred arrived in New York City, he worked as a barber for six years and lived in tiny immigrant apartments with his sister and brother-in-law before venturing west to Seattle. It was there that he launched his first business, a late-night restaurant in the sleazy end of the town. He learned to navigate the district's saloons, opium parlours, pawn shops and brothels. Next he got his first taste of the phenomenon that was mining, setting up shop in the short-lived mining town of Monte Cristo, just north of the city. In July 1897, as word of a massive gold strike in the far north spread through Seattle, Fred took advantage, opening another restaurant catering to the thousands of stampeders who were chasing their fortunes. He then had enough money to travel to Germany and then returned to New York City with his wife. In 1905, his son Fred Junior, Donald's father, was born. By the time he died in Queens at the age of 49, during a Spanish flu epidemic, he had built up a fortune worth $31,642.54 - or around $542,000 in today's money. He left his small fortune to his wife Elisabeth, who used it to go into business with her eldest son Fred Junior, who was just 15 at the time. The pair created the Trump empire, which is now headed by Fred Junior's entrepreneurial son, Donald. Advertisement

Elisabeth went with him back to America and after he died, founded the E. Trump & Son company, which would become the property empire inherited by and built upon by Donald.

Back in Kallstadt in the Rhineland, the reserved locals do not like to brag about their famous sons who made it big - Henry J. Heinz, the food tycoon's father was also from the town - and instead prefer to talk about the quality of the pig's stomach and the local wine.

'Kallstadt people were never barons, real-estate magnates and all that,' said Hans-Joachim Bender, a retired winegrower who also claims distant familial links with The Donald.

'People here like Heinz, because they get what he was doing,' says Simone Wendel, a filmmaker from Kallstadt, who also claims to be a distant relative of Trump.

'He was packing things into bottles and selling it, just as the winegrowers do.'

Ms Wendel, who in 2014 made a documentary about the town and its links to the mogul, said: 'Many locals find Mr Trump a littlespooky.'

Locals do not like to brag about their famous sons who made it big - Henry J. Heinz, the food tycoon's father was also from the town

Donald Trump claimed in his 1987 autobiography that his grandfather came from Sweden, not Germany

Locals in Kallstadt in western Germany find presidential hopeful Donald Trump 'a little spooky'

Ms Wendel told the Wall Street Journal that most people don't really 'get' Trump, adding: 'Knowledge of the connection is so ingrained locally that it's almost like something you'd get in your breast milk, but people still care little.

'Many don't get what you're supposed to do all day with real estate.'

Trump's grandfather's house is still standing in the village with a sign at the gate reading: 'God sees everything, but my neighbour sees even more.'

What is baffling to many Kallstadters is that Trump claimed that his grandfather came from Sweden, not Germany. He stated it in his 1987 autobiography, 'The Art of the Deal.'

Gwenda Blair, the author of several Trump biographies, said 'there is no possible way he could not know' his grandparents were German. 'His grandmother spoke German.'
A UK-bound migrant was wounded by gunfire from suspected people smugglers at a notorious migrant camp near Dunkirk today.

Police were called when trouble broke out at the notorious Grande-Synthe shanty town in the late afternoon.

'Three migrants were badly wounded in all, including one by a bullet,' said a local police source. 'It is thought that people smugglers were involved in the violence'.

Police were called when trouble broke out at the notorious Grande-Synthe shanty town in the late afternoon

The other injuries were caused by a knife, and by gas sprayed from a police-style canister, added the source.

He added: 'The trouble broke out at around 4pm, and it was finally broken up by police. The three injured migrants were rushed to hospital at Grande-Synthe. None of the injuries were life threatening.'

The source said it was common for the smugglers to hand out summary justice if people had not paid them enough money, or had annoyed them in some other way.

Damien Careme, the mayor of Grande-Synthe, said 'only one shot was heard', before firearms officers attended the scene.

An investigation was immediately launched, with many of the 2500 migrants in the camp questioned.

The camp has become notorious for the amount of people smugglers who prey on it, leading to allegations that it is 'in the hands of the Mafia'

The other injuries were caused by a knife, and by gas sprayed from a police-style canister, added the source

Damien Careme, the mayor of Grande-Synthe, said 'only one shot was heard', before firearms officers attended the scene

An investigation was immediately launched, with many of the 2500 migrants in the camp questioned

The camp has become notorious for the amount of people smugglers who prey on it, leading to allegations that it is 'in the hands of the Mafia'.

Earlier this month, UKIP defence spokesman Mike Hookem MEP slammed French government plans to build an office refugee camp near the existing shanty town at Grande-Synthe.

He said the French were 'kidding themselves' if they thought the new 1.1 million centre would 'defeat people traffickers and protect truck drivers in the port region'.

Mr Hookem, who was threatened with a gun in the nearby Teteghem refugee camp in August last year said; 'Congregating migrants in one massive camp is exactly the wrong thing to do and will put extra pressure on police, port security, Immigration officials and truckers in the region.

'In fact these plans will essentially make the entire Dunkirk-Calais region an absolute no go area for British hauliers.
David Cameron and the Tories have links to the very top of Google going back decades.

The Prime Minister has enjoyed a special relationship with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who made billions turning the search engine business into a global powerhouse.

For years Mr Schmidt was on Mr Cameron's business advisory board, which is used as a 'sounding board' on business matters, but the Google executive left in July.

The billionaire has reportedly also advised Mr Cameron on economic policy.

Former Google CEO and now executive chairman Eric Schmidt chats to Prime Minister David Cameron at a drinks reception in 2012 - and has in the past advised Cameron on economic matters

Links: Steve Hilton was David Cameron's policy guru and his wife Rachel Whetstone (together left) was a Google PR executive who worked for the Tories (right with Boris Johnson)

The links do not end there because Steve Hilton, once the Prime Minister's closest political adviser, is married to Rachel Whetstone, who was vice-president of global communications at Google until last year before she moved to Uber.

Ms Whetstone is a former No 10 aide and was Michael Howard's director of communications when he was Tory leader and Mr Cameron is godfather to her younger son.

Mr Hilton was godfather to Ivan Cameron, the late eldest child of David and Samantha.

Hilton and Whetstone have been called the 'most powerful couple in Britain' while she and Mr Cameron have known each other since starting at Conservative Central Office in their early 20s.

Hilton and Whetstone later bought an Oxfordshire holiday home close to the Camerons.

Last year Mr Hilton, who quit as Mr Cameron's former chief strategist, admitted too many of those at the heart of government go to the same dinner parties and send their children to the same schools.

Mr Hilton warned: 'Regardless of who's in office, the same people are in power. It is a democracy in name only, operating on behalf of a tiny elite no matter the electoral outcome.'

In 2013 David Cameron, accompanied by his wife Samantha and their daughter Florence, went to the wedding of a Naomi Gummer, a senior Google executive with the brief of 'public policy'.

She was previously a political adviser to Jeremy Hunt when he was Culture Secretary in charge of internet regulation  so he was in attendance too.

The Hilton/Whetstone axis is not the only relationship between Google and Government.

Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, has long been close to Downing Street and has in the past advised Cameron on economic matters.

Tim Chatwin was Mr Cameron's head of strategic communications and joined Google after the 2012 Tory conference

LABOUR WRITES TO CHANCELLOR AND TELLS HIM: THESE ARE THE EIGHT QUESTIONS YOU MUST ANSWER ON THE 130M GOOGLE TAX DEAL Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell today wrote to George Osborne demanding more information on Google's tax bill. In his letter he said that there are eight questions he must answer: Firstly, please can you clarify exactly when you were first made aware of the details of the deal with Google? Did you (or any other Treasury Minister) personally sign it off, and were other Ministers involved in the settlement?

What discussions, if any, did you or members of your private office have with HMRC and with Google representatives about the deal?

Did HM Treasury and HMRC discuss details of the deal with Number 10 before the announcement was made?

What is HMRC's understanding of the effective tax rate faced by Google over the past 10 years as a result of this settlement?

Are you confident that this deal will not undermine international co-operation on tax avoidance, such as the OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] base erosion and profit shifting scheme?

Can you clarify whether Google is changing the company structures that enabled this avoidance to take place over the past decade?

What concerns, if any, do you have that this agreement creates a precedent for future deals with other large technology corporations?

To help ensure HMRC is best placed to address complex issues like this will you now halt the programme of HMRC staffing cuts? Advertisement

In 2006, Mr Cameron travelled from visiting Google in Silicon Valley to Bournemouth to address the Conservative Party conference.

Then in 2010 when Cameron announced a review of Britain's intellectual property laws as the founders of Google have said they could never have started their company in Britain'.

In 2012 it emerged that Tory ministers held meetings with Google an average of once a month.

Official records show that David Cameron met Google executives three times and Chancellor George Osborne four times.

Google has held five meetings with the UK government over the past two years to discuss launching driverless cars in Britain.

It is not just a case of former government policy staff exiting through Westminster's 'revolving door' to Google  it works the other way too.

Tim Chatwin was Mr Cameron's head of strategic communications and had worked closely with Mr Hilton since the start of the Cameron modernisation project. He joined Google after the 2012 Tory conference.
Vessels are liable for fines if they damage coral, but the government has been

Cayman Islands officials say Paul Allen's yacht, MV Tatoosh, destroyed 80 per cent of the coral in the West Bay

Paul Allen's (pictured in October 2014) super yacht has reportedly caused extensive damage to a protected reef in the Cayman Islands

Billionaire Paul Allen is being blamed for wrecking a protected reef in the Cayman Islands, thanks to his 300-foot super yacht.

Officials with the islands' Department of Environment say the chain of the Microsoft co-founder's yacht, the MV Tatoosh, destroyed 14,000-square-feet of reef in the West Bay replenishment zone - roughly 80 per cent of the coral that's vital to marine life.

Local divers conducted a survey of the damage last week and officials plan to release the findings of the dive next week.

'In addition to assessing the damage and determining the cause of this incident, we are also paying close attention to lessons learned so that we can more effectively prevent these accidents while still hosting visiting yachts,' a spokesman for the department told Cayman News Service.

It's unclear when the damage to the reef was done, but pictures on social media show that Allen's yacht was in the islands last week. The Tatoosh is also based there.

An investigation is ongoing into what caused the Tatoosh to destroy such a large part of the reef.

Officials say the boat was anchored close to the Doc Poulson shipwreck and The Knife dive site when it did the damage.

Officials in the Cayman Islands say the MV Tatoosh's anchor chain destroyed 80 per cent of a protected yacht. It's still unclear how the destruction happened

Allen's officials have pitted the blame on the Port Authority, saying they were simply following instructions from officials on where to anchor the boat

Allen tried selling the yacht for $160million in 2010, but he took it off the market in 2014 after failing to find a buyer. The boat pictured above anchored in Venice, Italy

Officials say the boat was anchored close to the Doc Poulson shipwreck and The Knife dive site when it did the damage. It's unclear if Allen was on the yacht at the time

Spokesmen for Allen pitted the blame on the Port Authority, saying the crew were simply following officials' instructions on where to place the vessel. When the winds changed direction and pushed the yacht closer to the reserve, they say they moved it.

Technically, any vessel that damages protected reef in the islands is subject to a fine, but the government has reportedly failed time and time again to collect on these sanctions, according to CNS.

It's unclear if Allen was on the boat at the time of the incident.
Young adult fiction and children's writer Frances Hardinge (pictured) has won the 2015 Costa Book of the Year Award at a ceremony in London for her novel The Lie Tree, a Victorian melodrama

Children's author Frances Hardinge has won the 2015 Costa Book of the Year for her supernatural tale The Lie Tree.

Hailed by judges as 'a fantastic story', the Victorian detective novel is the first children's book to scoop the coveted prize for 14 years.

It saw off competition from debut novelist Andrew Michael Hurley's gothic horror story The Loney and esteemed author Kate Atkinson's A God In Ruins.

The last children's book to win the prestigious prize was Philip Pullman with The Amber Spyglass in 2001.

Despite entering the evening as a betting underdog, the judging panel declared The Lie Tree the winner at an event in central London, after an hour and a half of deliberating.

Judging panel chairman James Heneage said: 'First and foremost, Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree is a fantastic story.

'It is an important book, not only because it is a great narrative, with great characterisation, but because its central message of possibility for an intelligent girl who is out of touch for the age in which she lives is a very important one and, I would argue, relevant for today.

'I think lots of 14-year-old girls today would also feel they are quite often out of touch - which could be in anything from boys to motor cars to the art on the walls.

'I think this brilliantly articulates what goes in a clever 14-year-old girl's mind, particularly one who has this deep interest in science.'

The Lie Tree follows the story of teenager Faith as she tries to uncover the details of her father's mysterious death.

The budding scientist finds a tree which, when fed with lies, bears fruit that acts as a gateway to understanding previously incomprehensible truths.

Her struggle for answers is set against the backdrop of a male-dominated Victorian society, where women were 'seen and not heard', Mr Heneage said.

Andrew Michael Hurley (Costa First Novel Award Winner), Andrea Wulf (Costa Biography Award Winner), Frances Hardinge (Costa Children's Book Award Winner) and Don Paterson (Costa Poetry Award Winner)

Ms Hardinge thanked her agent, Macmillan, her friends, family and boyfriend, before thanking the judges

All five nominees for the best book award had already triumphed in separate Costa award categories, including first novel award, novel award, biography award, poetry award and children's book award.

Meanwhile author Danny Murphy won The Short Story Award for 'Rogey'.

Former teacher and librarian Andrew Michael Hurley's debut offering, Gothic horror tale The Loney, described by Stephen King as 'an amazing piece of fiction', had been expected to win the prize.

Former teacher and librarian Andrew Michael Hurley's debut offering, Gothic horror tale The Loney, described by Stephen King as 'an amazing piece of fiction', was expected to win the prize

Former teacher and librarian Mr Hurley's debut offering was singled out for praise last month when the winners of the novel, biography, poetry and children's book categories were also named last month.

For the second time in three years, Kate Atkinson won the Costa novel award.

Her ninth book, A God In Ruins, is the companion novel to Life After Life, which won the 2013 award.

Meanwhile historian and writer Andrea Wulf triumphed in the Costa biography category for The Invention of Nature: The Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt, The Lost Hero of Science.

The book tells the story of the visionary German naturalist whose ideas inspired Charles Darwin, and changed the way we see the natural world.

Scottish poet, writer and musician Don Paterson won the Costa poetry award for 40 Sonnets, his latest collection.

The Costa Book Awards is the only major UK book prize that is open solely to authors resident in the UK and Ireland.

It also, uniquely, recognises books across five categories published in the last year.

Hardinge was visibly surprised as she took to the stage and later said she was waiting to congratulate someone else for winning the award.

Following tonight's announcement, Ms Hardinge said: 'Thank you very much. I was told to prepare a speech but I knew I wouldn't need it.'

Referring to the fact her book is the first children's novel to win the award, she said: 'I'm trying not to realise how implausible this all is. '

'I feel like I have fallen through a hole to another dimension that seems implausibly idyllic, but I like it here and I am staying,' she said.

Ms Hardinge is the overall winner and winner of the children's book category for her novel The Lie Tree

'I was standing there waiting to find out which of the other people had won so I could congratulate them.'

The 42-year-old author, from Isleworth, west London, previously worked as a technical author and a graphic designer while writing her first novel.

The Lie Tree - her seventh book - explores the issue of gender roles, which she says often features in her stories.

'Female education is very important to me,' she said. 'I always have a problem with any convention, any prejudice that allows people to treat other people as inferior people.

'I don't write manifestos and then wrap a story around them, but while I am writing a story I do have a few bees in my bonnet and sometimes they come out for a little buzz.'

Hardinge said it was amazing to be the first children's author since Philip Pullman to claim the prize and that she hoped it would bring children's literature into the spotlight.

'In the wider world, sometimes children's fiction is seen as a bit lightweight, in a way that I think is not deserved,' she said.

'I would also see this as a recognition of the wonderful work that is being done out there throughout children's and young adults' fiction.'

The 2014 Costa Book of the Year was H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald, winner of the biography category for that year.
American Airlines is currently refunding tickets to cities in El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Guatemala

Norwegian Cruise Lines and Carnival Corp said they would allow expectant mothers to reschedule cruises or switch to trip outside affected countries

Virus is not expected to reach Canada and Chile

United Airlines will allow customers who planned to travel to Zika-affected countries to postpone or cancel their trips with no penalty, it announced this week.

The news comes as airlines, hotels and cruise operators serving Latin America and the Caribbean facing growing concerns among travelers regarding the mosquito-borne virus.

Zika, linked to brain damage in thousands of Brazilian babies, is likely to spread to most of the Americas, the World Health Organization has warned.

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An Aedes Aegypti mosquito on human skin in a lab in Cali, Colombia. Scientists there are studying the genetics and biology of this mosquito, which transmits the Zika virus

Heartbreaking: The Zika virus has been blamed for causing severe brain damage to newborn babies. Pictured, Estafany Perreira holds her five-month-old nephew David Henrique Ferreira, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil

For most people who get infected, the flu-like symptoms will clear up in about a week.

But the Ministry of Health in Brazil is concerned about a possible association between the Zika virus and increased numbers of babies born with microcephaly, or abnormal smallness of the head, making it particularly dangerous for pregnant women.

Meanwhile a record percentage of Americans are planning a vacation in coming months, and a near-record proportion of them look to travel abroad.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned travelers to consider postponing trips to areas with 'ongoing Zika transmission', it wrote on Twitter.

Zika has already been found in 21 countries: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname and Venezuela.

Canada and Chile are the only countries in the Americas the virus is not expected to reach, the WHO said on Monday.

Norwegian Cruise Lines and rival Carnival Corp said they would allow expectant mothers covered by the CDC advisories to reschedule cruises to a later date or switch to an itinerary outside the affected countries.

Growing: 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

Terrifying: Fears remain how Brazil will manage to contain the deadly virus, particularly when Rio hosts the Olympics in the summer

Zika virus is common in parts of Africa and South East Asia, but since 2007 there have been various outbreaks outside of the disease's comfort zone. It spread to South America in 2014, before reaching Mexico and the Caribbean last year. The first US case was reported in Texas at the start of January

And American Airlines tweeted to one concerned traveler, whose wife is pregnant, that it is currently refunding tickets to cities in El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Guatemala.

But some Twitter users lamented their ruined vacations and their inability to get a refund from tourism operators.

Stu Privett, an HR systems specialist for the Royal College of Nursing in London, tweeted about cancelling a trip to Barbados with his wife, who is in her first trimester.

Privett said he was unable to get a refund from Virgin Holidays.

'They basically said it was our choice not to go on the holiday,' Privett told Reuters. 'Basically (it's) a case of "we just lose all the money we've spent.'''

A Virgin Holidays spokesperson said the company would look into the claim.

Many airlines and tourist authorities said they had seen minimal impact.

'There is no reason tourists can't walk around in bikinis,' Cancun tourist association president Carlos Gosselin said.

Hotel chain Hilton Worldwide said in a statement it was working closely with local health authorities throughout the region to follow CDC prevention recommendations.

Still, one US travel agent said tourists with short-term travel plans to Latin America were rethinking them.

'It's the people who are going to travel in the next few weeks who are starting to ask more questions and rethink their plans,' said Jennifer Michels, a spokeswoman for the American Society of Travel Agents.

Cases of the virus have also been discovered in Europe - with three cases in Great Britain, four in Italy and two in Spain's Catalonia region.

Line-up: Brazilian Army soldiers walk while canvassing a neighbourhood in an attempt to eradicate the larvae of the mosquito which causes the Zika virus, while informing the public of preventive methods

Ready for battle: Brazil has sent in 200,000 soldiers to distribute leaflets and dispense advice in the fight against the growing epidemic

Insecticide is sprayed by workers in the Sambadrome today, ahead of a carnival performance where thousands of dancers will parade

The British travelers had picked up the disease after being bitten by mosquitoes while visiting Colombia, Suriname and Guyana. For most people who get infected, the flu-like symptoms will clear up in about a week.

And experts from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Oxford University say the virus is likely to spread to Florida.

The Pan American Health Organisation has also warned Zika would spread throughout the Americas.

The virus is spread by the same type of mosquito that spreads dengue fever  which has been reported in Florida since 2009.

Data released Tuesday from the US Conference Board as part of its monthly Consumer Confidence Index showed a record 54.4 percent of Americans plan a vacation in the next six months.

Some 11.2 percent said they plan to travel overseas, down slightly from the 11.5 percent in October, but still one of the highest readings in the survey's history dating back to 1978.

On Tuesday it was revealed Brazil has sent more than 200,000 troops to go 'house to house' in the battle against Zika.

Soldiers will visit homes across Brazil, distributing leaflets and dispensing advice, according to Health Minister Marcelo Castro, signalling a major ramping up of efforts against the Zika virus.

The government, under growing pressure to deal with the crisis, will also hand out repellent to at least 400,000 pregnant women on social welfare.

Many South American countries have since called on women to consider implications of the infection before getting pregnant.

Last week, health authorities in El Salvador urged women to avoid getting pregnant until 2018 amid growing fears of birth defects linked to the Zika virus.

But leading women's rights campaigners criticised the recommendations, saying women in the region often have little choice about becoming pregnant.

ZIKA VIRUS: WHAT IS IT AND HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED? The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito (inset), which is also known to carry yellow fever. The terrifying virus has now started to spread across the Americas How it spreads: Zika virus is spread to people via mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivtis. Infected patients are typically ill for a few days to a week. While the illness is generally mild, some experts in Brazil have suggested a possible link between the virus in pregnant women and subsequent birth defects. The CDC said recently it is aware of reports of increased numbers of babies born with microcephaly, or smaller than expected head size, in Brazil. The Ministry of Health in Brazil is concerned about a possible association between the Zika virus and increased numbers of babies born with microcephaly. How to prevent it: There is no vaccine to prevent, or medicine to treat Zika virus. Travellers can protect themselves by taking steps to prevent mosquito bites, such as using a mosquito net and wearing insect repellent. Pregnant women are being warned to avoid travelling to 22 countries were outbreaks have been reported. Source: CDC Advertisement

Rape at the hands of stepfathers, relatives and gang members is a key reason, they say.

'It's incredibly naive for a government to ask women to postpone getting pregnant in a context such as Colombia where more than 50 per cent 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.

So far, it is estimated around 4,000 babies born to mothers infected with the Zika virus in Brazil have been born with microcephaly.

Although microcephaly has not been definitively connected with Zika, experts believe there is a link.

This is because the virus has been found in brain tissue and amniotic fluid from babies who were born with microcephaly or died in the womb.

In terms of transmission, it is not known to spread from person to person.

However investigators are exploring the possibility that the virus can be passed on through sex after it was found in one man's semen in Tahiti.

'Zika has been isolated in human semen, and one case of possible person-to-person sexual transmission has been described.
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It is best known as a rugged, durable car that can wade through mud, floods or desert sand.

But the Land Rover Defender - popularised by the Royals, film-makers and even football managers - will cease production on Friday.

The classic model, today called the Defender, has become the most recognisable off-road car since it first appeared in 1948.

Motor enthusiasts have lamented the end of an era, calling it the 'death of an icon'.

Queen Elizabeth riding in a Land Rover with the Duke of Edinburgh, in September 1953, reviewing 72,000 ex service men and women

Queen Elizabeth II riding in a Land Rover with Prince Philip, through the World Scout Jubilee Jamboree camp in Sutton Park, Warwickshire

Queen Elizabeth II riding in a Land Rover with the Duke of Edinburgh, as they pass down the lines of Venom fighter planes as they inspect No. 151 Squadron during their visit to RAF Leuchars, Fife, Scotland, in June 1957

Queen Elizabeth II, with her sons Prince Andrew (left) and Prince Edward waiting for Princess Anne's arrival in the Cross-Country event of the Windsor Horse Trials in April, 1972 - the Land Rover Discovery will cease production on Friday

The Queen, who popularised the Land Rover, with Prince Philip at a children's rally in Melbourne in March 1977

The Queen driving herself in a Land Rover, in January 2000, to the stables on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk

Featuring in the 2012 Bond movie Skyfall and Tom Cruise film Edge of Tomorrow, the Defender name can be traced back to the early 1990s.

But effectively, the popular 4x4 vehicle, which is exported all around the world, represents the continuation of the very first Land Rover which came on to the scene 68 years ago and was modelled on the war-time jeeps.

Since the 1950s, the Queen has regularly been spotted as either a passenger of driver in a Land Rover.

In 1951 the then Princess Elizabeth was photographed standing in an open-top Land Rover as she deputised for her father to present the King's Colour to the Royal Air Force at a parade in London's Hyde Park.

In the following years she used Land Rovers during several public engagements, such as during visits to Australia in 1954 and the Channel Islands in 1957.

The Queen stood in a Land Rover at the 1955 European Horse Trials in Windsor Great Park to give her a better view of the action.

The vehicle has also proved a hit with other royals including the Prince and Princess of Wales, who waved to well-wishers as they were driven along a beach in Australia in 1988.

A decade later, Prince Harry was photographed wearing military camouflage as he arrived at Highgrove House, Gloucestershire, in a Land Rover for his father's 50th birthday party.

A 1950 Series 1 Land Rover on show at the Royal Horticultural Hall in central London - the Discovery will cease production on Friday

The Land Rover in a blizzard, in April 1963, helping other motorists in difficulties - it is an iconic and much-loved British vehicle

A police Land Rover driving on Brancaster beach, in North Norfolk, in August 2000, the car had changed 'very little' in its lifetime

Lara Croft's Tomb Raider Land Rover Discovery being driven in a parade in 2006 - the car will cease production this Friday

British soldiers used the classic car to carry out patrols on the streets of Belfast during the Troubles.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary also used Land Rovers. A 1999 image shows one of their vehicles burning in Portadown, County Armagh following a petrol bomb attack.

The vehicles were used by British troops during conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan because of their ability to overcome large areas of sand.

Bob Paisley and Matt Busby - the celebrated former Liverpool and Manchester United managers - paraded around Wembley Stadium in a Land Rover before the 1983 Charity Shield.

A number of film-makers have also chosen Land Rovers to make their action sequences as exciting as possible.

Land Rover Defenders were used in a car chase during the opening sequence of 2012 James Bond movie Skyfall.

The vehicles also featured in Angelina Jolie's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001 and the 2014 sci-fi adventure Edge of Tomorrow, starring Tom Cruise.

The Marquess of Bath, backed by an armed warden, watching a lion at his game reserve at his ancestral Wiltshire home in Longleat

Members of the Royal Archers escorting the Army Land Rover carrying the Stone of Destiny across Edinburgh Castle Esplanade in 1996

Members of the Brigade Recce Force, in the northern Kuwaiti desert, in a Land Rover, pictured in March 2003

A military Land Rover struggling though a flooded area at Safwan, near the Kuwaiti border in Iraq, in January 2006

A Land Rover piles through the mire at Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire, during a live firing demonstration in October 2006

The 40th Regiment The Royal Artillery in a Land Rover during a patrol in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, in August 2009

Jim Holder, editorial director of magazines Autocar and What Car?, said the Defenders 'appeal to every level of society'.

He told the Press Association: 'It's a classless vehicle. Anyone can drive it. You might be a farmer trying to get over the muddiest field or it might be the Queen driving around Windsor. Neither would surprise you if you saw it.

'It's got that ubiquity where it can be at home in Chelsea but doesn't look out of place painted white in the middle of a war zone.

'It claims to do everything and to a degree it can do everything.'

Mr Holder believes Jaguar Land Rover made the decision to cease production of Defenders because 'regulations have finally caught up with it'.

He said: 'They haven't been able to update crash safety or the engine emissions quick enough.

'The world has overtaken it to a point where they can no longer keep on the right side of emissions and safety laws.'

JLR is working on a replacement vehicle for the Defender, but Mr Holder claimed it will be a 'massive challenge' to match the status of the original.

'It's a charming vehicle. It's a go-anywhere, rugged symbol of solid construction,' he said.

'But the truth is the Defender today doesn't sell in high enough numbers. The challenge is how to broaden its appeal without ruining the key aspects that make it so appealing.'

Devoted fans of the model say they are 'gutted' about the vehicle's demise.

'It's the death of an icon,' said Simon Collins, Warwickshire and West Midlands Land Rover Club (WWMLRC) secretary.

A JLR spokesman said the company will hold a small event for workers at the Solihull plant, in the West Midlands, on Friday to mark the end of Defender production.

A young boy at the wheel of scale model of a Land Rover in Northampton, in July 1998 - the car has become iconic across the world

It has become synonymous with the Royals since 1948 - here, Zara Phillips is pictured unveiling a special edition Land Rover Defender

Prince Charles, sitting in a 1948 open Land Rover, during a visit to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the car in May 2008

The Webb Ellis trophy on board a Land Rover at Eastbourne prior to the start of the Rugby World Cup last September

The Land Rover was used to help those affected by the floods in December - pictured here is Margaret McCraken, 79, in Carlisle
Monk was today jailed for 19 years and six months for 18 sex offences

Police found 80,000 indecent pictures and videos of children at his home

Predatory Trevor Monk, 47, (pictured) of Erith, south east London, paid thousands of pounds for access to the children during a two-week holiday in the Phillipines. He has now been jailed

A British paedophile who paid thousands of pounds to film himself sexually abusing girls as young as five in the Philippines has now been jailed for nearly 20 years.

The Old Bailey heard predatory Trevor Monk, 47, of Erith, south east London, paid thousands of pounds for access to the children during a two-week holiday in the South-east Asian country.

He even complained to one woman who arranged the abuse that one of the girls was 16 instead of 13 and was unable to have sex.

Monk was arrested in March last year following an investigation by the National Crime Agency into the buyers and sellers of child abuse material in the Philippines.

Officers found more than 80,000 indecent pictures and videos of children at his home.

The films included footage he took himself during his visit and films of 'live shows' by his contacts in the Philippines.

Monk, who admitted he has visited South East Asia once or twice a year since 2007, tried to claim that he was only sending the money to help out because it was such a poor country.

He later admitted the abuse and was sentenced to 19 years and six months at a hearing this afternoon.

Judge Anuja Dhir QC delayed sentencing to watch some of the worst videos and assess the abuse herself.

She said child victims as young as five-years-old were clearly 'petrified' while the films included close-ups of 'tiny' children being molested.

'I have no doubt from the material I've seen today that you had a perverted fascination with young females and that is what led to you behaving in this abhorrent manner', she said.

'Sexual abuse of this kind of children wrecks lives and the consequences of it for the victims, whether they are actually sexually assaulted by you or children whose images were found at your home, are not short lived.

'The experience of the court and research carried out highlights the very long term harm and pain felt by the victims.

'That is why such offences are regarded as being so serious. I'm sure as an adult of 47 you are aware fully of the damage your behaviour causes on others, but you carried on regardless.'

The judge said Monk's trips to the Philippines 'were planned for one purpose, so that you could engage in sexual activity and assaults with young females.'

She added that the videos of the abuse included close ups of assaults as they happened, including one of a mother molesting her own eight-year-old daughter.

The Old Bailey (pictured) heard Monk's trips to the Philippines 'were planned for one purpose, so that you could engage in sexual activity and assaults with young females'

The judge said: 'Your actions were depraved and revolting, and it's astonishing anyone would wish to film such abuse but you did.

'I've no doubt you did so so you could watch it again for your own sexual gratification.'

The court heard Monk transferred a total of 14,740 by Western Union to the Philippines between 17 December 2010 and 17 November 2014.

This was supported by computer records of his Yahoo chats with two women named Evangeline and Janet in the Philippines - described by Monk as his 'girlfriends'.

In one conversation Monk, using the pseudonym James, protested that he was being sent pre-recorded films instead of live shows.

Prosecutor Timothy Probert-Wood said: 'He complains about being taken advantage of in that regard'.

One image dated 21 January 2014 showed a girl between seven and ten years old posing with her top pulled down and holding a sign reading: 'For you James.'

In another chat on 31 March while he was in the Philippines, Monk agreed to pay '1,500 for the girl, 500 for you.'

He was told: 'The girl I will bring to you is pretty, she 13, skinny body.'

Monk asked: 'What am I allowed to do with her' and was told: 'Anything, the sky's the limit.'

Ninety minutes later, after meeting the girl, Monk messaged back: 'Liar, she is 16 years old, having her period, you should be ashamed, you gave me lies about touching and f***ing but I guess you forgot to mention that to her.'

Monk filmed a total of eight videos in the Philippines involving girls aged from eight to around 16 years old.

In one video of a 13 year-old girl he is seen haggling with a man about the amount he would have to pay after saying: 'I want to touch.'

On the footage taken with the eight year-old girl on 30 March 2014, Monk's face was caught on camera as he filmed himself sexually abusing the girl.

When his house was searched officers found more 80,000 of live and deleted pictures and videos ranging from the most serious category A to the lowest C on two tower computers, a hard disk, memory cards and CDs.

One CD was titled 'Naturist' and featured two movie files of naked children on a naturist beach.

Monk admitted to officers at the scene that he had been downloading 'child exploitation pictures' but initially denied paying for videos.

Mr Probert-Wood said: 'He said he sent the money because conditions were poor in the Philippines and denied it was for images in return.'

He later told officers that he made 'monthly support payments' to the women for the live shows of abuse.

The court heard he lost his job after his arrest and was described as 'somewhat of a loner' who lived on his own.

Monk pleaded guilty to a total of 18 counts, including one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, one of sexual assault of a child under 13, two of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, six of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, one of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of offences, three of making indecent photos of children and three of possession of indecent photos of children.

He will serve half his sentence and be under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely on his release.
Its six 'winning' numbers are clearly visible, but little else could be considered legible on this crumpled and torn lottery ticket.

The Mail yesterday obtained an image said to show a copy of the slip submitted to Camelot by Susanne Hinte  the woman who claims to have washed the 33million jackpot ticket in her jeans.

The photocopied image appears to show severe damage to most parts of the ticket  including the crucial barcode used by lottery officials to help establish its authenticity.

Washed out: The image of the photocopied ticket. The draw date has been obliterated by a tear. The barcode at the bottom and the ticket's ID number have also been ruined. The numbers, however, are still visible

Keeping a low profile: Mother-of-two Susanne Hinte - the woman who claims to have washed the 33million jackpot ticket in her jeans

Its serial code and terminal number  showing where the ticket was purchased  are also illegible, while a small tear obliterates most of the information showing which draw the ticket was purchased for.

The image emerged as a former friend of Miss Hinte told The Sun the grandmother has previously tried to collect a 200 prize on a damaged scratchcard, claiming it had been dropped in a puddle.

Miss Hinte told a cashier worker that she had revealed three '200 symbols'. When the woman said only two were visible, Miss Hinte told her that the third was smudged in the water.

The former friend added: 'The episode does tell you a lot about her fantastical Lotto claim'.

Another source said the disputed ticket was photocopied by grandmother Miss Hinte, 48, before she posted it to Camelot for verification on Friday.

The source added: 'She has been careful to tell people that her win has not been confirmed, yet on the other hand she has been waving this ticket around with the winning numbers on it. It is all very odd.'

The image emerged as lottery bosses warned yesterday that anybody who maliciously attempted to claim they had won could face fraud charges.

Camelot has already revealed it has received hundreds of submissions from people claiming to have lost the winning ticket for the January 9 draw  with the numbers 26, 27, 46, 47, 52 and 58.

Winner: How the winning ticket would look in a mock-up produced by the lottery organisers Camelot

Miss Hinte (pictured left and right) describes herself as a nurse on dating websites and claimed to have bought the winning ticket at her Ambleside News shop in Warndon, Worcester

A spokesman said anybody 'intentionally attempting to defraud' could face charges. The offence of fraud by misrepresentation carries a maximum penalty of ten years in jail.

Miss Hinte separated from her second husband, Nick Scott, 44, around 15 years ago, but the roofer told reporters on Monday that the pair were not divorced.

He added: 'I'm hoping she's wontechnically I could put a claim in for half.'

THE CHECKS TO COUNTER FRAUD As a record exists of where every lottery ticket is purchased Camelot checks if the winning ticket was bought there

The 'winner' is quizzed on the number and combination of tickets purchased and whether any were Lucky Dip

The time and date of the purchase is checked against the claimant's story

If legible then the barcode is double-checked

Available CCTV is studied and the retailer who sold the ticket is questioned

Claims have to be made in writing within 30 days Advertisement

Miss Hinte states she is a nurse on dating website Plenty of Fish and describes herself as a 'dare devil'.

She wrote on the site: 'I enjoy spending time with my family and friends enjoy cooking and goin out for meals aswell as goin to a club now and again still.

'Everyone deserves happyness in life so my outlook in life is tat if ur lucky enaugh to find it then u should hold on to it as u neva no if u goin to be that lucky again. Afta all life is to short as it is.

'I should be worth it cuz afta all i could end up being the woman of ur dreams u neva neva no.lol xx'

Miss Hinte claimed to have bought the winning ticket at her Ambleside News shop in Warndon, Worcester.

There was no sign of the mother-of-two at her housing association property yesterday.

But she told friends on Facebook: 'Not once have I said I have the winning ticket. The ticket did have the winning numbers on it. Camelot will do the checks so as it stands nobody knows if it's the winner.'

Speaking to a friend of her son earlier this week, she also said: 'I almost wish I haven't won it because it's taken my life away.

'I'm waiting for Camelot to get back to me I haven't heard anything. I'm definitely sure it's that ticket though, I remember going in and buying it.'

Natu Patel, owner of Ambleside News, said he remembered Miss Hinte purchasing a ticket in the 24 hours leading up to the January 9 draw

Neighbours said the former barmaid and custody security officer's ten-year-old Peugeot 206 had been driven away on Monday night.

One, who did not wish to be named, said Miss Hinte was 'keeping a low profile' in the house.

Electoral roll records show the mother uses a combination of names, alternating between both Susanne and the German version of the name, Sanne, as well as her maiden name of Hinte and her two married surnames.

Miss Hinte has not been seen at her home in Worcester since she made the claim, but neighbours believe she is inside

Yesterday the Daily Mail revealed twice-married Miss Hinte had been summoned to court six times in the last six years over unpaid fines, and was also fined at a seventh court hearing for failing to reveal the identity of a driver.

West Midlands Police said a decision about whether to investigate a false lottery win claim would 'depend on the circumstances'.

It is understood a police probe is unlikely if someone claimed to have won but offered no proof.

However if a person produced a fraudulent ticket with the intention to deceive lottery organisers, charges could be brought.

The Lotto firm may examine CCTV as part of its investigations into damaged tickets.

It was revealed last week that a half-share of the record 66million jackpot from earlier this month was bought in Worcester.

A Camelot spokesman said: 'With prizes of this size, it's perfectly normal to receive lots of claims from people who genuinely think that they may have mislaid or thrown away what they believe was the winning ticket.'

Natu Patel, owner of Ambleside News, said he remembered Miss Hinte purchasing a ticket in the 24 hours leading up to the January 9 draw, and was 'surprised' Camelot had not asked to view his CCTV.

He said: 'I remember the lady who claims she bought the ticket coming into buy the ticket either on the Friday before the draw or on the day of the draw. As far as I can remember she bought a lucky dip.

'If the ticket was bought from our shop we will definitely have that person on CCTV.

'I have not watched the CCTV and have not been asked to hand it over to Camelot. There are strict rules about when to hand over CCTV. You have to have permission from the particular person in the footage.

'Camelot are handling it in there way and I am letting then do this. The situation has become a bit of a nightmare but there you go.'
A New York real estate developer accused of drunkenly crashing his Porsche in the Hamptons and leaving his friend to die was ordered held without bail for allegedly trying to flee to South America, but an FBI agent moonlighting as a sailing instructor help thwart his escape attempt.

Sean Ludwick, 43, was arrested last week on suspicion of trying to evade prosecution on charges of vehicular homicide and drunken driving stemming from a fatal crash in Southampton last August.

He was free on $1million bond and awaiting trial after being indicted in the death of Paul Hansen, 53. If convicted, he faces up to 32 years in prison.

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Busted: New York real estate executive Sean Ludwick, center, is pictured in court Tuesday. The suspect in a deadly crash was ordered held without bail, having been deemed a serious flight risk

Ludwick, 43, was arrested last week on suspicion of trying to evade prosecution on charges of vehicular homicide and drunken driving

Ludwick was apprehended by federal authorities in Puerto Rico, where he was trying to buy a boat large enough to take him to South America, Robert Clifford, a spokesman for the Suffolk County district attorney, said.

After his capture on the Caribbean island, he was brought back to Long Island and ordered to be held without bail.

I don't think any amount of bail would assure his return to court, state Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho said on Tuesday. He's remanded.

Ludwick (pictured) was caught trying to flee the county using a $400,000 sailboat while out on $1million bail

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said besides trying to buy a $400,000, 50-foot sailboat capable of helping him flee, Ludwick performed hundreds of Internet searches on topics like finding countries that don't have extradition treaties with the US, among them Venezuela, as well as information on the percentage of bail jumpers who are actually caught, trials in absentia, and how to be an effective liar.

This man was absolutely going to flee, Spota said after the hearing. The searches clearly show that he wanted to know what country or countries were free of extradition to the United States. He was focusing clearly on Venezuela.

Spota said Ludwck began plotting his exit strategy after the January 4 arraignment, where he learned he could face up to 32 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him.

Ludwick allegedly crashed his Porsche into a utility pole as he drove Hansen home to Sag Harbor, New York, in the early hours of August 30.

But instead of calling for help, he is accused of dumping the real estate brokers body in the street  leaving the father to die feet from his own home, according to prosecutors.

At a hearing at Suffolk County Court earlier this month, prosecutor John Scott Prudenti told Judge Fernando Camacho that Ludwick had also thrown Hansens personal belongings into the woods before fleeing  although he didnt get too far.

There were some personal effects from the victim, Mr Hansen, that he threw out into the woods, Prudenti said.

The defendant in the most cold-hearted fashion removed the rest of Mr Hansens body from the car, laid him in the street and fled as far as that car would take him, he added, according to 27East.

Ludwick was free on $1million bond and awaiting trial after being indicted in the death of Paul Hansen (pictured). If convicted, he faces up to 32 years in prison

Sean Ludwick is pictured arriving at Southampton Town Justice Court in Hampton Bays on September 4, 2015

Prudenti also revealed that the crash had damaged the 2013 Porsche, which he drove off in despite the fact it was missing its front wheels. Ludwicks blood alcohol level was reportedly double the legal limit to drive four hours after the crash.

On Tuesday, defense attorney Benjamin Brafman denied Ludwick was plotting to flee, saying he has two young children he would have to leave behind.

'It was never his intent to leave the United States,' Brafman said, suggesting the Google searches were nothing more than a fantasy.

Following his arraignment, Ludwick allegedly looked up online 'why do fugitives get caught' and 'how do fugitives escape.' He also searched '5 countries with no extradition' and 'seeking citizenship in Venezuela,' reported 27East.

Brafman said, 'of all the sailing instructors in the world,' Ludwick encountered an FBI agent in Puerto Rico who had given his client sailing tips.

Prosecutors said Ludwick had discussed purchasing a sailboat with the help of the sailing instructor/FBI agent, whom they declined to identify. They said the real estate executive, with a purported wealth in the hundreds of millions, had gone so far as to wire $385,000 to Puerto Rico to complete the sale.

According to court documents, the sailing instructor became suspicious of questions Ludwick asked him concerning the ability of the vessel to make it to South America, and other inquiries about his knowledge of extradition laws.

At the same time, a concierge at the hotel where Ludwick stayed also became suspicious, Spota said.

Separately, the concierge and the sailing instructor each contacted authorities in New York about their suspicions. They apparently found from Internet searches of Ludwick that he had pending criminal charges against him, prosecutors said.

Authorities on Long Island and the US Marshals Service then tracked Ludwick's movements off his cellphone. He traveled from Puerto Rico to Miami to Connecticut and eventually to his home in Sag Harbor, New York, where he was arrested last Thursday.

Ludwick allegedly crashed his Porsche into a utility pole as he drove Hansen (pictured) home to Sag Harbor, New York, in the early hours of August 30 last year

The victim's widow Catherine Hansen stands over his casket outside St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church in Sag Harbor on September 3, 2015, following his funeral

Shortly after the fatal car crash in August, Daily Mail Online revealed Ludwick had drunk tequila after tequila at a club in Long Island called 230 Down before driving off with Hansen.

According to a police report, he had strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath, his speech was slurred and slow, his eyes were bloodshot, glassy and hooded or partially closed.

It added: During the interview and investigation, he stood with a wide stance and continuously swayed from front to back and he stumbled when he tried to walk.

He initially refused to allow a test to examine his blood alcohol level at the scene and had demanded an attorney  before eventually giving blood four hours later.

Authorities seized CCTV footage from the club and interviewed other revelers to establish the extent of Ludwicks drinking on the night in question.

Hansen had declined joining his friends earlier that evening and dined with his family and put his children to bed before joining Ludwick at the club.

Ludwicks 11-year-old son was having a sleepover at Hansens home that night.

While Ludwick downed tequilas, his friend drank significantly less and sometimes replaced alcohol with glasses of water.

The pair later left together  in order for Ludwick to drop Hansen off at home and pick up his son as well.
An unsanctioned but nationally televised debate among the three Democratic presidential candidates has been scheduled for next week, defying official Democratic Party rules and setting up a fascinating showdown.

MSNBC and The New Hampshire Union Leader will team up to host the debate in New Hampshire on Feb. 4, just five days before the state's first-in-the-nation primary contest.

The debate will be moderated by Chuck Todd of NBC News and Rachel Maddow of MSNBC, as reported Tuesday by BuzzFeed News.

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Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton in Decorah, Iowa, on Tuesday

Clinton, shown here in Iowa on Tuesday, may have a tough decision to face next week about whether to participate in an unsanctioned but nationally televised prime-time debate hosted by MSNBC and the Manchester Union Leader

The campaigns of Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Gov. Martin O'Malley have been clamoring for months for more Democratic debates

BuzzFeed reported that it unclear how the Democratic National Committee will react to the announcement, or which candidates will participate.

Democratic officials have been under fire for months for their primary debate schedule, which is not only less than half the amount of the Republican contests, but often on weekends when voters are less likely to be watching.

The strategy seemed to be to avoid the missteps that Republicans made in 2012 during a lengthy, tortured primary process that left the eventual nominee, Mitt Romney, bloodied just as the general election began.

However, the DNC this year plans to enforce its schedule through a rule that would bar any candidate from participating in any of the party's primary forums if they disobeyed the six-debate schedule.

Without the new MSNBC-Union Leader debate, the next scheduled Democratic debate isn't until Feb. 11, after the New Hampshire primary.
It's very easy to get upset about stray animals but it takes a lot of love to sell up all of your assets to help take care of them.

Weng Xiaoping, a pensioner in Zhejiang province, has made it her life's work to care for animals in need of love and attention, the People's Daily Online reports.

The 62-year-old, who was a renowned doctor, has sold two properties amounting to 191,000 (1.8 million yuan) and put the money towards looking after as many unwanted dogs and cats as possible for the past eight years.

Local hero: The pensioner lives in the mountains of Zhejiang province after buying land to make a sanctuary

Selfless: Weng bought land and built a sanctuary for strays with money from the sale of her properties

Home: Weng hopes that someone will take on the task of looking after the animals as she grows older

Big numbers: The pensioner has found the number of animals sometimes a little overwhelming

After her retirement, Weng sold two of her properties for 191,000 (1.8 million yuan) and relocated to the mountains to open a private sanctuary for stray dogs and cats.

She then hired two assistants costing her around 740 (7,000 yuan) a month.

According to Chinese media, she has adopted hundreds of animals over the past eight years.

Speaking to the People's Daily Online, Wang said: 'These little animals need 18 buckets of rice one meal and they eat up 50 kilograms of rice every day.

'I have to spend over 7,000 yuan on food for them every month.'

The pensioner owns the land the sanctuary is on for the next 30 years. She hopes that someone will take over from her as she grows older.

Wang said: 'I have struggled for years to look after these stray animals.

'I really hope that a competent and nice person will inherit the base from me when I am old one day.'

Shelter: One of the stray dogs that Weng Xiaoping looks after at her animal sanctuary in the mountains

Kind: The woman has spent all of her money on making sure as many strays as possible have a home
A keen Chinese musician who lost the use of his fingers more than two decades ago regained his ability to strum a guitar during brain surgery yesterday.

Doctors at a hospital in Shenzhen, south China, performed deep brain stimulation on the 57-year-old to cure a neurology disorder and bring back the function in his right hand, reports the People's Daily Online.

The patient, a former professional guitarist surnamed Li, played Beethoven's Fur Elise during the operation.

Incredible: Mr Li plays the guitar while undergoing surgery on his brain in Shenzhen city, Guangdong province

Groundbreaking: He remained conscious when doctors asked him to play the guitar while he was operated on

At the age of 34, Mr Li was forced to give up his beloved music career and switch to other jobs.

Having lost the use of his fingers, his ability to write was also affected. However, he managed to have a successful career as a police officer in his hometown in Jilin Province.

Over the past two decades Mr Li has been across China to various different hospitals, where he was misdiagnosed with Parkinson's or told he had psychological problems.

The medication he was prescribed over the years never helped him with the use of his fingers, instead he suffered from unwanted side effects.

After years of searching Mr Li eventually went to the Shenzhen No.2 Hospital where he met Dr Cai Xiaodong, who diagnosed him with focal hand disorder (FHD).

FHD causes the loss of control in certain muscles and is known to be common among musicians and athletes.

After a long discussion with Dr Cai, it was decided that he would perform the surgery deep brain stimulation (DBS) on Mr Li.

During surgery yesterday at the hospital, Mr Li remained conscious throughout and he was asked to play the guitar by Dr Cai while he was operating on him.

While he was on the operating table, he regained the use of his fingers and strummed the Beethoven classic Fur Elise, creating a calming atmosphere in the room.

Success: During surgery he regained the use of his finers and strummed the Beethoven classic, Fur Elise

Phenomenal: When Mr Li played the guitar it helped them decide where to stimulate his brain with electricity

When the doctor asked him if he could feel his fingers, Mr Li excitedly said that he could.

By playing the guitar, it helped the surgeons decide where to stimulate in his brain with electricity through two holes drilled into his skull, also know as electrode placement.

Speaking to reporters from the Shenzhen Daily, Dr Cai from Shenzhen No. 2 Hospital said: 'The operation was successful and he could play the guitar very smoothly after we found the right place to stimulate.

'His daughter had hoped her father could teach her to play the guitar, and it will be possible after what we saw during surgery.'

Focal hand disorder is not uncommon, but using DBS to treat it is rare. According to Dr Cai, the surgery on Mr Li yesterday was the seventh of its kind.

Mr Li has now regained 80 per cent of the use of his finger muscles, the rest will be through rehabilitation.
Pears moulded to shape like a lucky Buddha have become hugely popular in China and Vietnam.

The 'baby pear,' which was created by a Chinese farmer in 2009, has the character 'Fu' (blessing) on it and is regarded as 'the god of fortune pear,' reports the People's Daily Online.

Consumers are going crazy for the bizarre shaped fruit that is sold in local supermarkets and even online. It is often given as a gift for the upcoming Lunar New Year in the two countries.

Tasty: Pears that have been specially moulded to look like a Buddha have become a big hit in Vietnam

Cute of creepy? Baby pears created by a Chinese farmer in 2009, it took six years to make the perfect shape

The cute looking fruit is grown in inside the mould of a laughing Buddha, shaping them into the tiny figurines.

Ever since they were created by a man named Gao Xianzhang seven years ago, they have been sold across different regions in China.

Gao spent six years perfecting the intricate baby-shaped pears, carefully crafting each one.

According to the report they became big in Vietnam in December last year and were a hit in local markets in Ho Chi Minh city, commonly known as Saigon, in south of the country.

Ruan Dehe, a fruit merchant from Vietnam spoke to reporters and said he was surprised at how much of a success they have been.

Good luck: One of the pears inside the mould (left) next to a normal pear (centre) and the finished product

Popular: It's not just Vietnam and China where these lucky pears are sold, anyone can purchase them online

'I started to sell baby pears for about 13 Yuan (1.30) each. At the beginning, I never thought that they would be so popular in the market. I just stocked several cases of baby pears. Later I almost sold a tonne of these fruits,' he said.

The 'baby pears' have a shelf life of two to three months.

When they were first sold, the local media reported that there may be too many preservatives in the fruit to make them last so long.

However, most of the customers were not too concerned about whether preservatives were used or not.

It's not just the markets in Vietnam and China where these lucky pears are sold, anyone can purchase them online.

On Taobao - a Chinese website similar to eBay for online shopping - 1lbs of baby pears sells for 90 Yuan (around 9).

And on Alibaba, China's global shopping site, they are sold in sets starting at around 3.50, though it is unclear how much weight is in a set.
First-time buyers have been forced to consider new ways of getting onto the property ladder in recent years, whether its living with their parents for longer to save up for a deposit or buying with friends to share the costs.

But how far would you go to own your own home: Birmingham, Berwick on Tweed or even Berlin? A new report suggests one of the more extreme measures now being looked at by some first-time buyers is purchasing overseas, as Britain has become too expensive.

That was the most ultimate option offered in a poll of 1,076 people, which asked them how far they moved or would consider moving to buy their first home. It found that first-time buyers were considering moving 23 miles away on average.

Hundreds of thousands of first-time buyers think they will only be able to afford to buy by moving overseas.

Extrapolating the numbers from its poll across the UK population, the report by Consilium Strategic Land Fund made the bold claim that as many as 400,000 people blocked out of Britain's housing market would consider buying abroad.

The report went on to highlight the 'boomerang' generation of grown-up children who return to live with their parents - and stay there into their thirties or forties.

One in four of those polled who currently live at home don't think they will be able to afford their own home until they are at least 35, while 12 per cent say they will be aged over 40.

A further 6 per cent of people living at home don't think they will ever be able to afford to buy, it said.

It comes as house prices have risen so fast that first-time buyers are both struggling to save a significant deposit or earn enough to get a mortgage.

For those who have stayed in Britain and bought during the past five years, many had to move to a cheaper area in order to be able to afford to buy.

The research found that one in 20 first-time buyers moved more than 100 miles to buy a home, while 47,000 moved more than 500 miles.

An estimated 800,000 would need to move more than 100 miles away, it claimed.

THE NUMBER OF MILES PEOPLE MOVE TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOME Number of miles people had or expect to move in order to afford to buy their first home Number of people who did this in order to buy their first home Number of people who plan to buy their first home one day Same area 4,552,500 4,458,600 Up to 10 5,115,700 3,754,600 Up to 20 704,000 1,642,700 Up to 30 423,000 844,800 Up to 40 375,500 187,700 Up to 50 234,700 704,000 Between 50 and 100 328,500 329,000 Between 100 and 200 328,500 234,700 Between 200 and 500 187,700 375,200 Over 500 46,900 187,700 Abroad N/A 422,400 Source: Consilium Strategic Land Fund - figures based on poll of 1,076 people

Joanne Luce, director of the Consilium Strategic Land Fund, said: 'Our findings are shocking. People should not have to resort to moving hundreds of miles away in order to get on to the property ladder.'

'The ramifications of not being able to buy their first home are not just affecting those eager to do this but also their families. Our research found that 25 per cent of those adults currently living at home with their parents do not expect to be able to buy their own home until they are aged 35 and over.'

It follows research earlier this month that showed house prices have risen 300 per cent in the past 20 years.

The average value of a home in Britain was just 66,110 in 1995, but has climbed to 262,847, according to the research by estate agents Savills. It means prices have risen 200,000 or the equivalent of 10,000 a year.

With its cheaper housing Berlin is one of the cities attracting mobile young Europeans struggling with property prices in major capitals, such as London

House prices have only been higher against wages at the peak of the 2000s boom, Nationwide's chart shows

Alex Gosling, chief executive of estate agents HouseSimple.com, said: 'It's not unusual for first time buyers to be renting in areas that are out of reach price-wise if they were looking to buy in that area.

'First time buyers have to accept they may need to look in less desirable areas to get onto the property ladder.

'In London, for example, very few first time buyers can afford to buy where they rent, which is why many relocate outside the capital.

'The problem is that as more people move out of the cities, into the commuter belts, the more expensive commuter towns become, and the further afield first time buyers have to move to find affordable housing.'

'What's surprising is the number of first time buyers who say they will be looking to buy their first property abroad.

'If UK buyers are having to look at buying in France or Spain to get on the property ladder, that highlights just how unaffordable many areas of the UK have become.
Female sharks looking to reproduce when there are no males around have a biological ace up their sleeve - they can use virgin birth.

Virgin birth, or parthenogenesis, was believed to be an evolutionary dead end, with the sterile offspring marking the end of the line.

Now, thanks to one species of shark, scientists think this 'miraculous' behaviour may be more common than previously thought and is actually used as an alternative to sexual reproduction.

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Miraculous marvel: Scientists have observed a shark born from the result of virgin birth which went on to have her own miraculous birth. Researchers used genetic testing to confirm that the the white-spotted bamboo shark (stock image pictured) had no biological father

Scientists observed that a shark born from the result of virgin birth went on to have her own miraculous birth.

A team, led by Dr Nicolas Straube of the Bavarian State Collection for Zoology in Munich, tested a white-spotted bamboo shark from the Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe in Germany and found that it had no biological father.

NO MALES? NO PROBLEM! Researchers in Germany have found that a shark born from the result of virgin birth went on to have her own 'miraculous' birth. A white-spotted bamboo shark from the Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe in Germany and found that it had no biological father. This female went on to lay viable eggs without the presence of a male to fertilise them. While virgin birth or 'parthenogenesis' has been recorded in sharks, lizards and snakes, this is believed to be the first record of a second generation virgin birth in a vertebrate species. Advertisement

Furthermore, this female went on to lay viable eggs without the presence of a male to fertilise them, too.

Writing in the journal of Fish Biology, the researchers said they believe it to be the first record of a second generation virgin birth in a vertebrate species.

White-spotted bamboo sharks are small a small species of shark found on coral reefs around Indonesia, which reproduce by laying eggs.

In egg laying species, parthenogenesis occurs when an egg hatches without being fertilised by sperm from a male.

This means that the offspring only inherits its DNA from its mother, rather than from two parents.

Virgin birth is seen in a number of reptiles, being a common phenomenon in some species.

It has been observed in captive animals, where breeding partners can be hard to come by.

In 2002, a female shark at an aquarium in Detroit that had had no contact with a male gave birth to three pups.

White-spotted bamboo sharks (pictured) are a small species of shark found on coral reefs around Indonesia, which reproduce through laying eggs

In egg laying species, parthenogenesis occurs when an egg hatches without being fertilised by sperm from a male. This means that the offspring only inherits its DNA from its mother, rather than from two parents. This was seen to occur in two generation of white-spotted bamboo shark. Pictured is stock image of the shark's egg

WHAT IS A VIRGIN BIRTH? US researchers have observed pit vipers and American copperhead snakes gave birth to a litter of snakes without insemination A 'virgin birth' occurs when an egg grows and develops without fertilisation by sperm, meaning the child only has its mother's DNA. Professor Warren Booth, from the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, said it remains unclear whether the female snakes actively select to reproduce this way, or whether the virgin births are triggered by some other factor, such as a virus or bacterial infection. He said: 'Any answer is pure speculation at this point.' It is unlikely that virgin births can occur among 'placental' mammals, such as humans. Mammals need to undergo a process called 'genomic imprinting' to reproduce, where the genes of two parents mix, and one ends up dominating the other to produce the majority of characteristics in the offspring. Advertisement

However, the biological trick has also been observed in the wild.

Scientists in Oklahoma discovered that two species of snake, the pit viper and the American copperhead, both used parthenogenesis as an alternative method of reproduction.

And in 2015, researchers in Florida investigating inbreeding in Sawfish discovered several offspring born through this method.

They propose that this 'asexual' reproduction may be an option when mating opportunities are scarce, such as in small populations or those spread over large areas.

Dr Straube told MailOnline: 'So far, parthenogenesis in sharks and rays has been documented in only few cases. The larger part in captive animals.

'Only a single instance in the wild is known from a population of saw fish. We do not know yet if it is restricted to certain groups.'

He added: 'It seems that this may actually be an alternative to sexual reproduction.
The next generation ATMs are just around the corner as JPMorgan Chase prepares to unleash new cash machines that only require an app to make withdrawals.

The new ATMs don't require ATM cards will triple the withdrawal limit to $3,000 and dispense $1, $5, $20 and $100 bills.

The machines have already been tested in states like Washington, but a wider roll out in the thousands is planned for later this year.

The upgrade to eATMs will allow customers to ditch the magnetic strip and instead log into an account using an app.

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Chase Banks will soon install eATMs that allow customers to make withdrawals using an app instead of a card

As payment apps like PayPal's Venmo and Jack Dorsey's Square continue to rise, the linking of ATMs to mobile phones has become a natural next step for transferring money and split bills when cash isn't available.

'Ultimately, banks have to continue to innovate or somebody else is going to eat their lunch,' Greg McBride, an analyst at Bankrate.com, told The New York Post.

Chase, run by Chief Executive Jamie Dimon, has the most ATMs in New York, with 2,100 machines.

The bank has been testing out the new ATMs since last year in 156 city branches.

New York-area ATMs have a $1,000 withdrawal limit, while many other places in the country have a $500-per-day limit.

Cardless: The new app will raise the cash limit to $3,000 and eATMs will dispense $1, $5, $20 and $100 bills

The push toward mobile and automatic banking also saves the bank money.

It costs the bank 65 cents to make a deposit with a teller and eight cents at an ATM. It only costs three cents through a mobile app.

'We analyzed withdrawals occurring at our teller lines and found that 90 to 95 percent of withdrawals are under $3,000, so setting the limit there would allow the devices to serve the vast majority of our customers,' Fusco said.
It has long been assumed the Aztecs sacrificed prisoners of war at the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan in what is now Mexico City, immediately after battle.

But a new study suggests they also offered the lives of people much closer to home as sacrifices to their bloodthirsty gods.

Analysis of the remains of people who lived and were sacrificed between 1469 and 1521 shows that not all of them came from conquered lands and some actually lived in the Valley of Mexico, among the Aztecs themselves.

It's long been assumed the Aztecs sacrificed prisoners of war at the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan (ruins pictured) in what is now Mexico City, immediately after battle. But a new study suggests they also offered the lives of people much closer to home as sacrifices to their bloodthirsty gods

Lead archaeologist Alan Barrera told EFE news agency people thought sacrifices were mostly the result of wars and victims were people taken from the populations gradually conquered by the Mexicas who ruled Tenochtitlan.

It was assumed that prisoners of war 'were brought directly from their places of origin and sacrificed almost immediately,' he said.

But based on analysis of bone fragments, the study shows some people who were sacrificed had been living among the Mexicas for more than six years, Fox News Latino reports.

Researchers from National Institute of Anthropology took bone samples from the skulls and teeth of six people who were sacrificed at the temple complex, which includes an intimidating wall of carved skulls.

Analysis of the remains of people who lived and were sacrificed between 1469 and 1521 shows the not all of them came from conquered lands and some lived in the Valley of Mexico among the Aztecs themselves. An image of a skull discovered at Templo Mayor is shown above

Researchers from National Institute of Anthropology took bone samples from the skulls and teeth of six people who were sacrificed at the temple complex, which includes an intimidating wall of carved skulls (pictured) upon which real heads of sacrificial victims were placed

The victims lived during the reigns of the second Aztec emperor Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina, famed warrior Axayacatl and Moctecuhzoma Xocoyotzin.

The Aztec's first contact with Europeans took place during the time of Moctecuhzoma Xocoyotzin, who lived between 1466 and 1520 and was killed at the beginning of the Spanish Conquest of Mexico.

AZTEC SACRIFICE AT TEMPO MAJOR The Templo Mayor (Spanish for 'Great Temple') was one of the main temples of the Aztecs in their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City. Its architectural style belongs to the late Postclassic period of Mesoamerica. In a typical ritual, sacrificial victims would be taken to the top of the temple where four priests would lay them down on a stone slab. The victim's abdomen would be sliced open by a fifth priest using a ceremonial flint knife to cut right through the diaphragm and split open the chest. The priest would grab the heart and tear it out, still beating. It would then be placed in a bowl held by a statue of the honoured god, and the body thrown down the temple's stairs landing at a terrace at the base of the pyramid. For the re-consecration of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan in 1487, the Aztecs reported that they sacrificed about 80,400 prisoners over the course of four days. But historians believe that figure may be an exaggeration. Advertisement

This is when Conquistador Hernan Cortes and his men fought to escape from the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan.

Bone samples were put through a strontium isotope analysis at the National Autonomous University of Mexico's Geophysics Institute, which revealed their place of origin.

The experts concluded that those sacrificed were not just imprisoned warriors, but 'captives to be servants for the elite,' meaning they served high-ranking Aztecs.

It is also plausible that the foreign victims not thought to be warriors were high ranking prisoners who served the Aztec elite before meeting their fate at the top of the famous Aztec temple.

MailOnline has contacted the researchers to discover more about the individual victims and their skulls.

The team said that warriors were not the only group sacrificed, but women, children and the elderly were sometimes killed ceremonially too.

Last year, archaeologists unearthed a huge trophy rack of sacrificed human skulls at the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, otherwise known as the Templo Mayor Aztec ruin site.

Racks known as 'tzompantli' were where the Aztecs displayed the severed heads of sacrifice victims on wooden poles pushed through the sides of the skull.

The poles were suspended horizontally on vertical posts.

Eduardo Matos, an archaeologist at the National Institute of Anthropology and History, suggested the skull rack in Mexico City 'was a show of might' by the Aztecs.

Friends and even enemies were invited into the city, precisely to be cowed by the grisly display of heads in various stages of decomposition.

Paintings and written descriptions from the early colonial period showed descriptions of such racks.

Bone samples gathered from victims of sacrifice found at the site (shown from above) were put through a strontium isotope analysis at the National Autonomous University of Mexico's Geophysics Institute, which revealed their place of origin

The experts concluded that those sacrificed were not just imprisoned warriors, but 'captives to be servants for the elite,' meaning they served high-ranking Aztecs. Last year, archaeologists unearthed a huge trophy rack of sacrificed human skulls at the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan. Some of the remains are shown above

But institute archaeologists said the newest discovery was different.

Part of the platform where the heads were displayed was made of rows of skulls mortared together roughly in a circle, around a seemingly empty space in the middle.

All the skulls were arranged to look inward toward the centre of the circle, but experts don't know what was at the centre.

Archaeologist Raul Barrera added that 'there are 35 skulls that we can see, but there are many more' in underlying layers. As we continue to dig the number is going to rise a lot.'

Barrera noted that one Spanish writer soon after the conquest described mortared-together skulls, but none had been found before.

University of Florida archaeologist Susan Gillespie, who was not involved in the project, wrote at the time: 'I do not personally know of other instances of literal skulls becoming architectural material to be mortared together to make a structure.'

Racks known as 'tzompantli' were where the Aztecs displayed the severed heads of sacrifice victims on wooden poles pushed through the sides of the skull. It is thought they were also placed on poles about the intimidating 'Wall of Skulls' at the temple

Part of the platform where the heads were displayed was made of rows of skulls mortared together roughly in a circle (shown left and right), around a seemingly empty space in the middle

The find was made between February and June on the western side of what was once the Templo Mayor complex.

The platform was partly excavated under the floor of a three-story colonial era house.

Because the house was historically valuable, archaeologists often worked in narrow excavation wells 6ft (2 metres) under the floor level suspended on their stomachs on a wooden platform.

Periodic excavations carried out since 1914 suggested a ceremonial site was located near the site.

And Barrera said the location fitted very well with the first Spanish descriptions of the temple complex.

AZTEC SKULL RACKS An illustration of Skull racks or tzompantli is shown Skull racks were used to display the heads of sacrificed human victims. They were called tzompantli in Nahuatl - the language of the Aztecs. Sometimes this structure was made of stone with carved human skulls. Those displaying real skulls comprised a wooden framework supporting skulls skewered on horizontal poles run through holes drilled through the temples. Tzompantlis were first described by Spanish conquistadors and missionary friars in the Sixteenth Century. The Aztecs used skull racks to display prowess in war; in obtaining captives to be offered up to their gods. They also used them to terrorize subjugated populations. At the Great Temple of the Aztecs (their most important temple) archaeologists found a skull rack with at least 240 carved skulls. They had a layer of stucco and were originally painted in red. Advertisement

Gillespie added that archaeologists have found other tzompantli, which she said might be better translated as 'head rack' instead of 'skull rack' because the heads were put up for display while still fresh. But experts had long been searching for the main one.

'They've been looking for the big one for some time, and this one does seem much bigger than the already excavated one,' Gillespie wrote.

'This find both confirms long-held suspicions about the sacrificial landscape of the ceremonial precinct, that there must have been a much bigger tzompantli to curate the many heads of sacrificial victims' as a kind of public record or accounting of sacrifices.

The Templo Mayor (Spanish for 'Great Temple') was one of the main temples of the Aztecs in their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City.

Its architectural style belongs to the late Postclassic period of Mesoamerica.

This photo released by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) shows archaeologists working at the Templo Mayor Aztec ruin site in Mexico City

In a typical ritual, sacrificial victims would be taken to the top of the temple where four priests would lay them down on a stone slab.

The victim's abdomen would be sliced open by a fifth priest using a ceremonial flint knife to cut right through the diaphragm and split open the chest.

The priest would grab the heart and tear it out, still beating.

It would then be placed in a bowl held by a statue of the honoured god, and the body thrown down the temple's stairs landing at a terrace at the base of the pyramid.

For the re-consecration of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan in 1487, the Aztecs reported that they sacrificed about 80,400 prisoners over the course of four days.
Customs officials and police officers will soon be able to test suspicious powders for cocaine by simply rubbing it between their finger and thumb while wearing a high-tech rubber glove.

The new glove-mounted sensor is a development of technology originally developed for detecting explosives.

It can screen samples for cocaine as well as the cheap ingredients used to adulterate it, such as caffeine, paracetamol, boric acid, and lidocaine.

Customs officials will soon be able to test suspicious powders for cocaine by simply rubbing it between their finger and a thumb while wearing a high-tech rubber glove. The act of rubbing it completes an electrical circuit, producing an electrochemical signal which can be interpreted for the presence of the drug

At present, most on-site testing at airports and other locations is done by a colour-change test involving the chemical cobalt thiocyanate.

This will turn blue when cocaine is present, but results have to be confirmed in a laboratory.

Now Karolien De Wael at the University of Antwerp and Joseph Wang at the University of California have expanded their explosive-detecting forensic finger technology to tackle the problem.

The tester simply touches the sample with the glove's index finger, and then rubs the powder into a gelatine-based hydrogel on the thumb.

The 'distinct voltammetric response' of cocaine and cutting agents makes for a unique electrochemical fingerprint, measured by the finger-mounted sensors on the glove. Stock image of cocaine pictured

The glove can also screen for cheap ingredients used to adulterate cocaine, such as caffeine, paracetamol, boric acid, and lidocaine (pictured)

This completes an electrical circuit, producing an electrochemical signal which can be interpreted for the presence of the drug.

The 'distinct voltammetric response' of cocaine and cutting agents makes for a unique electrochemical fingerprint, measured by the finger-mounted sensors on the glove.

'Voltammograms contain much more information for identification than standard colour tests', the researchers reported, and the drug's presence is recorded in less than a minute.

To test the sensor, the researchers tested authentic street cocaine samples provided by the National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC) in Belgium.

These sample were known to contain between 30 and 76 per cent cocaine, 'cut' with other white powders.

They report that this new technique has a 'significantly lower limit of detection' than existing colour screening tests, which are also 'difficult to interpret and lack selectivity'.

They also claim the drug glove has even more sensitivity than the complex and expensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) technique presently used to confirm colour-change test findings.

Although the new device works 'incredibly well for rapid on-site cocaine detection', the scientists acknowledge that the electronics to interpret the results are still too bulky.

Earlier this week, a similar high-tech material that could be fitted into rubber gloves was unveiled by researchers from the University of Tokyo. The microscopically-thin pressure sensitive material can detect lumps even when twisted and wrinkled (pictured)

THE BREAST CANCER GLOVE Earlier this week, a similar high-tech material that could be fitted into rubber gloves was unveiled by researchers from the University of Tokyo. A team led by Dr Sungwon Lee and Professor Takao Someya of the University of Tokyo used nanofibres to create a pressure sensor that remains accurate even when bent double. The researchers said it can be folded over a radius of just 80 micrometres, about the same as a human hair, and still measure pressure changes. The sensor itself is just 8 micrometres thick  one-tenth of a human hair  yet can record pressure changes in 144 locations at once. Although flexible pressure sensors already exist, they cannot measure pressure changes accurately once they are distorted. Advertisement

Their next development is to use a more compact instrument to improve portability, and ultimately to have a wireless link to a smartphone or tablet computer.

The findings are reported in the journal Chemical Science.

Earlier this week, a similar high-tech material that could be fitted into rubber gloves was unveiled by researchers from the University of Tokyo.

A team led by Dr Sungwon Lee and Professor Takao Someya of the University of Tokyo used nanofibres to create a pressure sensor that remains accurate even when bent double.

The researchers said it can be folded over a radius of just 80 micrometres, about the same as a human hair, and still measure pressure changes.

The sensor itself is just 8 micrometres thick  one-tenth of a human hair  yet can record pressure changes in 144 locations at once.
Study is the first to use MRI in both parents and their children to study intergenerational transmission of the pattern of brain structures

It has been long suspected that mothers can 'pass on' depression to their daughters.

Scientists have previously pinpointed the circuit in the brain involved in regulating emotion and mood disorders, and now a team says the size of the structure appears to be handed down through the female line of families.

Researchers believe the wiring in the brain structure, known as the corticolimbic system, may be an inherited factor contributing to risk, or resistance to depression being passed on.

Scientists have pinpointed a brain circuit that regulates emotion and plays a role in mood disorders, which is handed passed down from mother to daughter. Scientists believe the structure, known as the corticolimbic system, may be an inherited factor contributing to depression (illustrated with a stock image)

The corticolimbic system incorporates the amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex and ventromedial prefrontal cortex brain regions.

The brain circuits involved are less likely to pass from mothers to sons or from fathers to children of either gender, according to a study of 35 families by the University of California, San Francisco.

While previous research has identified a strong association between the risk of depression in mothers and their daughters, this is the first evidence a brain structure implicated in depression may be inherited.

Lead scientist Fumiko Hoeft, associate professor of psychiatry at the university, said: 'The finding does not mean that mothers are necessarily responsible for their daughters' depression.

The corticolimbic system incorporates the amygdala (pink), hippocampus (purple), anterior cingulate cortex (blue) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (yellow) brain regions illustrated above

'Many factors play a role in depression - genes that are not inherited from the mother, social environment and life experiences, to name only three.

THE CORTICOLIMBIC SYSTEM The corticolimbic system incorporates the amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex and ventromedial prefrontal cortex brain regions. Its job is to regulate emotions. Scientists suspect it may play a role in mood disorders and believe it may be an inherited factor contributing to depression - particularly between mothers and daughters. Advertisement

'Mother-daughter transmission is just one piece of it.

'But this is the first study to bridge animal and human clinical research and show a possible matrilineal transmission of human corticolimbic circuitry, which has been implicated in depression, by scanning both parents and offspring.

'It opens the door to a whole new avenue of research looking at intergenerational transmission patterns in the human brain.'

Professor Hoeft and her team used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans to measure grey matter volume in the corticolimbic systems of parents and their biological offspring in 35 healthy families.

The study is the first to use MRI in both parents and their children to study intergenerational transmission of the pattern of brain structures. A stock image of a man having an MRI scan is shown

Grey matter is the part of the brain composed of the bodies of nerve cells, rather than nerve fibres.

The association between mothers' and daughters' corticolimbic grey matter was significantly greater than that between mothers and sons, fathers and sons, and fathers and daughters.

The study, which is published in the Journal of Neuroscience. is the first to use MRI in both parents and their children to study intergenerational transmission of the pattern of brain structures.

'This gives us a potential new tool to better understand depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions, as most conditions seem to show intergenerational transmission patterns,' Professor Hoeft said.

'Anxiety, autism, schizophrenia, dyslexia, you name it - brain patterns inherited from both mothers and fathers have an impact on just about all of them.'

However, more work is needed to differentiate between the potential effects of genetics, prenatal conditions and postnatal conditions on the inheritance of brain structures.
For a plot to last five years, it would need to involve just 2,521 people

Moon landings would have been exposed in three years and eight months

He then formulated how likely it would be that the secrets would be kept

From the moon landings being an elaborate hoax, to climate change deniers, there are many conspiracy theories that are believed by a large number of people worldwide.

But the amount of people who would have been involved in keeping such large-scale secrets suggests that if they were true, they would have been exposed by someone by now.

With this in mind, a physicist has calculated how many people would have potentially worked on some of the most popular theories, and what is the likelihood of them all keeping a secret.

A physicist from Oxford University calculated how many people would have potentially worked on some of the most popular theories, and what is the likelihood of them all keeping them a secret. Using this model, the truth about the moon landings (pictured) being a hoax would have been exposed in three years and eight months

Using this model, the truth about the moon landings being a hoax would have been exposed in three years and eight months.

A climate change fraud would have been uncovered in three years nine months, a vaccination conspiracy would take three years and two months to be revealed, and a suppressed cancer cure would come to light after three years and three months.

The formula was created by Dr David Robert Grimes from Oxford University.

He initially created an equation to express the probability of a conspiracy being either deliberately uncovered by a whistle-blower, or inadvertently revealed by a bungler.

This factored in the number of conspirators, the length of time, and even the effects of conspirators dying, whether of old age or more nefarious means.

Dr Grimes looked at four alleged, popular conspiracy theories, estimating the maximum number of people required to be in on each 'secret'. For example, he calculated that 411,000 people would have feasibly needed to be involved in, or have knowledge of, the moon landings being a hoax (landing pictured)

Moon landing reveal is pictured top left. A climate change fraud would have been uncovered in three years nine months (top right), a vaccination conspiracy would take three years and two months to be revealed (bottom left), and a suppressed cancer cure would come to light after three years three months (bottom right)

However, the equation required a realistic estimation of the chances of any one individual revealing the truth.

To put this to the test, he used the revelations made about the NSA Prism project by Edward Snowden and its timescale, as a base.

Dr Grimes then looked at four alleged, popular conspiracy theories, estimating the maximum number of people required to be in on each 'secret'.

For example, he calculated that 411,000 people would have feasibly needed to be involved in, or have knowledge of, the moon landings being a hoax.

THE FOUR CONSPIRACY THEORIES STUDIED Nasa moon-landing conspiracy: The successful 1969 Apollo 11 mission first put men on the moon, a seminal achievement in human history. Yet even since that day, there has been a persistent fringe belief group that strongly believe the moon landings were faked, mocked up for propaganda purposes. In 2013 it was estimated 7 per cent of Americans subscribe to this view. Those advocating this conspiracy claim there are inconsistencies in pictures taken on the moons surface, despite these claims being comprehensively debunked. Climate change conspiracy: Climate-change denial has a deep political dimension. The belief that a cure for cancer is being withheld by vested interests is a long-standing one. Stock image Despite the overwhelming strength of evidence supporting the scientific consensus of anthropogenic global warming, there are many who reject this consensus. Of these, many claim that climate-change is a hoax staged by scientists and environmentalists, ostensibly to yield research income. Vaccination conspiracy: Conspiratorial beliefs about vaccination are endemic in the anti-vaccination movement. It is estimated that roughly 20 per cent of Americans hold the long de-bunked notion that there is a link between autism and the MMR vaccine, a belief which has reduced uptake of important vaccinations in several countries. Anti-vaccination beliefs and scare-mongering are also endemic in the internet age, with vaccine critical websites asserting dubious information. Cancer cure conspiracy: The belief that a cure for cancer is being withheld by vested interests is a long-standing one. It is often used as a universal deus ex machina for those pushing an alternative alleged cure, and assertion of the conspiracy theory functions as an explanatory device to explain the complete paucity of clinical evidence for such claims. Such claims can be detrimental to patients, some of whom abandon conventional treatment for the lofty but ill-founded promises of alternative medicine. Source: Dr David Grimes/Plos One Advertisement

A total of 405,000 people would know about climate change being a fraud, 22,000 people would be covering up that vaccinations are unsafe, and 736,000 people would know about a cancer cure being suppressed.

These figures came from analysing the number of people involved in organisations related to the hoax, such as Nasa, the White House administration, pharmaceutical companies and climate change groups.

In each case, the number of conspirators and the time before the conspiracy was revealed were over-estimated to ensure that the odds of a leak happening were a 'best case scenario' for the conspirators.

From this he determined that all of the four plots would have been revealed long before now, and all within four years.

These figures came from analysing the number of people involved in organisations related to the hoax, such as Nasa (a graphic produced by the agency showing rising global temperatures is pictured), the White House administration, pharmaceutical companies and climate change groups

If the conspiracy theories were true, a total of 405,000 people would know about climate change being a fraud, 22,000 people would be covering up that vaccinations (stock image) are unsafe, and 736,000 people would know about a cancer cure being suppressed

He then looked at the maximum number of people who could take part in an intrigue in order to keep it a secret for any substantial length of time.

For a plot to last five years, the maximum was 2,521 people.

To keep a scheme operating undetected for more than a decade, fewer than 1,000 people can be involved.

A century-long deception should ideally include fewer than 125 collaborators.

Dr Grimes then looked at the maximum number of people who could take part in an intrigue in order to keep it a secret. For a plot to last five years, the maximum was 2,521 people. To keep a scheme operating undetected for more than a decade, fewer than 1,000 people can be involved (pictured in the chart above)

Even a straightforward cover-up of a single event, requiring no more complex machinations than everyone keeping their mouth shut, is likely to be blown if more than 650 people are accomplices.

'Not everyone who believes in a conspiracy is unreasonable or unthinking. I hope that by showing how eye-wateringly unlikely some alleged conspiracies are, some people will reconsider their anti-science beliefs,' Dr Grimes explained.

'This will of course not convince everyone; there's ample evidence that belief in conspiracy is often ideological rather than rational, and that conspiracy theories thrive in an echo chamber.

'This makes challenging the more odious narratives much more difficult. If we are to address the multitudinous difficulties facing us as a species, from climate change to geo-politics, then we need to embrace reality over ideologically motivated fictions.

'To this end, we need to better understand how and why some ideas are entrenched and persistent among certain groups despite the evidence, and how we might counteract this.'
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Buried beneath the remains of an ancient temple in the Pucala district of Peru, archaeologists have made a grisly discovery that yields among the first clues to 1,200-year-old sacrificial rituals.

The bodies of six women, believed to have been ritually killed in a secret compound on the site of the temple, were found alongside the remains of a llama and ceramics.

Each of the women had been positioned so their skulls were facing the Andes mountain range, which in some cases involved bending and contorting their bodies into unusual shapes.

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The remains of six women who appear to have been killed in ritual sacrifice at a secret compound beneath a 1,200-year-old ceremonial temple have been unearthed (pictured). The women are thought to have come from a variety of pre-Inca cultures. Experts said the women appear to have been killed in ceremonies that would likely have involved ritual costumes and possibly even the drinking blood

Experts said the women appear to have been killed in ceremonies that would likely have involved ritual costumes and possibly even the drinking of the victim's blood.

However, given the fact that this discovery is one of the first to made of this kind from this time, the exact details about the sacrificial rituals is still unknown.

WHO WERE THE LAMBAYEQUE? The Lambayeque culture, sometimes also known as the Sican culture, is thought to have emerged along the north coast of Peru around 750 AD and flourished until around 1375. They are thought to have succeeded the Moche culture but there also appears to have been some overlap between the two. It is thought they traded with people from present day Ecuador, Colombia and Chile. They also built large religious cities dominated by huge temples. It is thought they did not make any attempts at regional conquest but eventually were defeated by the Chimu empire in 1375AD. Advertisement

In particular, the unusual sacrifices predate the spread of the Inca civilisation by several hundred years and the bodies were found at a temple that was once part of the Lambayeque culture.

The Lambayeque culture, sometimes also known as the Sican culture, is thought to have emerged along the north coast of Peru around 750 AD and flourished until around 1375AD.

They are said to have succeeded the Moche culture but there also appears to have been some overlap between the two.

It is also thought they traded with people from present day Ecuador, Colombia and Chile.

They additionally built large religious cities dominated by huge temples, but did not seemingly make any attempts at regional conquest and were eventually were defeated by the Chimu empire in 1375AD.

The Incan Empire then rose to prominence between around 1400AD and 1533AD.

Each of the bodies had been placed in the same direction and were surrounded by artefacts that suggested they came from other pre-Inca civilisations including the Moche, Wari and Cajamarca.

This confirms that there was a close relationship between the pre-Inca cultures.

Edgar Bracamonte, the lead archaeologist on the dig, said: 'We have discovered a temple around 1,200-years-old and which was a secret enclosure that priests used to sacrifice women to their gods.

'It was used for private ceremonies.

'It has platforms and a central ramp that was covered with earth, where they left a large quantity of offerings. We found six buried women in different places.'

The women were found in different places around the compound (pictured), built by the pre-Incan Lambayeque civilisation, alongside the skeleton of a llama and various pieces of ceramic that suggest they may have come from competing civilisations in the north of Peru

The positions of the bodies (pictured) has baffled archaeologists leading the excavation as they are unlike any other sacrifice sites that have been found in the area. Their skulls have been bent into a position so they are looking towards the mountains

The temple was discovered at the Huaca Santa Rosa, in the Pucala district, 18 miles (29km) from Chiclayo.

The unusual positioning of the skulls of the skeletons has baffled archaeologists as the remains of men found to have been sacrificed in Mocha and Lambayeque sites were orientated quite differently.

The iconography and discovery of human skeletons suggests the complex was used for human sacrifice.

The temple was discovered at the Huaca Santa Rosa, in the Pucala district, 18 miles (29km) from Chiclayo (marked). The Lambayeque culture, sometimes also known as the Sican culture, is thought to have emerged along the north coast of Peru around 750 AD and flourished until around 1375AD

Experts said the remains (pictured) point to interactions between the pre-Inca cultures that existed in the north of Peru. Each of the bodies had been placed in the same direction and were surrounded by artefacts that suggested they came from other pre-Inca civilisations

The temple compound appears to have had platforms (pictured) and a central ramp, which was covered with earth and was found to contain a large quantity of offerings which had presumably been left to honour the gods

THE RISE OF INCAN SACRIFICES The precise details and reasons for the sacrifice are unknown, but similar rituals may have been adopted by the Incan civilisation when it rose to prominence in the region later. Ruins of a sanctuary used by the Inca civilisation to sacrifice children to their gods was recently believed to have been discovered in a remote mountain range in Peru. In particular, Capacocha was a ritual that took place upon the death of an Inca king. The local lords were required to select unblemished children representing the ideal of human perfection. Children were married and presented with sets of miniature human and llama figurines in gold, silver, copper and shell. The male figures have elongated earlobes and a braided headband and the female figurines wore their hair in plaited. The children were then returned to their original communities, where they were honoured before being sacrificed to the mountain gods on the Llullaillaco Volcano. Advertisement

Mr Bracamonte said: 'What caught our attention was the unusual position of a young woman of around 24-years-old.

'She was positioned in the centre of the ramp together with a llama and ceramic pots.

'This finding is very important because it reveals to us a close relationship between the Mochicas and the Lambayeque culture.'

The Moche civilisation flourished in northern Peru from about 100AD to 800AD, during the Regional Development Epoch, while the Cajamarca flourished between 200AD and 800AD.

The Wari civilisation is known to have existed between 500AD and 900AD and the Lambayeque formed around 750AD and 1375AD.

This suggests that the civilisations had interacted in some way.

Although it is not clear how the women came to be at the site within the Lambayeque civilisation, it is possible they had been captured or taken as slaves.

The precise details and reasons for the sacrifice are also unknown, but the rituals may have been adopted or adapted by the Incan civilisation when it rose to prominence in the region later.

Ruins of a sanctuary used by the Inca civilisation to sacrifice children to their gods was recently believed to have been discovered in a remote mountain range in Peru.

In October, a team of Spanish explorers stumbled upon the religious complex in the Vilcabamba mountains, 93 miles (150km) north of the Peruvian city of Cusco.

The researchers also found a system of caves near the ruins that had been used as necropolis to bury the victims of the sacrificial rituals.

This system of caves is thought to date to the time of Tupaq Inca Yupanqui, the tenth ruler of the Inca civilisation between 1471 to 1493.

Under his rule, child sacrifices to the gods were carried out in times of drought and natural disasters in the hope good fortune would return.

In particular, Capacocha was a ritual that took place upon the death of an Inca king.

Ceramic figures (left) and other pieces (middle and right) found alongside the bodies suggest the women were from other pre-Inca cultures

The temple appears to have been used only for sacrificing women to the gods, according to archaeologists working on the site (pictured). Given the fact that this discovery is one of the first of this kind from this time, the exact details about the sacrificial rituals is still unknown

The bodies were found to be orientated in similar ways, and this points to an unusual ceremonial ritual not seen elsewhere

The local lords were required to select unblemished children representing the ideal of human perfection. Children were married and presented with sets of miniature human and llama figurines in gold, silver, copper and shell.

The male figures have elongated earlobes and a braided headband and the female figurines wore their hair in plaited.

The children were then returned to their original communities, where they were honoured before being sacrificed to the mountain gods on the Llullaillaco Volcano.

Archaeologists have been excavating the site at Huaca Santa Rosa in the Pucala district in Peru since December. A body that would have had its arms positioned over its head - potentially shielding its eyes from something - is pictured
If a single event can send you into a spiral of conflicting feelings, don't be quick to brush it off as indecision; you might just be emotionally complex.

A recent study from the University of Waterloo examined emotional complexity around the world, and found that the ability to distinguish between multiple feelings at once is strongly tied to cultural orientation.

In cultures that place greater emphasis on factors outside of the individual self, like family or duty, people are more able to differentiate between their varying emotions  and regardless of location, doing so could make for a more balanced, emotionally rich life.

If single event can you into a spiral of conflicting feelings, don't be quick to brush it off as indecision; you might just be emotionally complex. A recent study found that the ability to distinguish between multiple feelings at once is strongly tied to cultural orientation

WHAT THE STUDY FOUND Researchers examined the variations in emotional complexity across 16 cultures around the world. The team used a text-analysis tool to measure emotional expressions across 1.3 million English-language websites and blogs, and tracked the reports of emotional experiences across daily activities. They then examined how these feelings were described, looking to see if people indicated mixed feelings, and if they differentiated between the different types of positive and negative emotions. In self-oriented cultures, like Canada, the United States, Australia, and Great Britain, the researchers found that people are less emotionally complex, whereas cultures that are 'other-oriented'  with emphasis on duty and familial bonds  like Asia and Russia can be much more complex. Western Europe and South Africa landed in the middle. On both the cultural and individual levels, the researchers found that focusing on others indicates a higher level of emotional complexity. Advertisement

Emotional complexity can be defined in two ways, according to The Atlantic  'emotional dialecticism,' the simultaneous experience of positive and negative emotions, and 'emotional differentiation' the ability to identify the distinct emotions being felt.

Through three studies, Igor Grossmann and Alex Huynh of the University of Waterloo, and Phoebe Ellsworth of the University of Michigan tracked the prevalence of mixed emotions, and the ways that people experience them.

Depending on cultural location, the researchers found that the experience of emotional complexity can vary greatly.

And, they say having mixed emotions can be beneficial to daily life.

'People in many western countries see mixed feelings as undesirable  as if to suggest that someone experiencing mixed feelings is wishy-washy,' said Igor Grossmann, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Waterloo, and lead author of the paper.

'Actually, we found that both westerners and non-westerners who show mixed feelings are better able to differentiate their emotions and experience their lives in an emotionally rich and balanced fashion.'

Researchers examined the variations of these traits across 16 cultures around the world.

The team used a text-analysis tool to measure emotional expressions across 1.3 million English-language websites and blogs, and tracked the reports of emotional experiences across daily activities.

They then examined how these feelings were described, looking to see if people indicated mixed feelings, and if they differentiated between the different types of positive and negative emotions.

In self-oriented cultures, like Canada, the United States, Australia, and Great Britain, the researchers found that people are less emotionally complex, whereas cultures that are 'other-oriented'  with emphasis on duty and familial bonds  like Asia and Russia can be much more complex.

Western Europe and South Africa landed in the middle.

In self-oriented cultures, like Canada, the United States, Australia, and Great Britain, the researchers found that people are less emotionally complex, whereas cultures that are 'other-oriented'  with emphasis on duty and familial bonds  like Asia and Russia can be much more complex

'People in those other-oriented cultures are more likely to experience emotional complexity because they are able to see different perspectives,' said Grossmann.

'For example, they might see a job loss as disappointing, but also as an exciting opportunity to spend more time with family or to try something new. Someone from a culture that is oriented towards personal achievement is more likely to see it as all negative.'

On both the cultural and individual levels, the researchers found that focusing on others indicates a higher level of emotional complexity.

'Across the entire project, the degree to which a culture promotes focus on other people rather than the self, including greater awareness of others, was positively associated with all of the markers of emotional complexity,' said Grossmann.

'Further, when we looked at individuals who focus on others within each culture, they also showed greater emotional complexity on a personal level.'

The team suggests further research be done on the concept, to examine how social interdependence can improve emotional complexity.
Catching the attention of a potential mate isn't always an easy thing, and to woo a female gelada monkey, a simple grunt just isn't good enough.

In order to entice their mates, male gelada monkeys must get creative, calling out to the females with moans, wobbles, and yawns.

These vocalizations are crucial in appealing to the female geladas, a study from the University of Michigan has found, and the most elaborate calls are the most effective.

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Catching the attention of a potential mate isn't always an easy thing, and to woo a female gelada monkey, a simple grunt just isn't good enough. In order to entice their mates, male gelada monkeys must get creative, calling out to the females with moans, wobbles, and yawns

'TALKING' GELADA MONKEYS These Ethiopian monkeys live in harem-like reproductive units, typically made up of about six females and one male. The lone male does all of the mating, until a younger male kicks him out. To catch the attention of the females, the researchers found that vocal sequences containing one of three derived call types worked best. These calls include moans, wobbles, and yawns, which are more elaborate than simple grunts. Researchers in the study suggest the findings indicate attempts by the male geladas to maintain social bonds with females. Advertisement

In the study, Morgan Gustison and Thore Bergman of the University of Michigan observed the reactions of these Ethiopian mammals to various recorded vocalizations.

The researchers recorded the calls of 12 adult male geladas, capturing 18 'grunt only' and 18 complex 'derived call' vocal sequences to as playback stimuli for a group of females.

Derived callsmoans, wobbles, and yawnscan be distinguished by duration and fluctuations in frequency.

Moans are long lasting, while wobbles have a high degree of frequency change, and yawns use a large frequency bandwidth, the researchers explain.

To catch the attention of the females, the researchers found that sequences containing one of three derived call types worked best.

'Females pay more attention to male vocal sequences that contain acoustically elaborate calls,' said Gustison, a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology and the study's lead author.

'Not only do the females look longer, but they also choose to hang around the area where they heard an elaborate sequence.'

The vocalizations were played for the 36 adult females in the subject group at Simien Mountains National Park in eastern Africa.

Speakers were hidden in vegetation close to adult females, playing the sounds of the unfamiliar males when she was stationary, either eating or resting, and not involved in social activity.

When the female geladas heard the calls, they looked toward the sound, spending more time in the location when the vocal sequence involved a moan, wobble, or yawn.

These monkeys live in harem-like reproductive units, typically made up of about six females and one male. To catch the attention of the females, the researchers found that sequences containing one of three derived call types worked best

'When the sound only involved the grunt, the females might be curious briefly, but not as interested as when they heard varied sounds,' she said.

These monkeys live in harem-like reproductive units, typically made up of about six females and one male.

The lone male does all of the mating, until he is kicked out by a younger male suitor.

Researchers in the study suggest the findings indicate attempts by the male geladas to maintain social bonds with females.

'The results of this study build support for the idea that sexual selection could play an important role in the emergence of complexity in primate vocal systems,' said Gustison.
The College Board believes the SATs are an accurate way to predict how a student will perform their first-year in college.

But new findings suggests hundreds of thousands of students' SAT scores are marked in radically different ways - under or over estimating their score.

Researchers suggest these outcomes raise questions about the fairness and accuracy of the standardized tests, as there is no uniform standard for grading across the US.

New findings suggests hundreds of thousands of students' SAT scores predict a better or worse grade than what the student will actually receive. Researchers suggest these outcomes raise questions about the fairness and accuracy of the standardized tests, as every college's method of testing varies

'Our main implication is that tests do not work in the same way across colleges and universities, and we have found that hundreds of thousands of people's predicted GPA based on SAT scores were under- or overestimated,' said lead author Herman Aguinis, the John F. Mee Chair of Management and a professor of organizational behavior and human resources at Kelley.

'If the prediction is not the same, that means that you can benefit or suffer based only on your ethnicity or gender, because your performance is expected to be higher or lower than it will be, which means you're more or less likely to be offered a scholarship or you're more or less likely to be offered admission.'

Researchers introduced 'the concept of differential prediction generalization in the context of college admissions testing', as stated in the paper published in the Journal of Educational Psychology.

WHAT DID AGUINIS AND CO-AUTHORS FIND IN THE STUDY? Aguinis and his team compared 257, 336 female and 220,433 male students across 339 samples and 29,734 African American and 304,372 white students across 264 samples collected from 176 colleges and universities from 2006 to 2008. While examining the mathematics portion of the SAT, he found that at 16 percent of all colleges the predictions were not accurate in either gender. When comparing Caucasian with Latino students, the data showed to be inaccurate at 19 percent of colleges, which affected about 65,000 people. And when Black and Caucasian students were compared during the critical-reading section of the SAT, predictions failed in 20 percent of colleges and again, affected about 65,000 students. The College Board data did not allow an investigation into other groups, such as Asian or Native American students. But Aguinis said, 'the common pattern was that at different colleges on different parts of the test, different groups benefited.' Advertisement

The team assessed 'the extent to which predicted first-year college grade point average (GPA) based on high-school grade point average and SAT scores depends on a student's ethnicity and gender and whether this difference varies across samples.'

The College Board did comment on the allegations this past Monday, but didn't not deny or dispute the findings.

The organization argued that they did not undercut the approach taken by the organization over the years, according to Inside Higher ED.

The new evidence brought forth by Aguinis and his co-authors Steven A. Culpepper of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Charles A. Pierce of the University of Memphis is a result of a dispute with the College Board about the accuracy of standardized tests.

In 2010, Aguinis and his colleagues first investigate the issue of test biases, which they concluded the methods used for admissions or even employment may be flawed.

The evidence brought forth by Aguinis and his co-authors Steven A. Culpepper of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Charles A. Pierce of the University of Memphis is a result of a dispute with the College Board about the accuracy of standardized tests

Three years later, the College Board published a rebuttal paper that raised questions about Aguinis and the co-authors of the 2010 paper, because it wasn't based on actual data.

Krista Mattern and Brian Patterson, research scientists and authors of the College Board paper, formulated real data using more than 475,00 students from more than 200 colleges in 2006 to 2008.

They studied the correlation between SAT data and first-year GPAs for all the 475,000 students and found, on average, that the relationship between the two was the same across various groups.

Once the data was made available, Auginis, Culpeper and Pierce took the data from the 400-page PDF file and presented it in a different way.

'The first thing we did was to do what they did, exactly what they did,' Aguinis said.

'And we found that our results are exactly like theirs -- on average -- across the 200 colleges.'

SATS BY NUMBERS: STATISTICS FOR 2014 The average SAT score for the Class of 2014 was 1497,which is down a point from the year before. Combining results for critical reading, math and writing, was 2400. Also stagnant was the share of students who reached a combined score of 1550, which the New York-based organization considers a standard for college and career readiness: Forty-three percent of those who took the SAT scored at or above that mark. The College Board reported that 1.67 million students in the Class of 2014 took the SAT, up slightly from 1.66 million the year before. Those figures appear to include tens of thousands of international students. Source: Washington Post Advertisement

What they did differently was gather the information and compare it on an individual basis, as there is no uniformed standard for grading in the US.

They argued that admission policies, grading approaches and academic support resources were different between institutions and even with in them, which made them questions how useful and fair the SAT can be as a predictor of success across gender and ethnic groups.

'Hundreds of thousands of students probably have been denied admission or denied scholarships just because of their ethnicity or gender when standardized tests are central in the admissions process -- but not against blacks or against women necessarily,' said Aguinis.

'It goes both ways.'

'The paper is about predicting performance for all people, and the bias we found sometimes benefits one group and some other times the other.'

Aguinis and his team compared 257, 336 female and 220,433 male students across 339 samples and 29,734 African American and 304,372 white students across 264 samples collected from 176 colleges and universities from 2006 to 2008.

While examining the mathematics portion of the SAT, he found that at 16 percent of all colleges the predictions were not accurate in either gender.

They argued that admission policies, grading approaches and academic support resources were different between institutions and even with in themAguinis does not believe the SAT and other tests should be thrown out the window, but he suggests tests and grading needs to be based on the uniqueness of each college

When comparing Caucasian with Latino students, the data showed to be inaccurate at 19 percent of colleges, which affected about 65,000 people.

And when Black and Caucasian students were compared during the critical-reading section of the SAT, predictions failed in 20 percent of colleges and again, affected about 65,000 students.

The College Board data did not allow an investigation into other groups, such as Asian or Native American students.

But Aguinis said, 'the common pattern was that at different colleges on different parts of the test, different groups benefited.'

'The key thing', he said, is that at many colleges, there is not one pattern of SAT scores predicting a given grade in the first year.'

Aguinis does not believe the SAT and other tests should be thrown out the window, but he suggests tests and grading needs to be based on the uniqueness of each college, university or other organization.

'You need to understand how the test works in your local context; the test may be working in ways you don't know, and you may be over-predicting for some groups and under-predicting for others,' Aguinis said.
In the past few months, Twitter has cut back on the amount of ads it shows its users  but you may not have noticed.

Thats because the company is only doing this for its VIP users.

The social media platform has created a nearly ad-free experience for its most prominent users, Re/code reports, in possible attempts to keep them tweeting.

In the past few months, Twitter has cut back on the amount of ads it shows its users  but you may not have noticed. Thats because the company is only doing this for its VIP users. The social media platform has created a nearly ad-free experience for its most prominent users, in possible attempts to keep them tweeting

TWITTER MAKES BIG CHANGES In the past few months, Twitter has turned its platform into an ad-free, or nearly ad-free, social media site for VIP users. This move is in addition to a string of changes the company has seen in the last year. It was also revealed this year that Twitter is testing 10,000 character tweets, in a move to allow users to express themselves more freely. The company has already removed the 140-character limit from its direct messages, and launched group chats for direct messages. It also opened the service to let anyone privately message any other user. Along with this, Twitter has made it easier to share content, like images, GIFs, Vines, videos and audio files, which can be embedded in public and private tweets. Advertisement

The idea has been in the works since September, and stuck around after Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey stepped into the permanent position.

According to Re/code, Twitter sources have revealed that the reduced-ad privilege isnt just granted based on fame, but is influenced by a number of factors, including volume and reach of the individuals tweets.

With 70,000 followers, Peter Kafka of Re/code appears to be among the Twitter VIPs, as is his boss and head of Re/Code, Kara Swisher, with over a million followers.

As a free social media platform, Twitter makes its money from ads.

But, having generated over $2 billion in revenue in 2015 almost entirely from ads, de-cluttering the feeds of a select group of elite Twitter users likely wont hurt the company.

This move goes against the companys apparent focus on reeling in new users, Kafka points out, as it appeals to the existing circle.

Kafka suggests new users could be drawn in with the option of ad-free subscription, and though the company wouldnt discuss the idea, a spokesperson said ads are frequently adjusted.

Were constantly looking at constraints and adjustments to optimize which ads are shown and how often, Twitter spokesperson Will Stickney told Re/code.

It was also revealed this year that Twitter is testing 10,000 character tweets, in a move to allow users to express themselves more freely.

As a free social media platform, Twitter makes its money from ads. But, having generated over $2 billion in revenue in 2015 almost entirely from ads, de-cluttering the feeds of a select group of elite Twitter users likely wont hurt the company

Increasing the limit has been discussed at Twitter for years, more so in recent months as the company looks to grow its user base, sources told Re/code.

The company removed the 140-character limit from its direct messages last year, and launched group chats for direct messages.

It also opened the service to let anyone privately message any other user.

Before this update, people could only send direct messages to people who they followed, and who followed them.

These plans were slammed by privacy advocates who said it opened people up to abuse, but Twitter assured users this wasn't the case and said users could control who messaged them in the Settings menu.

Twitter also made it easier to share content.

For example, when a user wants to quote a tweet, they can now do so without using up any of their character limit because the tweet is embedded in the post.
Apple has reported lower-than-expected iPhone sales in the latest quarter, its slowest-ever growth in shipments, as the company began to feel the effects of economic softness in the critical Chinese market.

Apple said on Tuesday it sold 74.8 million iPhones in the three months ended Dec. 26, the first full quarter of sales of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.

The giant tech company says revenue could fall at least 8.6 percent during the January-March quarter, compared with a year earlier.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook discusses the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus during the Apple event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Apple said on Tuesday it sold 74.8 million iPhones in the three months ended Dec. 26. The 0.4 percent growth in shipments was the lowest since the product was launched in 2007.

APPLE IN FIGURES Apple now has $216B in cash Sold 74.8 million iPhones in the three months ended Dec. 26 First-quarter net profit rose 1.9 percent to $18.36 billion Rise in iPhone shipments was the smallest since the second fiscal quarter of 2013 iPad sales were 16.12 million, down 21% year-over-year Mac sales down 3% year-over-year Advertisement

The giant tech company issued a sales forecast that says revenue could fall at least 8.6 percent during the January-March quarter, compared with a year earlier.

The 0.4 percent growth in shipments was the lowest since the product was launched in 2007.

While revenue in Greater China rose 14 percent in the quarter, Apple is beginning to see a shift in the economy, particularly in Hong Kong, Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri told Reuters in an interview.

'As we move into the March quarter it's becoming more apparent that there are some signs of economic softness,' Maestri said.

'We are starting to see something that we have not seen before.'

Analysts have long feared that Apple's sales in China, one of its top two markets, would falter amid a broad economic slowdown.

Apple's iPhone shipments fell short of analyst expectations for 75.5 million, according to research firm FactSet StreetAccount.

The company's first-quarter net profit rose 1.9 percent to $18.36 billion, while revenue increased 1.7 percent to $75.87 billion, both records for the company.

The rise in iPhone shipments was the smallest since the second fiscal quarter of 2013, when they rose 6.8 percent, according to data company Statista.

iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod touch, Apple TV, and Apple Watch devices that have been engaged with our services within the past 90 days.

Maestri attributed the lackluster revenue to foreign exchange headwinds, which he said knocked about $5 billion off the company's revenue.

However, Tim Cook put a brave face on the results.

'We're seeing extreme conditions just about everywhere we look, ' he said.

'Two thirds of Apple's revenue is now generated outside then United States.'

'Our team delivered Apple's biggest quarter ever, thanks to the world's most innovative products and all-time record sales of iPhone, Apple Watch and Apple TV,' said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO.

'The growth of our Services business accelerated during the quarter to produce record results, and our installed base recently crossed a major milestone of one billion active devices.'

Apple Watch sales were particularly strong in December, said Cook.

He also hinted that the firm may develop virtual reality products.

'Virtual reality is not a niche - it's really cool and has some interesting applications,' he said.

Apple blamed falling glocal currencies for its relatively poor performance.

He also reminded investors the firm has 'the mother of all balance sheets'.

Demand has weakened for the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, which boasted record weekend sales when they launched in September.

These devices have fewer distinguishing features than their popular predecessors, especially the bigger-screen 6 and 6 Plus phones that were launched in 2014 and grabbed the attention of Asian customers who until then favored the bigger screen phones offered by the likes of Samsung Electronics.

IPHONE MADE MORE IN A QUARTER THAN ANDROID DID IN A LIFETIME Android has generated $31 billion in revenue since Google acquired the mobile operating system in 2005, a lawyer for Oracle has revealed in federal court. Annette Hurst, an Oracle lawyer, said Jan. 14 that Alphabet, Google's parent company, has made $22 billion in profit off of Android, said Bloomberg. If the numbers are accurate, that would mean Android has generated less revenue over its lifetime than the iPhone did in the quarter ended Sep. 30, the most recently reported quarter. Then, Apple said the iPhone generated $32.2 billion in sales. Advertisement

'Apple has become a victim of their own success,' FBR Capital Markets analyst Daniel Ives said.

'Many customers are either buying an older, cheaper iPhone 6 or waiting for the iPhone 7.'

China, the company's fastest-growing market, may also have weighed on results, as a slowdown in the economy forced consumers to tighten their purse strings.

Apple shares have fallen nearly 10 percent since the start of October, steeper than a 2.2 percent decline in the S&P 500 index.

The stock trades at 10 times forward 12-months earnings versus Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) 21.5.

Apple is the world's biggest company, in terms of stock value, thanks to the iPhone's surging popularity around the world.

In business terms, Apple makes most of its money from iPhone sales.

But concerns about slowing growth have sent the stock into a months-long slump, fueling debate about what kind of company Apple will be in the future.

The iPhone contributed nearly two-thirds of Apple's $234 billion in revenue last year.

None of the other new products Apple has launched in recent years have emerged as blockbusters.

That's led some critics to suggest Apple has lost its innovative touch, while others say it's evolving to depend on a broader base of related tech products and services.

One thing is clear, said analyst Angelo Zino at S&P Capital IQ: 'Last year was an unprecedented year for Apple and the iPhone.... You'll never see that type of growth from the iPhone again.'

IPHONE HISTORY: THE PHONE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone to the public on January 9, 2007, at the Macworld 2007 convention at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The two initial models, a 4 GB model priced at US$499 and an 8 GB model at US$599 (both requiring a 2-year contract), went on sale in the United States on June 29, 2007. Development of what was to become the iPhone began in 2004, when Apple started to gather a team of 1000 employees to work on the highly confidential 'Project Purple' There are now nine generations of iPhone models, each accompanied by one of the nine major releases of iOS. Steve Jobs unveiling the iPhone to the public on January 9, 2007, at the Macworld 2007 convention at the Moscone Center in San Francisco Advertisement

But analysts say it appears Apple has cut production orders from key suppliers in recent weeks, suggesting it's lowered its own forecasts.

Apple hasn't commented on iPhone sales since last fall, when Cook struck an upbeat tone. In part, Zino and other experts say, the company is suffering from its own success.

Apple sold 61 million iPhones in the March quarter of 2015, or 40 percent more than it did a year earlier.

To match that growth rate, Apple would need to sell more than 85 million in the current period. Instead, analysts are expecting around 55 million.

An estimated 500 million people own iPhones now, which means Apple can rely on a significant number to upgrade each year. But some have put off buying a new model because they didn't see a strong reason to upgrade.

Despite some new features, 'people are feeling like there hasn't been anything that's really new' in the latest iPhone models, known as the 6S and 6S Plus, which came out last fall, said market researcher John Feland of Argus Insights.

Apple will likely make significant changes in the next major iPhone release, expected in September, which could fuel another surge in sales. Some tech blogs have reported a new model might even be coming this spring.

The company went through a similar cycle a few years ago, when iPhone sales growth slowed to 7 percent in the final months of 2013. The next year, Apple introduced new models with significantly bigger screens.

That sent sales skyrocketing, especially in Asia, where consumers had previously flocked to buy big-screen phones from rival Samsung.

But there may no more equally dramatic changes left to jump-start sales like that again.

'Apple really pulled the big lever they had left un-pulled, up to then,' said tech analyst Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research. 'That was sort of a one-off event.'

While iPhone sales may be slowing, Apple has launched other products and services tied to the iPhone  from the Apple Watch to the digital payments service known as Apple Pay, the subscription-based Apple Music and 'smart home' software that lets users control their lights and appliances with Siri, the voice-enabled digital assistant on the iPhone and iPad.

These are designed to make the iPhone itself more useful, while producing a steady stream of new revenue.

Taiwan-based Foxconn, which assembles most iPhones, has taken a rare decision to cut working hours over a major holiday during which workers usually rack up overtime.

None of those new products have sold like the iPhone itself, however. Sales of the iPad have been declining for two years.

'Apple still has a lot of value, a lot of cash flow, so it's not to say the company is in trouble. But it's difficult to say that it's on the cutting edge,' said Murillo Campello, a finance professor at Cornell University who follows Apple closely.

Others say it's premature to count Apple among former tech giants, like Hewlett-Packard, that have struggled for relevance as their pace of growth and innovation declined.

Apple is working on a wide range of future products, from streaming video to virtual reality and even self-driving cars, said FBR Capital Markets' analyst Daniel Ives in a recent note to clients.
Could you pack a suitcase for a flight in 10 minutes and remember everything?

Who better to reveal how to do so than the crew who do it several times a week.

From how to pack wet swimwear to cooking with a hotel iron, these pilots, captains and first officers have revealed their top travelling tips.

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Tips range from packing ziploc bags for liquids and wet bikinis to foil which will allow holidaymakers to create a quick cheese toastie with the hotel iron

Theclub.ba.com asked British Airways' crew members to share their go to packing techniques and rituals before they travel - and their routines may surprise you.

Senior First Officer Cliodhna Duggan, Boeing 777 fleet

The night before my first training day at BA, 10 years ago, I packed my uniform and travelled to Heathrow in my civvies.

It wasnt until I got dressed the following morning I realised Id forgotten my black uniform shoes. All I had were the bright yellow trainers Id travelled in. I have learnt my lesson  I now always travel in my uniform.

Travel is made so much worse if youre tired, hungry or have a dead phone, so you should always take earplugs, snacks and a travel adapter. I recommend see-through ziploc bags too  theyre great for everything, including making sure your liquids dont leak and for storing wet bikinis.

For work I can pack my case in 10 minutes. The best advice Ive ever been given is always to put your name and contact details inside your case as well as on a label on the outside. And if youre putting your passport in a hotel room safe, be sure to put a shoe in there with them so you wont forget about it.

Project Pilot Ilkka Tahvanainen, Airbus training, A380 fleet

I live in Finland and commute to work in the UK, where I might be flying, doing simulator training or working in the office.

In addition to the essentials (wash bag, my British Airways ID and my flying licence), I take swimming trunks for any impromptu dips, and travel binoculars for checking out in detail some of the remote places we fly over. The mountains in the Canadian Arctic are particularly stunning.

Its not often I have a packing disaster, though I did once arrive somewhere to discover Id brought the kids socks instead of mine.

I have a neat way for folding shirts  I do up most of the buttons, then fold the ironed shirt along the middle vertical line. Then I fold the sleeves in and fold the shirt in two. The shirt comes out without needing to be ironed.

First Officer Chloe Harrison, Airbus A320 fleet, Gatwick

My longest work trips are three days so I never carry much more than gym kit and a pair of jeans. My advice for frequent travellers is to have your suitcase ready to go at all times. When I return from a trip, I just wash whatevers in my wash bag and put it back in.

Then all I have to add is a clean shirt and my toothbrush just before I leave. The most surprising thing I travel with is tin foil. Why? So I can use the iron in my hotel room to turn a cheese sandwich into a toastie.'

British Airways' crew members to share their go to packing techniques and rituals before they travel (stock image)

Im a huge fan of the rolling method for packing  you can jam in so much more stuff. This is particularly true in the winter, when you have to pack warm. Stuffing tights into shoes and rolling up toiletries into jeans helps.

First Officer Aoife Duggan, Airbus A320 fleet

For work, I can pack my case in less than three minutes. In my bag, youll always find a small handbag that folds flat, a good lip balm for dealing with dry cabin air, and spare undies in case I get stuck somewhere for longer than planned.

During the winter Ill also pack a mini hot water bottle. Some hotel rooms never get warm, plus I find it hard to warm up on long night flights.

My fiance always asks me to pack for him, though thats not without flaws. We once arrived on holiday to discover he had no underwear packed at all.

Captain Rob Johnson, Airbus A320 fleet

Packing a case has been part of my life for 16 years, so these days I can do it in minutes. The best bits of packing advice Ive ever received are to ask myself Do you really need it? and Can you even carry all this?.

As an author of childrens books, I always pack a notebook and pencil for when Im exploring a new city. I use these notes in helping to compose my stories. The one thing I wouldnt travel without is my running kit. After a long day sitting on a plane its great to get out for a jog and some fresh air.
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Isolated, polluted and  above all  cold, it is a city built on misery and blood.

It is also a city of surprising wealth  the reason for its unlikely existence. Norilsk, squatting 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle, has the largest deposits of nickel, copper and palladium on earth and its hellish mines are thriving.

Gulag prisoners began expanding the Siberian settlement in 1935 and over the next 20 years, 500,000 slaves took part in its construction . Thousands lost their lives.

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Due to its location, Norilsk might appear even more isolated than other arctic cities, without ground connections with the rest of the world. The air is the only way to reach it, together with seaway and river boats when the navigation is possible

The living conditions are extreme in Norilsk, with intense cold, negative average annual temperature, strong winds and grey skies throughout the year. Locals (pictured) enjoy a rare day of sunshine but have few beauty spots to sunbathe in

The cold period in the city extends for about 280 days per year, with more than 130 days with snowstorms and the average annual temperature is -10C, reaching lows of -55C in winter.

Norilsk, Siberia is situated 250 miles north of the Arctic circle, the average annual temperature is -10C

Today, Norilsk is the northernmost city on earth and still a place of extremes. The average temperature is -10C, reaching -55C in the endless winter.

There are two whole months of polar night, when people endure near total darkness, and Norilsk is encased in snow for eight to nine months a year.

Despite this, the city now has 170,000 residents. Russian photographer Elena Chernyshova spent several weeks there for her project: Days Of Night- Nights Of Day and her pictures show a normal life of sunbathing, picnics and parties existing alongside a desperate battle to keep warm during bitterly cold spells.

For two months of the year, the city is plunged into polar night, where 24 hours a day are in darkness and in the summer they have 24 hours of light

The polar days and nights cycle has a strong influence on the physical and psychological conditions of the human body

The Norilsks citizens suffer the polar night syndrome, resulting in anxiety, nervousness, drowsiness or insomnia, depending of the seasons, while the psychological discomfort and poor emotional stimuli also generate many cases of depression. Pictured in January locals celebrate Epiphany by swimming in Lake Norilsk

With the population of 175,300 inhabitants, Norilsk is one of the biggest cities above the Arctic Circle. For Shrove Tuesday, locals burn a scarecrow to welcome the spring (pictured)

The work conditions for miners are hard. The compensation for the risks is represented by the long duration of official holidays, 90 days, and the early retirement at 45 years old

In the winter, children are allowed for a walk outside only under certain conditions. Sometimes children have to spend several months indoors. Many buildings have been gradually abandoned (left)

It is, for obvious reasons, an indoor place of sports and shopping centres and social gatherings in apartments.

Children are often forced to spend several months indoors so the city has large buildings where they can enjoy outdoor activities like cycling and running, even during the winter.

During cold spells, a convoy of 15 to 20 buses transport workers around. If one bus breaks down, the passengers can be evacuated to another bus. This column circulates three times a day.

Lost in the middle of tundra in 400 km on the North of the Arctic Circle, Norilsk has no ground transport connections with the rest of the world. In the time of Stalin, the perilous road to Norilsk Gulag was known as the 'road of death'

Only waterways and airways allow the life to be attached to the rest of Russia and inhabitants call the rest of the world a continent

People domesticate industrial zones for their leisure and recreation. A man soaks up some rare rays of sunshine (above)

During snowstorms the public transport is organised in processions. The column of 15-20 buses transport workers between the city and places of work. If one bus breaks down, the passengers can be evacuated to another bus. This convoy circulates only three times a day

The fall of the USSR disrupted the flow of funds to the city and construction of several buildings were frozen. For 20 years, these buildings have remained unfinished

A coat of snow covers the city during eight to nine months a year and snowdrifts can reach three metres in height

Norilsk was first settled in the early 1900s after the discovery of rich mineral deposits, formed 250million years ago, at the foot of the Putorana Mountains

In 1935, the USSR started constructing a metallurgical complex to extract the materials and with this came the wretched columns of prisoners, condemned to a living death in the Arctic wasteland.

The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 but the city thrived and Norilsk Nickel is now the world leader in production of nickel and palladium. It brings in two per cent of the Russian GDP.

But working condition for miners are still bad. The compensation is long holidays  90 days a year  and retirement at 45.

The real rise of Norilsk started at the beginning of the 20th century, when the expedition of the geologist Urvantsev found out the rich deposits of nickel, copper and cobalt at the foot of the Putorana Mountains

One of the Norilsk particularities is the lack of green spaces in the city where one can escape. Inhabitants must go 20 miles by bus and have to walk for a while to reach the true nature. Lack of time causes people to enjoy the sun and heat in the urban area

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Norilsk became the main centre of the company Norilsk Nickel, the world leader in production of nickel and palladium, with 17% and 41% of the world production respectively. Nowadays, Norilsk Nickel brings in 2% of the Russian GDP

The pollution caused by the mining and factories brings Norilsk in the top-10 list of the world most polluted cities

Every year, more than 2 million tons of gas (mainly dioxide sulfur, but also nitrogen oxides, carbon and phenols) are expelled into the atmosphere

This huge pollution has a strong influence on the peoples health. Life expectancy is 10 years less than in other regions of Russia, the risk of cancer is two time higher and respiratory diseases are widespread

Norilsk is consistently in the top 10 of most polluted cities on Earth. Every year, more than 2 million tons of gas (mainly sulphur dioxide , but also nitrogen oxides, carbon and phenols) are expelled into the atmosphere.

Life expectancy is 10 years less than in other regions of Russia, the risk of cancer is two time higher and respiratory diseases are widespread.

Some studies show that the air quality is responsible for 37 per cent of deaths of child deaths and 21.6 per cent of adult deaths.

The polar days and nights cycle also has a strong influence on the human body, which struggles to adapt to such extreme conditions.

Darkness causes a reduction in the release of the hormone melatonin, which regulates many functions of the body.

This leads to sleep and nervous system problems, constant fatigue, psychological discomfort and depression. A lack of melatonin also aids premature aging of the body and promotes the development of cancer.

Norilsk is situated on the Siberian western plateau at the foot of the Putorana Mountains culminating at 1700 metres above the sea level. Norilsk has the largest deposits of nickel, copper and palladium in the world. These deposits were formed about 250 millions years ago during the formation of Siberia

The city-factory has only one reason to exist: maintaining the biggest metallurgical and mines complex in the world. This complex brings in 2% of GDP of Russia

The factories and the mines work 24 /7. The working days follow the pattern: three days of work and one day of rest

The isolation of Norilsk makes the city fold in on itself: the social and cultural activities are reduced and are often lead by personal initiative

The construction plan of Norilsk was established in 1940 by architects who were prisoners of Norillag. Its main idea was to create an ideal city with simple and logical plan. The most ancient buildings are constructed in the style of Stalin architecture

The second phase of construction in the city was in 1960s, and followed the widespread system in USSR of constructing the buildings with pre-built panels

Some large closed spaces are designed for the children, so that they can enjoy outdoor activities like cycling, running... even during the winter

Life expectancy is ten years lesser than the average in Russia, while life expectancy in Russia is already low enough, about 60 years

Some studies show that the air quality is responsible for 37 per cent of deaths of child deaths and 21.6 per cent of adult deaths. Following some independent studies, the cancer risk in Norilsk is two times greater than in the rest of the country

Due to the adverse weather conditions, people spend most of their time in enclosed spaces at their work, individual apartments or local sport, cultural and shopping centres

Norilsk is facing, despite its prosperity, big problem of maintenance of its buildings. The problem is the thawing of upper layers of permafrost
Qatar Airways is reportedly planning to launch two ultra-long-haul routes that will allow it to lay claim to the longest and second-longest flights in the world.

The Gulf carrier has revealed that it will operate non-stop journeys from its base in Qatars capital, Doha, to Auckland, New Zealand, and Santiago, Chile.

The flight between Doha and Auckland would become the longest in the world  eclipsing the current record holder by nearly 500 miles.

Qatar Airways has revealed plans to operate non-stop flights between Doha and Auckland and Santiago

According to WebFlyer, the flight distance between Doha and Auckland is approximately 9,030 miles.

Travelmath's flight time calculator suggests the flight would be approximately 18 hours and 34 minutes.

Currently, the worlds longest flight  from Sydney to Dallas, operated by Qantas  is 8,578 miles.

Qatar Airways route between Doha and Santiago would have a distance of 8,950 miles, putting it in second place overall. According to Travelmath, the flight time would be approximately 18 hours and 25 minutes.

The state-owned carrier plans to use Boeing 777-200LR aircraft on the routes, Bloomberg Business reported after interviewing CEO Akbar Al Baker at the Bahrain International Airshow.

He said the airline also plans to add more flights to Iran, which has been touted as an emerging destination for foreign tourists after sanctions were lifted.

The flight between Doha and Auckland would be the longest in the world, with a distance of 9,030 miles

THE LONGEST FLIGHTS IN THE WORLD Sydney-Dallas, Qantas  8,578 miles, 16 hours and 55 minutes Johannesburg-Atlanta, Delta Air Lines  8,439 miles, 16 hours and 40 minutes Abu Dhabi-Los Angeles, Etihad Airways  8,390 miles, 16 hours and 30 minutes Dubai-Los Angeles, Emirates  8,339 miles, 16 hours and 35 minutes Jeddah-Los Angeles, Saudia  8,332 miles, 16 hours and 55 minutes Doha-Los Angeles, Qatar Airways  8,306 miles, 16 hours and 25 minutes Dubai-Houston, Emirates  8,168 miles, 16 hours and 20 minutes Abu Dhabi-San Francisco, Etihad Airways  8,158 miles, 16 hours and 15 minutes Dallas-Hong Kong, American Airlines  8,123 miles, 16 hours and 20 minutes Dubai-San Francisco, Emirates  8,103 miles, 15 hours and 50 minutes Advertisement

Qatar Airways currently operates nine Boeing 777-200LR planes, which seat 42 passengers in business class and 217 in economy.

A spokesman told MailOnline Travel that the airline cannot confirm any details regarding possible new routes.

A number of carriers have announced plans or expressed interest in adding ultra-long-haul routes.

Last year, Emirates said it would fly from Dubai to Panama City starting in February, but the launch has been pushed back to late March.

The route will have a distance of 8,580 miles and a record flight time of 17 hours and 35 minutes, eclipsing Qantas Sydney-Dallas route by 40 minutes.

Singapore Airlines is planning to resume its non-stop flights between Singapore and New York, the previous record holder with a distance of 9,535 miles.
She's known for commanding attention on the Victoria's Secret runway.

And supermodel Adriana Lima, 34, was ever the Brazilian bombshell as she attended a charity gala in Miami on Sunday.

The brunette beauty was the look of love in her red-and-white look.

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Red-lipped beauty: Supermodel Adriana Lima, 34, was ever the Brazilian bombshell as she attended a charity gala in Miami on Sunday

Adriana wore a low cut, waist-tied dress complete with a high leg slit.

The tea-length frock featured ruche detailing around the bodice and pea-sized buttons along the sleeves.

The 5'10 siren accessorized with gold, string earrings and a bracelet before finishing her look with a red clutch and matching caged heels.

Legs for days: The supermodel wore a plunging, waist-tied dress complete with a high leg slit

Old Hollywood: The blue-eyed beauty's famous peepers were heavily lined and lashed, while her plump pout boasted a a swipe of deep red lipstick

The stunner's skin glistened in the light, possibility reflecting a fresh spray tan and highlighter.

Adriana wore her dark brown locks to one side, giving off a flirty look.

The blue-eyed beauty's famous peepers were heavily lined and lashed, while her plump pout boasted a a swipe of deep red lipstick

Group shot: Adriana posed with musical group Dream Team do Passinho at the BrazilFoundation in Miami

Bring it in! The group happily gathered together

Her words: Adriana gave a speech during the evening

Adriana, who's of Brazilian descent, gave a speech during the gala, hosted by the BrazilFoundation.

According to their site, the organization 'mobilizes resources for ideas and actions that transform Brazil.

The foundation also hopes 'to promote equality, social justice and economic opportunity for all Brazilians.'
They say the apple doesn't fall from from the tree.

And that's certainly true for Hollywood actress Jennifer Garner and her sister, Melissa Garner Wylie, who cut striking similar figures when they stepped out in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The two women looked like twins, rather than just siblings, as they left Sunday church service in Pacific Palisades with the actress' son Samuel and daughters Violet & Seraphina Affleck.

Youngest Affleck sibling Samuel stole the show as he flashed a few funny faces for the camera.

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So similar! Jennifer Garner and her sister, Melissa Garner Wylie, cut striking similar figures when they stepped out in LA, on Sunday

The two slimline women, who are 43 and 45 respectively, were immediately recognisable as close family members.

Both sporting the same facial features and brunette locks in casual centre-partings, the women were virtual doppelgangers of one another.

The only distinguishable difference between them, aside form their hair length, was the fact Jennifer sported a green, checked dress which displayed her legs.

Looking good: The only distinguishable difference between them, aside form their hair length, was the fact Jennifer sported a green, checked dress which displayed her legs

Doppelgangers: The two slimline women, who are 43 and 45 respectively, were immediately recognisable as close family members

Sleeveless in design, the fitted number was also sleeveless, so displayed her all-over trim physique.

She capped the look with a pair of slip-on flats, which was appropriate given that she was attending a Sunday service in her local church.

There, she was joined by her three children with ex-husband Ben Affleck: 10-year-old Violet, seven-year-old Seraphina and three-year-old Samuel.

Look-a-like: Both sporting the same facial features and brunette locks in casual centre-partings, the women were virtual doppelgangers of one another

Sleeveless in design, the fitted number was also sleeveless, so displayed her all-over trim physique

Out and about: Jennifer was joined by her three children at the church service in Pacific Palisades

The cute youngsters were allowed to dress for fun as they stepped out in the wealthy LA district.

Little Samuel was in ninja mode as he rocked up in an adorable onesie with a belt and bandana across his forehead. Smiling attentively at onlookers, he also wore red wellies.

Meanwhile, his sisters remained more low-key in shirt-dresses over trousers.

Self-care: Jennifer has been focusing on her fitness and general well-being since splitting with her husband Ben Affleck in June 2015, just one day after their 10th wedding anniversary

Too cute: Little Samuel was in ninja mode as he rocked up in an adorable onesie with a belt and bandana across his forehead. Smiling attentively at onlookers, he also wore red wellies

Hand-in-hand: Jennifer's son certainly had features of both herself and his dad, Ben Affleck

Jennifer has been focusing on her fitness and general well-being since splitting with her husband Ben Affleck in June 2015, just one day after their 10th wedding anniversary.

The former couple married at the Parrot Cay resort on the Turks and Caicos Islands during a private ceremony on June 29, 2005.

The brunette beauty is set to release four films this year: Nine Lives, Wakefield, The Tribes Of Palos Verdes and Miracles From Heaven.

Having a good day! Jennifer found herself busy with her brood at the weekend church service
With family drama brewing, Kylie Jenner kept herself busy on Sunday with a trip to a luxury jewelry store.

The teenager is said to be 'livid' over brother Rob Kardashian's rumored new romance with Blac Chyna, who was previously engaged to Kylie's 26-year-old boyfriend, rapper Tyga.

The 18-year-old 'feels betrayed' by the bizarre twist, reports People.

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Retail therapy: Kylie Jenner headed to Polacheck's Luxury Jewelers in Calabasas on Sunday amid brewing Kardashian drama

'Kylie is livid,' a source told the magazine.

'She feels super betrayed and can't understand why someone in her own family would stab her in the back like that.'

A somber Kylie was pictured in a low-key outfit as she stepped out in Calabasas with pal Jordyn Woods on Sunday to visit Polacheck's jewelers.

Kylie, 18, donned leather leggings and a white top for the outing - completing the look with a satin jacket.

Off for a shopping spree: The 18-year-old star wore leather leggings and a white top with satin jacket

She wore her raven locks loose in natural waves and shaded her eyes with dark sunglasses.

Meanwhile, Kylie is reportedly still together with boyfriend Tyga, 26, despite reports she doesn't trust the rapper.

A source told People that the KUWTK star is not on the best terms with her on-off beau 'after all the reports came out about him cheating'.

And there seems to be more trouble on the horizon as early on Monday morning Tyga's ex Blac Chyna shared a snap of herself cosying up to Kylie's brother Rob.

See Kylie Jenner updates as she steps out amid bizarre family twist involving Tyga's ex

Helpful pal: The KUWTK star was accompanied by pal Jordyn Woods on the outing

While his face is not shown, the reclusive reality star is easily identifiable by his arm tattoos.

Chyna, 27, posted the snap - which shows the 28-year-old's arm wrapped around her neck - with the caption 'The beginning'.

It's a complicated twist which will no doubt make relations awkward between Kylie and her half-sibling.

Unexpected twist: On Monday Blac Chyna - the ex fiance of Kylie's boyfriend Tyga - shared a snap which appeared to insinuate she is dating Kylie's brother Rob Kardashian, 28

Reclusive: Friends of Rob (pictured in March 2013 with mom Kris Jenner) are concerned that Chyna is using him to get back at Kylie

Not bothered? Tyga, 26, shared a photo on Monday looking carefree and holding stacks of cash

Provocative: Hours later Chyna shared an eye-popping booty shot as she took part in a photo shoot

'I love my hair so much right now': The 27-year-old shared a clip from on set showing her with blue locks getting styled

Chyna - a former stripper - most famously dated Tyga from November 2011 to late 2014, and the two were engaged for less than two years. The exes share three-year-old son King Cairo Stevenson.

Rumours surrounding Kylie and Tyga's romance started surfacing around October 2014, seemingly a little bit of an overlap and leading to social media feuding between the two women.

A source told E! Online that friends are concerned Chyna is 'preying' on Rob 'during a weak time'.

Going goth: On Monday Kylie rocked the leather look once again with a Marilyn Manson t-shirt and black boots

Pout and about: The TV star didn't caption this selfie that she shared seemingly from outside her mansion

Aunt Kylie: On Monday, the reality star captioned a couple of screenshots of her and Penelope on KUWTK 'My face lol.. But I love me and blondie poosh'

The insider is also concerned that Chyna is just using Rob to get back at Kylie.

Rob has been staying out of the spotlight and struggling with health concerns including a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis after gaining 100 pounds.

Meanwhile, Kylie shared some silly Snapchats and even managed to irritate her mother Kris Jenner with her videos which she added face-warping filters to.

Larking about: The teen KUWTK star found other ways to keep distracted over the weekend and shared silly Snapchat vidoes

Trippy: The TV star couldn't stop giggling as she altered her face with a circus-style filter

Not impressed: Kylie's mom Kris Jenner was not happy when she turned the camera on her

In one selfie Kylie was seen saying 'This is f***ed up' as she used a filter which added wrinkles to her face.

And in another clip the teen gave a glimpse of a massive portrait of herself being painted on one of the walls of her mansion.

It follows another Snapchat which revealed a photograph of Kylie's eyes - altered to look ghostly white - which she had hung up in North's bedroom.

Project: Kylie also shared a clip from inside her mansion which appeared to show a huge portrait being painted on her wall
New York might be recovering from the blizzard known as Winter Storm Jonas.

But the colder conditions certainly didn't deter busty American model Gabi Grecko, 26, from flaunting her ample cleavage on social media.

The estranged wife of Australian businessman Geoffrey Edelsten, 72, made a vain attempt to rug up against the chill in a scarf and pink jacket but left little to the imagination showing off her chest in a zip-up top.

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Leaving little to the imagination: Gabi Grecko shows off her ample bust in a jacket and scarf in her latest images shared on Instagram as New York recovers from Winter Storm Jonas

The personality, who swapped her Melbourne home for New York, shared to Instagram a picture of herself posing on Monday.

Wearing sunglasses and showing off a golden tan, she puckers up for the camera in a sideways pose.

Appearing to be wearing little make-up and a brown wig, Gabi runs a hand through her long hair.

She captioned the shot: 'Just survived the biggest snowstorm in NYC this year. Now I'm ready to plow 2016.'

She also posted another picture of herself in the same outfit - which has since been deleted - gazing directly at the camera and pulling her sunglasses down to reveal her eyes.

Selfie: She also posted another picture of herself in the same outfit pulling her sunglasses down to reveal her eyes

She's also kept her 38,000 followers up-to-date about the snowy conditions outside of her apartment posting shots of her shoes in snow and snaps of the streets.

Gabi is no stranger to showing off her body online, and recently flaunted her bosom in a photo where she lifted up her T-shirt.

Earlier this month, the Miami-born personality returned to social media after a three-week hiatus, and revealed she had been signed to a celebrity management agency Intrigue.

Other stars looked after by the business include American porn star Jenna Jameson, 41, and reality TV star Farrah Abraham, 24.

Racy: Gabi is no stranger to showing off her body online, and recently flaunted her bosom in a photo where she lifted up her T-shirt

What's next? Earlier this month, the Miami-born personality returned to social media after a three-week hiatus, and revealed she had been signed to a celebrity management agency Intrigue

Gabi and her ex Geoffrey are believed to have split in September, when she jetted off to New York claiming she could not handle the details of his autobiography which detailed a threesome and the moment he lost his virginity.

Before they parted, they appeared on Celebrity Apprentice Australia that later aired in September.

The couple married in Melbourne last June and it is claimed Geoffrey is planning to divorce her.

It is believed he is waiting until they've been separated for a year before he files the necessary paperwork.

A source told Daily Mail Australia: 'They have been separated for a total eight months, that's a month before they married, and he [Geoffrey] is waiting until April to draw a line under his third marriage.'

Since his relationship with Gabi, Geoffrey was linked to American actress Rachel Currence, but the star shot down reports of a romance to Daily Mail Australia this week.

Case of the ex: Gabi and estranged husband Geoffrey Edelsten are believed to have split in September, when she flew back to New York claiming she could not handle the details of his autobiography
She has openly talked about being single and looking for love.

And now actress and Australia's Got Talent judge Sophie Monk has decided it's time to focus and meet someone this year.

'There's no time to really think about [a relationship] but I'd like to eventually settle down in maybe a year or so - but I better hurry up!' she told the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

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'I better hurry up!' Sophie Monk, 36, has said she would like to meet someone and settle down this year

Time flies: The former 2DayFM host says she may be 36 but feels like she's still only 12

Admitting she struggles to accept she's getting older, she added: 'I'm 36 but I feel like I'm still 12.'

But despite feeling younger than her years, the blonde bombshell said that she wouldn't date a younger man.

'There's no way I would be a cougar - can't do it,' she insisted.

Candid: 'There's not time to really think about [a relationship]but I'd like to eventually settle down in maybe a year or so,' the Australia's Got Talent judge revealed to the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday

Sophie has previously agreed her love life has been chequered.

Former loves include musician Benji Madden, to whom she was engaged, millionaire businessman Jimmy Esebag, who she was also briefly engaged to, and Avatar actor Sam Worthington, who has since gone on to marry model Lara Bingle.

More recently, she was linked to retired cricketer Shane Warne but insists that was innocent flirting.

'There's no way I would be a cougar': Despite feeling younger than her years, the blonde bombshell said that she wouldn't date a younger man

Sophie and Benji began dating in 2006, with the Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous singer proposing to her on Christmas Eve later that year.

The two split amicably just over a year later in early January of 2008.

The Celebrity Apprentice winner then became engaged to businessman Jimmy Esebag in 2011, but once again called off the engagement months later.

Former flame: Sophie used to date Avatar actor Sam Worthington who has since gone on to marry model Lara Bingle

She was once engaged: The blonde bombshell almost married millionaire Jimmy Esebag, pictured after a romantic break in California in 2011

She found love in the past: Sophie and Benji Madden began dating in 2006, with the singer proposing to her on Christmas Eve later that year, however the two split amicably just over a year later in early January of 2008

Sophie has been single for much of the last two years, blaming her unsociable hours for getting in the way of finding love.

The former singer and actress, who has just landed RedHotPie's coveted title of Sexiest Australian Of The Year 2016, told Daily Mail Australia last week: 'I'd really like to settle down and have a baby one day.

'I want to bust my a** working then I can step back...My ego doesn't need it anymore.'

Of online dating, she says she's not a fan.

She previously told DMA: 'Online dating? Nah, not for me, I'll figure it out somehow. I'll find a way. It would be nice to date someone different, a footballer or rugby player.... someone my height or taller for a change, I'm 5ft 7ins.'

'I'd really like to settle down and have a baby one day': Sophie has been single for much of the last two years, blaming her ungodly hours for getting in the way of finding love

Former Popstars winner Sophie is poised to appear as a judge on the talent show alongside Ian 'Dicko' Dickson, Kelly Osbourne and Eddie Perfect, when it airs on 1 February.

Her forthcoming stint on the Channel Nine show comes after she appeared on Celebrity Apprentice last year and after quitting 2DayFM in 2014 as a host, a job which saw her get up at the crack of dawn.

The British-born Australian has been finding her feet in the past two years since returning from Los Angeles after ten years.

She fronted 2DayFM with Jules Lund and Merrick Watts but shocked radio bosses by handing in her notice in October 2014 revealing it was time for pastures new.

New role: The former Popstars winner is poised to appear as a judge on the talent show alongside Eddie Perfect, Kelly Osbourne and Ian 'Dicko' Dickson, when it airs on 1 February
He's currently in New York to promote Australian Tourism as the new global ambassador.

But while Chris Hemsworth's native country is enjoying balmy temperatures in its summer, the actor was forced to negotiate the freezing temperatures in the Big Apple.

Chris, 32, and wife Elsa Pataky were seen negotiating the snow as they headed out in the city on Monday.

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Struggling? Chris Hemsworth was seen helping wife Elsa Pataky over a snow mound as the couple negotiated the snow in New York on Monday

The couple were wrapped up warm to venture out into the cold, their outfits a far departure from the barely-there clothes worn while in their home of Byron Bay.

Elsa, 39, wore a pair of leather leggings with a navy padded jacket along with sensible shoes.

She wore a black knitted beanie on her head and had a tasselled handbag slung across her shoulder.

Holding on: The 32-year-old was seen hand-in-hand with his 39-year-old wife as the pair braved the chilly temperatures in the Big Apple

Wrapped up warm: The couple, who live in Byron Bay, Australia, made sure to wear plenty of layers for the outing

Chris opted for a pair of dark jeans and a thick black woolen coat along with a pair of Chelsea boots.

While it might have been chilly, the Thor actress sported a pair of sunglasses, presumably to shield his eyes from the glare of the snow.

The winter storm names Jonas has left New York and many other cities across America covered in snow and the extreme weather has left a reported 37 people dead.

Keeping quiet: Chris appeared on Australian TV on Tuesday morning to talk about his new role as ambassador for Tourism Australia but found himself being asked about his brother Liam's love life

While Chris is busy promoting Tourism Australia he also found time to speak to Australian TV show Today on Tuesday to celebrate Australia Day.

While the actor was quick to gush about his love for his home country he was also grilled about his brother Liam's rumoured engagement to Miley Cyrus.

Lisa Wilkinson asked him if there was an upcoming wedding for the family and Chris replied: 'Not that I know of.'

And smiling, he added: 'I saw the very accurate reports on that subject.'
He's a veteran actor, comic and writer, with four Oscars to his name.

So perhaps wild-child Miley Cyrus, 23, might not seem the obvious casting choice for Woody Allen's latest project.

But the raunchy singer has landed a role in 80-year-old Allen's still-untitled Amazon series, Deadline revealed on Monday.

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Unlikely casting: Miley Cyrus (pictured in 2014) has landed a role in Woody Allen's six-part Amazon series

Miley - who will star alongside Allen himself and Elaine May - promptly confirmed the news with an Instagram post, showing a painting of the Annie Hall star along with the caption: 'F*** yeah ! Stoked to be in Woody Allens first series!!!!!

'I had claimed 2016 to be my year of "chillin the f*** out" but next to my bed for a few years now has been this portrait of W.A. & I was looking into his eyes when I got the call to be apart of the cast and work alongside the bad a** Elaine May & da dude himself! 1960zzzz here I cummmmm.'

While the six half-hour-episode series is set in the 1960s, Allen admitted last year to Deadline that he found the transition from writing feature films to writing a television series to be challenging.

He told them: 'It has been very, very difficult. Ive been struggling and struggling and struggling. I only hope that when I finally do it  I have until the end of 2016  theyre not crushed with disappointment because theyre nice people and I dont want to disappoint them. I am doing my best'.

See more of the latest on Miley Cyrus as she stars alongside Woody Allen in his new series

Hollywood veteran: Woody has set the principal cast for the six half-hour-episode series, with Miley starring alongside Elaine May and Allen himself (pictured April 2014)

Confirming the news: Miley shared a photo of a painting of Woody beside her bed as she revealed she is 'stoked' to be a part of the project

Perhaps Allen isn't aware of the Wrecking Ball hit-maker's compulsive Instagram habit, also telling the publication: 'I dont own a computer. Ive never seen anything online at all  nothing'.

However, the Annie Hall writer, director and actor does have an exceptional knack of propelling his stars to greatness - his movies have produced seven Oscars for performance.

Cate Blanchett most recently won for her role in 2013's Blue Jasmine.

'Song writin and zit creaminnnn!' On Monday night, Cyrus shared a video of herself singing a new song while simultaneously treating her acne

You land on every flower & use up all your power to demand peace  song writin and zit creaminnnn! Double timingggg! Cuz I'm a womannnn..... W-o-m-a-n..... I'll say it again A video posted by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Jan 25, 2016 at 7:06pm PST

'So happy my Happy is home!' The dog lover was clearly enjoying a quiet night at home with her canine companions

Meanwhile, Miley is rumoured to have rekindled her romance with Liam Hemsworth and to be moving back in together.

Liam remained tight-lipped on Monday about their engagement, which looked to be back on after Miley was spotted flashing the diamond ring he gave her in June 2012 once again.

Rumours began swirling that they were back together when the pair enjoyed a holiday in his native Australia together over New Year's Eve.

After meeting on set of their movie The Last Song, the couple dated on and off for three years before getting engaged in June 2012. They confirmed their split in September 2013.
Chris Hemsworth is undoubtedly one of Australia's hottest exports so it came as no surprise when he was selected as the ambassador for tourism Down Under.

But while the Australian Tourism board pulled off somewhat of a coup in securing the actor as the new star of their latest campaign, they appear to have missed a trick with the new advert.

While Chris, 32, is heard describing his love of his home country his face and his impressive body are not shown throughout the entirety of the clip.

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Surely he's the best advert? Chris Hemsworth cut a dapper figure at the launch of the new See Australia tourism campaign in New York City

Of course the handsome actor was his dashing self to launch the new campaign and stepped out in New York looking super smart in a navy suit.

The event, while held in New York on Monday night, was timed to coincide with Australia Day on Tuesday, with the country's timezone 16 hours ahead of the Big Apple.

In the new ad campaign Chris is heard telling tourists to 'feel' his native country.

Suited and booted: The 32-year-old Thor actor dressed in a matching navy suit with a white button-up shirt

In good company: Chris was joined by Julie Bishop an Australian MP serving as the Minister for Foreign Affairs

He is heard saying: 'It's different down here, the air just has more life in it.'

'Australia isn't just a place you see, it's a place you feel.'

As Chris speaks about his home country beautiful shots of iconic scenes across Australia are shown.

On Tuesday morning Chris spoke to Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic on the Today show about the campaign as part of their special Australia Day coverage.

Smart: The Deputy Leader opted for a slick black dress which fell to to her knee

Hot exports: He was also supported by Aussie chef Curtis Stone at the event too

On trend: The celebrity chef also sported a navy suit which he teamed with a black tie and shoes

Chris said he was proud to be named ambassador for tourism in Australia and gushed about the country.

He said: 'I grew up surfing and I feel like most of my childhood was in the water, so I feel like I've got enough education on the subject to invite people down.'

'Growing up in Victoria where you have the incredibly raw, rugged ocean and sea, and then you can go north with white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, just the diversity of our coastline I think is unlike anywhere in the world and all of that is something I miss immensely when I'm away.'

Three's a crowd: The two hunks posed together with Julia in front of the media wall

Strike a pose: Actress Mackenzie Meehan (L) donned a white gown while transgender model Andreja Pejic (R) rocked a patterned skirt and sweater

Sharp: Australian actor Sullivan Stapleton wore black jeans which he classed up with a suit jacket and button-up shirt

Chris was also asked about the nature of his brother's relationship with Miley Cyrus.

When Lisa asked the Thor star if there was an upcoming wedding for the family, Chris replied: 'Not that I know of.'

And smiling, he added: 'I saw the very accurate reports on that subject.'

Miley was spotted celebrating the start of 2016 with the Hemsworths at the Falls Festival in Australia.

It's also thought that she rang in the New Year with the family at a party in Byron Bay.

Off duty: Chef Luke Mangan rocked his traditional white shirt and black slacks

Simply beautiful: While the advert includes gorgeous shots of Australia's most iconic locations like the Whitehaven beach (pictured) Chris is seen on screen

What a view: While he doesn't appear on the screen Chris does talk viewers through why they should visit Australia

US Weekly insists the former couple have not only rekindled the flame but are now officially engaged for the second time.

Miley and Liam are also said to be living together after beginning to speak to each other this past April following their split in 2013.

'Miley and Liam are picking up right where they left off,' the insider told the publication.

The couple first met on the set of the film The Last Song in 2009. After an on and off relationship the pair announced their engagement in June 2012 but called time on their romance little over a year later in September 2013.

Opening up: Chris chatted to The Today show about his new role but kept quiet on the reports that his little brother Liam is engaged to Miley Cyrus once again
Her father recently walked her down the aisle with pride, proudly giving his permission for her to wed the love of her life Sam Burgess.

And now it is Phoebe Burgess has returned the favour, taking to Instagram to express how proud she also is of her father Mitch Hooke, after he received an Australia Day honour for his contribution to the Australian mining industry.

'Always the best dad going, now officially one of the best Australians and A Member in the Order of Australia,' she gushed underneath an image of her father posting on Tuesday.

'Always the best dad going': Phoebe Burgess took to Instagram on Tuesday to express how proud she also is of her father Mitch Hooke, after he received an Australia Day honour for his contribution to the mining industry

'You've influenced many lives but most of all your family's,' she went on, stating that she felt 'proud,'

She also added the hashtag: 'Happy Australia Day.'

Sunrise host Samantha Armytage also took to the post to congratulate Mitch on receiving the honour, writing: 'Well deserved Mitch. Congrats.'

Phoebe's mother-in-law Julie Burgess also chimed in writing: 'Incredible achievement!'

While her future sister-in-law Joanna King, who recently became engaged to her Sam's younger brother George Burgess, added a simple: 'Whoooo.'

'You've influenced many lives but most of all your family's': Phoebe said

'Well deserved Mitch. Congrats': Sunrise host Samantha Armytage also took to the post to congratulate Mitch on receiving the honour

'It's especially special for my family': Mitch ran the influential Minerals Council of Australia during the greatest commodities boom in generations, leading the charge against Kevin Rudd's failed mining tax

Mitch ran the influential Minerals Council of Australia during the greatest commodities boom in generations, leading the charge against Kevin Rudd's failed mining tax.

The Victorian-born is largely remembered largely for the Mineral's Council's successful campaign against the resource super profits tax which many regard as a major factor in the removal of Kevin Rudd during his first term as Prime Minister.

Speaking to the Australian , Mitch said he was flattered by the award and it is a tribute to all the people who supported him.

'It's especially special for my family, particularly my 92-year-old mother,' he said.

Honoured: Speaking to the Australian , Mitch said he was flattered by the award and it is a tribute to all the people who supported him
She has been dating her beau Jamie Valmorbida since 2014 after meeting him at Melbourne's Spring Racing Carnival.

And Montana Cox, 22, has hinted that things may have progressed in the relationship, with the Australian model sporting a ring on her finger as she enjoyed a leisurely lunch on Monday.

The leggy star, who is originally from Melbourne, was spotted wearing the mystery ring as she enjoyed a leisurely lunch with Jamie, 30, and a female friend at a busy restaurant in Sydney's suburb of Potts Point.

Wedding bells? Montana Cox, 22, has hinted that things may have progressed in the relationship, with the Australian model sporting a ring on her finger as she enjoyed a leisurely lunch on Monday

Opting to forgo makeup for the low-key outing, the David Jones ambassador flaunted her flawless complexion as she sipped from a wine glass and chatted animatedly to her companions.

Her model frame was swathed in a loose-fitting striped shirt, while her slender legs were put on display in a pair of skin-tight jeans.

She completed her look with a pair of white lace-up sandshoes and a leather handbag with gold detailing.

A day of leisure: The leggy star, who is originally from Melbourne, was spotted wearing the mystery ring as she enjoyed a leisurely lunch with Jamie, 30, and a female friend at a busy restaurant in Sydney's suburb of Potts Point.

Off-duty beauty! Opting to forgo makeup for the low-key outing, the David Jones ambassador flaunted her flawless complexion as she sipped from a wine glass and chatted animatedly to her companions

Her model frame was swathed in a loose-fitting striped shirt, while her slender legs were put on display in a pair of skin-tight jeans

Meanwhile, Montana's handsome boyfriend Jamie looked suave in a black jumper and a pair of faded blue jeans.

Montana has previously told Daily Mail Australia that she doesn't find it difficult to have a relationship in the public eye.

'We've been pretty quiet about the whole thing, so it's really chilled out and easy and we don't really give away too much,' she said in 2015.

Chic: She completed her look with a pair of white lace-up sandshoes and a leather handbag with gold detailing

Trendy: Meanwhile, Montana's handsome boyfriend Jamie looked suave in a black jumper

'It's really chilled out': Montana has previously told Daily Mail Australia that she doesn't find it difficult to have a relationship in the public eye

She also spoke of her choice not to date a fellow model, saying: 'I find its kind of nice to be out of the industry'.

Indeed, Jamie juggles a number of his own businesses which range from wine importing, food and beverage wholesaling and brand promotion; his company acting as the local distributor for brands including Lavazza coffee, Sirena tuna and Evian water.

Meanwhile, the 2011 Australia's Next Top Model winner has been making her way up the modelling food chain, having recently posed for the likes of Prada, Gucci, Chanel and Christian Dior.

'I find its kind of nice to be out of the industry': She also spoke of her choice not to date a fellow model

From different worlds: Indeed, Jamie juggles a number of his own businesses which range from wine importing, food and beverage wholesaling and brand promotion

Rising star: Meanwhile, the 2011 Australia's Next Top Model winner has been making her way up the modelling food chain

Montana also stars in the most recent promotional video for David Jones autumn/winter 2016 campaign.

Joined by fellow models Catherine McNeil and Jessica Gomes, Montana showcases clothes by Australian designers including Ellery, Dion Lee and Manning Cartel.

The models are filmed standing on a circular rotating platform while a squad of Sydney Dance Company dancers twist and turn behind them.

International modeL: The brunette stunner recently posed for the likes of Prada, Gucci, Chanel and Christian Dior

Montana also stars in the most recent promotional video for David Jones autumn/winter 2016 campaign
Earlier this month they revealed they would be welcoming a baby boy into the world in June.

And it appears Nova radio host Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli and his wife Lisa are making the most of having just one tot on their hands for now.

The doting parents were spending quality time with their 11-month-old son Theodore, affectionately known as Teddy, during a family day out in Sydney's Double Bay on Tuesday.

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Making the most of having just one! Nova radio host Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli and his wife Lisa spent quality time with their 11-month-old son Theodore during a family day out in Sydney's Double Bay on Tuesday

The family were spotted enjoying a stroll through the exclusive suburb, pushing the stroller carrying Teddy as well as affectionately cuddling him in their arms.

Opting for a cool and casual outfit, the 36-year-old media personality sported a blue T-shirt which he teamed with a pair of striped shorts.

With a pair of running shoes as his footwear of choice on this occasion, Wippa completed his look with a matching blue hat.

Doting: The family were spotted enjoying a stroll through the exclusive suburb, pushing the stroller carrying Teddy and affectionately cuddling him in their arms

Sporty: Opting for a cool and casual outfit, the 36-year-old media personality sported a blue T-shirt which he teamed with a pair of striped shorts

For the family bonding day, the matriarch, who is currently around the 20-week mark, dressed for comfort, wearing an all-black ensemble.

The outfit consisted of black leggings and a matching singlet from Jodhi Meares activewear label The Upside, which hugged her mid section slightly, providing a glimpse of her growing bump.

The expectant mother teamed the sporty ensemble with an appropriate pair of running shoes and a pair of Dior's popular So Real shades, also in black.

Her brunette locks were styled into a bum, perched high on her head and she sported a natural makeup look.

Casual cool: With a pair of running shoes as his footwear of choice on this occasion, Wippa completed his look with a matching blue hat

Sporty chic: For the family bonding day, the matriarch, who is currently around the 20-week mark, dressed for comfort, wearing an all-black ensemble

Dressed in a miniature navy shirt almost identical to his father's, as well as a pair of striped shorts, the toddler seemed equally happy to be spending time with his parents who were seen playfully doting on him throughout the day.

As they approached their car to go home, Wippa lifted little Teddy out of the air, planting a kiss on his soft cheek before swinging him into the car by his hands.

On Monday Wippa and radio co host Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald hosted Fitzy and Wippa's Biggest Aussie BBQ on Fort Denison, in celebration of Australia Day.

Daryl Braithwaite performed live, with the radio duo broadcasting from the event.

The apple of his eye! As they approached their car to go home, Michael lifted little Teddy out of the air, planting a kiss on his soft cheek before swinging him into the car by his hands

Natural beauty: Lisa's brunette locks were styled into a bum, perched high on her head and she sported a natural makeup look

Family of three: Wippa was seen pushing Teddy's stroller and carrying his wife Lisa's handbag as they made their way to the their vehicle

Wippa revealed the gender of his second child on-air on earlier this month, and in an accompanying Tweet said his young son Theodore is thrilled about the news.

'IT'S A BOY!!' the happy announcement posted alongside an image of a blue cake, read.

'Ted Wipfli has released a statement saying he is super excited to meet his baby brother.'

On his breakfast show, which he co-hosts with Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald, Wippa added that a lot of effort went into the reveal.

'We thought we would find out the sex of the baby this time around. What we did think was we would come up with a creative way to announce the sex of the child,' he said.

Big night: On Monday Wippa and radio co host Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald hosted Fitzy and Wippa's Biggest Aussie BBQ on Fort Denison, in celebration of Australia Day with Daryl Braithwaite performing live at the event

'You know how people do this, you can get everyone together all the family. I went through a couple of ideas, decorate the bump was one of them so Lisa would lift up her shirt and have a blue or a pink bow around her stomach.

'A pinata is another one and you use blue or pink M&Ms in the pinata  you break the pinata and the sex is revealed. But I thought this one made sense.'

Going on to explain their creative announcement he said: 'We made a sex cake, or a gender cake. Sounded like sex tape didnt it someones leaked my sex cake!

'You cut the cake and depending on the colour of the sponge inside is the reveal'.

Another boy! Wippa revealed earlier this month shat he and wife Lisa are expecting a baby brother for their ten-month-old son Theodore

Sweet: They announced the happy news on air and via Twitter earlier this month

'IT'S A BOY!!': The announcement was posted alongside an image of Ted reaching for a slice of blue cake

It was just last month that the couple revealed they were pregnant with their second child after welcoming Theodore George Jack Wipfli in February.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia recently, Wippa, said 'it is very exciting' to be expanding their brood so soon.

The early stages of pregnancy haven't been without their trails however, with the funnyman saying his wife has had to endure morning sickness.

'Its just been a rollercoaster and the morning sickness has been a bit of a challenge,' he said.

'It's been hard at the same time when you can't tell anyone, when she [Lisa] was getting sick and had to go to bed, I had to rush home and look after Ted.'

Sharing the news: The couple posted this sweet image to Instagram
Allison Williams has revealed her husband proposed to her while watching The Bachelor.

The Girls star stopped by after-show Bachelor Live to chat with host Chris Harrison about being a card-carrying member of Bachelor Nation in Los Angeles on Monday.

And the 27-year-old super-fan said she wouldn't be married to husband Ricky Van Veen, 35, if it weren't for the ABC reality dating show, which follows an eligible bachelor as he searches for a wife among the contestants.

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Super-fan: Allison Williams said she would not be married to her husband if it weren't for The Bachelor as she stopped by Bachelor Live in Los Angeles on Monday

'I would not be married to my husband if it weren't for this show,' Allison said.

'We went to a weekly viewing party every week, and it was like a big group date, but with both genders equally distributed...it was how we met up,' she explained.

And she said Ricky, who founded website CollegeHumor, later proposed to her during one of those Bachelor viewing parties.

Meet cute: The Girls star said she met husband Ricky Van Veen at a Bachelor viewing party and he later proposed at one of the viewing parties

Devoted: Host Chris Harrison chatted with Allison and comedian Michelle Collins on Monday as they discussed the latest episode of The Bachelor

Cute couple: Allison and husband Ricky Van Veen in New York City in May, 2014

'So where the viewing party is, is at my friend Lee Eisenberg's house,' she explained, referring to the TV writer and producer.

'And he has a couch where we always watch the show. And that's where Ricky proposed to me, was on Lee Eisenberg's couch,' she said.

The couple wed on September 19 in a star-studded ceremony in Wyoming, with her father Brian Williams walking Allison down the aisle.

On Monday, the Girls star looked gorgeous in a black mini dress with cut-out sides, scalloped pink waist and blue hemline as she stopped by the ABC studio in Los Angeles.

She wore her brunette hair in soft waves and added classic red lipstick.

Accept this rose? An excited Allison posted a photo of her new Bachelor snuggie and red rose before going on Bachelor Live, hashtagging it '#CareerHighlight'

Best Bachelor ever? Ben Higgins, 26, stars on the current season of the reality dating show

And the excited star shared some photos from behind the scenes of Bachelor Live, posing with a red rose in her mouth. The Bachelor gives the women a red rose if he wants them to stay in the mansion for another week.

'Guess what I'm doing in 15 minutes?' she captioned the photo, adding hashtags #OhMyGod and #CareerHighlight.

Allison also shared a selfie with host Chris Harrison writing 'Also, the ultimate Bachelor in our hearts. @chrisbharrison you are a dream. Thank you for having me!!'

All smiles: The Girls star beamed as she snapped a selfie with longtime host Chris Harrison backstage

Places to be: The actor rocked her new Bachelor snuggie as she headed off to catch a West Coast Bachelor viewing party

After her appearance, the actor threw a coat over her new red Bachelor snuggie and flashed a peace sign as she said goodbye to 'Bachelor Nation' and headed off to another viewing party.

'Peace out, Bachelor Nation,' she wrote.

'My snuggie and I are heading to my LA viewing party group to catch the West Coast feed. Thank you for having me,' she said, adding a rose and heart emoji.

This season of The Bachelor follows 26-year-old software salesman Ben Higgins's search for true love, after he was overlooked by Kaitlyn Bristowe during The Bachelorette last year.

Allison and Ricky tied the knot at a Wyoming ranch on September 19, in a ceremony that was officiated by actor Tom Hanks.

9.19.15 Dress by @oscarprgirl Photo by @christianothstudio A photo posted by Allison Williams (@aw) on Sep 20, 2015 at 12:05am PDT

Her father, former NBC news anchor Brian Williams, walked Allison down the aisle as guests including Lena Dunham, Katy Perry, John Mayer and Rita Wilson looked on.

The beautiful bride later shared some stunning photos of her Oscar De La Renta wedding gown with fans on Instagram.

Allison can next be seen in season five of HBO comedy Girls, which premieres on February 21.
She's the busty Sydney socialite who is always ready for a good time.

So on Tuesday, it was no surprise to see Zilda Williams out and about enjoying Australia Day over an alcohol-soaked lunch at Bondi bar Ravesi's with two of her glamorous girlfriends.

'Off to Bondi for a boozy lunch,' said the stunning 32-year-old in a video posted to Snapchat.

'Off to Bondi for a boozy lunch:' Zilda Williams celebrated Australia Day by having drinks with some of her closest girlfriends at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Tuesday

She added: 'Let's get drunk for Australia Day at Bondi Beach!'

The men's mag model turned reality TV star was wearing a skintight red dress with a dangerously low neckline that showcased a serious eyeful of her famous DD breasts.

She was also wearing a trendy pair of pink sunglasses from fellow Bachelor beauty Lisa Hyde's eyewear range, Shevoke.

Stylish! The Bachelor beauty wore a plunging red dress and a pair of sunglasses from fellow Bachelor star Lisa Hyde's eyewear range, Shevoke

Zilda then posted two more videos from the back of a taxi as she headed to the bar for her Australia Day celebration.

'I'm feeling a little bit un-Australian in my outfit today,' she joked, adding that she should've added some white and blue to her red outfit.

'The secret is, I'm a Kiwi!' the New Zealand-born beauty said playfully.

'But I've lived here for half my life, so I'm basically half-Australian,' she explained.

'Let's get drunk for Australia Day at Bondi Beach,' said the 32-year-old on Snapchat

Bottoms up! Zilda and her girlfriends enjoyed an alcohol-soaked lunch at Bondi bar Ravesi's

Threesome: The men's mag model turned Sydney socialite was joined by fellow glamour model Nikki Walton and busty makeup artist Karyssa Leigh

The former Maxim magazine centerfold was joined by two of her gal pals, fellow glamour model Nikki Walton and busty makeup artist Karyssa Leigh.

After a few drinks, the free-spirited Zilda posted a close-up Snapchat photo of her massive cleavage with the caption: 'Happy Straya day.'

Earlier in the day she wrote: 'Happy Australia Day everyone. Happy and blessed to live in such an amazing country.'

'Happy Straya day!' The former Maxim centerfold celebrated Australia Day by showcasing her famous DDs, which she had reduced from FFs last year

The outgoing star, who was evicted on the first episode of The Bachelor, recently admitted to the Daily Mail Australia that Sam Wood was never her type.

'He was very far from my type of person,' she explained while enjoying the Sydney Harbour boat cruise party on Sunday, adding: 'My instant vibe and connection with him was bad.'

She later admitted that she was approached to appear on the first season, which starred Tim, but knocked back the opportunity to find love at the time.

'I got asked for season one with Tim and I said no,' she said while adding, 'I definitely regret that.'

'I got asked for season one with Tim and I said no:' Zilda recently revealed that she missed out on starring on the first season of The Bachelor

She's now hoping for another chance at love after sources revealed to the DMA that the Kiwi-born beauty has applied for the New Zealand version of The Bachelor.

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Media Works, the production company behind the series, but a rep could neither confirm nor deny the sexy stunner's participation in the upcoming series.

'We are still finalising our Bachelorettes so unfortunately I am unable to answer whether Zilda will appear in the next season of The Bachelor NZ,' they revealed.

The rep added: 'Our Bachelorettes will be revealed in the first episode of the show which will air in the first half of the year. Filming is yet to start for Season 2.'
Jax Taylor got arrested in Hawaii and original queen bee Stassi Schroeder made a hotly anticipated return to Vanderpump Rules on Monday night.

While Stassi immediately got stuck into meddling in Kristen Doute's relationship, Jax was putting his own in jeopardy when he found himself in a Hawaiian jail cell.

Reunited with unimpressed girlfriend Brittany Cartwright at the airport, he attempted to explain his arrest over the theft of a pair of sunglasses.

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Arrested development: Jax Taylor was arrested on Monday's episode of Vanderpump Rules while on a birthday trip in Hawaii

'I'm sorry. I got really drunk and walked in the store and just said ''I'm taking these'' and walked out,' he said. 'I apologise. If you don't want to be with me any more I understand.'

Addressing the camera, he said: 'It's embarrassing, it really is.' Wiping his eyes, he added: 'I'm embarrassed because it's not the person I am.'

Jax's arrest came at the end of a group trip to Hawaii as the men and women from Sur were getting ready to return to Los Angeles.

After getting off the phone to her boyfriend, Brittany revealed: 'He told me it was for a felony charge and it's still under investigation, so they didn't know how long it was going to take and they could hold him for up to 48 hours.'

She's back: Stassi Schroeder also mader her highly anticipated return to Vanderpump Rules on Monday

Referring to Brittany, Scheana Marie said: 'This poor girl who thought she'd found the guy of her dreams, moves out to LA and then boom - he's in jail.'

She told the group: 'So we have a matter of hours to come up with $11,000, get him out of jail, get all of our luggage, hop in an Uber, be at the airport.'

If Jax, who returned with his tail between his legs, was worried about his co-workers' reactions, he should be more concerned about boss Lisa Vanderpump.

Out of jail: Jax apologized to his girlfriend Brittany after being released from jail

Getting emotional: The reality star wiped away tears while discussing his arrest for allegedly stealing sunglasses

In a preview for next week's episode she was seen telling him: 'You're either a liar, you're a drunk or you're a thief. What is it Jax? Don't try and pull the wool over my eyes.'

While the rest of the group were in Hawaii, Stassi returned to the show, met up with Kristen and opened up about her failing relationship with Patrick Meagher.

'We decided to live apart right now because we got to this point in our relationship where it was just like roommates,' she explained in the episode titled The Bitch Is Back.

Off the island: Stassi caught up with Kristen Doute while the rest of the restaurant crew were in Hawaii

'We were barely having sex, we were barely speaking to each other and it was just like something needs to change.

'For two years I've invested so much in Patrick that now I'm realizing that I've compromised a lot of my friendships,' Stassi said.

While Scheana told the group she was suspicious of Stassi's intentions and branded her a 'pathetic loser', Stassi raised suspicions about Kristen's boyfriend Kevin.

Not a fan: Scheana Shay made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with Stassi

'I think he has a serious live in girlfriend,' she told Kristen. 'I've had some time on my hands so I just did some Facebook stalking myself. There's nothing that makes me more excited than a good stalking session.'

When Kevin arrived, Stassi immediately confronted him, but he claimed the girl she had seen photos of was his ex.

He explained: 'I have an ex-girlfriend. We have separate places. We dated on and off and we've been broken up.'

Explained himself: Kevin was confronted by Stassi after she stalked him online

Pointing at Kristen, who had made a timely trip to the bar, he said: 'Even though we are doing on and off, I would much rather be on with her.'

After returning to the table, Kristen said: 'As long as they're not on right now and he is not cheating with me because I don't let people cheat with me.'

Stassi, aware that Jax had cheated with Kristen while dating her, told the camera: 'There's a special appetizer today and it's called my tongue, which I am biting because I'm not going to say anything since I'm on this forgiveness kick.'

Special appetizer: Stassi bit her tongue when Kristen said she doesn't let people cheat with her

There was also more drama with Lala Kent as she ruffled feathers amongst the girls and fought off advances from James Kennedy.

Confronting Scheana, she said: 'This is who I am so to have people talking to me the way I was spoken to last night is absolutely not ok.'

Sheana said: 'I've been in your position. I've been the new girl at Sur, I've been the girl who everyone thinks is a slut, I've been the girl who slept with the married guy when I didn't know he was married, but I've grown from that. I've redeemed myself from a lot of the negative things people used to think and say about me.'

Tough time: Lala was in tears after being criticised for going topless while swimming

James, meanwhile, complained: 'Lala is one of the biggest teases I've ever met in my life. She gives me these sex eyes but at the same time I haven't seen any of this action.'

Lala, however, revealed that she and James had fallen drunkenly into bed before the group left for Hawaii, but he was unable to perform.

'We were hammered, he couldn't get it up,' she told the camera. 'I remain unapologetic. If you get whisky d***, stick to vodka.'
They are known as Australia's wildlife royalty.

And on Tuesday Terri Irwin and her two children Bindi, 17, and Robert, 12, rang in Australia Day at Sydney's official concert celebrations in Circular Quay.

While rocking the family's iconic khaki attire the 51-year-old mother revealed she felt 'blessed' to a citizen of the country despite being born and raised in America.

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Family affair: Terri Irwin (M) and her two children Bindi, 17, (L) and Robert, 12, rang in Australia Day at Sydney's official concert celebrations on Tuesday

'I am just over six-years-old as an Australian and I feel so welcomed,' she gushed while adding her experience so far has been incredible'.

Terri showed off her comedic sense of humour while talking to Network 10's Kerri-Anne Kennerley stating she has been finding it difficult to master the Australian accent.

'I just can't do the accent,' she laughed while adding: 'I sound American but my heart beats Australian. But I am very blessed.'

True blue: The 51-year-old mother said 'she was 'blessed' to be a citizen of the country while adding 'I sound American but my heart beats Australian

Top: Robert was quick to join in stating Australia Day would be nothing without a lamington and meat pie

Son Robert was quick to join in on the conversation stating Australia Day would be nothing without a lamington and a meat pie.

'Lamingtons would have to be on the top of the list,' he said while adding 'and a meat pie is always good'.

The animal lover also showed off his patriotism for his home country stating he feels 'lucky' to have been raised Down Under.

'Australia Zoo is our home and we have been so lucky to have grown up there and it is truly a part of our lives,' he said

In-sync: The trio rocked the family's iconic khaki attire while talking to Kerri-Anne Kennerley at the event

Taking it in: Bindi shared an image on social media of herself in front of the Harbour Bridge following her television appearance

Loving: Terri was born and raised in Oregon, America but relocated to Australia in 1992 after she met her late husband Steve the year earlier during a wildlife rehabilitation tour of Australia

Sad: Steve died in 2006 after being after being pierced in the chest by a stingray bar. He was 44 at the time

But while the mother-son duo gloated about their heritage, Bindi kept her wording simple describing her background as an Aussie as 'incredible'.

Terri was born and raised in Oregon, America but relocated to Australia in 1992 after she met her late husband Steve the year earlier during a wildlife rehabilitation tour of Australia.

The pair were married for 14 years and became parents to Bindi and Robert while running the family business at Australia Zoo in Queensland.

Steve suddenly died in 2006 after being after being pierced in the chest by a stingray bar. He was 44 at the time.

Terri finalised her Australian citizenship four years after her Crocodile Hunter husband's death.
As the face of Chanel skincare, Diane Kruger is used to being the perfect poster girl for the design house.

But as the stunning actress and model headed to Chanel's Haute Couture show in Paris on Tuesday, it was her legs and not her face that were in the spotlight.

The German-born model stood out from the fashion crowd in a pair of racy lace tights teamed with a thigh-skimming dress and towering heels.

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All about the legs! Diane Kruger wowed in a pair of statement lace tights and towering heels as she hit Chanel's Haute Couture show in Paris on Tuesday morning

The 39-year-old looked gorgeous in her statement black tights which were made up of different patches of lace.

Diane accentuated her pins further with a pair of achingly high platform heels as she posed up a storm outside Paris' famed venue, the Grand Palais.

She added a monochrome mini dress, with the long-sleeved number featuring a daringly high hemline.

Monochrome chic: The German-born model and actress stood out from the fashion crowd in her patchwork lace tights and achingly high platforms

Leggy: She added a monochrome mini dress, with the long-sleeved number featuring a daringly high hemline

A chic gold-buttoned coat was slung around the actress' shoulders, while she accessorised with gold rings and a bright red manicure.

Diane completed her look with loose wavy locks and pared-down makeup, showing off her flawless complexion with just a hint of bronzer teamed with winged eyeliner.

The blonde managed to make it to Paris from her home in New York, after waiting out Storm Jonas which hit the US over the weekend.

Strike a pose: The face of Chanel skincare posed up a storm for the cameras outside Paris' famed venue, the Grand Palais

Sitting pretty: Diane took her seat in the front row for the French fashion house's latest runway extravaganza

Ready for her close up: Diane completed her look with loose wavy locks and pared-down makeup, showing off her flawless complexion with just a hint of bronzer teamed with winged eyeliner

As is always the case with German designer Lagerfeld's shows, Tuesday's Haute Couture runway was a breath-taking extravaganza, a truly visual feast.

Paris' iconic Grand Palais was transformed into a complete eco-space for the theme, which celebrated green living and sustainability.

Models emerged from a supersized wooden box-like doll house with three levels before walking through the large open space, covered in fake grass and lined with timber walkways and steps.

Friends in fashionable places: The stunning star was accompanied into the show by Karl Lagerfeld himself

She made it! The blonde managed to make it to Paris from her home in New York, after waiting out Storm Jonas which hit the US over the weekend

Regular: The model and big screen star never misses a Chanel show and is a regular at fashion weeks across the globe

Around the inside of the prestigious venue was a bright blue fake sky and trees to inject more life and vitality into the show's impressive motif, which was also reflected in the natural-looking clothing designs.

Lagerfeld chose the wooden wedges adorning the feet of each and every model to complement the theme, and he also revealed that the materials used to construct the impressive set would later be recycled.

Diane has been keeping busy amid reports she has split from her long-term boyfriend Joshua Jackson.

Three's not a crowd: Fellow Chanel fan Cara Delevingne also posed with Karl and Diane before the show

Diane and Joshua celebrated their 10-year anniversary last year - but in recent months have hardly been seen together. The Fathers and Daughters actress spent the holiday season with her grandparents and family, as well as battling flu.

Meanwhile, Joshua has had a hectic few months wrapping up filming on season two of The Affair, before heading on a three week trip to Japan, the Philippines and Dubai, filming a documentary.

Diane's last photo of Joshua on her Instagram account was six weeks ago, where she posted a fun selfie with the actor of the pair sticking their tongues out.

Wow factor: As is always the case with German designer Lagerfeld's shows, Tuesday's Haute Couture runway was a breath-taking extravaganza, a truly visual feast

Playing house: Models emerged from a supersized wooden box-like doll house with three levels before walking through the large open space, covered in fake grass and lined with timber walkways and steps




It's a move only attempted by really, really, really good looking people.

So, when Erin Holland took to the purple carpet at the Zoolander 2 fan screening in Sydney on Tuesday night, she attempted her best Blue Steel.

However, the former Miss World Australia admitted she just can't compete with the incomparable male model of the night, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'No-one will ever be Derek Zoolander but I gave it a red hot crack'.

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'No-one will ever be Derek': Erin Holland attempted her best Blue Steel on the purple carpet outside the State Theatre at the Zoolander 2 fan screening on Tuesday, but says she can't compete with the male model

While the former beauty queen is a confident character, she admitted to being a little shy upon seeing and speaking with her 'idol' Heidi Klum.

'She is unbelievable in person - stunning!' the model said, adding: '(Heidi's) definitely a big girl crush - the original VS model for me!'

The blonde beauty also confessed that she dressed to impress for the Australia Day event at the State Theatre.

Wearing a white Shona Joy strapless mini dress with a black Daniel Avakian neck tie, the 26-year-old said the flowey off-the-shoulder ensemble, which skimmed her thighs, wasn't modelled on any particular characters in the film.

'Definitely had farrrshun in mind': The former Miss World Australia admitted with a laugh that she and stylist Donny Galella 'definitely had farrrshun in mind' when they put together her black and white look

In awe! The blonde beauty was chuffed to have seen and spoken with her 'idol', the original VS model, Heidi Klm

Sexy stunner! Heidi dazzled in a black maxi dress by Australian designers Bec & Bridge, which featured a plunging neckline, plenty of cut-outs and multiple slits in the skirt

Too tall! The host of Germany's Next Top Model was forced to bend down to greet man of the moment, Ben Stiller, after adding very high heels to her already statuesque frame

However, the slender beauty admitted that she and stylist Donny Galella 'definitely had farrrshun in mind for the look'.

Adding some high-street appeal, the tanned stunner added some contrast with black lace up Windsor Smith heels, providing a caged effect along her toned calves.

Erin also carried a matching black leather monogrammed clutch to tie the look together and slicked back her bob blonde hair into a low ponytail.

Keeping her make-up perfect for a summer's evening, the model sported dark lined eyes with a peach blush and pink lipstick, giving a light and fun look for the evening.

Meanwhile, Heidi wowed as she posed with actor Ben Stiller, wearing a black gown with multiple slits in the skirt, by Australian designer Bec & Bridge.

Strike a pose! The two models pouted together for the cameras

The Into The Wild sleeveless maxi dress featured shimmering material as well as a plunging neckline nearly to the navel and multiple cut-outs across the waist, to showcase her model figure.

Adding very high black strappy heels to her already statuesque height the Germany's Next Top Model host was forced to bend down to greet man of the moment, Ben.

The actor, who has brought the sequel to screens 15 years after the original hit film was released in 2001, looked sharp in a navy blue suit, which features a sheen to it.

The movie sees Derek Zoolander and Hansel McDonald (Owen Wilson) reunited as they are called on by Interpol agent Melanie Valentina (Penelope Cruz) to save the world from evil mastermind Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrell).

Zoolander 2 is out in cinemas across Australia February 11 2016.
As one of the worlds biggest Hollywood stars, the ability to turn heads is clearly a gift that comes naturally to her.

Proving her worth on Tuesday, Gwyneth Paltrow ensured to remain the centre of attention at the Chanel Haute Couture Spring Summer 2016 show as part of Paris Fashion Week.

Making her way to the iconic Grand Palais, the 43-year-old looked effortlessly chic in a demure ensemble, consisting of a flowing skirt and a fitted jacket.

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Style star: Gwyneth Paltrow ensured to remain the centre of attention at the Chanel Haute Couture Spring Summer 2016 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday

The black and white checked two-piece, which boasted stitched detailing along the bodice and large button embellishing, flattered her slender frame perfectly.

With her blonde tresses left loose in sleek waves, styled in a side parting, the mother-of-two opted to accentuate her striking complexion with smoky eyes and glossy lips.

She stood tall in an envy-inducing pair of silver-heeled shoes, while a classic black leather band watch and coordinating clutch rounded off the proceedings perfectly.

Parisian chic Making her way to Grand Palais, the 43-year-old looked effortlessly chic in a demure ensemble

The perfect cut: The black and white checked two-piece, which boasted stitched detailing along the bodice and large button embellishing, flattered her slender frame perfectly

Attention to detail: She stood tall in an envy-inducing pair of silver-heeled shoes, while a classic black leather band watch and coordinating clutch rounded off the proceedings perfectly

Once inside the lavish presentation, Gwyneth mingled with the likes of Monica Bellucci, Cara Delevingne, Diane Kruger and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Just like all of his shows, German designer Karl Lagerfeld's Haute Couture runway was a breath-taking extravaganza, a truly visual feast.

The grand venue was transformed into a complete eco-space for the theme, which celebrated green living and sustainability.

Models emerged from a supersized wooden box-like doll house with three levels before walking through the large open space, covered in fake grass and lined with timber walkways and steps.

Final touches: With her blonde tresses left loose in sleek waves, styled in a side parting, the mother-of-two opted to accentuate her striking complexion with smoky eyes and glossy lips

Strike a pose: Gwyneth is no stranger to the limelight and appeared to enjoy having all eyes on her at the event

A beauty: She appeared to be in relaxed and content spirits during the day's proceedings

The main host: The Hollywood star posed up a storm alongside Karl Lagerfeld after the glamorous show

Demure: The mother-of-two looked immaculate in her sophisticated ensemble

Meanwhile, ahead of the fashion presentation, Gwyneth enjoyed a bit of sightseeing around the French capital with her beau Brad Falchuk.

On Monday, she took to her social media sites to share snaps from her travels, simply captioning one with the words: The view from the top of the #centrepompidou is at least as stunning as the art contained within its walls. What a glorious place.#parisjetaime.

The smitten couple have been on a whirlwind trip to Europe, shared by the actress on social media.

Gwyneth jetted out of Los Angeles on Thursday and was back on Instagram on Friday, posting a brief video showing her flying over the Austrian Alps in a helicopter.

Not entirely alone: The blonde beauty was surrounded by her entourage

VIPs galore: Once inside the lavish venue, Gwyneth mingled with the likes of Monica Bellucci, Cara Delevingne, Diane Kruger and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour

Beaming: Moments later, she flashed a glowing smile as she left the iconic venue

Flying solo: The actress was seen without her handsome beau Brad Falchuk
She may be the oldest Bond Girl in history, but she was dancing rings around the twenty-something catwalk models on Tuesday morning in Paris.

Hitting Chanel's Haute Couture presentation at the French capital's Grand Palais, the 51-year-old actress looked incredible in just leggings and classic red leather.

As if hitting the runway, the brunette had slipped on towering heels to elongate her slender legs and strutted in with conviction to watch the likes of Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Lindsey Wixson walk for the fashion house.

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Fabulous: Monica Bellucci looked incredible as she arrived for Monday's Chanel Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture show at the Grand Palais

Monica scraped her raven tresses off her face in a harsh centre-parting and even concealed her screen siren features behind oversized sunglasses.

But from beneath them, her distinct full lips and flawless, youthful complexion gave her away as she entered, giving a polite wave for the cameras in amongst the star-studded turn out.

The Italian actress, who lives in France, channeled her inner Parisian chic with just a tomato red jacket, adorned with gold buttons bearing the Chanel emblem, to dress up her ensemble.

Looking leggy: She wore towering heels that helped to elongate her legs in leggings

Quick wave: Her behind was left bare in just figure-hugging trousers that afternoon

Though subtle in black, Monica's skintight leggings served to showcase her impeccable physique at 50 and she wore just a short roll neck top layer, which cropped just short of her hips.

Mother-of-two Monica, who played Lucia Sciarra in last year's Spectre, recently admitted that she was not a gym-goer, saying in fact that she loved 'cakes and pasta.'

On her body shape, she told The Telegraph: 'Im not someone who wakes up at 6am to go to the gym. So I just didnt eat pasta for a few days before we started shooting  and that was about it.

'Because the truth is that I like cakes and pasta, the odd glass of wine and a very occasional cigarette.'

Stunning: The mum-of-two wore a top that stopped short of her curves

Towering heels: Her boots were skyscrapers that helped that made her legs never-ending

In the grounds: The star was captured as she posed on a clear morning in the French capital

Catwalk queens: On the runway, Kendall Jenner (left), Gigi Hadid (centre) and Lindsey Wixon (right) owned the catwalk

In conclusion, the brunette added: 'My advice is: eat well, drink well, have good sex  and laugh a lot. The rest comes all on its own.

As is always the case with German designer Lagerfeld's shows, Tuesday's Haute Couture runway was a breath-taking extravaganza and a truly visual feast.

Paris' iconic Grand Palais was transformed into a complete eco-space for the theme, which celebrated green living and sustainability.

Quite an appearance: The Italian actress, who lives in France, had chanelled Parisian chic

Making an exit: She slipped into a car with her full lips pursed into a smile

Cooey: The brunette was still wearing her shades when she emerged from the venue

Models emerged from a supersized wooden box-like doll house with three levels before walking through the large open space, covered in fake grass and lined with timber walkways and steps.

Around the inside of the prestigious venue was a bright blue fake sky and trees to inject more life and vitality into the show's impressive motif, which was also reflected in the natural-looking clothing designs.

Lagerfeld chose the wooden wedges adorning the feet of each and every model to complement the theme, and he also revealed that the materials used to construct the impressive set would later be recycled.

Classic beauty: The Italian was looking exquisite with her hair scraped away from her face

Still smiling: It looked like the star was happy with what she'd seen at the show

Youthful: Peeping beneath her glasses, her complexion was youthful and clear

For the fans: The actress was in high demand, being photographed from all angles
She is now a proud mother relishing every moment she spends with her son, Paul.

And keeping her social media followers updated every step of the way, Sam Faiers shared another cute picture of her baby boy as he turned four-weeks-old on Tuesday.

The sweet collage was captioned: Can't believe our little man is 4 weeks old today one month. You bring us so much happiness X.

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'You bring us so much happiness': Sam Faiers shared another cute picture of her baby boy as he turned four-weeks-old on Tuesday

The day before, the former TOWIE star snapped the pair's first mother-and-son selfie for a sweet in another Instagram update.

Sam, 25, appeared to be settling well into newfound motherhood as she looked completely at ease with the few-week-old tot resting in her arms.

She sported a full face of make-up and freshly styled hair while spending quality time getting to know the new adorable addition to the family.

While the fitness guru smiled sweetly directly into the camera lens, Paul junior was far more camera shy and hid his face with his tiny hand.

'No pictures mummy': Sam Faiers looked flawless as she cradled shy baby Paul in the pair's first mother-and-son selfie, posted on her Instagram page on Monday

Her little family: Sam, 25, posted an Instagram picture of her baby and her partner - both called Paul - as they dined out at the Dorchester on Sunday

Poking fun at the snap, Sam captioned it: 'Baby Paul's like 'no pictures mummy' u already have 5000 (sic).'

While the demands of having to care for a newborn can take their toll, Sam has cleverly crafted him into one of her favourite past times - going for posh brunch.

On Sunday, she posted a cute picture of her baby son, Paul, along with her partner, who shares the same name, as they dined in London's upmarket Dorchester hotel.

She captioned the image with the words: 'Breakfast with my Paul's #dorchester (sic).'

In the snap, the new baby can be seen sleeping soundly in his pram while Sam's man, Paul Knightley checks over him in a sweet manner.

Mum's night out: The former TOWIE star was pictured for the first time since welcoming her new bundle of joy into the world as she headed to The Crown pub in Brentwood, Essex, on Friday

The outing comes as Sam was pictured out on the town for the first time since her beautiful baby was born.

The former TOWIE star headed to The Crown pub in Brentwood, Essex, for her sister Billies 26th birthday festivities.

Sam - who gave birth to son Paul Tony on December 29 - radiated a gorgeous glow as she emerged from the fine dining eatery with her little tot and beau.

Cutting a casual yet relatively stylish figure, she covered her post-baby body in a blue plaid shirt and tight denim jeans.

She rounded off the proceedings with a brown suede leather jacket and chic nude heels, while toting her belongings in a pastel pink holdall.

Meanwhile, birthday girl Billie looked sensational in tight leather pants and a black high-neck blouse, which was styled further with over-the-knee boots and a small handbag.

Family outing: The former TOWIE star attended sister Billie's (pictured) 26th birthday party

The family outing comes soon after new mother Sam showed off her baby son for the first time and gushed about how much she was loving parenthood.

She captioned a beautiful image with the words: 'Just a few hours old our beautiful baby ... Look at those lips we can't help but just kiss him all the time our story is in this weeks OK! Magazine.'

The TV babe first shared both a picture of her baby and its name in this week's issue of OK! magazine, telling the publication: 'We always wanted him to be called Paul after his dad.

Adding: 'It's traditional and we didn't have any other names on the list, so he's Paul and his middle name is Tony after Paul's brother, his uncle Tony.

'We call him Baby Paul or just 'baby' at the moment. We haven't called him Paul yet.'

The reality star has announced she and boyfriend Paul senior will star in new tell-all ITVBe series, Sam Faiers: The Baby Diaries.
After such a triumphant morning on the runway, you'd be mistaken for thinking that sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid were all out of style.

Despite being off-duty and seemingly done for the day, the catwalk queens arrived back at their Paris hotel in suitably chic black and white ensembles, having changed out of their Chanel Haute Couture show costumes from Tuesday morning in the French capital.

Bella, 19, bore a striking resemblance to her big sister Gigi, 20, with her hair scraped back and her shades on even though the stunning siblings contrasted in black and white one-colour outfits.

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All-change: Gigi Hadid (left) and her sister Bella (right) changed out of their catwalk outfits and into their contrasting black and white off-duty outfits on Tuesday afternoon

Gigi was still shining in pure white, matching a stunning long coat with a high collar top and light stonewashed jeans.

The blonde bombshell was still strutting in stone-coloured court shoes, flashing a hint of her long supermodel legs with the denim ripped severely at the knees.

She stayed faithful to brand Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld by carrying the cute Karl Robot Pouch in her right hand.

Her striking little sister was more grunge gorgeous in leather trousers and a dark biker jacket to match them.

See more of the latest Gigi Hadid pictures as she models at the Chanel show in Paris

Causing a frenzy: The starlet caused quite a frenzy outside the V Hotel in Paris

Arriving: She was clearly not all out of style when she headed back for some rest

Quick break: The blonde flashed a glimpse of her long legs in slashed jeans

Rock chick: Bella slipped into some sexy leather pants and a trendy jacket to match after the show

Switching it up: After the show, Gigi swapped into something a little more comfortable

Stylish apparel: She teamed her getup with a long fitted white coat and suede grey heels

From Swedish-look up-dos that featured in the stylised show, the siblings had brought their glossy tresses down to elegant, low chingnons.

Doing what she does best, Victoria's Secret Angel Gigi was the picture of poise and composure as she lead the Chanel presentation at the Grand Palais that morning

Gigi - who is currently in a relationship with Zayn Malik - displayed her svelte frame in a stunning off-white sleeveless number, which boasted tiered detail and heavy embellishing.

Sister sister! Supermodel sibings Gigi and Bella Hadid ruled the runway with composed poise and posture at the Chanel presentation during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week on Tuesday morning

Specs appeal: The striking model wore her blonde tresses swept away from her face, while concealing her eyes with chic sunglasses

Working it: The 20-year-old stunner showed off her slender limbs in the revealing getup S

Blonde beauty: The young model showcased her flawless features and blemish-free complexion

Time to rest: She flashed a glowing smile as she arrived at George V hotel

Popular: The model was surrounded by her entourage, while fans were eager to catch a glimpse of her

The finer details of her standout attire - teamed with a satin-like cape - included a pretty, jewelled ear cuff and a thin leather belt, while she stood tall in chic metallic silver heels.

With her glossy blonde tresses swept into an old-fashion updo, Gigis facial features were accentuated with bare lips, subtly tinted cheeks and bold eyes, which were defined with an unusual highlight.

Meanwhile, Bella looked absolutely incredible in a heavily white beaded ensemble, which featured cut-outs on the shoulders and a floral band across the chest.

Elegant: The 20-year-old - who is currently in a relationship with Zayn Malik - displayed her svelte frame in a stunning off-white sleeveless number, which boasted tiered detail and heavy embellishing

She's in fashion: Bella, 19, proved her worth as a fledgling model as she strutted her assets with full force and confidence

The A-line skirt of the dress flowed hugged her lean and slender curves, while pearl encrusted wedges added a few extra inches to her statuesque frame.

Preened to perfection, the 19-year-old proved her worth as a fledgling model as she strutted her assets with full force and confidence.

She made her runway debut during New York Fashion Week in September 2014 before joining older sibling Gigi in the Tom Ford A/W 2015 show last year.

And since then, Bella has done campaigns for designer labels including Topshop, Burberry, Chanel and Moschino as well as starring in her beau The Weeknds music video for his song In The Night.

Both showing off their perfect model poise, the Hadid sisters remained stoic as they unveiled the latest Chanel collection in front of a glamorous audience.

A beauty: With her glossy blonde tresses swept into an old-fashion updo, Gigis facial features were accentuated with bare lips, subtly tinted cheeks and bold eyes, defined with an unusual highlight

Attention to detail: The finer details of her standout attire included a pretty, jewelled ear cuff and a thin leather belt, while she stood tall in chic silver heels

Doing her job: Showing off her perfect model poise, Gigi remained stoic as they unveiled the latest Chanel collection in front of a glamorous audience

Muse: Gigi has become a firm favourite of Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld over the past year as her modelling career continues to blossom

As is always the case with German designer Karl Lagerfeld's shows, the Haute Couture runway was a breath-taking extravaganza, a truly visual feast.

Paris' iconic Grand Palais was transformed into a complete eco-space for the theme, which celebrated green living and sustainability.

Models emerged from a supersized wooden box-like doll house with three levels before walking through the large open space, covered in fake grass and lined with timber walkways and steps.

Pulling out all the stops! The runway was a breath-taking extravaganza, a truly visual feast - the Grand Palais was transformed into a complete eco-space for the theme, which celebrated green living and sustainability

Preened to perfection: The A-line skirt of the dress flowed hugged her lean and slender curves

In demand: Bella has so far done campaigns for designer labels including Topshop, Burberry and Moschino

Around the inside of the prestigious venue was a bright blue fake sky and trees to inject more life and vitality into the show's impressive motif, which was also reflected in the natural-looking clothing designs.

Lagerfeld chose the wooden wedges adorning the feet of each and every model to complement the theme, and he also revealed that the materials used to construct the impressive set would later be recycled.

Cara Delevingne, Diane Kruger, Clemence Poesy and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour were among the star-studded attendees.

Not alone: Kendall Jenner also joined the Hadid sister on the glamorous runway
She rose to fame playing the legendary Emma Peel in The Avengers and Bond girl Teresa di Vincenzo in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but she is currently best known for her role in Game Of Thrones.

But as Dame Diana Rigg, 77, stepped out in London last week to run errands, she looked a world away from her on-screen alter ego as Olenna Tyrell.

The acting veteran was seen running errands in the capital's Chelsea, walking alone through the streets and wrapped up warm against the chilly weather.

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Unrecognisable: Dame Diana Rigg looked a world away from her Game Of Thrones character Olenna Tyrell as she ran errands in London on Thursday

Clad in a cosy quilted jacket, she also donned a pair of simple trousers and comfortable shoes, her naturally striking face largely obscured with a pair of round tinted glasses.

The TV favourite also carried a full handbag over one shoulder, and a carrier from a nearby chemist in her other hand.

A largely elusive star, it was a rare sighting of Diana, who was made a Dame over 20 years ago in 1994.

On fantasy TV series Game Of Thrones, Diana plays the role of Olenna Tyrell, a recurring character from the third, fourth, fifth and sixth seasons.

A different look: The 77-year-old acting veteran covered up in a quilted jacket, trousers and comfortable shoes, obscuring her striking face behind a pair of round tinted specs

Glam of Thrones: On the hit HBO fantasy series, Diana portrays House Tyrell matriarch Olenna

Nicknamed the Queen of Thorns, she takes on the role of the glamorous elderly matriarch of the House Tyrell with a panache for court politics and air of elegance about her.

Given her regular appearance - which sees her clad in a medieval-style dress and elegant pillbox hats adorned with embellishments and heavily draped fabric around her head - onlookers would be forgiven for not recognising Diana as she went about her business on Thursday.

However, although she managed to go through the streets of the capital largely unnoticed, the multi award-winning actress hasn't been keeping quiet about her personal life.

In a new interview with The Times, the twice-married and twice-divorced star confessed that she is very fond of 'lovemaking' and that she thoroughly enjoys being a single woman.

Revealing all: Diana recently spilled the beans on her single lifestyle in an interview with The Times, admitting that she 'loves every minute of it' and that she enjoys 'lovemaking'

'I've been single forever and, oh god, I love every minute of it. I don't wish to sound offensive and it always does when women say that, doesn't it?' she told the newspaper's Charlotte Edwardes.

'There is nothing to stop you taking lovers. I'd had enough of co-habiting after I divorced but not, may I say, of lovemaking - that was still pretty high on the agenda.'

She added: 'It may be a masculine attitude to take lovers, but it's definitely prevalent. I'm certainly not the oldest person doing it - not that I'm doing it right now, but when I was.'

Over the years Diana has had three big romances: in the mid-1960s she had a scandalous affair with the married director Philip Saville, and she said she had no desire 'to be respectable' at the time.

Prestigious: Nicknamed the Queen of Thorns, she takes on the role of the glamorous elderly matriarch of the House Tyrell with a panache for court politics and air of elegance about her

That was followed by a three-year marriage to Israeli painter Menachem Gueffen - they tied the knot in 1973 but it fell apart in '76.

She then married Scottish laird and theatre producer Archie Stirling in 1982, five years after their daughter Rachael was born.

She went into semi-retirement for the first few years of Rachael's life, but when her husband began his affair with Joely Richardson, the then 25-year-old daughter of acting icon Vanessa Redgrave, she went back to work after their marriage ended.

Diana previously confessed in an interview with The Daily Mail that it was Archie's romance with Joely that put her off men for a long time.

In October, she revealed: 'I was propositioned recently, much to my surprise, and I didn't know what to do with it. I mean them. I mean him.

'I never get lonely, even as a child I didn't,' she added.

'Never. If you have a good inner life you don't get lonely. I've got a good imagination. I don't miss romance.
Another day, another chance for Alesha Dixon to show off her effortless sense of style.

The TV star and musician stepped out in rain soaked London on Tuesday as filming for the forthcoming series of Britain's Got Talent commenced, and she didn't disappoint.

Cutting a smart-casual figure, the leggy 37-year-old looked typically lovely as she greeted fans before the next round of auditions began on the second day of filming in the capital.

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Cheeky! Alesha Dixon looked lovely in a smart-casual outfit as she arrived at the Britain's Got Talent auditions on Tuesday, held at London's Dominion Theatre

The stunning former Mis-Teeq star added an edgy vibe to her look as she flashed her smooth legs through heavily-ripped, rolled-up jeans.

She also upped the sex appeal by revealing a not-so-subtle glimpse of her black lace bra, her lingerie and ample cleavage peeking over the top of her white vest.

Covering up against the chilly, wet climate, she also donned a tailored retro-style crisp white blazer adorned with shiny gold buttons.

Mixing it up: The 37-year-old showed off her enviable long legs in a pair of light blue heavily ripped skinny jeans

No holding back: The sexy star also showed off her ample cleavage and the top of her black lace bra, peeping over the top of her white vest top

Raining on her parade: Alesha was forced to protect herself from the inclement weather with a large Union Flag-printed umbrella

Stunning: As she spent time taking pictures with fans, Alesha revealed more of her gorgeous ensemble, her jeans teamed with spiky heeled black ankle boots

Black peep-toe ankle boots and a large collection of gold jewellery - including necklaces and plenty of rings - finished her funky attire for the day.

Alesha tied her cool, effortless aesthetic together with her cropped blonde locks pushed over to one side and a slick of classic red on her lips.

And, perhaps not part of the planned outfit but a necessity anyway, Alesha was forced to cover herself with a red, white and blue umbrella as she spent time on the red carpet meeting fans.

Still, despite the inclement weather she didn't look deterred, constantly flashing her pearly white teeth for the cameras before heading inside London's Dominion Theatre to join her fellow judges Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Simon Cowell.

Oh no! She needed a helping hand as she tottered towards the red carpet, umbrella in hand

It's cold out there: Although Alesha covered up in a slick white blazer, it perhaps wasn't quite enough to keep her protected from the chilly, wet air

Turning on the charm: Despite conditions, Alesha continued to sizzle on the red carpet, scoring another style win in her auditions attire

Before taking to the soggy red carpet, Alesha had shared snapshots of her striking ensemble on Instagram, revealing that it was a designer look for the day.

Along with a full-length image, the music star wrote: '@bgt London Look 2! casual chic! Jacket @balmainparis Jeans @dolcegabbana Shoes @tomford Styling @laurysmith @styledlia_.'

Another photo on her social media page was a close-up, showing her ample chest once again and her bright scarlet painted lips while gazing seductively into the camera lens.

Also wowing on the red carpet was Alesha's fellow judge Amanda, who showed off her gorgeous slight curves in a pretty pale sky blue lace dress.

Tuesday marked the second day of BGT auditions filming in London - the famous foursome first descended on the city last week.

'Just an average day at work': Alesha boasted as she shared behind-the-scenes snapshots with some superbly-sculpted men

Outfit on point: Before hitting the red carpet, Alesha had given her Instagram followers a run-down of her designer outfit, which included pieces by Balmain and Dolce & Gabbana

Bra-vo: Another selfie revealed even more of her lace lingerie, as she pouted into the camera's lens

David's divas: David Walliams entertained the panel by posing with a group of ripped and shirtless male models

And prior to that, they joined forces to kick off the new series as they filmed the first auditions in Liverpool.

The foursome - who hold the fate of talent show hopefuls in their hands - are keenly trying to put the controversy of last year behind them.

The 2015 series of Britain's Got Talent was the subject of a media storm, after the canine winner Matisse and his owner Julie O'Dwyer were accused of using subterfuge in the final.

They were feted with the 250,000 prize money and a chance to appear at the Royal Variety Performance.

When news surfaced that Matisse had used a stunt dog during his final routine, TV watchdog Ofcom received 507 complaints from voters believing they were 'tricked', while ITV reported another 130 miffed viewers.

Sky blue pretty: Amanda Holden made for a fresh summery addition to proceedings, the BGT judge rocking up to the red carpet in a gorgeous pale blue lace dress

Dreamy: The 44-year-old displayed her lean curves outside the Dominion Theatre for the second day of BGT filming in the British capital

No Holden back: Amanda Holden off her perfect pins as some top-hatted men lifted her up backstage

Dapper David: David Walliams also rocked up, cutting a handsome figure in a black suit

Boss man: Simon Cowell was the last to arrive, the head judge going for a casual jumper and jeans combo for the day

Britain DID have talent! The music mogul was seemingly impressed with the day's auditions as he left the venue with a beaming smile on his face

Still fabulous! Alesha's make-up looked just as flawless at 1am as she joined departed alongside the rest of the team

Anthony McPartlin was accompanied by his pet pooch as he sauntered to his vehicle

Pared-back: The TV host cut a casual figure in a checked shirt and black jeans
It's often said dogs look like their owners, but in these celebrity canines' case it seems being owned by a diva also rubs off.

According to Page Six, two of Mariah Carey's beloved Jack Russells do not like to ruff it.

The 45-year-old's pampered pooches are relocating to the star's new home in Los Angeles, California, from her winter palace in Aspen, Colorado, so of course these canines didn't fly coach.

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Don't like to ruff it: Mariah Carey (pictured in 2012) flew two of her dogs back to Los Angeles, California, on Monday first class

Page Six reports that as Mariah flew from New York to Los Angeles a few days earlier with her new Aussie billionaire fiance James Packer, she sent for Jack Russells Cha Cha and Jill E. Beans on Monday.

According to sources, the two dogs - each with their respective staff member - were given their own seats on the American Airlines flight with the trip costing over $2,000 a pooch.

Making things a little more expensive is the fact the two dogs hate each other.

One source told Page Six: 'Mariah's dogs only fly first. But the two pets hate each other, so [they] have to be placed in separate kennels for the journey and travel with two separate members of her staff.'

He fur chidren: Reportedly as Mariah flew from New York to Los Angeles a few days earlier with her new Aussie billionaire fiance James Packer, she sent for Jack Russells Cha Cha (pictured) and Jill E. Beans - and they 'only fly first'

Making it tough: As the dogs do not like each they were given their own seats - as were their respective staff member- on the American Airlines flight with the trip costing over $2,000 a pooch (stock image)

The pair will soon be back in the air - and in first class - as Mariah is returning at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for her residency next week.

It has just been announced that after her international tour - running from March to May - she will be once again in Vegas extend her residency from June till September.

That means her dogs will be clocking up more frequent flyer miles in the next few months than most people do in their lifetime.

Just like their mom: The singer is known for her diva antics and prefers to fly private (seen here on Instagram)

It was revealed on Monday that just days after the Australian billionaire presented the pop superstar with a 35-carat diamond ring worth an estimated $4m, the couple leased a lavish home where they can live together as a family with Mariah's twins Monroe and Moroccan.

The property they're moving into is located in the exclusive community of The Oaks in Calabasas, California, and offers 18,000 square feet of living space on one acre for a rent of about $250,000 a month.

While these two have a more extravagant lifestyle and more means to have one than most, when it comes to celebrities and their dogs, flying first is nothing new.

New step fur daddy: Last week it was revealed that the 45-year-old was engaged to Australian media mogul James Packer (pictured Friday)

Bling to behold: The billionaire presented the superstar with a 35-carat diamond ring worth an estimated $4m

Last week, Andie MacDowell and her dog were moved from first to coach sending the actress into an embarrassing tail spin.

The 57-year-old write: '@AmericanAir HELP I paid for first class & they put me in tourist because of my dog that I pre-booked & paid for.'

While Twitter had a field day with her first [class] world problems, the star later clarified she was happy to fly 'tourist class' but not when she had paid for a seat.

Travel nightmare: Magic Mike XXL star Andie MacDowell (pictured Januray) ran into some trouble while trying to fly from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach on Friday with her rescue dog and when she was moved to coach from first she complained calling it 'tourist' class

Shots fired: Things then turned slightly ugly, as the Twittersphere responded that her use of 'tourist' was derogatory. This led to some heated back and forth

Andie was moved as her seat was a bulkhead one where she could not out her dog under the seat for takeoff.

The star later backtracked, slightly: 'Lessons learned never,complain on Twitter & don't pay for first class on American Airlines, only express gratitude...can we move on now.

'I'm very happy flying in coach I'm happy on a bus or the subway but if I play for first class, that's where I want to be,that was the point.'
The A-list cast descended upon London's Leicester Square on Tuesday for the film's grand debut

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All eyes were on Catherine Zeta-Jones as she walked the red carpet at the World Premiere of Dad's Army in London last night.

The Hollywood beauty looking absolutely sensational in a blue dress with a daring thigh-high split as she took Leicester Square by storm on Tuesday evening, but no one was more enthralled than the bashful Chelsea Pensioners, who looked as though they couldn't believe their luck as they posed alongside the screen siren.

The 46-year-old Welsh beauty braved the wind and the rain as she arrived in Leicester Square, narrowly avoiding a wardrobe malfunction as the blustery weather threatened to expose her modesty.

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Centre of attention: Catherine Zeta Jones looked incredible in a plunging blue gown with a daring side-split as she walked the red carpet with the Chelsea Pensioners at the World Premiere of the new war drama in London on Tuesday night

Braving the elements: Catherine battled with the wind as she tried to pull down the daring side-split running up her left thigh

The stunning brunette, who plays glamorous journalist Rose Winters in the film, clutched her dress' flowing skirt as it blew about in the wind, ensuring the side split running up her left thigh didn't expose too much skin.

Catherine looked radiant in her plunging garment, showing off her ample cleavage thanks to the low-cut neckline and classic cut, including ruching at the waist.

The screen star's elegant dress featured a pretty lace panel at the back, adding a glamorous touch to the gown as she paraded through the square alongside her A-list cast mates including Michael Gambon and original sitcom star Ian Lavender, who played Private Pike in the BBC show.

Picture of elegance: The Welsh beauty accessorised her jewel bright gown with sparkling silver accessories as she made her way into the Odeon cinema for the first-look screening

In her element: The Hollywood actress proudly posed alongside the thrilled war veterans as she made her grand arrival

Causing a stir: The film - set in 1944, after the events depicted in the television series - sees Catherine's inquisitive journalist character shake things up

Leggy display: Catherine showcased her svelte legs thanks to the racy side-split, displaying just the right amount of skin

All eyes on her: The mother-of-two certainly knows how to make a strong sartorial statement

Lovely in lace: The brunette beauty's elegant dress featured pretty lace embellishment and a gold zip running down the back

Leading the way: Catherine turned heads as she lead the all-star line-up in London, pulling in the crowds regardless of the weather

Tender touch: The A-list beauty eagerly chatted to the Chelsea Pensioners at the red carpet event

She set off her leading lady look with elegant diamond jewellery by Boucheron, and wore thin, strappy sandals, sparkling earrings and a statement serpent bracelet snaking up one arm.

The stunning star gushed about the movie at the premiere, saying: 'It was everything I hoped it to be, it was all these great actors, knew their lines, knew what they were doing.

'We were laughing all the way through it and it just reminded me how much I love being in the UK to work and to be with British actors. It's nice to come home and this was like coming home to a cup of Ovaltine, nice and cosy.'

The premiere was a special occasion for some of the 320 existing Chelsea Pensioners in attendance, who have served in Korea, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and World War II, and the film will no doubt bring back memories.

The war veterans proudly posed alongside leading lady Catherine as she made her way down the carpet, enjoying a group outing from the Royal Hospital Chelsea nursing home where they reside.

Big night: The Chelsea Pensioners, who have served in Korea, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and World War II, were enjoying a group outing

Beautiful in blue: The Chicago actress ensured all eyes were on her in her show-stopping gown, which clung to her killer curves in all the right places

New character: Zeta-Jones plays glamorous journalist Rose Winters in the film, based on the hit BBC television series, which ran from 1968 until 1977

Celebrating in style: The Chelsea Pensioners were guests of honour at the premiere ahead of the February 5th UK and US release date

Radiant: All eyes were on the striking brunette in her classic gown as she stood alongside the war veterans

Braving the rain: Despite the drizzle, the A-list actress was all smiles as she promoted the long-awaited adaptation

Supportive: Catherine was clutching one particularly delighted looking pensioner's hand

Give us a twirl: The Welsh screen siren ensured she was looking her best at the premiere, spinning round for the cameras

Standout look: In spite of the drizzly London weather, Catherine was a real crowd-pleaser

Sir Michael Gambon, 75, was also pictured walking down the red carpet as he turned up to show his support.

Looking chic in a checked coat and a pink spotty tie, the actor - who plays Private Charles Godfrey in the new film - looked incredibly dapper as he was one of the first to arrive.

Speaking at the premiere he admitted it was not too difficult to get into character as he said was just like gentle but doddery Private Godfrey, best remembered for perpetually nodding off and being excused for his weak bladder.

He joked: 'I'm like Godfrey, I'm always mooching around, I'm not doing anything right, I forget things. If someone says left, I turn right. I'm not very bright up here.'

The acting great recently admitted his memory has deteriorated so much that he now relies on keeping lines jotted on scraps of paper in his pocket.

Putting in an appearance: Sir Michael Gambon, 75, was one of the first stars of the new big screen adaptation to hit the red carpet

Animated display: Gambon, who plays Private Godfrey in the new film, cut a dapper figure in a khaki tweed suit

Come rain or shine: The Harry Potter actor shielded himself from the rain with a clear umbrella as he entered the cinema

Smartening up: The Inbetweeners favourite Blake Harrison plays Private Pike in the Oliver Parker-directed flick

He scrubs up well: Best known for playing hapless Neil Sutherland in the E4 series, Blake looked poles apart from his schoolboy alter-ego

Veteran actor: Ian Lavender has given his seal of approval to Blake's version of Pike, and turned up to watch the younger actor take on his old role in the film

All-star cast: Toby Jones (L) is playing Captain Mainwaring, while Tom Courtenay (R) will take on the role of Corporal Jones

Proud moment: Jimmy Perry OBE co-wrote the nine series of Dad's Army with the late David Croft, and couldn't have been more excited about seeing the modern adaptation come to light

Big turnout: Fans of the original sitcom turned out in their droves to see the new incarnations of their favourite characters

Dramatic: Emily Atack, best known for appearing in The Inbetweeners, wowed in a black flowing gown

Turning heads: Emily ensured she was the focal point thanks to her bronzed complexion and smoky eye shadow

Upping the glamour: The brunette beauty looked sensational in her glittering, wet look top and flowing skirt

Back again: Frank Williams (R) has reprised the role of Reverend Timothy Farthing in the big screen comedy

Also putting on a strong show at the world premiere was The Inbetweeners' Blake Harrison and Emily Atack, who both have leading roles in the film, and the sitcom's original co-writer, Jimmy Perry.

The hit Seventies TV comedy attracted 18million viewers at its height - and nearly 50 years since it first aired, the new film version of Dads Army is attracting huge excitement.

The official film trailer features Catherine strutting through the fictional town of Walmington-On-Sea, the Home Guard platoons base.

Military chic: TOWIE's Ferne McCann got all dolled up in a vintage military uniform to watch the new film

Standout look: The brunette beauty looked like she'd stepped straight out of the film in her retro ensemble

He's a fan: Presenter Ben Fogle and his wife Marina couldn't wait to catch the long-awaited new film at the world premiere

Salute! Miss Great Britain Zara Holland flashed a cheeky salute as she sashayed along the carpet

Musical sensational: Violinist Linzi Stoppard wore an Amethyst colour dress by Self Portrait on the red carpet as she attended the Premiere with her husband/manager Will Stoppard, the son of esteemed playwright Tom Stoppard

Full line-up: The cast assembled inside the Odeon Leicester Square for the film screening, attended by a host of stars and superfans

Arm-in-arm: Catherine slung an arm through Michael's as the pair posed for the glamorous inside shots

Sure-fire boxoffice success: The TV series, which was first broadcast in 1968 and ran until 1977, still has two million viewers tune in to watch repeats

Sealed with a kiss! Toby planted a smacker on the Hollywood beauty's hand as they cosied up on the carpet

'I'm doing an article on the Home Guard and you come highly recommended,' the actress enthuses, this time donning a grey tweed jacket as members of the army swoon.

The teaser begins with an intense build up as the narrator proclaims: 'The year is 1944. On the brink of defeat our nation has a secret weapon. These heroes are Britain's last line of defence.'

But the ardent opening is quickly undermined when we meet the Home Guard led by Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring and his team of recruits.

These include Love Actuallys Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, Harry Potter star Gambon as Private Godfrey and Harrison from The Inbetweeners as Private Pike.

Keep patient! The Dad's Army film features (from left) Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring, Michael Gambon as Prviate Godfrey, Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, Tom Courtenay as Lance-Corporal Jack Jones, Bill Paterson as Private Fraser and Daniel Mays as Private Joe Walker

Here she is! Catherine is bound to set pulses racing in her role as female journalist Rose Winters

Bottoms up: Her Dad's Army trailer introduction saw the actress showcase her pert bottom in a red skirt suit

Classic beauty: Zeta-Jones wore her luscious brunette locks in a chic up-do beneath a coordinating hat

Underdogs: (From left) Bill Nighy, Toby Jones, Blake Harrison and Daniel Mays make up the Home Guard

Eagle eye: Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring warily looked on as he lead his troops across a bleak forest

Easy does it: The weapon-clad men had their wits about them as they crept toward a suspicious noise

Fully armed and on the lookout for the enemy, the group unexpectedly stumble across an angered bull who chases a screaming Mainwaring while the rest of his troops look on dumbfounded.

I'm doing an article on the Home Guard and you come highly recommended Rose Winters (Catherine Zeta-Jones)

Another amusing scene sees the group attempt to perfect a camouflage style, although it seems simple-minded Godfrey struggles to grasp the concept.

Clad in a hula skirt and flower garland, Mainwaring tells him, 'Godfrey, you look like you're on a cruise to the south sea.'

Clearly unable to decipher his sarcasm, a genuinely touched Godfrey replies, 'Thank you so much, Sir.'

Dad's Army is set as the Second World War reaches its climax, with the Allies close to invading France and finally bringing down the Nazis.

But it seems that not even good news can boost the seemingly poor morale between the Home Guard in Walmington-on-Sea.

Help! The trailer took a humurous turn as Captain Mainwaring attempted to flee the angered bull

Shocked: But despite Mainwaring's plea for help, the rest of the gents looked on dumb-founded

Looking the part: Zeta-Jones nailed the 1940s look with victory rolls, red lipstick and large gold earrings

Oh, dear! The group attempted a camouflage style, but simple-minded Godfrey struggled to grasp the concept

On the hunt for a story: 'I'm doing an article on the Home Guard and you come highly recommended,' she says

After the troops are assigned a new mission to patrol the Dover army base, it's the perfect chance for the men to reanimate not only their own spirits but their stature.

Godfrey, you look like you're on a cruise to the south sea Captain Mainwaring (Toby Jones)

The gents are then informed that a spy is on the loose, giving the unlikely heroes the opportunity to stand up and be counted.

The TV series, which was first broadcast in 1968 and ran until 1977, still has two million viewers tune in to watch repeats.

Jimmy Perry, 90, who came up with the idea for the show and wrote it with David Croft, is a producer on the film.

The film script has been written by Hamish McColl, who wrote the hit British films Jonny English Reborn and Mr Beans Holiday.

The main producer Damian Jones, whose credits include The Iron Lady and The History Boys, says it was Dads Armys universal appeal that had attracted him.

Careful, men: Captain Mainwaring - played by Toby Jones from The Hunger James - leads the charge

Listen up: One scene saw Mainwaring hilariously attempt to read out a 'top secret' document written in German

Orders: The troops are assigned a new mission to patrol the Dover army base during the Second World War

The longevity of the programmes success has been attributed to the superb cast of supporting characters along with their catchphrases that have stood the test of time.

Stuart Wright, chairman of the Dads Army museum in Thetford, Norfolk, where the series was filmed, said tours of the town still attracted several thousand visitors a year.

A number of the actors from the original series had experienced war. Arnold Ridley, who played Godfrey, had been wounded on the Somme during the First World War.

Buildings in Bridlington and Beverly in East Yorkshire were transported back in time for the new film, with pubs and shops transformed into well-known parts of the set.

Dad's Army will hit cinemas on February 5.

Uncanny: Toby Jones showcased his striking resemblance to Dad's Army original Arthur Lowe

Doing him justice: Bill Nighy will star as Sergeant Wilson, played by late actor John Le Mesurier in the TV show

Taking the reigns: Michael Gambon has reprised the role of Private Godfrey, originally played by Arnold Ridley

The youngest: Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison plays Private Pike, originally played by Ian Lavender (right)

Don't panic! Tom Courtenay plays Lance-Corporal Jack Jones, previously played by Clive Dunn (right) on TV

It's the spiv! Daniel Mays (left) plays Private Joe Walker, famously played by James Beck, who died in 1973
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It was a jewel in the crown of British television in the Sixties, so fans were overjoyed at news of the revival of Dad's Army in film form.

Leading the veteran stars of the movie at the World Premiere of the new war drama on Tuesday night, were Sir Michael Gambon, Tom Courtenay and Ian Lavender, who stormed the red carpet looking incredibly suave as they joined their fellow stars.

Sir Michael, 75, braved the rain to unveil the movie in Leicester Square where he was joined by Tom, 78, and 69-year-old Ian, as well as a host of fellow veterans superstars including Frank Williams and their younger cohorts.

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Veteran stars: Sir Michael, 75, braved the rain to unveil the movie in Leicester Square where he was joined by Tom, 78, and 69-year-old Ian, as well as a host of fellow veterans superstars including Frank Williams and their younger cohorts

Looking chic in a checked coat and a pink spotty tie, Micheal, who plays Private Charles Godfrey in the adaptation of the iconic show, looked incredibly dapper as he was one of the first to arrive.

The British star posed up a storm for waiting photographers as he beamed in front of a crowd of vying fans - eagerly anticipating the reboot of the show.

Tom went for a more simple look than his co-star in a pair of smart grey trousers with a darker coloured blazer - although he coordinated with Sir Michael as they both toted a clear umbrella.

The esteemed actor has scooped the coveted role of Home Guard platoon Lance-Corporal Jones, originally played by Clive Dunn.

Show of support: Sir Michael Gambon, 75, was one of the first stars of the new big screen adaptation to hit the red carpet

Scooped the role: The esteemed actor has scooped the coveted role of Home Guard platoon Lance-Corporal Jones, originally played by Clive Dunn

Old and new: Ian, who plays Brigadier Pritchard in the movie, looked dapper in a black suit with a patterned tie while toting a nap-sack like bag over his shoulder

Ian, who plays Brigadier Pritchard in the movie, looked dapper in a black suit with a patterned tie while toting a nap-sack like bag over his shoulder.

The 69-year-old Brit was a unique guest at the premiere as he both stars in the reboot of the movie and also featured in the original show as Private Pike - the character now played by The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison.

Blake, 30, went super-suave for the premiere as he rocked a polka dot bow tie with a lightly checked black suit and white pocket square - although he tarnished his suave veneer slightly with a mass of designer facial hair and shaggy curled tresses.

Beloved star: The British star posed up a storm for waiting photographers as he beamed in front of a crowd of vying fans - eagerly anticipating the reboot of the show

Under my umbrella: Sir Michael stormed the red carpet like a pro - looking at ease in his natural superstar habitat

Old timer: Joining the veterans at the event was 92-year-old Jimmy Perry OBE - the original divisor and co-writer of the Dad's Army series, who took a seat on the red carpet while looking smart in a grey suit and black overcoat

Joining the stars: Frank Williams [right], who played Reverend Timothy Farthing in the original series, looked in fine form in a black suit

Joining the veterans at the event was 92-year-old Jimmy Perry OBE - the original divisor and co-writer of the Dad's Army series, who took a seat on the red carpet while looking smart in a grey suit and black overcoat.

Frank Williams, 84, looked in fine form as he took the red carpet in a black suit, no doubt keen to check out the remake after starring in the original show as Reverend Timothy Farthing.

Aside from the veteran stars of the movie - all eyes were on Catherine Zeta-Jones as she looking absolutely sensational in a blue dress with a daring thigh-high split.

The 46-year-old Welsh beauty braved the wind and the rain as she arrived in Leicester Square, narrowly avoiding a wardrobe malfunction as the blustery weather threatened to expose her modesty.

All the stars: The entire glimmering cast were out in force as they joined forces to unveil the eagerly anticipated movie

Now and then: Also hitting the red carpet was The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison, who plays the role of 'stupid boy' Private Pike in the movie - while he was joined at the premiere by Ian Lavender, who played Pike in the original series

Seriously sizzling: The gents were joined by windswept Catherine Zeta-Jones who narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction in a teal thigh-split dress as she joined the stars of the film where she plays a glamorous journalist in the big screen adaption.

Aye-aye: Toby Jones, who plays Captain Mainwaring in the movie, was keen to salute the waiting admirers on the red carpet

Cosy colleagues: Toby cosied up to Catherine once they headed inside the event

All the stars: Looking hopelessly glamorous at the premiere was Felicity Montagu, who plays Mrs Mainwaring in the movie, wearing a white fur bolero and a navy gown

Toby Jones, who plays Captain Mainwaring in the movie, was keen to salute the waiting admirers on the red carpet before he cosied up to Catherine once they headed inside the event.

Looking hopelessly glamorous at the premiere was Felicity Montagu, who plays Mrs Mainwaring in the movie, wearing a white fur bolero and a navy gown

As well as the stars of the film, many faces of the celebrity world turned out in support of the movie - with some getting into the swing of things in their dress.

The Only Way Is Retro: TOWIE star Ferne McCann went for out-and-out glamour as she channeled the vintage vixen look in a military-inspired ensemble, with her hair styled into time-appropriate victory rolls

Missed the memo? Also offering a sartorial nod to the movie's setting was Miss Great Britain, Zara Holland - although the pretty blonde opted more for sex appeal than historical accuracy as she rocked a skin-tight khaki bandeau dress - a heavy anachronism in comparison to Ferne's authentic garb

TOWIE star Ferne McCann went for out-and-out glamour as she channeled the vintage vixen look in a military-inspired ensemble, with her hair styled into time-appropriate victory rolls.

Also offering a sartorial nod to the movie's setting was Miss Great Britain, Zara Holland - although the pretty blonde opted more for sex appeal than historical accuracy as she rocked a skin-tight khaki bandeau dress - a heavy anachronism in comparison to Ferne's authentic garb.

Emily Atack is set for further superstardom after scooping the role of Daphne in the film and she looked like a gothic princess on her big night as she sported a flowing black gown, while she piled her blonde tresses into an elegant chignon with cascading tendrils framing her pretty face.

Beautiful in black: Turning out to support her Inbetweeners co-star Blake was Emily Atack, who also starred in the Channel 4 comedy, who looked like a gothic princess in a flowing black gown, while she piled her blonde tresses into an elegant chignon with cascading tendrils framing her pretty face

Making himself comfortable: Sir Michael whipped off his coat once out of the cold to show off his smart tweed suit

Engrossed: Sir Michael and Catherine looked deep in conversation as they caught up on the red carpet

Representing the old boys: Sir Michael was leading the veterans of the movie as he stormed the red carpet

All-star turnout: The cast and crew looked blissfully happy to be reunited on the front line of the premiere

Sir Michael recently admitted his memory has deteriorated so much that he now relies on keeping lines jotted on scraps of paper in his pocket.

The sad confession comes ahead of his latest film release, the remake of classic British sitcom Dad's Army.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday's Event magazine, he said: 'I cant remember lines... I couldnt remember the lines inwhat have we just done?

The hit TV comedy attracted 18million viewers at its height - and nearly 50 years since it first aired, the new film version of Dads Army is attracting huge excitement.

And Catherine will set pulses racing in her role as visiting female journalist Rose Winters, with the trailer seeing her showcasing her pert bottom in a red skirt suit as she is greeted by wolf whistles.

Keep patient! The Dad's Army film features (from left) Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring, Michael Gambon as Prviate Godfrey, Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, Tom Courtenay as Lance-Corporal Jack Jones, Bill Paterson as Private Fraser and Daniel Mays as Private Joe Walker

Here she is! Catherine Zeta-Jones is bound to set pulses racing in her role as female journalist Rose Winters

Bottoms up: Her Dad's Army trailer introduction saw the actress showcase her pert bottom in a red skirt suit

The 45-year-old actress wears her luscious brunette locks in a chic up-do beneath a coordinating hat as she struts through the fictional town of Walmington-On-Sea, the Home Guard platoons base.

'I'm doing an article on the Home Guard and you come highly recommended,' the actress enthuses, this time donning a grey tweed jacket as members of the army swoon.

The teaser begins with an intense build up as the narrator proclaims: 'The year is 1944. On the brink of defeat our nation has a secret weapon. These heroes are Britain's last line of defence.'

But the ardent opening is quickly undermined when we meet the Home Guard led by Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring and his team of recruits.

These include Love Actuallys Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, Harry Potter star Gambon as Private Godfrey and Harrison from The Inbetweeners as Private Pike.

Classic beauty: Zeta-Jones wore her luscious brunette locks in a chic up-do beneath a coordinating hat

Underdogs: (From left) Bill Nighy, Toby Jones, Blake Harrison and Daniel Mays make up the Home Guard

Eagle eye: Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring warily looked on as he lead his troops across a bleak forest

Fully armed and on the lookout for the enemy, the group unexpectedly stumble across an angered bull who chases a screaming Mainwaring while the rest of his troops look on dumbfounded.

I'm doing an article on the Home Guard and you come highly recommended Rose Winters (Catherine Zeta-Jones)

Another amusing scene sees the group attempt to perfect a camouflage style, although it seems simple-minded Godfrey struggles to grasp the concept.

Clad in a hula skirt and flower garland, Mainwaring tells him, 'Godfrey, you look like you're on a cruise to the south sea.'

Clearly unable to decipher his sarcasm, a genuinely touched Godfrey replies, 'Thank you so much, Sir.'

Dad's Army is set as the Second World War reaches its climax, with the Allies close to invading France and finally bringing down the Nazis.

But it seems that not even good news can boost the seemingly poor morale between the Home Guard in Walmington-on-Sea.

Help! The trailer took a humurous turn as Captain Mainwaring attempted to flee the angered bull

Shocked: But despite Mainwaring's plea for help, the rest of the gents looked on dumb-founded

Looking the part: Zeta-Jones nailed the 1940s look with victory rolls, red lipstick and large gold earrings

Oh, dear! The group attempted a camouflage style, but simple-minded Godfrey struggled to grasp the concept

On the hunt for a story: 'I'm doing an article on the Home Guard and you come highly recommended,' she says

After the troops are assigned a new mission to patrol the Dover army base, it's the perfect chance for the men to reanimate not only their own spirits but their stature.

Godfrey, you look like you're on a cruise to the south sea Captain Mainwaring (Toby Jones)

The gents are then informed that a spy is on the loose, giving the unlikely heroes the opportunity to stand up and be counted.

The TV series, which was first broadcast in 1968 and ran until 1977, still has two million viewers tune in to watch repeats.

Jimmy Perry, 90, who came up with the idea for the show and wrote it with David Croft, is a producer on the film.

The film script has been written by Hamish McColl, who wrote the hit British films Jonny English Reborn and Mr Beans Holiday.

The main producer Damian Jones, whose credits include The Iron Lady and The History Boys, says it was Dads Armys universal appeal that had attracted him.

Careful, men: Captain Mainwaring - played by Toby Jones from The Hunger James - leads the charge

Listen up: One scene saw Mainwaring hilariously attempt to read out a 'top secret' document written in German

Orders: The troops are assigned a new mission to patrol the Dover army base during the Second World War

The longevity of the programmes success has been attributed to the superb cast of supporting characters along with their catchphrases that have stood the test of time.

Stuart Wright, chairman of the Dads Army museum in Thetford, Norfolk, where the series was filmed, said tours of the town still attracted several thousand visitors a year.

A number of the actors from the original series had experienced war. Arnold Ridley, who played Godfrey, had been wounded on the Somme during the First World War.

Buildings in Bridlington and Beverly in East Yorkshire were transported back in time for the new film, with pubs and shops transformed into well-known parts of the set.

Dad's Army will hit cinemas on February 5 next year

Uncanny: Toby Jones showcased his striking resemblance to Dad's Army original Arthur Lowe

The youngest: Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison plays Private Pike, originally played by Ian Lavender (right)

Doing him justice: Bill Nighy will star as Sergeant Wilson, played by late actor John Le Mesurier in the TV show

Taking the reigns: Michael Gambon has reprised the role of Private Godfrey, originally played by Arnold Ridley

Don't panic! Tom Courtenay plays Lance-Corporal Jack Jones, previously played by Clive Dunn (right) on TV
She's known for her love of fashion and former TOWIE star Ferne McCann made sure all eyes were on her when she attended the Dad's Army world premiere in London on Tuesday night.

The 26-year-old television presenter dressed up in military uniform to show her support for the film, shown at the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square, as she put on a retro display.

Walking down the red carpet in a khaki military jacket, the brunette beauty looked incredibly smart, polishing off her look with a black pencil skirt.

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We salute you: She's known for her love of fashion and former TOWIE star Ferne McCann made sure all eyes were on her when she attended the Dad's Army world premiere in London on Tuesday

Showing her support: The 26-year-old television presenter dressed up in military uniform to show her support for the film, shown at the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square, as she put on a retro display

While she is not in the movie herself, the stunner saluted the cameras as she wowed wearing a very retro hairstyle.

Ferne also added some further glamour to her look with a slick of ruby red lipstick and a pair of sky high court shoes.

The new Dad's Army movie is slated for release on February 5 and stars Catherine Zeta Jones as a glamorous journalist.

She's got the look: Walking down the red carpet in a khaki military jacket, the brunette beauty looked incredibly smart, polishing off her look with a black pencil skirt

Tale to tell: In the new Dad's Army movie. The Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon deal with a visiting female journalist and a German spy as World War II draws to its conclusion

The Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon deal with a visiting female journalist (Zeta-Jones) and a German spy as World War II draws to its conclusion.

Catherine wowed on the night wearing a teal thigh-split dress, although her look suffered at the hands of the wind when she had to hold it in place.

The premiere was a special occasion for some of the 320 existing Chelsea Pensioners in attendance, who have served in Korea, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and World War II, and the film will no doubt bring back memories.

Centre of attention: Catherine Zeta Jones looked incredible in a plunging blue gown with a daring side-split as she walked the red carpet with the Chelsea Pensioners at the World Premiere of the new war drama in London on Tuesday night

Braving the elements: Catherine battled with the wind as she tried to pull down the daring side-split running up her left thigh

The war veterans proudly posed alongside leading lady Catherine as she made her way down the carpet, enjoying a group outing from the Royal Hospital Chelsea nursing home where they reside.

Leading the veteran stars of the movie at the World Premiere of the new war drama on Tuesday night, were Sir Michael Gambon, Tom Courtenay and Ian Lavender, who stormed the red carpet looking incredibly suave as they joined their fellow stars.

Sir Michael, 75, braved the rain to unveil the movie in Leicester Square where he was joined by Tom, 78, and 69-year-old Ian, as well as a host of fellow veterans superstars including Frank Williams and their younger cohorts.
She rose to fame as hopeless romantic Will McKenzie's love interest in much-loved British comedy The Inbetweeners.

And six years since giving up her role as Charlotte Hinchcliffe, Emily Atack proved exactly why she's hailed a pin-up by teenagers all over the country as she attended the world premiere of her new film Dad's Army - starring her former Channel 4 co-star Blake Harrison - in London on Tuesday evening.

The 26-year-old - who plays Daphne in the re-make - made the most of her ample assets, turning up to Leicester Square in a show-stopping gown which offered more than a glimpse of her cleavage.

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Turning up: Emily Atack injected a dose of glamour to the Dad's Army world premiere in London on Tuesday evening

Emily turned heads as she slipped into a black plunging dress which pushed up her pert breasts and featured a billowing semi-sheer skirt which trailed along the red carpet.

She ensured all eyes were on her sensational frock - which was made from contrasting texture panels - by keeping her hair and make-up comparably low-key.

The Heartbeat star favoured subtle bronze tones and a nude-coloured lip while her glossy bronde locks were coiffed into an elegant updo, with the front sections kept loose and framing her face.

She's got some front: The Inbetweeners star put on a busty display in a black plunging gown as she arrived on the red carpet in Leicester Square

Whoosh:The 26-year-old's sensational number featured a billowing skirt which clearly delighted her

Professional poser: Emily had her red-carpet poses nailed as she made every effort to highlight her curvaceous figure

Sweeping beauty: Not only was Emily's dress sweeping in style but the front sections of her hair swept over her pretty face

All aboard the glamour train: The leather and sheer gown featured a trailing skirt which turned heads among attendees

Bronzed beauty: Emily's hair and make-up was comparably low-key with subtle tones amplifying her natural beauty while her bronde locks were coiffed into an elegant updo

Emily was supported by her Inbetweeners co-star Blake Harrison whom she stars alongside in the highly-anticipated movie.

The 30-year-old Londoner - who plays Private Pike in the flick - was worlds away from his geeky turn as dim-witted Neil as he sported a generous amount of facial hair which went a long way in transforming him from school geek to Hollywood pin-up.

He looked dashing in a black three-piece suit which he styled with a dot-printed bow-tie and a white pocket square.

From school geek to dapper gent: Blake Harrison - who is best known for playing Neil Sutherland in The Inbetweeners - looked worlds away from his days in the comedy series

Cast assemble: Catherine Zeta-Jones - who plays Rose Winters in the re-make - led the cast (from left to right) Daniel Mays, Toby Jones, Michael Gambon, Blake Harrison, Tom Courtenay and Bill Paterson at the world premiere

Star of the show: Catherine, 46, lived up to her glam reputation and looked incredible in a teal-coloured frock which featured a thigh-high split and a plunging neckline

The war-time comedy film is based on the Seventies sitcom of the same name and follows the events after the series wrapped in 1977.

Catherine Zeta-Jones supports leading actor Bill Nighy as a glamorous journalist, Rose Winters, sent to report on the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon.

Dads Army is out for general release on February 5.
She has spent a week in snowy New York for what she described as 'a very fun and secret project.'

But all good things must come to an end and on Tuesday Lea Michele turned up at snowy JFK Airport for the flight back to Los Angeles.

The Scream Queens star was wearing the same black zip-up coat that she arrived in, draped over her shoulders.

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Travel-wear: Lea Michele turned up at snowy JFK Airport for the flight back to Los Angeles on Tuesday

The 29-year-old teamed it with a black V-neck sweater and black skinny jeans.

She boosted her petite 5ft 1ins frame thanks to a pair of black ankle booties with high block heels and three buckles.

Lea's long brunette tresses were styled in a high updo and she didn't appear to be wearing much in the way of make-up, although her eyes were hidden by a large pair of shades.

Jetting out: The 29-year-old, who has been working on 'a secret project' in the city for the past week, made her way along the snowy pavement and into the terminal

Black is back: The actress teamed the coat with a V-neck sweater, skinny jeans and high heeled ankle boots

It's a wrap: Michele hugged a male pal goodbye as she turned up at JFK airport

The Scream Queens star slung a large black leather tote over her shoulder and she checked her cell phone as she walked through the concourse.

At one point she hugged a handsome man outside the terminal. The beauty dates Matthew Paetz, 30.

The Glee alum spent the week with celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa and make up artist Meredith Baraf.

And she shared lots of shots of the Big Apple with her fans on Instagram - without revealing what the 'secret project' was.

Getting started: Last Wednesday Lea shared the first of a slew of Instagram shots, captioned, 'Early morning glam in NYC w/ my girls @sarahpotempa & @meredithbaraf for a very fun secret project!'

Out and about: The beautifully coiffed and made-up celebrity posted this snap from Times Square, with a heart-shaped emoji

After jetting in from Los Angeles last Tuesday, Lea posted a snap of herself on Wednesday as she was being made-up.

She captioned it: 'Early morning glam in NYC w/ my girls @sarahpotempa & @meredithbaraf for a very fun secret project!'

A slew of images followed including one of the New York native standing in Times Square, a picture of a pizza she captioned. 'When you visit family in the Bronx NY' plus shots of herself in a limo being chauffered around the city, always perfectly coiffed and made-up.

That's a clever trick: The brunette joked, 'Look who I found' as she posed seemingly balancing the Statue Of Liberty on the tip of her finger

Water view: Lea wrapped up warm for a ferry trip on one of the Big Apple's rivers

'Look who I found,' she jokingly said in a snap that showed her seemingly balancing the Statue of Liberty on her fingertip.

On Monday, she and Sarah pampered themselves before the flight home.

'Spa time with topknots after work last night w/ @sarahpotempa,' wrote next to the selfie.

Lea appeared to be on an all girls trip as there was no sign of her model beau Matthew. The couple met in June 2014 while filming her On My Way music video.
He made his name in pro wrestling as the jabroni beating, pie eating, high-flying, electrifying, elbow dropping, spine popping, eyebrow raising, people's champ.

And though Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has soared to stardom on the big screen, he certainly hasn't forgotten about his roots.

The 43-year-old actor made a surprise appearance on WWE flagship programme Monday Night Raw in a hilarious segment that ended with him getting back in the ring to lay the smack down.

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Smell what he's cooking? Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson made a surprise appearance on WWE's Monday Night Raw

Laying the smack down: The 43-year-old actor got back in the act as he showed that he still has his pro wrestling skills

Dwayne joined forces with his cousins Jimmy and Jey in The Usos as they closed out the entertaining segment by beating up on baddie trio The New Day.

It began with the Fast & Furious star arriving in the backstage area in a large pick-up truck as he had hilarious interactions with WWE superstars The Miz, The Big Show, Lana, Rusev, Pat Patterson and even rapper Rick Ross.

Just before taking the stage, The Rock addressed the audience on camera before his grand entrance as he said he had woken up at 3:45 AM to work out before a 12 hour day on the set of his HBO series Ballers but could not miss the opportunity to see his biggest fans.

Finally: The Rock had come back to the pro-wrestling promotion in which he made his name as he arrived backstage in a large pick-up truck

He came to play: The former pro wrestler had a bit of fun with a few of the WWE superstars including The Miz

The most electrifying man: The star of the Fast & Furious franchise looked in good spirits as he had a big smile on his face while approaching the stage

Friends in high places: He chatted for a bit with rapper Rick Ross

He said: 'And they said "Rock where you going? Where you going Rock?" And I said The Rock could go one place only, that's the American Airlines Arena, baby. That's where The Rock is going.'

Dwayne then gave wrestling a fans a little bit of insight the the inner-workings of the wrestling promotion as he showed off the red curtain for 'gorilla' position (named after legendary wrestler and commentator Robert James 'Gorilla Monsoon' Marella).

He then invigorated the crowd by asking if they were ready for his entrance and said: 'Miami is ready, the world is ready, The Rock is ready. It is an honour and privilege to always say finally The Rock has come back... home.'

Layeth the smacketh down: The Rock looked in great form as he received a uproarious ovation upon his entrance

They rock: Bad guys The New Day - pictured from left to right: Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E Langston - came out to spoil The Rock's homecoming

Unicorns: The trio had plenty of fun as they poked fun at the wrestler-turned-actor and the jibes got to the point that Dwayne challenged them to a fight

His music hits and he walked down the ramp to the ring as he addressed the crowd. After a bit of joking with the crowd, he is interrupted by heel trio The New Day (Big E Langston, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods).

After a hilarious back and forth, The Rock seemed to be sick of the jibes as he invites them to get in the ring for a fight.

The villainous trio decline the offer as they choose to walk back up the aisle while The Rock responds: 'See The Rock gets it, you don't understand. You're not used to seeing The Rock out here. Well here's how it is, when The Rock comes out here The Rock has a plan, The Rock has a plan on top of a plan.

'Now clearly, Plan A did not work for all of us but Plan B always works. Plan B... Family.'

Plan B: As the trio began retreating, The Rock's cousins The Usos - Jimmy and Jey - came out to attack their rivals in The New Day

Smackdown hotel: He performed his signature move - The Rock Bottom - on Big E

Hard-hitting: The Rock looked like he hadn't skipped a beat though this is his first appearance on the programme in over a year

That is when The Usos music hits and they attack the trio as Big E gets thrown into the ring to receive The Rock's signature move: The Rock Bottom.

Xavier is then thrown onto the ring and receives a spine buster after getting kicked by the tag team and ultimately receives the former wrestlers other special move: The People's Elbow.

After the fight, The Rock celebrates with his cousins as he grabs a microphone and declares: 'Thank you Miami, we will see you at Wrestlemania if you smell what The Rock is cooking!'

This was the first time the star has appeared live on WWE television for over a year since appearing on the same programme back in October 2014.

People's champ: Xavier was thrown into the ring and was met with a spinebuster followed by his special move The People's Elbow

Declaration: At the end of the segment, the cousins celebrated as The Rock said: 'Thank you Miami, we will see you at Wrestlemania if you smell what The Rock is cooking!'

He had a thriving career in the organisation as an in-ring performer from 1996 to 2003 before returning to wrestle at their signature show Wrestlemania in 2012 and 2013 against John Cena.

Leading to the second match he was crowned the WWE Champion as he defeated CM Punk at the Royal Rumble in January 2012.

He is also scheduled to appear at this year's Wrestlemania XXXII event in Dallas Texas on April 3 but it remains uncertain what his role will be.

The Rock has had a thriving career in acting since leaving pro wrestling behind as he is currently filming of the second season of HBO series Ballers as well as the feature film adaptation of popular Nineties series Baywatch.
She has stormed Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week in an array of daring ensembles.

And Rita Ora ensured she brought a slice of her sensational sartorial prowess back to London as she touched down at King's Cross St Pancras station on Tuesday after her jaunt to the French city.

The 25-year-old pop starlet made a bold statement in a floor-sweeping red coat topping off a trendy all black look, as she joined supermodel Bella Hadid to return to the capital.

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Red Hot Right Now: Rita Ora ensured she brought a slice of her sensational sartorial prowess back to London as she touched down at King's Cross station on Tuesday after her jaunt to the French city

Rita ensured all eyes were on her in the bold coat, which added a splash of colour to the otherwise drab ensemble.

Although plain in design, the cut and style of the garment ensured Rita's figure was accentuated from all angles - with a double-breasted detail highlighting her trim waist.

A split along the front of the coat revealed her skin-tight black leggings underneath while she rocked racy suede thigh-high boots with an embellished toe.

The brooch-adorned lapel on her coat folded out, although the top she wore beneath the ensemble remained a mystery as her hair concealed her chest.

Red coat: The 25-year-old pop starlet made a bold statement in a floor-sweeping red coat topping off a trendy all black look, as she joined supermodel Bella Hadid to return to the capital

Sensational frame: Although plain in design, the cut and style of the garment ensured Rita's figure was accentuated from all angles - with a double-breasted detail highlighting her trim waist

Rita's bleach blonde locks were worn in cascading waves with a plait across her head pulling the front-facing tendrils off her face.

In typical superstar style, Rita wore huge black sunglasses shielding her eyes and her seemingly make-up free face.

Also touching down in London was Bella, 19, fresh from the runway at the star-studded Chanel show in the French capital.

Blonde beauty: Rita's bleach blonde locks were worn in cascading waves with a plait across her head pulling the front-facing tendrils off her face

Little Red Rita: The brooch-adorned lapel on her coat folded out, although the top she wore beneath the ensemble remained a mystery as her hair concealed her chest.

Beautiful Bella: Bella Hadid channeled a grunge look in leather trousers and a dark biker jacket to match them

Leather lady: Laden down with bags, the stunning teen kept her look chic and casual - in the same ensemble she was seen rocking in Paris earlier in the day as she headed to her hotel

The striking star channeled a grunge look in leather trousers and a dark biker jacket to match them.

Laden down with bags, the stunning teen kept her look chic and casual - in the same ensemble she was seen rocking in Paris earlier in the day as she headed to her hotel.

Bella was joined by her model sister, Gigi who was shining in pure white, matching a stunning long coat with a high collar top and light stonewashed jeans.

The blonde bombshell was still strutting in stone-coloured court shoes, flashing a hint of her long supermodel legs with the denim ripped severely at the knees.

All-change: Gigi Hadid (left) and her sister Bella (right) changed out of their catwalk outfits and into their contrasting black and white off-duty outfits on Tuesday afternoon

See more of the latest Gigi Hadid pictures as she models at the Chanel show in Paris

Rock chick: Bella slipped into some sexy leather pants and a trendy jacket to match after the show

Switching it up: After the show, Gigi swapped into something a little more comfortable

Stylish apparel: She teamed her getup with a long fitted white coat and suede grey heels

From Swedish-look up-dos that featured in the stylised show, the siblings had brought their glossy tresses down to elegant, low chingnons.

Doing what she does best, Victoria's Secret Angel Gigi was the picture of poise and composure as she lead the Chanel presentation at the Grand Palais that morning

Gigi - who is currently in a relationship with Zayn Malik - displayed her svelte frame in a stunning off-white sleeveless number, which boasted tiered detail and heavy embellishing.

Sister sister! Supermodel sibings Gigi and Bella ruled the runway with composed poise and posture at the Chanel presentation during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week on Tuesday morning

She's in fashion: Bella, 19, proved her worth as a fledgling model as she strutted her assets with full force and confidence

Specs appeal: The striking model wore her blonde tresses swept away from her face, while concealing her eyes with chic sunglasses

The finer details of her standout attire - teamed with a satin-like cape - included a pretty, jewelled ear cuff and a thin leather belt, while she stood tall in chic metallic silver heels.

With her glossy blonde tresses swept into an old-fashion updo, Gigis facial features were accentuated with bare lips, subtly tinted cheeks and bold eyes, which were defined with an unusual highlight.

Meanwhile, Bella looked absolutely incredible in a heavily white beaded ensemble, which featured cut-outs on the shoulders and a floral band across the chest.

Elegant: The 20-year-old - who is currently in a relationship with Zayn Malik - displayed her svelte frame in a stunning off-white sleeveless number, which boasted tiered detail and heavy embellishing

The A-line skirt of the dress flowed hugged her lean and slender curves, while pearl encrusted wedges added a few extra inches to her statuesque frame.

Preened to perfection, the 19-year-old proved her worth as a fledgling model as she strutted her assets with full force and confidence.

She made her runway debut during New York Fashion Week in September 2014 before joining older sibling Gigi in the Tom Ford A/W 2015 show last year.

And since then, Bella has done campaigns for designer labels including Topshop, Burberry, Chanel and Moschino as well as starring in her beau The Weeknds music video for his song In The Night.

Both showing off their perfect model poise, the Hadid sisters remained stoic as they unveiled the latest Chanel collection in front of a glamorous audience.

A beauty: With her glossy blonde tresses swept into an old-fashion updo, Gigis facial features were accentuated with bare lips, subtly tinted cheeks and bold eyes, defined with an unusual highlight

Attention to detail: The finer details of her standout attire included a pretty, jewelled ear cuff and a thin leather belt, while she stood tall in chic silver heels

As is always the case with German designer Karl Lagerfeld's shows, the Haute Couture runway was a breath-taking extravaganza, a truly visual feast.

Paris' iconic Grand Palais was transformed into a complete eco-space for the theme, which celebrated green living and sustainability.

Models emerged from a supersized wooden box-like doll house with three levels before walking through the large open space, covered in fake grass and lined with timber walkways and steps.

Pulling out all the stops! The runway was a breath-taking extravaganza, a truly visual feast - the Grand Palais was transformed into a complete eco-space for the theme, which celebrated green living and sustainability

Preened to perfection: The A-line skirt of the dress flowed hugged her lean and slender curves

In demand: Bella has so far done campaigns for designer labels including Topshop, Burberry and Moschino

Around the inside of the prestigious venue was a bright blue fake sky and trees to inject more life and vitality into the show's impressive motif, which was also reflected in the natural-looking clothing designs.

Lagerfeld chose the wooden wedges adorning the feet of each and every model to complement the theme, and he also revealed that the materials used to construct the impressive set would later be recycled.

Cara Delevingne, Diane Kruger, Clemence Poesy and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour were among the star-studded attendees.

Not alone: Kendall Jenner also joined the Hadid sister on the glamorous runway
Looks like Showtime will continue investing in their new financial drama.

It was announced on Tuesday that the premium cable network will be bringing back Billions, starring Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti, for a second season.

The programme's Twitter account posted a promotional image featuring Lewis and Giamatti along with Malin Akerman and Maggie Siff with a big 'Season 2' emblazoned across the top.

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A worthy investment: Billions will be returning to Showtime for a second season it was announced on Tuesday

It was captioned: 'The stakes get even higher. #Billions WILL RETURN for Season 2 on @Showtime. #FollowTheMoney.'

The hour-long series has been a hit as it has reached impressive ratings despite only airing two episodes.

Billions premiered earlier this month to 6.5 million across multiple platforms according to a Tuesday report from The Hollywood Reporter.

It previously had an online premiere on January 1 before airing on Showtime on January 17.

Duking it out: The programme has had impressive numbers as it premiered earlier this month to 6.5 million across multiple platforms according to a Tuesday report from The Hollywood Reporter

Lewis, 44, enjoyed huge success on Showtime's Homeland for which he won both a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his portrayal of U.S. Marine Sergeant and former prisoner of war Nicholas Brody.

He's paired opposite Golden Globe and Emmy winner Giamatti, 48,in the timely show about the financial sector and Wall Street.

The English actor plays a ruthless hedge fund king Bobby 'Axe' Axelrod while Giamatti stars as U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades who has the money man in his sights.

The show is written and executive produced by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, best known for their work together in Rounders, along with New York Times journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Follow the money: Damian Lewis, 44, stars as a ruthless hedge fund king Bobby 'Axe' Axelrod

Arch enemy: Paul Giamatti, 48, portrays U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades who has the money man in his sights

One thing that no doubt has helped the success of the programme, is the general favourable reviews including one from Reuters financial reporter Jeffrey Goldfarb who described Lewis' performance as top-notch.

'Lewis is pretty much the best thing going for Billions, with a ruthless but cool demeanor that steals nearly every scene he is in,' Goldfarb wrote.

John Anderson of The Wall Street Journal described the series as being irresistible, with 'the posture of sociopolitical expose, the mechanics of a soap opera and the morals of grave robber.'

Billions airs Sunday nights at 10PM on Showtime.
George Clooney delighted his fans on Tuesday when he posed for pictures ahead of a charity event in Amsterdam.

The 54-year-old wore a big smile on his face as he arrived at the Goed Geld Gala (Good Money Gala) charity event at the Carre Theatre.

Wearing a smart pea coat over a simple black sweater, the husband of Human Rights' Lawyer Amal looked fashion forward at the event.

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Handsome: George Clooney delighted his fans on Tuesday when he posed for pictures ahead of a charity event in Amsterdam - he arrived at the Goed Geld Gala (Good Money Gala) charity event at the Carre Theatre

Snap happy: The actor was certainly a very popular one at the annual event

On the red carpet, George laughed off the suggestion that Amal is pregnant, adding to the Telegraph: 'But I like that you started that rumour!'

Each year during the event, the country's Postcode Lottery announces the amount of money the good causes will receive and what extra projects are granted.

According to Novamedia: 'Last year a record amount of 284 million Euros was distributed among 85 organizations, thanks to the 2.5 million Dutch people that play the lottery each month.

'Half of each lottery ticket goes to charities. Directors and chairmen of the beneficiary organizations and other relations are invited for the Goed Geld Gala.'

See George Clooney updates as he poses for pictures ahead of charity event in Amsterdam

Looking the part: Wearing a smart pea coat over a simple black sweater, the husband of Human Rights' Lawyer Amal looked fashion forward at the event

Doing his thing: Each year during the event, the country's Postcode Lottery announces the amount of money the good causes will receive and what extra projects are granted

Good times: According to Novamedia : 'Last year a record amount of 284 million Euros was distributed among 85 organizations, thanks to the 2.5 million Dutch people that play the lottery each month

Mr Suave: George seemed more than happy to get stuck into proceedings once inside the venue

The outing comes after aerial photos showed floodwater threatening to inundate George and Amal's 10million sprawling country pile after the Thames burst its banks, earlier this month.

The Hollywood actor and his wife Amal, 37, have been renovating their nine-bedroom mansion in a village near Reading, Berkshire.

But the results of the multi-million pound revamp appeared at risk as muddied water poured on to a large patch of their sprawling garden, which backs on to the swollen river.

It's a busy time for Amal, as well as her husband, as she is currently supporting her client Mohamed Nasheed, the deposed Maldives president, in London.

Taking to the stage: Following his arrival at the theatre, the actor took to the stage for a Q&A interview

Nice to be here: The Hail Caesar star flashed a winning smile as he settled in to his seat

A valid point: The star cut a suave and understated figure in his all-black ensemble

Passionate: Captivating the audience with his speech, the actor looked well at ease as he commanded the attention of the hundreds who turned up to see him

Slick style: showing off his slick sartorial streak the actor wore an understated black two-piece which he teamed with a black roll neck

On Monday, she was pictured supporting the politician, alongside her colleague, as he answered questions regarding his 13-year conviction under the Anti-Terrorism Act of Maldives.

Nasheed, 48, became the Indian Ocean island's first democratically elected leader in 2008, but was deposed in what he has described as a military coup.

After losing power in 2013, he was jailed for 13 years on terrorism charges. The conviction has been criticised by the United Nations who said he should be released and compensated for his wrongful detention.

He has been granted temporary release from prison to fly to Britain for spinal surgery.

George told the Telegraph at the Good Money Gala: 'The president of the Maldives was let out of prison, because of a lot of the hard work that she was doing. Shes had a very good week.'
She may have left the airways three years ago but on Wednesday Mel Greig made a triumphant return to the radio.

The presenter undertook her first shift for Wave FM alongside her co-host Travis Winks and she gushed about the experience.

Writing to Twitter Mel enthused: 'Back on-air at www.wavefm.com.au and I'm loving every second of it.'

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Back where she belongs: Mel Greig returned to the airwaves on Wednesday after an absence of three years

While many fans were quick to congratulate Mel on her new role on the radio station's Facebook page, the presenter's celebrity friends also called in to speak to her.

Mel's pal Sophie Monk was eager to phone into the station to speak to her and praised her for her efforts. Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson were also among those to call in to speak to the duo.

And her former Celebrity Apprentice boss Mark Bouris called in to heap praise on the bubbly blonde.

When asked to give a reference for Mel he gushed: 'I can't recommend her more highly.'

Back on the airwaves: Mel Greig enjoyed her first day at work at Wave FM pictured with her co-star Travis Winks

Looking ahead: Mel was inundated with messages of congratulations including some from my her famous friends

He added that the bubbly blonde was 'a strident young woman' and that her 'intellect is quite sharp'.

Mel left radio three years ago in the wake of the Royal Prank scandal

The outspoken star was famously embroiled in controversy in late 2012 when she and then co-host Michael Christian, posed as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles for a prank call.

Supporting her pal: Sophie Monk rang in to congratulate Mel on her first day back on air

The duo had called the London hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton was staying, while suffering from morning sickness while pregnant with Prince George.

The call resulted in nurse and mother Jacintha Saldana, taking her own life two days later, with the note she left mentioning the hosts.

The fallout left Mel unable to secure another job in broadcasting, and at one time death threats against her were so severe that she had to hire a bodyguard.

Tough time: The outspoken star was famously embroiled in controversy in late 2012 when she and then co-host Michael Christian, posed as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles for a prank call

Mel expressed her excitement about making her big radio comeback in an interview with Daily Mail Australia last month.

'After three years, a long and hard battle, I am finally back in radio,' she said.

'There is something more to me and I do have something to offer and I have been given an incredible opportunity and I intend to make the most of that and show people exactly what I can offer.'

The new role with the Wave FM breakfast team has seen Mel relocate from Adelaide to a Wollongong.
They famously won the last series of Strictly Come Dancing and Jay McGuiness and his dance partner Aliona Vilani were pictured leaving their hotel on Tuesday ahead of their next show.

The dancers kept a low profile as they prepared to perform in the Sheffield leg of the Strictly tour, alongside a host of other stars. Also seen leaving the venue was Frankie Bridge.

Jay, 25, kept his hood up as he headed out on the night in his casual jacket, khaki T-shirt and jeans.

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He's Wanted: They famously won the last series of Strictly Come Dancing and Jay McGuiness and his dance partner Aliona Vilani were pictured leaving their hotel on Tuesday ahead of their next show

Gorgeous girl: The dancers kept a low profile as they prepared to perform in the Sheffield leg of the Strictly tour, alongside a host of other stars

While Aliona looked super cute in a peach tight jumper worn with ripped skinny jeans which showed off her dancer's physique.

While Frankie covered up against the elements in an oversized Aztec inspired jacket, she also wore black leggings and a pair of comfortable looking espadrilles.

The group will be performing on both Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Sheffield

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, make-up free Aliona was dressed as Chewbacca in top-to-toe brown, cosy fur, looking ready for bed as she left another long night of the SCD tour.

See more Strictly Come Dancing updates on Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani

No cold zone here: Frankie Bridge covered up against the elements in an oversized Aztec inspired jacket, she also wore black leggings and a pair of comfortable looking espadrilles

The dance professional was seen arriving back at her Sheffield hotel in comfort when opted for the unorthodox themed onesie.

With messy tresses and not a scrap of make-up on, Jay McGuiness' dance partner was retiring for the day.

It was the same all-in-one that her dance partner and close friend Jay had been sporting just six days before.

She offset the dress up outfit with a pair of black trainers and her glamorous patent handbag toting her shawl and winter accessories.

Dance professional Aliona returned for the live dance shows last Thursday, after quitting the show to start a family with her husband Vincent Kavanagh.

Chewbacc-at her best! Aliona Wilani rocked a Star Wars onesie on Monday night after the Strictly Come Dancing tour

See more of the latest Strictly Come Dancing news, pictures and video updates

Laidback: She offset her comfortable one piece with a patent handbag that toted her scarf

The tour kicked off on Friday night in Birmingham, where she reunited with 2015 champion and dance partner Jay.

Having scooped the Glitterball trophy for a second time last December, Aliona recently explained that she left Strictly on a high.

Though as she sat down to talk to the Loose Women last week, she simultaneously hinted that she may give up dancing for good this year.

The star admitted that she knew this would be her last series before meeting Jay this year but when asked about taking up teaching or practising dance, she said that she 'might' stop altogether.

Sharing? Her dance partner Jay McGuiness had sported the same one piece just one week before

Cute twosome: The tour kicked off last week, here, in Birmingham

Aliona hunched up her shoulders, blushing as she revealed that after 25 years she appeared to put her dance career behind her, saying: 'I might, I might! It has been my life.'

On leaving the show after seven years, two victories and one runner up spot, she said: 'Ive had an amazing seven years and I wanted to leave on a high.

'I don't think it could get any better and also on personal level, Strictly takes up all of your time. You're not seeing your friends, your family and I just want to live my life and hopefully start a family.'
If she had any concerns about her son's choice of girlfriend she certainly didn't show it.

Kris Jenner appeared on Hollywood Today Live on Tuesday and she couldn't stop laughing and beaming for the camera.

The Kardashian matriarch dressed all in black for her appearance.

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Brave face: Kris Jenner appeared on Hollywood Today Live on Tuesday and she couldn't stop laughing and beaming for the camera

Wearing a pair of black lattice high heeled sandals, she showed off her toned calves in the get up.

The 60-year-old accessorized with a pair of drop diamond earrings, with some glittering bangles on her wrist.

Kris smiled, laughed and beamed throughout her appearance, giving the impression she didn't have a care in the world.

See Kris Jenner news as she keeps cool amid Robert Kardashian and Blac Chyna mayhem

All smiles: Wearing a pair of black lattice high heeled sandals, she showed off her toned calves in the get up

Strike a pose: Kris showed no signs of stress with Kether Donohue

Discussing the secret to managing the careers of her six famous chidlren and how she went from mom to 'momager', there was one topic which she didn't address - her son Rob's romance with Blac Chyna, Tyga's ex.

Sources are saying she, and her five daughters are actually 'livid.'

And the reclusive 28-year-old seems to be reveling in the drama his new bond with Kylie's former love rival, about Blac Chyna having a Kardashian baby.

Out of bounds: Discussing the secret to managing the careers of her six famous chidlren and how she went from mom to 'momager', there was one topic which she didn't address - her son Rob's romance with Blac Chyna, Tyga's ex

Vetoed? It is not known if Kris put the kibosh on the line of questioning - she is seen here with Hollywood Today Live's hosts Ross Mathews and Garcelle Beauvais

Not talking: She wasn't drawn on how she felt about her son's new lady

As if the relationship is not causing enough tension between the sock designer and his famous family, the star decided to joke about him and Chyna having a baby together - which would be the only child in the family to continue the Kardashian name.

Rob re-posted a meme created by a site that showed the model carrying a baby car seat.

It said: 'Blac Chyna probably out shopping rite [sic] now as she plan to give birth to the only next generation of the Kardashian name.'

Back in black: Kris was spotted heading to the taping earlier in the day

The tight stuff: The momager showed off her curvaceous figure in a black bodycon dress

Busy day: The reality star had her hands full as she carried along her phone and other things

Busy day: She teamed her clinging dress with a pair of intricate, strappy black heels

The post had the hashtag 'babykardashian' and Rob captioned the picture with emojis of lucky three leaf clovers.

The @UpdateJenner image shows that the the post was liked by 48,000 of Kylie's followers.

Kylie, according to the time stamp on UpdateJenner, posted on Sunday before Chyna's now infamous post just after midnight on Monday morning.

The 27-year-old model was of course, previously engaged to Tyga - Kylie Jenner's on again, off again boyfriend - and is the mother of Tyga's three-year-old son King Cairo.

On the go: She had natural, complimentary make-up on her face

Hair raising: Kris' dishevelled short locks stood up as she walked along

Walking off: No doubt there was plenty on her mind

Hot mama: Her figure was on full display in the outfit

Big day: No doubt the appearance came at an interesting time amid all the family drama

In the photograph Chyna posted, she is snuggled into the crook of a tattooed man's arm which appears to be lovingly embracing her. The distinctive ink matches up with Rob's sleeve.

She captioned it: 'The beginning.'

Talking to People, a source close to the 18-year-old reality star, was 'livid'.

As if the relationship is not causing enough tension between the sock designer and his famous family, the star decided to joke about him and Chyna having a baby together - which would be the only child in the family to continue the Kardashian name.

'#babykardashian': Meanwhile Rob seemed to be dining out on the situation - he broke his social media silence to joke about his new reported girlfriend Blac Chyna having his baby on Tuesday

Not being shy this time: The 28-year-old (pictured July 2014) does not seem to be backing down from the controversy his relationship is causing or minimizing the strife it can cause in his family

'The begining': Tyga's ex Chyna posted this picture on late on Sunday night that showed her in a romantic clinch with Rob

It's a match: The distinctive ink matches up with Rob's sleeve tattoo which features grey line drawings of a heart, angel wings and a rose

Rob re-posted a meme created by a site that showed the model carrying a baby car seat.

It said: 'Blac Chyna probably out shopping rite [sic] now as she plan to give birth to the only next generation of the Kardashian name.'

The post had the hashtag 'babykardashian' and Rob captioned the picture with emojis of lucky three leaf clovers.

She needed this: Kris may have been cool and calm on TV but on Monday she seemed to be struggling, saying on Instagram, 'Had a challenging Monday and just walked in the door to this gorgeousness that put the biggest smile on my face and in my heart. How lucky am I? Your friendship means the world'

The source told the publication that there is 'concern' about the pairing, with the insider feeling that Chyna is 'preying' on Rob 'during a weak time'.

It is also a concern that the 27-year-old is only using Rob to get back at Kylie, since the two have been feuding since the E! star got together with her ex - and father of her son - Tyga.

That said, Rob's relationship with his family has continued to be a complicated one with tensions between Kim - who was once Chyna's friend - particularly high, so the relationship could have a revenge element for him too.

Making changes: Rob (pictured in 2013) has recently shed 15 pounds as a result of his new workout regime and diet and is believed to be planning a comeback on his family's reality show

Chyna dated Tyga - currently dating Rob's younger sister Kylie - from November 2011 to late 2014, and the two were engaged for less than two years. The exes share three-year-old son King Cairo Stevenson.

Though they officially went public after Kylie's 18th birthday last August, Tyga certainly had not been shy about being in public together, fuelling dating rumors since October 2014.

This prompted a lot of whispers in the hip-hop community that Tyga had left the mother of his children for the then 17-year-old reality star.

Small world: Blac Chyna was previously engaged to Tyga (pictured in 2014) and the couple have a child together, King Cairo

This has caused a lot of tension between Chyna, Tyga - real name Micheal Ray Stevenson - and Kylie, extending even to her older sisters.

Kylie and Chyna - real name Angela Renee White - had been involved in a feud for months, with the pair regularly lashing out at each other on social media.

The Lashed founder came under fire in April as she shared a series of texts that allegedly showed her ex Tyga was attempting to reconcile their relationship.

A part of the group: Before Kylie and Tyga got together, Chyna was very close with Kim Kardashian, and even starred in the family's E! reality series (pictured filming with Kim, Kourtney, and Scott Disick in 2013)

The way they were: The couple even attended Kim and Kanye West's wedding in 2014

Then Kylie reportedly jumped to Twitter to diss the star - and her claims - writing: 'I wish a certain someone would hop off already. It's really stupid to stoop down to a childish level over male attention, get over it please.'

However, the Lip Kit by Kylie founder made sure fans knew she was staying out of it, as she later clarified the issue to her followers.

Kylie posted: 'I didn't know u could change the font size on tweets now #fake (sic),' as it was proved that her snarky post was actually a fake.
Vietnamese gangsters may be hiding California jail escapees

Three prisoners who busted out of a high-security California jail using bed sheets to rappel from a roof are dangerous, likely armed and possibly being hidden by local Vietnamese gang members, law enforcement officials said Monday.

The trio, one of whom is a Vietnamese gang member charged with murder, went missing from the Orange County Men's Central Jail in Santa Ana in southern California on Friday, sparking an intense manhunt.

"There's obviously ties, based on the fact that one of the individuals is a documented Vietnamese gang member," Orange County Sheriff's Lieutenant Jeff Hallock told a news conference.

Three prisoners went missing from the Orange County Men's Central Jail in Santa Ana in southern California, sparking an intense manhunt John Moore (Getty/AFP/File)

"We think it's a strong possibility that he may have connected with those fellow gang members in the Vietnamese community," he added, referring to Jonathan Tieu, 20, who is behind bars on a murder charge.

Tieu, Hossein Nayeri, 37, and 43-year-old Bac Duong escaped shortly after an inmate head count, but authorities didn't realize they had gone missing until later Friday evening.

The three prisoners had apparently accessed the jail's plumbing system, used tools to cut through metal bars and made a makeshift rope using bed sheets to rappel from the facility's roof, officials said.

Authorities are not sure how the men procured the tools needed to cut bars without making any noise. It is also unclear if other inmates had assisted them.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a reward of $20,000 and the sheriff's department has also offered $30,000 -- $10,000 for each fugitive.

Duong is charged with attempted murder and Nayeri with kidnapping and torture.

Dave Sawyer, also of Orange County Sheriff's Office, told the Los Angeles Times that Nayeri had been charged in a 2012 plot to attack a medical marijuana dispensary owner.

Nayeri had allegedly driven the victim into the desert and set him on fire, then poured bleach on him and chopped off his penis before leaving him for dead.

Nayeri fled to his native Iran before his eventual arrest in Prague in 2014, the Times reported.
Takeaways from Sundance

From a Mongolian eagle huntress to a family tragedy in small-town America and a surreal comedy starring "Harry Potter" hero Daniel Radcliffe, here are five takeaways from the Sundance Film Festival, which runs through January 31:

'Manchester by the Sea'

With the festival midway through, this much-anticipated drama appears to be one of the breakout movies at Sundance and is already creating an Oscars buzz for 2017.

Main Street during the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, January 23, 2016 Valerie Macon (AFP)

Directed by Kenneth Lonergan, the film tells the story of a janitor, played by Casey Affleck, who moves back to a small town in Massachusetts to care for his nephew after a family tragedy. Amazon picked up the rights to the film at the weekend for $10 million, in a further indication of the role streaming services are increasingly playing in the movie industry.

'Tickled'

You're a reporter in New Zealand with a flair for offbeat stories and you come across a mysterious tickling competition in Los Angeles that piques your interest. That's the premise of a funny and unsettling documentary -- "Tickled" -- by David Farrier and Dylan Reeve that has sparked talk at Sundance.

"The biggest challenge we had was that we were making a film about people who didn't want a film made about them," Reeve said.

'Swiss Army Man'

Much is being said at Sundance about Radcliffe's flatulent corpse in "Swiss Army Man," which was much anticipated but was met with a steady stream of walkouts at the sold-out premiere.

Radcliffe -- the boy wizard in the "Harry Potter" films -- plays a corpse that is befriended by a loner (Paul Dano) stranded on an island.

Writer-directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert describe the movie as a "fart drama."

'The Eagle Huntress'

Star sightings are not rare at Sundance but seeing a 13-year-old eagle huntress from Mongolia in traditional garb strolling down the street is definitely unusual.

The young girl, Aisholpan, is the subject of a documentary -- "The Eagle Huntress" -- that is premiering in the Sundance Kids section, and she has traveled to the festival, along with some eagles, for the event.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" star Daisy Ridley signed on as executive producer for director Otto Bell's documentary.

"The minute I saw it I knew I wanted to be part of it," Ridley said on Instagram.

'Weiner'

Anthony Weiner, the US congressman forced to resign over a sexting scandal in 2011, is once again grabbing headlines, this time over a documentary at Sundance that chronicles his failed political comeback in 2013, when he ran for mayor of New York.

Co-directed by former Weiner chief of staff Josh Kriegman with Elyse Steinberg, "Weiner" provides an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the man and his wife, Huma Abedin, a close aide to Hillary Clinton, as his mayoral campaign comes crashing down over another explicit sexting scandal.

In one dramatic scene, he dashes through the back of a McDonald's to avoid coming face-to-face with a woman with whom he had exchanged inappropriate messages and who was nicknamed "Pineapple" by his staff.

L-R: Actor Lucas Hedges, Casey Affleck and Kyle Chandler attend the official premiere party for "Manchester By The Sea" on January 23, 2016 in Park City, Utah Jason Merritt (Getty/AFP)
US grand jury indicts anti-abortion activists

A Texas grand jury investigating allegations of misconduct against a major US abortion provider has instead indicted two anti-abortion activists who filmed the group in videos publicized by conservatives, officials said.

The grand jury also cleared Planned Parenthood -- a decades-old women's health network -- of wrongdoing.

David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt of the Center for Medical Progress were both indicted for tampering with a government record. Daleiden had an additional misdemeanor count related to the purchase of human organs.

Anti-abortion activists take part in a protest outside of a Planned Parenthood center construction site on January 21, 2016 in Washington, DC Mandel Ngan (AFP)

In a series of undercover videos shot by the center, Planned Parenthood officials were shown discussing providing body parts taken from aborted fetuses for use in medical research.

Planned Parenthood admits to having fallen prey to the ruse, but says its doctors were merely explaining the process of how fetal tissue is collected and distributed -- never sold, it insists -- for research purposes.

The grand jury found that Planned Parenthood had not broken any laws.

"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," said Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson.

"As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us. All the evidence uncovered in the course of this investigation was presented to the grand jury. I respect their decision on this difficult case."

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stressed that the grand jury decision would not impact the state's own investigation into the case.

"The state of Texas will continue to protect life, and I will continue to support legislation prohibiting the sale or transfer of fetal tissue," said Abbott, a Republican.

Earlier Monday, the newspaper USA Today published an op-ed article by Daleiden in which he said that Planned Parenthood and federal law governing abortions "were never in step with the American people and are now completely out of touch with public attitudes."

"The undercover videos of top-level Planned Parenthood executives and medical directors callously negotiating both the harvesting techniques and the exchange of money for aborted body parts have forever banished from the public discourse Planned Parenthood's out-of-sight, out-of-mind mantra on its industrial-scale abortion business," he wrote.

Earlier this month, Planned Parenthood announced it had filed suit in federal court against the Center for Medical Progress.
Kerry urges Cambodia to give space for political debate

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday urged Cambodia's leader Hun Sen to allow "vigorous but peaceful" political debate, following accusations that he silences opponents in a bid to extend his three-decade grip on power.

Hun Sen, who has ruled for 31 years through a mix of hard power and political guile, has tied up a resurgent opposition in legal charges over recent months and ramped up prosecutions of online critics.

Kerry, who arrived in Phnom Penh from neighbouring Laos, hailed Cambodia for rebooting its economy after the fanatical rule of the Maoist Khmer Rouge, which left up to a quarter of the population dead before its defeat in the mid-1970s.

US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on January 26, 2016 Jacquelyn Martin (POOL/AFP)

Cambodia has become one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies.

But America's top diplomat said he did not shy away from the sticking points in "candid" talks with Hun Sen.

Cambodia acts as a political windshield to China within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an alliance that has at times caused strain within the bloc in the face of increasingly aggressive Chinese claims in the South China Sea.

US president, Barack Obama, has assiduously courted ASEAN as part of a diplomatic 'pivot' east aiming to offset China's trade and diplomatic might in Southeast Asia.

Economic gains are also being offset by the threat posed to Cambodia's fragile democracy.

Sam Rainsy, the leader of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party, is facing arrest and is now in self-exile, casting doubt over whether the party will be able to freely contest the next election slated for 2018.

Speaking to reporters at the end of his half-day visit to the Cambodian capital, Kerry expressed hope that the country would "realise the full benefits of a thriving multiparty democracy".

The kingdom's progress on "respect for human rights, universal freedoms, and good governance," held the key to tighter ties with US, Kerry said.

"It is important to allow vigorous but peaceful political debate," ahead of local elections scheduled for next year and a nationwide poll in 2018, he added.

- Rights on the rack -

Meetings also touched on what Kerry called Cambodia's "remarkable growth" and revival since the collapse of the Khmer Rouge.

Although some three million people still live below the poverty line, the World Bank says the Cambodian economy is on track to expand by just under seven percent this year.

The country was "about to cross the line" to become a middle-income country, defying its bloody history, the chief US envoy said earlier before meeting Hun Sen.

Garment manufacture is a key pillar of that success, with an industry lobby group saying exports to the US alone were worth $1.8 billion in 2014, supplying leading brands such as Nike, Gap and Levi's.

But with fears building that festering political tensions could spill into violence, Kerry also held talks with opposition deputy leader, Kem Sokha, and a welter of civil society groups.

His visit comes as Hun Sen further tightens controls on criticism, with several people arrested in recent weeks over Facebook posts insulting or lampooning him and his family.

Campaigners have repeatedly called on the US to exert greater pressure on the wily premier.

Chak Sopheap of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights said Kerry's visit sent a "clear message" that US priorities "are not only about strengthening economic relations."

"Now, I urge the US administration to ensure that its stated commitment... remains front and centre during the upcoming US-ASEAN summit in California."

Obama hosts a summit in California next month with the 10 ASEAN leaders.

Kerry departed for Beijing on Tuesday afternoon, the latest stop in a three-continent tour that has also taken in Davos, Saudi Arabia and Laos.

US Secretary of State John Kerry (front C) tours the National Museum of Cambodia on January 26, 2016 Jacquelyn Martin (POOL/AFP)

US Secretary of State John Kerry (R) is greeted on his arrival in Phnom Penh on January 25, 2016 Jacquelyn Martin (POOL/AFP)
Death of stabbed Israeli woman raises pressure on Netanyahu

An Israeli woman stabbed and killed by two Palestinians in a West Bank settlement was buried on Tuesday, as pressure mounted on Benjamin Netanyahu's government to stem a fresh wave of attacks.

A spokeswoman for Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital said Shlomit Krigman, 24, had died after being admitted on Monday in the wake of the attack.

She was buried in a Jerusalem cemetery on Tuesday afternoon.

Israeli forensic policemen and security forces walk past an ambulance carrying the body of a Palestinian following a stabbing attack in the Beit Horon settlement in the West Bank, on January 25, 2016 Ahmad Gharabli (AFP/File)

Another woman wounded in the same Monday attack outside a grocery store in Beit Horon settlement, northwest of Jerusalem, was hospitalised in moderate condition.

The two attackers, identified by Palestinian media as Ibrahim Allan, 23, and Hussein Abu Ghosh, 17, were shot dead by a security guard.

They had tried to enter the store armed with knives but were blocked by an employee who used a shopping cart, CCTV images showed.

Police also found and defused three pipe bombs the assailants had thrown at the shop but which did not explode.

A childhood friend of Krigman told Israeli public radio she grew up in the West Bank and had previously been close to the religious nationalist movement. She had recently completed studies in industrial design.

The attack was the third inside a West Bank settlement since January 17, when an Israeli woman was stabbed to death by a 15-year-old Palestinian at the entrance to her home in Otniel.

A day later, an Israeli woman was stabbed and wounded by a 17-year-old Palestinian in Tekoa.

Violence since October 1 has killed 159 Palestinians and 25 Israelis, as well as an American and an Eritrean, according to an AFP count.

- Four women stabbed -

Before January 17, Jewish settlements built on land occupied by Israel in 1967 and considered illegal by much of the international community had been spared much of the violence.

Women were also not targeted in the attacks.

But Monday's stabbings and the discovery of explosive devices have increased domestic pressure on the Israeli government, which derives much of its support from the settler community.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Facebook message on Monday that he had instructed the army to submit a "comprehensive plan" to better ensure the security of settlements.

He also announced that he would revoke the work permits of the attackers' relatives, which allow them to be employed in the settlements or in Israel.

The army also sealed off all access to the Palestinian village of Beit Ur al-Tahta, home of one of the two attackers and which is close to Beit Horon, an army spokesman said.

Only "humanitarian cases" can enter or leave the village, he said.

The army also took steps to "strengthen security" in the settlements, added the spokesman without elaborating.

Most of the Palestinians killed since October have been attackers, while others have been shot dead by Israeli forces during protests and clashes.

About 400,000 Israeli settlers live alongside around 2.5 million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Approximately 27,000 Palestinians have work permits in the settlements where they can earn far higher salaries than elsewhere in the West Bank, according to Israeli data.

The United States, the United Nations and the European Union oppose all Israeli settlement building, and consider them an obstacle to peace.

The Israeli defence ministry, however, has approved the construction of 153 new settler homes in the West Bank, the Israeli settlement watchdog Peace now said on Monday.

The move mark the end of an informal construction freeze in the Palestinian territory that lasted 18 months, the NGO said.

US-backed peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel collapsed in April 2014 amid bitter mutual recriminations.

A chief grievance of the Palestinians was settlement building on land they claim for a future state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) leads the weekly cabinet meeting on January 24, 2016 at his office in Jerusalem Abir Sultan (Pool/AFP/File)
Malaysia's government has said that a piece of debris found on Thailand's southern coast was not from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The announcement appeared to end speculation about a link to the doomed aircraft, coming a day after Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said the metal panel was probably from a rocket it manufactured.

Malaysia's transport ministry said a team of experts from the government and Malaysia Airlines had examined the debris in Thailand.

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Find: A piece of suspected aircraft debris was discovered by fishermen on January 23, at a beach in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Search: The barnacle-covered piece of metal has some identifying features, which should help narrow down whether or not it came from a plane

'From their detailed report, they have ascertained that the part assembly number, wire bundle number and bolts part number do not match those of a Boeing 777,' a transport ministry statement said.

Saturday's find of the debris stirred speculation it may be part of MH370, a Boeing 777 that vanished on March 8, 2014 with 239 people on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Investigators believe the plane went down in a remote part of the Indian Ocean, though the cause of the disappearance remains a mystery.

On Monday Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said images of the debris found in the Gulf of Thailand featured serial numbers indicating it may be from a rocket it made for launching satellites.

Mystery: According to Patthikongpan, local 'fishermen said it could have been under the sea for no more than a year, judging from barnacles on it'. The edges of the piece of metal appear to reveal a 'honeycomb' structure, which is widely used in aircraft and rockets due to its light weight

Official: Thai soldiers carry a piece of suspected aircraft debris after it was found by fishermen on January 23, at a beach in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat

Speculation: Villagers discovered the piece of metal (pictured), before reporting it to the authorities to help identify it, said Tanyapat Patthikongpan, head of Pak Phanang district

Last July a two-metre-long wing part known as a flaperon washed up on a beach on the French-held Indian Ocean island of Reunion, thousands of kilometres from Thailand.

French authorities subsequently confirmed with certainty two months later than the wing part found on the remote island was from MH370.

Tests were carried out on the flaperon, which was found on La Reunion in July, by the French body responsible for civil aviation accident investigations.

Missing: A map showing the fated plane's flight path from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing; where the last radar contact was received from the plane; the wreckage discovered this week in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand; and the wreckage discovered on La Reunion island in July 2015, which was confirmed to be from the MH370

Genuine: French prosecutors confirmed 'with certainty' in September that the wing part (above) found on a remote Indian Ocean island, La Reunion, in July was from missing flight MH370

At the time of the discovery on the French territory last month, Malaysian officials said it was 'almost certain' the wing flap came from a Boeing 777  the same model as the Malaysian airlines jet.

The 6ft-long wing flap washed up 3,500 miles from the doomed jet's last-known location, fuelling hopes across the world that one of aviation's greatest mysteries could finally be solved.

The search for the plane is due to end in June this year, despite the Chinese relatives pleading for it to be expanded.
Syria regime forces capture key southern rebel town: monitor

Syrian pro-government forces captured a strategic southern rebel town close to the Jordanian border after weeks of fighting, a monitor said on Tuesday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime troops and allied militia including fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iranian officers "seized control of Sheikh Miskeen" overnight with the help of Russian and Syrian government air strikes.

The town, in Daraa province, lies on a vital crossroads between Damascus to the north and the government-controlled city of Sweida to the east.

Syrian pro-government forces have captured the strategic southern rebel town of Sheikh Miskeen, close to the Jordanian border after weeks of fighting, a monitor says Valentina Breschi (AFP)

It is 12 kilometres (seven miles) from the rebel stronghold of Nawa, another key target for regime forces.

A security source had told AFP the Sheikh Miskeen was a "launching pad" for rebel operations, and one of the opposition's "centres of gravity for the whole of Daraa province".

He said seizing control of the town would sever a rebel supply route to areas under opposition control around Damascus.

Last month, government troops captured the Brigade 82 base outside the town, and they have since been pushing to capture Sheikh Miskeen.

Most of Daraa province is controlled by opposition forces, though the government holds parts of the provincial capital and a few villages in the northwest.

At least 17 people have been killed in a double suicide bomb blast at an army checkpoint in the Syrian city of Homs, the provincial governor said.

Talal Barazi told AFP that a first suicide bomber detonated explosives while in a car at the checkpoint and a second set off another blast a few moments later.

Members of the Syrian pro-government forces stand in a destroyed building in the strategic town of Salma, in Latakia province, on January 15, 2016, following its recapture from rebel fighters Youssef Karwashan (AFP/File)
Japan's Emperor in Philippines to honour WWII dead

Japan's Emperor Akihito pledged Tuesday to honour those who died in one of World War II's deadliest battles, as he began a historic visit to the Philippines.

Akihito, 82, and his wife, Empress Michiko, 81, will visit two war memorials during the five-day trip, the first by a reigning Japanese emperor to the Southeast Asian nation.

"In the Philippines, many lives of Filipinos, Americans and Japanese were lost during the war," Akihito said at a ceremony before leaving Tokyo.

Japan's Emperor Akihito (L) and his wife Empress Michiko shortly after arriving at the international airport in Manila on January 26, 2016 Ted Aljibe (AFP)

Akihito specifically noted the battle for the liberation of Manila in 1945, where an estimated 100,000 people were killed.

"We'd like to conduct our visit by always keeping this in mind," he said.

As soon as Akihito stepped out of the plane at Manila's airport, he offered a slight bow. He was then welcomed on the tarmac by President Benigno Aquino and many of his cabinet secretaries.

The Philippines is the latest stop in the soft-spoken emperor's pacifist pilgrimage, which has appeared to contradict his government's nationalist bent.

The emperor and empress have previously journeyed to other Pacific battle sites where Japanese troops and civilians made desperate last stands in the name of wartime emperor Hirohito, Akihito's father.

On visits to Saipan in 2005 and Palau last year they prayed not just for the Japanese soldiers and civilians who perished, but also colonial subjects and troops from its wartime enemy, the United States.

In remarks at a memorial marking the 70th anniversary of Japan's 1945 surrender, Akihito expressed "profound remorse" for the war fought in his father's name, reportedly the first time he used those words at the annual event.

Akihito was 11 years old when the war ended with the obliteration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

In the Philippines the couple will pay their respects at separate memorials for Filipino and Japanese WWII casualties.

They will also visit a Japanese language training centre and the International Rice Research Institute.

Japan's brutal three-year occupation of the Philippines ended in 1945 after the Americans liberated their former colony in a daring sea battle.

The two nations have steadily built closer ties, with Japan the Philippines' biggest source of foreign investment and aid.

Akihito's trip is being held to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations.

The two nations have also drawn closer in recent years as they have struggled to deal with similar territorial rivalries with China.

However not everyone in the Philippines has welcomed the closer ties.

Filipina women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military have vowed to hold protests in Manila during Akihito's visit.

They believe the Japanese government has never made a sincere apology or offered adequate compensation for the war crimes.
British MPs speak out over missing Hong Kong booksellers

Two British lawmakers Tuesday spoke out over five missing Hong Kong booksellers feared to have been detained in mainland China, calling for the case to be resolved quickly.

The disappearance of the five, from Hong Kong's Mighty Current publishing house known for salacious titles critical of Beijing leaders, has fuelled concerns freedoms in the semi-autonomous Chinese city are being eroded.

On a visit to Hong Kong's legislature, the British members of parliament insisted the UK had a legitimate interest in the case.

One of the five missing Hong Kong booksellers, Lee Bo, 65, is a British citizen Anthony Wallace (AFP/File)

One of the five missing men, Lee Bo, 65, is a British citizen.

"The ambiguity around this case isn't helpful to China as much as it is to Hong Kong and the sooner that is resolved I think the better it will be for everybody," MP Jonathan Reynolds told reporters.

Reynolds and fellow MP Graham Brady are from the All Party Parliamentary China Group which deals with Bejing-London affairs.

"We're talking about a British citizen as well as talking about the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong so the British government has a proper and legitimate interest and has rightly expressed their concern," Brady said.

"We would hope, as I'm sure everybody here does, that this case be resolved as quickly as possible," Brady added.

The MPs met Hong Kong's deputy leader Carrie Lam as part of their visit.

Both the US State Department and European Union have expressed concern over the disappearances.

Bo, the last to vanish, was last seen in Hong Kong on December 30, sparking multiple protests in the city. Three other employees of the publisher went missing in southern China, and one in Thailand.

Letters purportedly sent by Lee to his wife claimed that he was safe and was "assisting in an investigation".

Another of the detained booksellers, Gui Minhai, who has Swedish nationality, was paraded on Chinese national television last week, saying he was in China to "take legal responsibilities" for killing a college student in a car accident there 11 years ago.

Gui, a Swedish national and co-owner of Mighty Current, reportedly failed to return from a holiday in Thailand in October.

Pro-democracy lawmakers, activists and some residents believe Lee was kidnapped in Hong Kong by mainland authorities. They accuse China of trampling on the "one country, two systems" agreement under which Hong Kong has been governed since its return by Britain in 1997.

Chinese law enforcers have no right to operate in the city.
New Libya unity government to be proposed 'within 10 days'

A revamped Libyan unity government will be proposed within 10 days, an official said Tuesday, after the internationally recognised parliament rejected an initial lineup in a major setback to peace efforts.

World powers have urged Libya's warring factions to endorse the unity government formed last week under a UN-brokered deal aimed at ending political paralysis that has fuelled the rise of jihadists.

On Tuesday, European sources said the 28-member European Union was considering sanctions against those seen as "spoiling" efforts to forge a unity government.

Libyan Prime Minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj (left) and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini attend a joint press conference in Tunis, on January 8, 2016 Fethi Belaid (AFP/File)

An asset freeze and a travel ban could be imposed on leaders of the heads of the Tripoli-based parliament and government as well as on Aguila Saleh, who heads the internationally recognised legislature.

That parliament, based in eastern Libya, on Monday voted against supporting the proposed 32-minister cabinet headed by businessman Fayez al-Sarraj.

Sarraj will present a new "more restrained" unity government for approval by the recognised parliament, said Fathi Ben-Issa, adviser to the unity government.

"We will respect the deadline of 10 days," he added.

Lawmakers criticised the government as too large and also objected to an article in the UN-brokered accord giving the cabinet the power to approve top security and military positions.

Shrinking the cabinet complicates the task of accommodating the demands of the country's multiple political groups and militias.

Several countries, including the United States and European nations such as Italy and France, are ready to provide military aid to help fight jihadists but want to see a unity government established first.

Libya, which is awash with weapons following the toppling and death of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, is now home to two rival parliaments as well as armed groups fighting to control its oil wealth.

Less than half of the members of the two legislatures signed up to the UN-sponsored agreement last month.

- Controversial army chief -

Parliamentarian Fahmy Tuwaty said many lawmakers oppose the deal because of the article on approving top security and military positions which they fear will lead to army chief Khalifa Haftar losing his post.

"The committee tasked with representing parliament in the UN-sponsored talks will be dissolved and a new team will be appointed on Monday to negotiate the removal" of the clause, said lawmaker Saltana al-Mismari.

Haftar launched an offensive against Islamists in eastern Libya in May 2014, prompting the then-government to accuse him of trying to stage a coup.

But after Islamists seized Tripoli soon afterwards, forcing parliament to flee to the country's far east, the internationally recognised authorities gradually allied themselves with a figure previously seen as a rogue general.

He was named head of the Libyan army loyal to the recognised parliament in March 2015.

The sidelining of Haftar is one of the conditions set by the Tripoli-based General National Congress.

UN envoy Martin Kobler said on Monday that he would pursue "consultations with all parties to find a consensual solution" to the contested article.

He urged the recognised parliament "to take the necessary decisions as soon as possible".

The Islamic State jihadist group has exploited the turmoil in Libya to expand its influence in the country and attack key oil facilities.

The group first appeared in the North African nation in 2014 and has since claimed responsibility for beheadings and suicide bombings.

IS has established a stronghold in the coastal city of Sirte, Kadhafi's hometown, and is reported to have at least 3,000 fighters in Libya.

The EU fears IS could use Libya as a springboard to attack Europe.

"There should be a political agreement in the next few days," a European source told AFP about EU plans to sanctions several Libyan leaders for undermining efforts to form a unity government.

The source, who declined to be named, said the aim is to "target the spoilers, those who undermine efforts to establish a national unity government which is essential to stabilising Libya and giving the EU someone it can talk to about security issues, especially combatting Daesh (IS)."
AIG to return $25 bn to shareholders, slash costs

US insurer AIG, under pressure from activist investor Carl Icahn, said Tuesday it would return $25 billion to shareholders, slash costs and sell its mortgage business.

Pushed in recent months by Icahn to split into three smaller companies, American International Group announced a series of strategic steps to become a "leaner, more profitable and focused insurer."

AIG said it would return at least $25 billion to shareholders over the next two years in share buybacks and dividends.

AIG said it would return at least $25 billion to shareholders over the next two years in share buybacks and dividends Stan Honda (AFP/File)

And it will offer a 19.9 percent stake in its United Guaranty Corporation to the public in mid-2014 as a first step in spinning off the business.

UGC, which had operating profit of $464 million in the first nine months of 2015, is valued at $3-6 billion by analysts.

AIG also approved the sale of AIG Advisor Group to New York investment fund Lightyear Capital and Canadian pension fund manager PSP Investments. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The insurer pledged to save $1.6 billion within the next two years in the vast overhaul.

"With these actions, AIG has taken another major step in simplifying our organization to be a leaner, more profitable insurer, while continuing to return capital to shareholders and improve shareholder returns," Peter Hancock, AIG president and chief executive, said in a statement.

Hancock has been under pressure from Icahn and other activist investors to enhance shareholder value.

In October, Icahn said he had taken a "large stake" in October and called, in an open letter to Hancock, for AIG to be split into three smaller companies to avoid the regulatory burden of being categorized as a financial institution that is "too big to fail".

AIG, which had been taken over by the government to prevent its collapse in the 2008 financial crisis, has recovered its leading role in the US industrial and property insurance market since key international units were hived off and the US Treasury sold its final shares in December 2012.

But since then it has been designated by the Treasury as a "systemically important financial institution," which brings more stringent and costly capital requirements.
Israeli court to rule on fasting Palestinian journalist

Israel's top court will this week rule on whether to release a hunger-striking Palestinian journalist who is described as being close to death, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Jawad Boulus said the Supreme Court in Jerusalem will meet Wednesday to decide whether to scrap Mohammed al-Qiq's detention.

The lawyer added that Qiq's organs are on the verge of failing after 62 days without food, and that he would be too ill to attend Wednesday's hearing.

A Palestinian man carries a placard bearing a portrait of Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qiq during a demonstration demanding his release from jails, near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, north of Ramallah, on January 22, 2016 Abbas Momani (AFP/File)

Qiq, a 33-year-old father of two and a correspondent for Saudi Arabia's Almajd TV network, was arrested on November 21 at his home in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

He is being held under Israel's controversial administrative detention law, which allows the state to hold suspects for renewable six-month periods without trial.

He has been refusing food since November 25 in protest against the "torture and ill treatment that he was subjected to during interrogation", according to Addameer, a Palestinian human rights organisation.

Shin Bet, the Israeli domestic security service, said Qiq was arrested for "terror activity" as part of the Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Qiq's wife Faihaa told AFP at their home in Dura on Tuesday that her husband had been wrongfully detained.

"He is suffering from many complications, he couldn't talk and couldn't identify his lawyer or even see him," she said.

"Mohammad is a Palestinian journalist who was only covering the situation in the West Bank and he was arrested because of it," she added.

Qiq was jailed for a month in 2003 and then for 13 months in 2004 for Hamas-related activities.

In 2008, he was sentenced to 16 months on charges linked to his activities on the student council at the West Bank's Birzeit University.
Syria talks invites sent to range of opposition figures

The United Nations on Tuesday sent out invitations for fresh Syria peace talks in Geneva later this week, including to figures excluded from a key opposition body.

"The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, has addressed invitations to the Syrian participants today," his office said in a statement.

It did not specify who had been invited, but several opposition figures confirmed to AFP they had received invitations.

UN Syria envoy Staffan De Mistura answers questions during a press conference in Geneva, on January 25, 2016 Fabrice Coffrini (AFP)

Syria's leading Kurdish party however said it had not yet received an invitation.

Among the invitees are delegates from the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), a body representing key opposition groups and factions that was formed in Riyadh last year.

But invitations have also gone out to several opposition figures who are not in the HNC, which has said it should be the sole opposition delegation at the talks.

Qadri Jamil, a former deputy prime minister who was sacked in 2013 and has good ties with regime ally Russia, confirmed to AFP that he had been invited.

"I am on my way to Geneva after receiving an invitation" to the talks that are scheduled to begin on Friday, he said.

And Haytham Manna, a longstanding opposition figure who is co-chair of the political wing of a Kurdish-Arab alliance, also said he had been invited.

"I received an invitation to participate in the talks as a negotiator," he told AFP.

A member of the HNC's delegation to the talks, Fuad Aliko, said the body had been invited, but that talks over whether it would attend were continuing.

The HNC has threatened to boycott the negotiations if opposition figures other than its members are allowed to attend.

Syria's most powerful Kurdish party, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), said it had not yet received an invitation.

"Up until now, the PYD has not received an invitation to participate in the Geneva talks," said Sihanuk Dibo, an advisor to the party's leadership.

He said the PYD was in contact with various parties to "resolve the issue in the coming hours or tomorrow."

The PYD is not part of the HNC, and powerful opposition backer Turkey has said it will boycott the talks if the Kurdish party is invited.

Ankara considers it and its armed wing to be an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Worker's party, which has waged a bloody insurgency in the mainly Kurdish southeast of Turkey since 1984.

Dibo blamed Ankara for the absence of an invite to the talks.

Wrangling over who will represent Syria's opposition has already forced the start of the talks to be delayed from Monday.

The so-called "proximity talks" are scheduled to last six months, with the first round lasting between two and three weeks, according to De Mistura.

They are part of a UN-backed plan agreed last year that envisages negotiations, followed by the creation of a transitional government, a new constitution and elections within 18 months.
No initial sign of shooter at US military hospital: Navy

Police rushed into a military hospital in San Diego on Tuesday after reports of gunfire, but an initial sweep of the sprawling facility found no sign of a shooting.

A single witness reported hearing three shots in the basement of one of several buildings in the Naval Medical Center complex in southern California, prompting a massive response from authorities.

Local police, assisted by Navy dogs and California Highway Patrol officers, scoured the building after the call came in around 8:00 am (1600 GMT) but there was no sign of a shooting or any reports of casualties, officials said.

People are processed by law enforcement personel as a precaution as others are evacuated from a building at the Naval Medical Center San Diego on January 26, 2016 in San Diego, California Bill Wechter (AFP)

"They did an initial sweep and they didn't find anything so they are doing a more thorough sweep," Navy spokesman Jon Nylander told AFP.

"They have not located any evidence of a shooting having taken place."

Authorities placed the hospital and surrounding buildings on lockdown and local news footage showed patients and workers in hospital garb -- as well as service members in military dress -- filing out of the facility with their hands raised as police stood by with assault weapons at the ready.

US law enforcement officers routinely train for "active shooter" scenarios in which an armed person goes on a rampage.

Such events have become all too common in America, still shaken after last month's mass shooting in San Bernardino, also in southern California.

In that case, a married couple inspired by Islamic State jihadists slaughtered 14 people in the city east of Los Angeles.

The Naval Medical Center was quick to get word out of a possible shooting, posting a warning on Facebook.

"An active shooter has just been reported in building #26 at Naval Medical Center San Diego. All occupants are advised to run, hide or fight," the hospital posted on its official Facebook page.

San Diego, the southernmost city on the California coast, has a sprawling military infrastructure and is a major port for the US Navy.

The hospital is located in the city's Balboa Park, close to San Diego's famous zoo.

The United States has seen several deadly shootings at military installations in recent years.

In November 2009, US Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Hasan opened fire at his Texas military base, Fort Hood. He killed 13 people and wounded more than 30 more, before being overpowered by police.

In September 2013, Aaron Alexis killed 12 people and wounded eight others at the Washington Navy Yard, just two miles (three kilometers) from the US Capitol building, before he was shot dead by officers.
Kerry to urge China to put more pressure on North Korea

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Beijing Tuesday evening for meetings with senior government leaders, with North Korea top of the agenda following the reclusive state's fourth nuclear test earlier this month.

The top US diplomat will also raise concerns over Beijing's "problematic behaviour" in the South China Sea and the thorny issues of humans rights and civil freedoms, a senior State Department official said.

North Korea is expected to dominate the talks between Kerry with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and other senior officials, as the international community seeks to squeeze Pyongyang with fresh sanctions following its latest nuclear test on January 6.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is greeted by US Ambassador to China Max Baucus (R) on his arrival in Beijing, on January 26, 2016 Jacquelyn Martin (Pool/AFP/File)

China is North Korea's chief diplomatic protector and economic benefactor, but those ties have been strained as Beijing loses patience with Pyongyang's unwillingness to rein in its nuclear weapons ambitions.

"The Secretary has made no secret... of his conviction that there is much more that China can do by way of applying leverage (on Pyongyang)," the US official said.

The South China Sea will also be discussed as tensions and territorial disputes in the vital waterway between Beijing and its neighbours in Southeast Asia -- backed by Washington -- threaten to degenerate into conflict.

"The continuing tensions and problematic behaviour by China in the South China Sea is very much on the Secretary's mind and something that he will certainly discuss in depth," the US official said.

Finally, Kerry will raise with his hosts "what we see as a very significant tightening of political space for civil society and for NGOs," the US official said.
UN chief takes aim at Israel over new settlements

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday criticized Israel's new plans for Jewish settlements in the West Bank and spoke of growing Palestinian frustration after 50 years of Israeli military rule.

"Progress towards peace requires a freeze of Israel's settlement enterprise," Ban told a Security Council debate on the Middle East.

The UN chief spoke after Israel approved plans to build 153 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank, which the Peace Now group said was the first construction project approved in the last 18 months.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon speaks to the press on January 6, 2016 Timothy A. Clary (AFP/File)

Last week, Israel declared 370 acres in the West Bank, south of Jericho, as state land.

Condemning Palestinian stabbings, vehicle attacks and shootings against Israelis, Ban however stressed that occupation often breeds hate and extremism.

"Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process," he said.

"As oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism."

In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Ban of "encouraging terror" over his remarks on the occupation.

The United Nations has branded Israeli settlement expansions illegal, arguing that they are an attempt to undermine plans for a Palestinian state by absorbing land earmarked for the new country.

Ban described the planned settlements as "provocative acts" and an "affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community."

"They rightly raise fundamental questions about Israel's commitment to a two-state solution," he said.

US Ambassador Samantha Power said the United States "strongly opposes" settlement activity that she described as "fundamentally incompatible with the two-state solution."

But she added that anger over settlements should not lead to violence.

"Settlement activity can never itself be an excuse for violence. Never," said Power.

In Brussels, an EU spokesperson for foreign affairs stated that the European Union "strongly opposes" Israel's settlement policy and stressed the Palestinians need land for economic development.

"Settlements are illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible," he said.

Israel seized the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War. It later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognized by the international community.

Today, some 380,000 Israelis live in 135 West Bank settlements, with another 200,000 in east Jerusalem.
White House protester dies after 35-year vigil

Concepcion Picciotto, a 80-year-old Spanish-born nuclear disarmament activist who camped in front of the White House for more than three decades, has died, colleagues said Tuesday.

The diminutive weather-worn protester who manned a placard-festooned tent in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue through Washington's brutal summers and winters since 1981 died Monday, according to The Peace House, a group she belonged to.

"Connie's health was not well for the past couple of years. Therefore, we hope she finds peace where she may be," the group said in a statement.

Concepcion Picciotto is seen at her daily protest in front of the White House on March 5, 2010 in Washington, DC Paul J. Richards (AFP/File)

Picciotto was a divisive figure, earning respect for her endurance but derision for embracing sometimes controversial views.

There were also persistent questions about her mental health.

Picciotto and her colleagues were a regular attraction for tourists gathered in front of one of the world's most famous landmarks.

On Tuesday, a fellow protester manned the encampment beside a sign that read "Concepcion R.I.P." as a group of Argentine tourists clad in snow gear snapped photos.
Forces of I.Coast leader must be probed for abuse: lawyer

Lawyers representing more than 1,000 people claiming to have been victims of violence committed by the forces of Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara urged the International Criminal Court Tuesday to speed up a probe into their allegations.

Paris-based lawyer Habiba Toure filed papers before The Hague-based court, as former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo prepares to go on trial Thursday for his role in deadly post-election violence that wracked the west African country in 2010-2011, killing more than 3,000 people.

Gbagbo faces four charges of crimes against humanity in the wake of the unrest sparked when he refused to step down after losing the November 2010 vote to his bitter rival Ouattara.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara looks on as he welcomes the Liberian Presiden upon her arrival on January 17, 2016, in Abidjan Sia Kambou (AFP/File)

"Five years after the electoral crisis and 14 years after the start of abuses suffered by civilians mainly in the western Ivory Coast, the We ethnic group, ... no member of pro-Ouattara forces suspected of committing these serious crimes against humanity has been prosecuted," Toure said in a statement.

"Despairing because of this negligence, 1,073 victims and their dependents have decided to send applications to the relevant sections of the ICC," Toure said, adding that the We group was being persecuted because of its perceived support for Gbagbo.

The dossier included alleged crimes and evidence against Ouattara's forces and was handed over to ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's office.

Gbagbo was ousted in April 2011 by Ouattara's troops aided by French and UN forces after holing up for months in his fortress-like compound in the Ivorian economic capital, Abidjan.

Alongside his former ally, Charles Ble Goude, Gbagbo, 70, goes on trial accused of devising and implementing a plan to extend his 10-year rule through a brutal campaign of murders and rapes.

But human rights groups too have called on Bensouda to speed up her investigation into crimes committed by Ouattara's camp, warning that a failure to do so may leave many in the Ivory Coast feeling sidelined.

Gbagbo's supporters in the past have accused Ouattara's backers of reprisals, of practising a "victors' justice."

Gambian lawyer Bensouda herself has pledged to deepen her probe, but her office has been hamstrung by limited resources.

"The victims are surprised by the prosecutor's inertia, while they continue to face new crimes and the consequences of the abuses already suffered," Toure said.

They are "waiting for prosecutor Bensouda... to prosecute these individuals.... or face losing the little credibility she has left in the face of growing criticism."
Gbagbo lawyer aims to debunk 'far-fetched' charges

Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo Thursday goes on trial on four charges of crimes against humanity linked to the deadly violence that erupted in 2010 after his bid to cling to power.

Lawyers for Gbagbo, 70, plan to vigorously defend him against accusations that he led a deliberate campaign of murder, rape and persecution as he refused to concede electoral defeat to his longtime rival Alassane Ouattara.

Gbagbo's lawyer Emmanuel Altit told AFP the very premise of the prosecution's case was a "far-fetched hypothesis."

Then Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo, pictured in September 2010 in Abidjan Sia Kambou (AFP/File)

Here are three questions to Gbagbo's French lawyer:

Q: The prosecutor's office acknowledges that a "substantial" part of the evidence against Gbagbo was provided by Ouattara's government. What do you think of the prosecutor's case?

A: "We've already shown that the charges are riddled with weaknesses, contradictions, impossibilities and incoherences. The case is flawed because it is merely based upon an attempt to legitimise Alassane Ouattara's seizure of power by force: it's a purely political narrative.

"In order to show that Alassane Ouattara was the legitimate president, it was necessary to demonise Laurent Gbagbo, to show to the international community that there was a good guy and a bad guy.

"There's nothing in the prosecutor's case to make a hierarchical link between president Gbagbo and the crimes that were committed. Or to show that he had supposedly placed his allies in strategic posts. We will show during the trial that this is a far-fetched hypothesis. It doesn't stand up for one second.

"As for the evidence, we expect the ICC prosecutor to lead an inquiry independent of both the victors and the defeated. It's the only way to prove the truth. Has she carried out an independent investigation or did she just base the case on a narrative and evidence provided by others? We call on the judges to be very vigilant."

Q: What is Laurent Gbagbo's state of mind after several years in detention already?

A: "For president Gbagbo being imprisoned is just a pause in an already long and rich life. He was already jailed in the past because of his commitment to democracy. Why? Because Laurent Gbagbo is a man of convictions, a sincere man, who has always fought for democracy. He is the one who promoted democracy in the Ivory Coast. He was the one who installed the multi-party system in the country. So he has participated in drawing up his defence and he is very confident. He wants this trial to unveil the truth."

Q: During his first appearance at the court, Gbagbo said he wanted to reveal the truth about the "French plot" to bring about his downfall. Is this still the case?
Ahead of Holocaust day, Netanyahu warns of European anti-semitism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Tuesday that Europeans were not doing enough to combat anti-semitism, in a statement on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Netanyahu, who has routinely argued the Jewish state is unfairly singled out for criticism by the United Nations and other bodies, warned that "in Europe and elsewhere, Jews are once again being targeted just for being Jews".

"We see anti-Semitism directed against individual Jews, and we also see this hatred directed against the collective Jew, against the Jewish state," he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech on April 7, 2013 at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem Menahem Kahana (AFP/File)

On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of the dangers of anti-semitism, in remarks at the opening of an exhibition featuring works by Jewish concentration camp prisoners.

She cited in particular the fears of German Jewish leaders that the need to impart the lessons of the Holocaust has grown more urgent with the influx of a record 1.1 million asylum seekers to Germany last year, many from the Middle East.

But Netanyahu warned that anti-semitism was not merely growing among immigrant communities, but was gaining traction across Europe.

"Even respected Western opinion leaders have become afflicted with hatred for the Jewish people and the Jewish state," Netanyahu said, without giving names.

"The obsession with the Jews -- the fixation on the Jewish state -- defies any other rational explanation."

French immigration to Israel reached a record high in 2015, with around 8,000 French Jews arriving in the year, according to Israel's immigration ministry.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day will be marked around the globe on Wednesday to commemorate the six million Jews who died at the hands of Nazi Germany and its allies.
Canada will lift Iran sanctions: FM

Canada will follow the US and EU lead and lift sanctions against Iran, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said Tuesday.

Responding to questions in the House of Commons, Dion said: "Canada will remove those sanctions."

"We will change this policy," he said, noting the sanctions were "not good" for anyone.

Canada will lift sanctions against Iran, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said Atta Kenare (AFP/File)

No timeline was given.

The announcement comes weeks after a deal reached between Tehran and world powers came into force, allowing the United States and the European Union to begin lifting economic barriers brought in over Iran's nuclear program.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed an openness to restoring diplomatic relations with Iran, saying four years after Canada shuttered its embassy that Tehran had made "significant movement" toward dismantling parts of its program that the West feared could have led to the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

Dion, meanwhile, has commented that a lifting of sanctions would allow Canadian companies to join EU and US firms now rushing to do business in Iran.
Tunisia's Nidaa Tounes loses parliamentary majority to Ennahda

Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda party has become the largest group in parliament after 22 lawmakers who quit the secular Nidaa Tounes party submitted a request Tuesday to form a new bloc.

Parliament vice president Faouzia Ben Fodha told the house of representatives that "a new bloc, called Al-Horra (The Free) has been created" and comprises 22 members.

All are former members of Nidaa Tounes, the party founded by President Beji Caid Essebsi, and have resigned amid infighting over the party succession, according to Bochra Belhaj Hmida.

Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid (R) addresses the Tunisian parliament in Tunis on November 26, 2015 Fethi Belaid (AFP/File)

A former Nidaa Tounes member herself, Hmida said however that she has not joined Al-Horra.

Nidaa Tounes had already been weakened by the departure of Essebsi, in line with the constitution after he was elected president in December 2014.

For months the party had been riven by bad blood between its secretary general Mohsen Marzouk and the president's son, Hafedh Caid Essebsi, in what insiders said was a battle for succession.

Marzouk supporters have accused the president's son of trying to seize control of the party.

The crisis came to a head at the end of October after accusations that Essebsi supporters wielding sticks had blocked rival party members from a meeting of its executive committee.

With the departure of 22 deputies, the Nidaa Tounes bloc has shrunk to 64 lawmakers, making the moderate Islamic Ennahda the largest party with 69 deputies.

Most of Al-Horra's members back Marzouk, who also quit Nidaa Tounes and is expected to announce the creation of a new political party in March.

Former president Moncef Marzouki also applied in December to form a new party, citing a "catastrophic" situation in Tunisia, birthplace of the 2011 Arab Spring revolutions that have toppled several autocratic regimes in the region.

Al-Horra's formation comes as Tunisia was hit this month with a wave of protests against poverty and unemployment in the worst social unrest since the 2011 revolution.
Three injured in Sierra Leone Ebola clashes

Three youths were seriously injured in clashes with police in Sierra Leone Tuesday after authorities ordered village traders to shut up shop while they hunted for people who may have had contact with an Ebola victim, witnesses said.

Angry youths allegedly burnt down a police post in the northern village of Barmoi Luma, reports said, as police fired tear gas to disperse angry crowds.

Witnesses told AFP by telephone that three youths were seriously hurt, with one shot in the head and another in the leg.

People walk under an Ebola information board featuring Sierra Leone's president Ernest Bai Koroma on January 22, 2016 in a street of Freetown Sia-Kambou (AFP/File)

Authorities said the trouble started Saturday when 30 local people were quarantined for having potentially had contact with Marie Jalloh, a 22-year-old who died of Ebola on January 12.

Some 50 others who may have come into contact with Jalloh went into hiding in the community, which is deeply suspicious of western treatments for the deadly virus.

A town chief told AFP that police in Barmoi Luma had ordered market traders to halt business and shops to close from Saturday "to minimise any risk of contact with the runaway contacts", and they had remained shuttered.

"This has angered residents who said the actions of the police were arbitrary since Marie Jalloh did not die in Barmoi Luma but in Magburaka," he said.

Health authorities believe Jalloh fell ill in Barmoi Luma before travelling to the city of Magburaka some 100 kilometres (62 miles) away.

Witness Fatu Jalloh told AFP: "Temper flared up this morning when the police tried to enforce the no-trading order and dozens of youths and women rushed into the streets, hurling sticks and stones at police search teams."

She added: "I saw seven people injured, three of them seriously... There were lots of tear gas smoke and people were dashing for cover."

Doctors at the Italian-run Emergency Hospital in the capital Freetown confirmed that three seriously injured patients had been brought from the area but declined to give further details.

Police have denied using live bullets to quell the disturbance.

Francis Hazeley, a local police commander, told reporters: "We did not use live shots but used tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters."

Reports said the area was now calm, with police withdrawing to the nearby town of Kambia on the request of community leaders.

Senior officials including Health Minister Abu Bakarr Fofonah and national police chief Francis Munu were holding urgent talks with local authorities in Kambia.

Jalloh's death came just a day after west Africa had celebrated the end of the Ebola epidemic which cost 11,000 lives.
US 'affluenza' teen faces Mexico deportation soon

A US teenager known for using an "affluenza" defense in a deadly Texas drunk-driving accident could soon be deported from Mexico after dropping an appeal, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Ethan Couch, 18, has been held in a migration detention facility in Mexico City since he and his mother were caught in a Pacific resort town in late December.

Couch had been sought by US authorities after he missed a mandatory meeting with his probation officer.

Photo released by the Jalisco State Public Prosecutor's Office shows Ethan Couch in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on December 28, 2015

His mother, Tonya Couch, was sent back to the United States on December 31 and was promptly arrested by US authorities to face charges of hindering his apprehension.

Her son, however, had lodged an appeal that could have delayed his deportation for several months.

But Ethan Couch's Mexican lawyer, Fernando Benitez, told AFP that the young man dropped his appeal on January 15 and a judge accepted the decision on Tuesday.

It is up to the National Migration Institute to decide when to fly Couch back to the United States, but he "should be sent back ASAP," Benitez said in an email.

In 2013, the teen crashed his pickup into a group of pedestrians in Texas and another vehicle, leaving four dead and several seriously injured.

Couch, who was 16 at the time, had a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit for an adult.

The son of millionaire parents made headlines during his trial when a psychologist testifying on his behalf claimed he suffered from "affluenza."

The term, coined from affluence and influenza, implied that financial privilege made him unable to understand the consequences of his actions.
US cops sacked after killing black duo in hail of 137 bullets

US authorities sacked six police officers Tuesday who unloaded 137 bullets into a car carrying two unarmed African Americans, killing the pair in a hail of gunfire in Cleveland, Ohio.

City officials, who have faced criticism for failing to take action sooner after the 2012 shooting, said they hoped the sackings would bring "closure" to a city struggling to rebuild trust following a series of high-profile police killings, including that of a black boy.

Cleveland pledged to overhaul its police force and aspire to "bias-free" law enforcement under an agreement reached with the US Justice Department in May.

People march in reaction to Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo being acquitted of manslaughter charges after he shot two people at the end of a 2012 car chase in which officers fired 137 shots, on May 23, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio Ricky Rhodes (Getty/AFP/File)

The "consent decree" was announced two days after protesters filled Cleveland's streets following the acquittal of a white police officer charged in the November 2012 incident that left Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams dead after a car chase.

Patrolman Michael Brelo, 31, was one of 13 officers involved in the 22-mile (35 kilometer) high-speed chase.

The car of Russell and Williams had backfired as it drove past Cleveland police headquarters, and police thought the sound was a gunshot.

A total of 137 rounds were fired at their car, including 49 by Brelo. He shot the final 15 from the hood of Russell's Chevrolet Malibu.

Six officers, including Brelo, were fired and six will be disciplined. One has retired.

City officials said the officers crossed the line and endangered their fellow officers when they unleashed the barrage of bullets in just 20 seconds.

Cleveland police also faced severe criticism after Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old black boy carrying a toy gun, was fatally shot by a white officer at a playground in 2014. A grand jury declined last month to issue charges in that case.

Mayor Frank Jackson defended the amount of time it took to discipline the officers.

"What we've talked about from the beginning is conducting a process that has due process at its core and is fair," he told reporters.

But police union president Steve Loomis said he expected the six sacked officers to get their jobs back.

"The politics in this city is absolutely appalling," he told reporters.
Al-Qaeda affiliate claims Swiss woman's kidnap in new video

Al-Qaeda's north Africa affiliate has claimed the kidnapping of a Swiss woman in Mali in a video seen by AFP on Wednesday, with an English-accented jihadist listing conditions for the hostage's release.

Beatrice Stockly, who was previously abducted by Islamists in northern Mali's Timbuktu in 2012, was taken for the second time on January 7 by armed men who stormed her home in the country's fabled city.

The eight-minute video includes triumphant montages of jihadists brandishing weapons and a masked speaker with an English accent who claims responsibility for the abduction on behalf of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

This video grab made on January 27, 2016 from a video received by Private Mauritanian news agency Al-Akhbar from the Al-Qaeda-linked Emirate of the Sahara group shows Swiss woman Beatrice Stockly speaking while abducted in an unlocated location

"Beatrice Stockly is a Swiss nun who declared war against Islam in her attempt to Christianise Muslims," the speaker said.

A video released on YouTube in June showing two other Western hostages held by AQIM also featured a jihadist with an English accent.

The man in the new video appeared heavier than the man in the June video and their voices sounded different.

In the new message, the jihadist said Stockly was released after the first kidnap on condition that she would not "return to any Muslim land preaching Christianity.

"But she had nullified this agreement and returned to Timbuktu," he said in English.

Stockly has previously been identified as a missionary and social worker in her 40s who had lived in Timbuktu for years.

AQIM's use of an English-accented spokesman has parallels to "Jihadi John", the British extremist born Mohammed Emwazi who was identified as the executioner of Western hostages in a string of Islamic State group videos before he was killed in a drone strike.

- Conditions -

With at least three other fighters dimly lit in the background, the speaker listed conditions for Stockly's release.

They include freeing a number of AQIM fighters jailed in Mali and one of their leaders, Abu Tourab, detained at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

Abu Ahmad Tourab is the nom de guerre of Ahmad al-Faki al-Mahdi, who is accused of ordering the destruction of historical monuments in Timbuktu in 2012.

Tourab, who was a leader of the Al-Qaeda-linked Malian group Ansar Dine, is the first jihadist to appear before the war crimes court.

Stockly appears at the end of the video dressed in a black hijab. She identifies herself and the date as Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

A Swiss foreign ministry spokesman told AFP that Bern was "aware of the video in question," and called for the hostage's unconditional release.

Northern Mali has remained restive since a loose coalition of Islamists and Tuareg rebels overran the region in 2012.

Jihadist fighters were largely chased from the area in 2013 by a French-led military intervention, but entire swathes of the area remain beyond the reach of both the Malian army and foreign troops.

- 'Patient' -

The speaker in the video said AQIM had developed an expertise in dealing with Western hostages and was prepared to be "patient" while waiting for its demands to be met.

Stockly's capture is believed to be the first in northern Mali since the kidnap and murder of two French journalists late November 2013 in Kidal.

But an elderly Australian doctor and his wife were seized by jihadists in a remote town in neighbouring Burkina Faso on the night of January 15-16.

That abduction, also reportedly carried out by fighters from AQIM, coincided with a jihadist assault on an upmarket hotel in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou that left at least 30 people dead and raised fears of a widening Islamist threat in the region.

When Stockly was first abducted she was said to be the last Westerner living in Timbuktu, which she refused to leave when it fell to Ansar Dine.

Two weeks after her capture, special forces from Burkina Faso swept into rebel-held northern Mali aboard a helicopter and whisked her to safety in a pre-arranged handover.

At the time, around two dozen hostages were seized in the Sahel region, most of them held by AQIM and another Islamist group, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO).

Almost all were subsequently released.

Aside from Stockly and the Australian couple, three other hostages remain in captivity, a South African and a Swede seized in 2011 -- who were shown in AQIM's June video -- and a Romanian snatched in 2015.

The ancient Malian city of Timbuktu was once a popular tourist destination before a series of attacks by Al Qaeda-linked gunmen in 2012 Philippe Desmazes (AFP/File)

Large swathes of Mali remain lawless and prone to attacks Kenzo Tribouillard (AFP/File)
US man charged in plot to attack Masonic temple

A US man who plotted to attack a Masonic temple and "annihilate" everyone inside was arrested on gun charges, officials said Tuesday.

Samy Mohamed Hamzeh, 23, had been under investigation by the FBI since September after an informant tipped them off to his plans to attack Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.

Hamzeh -- who lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- "abandoned these plans for family, financial and logistic reasons" and then "refocused his plans on an attack in the United States," charging papers said.

Samy Mohamed Hamzeh had been under investigation by the FBI since September after an informant tipped them off to his plans to attack Israeli soldiers in the West Bank Mandel Ngan (AFP/File)

"It is difficult to calculate the injury and loss of life that was prevented by concerned citizens coming forward and by the tireless efforts of the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force," US Attorney Gregory Haanstad said in a statement.

"Samy Mohamed Hamzeh devised a detailed plan to commit a mass shooting intended to kill dozens of people. He also said that he wanted this mass shooting to be 'known the world over' and to 'ignite' broader clashes."

Two informants worked with the FBI to record his plans. They went to a firing range with him on January 19 and then took a guided tour of the Masonic temple.

After they left, Hamzeh spoke of how he hoped to kill at least 30 people in order to "terrify the world."

"I am telling you, if this hit is executed, it will be known all over the world," he allegedly said in a conversation translated from Arabic.

"Sure, all over the world, all the mujahedeen will be talking and they will be proud of us," he allegedly said, referring to fighters engaged in jihad, or holy war.

"Such operations will increase in America, when they hear about it. The people will be scared and the operations will increase, and there will be problems all over.

"This way we will be igniting it. I mean, we are marching at the front of the war."

Hamzeh said they would need three machine guns with silencers to carry out the attack and that the man who stood at the door has a "bigger responsibility" and has to "annihilate everyone."

He had planned to escape by killing everyone quickly and quietly and by hiding their faces with cold-weather gear.

Hamzeh was arrested Monday after buying two automatic weapons and silencers from undercover agents.
Amnesty: Dozens of juvenile offenders face death in Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Dozens of people who were arrested in Iran for crimes committed before they turned 18 remain at risk of the death penalty despite recent reforms, with many having already spent years on death row, according to a report by Amnesty International released Tuesday.

The London-based group also found that Iran has executed at least 73 juvenile offenders between 2005 and 2015, including at least four last year.

Amnesty's 110-page report intensifies pressure on Iran at a time when Tehran is working to rebuild relations with the West following last year's landmark nuclear deal. The agreement came into force this month after Iran took steps to curb its nuclear program, leading to the lifting of crippling international sanctions.

FILE - In this May 26, 2011 file photo, the body of convicted man Mahdi Faraji hangs at the city of Qazvin about 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of the capital Tehran, Iran. Dozens of people who were arrested in Iran for crimes committed before they were 18 remain at risk of the death penalty despite recent reforms, with many having already spent years on death row, according to a report by Amnesty International released Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Mehr News Agency, Hamideh Shafieeha, File)

On Monday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Rome at the start of the first European trip by an Iranian president in almost two decades. The visit, which will also include stops at the Vatican and France, is expected to lead to a raft of business and trade deals.

Iran is one of the world's largest users of the death penalty, ranking second behind China in 2014, according to the most recent figures from Amnesty. Most executions overall in Iran are carried out for drug smuggling. The country straddles a major narcotics trafficking route linking opium-producing fields in Afghanistan to Europe.

Amnesty's researchers were able to identify the names and locations of 49 juvenile offenders who face the death penalty, though the group notes that actual numbers could be higher. A 2014 U.N. report put the number of juvenile offenders at risk of execution at more than 160.

The majority of the 73 juvenile offenders Amnesty identified who were put to death over the past decade were convicted of murder. Others were executed for crimes including rape, drug-related crimes and national security offenses such as "enmity against God."

The group noted that reforms introduced in 2013 give judges more discretion to take into account juvenile offenders' mental maturity and potentially impose less harsh punishments, and that the Supreme Court has since said juvenile offenders facing execution could have their cases retried. Additional reforms introduced last year require that cases involving juveniles must be heard in special juvenile courts.

Still, Amnesty says more must be done.

"Despite some juvenile justice reforms, Iran continues to lag behind the rest of the world, maintaining laws that permit girls as young as nine and boys as young as 15 to be sentenced to death," Amnesty said.

Iranian officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

In late October, the United Nations' special investigator on the human rights situation in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, warned that executions in Iran have risen at an "exponential rate" since 2005 and could top 1,000 in 2015. He said Iran puts more people to death per capita than any other country, adding that the majority of executions do not conform to international laws banning the death penalty for juveniles and non-violent offenders.

The head of Iran's Human Rights Council, Mohammad Javad Larijani, subsequently dismissed the U.N. report as "a collection of baseless accusations."

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Read the Amnesty report here: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/3112/2016/en/

___

Follow Adam Schreck on Twitter at www.twitter.com/adamschreck
Primary voting begins in rancorous US presidential race

WASHINGTON (AP)  Americans finally begin choosing next week among the Republican and Democratic candidates battling to be their party's 2016 presidential nominee in a series of state-by-state votes. The White House hopefuls include two highly unorthodox candidates  the politically incorrect billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump for the Republicans, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, for the Democrats  both of whom are running strongly in polls of the first two states with nominating contests  Iowa and New Hampshire.

Trump has rocked the Republican political world with a personality-dominated campaign that quickly overwhelmed expected front-runner former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the son and brother of former presidents. Trump is virulently anti-immigration and has called on barring Muslim from entering the country. He boasts unspecified plans to make the United States "great again," touting his abilities as a deal-maker in the business world.

Trump is in a tight race in Iowa with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a staunch conservative. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is polling third and hopes to consolidate support among the party establishment. The rest of the field is lagging behind in single digits, including one-time front-runner Bush, the brother and son of former presidents. Polls show Trump and Cruz locked in a very close contest in Iowa, while Trump is far ahead in New Hampshire.

Sanders has captivated younger Democrats and those in the most progressive wing of the party with his message of a bigger government that would protect Americans who are losing ground in the country as wealth continues to cluster among fewer and fewer people. Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state, New York senator and first lady, still holds a polling lead nationwide, but Sanders has nearly matched the former first lady in Iowa and has eclipsed her in New Hampshire, the tiny New England state adjacent to his Vermont home. He was elected to the Senate as an independent but votes with the Democrats.

Facing potential upsets in Iowa and New Hampshire, Clinton can look to the next contests in Nevada and South Carolina, where she still enjoys strong support among Latinos and blacks who make up a large segment of the Democratic base in those states. Sanders and Clinton have far out-distanced former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.

The U.S. primary system that usually decides each party's presidential nominee often skews those choices toward the candidates who voice positions that appeal to voters at the extreme ends in both parties. History has shown that turnout in the caucuses and primaries typically is dominated by the most motivated party base voters. That reality causes problems for candidates. For example Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012 had trouble tracking back to more centrist positions in the general election.

That has become particularly evident this year as voters in both parties voice frustration and anger at the government and the congressional gridlock that has dominated American politics during the eight years of President Barack Obama's presidency. That is particularly true on the Republican side among members of the ultra-conservative tea party faction, a movment born shortly after Obama took office in 2009.

In that climate, Iowa residents go first on Monday in small evening gatherings on what is a typically a frigid winter night to caucus for one of the 11 major Republican candidates or one of the three Democrats. By choosing first, Iowans hold outsized influence for a small-population state. The caucus results can winnow the field and provide momentum for the top finishers ahead of primaries and caucuses in the rest of the U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and overseas territories that run through June. Next in line on Feb. 9 is the northeastern state of New Hampshire, which holds the first primary election, and it too can have an big impact on the campaign that far outweighs its small population.

The race gains huge momentum on the results from primaries and caucuses held on March 1, known as super Tuesday, when 14 states and one territory all cast ballots or caucus for the candidates.

The primary system is complex and some say arcane. It amounts to voters actually choosing delegates to the national nominating convention who are pledged to a particular candidate. At the same time a considerable number of delegates are appointed from among both state and national elected officials and the party committees on the state and national levels. But dating back to 1980 the candidate for both parties has always clinched the necessary half-plus-one delegates, making the conventions little more than a coronation of the party candidate.

In 1976, however, President Gerald Ford, who took over the presidency from Richard Nixon who resigned because of the Watergate scandal, went to the convention with a plurality of delegates but not the necessary majority. He was challenged by Ronald Reagan at the convention, but eventually won the nomination to a full-term.

This year the Republicans hold their convention July 18-21 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Democrats gather July 25-28 in Philadelphia

For the Republicans, state rules vary as to whether the caucus or primary winner captures all of the state's elected delegates or delegates are awarded proportionally, according to the candidates vote percentage. Democrats use proportional representation in all states, awarding delegates according to the percentage of the state vote for each candidate.
Japan's emperor visiting the Philippines, a former WWII site

TOKYO (AP)  Japan's emperor said Tuesday that his nation must remember the tremendous loss of life in the Philippines during World War II, as he and his wife embarked for a four-day visit to the Southeast Asian country.

"Many Filipinos, Americans and Japanese lost their lives in the Philippines during the war," Emperor Akihito said in a short statement he read before departing from Tokyo. "Especially in the battle in Manila, a tremendously large number of innocent Filipino civilians were victims. Upon making this visit, we need to bear this in mind at all times."

Japan occupied the Philippines during World War II. The 1945 battle for Manila between the Japanese and U.S. and Philippine forces leveled the capital city.

Japan's Emperor Akihito, second from left, and Empress Michiko walk before boarding their airplane to leave for the Philippines at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Akihito is heading to the Philippines for a four-day visit to a country that suffered under Japanese occupation during World War II. At left is Crown Prince Naruhito. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

The 82-year-old Akihito will pay his respects at memorials for both the Philippine and the Japanese war dead.

He is the son of former Emperor Hirohito, under whose name Japan waged World War II. Akihito was 11 years old at the end of the war.

His role is symbolic and he holds no political power. He is relatively popular with the Japanese public. His wife, Empress Michiko, was the first commoner to marry into the Japanese royal family.

Japan-Philippines relations have improved dramatically in the seven decades since the war. Japan has become a major aid donor to the Philippines, and the countries are developing defense ties in the face of China's military rise.

The emperor's trip follows visits to the World War II battle sites of Palau last year and Saipan in 2005. He also prayed for Japanese and U.S. war-dead in Iwo Jima in 1994.

Japan's Emperor Akihito, left, and Empress Michiko pose for the media as they prepare to leave for the Philippines for a four-day visit at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Emperor Akihito, third from left, walks with Empress Michiko before boarding their airplane to leave for the Philippines at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Akihito is heading to the Philippines for a four-day visit to a country that suffered under Japanese occupation during World War II. Others are Crown Prince Naruhito, second from left, and Crown Princess Masako, fourth from left. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Emperor Akihito, second from right, and Empress Michiko, right, greet their aides before boarding their airplane to leave for the Philippines at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Akihito is heading to the Philippines for a four-day visit to a country that suffered under Japanese occupation during World War II. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Haiti leaders seek way out of political crisis

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Haitian President Michel Martelly would step down on schedule in two weeks, an interim government would take over and a runoff vote would be held within months.

These are the contours of a potential solution to Haiti's political crisis that was beginning to emerge Monday, according to officials taking part in the discussions. The crisis follows the indefinite postponement of elections, which has generated fears of backsliding into instability.

Haitian political leaders and others with influence have been meeting behind closed doors to discuss a way out of the impasse. There were no official announcements, but officials said they were working toward a mediated solution following a surge of violent protests and a looming constitutional crisis.

A national police officer fires birdshot at demonstrators during a street protest after it was announced that the runoff Jan. 24, presidential election had been postponed, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. The Provisional Electoral Council in Haiti has postponed the election amid escalating protests by the opposition, which claims the first round was marred by fraud in favor of a government-backed candidate. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

"We know we have to work fast because we have a very short time to resolve this crisis," said Senate President Jocelerme Privert, an opposition lawmaker who is a central figure in the talks. "If Haiti needs anything it is political stability."

Haiti had been scheduled to hold the runoff vote Sunday. But on Friday, the electoral council canceled it, for a second time, amid protests and suspicion that the first round was marred by massive fraud favoring Martelly's chosen candidate, Jovenel Moise.

The second-place presidential candidate, Jude Celestin, rejected the first-round results as a "farce" and alleged vote-rigging by Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council. Martelly, who cannot run for a second consecutive term, is required under the Constitution to leave office by Feb. 7.

For now, a number of proposals are being discussed in negotiations being held in Haiti's National Palace and elsewhere. Privert said that Martelly has told him in several recent meetings that that he would step down on schedule early next month.

The Senate president cautioned that negotiations were far from settled. But he said consensus could be building for a plan that calls for an interim government to take power on Feb. 7. New elections would be held as soon as possible so a newly elected leader could take office, perhaps this spring.

Others with knowledge of the discussions agreed with his description of the current proposals. One Martelly ally with knowledge of the talks said the president wants the interim government to hold power for the minimum time necessary, just long enough to organize a new election. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to publicly discuss the negotiations.

There's growing concern in some quarters that an inability to forge a deal might roll back a decade of relative political stability and scare off foreign investment in the hemisphere's poorest nation.

"This situation is very worrying because reaching consensus is not going to be easy, knowing Haiti's political actors," said Rosny Desroches, a member of a special electoral commission that had unsuccessfully pushed for a political dialogue to ease electoral tensions.

While Martelly meets with legislative leaders, the "Group of Eight" opposition alliance, led by Celestin, asserts that Haiti's new Parliament was installed illegally and can't provide solutions.

Political compromise is a rare thing in Haiti, where elections and power transitions are often accompanied by violence and disorder. In a report on Haiti last year, the World Bank said many observers agree that "Haitians perceive political and economic disputes as a zero sum game with only winners and losers, each with very long memories."

Oposition-stoked protests have steadily ramped up the tension in Haiti's capital with window-smashing and burning street barricades. Outside the capital, schools serving as election offices were targeted by arsonists before weekend elections were called off.

Some opposition militants and pro-government figures are fanning the flames. Senate candidate Guy Phillippe, an ex-paramilitary who helped lead an uprising against then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004 and campaigned with ruling party presidential Moise this election cycle, called on supporters in his remote enclave in southwestern Haiti to "defend" against opposition "anarchists."

Before the elections were postponed last week, anti-government demonstrators marched through Port-au-Prince chanting: "If they give us Jovenel, we'd rather die."

"There are political players who don't care if they break the country to gain power," said businessman Christopher Handal, who has participated in recent negotiations as president of Haiti's Chamber of Commerce.

While Haiti has a number of loud partisans, most Haitians have no interest in stirring up political conflict and don't vote.

The Senate president and other officials vowed Monday that authorities were working hard to forge a deal.

"I believe in the future of my country. I believe in my colleagues. And I have faith that the citizens of my country will not allow Haiti to fall into chaos," Privert said before departing for his next round of negotiations.

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David McFadden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmcfadd

A demonstrator with a picture of former president Jean Bertrand Aristide on his forehead takes part in a protest after it was announced that the runoff Jan. 24, presidential election had been postponed, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. The Provisional Electoral Council in Haiti has postponed the election amid escalating protests by the opposition, which claims the first round was marred by fraud in favor of a government-backed candidate. (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)
Malaysia says metal on Thai beach not from Flight 370

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Malaysia confirmed Tuesday that the piece of metal found washed up on a Thai beach last week was not from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that went missing almost two years ago in one of aviation history's most enduring mysteries.

The confirmation came a day after a Japanese rocket maker said the piece is likely part of a rocket launched by Japan.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said in a statement that Malaysian and Thai experts examined the debris and ascertained that the numbers engraved on the body, the wire bundle and the bolts do not match those of a Boeing 777, which Flight 370 was operating.

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016 file photo, Thai people look at a large chunk of metal found on a beach in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand. A Japanese rocket maker said Monday, Jan. 25 that a large piece of metal that washed up on a beach in Thailand is likely part of a rocket launched by Japan, not a missing Malaysian plane. The discovery of the metal sparked speculation that it might be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared almost two years ago. (AP Photo/File) THAILAND OUT

The jetliner took off from Kuala Lumpur on March 8, 2014, for Beijing with 239 people on board. But it soon lost communications and made a sharp turn away from its destination before disappearing. It is presumed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, far away from the western edge of Thailand.

Liow said that the part numbers which were found on the gently curving piece of metal are not listed in the Malaysia Airlines' catalog manual for a 777.

"Based on these identifying details, the team has confirmed that the debris does not belong to a B777 9M-MRO aircraft (MH370)," he said.

On Monday, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said the metal piece is "highly likely" to be part of a Japanese H-IIA or H-IIB rocket that was launched from southern Japan, based on an initial examination of photos and videos of the object.

Company spokeswoman Sayo Suwashita said officials are trying to determine which rocket it could be from and its launch date. Rocket debris falls into the ocean after every launch, and most is collected but sometimes pieces can be found some distance from the launch site, including in foreign waters, she said.

Liow said Sunday that the search for the missing jet is ongoing in the Indian Ocean and that its second phase is expected to be completed by June. Australia has led a multinational search that has so far cost more than $120 million.

FILE - In this Nov. 24, 2015 file photo, Japan's H-IIA rocket is launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Tanegashima, off Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu. A Japanese rocket maker said Monday, Jan. 25, 2016 that a large piece of metal that washed up on a beach in Thailand is likely part of the rocket launched by Japan, not a missing Malaysian plane. The discovery of the metal sparked speculation that it might be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared almost two years ago. (Ryosuke Uematsu/Kyodo News via AP, File) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT
France's Hollande views Indian Republic Day parade

NEW DELHI (AP)  French President Francois Hollande was wrapping up a three-day visit to India on Tuesday by watching an elaborate display of Indian military hardware and marching bands in India's Republic Day celebrations.

He was joined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials for the anniversary of India's constitution taking force in 1950.

On Monday, French and Indian officials signed more than a dozen agreements including one on jointly combating terror, but stopped short of a final deal on New Delhi's desire to purchase 36 French Rafale fighter jets. Both Modi and Hollande said they hoped a final agreement would be hammered out soon.

French President Francois Hollande, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi interact during the foundation stone laying for the headquarters of the International Solar Alliance at Gurgaon, outskirts of New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. The solar energy alliance was launched last month during global climate talks held in Paris. Hollande is on a three-day visit to India.(AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

Modi had announced India's intention to buy the fighter jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation in Paris in April. Since then officials on the two sides have been discussing prices, servicing and other details.

After viewing the parade, Hollande was to attend a reception at India's sprawling presidential palace.

The French leader arrived Sunday in the northern city of Chandigarh, where Modi joined him and lauded France's decision to invest $1 billion every year in India in various sectors.

Chandigarh was designed in the 1950s by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier and is one of three places that France has pledged to help develop as so-called "smart cities" with clean water supplies, efficient sewage disposal and public transportation.

Hollande and French business leaders met with their Indian counterparts to boost bilateral trade, which in 2014 totaled $8.6 billion.

French President Francois Hollande, second left, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, right front, and Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari, right top, leave after watching the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Hollande was wrapping up his three-day visit to India Tuesday by watching an elaborate display of Indian military hardware and marching bands taking part in India's Republic Day celebrations. (Shahbaz Khan/Press Trust of India via AP) INDIA OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO ARCHIVE

French President Francois Hollande, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands during the foundation stone laying for the headquarters of the International Solar Alliance at Gurgaon, outskirts of New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. The solar energy alliance was launched last month during global climate talks held in Paris. Hollande is on a three-day visit to India.(AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

French President Francois Hollande and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, right, sip refreshments at a reception hosted by the Indian President to mark India's Republic Day in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Hollande was wrapping up his three-day visit to India Tuesday by watching an elaborate display of Indian military hardware and marching bands taking part in India's Republic Day celebrations. (Atul Yadav/Press Trust of India via AP) INDIA OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO ARCHIVE

French President Francois Hollande, flanked by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, waves to the media at a reception hosted by the Indian President to mark India's Republic Day in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Hollande was wrapping up his three-day visit to India Tuesday by watching an elaborate display of Indian military hardware and marching bands taking part in India's Republic Day celebrations. (Atul Yadav/Press Trust of India via AP) INDIA OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO ARCHIVE

French soldiers march on Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. For the first time foreign troops are marching down the Rajpath on a Republic Day along with Indian troops. French President Francois Hollande is the chief guest for this year's celebrations. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)
Survivor sheds light on divisive WWII-era Jewish Councils

JERUSALEM (AP)  Throughout the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, and while incarcerated in two prison camps, Mirjam Bolle wrote letters to her fiance that she never sent but hoped to share with him after the war. Yet when the two ultimately reunited she decided to leave the past behind and stashed them away. Now, decades later, she has published them as a memoir.

The result is "Letters Never Sent," 18 months of diary entries and observations that experts say shed new light on one of the Holocaust's most controversial legacies  the Judenrat, or Jewish Councils  the dark bureaucracy of intermediaries responsible for implementing Nazi orders.

They were often despised by fellow Jews as traitors, but Bolle, still lively at 98 years old, defends their actions. She says the Judenrat had little choice and yet managed to lessen the blow to the community. As a secretary for the Jewish Council of Amsterdam, she was privy to their inner workings and says they managed to save lives by staving off Nazi deportation orders.

In this Jan. 20, 2016, photo, Dutch Israeli holocaust survivor Mirjam Bolle is seen in her house in Jerusalem. Throughout the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, and while incarcerated in two prison camps, Bolle wrote letters to her fiance that she never sent but hoped to share with him after the war. Yet when the two ultimately reunited she decided to leave the past behind and stashed them away. Now, decades later, she has published them as a memoir. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

"The Germans decided that there would be a Judenrat, we had nothing to do with that," Bolle said in the living room of her meticulously kept old stone home in Jerusalem, where she has lived alone since her husband's death in 1992. "The Germans did what they wanted to do. I always say that if the war had ended after two years, no one would have had a problem with the Judenrat."

With time, however, Bolle believes they outlived their usefulness. The nearly 1,200 Jewish councils continued to enjoy preferential treatment, even as they devolved into an administrative body for the Nazis' so-called "Final Solution," the planned extermination of the Jewish people. For some, the burden was too great to bear. Adam Czerniakow, head of the Warsaw Ghetto Judenrat, killed himself after he was forced to deport Jews to their deaths.

Bolle's role was more limited. She took dictations, dispatched letters and was sitting in on discussions when the first mention was made of the Nazi concentration camps.

"It was a different world ... You cannot judge what people did," she said. "People who are living a relatively normal life just cannot imagine."

Six million Jews were killed by German Nazis and their collaborators during the Holocaust, wiping out a third of world Jewry. Today, fewer than 190,000 elderly survivors remain in Israel. Bolle is among the oldest.

Israel's main Holocaust memorial day is in the spring, marking the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising  when Jews in the Polish capital launched a brave, but ultimately doomed, attempt to resist the Nazis.

The United Nations has designated Jan. 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the date of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in 1945.

Bolle's entries began on this date in 1943. Her fiance, Leo Bolle, had gone in 1938 to what was then the British-ruled Mandate for Palestine and she had stayed behind a bit longer to work.

Her letters describe German raids and deportations, the struggles of the Judenrat to postpone them and her own escape from one roundup when a German officer saved her by chaperoning her down the street. She described other soldiers as "wild beasts" and detailed how Jews were shot by German firing squads.

Eventually, she was sent to Westerbork, a transit camp, before moving on to Bergen-Belsen, the infamous German camp where fellow Dutch Jew and diarist Anne Frank died.

Bolle managed to smuggle her collected letters out by wrapping them in a shirt, tossing them over the barbed-wire fence out of sight of a Nazi guard and collecting them on the other side. "I did something very foolish," she said. "If he had seen that, I wouldn't be here today."

In one segment, she writes to her fiance that "we'll need years to talk about everything we've been through."

They were reunited in July 1944, four years before Israel gained independence, when she arrived in the Holy Land through a prisoner exchange of Dutch Jews for German prisoners of war. "I had a lot of luck," she said. Hoping to put the war years behind her, she stored the letters in a drawer and forgot about them for decades.

Her hardship didn't end in Israel. Her son, an Israeli air force pilot, was killed in the 1967 Mideast war, and three years later her younger daughter died in a military accident when the jeep she was riding in drove over a Syrian mine on the Golan Heights. Her only remaining child, a daughter, died of illness in 2011.

Dan Michman, head of the International Institute for Holocaust Research at Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, said Bolle's insights were particularly valuable because of the scope of devastation in the Netherlands, where 75 percent of the country's 140,000 Jews were exterminated.

He said the Jewish Council in Amsterdam was colloquially known as "Jewish treason," but it did succeed in employing around 35,000 Jews who were exempt from immediate deportation.

"We are approaching the moment that all survivors will not be with us anymore. Memoirs are therefore very important, but even more important are diaries and letters written during the period itself," he said. "They're real time documents and therefore they are very important for future teaching and studying the Holocaust."

Bolle stumbled upon the letters in a drawer in 2000 and later decided to publish them. An English translation was published just over a year ago.

One entry from the 280-page book, released by Yad Vashem Publications, indicates how even as a younger woman, Bolle cared deeply about keeping the memory alive.

"I am vain enough to believe that this diary may be found hundreds of years from now and serve as an important source of information," she writes on Jan. 29, 1944. "That's why I included all the trivial things, because they may provide an outsider with a more vivid picture ... Perhaps one day our children will read it."

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Follow Heller on Twitter at https://twitter.com/aronhellerap

In this Jan. 20, 2016, photo, Dutch Israeli holocaust survivor Mirjam Bolle is seen in her house in Jerusalem. Throughout the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, and while incarcerated in two prison camps, Bolle wrote letters to her fiance that she never sent but hoped to share with him after the war. Yet when the two ultimately reunited she decided to leave the past behind and stashed them away. Now, decades later, she has published them as a memoir. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

In this Jan. 20, 2016, photo, Dutch Israeli holocaust survivor Mirjam Bolle looks out of the window in her house in Jerusalem. Throughout the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, and while incarcerated in two prison camps, Bolle wrote letters to her fiance that she never sent but hoped to share with him after the war. Yet when the two ultimately reunited she decided to leave the past behind and stashed them away. Now, decades later, she has published them as a memoir. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

In this Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, photo, Dutch Israeli holocaust survivor Mirjam Bolle is seen in her house in Jerusalem. Throughout the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, and while incarcerated in two prison camps, Bolle wrote letters to her fiance that she never sent but hoped to share with him after the war. Yet when the two ultimately reunited she decided to leave the past behind and stashed them away. Now, decades later, she has published them as a memoir. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

In this Jan. 20, 2016, photo, Dutch Israeli holocaust survivor Mirjam Bolle is seen in her house in Jerusalem. Throughout the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, and while incarcerated in two prison camps, Bolle wrote letters to her fiance that she never sent but hoped to share with him after the war. Yet when the two ultimately reunited she decided to leave the past behind and stashed them away. Now, decades later, she has published them as a memoir. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Analysis: GOP needs budget cuts to fulfill political promise

WASHINGTON (AP)  Thanks to Congress' recent tax-and-spending spree, Republicans intent on fulfilling a political promise will have to propose far deeper cuts to domestic programs to bring the government's deteriorating balance sheet back into the black.

And if the GOP should win the White House, those promises are likely to come back and haunt them.

A weakening economy means Republicans will have to dig even further into the budget to find sufficient spending cuts to balance the budget, according to the latest projections from the Congressional Budget Office. The budget  a non-binding wish list of cuts and policies  was already unrealistic, promising cuts that lawmakers have never shown they'd be willing to make.

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2016, file photo, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., chairman of the House Budget Committee and a physician, appears before the Rules Committee, joined at right by Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., a member of the House Budget Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Thanks to Congress recent tax and spending spree, Republicans intent on fulfilling a political promise will have to propose far deeper cuts to domestic programs to bring the governments deteriorating balance sheet back into the black. "The critical mass does not yet exist in the country or the Congress that recognizes that we need to save and strengthen and secure these mandatory programs," said Price. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Last year, for instance, Republicans promised more than $5 trillion in spending cuts over a decade. Instead, they worked with President Barack Obama to add about $750 billion to the deficit over the decade through a mix of spending increases and permanent tax cuts. Even a token effort to curb the federal crop insurance program was immediately reversed after a revolt by farm state lawmakers.

Now, the dismal fiscal picture, budget experts say, would mean Republicans would have to slash more than $2 trillion over 10 years, with the most draconian cuts required in the final years. That's assuming they will still try to balance the budget.

"Realistically speaking, that's just not going to happen," said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a Washington group that advocates for lower deficits.

With Social Security, the Pentagon and most of Medicare insulated politically from cuts, Republicans are likely to call for even further reductions to programs like Medicaid, domestic agency budgets, student loan subsidies and food stamps.

The GOP chairmen of the House and Senate Budget panels insist they will find a way.

"It's not only realistic but essential," Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said of balancing the budget. "This country is going to be bankrupt if we don't do something."

Under Congress' arcane budget process, lawmakers vote first on a broad, non-binding outline called a budget resolution  which is akin to the blueprints for a house  and then use follow-up legislation to fill in the details. The second-step of votes to implement the budget are invariably more difficult than the first.

Congress does a lot more bragging about budget blueprints than actually trying to enact them. House Republicans boast but they've never drafted legislation detailing how they would turn Medicare into a voucher-like program for most future retirees or cut Medicaid funding by about one-fifth  and force many millions of people from health coverage or nursing home care.

Even architects of the budget acknowledge that there's no stomach to actually try to impose its cuts.

"The critical mass does not yet exist in the country or the Congress that recognizes that we need to save and strengthen and secure these mandatory programs," said House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price, R-Ga. Price was referring to programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, whose mandatory budgets grow automatically unless Congress cuts them.

So in some ways the budget process is perfect for politicians: It gives them a chance to tell voters they're cutting spending even as they avoid the politically dangerous votes required to actually do it.

The budget process also fits into Speaker Paul Ryan's vision for using the House agenda to tell voters what they'll get if Republicans win the White House. The annual budget debate will come before efforts to replace the health care law or reveal the party's plans to update the loophole-clogged tax code after five years of controlling the House.

Conspicuously left off the agenda? Emphasizing spending cuts, even as the deficit has begun growing again and the latest estimates reveal trillion-dollar deficits returning in just a few years.

"Clearly that's going to take a Republican president because this president has continued to kick the can down the road and I see no change in his behavior," Ryan, R-Wis., said recently.

But it's by no means clear that balancing the budget will be a top priority for presidential candidates who have promised big tax cuts and aren't really talking about the issue on the campaign trail. If there is a GOP president next year, he will have to answer questions about living up to the balanced-budget promises of Republicans in Congress.

If a GOP president embraces a balanced budget, they'll have to offer an enormously difficult set of cuts to Republican lawmakers unschooled in what balancing the budget really means.

"The magnitude of the policy changes that you would have to implement to achieve the savings that are promised in the budget  I don't think there's an appreciation for the magnitude of those changes," said Neil Bradley, a former top House GOP aide who now works for the Conservative Reform Network, which offers policy advice to GOP candidates and lawmakers.

Obama submits his budget Feb. 9, and House and Senate Republicans promise floor debates on their alternatives in March.
Immigration is high-priority issue for New Hampshire voters

BROOKLINE, N.H. (AP)  People in New Hampshire live nearly 2,400 miles from El Paso, Texas, one of the busiest crossings on America's Southern border. And it's only home to about 10,000 people living illegally in the U.S.  a far cry from states like California, Texas or Florida.

Yet, illegal immigration is a paramount concern to New Hampshire voters, and Republican presidential candidates are being faced with tough questions from voters in this small, mostly white, state on how they will handle the issue if elected.

While GOP front-runner Donald Trump has called for a wall across the Southern border, many voters in this early voting state are searching for more in-depth solutions to the country's immigration shortfalls. They characterize their concerns with illegal immigration as a case of fundamental fairness combined with national security or economic concerns.

In this Jan. 21, 2016, photo Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., talks with Bob Belanger, from Brookline, N.H., after a campaign stop at a welding company in Brookline. Illegal immigration is a paramount concern to New Hampshire voters, and Republican presidential candidates are being faced with tough questions from voters in this small, mostly white, state on how they will handle the issue if elected. Belanger said immigration concerns among New Hampshire residents do not equate to xenophobia. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Of the 1.3 million people living in New Hampshire, roughly 94 percent of them are white, according to 2014 census data. Just 3.3 percent of the state's population is Hispanic or Latino, compared to 17 percent nationwide, while about 5 percent is foreign-born, compared to 13 percent nationally. New Hampshire voters will head to the polls Feb. 9 for the country's second primary season contest.

But Bob Belanger, a voter from Brookline who recently challenged Marco Rubio on the subject during a campaign stop, said immigration concerns among New Hampshire residents do not equate to xenophobia.

"People tend to think that we are anti-immigrant, but we're not," he said. "We are all immigrants, for crying out loud. We just want to know who's coming in the front door of our country. That's all."

Belanger, 57, said he's proud of his immigrant family's heritage. He carries around his grandfather's green card. His grandfather was Canadian; his grandmother was originally from Ireland. He works for a New Hampshire-based manufacturing firm that builds piping for companies all over the region and the world, and says immigration personally affects him from an economic perspective.

He believes those working here illegally drive down wages and benefits.

"Whether it's roofers or whether it's welders, it affects me even when they are in Texas or California," he said. "We are in a global economy."

Belanger, like many voters here, said he's looking for a more substantial solution than building a wall and deporting everyone who lives here illegally, as Trump proposes.

Speaking with Rubio last week, Belanger said he's concerned about any immigration reform that looks similar to a plan passed in 1986 under Ronald Reagan. Back then, nearly 3 million people were granted legal status, but the federal government failed, as promised in the law, to crack down on employers who hired illegals or to secure the border.

"We were sold a bill of goods where we allowed amnesty for millions of people and then we secured the border," he told Rubio. "The Congress never secured the borders."

Rubio, Florida's junior senator, agreed and emphasized his opposition to granting legal status to people already in the U.S. before securing the border. "Until you prove to people that illegal immigration is under control, not just pass a law, until they actually see it's working, they are not going to support doing anything for the people here illegally," he said.

Rubio has made immigration a central part of his stump speech, but other candidates including Jeb Bush and Chris Christie are frequently asked about border security and immigration reform in town hall meetings. John Kasich was recently asked by a voter in Concord what he would do to "deport" everyone living here illegally. His answer: "I wouldn't."

Cindy Coutu, a Bedford voter, said immigration is one of her top three concerns, partly for security reasons, partly due to fairness.

"We have people that are leaching off of our system," she said. "People that are here illegally are receiving benefits without having worked for it, that's bothersome to me."

Regardless of voters' reasons for seeing immigration as a top concern, former state Republican Party chairman Fergus Cullen said the state's low level of diversity makes it an "abstract" issue for many voters here.

Because voters here don't confront immigration on a daily basis, Cullen said their views on the issue may run along ideological or theoretical lines. Cullen now leads a non-profit that promotes immigration reform, called Americans by Choice.

"The fact is, in New Hampshire you don't see large Spanish-speaking populations," he said. "And I think that matters."

But that doesn't prevent some New Hampshire voters from expressing concerns.

Kathy and Brian Hybsch, of Auburn, said immigration has become their "number 1" issue, primarily for national security reasons.

After terrorist attacks last year in Paris and San Bernardino, California, many of the Republican candidates began framing immigration as, first and foremost, an issue of security. Most of the Republican candidates support a temporary halt on refugees coming into the country from Syria, and Trump took the calls further, saying the country should stop letting in Muslims.

Kathy, who said she is a Trump supporter, said she doesn't consider herself anti-immigrant but agrees with the proposals.
Cornyn a 'peacemaker' as GOP rift on criminal justice widens

WASHINGTON (AP)  A widening Republican rift over revamping the nation's criminal justice system is dashing hopes for overhaul in the final year of President Barack Obama's tenure despite strong bipartisan support and a concerted effort by the second-ranking GOP senator.

As one of the issue's top advocates in Congress, John Cornyn of Texas faces reluctance from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, opposition from home-state Senate colleague and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz and reservations from several GOP senators, who expressed their concerns at a closed-door meeting last week.

As opposition has grown, Cornyn is lowering expectations for election-year success.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, talks about a criminal justice reform bill during an interview with The Associated Press in his office at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan.21, 2016. The legislation includes reductions in mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offers, while also increasing minimums for interstate domestic violence. A widening Republican rift over revamping the nations criminal justice system is dashing hopes for overhaul despite strong bipartisan support and a concerted effort by Cornyn. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

"I am hopeful, but I don't think it's critical we do it this year," the three-term senator said in an interview with The Associated Press a day after the private Republican caucus meeting. "I have been involved in a lot of fights around here that have taken us years to get things done. And ultimately the question is, can you get it done at some point."

The bipartisan legislation, passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee in November, would give judges discretion to give lesser sentences than federal mandatory minimums, eliminating mandatory life sentences for three-time, nonviolent drug offenders. It also would create programs to help prisoners successfully re-enter society. The idea is to make the sentencing system fairer, reduce recidivism and contain rising prison costs.

Disparate voices  from Obama and the American Civil Liberties Union to the conservative Koch Industries  have said the system is broken and backed the Senate bill. In 1980, the federal prison population was less than 25,000. Today, it is more than 200,000.

But some Republicans are worried that the reduction in mandatory minimums would lead to the release of violent felons  a criticism Cornyn and other supporters dispute.

Cruz has said lawmakers should expect to be held accountable and the justice system doesn't "additional leniency for violent criminals."

There's more consensus on prison overhaul, which would provide incentives for low-risk offenders to prepare for a life on the outside. Some Republicans have suggested moving that part of the bill separately.

Cornyn says it's important to keep the legislation together, as it was negotiated by a strong bipartisan coalition. Democrats backing the bill wanted to get rid of some of the mandatory minimums completely, but compromised on the reductions.

Still, "If at some point we can't get the bill done, I think we'll have to take another look at that," he said of splitting it up.

Advocates for the legislation want it done this year, and soon, because Obama has made it a priority. The next president may not be so enthusiastic. They have been watching McConnell, who has been purposefully noncommittal. That's in contrast to Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who says he wants to move on the issue this year. The House Judiciary Committee has approved several separate criminal justice bills.

"You don't have to do it now, but why wouldn't you?," asked Mark Holden, general counsel and senior vice president of Koch Industries, which sees criminal justice as a way to expand personal liberty.

Cornyn is well-suited to play "peacemaker," as he describes it. He has deep personal experience with the issues as a former district judge, member of the Texas Supreme Court and Texas attorney general.

And as the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, he's the top vote counter and accustomed to trying to bring his caucus together.

He has been lobbying McConnell, but says he understands that the leader needs to get consensus. McConnell announced last week that he would convene a GOP meeting to discuss the issue.

Cornyn dismissed the idea that lawmakers should worry that the effort to shorten some prison terms could result in another case like Willie Horton, a 1980s criminal who was let out on a weekend furlough in Massachusetts and raped a woman. An ad over the issue helped sink Democrat Michael Dukakis's 1988 presidential bid. Furloughs are an entirely different issue, Cornyn says, and under the Senate bill each case would be reviewed by a judge before the prison sentence was reduced. Plus, the idea is to target nonviolent criminals.

"That misunderstanding is something that has now complicated our work more broadly," Cornyn said of Cruz's comments.

Some conservatives, particularly former federal prosecutors like Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., have said they believe the bill could reverse an overall downward trend in crime.

Cornyn is also working to find a compromise on language that would ensure people who are prosecuted knowingly committed a crime. Known as "mens rea," the provision has proved to be a wedge between House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and the Senate. Democrats and the Obama administration have said the provision could shield some corporations from liability.

As Congress weighs the road ahead, Obama is taking a small unilateral step to change the system. He said Monday that he would ban the use of solitary confinement for juvenile and low-level offenders in federal prisons, similar to a provision in the Senate bill.

Speaking to a conference of corrections officers Tuesday, Attorney General Loretta Lynch urged Congress to pass the Senate bill.

"At this critical moment of rare bipartisan agreement, it is more important than ever that we harness this momentum and continue to push forward," she said.

___

Follow Mary Clare Jalonick on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mcjalonick

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, talks about a criminal justice reform bill during an interview with The Associated Press in his office at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan.21, 2016. The legislation includes reductions in mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offers, while also increasing minimums for interstate domestic violence. A widening Republican rift over revamping the nations criminal justice system is dashing hopes for overhaul despite strong bipartisan support and a concerted effort by Cornyn. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Bombings kill 20 in Syria as peace talks invitations go out

BEIRUT (AP)  Multiple bombings struck a government-run checkpoint in the central Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people and wounding over a hundred amid intense political jockeying ahead of U.N.-backed peace talks scheduled to begin in Geneva on Friday.

The office of the U.N. envoy for Syria said it sent out invitations for the talks, but with just three days to go, the opposition is still undecided about whether it will attend. One opposition official suggested the Saudi-backed opposition delegation may boycott the talks.

Khawla Mattar, a spokeswoman for Staffan de Mistura, told The Associated Press in Geneva that the envoy would not make public the numbers and identities of the invitees until his office gets "feedback from the invited parties"  a sign of the delicacy of his task.

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian citizens gather at the scene where twin bombs exploded at a government-run security checkpoint, at the neighborhood of Zahraa, in Homs province, Syria, Tuesday, Jan 26, 2016. Homs governor Talal Barrazi said on Tuesday that a car bomb, which was followed by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive, killed more than a dozen people and injured many others. (SANA via AP)

The talks are meant to start a political process to end the conflict that began in 2011 as a largely peaceful uprising against Assad's rule but escalated into an all-out war after a harsh state crackdown. The plan calls for cease-fires in parallel to the talks, a new constitution and elections in a year and a half.

The attack in Homs, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, came as government forces retook a southern town from opposition fighters and other militants.

Homs Governor Talal Barazi told the SANA news agency that the checkpoint was hit "first by a car bomb, which was then followed by a suicide bombing."

Syrian state television broadcast footage of the aftermath of the attack, showing cars ablaze and extensive damage to shops and apartments around the site of the explosion in the Zahra neighborhood, which is inhabited mostly by members of President Bashar Assad's Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. The district has been a frequent target of bombings in recent months.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group which relies on a network of informants across Syria, quoted witnesses at the scene as saying the first bomber attracted a crowd of security agents by shouting curses about the Homs governor, then blew up his vehicle.

Meanwhile, in southern Syria, government forces seized the town of Sheikh Maskin, culminating an offensive that began in late December to retake the town after seizing the nearby Brigade 82 military base.

Sheikh Maskin lies near the highway connecting Damascus and the Jordanian border, and connects the Syrian capital to Daraa, a border town held by opposition fighters. Its fall is the latest in a string of battlefield successes for Assad's military that have bolstered his hand ahead of the planned peace talks.

The Saudi-backed opposition was meeting Tuesday in Riyadh to make a final decision about whether to attend the talks. The opposition has accused Russia, a key backer of the Syrian government, of trying to "dictate" who from the opposition would participate.

Tensions over who would be invited to the talks, the cause of earlier delays, continued Tuesday.

A senior opposition official suggested the opposition may not travel to Geneva in the absence of confidence-building measures by the government regarding humanitarian issues.

"It is better for the conference not to start rather than start and fail," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give press statements while the opposition meeting was still underway.

Russia has argued against Turkey's demand to keep a leading Kurdish group out of the talks, and said it expects the U.N. envoy to resist "blackmail" by Turkey and others, reflecting the sharp differences that remain.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized at a press conference in Moscow that the main Syrian Kurdish group  the Democratic Union Party, or PYD  plays an important role in fighting the Islamic State group and is an essential part of any political settlement in Syria.

Turkey sees the PYD and its YPG militia as branches of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, known as the PKK, which has waged a long insurgency against Ankara and is branded a terrorist group by Turkey and several Western countries.

___

Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian citizens gather at the scene where twin bombs exploded at a government-run security checkpoint, at the neighborhood of Zahraa, in Homs province, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Homs governor Talal Barrazi said on Tuesday that a car bomb, which was followed by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive, killed more than a dozen people and injured many others. (SANA via AP)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian citizens gather at the scene where twin bombs exploded at a government-run security checkpoint, at the neighborhood of Zahraa, in Homs province, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Homs governor Talal Barrazi said on Tuesday that a car bomb, which was followed by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive, killed more than a dozen people and injured many others. (SANA via AP)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian citizens gather at the scene where twin bombs exploded at a government-run security checkpoint, at the neighborhood of Zahraa, in Homs province, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Homs governor Talal Barrazi said on Tuesday that a car bomb, which was followed by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive, killed more than a dozen people and injured many others. (SANA via AP)
Four days after a deadly blizzard hit the Northeast, many parts of the East Coast are still struggling to dig themselves out from under several feet of snow.

In Washington, DC, the federal government was closed for a second day in the row, as well as many area public schools.

And while streets in the nation's capitol and New York - two of the hardest hit cities in the historic storm - were mostly cleared by Monday, plow service was rather lacking in the outskirt neighborhoods.

On Tuesday, one man in the DC suburb of Gaithersburg, Maryland took to his street with a cardboard sign reading 'WE NEED A PLOW'.

That comes just a day after several residents in Maspeth and Ridgewood, Queens complained on Twitter about lack of plow service in their borough compared to the cleared streets of Manhattan.

Scroll down for video

Mike Mazza stands outside of his subdivision attempting to get plow service for snowy streets in Gaithersburg, Maryland on January 26

Many cars continue to be buried and sidewalks blocked by nearly two feet of snowfall in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC following the weekend blizzard

However, cleanup is coming slowly but surely, aided in part by warming temperatures.

In the Washington area, the Metro subway system was scheduled to be close to fully operational Tuesday morning after it gradually lurched back into service throughout the day Monday. Trains were expected to run less often, though.

Schools in the District of Columbia, northern Virginia and Maryland were still closed, and federal offices were closed for another day but district government employees are back at work.

Grace McGuire of Washington shovels out her car in Washington, DC on Tuesday, January 26 as the nation's capital digs out following a monster weekend of snow. East Coast cities hit hard by a massive snowstorm are getting closer to their normal routines after more than three days with life at a virtual standstill

A portion of Market Street in Charlottesville, Virginia remained closed on Tuesday after the roof collapsed on one of the buildings

It appears the roof at 206 Market Street collapsed under the weight of the snow that piled up over the weekend

A snowblower clears Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 26, 2016, three days after a massive snowstorm

A car is buried under snow in Washington, DC on Tuesday, January 26. In the capital some the the museums were opening again on Tuesday

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS Tuesday: Total delays today: 4,430 Total delays within, into, or out of the United States today: 1,245 Total cancellations today: 1,520 Total cancellations within, into, or out of the United States today: 707 Wednesday: Total delays tomorrow: 51 Total delays within, into, or out of the United States tomorrow: 0 Total cancellations tomorrow: 99 Total cancellations within, into, or out of the United States tomorrow: 17 Advertisement

In Washington, crews spent the day concentrating on clearing roads in the downtown core, most of which were still covered in brown slush Monday.

That would have caused problems for commuters, but there weren't many, with both federal and local government offices closed and many private businesses still shuttered.

The monuments and memorials on the National Mall and the Smithsonian's museums were closed, too. Some, but not all, of the museums will welcome visitors again Tuesday.

By early Monday evening, many roads downtown still had fewer lanes than usual, street parking was all but nonexistent and pedestrian walkways were treacherous.

But the city's emergency management director, Christopher Geldart, said major arteries were '100 percent' passable.

New York City got back up and running much faster, with subway and bus service fully operational Monday, although commuter trains were limited.

New York mayor Bill de Blasio credited better communication between the city and state - lessons learned after the fiascoes of the 2010 storm nicknamed 'Snowmageddon.'

But New York usually gets much more snow than Washington, and it budgets accordingly.

With the district likely to blow through most if not all of its annual $6.2million snow-removal budget, Mayor Muriel Bowser has already requested federal disaster assistance.

A woman attempts to dig her car out from underneath nearly 20 inches of snow in the Columbia Heights neighborhood on Washington, DC on Tuesday

Cars are stuck in snow along a street in Washington, DC, on January 26, 2016

A table marks a dug out parking spot on a street in Washington, DC, on January 26, 2016

The capital of the world's leading superpower remained semi-paralyzed as residents struggled to remove mountains of snow dumped in a weekend blizzard

Snow is piled up near Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, January 26, 2016, as the nation's Capital tries to dig out following a massive snowstorm over the weekend

People walk along the Capitol Reflecting Pool on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, where snow is piled up

Mark Bloomfield of Washington shovels out his car in Washington, DC on Tuesday, January 26, as the nation's capital digs out following a monster weekend of snow

A tourist poses for a picture with a snowman in front of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 26

City officials have a hard time figuring out how much to set aside for snow because the totals can vary so much - some recent winters have brought fewer than five inches.

On average, the city gets 14.5 inches, while the storm on Friday and Saturday dumped nearly two feet.

Baltimore, too, was likely to spend more than it planned.

'When you have a storm of historic proportions, the budget will be historic as well,' Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.

Baltimore government offices would be open Tuesday as the city continues to dig out from more than two feet of snow. Schools would remain closed.

Residents in southern New Jersey were still cleaning up the mess from flooding caused by the storm, and officials warned that repairing the damage and beach erosion could be expensive.

Jack Smith, 12, of Winchester, Virginia, goes over a jump in his snow saucer on Tuesday. Many schools in the region remained closed for the second day this week

Steve Mayrm of Berryville, Virginia pulls his son, Matthew Mayr, 6, up the sledding hill in Jim Barnett Park on Tuesday in Winchester Virginia

A fire hydrant lays broken on the sidewalk on 17th Street on January 26 in Washington, DC

Heavy equipment is used to fill a dump truck with snow as the clearing begins on 15th Street near the White House in Washington on Monday, January 25

The early morning sun begins to rise over the Washington Monument that is covered with snow on January 26 in Washington, DC

The Capitol in Washington is seen at sunrise on Tuesday, still covered in several inches of snow
Vatican: Iran must join fight against terrorism

VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Francis held talks with Iran's president at the Vatican Tuesday, calling on Tehran to play a key role in stopping the spread of terrorism as Iran tries to improve its image in the global arena following an agreement on its nuclear program.

The pontiff warmly clasped the hand of President Hassan Rouhani in the first official call paid on a pontiff by an Iranian president since 1999. They held 40 minutes of private talks before Rouhani met with other top Vatican officials.

The talks "delved into the conclusion and application of the nuclear accord, and the important role that Iran is called upon to play, together with other countries of the region, was highlighted," the Holy See said.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, and Italian Premier Matteo Renzi talk to each during their meeting at the Campidoglio, Capitol Hill, in Rome, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Rouhani arrived Monday in Rome on the first state visit to Europe by an Iranian president in almost two decades, eager for foreign investments after the lifting of international sanctions. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

It added that that role should "foster adequate political solutions to the issues plaguing the Middle East, fighting the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking."

The "cordial" talks also stressed common spiritual values, the statement said.

Usually it's the pope who asks his audience to pray for him. This time, after the two men spoke with the help of Italian and Farsi language translators, it was the guest who asked the pope for prayers. "I ask you to pray for me," Rouhani said.

The Vatican meeting was a key part of the Iranian effort to take a more prominent place on the world stage after the nuclear deal with Western powers.

Iran, which agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for an end to economic sanctions, is eager to carve out a bigger role in mediating Middle East conflicts. Francis' papacy has emphasized mediation and conflict-resolution, including his role in helping Cuba and the United States to normalize their relations.

Rouhani heads to France Wednesday on his four-day European trip seeking to boost Iran's image abroad as well as to rehabilitate economic ties with a continent that had been a big trade partner before the sanctions.

Francis gave Rouhani a medal depicting St. Martin giving his cloak to a poor man in the cold, describing the saint's act as "a sign of unsolicited brotherhood."

Rouhani brought a gift of a hand-made rug that he said was made in the Iranian holy city of Qom.

Before going to the Vatican, Rouhani told a forum of business leaders in Rome that "Iran is the safest and most stable country of the entire region."

Italy also sees Iran as a potential peacemaker in Syria's civil war, as the Italian government fears the warfare will further destabilize Libya  just across the Mediterranean from southern Italy  fuel terrorism and jeopardize energy security.

"Italy has always backed the role of Iran as a regional player in resolving tensions in the area, starting with the Syrian crisis," Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said after meeting his Iranian counterpart, according to his office.

Rouhani has described the political talks leading to the nuclear deal as a potential blueprint for pursuing peace in the Middle East.

His European trip was originally planned for November but postponed because of the attacks in Paris.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, shakes hands with Italian Premier Matteo Renzi during their meeting at the Campidoglio, Capitol Hill, in Rome, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Rouhani arrived Monday in Rome on the first state visit to Europe by an Iranian president in almost two decades, eager for foreign investments after the lifting of international sanctions. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, walk during their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)

Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, share a laugh during their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, leafs through a book he gave to Pope Francis as a gift, during their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, leafs through a book he gave to Pope Francis as a gift, during their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)

Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, meet on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)

Pope Francis welcomes Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)

Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, sit with interpreters at a table on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)

Pope Francis shakes hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)

Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, sit at a table on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)

Pope Francis welcomes Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
10 Things to Know for Wednesday - 27 January 2016

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Wednesday:

1. MEMBERS OF ARMED OREGON GROUP ARRESTED

The arrests of Ammon Bundy, 40, and five other members of the group occupying a national wildlife refuge follow a traffic stop and gunfire that leaves one person dead, authorities say.

A health worker shows larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes found inside a warehouse during an operation to combat the mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Brazil's health minister Marcelo Castro says the country is sending some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus suspected of causing birth defects, but he also says the war is already being lost. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

2. WHO'S GOT TROUBLING SENSE OF DEJA VU

Given Bernie Sanders' surge, Hillary Clinton's middle-aged female fans are trying to understand how her once-decisive lead in Iowa could be at risk once again  eight years after she was toppled by Obama.

3. BRAZIL RAMPS UP BATTLE AGAINST ZIKA VIRUS

The country's health minister says Brazil is sending some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading the virus.

4. 'AFFLUENZA' TEEN NO LONGER FIGHTING DEPORTATION

Ethan Couch will return to Texas to face charges against him in the coming days, his Mexican lawyer says.

5. WHICH MESSAGE POPE IS SENDING TO TEHRAN

The pontiff, holding talks with Iran's president at the Vatican, says Tehran must join the fight against terrorism.

6. ANALYSTS: IRAQ'S MILITARY STILL STRUGGLING

The battle to retake Ramadi, though successful, highlighted the troops' lingering shortcomings, experts say.

7. HOW US GOVERNMENT WOULD EXPAND DEPRESSION SCREENING

All adults, including pregnant women and new mothers, should be tested for depression as a routine part of health care, an advisory group recommends.

8. NEXT ADVANCE IN AUTOMATIC TELLERS

JPMorgan Chase is rolling out a new class of ATMs where customers will need only their phones to withdraw cash.

9. ABE VIGODA DIES AT 94

The actor played the over-the-hill detective Phil Fish in the 1970's TV series "Barney Miller" and the doomed Mafia soldier in "The Godfather."

10. PEYTON MANNING HINTS AT RETIREMENT

The QB is caught by NFL Network cameras saying that the Super Bowl "might be my last rodeo."

Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, share a laugh during their private audience at the Vatican,Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Irans president has paid a call on Pope Francis at the Vatican during a European visit aimed at positioning Tehran as a potential top player in efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including Syrias civil war. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
Japanese emperor visits Philippines to mourn WWII dead

MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Japan's emperor said Tuesday that his nation must remember the tremendous loss of life in the Philippines in World War II, as he and his wife began their first visit to the Southeast Asian country, which suffered under Japanese wartime occupation.

"Many Filipinos, Americans and Japanese lost their lives in the Philippines during the war," Emperor Akihito said in a statement he read before departing from Tokyo. "Especially in the battle in Manila, a tremendously large number of innocent Filipino civilians were victims. Upon making this visit, we need to bear this in mind at all times."

The 1945 battle for Manila between Japan and allied U.S. and Philippine forces leveled the capital city and left more than 100,000 dead, according to Philippine historians.

Japan's Emperor Akihito, center, Empress Michiko, left, and Philippine President Benigno Aquino stand at attention as the national anthems are played upon their arrival Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. The 82-year-old Akihito will pay his respects at memorials for both the Philippine and the Japanese war dead during a five-day state visit. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Relations between Japan and the Philippines have improved dramatically in the seven decades since the war, with Japan becoming a major trading partner and aid donor for the Philippines. Akihito's visit is seen as a strong sign of a further deepening of ties as the two countries, which are both close American allies, confront China over long-contested maritime territories.

Japan's Self Defense forces have staged joint search and rescue exercises with the Philippine navy near the disputed South China Sea and are providing the Philippines with coast guard patrol boats.

Akihito, who is a revered symbol of Japanese unity but plays no political role in his country, has no plans to discuss security issues such as the territorial disputes or demands for an apology by Filipino women who have accused Japanese forces of forcing them into wartime sex slavery, according to Hatsuhisa Takashima, the emperor's press secretary.

Akihito and Empress Michiko were met at Manila's airport by President Benigno Aquino III, his top Cabinet members and his sister. Aquino is to formally welcome Akihito at the presidential palace on Wednesday and then have a brief private meeting. The president will hold a state banquet for Akihito and Michiko later Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, among the Philippine officials who welcomed Akihito at the airport, said the first visit by a Japanese emperor to the country following the last world war is a milestone.

Gazmin said the Filipino generation that saw the horrors of the Japanese occupation in the 1940s still remembers that period, but that it is time to move on as the two nations, now strategic allies, face common security concerns in the region.

"It's really more painful for us because my father was a veteran soldier who was forced into the 'death march,'" Gazmin told The Associated Press, referring to the Bataan death march, when Japanese soldiers forced tens of thousands of Filipino and American troops to march 100 kilometers (65 miles) from the Bataan Peninsula to prison camps under intense heat and harsh conditions. Thousands died, but Gazmin's father survived.

"We should move forward and forget and work for a better relation," Gazmin said. "It's a necessity, we need allies for our current needs."

Akihito, 82, is to pay his respects at memorials for both Philippine and Japanese war dead.

He is the son of former Emperor Hirohito, under whose name Japan waged World War II. Akihito was 11 years old at the end of the war.

The emperor's trip follows his visits to the World War II battle sites of Palau last year and Saipan in 2005. He also prayed for Japanese and U.S. war dead on Iwo Jima in 1994.

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Associated Press writers Ken Moritsugu in Tokyo and Teresa Cerojano in Manila contributed to this report.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, right, talks with Japan's Empress Michiko, center, as Emperor Akihito looks on before boarding their limousine upon arrival Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. The 82-year-old Akihito will pay his respects at memorials for both the Philippine and the Japanese war dead during a five-day state visit. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, second from right, greets Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko upon their arrival Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. The 82-year-old Akihito will pay his respects at memorials for both the Philippine and the Japanese war dead during a five-day state visit. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Japan's Emperor Akihito bows to pay respects to the Philippines and Japanese flags as Empress Michiko, second left, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, right, and his sister Aurora Corazon Aquino-Abellada, watch him shortly after their arrival Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. The 82-year-old Akihito will pay his respects at memorials for both the Philippine and the Japanese war dead during a five-day state visit. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko pause before stepping down the plane upon their arrival Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. The 82-year-old Akihito will pay his respects at memorials for both the Philippine and the Japanese war dead during a five-day state visit. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Japan's Emperor Akihito, second from left, and Empress Michiko walk before boarding their airplane to leave for the Philippines at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Akihito is heading to the Philippines for a four-day visit to a country that suffered under Japanese occupation during World War II. At left is Crown Prince Naruhito. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Protests escalate against Greek pension reform

ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greece's leftwing prime minister defended his unpopular pension reform plans Tuesday, pledging to avoid new cuts, as protests against the creditor-demanded measures escalated.

Alexis Tsipras told a special parliamentary session that the financially struggling country's pension system faces collapse unless swift corrective action is taken.

He insisted that the reforms will see no new reductions in core pensions  which have been repeatedly slashed since the start of Greece's financial crisis.

Supporters of the Communist-affiliated union PAME take part in a anti austerity protest in central Athens, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' year-old left-wing government is facing fierce opposition to the reforms being demanded by bailout lenders that could see millions of workers pay higher income contribution, while a general strike is planned on Feb. 4. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

The pension overhaul has been demanded by Greece's bailout creditors, whose rescue loans have kept the country afloat since mid-2010.

The proposed changes will lead to large increases in social security contributions, mostly affecting self-employed professionals and farmers, who say that they will end up paying more than three quarters of their income to pension funds and tax authorities.

Unions representing groups as disparate as lawyers, doctors, police and fishermen are protesting the reforms, while farmers are using thousands of tractors to block highways across the country.

Conservative opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis accused the year-old government of "sacrificing future generations to gain popularity today," and warned in Parliament that the measures will increase tax evasion and non-payment of social security contributions.

Ferry crews walk off the job on Wednesday and Thursday  their second 48-hour strike in a week  while lawyers are also on strike.

State hospital employees scuffled with police outside the finance ministry Tuesday, and thousands of workers took part in two peaceful evening marches to Parliament, called by the civil servants' union and a Communist-affiliated group.

Farming associations in central Greece voted to step up closures, with four-hour daily blockades at highways and ports, while protest groups in southern and northern Greece are planning similar action.

Elsewhere, flower growers disrupted traffic at a highway toll station north of Athens, while engineers in the northern city of Thessaloniki used sheets of plasterboard to block the entrance of a pension fund building.

Supporters of the Communist-affiliated union PAME hold a banner which reads ''no'' during an anti-austerity protest in central Athens, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' year-old left-wing government is facing fierce opposition to the reforms being demanded by bailout lenders that could see millions of workers pay higher income contribution, while a general strike is planned on Feb. 4. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

State hospital workers scuffle with police outside the Greek Finance Ministry during a protest against new austerity reforms by Greek government in central Athens, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. The scuffles occurred Tuesday as farmers continues sporadic highway closures, mostly on northern Greece, and a growing number of professional associations have called for strikes.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Protesting farmers gather around a fire in the northern Greek village of Promahonas at the Greek-Bulgarian borderline on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Greek farmers angry at planned pension and tax reforms have expanded their campaign of blocking highways and closed a border crossing to Bulgaria. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)

A protesting farmer walks between parked tractors during a blockade in the northern Greek village of Promahonas village at the customs of the Greek-Bulgarian borderline on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Greek farmers angry at planned pension and tax reforms have expanded their campaign of blocking highways and closed a border crossing to Bulgaria, leaving dozens of trucks stranded on either side of the border. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)
The Latest: Iran's president, Pope Francis exchange gifts

VATICAN CITY (AP)  The Latest on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Europe (all times local):

2:40 p.m.

Iran's president and Pope Francis have exchanged gifts and wishes for hope and prayers after they met privately at the Vatican.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, and Italian Premier Matteo Renzi talk to each during their meeting at the Campidoglio, Capitol Hill, in Rome, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Rouhani arrived Monday in Rome on the first state visit to Europe by an Iranian president in almost two decades, eager for foreign investments after the lifting of international sanctions. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

President Hassan Rouhani brought the pope a red-toned carpet, about 80 cms (32 inches) by 1.2 meters (4 feet) and explained that the rug was hand-made in the Holy City of Qhom. Francis seemed curious as Hassan leafed through a book illustrating Iranian artworks, another gift.

Francis shook hands warmly with Rouhani, who is trying to shape a role as regional conflict solver for Iran after the recent nuclear accord led the West to lift sanctions.

The pope's gift had a spiritual spin. Francis bestowed a medal depicting St. Martin giving his cloak to a shivering man, saying the gesture represents a sign of brotherhood. President Hassan Rouhani brought the pope a red-toned carpet, about 80 cms (32 inches) by 1.2 meters (4 feet) and explained that the rug was hand-made in the Holy City of Qhom. Francis seemed curious as Hassan leafed through a book illustrating Iranian artworks, another gift.

Francis shook hands warmly with Rouhani, who is trying to shape a role as regional conflict solver for Iran after the recent nuclear accord led the West to lift sanctions.

The pope's gift had a spiritual spin. Francis bestowed a medal depicting St. Martin giving his cloak to a shivering man, saying the gesture represents a sign of brotherhood.

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2:30 p.m.

The Vatican says talks President Hassan Rouhani held at the Vatican, first with Pope Francis and later with other officials, delved into the nuclear accord recently taking effect and "the important role that Iran was called to play" to combat terrorism along with other countries in the region.

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2:10 p.m.

The Vatican says Iran now should play a role in combatting terrorism as Tehran becomes a regional player to resolve Middle East conflicts.

The Vatican says talks President Hassan Rouhani held at the Vatican, first with the pope and later with other officials, delved into the nuclear accord recently taking effect and "the important role that Iran was called to play" to combat terrorism along with other countries in the region.

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1:10 p.m.

Iran's president has asked Pope Francis to pray for him after private talks at the Vatican.

President Hassan Rouhani's four-day European swing aims to help position Tehran as a player in Middle East peace efforts, after the country reached a deal with world powers to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for an end to economic sanctions.

Rouhani told Francis after their 40-minute meeting Tuesday: "I ask you to pray for me." The Iranian called the visit "a real pleasure."

Francis thanked Rouhani for the visit and added: "I hope for peace."

The last time an Iranian president held a state visit to Italy was in 1999.

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11:05 a.m.

Iran's president is boasting to a forum of business leaders in Rome that his country is now the safest and most stable in the region. Hassan Rouhani is using the first state visit by an Iranian president to Europe in nearly two decades to boost his country's economy, now that a nuclear deal has led to the lifting of sanctions.

Italy also sees Iran as a potential peacemaker for Syria. Pope Francis, who has stressed reconciliation and mediation, could explore that potential at his meeting on Tuesday with Rouhani.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni says, after meeting his Iranian counterpart, that Tehran can be a regional player in reducing Middle East tensions, starting with Syria's civil war.
Israel's Shimon Peres released from hospital

JERUSALEM (AP)  A spokeswoman for Israel's former President Shimon Peres says he has left hospital after he was rushed to the emergency room for the second time in two weeks.

The 92-year-old Peres was taken to Tel Hashomer hospital on Sunday night with chest pains, days after he suffered a mild heart attack. After doctors detected an irregular heart rate, Peres was monitored in hospital as a precaution.

Spokeswoman Ayelet Frisch said on Tuesday that "all the tests are normal and he feels wonderful."

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2015 file photo, former Israeli President Shimon Peres speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Jerusalem. A spokeswoman for Israel's former President Shimon Peres says the 92-year-old is being rushed to hospital after experiencing chest pains it was reported on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty, File)

Peres, a Noble Peace Prize laureate, completed his seven-year term as president in 2014. He remains active through his non-governmental Peres Center for Peace, which promotes coexistence between Arabs and Jews.
Russia's FM calls British inquiry into poisoned spy a "show"

MOSCOW (AP)  Russia's foreign minister has rejected the conclusion by a British judge that former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko had been poisoned by two men acting at the behest of Russia's spy agency as a "show" lacking substance.

Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that Judge Robert Owen's conclusion was based on testimony of hand-picked witnesses who he said lacked objectivity and classified testimony. Lavrov added British officials' statements on the issue could be viewed as slander.

Owen said he was certain two Russians with links to the security services had given Litvinenko tea containing a fatal dose of radioactive polonium-210 at a London hotel in 2006. He said there was a "strong probability" the poisoning came under the direction of Russia's FSB spy agency and President Vladimir Putin probably approved it.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during his annual news conference in Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Russia on Tuesday argued strongly against Turkey's demand to keep a leading Kurdish group out of Syria's peace talks, and said it expects the U.N. envoy to resist what he called "blackmail" by Turkey and others, reflecting sharp differences that remain ahead of the scheduled talks. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Health minister: Brazil is 'losing battle' against mosquito

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazil's health minister says the country is sending some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus suspected of causing birth defects  but he also says the war is already being lost.

Marcelo Castro said that nearly 220,000 members of Brazil's Armed Forces would go door-to-door to help in mosquito eradication efforts ahead of the country's Carnival celebrations. Agency spokesman Nivaldo Coelho said Tuesday details of the deployment are still being worked out.

Castro also said the government would distribute mosquito repellent to some 400,000 pregnant women who receive cash-transfer benefits.

A municipal worker gestures during an operation to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Brazil's health minister Marcelo Castro says the country is sending some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus suspected of causing birth defects, but he also says the war is already being lost. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

But the minister also said the country has failed in efforts against the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

"The mosquito has been here in Brazil for three decades, and we are badly losing the battle against the mosquito," the ministers told reporters as a crisis group on Zika was meeting in the capital, Brasilia.

A massive eradication effort eliminated Aedes aegypti from Brazil during the 1950s, but the mosquito slowly returned over the following decades from neighboring nations, public health experts have said. That led to outbreaks of dengue, which was recorded in record numbers last year.

The arrival of Zika in Brazil last year initially caused little alarm, as the virus' symptoms are generally much milder than those of dengue. It didn't become a crisis until late in the year, when researchers made the link with a dramatic increase in reported cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect that sees babies born with unusually small heads and can cause lasting developmental problems.

The World Health Organization repeated Tuesday that the link remains circumstantial and is not yet proven scientifically.

But worry about the rapid spread of Zika has expanded across the nation, and the hemisphere beyond. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised pregnant women to reconsider travel to Brazil and 21 other countries and territories with Zika outbreaks.

One of them, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, reported 18 new confirmed cases of Zika on Tuesday, though none involve pregnant women. One case had been reported earlier.

Officials in El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil have suggested women stop getting pregnant until the crisis has passed.

Repellent has disappeared from many Brazilian pharmacies and prices for the product have tripled or even quadrupled where it's still available in recent weeks since the government announced a suspected link between Zika virus and microcephaly

Nearly 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported in Brazil since October, compared with fewer than 150 cases in the country in all of 2014.

Castro's remarks have proven controversial, both in and outside Brazil.

World Health Organization spokesman Christian Lindmeier said he hadn't seen the remarks, "but in general terms I think that this would be a bit of a fatalistic approach because this should mean we could lay down all our approaches now and declare the war lost.

"I don't think this is the case," he added at WHO headquarters, in Geneva.

In Brazil, some called for Castro to be fired.

"He is incapable of occupying his position," wrote Helio Gurovitz, a columnist with G1, the internet portal of the Globo television network. "To prove that Castro doesn't have the capacity to occupy such an important position, at such a delicate moment with the spread of the epidemic, all that's needed is a selection of such comments."

Both Brazil's Zika outbreak and the spike in microcephaly have been concentrated in the poor and underdeveloped northeast of the country, though the prosperous southeast, where Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located, are the second hardest-hit region. Rio de Janeiro will host the Aug. 5-21 Olympic games.

On Tuesday, officials in Rio also ramped up their fight against the Aedes aegypti, dispatching a team of fumigators to the Sambadrome, where the city's Carnival parades will take place next month, and the region's governor was distributing mosquito-fighting vehicles for poor suburbs of the city.

Officials in another hard-hit South American country, Colombia, also ramped up efforts against Zika on Tuesday.

Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria visited the city of Ibague, a hotbed of Zika, to start a "Tour of Colombia" campaign to educate local officials on how to fight the mosquitoes. Colombian officials say they've recorded more than 13,500 suspected cases and President Juan Manuel Santos said there could be 600,000 cases by year's end.

The WHO's Lindmeier said Tuesday that the U.N. agency plans a special session on the virus during a Geneva meeting of its executive board on Thursday.

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Associated Press reporters Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Cesar Garcia in Bogota, Colombia, contributed to this report.

A health worker shows larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes found inside a warehouse during an operation to combat the mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Brazil's health minister Marcelo Castro says the country is sending some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus suspected of causing birth defects, but he also says the war is already being lost. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A health worker stands in the Sambadrome as he sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A health worker sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A health worker sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus under the bleachers of the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations.Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A health worker sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus under the bleachers of the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A health worker stands in the Sambadrome as he sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors began to spray insecticide around the Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Municipal workers pause to refill the insecticide sprayer during an operation to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus at the Imbiribeira neighborhood in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Brazil's health minister Marcelo Castro said that nearly 220,000 members of Brazil's Armed Forces would go door-to-door to help in mosquito eradication efforts ahead of the country's Carnival celebrations. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Russian FM: West must persuade Ukraine to honor peace deal

MOSCOW (AP)  Russia's foreign minister says the extension of Western sanctions against Russia has been interpreted by Ukraine as a permission to drag its feet on fulfilling its end of a peace deal.

Lavrov said Tuesday that Ukraine is obliged to hold elections in the rebel east and give it broad rights under peace deal.

The February 2015 agreement is intended to end the conflict that has killed more than 9,000 since April 2014. Fighting has subsided, but political settlement still seems to be far off with Russia and Ukraine blaming each other for the failure to honor the agreement.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Ukraine demands full control of the border with Russia, which Western and Ukrainian officials say has served as a conduit for Russian troops and weapons backing the rebellion. Russia denied the claims.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov listens to a question during his annual news conference in Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Russia on Tuesday argued strongly against Turkey's demand to keep a leading Kurdish group out of Syria's peace talks, and said it expects the U.N. envoy to resist what he called "blackmail" by Turkey and others, reflecting sharp differences that remain ahead of the scheduled talks. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during his annual news conference in Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Russia on Tuesday argued strongly against Turkey's demand to keep a leading Kurdish group out of Syria's peace talks, and said it expects the U.N. envoy to resist what he called "blackmail" by Turkey and others, reflecting sharp differences that remain ahead of the scheduled talks. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Czech, Slovak PMs want 'Plan B; to protect EU on migrants

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  The Czech and Slovak prime ministers say the European Union needs a 'Plan B' in case Greece can't manage the influx of migrants through its territory.

Bohuslav Sobotka and Robert Fico say to protect the European visa-free Schengen travel zone in that case, the 28-nation bloc should take necessary measures on Greece's borders with Macedonia and Bulgaria.

More than 850,000 people, most fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan, entered Greece by sea in 2015. Some European countries, including Slovakia, have blasted Greece for being unable to secure its border, which forms part of the Schengen area.

A migrant girl tries to warm herself as she disembarks a boat at Lesbos Island, Greece, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. More than 850,000 people, most fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan, entered Greece by sea in 2015, according to the UNHCR, and already in 2016, some 35,455 people have arrived despite plunging winter temperatures. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov)

After the two leaders met Tuesday, Fico said: "Macedonia and Bulgaria could play a key role in protecting the Schengen border."

The two countries already agreed to deploy police forces in Macedonia.

Refugees arrive by train at the transit center for refugees near northern Macedonian village of Tabanovce, before continuing their journey to Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. European Union nations took a step Monday toward isolating Greece amid acrimony over Athens' failure to stem the flow of migrants at its Mediterranean island borders. The member states "gave a clear signal" that if they can't stop the migrants reaching Greece, they would consider helping Greece's neighbor Macedonia to better seal its border to slow the movement of migrants into other European countries. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

A Man unloads a truck filled with various life Jackets at the garbage area in the mountains of Lesbos Island, Greece, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. The buoyancy aides are discarded by migrants and collected from along the shore-line of the Greek island. More than 850,000 people, most fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan, entered Greece by sea in 2015, according to the UNHCR, and already in 2016, some 35,455 people have arrived despite plunging winter temperatures.(AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov)

Refugees disembark from a train on the arrival at the transit center for refugees near northern Macedonian village of Tabanovce, before continuing their journey to Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. European Union nations took a step Monday toward isolating Greece amid acrimony over Athens' failure to stem the flow of migrants at its Mediterranean island borders. The member states "gave a clear signal" that if they can't stop the migrants reaching Greece, they would consider helping Greece's neighbor Macedonia to better seal its border to slow the movement of migrants into other European countries. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Refugees arrive by train at the transit center for refugees near northern Macedonian village of Tabanovce, before continuing their journey to Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. European Union member states "gave a clear signal" that if they can't stop the migrants reaching Greece, they would consider helping Greece's neighbor Macedonia to better seal its border to slow the movement of migrants into other European countries, said Dutch State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
UN: Zika virus link to babies' small heads 'circumstantial'

GENEVA (AP)  The World Health Organization says it suspects a link between the mosquito-borne Zika virus and a rare birth defect that gives babies abnormally small heads, but says so far the evidence is "circumstantial" and more research is needed.

With Brazil in particular hit by a large Zika outbreak as well as some 4,000 cases of cases of microcephaly, director-general Dr. Margaret Chan and other WHO officials noted the coincidence of a potentially debilitating condition for newborns from pregnant mothers who may have been bitten by virus-carrying mosquitoes.

"Although a causal link between Zika infection in pregnancy and microcephaly has not been established, the circumstantial evidence is suggestive and extremely worrisome," Dr. Chan said in a statement. "An increased occurrence of neurological syndromes, noted in some countries coincident with arrival of the virus, adds to the concern."

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2016, file photo, a female Aedes aegypti mosquito acquires a blood meal on the arm of a researcher at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in the Sao Paulo's University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Aedes aegypti can spread the Zika virus, which is spreading in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean and usually causes a mild illness but is now suspected in an unusual birth defect and possibly other health issues. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

The U.N. health agency announced plans to hold a "special session" in Geneva on Thursday to brief member states about Zika on the sidelines of a WHO executive board meeting, reflecting a virus that has fanned increasing concern through the Americas and beyond.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday at the U.N.'s Geneva office, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said the "big task" of health officials is to try to establish a link between the virus and microcephaly, which involves abnormally small heads in newborns and can affect brain development.

The virus, which has been around for decades, has no known link to cases of microcephaly, Lindmeier said, adding that a 1997 outbreak of Zika in Africa was not associated with any cases of microcephaly,

"That's why it's so important to look now into this connection and see what is going on there," he said.

Outbreaks of the Zika virus have been recorded in 21 countries in the Americas and 10 in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, although Brazil has been the epicenter  and also has tallied some 4,000 microcephaly cases, he said. El Salvador, Panama, Colombia and Cape Verde also have had "large outbreaks" of the Zika virus, he said.

Lindmeier said "of course, it could spread further."

"We don't know how it spreads, we don't know even where the mosquito does get the virus from," he said.

He noted, however, that Zika itself "and this is again very important  is not a dangerous disease. It has milder symptoms than dengue or chikungunya or yellow fever."
Decision to drop 'American Idiot' production draws rebuke

ENFIELD, Conn. (AP)  A decision by officials at a Connecticut high school to drop a student production of the Green Day rock opera "American Idiot" drew an online rebuke from the band's frontman.

Enfield High School's drama club posted fliers at the school announcing auditions.

But drama club director Nate Ferreira tells the Hartford Courant (http://cour.at/1PA2CkL ) that he and the school's principal decided to drop "American Idiot" because some parents expressed concern. The production contains swearing, drug use and sex.

FILE - In this April 18, 2015, file photo, Billie Joe Armstrong, center, drummer Tre Cool and guitarist Mike Dirnt, of Green Day perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cleveland. A decision by officials at a Connecticut high school to drop a student production of the Green Day rock opera "American Idiot" drew an online rebuke from the band's frontman, Armstrong, who sent an open letter to the school board on Instagram, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)

Green Day's frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong, sent an open letter to the school board on Instagram on Monday, even though the board did not make the decision. He noted there is a high school version of the production and said "the bigger issue is censorship."

The school will instead put on "Little Shop of Horrors."

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Germany proposes short-term jobs for half a million Syrians

BAQAA REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan (AP)  Germany proposes creating up to 500,000 short-term jobs to help Syrian refugees survive in overburdened Middle Eastern host countries, the minister for economic cooperation said during a visit to Jordan on Tuesday.

Germany will raise the idea at next week's annual Syria aid conference in London, Gerd Mueller told The Associated Press.

"It's called cash for work, to employ Syrian refugees, but also unemployed Jordanians ... in building schools, infrastructure," Mueller said, adding that participants would be paid about 300 euros ($325) a month.

CORRECTS FROM IN AMMAN TO 20 KILOMETERS OUTSIDE OF AMMAN. German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Gerd Mueller speaks with Syrian refugee children during his visit to Baqaa Refugee Camp, 20 kilometers outside of Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)

Germany would initially contribute 200 million euros ($217 million), with money to start flowing in mid-2016, and would ask other donors to contribute, according to a handout from his delegation.

"This program ... can create 500,000 jobs in the whole region with 2 billion" euros, Mueller said in Jordan's Baqaa refugee camp, established almost half a century ago for Palestinian refugees, but now housing thousands of displaced Syrians.

Almost 4.3 million Syrians have fled civil war since 2011 and most remain in the region, mainly in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Some 1.2 million are registered in Lebanon and about 630,000 in Jordan, most living outside formal refugee camps.

Over the past year, cuts in food and cash support for refugees  a result of severe aid shortfalls  helped trigger an exodus from the region to Europe. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have reached Europe, many heading to Germany, because the cuts made life in host countries increasingly difficult.

Thousands more Syrians are still trying to escape fighting in their homeland. This includes some 17,000 people, among them many women and children, who have amassed on the border with Jordan, waiting to be allowed to enter. Some have been living for months in the remote desert area without proper shelter, amid warnings by aid groups that conditions are deteriorating.

Jordan has only let in several dozen Syrians a day, citing concerns that Islamic State extremists will try to enter Jordan posing as refugees.

International aid officials have urged Jordan to speed up such checks and move refugees to an U.N.-run camp in Jordan that stands more than half empty.

Mueller said he asked Jordan's prime minister to "examine urgently if he can make an exception and to house these Syrian refugees in the U.N. camp."

At the London conference, labor rights for Syrian refugees in the regional host countries will be a key issue.

Jordan and Lebanon, faced with high domestic unemployment, prevent most refugees from working legally, though many hold low-paying informal jobs.

Jordanian officials, while short on specifics, have said they would offer a new approach in London, including setting up special economic zones to encourage foreign investment and potentially create thousands of jobs, including for Syrian refugees. Goods made there would have easier access to European markets.

Mueller said he supports the idea.

"Jordan needs investments, jobs, an outlook for the future of the country, for its own population and for the Syrian refugees," the minister said.

In London, Germany will advocate for "preferential trade arrangements, custom arrangements and tax privileges for investments in Jordan," he said.

CORRECTS FROM IN AMMAN TO 20 KILOMETERS OUTSIDE OF AMMAN. German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Gerd Mueller visits Baqaa Refugee Camp, 20 kilometers outside of Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)

CORRECTS FROM IN AMMAN TO 20 KILOMETERS OUTSIDE OF AMMAN. German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Gerd Mueller speaks with Syrian refugee children during his visit to Baqaa Refugee Camp, 20 kilometers outside of Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)

CORRECTS FROM IN AMMAN TO 20 KILOMETRES OUTSIDE OF AMMAN. German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Gerd Mueller speaks with Syrian refugee children during his visit to Baqaa Refugee Camp, 20 kilometres outside of Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)
The Latest: Bavaria demands that Germany control its borders

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  The Latest on Europe's immigration crisis (all times local):

3:20 p.m.

The German state of Bavaria is threatening Chancellor Angela Merkel's federal government with a lawsuit if it doesn't take measures to secure the German border and reduce the influx of asylum-seekers, escalating a long-running dispute over refugee policy.

A Man unloads a truck filled with various life Jackets at the garbage area in the mountains of Lesbos Island, Greece, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. The buoyancy aides are discarded by migrants and collected from along the shore-line of the Greek island. More than 850,000 people, most fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan, entered Greece by sea in 2015, according to the UNHCR, and already in 2016, some 35,455 people have arrived despite plunging winter temperatures.(AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov)

Bavaria is run by the Christian Social Union, the regional sister party to Merkel's conservatives and itself part of Germany's governing coalition. But party leader and Bavarian governor Horst Seehofer has been at odds with Merkel for months over her open-door refugee policy, and has pressed increasingly loudly for a cap on the number of refugees Germany lets in.

In a letter to Merkel approved Tuesday by Bavaria's Cabinet, Seehofer set out demands including "effective" border controls. Bavaria is threatening to go to Germany's Federal Constitutional Court if Berlin doesn't satisfy the request.

Merkel argues that diplomacy is the key to resolving the crisis.

2:55 p.m.

Turkey's state-run news agency says Turkish coast guards have recovered the bodies of four migrants  three of them children  after a smuggler's boat carrying migrants from Syria sank on the way to Greece.

Anadolu Agency said the bodies were found Tuesday near the tiny Greek island of Farmakonissi, which is near the Turkish Aegean resort of Didim. The coast guard was searching the Aegean Sea for more possible victims.

The Turkish Coast Guard says 57 migrants have died in Turkish waters so far this year while attempting to make the perilous journey to the Greek islands.

In all, more than 700 people have died or gone missing in the Aegean Sea since the start of 2015.

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2:25 p.m.

The Czech and Slovak prime ministers say the European Union needs a 'Plan B' in case Greece can't manage the influx of migrants through its territory.

Bohuslav Sobotka and Robert Fico say to protect the European visa-free Schengen travel zone in that case, the 28-nation bloc should take necessary measures on Greece's borders with Macedonia and Bulgaria.

More than 850,000 people, most fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan, entered Greece by sea in 2015. Some European countries, including Slovakia, have blasted Greece for being unable to secure its border, which forms part of the Schengen area.

After the two leaders met Tuesday, Fico said: "Macedonia and Bulgaria could play a key role in protecting the Schengen border."

The two countries already agreed to deploy police forces in Macedonia.

A migrant girl tries to warm herself as she disembarks a boat at Lesbos Island, Greece, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. More than 850,000 people, most fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan, entered Greece by sea in 2015, according to the UNHCR, and already in 2016, some 35,455 people have arrived despite plunging winter temperatures. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov)

Refugees arrive by train at the transit center for refugees near northern Macedonian village of Tabanovce, before continuing their journey to Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. European Union nations took a step Monday toward isolating Greece amid acrimony over Athens' failure to stem the flow of migrants at its Mediterranean island borders. The member states "gave a clear signal" that if they can't stop the migrants reaching Greece, they would consider helping Greece's neighbor Macedonia to better seal its border to slow the movement of migrants into other European countries. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Refugees disembark from a train on the arrival at the transit center for refugees near northern Macedonian village of Tabanovce, before continuing their journey to Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. European Union nations took a step Monday toward isolating Greece amid acrimony over Athens' failure to stem the flow of migrants at its Mediterranean island borders. The member states "gave a clear signal" that if they can't stop the migrants reaching Greece, they would consider helping Greece's neighbor Macedonia to better seal its border to slow the movement of migrants into other European countries. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Refugees arrive by train at the transit center for refugees near northern Macedonian village of Tabanovce, before continuing their journey to Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. European Union member states "gave a clear signal" that if they can't stop the migrants reaching Greece, they would consider helping Greece's neighbor Macedonia to better seal its border to slow the movement of migrants into other European countries, said Dutch State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Women's wear 'distracts' state lawmakers

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Republican Sen. Mitch Holmes clearly recalls when women have worn "over the top" attire during his decade in the Kansas Statehouse.

"A blouse that came way past the rib cage was one of the most outlandish ones," he told The Associated Press. Such women's wear can distract from the legislative process, he said, explaining why a dress code was needed in his Ethics and Elections committee.

Holmes dropped his guidelines on Tuesday, the day after his AP interview, after he was shamed on social media as a "sexist" and "cave man" for telling women how to dress. In a written apology, he said he "meant no offense" by suggesting that "for ladies, low cut necklines and mini-skirts are inappropriate."

Sen. Mitch Holmes, R-St. John, sits in the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Topeka,Ks. Holmes, who had come come under withering criticism over the weekend for a setting a dress code targeted at women, apologized Tuesday and retracted the guidelines. (AP Photo, Topeka Capital-Journal, Thad Allton)

It's at least the fourth time that lawmakers have retreated from dress codes for female colleagues, lobbyists, interns and other citizens recently.

After Missouri's House speaker resigned in a scandal last year  he acknowledged exchanging sexual text messages with a female intern  some of his colleagues suggested an intern dress code could help eliminate "distractions." Republican Todd Richardson quickly squelched that idea after taking over as speaker.

Montana's House speaker, Austin Knudsen, also suffered backlash when he issued a dress code before the 2015 session urging women to be "sensitive to skirt lengths and necklines," while telling men simply to wear jackets, ties and dress pants.

Knudsen, a Republican, later called it a "rookie mistake" and reversed course. "It wasn't a hill worth dying on at the beginning of the session," he said.

One of the women who led that charge was Democratic Rep. Jenny Eck, of Helena. Women already have to be smarter and work harder to be considered equal, she said; a dress code suggests men have permission to evaluate women based on their bodies.

"You can trust that women will get up in the morning and figure it out," she said.

Female lawmakers aren't immune: In 2014, Republican Peggy Mast, the Kansas House's speaker pro-tem, drew First Amendment complaints after suggesting dress code changes for interns.

She pulled back some  interns can apparently wear perfume and cologne after all  but their manual still asks women to avoid "halter tops, strapless tops, backless style, miniskirts and revealing necklines." There's no list of forbidden attire for men.

"The notion that the men in the legislature are going to dictate how women dress feels (like) a bit of a throwback to a bygone era that I think we had thought we had left," said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Women are a slight majority of the U.S. population, but remain a minority in all 50 state legislatures, filling 1,808 legislative seats this year, 24.5 percent of the nationwide total, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. That's a historic high, but their ranks have remained relatively unchanged in the last five years.

If their number more closely matched the nation's demographics, what they wear probably wouldn't be an issue, said New Jersey state Sen. Diane Allen, a Republican and former chairwoman of the National Foundation for Women Legislators.

The backlash grew in Kansas last week after Democratic Sen. David Haley shared the rules with a female lobbyist who snapped a picture that spread on social media.

Holmes initially defended his guidelines, saying they had been in effect for at least a year and no one complained.

"We're really looking for you to be addressing the issue rather than trying to distract or bring eyes to yourself" while testifying, Holmes told The Topeka Capital-Journal, which labeled the guidelines "disrespectful" and "alarming" in a Sunday editorial.

Democratic Sen. Laura Kelly, of Topeka, called them "condescending toward women" because men weren't told what to wear.

Holmes was still holding his ground on Monday.

"I just want to make sure that we have proper decorum," he said. "Males have such little choice about what they wear with suits and ties. But you know, I'm reasonable and I'm willing to make sure that no one feels like they're being singled out."

Haley praised Holmes after he finally threw in the towel the next day, saying "he's a gracious leader to recognize parity in the process."

Missouri Rep. Nick King, a Republican and Mormon from suburban Kansas City, said his thoughts "didn't get expressed very well" last summer when his email to colleagues suggested that "a good, modest, conservative dress code" for both male and female interns would help lawmakers stay focused by "removing one more distraction."

But Missouri Rep. Stacey Newman finds disturbing similarities in all these controversies.

"To have that emphasis put back on what women are wearing  that it's 'distracting' or whatever  is really diminishing our contributions," said Newman, a Democrat from suburban St. Louis.

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Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri. Associated Press writers John Hanna in Topeka and Matt Volz in Helena, Montana, contributed.

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The story has been corrected to show that the guidelines were not introduced last week but have been in place for at least a year.

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2015 file photo, Kansas Sen. Mitch Holmes, R-St. John, discusses a bill at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. Holmes on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2106, apologized and retracted a dress code that banned plunging necklines and short skirts for women testifying before his committee. (AP Photo/The Topeka Capital-Journal, Chris Neal, File)
Bavaria threatens Merkel govt with lawsuit over migrants

BERLIN (AP)  Bavaria on Tuesday threatened Chancellor Angela Merkel's federal government with a lawsuit if it doesn't take measures to further secure the German border and reduce the influx of asylum-seekers, escalating a long-running dispute over refugee policy.

Bavarian governor Horst Seehofer sent a letter to Merkel setting out demands such as "effective border controls" at all crossings and an annual cap of 200,000 refugees for Germany, the state government said.

Last year, Germany registered nearly 1.1 million asylum-seekers entering the country.

Merkel's Bavarian allies the CSU, led by Horst Seehofer, pictured, kick off their part congress on Friday but she is not invited for the first time in 16 years

The demands, and the threat to file a lawsuit with the Federal Constitutional Court if Berlin doesn't satisfy the German state that has been on the front line of the surge of migrants, weren't in themselves new. However, Bavaria's drafting of a formal letter to the federal government increased the tensions in Merkel's governing coalition.

Bavaria  where most migrants first enter Germany  is run by the Christian Social Union, the regional sister party to Merkel's conservatives and itself part of Germany's governing coalition. Seehofer has been at odds with Merkel for months over her open-door refugee policy and has pressed increasingly loudly for a cap on numbers.

There's wide agreement in Merkel's coalition of right and left that Germany must get its refugee numbers down, but festering disagreement about how to do it. Merkel argues that diplomacy with Germany's European partners, Turkey and others is the key to resolving the crisis, and that unilateral measures such as a cap aren't feasible.

"Bavaria needs effective measures immediately" in the absence of a fast European solution, the state's interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, said in a statement. Seehofer didn't say at what point Bavaria might actually file a lawsuit.

Bavaria didn't immediately release the letter and the federal government had no immediate comment on it. Merkel's and Seehofer's center-left coalition allies, however, blasted the state's move as "absolutely incomprehensible and absolutely inappropriate" and cautioned the CSU against endangering the ruling coalition.

"The CSU must decide whether it wants to be in the government or the opposition," said the Social Democrats' caucus leader, Thomas Oppermann. "In the government, we have to work with each other and not against each other."
Suspect in Islamic State-inspired plot competent for trial

MIAMI (AP)  A man is competent to stand trial in an alleged plot the FBI says was inspired by the Islamic State terror group to detonate a bomb on a Florida Keys beach.

A defense attorney and a federal prosecutor said in a joint court filing late Monday that Harlem Suarez is mentally fit. A judge ordered Suarez examined by a psychologist after attorney Richard Della Fera raised questions about his competency.

Trial is April 4 for Suarez on charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and terrorism support.
In snowed-under cities, many struggle to return to work

WASHINGTON (AP)  After more than three days with life at a virtual standstill in the nation's capital and elsewhere up and down the East Coast, the cities hit hard by a massive snowstorm were getting closer to their normal routines.

In the Washington area, the Metro subway system was closer to fully operational Tuesday, although several suburban stations remained closed and trains were running less often. Schools in the District of Columbia, northern Virginia and Maryland were still closed, and federal offices were closed for another day, but city government employees were back at work.

New York City recovered more quickly, with subway and bus service fully operational Monday, although commuter trains were limited. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio credited better communication and other lessons learned after fiascoes during the 2010 "Snowmageddon" storm. But New York usually gets much more snow than Washington and budgets accordingly, spending three times as much per lane-mile for snow removal.

Grace McGuire of Washington shovels out her car in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, as the nation's capital digs out following a monster weekend snow. East Coast cities hit hard by a massive snowstorm are getting closer to their normal routines after more than three days with life at a virtual standstill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

In Baltimore, which got more than 2 feet of snow, plenty of people were still freeing their cars, and many side streets remained unplowed.

"I'm expected to be at work but I don't have the best car for snow," said Tameka Smith, who was doing her best to shovel out her maroon sedan. "I don't know what I'm going to do. It's ridiculous to expect people to get to their offices today."

In downtown Washington, conditions on Tuesday morning had improved significantly from 24 hours earlier, but the city was still moving at half-speed, thanks largely to the federal government closure. Car traffic from northern Virginia was light, and Virginia's commuter rail service was still closed.

Metro's red line, which brings commuters in from Maryland, was standing-room-only as usual as trains rumbled through the Metro Center station downtown at 9 a.m.

"There was a lot of snow. I was expecting worse," said Michael Pollock, a 29-year-old law student commuting from northwest Washington to Judiciary Square. The snow removal exceeded his expectations; still, he was relieved many workers stayed home.

"It would be a lot messier if the federal government was not shut down. The Metro would have been bad. It was pretty crowded as it is."

The city's tourist attractions were also slowly getting up and running, with some Smithsonian museums welcoming visitors again Tuesday. Many National Park Service attractions remained closed.

Joann Dombrowski of Baltimore said her son's car is stuck on a road still full of snow, and his boss threatened to fire him if he didn't show up.

"Nobody's come up to plow. It's just ridiculous. People have to do something, people have to get to work," she said.

With the District likely to blow through most if not all of its $6.2 million snow-removal budget, Mayor Muriel Bowser has already requested federal disaster assistance. Baltimore, too, was likely to spend more than it planned.

"When you have a storm of historic proportions, the budget will be historic as well," Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.

Residents in southern New Jersey were still cleaning up the mess from flooding, and officials there warned that repairing the damage and beach erosion could be expensive.

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Associated Press writers Jessica Gresko in Washington, Jonathan Lemire in New York and Juliet Linderman in Baltimore contributed to this report.

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Follow Ben Nuckols at https://twitter.com/APBenNuckols . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/ben-nuckols .

A woman walks across the Roberto Clemente bridge over the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

A man walks next to a frozen Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Over the weekend, as a blizzard pounded the East Coast. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

A plow truck and a pickup truck try to squeeze through a snowy side street in Towson, Md., Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. East coast residents continued to dig themselves out after a massive weekend snowstorm. (Photo by Steve Ruark)

A worker moves snow Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in Towson, Md. East Coast residents continued to dig themselves out after a massive weekend snowstorm. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Ragi Puthur digs his car out from snow outside his home in Towson, Md., Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. East Coast residents continued to dig themselves out after a massive weekend snowstorm. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Brian Mitchell, near his dog Molly, shovels snow outside his home in Towson, Md., Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. East coast residents continued to dig themselves out after a massive weekend snowstorm. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Mike Roach, right, of New York, a junior at Towson University, clears snow from his car after getting stuck in Towson, Md., Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. East Coast residents continued to dig themselves out after a massive weekend snowstorm. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
Broadway's 'Aladdin' to launch national tour from Chicago

NEW YORK (AP)  Broadway's hit musical "Aladdin" will take a magic carpet ride across the country  a national tour will launch next year in Chicago.

Disney Theatrical Productions said Tuesday the show will begin performances at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre in April 2017. Future stops and the cast will be announced later.

"Aladdin," a musical adaptation of the 1992 movie starring Robin Williams, opened on Broadway in March 2014 and has become one of the highest grossing shows in New York.

This 2013 photo provided by Disney Theatrical Productions shows Adam Jacobs as Aladdin in the new musical, "Aladdin," with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto. Broadways hit musical "Aladdin" will take a magic carpet ride across the country - a national tour will launch next year in Chicago. Disney Theatrical Productions said Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, the show will begin performances at Chicagos Cadillac Palace Theatre in April 2017. (Deen van Meer/Disney Theatrical Productions via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

The story by Chad Beguelin hews close to the film. A street urchin finds a genie in a lamp and hopes to woo a princess while staying true to his values and away from palace intrigue.

Key Alan Menken songs from the film  including "Friend Like Me," ''Prince Ali" and "A Whole New World"  are used. The lyricists are by the late Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Beguelin.

It's directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, with sets by Bob Crowley and lighting design by Natasha Katz. Gregg Barnes did the costumes.

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The Latest: Doctor calls for more Zika info in Venezuela

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  The latest on the fight against the Zika virus that health officials suspect is linked to a wave of birth defects in Brazil. (All times local):

10:00 p.m.

A health expert is expressing concern about the lack of information on the Zika virus provided by authorities in Venezuela and is urging the government of President Nicolas Maduro to starting a national prevention campaign.

A city worker fumigates insecticide to combat the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus, at the San Judas Community in San Salvador, El Salvador, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Worries about the rapid spread of Zika through the hemisphere has prompted officials in El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil to suggest women stop getting pregnant until the crisis has passed. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

Dr. Jose Felix Oletta, a former health minister and member of the non-governmental Organization to Defend National Epidemiology, said the Zika virus is "now a public menace" even though there are no official statistics on it.

Since January 2015, Venezuela's Ministry of Health has not published the once-weekly official report on endemic and epidemic diseases in the country, sparking concern among doctors.

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8:10 p.m.

President Barack Obama is calling for speeding up research to diagnose, prevent and treat Zika virus.

Obama met with public health and national security officials about the mosquito-borne virus on Tuesday in the Situation Room. The White House says Obama was briefed on steps being taken to protect Americans and factors that could cause the virus to spread in the U.S. Officials also updated the president on how the virus' spread in the hemisphere could affect the economy and development.

Leaders from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health and Human Services Department took part in the meeting.

The White House says Obama told the officials that all Americans should have information about the virus and how to protect themselves from infection.

Health officials suspect Zika is linked to a wave of birth defects in Brazil in which babies have small heads. U.S. officials have recommended pregnant women consider postponing trips to areas in the Caribbean and South America affected by Zika virus disease outbreaks.

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6:30 p.m.

Health officials say a Virginia resident who traveled outside the United States has tested positive for Zika, a mosquito-transmitted virus.

Health Commissioner Dr. Marissa Levine says the resident traveled to a country where the Zika virus transmission is ongoing. She says this person poses no risk to other residents, because it is not mosquito season in Virginia.

Health officials suspect Zika is linked to a wave of birth defects in Brazil in which babies have small heads. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that pregnant women consider postponing trips to countries and areas in the Caribbean and South America where there are Zika virus disease outbreaks.

5:25 p.m.

The U.S. government is beginning research into a possible vaccine for the mosquito-borne Zika virus that is suspected of causing an unusual birth defect as it spreads in Latin America.

Don't expect protection anytime soon  vaccine development typically takes years.

Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health says in an interview Tuesday: "This is not going to be overnight."

But there are vaccines in various stages of development for other viruses in the same family  dengue, West Nile and chikungunya  that offer a pattern for creating something similar against Zika, said Fauci, who directs NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

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5:05 p.m.

Costa Rica has confirmed the first known case of the Zika virus in the Central American nation.

The Health Ministry says the mosquito-borne virus was apparently contracted by a 25-year-old man during a trip to Colombia this month.

It said he showed the first symptoms of the virus on Jan. 22 while still in Colombia, returned to Costa Rica the following day and sought medical attention on the 24th.

Authorities conducted a sweep for possible mosquito breeding grounds for about 100 yards (meters) around the man's home, and fumigated the area.

They also interviewed neighbors but did not find any other people with Zika symptoms.

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4:45 p.m.

U.S. health officials have again expanded their travel alert to pregnant women about trips to the Caribbean and Latin America.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday added the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic to the list of destinations with Zika virus disease outbreaks. Research in Brazil is suggesting a link between the infection in pregnant moms and a rare birth defect.

Previously, the CDC recommended that pregnant women should consider postponing trips to 22 destinations. In Latin America: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela. In the Caribbean: Barbados, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Martin and Puerto Rico. Also, Cape Verde, off the coast of western Africa; and Samoa in the South Pacific.

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4:10 p.m.

Health authorities in Panama are recommending that members of an indigenous community hard-hit by Zika avoid getting pregnant.

At least 42 cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been detected in the sparsely populated province of Guna Yala along the Caribbean coast, one of them a 22-year-old pregnant woman. The area formerly known as San Blas is dominated by indigenous groups and popular with tourists.

Israel Cedeno, a Health Ministry expert, said that authorities are going house-to-house explaining how to prevent transmission but that it's running up against cultural barriers and the lack of family planning among the Guna tribe.

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4:30 p.m.

The Arkansas Department of Health says a person who recently traveled out of the United States has tested positive for the Zika virus.

The department says that the person has a mild case of Zika, which is spread by mosquitoes and is suspected of causing a spate of birth defects in Brazil. Spokeswoman Meg Mirivel would not say whether Tuesday if the infected person is a man or woman or give the person's age.

Mirivel says the individual traveled to the Central America-Caribbean region, though she would not specify which country. Some U.S. travelers have been infected abroad with Zika but there are no cases of local infection in the U.S. so far.

Brazilian officials have linked the virus with a rare birth defect, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have urged pregnant women to consider postponing flights to areas where the virus is prevalent.

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4:25 p.m.

Latin America's largest airline says it's waiving cancellation or flight-change fees for pregnant women who want to cancel flights to countries where the Zika virus is present.

Grupo LATAM says the policy applies to Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, French Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged pregnant women to consider postponing visits to 22 destinations because of concern that the mosquito-borne virus could be linked to a wave in Brazil of microcephaly cases in which children are born with heads that are smaller than normal and often have developmental problems.

The World Health Organization cautions that the link is not yet scientifically proven.

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4:00 p.m.

Colombian officials are raising the number of suspected cases of the Zika virus in their country. They say 16,490 people now apparently have had the disease that's been linked to birth defects in Brazil. Of those 1,090 are pregnant women.

The new figures come as health minister begins a nationwide effort to rally local officials to battle the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits the virus.

Minister Alejandro Gaviria said Tuesday he hopes Colombia will become "an example for Latin America" in the battle against Zika.

President Juan Manuel Santo has said Colombian officials expect to see 600,000 cases of Zika this year, and are preparing for the possibility of infants born with microcephaly, a birth defect that has skyrocketed in Brazil along with cases of Zika.

So far, there's only one case of microcephaly in Colombia suspected of being linked to Zika.

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3:00 p.m.

The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico is reporting a jump in the number of mosquito-borne Zika virus cases.

Health Secretary Ana Rius says there are 18 confirmed new cases in addition to one known earlier. None involve pregnant women. Brazilian officials have linked the tropical illness to birth defects.

Puerto Rico epidemiologist Brenda Rivera said Tuesday the majority of cases are in the island's southeast region. She says many of the victims are elderly.

Officials said they are testing more than 200 other potential Zika cases that have tested negative to dengue and chikungunya.

U.S. officials say pregnant women should consider postponing trips to 22 destinations with Zika infections, including Puerto Rico.

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2:55 p.m.

U.S. health officials are putting out advice to doctors on testing newborns for Zika virus, a tropical infection linked to a wave of birth defects in Brazil.

The guidance is for doctors caring for infants born to mothers who traveled to Zika outbreak areas in Latin America or the Caribbean during their pregnancy. The advice covers which situations call for Zika testing and when to do fetal ultrasounds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the guidelines Tuesday.

Zika is spread by mosquitoes, and in most people causes no more than mild illness. But there's been mounting evidence linking Zika infection in pregnant women to a birth defect in which a newborn's head is unusually small and the brain may not develop properly.

2:40 p.m.

Argentina authorities say they are investigating a possible case of infection by the mosquito-borne Zika virus. It would be a first for the nation that shares a border with Brazil.

Santa Fe Health Department official Andrea Uboldi tells La Red radio that the man is in the city of Rosario and had recently visited Brazil, where hundreds of thousands of cases of Zika are suspected and authorities are investigating a possible link to birth defects.

Meanwhile, officials in the Argentine province of Corrientes have declared an epidemiological alert due to an outbreak of dengue in the area. Dengue and Zika are both transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

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The item on Puerto Rico has been corrected to note that there was a previous case. The total is now 19.

A man works on a fence amidst a cloud of insecticide as city workers fumigate to combat the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus, at the San Judas Community in San Salvador, El Salvador, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Worries about the rapid spread of Zika through the hemisphere has prompted officials in El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil to suggest women stop getting pregnant until the crisis has passed. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

A health worker stands in the Sambadrome as he sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2016, file photo, a female Aedes aegypti mosquito acquires a blood meal on the arm of a researcher at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in the Sao Paulo's University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Aedes aegypti can spread the Zika virus, which is spreading in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean and usually causes a mild illness but is now suspected in an unusual birth defect and possibly other health issues. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)
Fugitive heir to enter plea on gun charge in February

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A fugitive New York real estate heir held in Louisiana on a weapons charge will enter a plea next month that will let him return to Los Angeles to face a murder charge.

Court filings show U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt set Feb. 3 as the date for Robert Durst's re-arraignment on a charge of illegally carrying a .38-caliber revolver after being convicted of a felony.

The charge has kept Durst in Louisiana even though he waived extradition to Los Angeles to face a charge that he killed a friend and onetime spokeswoman in 2000.

Previous filings show Durst has made a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Louisiana.
Woman who held 30-year vigil outside the White House dies

WASHINGTON (AP)  Concepcion Picciotto, the protester who maintained a three-decade peace vigil outside the White House that was widely considered to be the longest-running act of political protest in U.S. history, has died.

The Washington Post reports (http://wapo.st/23qW3F7) Picciotto died Monday at a housing facility for homeless women. Schroeder Stribling, executive director of N Street Village, says Picciotto had recently suffered a fall, but the cause of death was not yet known.

Picciotto, a Spanish immigrant, was the primary guardian of the anti-nuclear-proliferation vigil stationed along Pennsylvania Avenue. She was quoted in 2013 as saying she protested to "stop the world from being destroyed."

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2013 file photo, Concepcion Picciotto, who holds a constant peace vigil in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, sits on a park bench in the park. Picciotto, the protester who maintained a peace vigil outside the White House for more than three decades, a demonstration widely considered to be the longest-running act of political protest in U.S. history, has died. The Washington Post reports Picciotto died Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, at a housing facility for homeless women. She was believed to be 80. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

Fellow protester Ellen Thomas says she, husband William Thomas and Picciotto formed a group whose nuclear disarmament campaign was known as Proposition One.

___

Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com

CraigThompson sits in the anti-nuclear-proliferation vigil stationed along Pennsylvania Avenue on the edge of Lafayette Square Park across from the White House in Washington, early Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. A white sign that reads "Concepcion RIP" leans against the front of the structure. Concepcion Picciotto, the protester who maintained a peace vigil outside the White House for more than three decades, a demonstration widely considered to be the longest-running act of political protest in U.S. history, has died. The Washington Post reports Picciotto died Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, at a housing facility for homeless women. She was believed to be 80. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
61 pythons caught so far in Florida's 'Python Challenge'

MIAMI (AP)  Florida wildlife officials say 61 Burmese pythons have been caught so far in a state-sanctioned hunt.

Cool temperatures and more training for hunters may be helping. The monthlong "Python Challenge" ends Feb. 14.

The last public hunt for pythons on state lands, in 2013, netted 68 of the snakes, the longest measuring over 14 feet.

Bill Booth of Bradenton, Fla., turns in a dead python to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission seasonal employee Bob Besherse, left, at a Python Challenge checkpoint, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Florida Everglades, Fla. A cold snap may be giving humans an edge early in a state-sanctioned hunt for elusive Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Since the second Python Challenge began a week ago, hunters have turned in 39 of the invasive snakes by Jan. 22, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

The beginning of this year's hunt coincided with a cold snap across South Florida. Chilly weather can drive the snakes into the open as they seek warmth.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission updated its tally Tuesday, adding 22 more pythons caught through the weekend.

The snakes that are captured are killed and turned over to researchers, who are searching for clues to help control the python population in the Everglades.

Bill Booth of Bradenton, Fla., turns in a dead python to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission seasonal employee Bob Besherse, left, at a Python Challenge checkpoint, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Florida Everglades, Fla. A cold snap may be giving humans an edge early in a state-sanctioned hunt for elusive Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Since the second Python Challenge began a week ago, hunters have turned in 39 of the invasive snakes by Jan. 22, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Bill Booth of Bradenton, Fla., prepares to turn in a dead python at a Python Challenge checkpoint, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Florida Everglades, Fla. A cold snap may be giving humans an edge early in a state-sanctioned hunt for elusive Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Since the second Python Challenge began a week ago, hunters have turned in 39 of the invasive snakes by Jan. 22, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Sweden struggles to deal with crime at refugee shelters

STOCKHOLM (AP)  A deadly stabbing at a Swedish shelter for teenage asylum-seekers has deepened worries in this Nordic nation over violence at the refugee centers housing more than 100,000 people waiting for their claims to be processed.

Swedish police had barely issued a fresh plea for more resources to deal with the "migrant situation" when reports came Monday that a 15-year-old boy had attacked a female caretaker at a home for unaccompanied minors south of Goteborg.

Alexandra Mezher, 22, died of her stab wounds after being transported to a local hospital. Police said two other teenagers living in the shelter restrained the attacker until officers arrested him on suspicion of murder.

This June 10, 2012, photo shows Alexandra Mezher, right, and her friend Lejla Filipovic, left, when they graduated from high school in Boras Sweden. Mezher a 22-year-old worker at a shelter for youth and unaccompanied minors was stabbed to death at the center in southwestern Sweden on Monday Jan. 25, 2016. (Lejla Filipovic via AP)

"It's awful. We are still waiting for her to come back. We're in shock," said Lejla Filipovic, a 22-year-old friend of the victim, who was mourning with Mezher's family on Tuesday.

Exactly what happened early Monday at the shelter in Molndal remains under investigation, but it's clear that Swedish police are facing mounting pressure to deal with brawls, sexual assaults and other problems at refugee shelters across the country.

About 163,000 Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans and others applied for asylum in Sweden last year, doubling the previous record from 2014. In Europe, only Germany received higher numbers. More than 30,000 of those seeking shelter in Sweden were unaccompanied minors, almost all boys.

While most stay out of trouble and just want to start a new life in Europe, the Swedish police authority warned that its resources have been spread thin by stepped-up border controls, the deportations of migrants whose asylum claims are rejected and efforts to maintain order at refugee shelters.

National Police Commissioner Dan Eliasson said the force needs 2,500 more uniformed officers and up to 1,600 civilian employees to deal with what he called a "new normal" in the country of 10 million people.

"Many parts of our operations are under great strain," he said.

Police logs show officers are being called to deal with problems at refugee shelters on a near-daily basis, many times involving boys or men traumatized by war and frustrated by the long and agonizing wait for their asylum claims to be processed.

Deadly attacks are relatively rare, but in August an asylum-seeker from Eritrea killed two people in an IKEA store, reportedly after being denied a residence permit.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven traveled to Molndal after Monday's attack, and warned it may not be the last one.

"I believe quite a lot of people are very concerned that there could be similar cases when Sweden receives so many children and young people," he said.

Sweden has long welcomed refugees fleeing war and persecution but never before on a scale seen last year. Concerns are now growing that the country's welcome is reaching its limit.

Lofven's Social Democratic government was long a champion of open borders to refugees but reversed course last year and tightened border controls.

Meanwhile, the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, a party with far-right roots that was once considered too extreme to be electable in tolerant Sweden, is gaining ground. After grabbing 13 percent of the vote in the 2014 election, it's currently polling around 20 percent.

Elaf Ali, a 28-year-old who used to work at a shelter for unaccompanied minors in Stockholm, said she wasn't surprised by what happened in Molndal.

Having arrived as a refugee from Iraq in 1991, she wanted to help other new arrivals get settled in Swedish society, but quit after a year and a half after a violent episode in 2011.

"One night one of the guys pulled out a large kitchen knife. And he ran around chasing us with it. I was very scared. I was the only girl there, so I felt vulnerable," she said. "I locked myself into an office and called the police."

She said police arrested the boy and no one was injured.

While some say only a sharp drop in immigration can resolve the situation, others are calling for more personnel at the shelters and tougher consequences for offenders.

Ali said those who commit crimes shouldn't be allowed to stay in Sweden, recalling how a Moroccan teen was sent back to her shelter despite being arrested three times for burglary or theft.
US judge clears Oklahoma man of 3 Kenyan child abuse charges

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  A federal judge Tuesday acquitted an Oklahoma man on three charges accusing him of sexually abusing children at a Kenyan orphanage but rejected his request for a new trial on four other counts.

Matthew Lane Durham, 21, of Edmond, was found guilty by a 12-member jury in June on seven counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. The same jury cleared Durham of accusations he planned to abuse the children before leaving the United States.

Prosecutors alleged Durham targeted orphans while volunteering at the Upendo Children's Home in Nairobi between April and June 2014. Durham had served as a volunteer since 2012 at the orphanage, which specializes in caring for neglected children. He was convicted on charges involving girls ranging from 5 to 15 years old and a 12-year-old boy.

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Logan County Sheriff's Office shows Matthew Lane Durham. A federal judge has acquitted Durham on three charges accusing him of sexually abusing children at a Kenyan orphanage but rejected his request for a new trial on four other counts. (Logan County Sheriff's Photo via AP, File)

Following the trial, defense attorney Stephen Jones filed a series of motions seeking a new trial and asking that Durham be cleared of the charges, claiming the evidence presented against Durham was insufficient to convict him.

In a 15-page order, U.S. District Judge David Russell acquitted Durham on three counts, ruling that "the government failed to establish that defendant engaged in a sexual act with the victim alleged in those counts." Two of the victims did not testify at Durham's trial and the third did not corroborate the government's allegations of abuse, Russell said.

The government's evidence included handwritten, signed confessions that Durham gave orphanage officials after he was accused of inappropriate behavior. Jones alleged that the statements were coerced by officials at the orphanage.

Durham testified in his own defense about his Christian faith and his onetime belief that he was possessed by a demon that made him "do evil."

Orphanage officials and five of the alleged victims traveled from Kenya to testify at the trial. The children, who spoke Swahili, testified through an interpreter only after Russell cleared the gallery and closed the courtroom to the public and media.

Russell also rejected Durham's request for a new trial and a constitutional challenge to the law he was convicted of violating.

Durham's trial was conducted in Oklahoma under a federal law that gives U.S. prosecutors the authority to prosecute American citizens who travel abroad for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with someone under age 16. Jones alleged the law overreaches Congress' authority to regulate a person's activities when they travel to a foreign nation.

Jones did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment on the rulings. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Bob Troester, said prosecutors look forward to sentencing in the case.
Kondo is back with more tidying advice in 'Spark Joy'

NEW YORK (AP)  Marie Kondo is back.

Author of the international best-seller "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" (Ten Speed Press, 2014), Kondo became famous for advising readers how to transform their lives by sifting through their belongings one by one, embracing those that "spark joy" and bidding a fond but hasty farewell to the rest.

Her new book, "Spark Joy: an Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up" (Ten Speed), provides illustrations and more detail.

This image released by Ten Speed Press shows Marie Kondo, author of the international best-seller, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up," and her latest book, "Spark Joy: an Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up." (Natsuno Ichigo/Ten Speed Press via AP)

"After I published my first book, a lot of readers came with a lot of questions," the petite, soft-spoken Kondo told The Associated Press, in Japanese, after a presentation to a packed auditorium at the Japan Society in New York.

Kondo is still communing lovingly with socks and blouses, folding clothes like origami and bowing in gratitude to her home. She also has a fresh perspective as a new mother.

"My daughter is only 6 months old, so my method hasn't changed ... She cannot make a mess yet. What has surprised me most is the amount of stuff a baby needs," Kondo said, sitting primly at the edge of her seat in an impeccable white top over a pale blue print dress.

"Once she gets older, I'm sure there will be a little bit of adjustment."

With an understated sense of humor, she notes in her new book that one of the people with whom she has had to share her storage methods is her new husband, himself so minimalist that he moved in with only four cardboard boxes of belongings.

"I am learning that unspoken family rules differ from one household to another, and that storage methods I had assumed were obvious need to be properly shared and explained," she writes.

Kondo's earlier book had no illustrations; "Spark Joy" is full of her charming, child-like drawings of everything from organized kitchen cupboards, to folding techniques for clothes ranging from underwear to frilly blouses to hoodies.

"It is very important that you know how to fold clothes in the correct way," she informed the crowd at the Japan Society, before daintily approaching a demonstration table where a small pile of unfolded clothing awaited. For one thing, "make sure you put a lot of love through your palms," she said.

The audience  die-hard fans and those new to her KonMari Method  applauded as Kondo quickly folded one item after another into a tiny cube, balanced each on edge to show how tightly wound it was, then tucked them neatly into what resembled a lidless shoe box.

"Wow, that's so cool. How did she do that?" a man in the second row whispered to his neighbor.

Kondo suggests setting the boxes of origami-esque parcels in drawers so that each is a joy-provoking bento of delights.

What about those pesky possessions that fail to spark joy yet are undeniably useful? Well, functionality can be beautiful too.

"After discarding a hammer because the handle was worn out, I used my frying pan to pound in any nails," Kondo writes. But after she threw out a screwdriver, "I tried using a ruler to tighten a loose screw, but it snapped down the middle. This almost reduced me to tears as it was one I really liked."

"All these incidents stemmed from youthful inexperience and thoughtlessness," she continues. Things that make life simpler, "the recognition that a possession is useful in our lives  these, too, indicate joy."

"Spark Joy" includes advice on moving, packing and decorating with tiny, cheerful knickknacks (this is smile-inducing minimalism).

She even gives a nod to those who don't thrill to tidying up. Kondo admitted to her New York audience that she regrets some of her earlier zeal in discarding her family's belongings.

Or, as she says in the new book, "Only when we accept unconditionally people whose values differ from our own can we really say that we have finished tidying."

That said, her tidying empire is gaining ground. Kondo's books have been translated into numerous languages, her speaking engagements draw crowds and her waitlist for clients is over three months long.

She recently published a blank journal, "Life-Changing Magic" (Ten Speed), to help readers "spark joy every day"; she founded the Japan Joy-Sparking Tidying-Up Association; she has a fan club with two levels of membership fees; and she offers courses in Japan in tidying up and becoming a tidying consultant.

In the United States, Kondo told the AP, she has an app coming out this spring that "features a checklist of tidying, and also shows your progress in tidying." And she is preparing to open a U.S. branch of her consultancy.

While she may have mellowed in some respects, her goals are in no way diminished. Proper tidying up, she happily announced to the rapt audience, brings not only life-changing magic but a sense of joy that can spread from household to household, country to country.

"I believe my method will lead to world peace in the end," she said, smiling sweetly.

Or at least a lot of astoundingly well-folded socks.

___

Online:

www.konmari.com

This image released by Ten Speed Press shows linen items neatly folded in a drawer. Marie Kondo, the author of the international best-seller, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up," became famous for advising readers to transform their lives by sifting through all their belongings, one by one, embracing those that "spark joy" and bidding a fond but hasty farewell to the rest. Her new book, "Spark Joy: an Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up," provides illustrations and more detail. (Natsuno Ichigo/Ten Speed Press via AP)
Andrew Selsky named AP's Salem, Oregon, correspondent

SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Andrew Selsky, a veteran foreign correspondent for The Associated Press who has reported in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, has been named AP's Salem correspondent. He will cover Oregon state government and politics and write about issues throughout the West.

The appointment was announced Tuesday by West Editor Traci Carl, who oversees news for 13 states.

"Andrew is an accomplished reporter who has excelled in assignments across the world for AP," Carl said. "He will bring a unique perspective to the West, from the changing economic landscape to the legalization of marijuana in many regions."

Andrew Selsky, a veteran foreign correspondent for The Associated Press who has reported in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, is seen in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Selsky has been named APs Salem correspondent and will cover Oregon state government and politics and write about issues throughout the West. The appointment was announced Tuesday by West Region Traci Carl, who oversees news for 13 states. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky)

Selsky, 60, has directed AP's text coverage of 45 countries in Africa as the agency's first regional Africa editor, based in Johannesburg, since 2009.

Selsky previously was the AP's chief of Caribbean news, leading coverage of more than 30 countries and territories, including the U.S. military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. His Guantanamo coverage was a finalist for the Investigative Reporters and Editors Award in 2007 and the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding International Investigative Reporting in 2008.

As bureau chief in Colombia from 1993 to 1995, he covered the death of Pablo Escobar and the rise of the Cali cocaine cartel and its corruption of Colombia's presidential elections. He was then posted to Madrid as bureau chief for Spain and Portugal, where he reported on topics ranging from clandestine government kidnapping squads that targeted Basque separatists to the building of the Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona. During this period, Selsky also reported from Kabul, Afghanistan, soon after the Taliban seized the capital.

He later served as correspondent based in South Africa, where he reported on the country's transition from apartheid to a multiracial democracy and the AIDS pandemic. He returned to Colombia in 2000 as bureau chief, just as Washington's multibillion-dollar campaign to fight FARC leftist rebels was ramping up and as the insurgents were at the height of their power.

Selsky got his first foreign reporting experience from 1985 to 1987 as correspondent and photographer in Honduras and Nicaragua, where he reported on Nicaragua's civil war and the unfolding Iran-Contra scandal. He later was a newsman in Kansas City, Missouri, and then an editor on the international desk in New York before returning overseas. Before joining AP, Selsky worked for newspapers in Texas and Wyoming.
Frustration grows as armed Oregon standoff continues

BURNS, Ore. (AP)  An armed group took over a national wildlife preserve in southeastern Oregon more than three weeks ago, and so far authorities have taken no action to remove the protesters, who are upset over federal land policy.

The group led by Ammon Bundy has been free to come and go as they please. They've held frequent news conferences at the site, travelled to meet with sympathizers and others to espouse their views and some even attended a community meeting last week, where local residents shouted at them to leave.

Frustrated local and state officials are increasingly urging the FBI to do something to resolve the situation.

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)

HOW DID THIS BEGIN?

The group took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 2 after a peaceful protest in nearby Burns, Oregon, over the conviction of two local ranchers on arson charges. Dwight Hammond, 73, and his son Steven Hammond, 46, said they lit fires on federal land in 2001 and 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires. The two were convicted three years ago and served time  the father three months, the son one year. But in October, a federal judge in Oregon ruled their terms were too short under U.S. law and ordered them back to prison for about four years each. Among the demands by the Bundy group is for the Hammonds to be released.

IS THIS JUST ABOUT THE RANCHERS?

No. While Bundy and his group call for the ranchers to be released from prison the Hammonds have distanced themselves from the armed group. Increasingly Bundy has called for federal lands to be turned over to local authorities and has urged ranchers to renounce their federal grazing contracts. Bundy has said they plan to open the 300-square mile Oregon refuge to cattle this spring. Bundy and his family have for years said federal land management policies are harming ranchers and other locals in the West. Bundy is the son of Cliven Bundy, a Nevada rancher who in 2014 was at the center of a tense standoff with federal officials over cattle grazing rights.

ARE PEOPLE LISTENING TO THE BUNDYS?

While some local residents say the Bundy group is highlighting problems with federal oversight of local lands, the group has had very few people take the actions they've sought - specifically ranchers ripping up their federal grazing contracts. At an event the Bundy group staged at the refuge only one rancher - from New Mexico - renounced his agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to allow cattle grazing on federal land. The Oregonian reported that eight ranchers in Utah also said they would no longer allow federal officials to manage their grazing permits, but their attorney, Todd MacFarlane, didn't identify them. At a community meeting in Burns last week - attended by Bundy - some residents complained the armed group had disrupted the area and chanted loudly that they needed to leave Oregon.

CRITICS SAY FEDERAL OFFICIALS NEED TO STEP UP PRESSURE

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and local leaders in Burns have urged the FBI to take action. The Burns Paiute Tribe also wants federal officials to bar armed activists from traveling back and forth from the wildlife preserve, fearing tribal artifacts will go missing or the group will disturb burial grounds. Bundy's group took over buildings at the refuge that store over 4,000 archaeological artifacts and maps detailing where more items can be found. The tribe has "grave concerns regarding the present handling of the occupation as well as the prosecution of the militants," tribal chairwoman Charlotte Rodrique wrote in a letter Friday to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and FBI Director James Comey.

WHAT IS THE FBI DOING?

Federal authorities have taken a hands-off approach so far and say they want a peaceful resolution. Bundy has been in contact with an FBI negotiator and local law enforcement. On Friday Bundy went to the Burns Municipal Airport, where the FBI has set up a staging area, and met briefly with a federal agent. Bundy left because the agent wouldn't talk with him in front of the media. Sieges by federal authorities in the early 1990s led to deadly standoffs in at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and Waco, Texas.
Sound of gunshots reported at San Diego Navy medical center

SAN DIEGO (AP)  An initial inspection at Naval Medical Center San Diego found no sign of a gunman or a shooting, the Navy said Tuesday.

Navy spokesman N. Scott Sutherland said military police had checked Building 26 after a person reported hearing three shots in the basement earlier in the day.

School officials said a lockdown has ended and instruction has resumed at three schools near the medical center.

In addition, TV images showed uniformed Navy personnel walking outside the medical facility. Their hands were in the air and they were being patted down by base police as a precaution.
After ugly first year, Illinois' governor says stay tuned

CHICAGO (AP)  Bruce Rauner takes pride in not being like any of Illinois' previous governors, either on matters of style or substance.

A multimillionaire in his first public office, the former private equity investor drops by watering holes in the state capital of Springfield to have a lowbrow Stag beer, despite having belonged to a six-figure wine club.

He eschews backroom steak dinners and doesn't drink caffeine, instead subsisting on so many salads and vegetable juices that some in the press corps have speculated about the carrot-orange tint to his skin. It's not unusual for him to be the worst-dressed man in a room, sporting plaid shirts that look like they came from the sale rack at a discount store.

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2015 file photo, protesters rally in support of lawmakers ending the state budget impasse at the Illinois state Capitol in Springfield. Gov. Bruce Rauner takes pride in not being like any of Illinois previous governors. Unlike even his Republican predecessors, who often cut deals with Democrats and their labor union allies in the Legislature, Rauner brags about being the first to stand up to them, even as its led to a record-breaking stalemate. Seven months after Illinois last state budget expired, it still doesnt have a new one. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)

Mostly, though, it's his politics. Unlike even his Republican predecessors, who often cut deals with Democrats and their labor union allies in the Legislature, Rauner boasts about being the first to stand up to them, even as it's led to a record-breaking stalemate. Seven months after Illinois' last budget expired, the state still doesn't have a new one, and money is running out for many programs.

Now, after the most unusual first year of any new governor in the country, Rauner is starting 2016 with signs that the strangest may be yet to come. As he prepares for his second State of the State speech this week, he is talking tougher than ever about his adversaries, particularly the "union bosses" he has already called "corrupt," and is raising the specter of growing chaos, including public employee strikes, layoffs and shutdowns in state services.

"I don't know what the tipping point is," said Emily Miller, who has advocated for social service agencies and other organizations at the Capitol for a decade. "The United States hasn't seen anything like this, so it's fair to say Illinois hasn't seen anything like this."

Rauner is one of a handful of GOP governors elected in recent years to lead mostly Democratic states, such as Wisconsin and Michigan, which has produced some big collisions. The tactics on both sides are those now common in Washington  using showdowns and shutdowns rather than compromises to achieve political goals.

But the Illinois struggle is especially bitter and prolonged because the opposition party in the state is so strong, holding supermajorities in the Legislature.

Rauner, who spent more than $27 million from his own bank account to unseat the Democratic incumbent, says he's on a mission to reform a state that wastes public money, has $9 billion in unpaid bills and wants to solve problems with tax increases. He has promised to "deliver value for taxpayers" in part by ending the "self-dealing" by longtime politicians that has led to Illinois' worst-in-the-nation credit rating.

"The key to success in everything in life is persistence, and I am an extraordinarily persistent person," Rauner said Monday. "We need fundamental, dramatic change in Illinois ... We're not going to back down on it."

Rauner is demanding changes he says will attract more jobs to the state, such as weakened unions and lower workers' compensation costs, before he will approve a tax hike that Democrats want to help close a roughly $5 billion budget gap.

Democrats, including Rauner's top rival House Speaker Michael Madigan, have accused him of holding the budget hostage until he gets some of his priorities. They say his changes will lead to lower wages and hurt the middle class. And they believe he will eventually have to back down.

Rauner, Madigan said last week, is "more interested in driving down the wages and standard of living of middle-class families than working together to solve our state's problems."

Rauner's supporters, however, see him as a kind of hero. During stops in GOP-friendly southern Illinois late last year people lined up to take selfies with the long-armed governor, shake his hand and say thank you.

"I know it's got to be a fight but stay after it," local car dealer Keith Summers told Rauner during an event at a Mattoon manufacturing plant.

Both sides see the worsening fallout as perfect ammunition for campaign ads heading into the 2016 elections, when Rauner hopes to chip away at Democrats' statehouse majorities. That's promoted chatter that the siege could last beyond November.

Already, a growing number of social service agencies are closing because of the freeze in state funds. Lutheran Social Services just laid off half its staff and terminated programs such as in-home care for seniors and substance abuse counseling serving about 5,000 people. Several thousand university students are no longer receiving state tuition grants.

With contract deadlines approaching for the 40,000-member AFSCME, the state's largest public-worker union, and for Chicago public teachers, Rauner has said he doesn't want strikes, but if they happen, "We'll win."

Last week, Rauner pushed for a state takeover of the Chicago Public Schools, said Chicago itself should consider filing for bankruptcy and called Mayor Rahm Emanuel a failure.

Calling a news conference to announce a rare bipartisan deal on Illinois' worst-in-the-nation pension crisis, Rauner couldn't stop himself from threatening to strip unions of their power to bargain over wages  remarks that almost derailed the agreement. And he promised that legislators who vote to support the "Chicago machine" will be "called out."
Testimony: Disposable phones used to aid polygamous leader

PHOENIX (AP)  A key witness in a trial against two polygamous towns in Arizona and Utah described Tuesday the elaborate steps the church and communities took to avoid outside law enforcement and help their leader while he was a fugitive, including using "burner" cellphones, encrypted radios and hidden all-terrain vehicles.

Willie Jessop served as a spokesman and head of security for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints before leaving the sect in 2011. He testified about a list of cloak-and-dagger efforts that church leaders and officials in Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, undertook to evade authorities and help their fugitive prophet, Warren Jeffs.

Convinced the local cellphone tower was being monitored, they drove 40 miles from town to make calls. They collected disposable cellphones from around the U.S. and used encrypted radios.

Jessop, a former spokesperson and head of security of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, left the sect in 2011

Jessop said church officials received law enforcement training from former Secret Service members and even went to sniper training.

Many of the efforts were designed to assist Jeffs while he was on the FBI's most-wanted list in 2006, Jessop said. Jeffs was on the run from charges of arranging marriages between girls and older men.

When Jeffs was being moved to a new location, Jessop said he would fly to places around the country to serve as a decoy and throw law enforcement off the trail.

He also said church leaders positioned all-terrain vehicles in various locations as part of their escape plans. When federal and county authorities showed up to serve a subpoena, Jessop said he and Jeffs' brother  a key church figure  motored away in an ATV that was stashed behind fake walls in a Colorado City building.

He said all of those efforts were made in cooperation with town officials  a central component in the trial before a jury in Phoenix.

Jeffs was captured during a 2006 traffic stop outside Las Vegas. Investigators found more than $50,000, cellphones, laptop computers, a police scanner and wigs inside the SUV in which he was traveling.

Jeffs is serving a life sentence in a Texas prison for sexually assaulting one of his 24 underage brides. He is believed to rule the polygamous sect through letters and phone calls from prison.

Jessop also talked about how Jeffs communicates with his followers from behind bars, primarily through coded messages. And he said Jeffs' wives showed up at visits wearing watches that had recording devices.

The U.S. Justice Department alleges Colorado City and Hildale serve as an enforcement arm of the polygamous sect. The government says the towns have discriminated against nonbelievers by denying them housing, water services and police protection.

The communities deny the allegations and say religion isn't a motivating factor in their decisions.

Jessop told jurors that residents must have church approval to serve in government in the towns.

He said a turning point occurred in 2004 when 20 men were booted from the church. "It changed from a church to a cartel," he said.

Lawyers for the towns pressed Jessop on why he remained in the church for seven more years.

Jessop said he turned against church leaders after Texas authorities played him an audio tape in which Jeffs raped a 12-year-old girl. Jessop said he later reviewed another recording in which Jeffs confessed to a rape.

Hildale attorney Blake Hamilton objected to Jessop's testimony about the allegations against Jeffs.

"This is not the criminal trial of Warren Jeffs," Hamilton said.

Outside court, Colorado City attorney Jeff Matura said: "The testimony about Warren Jeffs and his criminal conduct is heartbreaking, especially with respect to this treatment of children, but it's not part of the allegations of this case."

Jessop testified saying that church leaders got law enforcement training from former Secret Service members and even had sniper training

Willie Jessop, a former spokesperson and head of security of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints before leaving the sect in 2011, leaves the Sandra Day O'Connor United States District Court after a day of testifying during a federal civil rights trial against two polygamous towns on the Arizona-Utah line begins Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Attorney Jeff Matura (middle) representing Colorado City, Arizona, attorney Blake Hamilton (right) representing Hildale, Utah, leave court after a day of testimony from Willie Jessop
The Latest: Prosecutor chided for 'Hannibal Lecter' comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  The latest on the 3 inmates who escaped from a California jail (all times local):

5:15 p.m.

Orange County's district attorney has rebuked one of the prosecutors in his office for referring to one of the three escaped inmates there as "Hannibal Lecter."

Prosecutor Heather Brown made the remarks to the Orange County Register, comparing escaped inmate Hossein Nayeri to the famed cannibal villain from "Silence of the Lambs" and other movies and TV shows. She also called Nayeri "diabolical," ''incredibly violent" and "cunning."

On Tuesday her boss, District Attorney Tony Rackauckus (ruh-KAH'-kuhs), called the comments inappropriate, uninformed and rash. He said they were not authorized by him or anyone from his office.

Nayeri, who escaped the maximum-security jail along with two other inmates on Friday, is accused of kidnapping, torture, aggravated mayhem and burglary. Authorities say he kidnapped a marijuana dealer, burned him with a blow torch and cut off his penis because Nayeri thought the man had buried money in the desert.

___

4 p.m.

A spokesman says the sheriff who oversees the California jail where three inmates escaped is extremely troubled by how long it took to determine they were missing.

Orange County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Jeff Hallock expressed the sentiments of Sheriff Sandra Hutchens at a news conference Tuesday, four days after the three inmates escaped from the maximum-security jail.

The inmates got an hours-long head start in part because an attack on a guard delayed an evening count of prisoners.

Hallock said a preliminary investigation has revealed that there could be wider problems with the way this jail keeps track of inmates.

He said the jail is supposed to conduct five counts in a 24-hour period. In two, each inmate is supposed to be matched with a photo, and in the other three a total tally is taken.

Hallock did not specify what the problems in the jail might have been.

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11:45 a.m.

Immigration authorities and records indicate that one of three inmates who escaped from a California jail had been ordered deported to Vietnam in 1998 but remained in the country and racked up a lengthy rap sheet including an attempted murder charge.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Tuesday that 43-year-old Bac Duong came to the United States legally in 1991 but was ordered removed seven years later.

Authorities say Duong had been checking in with federal immigration officials until August 2014.

In 2008, Vietnam agreed to provide documents to help repatriate immigrants but only those who entered the U.S. since July 1995.

U.S. officials can't detain immigrants indefinitely while they await deportation and must release most after six months.
Australia: Nations will respect tribunal on S China Sea

WASHINGTON (AP)  An international arbitration case over the disputed South China Sea that has been boycotted by China will "settle once and for all" whether artificial reefs are entitled to territorial waters, Australia's top diplomat said Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the ruling by the tribunal in the Hague in the case brought by the Philippines will be "extremely important" as a statement of international principle.

She said that although Beijing is saying it will not be bound by the ruling, which is expected later this year, the tribunal's decision "will be embraced and upheld by all other nations with claims or interests in the region."

Julie Bishop attends the launch of the "There's Nothing Like Australia" campaign at Celsius in Bryant Park on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

China has built up several artificial islands to advance its sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea, a major thoroughfare for world trade. China says its claims have a historical basis, but that has brought it into conflict with other claimants like the Philippines and Vietnam, and raised broader international concerns over Beijing's intentions.

"In my mind that arbitration will settle once and for all the question of whether or not an artificial reef can create some kind of 12 nautical mile buffer. Our belief is that it does not as a matter of international law," Bishop told a seminar organized by the Center for a New American Security, a Washington-based think tank.

Australia is not among the claimant governments in the South China Sea, but Bishop said that like the U.S., it supports freedom of navigation and overflight. She sidestepped questions about whether Australia, a close U.S. ally, would follow Washington in conducting a freedom of navigation mission close to China's artificial islands.

She called on Southeast Asian nations and China to put in place a code of conduct on behavior of nations in the South China Sea  an initiative that has made little headway in the past dozen years.
Trump now bills himself as uniter as Cruz and others attack

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Republican Donald Trump is breaking from his reputation as a flame-throwing outsider with just days to go before Iowa's leadoff caucuses, highlighting his willingness to work with Democrats in Congress as part of a closing argument with a distinctly bipartisan tone.

The billionaire businessman's promise to get things done in Washington is a direct contrast to leading GOP rival Ted Cruz, the Texas senator whose brief Washington career has been defined in part by his inability to get along with his own party. Trump's can-do message comes as adversaries begin pouring money into tough ads questioning his commitment to conservative values  attacks that some in the GOP's establishment wing have long awaited.

It's unclear whether it's too little and too late to stop Trump as he tries to become the first Republican in modern political history to win opening primary contests in both Iowa and New Hampshire.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop at Farmington High School, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in Farmington, N.H. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Trump is doing plenty of his own attacking.

"I don't think he'll get anything through Congress because everybody hates him," Trump said of Cruz Tuesday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

Trump claimed to have good relationships with such top congressional Democrats as Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, predicting he could get things done in a way Cruz could not.

"Ted Cruz lies. He is a liar. That's why nobody likes him," Trump said. "That's why he stands on the middle of the Senate floor and can't make a deal with anybody. ... And you know, there's something to say about having a little bit of ability to get other people to do things."

In some ways, Trump's message plays into the hands of his Republican critics, who have long questioned his willingness to stick to conservative principles. Such questions are the focus of a burst of concentrated ads coming from an unusual coalition of Cruz boosters and mainstream GOP figures.

Cruz allies have circulated no fewer than six anti-Trump ads in recent days, the bulk of the advertising coming from super political action committees in a billionaire-funded network called Keep the Promise.

"Donald Trump is not a conservative," one of the ads charges before looping footage of him in 1999 declaring, "I am pro-choice in every respect." Trump says he has since changed his position and opposes abortion rights. That commercial is part of a $2.5 million TV ad buy in Iowa and South Carolina.

Another Keep the Promise ad released on Tuesday proclaims, "Donald Trump will make very bad deals with Democrats." It shows him saying, "Let's get to be a little establishment. We've got to get things done, folks, OK?"

Cruz's own campaign has a new Iowa ad out that hits Trump for having "New York values." That commercial also has a clip of the businessman saying, "How stupid are the people of Iowa?"  an insult he hurled after his poll numbers dipped in an earlier survey.

Some mainstream Republicans have joined the Trump pile-on.

Katie Packer, a senior aide to Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign, launched a super PAC in recent days that's spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for an Iowa-focused anti-Trump campaign that includes television and radio ads in addition to mailers.

"I'm not a big Ted Cruz fan, but I believe that Donald Trump represents a long-term threat to our party beyond just losing the general election," Packer said. "If we nominate a guy without any anchor on our core issues, we've essentially nominated a Democrat."

Backers of other Republican candidates are spending big on negative ads, too, as they fight for support as the establishment alternative to the two front-runners.

Outside groups aiding former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have spent more than $36 million on ads that largely focus on tearing each other down, data from ad tracker Kantar Media's CMAG show. Those groups are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars more on direct mail and digital ads along the same lines, according to filings with federal election regulators.

Those four candidates are vying to be a surprise winner in New Hampshire, the second-to-vote state. Trump is polling at the top of the field there, too.

And all the while, some high-profile conservatives are rallying behind Trump, who has thrilled many in the Republican base with aggressive plans to crack down on illegal immigration and ban Muslims from entering the country, at least temporarily, to safeguard against terrorist threats.

After winning former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's endorsement last week, Trump on Tuesday announced the backing of Christian conservative leader Jerry Falwell, Jr., the son of the late televangelist. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose fame has spread beyond Arizona thanks to his hard-line stance against immigrants in the country illegally, joined Trump at a rally Tuesday in Iowa.

Cruz, too, has unveiled big-name conservative support in recent days, commentator Glenn Beck and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry among them. Yet Falwell's support for Trump may particularly sting.

Falwell is the president of Liberty University, where Cruz formally launched his presidential campaign. Backing from such well-known conservatives could give Trump political cover to promote his relationships with Democrats.

"I've always had a good relationship with Nancy Pelosi. I've never had a problem," Trump said of the House's top Democrat. He said he's "always had a decent relationship" with top Senate Democrat Harry Reid and was "close to" third-ranking Chuck Schumer.

"It's important that you get along," Trump said.
Pastor who was imprisoned in Iran returns home to Idaho

BOISE, Idaho (AP)  An American pastor who was imprisoned for nearly four years in Iran returned home on Tuesday to Boise.

Saeed Abedini landed around 4:40 p.m. on a private plane.

"My first thought was the kids," Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, told KBOI-TV (http://bit.ly/1nNWUPR). "I woke them up. It was exciting. It was just such an amazing moment of running to them ... I just ran and said 'Daddy's coming home, he's free!' They jumped up. They were jumping, dancing. I wish I could have recorded it, but I didn't."

Abedini was one of four Americans released in Iran under a negotiated prisoner exchange on Jan. 16. The U.S. agreed to free seven Iranians from American custody in exchange for the release of Abedini and the others.

The 35-year-old Abedini spent the last five days with his parents and sister at a secluded retreat in Asheville, North Carolina. His wife, Naghmeh, and their children originally planned to meet him at the retreat operated by the Rev. Franklin Graham.

Graham's spokesman, Mark DeMoss, told the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday morning that the plans had changed, with Abedini returning to Boise to reunite with his family.

Graham became an advocate for Saeed in 2013 after Naghmeh Abedini reached out to him, DeMoss said. Graham joined a 2014 prayer vigil outside the White House urging Saeed's release.

"Franklin has just tried to be a good friend and offer support, draw attention to the case, encourage people to pray for Saeed while he was in prison and praying for his family," DeMoss said. "He's offered to stay connected and be helpful in any way that he could. It's become a good friendship."
Escaped inmate was ordered deported to Vietnam in 1998

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  One of three fugitive inmates who escaped from a California jail last week was ordered deported to Vietnam in 1998 but has been in this country racking up a lengthy rap sheet, immigration officials said Tuesday.

Bac Duong, 43, came to the United States legally in 1991 but was ordered removed seven years later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement.

The order came shortly after he served time in state prison on a 1997 burglary conviction, state records show.

This undated booking photo provided by the Orange County, Calif., Sheriff's Department on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, shows 43-year-old Bac Duong, 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; 37-year-old Hossein Nayeri, charged with kidnapping and torture; and 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)

The case is one of thousands involving immigrants convicted of crimes who federal authorities want to deport but haven't been able to because their native countries wouldn't take them back.

In 2012, ex-convict Binh Thai Luc was charged with killing five people in San Francisco after Vietnam didn't issue the travel documents needed to repatriate him.

Immigration officials said they took Duong into custody in 2003 and released him the following year. He continued to check in with authorities as required until 2014, the statement said.

During that time, he also faced a series of charges involving burglary and drug possession and did stints in state prison. Last year, he was charged with attempted murder and assault in the shooting of a man outside a home in Santa Ana.

Federal officials can't keep immigrants locked up indefinitely while they await deportation. Most must be released after six months, except those accused of posing a terrorist threat or deemed especially dangerous.

For many years, Vietnam did not honor U.S. government requests to repatriate deportees. In 2008, Vietnam agreed to provide travel documents for deportees but only those who entered the U.S. since July 1995.

Duong escaped from the Orange County jail on Friday along with Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Hossein Nayeri, 37, by sawing through a quarter-inch thick grill on a dormitory wall and climbing through plumbing tunnels to reach an unguarded area of the roof. There, the men moved aside razor wire and rappelled to the ground using bed linen.

All three are considered dangerous and were awaiting trial in separate violent crimes.

Authorities have focused their search in the county's sizable Vietnamese-American community, where sheriff's officials say two of the men have ties to gangs.

Tieu had been held at the county jail since 2013, accused of murder and attempted murder.

Nayeri was arrested in 2014 on charges including kidnapping and torture. Authorities said he abducted a marijuana dealer, burned him with a blow torch and cut off his penis because Nayeri thought the man had buried money in the desert.

The men were gone for as long as 16 hours before officials noticed they were missing from the common dorm they share with more than 60 other inmates at Orange County Central Jail. An attack on a guard delayed a Friday night head count further.

The sheriff's department has been slow to add more rooftop security cameras at the jail despite a grand jury's recommendations for eight years straight, according to a report in the Orange County Register. The department has said since 2008 that budget constraints prevented upgrades to the camera systems at the five county jails.

There is no evidence so far that the trio had help from the inside, but authorities know it's a possibility, Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said.

Authorities have detected some problems with how inmates were counted at the jail, Hallock told reporters Tuesday. Twice a day, in the morning and evening, jail personnel match photos to each inmate. At three other times, they check that the number of inmates matches jail records, he said.

"The sheriff is extremely troubled by the length of time it took to determine the three inmates housed in a maximum-security jail were unaccounted for," he said.

It was the first escape in nearly three decades from the California facility built in 1968. It holds 900 men and is in Santa Ana, about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

Hallock said the jail's general policy is to do walk-throughs every hour to check on inmates. More thorough searches are done randomly, he said, declining to give more details.

Federal and county authorities are offering a total of $200,000 for information leading to their capture.

___

Associated Press writers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and Don Thompson in Sacramento contributed to this report.

Orange County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Lt. Jeff Hallock takes questions from the media outside the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Three inmates, including a man suspected in a killing, cut through metal, crawled through plumbing tunnels, climbed a roof and rappelled down four stories to freedom using ropes made from bedsheets. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

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 exterior of Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., is seen Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Three inmates, including a man suspected of a killing, cut through metal, crawled through plumbing tunnels, climbed a roof and rappelled down four stories to freedom using ropes made from bedsheets. The three inmates very likely had help from the inside to pull off their daring plan, but they also have the complacency of jail staff to thank, experts in jail and prison security said Monday. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

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)

This Jan. 23, 2016 photo provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Office shows a cell and a vent screen that had been cut, near the floor at center rear, at Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., from which three inmates escaped sometime Friday, Jan. 22. Investigators are pursuing several leads in their search, and in the meantime a separate probe was launched into how the inmates managed to obtain the tools to cut through the steel bars and plumbing tunnels to make it to the roof. (Orange County Sheriff's Office via AP)

This Jan. 23, 2016 photo provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Office shows a closeup view of a vent screen that had been cut and removed inside a cell at Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., from which three inmates escaped sometime Friday, Jan. 22. Investigators are pursuing several leads in their search, and in the meantime a separate probe was launched into how the inmates managed to obtain the tools to cut through the steel bars and plumbing tunnels to make it to the roof. (Orange County Sheriff's Office via AP)
Clinton's loyal women backers wary of a 2008 Iowa repeat

CLINTON, Iowa (AP)  For Iowa Democrat Leslie McCreery, the memories of Hillary Clinton's stunning loss in her state eight years ago are still fresh.

McCreery was there the night of the 2008 caucuses, trying to recruit voters to Clinton's side, only to watch her neighbors back Barack Obama and help carry him to an upset victory. Now, as she prepares to again head Clinton's efforts at her caucus site Monday night, MCreery can't fathom why her candidate's lead again feels in peril.

"It doesn't make sense to me," said McCreery, a 70-year-old retiree from the aptly-named town of Clinton.

In this photo taken Jan. 25, 2016, supporters listen as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign event at the Knoxville School District Administration Office in Knoxville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

McCreery is part of a legion of women  many middle-aged or older  who make up Clinton's most loyal and enthusiastic band of followers. While they're unwavering in their support for the former secretary of state, some are grappling with a combination of confusion and anxiety that another race in Iowa could be slipping away.

"It's just a weird year," said Beverly Williams, a 55-year-old who works at a corn processing plant.

This time around, the unexpected challenge to Clinton comes from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the self-described democratic socialist who has energized young voters and liberals with his calls for a "political revolution" that would include free college tuition and breaking up big Wall Street banks. In the closing days before Monday's caucuses, Sanders' crowds are routinely doubling or tripling Clinton's, particularly in college towns.

Her campaign has tried to infuse her events with youthful enthusiasm, too, typically tapping a young volunteer to speak to the crowd about why he or she is supporting Clinton's candidacy. But the real energy comes from women who are closer to the candidate in age.

They join in chants while waiting in the cold and snow to go through security checks: "It's time, it's time, it's time for a woman in the White House!" ''I believe that she will win! I believe that she will win!"

They burst into applause when a biographical video shows Clinton's 1995 speech in Beijing when she declared, "Women's rights are human rights." And they nod approvingly throughout her remarks as she ticks through economic and foreign policy proposals.

"It's been Hillary all the way," said Mary Charipar, a 63-year-old retired math teacher from Cedar Rapids. "I feel like my future and the future of my children and other people's children, only her hands are going to be able to take care of it."

To be sure, they do hear the complaints about Clinton: that she appears aloof and inaccessible, that she and her husband don't feel bound by some rules  witness the private email controversy  that she's reluctant to tell the full story about some events.

Supporters suggest such criticism is mainly the carping of political foes. However, it is also sometimes heard from Democrats, though they say they still intend to vote for her.

"She's been with us for years and years and years and she's taken her lumps," said Patricia Hanick, 68. "She's been brilliant and she's been accused of a lot of untrustworthy behavior."

Hanick caucused for Obama in 2008 and says she understands why it's Sanders who appears to have momentum as the caucuses draw near. "When the race gets tight, it's a little more exciting to go with the underdog," she said.

Still, Hanick said she learned from her experience backing Obama that inspirational candidates can have their limits. "Inspiration makes you get out and vote, but it doesn't get the job done in the same way that the experience that she brings gets it done," she said.

Women made up 57 percent of caucus goers in the 2008 Democratic contest in Iowa, according to polls of those who participated. Obama won 35 percent of their votes, to Clinton's 30 percent, setting him on the path to the Democratic nomination.

If Sanders is able to replicate other pieces of Obama's Iowa coalition, including young people and first-time caucus goers, Clinton will likely need more women in her corner. The latest Des Moines Register poll showed Clinton leading Sanders among women 49 percent to 32 percent.

Heather Gross, 44, was among those who backed Clinton in 2008. As she prepares to caucus for Clinton once again, she says she sees a more confident candidate.

"She's coming across stronger," said Gross, who attended a Clinton event Monday in her hometown of Oskaloosa, along with her daughter who is volunteering for the campaign. "She just appears to be really comfortable in her skin and appears to know what she wants to do when she becomes president."

Asked whether she worries Clinton could be headed for a repeat of 2008, Gross shook her head emphatically. "She's got this," she said.

___

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC

In this photo taken Jan. 25, 2016, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton signs an autograph for a supporter during a campaign event at the Knoxville School District Administration Office in Knoxville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

In this photo takenJan. 25, 2016, Roberta Zastawniak of Chariton, Iowa, claps as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign event at the Knoxville School District Administration Office in Knoxville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Police: Vegas Strip sidewalk jammed when officer shot at man

LAS VEGAS (AP)  A Las Vegas Strip sidewalk was crowded with people viewing a musical fountain show Friday evening at the Bellagio resort when a veteran police officer answering urgent 911 calls shot twice at a man with a gun, a police official said Tuesday.

Clark County Undersheriff Kevin McMahill showed black-and-white surveillance video of the alleged gunman, later identified as Kahleal Black, 20, of Las Vegas, waving a black snub-nosed .38-caliber revolver at people.

Black was pulling the trigger, although the gun had no bullets, McMahill said. "We're very fortunate that Black's gun was not loaded, or we might have had a very different and tragic outcome," he told reporters.

IDENTIFIES SUSPECT - This booking photo provided by the Clark County jail shows Khaleal Black, 20, of Las Vegas following his arrest Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, for allegedly waving a gun on the Las Vegas Strip. He was arrested after an officer fired several shots and two bystanders were grazed by bullets near the Bellagio fountains. (Clark County Detention Center via AP)

Officer George Smith fired two shots as he exited a patrol vehicle and approached to within 30 feet of Black, McMahill said.

The shots missed Black, but he dropped to the sidewalk and was arrested, McMahill said.

Black is due in court Wednesday on felony charges including assault with a deadly weapon, weapon possession and resisting a police officer.

Black pointed the gun at Smith before the officer fired, McMahill said.

Smith's shots ricocheted off cement pillars, with one grazing the leg of a 4-year-old boy from California who was on his father's shoulders, McMahill said.

The boy was treated at a hospital for what McMahill described as a bruise and a welt.

The other bullet zipped through the shoulder of clothing worn by a homeless man sitting against a pillar nearly 100 yards away.

That man wasn't wounded, McMahill said.

"We're accountable for every round that we fire from an officer's weapon," McMahill said, offering apologies to those who were injured and frightened by the incident. The boy, his parents and the homeless man weren't identified by name.

"In this event we're very lucky that the situation did not end up in a very much worse scenario," the police official said.

Black had a history of mental health issues and suicide threats going back at least a year, including an arrest in January 2015 on an obstruction charge after he was accused of trespassing at a Strip casino-hotel, McMahill said. A psychological evaluation was ordered after Black threatened suicide in jail, but he was cleared and released.

Black was reported missing by a family member a little more than two weeks later, but he returned home in mid-February. Another encounter with police three days later led to another mental health evaluation, but McMahill said he didn't have details about that case.

"This is another example of the many people in our community and our country who are in mental health crisis," McMahill said.

The exact motivation wasn't clear, but on Friday, Black quit his job and left belongings with his brother before going to heart of the Strip.

The shooting took place across Las Vegas Boulevard from where a 24-year-old woman is charged with intentionally plowing a car into a crowd of pedestrians in December, killing one person and injuring at least 35.

The revolver that McMahill said Black had in his hand when he was confronted by Smith had been reported stolen in December after a break-in at a Las Vegas home where McMahill said a hole was cut through a wall into a room where 35 weapons were taken.

Black had been escorted off the property of the Harrah's Las Vegas casino-hotel about 10 minutes before McMahill said he began approaching motorists and tourists at Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard.

"There's a guy with a gun," one woman told a 911 police dispatcher in a recording aired Tuesday. "He's literally right in the middle of the road."

One couple told police that moments before Smith arrived, Black approached them, pointed the revolver at their heads, and pulled the trigger, McMahill said.

____

This story corrects the spelling of the suspect's name, Kahleal Black.

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

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
El Shaarawy joins Roma in loan deal from AC Milan

ROME (AP)  Italy forward Stephan El Shaarawy has joined Roma on loan from AC Milan.

Roma announced the deal on Tuesday, saying it's paying a 1.4 million euro ($1.5 million) transfer fee with an option to make the deal permanent for a fee of 13 million euros ($14 million) before next season.

The 23-year-old El Shaarawy spent the first half of this season on loan with Monaco in the French league.

El Shaarawy made his Serie A debut as a 16-year-old with Genoa then played on loan with Padova in Serie B before joining Milan in 2011.
Flint water crisis is subject of MSNBC special

NEW YORK (AP)  MSNBC's Rachel Maddow says she planned a special broadcast on the Flint, Michigan, water crisis out of concern that assigning political blame was getting more attention than the needs of the city's residents.

Maddow is hosting a special televised town hall meeting from Flint on Wednesday featuring Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow from Michigan, some medical experts and Flint residents. It will air at 9 p.m. EST, during the typical time slot for her show.

"This is not the time for lessons learned from Flint," Maddow said in an interview. "They actually need a lot more intervention than they've been getting."

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, file photo, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow speaks during a Democratic presidential candidate forum at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. Maddow is hosting a special televised town hall meeting from Flint, Mich., on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016, featuring Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, some medical experts and Flint residents. The show will air at 9 p.m. ET, during the typical time slot for her show. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

After an emergency city manager switched Flint's water supply to Flint River water in 2014, the corrosive water caused lead to leach from old pipes, and elevated lead levels were discovered in children.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has said that "every single American should be outraged" by what happened and suggested there would have been quicker corrective action if it took place in a rich white suburb. Flint is 57 percent black.

Since the story has attracted national attention, there's been a tendency among journalists and politicians "to extrapolate from Flint and use it for some broader political agenda," Maddow said.

While there is room for political accountability, Maddow said those talks should be directed at the question of whether people responsible for the problem should be entrusted to fix it.

Maddow said she's been surprised at the response from her viewers to the story, with many seeking to donate money to help residents.

"We actually worried that we had created an opportunity for con artists, because we had created this demand to give money," she said.

Maddow has done several stories on Flint for her show, often focusing on the Michigan law that allowed Gov. Rick Snyder to appoint an emergency manager with power over elected Flint officials.

Snyder, a Republican, hasn't responded to an invitation to attend the town meeting organized by the liberal-leaning network's best-known personality. His office did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

"Hope springs eternal," Maddow said. "I will not say he's not coming until we get there and he's not there. We're doing everything we can to try to get him to come."

MSNBC has also announced that Maddow will co-anchor the network's Iowa caucus coverage with Brian Williams next week.

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Online:
Police search California communities where inmates have ties

SANTA ANA, California (AP)  Unlike similar escapes where dangerous inmates fled into rural areas, the three men who broke out of a Southern California lockup escaped into densely populated suburban communities where they have close ties.

Hundreds of officers are focusing on neighborhoods where the trio charged with violent crimes could be hiding among friends, family or fellow gang members, particularly among Orange County's huge Vietnamese population, authorities said Tuesday, the fourth day of the manhunt.

It is just a few miles from the jail where the trio broke out Friday, and two of the inmates, Jonathan Tieu, 20, Bac Duong, 43, have deep ties to the community, which is among the largest in the U.S.

This undated booking photo provided by the Orange County, Calif., Sheriff's Department on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, shows 43-year-old Bac Duong, 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; 37-year-old Hossein Nayeri, charged with kidnapping and torture; and 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)

Sheriff's officials put out a call in both English and Vietnamese on Monday for help in finding them. The two "may be embedded" there, said sheriff's Lt. Dave Sawyer, who is leading the investigation.

"We sincerely need input from the community to help us," Sawyer said.

Tieu, Duong and Hossein Nayeri, 37, are considered dangerous and all were awaiting trial for separate violent felonies, authorities said. They have now each been charged with the escape.

Tieu had been held since 2013, accused of murder and attempted murder. Duong faced attempted murder and assault charges in the shooting of a man on his front porch. Nayeri was arrested in 2014 on charges including kidnapping and torture. Authorities said he abducted a marijuana dealer, burned him with a blow torch and cut off his penis because Nayeri thought the man had buried money in the desert.

Duong was ordered deported to Vietnam in 1998 but remained in the country and racked up a lengthy criminal record, immigration officials said Tuesday.

Duong came to the United States legally in 1991 but was ordered removed seven years later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement. The order came shortly after he served time in state prison on a 1997 burglary conviction, state records show.

The case is one of thousands involving immigrants convicted of crimes who federal authorities want to deport but haven't been able to because their native countries wouldn't take them back.

Immigration officials said they took Duong into custody in 2003 and released him the following year. He continued to check in with authorities as required until 2014, the statement said.

During that time, he also faced a series of charges involving burglary and drug possession and did stints in state prison. Last year, he was charged with attempted murder and assault in the shooting of a man outside a home in Santa Ana.

Federal officials can't keep immigrants locked up indefinitely while they await deportation. Most must be released after six months, except those accused of posing a terrorist threat or deemed especially dangerous.

For many years, Vietnam did not honor U.S. government requests to repatriate deportees. In 2008, Vietnam agreed to provide travel documents for deportees but only those who entered the U.S. since July 1995.

Duong and the two other inmates were gone for as long as 16 hours before officials noticed they were missing from the common dorm they share with more than 60 other inmates at Orange County Central Jail. An attack on a guard delayed a Friday night head count further.

The trio sawed through a quarter-inch-thick grill on a dormitory wall, got into plumbing tunnels and then sawed through half-inch-thick steel bars as they made their way behind walls to an unguarded area of a roof atop a five-story building. There, they moved aside razor wire and rappelled to the ground using a bed linen.

The sheriff's department has been slow to add more rooftop security cameras at the jail despite a grand jury's recommendations for eight years straight, according to a report Monday in the Orange County Register (http://bit.ly/1OLYVow ). The department has said since 2008 that budget constraints prevented upgrades to the camera systems at the five county jails.

The escape was eerily similar to one last year in New York, where two inmates cut through a portion of a wall hidden under a bunk bed and used piping and tunnels inside the facility to get out. But the search for the pair focused on nearby woods instead of a dense urban population.

A major question for California investigators will be how the men could plan and execute their escape with such precision, said Kevin Tamez, a managing partner for MPM Group, a Philadelphia-based firm that consults on prison security, management and infrastructure.

There is no evidence so far that the trio had help from the inside, but authorities know it's a possibility, Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said.

Authorities have detected some problems with how inmates were counted at the jail, Hallock told reporters Tuesday. Twice a day, in the morning and evening, jail personnel match photos to each inmate. At three other times, they check that the number of inmates matches jail records, he said.

"The sheriff is extremely troubled by the length of time it took to determine the three inmates housed in a maximum-security jail were unaccounted for," he said.

It was the first escape in nearly three decades from the California facility built in 1968. It holds 900 men and is in Santa Ana, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles.

Hallock said the jail's general policy is to do walk-throughs every hour to check on inmates. More thorough searches are done randomly, he said, declining to give more details.

Federal and county authorities are offering a combined $200,000 for information leading to their capture.

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Associated Press writers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and Don Thompson in Sacramento contributed to this report.

Orange County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Lt. Jeff Hallock takes questions from the media outside the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Three inmates, including a man suspected in a killing, cut through metal, crawled through plumbing tunnels, climbed a roof and rappelled down four stories to freedom using ropes made from bedsheets. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

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 exterior of Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., is seen Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Three inmates, including a man suspected of a killing, cut through metal, crawled through plumbing tunnels, climbed a roof and rappelled down four stories to freedom using ropes made from bedsheets. The three inmates very likely had help from the inside to pull off their daring plan, but they also have the complacency of jail staff to thank, experts in jail and prison security said Monday. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

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)

This undated booking photo provided by the Orange County, Calif., Sheriff's Department on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, shows 43-year-old Bac Duong, 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; 37-year-old Hossein Nayeri, charged with kidnapping and torture; and 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 Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, photo provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Office shows a cord made of an undetermined fabric that facilitated the escape of three inmates from Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., sometime Friday. Investigators are pursuing several leads in their search for the inmates, and in the meantime a separate probe was launched into how the inmates managed to obtain the tools to cut through the steel bars and plumbing tunnels to make it to the roof. (Orange County Sheriff's Office via AP)

This Jan. 23, 2016 photo provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Office shows a cell and a vent screen that had been cut, near the floor at center rear, at Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., from which three inmates escaped sometime Friday, Jan. 22. Investigators are pursuing several leads in their search, and in the meantime a separate probe was launched into how the inmates managed to obtain the tools to cut through the steel bars and plumbing tunnels to make it to the roof. (Orange County Sheriff's Office via AP)

This Jan. 23, 2016 photo provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Office shows a closeup view of a vent screen that had been cut and removed inside a cell at Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., from which three inmates escaped sometime Friday, Jan. 22. Investigators are pursuing several leads in their search, and in the meantime a separate probe was launched into how the inmates managed to obtain the tools to cut through the steel bars and plumbing tunnels to make it to the roof. (Orange County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Orange County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Lt. Jeff Hallock, left, takes questions from the media in Santa Ana, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Three inmates from Orange County Men's Central Jail, including a man suspected in a killing, cut through metal, crawled through plumbing tunnels, climbed a roof and rappelled down four stories to freedom using ropes made from bedsheets. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

The exterior of Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., is seen Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Three inmates, including a man suspected of a killing, cut through metal, crawled through plumbing tunnels, climbed a roof and rappelled down four stories to freedom using ropes made from bedsheets. The three inmates very likely had help from the inside to pull off their daring plan, but they also have the complacency of jail staff to thank, experts in jail and prison security said Monday. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Argentina's government fights plague of locusts

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)  Argentina's agricultural inspection agency said Thursday that it is keeping up efforts to control a locust infestation threatening crops in at least three states.

The agency said in a statement it has controlled 31 new outbreaks of the insect in the states of Catamarca, Santiago del Estero and Cordoba.

The plague today affects some 700,000 hectares, said the Rural Confederations of Argentina in an emailed statement. It is the worst infestation since 1954, said Juan Pablo Karnatz, president of a farmers' association in Santiago del Estero.

The farmers warned the government of the first signs of the infestation in July of last year, but the authorities did not respond adequately, said Karnatz. Only after new officials took charge of the inspection agency did the government begin to attack the problem head on, he said.

"Before the farmers were combating the plague on their own," Karnatz said.
FBI: Man plotted machine gun attack on Masonic temple

MILWAUKEE (AP)  A Milwaukee man wanted to storm a Masonic temple with a machine gun and kill at least 30 people in an attack he hoped would show "nobody can play with Muslims" and spark more mass shootings in the United States, federal agents said Tuesday after the man's arrest.

Federal prosecutors charged 23-year-old Samy Mohamed Hamzeh with unlawfully possessing a machine gun and receiving and possessing firearms not registered to him. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney, Dean Puschnig, didn't immediately respond to a question asking why charges were limited to gun possession. Hamzeh's attorney, federal defender Ronnie Murray, didn't immediately return email and voicemail messages left after business hours.

According to an FBI affidavit, agents were tipped off in September that Hamzeh planned to travel to Israel in October to attack Israeli soldiers and citizens in the West Bank. He abandoned those plans due to "family, financial and logistic reasons," the affidavit said, but refocused his efforts on a domestic attack.

Samy Mohamed Hamzeh is seen in an undated photo provided by the Waukesha County (Wis.) Sheriffs Department. Federal prosecutors charged 23-year-old Samy Mohamed Hamzeh on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, with unlawfully possessing a machine gun and receiving and possessing firearms not registered to him. Federal agents said Tuesday that Mohamed Hamzeh wanted to storm a Masonic temple with a machine gun and kill at least 30 people in an attack he hoped would show "nobody can play with Muslims" and spark more mass shootings in the United States. (Waukesha County (Wis.) Sheriffs Department via AP)

Hamzeh discussed his plans extensively with two FBI informants. The affidavit said the FBI started recording his conversations with the informants in October.

Hamzeh and the two informants traveled to a gun range on Jan. 19 and practiced with a pistol. Afterward they took a tour of a Masonic temple in Milwaukee. The affidavit does not name the temple and Puschnig declined to identify it.

Masons are members of a fraternal organization that carries out a variety of activities including charity work. Wisconsin has nearly 11,000 Masons in 180 lodges, according to Frank Struble, grand master of Free and Accepted Masons in Wisconsin. The organization is not a religion.

Struble said the allegations were "hard to hear." He said he knew which Masonic center had been targeted but declined to identify it.

"Masons are a part of an organization that helped build this country," Struble said. "I can understand from that standpoint where someone who is against this country would target us."

The owner of a downtown Milwaukee gym said she recently fired Hamzeh after hiring him as a trainer just a few weeks ago.

Delia Luna of 9Round Kickbox Fitness described Hamzeh as "very intense, very militant" as a trainer and said he didn't fit the atmosphere she wanted to create.

"He didn't mix well," Luna said.

Federal agents said that on Jan. 19 and into the early morning of Jan. 20, Hamzeh discussed his plans to attack the temple with the informants, telling them they needed two more machine guns  the group apparently already had one  and silencers. They planned to station one person at the temple's entrance while the other two went through the building, killing everyone they saw. They then planned to walk away from the scene as if nothing had happened.

"I am telling you, if this hit is executed, it will be known all over the world ... all the Mujahedeen will be talking and they will be proud of us," Hamzeh said, according to the affidavit. "Such operations will increase in America, when they hear about it. The people will be scared and the operations will increase. ... This way we will be igniting it. I mean we are marching at the front of the war."

Hamzeh added that he hoped to kill 30 people, "because these 30 will terrify the world. The (expletive) will know that nobody can play with Muslims."

He added, "We are here defending Islam, young people together join to defend Islam, that's it, that is what our intention is."

According to the affidavit, Hamzeh met with two undercover FBI agents on Monday. They presented him with two automatic machine guns and a silencer. He paid for the weapons and silencer in cash and put them in the trunk of his car. The agents then arrested him and recovered the guns and silencer.

Hamzeh's arrest marks the Milwaukee area's second brush with a mass shooting in less than four years. A white supremacist named Wade Michael Page fatally shot six people at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, a Milwaukee suburb, in 2012. Page shot himself in the head after a police officer wounded him.

Last month Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, opened fire on a social services center in San Bernardino, California, killing 14 people. They later died in a shootout with police.

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Man drives 1,700 miles to retrieve his lost-and-found cat

NEW BERN, N.C. (AP)  A cat named Hemi, who vanished in 2011 and reappeared mysteriously last week, is back with the man who had adopted him as a kitten and drove 1,700 miles from North Dakota to retrieve his lost-and-found pet.

Several news outlets report that Robert Connell drove from Bismarck to the Craven County, North Carolina, animal shelter to pick up Hemi on Monday. Connell says he decided to make the drive after a winter storm nixed plans for a family friend to fly Hemi to Bismarck.

Connell served as a Marine, and he says Hemi helped him cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.

In this photo taken Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, Robert Connell pets his cat Hemi during their reunion in New Bern, N.C.. Connell drove 1,700 miles from North Dakota to retrieve his lost-and-found pet. Robert and his wife lived in North Carolina when they found Hemi in 2009. Hemi disappeared in 2011 when Robert deployed. Hemi turned up last week, and a microchip enabled officials to find the Connells, who later moved to Bismarck, N.D., when Robert got a new job. (Bill Hand/Sun Journal via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

"I wouldn't say he's my spirit animal, but I helped him. He helped me," Connell told the Sun Journal of New Bern, North Carolina.

Trinity Smith, Craven County animal control supervisor, tried to talk Connell out of driving to North Carolina because of the bad weather he was certain to encounter along the journey. A weekend blizzard walloped much of the eastern U.S., including parts of the Carolinas.

"But he's a Marine," she said.

Connell left home Saturday and arrived Monday afternoon at the shelter.

The Connells were living in North Carolina when they found Hemi on the engine of their car in 2009. Hemi disappeared in 2011 when Robert deployed and the family moved from Havelock to housing on Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station.

The family later moved to Bismarck when Robert Connell left the Marines and got a job as a train engineer.

When Hemi turned up at the Craven County shelter last week, staffers there found a microchip on him. It led them to Connell and his wife, Jennifer.

Connell planned to visit relatives in Greensboro for a day before heading home, where he will reintroduce Hemi to his wife and children by the weekend.

He hopes Hemi is ready to live the good life.

"What have you been up to?" he asked his cat Monday. "Are you ready to come home and be spoiled?"

In this photo taken Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, Robert Connell poses with his cat Hemi during their reunion in New Bern, N.C. Connell drove 1,700 miles from North Dakota to retrieve his lost-and-found pet. Robert and his wife lived in North Carolina when they found Hemi in 2009. Hemi disappeared in 2011 when Robert deployed. Hemi turned up last week, and a microchip enabled officials to find the Connells, who later moved to Bismarck, N.D., when Robert got a new job. (Bill Hand/Sun Journal via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Sanders says no tragedy if he loses Iowa; he can still win

DULUTH, Minn. (AP)  Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Tuesday his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination would succeed even if he fails to prevail in the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses, saying in an interview with The Associated Press he was prepared to go the distance against front-runner Hillary Clinton.

"If I lose Iowa by two votes and end up with virtually the same number of delegates, is that a must-lose situation? Is that a tragedy? No," Sanders said aboard a charter flight en route to Duluth, Minnesota, where he spoke at a rally with 6,000 supporters. "We are running a campaign that will take us to the convention and I'm very proud of the kinds of enormous gains we have made."

Sanders has said previously that he could win Iowa but his comments suggested an attempt to lower expectations in the final week before the caucuses. Asked if the Iowa contest is a must-win, he responded: "That's mythology."

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks during a news conference after a stop at the United Steelworkers Local 310L union hall, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Sanders told reporters earlier in the day in Des Moines that if he could generate large turnout among non-traditional voters, young people and workers, he could claim victory.

"We will win here in Iowa if the voter turnout is high and frankly if the voter turnout is not high we're going to be struggling," he said.

In the AP interview, he noted with a populist flair that if former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg entered a race against him and Republican Donald Trump, "two of the three candidates would be multi-billionaires. And by the way I'm the one who is not the multi-billionaire." Turning to his wife, Jane, he quipped: "Is that correct? I haven't checked the bank account lately."

Sanders, an independent who often votes with Democrats on Capitol Hill, said Bloomberg's interest in a presidential bid brought forth "one of the issues that I think galls the American people  that we're moving toward an oligarchic form of society."

He also dismissed speculation that President Barack Obama might be tipping the scales in favor of Clinton after the president praised his former secretary of state in a Politico interview. Sanders said Obama was "very generous to me." He said both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are trying to be "objective and letting the people decide."

The White House said later that Sanders would meet informally with Obama in the Oval Office on Wednesday and "there will be no formal agenda."

Sanders said he and Clinton are in a "nip-and-tuck" race in Iowa but predicted that, with a success, he would begin to see more support from establishment Democrats who have coalesced around the former secretary of state's candidacy.

Asked if establishment Democrats would become unnerved if he defeated Clinton in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sanders said "the good news is we still live in a democracy and people have a say in this."

"Some elements of the establishment really will be upset," he added. "But other elements of the establishment, even if they are not supportive of my candidacy, today understand that the major task in front of us is to defeat right-wing extremism."

He added: "What Democrats want to do is defeat Republicans and if I'm the candidate best able to do that, you can bet your bottom buck we're going to have a whole lot of establishment Democrats on board."

Sanders said he did not know if Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a favorite of liberal Democrats, would endorse in the primary.

"Would I like her to come on board? Yes," Sanders said. "Elizabeth and I have known each other for many, many years. I knew her before you knew her, before she was Elizabeth Warren. Just a law school professor at Harvard who came to Vermont at my request to do some town meetings and did a great job."

Sanders held rallies in Duluth and St. Paul, Minnesota, preparing for the state's March 1 presidential caucus. Joined by Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., one of his top supporters in Congress, Sanders has identified the state as one of his top targets in the so-called "Super Tuesday" states that will award a bevy of delegates after the early contests of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

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Follow Ken Thomas on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/kthomasDC

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks during a stop at the United Steelworkers Local 310L union hall, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks during a news conference after a stop at the United Steelworkers Local 310L union hall, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks during a stop at the United Steelworkers Local 310L union hall, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Research begins into possibility of a vaccine for Zika virus

WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. government is beginning research into a possible vaccine for the mosquito-borne Zika virus that is suspected of causing an unusual birth defect as it spreads in Latin America.

Don't expect protection anytime soon  vaccine development typically takes years.

"This is not going to be overnight," Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said in an interview Tuesday.

A city worker fumigates to combat the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus, at the San Judas Community in San Salvador, El Salvador, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Worries about the rapid spread of Zika through the hemisphere has prompted officials in El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil to suggest women stop getting pregnant until the crisis has passed. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

But there are vaccines in various stages of development for other viruses in the same family  dengue, West Nile and chikungunya  that offer a pattern for creating something similar against Zika, said Fauci, who directs NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

NIH researchers have begun some initial work, and the agency also plans to boost funding to some Brazilian scientists to accelerate Zika-related research, he said.

President Barack Obama met Tuesday with his senior health advisers, including Fauci, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Centers for Disease Control Director Thomas Frieden. The White House said Obama urged them to accelerate research into diagnostic tests, vaccines and therapeutic drugs, and work to inform Americans about the Zika virus and ways to protect against infection.

The Zika virus, first discovered decades ago in Africa, was long thought to be more of a nuisance illness, with symptoms generally much milder than its cousin dengue. But amid a large Zika outbreak in Brazil, researchers began reporting an increase in a rare birth defect named microcephaly  babies born with abnormally small heads. While scientists try to prove if Zika is the cause, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised pregnant women to reconsider travel to Brazil and 21 other countries and territories with outbreaks.

If a Zika vaccine eventually were developed, it's not clear how widely it would be used.

A health worker stands in the Sambadrome as he sprays insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Inspectors begin to spray insecticide around Sambadrome, the outdoor grounds where thousands of dancers and musicians will parade during the city's Feb. 5-10 Carnival celebrations. Brazil's health minister says the country will mobilize some 220,000 troops to battle the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Hot yoga founder ordered to pay nearly $6.5M in damages

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The founder of Bikram yoga on Tuesday was ordered to pay nearly $6.5 million to his former legal adviser who said he sexually harassed and wrongfully fired her for investigating another woman's rape allegation.

The punitive damages are in addition to the $924,000 in compensatory damages that Bikram Choudhury must pay to his former legal adviser, Minakshi "Miki" Jafa-Bodden. That brings the total damages to about $7.4 million.

"This is a good day for women," Jafa-Bodden said in a statement following the Los Angeles jury's verdict.

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2003, file photo, Bikram Choudhury, front, founder of the Yoga College of India and creator and producer of Yoga Expo 2003, leads what organizers hope will be the world's largest yoga class at the Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. A Los Angeles jury on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, ordered Choudhury to pay $924,500 in compensatory damages after finding he had subjected a lawyer to harassment and retaliation. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

Choudhury's attorney, Robert Tafoya, did not return calls for comment Monday or Tuesday.

Jafa-Bodden worked as head of legal and international affairs at Choudhury's Los Angeles yoga school from spring 2011 until March 2013, when she said she was abruptly fired from her six-figure position for refusing to cover up an investigation into a rape allegation.

"Jafa-Bodden faced retaliation and intimidation when she refused to stay silent about witnessing illegal behavior," her attorney, Mark Quigley, said in a statement.

Additionally, Jafa-Bodden said Choudhury sexually harassed and inappropriately touched her, and tried to get her to stay with him in a hotel suite.

Choudhury, 69, has built an empire around Bikram yoga, a rigorous, 90-minute routine performed in a room that can reach more than 100 degrees. The technique is taught at more than 650 studios worldwide and has drawn a throng of devoted followers.

Choudhury contends he is now nearly bankrupt.

Jafa-Bodden's wrongful termination lawsuit is separate from sexual assault lawsuits filed by six other women, five of whom accuse Choudhury of raping them. One of those lawsuits is in the process of being settled while the rest are set for trial later this year.

His attorneys have said he never sexually assaulted any of the women suing him and that prosecutors had declined to bring charges in their cases.

Mary Shea, one of the attorneys representing the women filing the assault lawsuits, said prosecutors never investigated the allegations and that just because charges weren't filed doesn't mean the women aren't telling the truth.

"These are all very brave women who've had the courage to stand up against very serious opposition and public scrutiny," she said. "If anything, this (verdict) has given them the confidence to go forward and speak their truth."

Choudhury experienced another major court loss in October when he lost an appeal to copyright his sequence of 26 poses and two breathing exercises.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the sequence used in hot yoga classes is a process intended to improve people's health, so copyright law does not cover it.

___

Follow Amanda Lee Myers on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AmandaLeeAP. Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/amanda-lee-myers.
Trust warns of problems schools face in recruiting headteachers

Many of England's schools are struggling to recruit headteachers, a report warns.

More needs to be done to attract good candidates to fill the posts, according to The Future Leaders Trust, such as urging current school leaders to identify those with the potential to lead schools and help them to develop the skills they need for the job.

A survey conducted last year by the National Governors' Association (NGA) found that more than two fifths (43%) of schools polled said it was difficult to find good candidates when recruiting senior staff, the report notes.

File photo dated 13/06/08 of a pupil after an exam as many headteachers are against a government move which will require all teenagers to take GCSEs in traditional academic subjects, a survey by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) found.

At the same time, a poll conducted by the Future Leaders Trust in 2015 concluded that more than a quarter of heads questioned (28%) were planning to leave the post within five years, while over half said they did not expect to be a headteacher in 10 years.

Heath Monk, chief executive of The Future Leaders Trust, said: "Fewer people are applying to become heads and that means even fewer people are applying to lead schools that serve our most disadvantaged students. Without effective and inspiring leadership these children are losing out on the education they need.

"The talent is out there but many people need encouragement to understand they can step up. The solution is for existing heads to spot potential leaders in their schools and inspire them about headship."

In the report, Emma Knights, NGA chief executive, says not enough is known about the causes of the shortage in school leaders.

"Headship can be pressured and potentially lonely, and maintaining a healthy work/life balance can be difficult," Ms Knights says.

"Although a good chair and governing board will support the head, this is the nature of top leadership posts. Is school leadership less attractive because of the data-driven accountability? Or could it be that teachers don't seem to move around the country as much as other professionals?

"Has the shortage got anything to do with the fact that teaching is a female-dominated profession but women are under-represented in headship?"

One factor could be teachers' lack of experience in applying for jobs, Ms Knights suggests.

"Many governors have experience of recruiting in their professional lives, and the first time they are involved in school recruitment can be a surprise: the quality of some applications is shocking."

The move to create federations of schools and groups of academies run by a single trust could help solve the problem, Ms Knights suggests.

"We need to be more creative and braver: does every school actually need a traditional 'headteacher'?

"Groups of schools - federations and multi-academy trusts - give the opportunity for different roles that could help the recruitment problem.

"Allowing a head of school to lead teaching and learning, without the full business responsibilities of running an organisation, could be an all-round win."

A DfE spokesman said: "High quality school leaders are essential in delivering our vision of educational excellence everywhere.

"We are making good progress towards this goal with Ofsted rating 85% of schools as 'good' or 'outstanding' for leadership and management as well as a headteacher vacancy rate of just 0.2%, but we are not complacent.
Child abuse survivors take their former Catholic diocese to court

Survivors of child abuse within the Catholic Church are taking their former diocese to court after allegations of an institutional cover-up going back decades.

The claims - dating back to the 1950s and featuring pupils at a church school in the north west of England - mirror those in the recent Spotlight film, tipped for Oscars success for its real-life depiction of similar allegations in the Catholic Church in Boston, US, in the 1980s.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the British victims, who were aged between 11 and 15 at the time of the abuse, said they hope the positivity met with Spotlight's release will help give other victims the strength to come forward and make allegations.

Child abuse survivors are bringing a case against their ex-Catholic diocese which should reach the High Court in the summer

Thomas Beale, representing victims with London-based child abuse lawyers AO Advocates, said there were "significant" similarities between Spotlight and the allegations of abuse at St Bede's Catholic school in Manchester decades ago.

He said: "I hope society is moving in the right direction and the film can only help that.

"In our clients' case, knowing there are other people suffering in the same way gave them strength to come forward. I hope the film only adds to that. The church is not dealing with this in the way it says it will.

"In one case, my client complained against a member of staff, and he was simply moved elsewhere, we are seeing the same happening in Boston in Spotlight."

The film, starring Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo, tells the true story of how the Boston Globe's journalists uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic archdiocese.

The allegations at St Bede's, with a reputation for being the finest Catholic grammar school in the north west at the time, relate to Monsignor Thomas Duggan, Father Charles Mulholland and Father Vincent Hamilton - three senior figures at the school who carried out the alleged abuse.

They died before being brought to justice, but the survivors are now taking out a civil case against the Diocese of Salford for what they say is a failure to protect them from abuse.

Allegations range from inappropriate touching to rape.

Rick Merrin, one of the survivors, whose police witness statement has been seen by the Press Association, said: "My time at St Bede's was consistently marred by these sexual interactions - protracted grooming, sexual abuse and rape - with a number of priests and the often gratuitous violence of the disciplinary system."

He said it was "difficult to believe" other priests at the diocese were unaware of what was happening to some of the boys.

But he said he was speaking to police and lawyers because he hoped that he "can play even a small role in minimising future clerical abuse and cover-ups".

Lawyer Mr Beale said: "I think it's important to remember that these boys came from very devout, working class families in Manchester.

"They had scholarships to attend this hugely prestigious school. They were deprived of the opportunity to flourish and meet their full potential because of the horrific abuse they suffered.

"These individuals left school with little or no qualifications, their relationships broke down and a number have suffered from alcohol problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety as a result of the abuse they suffered.

"It wasn't just the sins of the individual, it was the failure of the church to address these complaints properly."

The case is expected to reach the High Court in the summer.
Emergency decontamination units used in flood defence work axed

Emergency decontamination units used in previous flood defence operations were among those axed in Government cuts, the Press Association has learned.

And union chiefs have ordered a health and safety review over concerns firefighters called out to deal with chemical spills or fires involving hazardous materials could face delays in being decontaminated.

Critics had already warned the decision to remove from service a third of the Incident Response Units (IRUs) equipped to deal with a "dirty bomb" and other major incidents posed a terror risk with "disastrous consequences for human safety".

Critics had already warned the decision to remove a third of the Incident Response Units could have "disastrous consequences for human safety"

Now there are fears it has compromised the capacity to deal with the sort of devastating floods which hit parts of the UK over Christmas.

Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said: "I urged ministers to put these plans on hold last month but they axed a third of these emergency vehicles at the height of the floods.

"Yet again, David Cameron's crude cost-cutting hindered the country's ability to cope with flooding.

"The plans were hatched in secret, without any public information or consultation. Ministers must make a statement to Parliament about the impact of this decision on the country's ability to respond to national emergencies."

Deployments of the scrapped Incident Response Units (IRUs) were revealed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the Press Association.

Logs showed one of the units taken out of service on December 31 - based at Bovey Tracey in Devon - was used for "decontamination of firefighters and other agencies" during the massive floods that affected the Somerset Levels and other parts of the West Country in 2014.

Another was sent twice from the fire station at Godstone, Surrey, "to assist the Environment Agency with erecting dams" as the South East also struggled to cope with burst rivers.

IRUs based in Wimbledon and in East Greenwich, London - among the four of the capital's 10 units being scrapped - were sent to provide shelter using tents designed to house showers for mass decontamination.

Units were also deployed in 14 "hazmat" incidents in the last two years - being called on to decontaminate firefighters in four cases and provide lighting to assist their work in another.

Half of those were in Cambridgeshire, where the axed IRU at St Neots was on "pre-determined attendance".

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said that raised questions about what cover would be in place in areas that included the units as part of their standard response.

He told the Press Association he would ask FBU health and safety officials to establish what action was being taken to ensure firefighters are not put at risk.

In another eight cases, units were sent out to fires and used once for decontamination of firefighters.

DCLG refused a request to release risk assessments of the cutbacks, carried out in conjunction with the Chief Fire Officers' Association (CFOA), on the grounds of "national security".

It concluded that 43 IRUs were sufficient "in order to meet the scale of event identified within the national resilience planning assumptions".

The 22 deemed surplus to requirements were taken out of service "almost immediately", it explained, because their power respirator protective suits (PRPS) were about to pass their expiry dates.

New suits are being bought for the units that remain in service.

The Government said the move would not compromise safety because it was " better to issue all front-line responders with the training to begin decontamination rather than wait for specialist services to arrive".

Mr Wrack said it appeared however that the cost of replacing the kit was a motivation for the scaling down, despite the UK's terror threat level being at "severe", meaning an attack is considered "highly likely".

In the event of a chemical or biological attack people "are going to waiting longer" to be decontaminated, he said, despite speed being a crucial factor in responding.

While it made "perfect sense" for forces to use the IRUs for non-terror responses, he said the withdrawal would leave forces having to find alternatives - still at taxpayers' expense.

"It's robbing Peter to pay Paul," he said

DCLG did not give details of how much cash the move would save in reduced central government funding to local forces for the operation of the IRUs, which were introduced as a national anti-terror measure in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the US.

"The calculation will be made and the amounts for 2016/17 published later in the year," it said.

The move - which Labour said was made without consultation - emerged days before the axe fell in a CFOA briefing note leaked to Mr Burnham.

Disposal of the units is under review by the CFOA.

IRUs are equipped to provide mass decontamination facilities at incidents where large numbers of people have been exposed to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials.

Showers, protective clothing and detectors are among the equipment on board the trucks, which are ready at all times to be taken out by specially-trained firefighters from local brigades.

:: The IRUs being axed are those based in: Alfreton, Derbyshire; Broughton, Buckinghamshire; Blandford, Dorset; Bovey Tracey, Devon and Somerset; Burton, Staffordshire; Canley, West Midlands; Cheltenham, Gloucestershire; East Greenwich, London; Godstone, Surrey; Hereford, Hereford and Worcester; Morecambe, Lancashire; Penzance, Cornwall; Plaistow, London; Slade Park, Oxfordshire; Southern, Leicestershire; St Albans, Hertfordshire; St Neots, Cambridgeshire; Stalybridge, Greater Manchester; Stanmore, London; Walsall, West Midlands; Wimbledon, London; Winsford, Cheshire.

A Government spokesman insisted that there was " no extra risk to the public through withdrawing the excess units".

Standard fire engine hoses were used in the vast majority of cases where firefighters' clothing and boots needed to be washed down after being in contact with contaminated flood water, officials pointed out.

The spokesman added: "Public safety is our number one priority.

"We are reducing the number of units which respond to contamination incidents because some of them are surplus to requirements.

"Research and experience shows that speed is of the essence in dealing with major incidents, which is why it is better to give all front line responders the training to begin decontamination straight away.
Catherine Zeta-Jones relishing homecoming for Dad's Army film

Catherine Zeta-Jones said filming the new movie version of TV classic comedy Dad's Army reminded her how much she loves the UK.

Her affection may not have extended to the British weather though as the cast huddled under umbrellas on a damp red carpet at the film's world premiere in Leicester Square.

The Welsh actress, 46, kept all eyes off the rain clouds in her low-cut teal dress as she joined co-stars Toby Jones, Sir Tom Courtenay and Sir Michael Gambon.

Catherine Zeta-Jones at the world premiere of Dad's Army at the Odeon Leicester Square, London

Now based in Los Angeles with husband Michael Douglas and their two children, Zeta-Jones said filming it in England was like "coming home to a cup of Ovaltine".

She said: "It was everything I hoped it to be, it was all these great actors, knew their lines, knew what they were doing.

"We were laughing all the way through it and it just reminded me how much I love being in the UK to work and to be with British actors.

"It's nice to come home and this was like coming home to a cup of Ovaltine, nice and cosy."

The big screen version of the Second World War-set BBC sitcom, which ran from 1968-77, sees Zeta-Jones plays journalist Rose Winters, whose arrival in Walmington-on-Sea to report on Captain Mainwaring's (Jones) Home Guard sets pulses racing and proves a distraction while the group try to smoke out a German spy in their midst.

Suddenly the fate of the nation falls in the hands of the Home Guard played by an all-star British cast which also includes Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, Bill Paterson as Frazer, Daniel Mays as Walker and Blake Harrison as Private Pike.

Sir Michael says the set was full of laughter.

"It was nothing but laughing and fooling around. I was mucking around with all of them," he said.

It was not too difficult for Sir Michael to get into character as he said was just like gentle but doddery Private Godfrey, best remembered for perpetually nodding off and being excused for his weak bladder.

He joked: "I'm like Godfrey, I'm always mooching around, I'm not doing anything right, I forget things. If someone says left, I turn right. I'm not very bright up here."

Filming felt like "coming home" for the last two surviving cast members of the original TV version: Frank Williams revives his role as Reverend Timothy Farthing in the new film and Pike actor Ian Lavender has a cameo.

Williams said: "It takes me back to a very happy time in my life when I was doing Dad's Army originally and as my scenes are in the church hall, it was very much like coming home again."

Lavender admitted he was jealous of the new Pike, who not only has a girlfriend in the new film, but, he discovered, gets to share a kiss with Zeta-Jones.

"Blake kept that one quiet from me! If they'd have put that in my script, I'd have done it for half the money," he laughed.

All the cast acknowledged the risk involved in remaking such an well-loved show - which can still attract three million viewers for TV repeats - but hope it will introduce a new audience to the characters.

" I think it's so touching and heart warming it'll inspire a whole new generation of lovers of Dad's Army," Zeta-Jones said.

The film is out in UK cinemas on February 5.

Toby Jones and Catherine Zeta-Jones on the red carpet

From left, Daniel Mays, Toby Jones, Sir Michael Gambon, Catherine Zeta Jones, Blake Harrison, Tom Courtenay and Bill Paterson

The cast and crew of Dad's Army pose for photos

Toby Jones stars in the film as Captain Mainwaring

Michael Gambon stars as Private Godfrey in the movie

Felicity Montagu stars as Mrs Mainwaring

Tom Courtenay keeps himself dry on the red carpet

Ian Lavender, who starred in the TV series as Private Pike, attended the premiere

Creator of the Dad's Army TV series Jimmy Perry also made an appearance

Miss Great Britain, Zara Holland was on the red carpet

Best of British Dame Kelly Holmes was in attendance

Blake Harrison, known to many younger viewers for his role as Neil in The Inbetweeners, stars in the film
Google tax deal 'ridiculous', says TV expert Steve Lewis

Google has got off "lightly" with its 130 million UK tax payback deal, says one of the stars of a TV show that saw small firms in a Welsh town "go offshore" with their accounts.

The search engine giant has been criticised after agreeing to pay back the Treasury - which critics say brings its 10-year tax bill to effectively just 3% of an estimated 7.2 billion profit.

Most British businesses currently pay corporation tax on 20% of their profits.

Google was criticised after agreeing to pay back the Treasury 130 million

Steve Lewis, who featured in the BBC Two show The Town That Took on the Taxman, branded the situation as "ridiculous".

He said: "Google must have been over the moon with how lightly it got off. They probably thought all their Christmases and New Years had come at once.

"If you look at their turnover for the UK it is eight figures - the money they should pay back should have been around 1 billion, not 130 million.

"If a small firm makes an error with its tax return there's no tolerance whatsoever. You're not in any position to negotiate - you have to pay the fine plus interest."

On Monday, the UK Government denied that Google's deal to pay 130 million in taxes owed over the last 10 years amounted to a "lower special rate" for the internet giant.

Treasury Financial Secretary David Gauke told MPs: "The statement made by Google... is solid evidence companies are changing their models because we have strengthened the rules."

Google's sales were valued at 3.8 billion in Britain during 2013 but it paid just 20.4 million 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.

Businessman-turned-TV star Mr Lewis believes there is little incentive for big companies to change their current tax practices.

The 63-year-old has since attracted almost 140,000 signatures with an online petition calling him to succeed HMRC's outgoing chief Lin Homer. That support comes following his appearance in the BBC show which saw small traders in Crickhowell, mid Wales, uncover techniques used by multinationals to avoid paying tax.

Mr Lewis, who runs the town's Number 18 Cafe alongside his wife Sam, said: "It's not just Google who are doing it either - there are lots of massive companies who have great PR about their 'corporate social responsibility' and then pay little in the way of tax.

"Regardless of whatever the tax code is or the business rates are, the philosophies of some big companies seem to be to achieve a target of zero per cent tax.

"Yes, what they are doing is not illegal and you can also say it's clever in a way too - but it shows a total lack of social responsibility."

The father-of-six believes rather than changing the law, it is people power that can force the hand of big firms.

He said: "If I became the next chief executive of HMRC I would make it a priority to publicly shame big companies who put in aggressive tax returns.

"The only way to make them change is to fear their profits and brand will be damaged.

"I'm planning to launch a big social media campaign later in the year which will target a different big company each month.
George Osborne faces questions over Google tax deal amid calls for 'clarity'

George Osborne faces further questions over the Google tax deal, with calls for greater transparency about how the 130 million settlement was reached.

London Mayor Boris Johnson called for "clarity" on where Google's profits are made and senior Tory backbencher David Davis said the amount of back tax the firm has agreed to pay was a "very small number".

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has defended the deal, with a senior official insisting that it was collecting the "full tax due in law".

Google has agreed to pay back taxes of 130 million

But shadow chancellor John McDonnell wrote to Mr Osborne demanding details of the settlement and questioning whether he or anyone else from his team in Number 11 was involved in the arrangement.

He asked when Mr Osborne was first aware of the deal and whether he or a ministerial colleague personally signed it off.

Mr McDonnell also asked whether Number 10 was involved in discussions of the deal before it was announced.

Claims that the settlement covering 10 years from 2005 amounted to a 3% tax rate have been rejected by officials and ministers, but Mr McDonnell asked: " What is HMRC's understanding of the effective tax rate faced by Google over the past 10 years as a result of this settlement?"

Mr McDonnell also raised a Times report that HMRC had never challenged Google's assertion that it did not have a "permanent establishment" in the UK.

"Such a claim is obviously critical to the entire tax issue," he said.

He told Mr Osborne: " When times are tough it is more important than ever that everyone pays - and is seen to pay - their fair share. I know that many are concerned about the tax treatment of large companies and it is important for public trust that HMRC is fair and transparent in its dealings with such companies."

Mr McDonnell said there appeared to be "disagreement about the significance of the deal at the highest levels of Government", with Downing Street not repeating Mr Osborne's claims of "victory" and a "major success".

But Downing Street rejected the suggestion that Number 10 was distancing itself from the Chancellor and insisted no ministers were involved in the arrangement between HMRC and Google.

"The Prime Minister and the Chancellor are of the same mind on this," a Downing Street spokesman said. "This was a good deal."

Mr Johnson told Sky News that people wanted "clarity on where their profits are being made and an agreement on how much they should be paying".

Former Tory leadership contender Mr Davis, vice chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on tax responsibility, said firms should not be covered by the same tax confidentiality rules as individuals and the arrangement should be put "entirely in the open".

"Otherwise people are always going to be saying 'this is too small a number'," he told Sky. "It is a very small number."

Jim Harra, HMRC's business tax director general, told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "We only accept the full amount of tax, interest and penalties that is due, otherwise if we can't reach an agreement on that amount we will go to tribunal. We certainly don't apply any rate of tax other than the statutory rate that Parliament has published."

Google has taken advantage of lower tax rates in Ireland to base parts of its business there, and Mr Harra acknowledged "m ultinationals do have capabilities and resources to structure themselves in the most tax-efficient ways, from their point of view" but "we have some rules that protect us from avoidance".

Responding to the claims in The Times that a French investigation was seeking a settlement three-times that agreed by HMRC, he said: "We will have to wait and see what the outcome of any inquiry in France is, there has certainly been no disclosure that there has been any outcome.
Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree wins Costa book prize

A children's book has won the coveted Costa Book of the Year for only the second time in the award's history.

Frances Hardinge's supernatural tale The Lie Tree scooped the prize and was hailed by judges as a "fantastic story".

It is the first time a children's author has received the award in 14 years, after Philip Pullman last won for The Amber Spyglass in 2001.

Frances Hardinge has won the Costa Book of the Year. (AP)

Hardinge, who was visibly surprised when she took to the stage in central London, said she hoped it would bring children's literature into the spotlight.

"In the wider world, sometimes children's fiction is seen as a bit lightweight, in a way that I think is not deserved," she said.

"I would also see this as a recognition of the wonderful work that is being done out there throughout children's and young adults' fiction."

The Lie Tree saw off competition from debut novelist Andrew Michael Hurley's gothic horror story The Loney and author Kate Atkinson's A God In Ruins.

The Victorian detective novel follows the story of teenager Faith as she tries to uncover the details of her father's mysterious death.

The budding scientist finds a tree which, when fed with lies, bears fruit that acts as a gateway to understanding previously incomprehensible truths.

Her struggle for answers is set against the backdrop of a male-dominated Victorian society, a theme which Hardinge said she often explored in her stories.

"Female education is very important to me," she said. "I always have a problem with any convention, any prejudice that allows people to treat other people as inferior people.

"I don't write manifestos and then wrap a story around them, but while I am writing a story I do have a few bees in my bonnet and sometimes they come out for a little buzz."

It took the judging panel more than an hour and a half of deliberating before deciding The Lie Tree was the winner of the prestigious prize for 2015.

Judging panel chairman James Heneage said: "First and foremost, Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree is a fantastic story.

"It is an important book, not only because it is a great narrative, with great characterisation, but because its central message of possibility for an intelligent girl who is out of touch for the age in which she lives is a very important one and, I would argue, relevant for today."

All five nominees for the best book award had already triumphed in separate Costa award categories, including first novel award, novel award, biography award, poetry award and children's book award.

The Costa Book Awards considers authors living in the UK and Ireland, with the winner of Book of the Year winning 30,000.
Malaysian attorney-general says $681 mln in PM Najib's account a Saudi gift

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Malaysia's attorney-general said on Tuesday that $681 million transferred into Prime Minister Najib Razak's personal bank account was a gift from the royal family in Saudi Arabia and there were no criminal offences or corruption involved.

"I am satisfied with the findings that the funds were not a form of graft or bribery," attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali told an unscheduled media conference.

"There was no reason given as to why the donation was made to PM Najib, that is between him and the Saudi family," he said.
Japan econ min Amari to explain bribery accusations Thursday

TOKYO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Japan's Economy Minister Akira Amari is expected to hold a news conference on Thursday to offer an explanation over accusations he had taken bribes, a top government spokesman said, suggesting a decision on whether he will stay on at the post is imminent.

Amari, a core member of premier Shinzo Abe's economic policy team, is under fire over a media report that he and his aides had accepted money from a construction company in exchange for helping the firm receive compensation for disputes over land ownership and waste removal at a public works site.

Amari said last week he has done nothing illegal and that he was told by Abe to fulfil his duty as minister. But it is uncertain whether he will stay on, as opposition parties step up calls for him to resign, some analysts say.

"My understanding is that (Amari will offer an explanation) on Jan. 28," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference on Tuesday.

Amari played a central role in negotiating the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, and has been the point-person overseeing the growth strategies that make up Abe's "Abenomics" stimulus policies.

Any political funding scandal with potential criminal implications has potential to complicate Abe's economic agenda at a time of global financial market turmoil, and could destabilise the cabinet ahead of a national election later this year.

"Overseas investors are already questioning the effects of Abenomics. If Amari is forced to step down, that could be seen as symbolic," said Ayako Sera, market strategist at Sumitomo Trust and Banking.
Australian man arrested on terror-related charges in Sydney

By Morag MacKinnon

PERTH, January 26 (Reuters) - - An 18-year old Australian man has been arrested and charged with collecting documents about how to carry out terrorist acts, police in Sydney said on Tuesday.

Sameh Bayda was arrested on Monday evening, and he appeared in criminal court in western Sydney via video link on Tuesday, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Police had found him in possession of material providing instructions both for stabbing attacks and the use of improvised explosive devices, ABC said, citing documents tabled in court.

One of the documents was allegedly published by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the ABC reported.

Bayda appeared in court via a video-link due to a national holiday. He didn't apply for bail and was formally refused it by the court. He is scheduled to appear again early next month.

Australia has been on heightened alert for attacks from home-grown radicals since 2014.

Last month a 17-year-old Melbourne man pleaded guilty to a terrorism-related charge after explosives were found at his home. A week earlier two young men were charged with conspiracy to attack government buildings after they were arrested during counter-terrorism raids in Sydney.
Haiti edges towards interim government after election collapse

By Frank Jack Daniel

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Jan 25 (Reuters) - President Michel Martelly is determined to leave office on the first day of Haiti's carnival in two weeks even though he has no replacement, the prime minister said on Monday, making it likely an interim government will guide the country to elections.

Haiti was due to choose Martelly's replacement last Sunday, but the two-man race was postponed indefinitely after opposition candidate Jude Celestin refused to participate over alleged fraud that sparked protests and violence.

"It is clear that we won't have elections before the departure of President Michel Martelly scheduled for Feb. 7," Prime Minister Evans Paul said.

The United States' Haiti Special Coordinator Kenneth Merten said Washington wanted to see new elections quickly and opposed a long transitional period, but acknowledged Martelly was unlikely to place the presidential sash on his successor.

"Realistically speaking," Merten told Reuters, "We may be looking at some sort of temporary solution until there is a handover to a new elected president. Our fear is that we go into a situation that is open ended.

"In our analysis that is a dangerous place to go," Merten said.

Opposition parties want Martelly to leave on Feb. 7, as mandated by the constitution, although some in his party would like him to remain in office to oversee the elections until his five-year term ends in May.

"There are people who are for, and people who are against, but he is determined to leave," said Paul, a former opposition member who joined Martelly's government in 2014.

Martelly, a former pop-star known as Sweet Micky, had a dream to sing on a carnival float on the day he leaves office, Paul told Venezuelan TV station Telesur.

The government and opposition leaders are discussing what kind of interim administration will govern until a new president is elected. One option is that the prime minister take over.

Some in the opposition have called for an unelected transitional government to take Martelly's place for a longer period, harking back to a violent two-year period after a coup in 2004.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has been unable to build a stable democracy since the overthrow of the 1957-1986 dictatorship of the Duvalier family and ensuing coups and election fraud.

A few hundred people turned out for an opposition rally in the capital on Monday, sporadically clashing with police who used tear gas to disperse the crowd, after five days of larger, and sometimes violent, protests.

Large counter-protests erupted over the weekend in northern Haiti, a stronghold of Martelly's chosen candidate, Jovenel Moise. Protesters demanding quick elections have blocked highways with trucks and burning tires, and marched through northern cities.

The opposing protests and inflammatory comments by a former coup leader have raised fears the two sides could clash in the streets, although the talks have begun to cool the mood in Port-au-Prince.

"We are watching it very carefully, we are very concerned, we hope that dialogue between the candidates, the president and the president of the Senate and others can come to a solution," said Merten, U.S. ambassador to Haiti at the time of the 2010 earthquake and presidential election that brought Martelly to power.
Romania - Factors to watch on Jan 26

BUCHAREST, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Tuesday.

FONDUL PROPRIETATEA

Romanian finance and energy ministers are expected to attend a news conference marking five years since restitution fund Fondul Proprietatea was listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

DEBT TENDERS

Romania sold a planned 500 million lei ($119.61 million) worth of March 2021 treasury bonds at an average accepted yield at 2.53 percent and 1.0 billion lei ($239.04 million) worth of six-month treasury bills at 0.48 percent, central bank data showed.

CORRUPTION PROBE

Romania's former deputy prime minister may face trial over his use of motorcades that prosecutors say he was not entitled to, part of a crackdown on high-level graft in one of the European Union's most corrupt member states.

HIGH DEBT RISKS

Eleven European Union countries face high risks to the sustainability of their public finances because even 10 years from now their public debt will still be high, the European Commission said on Monday.

In a fiscal sustainability report, the European Union's executive arm said Belgium, Ireland, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Finland and United Kingdom were all at high risk.

CEE MARKETS

Croatia's kuna traded at its weakest levels in four months against the euro on Monday on concerns that fiscal reforms will be further delayed even after parliament approved a new government on Friday.

HIDROELECTRICA

Romanian state-owned hydro power producer Hidroelectrica said records gross profit of 1.1 billion lei ($262.90 million) in 2015, compared with 1.2 billion lei in the previous year. The firm produced 15.9 TWh of electricity in 2015, 2.5 TWh less on the year.

COLD CROPS

A cold snap that hit Europe early this month after a unusually mild winter has caused damage to grain crops in the eastern part of the bloc and Ukraine where the fall in temperatures was the steepest, crop monitoring unit MARS said on Monday.

For the long-term Romanian diary, click on

For emerging markets economic events, click on

For an index of all diaries, click on
Poland - Factors to Watch Tue 26

Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Tuesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour):

DATA

Poland's statistics office will release flash GDP data for 2015 as well as December unemployment data at 1300 GMT.

BONDS

Polish finance ministry to publish debt supply for Thursday auction.

TREASURY MINISTRY

Poland does not have advanced analyses regarding mergers between refiners PKN Orlen, Lotos and gas firm PGNiG, treasury minister Dawid Jackiewicz told Puls Biznesu daily.

The daily also quoted Jackiewicz as saying that the state should have a bigger stake in copper producer KGHM and chemical group Azoty.

AIRBUS HELICOPTERS

Poland may not reach a final agreement with French Airbus Group to buy 50 EC-725 Caracal army helicopters due to huge discrepancies in the two sides approach, Rzeczpospolita daily quoted the deputy defence minister Bartosz Kownacki as saying.

RETAILERS TAX

Poland plans to impose a new progressive tax rate for retailers with monthly sales of over 1.5 million zlotys, which is to yield around 2 billion zlotys ($485 million) in state budget inflows this year, finance ministry said on Monday.

ORANGE POLSKA

The French Orange unit reserved the fast mobile broadband frequencies it won last year, which means it has 14 days to pay the 3.17 billion zloty ($767.42 million) for the reserved bands, the Polish group said late on Monday.

BANK TAX

The new asset tax, which will be imposed on lenders as of the start of February, will not harm the banks since they are well-capitalised, Gazeta Polska quoted the economy and deputy prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki as saying.

PKP ENERGETYKA

Poland's supreme audit office (NIK) said in a report that the sale of PKP Energetyka utility to CVC fund was legal, Gazeta Wyborcza daily said.

KGHM

Polish mining tax should be reviewed and based on profits and not on output, Puls Biznesu daily quoted Poland's chief geologist Mariusz-Orion Jedrysek as saying.

PGNIG

Polish state-run gas utility PGNiG said on Monday it had terminated its agreement with credit ratings agency Standard and Poors (S&P), which will be followed by S&P's withdrawal of its 'BBB- with stable outlook' rating.

****Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.****
Russia won't take back refugees who crossed into Norway -Lavrov

MOSCOW, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Moscow does not want to take back refugees who crossed into Norway from Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"The talk is about people who arrived in Russia with a purpose of either to work in Russia or to visit relatives. They had not declared their (true) purpose of visit as transit to Norway," Lavrov told his annual news conference.

"This means that they had deliberately stated false data about the purpose of their visit to the Russian Federation. This is why we do not want to admit these people back to Russia."
Denmark to vote on tough migrant law as Nordic refugee welcome wanes

By Alexander Tange

COPENHAGEN, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The Danish parliament is set to pass measures on Tuesday to deter refugees from seeking asylum, including confiscating valuables to pay for their stay, despite protests from international human rights organisations.

The measures, which also include delaying family reunification to three years, are the latest sign that the Nordic welcome for refugees is waning as large numbers flee war in Africa and Middle East in what is becoming Europe's biggest migrant crisis in decades.

The "jewellery bill" is the latest attempt by Denmark's seven-month-old minority centre-right government to curb immigration to a country that took in a record 20,000 refugees last year.

Under the bill, refugees could keep possessions amounting to 10,000 Danish crowns ($1,450), raised from 3,000 crowns after criticism from human rights organisations. Valuables of special emotional value such as wedding rings will be exempt.

The Liberals government has just 34 out of 179 seats in parliament and depends on support of rightist parties, including the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DF), to pass laws.

The bill is likely to pass with most lawmakers from the main centre-left opposition party Social Democrats expected to vote for, as Denmark's political landscape shifts to the right thanks to DF's popularity and rising concern over refugee numbers.

A poll showing 70 percent of voters see it as the most important issue, according to the daily paper Berlingske.

"I wouldn't say that I have become racist or anything," said Poul Madsen, a taxi driver, before the bill was passed. "But I may be more aware of the fact that this has some downsides and may be a potential problem for our society and our economy."

NORDIC WELCOME FADES

Denmark is not the only one trying to shut its doors to migrants. Sweden, which took in over 160,000 refugees last year, the most per capita in Europe, introduced checks on its border to Denmark at the start of the year.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven promised on Monday more resources for police after a 22-year-old employee was stabbed to death at a refugee centre for unaccompanied minors. A minor was arrested suspected of murder or manslaughter after the incident in Molndal in western Sweden, local TT news agency reported.

A poll on Monday showed support for Lofven's centre left Social Democrats at its lowest for nearly 50 years, in part due to a sense that the government was unable to cope with the refugee influx.

Norway, meanwhile, has been trying to send back refugees who crossed over from Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow would not take them back.

Denmark is not the only country targeting refugee possessions. Switzerland has started taking valuables worth over 1,000 Swiss francs ($985), the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg secures valuables above 350 euros ($380), while other southern states have been reported to do the same.
Witness testifies in U.S. about 2000 murder of diplomat in Niger

By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK, Jan 25 (Reuters) - An African security guard on Monday told a U.S. judge that he saw an American diplomat shot to death in Niger 14 years ago, and identified the shooter as the suspect who has been indicted for the crime.

Moumouni Karimou told a federal judge in Brooklyn, New York, he had smoked with the shooter just minutes before he witnessed the fatal carjacking.

Prosecutors called Karmou to testify about the murder of U.S. Department of Defense official William Bultemeier in 2000.

They have charged Alhassane Ould Mohamed, a Malian national, in connection with the shooting of Bultemeier and Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Christopher McNeely, who survived the attack.

Karimou, a security guard from Niger working that night at an Air Afrique building, said he identified Mohamed as the shooter from photos and mug shots showed to him by agents from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

But Karimou said he initially did not tell the agents everything he knew about the shooting, including that he had spoken with the shooter.

"I was afraid I might get killed," he said through a French language interpreter. "I was scared."

He testified at a hearing prompted by efforts by Mohamed's lawyers to suppress eyewitness identifications of their client as unduly suggestive or unreliable.

Mohamed, 45, was indicted in 2013 for the murder of Bultemeier and attempted murder of McNeely as they left a restaurant in Niamey, Niger on Dec. 23, 2000.

Prosecutors said Mohamed and another assailant, armed with a pistol and AK-47 assault rifle, demanded Bultemeier hand over the keys to his sport utility vehicle, which bore U.S. diplomatic plates.

Mohamed then shot Bultemeier, prosecutors said. McNeely tried to help Bultemeier when Mohamed's accomplice shot both men, prosecutors said.

Mohamed and his accomplice then fled in the car, prosecutors said.

Mohamed was arrested by Malian police but escaped from custody in May 2002, prosecutors said.

He was arrested in Mali again in 2010 in connection with an attack on a convoy of Saudi Arabian officials in Niger that left four dead.

Sentenced in Niger to 20 years in prison, Mohamed escaped again in June 2013 with other inmates who launched an assault coordinated by Boko Haram, prosecutors say.

Mohamed also had connections to militant groups including the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad and al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, prosecutors said.
EU Commission handling of bailouts was weak, inconsistent -auditors

By Francesco Guarascio

BRUSSELS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The European Commission's handling of bailouts for countries hit by the financial crisis was "generally weak" and inconsistent, the European Union's Court of Auditors (ECA) said on Tuesday.

The ECA, an EU institution in charge of auditing EU's finances, analysed the bailouts for Ireland, Portugal, Hungary, Latvia and Romania, all of which are already completed.

It did not analyse the bailouts for Greece, on which they will issue two separate reports later, or Cyprus, because that programme is still ongoing.

Spain was not analysed either, because the bailout from the intergovernmental euro zone bailout fund included no EU money.

The auditors said the analysed bailouts met their objectives, despite the Commission's lack of experience, because they reduced deficits and prompted structural reforms.

However, "the auditors found several examples of countries not being treated in the same way in a comparable situation," the report said.

"In some programmes, the conditions for assistance were less stringent, which made compliance easier," it added, while "the structural reforms required were not always in proportion to the problems faced, or they pursued widely different paths".

The Commission said it believed its approach was right.

"We believe the content of programmes should not be standardised," Commission spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt said. "Flexibility is desirable given the diverse set of economic political and administrative conditions in different countries."

The ECA also pointed out other shortcomings in the work of the Commission, which has been in charge of the financial assistance.

"The review of key documents by the Commission's programme teams was insufficient in several respects," auditors said, noting the "weak monitoring" of implementation and "shortcomings in documentation".

The financial crisis hit the EU in 2008, starting with non-euro zone countries like Hungary, Romania and Latvia which received help from the Commission's balance of payments facility, which was eventually raised to 50 billion euros.

For euro zone countries Ireland and Portugal, the Commission had 60 billion euros in the European Financial Stability Mechanism, which was all but exhausted in these two bailouts.
El Nino parches Asia Pacific, destroying crops and drying up water sources

By Alisa Tang

BANGKOK, Jan 26 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Severe El Nino-linked drought has destroyed crops, killed farm animals and dried up water sources across East Asia and the Pacific, aid workers said, and UNICEF appealed for $62 million to assist children impacted by various crises in the region.

Humanitarian agencies are monitoring and responding to droughts and food insecurity in an area from Indonesia and the Philippines, southeast to Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

"El Nino is peaking at the moment, and we expect the impacts to come up after the peak," said Krishna Krishnamurthy, a regional climate risk analyst for the World Food Programme.

Krishnamurthy visited East Timor earlier this month and saw areas that were parched even though their rainy season was supposed to have started in November.

"Rivers are completely dry in several parts of the country," he said, noting some hard-hit areas were deceptively green.

"I saw green paddy fields, but it's not rice - it's weeds and grass. It's difficult to monitor remotely (from satellite images). That's why the post-harvest assessment will be quite critical."

The El Nino phenomenon, occurring every few years and caused by unusual warming of the Pacific Ocean, triggers heavy rains and floods in South America and dry, scorching weather in Asia and East Africa, and usually lasts about one year.

UNICEF launched a $62 million appeal on Tuesday to help children affected by drought, conflict and other crises, focusing on areas such as nutrition, health, water and sanitation.

UNICEF has called for $25 million for its work in conflict-affected Kachin, Shan and Rakhine states in Myanmar; $18 million for North Korea; $10 million for conflict-affected Mindanao province in the Philippines; and $5 million for Pacific Island countries.

Here are updates on El Nino and drought from across the region.

EAST TIMOR

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries reported 50 percent less rainfall than normal. In southern Viqueque district, farm animals are falling sick and dying due to lack of feed and dwindling water supplies, though there has been some rain since Jan. 15 which may alleviate the situation, it said.

PHILIPPINES

On Mindanao island, lack of rain has damaged more than 500 hectares of farmland in Zamboanga city, with rice, corn, vegetables and bananas "lost with no chance of recovery", according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In North Cotabato, also on Mindanao, authorities declared a state of calamity because of $5 million of damage to crops, OCHA said, adding that 85 percent of the country was forecast to face drought by April.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

An estimated 2.7 million people - more than a third of the population - are affected by a combination of drought and frost, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said, adding that priority needs are food, water and agricultural recovery.

An IOM survey last month found 85 percent of communities assessed in Enga, Simbu and Jiwaka provinces rely on unprotected water sources, and 47 percent of respondents had a household member who had had diarrhoea within four weeks of the survey.

PACIFIC ISLANDS

Drought warnings or alerts are in force for Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, Vanuatu and Palau, according to UNICEF, which said more frequent and intense storms are expected in 2016, with Pacific islands suffering the most.

School attendance rates have dropped in the Pacific Islands, where children are hungry and dehydrated, and face a high risk of malnutrition due to crop failure, water shortages and poor sanitation, UNICEF said.

NORTH KOREA

Severe drought in four agricultural provinces in 2015 has led to smaller harvests and reduced access to clean water, impacting the health of women and children, UNICEF said.

In drought-hit provinces, 25,000 children are suffering severe acute malnutrition and require immediate treatment, and there has been a 72 percent increase in diarrhoea among children under 5, it said.
Tanzania threatens to deport migrants from drought-hit Ethiopia

By Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 26 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - T anzanian authorities have threatened to deport hundreds of Ethiopian migrants who have crossed into the country illegally while trying to make their way to South Africa.

The east African country is a major transit route for migrants, used by smugglers to ferry Ethiopians and Somalis to South Africa and Europe.

Charles Kitwanga, Tanzania's home affairs minister, said the government had launched a special operation to arrest and prosecute Ethiopians and other foreigners living or working illegally in the country.

Last month, police detained more than 40 Ethiopian migrants, reportedly abandoned by their agent who had promised to smuggle them to South Africa. They were crammed in a two-roomed house in a suburb of Dar es Salaam.

"There are too many foreigners who live in our country illegally, we will not hesitate to arrest and deport them," Kitwanga told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Monday.

Ethiopia is experiencing its worst drought in 50 years, with more than 10 million people unable to feed themselves because their crops and animals have died.

The Ethiopian migrants who pass through Tanzania travel thousands of miles packed into trucks. In June 2012, some 45 Ethiopian migrants were found dead after they suffocated in a container truck transporting them in central Tanzania.

According to the government, migrants usually pay traffickers around $1,000 to $2,000 to reach South Africa.
U.S. announces amendments to Cuba sanctions regulations

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it would further ease restrictions on its Cuba sanctions regime involving exports and authorized airline travel.

"These amendments will remove restrictions on payment and financing terms for authorized exports and re-exports to Cuba of items other than agricultural items or commodities," according to a statement from the Treasury and Commerce Departments.
New U.S. rules allow infrastructure projects, movie shoots in Cuba

By Arshad Mohammed and Daniel Trotta

WASHINGTON/HAVANA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The United States approved a wider range of commerce with Cuba on Tuesday, making it easier for U.S. companies to film movies, finance exports and do business with the Communist government on public infrastructure projects.

The latest changes come as Washington and Havana move closer toward normal relations, having restored diplomatic relations last year after more than five decades of Cold War-era animosity.

Although most U.S. trade with Cuba remains banned under the economic embargo, President Barack Obama has been using executive authority to allow commerce that is not specifically banned by Congress.

The changes announced on Tuesday, the third round of such measures, reflect Washington's stated goal of meeting the needs of the Cuban people while also creating business opportunities for U.S. companies.

U.S. officials stressed that the practical impact will depend on Cuban economic liberalization, as previous U.S. attempts at promoting commerce have largely stalled. Cuba in turn has complained about the lack of credits and a ban on using the U.S. dollar.

U.S. banks may now finance authorized exports except for agricultural commodities and reexports of non-U.S. goods. Previously such trade had to be paid for by cash in advance or financed through third-country banks.

The new rules would also allow U.S. companies on a case-by-case basis to be involved in the construction of infrastructure deemed as directly beneficial to the Cuban people.

A Treasury Department statement mentions water treatment and supplying energy as examples. Cuba has a host of infrastructure needs following decades of U.S. sanctions and the fall of the Soviet Union, its longtime former benefactor.

"They are basically saying we are opening the door to allow for approval if you want to sell to a state-owned enterprise," said James Williams, president of Engage Cuba, a Washington-based group promoting trade with Cuba.

However, a general policy of denying licenses will apply to exports for use by state-owned entities that primarily generate revenues for the Cuban government and for use by the Cuban military, police, intelligence and security services.

The new regulations also grant freer rein for U.S. companies to shoot movies and television programs.

Late-night comedian Conan O'Brien and the Showtime series "House of Lies" have shot in Havana recently, and the next installment of the "Fast and Furious" films also plans scenes in Cuba.
Syrian PYD Kurds not invited to Geneva talks, leader says

By Tom Miles and John Irish

GENEVA/PARIS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Syrian Kurdish officials have yet to be invited by the United Nations to attend this week's proposed Syrian peace talks, Saleh Muslim, the leader of the Kurdish PYD said on Tuesday, although other people backed by Russia have been convened.

Preparations for the talks, due to start in Geneva on Friday, have been beset by problems including a dispute over who should represent the opposition.

The U.N. special envoy to Syria sent invitations to participants on Tuesday without confirming the names.

Russia, an ally of Syria's president, has sought to expand the opposition delegation to include the powerful Kurdish faction that controls wide areas of northern Syria, as well as other individuals it believes represents Syrian society.

The Syrian opposition platform created in Saudi Arabia last month, who were meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday to decide whether to send their delegation to the talks, say the Kurdish PYD party should be part of the government delegation.

"Of course we would sincerely like to join, and also we think that if we don't join it, this Geneva 3 will fail as happened in Geneva 2, where they excluded some sides," Muslim told Reuters, referring to failed talks in 2014.

"We are representing a large number of people on the ground ... so by excluding us they are not doing well for a political solution."

The United Nations brought together government and opposition delegations for the "Geneva 2" talks in early 2014, but the process fell apart quickly after they disagreed on which issue to tackle first.

Muslim, who said other Kurds had also not received invites, had earlier in the day appeared confident he would be getting an invite.

Syrian activist Randa Kassis, who was on a proposed Russian list of possible attendees with Muslim, had told Reuters she had been invited as an individual, along with Haytham Manaa, Muslim, Kurdish activist Ilham Ahmed and former Syrian government minister Qadri Jamil.

She said they had all planned to meet in Switzerland ahead of the talks to discuss strategy.

The PYD is part of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), which was formed in December at a meeting in northeastern Syria with the stated aim of promoting a secular, democratic vision for the country.

Manaa, who is co-chairman of the SDC with Kurdish activist Ilham Ahmed, confirmed to Reuters he had been invited. Jamil was previously deputy prime minister for economic affairs under President Bashar al-Assad.
Attacks on aid workers in Somalia almost double in 2015, kill 17 - U.N.

By Katy Migiro

NAIROBI, Jan 26 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Atacks on aid workers delivering supplies in Somalia almost doubled in 2015 and the number killed jumped to 17 from 10 the year before, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Somalia has been mired in conflict since civil war broke out in 1991 and is one of the most difficult countries for relief agencies to operate in.

The number of attacks on aid agency staff there rose to 140 last year from 75 in 2014, the world body said.

The Islamist militant group al Shabaab has waged a decade-long insurgency against the Somali government, which is backed by African Union troops. Warring parties have deliberately targeted aid workers and manipulated aid for political gain.

"Attacks and threats against humanitarians increased," the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a bulletin, adding that there were also 18 injuries, 11 abductions and 38 arrests in 2015 involving aid agency staff.

Fighting, poor infrastructure and funding shortages make it difficult to reach the 40 percent of Somalia's 12 million people needing aid, OCHA said.

Some parts of south-central Somalia are only accessible by air, driving up the cost of delivering essentials like food.

African Union troops have taken major towns from al Shabaab but the group still controls swathes of countryside and has laid siege to urban areas.

"Non-state armed actors continued to impose bans on commercial activities in some areas in Bakool, Bay, Gedo and Hiraan regions, thereby disrupting the delivery of humanitarian supplies and basic commercial commodities," the U.N. said.

Northern regions of the Horn of Africa nation are experiencing drought, and almost 380,000 people are running short of water and pasture for their animals, it said.
German Jews fear rising antisemitism during Mideast refugee influx

By Tina Bellon

BERLIN, Jan 26 (Reuters) - When Judith G. helped out at a refugee centre near Frankfurt last October and identified herself as Jewish, she was spat on and insulted.

German Jews say the case of Judith G., a 33-year-old optician who asked not to be fully named, isn't isolated and underlines concerns many have about the record arrivals of asylum seekers, largely from Muslim countries in the Middle East.

Official figures show German-born far-right supporters commit the vast majority of antisemitic crimes in the country, and Muslim leaders say nearly all asylum seekers - who can be targets of hate crime themselves - are trying to escape conflict, not stir it up.

Nevertheless, Jews across Germany are hiding their identity when volunteering at refugee shelters for fear of reprisals, adding another layer of complexity to a social, economic and logistical challenge that is stretching the fabric of German society.

"Among the refugees, there are a great many people who grew up with hostility towards Israel and conflate these prejudices with hatred towards Jews in general," Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews, told Reuters in an interview conducted in October.

Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed last week that antisemitic attitudes among some young people arriving from countries where "hatred towards Israel and Jews is commonplace" needed to be dealt with.

The safety of Jewish communities is particularly sensitive in Germany due to the murder of over 6 million Jews by Hitler's Third Reich, which is marked on Wednesday by the international Holocaust Memorial Day. Today, the German Jewish community numbers around 100,500.

According to a 2013 study by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, 64 percent of German Jews avoid the public display of symbols that would identify them as Jewish. It also found that only 28 percent of them report antisemitic incidents.

Such incidents, as recorded by the Interior Ministry, dropped in 2015 but Jews still remember chants by young Muslims proclaiming "Jews to the gas" on German streets in protests against the 2014 Israeli-Palestinian Gaza War.

Concerns rose earlier this year when two suspected asylum seekers from Syria and Afghanistan attacked and robbed a man wearing a skullcap on the northern island of Fehmarn, a crime the local prosecutor treats as antisemitic.

"We don't approach the issue of refugees with negative expectations in general," said Walter Blender, head of the Jewish community in Bad Segeberg, a town on the mainland about 100 km (60 miles) from Fehmarn. "But we are very worried and sceptical, and anecdotal evidence so far showed that we have reason to be scared."

Preliminary Interior Ministry figures show that far-right supporters were responsible for well over 90 percent of the antisemitic crimes recorded last year up to the end of November. People with a foreign background were blamed for little more than four percent, although this category does not reveal their country of origin or immigration status.

Starting from this month, however, the ministry will produce a breakdown that includes a refugee category.

FINGER POINTING

Germany, which took in 1.1 million asylum seekers from mainly Middle Eastern countries last year, saw crimes against refugee shelters quadruple to 924 incidents in 2015 and Muslim advocacy groups warn against finger-pointing.

"The vast majority of people coming here are fleeing war and terror themselves," said Aiman Mazyek, president of Germany's Central Council of Muslims. "All they want is peace and quiet."

There is little research on the scale of antisemitism in Arab countries, but a Pew poll from 2011 shows a large majority of people there hold unfavourable opinions of Jews.

Researchers say too little effort is put into teaching Western and German values to asylum seekers, including the country's relationship with Jewish communities.

"There is a lack of a deeper understanding of the culture in many Middle Eastern countries and this results in Western stakeholders being taken by surprise over the fervent antisemitism there," said Wolfgang Bock, an expert in Islamism and Middle Eastern politics.

In Germany, refugees with recognised asylum claims learn about the country's history and values alongside language tuition. But some experts say there is nothing about contemporary political issues, such as relations with Israel.

"Education can't just be about the Holocaust and the Third Reich. Schools also need to talk about the Middle East conflict, antisemitism based on religious argumentation and conspiracy theories," said Ahmad Mansour, an Arab-Israeli researcher with the European Foundation of Democracy.

But communities across Germany are overwhelmed with processing the hundreds of thousands of asylum applications and are struggling to provide shelter and food to the arrivals.

Some Jewish groups, such as the Berlin-based "Friends of the Fraenkleufer Synagogue", have taken the cultural exchange issue into their own hands with around 40 volunteers helping out at a local refugee centre.
A University of Virginia student was stopped at the Pyongyang airport when he was planning to leave North Korea on Jan. 2, questioned by airport officials about an incident at his hotel and taken to the hospital while the rest of his tour group flew home, according to the groups leader.

His detainment was not widely known until Friday, when the official Korean Central News Agency announced the arrest of an American student. Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old honored by UVa as an intellectual risk-taker, was stopped in North Korea at the end of a five-day trip. The Korean Central News Agency provided scant information but said that he was caught committing a hostile act against the state.

Little information was available publicly about the incident. Warmbiers mother did not return messages requesting comment and friends said his family had asked them not to talk for security reasons. A spokesperson for UVa declined to comment beyond saying they were in contact with his family, and teachers and others at his high school in Cincinnati did not return messages. But the tour group Warmbier was with, Young Pioneer Tours, provided a few more details this weekend.

Warmbier was stopped at Pyongyang Airport on Jan. 2, it wrote on its website. He was the last person in the tour group to go through customs.

Our guide was informed by an airport official that he had been taken to hospital. Our guide attempted to go back to see him, but was unable to as she had been ushered through immigration by airport staff, according to the statement.

The groups chief executive officer, Gareth Johnson, stayed in North Korea to try to find out what had happened.

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.

The group contacted Warmbiers family, the Swedish Embassy and the U.S. State Department and has been working closely with them, according to its statement.

Reuters first reported that there was an incident at the Yanggakdo International Hotel, a tower in the midst of the river in Pyongyang where Warmbier was staying on the five-day trip, according to tour guide Charlotte Guttridge. She told Reuters that others from the 10-member tour group did not see it. What happened happened at the hotel and my belief is that Otto kept it to himself out of hope it might go unnoticed, she told Reuters. Gareth Johnson confirmed the report to The Washington Post.

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. There, Warmbier was pulled aside by two officials from the airport into an immigration room off to the side of the check-in area. He was not dragged away and he wasnt yelled at, Guttridge said.

The rest of the group boarded the flight to Beijing and when Warmbier still had not emerged from the room, she boarded the flight. As the plane prepared to leave the terminal, she said, an airport official boarded the flight and told her Warmbier had been taken to the hospital.

Johnson said that a North Korean contact told him that Warmbier had been detained and Johnson, who was with a separate group in Pyongyang headed for the train station to leave, left his group to stay in the city and try to help. As far as the tour group knew, Warmbier did not have any religious or political materials  which have caused problems for foreign tourists in the past.

Johnson did not provide further details Monday.

It is not common for U.S. college students to travel to North Korea. There are no U.S. colleges or universities offering exchange programs for academic credit for such programs, according to the Institute of International Education. The organization has begun to track non-credit student educational experiences, but thus far has not found any, according to Sharon Witherell, a spokeswoman for the organization. At this point, the State Department travel warning would likely keep most campuses from sending students there, she wrote in an email.

The Pyongyang Project offers educational tourism programs in North Korea. Lafayette College in Pennsylvania offered a one-credit study-abroad program to North Korea in the summer of 2011, according to assistant professor Seo-Hyun Park, but has not sponsored any since.

UVa does not offer study-abroad programs in North Korea, a spokesperson confirmed.

At Harvard, North Korea is considered an elevated risk destination, so Harvard-sponsored travel by undergraduates there is not prohibited, but it must comply with a number of restrictions including advice and vetting by the universitys safety and security team, according to Elizabeth Marr of Harvard Global Support Services. There are no students known to be traveling there at the moment, she wrote.

In 2012, a small group from Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs went on a week-long research trip with a formal invitation from the North Korean government.

In response to questions about why they had not made the detainment public earlier  Warmbier has been held for three weeks  Young Pioneers staff members wrote that they are extremely limited in what they are able to say about the situation for many reasons, most specifically the interests of Otto, his family, and ensuring a speedy return home.

 Whilst the DPRK may be unique and at times controversial destination, all guests are warned about the dangers of the country, and we feel that our record of one detainment from 7,000 people in eight years supports this. As of now we are continuing to run tours as normal.

The website announces Get your running shoes on! The 2016 Pyongyang Marathon is now open for bookings! and Book your next adventure with us today!

Susan Svrluga reports for The Washington Post.
A federal judge officially has ordered the young woman at the center of a debunked Rolling Stone article to turn over communications about her alleged sexual assault.

U.S. District Judge Glen Conrad penned an order filed in federal court Monday compelling the cooperation of Jackie, the young woman whose account of a brutal gang rape at a 2012 fraternity party during her freshman year at the University of Virginia served as the centerpiece of a now-retracted article about the culture of sexual assault on college campuses.

Published in November 2014, the article created a firestorm of controversy but soon fell apart under intense scrutiny, with Rolling Stone saying in December 2014 that their trust in Jackie was misplaced. In January 2015, Charlottesville police said it could not find evidence that the alleged rape ever occurred, a subsequent review by the Columbia University School of Journalism called the article a journalistic failure and Rolling Stone retracted the story in April 2015.

In the aftermath, UVa associate dean Nicole Eramo sued Rolling Stone and the articles author, Sabrina Rubin Erdely, for defamation. As the UVa administrator tasked with aiding sexual assault survivors, Eramo says the article portrayed her as uncaring and callous toward Jackies rape claims. She is seeking $7.5 million for the damage done to her career and reputation in the fallout of the articles publication.

Since her lawsuit was filed in May, Eramo has asked Jackie turn over communications related to her alleged rape, but after several unsuccessful attempts, Eramo asked that a court compel Jackie to cooperate. Jackies attorneys have argued that their clients communications should not be turned over for three reasons  they are protected by a rule that precludes evidence related to an alleged sexual assault being admissible in court, they are irrelevant and unduly burdensome to the case, and that communications between Eramo and Jackie are protected by patient-counselor privilege.

In his writings, Conrad disagreed with aspects of each of those arguments; specifically, Conrad noted that the federal rule protecting alleged victims of sexual assault from turning over evidence does not apply in defamation action involving statements concerning sexual misconduct if the evidence is deals with the veracity of the alleged offense. Further, Conrad said that rule dealt more with the admissibility of evidence than its discoverability, and that the patient-counselor privilege that Jackies attorneys argued for was unmerited, as Virginia Code does not extend that privilege to any authority, and because Jackies voluntary disclosure of her communications to Rolling Stone and Erdely would waive that privilege anyway.

Conrad also wrote that many of the communications Eramos attorneys sought were very much relevant to the defamation allegations and that because Eramo and Rolling Stone have turned over their communications with Jackie, Eramo was entitled to corroborate those documents with Jackies.

As such, Conrad ruled that Jackie would have to turn over all communications between herself and Erdely, Rolling Stone and Eramo, as well as all communications with UVa, as they relate to her alleged sexual assault.

The judge partially granted the request for Jackie to turn over communications between Haven Monahan and Ryan Duffin, between Haven Monahan and any other individual whose name was previously disclosed to defendants prior to the articles publication and between Jackie and any previously disclosed individual that mentions Haven Monahan. Duffin was a friend of Jackies around the time of her alleged rape, and Eramos attorneys contend that Haven Monahan was the moniker of a fictitious love interest Jackie made up.

Conrad further granted a request for Jackie to turn over communications with anyone related to the original article, but stipulated that only communications made before Dec. 5, 2014, would be admissible and that they could not contain details of Jackies alleged assault. He denied a motion forcing Jackie to turn over any Internet, message board, email and social media postings in which she referenced herself as a victim of an alleged sexual assault on campus.

All of documents produced, the judge said, will be marked as confidential and treated as such.

Responding Tuesday, an attorney for Eramo said he was pleased with the courts order.

Jackie was the primary source for Rolling Stones false and defamatory article, said attorney Andy Phillips. It appears that Jackie fabricated the account of the sexual assault portrayed in Rolling Stone and that Rolling Stone knew she was an unreliable source. We look forward to moving forward with discovery and taking this case to trial.
Since China has been a long-term engine for the global economy, its economic slowdown has understandably sparked worries among investors and policymakers.

But while the slowest pace in a quarter of a century may be an eye-catching summarization of China's 6.9-percent GDP growth in 2015, it fails to underscore China's contribution of about one-fourth of global growth in a tumultuous year. More importantly, it shed light on the progress of its strategic shift away from a dependence on investment and exports toward more sustainable growth driven by consumption and innovation.

While increasing volatility in financial markets and plummeting commodities' prices have made vigilance against a global slowdown necessary, pessimism about the $10-trillion Chinese economy, which expanded twice as fast as the world economy last year, is unwarranted.

Instead, the international community can expect the country to serve as a much-needed source of not-so-fast but steady growth for the world economy, as China has made clear its pursuit of average annual growth of 6.5 percent in the coming five years.

Domestically, a close look at the latest statistics may find problems with traditional growth engines such as industrial overcapacity and realty overstock. Yet there are positive signs that point to China's rise as a consumers' society; a course that will be further accelerated by the sweeping supply-side reform in coming years.

Growth in investment in factories, housing and other fixed assets weakened to 12 percent in 2015, down 2.9 percentage points from the previous year, and the surge in housing prices in a few large cities cannot brighten the overall picture of the domestic property market.

But they are not the whole story, or the major theme of the Chinese economy, which saw its service sector contribute more than half the GDP for the first time in 2015.

Attention should also be paid to the fact that end-user consumption accounted for 66.4 percent of China's full-year GDP of 67.7 trillion yuan ($10.28 trillion), while the country's online retail surged by one-third to 3.9 trillion yuan last year.

It is hard to tell when China's consumption growth will be fast enough to fill the void in demand left by sluggish investment. But that does not amount to a reason to lose confidence in China's self-sustaining growth in the long run.
The Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) has expressed serious concern about the fake Facebook being operated in the name of Prime Minister Oli, a senior official said. (Photo: AP)

Kathmandu: Nepal's Prime Minister KP SharmaOli does not have a Facebook account, the government said on Tuesday, rejecting as "fake" a social media site operated in his name.

The Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) has expressed serious concern about the fake Facebook being operated in the name of Prime Minister Oli, a senior official said.

Pramod Dahal, Press Advisor to Oli, in a statement clarified that Prime Minister did not have a Facebook account, be it in his personal capacity or official.

Hence, the existing one is fake account, the state-run National News Agency (RSS) quoted Dahal as saying. The OPMCM added that since there was not any personal

Twitter account being run by the Prime Minister, it is wise to overlook the contents posted in these social networking sites. Oli, however, has been marking his presence in cyber space through his official twitter account '@PM_Nepal', the press release noted.
At least 21 people, mostly students, were killed and several others injured when armed militants stormed the university campus and opened fire on them in Charsadda town last week. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: Pakistan has asked Afghanistan to take action against the perpetrators of the terror attack on the Bacha Khan University in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa that killed 21 people and to bring them to justice at the earliest possible.

Afghan Charge d'Affaires Syed Abdul Nasir Yousafi was called to the Foreign Office on Monday to convey Pakistan's concern regarding the use of Afghan soil by certain terrorist elements in the attack on the university.

"He was told that investigations have revealed that handlers of this terrorist act were operating from Afghan territory and used Afghan telecommunication network for planning and executing this attack," the Foreign Office said.

Pakistan maintains that handlers were in Afghanistan and directing the attack. The relevant details on the incident had already been shared with the Afghan side, it added.

Pakistani authorities asked Afghanistan to "take action against the perpetrators of this heinous act of terrorism and extend cooperation to Pakistani authorities to bring them to justice," it said in a statement.

At least 21 people, mostly students, were killed and several others injured when armed militants stormed the university campus and opened fire on them in Charsadda town last week, an year after over 150 people, mostly students, were killed in an attack on an army-run school in Peshawar.
After her first Kannada film Sangama alongside Golden Star Ganesh, she went under the radar for a while. Now, the gorgeous hudigi Vedhika is back in Sandalwood after a gap of six years with one of the most-awaited releases of 2016, Shivalinga opposite Century Star Shivarajkumar, directed by popular director P Vasu. Vedhika, is, quite evidently, in the best phase of her filmi career post Paradesi in Tamil. The actress then went on to work under two national award-winning directors and returned to her mother tongue with Shivalinga. The Mumbai-bred girl also has three more films in Malayalam including James and Alice, and two more in Tamil in the pipeline and she speaks exclusively to Bengaluru Chronicle about her return to Kannada films, and much more.

After Sangama, I was working on projects in other languages but I did not want to take on anything new as I was waiting for the right script to come along, though I did get quite a few offers in between Sangama and Shivalinga in Kannada. I think this project will be my most memorable, as it has the best script I have come across. It was wonderful working with P Vasu Sir, as it is well-known that he creates very powerful characters for the lead roles. It is also a commercial and entertaining film  a perfect combination, says Vedhika.

After her acting debut in Madrasi followed by Munni, the beautiful actress took a break to complete her studies in London. With a Masters degree, a M.Sc in marketing from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, she flew back to her first love  acting. I feel it was pre-destined for me. I have always been inclined towards acting and dancing. I was around four or five years old when I would pose in front of the mirror. Since then, I have always wanted to be an actor. Fortunately, I was lucky to have the right opportunities, she adds.

On her co-star Shivarajkumar, Vedhika says; He is one of the finest actors in Indian cinema, and an extremely humble and simple person. I never could believe that he comes from such a prestigious family, and is still so humble and down-to-earth, which is very rare. I got to learn a lot from him as a human being as he is so calm and patient. For her role, Vedhika explains that such a character has never been portrayed on the Indian screen or across the world. The credit also goes to producer Suresh, for making the film more grand.

Brought up in Mumbai, she has a special connection with Karnataka. I was brought up in Mumbai, but my grandparents hail from the border areas of Karnataka, and hence my mother tongue is Kannada. I speak the North Kannada dialect. I am very happy to be back in Kannada films. Lately, Kannada movies are doing so well and most of them are being remade in other languages. The industry has a bundle of talented script writers and technicians, she feels, adding about her role in Shivalinga, It was very challenging but director P Vasu Sir made it easy. Without him, I could not have pulled off such an amazing character. He is very clever and clear about the characters. He created a special playground, and all I had to do was play in it.

The actress who loves to workout, stresses on staying fit and always finds a good book relaxing. Apart from travelling, Vedhika, who has more than 5.3 million followers on Facebook, revels in interacting with her fans. With three more Malayalam films and two more in Tamil, including James and Alice (which marks the debut of cinematographer of Drishyam fame Sujith Vasudevan) she stars with Prithviraj Sukumaran. For now though, her aim is to get into practicing Yoga and keep at it.
A Jet Airways Delhi-Kathmandu flight was stopped minutes before taking off from Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday after a bomb scare, following a threat by an anonymous caller, sent the authorities into a tizzy. The aircraft  9W 260  was searched thoroughly and cleared for take off after almost six hours.



No suspicious item was found during search operations, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI Airport) Dinesh Kumar Gupta.



The bomb scare arose at a time when a security alert has been issued by Delhi Police and other security agencies in view of the Republic Day celebrations on Tuesday.



According to police, the threat call came about half an hour before the plane, carrying 104 passengers and seven crew members, was to take off for Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport. The scheduled departure time was of 1.25 pm.



A call was received at the office of DCP (IGI Airport) at 12.55 pm in which the caller said that a Republic Day gift for him was kept under seat number 18, another police officer said.



No phone number was displayed.

The flight was immediately taken to the isolation bay of the airport and all passengers de-boarded for a thorough anti-sabotage check. They were taken to the departures waiting area.



The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Delhi Police and Central Industrial Security Force launched massive search operations in the airport and everybody present in the airport was frisked.



Sniffer dogs were also brought in and at the end of the operation, which lasted a few hours, the call was declared to be a hoax.



It led to anxious moments with police, bomb disposal and dog squads rushing to the spot, only to discover that the call was a hoax, the officer added.



In a statement, Jet Airways apologised for the inconvenience caused to guests.

After a thorough search by the security agencies, the aircraft was cleared for departure. It departed for Kathmandu at 7.10 pm, the airline said.



As far as the caller is concerned, efforts are on to trace him. The caller will be booked under sections 182 (false information) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code, and under section 66A of the Information Technology Act.



Security has been beefed up across the capital ahead of the Republic Day celebrations which will be attended by French President Francois Hollande.
A three-year-old girl was found dead in central Delhis Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg on Monday. Police have not ruled out the possibility of sexual assault before murder.



The deceased is yet to be identified. Injury marks were found on the body which also seem to have been partially eaten by animals.



After initial probe, police suspect that the girl lived with her parents in night shelters. She is suspected to have died due to the cold.



The body has been preserved for post-mortem at Lok Nayak Hospital, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Parmaditya.



The incident came to the fore after a Police Control Room call was made at 11 am. It was reported that a body was lying in a garbage dump. The body was partially decomposed. It seems that she died in the past 48 to 72 hours, the officer added.

Soon, locals gathered at the spot, but failed to identify the girl.



The local police have questioned people living in slums in the area and also informed police stations across the capital.



In an effort to prevent such deaths of the homeless, the Delhi government has arranged night shelters and tents to accommodate at least 19,000 people.

The investigating officers have approached the operators of such night shelters and tents to probe if any girl of similar age is missing.



The body was first seen by journalist Umesh Papnai, who had gone to the National Commission of Women office for a reporting assignment.



However, as soon as he left the office, he noticed a group of stray dogs eating the flesh of a body.



Umesh made a call to the police control room but the operator, according to him, did not seem to believe the story. Police reached the spot 20 minutes after the call was made and took the body to hospital.



If the post-mortem report shows it was an unnatural death, we will probe the murder angle. If not we would trace those who dumped her and book them under appropriate provisions, the officer said.


Four Delhi Police officers have been conferred with Presidents Police Medal for Distinguished Service on the occasion of Republic Day. The Police Medal for Meritorious Service have also been awarded to 17 Delhi Police officers and Police Medals to 21.





Those awarded the prestigious award are Special Commissioner of Police (Legal Cell and Research) Satyendra Garg, Additional Commissioner of Police (Operations) Ranvir Singh, Vice Principal of Delhi Police Training College Ravi Shanker and inspector Ramesh Kumar.



Garg has also served in Goa, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. He was awarded Police Medal for Meritorious Services on the occasion of 2008 Republic Day while serving in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.



He was also awarded Special Duty Medals three times and Governors Gold Medal for saving lives on 1993 Republic Day.



In 1997, Garg had led a team which solved the kidnapping, for ransom, case of a businessman.



The gang was responsible for about 100 cases of kidnapping and other heinous crimes.



Singh joined as DANIPS officer in 1985, and handled the incident of Uphaar Cinema fire in 1997.



While posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Security), Singh was entrusted to supervise arrangements of Presidents tour to Sri Lanka, Vice Presidents tour to Seychelles and Malle in 2003 and Deputy Prime Ministers tour to France and Qatar in 2003.



Since December 2014, Singh officer is posted as Additional Commissioner of Police (Operations) supervising Police Control Room, Communication and IGI Airport Units of Delhi Police.



The Communication unit ensured flawless communication during Republic Day arrangement, Assembly elections and visit of US President Barack Obama in Delhi.

He has taken several innovative measures for the upgradation of Communication system and was instrumental in launch of Himmat mobile phone based application.


A day after the Union Cabinet recommended imposition of Presidents Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal threw hints that the capital could be next in line.





Since the news of recommendation of Centres Rule in Arunachal Pradesh broke, I have been receiving calls from journalists that it is Delhis turn now. I tell them that it cannot be possible as we are doing good work here and it is all a rumour, the Chief Minister said.



He, however, hinted that he believes there could be some truth to these rumours.

I ignored similar calls in the early December which cautioned that a CBI raid in my office is imminent. But it happened later.



While addressing the public at the state-level Republic Day function at Chhatrasal Stadium on Monday, Kejriwal attacked the Centre over the recommendation, calling it a murder of constitution, and that too two days before the Republic Day.



Today, we have gathered to celebrate Republic Day. Where is it written in the Constitution that if there are different governments in Centre and states, the Centre can suspend the state government? he said.



The Union Cabinet on Sunday recommended imposition of Presidents Rule in the hill state, which is going through a political turmoil.



Referring the Centre as bada bhai (elder brother) and the states as younger brothers, Kejriwal appealed the Union government of cooperating with the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi.



Bade bhai ko chhote bhai ko tang nahi karna chahiye. The elder brother should support his younger brothers like Lord Ram did (The elder brother shouldnt trouble the younger one). If the Centre supports us, we can do 10 times the kind of development we have done in Delhi till now, the Chief Minister said.



He reiterated that the main reason behind his not taking any department when the government was formed is because he is fending off attacks from the Centre and standing like a wall between his ministers and the Union government.



He also lashed out at the Centre over the suicide by research scholar Rohith Vemula of the University of Hyderabad and said even after so many years since the Constitution was written, things like equality, liberty and justice mentioned in it are not being applied.



Rohith and his friends had formed Ambedkar Students Union. How can someone who follows the path shown by Ambedkar be labelled as a terrorist? he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals speech at the state-level function of 67th Republic Day seemed to be a hit among scores of students who had come there to watch and participate in the cultural programme.



The stadium was packed with students from government schools across Delhi who looked impressed with Kejriwals focus on education and health in his speech.



The students clapped on several occasions when Kejriwal narrated the achievements of his party and how Centre has been creating hurdles in its working.



The best thing about his speech was the stress on education. We like when politicians talk about how important it is and what they are doing, said Komal, a class 9 student from Sarvodya Kanya Vidyalya (SKV) in Mongolpuri.



Dressed in a green sweater and black pant, with his signature muffler, the Chief Minister spoke for thirty minutes during the function. While for the most part of it, he took digs at the Centre, he also listed education and health as his governments top priorities since its formation days.



If even so many years after independence, we cannot provide good education to our students, then its a shame on any government. We had allocated Rs 10,000 crore to education department in the budget and it is working day and night to improve the standards of schools under us, Kejriwal said.



Two-three years from now, the condition of government schools will be such that people will prefer them over private schools for their kids, he added.



We loved his speech. He spoke about corruption in private schools through management quota. We believe whatever he said and we know that his government is working hard, said Mohini and Rinki from SKV in Azadpur Colony.



Another student, Nikita, said, I believe whatever he said about the central government could be true.



Even the chief ministers reiteration of free medicines and increasing their stock from February 1 in all Delhi government hospitals hit the right chords.



When we go to the hospital, we do not find a number of medicines. I am glad by this announcement, said Rohan, a student of class 10.

Kejriwal on Monday listed various points of the development model of Delhi adopted by his government.



These include investing in people, taking the public along and letting them make decisions, and working with good intentions.



Delhi government had lot of money before also to invest in projects, but, it is for the first time, a government with good intentions has come. So this money will be used efficiently, he said.
There is no respite in sight for the municipal employess waiting for salaries for the last three months as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed on Monday that the city government had already cleared all the dues of the three municipalities.





Employees of the three corporations have threatened indefinite strike from Wednesday demanding salaries, clearance to arrears and regularisation of the contractual posts. Hundreds of employees, including sanitation workers, teachers, doctors and engineers took out a token march on January 14.



Reminded that mayors have been clamouring for funds, Kejriwal said, Mayors are political animals, they will say anything.



I met the commissioners of all three MCDs a couple of days ago and asked them to take whatever amount they want from the city government. They gave me in writing that the city government does not owe any money to corporations, said Kejriwal.



The AAP government, however, said the commissioners requested that corporations be given Municipal Reform Fund on basis of improvements made, as current eligibility criteria for MRF is stringent. The commissioner of the North Delhi Municipal Commission also mentioned that the recommendations of the Fourth Finance Commission may also be implemented by the government.



Though the city government claimed that it has given the due funds to municipal corporations till December this financial year, the civic agencies said they have not been received grants under the MRFs which amounts to Rs 374 crore.



Cash-strapped corporations should be given the Municipal Reform Fund so that they can tide over financial crunch. That was the logic behind setting 1.5 per cent share of the corporations in the city governments tax as Municipal Reform Fund, not the way around, said a senior official with the North Corporation.



The Aam Aadmi Party government agreed that there is a provision of Rs 374 crore in the proposed revised estimate as MRF for three municipal corporations. However, the release of this amount is linked with the financial performance of local bodies, it added.



The government gives it as an incentive to them (municipal corporations) due to improvement in their financial position. All corporations, except South Delhi Municipal Corporation, are in deficit and are not prima facie eligible to get the incentive, it said in a statement.



The municipal commissioners said the corporations have not received any grant under MRF for the last two years.



The corporations get funds from the city government in three instalments in a financial year: April to June, July to December and January to March.

The AAP government has cleared the dues of North and East Corporations till December, the official said.



On January 15, the city government had said Rs 668 crore, which is 80 per cent of the total Rs 8,30.41 crore, has been released to SDMC.


World number one Serena Williams destroyed Maria Sharapova for an 18th straight time today to inflict more pain on her long-time Russian rival and power into the Australian Open semi-finals.



The six-time Melbourne Park champion out-muscled the fifth seed 6-4, 6-1 and will meet Agnieszka Radwanska for a place in the final as she moves closer to matching Steffi Graf's Open-era Grand Slam record of 22 titles.

The signs for Radwanska are ominous -- every time the American has got past the quarter-final at Melbourne Park she has gone on to win the tournament, including last year when she also beat Sharapova.



For the Russian five-time Grand Slam winner, 28, her demoralising jinx against one of the greatest players ever remains intact.



It dates back to 2004 when she last beat Williams in the Wimbledon final. Her downfall started in an epic semi-final at the 2005 Australian Open, with the American scraping home in a 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 thriller.



"Maria is a super-intense player. She is an intense and focused player. She was world number one and has won so many Grand Slams for a reason," said Williams.



"Playing someone like that you have to play with fire and intensity. I've been playing all week aggressive but I didn't start out that way."



On a scorching hot day, the sluggish 34-year-old American, gunning for a seventh Australian title, served first and stuttered immediately with the fifth seed breaking when Williams sent a backhand long.



Williams, the oldest world number one in WTA history, is often a slow starter and Sharapova made the most of it to hold for a 2-0 lead as the top seed made a string of errors.

But Williams soon got on the scoreboard as her power serve found its range and her game started coming together. She broke back to make it level-pegging at 2-2 as the Russian's serve faltered.



The errors were now mounting from 2008 champion Sharapova, who cooled herself down with ice towels at the changeover after Williams went 3-2 in front.



In contrast, the aces were starting to fly off the Williams racquet as she held for 3-3.

Sharapova's first-serve percentage was falling and she went 0-40 down in the seventh game before showing grit to fend off the break points and claw back.



It was a tight battle and the Russian had two break points herself in the next game, with Williams showing emotion for the first time, screaming "Yes" and pumping her fist as she held on for 5-4.



It proved to be vital as she came through a titanic 10th game with a volley on her fourth set point, finally winning the set after a brutal 55 minutes.



Williams, who only lost three matches in 56 last season, called the trainer out, apparently feeling unwell, but she soldiered on and took control with an early break in the second set, wrong-footing Sharapova with a blistering backhand.



Sharapova was wilting and the double fault count was rising with Williams taking another break to lead 4-0. Sensing victory, she kept her foot to the floor and turned the contest into a rout.
The national capital was today brought under an unprecedented ground-to-air security cover with thousands of armed personnel keeping a tight vigil for the 67th Republic Day celebrations where French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest.





The area around Central Delhi was turned into virtual fortress in view of intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the city. Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, central security agencies and NIA busted a module by arresting 14 militants linked to terror group ISIS.



The group had planned to carry out sensational strikes at important installations and its members had also visited the national capital, official sources said.



Commandos with light machine guns were deployed at 10 strategic locations and anti-aircraft guns remained positioned at two vantage points in the capital.



The entire region of Central and New Delhi had nearly 50,000 security personnel drawn from Delhi Police and central security forces guarding every nook and corner. Special arrangements were made at the historic Rajpath where India's military might was on display.



Hollande was seated along with Mukherjee and host of VVIPs including Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The enclosure of the VVIPs was put under a multi-layer security ring with Presidential Guards and officials of SPG and NSG guarding the two inner-most orbits and Delhi Police entrusted with guarding the outermost circle, said a senior official.



Special patrolling teams, comprising three officials including a commando, were deployed in New Delhi area within two-kilometer radius from India Gate. Senior officials said snipers have been put on 45 buildings overlooking Rajpath besides providing a similar cover along all the buildings along the parade route.



Gunners have been given clear instructions to bring down any aerial object flying without permission. A 'NOTAM' (Notice to Airmen) has been declared from 10.35 AM to 12.15 PM during which no flights will land or take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.



"Specially trained police personnel with light machine guns have been deployed at 10 strategic spots in New Delhi area," a senior police official said. Officials said anti-aircraft guns have been deployed at two vantage points to ward off any threat from the sky.



A special control room has been monitoring as many as 15,000 CCTV cameras installed across Central and New Delhi, with 200 high-tech digital cameras installed in the parade route, an official said.



As many as 1,000 traffic officials have been issued revolvers so that they can deal with any untoward incident amid heavy security arrangements across the city involving around 25,000 police officials.



The airspace will remain out of bounds for commercial flights arriving and departing out of the IGI airport here between 10.35 AM and 12.15 PM tomorrow. "Around 60 arrivals and departures take place at the IGI airport during this period, for which the notice was issued by the Airports Authority of India," a senior official said.



Meanwhile, Delhi Police has set up a wireless integrated public address (WIPA) system to enhance security at croswded places and popular markets in the city. WIPA is a centralised public address system now installed at 31 crowded places and markets in Delhi, and also in 13 major metro stations.



The national capital is already on high alert after inputs were received about the presence of key members of several terror groups in Delhi. In an inter-state coordination meeting held earlier this month, Delhi Police Chief B S Bassi had asked his force and police departments of neighbouring states to keep a vigilant eye on drones, as they have been perceived as a major threat to security, said a senior police official.
Senior diplomat Syed Akbaruddin has presented his credentials as India's new permanent representative to the United Nations to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.





Receiving the credentials yesterday, Ban welcomed his appointment as the top Indian diplomat to the UN and appreciated the significant role India plays at the powerful world body as a long-trusted partner of multilateral system.



The former high-profile spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated India's commitment to the UN and assured the secretary general of his support in helping the UN achieve its ideals and priorities Ban had set out at for 2016, including that of Agenda 2030 and the quest for peaceful political solutions for all problems, an official statement said.

Akbaruddin, India's 21st Permanent Representative at the UN, succeeds Asoke Mukerji who demitted office on December 31.



Prior to this appointment, Akbaruddin was the chief coordinator of the India-Africa Forum Summit -- a milestone event with participation of all 54 African states held in October 2015 in New Delhi.



Immediately before that, he was the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs from 2012 to 2015. He is known for his effective use of social media for diplomacy outreach.

A 1985-batch Foreign Service official, he has represented India's interests in various capacities, promoting friendly ties across the globe.



He has also served as an international civil-servant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from 2006-2011. In that capacity, he worked as Head of External Relations and Policy Coordination Unit and also as the Special Assistant to the Director-General of the IAEA.



Akbaruddin had previously served at the Indian Mission to the United Nations as First Secretary during 1995-98 and focused on the UN Security Council Reform and Peace-Keeping.



He was a member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative & Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) during 1997-98. He has also served as Counsellor at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. He is proficient in Arabic.



During 2000-2004, he was the Consul-General of India, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and prior to that he was the First Secretary in Riyadh and Second Secretary/Third Secretary in Cairo, Egypt.



In his first few speeches soon after this arrival early this month, Akbaruddin urged the UN to show a common resolve to rise above semantic definitional differences and work on the long overdue Comprehensive Convention on International terrorism
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala today said the nation should not forget its diversity, 'which is our basis' in its journey towards progress.





"Both social and economic development is included in ourcountry's developmental perimeter because ours is a diverse country. We will have to progress, keeping in mind inclusive development of all," Vala said.



"While focusing on development based on technological research, we should not forget our diversity, because it is our basis" he said, unfurling the Tricolour at the 67th Republic Day celebrations here.



The day was observed amid heightened security in the wakeof the recent arrest of six suspected terrorists with ISIS links from Karnataka and also a threat letter received at the office of the Consulate General of France here.



Vala, who took the salute during the ceremonial parade, said all should together strive towards making the country more powerful and work for all round development of the state.



He said secularism is the 'backbone' of the country and culture and it has been rightly tailored in the Constitution.



Complementing the state government for its progressive initiatives like mobile governance, amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act and new industrial policy, Vala also made a special mention about Karnatakas participation in popular central government programmes like Smart Cities and Digital India.





The first ever participation of a dog squad in the parade, march past by a Maharashtra Police contingent and disabled students were among highlights of todays Republic Day celebrations here.
Amid talk of intolerance, veteran BJP leader L K Advani today said there was no question mark on the freedom of expression in the country and wondered who were the people saying so.





"I do not know who are the people saying that there is no freedom of expression in India. This right (freedom of expression) has always been there... Such a question does not arise today," Advani, who is said to be unhappy with the party leadership, told the media after a flag-hoisting ceremony at his residence.



Several writers and artistes have said intolerance has risen under the Modi government, a claim dismissed as politically motivated by it and BJP.



Advani declined to comment on BJP president Amit Shah's meeting with him on Sunday after the latter's election as the party chief. BJP had said Shah had gone to him to seek his "blessings".



People fought against attempts to stifle freedom of expression during the British rule, he said and referred to the Emergency as he recalled that when "our government" tried to do so, people fought back.



He said the only concern today should be about arousing patriotism in every citizen and how people in every field can become patriots.



On Republic Day, it was natural for a feeling of nationalism to be present all around but efforts should be made to keep it alive all the time by the means of education and sport besides others methods, he said.



BJP leaders and Union ministers Najma Heptulla and Rajiv Pratap Rudy were present.



Advani, besides party veterans Murli Manohar Joshi, Yashwant Sinha and Shanta Kumar have met a couple of times in recent months and they had issued a strongly-worded statement criticising the party leadership after their first meeting on Diwali eve.


For the third year in a row, India did not display any of its nuclear missiles during the Republic Day parade.





In 2013, India had displayed the Inter Continental Ballistic Missile Agni V during the Republic Day Parade. The chief guest at that time was Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.



However, when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came in as the Chief Guest in 2014, no ballistic missiles were displayed.



India at that time was negotiating a civil nuclear deal with Japan, the only country to have suffered an atom bomb attack.



The nuclear missiles were also missing during the Republic Day Parade last year when US President Barack Obama was the chief guest.



Asked why ballistic missiles are not being displayed, Maj Gen Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff Delhi Area of Indian Army said deterrence is not about showcasing everything we have.



"Certain platforms are in open domain which are not showcased. There are some items which are not showcased every time," he had told reporters recently.



However, he added that some items could come back next year as displays are done on a rotation basis.



The Army, which has been talking about the 'Make in India' initiative, chose to display Russian T 90 tanks instead of the indigenous Arjun tanks developed by the DRDO.



The Army displayed Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles and Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System.



The Navy displayed flight deck operations on the new aircraft carrier Vikrant, under construction at the Kochi Shipyard, and the indigenously constructed submarine 'Kalvari' by Mazagaon Dock, having 'Made in India' tag on them.



Among the fighters displayed by the IAF, there were five French Jaguars.
Maintaining that women have right to pray, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today favoured a dialogue between authorities of Shani Shingnapur temple and activists to find a way out over the ban on entry of female devotees into the inner sanctum of the shrine.





He urged the temple authorities to hold a dialogue with the women's group that is campaigning for entry of female devotees into the inner sanctum of the shrine in Ahmednagar district.



"Indian culture and Hindu religion gives women have the right to pray. A change in yesterday's traditions is our culture. Discrimination in praying is not in our culture. The temple authorities should resolve the issue through a dialogue," tweeted Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.



Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said the government will facilitate talks between the temple authorities and women activists to arrive at an amicable solution.



"If there is a dispute between activists and temple authorities over allowing women access to the (Shani Shingnapur) temple, the state government will act as facilitator for talks between them so that the issue can be resolved amicably," Shinde told PTI.



"The activists (members of Bhumata Brigade) were detained as they had violated the law. CrPC Section 144 had been imposed by police (banning Assembly of people) which they did not adhere to.



"As far as their religious views are concerned, it is the government's duty to ensure that the issue is resolved," he said.
The Board of Directors of Apollo Energy Company, an Apollo Hospitals Group Company, approved the divestment of 23.3 per cent shareholding in Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company to its joint venture partner, Munich Re of Germany for Rs 163.5 crore.





The proposed transaction values Apollo Munich at Rs 703 crore.



Post completion of the transaction, scheduled for the end Q1 of CY2016, Apollo Hospitals Groups shareholding in Apollo Munich shall stand reduced from 74.4 per cent to 51.1 per cent.



Correspondingly, Munich Res shareholding in Apollo Munich shall move to 48.7 per cent, and 0.2 per cent will be held by employees. Apollo Hospitals shall continue to hold its stake in Apollo Munich.



Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise said, The show of confidence from our JV partner will go a long way in helping the Group achieve its vision of Healthcare for all.



The opportunity for Munich Re to increase its shareholdings was provided through the decision of the Indian Government in March 2015, to increase the foreign direct investment cap in the insurance sector from 26 per cent to 49 per cent.



With the increase in shareholding, Munich Re strengthens its presence in India, which is one of the key markets for the company.


Gujarat-based Sahajanand Laser Technology (SLTL), a pioneer in the field of lasers in India, catering to the need of various industries like cutting, marking, welding, micro machining, solar cell scribing/cutting aims to spend 10 per cent of its revenues on R&D, a top executive said.





Talking to Deccan Herald on the sidelines of IMTEX Forming 2016, Sahajanand Laser Technology Executive Director Maulik Patel said, With over 21 patents in laser technology, SLTL is a very innovative company. One of the biggest innovations we did around was to manufacture fiber laser cutting machines.



Patel explained, The world was not aware of what fiber laser, the sheet metal can be processed or cut. We are the ones who were trying to make solutions for it. We developed it in India, and SLTL holds the patent right of fiber laser cutting application. We have wide range of solutions ranging from very low 500 watts to 6 kW. The company saw a turnover of Rs 150 crore, last financial year, and aims to reach Rs 180-200 crore for the current financial year.



Patel said, In terms of product development, we are carrying out a lot of fundamental R&D, for which, we are spending 10 per cent of our total revenues on R&D. The Indian government has supported and encouraged us to gain patent rights.



SLTL also offers specialised solutions for diamond processing and scanning, jewellery marking, auto component, plastic, aerospace and defence, among others.



SLTL, which embarked on its journey in 1992, has six production units with an installed capacity of over 7,000 machines, globally. It employs over 500 staff.



The company aims to set up new unit in homebase, Gandhinagar related to laser products, with an investment of Rs 40 crore. The facility will be completed by 2017 and will hire 100 more staff.



On current capacity, Patel said, We divide ouselves into two segments  less than 150 watts and greater than 150 watts. The low power range capacity of manufacturing machines is around 3,000 laser systems per year.



Patel added, About higher the capacity is 150 machines per year. With the new facility, we will enhance the production capacity of 150 machines to 160-250, and the low power, from 3,000 to 5,000 laser systems.



Patel claimed that the SLTL has over 70 per cent market share in India in terms of the laser industry, while the Middle East is the biggest export market for SLTL, along with Thailand, China, the US and Canada among others.




After much deliberation, Pakistan offered to be a mediator in the Saudi-Iran feud. While the chances of any mediator influencing the reconciliation are negligible because of the multi-layered problem, the fact that Islamabad ventured into muddled West Asia terrain is intriguing.





Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir confirmed the complexity of the problem a few days ago by saying that many countries had come forward with mediation offers, but Riyadh did not require them because the Kingdom is aware of its rights and Iran knows what has to be done.



Yet, it is interesting to delve into the reasons for Islamabad's mediation offer. The primary reason for the shuttle diplomacy in the third week of January was international fears that a prolonged Saudi-Iran confrontation could have serious consequences for the region.



Riyadh severed diplomatic ties with Tehran on January 3 after the Saudi embassy in Iran was vandalised. This reaction followed the Kingdoms execution of several dissidents, including a prominent Saudi Shiite cleric, Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr. Thereafter, both countries imposed retaliatory diplomatic and trade curbs, thereby intensifying an already fragile relationship.



Pakistan first claimed that it did not want to mediate because of the delicate Sunni-Shiite divide at home and the possible repercussions it could face if it got involved in the Saudi-Iran ideological battle, which is a reason for the regional turmoil. We dont want that some sectarian friction eruptsWe dont want that terrorist elements take any advantage of the Iran-Saudi Arabia tension, Islamabad had said.



With a sizeable Shiite minority, Pakistans assessment was that it has a lot to lose from rising sectarian tensions in the region. It was this fear that forced Pakistan, after a parliament vote last year, to decline a Saudi call to join a Riyadh-led military intervention in Yemen to fight Iran-allied Al Houthis (It is worth recalling that following the Arab uprising in Bahrain in 2011, about 2,500 former Pakistani servicemen were reportedly recruited and deployed in Manama. This increased the size of Bahrains anti-riot police to quell the largely-Shiite uprising against the largely-Sunni government).



Islamabad later used the same rationale to explain its mediatory role. It wanted to stop the Saudi-Iran sectarian row from escalating and affecting Pakistan. Since this was a diplomatic initiative and no parliamentary obstacles were involved, Islamabad was willing to be less cautious. So both ways, Pakistan first rationale served well.



It also offered an opportunity for Islamabad to mend fences with Riyadh and other Gulf neighbours who were peeved with the decision not to join the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen and the hesitation before joining the Saudi-led coalition against terror outfit Islamic State, both in 2015.



More importantly, it was the ideal time to suggest to the world that Pakistan was not just about terror, but also capable of peace initiatives. This could be linked to the recent peace efforts with India and the attempt to act against Jaish-e-Mohammed, even if it has only meant that its chief and a few others are in preventive custody.



The most fascinating dynamics of Islamabads mediation is that the oft-cited not-in-sync civilian-military leadership  Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif  travelled together to impress upon brotherly Saudi Arabia and neighbourly Iran.



This suggests that the civilian-military leadership equation is changing for the better in a country that has seen several differences and coups in the past. While they may have differences on India and India-unfriendly terror groups, they appear to be on the same page with regard to the Saudi-Iran mediation and other matters pertaining to West Asia.

This cooperation could again be linked to the countrywide crackdown on terror outfits in Pakistan, which was launched after the 2014 Peshawar school massacre.



Next, Saudi Arabia (led by the visits of deputy crown prince-defence minister and foreign minister) may have impressed upon Pakistan to come on board in a show of solidarity. Seeking to remain neutral, however, Pakistan decided to play the go-between.



Sharifs personal rapport with Saudi Arabia, especially since the Kingdom provided him asylum between 2000 and 2007 after being ousted by Gen Pervez Musharraf, may be a factor too. In addition, the Kingdom has also lent economic assistance to Pakistan for decades.



Military capabilities

From a strategic perspective, irrespective of what India thinks, Pakistan still appeals to Saudi Arabia  even if it has waned recently. During desperate times such as these, Saudi Arabia feels emboldened that Sunni Pakistan possesses the capability to act as a nuclear-armed counterweight to Shiite Iran.



Pakistan has a long history of deploying its military capabilities to protect the desert kingdom, especially during the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980s and 1991 US-led Gulf War.



Likewise, Pakistan has other considerations from the Iranian angle. Pak-Iran relations have been delicate since the 1979 Islamic revolution, following which Tehran drifted closer to New Delhi. Recently, Pakistan has been trying to overcome its regional isolation by warming up to Iran.



Economically, with oil prices at a low, Iran could address Pakistans energy needs  help finish the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project (funded by China) and import electricity across the border.



Moreover, Pakistans nationwide anti-terror fight is linked to ending the war in Afghanistan. Islamabad hopes to use its contacts with the Afghani Taliban to broker a political settlement, for which it requires Saudi-Iran cooperation.



Another angle could be Pakistan-Irans cooperation to refrain from alleged Iranian Revolutionary Guards recruitment of Pakistani Shiites to fight against the Islamic State in Syria.



Thus, irrespective of the effort not heading in the intended direction, Pakistan displayed smart diplomacy.



(The writer is a Dubai-based political analyst, author and Honorary Fellow of the University of Exeter, UK)
When notions of linear time are being challenged by theoretical physicists today, the concept of development as a linear system seems to have remained stagnant. Time, as scientists say, could flow in different directions. But, it does not pre-exist. The direction and flow of time have to be deduced from whats happening in the universe.





In that sense, if one tries to unpack the politics of development, one can say that we have failed to understand multiple notions of time as multiple notions of development. In India, however, this does exist.



Today, the situation has beco-me more tragic in terms of understanding these notions. One feels that the polity is unresponsive to the cries and struggles of these thousands of indigenous people who identify themselves very close to natures time as opposed to industrial time.



Odisha as a state is known for its multiple facets. It has a glorious history of resistance, sacrifice and folklores. It is culturally rich in terms of its literature, craft and anti-imperial struggles. The biodiversity of the place has been safeguarded and taken care of by the indigenous inhabitants since millennia. The colonial plunder in this part of the state was no less when its rich mines and forest lands were ruthlessly extracted to keep the mills of Manchester in profits.



Like the saying, independen-ce for the indigenous population is nothing but a modern form of legitimate imperialism. It seems to be true with the way the Odisha government is progressing by encouraging and auctioning some of the rich bio-diverse areas for mining industries.



In 2005, the state government signed an agreement with Posco of South Korea for which iron ore mines in Khandadhar hills in Sundargarh was recommended. Since then, there has been a strong resistance from the tribal population living there. Recently, the Central government included it in the list of mines to be auctioned for leasing out to the corporations.



Paudibhuyian is a tribe which has historically inhabited and maintained the ecological landscape of the region. The culture of this tribe resonates their affinity and relationship that they have carried over with the waterfall named Khandadhara (12th highest waterfall in India) and the mountains around it since centuries.



Today, the corporate loot over this cultural heritage site of Paudi Bhuyian is turning out to be life threatening for thousands of people who live around depending upon minor forest produce and their traditional practices of agriculture.



Displacement is one of the inherent result of developmental projects. One has to understand that adivasis are amongst people whose knowledge, livelihood and lifecycle are culturally embedded in the very place they inhabit and live for centuries. Their notion of development does not require our indicators of economics, which we are trying to superimpose on them.



At another level, adivasis are no less than ecological conservators themselves in the way they understand and relate to nature both through their cultural traditions and their very own lifestyles.



So, in a way, their notions of development are way beyond what we think development to be in terms of industrial growth and economic indicators. The concept of cognitive justice is central to their understanding of development and becomes a precursor to how they imagine cognitive notions of development in terms of multiple forms of time, space and justice.



Justice for nature

In one of my recent visits to the village of Burlubaru in Kandhamal district, Balakrishna Majhi, an adivasi from Kutia Kondh tribe, said we dont do farming to market vegetables and fruits, we do it for ourselves and for the various kinds of animal species who live along with us in this forest. In fact, we only carry home, the leftovers, after they have taken their own share.



We offer prayers to all the species that we have come across in our lives, through our ancestral knowledge, stories and rituals because they are very much connected to why we exist on the first place today. Its the way we adivasis have lived and will live.



Balakrishna, in a way, reflected on something that developmental projects never talk about - justice for nature. Its true, because nothing is more inclusive than the nature itself. Perhaps, that is the reason why adivasis have adopted a lifestyle which surrounds nature as their core value.



It is in that context that one would place the present corporate loot of land for mining in the name of development which governments like Odisha are facilitating. This imperial and genocidal act needs to be questioned and resisted in a larger way. The recent Niyamgiri and Kalinga Nagar movements are advanced outposts and inspirations for people who are forging ahead in terms of democratisation against the imperial governments and institutions of the time.



Unless and until these acts are questioned and resisted, sustainability as an idea in terms of life, lifestyle and livelihood will remain as mere power point presentations and textual documents under government policies and further lead to the continuation of developmental violence.



(The writer is with O P Jindal University, Sonepat, Haryana)
Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Tuesday that suitable changes had been made in the law for the release of prisoners with good conduct.





As per the changed rules, a total of 375 convicts were being released on Tuesday. The approval by the Cabinet to this effect had received the governors assent, Parameshwara said. Male prisoners who have reached 65 years of age and have served 14 years in prison and female prisoners who have reached 60 years and served 14 years in prison were eligible for release in future, the minister said.



He was addressing a press conference after taking part in the Republic day parade in the city.



The Home department had taken the necessary precautions against terror activities, he said.

The Garuda squad had become functional in the State on the lines of the National Security Guards, he said. The police were being provided modern weapons and training to utilise them to tackle terror elements, the minister said. Parameshwara said all necessary measures had been taken to check the ultras in the light of the arrest of IS men.



Belagavi report

As many as 114 convicts including five women serving life term were released from Central Prison, Hindalaga in Belagavi on Tuesday. The prison authorities had recommended release of 127 prisoners, but the advisory committee did not clear the names of 13 for release.

Similarly, 23 prisoners were released from Ballari central jail.


The State government is striving to address the energy scarcity and provide power for all by 2020, Governor Vajubhai Vala has said. The governor was delivering his Republic Day address at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground in the City on Tuesday.





Vala, who kept his speech short and crisp, said that there had been a substantial increase in power production in the last two years and new projects were also being commissioned.



It is the State governments vision to provide power for all by 2020, he said.

Vala, who addressed audience after the hoisting the National Flag, spoke for just under 15 minutes, the briefest in recent years.



Speaking about the three-day Invest Karnataka - 2016 summit scheduled to be held in Bengaluru from February 3, he said that the event will help provide business opportunities and act as a platform for youth and industrialists.



Quality of education

Vala added that the government is also making efforts to improve the quality of primary and secondary education in Karnataka.



In an effort to encourage children to go to school, the State government has been providing them facilities such as midday meals, milk, free uniforms, books, bicycles, shoes and socks, he added. The government through its mobile governance programme has brought various departmental services on a mobile platform. The initiative, a first-of-its-kind in the country, has brought over 4,000 services of the government and private sector under one umbrella on the mobile platform. More services would be added in the days to come, he said.



He added that Mysuru has been rated as the best city in the country for maintaining cleanliness.



Other cities too should try to emulate this model, he pointed out.

Earlier, Vala unfurled the tri-colour flag and received the ceremonial guard of honour at the venue, where a tight security blanket was in place.



Sarvothamseva awards

Governor Vajubhai Vala presented Sarvothamseva awards to as many as 15 government employees in recognition of their services.



The award carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs 25,000.




Synchronisation of the Yeramarus Thermal Power Station (YTPS) in Raichur has been delayed again due to technical issues. Synchronisation of the first unit of 800 MW was scheduled for Wednesday (January 27).





If all goes well, synchronisation will be done either by the month-end or in the first week of February. Synchronisation is the process of connecting the power generator to the grid so that energy generated is not wasted.



Lakshman Kabade, Chief Engineer (electrical) at YTPS, told Deccan Herald that the scheduled oil synchronisation of the first unit will not happen on Wednesday. ``We are working round the clock. We need to test and observe it, he said, while explaining that it is a ``complicated supercritical plant.



YTPS is Karnatakas first supercritical thermal plant while the rest are subcritical.

A supercritical plant works at supercritical pressure of over 3,200 psi (pounds

per square inch) and consumes less energy (coal) and releases less greenhouse

gases.



Work on YTPS started in 2010 but has been delayed for over a year due to various reasons. In January 2015, three labourers were killed at the construction site, delaying the work by a few months.



The Karnataka Power Corporation Limiteds (KPCL) promise of making the first unit operational in June 2015 fell flat due to critical technical issues.



The 2x800 MW thermal plant is being jointly constructed by the KPCL and public sector major Bharath Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL). The initial estimated cost of the project was Rs 9,015 crore. Once fully operational, the two units will generate 11,913 million units of power a year.



Recently, the project was delayed again due to delay in oil supply from Chennai because of floods there. All thermal plants are started with oil or liquid fuel synchronisation to ensure a smooth beginning. This is followed by coal synchronisation.



Asked by when the production will begin, Kabade said, ``Once the oil synchronisation is done, coal synchronisation will be done in due course. He, however, refused to set any date, saying they needed to monitor and analyse the ground situation before making the unit operational.


Some tableaux on display during the Republic Day parade sought to send a political message. If Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry invoked Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Uttar Pradesh government tried to highlight contribution of Muslims to the culture of the state and Bihar invoked Mahatma Gandhi by depicting the story of Champaran Satyagrah.





However, both the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry and Bihar government justified their themes. The Social Justice and Empowerment said the tableaux was part of 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the Bihar's displayed the tableau the occasion of centenary year of Chamapran Satyagarah, the first movement led by Gandhi on Indian soil.



In the Social Justice Ministrys tableau, the popular image of Ambedkar was depicted with its various aspects. He is holding the Constitution of India in his left hand and pointing forward with his right arm.



The tableau shows images of Parliament House, Ambedkars memorial at his birthplace in Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, Ambedkars handing over to first President of India Rajendra Prasad, his fight against untouchability, the 125th year commemorative coin and commemorative postage stamp.



Bihar tableau shows the story of Gandhis first Satyagrah against British in India that which resulted in the abolition of forced plantation of indigo. The tableau of Uttar Pradesh prominently portray weaving of sarees at Varanasi, the Kathak dance form and the Rumi Darwaza, the magnificent structure at Lucknow.
As India showcased its military might and a kaleidoscope of its rich cultural vibrancy in a majestic parade to mark the 67th Republic Day, the defence ministry decided not to flaunt its nuclear capable missiles before the French President Francois Hollande.





For the third time in a row, the defence ministry didnt display the Agni series of long range nuke capable missiles, which was a regular feature in the Republic Day parade till a few years ago.



Instead, the military prowess was represented by T-90 Bhishma tank, BrahMos cruise missiles, Akash and Smerch missile systems besides the infantry combat vehicles.



The mechanised column was shortened and the number of marching contingents were cut down to reduce the parade time by about 20 minutes. Last time, India displayed the inter-continental ballistic missile Agni-V was in 2013 when the chief guest was Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.



In the next two editions, Agni series of missiles were not showcased before Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Barack Obama.



Sticking to the tradition, the BSF camel regiment once again enthralled the audience while the motorcycle display team of Corps of Signals performed hair-raising stunts.



Led by Lt General Rajan Ravindran, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, troops from the 61st Cavalry, the Parachute Regiment, the Corps of Signals, the Rajput Regiment, the Garhwal Rifles, the Assam Regiment, 11 Gorkha Rifles paraded on the Rajpath followed by the contingents from Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.



Tableaux from 17 states and six central departments presented Indias rich historical, architectural and cultural heritage.
An Air India plane carrying 167 passengers on board to Milan returned to the Delhi airport on Tuesday after smoke was detected in the cabin mid-air.





The flight AI 137 had taken off around 3 pm, but had to return soon after the smoke was detected. The aircraft returned to the airport at 4:47 pm.



Del-Milan flt AI 137 made a safe precautionary landing at Del Apt today due to minor smoke detected in the cabin. Pax are being transferred to another aircraft, expected to leave shortly, Air India tweeted soon after landing the plane.
A four-century-old French regiment, an ex-servicemen tableau and an all-women marching contingent of the CRPF marked the many firsts of the parade to commemorate the 67th Republic Day here on Tuesday.





The parade, cut short by 20 minutes, also saw the return of an Army dog squad after 26 years. A special float on the role of veterans in nation-building was also a first in the parade. But history was made when the 35th Infantry Regiment of France marched down Rajpath, becoming the first foreign contingent to take part in the parade.



Raised in 1604, the regiment fought against the British with support from Haider Ali of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore in 1781. One of the oldest active regiments of France, it served for three years in the Indian subcontinent as a part of a large French force that was dispatched under the command of Admiral Bailiff of Suffren to provide military assistance to French colonies in India.



The Aquitaine Regiment, as it is also called, was on board a French fleet that fought in north Ceylon (battle of Sadras) and subsequently landed at Portonuevo (now Parangipettai) on the Coromandel Coast, where they captured Cuddalore with the backing of 200 Indian sepoys of the Mysore kingdom.



The soldiers returned to France in 1784 and participated in several major campaigns until the revolution of 1789, the French embassy stated. Led by Afghanistan veteran Lt Col Paul Bury, the French soldiers strode the central boulevard at the start of the parade. The audience included French President Francois Hollande, who was the chief guest.



The contingent was accompanied by 48 members from the Music of the Infantry, a ceremonial band based in Lyon in France. They played two military tunes at the parade as the spectators cheered them on. The band was created in 1757 by a royal decree.



Maj Gen Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff Delhi Area and the second in command of the parade, said the parade was evolving and foreign contingent should be a regular affair.A special float on the role of military veterans in national building at a time when a section of them are battling the government over better pension package was another highlight.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday gave his assent to the Narendra Modi governments recommendation to put Arunachal Pradesh under Central rule.





Mukherjee allowed Presidents rule to be imposed on the North-Eastern state after two days of consultations with experts, seeking clarification from Home Minister Rajnath Singh and also hearing out the Congress which swept to power in 2014.



The Cabinet had on Sunday taken cognisance of the constitutional breakdown in Arunachal Pradesh as reported by governor and recommended to the President to put the state under Central rule.



The President of India has signed a proclamation under article 356(1) of the Constitution, imposing the Presidents Rule in relation to the state of Arunachal Pradesh and keeping the Legislative Assembly of the State in suspended animation with effect from January 26, 2016, an official statement said.



Congress spokesperson R P N Singh termed the decision to impose Presidents rule in Arunachal as unconstitutional. We will fight in Parliament and court, he said.



Congress arch rival and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: Advaniji was right in saying that there are emergency like conditions in the country.



JDU spokesperson K C Tyagi condemned the decision and termed it as an alarm of threat and also a challenge to regional parties. He also called upon non-BJP parties including the TDP, TRS, PDP, Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal to stand together and raise the issue in the Budget session of Parliament.

Arunachal Pradesh plunged into political crisis in December when 21 Congress MLAs led by former minister Kalikho Pul rebelled against Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and joined hands with the BJP. In 2014, the Congress had won 47 seats, the BJP 11 while two seats went to independents in the 60-member Assembly.



The Congress rebels along with the BJP and independent members had convened a Assembly session at a makeshift venue after the main building was locked out by Speaker Nabam Rebia. The session at the makeshift venue impeached the Speaker, an act that was termed unconstitutional by Tuki.



The Congress had moved court against the impeachment and the matter was being heard in the Supreme Court since January 15.



The Modi government claimed that the Cabinet was forced to take a decision to put the state under Central rule as six months and lapsed between two sessions of the State Assembly.



Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said this amounted to a constitutional breakdown.



The ousted chief minister claimed that the Congress had the required numbers in the Assembly but had not convened the session as the matter was sub judice.
The Congress is planning to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the UPAs flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act next month even as Modi government sends mixed signals on the scheme.





Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has convened a meeting of the presidents of the partys state units on February 5 to finalise plans for befitting commemoration of the MGNREGA, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dubbed as a monument to the economic policy failure of successive Congress governments.



AICC General Secretary (Organisation) Janardan Dwivedi has shot off letters to state unit presidents asking them to step up vigil on the implementation of the rural jobs scheme that aims to provide a minimum of 100 days employment to rural folks, particularly during the lean agriculture season.



Since Modi assumed office in May 2014, Congress has been apprehending cuts in budgetary support to the flagship schemes it had initiated such as MGNREGA and Right to Information among others.



However, faced with back-to-back droughts, the Centre had fallen back on MNREGA to generate employment in rural areas. Now, the government plans to dovetail its flagship programmes with MGNREGA, thus giving the UPA scheme a fresh lease of life.



Towards the fag end of the UPA, the rural jobs scheme had generated 73.42 crore person-days in the April-June quarter of 2014. But during the first days of Modi government, employment dropped to just 33.27 crore person-days in the September quarter and further dipped to 23.67 crore in the December quarter.
The historic temple-town of Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra witnessed massive protests as women activists tried to enter the temple of Lord Shani on Republic Day.





The women from neighbouring Pune district were stopped at Supe in Parner taluka  around 90 km from the temple-town.



Though the women could not enter the temple town the message was loud and clear. Women activists and people on social media came out strongly in support of the protesters.



At the temple dedicated to Lord Shani, one of Navagrahas, the nine primary celestial beings in Hindu astrology, women are not allowed to the chauthara, which has the self-emerged (svayambhu), a five-and-a half-feet high black rock installed on an open-air platform, which symbolises the god Shani.



The much-publicised agitation was led by Pune-based Trupti Desai, who heads the Bhumata Rangranai Brigade. Incidentally, the Shri Shanaishwar Devasthan Shani Shingnapur-Newasa, the temple trust, which is headed by a housewife, Anita Shetye, had made it clear that women would not be allowed to go near the sanctum sanctorum.



The locals also made human chains to prevent the women from stepping inside the temple complex.



The women activists, who were on their way from Pune to Shani Shingnapur in 7 buses and 15 cars, were stopped by the police  comprising a large number of women constables  at Supe toll naka along the Pune-Ahmednagar highway. The activists, many carrying small the national flag, squatted on the highway and raised slogans against the police action.



The women also targeted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. What is he doinghe is the youngest Chief Minister. Why women are being stopped, why, said Desai.



Another activist questioned out the rationale behind barring womens entry in the temple. It is a black day for women on the Republic Day. The Constitution allows equal rights, she said, adding that gender bias needs to be removed from the society and we have to make a beginning.
None of the 1,793 police stations in four states, including Bihar and Rajasthan, are covered under the Centres ambitious online tracking system to file FIR online, even as the deadline for achieving the target ends this month.





This comes at a time when Union territories and 14 states, including Karnataka and Delhi, file all FIRs through the Crime and Criminals Tracking Network System (CCTNS).



Nine states and Union territories were added to the list only in the last two months, after the home ministrys prodding.



According to a status report of the Home ministry, 15,008 police stations across the country are covered by the multi-crore project aimed at developing a national database of crimes and criminals.



Of this, 894 police stations in Bihar, 863 in Rajasthan, 23 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and 13 in Lakshadweep are covered under CCTNS, but none of them filed an FIR online. The ministry had advised states to use the offline version of CCTNS where network connectivity is unstable or not synchronised with State Data Centre.



Besides Karnataka and Delhi, other states that file 100 per cent FIRs online are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Meghalaya, Tripura, Goa, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.



There are nine states and Union territories registering more than 90 per cent FIRs online, officials said hoping that they would soon join the 100 per cent club.



The Union Cabinet had in November last approved the revamp of an e-initiative to link police stations across the country by integrating them with a similar project in criminal justice system besides extending its deadline to March 2017.



The project, officials believe, would strengthen the countrys counter-terrorism and crime detection mechanism.



In November, only five states had online coverage of 100 per cent FIRs forcing the ministry to send letters to states asking them to achieve 100 per cent by January this year.



The project aims at building a database of criminals, which could be accessed by a police officer anywhere in the country for investigation.



The CCTNS facilitates collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, transfer and sharing of data and information at police station and between police stations and State Headquarters and the Central Police Organisations.
In what is seen as a revenge killing, armed guerrillas of banned outfit CPI(Maoists) gunned down a junior cop Girija Paswan in Aurangabad district.





The Maoists claimed that the 35-year-old Paswan was shot dead precisely because he had turned into a police informer and was suspected to have told his superiors about the whereabouts of Rajiv alias Bihari, a Maoist leader.



Rajiv and his accomplices were killed by the Aurangabad police earlier this month. To protest the killing of four of their colleagues in Band-Goriya village in Aurangabad, the CPI(Maoists) had given a 24-hour bandh call from the midnight of January 25.



The banned outfit had made an appeal to the fellow Maoists in neighbouring Jharkhand also to observe bandh. The bandh will remain in force till midnight of January 26.



Those killed by the police are martyrs. Their death will not go in vain, the spokesperson of the Maoists said, adding that the Nitish regime, after coming to power in November 2015, has extended its support to Operation Green-hunt following which the police have launched a crackdown on the Maoists.



In view of the bandh call, the Bihar Police in general and the Aurangabad police in particular have beefed up security measures. Aurangabad SP Babu Ram has asked cops to be extra vigilant during the bandh period and foil the design of ultras.



In the past, the Maoists have targeted buses and trucks plying on National Highway or disrupted train movement on Howrah-Mughalsarai section, during their bandh call.
The Odisha Police conducted raids in several places in and around capital Bhubaneswar on Tuesday to trace and nab four suspected terrorists who were trying to check into a hotel on Monday night.





However, the suspects fled after the hotel staff got suspicious about their activities and informed the police. A red alert has already been sounded in the state following the incident. We are investigating the case, city police commissioner, R P Sharma said.



Police sources said: One of the four went to the front office of the hotel located in the Master Canteen area of the capital city and asked for two rooms while three of them were waiting outside.



The man who introduced himself as an Iraqi national was speaking in English with an Arabic accent. As the city was already on high alert because of the Republic Day celebration, the hotel staff immediately informed the local police. However, the four managed to flee from the spot. Police sources said that the four were traveling in a car carrying a New Delhi number plate. Investigation revealed that the number plate was a fake one.



Raids were still being conducted at various places. Search operations are also on in the neighbouring temple town of Puri, a major destination for both international and domestic tourists.



The case has already been handed over to the special task force (STF) of the state police. An STF team visited the hotel on Tuesday afternoon and checked the CCTV footage besides questioning the hotel staff.
The Supreme Court has said dowry articles gifted to a woman have to be given to her children or returned to parents in case of her other than natural death within seven years of marriage.





A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice T S Thakur explained the legal position saying that the parents-in-law or husband can at best be described as trustee of those articles.



Relying upon Section 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, the bench said the dowry articles must be handed over to the woman within three months of the marriage and the husband or in-laws could be prosecuted for not giving back the movable and immovable properties within the stipulated time.



If the dowry amount or articles of married woman was placed in the custody of her husband or in-laws, they will be deemed to be trustees of the same. The person receiving dowry articles or the person who is dominion over the same, as per Section 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, is bound to return the same within three months after the date of marriage to the woman in connection with whose marriage it is given, the bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi, said.



The court was dealing with a plea filed by Bobbli Ramakrishna Raju Yadav, working as engineer in Bengaluru. After his marriage with Syamala Rani in May, 2007, they were living at their matrimonial house in Bengaluru.



However, after Ranis death in September, 2008 under suspicious circumstances, a case was registered in HAL police station, Bengaluru city under Sections 304B (dowry death), 498A (cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code, along with other provisions under the Dowry Prohibition Act.



On a plea made by the husband, the apex court quashed the proceedings against his parents for not returning the dowry articles, noticing that they resided separately at Vizianagaram.



It also said that there was no specific charges of entrustment of the dowry amount and articles to them. The court, however, noted they were already facing separate case of dowry harassment.
In a step closer to opening the Kanhoji Angre Lighthouse located in Khanderi Island in Raigad district for tourists, the foundation stone for a passenger jetty was laid last week.





The Kanhoji Angre Lighthouse marks the entry point to the Mumbai harbour and acts as prime aid to navigation of ships entering and leaving the Mumbai port.



While the lighthouse is named after the valiant Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre, the island fort in which it is located was built by the Maratha warrior and war-strategist Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. While the tourists will be mainly visiting the Kanhoji Angre Lighthouse during the voyage, they will also be shown the Progs Reef Lighthouse, Sunk Rock Lighthouse and Dolphin Lighthouse.



Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnvis laid the foundation stone in the presence of Union Minister For Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Anant Geete.



The Khanderi Island had strategic importance for stakeholders of Portuguese, the English and the Marathas as it commanded the entrance of the Mumbai harbour from the South.
The state government on Tuesday released 375 prisoners across the State for good conduct. Among them, 98 were from the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in the City alone.





Home Minister G Parameshwara, who gave away good conduct certificate and a cloth bag to the released prisoners, said prison is a place for change and not for punishment. The government is looking at a proposal to release prisoners, aged over 60 years, who have spent more than 14 years in jail, he added.



Of the 375 prisoners released, 255 were freed with remission and 120 were released without remission. Parameshwara said the released prisoners should not indulge in any kind of misbehaviour.



It is a new lease of life and they should make full use of it. Also, they have lost most of their time in the prison. At least from now, they should lead a happy and peaceful life with their family members, the minister said.



Director General of Police (DGP) Satyanarayana Rao said, Every one, who is being released from the jail, will have to think that their past was a bad dream, forget it and move on in life and shape their future.



Sister Adele, a member of Prison Advisory Board, said, There was a delay in releasing prisoners from 2006 to 2015. Several prisoners, who were waiting to be released, died due to ill health and old age in this period. We request the government to release the prisoners on time without any further delay.



Aravind Kumar, 45, a native of Mandya who was released from jail, said, I had to spend 15 years in jail because of just one mistake. My father and the prison staff encouraged me to study in jail. I have secured three postgraduate degrees, including one in Kannada literature. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with a murder case.
Karnataka High Court judge Justice N K Patil on Tuesday took note of the increasing water and air pollution and said that it should be the priority of the government to ensure clean drinking water and suitable air for the people.





Speaking at a Republic Day celebration, he said that the government was lacking the will in this regard. It must constitute core committees at State, district and taluk level to monitor pollution. Clean air and drinking water is the birthright of every individual, he said.



The event was organised by the Advocates Association, Bengaluru, the Bangalore Advocates Co-operative Society Limited and the Bangalore Advocates Literary Union.



Justice Patil said, Even after six decades of becoming a republic, we are not in a position to provide unpolluted air, hygienic food, clean drinking water and electricity to all citizens. The problem of malnutrition is rampant among the weaker sections of the society.



He said, Every child born has the natural right to survive. It has the right to get food, clean water, clothes, medicines and a clean environment to live. We must ensure that the natural right of everyone is protected.



He asked lawyers to evolve a mechanism to simplify the archaic and time-consuming legal procedures.
Cultural programmes by schoolchildren and stunning motorcycle stunts by the famed ASC Tornadoes were the highlight of Tuesdays ceremonial parade organised as part of the Republic Day celebrations at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Grounds in the City.





More than 2,000 students from schools across Bengaluru captured the audience with their performances depicting the mosaic of Indian culture.



The first performance, Unity in Diversity, by 650 children, attired in colourful costumes, from the Government Composite PU College in Kaggalipura, portrayed the cultural diversity of the country through various dance forms such as Bharathanatyam, Mohini Attam, Manipuri, Yakshagana, Kathakali and Kathak, with an interplay of placards depicting the heritage of various states.



The parade ground represented a riot of colour as 650 students from the Government High School in Abbigere presented Punyavantharu navu Bharathiyaru bringing alive the joy of living in India.



The spirit of nationalism, patriotism and the countrys rich agricultural wealth was captured by the students of Raja Rajeshwari English School in Jai Jawan Jai Kisan. The life and times of the architect of the Indian Constitution, B R Ambedkar, was depicted in a dance drama by students of NBN Vidya Mandira and Sri Shaila Vidya Samsthe.



The motorcycle display was performed by a 30-member ASC Tornadoes team. In a scintillating performance, the riders on their Enfield motorcycles pierced through, a tubelight wall and jumped through an iron ring on fire. The tornadoes performed acts like scissor cross and the parallel crossing, where the riders in two groups sped, crossing each others paths. In another display, three riders jumped over 20 men lying on the ground, leaving the spectators spellbound.



Ceremonial best



Earlier, the formal ceremony began with Governor Vajubhai Vala arriving at the saluting base to preside over the celebrations. The smart marching contingents of the para-military, police and student corps attired in their ceremonial best added colour and beat to the parade. The contingents of Army, Navy and the Airforce followed by the National Cadet Corps, paramilitary contingents were cheered by the audience.



But the loudest applause went to contingents from the Ramana Maharshi School for the Blind, who proved that disability does not come in the way of patriotism. The contingent from Army, Fire Services (women) and Ramana Maharshi School for the Blind won the shield for being the best contingent at the parade in their respective groups.
Judge Robinson recently issued an interesting order addressing procedural issues touching on expert testimony in aid of claim construction and the timing of indefiniteness arguments. Judge Robinson had previously issued a claim construction order that found two key terms of the patents-in-suit indefinite. The plaintiff then submitted a motion for reconsideration of the claim construction order. Although neither party [previously] identified the need for expert testimony in connection with claim construction, Judge Robinson considered the argument that expert testimony was necessary. Her Honor concluded: [g]iven the procedural posture of the case, that is, the claim limitations at issue apparently are dispositive . . . I conclude that the better course (in terms of process) is to withdraw my determination of indefiniteness (and any construction of the limitations at issue) pending completion of expert discovery. In connection with the anticipated summary judgment motion exercise, the court will again undertake construction of these limitations, at which point defendant may renew its argument that the limitations are indefinite. Courtesy Products, LLC v. Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., C.A. No. 13-2012-SLR, Memo. Or. at 1-2 (D. Del. Jan. 20, 2016).

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By Chelsea Harvey

19 January 2016 (Washington Post)  The state of the worlds fish stocks may be in worse shape than official reports indicate, according to new data  a possibility with worrying consequences for both international food security and marine ecosystems. A study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications suggests that the national data many countries have submitted to the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has not always accurately reflected the amount of fish actually caught over the past six decades. And the paper indicates that global fishing practices may have been even less sustainable over the past few decades than scientists previously thought. The FAOs official data report that global marine fisheries catches peaked in 1996 at 86 million metric tons and have since slightly declined. But a collaborative effort from more than 50 institutions around the world has produced data that tell a different story altogether. The new data suggest that global catches actually peaked at 130 metric tons in 1996 and have declined sharply  on average, by about 1.2 million metric tons every year  ever since. The effort was led by researchers Daniel Pauly and Dirk Zeller of the University of British Columbias Sea Around Us project. The two were interested investigating the extent to which data submitted to the FAO was misrepresented or underreported. Scientists had previously noticed, for instance, that when nations recorded no data for a given region or fishing sector, that value would be translated into a zero in FAO records  not always an accurate reflection of the actual catches that were made. Additionally, recreational fishing, discarded bycatch (that is, fish that are caught and then thrown away for various reasons) and illegal fishing have often gone unreported by various nations, said Pauly during a Monday teleconference. The result of this is that the catch is underestimated, he said. So the researchers teamed up with partners all over the world to help them examine the official FAO data, identify areas where data might be missing or misrepresented and consult both existing literature and local experts and agencies to compile more accurate data. This is a method known as catch reconstruction, and the researchers used it to examine all catches between 1950 and 2010. Ultimately, they estimated that global catches during this time period were 50 percent higher than the FAO reported, peaking in the mid-1990s at 130 million metric tons, rather than the officially reported 86 million. As of 2010, the reconstructed data suggest that global catches amount to nearly 109 million metric tons, while the official data only report 77 million metric tons. [] The higher catch numbers suggest that fishing has been even more unsustainable in the past than scientists thought. And the world is now suffering the consequences, as the authors point out. Their second major finding was that fish catches have been sharply declining from the 1990s up through 2010  much more severely than the FAO has reported. At first, the authors thought that these declines might be due to increased restrictions by certain countries on fishing quotas in recent years. But when the researchers removed those countries from their calculations, they found that the catch data was still caught up in a downward trend. Our results indicate that the declining is very strong and the declining is not due to countries fishing less, Pauly said during the teleconference. It is due to the countries fishing too much and having exhausted one fish after the other. The data indicate that the largest of these declines come from the industrial fishing sector. [more]
The Nigerian federal high court has given MTN until 18th March to reach an agreement outside of court over the $3.9 billion fine it faces in the country.

MTN Nigeria recently claimed that it would not pay a penny of the fine, which was issued last October by the Nigerian Communications Commission after the operator failed to disconnect unregistered SIM cards in compliance with new security regulation.

The operator has informed its shareholders that a high court judge has adjourned the matter to 18 March 2016 in order to enable the parties to try and settle the matter. If the parties are unable to reach a settlement the matter will then proceed on that date.

Although the fine has already been reduced by 25% from $5.2 billion, MTN made clear in December its intent to challenge the penalty in court.
Indias next spectrum auctions are set for a dramatic increase in the amount of available spectrum compared to last years round of bidding.

Regulator TRAI is aiming to hold a new auction for this fiscal year, in which 700MHz spectrum is expected to be available for the first time. This highly efficient frequency can be used to offer 4G services; across the countrys 22 telecom circles, 770MHz of spectrum in this band could be put to auction.

TRAI is reportedly considering auctioning as much as 2000MHz of spectrum in 7 different bands, which would make this latest round of bidding Indias largest ever. To fall within this fiscal year, the auctions will need to take place around March; this would mean that barely a year will have passed since the last round of bidding for spectrum.

Ratings agency Credit Suisse has warned that such a quick turnaround will place operators under significant financial pressure, claiming that it will adversely impact returns even if it is successful. The auctions stand to raise as much as $70 billion for the government; TRAI chairman RS Sharma has confirmed that the regulator will make its pricing recommendations by the end of the month, with officials claiming that rational pricing will be suggested in order to encourage further bidding.

Indias 2015 spectrum auctions saw 470MHz of spectrum across 4 frequency bands sold for a record INR1.1 trillion ($17.6 billion). Bids from the three largest operators constituted 85% of this total - a collective INR895 billion ($14.3 billion)  which has further driven up their already substantial levels of debt. Several Indian operators have called for the 700MHz auctions to be postponed for at least two years to allow the 4G user base to grow.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular are already under pressure to compete with newcomer Reliance Jio, which holds pan-Indian 4G spectrum and is aiming to begin its 4G offering imminently. Jio delayed its commercial 4G launch - originally scheduled for March  in order to extend its coverage to 90% of Indias population (its current coverage figure is around 70%).

Credit Suisse has noted that Bharti, Vodafone and Idea will all be obliged to bid in the auction, as otherwise they will lose their chance to obtain spectrum in premium bands. This would put them at a disadvantage to Jio, which holds 20MHz of 2.3GHz spectrum in all of Indias telecom circles plus 5-7MHz of 1.8GHz airwaves in a further 14 circles.

The agency noted that this is likely to be the largest quantum of spectrum to be sold at once, with an estimated value of $60 billion to $70 billion, and added that even if only 15-20% of the earmarked spectrum is sold, the $6B-$14B that this would cost operators would constitute a financial burden that will lead to an immediate and further reduction in industry returns.

Despite this, the Indian government is keen to hold the auctions as soon as possible, having set out its goal of raising INR428.6 billion ($6.4 billion) from communications  including spectrum and licence fees - within the current fiscal year. Speculation in the press that the auctions could slip into the next financial year has gained legitimacy following the telecom secretary Rakesh Gargs comment that the auction would take place in May or June.

Ernst & Youngs Prashant Singhal said: The government should first give a clear timeline of auctions for the next two to three years, including visibility on availability of spectrum bands, reserve prices and intervals, such that the industry can make their spectrum and technology bets with more clarity.
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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)

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Church Militant, we need to band together to protect our religious liberties and win the culture war!
These were the movements in some of the most widely-followed sovereign bond yields:

US: 2.01% (+0bp)

UK: 1.69% (+1bp)

Germany: 0.45% (-3bp)

Spain: 1.64% (-7bp)

France: 0.75% (-3bp)

Italy: 1.51% (-5bp)

Spain: 1.64% (-7bp)

Greece: 9.70% (+26bp)

Japan: 0.22% (-1bp)

Ten-year Gilts and US Treasury notes were little changed on Tuesday as a bounce higher in crude oil futures offset another fall in Chinese equities overnight.

Remarks from Iraqs oil minister, Adel Abdel Mahdi, that Russia and Saudi Arabia were showing signs of flexibility about curbing the glut of oil which was weighing on international oil markets triggered buying in 'black gold', helping to buoy market sentiment.

"We have seen some flexibility from the brothers in Saudi and a change in tone from Russia," he said.

Acting as a backdrop, investors were also waiting on Wednesday evenings policy statement from the US Federal Reserve.

The Fed was not expected to modify its stance much but speculation that it would do so at its next meeting, or beforehand, was rife, especially with financial markets having largely priced out another rate hike by the time of the March meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.

"We dont think so. We think the Fed will want to wait for more data to assess the impact of recent market weakness and slowing EM growth on the domestic economy. [...] Ultimately, we think the Fed will struggle to complete four hikes this year.

"The Feds dot-implied hiking path faces growing external and domestic headwinds as rising political risk  voting begins in the US party primaries next week - adds to plummeting oil prices [...] a pause in the planned hiking path will cause investors to further question the Feds credibility, triggering a further sell off in US credit markets reminiscent of the reaction to last Septembers no hike decision," RBSs Alberto Gallo said in a research note sent to clients.

A sale of $55bn in four-week US Treasury bills met with strong demand, with the bid-to-cover ratio on the sale coming in at 3.69 versus 3.09 the last time around.

Later in the day, an auction of $26bn in two-year debt also saw a higher bid-to-cover amid a large increase in participation by indirect bidders, from 3.7.5% at the last sale to 57.9% - the most since June 2009.

Spain managed to get off 2.55bn in three and nine-month T-bills despite the political uncertainty in the country, more than the 2.5bn expected.

A gauge of US consumer confidence, courtesy of the Conference Board, improved from a reading of 96.3 in December to 98.1 for January (consensus: 96.5).
Spain faces heightened uncertainty as the country's main political parties try to thrash out a stable and workable coalition over the coming weeks and months, posing downside risks to the ongoing economic recovery, analysts at Citi said in a research note sent to clients.

Over the last weekend, the leader of the conservative Popular party, Mariano Rajoy, declined the invitation from the countrys monarch to form a government, as his was the most voted party at the 20 December national elections.

That increased the probability that the Socialist PSOE party would form a Portuguese-style left-wing government in Madrid, although the Socialists' ability to craft a broad left-wing coalition was by no means certain, the broker added.

PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez would need to win over those within his party opposed to a deal with the far-left wing Podemos party and possibly also require the support of pro-seccessionist parties in some of Spains regions and even of the centre-right Citizens' party (whose leader is on record as saying it will not govern with Podemos as long as it supports calls for an independence referendum in Catalonia).

"Failure to secure a left-wing pact would probably push PSOE to eventually allow a PP-led minority administration, in our view. A new round of national elections, if indeed no consensus is found, remains also a clear possibility," Citi said.

Indeed, on Tuesday Spanish broadcaster Telecinco reported that Spanish ex-Socialist Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez - who retains some influence withing the ranks of PSOE - was advocating a coalition between the centre-right Popular and Citizens parties. The Socialists would abstain when it came time to vote in the new government, paving the way for them.

However, Gonzalez was also said to believe that an agreement between the three parties for a short government and a detailed calendar needed to be put in place beforehand.

In comments to Digital Look earlier on Tuesday, political experts in Madrid broached the exact oppositive as a workable alternative; that is to say, a coalition between Socialists and the centre-right Citizens part put in power thanks to the abstention of Podemos.
UK stocks continued to decline on Tuesday following losses in Asia as oil prices fell below $30 per barrel.

Brent crude fell 2.85% to $29.65 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate dropped 2.9% to $29.48 per barrel at 0856 GMT amid ongoing concerns about an oversupply in the market.

The pain of an excessive oversupply continues to pressure prices as even Iraq announced record high oil productions for December, pumping more supply into the saturated international oil markets, while crude oil stock piles have perpetually risen, sabotaging any opportunity for a recovery in value, said FXTM research analyst Lukman Otunuga.

Some OPEC ministers are feeling the pressure and have requested for an emergency meeting but these have been swiftly disregarded as it remains very clear the cartel is willing to leave production unchanged to regaining more market share.

Elsewhere, stocks in China plunged to 13-month lows, dragging down the rest of Asia, on worries that capital outflows will accelerate as the economy slows and support and the yuan devalues. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 6.4% to 2,749.79 at the close. It came despite the Peoples Bank of China flooding the system with cash to keep borrowing costs in check ahead of the Lunar Holiday.

Connor Campbell, financial analyst at SpreadEx, said the Asian session has already set a sour tone of trading, something that looks likely to continue throughout the days European session.

In economic data, the focus is in the US with the release of the house price index at 1400 GMT, the S&P Shiller Composite at 1400 GMT, Markits services purchasing mangers index at 1445 GMT, the consumer confidence report at 1500 GMT and the Richmond Fed manufacturing indext at 1500 GMT.

On the company front, PZ Cussons tumbled after reporting a dip in reported revenue and drop in pre-tax profit, reflecting foreign exchange headwinds.

Dixons Carphone slumped after lifting profit guidance slightly above consensus forecasts and saying it will go ahead with the full roll-out of stores in the US. The group reported like-for-like sales were up 5% in the third-quarter, with an all-time record day on Black Friday as the FTSE 100 electronics retailer said it now expected profit before tax to range between 440m and 450m for the full year.

Crest Nicholson gained after the housebuilder beat profit expectations for the full year on sales revenues rising 26% to 804.8m and said it was confident of meeting its target of 1bn for the new financial year.

Card Factory declined after saying it was looking towards a solid annual performance on Tuesday, with increased like-for-like sales growth and constant total sales growth in the 11 months to 31 December 2015.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 5,790.54 -1.47%

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FTSE 100 - Risers

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SABMiller (SAB) 4,183.50p -0.14%

Admiral Group (ADM) 1,690.00p -0.24%

Tesco (TSCO) 155.30p -0.26%

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Marston's (MARS) 157.80p 4.71%

TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 198.00p 4.21%

Acacia Mining (ACA) 184.10p 4.01%

Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 526.00p 2.63%

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 65.30p 1.24%

Jimmy Choo (CHOO) 124.00p 0.81%

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Keller Group (KLR) 783.00p 0.64%

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PZ Cussons (PZC) 253.00p -7.53%

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Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 686.00p -4.59%

Ophir Energy (OPHR) 84.00p -4.55%

Weir Group (WEIR) 807.00p -4.33%

Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) 366.50p -3.86%

Fidelity China Special Situations (FCSS) 117.00p -3.39%

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Mario Draghi has launched a staunch defence of the European Central Banks aggressive monetary easing, in a fresh bid to counter criticism of the policy. The ECB president signalled last week that his central bank was prepared to cut rates and expand its quantitative easing programme. He said policymakers would review and possibly reconsider their policy stance at their next policy meeting in March in the face of the slide in oil prices and China-led slowdown in emerging markets.  Financial Times

Tens of billions of pounds worth of investment in power stations, wind farms and other critical energy projects needed to guarantee reliable electricity supplies are in jeopardy because of a failure by ministers to reach key policy decisions, the CBI has warned. In a letter released today by the business lobby group, and seen in advance by The Times, it argues that Britain is facing the threat of a supply crunch because of a shortage of investment and uncertainty around the future subsidies available for low carbon power.  The Times

Shareholders in Royal Dutch Shell have begun casting their votes to approve its proposed 33 billion takeover of BG Group. The deadline for proxy votes expired at the close of business yesterday. Documents were sent to shareholders before Christmas after final approvals had been granted by Australian and Chinese regulators. - The Times

Tesco is to be reprimanded by the supermarket watchdog over its treatment of suppliers, dealing another blow to the reputation of Britains biggest retailer. The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) will deliver a slap on the wrist to Tesco on Tuesday as it reveals the findings of a year-long investigation into allegations the company breached the industry code of practice by delaying payments to suppliers and demanding extra fees.  Guardian

MPs have launched an inquiry into the UKs tax system after the government was accused of allowing Google to pay too little in a 130m deal. The House of Commons Treasury committee announced that it would examine whether a radical shakeup of corporation tax was needed, amid concern thatGoogle has been allowed to get away with an effective rate of 3%. - Guardian

The Opec oil cartel has issued its strongest plea to date for a pact with Russia and rival producers to cut crude output and halt the collapse in prices, warning that the deepening investment slump is storing up serious trouble for the future. Abdullah al-Badri, Opecs secretary-general, said the cartel is ready to embrace rivals and thrash out a compromise following the 72pc crash in prices since mid-2014.  Telegraph

Slough is attracting new business at a faster rate than anywhere else in the UK, growing its corporate presence by 29pc in the five years to 2014. The Berkshire town is also the country's fastest-growing city. Its population ballooned by a fifth between 2004 and 2014, and Slough is one of three cities with productivity levels a third higher than the national average. - Telegraph
The B&Q owner announced a five-year transformation programme on Monday, saying it plans to deliver a 500m sustainable annual profit uplift by the end of the process.

However, it warned that profits were likely to take a take a 50m hit in the first year of the plan and a hit of between 70m and 100m in the second year.

The company said it also plans a capital return of 600m over the next three years - most likely via a share buyback - in addition to the annual ordinary dividend.

In a statement ahead of the group's capital markets day yesterday, chief executive officer Veronique Laury said "we do acknowledge the challenges ahead, however having already made good progress since March last year, and with 80,000 committed colleagues, we feel confident about our plan and look forward to moving on to the first year of our transformation".

Tempus said the market doesnt believe the plan is achievable or that it will do enough to help the company.

There were surprisingly negative reactions from some analysts, including at least one comparison with Marc Bollands doomed attempt to turn around Marks & Spencer.

Crunching the numbers, the column said savings will mainly come from the UK and France, which makes up 40% of all sales, and it plans to expand its digital sales offering.

However Tempus said the main concern is the future of Homebase, which is set to be bought by Australian company Wesfarmers.

The new owner has ambitious plans for the chain, which does not augur well.

With that in mind, it said markets will continue to be tough with more competition and advised traders avoid for now.

Meanwhile, in The Telegraph, Questor has warned that Petra Diamonds is a high-risk at a critical juncture.

In a trading update for the six months to the end of December, the company said production was up 2% to 1.63m carats, exceeding its output target of 1.5m carats.

In addition, Petra said it remains on track to achieve full year production guidance of between 3.3m and 3.4m carats for 2016.

However, revenue in the period fell 28% to $154m (108m) as the number of diamonds sold was down 7% and rough diamond prices slid around 9% on the year.

Chief executive Johan Dippenaar said: "Importantly our expansion programmes remain on track to deliver the first significant input of undiluted ore from the new mining areas in H2 FY 2016, which will lead to improved ROM grades and a better product mix.

Questor said the company is sinking millions into some of the oldest diamond mines in South Africa, however the commodity cycle is unravelling and diamond prices are falling.

The vast spending comes after the market turned against Petra, it said.

The company is selling fewer diamonds and at lower prices, with 1.3m carats sold in the six months to December, down from 1.4m the year before.

Questor said the cash outflow is worrying, with levels dropping from $125m to $42m over six months to December, with net debt increasing to $324m.

For that reason, it advised to sell shares.
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Racial slurs, sexual assaults and violence in Ohio's youth prisons

Public records show Ohio's youth prison system is grappling with attacks on staff, fights among youth, sexual assaults and staff departures.
The move, which could irritate Beijing, deepens ties between India and Vietnam, who both have long-running territorial disputes with China. While billed as a civilian facility - earth observation satellites have agricultural, scientific and environmental applications - security experts said improved imaging technology meant the pictures could also be used for military purposes. Hanoi especially has been looking for advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technologies as tensions rise with China over the disputed South China Sea, they said. "In military terms, this move could be quite significant," Collin Koh, a marine security expert at Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told Reuters. "It looks like a win-win for both sides - filling significant holes for the Vietnamese, and expanding the range for the Indians." The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will fund and set up the satellite tracking and data reception centre in Ho Chi Minh City to monitor Indian satellite launches, officials said. The media put the cost at around $23 million (Rs155 crore). India, whose 54-year-old space programme is accelerating, with one satellite launch scheduled every month, has ground stations in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Brunei, Biak in eastern Indonesia and Mauritius that track its satellites in the initial stages of flight. The Vietnam facility will bolster those capabilities, said Deviprasad Karnik, an ISRO spokesperson. But unlike the other overseas stations, the facility will also be equipped to receive images from India's earth observation satellites that Vietnam can use in return for granting New Delhi the tracking site, said an Indian government official connected with the space programme. "This is a sort of quid pro quo which will enable Vietnam to receive IRS (Indian remote sensing) pictures directly, that is, without asking India," said the official, who declined to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media. "Obviously it will include parts of China of interest to Vietnam." Eye on China

Chinese coastal naval bases, the operations of its coastguard and navy and its new man-made islands in the disputed Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea would be of Vietnamese interest, security experts said. Another official said New Delhi would also have access to the imagery. India has 11 earth observation satellites in orbit, offering pictures with differing resolutions and areas, the ISRO said. Government officials had no timeframe for when the centre would be operational. "This is at the beginning stages, we are still in dialogue with Vietnamese authorities," said Karnik. Vietnam's foreign ministry confirmed the project, but provided few other details. China's defence ministry said the proposed tracking station wasn't a military issue. The Chinese foreign ministry had no immediate comment. Vietnam launched its first earth observation satellite in 2013, but Koh said it was not thought to produce particularly high resolution images. Security experts said Vietnam would likely seek real-time access to images from the Indian satellites as well as training in imagery analysis, a specialised intelligence field. Multi-purpose

"The advance of technology means the lines are blurring between civilian and military satellites," said Trevor Hollingsbee, a retired naval intelligence analyst with Britain's Defence Ministry. "In some cases, the imagery from a modern civilian satellite is good enough for military use." Sophisticated military reconnaissance satellites can be used to capture military signals and communications, as well as detailed photographs of objects on land, capturing detail to less than a metre, Koh and other experts said. The tracking station will be the first such foreign facility in Vietnam and follows other agreements between Hanoi and New Delhi that have cemented security ties. New Delhi has extended a $100 million (Rs675 crore) credit line for Hanoi to buy patrol boats and is training Vietnamese submariners in India while Hanoi has granted oil exploration blocks to India in waters off Vietnam that are disputed with China. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has shown a greater willingness to step up security ties with countries such as Vietnam, overriding concerns this would upset China, military officials said. "You want to engage Vietnam in every sphere. The reason is obvious - China," said retired Indian Air Force group captain Ajay Lele at the New Delhi-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Both India and Vietnam are also modernising their militaries in the face of Beijing's growing assertiveness, having separately fought wars with China in past decades. Australian-based scholar Carl Thayer, who has studied Vietnam's military since the late 1960s, said the satellite tracking facility showed both nations wanted to enhance security ties. "Their interests are converging over China and the South China Sea," he told Reuters.








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President of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce Michael Gaynor is delighted that over 210,000 worth of Shop Local Gift Vouchers have been sold to date. These vouchers help to keep money in the local economy and help protect jobs.

Over 160 shops and businesses are redeeming these vouchers. Chamber President Michael Gaynor also encourages local companies to buy these vouchers and avail of the tax breaks. He would also ask the general public that if they are considering giving cash as presents that they use the vouchers instead. At no cost to anyone this guarantees the money is spent locally. Remember for every 1 sold in vouchers it is worth 4 to the local economy!

Shop Local Gift Vouchers are the ideal reward for your staff as bonuses and rewards. They are also ideal as gifts of choice for occasions such as Weddings, Birthdays, Communions, Confirmations and Anniversaries.

Michael stated that the reaction from local shops and members of the public has been fantastic. The Chamber intends to build on this initiative and develop the purchasing of Shop Local Gift Vouchers for every occasion throughout the year.

These vouchers are guaranteed to be spent in Dundalk and surrounding areas and will help support local business and jobs. By replacing a cash bonus with Shop Local Gift Vouchers you will be giving your employees more than double their bonus! The Gift Vouchers come in 10, 20 and 50 denominations and are valid for two years. You can spend them in more than 160 shops including hair salons, clothes shops, restaurants, toy shops, food and drink, travel agents and much more- all your needs are catered for!

Michael reiterated that there is no commission on this voucher 100 is worth 100 and costs 100 to buy. By buying these vouchers you are keeping local jobs in Dundalk  jobs where family and friends are employed. These are helping Dundalk Retailers to stay in business, and assist with the revitalising our town.

The Shop Local Gift Vouchers are available to purchase online on www.dundalk.ie/vouchers or directly from the Dundalk Chamber Offices Unit 4 Partnership Court Park St. Dundalk ( across the rd. from Dundalk Lighting) or by calling Tel: 042 9336343 or email accounts@dundalk.ie

They can also be bought in Grants in Dublin St., Cuchulainn Credit Union, Central News Clanbrassil St., McCuskers Newsagents in Earl St. Dundalk, Centra in Blackrock, Finnegans in Louth village, Sheelans Riverstown, McCrystals in Jenkinstown, Valentines XL Carlingford and Victorys Centra in Dunleer.
The release of archive material from the Military Service Pensions Collection is the latest move in the opening up of the archive of the Bureau of Military History.

The release of archive material from the Military Service Pensions Collection is the latest move in the opening up of the archive of the Bureau of Military History.

It will take years for historians and researchers to mine through the 300,000 files. There are 82,000 pension applications and only 15,000 were successful.

But the military archives in general provide brilliant first-hand stories of the Rising, including events that took place in Dundalk.

James McGuill, Market Square, Dundalk, gives a personal record of his time with the Louth Volunteer Corp which he had the honour of serving during Irelands fight for independence. He became Acting Brigade Commandant.

He describes events that took place in Louth during Easter 1916, including the shooting dead of an RIC constable at Castlebellingham on Easter Monday morning.

On Easter Sunday morning the transport was lined up outside Boyle OReilly Hall in Clanbrassil Street - one brake, three side cars and a pony and trap - but it wasnt enough to take the 90 odd men ready to leave Dundalk and head for Dublin.

Then came with the countermanding orders calling off all previous orders for Easter Sunday. All Sunday and sunday night they tried to get the message - which also appeared in the Independent - confirmed.

Confusion reigned. The next morning, Easter Monday, came reports that a man had been shot at Lurgangreen when volunteers had tried to stop him. It turned out that he was deaf. On Monday evening, there were rumours in Dundalk that Constable McGee, RIC, was shot on the street in Castlebellingham.

On Tuesday the town was completely isolated, all roads held by crown forces, said James.

The shooting dead of the popular constable turned opinion against the very disorganised volunteers, who even thought of getting to Dublin by motor boat.
This weekend, thousands of public servants came together and brought out the best of the Empire State. They represented the Department of Transportation, Thruway Authority, Port Authority, MTA, law enforcement, utilities, and so many other agencies, and they excelled in what was truly an all-out effort. These men and women were preparing resources before the snow fell, they continued to work around the clock as the storm raged, and many are still working to improve conditions in the hardest hit areas. They came from Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany and all points in between to rally for their fellow New Yorkers. That dedication is a reminder that we are at our best when we come together. I thank all the men and women who showed us the true New York spirit this weekend.



-- Gov. Andrew Cuomo



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NEW YORK -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a statement late Monday applauding the efforts of those who helped keep downstate running throughout the recent storm.Cuomo specifically lauded those who came from outside the New York City area to assist. His statement follow in its entirety.
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The outrageous working/learning environment in some of Detroit school buildings has gotten national and even international attention over the past few months. Over the past month, teachers have staged multiple sick-outs to protest the deplorable conditions they are forced to try to teach in, resulting in multiple school closings. Detroit Public Schools (DPS) Emergency Manager Darnell Earley has tried twice to get courts to intervene but was rebuffed both times. Yesterday, DPS students themselves staged a protest. The only outcome of that expression of civil disobedience was that some of them were suspended:

Students spilled onto the street as Communication and Media Arts high schoolers walked out, standing up for their teachers  and their education despite a five-day suspension handed down by principal Donya Odom. I got suspended for five days for an American right, said Tarik Jackson. Thats ridiculous. [] [Student Jalon Nelson said]  we deserve books, we deserve money, we deserve better education and were not getting it and if youre going to stop us from standing up for our rights  were going to go. Because Dr. King would have done the same thing.

And still the shocking conditions persist:

I went to Cody in Detroit. Dedicated and caring staff teaching kids in appalling conditions. pic.twitter.com/2Vh0cYZ9GV  Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) January 14, 2016

Holy cow this is bad! @teachDetroit exposes the realities of DPS. https://t.co/BdRbmqxfUO pic.twitter.com/yWNHvqCCeI  Detroit Metro Times (@metrotimes) January 14, 2016

Much more HERE.

These shocking images were confirmed by a recent inspection of several DPS schools, leading Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to threaten action if the conditions arent corrected. We are giving school officials a reasonable timeline to correct the deficiencies, and we hope they will, Duggan said in a statement. If they dont, we are going to take prompt legal action to enforce compliance.

I dont want there to be any confusion, Duggan continued. A claim of a shortage of funds is not a defense to violations of building or health codes for any building owner. Were not going to allow our children, DPS employees, or the public to continue to be subjected to substandard conditions.

When asked about all of this, Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, the man largely responsible for the tragedy happening in Flint with the poisoning of their drinking water, was blase. For instance, when he learned about a leaking roof that had made the gym at Spain Elementary stunningly warped and unusable, Earley told them to stop using it. Problem solved! Kids dont need gym, anyway, right? Thats not on the test!

When confronted by the inspection reports showing a laundry list of health and safety issues that need to be addressed, Earley essentially shrugged:

Code violations are not new to Detroit Public Schools, said Darnell Earley, brushing off the issue.

If you dont have kids in the DPS system, I ask you to take a moment to think about the implications of this. Would you want to send your child to a school where the gym is unusable, where mushrooms sprout from the walls, that are too cold (or too hot) for kids to be reasonably comfortable, or where black mold is making both students and teachers sick? What would your response be? Would this have any chance at all of continuing if it were in YOUR school district?

Its time for Darnell Earley to go. His seemingly careless attitude about the conditions in Detroit schools is disgusting. Its also time for our state legislators to quit screwing around and do something about this ongoing tragedy once and for all. These children are having their opportunities for success stolen from them by a state that cares more about tax breaks for corporations than it does about the black kids in our urban areas.

Its our states shame and hideous legacy and the time for talking is over. Its time to invest and renew and rebuild. NOW.
Help Planned Parenthood pack the hearing room with supporters and send a message to the Michigan Legislature.

The attacks never end. On Wednesday, January 27th, the Michigan House Appropriations Committee will hear testimony on House Bill 4145. Sponsored by Representative Thomas Hooker, HB 4145 prohibits State of Michigan family planning funding from going to providers that offer abortion services.

Once again, legislators are willfully overlooking the fact that the vast majority of Planned Parenthoods services are family planning services that can actually help prevent abortion, including birth control.

Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan President and CEO Lori Carpentier will be testifying at the hearing, to help committee members and the public at large learn more about these services. They include well women visits, life-saving cancer screenings, age-appropriate sex education, STD testing and treatment, and so much more. Planned Parenthood looks forward to talking about how its funding actually works  and having a real discussion about the importance of family planning and Planned Parenthood in Michigan.

Over the last decade, family planning funding in the state budget has been nearly eliminated.

This legislation will deny Planned Parenthood future access to state resources that would help provide Michigans most vulnerable populations with checkups, cancer screenings and birth control. Planned Parenthood currently isnt receiving state family planning funding, but this legislation would prevent state resources from ever making their way back to Planned Parenthood for this important service.

Planned Parenthoods 21 health centers across Michigan provide access to safe, quality, affordable family planning services to 71,000 women and men each year. As the states largest and most trusted provider of family planning service in the state, Planned Parenthood provides the only healthcare 75 percent of its patients receive in a given year.

Whats more, investment in family planning makes for good policy and good politics. Each dollar spent on family planning in Michigan saves more than $6 in public healthcare costs. Planned Parenthood offers patients access to critical, preventive care that is good for families and good for Michigan. An overwhelming number of Michiganders support Planned Parenthood and public funding of our services.

While Planned Parenthood seeks to ensure the health and safety of Michigan residents, the Michigan Legislature continues to advance anti-womens health legislation to achieve an extremist, ideological goal.

Join Planned Parenthood at the committee hearing to stand in opposition to the continued attacks on Planned Parenthood and the patients they serve.



RSVP to let Planned Parenthood know youll be there: Wednesday, January 27th at 8:30 AM, Michigan State Capitol, Room 352.



[Image courtesy of Planned Parenthood.]
Apple this week revealed that technical difficulties with its News app have led the company to underestimate usage figures for the more than 100 publications offering content through the software.

The company discovered an error in the app thats resulted in underestimating the number of readers using the software, Eddy Cue, Apples senior vice president of Internet software and services, told The Wall Street Journal.

Apple is fixing the problem, but he did not say when it would be fixed.

The companys numbers are lower than reality, Cue said.

At the fourth-quarter earnings call in October, Apple CEO Tim Cook said 40 million people were using the app.

Numbers Tied to Ad Money

Having accurate usage numbers for the News app is important to both Apple and its publishing partners.

Publishers need accurate info since it impacts how they price their ads, Tim Bajarin, president ofCreative Strategies, told the E-Commerce Times.

Publications are selling advertising against their content on a number of platforms, said John Carroll, a mass communications professor atBoston University. They want to know their readership so they can adjust their advertising rates accordingly.

The more Apple News underestimates their readership, the less money the publishers are going to make, he told the E-Commerce Times.

As a byproduct of that, the less interest the publishers are going to have in Apple News, Carroll said.

Publications have a limited amount of resources, so the question becomes how much energy and expense do they want to expend on Apple News if its underperforming, he added.

Losing Interest

Accurate data is important to Apple because it collects a percentage of some of the ads in content distributed through the News app.

Lost advertising revenue, though, may not be the most costly loss to Apple because of this counting glitch, noted Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst atMoor Insights & Strategy.

People will lose interest in the platform, he told the E-Commerce Times.

People spend a lot of time with news. Apple doesnt want people finding other ways to get their news, Moorhead said. News is more strategically important in the long run than losing some quarterly ad money.

Independent Counter Needed

For publishers, moving distribution of their content out of their hands and into outlets like Apple News and Facebook presents new challenges, noted Dan Kennedy, an associate journalism professor atNortheastern University.

When you handle your own distribution in print or on your own website, you know what your numbers are, he told the E-Commerce Times.

In this new world of Apple News, Facebook Instant Articles and things like that, theres got to be a certain level of trust, and if publishers dont think Apple is giving them the straight information, thats going to be a problem, Kennedy said.

In the publishing world, independent audit organizations certify the circulation of newspapers and magazines to ensure the integrity of advertising rates. In a similar vein, publishers have been pressuring Apple to integrate its News app withComScore, an independent measurement firm.

Publishers have to submit to an independent, third-party counting service, so its not unreasonable to ask Apple to do the same thing, Kennedy said.

Its in Apples interest, too, to have a yardstick that will increase the appeal and credibility of the platform, noted BUs Carroll.

Slow TakeoffSince Apple launched its News app in September, it hasnt exactly set the publishing world back on its heels.

Its off to a very slow start from what I can tell, NUs Kennedy said.

I was excited about it, but since its debut, it doesnt seem to be much more than another way to read The New York Times and Washington Post, and not as good a way as going to their websites, he noted.

Its not really anything to get excited about, Kennedy added.

The Apple News interface makes reading news  especially on mobile devices  a better experience, analyst Moorhead said. Advertising in Apple News isnt as intrusive as it is on a publications website.

You dont get ads that pop up on a page and force you to tap an X to close them, he noted. On a mobile device, it can be hard to find the X, and because youre using your finger, sometimes youll hit the ad instead of the X and be taken off site.
Two white-hat hackers, Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek, made headlines last year when they demonstrated how they couldhijack the control systems of a moving motor vehicle over the Internet. The move got the attention of the auto industry, and last weekGeneral Motors put in place a program to encourage more digital dabblers to alert the company when they find bugs in GM vehicles.

Working withHackerOne, GM published a set of guidelines for submitting flaws to the company. The guidelines, though, mostly describe what a bug finder must do to avoid prosecution.

For example, it advises researchers that they must not cause harm to GM customers or others; compromise the privacy or safety of customers; violate any criminal laws; reveal bugs until GM fixes them; be a resident of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria or Crimea; and be on the U.S. Treasury Departments Specially Designated Nationals List.

Theres no mention in the guidelines that GM will compensate researchers for the hours of work typically spent uncovering vulnerabilities in software.

Demonstrating Leadership

Working with hackers begins by having a clear way for potential vulnerabilities to be responsibly reported, said HackerOne CTO Alex Rice.

A vulnerability coordination process is an important security best practice for every technology company, he told TechNewsWorld. General Motors is demonstrating leadership in their field with this commitment.

Ben Johnson, chief security strategist forBit9 + Carbon Black, also praised GMs initiative.

Its a wise move to try and get a whole community to crowdsource the problem, he told TechNewsWorld.

However, the popularity of the program remains uncertain, he said. It will be interesting to see how many contribute versus how many take their chances and go rogue.

No Rewards Program

The GM initiative lacks an important component of bug-bounty programs.

Its not a bug-bounty program unless youre offering rewards, said Casey Ellis, CEO ofBugcrowd. To call something a bug-bounty program when theres no reward devalues the work that the researchers are doing.

GMs initiative is a vulnerability disclosure program, he told TechNewsWorld. Its creating a way for researchers to let GM know when a bug is discovered.

They want to show theyre not hostile to what the researchers are doing, Ellis said. Thats a step in the right direction, but rewards would be better because they place the proper value on the research thats being done.

Bribe Bounties

While GM may not be paying bounties for bugs, it may be paying for them though other means, maintained Johannes Hoech, CMO ofIdentity Finder.

Someone should ask GM how much theyre paying in bribes already, he told TechNewsWorld.

Companies pay this money all the time. Legit bug-bounty programs are essentially an attempt to legally harness what otherwise would continue to be illegal activities, Hoech said.

Beating the PR drums around suing researchers is useless and ineffective, because the folks that might respond to that threat are not the ones GM has to worry about anyhow, he noted.

In the meantime, Hoech continued, they miss out from the near-free intelligence that could be gathered via legit bug-bounty programs.

DDoS Extortion

Europol last week announced that it carried out a major operation in December against a criminal gang thats been combining two popular cyberthreats: distributed denial-of-service attacks and digital extortion.

During a worldwide operation against a group called DD4BC, Europol arrested a main target, detained another suspect, and, through multiple searches, seized an extensive amount of evidence, the agency said.

This particular group is notorious and well-known in the security community, said Rene Paap, product marketing manager atA10 Networks.

Theyre talented cybercriminals with vast resources, he told TechNewsWorld.

Theyve been drawing attention to themselves because theyre doing DDoS for ransom compared to hacktivists who do it to draw attention to a cause, Paap added.

Mitigation Cheaper Than Ransom

DD4BC launches DDoS attacks against targets that are dependent on their online presence for their main revenue streams. After proving what they can do, the cybercriminals make a ransom demand, he said.

They say if you dont pay up today, the attacks will continue and the ransom will double, Paap said.

Paying that ransom doesnt make a lot of sense, noted Tim Matthews, vice president of marketing atImperva.

First, there is no guarantee that the criminal will honor the agreement. Second, paying will only identify you or your organization as a mark, and the criminal may come back and ask for more, he told TechNewsWorld.

Once identified as an organization that will pay, others may catch wind and come your way, Matthews added.

In general, he said, DDoS mitigation services are available for monthly fees that are less than ransom amounts.

Breach Diary

Jan. 11 KOIN TV in Portland, Oregon, reports U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has asked some of its employees to relocate from their homes due to a data breach at the Malheur Wildlife National Refuge, which is being occupied by unauthorized people calling themselves Citizens for Constitutional Freedom.

Jan. 11. TaxAct warns an undisclosed number of users that their personal information may have been accessed by unauthorized parties. It believes its systems were compromised by an intruder who used username and passwords obtained from a source outside TaxAct.

Jan. 11. Interxion is warning its users that a breach of its CRM system has put at risk information on 23,200 customer records, The Register reports.

Jan. 11. ISACA releases survey of 2,920 members in 121 countries that finds 63 percent oppose giving governments backdoor access to encrypted information, and 59 percent believe privacy is being compromised in order to implement stronger cybersecurity laws.

Jan. 11. SC magazine reports that Citrix has been compromised by w0rm, a Russian hacker known for his attacks on the BBC, CNET, Adobe and Bank of America.

Jan. 12. eBay confirms it has patched an XSS vulnerability that placed the personal data of millions of users at risk.

Jan. 12. The personal data of some 18,000 fans of Faithless was stolen from the dance acts website, The Independent reports.

Jan. 12. A Turkish court sentences Onur Kopak, 26, to 334 years in prison by for operating bogus banking websites used to steal credit card numbers and bank credentials.

Jan. 12. Microsoft discontinues support, including security patches, for Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10.

Jan. 13. A Cloud Security Alliance survey of 209 security and high-tech professionals finds nearly a quarter of the respondents (24.9 percent) would pay a ransom to prevent a cyberattack, and 14 percent would pay more than US$1 million to do so.

Jan. 13. A survey by Cloudmark and Vanson Bourne finds the average cost of a spear phishing attack an a U.S. business to be $1.8 million.

Jan. 14. OpenSSH releases a patch for a critical vulnerability that could be exploited to expose private encryption keys. The flaw was found in an undocumented feature called roaming that supports the resumption of interrupted SSH connections.

Jan. 15. Affinity Gaming, an operator of 11 casinos in the United States, sues Trustwave for failing to stop a data breach it was hired to close, the Financial Times reports.

Jan. 15. Hyatt Hotels reveals that 250 hotels were affected by an attack on its payment card systems from August 13 to Dec. 8. The company said it did not know yet how many customers were affected by the attack.

Jan. 15. MaineGeneral Medical Center announces that an additional 2,000 people may have had their personal information compromised, including Social Security numbers, from an attack on its computer network in September. The facility originally estimated 118,000 people were affected by the attack.

Upcoming Security Events
As the U.S. retail industry puts another long holiday shopping season behind it, a few changes appear to be taking place.

For one thing, it appears theres a new recipe for success. Growing a business requires more than setting up a fancy website, placing inventory into a warehouse, and engaging a service to make speedy deliveries.

Thats in part because customer expectations have changed. There are severe costs and challenges involved in building a successful e-commerce operation, and todays customers have little patience for an online experience that falls short.

As more and more retailers roll out mobile payment services, its critically important that they ensure their mobile apps maintain the same digital performance experience that their retail websites offer, or risk losing customers who are trying to make purchases over their mobile devices, Dynatrace analyst David Jones told the E-Commerce Times.

Millennials, in particular, are rather unforgiving of mobile shopping sites that fail to deliver, suggest the results of a Dynatrace-commissioned multinational Harris Poll conducted just before Black Friday.

Eighty-one percent of millennials shopping with tablets or smartphones said they would walk away from a buggy, slow, or crash-prone mobile site or app.

Also 51 percent of them said they would broadcast their bad experiences across social media, which could result in great damage to a retailers reputation.

Overall, retailers must be ready to compete for millennial shoppers. Sixty percent of them planned to do more mobile shopping than they did a year ago, and 62 percent planned to use mobile apps in making in-store purchases, according to the survey, which included responses from 5,110 smartphone users in five countries  the U.S., UK, France, Germany and Australia.

Another key component of the mobile shopping experience is growing demand for retailers to offer a ship-to-store option. That typically involves a customer ordering from a home, office or laptop computer or smartphone app, and then picking up the order directly from the store. Some customers order on behalf of others from a remote location  parents for their kids away at college, for example.

For traditional stores to have both the proper inventory and the technology available to give customers the right product in a timely manner is often a difficult task, noted Curbside CEO Jarod Waldman.

Curbsides mobile app lets customers buy from traditional brick-and-mortar retailers, and quickly and efficiently pick up their orders.

What weve developed at the core is a very noninvasive way to notify stores that the customer is waiting outside for pickup, said Waldman.

Sears, which is facing brutal competition with Target, has been a leader of the trend to let online customers pick up merchandise on the same day.

Sears, founded in 1886, started out as a major mail order department store, allowing customers both to buy in-house and order goods from the legendary Sears catalog  which, for many rural customers, was the only means of accessing essential goods.

Sears offers customers the option of making transactions online and then picking up or returning goods at a store, using the in-vehicle feature of the Sears app. They can drive to a designated parking area and pick up, exchange or return an item in five minutes.

Were taking the stress out of shopping and letting them shop with us wherever, whenever and however they choose, said Leena Munjal, senior vice president for customer experience and integrated retail at Sears Holdings.

Fulfilling the Order

Another problem that plagues e-commerce companies is achieving fast, accurate fulfillment. Many online companies have large regional distribution centers with millions of products stored in large warehouses.

To meet that need, Newegg deployed Honeywells Vocollect, which uses a combination of radio frequency and voice recognition-enabled headsets to achieve radical improvement in the performance of its warehouse workers, who process more than 10 million packages per year.

The Newegg Memphis distribution center, which processed about 30 percent of its orders, was transformed from one of its lowest-performing facilities to one of the best, as the technology helped reduce errors by 23 percent, according to the company. The devices  headsets that pick up SKU orders from warehouse workers  helped reduce training time for new employees in an environment that relies heavily on seasonal workers.

Were faced with the significant challenge of fulfilling customer orders on time, said Kunal Thakkar, senior vice president of operations at Newegg. Because we receive thousands of orders an hour, we need to invest in technologies to automate and optimize processes.

Honeywell has worked with a wide variety of companies to make warehouse operations more efficient using the Vocollect devices. It has been beta-testing the technology with grocers in the U.S. and Europe that want to expand their businesses to process online orders at the store, according to Honeywell spokesperson Eric Krantz.

Full versions of the Vocollect systems are expected to roll out during the first half of 2016, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Overnight Delivery

Delivery of packages to customers is one of the biggest nuts to crack in the e-commerce chain. It is not only costly and time consuming, but also chancy, in that it often requires the retailer give up control of the process to a third party.

Amazon most famously fell victim to that pitfall during recent holiday seasons, when millions of packages were delayed due to logistical problems and sheer overload at the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and FedEx.

Amazon has been testing various options to take control of its own delivery service. The company last year launched Amazon Flex, a two-hour delivery service that pays local delivery workers up to US$25 to deliver goods for Amazon Prime customers.

Flex currently is available in the Seattle, Richmond, Nashville, Austin, Dallas, Baltimore, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Minneapolis, and Indianapolis metro areas.

The company also has begun looking into buying its own fleet of aircraft. It has begun testing its own truck fleet, and it recently acquired the remaining stake of Colis Prive, a France-based delivery company in which it held a 25 percent stake.

UPS enjoys a good working relationship with Amazon, said spokesperson Natalie Norrington, but she declined to get into specific details of their relationship. Amazon is only one of many e-commerce companies that uses UPS services.

Overall, UPS remains a massive distributor of e-commerce packages. The company delivered more than 300 million packages in 2014, Norrington told the E-Commerce Times, which averages out to more than 14.3 million per day.

Forty-five percent of UPS e-commerce deliveries went to residential addresses in 2014. Residential deliveries as a percentage of total business are expected to grow by 50 percent over the next five years, Norrington noted.

The company is aware that peak season delivery requires taking steps to expand capacity.

During peak 2015, UPS increased its use of advanced scanning and sorting technology in more facilities to improve processing capacity, said Norrington, and upgraded visibility systems so that we had a more precise knowledge of all transportation assets during the holidays.
Amnesty International and African Resources Watch (Afrewatch) on Tuesday issued a report alleging that the supply chains of major electronics companies  including Apple, Sony and Samsung  included cobalt mined by child laborers in Africa.

The companies have failed to make basic checks to halt the practice, the report claims.

The report traces the harvesting and sale of cobalt in the poverty-stricken Democratic Republic of Congo  where children as young as seven work the mines  for use in lithium-ion batteries that power smartphones and electric cars.

The extracted cobalt is sold to Congo Dongfang Mining, which is a unit of China-based Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt.

Amnesty would like to see the home state countries  U.S., China, Japan, etc.  conduct human rights due diligence on their cobalt supplies, report author Mark Dummett told TechNewsWorld, to identify the source of the cobalt, monitor working conditions, and address human rights abuses.

Amnesty International contacted 16 companies listed as customers of the battery manufacturers that reportedly sourced processed ore from Huayou. One company admitted the relationship, four companies said they were not sure if they were buying from the company or the DRC, six companies said they were investigating the claims, and five companies denied sourcing from the firm. Two multinational firms denied sourcing cobalt from the DRC.

Amnesty said none of the firms contacted could provide documentation to prove where their cobalt originated.

DRC a Huge Supplier of Cobalt

Half the worlds cobalt comes from the DRC, and Huayou Cobalt sources more than 40 percent of its cobalt there, according to Amnesty.

There were at least 80 documented cases of artisanal miners dying in the southern DRC between September 2014 and December 2015, the report notes.

There were 40,000 children miners in the DRC in 2014, according to Amnesty.

Miners typically put in 12-hour shifts for US$1 to $2 a day, based on researchers interviews with a total of 87 current and former workers, including 17 children.

Huayou sold cobalt to three battery component makers  Ningbo Shanshan and Tianjin Bamo of China, and L&F materials from South Korea  who bought $90 million worth of cobalt from Huayou in 2013, Amnesty said.

Companies Insist on Compliance

Underage labor is never tolerated in our supply chain and we are proud to have led the industry in pioneering new safeguards, Apple wrote in a letter to Amnesty International, which was provided to TechNewsWorld by Apple spokesperson Ben Kobren.

We not only have strict standards, rigorous audits and industry leading preventative measures, but we also actively look for any violations, the letter continues.

Any supplier hiring underaged workers must fund the workers safe return home, fully finance their educations, continue to pay their wages, and offer them jobs when they reach legal age, Apple told Amnesty.

Apple has been auditing workers for 10 years, and out of 1.6 million workers covered in 633 audits in 2014, a total of 16 cases of underage workers were found  and all of them were addressed successfully, Apple maintained.

Ningbo Shanshan was not one of Daimlers suppliers, according to spokesperson Andrea Berg.

The company neither sourced directly from the DRC nor from suppliers in the DRC, she told TechNewsWorld, adding that its supplier standards impose strict obligations on working conditions, social and environmental standards, and business ethics.

These standards are an integral part of the contracts that Daimler concludes with its suppliers, she told TechNewsWorld.

Samsung SDI does not have any transactions with Huayou Cobalt, the company said in a statement provided to TechNewsWorld by spokesperson Joann Cho.

The company operates its S-Partner Certification Program as a way to diagnose and improve corporate social responsibility issues across its supply chain, it said.

For all suppliers, Samsung SDI conducts written evaluations and on-site inspections in areas such as human rights, labor, ethics, environment, and health and safety on a two-year basis, and awards them with certification, the company noted.

Everyones Problem

The DRC is listed in the U.S. Department of Labors Worst Forms of Child Labor report, and goods made under those conditions are listed in the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.

An effective lasting solution to a complex problem such as this is going to require a collaborative approach with government, civil society, subject matter experts and multiple industries, Deborah Albers, vice president of social and environmental sustainability at the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition, told TechNewsWorld.

Companies must operate in full compliance with the laws of the countries where they operate, the EICC said, and the fight against the use of child labor is the responsibility of everyone involved in the process.
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(Screen grab from Youtube promotion for UK prayer campaign using Lord's Prayer in Nov. 2015)UK children say Lord's Prayer

Advertisers supplying Britain's major cinema chains have sparked a furor by banning an ad featuring the Lord's Prayer in case it offends people from being screened in theaters after earlier agreeing to do so.

The Church of England said Nov. 22 it is "bewildered" by the refusal of the country's leading cinemas to show the 60 second advert of The Lord's Prayer.

The Anglican church said on its website it is a "plain silly" decision that could have a "chilling effect" on free speech.

The 60 second ad starts with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, walking through a park.

It features Christians from all walks of life praying one line of the Lord's prayer and includes weight lifters, a police officer, a commuter, refugees in a support centre, school children, a mourner at a graveside and a festival goer.

The church announced that the country's three biggest cinema chains Odeon, Cineworld and Vue that control 80 per cent of theatre screens around the country - have refused to show the advert.

The Church of England said it had been told the decision is because of the belief it "carries the risk of upsetting, or offending, audiences."

Those taking part in the ad are people from different walks of life reciting or singing lines from the Lord's Prayer.

Welby is followed by a police officer, a weightlifter, a farmer, a congregation at a wedding and class of school children, among others in the minute-long advertisement.

The ad was released as part of the Church of England's launch of justpray.uk, a "new website to promote the renewal of prayer in a digital age."

It was due to be screened throughout the UK in Odeon, Cineworld and Vue cinemas ahead of showings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens before Christmas.

The Rev. Arun Arora, director of communications for the Church of England, said:

"The prospect of a multi-generational cultural event offered by the release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" on 18 December - a week before Christmas Day - was too good an opportunity to miss and we are bewildered by the decision of the cinemas.

"The Lord's Prayer is prayed by billions of people across the globe every day and in this country has been part of everyday life for centuries.

"Prayer permeates every aspect of our culture from pop songs and requiems to daily assemblies and national commemorations.

"For millions of people in the United Kingdom, prayer is a constant part of their lives whether as part thanksgiving and praise, or as a companion through their darkest hours."

The Church of England said it has threatened legal action against the cinemas, saying it was the victim of religious discrimination, The Mail online reported.

The decision to block the film was made despite it receiving a Universal certificate by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). That means anyone, of any age, can watch it  and approved by the Cinema Advertising Association (CAA).
(Photo: REUTERS / Mansi Thapliyal)Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif displays the Sony Xperia Z high-end smartphone during its launch in New Delhi March 6, 2013. Sony Corp aims to triple sales of its mobile phones in India to 35 billion rupees (8 million) in the year to March 2014, Kenichiro Hibi said, at the launch of the company's Xperia Z high-end smartphone.

Pope Francis says the family meal is vital for fostering togetherness while noting the excessive attachment to technology can undermine bonding of the unit.

"A family that almost never eats together, or that never speaks at the table but looks at the television or the smartphone, is hardly a family," the Pope said Nov. 11, Catholic News Agency reported.

"When children at the table are attached to the computer or the phone and don't listen to each other, this is not a family, this is a pensioner!"

The pontiff delivered his remarks at his weekly Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Francis said the dinner table is an important place to strengthen family bonds and foster a sense of "togetherness," which he said can often be weakened by being too attached to technology.

CNA noted that since the latter part of 2014, Pope Francis has dedicated his the teaching at his weekly gathering to the family, which he made the lead-in to this year's Synod of Bishops on the Family that ran from Oct. 4-25.

In his teaching he focussed on the importance of family "togetherness."

"In family life we learn about togetherness from a young age, which is a very beautiful virtue the family teaches us to share, with joy, the blessings of life," he said.

The Pope noted that the most tangible sign of this when families are "gathered around the household table."

"Sitting at table for the family dinner, sharing our meal and the experiences of our day, is a fundamental image of togetherness and solidarity," said Francis.

He explained affection and the happy or sad occurrences of the day are also shared at the table.

The togetherness is a "sure thermometer" to determine the quality of family relationships as "in the family, if something is wrong, or if there's some hidden wound, at the table you see it right away."

"It was also in the context of a dinner where he gave the disciples his spiritual testament and instituted the Eucharist," the Pope noted.

Referring to Holy Communion, when Christians believe they have the body of Jesus when they eat blessed bread, Francis said, "The Eucharist reminds us that our bread is meant to be shared with all."
(Reuters/SAGE)A human brain taken through scanning technology.

A cancer drug used to strengthen the human body's immune system against tumor has been found to have the ability to reduce the buildup of Alzheimer's-related plaques by 50 percent and restore certain memory functions in mice.

Although it is still a long way before the results of the finding make its way from mouse models to human beings, they could help scientists learn more about the complex relationship between the human immune system and the cause of dementia. Scientists had long suspected that the brain's overactive immune system could be the culprit.

Many scientists believe that calming down the overactive brain system will be a useful treatment for the disease. However, drugs aimed at doing this, called anti-inflammatories, have not had much success in clinical trials," said Tara Spires-Jones from the University of Edinburgh who was not involved in the research.

The team of researchers, led by Kuti Baruch from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, worked with genetically engineered mice (called the 5XFAD mouse model) that have the ability to express the mutated version of the human amyloid precursor protein (APP) to conduct their study. AAP is a membrane protein that is expressed in many tissues and is concentrated in the synapses of the neurons. Scientists, however, have not unraveled yet what exactly this protein does.

AAP, though, is linked to the production of beta amyloid that forms the toxic amyloid plaques found in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

The mice, which were displaying Alzheimer's-related plaque buildup and memory loss, were given an FDA-approved class of drugs called PD-1 immune checkpoint blockades. The results showed that the plaques were cleared by up to half the original amount. More so, the mice displayed a memory regain as they were able to go through a maze.

The findings are published in Nature Medicine.
(Photo: LWF / Adriana Castaneda)Bishop Medardo E. Gomez Soto (R), seen here with Honduran pastor Rev. Martin Giron, invited churches in Latin America and the Caribbean for prayers of solidarity as the Salvadoran Lutheran Church's Pastoral Initiative for Life and Peace program appeals for peace in El Salvador in October 2015.

Some Salvadoran gangs responsible for widespread violence have announced a cessation of violence following a peace march organized by the Salvadoran Lutheran Church in the capital San Salvador.

"Yes to peace, God bless El Salvador, yes to the desired peace," were the slogans as thousands joined the ILS Pastoral Initiative for Life and Peace, the Lutheran World Federation reports.

The church had invited sister churches worldwide to pray together as it conducted the march on Oct. 27.

Salvadoran Lutheran Church Bishop Medardo E. Gomez Soto said the Central American country faces immense difficulty due to the widespread violence that pervades.

"I want to inform you that the violence has grown so great that it is affecting the life of the nation and is causing other problems such as migration, economic troubles and even mental stress, and other consequences that Salvadorans are living through," he wrote.

Churches belonging to the Lutheran World Federation responded by thanking God and the worldwide community for the support it received as the amount of violence decreased.

It is hoped the gangs' commitment will inspire others to follow suit, the LWF reported.

Part of the Lutheran church's work is peace building initiatives and public advocacy aimed at ending the violence.

The global Lutheran communion's support for the Salvadoran church and others affected by similar violence in the region includes a 2012 public statement by the LWF's main governing body, its council.

The council has urged regional governments to "hear the cries of their people" and to protect human rights.

Some 5,000 people are murdered in El Salvador each year, making it one of the most unsafe nations that is not at war.

In October it was reported that on one day alone, at least 220 people were killed. Much of the violence is gang related.

"We want to make a loud scream and cry to stop all the violence that is agitating the country," Gomez declared. "We will present our cry to our country, officials, gang members and everyone to stop the bloodshed."

Marchers converged on the Monument to the Divine Savior of the World, streaming from Cuscatlan Park, Redondel Masferrer and the Monument to the Constitution. They included members of all churches and society at large.

During the event, a pastoral statement was read calling on all those groups terrorizing communities to immediately cease the violence and crime.

"Stop the recruitment of children especially. Stop all threats against families, communities, neighborhoods, settlements, townships, and forced eviction. Allow the free transit of people across the country," the Lutheran bishop urged.

Peace requires justice in the form of jobs, education and healthcare, the bishop noted. "Violence is a big business and the beneficiaries do not accept any peace process."
(Photo: REUTERS / Tony Gentile)Pope Francis gives the thumb up as he leads the Easter mass in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican April 20, 2014

Pope Francis has deplored violence perpetrated in the name of God and warned against the risk of young people being radicalized in the name of religion while addressing "barbarous" extremist attacks in the name of Islam.

The Pope was speaking on his first day of his visit to Africa while meeting with religious leaders at the Vatican's embassy in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

He spoke about the importance of interfaith relationships saying, "To be honest, this relationship is challenging; it makes demands of us.

"Yet ecumenical and interreligious dialogue is not a luxury. It is not something extra or optional, but essential, something which our world, wounded by conflict and division, increasingly needs.

While Francis did not make explicit reference to the attacks in Paris or Beirut by Islamic State terrorists, he said God's "name must never be used to justify hatred and violence."

"How important it is that we be seen as prophets of peace, peacemakers who invite others to live in peace, harmony and mutual respect," he told those assembled at the Vatican embassy.

The pontiff noted that, "By caring for the spiritual growth of our communities, by forming minds and hearts in the truths and values taught by our religious traditions, we become a blessing to the communities in which our people live.

"In democratic and pluralistic societies like Kenya, cooperation between religious leaders and communities becomes an important service to the common good."

The Argentine-born Pope plans to address the question of religiously inspired violence again on Nov. 29, when he visits conflict-ridden Central African Republic, plagued by fighting between Christians and Muslims, the Wall Street Journal reported.

In the CAR's capital of Bangui, Francis is scheduled to meet Christian and Muslim leaders involved in reconciliation efforts and to visit a refugee camp populated by Christians as well as a mosque in the city's Muslim neighborhood.

It is Francis' first visit to Africa and he will also stop in Uganda on Nov. 27.

The chairman of Kenya's supreme council of Muslims, Professor Abdulghafur H.S. El-Busaidy, greeted Pope Francis but did not specifically refer to terrorism. He said all religious leaders must reject "injustice, hatred, greed, malice, deceitfulness, blackmail, treachery, deaths and destruction."
(Photo: Peter Kenny / Ecumenical News)Staffan de Mistura, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, in Geneva, Switzerland on Oct. 12, 2015.

Meetings and talks of meetings are taking place that a year ago seemed improbable, but will they lead to peace in Syria?

Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have met at the Vatican, discussing human rights and Iran's role in the Middle East, in part of a push by Tehran to reintroduce itself to the West after years of stringent sanctions.

On the same day the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, invited the Syrian government and opposition to peace talks due to start in Geneva on Jan. 29.

The news came in a UN statement on Jan. 26 but it didn't specify exactly which groups have been invited, and the matter is already the subject of disagreement.

The meeting between the Pope and President Rouhani is the first of its kind since 1999 when Pope St. John Paul II received in audience at the Vatican the then Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, Vatican Radio reported.

The Vatican meeting came on the second day of a four-day visit by Rouhani to Italy and France, The Wall Street Journal reported.

It was the first trip abroad by the Iranian president since United Nations sanctions on Iran were loosened earlier this month after it agreed to implement key restrictions on its nuclear program.

40 MINUTE TALKS

Francis and Rouhani met for 40 minutes, which The Wall St. Journal said was extraordinarily long compared with typical State meetings held by the Pope. Rouhani was accompanied by a 12-person entourage, including his foreign minister.

"I thank you for your visit and I hope for peace," Francis told the Iranian leader at the end of a 40-minute meeting in the pope's private study in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, Reuters news agency reported.

Vatican Radio reported that Pope Francis and President Rouhani discussed bilateral relations, problems afflicting the Middle East area including the recently-signed Iran nuclear agreement and other international issues.

Iran is also part of the equation for a Syrian peace break through as it is seen as a key ally of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

The Vatican said "during the cordial discussions, common spiritual values emerged and reference was made to the good state of relations between the Holy See and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the life of the Church in the country and the action of the Holy See to favor the promotion of the dignity of the human person and religious freedom."

On the same day as the historic meeting at the Vatican, its representative to the United Nations agencies in Geneva said the "needs of Christians" and other religious minorities must be "taken into serious consideration" at U.N.-sponsored talks aimed at ending the Syrian civil war.

The talks are scheduled to begin Jan. 29 in Geneva, and last for 6 months. The United Nations said the first priority is a broad ceasefire, providing humanitarian aid, and halting the threat posed by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

"We hope the specific needs of the Christians, the Yazidis, and other communities that are not part of the Muslim majority be taken into serious consideration," said Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva.

"If we hope for an authentic ceasefire and possible beginning of reconstruction of the social and material fabric of society in Syria, then the human rights of these communities have to be taken into account," Tomasi told Vatican Radio.
(Photo: Osservatore Romanot)Pope Francis received a refugee's teapot as an invitation to work together for the suffering neighbor when he met a group from the Lutheran World Federation in 2013.

Pope Francis is to travel to Sweden in October for a joint ecumenical commemoration of the start of the Reformation, together with leaders of the Lutheran World Federation and representatives of other Christian Churches.

It is almost 500 years since Martin Luther was at the forefront of the Reformation that later pitted Catholics and Protestants against one another for many years.

The Pope said in 2013 that confronting the historical reality of the Reformation is important as it enables Catholics and Lutherans to rejoice together "in the longing for unity which the Lord has awakened in our hearts, and which makes us look with hope to the future."

Now, the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church will hold their joint ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation on Oct. 31 in Lund, Sweden, the Vatican news service and LWF said in Jan. 25 statements.

The one-day event will include a common worship service in Lund cathedral based on a Catholic-Lutheran "Common Prayer" liturgical guide, published earlier this month by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the LWF.

Pope Francis, LWF President Bishop Munib A. Younan and General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge will lead the Ecumenical Commemoration in cooperation with the Church of Sweden and the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm.

The joint ecumenical event will take place in the city of Lund in anticipation of the 500th Reformation anniversary in 2017.

It will highlight the solid ecumenical developments between Catholics and Lutherans and the joint gifts received through dialogue.

'ECUMENICAL ACCOUNTABILITY'

"The LWF is approaching the Reformation anniversary in a spirit of ecumenical accountability," says Junge.

"I'm carried by the profound conviction that by working towards reconciliation between Lutherans and Catholics, we are working towards justice, peace and reconciliation in a world torn apart by conflict and violence."

Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity said, "By concentrating together on the centrality of the question of God and on a Christocentric approach, Lutherans and Catholics will have the possibility of an ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation, not simply in a pragmatic way, but in the deep sense of faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ.

Church of Sweden Archbishop Antje Jackelen noted, "It is with joy and expectation that the Church of Sweden welcomes The Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church to hold the joint commemoration of the Reformation in Lund.

"We shall pray together with the entire ecumenical family in Sweden that the commemoration will contribute to Christian unity in our country and throughout the world."

The Lund event is part of the reception process of the study document From Conflict to Communion, published in 2013 and since widely distributed to Lutheran and Catholic communities.

The document is the first attempt by both dialogue partners to describe together at international level the history of the Reformation and its intentions.
(Photo:  Peter Kenny / Ecumenical News)Participants of the Shia Muslim-Chstian dialogue meeting Nov. 16-17 involving the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue and Christians involved in the World Council of Churches at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva.

GENEVA - Mere days after terror attacks in Beirut and Paris, the theme of an interfaith meeting of Christians and Muslims at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland on "Religion, Peace and Violence" was entirely appropriate, said participants.

They spent two days candidly and honestly speaking about their faiths, in a dialogue between Shia Muslims from the Islamic Republic of Iran associated with the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue and Christians involved in the World Council of Churches.

"There was a profound discussion about the fact that, though the means of violence and killing have become increasingly sophisticated in our world, the means for working for peace are still very simple and straightforward, namely the meeting with and openness towards those who are different to ourselves," said a participant.

"It is important to speak with rather than about those who were seen as 'other'," reflected another after the meeting.

"The particular difficulties that women experience in relation to religious violence were noted. Religiously motivated violence is often targeted directly or indirectly against women, and they are disproportionately victims."

The WCC and the CID held their eighth meeting for dialogue in the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, Switzerland, on Nov. 16 and 17, which corresponds to 25-26 Aban in the Persian calendar. The overall theme for this meeting was "Religion, Peace and Violence".

"A sad reality that we witness today, and indeed has happened at many times, is the misuse of religion in order to justify violence and injustice and secure selfish interests," said Dr. Mohammad Ali Shomali, speaking at the meeting.

Shomali is founding director of the International Institute for Islamic Studies in Qum, and the Director of the Islamic Centre of England.

'A NATURAL THING TO DO'

After the meeting he said in an interview, "Dialogue is the most natural thing we should do. This should enhance our love, friendship and unity. It is too little to think that we are here just to learn how to tolerate or respect each other. We are people who belong to the same family."

He told those present that he would like to look at different manifestations of Abrahamic traditions, not as different religions but as different branches of the tradition of Abraham.

"Then we share something that is great, the God of Abraham...Then we don't belong to different religions but different branches of the same religion. Although different prophets came in different times and places and spoke different languages, they are sent by the same God, and in the end of time there will be only one school and that is the School of God, in which different prophets or teachers may teach, but there would be only one authority and one syllabus. We should be united under God, but we may benefit from different teachers."

Dr. Shomali had noted in a presentation, "Some terrible events have and may still happen in the name of religion."

This has led to results that include damage caused to innocent people and also to the status of religions in the sight of many.

"Some of those who are against the whole concept of religion and 'sacredness' have taken advantage of these incidents and have argued that religion is the root cause of most injustices and atrocities, and in order to avoid conflict and troubles we need to get rid of all religions."

He said it is important for political leaders to be guided by faith, but not all present agreed on the nature of the relationship between religion and the public sphere.

TRUSTING EACH OTHER

"One of the fruits of a dialogue that has really been going on for 20 years, with some of the same and different partners, is that we can speak honestly with each and trust each other," said Dr Heidi Hadsell, president and professor of social ethics at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, in the United States.

"Then we can begin to think about ways where we can hold each other responsible for working together and also working separately in our own communions," she continued.

"Every dialogue has a different theme," she said. "In a way, these dialogues are cumulative in that we learn to trust each other and to speak more candidly. I think this dialogue reflects that. Another thing that is different is the urgency of the questions before us in the light of recent but also ongoing violence."

The meeting was the continuation of the process of dialogue between the WCC and the CID which began in 1995.

Participants representing the WCC came from Germany, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. They met with four Islamic scholars and religious leaders who came from Iran and the United Kingdom.Mr Jahandar Mahdi, who is an imam of the Shia community in Geneva, was a guest at the meeting.

The last meeting of the groups took place on 15 and 16 February 2014 in Tehran, Iran.

Dr Abdolrahim Gavahi, currently the head of the department of future studies at the Iranian Academy of Sciences, and also president of the World Religions Research Centre based in Tehran, said he has long wanted to attend one these meetings.

"I have been involved in Abrahamic religions' dialogue for many years. I have also been involved in groups with discussion with Jewish organizations," he explained.

Gavahi said, "I liked attending this dialogue. What we saw will have widespread reflections. It would be good to make a book of this meeting, and it would be widely read in Iran."

Rev. Bonnie Evans-Hills who is interfaith adviser in the diocese of St Albans, England and a parish priest, serves on the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland's Interfaith Theological Advisory Group.

YOUNG PEOPLE BEREFT OF OPPORTUNITIES

She spoke about the current situation in Britain where her groups are working to provide young Christians, Muslims or those of no faith with hope in a future that has scant opportunities for work and fulfilment.

"Faith communities have to come together. Differences between faith communities have largely disappeared," she said.

Evans-Hills said she would probably disagree with a notion discussed that young people are fleeing from religion because they are bombarded with a secular, materialistic world.

"I would say young people tend to leave organized religions because they are fleeing from the exclusivist positions some of our leaders take. We need to work with all faiths," she said.

She saw in the Geneva gathering offering an "incredible amount of hope. It is almost as if we have a shared martyrdom and a shared innocence. Those who want to kill don't care whether they are killing Christians, Muslims or Jews. We are all in this together, and we need to pull together and love one another."
(Photo: LWF/ Rodrick Beiler)Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, dances with Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of South Africa to celebrate some 1.8 million signatures on an interfaith petition for climate justice during the COP21 climate summit in Paris, France.

It was a highpoint of ecumenical and interfaith cooperation at COP21 in Paris getting the UN climate chief Christiana Figueres dancing.

She had not yet witnessed a climate deal, but received four petitions by ACT Now for Climate Justice (part of ACT Alliance), the Global Catholic Climate Movement, Religions for Peace and Our Voices.

She was delighted as she took in almost 1.8 million signatures for climate justice inspiring tears of joy and dancing in Paris.

Church leaders attending the fringes of the global climate have longed campaigned to rein in the use of fossil fuels and to combat harmful emissions in a bid to limit warming to 2C (3.6F).

"The political leaders of the world are speaking like preachers. May they continue as believers," said Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on Dec. 1

He was speaking ahead of the opening sessions of the UN climate talks in Paris (COP21) on 30 November.

Faith campaigners presented a total of 1,780,528 signatures gathered worldwide calling for decisive action to curb global warming.

The petitions were delivered to leaders of the United Nations COP 21 climate conference beginning its work in Paris.

"We can do it together, we must do it together, and we will do it together," said Anglican Archbishop and "ACT ambassador" Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town.

"The momentum towards change has come, and it might be stronger than we understand", wrote Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches in an Advent message on the eve of the climate talks.

After handing over the petitions to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Figueres and Nicolas Hulot, French President Francois Hollande's special envoy for the planet, Makgoba danced with the climate chief.

Makgoba is the global climate ambassador for ACT Alliance, a worldwide coalition of 137 churches and affiliated organizations working for positive and sustainable change.

The faith leaders included Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Muslims.
(Photo: Ecumenical News / Peter Kenny)Lutheran World Federation President Bishop Munib Younan to the main governing body of the LWF, its Council at the Ecumenical Center, Geneva on June 18, 2015.

The world is filled with apocalyptic movements and Lutherans need to assist Christian communities living alongside dangerous forms of Islamist ideology says the Palestinian bishop who is president of the Lutheran World Federation.

"We receive daily reports about a group calling itself Islamic State seeking to create spheres of dogmatic purity by inflicting human suffering on vulnerable communities," said Bishop Munib Younan.

The LWF president who leads his church in the Holy Land said the issues facing Christians there is not just a local one.

"I believe it is essential for the Lutheran World Federation to take the lead, along with other international organizations, to call a conference of Christians living in Muslim- majority contexts," he said.

Speaking the LWF's main governing body, its council, Younan also said on June 18, "We see the merchants of the Prosperity Gospel creating the illusion of wealth and happiness while consigning others to suffering and loss.

The LWF is meeting June 18-22 June in Geneva.

"We see the constant preaching of many evangelists telling us that the new chosen ones will be raptured away from worldly suffering, offering escapism instead of hope.

"We see other preachers relying almost solely on the strength of empire, placing their hope in human power to achieve their interpretations of prophecy."

Younan said that many Christians are eager for dialogue with all of their neighbors, but "there can be little dialogue with someone convinced that you should leave your land or be beheaded."

As bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Younan called on the worldwide Lutheran communion to engage in "robust moderation" to counter growing extremism.

"The challenge of Christians today is to offer a strong defense of religious and political moderation, to respectfully offer a reason for the hope that is within us, even as we confront the worldly nihilism religiously-sanctioned extremism," said the LWF president.

He noted that if Lutherans did not address these issues facing Christianity, the threats will grow due to extremist groups being present in many other contexts.

"Pope Francis has warned of 'a kind of third world war being fought piecemeal.' These groups will engage in more direct attacks within Europe and North America as their resources and capabilities grow.

"It is time for Western Christians to listen to and learn from Christian sisters and brothers who have long been living with these challenges."
DEARBORN, Michigan  Ford is expanding a recall of vehicles with defective Takata airbags to include 391,394 2004-'06 Ford Ranger pickup trucks in North America, the automaker announced on Tuesday.

The recall expansion was prompted by the death of an unnamed driver of a 2006 Ford Ranger in South Carolina in December.

It is also the first in a new round of recalls of an estimated 5 million vehicles with defective Takata airbags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the Takata recall expansion on Friday.

The defective airbags can explode with too much force, shooting metal shrapnel at vehicle occupants.

"Ford is expanding its safety recall on vehicles that have certain airbag inflators after Takata declared that those inflators are defective," Ford said in a statement. "The Ford vehicles affected by this Takata action are all 2004-'06 Ford Rangers built in North America."

Ford dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator in the affected Ranger trucks. Ford spokesman John Cangany told Edmunds that official recall notices will be sent to owners the week of February 22.

"We also have the online tool at Ford.com for customers to determine if their Ford vehicle is included in any recall," he said.

The latest recall expansion brings to 28 million the number of defective Takata airbag inflators recalled.

NHTSA spokesman Gordon Trowbridge on Monday told Edmunds that the agency, which oversees vehicle safety in the U.S., is working to get the new Takata recall notices "posted quickly."

The notices, which are called 573 filings, "are likely to take a few days," Trowbridge said.

He added that automakers "will likely take a while as they go through their records to determine affected makes and models."

Edmunds says: Owners of all of these recalled vehicles are urged to keep in close touch with their dealers and to schedule the repair as soon as possible.
The newly minted Every Student Succeeds Act aims to clip the wings of future education secretaries when it comes to accountability, testing, and morebut it doesnt say anything about use of the bully pulpit.

And acting U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. has made it clear over the first few weeks of his tenure that he will keep up the rhetorical drumbeat on the importance of educational equity for all students, no matter how the complicated process of regulating ESSA turns out. And he urged states to rethink educator-evaluation systems if theyre not actually helping teachers improve their practice.

King kicked off a five-city Opportunity Across America tour the day after President Barack Obamas State of the Union Address earlier this month. Hes stopped in El Paso, Texas, to talk about border students, and in Houston to encourage districts to pair academics with health services. Other stops have included Orlando, Fla., and Philadelphia.

And in a trio of speeches last weekin Washington, to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and to the National Action Network, a civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, as well as at a teacher town hall in PhiladelphiaKing made clear that he sees equity as imperative as states craft their accountability systems in the new ESSA era.

ESSA presents a moment of both opportunity and moral responsibility, King said in his Martin Luther King Jr. Day speech to the civil rights advocates. The new and larger role for states should be seen as a clarion call in the civil rights community.

ESSA, the latest iteration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, continues to require states to look after their lowest-performing schools and schools where historically overlooked groups of students, such as English-language learners, arent performing well.

Overall, the revised law gives local leaders more flexibility to realize their K-12 visionbut there are also potential weak spots that could stall efforts to close the achievement gap if communities arent careful, King told the mayors in a separate speech on Jan. 20.

The secretary said hes heartened that ESSA requires states to look beyond test scores and incorporate other measures of student achievement. That means states can consider access to advanced coursework for low-income students, access to arts and music education, and chronic absenteeism when rating their schools.

But the law also allows states to come up with their own set of indicatorsopening the door, some civil rights advocates fear, to metrics that could make nearly every school look good, or obscure gaps between low-income and minority students and their more-advantaged peers.

Theres an opportunity for states to adopt accountability systems that are equity-advancing, King said in the speech to the mayors. But theres also risk those new indicators will be used to distract from core [questions] of whether or not schools are delivering on their responsibility to educate students.

Leeway on Interventions

The new law also gives states and districts the leeway to develop their own interventions for struggling schools and students.

We need to make sure that states are aggressive and leaning forward in trying to support the schools that are struggling the most, he told the mayors. We cant allow the intervention requirements to become just a bureaucratic compliance strategy.

He gave examples of remedies that he thinks could make a difference, including early-education and wraparound services.

Whats more, King said at the teacher town hall Jan. 21 that ESSA gives states and districts a fresh start and a much-needed do-over on the issue of teacher evaluation through student outcomes. States should work with teachers to revamp review systems that arent workingand state tests dont necessarily have to be part of the picture.

Teachers were not always adequately engaged by policymakers in the development of new systems, King said. And when they disagreed with evaluation systems, it appeared to pit them against those who they cherished mosttheir students. That was no ones desire.

Earlier in the week, King hit on an issue that many wished his predecessor, Arne Duncan, had touched on more often: the need to better integrate schools.

I think this question of socioeconomic integration is bound up with the question of resources in schools, King told the mayors. Integration, he said, can help ensure that all students have access to the same kinds of programs and resources.

When you go many places in this country, its hard to find an affluent suburban school that isnt offering art and music and technology, he continued. But then two miles away, sometimes two blocks away, ... you have a school that doesnt have any of that. We need to see that as a community we all have a stake in every child.

Pell Proposals

Also in talking to the mayors, King touched on college access, another area hes said will be a priority during his single year in office.

Students will have an extra incentive to succeed academically if they can walk into high school knowing that if they do well, if they earn good grades, they can have the opportunity to go to higher education, he said.

On that front, the Department of Education last week released a pair of proposals related to Pell Grants, which help low-income students cover the cost of college. The proposals are designed to ensure that the program helps more students obtain college degrees more quickly.

But its unclear whether the proposalswhich would cost about $2 billion in fiscal 2017will win approval from a thrifty Congress.

One proposal, dubbed Pell for Accelerated Completion, would extend students eligibility for Pell Grants to a third semester, allowing more of them to take courses year-round and not stop their academic work during the summer.

The other On-Track Pell Bonus plan would lift the cap on the maximum grant award by $300 for students who take at least 15 credits per semester. That would help students stay on track to get associate degrees in two years, assuming 60 credits for such degrees, and to get bachelors degrees in four years, assuming those degrees require 120 credits.
The GED Testing Service has decided to lower the passing score for its high-school-equivalency exam, a move brought on by data showing that students who passed the latest, tougher version of the test were doing better in college than high school graduates.

The move will allow states to lower the passing score on each section of the GED exam from 150 to 145 out of 200. The GED Testing Service projects that if all states choose to use the new lower passing score, 100,000 more people could pass one or more subjects of the test, and 25,000 of them could be eligible for a GED credential by passing all four sections.

The company recommended that states grant retroactive passage to test-takers who failed with the previous score of 150, but each state can decide for itself. States are expected to release details Jan. 26 about how theyll handle the change.

GED pass rates dropped significantly after Pearson and the American Council on Education, which make the test, released a more difficult version in January 2014 to reflect the Common Core State Standards. Fewer people are taking the GED test, too, and more are taking new, competing high-school-equivalency tests: the HiSET, by the Educational Testing Service, and the TASC, by McGraw-Hill Education CTB.

Robert Schaeffer, the public education director for the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, said the GED is an important pathway to opportunity for young adults, and the new version made accessing those opportunities harder. Lowering the passing score is a move in the right direction, he said.

States are taking different approaches to the new score. GED Testing Service spokesman CT Turner said some will start using it right away, others wont use the new score until March, and some might not use it at all. Some will use the lower cutoff retroactively, granting passage to those who fell short of the previous passing score.

Midcourse Adjustments

Not all states confer diplomas for GED passage, but those that do could decide to award them retroactively. Georgia is one such state: It will grant diplomas to students who failed the GED with a cut score of 150, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which first disclosed news last week of the GEDs passing-score revision.

The decision to lower the passing score came from analyzing longitudinal data, Turner said. Tracking student performance into college, the company noticed that in several states, fewer students who passed the GED needed remedial coursework than did those who earned high school diplomas.

In Oregons community colleges, for example, 15 percent of GED-passers needed remediation in reading or writing in 2014-15, compared with 47.5 percent of those who earned high school diplomas. Thirty-nine percent of GED-passers needed remedial work in math, compared with 62 percent of recent high school graduates. The GED Testing Service noted a similar pattern in Rhode Island and in North Dakota.

The GED Testing Service aims to set its passing score to reflect the achievement of the typical high school graduate, and the data showed that a revision was needed, Turner said.

We wanted to make sure that the cut score is on par with the average graduating high school senior, Turner said. Thats what policymakers and the public expect from the GED: that it reflectsbut isnt ahead ofthe curve for high school performance.

He rejected, though, the idea that the company erred when it set the original cutoff score at 150.

We did it based on sound research. We had a technical-advisory group. We did a norming study.

The only difference here is that in the past, we wouldnt have had this information for years, he said, and wouldnt have been able to make an adjustment so quickly. Now we have the data to take into account, very quickly, the actual performance of adult learners, what theyre doing once they pass, and how theyre performing.

Said FairTests Schaeffer: If thats not admitting they set the bar too high, then I dont know what is.

The GED exam itself is unchanged.

Along with the lower passing score, the GED Testing Service is introducing another change. Instead of just one cutoff pointpassing or not passingit now has three.

A score of 145 will connote high-school-level skills. A score of 165 will signify college readiness, and come with a recommendation that scorers at that level skip remedial work or placement tests, and enroll in credit-bearing classes. A score of 175 will connote not just college readiness, but college-level skill, and will come with a recommendation that students receive credit for coursework in the subjects in which they received those scores.

Since the GED covers math, language arts, science, and social studies, scores of 175 in each subject could suggest that students automatically earn three credits in math, three in science, three in social studies, and one in language arts, Turner said. It isnt yet known whether colleges will opt to grant credit for such GED scores.

Ten percent of the 400,000 people who have taken the GED since January 2014 have scored 175 or higher in one or more subjects, Turner said.

Jeff Carter, the executive director of the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education, said that reactions to the GEDs move to lower the passing score will reflect a tension in his field.

None of us wants to present unnecessary new barriers to adult students, he said. But at the same time, we all think there needs to be high standards. Having healthy debate about that is something we need to continually do.
When a video of a South Carolina school resource officers classroom arrest of an African-American girl spread quickly online last year, most viewers were surprised by the violent nature of the interaction, in which the officer forcefully pulled the girl from her desk and threw her across the room.

But civil rights and student groups said viewers should also be concerned that the classroom conflict that sparked the interaction at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, S.C., led to an arrest at all.

After the girl refused to put away her cellphone and subsequently refused to leave the classroom to be disciplined, a school administrator called in the officer. The school resource officer arrested the girl and another classmate, who protested the interaction, on charges of disrupting a school. Under that law, South Carolina students are arrested for offenses that arent always considered crimes when they are committed off school grounds.

In response to the video, some state lawmakers are working to revise South Carolinas disrupting a school statute, which prohibits acting in an obnoxious manner in a school and behavior that interferes with or disturbs in any way or in any place the students or teachers of any school or college.

Growing Support

Their efforts come as advocacy groups around the country are pushing for changes to similar laws in other states. While efforts to limit school-based arrests have largely focused on school and district policies and practices, revising broad state laws that are often used to refer students to law enforcement is also important, they argue.

Were criminalizing what is a lot of routine student behavior, said Sarah Hinger, a staff lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union. What student disruptions rise to the point of being criminal is very much dependent on how school officials and police officers react and interact with that student behavior.

And, because the laws are open to subjective interpretation, they help contribute to higher rates of arrest for minority students, civil rights groups say.

While black students made up 16 percent of public school enrollment nationwide during the 2011-12 school year, the most recent year for which federal data are available, they represented 27 percent of those referred to law enforcement by schools and 31 percent of those who were subjected to school-related arrests.

Concerns over such racial imbalances and the broad application of some laws have fueled the push for changes around the country.

The ACLUs Massachusetts chapter, for example, has supported defueling the school-to-prison pipeline through a bill that would prohibit student arrests for disturbing a school assembly and disorderly conduct.

Greater national discussions about criminal-justice reform, which have attracted bipartisan support, have helped drive interest in such proposed state law changes, said Jason Langford, a lawyer at the Legal Aid Justice Center in Virginia.

That organization launched a push for changes to Virginias juvenile-justice laws , including a call to eliminate school-based charges of disorderly conduct, after a 2015 analysis by the Center for Public Integrity found that the state had the highest rate of school-based arrests in the country. About 16 of every 1,000 Virginia students were referred to police in the 2011-12 school year, nearly three times the national average, the analysis found.

The knee-jerk reaction of school violence and the sensation of school violence is the starting place of a lot of this, Langford said. People assume that schools are dangerous, disorderly places, when the reality is they are the safest places for children in many communities.

School police issues have been seen as a concern of left-leaning groups in recent years. But a growing body of research about the likelihood of future arrests and social problems for youths who have even one exposure to the justice system has brought support from right-leaning groups for the proposed changes to Virginias juvenile-justice statutes.

Last year, a group of conservative organizations, including Right on Crime and the Thomas Jefferson Institute, wrote a report calling for changes to the states juvenile-justice system, including an examination of the causes for school-based arrests.

Some serious incidents in schools certainly merit law-enforcement involvement, but zealous zero-tolerance policies have sometimes resulted in criminalizing playground skirmishes and handcuffing 5th graders for disorderly-conduct violationsissues that were once simply handled by parents and faculty in the principals office, that report said.

South Carolinas Law

Even with the elimination of broad state laws that lead to school-based arrests, students can still be charged with offenses like assault, Langford added.

In 2014-15, 1,222 juvenile offenses for disturbing schools were referred to family court in South Carolina, according to the states juvenile-justice department. Only assault and battery cases led to more juvenile referrals, the agency said in an annual report.

The state legislature is set to consider two bills that would either more specifically detail what could be considered a crime under the disturbing-schools statute or prohibit students from being arrested for the offense.

Similar bills have died in committee in previous legislative sessions. A student also unsuccessfully challenged the law in court, arguing that it violated his First Amendment rights. But the sponsors of current legislation said they hope exposure from the student-arrest video will add momentum to their cause.

That was so shocking and so unconscionable that it really shook a lot of us to the core, said Rep. Mia McLeod, a Democrat who is sponsoring the bill that would eliminate student arrests for disturbing schools.

McLeods bill would still allow outside intruders to be arrested for disturbing schools.

After the high-profile student arrest, the officer, Deputy Ben Fields, was fired following an immediate internal investigation by his employer, the Richland County sheriffs office.

Leaders of Richland County School District 2 pledged to add more training for staff members about when it is and is not appropriate to involve school resource officers in a discipline situation and to work with the sheriffs office to develop better standards for screening and training school-based officers.

Most efforts to reduce school-based arrests have typically focused on such district-level work.

The National Association of School Resource Officers has said school-based police should not be involved in routine discipline of students. The organization urges schools to draft written agreements with police agencies that detail how their officers should interact with students.

Supporters of bills like those in South Carolina say they dovetail with those types of district undertakings.

The South Carolina School Boards Association doesnt have a position on the bills, said Debbie Elmore, the organizations director of government relations.

But the group urges caution against too narrowly defining what constitutes a school disturbance because administrators must deal with many student-behavior situations that lawmakers may not anticipate, she said.

The law as it stands now is very broad, and its almost open to individual interpretation, Elmore said. But when you try to write it so prescriptively, you leave out some important things that you just might not think of.
As states prepare for the transition to the new federal education law passed last month, one of the thornier policy questions is how theyll consider test-participation rates in their accountability systems, after a year in which the testing opt-out movement rose to national prominence.

States are considering various approaches to try to ensure schools meet the requirement under the Every Student Succeeds Act (the newest iteration of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act) that 95 percent of eligible students take state exams in English/language arts and math.

The plans to deal with high opt-out numbers in at least a few states follow suggestions from the U.S. Department of Education about how to respond to relatively low participation numbers. The department also notified 13 states that, according to data, the 95 percent participation requirement was not met either by districts in their state or statewide for the 2014-15 academic year. But even those plans could shift once states ESEA waivers end and life under ESSA gets under way.

Within the Margins

The key ESSA language regarding test participation says that in addition to reporting the percentage of students participating in mandatory state exams, states must provide a clear and understandable explanation of how the State will factor the requirement ... into the statewide accountability system.

But what it means to factor participation rates into accountability, or what it should mean, depends on whom you talk to.

Its unclear whether the opt-out movement will grow in stature and number this spring, or fade away as parents and schools become more used to tests aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Most states administered such tests for the first time last year.

But in guidance issued to states last month, the U.S. Department of Education laid out options for how states might respond to high opt-out rates, such as withholding money from schools, or flagging a district or school as high risk, along with an explanation for accountability purposes. (Since that guidance, the department has not otherwise publicly addressed states opt-out policies.) At the same time, the federal department cant directly dictate to states how they handle opt-out with respect to school ratingsthats ultimately up to states.

Chad Aldeman, an associate partner with Bellwether Education Partners who used to work in the Obama administration, thinks those and similar actions are appropriate. But less stringent options, such as notifying parents and the general public about low participation rates (an option not specified in the Education Departments guidance) is insufficient, Aldeman said. Thats because not going beyond such a notification would leave a states accountability system vulnerable to schools gaming their ratings, for example, by preventing some students who might perform poorly from taking exams.

And under ESSA, he said, states still have to use assessments that provide valid, reliable, and transparent information on student performance, something he said is impossible without high participation rates.

Theres a balance to this. Theres no formula that has a magic rule for it. Thats why its on states, Aldeman said.

He also added that the federal departments warning in its guidance to states that failure to address opt-out appropriately could mean they could lose Title I funding, among other possible actions, is pretty heavy-handed, but is within the bounds of the law and gives the 95 percent requirement real teeth.

But while a letter notifying parents about low test-participation rates would be at the margins of an acceptable response by states, its still a valid statement about accountability and shouldnt be automatically dismissed, said Monty Neill, the executive director of the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, which opposes high-stakes testing. I dont read any mandate other than the states have to factor it in. But what does that mean? It doesnt say anything about weighting it or making it important, Neill said, referring to ESSA.

And nothing in the new law, Neill added, would explicitly allow coercing parents into having their children take the state exams.

Warnings and Ratings

When the federal department notified 13 states about test-participation issues last year, the department also asked for the states responses to the situation.

Rhode Island Education Commissioner Ken Wagner told the Education Department in a letter that with respect to accountability, the state would attach an alert, or essentially a warning, to the rating for any school that failed to meet the 95 percent test-participation requirement. (That warning, however, would not mean a letter would be sent to parents about test participation.)

In addition, any school that missed the participation requirement would not be eligible to receive a Commendable School rating, the highest classification in the states K-12 accountability system.

Fewer than half of Rhode Islands districts had at least 95 percent of students take the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exams in English/language arts and math in the 2014-15 school year, according to the state.

Elliot Krieger, a spokesman for the Rhode Island department, said the state plans to apply this plan for accountability to school ratings from the 2014-15 school year, which the agency plans to release later this year. However, Krieger didnt specify that the plan will continue for ratings for school years after 2014-15.

The Rhode Island department had yet to receive a response from federal officials to its accountability plans for opt-out, Krieger said, and added, Im not sure that were waiting, necessarily.

Meanwhile, Connecticut Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzell told the federal department in a letter last month that her state will administer the SAT for its 11th graders beginning this school year, after using the Smarter Balanced test in 2014-15. Wentzell wrote that it is anticipated that participation in the state assessment will improve significantly for those students. (Overall, the state met the 95 percent requirement, but some districts did not.)

The switch from the Smarter Balanced test to the SAT is part of an effort to eliminate duplicative testing, reduce overtesting, mitigate student stress and address parental concerns, a spokeswoman for the Connecticut education department, Abbe Smith, wrote in an email.

Wentzell also identified an array of responses for schools that escalate the margins by which districts that miss the 95 percent requirement grow. The most serious consequences for districts include a potential loss of some federal funding beginning in the 2016-17 school year (based on 2015-16 data), and the need for districts to submit plans on how to increase participation rates.

May Have to Adjust

And its also not clear to what extent states plans for addressing opt-outs will change once the transition from ESEA waivers to the new law takes place later this year.

Colorados plan, which interim Commissioner of Education Elliott Asp outlined to the department earlier this month, would also require schools and districts to show how they would address low test participation rates. Test participation will also count in reviews of programs at Title I schools and low-performing schools under federal law.

However, in its letter to the federal department, the Colorado education agency said its strategy for incorporating test participation into accountability was part of the states ESEA waiver, which expires Aug. 1, along with the rest of the states waivers.

A spokeswoman for the state education department, Dana Smith, said the waiver will be replaced by a new state accountability plan, and that as this plan is developed, Colorado may have to adjust some elements.
To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020.
 2016 BAM PPP

The European Investment Bank has agreed to support the N25 New Ross bypass, a 16km new motorway link in County Wexford and County Kilkenny in south-east Ireland that will improve connections from Cork and Waterford to the port of Rosslare and remove a major bottleneck on the N25 route.

The N25 New Ross is the first project in Ireland to be financed under the Project Bond Credit Enhancement financial structure, a joint initiative between the European Investment Bank and the European Commission that seeks to stimulate capital market financing for large-scale transport, energy and communication infrastructure from institutional investors such as insurance companies and pension funds.

This is the third road scheme identified in the 2012 Infrastructure Stimulus Package to be supported by the European Investment Bank, following EUR 252 million provided for the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy motorway and N17-N18 Gort to Tuam motorway schemes in the last 2 years.

The N25 New Ross Bypass has been eagerly awaited and will be warmly welcomed by all in the south east. This is the second road PPP event I have attended in three months and it is the fourth transport PPP signed by this Government since coming into office. The N25 PPP scheme will bring important economic benefits to the south east and improve regional and international connectivity (through Rosslare Europort). It will also reduce traffic congestion and provide economic benefits regionally and locally by increasing the attractiveness of bypassed communities as places to shop, to visit, to work and to live. I am also very pleased to say that between 250 and 300 jobs will be provided during the construction phase of the scheme, bringing welcome employment and economic activity to the area as the scheme is progressed. said Paschal Donohoe TD, Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

I wish to thank Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the project sponsors, the European Investment Bank, international investors and the County Councils for their hard work in getting this scheme over the line and making this important project a reality. I wish BAM Civil and Dragados every success during the construction phase. added Minister Donohoe.

The New Ross bypass will provide an alternative for drivers in the south-east of Ireland to avoid the often congested town centre and enjoy shorter journey times on the N25, one of the main routes in the country. This is the fourth road project backed by the European Investment Bank in Ireland in the last three years in cooperation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, alongside support for transport investment at the Port of Dublin and extending the Luas tram. As the first project in Ireland to be financed through the Project Bond Credit Enhancement scheme institutional investors will join the EIB to support this crucial road link. said Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank Vice President.

Once open to traffic in 2018 the new road will cut journey times and provide a safer and shorter alternative to the current route through New Cross. The new road will allow traffic on the N25 between Cork and Waterford to bypass the town of New Ross and cross the Lower Barrow on a new 36m high, 900m long four-lane suspension bridge.

The EUR 22m Project Bond Credit Enhancement from the EIB will support EUR 146m of senior project bonds issued by the project company to finance the road scheme. The credit enhancement facility has improved the stand-alone credit quality of the project by around two notches, and has allowed the bonds to achieve the same rating as the Irish State (both rated Baa1 by Moodys). The long-term bonds privately placed with institutional investors controlled by Allianz Global Investors GmbH.

Other infrastructure schemes supported by the Project Bond Credit Enhancement initiative since 2013 include offshore transmission links to offshore wind farms in the Irish sea and North sea, motorways in Belgium and Germany, as well as broadband networks and a port in France.

The new 14km dual carriageway road will be built and managed for Transport Infrastructure Ireland by a consortium led by BAM Iridium, and construction is expected to start in the coming weeks. The construction work is expected to support in the region of 300 jobs across Ireland and will be undertaken by a BAM Civil and Dragados joint venture.

Over the last 5 years the European Investment Bank has provided over EUR 3.5 billion for transport, education, energy, rural internet and flood protection investment in Ireland, as well as improving access to finance by small business.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A bomb attack claimed by Islamic State in the Syrian government-controlled city of Homs killed at least 24 people on Tuesday, the city's governor said, as government forces took back some IS-held villages east of Aleppo.

The governor of Homs said the first of two explosions was caused by a car bomb targeting a security checkpoint. A suicide bomber then set off an explosive belt, state media reported.

"We know we are targets for terrorists, especially now the (Syrian) army is advancing and local reconciliation agreements are being implemented," Governor Talal Barazi told Reuters by telephone.

Supported by four months of Russian air strikes, the Syrian government has intensified attacks on insurgents across the country, including Islamic State which controls wide areas of central and eastern Syria.

The Syrian army and allied forces have been battling Islamic State in areas to the east and southeast of Homs city. They recently took back several villages including Maheen 80 km (50 miles) southeast of Homs.

North of Homs in Aleppo province, the Syrian army and allied forces have since Monday taken the IS-held villages of Ain Hanash, Qatar and Tal Hataabaat around 50 km from the city of Aleppo, according to state broadcaster SANA.

Although small, these villages lie to the south of the IS-held town of al-Bab - an important stronghold for the group.

Fighting continues on the outskirts of Ain Hanash, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

Following the double bombings in Homs, 17 people were in hospital, one of them in critical condition, Barazi said.

Syrian state TV earlier reported that 22 people had died and more than 100 people had been injured.

Observatory monitors put the death toll at 29 and said those killed in the explosions, which took place in a mostly Alawite district, included 15 members of government forces and pro-government militiamen. President Bashar al-Assad is a member of the minority Alawite sect.

Islamic State said in a statement that its attack had killed at least 30 people.

(Reporting by Omar Fahmy in Cairo, Kinda Makieh in Damascus and Lisa Barrington in Beirut; Editing by Tom Perry and Mark Heinrich)
By Ange Aboa

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - A military tribunal in Ivory Coast began hearing testimony on Tuesday in the trial of nearly two dozen soldiers charged with the 2002 murder of a former junta leader turned president, Robert Guei.

Ivory Coast, the current economic powerhouse of Francophone West Africa, has been attempting a reconciliation process after more than a decade of political turmoil in the formerly peaceful West African nation.

Guei was a retired army general when he was named head of state after a coup d'etat in 1999 that marked the beginning of the crisis.

He lost an election to Laurent Gbagbo a year later. He had been out of office for nearly two years when his bullet-riddled body was discovered on a roadside in the commercial capital, Abidjan, during a second attempted coup in 2002.

A total of 22 soldiers, including senior officers close to Gbagbo, have been charged with his killing, though only 19 have so far appeared in court.

Five soldiers testified on Tuesday, all of whom said they had participated in a search for Guei but denied they had assassinated him.

Kouadio Kouadio, who is charged with being an accessory to the murder, said General Brunot Dogbo Ble, then a colonel close to Gbagbo, had ordered him to go to St. Paul's Cathedral in Abidjan to look for Guei.

"We went and searched the basement and he was there, behind the cartons," testified Kouadio, who drove members of the elite Republican Guard to the cathedral. "We went to the general's home afterwards and his wife was there with her aide and guards. We took them to the colonel (Dogbo Ble)."

Dogbo Ble, commander of the Republican Guard, and Captain Anselme Seka Yapo, an officer of the gendarmerie known as "Seka Seka", are accused of ordering and organising the murders of Guei, his wife and their employees.

Dogbo Ble is already serving 15 years in prison for his 2012 conviction for complicity in violence including kidnapping, illegal detention and murder. Yapo was given a 20-year sentence last August after being found guilty of murder and assault.

Although the 2002 coup attempt failed, the non-commissioned officers behind the attempted power grab maintained their grip on the northern half of the world's top cocoa grower, eventually becoming the New Forces rebellion.

The group helped bring to power the current president, Alassane Ouattara, after Gbagbo refused to accept his defeat in a 2010 run-off election, setting off a brief civil war.

Gbagbo's trial before the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the conflict opens on Thursday in The Hague.

(Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Joe Bavier, Larry King)
By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON - London could not remain Europe's financial centre if Britain left the European Union at an upcoming referendum, top European politicians said on Monday, warning that reaching a free trade agreement with Britain would not be the bloc's priority.

Painting a bleak picture for Britain outside the EU during a simulated negotiation of what would happen in the event of an "out" vote, politicians from several European countries said Britain would not be able to "cherry pick" a new deal post-exit.

"There is no such thing as a free lunch. Brexit is something which does not only affect you but affects our country," said former German deputy finance minister Steffen Kampeter.

"The cherry-picking proposal, after torturing us over months, is not acceptable."

Kampeter said Germans would not back their government agreeing to a post-Brexit deal that gave London an advantage over Frankfurt as a financial centre, while former Irish Prime Minister John Bruton said Dublin would seek to take London's crown.

Former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta said Italy would support moving Europe's financial centre away from London if Britain left the bloc, while France's Noelle Lenoir, a former minister of European Affairs, said the opportunity to move the EU's financial hub to a euro zone country "could be a blessing".

"How can you expect that after you leaving the European economy ... that economy would accept that its financial centre is outside its borders," said Karel de Gucht, former European Commissioner for Trade, representing the EU institutions in the debate hosted by think tank Open Europe.

Representing Britain, former finance minister Norman Lamont said Britain would seek to cooperate with its former partners in areas such as trade and security, but the other eight countries represented quickly lined up to make clear it would not get an easy ride.

"You were our best friend, and we had a marriage. Now we are divorced," said former Swedish Minister for Trade Ewa Bjorling.

Bruton said Ireland expected the European Commission "to drive a very tough deal" with Britain in any trade talks, while others said the EU's priority would be completing existing negotiations such as the TTIP deal with United States.

Others were wary of making exit attractive to increasingly popular anti-EU groups in countries such as France and Spain.

"The common interest of the remaining members is to deter other exits," said Leszek Balcerowicz, former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland. "This should have an impact on the terms Britain gets - they should not be too generous."

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by Stephen Addison)
Ely, Cambridgeshire is best known for its majestic cathedral dubbed the 'Ship of the Fens' because it dominates the flat landscape. The city, which is the second smallest in England, is about 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about 80 miles by road from London.

17:55, 17 OCT 2022
Businesses urged to apply proper flood protection

Businesses in Douglas face being uninsurable unless proper protection is put in place to combat flooding.

That's according to South Douglas MHK Bill Malarkey who's calling on government to do more to help those who've already suffered millions of pounds worth of damage.



Heavy rain is expected to cause further problems today - he says something has to be done ahead of the new national strategy coming in.

Speaking in Tynwald last week Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Richard Ronan called the document "urgent and important" but said problem areas will be looked at in July:

Media

Minister Richard Ronan
Pensioners caught in IoM 'miss-selling scandal' "aggrieved"

Will the Isle of Man's finance regulator take a hit for aggrieved customers affected by ScottishPower's 'miss-selling scandal'?

The Financial Services Authority has been asked to give evidence to an investigative panel of MPs in Westminster on the 75 million saga next week.



It's after it was implicated by a former director of a collapsed cashback structure which was set up and insured by Island-based companies.



625,000 customers are believed to have been affected - we asked two pensioners how it's made them feel:

Media

Vox on 'miss-selling scandal'
Re: A Swiss-Yodel evening in Geneva [30 January, EF member performing!!] Quote: 3Wishes I added the date to the title, and the fact you're performing. Do you have a video or photo to share too? How will we know whom to make fun of if you blend in like a local?



PS - Remember to include this bit on your naturalization application!

Do not worry! Even though I will wear the same (o so flattering!) outfit as everyone else



Basically, the small nervous guy looking like he's completely out of place, on the right (Bass 2) will be me!





I'll also be serving the drinks at the bar during the interval (so I was told!) and after the show, so anyone can place their orders in English! Do not worry! Even though I will wear the same (o so flattering!) outfit as everyone else http://www.alphuttli.ch/ , I am the only one who does not understand the words of the 8 yodels (except the one in French), there are two yodels I just cannot memorise so I just do the yodel bit and not the sung bit and I'm bringing the average age down by quite a few year!Basically, the small nervous guy looking like he's completely out of place, on the right (Bass 2) will be me!I'll also be serving the drinks at the bar during the interval (so I was told!) and after the show, so anyone can place their orders in English!
Re: Aggression in Swiss Primary Schools - not bullying Quote: Tom1234 That's normal here. I hear about it all the time.



It's strange that Switzerland has a particular word for bullying whether it's in the workplace or at school but no other countries feel the need: "Mobbing."



The teachers aren't interested in helping and most of the parents aren't concerned at all that their children are involved in it - well not concerned enough to do anything about it.



The difference I noted here compared to Norway, is that the kids are somewhat encouraged to stand up for themselves, while in Norway physical violence is a big no-no and defending oneself is shunned upon. In addition, when there is a situation, attitudes towards how it can be solved and how much the adults will get involved vary widely.



We had very different experiences in Norway, here at the French School and here at a private Swiss (not international) school.



Norway: little girl at barnehage (day-care) keeps bugging our son, she bites him, hits him, calls him name and really never lets him be alone. The Troll, being a gentle giant, puts up with it for over a year, until one day he has enough and pushes her so she flies. Guess who got told off and drilled on "never be violent with your little friends", although when I picked him up the person in charge told me that the little witch had it coming? There was also a strong pressure for everyone to be friends with everyone, be conform, avoid all conflicts and keep feelings inside.



French School: Troll, now 5 and still much taller than the others in his class, has been repeatedly told by myself not to go to hard on anyone in order not to hurt his friend. That was before on of his classmates hit him on the nose and made him bleed. Reaction from the school: what reaction? Reaction from the dad: "I know, Little Prince loses it when he is frustrated, we send him to Kung Fu so he learns to channel his aggression". Really? Little Prince is just as aggressive, but way more effective... Teachers really never intervened to guide the kids and direct the group dynamic into a more positive direction, it was really the complete opposite of Norway.



Swiss private school: some bigger kids picked up on the Troll (6). Being as tall as an 8-9 year old, he kind of seems slow and childish to kids his own size, they don't always realise he's younger... I talk to the school, as he's afraid to go to camp because of one of the bigger boys who will be there. They arranged a class circle, where they discussed how he was intimidated by the bigger boys and was afraid to go to camp. The bigger boy in question came spontaneously to him, excused himself and said he would be his friend. They have been best buddies since October. Group dynamic is not forced, the kids can be friends with however they want, but the teachers are very strict about them being civil to each other and helping each other, especially the bigger kids helping the small ones. Whenever there is a conflict, they are encouraged to speak up for themselves and solve the problem without adulte interference, but we know that the teachers are there behind. They won't react to a bit of pushing and hitting, but won't let it degenerate. The kids are also encouraged to be themselves and not copy each other all the time.



It's all anecdotal experience from my part, of course, but we kind of feel that we've found the middle ground between pretending that violence and intimidation doesn't happen and the rule of the jungle. It's used in Norwegian and they have big media campaigns against it every year around school start.The difference I noted here compared to Norway, is that the kids are somewhat encouraged to stand up for themselves, while in Norway physical violence is a big no-no and defending oneself is shunned upon. In addition, when there is a situation, attitudes towards how it can be solved and how much the adults will get involved vary widely.We had very different experiences in Norway, here at the French School and here at a private Swiss (not international) school.Norway: little girl at barnehage (day-care) keeps bugging our son, she bites him, hits him, calls him name and really never lets him be alone. The Troll, being a gentle giant, puts up with it for over a year, until one day he has enough and pushes her so she flies. Guess who got told off and drilled on "never be violent with your little friends", although when I picked him up the person in charge told me that the little witch had it coming? There was also a strong pressure for everyone to be friends with everyone, be conform, avoid all conflicts and keep feelings inside.French School: Troll, now 5 and still much taller than the others in his class, has been repeatedly told by myself not to go to hard on anyone in order not to hurt his friend. That was before on of his classmates hit him on the nose and made him bleed. Reaction from the school: what reaction? Reaction from the dad: "I know, Little Prince loses it when he is frustrated, we send him to Kung Fu so he learns to channel his aggression". Really? Little Prince is just as aggressive, but way more effective...Teachers really never intervened to guide the kids and direct the group dynamic into a more positive direction, it was really the complete opposite of Norway.Swiss private school: some bigger kids picked up on the Troll (6). Being as tall as an 8-9 year old, he kind of seems slow and childish to kids his own size, they don't always realise he's younger... I talk to the school, as he's afraid to go to camp because of one of the bigger boys who will be there. They arranged a class circle, where they discussed how he was intimidated by the bigger boys and was afraid to go to camp. The bigger boy in question came spontaneously to him, excused himself and said he would be his friend. They have been best buddies since October. Group dynamic is not forced, the kids can be friends with however they want, but the teachers are very strict about them being civil to each other and helping each other, especially the bigger kids helping the small ones. Whenever there is a conflict, they are encouraged to speak up for themselves and solve the problem without adulte interference, but we know that the teachers are there behind. They won't react to a bit of pushing and hitting, but won't let it degenerate. The kids are also encouraged to be themselves and not copy each other all the time.It's all anecdotal experience from my part, of course, but we kind of feel that we've found the middle ground between pretending that violence and intimidation doesn't happen and the rule of the jungle.
Re: Aggression in Swiss Primary Schools - not bullying Quote: Peg A I don't think it's that the kids in the US don't push, shove, spew filth, etc... it's that they are much more likely to get into trouble for it.



It's a tough thing in my mind. While teaching kids that fighting and other aggressive behaviors is wrong, I think it does also stifle feelings that they can handle things on their own. I also think that means that sometimes, if they don't feel comfortable reporting issues to an adult, things escalate beyond a point where they do react with reason and the reaction that does finally come is blown completely out of proportion to the initial problem.



There was one incident where my daughter (1st grade) was grabbed, held and forcibly kissed by a 3rd grade boy on the bus [in the US ]. My daughter had mentioned something about a boy kissing her that evening but I just told her that I'd talk to his mother if she'd get his name the next day. My phone rang about 1pm and it was the principal who caught me off guard as it was a whole lot more than just innocent kissing...in fact in was pretty unsettling the way the story was told considering it was a 3rd grade kid. My daughter and a friend apparently went to the principal that morning and told her the story (not the filtered version I got) and she was very pleased the girls came to her and told her it wasn't acceptable behavior. It resolved itself with the help of the principal but kids are kids everywhere....the difference is knowing the difference between issues they can settle themselves, and ones they can't. I'm all for kids gaining independence and working things out but they're children and, unless you want them turning into children of the corn, they require some guidance. Oh, they do and since I go into the classroom twice a week to help with math, I see a whole lotta stuff that many parents don't. However, in contrast to the Swiss experience where I was regarded rather stiffly, I like having a relationship with the school teachers and admins where I can relay my observations and feel like I'm helping some of the kids.There was one incident where my daughter (1st grade) was grabbed, held and forcibly kissed by a 3rd grade boy on the bus [in the US ]. My daughter had mentioned something about a boy kissing her that evening but I just told her that I'd talk to his mother if she'd get his name the next day. My phone rang about 1pm and it was the principal who caught me off guard as it was a whole lot more than just innocent kissing...in fact in was pretty unsettling the way the story was told considering it was a 3rd grade kid. My daughter and a friend apparently went to the principal that morning and told her the story (not the filtered version I got) and she was very pleased the girls came to her and told her it wasn't acceptable behavior. It resolved itself with the help of the principal but kids are kids everywhere....the difference is knowing the difference between issues they can settle themselves, and ones they can't. I'm all for kids gaining independence and working things out but they're children and, unless you want them turning into children of the corn, they require some guidance.
Re: Aggression in Swiss Primary Schools - not bullying Quote: smoky The "Swiss culture" is a no body contact one, assaulting anyone will allow them to call in the polizei, which results in being charged with "causing bodily harm", which is a serious offence, and to be avoided, as it remains on their records.



Can only be avoided if children are trained from a young age to not launch against others. If school teachers are not "doing their job" they need to be corrected.



Teachers take over the responsibilities/duties of the parents at the schools. Do parents allow their children to assault others?



Hitting and "rough play" could lead to a young adult acting irresponsibly in the future ... from habits formed when young.



One young man I know - to shut someone up he slammed a glass ashtray into the back of his head. Only after having to deal with the Polizei did he actually realise that his aggression had gotten the best of him ... from his old school habits.

Luckily the person he`d assaulted declined to press charges, as they`d all had a bit too much to drink, so they remained friends - sort-of.



Of course, as a parent, you try to keep your child on the straight and narrow and educate them not to kick seven shades of shit out of a classmate for stealing a pencil but you also have to let them find out how to resolve it for themselves.



A wise teacher told me once that if you never let a child experience something negative, they will never learn how to deal with it or avoid it in future.



I would say the proof is in the pudding anyway. The kids here seem a lot more grounded and less aggressive when they are teenagers. Having been many years in Zurich and moved around the city when there are bands of kids coming out of school, they are surely boisterous and loud and sometimes not so well mannered but the general feel is there is no aggression.



Perhaps they just get it all out of their system when they are in primary school? I think it's a fine (ish) line. Either you allow kids to defend themselves and keep an eye out so it doesn't spiral out of control or you step in at every hint of a kid about to lose its cool and crush any attempt by kids learning to resolve conflict themselves.Of course, as a parent, you try to keep your child on the straight and narrow and educate them not to kick seven shades of shit out of a classmate for stealing a pencil but you also have to let them find out how to resolve it for themselves.A wise teacher told me once that if you never let a child experience something negative, they will never learn how to deal with it or avoid it in future.I would say the proof is in the pudding anyway. The kids here seem a lot more grounded and less aggressive when they are teenagers. Having been many years in Zurich and moved around the city when there are bands of kids coming out of school, they are surely boisterous and loud and sometimes not so well mannered but the general feel is there is no aggression.Perhaps they just get it all out of their system when they are in primary school?
expatTax.ch - Tax & accounting services for foreign citizens in Switzerland expatTax.ch







Beat Meyer is the CEO of Bonfina Treuhand GmbH and Expat Tax Switzerland.



Expat Tax Switzerland provides tax return services and tax advice for expatriates in Switzerland at affordable rates. It is the leading tax consultancy for expatriates in Switzerland focusing on their specific needs.



Beat is a Swiss Certified Public Accountant and qualified tax consultant. He holds a Graduate Degree from the University of Applied Sciences in Economics and Business Administration.



He started his career with PwC, a major auditing and tax consultation company, and then headed the corporate tax department of a Swiss multinational. Afterwards, he established his own company, Bonfina Treuhand GmbH in 2008 and Expat Tax Switzerland as a service under the Bonfina brand.



Since then, Beat has been providing quality tax services to the expat community in Switzerland and has gained many happy clients along the way. You can read what clients have to say about his services on his website:



Other services include audit, accounting and business consultancy.



Beat's fees are very competitive, considering that he has an extensive knowledge about expat related tax issues. Approximately 90% of his clients are foreign nationals living in Switzerland. He offers a free initial consultation to discuss your situation and assess to what extent he can help you. On this occasion he will provide you with a free, no obligation estimate of how much the service will cost.



His offices are based in Solothurn, a small baroque town, in the triangle Zurich  Basle  Berne. You are heartily welcome to visit, but in most cases no face-to-face meeting is required, all necessary information or documentation can be exchanged by phone and email.



So if you have questions about Swiss taxation or need your tax return prepared, it couldn't be easier for you to gain control over your tax & business affairs.







Call +41 32 623 30 55 for a FREE consultation to discuss your tax and/or business needs today!



Beat Meyer, CPA

Owner, Expat Tax Switzerland

Tel. +41 (0) 32 623 30 55

www.ExpatTax.ch

email: taxteam@expattax,ch is the CEO ofandExpat Tax Switzerland provides tax return services and tax advice for expatriates in Switzerland at affordable rates. It is the leading tax consultancy for expatriates in Switzerland focusing on their specific needs.Beat is a Swiss Certified Public Accountant and qualified tax consultant. He holds a Graduate Degree from the University of Applied Sciences in Economics and Business Administration.He started his career with PwC, a major auditing and tax consultation company, and then headed the corporate tax department of a Swiss multinational. Afterwards, he established his own company, Bonfina Treuhand GmbH in 2008 and Expat Tax Switzerland as a service under the Bonfina brand.Since then, Beat has been providing quality tax services to the expat community in Switzerland and has gained many happy clients along the way. You can read what clients have to say about his services on his website: http://www.expattax.ch/testimonials.php Other services include audit, accounting and business consultancy.Beat's fees are very competitive, considering that he has an extensive knowledge about expat related tax issues. Approximately 90% of his clients are foreign nationals living in Switzerland. He offers a free initial consultation to discuss your situation and assess to what extent he can help you. On this occasion he will provide you with a free, no obligation estimate of how much the service will cost.His offices are based in Solothurn, a small baroque town, in the triangle Zurich  Basle  Berne. You are heartily welcome to visit, but in most cases no face-to-face meeting is required, all necessary information or documentation can be exchanged by phone and email.So if you have questions about Swiss taxation or need your tax return prepared, it couldn't be easier for you to gain control over your tax & business affairs.Call +41 32 623 30 55 for a FREE consultation to discuss your tax and/or business needs today!Owner, Expat Tax SwitzerlandTel. +41 (0) 32 623 30 55email: taxteam@expattax,ch
Thai Pusam festival commemorates the occasion when lord Murugan got a safety accessory- a divine spear with sharp ends, known as Vel. Apparently Kavadi bearers invite all the pain of having their body pierced as a part of ceremonial sacrifice during the festival. More about this festival in Wikipedia.





What are your thoughts on this ritual?





I could see that special traffic arrangements were made for this festival in Singapore. One lane on the road was earmarked for the people participating in the possession. At each road cross point, police assisted by Volunteers from Tamil community coordinated pedestrian crossings.





Overall, getting to witness this ritual was an unexpected bonus of my Singapore trip.

Thai Pusam is an annual tamil ritual celebrated by Tamilians all over the world. But I was oblivious to this festival. I might have seen some video clips of this festival, but don't remember seeing this ritual live so far. May be I didn't pay attention.During my recent Singapore visit, we were staying at a hotel near Little India...The famous Srinivasa Perumal temple was just a block away. As we were walking around, we could see preparations in progress for some big celebration, but we didn't know exact event details.Last Sunday morning, I was heading out towards metro station and I had to pass through Srinivasa Perumal temple. I saw this man all walking in a possession with arrows piercing his body. I took a few photos and posted to facebook- veteran bloggers Nisha Jha and Lakshmi Sharath identified the ritual and filled in key details. Thus I realized this ritual is part of Thai Pusam celebrations and did some readings to understand more about this. He had a decorated crown, supported by a frame whose weight is distributed on the man's shoulders and waist. Plus dozens of arrows pierced into his back and abdomen. The whole setup is reportedly called Kavadi.Srinivasa Perumal temple is near Farrer Park station. After witnessing the above, I took metro to Dobhi Ghat- my plan was to go to Istana and take a look at president's palace. (learnt later that Istana is not open to public. Makemytrip lists this Istana as one of the attractions in Singapore. But As I hit the street, I could see a large convoy of devotees with Kavadis of different shape and size and decoration. I forgot Istana for the moment and spent next 30 minutes observing the crowd and clicking pictures. Below are some of the best ones.There were a few women too, with much milder levels of body piercing.This little girl, who herself is carrying a weight, is looking curiously at the kavadi bearer ahead of her who has small pots hooked to his back.Kavadi bearers included small kids, men in their thirties and older men.
Their last vacation is fast approaching, and as the Party Down South gang prepares to go on their final adventure together in Savannah, they are also looking back at their last four trips and recalling some of their favorite memories.

Watch Lauren & Tiff Throw Down With Santana

In a series of videos on the CMT YouTube Channel on the Party Down South Facebook page, Tiffany, Lyle, Lauren, Daddy, Mattie, Walt, Murray and Hott Dogg shared their favorite moments from the trips they were a part of thus far-and five specific memories were overwhelmingly mentioned as the group all separately recalled their best moments.

Here are the five moments the cast looks back most fondly on:

Season 5 Will Be 'Party Down South's' Last

Going To Cabo San Lucas



via GIPHY

Without a doubt, the trip to Cabo during their season two party in Athens, Ga. was by far a favorite memory for nearly everyone. Though Hott Dogg was not yet a part of the group and the memory was with former cast member Taylor 'Lil Bit' Wright, it was definitely looked back at fondly. From not properly figuring out how to convert from Pesos to Dollars, Lyle believing Lil Bit when she told him his last name in Spanish was 'Baboso,' and Daddy winning a tequila relay race, there were very few memories from the trip that the group didn't love.

Going To Cory & Lucas' Ranch House





(Photo Credit: CMT)

Another fond memory was spending the day with their co-workers from Murrells Inlet, S.C. at their country house. Not only did they have fun mudding, soapy sliding, and blowing things up, but there was also skinny dipping and lots of other fun activities to remind them all of being at home.

Racing Buses In South Carolina



Another fun time for the group on their first vacation involved racing buses-and the nail-biter finish between Murray and Lyle.

Boudreaux's First Birthday With The Gang





(Photo Credit: CMT)

Birthdays are always a fun time with the group, but the first one to be celebrated was Boudreaux's in Murrell's Inlet. A booze cruise celebrating the event, which included getting a Senator to do a keg stand with them was something that the gang was particularly proud of.

Throwing Everything In The Pool In Biloxi



via GIPHY

The house in Biloxi was one of the nicest ones the gang ever rented, and the large wrap-around second-floor balcony had plenty of furniture they could sit on and talk, and overlooked their amazing pool. At least until Daddy, in a drunken rage, decided to take every piece of furniture he could find and fling it over the balcony and into the pool below. It didn't take long for the beautiful crystal clear water to suddenly turn cloudy and gray and unsafe-and it quickly required a proper cleaning from a hired pool service.

The final season of Party Down South premieres Thursday, Jan. 28 at 9 p.m. on CMT.
Barely a month after world leaders signed a sweeping agreement to reduce carbon emissions, the global commitment to renewable energy sources faces its first big test as the price of oil collapses.

Buoyed by low gas prices, Americans are largely eschewing electric cars in favor of lower-mileage trucks and sport utility vehicles. Yet the Obama administration has shown no signs of backing off its requirement that automakers nearly double the fuel economy of their vehicles by 2025.

In China, government officials are also taking steps to ensure that the recent plunge in oil prices to under $30 a barrel does not undermine its programs to improve energy efficiency. Earlier this month, the countrys top economic planning agency introduced a new regulation, effective immediately, aimed at deterring oil consumption. ...

In China, the worlds biggest greenhouse gas emitter, the government implemented a new rule that no matter how low world crude oil prices may fall, the price of gasoline and diesel will continue to be set as though the world price of oil were still $40 a barrel. The goal is to prevent gasoline and diesel from becoming so cheap that Chinas citizens would start consuming it indiscriminately.
Why has India failed to formulate a national security doctrine?

The aftermath of the recent attack on the Pathankot Air Force station and the obvious mishandling of it by the top security establishment of the country has led to renewed calls for a national security doctrine. This is not a new demand and keeps coming up every few years. There was a concerted campaign to formulate such a doctrine after the terror attacks on Mumbai in November 2008. A similar call had been raised after the intrusion of Pakistans military personnel into India-held territory in Kargil in 1999 and the terrorist attack on Parliament in 2001.

Despite these repeated demands, the Indian state has failed to formulate such a national doctrine. The Mumbai attack of 2008 did not lead to any doctrine but did lead to a set of policy proposals to establish the National Investigation Agency, National Counter-Terrorism Centre and National Intelligence Grid. These were, in the guise of a considered approach to strengthening national security, nothing more than shoddy attempts to centralise more power and authority with the unaccountable intelligence system, which met a deserved end with protests from both state governments as well as political and civil society groups.
Women in states with higher rates of gun ownership are at greater risk of being killed by people they know than those in states where a smaller percentage of people own guns. And ownership rates alone explain 40 percent of the variation in women's homicide victimization rates, compared to only 1.5 percent of the variation in men's victimization rates, according to a new study by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers.

The study in the journal Violence and Gender is the first to examine the relationship between state-level firearm ownership and homicide rates by stratifying by both gender and stranger vs. non-stranger crimes.

The researchers found a "substantial" association between state gun ownership rates and killings of women by guns, concluding that while there are multiple factors that predict rates of gun deaths in which males are the victims, "the prevalence of firearm ownership alone is enough to predict the rate of firearm-related homicide of females in a state quite well."

Michael Siegel, MD, lead author of the study and a professor of community health sciences at BUSPH, noted that prior research has shown a correlation between state-level gun ownership rates and non-stranger homicides, defined as meaning that the victim and offender are family members or intimate partners or are otherwise acquainted. Distilling that association by gender is important, he said, because 88 percent of the killings of women in the U.S. are committed by non-strangers.

"Because nearly nine in 10 femicides are committed by non-strangers, and because 40 percent of the variance in femicide is explained by state-level firearm ownership rates alone, these findings are particularly germane for those with an interest in women's homicide prevention," said co-author Emily Rothman, associate professor of community health sciences and an expert on domestic violence.

Siegel said the study found no support for the premise that a greater availability of guns protects women from homicide. Instead, he said, greater availability "does appear to increase the risk for firearm homicides committed by non-strangers."

The study found that the association between gun ownership rates and non-stranger shooting deaths was approximately equal for men and women. But, in contrast to the variance in the female homicide rate, state-level gun ownership accounted for less than two percent of the variation in the male murder rate, suggesting that other factors influence the rate of male homicides.

The study found that for every 10 percentage point increase in state-level gun ownership, the female gun-related homicide rate increased by 10.2 percent. That suggests, the authors said, that if the proportion of gun ownership in Wyoming was to fall from 73 percent (the average level between 1981-2013) to 40 percent, its female homicide rate could be predicted to drop by about 33 percent.

Siegel and Rothman acknowledged that they could not establish a causal relationship between gun ownership and homicide rates because of the possibility of reverse association - i.e., that people in states with higher rates of homicide were more likely to purchase guns to protect themselves. The study controlled for 16 variables that help to rule out alternate explanations for the association between gun ownership and the female homicide rate, however.

Also, because of a lack of data on gun ownership at the state level, the study used a proxy for estimating household gun ownership that is based on the extent to which guns are used in suicides and on state-level hunting license rates. The proxy correlates closely (.95) with self-reported survey measures of household firearm ownership, the authors said.

The study analyzed state-specific homicide data from the Supplemental Homicide Reports of the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, the only national data source that records victim-offender relationships. The researchers controlled for state-level variables including age, race/ethnicity, poverty rate, crime rate and per-capita alcohol consumption.

The study found that the average gun ownership rate in the U.S. between 1981 and 2013 was about 40 percent, ranging from a mean average low of 12 percent in Hawaii, to a high of 73 percent in Wyoming. The average male gun-related homicide victimization rate across all states was 7.0 per 100,000 people, ranging from 1.2 per 100,000 in Iowa to 18 per 100,000 in Louisiana. Female victimization rates were lower, ranging from 0.4 per 100,000 in Massachusetts to 3.3 in Wyoming.

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The full study is available here: http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/vio.2015.0047

Boston University School of Public Health, founded in 1976, offers master's- and doctoral-level education in public health. The faculty in six departments (biostatistics; community health sciences; environmental health; epidemiology; global health; and health law, policy & management) conducts policy-changing public health research around the world, with the mission of improving the health of populations--especially the disadvantaged, underserved, and vulnerable--locally, nationally, and internationally.
A new Canadian study shows that community pharmacists' screening of patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease events can identify a high proportion of patients with unrecognized chronic kidney disease

January 26, 2016 (Ottawa): Pharmacists who screened at-risk patients for chronic kidney disease (CKD) found previously unrecognized disease in 1 of every 6.4 patients tested, according to a study to be published in the January/February 2016 issue of the Canadian Pharmacists Journal.

"It was actually surprising for us," says the study's primary author, Dr. Yazid Al Hamarneh, a pharmacist and the scientific officer for Consultation and Research Services in Alberta's SPOR (Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research) SUPPORT Unit. "We knew that we would find unrecognized cases, but not that many."

The study is one of the first to provide concrete evidence of the benefits of allowing community pharmacists to order laboratory tests and see patients' test results.

CKD is a serious illness defined as reduced kidney function or signs of kidney damage lasting more than three months. It affects an estimated 1 in 10 Canadian adults, according to a 2013 study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. But it is often missed because patients in the early stages may have no symptoms. Undiagnosed CKD can lead to life-threatening long-term effects, mainly cardiovascular disease -- heart disease and stroke. Without changes in lifestyle or medication, as required, patients may eventually develop kidney failure and need dialysis or a kidney transplant. (See Background: What is CKD?)

The study tested a new online decision-making tool, called the "CKD Pathway", to help primary care providers decide which patients to test, identify cases, and give affected patients appropriate lifestyle advice, medication, or a referral to a nephrologist (kidney specialist). (See Background: What is the CKD Pathway?)

"We worked closely with our end-users -- primary care physicians, pharmacists and nurses. It took about a year to develop the pathway and was launched one year ago," explains Dr. Brenda Hemmelgarn, a nephrologist involved in the pathway, who is also a co-author of the study.

In the study, pharmacists at 55 community pharmacies across Alberta identified patients at risk of CKD based on recent prescriptions and lab test results. Those who had risk factors outlined in the pathway were sent for blood and urine tests for kidney function, unless they had recent test results (in the previous 12 months) on file. The pharmacists used the online CKD pathway to analyze test results and determine whether patients had CKD.

Of 720 at-risk patients screened during the study, 39% had CKD. Of those with CKD, 60% had already received a diagnosis, but 40% (16% of the total screened) had no record or knowledge of a previous CKD diagnosis ("unrecognized" CKD).

The pharmacists' role in screening those at risk of CKD was possible only because pharmacists in Alberta have been able to order, interpret and view lab tests since 2012. (See Background: How are pharmacists' practices changing?)

Dr. Hemmelgarn comments, "Pharmacists as front-line care providers are in a unique position to identify high-risk patients for CKD, do targeted screening through blood and urine tests, and identify the presence of CKD. They have a unique position in Alberta to participate in care of patients with chronic disease at the community level." Kidney disease is usually managed in primary care, with nephrologists like Dr. Hemmelgarn seeing only the most severe cases, amounting to about 5% of CKD patients.

Dr. Al Hamarneh points out that, in Alberta, patients with certain chronic conditions can meet with their pharmacist to put together a comprehensive annual care plan, or receive a standard medication management assessment. (See Background: How are pharmacists' practices changing?) These occasions give pharmacists a chance to screen patients for CKD as well as other diseases and conditions.

Knowing a patient's CKD status is important for pharmacists, as certain medications are contraindicated for patients with kidney problems, Dr. Al Hamarneh says. Pharmacists may need to review or adjust medication for affected patients.

"When it comes to pharmacists providing such clinical services, it's not taking patients away from family physicians," emphasizes Dr. Al Hamarneh. "Pharmacists see patients with chronic diseases frequently. If the pharmacists are providing those clinical services, they can bring those patients back to their physicians." In the case of CKD, pharmacists can encourage patients with CKD to visit their family physician, or to get a physician if they don't have one. "It's working collaboratively to get the best results for the patient."

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About the Canadian Pharmacists Journal

Established in 1868, the Canadian Pharmacists Journal is the oldest continuously published periodical in Canada. CPJ's mission is to support pharmacists in optimizing patient care by linking knowledge to practice. CPJ is an official publication of the Canadian Pharmacists Association. CPhA advocates for pharmacists and supports its members to advance the profession and enhance patient outcomes.

To arrange an interview with Dr. Yazid Al Hamarneh, tel. (780) 492-9608; email yazid.alhamarneh@ualberta.ca

To arrange an interview with Dr. Brenda Hemmelgarn, contact Marta Cyperling, Media Relations Manager, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, tel. (403) 210-3835; email marta.cyperling@ucalgary.ca

To arrange an interview with co-author Dr. Ross Tsuyuki, tel. (780) 492-8526; email ross.tsuyuki@ualberta.ca

Background

What is CKD?

Kidney disease is defined as reduced kidney function, measured by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which can be determined by a blood test. An alternative measure is a marker of kidney damage called albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), which is determined by a urine test.

Kidney disease is considered chronic (CKD) if it lasts for 3 months or more. In this study, eGFR and ACR tests were taken 3 months apart to determine whether the eGFR and ACR levels had improved.

There are many causes of CKD, but the two most common are diabetes and high blood pressure. Inherited conditions can cause CKD, as can acute infections and other urinary tract problems that develop. A recent study estimates that 1 in 10 adult Canadians has CKD.

The most common outcomes of CKD are cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) as well as severe kidney failure.

In this study, patients were included if they had

diabetes,

established vascular disease,

a high risk score for cardiovascular disease, or

a history of CKD,

plus at least one risk factor:

high blood pressure,

high LDL cholesterol,

high glycated hemoglobin (a sign of diabetes), or

current smoking.

What is the CKD Pathway?

The impetus for the CKD Pathway was new international clinical practice guidelines for CKD management released in 2012. The pathway was developed by a group called the Interdisciplinary Chronic Disease Collaboration in Alberta, inspired by the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which develops clinical pathways that health care professionals can use to make decisions about patient care. The pathway incorporates other Canadian and international guidelines as well, to create a harmonized approach that can be used across Canada. It is supported and endorsed by Alberta Health Services, the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta.

The online tool, available at ckdpathway.ca, is designed for use by primary care physicians, pharmacists and nurses. Step-by-step decision guides help these primary care providers to diagnose CKD from test results, manage the condition through lifestyle changes and, if needed, prescribe medication, as well as refer the patient to a kidney specialist (nephrologist) if there are warning signs of serious disease.

The pathway is now in use in Alberta, where primary care providers have been encouraged to use it through a widespread dissemination strategy involving faxed messages, social media, conference presentations, brochures, and the web site.

For more information about the development of the CKD Pathway, see a previous article in the Canadian Pharmacists Journal.

How are pharmacists' practices changing?

In recent years, provincial and territorial laws and regulations that set out what pharmacists are permitted to do have been updated. As a result, pharmacists in many provinces and territories can perform some services that were previously restricted to physicians and, in some cases, nurses.

In this study, pharmacists ordered laboratory (blood and urine) tests for patients. They also checked past and current test results to find signs of CKD or risk factors for the disease. Pharmacists currently have these capabilities in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec and Nova Scotia. As well, they will soon be able to order tests in Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Pharmacists have added many other services to their repertoire:

Renewing or extending prescriptions (all provinces plus Northwest Territories)

Changing drug dosages or formulations (all provinces)

Making therapeutic substitutions (all provinces except Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec)

Prescribing for minor ailments (all provinces except British Columbia and Ontario)

Initiating prescription drug therapy, either independently (pharmacists in Alberta with additional prescribing authorization) or in a collaborative practice setting (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia)

Administering drugs or vaccines by injection (all provinces except Quebec. Limitations do apply and may differ between jurisdictions)

In Alberta, where this study was conducted, pharmacists have had a widely expanded scope of practice since 2007. For patients with multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma, or one chronic condition and at least one risk factor such as smoking, obesity or addiction, pharmacists can conduct comprehensive annual care plans that include an assessment, medication history, resolution of drug-related problems and a follow-up and monitoring plan. For patients with one chronic condition who take at least four medications, a standard medication management assessment can be conducted.

With additional authorization obtained through the Alberta College of Pharmacists, a pharmacist in Alberta can assess patients and initiate needed prescription drug therapy for any disease or condition, not solely minor ailments as in some other provinces.

For more information about pharmacists' scope of practice across Canada, see http://www.pharmacists.ca/index.cfm/pharmacy-in-canada/scope-of-practice-canada/
The first human farmers needed hundreds of years and a lot of good luck to shape the first domesticated crops. Modern plant breeders wait weeks or months, not centuries, to discover what the literal fruits of their labors might be; now, a study led at Illinois and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has explored the strengths of a molecular method that reduces this wait time to a few days.

The new study (DOI: 10.1111/pce.12693), published in Plant, Cell and Environment, addresses a central challenge of transgenic plant development: how to reliably evaluate whether genetic material has been successfully introduced. Researchers at the University of Illinois, the Polish Academy of Sciences, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of California, Berkeley compared the traditional method to several new ones that have emerged from advances in genomic technology and identified one that is much faster than the standard approach, yet equally reliable. The study was led by Illinois postdoctoral fellows Kasia Glowacka and Johannes Kromdijk.

"For plants with long life cycles, such as our food crops, this will greatly speed the time between genetic transformation or DNA editing, and development of pure breeding lines," said Long, Gutgsell Endowed Professor of Crop Sciences and Plant Biology and the principal investigator for the study. Long is also a member of the Genomic Ecology of Global Change and Biosystems Design research themes and the Energy Biosciences Institute at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.

To meet the food and fuel needs of an ever-growing global population, researchers benefit from transgenic technologies to develop crops with higher yields and greater resiliency to environmental challenges. None of the technologies used to introduce new genetic material into plants work with 100 percent efficiency. Plants and their offspring must be screened to identify those in which gene transfer was successful.

Traditionally, this was done in part by testing successive generations of plants to see if the desired traits are present and breed true over time. In addition, plant scientists can use one of several molecular methods to determine if a gene or genes have actually been successfully introduced into the plant genome. The "tried and true" method, the Southern blot, yields precise data but is slow and unwieldy. It requires isolating relatively large amounts of plant DNA, using fluorescent or radioactive dye to detect the gene of interest, and performing a week's worth of lab work for results from just a few samples at a time.

The team compared the Southern blot technique with several that use variations of a chemical process called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This process allows researchers to quantify specific pieces of the introduced DNA sequences by making many additional copies of them, and then estimating the number of copies--somewhat like estimating the amount of bacteria present in a sample by spreading it on a petri dish and letting colonies grow until they are visible. These methods are much faster than Southern blotting, but if the DNA in each sample does not "grow" at exactly the same rate, the resulting data will be imprecise--size won't be a perfect indicator of the starting quantity.

One method examined by Long's group, digital drop PCR (ddPCR), is designed to overcome this weakness. Rather than using the PCR process to amplify all the DNA in a sample, this method first separates each individual fragment of DNA into its own tiny reaction, much like giving each bacterium its own tiny petri dish to grow in. PCR then amplifies each fragment until there are enough copies to be easily detected, and the total number of tiny reactions are counted. Because this method, unlike others, separates the growth-like step from the quantification step, it can be very precise even when the reaction isn't perfect. Results can be obtained in less than two days, and many samples can be processed simultaneously.

Long hopes that his group's demonstration that ddPCR is a "reliable, fast and high throughput" technique will help it to become the new standard for those developing transgenic crops. "I believe it will become widely adopted," he said. Although ddPCR is currently more expensive than the other methods, Long said the cost would likely drop quickly, as have the costs of other genomic technologies.

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The work was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a part of Realizing Photosynthetic Efficiency, a multi-institutional project directed by Long that aims to address global food needs by developing crops with greater photosynthetic efficiency and higher yields. Eugene W. Price Distinguished Professor of Biotechnology Tom Clemente at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and postdoctoral fellow Lauriebeth Leonelli and Professor of Plant and Microbial Biology Professor Kris Niyogi at the University of California, Berkeley also contributed to the study.
This news release is available in French.

Montreal, Jan. 26, 2016 -- Whether you're waiting for a bus that seems like it will never show up, or experiencing a sudden power outage on the subway, you are not alone: public transit woes are common around the world.

New research from Concordia University in Montreal uses mobile technology to map routes, calculate travel times and help alleviate some of the most pesky transport issues.

Getting around in the developing world

While transportation troubles might seem particularly painful in Western urban centres, they can be even more keenly felt in the developing world. That's why one of Zachary Patterson's former students -- now with the Agence francaise de developpement -- contacted him to map the public transit system in Ghana's capital, Accra.

Patterson, an associate professor in the Department Geography, Planning and Environment, hopes the results of his project will help Western municipalities see how they can learn from these experiences in Africa.

"Cities in the developing world face a common challenge when trying to better organize their transportation systems: they don't have accurate information about the transportation network that already exists," says Patterson, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Transportation and Land Use Linkages for Regional Sustainability.

"Because data collection is a complicated and costly exercise, city officials don't have the resources to thoroughly review their network," he says. "That's why using inexpensive, readily available mobile technology is such a valuable tool."

The trouble with trotros

At the heart of Accra's transit system is a fleet of small public transit buses known as trotros. The Accra Municipal Assembly has been working with AFD for a number of years to better regulate the trotro system.

Initial regulatory steps identified and licensed routes, but the number of routes in operation and their actual itineraries, remained unknown.

That's where Patterson, a former transportation planner with Agence metropolitaine de transport in Montreal, came in. Accra's Department of Transport (DoT) and the Agence francaise de developpement undertook a survey of the city's trotro routes armed with GPS-enabled smart phones to map the city's transit network with a very limited budget, and a short time frame.

Using two mobile apps, DataMobile, which Patterson had initially developed at Concordia to map transportation habits in Montreal, and Tap Log, surveyors rode the trotros while recording GPS points and logging stops along the routes. The recorded data was then processed and analyzed by Patterson's research team back in Montreal.

Ghost routes

The results were surprising for both Patterson and Accra's city planners. They found that the transit network was full of "ghost routes" -- pathways that had been claimed by drivers but that weren't in use.

"Drivers would preventatively register routes that they thought would one day be profitable in order to have a monopoly on them," Patterson says. "Registering a route gives a driver the exclusive right to operate it, so that they can make sure that no competing driver can scoop them in the future."

These ghost routes were an important discovery for the DoT, as it provided a clearer sense of the actual extent of trotro services -- 315 active routes instead of the originally claimed 580.

What's best for the West?

The AccraMobile project was recently presented at the 95th annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board in the United States.

"This study shows how international collaborations can play a role in helping developing countries to take advantage of leapfrogging technologies to plan their own transportation systems.," he says.

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Related links:

Department of Geography, Planning and Environment https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/geography-planning-environment.html

Zachary Patterson https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/geography-planning-environment/faculty.html?fpid=zachary-patterson

Transportation Research for Integrated Planning (TRIP) Lab at Concordia https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/geography-planning-environment/research/centres/trip-lab.html

Media contact:

Clea Desjardins

Senior advisor, media relations

University Communications Services

Concordia University

514-848-2424, ext. 5068

clea.desjardins@concordia.ca

Web: http://www.concordia.ca/now/media-relations

Twitter: @CleaDesjardins
Amsterdam, January 26, 2016 - Mass media coverage about an epidemic can help slow the spread of the disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. The authors of the study, from Shaanxi Normal University in China and York University in Canada, say to maximize this effect media reports should focus on changing people's behavior in an epidemic.

During a disease outbreak, like the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009, news reports keep us updated on the disease - how it is spreading and how many people are affected. But scientists have also shown that mass media coverage - including television, radio, newspapers, billboards and booklets - can have an effect on our behavior.

In the new study, researchers studied the effect of mass media coverage on the H1N1 epidemic in the city of Xi?an in the Shaanxi province of China. They compared the number of hospital visits with the number and duration of news reports about the epidemic.

Their results show that more news reports resulted in fewer hospital visits and vice versa. This, say the researchers, shows that media coverage is a powerful tool to help halt the spread of disease during an epidemic.

Professor Sanyi Tang, corresponding author of the study from Shaanxi Normal University in China, explained the idea behind the research:

"During the A/H1N1 outbreak in Xi'an, I came down with a bad cold and stayed in the university hospital for treatment. Because of the large number of patients with A/H1N1 and the limited number of beds, I was given medicine and released from the hospital. This process made me and my team members begin to think about how we could use mathematical modelling and statistical methods to study the outbreak. We started studying interventions used to control the outbreak, most recently looking at the effect of media coverage."

In the first part of the study, Dr. Tang and his team collected media coverage that contained the key word "A/H1N1" in the title from eight major news websites between 3 September and 16 November 2009. They also obtained the number of newly reported cases from the province's dedicated influenza hospital, the 8th Hospital.

They found that the average number of daily news items was linked to the number of newly reported cases, with a time lag of about four days. At some stages of the epidemic the number of reported cases had an effect on news coverage, while at others the news coverage had an effect on the number of cases.

They then developed a mathematical model to help them study the dynamics of the media coverage: news items, coverage duration and the response of media to the number of cases.

The model confirmed that when there is an increase in news items, there is a decrease in newly reported cases. This is likely due to a change in people's behavior: they avoid contact with others, so fewer people are infected.

The model also showed that the duration of coverage matters. When the coverage lasts longer, there are more news items and a bigger impact on the public awareness of the epidemic, resulting in further behavior changes and fewer new infections.

"The success of any comprehensive prevention and control strategy of the emerging infectious diseases relies on the confidence - and action - of the public in the strategy, and media plays a substantial role in building this confidence," said Professor Sandra Gabriele, a co-author from York University's School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design.

"In order to help reduce the accumulated number of new notifications, the media should have been more persistent in their reporting of number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. In addition, news reports needed to be timely and continue for longer periods," added Prof. Tang.

The researchers now plan to take the time lag between the media coverage and changes in newly reported cases into account, to find out how this factor affects epidemics.

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Article details: "Media coverage and hospital notifications: Correlation analysis and optimal media impact duration to manage a pandemic" by Qinling Yan, Sanyi Tang, Sandra Gabriele and Jianhong Wu (doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.11.002). The article appears in Journal of Theoretical Biology, Volume 390 (February 2016), published by Elsevier.

A copy of the paper is available to credentialed journalists upon request, contact Elsevier's Newsroom at newsroom@elsevier.com or +31 20 4853564.

About Journal of Theoretical Biology

The Journal of Theoretical Biology is the leading forum for theoretical perspectives that give insight into biological processes. It covers a very wide range of topics and is of interest to biologists in many areas of research, including cell and developmental biology, ecology, infectious diseases and mathematical modeling, statistics and databases. The journal publishes papers that bear significant importance on the biology being presented, rather than just on the mathematical analysis.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make groundbreaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions -- among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Elsevier Research Intelligence and ClinicalKey -- and publishes over 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 33,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries. http://www.elsevier.com

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Boulder, Colo., USA - When clayey materials are compressed and sheared, they commonly develop a "scaly fabric" wherein the clay is divided by braided shear surfaces into lentil-shaped chips. Although such scaly fabrics are found at the bed of glaciers, the base of landslides, and in gougey faults, little is known about how they form or how they deform. In their article for Geology, Matthew Tarling and Christina Rowe use dry lentils to help explore this process.

Tarling and Rowe built a shear box with a sliding floor and filled it with lentils. In a series of experiments, they show that the lentils have a tendency to shift constantly against one another when the bulk is shearing, prohibiting the development of long-lasting faults.

Each lentil follows a slightly different path, at different speeds, to accomplish the broad deformation of the whole. This "delocalization" behavior seems to be intrinsic to the system. This observation suggests an explanation for why scaly layers of clay may grow so broad in faults, landslides, and the beds of glaciers, and why these types of shear networks do not grow into localized fault zones.

FEATURED ARTICLE

Experimental slip distribution in lentils as an analog for scaly clay fabrics Matthew S. Tarling, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E8, Canada; and Christie D. Rowe Dept. of Geology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. This article is online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G37306.1.

Other recently posted GEOLOGY articles are highlighted below:

Did the A.D. 365 Crete earthquake/tsunami trigger synchronous giant turbidity currents in the Mediterranean Sea? Alina Polonia et al., ISMAR-CNR (Istituto di Scienze Marine, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche), Via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy. This article is online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G37486.1.

The Ionian Sea is the world's oldest oceanic basin. It is located between the Calabrian and Hellenic arcs, where remnants of the Mesozoic Thetis Ocean are subducting into the mantle, causing destructive earthquakes. The effects of such events may be recorded in the deep basin as sediment mass-flows and turbidites. The recent-most, over 25-m-thick, megaturbidite is known as Homogenite or Augias Turbidite (HAT). Forty years after its discovery, the HAT was radiometrically dated and correlated for an area larger than 150,000 square kilometers. These new data refute the hypothesis that relates its emplacement to the Santorini caldera collapse (~3,600 B.P.), but point to a large tsunami initiated by the AD 365 Crete megathrust earthquake. The devastating effects must have been similar to those of the recent Sumatra and Tohoku tsunamis. Correlation and accurate dating of the HAT over the Mediterranean Sea suggests that the AD 365 Crete earthquake and tsunamis, described in historical chronicles and recently revised by geological studies onshore, has resulted in widespread massive sediment remobilization. The HAT is thus the thickest and largest seismo-turbidite tsunamite yet known, and can be used to define proxies to reconstruct super-quake recurrence time also in other megathrust regions.

Linking gas fluxes at Earth's surface with fracture zones in an active geothermal field Egbert Jolie et al., Helmholtz Centre Potsdam-GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany. This article is online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G37412.1.

Geothermal reservoirs in hydrothermal systems are characterized by the natural circulation of hot fluids. Fluids migrate within the reservoir rock, but also along existing networks of fracture zones. The location and occurrence of fractures in geothermal reservoirs are not always known, and important characteristics of faults, such as permeability, are commonly uncertain. Fracture networks provide permeable pathways and enable fluids to reach Earth's surface, where they form well-known geothermal surface manifestations, such as hot springs, fumaroles, mud pots, and others. However, in many cases geothermal fluids reach the surface and form invisible degassing anomalies. Such anomalies are analyzed in this paper by Egbert Jolie and colleagues, using a case study at the Brady's geothermal field in the Basin and Range province (Nevada, USA). Jolie and colleagues demonstrate how invisible parameters (e.g., carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and radon emissions) can be analyzed at the surface and linked to the geothermal system at depth. The linkage is realized by combining gas fluxes with structural-geological information, such as three-dimensional fault models. Further information on the tendency of fractures to slip and dilate help to assess the connectivity between surface and subsurface.

Magma-slurry interaction in Surtseyan eruptions C. Ian Schipper, School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand; and James D.L. White, Geology Dept., University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Leith Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand. This article is online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G37480.1.

Surtseyan eruptions are dynamically unmistakable, as their phreatomagmatic jets emerge from shallow water to produce steam-laden plumes and build new land. Surtseyan eruptions are driven by interaction between magma and external water, but descriptions of the interaction have long remained only qualitative. In this study, Ian Schipper and James D.L. White investigate textures of coarse particles -- bombs and lapilli -- that are ubiquitous but scarce and rarely investigated, in Surtseyan deposits. Examination in hand sample, thin section and by X-ray microtomography reveals that coarse Surtseyan particles are composites, with vesicular host magma enclosing smaller particles. Key textures are repeated at a variety of scales, including void spaces and densified magma around entrained material, and post-entrapment crystallization of the entrained clasts. All features can be explained if jet-initiation is not driven by the hydrodynamically unfeasible interaction between magma and pure water, but instead by mingling of a water-saturated slurry generated as particles and water periodically flood the vent. These findings are consistent with a classical model of Surtseyan eruptions that was based on field observations. The textures presented here, and the dynamic consequences implied by their mode of formation, provide a direct link between the pyroclast textures and the form of Surtseyan jets and plumes.

Storage thresholds for relative sea-level signals in the stratigraphic record Qi Li et al., Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA. This article is online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G37484.1.

Sedimentary deposits preserve the most complete record of changing sea level over the greatest fraction of Earth's history. However, deciphering this record is difficult due to the intermingling of random processes, such as rapid changes in river course, with signals of changing sea level and climate. Here, using laboratory experiments and theory, Qi Li and colleagues define the attributes that changes in sea level must have in order to be preserved in the largest deposits on Earth's deltas. Reported observations will aid our interpretation of deltaic response to past climate change, thus enhancing our ability to predict their response to on-going climate change.

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GEOLOGY articles are online http://geology.gsapubs.org/. Representatives of the media may obtain complimentary articles by contacting Kea Giles at the e-mail address above. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GEOLOGY in articles published. Non-media requests for articles may be directed to GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org.

http://www.geosociety.org/
Lima, Peru -- In partnership with the Government of Georgia and its Ministry of Agriculture, the International Potato Center (CIP) has embarked upon an ambitious project to support expansion and diversification of the country's potato crop, as well as that of the Central Asia and Caucuses region.

Government officials are expected to meet with CIP's Director General, Dr. Barbara H. Wells this week to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will officially launch the project.

"CIP's presence in Georgia will help support cutting-edge research into resilient potato varieties, develop new methods of distribution of both seeds and crops, and generate meaningful data around baseline potato production and increased income for farmers," says Dr. Rusudan Mdivani, Regional Liaison and Potato Scientist for Central Asia Regional Operations at CIP. "We are committed to working with the appropriate authorities to enhance disease resistance, drought and heat tolerance and bio-fortification in the national potato supply by sharing our accumulated knowledge around water conservation, integrated crop management and production both in greenhouses and in the field."

The region's reliance on potato cannot be underestimated. Looking specifically at Georgia, where most dishes include potato in one form or another, potato is considered a primary crop (along with cereals and vegetables). In the country's Northwestern and Southern regions, the area under potato cultivation varies between 38 000-40 000 ha annually, but productivity remains low. In fact, with potato yields ranging from 8.9 to 12 t/ha (average data of the last ten years), Georgia is among the countries with the lowest yield. In general, production is only three or four times higher than the amount of seed planted.

The five-year plan, commencing this year and expected to conclude in 2021, seeks to boost yield commensurate with population growth while building more climate-smart techniques and innovative mechanization practices into potato-cultivation methods -- all of which can improve farmers' annual income.

"Securing relationships with countries like Georgia is critical in reaching impact at scale," says CIP Director General Dr. Barbara H. Wells. "Georgia is a country that already consumes significant amounts of potato so any improvements to potato nutrition and yield will undoubtedly improve the food security and nutrition in the country."

Prof. Dr. Levan Ujmajuridze, Director of LEPL Scientific-Research Centre of Agriculture for Georgia, said he was delighted that the MoU formalized an ongoing relationship with CIP that would bring innovation and technical capacity to Georgia and that both organizations could benefit from learning from each other.

The project will mark the establishment of CIP's 19th host country agreement globally. Its primary goals will be:

Strengthen capacity for potato production at the regional level

Serve as a resource for germplasm distribution throughout the region

Implement methods of high quality seed production and distribution

Conduct research into potato varieties that are nutrient-dense, late blight-resistant and high-yielding

Train farmers in multi-cropping, conservation and other climate-smart techniques

The opening of the new CIP center in Georgia and the establishment of these goals are tenets of CIP's "Agile Potato for Asia" program, which aims to develop more sustainable intensification of agricultural practices as it also supports research into potato varieties better able to withstand climate extremes such as drought or flooding, as well as varieties with greater nutritional value -- such as increased levels of micro nutrients, iron and zinc -- to support a healthier population of potato consumers.

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The International Potato Center, known by its Spanish acronym CIP, was founded in 1971 as a root and tuber research-for-development institution delivering sustainable solutions to the pressing world problems of hunger, poverty, and the degradation of natural resources. CIP is a global center, with headquarters in Lima, Peru and offices in 20 developing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Working closely with our partners, CIP seeks to achieve food security, increased well-being, and gender equity for poor people in the developing world. CIP furthers its mission through rigorous research, innovation in science and technology, and capacity strengthening regarding root and tuber farming and food systems.

CIP is part of the CGIAR Consortium, a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. CGIAR research is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring more sustainable management of natural resources. Donors include individual countries, major foundations, and international entities.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Even subtle differences in how you refer to people with mental illness can affect levels of tolerance, a new study has found.

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers found that participants showed less tolerance toward people who were referred to as "the mentally ill" when compared to those referred to as "people with mental illness."

For example, participants were more likely to agree with the statement "the mentally ill should be isolated from the community" than the almost identical statement "people with mental illnesses should be isolated from the community."

These results were found among college students and non-student adults - and even professional counselors who took part in the study.

The findings suggest that language choice should not be viewed just as an issue of "political correctness," said Darcy Haag Granello, co-author of the study and professor of educational studies at The Ohio State University.

"This isn't just about saying the right thing for appearances," she said. "The language we use has real effects on our levels of tolerance for people with mental illness."

Granello conducted the study with Todd Gibbs, a graduate student in educational studies at Ohio State. Their results appear in the January 2016 issue of The Journal of Counseling and Development.

The push to change how society refers to people with mental illness began in the 1990s when several professional publications proposed the use of what they called "person-first" language when talking about people with disabilities or chronic conditions.

"Person-first language is a way to honor the personhood of an individual by separating their identity from any disability or diagnosis he or she might have," Gibbs said.

"When you say 'people with a mental illness,' you are emphasizing that they aren't defined solely by their disability. But when you talk about 'the mentally ill' the disability is the entire definition of the person," he said.

Although the use of person-first language was first proposed more than 20 years ago, this is the first study examining how the use of such language could affect tolerance toward people with mental illness, Granello said.

"It is shocking to me that there hasn't been research on this before. It is such a simple study. But the results show that our intuition about the importance of person-first language was valid."

The research involved three groups of people: 221 undergraduate students, 211 non-student adults and 269 professional counselors and counselors-in-training who were attending a meeting of the American Counseling Association.

The design of the study was very simple. All participants completed a standard, often-used survey instrument created in 1979 called the Community Attitudes Toward the Mentally Ill.

The CAMI is a 40-item survey designed to measure people's attitudes toward people with diagnosable mental illness. Participants indicated the degree to which they agreed with the statements on a five-point scale from 1(strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

The questionnaires were identical in all ways except one: Half the people received a survey where all references were to "the mentally ill" and half received a survey where all references were to "people with mental illnesses."

The questionnaires had four subscales looking at different aspects of how people view those with mental illnesses. The four subscales (and sample questions) are:

Authoritarianism: "The mentally ill (or "People with mental illness") need the same kind of control and discipline as a young child."

Benevolence: "The mentally ill (or "People with mental illness") have for too long been the subject of ridicule."

Social restrictiveness: "The mentally ill (or "People with mental illness") should be isolated from the rest of the community."

Community mental health ideology: "Having the mentally ill (or "people with mental illness") living within residential neighborhoods might be good therapy, but the risks to residents are too great."

Results showed that each of the three groups studied (college students, other adults, counselors) showed less tolerance when their surveys referred to "the mentally ill," but in slightly different ways.

College students showed less tolerance on the authoritarianism and social restrictiveness scales; other adults showed less tolerance on benevolence and community mental health ideology subscales; and counselors and counselors-in-training showed less tolerance on the authoritarianism and social restrictiveness subscales.

However, because this was an exploratory study, Granello said it is too early to draw conclusions about the differences in how each group responded on the four subscales.

"The important point to take away is that no one, at least in our study, was immune," Granello said. "All showed some evidence of being affected by the language used to describe people with mental illness."

One surprising finding was that the counselors - although they showed more tolerance overall than the other two groups - showed the largest difference in tolerance levels depending on the language they read.

"Even counselors who work every day with people who have mental illness can be affected by language. They need to be aware of how language might influence their decision-making when they work with clients," she said.

Granello said the overall message of the study is that everyone - including the media, policymakers and the general public - needs to change how they refer to people with mental illness.

"I understand why people use the term 'the mentally ill.' It is shorter and less cumbersome than saying 'people with mental illness," she said.

"But I think people with mental illness deserve to have us change our language. Even if it is more awkward for us, it helps change our perception, which ultimately may lead us to treat all people with the respect and understanding they deserve."

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Contact: Darcy Haag Granello, 614-688-4605; Granello.1@osu.edu

Todd Gibbs, Gibbs.196@osu.edu

Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University innovation that creates a "fingerprint-like pattern" to identify foodborne pathogens without using reagents has been licensed by Hettich Lab Technology. The technology is being demonstrated at the Society of Laboratory Automation and Screening Conference and Exhibition held now through Wednesday (Jan. 27, 2016) in San Diego.

Hettich Lab Technology designs, engineers and commercializes software and automated incubation systems for identifying pathogens using elastic light scatter techniques that fire lasers at a pathogen colony to create a light-scatter field that gives the pathogen a pattern or fingerprint. Hettich and Purdue finalized the license in January.

"The use of elastic light-scatter technology could change the way foodborne pathogens are identified," said Klaus-Gunter Eberle, Hettich's CEO and general manager. "We are excited about the potential of the technology to advance the process of protecting society from foodborne pathogens."

Foodborne pathogens continue to be an international health and safety concern. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in six Americans, or 48 million people, become ill from foodborne illnesses with 128,000 becoming hospitalized and nearly 3,000 deaths. In addition, an estimated cost of $152 billion in medical expenses, lost productivity and business, lawsuits and compromised branding is attributed to foodborne illnesses.

"Improving our ability to quickly and accurately detect foodborne pathogens is a top priority for the USDA's Agricultural Research Service," said George Paoli, research microbiologist and lead scientist at the USDA-ARSin Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. "ARS has supported the development of the BARDOT technology through funding and collaboration with Purdue's Center for Food Safety Engineering. The potential applications of BARDOT (Bacteria Rapid Detection using Optical Scattering Technology) for bacterial classification and identification are intriguing, particularly for the facile, rapid and low-cost detection of bacterial foodborne pathogens, because foodborne pathogen identification often takes days to complete using conventional microbiological detection methods."

The USDA-ARS, National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health all provided funding to the Purdue colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine to develop the technology, which uses an optical sensor in the detection and identification of foodborne pathogens and other bacteria of interest.

"The development of this innovation is a prime example of how research funding from public and private sources can positively lead to innovations to help our global society," said Dan Hasler, president of the Purdue Research Foundation, which is the licenser of the technology. "We are eager to see this technology come to fruition and move to the public."

The device, called the Bacteria Rapid Detection using Optical Scattering Technology, or BARDOT, has shown great promise in identifying dangerous pathogens such as listeria, staphylococcus, salmonella, vibrio, and E. coli. Since the technology does not require a reagent, it reduces the cost of the pathogen identification. The technology can be used to test any food source for contamination, changing the model for rapid and definitive identification of pathogens.

"The technology can transmit a pathogenic organism fingerprint across the country instantly without the danger of physically transporting the pathogenic organism. This can be achieved without any reagents or assay requirements, which makes this a unique feature for this technology," said J. Paul Robinson, the SVM Professor of Cytomics in the Purdue Department of Basic Medical Sciences, and member of the Purdue Center for Food Safety Engineering who helped develop the technology.

"Another attribute is that the technology evaluates every colony on a Petri-dish, so it eliminates or significantly minimizes the sampling bias, and as a result dramatically lowers dramatically the rate of false negatives -- something that no other technology in organism identification can claim."

Other innovators of this technology are Dan Hirleman, Purdue's chief corporate and global partnerships officer; Arun Bhunia, professor of food science; Bartlomiej Rajwa, research associate in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences; and Euiwon Bae, senior research scientist in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences. The Purdue Center for Food Safety Engineering, under the leadership of director Lisa Mauer, also contributed to the development of the technology.

"The Purdue Center for Food Safety Engineering, established as a cooperative agreement with USDA-ARS, has a valuable history of combining engineering and microbiological expertise to develop pathogen detection technologies," Mauer said. "The technologies developed by the center translate science and engineering into practical tools for improving the detection of foodborne hazards."

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Hettich is in partnership with Doclu LLC, a West Lafayette, Indiana,-based software development company founded by Robinson in 2015. Hettich licensed the innovation through the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization.

About Hettich Lab Technology

Hettich Lab Technology of Tuttlingen, Germany, designs, engineers, and commercializes software and automated incubation systems for quantitatively and conclusively identifying pathogens of interest using Elastic Light Scatter (ELS). Utilizing standard microbiological practices, reproducible results are generated rapidly and reagent-free in a non-destructive environment. Embracing core strengths, innovative technologies, and partnerships with the USDA-ARS, Purdue University, and others, Hettich Lab Technology is introducing BEAM, a modular platform applying cutting-edge technology.

About Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at innovation@prf.org
New evidence shows severe and rapid collapse of Pueblo populations occurred in the 17th century and triggered a cascade of ecological effects that ultimately had consequences for global climates

New interdisciplinary research in the Southwest United States has resolved long-standing debates on the timing and magnitude of American Indian population collapse in the region.

The severe and rapid collapse of Native American populations in what is now the modern state of New Mexico didn't happen upon first contact with Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s, as some scholars thought. Nor was it as gradual as others had contended.

Rather than being triggered by first contact in the 1500s, rapid population loss likely began after Catholic Franciscan missions were built in the midst of native pueblos, resulting in sustained daily interaction with Europeans.

The indirect effects of this demographic impact rippled through the surrounding forests and, perhaps, into our atmosphere.

Those are the conclusions of a new study by a team of scientists looking for the first time at high resolution reconstructions of human population size, tree growth and fire history from the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico.

"Scholars increasingly recognize the magnitude of human impacts on planet Earth, some are even ready to define a new geological epoch called the Anthropocene," said anthropologist and fire expert Christopher Roos, an associate professor at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, and a co-author on the research.

"But it is an open question as to when that epoch began," said Roos. "One argument suggests that indigenous population collapse in the Americas resulted in a reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere because of forest regrowth in the early colonial period. Until now the evidence has been fairly ambiguous. Our results indicate that high-resolution chronologies of human populations, forests and fires are needed to evaluate these claims."

A contentious issue in American Indian history, scientists and historians for decades have debated how many Native Americans died and when it occurred. With awareness of global warming and interdisciplinary interest in the possible antiquity of the Anthropocene, resolution of that debate may now be relevant for contemporary human-caused environmental problems, Roos said.

Findings of the new study were published Jan. 25, 2016 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, "Native American Depopulation, Reforestation, and Fire Regimes in the Southwest U.S., 1492-1900 C.E."

The researchers offer the first absolute population estimate of the archaeology of the Jemez Province -- an area west Santa Fe and Los Alamos National Lab in northern New Mexico. Using airborne remote sensing LiDAR technology to establish the size and shape of rubble mounds from collapsed architecture of ancestral villages, the researchers were able to quantify population sizes in the 16th century that were independent of historical documents.

To identify the timing of of the population collapse and its impact on forest fires, the scientists also collected tree-ring data sets from locations adjacent to the Ancestral Jemez villages and throughout the forested mountain range. This sampling framework allowed them to refine the timing of depopulation and the timing of fire regime changes across the Jemez Province.

Their findings indicate that large-scale depopulation only occurred after missions were established in their midst by Franciscan priests in the 1620s. Daily sustained interaction resulted in epidemic diseases, violence and famine, the researchers said. From a population of roughly 6,500 in the 1620s fewer than 900 remained in the 1690s - a loss of more than 85 percent of the population in a few generations.

"The loss of life is staggering," said anthropologist Matthew Liebmann, an associate professor at Harvard University and lead author on the PNAS article.

"Imagine that in a room with 10 people, only one person was left at the end of the day," Liebmann said. "This had devastating effects on the social and economic lives of the survivors. Our research suggests that the effects were felt in the ecology of the forests too."

Other scientists on the team include Josh Farella and Thomas Swetnam, University of Arizona; and Adam Stack and Sarah Martini, Harvard University.

The researchers studied a 100,000-acre area that includes the ancestral pueblo villages of the Jemez (HEY-mehz) people. Located in the Jemez Mountains of north central New Mexico, it's a region in the Santa Fe National Forest of deep canyons, towering flat-topped mesas, as well as rivers, streams and creeks.

Today about 2,000 Jemez tribal members live at the Pueblo of Jemez.

The authors note in their article that, "Archaeological evidence from the Jemez Province supports the notion that the European colonization of the Americas unleashed forces that ultimately destroyed a staggering number of human lives," however, they note, it fails to support the notion that sweeping pandemics uniformly depopulated North America."

"To better understand the role of the indigenous population collapse on ecological and climate changes, we need this kind of high-resolution paired archaeological and paleoecological data," said Roos. "Until then, a human-caused start to Little Ice Age cooling will remain uncertain. Our results suggest this scenario is plausible, but the nature of European and American Indian relationships, population collapse, and ecological consequences are probably much more complicated and variable than many people had previously understood them to be."

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The chemist Professor Stefan Kaskel of the Technical University of Dresden (TUD) receives for his scientific work on new energy storage materials an Award from the "Japan Society for the Promotion of Science" (JSPS). The award is connected with a four-week research stay at Osaka in Japan. Stefan Kaskel will start this exchange in spring 2016. In the "National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology" (AIST) in Osaka he will meet Prof. Xu Qiang. He is looking forward to meet Prof. Qiang Xu for exchanging new results in chemical materials research, and initiating new cooperations with Japan in the battery field, Stefan Kaskel says.

Professor Stefan Kaskel is specialized in the field of new batteries and gas storage materials. His research focus are high performance carbon materials. These porous nano-structured materials have a very high specific surface. Thereby they could play a key role in the future developments of lithium-sulfur batteries and other new energy storage systems.

While the electrodes in current lithium-ion batteries often only achieves a specific surface of about 1500 square meters per gram of material, the new carbon materials could enable more than 3000 square meters per gram, believes Professor Stefan Kaskel. This could double the energy density of future battery systems. And the energy density of batteries is critical for the range of future electric cars, or for the use of lithium-sulfur batteries as an energy buffer for wind or solar power systems.

Stefan Kaskel is 46 years old. He holds the "Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I" at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the TUD. He works also at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (IWS) Dresden.

The JSPS is a reputed organization promoting international scientific exchange in Japan, comparable to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany.

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In lab and mouse experiments, exposure promotes bacterial virulence and inflammation, while blocking the body's ability to fight infection

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System report data suggesting that e-cigarettes are toxic to human airway cells, suppress immune defenses and alter inflammation, while at the same time boosting bacterial virulence. The mouse study is published January 25 by the Journal of Molecular Medicine.

"This study shows that e-cigarette vapor is not benign -- at high doses it can directly kill lung cells, which is frightening," said senior author Laura E. Crotty Alexander, MD, staff physician at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System and assistant clinical professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "We already knew that inhaling heated chemicals, including the e-liquid ingredients nicotine and propylene glycol, couldn't possibly be good for you. This work confirms that inhalation of e-cigarette vapor daily leads to changes in the inflammatory milieu inside the airways."

Crotty Alexander reported the preliminary results of this work at the American Thoracic Society annual meetings in 2014 and 2015. But now her team has also seen their findings hold up in mice. Inflammatory markers -- signs of full-body inflammation -- in the airways and blood of mice that inhaled e-cigarette vapors for one hour a day, five days a week, for four weeks were elevated by 10 percent compared to unexposed mice.

"We don't know specifically which lung and systemic diseases will be caused by the inflammatory changes induced by e-cigarette vapor inhalation, but based on clinical reports of acute toxicities and what we have found in the lab, we believe that they will cause disease in the end," Crotty Alexander said. "Some of the changes we have found in mice are also found in the airways and blood of conventional cigarette smokers, while others are found in humans with cancer or inflammatory lung diseases."

Conversely, bacterial pathogens exposed to e-cigarette vapor benefited. Specifically, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria were better able to form biofilms, adhere to and invade airway cells and resist human antimicrobial peptides after exposure to e-cigarette vapor.

E-cigarette vapor extract-exposed bacteria were also more virulent in a mouse model of pneumonia. All mice infected with normal methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant "superbug," survived. Meanwhile, 25 percent of mice infected with MRSA pre-exposed to e-cigarette vapor died.

The results were consistent with e-liquids from seven different manufacturers, demonstrating that the findings are not limited to one formula or brand.

Crotty Alexander and team also recently reported that MRSA bacteria exposed to conventional cigarette smoke are more resistant to killing by the immune system than unexposed bacteria.

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Study co-authors include John H. Hwang, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System and UC San Diego; Matthew Lyes, VA San Diego Healthcare System and Duke University; Katherine Sladewski, Denzil P. Mathew, Alexander Moshensky, VA San Diego Healthcare System; Shymaa Enany, Suez Canal University and VA San Diego Healthcare System; Elisa K. McEachern, VA San Diego Healthcare System and Weill Cornell Medical College; Soumita Das, David T. Pride, Weg M. Ongkeko, UC San Diego; and Sagar Bapat, Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
A ONE million euro, multi-national project aimed at reducing the impact of disasters and boosting the ability of communities to recover from them is to be headed by the Global Disaster Resilience Centre (GDRC) based at the University of Huddersfield.

Major beneficiaries of the research will be vulnerable Southeast Asian countries such as Sri Lanka and Thailand - devastated by a tsunami in 2004 - but the lessons learned will be widely applicable and the list of ten universities taking party includes several in Europe.

The project is named ASCENT (Advancing Skill Creation to Enhance Transformation) and it is funded by the European Commission, which developed the concept and issued a call for universities and research institutions to take part. Huddersfield's Global Disaster Resilience Centre was awarded the lead role.

A key aim of the project is to improve the research capacity of higher education institutions in the countries taking part so that they can develop ways of making societies more resilient to disasters. There will also be an emphasis on research partnerships between industry and universities, plus greater international collaboration.

The GDRC team at the University of Huddersfield that will co-ordinate ASCENT consists of Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga, Professor Richard Haigh and Dr Kaushal Keraminiyage, plus Dr Ezri Hayat.

Professor Amaratunga said that the project will be thoroughly inter-disciplinary. "We will be working with a variety of university departments - including science, civil engineering, sociology and geography - because we are trying to build research capacity around the overall problem rather than a specific subject," she explained. The research will revolve around the prevention of disasters and the procedures for recovering from them.

ASCENT is a three-year project that starts on 1 February 2016 with an initial meeting in Sri Lanka, where the work schedules for the partner institutions will be settled. There will be a sequence of further meetings, including two residential schools designed to provide rigorous training in capacity development. One of these will be held at the University of Huddersfield.

Partners in the GDRC-led project are: University of Central Lancashire, UK Lund University, Sweden Mid Sweden University, Sweden Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Tallinn Institute of Technology, Estonia University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka University of Colombo, Sri Lanka University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka University of Naresuan, Thailand Chiang Mai University, Thailand Dhaka University, Bangladesh PSTU University, Bangladesh BRAC University, Bangladesh

Associate partners are: Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, Thailand

In addition to the key associate partners, there will be other stakeholders who also will be associating with ASCENT and who will help the core team to disseminate the project findings within the society at large.

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For the first time ever, scientists studying a mouse model of diabetes have implanted encapsulated insulin-producing cells derived from human stem cells and maintained long-term control of blood sugar -- without administering immunosuppressant drugs.

The results of the multi-institutional effort are published in Nature Medicine.

People with type 1 diabetes have an overactive immune system that destroys the insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas. Lacking that hormone, the body fails to convert sugars to usable energy, and glucose rises to harmful levels in the blood without daily insulin injections. Islet cells have been successfully transplanted to treat type 1 diabetes, but those patients must take immunosuppressant drugs to keep their immune system from destroying the transplanted cells.

Previous research had shown that rodent islet cells could normalize blood sugar levels in animal models without immunosuppression if the cells were encased in hydrogel capsules. The semi-porous capsules allow insulin to escape into the blood, while preventing the host's immune system from attacking the foreign cells. Larger capsules, about 1.5 millimeters across, even seemed able to avoid the buildup of scar tissue, which can choke off the cells' supply of oxygen and nutrients.

The new study, a collaboration led by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston Children's Hospital, used islet cells derived from human stem cells and capsules made of chemically-tweaked gel that are even more resistant to the build-up of scar tissue.

Dr. Jose Oberholzer, chief of transplantation surgery and director of cell and pancreas transplantation at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, professor of bioengineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an author on the paper, tested several varieties of chemically-modified alginate hydrogel spheres -- in various sizes -- to see if any excelled at resisting scar-tissue formation. Oberholzer and his coworkers at the University of Illinois at Chicago first tested the spheres to ensure they would allow the islet cells to function inside a host. Using a special microfluidic device developed at UIC under a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, they delivered minute amounts of glucose into tiny wells containing encapsulated islet cells and measured the amount of insulin that seeped out. They implanted spheres that showed promise into rodents and non-human primates to look for the development of scar tissue.

They found (and reported in the journal Nature Biotechnology) that 1.5-millimeter spheres of triazole-thiomorphine dioxide (TMTD) alginate were best at allowing insulin to escape while resisting immune response and the buildup of scar tissue.

When implanted into a mouse model of diabetes, TMTD-alginate spheres containing human islet cells were able to maintain proper blood glucose control for 174 days -- decades, in terms relative to the human lifespan.

"When we stopped the experiment and took the spheres out, they were virtually free of scar tissue," Oberholzer said.

"While this is a very promising step towards an eventual cure for diabetes, a lot more testing is needed to ensure that the islet cells don't de-differentiate back toward their stem-cell states or become cancerous," said Oberholzer. If the cells did become cancerous, he said, they could easily break through the spheres. Oberholzer also cautioned that a cure for human diabetes would require scientists to develop techniques to grow large numbers of human islet cells from stem cells -- a worthy goal.

"In the United States, there are 30 million cases of type 2 diabetes and about 2 million patients with type 1 diabetes who could potentially benefit from such a procedure," he said. "But we need to grow billions of islet cells."

###

Co-authors on the papers are James McGarrigle, Meirigeng Qi and Matthew Bochenek of UIC; Daniel Anderson, Arturo Vegas, Omid Veiseh, Andrew Bader, Joshua Doloff, Jie Li, Michael Chen, Karsten Olejnik, Hok Hei-Tam, Siddharth Jhunjhunwala, Erin Langan, Stephanie Aresta-Dasilva, Srujan Grandham, Minglin Ma, Kaitlin Bratlie, Patrick Fenton, Alan Chiu, Sean Siebert, Katherine Tang, Nimit Dholakia, Raj Thakrar, Thema Vietti, Michael Chen, Jeon Woong Kang and Robert Langer of MIT and Boston Children's Hospital; Douglas Melton, Mads Gurtler, Jeffrey Millman and Felicia Pagliuca of Harvard University; Jennifer Hollister-Lock, Josh Cohen, Karolina Siniakowicz and Gordon Weir of the Joslin Diabetes Center; and Dale Greiner, Stephen Lyle and David Harlan of the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

This work was supported in part by the JDRF and Leona M. and the Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (Grant 3-SRA-2014-285-M-R), National Institutes of Health grants EB000244, EB000351, DE013023 CA151884, UC4DK104218, P41EB015871-27, R01DK091526, the MIT SkolTech initiative, the Tayebati Family Foundation, the Chicago Diabetes Project, and Koch Institute support grant P30-CA14051 from the National Cancer Institute.
Role of 'professional love' in early years settings studied by University of Sheffield researchers

Anonymous survey explored how early years workers felt about 'loving' the children in their care While the majority of practitioners believe showing affection to the children in their care is important, concerns exist about how others view the appropriateness of their actions

A toolkit for early years practitioners has been created by researchers at the University of Sheffield after a study examined whether they should 'love' the children in their care.

Dr Jools Page, from the University's School of Education, explored how a rise in media coverage surrounding sex abuse scandals has had an impact on childcare providers by asking early years professionals for their views on 'professional love' in an anonymous online survey.

To carry out the research Dr Page and the research team spent five months from February to July 2015 talking to early years professionals across England and worked intensively with early years practitioners at Fennies, a privately owned group of nurseries based in south London and Surrey, who were the project collaborators.

"In recent years, a small but growing number of early years practitioners have been convicted of child abuse, and the continued media exposure of abusive clergy and then of various 'celebrity' entertainers has led to a climate of wariness and even suspicion of adults' professional relationships with very young children," said Dr Page.

"A difficulty for those who work in early years settings is how to express the affectionate and caring behaviours which the role demands of them in their loco parentis, and which very young children need in their development of healthy attachments."

Dr Page has developed the term 'professional love' to try to understand these intimacies, which she says have been relatively unexamined in the daily practice of early years settings, obscured by a climate of wariness.

The survey, which was completed by 793 early years professionals, including nursery staff, childminders and teaching assistants, found:

95 per cent felt that showing affection to the children in their care was an important part of early years practice. However, 10 per cent said they were worried about false accusations and how others view the appropriateness of their actions. Opinion was mixed on whether respondents felt comfortable being alone around the children in their care, with one in five saying they avoid doing so.

Respondents gave a wide range of definitions of 'professional love', including broad terms like 'care' and 'kindness' or being 'available' and paying 'attention' to the children.

Some disagreed when relating professional love to parental love, with some saying it should be parental in nature -- 'loving a child as if it's your own' or 'acting like a mother' -- with others saying it wasn't the same as the bond you'd have with your own child.

The role of physical contact like kissing and hugging was present in some definitions, with some comment about acceptable and unacceptable actions, while a small number went further to describe that displays of affection in general must be initiated by the child.

Just over half of the respondents (56 per cent) said they were not concerned about parents' attitudes to professional love, with 22 per cent saying they feel they are acting in line with what parents want for their children and three per cent feeling that parents understand there are clear boundaries or policies in place.

However, 10 per cent of practitioners reported concerns over parents feeling threatened, jealous or uncomfortable about early years staff developing a relationship with their children. This was more common (13 per cent) for childminders than those working in other early years settings (8 per cent).

In response to a child saying 'I love you', nearly half (47 per cent) said they would say 'I love you' back.

Others said they would give limited reciprocation by saying something like 'I like you' (20 per cent), say 'that's nice' or 'lovely' (15 per cent) or use diversionary phrasing such as 'I love spending time with you too' (2 per cent). Two per cent said they would explain or explore other relationships by asking questions like 'who else do you love?', a further two per cent said they would respond by saying 'you are all loved' and one per cent said they would give a non-verbal response like a smile or hug.

"The project findings were used to co-produce a set of professional development materials in the form of an 'Attachment Toolkit' which includes case studies, narratives and video, which has been trialled and evaluated by Fennies, our collaborating group of nurseries," said Dr Page.

"As this project has demonstrated, it is the debate and theorisation of love and care which is important. Providing opportunities for practitioners to discuss and reflect upon each other's viewpoints is likely to bring about a more thoughtful understanding and crucially a shift in their thinking."

John Warren, Director of Childcare at Fennies, added: "We got involved in the research because of our vision to create the right start for under-fives. During the settling-in period children need a great deal of what can only be described as care and attention - or, as Dr Page would call it, professional love.

"Creating the right start for children and families is imperative, but it is also important for the parents to know where we are coming from as professional practitioners and to understand that we are not trying to take over from them as the child's main care giver.

"Our managers attended a boutique-style conference with Dr Page and Dr Clare, the project research assistant and were enthused by the outcomes. They can see the benefits it will have for our children and families, ensuring that children feel safe and secure in their environment and are predisposed to learn."

He added: "Following the initial trial of the toolkit full implementation within our settings is still at an early stage at Fennies We are delighted to be continuing our collaboration with Dr Page and the University of Sheffield and are planning to extend the case study examples to inform a company-wide professional development conference in March 2016 which will focus on Fennies approach to 'professional love'.

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The Professional Love in Early Years Settings (PLEYS) project was funded by the University of Sheffield Innovation, Impact and Knowledge Exchange (IIKE) in collaboration with Fennies.

For more information, visit: http://professionallove.group.shef.ac.uk/

Notes to editors

The University of Sheffield

With almost 26,000 of the brightest students from around 120 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of Sheffield is one of the world's leading universities.

A member of the UK's prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines.

Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in.

In 2014 it was voted number one university in the UK for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education and in the last decade has won four Queen's Anniversary Prizes in recognition of the outstanding contribution to the United Kingdom's intellectual, economic, cultural and social life.

Sheffield has five Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields.

Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Glaxo SmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.

Fennies

Fennies runs eight childcare settings in Croydon, Horley, Bromley, Purley, Sanderstead, Epsom and Beckenham.

The company has over 20 years' experience in the childcare sector and has opened three new nurseries in Bromley, Epsom and Horley since September 2014.

For further information please contact:

Hannah Postles

Media Relations Officer

0114-222-1046

h.postles@sheffield.ac.uk
MADISON, Wis. -- In October 2015, a team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Universidad de Sucre in Colombia ran the first tests confirming the presence of Zika virus transmission in the South American country.

In a study published today [Jan 26, 2016] in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, the team documents a disease trajectory that started with nine positive patients and has now spread to more than 13,000 infected individuals in that country.

"Colombia is now only second to Brazil in the number of known Zika infections," says study lead author Matthew Aliota, a research scientist in the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM).

Zika virus, which spreads among humans via mosquitoes, causes illness characterized like many other viral infections by fever, rash and joint pain. Officials estimate that four out of five people who contract the virus do not get sick and the virus is rarely fatal. However, pregnant women in Brazil infected with Zika have given birth to babies with small heads and underdeveloped brains, a condition called microcephaly.

"If you're pregnant or planning on being pregnant, absolutely, cancel your vacation," says Aliota, echoing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warning that pregnant women not travel to the more than 20 countries now known to have active Zika transmission, like Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and in the Caribbean. In these countries, mosquitoes are spreading the virus to people.

For the Colombian finding, Aliota and his research team, which includes Jorge Osorio, professor of pathobiological sciences at SVM, and two visiting doctoral students from Colombia, tested samples from 22 patients for the genetic fingerprints of Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses.

Nine came back positive for Zika virus. Now, 13,500 cases have been identified in Colombia. The researchers' findings highlight the need for better, more accurate laboratory diagnosis of Zika virus.

The symptoms of Zika virus are "really nonspecific and it overlaps with a lot of things, especially with dengue virus and chikungunya," says Aliota. "It's hard when someone comes in with a fever and a rash to narrow it down."

Zika virus was first found in Uganda in 1947 but remained limited to Africa and Southeast Asia for decades. But in 2007, an outbreak occurred in the Pacific Islands and recently the virus began to spread in the Western Hemisphere.

"Historically, Zika virus has just caused mild disease, but as it moved into the New World, in Brazil, we started to notice these more serious consequences associated with it," says Aliota. "There is a lot that is unknown."

Aliota hopes to help change that.

His research on Zika virus and others like it is focused on how the viruses evolve and adapt to their hosts, including mosquitoes and humans. As he and the team show in the study, the Zika virus has split into two distinct lineages, African and Asian. The Colombia strain of the virus can be tracked to Brazil, which can be traced to a strain that originated in French Polynesia.

"There is certainly something different about these viruses that have allowed or facilitated this geographic expansion," Aliota says.

He and Osorio are now looking for ways to control it. As members of the Eliminate Dengue Program, an international effort managed by Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, they have explored how a bacterium that infects 60 percent of insects around the world may be used as a tool to combat the spread of dengue and similar mosquito-borne viruses.

Zika, dengue and chikungunya (which are also found in Colombia) are RNA viruses, which refers to how they encode their genetic material, and each is transmitted by a specific mosquito called Aedes aegypti. The mosquito is common in Colombia and other countries where Zika has become prevalent.

The bacterium, Wolbachia, is not naturally found in the Aedes aegypti mosquito, but researchers with Eliminate Dengue have found that when they infect mosquitoes with the bacteria in the lab, it prevents them from transmitting dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

"The Eliminate Dengue Program is doing field experiments to see, will we be able to replace wild-type, existing populations of mosquitoes with these Wolbachia-infected ones and does it block dengue transmission?" Aliota says. "Now, we're going to start looking at how that might be used for Zika virus control as well in South America."

Here in Madison, Aliota is also trying to better understand how these viruses might evolve and adapt to this potential control strategy, to try to stay ahead of any potential issues they might encounter in the field.

But while Texas and Florida need to be on alert, Aliota says Wisconsinites need not be worried about transmission of Zika virus here.

"We're not going to get Zika transmission in Wisconsin. We don't have Aedes aegypti," he says. "The cold winters are good for something."

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Kelly April Tyrrell, kelly.tyrrell@wisc.edu, 608-262-9772
Up to now Alzheimer's disease has not been recognized as transmissible. Now researchers at the University of Zurich and the Medical University Vienna demonstrated Alzheimer-type pathology in brains of recipients of dura mater grafts who died later from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive dementia and brain plaques consisting of the A protein. Conventional wisdom has it that AD is not a transmissible disease. However, plaques recovered from brains of AD patients were repeatedly found to induce further plaques when injected into the brains of laboratory mice, suggesting that transmission may actually occur.

Reporting in today's Swiss Medical Weekly, Karl Frontzek and colleagues (University of Zurich and Vienna Medical University) have investigated individuals who received brain grafts of dura mater during neurosurgery. The dura mater ("tough mother") is the leathery membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. Such grafts were necessary to allow the brain to heal after surgery. Tragically, some of the dura mater donors were infected with prions (the agents causing the fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease), and the grafting procedure transmitted the disease to the recipients.

Frontzek and colleagues now report the presence of A plaques in 5 of 7 brains of relatively young recipients of dura mater grafts who succumbed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. A plaques were detected much more frequently than in brains of people who did not receive any dura mater grafts. A plaques are highly unusual in young individuals and may have been caused by the dural grafts. This study adds to the evidence that the hallmarks of AD may indeed be transmissible under certain circumstances, and calls for heightened attention to an unexpected, potentially very serious problem of transplantation medicine.

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This news release is available in German.

Quantum systems are extremely hard to analyse if they consist of more than just a few parts. It is not difficult to calculate a single hydrogen atom, but in order to describe an atom cloud of several thousand atoms, it is usually necessary to use rough approximations. The reason for this is that quantum particles are connected to each other and cannot be described separately. Kaspar Sakmann (TU Wien, Vienna) and Mark Kasevich (Stanford, USA) have now shown in an article published in Nature Physics that this problem can be overcome. They succeeded in calculating effects in ultra-cold atom clouds which can only be explained in terms of the quantum correlations between many atoms. Such atom clouds are known as Bose-Einstein condensates and are an active field of research.

Quantum Correlations

Quantum physics is a game of luck and randomness. Initially, the atoms in a cold atom cloud do not have a predetermined position. Much like a die whirling through the air, where the number is yet to be determined, the atoms are located at all possible positions at the same time. Only when they are measured, their positions are fixed. "We shine light on the atom cloud, which is then absorbed by the atoms", says Kaspar Sakmann. "The atoms are photographed, and this is what determines their position. The result is completely random."

There is, however, an important difference between quantum randomness and a game of dice: if different dice are thrown at the same time, they can be seen as independent from each other. Whether or not we roll a six with die number one does not influence the result of die number seven. The atoms in the atom cloud on the other hand are quantum physically connected. It does not make sense to analyse them individually, they are one big quantum object. Therefore, the result of every position measurement of any atom depends on the positions of all the other atoms in a mathematically complicated way.

"It is not hard to determine the probability that a particle will be found at a specific position", says Kaspar Sakmann. "The probability is highest in the centre of the cloud and gradually diminishes towards the outer fringes." In a classically random system, this would be all the information that is needed. If we know that in a dice roll, any number has the probability of one sixth, then we can also determine the probability of rolling three ones with three dice. Even if we roll five ones consecutively, the probability remains the same the next time. With quantum particles, it is more complicated than that.

"We solve this problem step by step", says Sakmann. "First we calculate the probability of the first particle being measured on a certain position. The probability distribution of the second particle depends on where the first particle has been found. The position of the third particle depends on the first two, and so on." In order to be able to describe the position of the very last particle, all the other positions have to be known. This kind of quantum entanglement makes the problem mathematically extremely challenging.

Only Correlations Can Explain the Experimental Data

But these correlations between many particles are extremely important - for example for calculating the behaviour of colliding Bose-Einstein-condensates. "The experiment shows that such collisions can lead to a special kind of quantum waves. On certain positions we find many particles, on an adjacent position we do not find any", says Kaspar Sakmann. "If we consider the atoms separately, this cannot be explained. Only if we take the full quantum distribution into account, with all its higher correlations, these waves can be reproduced by our calculations."

Also other phenomena have been calculated with the same method, for instance Bose-Einstein-condensates which are stirred with a laser beam, so that little vortices emerge - another typical quantum many-particle-effect. "Our results show how important theses correlations are and that it is possible to include them in quantum calculations, in spite of all mathematical difficulties", says Sakmann. With certain modifications, the approach can be expected to be useful for many other quantum systems as well.

###

Further Information:

Dr. Kaspar Sakmann

Institute for Atomic and Subatomic Physics

TU Wien

Stadionallee 2, 1020 Vienna, Austria

T: +43-1-58801-141889

kaspar.sakmann@ati.ac.at
The Wests response to Russias actions in Ukraine has been to sanction and attempt to isolate Russia. The NATO-Russia Council, despite being a forum for consultation and airing grievances, was suspended, and Russia has been de facto expelled from the G8. Despite this, Russia continues to show its influence on critical international issues, with Syria being just the most recent example. After over two years of talking about the threat Russia poses and how the West can mitigate it, it is worthwhile to remind ourselves why the West, and in particular Europe, needs Russia.

Four key issues stand out:

First, in terms of international peace and security, Russia holds a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The veto this provides has already been used to block Western action in a number of situations, most notably in Syria, with profound if indirect effects on European order and solidarity.

Second, Russia is an important global energy provider. Russia holds 6.87% of the worlds proven oil reserves and 17.4% of its proven gas reserves, and is the fourth largest carbon emitter. It is the worlds largest exporter of natural gas, and the second largest producer of oil. All this makes Russia vital for the worlds energy security, and of course its efforts to tackle climate change.

Third, militarily, Russia is the worlds third largest spender and second largest arms exporter. In 2014 according to SIPRI, a Swedish think tank, Russia spent US$91.7bn on defence. This accounts for 4.5% of Russias GDP and approximately 5.4% of global defence spending. The Kremlins military budget has increased by 97% since 2005 and the Russian military is being extensively modernised. Russia also, of course, has 1,780 deployed nuclear warheads out of a larger total stockpile of 7,500. While some rightly point to Russias growing military power with concern, it is also true that meaningful conventional and nuclear arms control, at least in the Euro-Atlantic area, is not possible without Russia.

Fourth, Russias ambition to help establish a non-Western system of international governance is evident through its activities in the BRICS forum, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the establishment of the (admittedly as yet ineffective) Eurasian Economic Union. Most recently Russia secured the third most voting shares in the Chinese led Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank. While Russias ambitions for its relations with the BRICS are naive, as I have argued elsewhere, a Western policy that does not engage Russia will only strengthen Moscows turn to these institutions and encourage its efforts to use them to provide a counterbalance to the West.

What all this shows is that on a number of critical issues in international governance, whether we like it or not, cooperation with Russia is essential.

Within the wider West, Russias importance to Europe is even clearer. With over 80% of Russians living in Europe, accounting for around 16% of the continents total population, Russia is a major European player by virtue of geography and demography alone.

Russias role in the regions governance is strengthened by its membership of the Council of Europe and the OSCE. Moscow has also shown time and time again its ability to act as a spoiler in Europes attempts to secure peace and stability, Georgia and Ukraine being but two examples. If Europeans want a truly pan-European security order, this is going to have to be negotiated and agreed with Russia.

In energy terms, in 2013 the EU depended on Russia for 39% of its gas imports and 34% of its oil. While efforts are underway to reduce this reliance, it will be a politically and economically costly process, that will take time and energy away from dealing with Europes many other problems. Indeed the power of Russias energy giants is most acutely felt in the EUs eastern Members, where Russian gas can account for up to 100% of imports.

To the north, Russia recently submitted a claim to over 463,000 square miles of the Arctic, and its Arctic zone is expected to contain the majority of the regions gas and a large share of its oil. With the opening of the Northern Sea Route due to melting ice caps, the region will become one of increased economic activity and environmental concern. The Arctic has been a relatively cooperative region to date but if the European members of the Arctic Council (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) and others want it to stay that way, they are going to have to work collaboratively with Russia.

Europes future relations with Asia, a region that continues to grow in economic and political importance, must also take into consideration Russias position. China hopes its Silk Road Economic Belt will help develop economic relations with Eurasia. Europe has a lot to gain from this project, but the route stretches through Russia and its sphere of influence. Cooperation with Russia will make the economic development of Eurasia more achievable and more profitable to countries in Europe.

Russias recent military operations in Syria have the potential to dramatically increase the number of refugees making the perilous journey to Europe. This is yet another way in which Russian actions impact Europeans. Moreover, with the multitude of different actors now playing a role in Syria, the possibility of a military accident is a threat to us all. Cooperation with Russia over Syria, as a recent analysis for the ELN suggests, is the best way to avoid unwanted escalation and further refugee flows to Europe.

The question of whether to cooperate with Russia may be controversial, particularly in light of Russian behaviour in Ukraine. But the seriousness of the challenges facing the West, not least of which is Syria, demonstrates that a way forward must be found. What officials across Europe, particularly those in Brussels, must ask themselves now is not should we try to cooperate with Russia but how far and on what issues? This conversation must not take place without consideration of how to blend dialogue and cooperation with Russia with effective measures to condemn and deter unacceptable Russian activity in Ukraine and elsewhere.

Those who disregard the possibility of cooperation with Russia outright ought to consider the case of Iran. The Iranian nuclear deal is a significant achievement towards regional and international security, and it would not have been possible without support from the Russians. Ignoring the potential of cooperation with Russia on other critical issues facing Europe will only serve to weaken the Europeans own ability to tackle the most pressing challenges it faces.

This article follows on from an earlier article explaining Why Russia Needs Europe, and is part of a wider project assessing the strategic rationale for cooperation between Russia and the European Union generously funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. A wide-ranging policy brief will be released in March/April.

The opinions articulated above represent the views of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Leadership Network or any of its members. The ELNs aim is to encourage debates that will help develop Europes capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security policy challenges of our time.
Take action now: Contact United Methodist officials and urge them to overturn their ban on Discovery Institute.

When I was being interviewed last week on Dennis Pragers radio show, Dennis commented that he thought atheists would be more open-minded than United Methodist officials about allowing Discovery Institute to sponsor an information table at the UMCs General Conference. It turns out Prager was right.

Weve broken down by religious orientation the results of the national survey we conducted about the UMCs action, and lo and behold, nearly half of self-identified atheists (49 percent) agree that the United Methodist Church should not have banned an intelligent design group from renting an information table at its conference. Self-identified agnostics are even more opposed to the UMC decision, with 68 percent expressing opposition. Theists, by far the largest part of the population, oppose the UMC action by an overwhelming 3 to 1 margin (75 percent to 25 percent).

Nearly 6 in 10 atheists (59 percent) also think the UMCs decision to ban an intelligent design group from sponsoring an information table contradicts the denominations professed commitment to open hearts, open minds, open doors. An overwhelming number of theists (83 percent) and agnostics (76 percent) share this view. You can download more detailed information.

If I were a leader in the United Methodist Church, I would think twice about the damage I am inflicting on my brand by this kind of intolerance. If UMC officials want people to believe they are serious about their slogan of Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors, they might want to start following it.

Image credit:  Alliance / Dollar Photo Club.
Take action now: Contact United Methodist officials and urge them to overturn their ban on Discovery Institute.

We have spent some time reporting and analyzing on the move by the United Methodist Church to block Discovery Institute as an exhibitor at the upcoming General Conference, down the road in Portland, Oregon. Today, John West notes the irony that, when it comes to hearing fresh perspectives on evidence for design in nature, polling data shows that even atheists are more tolerant than some UMC officials.

Now over at Uncommon Descent, philosopher Vincent Torley asks a piquant question: If John Wesley, co-founder of Methodism, sought permission to set up an information table at the UMC General Conference to discuss issues of faith and science, would he be acceptable to the hierarchy of the church that traces back to him?

The answer is almost certainly no, as Torley demonstrates in a massively researched post. Look, Wesley lived centuries ago (1703-1791) so its not surprising that some of his specific ideas on science, education, tolerance, and the like would not be acceptable to the UMC or to us either. But from Torleys essay, you get a clear sense of the overall spirit of the man, that leaves no doubt that if he were alive today, he would be on our side not that of the United Methodist Church.

Go read the whole thing, but in brief: Wesley closely followed scientific debates of his day and criticized proto-evolutionist views, notably those of the Comte de Buffon, both as science and as a stalking horse for atheism. He wrote a five-volume work on evidence of design in nature, A Survey of the Wisdom of God in the Creation; Or, a Compendium of Natural Philosophy. He believed that the more science revealed, the more clearly the work of a designer could be inferred (of course he identified the designer with God, which modern ID does not). He saw that evidence up and down the scale of creation, from the lowliest arthropod (he was impressed by the mite) to the great oceans to the stars in the heavens.

None of that is shocking, and obviously I dont expect modern Methodism to adhere literally to every word written by this founder of their spiritual tradition. Ive said much the same, as a Jew, about Maimonides  a still earlier thinker who explored science, philosophy, and theology, reaching a conclusion consonant with intelligent design. (See my essays in God and Evolution.)

Looking at it from outside, I do see in Wesleys thought a rebuke to the censors at the UMC. He formulated his ideas based on a searching scrutiny of contemporary science. He wrestled with it, and spoke out where he saw scientific notions as being in error. He wasnt intimidated by the prestige of those ideas. As with Maimonides, its the spirit rather than the specifics that count.

This is all in contrast to the obsequiousness, and the ignorance, of many religious leaders today, who are too eager to make peace with anything that goes by the name of science, and rush unthinkingly to do so. In banning intelligent design, the UMC acted, its clear, from ignorance of what ID is or what Discovery Institute actually advocates. See all our coverage of the ban here. In falsely associating ID with creationism, do they understand what the current debate about design in biology and cosmology is even about? It sure seems not. At the very least, John Wesley would have taken the trouble to find out and render an independent judgment.

As John West also notes, some may ask why we have devoted so much attention to the UMC if, as we say, intelligent design is a scientific theory not a religious one. The answer is that in speaking to the public about an ultimate question like this, a highly controversial one, we naturally look for appropriate allies where we can find them. The case for intelligent design doesnt need nor does it make any reference to or otherwise draw upon religion. But any informed theism should expect confirmation from nature that life reflects a designers purpose. That thoughtful religious people should give a hearing to the argument for ID is, therefore, to be hoped and expected.

For that reason its a disappointment that the UMC hierarchy chose to shut us out. Vincent Torley points out that, following this approach, they would likely shut out their founder too if he were alive. What that says about the quality of United Methodist leaders is a question that serious men and women in the pews of that church should consider.

Image: Statue of John Wesley, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY, by Adam Davenport (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons.
Today Discovery Institute Press releases Evolution: Still a Theory in Crisis, biologist Michael Dentons powerful sequel to his groundbreaking Evolution: A Theory in Crisis. In the new book, Denton shows how the scientific advances of the past three decades have not only vindicated his original thesis, but suggest that the time has come for a radically different understanding of biology.

Denton continues to argue for the insufficiency of neo-Darwinism to explain the great divides between the different branches of the biological world. But he makes a new case for the pervasiveness of non-adaptive order and explains what that means for Darwinian evolution. His multifaceted argument against the sufficiency of the Darwinian mechanism rallies evidence from across the scientific spectrum.

Get your copy of Evolution: Still a Theory in Crisis now! For a limited time, youll enjoy a 30 percent discount at CreateSpace by using the discount code QBDHMYJH. Its also available on Kindle.

Denton presents a novel yet compelling vision of life on earth that modern biology has forgotten. He shows that the language of Darwinism, limited to adaptation and fitness, is bankrupt in the face of the most recent scientific knowledge. Denton shows how developments in evolutionary developmental biology and other areas suggest that Darwinian selection is past its sell-by date.

Says Professor Steve Fuller, Auguste Comte Professor of Social Epistemology at the University of Warwick, Evolution: Still a Theory in Crisis is the one book that I would recommend to any student or lay person who wants to think in positive, scientific terms out of Darwins black box.

Evolution: Still a Theory in Crisis is being released in conjunction with a companion documentary featuring Denton titled The Biology of the Baroque: The Mystery of Non-Adaptive Order. Find out more about the book and the documentary here.

Michael Denton holds an MD from Bristol University and a PhD in biochemistry from Kings College in London. Evolution: A Theory in Crisis inspired leading intelligent design thinkers including biochemist Michael Behe.

Denton has published his work in journals such as Nature, Biochemical Journal, Nature Genetics, BioSystems, Human Genetics, Clinical Genetics, and Biology and Philosophy. He is also the author of Natures Destiny: How the Laws of Biology Reveal Purpose in the Universe. Denton is a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institutes Center for Science & Culture.
Why make an argument when a good ad hominem will do? That seems to be the mantra of our friends over at the National Center for Selling Evolution Science Education (NCSE). Last week they reported that a bill introduced in the Oklahoma state legislature was the second anti-science bill in the Oklahoma legislature for 2016.

The proposed law, Oklahoma House Bill 3045, is officially called the Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act (SEAFA). It states:

The Oklahoma Legislature finds that an important purpose of science education is to inform students about scientific evidence and to help students develop critical thinking skills they need in order to become intelligent, productive and scientifically informed citizens. The Legislature further finds that the teaching of some scientific concepts including but not limited to premises in the areas of biology, chemistry, meteorology, bioethics and physics can cause controversy, and that some teachers may be unsure of the expectations concerning how they should present information on some subjects such as, but not limited to, biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming and human cloning.

According to the NCSE, anyone who wants students to learn critical thinking skills or how to properly evaluate scientific evidence to reach conclusions is anti-science. Never mind that the SEAFA goes on to say:

The State Board of Education, district boards of education, district superintendents and administrators and public school principals and administrators shall endeavor to create an environment within public elementary and secondary schools that encourages students to explore scientific questions, learn about scientific evidence, develop critical thinking skills and respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion about controversial issues.

The NCSE simply will not stand for students learning how to explore scientific questions, learn about scientific evidence, or develop critical thinking skills  and definitely not to respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion on controversial issues. That last one seems well beyond the ability of the NCSE itself, as their continued factual misrepresentations attest.

However, what really has the NCSE in a state of agitation is this language in the bill:

Toward this end, teachers shall be permitted to help student s understand, analyze, critique and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught.

Theres that pesky phrase, strengths and weaknesses. For the NCSE thats just secret code for sneaking creationism into science classrooms. And how do they know that? Because anyone who knows anything at all about evolution knows that there are no scientific controversies worth noting in evolutionary biology.

In support of that contention, the NCSE cites this helpful comment from the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences chief executive officer Alan I. Leshner, who wrote:

There is virtually no scientific controversy among the overwhelming majority of researchers on the core facts of global warming and evolution[A]sserting that there are significant scientific controversies about the overall nature of these concepts when there are none will only confuse students, not enlighten them.

Perhaps someone should give Leshner and the NCSE a copy of Michael Dentons forthcoming book Evolution: Still A Theory in Crisis. You might even throw in a copy of Susan Mazurs book The Altenberg 16: An Expose of the Evolution Industry.

Weve written before about the several prominent evolutionary biologists who met at the Konrad Lorenz Institute in Altenberg, Austria, in July 2008 to discuss the need for an update to evolutionary thinking. As Casey Luskin noted:

It seems that the NCSE was indeed quite worried that this conference [in Altenberg] will do damage to neo-Darwinism. At the very least, this exchange exposes the NCSEs intolerant attitude towards non-Darwinian thoughts, even when the doubters dont support ID. Indeed, Mazurs reports reveal that various scientists and academics she has interviewed during her reporting about the conference have fundamental doubts about neo-Darwinism, but they are eschewed by the scientific community.

With so many evolutionary biologists having serious doubts about standard evolutionary theory, even as the Darwinian community works to silence them, it seems disingenuous for Alan Leshner and the NCSE to claim that there simply are no controversies of any significance in evolutionary biology.

Which brings us back to Oklahomas SEAFA. In characterizing the bill as anti-science, the NCSE is playing politics with science yet again. Susan Mazur noted back in 2008 that there are hundreds of other evolutionary scientists (non-Creationists) who contend that natural selection is politics, not science, and that we are in a quagmire because of staggering commercial investment in a Darwinian industry built on an inadequate theory. So much for no controversies in evolutionary biology.

What is really anti-science is opposing any science education standards that require students to learn how to develop critical thinking skills they need in order to become intelligent, productive and scientifically informed citizens. Far better to just feed them the Darwinian dogma than let them learn how to think! Anti-science indeed!

Image credit: Oklahoma State Capitol,  Caleb Long [CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons.
(Scroll down for a slide show of photos from the awards banquet.)

COLUMBUS  The beef market may be in downward spin, but optimism reigned at the Ohio Cattlemens Association annual meeting and awards banquet Jan. 23. The meeting was held at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center.

Henry Bergfeld, owner of Pine Hill Farm in southern Columbiana County, received the OCAs Industry Excellence award.

Bergfeld is well-known from his years as manager of the Summitcrest Farms, and pioneered the export of Angus embryos. Under his direction, Summitcrest was named 1991 Beef Improvement Federation Seedstock Producer of the Year, and in 1998, the operation was named one of eight national Cattle Businesses of the Century, an award administered by the National Cattlemens Foundation.

He is a past member and chair of the Certified Angus Beef board, past member of the American Angus Association board, and board member and past president of the Ohio Angus Association.

A past president of the Ohio Cattlemens Association, it was during his OCA leadership tenure that the Ohio Beef Expo got started. Bergfeld was also a strong force in the forming of the Buckeye Beef Improvement Federation and then served as a charter member and first president of the organization.

A well-known judge, he has judged at the National Western Stock Show in Denver as well as other national and state livestock events. In 2005, he was named Animal Science Distinguished Alumnus by Penn States Department Of Dairy And Animal Science.

He and his wife, Dona, have three adult children, Ann, Ellen and Lee. They currently run 40 head on their 196-acre farm.

Stewardship

A second Columbiana County cattleman also received one of the top honors. Pete Conkle, who runs a commercial, grass-fed Red Angus operation near Hanoverton, received the OCAs Environmental Stewardship award.

Conkle also works for the Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District and helped establish the Eastern Ohio Grazing Council.

A board member of the Columbiana-Mahoning-Trumbull Cattlemens Association, Conkle currently serves on the Ohio Cattlemens Association board of directors.

Commercial cattleman

Jamey and Jody Rauch, of Rauclif Farms in Washington County, received the Commercial Cattleman of the Year award. The Rauchs have a crossbred Angus herd with approximately 100 cow-calf pairs. The calves are fed out, along with an additional 100 calves.

Seedstock producer

Charlie, Jordan and Scott Diehl of Diehl Cattle Company, Bradford, Ohio, received the Seedstock Producer of the Year award. The family cattle company began with six cows and has grown to a herd of 200 Gelbvieh cows and is the primary seedstock producer in western Ohio. The bulls are marketed in Missouri at Seedstock Plus Genetics.

Young cattleman

Randy Hollowell, of C&H Farm near Covington, Ohio, received the OCAs Young Cattleman of the Year award. He and his wife, Stacy, have two children, and partner with his brother-in-law and father-in-law on the family farm. They currently farm over 3,000 acres of grain as well as manage a cattle feedlot of about 640 cattle per year. Most of the cattle are directly marketed to packing plants and the rest are marketed as freezer beef.

Industry partner

Jim, Jackie and Jarrett Murray of J&J Steakbarn, received the Industry Service Award. The Ohio Cattlemens Association partners with J&J Steakbarn to serve beef at the Ohio State Fair, Ohio Beef Expo, Spring Dairy Expo and other events.

Beef ambassadors

Three individuals were tapped to serve as Ohio Beef Ambassadors for 2016: Mackenzie Chamberlain, Napoleon; Nick Erf, Bellevue; and Samantha Norman, Fulton. They will spend the next year educating consumers and students about beef nutrition, food safety and beef industry practices.

Issue updates

During the associations annual meeting, Colin Woodall, vice president of government affairs for the National Cattlemens Beef Association (NCBA), and Mike Miller, senior vice president of global marketing and research at NCBA, each gave updates on issues and marketing efforts at the national level.

Ohio state Rep. Brian Hill, R-Zanesville, chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, shared an update on proposed changes to the Current Agricultural Use Valuation, or CAUV, tax formula and policy.

Ohios CAUV, which taxes farmland on its agricultural and not highest use value, has been under fire since the recent evaluations (a third of Ohios counties are reviewed every three years) increased farmland taxes as high as 300 percent.

While there have been and still are changes the state tax commission can implement without legislation, Hill said the commission has been slow to act, and in early November he introduced H.B. 398 that would address several issues.

Hill said he is frustrated with the slow movement of the bill, even though the bill has garnered 25 co-sponsors. Thats a big deal, he added. That bill should be flyin through the House.

The proposal was just assigned to the Government Accountability and Oversight Committee Jan. 20. He is hoping a hearing will be scheduled in the next few weeks.

Ohio State

During the Ohio Cattlemens Association annual meeting, Ron Hendrick, acting dean of Ohio States College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, updated Ohio Cattlemens Foundation members on a review of the universitys farm facilities.

The recent review determined between $80-90 million worth of updates or new buildings are needed in the animal science facilities alone. Many of the ag college facilities were built between 1950 and 1980. Those dollars are not likely to materialize, Hendrick said, but what will happen is a downsizing and shifting of species locations over the next five to 10 years.

Plans call for the swine herd to move to the Wooster campus, for example, and the colleges horse herd will be co-located with the herd from Veterinary Medicine at the Alice Lloyd Finley Memorial Veterinary Research Farm, a 133-acre farm in Madison County, and overall equine numbers will be smaller.

Hendrick said the dairy barn will be maintained at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory, but the university also hopes to build a multispecies building there, where smaller numbers of livestock could be housed for research and teaching purposes.

But Hendrick, who has just accepted the ag dean position at Michigan State University, told the cattlemen that beef is a priority for the college.

We have made significant investments in the beef industry, Hendrick said, highlighting increased staffing in support, research, Extension and teaching.

He also outlined plans for a new beef reproductive physiology lab, arena, offices and beef barn at the Don Scott Field. At its December meeting, the OCA board pledged $50,000 toward the construction of the new 31,000 square foot facility that will bear a $5 to 6 million pricetag. Hendrick said capital fundraising efforts are underway to raise half of the expected cost.

Leadership

Incoming president for the Ohio Cattlemans Association is Joe Foster, of Gallia County. He is joined on the executive committee by Vice President Sasha Rittenhouse; treasurer Bill Tom; member at large, Tom Karr; and immediate past president Frank Phelps.

Scholarships

Several scholarships were presented during the luncheon program, including the continuing installments of the Steve R. Rauch Benchmark of Excellence Scholarship to Sierra Jepsen, Fairfield County; and Laura Schmuki, Stark County.

Molly Cleveland, Seneca County; Curtis Harsh, Delaware County; Hunter Frobose, Wood County; and Evan Smith, Fairfield County; each received a Tagged for Greatness Scholarship, and Sarah Johnson, Pickaway County, received the Saltwell Expo Scholarship.

Emily Bauman, Adams County; Jordan Bonham, Fayette County; Haley Drake, Columbiana County; and Josie Vanco, Gallia County; each received Cattlemens County Club Scholarships. Molly Cleveland, Haley Drake, Jordan Bonham and Laura Schmuki also received additional scholarships.

Henry and Dona Bergfeld Columbiana County cattleman Henry Bergfeld, pictured with his wife Dona, received the Ohio Catttlemans Association Industry Excellence award Jan. 23. Also pictured is award sponsor Dave Russell, of Brownfield Ag News. (Susan Crowell photo) < > < > 1 View Henry and Dona Bergfeld Columbiana County cattleman Henry Bergfeld, pictured with his wife Dona, received the Ohio Catttlemans Association Industry Excellence award Jan. 23. Also pictured is award sponsor Dave Russell, of Brownfield Ag News. (Susan Crowell photo) 2 View OCA Environmental Stewardship award recipient Friends and family celebrated the Environmental Stewardship award presented to Pete Conkle. From left, Tamie Ambrose; Josh and MaryAlice Sigler and their daughter, Tatym; Pete Conkle; and his parents Alice and Larry Conkle. 3 View OCA Seedstock Producer of the Year award recipients The Diehl family received this year's Seedstock Producer of the Year award. From left are Ken Zimmerman; Charlie, Ang, Jordan and Scott Diehl. 4 View OCA Young Cattleman of the Year award recipient Randy Hallowell received the Ohio Cattlemen's Association Young Cattleman of the Year award. With him are his wife, Stacy, and children Carly and Dylan. Also pictured is Jennifer Kiel, representing the award sponsor, Ohio Farmer. 5 View Commercial Cattleman of the Year award recipients Jamey and Jody Rauch received this year's Commercial Cattleman of the Year award. They are joined by award sponsor, Susan Crowell (left), editor of Farm and Dairy; and their children, daughter Katie Marks and her husband, Bradley; and sons Josh and Evan. 6 View OCA Industry Service award recipients Jackie, Jim and Jarrett Murray, of J&J Steak Barn, received the Industry Service award, which is sponsored by Ohio's County Journal, represented by editor Matt Reese. 7 View Henry Bergfeld Columbiana County cattleman Henry Bergfeld received the Ohio Catttlemans Association Industry Excellence award Jan. 23. 8 View Pete Conkle and Gary Jackson Gary Jackson, representing award sponsor Ohio Country Today, presented the Environmental Stewardship award to Pete Conkle (left) 9 View 2016 Ohio Beef Ambassadors Newly selected Ohio Beef Ambassadors include (L-R) Samantha Norman, of Fulton; Nick Erf, Bellevue; and Mackenzie Chamberlain, Napoleon. 10 View NCBA Colin Woodall National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Colin Woodall, vice president of government affairs, updated Ohio cattlemen on issues in Washington that affect the industry. 11 View Ohio Rep. Brian Hill Ohio state Rep. Brian Hill gave an update on CAUV during the Ohio Cattlemen's Association annual meeting Jan. 23. 12 View OCA scholarship recipients Scholarship recipients include (L-R) Molly Cleveland; Haley Drake; Jordan Bonham; and Laura Schmuki. 13 View OCA Steve R. Rauch Benchmark of Excellence Scholarship winners Laura Schmuki, Stark County, and Sierra Jepsen, Fairfield County, received the Steve R. Rauch Benchmark of Excellence Scholarship. 14 View OCA Tagged for Greatness Scholarship winners Students receiving the Tagged for Greatness Scholarship include (L-R) Hunter Frobose, Evan Smith and Molly Cleveland. Not pictured is recipient Curtis Harsh. 15 View OCA Country Club Scholarship winners Winners of the OCA's Country Club Scholarship are (L-R): Emily Bauman, Haley Drake, Josie Vanco and Jordan Bonham.

By Susan Crowell
FREDERICKSBURG, Ohio  Maple syrup is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the locally grown food movement. How much more local can you get, than driving right to the sugar house to purchase fresh maple syrup? asked Gary Graham, OSU Extension educator in Holmes County and state maple syrup specialist.

Producers who attended Maple Days, Jan. 22, in Fredericksburg, Ohio, learned how to enhance their maple syrup production, new products to consider making and the importance of marketing that finished product. Similar sessions were also held in Morrow and Geauga counties.

Its a chance to get producers together to see the latest technologies and learn tricks of the trade from other producers to make a better quality product, said Graham.

Grading standards

During last years workshop, producers were introduced to a new grading system that went into effect in March 2015. The new system focuses more on the flavor of the finished product than the color. Graham said flavor resonates more with consumers than color and they are more apt to understand label descriptors of delicate, mild and robust versus, dark, light and amber.

In addition, all maple syrup will be considered grade A and fall under a classification of color and taste  golden, delicate; amber, rich; dark, robust; or very dark, strong. The international grading system makes grading uniform across the U.S. Ohio does not require producers to grade their maple syrup products, but Graham suggests they do. Customers are a lot more food conscious today than in the past, he said.

Graham also highlighted the importance of educating consumers on these new grading standards and suggested hanging posters in their sugar shacks or retail space to show the color/taste breakdown of the new standards. (Posters are available on the International Maple Syrup Institute website.)

If you grade some of your syrup and bottle it, I think you are going to find people coming back for that specific taste, said Graham.

Specialty products

Producers might also find their way back to a specific producer if they start adding maple candies to their product line. Not many hands went up when Stephen Childs, Cornell sugar maple program director and New York state maple specialist, asked how many producers already make maple candies, and no hands went up when he asked, Who doesnt want to make more money?

The candies can be a time-consuming product  which he feels is why many have not taken on candy making  but with the right equipment, producers can make candy efficiently and possibly see an increase to their bottom line. Childs said the research team sold 2,000 pounds of soft maple candy during the New York State Fair. Research showed consumers preferred a medium or soft candy, that was smooth in texture and had a mild taste.

Production update

But to produce a specialty product, there has to be enough production to make those extra candies. Childs shared an update on the research Cornell has been doing on maple trees to increase production.

Creating a vacuum within the tree has shown to increase production by 5-8 percent during days of lower temperature. Childs also suggests that less is more when using this vacuum system, stating, There is no reason to over tap your trees.

Too many taps could lessen the strength of the vacuum created within the tree, he explained. Childs research team also determined that a smaller tubing of 3/16 inch  versus the standard 5/16 inch tube  creates a better vacuum.

Sanitation

Dan Milo, food safety supervisor at the Ohio Department of Agriculture, reminded producers the importance of a clean space when working with food products. A couple producers in the northeast Ohio area received surprise inspections, he added. Milo said producers can pass these inspections by having an enclosed space (for food production) free from rodents and other animals, keeping the space clean, and having a handwashing station.

Maple production

Ohio maple syrup production is on the rise in the state, but the numbers dont show it. Graham and Cheryl Turner, USDA Ohio state statistician, stressed the importance of maple producers reporting their maple production and number of taps.

Of the 3.41 million gallons of syrup reported in the United States in 2015, Ohio only accounted for roughly 2 percent of that production  115,000 gallons in 2015. All states that report maple syrup production showed an increase in production except for Ohio, which went down 12 percent.

I really dont think this is accurate, said Turner, who encouraged producers to fill out their NASS surveys in order to accurately reflect the production in Ohio.

For many years, Ohio was ranked no. 4 in the nation for maple production, but falls to no. 8 in the most recent NASS update

I know we are stronger, Graham said.

Maple Nuggets

According to Gary Graham, OSU Extension state maple syrup specialist, maple syrup is high in nutritional value. Pure maple syrup is a natural sweetener and is a good source of vitamins and minerals such as: magnesium, riboflavin, zinc, manganese, calcium and potassium.

Ohio ranked No. 8 in maple syrup production in 2015, with 115,000 gallons and 440,000 taps reported. In 2014, Ohio produced 130,000 gallons and in 2013, 155,000 gallons. Graham and Cheryl Turner, USDA Ohio state statistician, believe this is an inaccurate reflection of Ohio maple syrup production.

The new grading standard classifies maple syrup by color and taste: golden maple with a delicate taste, amber maple with a rich taste, dark maple with a robust taste and very dark maple with a strong taste.
COLUMBUS  The U.S. Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service has 2016 federal conservation program funds available for Ohio farmers and forestland owners.

Farmers and forestland owners may apply for funding under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) at any time throughout the year, but application selections for funding are made at specific times.

The first 2016 application deadline is Feb. 19. EQIP provides financial assistance for conservation management and structures (practices) and technical assistance to develop a conservation plan.

Landowners should make an appointment with their local NRCS office as soon as possible to begin the conservation planning process. Applications for EQIP submitted by entities, such as farmers applying as a corporation, must register with the Central Contractor Registration, a process that can take up to three weeks.

Information about CCR requirements, including obtaining a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number, is posted on the NRCS website at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill.

Dedicated EQIP funds are available for conservation practices targeting on-farm energy, organic systems, high tunnel systems, honeybee and other wildlife habitat, as well as several landscape-based initiatives.

Livestock EQIP

Livestock farmers statewide (includes pastured livestock)

Cropland EQIP. Crop farmers statewide EXCEPT those farming in the Western Lake Erie Basin Watershed (future 2016 EQIP funding will be available for crop farmers in this watershed).

Forestry EQIP. Private forestland owners statewide.

Southern Ohio Appalachian EQIP. Pasture operations in Adams, Athens, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Scioto, Vinton and Washington Counties.

Cerulean Warbler Regional Conservation Partnership Program RCPP. Tree planting on reclaimed mined land in Adams, Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Vinton, and Washington Counties.

East Fork Watershed Nutrient Reduction RCPP. Crop and pasture land in portions of Brown, Clermont, Clinton and Highland Counties.

Promoting Best Management Practices for Phosphorus RCPP. Cropland in portions of Delaware, Knox, Licking and Morrow Counties.

Upper Paint Creek Mississippi River Basin Initiative. Crop, forest, livestock and pasture operations in Clark, Clinton, Fayette, Greene and Madison Counties.

Additional EQIP funding will be available in 2016 for other landscape-based initiatives and priority natural resource issues.

NRCS will post announcements of these future deadlines on the Ohio NRCS website, at http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov.
New report backs farmers' calls for better waste crime policies
South View football playing for volunteer coach with cancer

John Bell was given 60 days to live in August, but he was determined to rejoin South View football. The volunteer coach accomplished that goal in Week 9.
Back to the Future predicted wed have hoverboards in 2015, and it happened. But in the same year, the hoverboard industry crashed and burned. Was this an industrial catastrophe that Compliance 2.0 could have foreseen and prevented?

Mike Scher wrote here in 2015 that compliance officers should be seen as subject matter experts. His brilliant idea was to use Compliance 2.0 to avoid disasters like hoverboards  a product that brings its own risks because its lawful but new or novel.

Often these risks arent acknowledged, Mike said. No one owns them. I believe compliance officers should be subject matter experts for some of these lawful but new and novel situations, as they already are for scenarios that are lawful but awful.

Last year, hoverboards  two-wheeled, self-balancing scooters  became one of the most viral consumer products in history. Everyone wanted one, or wanted to give one to someone else. Enter China, the worlds factory.

Manufacturers and exporters in Shenzhen, where most of the worlds consumer electronics are made, caught on to the trend and cranked them out in droves. More than 400,000 boards shipped out from Shenzhen in October alone, Josh Horwitz wrote in Quartz.

But previously hidden risks started to surface. Sellers in the West made competing claims to the intellectual property, spooking retailers afraid of the legal crossfire. The lithium batteries powering hoverboards exploded and burned, causing some airlines to ban them from all flights. YouTube videos showed people falling off the boards. Broken elbows and cracked heads became part of the story, and part of the liability worry for retailers.

In the UK, Amazon stopped selling hoverboards. In the U.S., the retailer severely restricted sales and offered a full refund to anyone who bought a hoverboard through its online store.

The industry collapsed. Sellers were ruined. Work at the mega-factories in Shenzhen stopped, and tens of thousands of jobs disappeared. The wreckage piled up.

Who should have seen the risks ahead with hoverboards?

Executives at the sellers were too busy scrambling for supplies of hoverboards, and their lawyers were rushing to stake the IP turf. In Shenzhen, the mega-factories tried to meet demand by assembling ad hoc (fly-by-night) supply chains. Even identifying who made the defective batteries became nearly impossible, meaning there was no easy or quick fix for the problem.

Josh Horwitz concluded his story in Quartz this way:

This is the modern economy in a nutshell  viral trends, massive manufacturing hubs, IP disputes, weak regulation, immensely powerful businesses, and global ripple effects. That, rather than its distinctly underwhelming technology, is what made the hoverboard a device of the future  and perhaps just as quickly, and to most peoples relief, a thing of the past.

Horwitz sees a dreary version of the future, with repeating hoverboard-style debacles. But theres another way.

Mike Scher saw something better. He described it this way,

Chief compliance officers in the C-suite, working for and reporting to the board, overseeing compliance officers who are executives and subject matter experts, can help companies respond to the challenges of change. Its called Compliance 2.0. And its the future.

We like Mikes version of the future a lot more.

_____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. He can be contacted here.
Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne want another baby.

Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne

The loved-up couple, who already have 11-month-old daughter Ella together, are keen to add a little son to their family once they become husband and wife later this summer.

The blonde beauty explained: "We'll wait a bit, but it won't be too long after the wedding before we start trying again.

"I can't wait to have another baby with Dan - I really want a boy. If we have another girl next I'll keep trying!"

However, for now, the pair, who began dating at the end of 2013, have their hands tied up with planning their nuptials and Jacqueline has already found the perfect dress.

She told OK! magazine: I want all eyes on me on my big day - I'm dramatic like that!"

But, before they exchange vows, the 'EastEnders' star - who is known for playing feisty Lauren Branning in the BBC One soap - is looking forward to celebrating her hen do in Dubai with her girlfriends, while Dan will party in Las Vegas.

Jacqueline joked: "I've told Daniel's friends that they should tie him naked to a lamppost. As long as they send me a picture so I can laugh at it, I don't mind!"

Meanwhile, the couple have remained tight-lipped on the finer details of their big day but their little daughter Ella and Dan's two-year-old son Teddy - who he shares with his ex-girlfriend Megan Tomlin - will no doubt have a part in the wedding.
Iggy Pop and Josh Homme were inspired to make music from their shared interests in "[their] sex life, furniture and German trivia".

Iggy Pop

The rockers - who teamed up with Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders for the secret LP titled 'Post Pop Depression' -had a bizarre bonding session where they talked about their ideas for the album.

On working together, Iggy told Matt Wilkinson in a forthcoming Beats 1 Radio interview: "About half way through, we had a conversation about what we wanted to do. We didn't want to take anyone's money, we didn't want a record [label] person up our ass - we were willing to use our own funds."

Josh added: "It was a diverse layout of interests."

And Iggy revealed the things that turned them both on were, "Sex life, furniture and German trivia".

Meanwhile, the 68-year-old rocker said the band - which also includes Dean Fertita, from Queens of the Stone Age, and the Dead Weather, on guitars and keyboards - "sound really bloody good" live.

The record, which was made over a year ago between Josh's two studios in Los Angeles, Joshua Tree and Pink Duck in Los Angeles, is expected to be released in March.
Britain's Prince Charles will attend this year's British Asian Trust's gala dinner.

Britain's Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles

The 67-year-old royal will be joined by his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, at the annual event, which will take place at the Natural History Museum in London on February 2.

Richard Hawkes, the chief executive officer of the British Asian Trust said: "The Trust is looking forward to organising another fantastic gala event this year for all of our friends and supporters.

"This powerful gathering will be an evening of celebration but also share the real impact that the Trust is making in our goals to improve lives and make a difference to South Asia."

The Prince of Wales is a founder and president of the Trust, which works with the South Asian community, and will be joined at the event by a host of celebrities including the British Asian Trust's first ever ambassador, television star Sanjeev Bhaskar, known for his work on comedy programme 'The Kumars at No. 42'.

The 450 guests attending the event will be treated to a fabulous performance by 'Bleeding Love' hitmaker Leona Lewis as they celebrate the successes of the trust over the past year.
Britain's Prince Charles is "concerned" about the future of the RSPCA's royal patronage.

Britain's Prince Charles

The 67-year-old royal is reportedly worried about how the royal link to the animal charity will carry on because of their stance on countryside sports.

A source told the Daily Telegraph: "Prince Charles has privately voiced his concerns about the RSPCA. He has taken a close interest in the RSPCA and what has been happening there. He wants it to be an effective animal welfare organisation but it has become something else. It would be interesting to see how he could be a patron of an organisation with which he has had fundamental disagreements.

"Charles and Camilla are very supportive of hunting and shooting; so too are Princes William and Harry. They would have to take the view the RSPCA has moved on from its position two years ago. A lot will now depend on who becomes chief executive. That has to be critical in whether Prince Charles can ever take over the patronage."

Meanwhile, the organisation's chief executive Tim Bonner understands whoever takes on patronage, whether they are royal or not, would have to have similar beliefs to the charity.

He said: "Anyone considering taking on the patronage of the RSPCA would have to consider its future direction and whether it is going to continue down a radical campaign path.

"If it reverts to its traditional role as a welfare charity protecting animals I am sure nobody could have any reason not to support its work."
Britain's Prince George caused interest in his nursery to soar by 65 per cent.

Britain's Prince George and Prince William

The two-year-old royal - the son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - is currently in his fourth week at Westacre Montessori School in King's Lynn, Norfolk and interest has already spiked in the school's various sites worldwide.

Louise Livingston, director of training at the Maria Montessori Institute, told PEOPLE magazine: "As soon as the first week in January hit and the news of George joining the nursery, enquiries have been almost constant. We've been hearing from a lot of people who want to be a Montessori teacher. We have an open afternoon every so often where people can come and observe students, and those events have been booking full. Before they weren't fully booked.

"That was almost instantaneous. People might have thought about working as a nursery teacher and might not have realised there was a specific training for Montessori. We have certainly noticed more awareness with that."

Meanwhile, Prince George - who has an eight-month-old sister, Princess Charlotte - was very "brave" on his first day of nursery, according to Duchess Catherine.

Recalling a conversation he had with the Duchess, retired Royal Navy lieutenant commander Arthur Coxon said: "They asked what my connection with the association was and I congratulated Kate on the lovely photos of Prince George.

"She said he went off to school bravely as anything and thoroughly enjoyed it."
Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are planning play dates for their son.

Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The royal couple are reportedly organising for two-year-old Prince George's friends to visit him at Anmer Hall, their country retreat in Norfolk, east England.

A source told Bella magazine: "Kate and William will be getting involved in Prince George's nursery life. They won't ever want him to feel isolated or different from the other children, so that means plenty of play dates with his classmates.

"Kate and William are very sociable and want to get involved in all aspects of his nursery life, which includes meeting his new friends. There would be security checks on parents coming into their home and personal 'family areas' of the estate would be out of bounds, but there are plenty of communal areas where George's friends can visit."

Meanwhile, it is likely Prince George will want to spend the majority of his playdates outside anyway as he "instinctively" likes to be outdoors, according to his grandfather Prince Charles.

He said previously: "Fortunately he's one of those characters, I think, who naturally, instinctively likes to be outside.

"It's very interesting. I'm intrigued to see if it lasts. But he loves being outside, which is encouraging. Like all these things, it depends if you can get them to take an interest."
I have been a farmer the last 30 years and FijiFirst government has been assisting us farmers through grants for rice and sugarcane farming in Navai settlement. These forms of assistance recognize the challenges we face and not only that, there is frequent visits by the government officials for continued dialogue on the way forward for the development of Navai community, Mr Narayan said.

The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Rosy Akbar visited Navai settlement in Labasa this week to meet with residents and discuss Governments overall development programs that were relevant to her portfolio.Navai settlement is a multiracial farming community that is located 60 kilometers from the Seaqaqa district outside Labasa.The objective of Minister Akbars visit was to distribute school stationeries to 72 students at Navai Primary School and also speak to them and their parents about the National Child Helpline and child welfare programs.Minister Akbars visit also provided an opportunity for those in Navai settlement to seek clarification and information on the Ministrys programs regarding social welfare programs.In her opening address, Minister Akbar emphasised on the importance of reaching out to rural communities.We are trying to reach out to rural and remote communities to provide them with the information on the Ministrys programs. The Ministry provides assistance through the Poverty Benefit Scheme, Care and Protection Program, Social Pension Scheme, Expanded Food Voucher Program and income generating projects as well.The purpose of our visit to network with the community to look at ways we can work together to improve the lives of women, children and families. The Ministry is also here to raise awareness on elimination of violence against women and children. Strong families are foundation for the strong nation. The Ministry through its reach project aims to increase awareness on these issues in rural communities, Minister Akbar elaborated.Mr Sanjay Kumar, the head teacher for Navai Primary School acknowledged the government for the timely assistance.We are grateful to the Fijian government for assisting these students with free transport, free education and free text books program. These children dont have to pay any fees and Year One students are getting free milk and weetbix as well. These programs assist our students to attend classes regularly and emphasizes on the importance of education in our country.And we are really fortunate that Minister Akbar has visited us and provided the school stationeries to these students. Meeting with the Minister is also a great incentive for the students to work hard and become great leaders in their communities. The visit by Minister Akbar has given hope to this community, it reflects on the governments commitment to education development in rural communities, the awareness on child welfare programs is also beneficial for the parents and teachers as well, Mr Kumar said.Similarly, Mr Amit Narayan, a farmer in Navai settlement describes farming as a profitable venture in Seaqaqa.
Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga was commissioned today as Fijis new resident-Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.Fijis mission in Ethiopia is a new mission in the African continent and replaces the one in Pretoria in South Africa, which has now closed.Ambassador Tikoitoga took the oath of allegiance and oath of execution of office at the State House before His Excellency the President, Major General (Ret) Jioji Konousi Konrote. Senior government officials and members of Mr Tikoitogas immediate family also witnessed todays commissioning ceremony.Prior to his diplomatic appointment, Ambassador Tikoitoga was the former Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces before he resigned in 2015 to pursue a diplomatic career. Tikoitoga holds a Masters in Management in Defence Studies from Canberra University in Australia and holds a separate Masters of Philosophy in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Madras University in India.Two senior mission staff left yesterday for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to begin preparations for Ambassador Tikoitogas arrival in the next few days. They are Mr Ropate Cabealawa (Counsellor) and Mr Sisalo Otealagi (First Secretary). Mr Cabealawa is a former Director of the Oceania, Asia and Russia Bureau at the ministry. Prior to that, he served as a magistrate. Mr Otealagi is a former first secretary at the Fiji Mission in Pretoria, South Africa.Ethiopia plays a significant geo-political role in the region, being the headquarters for the African Union (AU) and other key international agencies based in Addis Ababa.Editors note: To view more images from this event, visit the Fijian Government Facebook page
Your Highness, I offer my best wishes on the occasion of this important anniversary and many more years of peace and prosperity to the Kuwaiti people.

The Prime Minister Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama has congratulated the Government and people of Kuwait on the commemoration of their national holiday.In a message to the Emir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister thanked him for supporting Fijis development efforts.On behalf of the Fijian Government and people, I congratulate Your Highness, the Government and the people of Kuwait as you commemorate Kuwaiti national holiday.I would like to express my Government's deep appreciation for the interest and support you have provided to our development and to the growth of our very own Pacific Islands Development Forum.It was an opportunity for Prime Minister Bainimarama to reaffirm Fijis own commitment to work closely with Kuwait especially in areas of common interests.My Government reassures its steadfast commitment to peacekeeping efforts in the region and I look forward to our continued cooperation with the State of Kuwait, a player of significant regional standing, on issues of common interest.
HON PM BAINIMARAMA REMARKS AT THE DEDICATION OF A CLASSROOM BLOCK AT WAICOBA DISTRICT SCHOOL





We are investing in our school facilities throughout the country. We want to have the best possible teachers throughout the country to inspire our children, better facilities for our children to learn in, and better equipment and other educational materials for our children. So we are supporting our teachers with training and incentives, we are working in partnership with the schools and communities to give them what they need, and we are working with the best experts we can find to improve the curriculum and the resources available to our children and teachers.

Distinguished Guests;Ladies and Gentlemen.Ni sa Bula vinaka and good afternoon to you all.I have many responsibilities as Prime Minister. But visiting schools always seems more like a pleasure than a duty. I love being with our children, in part because I love children and in part because everything we do is in some way for themto build a country that gives them opportunity. To make sure they have the chance for a better life, a healthier life, a safer life, a richer life in both spiritual and material ways.I think about what they will become, what they will accomplish. I look into their faces and wish very much that the joy and optimism they show today will be with them their whole lives.Governments job is to give them the ability to turn those wishes into reality. And that starts with the schools. Proper schools, with good teachers, open up the world to children. Without good schools, children might never see the possibilities that the world offers to them if they are prepared to take advantage of it.That is why I have made education a top priority for government. I have said that I want education to be my legacy. I want to be known as the prime minister who finally made education free, who finally told parents and children, This is your right. We provide education as a community, and we will not charge you fee after fee after fee to give your children something that is so basic, necessary.I am particularly concerned about the schools in our rural areas, where children dont always have the same access to information and technology as their urban counterparts. We have to make extra efforts here.The Ministry of Finance just released the initial results of its Household Income and Expenditure Survey, and it shows that rural poverty is steadily decreasing. That is very good news. I want to accelerate that. And, ladies and gentlemen, we know that education is a key factor in lifting people from poverty. That is because education gives us the means to harness the drive and spirit we hold inside us to lift ourselves up. It expands our horizons and shows us possibilities. God created us all equal, in His image and likeness, but he left it to us to make ourselves good and productive people. He left it to us to teach our children and help them become strong and contributing adults.My Governments philosophy is also that we are all equal, because how can any government worthy of the name deny the equality that God has ordained? In todays Fiji and tomorrows Fiji, all citizens are equal. Your religion, your ethnicity, your occupation, your social status or whether you live in the capital or the most remote island or remote village do not matter.Today I am happy to dedicate a new, two-room block building to support the students of this school and their dedicated teachers. Your old building is gone, and you have this new one in its place. The total cost of this project was $48,000.00, and it includes what the builders and planners like to call an ablution block for the hostel. I like to call it a washroom, a bathroom, or even a loo. We all need a place to bathe, to wash up and to do the other things that nature requires us to do every dayand to do that with dignity and in a clean, healthy environment. We have to help children learn to take care of themselves. And learning good hygiene is as important as learning from books.Another $12,000 will go to the early childhood education program at this school, bringing the total expenditure to $60,000. We have learned that early childhood education can be a major factor in a childs later development. It puts children on the proper path to learning by helping them develop reasoning skills and social skills. And once children start to love learning and feel successful, they can carry that love of learning and that confidence throughout their school years and beyond.Ladies and Gentlemen,Our country is on the move. There is a different mindset today in Fiji. We are making our own future, determining what kind of nation we will be, what kind of people we will be. Equality of opportunity will be the defining element of that future. And that is why I am asking the people of Fiji to help us adopt a new flag.Our current flag has served us well. I have served under it with pride as a military officer and your prime minister. But much has changed in Fiji and the world since we adopted it more than 45 years ago. But while that flag took us out of the past, I would like us to have a flag that takes us into the futureto where we are going rather than from where we have been. The new flagalways with our beloved Fiji bluecan stand for the kind of people we are, the kind of nation we aspire to be, and the kind of country we will leave to these children.We have established a transparent process, and I ask you all to participate. We are accepting design submissions until February 29, and then we will select five designs to put before the people. There will be a national consultation during which time you will be able to tell us which design you like best.Whichever design we choose, it will signify the dawn of a new day. And we will love it because will represent our country. It will tell the world that Fiji is on the move. It will be our banner. We will have created it.I believe we will love whichever design we choose because we love our Fiji.Someday, and sooner than you think, our new flag will say to the world, We are Fijians, and we believe in our future. Watch what we can do.Vinaka vakalevu, and thank you.
HON PM BAINIMARAMA REMARKS AT THE OPENING OF KOMAVE WATER PROJECT AND ECOLOGIAL PURIFICATION SYSTEM





Thank you. Vinaka vakalevu

Distinguished Guests;Ladies and Gentlemen.Bula vinaka and a good morning to you all.Im delighted to be here with you all at Komave Village in Nadroga to kick off the first day of my Tour of the Western Division. Just two weeks ago I was in the North, opening new infrastructure, providing new equipment and extending the reach of our Government services. The geography of the North presents unique challenges, so it took special efforts from my Government to bring Fijians there the projects and programs that they deserved.Here in the West, you also face challenges that we must together overcome. The mountains and rivers here on Viti Levu are surely beautiful, but they can also be obstacles to infrastructure and make services difficult to deliver. Thats why Im here in the West, because you also deserve special efforts from my Government. Special efforts to bring real improvements to your lives, so that your quality of life is not defined by where you choose to call home or where generations of your family have lived.Fiji is currently enjoying a lot of economic success. For six straight years, our economy has been growing and improving  and we are projected to stay on that track. That is a significant achievement, and it did not happen because of the efforts of a few, but by the efforts of many. Every Fijian, regardless of where they call home, can claim responsibility for our strong, growing economy.Here in the village, your hard work adds to the hard work of thousands of other Fijians to create growth for our larger economy. So when that economy does well, it is the duty of my Government to make sure that prosperity is shared by everyone, including those of you here in Komave. You are all equal contributors to the success of our new Fiji, so I will not rest until you see the benefits of the economic gains you helped make possible.Today, I am here to officially commission the dam, water tank and PVC pipes that have provided you with a safe and abundant source of water. The project was completed at a total cost of $101,167 and has already made a big difference in the lives of 289 people here in Komave Village. Today also marks the official opening of the Komave, Nadroga Ecological Purification Project, completed at a total cost of $46,066.Ive wanted to visit both of these projects for a while, along with all of you here in Komave, to see the difference it has made in your lives and hear your own stories and vision for your village.When my Government looks to how our development policies and programmes will change the destiny of this nation, we see quite clearly that we need to build on the right foundations, including education, security, and basic human needs  and access to water is the most basic need. Access to safe and clean water in adequate number is your right under our constitution.Water brings life -- other improvements mean very little if access to water is not guaranteed every hour of the day. We use water every day to keep ourselves productive and healthy. It keeps us hydrated, it keeps us clean, and it is our most precious natural resource. Without clean water, we cannot live. So people who dont have water must spend precious hours every day just finding water, collecting it, bringing it home and making sure it is safe to drink.So that is why these projects are so important. They have given your community access to water every day of every week and made sure that water is clean and safe to drink. It has given you better health. And it has given you the gift of timetime you can use to earn a living or love your children or help keep your village safe and clean. You no longer have to go out into the rivers and creeks; you can now access that water right here in the village. And that water is free of any illnesses, so you can rest assured that you and your children are staying healthy.Never before has access to water been safer or more convenient than it is for you today. But while these projects are a blessing, it is only the beginning of what Komave Village is capable of becoming. When we all keep working hard and when my Government continues with policies that drive economic growth, we will build Komave Village, and all of Fiji, into an even more prosperous and equitable society.Ladies and gentlemen,My Government is committed a new Fiji not only that enjoys unprecedented economic success, but also represents for who we are as a people. That is why we are currently in the process of changing our national flag. Our current flag has served us proudly, but the Fijian people deserve a flag that symbolizes where we come from, and where we are headed.The deadline for flag design submissions has been extended until the 29th of February. In March, we will announce the five final designs, then consult with the public before flying our new national flag on Constitution Day, the 7th of September.This is a national effort and conversation that will define what represents Fiji. So I hope all of you will make your voices heard, through your design submissions and your opinions on the final designs. This will be a flag for every Fijian, so it would be a shame if every Fijian did not have their say. So get involved, and I hope youll follow this process closely as we choose a new flag that captures what is to be Fijian.I am confident that all of you here will keep up the great work youve done, and continue to use these new water projects to enhance your daily lives. You deserve everything my Government can afford to give, and we will do our part to support your village and your people in the days to come.
Three former Merrill Lynch advisors overseeing a combined $200 million in client assets have opened an independent practice with LPL Financial, the firm says.

In an effort to develop a team structure in the independent space, wirehouse advisors Jeff Kocis, John Kinsella and Richard Rohlfing have moved their business to the Chicago-based IHT Wealth Management, an independent firm on LPL's broker-dealer and hybrid RIA platforms, according to LPL.

"By joining with LPL and IHT, we can provide our clients with objective financial advice that will allow us to find strategies tailored for their needs," Kocis says.

Prior to joining Merrill in 2009, Kocis worked at Bank of America and Lasalle Financial since 2002, according to FINRA records. Kinsella started his career at Goldman Sachs in 1980 and subsequently worked for Paine Webber, Oppenheimer, RBC Dain Rauscher and Bank of America, BrokerCheck records show. Rohlfing, who recently started with Merrill Lynch in 2010, is the newest to the industry, according to FINRA.

The team will open IHT's newest office in Oakbrook, Ill., the firm says. Since joining LPL in 2014, IHT now operates five offices with 17 total advisors and plans to continue its expansion this year on the east and west coasts, according to statements from LPL.

LPL Financial recently lured a Wells Fargo team with $525 million in client assets to its hybrid RIA platform, Stratos Wealth Partners.

Read more:
Though John DiCiaccio loves driving, and loves muscling fast cars around a test track even more, he finds himself entranced by how his new Tesla can drive itself. Letting the cars autopilot handle some mundane aspects of his commute, especially in maddening Los Angeles traffic, makes him a better and more alert driver.

Technology can react quicker to stop your car than you can, especially if you are tired or distracted, he says. Sensors dont get tired.

It struck DiCiaccio, a partner and managing director at Snowden Lane Partners, that fellow advisors should note the efficiency of new self-driving cars. After all, their technology is being mirrored in wealth management, even in areas as sophisticated as compliance. Robo advice and data-driven tools are becoming the norm, and its becoming imperative to adopt at least some of the latest tech tools, or risk losing clients.

Even more urgently, advisors risk squandering new ways to monitor increasingly sophisticated compliance requirements.

Take, for instance, the challenge of meeting clients demands that they be able to access their account anytime, from anywhere  while also protecting and monitoring that information.

Without the support of a custodians Web portal, an independent practice needs to pay for building a system capable of handling real-time data requests from clients. Separately, the firm will need data security measures in place that meet the SECs new cybersecurity focus, which came out only in September. If regulators knock on the door, can your firm account for any and all remote access to client data from any device?

Learning to steer through the pylons of upgrading your firms tech savvy, while also ensuring it can handle new digital compliance demands, is possible, even for small and midsize firms. With a few smart moves, advisors can achieve both goals without extensive costs or onerous overhauls of existing tech infrastructure.

Upgrading our technology has allowed us to better maintain and organize our data, says Eric Sontag, chief operating officer of Sontag Advisory in New York. Upgrades allowed the firm to reduce operational risk and provide information quickly to the regulatory authorities when needed, all while also benefiting the business via increased efficiency and better service to clients, he adds.

PERSPECTIVE NEEDED

First off, do not be overwhelmed by the prospect of buying new, unfamiliar technology. Understand you are not alone with your possible confusion around new digital compliance requirements.

Theres a famous saying that you dont know what you dont know, says Carl Choy, a principal at Honolulu-based CKW Financial Group. When were at a big wirehouse, we think we know a lot. But once we go out on our own, there are all these technology and compliance issues to handle. We realize then that we dont know very much. And thats a challenge.

But this is no excuse for turning your back on the numerous tools that can upgrade your practice. The process is an exercise in accepting that costly upgrades may be necessary for the future of the business.

You need to find your comfort zone with technology and not be afraid of it, says Scott Horn, president of TFOPhoenix, a fee-only firm. You have to figure out what is the most important for your practice, what moves the meter the most for your dollar and what youre willing to allocate.

This year Horns firm will hire an outside firm to perform a cybersecurity audit, even though that measure is not required by regulators. He balances the expense of the decision with the potential cost of suffering a data breach.

My rationale is simple, Horn says. At the end of the day, I dont want that to happen, and think, If I had only known X, I couldve done something more to protect client data. They trust us and put faith in us, and its our job to continue to earn that trust.

COST CONCERNS

In Financial Plannings 2015 tech survey, 54% of respondents said cost was the main factor they use to evaluate the ROI of the technology they purchase. Its a reasonable concern.

Horn estimates that his firms tech budget is roughly 10% of its expenses. But he doesnt call it an expense: I try to view it as an investment, he says, because youre getting something for it, whether its making your practice more efficient and helps you serve your clients better, or makes the client experience more rewarding.

Sontag says compliance is a major focus at his firm, and employees are evaluated on their use of systems to this end, which is incorporated into their incentive compensation.

Clearly, you need to consider the direct impacts on cash flow and resources needed for implementation, but attempting to calculate an exact ROI on a new CRM system is sacrificing accuracy for precision, he says. Often, the greatest costs and benefits are those that cannot be quantified.

Advisors warn its easy to be seduced by marketing pitches for software, data management systems or enterprise platforms. To cut through the noise, advisors should take a hard look at their client base to determine what their practice lacks already to meet client and compliance demands.

Foremost, you need to understand the needs of your clients, says Jeremy Reeves, vice president of technology at Cleary Gull, a wealth manager in Milwaukee. Making a practice more digital can be done by anyone. But if your clients cant see the value in what youre doing, then really youre just implementing technology to have what everyone else has.

GET SOME STRUCTURE

Reeves says regular dialogue helps make the upgrading process smarter. He recommends talking to clients about service and different tools, as well as having internal discussions about what technology can help meet compliance needs and which tools work best.

Reeves makes it a practice to bring together people from across departments for their suggestions, and to learn from them which digital tools are most useful to their work.

One such discussion prompted Cleary Gull to treat technology and digital compliance issues as separate expenses. Information security is such an important aspect of our business, and with increased regulation, the budget for security should go up every year, he says.

CKW Financial surveys the top clients from the roughly 300 households it serves, looking for feedback on its technology-enhanced services, the firms co-founder, Lynne Kinney, says. Clients expect us to be using the best tools out there. They expect that theyre with a firm not being left behind by technology, but instead one that keeps up with how quickly the world is changing, she says.

To ensure upgrade conversations happen consistently, Modera Wealth Management created a committee of compliance, technology and operations heads to research and analyze potential vendors, purchases and information security policies, explains Mark Willoughby, Moderas chief operating officer, and Kevin Sweeney, its chief compliance officer.

The committee was convened just a year ago, prompted by the increased concerns about data security and compliance issues. The 40-member firm has already relied on the committees expertise to decide to pursue an upgrade of its network firewalls.

The committee has also kept the firm from potential purchases it deemed of little value. The initial part of the strategy is to figure out what the best options are, Willoughby says. The committee doesnt change the decision-making process, but it increases coordination.

DATA SECURITY

In a recent survey of cybersecurity practices at 440 small and midsize RIA firms, the North American Securities Administrators Association noted that 66% reported their IT expenses, which include network and data measures, represented just 3% of their firms overall expenses.

Though cybersecurity has received a lot of attention, regulators are not asking firms to add a new practice, says MarketCounsel CEO Brian Hamburger. Theyre not changing the rules of the road, he says.

Whether or not an advisor is in a cloud, the rules regarding privacy are exactly the same, Hamburger adds.

That doesnt mean firms can overlook the need, however.

The first steps should include developing a data security plan tailored to your firm, whether it is setting policy, exercising vendor due diligence or scheduling training for employees. Protections cannot be an afterthought, Hamburger says.

If a firm doesnt have enough resources to research and review technology and compliance-related decisions, Snowden Lanes DiCiaccio says it should allocate for a specialist to help out.

People sometimes try too much at once, and they get lost in it. The focus is off the client and on technology, DiCiaccio says. Hire a tech person and ask that person to form a budget for the coming year. If they can implement one thing, I guarantee the return on investment will make the firm happy.

For firms numbering more than 20 people, Sontag says he would not recommend implementing more than one major system (portfolio management, CRM, trade/rebalancing) in a given year. Even if you have the resources available to implement the software and populate the data, user adoption and culture change can pose a significant challenge to successful execution. The more change that you force upon your system users in a year, the more challenging this becomes, and the more likely that errors can occur.

EXPENSIVE ERRORS

Despite the best intentions, advisors should understand its inevitable that errors or misfires in technology will occur in the implementation process, says Horn from TFOPhoenix. Compliance issues might go missed. And these can be expensive errors.

You suck it up and deal with mistakes, Horn says, describing how his firm had to switch providers early on when they realized a company theyd hired to move some processes to the cloud wasnt working out. It was the right decision, but not the right firm. After several months it was clear, and our people knew it.

Horn says a firm gains credibility when its willing to try new processes and learn from trial and error. But there has to be support from its stakeholders and advisors. We didnt love spending a whole lot of money and time when what we planned didnt happen, he says. That wasnt much fun at all.

Caution and emphasizing meeting compliance issues has been the focus for Modera, Sweeney says. For instance, the firm adopted portfolio rebalancing software several years ago, but hasnt brought instant information apps for clients into practice yet. Our first reaction is not to jump into something new, he says. The concern is that we dont want to get caught up [with] bright, shiny objects. We want to determine first if a technology can meaningfully augment the relationship with the client.

To find some peace of mind, Choy and Kinney decided to outsource many of their technology issues to External IT, a provider of cloud-based tech solutions for financial firms.

You have to analyze the option of either setting up tech yourself or outsourcing that, Choy says.

Look at the time and effort involved in doing things yourselves  building a portal, data security  these are the basic nuts and bolts now. We would highly recommend that firms not do

that, because of the regulatory environment, Choy notes.

Firms can save themselves a lot of time and effort if they dont produce statements, he adds. It will get rid of custody and control issues, and get rid of a lot of compliance concerns.

Even if you elect to get outside help, Sontag recommends that there still should be someone from inside the firm overseeing the implementation. The team that you work with from the vendor does not know your firm or your data, so relying on them to handle everything and leave you with a perfect solution will result

in failure.

It is worth remembering that outsourcing tech issues doesnt absolve your firm of its responsibility to

protect client data, says MarketCounsels Hamburger.

Theres no easy buying decision that allows you to avoid these difficult issues, he says. This is a highly regulated business. You cannot stick your head in the sand and expect these demands will go away. Cybersecurity issues are at the forefront, and technology has a compounding effect. Use this time to learn and fortify protections and controls.

Thinking about the road ahead, standards of control and protection in the financial industry are accelerating, whether we like it or not.

Thats why its worth paying attention to the rise of autonomous cars, DiCiaccio says. The ability to drive your car manually will be greatly curtailed due to mounting evidence that autonomous driving saves lives.

Ceding certain controls to a computer will take some time getting used to. But already, the efficiencies and better protections gained from complicance tools are enough that, sooner rather than later, technology in your practice will take the wheel.

Read more:
He will succeed Tracey McDermott, who has acted as interim CEO since Martin Wheatley stepped down from the post in September 2015.

Bailey, who is also Chief Executive of the PRA, will remain in post until his successor has been appointed, with the date of his departure yet to be confirmed. Andrew will continue to fulfil the full functions of his role as Deputy Governor and PRA CEO, including his international commitments, until his departure from the Bank.

Like his predecessors, Andrew will also become a member of the PRA Board and the Financial Policy Committee.

Earlier this month, the FCA confirmed that Tracey McDermott, interim Chief Executive, would not replace Martin Wheatley on a permanent basis after deciding to withdraw from the process in early December.

As CEO of the PRA since April 2013, Andrew has had responsibility for the regulation and supervision of around 1,700 banks, building societies, credit unions, insurers and major investment firms. Andrew has also overseen the introduction of new rules on capital for banks and insurers, new rules on banker remuneration and the introduction of concurrent stress testing for the major UK banks.

While retaining a role as Executive Director of the Bank, Andrew served at the Financial Services Authority from April 2011 until the body was abolished in 2013 and its responsibilities split between the PRA and FCA. Andrew has also been a member of the FCA Board since its inception in April 2013.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said:

Andrew is an extraordinary public servant who has devoted his entire professional life to serving the people of the United Kingdom. During his career, he has worked across all of the Banks policy areas, combining leadership and innovation to deliver consistently the Banks policy objectives. His work in helping to manage the crisis and then to develop the post-crisis regulatory framework has been exemplary. He has made the PRA a highly respected and effective regulator and built a team of exceptionally dedicated colleagues. I would like to thank Andrew for his counsel and support since I joined the Bank and wish him every success in steering the FCA at this vital time in its history. I admire his commitment to ensuring the UKs financial system serves its real economy and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him in future.

Andrew Bailey said:

The new system of financial regulation in the UK depends for its success on both conduct (FCA) and prudential (PRA) regulators achieving their objectives given by Parliament. Recent developments have shown that the most pressing issue in the system right now is the need for stable leadership at the FCA. Although it had not been my intention to leave the PRA during my term as CEO, a job that I enjoy enormously, it is a great honour to have been asked by the Chancellor to take on the job of FCA CEO. After a lot of thought I have decided to move and do all that I can to make the FCA effective and successful. My intention is to move once a successor is found for the PRA, and while I will of course not be involved in that process, it matters greatly to me that it provides for the successful future of the PRA.

George Osborne commented:

"Andrew Bailey is the outstanding candidate to be the next Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, and I am delighted that he has agreed to lead it.

"We have cast the net far and wide for this crucial appointment and, having led the Bank of Englands response to the financial crisis, Andrew is simply the most respected, most experienced and most qualified person in the world to do the job.

"His appointment is an important next step in the establishment of the FCA as a strong regulator, independent of government and industry.

"The government is determined that the financial sector operates to the highest standards. Anyone who has dealt with Andrew knows he will be tough but fair, and understands the flaws and merits of the sector better than anyone.

"Simply, I am confident that he will ensure that our financial services industry is the best regulated in the world.

"He has already done a superb job at the Prudential Regulation Authority; where he has shown how effective he is as a leader, able to build strong relationships and use his fine judgment to steer the PRA through its formative years.

"I would also like to thank Tracey McDermott for the excellent job she has done in leading the FCA in this interim period. Her experience, dedication and professionalism have been greatly appreciated."
PUNE, India, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

MarketReportsOnline.com adds The US Education Industry Report: 2015 Edition market research of 54 pages published in January 2016, which reviews Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, John Wiley and Sons Company, Scholastic Corporation & K12 Inc . Growth of the U.S. education industry is driven by several factors including increasing work participation of women in the U.S., rising postsecondary enrollment rates in the U.S and growing merger and acquisition activities in the industry. Complete report available at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/442408.html .

The education market of the U.S. has undergone several changes over the past few years and continues to invite significant spending by the public. The overall growth of the education industry will be driven by rising responsiveness of people towards the benefits of early education, rising awareness of the advantages of higher education and growing demand for online teaching methods. The major trends in the industry include growth of educational content and technology, rising demand for digital textbooks, high penetration rate for U.S. postsecondary education sector, students shift towards online education and students dependence on family for higher education funding.

Education refers to a process of facilitating learning through knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and certain habits. It is on its way to becoming a universal right and is likely to be available everywhere, to everyone without any hurdles. The U.S. education system follows a specific pattern where early childhood education is followed by primary school (Elementary school), middle school, secondary school (High school), and post-secondary (Tertiary) education. Education in the U.S. is provided both by public and private schools. Public education is universally required at the K-12 level, and is available at state colleges and universities for all students.

Place a direct purchase order for U.S. Education Market research report at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=442408.

The major growth drivers include increasing work participation of women in the U.S., rising postsecondary enrollment rates in the U.S and growing merger and acquisition activities in the education industry. However, growth of the market is hindered by several factors including declining population of children under five years of age and legal and regulatory issues.

The report, "The U.S. Education Industry" analyzes the current prevailing condition of the industry along with its major segments including Pre-K, K-12, Post-Secondary and Corporate Training. The U.S. market along with specific dependence on other countries for growth including China, India, France and Germany is being discussed in the report. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The major players in the industry are being profiled, along with their key financials and strategies for growth.

Company coverage of Education Market: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, John Wiley and Sons Company, Scholastic Corporation & K12 Inc.

Major Points From Table of Contents:

1. Introduction

1.1 Participants in the Education Industry

1.2 Types of Educational Institutions

1.3 Structure of Education System

1.4 Dynamics of the Education Industry

1.5 Risks Associated

2. The U.S. Education Industry Analysis

2.1 On the Basis of Structure

2.2 On the Basis of Student Immigration

3. Market Dynamic

3.1 Key Trends and Developments

3.2 Growth Drivers

3.3 Challenges

4. Competitive Landscape

4.1 Child Care Market

4.2 Postsecondary Education Market

5. Company Profiles

List of Tables

Structure of the U.S. Education System

Strategic State and Federal Funding Areas in Child Care Education

Top For-profit Child care Providing Companies by Capacity (2014)

Key Postsecondary School Operators Revenue (2010-2014)

Acquisitions and Divestitures of HMH Company (2013-2015)

List of Charts

Explore more public sector market research as well as other newly published reports by Koncept Analytics at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/publisher/koncept-analytics-market-research.html.

About Us:

Market Reports Online comprises of an online library of 250,000 reports and in-depth market research studies of over 5000+ micro markets. We provide 24/7 online and offline support to our customers. Get in touch with us for your needs of market research reports.

Contact Us:

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UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ

Magarpatta city, Hadapsar

Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India

Tel: + 1 888 391 5441



E-mail: sales@marketreportsonline.com


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The three remaining Democratic candidates for president made the most of a nationally televised audience Monday night, just seven days ahead of the Iowa caucuses.



Appearing separately in a town hall format at Drake University in Des Moines, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley fielded questions from Iowa Democratic voters for more than two hours on a variety of topics.



Continuing a campaign-long trend, the candidates generally refrained from going after each other - unlike the free-for-all among the Republican candidates.



For the most part, the candidates praised the job done by President Barack Obama and pointed to the Republican congress as obstructionist and the primary reason more has not been accomplished.



Sanders went first, fielding questions on socialism, health care and gun control.



He responded on how to fund his programs by increasing taxes on the wealthy and also emphatically answered critics of his health and age.



He also took questions on Clinton's experience - and he freely conceded that her experience was impressive. But equally important, Sanders said, is judgement.



O'Malley was next, and he answered questions on racial equality, health care costs, climate change and helping veterans.



He also dealt with questions on growing the economy - the key to which focused on growing the middle class, he said.



Clinton hammered away on her experience, both as a former First Lady and also as Secretary of State. She added that military intervention would be her last resort, not the first.



She also spoke at length about the importance of including Muslims in the country instead of shunning and insulting them in the fashion of GOP frontrunner Donald Trump - although didn't name him.



The next Republican debate is Thursday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa.



The next Democratic debate is February 11 at UW-Milwaukee in Wisconsin.



The Iowa caucus kicks off the race in earnest on February 1, followed by the New Hampshire primary on February 9.



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CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Commodity currencies such as the Australian, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars weakened against their major counterparts in the Asian session as the price of oil reversed course. Investors also remain cautious ahead of monetary policy statements by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan later in the week.



Crude oil for March delivery are currently down $0.53 at $29.81 a barrel. Oil prices tumbled as investors fear oversupply in the market.



Monday, the NZ dollar fell 0.49 percent against the U.S. dollar, 0.93 percent against the yen and 0.47 percent against the euro. The Australian dollar fell 0.61 percent against the U.S. dollar and 0.45 percent against the euro, while it held steady against the yen.



Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar showed mixed trading against its major rivals. While the loonie rose against the yen, it held steady against the U.S. dollar and the euro.



In the Asian trading, the Australian dollar fell to a 5-day low of 1.5650 against the U.S. dollar from yesterday's closing value of 1.5598. The aussie may test support near the 1.60 region.



Against the U.S. dollar and the yen, the aussie dropped to 5-day lows of 0.6934 and 81.90 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.6954 and 82.26, respectively. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.68 against the greenback and 79.00 against the yen.



The NZ dollar fell to a 5-day low of 0.6425 against the U.S. dollar, 75.89 against the yen and 1.6889 against the euro, from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.6449, 76.29 and 1.6792, respectively. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.63 against the greenback, 73.50 against the yen and 1.73 against the euro.



Against the Australian dollar, the kiwi edged down to 1.0797 from yesterday's closing value of 1.0771. The kiwi is likely to find support around the 1.09 area.



The Canadian dollar fell to a 5-day low of 1.4300 against the U.S. dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 1.4289. The loonie is likely to find support around the 1.45.



Against the yen and the euro, the loonie dropped to 4-day lows of 82.60 and 1.5519 from yesterday's closing value of 82.76 and 1.5503, respectively. If the loonie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 79.00 against the yen and 1.59 against the euro.



The loonie edged down to 0.9939 against the Australian dollar, from an early high of 0.9909. On the downside, 1.01 is seen as the next support level for the loonie.



Looking ahead, Swiss trade data for December is due to be released in the pre-European session at 2:00 am ET.



At 5:45 am ET, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney will testify on the Financial Stability Report before the Treasury Select Committee, in London.



In the New York session, Markit's flash U.S. service sector PMI report, U.S. consumer confidence index and U.S. Richmond Fed manufacturing index, all for January and U.S. S&P/Case-Shiller home price index for November are slated for release.



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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Huntington Bancshares Inc. (HBAN) announced that it has agreed to buy FirstMerit Corp.(FMER) the parent company of FirstMerit Bank, in a stock and cash transaction. Shareholders of FirstMerit Corp. will receive 1.72 shares of Huntington common stock, and $5.00 in cash, for each share of FirstMerit Corporation common stock. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2016.



Huntington expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings per share in 2017, excluding one-time merger-related expenses, and approximately 10% accretive to earnings per share in 2018, the first full year after all expected synergies are implemented.



Based on the closing price of Huntington's common shares on January 25, 2016 of $8.80, the total transaction value is about $3.4 billion, including outstanding options and other equity-linked securities.



The company said that the combination will create the largest bank in Ohio, based on deposit market share. Huntington will also expand its operations into the attractive new markets of Chicago and Wisconsin.



Under terms, FirstMerit will merge with a subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares, and FirstMerit Bank will merge with and into The Huntington National Bank. In conjunction with the closing of the transaction, four independent members of the FirstMerit Board of Directors will join the Huntington Board, which will be expanded accordingly.



Pro forma tangible capital equity to tangible assets (TCE ratio) is projected to be 7.1% at closing, and pro forma regulatory common equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1 ratio) is projected to be 8.7% at closing on a fully phased-in Basel III basis.



Huntington said that it will not re-submit its 2015 CCAR capital plan, and intends to forgo the remaining $166 million of share repurchase capacity under its 2015 CCAR capital plan. Huntington will include FirstMerit Corporation in its 2016 CCAR capital plan proposal and expects the plan will include share repurchases.



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MALMO, Sweden, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Beepsend AB, an internationally leading supplier of global mobile messaging services (A2P SMS), recorded a revenue growth of 25 percent compared to 2014 for their A2P SMS Enterprise segment. The growth was fueled by 137 new companies joining their client base such as AppShark (Salesforce), ECCO, and Hero Gaming. The pipeline moving into 2016 also looks very healthy with a number of large contracts close to signing.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160125/325694 )



As one of the leading companies supplying direct connectivity to mobile network operators (MNOs), Beepsend has signed a significant number of agreements with leading global operator groups including Orange, Telenor, Tele2, 3 Scandinavia and Bharti Airtel. In addition several bilateral relations were established where Beepsend also provides services to the mobile network operators. During 2015, Beepsend managed to become the first western company to have direct operator routes to China and full country coverage to all three operators in Myanmar.

"The growing demand for our A2P messaging solutions is primarily driven by enterprises increasingly realizing the benefits of SMS as a very efficient communication channel which we provide them as a single high quality supplier to the whole world."

"Signing direct agreements with international operators is an ongoing process as our connectivity is a priority and a key success factor when it comes to our clients' satisfaction and our ability to deliver on their business objectives." says Elisabeth Brevenson, CEO ofBeepsend AB.

The newly implemented mobile network operator agreements have extended Beepsend's global reachto 200 countries with more than 800 mobile carriers and grants the opportunity for enterprises to reach more than 4 billion end-users worldwide.

Their leading RESTful API, in house developed infrastructure and plug-ins, made integrating newly joined enterprises easy. From their Apps, ERP or CRM systems, the enterprises got immediate access to the benefits of Beepsend's services.

The advanced routing and delivery capabilities enable a wide spectrum of industries to benefit from application to person messaging (A2P) with no geographical limits. Enterprises can utilize Beepsend's cloud based platform to engage with their customers through SMS and 2-Way SMS either manually through the Customer Portal or automatically through the API. The Customer Portal can be easily accessed and tried out for free in a matter of minutes simply by signing up to Beepsend Sign up

About Beepsend

Beepsend is a Swedish mobile messaging supplier certified by GSM Association and the Swedish regulatory body (PTS) with global reach focusing on SMS solutions. In 2015, Beepsend ranked Top 10 Leading A2P SMS Provider Globally by ROCCO. Awarded Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 in Sweden in 2014 and Fast 500 for EMEA in 2013.

For more information, please visit http://www.beepsend.com

Contact Details:

Milla Palm

Email: milla.palm@beepsend.se

Mobile: +46-761-735-237


Helsinki/Berlin, January 26, 2016 - Ferratum Oyj (ISIN: FI4000106299, WKN: A1W9NS) a pioneer in the field of financial technology and international provider of mobile consumer loans and small corporate loans, plans to acquire FCB Firmen-Credit Bank GmbH (FCB). The final transaction will take place after obtaining the approval of the European Central Bank (ECB). The ECB's approval is the only suspensive condition to the planned acquisition, and Ferratum Oyj's management expects this condition to be fulfilled during the second quarter of 2016. Following this acquisition, the Ferratum Group will own yet another EU credit institution besides Ferratum Bank p.l.c., which is based in Malta. FCB's initial line of business will be the offering of small unsecured loans over the Internet to business customers in Germany, following which the service will also be extended to customers in other European jurisdictions.

FCB, with its seat in Frankfurt am Main (Germany), is part of Avenue Capital Group (ACG) and has a German banking licence for deposit and credit business. After the acquisition Ferratum will shift the focus of FCB to the Groups's devision "Ferratum Business". As a result, FCB should become the central unit within the Ferratum Group for distributing small business loans. The maximum loan amount of this business line is currently EUR 50,000, with a maximum duration of 12 months. "Ferratum Business" was launched in 2015, and is currently active in three countries: Sweden, Finland and Lithuania. In the future FCB's activity within and from Germany should form the center of this division within the Ferratum Group. Ferratum Bank p.l.c. will continue to focus on its current lending business with private individual customers.

Dr. Clemens Krause, CFO of Ferratum Group, describes the significant importance of the planned acquisition: "The lean structure of FCB and the attractive purchase price will initially only have a small effect on the Group's revenues and earnings in 2016; already in 2017 we then expect a significantly positive profit contribution. Its location in Frankfurt and the German banking licence give the Group a sound regulatory framework in order to develop FCB in the mid-term as successful as Ferratum Bank p.l.c., with its current presence in nine European countries. Therefore, we consider the acquisition of FCB as an important strategic step in order to accelerate the successful development of Ferratum Group."

Jorma Jokela, CEO and founder of Ferratum Group, comments on the strategic importance of FCB's German headquarters: "The decision of Ferratum Group to choose a German credit institution as a legal entity in order to establish the hub of its new international lending activities 'Ferratum Business' accommodates the fact that Germany is the most important market within the European Union in terms of population and economic strength. The strength of the German SME market as an established and well-regulated financial industry, as well as Frankfurt as the seat of FCB are contributory factors in this decision."

About Ferratum Group:

The Finnish Ferratum Group, a pioneer for mobile consumer loans in Europe, offers short-term consumer loans for private persons. Ferratum's customers can utilize digital media to apply for consumer credit in amounts varying between EUR 25 and EUR 3,000. Moreover, Ferratum offers successful small businesses installment loans with a term of six to twelve months. Managed by its founder Jorma Jokela, Ferratum has expanded rapidly since it was founded in 2005: Ferratum has 1.2 million active and former customers who have been granted one or more loans in the past and 3.5 million total user accounts in its database (as of 30 September 2015). Ferratum is represented in 23 markets. At the end of September 2015 Ferratum Group employed 501 persons compared with 383 persons at year-end 2014.

Contacts:

Ferratum Group

Dr. Clemens Krause, CFO

T: +49 30 88715308

F: +49 30 88715309

M: clemens.krause@ferratum.com (mailto:clemens.krause@ferratum.com)

Ferratum Group

Paul Wasastjerna

Head of Investor Relations

T: +358 40 7248247

F: +358 20 741 1614

M: paul.wasastjerna@ferratum.com (mailto:paul.wasastjerna@ferratum.com)

cometis AG

Henryk Deter I Mariana Kuhn

T: +49 611 20 58 55-61

F: +49 611 20 58 55-66

M: kuhn@cometis.de
BANGALORE, India, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

- Recognized for unique employee training efforts to drive a culture shift in the organization

Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in consulting, technology, outsourcing and next-generation services has received the title "Leader in the Winner's Circle - Excellent at Innovation and Execution," from HfS's Research Blueprint: Design Thinking in the As-A-service Economy.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/589162 )



HfS picked Infosys for its top spot in execution, recognizing the company's leadership in Design Thinking, client feedback, customer results, real-world delivery solutions, and the company's overall cultural shift and orientation. Among the report's many notable highlights, it shows how Infosys has used Design Thinking to transform its own culture and engage clients in a new way.

The report's highlights include:

Central to Organizational Strategy: For Infosys, Design Thinking is not just a tool to serve clients, but it is also critical to the new ways of working. It is using Design Thinking to increase the use of creativity and drive a cultural shift in the organization.

For Infosys, Design Thinking is not just a tool to serve clients, but it is also critical to the new ways of working. It is using Design Thinking to increase the use of creativity and drive a cultural shift in the organization. Clear Plan to Train Every Employee: Infosys is perhaps the only service provider that has vowed to train all employees on design thinking and it has put together a very solid plan to do so.

Infosys is perhaps the only service provider that has vowed to train all employees on design thinking and it has put together a very solid plan to do so. Creating Awareness of Design Thinking with Clients: Apart from employees, a number of clients are being identified who have been trained or will be trained to understand these concepts to co-create and ideate collaboratively with Infosys.

Apart from employees, a number of clients are being identified who have been trained or will be trained to understand these concepts to co-create and ideate collaboratively with Infosys. Fast Becoming a Strategic Partner: Clients acknowledge that Infosys is changing from one that typically was waiting for directions. For example, a client mentioned that Infosys is helping them apply already existing technologies differently to drive new results.

Clients acknowledge that Infosys is changing from one that typically was waiting for directions. For example, a client mentioned that Infosys is helping them apply already existing technologies differently to drive new results. Leading by Example: Clients also appreciate that Infosys is using Design Thinking to address internal challenges.

To date, more than 73,000 employees have received training in Design Thinking, ingraining it into their daily work and into the programs they are driving, whether they are in a client-facing role or in a business enabling function. The result has been significant customer savings and value creation through programs such as Zero Distance, an initiative to bring innovation to every existing client project. Today, 90% of the Infosys delivery organization has found or delivered something innovative to a client, beyond the statement of work.

Moreover, Zero Distance has increased the company's overall employee retention and utilization. Frequently, members of the traditional IT bench prototype the projects from Zero Distance, enabling them to gain valuable real life experience in driving innovation in ongoing projects, and in the process, creating software assets for Infosys to bring to clients on a larger scale.

Quotes:

Dr. Vishal Sikka, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Infosys:

"Design Thinking is a natural extension to the Infosys DNA, where we have always valued lifelong learning and delivering value to clients. This is reflected in our rapid progress along every dimension of Design Thinking maturity and is truly at the heart of everything we do. We can see this in our Zero Distance initiative, which empowers our delivery teams to drive grassroots innovation in every project. In new areas and disruptive innovation, we see the maturity of our efforts in more than 150 Design Thinking engagements with clients, helping them to find and explore the most important problems to solve as part of our design-led service offerings. And, we see it in the very fabric of our company, in our employees. Beyond the numbers trained, it is about creating a culture, a movement, to drive innovation. I am very happy to see the tremendous work and passion of our leaders, and every Infoscion, recognized in the HfS winners circle and recognized as #1 on execution."

Phil Fersht, Chief Executive Officer, HfS Research:

"Ambitious organizations are increasingly using Design Thinking methods to improve and re-imagine their business and IT operations, and Infosys is being recognized for driving impactful results through this approach. We are impressed by the firm's focus on training each employee with Design Thinking methods to help them challenge themselves and their clients to explore new ways of defining and realizing their desired business outcomes. In our research, Infosys and its clients demonstrated impressive Design Thinking momentum and the firm stands out for its execution and results, real-world delivery solutions, and genuinely creating an industry-leading change."

Additional Design Thinking highlights at Infosys:

Design Thinking drives Infosys ' internal culture change. With Design Thinking, the company created Zero Distance and Zero Bench, two complementary endeavors that focus on innovation in every project (Zero Distance) and engagement of every employee (Zero Bench).

With Design Thinking, the company created Zero Distance and Zero Bench, two complementary endeavors that focus on innovation in every project (Zero Distance) and engagement of every employee (Zero Bench). Design Thinking has already shown significant results for Infosys ' clients. Infosys offers "Do," one of a trio of services (Aikido) that has already engaged more than 150 customers in the methodology, which helps uncover true problems and has created stronger strategic partnerships.

Infosys offers "Do," one of a trio of services (Aikido) that has already engaged more than 150 customers in the methodology, which helps uncover true problems and has created stronger strategic partnerships. Design Thinking is key to the company ' s strategy . The company uses the methodology to empower its employees and engage them in higher levels of work as it begins to use greater automation.

. The company uses the methodology to empower its employees and engage them in higher levels of work as it begins to use greater automation. Design Thinking is a CEO-led focus within the company. With its methodology, the company has reconsidered everything from its performance evaluation system to its software and services.

About Infosys Ltd

Infosys is a global leader in consulting, technology, outsourcing and next-generation services. We enable clients, in more than 50 countries, to stay a step ahead of emerging business trends and outperform the competition. We help them transform and thrive in a changing world by co-creating breakthrough solutions that combine strategic insights and execution excellence.

Visit http://www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY), with US$ 9.2 billion in LTM revenues and 193,000+ employees, is helping enterprises renew themselves while also creating new avenues to generate value.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. These filings are available at http://www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. In addition, please note that the date of this press release is January 14, 2016, and any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of this date. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company unless it is required by law.


26 January 2016



Tern Plc ('Tern' or the 'Company')



Final results for the year ended 31 December 2015



Tern Plc, the investment company focused on the cloud and mobile technology sector announces its final results for the year ended 31 December 2015.



Operational highlights



All investments are making good progress against their development strategies with increased revenues, customer numbers and performance to plan



* Cryptosoft infrastructure is complete and the emphasis is on sales * Cryptosoft is one of only two security specialists to be selected in the CIO Review's Top IOT Solution Providers 2015. * Tern's executive team and Board strengthened * Growth in key performance indicators at 31 December 2015: * Total assets 2015: 1,825,261 (2014: 1,367,308) * Net assets 2015: 1,691,881 (2014: 943,631)



Commenting on the results, Angus Forrest, Executive Chairman of Tern, said:



'Tern has achieved much in its first two years including establishing a portfolio of prospering private information technology companies. As our portfolio companies become more established, so the pace of their growth is increasing. Cryptosoft's CEO started on 1 July and has since recruited an experienced VP of Global sales who started in November and a new VP of Sales in North America who is due to start in the first quarter of 2016. We are excited by the sales pipeline, which has been growing since September, opportunities in both North America and Europe are being developed, with some close to launch. As Cryptosoft is often supplied to global companies for incorporation into their products, timescales are difficult to estimate accurately. We expect that contracts, when awarded, will be of significant value and we are now in discussions with several global companies. We will keep shareholders up to date with developments as they occur.'



Enquiries:



Tern plc Tel: 07973 561 232



Angus Forrest



WH Ireland NOMAD and Broker Tel: 0117 945 3471



John Wakefield



Peterhouse Corporate Finance Tel. 020 7469 0936 (Joint broker)



Duncan Vasey/ Lucy Williams



Chairman's Statement Tern has achieved much in its first two years including establishing a portfolio of private Information Technology (IT) companies. As our portfolio becomes more established, so the pace of their growth is increasing. In 2015 we concentrated on ensuring each of our portfolio companies continued to expand, build value and make themselves ready for eventual sale. There have been some noteworthy achievements which are identified in the Investment Report in the Report and Accounts, a copy of which can be accessed on the Company website (www.ternplc.com).



One characteristic feature, among our portfolio companies, has been the growth in revenues and new client wins. I believe this growth, over the past two years, supports the value of Tern's investment philosophy. Tern seeks to invest in businesses with strong, innovative products targeted at changing and growing markets. As appropriate, we work to enhance the management and daily operations of these businesses concentrating on sales and marketing including strategic alliances in the UK and overseas.



A feature of Tern's business model which merits particular attention is our highly targeted acquisition strategy: Tern seeks to acquire businesses with products in commercial service with blue chip customers, which in our view, have not achieved their commercial potential. This enables us to acquire proven products, typically with reference sites and case studies to assist in winning other large customers. We believe whilst this investment strategy limits the risk of acquisitions it offers major advantages in the speed and cost savings associated with building business success. Within the framework of this model, Tern acts as the transformational catalyst, applying its expertise and network to create above average returns through buying, building and later selling its portfolio companies. In addition, Tern works to structure post acquisition companies, in a manner that aligns the interests of all parties and allows the original entrepreneurs the opportunity to share in the upside of success, if they stay with the business.



Tern's financial position has again strengthened during the year as measured by two important metrics of business success: total assets and net assets.



As Tern has evolved there have been changes in the Board of Directors, as well as the addition of other affiliated individuals. I would like to thank the directors including those who have left for their contribution and welcome Sarah Payne, Finance Director, Alan Howarth, Non-executive Director and Bruce Judson, senior advisor, who joined during the year. Sarah, Alan and Bruce all bring expertise and experience which adds to our ability to provide the transformational catalyst that should further enable Tern to successfully execute the objectives of our business model as outlined above.



Events after the reporting period There have been no significant post year end events. Outlook The ecosystem of technologies which surround the cloud computing and mobile markets, together with the associated Internet of Things ('IoT') and Machine-to- Machine ('M2M') sectors, continue to grow strongly as new technology offers real commercial and competitive advantages that can be evaluated and measured. This continues to attract larger companies, which have a strategy of growth by acquisition. As a consequence, there has been some interest in Tern's portfolio companies. We anticipate such interest, from larger companies, which participate in these sectors, should lead to at least one sale in 2016.



During 2015, we focused, in part, on building an experienced management team at Cryptosoft, which we believe will lead the company to realise its business potential. Now, with Cryptosoft's management team in place, Tern is able to look for other investment opportunities, which match Tern's criteria and those sought by our shareholders. In 2016, Tern will be actively investigating such opportunities.



Finally, I wish to thank all shareholders for their support and acknowledge the hard work of the directors and our advisors.



Angus Forrest Chairman



26 January 2016



INCOME STATEMENT AND STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2015 2015 2014



  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Turnover 162,500 41,000



Movement in fair value of 100,000 investments 63,492 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross profit 225,992 141,000



Administration costs (298,896) (161,654)



Share based payment charge (99,523) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating loss (172,427) (20,654)



Finance income 11,786 105



Finance costs (24,480) (33,146) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loss before tax (185,121) (53,695)



Tax - -



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loss for the period (185,121) (53,695) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Since there is no other comprehensive income, the loss for the period is the same as the total comprehensive income for the period.



EARNINGS PER SHARE:



Basic loss per share (0.37) pence (0.33) pence



Fully diluted loss per share (0.37) pence (0.33) pence --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2015 2015 2014



  ------------------------------------------------------------------ ASSETS



NON-CURRENT ASSETS



Investments held for trading 810,350 631,978 Loans to investee companies 619,413 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1,429,763 631,978 ------------------------------------------------------------------ CURRENT ASSETS



Trade and other receivables 117,042 301,056



Cash and cash equivalents 278,456 434,274 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 395,498 735,330 ------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL ASSETS 1,825,261 1,367,308 ------------------------------------------------------------------



EQUITY AND LIABILITIES



Share capital 1,314,118 1,310,613



Share premium 8,393,536 7,563,193



Loan note equity reserve 20,650 53,624



Share option and warrant reserve 897,296 797,773



Retained earnings (8,933,719) (8,781,572) ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1,691,881 943,631 ------------------------------------------------------------------



CURRENT LIABILITIES



Trade and other payables 35,986 162,763 ------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 35,986 162,763 ------------------------------------------------------------------ NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES



Borrowings 97,394 260,914 ------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 97,394 260,914 ------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL LIABILITIES 133,380 423,677 ------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 1,825,261 1,367,308 ------------------------------------------------------------------



STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2015 Option Loan note and Share Share equity warrant Retained Total



capital premium reserve reserve earnings equity



      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Balance at 31 December 2013 1,303,746 6,646,376 29,341 797,773 (8,752,553) 24,683 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total comprehensive income - - - - (53,695) (53,695) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transactions with owners



Issue of share capital 6,867 952,685 - - - 959,552



Share issue costs - (35,868) - - - (35,868)



Transfer on conversion of convertible loan notes - - (24,676) - 24,676 -



Issue of convertible loan notes - - 48,959 - - 48,959 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Balance at 31 December 2014 1,310,613 7,563,193 53,624 797,773 (8,781,572) 943,631 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total comprehensive income - - - - (185,121) (185,121) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transactions with owners



Issue of share capital 3,505 865,243 - - - 868,748



Share issue costs - (34,900) - - - (34,900)



Transfer on conversion of convertible loan notes - - (32,974) - 32,974 -



Share based payment charge - - - 99,523 - 99,523 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at 31 December 2015 1,314,118 8,393,536 20,650 897,296 (8,933,719) 1,691,881 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



SHARE CAPITAL The amount subscribed for shares at nominal value.



SHARE PREMIUM This represents the excess of the amount subscribed for share capital over the nominal value of the respective shares net of share issue expenses.



LOAN NOTE EQUITY RESERVE This represents the equity component of convertible loans issued



OPTION AND WARRANT RESERVE This represents the calculated value of the options and warrants issued



RETAINED EARNINGS Cumulative loss of the Company.



STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2015 2015 2014



  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



OPERATING ACTIVITIES



Net cash used in operations (79,159) (326,328)



INVESTING ACTIVITIES



Purchase of investments (114,880) (407,952)



Loan to investee companies (610,000) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash used in investing activities (724,880) (407,952) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



FINANCING ACTIVITIES



Proceeds on issues of shares 720,000 757,500



Share issue expenses (34,900) (35,868)



Proceeds from issue of convertible loan notes - 300,000



Proceeds from exercise of warrants 10,748 -



Repayment of loan stock (50,000) -



Interest received 2,373 105 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash from financing activities 648,221 1,021,737 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (155,818) 287,457



Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 434,274 146,817 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 278,456 434,274 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



1. BASIS OF PREPARATION



These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (as adopted by the European Union) and IFRIC interpretations and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.



2. EARNINGS PER SHARE



2015 2014



  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Loss for the purposes of basic and fully diluted earnings per share (185,121) (53,695) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2015 2014



Number Number



Weighted average number of ordinary shares:



For calculation of basic earnings per share 49,375,127 16,142,804



For calculation of fully diluted earnings per share (see note below) 49,375,127 16,142,804 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2015 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Earnings per share:



Basic loss per share (0.37 pence) (0.33 pence)



Fully diluted loss per share (see note below) (0.37 pence) (0.33 pence) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note. The fully diluted loss per share for 2015 is the same as the basic loss per share as the loss for the year has an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share.



3. Annual General Meeting (AGM)



The annual report will be available from the company website from 26 January 2016 and will be posted to shareholders on or before 1 February 2016. The annual report contains a notice of the AGM which will be held at 9.30am on 17 March 2016 at the offices of WH Ireland, 24 Martin Lane, London, EC4R 0DR.



This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.



Source: Tern Plc via GlobeNewswire [HUG#1981167]



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Cardiff, UK. 26 January 2016: IQE plc (AIM: IQE, 'IQE' or the 'Group'), the leading manufacturer of advanced semiconductor wafer products to the global semiconductor industry, announces that it has received a new purchase order agreement for indium phosphide (InP) materials to the value of $3.7m from a leading global substrate manufacturer. High Purity InP, produced by IQE's Infrared business unit based in Milton Keynes, UK, is the source material for the manufacture of InP wafers used in the production of high-performance photonic components for a wide range of applications in infrared sensing and telecommunications with a particular trend towards high definition imaging applications enabled by InP materials. Demand for photonics products is continuing to grow as new and emerging technologies increasingly rely on the properties of light for a growing range of technological applications. InP is the material of choice due to its advantageous photonic properties particularly in the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) range, complementing IQE's industry leading position in indium antimonide (InSb) and gallium antimonide (GaSb) substrate materials which form the key enabling technology base for multiple imaging technologies found in defence, security, medical and industrial applications. IQE Infrared is uniquely positioned to offer an unrivalled range of IR materials, from substrates to epiwafers, with a completely secure, dual sourced supply of InP, InSb and GaSb to the semiconductor industry, with IQE's US (Galaxy) and UK (Wafer Technology) operations collectively meeting the requirements of its customers. Dr. Mark Furlong, VP of IQE's Infrared Business Unit commented: 'We are very pleased to receive this order from an existing long term customer of our InP products and the scale of this commitment reflects our status in the semiconductor industry for the supply of a diverse range of semiconductor materials in addition to substrates and epiwafers. 'We continue to see growing demand for products with optoelectronic properties and it also confirms our position as a technology leader for advanced semiconductor products for photonics applications.' Contacts: IQE plc +44 (0) 29 2083 9400 Drew Nelson Phil Rasmussen Chris Meadows



IQE Infrared +44 (0) 19 0821 0444 Mark Furlong (technical/sales)



Canaccord Genuity (Nomad and Joint Broker) + 44 (0) 20 7523 8000 Simon Bridges Cameron Duncan



Peel Hunt (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7418 8900 Richard Kauffer Euan Brown



Capital Access Group +44 (0) 20 3763 3400 Simon Courtenay Harry Rippon



NOTE TO EDITORS



ABOUT IQE



www.iqep.com



IQE is the leading global supplier of advanced semiconductor wafers with products that cover a diverse range of applications, supported by an innovative outsourced foundry services portfolio that allows the Group to provide a 'one stop shop' for the wafer needs of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers.



IQE uses advanced crystal growth technology (epitaxy) to manufacture and supply bespoke semiconductor wafers ('epiwafers') to the major chip manufacturing companies, who then use these wafers to make the chips which form the key components of virtually all high technology systems. IQE is unique in being able to supply wafers using all of the leading crystal growth technology platforms.



IQE's products are found in many leading-edge consumer, communication, computing and industrial applications, including a complete range of wafer products for the wireless industry, such as mobile handsets and wireless infrastructure, Wi- Fi, WiMAX, base stations, GPS, and satellite communications; and optical communications.



The Group also manufactures advanced optoelectronic and photonic components such as semiconductor lasers, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and optical sensors for a wide range of applications including optical fibre communications, optical storage (CD, DVD, BluRay), thermal imaging, leading-edge medical products, pico-projection, finger navigation ultra-high brightness LEDs, and high efficiency concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar cells.



The manufacturers of these chips are increasingly seeking to outsource wafer production to specialist foundries such as IQE in order to reduce overall wafer costs and accelerate time to market.



IQE also provides bespoke R&D services to deliver customised materials for specific applications and offers specialist technical staff to manufacture to specification either at its own facilities or on the customer's own sites. The Group is also able to leverage its global purchasing volumes to reduce the cost of raw materials. In this way, IQE's outsourced services, provide compelling benefits in terms of flexibility and predictability of cost, thereby significantly reducing operating risk.



IQE operates a number of manufacturing and R&D facilities across Europe, Asia and the USA. The Group also delivers its products and services through regional sales offices located in major economic centres worldwide



This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.



Source: IQE plc via GlobeNewswire [HUG#1981113]



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AIM: MARL Suite 102, 3 Eden Street 26 January 2016 North Sydney, NSW 2060 Australia



HIGH GRADE GOLD-COPPER HOT MADEN PROJECT - EXECUTION OF JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT WITH LIDYA



Joint Venture and Shareholders Agreement



Mariana Resources Ltd ('Mariana' or the 'Company'), the AIM listed exploration and development company with projects in South America and Turkey, announces that it has signed a comprehensive agreement ('SHA') with Joint Venture ('JV') partner Lidya Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. ('Lidya').



Highlights



* Signing of SHA to formalise Mariana's JV relationship with Lidya to further explore and develop the potential of Hot Maden. * The SHA governs Mariana's 30% and Lidya's 70% interest in the project, managed by a four-member Board comprising three directors from Lidya and one from Mariana. * 2016 total budget of circa US$8 million dollars is proposed for the Hot Maden project. * Mariana anticipates that 20,000m of extension and infill drilling will be completed in the resource area during 2016, with a minimum of 5,000m completed during Q1. * A Preliminary Economic Assessment ('PEA') on Hot Maden is anticipated to be completed by Q4 2016. Chief Executive Officer, Glen Parsons, today commented: 'The signing of the SHA cements Mariana's growing relationship with Lidya and will enable the JV to fast track the development of the high grade gold-copper Hot Maden asset.'



'The Company looks forward to the upcoming extension and infill drilling of the mineralised footprint, which is open to the north and south. The planned drilling, and additional technical studies, will lead to a PEA later this year, which would include various mining scenarios of this exciting gold-copper discovery. The result of this work will better define potential valuations with estimated cash-flow projections.'



'In addition, we anticipate that the exploration for further mineralised bodies along the unexplored sectors of the 6km Hot Maden fault zone will become more of a focus.'



'Furthermore, the announcement by Sandstorm Gold Ltd, 19 January 2016, regarding the acquisition of a package of Net Smelter Royalties ('NSR'), previously held by Teck Resources Inc, for US$22 million, included the key asset Hot Maden 2% NSR. This consideration was achieved at current metal prices and clearly gives Hot Maden a very encouraging value benchmark for our shareholders and investors and arguably, given current market conditions, the best way to realise an attributable return is to look at the considerable cash flows that can be generated by such a high grade quality asset.'



The SHA



The SHA formalises Mariana's JV relationship with Lidya within the JV company Artmin Madencilik a.s ('JVCO') (Previously named AMG Mineral Madencilik a.s) to further explore and develop the potential of Hot Maden, with the intention of ultimately bringing the high-grade gold-copper project into production.



The SHA governs Mariana's 30% and Lidya's 70% interest in the project, managed by a four-member Board comprising three directors from Lidya and one from Mariana. Mariana's representative on the Board will be Eric Roth, with Glen Parsons having the right to attend, but not vote, at Board Meetings.



2016 Programme



The JV is now formalised and the new 2016 total budget of circa US$8 million dollars is proposed for approval by JVCO. For Q1 2016, Mariana anticipates a minimum of 5,000m of extension and resource drilling in the resource area, as well as advancing detailed metallurgical studies for inclusion in a PEA with anticipated completion by early Q4 2016. A maiden mineral resource on the Hot Maden project was previously announced in Q3 2015 (see details below).



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Hot Maden Mineral Resource Estimate | |On August 18, 2015, Mariana reported a maiden mineral resource estimate for| |the Hot Maden project. The Mineral Resource estimate was prepared by| |independent mining consultants RungePincockMinarco Limited ('RPM'), and was| |based on assay results received for drill holes up to, and including, HTD-17 | |completed on 25(th) June, and is reported in accordance with the JORC Code| |2012 edition and estimated by a Competent Person as defined by the JORC Code. | |The total maiden Mineral Resource estimate comprises (Mariana has an| |attributable interest of 30% of this total): | | | | | |Indicated Category (100%): | | | |2.033 Million Oz Gold Equivalent** ('AuEq') - (4.71 million tonnes ('Mt') at| |10 grammes per tonne ('g/t') gold and 102,000 Tonnes ('t') copper, for a gold| |equivalent grade* of 13.4 g/t) | | | |Inferred Category (100%): | | | |0.968 Million Oz AuEq** - (3.65 Mt at 5.5 g/t gold + 65,000 tonnes copper, for| |a gold equivalent grade* of 8.2 g/t) | | | |Au Equivalence (AuEq) calculated using a 100 day moving average of| |$US1,178/ounce for Au and $US2.70/pound for Cu as of July 29, 2015. No| |adjustment has been made for metallurgical recovery or net smelter return as| |these remain uncertain at this time. Based on grades and contained metal for| |Au and Cu, it is assumed that both commodities have reasonable potential to be| |economically extractable. | |*- The formula used for Au equivalent grade is: AuEq g/t = Au + [(Cu% x| |22.0462 x 2.7)/(1178/31.1035)] and assumes 100% metallurgical recovery. | |**- Au equivalent ounces are calculated by multiplying Mineral Resource| |tonnage by Au equivalence grade and converting for ounces. The formula used| |for Au equivalent ounces is: AuEq Oz = [Tonnage x AuEq grade (g/t)]/31.1035. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



**ENDS**



Qualified Person The information in this release has been reviewed by Eric Roth, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Mariana Resources. Mr Roth holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), and is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). Mr Roth has 25 years of experience in international minerals exploration and mining project evaluation.



For further information please visit website at www.marianaresources.com or contact the following.



Glen Parsons (CEO) Mariana Resources Ltd +61 2 9437 4588



Eric Roth (COO) Mariana Resources Ltd +56 9 8818 1243



Rob Adamson RFC Ambrian Limited (Nomad) +61 2 9250 0041



Will Souter RFC Ambrian Limited (Nomad) +61 2 9250 0050



In U.K.



Oliver Stansfield Brandon Hill Capital (UK Broker) +44 20 3463 5061



Jonathan Evans Brandon Hill Capital (UK Broker) +44 20 3463 5016



Camilla Horsfall Blytheweigh (Financial PR) +44 20 7138 3224



Megan Ray Blytheweigh (Financial PR) +44 20 7138 3203



About Mariana Resources Mariana Resources Ltd is an AIM quoted exploration and development company with an extensive portfolio of gold, silver and copper projects in South America and Turkey. Mariana's most advanced asset is the Hot Maden gold-copper project in NE Turkey, which is a joint venture with our Turkish JV partner Lidya (30% Mariana and 70% Lidya). A maiden mineral resource estimate of 2.03 Moz Gold Equivalent (Indicated Category) and 0.97 Moz Gold Equivalent (Inferred Category) (100% basis) was reported for Hot Maden on August 18, 2015. Elsewhere in Turkey, Mariana holds a 100% interest in the Ergama gold-copper project. In Suriname, Mariana has an option to earn up to a 50.01% interest in Nassau Gold Limited, a JV company between Mariana and Sumin Resources Limited ('Sumin') which in turn holds an option to earn up to 80% of the Nassau Gold Project. The Nassau Gold Project is a 28,000 Ha exploration concession located approximately 125 km SE of the capital Paramaribo and immediately adjacent to Newmont Mining's 4.2Moz Au Merian project. In southern Argentina, the Company's core gold-silver projects are Las Calandrias (100%), Sierra Blanca (100%), Los Cisnes (100%), Bozal (100%). These projects are part of a 160,000+ Ha land package in the Deseado Massif epithermal gold-silver district in mining-friendly Santa Cruz Province. Mariana acquired 100% interests in the Dona Ines Au-Ag and Exploradora East Cu prospects in northern Chile through the Aegean Metals Group transaction which closed in January, 2015, with Mariana exploration now being funded by Asset Chile through the provision of $1.65m for a total 50% interest. In Peru, Mariana holds a portfolio of interesting very early stage properties.



Safe Harbour This press release contains certain statements which may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as at the date of this press release and include, without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, the realization, cost, timing and extent of mineral resource estimates, estimated future exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, and requirements for additional capital. The words 'plans', 'expects', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimate', 'forecasts', 'intend', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'may', 'will', or similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the effects of general economic conditions; the price of gold, silver and copper; misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking statements; risks associated with international operations; the need for additional financing; risks inherent in exploration results; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters; currency and commodity price fluctuations; title matters; environmental liability claims; unanticipated operational risks; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities; political risk; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's annual financial statements for the most recently completed financial year which is available on the Company's website at www.marianaresources.com . Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions and have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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 forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.



This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.



Source: Mariana Resources Ltd via GlobeNewswire [HUG#1981212]



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Highlights



* Strong fundraising inflows with 4.7bn of new third party money raised in the nine months to 31 December 2015, although the pace of fundraising is likely to slow as we focus on our new strategies



* New third party money raised in the quarter to 31 December 2015 totalled 1.4bn, resulting in AUM increasing by 5% to 21.2bn in the quarter to 31 December 2015; third party fee earning AUM increased 6% to 15.4bn



* ICG North America Private Debt Fund and Senior Debt Partners II strategy closed above target. Our domestic Japanese Mezzanine Fund had a final close in line with expectations



* Resilient investment portfolio and a stable loan book, in line with expectations



Commenting, Christophe Evain, CEO, said:



'ICG's strong momentum has continued. Third party assets under management grew further in the third quarter, with 1.4bn raised. We had final closes on our North America Private Debt Fund and our Senior Debt Partners II strategy, both above their target sizes, and our domestic Japanese Mezzanine Fund, demonstrating the success of our organic product expansion. This has been supplemented further by the recent acquisition of the Graphite Enterprise Trust* management contract, adding a private equity funds investment business to our portfolio.



'Despite the prevailing heightened market volatility, the long term market conditions remain favourable for alternative investments and we remain well positioned to deliver our strategic objectives and generate improving returns for our shareholders.'



*Subject to completion



Grow assets under management



Our fundraising momentum has continued in the quarter to 31 December 2015, and with the pace of realisations remaining broadly in line with the first half of the financial year, total assets under management have increased 5% over the three months to 31 December 2015 to 21.2bn. The third party AUM bridge is as follows:



------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mezzanine and Real estate Credit Total equity Funds Funds Funds Third Party AUM m m m m ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At 30 September 2015 6,338 2,825 8,659 17,822 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additions 147 371 919 1,437 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Realisations (126) (1) (254) (381) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FX and other 57 10 (4) 63 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At 31 December 2015 6,416 3,205 9,320 18,941 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fee earning AUM - at 15,360 31 December 2015 5,957 2,521 6,882 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- During the quarter we completed the fundraising for our Senior Debt Partners II strategy, raising a further 491m to close at its maximum size of 3.0bn. We have also made excellent progress in fundraising for ICG Longbow Real Estate Fund IV, closing a further 266m, bringing the total amount raised to date to 680m, including 50m from the Investment Company. Our US credit business closed their fifth CLO (Collateralised Loan Obligation) of $411m, including a $23m investment from ICG. Elsewhere, we raised a further 216m of third party money during the period spread across a range of strategies.



Invest selectively



The ongoing availability of liquidity has resulted in competitive investment markets during the quarter. The total amount of capital deployed on behalf of our direct investment funds was 456m in the quarter and 1,898m in the year to date (nine months to 31 December 2014: 2,104m). In addition, our Investment Company invested a total of 33.4m in the quarter and 187.3m in the year to date (nine months to 31 December 2014: 387.5m).



During the quarter we completed a number of investments for our Senior Debt Partners II strategy, which has deployed 30% of its capital, and our ICG Longbow Real Estate Fund IV which is 52% deployed based on its current fund size. As both charge fees on invested capital this is contributing to the increase in our fee earning AUM.



Elsewhere, we made one investment in the US and signed one investment in Europe, which completed in January. Manage portfolios to maximise value



The performance of our mezzanine portfolio, including the weaker companies, remains resilient and our credit funds continue to perform in line with our expectations. However, market volatility, should it continue, clearly may impact the short term valuation of our equity portfolios which are marked to market.



Whilst the pace of realisations has remained broadly in line with the first half of the financial year, this may increase in the next six months as a number of balance sheet assets are subject to exit plans. In the quarter to 31 December 2015 our Investment Company received 65.6m of principal repayments, crystallised 11.7m of rolled up interest and realised 47.8m of cash capital gains.



Balance Sheet



The balance sheet is well funded with available cash and unutilised bank lines of 705m at 31 December 2015. The headroom has reduced from 820m at 30 September 2015 with 83m of private placements repaid during the quarter.



We continue to target an increase in our return on equity to over 13% by further growth in the profitability of the business and re-gearing the balance sheet to between 0.8x and 1.2x. Capital Markets Seminar



We will be holding a Capital Markets Seminar on 3 February from 12:30. The Seminar will be an opportunity for us to share our business strategy in more detail and provide a deeper insight into our asset management platform and product offering. No update on trading and no new material information will be provided during the event.



To register please email ICGEvents@icgam.com. The Seminar will be recorded and available on our website for those unable to attend in person.



Enquiries



Analyst / Investor enquiries: Christophe Evain, CEO, ICG +44 (0) 20 3201 7700 Philip Keller, CFO, ICG +44 (0) 20 3201 7700 Ian Stanlake, Investor Relations, ICG +44 (0) 20 3201 7880



Media enquiries: Neil Bennett, Tom Eckersley, Maitland +44 (0) 20 7379 5151 Helen Gustard, Corporate Communications, ICG +44 (0) 20 3201 7760 This trading statement has been prepared solely to provide additional information to shareholders and meets the relevant requirements of the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. The trading statement should not be relied on by any other party or for any other purpose.



This trading statement may contain forward looking statements. These statements have been made by the Directors in good faith based on the information available to them up to the time of their approval of this report and should be treated with caution due to the inherent uncertainties, including both economic and business risk factors, underlying such forward looking information.



These written materials are not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. The issuer has not and does not intend to register any securities under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and does not intend to offer any securities to the public in the United States. No money, securities or other consideration from any person inside the United States is being solicited and, if sent in response to the information contained in these written materials, will not be accepted.



About ICG



ICG is a specialist asset manager with over 26 years' history in private debt, credit and equity. Our objective is to generate income and consistently high returns whilst protecting against investment downside. We seek to achieve this through our expertise in investing across the capital structure. We combine flexible capital solutions, local access and insight with an entrepreneurial approach to give us a competitive edge in our markets. We are committed to innovation and pioneering new strategies where we can deliver value to our investors. ICG has 21.2bn of assets under management globally (as at 31 December, 2015), we are listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: ICP), and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Intermediate Capital Group, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ICG and is registered as an investment adviser under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Further information is available at: www.icgam.com.



This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.



Source: Intermediate Capital Group plc via GlobeNewswire [HUG#1981130]



BYY5B50R4



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Our first priority is to provide our customers with high-quality drinking water, reliable water supply and wastewater discharge services. Similar to previous years, 2015 can be characterised with excellent and even further improved quality levels across all the services we provide. We will continue to focus on maintaining and improving all our key performance indicators so our consumers can rely on the service they receive. Last year we achieved the best ever water quality and the level of leakages was also the lowest of all times.However, we wish to do more than we are asked and expected, in order to make a positive impact on the surrounding natural environment and people's quality of life. Besides providing a high-quality service we systematically and continuously focus on the relations within the Company itself as well as outside, and do our best to contribute to the wellbeing of the whole community through involvement and improvement of awareness.Last year was crowned by an exceptionally high customer satisfaction, reaching as high as 94 TRIM index points according to the survey carried out by EMOR. This is the highest score we have achieved so far, significantly exceeding the average of the European and Estonian industrial sector. In 2015, we were awarded with Golden Mark in CSR Index, which is a sign of being responsible in our actions and minds. At the end of 2015, we were recognized as the most youth and children-friendly company in Tallinn, which is a great pleasure especially because we consider the work done with the young people to be a starting point for a more environment-friendly consumer behaviour. It is also extremely important in our service that working would be safe for both our employees and the residents. In 2015, we received the "Good Working Environment 2015" award demonstrating that we are doing the right thing.Operational indicators for 2015Indicator 2014 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drinking water -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Compliance of water quality at the customers' tap 99.80% 99.86% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Water loss in the water distribution network 16.14% 14.68% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average duration of water interruptions per property in hours 3.15 h 3.22 h -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wastewater -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Number of sewer blockages 757 737 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of sewer bursts 119 127 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wastewater treatment compliance with environmental standards 100% 100% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Customer Service -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Number of written complaints 76 67 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of customer contacts regarding water quality 152 115 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of customer contacts regarding water pressure 380 337 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of customer contacts regarding blockages and discharge of 1060 1061 storm water -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Responding written customer contacts within at least 2 work days 99.1% 99.2% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of failed promises 54 9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notification of unplanned water interruptions at least 1 h 95% 98.7% before the interruption --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tap water is drinking waterQuality of drinking water has a significant impact on public health and wellbeing. Tap water quality in the capital city has been comparable to that of any country in Western Europe for several years now, and therefore we keep encouraging people to drink tap water. 2015 customer satisfaction survey, carried out by an independent research agency EMOR, confirms that our clients and consumers trust tap water quality more and more. In 2015, an average of 82% of consumers drank tap water, while in 2011 this number was only 48%. This proves also how important it is to focus on increasing the consumers' awareness about the tap water quality.Strict legal requirements are set for the quality of drinking water and this quality is monitored in line with the drinking water monitoring programs approved by the Health Board. Water quality is most characterised by the compliance with the legislative acts. In 2015, we took a total of 2 945 water samples from the consumers' taps and carried out 24,500 water analyses. All-time record of 99.86% of all the water samples taken were compliant with all the requirements last year. Thus, only four samples exceeded the limit values set for the iron content. We immediately carried out maintenance works on the water network on the relevant streets resulting in the new samples being fully compliant. In Maardu, the samples taken from the consumers' taps were 100% compliant. Steadily high level of quality is a result of an efficient water treatment process, preventive actions reducing the number of water bursts on the network, and a timely maintenance done on the water pipelines.A reliable serviceIt is important for the residents to have a high-quality service available for 24/7. Therefore, we focus a lot on planning and optimizing our activities, in order to prevent, if possible, or reduce the unpleasant impact potentially caused by our services. We also deem very important that our customers know when their questions would be resolved or when we are performing the works that might impact their activities. We monitor the meeting of the promised deadlines with due diligence and inform our customers if we are not able to fulfil these agreements.A reliable service also means that we cause as little inconvenience to our customers with what we do as possible. Timely maintenance and reconstruction of water pipes has significantly reduced the number of water bursts. In 2015, we reconstructed a total on 5.2 km of water pipes across the City of Tallinn.Preventive actions have also helped to reduce year-on-year the level of leakages, which indicates the water loss in the distribution network. Whereas the level of leakages was very low (16.14%) already in 2014, the level achieved in 2015 (14.68%) was the lowest in the Company's history. This means that by comparing merely with year 2014, we saved 500,000 m3 of water, which is the average amount of water consumed by the whole Tallinn within one week. Compared to the beginning of 2000-s, when the level of leakages was nearly 32%, we are now saving almost 5,000,000 m3 of treated drinking water.We take the timely and proper feedback to our service very seriously. We ask feedback to our work from clients on a monthly basis, so that we could promptly react, if needed, to any issues that require more attention. Furthermore, each year we order TNS EMOR to carry out a satisfaction survey among our customers. This is an extensive survey, mapping the satisfaction of both our contractual clients and consumers with our work and activities. The assessment is being given based on their client experience and direct contact with the company, but also on the opinions created by the media coverage, services, or other type of indirect or direct contact.In 2015, the customer retention (TRI*M index) has reached the highest level so far - 94 points, compared to the 85 points in previous year. For years now, we have continued to stand out with the ratings significantly higher than the European average of industrial sector (67 points) and the top 10% of utility companies (86 points).Cleaner environmentWe provide wastewater discharge service to nearly one third of the Estonia's population. The effective work of the wastewater treatment plant in Paljassaare contributes to keeping the purity of water in the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland and ensures the compliance with environmental requirements. This has been achieved through continuous investments and improvements in technological processes. In 2015, one of such investments - construction of the new coagulant dosing point - was completed. Coagulant is the chemical used to remove phosphorus from wastewater. The new dosing system significantly improves the efficiency of phosphorus removal as well as enables a more effective use of coagulant in the wastewater treatment process.We continue focusing on possible risks of floodings and pollution incidents as well as on reducing the inconveniencies we may cause to customers. The number of blockages characterizes the conditions of sewer network the best. The sediments accumulating in the sewerage pipelines are the main causes of blockages. In reducing the number of blockages, preventive actions, such as jet washing the sewer network, play an important role. In 2015, we jet washed 155 km of sewer network and cleaned approximately 4 000 stormwater manholes. In 2015, a total on 5.1 km of sewer network was reconstructed across the City of Tallinn.Sustainable developmentAs our activities impact nearly one third of Estonia's population, initiatives with a significant long-term positive effect on both our environment and community are extremely important for us. One of such initiatives was an extensive project of building fish passes at three dams of the reservoirs in Ulemiste catchment area delivered in cooperation with the Environmental Investments Centre. Tallinn's main source of drinking water - Lake Ulemiste - is surrounded by a large water catchment system covering the total area of ca 1 800 km2 to secure additional raw water storage for the lake. In order to improve the biological diversity and natural environment of the rivers in the catchment area and through that also the conditions of the entire river system, fish passes were built on the Sae, Vaskjala and Kaunissaare dams. The total cost of the project was over 350 thousand and the project of Vaskjala and Sae fish passes was co-financed by the Cohesion Fund in the amount of 180 thousand.Our aspiration is to raise awareness and promote environmental lifestyle among the population. We consistently work closely with our communities, both children and adults, who use our services, to promote environmental awareness. We encourage people to drink tap water through various campaigns and have involved several restaurants, partners and the public therein. Moreover, we organize discussions about water in kindergartens and schools. In 2015, we contributed to the environmental awareness of 1 482 children. Thousands of people visit our treatment plants each year. In 2015, the water treatment plant and the wastewater treatment plant were visited by 3 500 people in total. This demonstrates the interest of people in how our drinking water, which is of vital importance for us all, is produced and how it gets to their tap.In 2015, the Company was awarded with the Golden Mark in CSR Index. The Award was distributed by the CSR Forum, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, KPMG, Estonian Business School and Aripaev in collaboration.Mariliis Mia Topp Head of Communications Ph: (+372) 62 62 275 mariliismia.topp@tvesi.ee
KANSAS CITY, KS--(Marketwired - January 26, 2016) - Unbound, an international nonprofit founded by lay Catholics and grounded in the Gospel call to put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable first, will host Lisa Hendey, founder and editor of CatholicMom.com and bestselling author, on a trip to the Philippines February 4-15, 2016.

Hendey sponsors 8-year-old Jackilyn through Unbound. They will meet for the first time.

"I'm thrilled to be going and I'm so excited to meet [Jackilyn] and her family," Hendey said.

Hendey will travel as part of an Unbound awareness trip. These trips introduce travelers to children and elders who are part of the program. Travelers witness how families are building paths out of poverty through benefits like education, nutrition, microloans and even care for the environment.

Hendey looks forward to visiting with families served through Unbound and sharing her experiences with her readers.

"There is something about being there in person and seeing the work that just makes it more real and encourages us to realize the little sacrifices we make to be a part of it are a blessing to families," Hendey said.

Hendey says she knows the Filipinos "to be incredible people of faith and family," despite the hardships and natural disasters they have endured in recent years. "I am eager to see firsthand how we can help them through [Unbound's] services," she said.

"We thank Lisa for joining us on this adventure, as together we put flesh on the bones of Catholic social teaching," said Paco Wertin, church relations director at Unbound.

You can follow Hendey's adventure through Twitter: @LisaHendey and @Unboundorg.

About Unbound

Unbound is the largest nonprofit organization in Kansas with more than $120 million in annual revenue. Unbound works side by side with people of diverse faiths in 20 countries, bringing people together to challenge poverty in new and innovative ways.

Unbound distributes direct aid as quickly and efficiently as possible to people who need it. 92.5 percent of Unbound's expenses go toward program support.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/1/25/11G080034/Images/r_2014_Hendey38313-026-6cce0f6e3fe48004be4f9afd46cd35c6.jpg

Contact:

Elizabeth Alex

816-304-9498

ElizabethA@unbound.org
Strategic Partnership Enables UK Government Agencies to Procure Leading API Security Management Technology on Crown Commercial Service's Digital Marketplace

BOSTON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Forum Systems Inc. today announced a strategic partnership with Trustis to deliver its award-winning API Security Management platform to UK public sector organizations on the G-Cloud 7 framework. Forum Sentry, which serves as the foundation of Trustis' API Management & Cloud Gateway solution, can now be obtained in the Crown Commercial Service's (CCS) online catalog, the Digital Marketplace.

Established in 2012, G-Cloud is a framework agreement between the UK government and suppliers that provide cloud-based services. The online catalog is designed to facilitate the comparison of solutions, reduce HM Government IT spend, and increase the use of SMEs. Its objective is to simplify procurement and drive the adoption of cloud technologies by the UK's public sector. Refreshed every six months, G-Cloud 6 and G-Cloud 7 include more than 2,500 approved suppliers offering over 22,000 cloud services which are published on the Digital Marketplace.

"It's no secret that globally organizations are turning to the cloud to reduce costs, increase their productivity, improve user experience, reduce their risk, and more rapidly launch new services," said Mamoon Yunus, CEO of Forum Systems. "But cloud computing's utility and ubiquity is equally matched by its complexity which presents a daunting and vexing architectural challenge for many IT organizations."

Yunus continued: "Her Majesty's government's introduction of the G-Cloud framework and its 'Cloud-first' policy empowers public sector organizations to adopt the cloud at the core of their IT systems. Their 'Digital by Default' strategy, which is shifting government interactions with UK citizens to the web, means that a modern API security-driven cloud architecture is essential. We're excited to partner with Trustis to deliver strategic solutions in the Digital Marketplace that meet the exacting cloud security demands of UK government entities."

For over 15 years, Trustis has been delivering cyber security and compliance solutions to local government, HMG, and commercial organizations across the globe. The company can address every aspect of a solution from Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) design, architecture to application integration, and deployment of complete online security and authentication systems.

"As an inaugural supplier in G-Cloud, Trustis truly understands the concerns and requirements of public sector organizations. This enables us to provide the best and most suitable security technologies to our customers," said Robert Hann, Business Development Director at Trustis. "Forum Systems exemplifies the type of partner we seek to deliver on that mission. Serving as the cornerstone of our API Management and Cloud Gateway solution, Forum Sentry, helps customers meet their business and IT requirements by simplifying complex integration, and enabling secure access to corporate data and assets for consumption by mobile devices, web technologies, and business partners."

Next month in the UK, Forum Systems executives will discuss best practices in API Security Management and showcase their gateway solution, Forum Sentry, at key cyber security events. These include the company's fifth-annual London API Summit as well as SC Congress London 2016.

About Trustis

Trustis specializes in cryptographic solutions including large-scale PKIs, API Management, Identity Federation, as well as Security Compliance to serve the unique requirements of both the public and private sectors. A G-Cloud supplier since its inception, the company is product-independent, complies with ISO 27001:2013, tScheme and is ETSI Certified. For more information, please visit www.trustis.com.

About Forum Sentry

Forum Sentry is the industry's only API Gateway solution with a "security-first" design that has achieved NIST FIPS 140-2 and NIAP NDPP security certifications. The Forum Systems API Gateway is designed for seamless deployment in any computing environment to enable communications among the varied layers of information flows in enterprise network architecture. Forum Sentry processes and secures more than 10 billion transactions per day worldwide for hundreds of global organizations and government agencies. The API Gateway combines API Management, API Security and API Identity features in a single architecture capability in the network.

For more than 12 years, the Forum Sentry API Gateway Solution has maintained a 100% deployment success rate with U.S. Federal agencies, foreign governments and global enterprises. Providing secure integration across channels, applications and infrastructure, it is the only gateway in the industry to have achieved the rigorous industry FIPS 140-2 certification. This designation is the highest level of industry certification and signifies that an independent review has validated that the entire perimeter of the system and the underlying code is secure.

Forum is recognized by analyst firm KuppingerCole as the only vendor in the API Management market "with a primary focus on security." Additionally, the firm stated that the Forum Sentry API gateway should "be among the first choices not just for government or financial organizations, but for any company with a long-term API strategy."

About Forum Systems

Forum Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Crosscheck Networks, Inc., is the leader in API Security Management. Providing centralized security, identity and governance for SOA, REST and mobile communications, the Forum Sentry API Gateway enables enterprises to manage complex API access in an efficient, agile, highly secure manner. Processing more than 10 billion transactions per day worldwide, and architected on "security-first" design principles, Forum Sentry delivers unparalleled protection against HTML-, XML-, SOAP- and REST-based vulnerabilities. Forum Sentry is the industry's only FIPS 140-2 and NIAP NDPP-certified API Gateway for enabling secure connectivity between users, applications and the cloud. For more information, please visit www.forumsys.com.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
LONDON, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Roskill is releasing its new African Mining Reports (AMR). They are essential reading for anyone after a comprehensive overview of Africa.

Burkina Faso and Malawi is now available from Roskill Information Services. You can pre-order or download the brochures of upcoming reports: Togo, Namibia and Benin.

In response to the increasing demand for in-depth, mining-related information on Africa, Roskill has launched the Africa Mining Report (AMR) series. These reports - one for each African country - provide unique intelligence on the African mining industry, taking into consideration every factor impacting the sector. Subscribers also receive critical occurrence bulletins and six-monthly updates to keep them informed of key developments.

Roskill's AMRs are essential reading for those involved in African mining, processing and infrastructure and are critical tools for both investors interested in the continent and governments looking to attract foreign investment.

Roskill expects many African economies to have another difficult year in 2016 as they try to realise their growth potential. Low oil, metal and mineral prices, coupled with longstanding infrastructure and development issues, will create a challenging environment, particularly for economies driven by commodity exports. These factors, together with a slowdown in China and sluggish demand in Europe, could limit growth in the short term.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150909/264974LOGO )



Political processes will also undoubtedly impact the African mining and investment space over the year ahead. Key general elections in mineral-rich countries including Ghana and Zambia have the potential to impact the sector considerably - as do expected changes to the mining code in countries like Malawi and the DRC. In other counties, such as Burkina Faso, new, recently elected governments are setting to work on developing the mining sector and the wider economy - with many eagerly awaiting new investment opportunities.

Africa's long-term potential will remain in the spotlight throughout the year. It is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent after Asia, and the fastest growing part of the world - home to ten of the world's fifteen fastest growing economies. By 2050, Africa will be home to 20% of the world's population and its workforce continues to increase and upskill.

We are excited to announce that Roskill will be attending the 'Investing in African Mining Indaba 2016' event - the world's largest mining investment event and undoubtedly Africa's largest mining event.

Visit us at stand no. 1030 to discuss how our African Mining Reports can help you with your investment decisions. You will get the opportunity to get a unique intelligence into production, exploration activities, the political landscape, population trends, infrastructure, water, and mining law and taxation. In addition to this, each report contains 'insights from the field' - interviews with key players on the ground. This knowledge will enable you to formulate company strategy, follow industry trends or exploration.

For further information, contact us on:

Tel: +44(0)20-8417-0087

Fax +44(0)20-8417-1308

Email: info@roskill.co.uk

Web: http://www.roskill.com

Richard Pell: Richard@roskill.com or Jack Bedder: Jack@roskill.com

For marketing information, contact Dimpal Hirani: Dimpal@roskill.com


LONDON, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Kit allows developers for the first time to build secure data encryption into applications from inception

Global cost of data breaches expected to rise four fold to US$2.1 trillion by 2019

Qredo, the data security specialist, announces the beginning of a beta programme for its unique "quiet cloud" architecture, which for the first time enables developers to build cutting-edge encryption into applications from the outset, backed by its highly secure cloud platform, protecting all data stored and transmitted.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160125/325718LOGO )



This makes the Qredo software development kit (SDK) the only cloud-backed platform that addresses the increasing global problem of server data breaches. The SDK will revolutionise application development as it removes the single biggest barrier to a wider adoption of encryption - difficulty of integration. As part of the beta programme, it is immediately available to anyone who needs a new weapon to keep their applications secure.

Qredo's quiet cloud wraps up the encryption of data with cloud services, in a manner that does not require expertise in either security or cloud services. The encryption keys, which are the only way data can be accessed, are strictly unavailable to Qredo and, more importantly, to anyone who may breach Qredo's infrastructure. Qredo offers two components at present: the bulk storage of data, and a message queueing facility for communication between two devices, with more components under development.

The Qredo SDK will be open sourced, allowing third-party auditors to review and attest to its security. Any application use case where data needs to be kept private is an ideal use for Qredo, but Qredo's usability means that even seemingly open use cases such as gaming applications can make use of it.

According to Juniper Research, the cost to businesses of data breaches globally is forecast to reach US$2.1 trillion by 2019. Also, under new EU data protection laws, which will be implemented by the end of 2017, companies could incur fines of up to 4% of their global annual turnover.

According to research published by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the global cybersecurity solutions market is estimated at US$75-77 billion and forecast to reach US$170 billion by 2020.
ADVA Optical Networking SE / City of Cape Town Uses ADVA FSP 3000 CloudConnect for 400G Metro Network Trial . Processed and transmitted by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Advanced Connectivity Links Townships and Paves Way for Local Community Development

Cape Town, South Africa. January 26, 2016. ADVA Optical Networking (http://www.advaoptical.com) and the City of Cape Town announced today that they have successfully transmitted data rates of up to 400Gbit/s across Cape Town's metro transport network. The trial combined existing ADVA FSP 3000 infrastructure and the latest CloudConnect 400Gbit/s technology (http://www.advaoptical.com/en/products/scalable-optical-transport/fsp-3000-cloudconnect.aspx) to connect the townships of Nyanga and Mitchells Plain. It was one of the first demonstrations to transmit traffic at data rates of 200, 300 and 400Gbit/s over a deployed metro network. Using existing WDM equipment to achieve such high capacity underlines how the ADVA FSP 3000 (http://www.advaoptical.com/en/products/scalable-optical-transport/fsp-3000.aspx) scales to accommodate growing bandwidth demand. The trial is also notable for being one of the first field demonstrations of DP-8QAM to achieve interim capacity of 300Gbit/s. The showcase underlines the City of Cape Town's commitment to delivering high-speed connectivity throughout the metropolitan area and to underserved townships. ADVA Optical Networking's Elite partner XON Systems was integral in facilitating the trial.

"What we've showcased here with ADVA Optical Networking is a genuine technology landmark. Now that we know we have the power to create a 400Gbit/s backbone the possibilities are immense," said Leon van Wyk, telecommunications manager, City of Cape Town. "Ultra-fast connectivity will give government departments access to innovative new solutions. It will also make a huge difference for businesses and residents in this area. Successfully connecting the townships of Nyanga and Mitchells Plain with a 400Gbit/s transmission shows that we can bring high-speed broadband to areas that need it most. We know the power the Internet has to expand horizons, raise aspirations and enrich lives. Connecting people and local businesses with each other and with the world will regenerate entire communities."

The 400Gbit/s trial made use of the City of Cape Town's existing WDM infrastructure, which stretches over more than 100km and covers the whole metropolitan area. The meshed network is built on the ADVA FSP 3000, a modular optical networking platform designed for scalability and bandwidth optimization. To achieve the phenomenally high channel capacity, the demonstrators created a two-wavelength super-channel. Data rates were then switched between 200, 300 and 400Gbit/s to show how capacity can be automatically adjusted according to the network's shifting traffic and transmission quality requirements. Successfully transmitting a 300Gbit/s channel at just DP-8QAM is a significant milestone. This modulation format can handle lower signal-to-noise ratios for increased reliability, yet optimized fiber utilization.

"Using existing optical infrastructure to transmit up to 400Gbit/s highlights the scalability of our FSP 3000 and shows our customers how much potential lies in their deployed networks," commented Gunter Landers, sales director Africa, ADVA Optical Networking. "This trial demonstrates that backbone networks can be made to work even more efficiently so that future bandwidth demand can be met without the need for significant investment. The City of Cape Town is one of the leading municipalities in the country when it comes to providing its residents with state-of-the-art connectivity. It's been great to work with them on a demo like this. We've proved that they already possess the infrastructure to do so much more. Their not-for-profit network will soon be able to give an even bigger boost to local businesses and enhance the life chances of more people."

Watch this video for information on the ADVA FSP 3000: http://adva.li/3dfsp3000 (http://adva.li/3dfsp3000).

# # #

About ADVA Optical Networking

At ADVA Optical Networking we're creating new opportunities for tomorrow's networks, a new vision for a connected world. Our intelligent telecommunications hardware, software and services have been deployed by several hundred service providers and thousands of enterprises. Over the past twenty years, our innovative connectivity solutions have helped to drive our customers' networks forward, helped to drive their businesses to new levels of success. We forge close working relationships with all our customers. As your trusted partner we ensure that we're always ready to exceed your networking expectations. For more information on our products and our team, please visit us at: www.advaoptical.com (http://www.advaoptical.com).

Published By:

ADVA Optical Networking SE, Munich, Germany

www.advaoptical.com (http://www.advaoptical.com)

For Press:

Gareth Spence

t +44 1904 699 358

public-relations(at)advaoptical.com (mailto:public-relations@advaoptical.com)

For Investors:

Stephan Rettenberger

t +49 89 890 665 854

investor-relations(at)advaoptical.com (mailto:investor-relations@advaoptical.com)




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.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Switzerland's watch exports declined in December from a year ago, largely due to a weaker demand from Hong Kong, figures from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry showed Tuesday. Watch exports fell 3.8 percent year-over-year in value terms in December to CHF 1.7 billion. Exports of steel timepieces dropped the most by 3.0 percent during the month. Among the main export markets, shipments to Hong Kong plunged 21.1 percent in December. Similarly, the United States also showed a negative growth rate of 5.5 percent comparable with that of November. At the same time, exports to China gained further by 5.5 percent in December, benefiting in the process from a favorable base effect. The United Kingdom recorded another month of high growth, with 25.9 percent. Singapore and the United Arab Emirates also achieved good results. In the whole year 2015, total watch exports decreased 3.3 percent to CHF 21.5 billion. 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.


BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The pound declined against its major rivals in pre-European trading on Tuesday, amid rising risk aversion, as the sell-off in oil intensified, after Iraq's oil output hit a record in December, adding to worries over a supply glut.



Oil fell below $30 per barrel, extending yesterday's rout, as Iraq's oil production hit a record in December, diesel consumption in China fell for a fourth consecutive month and Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude exporter, said it would maintain its investments in oil projects.



Investors await the Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting starting today, for more clues about the tightening cycles, amid weakness overseas. Expectations for a March rate hike have been faded, and analysts are forecasting around three hikes in 2016.



The currency was lower on Monday, due to the weakening of crude oil prices.



Pulling away from an early high of 1.4252 against the greenback, the pound declined to a 5-day low of 1.4200. The pound is seen finding support around the 1.40 zone.



The pound reversed from an early high of 1.4432 against the Swiss franc, declining to a 4-day low of 1.4368. If the pound-franc extends pair, 1.40 is possibly seen as its next support level.



Figures from the Federal Customs Administration showed that Switzerland's trade surplus set a new record high in 2015, amid modest declines in both exports and imports.



The foreign trade surplus rose to CHF 36.61 billion from EUR 29.75 billion in the previous year. Exports fell 0.7 percent and imports dropped 0.5 percent.



The pound, having advanced to 168.66 against the Japanese yen at 6:00 pm ET, reversed direction and hit a 4-day low of 167.14. On the downside, the pound may find support around the 164.00 region.



Data from the Bank of Japan showed that Japan's producer prices rose 0.4 percent on year in December. That exceeded forecasts for an increase of 0.2 percent, which would have been unchanged from the November reading.



The U.K. currency slipped to 0.7657 against the euro, its lowest since January 21, from a high of 0.7610 hit at 5:30 pm ET. Continuation of the pound's downtrend may take it to a support around the 0.78 area.



Looking ahead, at 5:45 am ET, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney will testify on the Financial Stability Report before the Treasury Select Committee, in London.



In the New York session, Markit's flash U.S. service sector PMI report, U.S. consumer confidence index and U.S. Richmond Fed manufacturing index, all for January and U.S. S&P/Case-Shiller home price index for November are slated for release.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Joe Kainz Tel: +852 2584 4216 Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org

HONG KONG, Jan 26, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - Three leading Hong Kong fashion designers, Doris Kath Chan, Kenax Leung and Lulu Cheung will take part at the prestigious Copenhagen Fashion Week and Copenhagen International Fashion Fair (CIFF), from 3 to 5 February.Fashion Hong Kong comprises a series of overseas promotional events organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) to present Hong Kong fashion designers and labels in the global fashion arena. Fashion Hong Kong returns to Copenhagen for a second year with its three selected fashion designers at Copenhagen Fashion Week (AW16) and CIFF. The designers are ready to show their versatility in the Danish capital, where the fashion community is known for its minimalist approach.A dazzling Fashion Hong Kong Show will be held in the Copenhagen City Hall from 3pm on 4 February. This is the only show presenting Asian designers during the week. Of the three Hong Kong fashion designers, Doris Kath Chan is taking part in the event for a second time, while renowned designer Lulu Cheung and up-and-coming talent Kenax Leung make their debut at the event. Their Autumn/Winter 2016 collections for the show display the depth of their talent and skill. Doris Kath Chan's Little by Little is symbolic of innocence and a fresh start in life - including first sights, sensations and moves. Kenax Leung's BE NOT SO GENTLE is inspired by Mel Kendrick, an artist known primarily for his wood and cast-concrete sculptures; the fashion style celebrates youth culture and a passion for experimentation. Lulu Cheung's Flow takes its cue from the movements of ballet, evoking harmonious and peaceful rhythms, a post-romantic spirit and the power of the human body.To further showcase Hong Kong fashion designs, Fashion Hong Kong also has a presence at CIFF, which takes place at Bella Center this year. Fashion Hong Kong Gallery will introduce the three designers' labels and several fashion accessories brands to buyers, the media and fashion followers (Brands listed below).Hong Kong is regarded as a fashion centre for Asia, well-respected for its design talent, high quality products and international outlook. The Fashion Hong Kong show and Fashion Hong Kong Gallery provide unique opportunities for professional buyers and the media to learn about Asia's design talent and explore new business opportunities.For more information regarding the designers and their collections, please visit the websites below:Designer: Doris Kath ChanBrand: DORISKATH www.doriskath.comCollection: Little by LittleDesigner: Kenax LeungBrand: KENAXLEUNG www.kenaxleung.comCollection: BE NOT SO GENTLEDesigner: Lulu CheungBrand: LU LU CHEUNG www.lulucheung.com.hkCollection: FlowEvent Details:Event: Fashion Hong Kong show at Copenhagen Fashion WeekFormat: Fashion Group ShowDate: 4 February 2016 (Thursday)Time: Show starts at 3pm. Doors open at 2:30pmVenue: Copenhagen City HallBrands: DORISKATH, KENAXLEUNG and LU LU CHEUNGWebsite: www.copenhagenfashionweek.com/designer/fashion-hong-kongHashtag: fashion_hongkongEvent: Fashion Hong Kong Gallery at CIFFFormat: Booth and DisplayDate: 3-5 February 2016 (Wednesday-Friday)Time: 9am-6pmVenue: Style Setters Bungalows C4-109, Bella Center CopenhagenBrands: DORISKATH, KENAXLEUNG and LU LU CHEUNGBIG HORN, FAVEbyKennyLi, DARE TO DREAM, les amis, Loom Loop, Tasteless Hat Co, Vincelle and VOLAREWebsite: http://bit.ly/1Nx5XcFHashtag: fashion_hongkongEvent: Copenhagen Fashion Week (AW16)Date: 4 February 2016 (Thursday)Website: http://www.copenhagenfashionweek.comPhotos: http://bit.ly/200EzQNTo view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tcAbout HKTDCA statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and services providers. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in overseas markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.Google+: http://plus.google.com/+hktdcTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdcLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-councilSource: HKTDCContact:Copyright 2016 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.




Audaxis, Balkan Services, Extra SRL, Mepco and Solmate Join NetSuite Solution Provider Programme and Launch Cloud ERP Practices

LONDON, Jan. 26,2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NetSuite Inc. (NYSE: N), the industry's leading provider of cloud-based financials / ERP and omnichannel commerce software suites, today announced that a number of new partners including Audaxis (Belgium), Balkan Services (Bulgaria), Extra SRL (Italy), Mepco (Finland) and Solmate (Netherlands), have joined the NetSuite Solution Provider Program to capitalise on the fast-growing demand for cloud ERP software among businesses of all sizes in Europe. The partnership with NetSuite enables each solution provider to establish a cloud ERP practice, bringing the world's #1 cloud ERP to clients of all sizes to help them gain the superior business visibility, efficiency, scalability and agility possible with NetSuite. The new NetSuite partners are broadening their portfolios beyond supporting traditional on-premise ERP solutions from such vendors as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics and Sage as client organisations look to eliminate the inflexibility, on-going maintenance and high costs of in-house on-premise systems by turning to the cloud.

"There is strong demand across Europe and the Middle East for cloud-based ERP systems that give organisations the ability to scale and grow quickly," said John Campbell, EMEA Channel Director at NetSuite. "All five of these partners bring with them deep expertise in their market and understand the benefits they can bring to customers with NetSuite. In return, our partners provide us with the diversity needed to reach new and emerging markets."

Launched in 2002, the NetSuite Solution Provider Program is the industry's leading cloud channel partner program, providing hundreds of channel partners with a cloud solution to offer prospective customers and grow their businesses as well as industry-leading margins and incentive programs. With cloud computing at the forefront of the hottest trends and cloud ERP leading the way, channel partners representing on-premise products are continuing to build new practices based on NetSuite's superior cloud business management suite. Designed to help solution providers transform their business model to fully capitalise on the revenue growth opportunity of the NetSuite cloud, the NetSuite Solution Provider Program delivers unprecedented benefits that begin during recruitment and range from business planning, sales, marketing and professional services enablement, to training and education. For more information about the NetSuite Solution Provider Program, please visit http://www.netsuite.co.uk/portal/uk/partners.shtml.

Audaxis, Balkan Services, Extra SRL, Mepco and Solmate are the latest partners to join the NetSuite Solution Provider Program in Europe.

Audaxis Launches Cloud ERP practice with NetSuite

Audaxis (http://www.audaxis.com/), aBelgium-basedreseller and certified IT consulting service company for several midmarket business solutions, plans to bring NetSuite to businesses across a wide variety of industries including distribution, retail, media and professional services in Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Partnering with NetSuite has allowed Audaxis to launch a cloud ERP practice, extending its offerings beyond its traditional focus of open source ERP solutions such as Odoo and Compiere and BI solutions such as Talend and Jaspersoft BI, to address the growing demand for cloud ERP among its key markets.

Audaxis has more than 25 years of ERP implementation experience, helping more than 300 midmarket companies realise the business benefits of implementing end-to-end digital business management and ERP applications across French-speaking countries.

"We were impressed by NetSuite's unique combination of rich features, modern cloud technology and company vision. NetSuite gives us almost unlimited opportunities to support our customers' business processes with best in class ERP practices," said Bernard de Canniere, Audaxis CEO.

Balkan Services adds Cloud ERP, Seeks to Build Custom Applications

Balkan Services (http://www.balkanservices.com/eng/solutions/view/netsuite_erp), a Bulgaria-based software and services consultancy for Microsoft Dynamics, Qlik, Atlantis ERP and more, partnered with NetSuite for its modern cloud platform and the opportunity to exploit the industry expertise of its team by developing industry specific applications for its customers using the NetSuite SuiteCloud Development Platform. Balkan Services feels NetSuite provides strong support, and the visibility and transparency needed to fit the requirements of the Bulgarian market.

Founded in 2006, the company now has more than 40 employees and serves over 100 Bulgarian customers with efficient and reliable solutions such as ERP, CRM and business intelligence (BI) to help transform data into actionable business information.

"The flexibility and agility NetSuite provides enables us to support our customers as they grow, providing invaluable benefits to businesses in Bulgaria," said Vladimir Rashev, Managing Partner at Balkan Services. "We wanted an ERP platform that can scale, while also allowing us to make the customisations required by our customers. NetSuite cloud ERP is the perfect fit."

Extra SRL Goes all-in for Cloud ERP

Extra SRL (http://www.extrasrl.it/en/), headquartered in Italy and founded in 2006, is a specialist systems integrator providing consultancy services for applications and IT solutions. Extra is launching a cloud ERP practice with NetSuite to bring a flexible, scalable unified suite to its customers in the healthcare, manufacturing, retail and services industries. With over 60 employees operating in 11 countries covering over 110 international projects, Extra plans to offer NetSuite as a platform that can meet the unique industry-specific business requirements of its clients in Italy, Poland, the UK and the Middle East. Extra SRL chose NetSuite because its unified system for ERP, ecommerce, retail, inventory, and customer record can bring tremendous value to companies in the region.

"Extra has an established track record of supporting clients throughout Italy and we believe NetSuite can help us shape the market and respond to the needs of clients all over the country. With its integrated suite and flexible platform, we are well positioned to easily meet the needs of our clients," said Leonardo Paolino, CEO, Extra SRL.



Mepco joins NetSuite Partner Programme to Enable Finnish Companies to Scale

Mepco (https://www.mepco.fi/), a consultancy that delivers software solutions and services for the public and private sectors, is launching a cloud ERP practice with NetSuite. With over 10 years of experience and more than 200 experts working in Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku, Mepco is adding NetSuite to its exisiting portfolio of Microsoft Dynamics offerings and plans to implement, customise and extend NetSuite for midsized companies in Finland. Mepco selected NetSuite as a platform that can combine all of the mission-critical business processes necessary for Finnish companies to expand and grow their business globally.

"With NetSuite, business processes become transparent and real-time data is available anytime, anywhere for faster and better decision making," said Markuu Pekkola, Managing Director at Mepco. "NetSuite is an easy choice for our customers, offering a cloud-based solution that requires zero maintenance and can scale to meet the requirement of any fast growing business."

Solmate Group to Transform Businesses' Operations in the Netherlands with NetSuite

SolmateGroup(http://solmategroup.com/), a Dutch consultancy offering software solutions and services, is launching a cloud ERP practice with NetSuite. Solmate is adding NetSuite to its portfolio of Coda Financials, Adaptive Insights, COUPA, Qlik and SAP/BO to bring unified cloud ERP to its customers in the Netherlands. With decades of knowledge and experience, the Solmate Group plans to help businesses of every size and in every industry to transform their financial processes and business operations with NetSuite.

"We chose NetSuite because we wanted a 100 percent cloud solution that can bolster our existing ERP and finance offerings, and felt that the NetSuite cloud was a perfect fit for our customer base. NetSuite's agility, anywhere, anytime access and real-time visibility are exactly the features and benefits that our local customers have been asking for," said Andre Remmelzwaan, CEO, Solmate Group.

Today, more than 24,000 companies and subsidiaries depend on NetSuite to run complex, mission-critical business processes globally in the cloud. Since its inception in 1998, NetSuite has established itself as the leading provider of enterprise-ready cloud business management suites of enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and ecommerce applications for businesses of all sizes. Many FORTUNE 100 companies rely on NetSuite to accelerate innovation and business transformation. NetSuite continues its success in delivering the best cloud business management suites to businesses around the world, enabling them to lower IT costs significantly while increasing productivity, as the global adoption of the cloud accelerates.

Follow NetSuite's Cloud blog, NetSuite's Facebook page and @NetSuiteEMEA Twitter handle for real-time updates.

For more information about NetSuite, please visit www.netsuite.co.uk.

NOTE: NetSuite and the NetSuite logo are service marks of NetSuite Inc. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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Successful registrations will require advance planning

Intertek, a leading provider of quality solutions worldwide, offers comprehensive testing and consulting support for the last REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) registration deadline of 1 June 2018 for all substances manufactured in the European Union (EU) or imported into the EU in quantities of between one and 100 tonnes per year.

REACH is an EU regulation, which came into force on 1 June 2007, to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed from chemicals. REACH registration requires manufacturers and importers to gather information on the properties of the chemical substances contained in their products. This technical dossier is a mandatory part of the REACH registration process and where there are gaps between available and required information, additional testing may be necessary.

Several challenges for meeting REACH requirements have already been identified. It is anticipated that a large percentage of the companies registering in the 1-100 tpa band will be small to medium-sized companies and many are registering for the first-time. Separately, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the agency responsible for the management of REACH, recently released its REACH-EN-FORCE 3 (REF-3) enforcement project report. The report details the results of inspections, performed during 2013 and 2014, at 1,169 companies to assess for compliance with REACH registration responsibilities. The report identifies that 13% of inspected companies did not meet at least one REACH registration requirement. The most common issue (70% of non-compliant companies) was failure to register at least one substance subject to registration.

Richard White, Regulatory Consultant within Intertek's Health, Environmental and Regulatory Services Team in the UK, stated, "We are helping our customers proactively meet the requirements of the forthcoming deadline in June 2018. There is an increased demand for REACH related testing services and Intertek has geared up to address this demand. This deadline is not as far away as it may seem when you factor in the required steps and associated timelines. We recommend that companies requiring support should contact our testing and regulatory experts as soon as possible to ensure a smooth and successful registration."

Intertek provides a single-source solution for complying with the registration, testing, and documentation requirements of the EU's complex REACH regulation. To help clients navigate the intended changes, Intertek is publishing a series of blogs http://www.intertek.com/blog/chemicals/. To learn more about the REACH services offered by our team of experts and from the larger Intertek organization, please visit http://www.intertek.com/reach/.

About Intertek

Intertek is a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value for its customers by helping improve the quality and safety of their products, assets and processes. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 38,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies' success in the global marketplace, by helping customers to meet end users' expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide. Visit www.intertek.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005005/en/

Contacts:

For Media Inquiries:

Tracy Veale

Marketing Manager

Global Health, Environmental and Regulatory Services (HERS)

Intertek Life Sciences

Tel.: +1 905 542-2900

Email: tracy.veale@intertek.com

For Technical Inquiries:

Richard White

Regulatory Specialist

Health, Environmental and Regulatory Services (HERS)

Intertek Life Sciences

Tel.: +44 161 245 8075

Email: richard.white@intertek.com
AdvancedTMR Technology Realizes Small Hysteresis, Ultra-compact Form Factor, Ultra-low Power, and Excellent Temperature Stability for High-performance Industrial Sensor Applications

SAN JOSE, California and ZHANGJIAGANG, China, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MultiDimension Technology Co., Ltd. (MDT), a leading supplier of magnetic sensors specializing in Tunneling Magnetoresistive sensors (TMR sensors), will release a series of ultra-low power, small hysteresis TMR magnetic switch sensors, TMR1340/TMR1341/TMR1343/TMR1345, featuring a switching point from 14 Gauss to 72 Gauss with small hysteresis, ultra-low power at 1.5microAmperes in high-speed operation, with open-drain output, and an ultra-compact 2x1.5mm LGA package. They are an ideal choice for industrial proximity switches, pneumatic cylinder switches, and liquid level switches that require precise measurement of position and displacement, excellent temperature stability, and versatility to adapt to different types of magnets and stroke lengths.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/LA30781LOGO

"MDT's new TMR134X series enriches our existing magnetic switch sensor product line with new solutions for high-end industrial applications that can operate in harsh environments without sacrificing performance, power, and size advantages. Backed by our strong IP portfolio and advanced manufacturing facilities, MDT will continue developing innovative TMR sensor products to satisfy broad application requirements, including high sensitivity, large dynamic range, small hysteresis, ultra-low power, high-speed, and outstanding temperature performance, which are the unique benefits of our patented TMR sensor technology that are difficult to realize using other magnetic sensing technologies available on the market." said Dr. Song Xue, Chairman and CEO of MultiDimension Technology.

Model Switch Type Voltage (V) Power (microAmperes) Operating Mode Sensitive Direction BOP (Gauss) BRP (Gauss) Output TMR1340 Omnipolar 1.5-5.5 1.5 Continuous In-plane +/-14 +/-10 Open-drain TMR1341 +/-34 +/-30 TMR1343 +/-50 +/-45 TMR1345 +/-72 +/-63

The new TMR134X magnetic switches are additions to MDT's growing TMR12xx/TMR13xx magnetic switch series that is designed for a variety of industrial and consumer applications.

TMR12xx/TMR13xx Series Typical Applications and Suggested Products:

Proximity Switches, Pneumatic Cylinder Switches, Liquid Level Switches: TMR1340/TMR1341/TMR1343/TMR1345 with high sensitivity, small hysteresis, ultra-low power, small size, open-drain driving capability, and fast response time;

Smart Flow Meters including water/gas/heat meters, Position/Speed Sensors, Electrical Toys: TMR1202/TMR1302 with ultra-low power, fast response;

Motor and Fan Control: TMR1250/TMR1251/TMR1350 in high-voltage and high-speed operation;

Wireless Door/Window Switches, Intelligent Medical Appliances etc: TMR1208/TMR1308 with ultra-high sensitivity, ultra-low power, fast response.

About MDT

MultiDimension Technology was founded in 2010 in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, China, with branch offices in Shanghai, Chengdu, and Ningbo, China and San Jose, Calif., USA. MDT has developed a unique intellectual property portfolio, and state-of-the-art volume production manufacturing facilities for high-performance, low-cost TMR magnetic sensors to satisfy the most demanding application needs. Led by its core management team of elite experts and veterans in magnetic sensor technology and engineering services, MDT is committed to creating added value for its customers and ensuring their success. For more information about MDT please visit http://www.multidimensiontech.com.

Media Contacts

Jinfeng Liu, jinfeng.liu@multidimensiontech.com,

Tel: +1-650-275-2318 (US), +86-189-3612-1156 (China)

Jilie Wei, kevin.wei@multidimensiontech.com,

Tel: +86-189-3612-1160 (China)
AMSTERDAM, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Fontem Ventures, owner of market leading e-cigarette brand blu, and Ballantyne Brands, a U.S. based distributor and owner of the Mistic and HAUS brands of personal vaporizers and e-liquids, today announced they have reached a settlement agreement that resolves ongoing litigation in the USA.

The settlement ends another of eight patent infringement cases originally brought by Fontem Ventures and Fontem Holdings 1 in March 2014 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in relation to e-vapour technology.

Under the terms of the settlement, Fontem Ventures has granted Ballantyne Brands a non-exclusive royalty-bearing global licence under the patents asserted in the litigation and certain other e-vapour technology related patents. The remaining settlement terms are confidential.

About Fontem Ventures

Fontem Ventures is the owner of blu, a leading e-cigarette brand in the United States and the United Kingdom. Headquartered in the Netherlands, and present on two continents, Fontem Ventures is an innovative consumer goods company, founded in 2012, committed to developing a portfolio of products that meet consumer needs, including the highest quality electronic vaping products.

About Ballantyne Brands

Ballantyne Brands is an independent manufacturer of high-quality vapor products, primarily sold through brick-and-mortar retail channels. The company's Mistic brand of rechargeable and non-rechargeable e-cigarettes, including the Mistic Bridge', as well as its HAUS' line of vapor products, such as the HAUS' Personal Vaporizer by Mistic, HAUS' e-liquids, HAUS Craft Collection, and Unbroken e-liquids are sold in 70,000 retail outlets and wholesalers across the U.S.
SAN FRANCISCO, California, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Orthopedic surgical implants help replace deteriorated joints. This deterioration could be due to various causes like disease, aging, injury or osteoarthritis. This is especially common in geriatric populace. Orthopedic surgical implants relieve pain, restore movement and offer stability to the patients. Hip and knee replacements are the most common orthopedic implants. Reconstructive surgery of the joints is performed to modify the affected area in order to implant one or more manufactured components. It could involve the usage of bone cement. Main reconstructive surgeries involve joints.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgical Implants Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2016 to 2022" at: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/hip-knee-orthopedic-surgical-implants-market

Global market for hip and knee orthopedic surgical implants was valued at USD 17 billion in 2015. It is projected to grow to USD 33 billion by 2022. Demand will be driven by growing geriatric population across the world. Over 324,000 people underwent total hip replacement surgery in 2015, in the U.S. itself. This has been possible due to technological advancements over a period of time. Computer-assisted total hip replacement, a recent development, has revolutionized the total hip replacement surgery procedure.

However, reduced reimbursements by insurance companies are adversely affecting market growth. This is forcing cost-cuts across the supply chain. Manufacturers of orthopedic implants provide medical instruments that are used by orthopedic surgeons while performing surgeries. The choice of implant by a surgeon depends on his/her expertise with a particular implant, the diagnosed condition, and the fitment of the chosen implant with the patient. Often, surgeons pick devices that have the highest success rate.

Browse related reports by Radiant Insights:

Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgical Robots Market - http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/hip-knee-orthopedic-surgical-robots-market



Abdominal Surgical Robots Market - http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/abdominal-surgical-robots-market



Wearable Robots, Exoskeletons Market - http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/wearable-robots-exoskeletons-market-shares-market-strategies-and-market-forecasts-2015-to-2021

About Radiant Insight

Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. We assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. We have a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets.

Contact:



Michelle Thoras

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Radiant Insights Inc.

United States

Phone: +1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: +1-888-202-9519

Email: sales@radiantinsights.com

Web: http://www.radiantinsights.com


WARSAW (dpa-AFX) - The Polish Zloty weakened against the U.S. dollar in the early European session on Tuesday. Data from the Central Statistical Office showed that Poland's jobless rate rose to 9.8 percent in December from 9.6 percent in November. Economists had expected the unemployment rate to increase slightly to 9.7 percent. Against the greenback, the Polish Zloty fell to a 5-day low of 4.1516 from an early high of 4.1214. At yesterday's close, the Polish Zloty was trading at 4.1236 against the greenback. If the Polish Zloty extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around the 4.16 area. 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.
"The Planet is Being Shaped By Human Intention and Action. It is Radically Different Than Anything We've Ever Seen."- Revolution of the Present

PORTLAND, Oregon, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Featuringtwenty international thought leaders, Revolution of the Present, the documentary feature film by Director Marc Lafia, dares the viewer to begin examining a profound new present, this revolution of the present, so that we can better shape our collective future. Just released on Vimeo, iTunes, and Amazon Prime this January (coming soon to GooglePlay), the film unravels the complexity of the contemporary moment, examining western presumptions and narratives. In the post colonial world of identity politics, social media, climate change, screen and algorithmic computational technologies, it asks if there is room for the individual and participatory politics in the networked cultures of today.

Video - http://youtu.be/3EFVaByF9ms

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160122/325083

The Film for Those Who Want to Break Free of the Matrix

Revolution of the Presentexamines the strange effects - on cities, economies, people - of what we might call accelerated capitalism. Set against a visually striking array of sounds and images,twenty international thinkers speak to the complexity and oddity of this contemporary moment as they discuss what is and what can be.

"We need new concepts. New ways of thinking about what is a profoundly new reality." - Revolution of the Present

"The film is meant to begin a global conversation," says Lafia. "It's a series of building blocks that togethergive description to the increasing complexity and inter-dependence of our networked world. Perhaps as Columbia University Professor Saskia Sassen saysin the film, 'We are on the other side of the curve of liberal democracy.' If we take the time to examine where we are,we have no choice but to be a part of the future.You can either act to change things, or your inaction will decide for you. But how do we take action and what do we do? That is the heart of the film."

As the impact of human civilization makes our planet more and more precarious for her inhabitants, our need to collaborate and dialoguehas never been greater. Be a part of the conversation. View the trailer and film for FREE here. Get info at www.revolutionofthepresent.org and share thoughts @RevOfThePresent.
- Company completes senior management team for European region

- Continental Europe and functional leaders appointed

LONDON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb today announced a number of appointments with immediate effect, completing the line-up of its new European leadership team. This follows the recent appointments, previously announced:

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Andrew Kendrick : Senior Vice President, Chubb Group and Regional President, Europe .

: Senior Vice President, and Regional President, . Jalil Rehman : Executive Vice President and Chief Business Operations Officer, Europe .

: Executive Vice President and Chief Business Operations Officer, . Matthew Shaw : Executive Vice President, Europe and Division President, Chubb Global Markets.

Executive Vice President, and Division President, Chubb Global Markets. David Robinson : Executive Vice President, Europe and Division President, UK and Ireland . In addition, reporting to David Robinson : Phil Sharpe : Chief Operating Officer for Chubb's UK and Ireland Property and Casualty business; and Jeremy Miles : Head of Distribution UK and Ireland .

Executive Vice President, and Division President, UK and . In addition, reporting to : Drazen Jaksic : Senior Vice President, Accident and Health for Chubb in Europe and Eurasia and Africa .

: Senior Vice President, Accident and Health for Chubb in and Eurasia and . Rahim Firozali: General Manager for Combined in Europe .

Chris Eappariello: Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President, Personal Lines. Chris will continue to oversee Specialty Personal Lines in Europe as part of his international role, reporting to Darryl Page, Vice President, Chubb Group and Division President, Personal Lines for Chubb's Overseas General Insurance division.

Simon Mobey: Senior Vice President, International Personal Risk Services for Chubb's Overseas General Insurance division. Also reporting to Darryl Page, Simon will continue to manage the company's European High Net Worth business as part of his international role, working closely with Jalil Rehman in respect of Europe.

All of the above and following positions will report to Andrew Kendrick, Senior Vice President, Chubb Group and Regional President, Europe, unless otherwise stated.

Continental Europe leadership team

Jeff Moghrabi will serve as Division President, Continental Europe. Formerly Regional President, Continental Europe at ACE, Jeff will continue to have responsibility for the company's property and casualty, accident and health and consumer lines operations across Chubb's 16 countries in the region. Jeff will report to Andrew Kendrick .

will serve as Division President, Continental Europe. Formerly Regional President, Continental Europe at ACE, Jeff will continue to have responsibility for the company's property and casualty, accident and health and consumer lines operations across Chubb's 16 countries in the region. Jeff will report to . Steven Reiss will serve as Chief Operating Officer in Continental Europe. Steve will report to Jeff Moghrabi . Formerly Chief Operating Officer for ACE in Continental Europe, Steve will continue to have specific responsibility for the performance and development of business lines as well as the sales and distribution function in the region.

Jeff and Steve will continue to be based in Chubb's Continental Europe headquarters in Paris.

European functional leadership team

Mark Hammond will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Europe for Chubb. Formerly Chief Financial Officer for ACE European Group, Mark will have overall responsibility for finance including financial accounting and reporting, financial planning and analysis, actuarial, tax, and treasury. In addition, Simon Wood will serve as Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Europe , reporting to Mark Hammond . Simon was formerly Chief Financial Officer for Chubb in Europe .

will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, for Chubb. Formerly Chief Financial Officer for ACE European Group, Mark will have overall responsibility for finance including financial accounting and reporting, financial planning and analysis, actuarial, tax, and treasury. Mark McCausland will serve as Chief Risk Officer, Europe . Formerly Chief Risk Officer for ACE European Group, Mark will be responsible for supporting the Board and executive management in assessing, mitigating and managing risks across Chubb's regional operations as well as leading its regional capital modelling work.

will serve as Chief Risk Officer, . Formerly Chief Risk Officer for ACE European Group, Mark will be responsible for supporting the Board and executive management in assessing, mitigating and managing risks across Chubb's regional operations as well as leading its regional capital modelling work. Darragh Gray will serve as Director of Communications and Marketing, Europe . Formerly Director of Communications and Marketing for ACE European Group, Darragh will be responsible for Chubb's marketing, public relations, corporate and internal communications in the region.

The following roles will be based in London and will report to Jalil Rehman with immediate effect:

Peter Murray will serve as Director of Claims, Europe . Formerly Director of Claims at ACE European Group, Peter will lead Chubb's wholesale, retail, property and casualty and consumer claims operation across the region, ensuring it anticipates and responds to customer needs.

will serve as Director of Claims, . Formerly Director of Claims at ACE European Group, Peter will lead Chubb's wholesale, retail, property and casualty and consumer claims operation across the region, ensuring it anticipates and responds to customer needs. Ashley Mullins will serve as General Counsel, Europe . Formerly Deputy General Counsel for ACE European Group, Ashley will oversee the company's legal, compliance and company secretary functions in the region.

will serve as General Counsel, . Formerly Deputy General Counsel for ACE European Group, Ashley will oversee the company's legal, compliance and company secretary functions in the region. Lisa Skeels and Richard Cross will lead the human resources function for Chubb in Europe . Lisa, formerly Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Europe at Chubb, will have responsibility for employee relations, resourcing, learning and development, talent management and management information. Richard, formerly Human Resources Director for Consumer Lines, Claims and Operations for ACE in Europe , will be responsible for leading all people integration activity for Europe as well as the compensation and benefits function for the region.

and will lead the human resources function for Chubb in . Lisa, formerly Senior Vice President of Human Resources for at Chubb, will have responsibility for employee relations, resourcing, learning and development, talent management and management information. Richard, formerly Human Resources Director for Consumer Lines, Claims and Operations for ACE in , will be responsible for leading all people integration activity for as well as the compensation and benefits function for the region. Eileen Castolene will serve as Director of Operations, Europe . Formerly Vice President of Global Operations for ACE, Eileen will have responsibility for the company's regional operations including customer relations, policy servicing, facilities, procurement, change management and business continuity.

will serve as Director of Operations, . Formerly Vice President of Global Operations for ACE, Eileen will have responsibility for the company's regional operations including customer relations, policy servicing, facilities, procurement, change management and business continuity. Max Gibbs will serve as Chief Information Officer, Europe . Formerly Chief Information Officer for ACE European Group, Max will have responsibility for the technology function in the region, including strategy and delivery of information management, innovation and system solutions to support the company's continued development.

Functional leaders will also continue to provide support for the company's Eurasia and Africa region.

Andrew Kendrick, Senior Vice President, Chubb Group and Regional President, Europe, said:

"This is a group of true leaders, highly regarded insurance professionals with a wealth of experience and proven track records. Their knowledge and experience will be instrumental in ensuring the successful integration and ongoing success and growth of Chubb in Europe. Together, we will help bring to life for our brokers, partners and clients in Europe exactly what our new company stands for: superior underwriting, superior service and superior execution."

Jalil Rehman, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Operations Officer, Europe said:

"When we launched our new brand we talked about the craft of insurance. Our European leadership is indeed a team of craftsmen, personifying the ideas of excellence, constant improvement and can-do attitude. With our combined experience and skills, we look to the future with optimism and stand ready to deliver the service and solutions our customers expect and deserve."

"Bert van der Vossen, formerly Continental Europe Manager for legacy Chubb, has decided to leave the company at the end of May and will continue to support the team on the integration process until then. Bert leaves with our best wishes for the future and our sincere thanks for his dedicated service to Chubb over a distinguished 26 year career with the company."

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. The company is distinguished by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength, underwriting excellence, superior claims handling expertise and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 30,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: new.chubb.com.




Hamilton, Bermuda, January 26, 2016

Nordic American Tankers Limited ("NAT" or "the Company") announced today that one of its vessels performed a rescue operation in the Arabian Gulf, in the evening of January 25, 2016. A distressed ship was sinking and the NAT vessel made its way to the location. Within 30 minutes the crew, 12 seafarers, were successfully rescued. Our vessel promptly resumed its voyage and the rescued seafarers will be sent ashore when it is practical to do so.

The Company noted that the successful rescue of the seafarers is in harmony with long standing maritime traditions and is a credit to all involved, with particular emphasis on the efforts of our crew. This is the second time that one of our ships recently has been involved in a rescue operation. In September 2014 one of our vessels rescued 151 refugees in the Mediterranean.

Contacts:

Herbjoern Hansson, Chairman & CEO

Nordic American Tankers Limited

Tel: +1 866 805 9504 or +47 90 14 62 91

Gary J. Wolfe

Seward & Kissel LLP, New York, USA

Tel: +1 212 574 1223

Web-site: www.nat.bm (http://www.nat.bm)

Press release (PDF) (http://hugin.info/201/R/1981281/725876.pdf)



This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Nordic American Tankers Limited via Globenewswire



HUG#1981281


In connection with the announcement of DONG Energy's IPO roadmap on 18 September 2015, it was announced that DONG Energy would undertake a strategic review of the Exploration & Production (E&P) business.DONG Energy has now concluded the strategic review with the following key conclusions: DONG Energy confirms its intention to build a world-class clean energy company with a portfolio based on leading competences in offshore wind, bioenergy and green distribution and customer solutions. DONG Energy has decided to keep E&P as part of the planned IPO. Going forward, the cash flows from E&P will be part of funding DONG Energy's investments in renewable energy. The E&P business consists of a high-quality portfolio of oil and gas assets in Denmark, Norway and the UK with attractive lifting costs. In line with the rest of the industry, E&P needs to adapt to the significant decline in oil and gas prices. Actions are being undertaken to de-risk the E&P portfolio and focus on cash generation within the new market reality. With this revision of DONG Energy's portfolio strategy, investments to support future growth will be focused on renewable energy. This will further reinforce DONG Energy's position as a global leader in renewables.Write-down of E&P assetsIn DONG Energy's 2015 annual accounts, DONG Energy will make a write-down of approximately DKK 16 billion in the carrying value of the E&P business. The write-down is caused by the continued decline in oil and gas prices, reduced reserve estimates as well as project-specific factors, in particular with regard to the Hejre project which continues to face significant challenges.Due to DONG Energy's active hedging policy, the value of the oil and gas hedges has increased and amounts to approximately DKK 7 billion.The information provided in this announcement does not change DONG Energy's financial guidance for the 2015 financial year or the announced expected investment level for 2015-2016.For additional information, please contact:Media Relations Martin Barlebo +45 99 55 95 52Investor Relations Allan Bdskov Andersen +45 99 55 97 69This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any shares or other securities of DONG Energy A/S or affiliates thereof. The announcement is not directed to any person resident in any jurisdiction in which the submission or distribution of this announcement would contravene the law of such jurisdiction. This announcement may not be distributed to persons resident in any such jurisdiction. Accordingly this announcement may not be distributed in any jurisdiction outside Denmark if such distribution would require any registration, qualification or other requirement. Any person acquiring possession of this announcement is expected and assumed to obtain on his or her own accord any necessary information on any applicable restrictions and to comply with such restrictions.DONG Energy is one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe, headquartered in Denmark. Around 6,700 ambitious employees are engaged in producing energy from offshore wind farms, bioenergy and thermal heat and power plants, oil and gas fields as well as providing energy solutions to residential and business customers. Group revenue was DKK 67bn (EUR 9.0bn) in 2014. For further information, see www.dongenergy.comAttachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=544128
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Worldwide abdominal surgical robots market was valued over $2.2 billion in 2012 and is expected to cross over $10 billion by 2021. A remarkable installed base and superior technology provides instinctive growth to the industry. The capability to ensure improved outcomes from surgery coupled with records of development in care delivery are factors anticipated to boost the abdominal surgical robotics market.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Abdominal Surgical Robots Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2015 to 2021" at: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/abdominal-surgical-robots-market

The penetration of the hospitals will rise from 21% to 100% in the U.S within a few years, as the surgeons having robotic surgical equipment migrate from one place to the other. During the process, metal tubes are inserted through the ports which are attached to the patient's arms and then visualization and cutting instruments (through the tubes) are introduced into the body. Furthermore, the complete procedure is performed by a surgeon while sitting at a console, viewing and manipulating the operation through a vision system. The instrument is withdrawn from the surgical field when the surgeon needs to change an instrument. This same routine is repeated many times during an operation.

Abdominal surgical robots are also majorly used in head and neck surgery, general surgery, gynecological surgery and urologic surgery. Furthermore, surgical robots are cited to turn out to be the standard of care for hospitals in the abdominal surgery deliverance. The developing group of numerous abdominal surgical robotic firms is likely to have enough marketing influence to drive a substitute of open surgery, which is further expected to impact the overall abdominal surgical robots market.

Browse related reports by Radiant Insights:

Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgical Robots Market - http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/hip-knee-orthopedic-surgical-robots-market

Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgical Implants Market - http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/hip-knee-orthopedic-surgical-implants-market

Wearable Robots, Exoskeletons Market - http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/wearable-robots-exoskeletons-market-shares-market-strategies-and-market-forecasts-2015-to-2021

About Radiant Insight

Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. We assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. We have a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets.

Contact:



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NAUGATUCK, CT--(Marketwired - January 26, 2016) - NSI, a leader in providing managed IT services to businesses throughout Connecticut and the Northeast, announced today it is offering $500 college scholarships for fall 2016 to two qualified students enrolled in a Connecticut-based college or trade school.

Interested applicants must be current high school seniors or undergraduate students and can apply at http://nsiserv.com/scholarship. To qualify, students must be or will be enrolled in an undergraduate IT, computer science, engineering, or information systems program. Proof of admission to a college or trade school in Connecticut is required, and applicants also must fill out an essay question (no more than 500 words), located on the registration page. The submission deadline is May 31.

"Each year, we award $500 scholarships to help two bright students offset the cost of attending college in Connecticut," says Tom McDonald, NSI's CEO. "This is an investment in the future of our state, and we are honored to be able to contribute to the success of the IT and engineering leaders of tomorrow."

Questions about the scholarship program can be asked by emailing Scholarship@NSIserv.com or calling 203-723-4431. For additional information about NSI's services, visit the company's website at http://www.nsiserv.com.

About NSI

NSI was built nearly three decades ago with a simple goal to help our clients succeed. We are laser-focused on delivering the right solution, 100 percent of the time, and support more than 1,500 clients located throughout the Northeast. NSI lets you focus on running your business while we focus on managing and maintaining your technology. We do this simply and affordably by providing service onsite and remotely, along with selling and supporting a full portfolio of technology and solutions. The NSI team has a wide range of experience and knowledge in supporting business of all sizes, thus allowing our clients to improve utilization, simplify management, and improve business continuity. We are committed to evolving and adapting to the ever-changing technology industry. For more information about NSI's services, visit http://www.nsiserv.com.



Contact Information:

Tom McDonald

NSI President

TomM@nsiserv.com

203-723-4431
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Newmarket Gold ("Newmarket" or the "Company") (TSX: NMI)(OTCQX: NMKTF) today reports 6 holes of growth drilling from the Aurora B discovery at Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria, Australia. Of the results reported today, 5 holes are from Phase 3 drilling and 1 hole is from Phase 2 drilling (see news release published September 21, 2015). Phase 3 drilling at Aurora B consisted of 13 drill holes completed over 4,768 metres (m). Results achieved from 11 drill holes reported to date have been successful and has increased the Company's confidence in the potential of the Aurora B target for future development proximal to current underground operations.

Key Highlights

-- Completed the Aurora B Phase 3 East Flank diamond drill program which returned significant intercepts for the Hampshire Lode, including: 16.8 g/t Au (1) over 1.3m (ETW 0.65m) in hole MD6366, 4.01 g/t Au(1) over 7.7m (ETW 4.9m) in hole MD6367 and 3.04 g/t Au over 9.9m (ETW 8.7m) in hole MD6364. -- Phase 3 drill results support the continuation of mineralization along the Magdala East Basalt Flank, particularly within the Hampshire Lode, which remains open to the north and the south and at depth. More than 2.3 million ounces of historical production at Stawell has come from the West Flank of the Magdala Mineralization System with no recorded production from the East Flank. -- The final hole from Phase 2 drilling, hole MD6353, intersected 7.27g/t Au over 0.9m (ETW 0.5m). -- Prior released results from the Stawell Phase 1 and Phase 2 drill programs (6 drill holes) include: 7.06 g/t Au over 17.8 m (ETW 8.3 m), 25.4 g/t Au over 0.55 m, 8.03 g/t Au over 8.80 m (ETW 5.0 m) and 2.59 g/t Au over 5.5 m (ETW 3.1 m). -- Drilling to date, has outlined a mineralized surface on Aurora B measuring 150 m along strike and 150 m down dip and is open for expansion. -- Completed 327 m of underground development to support infill drilling at Aurora B with this East Flank discovery now only 220 m east of mine infrastructure. -- Commenced the Phase 4 diamond drill hole program, consisting of 7 holes over 3,000 m, to explore for along-strike extensions of the Aurora B Target.

(1) Visible gold present in intercept, ETW - Estimated True Width, All drill results are presented in Table 1 and drill collars in Table 2

Mr. Douglas Forster, President and Chief Executive Officer, Newmarket Gold commented: "We are extremely encouraged with the drill results from the Aurora B discovery at Stawell as we continue to target significant resource expansion opportunities with the goal of increasing the life of mine reserves across all of our operations. We have now completed 19 drill holes on the Aurora B target and the results to date highlight the potential to build Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves on the expansive Magdala East Basalt Flank. To date, drilling has outlined a mineralized surface close to mine infrastructure of approximately 150 m along strike and 150 m down dip with Phase 4 drilling underway to target the along strike potential of the discovery."

Stawell Gold Mine Aurora B Exploration Summary

Following Stawell drill results published September 21, 2015, growth exploration continued to focus on the high priority growth target, Aurora B, located on the Magdala Basalt East Flank (Figure 1).

By the end of 2015, a third phase of drilling testing the Aurora B Target was completed and included 13 holes over 4,768 m at a total cost of US$435,000. In addition, construction of 327 m of underground development was established to provide drill platforms for Aurora B infill drilling. The cost for this development was US$709,000 advancing the development to be within 220 m laterally from the Aurora B target.

Currently, two drill rigs are operating from the newly constructed underground development to test for gold mineralization along-strike of the defined Aurora B Target. This next phase of exploration drilling, Phase 4, will cover approximately 3,000 m from 7 diamond drill holes. Drilling will target basalt contact mineralization within 'waterloo' zones and the Hampshire Lode, the key target (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

Aurora B Target Drill Program

The high priority growth target, Aurora B, at Stawell continues to be explored through a phased drilling program. Drilling results from Phase 1 (news release July 22, 2015) and Phase 2 (news release September 21, 2015) drill programs previously identified the Hampshire Lode, a mineralized surface with approximate dimensions of 150 m in strike and 150 m in dip. The Phase 3 exploration program was designed to reduce drill spacing to approximately 50 m by 50 m over the Hampshire Lode and to provide adequate close-spaced data sufficient for Mineral Resource estimation work. Ten of the 13 holes in Phase 3 successfully intersected the Hampshire Lode gold mineralization, occurring within altered banded iron formation 10 to 50 m in thickness, and is approximately 10 m to 50 m from the basalt contact (Figure 2 and 3).

The banded iron formation is variably cut by quartz-carbonate veins about which disseminated sulphides (arsenopyrite and recrystallized pyrrhotite) and alteration occurs. Gold mineralization tends to be associated with the zones of sulphides within the banded iron formation.

Drill results from one drill hole from the Phase 2 program (results pending at time of News Release September 21, 2015 ) and 5 drill holes in the Phase 3 program are now reported for holes targeting the Hampshire Lode (Figure 2). All successfully completed holes to date have intersected the Hampshire Lode, with three holes returning significant intercepts. These intercepts include 16.8 g/t Au (1) over 1.3m (ETW 0.65m) in hole MD6366 and 4.01 g/t Au (1) over 7.7m (ETW 4.9m) in hole MD6367), including three high-grade intervals of 23.6 g/t Au (1) over 0.3m (ETW 0.2m), 11.8 g/t Au (1) over 0.5m (ETW 0.3m) and 17.05 g/t Au (1) over 0.6m (ETW 0.4m). In addition to these two holes, MD6364 returned 3.04 g/t Au over 9.9m (ETW 8.7m).

When the remainder of the Phase 3 drilling results are received, they will be used for resource modelling which may lead to establishment of Mineral Resources on the East Basalt Flank at Stawell. This would be a significant realization given all of Stawell Gold Mine's historical production, more than 2.3 million ounces, has only been drawn from the West Flank of the Magdala Mineralization System. Results to date support the continuation of mineralization along the East Flank, particularly within the Hampshire Lode, which remains open to the north and the south and at depth.

A Phase 4 drilling program, to explore north and south along-strike from the Phase 3 drilling area commenced in early January 2016. The program is being undertaken from the recently completed Aurora B development where two drill rigs are completing approximately 7 holes for a total of 3,000 m of diamond drilling (Figure 1). The areas being investigated by this drilling have approximate strike and dip dimensions of 175 m by 100 m in the north and 100 m by 100 m south.

To view a PDF of the tables and figures as referenced in this press release please go to the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/0734m2.pdf

Qualified Person

Mark Edwards, MAusIMM (CP), MAIG, General Manager, Exploration, Newmarket Gold, is a "qualified person" as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information and data included in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Douglas Forster, M.Sc., P.Geo., President & Chief Executive Officer

About Newmarket Gold Inc.

Newmarket Gold is a Canadian-listed gold mining and exploration company with three 100% owned operating mines across Australia. The Company is focused on creating substantial shareholder value by maintaining a strong foundation of quality gold production, over 200,000 ounces annually, generating free cash flow and maintaining a large resource base as it executes a clearly defined gold asset consolidation strategy. The Company is focused on sustainable operating performance, a disciplined approach to growth, and building gold reserves and resources while maintaining the high standards that the Newmarket Gold core values represent.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forward-looking statements", and "forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements, which include the Company's expectations about its business and operations, and are based on the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, which may prove to be incorrect. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans", and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are included in this press release or incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Contacts:

Laura Lepore

Director, Investor Relations

Newmarket Gold Inc.

416.847.1847

llepore@newmarketgoldinc.com

www.newmarketgoldinc.com




LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Hyundai's All-New Tucson has been recognised as the 'Best Mainstream Small 4x4' in BusinessCar's annual awards. Uniquely, the awards are determined by the fleet industry itself, with the Tucson's striking design, cost-efficiency and practicality securing the top spot for Hyundai.

Paul Barker, Editor at BusinessCar, said: "Hyundai's continued upward progress means it is now an established fleet player, and the new Tucson is the most impressive product the company has yet launched into the UK fleet sector. Good looking, practical and cost-efficient, it clearly ticks all the boxes for fleet drivers looking for something in this sector."

The All- New Tucson represents a major leap forward for Hyundai in the small 4x4 segment and quickly became Hyundai's fastest-selling car following its launch in early September last year. Designed to be class-leading in several key areas, the Hyundai All-New Tucson offers best-in-class whole life costs, residual values and boot space. In addition, the Tucson compact SUV adds enhanced levels of standard equipment boosting comfort, convenience and safety across the range. Fuel efficiency as high as 61.7 mpg and CO2 emissions from just 119 g/km ensure a good BiK value and low running costs for fleets.

Martin Wilson, Fleet Director, Hyundai Motor UK Ltd said: "The All-New Tucson has had an outstanding reception from our customers since its introduction in September last year. Hyundai Motor UK works hard to ensure that the needs of every fleet customer are identified and met, so with the Tucson a lot of effort went into ensuring that it offered class-leading residuals, for example. To be acknowledged by BusinessCar in this competitive and growing segment is testament to Hyundai's focus and underlines the Tucson's role as a key player in our sustained fleet growth into 2016 and beyond."

The BusinessCar Awards are unique in that they are the only awards decided by the fleet industry itself, with the readers of the magazine and BusinessCar.co.uk voting for the products, services and companies that best support their businesses. Rather than being decided by a panel of experts, the BusinessCar Award winners are chosen by the people relying on them to help efficiently run their businesses on a daily basis.

About Hyundai Motor

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond. The company, which leads the Hyundai Motor Group, an innovative business structure capable of circulating resources from molten iron to finished cars, offers top-quality best-sellers such as Elantra, Sonata and Genesis. Hyundai Motor has eight manufacturing bases and seven design & technical centres worldwide and in 2015, sold 4.96 million vehicles globally. With almost 100,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with localized models and strives to strengthen its leadership in clean technology, starting with the world's first mass-produced hydrogen-powered vehicle, ix35 Fuel Cell.

More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at:http://worldwide.hyundai.com or http://park.hyundaiglobalnews.com/

About Hyundai Motor UK

Hyundai has sold vehicles in the UK since 1982. In 2005, Hyundai opened its own UK subsidiary, Hyundai Motor UK Ltd, based in High Wycombe. Since 2008, the company has risen from 21st to one of the top 10 car manufacturers in the UK and last year sold a record 88,257 vehicles. Hyundai Motor UK employs more than 3,000 people through its UK operations and dealer network.

Hyundai offers a full range of vehicles from the award-winning New Generation i10 city car through to the capable Santa Fe SUV and iLoad LCV. All passenger cars come with Hyundai's industry-leading 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty package. Further information about Hyundai and its products is available at www.hyundai.co.uk.

Follow us on Twitter @Hyundai_UK_PR

Contacts:

Natasha Waddington

Head of PR

01494 428646

07771 975692

natasha.waddington@hyundai-car.co.uk



Laura King

Senior Manager, Brand PR

01494 428685

07817 264224

laura.king@hyundai-car.co.uk



Sarah Saunders

PR Administrator (Press Fleet)

01494 428617

sarah.saunders@hyundai-car.co.uk




OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Itinerary for the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, for Tuesday, January 26, 2016:

Montreal 7:15 a.m. The Prime Minister will meet with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre. Mayor's Office 275, rue Notre-Dame Est Montreal, Quebec Closed to media. Montreal 8:00 a.m. The Prime Minister will hold a joint media availability with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre. Main foyer of Montreal City Hall 1st floor 275, rue Notre-Dame Est Montreal, Quebec Notes for media - Media should arrive no later than 7:30 a.m. Montreal 9:00 a.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Canadian Council of Chief Executives at their New Year Members' Meeting. Closed to media. Ottawa 11:30 a.m. The Prime Minister will attend the Cabinet Meeting. Closed to media. Ottawa 4:00 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Closed to media. Ottawa 5:45 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend the Defence Leader's Symposium reception. Closed to media.

Contacts:

PMO Media Relations:

613-957-5555




NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- BANQ, the online division of TriPoint Global Equities, LLC, a FINRA member broker-dealer announced today that its CEO, Mark Elenowitz, was featured in an Inc.com piece entitled "This Stock Market Expert Shares 9 Ways to Avoid Messing Up Your Retirement" published on Monday January 25, 2016.

In the article, Inc.com writer, Kevin Daum, discusses BANQ's CEO Mark Elenowitz, "I interviewed Elenowitz, who has been championing the everyday investor and helping entrepreneurs looking to raise capital for more than 20 years. Regardless of whether you are leveraging your savings to build a company or just socking it away for that life sipping Mai Tais on the beach, you can benefit from his advice. Elenowitz believes good investments can easily be managed with a few simple rules. Elenowitz advises, 'If you are investing on your own, treat yourself like a client and be honest with yourself in analyzing your goals, then invest according.'"

Read the full article appearing on Inc.com here: http://bit.ly/1JxVYcv

About Mark Elenowitz

Mark H. Elenowitz, CEO and Founder of BANQ, a newly launched online division of TriPoint Global Equities, LLC, is an electronic investment banking platform that will streamline the matching of investors with quality growth companies and alternative investment opportunities. BANQ provides investors access to exciting companies with exposure to rapidly growing sectors and new technologies. BANQ takes the entire public and private offering process digital and online, providing access to U.S. opportunities and offerings in the U.S. markets. BANQ widely markets its offerings utilizing the new general solicitation and advertising rules promulgated by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, in response to the passage of the JOBS Act of 2012, including Reg A+ and Title II of the JOBS Act. Mr. Elenowitz is responsible for the overall corporate development of TriPoint and BANQ, advising clients on structuring, financings and acquisitions. He has extensive experience in advising clients on governance, compliance, and capital markets navigation including acting as a member of the board of directors. He has worked with numerous public and private companies. Mr. Elenowitz integrates a strong, successful entrepreneurial background with extensive financial services and capital markets experience. He has assisted numerous companies in a "soup-to-nuts" process, preparing them for life as a public company and advising them on an ongoing basis as to further rounds of financing, strategic acquisitions and a broader investor base via a listing on a higher securities exchange or market. Mr. Elenowitz is the recipient of several entrepreneurial awards and has been profiled in BusinessWeek and CNBC, as well as several other publications.

About BANQ

BANQ is the division of TriPoint Global Equities, LLC ("TriPoint"), a FINRA member firm, a boutique investment bank, with corporate finance and sales and trading services. All securities transactions are offered thru TriPoint. TriPoint focuses on providing U.S. and non-U.S. companies of up to $500 million in revenue with capital raising, corporate finance advisory services and assistance with navigating the regulatory environment for companies listing on U.S. markets. TriPoint maintains specialized practices in institutional private placements, sales and trading, research, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance. TriPoint has offices in New York City, Jericho, NY, Akron, OH, Beijing China and Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.banq.co, www.tripointglobalequities.com. MEMBER FINRA/SIPC/MSRB.

To Inquire for BANQ Services:

inquiries@banq.co

www.banq.co

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2954914



PR/ Media Contact:

Matthew Bird

President

1-800-PublicRelations, Inc.

+1 (800) 872-6185

matt.bird@1800pr.com

www.1800pr.com




PUNE, India, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The Worldwide Smartphone Market Forecast, 2016-2020 report finds that global mobile phone market volume is anticipated to witness 1.4% year-on-year growth in 2016 and reach 1.97 billion units, 1.53 billion of which will be smartphones. The market has dropped to single digits, representing a plateau period. This further proven by the fact that global smartphone market volume is predicted to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 4% between 2015 and 2020.

Complete report on smartphone market spread across 15 pages, analyzing eight major companies is now available at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/worldwide-smartphone-market-forecast-2016-2020-market-report.html.

This report presents worldwide mobile phone market forecast, including a review of recent years and a forecast for the period 2016-2020, with breakdowns by system technology and region. It also examines mobile phone market volume and market share by system technology for all the world's main regions separately, including North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, China, and Asia Pacific (including Japan).

Companies covered: Amazon, Apple, Google, Huawei, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Samsung, and ZTE. Order a copy of Worldwide Smartphone Market Forecast, 2016-2020 report @ http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=459902.

Other related reports on smartphone markets are Competition Analysis of the Worldwide Smartphone Industry and Analysis of Major Vendors' Strategies and Development of Smartphone Industry and Applications.

The "Competition Analysis of the Worldwide Smartphone Industry and Analysis of Major Vendors' Strategies" report says, the global smartphone market has slowed down in 2015. Facing greater challenges, smartphone vendors are focusing more on emerging markets like India and Africa. This report profiles the competition landscape of the worldwide smartphone industry in 2015 and provides an analysis of two major Chinese vendors' strategies, i.e. Huawei and Xiaomi.

The report provides an overview of the global smartphone market, including shipments and ASP forecasts from 2015 to 2019, major vendors' market share, and specifications of major flagship and mid-range smartphones launched in 2015. Analysis of Huawei's and Xiaomi's strategies, including their development history, sub-brands and smartphone features, value chain activities, and key success factors. Access the complete report at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/competition-analysis-of-the-worldwide-smartphone-industry-and-analysis-of-major-vendors-strategies-market-report.html.

Companies covered: Apple, ASUS, Blackberry, Coolpad, Gionee, Haier, Honor, HTC, Huawei, JD, Karbonn, LAVA, Lenovo, LG, Micromax, Microsoft, Neul, Oppo, Redmi, Samsung, Sony, Suning, Tmall, Xiaomi, and ZTE.

The Development of Smartphone Industry and Applications report says while the global smartphone market is slowing down, smartphone vendors in China and emerging markets manage to retain shipment growth this year, thanks to their flexible business models and premium products at affordable prices. In particular, some vendors focus on building audiovisual content ecosystems while others boast unique and innovative product designs. Android and iOS continue to dominate the market with over 95% market share while emerging OSs, such as Ubuntu, Sailfish, and Alibaba's Yun OS, are striving to find a foothold in IoT or smart home application markets. This report provides a recent review of the worldwide smartphone market, touching on vendors' market development strategies, major trends of smartphone OSs, and smartphone applications.

The reports provides an overview of the worldwide smartphone market, including forecasts for shipments, ASP, and branded vendors' shipment share; also included are major models launched or to be launched in 2015. The report also provides smartphone vendors' market strategies, including a brief summary of major smartphone brands in India. The report also lists the emerging OSs, such as Obuntu, Sailfish, and Yun OS, and their applications. In the end the report also lists new smartphone applications, including mobile payment, car infotainment and for marketplaces.

Companies covered

Alibaba, Apple, ASUS, Bq, China Mobile, China Telecom, dmarket, Ericsson, Google, HTC, Huawei, Intex, Jolla, Korea Telecom, Leadcore, Lenovo, LeTV, LG, MediaTek, Meizu, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, NTT DOCOMO, Qualcomm, Sailfish, Samsung, SK Telecom, Sony, Spreadtrum, Xiaomi, ZTE. Access the complete report at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/development-of-smartphone-industry-and-applications-market-report.html.

Explore more reports on smart phone market at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/reports/information-technology-telecommunication/wireless/smart-phone .

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MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Soricimed Biopharma Inc., a private clinical stage company developing novel cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, is pleased to announce that Bob Cory, PhD, an experienced business and corporate development leader, has joined the organization as V.P. Business Development. Additionally, Tom Reeves, a member of Soricimed's Board of Directors since 2013, has been appointed Chair.

Dr. Cory has over 20 years of business and corporate development leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Working with emerging and established biotechnology companies across a range of therapeutic and diagnostic areas, he has successfully lead acquisition, collaboration and strategic partnering transactions with biotech and multi-national pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Cory was most recently the Vice President, Business Development at Qu Biologics Inc., where he was responsible for planning and executing the company's business development strategy. He holds a PhD from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from Wilfred Laurier University.

Mr. Tom Reeves currently serves as President & CEO of Interface Biologics. Previously, Tom was the President of Occulogix where he was instrumental in their 2004 IPO that raised over$100M. A Harvard graduate, Tom began his career at BCG and has managed start-ups to billion $+ technology and medical device enterprises in Canada, Europe and the UK.

"It's a very exciting time to join Soricimed with the recent completion of a Phase I trial of our first-in-class peptide, SOR-C13, in advanced solid tumour cancers - the first drug candidate targeting calcium channel TRPV6 to have entered clinical development anywhere in the world", stated Dr. Cory. "I look forward to working with Soricimed's highly talented team to share results of the trial with potential partners and move to the next stage of development and commercialization."

"We are extremely pleased to have Bob join our Executive team. His expertise will be invaluable at this exciting stage of our organization", stated Paul Gunn, President & CEO, Soricimed Biopharma. "Additionally, I am thankful to Tom for his contributions to date and look forward to his leadership as Chair going forward."

Soricimed will be reporting the top-line results of their Phase I trial in Q1, 2016.

ABOUT SORICIMED BIOPHARMA

Soricimed Biopharma Inc., a private Canadian clinical stage company developing novel cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, was created in 2005 by Professor Jack Stewart and Paul Gunn following the discovery and development of a proprietary peptide, soricidin. Soricidin is the basis for Soricimed Biopharma Inc.'s targeted cancer management program focused on cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. Using focused innovative strategies in collaboration with major world-class cancer research institutions, Soricimed's drugs have demonstrated a capability to reduce cancer cell viability, induce apoptosis and to reduce human tumour volume while minimizing side-effects in various classic animal and in vitro tumour models. Privately held, Soricimed is funded through private investors and various programs from the Governments of Canada and New Brunswick. For more information please visit, www.soricimed.com.

Contacts:

Julie Fotheringham - Partner, Hageman Communications

416-951-7988

Julie.fotheringham@hageman.ca

www.soricimed.com




BASKING RIDGE, NJ -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- TurnPoint Medical Devices, Inc., a provider of innovative medical device solutions, today announced three new appointees to their Board of Directors -- and additional senior leadership and experience to their already talented and industry-expert management team.

David L. Bonderud is currently an Operating Partner with Chicago Private Equity firms focused in the healthcare space, bringing a wealth of healthcare and medical device experience to TurnPoint. He has held various roles in a 31 year career with Baxter Healthcare Corporation, including leading its $1.8 billion US Hospital Products business for 9 years, with responsibility for IV pump, IV solution, Nutrition therapy and Pharmacy product portfolios. With a focus on IV products, he has also held senior management roles with global Baxter business units leading teams developing, marketing and selling innovative solutions for patients and the care providers that deliver their therapies.

R. Douglas Hulse is an Executive Director and Principal at The Sage Group, a leading international consultancy in the field of Pharma, biotech and medical devices. He has to his credit several entrepreneurial businesses he founded, including I-stat, the diagnostic firm that was sold to Abbott Labs for nearly $400 million;

Christopher J. York is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the Specialty/Home Infusion market. During his 27 year career he has held senior leadership positions in large national companies and has built and consolidated three market-leading Specialty Infusion providers. Most recently, he built SCP Specialty Infusion, which was acquired by Axelacare Health Solutions, a large nationwide provider of infusion services. Subsequently, Mr. York has served on the Board of Directors of Axelacare.

"We are delighted to have attracted such individuals to our Board that have senior management experience in medical businesses directly relevant to our commercial strategy. We plan to launch our new large volume infusion pump into the fast growing home infusion and cancer clinic infusion market in the 3rd quarter this year," said Mr. John Toedtman, Chairman and CEO of TurnPoint Medical Devices.

"In addition, we reached another milestone for our IP, namely the US Patent Office has allowed the claims on two U.S. patents, one for the revolutionary pneumatic-assist direct drive IV pump system including novel 'positive air elimination', and a companion patent that is the disposable device that achieves 'positive air elimination'," he concluded.

About TurnPoint Medical Devices, Inc.

TurnPoint Medical Devices Inc. identifies and rapidly commercializes medical devices that employ the latest medical technology. We employ a straightforward business strategy to identify, develop and deliver impactful, state-of-the-art products and services that safely provide improved outcomes for patients and healthcare providers. For more information about TurnPoint's offerings, contact us at info@turnpointmedical.com or visit our website at www.turnpointmedical.com.

Contact info:

Harriet L. Donnelly

e5 Marketing Inc.

908-901-9280 (office)

908-392-3801 (cell)

Email Contact




Gains Innovative NIPT Solution in Development to Expand Maternal Fetal Health Portfolio

PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader focused on improving the health and safety of people and the environment, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Vanadis Diagnostics, AB. Based in Sweden, Vanadis is developing a novel solution for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) based on digital analysis of cell-free DNA.

The acquisition is anticipated to build upon PerkinElmer's maternal fetal health offerings, which provide customers a full portfolio of traditional serum screening solutions. The Vanadis platform will enable PerkinElmer to offer a simplified, cost-effective, high-throughput approach to NIPT to help facilitate wider access for pregnant women.

Many traditional biochemistry prenatal testing labs have encountered challenges in successfully implementing NIPT due to the complexity of the tests. This has led to limited acceptance of the existing NIPT technology, which has been adopted mainly by genetic laboratories. The Vanadis offering is based on digital DNA analysis and is designed to provide automated testing for routine use by high-throughput biochemistry labs as well as genetic labs.

"While NIPT is becoming increasingly recognized as valuable to many high-risk expectant parents during the first trimester, test complexity and pricing issues have limited the ability of many biochemistry labs to effectively offer this type of prenatal screening," said Prahlad Singh, President, Diagnostics, PerkinElmer. "High capital investment, advanced molecular skills, and complex data handling for lab staff, along with the difficulty of integrating these systems into the existing screening infrastructure, have been barriers to more widespread adoption of NIPT. Vanadis' simplified NIPT platform, once available, should help overcome these obstacles, giving labs a wider range of prenatal testing capabilities and providing important information to physicians and patients."

Adding Vanadis' capabilities to PerkinElmer's extensive diagnostics portfolio is intended to contribute to better health outcomes through improved detection of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. PerkinElmer's diagnostic offerings include: prenatal, neonatal and infectious disease screening, along with molecular diagnostics solutions, through its wide range of instruments, reagents and assay platforms, and software. The Company also provides private cord blood and cord tissue preservation to families through ViaCord LLC.

"We founded Vanadis with the mission to make NIPT available to all women, and we developed this technology to fundamentally change the cost structure and workflow for NIPT," said Olle Ericsson, CEO, Vanadis Diagnostics. "We are confident that with its leading position in prenatal screening, PerkinElmer is best situated to bring this system to market and address the under-served segment of average-risk pregnancies."

About PerkinElmer, Inc.

PerkinElmer, Inc. is a global leader focused on improving the health and safety of people and the environment. The Company reported revenue of approximately $2.2 billion in 2014, has approximately 8,000 employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500 Index. Additional information is available through 1-877-PKI-NYSE, or at www.perkinelmer.com.

Factors Affecting Future Performance

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements relating to estimates and projections of future earnings per share, cash flow and revenue growth and other financial results, developments relating to our customers and end-markets, and plans concerning business development opportunities and divestitures. Words such as "believes," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "will" and similar expressions, and references to guidance, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and no assurances can be given that our assumptions or expectations will prove to be correct. A number of important risk factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation: (1) markets into which we sell our products declining or not growing as anticipated; (2) fluctuations in the global economic and political environments; (3) our failure to introduce new products in a timely manner; (4) our ability to execute acquisitions and license technologies, or to successfully integrate acquired businesses and licensed technologies into our existing business or to make them profitable, or successfully divest businesses; (5) our failure to adequately protect our intellectual property; (6) the loss of any of our licenses or licensed rights; (7) our ability to compete effectively; (8) fluctuation in our quarterly operating results and our ability to adjust our operations to address unexpected changes; (9) significant disruption in third-party package delivery and import/export services or significant increases in prices for those services; (10) disruptions in the supply of raw materials and supplies; (11) the manufacture and sale of products exposing us to product liability claims; (12) our failure to maintain compliance with applicable government regulations; (13) regulatory changes; (14) our failure to comply with healthcare industry regulations; (15) economic, political and other risks associated with foreign operations; (16) our ability to retain key personnel; (17) significant disruption in our information technology systems; (18) our ability to obtain future financing; (19) restrictions in our credit agreements; (20) our ability to realize the full value of our intangible assets; (21) significant fluctuations in our stock price; (22) reduction or elimination of dividends on our common stock; and (23) other factors which we describe under the caption "Risk Factors" in our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005251/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

Tommy J. Thomas, 781-663-5889

tommy.thomas@perkinelmer.com

or

Media:

Brian Willinsky, 781-663-5728

brian.willinsky@perkinelmer.com
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE MKT: INUV), an advertising technology and digital publishing company, today announced the Company will release its 2015 full year financial results on Wednesday, February 3, 2016. Mr. Richard Howe, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Wally Ruiz, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call the same day at 4:15 p.m. (EST).

Conference Call Information:

Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Time: 4:15 p.m. EST

Domestic Dial-in number: 1-888-427-9419

International Dial-in number: 1-719-457-2628

Live webcast: http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=117900

A telephone replay will be available through February 17, 2016. To access the replay, please dial 1-877-870-5176 (domestic) or 1-858-384-5517 (international). At the system prompt, enter the code 5799547 followed by the # sign. You will then be prompted for your name, company and phone number. Playback will then automatically begin.

About Inuvo, Inc.

Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE MKT: INUV) is an advertising technology and digital publishing business that serves billions of income generating ads monthly across a network of websites and apps serving desktop, tablet and mobile devices. To learn more about Inuvo, please visit www.inuvo.com or download our app at http://apple.co/1glLIGD for Apple iPhone or http://bit.ly/1G5f3K4 for Android.

Contact Information:

Inuvo, Inc.

Wally Ruiz

Chief Financial Officer

501-205-8397

Email Contact

or



Investor Relations

Capital Markets Group

Alan Sheinwald or Valter Pinto

914-669-0222

Email Contact




UK's Leading Building Materials Supplier Standardizes Online Product Catalog to Significantly Increase Sales and Boost SEO Rankings

Talend, a global leader in big data integration software, today announced that Travis Perkins plc., one of the UK's leading building materials suppliers to construction and home improvement supply stores such as Wickes and Benchmarx, is utilizing Talend Data Integration to streamline product data repositories, warehouse and e-commerce functions. Using Talend, Travis Perkins employees can now easily identify duplicates in the inventory system and immediately normalize them so that everyone has a correct view of what's being sold and the company can accurately showcase its breadth of offerings online.

"Travis Perkins is an excellent example of how developing and implementing more mature data management practices is essential to remaining competitive in today's fast-paced, multi-channel retail world," said Ashley Stirrup, CMO, Talend. "Creating a truly enjoyable customer experience in today's demanding retail environment starts with having one master customer record that every person within your organization can access. Travis Perkins understands that by unifying their data from customer information to products to suppliers and beyond into a single, actionable 'version of the truth' enables them to create a 'George Clooney experience,' wherein they can treat each customer like a celebrity."

Thanks to a series of acquisitions, Travis Perkins amassed an inventory of more than half a million items, but information on those products was scattered amongst disparate databases and antiquated enterprise resource planning systems. In order to better serve customer needs, the company moved to a multi-channel selling model, requiring that it migrate its vast product collection online. They had to find an efficient way of pulling together the varied information sources into a unified online catalog. This meant going through the entire inventory, categorizing products, manually filling in missing information and standardizing formats.

As with any large catalog, some information had simply been left out or erroneously populated. The result was lost sales opportunities. Talend software was deployed to help the organization comb through records and identify gaps. Within the first six months of implementation, more than 30,000 product data updates were made. Talend Data Integration and improved product information helped Travis Perkins significantly increase online sales.

"Data quality was becoming a costly issue that was having far-reaching impact on warehouse, shipping and e-commerce functions," said David Todd, Group Data Director, Travis Perkins plc. "Incorrect product descriptions and inventory counts were causing delays in order fulfillment, preventing us from being efficient when load planning and capacity managing our warehouses and transportation. For example, a kitchen faucet without the words 'kitchen tap' in the description were impeding customers from finding the products for which they were searching. We needed to clean the data in order provide a better customer experience."

With Talend Data Integration, Travis Perkins is able to validate product descriptions to ensure each one lists the features, benefits, uses and price. For example, it will flag a description containing less than 10 characters because that's insufficient detail needed for customers to make an informed purchase. As a result of having more detailed product descriptions with brand and category names which drive meta-data descriptions Travis Perkins has significantly boosted its organic SEO rankings. Todd said the Wickes chain is now showing up in the top five results in Google search for many common industry terms such as doors.

"Talend is a key component as we move forward with de-duplicating other data types, such as our branch, supplier, employee and customer information," says Todd. "Ultimately we'd like to push the data entry as far upstream as possible, with self-service entry options for suppliers. Once we get our data quality where we want it, we'll move on to data analytics and we're also initiating a new business intelligence strategy in the cloud. Thanks to Talend, Travis Perkins is becoming a truly data-driven company."

For further details on how Travis Perkins is transforming their business with Talend, refer to the case study here. Like this story? Tweet this: Data-driven is the new normal for business says @TP_plc. Here's why http://bit.ly/1PokezO

About Talend

Talend's integration solutions allow data-driven organizations to gain instant value from all their data. Through native support of modern big data platforms, Talend takes the complexity out of integration efforts and equips IT departments to be more responsive to the demands of the business, at a predictable cost. Based on open source technologies, Talend's scalable, future-proof solutions address all existing and emerging integration requirements. Talend is privately-held and headquartered in Redwood City, CA. For more information, please visit www.talend.com and follow us on Twitter: @Talend.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005343/en/

Contacts:

PAN Communications

Michael O'Connell or Kate Lavoie-Mayer, 617-502-4300

talend@pancomm.com

or

Talend

Siobhan Lyons, 202-431-9411

slyons@talend.com
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- On Wednesday, January 27 the Fraser Institute will release a new study examining the accuracy of the wide-spread belief that Ontario is rapidly losing agricultural land to urbanization.

The study, Economic Analysis of Rural Land Use Policies in Ontario, spotlights the empirical evidence on the amount of agricultural land in Ontario and how that has changed since the 1950s.

A news release with additional information will be issued via Marketwired on Wednesday, January 27 at 5:30 a.m. (EST).

Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter / Like us on Facebook

The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org

Contacts:

MEDIA CONTACT:

University of Guelph

Glenn Fox

Professor

Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics



For interviews with Mr. Fox please contact:

Aanand Radia

Media Relations Specialist, Fraser Institute

(416) 363-6575 ext. 238

aanand.radia@fraserinstitute.org

@FraserInstitute




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Despite the recent drop in the world's unbanked population as a result of greater access to financial institutions and a growing number of mobile money service providers, an estimated 2 billion adults remain without access to a bank account. As a result, the World Bank has set an ambitious goal of achieving universal financial access by 2020.

To help achieve the goal, the World Bank is looking to credit card companies, banks and microcredit institutions to offer deeper, global access to basic banking. Yet, in Canada it is the FinTech industry leading the charge when it comes to developing new platforms and emerging technologies to help close the gap in financial inclusion.

One country plagued by some of the lowest financial access is the Philippines, where close to 70% of adults are without a bank account, in part due to the minimums and fees associated with having an account. With an estimated $2 billion sent abroad from Canada to the Philippines annually, an inaccessible and fractured financial system poses inefficient and costly challenges.

As a result, Vancouver-based FinTech company, nTrust, has identified and developed a suite of services available through their cloud-based platform to provide those living in or sending money to the Philippines effective access to their funds, offering greater financial inclusion both at home and abroad. These services include:

-- Prepaid cards - an essential method of both holding and instantly accessing funds for those without a traditional bank account or living abroad, nTrust's Cloud Money Prepaid MasterCard can provide the unbanked population with a convenient means of moving and using their money both domestically and globally. -- Integration with third party platforms - by allowing upload and withdrawal through intermediary mobile wallets, such as Smart Money and Globe GCash, nTrust ensures money can move freely between services already trusted and used by millions locally to a centrally stored service that provides ubiquitous accessibility. -- Amalgamation of banking networks - integration with various bank networks, including BancNet and MegaLink allows users to stitch together the highly fragmented banking networks common in the Philippines, by uploading and distributing funds through one platform. -- Bills Payments - the need to pay bills from abroad is one of the primary reasons for remittance from overseas. As such, the ability to pay and reconcile directly eliminates costly fees and helps control the money being sent home, ensuring it is managed correctly and spent properly.

Committed to furthering the development of partnerships and proprietary technology to help people around the world instantly move and access their money, nTrust is eager to continue to advance financial access through FinTech.

About nTrust

nTrust is a rapidly growing online and mobile money transfer platform that helps people around the world instantly move and access their money. Using nTrust, members can send money to friends, cash out to their bank account, spend money through their phone, or load funds to a prepaid card to use anywhere the MasterCard Acceptance Mark is displayed, online or in-person. nTrust's proprietary technology uses the highest encryption standards and is "PCI-DSS Level 1" certified, which remains the top global standard for operational and technical security designed by Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.

Contacts:

Katie Stevens

778.686.0906

katies@talkshopmedia.com




LARKSPUR, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- DotGreen Community, Inc., the company behind the new .GREEN top level domain name, part of the largest expansion of the Internet ever, announced today the launch of an Internet capital raising campaign to raise $3.5 million. The first offering, a Regulation D 506(c) Private Placement solely for accredited investors, provides an early-stage opportunity of common shares with voting rights for accredited investors looking to own an equity stake in the green economy and green movement. A Regulation A+ "equity crowdfunding" filing is scheduled for early 2016. The Company will use the proceeds to fund its rapid global growth.

With exclusive global rights to the sales and renewals of the .GREEN domain name, DotGreen provides an online platform where companies can consolidate and showcase their green initiatives and connect with the growing, more values-driven consumer base. Investment in the green economy is expected to reach $10 trillion by 2020.

The Regulation D, Rule 506(c) offering, available to accredited investors only, beginning on January 26th, 2016 at RegD.green, takes advantage of the JOBS Act-mandated easing of restrictions of Regulation D filings.

".GREEN is positioned to take its place alongside .com, .net and .org as one of the most recognized domain names globally and the world's first and only Internet platform for the global green movement," noted DotGreen Community CEO, Jeremy Coon. "Our mission is to build a powerful, all-inclusive voice, and crowdfunding is a democratization of early stage investment opportunities and a way for everyone to participate and own an equity stake in the rapidly growing green marketplace." Also a DotGreen Co-founder, Coon participated in the first $5 million raised by the Company from private individuals. He has committed to the purchase of additional shares through the Regulation D offering.

Since March, 2015, when .GREEN domain names became available, businesses ranging in size from start-ups to General Motors, along with individuals and NGOs have acquired their .GREEN names.

DotGreen has retained JOBS Act expert and the leading crowdfunding attorney in the country, Kendall Almerico, to oversee both its Regulation D, Rule 506(c) offering and the Regulation A+ filings.

DotGreen will list its offerings at BankRoll Ventures, a website that allows startup and emerging companies to raise millions in new capital from "the crowd" online. "The JOBS Act removed barriers for both companies looking to raise money and investors looking for early stage opportunities, and we are very pleased to have the opportunity to connect investors with the DotGreen opportunity on BankRoll," said Tess Hottenroth, Co-founder of BankRoll Ventures.

About .GREEN

DotGreen Community, Inc., with roots in the Northern California environmental movement and Silicon Valley innovation and based in the San Francisco Bay Area, was founded in 2011 to support the green movement. DotGreen Community, Inc. manages and markets the new domain address, .green and donates a percentage of sales to organizations supporting sustainability around the world. Visit www.going.green for more information. Follow on Twitter @DotGreenTLD and Facebook at DotGreen Community, Inc.

About Kendall Almerico

Kendall Almerico was the top ranked practicing attorney on VentureBeat's list of the 20 most influential crowdfunding thought leaders in the world. Kendall practices law with DiMuro Ginsberg firm in the Washington DC area.

About BankRoll Ventures

BankRoll (http://www.BankRoll.Ventures) is the premier Regulation A+ and Mini-IPO website that assists companies with raising millions of dollars using new JOBS Act laws. BankRoll is operated by BankRoll Ventures, LLC, which is not a registered broker-dealer, and does not give investment advice.

Media Contact:

Melanie Frenkel

Signature Green

602 476-2547

Email Contact




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Nutritional High International Inc. (the "Company" or "Nutritional High") (CSE: EAT) (OTCQB: SPLIF) is pleased to announce that the first products in the Active Hemp line of products, being launched by its wholly owned subsidiary, Nutritional Traditions, are now available to retail stores in Northern California. The Active Hemp capsules are available in 5 mg and 25 mg doses, which include non-psychoactive ingredients that naturally occur in the industrial hemp plant. All hemp used in the products is tested for quality and purity.

The Company is excited about the potential of its Active Hemp products and is working to expand this product line in the near future. Included in launch plans are products which use a push cap delivery system for nutritional supplements - including those that naturally occur in the industrial hemp plant - that can be used to turn an ordinary bottle of water into a delicious, healthy drink that consumers can carry with them throughout the day.

"Launching our first products into the marketplace is a major milestone for the Company," commented Nutritional High CEO David Posner. "We expect our Active Hemp products to rapidly gain market share. We'll endeavor to stay on the cutting edge by continuing to introduce innovative and high-quality products."

Resignation of Michael Pesner

The Company also announces that Michael Pesner has resigned from the board of directors due to other commitments. We thank Michael for his contributions to the Company.

About Nutritional High International Inc.

Nutritional High is focused on developing, manufacturing and distributing products and nationally recognized brands in the hemp and marijuana-infused products industries, including edibles and oil extracts for nutritional, medical and adult recreational use. The Company works exclusively through licensed facilities in jurisdictions where such activity is permitted and regulated by state law.

For updates on the Company's activities and highlights of the Company's press releases and other media coverage, please follow Nutritional High on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+.

No statements made regarding Nutritional High's Active Hemp products have been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") nor has the efficacy of these products been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and the Company makes no claims as to any extra benefits for products containing hemp or active hemp extract. No information presented by the Company regarding its products is meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Consumers should consult their own health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any products distributed by the Company or its subsidiaries, and must draw their own conclusions as to any benefits the use of these products may provide. Neither Nutritional High, nor any of its subsidiaries grows, sells or distributes any substances that violate United States Federal Law or the Controlled Substance Act (USA).

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NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR OTC MARKETS GROUP INC, NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Such statements include submission of the relevant documentation within the required timeframe and to the satisfaction of the relevant regulators, completing the acquisition of the applicable real estate and raising sufficient financing to complete the Company's business strategy. There is no certainty that any of these events will occur. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Company's securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

Contacts:

Transcend Capital Inc.

Etienne Moshevich

Investor Relations

604-681-0084

et@transcendcapitalinc.com



Nutritional High International Inc.

David Posner

CEO

647-985-6727

dposner@nutritionalhigh.com




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Great Lakes Graphite Inc. ("GLK" or the "Company")(TSX VENTURE: GLK)(OTC PINK: GLKIF)(FRANKFURT: 8GL) today announces the grant of 4,700,000 options to officers, directors, consultants and service providers. 4,100,000 of these options were granted to directors and officers of the Company, and the balance of 1,600,000 options were granted to consultants and service providers. Each option has a five year term and is exercisable at $0.10 per share.

Corporate Update

Bobcaygeon Graphite Project

In 2012, Great Lakes Graphite and Valterra Resources announced an agreement to work jointly to develop the Bobcaygeon Graphite property in Ontario, Canada. On January 12, Valterra Resources announced that they have cancelled their option on the Bobcaygeon Graphite Property. Great Lakes Graphite intends to maintain its focus for future resource development efforts on the Lochaber Graphite Property and has no plans that are impacted by this development.

Great Lakes Graphite to Exhibit at PDAC and The Battery Show

Great Lakes Graphite will be exhibiting at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention 2016 that is scheduled for March 6th through March 9th in Toronto, Ontario. The Company will be located in Booth #2949 in the Investors Exchange for the duration of the Convention. CEO Paul Gorman will also be speaking at the Convention during the Rare Earths & Electric Metals session on Tuesday, March 8th at 10:20 a.m. in Room 802 of the Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre South Building.

For the first time ever in 2016, Great Lakes Graphite will be participating in The Battery Show Exhibition & Conference that is scheduled for September 13th through September 15th in Novi, Michigan. The Battery Show is a showcase of advanced battery technology for electric & hybrid vehicles, utility & renewable energy support, portable electronics, medical technology, military and telecommunications. The Company will be located in Booth 1527.

Change of Auditor

Great Lakes Graphite has changed its auditor from S & W LLP to MNP LLP.

The former auditor submitted its resignation to the company effective as of Dec. 15, 2015, and the board of directors of the company appointed the successor auditor to fill the resulting vacancy as of the effective date until the close of the next annual general meeting of the company.

There were no reservations in the former auditor's reports on any of the company's financial statements relating to the period during which the former auditor was the company's auditor. There were no reportable events between the company and the former auditor.

The company's audit committee and board of directors have approved the resignation of the former auditor. Pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 -- Continuous Disclosure Obligations, the notice of change of auditor, together with the letter from the former auditor and the letter from the successor auditor, has been reviewed by the company's audit committee and board of directors, and is available on SEDAR.

Ontario Graphite Statement of Claim

The Company has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by Ontario Graphite Ltd. in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in which Ontario Graphite is seeking various damages relating to claims of use of confidential and/or proprietary information. GLK clearly disputes Ontario Graphite's position on this matter and GLK will vigorously defend this lawsuit.

About Great Lakes Graphite: Great Lakes Graphite Inc. is an industrial minerals company focussed on bringing value-added carbon products to a well-defined market.

The Company's Innovation Division has entered into long-term agreements for use of the Matheson Micronization Facility and for supply of high quality natural graphite concentrate (see news release dated 03/23/15) which are positioning Great Lakes Graphite to become an emerging domestic manufacturer and supplier of micronized products to a growing regional customer base where pricing and demand continue to rise.

Further information regarding Great Lakes can be found on the Company's website at: www.GreatLakesGraphite.com.

Great Lakes Graphite trades with symbol GLK on the TSX Venture Exchange and currently has101,227,645 shares outstanding (140,654,238 fully diluted).

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.

Contacts:

Paul Ferguson

Chief Marketing Officer

1-800-754-4510 x106

PFerguson@GreatLakesGraphite.com



Paul Gorman

Chief Executive Officer

1-800-754-4510 x109

PGorman@GreatLakesGraphite.com

www.GreatLakesGraphite.com




PGE Gornictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A. is the Largest Utility in Poland

Modernization Project at PGE GiEK S.A.'s Turow Power Plant in Poland to Increase Power Production by 45 Megawatts, Equivalent to Power about 130,000 Polish Households

GE's Power Services business (NYSE:GE) today announced it has secured orders valued approximately at 40 million with PGE Gornictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A. (PGE GiEK S.A.), the largest utility in Poland, to upgrade generator and steam turbine assets at the Turow Power Plant. The upgrades will result in a combined 45-megawatt (MW) output increase, which is the equivalent of powering about 130,000 Polish households.

"We are happy to once again work with GE in modernizing the Turow Power Plant to increase the power output of our power generation assets," said Slawomir Zawada, president of PGE GiEK S.A. "This project is extremely important for the power complex in Turow as well as for the local community: a lifetime extension, by 150,000 hours, of key equipment will allow us to utilize deposits of lignite from the Turow mine and simultaneously will help to secure current employment."

Under the terms of the agreement with PGE GiEK S.A., GE will upgrade three 50WT20H-100 generators and three 13CK230 steam turbines to extend equipment lifetime by at least 150,000 hours-about 20 years-and increase the availability of the turbosets to 97 percent in the first year of operation and above 98 percent in the next year. The upgrade is expected to increase power output by 45 MW and improve power plant efficiency by approximately 1.4 percent.

"GE has a very collaborative relationship with PGE GiEK S.A. and recently provided wind turbines for both the Karwice Wind Farm and the Lotnisko Wind Farm. We are pleased that PGE Gornictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A. again has chosen to work with our GE team to support the needs of our communities here in Poland. Through this project we are able to participate in the developing of a diversified mix of energy sources of the Polish energy sector," said Beata Stelmach, president of GE in Poland.

The upgrade of the generator rotors and the manufacturing of new rods will take place in GE's generator factory in Wroclaw, Poland. The steam turbine upgrade includes the delivery of new HP, IP and LP turbine inner modules, which will be manufactured in GE's turbine factory in Elblag, Poland. The upgrade is scheduled to begin with the shutdown of the first unit in April 2017, and the commissioning of the last unit is scheduled for January 2020.

About GE

GE (NYSE:GE) is the world's Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com

About GE Power

GE Power is a world leader in power generation with deep domain expertise to help customers deliver electricity from a wide spectrum of fuel sources. We are transforming the electricity industry with the digital power plant, the world's largest and most efficient gas turbine, full balance of plant, upgrade and service solutions as well as our data-leveraging software. Our innovative technologies and digital offerings help make power more affordable, reliable, accessible and sustainable.

For more information, visit the company's website at www.gepower.com.

About GE's Power Services Business

GE's Power Services business, headquartered in Baden, Switzerland, delivers world-class solutions for our customers across total plant assets and their operational lifetimes. This organization supports 2,800+ customers worldwide with an installed base of 28,000+ power generation assets, which includes other OEMs, and taps into the Industrial Internet to improve the performance of our solutions over the entire life cycle through the power of software and big data analytics.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005940/en/

Contacts:

GE Power

Shaun Wiggins, +1 518 385 5992

shaun.wiggins@ge.com

or

GE - Power Services

Laura Aresi, +39 02 67335622

Global Media Relations Leader

laura.aresi@ge.com
NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- CorporateRewards, the company behind the WorkStride platform, which powers employee recognition and incentive programs through SaaS technology, today announced that it will adopt WorkStride as its company name, effective immediately. The transition to the WorkStride name is supported by a newly launched website, www.workstride.com, as well as branded presences on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

WorkStride has been in business for more than 15 years, building customized recognition and incentive software for companies such as Cleveland Clinic, Esurance, Hilton, Pepsico, Verizon and Samsung. In early 2015, the company unveiled the WorkStride platform, a configurable SaaS-based engine that powers recognition, incentives, wellness, training, and safety initiatives seamlessly within one interface. The name WorkStride was chosen to represent the company's focus on helping employees hit their strides through a blend of social recognition, incentives, rewards and communications fostered by its software.

"We believe the name WorkStride is a much truer representation of our company's mission and all that our product line has to offer," said Jim Hemmer, WorkStride CEO. "Rewards are only a small part of our latest offering, which emphasizes social and non-monetary recognition, internal communications and culture-building first and foremost -- critical tools needed to help bring out the best from today's employees."

Headquartered in New York City's Empire State Building, WorkStride serves more than 100 corporate customers, helping them to positively affect employee engagement and improve business performance through a blend of software, program design and consultation.

"In addition to our platform's strengths, rebranding to the WorkStride name also enables us to more closely align with the innovative work our customers have and are doing to engage and motivate their employees," said Tom Silk, EVP, WorkStride. "Under our new brand identity, we remain a committed partner to help companies build positive corporate cultures and ultimately, drive better financial performance as a result."

To learn more, visit http://www.workstride.com.

About WorkStride

WorkStride builds highly configurable recognition, incentive, performance, and rewards programs that address and adapt to dynamic needs, helping individuals and organizations harness a shared purpose, optimize performance, and enhance impact. The company represents clients of various sizes, including several Fortune 500 organizations, from a wide range of industries. WorkStride is based in New York City and owned by The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm. Learn more at http://www.workstride.com.

Meredith Falb

Director of Marketing

Email Contact

212.689.1200 x 215




BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Seacoast Capital ("Seacoast") announced today that it has provided subordinated debt financing to Hayes Management Consulting ("Hayes" or the "Company") to support a management buyout of the Company's founder. Based in Newton Center, Massachusetts, Hayes provides consulting services and billing and audit compliance software to hospitals and physician practices across the U.S. Jamie Donelan, a Principal with Seacoast, commented, "Over the course of its twenty plus year history, Hayes has grown significantly to become a recognized leader in the healthcare consulting and billing and audit compliance software markets. Hayes' client list is a veritable 'who's who' of university-based, mission-based and for-profit hospitals and physician practices in the U.S. -- a testament to Hayes' thought and technology leadership, strong management team and client-centric culture."

According to Hayes' CEO Peter Butler, "We are excited for this next chapter in the Hayes journey. As healthcare continues to evolve, we plan to build off of the strong foundation that we have established to leverage the quality of our consultants, the strength of our software and the effectiveness of our management team to ensure the continued success of our clients."

Seacoast's financing allowed Hayes' management team to gain majority control of a Company that they have successfully positioned for long-term growth in both its consulting services and software business segments. Mirus Capital Advisors advised Hayes on the transaction.

About Hayes Management Consulting

Hayes Management Consulting is a leading national healthcare consulting firm and software developer that partners with healthcare organizations to streamline operations, improve revenue and enhance technology to drive success in an evolving healthcare landscape. The Company's consulting services include clinical/IT consulting, revenue cycle consulting, and strategic consulting. In its clinical/IT consulting practice, Hayes provides electronic health record system optimization, implementation, legacy support, go-live support, physician training and other complementary services. In its revenue cycle consulting practice, Hayes provides revenue cycle assessment, optimization and interim management services. In its strategic consulting practice, Hayes helps clients navigate federally-mandated healthcare initiatives like the Affordable Care Act and provides strategic planning, project management and interim leadership services. Hayes' software platform, MDaudit, is the leading audit workflow automation and data analytics software package utilized by hospital and physician practice billing and audit compliance professionals across the United States. The Company was founded in 1993 and is based in Newton Center, Massachusetts.

About Mirus Capital Advisors

Mirus Capital Advisors provides investment banking solutions to corporate clients in the healthcare, building products, technology, business services, manufacturing, consumer products and resort & hospitality industries. Since 1987, Mirus has provided corporate finance advisory services on engagements including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, financings, recapitalizations and valuations. For additional information, visit www.merger.com.

About Seacoast Capital

Seacoast Capital was founded in 1994 to make non-controlling junior capital investments in privately-held lower middle market companies. Seacoast specializes in "sponsorless" transactions, preferring to invest directly with company owners or management teams, although it will selectively consider investments led by professional investor groups. Seacoast typically provides between $3 million and $12 million of debt and equity capital for acquisitions, growth, shareholder buyouts, management buyouts, and leveraged recapitalizations. While industry agnostic, Seacoast broadly invests in the specialty manufacturing, value-added distribution, commercial services, environmental services, logistics and infrastructure services, health and wellness, and consumer sectors. Seacoast generally targets investments in companies with $10 million to $150 million in revenue and $2 million or more of EBITDA. With offices in Boston and San Francisco, Seacoast has invested over $350 million in companies headquartered in 25 states since 1994. Seacoast is currently investing its third fund, Seacoast Capital Partners III, L.P. For more information, or to submit an investment opportunity to Seacoast, please contact Jamie Donelan, Principal, by phone in Boston at (978) 750-1300, or via e-mail at jdonelan@seacoastcapital.com.

Contact:

Jamie Donelan

Principal

Tel: (978) 750-1300

E-Mail: Email Contact




MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Canadian Metals Inc. (The "Corporation") (CSE: CME) is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Boisjoli, FCPA, FCA to the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective January 27, 2016.

Robert who is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant, is a corporate finance/operational professional with over 30 years of operational and advisory experience. Robert is currently the Chief Executive Officer of AKESOgen, Inc., an integrated genomics, genetics and biobanking company. Bob is also Chairman of Palos Management Inc. and managing director of Atwater Financial Group, a company specializing in mergers and acquisitions, and a partner at Robert Boisjoli & Associates S.E.C., a consulting firm specializing mainly in business valuations. Robert has been the founder of two life science companies where he has acted as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Boisjoli sits on the boards of directors of various public companies where is he is also the audit committee chairman. He also acts as Chief Financial Officer for Adventure Gold Inc. He was also an investment banker with various Canadian securities' firms. Robert also is a Board Member of various not-for-profit organizations in the community and within the profession.

Stephane Leblanc, Canadian Metals CEO, commented, "We are very please to welcome Robert as the new CFO of Canadian Metals. Robert his clearly a leader in the financing industry and will add governance and credibility to the Company. Mr. Leblanc wishes to thank Mme. Nadon for her services as a CFO of the company and adds that Mme. Nadon will remain as Controller of Canadian Metals.

About Canadian Metals

Canadian Metals Inc. is focused exclusively on the development of its Langis Project, a high-purity silica deposit located in the province of Quebec. The Company is rapidly positioning itself to eventually become a North American ferrosilicon and silicon metal producer.

For almost a decade, quartz from the Langis quarry has been exported to Europe for ferrosilicon production. Canadian Metals has rapidly built an international management team with local talent with a view to implementing a ferrosilicon plant in Quebec for converting the Langis silica into high grade ferrosilicon. With the goal to create approximately one hundred highly qualified direct jobs and some three hundred indirect jobs, Canadian Metals strongly believes that the Province of Quebec benefits from all of the required infrastructures, including transportation, port facilities, clean and renewable energy source and skilled labor in order to successfully implement this metals and minerals project.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Stephane Leblanc

President and CEO

(418) 717-2553

sleblanc@canadianmetalsinc.com

www.canadianmetalsinc.com




Egypt is looking to attract development finance institutions (DFIs) and private sector investment to build 30 GW of electricity generation, transmission and distribution projects that are about to go to tender. Taking place Feb. 16-18 in Cairo, the Egypt Energy Investment Summit is designed to drive investment into Egypt's energy sector. Government officials, regulators and public sector stakeholders will be on hand for the conference, which will cover the country's renewable energy feed-in tariff program, "build-own-operate" projects and the independent power producer scheme. The event will showcase "the pro-activeness of government to engage credible investors efficiently and commercially," according to organizers. Also on the agenda will be the vital role of DFIs and the private sector ...

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.
Shareholder activism continued to grow worldwide in 2015, with the number of companies subjected to public demands reaching 551, up 16 percent from 2014, according to The Activist Investing Annual Review 2016, published by Activist Insight, in association with Schulte Roth Zabel ("SRZ"). Released today, the review analyzes statistics on campaigns, details emerging trends, profiles key players in the activism market and offers predictions. Of note, the experts featured in the review foresee increases in debt-based activism as well as an interest in mergers and acquisitions across the board.

Marc Weingarten and Eleazer Klein, New York-based SRZ partners and co-chairs of the firm's global Shareholder Activism Group, and Jim McNally, London-based SRZ corporate and funds partner, contributed expert commentary to the review. The publication also includes an interview with SRZ partner Michael E. Swartz who advises on the shareholder activism litigation handled by the firm.

Josh Black, editor of the review, commented, "2015 marked another year of activist investors shaking up boards and impacting markets. The changing relationships between activists and CEOs are particularly noteworthy, as they indicate that the campaigns themselves are continually evolving."

Several factors contributed to the continuing rise of shareholder activism in 2015. "The established players had more capital, and some investors engaged in activism for the first time," commented Mr. Weingarten. "Investors who in the past would have been angry about their investment in a company, and done nothing, are now looking at their options more carefully," added Mr. Klein. "We've seen this in Europe too, with a few managers dipping their toes into activism with a view to launching a more dedicated product in the future," said Mr. McNally.

SRZ has unparalleled expertise in the applicable corporate laws, securities laws and proxy rules on both sides of the Atlantic. According to a Reuters report, the firm has "come to dominate the activism market." Most recently, SRZ lawyers advised Trian Fund Management in its engagement with Sysco Corp. Additional notable matters handled by the SRZ Shareholder Activism Group include the activist push by JANA Partners that resulted in PetSmart Inc.'s sale to a private equity buyer for $8.7 billion, and in another high-profile case, SRZ advised Sandell Asset Management in the securing of four board seats at Bob Evans Farms, where the CEO resigned.

"We are pleased to partner with Activist Insight in presenting The Activist Investing Annual Review. The publication offers leading-edge insights on the current state of market practice," commented Alan S. Waldenberg, chair of SRZ's Executive Committee.

The Activist Investing Annual Review 2016 also features the annual "Activist Top Ten," with Elliott Management topping the list for its work on several attention-grabbing campaigns, including the $5.3-billion sale of software maker Informatica Corp., just months after Elliott disclosed a stake in the company. Activist Insight selected the 2015 list based on the number of campaigns, average size of targets, new investments and an annualized return formula. Last year, Starboard Value took the top spot.

The "Activist Top Ten 2015" are:

1. Elliott Management

2. Carl Icahn

3. Third Point Partners

4. Starboard Value

5. Trian Fund Management

6. ValueAct Capital Partners

7. Land and Buildings

8. Bulldog Investors

9. GAMCO Investors

10. Pershing Square Capital Management

Additional highlights from the review:

Of the 551 companies subjected to public demands worldwide, 350 (64 percent) were headquartered in the United States.

51 percent of activists launching a campaign in 2015 were designated as "occasional activists."

Click here for a PDF of the review.

To visit SRZ's Shareholder Activism Resource Center, click here.

About Schulte Roth Zabel LLP

Schulte Roth Zabel LLP (www.srz.com) is a full-service law firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C. and London. As one of the leading law firms serving the financial services industry, the firm regularly advises clients on corporate and transactional matters, as well as providing counsel on regulatory, compliance, enforcement and investigative issues. The firm's practices include: bank regulatory; bankruptcy creditors' rights litigation; business reorganization; complex commercial litigation; cybersecurity; distressed debt claims trading; distressed investing; education law; employment employee benefits; energy; environmental; finance; financial institutions; individual client services; insurance; intellectual property, sourcing technology; investment management; litigation; mergers acquisitions; PIPEs; private equity; real estate; real estate capital markets REITs; real estate litigation; regulated funds; regulatory compliance; securities capital markets; securities enforcement; securities litigation; securitization; shareholder activism; structured finance derivatives; tax; and white collar defense government investigations.

About Activist Insight

Since 2012, Activist Insight has provided its diverse range of clients with the most comprehensive information on activist investing worldwide. Regularly quoted in the financial press, Activist Insight is the trusted source for data in this ever-evolving space. Activist Insight offers two great products: Activist Insight Online and Activism Monthly Premium magazine, and counts many of the world's leading investment banks, law firms, shareholder communications firms and institutional investors as its clients.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126006085/en/

Contacts:

Schulte Roth Zabel LLP

Sun Min, +1 212-610-7539

sun.min@srz.com

or

Group Gordon, Inc.

Lana Gersten, +1 312-846-1655

lgersten@groupgordon.com

or

Activist Insight

Josh Black, +44 (0) 20 7129 1314

press@activistinsight.com
ABI Research Anticipates Converged Devices Category to Reach More Than 5 Million Shipments Globally by 2020

LONDON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to research findings by ABI Research, the leader in transformative technology innovation market intelligence, converged devices, such as tablets, are driving the market with global shipments forecast to reach more than 5 million units by 2020. Moreover, the introduction of converged devices creates the opportunity for the emergence of new business opportunities in the application space.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151014/276887LOGO

"The adoption of converged devices opens the door for entire application ecosystems and the emergence of dedicated commercial telematics application marketplaces," says Dominique Bonte, Managing Director and Vice President at ABI Research. "Key advantages of utilizing converged devices, such as tablets in commercial vehicles, include the ability to employ automated vehicle inspection in rental car fleets, signature capture for delivery fleets, as well as aggregating crowdsourced data and generating community feedback."

Leading telematics service providers (TSPs) actively exploit the opportunity to cumulate crowdsourced data as a means to provide drivers with updated information on rest stops, traffic jams, road works, and other critical driving information. But the information exchange is no longer limited to solely smartphones and tablets. In fact, wearables are now offering consumer vehicle OEMs the opportunity to combine biometric and diagnostic data onto the same form factor. Typical vehicle data that could be made available on smart watches includes fuel consumption and level, driving behavior scores, and transport metrics.

"Apple recently partnered with Telogis to bring telematics applications for gamification and allow drivers to compare their driving performance, truck-specific navigation, and compliance to its iOS platform," continues Bonte. "This illustrates the growing importance of converged devices for improving safety and productivity, a realization of which the mobile industry is becoming well aware."

Yet, there are downsides to consider when utilizing converged devices in commercial vehicles. The drawbacks include potential safety hazards caused by driver distraction and increased exposure to cyber threats. As such, plug-and-play On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) dongles are gaining momentum. It is currently the most affordable solution to offer basic features, such as tracking, diagnostics, and driver behavior monitoring.

Canada-based fleet management and asset tracking vendor, Geotab, is a leader in the OBD-based hardware space and remains heavily focused on on-board diagnostics to offer plug-and-play solutions to small and medium fleets. Additionally, Novatel Wireless recently acquired telematics vendor DigiCore with the goal of creating a vertically integrated technology company covering modules, hardware, and professional services targeting fleet management, usage-based insurance, and asset tracking and monitoring markets. The two companies had already been successfully partnering on OBD technology before the official acquisition.

"While OBD-based hardware is both a flexible and low-cost solution, the window of opportunity is limited and integration between the hardware and software providers is still a necessary component," concludes Bonte. "Converged devices are a great way to bring telematics to commercial vehicles in a more scalable and seamless manner."

These findings are part of ABI Research's Commercial Vehicle Telematics Service (https://www.abiresearch.com/market-research/service/commercial-vehicle-telematics/), which includes research reports, market data, insights and competitive assessments.

About ABI Research

For more than 25 years, ABI Research has stood at the forefront of technology market intelligence, partnering with innovative business leaders to implement informed, transformative technology decisions. The company employs a global team of senior analysts to provide comprehensive research and consulting services through deep quantitative forecasts, qualitative analyses and teardown services. An industry pioneer, ABI Research is proactive in its approach, frequently uncovering ground-breaking business cycles ahead of the curve and publishing research 18 to 36 months in advance of other organizations. In all, the company covers more than 60 services, spanning 11 technology sectors. For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com.

Contact Info:Christine Gallen

Tel: +44.203.326.0142

pr@abiresearch.com
UK Rulemakers' Stance May be Easing, but Compliance Officers See Personal Liability Rising

NEW YORK / LONDON, January 26, 2016 - Thomson Reuters has published its sixth annual State of Regulatory Reform special report which shows that despite differing local conditions, compliance officers are wondering when the regulatory tide will turn decisively after years of post-financial crisis rulemaking.

The regulatory burdens and personal liabilities they face are expected to increase throughout 2016 but there are conflicting signals from the world's main two financial centers, London and New York, according to the special report. Eight years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, while there are signs in the UK of an end to political antagonism toward the banking community and of a more pragmatic approach to financial regulation, the opposite is the case in the United States in an uncertain election year when Wall Street is politically unpopular.

In the 2016 special report, Thomson Reuters journalists covering financial regulation in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Perth, Toronto, New York, Washington, D.C. and beyond have analyzed the likely regulatory trends prevailing in their regions as well as globally for the year ahead.

"Our special report has become an authoritative guide for compliance practitioners and senior directors in financial institutions worldwide," said Alexander Robson, managing editor, Regulatory Intelligence, Thomson Reuters in London. "It is going to be another hard year to address for regulatory professionals."

"Regulatory risk is a top concern among financial industry leaders, and this report is a valuable tool in helping them to formulate a global risk-management strategy for the year," said Randall Mikkelsen, North American managing editor, Regulatory Intelligence, Thomson Reuters in Boston.

Highlights from the Thomson Reuters State of Regulatory Reform 2016 special report include:

Banking culture reform in U.S. confronts hurdles: Thorny issues of banking culture will be an important focus for U.S. financial regulation in 2016. Senior managers at both large and small firms can expect to be scrutinized about what progress they have made toward instilling strong ethics and values, and will need to be able to demonstrate to supervisors that they have policies and procedures in place to prevent misconduct.

Focus on systemic risk increases obligations for U.S. asset managers : U.S. asset managers and registered funds will be faced with more compliance obligations and costs in 2016 as the Securities and Exchange Commission works to monitor and reduce systemic risk across the entire financial system.

U.S. anti-money laundering regime set for upgrade as Islamic State adds urgency: As the battle against the Islamic State raises the banking industry's role in security policy, U.S. financial institutions and regulators face multiple demands in 2016 to strengthen financial-crime compliance. They will need to address a pending U.S. rule requiring that they know more about their customers, and a push to bring investment advisers into the anti-money laundering fold. Challenges will include scrutiny from an international task force and the delicate balance between serving legitimate, profitable customers and "de-risking" to abandon business lines where illicit transactions are rife.

UK regulators insist post-crisis regulation is not a return to the pre-crisis playbook : Having been accused of (wholesale) "soft-touch" market regulation leading up to the financial crisis, the UK authorities are keen to explain that their new more market-friendly approach is not a return to de facto self-regulation.

Stressing individual accountability could alter decision-making processes at top of banks: Regulators and legislators face the uncomfortable prospect that the imminent arrival of the UK's new senior management regime may bring about excessively cautious and defensive behavior on the part of some managers, while undermining collective decision making by banks' executive committees and boards.

FCA fines to remain high in 2016: In 2014-15, the UK Financial Conduct Authority's administered fines reached 1.4 billion, marking a fiftyfold increase in seven years. While this level of growth is unlikely during 2016, there will be ongoing oversight and tangible regulation.

In Mark Steward's first year at the FCA as the new head of enforcement, he will seek to establish himself and build on the work carried out by the enforcement division over the past few years. He may use the FCA's newest tool, the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMR), to make a statement in the market.

The regulators will contest the UK Court of Appeal's narrower test for deciding if an individual has been identified prejudicially in a final notice and therefore given third-party rights.

To read the Thomson Reuters 2016 Special Report on the State of Regulatory Reform, encompassing all regions of the world, go to https://risk.thomsonreuters.com/special-report/state-regulatory-reform-2016 (https://risk.thomsonreuters.com/special-report/state-regulatory-reform-2016). To learn more about Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence, please click on: https://risk.thomsonreuters.com/products/thomson-reuters-regulatory-intelligence (https://risk.thomsonreuters.com/products/thomson-reuters-regulatory-intelligence)

Thomson Reuters

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Thomson Reuters

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The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Thomson Reuters Corporation via Globenewswire



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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Mining for Miracles kicked off its 2016 Diamond Draw at the Mineral Exploration Roundup Conference in Vancouver yesterday. Mining for Miracles, the BC mining community's longstanding fundraising campaign for BC Children's Hospital Foundation, is raising $3 million through initiatives including Diamond Draw to support the CAUSES Research clinic at BC Children's Hospital.

The new CAUSES Research Clinic provides genome-wide sequencing to support the accurate and efficient diagnosis of rare genetic diseases in children who would otherwise require numerous tests or might not be diagnosed at all. These services have the potential to save lives and also reduce costs to families and the health-care system.

"Since 1988, BC's mining industry has raised more than $25 million for the children and families who visit BC Children's Hospital through Diamond Draw and other initiatives," said Jeff Hanman, 2016 Chair of Mining for Miracles. "100 per cent of the funds raised by Mining for Miracles go directly to support areas of need at the hospital."

The Diamond Draw package, valued at over $16,000, includes a CANADAMARK Cushion cut 1.13 carat diamond in a gold designer setting, donated respectively by C3 Alliance Corp., Teck and Andrew Costen of Costen Catbalue. Tickets are available at mining industry events and direct from Mining for Miracles member organizations. The draw will take place on June 5, 2016 at Miracle Weekend.

The success of Mining for Miracles depends on the generosity of individuals and organizations throughout British Columbia. Donations can be made through employee and corporate fundraising initiatives or through fundraising events such as Diamond Draw, Jeans Day on April 28, Teck Celebrity Pie Throw on May 12 or the Slo-Pitch Tournament on May 28-29. Visit www.miningformiracles.ca for more information and to donate.

About Mining for Miracles

Every year volunteers from the mining community work together through Mining for Miracles to help improve the quality of health care for children in our province. Through its support of the construction of facilities and acquisition of specialized medical equipment at the hospital, Mining for Miracles is helping to keep BC Children's Hospital at the forefront of pediatric care excellence. Visit www.miningformiracles.ca for more information and to donate.

About the CAUSES Research Clinic

The CAUSES Research Clinic provides genome-wide testing, clinical interpretation, genetic counselling, and personalized recommendations for treatment for children with complex, undiagnosed medical conditions. The CAUSES Research Clinic is made possible by a $3- million commitment from Mining for Miracles through BC Children's Hospital Foundation as well as a pledge from Genome BC for up to a $1 million and is supported by the Provincial Health Services Authority and the University of British Columbia.

The CAUSES Research Clinic will ensure that BC Children's Hospital remains a centre of excellence providing outstanding care to the children and families of British Columbia.

The CAUSES Research Clinic:

-- The CAUSES Research Clinic opened to its first patient in June 2015, -- 5 year old Collyns Doran of Prince George is the first patient to receive a diagnosis at the CAUSES Research Clinic at BC Children's Hospital. The diagnosis provided by genome- wide sequencing ends the family's 5-year journey to find an explanation for their daughter's developmental issues. http://www.bcchf.ca/stories/miracle- stories/collyns-doran/'stage=Live -- There are 7000 known rare disorders and CAUSES uses a single genomic test to look for all of these. CAUSES provides this service to children across British Columbia and in some cases, is utilizing Telehealth. -- Over the next 3 years, 500 children and their parents will have their genomes sequenced through CAUSES. CAUSES is currently receiving approximately 10 patient referrals a week. -- Since opening in June 2015, 70 families have been seen in the CAUSES Clinic, and the CAUSES team is now beginning to provide answers to families. -- For some families, a diagnosis will lead to life-changing treatments for their child. For many children, there isn't a cure. Their diagnosis is important information that helps parents in planning for their child's future. -- The CAUSES Clinic helps reduce the number of invasive tests - such as biopsies, biochemical tests, expensive single gene tests and multi-gene panels, and MRI scans often requiring sedation- needed to obtain a diagnosis for children. This is expected to reduce the average number of tests per child required for a diagnosis from 10 or more to one, resulting in significant savings for both families and the health-care system;

About Genome British Columbia

Genome British Columbia is a catalyst for the life sciences cluster on Canada's West Coast, and manages a cumulative portfolio of over $710 million in 254 research projects and science and technology platforms. Working with governments, academia and industry across sectors such as forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, agri-food, energy and mining, environment, and human health, the goal of the organization is to generate social and economic benefits for British Columbia and Canada. Genome BC is supported by the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and Western Economic Diversification Canada and more than 300 international public and private co-funding partners. www.genomebc.ca

Contacts:

BC Children's Hospital Foundation

Gloria Cameron

Philanthropy Officer

604-875-2504

gcameron@bcchf.ca



Mining for Miracles

Jeff Hanman

Chair

604-354-5230

Jeff.Hanman@teck.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Citing concerns about his close ties to the pharmaceutical industry, Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced Wednesday he has placed a hold on President Barack Obama's nomination of Dr. Robert Califf as Food and Drug Administration Commissioner. Sanders, who is running for the Democratic nomination for president, joins Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Ed Markey, D-Mass., in seeking to block Califf's nomination. Murkowski wants assurances the FDA will require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered salmon, while Markey has raised concerns about the way the agency approaches addiction. Sanders said he shares Markey's concerns about the FDA's approach to addiction, arguing that too many people are dying from what has become an opioid epidemic. 'I also strongly believe that at a time when millions of Americans cannot afford to purchase the prescription drugs they require, we need a leader at the FDA who is prepared to stand up to the drug companies,' Sanders said. He added, 'We need someone who will work to substantially lower drug prices, implement rules to safely import brand-name drugs from Canada and hold companies accountable who defraud our government.' Sanders said he has no reason to believe Califf would make the FDA work for ordinary Americans, rather than just the CEOs of pharmaceutical companies. A statement from Sanders' office said the clinical research center Califf ran at Duke University received more than 60 percent of its funding from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Califf's financial disclosure form listed seven drug companies and a device maker that paid him for consulting and six others that supported his university salary, the statement added. Califf, who currently serves as FDA Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco, was nominated as FDA Commissioner by Obama last September. The well-known doctor was long seen as the likely successor to Dr. Margaret Hamburg, who stepped down as FDA Commissioner last March after almost six years on the job. Dr. Stephen Ostroff, previously the FDA's chief scientist, has served as acting commissioner since Hamburg's resignation. 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.
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - January 26, 2016) - YANGAROO Inc.(TSX VENTURE: YOO) (OTCBB: YOOIF), the industry's leading secure digital media management and distribution company (the "Company") announces changes to its Board of Directors.

The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gerry Hurlow and Mr. Phil Benson to the Board of Directors. Both will serve as Independent Directors.

Mr. Sander Shalinsky has resigned as a member of the Board of Directors effective immediately.

Mr. Benson replaces Mr. Quinn, who resigned from the Board in December, as the nominee of Yangaroo's largest shareholder.

Mr. Hurlow is President of Meteor Capital Inc., a company that invests in emerging Canadian technology businesses. Meteor Capital owns 4,478,500 Yangaroo common shares in the capital stock of the Company.

Mr. Benson is a Managing Partner at Fraser Mackenzie Merchant Capital, a Toronto based merchant bank. He has been an advisor to and investor in a broad range of technology, business service and consumer products business through his career. He has advised Yangaroo since 2009 and has been instrumental in helping the Company raise equity and debt capital over this period.

The Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Hurlow to the Audit Committee and both Mr. Hurlow and Mr. Benson to the Compensation Committee.

Anthony Miller, Chair of the Board of the Directors, stated, "I would like to thank both Mr. Quinn and Mr. Shalinsky for their tireless effort and contribution to the company through a challenging period of transition and growth. I also look forward to working with Messrs. Hurlow and Benson, whose deep experience will be invaluable as we pursue growth and profitability in 2016 and beyond.

About YANGAROO:

YANGAROO is a company dedicated to digital media management. YANGAROO's patented Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS) is a leading secure B2B digital cloud based solution focused on the music and advertising industries. The DMDS solution provides more accountable, effective, and far less costly digital management of broadcast quality media via the Internet. It replaces the physical, satellite and closed network distribution and management of audio and video content, for music, music videos, and advertising to television, radio, media, retailers, and other authorized recipients. The YANGAROO Awards platform is now the industry standard and powers most of North America's major awards shows.

YANGAROO has offices in Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles. YANGAROO trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol YOO and in the U.S. under OTCBB: YOOIF.

The statements contained in this release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause such statements to differ materially from actual future events or results. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For YANGAROO Investor Inquiries:



The Howard Group Inc.

Dave Burwell

Phone: 1 (403) 221-0915

dave@howardgroupinc.com
DUBLIN, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hc8xm7/global) has announced the addition of the "Global Battlefield Management Systems Market 2016-2020" report to their offering.

The global battlefield management systems market to grow at a CAGR of 3.54% during the period 2016-2020.

The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global battlefield management systems market for 2016-2020. It provides a global overview, market shares and segmentation by systems, and growth prospects by region (APAC, EMEA, and the Americas). It also presents the market landscape and a corresponding analysis of the prominent vendors in the market. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

The rapid increase in terrorism activities and the need to protect their nation from such activities has led to strengthening of military forces. Hence, the armed forces are shifting toward utilization of C2BMC. This tool increases the performance of the systems by integrating and coordinating ballistic missile defense system (BMDS) assets throughout the battlespace.

According to the report, military forces across the world are focusing on modernization and upgradation of their fleet of vehicles. Upgradation of military vehicles with vetronics has provided military forces with easy navigation, improved surveillance performance, enhanced communication between vehicles, and better implementation of advanced weapon systems.

Further, the report states that In the world of peacekeeping and conflict arenas, exact strategic coordination between the regiment, platoon mounted powers, organization, and the frameworks is pivotal to mission success. But, the evolution of new technology like BMS is posing difficulties to the vendors in developing and installing BMS into the vehicles.

Key vendors

- Harris - Lockheed Martin - Northrop Grumman - Rockwell Collins - Thales

Other prominent vendors

- Cobham - General Dynamics - Raytheon - Rolta India Ltd.

Key Topics Covered:

Part 01: Executive summary

Part 02: Scope of the report

Part 03: Market research methodology

Part 04: Introduction

Part 05: Market landscape

Part 06: Global aerospace and defense supply chain system

Part 07: Global aerospace and defense value chain system

Part 08: Market segmentation by system

Part 09: Geographical segmentation

Part 10: Key leading regions

Part 11: Market drivers

Part 12: Impact of drivers

Part 13: Market challenges

Part 14: Impact of drivers and challenges

Part 15: Market trends

Part 16: Vendor landscape

Part 17: Key vendor analysis

Part 18: Appendix

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hc8xm7/global

Media Contact:

Laura Wood , +353-1-481-1716, press@researchandmarkets.net
STAMFORD, Connecticut and LUCCA, Italy, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

VP of Financial Reporting Jeff Nataupsky discusses how his team is streamlining and advancing reporting for John Hancock Financial, as well as its parent company, Manulife

Tagetik , a visionary leader in global performance management software solutions, will host the webinar "From Data to Discovery: Dynamic Reporting and Automation at John Hancock/Manulife," on Wednesday, January 27, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140625/694014 )



Jeff Nataupsky, vice president of financial reporting and controls for John Hancock Financial, will discuss how the company tackled a range of reporting challenges - including standardizing the reporting processes and moving to a "single source of truth" for all financial reporting. In addition to more efficiently addressing regulatory requirements, the company's reporting transformation has also introduced enterprise-wide consistency.

"Besides accelerating and optimizing our reporting, this reporting initiative has changed the way we think about our financial processes. We now have more accountability in all of our business areas and a centralized financial repository that ensures data consistency," said Nataupsky."Another bonus is the reduction of manual data entry - in the United States, we're down to about 5% from almost 100% prior to implementation." John Hancock implemented Tagetik's Collaborative Disclosure Management solution in 2012. Today the solution is used by John Hancock for quarterly and annual reporting; the solution is also used for Manulife's annual financial statements and quarterly shareholder reports.

Nataupsky has more than 20 years of experience in public and private accounting. John Hancock is a subsidiary of Manulife Financial, a leading financial services group based in Toronto with approximately 30,000 employees and 53,000 agents.

To register for the complimentary webinar, click here.

About Tagetik

Tagetik understands the complex challenges that face the Office of Finance and translates that knowledge into intuitive, enterprise-scale performance management software solutions that drive business results. With Tagetik, companies get the simplicity of the Cloud and the power to unify financial and operational planning; shorten the consolidation and close process; immediately analyze results, model and compare full financial statement impact of business scenarios; adjust strategic plans; seamlessly update rolling forecasts; produce formatted and auditable financial statements and management reports; collaborate on business reviews, and automate disclosure and board reporting. Tagetik has built-in financial intelligence so that CFOs, finance managers, and operations executives can orchestrate multiple or all processes in one software solution. More than 750 customers across 35 countries count on Tagetik to improve efficiency, reduce risk, save money and deliver results. For more information, visit http://www.tagetik.com. We get Finance. You get results.

Follow us on social media:

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Media Contacts:

Linda Galloway

insidHR Communications

Office: +1-303-863-8620

Mobile: +1-203-733-7446

lgalloway@insidhr.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A top aide to Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., is joining the campaign of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump. Stephen Miller, who served as Session's Communications Director, will join Trump's campaign as Senior Policy Advisor. The move by Miller comes after seven years of working with Sessions, who is seen as a hard-liner on immigration. Trump has made immigration a cornerstone of his campaign, with the real estate tycoon calling for the deportation of millions of illegal immigrants and the construction of a wall on the southern border. In a statement, Miller called working with Sessions the single greatest honor of his life and described the senator as the embodiment of public service. The Washington Post said the hiring of Miller is the latest sign that Trump's tight-knit campaign team is expanding as he continues to lead in the polls. 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.
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 26, 2016 PRNewswire/ -- Viola M. Frymann, D.O., F.A.A.O., F.C.A., died Saturday, January 23rd, in San Diego, CA. In singleminded service to humanity, Dr. Frymann spent her professional life as an osteopathic physician. She was a renowned steward of the osteopathic profession, practical researcher and trusted educator. Funeral arrangements are underway and will be announced online at www.thepromise.org.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160126/325883

She is nationally recognized for her vision and determination to see osteopathic licensure restored successfully in California and for the founding and establishment of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA, as well as her many contributions to the field of osteopathy.

Dr. Frymann studied with William Garner Sutherland, D.O., the founder of osteopathy in the cranial field, and became a specialist in cranial osteopathy. In 1982, she established the Osteopathic Centerfor Children (OCC), focused on the treatment of children including those for whom the primary consideration is prevention of suboptimal health, as well as those with deep and complex problems who seek to reach the optimum of their potential. This became her undying passion and the culmination of her life's work. She later founded Osteopathy's Promise to Children (OPC) in 1992, which provides facilities for OCC and in partnership, offers continuing education courses for M.D., D.O., and D.D.S., and is a clinical training site for physicians and medical students interested in learning the unique approach to osteopathy as developed by Dr. Frymann.

"Dr. Frymann was our leader, our mentor, our teacher and our friend. Her determination, wisdom, and leadership will go on far beyond the time that she spent with us. She was our direct connection to light the osteopathy spoken about by the early osteopaths. We have lost a giant in osteopathy, but her light and knowledge lives on in every patient she treated and every student she touched around the world," says Dr. Shawn K. Centers, D.O., M.H., F.A.C.O.P., Medical Director, Osteopathic Centerfor Children.

She was instrumental in establishing the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in 1975 and was the first Chair of the Department and Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Science (1978-1999). Over the years, Dr. Frymann taught osteopathic principles and practice at many of the USA osteopathic medical schools. She also taught throughout the world, with emphasis on osteopathy in the cranial field, teaching courses regularly in France, Italy, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, England, China, Japan, Latvia, Russia, Australia and Denmark.

Dr. Frymann served in leadership positions with state and national osteopathic societies and associations and was one of the leaders in reestablishing the osteopathic medical licensing board in California in 1974 for which she received life membership in Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California (OPSC) for "the sacrifices and labor of love in bringing the osteopathic profession back from extinction." She was a Fellow of the Osteopathic Cranial Academy (OCA), a Fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO), and a member of the American Osteopathic Association's (AOA) charter class of Great Pioneers in Osteopathic Medicine. She served as Past President of the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California (OPSC). Past President of the OCA, a Sutherland Memorial Lecturer, an Honorary Life Member, and a recipient of the Exceptional Service Award. She also served on the Advisory Board of the Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation (SCTF).

"Dr. Frymann touched the lives of thousands of children and their families in her osteopathic clinical practice. In addition, her teaching and training of students, osteopaths, and physicians extended her influence to countless thousands more in the osteopathic profession. She was often referred to as a 'living legend' and will remain a legend in the history of osteopathy," says Dr. Hollis King, D.O., PhD, F.A.A.O., Program Director, Osteopathy's Promise to Children.

Dr. Frymann also authored many journal articles. The American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) has published her collected works in a book (1998). Most noteworthy were her seminal research on evaluation and treatment of newborns, treatment of special needs children, and the nature of cranial bone motion.

Her many awards include the Andrew Taylor Still Medallion of Honor, the highest honor bestowed by the American Academy of Osteopathy, and the William G. Sutherland Award of the Cranial Academy. International recognition includes being named Docteur Honoris Causa by the L'Universite Europeenne D'Osteopathie, Paris, FranceI honored as the first Professeure Emerite by the Faculty of the College D'Etudes Osteopathiques, Montreal, CanadaI and Professeure Emerite by the Centre d'Osteopathie Atman.

CONTACT:
MADISON, New Jersey, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Century 21 Real Estate LLC, franchisor of the iconic CENTURY 21 brand with the largest global network in the residential real estate industry, announced today that it has expanded its global real estate network into Slovenia with the launch of CENTURY 21 Slovenia in the country's capital city of Ljubljana. The owners, Victoria Babkova, signed an exclusive 25-year franchise agreement to develop the CENTURY 21 brand throughout the Republic of Slovenia. The company will operate under the leadership of GoriAan Denis, who will serve as chief executive officer.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140219/NY67846LOGO

"Extending the brand's presence in the Republic of Slovenia is an exciting expansion for CENTURY 21 as we continue to build on our global leadership positioning," said Rick Davidson, president and chief executive officer of Century 21 Real Estate LLC. "We look forward to CENTURY 21 Slovenia becoming a market leader in Europe's only country that combines the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pannonian Plain and the Karst."

"Our vision is clear," said Denis, "We want to establish superiorquality services and become a marker leader not only in Slovenia but Croatia as well. We are amazed by the ongoing support the CENTURY21 System is giving us and proud that we took an important step forward by affiliating with the C21 brand."

"I am incredibly impressed with the level of expertise, client focus, professionalism and culture of the leadership team at CENTURY 21 Slovenia," added Davidson. "I am confident that GoriAan and his team will ensure that our brand is identified with professionalism, honesty, integrity, and the highest standards of quality service."

To view listings from CENTURY 21 Slovenia or the other 78 countries and territories affiliated with Century 21 Real Estate LLC, please go to century21global.com.

About Century 21 Slovenia

CENTURY 21 Slovenia is an independently owned and operated master franchise affiliate of Century 21 Real Estate LLC (century21.com).

About Century 21 Real Estate LLC

Century 21 Real Estate LLC (century21.com) is comprised of approximately 6,900 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 78 countries and territories worldwide with more than 101,000 independent sales professionals.

Century 21 Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement services.

 2016 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21, the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Century 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Contact:

Peter Mosca

Century 21 Real Estate LLC

Phone: +1.973.407.5180

Email: peter.mosca@century21.com


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - On the heels of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's endorsement of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has received the support of a former governor of his own.



Former New York Gov. George Pataki announced his endorsement of Rubio on Tuesday, calling him the best candidate to bring Americans together.



'We have had a president who has divided us for political benefit. Hillary Clinton is always dividing us for her benefit. Donald Trump is dividing us so he gets the benefit,' Pataki said in an appearance on Fox News.



'Marco Rubio's going to bring us together, make us understand we're all Americans for the common future, and I'm proud to endorse him,' he added. 'And I don't intend to just endorse. I'm going to do everything I can to help Sen. Rubio win this election.'



Pataki, who ended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in December, had some harsh words for GOP frontrunner Trump.



The former governor described some of Trump's comments as outrageous and bigoted and said the real estate tycoon is not fit to have his finger on the nuclear button.



Pataki also argued that picking Trump as the Republican presidential nominee would allow Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton to be elected president.



'These are dangerous times and people across America are desperate for strong leadership,' Pataki said. 'But name calling and trading insults is not a substitute for leadership and it will not usher in a new American century.'



He added, 'Fortunately, Republicans who want to win have a conservative alternative in Marco Rubio - a person who will not only unite our party, but defeat Hillary Clinton in November.'



Pataki, who has not held office since 2006, failed to gain much traction in his presidential bid and most polls showed him with support of 1 percent or less.



His endorsement could still provide a boost for Rubio, who is running third nationally, according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls.



(Photo Credit: Michael Vadon)



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Eternal Sun has announced the acquisition of Spire Solar, the solar testing division of Massachusetts-based Spire Corporation. The company describes the acquisition as an asset deal funded by a capital injection by Belgium family fund Vermec BV, its current investor, and a regulatory filing puts the value of the sale at US$1.5 million minus current liabilities. Eternal Sun says that this will create a "solar testing powerhouse". It notes that the two companies address different market segments, with Eternal Sun supplying solid state solar ...

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.
STOCKTON, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- The wheels of "Justice for Jeremy" are finally -- after nearly six years in court -- turning in the right direction. A $1.575 million settlement has been reached and approved today by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors in Lum v. County of San Joaquin, et. al. (case #2:10-CV-01807-LKK-DAD).

The lawsuit was originally filed in July 2010 on behalf of the parents of 29-year-old Jeremy Lum, a long-time Lathrop, Calif. resident who suffered from mental illness and died after San Joaquin County police officers mistakenly jailed him for public intoxication on July 9, 2009. The suit alleged violations of Lum's civil rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act, false arrest, and wrongful death.

"While we are pleased to have settled this lawsuit, justice will not be served until law enforcement officials in San Joaquin County, Stockton, San Francisco and everywhere else in our country are getting much-needed mental health training and establishing effective protocols to prevent tragic deaths like Jeremy's. We must continue this fight, and we hope this settlement brings a heightened awareness of this issue to the highest ranks of San Joaquin County's political and justice system," said Walter "Skip" Walker with the San Francisco-based law firm of Walker, Hamilton & Koenig LLP, which with co-counsel Boris E. Efron of the Efron firm in Portola Valley represented the Lum family.

Lum, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and under the care of a psychiatrist, was suffering a psychotic episode when he was arrested for public intoxication just before midnight on July 8, 2009. He was jailed, and then released on the morning of July 9, 2009, never again to be seen alive. Over the course of a nearly six-year court battle, details have surfaced around the many instances in which the officials at the county jail failed to properly assess the status of, care for, or monitor Lum, despite having procedures in place for the treatment of those with mental health issues.

The eight-member San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved the $1,575,000 settlement during its regular meeting earlier today.

A group of concerned citizens and family members seeking "Justice for Jeremy" was formed nearly seven years ago and has rallied annually on the anniversary of Lum's death. They aim to call attention to the inadequate responses from public agencies in handling those suffering from mental health issues and to educate, advocate and provide resources and training to law enforcement, first responders, public service agencies, individuals and immediate families of people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. "Justice for Jeremy" has vowed to continue these efforts.

"We hope no family ever has to go through the heartbreak and agony of having a loved one -- already struggling with a mental health diagnosis -- die at the hands of the government officials sworn to protect and serve them," said Dorathea Timmons, Lum's mother. "In addition, San Joaquin County needs to take care to fulfill its duty to offer transportation options to those it releases from custody. A simple bus ticket might have saved my son's life."

About Walker, Hamilton & Koenig, LLP and The Law Offices of Boris Efron

The attorneys at San Francisco-based Walker, Hamilton & Koenig LLP and their co-counsel, The Law Offices of Boris Efron of Portola Valley, are dedicated to representing injury victims and their families with honesty and compassion. The deep experience of each firm extends to claims of medical malpractice; wrongful death; government, premises and product liability; insurance bad faith; and all manner of personal injury, including transportation-related claims, elder abuse and injuries to tourists and travelers.

Contacts:

Walter "Skip" Walker/Peter Koenig

Walker, Hamilton & Koenig LLP

415.986.3339

skip@whk-law.com

peter@whk-law.com



Chuck Brown

Blattel Communications

415.413.4529

chuck@blattel.com




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Reliant Gold Corp. ("Reliant" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE: REC) announces that it has made the following board and management changes effective January 26, 2016:

Dr. Trevor Boyd has resigned as a director, VP Exploration and Corporate Secretary of the Corporation in order to pursue other opportunities.

Mr. J. Errol Farr has resigned as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Mr. Farr continues in his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation.

Mr. Kabir Ahmed is appointed as a director of the Corporation, and has also been appointed as the Corporation's President and Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Secretary and Corporate Counsel, which are all subject to regulatory approval as may be required. Mr. Ahmed has two decades of experience as a corporate and securities lawyer, and is the founder of Reliant. As part of their mandate, Mr. Ahmed and Mr. Farr will be reviewing strategic options for the Corporation.

The Corporation thanks Dr. Boyd for his many years of service as a valued director and officer of Reliant. He has been instrumental in identifying prospective mineral exploration projects for Reliant and for expertly leading the Corporation's exploration and development programs over the past several years.

ABOUT RELIANT

Reliant is a junior mineral exploration company with an experienced management team engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of properties for the mining of precious and base metals. Reliant holds a 49% joint venture interest in the Borden Lake South Property, comprised of 20 mining claims representing 294 claim units covering approximately 4,704 hectares, and located 10 kilometres east of the Town of Chapleau, Ontario.

The common shares of Reliant trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the stock symbol "REC".

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking" statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Reliant or the industry in which it operates to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "may", "should", "will", the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current expectations of the management of Reliant with respect to future events based on currently available information and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time, including, without limitation, under the heading "Risk Factors", in Reliant's prospectus and in other continuous disclosure documents that are filed by Reliant from time to time with the Ontario, Alberta or British Columbia Securities Commissions which are available at www.sedar.com and to which readers of this press release are referred for additional information concerning Reliant, its prospects and the risks and uncertainties relating to Reliant and its prospects. New risk factors may arise from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of those risk factors or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results, performance and achievements of Reliant to be materially different from those contained in forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Reliant cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.

The forward-looking information contained in this press release is current only as of the date hereof. Reliant does not undertake or assume any obligation, except as required by law, to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

No securities commission or regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the contents of this press release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Reliant Gold Corp.

J. Errol Farr, CPA, CMA

Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and Director

(647) 296-1270

(416) 363-4567 (FAX)

info@reliantgold.com




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- Reservoir Minerals Inc. ("Reservoir" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: RMC)(OTC PINK: RVRLF)(BERLIN: 9RE) is pleased to announce that its subsidiaries Tilva (BVI) Inc., and Global Reservoir Minerals (BVI) Inc., have been notified by Rio Tinto Mining & Exploration Limited ("Rio Tinto"), that the condition precedent has been met relating to the earn-in and joint venture agreement ("Agreement") signed between Rio Tinto and Reservoir. Under the terms of the Agreement, Rio Tinto has the option to earn in stages up to a 75% interest in Reservoir's four wholly-owned exploration permits in the Timok Magmatic Complex; Nikolicevo, Kraljevica, Coka Kupjatra and Tilva Njagra in Serbia ("Tilva Project"), by sole funding project expenditures of up to US$75 million (see Reservoir news release of November 12, 2015 for details).

Simon Ingram, President and CEO of Reservoir Minerals Inc., commented: "Reservoir is pleased to be continuing work on the four exploration permits of the Tilva Project, which will be solely funded by Rio Tinto via this Joint Venture during the sole funding period. The Timok belt has excellent exploration potential for large-scale copper-gold deposits and we look forward to building on Reservoir's experience and success in this belt with Rio Tinto."

-- Rio Tinto will reimburse Reservoir's costs from the drilling started in September 2015, up to a maximum of US$500,000, which will form part of the Stage 1 earn-in expenditure. -- A Management Committee has been formed comprising of 2 representatives from each of Rio Tinto and Reservoir, which will meet to approve work programs and budgets on a quarterly basis, with quarterly cash calls being made in advance. -- Reservoir will be the Manager of the Tilva Project until such time as Rio Tinto exercises its right to assume the role. -- The focus of initial work will be data compilation, geological, geochemical, geophysical and structural modelling in order to prioritize targets for fieldwork and the next round of drilling.

Qualified Person

Dr. Tim Fletcher, Chartered Engineer (UK) and Vice President of Exploration for the Company, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators and a consultant to the Company, approved the technical disclosure in this release and has verified the data disclosed.

About Reservoir Minerals Inc.

Reservoir Minerals Inc. is an international mineral exploration and development company run by an experienced technical and management team, with a portfolio of precious and base metal exploration properties in Europe and Africa. It operates an exploration partnership business model to leverage its expertise through to discovery.

For further information on Reservoir Minerals Inc., please consult our website: www.reservoirminerals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Reservoir Minerals Inc.

Chirs MacIntyre

VP Corporate Development

+1.416.703.0010

chris@reservoirminerals.com

www.reservoirminerals.com




Technavio's latest machine to machine (m2m) and connected devices industry report covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global location-enabled platform market in SEA (Southeast Asia) 2016-2020.

In this report, Technavio's ICT industry research experts announce their key market highlights for the location-enabled platform market in Southeast Asia. Their findings include:

Location-based advertising, location-based search and navigation, and location-based games are driving the demand of location-enabled platforms in the SEA region

The Southeast Asian region is an emerging market for location-based services and platforms. Location-enabled platforms such as location-based search (LBS) services are finding increased market penetration due to GPS-enabled devices. The growing popularity of LBS, especially among government organizations, enterprises, and consumers, coupled with deployment of high-speed broadband networks in the Southeast Asia region, presents favorable market conditions for platform providers to venture.

LBS value-chain providers require location-enabled platforms (consists of hardware and software components) to provide various LBS applications such as location-based advertising, gaming, and search and navigation. The increased adoption of location-based advertising (LBA), location-based gaming, and location-based navigation and search by enterprises and individual consumers is expected to drive the market growth until 2020.

LBS value-chain providers funded by venture capitalists predicted to invest heavily in R&D to develop innovative products and platforms

Investments in location-enabled platforms has changed the marketing investment strategy of enterprises from traditional marketing to individual user-based target marketing. These developments are backed by innovative location-enabled platforms. The growth rate as well as revenue generated by these platforms is expected to be high during the 2015-2020 period because of increased investment by large vendors and VC funding for small LBS platform providers.

Innovative LBS platforms are augmenting the profitability of many existing as well as upcoming players. Many small LBS platform providers have flourished with the development of innovative LBS platforms. For instance, Foursquare, that started as a LBS platform for searching food joints in the US, has almost 55 million users, and has been browsed approximately 7 billion times.

In a strategic move for market expansion, some innovative LBS platforms have also been acquired by big enterprises. For instance, Green Dot acquired Loopt, an LBS-based marketing platform. SK Planet acquired Shopkick, and Facebook acquired Gowalla in a bid to expand their market share.

Innovation of new LBS platforms have paved the way for many more strategic M&A of small LBS platform providers in the market. Over the next four years, the market is predicted to attract many large content or service providers to Southeast Asia, resulting in a significant increase in VC funding for local LBS platform providers.

Retail, healthcare, aviation, and tourism are major sectors that employ location-enabled platforms

LBS applications are used by enterprises across Southeast Asia in various sectors such as retail, energy, production, aviation, healthcare, hospitality, sports, and IT to increase employee productivity and workforce management.

Consumers in Southeast Asia use LBS applications for vehicular and pedestrian navigation, obtaining traffic information, mobile payment, mobile coupons, social networking, family locator, check-ins, indoor routing, mobile yellow pages, shopping guides, product tracking, car-parking guidance, weather information, and information on transportation services. Government organizations in this region use LBS for public safety and emergency applications in situations such as theft, fire, accidents, flood, and drought.

In Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore, LBA is commonly used among retailers and malls to drive store sales. For instance, 313 Somerset, a mall in Singapore uses a beacon-based mobile advertising technique. A consumer using the Tring313 app gets a notification about ongoing sales and discount coupons when at a distance of 50 to 500 meters of distance from the mall. In Philippines, Stores Specialists, a franchiser of lifestyle brands, with the help of Sprooki, a mobile marketing services firm, started a SSI Life app for shoppers. It acts as a location-aware app for luxury brand shoppers. SSI Life app offers limited and time-based promotions to consumers as and when they approach the store.

Airports in Singapore have also started using beacon technology to deliver up-to-date and relevant information on passengers' smartphones. Customers receive notifications through the beacon supporting application that helps them navigate the airport better as relevant information such as distance to gates, boarding times, and the closest security check lines is provided.

Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia have a strong youth population. LBS apps such as friend finder, location-based games, and taxi finder are very popular among the masses in these countries. Vendors in these countries are partnering with each other to increase adoption level of LBS. For instance, Morpho, an identity and security solution provider, partnered with W-Locate, an LBS provider, to implant geo-location technology in its SIM cards. With the growing popularity of LBS, the market will witness many new product launches and collaborations until 2020, and it will provide significant traction to the overall in Southeast Asia.

Browse related reports:

Global LBS Market 2015-2019

LBS Market in China 2015-2019

Indoor LBS Market in Western Europe 2015-2019

Mobile LBS Market in Southeast Asia 2015-2019

Purchase 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 enquiry@technavio.com 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 media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126005064/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1-630-333-9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com

media@technavio.com
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/16 -- On January 25, 2016, Lloyd I. Miller, III, the managing member of the general partner of MILFAM II L.P. ("M2"), acquired 575,000 units ("Units") of Southern Arc Minerals Inc. ("Southern") through M2. Each Unit consists of one common share of Southern ("Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share for a period of five years at an exercise price of CDN$0.32. The Units were acquired pursuant to a non-brokered private placement of Southern at a price of CDN$0.24 per Unit.

As a result of the acquisition of Units noted above, Mr. Miller, through M2 and other entities, owns or has control or direction over an aggregate of 1,581,000 Common Shares and 575,000 Warrants, representing approximately 13.76% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares (as reported by Southern) on a partially diluted basis, taking into account only the issued and outstanding Common Shares and the Common Shares and Warrants owned or controlled by Mr. Miller and no others.

The Units were acquired for investment purposes. Depending on the evolution of Southern's business, financial condition, the market, if any, for Southern's securities, general economic conditions and other factors, Mr. Miller and his joint actors may acquire additional securities of Southern, or sell some or all of the securities they hold, in the open market, by private agreement or otherwise, subject to their availability at attractive prices, market conditions and other relevant factors.

Mr. Miller will be filing a report (as contemplated by National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Takeover Bid and Insider Reporting Issues) in connection with the acquisition of the Units. A copy of the early warning report in respect of the transactions described above is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under Southern's profile.

Contacts:

Lloyd I. Miller, III or Eric W. Fangmann

3300 South Dixie Highway, Suite 1-365

West Palm Beach, Florida

USA 33405

(561) 287-5399

info@limadvisory.com




Cedexis, a Portland, Oregon-based provider of Internet measurement and optimization solutions, closed a $22m Series B financing round.

The round was led by Ginko Ventures with participation from Foxconn, Nokia Growth Partners (NGP), Citrix Systems Ventures as well as existing investors Advanced Technology Ventures and Madrona Ventures.

The company, which has also secured a $770K business development loan from bpifrance, a French investment bank, intends to use the funds to accelerate global growth as well as to broaden solutions for advancing over-the-top (OTT) video, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) services and web application delivery.

Led by Scott Grout, CEO, Cedexis provides web-scale, end-user-experience monitoring and real-time traffic routing across multiple clouds and networks.

The companys solutions via:

 Cedexis Radar, which crowd sources billions of real user measurements (RUM) a day from a community of nearly 1,000 enterprises providing real-time visibility into how cloud/network performance is impacting the experience of web and mobile application users,

 Cedexis Openmix, which then uses this insight to route traffic for best performance, or availability, or cost, or any mix of the three, and

 Cedexis Impact, which finally demonstrates the real-world correlation of end-user performance to business KPIs, enabling enterprises to maximize web performance returns.

Cedexiss platform is used by nearly 1,000 global brands including Accor Hotels, Airbus, Bloomberg, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PBS, Tumblr, Cartier, Comcast, LinkedIn, Mozilla, Nissan and Shutterstock.

The company, which also has offices in Paris, France, San Francisco, CA, Brooklyn, NY and London, UK, also partners with all leading CDN, cloud, hosting and APM providers, globally.

FinSMEs

26/01/2016
Codiak BioSciences Inc., a Cambridge, MA-based exosome biology company, closed a $61m Series B funding round.

The round was led by ARCH Venture Partners and Flagship Ventures, with participation from the Alaska Permanent Fund, Alexandria Venture Investments and Fidelity Management and Research Company.

The company, which has raised $92m i9n total funding, intends to use the funds to advance research and clinical development of exosomes for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.

Led by Douglas E. Williams, Ph.D., President and CEO, Codiak BioSciences leverages exosomes as both therapeutics and diagnostics in cancer and other diseases.

Exosomes are tiny membrane sacs, or vesicles, that are released by both healthy and cancerous cells. Substances from cell cytoplasm, including genomic DNA, various RNA species, proteins and lipids are encapsulated into exosomes and are shed into the extracellular environment. All fluids in the human body have been shown to contain exosomes, which can transfer the cytoplasmic ingredients to other cells either locally or at distant sites. The cytoplasmic payload within exosomes, once transferred to the recipient cells, can alter the biology of the recipient cells.

Exosomes may be useful for diagnostic purposes since they contain genomic DNA for mutational analysis using a simple blood test. In addition, cancer-derived exosomes have specific markers that enable them to be isolated, purified and analyzed.

FinSMEs

26/01/2016
SeNostic GmbH, a Braunschweig, Germany-based diagnostics company, raised a seed round of funding of undisclosed amount.

The round was led by High-Tech Grunderfonds (HTGF).

The company intends to use the funds for the clinical development of a novel technology for the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.

Founded in 2014 by Dr. Thorsten Luhrs, managing director, and Dr. Christiane Ritter, CSO, SeNostic focuses on the development and marketing of novel technologies for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease and dementia with Lewy-bodies. Currently, the company is validating its SeedCycler analytical platform for the amplification, characterization and quantification of diverse seed biomarkers based on their biophysical properties, which is not yet commercially available.

FinSMEs

25/01/2016
The Zebra, an Austin, Texas-based comparison platform which enables consumers to search car insurance quotes, raised $17m in Series A funding.

Backers included Mark Cuban, Mike Maples Jr., Simon Nixon, Silverton Partners, and new investors Daher Capital and Ballast Point Ventures.

The company, which has raised over $21m to date, intends to use the funds to enhance product offering, strengthen partnerships with insurance carriers, and expand its team. It is hiring across engineering, business development, sales, and marketing.

Founded in 2012 by CEO Adam Lyons and COO Joshua Dziabiak, The Zebra provides an online car insurance comparison platform. Its real-time, side-by-side quote comparison tool allows drivers to identify insurance companies with the coverage, service level, and pricing to suit their unique needs The Zebra tool currently compares over 200 car insurance companies across all 50 states and provides agent support, educational and other resources to evaluate companies based on coverage, customer reviews, claims satisfaction and more.

FinSMEs

26/01/2016
YL Ventures*, the Israel and US-based early stage venture capital firm mainly focused on cybersecurity, has released The 2015 State of the Cyber Nation Report.

It is already well know that Israel is the most advanced nations involved in cybersecurity with startups that day by day create software solutions and apps to try to challenge threats, from every given angle.

YL Venturess document and the related infographics aim to provide insights on the state of the sector and the startup ecosystem in 2015.

Highlights include:

 more than 300 cybersecurity companies are currently active, whose exports reached $6B, equating to approximately 10% of the global cybersecurity market in 2014.

 approx. 15% of all startups established in 2015 have secured seed funding, raising on an average $2.5M.

 an increase in Series B and later stage funding rounds, with a total of $360M raised in 2015.

 Main trends include Internet of Things (IoT) security, with a special focus on automotive security, container security, mobile security, deception and web security.

Finally, a meaningful aspect is given by M&A activity. In comparison with general enterprise software exits, the return on investment cybersecurity companies is greater and faster. Although the average exit in both cybersecurity and Enterprise Software was around $88M, cybersecurity companies raised 44% less capital and were acquired three years faster than enterprise software companies.

Have a look at the infographics in oreder to capture other insights.

*Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Mill Valley, CA, and led by partners Yoav Leitersdorf and Ofer Schreiber, YL Ventures invests in early-stage Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Software-as-a-Service, Big Data and Internet of Things companies. The firm is currently investing out of our $27.5m second fund. The portfolio includes Twistlock, Hexadite, Seculert, BlazeMeter, FireLayers, Upstream Commerce, ClickTale and AcceloWeb.

The team also includes analyst Iren Reznikov.

FinSMEs

26/01/2016
No, I dont have any first-hand knowledge of the superstar's sartorial preferences. My educated guess is based on his latest flip-flop.

In a moment of profound epiphany, the Bollywood poster boy of Indian 'secularatti' has clarified that he never said India is intolerant. He also did what politicians in India love to do: Blame it all on the media  charting the path already trodden by Bollywood's other big Khan, Shah Rukh, who similarly claimed to have been victimised by the mischief-mongering media over intolerance.

"I never said India was intolerant or I wanted to leave the country. I also understand the emotions of those who were hurt. I would like to say that my statement was misunderstood and to some extent media is responsible for it. I was born here and I will die here," Aamir Khan said in Mumbai on Monday while celebrating the 10th anniversary of his 2006 superhit Rang De Basanti. Claiming that he was quoted out of context, Bollywood's Mr Perfectionist added: "I give this credit to you all (media) because you all have twisted my words. I request you all that please dont do this."

Wow! Wait, what?

So it's the media, stupid! Aamir was merely airing measured views about this country as a conscientious, responsible citizen when the media decided to have some fun and spun his words so out of context that an entire nation got outraged and a 'hurt' Aamir lost his good night's sleep.

Very well. If Mr Khan say so.

24 November last year, in which Aamir is Never mind the recorded footage fromlast year, in which Aamir is seen telling the audience at the Ramnath Goenka Awards function : "A lot of people from the creative fraternity are protesting because of the growing discomfort they felt or the growing atmosphere of intolerance that they felt around them"

If Aamir says he never talked about growing intolerance, we believe him. He's an honourable man.

But a small question remains. If the media "twisted" his words, as he claims it did, what took the superstar two full months to register his protest? Why didn't he immediately take the errant media to task when a tsunami of reaction was unleashed? Why so late? Why now?

There's something else that's curious.

Despite being mostly criticised for his comments during that event about a growing "sense of fear" and a discussion with his wife Kiran about "moving out of India" due to a growing "disquiet and sense of despondency", Aamir appeared to have stood by his statements, earning applause from some quarters for his integrity. To all those people who are calling me anti-national, I would like to say that I am proud to be Indian, and I do not need anyones permission nor endorsement for that. To all the people shouting obscenities at me for speaking my heart out, it saddens me to say you are only proving my point," he had said in the immediate aftermath

Many of those who stood by Aamir pointed out how his courage and conviction is a welcome change in Bollywood, where people change their stances more frequently than costumes.

Take Shahrukh Khan for instance. After saying "There is intolerance, there is extreme intolerance there is, I think there is growing intolerance" in India, he later did a spectacular somersault and blamed journalists for misconstruing his comments, adding that Dilwale didn't do all that well because of it. Never mind the fact that the movie was panned by critics for its poor script.

Be that as it may, what is it that prompted Aamir to follow Shahrukh? Is it that famous Bollywood solidarity? Is it bro love? Why did India's ex-brand ambassador undergo a sudden realisation that: "Our country is diverse with so many languages, culture No other country has so much diversity as India. Whenever I go abroad, I can't stay away from my country more than two weeks. I get homesick."

It is not the first time Aamir has shifted his position.

His initial stance on the Narmada Bachao Andolan and later recalibration is well documented. His signature for a US visa ban on then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and endorsing a petition that equated him with Adolf Hitler was followed later by a guarded U-turn when Modi became the prime minister.

It is not the first time that Aamir has been a picture of inconsistency. For the producer of Delhi Belly, a slapstick comedy full of adult, rude, toilet humour, it was a little rich when Aamir suddenly took umbrage at a comic sketch by the AIB Roast, calling it "too violent". Oafs on social media (since they have nothing better to do), however, are suggesting Aamir's delayed epiphany could be the consequence of his taking cognisance of Dilwale's box-office collection.

Some are pointing out that Akhsay Kumar  who seems to be getting better with age and has thrown a real challenge at Khans' Bollywood supremacy  has 'Airlifted' himself into such stratosphere that Aamir's next release seems destined to be stuck in the mud of Dangal.

If the #BoycottDangal trend since Tuesday morning on Twitter is anything to go by, signs are not looking too promising for Mr Perfectionist.

The Dangal chickens have come home to roost.
Bhubaneswar: A high alert has been sounded in Odisha after four men, presenting themselves as Iraqi nationals, disappeared when asked to produce their identity proof at a hotel in Bhubaneswar on Monday night, with police suspecting them to be terrorists.

The four men, with an estimated height of 6.5 feet and speaking in Hindi or English, came to the hotel in a car with a Delhi registration number which turned out to be fake, police said.

"The four persons who fled the hotel before the police reached there could be terrorists... The four suspected terrorists had claimed to be natives of Iraq," said Director General of Police (DGP) KB Singh.

"They came in a car bearing Delhi number plate. However, verification of the car's registration number showed that it was fake," he added.

Siba Narayan Mohapatra, the hotel manager who interacted with one of the four men, said, "While one of them came to the hotel reception desk, three others were inside the car parked outside. The CCTV has captured the picture of one suspected terrorist and the vehicle used by them."

Commissioner of Police RP Sharma said they had come to stay in the hotel at about 9 pm on Monday night but fled when they were asked to produce identity proof before being given rooms.

"The four persons wanted two rooms at the Hotel Arya Mahal," Sharma said, adding the police got information from the hotel staff who suspected their movement.

The police have seized the CCTV footage from the hotel.

"In the wake of the incident, the security of the Chief Minister's carcade has been beefed up. We don't want to take any chances and have heightened security and frisking," Sharma said.

The Special Task Force (STF), led by IG Arun Bothra of Crime Branch of Police, has started investigation into the incident and launched an operation to trace the four men.

The team searched different hotels and lodges to locate the missing suspected terrorists.

"We are not sure whether the four persons are still in the state capital or not. Security personnel have been verifying CCTV installed at different places along Master canteen area," said a senior police officer.

The police have also appealed to the public to inform them if they come across any suspected persons.

PTI
Itanagar: Amidst a political crisis, Arunachal Pradesh today joined the rest of the country in celebrating the 67th Republic Day with Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa giving a clarion call for a corruption-free administration.

Unfurling the national flag at Indira Gandhi Park here, the Governor called upon all government functionaries employees to work with full commitment. "We have to ensure smooth, prompt, hassle-free delivery of public services. We have to provide corruption-free administration and all those involved in corrupt practices and other unlawful activities must be dealt in with firm hands," he said. "Let us join hands to fight the menace of the hydra-headed monster called 'corruption', otherwise 'good governance' will be a far cry and the common man will continue to suffer," he added.

Rajkhowa also laid emphasis on constitution of the state Lokayukta on priority basis. Such an initiative would delivery of speedy justice at a reasonable cost to the poorest of the poor, he said. Step should also be taken with right earnest to complete the process of separating the judiciary from the executive, he added.

On the security front, he said the state does not have the problem of homegrown terrorists or underground elements but some districts in the eastern front are affected by activities of underground groups from outside state like extortion and kidnapping.

"The security agencies are keeping a close watch on such illegal activities and have also been successful in nabbing or neutralising some such elements and also recovering significant quantity of arms, ammunition, explosives, which is indeed commendable," he said.

The Governor, while expressing concern over rise in crime against women, urged the law enforcing agencies to contain such crimes. The Centre had recommended to President Pranab Mukherjee imposing President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh.

Mukherjee has, however, asked questions about the need to bring the state under Central rule, a decision that was challenged by the Congress in the Supreme Court which would hear the case on Wednesday.

Rajkhowa said the state government took up the task of preparing the 'Arunachal Vision-2030', for which an expert committee had been constituted. "The vision document needs to be finalised soon. Meanwhile, people-oriented policies and programme for alleviation of poverty, infrastructure development, various schemes in social, economic, health, education, skill development, connectivity, communication, power generation, agriculture & allied sectors, tourism, handloom, handicrafts and horticulture and other priority sectors have to be formulated on short-term basis," he said.

"To achieve the desired success in all the key sectors on a sustainable basis and free of corrupt practices, five M's - Men, Money, Machines, Materials and Methods - have to be managed through five E's - Economy, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Equity and Excellence," he added. The governor also appreciated the move by Arunachal Press Club (APC) President Chopa Cheda who had recently handed over a black-breasted Khalij Pheasant to the curator of Itanagar Biological Park.

Stating that Arunachal possesses over 500 endemic orchid species for which the state could rightly be called as the 'Orchid Paradise' of the country, Rajkhowa called upon the youth and unemployed women and housewives to take up orchid and floriculture for self-employment.

"Let us all strive to build strong linkages between industry, academia, and government, create an environment conducive to promoting sunrise, competitive, economic and business models and development of local skills to facilitate greater opportunities for job creation in different sectors," the Governor said. Eleven gold medals, 17 silver medals, four certificates and three 'Chief Minister Sram awards' were given to the winners on the occasion for their commendable services to the state.

A march past by various security contingents and school children, along with colourful display of traditional dance forms, were the highlights of the Republic Day celebration in the state.

PTI
'Kya aap ghar pe behen@#$ bol sakte hain?'

With this sanskari question began India's latest Padma Bhushan, actor and tolerance activist Anupam Kher's mann ki baat on freedom of speech and responsibilities at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Monday.

Freedom of speech is currently Kher's favourite muse. Ever since he assigned to himself the role of the cheer-uncle of India-is-so-tolerant brigade, he is often baited by ideological opponents at public events and debates with provocative questions and counter arguments. And Kher always obliges them with a cultured soliloquy  the kind he exhibited in Jaipur  laced with nuanced arguments and restrained language, on how achche din have come for India's liberal and tolerant values.

Nothing deters him. In October, Kher was booed by the audience at a Literature Festival in Mumbai when he lost his cool while debating, well, India's tolerance.

This is how news agency PTI described the interaction in Mumbai: 'Soon after Kher rose to speak, he was booed when he recalled Shobha De's (a co-panelist) past as an editor of a film magazine "which printed gossip about which film star slept with whom."

As the booing continued, Kher said he had spoken to the festival organiser Anil Dharker in the morning and expressed his apprehensions of a paid audience at the debate. This infuriated several members of the audience who kept on booing the actor.

His wife Kirron Kher, a BJP MP, who was in the audience rose to his defence but the audience did not stop booing Kher who said being a theatre artist he was used to such booing.'

In Jaipur, to pre-empt the booing, Kher started wooing the audience. From the stage, he started exhorting the crowd to chant Modi, Modi, playing to literal perfection his role of a cheerleader.

The Padma award is, obviously, hard earned and well deserved.

The actor may be ecstatic that after a lifetime of being cast as a supporting actor, alternating between the image of a comedian, villain and the hero's best friend, he has finally been offered the lead role of the Narendra Modi government's knight-in-shining-armour, the go-to man every time its critics from the world of art and cinema are to be silenced, browbeaten into submission, and the brand ambassador of Incredibly Tolerant India.

But, with his politics of convenience and flip-flops, Kher has weakened the very basis of the raison d'etre of his popularity: his track record as an actor. His impressive body of work alone would have entitled him to the country's love, respect and top awards. But, Kher has undermined his own legacy and frittered away some of his own goodwill with his partisan philosophy and by turning into the voice of his political masters.

He will, as writer Ajaz Ashraf pointed out in a stirring critique, not be remembered as the actor who portrayed the angst of the common man in Saaransh but the husband who obliterated it for his wife's benefactors and political patrons.

'Judging from his political actions over the last few months, it wouldn't be wrong to believe Kher might actually reprimand a woman undergoing in real life the sort of travails faced by the struggling actress of Saaransh.

It is likely he would tell her that there have been many instances in the past of powerful fathers mounting pressure on their sons partner to abort; that she isnt the first person whom the politicians musclemen have terrorised; that her troubles do not indicate that the Indian state has drifted into wilful somnolence,' Ashraf argued.

Some years ago, a Padma award to Kher would have been celebrated as recognition of his contribution to cinema and theatre. But its timing would never silence those pointing out that he got it because of his contribution to the BJP's theatrics and drama of tolerance politics. And that he made an about-turn and accepted with folded hands what he had denounced in 2010 as a mockery of the system in one of his sour-grapes moment. Perhaps the presence of fellow actor Ajay Devgn, who vigorously campaigned for the BJP in the recent Bihar elections in the Padma list, must have convinced Kher that in Modi's India the award is no longer a reward for political leanings.

The paradox of Kher's life and politics is summed up best by his sanskari query--a pointer to the intellectual prowess of the rightwing poster boys-- at the Jaipur Literature Festival. If it isn't ironical enough that Kher used the very language in public-- in front of a lawn full of men, women and children, from the stage of literature--that he doesn't want people to use at home, to know the answer Kher should read the language the right-wing trolls and Hindutva bhakts use to attack those complaining against intolerance.

Yes, Mr Kher, you may have been awarded the Padma Bhushan for calling India tolerant, but there are many others who are called much more than b#@% for not agreeing with you and those you cheerlead.

(You can listen to his speech here.)
Karachi: Aftab Shivdasani and Tusshar Kapoor starrer raunchy Bollywood adult comedy 'Kya Kool Hain Hum 3' has been banned in Pakistan after the censor board there decided that the movie was unsuitable for public viewing.

The Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) and its provincial censor boards both decided after a meeting yesterday that the film was unsuitable for public exhibition. CBFC chief Mobashir Hasan said the film was found to be an "out and out obscene film" with vulgar dialogues and nudity. "The film is full of nudity and has a lot of vulgar content in its dialogues.

The board has officially disallowed the film from public viewing," he said. Hasan said the film couldn't be allowed for public viewing even with an adult rating as it was over the top vulgar. Interestingly, some cinemas had started screening the film since Friday but the general manager at a cinema said after just two days they got orders from their distributor to suspend the screening of the film which has reportedly grossed about Rs130 million in India in its first two days of release.

"We have issued a show-cause notice to the distributor and he faces a hefty fine for importing this film and selling it to some exhibitors without first going through proper channels," Hasan said. Fakhre-Alam, chairperson of the Sindh Board of Film Certification (SBFC) said all the provincial censor boards, including Punjab and Sindh, found it unsuitable for public exhibition in cinemas.

'Kya Kool Hain Hum 3' starring Tusshar and Aftab revolves around two boys, who end up joining the adult film industry, but have to pretend to be sober to win the heart of the girl's family. It is directed by Umesh Ghadge.

PTI
New Delhi: Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, who killed 10 guerrillas in 11 days before attaining martyrdom, was on Tuesday posthumously awarded Ashok Chakra, the country's highest peacetime gallantry award, by President Pranab Mukhejree.

The soldier of the army's elite special forces made the supreme sacrifice while fighting the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. The award was received by Bhavna Goswami, widow of Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, at the country's 67th Republic Day.

On 2 September, 2015, Lance Naik Goswami was engaged in a fierce gunfight with terrorists hiding in the Hafruda forests in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. As the gun battle raged, two of Lance Naik Goswami's comrades were wounded.

Undeterred by the intense volley of fire, he rushed to rescue them and in the act  despite getting grievously wounded himself  he not only eliminated two terrorists but also saved the lives of his comrades.

The citation read out on the occasion said that Lance Naik Goswami succumbed to his injuries in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

The martyred commando hailed from Indira Nagar village in Haldwani tehsil of Nainital district, Uttarakhand, and is survived by his wife and a seven-year-old daughter. He had killed 10 guerrillas in 11 days before attaining martyrdom.

Ashok Chakra is the peace-time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra awarded for acts of bravery on the battle front. It is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy.

IANS
New Delhi: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's daughter Dr Anita Bose Pfaff wants a DNA test to be conducted to establish whether the ashes kept in a Japanese temple are her father's, but believes that the 1945 aircrash in Taipei was the "most likely cause" of his death.

"I believe that the plane crash is the most likely cause of his death," Pfaff said when asked whether she believes in the theory that her father died in an air crash near the Taihoku aerodrome in Taipei on August 18, 1945.

However, she said she wants a DNA test of the ashes kept in an urn at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo to ascertain whether the remains belong to the freedom fighter.

"A DNA test could provide proof, provided that the bones are not too badly charred for extracting DNA," Pfaff, the only child of Subhash Bose and Emilie Schenkl, told PTI in an interview from her home in Stadtbergen, Germany.

Bose family sources said the 73-year old German economist, who is likely to visit India next month, may urge the government here to talk to Japan for conducting DNA test of the remains kept in the Renkoji temple in Tokyo.

On whether the recently declassified documents sufficiently proved Netaji's death in the aircrash, Pfaff said "while I have only looked at a few files, I get the impression that a death certificate is not contained."

Asked about her opinion that Bose was not treated with as much respect as were leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Pfaff said: "That certainly seems to be the case for the official treatment.

"But the general public, the so-called man in the street, however, seem to have kept his memory alive in a very touching way. It was a shame how the Indian government treated the INA veterans for decades."

To a question about Nehru's approach towards Bose, she merely said, "Since their relationship lasted over many years, it was multi-faceted, I imagine. In many aspects they held similar views, in others their views differed."

Asked about her reaction to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's recent remark that Netaji's death has been used for "petty politics", Pfaff said, "On the part of some people this is true, according to my opinion.

"However, many of his relatives such as my uncles and my mother very genuinely wished that he might have survived the crash or not been in it. Their love for him made the acceptance of his death too hard to bear."

Reacting to the declassification of Netaji files by the Centre and West Bengal government and whether these documents would help solve the mystery behind the legendary freedom fighter's "disappearance", she said was "indeed happy".

"It was high time. Most likely we shall find out that for 90 percent of the files there has been no reason whatsoever not to declassify them decades ago. I rather doubt that the declassified files will reveal anything very spectacular about my father's death," she said.

She said she agreed with the view that declassification should have been done much earlier.

On whether Netaji's birthday should be declared a national holiday, she said, "I believe there are better ways of keeping Netaji's memory alive than a national holiday."

On whether she has any plan to pen a book on her father, she said, "I did not have the good fortune to know him personally beyond the age of four weeks. I cannot say much about him. But together with my niece and other women in our family, I have plans to write a book about my mother."

Anita, a former Professor of Economics at the University of Augsburg, is married to Prof Martin Pfaff, who was a member of German Parliament Bundestag, representing the SPD or the Social Democratic Party. They have three children - Peter Arun, Thomas Krishna and Maya Carina.

PTI
New Delhi: With intelligence inputs warning of a possible terror strike, unprecedented security measures were put in place across the country for Republic Day celebrations that passed off peacefully on Tuesday.

However, a few incidents, including an encounter in South Kashmir where an unidentified militant was killed, and a bomb scare sparked by an unclaimed bag at a Pathankot railway station set off alarm.

The national capital was brought under an unprecedented ground-to-air security cover with thousands of armed personnel keeping a tight vigil for the 67th Republic Day celebrations where French President Francois Hollande was the Chief Guest.

The area around Central Delhi was turned into a virtual fortress in view of intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the city.

The measures were adopted in the aftermath of the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase.

Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, central security agencies and NIA busted a module by arresting 14 militants linked to terror group Islamic State, who, officials claimed, had planned to carry out strikes at important installations.

Commandos with light machine guns were deployed at 10 strategic locations and anti-aircraft guns remained positioned at two vantage points in the capital.

The entire region of Central and New Delhi had nearly 50,000 security personnel drawn from Delhi Police and central security forces guarding every nook and corner.

Special arrangements were made at the historic Rajpath where India's military might was on display.

Hollande was seated along with President Pranab Mukherjee and host of VVIPs including Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The VVIP enclosure was put under a multi-layer security ring with Presidential Guards and officials of SPG and NSG guarding the two inner-most orbits and Delhi Police entrusted with guarding the outermost circle, said a senior official.

Senior officials said snipers have been put atop 45 buildings overlooking Rajpath besides providing a similar cover along all the buildings along the parade route.

Gunners have been given clear instructions to bring down any aerial object flying without permission. A 'NOTAM' (Notice to Airmen) has been declared from 10.35 am to 12.15 pm during which no flight will land or take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

A special control room has been monitoring as many as 15,000 CCTV cameras installed across Central and New Delhi, with 200 high-tech digital cameras installed in the parade route, an official said.

As many as 1,000 traffic officials have been issued revolvers so that they can deal with any untoward incident amid heavy security arrangements across the city involving around 25,000 police officials.

In Punjab, additional personnel were posted at bus stands, railway stations and government buildings. Similar arrangements were in place in Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

However, in Pathankot, an unclaimed bag at a railway station sparked a security scare in the district where police and agencies are on high alert following the terror strike at air base early this month, in which seven security personnel were killed.

People were swiftly evacuated from the area and rail traffic had also been halted or diverted for the time being on the route, police said. Bomb disposal and dog squads were summoned to identify the contents of the bag, which has been covered by sand bags, they said.

"A bag has been found at the railway station. We are taking all precautions. We are verifying its content," RK Bakshi, Pathankot SSP, said.

He said that security agencies were taking no chances and as a precautionary measure, they had cleared the area.

In South Kashmir's Anantnag district, an unidentified militant was killed in a gunbattle which broke out around 4 AM. In Jammu and Kashmir, security had been stepped up across the Valley to thwart any plan by militants to disrupt the celebrations.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Police detected a CCTV grab of a terror suspect seen in the company of seven to eight others who could be his associates, prompting the authorities to sound an alert across the state.

The DGP's office in Dehradun said the CCTV grab has been released on WhatsApp with an appeal to people to help track down the suspect seen with seven to eight persons standing close to him in the background who could be his associates.

An alert has been sounded in the state and a search launched to trace the suspect, a source at the DGP's office said. Coming close on the heels of the arrest of four terror suspects linked with ISIS from Roorkee in Haridwar district, the recovery of the CCTV grab assumes significance.

PTI
The Hyderabad Central University (HCU) administration is reportedly considering changes in top management as it faces relentless protests after the suicide of one of its scholars - Rohith Vemula that has now become red hot political football over Dalit rights.

The Indian Express reports that the university administration is actively considering a proposal to replace interim Vice-Chancellor Prof Vipin Srivastava with a senior faculty memberfrom the Chemistry Department.

Srivastava took charge as the interim V-C after Prof Appa Rao Podile went on indefinite leave Sunday. Srivastava headed the committee that recommended suspension for five Dalit students, including Rohith Vemula. Vemula committed suicide on January 17. Students erupted in protest after Srivastava's appointment as interim chief, alleging that he harassed other Dalit students too.

Right now, students on hunger strike are not even willing to speak to him (Srivastava). We are keen to break the impasseMaybe the second senior-most professor could be brought in, a senior faculty member privy to the proposal told The Indian Express.

Venkaiah Naidu says rivals trying to gain mileage

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday alleged that BJP's political rivals are trying to gain political mileage out of the tragedy instead of addressing the core issue.

"When an unfortunate incident happens, instead of condemning it, going into its roots as to why this unfortunate incident happened, why a youth lost his life, how the discrimination is to be eliminated, what are the changes to be made, what changes are to be brought in thinking, what changes are to be brought into the system, making it into a political pilgrimage and making it a tool of votebank politics (is condemnable), the world is looking at this amazed," he said.

BJP's political rivals are trying to gain political capital by trying to "defame" the government when such incidents (like alleged suicide of Rohith Vemula in HCU) happened, he alleged.

Taking a dig at Congress, he asked what did "those in power for 50-60 years" do for Dalits.

"When 10 or 20 students committed suicide then, had governments intervened, then the situation would not have come to this. Why did it not intervene then? People are asking those who are going on (political) pilgrimages now and making political speeches. But they do not have an answer," Naidu said.

Such parties are only trying to "hurt" the country's image by "polluting" social atmosphere, he charged.

"It is a challenge for us if somebody commits suicide due to caste discrimination. Everybody needs to introspect. All need to focus attention on how to change the system. 'Sarva Dharma Samabhavana' is our policy. Our (BJP) slogan is 'sab ke saath, sab ka vikas'," he said.

Alleging that "political intolerance" is the biggest challenge faced by the country, he said those who lost power have adopted a "4D or 5D" formula to defame the government.

"Disrupt-disrupting parliament, Delay-delaying laws, Defame-defaming government, Disinform-spreading misinformation to people," he said, speaking at the BJP office during Republic Day celebrations.

With Agencies
A group of women from Bhumata Ranragini Brigade, an organisation for women, was stopped from entering the Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra on Tuesday. The women were trying to enter the temple and end the practice of not allowing women to enter the inner sanctum of the shrine.

The 350 women activists were stopped by police in a village 70 km from the shrine as they tried to break a 400-year-old tradition banning women from entering its sacred sanctum.

The activists were also detained by the police but were released later on, reported PTI.

The moment the buses of activists under the banner of Bhumata Brigade reached Supa village, the volunteers led by its President Trupti Desai were disallowed from moving forward by scores of police personnel, who formed a ring to foil their march towards the famous temple.

"Today is a black day for women," Desai told Times Now as the protesters were stopped from entering the temple by the police. "The police are telling us we cannot go forward, but we will go forward," she further said. She also demanded to know why women were being discriminated against.

"This is brazen violation of the constitutional rights of women...We want to know from Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) why we have been stopped.. We will move ahead," Desai asserted.

In a tense showdown, the activists vehemently protested against the police action and raised slogans and lay down on the road, screaming "it is a black day for women on the Republic Day."

"Police has stopped around 350 women at Supa and necessary action will be taken against them," Additional Superintendent of Police, Pankaj Deshmukh told PTI.

Desai later also claimed that some women had, in fact, entered the temple.

Eventually, the protest intensified as the women refused to leave the area and said they will not leave the area until they are allowed inside the temple.

An angry Desai said she will do satyagraha and go on a hunger strike to protest against this ridiculous practice. "I will not even drink water," she said.

Squatting and lying on the highway along with other campaigners, she alleged that they were "manhandled" by the police personnel.

She urged the "young" Chief Minister to step in and take urgent measures to curb attempts and social mechanisms to suppress womens' voice and their empowerment.

"Why is this clash of egos even taking place? We are asking for our basic right to do darshan," said another protester.

Bhumata Ranragini Brigade had on Monday threatened to storm the famous Shani Shingnapur Temple in Ahmednagar  if need be, from the sky route even via a helicopter.

"We have already booked a helicopter and if we are not permitted to enter from the open ground, we shall drop ladders from the chopper and climb down. We are not scared of any security since women's rights are concerned," Desai had told IANS on Monday.

She had said around 1,500 women from all over Maharashtra shall troop down to the temple on Tuesday morning and offer prayers at the temple which is dedicated to Lord Shani and where women devotees are not permitted.

The unique open temple has no walls or roof. A self-emerged five-foot high black stone stands on a platform and is worshipped as Lord Shani.

The temple platform stands in the centre of the small village, also known as Sonai and attracts millions of tourists and devotees from across the country and abroad.

With agency inputs
Crying conspiracy and an RSS hand in the ongoing Arunachal Pradesh crisis, the Congress on Monday filed a petition in Supreme Court challenging the recommendation for Presidents rule in the state.

The recommendation to impose Presidents rule in Arunachal Pradesh reflects the intolerant mindset of the Union government. Cooperative federalism has been thrown into the dust bin and coercive federalism is the order of the day. The Union governments agenda is to destabilise all non-BJP governments through the office of the Governor. Arunachal Pradesh is just one such example, former Union minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said. He questioned the hurry of the NDA government in this matter when the matter is before the apex court.

Alleging it to be an RSS ploy, Sibal said, This crisis is the result of appointing governors who have been groomed by the RSS. Other governors have also, in a sense, trivialised the high office by acting as RSS Pracharaks and the long arm of the Union government. Never before in the history of India has a Governor abused his office to propagate a particular ideology. If the Union government, the BJP and the RSS continue to appoint governors with RSS credentials, our democratic fabric is in danger. The Modi government is the first such since Independence which has sought to throttle dissent and attack the liberal mindset. The Congress party will not allow Institutions to be misused to further the political ideology of the BJP and the RSS.

Sibal, who also is a counsel for the state government, targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi by calling him the fountainhead of political intolerance.

The Congress has further alleged that the Governors agenda was to help the 11 BJP MLAs along with 2 independent MLAs to create a constitutional crisis by not playing by the book and distorting the law. The decision of the Cabinet on 24 January recommending Presidents rule is mala fide. This recommendation suggests that the ruling dispensation in Delhi places the interest of the BJP in Arunachal Pradesh above the national interest, said Sibal.

Meanwhile, a delegation of senior Congress leaders led by Ghulam Nabi Azad met Pranab Mukherjee on the issue today.

We met the President and apprised him of the developments. He listened to us and we replied to his queries. Weve given him a memorandum on this issue. Well fight this out inside and outside Parliament, and in the court as well, Azad told the media after coming out of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Constitutional expert Dr Shubhash C Kashyap said, Governor is free to make recommendation for a President rule in the state and it depends on the Cabinet whether it accepts it or not. In the present case, the legitimacy of the Arunachal Pradesh government is in question. As per available reports, the present Arunachal Pradesh government doesnt enjoy support of the majority in the state assembly. In this context, the Governor can recommend Presidents rule.

The RSS has refuted the charges made by the Congress.

The RSS has nothing to do in this matter. Had the BJP wanted to form the government, it could have done it earlier on the basis of defection. Even last year these members had approached the BJP, but the latter didnt take a call. The BJP wants to form government in a democratic manner. The Congress is in a state of panic because if it loses Arunachal Pradesh it would virtually lose its base in the North-East, an RSS source told Firstpost.

Defending the Centre's move, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has reportedly said it was a constitutional process because the Assembly did not hold its session for more than six months.

This year on 21 January, the six-month time elapsed. President's Rule could have been imposed immediately but the matter is sub-judice and the decision is pending in Supreme Court. We do not have any role in the recommendation of President's Rule because it is a constitutional process, Rijiju reportedly remarked.

Prof Rakesh Sinha, honorary director, India Policy Foundation, added, The Congress is a victim of RSS phobia. As far Arunachal Pradesh is concerned, the Governor had no alternative than recommending Presidents rule. The Congress used all unfair means to pollute politics in NE in the last 60 years. Now people of NE are liberating themselves from old Congress politics and adopting nationalistic politics. This is hurting the Congress.
By Rakesh Bhatnagar

President Pranab Mukherjee took three long days to satisfy himself that the Modi cabinet decision recommending imposition of the central rule under Article 356 of the Constitution in Arunachal Pradesh, a sensitive border state governed by Congress, was based on legitimate grounds of break down of law and order machinery due to the 15 December political upset which allegedly reduced the ruling Congress to minority.

Soon after French president Francois Hollande departed from Delhi on completing three-day tour on Tuesday evening, President Mukherjee gave his nod to the surprise decision by Union cabinet on Sunday, recommending Presidents rule in Arunachal.

That Mukherjee didnt sign the papers immediately is evident from the fact that he followed strict cautious approach and inquired from Home minister Rajnath Singh as to why there was urgency in making the recommendation for the extreme measure under Article 356 and the circumstances under which the Union government felt that Arunachal was facing break down of constitutional and administrative machinery.

It is learnt that Rajnath Singh took pains in explaining all the circumstances that governor had narrated in his letter which recommended the imposition of central rule in Arunachal.

Mukherjee was also believed to be consulting some senior lawyers who have argued in different constitutional matters like the Bommai case, in the Bihar assembly dissolution 10 year ago when the then President Abdul Kalam had signed assent to the Manmohan Singh government decision for the Presidents rule in Bihar. Both the then governor of Bihar Buta Singh and Kalam suffered major indignation by a constitution bench of the Supreme Court that declared the imposition of Article 356 as unconstitutional and that the President had acted in a haste without application of mind in according assent to a politically motivated decision taken by Union cabinet.

Mukherjee was armed with the Bihar judgment and that of SR Bommai case verdict holding that strength of a duly elected government could only be tested on the floor of House and not in Raj Bhawan where a Governor resides.

The Modi cabinet acted on a letter by Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, a retired IAS officer who had been the Chief Secretary of Assam also. Unlike many governors appointed by the BJP dominated NDA government since May 2014, Rajkhowas isnt an RSS activist.

A senior lawyer who has long experience of making arguments in several cases emanating from constitutional crises says:The recommendation for dissolution of assembly can only be made a Governor who has been satisfied that a political party or a group which governs a state has lost the confidence vote in floor test."

But this test wasnt done in Arunachal. Yet the Governor made the recommendation to Union government for resorting to extraordinary measure, he said. Its a major lacuna which President Mukherjee may be concerned with," the eminent lawyer opined as he out-rightly declined to accept that he had also been consulted by President on this issue of grave importance.

Mukherjee didnt want to attract any flak from the Supreme Court that the President acted in haste and without application of mind. The top court is scheduled to hear on Wednesday a writ petition filed by the agitated Congress party challenging the decision taken by Modi government to impose the central rule in a state where it had a strong government.

During his decades long political life in which he has held several positions of utmost importance, Mukherjee is known to be well versed with the Constitution and his list of friends includes eminent lawyer such as Soli J Sorabjee, KK Venugopal, PP Rao, Ashok H Desai, TR Andhiyarujina and Harish N Salve among others.

Arunancal was gripped by a crisis on 16 December, after 21 rebel Congress legislators joined hands with 11 BJP and two independent members to "impeach" Speaker Nabam Rebia at a private place. The Congress alleges that Governor Rajkhowa acted as a "BJP agent" and helped its rebel MLAs by calling an assembly session a month ahead of its scheduled time on 15 December.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and the 26 lawmakers supporting him in the 60-member assembly boycotted the session calling it illegal and unconstitutional.

A day later, the rebels and opposition legislators met at a hotel to "vote out" the Chief Minister Tuki and elected his replacement.

A no-confidence motion moved by BJP and independent lawmakers was adopted in proceedings chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok, who is also a Congress rebel. All these parliamentary or legislative proceeding were conducted in a hotel.

The Gauhati High Court first put on hold the decisions taken at the rebel "session". As it dismissed the Speaker's petition later, he moved the Supreme Court, which has referred the case to a Constitution bench.

It may be recalled that on 8 October, 2005, the Supreme Court had declared unconstitutional the 23 May, 2005 Presidential Proclamation dissolving the Bihar Assembly.

The majority judgment by Chief Justice YK Sabharwal, Justices KG Balakrishnan, BN Agrawal, Ashok Bhan and Arijit Pasayat ruled that a proclamation under Article 356 is open to judicial review, but to a very limited extent.

Only when the power is exercised mala fide or is based on wholly extraneous or irrelevant grounds, the power of judicial review can be exercised.

While declaring imposition of Article 356 in Bihar unconstitutional, judges had held that Governor Buta Singh recommended dissolution on the ground that the majority projected had its foundation on unethical and corrupt means which had been and were being adopted to cobble a majority.

It has become imperative and necessary that right persons are chosen as Governors if the sanctity of the post as the Head of the Executive of a State is to be maintained, the top court had recommended.

The principles enshrined in Bommai judgment in 1994 ought to guide Speakers, governors and President and any deviance from them could boomerang on them as had been done with Kalam.

It stipulated that the majority enjoyed by a Council of Ministers shall be tested on the floor of the House.

The Centre should give a warning to the state and a time period of one week to reply before resorting to Article 356.

The court cannot question the advice tendered by the council of ministers to the President but it can question the material behind the satisfaction of the President.

Hence, Judicial Review will involve three questions only if there was any relevant material behind the proclamation and was there any mala fide use of power. Third, if there was improper use of Article 356, then the court will provide remedy.

Under Article 356(3), it is the limitation on the powers of the President. Hence, the President shall not take any irreversible action until the proclamation is approved by the Parliament i.e. he shall not dissolve the assembly.

Imposition of Article 356 could be justified only when there is a breakdown of constitutional machinery and not administrative machinery. This provision shall be used sparingly by the centre, otherwise it is likely to destroy the constitutional structure between the centre and the states, the apex court had warned. Even Dr Ambedkar envisaged it to remain a 'dead letter' in the Constitution.
The Bharatiya Janata Partys search for a new president for the Uttar Pradesh unit is likely to be delayed further on account of cross-currents in the state unit and the expected reshuffle in the Union Cabinet. This is now causing unease among the party workers and state-level leaders as the party appears to be losing out in the preparation for the 2017 State Assembly election.

Even though party leaders say that the naming of the new state president is delayed by only a few months, the exercise is clouded by many factors. First, the sudden prominence given to former Chief Minister Kalyan Singhs visit to Lucknow a few weeks ago suggested that it was meant to test the waters before projecting the present-day Rajasthan Governor as a face of the party in UP  in whichever capacity.

Then came the deliberate comment by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 22 January visit to Lucknow at the fag-end of his address, in which he thanked the people of Lucknow for electing Rajnath Singh as their MP, who, Modi added, was doing a great job as the countrys Home Minister. Also noticeable was the prominence given to the Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma during Modis programme.

Now, the reports doing the rounds within the party in UP suggest that the new president could well be from a hardcore Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background, especially in view of the reducing time for 2017 election.

The term of the present state BJP president Lakshmikant Bajpayee, an MLA from Meerut, ended in November 2015 and as per the formality of an election, the party named an election officer  Satya Narayan Jatiya of Madhya Pradesh - to supervise the election of the new president.

The election of the new president was delayed because of the Panchayat elections in UP but now, since the national president Amit Shah has also taken over, the new president will be named very soon, said Vijay Bahadur Pathak, the state BJP spokesman.

However, despite the technicalities, the names that have been doing the rounds include those of state general secretary Swatantra Deo Singh, Agra MP and Union minister Ram Shankar Katheria, OBC leader Dharam Pal and Lucknow mayor Dinesh Sharma. However, according to sources within the RSS and the state BJP, even though the final choice will be a consensus name with a nod from both Modi and Shah, a firm RSS background could surely be considered in view of the huge networking required for the election preparations. It is only someone with a RSS background who can use a network to the partys advantage, and we cannot rely merely on caste considerations now, said a RSS functionary in Lucknow.

Incidentally, SP Shahi, a Bhumihar, was the president from 2010 to 2012, followed by the Brahmin Lakshmikant Bajpayee. At present, while a veteran leader from Rajasthan Om Mathur is the in-charge of UP, an Amit Shah confidant Sunil Bansal is a powerful general secretary in the UP BJP.

A report said the expected Union Cabinet reshuffle could delay the announcement of the new state president as some members of the present Cabinet could be named state party presidents, while some office-bearers in states could be accommodated in the Union Cabinet.

This is what is causing anxiety among party workers who feel the time for campaigning throughout this vast state would be too less if the new team in the state took over in March or so. The state needs a dynamic leader who has to form a new team and then take it together towards 2017, said KK Pandey, a former secretary of the state BJP.

Interestingly, a recent campaign was also launched some days ago to seek support for giving this responsibility to senior party leader Sanjay Joshi. He has visited Lucknow many times in the one year and each time a large gathering of party workers and leaders greeted him and gathered at the house where he stayed.

Joshi, a former BJP national general secretary with a strong RSS background, does not hold an official position in BJP and has been sidelined since 2012 because of reported differences with Modi. However, Joshi remains popular among a section of party workers and has an excellent rapport with many RSS leaders.

With reports from Delhi suggesting that Amit Shah has taken the initiative of meeting party veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, it is being speculated whether other marginalised party leaders will also be approached in view of the tough challenge in UP. The projection of Kalyan Singh  despite his denial to play a role in UP  and the prominence to Rajnath  again, despite his repeated denial to return to UP  are seen in this context.

With Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his Samajwadi Party having started poll preparations in right earnest, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj party too has started the exercise of identifying and deploying leaders across the state for election preparation. It is only the BJP which appears over-confident in winning 2017 merely on Modis magic.
OTTAWA Canada's new Liberal government said on Monday it was delivering a "tough message" to Israel as a good friend after expressing concern about Israeli-Palestinian violence, Israeli settlements and unilateral Palestinian moves.

The statement came a day after Foreign Minister Stephane Dion was criticized for saying Palestinian initiatives towards statehood in international forums and continued Israeli settlements were unhelpful.

"We're steadfast allies and good friends, and good friends can occasionally deliver tough messages, but it's by no means to suggest that we're somehow retreating from any kind of support of Israel," said Joe Pickerill, Dion's spokesman.

Dion on Sunday had issued a statement expressing concern about the Israeli conflict, sparking charges by the Conservative opposition that the Liberal government was being unfairly critical of Israel.

"As a steadfast ally and friend to Israel, Canada calls for all efforts to be made to reduce violence and incitement and to help build the conditions for a return to the negotiating table," Dion said in the statement on Sunday.

His spokesman, Joe Pickerill, elaborated on Monday by saying that Canada was not trying to create a "faux balance" by equating violence by either side, but felt the need to speak out.

"We're not necessarily equating the violence by any means on both sides, but there have been issues, and we need to be in a position to point that out," Pickerill said after more than 100 days of violence between the two sides.

Dion's statement drew a swift attack from the Conservative Party, which had adopted a resolutely pro-Israel policy while in power, for not laying blame "for recent terrorist rocket and knife attacks with Hamas, a listed terrorist organization in Canada."

The Conservatives, who lost the October election to the Liberals, said that by omission, the statement "equates such terrorist attacks with Israeli settlement construction. This is unacceptable."

(Reporting by Randall Palmer; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

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ROME Italy and Iran signed billions of dollars of business deals on Monday at the start of a visit to Europe by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani aimed at rebuilding his nation's ties with the West after years of economic sanctions.

Heading a 120-strong delegation of business leaders and ministers, Rouhani will spend two days in Rome before flying to France on Wednesday, looking to polish Tehran's diplomatic credentials at a time of turmoil in the Middle East.

An Italian government source said the Iranians would sign up to 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion) worth of deals in sectors from energy to infrastructure and from steel to shipbuilding.

"This is just the beginning of a journey. There are sectors where we must work closer together," Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said, standing alongside Rouhani.

"I am sure this visit will be a fundamental part of our ability to overcome together the challenge of fighting terrorism, atrocity and evil that we all have to confront together," Renzi added, referring specifically to Islamic State militants, who oppose Iran and the West in equal measure.

Rouhani had originally been due to visit Europe in November but cancelled the trip after an Islamic State attack on Paris, which killed 130 people.

"We have always been in the front line against terrorism ... we have to continue (cooperating with Italy) to secure a genuine peace in Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Libya," the Iranian president said, speaking through a translator.

Many Western nations have accused Iran of funding various militant groups, and despite a landmark nuclear deal between world powers and Tehran last year, the United States is keeping some of its financial sanctions in place because of the alleged links and human rights abuses.

This will complicate Iran's full return to international markets, but judging by the Italian and French businesses lining up to clinch deals there is an enormous appetite in Europe to revive old trade ties and boost the sluggish economy.

ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS

A pragmatist elected in 2013, Rouhani championed the 2015 accord under which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in return for the end of U.N., EU and some U.S. sanctions this month.

He is anxious to bring Western knowhow and products back home to prove to Iranians that the accord, contested by many hardliners, will help ease their prolonged economic hardships.

Iran announced plans at the weekend to buy more than 160 European planes, mainly from Airbus (AIRP.PA).

Among the deals struck on Monday were a pipeline contract worth between $4 billion and $5 billion for oil services group Saipem (SPMI.MI), up to 5.7 billion euros in contracts for Italian steel firm Danieli (DANI.MI) and up to 4 billion euros of business for infrastructure firm Condotte d'Acqua.

Italian business leaders, including the heads of oil firm Eni (ENI.MI) and carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCHA.MI), attended a dinner for Rouhani on Monday. At the request of the Iranians, no wine was to be served. France refused the same request so there will be no state dinner for Rouhani in Paris.

While Italy was not involved in the prolonged nuclear talks, France was, and it took a hard line towards Tehran in the negotiations. It has also been outspoken in its condemnation of Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and sceptical of the country's other Middle East interventions.

This is likely to make Rouhani's visit to France later this week more prickly than his stay in Italy.

"Trust needs to be built. It's like love. It is only the proof of love that counts," said a senior French diplomat.

The boss of oil group Total (TOTF.PA), Patrick Pouyanne, is among top French executives who are expected to hold one-on-one meetings with Rouhani.

The Iranian leader is due to address up to 500 Italian business leaders on Tuesday before meeting Pope Francis, who is likely to discuss peace prospects for the Middle East and raise the question of human rights in Iran.

(This version of the story repeats to fix typo in headline)

(Writing by Crispian Balmer; additional reporting by Massimiliano Di Giorgio, Stephen Jewkes, Isla Binnie, John Irish and Bate Felix; editing by Alison Williams)

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UNITED NATIONS The United Nations Security Council should place an arms embargo on South Sudan, while the oil-rich country's President Salva Kiir and a rebel leader qualify to be sanctioned over atrocities committed in a two-year civil war, U.N. sanctions monitors said in an annual report.

The confidential report by a U.N. panel that monitors the conflict in South Sudan for the Security Council stated that Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar are still completely in charge of their forces and are therefore directly to blame for killing civilians and other actions that warrant sanctions. A copy of the report was seen by Reuters on Monday.

The 15-member Security Council has long-threatened to impose an arms embargo, but veto power Russia, backed by council member Angola, has been reluctant to support such an action. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on Monday that he was concerned that an arms embargo would be one-sided because it would be easier to enforce on the government.

A political dispute between Kiir and Machar, who was once Kiir's deputy, sparked the civil war. But it has widened and reopened ethnic fault lines between Kiir's Dinka and Machar's Nuer people. More than 10,000 people have been killed.

The panel wrote that "there is clear and convincing evidence that most of the acts of violence committed during the war, including the targeting of civilians ... have been directed by or undertaken with the knowledge of senior individuals at the highest levels of the Government and within the opposition."

However, they said the government appears to have been responsible for a larger share of the bloodshed in the country in 2015.

"While civilians have been and continue to be targeted by both sides, including because of their tribal affiliation, the panel has determined that, in contrast to 2014, the government has been responsible for the vast majority of human rights violations committed in South Sudan (since March 2015)," the U.N.'s panel coordinator Payton Knopf told the Security Council sanctions committee on Jan. 14, according to prepared remarks circulated to council members.

The South Sudan mission to the United Nations in New York was not immediately available to comment on the report.

U.N. peacekeepers in South Sudan are also "regularly attacked, harassed, detained, intimidated and threatened," the report said.

The conflict in South Sudan, whose 2011 secession from Sudan had long enjoyed the support of the United States, has torn apart the world's youngest country. The U.N. panel reported that some 2.3 million people have been displaced since war broke out in December 2013, while some 3.9 million face severe food shortages.

The U.N. report described how Kiir's government bought at least four Mi-24 attack helicopters in 2014 from a private Ukrainian company at a cost of nearly $43 million.

"They have been vital in providing an important advantage in military operations, have facilitated the expansion of the war and have emboldened those in the Government who are seeking a military solution to the conflict at the expense of the peace process," according to the report.

Knopf told the council that Machar's rebels were now trying to "acquire shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to counter the threat of attack helicopters, specifically citing the need to continue and indeed escalate the fighting."

Both sides signed a peace deal in August but have consistently broken a ceasefire, while human rights violations have "continued unabated and with full impunity," the panel wrote.

According to the report, those violations include extrajudicial killings, torture, sexual violence, extrajudicial arrest and detention, abductions, forced displacement, the use and recruitment of children, beatings, looting and the destruction of livelihoods and homes.

The panel said that almost every attack on a village by the warring parties involved the rape and abduction of women and girls and that "all parties deliberately use rape as a tactic of war, often in gruesome incidents of gang rape."

Knopf told the council committee that the human cost of the war was comparable to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen relative to South Sudan's population of 12 million. And he said there was "a real risk of even larger scale mass atrocities within South Sudan."

The panel asked the council to blacklist "high-level decision makers responsible for the actions and policies that threaten the peace, security and stability of the country."

The names of the individuals the panel recommend for sanctions in the form of an international travel ban and asset freeze were not included in the body of the report.

(Reporting by Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols; Editing by Toni Reinhold)

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The water scandal in Flint, Michigan has many of the ingredients for a mass, class-action lawsuit: danger signs that may have been ignored, many thousands of potential victims, the possibility of lifelong health problems, and the alleged systemic failure of people in charge.

Even consumer activist Erin Brockovich, the main subject of a 2000 movie named after her, has drawn attention to Flint's plight on her Facebook page and in public appearances.

But big-name, national plaintiffs' firms have yet to jump into the fray in Flint, which has a population of about 100,000.

What's holding them back, several lawyers said, is not the facts or the victims, but the prospective targets: The State of Michigan, the city of Flint, and officials at various levels of government. Special legal protections make it difficult to hold governments liable for damages, they said.

Federal and state governments and employees engaged in their official duties are shielded from most private lawsuits by a legal doctrine known as sovereign immunity. The doctrine, enshrined in the laws of many countries, stems from the centuries-old principle that the government itself cannot commit a legal wrong, though exceptions have evolved.

While cities in the U.S. are not technically considered to have sovereign status, they are similarly protected by state and federal laws.

As of Friday, only a few lawsuits had been filed in the wake of the crisis that began when the city began in April 2014 to use river water, which was more corrosive than its previous supply source and caused lead to leach from aging pipes into the water that people drank and washed in.

Those suits were filed against the state, city, and various state employees by a group of Michigan lawyers who are pushing relatively novel theories designed to circumvent immunity. The financially troubled city was governed by a state-appointed emergency manager at the time of the change to the river water.

A spokeswoman for Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette declined to comment on the lawsuits. The Flint City Attorney's Office did not return calls seeking comment.

The legal scene couldn't be more different in Southern California, where several big, national law firms are behind some of more than 25 suits filed over a disastrous natural gas leak near Los Angeles that has forced thousands of residents from their homes since October.

The targets of those suits are the utility Southern California Gas Co and its parent company Sempra Energy (SRE.N), the non-government operators of the leaking gas storage facility. A state court in Los Angeles is currently considering a motion to coordinate the cases.

"THEY POISONED KIDS"

Frank Petosa, head of complex environmental litigation at Florida's Morgan & Morgan, which is representing residents in the California case in multiple lawsuits, said the firm decided against litigating in Flint for now.

"The concern is the sovereign immunity," Petosa said.

Robin Greenwald of New York plaintiffs firm Weitz & Luxenberg, which is also representing plaintiffs in California, agreed that immunity was an obstacle in Flint. But she did not rule out getting involved in some way.

I really believe there must be something to do here, she said. There must be an opportunity for that community to be compensated. They poisoned kids.

Tests have shown an alarming rise in the levels of lead in the blood of children from the city.

The crisis has led to the resignations of several officials, federal and state investigations, and widespread concerns that a potential health crisis in a largely poor, majority African-American city had been ignored. Officials had insisted the water was safe for many months despite concerns expressed by residents and activists after the change in the source of the supply.

Sovereign immunity does not apply if the government or an employee infringes on the U.S. constitution, as in, for example, cases where police have allegedly violated someones civil rights. It also may not apply if the plaintiff can show there was gross negligence. Michigan law, however, shields the state's topmost officials - including the governor, agency heads and Flint's emergency manager - even in cases of gross negligence.

There are other exceptions to immunity, such as injuries involving government-owned vehicles or buildings, but they are typically spelled out in state and federal laws and not applicable to the water crisis, lawyers said.

Undaunted by the high bar, a coalition of Michigan lawyers is pursuing creative arguments on behalf of what one of them, William Goodman of Detroit's Goodman & Hurwitz, said could be as many as 30,000 to 90,000 residents.

"We're zigging and zagging around government immunity," said another of the lawyers, Michael Pitt, of Royal Oak, Michigan's Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers.

STATE-CREATED DANGER

One of the Flint lawsuits, filed in November against the state and local governments and various officials in U.S. district court in Ann Arbor, makes a federal constitutional argument. It contends that the decision to switch the water source denied residents their civil rights to bodily integrity and to be free from state-created danger. The state's response is due next month.

Pitt said he was aware of no federal appeals court that had addressed such claims in a comparable situation, but a similar suit over asbestos in public housing is currently pending in a Philadelphia trial court.

The Flint lawyers announced two other lawsuits this month. One, filed in the Michigan Court of Claims against the governor and state agencies, alleges state constitutional violations. The other, filed in Genesee County Circuit Court, targets lower-level officials who are not protected by Michigan's immunity laws if they are shown to have acted with gross negligence.

In all three cases, the plaintiffs are seeking damages for alleged health problems from the water. In the federal case, they also are seeking punitive damages, which are barred in Michigan state courts.

"We're going to continue to fight until we get what we need," said former Flint City Attorney Trachelle Young, one of the lawyers in the group.

Jean Eggen, a professor at Delaware Law School specializing in environmental law, said all the Flint lawyers' legal arguments would be challenging but maybe not impossible. In her view a "forward-thinking" judge might be open to the constitutional arguments.

But Peter Hsiao, the Los Angeles-based head of the environment practice at global law firm Morrison & Foerster, who has represented California agencies and municipalities against environmental lawsuits seeking to circumvent sovereign immunity, said those cases were all dismissed by judges before trial. "I think in Flint theyll have the same difficulties," Hsiao said.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Anthony Lin, Amy Stevens and Lisa Girion)

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Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia on Tuesday said the metal debris which washed up on a beach on Thailand's southern coast was not from Flight MH370 that disappeared mysteriously about two years ago. The admission by the officials dashes hopes of families seeking a closure to the fate of the 239 people on board the plane.

Malaysia's transport ministry said the team of experts sent to Thailand found that the debris  covered in barnacles and measuring two metres wide and three metres long  did not match those of the missing MH370. "From their detailed report, they have ascertained that the part assembly number, wire bundle number and bolts part number do not match those of a Boeing 777," said the transport ministry in a statement.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the part numbers found on the recovered debris were not listed in the MAS B777 Illustrated Parts Catalogue manual.

"Based on these identifying details, the team has confirmed that the debris does not belong to a B777 9M-MRO aircraft (MH370)," Liow said in the statement.

A large piece of curved metal had washed ashore in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in Thailand on Saturday where villagers reported it to authorities, stirring speculation that the debris may be part of MH370 that vanished on March 8, 2014 with 239 people - including five Indians - on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Investigators believe the plane went down in a remote part of the Indian Ocean. But the cause of the disappearance remains a mystery.

In July 2015, a two-metre-long flaperon wing part washed up on a beach on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion and was confirmed to be from the flight, marking the first concrete evidence that it crashed.

Nothing has been found since, despite more than 80,000 square kilometres of the seafloor being searched, based on satellite analysis of the jet's likely trajectory after it diverted from its flight path.

Speculation on the cause of the plane's disappearance has focused primarily on a possible mechanical or structural failure, a hijacking or terror plot, or rogue pilot action.

"We will continue to keep the next of kin and public updated on any latest developments of MH370. We remain committed to continue the ongoing search in the southern Indian Ocean," minister Liow said.

On Sunday, he said that the search for the missing plane is ongoing in the Indian Ocean and its second phase is expected to be completed by June.

Australia has led a multinational search that has so far cost more than USD 120 million.

PTI
SARAJEVO A Bosnian tycoon and head of a party in the ruling coalition was arrested on Monday on suspicion of obstructing justice, just weeks before the Balkan country is expected formally to apply for European Union membership.

Fahrudin Radoncic is a former owner of Bosnia's largest newspaper, Dnevni Avaz, and leader of the co-ruling Union for Better Future (SBB) party.

His arrest follows that of two other SBB officials this month on suspicion of intimidating a witness in the high-profile trial in Kosovo of accused Balkan drug lord Naser Kelmendi..

Party officials said the arrest, in connection with the same trial, was carried out by individuals from a "judicial mafia".

It was unclear what ramifications his arrest might have for the ruling coalition, which is just weeks away from applying for Bosnian membership of the European Union, two decades after the end of a 1992-95 war.

The fall-out might be limited if he is freed from police detention after 24 hours of questioning, before any trial some time in the future. The prosecution could ask for one month's detention, as was the case with other two officals arrested.

Kelmendi was arrested in Kosovo in 2013 on a Bosnian warrant over his alleged involvement in organised crime and the 2007 killing of former Bosnian warlord Ramiz Delalic but was not handed over to Bosnia because of the lack of an extradition accord between the two countries.

He is on trial in Kosovo on charges of trafficking drugs, organised crime and the murder of Delalic.

Police said they raided several other locations for evidence, including the building where the Dnevni Avaz offices are located.

The newspaper's editors condemned the raid by armed police as "a brutal pressure on media freedom and an attempt of intimidation".

The State Investigation and Protection Agency said the target of the raid was not the newspaper but offices used by Radoncic in the same building.

Several high-ranking Bosnian government officials have been tried for organised crime and corruption but there have been no convictions so far.

(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Alison Williams)

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WASHINGTON The Washington, D.C., area slowly moved toward normal operation on Tuesday with improved transportation but federal offices remained closed after a deadly weekend blizzard on the U.S. East Coast.

District of Columbia city government and some local governments in the Washington-Baltimore region reopened after around-the-clock cleanup from the weekend snowstorm, which killed at least 35 people in 10 states and the U.S. capital.

Washington's downtown had light traffic and few pedestrians although many streets had been cleared from curb to curb, and sidewalks still were being shoveled. Washington joined Baltimore, Philadelphia and suburban districts in keeping public schools closed.

Temperatures forecast to reach about 45 Fahrenheit (7 Celsius) were expected to help Washington's cleanup.

Devon Brewster, 27, a restaurant server, said he had no problem finding a downtown parking spot. He said the federal government could have opened even though the cleanup from more than 2 feet (60 cm) of snow was continuing.

"It's government. They get plenty of days off a year. Good for them," he said. "Maybe we should all work for the government."

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been idled or working from home since offices closed at noon on Friday ahead of the storm.

The House of Representatives called off all votes until next week. The Senate canceled votes scheduled for Tuesday.

Stephen Fuller, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University, said the Washington area's $500 billion economy would see slight impact from the storm. Local governments already had budgeted for bad weather and two days of lost work out of a year is negligible, he said.

New York City was close to normalcy after a snowfall that fell just short of a record. Public schools and the New York Stock Exchange were open.

Washington's Metro subway system, the second-busiest in the United States, was shut down Saturday and Sunday but was running with slower service on almost all lines Tuesday, although the Silver Line in Virginia still shut down. Bus services were on a "severe snow" schedule.

Maryland's commuter rail line resumed limited service but Virginia's remained shut down.

The Federal Aviation Administration said airlines were returning to regular schedules but high winds and rain could contribute to delays from Washington to Boston.

About 700 U.S. flights were canceled on Tuesday with the worst-hit airports Newark Liberty and Washington Dulles, according to Flightaware.com, an air travel website.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Additional reporting by Victoria Cavaliere; Editing by Bill Trott)

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Geneva: UN-sponsored Syrian peace talks scheduled to start today will now begin here on Friday and will likely continue over six months, the UN said today. "There have been different, very different opinions and positions regarding the list of invitations. That has been the issue, the stalemate, so far," said the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura.

"And the date in which we are aiming at having the beginning of the Intra-Syrian talks is 29 January," he said of the peace talks that will be held in the UN's European headquarters in Geneva.

The UN-sponsored talks, earlier scheduled to start on Monday were re-scheduled after disagreements among the 17-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG) on who should represent the Syrian opposition.

The ISSG includes countries like the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and China. The talks are structured as "proximity talks" spread over six months, on a "staggered, chronological, proximity approach".

The Security Council had passed a resolution in December last year that supports international efforts to seek a political solution in Syria and recognised the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) as the main body dealing with the Syria peace process. The resolution also calls for a ceasefire between the regime and its opposition in Syria in six months. The talks will aim at a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition  objectives of which include credible, inclusive governance within six months, scheduling the drafting of a new Constitution and free and fair elections within 18 months of drafting the Constitution.

But the immediate focus of the talks would be a broad ceasefire.

"However, the first priority will be the focus of the talks of what most Syrians, if not all, want to hear - the possibility of a broad ceasefire and the possibility of stopping the threat of the Islamic State (IS). And, therefore, thanks to the broad ceasefire, an increase in humanitarian aid," de Mistura said. Though al-Nusra and IS  two deadly groups unleashing terror in Syria  will not be a part of the talks, "but there are plenty of other suspensions of fighting that can take place" if a ceasefire is actually agreed upon, the UN envoy for Syria said.

The first part of the talks will last for two or three weeks after which a date for the next round of talks will be decided. The UN official said that he will start issuing invitations for the talks tomorrow but refused to comment on the specifics of the invitations - the issue has been a major point of contention, particularly, between the US and Russia. The deadly civil war in Syria, now in its fifth year, has had catastrophic humanitarian consequences.

The UNHCR has recorded 4.5 million registered Syrian refugees including 2.1 million Syrians in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, 1.9 million Syrians registered by Turkey, and more than 26,700 Syrian refugees registered in North Africa. Additionally, the war has internally displaced 7.6 million people within the boundaries of their beleaguered homeland. The protracted crisis in the West Asian nation has been a major cause for pushing up global forced displacement numbers to exceed 60 million last year - the largest movement of people seen since the Second World War.

Though the lion's share of the refugee burden is being shared by the neighbouring countries of Syria, many refugees have chosen to undertake perilous journeys in un-seaworthy boats to reach European shores through Greece and Italy sparking furious political debates in the continent.

PTI
Washington: Prominent yoga guru Bikram Choudhury has been asked to pay $924,500 as compensatory damages to his former lawyer by a US court over allegations that he sexually harassed her and fired her for probing claims of abuse made by other women against him.

The plaintiff, in her lawsuit, claimed that she suffered gender discrimination, wrongful termination and sexual harassment while working for 69-year-old Choudhury, the founder of Bikram Yoga.

Los Angeles jury on Monday deliberated for about a day, before returning with a unanimous verdict in favour of the plaintiff.

During testimony, Choudhury strongly denied allegations of sexual assault against him.

Choudhury described accusations of mistreatment and abuse of employees as "lies" and "big lies."

"I don't do that," he testified. "I don't have to."

Choudhury said the plaintiff, who used to be employed as Choudhury's lawyer, was let go in 2013 because she did not have a license to practice law in the United States, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The jury found that Choudhury acted with malice, oppression and fraud  findings that allow the plaintiff to seek punitive damages, the daily said.

The plaintiff claimed that Choudhury persuaded her to leave India to work for him as his general counsel in 2011.

During her employment, she alleged, Choudhury repeatedly sexually harassed her and subjected her to obscene comments.

The lawyer alleged that she was fired in 2013 after she attempted to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Choudhury, including allegations of rape by one of his female students.

Mark Quigley, who along with attorney Carla Minnard represented the plaintiff, after the jury's decision said, "She faced retaliation and intimidation when she refused to stay silent about witnessing illegal behaviour."

"This verdict sends an important message, that speaking out when you see signs of sexual abuse is the right thing to do," Quigley said.

Choudhury's lawyer, Robert Tafoya, declined to comment after the verdict.

The plaintiff's lawsuit is one of multiple cases of alleged sexual assault filed against Choudhury, who built a yoga empire in the US after moving to California in 1971.

Choudhury gained millions of followers through his style of yoga, which consists of a series of 26 poses, done over 90 minutes in a room heated to 104 degrees.

Six other women in recent years have sued Choudhury, alleging that he sexually assaulted or harassed them.

PTI
Are you a certified food addict? Fret not! Food Network gathered 7 food vices that are actually good for you! These gulity pleasures are supposed to be guilt free after all!

1. Cheese

In case you missed it, there is a study that concluded that cheese can possibly kill cancer cells in the body! Researchers from the University of Michigan tested a preservative found in cheese called 'nisin' that help reduce tumors in mice, considering the possibility that it will have the same effect on humans. Keep your fingers crossed, cheese lover!

RELATED: Study: Cheese Can Kill Cancer Cells

2. Champagne

It just not brings pops every new year celebration, a weekly consumption of champagne can do wonders to your mental health. According to a study by researchers from Reading University in 2013, regular champagne drinking "help delay the onset of degenerative brain disorders, such as dementia". So, cheers, everyone!

3. Coffee

Did you know that drinking a cup of coffee three to five times a day is associated to lower morality? Plus a lot more wonders coffee does to your body!

SEE: 7 More Exuses to Drink More Coffee

4. Beer

A 110-year old woman named Agnes Fenton credits beer as one of the reasons of her long life span. She said she drank 3 beers (and whiskey) every single day, for at least 70 years! If that wont make you grab a bottle now, studies have also shown that beer makes our bones stronger, plus prevent formation of kidney stones and boost our heart strength! We wonder why beer isn't one of the super foods yet.

5. Peanut Butter

Are you a PB addict? Well, that's a good thing! Peanuts, on their own, are super rich in protein plus a lot more minerals such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorous and zinc. Also, studies have shown possible effects of peanut butter that lowers the risk of heart disease and decreases blood pressure.

6. Grilled Cheese

This snack may be the ultimate comfort food, but did you know it could give your ehem, sex life, some bonuses too? A recent study found out that people who loves eating grilled cheese have more sex than those who dislike the treat.

7. Red Wine

This may be the best thing that happened to the weight loss process. Studies have been linking red wine consumption with shedding the extra pounds.

RELATED: The Sirt Diet: Boosting Health and Aiding Weight loss through Red Wine and Chocolates
A disturbingly large portion of the United States extensive commuter and freight rail system lacks crucial Positive Train Control technology designed to avert deadly high-speed accidents. Even with the recent extension of Congress implementation deadline from Dec. 31, 2015 to the end of 2018, the U.S. rail industry is scrambling to develop and install the safety systems before another crash occurs.

Positive Train Control, or PTC, is a safety system intended to prevent train collisions and derailments by automatically slowing locomotives traveling at excessive rates of speed. Congress formally ordered the rail industry to implement PTC in 2008 after a deadly head-on collision between two trains in California killed 25 and left more than 100 injured.

Public calls for PTC gained momentum in May 2015 after the National Transportation Safety Board said the system could have prevented an Amtrak train derailment that killed eight passengers near Philadelphia. The NTSB has placed nationwide installation of PTC at the top of its 2016 Most Wanted list of transportation safety improvements.

U.S. rail operators have fallen woefully short of Congress lofty goals for the implementation of PTC, despite spending billions of dollars to address the issue. As of Dec. 31, 2015, a mere 14% of the more than 60,000 route miles targeted under the federal governments original mandate were PTC-enabled, according to the American Association of Railroads, a national trade organization. Just 31% percent of 22,066 locomotives had the necessary equipment, while just 27% of the 114,515 employees were sufficiently PTC-trained.

Over the last 46 years, the National Transportation Safety Board estimates PTC technology could have prevented 145 railroad accidents, saved an estimated 300 lives and averted more than 6,700 injuries to passengers. Without PTC in place, critics warn that the U.S. transportation system is at great risk for a deadly passenger train crash or freight rail oil spill.

Every PTC-preventable accident, death and injury on tracks and trains affected by the law will be a direct result of the missed 2015 deadline and the delayed implementation of this life-saving technology, NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart said earlier this month in a press release.

As public concern about the safety of Americas railroads has increased, federal authorities have stepped up efforts to sanction operators for violations. The Federal Railroad Administration identified 6,485 safety infractions and collected $15 million in fines through the end of its 2015 fiscal year last September, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Late last year, several major railroads threatened a service shutdown if Congress would not extend its original PTC deadline. An FRA report released in August found that most passenger and freight operators would not be able to meet the deadline. Eventually, Congress bowed to the pressure, voting in October to extend the PTC deadline to 2018.

Under the revised mandate, rail operators can also be granted an additional two years to complete final testing of their systems, provided they meet certain baseline standards for infrastructure installation by 2018. FRA officials warn theres no guarantee that every rail company will be eligible for the extension.

Positive Train Control prevents accidents and saves lives. Thats why the Federal Railroad Administration has supported its implementation for many years. And it is why FRA is disappointed that most railroads would have missed the original year-end deadline that Congress established, FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg said in a statement to FOXBusiness.com. The new deadlinethree years from nowshould be viewed as the absolute last moment for Positive Train Control to be activated. Railroads should make it their goal to beat the deadline by as much as possible, and as safely and efficiently as possible.

Rail industry executives and lobbyists warned Congress for years that the December 2015 deadline was unrealistic. PTC systems had to developed from scratch by each company, said AAR spokesman Ed Greenberg. The freight rail industry has already spent more than $6 billion on PTC, with final costs expected to be in the $9 billion to $10 billion range.

Even with that spending, the rail industry struggled to develop systems that can successfully carry out their function during testing, let alone in real-world situations. Operators are still seeing failure rates of up to 40% while testing PTC in labs and designated areas of track.

Positive Train Control is a complex, step-by-step process, both in terms of safety engineering and implementation, Greenberg said. And then you add in the magnitude of installing and implementing a brand-new technology across about 60,000 route miles of track and ensuring that its not only fully operational but interoperable between a number of different rail systems. The challenge has been extreme.

Commuter rail company Amtrak has spent more than $110 million on Positive Train Control since 2000, company spokesman Craig Schulz told FOXBusiness.com. As of December 2015, PTC technology was enabled on 393 of 400 Amtrak-owned route miles in the Northeast Corridor. Moreover, the life-saving technology has been implemented on about 237 route miles since the May 12 derailment outside Philadelphia.

We had always intended to and planned to meet that original federal deadline, Schulz said. That was always our goal and we were absolutely committed to that and on schedule for that.

Leading freight operator CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) expects to complete installation of necessary PTC gear on its 21,000 miles of track and 3,900 locomotives before the 2018 federal deadline, though the system wont be fully operational until 2020, according to CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle. CSX spent $1.5 billion on PTC through the end of 2015 and plans to spend an additional $700 million through 2020.

Safety is CSXs highest priority, and CSX is fully committed to deploying an interoperable Positive Train Control (PTC) system on the affected areas of our network as soon as we can safely do so, Doolittle said.

The AAR stressed that U.S. trains have various safety measures in place to prevent accidents, and that PTC is overlay system meant to avert disaster if all other protocols fail. The industry is committed to having PTC fully operational across all 60,000 route miles by 2020.

Its our position that safety cant be rushed, Greenberg said.
Whether its The Wolf of Wall Street or the upcoming Money Monster, finance themed films and television shows are getting their chance on the big screen. The Big Short, a film that examines the housing mortgage meltdown in the run up to the 2008 financial crisis, is nominated for five Academy Awards this year, while Showtimes (NYSE:CBS) newest original series Billions, following the cat and mouse chase between a hedge fund king and a Wall Street crusading U.S. Attorney, snagged its best ratings ever for a series premiere with the show.

Historically though, the Wall Street genre has focused on the excesses of banking culture like trips to strip clubs, rampant drug use and male dominated workplaces. But thats likely to change with the premiere of a new film called Equity.

Premiering today at the Sundance Film Festival, Equity, pegged as the first female-driven Wall Street film, is generating huge buzz both on the Street and in Hollywood. FOXBusiness.com caught up with Alysia Reiner (of the Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) series Orange Is The New Black) and Sarah Megan Thomas, the films two creators who also have leading roles in the production, fresh off the news that Sony Pictures Classics had purchased the worldwide rights to their film.

Equity stars Breaking Bads Anna Gunn as a senior investment banker leading a controversial IPO of a tech firm led by a male CEO. Thomas plays a young Wall Streeter trying to climb the ranks, while Reiner is the U.S. Attorney investigating possible insider trading. The women in this movie arent just wives or the token female in the background says Reiner.

The idea originally stemmed from Thomas whose husband worked at Lehman Brothers until the bitter end she says. Reiner wasnt convinced though, saying that the topic didnt appeal to her heart. But after meeting with female financiers and hearing their stories, Reiner changed reversed her perspective and felt that a film following women on Wall Street had the potential to be a real game changer.

You dont see a perspective thats always accurate says Thomas on how Equity will show the realities of what women in finance face. We ended up telling something of a cynical tale of a womans tale on Wall Street. We did that because that was the truth of the moment.

Its true--no woman has ever served as the CEO of a major financial institution, or stock exchange. A 2014 report from consulting firm Oliver Wyman found that of the 150 major financial institutions, only 13% of executive committee members were women. And just under 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.

Can the film change this? Maybe. Sometimes you have to be a truth teller to talk about whats going on in the world and we hope that this film helps women move the needle to increase womens representation in finance says Thomas.

The ladies received plenty of expert advice from some of the most influential women on Wall Street. Financial heavyweights like Barclays (NYSE:BCS) Barbara Byrne, Neuberger Bermans Candace Candy Straight and Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) Linnea Roberts have all either helped produce the film or provided insight of what its like to be a woman in the cutthroat world of finance. As the film centers on a controversial IPO, Gunn, Reiner and Thomas were even welcomed in by Goldman Sachs to spend a day learning what goes into an IPO. Reiner and Thomas mentioned that there are many others who were interviewed for research for the film but cannot be disclosed.

Not only did I go to film school in making this movie but I feel like I also went to business school said Reiner.

But some of that advice came with an ugly reality. Reiner says that the most shocking things she heard about in interviews was the sexism women faced. One example Reiner and Thomas mentioned was when one of the women they interviewed was pregnant and while on a conference call, a male co-worker asked her if she was pregnant because her tits were getting bigger. Equity will feature an expectant mother character who does hide her pregnancy.

Another key aspect of the film is that it focuses on Wall Street in the post-financial crisis era loaded with new regulations. Reiner and Thomas said that the films tagline is in the post financial crisis world where the regulations are tight but the desire to bring in big money is the same.

While the film was expected to be released fall 2016, Sonys recent purchase of the film will determine when it is released.
Tech titan Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is expected to unveil its fiscal first-quarter results after the closing bell Tuesday. Analysts predict another quarter of positive results as expectations call for earnings of $3.23 a share on sales of $76.66 billion, topping results from the same time a year ago.

Similarly, iPhone sales are expected to rise from 74.5 million units sold during the fiscal first quarter of 2015 to 75.46 million units in 2016.

While it could be another record quarter for Apple, its whats coming up at the end of the current quarter, which ends in March, that has analysts buzzing.

Stephen Turner, technology analyst at Hillard Lyons, in a note last Thursday, lowered the firms price target for Apple to $140 from $154 thanks to a reduction in growth expectations from softer emerging markets and global economic growth, as well as currency headwinds from a stronger dollar, and expectations for a hiccup in iPhone unit sales as consumers delay upgrading their devices.

Turners forecast for current-quarter earnings per share was lowered to $2.30 from $2.59.

Within our model, this translates into an iPhone unit sales decline of 12% year over year. The decline in our unit sales forecast is based on macro level trends, as well as lower iPhone 6s follow-through sales compared to iPhone 6 due to last years pent up demand for a larger screen device, he explained.

Recent reports have indicated that orders at various Apple suppliers have decreased. Reuters reported TSMC, which manufactures some of the iPhones chips, guided to an 11% year-over-year decline in first-quarter revenues, adding demand for high-end smartphones was likely to be weak. Added to that, Reuters also reported earlier in January that Foxconn, a Taiwan-based company that assembles many of Apples iPhones, cut working hours over a key holiday in which workers generally clock overtime.

But the concerns dont end there: As global-growth worries hit Wall Street particularly hard, theyre also likely to hit Apple as well. S&P Capital IQ Equity Analyst Angelo Zino said China, which is one of Apples most important growth regions, will be of particular interest to investors as the economy there has shown a slower pace of growth.

We believe Apple remains a market share story but think the recent gains are likely to moderate given a maturing China smartphone space and once again, tough comparables from the iPhone 6, Zino said.

Because of the reported supply-chain weakness, Zino added that while the December quarter looks to be mostly in line for the company, the March quarter could be ugly.

We see an iPhone unit shipment guidance of 50 million for the March quarter, which would mark an 18% decline from the year prior. Although a reset in expectations is growing increasingly likely, we believe Apples valuation already discounts this scenario and see share appreciation once the bad news is released, Zino said.

Turner also explained another bright spot from the companys iPhone Upgrade Program, which allows customers to upgrade to the latest iPhone each year, could also offset weak iPhone figures.

We continue to believe the potential launch of the iPhone 7 will be a significant upgrade cycle, especially if Apple offers larger device storage, improved battery performance, wireless charging and waterproofing. We maintain our long-term view that the iPhone user base continues to grow and that the recurring base of revenue generates strong cash flows, Turner noted.
A British mother misdiagnosed with depression reportedly died Sunday night after a brain tumor claimed her life.

Express.co.uk reported that 21-year-old Hollie Turner, of Essex, first went to the doctors office in April 2013 shortly after her 2-year-old daughter, Myah, was born. She reported feeling fatigued and thirsty, but inconclusive diabetes and thyroid tests led doctors to diagnose her with depression.

[Turner] went in to see the doctors on a number of occasions, but they just kept sending her away with depression medication, Turners mother, Sherrie Thompson, told the news website.

It wasnt until December 2014 that Turners family had to rush her to the hospital for dehydration, when she received the correct diagnosis a brain tumor. Six weeks later, doctors diagnosed her with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a rare form of cancer that causes tissue damage and the formation of lesions on the body. Express.co.uk reported that it affects about one in one million adults.

The news website reported that chemotherapy wasnt enough to save Turner, whose friends described her as a hilarious, loving and brilliant mother.

"Throughout her illness, while she was suffering, she never once moaned about anything and would always put her family first, Melissa Grover, 21, and Turners best friend, told Express.co.uk. "She was so brave and a huge inspiration to those who knew her.

Grover, who is also the sister of Turners partner and Myahs father, Joe Grover, said she knew Turner for 10 years.

Her and my brother got together four years ago, she told Express.co.uk. Joe was so in love with her.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc is concluding "feasibility" studies to see if its vaccine technology might be suitable for the Zika virus, a company spokeswoman told Reuters.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil, is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas, except for Canada and Chile, the World Health Organization estimated on Monday.

Zika has not yet been reported in the continental United States, although a woman who fell ill with the virus in Brazil later gave birth to a brain-damaged baby in Hawaii.

GlaxoSmithKline declined to provide any more detail.
New research shows people like Steve Jobs, Beethoven and Van Gogh have a lot in common when it comes to their creative minds. According to psychologist and co-author of Wired to Create, Scott Barry Kaufman, creative people are good at activating and deactivating different brain networks.

Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing health editor of FoxNews.com, sat down with Kaufman to discuss how the mental habits of great artists and innovators can teach you how to be more creative.

We did some research looking at inside the brains of creative people as theyre trying to come up with really imaginative things, and what you find is, theyre really good at switching back and forth between two major brain networks, Kaufman told FoxNews.com. One is this more internally driven, daydreaming network-- [the] imagination network, and [the other] a more outward network, where theyre more mindful and focusing on outside world.

Many major creative achievements have been born out of traumatic events or hardships. The idea of a "tortured artist" even stems back to some of Beethovens darkest masterpieces like Moonlight Sonata. But suffering is not imperative for creativity, Kaufman said.

I think its the person thats creating the magic, and they happen to have hardship and the ability to use that hardship for creative growth, Kaufman said. People who are able to take this trauma and turn it into some kind of advantage, especially a creative advantage, are those that take it and put it into their work, they put it into their art.

The idea of growth after adversity has been studied for years and is scientifically known as posttraumatic growth. Research published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that 70 percent of trauma survivors report some positive psychological growth. Links have also been made by studying the orphanhood effect, which shows that highly accomplished people experience high rates of parental loss compared to the general public.

Children are also seen as natural-born creators, but its their ability to engage in imaginative play that really keeps their creative juices flowing, Kaufman said.

Many eminent creators in the arts and sciences engaged in imaginative play as children and maintain that youthful sense of play in their works as adults.

Take Shigeru Miyamoto, an iconic video game creator. His childhood memories of exploring forests and hidden caves outside his village in Kyoto, Japan is what many say inspired the Super Mario Bros. game.

For many artistsparticularly writersthis crucial tissue of experience comes from youth, and the ability to access a deep well of early memories and emotions can facilitate their creative work, Kaufman explained in the book.

Throughout his book, Kaufman shares a few things highly creative people do differently.

Daydreaming

What the emerging research is showing is that we really need to give people time to get in touch with their inner stream of consciousness, as William James [renowned American philosopher and psychologist] would say. Get in touch with our future strivings, our future images of our self, our unresolved issues-- if we dont get in touch with that deepest sense of our self, were not going to make great meaning out of our experiences and it will hinder our creative imaginative development.

Scientists have showed that daydreamingor mind wandering, can offer creative incubation, self-awareness, future-planning, reflection and even compassion. The next time youre working on a creative project or assignment, Kaufman suggests taking a five-minute daydreaming break every hour or so to see how it affects your ideas and thinking. During the break, do something that will let your mind wander like walking, doodling or cleaning.

Solitude

The flow state is so important for creative achievement. Getting totally absorbed in something and solitude is a great way for us to get into that flow state without disruptions.

But solitude is not just about avoiding distractions, Kaufman said. Its about giving the mind the time and space it needs to reflect and develop new ideas. Research published in Harvard Business Review found creative people regularly require solitude to generate interesting ideas and then turn to collaboration to turn those ideas into a concept or product.

Mindfulness

Its not so much about the attention on breathing or mantras, but observations. You can be mindful in your everyday life and allow your mind to wander in a non-judgmental way. Great writers observe everything, what things look like, what things taste like, smell like, etc.

Aside from living in the moment, optimal creativity likely results from both mindful and mind-wandering states of mind -- and in the ability to change from one mode to the other as needed, Kaufman said.

For more information on Kaufmans book visit WiredToCreateBook.com.
Much is made about how nothing gets done in Washington, D.C. anymore and how both parties are more divisive than ever. But a new poll has found at least one commonality between Republicans and Democrats -- anger.

In the new Monmouth University poll, when asked "How many Americans do you think feel angry about Washington politics?" 53 percent said "most" with 9 percent saying "all".

So from where does the anger come from?

Half say elected officials who are not willing to "compromise" while 40 percent say elected officials are not willing to stand up for their "principles."

But here's the key question to me. When asked, "How much does it concern you that our country would suffer lasting damage if policies were put into place that differ from yours?" a whopping 50 percent say it concerns them a great deal.

Its noteworthy then, that the two candidates polling the highest right now  Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders -- both hold their political party's more extreme positions. If they were their partys nominee  it would leave many independents without a place to go.

And thats a perfect reason why former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- an independent -- is making waves about entering this race.
In this election year of so many "unexpecteds" and "new normals" I've been pondering this question every time I see another endorsement come to light.

"Do newspaper endorsements or any endorsements for that matter, make any difference this time around in influencing voters?"

Well, turns out that newspaper endorsements -- at least in Iowa -- and with the Des Moines register -- haven't proven to be that effective. Here's an interesting factoid:

Aside from George W. Bush, every candidate endorsed by the Des Moines Register since 1988 has gone on to lose their partys nomination or lose in general.

On the Democratic side here are some of the candidates the paper endorsed:

- Paul Simon

- Bill Bradley

- John Edwards

- Hillary Clinton (in 2008)

None of the men or women on the list became the nominee.

For the GOP, there was George W. Bush -- as the exception -- and then there were John McCain and Mitt Romney. Both candidates went on to become the GOP nominees but not president of the United States.

Here's something else to consider ... Are SuperPACs as meaningful a part of the election process this time around? And what about negative advertising? Once we actually know the nominees all of these things could come back into play or will they?


Coming barely 25 years since the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, the rise of Russia under Vladimir Putin has surprised the world. Then a shrunken Russia emerged from the Cold War after losing two million square miles, 140 million people and the agricultural heartland of Ukraine, suddenly bordered by 14 newly-minted independent republics.

The situation only worsened under the reign of Boris Yeltsin who ignominiously failed both to build a bridge towards a modern Western semi-capitalist economy or a democratic republic.

Though the GDP doubled in Putins first decade with the sharp increase in the price of oil, the massive decline in the price of oil in 2015 and 2016 has driven the economy lower by 5 to 10 percent. Russia is losing as much as $140 billion dollars a year due to low oil prices and sanctions over Ukraine.

Russia lags far behind the West. Despite having a far larger population than any European country, its GDP is far behind that of Germany, France, England and even Italy.

Its ruble has plunged a stunning 50 percent this year. Putins Russia has not had a consumer revolution, an agricultural revolution, nor a high-tech revolution.

Its male life expectancy is only 63 years. With a low birth rate and emigration far exceeding immigration, Russia faces serious demographic problems in the coming decades.

But despite being in many ways a second-rate and falling power, Russia under Putin has emerged again as a significant world power.

In 2008 it took back Abhaziya and South Ossetia from Georgia and more recently seized from Ukraine parts of its Left Bank as well as Crimea.

Since the beginning of the Arab Spring, Russia has played a major role with many of the actors in the conflict.

Russia has effectively intervened with 5,400 airstrikes in Syria, allowing the Syrian army to move towards Aleppo and outposts near the Lebanese border.

In Egypt it has sold the Al-Sisi regime over $ 2 billion dollars of arms and helicopters.

Russia has sold two nuclear reactors to Jordan and is negotiating the possible sale of two to three dozen nuclear reactors to Saudi Arabia.

It has also coordinated its airstrikes in Syria with Israel in order to avoid accidental downing of each others' planes.

Finally, unlike the United States, which is geographically isolated from much of the world, Russia has borders with key countries in Asia and Europe and is near the Middle East.

The penultimate question remains: how can such a failing country as Russia again become a major force in the world?

The most important reason is also the simplest. "Mother Russia" is filling a vacuum created by an American semi-withdrawal from the Middle East. It still is a powerful military player with 1,900 strategic nuclear weapons. Furthermore, Russia is spending $80 billion dollars a year on defense -- a figure surpassed only by the U.S. and China.

Russia has several other advantages. In Sergei Lavrov, Putin has an extremely capable foreign minister and an excellent foreign ministry.

Also, the Europeans are no longer major actors in world politics. The EU as a whole does not even spend two percent of its GDP on defense. Their power projection capabilities are very limited.

Finally, several of the leading countries in Europe have developed good relations with Moscow.

France just recently signed an agreement with Russia to coordinate their actions in Syria.

Germany, despite supporting some sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, is loath to alienate a major country like Russia which they invaded in both world wars.

Internal problems like weak economic growth and high unemployment make many other European countries unwilling or unable to take significant action against Russia.

Finally, there is no rising superpower on the horizon. China's major economic problems will keep it from becoming a great power until 2040 or even 2050.

In short, Russia may be falling -- but not far enough to keep it from becoming a major power in the coming years on the world stage.
A year ago on January 27, 2015, French President Francois Hollande came to Auschwitz to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the camps liberation. This was just three weeks after Jews had been murdered at the Hypercacher kosher market attack in Paris, providing him an opportunityin the presence of government colleagues and foreign dignitariesto denounce anti-Semitism and reiterate his determination to fight it.

Hollande was surely sincere in what he said. But this year he will not be going to Auschwitz for the anniversary.

Instead, he will be at the Elysee Palace to welcome the Iranian president.

Thats right, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani.

Rouhani, very tactfully, cancelled his scheduled trip to France after the November 13 terror attacks in Paris. He changed the date of his visit to the City of Light to January 27-28.

We already knew that the Iranians are clever, shrewd analysts of world events, skillful diplomats. But until now we didnt appreciate their dark sense of humor.

The January 27th is not just the date that Auschwitz was liberated. It is also the day that France, along with the rest of the world, thanks to a U.N. resolution, marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, dedicated to recalling the victims of the Nazi genocide and preventing similar crimes against humanity.

As President Rouhani prepares for his morbidly-timed visit to Paris, it is important to recall the words of his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who repeatedly declared the Holocaust a myth and said that the State of Israel should be wiped off the map -- remarks that the current Iranian president has never contradicted.

Indeed, adding an extra layer of tragic absurdity, Iran is currently running its annual Holocaust cartoon contest, a response to the caricatures of Muhammad published by Charlie Hebdo (which cost the artists their lives). The theme of the contest is: Did the Holocaust really happen? Since the Iranian leadership think it is acceptable to laugh at anything except the Prophet anti-Semitic jokers of all stripesthe extreme right, the extreme left, Islamists, and assorted otherswill have the opportunity to let loose on the gas chambers.

What is the point of visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau if recalling the crimes of the past does not lead to addressing the threats of present and the future? What have we learned from history if this January 27, just over two weeks after the commemorations of last years deadly attacks in Paris, the highest authorities of the French government welcome the anti-Semitic Iranian president?

Perhaps President Rouhani wants to show the world that Iran has changed. We therefore propose that President Hollande invite his guest to join him in a visit to the Shoah (Holocaust) Memorial in Paris. The head of the Islamic Republic of Iran could read there the endless list of names of the deported, those who were shot, gassed, denied all humanity and dignity, and those who, in Primo Levis words, are killed a second time by "denying the horrors they suffered.

That would give Rouhani the chance not only to commemorate the victims, but also to imagine a world of tomorrow where religious and sexual minorities are not persecuted, where women are free, where terrorist organizations are not supported and financed, and where the legitimacy of other states is not questioned.

It is doubtful that President Rouhani would be interested in making such a visit. But the very offer would mark a deeply meaningful gesture from the French president, making clear that France remembers, and has every intention of fighting those who threaten liberty, human rights, peace, and fellowship.
A divided Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday narrowly approved a Democratic bill expanding required federal background checks for nearly all gun purchases, but put off immediate consideration of an assault weapons ban.

The panel approved the measure by 10-8, supported by all Democrats and opposed by every Republican. Expanded background checks is at the heart of President Obama's proposals to curb firearms. The sponsor is Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

Schumer said the measure will reduce gun crimes, and said he hopes he can strike a compromise on the measure with Republicans, which would enhance the measure's chances of passing in the full Senate.

Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the panel, said he believes the measure will ultimately lead to a federal registry of gun owners -- which is illegal. Schumer said that wouldn't happen.

The committee also approved a measure providing $40 million a year for school safety programs.

The committee postponed until Thursday a vote on a proposal by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to ban assault weapons.

Requiring background checks for private gun transactions between individuals -- they're currently mandatory only for sales by licensed dealers -- is designed to prevent criminals, people with severe mental problems and others from getting guns.

Tuesday's meeting came five days after the panel approved Congress' first gun control measure since December's horrific shooting at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school that left 26 students and educators dead. The initial bill, brought forward by the Judiciary Committee's chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and others, establishes long prison terms for illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers, people who buy a firearm for criminals or others forbidden to buy one.

The Judiciary Committee was expected to approve all three bills at some point this week, with full Senate consideration next month.

"The American people need to speak up and be heard," Leahy said Monday of what it will take for gun measures to clear Congress.

Schumer's background check bill would exempt only a narrow range of transactions from the checks, such as transactions between immediate family members or weapons loaned temporarily during sporting events.

It would also renew the requirement that states and federal agencies report records on felons, people with major mental health problems, drug abusers and others to the federal background check system -- something that many states and agencies do poorly.

Schumer had hoped to win GOP support for his measure, and he spent weeks bargaining with conservative Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who carries an A rating from the National Rifle Association, but those talks foundered.

Coburn's backing could have helped Schumer win support from other Republicans and moderate Democrats from states with large numbers of GOP voters -- potentially crucial because the background check measure is likely to need 60 votes in the 100-member Senate. There are 55 Democrats, including two independents who usually side with them.

Schumer still hopes to broaden support by the time the background check measure reaches the full Senate by finding other GOP senators willing to negotiate changes in it.

As senators prepared to consider the measures, a dozen members of the clergy from Newtown collected 4,000 signatures of religious leaders from around the country on a letter asking them to support expanded background checks, an assault weapons ban and other restrictions. The letter was published Monday as an ad in the Des Moines (Iowa) Register and was addressed to Grassley. The group planned to run the ad elsewhere as well.

The letter said that after gun violence in Newtown and other places, "To refuse to take the steps we know would reduce harm is a violation of religious values so severe that we are compelled to speak out."

The NRA, which opposes the background check expansion, is encouraging its members to contact Congress, association spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said.

Leaders of the GOP-run House have said they will wait to act until the Senate passes legislation. House Republicans have expressed little interest in requiring background checks for private sales.

Democrats say background checks help keep criminals and others from getting weapons, and say keeping records of private sales is the only way to ensure that those checks are actually conducted. Currently, the government must destroy records of checks it conducts within a day, but gun dealers must maintain paper records of the transactions for 20 years.

Republicans oppose recordkeeping as a step toward a federal registry. They also argue that current laws need to be enforced better without imposing record-keeping requirements on additional gun buyers.

Since the federal background check system began in 1998, the government has received more than 118 million gun applications and turned down 2.1 million, or 1.8 percent, according to the Justice Department. The figures are through 2010.

Supporters of stronger curbs say those statistics show the large number of dangerous people denied firearms. They say extending the requirement to more sales would make it even more effective.

Opponents say broadening background checks would encourage more people to seek weapons illegally.

A 2004 survey of state prisoners involved in crimes that included guns showed that around 4 in 10 got their firearms from friends or family and nearly that many got them from unregulated street dealers. Only around 1 in 9 got them from licensed dealers.
Bernie Sanders made a full-throated appeal for democratic socialism at CNNs Democratic town hall in Iowa, but wound up debating a skeptical Chris Cuomo.

Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, was hit by her first questioner, a young man in the audience who said hes been talking to his friends and they think youre dishonest.

She rambled a bit about the virtue of young people before saying: Ive been around a long time. People have thrown all kinds of things at me ... And Im still standing. Her second questioner quoted Joe Biden as saying that she, unlike Sanders, was new to the fight for income inequality. She vigorously denied that.

This was the Iowa caucuses in a nutshell: the crowd seemed to favor Sanders, while Clinton had to work harder to generate enthusiasm.

As the Vermont senator was reciting the virtues of universal health care and vowing to fight the greed of corporate America, Cuomo kept pointing out the downside.

What youre really asking for is one of the biggest tax hikes in history and pushing a massive redistribution of wealth, said Cuomo, the brother and son of New York governors.

We will raise taxes, yes we will, Sanders confirmed, but said people would save more by not paying health insurance premiums.

Noting that Hillary Clintons husband had famously declared that the era of big government is over, Cuomo said: Youre bringing back the era of big government and making it bigger than ever.

Sanders didnt deny that, reframing his mission as protecting the middle class.

Sanders kept bringing up his vote against the Iraq war, even explicitly noting that Hillary had backed the war.

Clinton mentioned how happy she was that President Obama, in a Politico interview, said that she had a harder time in 2008 because, like Ginger Rogers, she had to do everything backwards and in high heels. Hillary is increasingly hugging Obama in the Iowa home stretch.

Cuomo intervened after one of her foreign policy answers, saying the world was less stable and bringing up her Iraq vote. Clinton quickly said the vote was a mistake but pivoted to how she and Obama had restored the trust and confidence of America's allies and her own plan to defeat ISIS, which she did not explain.

In response to a question from a Muslim woman who served in the U.S. armed forces, Clinton attacked Donald Trump, saying his "shameful" language "insults, demeans, denigrates" different people, especially Muslims. With that answer she looked past Sanders and sounded like she was already contesting a general election.

It was a good format for Hillary, who spent most of her portion of the town hall on her feet, animated and gesturing, speaking to the crowd. In anchor interviews, she has a tendency to retreat to safe talking points.

She even favorably quoted the moderator's dad, recalling that Mario Cuomo had once said "you campaign in poetry, you govern in prose." Perhaps her biggest weakness as a candidate is that she generally campaigns in prose.

One major weakness of the format was that the candidates were allowed to go on and on in response to audience questions.

The CNN program was hastily added after the Democratic Party tried to protect Hillary with just six debates, some of them buried on Saturday nights and a holiday weekend. Sanders is running neck and neck with the former first lady in Iowa and has a huge lead in New Hampshire.

In the interview with Politicos Glenn Thrush, Obama gave his former secretary of State a not-so-subtle nod:

Bernie came in with the luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loose. I think Hillary came in with the both privilege  and burden  of being perceived as the front-runner  Youre always looking at the bright, shiny object that people havent seen before  thats a disadvantage to her.
Hillary Clintons lead in the Democratic primary race has narrowed to its slimmest margin yet.

The front-runners support has slipped under 50 percent, and cracks may be appearing in what some called her firewall -- the African-American voter bloc.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NATIONAL POLL RESULTS

Here are the numbers from the latest Fox News national poll:

Forty-nine percent of Democratic primary voters now support Clinton -- down from 54 percent two weeks ago.

Bernie Sanders also drops -- by two points -- to 37 percent. Martin OMalley, down two ticks as well, gets 1 percent.

Ten percent are undecided -- a sign the race is more fluid than it seemed two weeks ago when only two percent were undecided.

Last June, Clinton held a 46-point lead over Sanders. Since then, Sanderss support has grown slowly but steadily, while Clintons support has ebbed and recovered once -- and now appears in danger of another reversal.

Clintons sagging support is due, at least in part, to erosion among black voters. While 67 percent support her, thats down from 78 percent two weeks ago and 84 percent in December.

This comes against a backdrop of extreme volatility in stock markets and increasing pessimism about the economy, says Dana Blanton, vice president of public opinion research for Fox News. For the first time in over three years, more Americans think the economy is getting worse than better.

A year ago, 53 percent thought the economy was getting better and 36 percent said worse. Now 46 percent think its getting worse and 39 percent better.

Sanders says as president he will, Break up the big banks, close the tax loopholes, and make them pay their fair share. He has criticized Clinton for being too close to Wall Street and in the last Democratic debate said the first difference between them is, I dont take money from big banks. I dont get personal speaking fees from Goldman Sachs.

The big dividing line among Democrats continues to be age, with Sanders leading by 26 points among those under 45 and Clinton leading by 42 points among those ages 45 and over.

Sanders voters tend to be dissatisfied (69 percent) with the workings of the federal government, while Clinton voters are about as likely to be satisfied (50 percent) as dissatisfied (47 percent).

About one-quarter (27 percent) of Sanders voters will be pleased if Clinton gets the nomination, while one-fifth (19 percent) would be so dissatisfied theyd stay home in November instead of voting for her.

Clinton voters would be more accepting of Sanders as the nominee -- 43 percent say theyd be satisfied with him, while 13 percent of Clinton voters say they probably wont vote if Bernie is the nominee.

One thing Sanders and Clinton supporters have in common is that theyd rather Joe Biden be the nominee than their candidates current opponent. Half (51 percent) of Clinton supporters and 39 percent of Sanders voters would be satisfied with the vice president as the Democratic nominee.

Honesty (30 percent) is the top quality Democratic primary voters want in their nominee, followed by the right experience (22 percent), caring about people like themselves (17 percent) and the ability to win in November (8 percent).

Among those who say honesty is most important, Sanders leads Clinton by 27 points.

Both Sanders (84 percent) and Clinton (93 percent) supporters overwhelmingly approve of the job Barack Obama is doing as president. For comparison, 92 percent of Republican front-runner Donald Trumps supporters disapprove of Obama.

Overall, 45 percent of voters approve and 48 percent disapprove of Obamas job performance. This is an improvement from early January when 42 percent approved and 53 percent disapproved.

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 5 points for the Democratic primary voter sample (375).
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2022 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.
A potential Michael Bloomberg White House bid has sparked widespread speculation -- including what scenarios would trigger an independent run and whether Democrats or Republicans would be hurt the most.

But, in an election dominated by brash candidates, analysts still have serious doubts whether the billionaire businessman and ex-New York mayor could resonate with voters, at least like the other New York billionaire in the race.

Voters who are looking for a center-left business tycoon to support in 2016 have already found their candidate, and his name is [Donald] Trump, David Payne, a Republican strategist and partner at Vox Global, said, taking an implicit shot at the Republican front-runner. There isnt much room for Mike Bloomberg to run in this lane.

Which lane he'd even run in is an open question. Once a Democrat, later a Republican and now an independent, Bloomberg's political history and positions are complicated.

Given his lately liberal reputation, a Trump spokeswoman suggested a Bloomberg bid would likely hurt Democrats by siphoning off their voters -- and ultimately help Republicans.

At the same time, Bloomberg reportedly has at least $1 billion of his own money to drop on the race, and may be eager to put up that war chest against Trump's in a battle of the billionaires, if Trump is the GOP nominee.

That is -- if he runs. Bloomberg has told political advisers to draft a presidential bid game plan and will decide whether to run in mid-March, based on the results of early primaries, according to a New York Times story Saturday.

But the 2016 candidates already have a roughly eight-month head start on fundraising and campaigning.

His biggest problem will be the perception of a Johnny-come-lately, said Douglas Smith, a partner at Kent Strategies who worked on presidential campaigns for Al Gore and Bill and Hillary Clinton. And there are just so many hurdles.

Further, no independent candidate has been elected U.S. president since George Washington.

The Bloomberg announcement resulted in a mostly unwelcoming response Sunday from the 2016 field, particularly from Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders.

This country is moving away from democracy to oligarchy, that billionaires are the people who are controlling our political life, Sanders, the Vermont senator running against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, told ABC News. That is not what, to my view, American democracy is supposed to be about, a contest between billionaires. If that takes place, I am confident that we will win it.

Trump effectively dared him to get in. He told CBS News: I would love it. Hes very opposite on me with guns, and hes opposite on pro-life, and hes opposite on a lot of things, so I would love to have Michael get in the race.

Bloombergs policy stances cut across party lines. The 73-year-old Bloomberg supports charter schools, but is pro-choice on the issue of abortion and uses his financial and political strength to push for tougher gun-control laws, including support for the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety, which he helped start.

Analysts generally agree that Bloomberg would enter the race if Clinton suffers too many early-primary losses to Sanders, a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist whose campaign message is about helping the poor and middle class.

Im going to . get the nomination so he doesnt have to, Clinton assured in an interview with NBC News.

Republican candidate Marco Rubio told Fox News: "If he becomes a candidate, then we'll have a conversation about our differences.  As of now he's just a private citizen who owns a big company.

Still, the debate continues about which party or candidate would be hit hardest by Bloomberg.

With Trump so good at playing the changeling  combined with this week's statement that he intends to be a politically correct president if he wins, Trump could certainly drive even his most ardent supporters into the arms of a third party, Juleanna Glover, a Republican strategist and corporate consultant, said Monday. Could that be Bloomberg? Maybe.

Bloomberg, owner and chief executive of Bloomberg LP, a media and financial-data company, considered running for president in 2008 and 2012 and didn't, which could hurt his credibility with voters.

If Bloomberg defies belief and actually runs, he might poach a few percent of Hillary Clintons voters, Payne said. But as an independent with a liberal position on virtually every issue at stake in this years election, his appeal to moderate and conservative voters will be negligible.

Payne and others also suspect Bloomberg floating the bid idea is just another way for him to stay relevant.

His latest statements could be aimed at generating fresh headlines and maintaining political influence," Payne said.

Rob Carter, a Republican strategist, thinks Bloomberg is indeed serious, after talking to people on his team.



"You have to pay attention to anybody somewhat known nationally willing to put $1 billion into this race," said Carter, a former finance chairman for the Maryland Republican Party. "I don't care how much money you have, that's a lot. ... He's probably thinking, 'A Sanders-Trump race. I've got to get in this thing.'"
In a move that could re-energize his campaign, one of Bostons biggest newspapers endorsed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Monday night.

The Boston Herald, the citys second-largest newspaper, pointed to Christies experience as a former U.S. Attorney and noted Christie knows something about being on the front lines of the ongoing war on terror as reasons to endorse his 2016 run for the White House.

The Boston Herald also cited the Republican's no-nonsense Jersey guy attitude  feisty but not mean-spirited, tough but not hateful  that has a shot at taking an angry electorate and helping it find a focus and a purpose."

The conservative paper also called Christie gutsy on the campaign trail and said he had a solid reputation for education reform and expanding school choice, and for criminal justice reform, including tackling the growing problem of drug addiction by expanding the use of drug courts and treatment options.

Christies endorsement came on the same day the citys largest newspaper, The Boston Globe, threw its support behind Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Both Boston publications have large readership in southern New Hampshire, the first-in-the-nation primary state, where Kasich and Christie currently trail billionaire businessman Donald Trump, according to the latest round of Fox News state polls on the Republican presidential nomination contest.
Hillary Clinton refused to say Monday that her handling of sensitive emails as secretary of state was an "error in judgment," telling an Iowa audience nothing that I did was wrong.

She spoke alongside the two other Democratic presidential candidates at a televised town hall in Des Moines, their final forum together before next Monday's caucuses. While the primary front-runner previously has apologized for her email practices, she dug in on the matter Monday night, assuming a more defensive tone.

No, Im not willing to say it was an error in judgment because what  nothing that I did was wrong. It was not  it was not in any way prohibited, Clinton said when asked about her emails at the CNN-hosted forum.

Her remarks drew immediate criticism from Republicans.

Clintons cratering poll numbers show why this last-minute forum was even necessary, but her refusal to admit her secret email server was a lapse in judgement will only add to Americans doubts about her honesty and trustworthiness, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement.

Questions about Clintons use of a private, unsecured email server to handle sensitive State Department business when she served as secretary of state have dogged her campaign, and have been seen as a factor in her dwindling lead over rival Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. The FBI is investigating the matter.

Clinton has always claimed her handling of emails was merely a well-intentioned mistake and not illegal. She apologized in September, saying it was a mistake not to use two accounts, one personal and one for work.

You know, I had no intention of doing anything other than having a convenient way of communicating, and it turned out not to be so convenient, Clinton reiterated Monday. So again, we've answered every question and we will continue to do so.

Other conservative critics pointed to Clintons answer as proof that she simply doesnt grasp the severity of the matter.

When confronted with the criticism that she doesn't recognize her own mistakes, Clinton proved the criticism correct by saying she handled her email scandal poorly but that she wouldn't call it an error in judgment, Jeff Bechdel, communications director for the conservative America Rising PAC, said in a statement.

The comments echoed those even of her supporters. In its Monday endorsement of Clinton, the Des Moines Register mentioned her handling of the email issue as one of her main weaknesses.

She is not a perfect candidate, as evidenced the way she has handled the furor over her private email server. In our endorsement of her 2008 campaign for president, we wrote that 'when she makes a mistake, she should just say so.' That appears to be a lesson she has yet to fully embrace, the editors said.

At the town hall, Sanders also addressed one of his biggest controversies, namely raising taxes in order to pay for his spending plans on health care.

We will raise taxes, yes we will, Sanders said. Yes, we may raise taxes but we are going to remove private health care insurance premiums for individuals and businesses.

If you're paying $10,000 a year to a private insurance company, and hypothetically, youre going to pay $5,000 more in taxes, or actually less than that, but youre not going to pay any more private health insurance, are you going to be complaining about the fact that Ive saved you $5,000 in your total bills? Sanders asked.

He also said that he was surprised at how well his campaign has been going, saying our message has resonated much further, must faster than I thought.

We are touching a nerve with the American people who understand that establishment politics just aren't bold enough," Sanders said.

Despite Clinton's push to generate enthusiasm among supporters, new data from Google Trends suggests Sanders was the real winner.

Google reported an enormous spike in search interest in the self-described "democratic socialist" during the town hall meeting, a much bigger spike than Clinton received.
Ted Cruz is mounting an aggressive effort to regain his Iowa lead, joining backers in an ad blitz against front-runner Donald Trump that casts him as an out-of-touch liberal, while Trump barnstorms the state to make final arguments before Mondays caucuses.

Cruz in recent weeks has seen his Iowa numbers dip following a surge that lasted from mid-November to early January. Trump has recaptured the lead in recent polls conducted by Fox News, Quinnipiac University and others.

But the race remains close, and the two candidates have turned up their attacks on each other.

The Cruz campaign just put out an ad, running statewide in Iowa, that plays old clips of Trump describing himself as pro-choice  and once again hammers Trump for his New York values. It then plays a recent campaign clip in which Trump jokingly said, How stupid are the people of Iowa?

Trump, meanwhile, called Cruz a liar who looks like a jerk, in an interview Tuesday.

The attacks, by both candidates, started only in recent weeks, with Trump launching the first anti-Cruz ad, accusing him of supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants in the United States. The attacks and counter-attacks -- including those in debates and on the campaign trail -- have continued essentially nonstop with the Cruz camp piling on with more on Tuesday.

Another ad from a pro-Cruz super PAC argues Trump, if elected, would support taxpayer-funded, universal health insurance, based on a CBS interview last year in which Trump argued everybody in the country should have coverage.

First there was HillaryCare, then there was ObamaCare. We cant afford TrumpCare, the narrator says in the 30-second spot, part of recently announced, $2.5 million ad buy from the super PAC Keep the Promise I.

The other ad this week by the group -- titled Extreme -- suggests Trump would support partial-birth abortion, apparently targeting the evangelicals and other conservatives for which Cruz and Trump are competing.

Donald Trump is not a conservative because hes extreme on abortion, the narrator says at the start of the ad, which ends with a clip of Trump saying in 1999 he is pro-choice in every respect.

Trump now says hes pro-life.

How well the attacks resonate will not be clear until caucus night.

Some political analysts suggest the head-on battle will hurt both Cruz and Trump, which might allow a more establishment candidate like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, or New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to climb.

There is a decent chance, given their personalities, that they will make each other maximally unattractive and go down in each others death embrace, New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Trump, a master at free TV advertising, is continuing his attacks on Cruz on political shows and on the campaign trail.

Trump called Cruz a liar in an MSNBC interview Tuesday. Nobody likes him, Trump said.

And Trump continues to question whether Cruz, an American citizen born in Canada, is eligible to run.

He hit me, I hit him, Trump said Saturday at a rally in Pella, Iowa. He has legitimate problems. No one knows if he can run for president. Constitutional lawyers [are] saying he can't. I know he was born on Canadian soil. He's already had two lawsuits filed.
The FBI is going straight to the source in its investigation of classified emails that crossed Hillary Clintons personal server, speaking with the intelligence agencies  and in some cases, the individuals  that generated the information, two intelligence sources familiar with the probe told Fox News.

Investigators are meeting with the agencies and individuals to determine the classification level in the emails. The step speaks to the diligence with which the bureau is handling the investigation, despite the former secretary of states claims that the matter boils down to a mere interagency dispute.

"This is not merely a difference of opinion between the State Department and the Department of Justice," one intelligence source, who is not authorized to speak on the record, told Fox News, referring to comments on the Sunday talk shows and by the Clinton campaign downplaying the FBI's investigation. "The bureau will go directly to depose specific individuals in agencies who generated the highly classified materials."

The source added, "At the end of the day it will be a paper case. Emails never disappear because computers never forget.

A former senior FBI intelligence officer, while not directly involved in the Clinton email investigation, previously told Fox News it was standard practice for the bureau to go directly to the originating source because it is cleaner and maintains the integrity of the investigation.

"You want to go right to the source," Timothy Gill Sr., a former senior FBI intelligence officer, said. "Investigative protocol would demand that."

Fox News first reported that intelligence beyond "Top Secret" known as "SAP," or "Special Access Programs," was identified in the Clinton emails on her unsecured private server. Access to SAP is restricted to only those with a "need to know" because exposure of the intelligence would likely reveal a human asset or method of collection. The findings were shared with the Senate Intelligence and Foreign Affairs committees in a Jan. 14 letter from the intelligence community inspector general.

Fox News also confirmed that at least one email contained intelligence from human spying, known as "HCS-0," which is code for highly sensitive human intelligence operations.

The FBI investigation is centered around Clinton and members of her staff to determine if they deliberatively trafficked and shared information from highly classified sources onto an unsecure private email system.

"The bureau does not waive its primacy in espionage cases," the intelligence source said, referring to USC 18 793 and 794. "The security investigation is now part and parcel with the criminal [public corruption] investigation." The source said both tracks are being pursued "vigorously" and there is a sense of "incredulity as to what is being discovered."

Violations of US 18 Section 793 fall under "gross mishandling" of national defense information. Potential violations under Section 794, "gathering or delivering defense information to aid" a foreign government, are more serious and challenging to prove.

Howard Krongard, former inspector general of the State Department, told Fox News, "I continue to believe the question of how [and from whom] material actually got from the classified network to Hillary Clinton's server is the key to the puzzle."

It is not possible to "cut and paste" from a classified network to an unclassified system, like Clintons personal email account, to perform what is known in intelligence circles as "jumping the gap."

Paul Sperry, a media fellow at the Hoover Institution, reported Saturday in the New York Post that Clinton and her top aides "had access to a Pentagon-run classified network that goes up to the Secret level as well as a separate system used for Top Secret communications."

Former intelligence and law enforcement officers say one of the most likely scenarios is that an individual who had access to classified information summarized it in their own words or provided details during exchanges via email, which is a criminal violation and goes against non-disclosure agreements.

"The spillage could occur by somebody basically ignoring those guidelines. It would have to be that way. There's no possible way she could transfer media off of an SCI high system  onto an unclassified server," said Dan Maguire, a special operations veteran who spent 46 years handling highly classified information and being deeply engaged on special access programs.

"I think it reflects, probably two things -- perhaps an ignorance on the part of the individuals involved who've been doing this who are trying to please their boss and don't recognize the sensitivity and how that impacts on national security, and then an element of arrogance to even think or consider that you would pass information on an unclassified file server," Maguire said.

A review of the Clinton emails has found at least 1,340 containing classified information. A State Department challenge to two emails classified at the "Top Secret" level failed, as Fox News first reported in December. The agency that gets the information in effect owns the information, and has final say over its classification.

In its most recent statement on classified information found on Clintons server, the Clinton campaign described the issue as an interagency dispute.

Spokesman Brian Fallon said, It does not change the fact that these emails were not classified at the time they were sent or received. It is alarming that the intelligence community IG, working with Republicans in Congress, continues to selectively leak materials in order to resurface the same allegations and try to hurt Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. The Justice Department's inquiry should be allowed to proceed without any further interference."
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Buzz Cut:

 GOP donors start anti-Trump barrage

 Audience throws hardballs at Hillary

 GOP donor sows chaos for Dems in Iowa

 ObamaCare misses mark

 Ironic igloo deemed problematic

GOP DONORS START ANTI-TRUMP BARRAGE

DES MOINES, IOWA  A super PAC aimed at stopping Donald Trump is putting its money where the Republican Partys mouth has been for months. The ad, which focuses on Trumps liberal positions of the past and of the present, dovetails with a recent television and online barrage from groups supporting Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.



The Quinnipiac University poll out today of likely GOP Iowa caucus-goers shows just how high the stakes are for the last-ditch effort to block Trump. The Republican frontrunner leads Cruz by the scantest of margins 31 percent to 29 percent with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a furlong behind Trump and Cruz. Those numbers are essentially unchanged from last month. The rest of the pack is knotted up far behind Rubio.



Funding for the group, Our Principles PAC, remains unknown, but its spokeswoman Katie Packer Gage, was a senior adviser to Mitt Romneys 2012 campaign. Other GOP heavy hitters are rumored to be on the team as well.

Gage said that the ad is focused on Iowa for now. Though she did not comment on the size of the ad buy, those with knowledge of the groups activities, including one Iowa GOP operative, suggested the initial push is backed by at least $1 million dollars. Other buys are said to be planned for subsequent primary markets in New Hampshire and South Carolina

The 30-second spot is a trimmed down version of a longer loop of Trumps flip-flop for liberal positions that made the rounds on the internet last week.



Attacking Trump for inconsistent and liberal positions might not be a winner with the new voters  including many Democrats and left-leaning independents  Trump is trying to attract to the caucuses. As a Fox News poll out over the weekend shows, Trump is an overwhelming favorite among those who say they plan to attend their first caucus on Monday. This surge in first-time caucus goers would be unprecedented in Iowa political history.

But the Quinnipiac poll gives a snapshot of two electorates in Iowa: one with the Trump surge in new caucus goers, and one without. Cruz wins under the normal model, Trump wins when the surge is present.



While Iowa waits to see if history is about to be made, Republicans seem focused on hitting Trump with the GOP base and eroding his support among more predictable caucus goers.

Cruz hits Trump hard in Iowa - Dallas Morning News: Entering the Iowa homestretch under attack and still overshadowed by Donald Trump, Ted Cruz hit back Monday by painting the billionaire as a phony conservative and evangelical. And he projected confidence that hell finish strong in the first test of the 2016 contest next Monday night. He asserted that Trump supports taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood and Bernie Sanders-style socialized medicine. And he launched a coordinated effort to portray Trump as a New York liberal.

READERS REACT: GOP POWER INDEX

My thought at this point is Im willing to wait the week to let IA and NH folks have their say. But if a candidate doesnt come in the top 4 (or definitely 5) in either of those contests, its time to get out of the way.  J.E. Schreiner



I believe you are right on with your Bush assessment. As a strong supporter of both Governor Bush and Senator Rubio here in the State of Florida, I am deeply disappointed with Mr. Bush in how he has handled the Rubio situation.I will be voting for Marco Rubio without question now as the best bet to beat Clinton. How sad for Jeb Bush and the State of Florida.  Dennis Bignham

Trump has been the big dog in national and state polls of Republican primary voters since July. He has achieved this feat by having the staunchest supporters of any candidate. No attack ad, no media outrage, no gaffe has seemed to dissuade his supporters.  Ray Quigley

WITH YOUR SECOND CUP OF COFFEE

On this day in 1979, Dukes of Hazard, a television show about cousins living in the rural South, premiered. The show has created many references that have become mainstays in pop culture, but one of the shows central themes revolved around a more controversial image: crazy car chases with the family vehicle named The General Lee, which had a Confederate flag painted across the roof. Although TV Land pulled reruns of the show over the appearance of the flag, the Atlantic says that its inclusion in the popular show actually neutralized the message. As the article explains: The Dukes of Hazzard solidified the idea that the flag could haveor at least could claim to havean alternate meaning besides the original one of defiant racism. But the show also made clear how awkward that alternate meaning can be. It suggested the way that a flag, layered onto to the body of a car, can have its own kind of layered meaning. And the layering continued. The defiance continued. As late as 2005s feature-filmed reboot of the show, the Confederate flag remained atop the General Lee.

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POLL CHECK

Real Clear Politics Averages

Republican Nomination  Trump 36.2 percent; Cruz 19.3 percent; Rubio 11.0 percent; Carson 7.8 percent

General Election: Clinton vs. Trump  Clinton +2.7 points

Generic Congressional Vote: Republicans +0.5

AUDIENCE THROWS HARDBALLS AT HILLARY

WaPo: The question came from a young man named Taylor -- a first time caucus-goer -- who said he leans toward supporting Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Taylor noted that many of his friends are passionate supporters of Sanders, but they find Hillary Clinton to be dishonest. Clinton was on her feet and before long, her voice raised, her arms waving with passion. Ive been on the front lines of change and progress since I was your age, Clinton told the questioner. I have been fighting to give kids and women and the people who are left out and left behind the chance to make the most out of their own lives. By that point, the crowd was cheering and applauding her answer. Ive taken on the status quo time and time again! Clinton said.

[A new ad from Team Hillary highlights the Democratic frontrunners long career in public life painting her as an advocate of children in the documentary themed spot.]

GOP donor sows chaos for Dems in Iowa - NYT: A super PAC founded by the former TD Ameritrade executive Joe Ricketts is spending more than $600,000 on a television ad in Iowa lashing Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont as too liberal in the final days of his close race against Hillary Clinton in the states caucuses. The spot, being aired by the ESA Fund, describes Mr. Sanderss policy positions on a range of issues, such as tuition-free college and single-payer health care, saying that it amounts to a flood of new government spending. The spot is expected to be backed by $600,000 in spending on television ads, and there will be additional expenditures on radio and digital advertising.

HILLARY SLIPS AGAIN IN NEW GRANITE STATE POLL

Boston Herald: Hillary Clinton faces a 16-point deficit to a challenger almost universally liked by New Hampshire Democratic voters  from liberals to independents  while Republican Donald Trump has widened his big lead over rival Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a new Franklin Pierce University/Boston Herald poll shows. With just two weeks left and a dwindling number of wavering voters, Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders, who were laughed off as lightweights a year ago, are now clear favorites to win the pivotal leadoff primary in the Granite State, the poll shows.

OBAMACARE MISSES MARK

NYT: When the Affordable Care Act was drafted, the Congressional Budget Office expected people to sign up quickly for new health insurance. Now, two years into the law, its clear that progress is going to be slower. The Obama administration acknowledged as much in late 2014, and again in October, when it presented its own modest predictions. Monday, the budget office also agreed, slashing its 2016 estimate by close to 40 percent.  The new budget and economic outlook now predicts that about 13 million people will get their health insurance through the Obamacare marketplaces this year, down from an earlier estimate of 21 million. The budget offices estimates for future years wont be released until March, but it seems reasonable to assume they will also come down. Currently, the 2017 estimate is 24 million.

IRONIC IGLOO DEEMED PROBLEMATIC

Fortune: Airbnb will let you rent out all kinds of shelter to guests, but apparently not Brooklyn resident Patrick Hortons igloo. Horton, who lives in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, listed the igloo he made in his backyard on the home-sharing service as a joke, according to DNA info. Horton and his roommates made the igloo over the weekend, with snow provided by the Jonas blizzard. However, Airbnb sent Horton an email on Sunday evening, telling him he couldnt list his igloo as it didnt meet the services occupancy standards. Unfortunately, your igloo, while very well constructed, has failed to meet our occupancy standards and has been removed from search results, a Airbnb spokesman told Horton. Be sure to pick a place with running water, electricity, and a roof that doesnt melt.

AND NOW A WORD FROM CHARLES

The Canadian diversion, it seems to have worked. It put Cruz on the defensive. And then [Donald Trump] attacked him on the Goldman Sachs money  you attack New York values but you take New York money. And then now he is attacking him on his persona. He is a nasty guy. Nobody likes him. Cant make deals. It's had its effect.  Charles Krauthammer on Special Report with Bret Baier.

Chris Stirewalt is digital politics editor for Fox News. Want FOX News First in your inbox every day? Sign up here.
New Hampshires first-in-the-nation presidential primary makes history every four years, and on Feb. 9 it will do so for an additional reason.

This year, for the first time, primary voters will have to show ID.

"I think there are definitely going to be lines, with any indication of our absentee balloting already -- its huge," said Kerri Parker, the town clerk of Meredith, N.H., and president of the New Hampshire Town and City Clerks Association.

"People are concerned, they want to get out, they want their voice to be heard, which is great," she said, but cautioned that "the only thing they need to remember is to bring their ID's to the polls.  We have to see your ID because of voter fraud."

Tens of thousands of new voters are expected to flood the polls, and they will need to show up with a valid photo ID, which can include a drivers license, passport, military ID, and even some student ID's from colleges and schools approved by the state.

The requirement was first implemented in the 2012 general election, and even though officials say there have been few cases of voter fraud, illegal voting has occurred.

Lorin Schneider, Jr., who lives in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to wrongful voting charges for illegally voting in New Hampshire three times. He cast his ballots in the 2008 presidential election and again in both the presidential primary and general election in 2012. He was fined roughly $7,000, given a suspended prison term and lost his right to vote in the state.

This month, Manchester resident Derek Castonguay also pleaded guilty to voter fraud after prosecutors say he voted illegally and tried to vote twice during the mid-term election in 2014. He also was given a suspended jail term and fined $1,000.

The controversial issue of voter fraud also has been injected into the 2016 presidential race.

"Voter fraud, look. You have to have real security with the voting system. This voting system is out of control," Donald Trump charged during an appearance on Jan. 5 in Claremont, N.H. "You have people, in my opinion, that are voting many, many times. They don't want security, they don't want cards."

"I don't have any reason to believe there is rampant voter fraud," countered New Hampshire's long-serving Secretary of State Bill Gardner, who is overseeing the use of voter ID. While he says it "has worked very well," he also acknowledges there have been some instances of voter fraud in his state.

"It happens. We know that it happens, because we have the records that it happened. But that was all part of how people tried to come together to come up with a process that protects it as much as we can ... you're never going to eliminate attempts to abuse the process," he said.

"It's not impossible, but we've made it very, very difficult to successfully be able to commit fraud."

Voters who show up at the polls without ID will still be able to vote, but will have to sign an affidavit attesting that they are who they say they are. Then election officials will take the voter's photograph with an instant camera, and attach the photo to the affidavit. The state spent $15,000 buying 320 cameras for local boards of elections.

Gardner wanted to ensure no voter would be turned away from a polling place without being able to vote. But opponents of voter ID also chafe at the photo requirement.

"Some people can be very sensitive to having their photo taken especially when it is taken by an official, for an official purpose," said Devon Chaffee, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, who believes that voter ID adds an unfair burden and obstacle to voting, especially for the elderly and minorities.

Chaffee told Fox News she fears the affidavit process, and photography, will also add to the administrative process of voting and make the expected lines even longer.

"This will take even additional time and resources for the polling officials and we are concerned that that might also result in increasing lines," she said.

Gardner told Fox News that no voter has been denied the right to vote because of voter ID, and he is confident election officials will be prepared.

"The number of people that have shown up at the polls without any identification is much smaller than almost anyone thought. During the debate on the issue, there were some who believed that 10 to 11 percent of the population would be affected by this, the other side thought it would only be 1 percent, and it has ended up less than one-half of 1 percent, so it has been a much smaller number."

Parker said she, and her fellow election officials, are ready for any possible cheaters.

"If somebody really wants to do that and they think that that's important I think somebody will eventually figure out a way, she said. But in the state of New Hampshire, I am pretty confident that we are good at what we do."

Follow Eric Shawn on Twitter: @ERICSHAWNONFOX

Fox News' Whitney Ksiazek contributed to this report.
White House hopeful Hillary Clinton will be happy to participate in an unsanctioned Democratic debate but only if Sen. Bernie Sanders and Martin OMalley join the party, her spokeswoman said Monday.

If the others agree, it would allow the DNC to sanction the debate, Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri said.

The Democratic National Committee warned last year that any candidate who participates in an unsanctioned debate will be barred from future debates.

We have no plans to sanction any further debates before the upcoming First in the Nation caucuses and primary, but will reconvene with our campaigns after those two contests to review our schedule, DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Monday in a statement. Our three major candidates are already scheduled to appear on the same stage next week for the New Hampshire Democratic Party dinner on February 5th.

Schultz did not address what would happen if the candidates participated in the unsanctioned debate.

MSNBC and the New Hampshire Union Leader on Monday announced an unsanctioned Democratic debate ahead of the New Hampshire primary  but whether the candidates will show up is another matter.

The debate, moderated by "Meet the Press" anchor Chuck Todd and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, will take place Feb. 4.

The Feb. 4 debate comes after months of pressure and criticism of the Democratic National Committee for holding only six debates among Clinton, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley.

So far there have been four Democratic debates. Two more are on the books for mid-February and early March, though there are no debates scheduled between the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses and the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary.

The Sanders camp has not officially commented on the proposed

debate.

OMalley issued a statement saying he would attend.

In keeping with the best traditions of the New Hampshire Primary, we have always believed that the voters of the Granite State deserve more than one opportunity to see their candidates for President debate side by side, OMalley's New Hampshire State Director John Bivona said in a written statement.

Thats why Governor OMalley was the only Democratic candidate

for president to consistently call out the DNC for its unprecedented role in silencing debate, and to lead the charge for more debates.

Joseph W. McQuaid, president and publisher of the Union Leader,

said New Hampshire voters demanded the debate.

"We were always concerned that this would have been the

first time in 32 years without a Democratic debate before the New Hampshire primary, McQuaid said in a written statement. We are glad to partner with MSNBC to ensure Granite Staters have the information they need to make a critical decision on Feb. 9."
Former New York Gov. George Pataki, who dropped out of the presidential race just a few weeks ago, endorsed Marco Rubio for president on Tuesday.

Announcing his decision in an interview with Fox News, the former Republican governor suggested the Florida senator could bring Americans together.

In my mind theres one person who stands out, and that is Senator Marco Rubio, Pataki said. Senator Rubio has the leadership, he has the vision, he has the intelligence from Congress to understand what it takes to defend us from radical Islam. Im proud to endorse Senator Rubio.

The endorsement comes after another former presidential candidate, ex-Texas Gov. Rick Perry, endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the race.

Pataki dropped out of the race last month, after failing to gain traction in the GOP primary.

His Rubio endorsement comes less than a week before the Iowa caucuses; polls in the state show Rubio in third place, behind Donald Trump and Cruz.
Pro-life groups and Republican lawmakers blasted what they described as a "politically motivated" decision after a Texas grand jury decided Monday not to indict Planned Parenthood over videos on fetal tissue harvesting  and instead indict the video-makers.

One group, LiveAction, even called for a special prosecutor, saying the District Attorney's office in the case should have recused itself since one of the prosecutors is a board member for a Planned Parenthood affiliate.

It is unacceptable that the office did not recuse itself to eliminate any and all questions of potential bias, LiveAction president Lila Rose said in a statement.

On Monday, a Harris County grand jury indicted David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt on charges of tampering with a governmental record, a second-degree felony with a possible sentence of 20 years in prison. The indictment also charged Daleiden with trying to purchase or sell human organs, a misdemeanor, presumably because he had offered to buy a fetus on camera in his effort to uncover wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood staff members.

Rose's statement referenced Harris County prosecutor Lauren Reeder, the Planned Parenthood affiliate board member. Though the DA's office months ago assured she wouldn't be involved in the case, conservative critics like Operation Rescue President Troy Newman said its not enough.

Newman, who previously served on the board of the Center for Medical Progress which released the Planned Parenthood videos, echoed Rose's call for a special prosecutor.

LifeSites Ben Johnson also told FoxNews.com he was shocked by Mondays indictment and called the evidence against Planned Parenthood overwhelming.

Johnson claimed a clear conflict of interest had produced a biased conclusion.

Planned Parenthood's allies, though, cheered the decision as affirmation that the group has wrongly been the subject of a partisan witch hunt.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said the decision "undercuts the entire Republican attack on Planned Parenthood."

Daleiden made a series of recordings over a three-year period using a fake name and hidden cameras to document conversations between him and top-level Planned Parenthood abortion providers. The first video was released in July and seemed to link the pro-choice organization to unlawful trafficking in fetal tissue.

As a result, five congressional committees started investigations into Planned Parenthood. None have produced criminal findings.

Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., author of the House-passed Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015, said she was profoundly disappointed in the indictments.

It is a sad day in America when those who harvest the body parts of aborted babies escape consequences for their actions, while the courageous truth-tellers who expose their misdeeds are handed down a politically motivated indictment instead, she said in a written statement, adding that Mondays news will not deter our efforts in Congress to hold Planned Parenthood accountable.

Rose, who has been accused of falsifying videos against Planned Parenthood in the past, argues Daleiden is the victim of a corrupt judicial system.

David Daleiden and his team have done a tremendous public service by exposing the horrific crimes against humanity that Planned Parenthood hides behind closed doors, she said.

Planned Parenthood has strongly denied any allegations of illegal behavior and said the videos were manipulated to make the organization look bad.

As the dust settled and the truth comes out, its become totally clear that the only people who engaged in wrongdoing are the criminals behind this fraud, and were glad theyre being held accountable, Planned Parenthood spokesman Eric Ferrero said following Mondays indictment.
New data from Google Trends is offering a wide range of insights into the Republican primary race -- and what people want to know -- ahead of the Fox News/Google debate Thursday.

In terms of the number of searches for each candidate, frontrunner Donald Trump is leading the pack comfortably, with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz a distant second.

Meanwhile, here is the breakdown in Iowa.

However, a closer look at the searches reveals that potential voters have some peculiar queries about the candidates.

For instance, Ohio Gov. John Kasich is presenting himself as a moderate alternative to the more conservative candidates. According to the Google searches about him, he may have overplayed it, as two of the top questions are asking if he is even a Republican.

For former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who is consistently polling in low single digits, the top question is Is Rick Santorum still running?

Some of the search inquiries are harder to explain. For instance the top searched issue for Donald Trump isnt China, or jobs, or even immigration (thats second) but Nigeria.

Click here for more Google Trends search results.
States could drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector in the next 15 years, if they ramped up their investment in renewables such as wind and solar, according to a study released Monday.

The findings, by scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, found that reductions could be as much as 78 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 while keeping cost in check and meeting expected demand increases.

Related: UN climate chief: Deal to reduce emissions within reach

The study could be used by the Obama Administration to counter concerns about the cost of its Clean Power Plan, which requires states to cut their carbon emissions mostly from coal-fired power plants 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

Our research shows a transition to a reliable, low-carbon, electrical generation and transmission system can be accomplished with commercially available technology and within 15 years, Alexander MacDonald, co-lead author of the study in the journal Nature Climate Change and recently retired director of NOAAs Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) in Boulder, said in a statement.

While the costs of wind and solar have become increasingly competitive, they remain dogged by fears that they cannot consistently supply power.

Utilities have responded by investing in surplus generation capacity  fueled by natural gas  to ensure a steady power supply. But the researchers found that may not be necessary in the future, if states would only invest more heavily in renewables and make improvements in the transmission infrastructure.

Related: 'A turning point for the world': Obama praises global climate change pact in WH address

Using NOAAs high-resolution meteorological data, the researchers built a model to evaluate the cost of integrating different sources of electricity into a national energy system. The model estimates renewable resource potential, energy demand, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the costs of expanding and operating electricity generation and transmission systems to meet future needs.

The model allowed researchers to evaluate the affordability, reliability, and greenhouse gas emissions of various energy mixes, including coal.

The model relentlessly seeks the lowest-cost energy, whatever constraints are applied, Christopher Clack, a physicist and mathematician with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder and a co-author of the study. And it always installs more renewable energy on the grid than exists today.

Even in a scenario where renewable energy costs more than experts predict, the model produced a system that cuts CO2 emissions 33 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and delivered electricity at about 8.6 cents per kilowatt hour. By comparison, electricity cost 9.4 cents per kWh in 2012.

As part of the U.S. commitment to an international climate deal agreed in Paris last year, Obama has pledged to reduce American emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. A key component of that commitment is the Clean Power Plan, which is being challenged in court by 24 states. They claim it amounts to an unlawful power grab that will drive up electricity prices and eliminate coal mining jobs.

Related: Business, states open legal fire on EPAs Clean Power Plan rule

The researchers, for their part, said the objective of their study was simply to find out the most cost-effective way to reduce those emissions. Somewhat surprisingly, it was by greater investment in renewables - rather than fossil fuels like coal.

But those emission cuts, the researchers said, will only come if states build and pay for transmission infrastructure improvements  especially high-voltage direct-current transmission grid (HVDC) to supplement the current electrical grid. HVDC lines, which are in use around the world, reduce energy losses during long-distance transmission and help keep costs down.

Think of it as the 21st century version of the interstate highway system.

With an interstate for electrons, renewable energy could be delivered anywhere in the country while emissions plummet, MacDonald said. An HVDC grid would create a national electricity market in which all types of generation, including low-carbon sources, compete on a cost basis. The surprise was how dominant wind and solar could be.

Stanford Universitys Mark Jacobson, who wrote an article accompanying the study, praised the authors for pushing the envelope.

It shows that intermittent renewables plus transmission can eliminate most fossil-fuel electricity while matching power demand at lower cost than a fossil fuel-based grid - even before storage is considered," he wrote.

This finding  alongside previous modeling that suggests the electrification of all sectors combined with the use of low-cost electricity and heat/cold storage, hydrogen and demand response can result in 100% decarbonization of all US energy sectors  provides confidence that the goals of the Paris Agreement are within reach if high percentages of clean, renewable energy can be integrated worldwide, he added.
An extremely rare white giraffe has been spotted at Tarangire National Park in Tanzania.

The giraffe calf has a condition called leucism that results in loss of pigmentation. Her body surface cells are not capable of making pigment, but she is not an albino, explained the Wild Nature Institute, in a blog post.

Related: Fueled by demand from Asia, rhino poaching hits record across Africa

A guide named the giraffe Omo after a popular brand of local detergent.

Experts at the Wild Nature Institute first spotted Omo last year. We were lucky enough to resight her again this January, almost exactly one year later, the Institute explained, in its blog post. We are thrilled that she is still alive and well.

Related: New bird with amazing voice 'like Adele' discovered in India

Leucism occurs when some or all pigment cells fail to develop during differentiation, so part or all of the animals body surface lacks cells capable of making pigment. One way to tell the difference between albino and leucistic animals is that albino individuals lack melanin everywhere, including in the eyes, so the resulting eye color is red from the underlying blood vessels, explained the Institute.

[Leucism] is simply a rare genetic condition - drawing four aces in a row from a deck of cards is also a rare occurrence, noted Derek Lee, quantitative ecologist at the Wild Nature Institute, in an email to FoxNews.com. Whether a mutation affecting coloration, such as leucism, is adaptive or not over evolutionary time will require continued observations.

Related: Cute zoo babies

Omos unusual coloration, however, has prompted fears that she could become a target for poachers.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
The fancy frill and cheek horns that adorned the head of a triceratops relative may have helped the dinosaur communicate, possibly acting as a social or sexy signal, a new study suggests.

This isn't the first time researchers have analyzed the skull of Protoceratops andrewsi, a sheep-size dinosaur with four legs that dates to the Cretaceous period, about 75 million years ago. Protoceratops andrewsi lived just before Triceratops, and paleontologists regularly come across their fossilized remains in Mongolia.

As researchers collected more specimens over the years, they noticed a peculiar pattern: The frill was absent in juveniles, but it quickly grew disproportionately larger in relation to the dinosaur's size in adulthood. [Tiny & Old: Images of 'Triceratops' Ancestors]

This sudden burst in frill growth suggests that 6.5-foot-long P. andrewsi used the structure as a signal, possible to convey its dominance and age, and maybe even serve as a sexual sign, the researchers said.

"Paleontologistshave long suspected that many of the strange features we see in dinosaurs were linked to sexual display and social dominance, but this is very hard to show," study lead author David Hone, a lecturer of zoology at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), said in a statement. "The growth pattern we see in Protoceratops matches that seen for signaling structures in numerous different living species and forms a coherent pattern from very young animals right through to large adults."

To investigate, the researchers measured how the frill changed in length and width in 37 dinosaurs over four life stages, including hatchling babies, young animals, near-adults and adults. The frill changed in size, as well as shape, becoming proportionally wider as the dinosaur grew up, they noted.

The dinosaur's cheek horns also grew larger with age, but they did not grow as much as the frills, according to the study. This finding suggests that P. andrewsiused its cheek horns for signaling as well, but more evidence is needed to confirm that idea.

"Biologists are increasingly realizing that sexual selection is a massively important force in shaping biodiversity both now and in the past," said study co-author Rob Knell, a professor of evolutionary ecology at QMUL.

"Not only does sexual selection account for most of the stranger, prettier and more impressive features that we see in the animal kingdom, [but] it also seems to play a part in determining how new species arise," Knell said. "And there is increasing evidence that it also has effects on extinction rates and on the ways by which animals are able to adapt to changing environments."

The study raises some interesting and compelling interpretations of P. andrewsi's frills and cheek horns, said Andrew Farke, a paleontologist at the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont, California, who was not involved in the new research.

"I would suspect that there is some sort of role in reproduction for this, if it's the adults that are showing the biggest size of this, it makes sense," Farke told Live Science. "On the other hand, it's also likely that it could just be for how old are you relative to the next animal, so who gets to the food first?"

The study was published online Jan. 13 in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica.

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Microsoft has published a list of new PCs that will be supported on older versions of Windows -- but only for the next year and a half.



Following an announcement last week that earlier versions of Windows will not be supported on the newest chips from Intel and other chipmakers, Microsoft has published a link to an initial list of systems using the new 6th Generation Intel Core processor, aka, Skylake. Those systems will be supported on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 until July 17, 2017.



Going forward, as new silicon generations are introduced, they will require the latest Windows platform at that time for support, Terry Myerson, Executive Vice President at Microsoft, said last week in a blog post addressed to business customers. Windows 7 was designed nearly 10 years ago and the underlying code is too burdensome to continue to support on new chips, particularly for businesses, Myerson said.

Related: Windows 10 will only work on newest PCs, says Microsoft



The initial list of systems includes dozens of models from Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Lenovo, and NEC. For example, HP lists supported systems here and Dell here.

This list is not final and will be continually updated in the coming months, a Microsoft spokesperson said in an email sent to Foxnews.com.



Dell recommends that customers upgrade Skylake systems to Windows 10 to continue receiving support after July 2017 or consider Dell ProSupport services, Dell said in a statement posted to a Dell support page. Dell will continue to provide best effort support for Skylake systems with Win 7/8.1 through our ProSupport service, Dell added in the statement.

Related: Here are the best laptops of 2015



Microsoft has announced that support for Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will end on July 17, 2017 for all Intel Skylake processor systems. This means that all security fixes will end on this date and customers should transition to Windows 10 prior to this date, Lenovo said on a support page.



Dont panic if youre using Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 on older chips prior to Skylake. Windows 7 will continue to be supported for security, reliability, and compatibility through January 14, 2020 on older Intel and AMD processors. Windows 8.1 will receive the same support through January 10, 2023, Myerson said last week.



Intel, for its part, wants everyone to upgrade to Windows 10 and has a promotion page insisting that Windows 10 runs best on its newest chips. Needless to say, some of that is marketing hype in order to convince consumers and businesses to buy new PCs. But Intel has also built functions into the new processors that speed up some of Windows 10s new features. That includes biometric authentication in the form of Windows Hello, allowing quick access to your PC by facial or fingerprint recognition. The subtext for Windows Hello is that Microsoft wants to make computers more secure. Intel is also trying to promote new connection technologies via its Skylake chips such as USB Type-C, a much smaller USB connector than found on PCs today. Dell, for example, uses the connector on its new Skylake-based XPS 13 and XPS 15 laptops.






Your pregnant neighbor asks for the name of your pediatrician, and you realize you really dont want to refer her to that practice. Your response is telling: You may be surprised at your feelings  or realize a change is overdue.

But should you dump the doctor who knows your kids entire medical history?

A pediatrician specializes in the health of newborns and all children up to and including teenagers. A good one is a constant throughout the formative years. Some parents find a pediatrician after careful interviews and research. Others are assigned one at a childs birth and decide to stay with the practice for years.

But relationships evolve over time. While one doctor might have been the right choice for you and your newborn, its time for a change if any of these seven scenarios are a common experience.

1: You Wonder How Much Your Doctor Cares

Perhaps you call to inquire about symptoms (is it strep?) and the staff insists you come in. Yet the doctor barely glances at your child and declares it a simple virus. Or worse, the entire appointment is rushed and youre basically shoved out of the room. Maybe you never even see your doctor, but only an associate.

Remember, the pediatrician is your consultant. He or she should examine your child and listen to your concerns. Dr. Leana Wen, co-author of "When Doctors Dont Listen: How to Avoid Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests," points out several reasons doctors seem distant these days: They have too many patients to see; they rely more on technology than dialogue to unearth health issues; and younger doctors are trained to focus on tests and treatments rather than actual patients. If you feel your doctor isn't listening or your child is just a quick insurance payment, it's time to move on.

2: The Office Lacks Management

The office phone is habitually busy. Your request for a same-day appointment is met with silence. The office is understaffed. You've sat in the waiting room an hour past your appointment on a regular basis (the national average is 19 minutes). Find someone more available when your child needs medical attention.

3: The Staff is Rude

No bones about it  the staff is rude, whether it's the snippy scheduler, the obnoxious check-in staff, the nurse who rolls her eyes at your questions, or the billing department employee who refuses to correct mistakes (or admit them). If your pediatrician's staff is a problem, give the doctor a chance to address it. But if nothing improves, it's time to find a place that doesn't make you grit your teeth before calling.

4: You Worry About Your Child's Comfort

Is your child approaching puberty? Perhaps your daughter suddenly avoids the male pediatrician she's had since birth, or your son insists you ask his female pediatrician no "embarrassing" questions. It's time to find a new doctor for your child during the transition into young adulthood.

5: Your Child's Issues 'Baffle' the Doctor

Your child has a recurring concern  a rash or odd fever  and the doctor won't send you to a specialist. Doctors are human. They can't know everything. But if your child's symptoms are baffling him, it's not about his ego. Ask your insurance company for a referral and the name of a new pediatrician.

6: Your Doctor Ignores Your Concerns

You think your child has a bigger issue  a serious illness, special needs or mental health concerns  and your doctor pooh-poohs the concerns. Not good. Dr. William Ohriner, a pediatrician at Inova Fairfax Hospital, advises, "If you feel like you are getting blown off, and they are not listening to you, I think its time to get a new pediatrician." Parents should not have to battle their child's doctor  a hired advocate, mind you  when they have genuine fears about their child's well-being.

7: Your Choices Get No Respect

Whether you breastfeed your children, use formula, vaccinate, delay or avoid vaccinations, you are constantly pressured to change your mind. And when you don't, you receive condescending comments about your lack of medical knowledge. It's OK to disagree on some things, but life is too short for an unsupportive pediatrician. Find one with similar values and an open mind when you have differing opinions.

The American Board of Pediatrics points out that while all doctors must be licensed to practice, only those who go on to successfully complete a specialty residency training program can apply for board certification. The difference? Board-certified pediatricians continue to learn, and receive ongoing training in new treatments and medical care methods, which means they are voluntarily keeping updated on the latest advances in pediatrics.

If you think it's time to make that move, trust your gut  and find the best health care professional you can.

More from LifeZette.com:

A Second Report Card, Just for Kids Feelings

In This Florida Court, Here Comes the Dog

Why Daughters Need Their Dads So Much

Your Teens Secret Social World
A southwest Florida man is in custody after his girlfriend, her teenage daughter, the couple's toddler and their dog were found dead at their home.

Jail records show that 27-year-old Patrick Sean Carlopoli was being held Monday on multiple charges. Local media outlets report that Lee County deputies responded early Sunday morning to a 911 call from Carlopoli at Iona Lakes Apartments in Fort Myers.

An arrest report says Carlopoli directed deputies into an apartment, where they found 37-year-old Tammy Modlin and 16-year-old Montana Modlin dead on a bed with a firearm between them. The deputies also found 3-year-old Jeanne Carlopoli and a dog fatally stabbed.

The report said that Carlopoli told deputies that he shot his "wife," though officials say the couple wasn't married.

Jail records didn't list an attorney for Carlopoli.
They served the United States on battlefields from Korea to Iraq, but now they live in the shadow of the nation they once served, deported to Mexico for offenses as minor as getting caught with marijuana.

While many U.S. veterans find adjusting to civilian life difficult, writing a bad check, possessing marijuana or getting into a bar fight are enough to get some veterans banished from the nation they fought to protect. Thats because they were not citizens when they donned the uniform and took up arms for America. Any U.S. obligation to them ended when they got in trouble with the law.

Some people get out of the military and go back to communities with good support systems and some dont, said Hector Barajas, 38, one of several veterans who lives in the Deported Veterans Support House, a modest building in the Otay Centenario neighborhood on the east side of Tijuana. Many of the men being deported served in Vietnam and didnt get the treatment that were supposed to get.

Reminders of their service and evidence of their patriotism adorn the walls of the home known as The Bunker. Draped in flags, decorated with military memorabilia and photos, the 1,000-square-foot, three-room building is a step up from the cramped apartment Barajas used to share with fellow banished veterans. At any given time, there are half a dozen or more men living in the home, just 3 miles from the San Ysidro border crossing.

I knew the risk and I know Im paying for it. I just hope I dont have to pay for it forever.  Daniel Torres

Although Barajas has become the patron saint of deported veterans, his journey to The Bunker is not unique. He moved to the U.S. as a 7-year-old, and became a legal resident through his parents. When he was old enough, he joined the U.S. Army, landing in the fabled 82nd Airborne Division where he served from 1995 to 2001.

Not long after he was honorably discharged, Barajas was arrested after an incident in which a firearm was discharged from his vehicle. No one was hurt, but he pleaded guilty and did two years in prison. He was deported for the first time in 2004, and again in 2009. He left his wife and young daughter behind in California.

In Mexico, Barajas battled drug addiction for years before getting himself clean in 2013. By then, he also had found an underground community of similarly situated veterans who had come back from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq only to be sent across the border. He opened his apartment to as many as he could, and nearly two years ago, Barajas and his band of brothers moved into their current digs.

Structure, chores and self-reliance help the veterans tap the discipline they once knew in the military, and aid Barajas in keeping order. When one lodger moves on, another is always there to take his or her place.

For Barajas, it is more than just a halfway house. From The Bunker and through the nonprofit deportedveteranssupporthouse.org, he tries to help U.S. vets who show up at his door or find themselves sent to as many as 22 different nations, including Bosnia, Ghana and Ecuador. Much of his time is taken up by long-distance counseling and political advocacy.

We support deported veterans on their path to self-sufficiency by providing assistance in the realms of food, clothing, and shelter as they adjust to life in their new country of residence, reads the organizations mission statement. Ultimately, we hope to see an end to the need of our services as we advocate for political legislation which would prohibit the deportation of United States service personnel, both former and current. We advocate for veterans and their families.

According to Barajas, the soldiers and sailors he helps face endless problems -- from the possible loss of native citizenship to the possibility of criminal charges awaiting them in their original country for their service in the war.

No federal agency tracks the number of deported U.S. veterans, but some immigration advocates estimate there are hundreds, if not thousands. Barajas says he is aware of more than 300 spread throughout the world and typically sent home to their birth countries even though they often have no family or connections there.

Most deported veterans were permanent residents, or green-card holders, at the time they enlisted, according to Department of Defense spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen. He said about 5,000 documented noncitizens sign up for the military every year.

The military does not require citizenship, just status as a lawful permanent resident. The Pentagon estimates that up to 65,000 noncitizens are now serving in the U.S military. A prominent incentive for joining is that the resident will be fast-tracked to naturalized citizenship. But a brush with the law before the paperwork is complete means expulsion.

In one particularly cruel irony, honorably discharged veterans like Barajas remain eligible for VA benefits and medical treatment for injuries suffered during their service. But most of these benefits lie in the U.S., beyond their reach.

Im still entitled to a military funeral and the VA will pay for the marker, he said. I cant come back now, but I can be buried in Arlington. Only then will they give me an American flag and say, Thank you for your service.

At the heart of the issue lies the question of whether non-citizen veterans earned special treatment on the battlefield. Former Marine Dominic Certo, author of Gold in the Coffins, and an adviser to the veterans advocacy organization Operation Homefront, believes they do.

Anyone who has served our country and risked their lives or provided service for the citizens of this country as a veteran deserves amnesty -- especially when there are so many who have done nothing to earn citizenship or provide a military service to our country, Certo said.

William Gheen, president of the Americans for Legal Immigration, disagrees.

Americans want both legal and illegal immigrants that commit crimes to be deported in the interest of protecting American property, jobs, taxpayer resources and lives, said Gheen. Immigration laws should be enforced equally.

Often, noncitizen veterans are deported without even getting to tell their side of the story, said Margaret Stock, an Alaska-based attorney, retired Army lieutenant colonel and West Point professor. Stock has taken on several veterans deportation cases, and says the situation has become significantly worse under the Obama administration.

The administration is deporting as many criminal aliens as possible for the numbers, but it doesnt take into account military service, Stock said. Most people also dont understand how complicated immigration law really is and how easy it is to run afoul of these complex laws.

Making matters worse, Stock said, is that defendants in deportation cases are not automatically given attorneys and often cant afford to hire their own, resulting in many being wrongfully deported.

Any lawful permanent resident, veteran or not, can be deported upon conviction of a crime that falls under the extremely broad umbrella of a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude. This can be either a misdemeanor or felony, and typically includes anything from assault, fraud and perjury to robbery, theft and bribery. The rulings are often viewed by immigration lawyers as arbitrary and the immigration code now includes scores of petty offenses listed alongside the severe ones, all punishable by deportation.

Still, the federal government is very deliberate in its review of cases involving veterans, insisted Gillian Christensen, spokeswoman for the U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Any action taken by ICE that may result in the removal of an alien with military service must be authorized by the senior leadership in a field office, following an evaluation by local counsel, she said. ICE specifically identifies service in the U.S. military as a positive factor that should be considered when deciding whether or not prosecutorial discretion should be exercised.

The final order of removal is issued not by ICE, but a federal immigration judge.

Tijuanas proximity to the U.S., together with the fact that many deported veterans were originally from Mexico, makes it an all-too-familiar landing spot. At shelters and barrios throughout the city, men of all ages who served in the U.S. military can be found.

Andres de Leon, 72, crossed into the U.S. as a teenager, fought in Vietnam and was honorably discharged from the Army in 1969. Six years later, drugs and joblessness led to a brush with the law. He was deported in 1975, and has lived in Tijuana ever since. His dream of returning to the U.S. still burns.

My friends are all dead now, he said from the kitchen of the Tijuana shelter that has affectionately been named Chow Hall." But I still want to go back.

Other cases are more complex. Daniel Torres, 29, came to the U.S. illegally with his family as a child, but enlisted as a Marine in 2007 and was soon deployed to Iraq. Technically, he was not a lawful resident and should never have been accepted.

I just didnt want to be another Mexican living in the United States, Torres said. I wanted to say I had contributed, that I had done something for the country.

After Iraq, they needed volunteers for Afghanistan and I liked military life and was considering being a lifer, he added. But my legal status was always in the back of my mind.

Torres lost his wallet during pre-deployment training. When he went to obtain a new one, his secret got out and he was dismissed with a general discharge  largely on the strength of high recommendations from his superiors.

Torres missed the military, and sought to join the French Foreign Legion. But injuries sustained in Iraq disqualified him and, unable to legally return to his family in the U.S., Torres drifted to Tijuana. He works as a paralegal during the day and goes to law school at night.

It would be easy for me to play the victim, but I dont feel I should, he said. I knew the risk and I know Im paying for it. I just hope I dont have to pay for it forever.
A Northern California city has declared a state of emergency after high waves and heavy rain driven by the El Nino system have eroded cliffs, leaving oceanfront apartment buildings in danger of falling into the Pacific.

Authorities in Pacifica, a town of around 40,000 people 15 miles southwest of San Francisco, declared a state of emergency Friday due to accelerated erosion of the cliffs along Esplanade Avenue and Palmetto Avenue.

On Monday afternoon, an apartment building along Esplanade became the at least the third property to be evacuated. Police fanned out to post yellow tags on 20 apartment doors, giving residents access to move their belongings out.

"That's scary," Pacifica Police Chief Daniel Steidle told KTVU, referring to the eroding cliffs out the apartment windows. "I wouldn't want to be in those buildings right now. It's very scary to look at that."

Some residents were more willing to leave than others.

"You guys are going to have to physically drag me out," Michelle McKay told Steidle. "I'm not leaving!"

McKay and other residents told KTVU that due to the high cost of living in the Bay Area, finding a place they can afford long-term will be a challenge. "I have nowhere to go and no money to go there," McKay said through tears.

Pacifica has dealt with coastal erosion that threatens properties before. Scores of units were evacuated in 2010 after heavy storms began shearing off large sections of the cliffs. In 1998, the last time a major El Nino storm hit, residents of one home managed to flee just before it collapsed over the eroded bluff.

The soaking winter rainstorms that have hit California with a vengeance are forecast to continue through March.

Click for more from KTVU.

Click for more from SFGate.com.
The Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina, where nine parishioners attending a Bible study were gunned down by an avowed white racist last June, has named as their new pastor, for the first time in the church's storied history, a woman  the Rev. Betty Deas Clark.

In her first message to the church on Sunday, Clark, who according to The Post and Courier was trembling and scared, preached a message about hope.

"In my heart I felt that it was the right word," she said after the church service. "I did not want to dwell too heavily on the past, but I wanted to embrace the reality of the present and the future."

Clark, who previously led the historic Mount Pisgah AME Church in Sumter according to WIAT, said she was a friend of the late state senator and Rev. Clementa Pinckney who was among those executed last June.

"I'm sure that to some of my parishioners it's like yesterday," Clark told WIAT.

"It's going to take me some time to sit with the people, cry with the people, talk to the people, then talk to God and ask Him where do we go from here? To be determined by God's will," she said.

In her message, she told the congregation that it would take time for them to get to know each other.

Read the Original Story from ChristianPost.com
Coast Guard officials said 13 people were rescued from a sinking yacht off the Florida coast Monday night, with the last person being taken off the vessel 25 minutes before it sank.

Petty Officer Jon-Paul Rios says the Coast Guard responded after getting a call at approximately 6:30 p.m. that the 106-foot motor yacht named Serena III was taking on water. Rios says it's unclear why the boat was taking on water.

Rescuers reached the yacht about 30 minutes later.

"It was an extremely hectic situation," Rios said. "It was choppy seas, high winds. It was not the most favorable weather, but at the same time, we have some of the most proficient crews is the Coast Guard's Search and Rescue, so they were able to do it successfully."

The vessel was carrying six passengers, six crew members and a captain, none of whom were suffering from medical emergencies Investigators said those who were on board the yacht were from Brazil and could only speak Portuguese.

Officials told WSVN the vessel had left Ft. Lauderdale at 4:30 p.m. and was bound for Freeport, Bahamas.

A Fort Lauderdale-based salvage company was dispatched to retrive the remains of the yacht, but was unable to do so. The Serena III remained underwater late Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from WSVN.
A Colorado homeowner who was tied up and robbed at gunpoint Sunday may face charges for shooting and killing the suspect who was fleeing in a stolen car, Fox 31 reported.

The unidentified homeowner, who managed somehow to untie himself after the robbery, reportedly went outside his home in Littleton and fired shots into the car at the fleeing suspect. The man in the car was reportedly identified as David Martinez, 38, who has a long criminal history of burglary, theft and drugs. Martinez crashed the car about a block later and died.

The Denver Channel reported that under the states Make My Day law, a homeowner is able to shoot an intruder who enters the home, but, according to one legal analyst, the law does not protect a homeowner if the shooting occurs from the porch, yard or driveway.

If the homeowner believed his life was in imminent danger hes allowed to act in self-defense, David Beller, the legal analyist, said. Another legal analyst told Fox 31 that, in order not to be charged, the homeowner should have been threatened at the moment he pulled the trigger.

If a guy is driving away, even if it is your vehicle that he stole, you cannot use deadly force, Dan Recht, the expert, said.

The victim could be charged if the prosecutor decides that the shooting was not a case of personal protection.

One neighbor, who spoke to Fox 31, said the homeowner should not be charged because it was still a matter of self-defense.

Click for more from Fox 31.
A Milwaukee man wanted to storm a Masonic temple with a machine gun and kill at least 30 people in an attack he hoped would show "nobody can play with Muslims" and spark more mass shootings in the United States, federal agents said Tuesday after the man's arrest.

Federal prosecutors charged 23-year-old Samy Mohamed Hamzeh with unlawfully possessing a machine gun and receiving and possessing firearms not registered to him. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney, Dean Puschnig, didn't immediately respond to a question asking why charges were limited to gun possession. Hamzeh's attorney, federal defender Ronnie Murray, didn't immediately return email and voicemail messages left after business hours.

According to an FBI affidavit, agents were tipped off in September that Hamzeh planned to travel to Israel in October to attack Israeli soldiers and citizens in the West Bank. He abandoned those plans due to "family, financial and logistic reasons," the affidavit said, but refocused his efforts on a domestic attack.

Hamzeh discussed his plans extensively with two FBI informants. The affidavit said the FBI started recording his conversations with the informants in October.

Hamzeh and the two informants traveled to a gun range on Jan. 19 and practiced with a pistol. Afterward they took a tour of a Masonic temple in Milwaukee. The affidavit does not name the temple and Puschnig declined to identify it.

Masons are members of a fraternal organization that carries out a variety of activities including charity work. Wisconsin has nearly 11,000 Masons in 180 lodges, according to Frank Struble, grand master of Free and Accepted Masons in Wisconsin. The organization is not a religion.

Struble said the allegations were "hard to hear." He said he knew which Masonic center had been targeted but declined to identify it.

"Masons are a part of an organization that helped build this country," Struble said. "I can understand from that standpoint where someone who is against this country would target us."

The owner of a downtown Milwaukee gym said she recently fired Hamzeh after hiring him as a trainer just a few weeks ago.

Delia Luna of 9Round Kickbox Fitness described Hamzeh as "very intense, very militant" as a trainer and said he didn't fit the atmosphere she wanted to create.

"He didn't mix well," Luna said.

Federal agents said that on Jan. 19 and into the early morning of Jan. 20, Hamzeh discussed his plans to attack the temple with the informants, telling them they needed two more machine guns  the group apparently already had one  and silencers. They planned to station one person at the temple's entrance while the other two went through the building, killing everyone they saw. They then planned to walk away from the scene as if nothing had happened.

"I am telling you, if this hit is executed, it will be known all over the world ... all the Mujahedeen will be talking and they will be proud of us," Hamzeh said, according to the affidavit. "Such operations will increase in America, when they hear about it. The people will be scared and the operations will increase. ... This way we will be igniting it. I mean we are marching at the front of the war."

Hamzeh added that he hoped to kill 30 people, "because these 30 will terrify the world. The (expletive) will know that nobody can play with Muslims."

He added, "We are here defending Islam, young people together join to defend Islam, that's it, that is what our intention is."

According to the affidavit, Hamzeh met with two undercover FBI agents on Monday. They presented him with two automatic machine guns and a silencer. He paid for the weapons and silencer in cash and put them in the trunk of his car. The agents then arrested him and recovered the guns and silencer.

Hamzeh's arrest marks the Milwaukee area's second brush with a mass shooting in less than four years. A white supremacist named Wade Michael Page fatally shot six people at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, a Milwaukee suburb, in 2012. Page shot himself in the head after a police officer wounded him.

Last month Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, opened fire on a social services center in San Bernardino, California, killing 14 people. They later died in a shootout with police.
A Florida man who allegedly confessed to pledging allegiance to Allah and plotting a mass shooting while dressed like a comic-book villain will only need to post $5,000 bond and stay on house arrest as he awaits trial.

Enrique Dominguez, 20, was arrested Friday and charged with aggravated assault, the Miami Herald reported.

Earlier this month, Dominguez allegedly told a co-worker at bicycle part distributor J&B Importers that hed purchased a shotgun to murder his boss. He then showed the co-worker ISIS execution videos, according to an arrest report reviewed by the Herald.

Dominguez expressed an intent to become radicalized and said he would dress up as the Joker from the Batman movie and bring the gun to work during my break, the report said. Dominguez has a Joker tattoo on his shoulder, the arrest report stated, and has posted photos dressed as a clown on social media sites. One allegedly shows him posing with 15 knives. The caption for that photo reads My lil arsenal.

Investigators said they found a bag with a clown mask, duct tape, plastic wrap, gloves and two large knives when they searched Dominguezs home. He allegedly confessed to planning a killing spree following a day of allegiance.

Dominguezs attorney, Saam Zangeneh, said in court on Saturday that the charges had been overstated.

This may have been some Internet lashing out when you get frustrated with someone and you post things on the Internet, he said.

The allegations against Dominguez are reminiscent of the deadly 2012 theatre massacre in Aurora, Colorado. During that attack, James Holmes dyed his hair orange before opening fire on a crowd watching a Batman film, killing 12 and wounding 70. He reportedly later told police he was the Joker. Holmes was sentenced to 12 consecutive life sentences in August.
A man legally named Santa Claus was arrested after police in Idaho said they saw him driving on the wrong side of the street.

KREM-TV in Spokane, Washington, reports that 67-year-old Claus initially was booked on one count of DUI. He later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving. He paid a $700 fine.

Claus, pictured in a jail photo with a big white beard, was arrested Thursday in Post Falls, near the Washington border. Claus told police he wasn't from around Post Falls and wasn't familiar with the streets, according to police documents.

Police noted he was cooperative throughout the arrest.
A sheriff's deputy working with federal drug agents to serve a warrant at a Lower 9th Ward home was shot five times by a man inside and was in critical condition Tuesday, New Orleans police said.

Police immediately arrested a suspect and said in a statement that he will be charged with attempted first-degree murder and narcotics violations.

Deputy Stephen Arnold, 35, was the only person injured, and he underwent surgery for two hours, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said.

The suspect taken into custody was Jarvis Hardy, 26, police said in their statement. Two other men who were inside were being questioned, police spokesman Garry Flot said.

One of Arnold's wounds was in the neck, and it will be 48 hours before it's clear whether he has neurological damage, Norman said. "We're praying, praying, praying," he said.

Arnold was working with the Drug Enforcement Administration, officials said. When law enforcement entered the house to serve the warrant, one person inside opened fire shortly after 6 a.m., Deputy Chief Paul M. Noel told reporters at the scene -- in an area that abuts the levee protecting the neighborhood from the Mississippi River. The Lower 9th Ward saw some of the city's worst devastation from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Eight drug task force teams had gone out to conduct raids Tuesday morning, said Special Agent Debbie Webber, a spokeswoman for the DEA's New Orleans division. Twelve officers from federal and local agencies were involved with the team where the shooting took place, she said.

The raids were part of a seven-month investigation into drugs, heroin and violent offenses that resulted in about 60 arrested, Webber said. The DEA led the drug investigation, but the task force also included the FBI and local law-enforcement agencies, she said.

The street where the shooting happened includes two historic houses with pagoda-like roofs built in the 1900s by a family in the riverboat business. Betty Magee lives one street over. She's been in the area since 2001, with the exception of two years when she left after Hurricane Katrina. She said the neighborhood is quiet and nobody bothers her, but she noted that many new residents have been moving in and renovating houses since Katrina.

"I come and go any time of the day and night," she said.

Albert Greenleaf said he heard about the shooting on the news Tuesday, recognizing the street where his sister lived. He and his wife rushed over to see whether she was ok -- and she was.

"It's normally quiet and peaceful," he said of the area, where he also owns a house.
Less than a week to go before the crucial Iowa caucuses. Lots of campaign events during our hours today.

1000EST -- OH Gov Kasich holds a town hall meeting. Molly's Tavern, New Boston, NH. LIVE via LiveU

1030EST -- Sen Cruz makes a Clarke County retail stop. Oswald Barn/High Point Genetics, Osceola, IA. LIVE via LiveU

1030EST -- Sen Rubio holds a town hall meeting. American Legion Post 34, Oskaloosa, IA. LIVE via LiveU

1230EST -- OH Gov Kasich holds a town hall meeting. Franklin Pierce College, Rindge, NH. LIVE via LiveU

1245EST -- Sen Cruz makes a Monroe County retail stop. Quality Ag Building, Albia, IA. BABY POOL COVER

1315EST -- Sen Rubio holds a town hall meeting. Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown, IA. LIVE via LiveU

1100EST -- Sen Sanders meets with United Steelworkers Local 310L. Des Moines, IA. LIVE via LiveU

New Fox polls out last night show Bernie Sanders eating into Hillary Clintons lead in both Iowa and nationally. Unlike other recent polls, in the Fox News polls Clinton still leads in Iowa among likely caucus voters. Clinton gets 48% to Sanders 42%.

There was a Democratic Town Hall last night where all three Democratic candidates had an opportunity to answer questions from a live (and taped) audience. Sanders attacked Hillary Clinton for her vote to authorize the war in Iraq. He also jabbed her on the Keystone Pipeline, her ties to Wall Street and Free Trade Deals.

Clinton was milder in her criticism of Sanders suggesting his ideas were nice, but unrealistic. She also got in a few good lines in response to an audience member who suggested some felt she was dishonest, "They throw all this stuff at me, and I'm still standing," Clinton said, adding that the attacks come "because I've been on the front lines of change and progress since I was your age. Don't get discouraged. It's hard. If it were easy, hey, there wouldn't be any contest. But it's not easy. There are very different visions, different values, different forces at work, and you have to have somebody who is a proven fighter -- somebody who has taken them on and won, and kept going, and will do that as president."

New Quinnipiac polling out today on the GOP race. Trump gets 31% to 29% for Ted Cruz. The war of words between the two men is also intensifying.

The New York Times Jonathan Martin today writes,

Republican leaders are growing alarmed by the ferocious ways the partys mainstream candidates for president are attacking one another, and they fear that time is running out for any of them to emerge as a credible alternative to Donald J. Trump or Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Leaders of the Republican establishment, made up of elected officials, lobbyists and donors, are also sending a message to the mainstream candidates, such as former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, that they should withdraw from the race if they do not show strength soon.

It looks like its going to be another rocky day on Wall Street. Oil prices again fell below $30. Chinese stocks fell to their lowest level in more than a year on more slowdown fears.

Apple earnings after the bell today should give an idea of whether or not growth is slowing at the tech giant.

Two anti-abortion activists were indicted in Texas over a series of Planned Parenthood undercover videos.

Five cases of Zika virus have been confirmed in the United States. Now El Salvador is advising women not to get pregnant until 2018 so they can figure the disease out. Theres growing concern that it could be spread sexually. Scary stuff.

Good news in the fight against Diabetes. Researchers in the U.K. and U.S. may be getting closer to a cure for type 1 diabetes. Well add a guest.

The East Coast still digging out. New York City is pretty much back in business albeit with messy streets. Some schools remain closed in the tri-state area. In DC, however, schools and the federal government are still shut down. Two economicsts put the economic costs at 2.5-3 billion dollars. 42 people are dead.

President Obama banned solitary confinement for juveniles and low-level offenders. Critics call it overreach.

The President also set today to expand Americans access to retirement accounts.

The Wall Street Journal today reporting that Europe is worried about new Islamic State attacks. The WSJ writes, At least two of the terrorists involved the Paris attacks traveled on the migrant route through Greece using Syrian passports and posing as refugees. On Monday, France's interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, warned that Islamic State is producing fake passports on an industrial scale.
The parents of a 2-year-old Idaho boy who disappeared in July have been named suspects in the case, authorities said Monday.

Lemhi County Sheriff Lynn Bowerman said Jessica Mitchell and DeOrr Kunz Sr. have been "less than truthful" in the disappearance of their son, who was last seen at a campsite near the Timber Creek Reservoir in Leodore where he was staying with his parents, great-grandfather and another adult.

Bowerman said that he believes the parents know the location of DeOrr Kunz Jr., of Idaho Falls, and whether he's dead or alive.

He said the couple has not been arrested and no warrants have been issued. Bowerman said an arrest isn't imminent because the situation could change if DeOrr Kunz Jr. is found.

Bowerman and his deputies have scoured the rugged terrain surrounding the remote Idaho campsite for the boy -- using sonar imaging equipment to probe a nearby reservoir and searching a wolf den for any trace of the child.

At 2:30 p.m. on July 10, the child's 25-year-old mother called 911 from the campsite to report her son missing. She and the boy's father said they left their son with his great-grandfather while they went off to explore. The great-grandfather believed the boy was with his parents, according to police.

What happened during the 20 to 45 minutes the child was alone is a mystery to authorities.

The family's campsite sat approximately 40 yards from a fast-moving creek -- 4 to 6 feet in width and about a foot deep -- that spills into the Timber Creek Reservoir, a half mile from where the toddler was last seen.

The boy's parents have said they believe their child was abducted.

Bowerman, however, told FoxNews.com in July that he's not convinced of an abduction, noting that no other campers were seen or heard in the area at the time of the disappearance.

He also described the terrain as "steep and rugged" and said vehicles can reach the site but "the road is extremely rough."

"We don't have any evidence that somebody kidnapped this child," Bowerman said.

FoxNews.com's Cristina Corbin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The woman who became a Washington D.C. fixture by maintaining an anti-nuclear proliferation protest outside the White House for more than 30 years died Monday.

The Washington Post first reported the death of Concepcion Picciotto at a housing facility operated by a nonprofit that supports homeless women. Picciotto's precise age was not known, but she was believed to be around 80 years old.

Picciotto, along with husband and wife William and Ellen Thomas, was the face of the protest vigil, which was stationed in Lafayette Park and was seen by hundreds of thousands of tourists and other passersby.

Born in Spain, Picciotto emigrated to the U.S. in 1960 to work as a recptionist at a Spanish embassy office. She fell in with Thomas, the founder of the peace vigil, in 1981 after a protracted dispute with her ex-husband over custody of their adopted daughter.

In recent years, the Post reports, Picciotto dealt with repeated health problems and occasional confrontations with U.S. Park Police. Picciotto's tent and handmade signs were removed twice by police when they were left unattended. Both times, the vigil was restored.

"They want to keep the issue of nuclear proliferation and its potential terrible consequences before the public, District of Columbia Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton said of the protesters in 2013. And they have chosen a prime spot to do it ... We wont ever know what the success is, because it doesnt have a specific end of the kind we are used to."

Click for more from The Washington Post.
The Christian pastor who was freed in a prisoner swap with Iran described his harrowing experience Monday in an On The Record exclusive with Fox News Greta Van Susteren.

Saeed Abedini was imprisoned in 2012 on charges of setting up home churches in the Islamic theocracy.

He told Van Susteren one of his most memorable moments was when he went before an Iranian judge on those charges.

He said you are here because you want to use Christianity to remove government and it was like no, I dont want to do that, I just came here to start orphanage, loving people and share the gospel with people and just that, he said.

Abedini said the judge then told him he was using Christianity to remove the government, and yelled at him after saying he would pray for the judge.

According to Abedini, his Iranian captors gave him no clothing or reading material the entire time he was in the solitary confinement.

Once they beat me very badly because they wanted me to write something I didnt want, he told Van Susteren.

He was also subject to the threat of death by his interrogators, and was taken to watch several executions.

The worst thing I saw was when they took some Sunnis for execution, it was in front of our eyes, and they took like tens of them to hang, every Wednesday, he said.

When he was imprisoned for 60 days with retired U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, Abedini said he felt very heartbroken to see what happened when he first saw him, but said it was the best time in captivity to be with someone else.

I made a plan that I could talk to him, encourage him, he said. The best thing I could do over there was praying.
An autopsy conducted on an American tourist brutally killed in the Caribbean island of Grenada over the weekend revealed Tuesday that an extensive skull fracture and asphyxia were the causes of death, according to local media.

U.S. officials on Monday identified the victim as Jessica Lewis Colker, 39, who reportedly was attacked with a cutlass-style sword a day earlier on La Sagesse Beach in the town of St. David.

Her husband, identified in media reports as 62-year-old Brian Melito, escaped the attack, police said, and the woman's body turned up near the water. They'd apparently come across a beach that other travelers described as "totally deserted."

Police told NowGrenada.com that there was a struggle with the attacker before he fled. Later in the day, the suspect in the killing, ex-convict David Martin Benjamin, turned himself in at the St David Police Station.

As of Tuesday, Benjamin is still in police custody, and has not been charged with a crime, NowGrenada.com reports.

An autopsy released Tuesday cited extensive skull fracture and asphyxia as Colkers cause of death, the website said.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday that Colker, who is from Atlanta, was vacationing in Grenada when she died.

The embassy is working closely with officials investigating Ms. Colkers death, and asks that her familys privacy be respected during this difficult time, a statement from the embassy said, without elaborating as to how Colker died.

Benjamin, who received a 7-year prison sentence in 2014 for rape and carnal knowledge, had been released on good behavior after participating in a prison program aimed at reforming the lives of incarcerated young men, NowGrenada.com reports. He previously served time in prison for robbery, grievous harm and other convictions.

Colker was a physicians assistant who worked with anesthesiologists at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Jessica was a valued member of our Childrens team, hospital spokeswoman Julie Holkeboer told the newspaper. We are deeply saddened by this horrific news. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this very difficult time.

Colkers neighbor, Sara Greene, described her as a beautiful soul.

Greene told WSB-TV that Colker had loved to travel with her husband  also a physician  and was planning a Valentines Day benefit to help refugees.
Denmark's Parliament approved a controversial law Tuesday allowing police to seize valuables worth more than $1,500 from asylum-seekers to help cover their housing and food costs while their cases were being processed.

The law excludes items of sentimental value, such as wedding rings and family portraits, but it has been met with criticism from human rights organizations.

"Most (refugees) have lost everything and yet this legislation appears to say that the few fortunate enough to have survived the trip to Denmark with their few remaining possessions haven't lost enough," the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said, according to Reuters.

"This is a symbolic move to scare people away" from seeking asylum in Denmark, added Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen of the opposition left Red-Green Alliance that opposed the law.

After more than three hours of debate, the minority Liberal Party government's bill was adopted in a 81-27 vote, with the support of the opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People's Party  Denmark's two largest parties. One lawmaker abstained and 70 others were absent.

Amendments were made to the initial proposal, including raising the value of items the asylum-seekers can keep from 3,000 kroner ($440) to 10,000 kroner ($1,500). That brings it in line with welfare rules for Danes, who must sell assets worth more than 10,000 kroner before they can receive social benefits.

Denmark received about 20,000 asylum-seekers last year while neighboring Germany got 1.1 million and Sweden 163,000.

"We are talking about a real exodus," said Martin Henriksen, immigration spokesman for the populist Danish People's Party. "More needs to be done: we need more border controls. We need tighter immigration rules."

Denmark isnt the only country targeting items held by refugees, as Switzerland has started taking away valuables worth more than $985, Reuters reports. The German state of Baden-Wurttemberg takes valuables more than $380, and other southern states are reported to do the same.

Tuesdays bill was part of a raft of measures that included extending from one year to three the period that family members must wait before they can join a refugee in Denmark. Denmark already tightened its immigration laws last year, reducing benefits for asylum-seekers, shortening temporary residence permits and stepping up efforts to deport those whose applications are rejected.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
As Iran's president faces controversies ranging from his country's secretive nuclear program to its support of terror and alleged human rights abuses, he had a simple request for Pope Francis on Tuesday: "Pray for me."

Hassan Rouhani's visit to the Holy See saw the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian president since 1999. Iran, which agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for an end to economic sanctions, is eager to carve out a bigger role in mediating Middle East conflicts. Francis' papacy has been marked by mediation and conflict resolution.

Rouhani brought a gift of a hand-made rug. He told the pope the red-toned carpet was made in the Iranian holy city of Qhom.

The Iranian leader is on a four-day European swing to boost Iran's image abroad as well as to rehabilitate economic ties with a continent that had been a big trade partner before sanctions.

"I ask you to pray for me," Rouhani told Francis after their 40-minute meeting. He called the visit by the leader of a Muslim country to the head of the Roman Catholic church "a real pleasure."

Francis thanked Rouhani for the visit and added: "I hope for peace." He gave the Iranian a medal depicting St. Martin helping a poor man, an act Francis called "a sign of unsolicited brotherhood."

Rouhani arrived for the late-morning, closed-door meeting in a motorcade of some two dozen limousines. Security, already tight around the Vatican following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, was even more rigid than usual. Police kept tourists and Romans from walking too close to the colonnade ringing the square before and during the visit.

In his nearly three years as pope, Francis has stressed mediation as the best way to solve conflicts. He played a key role in helping Cuba and the United States to normalize their relations after decades of strict embargo.

Tehran is keen on re-establishing energy and other economic ties with Europe, long a dependable trading partner. Iran also wants to end decades of diplomatic distance with the West in the wake of the landmark deal with six nations, including the United States, to curb Tehran's nuclear activities and end economic sanctions.

Before going to the Vatican, Rouhani told a forum of business leaders in Rome that "Iran is the safest and most stable country of the entire region." It is the first state visit by an Iranian president to Europe in nearly two decades.

Italy also sees Iran as a potential peacemaker in Syria's civil war, as the Italian government fears the warfare will further destabilize Libya, just across the Mediterranean from southern Italy, fuel terrorism and jeopardize energy security.

"Italy has always backed the role of Iran as a regional player in resolving tensions in the area, starting with the Syrian crisis," Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said after meeting his Iranian counterpart, according to his office.

Rouhani has described the political talks leading to the nuclear deal as a potential blueprint for pursuing peace in the Middle East.

Rouhani's four-day visit to Italy and France is part of efforts by Iran to reach out to its old partners following the implementation of the nuclear deal, and Rouhani is eager for foreign investment after the lifting of international sanctions. The trip was originally planned for November but postponed because of the attacks in Paris.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Multiple bombings targeted a government-run security checkpoint in the central Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people and wounding over a hundred amid intense political jockeying ahead of U.N.-backed peace talks scheduled to begin in Geneva Friday.

With just three days to go, the opposition is still undecided about whether it will attend the talks, throwing diplomatic efforts into question even as the U.N.'s special envoy to Syria was preparing to send out invitations.

The talks are meant to start a political process to end the conflict that began in 2011 as a largely peaceful uprising against Assad's rule but escalated into an all-out war after a harsh state crackdown. The plan calls for cease-fires in parallel to the talks, a new constitution and elections in a year and a half.

The attack in Homs, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, came as government forces retook a strategic town from opposition fighters and militants in the south of the country.

Homs Governor Talal Barazi told the SANA news agency that the checkpoint was hit "first by a car bomb, which was then followed by a suicide bombing."

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, according to a report by the Aamaq news agency, which is affiliated with the extremist group.

Syrian state television broadcast footage of the aftermath of the Homs bombing, showing cars ablaze and extensive damage to shops and apartments around the site of the explosion in the Zahra neighborhood, which is inhabited mostly by members of President Bashar Assad's Alawite sect, an offshoot of Islam.

The district has been a frequent target of bombings in the past few months.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group which relies on a network of informants across Syria for its news, said the death toll had climbed to 25, with 15 of the casualties being security personnel.

The Observatory quoted witnesses at the scene saying the first bomber attracted a crowd of security agents by shouting curses about the Homs governor, then blew his vehicle up.

Homs, which was once known as the "capital of the revolution," is Syria's third largest city and was one of the first to rise against the government in 2012. Government forces have since managed to expel most militants from the city and much of it has been destroyed.

Meanwhile, in southern Syria, government forces took control of the town of Sheikh Maskin, culminating an offensive that began in late December to retake the town after seizing the Brigade 82 military base, nearby.

Sheikh Maskin lies near the highway connecting Damascus and the Jordanian border and connects the Syrian capital to Daraa, a border town held by opposition fighters. It is the latest in a string of battlefield successes for Assad's military that have bolstered his hand ahead of the planned peace talks.

The Saudi-backed opposition was meeting Tuesday in Riyadh to make a final decision whether to attend the talks. The opposition has accused Russia, a key backer of the Syrian government, of trying to "dictate" who from the opposition would participate in the talks.

Tensions over who would be invited to the talks forced a few days' delay and continued Tuesday, few days before Friday's target date.

Russia argued strongly against Turkey's demand to keep a leading Kurdish group out of the talks, and said it expects the U.N. envoy to resist "blackmail by Turkey and others, reflecting the sharp differences that remain.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized at a press conference in Moscow that the main Syrian Kurdish group  the Democratic Union Party, or PYD  plays an important role in fighting the Islamic State group and is an essential part of political settlement in Syria.

Turkey sees the PYD and its YPG militia group as branches of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a Kurdish group that Ankara has long fought and considers a terrorist group.


Residents say Kenyan forces have pulled out of a town in southwestern Somalia where Islamic extremists killed Kenyan peacekeepers recently.

Ahmed Hassan, who lives in El-Ade, said the town is "no man's land now" after Kenyan troops started withdrawing early Tuesday and heading toward the Kenyan border.

He said many residents started returning to their homes after the Kenyans left.

Kenyan officials have not said how many troops were killed in the attack on January 15, but the extremist group al-Shabab claimed to have killed about 100 Kenyans.

Al-Shabab opposes Kenya's military presence in Somalia and has carried out many attacks inside Kenyan territory.
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and accused of stabbing a refugee center worker to death in western Sweden.

The English-language news site The Local reported that the victim, a 22-year-old woman, was attacked Monday at the center in the town of Molndal, near Gothenburg. The alleged attacker was restrained by other residents until police arrived.

It was messy, of course, a crime scene with blood. The perpetrator had been overpowered by other residents, people were depressed and upset," Police spokesman Thomas Fuxborg told the TT news agency, according to The Local.

Police did not immediately identify the suspect or his nationality, but did say that he was a resident of the center, which houses unaccompanied minors between the ages of 14 and 17.

Swedish media identified the suspect as being 15 years old and the victim as 22-year-old Alexandra Mezher, who has family from Lebanon.

"It is so terrible. She was a person who wanted to do good, who wanted to be good. And then someone murdered her when she's doing her job," one of her cousins, who was not identified, told the Expressen tabloid, according to The Local.

Staffan Alexandersson, a social worker and spokesperson for Living Nordic AB, which runs the center, told TT that "we're working right now in the crisis team to deal with both staff and children and all residents in the facility have been moved to alternative accommodations.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven condemned the attack during a visit to the area on Monday, calling it a "terrible crime." He added that many Swedes fear that such attacks could happen again.

"I believe that there are quite many people in Sweden who feel a lot of concern that there can be more cases of this kind, when Sweden receives so many children and youth, who come alone," he told Radio Sweden, according to the BBC.

Fuxborg told the AFP that "these kinds of calls are becoming more and more common.

We're dealing with more incidents like these since the arrival of so many more refugees from abroad, he said.

Sweden accepted approximately 160,000 asylum applications last year, becoming a popular destination for refugees fleeing turmoil in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. However, the country recently introduced temporary border checks in an effort to control the flow of new arrivals.

The Local, citing the Swedish Migration Agency, reported that the number of threats and violent incidents at asylum facilities rose by 46 percent in 2015 over the previous year

But Lofven said it was too early to draw conclusions about Mondays stabbing.

"Many of those young people who come to Sweden have had traumatic experiences and there are no easy answers," he told reporters, according to The Local.

Click for more from The Local.se.
Bennigans Brings True Irish Hospitality to Melbourne

First new restaurant in Florida to host ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 28

January 26, 2016 // Franchising.com // MELBOURNE, FL  Its been three years in the makingand now the time is here.

Bennigans  where every day is St. Paddys Day  is bringing its Legendary Irish hospitality and memorable dining experiences to the people of Brevard County.

Located at 3955 W. New Haven Ave. in West Melbourne, the nations newest Bennigans will host a ribbon cutting ceremony this Thursday, Jan. 28, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The festivities will be hosted by the West Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, Legendary Restaurant Brands Chairman & CEO Paul Mangiamele, local franchise owners Marisol Gonzalez and Dr. Allamm Morales and General Manager Judson Dunham.

The excitement throughout Brevard County has been palpable with raving Bennigans fans calling and sending us messages non-stop asking when we will be opening; so I am pleased to say the answer is Now! said Gonzalez. We cant wait to welcome everyone to our beautiful new restaurant, which features our contemporary prototype design along with all the delicious food, drinks and friendly service you expect from Bennigans. So come on in, sink your teeth into a World Famous Monte Cristo and let us treat you to a truly memorable dining experience.

The West Melbourne Bennigans features the chains newly introduced exterior design and signage prototypes, along with contemporary features such as upgraded furniture and flooring, a comfortable enclosed patio area with a 70 flat-screen TV, several additional large flat screen TVs in the bar, eight beers on tap and more than 20 signature cocktails.

Marisol and Allamm have built an absolutely gorgeous new Bennigans and I have no doubt that the folks in and around West Melbourne will welcome the restaurant with open arms, said Mangiamele. Their timing is impeccable too, as we are celebrating Bennigans 40th anniversary throughout 2016. We are committed to reclaiming our rightful place as the innovator and leader of the casual dining industry, and it all starts in great towns like West Melbourne.

Now with more than 150 restaurants open or under contract worldwide, Legendary Restaurant Brands LLC is continuing to experience strong growth while simultaneously redefining casual dining. Since the end of 2012, the company has opened new franchise locations in Clarksburg and Frederick, MD; Santa Clara and Fremont, CA; Saddle Brook, NJ; Tysons Corner, VA; Veracruz, Mexico; Larnaca, Cyprus; and Dubai, UAE.

Additional restaurants are planned for California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia; and internationally in Mexico, Central America, Cyprus, Egypt, Korea, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and South America.

Hours of operation for the West Melbourne Bennigans are 11 a.m.  10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m.  11 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

For a complete menu and more information, visit Bennigans.com.

About Legendary Restaurant Brands

Legendary Restaurant Brands owns the iconic Bennigans and Steak and Ale brands  the pioneers of casual dining  as well as the fast-casual concept, Bennigans On The Fly. Bennigans is a high-energy neighborhood restaurant and tavern that is redefining casual dining. With chef-driven food, innovative drinks and warm, friendly Irish hospitality, this Legendary brand delivers memorable dining experiences to every guest and compelling returns to all its franchisees. Steak and Ale is another American classic poised for a triumphant return. Redefined as a 21st Century polished-casual concept, the new Steak and Ale will once again set the standard for affordable steakhouses. Bennigans and Steak and Ale will be celebrating their 40th and 50th anniversaries, respectively, in 2016.

For franchising information, visit Bennigans.com or call 855-GOT-BENN.

SOURCE Legendary Restaurant Brands

Contact:

Ladd Biro

Champion Management

Founder & Principal

O: 972.930.9933

C: 817.675.3499

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Duck Donuts Franchising Company LLC Announces Central Pennsylvania Restaurant

MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (PRWEB) January 26, 2016 - Russ DiGilio, founder and owner of Duck Donuts Franchising Company LLC, has selected the central Pennsylvania location for his nationally acclaimed warm, delicious, made-to-order donuts. Duck Donuts has leased the former Verizon building at 6230 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg, PA and plans to fully renovate the facility into its iconic beach-themed donut shop.

DiGilio looks forward to delivering the Duck Donuts experience to donut enthusiasts in his own backyard. Boasting 36,000 vehicles per day, a high visibility corridor like the Carlisle Pike is a perfect site for Duck Donuts. We plan to be fully operational and serve our first donuts in May 2016. Cumberland County is the fastest-growing region in the Commonwealth, and were excited to be a part of the Hampden Township community, says DiGilio, who lives in Cumberland County.

The Mechanicsburg location is the 48th contracted store in the Duck Donuts enterprise and will include a 1,800 SF Duck Donuts retail storefront as well as a 600 SF training and franchise education facility.

Marissa DiGilio, Training & Development, will oversee the Duck Donuts franchise training facility. Bringing our new franchisees under one roof to learn and experience an operational store firsthand, to see the brand come to life, and to study processes together will be a tremendous business advantage for them and certainly shorten their learning curve, Ms. DiGilio says.

We are finalizing our 29th store opening by the end of May and launching a Duck Donuts Store and Franchise Education Facility in my own hometown is an important step in our business strategy. Many of our most loyal customers are from the mid-state and they became Duck Donuts fans in the Outer Banks as vacationers, says DiGilio.

Were thrilled to welcome Duck Donuts to the Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg, said George Book, president of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce. Hampden Township is very pro-growth and to see the renovation of an existing structure transform into a family friendly dining destination is a win-win for our community.

Donuts are made fresh to order 7 days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (closing hours will vary depending upon the time of year). For Grand Opening specials and donut topping updates, visit the Duck Donuts  Carlisle Pike  Mechanicsburg, PA Facebook page or connect with us on the web at DuckDonuts.com.

About Duck Donuts

Duck Donuts was founded in 2006 by Russ DiGilio in Duck, North Carolina. His intention? To solve a family vacation problem: Our family wanted a place to buy warm, delicious, made-to-order donuts, and when we couldnt find one, we decided to start our own.

By 2011, Duck Donuts had expanded to four Outer Banks locations and the donut business was so successful that DiGilio was continuously approached about franchise opportunities and by fans who begged for a Duck Donuts in their communities. The first franchise opened in Williamsburg, VA, in 2013 and there are now over 20 open franchise locations.

Future Duck Donuts store openings are scheduled for:

Raleigh, NC  January 2016

Rockville, MD  March 2016

Lancaster, PA  April 2016

Mechanicsburg, PA  May 2016

Avalon, NJ  May 2016

Wilmington, NC  May 2016

The Duck Donuts Experience

We discovered that the most powerful marketing advantage we have is the aroma of warm donuts wafting from every store. Our light vanilla cake donut is a little crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, made fresh right in front of you, hand dipped in hot icing, and sprinkled with your choice of delicious toppings and drizzles. Its that simple.

Children love to stand on the strategically placed step in the waiting area, allowing them to see the entire process, as the donut machine cooks and carries their donuts down the line, where they are dipped, topped, packaged, and served warm in the box. Duck Donuts serves its own signature coffee blends - Riptide Roast, Light House Blend, and Decaf with new special seasonal flavors changing throughout the year - and offers some breakfast options, as well as catering services at most locations. Indoor and outdoor seating is available at most locations. For customers who dont yet have a location in their neighborhood, or wish to gift a delicious box of Duck Donuts to someone far away, order Duck Donuts specialty Flash Frozen donuts at DuckDonuts.com.

To learn more or to share your Duck Donuts experience, Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, or send us a Tweet.

SOURCE Duck Donuts

Contact:

Anne Deeter Gallaher

Deeter Gallaher Group LLC

+1 717.525.8042

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Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Keith Boyce Talks Meeting Sales Targets, Growing His Business and Giving Back

Keith and Paula Boyce opened their Minuteman Press franchise in Kings Lynn, England in December 2004. As an entrepreneur entering his 12th year as a business owner, Keith opens up about where he started, how far hes come, and where he is about to go with his Minuteman Press business.

January 26, 2016 // Franchising.com // KINGS LYNN, England - Kings Lynn is a small historic town in England with a population of 50,000. It is also home to Keith and Paula Boyces Minuteman Press franchise, a business services provider that offers digital print, design and marketing services while providing excellent quality and service. We opened our center in December 2004 after attending Minuteman Press training school in October. The business is owned by me and my wife Paula. Today, we employ five people and our team is a mixture of graduates and time served apprentices.

From applying lessons learned in training and making important production decisions to meeting sales goals and giving back, these are Keith Boyces key insights and how hes made a difference in Kings Lynn with his UK print franchise.

Why franchising?

Keith Boyce worked in the print industry on the production side. As production director for a commercial lithographic and digital printing company, Keith knew about the industry but did not know how to go about running his own business. In 2004, I was seeking a new challenge, says Boyce. Both Paula and I wanted to pursue the challenge of running our own business. We felt that a franchise business would be good for us as we both had little experience with direct selling or marketing.

As they came to the decision to franchise, Keith decided to stick with an industry he was familiar with. He and Paula came across Minuteman Press at a local franchise exhibition. Keith recalls, The Minuteman team gave some compelling reasons to select Minuteman over other UK print franchises. The primary reason for selection was the ability of Minuteman Press to fast track us into a market place that we both knew little about. I understood the manufacturing process, but not the market place dynamics.

With Minuteman Press, Keith and Paula were able to find that combination of support and flexibility that they were looking for: Support was important to us early on but not the key reason. We needed to own a business that we could make our own, that comfort of knowing help was available if we needed it but also a partner that would allow us to make the business what we wanted it to be.

Flash forward to 2016, and Keith and Paula still see the benefits of franchising. Its probably now less about direct support and more about sharing best practice, ideas and improvements that quite probably would get neglected if we were not supported by Minuteman. The fact that key suppliers are more accountable because of global relationships that Minuteman Press International has with them, thats huge.

Setting and Meeting Business Goals

Every year, we love being able to reflect back on how much we have improved the business, laments Keith. This year, he is especially excited to look ahead because his business just met his sales target for the second straight year.

Setting and meeting business goals isnt easy, but its something that Keith prides himself on. In 2011, his Minuteman Press center relocated to an industrial park, and his focus turned to doubling the size of the business in three years and investing in significant upgrades that would help him achieve his goals. Our reason behind this was we needed to build a business that could more robustly maintain high levels of customer service in turn help us have a sustainable profitable business.

With the business relocation complete, 2012 became a year for Keith to invest in new equipment that would enable him to optimize production and workflow to his liking. Following the relocation, we disposed of our lithographic press and made an investment in our first Xerox 1000 digital press, Duplo trimmer and Duplo booklet maker. This allowed us to introduce new products and services to existing and new customers.

Today, he continues, 98% of the products we sell are made in-house, and the business works hard to maintain the highest level of customer service. We strive for a lead time of less than 24 hours on all jobs and this has been only possible with the support of our key partners. Our workflow is highly automated, and this year we will have introduced complete automation from web to finished product.

Keith and Paula Boyce have built a tremendous presence in Kings Lynn, says Mark Jones, UK South regional vice president for Minuteman Press International. He adds, Theyve worked hard, followed the program and really took to heart the idea of providing the highest levels of quality and service.

Up to 200 Orders per Day

In October 2015, Keith and Paula Boyce installed their second Xerox 1000 digital press, and the results were astounding when it came to production time. In the lead up to Christmas we were producing up to 200 orders per day. So far we have met our sales targets for the years 1 and 2, and are on plan to double the size of the business again as we had planned 2 years ago [in 2013]. Hopefully, we will then be able to relocate the business early 2017. Looking forward its a really exciting time for our industry.

Getting Involved and Giving Back

Aside from helping businesses in Kings Lynn and surrounding areas grow their businesses, from day one Keith Boyce had fully embraced the idea of networking and making a positive impact in the community: I was advised at Minuteman Press training school that we join networking groups, and so I joined our local Rotary club, and also BNI. I left BNI in late 2013 but have remained a member of Rotary. This year I am president of my local club, which is in its 89th year. As president, it allows me to support many worthwhile causes. This year, the focus has been on vocation and our community, and my business indirectly yet inevitably benefits as it provides us with lots of positive PR. This year, we will raise over 30,000 that will benefit projects such as Riding for the Disabled and supporting a school in Sri Lanka. It allows me to attend key community events and has certainly helped me become well-known in the local area.

Advice to Others

To Keith Boyce, Minuteman Press may have been the perfect fit because of the high levels of quality and service that the brand is known for worldwide. His advice for other business owners is very much in line with the core values that Minuteman was built upon: Employ quality staff and then keep them. Then keep everyone focused on delivering quality products backed up exceptional customer service.

For more information on Keith and Paula Boyces Minuteman Press franchise in Kings Lynn, call 01553 661103 or visit their website.

About Minuteman Press

Serving the business community for over 40 years, Minuteman Press customer service driven business model provides digital print, design and promotional products and services to businesses from concept review through to completion. Today we are much more than just print; we can provide anything you can put a name, image or logo on! Our new slogan  We Design, Print & Promote YOU!  indicates the wide variety of products and services we offer that go beyond printing. For more information, visit http://www.minutemanpress.com.

Minuteman Press International is a number one rated business service franchise that offers world class training and unparalleled ongoing local support. Minuteman Press opened in 1973 and began franchising in 1975. Today, there are more than 925 locations worldwide including the U.S., Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Minuteman Press aims to grow to more than 1,000 franchises within the next three years. Prior experience is not necessary to own and operate a successful Minuteman Press franchise.

Learn more about Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at http://www.minutemanpressfranchise.com.

Like Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MinutemanPressFranchise.

Follow Us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MinutemanIntl.

Join Us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/minuteman-press.

SOURCE Minuteman Press

Contact:

Al Sanders

Minuteman Press Franchise Opportunities

1-800-645-3006

asanders@mpihq.com

Chris Biscuiti

Media Relations

cbiscuiti@mpihq.com

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New Executive Appointments as CWT Focuses on Strengthening Global Business

January 26, 2016 // Franchising.com // AMSTERDAM - Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has announced three key appointments to its executive team.

Andrew Waller, CWT's current president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, takes on a newly created role; executive vice president, Global Business Transformation. Waller will focus on driving efficiency and organization effectiveness, reshaping CWTs business model for the future. Waller will be based in Paris and London.

Kelly Kuhn, CWT's president, Asia-Pacific, will take the role of president, Europe, Middle East and Africa and Global Partners Network, based in London.

Kai Chan, currently general manager, Southeast Asia for CWT, becomes president, Asia Pacific, and part of the global executive team. She will be based in Singapore.

Commenting on the appointments, Doug Anderson, president & CEO, CWT, said: "Andrew, Kelly and Kai all have significant track records of leading CWT to success. Their combined expertise and experience will help us to move our business into the future, and I look forward to working with them to further strengthen our offering to clients around the world."

All three positions report directly to Anderson, and are effective 1 February, 2016.

Andrew Waller:

Andrew has a strong background in leading successful business transformation projects, and his knowledge and experience will help us meet our business goals and provide even better service to clients."

Kelly Kuhn:

Anderson added: "Kelly has a history of building and leading successful, collaborative teams, and through her leadership, the Asia Pacific team has seen strong growth over the past four and a half years."

Kai Chan:

Anderson commented: "Kai brings an engaging leadership style to the role, and has extensive experience in Asia Pacific. We're keen to build on the momentum we're seeing in the region."

About CWT

CWT is a global leader specialized in managing business travel and meetings and events. CWT serves companies, government institutions and non-governmental organizations of all sizes in more than 150 countries and territories. By leveraging both the expertise of its people and leading-edge technology, CWT helps clients derive the greatest value from their travel program in terms of savings, service, security and sustainability. The company is also committed to providing best-in-class service and assistance to travelers. In 2014, sales volume for wholly owned operations and joint ventures totaled US$27.3 billion. As part of its commitment to responsible business, CWT is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact Ten Principles. For more information about CWT, please visit our global website atwww.carlsonwagonlit.com. Follow us on Twitter @CarlsonWagonlit

SOURCE CWT

Media Contacts:

Carrie-Ann Cooper

CWT Global

Media Relations

M: +44 (0)7785 458 884

O: + 44 (0)20 3353 1110/2497

ccooper@carlsonwagonlit.co.uk

Chloe Couchman

CWT Global

Media Relations

O: + 44 (0)20 3353 1110/2497

M: +44 (0) 07767 418834

ccouchman@carlsonwagonlit.com

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January 26, 2016 // Franchising.com // Within one year of the company's acquisition, Stratus Building Solutions ranks in the top ten Fastest Growing Franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine.

On the one-year anniversary of the new company ownership, which consists of three Stratus Master Franchisees who acquired the headquarters last February - Stratus Building Solutions ranks number seven of the Fastest Growing Franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine for 2016. This ranking announcement comes one month after the inclusion of Stratus in Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500.

Stratus Building Solutions shares the top ten Fastest Growing Franchise slots with giants such as Subway, Dunkin' Donuts, Jimmy John's, Hardee's and Carl's Jr.; and is one of only two business services franchises of the top ranking group.

"It is great to see our company growing at such high rate and to be ranked amongst some of the largest and oldest franchise companies. It is also assuring to see our industry showing strong signs of growth as a whole to further validate the continuous strength of the commercial cleaning and janitorial services industry," states Afshin Cangarlu, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions. Cangarlu and partner Foad Rekabi originally purchased a Stratus Regional Master Franchise in the Los Angeles area in 2008, joined forces with Denver Master Franchise owner, Channen Smith to purchase the corporate office in February 2015.

"I have always believed in the Stratus system, it has given my family and our franchisees financial independence; and is why I continue to invest in improving the brand and am excited that we are getting the recognition our franchisees deserve," says Smith, COO.

About Stratus Building Solutions

Currently, 26 regional Master Franchisees operate across the country supporting an additional 1,400 Unit Franchisees in the two tiered system, Stratus has set its sights on expansion to an additional 42 major US metropolitans by 2016.

The partners, backed by an experienced team and unparalleled knowledge of success with the Stratus Franchise model, have already established a number of changes which have resulted in near-instantaneous gain as represented by the #7 Fastest Growing Franchise Ranking by Entrepreneur Magazine this month. They remain optimistic for an even stronger 2016 with the addition of a number of regional franchises across the country, and an opportunity to gain the #1 ranked slots once again.

SOURCE Stratus Building Solutions

Contact:

Rachel Frazier

Executive Assistant / Marketing Coordinatorr

Stratus Building Solutions

O:888-981-1555

F: 818-960-0070
Sick, strapped and stressed

While the study only looked at the association between bankruptcy and mortality, not what exactly led to the deaths, Ramsey did offer theories as to why cancer patients in dire financial straits were more vulnerable.

Stress over finances could be one factor, he said, something that rang true for Bernstein.

I cant tell you how much PTSD-type stress I have around this issue, dating back to the first time I was diagnosed with cancer in 1994, she said. Before that, I had perfect credit and always paid my bills on time. [This has] happened to me three times. It takes a toll on you trying to get your life back, to be in survival mode all the time.

Bankrupt cancer patients also may not have received adequate or timely treatment, Ramsey said, either because they couldnt afford it or because they refused it, not wanting to burden their families further. Previous studies have shown that in some cases, cancer patients in financial distress will refuse or miss treatment because of its high cost.

There may have been significant delays due to patients having to deal with the financial issues or even perhaps with the institutions that were treating them stopping due to them going into receivership, he said. We havent looked at this but it is certainly feasible. [Maybe] the centers are still offering therapy but the patients just stop coming because their bills are piling up and they say, My familys already devastated and any more treatment is going to put them further in the hole.

Theres a whole lot of stuff in between [bankruptcy and mortality] that we dont know, he said. "Thats why we want to do more research.

While there are questions about what, exactly, led to patients deaths, no research is necessary to understand how a cancer diagnosis could bankrupt someone.

The cost of cancer drugs has soared in the last decade; ditto for the out-of-pocket share patients are expected to pay. Insurance plans have become more expensive with higher premiums, higher deductibles and higher copays and cancer care often entails pricey surgeries, chemotherapy infusions, targeted treatments and weeks of radiation.

People will rack up a quarter million dollars in bills in one year, he said, adding that even patients with insurance may find themselves overwhelmed by debt.

I think the general public cant assume that insurance is going to cover everything anymore, he said. Or that theyre going to come out the other end financially intact. I think most people should worry just a little bit, unless theyre Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos. A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck. They dont have those kinds of reserves.

Cycle of medical debt

Even those with reserves have found themselves buried under debt.

After weathering her first diagnosis (and its related financial hit) at age 29, Bernstein started socking money away as soon as she was back on her feet  just in case.

Instead of buying a house and doing what all my peers were doing, something told me I needed to have an emergency fund, she said. And 11 years after the first diagnosis  boom!  I got the second one.

This time around, she had cancer in her other breast. At age 40, Bernstein started off on what she thought would be a routine lumpectomy and radiation regimen but was soon hit by complications, infections, an ER visit, a slew of follow-up appointments and, of course, all of the accompanying bills. To make matters worse, she wasnt able to work because of treatment side effects, a common scenario with young cancer patients.

I thought, Ive done this before and I have the financial reserves, but radiation basically cut my legs off, she said. I lived upstairs in a building with no elevator and it was like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro every day. I wasnt able to work. The fatigue wouldnt dissipate.

Her nest egg dwindled to nothing while she recovered and, eventually, started working again. But four years later in 2009, cancer came back. This time, she had to have a double mastectomy and chemo and began the process of breast reconstruction. But again, she ran into complications leading to more hospitalizations and even more debt.

By the time I was diagnosed for the third time, Id used up all of my money, all of my investments, all of my savings, she said. A year and a half after treatment, I couldnt afford my rent-controlled apartment anymore because I wasnt back on my feet enough to work. I had to move out and stay with friends and start rebuilding. I have bills that need to be paid off but I cant go into it or Ill likely have a panic attack. Basically, advocacy and the realization that I could [use this] ordeal  to help others is one of the very few things that has kept me alive and fighting to rebuild my life.
Papro Wine Cellars and Consulting Comments on Being Featured in Toronto Home Magazine

Papro Wine Cellars and Consulting details being featured in the Winter edition of Toronto Home magazine

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Papro Wine Cellars and Consulting (www.PaproWineCellars.ca), an award-winning company specializing in wine cellar consultation, design and installation, has been featured in Toronto Home magazine's Winter 2015 issue.

One of the wine cellars designed by Papro Wine Cellars and Consulting has been featured in the popular magazine Toronto Home. The article specifically mentions the largest home cellar that Papro has designed, which holds up to 7,500 bottles

"We design and build custom wine cellars for approximately 70 homes in the GTA every year, so it's great to be acknowledged for one of our more extensive projects," says owner Steve Papadimtriou.

The article highlights Steve Papadimitriou's experience in the construction business for 20 years before deciding to focus exclusively on building wine cellars. Throughout the piece, Papadimitriou offers advice on the ideal storage temperatures for wines, which he puts at 12?-13? Celsius (55?-57? Fahrenheit) and humidity temperatures to be between 55%-70%. The article also touches on the types of questions Papadimitriou asks clients during the initial consultation such as discussing the space available for building the cellar, the number of bottles requiring storage and gaining a better understanding of the home's decor.

"Some clients want something small and simple that can hold one to two hundred bottles," Papadimitriou says. "But given the scope of this particular collection of 7,500 bottles, we really needed to make the most of the space. That being said, we devote the same amount of effort and attention to all of our projects, regardless of the size. Our ultimate goal is to create beautiful custom wine cellars that are both functional and practical for our clients."

The article goes on to discuss some of the lighting that is recommended for use in wine cellars and how the cost of a cellar depends on the sophistication of the features and finishes. The full article can be seen in Toronto Home's 2015 Winter issue.

Papro Wine Cellars & Consulting prides itself on turning ordinary spaces in extraordinary wine cellars. More information about the company's award-winning design and wine cellar installation services can be found at www.paprowinecellars.ca.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.paprowinecellars.ca/

Contact Info:

Name: Janice Bednarz

Organization: Papro Consulting Ltd.

Address: 1131A Leslie Street, Suite 404

Phone: 416-264-2229

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/papro-wine-cellars-and-consulting-comments-on-being-featured-in-toronto-home-magazine/101953

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Facial Recognition Market to Grow at 23.74% CAGR During 2016-2020 Worldwide

One of the major drivers of the facial recognition market is the integration of facial recognition solutions in surveillance cameras for use in residential and commercial security.

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The shift from 2D to 3D facial recognition is another fast-moving trend that is expected to boost the facial recognition market growth during the forecast period. The analysts forecast global facial recognition market to grow at a CAGR of 23.74% during the period 2016-2020.3D facial recognition provides enhanced details of an individual's face with sensors that project structured light, thus providing accurate results. Therefore, to identify an individual accurately without making an error, vendors are shifting from the provision of 2D facial recognition to 3D facial recognition.

Complete report on facial recognition market spread across 44 pages, profiling 5 companies and supported with 13 data exhibits is now available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/461260-global-facial-recognition-market-2016-2020.html.

End-User Segmentation and Analysis of the Facial Recognition Market - Government, Transportation, BFSI and Others

The growing awareness among government organizations about facial recognition technology for identifying criminals has led to its dominance of the facial recognition market during 2015. For instance, the Australian governments are investing heavily in the integration of facial recognition technology into passports for identification of travelers and to enhance homeland security.

Geographical Segmentation and Analysis of the Facial Recognition Market - APAC, Europe, Latin America, MEA and North America

North America was the market leader during 2015 in the facial recognition market as this region is always the first adopter of any new technology. The US government contributed the majority of the share in this region as a number of cities in the US are using surveillance cameras integrated with facial recognition technology to track people. Order a Single User License Copy of Global Facial Recognition Market 2016-2020 Report at http://www.reportsnreports.com/Purchase.aspx?name=461260.

Competitive Landscape and Key Vendors

At present, the global facial recognition market witness the dominance of the international players who compete among each other on the basis of innovation and product offerings. Factors like the emergence of multimodal biometrics technology and its rapid traction among end-users are encouraging vendors to come up with innovative offerings to enhance their market share.

Key players in the global facial recognition market: 3M Cogent, Cognitec Systems, Gemalto, NEC and Safran

Other prominent vendors in the market are: ArcSoft, Aurora Computer Services, Aware, FaceFirst, Fulcrum Biometrics, Google, Imagus Technology, KeyLemon, Lathem Time, Luxand, Netatmo, and XID Technologies.

Further, the facial recognition market report states that privacy issues are posing a challenge to the adoption of facial recognition systems in organizations.

Explore other new reports on IT & Telecommunication Market at http://www.reportsnreports.com/market-research/information-technology/.

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ReportsnReports.com is an online market research reports library of 500,000+ in-depth studies of over 5000 micro markets. Call +1 888 391 5441 with your research requirements or email the details at sales@reportsandreports.com and we would be happy to help you find the business intelligence that you need. ReportsnReports.com offers research studies on agriculture, energy and power, automotive, Semiconductor and Electronics, Manufacturing & Construction, chemicals, environment, medical devices, healthcare, food and beverages, water and much more.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/461260-global-facial-recognition-market-2016-2020.html

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Phone: + 1 888 391 5441

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/facial-recognition-market-to-grow-at-23-74-cagr-during-2016-2020-worldwide/102012

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Women in Cyber Security: A Talk by the Duchess of Cyber Security

Threat of security breaches has been steadily increasing over the past two years. News of such breaches can be found in newspapers and media outlets on nearly a daily basis. Even the biggest names across different industries have faced the damages caused by data theft.

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The threat of security breaches has been steadily increasing over the past two years. News of such breaches can be found in newspapers and media outlets on nearly a daily basis. Even the biggest names across different industries have faced the damages caused by data theft. Companies, like Target, Sony, OPM, IRS, Home Depot, Scott Trade, Experian, and Anthem, have suffered security breaches, leaving their customers baffled and perplexed. Most of the time, customers do not even know the depth to which their information has been compromised due to security breaches.

Once a breach has been identified, the remedial course of action are taken which does not always include proper testing. It is dire that security testing of information systems are taken more seriously and conducted more frequently to avoid such instances from occurring. A study conducted by the Ponemon Institute noted that based on a study utilizing 350 companies the average consolidated cost of a data breach is $3.8 million which is an increase of 23 percent since 2013.

Cyber security is a shared responsibility and as per the United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, who said, "In cyber security, the more systems we secure, the more secure we all are."

To address the threat of security breaches, most companies, as part of the organization, now have cyber security experts, who constantly monitor and mitigate such risks. Women have made a mark in this field, as well, with Parisa Tabriz being titled Google's Security Princess. Now, Chanel Suggs has been named the Duchess of cyber security, due to her extensive experience, education, certifications, and genius wits in addressing various problems and presenting solutions to any cyber security issue in the marketplace. Chanel said, "The biggest challenges with organizations in regards to cyber security is how to protect critical data from being breached." According to Chanel, this issue can be solved by installing patches and testing the entire system once a patch has been installed. Most of the time, testing of information systems is only done for the patched areas. Not properly testing the entire system can create opportunities for a breach in which hackers can infiltrate an organization's IT infrastructure. Some suggestions that can be implemented to reduce the risk of security breaches are: Hire experienced security consultants, who can review the information system and identify issues that might have been missed; Test systems and run routine updates frequently, so any security breaches can be identified early; As an added security measure, perform vulnerability assessments in order to ensure that only approved ports and services are currently running. Conducting vulnerability assessments can also identify rogue systems and patch levels. Chanel helps companies with all of these practices.

Chanel's company, Wyvern Security LLC, provides professional help to other organizations, using the above practices to keep their information secure. Chanel Suggs is completing her Doctoral degree of Science in Cybersecurity and is graduating this May. Her focus is on using fuzzy logic in order to recover host-based systems subsequent to malware attacks. Chanel has been in the security and IT field for over 15 years, working with various Fortune 500 companies, including Cisco Systems. She is a sought-after thought leader in the Cyber Security industry and will appear as an expert commentator on CNN in London this spring. Chanel stated, as a Cyber Security Expert, "It is important to be well-rounded in security, programming and networking to have an edge in the cyber security industry."

About Chanel Suggs - The Duchess of Cyber Security

Chanel's academic education, degrees, and certifications, combined with her vast experience in the industry, enable her to understand her clients' issues and offer the best possible solutions for their organizations. She is a cyber security expert consultant, authoring two books on the same subject that are predicted to become bestsellers. She founded Wyvern Security LLC to become the market leader in providing top class solutions to combat cyber security hacks. The idea behind Wyvern Security LLC is to educate organizations about cyber security, provide cyber security consultation, and research solutions to stay ahead of data breaches. She presently serves as the CEO and President of Wyvern Security LLC. One of the ways she keeps sharp on the subject of cyber security, despite a very busy schedule being a CEO, is by being an adjunct professor and exam writer. The inspirational role model will soon host a webinar on the topic, "Women in cyber security" for EC - Council University, where she is also an Advisory Board Member.

The details for the webinar can be found here: Security Webinar

She is available for consultation and can be reached chanelsuggs@gmail.com

For more information about us, please visit http://www.TheDuchessOfCybersecurity.Info

Contact Info:

Name: Chanel Suggs

Email: chanelsuggs@gmail.com

Organization: Wyvern Security LLC



Source: http://marketersmedia.com/women-in-cyber-security-a-talk-by-the-duchess-of-cyber-security/101854

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Back The Blue Campaign Kicked Off By Will's All Pro

"It's time to Back the Blue" says Will Hawkins, founder of Will's All Pro, San Antonio's premier Plumbing, Heating and Air Installation & Repair company. Let's give back to the San Antonio Police Department with a program called "Back The Blue."

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It's time to Back the Blue" says Will Hawkins, founder of Will's All Pro, the Premier San Antonio Plumbing, Heating and Air Installation and Repair company.

"San Antonio Local Law Enforcement put themselves in harms way protecting San Antonio's local residents on a daily basis to help keep everyone safe," Will Hawkins says. "With so much negative news on a National front, it sometimes feels like the very people who have pledged to serve the San Antonio community are not supported for their service like they should be. Will's All Pro wants to give back to the San Antonio Police Department with a program called "Back The Blue." Hawkins Continues, "The San Antonio community is safer because of the Police Department and Will's All Pro wants to show our appreciation to those wearing the uniform who protect us locally."

During the "Back The Blue" campaign, Will's All Pro is offering a FREE Service call (up to $200 in services) for San Antonio's Local Law Enforcement on Wednesdays.

According to Hawkins, "This is the least Will's All Pro can do to support the San Antonio Police department and show our appreciation for their service and support."

About Will's All Pro

Will's All Pro Plumbing, Heating & Air's philosophy is to employ the best people and take care of clients, while providing superior home comfort solutions throughout the San Antonio and surrounding areas through 50 years of combined industry experience.

Will's All Pro believes that business is built upon a client partnership, with the goal to promote the longevity of clients' current San Antonio heating, air conditioning, and plumbing systems - saving clients money and hassle. Will's All Pro has the best guarantees in town, which means the customer receive the best VALUE in town.

For more information visit Will's All Pro at www.allprotexas.com or Call today at (210) 503-7888

For more information about us, please visit http://www.allprotexas.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Will Hawkins

Email: info@allprotx.com

Organization: Will's all Pro

Address: 7847 Fortune Drive, San Antonio, TX 78250

Phone: 210-988-1772

Release ID: 101857

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Mitt Romney Honors Elder Robert Gay for Utah Youth Village and SmarterParenting

Mitt Romney and A. Scott Anderson Honor Elder Robert Gay at the 2016 Helping Hand Gala, Benefitting Utah Youth Village and SmarterParenting. The Helping Hand Award, Utah Youth Village's Highest Honor, Recognizes Members of the Community Who Have Exhibited Exceptional Commitment to Utah youth.

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Utah Youth Village announced that it will present Elder Robert Gay with its highest honor, the 2016 Helping Hand Award. The annual award, presented to members of the community who have demonstrated "extraordinary love and support for Utah's most vulnerable children," will be presented to Elder Gay on Thursday, February 4, at Utah Youth Village's annual Helping Hand Gala. Mitt Romney, Elder Gay's friend and former business partner, will serve as Honorary Chair. A. Scott Anderson is the Event Chair.

"We are honored to present the 2016 Helping Hand award to an extraordinary leader and an exceptional human being," said Gary Crocker, Chairman of the Board for Utah Youth Village and Merrimack Pharmaceuticals and President of Crocker Ventures. "Elder Gay exemplifies many of the qualities we hope to instill into the children in our care, including ambition, selflessness, and charitable service."

Elder Robert Gay, of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the former Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Huntsman Gay Global Capital. Previously, he was the Chairman of the Management Committee and a Managing Director at Bain Capital. He has also worked for GE Capital, McKinsey & Company, and as an instructor in economics at Harvard University.

Elder Gay is also the co-founder of two humanitarian organizations, Unitus and Engage Now Africa and worked closely with many global organizations that have collectively helped uplift millions of poor and needy individuals, families and children at risk around the globe.

Utah Youth Village

Utah Youth Village is a leading private non-profit provider of residential treatment for very troubled children. Many of these children are wards of the state, have been victims of physical or sexual abuse, are far behind in school and struggle with basic life skills. By employing the effective, proven Teaching-Family Model that teaches children how normal, supportive families operate, Utah Youth Village is able to instill trust, respect and empathy in children who might otherwise be in detention or psychiatric hospitals.

The program provides shelter and a variety of treatments for more than 300 children annually, in 10 Family Homes and over 50 Treatment Foster Homes throughout Utah. Utah Youth Village also reaches out to the community through its unique Families First in-home program for families with troubled children, and through Smarter Parenting which provides free online parenting classes and resources for the general public. The program positively impacts thousands of lives annually through its national outreach. Please visit http://www.smarterparenting.com/ for more information.

The Helping Hand Gala will be held Thursday, February 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the Little America Hotel. For more information about the gala, to purchase tickets or to make a donation, call (801) 308-1053 or visit www.youthvillage.org.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.youthvillage.org/

Contact Info:

Name: Justin Anderson

Organization: Utah Youth Village



Release ID: 101864

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With Launch of Perth Air Conditioning Quotes, Locals Gain Useful New Option

New online service makes it simpler than ever before to get a quote on installation of split, ducted, or commercial AC installation, Perth Air Conditioning Quotes reports

Malaga, WA --January 26, 2016 (FPRC) -- Just as temperatures in the area heat up further for the summer, residents gain an easy, convenient new way to get quotes on top-quality air conditioning installation services. Available now at http://perthairconditioningquotes.com.au , the brand-new service Perth Air Conditioning Quotes connects visitors with one of the region's leading air conditioning specialists, delivering up quotes on the top brands for both residential and commercial users. After filling out a single, simple form, Perth Air Conditioning Quotes users will receive helpful advice about topics like choosing between split and ducted systems and which brand and model might make the most sense for a given application.



"Just about every Australian today appreciates the comfort and quality of life that a good air conditioning system can provide," Perth Air Conditioning Quotes representative Mark Saldi said, "Unfortunately, many people discover that working through the process of having one installed can be challenging. We've just launched our new service as a way of making a difference. From now on, all that it takes to connect with Perth area's leading air conditioning specialists is a minute spent filling out a simple online form."



Even while being more temperate than many inland parts of the country, Perth often becomes uncomfortably warm in the summer. Its all-time record high of 46.2 degrees Celsius, set in February of 1991, might stand out as particularly unbearable, but regular summertime temperatures in the mid-30s and beyond strain the comfort levels of the average inhabitant, as well.



As with people elsewhere in the country, Perth residents therefore increasingly turn to air conditioning to make the area's often-hot weather easier to endure. Three-quarters of all Australian households are now equipped with some kind of cooling equipment, according to a survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and Perth locals fall right in line with that trend.



Perth Air Conditioning Quotes was launched to make it easier than before for people and businesses in the Perth area to learn about and solicit quotes for air conditioning installation. The just-launched new site includes a number of helpful articles that detail, for example, the differences between ducted air conditioning systems and those of the single- and multi-split style, along with considerations typical of commercial users.



By filling out a brief, simple online form, Perth Air Conditioning Quotes visitors can also sign up for installation quotes from one of the city's leading air conditioning specialists, a proudly Australian-owned and -operated company. With top-quality systems from ActronAir, Fujitsu, Daikin, LG, Mitsubishi Electric, and Samsung available, Perth Air Conditioning Quotes users can be assured of obtaining the best equipment for their needs at attractively low prices.



About Perth Air Conditioning Quotes

Making it simpler and quicker than ever before to research and arrange for top-quality air conditioning installation, Perth Air Conditioning Quotes combines a collection of informative guides and articles with a fast, easy online quote solicitation system.





Send an email to Mark Saldi of r

08 6388 9866

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As Heat Wave Looms, Brisbane Air Conditioning Quotes Launches to Provide Help

New service makes it as easy as possible to secure a quote on installation of a new commercial or residential AC system from a top manufacturer, Brisbane Air Conditioning Quotes reports

Lytton, QLD -- January 26, 2016 (FPRC) -- Just as the Australian Bureau of Meteorology reports that residents might be in for a "shock to the system" from high temperatures to come, a brand new service at http://brisbaneairconditioningquotes.com.au offers quick, easy hope for relief. Brisbane Air Conditioning Quotes makes it simpler than ever before to line up a quote for the installation of a new AC system from top manufacturers like ActronAir, Daikin, Fujitsu and others. In addition to putting visitors in touch with the experts at an Australian-owned and -led air conditioning specialist, the new site is also well stocked with easily digestible information that will be of great value to those researching their options.



"Even with our consistently hot summers, Brisbane is known as a place where the temperature swings tend to be fairly mild," Brisbane Air Conditioning Quotes representative Mark Saldi, "It looks like that is about to change for the near future, though, with some notably overheated weather arriving from central Queensland. We're therefore happy to report that we have just flipped the switch on our brand new service, and we are ready to make it simple to learn about and arrange for the installation of a new air conditioning system."



With an all-time record-high temperature that just exceeds the 40-degree Celsius mark, Brisbane can seem like a relatively welcoming place in terms of extreme weather. While that might be a fair take on the city's climate in general, the fact is that it often compensates for a lack of especially scorching days with long stretches of uncomfortably hot and humid weather in the summertime.



That makes air conditioning a must for many Brisbane residents and businesses even in normal times. With the year's first prolonged heat wave now looming over the city, though, meteorologists predict daytime highs to come of as much as six degrees above the historical averages, leaving many scrambling to ensure that they, their loved ones, or their customers will be well catered to as the mercury climbs.



Thanks to the launch of Brisbane Air Conditioning Quotes, their work becomes much easier. Commissioned and directed by one of the area's top air conditioning installation companies, the brand new site contains a wealth of information about AC systems. Visitors to the site, for example, can quickly learn about the differences between and advantages of ducted and split residential systems, as well as what buyers of commercial equipment need to know.



Brisbane Air Conditioning Quotes also makes it simpler and faster than ever before to arrange for a quote on an AC system installation from one of the region's leading specialists. Offering top-quality systems from makers like LG, Mitsubishi Electric, Samsung, and others, the Australian-owned company stands ready to help Brisbane-area residents and businesses through the hot days to come.



About Brisbane Air Conditioning Quotes

Brisbane Air Conditioning Quotes makes it pleasant and easy to get through the harshest of the area's heat and humidity, offering up quick, responsive quotes on the installation of top-quality AC systems at attractive prices.





Send an email to Mark Saldi of r

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Docusearch Introduces Extensive Criminal Records Lookup Database For Clients

Criminal background checks are a necessity for business owners. See how Docusearch's extensive criminal records lookup database helps create safety and security at http://www.docusearch.com.

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According to statistics published by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the average organization loses 5 percent of its profits to fraud every year. The median dollar loss to a company is nearly $140,000, while about 20 percent of businesses and organizations lose more than $1 million.

It is with these unfortunate statistics in mind that, Docusearch, the country's premier resource for private investigator searches and lookups, is introducing their extensive criminal records lookup database available for new and existing clients. This database provides an opportunity for Docusearch to better serve clients looking for in-depth information about an individual's criminal past and allows for county, state, and nationwide searches.

Dan Cohn, one of the founders of Docusearch, stated "Fraud, theft, and violent crime are at an all-time high across the county. These types of crimes are happening in businesses and homes and are negatively affecting business owners, landlords, and others. Fortunately, background checks help to lower these statistics. The best indicator of future behavior is past activity, and there's little doubt that checking criminal history before hiring or renting to someone can save people from having to deal with a lot of unnecessary trouble and financial repercussions."

Unlike other companies, our criminal records searches are hand-researched and closely reviewed for accuracy by real, licensed, private investigators. With any Docusearch database search level that a client chooses, they'll gain access to the same information used by law enforcement. The results for national and statewide searches will be returned back to the client within the same business day, and they can expect county-wide arrest records to be returned in a few days. This level of speed and accuracy allows business owners to make quick decisions that they can truly be confident about and won't end up regretting in the long run."

"Our website at www.docusearch.com operates 24 hours per day every single day of the year. We want clients to know what they're getting themselves into when dealing with a potential hire or renter. Clients can rest assured that our team will always go above and beyond for them, paying close attention to detail and getting them the information that other companies simply cannot give them. This results in greater peace of mind and less risk for every client who trusts our service."

About Docusearch:

Docusearch is America's premier resource for private investigator searches and lookups. Since 1996 they've helped over 1,000,000 people and businesses find accurate, up-to-date information using real, licensed private investigators instead of outdated and inaccurate public records databases. Docusearch's clients include attorneys, private investigators, insurance companies, government agencies and private citizens. The company is committed to serving clients' needs with personal, detail-oriented service that gets them the exact information they need when they truly need it most.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.docusearch.com

Contact Info:

Name: Dan Cohn

Organization: Docusearch

Phone: 1-800-474-5350

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/docusearch-introduces-extensive-criminal-records-lookup-database-for-clients/102102

Release ID: 102102

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I Love ChiChi Expands Range To Become Largest Supplier of ChiChi London Clothing in Poland

I Love ChiChi has now become Poland's largest provider of ChiChi brand clothing imported from London, with beautiful dresses and accessories from the high fashion boutique.

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ChiChi London aims to bring catwalk fashion direct to the high street with their beautiful ranges of Cocktail, Prom, Evening and Maxi Dresses, and has succeeded in doing so throughout the UK, where their products are best sellers both from the boutique itself and online through sites like ASOS. However, these items are still hard to get hold of internationally, meaning European fashionistas are left with a difficult task to secure the dresses. Fortunately, I Love ChiChi has been importing the beautiful dresses to Poland, and has now expanded its range to become the biggest provider of its kind.

The website includes a full range of midi, maxi and formalwear dresses (sukienki chi chi) made from the very best quality fabrics with stunning detailing, cut to flatter every shape. The dresses are amazing value, and the new range has arrived just in time for carnival season, with a new range of looks specifically tailored to this decadent, elegant time.

All items on the website are listed with high quality imagery, clear pricing, a wide variety of color and sizing options, and easy and secure payment options. This ensures that not only is the range the biggest, but the easiest and most enjoyable to shop.

A spokesperson for I Love ChiChi explained, "Poland is quickly becoming one of the trendiest countries in the world, and its metropolitan centers have a great hunger for this kind of fashion, which is being under delivered by the designers themselves, who have yet to realise the potential of this amazing market. That's good for us, because it allows us to import the products to Poland and help these enthusiastic fashion lovers find the perfect dress of their dreams. The new range is available to purchase now, and it won't be long until we expand again, so individuals should be sure to bookmark the page and check back regularly for new items."

About I Love ChiChi: I Love ChiChi is the leading online provider of ChiChi clothing in Poland, importing all items from the boutique in London at wholesale prices to offer great prices for fashion conscious women in Eastern Europe. The website is regularly updated with new items from the ChiChi range, and promises stunning high fashion for special occasions.

For more information about us, please visit https://ilovechichi.pl/

Contact Info:

Name: Darek

Organization: Febe Design LTD

Phone: 4848773385033

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/i-love-chichi-expands-range-to-become-largest-supplier-of-chichi-london-clothing-in-poland/102094

Release ID: 102094

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Steve "Sparky" Miller enters race for Sacramento County Supervisor District 4

?Citrus Heights City Council member Steve "Sparky" Miller is pleased to announce his entrance into the race for Sacramento County Supervisor District 4. The district serves the communities of Antelope, Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Rio Linda, Elverta, Rancho Murieta and Folsom, California.

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Citrus Heights City Council member Steve "Sparky" Miller is pleased to announce his entrance into the race for Sacramento County Supervisor District 4.

"I'm so excited to be running for the County Supervisor 4th district," says Steve "Sparky" Miller. "My vision for the county is to work with the sheriff's department to create safer neighborhoods, partner with business owners to promote economic growth, and stabilize the region with sound fiscal policy."

"Sparky has more experience and understands the district better than the other candidates running," remarked Citrus Heights city council member Mel Turner. "I endorse him knowing he is the most qualified person for the job."

"Steve is a great advocate for new businesses in the Sacramento region" says Mike Mizinski, a contractor and engineer in Folsom, CA. "By advocating for a streamlined building permit process, he has helped shorten the time it takes for approvals so we can get folks moved in, and their doors open for business much quicker."

Council Member Steve "Sparky" Miller was appointed to fill a council vacancy in December of 2005. He was elected in 2006, re-elected in 2010 and 2014. He has currently been on the Citrus Heights City Council for ten years. Steve served as Mayor in 2008 and 2013. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Steve moved to Citrus Heights 30 years ago at the urging of his wife Nanette, a Sacramento native. They have two adult children and three grandchildren. Their son Travis graduated from Cal Poly SLO, completed his Master's degree in special education and he is now teaching at a local high school. Their daughter Nicole graduated from Chico State University, served as a Specialist in a U.S. Army Military Police Company for six years and works for a bank.

Steve has worked in the construction industry for over 40 years and worked for 12 years as an Inspector and Construction Manager for the County of Sacramento before starting his own consulting business in 2000. In 2010, he joined KMM Services, an electrical and technology engineering firm located in Carmichael. Steve also worked for the San Juan Unified School District as a Construction Manager for Capital Improvement and Bond Projects in 2014-2015. Presently, he is managing his own construction consulting business.

Currently he is representing the Sacramento region on the U.S. Army Community Advisory Committee and the Sacramento Regional Transit District Board of Directors, where he served as Board Chair in 2010. He is a director for the Capitol Corridor JPA and an ex-officio member of the Sunrise Market Place Board of Directors.

Over the years he has represented the City on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) Board, the Sacramento County Library Board, and the Metropolitan Cable TV Commission. Prior to becoming a Council Member, Steve was Vice Chair of the Law Enforcement Community Advisory Committee that recommended Citrus Heights form their own police department; Vice President of Neighborhood Area 10 for many years; and President of the Residents' Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights in 2005. He has been active in community service as a member of the Rotary and Lions Clubs, as well as the Citrus Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce.

His priorities as a city council member for Citrus Heights have been continued fiscal responsibility, improved public safety, economic development that resulted in professional jobs and services for residents, and repairing streets and infrastructure.

The Board of Supervisors is the governing body of the County of Sacramento. There are five members on the Board and each represents one of five Districts. Board members, in partnership with County staff, work to ensure the delivery of services and programs essential to the continued prosperity of the Sacramento County region.

The Sacramento County District 4 serves the communities of Antelope, Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Rio Linda, Elverta, Rancho Murieta and Folsom.

The current supervisor, Roberta MacGlashan, has opted not to run for re-election after serving more than a decade, leaving an opening for the position.

To learn more about the campaign visit www.ElectSparky.com or text "Sparky" to 40691.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.ElectSparky.com

Contact Info:

Name: Roger Bryson

Email: info@electsparky.com

Organization: Campaign to Elect Steve "Sparky" Miller to Sacramento County Supervisor District 4

Phone: (916) 458-0908

Release ID: 102112

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Fund managers have yet to reach the point of maximum bearishness despite the flight from risk assets seen in 2016, according to a study that has underlined investors conflicting views on the sell-off.

Investment Adviser reported last week that the usual buy the dip strategy was notable by its absence during this years equity slump. But while investors may be reticent to re-enter the market, a further week of falls has led some to question the catalysts for these drops.

Bank of America Merrill Lynchs (BoAML) global fund manager survey, conducted between January 8 and 14, emphasised the puzzle. It found investors remain overweight equities and stubbornly long 2015 favourites such as technology, eurozone and Japanese stocks  the assets most vulnerable to what the investment bank calls a redemption/recession shakedown.

But the survey of 173 managers also found the average cash level within portfolios was 5.4 per cent, the third-highest since 2009, and that a rotation into defensive areas of the market was underway.

BoAML chief investment strategist Michael Hartnett said investors were yet to accept [we] are already well into a normal, cyclical/recession/bear market.

Others are not convinced by the banks bearish stance. Independent forecasters such as Capital Economics have suggested markets are overreacting, with fundamentals relatively sound and $27 oil a slightly misleading indicator of global growth prospects.

Aberdeen Asset Management chief economist Lucy OCarroll took a similar view, but was wary of a weaker oil price and falling renminbi creating a vicious circle.

She said: We do not believe that the macro fundamentals are as bad as recent market moves suggest. If markets regain some faith in these fundamentals, the current situation could be another August 2015-style hiccup. The longer it takes to achieve stabilisation, the greater the self-fulfilling prophecy risks.

Columbia Threadneedle CIO Mark Burgess, meanwhile, hinted that different fundamentals may be reasserting themselves. The era of asset price reflation is over and we cannot rely on our returns being flattered by QE or other valuation recovery dynamics, he said last week.

Opinion on the potential catalyst for a change is also divided. BoAMLs Mr Hartnett said only an improvement in the four Cs  China, commodities, the consumer, and credit markets  would inspire optimism.

Those seeking reassurance that things are not so bad cite more specific metrics. Philip Saunders, co-head of multi-asset at Investec, noted that the Chinese property market  once viewed as a barometer for macroeconomic stress  has been performing relatively well since Chinas stockmarkets began to sell off last spring.

He said: Hong Kong-listed property stocks have been outperforming since May. [There may be weakness] in the third and fourth-tier cities, but prices in the first and second-tier cities have been going up this year.

Concerns about China falling apart are profoundly overdone.
People who work with a financial adviser are twice as ready for retirement as those who try to muster cash for their twilight years alone, according to a study by John Hancock Retirement Plan Services.

New data, which forms part of John Hancocks 2015 Financial Stress survey, showed of the people surveyed 70 per cent who work with a financial adviser are on track or ahead in saving for retirement.

Just 33 per cent of those not working with an adviser who were polled for the survey were ready for retirement.

Among those who have an adviser, more than a third had determined how much to save for retirement and half had contributed to an retirement plan.

For people without an adviser, only 14 per cent knew how much they would need for retirement and 16 per cent had contributed to a plan, according to the survey.

Patrick Murphy, president of John Hancock Retirement Plan Services, said: People need advice, not just investment advice but also basic retirement planning guidance.

And people need help with more holistic financial issues such as budgeting and meeting short-term needs versus the need to save for longer term goals.

It is very clear that engaging a financial adviser helps people take positive financial steps, from saving for emergencies to saving for retirement.

The survey showed 58 per cent of the 2,000 people polled over the summer of 2015 who had an adviser had saved for emergencies against 26 per cent our of the group who didnt have an adviser.

John Hancock Financial is a division of Canada-based financial services group Manulife.

Dan Clayden, director of Devon-based intermediary Clayden Associates, said: I think people have become more financially savvy but I dont think there is a huge amount of people who will decide they want to pay some money into a pension, or know how much they should be paying in.

The results of the John Hancock poll came after research from Boring Money concluded that 8.4 million 34 to 44-year-olds are not taking financial advice, with only 10 per cent holding a stocks-and-shares Isa.

The Financial Advice Market Review (FAMR) is currently looking into ways to bring advice back to the mass market.

At 12.30pm today (26 January), make sure you visit FTAdviser, watch our latest On Air broadcast on insistent clients and earn 30 minutes of CPD.
The Pensions Regulator has addressed criticism fired at a list featured on its website of pension schemes available to all small employers for automatic enrolment.

At present, the only pensions listed on the regulators website are trust-based schemes.

The regulator consulted in 2014 on whether to publish list of pension schemes available to all small employers for automatic enrolment.

In 2015 the regulator decided not to publish a list covering the whole of the market as it decided it would be difficult to manage it in an open and transparent way.

But some master trust providers have had their schemes independently reviewed to help them show that they meet a good standard of administration and The Pensions Regulator does provide details on the site of these schemes.

Henry Tapper, director of First Actuarial and founder of the Pension Playpen, has said as a result there is an unwanted bias on The Pensions Regulator website where workplace pensions are concerned.

Mr Tapper said as a result of the regulators decision the likes of Legal & General, Royal London and Aviva, which he claimed had great workplace pensions, did not get a look in on the website because they arent trust based.

He said: People should be able to choose from the whole of the market.

The only way you get to find out which insurers are in the market is you have to click a link, go to the Association of British Insurers website and the ABI then put up a list of all these insurers who will potentially do business with them.

A spokesman for The Pensions Regulator said the website does make clear that there may be more suitable schemes in the wider market, particularly for larger employers or those with higher-paid workers.

The spokesman said: We also direct employers back to the market via links to industry bodies schemes. We continue to review the information we provide employers to assist them in choosing a scheme.

In March last year, The Pensions Regulator issued a response to consultation feedback received on proposals to publish a list of pension schemes available to all small employers for automatic enrolment.

According to The Pensions Regulator, the majority of consultation responses were supportive, but the feedback also presented a number of significant challenges relating to setting objective entry and exit criteria that could be applied fairly and evenly to schemes.

Without commonly agreed criteria, The Pensions Regulator explained to FTAdviser that it is difficult for the regulator to manage a list in an objective and transparent way, including providing appropriate levels of scrutiny, managing entry and exit from the list.

According to The Pensions Regulator, at present, this could only be achieved with substantial upfront and ongoing assessment of schemes intending to enter and remain on the list, which could be disproportionately onerous for those schemes and the regulator.
Prospective candidates for the top jobs at the NFU battled it out in a lively hustings event in the South West.

With four weeks to go until the officeholder elections, seven candidates standing for the unions top three posts set out their plans for the future at the event held at the Somerset NFU office in Taunton.

NFU members heard prospective candidates make their pitch for the posts of president, deputy president and vice-president.

See also: NFU president set to face leadership challenge

Incumbent president Meurig Raymond faces a challenge for the top job from current deputy Minette Batters and Alistair Mackintosh, a beef and sheep producer and former NFU livestock board chairman.

Candidates vying for the top NFU jobs NFU president Meurig Raymond  current NFU president

Minette Batters  current NFU deputy president

Alistair Mackintosh  beef and sheep producer and former NFU livestock board chairman Deputy president Minette Batters

Rosey Dunn  Yorkshire farmer

Charles Sercombe  NFU livestock board chairman and sheep farmer from Leicestershire

Guy Smith  current NFU vice-president Vice-president Rosey Dunn

Guy Smith

Charles Sercombe

Anthony Rew  Devon dairy, beef and arable farmer

Ms Batters will also battle it out for deputy president with Mr Mackintosh, Rosey Dunn, Charles Sercombe and Guy Smith.

Meanwhile, current vice-president Guy Smith will contest his position with Charles Sercombe, Anthony Rew and Rosey Dunn.

North Yorkshire farmer Rosey Dunn kicked off the proceedings at the hustings on Monday (25 January) with a focus on building relationships throughout the supply chain.

Its tough out there at the moment but it wont always be like that, she said. Our market place is changing and developing new markets at home and abroad will be vital.

Weve got to have better relationships with the food industry to allow us to thrive and grow.

Cumbrian hill farmer Alistair Mackintosh echoed that theme, committing to creating a great team and encouraging the younger generation to get more involved.

We need to get away from constantly passing costs back to the farmer, he said.

Food is too cheap and we need to address that, and get more of the supply chain within our control.

He also challenged the governments approach to AHDB levy money. We have to make sure the treasury dont eyeball that 60m and get their grubby mitts on it.

Guy Smith said when times were tough, farmers needed the NFU to act the most.

When prices are low we need to be embarrassing the hell out of retailers who talk the talk but dont walk the walk, he added.

When Liz Truss tells us what wed like to hear but is a bit flaky when it comes to delivering.

Weve had our tummy tickled by government. I wont stop pushing on the BPS issue until everyones been paid  its been a mess from the word go.

Leicestershire farmer and NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe said it was vital to retain influence within the EU, regardless of which way the EU referendum vote went.

We will still have to dance to their tune to access that market, he said.

Trade development is key  if we are to remain competitive we need to innovate. We also need to find the right balance between communication, co-operation and, at times, confrontation to make our point.

Devon farmer Anthony Rew, a former NFU South West regional chairman, won support for his stance on TB. We dont need a 25-year plan for TB we need a five-year plan, he said.

Mr Rew also focussed on fairness in the supply chain. Weve got dysfunctional markets  we need an immediate review of the supply chain, he said.

Theres no single answer  there are lots of little answers. We need to sharpen up, we need more action, and Im going to rattle every door I can.

Current president Mr Raymond batted off implications that he could have done more in his time in office and shared his vision for a larger, business-focused membership.

Weve achieved a lot  12% modulation not 15%; five-year tax averaging, the 200,000 annual investment allowance. That didnt happen by accident, insisted Mr Raymond.

Weve got a new director general, and business is going to be so important going forward.

Deputy president Ms Batters also adopted a business focus, calling for a real shake-up of the industry.

We need to become much more commercially minded  for too long weve focused on efficiencies but the future has to be about margins and adding value, she said.

We will not change the future unless we engage with the bigger picture: We have to recognise that Defra is shrinking.

The NFU has to pitch farmers as a solution. Food, health, nutrition, education, environment, science  they will drive a new direction.

Farmer reaction from the floor

The NSA, National Beef Association and NFU are all on the same side  we need to work together  its undoubtedly the secret to effective lobbying. We need to work independently but simultaneously. Bryan Griffiths, National Sheep Association (NSA) South West chairman

A lot members dont realise what goes on at HQ  it would be good for them to see whats really involved. David Verney, NFU council delegate for Devon

Were not owed a living but the consumer isnt owed food on a plate. We need to persuade politicians we are of value. Trevor Cligg, Dorset NFU chairman

 I dont think anyone stood out, but it did come alive at question time. James Miller, senior consultant, Laurence Gould

Its definitely going to be one of the closest-fought contests in my time at the NFU. James Small, Somerset NFU chairman

I think well see a change at the top. Tom Kimber, Somerset vice-chairman

Further hustings events were due to be held this week in Shenstone, West Midlands, Stafford, Llandrindod in Wales, Skelmersdale in Lancashire, Richmond in North Yorkshire, Oakham in Rutland and Newmarket, Suffolk.
Story Highlights Jewish Americans' approval of Obama at 55% for 2015

Approval fell by 13 points from late 2012 to late 2014

Large splits on Obama approval by education, religiosity

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After dropping by 13 percentage points between late 2012 and late 2014, President Barack Obama's job approval rating among Jewish Americans improved slightly in 2015. Approval among U.S. Jews averaged 55% in the first half of the year and held at 54% in the second half, for an overall yearly average of 55%.

Obama's approval ratings throughout his presidency have averaged 13 points higher among Jewish Americans than among the general population. The trend in Obama's approval ratings among U.S. Jews largely mirrors his ratings among the general public. Both declined in 2014, and both have since improved, but the rebound has been slightly stronger among U.S. adults overall than among Jewish Americans. As a result, the gap between Jewish Americans and all Americans shrank to below double digits for the first time last year -- to nine points in the first six months and to eight points in the most recent six-month stretch.

Obama's lower standing among Jewish Americans in 2013 and 2014 could reflect tensions between Obama and the Israeli government in recent years. Lukewarm relations between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu grew increasingly fractious after the U.S. government moved in September 2013 to improve relations with Iran. But despite Netanyahu's controversial appearance before Congress in March and the U.S. role in brokering a nuclear arms deal with Iran, Jewish-American support for Obama stabilized over the past year.

U.S. Jews have long been considered some of the staunchest supporters of the Democratic Party. Since the advent of presidential election exit polls in 1972, the results have shown Jewish Americans favoring Democrats by wide margins in every election. For the five presidential elections from 1992 through 2008, exit polls show that at least 74% said they voted for the Democratic candidate. Obama received 78% of the Jewish vote in 2008, but this fell to 69% in 2012.

Approval Highest Among Liberal, Nonreligious and Educated Jews

While Obama's job approval differs across segments of the Jewish population, he benefits from the fact that he performs best among the largest subgroups: liberal, nonreligious and highly educated Jews. Jewish Americans are disproportionately liberal (41%, compared with 23% of the general population), and 85% of Jewish liberals approve of Obama's job performance. About half of U.S. Jews (51%) are not religious, compared with 31% of all Americans, and Obama's approval rating among nonreligious Jews stands at 65%. More than a third of Jews -- 36% -- have done postgraduate work, compared with 13% of the general population, and Obama has a 63% approval rating among them.

Conversely, Jewish groups giving Obama the lowest approval ratings -- conservatives, those who are "highly religious" and those with no college degree -- are among the smallest segments of the Jewish population.

Outsized Jewish Groups Strongly Support Obama Obama job approval rating % Subgroup size (percentage of Jewish Americans) % Liberal 85 41 Moderate 47 34 Conservative 12 22 Democrat 84 48 Independent 40 32 Republican 9 19 Postgraduate work 63 36 College graduate only 56 28 Some college 47 17 No college 42 18 Not religious 65 51 Moderately religious 52 29 Highly religious 34 20 Jan. 2-Dec. 30, 2015 Gallup Daily tracking

Bottom Line

The stabilizing of Obama's job approval rating among Jewish Americans over the past year, with a majority still supporting him, may indicate that the Jewish community in the U.S. has come to terms with the now-finalized Iran nuclear agreement and with Obama's policies in general concerning the Middle East. But while Jewish Americans as a group remain strong supporters of Obama, the gap between his approval among Jews and among the rest of the population has narrowed. At this point, the question becomes whether Obama will regain any ground in his last year in office -- and if not, whether the loss of Jewish support from early 2013 through late 2014 will affect the Jewish vote in this year's presidential election.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Jan. 2-Dec. 30, 2015, on the Gallup U.S. Daily tracking survey, with a random sample of 177,901 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is 1 percentage point at the 95% confidence level.

For results based on the total sample of 4,224 Americans who identify their religion as Jewish interviewed Jan. 2-Dec. 30, 2015, the margin of sampling error is 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

The margin of sampling error for the sample of 2,148 American Jews interviewed between Jan. 2, 2015, and June 30, 2015, and the margin of sampling error for the sample of 2,076 American Jews interviewed between July 1, 2015, and Dec. 30, 2015, is 4 percentage points. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.

Learn more about how Gallup Daily tracking works.
South Corvallis residents worried about living in the shadow of the Hollingsworth & Vose glass fiber plant got responses to some of their concerns from company representatives and state environmental regulators at a public meeting Monday night, but some questions remained unanswered.

More than three dozen people turned out for the two-hour meeting in the community room at First Alternative Co-ops southside store, located next door to the Hollingsworth & Vose plant at 1115 S.E. Crystal Lake Drive. Formerly owned by Evanite Fiber Corp., the facility employs about 140 people and manufactures glass filaments for use in a variety of products, including start-stop automotive batteries and filters for everything from vacuum cleaners to respirators.

Last month the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality revealed that it had allowed first Evanite and later H&V to operate under the wrong class of air pollution permit for nearly 20 years and that the plant had been emitting much higher levels of carbon monoxide and fluorides than its permit allowed. The permit was issued based on faulty air emissions modeling data provided by Evanite, and the problem went undetected until late 2014 because the permit did not require any testing for those pollutants. Testing was performed at that time because H&V was seeking a renewal of the permit.

On Dec. 18, DEQ announced it had reached a settlement in the case that would require H&V to pay $240,000 in penalties and fees but would also allow the company to continue operating its south Corvallis plant while it applied for higher-level permits that would involve some level of regular emissions testing.

Mondays meeting was convened by state Rep. Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, along with Ward 2 City Councilor Roen Hogg, whose district includes the H&V plant, and Ward 3 City Councilor Zach Baker, who represents the residential neighborhoods that border the glass factory. Baker also works in Rayfields legislative office.

Also present to provide information and answer questions were Cindy Frost, H&Vs Corvallis site manager; Chad Darby, an environmental consultant hired by the company; and Gary Andes, the DEQ air emissions permit writer for the plant.

Frost said the permitting violation was a surprise to us and vowed that Hollingsworth & Vose would work diligently to obtain the proper permits and address the concerns of area residents.

Andes explained that the settlement agreement requires H&V to apply for two air emissions permits, called a PSD permit and a Title V permit. The PSD application is due this Friday and will include specific emissions levels requested by H&V for carbon monoxide, fluorides and other regulated substances, along with the air quality modeling data used to justify those requests. By June 1, the company must conduct emissions verification testing at the plant.

Six months after a PSD permit is issued, the company will need to submit an application for a Title V permit. Andes said the public would have opportunities to comment during both permitting processes.

Questions from the audience focused mainly on two things: Whether the emissions coming out of the plant posed a potential health threat, and what DEQ is doing to protect the public.

Darby said his firm, Golder Associates, has done extensive computer modeling in preparing H&Vs PSD application that demonstrates emissions will fall within federal air quality limits, even on still days when the plume from the glass plant drifts directly down on neighboring homes.

We have to demonstrate that even when theres no wind, theres no hazard, he said.

Andes and Frost said the new permits would require regular emissions testing but added they couldnt say exactly how frequent those tests would be until the permitting process had run its course.

When asked about the composition of the particulate matter coming out of the plant now, Andes said he didnt know but expected to have better information after the permit application was filed.

We dont have good data now, but I think were going to get it, he said.

Many of the questions focused on emissions monitoring, which DEQ does not do directly. Instead, the agency allows factory owners to hire contractors to conduct the tests and then analyzes the results to make sure they meet applicable standards. The agency also does some spot-checking to make sure the tests are performed correctly.

We rely on the sources to employ consultants that specialize in source testing," Andes said. "We dont have the manpower or the equipment to do that.

Darby said the process is trustworthy because DEQ has a thorough reviewer and test samples are checked by an independent lab.

Its not a case of the fox watching the henhouse, he insisted.

Trust was another issue raised by the audience. Frost acknowledged that H&V and its predecessor companies had had some pollution issues in the past but said it has worked to correct them, citing the companys efforts to clean up an old solvent spill, remove accumulated glass fiber near the Willamette River and meet with concerned neighbors.

Im not saying we are perfect. We still have a road to travel, Frost said. But what we have is a commitment to travel that road.
Feb. 12, 1925  Jan. 22, 2016

Jack Rettig passed away peacefully at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center just three weeks before his 91st birthday.

He was born to Adam J. and Clara C. (Rode) Rettig in Louisville, Kentucky. Jacks formative years in Evansville, Indiana, were a struggle. His parents died early, his mother of a ruptured appendix in 1933 and his blacksmith/mechanic father committed suicide in 1937. Jack and Eileen, his younger sister, were then raised by their stepmother, Kathryn (Lang) Rettig. Jack worked from middle school through high school to help support the family and graduated as valedictorian from Central High School in 1942.

After a short period in an Alameda, California, shipyard working as an electrician, Jack joined the Navy at age 18 in June 1943 and fought in the Pacific, assigned to the battleship Alabama. He was aboard in Tokyo Bay on V-J Day, Sept. 2, 1945.

On Dec. 1, 1945, following Jacks return from overseas, June Alta (Hugger) and Jack married in Raleigh, North Carolina. They had met in Washington, D.C., where she was a Navy WAVE. He courted her during visits to the citys sights and long walks through Arlington National Cemetery. The couple moved to Evansville and enrolled at Evansville College under the GI Bill. June dropped out for the birth of their son Richard in November 1946. Jack continued school and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Business in 1949.

In 1950 the Korean conflict created manpower demands in the Navy and Jack was offered a commission. He accepted and was assigned to a destroyer, the USS Ernest G. Small, which he boarded at Inchon for active duty. Jack was released from active duty in San Diego and found administrative work there with General Dynamics. He enjoyed his work and the city, and the family remained there until 1958 when he decided to make a career change.

Jack had earned a masters degree by attending night classes at San Diego State College where he became attracted by academic life. This led to his decision to quit his job, move to Los Angeles, and enter the Ph.D. program at the UCLA. With indispensable encouragement and support from his wife June, who worked several jobs, Jack completed his academic requirements and received his Ph.D. in Business in January 1961.

Jack then accepted an assistant professorship in the Department of Business and Technology at Oregon State University. With wife June and son Richard, they moved to Corvallis in September 1961 where Jack remained at OSU until retirement as a full professor on Jan. 1, 1987.

During his years at OSU Jack focused on teaching but also served as chairman of his department, Director of the MBA Program, member of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Triad Club member and sponsor of numerous student groups. A Jack Rettig Scholarship Endowment Fund, established in his honor by former student, is one of the greatest satisfactions he received from a lifetime of teaching at OSU.

Jack was also involved in civic and development activity as: member of Governor Tom McCalls 5-man Task Force 70s project to improve state government, Ford Foundation Visiting Professor Case Method Program participant at Harvard and Collective Bargaining Program participant at the University of Michigan. A Fulbright Fellowship took him to Africa to serve as Director of the School of Administration at the University of Ghana. He published articles and his book Careers: Exploration and Decision, has been continuously in print since 1974.

Jacks retirement years were pleasant, especially the early ones when he and June saw much of the world. They ultimately preferred travel to places where they felt welcome and where someone else did the driving. Several visits were made to Tokyo, where son Rick was living with his Japanese wife, Mico. Jack would have never guessed, that V-J Day when the Alabama sat at anchor in Tokyo Bay, that his son would marry a Japanese girl.

Jack had a well-developed sense of humor and loved exchanging jokes and stories with friends. He enjoyed classical music that was not too challenging and collected music from the Big Band era and folk songs of the 60s. He read widely and randomly and always enjoyed a good meal.

He was preceded by the death of his dear wife, June, of 67 years in 2012, and is survived by his son, Richard.

Looking back, from humble beginnings Jack saw three careers: military, industrial and academic. Each had pros and cons, but everything considered, June and Jack have no regrets about the road they traveled.

Please leave your thoughts and memories for the family at www.demossdurdan.com.
We appreciate everyone who is minimizing fossil fuel use and thereby minimizing damage to everyone's health and security. There are too few of us, so we must now persuade Oregon legislators to enact a law that will engage everyone in this critical effort. We are appalled that Oregon is so far behind in converting to safe energy. See: http://law.lclark.edu/live/files/20713-countdown-to-2050-sharpening-oregons-climate.

This is incomprehensible. Oregon has inexhaustible sources of safe, renewable energy and minimal fossil fuel deposits. Importing fossil fuels is a drag on Oregon's economy. Fossil fuel use adversely affects the health and security of all Oregonians.

The cause is the political power of fossil fuel and related industries. Their actions in Oregon have been subtle, but effective. Expect aggressive action from them when the Legislature begins to enact effective regulatory law. These industries used public disinformation and political coercion campaigns to prevent fossil fuel regulation by the U.S. Congress. To understand their strategy see: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/climate-of-doubt/.

Industries that market products which damage human health and security have prevented regulation for decades, resulting in intense suffering and premature death for millions of Americans. Their common strategy is described in Oreskes' and Conway's acclaimed book, Merchants of Doubt." The Pulitzer Prize-winning Inside Climate News discovered that Exxon knew the lethal effects of its products for three decades. See: http://insideclimatenews.org/content/Exxon-The-Road-Not-Taken.

Their disinformation campaigns demotivated the public. Their political action campaigns coerced members of Congress into abandoning their efforts to control climate change by regulating fossil fuels.

Oregon is in the best economic and political position of any state to set a regulatory example for our nation. It is therefore essential that the 2016 Legislature enact a law which progressively increases the prices of all fossil fuels. Long before those prices reach levels that compensate for the immense damage fossil fuels cause, their prices will exceed those of safe forms of energy. Fossil fuel use, not humans, will become extinct.

To survive fossil fuel industry attacks, a carbon pricing bill must appeal to a majority of voters, all of whom are consumers. Consumers will pay carbon-fee-increased prices for nearly every product and service they purchase. The only bill that will obtain majority support is one that distributes all carbon fee income to all consumers as compensation for the fee-increased prices they will pay. It is also essential that this bill be simple and fully developed, enabling enactment by this short-session 2016 Legislature. A state-adapted version of the Citizens Climate Lobby's (Carbon) Fee and (Consumer) Dividend Proposal to the U.S. Congress will satisfy both of these requirements. See: http://citizensclimatelobby.org/carbon-fee-and-dividend/

The 2015 Oregon House Bill 3176 is based on the Climate Lobby's proposal, but specifies that dividends be paid to taxpayers. This excludes consumers whose incomes are below the Oregon tax threshold. Simple word changes will eliminate this problem.

The other problem is that its wording caused the House Committee on Revenue to classify it as a tax bill, requiring a two-thirds' majority vote to enact. Citizens Call for Climate Action will consult with the Revenue Committee to determine if its wording can be changed to eliminate this problem.

Citizens Call for Climate Action also will consult with Republican legislators to determine whether two-thirds' majority support can be achieved in light of a Stanford University-led survey. It reports that 50 percent of Republicans want government action to control climate change. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/31/us/politics/most-americans-support-government-action-on-climate-change-poll-finds.html?_r=0

Please visit: http://www.electricvehicleadvisor.com/citizens-call-to-climate-action-3/ to see another practical option for enacting carbon pricing legislation and to join with us in this essential effort.
Apropos of the AP story the Gazette-Times ran on Jan. 22 on Bernie Sanders' health plan and how unrealistically expensive it would be: The United States spends more on health care per capita than any other developed country  and they all cover everyone!

What we cannot afford is the present state of affairs. According to the World Health Organization, the United States spends 17.1 percent of its gross domestic product health care while countries wed like to compare ourselves with like Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland spend around 10 percent  with much better health outcomes!

The wastefulness lies partly in the exorbitant administrative costs of dealing with many insurance companies, partly in failure to negotiate with the makers of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, but in many other things as well. The system of financing health care is a burden on business, a burden on doctors and hospitals  and it fails too many people.

Dianne Farrell

Corvallis (Jan. 23)
Oregon State University is hosting its third housing fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Memorial Union ballroom.

The fair is designed to assist students who are moving into off-campus housing. The fair includes tables staffed by those with various OSU services, city of Corvallis housing officials, the Corvallis Fire Department and local landlords and property managers.

The fair previously had been held in February but was moved up this year, said community relations coordinator Jonathan Stoll, to give students a chance to gather more information before lease-signing season begins.

For the second year the far also includes an opportunity for students to participate in the preferred renter program. Students who attend a one-hour workshop and pass an online exam are eligible for a $50 credit on their deposit with participating property managers.

Workshops will be held at 11 a.m. noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. during the housing fair, with presenters Marc Friedman (ASOSU Legal Services), Dawn Duerksen (Duerksen & Associates property management) and Lt. Cord Wood (Corvallis Police Department).

Stoll said that the workshops also will be offered at on-campus residence halls and that an online version is scheduled to be rolled out March 1.
Attack planned? : Cologne police search for terror suspect

Cologne Two weeks before Karneval celebrations, police are searching for a man who bought a suspicious amount of a chemical used in bomb making.

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Just two weeks before the Rosenmontag parade in Cologne, police are searching for a terror suspect. He is said to have purchased a suspicious amount of Ammonium nitrate at a Knauber (home building store) in Pulheim. Police and state prosecutors say the chemical is capable of causing an explosion if the right knowledge is applied.

Police have release a photo of the man with the caption Who knows this man? He appears to be between 45 and 50 years-old and was described by store employees as from the Middle East. The suspect bought the chemicals last Friday, and the employee notified police the next day. Despite intensive efforts, police have not been able to identify the man. He is described as 170  175 cm tall, slim and he spoke good German. He had a pointed nose and a receding hairline, and a short, dark beard with some gray. At about 4:20 p.m., he was seen leaving the Baumarkt on Siemenstrae and heading on foot towards Pulheim.

Police say they are investigating and cannot yet determine if the chemicals were purchased for the purpose of making a bomb. State prosecutors and police are taking this very seriously, especially with regard to the current security situation and their responsibility to keep people safe. Cologne is a host to major Karneval celebrations and about one million people are expected for the Rosenmontag parade on February 8.
Woman kidnapped? : Police searching for clues in possible kidnapping

Foto: dpa (Symbolfoto)

Bonn An eyewitness account to police suggests a woman was kidnapped early Saturday morning and driven away in a VW Passat.

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Police say a woman may have been pulled into a car by some men and kidnapped early Saturday morning in Duisdorf on Carl-Schurz-Strae. An eyewitness reported the account to Bonn police and they have opened a criminal investigation. They are asking the public for help.

The witness said he saw a dark colored VW Passat at around 1:35 a.m. Saturday morning, without a license plate on the rear end of the vehicle. He said the car was double parked on the side of the street in the wrong direction of the one-way street. As the woman walked by, two men climbed out of the car, grabbed her, pulled her into the car and drove away.

According to police, the witness went to the nearest police station and gave his account of what had happened. A search began immediately, including use of a police helicopter but no traces of the woman or car were found. The woman is described as around 20-years-old, 1.7 meters (56 ft.) tall with long dark hair. She was wearing a brown jacket, black trousers and black winter footwear. The witness described the driver as around 1.9 meters (62 ft.) and his passenger as somewhat shorter. Both men were wearing dark caps and clothing.

Anyone who may have been in the area between 1:15 and 1:45 a.m. on early Saturday morning and witnessed anything unusual is asked to contact police criminal investigators at 0228-150.
Doctors in US city go paperless by using Google Glass News oi -GizBot Bureau

Ten doctors at CHI Health Centre in the Omaha city of Nebraska state in the US are using Google Glass - personal assistant tool to help them take better care of patients by reducing the cumbersome paperwork.

Google Glass allows a remote scribe to take detailed notes for the physician - allowing the doctor to provide more direct patient care, ketv.com reported on Saturday. The scribe delivers vital information like weight, lab work and blood pressure to the doctor through a projector, the report added.

SEE ALSO: 5 Tech Habits You Should Adopt To Save Money

"I had a hard time with the typing in the room," a doctor said, adding, "For me, if I don't look at a patient's face, I would miss a lot of emotions. Now, I don't even have to turn on the computer in the room."

The doctor said she just asks her helper scribe to put information and she gets it in no time. According to the report, although the patients or the doctors cannot see or hear the scribe, they can see and hear what is going on during the appointment through a projector.

SEE ALSO: 10 Must-have apps for your Android Smartphone

The health centre would soon be give away more devices to 10 more doctors, the report added.

Source IANS

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Facebook to open its first data centre in Ireland News oi -GizBot Bureau

Facebook will construct a data centre facility at Ireland's Clonee village that will become part of the infrastructure that enables billions of people connect on the social networking platform, Messenger, Instagram and more, the social networking giant announced on Sunday.

"Clonee, County Meath, will be the site for our newest data center. The Clonee data center will be our first in Ireland and follows Lulea, in Sweden, as our second in Europe," Tom Furlong, vice president (infrastructure), wrote in a post.

SEE ALSO: 10 Must-have apps for your Android Smartphone

The 227-acre site will be packed full of cutting-edge technology, making it one of the most advanced, efficient and sustainable data centres in the world.

"All the racks, servers, and other components have been designed and built from scratch as part of the Open Compute Project, an industry-wide coalition of companies dedicated to creating energy- and cost-efficient infrastructure solutions and sharing them as open source," Furlong informed.

The Clonee data centre will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy thanks to Ireland's robust wind resources. "This will help us reach our goal of powering 50 percent of our infrastructure with clean and renewable energy by the end of 2018," the blog post read.

SEE ALSO: 5 Tech Habits You Should Adopt To Save Money

Ireland has been Facebook's international headquarters since 2009. This will be Facebook's sixth data centre facility. Other sites include Altoona, Iowa; Forest City, North Carolina; Lulea, Sweden; and the original one in Prineville, Oregon. Facebook has confirmed that it would be building another data centre in Fort Worth, Texas.

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Strikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, January 25, 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

Fighter, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted three strikes in Syria:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike struck an ISIL-used earthen bridge.

-- Near Raqqah, a strike destroyed three ISIL cranes and damaged a fourth ISIL crane.

-- Near Hawl, a strike destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL vehicle.

Strikes in Iraq

Coalition military forces used rocket artillery and attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct 16 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government:

-- Near Baghdadi, two strikes destroyed two ISIL weapons caches and an ISIL bunker.

-- Near Kisik, two strikes destroyed three separate ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL light machine gun.

-- Near Mosul, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL communications facility, and four ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Ramadi, six strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units, cratered an ISIL-used earthen bridge, and destroyed an ISIL barge, an ISIL sniper position, two ISIL bunkers, two ISIL mortar positions, an ISIL weapons cache, three ISIL buildings and three ISIL tactical vehicles.

-- Near Sinjar, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike destroyed seven 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 a strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

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UN chief urges African Union to help end S Sudan deadlock

Iran Press TV

Mon Jan 25, 2016 7:10PM

The United Nations is calling on African Union states to help pull South Sudan's parties out of a deadlock in the country's peace process.

The UN secretary-general said African Union states should address South Sudan's failure to meet a Friday deadline to establish a transitional government of national unity.

Forming a transitional government is an 'essential step' in implementing the peace deal between South Sudan's government and rebels, said Ban Ki-moon through his spokesman on Monday.

Ban advised both of South Sudan's warring sides to overcome their differences, asking African leaders to place the issue of South Sudan at the top of the agenda at the AU summit this week.

The UN chief said he would be present at this week's AU summit.

The two warring sides in the South Sudan conflict are mired in a deadlock after President Salva Kiir issued a Christmas Eve decree dissolving the nation's original ten states, and creating 28 new ones, with newly appointed governors.

The country has been witnessing deadly violence since December 2013, when fighting broke out between soldiers loyal to Kiir and rebels led by former Vice President Riek Machar. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced over two million others.

The warring sides reached an internationally-mediated peace deal on August 26 in neighboring Ethiopia.

The peace deal rests on the government's power-sharing with the rebels based on divisions in the original states.

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29 dead in multiple bombing attacks in Cameroon

Iran Press TV

Mon Jan 25, 2016 5:11PM

Over two dozen people have lost their lives in three bomb attacks targeting a local market in Cameroon's volatile northern region, a security source says.

'An initial toll shows 29 dead and around 30 injured,' a police source said on condition of anonymity, saying the toll included the three bombers.

According to the source, the bomb attacks targeted a local market in Bodo village, in the far north region of the country, near the frontier with Nigeria on Monday.

He added that the bombers had been trying to access the market but were stopped by local residents.

No group or individual has so far claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, but the Takfiri Boko Haram terrorist group, which is based in neighboring Nigeria, has carried out similar attacks in Cameroon.

Over 120 people have reportedly been killed in the far north of Cameroon in more than 20 bomb blasts blamed on the Boko Haram since July 2015.

Cameroon has joined a regional military alliance alongside Niger, Chad and Nigeria in the battle against Boko Haram.

The Boko Haram militancy began in Nigeria in 2009, when the terrorist group started an armed rebellion against the government. At least 17,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5 million made homeless ever since.

The terrorists have pledged allegiance to the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, which is primarily operating inside Syria and Iraq.

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Boko Haram Takfiris attack Nigeria village, kill civilian

Iran Press TV

Mon Jan 25, 2016 3:14PM

A civilian has been killed and his house torched by the Takfiri Boko Haram terrorists during a raid on a village in northeastern Nigeria, a police official says.

According to Toyin Gbadegesin, the local state police spokesman, the incident occurred in Babban Gida village, in the northeastern Nigerian state of Yobe on Sunday.

'The terrorists initially shot dead a man and burnt his thatched hut on the outskirts of the village,' Gbadegesin said.

He added that the Takfiri terrorists also stole two police vehicles but were eventually forced out.

"They attacked the police station where troops engaged them in a fight which forced them to retreat," said the spokesman.

Last month, the Nigerian government said the terrorist group had been 'technically' defeated, but sporadic Boko Haram attacks in the northeastern part of the country still continue.

Some 20,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5 million others made homeless since the beginning of the Boko Haram militancy in Nigeria in 2009.

The militants have recently pledged allegiance to the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, which is primarily operating in Syria and Iraq.

Boko Haram has spread its attacks from northeastern Nigeria, its traditional stronghold, to the neighboring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

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Israeli helicopters target areas in besieged Gaza Strip

Iran Press TV

Mon Jan 25, 2016 6:54AM

Israeli military helicopters have carried out two aerial attacks against the Gaza Strip in yet another act of aggression against the blockaded coastal territory, reports say.

Palestinian sources said the first airstrike struck an open area just southwest of the city of Khan Yunis, located about 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Gaza City, in the early hours of Monday, Arabic-language Safa news agency reported.

The second airborne attack targeted a site belonging to Ezzedine Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, south of the city of Dayr al-Balah, located over 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) south of Gaza City.

There were no immediate reports about the possible casualties from the Israeli attacks.

The airstrikes came hours after Tel Aviv claimed that a rocket fired from the coastal enclave had hit the Israeli region of Sha'ar HaNegev. The projectile reportedly did not cause any injuries and there was no damage.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli siege since June 2007. The blockade has caused a decline in the standards of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.

The Israeli regime denies about 1.8 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, jobs with proper wages as well as adequate healthcare and education.

In early July 2014, Israel waged a war on the Gaza Strip. The 50-day military aggression, which ended on August 26, 2014, killed nearly 2,200 Palestinians, including 577 children. Over 11,100 others  including 3,374 children, 2,088 women and 410 elderly people  were also wounded in the war.

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UN Security Council Establishes Mission to Verify Colombia Peace Deal

Sputnik News

23:50 25.01.2016(updated 02:08 26.01.2016)

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution to create a political mission in Colombia.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Monday to create a political mission in Colombia to monitor and verify the peace process.

'The Mission will be a political mission of unarmed international observers, responsible for the monitoring and verification of the laying down of arms, and a part of the tripartite mechanism that will monitor and verify the definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities,' the resolution stated.

On January 19, the Colombian government and revolutionary forces have requested the UN Security Council to oversee an anticipated ceasefire and a disarmament of Colombia's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC).

The resolution was drafted by the United Kingdom, whose Permanent Representative Matthew Rycroft told reporters, 'It is a commendable step forward from the government of Colombia and the FARC to voluntarily bring this issue to the United Nations. That's a rare occurrence and one that we should welcome today.'

On September 23, FARC and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signed a deal in Havana, Cuba, setting a schedule for the rebel forces' full demobilization and disarmament.

Peace talks have continued since November 2012 despite continuing violence. The FARC rebel group was established in 1964 as the military wing of the country's Communist party. The military confrontation between FARC and the Colombian government was estimated to have killed over 200,000 people.

 Sputnik

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Joint Polish, Lithuanian, Ukrainian Force to Become Operational in 2017

Sputnik News

17:04 25.01.2016(updated 17:17 25.01.2016)

According to Polish Defense Minister, a joint brigade of units from the Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian armies will become fully operational next year.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  A joint brigade of units from the Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian armies will become fully operational next year, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Monday.

'All three units interact well, and there are great chances that the brigade will reach operational readiness next year,' he said in the Polish city of Lublin where an opening ceremony of a joint brigade headquarters took place.

Macierewicz added that the brigade would be 'one of the key forms of military cooperation on the eastern flank of NATO.'

The three states signed an agreement establishing LithuanianPolishUkrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG) in September 2014. The brigade is due to serve in UN peacekeeping operations.

 Sputnik

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UN agency and partners seek $500 million for Nigeria and Central African Republic refugee crises

25 January 2016  The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners today called on donor nations for more than half-a-billion dollars this year to help hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee conflicts in Nigeria and the Central African Republic (CAR), and for the host communities providing them with shelter and other basic services.

"These two humanitarian crises must not be forgotten; they are not going away," said Liz Ahua, UNHCR's Regional Refugee Coordinator for the CAR and Nigeria situations, in a press release.

"The suffering is great and the needs acute among both the displaced and host communities. Violence occurs on almost a daily basis in north-east Nigeria and CAR, generating fear and new displacement in the region," she added, citing suicide attacks, kidnapping, indiscriminate killings and massive human rights abuses.

The two Regional Refugee Response Plans (RRRP), presented at a donor briefing in Yaounde, Cameroon, include $198.76 million for 230,000 Nigerian refugees and some 284,300 members of host communities in Niger, Chad and Cameroon as well as $345.7 million for 476,300 CAR refugees and some 289,000 people hosting them in Chad, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo.

According to UNHCR, both response plans cover needs in sectors such as protection, education, food security, health and nutrition, livelihoods, shelter, basic aid and water, hygiene and sanitation. The CAR appeal is being made by 25 organizations, and the Nigeria one by 28. UNHCR alone is seeking $189.54 million under the Central African Republic RRRP and $62.33 million for the other.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we won't see it unless there is a much stronger commitment from African governments and the international community to help re-establish stability and peace," Ms. Ahua said, urging donors to give more generously.

In 2015, the Nigerian RRRP received 52 per cent of its financial requirements while the Central African Republic RRRP received just 27 per cent.

Meanwhile, despite important steps towards restoring peace in both north-east Nigeria and CAR, the UN is underlining that there were also reverses and continuing significant population displacement in 2015. In Nigeria, the Government rolled back Boko Haram gains, but the insurgent group turned to terror tactics that spread into neighbouring countries.

In CAR, relative peace was punctuated by waves of violence that triggered flight within the country and into the DRC, but the first round of the presidential election passed peacefully in late December with the participation of tens of thousands of refugees in Chad, the Republic of Congo and Cameroon. The second round is due in February.

"We need funding to prevent malnutrition among children; to run schools, build up proper sanitation systems and provide clean water; and to make sure that families have shelter over their heads," stressed Ms. Ahua.

The Nigeria and CAR regional response plans are part of the wider 2016 humanitarian appeal, asking for $20.1 billion to reach 87 million people around the world, launched last December.

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As deadline slips in South Sudan, UN chief urges African partners to revive peace process

25 January 2016  With South Sudan's parties missing last week's deadline to set up the Transitional Government of National Unity amid deadlock over establishing 28 states, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the war-torn country's African partners to save the peace process.

"He encourages the (East African) Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and African Union (AU) member States to seize the opportunity of the forthcoming African Union summit to address the political impasse that is impeding the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity," a statement issued by his spokesman said.

IGAD, the AU, the UN, China, Norway, United Kingdom and United States sponsored a peace agreement which President Salva Kiir and his former Vice-President Riek Machar signed in August to end the bloody conflict that erupted between their factions two years ago, killing thousands, displacing over 2.4 million people, and endangering the food security of 4.6 million.

Senior UN officials have warned that repeated ceasefire violations by both the Government and opposition, with tens of thousands of additional people fleeing their homes, threaten to undermine the peace process in the country, which only gained independence in 2009 after breaking away from Sudan, its northern neighbour.

"The Secretary-General expresses his concern over the parties' deadlock over the issue of the establishment of 28 states, and their failure to meet the 22 January deadline to establish the Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan," today's statement said.

"He stresses that the formation of the Transitional Government is an essential step in implementing the peace agreement and laying the foundation for peace and stability in the country...

"The Secretary-General reaffirms that the United Nations will continue to do all it can to support the people of South Sudan who continue to be subjected to unimaginable suffering and human rights abuses, as they have been since the beginning of the conflict over two years ago."

Just last month, the Security Council increased the UN peacekeeping level in the country by more than 1,000 to a ceiling of 15,000 troops and police, citing protection of civilians "by all necessary means" as its top priority amid "reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity" have been committed.

The Mission currently has some 12,500 uniformed personnel on the ground.

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Amid military confrontation in Darfur, 'limited' progress on resolving conflict - UN peacekeeping chief

25 January 2016  Against the backdrop of renewed military confrontation, the political process to resolve the conflict in Darfur through dialogue remains fragmented with limited progress, the United Nations peacekeeping chief today informed the UN Security Council.

"Major armed movements and opposition parties continue to boycott the current national dialogue framework," the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Herve Ladsous, told the 15-member body during a briefing on the situation in Sudan's strife-torn region.

Since the last report submitted by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in December, fighting has resumed in the Jebel Marra area, with clashes in the west and north of Darfur marking the end of a brief lull in the civil war, which the UN estimates has killed tens if not hundreds of thousands of Darfuris and displaced nearly two million since 2003.

In the north, where villages were recently attacked by Arab militias, troops from the African Union-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) were shot at twice  once by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Abdul Wahid faction while trying to recover a stolen UN World Food Programme (WFP) truck, and a second time by Arab militias while protecting a top UN official during a trip to Anka.

"The security situation limited an inter-agency relief mission to Anka, and humanitarian assistance had to be delivered by airdrops," Mr. Ladsous said.

Meanwhile, to the south of El Geneina, 5,000 people have reportedly been displaced due to deadly violence, but neither the UN nor humanitarian partners has been able to confirm this figure due to Sudanese authorities blocking their access to the area.

"Despite the extension of the unilateral cease-fire by President [Omar al] Bashir in the region of Jebel Marra, incidents occurred, aerial bombardments resumed, and clashes between governmental forces and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Abdul Wahid intensified in January," the UN peacekeeping chief underscored.

He added that a dozen bombs were reported in North and Central Darfur and that fighting between Government forces and Abdul Wahid rebels resulted in victims, but the number could not be verified, again due to lack of access. Mr. Ladsous did however report that 7,900 civilians, mainly women and children, have sought refuge around the UNAMID camp at Sortoni in North Darfur.

With respect to the Darfur peace process, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minawi faction held a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar on 11 January in Paris. They pledged to develop a joint position paper on their concerns with respect to the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), which forms the basis for a permanent ceasefire and comprehensive peace agreement to end the fighting.

An informal meeting between the Government and the two groups started in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia, on 23 January, but the parties reportedly remain divided on the role of the DDPD and an African Union implementation panel.

"It is regrettable that Abdul Wahid has been absent from these talks and we call upon him to participate constructively in the efforts to find a resolution to the conflict," Mr. Ladsous stressed.

He also voiced his regret that the visa situation remains precarious, "with no major improvement in its overall status." Since the last report to the Security Council, the Government rejected another seven visa requests, including four involving substantive civilian functions and one for the post of Senior Joint Operations Officer.

"The resultant loss of capacities in those sections directly related to the strategic priorities of UNAMID, such as the Protection of Civilians, is particularly concerning, in light of the evolving situations in the Jebel Marra and other areas," he explained.

Concluding his remarks, he reiterated his concern about the impact of the renewed upsurge in fighting on civilians, and expressed his hope that the cessation of hostilities negotiations will come to a "positive conclusion" and bring to an end the suffering of people caught in the fighting.

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MSF Calls for Protection of Yemen Health Care Facilities

by Amanda Scott January 25, 2016

The medical aid charity Doctors Without Borders is calling for guarantees from Yemen's warring parties that medical activities will be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.

In a statement Monday, the medical charity, also known by its French name Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), said the conflict is being waged with total disregard for the rules of war.

"It is causing enormous suffering for people trapped in conflict zones," said Raquel Ayora, MSF director of operations.

"Public places are being bombed and shelled on a massive scale. Not even hospitals are being spared, even though medical facilities are explicitly protected by international humanitarian law."

Humanitarian crisis

MSF says that since October, its medical facilities in Yemen have been bombed four times, with two hospitals, a clinic and an ambulance coming under fire.

The charity says it has asked the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission to conduct an independent investigation into the attack of one of its hospitals.

"Increasingly, we are seeing attacks on medical facilities being minimized as 'mistakes,'" Ayora said, as the charity has yet to receive an official explanation for any of the incidents.

MSF says the first attack took place October 26, when airstrikes, reportedly by the Saudi-led coalition, hit an MSF-supported hospital in Saada Governorate.

The Saudis deny that its forces carried out that attack.

The latest bombing occurred January 21, when a series of airstrikes in Saada Governorate struck an ambulance from an MSF-supported hospital in the area, killing six people, including the driver.

The Saudi-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes in Yemen since late March, targeting Iranian-backed Shi'ite Houthi rebels who forced President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi to flee the country.

The fighting has thrown the Arab world's poorest nation into a deep humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations reporting that 80 percent of the population  some 21 million people  require assistance.

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UN Seeks Over $500 Million to Help Nigerian, CAR Refugees

by Lisa Schlein January 25, 2016

The United Nations refugee agency and its partners are appealing for more than half a billion dollars to provide life-saving aid to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing conflicts in Nigeria and the Central African Republic. The funding would also assist the communities hosting the refugees.

While all eyes are trained on Syria's refugee crisis, the world has seemingly forgotten the conflicts playing out in Nigeria and Central African Republic  two of Africa's biggest humanitarian crises.

The United Nations reports nearly a quarter-million Nigerians have fled to neighboring countries to escape the brutal and murderous attacks of Boko Haram militants. And, it says ongoing instability and violence in the CAR has forced almost a half-million people to flee across borders.

The new U.N. appeal aims to help these refugees as well as the communities sheltering them in Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo.

Refugee agency spokesman Adrian Edwards told tells the appeal will provide protection for the refugees as well as basic life-saving needs. These include food, health care, nutrition, shelter, water, hygiene and sanitation.

"Also to looking at issues that normally do not get much public attention, such as education and livelihoods,' he said. 'When you have refugees displaced into neighboring countries, children lose their education. Families cannot make a decent living sometimes. They have difficulties with livelihoods. And, these elements are really, really important that you address them."

Edwards said these two humanitarian crises must not be forgotten, as the victims of the conflicts are still suffering. Unfortunately, he said, Nigeria and CAR have been out of the international headlines for a long time.

He said the international community is fooling itself if it believes these conflicts can be dismissed as localized problems.

"These are regional problems because they are generating refugees into surrounding countries,' he said. 'Countries like Cameroon, for example, are seeing both Nigerian refugees and Central African Republic refugees on the one hand. And, this arc of crises and problems on the one hand extends further down toward South Sudan itself. Down toward DRC and other areas."

Edwards said these crises require comprehensive approaches if they are going to be properly resolved.

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South Sudan Rebel Leader, Uganda's Museveni to Meet

by James Butty January 25, 2016

Former South Sudan Vice President and current rebel leader Riek Machar said he will ask Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to tell President Salva Kiir to scrap his decision to create 28 states because it is hindering implementation of the peace agreement.

The Ugandan leader is an influential member of the East African regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which played a key role in mediating last August's peace agreement.

Machar is scheduled to meet with Museveni Monday.

The meeting comes after both sides missed Saturday's deadline to form a national unity government as mandated in the agreement.

Amend constitution

Machar says the rebels first want to amend the current transitional constitution to incorporate last August's agreement, which recognizes only 10 states. But he said the South Sudan government wants to enshrine Kiir's 28 states in the new constitution.

'You know that even if you want to establish a company, you must have rules for establishing such a company. So the same for establishing a government, you need to have a constitution. In this case we need to amend the current transitional constitution so that it incorporates the agreement. The disagreement is that the government insists that the 28 states which they established 39 days after the agreement was signed, they insist that these 28 states be enshrined in the constitution. But the agreement says 10 states only,' Machar said.

Ugandan troops are in South Sudan to prop up the South Sudanese government. President Museveni was influential in getting President Kiir to sign last August's peace agreement, after the South Sudanese leader had originally refused to sign the deal.

'I think it is time for President Yoweri Museveni to exercise his influence on President Kiir so that President Kiir drops the 28 states and we go forward and forge a constitution, and the transitional national assembly, then a government can be established,' Machar said.

Reaction

South Sudan's information minister said Kiir's creation of 28 states does not hinder implementation of last August's peace agreement. Instead, Michael Makuei said the 28 states creation is an improvement of the peace deal because it benefits the rebels.

'If you go to the agreement you will find that whatever we have done is not a violation; it is an improvement, and it is an improvement to their interest because they will have six governors instead of having two; they will have 40 percent in 10 states instead of 40 percent in three,' he said.

In addition, Makuei said the 28 states idea is popular with South Sudanese, and if the rebels want, the government is willing to provide funding to put the idea to a national referendum.

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Ethiopia Boundary Dispute Puts Human Rights Violations in Spotlight

by Salem Solomon January 25, 2016

After almost two months of clashes between Oromo protesters and security forces in Ethiopia, authorities have scrapped a 'master plan' that would have expanded the boundaries of Addis Ababa and, according to protesters, would have displaced Oromo farmers.

However, observers are divided on the significance of the move by Ethiopia and whether it truly represents a change of policy or just a reaction to negative publicity.

Dr. Awol Allo, a fellow in human rights at the London School of Economics, said he believes the government will find other ways to seize land it deems useful.

'I don't actually believe that the practices of displacement and the eviction and the plunder would cease,' Allo told VOA. 'Remember, the expansion of Addis began a very long time ago and it has intensified over the course of the last 10 years because of the influx of investment into the city, both foreign and domestic.'

Compiled by activists

Allo pointed to figures compiled by jailed Oromo activist and opposition leader Bekele Gerba, who said 150,000 Oromo farmers have had their land taken by the government over the past 10 years.

'The practices would continue. They just don't call them a master plan,' Allo said. 'The master plan was basically intended to sort of basically formalize and legalize the processes of annexation and expansion. It may not have that kind of name that gives it a broader mandate, sort of legitimacy and authority, but the practice would nevertheless continue.'

Earlier this week, the European Parliament adopted a 19-point resolution urging Ethiopia to respect the rights of peaceful protesters as well as to cease intimidation and imprisonment of journalists. During a recent visit to Ethiopia, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power urged the government to engage in dialogue with protesters.

Approximately 140 people were killed during the protests, according to activists interviewed by Human Rights Watch.

'What we are urging is that the international community should not turn a blind eye to these gross violations of human rights that have taken place in Ethiopia,' said Mandeep Tiwana, head of policy and research at CIVICUS, a group that works to strengthen civil society and civilian participation in politics.

'They should diplomatically engage with Ethiopia, institute external inquiry into this matter and also bring to court those responsible for excessive force. And it appears that security forces have used excessive force against peaceful protesters, and, in fact, there are reports that even children as young as 12 have been killed,' Tiwana said.

Confirmed deaths

The government has confirmed that 13 security forces died in the clashes. VOA made repeated requests for comment from the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, D.C., but has not yet received an official statement.

The protests come at a particularly difficult time for Ethiopia, as the worst drought to hit the area in 30 years has caused a famine that is particularly affecting the northeast region.

The aid group Save the Children says as many as 10 million people need food aid. It calls this one of the two worst humanitarian crises in the world, following only Syria.

But observers hope the international community's desire to aid those affected by the drought will not prevent it from insisting that Ethiopia respect human rights as it pertains to the Oromo protests.

Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty International's regional director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes, said her organization and others are calling for three additional measures following the master plan's cancellation.

Release, investigation

First, they want the unconditional release of the people arrested during the protests. They also want an independent investigation of police conduct, and they are calling for a national dialogue about policing and demonstrations and what is appropriate during protests.

'It is a sign of good faith that the government canceled these immediate plans,' Wanyeki said. 'I think the pressure from the community and from all of the people that put aid into Ethiopia's much-wanted development progress need to insist on standards around projects like this.'

Under Ethiopian law, all land belongs to the government, and people who are relocated are entitled to compensation.

However, the constitution specifically protects the rights of pastoralists and their right not to be displaced from their land.

Allo said proper compensation and due process have not occurred in the Oromo region around Addis Ababa.

People's 'entire livelihood is inextricably tied to the land and land means everything,' he said. 'Their property is a way of living for them, so to deprive them of that possibility  that prospect of leaving the land that they have known, in the ecologies that they have known, without proper consultation, without appropriate compensation  I think that is a huge injustice.'

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Five Years After Tahrir Square, Egypt's Activists Say Revolution Still Lives

by Cecily Hilleary January 25, 2016

The streets of Egypt's cities were somber Monday, the five-year anniversary of the January 25th "Day of Rage" against poverty, joblessness, political corruption and most notably, the three-decade regime of President Hosni Mubarak. Within weeks, the millions who occupied Tahrir Square and streets across the nation toppled Mubarak and began what they hoped was a path to change.

Egyptian state media reported Monday there were minor anti-government protests in several governorates. There were no official reports of casualties.

Egypt's Middle East News Agency also reports that dozens of pro-government demonstrators marched in Tahrir Square, handing out flowers and candy to police to mark National Police Day, also celebrated on this date. The government took stringent measures to ensure that the only demonstrators in Tahrir were government supporters.

Egyptian police killed two "members of a terrorist group" on the outskirts of Cairo during a gunfire exchange. Egypt is countering an insurgency from Islamists tied to the Islamic State group. The government also brands the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood a terror group.

Five years after the uprising began, say activists, many Egyptians are facing an even more daunting challenge than they did in 2011.

"Today's Egypt is different, far more oppressive, far more frightened of the alternative," Cairo journalist Wael Eskandar told VOA in a Facebook chat.

That said, he believes the revolution continues.

"The revolution is a long process, and judging by today's remembrance of it, it seems that it's not over," he said. "The fact that the regime still views it as a threat means that it's not over. Whether it will be in the future is another matter."

A cartoon circulating on Twitter comments on the government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi's fears of another popular revolt. The Egyptian leader is seen pressing his back against a door, from behind which a voice calls, "Open up, Mr. President. It's me  Tomorrow."

During the past two weeks, Egyptian security forces raided more than 5,000 homes, looking for signs of another revolution in the making, a dramatic escalation, say activists, of a crackdown that has been taking place since Sissi was elected.

For Eskander, #Jan25 is more than just a hashtag or a date in history.

"It's important that it is remembered not just as a romanticized event that simply ended, but something ongoing," he said. "It's an idea that withstood the regime's attempts at crushing it, defaming it and co-opting it."

And he added, "I'm not saying that to motivate anyone, but because that's the truth."

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Thailand confirms MERS-CoV disease, WHO cautions against risk

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Geneva, Jan 25, IRNA -- Thailand confirmed Middle East Respiratory Syndrom coronavirus MERS-CoV disease in traveler, WHO said on Monday. WHO cautioned against continued risk of importation.

Thailand is the second such case in the country in the last seven months, as WHO cautioned other member states in its South-East Asia Region against the continuing risks and the need to remain vigilant.

"The new case of MERS CoV is a reminder of the continued risk of importation of the disease from countries where it still persists. All countries need to further enhance surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections, focus on early diagnosis, and step up infection prevention and control procedures in health-care facilities to rapidly detect any case of importation and effectively prevent its spread," Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region, said.

A 71-year -old national from Oman, who arrived in Bangkok, Thailand for treatment on 22 January, and was admitted to a private hospital, tested positive for MERS CoV.

He has since been transferred to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute. Measures are being taken to trace all those who could have been in his contact during his journey to Thailand, and within Bangkok.

This is the second MERS CoV case in Thailand and in the WHO South-East Asia Region. Earlier, on 18 June 2015 another Omani national who arrived in Bangkok for treatment, was tested positive for MERS CoV.

In the recent past, countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region have been reviewing and strengthening preparedness to respond to MERS CoV.

WHO has been strongly advocating for strengthening health systems and ensuring strict infection control measures are in place in countries to respond to infectious diseases such as MERS CoV.

In the Region, WHO is supporting Ministries of Health to build capacities and strengthen preparedness as required under the International Health Regulations (2005) to effectively detect and respond to outbreaks and other hazards.

MERS CoV is caused by a virus. Typical symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is common, but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported.

###

WHO's South-East Asia Region comprises the following 11 Member States: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

1416**1416

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Daesh provoking France in worst possible way: Hollande

Iran Press TV

Mon Jan 25, 2016 11:22AM

French President Francois Hollande says the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group "is provoking" France in "the worst possible way," after the group released a propaganda video that purportedly shows their assailants sometime before the November attacks in Paris.

"Nothing will deter us, no threat will make France waver in the fight against terrorism," Hollande said in the Indian capital, New Delhi, after meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The French president said, "These images only serve to discredit the perpetrators of this crime."

The 17-minute video that was published on the group's Telegram channel, describes the attackers as "lions" who "brought France to its knees."

Hollande further said Daesh "is provoking us in the worst possible way," adding that France and its allies are prepared to strike the Takfiri militants "again and again."

Nine member of Daesh carried out attacks in and around Paris on November 13. The assaults claimed the lives of some 130 people and wounded 350 others. Following the attacks, a state of emergency was imposed in the country, which has led to over 2,500 police raids and hundreds of arrests.

France also began military strikes against Daesh in Syria following the attacks. Paris has also sought alliances with other countries, including Russia, in the fight against the terrorist group.

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Authorities Say Up To 1,000 Tajiks Joined IS In Syria, Iraq

January 25, 2016

by RFE/RL's Tajik Service

Tajik authorities say up to 1,000 nationals have joined Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria and Iraq, doubling the figure that officials previously provided.

Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda told reporters on January 25 that 61 Tajik nationals had returned from Syria and Iraq, while 148 had been killed in fighting there.

Earlier, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said 21 university students were among Tajiks who joined IS.

Rahmon said mosques and other religious institutions both at home and abroad play a role in recruiting people to extremist groups.

The interior minister also said Tajik Colonel Gulmurod Halimov, who had joined the IS extremist group last year, has since been seriously injured twice.

The minister claimed IS was now paying Halimov $100 a month as a 'pension.' That claim cannot be independently confirmed.

Halimov, the former commander of the Interior Ministry's special forces, known as OMON, had confirmed in a YouTube video that he joined the militant group.

The interior minister said Tajik authorities were continuing efforts to capture Halimov.

Rahimzoda also sought to explain increased security measures in the Tajik capital over the weekend, saying 'it was an ordinary drill.'

Local residents said there was an increased police presence across Dushanbe and additional security checkpoints on highways leading to the capital.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan-double- estimate-of-islamic-state-members/27509293.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.

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Tajik Minister Confirms Death of Extremist Group Jamaat Ansarullah Leader

Sputnik News

18:18 25.01.2016(updated 18:19 25.01.2016)

Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rakhimzoda said that the leader of the Jamaat Ansarullah extremist group was killed in Afghanistan over half a year ago.

DUSHANBE (Sputnik)  Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rakhimzoda confirmed Monday the death of the leader of the Jamaat Ansarullah extremist group.

'Mullo Amriddin [real name Amriddin Tabarov] was killed in one of the operations in Afghanistan over half a year ago,' Rakhimzoda told a press conference.

The Jamaat Ansarullah group was founded in 2010, and is reportedly financed by al-Qaeda. The group was banned in Tajikistan in the same year.

The country's national security committee believes that the group made attempts to destabilize Tajikistan in 2010 and 2011, as well as carrying out a terrorist attack in the north of the country in 2010.

 Sputnik

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Malaysia PM Defends Strict Counterterrorism Laws

by VOA News January 25, 2016

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said his country's new anti-terrorism laws are a necessary weapon against what he said are 'very real' threats by the Islamic State group.

Najib offered the defense Monday in Kuala Lumpur at the start of a two-day international conference on violent extremism.

The new laws have come under fire from human rights activists over the return of a decades-old practice that allows police to detain suspects without trial.

Najib said he understood the need to maintain civil liberties, but pointed out that 'there are no civil liberties under Daesh,' using an alternative name for IS. 'The best way to uphold civil liberties is to ensure the safety of the nation.'

IS video

A video surfaced Sunday from a group professing allegiance with IS, warning that it would carry out attacks in Malaysia if police continued its crackdown on IS supporters.

Police arrested seven suspected terrorists authorities say belonged to an IS cell that was planning terrorist attacks across Malaysia. The men were carrying bullets, books on jihad, and Islamic State paraphernalia.

A suspected militant believed to be planning an attack on Kuala Lumpur was arrested on January 15,

It is illegal in Malaysia to support IS, or for its citizens to go overseas for military training.

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France, India Sign Agreement on Purchase of 36 Rafale Aircraft

Sputnik News

12:14 25.01.2016(updated 13:43 25.01.2016)

Narendra Modi said that India and France have signed an intergovernmental agreement on the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from Paris.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik)  India and France have signed an intergovernmental agreement on the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from Paris, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday.

'We have signed an intergovernmental agreement on the purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft. Only some of the financial aspects need to be solved,' Modi was quoted as saying in a statement.

Paris also confirmed the signing of the document on its official Twitter account.

'We are delighted that an intergovernmental agreement on the Rafale has been concluded,' the tweet reads.

French President Francois Hollande said during the joint press conference with Modi that France was willing to provide the aircraft to India, which have performed well in the fight against terrorism.

The two countries are aware of threats of terrorism around the world and will never be impressed by extremist groups' provocations, according to the French leader.

Hollande arrived for a three-day visit to India on Sunday in order to close the deal for the sale of the Rafale fighter aircraft, which took over three years to negotiate.

The Rafale is a French fourth-generation multirole twin-engine fighter aircraft, designed and built by Dassault Aviation.

Initially, India planned to buy 126 Rafale jets to modernize its air force. However, in July, New Delhi canceled its order for 90 of the jets.

 Sputnik

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Iran's President Rouhani begins three-leg Europe tour

Iran Press TV

Mon Jan 25, 2016 7:45AM

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has arrived in Italy on the first leg of his trip to three European destinations following the implementation of a nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.

Rouhani left Tehran early on Monday at the head of a high-ranking delegation, which includes government officials, Iranian entrepreneurs and businessmen. He was initially greeted by Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni at the international Rome Ciampino Airport and then officially welcomed by Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

In his visit to Rome, Rouhani is scheduled to meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Rouhani will also pay his first visit to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis.

On Wednesday, the Iranian president will travel to Paris, where he is expected to meet with his French counterpart Francois Hollande.

Prior to his departure, the president told reporters that the trip comes at a historic juncture as it follows the implementation of the nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries as well as the lifting of the sanctions against Iran.

Iran and the P5+1 group  the US, Britain, France, China, and Russia plus Germany  reached the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in July 2015. The deal came into force on January 16, known as the "Implementation Day."

The president said key documents will be signed during his four-day trip, which will set out a roadmap for mid- and long-term cooperation with Rome and Paris. Rouhani also said a whole range of topics, including investment, technology, transportation, exports insurance, agriculture, and tourism, will be discussed during his trip.

The tour is Rouhani's first European trip during his tenure as president.

Meanwhile, President Rouhani has announced that he has written a letter to the heads of the P5+1 states. In a short message that appeared on his Persian Twitter account, the Iranian president said he had expressed satisfaction at the efforts carried out to reach the deal signed between Iran and the six other countries. He also expressed optimism about the timely implementation of commitments as per the JCPOA.

In another Tweet, President Rouhani said he had also written to the heads of neighboring states, expressing hope about efforts to make use of opportunities and capacities for cooperation in different fields created following the JCPOA.

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Iran's President Travels To Europe To Drum Up Business

January 25, 2016

by RFE/RL

Iranian President Hassan Rohani has arrived in Rome on the first leg of a European tour, his first trip abroad since a nuclear deal with world powers took effect.

Rohani is being accompanied by Iranian entrepreneurs as well as the oil and gas minister and other government officials during the five-day visit to Rome and Paris.

The Islamic republic is emerging from international isolation after the easing of economic sanctions on January 16 under a deal between Tehran and global powers to curb Iran's nuclear program.

The move opens the door for Tehran to reach deals with companies in Europe and Asia.

'This is a very important visit,' an Iranian official was quoted as saying. 'It's time to turn the page and open the door to cooperation between our countries in different areas.'

'Trust needs to be built. It's like love. It is only the proof of love that counts,' a French diplomat said.

In the Italian capital on January 25, the Iranian president is scheduled to hold talks with his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

He will also speak to a business group and meet Pope Francis during the visit.

On January 28, Rohani will travel to Paris for talks with President Francois Hollande.

Ahead of the trip, Iranian officials said Tehran planned to buy 114 aircraft from the French-based Airbus consortium.

Transport Minister Abbas Akhoondi told journalists on January 24 that Tehran would discuss details with Airbus this week.

Tehran has long said it will need to revamp an aging fleet, hit by a shortage of parts.

During a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Tehran on January 23, Rohani said Iran and China agreed to expand bilateral relations and boost trade to $600 billion over the next 10 years.

The sides signed 17 documents and letters of intent, including on nuclear cooperation and reviving the ancient Silk Road trade route.

The Iranian president has said Iran needs up to $50 billion a year in foreign investment to meet its economic growth target of 8 percent.

With reporting by Reuters and Bloomberg

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-president- travels-to-europe-to-drum-up-business/27508597.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.

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Iranian President Signs Business Deals In Rome

January 25, 2016

by RFE/RL

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said after meeting in Rome with Iranian President Hassan Rohani that a series of business agreements they signed on January 25 is "just the beginning" for their countries.

Deals being signed during Rohani's 48-hour stay in Italy are valued at up to 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion).

Rohani arrived in Rome earlier on January 25 for his first state visit to Europe, and the first by an Iranian president in almost two decades.

He is looking for foreign investments following the lifting of international sanctions against Iran on January 16 under its nuclear accord with world powers.

The trip originally was planned for November but was postponed following the terrorist attacks by Islamic State militants in Paris on November 13.

Rohani is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on January 27 before traveling on to Paris for talks with French President Francois Hollande on January 28.

Easing Sanctions

The Iranian president is being accompanied by Iranian entrepreneurs as well as the oil and gas minister and other government officials during the five-day visit to Rome and Paris.

Iran is emerging from international isolation after the easing of economic sanctions under the nuclear deal.

The move opens the door for Tehran to reach deals with companies in Europe and Asia.

'This is a very important visit,' an Iranian official was quoted as saying. 'It's time to turn the page and open the door to cooperation between our countries in different areas.'

'Trust needs to be built. It's like love. It is only the proof of love that counts,' said a French diplomat.

Ahead of the trip, Iranian officials said Tehran plans to buy 114 aircraft from the French-based Airbus consortium.

Transport Minister Abbas Akhoondi told journalists on January 24 that Tehran would discuss details with Airbus this week.

Tehran has long said it will need to revamp an aging fleet, hit by a shortage of parts.

The Iranian president has said Iran needs up to $50 billion a year in foreign investment to meet its economic growth target of 8 percent.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-president- signs-business-deal-in-rome/27510681.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.

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Czech Republic to Send 6,500 Rifles to Iraq to Help Fight Daesh - PM

Sputnik News

17:11 25.01.2016(updated 17:27 25.01.2016)

According to prime minister, Czech Republic will send some 6,500 assault rifles and over 7 million rounds for them to Iraq.

PRAGUE (Sputnik)  The Czech Republic will send some 6,500 assault rifles and over 7 million rounds for them to Iraq, after the government made a corresponding decision on Monday, the prime minister said.

'This is our support for the Iraqi army and the Kurds in their fight against the Daesh terrorist group,' Bohuslav Sobotka wrote on his Twitter page.

Prague will also send over 1 million rounds to Jordan to assist its fight against the group.

Daesh is a militant group operating in Syria and Iraq. It is outlawed in numerous countries including Russia.

The Czech Republic is a member of a US-led international coalition against the group. Although Prague does not conduct airstrikes against Daesh positions, it provides military aid.

 Sputnik

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Libya parliament rejects UN deal on unity government

Iran Press TV

Mon Jan 25, 2016 4:55PM

Libya's internationally-recognized parliament has rejected a political agreement and a deal on establishing a unity government in an apparent blow to efforts by the United Nations to settle the conflict in the country.

The media office of the legislature, which is based in far-eastern Libya, said on Monday that 90 out of 140 members of the House of Representatives rejected the proposal of a Unity Cabinet by the UN.

Essa al-Areibi, a member of the legislature, said that 84 also rejected an accompanying political agreement with rival authorities based in the capital, Tripoli.

Both agreements came last week after months of negotiations between the rival establishments. Some members in both camps had supported the deals and the UN had urged the internationally-recognized parliament to endorse the achievement.

Since the ouster and killing of Libya's long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been ruled by two governments, one based in the city of Tobruk, which is backed by the international community, and the other backed by an array of political and militant groups, which has been ruling Tripoli.

The UN had warned that the rejection of the agreement by the parliament could further fuel the militancy in the oil-rich North African country. Libya's central town of Sirte is currently controlled by the Daesh Takfiri group, another source of concern for neighboring countries and European states, which have already felt the repercussions of insurgency and an increasing flow of refugees emanating from Libya.

Sources said the UN-sponsored political deal was rejected in the parliament due to a controversial article which stipulates that military chief General Khalifa Haftar be dismissed from his post. Once an army commander under Gaddafi, Haftar defected to the opposition and then declared a coup against the Tripoli government in 2014. He was also in charge of the "Operation Dignity," a campaign against militants in Benghazi and elsewhere in the east.

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No Deal: Libyan Parliament Rejects UNSC-Backed Unity Government

Sputnik News

18:30 25.01.2016(updated 19:16 25.01.2016)

Efforts to put an end to the violence and political instability in Libya have been dealt a huge blow after the country's internationally recognized parliament rejected a UN-backed plan for a national unity government.

Libya's internationally backed parliament, which was forced from the capital of Tripoli into exile in the eastern town of Tobruk in 2014, overwhelmingly rejected the UN plan for a power sharing unity government, with 89 of 104 parliamentarians voting against the proposal.

Since 2014 Libya has been split between two rival parliaments after a group of rebels known as the Libya Dawn took control of the capital Tripoli and forced the existing government into exile.

Both governments are backed by various armed militia groups, while the country has been embroiled in a five-year long civil war following the 2011 Western intervention that resulted in the toppling of former leader Muammar Gadaffi.

As a result of the instability, a number of rebel groups, including Daesh, have been able to carve out areas of control in Libya.

The sense of lawlessness is widely regarded to be a driving factor behind human trafficking and the large number of refugees leaving the North African country en route to Europe.

It was hoped the warring governments were close to coming to a power sharing agreement, with Libya's Presidential Council last week announcing a unity deal.

While the plan attracted some support from both sides, many key members in the Tripoli and Tobruk refused to sign the UN agreement, with critics arguing that the plan didn't accurately represent the various groups in Libya.

In rejecting the deal, Tobruk parliamentarians on Monday said the proposed 32-member cabinet included too many positions, and have called on moderators to submit alternative proposals within the next 10 days.

A Setback in the Peace Plan

The rejection of the UN deal marks a significant setback in efforts aimed at creating a stable, unified government that can defeat the increasing threat of Daesh.

The Libyan Presidential Council  the UN-endorsed group tasked with trying to bring the country's warring factions together  are now expected to address the concerns of the Tobruk parliament and deliver another proposal in the hope of forming a unity government.

However those involved in the peace talks have warned that further delays to an agreement will only give rebel groups more time to gain more areas of control in Libya.

 Sputnik

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Libyan Parliament Rejects UN-backed Unity Government

by VOA News January 25, 2016

Members of Libya's internationally recognized parliament have rejected a U.N.-sponsored unity government and an agreement with rival authorities aimed at ending the chaos that has engulfed the country since the overthrow of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

The Associated Press quotes Libyan House of Representatives member Essa al-Areibi as saying that 90 out of 140 members attending Monday's session rejected the unity Cabinet. In a separate vote, 84 lawmakers rejected the political agreement.

The U.N.-mediated peace deal, signed last month, called for a new unity government with members from both the internationally-recognized government in Tobruk and the Islamist-backed body in Tripoli.

The pact came out of multiple rounds of negotiations between the rival governments.

The proposed deal also came as Islamic State militants gain new footholds in Libya, in an attempt to take control of the country's oil fields and terminals, the nation's key source of wealth.

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Pakistan Army Chief Dismisses Extension Rumors

by Ayaz Gul January 25, 2016

Pakistan military chief General Raheel Sharif has dismissed 'speculations as baseless' in local media that he intends to seek an extension in his term, expiring later this year.

In a statement on Twitter Monday, a military spokesman quoted Sharif as saying, '[The] Pakistan Army is a great institution. I don't believe in extension and will retire on the due date.'

The army chief said counterterrorism efforts will continue 'with full vigor and resolve.'

'Pakistan's national interest is supreme and will be safeguarded at all costs,' Sharif added.

Under the leadership of Sharif, Pakistan's military launched a major ground and air offensive against local as well as foreign terrorist groups in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan in June, 2014.

Counter-militancy campaign

The counter-militancy campaign has led to significant reduction in terrorism incidents around the country, killing more than 3,500 suspected militants.

General Sharif has also personally led the efforts to help neighboring Afghanistan establish peace in the war-shattered nation.

The military's deep involvement in the foreign policy matters and putting pressure on the civilian leadership to deliver a matching response to the army-led efforts is improving security across Pakistan.

The military's apparent dominating role in domestic and foreign affairs led to speculation in local media that Sharif might be seeking an extension in his tenure to carry forward the counterterrorism campaign and would want Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to extend his tenure.

Since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, Pakistan has suffered three military coups allowing the powerful institution to rule the nation for half of its existence.

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Putin Praises Controversial Chechen Leader For 'Effective' Work

January 22, 2016



January 25, 2016

President Vladimir Putin has praised Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Russia's Chechnya region, who has been widely accused of human rights abuses and recently unleashed a series of verbal attacks on liberals and Kremlin opponents.

Speaking at a conference of his loyal All-Russia People's Front movement in the southern city of Stavropol on January 25, Putin expressed his 'thanks to Chechnya, to its people...and the current leader.' Without actually uttering Kadyrov's name, Putin said: 'He is working effectively.'

The brief remark was Putin's first public comment on Kadyrov since the regional strongman and his allies began branding liberal opposition politicians, activists, and journalists as 'enemies of the people' and Western-backed 'jackals.'

Those remarks were echoed by demonstrators at a huge rally organized by Kadyrov on January 22 in Chechnya's capital, Grozny.

The verbal attacks have provoked calls for Putin to dismiss Kadyrov, whom one lawmaker called a 'disgrace' to Russia.

International rights groups have said the attacks constitute a serious threat to their targets, and have also urged Putin to take action.

Putin installed Kadyorov as head of Chechnya in 2007.

Kremlin critics say Putin tolerates or encourages Kadyrov's words and actions because he relies on him to maintain control of Chechnya, the site of two post-Soviet separatists wars and an ongoing Islamist insurgency.

Based on reporting by RIA and Interfax

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/putin-praises- chechen-leader-effective-work/27510532.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.

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Socialist Ideas Correct, Poorly Implemented in Soviet Union - Putin

Sputnik News

20:22 25.01.2016

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the ideas of socialism were good  equality, fraternity, happiness, but the practical implementation of those ideas in Russia and the Soviet Union was far from what the socialists-utopists envisioned.

STAVROPOL (Sputnik)  The ideas of socialism were correct, but their implementation in Russia and the Soviet Union was far from the ideas' nature, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday.

'The ideas were good  equality, fraternity, happiness, but the practical implementation of those ideas in our country was far from what the socialists-utopists envisioned,' Putin said.

According to the Russian president, the Bolsheviks criticized the regime that preceded them, monarchy, of repressions.

'And with what did the establishment of the Soviet authorities begin? With mass repressions,' Putin said. The president also highlighted the executions of the Royal Family and their closest servants as something carried out to 'cover up a crime.'

Earlier in the day, Putin said he still liked communist and socialist ideas.

Soviet Union was a country that existed between 1922 and 1991. It was succeeded by Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Last week, Putin said Soviet revolutionary Vladimir Lenin and his flow of thought were to blame for the collapse of the Soviet Union.

 Sputnik

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Putin Denounces Lenin, Says Stalin Got it Right

by VOA News January 25, 2016

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the regime of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin and sharply denounced brutal repressions by the Bolshevik government.

During a meeting Monday with pro-Kremlin activists in the southern city of Stavropol, Putin denounced Lenin and his government for brutally executing Russia's last czar along with all his family and servants, as well as killing thousands of priests and members of the bourgeoisie.

Putin suggested that Lenin's ideology was like an 'atom bomb' that eventually led to the fall of the Soviet Union. He said Lenin was wrong in his dispute with Josef Stalin, who advocated for a unitary state model while Lenin gave the republics the right to leave the USSR.

"That right [to secession] was the delayed action mine planted under our statehood. This is what caused the country's eventual breakup,' Putin said.

In his comments Monday, Putin said he sincerely believed in the communist ideology while serving in the KGB, the armed wing of the party.

"In contrast to many functionaries I did not throw my membership card away or burn it in public. I still keep it at home," he said.

He acknowledged, however, "the embodiment of these wonderful ideas in our country was very far from what the Utopian socialists had proclaimed.'

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Our Iraq envoy not representing us: Saudi Arabia

Iran Press TV

Mon Jan 25, 2016 9:30AM

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir says recent controversial remarks made by the country's ambassador to Iraq do not represent Riyadh's official stance, in remarks that effectively put into question the nature of diplomatic appointments by Riyadh and, thus, the legitimacy of the envoy in Iraq.

Jubeir made the comments in a Sunday meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of Arab-India Cooperation Forum in the Bahraini capital, Manama, the London-based Arabic-language Rai al-Youm daily reported.

In a televised interview aired by al-Sumeria satellite television on Saturday, the Saudi ambassador to Iraq, Thamer al-Sabhan  a first diplomat assigned to Iraq in 25 years  claimed that sectarianism and tribalism were the driving force behind the Iraqi government's arming of the volunteer forces known as the Popular Mobilization Units or Hashid al-Shaabi. He also alleged that the Iraqi volunteer forces are not popular among Iraqi people.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned Sabhan on Sunday to register with him a strong note of protest.

Sabhan's comment constitutes "a breach of diplomatic protocol and is based on inaccurate information," the ministry said in a statement. "The Hashid Shaabi are fighting terrorism and defending the country's sovereignty and acting under the umbrella and command of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces."

Iraqi Transport Minister Baqir Jabr al-Zubeidi also strongly denounced the Saudi ambassador's recent remarks, calling them a flagrant interference in Iraq's internal affairs. He said that the Popular Mobilization Units have so far liberated at least 170 villages from Daesh militants while hundreds of its forces have been martyred or wounded in anti-terror operations.

In a statement on Saturday, and reacting to the comments, Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units spokesman, Ahmed al-Assadi, described Saudi Arabia as a supporter of terrorism.

The Popular Mobilization Units, which were formed after the rise of Daesh in Iraq in 2014, have joined forces with the army to win back militant-held regions. Violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh terrorists launched an offensive and captured parts of the Iraqi territory.

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Saudi Arabia Seeks to Shed Dependency on Foreign Labor

by Heather Murdock January 25, 2016

At a traditional robe shop in a market in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, 28-year-old sales clerk Zachariah said he didn't plan to come to Saudi Arabia when he fled the war in Yemen two months ago.

But with al-Qaida overrunning his neighborhood, he said he didn't have time to apply for a visa to the United States or Sweden. He winced when asked if he missed Aden, his home city nestled among virgin beaches and rocky hills. But "where there is security, life is good," he explained.

Security in Saudi Arabia, however, is not just about ensuring physical safety, according to analysts. With continued low oil prices and the apparent waning of the need for Saudi oil, economic security requires both reducing the nation's dependence on oil sales and its dependence on foreign workers, according to Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist.

"As long as we are not only dependent, but we are addicted to foreign labor, we cannot fix the job markets," said Khashoggi. "The over-dependency on foreign labor doesn't only take the jobs of the Saudis.It takes their chance to acquire skills."

For decades, large immigrant populations have supplied Saudi Arabia with the low-cost and skilled workers it needs, while offering people a chance to escape wars, poverty or both.

But as concerns about Saudi Arabia's future economy intensify, foreign workers say competition for jobs is harder than ever, as companies increasingly favor local hires.

Nearly 35 percent of Saudi Arabia's work force is from outside the country, compared to about 17 percent in the United States. Workers come from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Yemen, Bangladesh, the Philippines - and the list goes on.

'Lower class' jobs

Many people in Saudi Arabia didn't want the jobs held by foreign workers, said Khashoggi. Saudis often didn't want to work as taxi drivers or auto mechanics or in other jobs considered 'lower class,' he said.

These jobs are often stigmatized, not because they didn't require skills, he explained, but because foreign workers who took a fraction of a Saudi salary occupied them.

As a result, he said, Saudi Arabia was increasingly a country that didn't know how to do things like fix cars."If you had a cameraman," he said to me as I set up a tripod and fiddle with microphones, 'how long would it be before you forgot how to do that?"

The government is working to bring more Saudis into the labor force, but a fundamental shift like this will not be quick, according to Hamdan Al-Shehri, an adviser at Saudi Arabia's foreign affairs ministry. Saudi people will not suddenly want different jobs, and foreign workers still need to work.

"Maybe with 10 or 15 years," he said. "I'm not sure it's going to be changed, let's say, in five years."

Diversifying

More than 70 percent of the Saudi economy comes from oil, according to John Sfakianakis, who has advised the Saudi government and serves as chief economist for several Saudi banks.

However, the loss of income from low oil prices, according to Sfakianakis, is an "opportunity and not really a curse," because it compels the government to make changes, like cutting subsidies formerly considered untouchable, and expanding further into different industries, like religious tourism, minerals and transportation.

"I think that they were never pressured in these fundamental ways to think of what is Saudi Arabia's future, after oil is less wanted by the world," he said. "Or if oil run outs."

But moving forward, if Saudi Arabia did diversify its economy, he added, Saudi people also would need to diversify their skill sets to make the economy more self-sufficient.

"If you go around Saudi Arabia, bakers and barbers are not Saudi," he explained. "So imagine if bakers decided to go from Saudi Arabia? You would not have any bread."

But foreign workers in Saudi Arabia argue they have no plans to go anywhere because the economies in many of their home countries are reeling from wars, terrorism, economic collapse and poverty.

Finding work

At a glossy shopping mall in Riyadh Monday, Fetin Ashry, an Egyptian accountant in Saudi Arabia, said it was nearly impossible to get a job keeping books at a school.

I nodded, applying stereotypes and assuming that Ashry, a fully veiled woman, was blocked by her conservative family and stymied by employers' lack of enthusiasm for hiring females.

But that was not the issue she grappled with. "The Saudis' priority is to give jobs to their own citizens," she explained. "Especially now, as the economy of the world is going down."

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Daesh bigwigs ride out Syria airstrikes at dam

Iran Press TV

Mon Jan 25, 2016 9:58PM

Airstrikes on Syria's Raqqah province have forced high-ranking Daesh Takfiri terrorists to take cover at the country's largest dam where they are using civilians as human shields.

Senior Takfiri commanders are using the Tabqa Dam as a strategic safe haven because bombing it could cause devastating flooding along the banks of the Euphrates River, RT reported on Monday.

The 60-meter high and 4.5-kilometer long structure is located some 40 kilometers upstream from the city of Raqqah and controls the Euphrates flow into Iraq and Syria.

According to analysts, attempting to recapture the dam may also prove dangerous as Daesh is likely to destroy it if they lose the territory.

Middle East commentator and journalist Adel Darwish was quoted as saying that apart from causing major flooding, the dam's destruction would also cut electrical power supplies from regions in eastern Syria.

"Most probably they are bluffing that they would go and blow up the dam. However, they are not something we've experienced in any other war, so we cannot really guess what their next move is," said Darwish.

Meanwhile, Syrian government forces, supported by the Russian air force, have retaken large regions from terrorist hands in the western Latakia province, forcing them to flee towards the country's eastern territories.

A statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Monday said over 90 square kilometers of land had been liberated from the terrorist group since the past 24 hours.

It added that after losing their control in the western regions, the militants are converging around the eastern city of Dayr al-Zawr. It noted that according to information provided by Syrian opposition groups, some 2,000 Takfiris have been deployed around the city.

Elsewhere, at least 23 people were killed as a truck rigged with explosives went off at a Ahrar al-Sham militant check point in the northwestern city of Aleppo.

According to the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 19 terrorists and four civilians were killed in the blast that also destroyed three buildings.

Since March 2011, Syria has been grappling with foreign-sponsored militancy. Gains by the government have come at a speedier pace over the past months, especially since late September 2015, when Russia accepted a request by Damascus to dispatch its warplanes over Syria for combat sorties against positions of Takfiri terrorists.

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Syria forces make new gains against Takfiri militants

Iran Press TV

Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:18PM

Syria's military forces and volunteer fighters made new gains against Takfiri militants in a key southern city on Monday.

Syria's official news agency SANA said the Syrian forces liberated more neighborhoods of the city of Sheikh Miskin, the southern province of Dara'a.

SANA said the road linking Sheikh Miskin to Ibta'a and the road leading to Nawa in Dara'a countryside are now under the control of the Syrian forces.

Syrian military sources said the army is now in control of more than 90 percent of Sheikh Miskin.

The advance in the south came as Syrian forces continued to clear areas they have recaptured from militants elsewhere in the country.

Reports said various units of the Syrian military had finished a de-mining operation in two towns of al-Rawdhah and al-Rabi'ah along the Turkish border in Latakia Province.

Clashes also continued in the east, where Syrian forces reportedly destroyed vehicles belonging to the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in al-Bghailiye village in the western countryside of Deir al-Zour Province.

SANA said a number of Daesh terrorists were killed and several others were wounded in the al-Rushdiye neighborhood of Deir al-Zour's provincial capital, which is called by the same name.

There has been no reference to the casualties on the Syrian forces

Since March 2011, Syria has been grappling with foreign-sponsored turmoil. Gains by the government have come at a speedier pace over the past months, especially since late September 2015, when Russia endorsed a request by Damascus to dispatch its warplanes over Syria for combat sorties against positions of Takfiri terrorists.

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Russian Jets Carry Out 169 Sorties in Syria Hitting 484 Terrorist Targets

Sputnik News

17:45 25.01.2016(updated 21:55 25.01.2016)

Combat aircraft from the Russian air group in Syria carried out some 170 sorties in the last three days hitting over 480 terrorist targets, the Russian General Staff said Monday.

After losing the initiative in the western regions of Syria, the Daesh leadership decided to focus its efforts on capturing the city of Deir ez-Zor that has already been besieged by terrorists for quite some time, Rudskoy explained.

'From January 22 to January 24, the aircraft from the air group deployed in Syria caried out 169 combat sorties hitting a total of 484 terrorist targets,' Lt. Gen. Sergey Rudskoy, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, told reporters.

'In order to provide support to the full-scale offensive of the Syrian Arab Army and patriotic opposition forces, on January 22 the Russian Aerospace Forces began commencing massed airstrikes against terrorist assets in Syria. About 70-100 sorties are being conducted every day,' he said.

Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire strategic bombers carried out 18 combat sorties against terrorist targets in the last three days, the Russian General Staff said Monday.

'Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers carried out 18 sorties against Daesh forces deployed in the vicinity of Deir ez-Zor from January 22 until January 24,' Rudskoy said.

Dozens of Daesh terrorists were killed and many more wounded after the Syrian army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) foiled a spate of militants' attempts to seize hilltops overlooking a riverside area of the strategic town of Baqaliyeh, located in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor.

 Sputnik

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Downgrading Daesh: Syrian Army Repels Jihadists' Attacks in Deir Ez-Zor

Sputnik News

17:37 25.01.2016(updated 18:40 25.01.2016)

The Syrian army and the country's National Defense Forces have reportedly prevented Daesh militants from seizing hilltops located near a strategic town in the eastern province of Deir Ez-Zor.

Dozens of Daesh terrorists were killed and many more wounded after the Syrian army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) foiled a spate of militants' attempts to seize hilltops overlooking a riverside area of the strategic town of Baqaliyeh, located in the eastern province of Deir Ez-Zor, according to the Iranian news agency FARS.

Monday's developments came a few days after Syrian warplanes targeted Daesh strongholds near at least six villages in Deir Ez-Zor, sources said.

The jihadist group suffered heavy losses during the Syrian fighter jets' strikes on their positions near the villages of Ayyash, al-Janineh, al-Hassan, al-Baqaliyeh, Shaqra and Mhimideh.

'The Daesh strongholds near the villages were massively bombed by the Syrian warplanes, which claimed the lives of many terrorists and wounded many others,' the army sources said.

Also on Monday, it was reported that the Syrian forces had liberated about 120 square kilometers (46 square miles) of the country's northwestern province of Latakia in two days.

A large number of terrorists were killed in the fighting, and others fled towards the country's border with Turkey.

As for Deir ez-Zor, it was once controlled by Daesh, but now the Syrian army and the NDF, backed by Russian airstrikes, have left no safe place for the militants in the province.

Russia's air campaign in Syria was launched on September 30, when more than fifty Russian warplanes, including Su-24M, Su-25 and Su-34 jets, commenced precision airstrikes on Daesh targets in Syria at the behest of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

 Sputnik

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Syrian Peace Talks Should Go in Parallel With Fight Against Terrorism

Sputnik News

17:19 25.01.2016

Qadri Jamil, one of the leaders of the Syrian Popular Front for Change and Liberation said that the sides to the Syrian conflict have three main objectives that should go in parallel, namely the resolution of a humanitarian catastrophe, the anti-terror fight and the peace talks.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The negotiations on the Syrian reconciliation should go along with the fight against the terrorism, one of the leaders of the Syrian Popular Front for Change and Liberation said Monday.

'The logic that the negotiations should start prior to the fight against terrorism is wrong. They must go hand in hand. One cannot separate the negotiations and the fight against terrorism,' Qadri Jamil said at a press conference at the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency.

According to Jamil, the sides to the Syrian conflict have three main objectives that should go in parallel, namely the resolution of a humanitarian catastrophe, the anti-terror fight and the peace talks.

Syria has been engulfed in an armed conflict since 2011, with forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting against opposition factions and extremist groups, including the Islamic State militant group, which is outlawed in many countries, including Russia and the United States.

The Russian Aerospace Forces have been carrying out airstrikes against terrorist targets in Syria at the request of Damascus since September 30, 2015.

 Sputnik

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Moderate Syrian Opposition Delegation Includes 15 People

Sputnik News

17:01 25.01.2016(updated 18:53 25.01.2016)

Qadri Jamil, one of the leaders of the Syrian Popular Front for Change and Liberation said that 15 people were chosen to represent the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition at the Intra-Syrian talks.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The delegation of moderate Syrian opposition forces includes 15 people, one of the leaders of the Syrian Popular Front for Change and Liberation said Monday.

'We took into account those present at the Moscow-2 meeting, some were also in Cairo. As a result, we chose 15 people. They represent the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition,' Qadri Jamil said at a press conference at the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency.

He added that the list is still up for debate and may be changed.

As of today, the list of moderate Syrian opposition members, obtained by Sputnik, includes: Qadri Jamil himself, Fateh Jamus and Mazen Maghrebeya from the Front for Change and Liberation; Nimrud Suleiman and Salem Kheirbek representing Mustaqbal (Future); Haled Isa from the Democratic Union Party along with his party fellows, Asia Abdulla and Salih Muslim; Haytham Manna and Elham Ahmad, the co-heads of the Syrian Democratic Council; Jehad Maqdasey, Cairo Group; Randa Qassis, the chairwoman of the Movement for a Pluralistic Society; Majed Habu representing the Qamh movement; Abbas Habib from the Council of Syrian Tribes; and Amina Awsi, Al Idara al Zatiya.

'We are ready to speak to everyone regarding changes in the delegation. We sent this list to [UN's Syria envoy Staffan] de Mistura, as well as all interested countries, including the United States and Russia,' Jamil said.

Also Jamil stated that the Syrian opposition should be represented by two delegations at the talks with the country's government if that were to facilitate the process.

'I am not against pluralism. Let there be two delegations if it would solve the issue. There is no problem,, the presence of two delegations could simplify, not complicate, the process,' Qadri Jamil said.

The official stressed that the opposition should be fully represented at the talks and include all movements.

In December, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Syrian settlement, which reaffirmed the goals of the Vienna agreements to bring the entire spectrum of the political groups in the crisis-torn country to the negotiating table and stated that the next round of the talks would take place in January, 2016.

January 25 was initially set as the target day for the first round of intra-Syrian talks, with Wednesday later offered as a possible date of the first sit-down.

The Syrian opposition and the government have already convened four times in Moscow and Geneva. Several opposition factions met in the Egyptian capital in June and January 2015.

 Sputnik

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Turkey Shrouding Troop Deployment in Syria With Russian Airbase Rumors

Sputnik News

14:29 25.01.2016(updated 15:30 25.01.2016)

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said that media reports on a new Russian base in Syria may be an attempt to cover-up information about Turkey's deployment of a large group of troops to the Syrian border.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Media reports on a new Russian base in Syria may be an attempt to cover-up information about Turkey's deployment of a large group of troops to the Syrian border, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Monday.

'[Russia] has no 'new' airbases or additional 'stage' airfields for Russian warplanes in the Syrian Arab Republic, and has no plans to create them [in the future],' according to Konashenkov told journalists.

Earlier The Times published a story claiming that Russia had plans of creating a new airbase in Syria.

'Rumors published by 'The Times' newspaper on that issue is an amateurish farce or an attempt to cover up information about Turkey's deployment of a large group of troops to the Syrian border in the Qamishli district,' Konashenkov said.

 Sputnik

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Delayed intra-Syrian talks, brokered by UN, to begin on Friday in 'uphill' bid for ceasefire

25 January 2016  Intra-Syrian talks that were scheduled to begin in Geneva today under United Nations sponsorship will now start on Friday, with the first priority being a broad ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and halting the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

But in announcing the new date, for which invitations will be sent out tomorrow, Special UN Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said he is under no illusions about the difficulties in ending a war that has killed over 250,000 people, sent over 4 million fleeing the country, displaced 6.5 million internally, and put 13.5 million people inside the country in urgent need of humanitarian aid.

"In terms of vision, things may get faster, things may get slower, I can tell you in advance, don't be surprised," he told a news conference in Geneva. "There will be a lot of posturing, we know that, a lot of walk-outs and walk-ins because a bomb has fallen or because someone has done an attack, and you will see that happening," he said.

"We should not be impressed, neither depressed, but it's likely to happen. The important thing is that we keep the momentum," he stressed.

The meetings will start with proximity talks and are expected to last for six months, with Government and opposition delegations sitting in separate rooms and UN officials shuttling between them. Any ceasefire would not cover ISIL of the Al-Nusra Front.

The talks stem from an agreement reached in Vienna in November by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), comprising the Arab League, the European Union, the United Nations, and 17 countries including the United States and Russia, as part of an effort to end the five-year-long war with an agreement on new governance, a new constitution and new elections.

The first phase could last two to three weeks before preparations are made for further phases and there will be no opening ceremony, Mr. de Mistura said, stressing that there will be a substantial presence of civil society and women, who represent 51 per cent of the total population.

"There are political risks," he added. "But those political risks, and tensions and positioning and prepositioning should be also taking into account that our line is, and the Security Council has been clear, no pre-conditions at least to start it off and while the talks start.

"The rest is open is going to be uphill. They are not in an agreement yet, but we are all feeling that the time has come to at least try hard to produce an outcome," he noted.

He said he expected there to be "a lot of shuttling because there is not only different delegations but there are also civil society, women and others who deserve to be heard," with UN facilitators attending a lot of simultaneous meetings.

Meanwhile, UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown has warned that 2.5 million children could be displaced as refugees from Syria by the end of 2016, adding that the only way to ensure they remain in the region is to provide stability through a new plan for double-shift education.

Under that system, local children would be schooled in the mornings and early afternoons, and refugee boys and girls would use the same classrooms in late afternoon and early evening. The plan will cost an initial $750 million, but $500 million has already been raised through offers of grants or loans from countries and businesses.

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UN Envoy: Syria Peace Talks to Start Friday

by Lisa Schlein January 25, 2016

The U.N. Special Envoy for Syria says the delayed intra-Syrian peace talks will start at the end of the week on January 29 and invitations will be sent out on Tuesday.

Government backers of different opposition groups have stalemated the talks so far because of their opinions as to who should and who should not be allowed to come to Geneva. U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura says he wants to get the negotiations off on the right foot, so he will not divulge the names of the people on the invitation list.

But, he notes the Security Council considers Islamic State and the Al Nusra Front as terrorist organizations, so they will not be invited. Otherwise, he says the invitations will be broadly based on the principle of inclusiveness. He says women and civil society members, who have been largely absent from previous Syrian peace negotiations, will be present in large numbers.

Agenda

He says the agenda will include discussions of new governance, a new constitution and new elections. But, he says the first priority of the talks will be to achieve a broad cease-fire and to stop the threat posed by IS, also known as ISIL.

"The suspension of fighting regarding ISIL in particular and Al Nusra is not on the table. But, there is plenty of other suspensions of fighting that can take place," he said.

De Mistura says the talks will begin without preconditions. He says the parties will not be meeting face to face, so he is aiming for proximity talks. He expects to be involved in a lot of shuttling among the different delegations until direct talks can begin.

Six month timeline

He says the negotiations will go on for six months in what he calls a staggered, chronological, proximity approach.

"That will be the way we try to make it different from the past. This is not Geneva three. This is leading to what we hope will be a Geneva success story, if we are able to push it forward," he said,

U.N. mediator de Mistura says the first round of talks will last between two and three weeks. He says he expects the process to be an uphill battle, with a lot of posturing and many "walk-ins" and "walk-outs" by the participants.

He says the main obstacles to achieving a peace agreement are lack of trust and lack of political will.

Speaking during a visit to Laos Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry said it is better to wait a few days to open talks and properly set up the process rather than have it fall apart on the first day.

'What we are trying to do is make sure that we are absolutely certain that when they [the talks] start, everybody is clear about roles and what's happening, so that you don't go there and wind up with a question mark or a failure,' Kerry said.

Opposition groups

He reiterated U.S. support for the opposition, following comments from opposition officials who said they felt like they were being pressured into the talks.

'The position of the United States is and hasn't changed,' Kerry said. 'We are still supporting the opposition, politically, financially and militarily.'

He also said it is ultimately up to the Syrian parties to decide the future of their country, including the role of President Bashar al-Assad.

'I told them you have a veto, and so does he and so you're going to have to decide how to move forward,' he said.

Kerry also downplayed comments from the Syrian government indicating it would not bend on its positions heading into the talks.

The U.N. has twice before tried to broker an agreement for Syria, but that attempt at peace ended two years ago with little progress.

Pam Dockins contributed to this report from Laos

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Army helicopter makes forced landing in Taichung

ROC Central News Agency

2016/01/25 13:25:51

Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter of the Republic of China Army was forced to land in a vacant lot in Taichung City's Nantun District on Monday.

The Army's Aviation Special Forces Command said an alarm signal went off in the cockpit at 11:05 a.m. and the pilot, an American trainer, followed standard procedure and made an emergency landing at 11:30 a.m.

The pilot and an ROC Army officer on board the helicopter were both safe and sound and the aircraft was intact, the local fire department said.

The Army did not say what triggered the alarm signal, but is scheduled to hold a press briefing at the landing site later in the day.

(By Chao Li-yen, Flor Wang and Kay Liu)

enditem/pc

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US Spent $266Mln on Military Equipment, Training in Ukraine Since 2014

Sputnik News

21:08 25.01.2016(updated 21:22 25.01.2016)

US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt said that Washington provided military equipment and training at more than $266 million to help the Ukrainian forces improve border control and security, act more efficiently and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

KIEV (Sputnik)  The United States provided $266 million on military equipment and training to Ukraine over the past two years, US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt said Monday.

'Since 2014, we have provided military equipment and training at more than $266 million to help the Ukrainian forces improve border control and security, act more efficiently and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country,' Pyatt wrote on his blog in the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper.

Under a 2016 defense budget signed by US President Barack Obama last November, Ukraine is set to receive $300 million in military assistance this year. The Ukrainian Embassy in the United States said last month Washington had increased its assistance to $658.1 million, including logistical support, training and defense weapons deliveries.

Pyatt said two weeks ago Washington had no plans to deliver lethal weapons to Ukraine, citing its capabilities of manufacturing lethal equipment independently.

Up to 300 US troops were deployed in Ukraine to train the country's National Guard from April until November 2015.

The United States has been assisting Ukraine with economic and non-lethal military aid following the 2014 political crisis and Crimea's referendum to reunite with Russia.

 Sputnik

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Confronting bitter winter, UN agency steps up food aid in conflict-affected eastern Ukraine

25 January 2016  With food security expected to worsen in conflict-affected areas of eastern Ukraine during the cold winter months, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that it would extend its emergency operation to help feed more than 260,000 people until the end of June.

"The ongoing conflict has affected tens of thousands of people who are in desperate need of help," the WFP Head of Office in Ukraine, Giancarlo Stopponi, said, stressing that the agency urgently needs $35 million to continue to provide aid through June.

"They are either trapped by the conflict or have fled their homes, thinking they would return in a few months and are now living in difficult conditions, especially in winter when temperatures are extremely low.

"WFP is overcoming enormous operational challenges to deliver food assistance to the most vulnerable people  especially in harsh weather conditions," he added, noting that the aid will target both non-Government-controlled and Government-controlled areas.

It is estimated that more than 1.5 million people have been displaced in Ukraine since the beginning of the crisis in 2014.

WFP will give priority to the most vulnerable and food insecure among internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and conflict-affected residents as well as female-headed households.

It will provide food to those who are particularly vulnerable such as the elderly, the disabled and those unable to leave the conflict-affected areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, mostly in non-Government controlled areas and across the 'contact line.'

It will also continue to assist people with cash or vouchers, in relatively secure IDP-hosting communities in Government-controlled areas where the food supply is adequate and markets are functioning well.

WFP also provides assistance to people living in hospitals or social institutions facing a dire financial situation, many of which are hosting IDPs.

The agency has stepped up its activities in recent months. In November it increased aid to non-Government-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine, delivering food to areas of Luhansk for the first time in four months ago.

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jan 25, 2016) - China Minerals Mining Corp. ("China Minerals") (TSX VENTURE:CMV)(OTC PINK:HWTHF), and its wholly owned subsidiary Cassiar Gold Corp. ("Cassiar Gold" and together with China Minerals referred to for convenience as the "Company"), have retained McMillan LLP to file a petition in the BC Supreme Court challenging certain provincial government actions affecting the Company's Cassiar Gold Project, specifically the Taurus Property, located in North-Central British Columbia.

Among other things, the petition seeks to quash a March 31, 2015, transfer of certain public lands to a private company (0995817 B.C. Ltd.). The Company holds mineral tenures in respect of these lands and its interests have been adversely affected by the land disposition.

"China Minerals has spent more than $36 million acquiring and advancing the Cassiar Gold Project," said Ling Zhu, Executive Chairman. "We are shocked and dismayed that government would take such unilateral actions when we have invested so much time, money and effort. It is tantamount to an expropriation of our interests without compensation."

The petition also challenges aspects of a related "incremental treaty agreement" between the province and The Kaska Dena Council, on the basis that the Company was not consulted and its interests were not fairly considered when that agreement was entered into. The Company was only advised after the fact about the commitment to give away the lands -- which the province described in a notice letter to the Company as having a "new landlord."

"This was a misleading characterization," said Zhu. "The rights and obligations of a mineral owner in terms of accessing mineral rights are fundamentally different once Crown land is converted to private ownership, and government knows full well that the First Nations that own this private company intend to develop these lands for a power project that is incompatible with mining."

The Company supports reconciliation between the province and aboriginal groups -- provided existing third party rights are protected or properly compensated.

A copy of the judicial review petition and supporting affidavit will be filed on the Company's website available at: www.chinamineralsmining.com.

About China Minerals Mining Corporation

China Minerals Mining Corp. is a Canadian based exploration and development company with offices located in Vancouver, B.C. and Beijing, China. China Minerals' ambition is to build an international mining company.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ling Zhu, Executive Chairman

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

Some of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond China Minerals' control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. China Minerals undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
Saskatoon, January 26, 2016 - Canadian Platinum Corp. ("CPC" or the "Company"-TSXV:CPC) announces that permits to carry out a two-hole drilling program on its 100%-owned Craig Lake Project, in northeastern Saskatchewan, have been received from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment.

Located near the city of Flin Flon, Manitoba, the Craig Lake Project area is within 1700 metres of the former producing Westarm Mine operated by Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Limited from 1978-1985 and from 1994-1996. Reported grades of the Westarm deposit from 1981 were 3.82% Cu, 1.5% Zn, 17.4 g/t Ag and 1.37 g/t Au (Source: Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy and Mines).

The drill targets selected for permitting are based on previous work carried out by CPC in 2011 and 2012. Downhole geophysics using a Crone 4.8kW Pulse EM ("PEM") system was carried out on test drill holes completed on targets generated from results of a helicopter-borne Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic ("VTEM") survey. The downhole geophysics detected a significant high-conductance source below the drill holes outlining a steeply-dipping plate measuring in excess of 300 metres by 300 metres along strike and down dip. The downhole survey was then followed up with a surface Crone deep penetrating time domain electromagnetic survey ("DPEM TEM") to confirm and better define the downhole anomaly. The DPEM survey resolved the downhole results into two separate targets, T1 and T2, with T1 consisting of 3 separate, steeply-dipping plates measuring 500 metres by 500 metres in two dimensions, and T2, located 800 metres north of T1, representing a single plate measuring 800 metres by 800 metres along strike and down dip.

A surface mobile metal ion ("MMI") survey in the area of the geophysical targets yielded anomalous values for Cu, Zn, Ag and Au as well as for Ni.

As a result of reevaluating the previous work on the Craig Lake property, the property size has been increased and now consists of four claims covering 9,250 hectares.

The Company expects to commence the drill program in the first half of 2016.

Comments Gary Billingsley, President, "Taking a fresh look at past geophysical and geochemical results and the close proximity of the project to a past producer, certainly increases the probability of making a discovery at Craig Lake. Additional mineral resources in the Flin Flon area would certainly be welcome, and that adds to the positive attributes of this project."

Qualified Persons

The technical data in this news release have been reviewed by Gary Billingsley, PEng, PGeo, a qualified person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.

About Canadian Platinum Corp.

Canadian Platinum Corp. is a Canadian-based resource exploration and development company with its head office in Saskatoon, SK. CPC is focused on the acquisition and development of a diversified portfolio of resource properties with an emphasis on platinum group elements, but including precious, base and strategic metals.

CANADIAN PLATINUM TRADES ON THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE UNDER THE SYMBOL "CPC".

For more information, including news releases and technical reports providing more detail on the contents of this news release, please visit our website at www.canplats.ca.

For further information:

Canadian Platinum Corp.

Gary Billingsley, President

Phone: 306-242-7363

Facsimile: 306-992-0729

www.canplats.ca

To receive information by email go to www.canplats.ca and click "Contact Information".

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to both known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this release and except as required by law, the Corporation does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This press release may contain statements within the meaning of safe harbour provisions as defined under United States Securities Laws and Regulations. The above statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of the management of Canadian Platinum and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from those described above.

Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.


TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - Galane Gold Ltd. ("Galane Gold" or the "Company") (TSX-V: GG) is pleased to announce that the Company has filed a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report (the "Technical Report") for its Galaxy Gold Mine located in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The mine is owned by Galaxy Gold Reefs (Pty) Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Galaxy Gold Mining Limited ("Galaxy"). The Company acquired a 74% ownership interest in Galaxy pursuant to a share purchase transaction in November 2015 and will be making an offer to the remaining shareholders of Galaxy to acquire their shares of Galaxy on economically equivalent terms.

The Technical Report titled "A Technical Report on the Galaxy Gold Mine, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa" issued on January 4, 2016 with an effective date of September 1, 2015 was prepared by Minxcon (Pty) Ltd and approved by Daniel van Heerden, B Eng (Min.), MCom (Bus. Admin.), Pr. Eng., FSAIMM, AMMSA, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. The Technical Report satisfies the requirements to be a pre-feasibility study and was reviewed by the Directors of Minxcon (Pty) Ltd, specifically, Daniel van Heerden; Uwe Engelmann, BSc (Zoo. & Bot.), BSc Hons (Geol.), Pr.Sci.Nat., MGSSA; Dario Clemente, NHD (Ext. Met.), GCC, BLDP (WBS), MMMA, FSAIMM; and Johan Odendaal, BSc (Geol.), BSc (Min. Econ.), MSc (Min. Eng.), Pr.Sci.Nat., FSAIMM, MGSSA, all of whom are Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101 and independent of the Company for the purposes of NI 43-101. The Technical Report is available for review under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company's website (www.galanegold.com).

Galaxy Description

The Galaxy Gold Mine is located approximately 8 km west of the town of Barberton and 45 km west of the provincial capital of Nelspruit (Mbombela), in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa and covers an area of 5,863 ha. The mine comprises 21 east-west trending gold ore bodies and four prospects at 600  2,000 m depth. The Technical Report covers the following ore bodies:

Woodbine, Giles, Galaxy, Golden Hill, Agnes Top, Pioneer & Tiger Trap and Princeton ore bodies;

Ivy and Ceska Shaft Pillars; and

Woodbine (East, North and South), Alpine Pioneer, Hostel (East and West) and Biox North historical dumps.

Gold has been prospected at the Galaxy Gold Mine since the 1880s and Agnes has been exploited as an established mine since 1908. Currently, over 75 historical adits exist within the mining area, as well as tailings storage facilities comprised of previously mined and processed material. To date, the mining assets have produced over one million ounces of gold1. Galaxy's existing processing plants are in need of refurbishment and consist of a crushing, milling, flotation, biological oxidation of flotation concentrate, Carbon in Leach ("CIL") leaching, elution, smelting and tailings disposal designed to treat 16,000 tonnes of ore per month. This facility can be expanded through refurbishment and the introduction of larger mills and flotation equipment.

1The information regarding the quantity of gold produced historically is based on available public sources, has not been independently verified by the Company and should not be relied upon as a predictor of future results.

Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates

The mineral resources for Galaxy Gold Mine are summarized below and have been classified in accordance with the requirements of The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, as the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by CIM Counsel, as amended ("CIM") and NI 43-101:

Summarised Galaxy Gold Mine Mineral Resources as at 31 August 2015

Mineral Resource Category Tonnes t Grade Au g/t Content Au Oz Measured mineral resource 1,876,126 3.37 203,435 Indicated mineral resource 4,350,781 2.85 399,261 Measured and Indicated 6,226,907 3.01 602,696 Inferred mineral resource 8,095,521 3.40 886,199

Notes: 1. 2015 Mineral Resource estimation were carried out by Mr P Obermeyer of Minxcon (BSc Hons (Geol.), Pr.Sci.Nat.) under supervision of and verified by Mr U Engelmann, as qualified person of the Technical Report. 2. The inferred mineral resources have a large degree of uncertainty as to their existence and whether they can be mined economically or legally. 3. Only mineral resources lying within the legal boundaries are reported. 4. Mineral resources are inclusive of mineral reserves. 5. Mineral resources are declared at cut-offs: Galaxy, Woodbine, Giles, Golden Hill, Princeton, Pioneer & Tiger Trap, Ivy shaft Pillar, Ivy to Agnes 3-11 Level = 1.8 g/t; Agnes Top = 1.00 g/t; surface dumps = 0.30 g/t. 6. All figures are in metric tonnes. 7. 1 kg = 32.15076 oz.

The mineral reserves for Galaxy Gold Mine are illustrated in the table below and have been classified in accordance with the requirements of CIM and NI 43-101:

Summarised Galaxy Gold Mine Mineral Reserve Statement as at 31 August 2015

Mineral Reserve Category Tonnes t Grade Au g/t Content Au Oz Probable Mineral Reserves 1,457,322 3.37 169,586 Total Mineral Reserves 1,457,322 3.37 169,586

Notes: 1. Tonnages refer to tonnes delivered to the metallurgical plant. 2. All figures are in metric tonnes. 3. 1 kg = 32.15076 oz 4. Different dilution, recovery and mine call factor applied to each ore body and tailings storage facility. 5. Pay limits calculated: USD/oz. = 1,130 and Exchange rate of ZAR11.70/US$1.00.

Chief Executive Officer Nick Brodie stated, "We are pleased to have completed the Technical Report of Galaxy. It confirms our belief that we have added a significant asset to our portfolio. The Technical Report shows an all-in sustainable cost of $688 per ounce at an exchange rate of ZAR11.70/US$1.00 (currently approximately ZAR16.5/US$1.00) and a net cash positive position at the end of the first year.

Our next step is the refurbishment of the plant, mining facilities and construction of a 25,000 tonnes per month tailings retreatment plant. After this, we will commence a new pre-feasibility study for the expansion of the underground mine and the processing plant to take production to over 50,000 ounces of gold per year and materially increase the life of mine".

About Galane Gold

Galane Gold is an un-hedged gold producer and explorer with mining operations and exploration tenements in Botswana and South Africa. Galane Gold is a public company and its shares are quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Botswana Stock Exchange under the symbol GG. Galane Gold's management team is comprised of senior mining professionals with extensive experience in managing mining and processing operations and large-scale exploration programmes. Galane Gold is committed to operating at world-class standards and is focused on the safety of its employees, respecting the environment, and contributing to the communities in which it operates.

Cautionary Notes

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's future financial position and results of operations, strategy, proposed acquisitions, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "plan", "continue", "will", "may", "would", "anticipate", "estimate", "forecast", "predict", "project", "seek", "should" or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.

Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially are set out under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in Galane Gold's annual management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2014, a copy of which is available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained or referenced herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

Information of a technical and scientific nature that forms the basis of the disclosure in

the press release has been approved by Charles Byron Pr. Sci. Nat., MAusIMM., MGSSA

and Chief Geologist for Galane Gold, and a "qualified person" as defined by National

Instrument 43-101.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Galane Gold Ltd.
Henrietta's Chicken Shop and Bar, Flinders Lane. Photo: Supplied

Former Albert Street Food & Wine restaurant managers Ruth Giffney and Stuart Brookshaw have turned the first sod on a permanent home off Flinders Lane for their long-time-coming chicken shop, Henrietta's.

After a trial run with a pop-up in Queenscliff last summer the pair know exactly what they're after  smoking coals, super-salads and rotisserie chickens, "Our take on a classic Aussie charcoal chicken shop," says Brookshaw.

Expecting to open mid-February, they're turning the space into an all-day restaurant and bar with around 90 seats  takeaway is encouraged with the option to pre-order. It's already licensed; expect locally sourced craft beers.

Charcoal chicken at Henrietta's. Photo: Supplied

"You'll walk in and there'll be a front counter with all produce on display, Ottolenghi style, and anywhere you sit you'll be able to see the rotisserie," says Brookshaw, who's planning booth and bar-style seating with the assistance of Upfront Concepts.

Specialising in rare, heritage breed chooks (they're currently working with Milawa), brined for 24 hours before slow cooking over hot coals, it'll just be a case of deciding how much to order  a quarter, half or a whole.

Sit up at the bar, pick a couple of sides from a rotation of 20 hot and cold salads and knock back a gin and tonic slushie while you wait for your bird. Experiments are under way for a "surprise savoury soft serve"  you'll have to stay tuned.

Once it's up and running the pair plan to offer an all-day service from 11am-11pm Monday to Saturday, working towards a tentative opening date of February 17. If all goes to plan there are pop-ups headed for Dubai and Montreal  taking Australian charcoal chicken to the world.

Henrietta's Chicken Shop & Bar, Shop 7 Fulham Place (off Flinders Lane), henriettas.com
Ngan Ho/Standard-Times Goodfellow personnel display the 75th anniversary logo for the base Monday.

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By Ngan Ho of the San Angelo Standard-Times

Goodfellow Air Force Base unveiled a new logo to commemorate its 75th anniversary.

The emblem was unveiled Tuesday morning, presented by Col. Michael L. Downs and several service members under a gray sky and in biting cold wind.

"Honestly, this is a big year for us and we wanted to do it right in every way," Downs said. "So we thought we've got to have some sort of emblem that represents the 75th anniversary, a diamond jubilee."

The logo takes inspiration from the Texas flag and is in the shape of Texas, with a "75th" sitting boldly over the Panhandle.

"I put our winged crest into the shape of Texas, and it seemed to be the most popular design," said Russell Stewart, public affairs photojournalist for the base and the artist who designed the emblem.

"It was an approval process. Everybody has to look on it. They looked at it, and they voted on colors."

The black, white and yellow color combination was chosen solely for its striking features said Stewart, adding that it took about six hours to iron out the design and the result was a fitting emblem. "Contrast creates interest, and so it's very eye catching," Stewart said. "We just played with moving things around and we settled on this and it's a solid design."

Goodfellow will display the new logo in place of the 17th Training Wing emblem for 2016. It will let people know that the base is celebrating its 75th birthday all the time, Downs said.

"We had a 75th anniversary planning team that said, 'Hey, how are we going to do this year right?' I mean, make it a big deal," Downs said. "We're just going to use it for this year and we'll put it on everything from shirts, you'll see it on signs on the base, on letterheads all over the place."

The last time the base placed special emphasis on an anniversary was during its 60th anniversary 15 years ago, but there was no emphasis or effort to celebrate that anniversary throughout the year, according to Goodfellow. The goal this anniversary is to promote and put special emphasis on its 75th birthday by creating the logo and holding ceremonies.

Goodfellow on Tuesday also held a re-enactment of the original base flag raising ceremony from Jan. 26, 1941, outside of the Norma Brown building.

About 300 people  mostly members of Goodfellow and about 50 invited guests  endured the frigid temperatures to be part of the ceremony. Recognized guests were Tom Green County Judge Stephen C. Floyd, Mayor Dwain Morrison and Angelo State University President Brian J. May.

The flag-raising ceremony also included a fly-over by a vintage Valtee BT-15 as well as a B-1 Bomber. Tuesday's events kicked off what will be a yearlong celebration. Some planned events include May 20, Lt. Goodfellow Day; Sept. 15, Air Force Ball; and Nov. 19, Community Appreciation Day.

"I know that we have a special bond with the community. We're extremely grateful honestly to be members of San Angelo," Downs said. "To think about what we've done for 75 years where we've trained up almost 400,000 airmen, soldiers, SEAL men and Marines for our country. It's incredible."

Goodfellow flag raising reenactment ceremony. pic.twitter.com/8ULieyZwjg  Ngan Ho (@Ngany) January 27, 2016
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By Michelle Gaitan of the San Angelo Standard-Times

Four San Angelo firefighters who were injured battling a house fire Saturday evening have all been released from the hospital.

Anthony Wilson, San Angelo's public information officer, said all firefighters were treated and released according to information he received from Assistant Fire Chief Scott Farris.

"SAFD responded to a structure fire around 4:30 p.m. Saturday for a two story structure located at the 600 (block) of London Court," Wilson wrote in an email. "First arriving units were met with heavy smoke and flames. The structure was under construction and crews were unsure if workers were inside the structure."

Because of the size of the home and "associated active fire," a second alarm was sounded, he wrote.

"During firefighting activities there was a partial collapse of an interior wall involving firefighter entrapment," he wrote in the email. "Our RIT (Rapid Intervention team) was called into action to assist with extrication of four firefighters injured during the collapse. Four firefighters were transported to local hospitals for possible injuries. All were treated and released."

The firefighters, whose names are not being released, were treated at Shannon Medical Center and San Angelo Community Medical Center.

"A third alarm was sounded and extra crews arrived to support ongoing firefighting efforts.," Wilson wrote. "The fire was extinguished and SAFD completed overhaul with extinguishment of all hot spots. The cause of the fire remains under investigation."

No one was living in the house, investigators previously reported.

Equipment and associated personnel that responded to the house fire included one ladder truck, one rescue truck, five engines, four medic units and five command staff. Personnel count was 35, Wilson wrote in the email.

No further information will be released about the incident or the firefighters involved, Wilson said.
Jurisdiction Change in Total Firms (%) Change in Total Firms 2012 Total Firms Count Minority Firms Change 2012 Minority Firms Count Phoenix, AZ -12.5% -3,578 25,107 158 3,340 Los Angeles, CA -2.9% -2,699 89,209 219 27,352 North Hempstead, NY -24.4% -1,562 4,847 98 1,069 Tucson, AZ -13.4% -1,465 9,483 -186 1,368 San Diego, CA -4.3% -1,385 31,052 1,291 7,721 Indianapolis, IN -7.4% -1,222 15,252 231 1,584 Oyster Bay, NY -11.4% -1,133 8,781 66 1,086 Jacksonville, FL -6.5% -1,132 16,342 395 2,525 Detroit, MI -13.3% -1,051 6,842 -154 1,435 Fresno, CA -11.4% -1,030 8,000 10 2,293 Akron, OH -24.9% -970 2,926 43 207 Cincinnati, OH -13.8% -919 5,723 43 486 Birmingham, AL -15.5% -911 4,972 70 616 Cleveland, OH -11% -877 7,106 -54 744 Clearwater, FL -21.4% -872 3,210 -66 391 Brookhaven, NY -9.3% -867 8,414 455 1,358 Long Beach, CA -12.6% -867 6,002 72 1,895 Huntington Beach, CA -14.9% -835 4,787 18 1,072 Reno, NV -11.9% -827 6,150 -13 663 Oakland, CA -9.3% -785 7,666 316 2,982 Baltimore, MD -7.3% -761 9,632 14 2,337 Syracuse, NY -18.8% -658 2,835 -5 226 Santa Rosa, CA -14.1% -652 3,982 -9 637 Virginia Beach, VA -6.8% -650 8,842 -22 1,197 Memphis, TN -5.7% -636 10,520 336 1,693 Knoxville, TN -10.2% -618 5,467 56 357 Bend, OR -16% -610 3,212 -1 150 Chula Vista, CA -17.2% -596 2,861 -311 1,232 Nashville, TN -4.4% -582 12,741 290 1,548 Silver Spring, MD -24.9% -582 1,752 -136 544 Corpus Christi, TX -9.2% -573 5,643 322 1,691 Corona, CA -15.3% -563 3,109 -25 909 Escondido, CA -17.9% -549 2,512 230 550 Lubbock, TX -9.9% -539 4,887 -125 416 Boise City, ID -7.9% -534 6,268 101 397 Toledo, OH -11.1% -529 4,245 69 402 Grand Rapids, MI -12.8% -518 3,518 -1 272 Glendale, AZ -13.8% -514 3,216 15 532 Columbus, OH -4% -502 11,902 236 1,481 Warren, MI -16.1% -500 2,597 34 190 Scottsdale, AZ -4.9% -499 9,621 134 668 Tacoma, WA -10.4% -486 4,171 -50 682 Eugene, OR -10.4% -480 4,128 48 291 Santa Ana, CA -7% -473 6,307 440 2,364 Tempe, AZ -7.9% -472 5,472 170 660 Babylon, NY -8.6% -470 5,013 276 820 Chattanooga, TN -8.6% -466 4,943 207 580 Albuquerque, NM -4% -459 11,003 53 2,350 Sterling Heights, MI -18% -458 2,093 -119 110 Columbia, SC -11% -454 3,671 8 390 Paradise, NV -5.8% -440 7,124 255 1,216 Savannah, GA -11.1% -440 3,535 -35 494 Deerfield Beach, FL -16% -440 2,312 -25 356 Greensboro, NC -6.4% -432 6,284 -26 777 Pittsburgh, PA -5.5% -431 7,341 -10 551 Springfield, MO -7.8% -418 4,938 195 400 Tulsa, OK -3.7% -414 10,769 344 1,329 Modesto, CA -11.7% -411 3,088 277 835 Mesa, AZ -5.2% -402 7,257 267 917 Beaumont, TX -12% -398 2,910 -26 482 Southfield, MI -10.2% -397 3,487 142 774 Dayton, OH -14.5% -393 2,320 86 334 Spokane, WA -7.2% -392 5,021 141 390 Richardson, TX -10.8% -391 3,237 255 852 Richmond, VA -7.7% -385 4,586 118 792 Hollywood, FL -8.4% -384 4,175 230 1,023 Coral Springs, FL -9.6% -384 3,630 -1 687 Stockton, CA -9.4% -375 3,599 225 1,419 Santa Fe, NM -10.8% -371 3,077 -88 496 Lincoln, NE -6.4% -367 5,367 28 275 Newport News, VA -11.5% -360 2,769 -113 419 Wichita, KS -4.4% -355 7,753 77 807 Jackson, MS -9% -354 3,566 35 553 Norwalk, CT -13.3% -350 2,281 62 273 Stamford, CT -8.5% -349 3,771 232 591 Brownsville, TX -12.3% -333 2,384 41 1,437 Lancaster, CA -16.9% -330 1,626 Unavailable 524 Tallahassee, FL -6.6% -328 4,631 17 511 Las Vegas, NV -3% -327 10,742 380 2,051 St. Petersburg, FL -5.5% -326 5,630 129 713 Baton Rouge, LA -5% -324 6,120 133 822 Riverside, CA -5.9% -320 5,094 18 1,391 Garden Grove, CA -9.8% -316 2,918 190 1,580 Norfolk, VA -7.6% -314 3,820 104 548 Costa Mesa, CA -7% -310 4,094 190 895 Cape Coral, FL -9.2% -308 3,058 -49 400 Fort Wayne, IN -5.2% -305 5,545 203 491 Milwaukee, WI -3.4% -294 8,275 230 1,593 Fayetteville, NC -7.9% -294 3,451 -1 551 Marietta, GA -8.8% -288 2,979 -147 345 Minneapolis, MN -3% -287 9,209 93 885 Metairie, LA -6.5% -286 4,124 36 324 Madison, WI -5.5% -281 4,811 74 358 Hayward, CA -8.7% -278 2,900 238 1,247 Arvada, CO -11.3% -276 2,165 76 170 Columbus, GA -7.8% -262 3,117 -74 407 Sandy Springs, GA -7% -257 3,426 35 391 Aurora, CO -5.4% -256 4,525 88 859 Winston-Salem, NC -5.4% -248 4,375 -31 479 Roswell, GA -7.3% -246 3,107 93 373 Shreveport, LA -5.2% -244 4,490 132 470 Peoria, AZ -10.5% -236 2,018 32 291 San Antonio, TX -1.1% -235 20,608 1,047 7,311 Elizabeth, NJ -10.2% -235 2,067 -24 677 Mobile, AL -4.9% -223 4,332 74 389 Jersey City, NJ -5.4% -222 3,856 206 1,578 San Jose, CA -1.3% -216 15,947 861 7,009 Mount Pleasant, SC -9.3% -215 2,105 64 169 Ontario, CA -5.9% -211 3,386 57 1,231 Santa Clara, CA -5.2% -201 3,629 -210 1,372 Pompano Beach, FL -4.7% -198 4,031 -48 598 Ann Arbor, MI -7.4% -195 2,455 -37 228 Downey, CA -10.3% -193 1,681 82 636 Sarasota, FL -6.2% -192 2,911 -21 212 Colorado Springs, CO -1.9% -190 9,861 56 814 Thousand Oaks, CA -4.2% -190 4,289 191 741 Islip, NY -2.1% -178 8,132 575 1,432 Westminster, CA -8.6% -177 1,884 Unavailable 1,024 Norman, OK -6.7% -174 2,411 102 265 Beverly Hills, CA -3% -170 5,500 -156 645 Edinburg, TX -11.5% -168 1,291 46 760 Davie, FL -5.7% -165 2,726 66 637 Kissimmee, FL -9% -164 1,653 -20 608 Lower Merion, PA -6.9% -161 2,168 104 188 Lakewood, CO -3.5% -153 4,216 71 424 Worcester, MA -4.3% -147 3,274 69 357 Paterson, NJ -6.7% -147 2,032 58 744 El Paso, TX -1.5% -144 9,202 795 5,202 Huntington, NY -1.8% -132 7,118 263 810 Santa Barbara, CA -3.4% -129 3,716 0 499 Omaha, NE -1.2% -128 10,126 159 581 Salem, OR -3.3% -127 3,725 99 386 Roseville, CA -3.8% -116 2,920 Unavailable 573 Salt Lake City, UT -1.4% -105 7,262 106 513 Hialeah, FL -2% -104 5,059 638 3,989 Newport Beach, CA -1.8% -102 5,576 113 662 Temecula, CA -3.3% -95 2,744 169 428 Sandy, UT -3.2% -86 2,566 48 162 Coral Gables, FL -1.8% -74 3,964 Unavailable 1,937 Berkeley, CA -2.2% -74 3,282 -79 636 Tamiami, FL -7.6% -74 899 80 722 Centennial, CO -2.1% -72 3,313 24 187 Tampa, FL -0.6% -69 11,016 233 2,516 Fullerton, CA -2.4% -68 2,755 155 1,081 Pembroke Pines, FL -2% -64 3,203 216 1,291 Montgomery, AL -1.5% -62 3,976 180 595 Anaheim, CA -0.8% -58 6,838 348 2,432 Yonkers, NY -1.7% -58 3,438 246 802 Pomona, CA -2.6% -57 2,178 38 960 San Mateo, CA -1.9% -55 2,808 195 739 Overland Park, KS -0.9% -53 5,526 185 477 Boynton Beach, FL -2.4% -52 2,077 -53 289 Wilmington, NC -1.2% -51 4,160 143 308 Simi Valley, CA -1.6% -46 2,823 -146 407 Sunrise, FL -1.8% -45 2,392 69 635 Skokie, IL -2.1% -45 2,129 129 308 Alexandria, VA -1.2% -44 3,664 81 745 Anchorage, AK -0.6% -42 6,905 168 899 Sioux Falls, SD -0.9% -37 4,125 -51 89 Washington, DC -0.2% -33 13,913 219 3,744 Elk Grove, CA -1.8% -33 1,756 108 511 Santa Clarita, CA -0.9% -31 3,418 31 656 Troy, MI -0.6% -25 4,146 94 511 Inglewood, CA -1.5% -25 1,592 191 910 Santa Monica, CA -0.2% -12 5,988 131 882 Boulder, CO 0% -1 4,852 20 254 Dearborn, MI 0.2% 4 2,353 -58 137 Vancouver, WA 0.2% 8 3,989 15 374 Providence, RI 0.2% 9 4,132 52 449 Newton, MA 0.4% 10 2,810 156 325 Bridgeport, CT 0.6% 11 1,969 -82 235 Bethesda, MD 0.5% 14 2,765 40 409 Aurora, IL 0.5% 14 2,637 140 666 Burbank, CA 0.4% 16 3,821 95 840 Orem, UT 0.7% 19 2,693 29 102 Billings, MT 0.5% 19 3,743 -47 94 Arlington, TX 0.4% 21 5,533 440 1,359 St. Louis, MO 0.3% 23 6,903 92 1,310 Cambridge, MA 0.9% 27 3,068 94 413 Little Rock, AR 0.4% 27 6,235 157 592 Port St. Lucie, FL 1.4% 32 2,334 19 366 Fargo, ND 1% 34 3,362 51 124 Durham, NC 0.8% 38 4,756 126 867 Mesquite, TX 2.3% 39 1,729 49 430 Smithtown, NY 1.1% 42 3,882 68 290 Fontana, CA 2.8% 47 1,729 224 892 West Palm Beach, FL 1.1% 48 4,376 106 734 Newark, NJ 1.2% 54 4,537 51 1,409 Carrollton, TX 2% 58 2,920 132 615 Laredo, TX 1.4% 59 4,144 627 2,914 Lafayette, LA 1.4% 66 4,853 -55 328 Garland, TX 2.5% 74 3,094 167 880 Des Moines, IA 2% 74 3,725 3 203 Carlsbad, CA 2.3% 81 3,607 14 384 Miami, FL 0.6% 84 15,211 580 7,961 Edison, NJ 2.8% 92 3,403 504 1,559 Miami Gardens, FL 7.5% 93 1,330 3 559 Palmdale, CA 8.6% 96 1,218 83 306 Farmington Hills, MI 3.1% 96 3,144 112 362 Moreno Valley, CA 7.6% 97 1,368 253 654 Oxnard, CA 3.7% 97 2,691 207 1,145 Bellevue, WA 1.8% 105 5,994 460 1,275 Boca Raton, FL 1.7% 105 6,254 92 764 Sacramento, CA 1.2% 108 9,162 278 2,626 Edmond, OK 4.6% 112 2,543 73 229 Huntsville, AL 3% 137 4,741 41 551 Pasadena, TX 8.6% 142 1,785 44 508 Miramar, FL 9.9% 143 1,586 220 802 Tyler, TX 4.6% 144 3,260 Unavailable 318 Glendale, CA 2.8% 149 5,522 35 1,106 Chicago, IL 0.3% 158 48,499 2,543 11,663 McAllen, TX 4.3% 159 3,821 619 2,289 Highlands Ranch, CO 9.4% 161 1,874 26 186 Encinitas, CA 6.9% 164 2,544 -106 301 Raleigh, NC 1.6% 165 10,774 90 1,265 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 4.8% 172 3,750 271 1,123 Broken Arrow, OK 9.6% 173 1,975 Unavailable 213 Irving, TX 3.9% 176 4,726 237 1,305 Portland, ME 6.2% 181 3,081 -35 89 Fort Lauderdale, FL 2% 182 9,468 192 1,298 Fremont, CA 4.3% 184 4,499 691 2,490 Arlington, VA 4.8% 193 4,218 125 881 Henderson, NV 4% 195 5,076 163 796 Kendall, FL 7.3% 201 2,969 -183 957 Buffalo, NY 4.4% 204 4,873 183 584 Grand Prairie, TX 10% 205 2,258 315 718 Franklin, TN 8.5% 205 2,625 54 185 Doral, FL 4.9% 213 4,560 553 2,914 North Las Vegas, NV 13.1% 218 1,886 174 380 Oklahoma City, OK 1.6% 228 14,488 347 1,763 Midland, TX 7.4% 232 3,384 Unavailable 426 Chandler, AZ 5.8% 237 4,317 228 754 Plantation, FL 7.9% 244 3,334 73 825 Naperville, IL 6% 245 4,357 419 811 Columbia, MO 9% 265 3,219 53 195 Cary, NC 8% 268 3,629 173 587 Kansas City, MO 3.1% 274 9,034 209 1,060 Mission Viejo, CA 11.7% 275 2,634 133 514 Weston, FL 13.4% 276 2,331 284 926 Fort Worth, TX 2.8% 295 10,711 674 2,066 Asheville, NC 8.5% 296 3,793 22 155 Alhambra, CA 18.7% 304 1,934 374 1,352 Orange, CA 6.5% 307 5,026 298 1,045 Fort Collins, CO 8% 309 4,175 66 255 West Hollywood, CA 12.7% 309 2,734 -46 346 Delray Beach, FL 13.8% 329 2,705 131 311 Amarillo, TX 8.6% 350 4,436 77 543 St. Paul, MN 6.7% 351 5,596 192 606 Torrance, CA 6.8% 382 5,988 435 2,349 Odessa, TX 18.9% 386 2,432 138 532 Gilbert, AZ 12.6% 417 3,715 198 433 Columbia, MD 15.9% 417 3,043 236 783 Rochester, NY 11.1% 439 4,389 305 603 New Orleans, LA 6.9% 455 7,042 314 1,256 Carmel, IN 19.8% 466 2,820 109 211 Greenville, SC 13.3% 466 3,969 132 330 Hempstead, NY 3.9% 472 12,708 596 2,223 San Buenaventura, CA 15.5% 474 3,527 267 561 Chesapeake, VA 11.8% 476 4,520 339 774 Sugar Land, TX 20.9% 488 2,818 427 1,110 Orlando, FL 5.9% 528 9,547 407 1,832 Spring Valley, NV 18.6% 548 3,494 250 728 Seattle, WA 2.7% 554 21,283 591 3,529 Philadelphia, PA 2.8% 570 20,933 1,152 5,399 Sunnyvale, CA 22.4% 592 3,232 608 1,463 Boston, MA 4.6% 617 13,947 346 2,228 Plano, TX 10% 627 6,919 559 1,791 Denver, CO 3.6% 633 18,164 285 2,245 Dallas, TX 2.4% 647 27,067 750 5,776 Frisco, TX 38% 653 2,370 272 513 Miami Beach, FL 22.3% 666 3,656 680 1,361 Charlotte, NC 4.1% 669 17,109 628 2,562 Portland, OR 4.2% 752 18,606 647 2,297 McKinney, TX 49.2% 767 2,327 Unavailable 308 Pasadena, CA 16.5% 771 5,449 418 1,662 Irvine, CA 9.2% 801 9,522 1,301 2,915 Atlanta, GA 8.2% 1,047 13,871 296 2,563 San Francisco, CA 4.6% 1,169 26,525 1,080 8,230 Houston, TX 2.8% 1,366 49,541 3,630 16,351 Austin, TX 9.9% 1,811 20,194 798 3,662 New York, NY 4.8% 8,848 194,038 12,601 60,053

Many cities experienced significant increases or declines in numbers of businesses between 2007 and 2012.The U.S. Census Bureau publishes a series of data on businesses for states and local jurisdictions as part of the Survey of Business Owners, last conducted in 2012. We've compiled data showing the most recent changes for larger U.S. cities.The vast majority of business ownership recorded in the survey reflects unincorporated companies with no paid employees. Numbers of businesses owned by women, Hispanics and different minority groups saw large gains since 2007, but data suggests most of these companies are small operations without paid workers.A majority of cities experienced declines in total numbers of businesses from 2007 to 2012 when only those with paid employees are considered. This isn't particularly surprising, given that the 2007 survey was conducted just before the Great Recession began and unemployment remained high in 2012. McKinney, Texas, (+49 percent) and Frisco, Texas, (+38 percent) experienced the largest percentage increases in total employers; Austin also added a net gain of 1,800 businesses over the five-year period.This table compares cities' annual totals and minority business ownership data for only companies employing paid workers:Select a city below to view data for numbers of companies with and without paid employees, along with business ownership statistics for racial and ethnic minorities.
When Somerville, Mass., started waging war on an escalating rat population a few years ago, the city turned to data from its 311 nonemergency call center to devise a plan. Reports of rat sightings logged by callers to 311 showed where in the city the problem was most severe. Crews baited traps in those places, while every city property owner received new heavy-duty trash barrels.Calls reporting rats in Somerville have since dropped by more than 60 percent. And the data has been useful in confronting a number of other issues. Every day, Mayor Joseph Curtatone checks a 311 dashboard highlighting trends and any anomalies across a range of city services. Its kind of like our pulse on the city, says Daniel Hadley, the mayors chief of staff.Like Somerville, many localities are finding novel ways to utilize 311 call data. At the same time, though, a growing body of research has highlighted drawbacks to the practice, most notably that not all residents use the system equally.Hadley says problems can arise if the city relies too heavily on the data without taking into account the way various demographic groups use 311. Neighborhoods with more immigrants tend to call into the system at lower rates, for instance, so thats taken into account when rat complaints are received from those areas.Within any given city, some residents are comfortable knocking on their neighbors doors to resolve issues. In other neighborhoods, people are more likely to rely on public agencies to step in. In one recent study, New York Universitys Joscha Legewie and Merlin Schaeffer of the University of Cologne sought to assess neighborhood tensions across New York by analyzing 311 complaints for loud noise, drinking or blocked driveways. The system was used most often, they found, where fuzzy boundaries separated ethnically homogeneous neighborhoods.The volume of 311 calls doesnt always reflect actual levels of need for a service, either. This point is illustrated in recent research by Columbia Universitys Jonathan Auerbach and economist Christopher Eshleman. They reviewed calls to 311 for tree damage following six major storms in New York City and compared them to completed work orders and tree counts. Neighborhoods with more renter-occupied homes, buildings with 10 or more units and unmarried heads of household were less likely to report damaged trees.Whats more, a city may receive multiple calls reporting the same issue. In smaller cities, frequent callers may skew the data in the same way that a few outspoken community members dominate local council meetings. Media coverage around an issue also prompts more calls.All these factors must be considered when localities incorporate 311 calls into wide-scale policy decisions. We want to make the distinction between data-based policy and evidence-based policy, Auerbach says. Andrew Nicklin, open data director at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Government Excellence, expressed concerns that relying solely on 311 data could exacerbate inequalities if affluent households are overrepresented. Its important to understand what the gaps are, he says, and where you can use other data to shore up biases.As an illustration, the New York City buildings department receives tens of thousands of complaints each year citing illegal conversion of rental units to unauthorized uses. By incorporating data from other city agencies, such as which landlords are delinquent in paying property taxes, the city better prioritizes the calls that need investigation. Chicagos health department forecasts which restaurants are likely to have health violations by comparing 311 complaints with variables that include prior critical violations, how long the establishment has operated and nearby sanitation complaints.One way for cities to reach a broad cross section of residents is to offer multiple lines of communication. Audrey Mathis, Chicagos 311 director, says neighborhoods with more seniors may prefer calling an operator. Others can contact Chicago 311 via email, Web forms or text messaging. We want to make sure that, across the board, people have a variety of ways to reach out to us that arent limited to a particular neighborhood or demographic, Mathis says.Many cities have just begun to explore the ways 311 data can enhance public services. Pittsburgh launched its 311 system nearly a decade ago, but it wasnt until lately that the city began collecting and analyzing call data. The effort has already proven useful in identifying bottlenecks and ways to improve efficiencies, such as how to best deploy crews for its pre-winter pothole-filling blitz. Some departments cite 311 call data when they put together budget proposals for capital improvements, and it may soon be used to help measure performance.Just like any data, 311 calls arent a perfect indicator of whats happening on the ground. When the limitations are accounted for, though, the data can serve as an invaluable tool in policymaking. Its almost like theres not really an end game, says Laura Meixell, a manager in Pittsburghs Department of Innovation & Performance. The possibilities are endless as we expand and refine the process.
A Wisconsin political science professor told a federal judge Monday that if North Carolina legislators were worried about voter fraud, he thought they would have focused more attention on the process for casting absentee ballots.Gov. Pat McCrory and the Republican-led legislature that shepherded the state's new voter ID requirement into law have touted the measure as one necessary to prevent voter fraud and preserve the integrity of elections.Barry Burden, from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, testified as a witness for voters and organizations challenging the voter ID law. His research focuses on election administration, voting behavior and civic engagement.The director of the Wisconsin university's newly created Elections Research Center, offered his opinions on the first day of a federal trial about whether it is lawful to require N.C. voters to present photo identification to cast a ballot in local, state and national elections.Burden, on the stand for about two hours on the first day of a trial expected to last through the week, said he thought the elections law overhaul in 2013 and amended in 2015 would place a greater burden on black and Latino voters than whites and would do little to prevent fraud."If the rationale were to prevent voter fraud," Burden said, "it would focus on absentee ballots. ...The consensus is fraud is more common among mail ballots."The cost of obtaining one of the six approved IDs in North Carolina, as well as the efforts that some would have to go through to get one, could also dissuade would-be voters from following through with all the steps.In 2015, on the eve of the federal trial challenging other portions of the 2013 elections law overhaul, the legislature changed the ID requirement. Instead of turning away voters with no identification card, poll workers would offer those who could show a "reasonable impediment" to getting one an opportunity to cast a provisional ballot that would be counted if the impediment were upheld.Though the exact details for how that process would work have not been fully described, Burden added that he thought the amended ID law still would have a greater impact on black and Latino voters.Thomas Farr, one of the attorneys representing state lawmakers, contends there is no evidence that blacks and Hispanics will be unduly burdened by the ID requirements. Ninety-four percent of black registered voters have a required ID, he said. He argued that the U.S. Justice Department, the NAACP and others challenging the ID requirement simply don't like it."That's not enough," Farr said.Burden talked about lingering racial inequities and differences from county to county in North Carolina that could create more barriers for black and Hispanic voters who don't have an acceptable ID -- a North Carolina driver's license, provisional license or learner's permit; a special non-operator's ID card; a U.S. passport; a tribal enrollment card issued by a federally or state recognized tribe; an ID issued by another state subject to certain limitations; or a military or veterans ID card.Attorneys for the challengers presented video testimony from several people who offered details of their efforts for getting IDs.Rosanell Eaton, 94, is a Louisburg resident and one of the lead plaintiffs challenging the 2013 elections law overhaul.Eaton, whose birth was recorded by a midwife, had to make several different trips to a state Division of Motor Vehicles office, several trips to Social Security offices in Henderson and Raleigh, and then back to the DMV office -- 10 in all -- to get an ID.Because her name was spelled differently on several different documents, Eaton and her daughter drove about 100 miles and spent more than 60 hours trying to get everything to match for an ID that would cast no doubt about her right to vote."It took her 10 trips," Penda Hair, an Advancement Project attorney representing the challengers, said. "She had to go to the DMV in her own county. Then she went to a Social Security office in Henderson. Then she went to the Social Security office in Raleigh, and all the people were telling her they couldn't help her, they couldn't fix the problem."Sylvia Kent, a woman who recently returned to North Carolina to help her three disabled sisters, shared similar experiences of trying to get IDs for them.Faydeen Villines, 70, and Esther Margret Villines, 68, live in Roxboro and have enjoyed going to the polls all their adult lives.Kent clips out newspaper articles for them and they watch election news on TV, then go and vote for local, state and national elections.The last time Kent took her sisters to vote, a poll worker told them that would need an ID to vote in the future, so she began to investigate how to get one.One sister, Katherine Villines, had no trouble getting an ID. But the other two had to have their birth certificates amended -- someone had put down the wrong birthdays and misspelled their names.Kent described several unsuccessful efforts at DMV offices and other state and county offices in trying to get everything to match up.She told attorneys for the state that she was not sure why the birth certificates had the wrong date, but noted they were not recorded until the 1960s and her sisters were born in the 1940s. She wondered whether the midwives had inaccurate records that they shared with county and state offices.While Eaton and Kent kept pushing for answers, Hair and other attorneys for the challengers speculate that others would not persevere."They may give up and not get the ID," Hair said.The trial is expected to last through the week.It is unclear when U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder will issue a ruling in the case.
A distant but loud and familiar voice is chiming in on the Flint water crisis: Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who from his prison cell in Oklahoma is using social media to blast politicians about the ongoing water fiasco, claiming he knew about Flint's troubles when he was mayor, and that plenty others did, too.Kilpatrick's venting appeared in the form of a letter republished on a supporter's Facebook page in which he knocks Gov. Rick Snyder."When the current Governor of Michigan says that he 'only recently was made aware of this issue', he is being misleading at best. But more than likely, he is being viciously, aggressively, and deliberately untruthful," the Kilpatrick letter states.A friend with close ties to the Kilpatricks confirmed that the letter was written by the former ex-mayor, who also expresses dismay at his current situation in the posting, claiming neither he nor "99% of Detroiters" have any idea why he is in prison for 28 years.The bulk of Kilpatrick's letter, however, focuses on Flint. It first appeared on Jan. 21 on the Facebook page of a supporter, then received 1,223 shares before winding up on a page titled Kwame Kilpatrick Supporters.It begins with Kilpatrick offering a history lesson on the water woes of Flint."FYIJust so you all know. We (The Detroit Water and Sewage Department) were talking about the problems of the Flint Water Department (financial management, ability to perform, cleanliness of water, elimination of contaminants, mercury levels, lead levels) back in 2004. We knew (our folks in Detroit, SEMCOG, Genesee County Officials, some members of the State Legislature, and the Governor at that time) new that there were significant issues with all of those items.In 2006 we attempted to craft a deal to put them on our water system. We were in negotiations, led by Victor Mercado, for months, and I wanted to make it work. I attended one meeting, and was on a conference call for another, expressing my willingness to make this work. SEMCOG and Judge Fiekens was also aware of this. SEMCOG was against the Agreement!"BUT, the people in Genesee County, at the table during that time (the County Drain Commissioner & his staff, a State Senator, and a State House Member all from Genesee County) wanted to keep control of the system."Kilpatrick then took a jab at a state leadership, writing:"Also, former Michigan Governor, Jennifer Granholm, was well aware of the issues with the Flint Water Department, and their inability to produce contaminant free water moving forward, nor afford the equipment & technology to do so.When the current Governor of Michigan says that he "only recently was made aware of this issue", he is being misleading at best. But more than likely, he is being viciously, aggressively, and deliberately untruthful. I pray that the truth comes out. That's what everyone in Michigan wants right? The Truth! Well, my prayer is that you all will have an opportunity to warm yourselves at the fire of Truth."Kilpatrick then switched to writing about his own troubles."I am here in prison, with a 28-year sentence, for a case where there is NO EMBEZZLEMENT, NO MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, NO BRIBERY, NO STEALING OF ANY MONEY, as a matter of fact, NO PUBLIC MONEY AT ALL. And NO CHARGES THEREOF! 99% of Detroiters have NO idea why I'm here. They don't know the charges, nor what I'm sentenced for. They sure do know the rumors."Then he made some comparisons between himself, and the leaders overseeing the water crisis."I wonder how much time you get for knowingly & actually delivering unsafe, dangerous, and poisonous drinking water to the people you represent? Which in-turn causes deaths, permanent illnesses, and disabilities. Can you actually be hated, hurt, and imprisoned for ridiculous rumors about murder...and not be for actually killing people?"The letter continues ..."I pray for justice for the people of Flint! And I also pray that God will give to all of you in Michigan the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. That you all may have your eyes opened with understanding.The blindness is hurting lots of people. Its even killing some. OPEN YOUR EYES! KMK"The Facebook post has made its rounds on the Internet, with Kilpatrick supporters and critics both chiming in.Kilpatrick is currently appealing his 2013 public corruption conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court. He is serving 28 years for crimes including extortion, bribery and fraud. During trial, prosecutors argued that Kilpatrick was part of a pay-to-play scheme in which he fostered a climate of fear in the contracting community by making sure his longtime contractor friend, Bobby Ferguson, got cut in on deals. Ferguson, who was accused of sharing his ill-gotten gains with Kilpatrick, also was convicted and received a 21-year prison sentence.Ferguson also appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the high court refused to hear his case, thus upholding the conviction.Kilpatrick is still waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether it will hear his case.Kilpatrick's attorney Harold Gurewitz said he was aware of the Facebook post, but that he couldn't authenticate it. He did note, however, that even though Kilpatrick is in prison and has no access to social media perks like Facebook, he can still communicate with friends and family through an e-mail system for inmates that's overseen by the federal prison system.So that means Kilpatrick can e-mail friends and family members his thoughts or views, and then they can post it on their Facebook page.
Nearly every large police department in a new nationwide survey said it plans to move forward with body-worn cameras, with 95 percent either committed to body cameras or having completed their implementation. But as body cameras become more common, police will face a host of policy issues they must sort out.The survey, conducted by the Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriffs' Association, asked 70 law enforcement agencies around the country about their plans for implementing body-worn recording devices. Results of the survey shed light on the different policy approaches police are taking.So far, only 18 percent of agencies considered their body cameras fully operational last year. About half of the agencies surveyed had started or completed pilot programs, and just 5 percent indicated that they either don't intend to implement body cameras or chose not to do so after completing pilot programs.The police chiefs who don't plan on adopting the cameras cite privacy concerns or fears that the footage could be posted publicly online, said David Roberts, a program manager with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), at a conference in Washington on Thursday. But those holdouts aren't likely to remain much longer, he said. Ultimately, theyre going to need to adopt it. Juries, prosecutors and the courts will demand it.For the departments that are bringing in cameras, the move raises a number of important policy questions.One of the first that must be answered is when to turn the cameras on. Rules vary; many agencies won't record inside private homes or under other specific circumstances, such as interviews with sexual assault victims. Until fairly recently, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called for police to record all public encounters, but that stance has shifted to be more in line with police departments' views. The ACLU's now advocates that police activate cameras only when responding to calls for service or any other law enforcement or investigative encounter between a law enforcement officer and member of the public, with some exceptions.Partially because of the varying policies dictating when officers have to turn on their cameras, some agencies are recording far more footage than others. In just under half of agencies surveyed (49 percent), officers record an average of three or fewer hours of video per day. About 10 percent of departments estimated their officers record four to six hours of video per day, and only 3 percent reported an average of seven or more hours per day. Perhaps more notable is that nearly 38 percent of agencies indicated they hadn't yet determined how many hours of video officers were recording, suggesting they may be struggling to track all the footage.Police departments are also employing different rules about whether officers have to notify people when theyre being recorded. Eleven states have some form of two-party consent laws, requiring cops to ask citizens permission to record them -- although some state legislatures have agreed to waive requirements for police cameras.Another important policy decision police are grappling with is how long theyll retain the footage. Its a safe assumption that most departments would prefer to keep it for longer, but because of the cost of data storage, that's just not feasible, said Jeff Gould, president of SaveGov.org, an online forum of IT experts.I think the emerging consensus is that you want to keep it probably more than 90 days, but less than five years, said Gould.But if a piece of video is considered evidence in a criminal case, police must retain it longer than other recorded interactions. Approximately 70 percent of agencies surveyed keep video that's considered evidence for longer than 180 days. For video not considered evidence, about a third of agencies reported retaining footage for no longer than 90 days, while another 31 percent keep such video for more than 180 days.Once body camera programs are implemented, police departments usually grant other public agencies access to their video systems. Three-quarters of departments surveyed allow their internal affairs units access; 70 percent provide access to district attorneys' offices; and 45 percent grant access to city attorneys offices.Responding to public records requests for camera footage has posed problems for some departments. Agencies in some states, such as Washington, adhere to broad open records laws, while a few others have declined to release any footage to the public at all. The survey found about 72 percent of agencies are required to provide footage in response to records requests. Just under 9 percent are exempt, and the remaining 18 percent reported they hadnt yet determined or didnt know their policy.The vast majority of agencies indicated that they planned to redact videos released to the public. Gould said he expects all departments to eventually redact released videos. Software makes it possible to automate much of the redaction process, but it still requires some additional time from police personnel. separate effort by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of different advocacy groups, is tracking implementation of recommended body camera polices across 25 police departments.One recommendation calls for policies specifying when officers must record and requires concrete justifications from officers not recording events. Most agencies reviewed adhere to this recommendation, but at least six lack requirements for officers to justify any failure to record. Only one agency reviewed has adopted another recommended policy that explicitly permits individuals filing police misconduct complaints to view all relevant video recordings.
Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has been tapped as an adviser for a Department of Homeland Security committee.He was sworn in Thursday as a member of the Homeland Security Council, an advisory committee for the department.The group provides the department with independent recommendations on a range of issues and includes representatives from state and local governments, emergency responders, academia and the private sector.In announcing Nutter's appointment, the department noted his role in September's papal visit, which was designated a National Special Security Event.The other new member of the council sworn in Thursday, Christian P. Marrone, also has ties to Philadelphia. Marrone, a vice president at CSRA Inc. and former official in the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, earned a law degree at Temple University and master's in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania."I welcome the new members to the advisory committee and hope they get to see the great work of our employees, and I thank all the HSAC members for their continued service to the country and to the Department," Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement
When it comes to the fast-moving field of traffic management technology, there is something of a bubble between what is known  data  and what is unknown. And in that space exists a bubble of uncertainty and potential, a place where government might be able to improve its own operations or even address big public problems like congestion and collisions.So much so, theres an industry that works in that bubble. Case in point: INRIX. The company, which gathers traffic data from private vehicles, recently announced three contracts in Colorado and California, where it is either selling data or data analytics to government entities hoping to gain better insights into whats happening on their roads.To two of those agencies  the Southern California Association of Governments and the Colorado Department of Transportation  INRIX has sold access to its data analytics platform, Insights. According to Gary Carlin, director of public-sector business development for the company, the platform essentially allows states to take existing data and extract value from it.It allows for some fairly in-depth analysis to be performed, puts out graphics and reports. You dont have to have a huge in-house staff for data scientists and analysts, Carlin said.Government entities can turn that information into whatever sorts of application they want, he said. Some popular uses include performing evaluation and impact analysis on public works projects like road expansions.Research into post-project impact analysis is one area thats seen a lot of expansion as of late. In September, the University of Southern California released a study focusing on how a light rail expansion in Los Angeles affected traffic along the citys Interstate 10 corridor. Though public advocates of the project pitched the idea partially on the premise that it would cut down highway congestion, the researchers used traffic data from an array of sensors to show that that wasnt really the case.That kind of data is becoming easier for government officials to access. The Regional Integrated Transportation Information System based at the University of Maryland, for instance, pulls traffic data from INRIX and other sources to give users quick reports they can use to evaluate what potential road improvements might do for traffic and what completed projects have truly done.With that kind of insight, Carlin said, traffic agencies can better guide their decisions on what kinds of projects to invest in. With vehicles becoming more and more connected and highways featuring more and more data-gathering infrastructure, theres plenty of potential for learning more about the way traffic works and the way projects impact it."The ability to access historical traffic data and visually analyze movement patterns helps us pinpoint areas that will most benefit from road or transit improvements while streamlining the cost of our daily operations," said Annie Nam, manager of goods movement and transportation finance at Southern California Association of Governments, in a press release The nice thing about having more data and better analytics, Carlin said, is that it opens up the door for new uses. For instance, when he was training Colorado public employees on how to use Insights, he said one person came up with a use for the data that he had never seen before. The employee, who was tasked with overseeing a contractor, said the contractor had closed off part of a public road to do work. When the contractor delayed the re-opening of those lanes by several hours, the state employee used the analytics tool to show the contractor exactly how that delay affected traffic.Then there are some as-of-yet-undeployed applications the company thinks it could offer the state, possibly through the Colorado DOTs RoadX program. Carlin said INRIX sees an opportunity in Colorado to start delivering warnings to drivers about slow-downs in traffic ahead of them on highways. Thats because those quick drops in speed on highways has led to some pretty bad accidents in the past when vehicles slam into the back of a sudden queue."Colorado has an 11,000 foot mountain pass of Interstate with urban-like traffic congestion. Measuring reliability, delays, mobility, safety and infrastructure conditions for this region is a tricky business," said Ryan Rice, Colorado DOT's director of the division of transportation systems management and operations, in a press release. "[This] technology helps us maximize our dollars, be more surgical with our strategy, and decipher what is or isn't working. The analytics will also help to pair with other data systems to deliver real-time information to travelers."That too could come from existing information.One of the things INRIX does is work with car manufacturers and we get data directly off the vehicles and we actually drive data back to them in the form of traffic data, incidents, and that becomes part of the overall feed, Carlin said. It goes back into the infotainment systems in the cars.In the future, he said, its possible it could also go into the cabs of semi-trucks traveling along the states highways. The lumbering tractor trailers, which need time to slow down, could use that information to avoid rear-ending their smaller road companions.At the end of the day theres a lot of data out there, Carlin said. But by itself its not all that valuable.
As Rhode Island's first chief innovation officer, Richard Culatta is approaching the position a bit differently than other state innovation officers. For starters, his office is based out of Rhode Island College, where he plans to collaborate with faculty and students, and tap into a research community that shares goals common to government.Culatta was appointed to the position by Gov. Gina Raimondo Jan. 11."I'm really interested in partnering in new ways. I found that to be very effective at the federal government," Culatta said of his time as an advisor with the U.S. Department of Education. "I think there are a lot of problems that aren't easily solved by government alone, or by the public sector or foundations alone. And so I think the best solutions happen when we connect across those lines."Talking about collaboration is one thing, but establishing his office at the university is proof of commitment, Culatta said. His office hasn't yet set an agenda, having been active less than a week, but one project he is fairly certain they will pursue is building an innovation cohort to encourage a culture of innovation."We are going to be looking at how can we help encourage people who are already in government and doing innovative things to really have the support that they need to continue to try out new and more effective approaches," Culatta said. "We will be pulling individuals from each of the agencies to come participate as a group to share approaches that work, and also to connect with other people at other agencies who have found solutions to get things done that they may not know about. Sort of like accelerating sharing of innovative approaches across the agencies."Culatta said he hopes to expand this model beyond Rhode Island to include innovators around the nation, pointing to his office's Twitter and Facebook pages as a starting point for idea sharing."We want people to engage and connect with us," he said. "When I was with the federal government, we would find a solution to something ... and then we'd go to another agency and they'd say, 'Ah, we're really struggling with this problem,' and we were like, 'We solved that a year ago,' but there was no connection."Past projects of Culatta's include Education Datapalooza , a recurring event designed to share ideas, bridge institutions and highlight work in open data. Culatta also led the Future Ready District Pledge , a nationwide commitment taken by more than 2,000 superintendents to prepare their schools for the future by using new technologies. He's promoted the use of cost-saving, open educational materials and encouraged governments to procure from smaller companies for savings, both during his time at the Presidential Innovation Fellows program."Our team really built a whole bunch of new ways to just get things done," he said. "And so I think those are levers I have learned are very effective and I'm looking forward to applying those in my new role and discovering more I'm sure."Culatta is also now a design resident at human-centered design firm IDEO."One of the things that is always very frustrating for me is that most of our processes are designed around things that are most convenient for government and not around what is most convenient for citizens," he said. "So I'd love to think about how we can shift that a bit."Culatta said he also plans to work with a group called The Collaborative, a Rhode Island-based collaboration between the state's 11 colleges and universities. Instead of competing for funding, they've made a commitment to cooperate, he said."That's a big deal," he said. "For someone not familiar with the higher ed system, that may seem kind of obvious, but I don't know anywhere else where that's happened."Like many states, Rhode Island struggles to maintain its bridges and roads. Maybe, he said, the top minds at his states learning and research institutions can work together to change that.
Nearly everyone is acquainted with the irksome and awkward maps on mobile devices. Theyre wedged into screens so scrolling turns tricky, squinting becomes a necessity, and redirects  links to apps or other sites  bounce users out of their Web destinations entirely.The head-thumping vexations are what drove Ragi Burhum and Victor Chernetsky to conceptualize AmigoCloud in 2012. The duo markets AmigoCloud as a next-gen mapping company with a knack for mobile screens and friendly tools for Geographic Information System (GIS) management. Targeted at both the public and private sectors, AmigoCloud acts as an in-between technology to bottle the complexities of the geospatial world into a platform for editing and sharing.As the companys CEO, Burham, who cut his teeth as a former GIS expert at Esri, has steadily expanded AmigoCloud with support from the civic tech advocacy group Code for America and through venture capital investment from firms like the Govtech Fund , which specializes in promising government technology startups. This yearalso included the company in its Govtech100 for its noteworthy innovations in the sector.Burham outlined his company's strategies and next steps in an interview withAmigoCloud was born out of the the frustration with the current state of mapping software. Contemporary computing in our everyday lives is typically done with a smartphone that is powered by some form of cloud services (Facebook, Gmail, etc.). Yet, in the area of mapping, we are usually stuck with technology that resembles desktop computing of the '90s. We asked ourselves why?Our most used feature is offline capture of mapping data. Crews go out and collect locations, photos, street signs, storm drains, dens of endangered species, basically anything with a position in the real world. It doesn't matter if they have an Internet connection or not. Our technology automatically takes care of all the complexity behind the scenes.Most of the cities, state agencies and transportation authorities that have adopted our mobile and cloud technology have saved an enormous amount of time in simplifying their workflows. It is not uncommon to see how something that used to take two weeks of work is cut down to less than one hour. You can easily calculate the ROI for that.The next two to three years are very clear for us. The way government employees think of technology is changing. They expect their "work software" to work like their "everyday software." They are right. Why put up with clunky apps? If my favorite phone app doesn't work well, my reaction is to delete it and find something else in the app store. Government software will be procured a lot easier, too. We want to be there when you want to try something better.The Govtech Fund has been extremely helpful for us. There is a new ecosystem of govtech companies (not to be confused with civic tech companies) that is emerging. The Govtech Fund has helped us connect with other startups and people in government interested in the opportunities and challenges of this traditionally untapped $400 billion market. Most venture capitalists shy away from this space because of outdated notions and challenges typically associated with working with government. Like all my govtech peers, we see something different  great opportunities.I think the most interesting trend is that the market is starting to feel comfortable with alternatives instead of going with the de facto vendor. This was fueled by the open source explosion. The way we keep pace with these is by being a good citizen and contributing to the open source ecosystem. As a side effect, we have seen that to also be a great source of inbound leads. All of AmigoCloud customers have been inbound  something we are very proud of.I have a love-hate relationship with open data initiatives! Don't get me wrong, I am a firm believer that the concept of open data is a good thing. Nevertheless, I think thatthe data gets released is very often overlooked, and more often than not, it is badly implemented. Beyond the ironic fact that most open data portals run closed software and are sometimes posted in proprietary formats, there is the issue of how often it gets updated. Having health code violations posted can be very useful, but if that data is six months old, then it loses its value. Stale data stinks.The best way a government can make their data useful is by keeping it up to date  both source and metadata  and by making sure it is machine readable and not publishing it in proprietary formats that require special software or operating systems to consume it. If the data is useful and it can be scraped easily, somebody will use it.
1. District of Columbia, Iowa Get Local and Current with the Weather

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2. Los Angeles Maps El Nino Resources, Trends

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3. California Dives Deep into Air Pollution Risks

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4. Streamlining Resident Service Information

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6. Houston Transforms Service Request Data

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7. Guiding Business Growth

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As snow pounded the east coast of the United States this weekend, government entities rushed to do their part in helping citizens cope with the effects of the storm. And amid all those efforts were several jurisdictions that turned to a tool becoming more common in state and local government: maps.Unfortunately a lot of the best technology comes out of disasters or major events, said Christopher Thomas, director of government markets for the geographic information systems (GIS) company Esri.Among the mapping applications were internal dashboards, which government agencies used to coordinate snow plows and other crews and public-facing informational maps. Thomas said he sees increasing interest in use of GIS at all levels of government. In fact, he said, that's one of the biggest shifts in the field -- in the past, it used to be cities like Chicago and Los Angeles that paid attention to the latest trends in GIS.Now, increasingly, Thomas sees small-population cities and towns exploring ways to use maps -- places like Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Manassas, Va.Its reaching all sizes and all types of government, Thomas said, adding that there are several reasons for that. One is that the technology has become much faster, making it possible to create interactive mapping applications that give users information in real time or near-real time.Its become a tool to express whats going on in a city or county or state, he said.The other reason is the open data movement. As government data collection expands, and as more of that data becomes publicly available, more people are looking to maps as a means of expressing the information.And depending on the type of application, a map can be useful for both the government and its constituents. Many maps help government servants operate more efficiently and save money, while others will answer residents' questions so they don't have to call a government worker for the answer.It used to be that mapping was an internal view," Thomas said. "Now its an internal view, its gov-to-gov, its gov-to-academic, its gov-to-citizen and its gov-to-entrepreneur.Here are seven examples of state and local governments using maps to help themselves and the people they serve.As Winter Storm Jonas was busy dropping nearly 30 inches of snow on the nation's capital, officials in D.C. were working to clear it. And thanks to a mapping application they launched, citizens could see exactly how the city was going about that business.The District of Columbia's snow map lets users enter an address, and then shows what snow plows did near that address within a given range of days. The map also shows where the city received 311 requests for snow removal and gives users a chance to look at recent photos from road cameras showing driving conditions.In Iowa, snow is big deal year in and year out. Des Moines, for instance, sees an average of more than 35 inches of the stuff in an average season, and the state Department of Transportation spends a lot of time and money clearing it off the roads. So it's no surprise that Iowa's snow plow-tracking map predates Winter Storm Jonas.It also collects a lot of data about snow and its removal operations. Last year, in an effort to aid motorists battling the weather, the department took that data and put it on a map.The Iowa DOT's "Track-a-Plow" map lets users see where plows are in near real time, look at photos taken from the dashboards of those vehicles, and see stills from traffic cameras that let them know the condition of the road before they get in the car. It's all set on a map that offers lane closure information, color-coded road condition estimates for different segments of highway and weather radar in the background.And if that user is curious to know exactly what the state does to clear the roads, they can also take a look at the DOT's brand new " Winter Cost Calculator " map, which lets them see how much money the state has spent clearing individual sections of road.Throughout the winter, weather monitoring experts warned the public time and again that an El Nino system was brewing in the Pacific Ocean that looked to be one of the largest, if not the largest, ever. That would mean torrents of rain for a parched state that's seen mudslides and flooding during storms in the past.So to prepare its residents, the city of Los Angeles published a map in January that lets users see both decision-informing trends and the location of resources. Using the application, one can toggle layers that let them know what the weather is doing around the city, where traffic is backed up, where the power is out, where they can find sand bags to prevent flood damage and more.The app is nimble, too. It's built straight into Google's mapping platform, which city officials say allows for people to easily get directions to resources on their smartphones. The map is fed with real-time data and can be updated with new layers. Not all lungs are made equally . Some people can live in a smoggy area with relative ease; for others, medical problems like asthma can make air pollution a looming danger.So, faced with a legislative mandate to identify disadvantaged communities, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment decided that it wouldn't just examine smog levels -- it would also take a look at the prevalence of at-risk people across the state.The result is a series of three maps , the first two examining both factors and the third combining them. That allows the state and its residents to see the places where air pollution is the biggest problem for people it poses a greater risk to.The map, which offers detail at the census tract level, shows that the state's worst problems are in its low-lying, agriculture-heavy central valley and in its largest city, Los Angeles.The city of Manassas, Va., relied on an outdated paper map and a long-time, well-versed staffer to answer questions about municipal curbside pickup services until they launched this map in 2014. The map allows users to enter their address, and then gives them easy-to-read information about when to put out various things on their curb for pickup.That's useful because the city's fall leaf collection schedule changes every year. So the map not only acts as a benefit to residents who want information, but to city staff who don't have to deal with as many calls.The map also shows users the locations of resources they can use and gives them city phone numbers in case they still have questions, and displays it all in a popup pane at the bottom of the map.A lot of cities and counties have started publishing online maps showing city services and releasing government data.But Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia stand out as examples of maps that take the idea one step further -- because each one offers a staggering amount of choices for users.Chicago's new OpenGrid map just launched in January , is a versatile map that lets users search for certain data like food inspection reports, street closures, potholes and more. That's enough to answer a lot of questions, but what adds even more utility is the map's various narrowing tools. Users can narrow searches to a zip code, or they can draw a shape on the map and only see results within that shape. They can perform sub-searches within results and they can choose how they'd like to see the data displayed. Philadelphia's platform makes use of buttons, icons and categories to help users sift through the spatially-enabled data available to them. Options include future lane closures, bicycle paths, flu shots, city resources, parks and more. Boston's platform is open for users to submit their own maps. And submit they have. The city portal offers everything from maps of bus stops to traffic data pulled from the Waze app.A 311 service functions as a means of bringing problems to city staff's attention. But the data itself only goes so far -- it needs interpretation.Houston's 311 service request map helps users easily analyze the data so as to spot trends. The tool offers lots of ways to narrow data down, and can isolate many different kinds of requests so users can see whether one problem is reported more often in certain areas.For the last several years, the city of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., has been designing all sorts of maps through its Rancho Enterprise Geographic Information Systems (REGIS) project. Many of them have served specific city purposes, such as tracking code enforcement violations and offering police a command system tool for special events.The utilitarian foundation of REGIS extends to its public-facing applications as well. One example is INsideRancho , a map built with economic development efforts in mind. The map lets users search and browse available buildings to suit business needs, narrowing results by square footage, zoning and building type. Users can also find businesses by name or address, and look at property exteriors via an embedded connection with Google Street View.
The Los Angeles Unified School District is modernizing its technology to the tune of $788 million, and some schools have launched pilots of new infrastructure that reduces costs.Eleven elementary schools are testing out technologies that connect the public address system, telephones, audio visual equipment, intercommunication and notification services to the tech devices, using a single pipe that lowers costs to the district, according to LA School Report , which noted that the approach is similar to how most homes today receive phone, TV and Internet access.In November of 2015, district Chief Information Officer Shahryar Khazei released a strategic execution plan for IT that outlined ongoing programs and goals that include network and security upgrades and increased tech support. The plan will "provide our schools with the infrastructure and equipment they will need for success in the 21st century workforce," Khazei said.Among the plan's goals is to provide Internet connectivity to 99 percent of schools within the district, and ensure support for tablets, computers, printers and smartphones. The plan allows for the replacement of existing networking equipment at 461 of the district's 1,147 schools , modernizing networks at 357 schools, and adding 37 technology aides to provide tech support.According to LA School Report, while all schools in the district have been asked to report their current infrastructure assets so that project costs can be estimated, only 59 percent of schools have done so thus far.By April, a 40-person task force is to give more specific recommendations for the district's technology plans during public meetings.
(TNS) -- 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.
Establishing semitrailer-free lanes, which would be feasible with three or more lanes, Mayberry said.

Eliminating low-traffic bridge overpasses, which would otherwise have to be replaced if lanes are added.

Instituting tolls as a way to pay for construction. Tolling has previously been deemed too costly.

Widening other corridors, such as highways 20 or 30, to mitigate the need of widening I-80.

Encouraging alternate transit options such as trains or buses to curb traffic.

Assessing needs of smart and connected vehicles, and seeing how other states have incorporated technology.

(TNS) -- Highway drivers are being asked for their advice as the Iowa Department of Transportation studies how to increase mobility on Interstate 80 between the Nebraska and Illinois borders with an eye toward adding lanes.Motorists can rate everything from safety, traffic, road work and pavement conditions to the possibility of adding tolls and no-truck lanes and eliminating rural bridge overpasses along the 310-mile interstate.Metro areas around Iowa City-Coralville, Des Moines and Council Bluffs have at least three lanes in each direction, but most of I-80 is two lanes in each direction.We are laying this out to see what our customers, what users of the interstate, want and what they think needs to be fixed, said Wes Mayberry, Iowa DOT transportation engineer specialist. If the state widens 80, we need to know how many lanes to put out there. Is it six lanes or eight lanes?The public can complete the online survey in about 10 minutes here The survey has generated 50 comments since going live Jan. 19, Mayberry said. Adding lanes and introducing semitrailer truck-free lanes have been common themes so far, he said.The feedback will be incorporated into the I-80 Planning Study, which is being conducted as Iowa DOT works to overhaul its busiest road. Widening I-80 in certain areas, including from Des Moines to Davenport, is already on the radar, the Iowa DOT has said.The Iowa City area sees about 56,000 vehicles per day on I-80, and traffic counts top 90,000 per day in Des Moines, according to Iowa DOT data. Rural stretches average 25,000 and 35,000 vehicles a day between Des Moines and Davenport, according to the Iowa DOT.The in-house study will assess existing condition, performance, short- and long-term issues and strategies for improving the route.Among specific topics under consideration:The study is expected to be complete in early 2017. It will include cost estimates, priorities and how long the plan would take to complete based on how much money is allocated each year.This should tell us how much of the interstate needs to be expanded, but also will help us prioritize it, Mayberry said. Maybe theres an area where pavement is really bad and traffic volumes are really high that shows what needs to be done first.The priorities identified in the study would be melded into the Iowa DOTs five-year projections, which are updated annually. The work would be in addition to previously announced plans to reconstruct and improve the Interstate 380/I-80 interchange set to begin in 2019.The study incorporates a new approach called the Planning Environmental Linkages model, where by the study is developed and released through a series of technical reports that will be posted here This approach is intended to ease the process of gaining federal environmental approval, Mayberry said.
(TNS)  A report on statewide broadband service released Monday by the Office of Consumer Counsel found Connecticut businesses are hampered by low speeds, poor quality and high prices.The report, "A Brief Overview of Broadband Deficiencies in Connecticut," compiled by CTC Technology & Energy in Washington, said businesses in the state often have to pay $10,000 to $30,000 to connect to higher-quality services. And after doing so, the monthly charges can be $1,000 to $2,000  much higher than for similar services in other urban areas around the country.The report surveyed businesses in Hartford as well as rural areas in northwestern Connecticut for what it called "a small sample of broadband customer experiences." State Comptroller Kevin Lembo hailed the report for detailing challenges faced by businesses and residents in obtaining adequate and reasonably priced broadband services."This report confirms what I have already heard from Connecticut businesses, large and small  that access to necessary technology infrastructure is largely unaffordable or unattaintable throughout the state," Lembo said in a statement.Lembo said technology infrastructure investment "is absolutely imperative to both attract businesses to Connecticut and to keep existing industries from leaving."Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz said in releasing the report that she was hoping to spur the introduction of higher-speed Internet access in Connecticut to keep the state competitive. The long-term goal, she said, was to see new optical fiber networks statewide that could reach gigabit speeds and cost only $70 to $100 a month, as have been seen with Google Fiber introductions as well as municipal networks."In the current digital economy, with the pace of innovation and technology increasing exponentially, we need to take immediate steps to address these broadband deficiencies so Connecticut can continue to foster its culture of innovation and its investments in advanced technologies such as bioscience and high-tech manufacturing, Katz said in a statement.The broadband report noted that the Web hosting service Akamai, in its latest third-quarter 2015 report on the State of the Internet, said that Connecticut's average connection speed was down nearly 9 percent  the largest drop for any state. And Connecticut had the nation's only decline in peak speeds.The report said that anecdotal information indicates that both Comcast and Frontier Communications, the two biggest broadband providers in the state, are "not acting on requests to expand service availability or speeds to businesses that are specifically requesting new and better service."Both Frontier and Comcast questioned the conclusions of the report.Frontier, in a statement, said the report "egregiously misrepresents Connecticuts highly competitive broadband landscape and the broad availability of high speed broadband services in the state."Frontier said that since it acquired AT&T's former broadband business in Connecticut two years ago, it has "provided thousands of residential and business customers with the ability to access high-speed Internet service that is substantially faster than previously available," adding that it "has recently unveiled our fiber-optic, Gigabit-capable residential Internet connection" and has announced "plans to invest $480 million in our state network over three years."Comcast said it has increased Internet speeds 16 times in the past 14 years and that nearly three-quarters of its customers have speeds above 50 Mbps. Data-based businesses are offered Ethernet services that provide speeds meeting or exceeding the OCC's hoped-for target, the company added."Comcast is providing CURE Innovation Commons (an incubator currently being developed at the Pfizer Inc. campus in Groton) ... with 1 Gigabit of Internet service," Comcast said in a statement. "We are proud to provide advanced communication solutions to help businesses of all sizes be more productive."
  

  

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Among other things, the companys brands will introduce about 20 additional models with electrical or plug-in hybrid drive trains by 2020, the CEO confirmed. (That number had been put forth by former CEO Martin Winterkorn at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015. Earlier post .) The Volkswagen Group comprises twelve brands from seven European countries.

At the Volkswagen Groups New Year reception in Brussels, Group CEO Matthias Muller said that the Group would concentrate on sustainability more than ever beforeencompassing products, strategy and management. Muller will present the new Strategy 2025 for the Group this summer.

Muller also said that Europe needs to take the technological lead in future areas of the automotive sector and work with policy makers to create the necessary framework conditions.

Whether digitization, autonomous driving or electric mobility, Europe should set the course in terms of infrastructure and the right legislative framework, Muller told the numerous honorary guests and EU parliamentarians. We must not leave this playing field to Silicon Valley.

The Volkswagen Group especially wants policy makers and the automotive industry to cooperate more closely on digital transformation and electric mobility.

The efforts of our industry alone wont be enough. We need to work together to make sure that Europe remains innovative and competitive as an industrial location in a rapidly changing world. A true breakthrough for electric mobility will only be achieved if politics, society and authorities work together more closely. Mattias Muller

Muller used the lack of infrastructure as an example: Europe desperately needs an extensive network of 150 kW rapid charging stations. Customer trust in e-mobility will only grow if there is a visible, functioning infrastructure, said Muller.

(Audi of America has committed to building out a network of 150 kW rapid charging stations for the coming 2018 battery-electric production version of the e-tron quattro SUV. Earlier post.)

The emissions issue. Speaking to the emissions cheating scandal that emerged last September (earlier post), Muller told the EU parliamentarians in Brussels that the company is using the current crisis to fundamentally realign the Group. I strongly feel we now have the chance to build a new and better Volkswagen.

Muller said that the company would have the emission values of its vehicles checked and certified by external and independent inspectors in the future. The company vehicles will also be tested randomly under real driving conditions. We hope this will help to win back trust.

The industry-wide discrepancies between the official test results and actual consumption are no longer accepted and no longer acceptable. We need to break new ground here. Mattias Muller

The CEO stated that EU-wide, comprehensive technical solutions for the approximately 8.5 million vehicles have been agreed. The retrofitting will start this week.

We will manage the recall in the most customer friendly and best possible way. Mattias Muller

Volkswagen has more than 440,000 employees at 72 locations in Europe, and the Group is the largest industrial investor in many EU countries.
So far, GOP politicians including Greensboro U.S. Rep. Mark Walker (NC-6), have ignored investigation after investigation clearing Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing regarding fetal tissue donation for research.

They have ignored investigations that showed the videos released by the Center for Medical Progress, alleging the illegal sale of fetal tissue, were heavily edited to smear the organization.

Maybe this investigation will get their attention.

A Houston grand jury investigating undercover footage of Planned Parenthood found no wrongdoing Monday by the abortion provider but instead indicted anti-abortion activists involved in making the videos.

CMP founder David Daleiden, who has made a career out of concocting smear campaigns, was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to purchasing human organs. Another activist, Sandra Merritt, was also indicted on a charge of tampering with a governmental record.

Planned Parenthood has previously been cleared of selling fetal tissue in investigations in 11 other states: Kansas, Florida, Ohio, Washington, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri and South Dakota.

You would think that would dissuade politicians from inflammatory talk about "selling baby parts"  language that was repeated by the Colorado abortion clinic shooter.

But this is the era of fact denial, when politicians stick their fingers in their ears and say, "la-la-la-la-I can't hear you," when the facts don't support their case.

These anti-abortion extremists spent three years creating a fake company, creating fake identities, lying, and breaking the law. When they couldnt find any improper or illegal activity, they made it up," said Eric Ferrero, Vice President of Communications for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

"These people broke the law to spread malicious lies about Planned Parenthood in order to advance their extreme anti-abortion political agenda. As the dust settles and the truth comes out, it's become totally clear that the only people who engaged in wrongdoing are the criminals behind this fraud, and we're glad they're being held accountable."

The politicians who embraced this fraud and used it for their own ends, even after it was debunked, have sacrificed their credibility.

If any of them have a conscience, they'll step up and admit they were wrong.

But I'm not holding my breath. Even in the face of this grand jury action, the Texas governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general vowed to continue a Senate investigation into Planned Parenthood's activities in the state.

La-la-la-la-la.

How about you, Rep. Walker? Will you continue to cling to this fiction?

Your constituents are waiting.
WINSTON-SALEM  When Tiger Woods played in Greensboro's Wyndham Championship for the first time in August, he gushed about the small-town feel of the event and the love fans heaped upon him.

"I'm having a good time," he said. "The people are so nice and supportive. It's just a lot of fun to play in front of them."

Asked whether he would return, Woods was succinct and sincere:

"I would love to."

Some of the same kind of Triad hospitality that won the heart of the golf great is also luring Olympians to return  and bring fast and famous friends such as Ashton Eaton and Lolo Jones with them  for the Camel City Elite indoor track and field meet on Saturday at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem. Athletes will make appearances at a Winston-Salem elementary school, sign autographs on Friday, mingle with fans at the meet, then sit down in the evening to eat North Carolina barbecue and fried chicken with sponsors inside the home of track facility owner David Shannon.

"The athlete hospitality is some of the best I've ever seen, and I appreciate it," says Nick Symmonds, an Olympian and 800 runner who will compete at JDL for a second time. "David hosts the entire after-party at his own house. I can't name a single other meet director who does that. It's more of a family feel. It's more of an intimate feel. It's unique."

The meet, in its fourth year, is the brainchild of Shannon, a real estate developer and former Wake Forest track walk-on, and his son-in-law and facility director Craig Longhurst, a former Wake Forest runner.

Backed by a handful of Winston-Salem companies and a spirited group of runners and track and field fans who fund the $60,000 worth of prize money, JDL offers competitive appearance fees, an attention to detail in running the meet and the personal touches of Shannon and Longhurst to lure athletes whom fans can count on seeing in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

"We really try hard to treat 'em very well and take care of 'em, and Craig runs a great meet," Shannon says. "It's efficient. He takes care of them. We think that's important."

Hurdler David Oliver and middle distance runners Symmonds and Shannon Rowbury  Olympians, medalists, world champions  all think so, and that's why they're coming back.

"It's if you build it, they will come," says Rowbury, the U.S. record-holder outdoors at 1,500 meters and a 2012 Olympian. "The athletes pay attention to what goes on, and we all talk to one another. It's a small network of people. If a meet is put on well and done well, and they're financially putting money into it, giving appearance fees or giving prize money. Respecting the athletes, that this is our profession and it's important to have a good racing experience. Because they have done that year after year, more people are going to want to be involved."

And so they are. Saturday's events, packaged for fans in a tidy two-hour window beginning at 2 p.m., will showcase even more track and field stars than it has in its previous years. Eaton is the reigning decathlon champion, also known as the world's greatest athlete. Jones, a hurdler, is a two-time Olympian who also competed in the Winter Games in bobsled, but you might've also watched her on "Dancing With the Stars."

Metric miler Matt Centrowitz, who was fourth at the 2012 London Games, and world champion hurdler Brianna Rollins will make their first appearances, as will Canadian Olympians Brianne Theisen-Eaton, a two-time world silver medalist in heptathlon, and Melissa Bishop, a world silver medalist at 800 meters.

So, how have Shannon and Longhurst pulled this off? How are they attracting the attention of the United States' best, athletes who'll compete in traditional indoor stops in Boston and New York in February, who'll compete in the U.S. indoor championships in March in Portland trying to earn berths in the world indoor meet in the same city the next week?

Longhurst, a member of the non-profit Track and Field Athletes Association board and a sub-30-minute 10,000 meters runner during his Wake Forest days, stresses the importance of early and immediate communication with the elite athletes and their agents.

"This guy knows what events are happening, who he wants in the field, and in the middle of the fall," Rowbury says. "That's so impressive."

And when it's time to put the meet's pieces together, Longhurst says he is there for them.

"If Shannon's or Leo's or Ashton's agent emails me at 9 or 10 o'clock at night, I'm getting back to them," he says, snapping his fingers, "like that. I never want it to be that we've sat on it."

JDL also pays for elite athletes' airfare and lodging, and they make sure those athletes have rental cars or shuttle transportation to get around.

Besides the prize money, appearance fees also entice the athletes to come, although Longhurst, Shannon, agents and athletes won't say how much. Without sponsorship from a national company nor revenue from TV rights, appearance fees are subsidized by the facility, Longhurst and Shannon say.

"David and Craig are two of the very few meet directors or promoters who actually pay the athletes what they're worth to come out," Symmonds says. "Boston and the Millrose Games expect athletes to show up and compete relatively for free, and they don't share the profits."

Ricky Simms, the agent for Rowbury and Centrowitz, adds via email: "The JDL meet offers financial conditions on a similar level to other professional indoor track and field meets in the U.S."

It's also as difficult as outrunning Rowbury or Centrowitz to pin down Shannon and Longhurst on an event budget, beyond "six figures."

"Without a number," Longhurst says, "I would say the easy answer is we don't have one. Not as in, 'The sky's the limit.' We kinda put one together, and things come up. It's like, 'All right, this is what we think we're going to spend.'"

Then ...

"'Hey, Ashton Eaton is interested," the conversation will start.

"All right, let's do it," comes the answer.

"Hey, Lolo's interested."

"All right, let's do it."

"It's hard to say no to that," Longhurst says. "The budget kinda goes out the window at some point, but that's not to say we have an infinite budget. In terms of an actual number, we don't really have one."

But the bottom line for the weekend, if all goes as planned, should be another competitive and pleasant experience for the athletes.

"It's a family thing when you bring everybody together over at his place," Oliver says of Shannon, "and have a banquet there, recognize the sponsors, people who help put on the event. The athletes don't really get to see that side in the major competition, indoor and outdoor. It's kinda cool to be able to go out there and meet the guy who might've sponsored the hurdles race."

And just as Triad golf fans were able to get close to Tiger Woods in August, track and field lovers or Olympic enthusiasts will have chances to reach and touch their sport's best, too.

"If anyone loves track and field, they shouldn't miss this. They should be there," says George Williams, the long-time St. Augustine's coach who directed the U.S. track and field program at the 2004 Athens Olympics and assisted in Atlanta in 1996.
Blacks are twice as likely as whites to lack the required photo ID they would need to provide when casting a ballot on Election Day, an expert testified Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Winston-Salem.

Charles Stewart, a professor of political science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was on the stand for the second day of a federal trial on North Carolina's controversial photo ID requirement, part of a sweeping election law that state Republican legislators pushed through in 2013. The N.C. NAACP, the U.S. Department of Justice and others filed a federal lawsuit soon after Gov. Pat McCrory signed the legislation into law.

Stewart analyzed voter registration data from the State Board of Elections and compared them to database maintained by the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles. He matched the two databases to see how many registered voters matched with those people listed as having a driver's license or other valid photo ID.

He based his analysis on data as of July 2014. Stewart said the data analysis indicated a racial disparity between blacks and whites. Blacks were twice more likely to lack a photo ID, he said.

That racial disparity persisted even when taking into account that state Republican legislators amended the photo ID requirement in June 2015, Stewart said. The amendment allowed voters to use expired photo IDs as long as they were within four years. The amendment also allowed voters to sign a "reasonable impediment" declaration in which voters will say why they were not able to obtain a photo ID. County election officials would allow the voter to cast a provisional ballot that would be counted later after election officials verified voters' reasons.

Stewart said that after accounting for newly available data and the amended photo ID requirement, 5.7 percent of all registered black voters did not match with the DMV's database, as opposed to 2.5 percent of whites.

Stewart also testified that his analysis also showed that blacks who lacked photo ID tended to live in places where there were lower rates of education and income and where people lacked access to a private car. That meant, Stewart said, that blacks would have a harder time obtaining one of six required photo ID.

Tom Farr, an attorney for the state, cross-examined Stewart. Farr pointed out that Stewart did not update his analysis to consider voters who may have been removed from the registration rolls after July 2014.

Farr also pointed out to Stewart that his most recent analysis shows that about 95 percent of registered black voters have photo ID. Plaintiffs have argued that a disproportionate number of black voters lack photo ID as compared to white voters.

Plaintiffs are arguing that the photo ID, even as amended, places an undue burden on blacks and Hispanics, and that the law is also unconstitutional and a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Defendants allege that there is no evidence that the law is discriminatory.

U.S. District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder is presiding over the case. The trial is expected to last through the end of the week.
Police say a 15-year-old boy fatally shot five people in an attack that stretched from the streets of a Raleigh neighborhood to a nearby walking trail. Two others were also injured in the Thursday evening attack, which led police on an hours-long manhunt before the teen was arrested. Raleigh police Chief Estella Patterson said Friday that the teen is hospitalized in critical condition. The motive for the shooting is still not known. Some of the victims were going about their daily routines when they died. They ranged in age from 16 to their late 50s. The dead include off-duty Raleigh police Officer Gabriel Torres, who was on his way to work.
This past weekend's snow was an especially great inconvenience for New Yorkers with street-parked cars that got buried under two feet of snow.

But while most reluctantly dug up their cars, one Brooklyn resident tried to find a way out of it. Max White posted a Craig's List ad (that has since been taken down) listing his buried Prius for $100.
The Better Business Bureau and the local utility company are warning consumers against falling for telephone scams about back-payment of energy bills.

According to Eversource, reports are coming in regularly that scammers, often sounding legitimate and quite convincing, are threatening to shut off electric service immediately unless instant payment is made by a prepaid debit card.

Eversource representatives issued an advisory this week to remind consumers that the company never demands instant payment over the phone.

These scammers can be relentless but theyre only successful if they catch our customers off guard and scare them into making a payment, said Penni Conner, a vice president in charge of customer affairs at Eversource. The key to stopping these scammers in their tracks is  dont panic and dont pay.

Eversource notes that customers who may face disconnection due to nonpayment will receive written notices that include information on how to maintain their service.

The utility urges anyone contacted by a scammer to call the police immediately.

The scammers tell people to use prepaid cards to pay for energy bills, or to meet at a location with cash. The utility never does business like that, say Eversource representatives.

The company urges anyone who has doubts about the legitimacy of a call to contact them directly at 1-800-286-2000.

The Better Business Bureau is also assisting in efforts to crack down on fraudulent operations by setting up a data base. The BBB Scam Tracker, available at www.bbb.org, shows consumers where fraudulent activity has been detected. People can also report suspicious activity to the website anonymously.

The good news is that when we warn businesses and residents, and educate them about how these schemes work, the better protected we are, said Howard Schwartz of Connecticut Better Business Bureau.
HARTFORD  Connecticuts largest teachers union wants to stop linking standardized tests to teachers job performance.

The Connecticut Education Association called Monday for an end to using the tests to evaluate teachers during a news conference in the Legislative Office Building. A temporary hiatus on the use of the tests is already in place.

The call came a week before the states new legislative session is set to begin, and it follows a new federal education act that allows states much broader flexibility in judging teacher performance.

It is a ray of sunlight that has come into the room that we are hoping Connecticut will take advantage of, said Mark Waxenberg, a former math teacher and executive director of the CEA.

The new plan was reportedly reviewed by several educators and focus groups around the state, including Bridgeports Interim Schools Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz.

Instead of using one test  the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium test, or SBAC, which is linked to the Common Core  to help measure teacher performance, districts would be allowed to use multiple indicators of student development and growth, but only if teachers and administrators both agree on which ones are used.

The CEA has about 43,000 members statewide. Sheila Cohen, president of the organization, called the current system detrimental to student learning.

Waxenberg acknowledged that the union was at the table when the current evaluation system, which links 45 percent of how a teacher is evaluated to student performance of some kind, was implemented.

The CEA and others have been involved from the beginning in developing an educator evaluation system that works toward the goal of ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education, said Abbe Smith, a spokeswoman for Commissioner of Education Diana Wentzel.

We are proud of the progress made toward that goal and we look forward to continuing to listen to everyones ideas about how we can strengthen the educator evaluation process to deliver even better outcomes for children, Smith said.

Wentzel still believes the current system is useful, Smith said, and values the committee process that led to its development.

She added that so far the state has invested $13.5 million in the evaluation system after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy took office. Malloy angered teachers statewide by suggesting in an address to the Legislature that metrics at the time required them to simply show up for work.

The educator evaluation system now in place involves the use of multiple measures, including district-identified standardized tests, Smith said.

Waxenberg said the system takes away precious instruction time because teachers are focused on getting better scores, rather than learning.

Waxenberg said the struggle is not about teachers losing their jobs, but about students losing instructional time.

It has got to stop, he added. Lets get back to sanity ... Do you think teachers wake up every day and say, How can I mess up a kid? 

The current system, he added, treats students as data points on a spreadsheet. The union plan, he said, would allow more time for students to learn.

Cohen, the CEA president, said the new system wastes time and does not improve student performance.

We have concluded our new ... guidelines are actually detrimental to student learning, Cohen said. They are doing more harm than good.

Others said it was too soon to scrap the system. Jeffrey Villar, a former Windsor school superintendent, who now heads the Connecticut Council for Education Reform, said he knows firsthand the challenges the new evaluation has presented.

But he remains committed to the idea that teachers have a critical impact upon student learning and that there must be a connection between student learning and teacher evaluation.

To call for a complete disconnect eliminates accountability, Villar said.

Rather than holding news conferences, Villar said CEA members should be addressing their concerns with the statewide committee that developed the standards.
Ready to crank out that EVOO. Photo: George Rose/Getty Images

Californias olive producers are on the cusp of transforming the industry : The states growers, who right now account for 0.1 percent of the world market, tell Bloomberg that an era of celebrated American olive oil is imminent. Theyre quick to note the similarities to that pivotal moment in 1976, when California wines, considered second-rate up till then, swept the European competition in the so-called Judgment of Paris. For instance, Cooks Illustrateds annual ranking of supermarket olive oils  its top award this time went to California Olive Ranch, a brand thats available in Walmart and Whole Foods.

Since olive oil here is so highly regulated, Californias industry is all but impervious to the fraud rampant in places like Italy. The provenance of European olive oil has long been murky, with past studies suggesting as much as 69 percent of imported extra-virgin oils dont meet IOC standards, a weak spot American growers hope to exploit. Plus, Bloomberg describes California Olive Ranchs orchard as an industrial marvel where a vast system of mechanical harvesters and conveyors allows olives to be pressed without a finger ever being laid on them, which means bottles can go for as little as $7.

Obviously, Europes multi-generation producers think these rookies have no clue what theyre doing. The head of the International Olive Council, which accounts for 98 percent of output worldwide, dismisses California Olive Ranchs olive oil as a commodity product, while one big importer says what Californians really need when it comes to olive oil is education. A spokesperson for the North American group that reps imports like Bertolli and Filippo Berio says Californias producers also have a history of, I would say, bending the facts to support their sound bites.

[Bloomberg]
Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine

Funny how familiarity with certain foods changes over time. Take, for instance, mandelbrot. As Arthur Schwartz points out in Jewish Home Cooking, biscotti used to be described as Italian mandelbrot. Now, more often than not, old-timers introduce mandelbrot to the uninitiated as Jewish biscotti. Which is partly why Larry Finkelstein, who bakes a lot of the excellent treats at Court Street Grocers, where his son Eric is a co-owner, is hoping to spark a mandelbrot revival. His unabashedly non-pareve version calls for high-fat cultured butter instead of the usual vegetable oil. And hes not averse to dipping these crumbly confections in chocolate.

Mouse over or tap the image to read more.

On the menu at Court Street Grocers; $2 apiece; 540 LaGuardia Pl., nr. W. 3rd St.; 212-777-9292.

Photograph by Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine.

*This article appears in the January 25, 2016 issue of New York Magazine.
The milk goes into everything from Icelandic skyr to kosher Greek yogurt. Photo: Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images

That cup of thickly textured Siggis actually has a fascinating backstory: Refugees from Bhutan, the country sandwiched between China and India, are being trained to work as milkers in New Yorks dairy heartland. Originally forced to resettle in bleak camps in places like Nepal, they belong to a minority group of some 100,000 whove been kicked out by the Bhutanese government. About 40,000 have entered America in the last five years, and so far 23 (but an important 23!) have picked up dairy jobs through something called the Refugee Milker Training Program. The Times says the state saw it as a strategic move a few years back, beginning in 2014 out of mutual need: Refugees could get agrarian jobs they were familiar with; farms could get more hands to fuel the yogurt boom.

Participants attend courses at Alfred State College to learn to operate milking machinery, and even get help learning to use forks and knives (many of them spent 20 years in refugee camps). The 12-hour shifts they work four days a week provide one of the countrys powerhouse dairy regions with a reliable, legal workforce. The Feds now do far fewer raids of these farms in order to detain undocumented Mexican workers  which, as it turns out, wasnt the most efficient business model. Best of all, the workers also have an advocate: a woman the Times calls an indefatigable leader in the region who runs a poverty-fighting nonprofit and reports that they and their families are making themselves at home in the dairy town of Warsaw, which has also considerably diversified its population.

[NYT]
Just a week after the Samsung Galaxy Tab E 8.0 with 4G LTE support launched in Taiwan, there are reports that the South Korean company is also working on a 7-inch variant, which carries a model number of SM-T280.

SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab E 7.0 WiFi, 8.0GB, Black (SM-T280NZKA) 1.3GHz, 1.5GB RAM, 8GB Flash  7.0" (18cm), 1280x800 Pixel. 4G model is (SM-T285)  Roland Quandt (@rquandt) January 25, 2016

Specs-wise, from what has been leaked, the variant will be powered by a 1.3GHz processor, and have a 7-inch display with 1280800 pixel resolution. There will be 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of expandable internal memory. The device will also have a model (SM-T285) offering 4G connectivity.

In addition, reports say that a Lite variant (SM-T113) of the Galaxy Tab E as well as its Kids version are also in the works.

Via 1 2
LG Electronics has released its Q4 2015 financial results, revealing that the company sold 15.3 million smartphones in the October-December period. For the full year, the South Korean company sold 59.7 million units, slightly up from the 59.1 million number it achieved in 2014.

Of the 15.3 million units that LG sold last quarter, nearly 11 million were LTE models, making this the first time that the quarterly sales of LG's LTE-powered smartphones have crossed the 10 million mark.

The company's mobile division reported a revenue of 3.78 trillion KRW ($3.26 billion) in Q4. Although the figure was down 0.4% year-on-year, it was up 12% compared to Q3 2015 thanks to improved smartphone sales in the North American market, led by the V10 flagship. The division's operating loss also improved compared to the third-quarter.

Talking about LG Electronics as a whole, the Q4 net loss stood at 140.4 billion KRW ($117 million), down from the 205.6 billion deficit the company reported in the same quarter of 2014. Over all, for 2015, the net income was 249.1 billion KRW, which is down 50.3% compared to 2014.

Via
Inline with its August 2015 commitment of providing monthly security updates, Samsung has now announced the roll-out of this month's Android security patch.

As always, the company said the update is for "major flagship models," but didn't list any specific handsets. FYI, previous months' updates rolled out to the Galaxy Note5 as well as the Galaxy S6 family, among others.

The update includes patches - including those for several critical issues - from both Google as well as the South Korean company. While Samsung provided details on several publicly known issues, it didn't disclose any information on some, presumably citing security reasons.

Source




Haiti - Demonstrations : Serious consequences for the national economy dixit l'ADIH





Monday, in a statement, George B. Sassine, the President of the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH) condemned the acts of violence during protests against the elections.



"The right to protest does not legalize the calls for violence and the destruction of lives and property. ADIH presents its sympathies to the victims robbed and molested and to the institutions and businesses vandalized by rioters.



ADIH deplores above all, the absence of security forces Friday, January 22. Robbers and vandals were able to operate with impunity, without regard to the peaceful citizens, victims of the barbaric acts committed by the demonstrators.



These actions will have serious consequences on the national economy and penalize mainly the disadvantaged of the Nation."



Concluding "Only a return to calm and dialogue between all sectors of the country will help to find a solution acceptable to the majority and stop the degradation of Haiti."



Note that this reaction is added to that of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry West (CCIO) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16408-haiti-economy-the-ccio-overwhelmed-by-the-record-of-demonstrations.html and that of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti (CHIC) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16381-haiti-economy-the-ccih-concerned-about-the-taking-hostage-of-the-country.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Elections : France calls for the Haitian Union





Monday, January 25, 2016, during a press briefing, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France, declared about the electoral process in Haiti "France expresses its concern at the postponement, for security reasons, of the second round of presidential elections and by-elections. It condemns the acts of violence in recent days and is attached to the rapid conclusion of the electoral process under way since August 2015.



We call on the parties to find compromises to conclude this final stage of the electoral process in a peaceful climate and respectful of the choices of voters.



Given the gravity of the economic, social and humanitarian challenges that Haiti faces, the union at the service of recovery is needed more than ever.



Partner and friend of Haiti, France renews its commitment to accompany it on this path."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Elections : Spain concerned about the violence in Haiti





Monday, the Spanish Government expressed concern at the acts of violence that took place in recent days in Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16398-haiti-flash-situation-of-violence-and-anarchy.html which caused another postponement of elections scheduled Sunday, January 24 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16394-haiti-flash-elections-of-january-24-are-canceled-update-7h10-pm.html



According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Executive (Spanish) appealed to the public, the government, political parties and all political actors in Haiti so that "there is calm in the country and that the will of the Haitian people can express through free and fair elections."



"[...] The election process will serve, undoubtedly, to preserve stability and democratic progress made by Haiti in recent years, "according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



Therefore, the Spanish government said it is necessary that on the basis of dialogue and consensus can be found "quickly" a new date for the holding of the second round of presidential and legislative elections currently on hold.



Finally, Spain underlined the importance that the current electoral process can continue and conclude in a peaceful and civilized manner.



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Electoral Zapping...





Yolette Mengual back to CEP, legal response

Monday the Adviser Yolette Mengual, epresentative of women's sector, which had withdrawn temporarily of CEP following allegations of corruptio https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16092-haiti-elections-corruption-accusation-denial-and-warning.html announced her return to the Electoral Council "I hasten to inform you that I decided to resume my activities within the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) on receipt of this," explaining "This decision stems from the fact that no complaint has been filed against me and of the certificate obtained from the Registry of the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince testifies to the wickedness of my detractors, who have tried to tarnish my reputation by a smear campaign. My legal counsel is therefore instructed to sue my detractors."



The two Houses discuss

Tuesday meetings between leaders of the Lower House and the Senate are scheduled to try to find a formula to end the crisis. Cholzer Chancy, the President of the Chamber of Deputies stated that both Houses must submit a common proposal. Recall that last Saturday, the deputies held an important meeting in order to seek a solution to the ongoing crisis. Deputies are concerned about the deadline of February 7 and would like a consensus to avoid chaos.



Chancellor of Bahamas seriously concerned

The Chancellor of the Bahamas, Fred Mitchell, from Quito, Ecuador, where he participated in the annual summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), has expressed its serious concern at the deteriorating security situation in Haiti "The Bahamas wishes that the elections can proceed as soon as possible and that an orderly, peaceful and democratic transition is organized from one administration to the next. The Bahamas continues to monitor events in Haiti with grave concerns and will continue to work within the Caricom and the wider hemispheric context to support democracy in Haiti."



Sauveur Pierre Etienne advocates dialogue to avoid the worst

According Sauveur Pierre Etienne, of the Organization of the People in Struggle (OPL), a dialogue between political actors is essential to avoid catastrophe and find a solution to the crisis, to have a shared vision of the future of the country. Mr. Pierre Etienne believes that "the postponement of the vote was decided by the international community, the government has collapsed and the country is under UN guardianship [...]"



Words of Moise Jean-Charles

Moise Jean Charles, presidential candidate of the platform "Pitit Dessalin" says expect the formation of a Commission of purification of results of the elections of 25 October, he said what is important is the respect of the popular vote and not respecting the Constitutional date of 7 February for the inauguration of the new President.



"The mobilization will continue, because the solution to the crisis must be found with the people," said Dieudonne Saincy, spokesman for the platform "Pitit Dessalin".



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Country music veteran Loretta Lynn has finally unveiled her new album Full Circle by releasing a new song. "Everything It Takes" is a folksy duet with backup vocals contributed by Elvis Costello.

Lynn first met Costello four or five years ago, for work on a different project and the pair ended up working well together. "We sat down in the studio to write a song. I had a piece of paper and a pencil, and he had a computer," Lynn remembers. "So we looked at one another like, 'What's going to come out of this?' He was laughing about it, but I didn't think it was funny because that's the way I write all my songs. When I write a song, I don't want to be on a computer."

"I wrote "Everything It Takes" real fast. I probably wrote it in 30 minutes," Lynn tells Rolling Stone Country. "Sometimes I can write a song real fast, and sometimes it'll take me two, three days. And I get so aggravated that I'll probably lay it down and go back to it later. But that song came easy. I'll come up with the title first and, when I come up with the title, I always know I got a good title."

Full Circle follows on the heels of her Gospel album released last year. Last year on April 14th, Gaither Music released Hymns and Gospel Favorites. The album gathers Lynn's recordings of hymns and spiritual songs she has had recorded throughout her lengthy career. Some of the highlghts include Lynn's touching autobiographical ballad "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again," "Who Says God is Dead" and "I Believe."

This timeless collection captures the honest, colorful strains that have made Loretta Lynn a household name, trendsetter and recording icon. These treasured songs of faith highlight her unmistakable, heartwarming voice that has been bringing audiences to their feet for decades.

With Full Circle, Lynn offers 13 new songs with two covers from her own reportoire. The first is her own hit "Fist City" and the second being an updated take on "Whispering Sea," the first song Lynn ever wrote, which was originally released in 1960 as the B-side to "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl."

Recorded in the Cash Cabin Studio, which Johnny Cash built on his own spread of Tennessee countryside in the late Seventies, Full Circle was co-produced by daughter Patsy Lynn Russell and family friend John Carter Cash. The result is an album that doesn't necessarily stretch Lynn's legs, as the Jack White-produced Van Lear Rose did more than a decade ago, as much as celebrate her strengths.

For fifty years now, Loretta has fashioned a body of work as artistically and commercially successful-and as culturally significant-as any female performer you'd care to name. Her music has confronted many of the major social issues of her time, and her life story is a rags-to-riches tale familiar to pop, rock and country fans alike. The Coal Miner's Daughter-the tag refers to a hit single, an album, a best-selling autobiography, an Oscar-winning film, and to Lynn herself-has journeyed from the poverty of the Kentucky hills to Nashville superstardom to her current status as an honest-to-goodness American icon.

Here's the tracklist for Loretta Lynn's Full Circle:

Whispering Sea (Introduction)

Whispering Sea

Secret Love

Who's Gonna Miss Me?

Black Jack David

Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven

Always on My Mind

Wine into Water

In the Pines

Band of Gold

Fist City

I Never Will Marry

Everything It Takes (Featuring Elvis Costello)

Lay Me Down (Featuring Willie Nelson)

Tags : Loretta Lynn elvis costello everything it takes loretta lynn new album loretta lynn full circle loretta lynn news
Published on 2016/01/25 | Source

Lee Joo-yeon's Esquire pictorial has been revealed.

Advertisement

In the revealed pictorial, Lee Joo-yeon shows off fresh and sexy appeals while she puts aside her usual cheerful girly images. She embodies the sophisticated sex appeal in a white bodysuit. Lee Joo-yeon also strikes a provocative pose in a bathtub.

During her following interview, Lee Joo-yeon said, "I had a valuable moment to look around me before I go for the new challenge, acting. I learned how to express and the fact that I should be able to reveal who I really am as I am. I think it changed me a lot through the sincere thought process".

As Lee Joo-yeon currently landed roles in movie "The King" and drama 'Saimdang: Light's Diary', she is anticipated to deliver her performances through both small screen and silver screen.
Published on 2016/01/25 | Source

Jang Keun-suk shows off his airport fashion when leaving the Incheon International Airport to Harbin, China in the morning on January 25th to attend a promotional event for cosmetic brand.

Advertisement

Jang Keun-suk is heading to the departure room.

Meanwhile, Jang Keun-suk stars in an audition program, 'Produce 101' as a main emcee and a representing producer. Through the program, the public can participate in selecting members for a girl group, deciding concept and naming the girl group as the way a producer does to form an idol group
Jan. 31 is the final deadline for North Carolinians to enroll in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace during the third Affordable Care Act open-enrollment period. With just six days left, the clock is ticking and North Carolinians should act now to make sure they have time to shop around, consider their options, and enroll in the plan that best fits their needs and budget.

The North Carolina Navigator Consortium and Enroll America are urging North Carolinians to check out Affordable Care plans, which cover what they need and meet their budgets so they can have peace of mind knowing that in an event of medical emergencies they would be covered.

The Affordable Care Act insurance continues to help many North Carolinians, said Jennifer Simmons, North Carolina Navigator Consortium Director. We have talked to consumers who have undergone life-saving surgeries using their coverage. The marketplace plans are affordable and meet consumers budgets. We encourage uninsured North Carolinians to check out their options before the January 31 deadline so they can get covered.

So far, more than 569,000 North Carolinians have signed up for coverage during this open enrollment period  but there are still many who stand to benefit and need to take action before January 31, said Get Covered America North Carolina State Director Sorien Schmidt. Last year, we saw an unprecedented surge of interest leading up to the final deadline, and we expect to see the same this year as we approach the end of the month. Thats why we are encouraging people to start the process now to make sure theres plenty of time from them to find the best plan for their family.

To help North Carolinians learn about their options, there is free, in-person enrollment help available in communities across the state. Consumers can sit down face-to-face with unbiased local experts who can answer questions and help them make the best coverage decision for them and their families. They can also help people change plans if they are already insured through the Affordable Care Act and want to explore the new options available to them this year. North Carolinians can find someone near them by calling 1-855-733-3711 or using the Get Covered Connector tool atwww.getcoveredamerica.org/connector.

During this open enrollment period, there are new plans and new prices available on the Health Insurance Marketplace, so North Carolinians should shop the options available to them. All Marketplace health plans are required to cover the basics  from preventive care, emergency services, prescriptions, and more. And quality protection comes at an affordable price for most North Carolinians, thanks to the financial assistance available to lower the cost of plans. In fact nearly 9 in 10 of the North Carolinians who have signed up so far are receiving financial help.

Those who dont have health insurance in 2016 may face a fine of $695 or 2.5% of their income  whichever is greater. And thats on top of having to pay out of pocket for routine medical care and unexpected emergencies. North Carolinians shouldnt delay and risk paying the fine and high medical bills when they can have quality, affordable health insurance that will cover the essentials and protect them from the unexpected.

###

The NC Navigator Consortium is a group of 14 health care, social service and legal aid organizations that helps North Carolina consumers enroll in affordable health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act. The consortium is led by Legal Aid of North Carolina, a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to low-income North Carolinians. Members of the consortium are Access East, Capital Care Collaborative, Cape Fear HealthNet, Care Ring, Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Cumberland HealthNet, HealthCare Access, HealthNet Gaston, Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, MDC,Partnership for Community Care, Pisgah Legal Services and United Way of Greater Greensboro.

Enroll America is the nations leading health care enrollment coalition. An independent nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, Enroll America works with more than 6,700 partners in all 50 states to create cutting-edge tools, analyze data, inform policy, and share best practices in service of its mission: maximizing the number of Americans who enroll in and retain health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

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We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here
Timo Soini (PS), the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has urged Finland to follow in the footsteps of Norway and launch social media campaigns directed at prospective asylum seekers.

Soini estimates in an interview with Lannen Media that it is important to communicate to Russia and other countries of origin of asylum seekers that it is not worthwhile travelling to Finland due to the risk of forced return.
The tripartite task force on local bargaining must find an outcome that is satisfactory to employees in order to ensure the negotiations for a labour market settlement can be pushed over the finish line, SAK states in a bulletin released on Monday.

The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) has announced that it is ready to re-commence the negotiations for a social contract  on two conditions.

The proposal to revise the stipulations on collective agreements and employment relationships set forth in the Employment Contracts Act must also be staved off, according to Lauri Lyly, the president of SAK.

He explains that SAK decided to sit back down at the negotiating table due to the necessity to find an alternative to the coercive laws drafted by the Government.

Related posts: - Labour market organisations set to sit back down at the table (20 January, 2016)

Lyly reminds in the bulletin that the outlook for the negotiations has not improved since December. SAK, however, considers it important that the negotiations are re-commenced in an attempt to create new jobs, spur investments and brighten the economic outlook in Finland.

The primary objective is to hammer out a labour market settlement that includes a settlement on wages. SAK remains open to developing a new labour market system in which wage hikes are determined by the sectors that are vulnerable to global competition, SAK states.

Other labour market confederations have already announced their willingness to continue the negotiations. Yet another round of negotiations became a possibility after the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) backed down on its demands that also the Transport Workers' Union (AKT) participate in the negotiations.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
He explains that he has arrived at the conclusion that he cannot have an impact on the future of Finland, Europe and all of humanity by means of the existing structures.

Paavo Vayrynen (Centre), a Member of the European Parliament, has announced on his blog on Puheenvuoro that he will withdraw from all decision-making bodies of the Centre Party  namely the party council and the party government.

I have decided to disengage from the activities of the [decision-making] bodies of the Centre Party. I will henceforth seek to influence decision-making in Finland by establishing ties with like-minded Finns  both the non-partisans and those affiliated with other parties, he states.

I can no longer have an impact on decision-making in Finland through the Centre.

Vayrynen reveals that he has weighed up his options since last summer  after the decision by his party to enter a coalition with the National Coalition Party made him realise he can no longer influence the platform of the Centre.

He decided to give it another try, but found himself conflicted between his campaign to urge Finland to leave the euro area  and the extent of support it received  and the decisions made by the leadership of the Centre Party.

My experiences over the past couple of months have confirmed that it is impossible to have an impact through the Centre. The citizens' initiative and the idea of Finland leaving the eurozone have received widespread support  also among the members and supporters of the Centre despite the party leadership's lukewarm stance on the issue, he writes.

A crucial aspect of the coalition formation, he says, was the decision to ensure the ministerial group of the Centre and its key assistants only consisted of liberals with sympathies towards the National Coalition.

An unholy power-political alliance has emerged within the party. Decisions are currently dictated by liberals who are supported by a group of Laestadian lawmakers. [] The advocates of traditional Centre Party politics have been pushed to the sidelines, he writes.

He also points out that whenever he sought to steer the decisions of the party, he was accused of dismantling the party.

It is best to admit your defeat and step back.

Vayrynen will continue to represent the Centre Party in the European Parliament.

His announcement to withdraw from the decision-making bodies of the party can be interpreted as a marketing ploy as it coincided with the launch event of his latest book.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Vesa Moilanen / Uusi Suomi

Source: Uusi Suomi
Sheriffs honor Apodaca as 'Defender of Public Safety'

Sen. Tom Apodaca

Related Stories

The North Carolina Sheriffs Association honored state Sen. Tom Apodaca as its 2015 Defender of Public Safety for advocating for law enforcement issues on behalf of law officers statewide.

"Sen. Apodca took a leadership role in advancing the legislative priorities of the North Carolina Sheriff's Association, which represents all 100 sheriffs in the state," Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin, president of the association, said in a news release. "As a result our sheriffs are better equipped to protect lives, liberties and property of North Carolina's citizens."

During the 2015 legislative session, the General Assembly took action on hundreds of bills that had an effect on law enforcement and public safety.
Luas boss Gerry Madden has warned there is no contingency plan in place for its 90,000 customers if drivers go on strike.

The Transdev Managing Director also urged drivers to call off two 48-hour work stoppages next month, as there was no resolution in sight to end the dispute.

He said Siptu's claim for pay rises up to 54pc is "unrealistic" and must reflect "pay developments in the economy in general".

Mr Madden said drivers should not expect the same pay as Irish Rail employees, as their roles are more comparable with bus drivers.

Siptu has lodged claims ranging from 8.5pc to 53.8pc.

It has refused to defer strikes - on Thursday and Friday, February 11 and 12, and the same days the following week - despite agreeing to talks last week at the Workplace Relations Commission.

The commission is currently considering whether there is any point in hosting more talks.

"Regarding contingency plans, an alternative service at this point in time to the Luas is doubtful if there is a 48-hour stoppage," said Mr Madden, in response to questions from the Herald.

"A total of 90,000 people travel on Luas daily and the safety and comfort of their commute must be taken into account."

He said Transdev is working on contingency plans and "should they materialise" the company will inform customers as soon as possible.

Some drivers on 42,247 a year are seeking pay rises of up to 54pc, to 64,993, more than an Irish Rail driver.

Mr Madden said tram drivers are better compared with bus drivers, not train drivers, and this was a "transport industry standard".

"Luas is a light rail operation, Irish Rail operates heavy rail," he said. He added that the training period for a Luas driver is seven weeks and they do not require rail industry experience.

In contrast, Irish Rail drivers need rail experience before they are recruited and spend up to three months in a classroom before undertaking further training for 12 months.

In addition, Irish Rail has multiple routes and multiple depots, and a more complex network with different train types.

Mr Madden said Luas drivers work on average 36 hours per week, while Irish Rail drivers work on average 43 hours per week.

Unrealistic

"Call the strike off and come back to the table," he urged staff.

"Make sure to talk to your local union representatives and ask them about their strategy given the unrealistic nature of the claims."

He said Siptu must revise its significant pay claim in order for meaningful talks to take place.

"We are willing to discuss, but in a context. Siptu must take into account general pay developments within the economy and the company's financial position."
A former winner of Ireland's The Apprentice reality TV series has appeared before Dun Laoghaire District Court on drug and public order charges.

Michelle Massey (34) was allegedly found with a small quantity of cocaine after gardai brought her to Blackrock Garda Station in May last year.

Judge Grainne O'Neill adjourned the matter to a date in February for the attention of Judge Anne Watkin, who previously dealt with the case.

The defendant (inset), with an address at Corrig Hall, Ticknock Hill in Sandyford, appeared before Dun Laoghaire District Court accused of public drunkenness and threatening and abusive behaviour.

The breach of the peace, contrary to the public order act, took place at Taney Road in Dundrum on May 1, 2015.

Report

Massey is also charged with possession of cocaine at Blackrock Garda Station on the same date.

The case was before Dun Laoghaire court yesterday for an updated probation report, after Judge Watkin raised a number of matters from the initial probation report.

Defence solicitor Richard Young told the sitting judge, Judge O'Neill, that Judge Watkin had been dealing with the case, and he believed it was appropriate that she should finalise matters.

Mr Young also told the court that Massey is working.

Garda Sergeant Peadar McCann said there was consent to an adjournment to a date in February.

Sgt McCann said the prosecuting garda should be in court on the next date, as the defendant "has an issue with something in the probation report and we need the garda in court".

Judge O'Neill then adjourned the matter for five weeks for Judge Watkin's attention. Judge O'Neill also noted that the prosecution garda is expected to be in court on the next date.

A former sales consultant, originally from Peterborough in England, Massey won the third series of the Irish version of The Apprentice in 2010.

Her prize at the time was a one-year, 100,000 contract working for entrepreneur Bill Cullen.

According to Massey's LinkedIn profile, she currently works as a senior account manager for a US multi-national company.
Emily Jane Stewart was taken to hospital with a back injury after the vehicle crashed.

Convicted criminal Kieron 'The Wolf' Ducie is being investigated by gardai for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident after he was involved in a car crash which left a Dublin model injured.

Emily Jane Stewart (23) - who is the former partner of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch's nephew, Alan Hutch - is said to be recovering from back injuries she received during the incident at around 8.30pm on Sunday.

Both Ducie (46) and Ms Stewart, who is from Clonshaugh, required hospital treatment after the crash which occurred less than a kilometre from his home in Kilmessan, Co Meath.

Distressed

Ducie was driving his Toyota Landcruiser when it crashed into a ditch with Ms Stewart a passenger in the front.

After the 4x4 left the road, Ducie allegedly fled the scene - leaving an extremely distressed Ms Stewart to call the emergency services.

The model was brought to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown with a back injury.

She was no longer in the vehicle when Ducie arrived back at the crash scene around two hours later.

Ducie was not arrested or breathalysed by gardai but was taken to the same hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

Gardai seized his vehicle and were carrying out a technical examination of it yesterday.

It is understood that both Ducie and Ms Stewart have made statements to gardai.

Ducie was not at home in Lambertstown Manor when the Herald called yesterday afternoon.

He also did not return calls made to his personal and work numbers.

Less than half-a-mile from his house, some wreckage from a black vehicle could be seen at the side of the road. It's believed this could be from the same vehicle that he was driving.

Strewn

It appears that the car left the narrow road and crashed into a wooden telegraph pole. The smashed front bumper and some broken glass could be seen strewn at the roadside.

It is understood that Ms Stewart is "very shaken" about what happened.

Described as a "lovely lady", she was previously in a long-term relationship with The Monk's career criminal nephew, Alan Hutch (32), who is serving an eight-year jail sentence for threatening to kill three gardai and claiming he had a grenade.

Hutch was on bail for a violent robbery and dangerous driving when he assaulted the gardai in November, 2012.

Ducie was given a two-and-a-half year suspended jail sentence at Trim Circuit Court in February, 2013, for organising another man to supply cocaine to model Katy French.

Ducie and his former partner, Ann Corcoran, admitted procuring Russell Memery to supply cocaine to Katy on the night before she died from an overdose.

In 2011, Ducie was convicted of assaulting a garda when he was arrested at a nightclub in Dublin - and, a year later, he was given 240 hours of community service after pleading guilty to an assault on his then pregnant partner, Elaine Buggle.
A young au pair who a man tried to strangle in a daylight attack was forced to flee Ireland after her ordeal.

The Spanish woman, who was 23 at the time of the attack, was working in a south Dublin home when she was brutally assaulted.

It is understood that she had only been in the country for ten days before the attack and was left so traumatised she returned to Spain shortly afterwards.

Sources said last night that the woman is doing well since returning home and has been able to move on from the distressing incident.

It was the au pair's first time in Ireland when the attack took place on a Monday morning late last year.

A man gained entry to the house at 11.20am on October 5 when the woman was alone in the house in the Osprey area of Templeogue.

She initially believed he was a business colleague of her employers when she opened the door.

The man then grabbed her and threw her onto the floor, covered her mouth and attempted to strangle her.

He stuffed a sock in her mouth and used a tie in a bid to strangle her during the terrifying assault.

A struggle ensued and the brave childminder fought off her assailant, scratching his face and hands in self-defence.

The man then fled the scene but, despite a major garda hunt, the attacker has not yet been tracked down.

Information

A man was taken into custody shortly after the attack but was later ruled out.

Although nothing was taken from the house during the violent attack, gardai have described it as an aggravated burglary. There was no sexual element to the crime.

As investigations continue gardai have released a photo-fit of the attacker that has been generated using new EvoFIT technology.

He is described as 40-50 years old, 5'7" to 5'9" in height, with a narrow, pointed nose and scars on his face. He has blue eyes.

He is said to have spoken with an Irish accent and was wearing black clothing, and possibly a sleeveless jacket, at the time of the attack.

The au pair worked with garda experts to generate the picture of her attacker in a bid to bring him to justice.

Gardai also have a DNA profile, which they can use to test potential suspects.

The image was shown on RTE's Crimecall programme last night, which also included an appeal for anyone with information that could be useful for investigating gardai to come forward, or to give the information anonymously.

Anyone with information on any of the crimes featured in the programme can contact Crimecall on 1800 40 50 60.
Gardai are hopeful of bringing charges in the "targeted" murder of a young man who was shot dead as he sat in the back of a car in west Dublin.

Dean Johnston (21) was gunned down just 100 metres from his home on Moorefield Avenue in Clondalkin on May 25, 2011.

Senior investigating gardai have said that the "ordinary happy-go-lucky" victim was killed over a minor local dispute.

A gangland figure believed to be involved in another murder is the prime suspect in the killing on Dean Johnston.

The thug, aged in his 20s and from Clondalkin, is also the chief suspect in the 2014 murder of Jason Carroll (38) in west Dublin.

Sources say that the gangster shot Carroll because he blamed him for attempting to murder him just five days earlier.

The known criminal, who can not be named for legal reasons, is suspected of being involved in a number of shootings.

Superintendent Dermot Mann of Lucan Garda Station said that the investigation had been very extensive, but added that gardai were interested in speaking to a number of people who were in the area when the shooting happened.

"Certainly, we believe we've done very good work from the investigation team. It has been a very extensive investigation and we just need that little bit more," Supt Mann said.

He also stated that the victim's mother, Lorraine Johnston said that her son won't rest in peace until his killer is brought to justice.

Suspects

So far nine men and women have been arrested in relation to the murder. Three have been detained as potential suspects while six were arrested over withholding information.

Investigating detectives have followed more than 500 lines of inquires to date and taken 400 statements.

The weapon used, believed to be a handgun, has not yet been recovered, while the gunman is described as wearing a dark hoody, leggings and a scarf on the lower part of his face.

Supt Mann added: "There was a man walking with a dog very close to the incident and we believe he would have had to have met the gunman walking away from the scene."
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has invited the British Prime Minister David Cameron to Ireland as part of the commemoration of the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

Mr Kenny announced the invitation after a meeting with Mr Cameron in Downing Street.

Top of the agenda for the meeting was the so-called "Brexit" referendum that will see Britain vote on whether or not to stay in the European Union (EU).

Emphasised

Developments in the north were also discussed and both leaders emphasised the strength of relations between Dublin and London before Mr Kenny revealed the invitation.

Mr Kenny said that there will be a series of "comprehensive, inclusive, sensitive" events to mark the 1916 centenary.

"I've invited the Prime Minister to come over himself at some time during the course of the year, if that's appropriate, and obviously he'll consider that in due course."

Earlier, Mr Cameron also spoke of this year's centenary.

"Of course, 2016 also marks the centenary of some important events in our shared history.

"We will mark them as we should in a spirit of mutual respect, inclusiveness and friendship," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Kenny told the British prime minister that all of his government's concerns about membership of the European Union (EU) are "solvable".

Mr Kenny pledged his support for Mr Cameron's government in its attempts to negotiate EU reforms in the areas of sovereignty, competitiveness, economic governance and migration ahead of the in/out referendum on Britain staying in the EU, which is due before the end of 2017.

The Taoiseach said all of the British government's issues of concern "can be concluded successfully and strongly in the interests of everybody throughout the union."

Mr Cameron spoke of "the good progress we continue to make in reforming the UK's relationship with the EU".

He also made supportive noises about Mr Kenny's general election prospects.

He heard Mr Kenny tell reporters that Irish voters should back the current coalition if they want to "keep the economy moving" and make progress towards "full employment".

The Herald asked Mr Cameron if had any advice for Mr Kenny in winning a surprise overall majority, as his Conservative Party did in Westminster last year.

"I wouldn't give advice, but that last answer [by Mr Kenny] sounded to me like the 'Long-Term Economic Plan'," he quipped, referring to his party's 2015 election slogan.
Halloween is coming! Here's when to trick or treat in your town
This weekend might be the last warm one we have in awhile
(Washington Jewish Week via JTA)-Since being imprisoned in Cuba six years ago, Alan Gross says his life has been "surreal."

He feels disassociated from the causes of his five-year incarceration and from the resulting fame. He was locked up largely because of U.S.-Cuba relations, he says, and he is a public figure thanks to the people who followed his story in the news or advocated on his behalf.

"It never was about me," Gross said in an interview in his Washington, D.C., condominium. "My life became surreal the night I became detained, and it still is today. I don't quite understand the celebrity function."

That doesn't mean he isn't grateful to the people who signed petitions or gave media interviews demanding his release. Gross credits them with bringing him back to the United States, via Andrews Air Force Base, on Dec. 17, 2014.

When he was arrested in 2009, Gross was working as a U.S. government subcontractor setting up Internet access for Cuban Jews.

"It is illegal to distribute anything in Cuba that is funded in full or in part by the U.S. government. That's why they detained me initially," he said, insisting that his Jewish background or work had nothing to do with it.

Gross says once the Cuban government realized he could be used as a bargaining chip in its diplomacy with the U.S., he was stuck. While he wasn't physically tortured, he suffered in other ways.

"They threatened to hang me, pull out my fingernails," he said. "They told me I would never see the light of day."

Gross stayed busy by walking around the cell he was locked in 23 hours a day, drawing pictures and creating word puzzles. During his incarceration, he said, he often recalled a scene from the television show "M*A*S*H" in which one character taunts another, who was confined to his tent as a punishment, by stepping in and out of the tent.

"I thought about that almost every day, the ability to step in and out," Gross said. "The freedom, that's what I missed every day. Freedom is an incredible thing to lose."

For the first several months, Gross wasn't allowed reading materials. Later, visitors brought newspapers and his family sent books and the Economist magazine. He rarely saw fresh fruits and vegetables, eating a lot of chicken and rice-as well as potatoes, yucca and malanga. Due to poor nutrition, he lost several front teeth, which he keeps in a small container in his office.

"I think I lost about 70 pounds the first year, and the next three years, another 40 pounds," Gross said.

He had limited contact with his family. His wife visited about every seven months. One daughter, who lives in Oregon, came about six months before his release. His other daughter, who lives in Jerusalem, he never saw.

For the first 3 1/2 years in jail, he didn't know people were working for his release. He was amazed to learn of the Washington Jewish community's weekly vigils for him during a visit from his wife and attorney.

When he was finally given access to a phone, Gross called Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington. They didn't know each other. But Gross was desperate, and Halber was willing to help.

Gross let it be known that he was in failing health, emotionally despondent and unwilling to see anyone but his wife. He went on a nine-day hunger strike in April 2014, which he said alarmed the Cubans. But it was a ploy, he reveals.

"I wanted to turn the heat up. I was never despondent. I never wanted to take my life," he said.

Soon after his release, Gross met supporters at a homecoming party at Temple Beth Ami in Rockville, Maryland. He described the evening as "very confusing." When a young man came up and asked to take a selfie with him, Gross had no idea what he was talking about. He has since had selfies explained to him.

Now that the celebrations have dwindled, Gross says he does a lot of "walking, thanking people and smoking Cuban cigars." No longer confined to a cell, he walks for miles, often around his neighborhood near the National Zoo. He also likes to play his collection of 10 mandolins and is excitedly awaiting the birth of his first grandchild.

Gross misses his work on behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which took him around the globe, including to Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. He's happy to tell the stories behind the colorful weavings, tribal masks and other world art covering the walls of his home. But he's afraid to leave America again.

Despite his ordeal in the Communist island nation, Gross still has special affection for the Cuban people, including the Jews he tried to serve, whose numbers he says have dwindled to about 1,000.

Recalling the largest synagogue, in Vedado, a Havana suburb, Gross said, "It's just like many Jewish community centers around the world." He says Shabbat dinners are well attended, partly because the meals supplement the little food people have.

Gross is working on a book about his experience in Cuban prison. The working title: "It was never about me."
AACIAssociation of Americans and Canadians in Israel has introduced the first English language eLibrary in Israel. As the oldest and best-known non-profit organization designed to assist English speakers, AACI has grown from a humble helping-hub to what is today a member-based organization that addresses nearly every aspect of the absorption experience. Members live in Israel as well as overseas.

The AACI Sharon Woodrow Memorial eLibrary was developed in partnership with the digital innovator Library Ideas Freading division. It contains 50,000 titles that are suitable for all ages, enabling members of AACIs eBooks Library to read their chosen books on computers and mobile telecommunication units including iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire and Android devices.

AACIs Executive Director David London expressed thanks to the family of the late Sharon Woodrow and, in particular, her sister Diane Romm who approached AACI with the idea. She shared that when Sharon moved to Haifa from her native New York in 1990 with her husband Paul Glaser, she was dismayed by the dearth of quality English language literature. Consequently, she kick-started several book clubs and book exchange groups. After Sharon Woodrow passed away in 2014, Diane contacted Library Ideas, amassed the information and found a willing partner in AACI.

Membership fees for AACI are reasonable and accessing the eLibrary is simple. For further information about both the organization and the library, go to http://www.aaci.org.il/elibrary.
(Washington Jewish Week via JTA)Maybe its the centuries of living under Christian and Muslim rule. Maybe its the history of forced conversion. Maybe its that theres no religion requirement for the Jewish afterlife.

Whatever the reasons, Jews have traditionally been uncomfortable proselytizing.

But a Maryland foundation is flouting the taboo by funding outreach programs to non-Jews in an effort to bring them into the fold.

Our primary purpose is to support programs that publicize Judaism to non-Jews, Ellen Gerecht, executive director of the National Center to Encourage Judaism, says from her second-floor office in Silver Spring, Maryland. We think Judaism has a lot to offer.

Asked if the ultimate goal is to convert non-Jews, Gerecht says, Yes, because we think so much of Judaism. That would be the goal down the line.

Founded in 1995, the National Center to Encourage Judaism has $2.3 million in assets and brings in about $375,000 annually, according to its 2013 tax information. That year, the foundation gave $50,000 to Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York and $28,000 to various synagogues throughout the United States.

Rabbi Michael Feshbach of Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Maryland, has worked with the foundation both at his synagogue and at former pulpits in Pennsylvania and New York. He has known Gerechts father, Ash, who started the foundation, for years.

I know that this foundation believes some of the greatest and most important spiritual ideas in the world are in our tradition, and we dont show it enough, Feshbach says.

Feshbach has used funds from the National Center to Encourage Judaism to publicize a three-time weekly introduction-to-Judaism program called Taste of Judaism. He has led the program, which is held across the country, about a dozen times at his synagogues since 2010, with the next course scheduled for this fall.

Though he ran the ads in local mainstream newspapers, Feshbach says Taste of Judaism is primarily intended to reach out to people with Jewish ties. Along with some congregants, most attendees have a Jewish parent or partner and want to know more, he says.

But the rabbi says people of other religions have participated, too, including a small group from an African-American church.

Its been the most amazing assortment [of participants] of anything Ive done, Feshbach says. Speaking personally, I can say the more we learn about the people around us, the better we are. Sometimes, yes, this leads to continued interest. Of course we welcome that.

He adds: We dont view it as we need to convert people to save their souls.

Orthodox Jews are generally opposed to proselytizing, though organizations like Aish HaTorah and Chabad conduct outreach to the non-Orthodox. Aish expresses a traditional Jewish view of the matter on its website.

It would be discriminatory for Judaism to proselytize and try to convert those not of the religion, an article on the site reads. That would imply that everybody needs to be Jewish in order to make a relationship with God, participate in the Torahs vision of repairing the world, and get to heaven. Yet this is not so.

Gerecht, of the National Center to Encourage Judaism, sees the issue in historical rather than theological terms. Jews havent proselytized in the past, she says, because they werent in a strong enough position to. But things have changed. If Jews dont spread their religion now, she says, Judaism simply will not survive.

Still, what her foundation promotes is more like welcoming than proselytizing, she insists.

When you think about proselytization, you think going door to door. We are not advocating that, she says. We are going to try and get the word out.

Most synagogues the National Center to Encourage Judaism works with are part of the Reform movement, which has made inclusion of intermarried families a priority. As far back as 1965, the movement adopted a resolution to proselytize and missionize converts to Judaism among the unsynagogued and unchurched.

Gerecht says there has also been growing interest in her foundation from the Conservative movement, which is struggling with dwindling numbers. Last year, Arnold Eisen, the chancellor of the movements Jewish Theological Seminary, wrote a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed titled Wanted: Converts to Judaism, calling on Jewish leaders and rabbis to actively encourage non-Jewish family members in our midst to take the next step and formally commit to Judaism.

It used to be novel to reach out to singles, and now thats common, Gerecht says. From an overall standpoint, we all want Judaism to grow.
TEL AVIV (JTA)-Last month, rumors flooded the Internet that former Israeli President Shimon Peres was dead. True to form, the man who tirelessly trumpets his country's high-tech sector took to Facebook to clear the air.

"I wish to thank the citizens of Israel for the support, concern and interest, and wish to clarify that the rumors are false," wrote Peres, a Nobel Prize winner. "I'm continuing with my daily schedule as usual to do whatever I can to assist The State of Israel and its citizens."

Having fought for Israel before the state even existed, leading its military through its formative years and founding two of the nation's first kibbutzim, Peres, now 92, is the last man standing from the generation that built Israel. Appointed director general of the Defense Ministry in 1953 at the age of 29, Peres' political career has spanned seven decades, ending just over a year ago with the conclusion of his seven-year stint as president.

Yet when Peres announced he was still alive, he meant very much alive-and very much still in action. On a typical day, he is up at 4:30 a.m. to read and "do sport" (he walks on the treadmill). By 8:30 he is at his office, and he often works until 11 p.m.

Speaking to JTA from the Peres Center for Peace, the nonprofit he founded in 1996 to promote coexistence, Peres discussed why he's busier than ever-and why he still hasn't given up on peace.

JTA: It's been over a year since you left politics. How do you fill your days now?

Peres: The Peres Center for Peace is working for peace and innovation all over the world. The center is already 20 years old and it has a brilliant record. One of our programs is called Saving Children. I found out that there were 2,000 Palestinian children wounded during the intifada. We decided to bring all of them to Jerusalem and all of them were cured. Once that was done, other parents of Palestinian children came to us and said, 'My child wasn't wounded in the war, but he has a problem with his heart or his brain. Please help us.' So our record now is 11,000 children cured in hospitals in Jerusalem on our account.

Two months ago marked 20 years since the murder of Yitzhak Rabin. If you could speak to him now, what do you think he would say about the state of Israel today?

We would continue to do what we did. We started making peace. We started with Jordan, made peace with Jordan. We made peace with the Egyptians, and we started with the Palestinians. It wasn't completed, but we must continue to do the same thing. I think that our security, well-being and our Jewish character demands peace. If we will not achieve peace, we will always be engaged in war and terror. And I think it's possible. I think we can achieve peace.

In spite of the terror attacks, we shouldn't lower our efforts to make peace. You cannot answer a knife with a knife. I don't think we can live if we continue just trying to destroy each other. Many Arabs understand this, too, and we see it now. For many years the Arab attitude was reflected in the Khartoum Resolution, naming three laws: not to recognize Israel, not to negotiate with Israel and not to make peace with Israel. That's over. Now there are Arab peace projects. There's a Saudi project, there's an Arab League project. They're talking about peace and that's a major change. Maybe their plans are not exactly what we are seeking, but it's a big difference from being an organized refusal to making peace with Israel, to an attempt to see how to bridge the divide.

Does Israel have a partner for peace?

We do have a partner. But we have to decide-do we want a partner for peace or a partner for war? I'm speaking about Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas]. He talks about peace, he talks against terror. He doesn't talk the Zionist language, but I don't expect him to. He has in his police force 15,000 people and they in fact are fighting against terror.

Do you think Israel hasn't done enough to take advantage of this partner for peace?

I'm not going to look at who to blame. I'm not interested in this. I'm more interested in seeing who to moralize for peace. I know peace is hard to achieve. I speak from experience. People come to me and say, 'You're right, we need to make peace. You're right, we need to pay a price.' But, they say, 'Why are you paying so much? Why are you so naive to trust them so much?'

There are two things in life that if you really want to achieve, you have to close your eyes a bit, and that is peace and love. With eyes wide open, I'm not sure anybody would fall in love, and I'm not sure anybody would make peace. But when you compare what is better, living in peace and living in love, even if it's not perfect, is by far the right choice.

What do you think the rise in attacks by Arab-Israelis says about Israel today?

They have equal rights. There is no apartheid in Israel. But they feel discriminated against because the standard of living for Israelis is higher than the standard of living for Arabs. What we have to do is promote their standard of living. I think we can do it and we should do it, and that's what we are doing at our center.

Israel was once a clear bipartisan issue in the United States, but there is some evidence today that Republicans are more likely to support Israel when its interests diverge from America's. What could be done to change that?

I think we have to stick to the bipartisan support. We shouldn't take sides in internal American issues. We have to appreciate that the U.S. friendship with Israel is bipartisan, so we cannot show an involvement in American politics, just as Americans are careful not to show involvement in Israeli politics.
(JTA)-A French Jewish politician found dead in his home was killed by asphyxiation, the autopsy found.

The body of Alain Ghozland, 73, a municipal councilor in the Paris suburb of Creteil, was also reportedly riddled with stab wounds when it was discovered in his apartment Tuesday morning.

An unnamed judicial source told the French MetroNews website Wednesday that the cause of death was "traumatic asphyxiation," which he is quoted as saying "confirms the voluntary nature of the homicide." He declined to say whether or not Ghozland was strangled to death, however.

Ghozland's body was found after his brother called police because the politician failed to show up at their synagogue, as he usually does each morning, the news channel RTL reported. Ghozland's apartment was ransacked, possibly by intruders, and his body showed deep lacerations that appeared to have been caused by a knife.

Police reportedly believe the death was the result of a botched robbery. Ghozland's family has suggested the death may be related to anti-Semitism.

Creteil, which is about seven miles from the heart of Paris, was the site of a rape and robbery committed in December 2014 against a couple who said they were targeted because they were Jews.
On Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, Congregation Beth Am in Longwood will host a unique interfaith dialogueThe Jewish Jesus in Text and Contextin collaboration with 10 ministers and leaders of diverse faith communities. Starting at 2 p.m. in the Congregation Beth Am Social Hall, 3899 Sand Lake Road, Longwood Rabbi Rick Sherwin will moderate an extensive Question and Answer session responding to a video presentation by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine.

Dr. Levine is professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter professor of New Testament Studies and professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences. In 2011, Professor Levine became affiliated professor at the Woolf Institute: Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations at Cambridge, UK. A self-described Yankee Jewish feminist who teaches in a predominantly Christian divinity school in the buckle of the Bible Belt, Professor Levine combines historical-critical rigor, literary-critical sensitivity, and a frequent dash of humor with a commitment to eliminating anti-Jewish, sexist, and homophobic theologies.

Rabbi Rick commented, In my introductory discussions with the ministers, I expressed the need of Christians and Jews to know each other better. Learning to see through each others eyes is paramount to common respect and cooperation. The Jewish community needs to see the message of the New Testament beyond the call for belief in Jesus as the Christ, and the Christian community needs to see Jesus as a religious, practicing Jew.

In support of this essential dialogue, Rabbi Rick referenced the Talmud (Eruvin 13b): For three years there was a dispute between the School of Hillel and the School of Shammai, the former asserting, The practice is in agreement with our views, and the latter contending, The practice is in agreement with our views. Then a Voice from Heaven, announced, Eilu veilu divrei Elohim Hayim, Both faces of religious disagreement reflect the Word of the Living God. Nevertheless, the perspective of Hillel shall prevail. If bother perspectives are correct, say the Rabbinic Sages, then how can one view be selected over the other? The answer is that the School of Hillel listened carefully to the reasoning of the School of Shammai, articulated his argument, and only then presented his own.

What constitutes a valid reflection of God is the response that one acts kindly and respectfully toward the other. They study their views and reexamine their own, and cultivate the ability to articulate the views of those who disagree. The phrase eilu veilu emphasizes the incompleteness of any single opinion. The v, which means and, is essential, uniting and complementing the two perspectives without compromising the integrity of either.

As with all Continuing Adult Education Programming at Beth Am, there is no charge to attend; and all members of our community, Jew and non-Jew, are encouraged to attend and participate in this rare discussion. For more information on the education opportunities at Congregation Beth Am refer to the synagogues web site at http://www.CongBethAm.org.
Funeral held for West Bank mother of 6 as search for killer moves to 2nd day

TEL AVIV (JTA)Hundreds attended the funeral for the Israeli mother of six who was stabbed to death in her West Bank home as the manhunt continued for her assailant.

Dafna Meir, 38, was laid to rest Monday morning at the Har Hamenuhot cemetery in Jerusalem. Among those on hand were Education Minister Naftali Bennett, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and opposition leader Isaac Herzog.

Meir, a nurse, was stabbed to death in her home the previous day in the Otniel settlement. Three of her children were present.

Her 17-year-old daughter, Ranana, witnessed the attack and described the assailant to Israeli authorities, according to Israeli media reports.

In her eulogy at the funeral, Ranana called her mother her best friend.

You left us with an enormous vacuum, she said. You wont come with me to my wedding, to the army, to the delivery room. Im sorry I couldnt help you during the hardest moments.

Meir died while attempting to fight off her attacker and prevent him from hurting the three children, who were home when he entered the house, the Israeli media reported. He fled after killing Meir and did not attempt to stab any of her children.

According to Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Meirs four biological children ranged in age from 11 to 14, and two adopted kids were 4- and 6-year-old boys. Meir, who worked at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, was adopted at 13.

In the manhunt for her killer, dozens of Palestinians were detained in overnight sweeps throughout the West Bank, according to Israeli media reports.

His escape was captured by security footage, but investigators have been unable to determine how he entered the settlement. Israeli media reports circulated theories that the suspect was employed as a construction worker in the settlement, and thus entered through the front gate.

On Sunday night, the Hebron Hills Regional Council banned Palestinian workers from entering area settlements the next day, the Times of Israel reported.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement Monday sending his condolences to the family, including Meirs husband, Natan, and vowed swift punishment.

Whoever tries to harm us, we will bring him to justice, Netanyahu said. In the end he will be found and he will pay the full price.

On Monday morning, the West Bank was the scene of another stabbing attackof a pregnant Israeli womanin the Tekoa settlement. The woman was moderately injured, according to Magen David Adom.

Tekoa is in the Gush Etzion bloc, which has been the scene of several deadly incidents since the spate of attacks by Palestinian assailants began in October.

Pregnant Israeli stabbed in West Bank

TEL AVIV (JTA)A pregnant Israeli was stabbed in the West Bank less than 24 hours after a mother of six was stabbed to death in a settlement there.

Michal Froman, 30, suffered moderate wounds to her upper body on Monday after being attacked at a clothing warehouse in the Tekoa settlement, the Israel Defense Forces said.

After attempting to flee the scene, the alleged Palestinian attacker was shot by a Tekoa resident, according to the IDF. The teenage assailant was in serious condition at an Israeli hospital.

On Monday, the IDF ordered all Palestinian workers employed in the Gush Etzion bloc to leave. Gush Etzion, a bloc that includes Tekoa, has been the scene of several deadly incidents since the spate of Palestinian attacks against Israelis began in October.

Froman reportedly is the daughter-in-law of the late Rabbi Menachem Froman, a peace activist and the former chief rabbi of Tekoa.

On Sunday, Dafna Meir was stabbed by an assailant who broke into her Otniel home. Three of her six children witnessed the attack.

Slain migrant in Beersheba attack lay untreated for 18 minutes, new video shows

TEL AVIV (JTA)New closed-circuit television footage shows the deadly beating of an Eritrean migrant who was mistaken for a terrorist after an attack in Beersheba laying untreated on the floor for 18 minutes.

The footage released Monday by Haaretz shows Haftom Zarhum, 29, lying on the floor of the Beersheba central bus station before being treated by members of Magen David Adom, who had arrived 10 minutes earlier. The Israeli newspaper did not say how it received the video.

Zarhum was shot several times and attacked by nine people, including Israeli civilians, security forces, prison officials and soldiers, believing he was a terrorist, the footage shows. Four of the alleged attackers have been indicted. An Israeli citizen who attempted to shield Zarhum from the crowd was pushed aside and hit.

The actual assailant, a Bedouin citizen of Israel, killed a soldier and wounded about a dozen others in the Oct. 18 attack at the bus station.

Zarhum had been seeking an extension for his visa to remain in Israel.

Iran denounces new US sanctions on ballistic missile program

(JTA)Days after the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers went into effect, the United States issued new sanctions tied to Irans ballistic missile program.

On Sunday, the Treasury Department announced it would impose penalties on 11 individuals and companies in Iran, China and the United Arab Emirates for helping to provide Iran with secret materials to develop its ballistic missile program in violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution.

Irans ballistic missile program poses a significant threat to regional and global security, and it will continue to be subject to international sanctions, Treasury Undersecretary Adam Szubin said in a statement. We have consistently made clear that the United States will vigorously press sanctions against Iranian activities outside of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actionincluding those related to Irans support for terrorism, regional destabilization, human rights abuses, and ballistic missile program.

A spokesman for Irans Foreign Ministry, Hossein Jaber Ansari, said Irans missile program has never been designed to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons, according to Irans ISNA news agency. Ansari referred to the new penalties as illegitimate, saying his country responds with determination to such propaganda by accelerating its legal ballistic missile program and boosting defense capabilities.

Since the historic deal was reached in July between Iran and six world powers, Iran has test-launched ballistic missiles at least once.

Iran met its requirements on the pact last week and sanctions were lifted.

US ambassador to Israel blasts 2 standards of law in West Bank

TEL AVIV (JTA)The U.S. ambassador to Israel reportedly slammed the Israeli legal system in the West Bank, saying, Too much Israeli vigilantism in the West Bank goes on unchecked.

Daniel Shapiro, speaking Monday at a Tel Aviv conference organized by the Institute for National Security Studies, added that at times it seems Israel has two standards of adherence to rule of law in the West Bankone for Jews and one for Palestinians, Haaretz reported.

Shapiro emphasized the U.S. government stance that a two-state solution is the best solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The United States is concerned and perplexed by recent Israeli government actions on the settlements, which raise questions about Israeli intentions, he said.

That evening, the Prime Ministers Office of Israel issued a statement condemning Shapiros remarks as unacceptable and incorrect.

The words of the ambassador, on a day in which a murdered mother of six is buried and on a day in which a pregnant woman is stabbedare unacceptable and incorrect, the statement said. Israel enforces the law for Israelis and Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority is the one responsible for the diplomatic freeze, and continues to incite and refuse talks.

Shapiros criticism echoes other expressions of concern voiced by the U.S. government in recent weeks.

Following Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalons approval of a new settlement in a church compound in the West Bank, State Department spokesman John Kirby said at a news briefing that the administration was deeply concerned by Israeli actions that demonstrate a lack of commitment to the two-state solution.

Israels decision to establish a new settlement only expands this significant majority of the West Bank that has already been claimed for exclusive Israeli use, Kirby told reporters, according to Haaretz.

The State Department has also expressed concerns over Israels controversial NGO bill, rejecting comparisons between the Israeli proposal requiring registration of foreign-funded NGOs and U.S. laws registering foreign interest lobbyists.

9 Israelis arrested in price fixing of school trips to Poland

TEL AVIV (JTA)Nine suspects were arrested in what Israeli police believe is a criminal ring that monopolized the market for school trips to Poland in an effort to fix prices.

Among those arrested following police raids Monday morning on homes and offices were a high-level staffer of a large travel agency and two CEOs of smaller agencies, according to police spokeswoman Luba Samri. Israels antitrust authority also included searches of bank accounts in its investigation.

The suspects are accused of violating antitrust laws, accepting bribes and committing fraud.

The antitrust authority alleges that officials in the top travel agencies teamed to fix prices for groups of young Israelis traveling to Poland for Jewish seminars and heritage trips. According to Israeli media reports, the suspects won the tender from Israels Ministry of Education to coordinate and facilitate school trips to Poland.

Organized school trips to Poland are commonplace for young Israeli students. They typically cost parents thousands of shekels, making them inaccessible to lower-income students.

Jerusalem monastery vandalized with anti-Christian graffiti

JERUSALEM (JTA)A Benedictine monastery in Jerusalem was vandalized with anti-Christian graffiti.

The graffiti was discovered on Saturday night at Dormition Abbey, located on Mount Zion just outside the Old City of Jerusalem, according to reports.

The graffiti, written in Hebrew, included: Christians to Hell, May his name be obliterated, and Death to the heathen Christians the enemies of Israel.

It is not the first time that the abbey has been targeted. Anti-Christian graffiti was painted on the abbeys walls in 2013 and 2012. Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the abbey during a visit in 2014.

A police investigation has been opened into the incident.

The abbey is believed to be the site where the Virgin Mary died. It is located next to the site considered to be the tomb of King David.

Netanyahu: Israel will continue to monitor Iranian nuclear activity

JERUSALEM (JTA)Israel will continue to monitor Iranian nuclear activity and warn about any violations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Netanyahus comments came at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday, one day after Iran gained relief from international sanctions following certification of its compliance with obligations under the nuclear deal reached this summer.

On Saturday, President Barack Obama and the European Union immediately ordered the suspension of a range of sanctions that had been imposed on Iran because of its suspected nuclear weapons program. Also Saturday, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran has complied with the nuclear rollback component of the nuclear deal.

Israels policy is exactly as it has beennot to allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. What is clear is that Iran will now have more resources to divert to terrorism and its aggression in the region and around the world, and Israel is prepared to deal with any threat, Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu added that discussions between Israel and the Obama administration are currently being completed on a document of understandings for the coming decade regarding security assistance to the State of Israel. This is an important part of permanent policy between us and the United States, our ally, and it is important in order to repel threats in the region, especially the Iranian threat.

Israel had fought aggressively against the nuclear deal, arguing that it would not prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb.

On Sunday, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran said everyone was happy about the official implementation of the Iran nuclear deal, except Zionists, warmongers, sowers of discord among Islamic nations and extremists in the U.S. The rest are happy.

Rouhani made his comments to the Iranian parliament in an address broadcast live to the nation on state television, according to reports.

The friends of Iran are happy and its competitors need not worry. We are not a threat to any government or nation, Rouhani reportedly said. We are a messenger of peace, stability and security in the region and the world.

Iran in compliance, sanctions lifted, Levinson not among prisoners released

WASHINGTON (JTA)Jewish-American Robert Levinson was not included in a prisoner exchange with Iran that came as the U.N. nuclear watchdog confirmed Irans compliance with the nuclear deal and the West rolled back sanctions.

Iran on Saturday released five Americans it was holding in its prisons or in detention, four of them as part of a prison swap that included the release of Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post journalist detained on espionage charges since 2014.

The exchange comes on implementation day of the sanctions relief for nuclear restrictions deal Iran concluded last year with the United States and five other major powers.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, on Saturday confirmed that Iran has complied with the nuclear rollback component of the deal, which will trigger immediate sanctions relief.

President Barack Obama and the European Union immediately ordered the suspension of a range of sanctions that had been imposed on Iran because of its suspected nuclear weapons program.

According to Reuters, the United States dropped charges against or commuted the sentences of eight Iranians involved in sanctions violations.

As part of the deal, Interpol removed 14 Iranians from its wanted list. A number of news agencies initially speculated that some of those named were suspected of involvement in the deadly deadly bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center, but this proved untrue and the reports were retracted. Speculation that any of the 14 fugitives was at all connected to the bombing in Argentina is patently baseless and untrue, a U.S. official told JTA. The fugitives faced sanctions or export control violations.

Levinson, 68, of Coral Springs, Florida, has been missing for nearly nine years. CNN quoted Levinsons family as expressing happiness for the other families, but saying it was devastated that he was not among those released.

His family has acknowledged in recent years that Levinson, a father of seven, had been working for the CIA in a rogue operation at the time of his disappearance from Irans Kish Island.

Levinson is a private detective and former FBI agent. For years it had been reported that he was working as a private investigator when he disappeared.

Iran denies official involvement in his disappearance and the Washington Post quoted an anonymous U.S. official as saying that as part of the exchange deal, Iran committed to continue cooperating with the United States to determine the whereabouts of Robert Levinson.

According to the Reuters report, the United States delayed sanctions targeting Iran for testing a ballistic missile late last year in order not to scuttle the prisoner exchange.

Republicans and some pro-Israel groups had criticized the Obama administration for delaying those sanctions, which would be triggered under U.N. Security Council resolutions and which are separate from the sanctions to be lifted under the nuclear deal.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee called implementation day for the deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action a turning point in Irans strength as a terrorist state and in its ability to pursue regional dominance in a statement.

These failures to penalize Iran for its irresponsible behavior, violations of international restrictions and failure to come clean on its past nuclear activities hardly inspire confidence for the strict implementation of the JCPOA, it said.

2 Palestinians reported killed in riots near Gaza-Israel border

(JTA)Israeli troops shot and killed two Palestinians during riots near the fence that separates the Gaza Strip from Israel, Palestinian officials said.

The incident occurred last Friday afternoon during clashes near al-Breij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, medical sources told the Palestinian Maan news agency.

Doctors told Maan that Muhammad Abu Zayed, 19, had been shot in the head. Hours later, a second Palestinian, Muhammad Majdi Qaita, 26, died after being shot in the stomach during clashes in the same area.

Medics added that at least 10 other Palestinian youths had been shot and wounded with live fire during the clashes.

An Israeli army spokeswoman told Maan that multiple riots were taking place along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel last Friday.

The spokeswoman said a number of Palestinians had breached the buffer zone and damaged the fence in the central Gaza Strip before Israeli forces called on them to halt and fired warning shots into the air.

Shots were then fired directly at the demonstrators following the threat of infiltration, the spokeswoman said, adding that she was aware of reports of Fridays death but was unable to confirm that any Palestinians were hit.

Separately, an Israeli soldier was wounded in clashes with Palestinian rioters on Friday near Ramallah, Army Radio reported.

French PM: Attacks in France, Israel show we are in world war

PARIS (JTA)Listing terrorist attacks in Israel along with attacks by the Islamic State, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said they showed we are in a world war.

Valls made the statement Monday at a Paris hotel in an address before approximately 350 listeners, mostly from the Jewish community, during an event organized by CRIF, the umbrella group of French Jewish communities.

In explaining the reasons for the existence of a terrorist threat in France, he noted upheaval in the Arab world and the reality in certain neighborhoods in France, where young people are being radicalized.

There are more and more terrorist attacks all over the world. In France, Burkina Faso, in Jakarta, in Israel, it keeps happening and it shows we need to learn to live with it, Valls said. The authorities are doing all they can to stop the attackers, but some threats materialize. Still, we need to live, go to the cinema and to concerts, but also be prepared for the repeat of such attacks.

Asked whether the government was doing enough to protect French Jews from attacks following the slaying of four in January 2015 at a kosher supermarket, Valls said: Yes, we are doing 100 percent, employing all measures, and we will continue to do so, but the risk is not negligible.

Valls condemned former Foreign Minister Roland Dumas, who last year said Valls is under Jewish influence because of his wife.

It is anti-Semitism of the worst kind, Valls said of Dumas, and certain compulsive anti-Semites act on the fact that my wife is Jewish.

In 2011, Valls said his marriage to Anne Gravoin connected him in an eternal way to Israel and the Jewish people.

Valls, a Socialist who became prime minister in 2014 after a two-year stint as interior minister, enjoys considerable popularity among French Jews for his outspokenness against anti-Semitism and his rejection of attempts to boycott or isolate Israel, including through the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. He has been criticized for his stance.

CRIF President Roger Cukierman thanked Valls for appearing at the event.

On a number of occasions, you said very powerful things: That anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, that France without its Jews is no longer France, Cukierman said. This makes you a dear politician.

Swiss Jews dismiss concerns over construction near Jewish cemetery

(JTA)Swiss Jews dismissed concerns raised by Satmar rabbis in New York about construction work performed on a Zurich building that borders a Jewish cemetery.

The approval of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities of construction at the Museum for Modern Art followed protests by the Satmar-affiliated United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn that said the project involved plans to exhume a Medieval Jewish cemetery, leading to its destruction.

David Niederman, the president of the union and a prominent leader of the Satmar brancha large, isolationist stream of haredi Judaism with a strong presence in New York and Londonsaid hundreds would rally Monday at United Nations headquarters in New York to protest the construction.

Jewish communities appealed to halt the ongoing desecration of the cemetery, he wrote in a statement Sunday.

But Jonathan Kreutner, general secretary of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities, told JTA on Monday that the communities his organization represents do not share these concerns at all regarding the medieval cemetery, which is no longer in use.

Kreutner added that the federation saw no reason to protest because the three Orthodox communities of Switzerland agreed with the city to take steps according to the halachah, Orthodox Jewish religious law, if remains of Jewish people will be found at the construction site; which is not even clear at the moment.

He added: For us, everything is in good local Jewish hands and we do not need advice from Jewish groups abroad.

Halachah prohibits disturbing or otherwise manipulating the remains of Jews, except in special circumstances.
The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) will present The Jewish Course of Why, the institute's new six-session winter 2016 course that will begin during the week of Feb. 8, 2016. Partnering with JLI is the Jewish National Fund of Orlando. Mention JNF when registering and 10 percent of your tuition will be donated to the Jewish National Fund helping build a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people while nourishing your soul with some Torah study.

The course will be offered in 4 convenient locations in metro Orlando:

Nate's Shul

Rabbi Yanky Majesky

1701 Markham Woods Rd in Longwood

6 consecutive Mondays starting Feb. 8

7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Chabad of Orlando

Rabbi Shalom Dubov

708 Lake Howell Rd in Maitland

6 consecutive Wednesdays starting Feb. 10

7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Chabad of O'Town

Rabbi Levik Dubov

333 North Rosalind Avenue in Orlando

6 consecutive Mondays starting Feb. 8

7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Chabad of South Orlando

Rabbi Yosef Konikov

7347 W. Sand Lake Rd. in Orlando

6 consecutive Tuesdays starting Feb. 9

7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

"No religion is known for its rational basis and its welcoming of questions and intellectual debate quite like Judaism" explained Rabbi Zalman Abraham of JLI's headquarters in Brooklyn.

The Jewish Course of Why spans a diverse range of topics, from fun, light, and off-the-beaten-track questions, to more complex and controversial issues. Some of the course's 50 questions include: Why are there so many Jews in Hollywood? Why do Jews eat gefilte fish and cholent and wish each other mazal tov and l'chaim? Why does the Bible sanctions slavery and animal sacrifices? What is the cause of antisemitism? What does Judaism say about Christianity and about the role of women in Jewish life? In addition to the above, the course offers insight into mysterious Jewish practices, strange biblical narratives, and enigmas of Jewish identity.

"We're excited to be offering this fun and dynamic learning experience here in Lake Mary," said Rabbi Yanky Majesky, one of the local JLI instructors in the Orlando area. "The Jewish Course of Why gives our participants the opportunity to expand their Jewish knowledge and intellectualize their Judaism by exploring rational insights into the most intriguing questions that Jews have today."

Like all previous JLI programs, The Jewish Course of Why is designed to appeal to people at all levels of Jewish knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. All JLI courses are open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.

For registration and other course-related information, interested students may visit http://www.myJLI.com or call in Lake Mary: 407-636-5994, Maitland: 407-644-2500, Downtown: 321-385-7697 South Orlando: 407-354-3660.

JLI courses are presented in Metro Orlando in conjunction with Chabad of Orlando.
Its that dirty little secret nobody wants to talk about, because it makes everybody uncomfortable. It hovers in the background, its hidden in the closet, and it lingers in the recesses of our minds. But its there, written in black and white in the Oslo Accords, and it cant be erased: the Palestinian Authority (PA) is obligated to surrender to Israel any terrorist whose extradition the Israelis request.

Which is what makes the ongoing standoff in Bulgaria such an inconvenience!

A Palestinian terrorist who escaped from an Israeli prison 25 years ago is now being given shelter in the PAs consulate in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.

The terrorist is Omar Nayef Zayed, who was convicted in 1986 of murdering an Israeli yeshiva student. He started a hunger strike in 1990, which resulted in the Israeli authorities admitting him to a hospital in Bethlehem. He escaped from the hospital, slipped out of the country, and made his way to Bulgaria.

Israel has asked the PA to hand him over, in accordance with Annex IV, Article 2, Par.7(f)(1) of the Oslo II agreement that Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the PA signed in 1995. That clause specifically obliges the PA to comply with every Israeli request for extradition.

During 1995-96, Israel submitted 36 extradition requests. Additional requests were made in subsequent years. Not one of them has ever been honored.

Over the years, State Department officials became experts at coming up with excuses for the PAs non-compliance on extradition. The classic example involved diplomat Dennis Ross. In May 1997, Ross was invited to speak at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York City. An audience member asked him why the U.S. was not demanding that the PA hand over Nafez Sabih, a Palestinian terrorist involved in the murder of JTS student Matthew Eisenfeld. Ross said Sabih had not been extradited to Israel because the Palestinians are required [to extradite terrorists to Israel] only if they havent imprisoned these people, and he would not be extradited to the U.S. because the United States does not have an extradition treaty with the Palestinian Authority.

Both of Rosss claims were false. The Oslo agreement does not say the PA can refuse extradition requests if it imprisons the terrorists in its own jails; the accord obligates the PA to extradite terrorists to Israel, period. And the U.S. does not need an extradition treaty in order to bring a terrorist to America for trial; the U.S. frequently pressures countries with which it has no such treaties to voluntarily surrender the suspects.

But Rosss falsehoods workedthey ended the discussion. And that, of course, was his goal: to keep the issue out of the spotlight, to keep the Jewish community from focusing on the problem and demanding action.

In the midst of the 2002 standoff over terrorists being sheltered inside Yasser Arafats compound in Ramallah, journalists asked PA cabinet minister Nabil Shaath about Israels extradition requests. He replied (according to the Jerusalem Post, Sept. 25, 2002): We will never agree to hand over the wanted men or a list of names of those inside the compound. If this is the subject, we prefer not to talk.

We prefer not to talk. Precisely! PA officials prefer not to talk about it, because they know they are in gross violation of the agreement that they signed.

The Obama administration likewise prefers not to talk about it. The administrations entire policy regarding Israel and the Palestinians is to never talk about Palestinian violations. Because that would make it harder to get a Palestinian state created.

American Jewish leaders, too, seem to prefer not to talk about itpresumably because they dont want to upset the White House and the State Department.

And as long as Jewish organizations dont talk about it, the news media will bury it, too. Getting the news media to take an interest is important, because if just one reporter at the daily State Department briefing would ask a question about the standoff in Bulgaria, the administration would not have a coherent answer. It cant defend sheltering a terroristbut it wont criticize the PA for sheltering a terrorist. Asking a question opens up a can of worms that needs to be opened.

And members of Congress would certainly be willing to talk about the extradition issuebut they need to hear from Jewish leaders that this is an issue of concern to the Jewish community.

Silence is the enemy of justice. As long as friends of Israel remain silent, the murderer Omar Nayef Zayed will continue to escape justice.

Stephen M. Flatow, an attorney in New Jersey, is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995.
In one of the episodes of the TV drama, Homeland, a CIA operative reports to a meeting of senior officers about his experience in Syria.

The discussion proceeds something like this:

There are too many militias to count, and more than a few considered important. The US has no strategy guiding its personnel on the ground.

Where does it come from?

Theyve been at it since the 7th century.

What would it take to fix it?

200,000 US troops on the ground, and billions to create and teach a new kind of education for the younger generation.

That is not going to happen.

So what to do?

Keep doing what weve been doing, which isnt much of anything.

Its fiction, but may be a decent portrayal of what exists at the summit of American government.

The news out of Germany, Sweden, and Finland is a series of sexual and other violent attacks, attributed to recent arrivals from the Middle East.

A cop was attacked in Philadelphia, by a man screaming Allah Akbar, and explaining his action by the absence of Sharia law in the city.

The Israeli Arab who killed two Jews in a bar and a Bedouin taxi driver in Tel Aviv, and since shot dead by police while resisting arrest, has been declared a martyr by several competing Palestinian organizations, each seeking credit for his success in killing Jews and worrying Israelis over the course of a week.

Political and military personnel from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are acting against what they describe as the wrong kind of Muslims. Saudi Arabia and Iran are fighting one another, as well as supporting factions in Syria fighting one another. Pakistan is threatening to nuke Iran if it causes too many problems for Saudi Arabia.

Individual Christians and Jews may be as violent as Muslims, but they lack the support of a religious infrastructure. Their establishments left behind the notion of religious war, and doctrines that justify hate and killing of unbelievers or heretics. Jewish and Christian crazies are out there to be hunted down and incarcerated by authorities who are mostly Christians or Jews, depending on the place.

There are Muslims who want to bring their community into line with others. They emphasize humane elements in Islamic doctrines, while their antagonists shout loyalty to doctrines justifying slavery or death for unbelievers.

In the case of the Tel Aviv killer, family members and other individuals in his village revealed his hiding place. Earlier the mans father identified him for the police from the picture broadcast soon after the killings.

The police have taken into custody individuals from the killers family and village who may have helped him evade capture.

This suggest some combination of Arab loyalty to the Israeli State, along with fear of retribution from the Israeli State, competing with sentiments opposed to the same state.

Will the Europeans, Americans, and others ratchet up their concern for the violence that may come along with Muslim migrants, most of whom may only be looking for the same kind of opportunities that brought Grandpa from Europe to America more than a century ago?

Its a long way conceptually from many individual Muslims who want to live like others, against many who want to impose their own views about Islamic law on others, to the larger question about what may bring Islam to moderation, as has occurred to Judaism and Christianity.

The road may have been quickest for Jews, always been a small community. The Romans defanged those inclined to violence by quashing two efforts at rebellion over the course of 70 years at the beginning of the modern era.

The much larger communities of Christians had a longer road, from the killing of unbelievers, religious wars between sects, and then the cooperation of Church personnel with the Holocaust while others opposed it and gave refuge to those persecuted. It was only several decades after World War II that the heads of the Roman Catholic Church acted officially to undo the calumnies against Jews going back to passages in the New Testament.

It may have required the carnage of World War II to produce the unity of Europe and the turning of Christians from hatred to accommodation.

Would a similar massive military defeat be necessary to bring a majority of Muslim religious and political leaders to undue centuries of hatred among themselves and toward others?

Or is there be an easier way to neutralize the hateful elements in Islam?

There was a spurt of hope called Arab Spring, after Barack Obamas Cairo speech urging Muslims to accept the norms of western civilization, but now it has morphed into Arab Winter,

Angela Merkels humane welcome to Muslim refugees appears to be falling as flat as Barack Obamas refusal to identify Islam as responsible for various incidents in his country.

Well see if the most recent episodes in Europe and American lead to anything greater than profuse expressions of sorrow and good intentions by some Muslim religious leaders, and evasive comments by politicians.

History suggests, in the examples of Jews and Christians, that reform toward moderation requires the shedding of considerable blood, as well as centuries of persuasion. Even those changes are not complete, as shown by recent news about extremist Jews, and Christians who revere the burning crosses of the Ku Klux Klan. The doctrines of all three faiths require a selective reading by those who aspire to peace.

Comments welcome. Ira Sharkansky, (Emeritus) Department of Political Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, irashark@gmail.com.
Last week, the media carried what on the surface appeared to be an insignificant story on the Israeli Foreign Ministrys announcement of plans to shut down its Philadelphia consulate, along with four other closings involving embassy and consulate services in the Caribbean and Europe.

But upon a second reading of this news, it appears to be a much larger story! We are reminded that Philadelphia represents the sixth-largest Jewish community in the United States, with an estimated population of 214,000 (Berman Jewish DataBank). Beyond its historic importance to America and to the Jewish community, Philadelphia is the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the country, with more than 7.5 million people.

In the same announcement, the government of Israel indicated that it was opening a new consulate in Chengdu, China. One needs only to note a few key facts about this major metropolitan area, as it represents the fifth-largest city in China and has become the economic engine for Western China. Some 260 of the Fortune 500 lists corporations have offices in that city. Beyond these core numbers, Chengdu is a major rail center and its airport ranks among the busiest in the world.

But this story has more significant implications. Israel, it would appear, is in the process of reshaping its political relationships, and in turn its economic focus. China is Israels third-largest trading partner (after the U.S. and Europe) and its largest business partner in Asia. Israeli-Chinese trade increased from $50 million in 1992 to more than $10 billion in 2013 (Jewish Virtual Library). Possibly more important than these numbers has been the rapid and continuous growth in Sino-Israeli relations that today involves a wide array of products in the agricultural, pharmaceutical, and technological areas.

America and its Jewish community were once seen as Israels political connection and economic access point. In todays global economy, with its changing political equations involving Israels complex and shifting relationships both with Washington and other international partners, are we witnessing a reconfiguration of how the current government in Jerusalem perceives its long-term interests and economic connections?

The consulate closing in Philadelphia and opening in Chengdu might actually be understood as part of a transition involving a shift in geo-politics from West to East, with Chinaamong other Asian statesassuming a higher profile in Israels agenda for this century. No doubt, Israel is preparing the way for growing its worldwide business and governmental relationships.

For some time, Diaspora Jewry has played a far less central role in managing Israels political and economic connections in the U.S. Where once American Jewish philanthropy was the centerpiece of Israels foreign income and investment, today a fundamentally different economic model is in place, and it is generating a broad spectrum of international trade and investment with the Jewish state. As American Jewish philanthropy becomes more internally focused, and where one finds significant changes in patterns and priorities of giving, the Israeli government may be merely responding to the economic and social realities that are playing out inside the Jewish community.

But does this decision to shift Foreign Ministry operations reflect something more? Has the Israel-Diaspora connection with American Jewry run its course? Israels political leadership may well have made a conscious decision that it must grow its political and economic relationships elsewhere. As American society itself undergoes significant demographic change, Israels focus will be increasingly responsive to these developments by building new partnerships and growing its base of connections with Hispanics, Asians, and others.

More directly, Jerusalem no longer anticipates that it can generate support from the American Jewish progressive community, realizing how that sector holds deep and significant differences over policy and practice with the present government. While Israelis maintain a solid base of support from American Jews from the center-right constituencies, the Israeli government is pursuing a new set of political relationships and financial connections within the U.S. and beyond. A new constellation of Israel allies and economic partners is being created in America.

At this moment in time, Israel appears to be in the process of realigning its long-term interests and priorities in preparing for a new American president, by acknowledging a changing and divided American Jewish community and by being an active global actor.

Dr. Steven Windmueller is the Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk Emeritus Professor of Jewish Communal Studies at the Jack H. Skirball Campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles. His collection of writings can be found on his website, http://www.thewindreport.
Dear Editor:

Ms. Wendy Wisners touching concern for the so-called Muslim refugees (Heritage, Jan. 8, 2016, Page 12) with analogies to the Jewish Holocaust victims is naive and inappropriate. Before the U.S. entered World War II, Jewish victims of Nazism were not welcomed there as refugees but permitted to come to the U.S. only under the quota immigration lawswith affidavits from relatives guaranteeing that they would not require welfare support when they arrived. Many, like my family, waited five years or longer before receiving a visa to come to the U.S.

We Jews threatened no one and were more than happy to blend in with Western democratic cultures.

Our current president on the other hand, has imported thousands of Muslims from Africa and the Middle East and secretly dispersed them among the States without even advising the governors of those states. Hussein Obama (sic) now wants to bring thousands more from Syria.

When interviewed, these refugees, and indeed significant number of Muslims already here (at least 13 percent), have expressed no intention of accepting American laws or democracy. Their displeasure with Assad (dictator of Syria) is mostly tribal, and their differences with ISIS are similar. We have already witnessed multiple mass murders inspired by Muslim fanaticism, and many more were prevented only because the would-be perpetrators were apprehended before carrying out their murderous plans.

The Kurds and other decent Muslims are fighting hard for justice in their geographical areas and are not to be found among the so-called refugees. There are 57 Muslim countries where these refugees should be welcomed, but only Jordan has accepted them (also Turkey with some reluctance). Many have been welcomed with open arms in Europe where they promptly promoted anti-Semitism and more recently raped women and murdered Frenchmen.

Thus, the postponement (predictably indefinitely) of admitting many thousands of so-called Muslim refugees into the U.S. in not bigotry. It is common sense.

David G. Danziger

Winter Park
What would have happened if Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin hadnt been murdered? Would history have been altered?

Not according to former IDF Intelligence head and Labor Party frontbencher, Amos Yadlin, speaking last week. He would have lost the elections in any event to Binyamin Netanyahu in 96. The public atmosphere in the country was that the Oslo process failed, the terror attacks of [Islamic] Jihad and Hamas were unacceptable and Rabin himself would have reconsidered Oslo. I have no doubt that he lost his trust, if he even had it, in Yasser Arafat.

Yet, whether or not Yadlin is correctand he might well beRabins murder actually did alter history. It created a mythology on which subsequent Israeli leaders have acted, or felt obliged, to act.

One need only read the pronouncements of some avowedly left-wing American Jewish groups last November on the twentieth anniversary of Rabins murder to see that mythology in full flight.

For example, J Street: We stand for the legacy of Yitzhak Rabinresponsible leadership, bold vision, pursuit of peace. The current Israeli government has ignored that legacy.

Indeed, J Street, American Friends of Peace Now, the New Israel Fund, Ameinu, Truah and Partners for Progressive Israel and Living Rabins Legacy produced a Statement of Principles, calling upon American Jews and Israelis to recommit to carrying out Rabins legacy.

This legacy was not defined by the Statements framers, but there is little mystery surrounding their meaning: the cause of creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

This might be regarded now as undebatable, given that the defunct Oslo peace process commenced under Rabins stewardship, but this is not so.

Why?

For an answer, go no further than Rabins last speech to the Knesset, delivered on October 5, 1995, just one month before his murder, in which he outlined in considerable detail his peace vision:

No fully sovereign Palestinian state: We would like this to be an entity which is less than a state, and which will independently run the lives of the Palestinians under its authority.

No total withdrawal from Judea and Samaria and thus a return to the pre-June 1967 borders: The borders of the State of Israel, during the permanent solution, will be beyond the lines which existed before the Six Day War. We will not return to the 4 June 1967 lines.

No withdrawal from the Jordan Valley: The security border of the State of Israel will be located in the Jordan Valley, in the broadest meaning of that term.

Establishing, not uprooting, settlement blocs, like the Gush Katif bloc in Gaza (subsequently uprooted by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon): The establishment of blocs of settlements in Judea and Samaria, like the one in Gush Katif.

No removing any settlements before concluding a full peace agreement with the Palestinians: ...we came to an agreement, and committed ourselves before the Knesset, not to uproot a single settlement in the framework of the interim agreement, and not to hinder building for natural growth.

Israeli retention of full security control of the borders with Egypt and Jordan: The responsibility for external security along the borders with Egypt and Jordan, as well as control over the airspace above all of the territories and Gaza Strip maritime zone, remains in our hands.

Yet, since that date, Rabins successors have agreed to Palestinian statehood, albeit with limitations on its sovereignty; uprooted Jewish communities in Gaza and the West Bank without first securing a peace settlement; proposed near-total Israeli withdrawal to the pre-June 4, 1947 lines; relinquished control over the Gaza/Egypt border, and more besideswithout having succeeded in securing peace.

In short, Rabins successors have been considerably less cautious and more concessionary than he.

Would Rabin have gone further, had he lived, as his successors have done? Not according to Yadlin. Nor according to his daughter Dalia, who said in 2010 that, Many people who were close to father told me that on the eve of the murder he considered stopping the Oslo process because of the terror.

If that is the case, then perhaps the real legacy of his murder is this: his successors, whatever their actual instincts and regardless of conditions on the Palestinian side, felt impelled to go many extra miles to achieve Palestinian statehood.

But Rabins dream was of peace, not Palestinian statehood. In short, his death consecrated a commitment to Palestinian statehood he never made; indeed, which he specifically repudiated.

Accordingly, there is no warrant to pretend, as do the coterie of organizations listed above, that the Israeli government is ignoring Rabins legacy or that his legacy involves supporting the creation of a Palestinian state. Still less so, 15 years after Oslo foundered in bloodshed and terror launched by his putative peace partner.

Morton A. Klein is National President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA). Dr. Daniel Mandel is Director of the ZOA s Center for Middle East Policy and author of H.V. Evatt & the Creation of Israel (Routledge, London, 2004).
So numerous were the omissions, distortions, and flights of extraordinary fancy in President Barack Obamas Jan. 12 State of the Union address that youd be hard-pressed to pick the most egregious passage. For what its worth, then, I offer my personal selection.

On issues of global concern, we will mobilize the world to work with us, and make sure other countries pull their own weight, Obama said. Thats our approach to conflicts like Syria, where were partnering with local forces and leading international efforts to help that broken society pursue a lasting peace.

I was dumbfounded by the notion that Syria is even in a position to pursue a lasting peace. With the civil war entering its fifth year, Syria no longer exists as a unified country. That half of the countrys population of 11 million has either been killed or forced to flee is a gruesome testament to that fact, as well as the unmitigated failure of our policy.

The Iranian and Russian-backed regime of Bashar al-Assad didnt merit a mention in Obamas remarks, perhaps because doing so would have reminded the presidents audience that Tehran and Moscow are calling the shots in Syria. Assads continued survival is largely down to Obamas refusal to solidify his vague commitment to a future for Syria without the dictator in place. And while Obama would have us believe that there is no long-term future for Assad, the Russians and the Iranians have put boots on the ground for the express purpose of ensuring that he does have one.

Which brings me to the siege of Madaya, a town to the north of Damascus that was once a winter resort. For over a year, Madaya has been an open-air concentration camp. In early January, photos emerged of some of its 40,000 starving and emaciated residents, who have subsisted on such delicacies as stray dogs and boiled leaves for several months now. There was something of an outcry over these images, enough to persuade the Syrian regime to allow a U.N. aid convoy entry into the town. But the underlying strategy hereusing the denial of food and medical assistance as a weapon of warhas not changed.

Responsibility for this crime against humanity lies squarely with Assads forces and their allies from Hezbollah, the Lebanese Islamist terror group that is also heavily supported by Iranand not with Islamic State. And if the mockery of Madayas plight by Assads supporters on social media is anything to go by, it is a crime this brutal and vicious regime is extremely proud of.

On Facebook and Twitter, Assad loyalists have posted photographs of sumptuous banquetshuge plates of of kebabs, grilled fish, salads, desserts, and the likein solidarity with the siege of Madaya. As Beirut Syndrome, a blog, pointed out, some of these people have fallen for the regimes propaganda that the siege is a myth. Others, however, are positively rejoicing at the suffering of Madayas inhabitants, and are using the images of food for their amusement.

Take, for example, Jihad Zahri, a cameraman with Lebanons Al Jadeed TV, who posed for a selfie in front of his well-stocked refrigerator. Or take Charbel Khalil, a Lebanese television producer, who posted an image of starving Somalis on Facebook with the caption, The Mayor of besieged Madaya and some members of the town council. (Because, of course, if someone is starving, then they must be from Africaget it?) These two specimens were among dozens of similar posts.

The point here is not so much the moral sewer these online shenanigans represent. One reasonably expects citizens of a civilized society like ours to recognize cruelty when they see it. Rather, it is the fact that Western policy has enabled this kind of behavior. Our collapse in the face of these war crimes simply encourages the dehumanizing rhetoric that Madayas people have been subjected to. That it has now reached the level of gloating is not an aberration, but a natural outgrowth of the Syria policy that this White House has pursuedindeed, Madaya would very likely have been spared the siege had Obama made good on his 2013 threat to bomb Assads forces following their deployment of chemical weapons against their own population.

For that reason, any talk from Obama about healing Syrias broken society is simply nauseating. The presidents sole imperative is to keep the nuclear deal with Iran alive, and he will not even look at a policy that might undermine this critical component of his legacy.

That is why Assad, Hezbollah, and their Iranian backers will carry on getting away with these monstrous atrocities in Syria. It is why Islamic State has been able to exploit Sunni Arab resentment against the ruling Alawite minority to deadly effect.

It is also why the Iranian regime can seize U.S. naval personnel, parade them before news cameras in violation of the Geneva Convention, and then secure the gratitude of our own secretary of state, John Kerry, for finally releasing them. And it is why, when Obama makes the fatuous claim that the people of the world do not look to Beijing or Moscow to leadthey call us, Americas adversaries laugh as heartily and cynically as those who gain pleasure from the suffering of Madaya.

There is an alternative, as there always has been: working for the elimination of the Assad regime and Islamic State. Make that point to White House officials, and you will encounter a patronizing grin followed by an explanation as to why we cant be the worlds policeman, why we cant afford to antagonize Russia and Iran, and why the threat to our own security from the Middle East has been grotesquely exaggerated by folks who dont realize that the real challenge is climate change.

Excuse follows excuse in order to camouflage Americas international humiliation. But make no mistake: we have been humiliated, and Obamas successor will have to forge a foreign policy from this point of departure.

Ben Cohen, senior editor of TheTower.org & The Tower Magazine, writes a weekly column for JNS.org on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics. His writings have been published in Commentary, the New York Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. He is the author of Some of My Best Friends: A Journey Through Twenty-First Century Antisemitism (Edition Critic, 2014).
Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the San Bernardino shooters, are poster children for self-radicalised Muslims that are on the rise: Muslims no longer need mosques, imams or Islamic centres to radicalise them, as this transformation increasingly happens in the privacy of their homes, using smart-phones, tablets, and computers; and social media links the radicalised with terror organisations and criminals.

Imams in the West may not be preaching violence to the faithful or urging them to engage in terrorism, but they are teaching orthodox Islam and Islamic etiquette of living a Muslim life in the West. Al-Huda, where Tashfeen studied, is one of hundreds of such organisations, whose message can easily escape scrutiny  yet Al-Huda is a nursery for promoting the Otherness. Young Muslims are told that they may be living in the West but that they are different; their identity is the only Muslim identity, and nothing else matters.

Farhat Hashmi, the Al-Huda founder, received training from the Islamist Maududis Jamaat-e-Islami party in Pakistan. She opened Al-Huda in Pakistan in 1994 with her husband, Idrees Zubair. She migrated to Canada with the help of Mubeen Qureshi, a retired judge in Mississauga, and the Islamic Circle of North America (ISNA) and opened a branch there in 2004. Her Salafi teachings are aligned with Wahhabism, a puritanical form of Islam. Al-Huda has become a multi national and multi-million dollar establishment. Recently, four female Canadian teenagers were stopped from joining the Islamic State (IS): All of them had attended Al-Huda institute in Mississauga.

Al-Huda has officially distanced itself from Tashfeen Malik, claiming that it denounces extremism. Al-Huda and similar outfits teach self-segregation and alienation from the West, and consider Western values un-Islamic, inferior and contradictory to Islam. The acquired feelings of alienation from the wider Western society, reinforced by the responsibility of a Muslim living in the West to practice a certain form of Islam only needs a trigger to cross the line and turn these feelings into hatred leading to violence. No one needs to be trained by these organisations to be a terrorist; all it needs is the sense of Otherness: Righteous, better, superior, oppressed, and a good Muslim serving God through self-segregation from people of other faiths. The fragility of the faith is preached with such precision that each small act of daily living has to subscribe to the prescribed method.

Although Al-Huda is neither recruiting for nor supporting the IS, its curriculum is fully aligned with the IS propaganda. Both propagate the subordination of women; define their role and appearance in the public space, demanding niqab. Their messages highlight the role of women as wives, as mothers, and as procreators who should accept polygamy as divine law. Both claim to have liberated women: One through self-proclaimed feminist interpretation of Quran, hence empowering women in that space which in their view is male dominated, especially in the Asian communities; the other through liberating women from the materialist West by pushing them in the private space to procreate and continue to supply the next stream of jihadi martyrs.

Both have global agendas: One preaching Muslims how to be good Muslims while living in the West, and the other by reminding women of their duties towards god, achieved through complete social segregation in Western societies. Both see the economic necessity of Muslim men to live in the West  but see no contradiction in benefitting from the idolatrous capitalist economies as long as it serves their purpose. Western societies are labelled as immoral, and democracies are viewed as evil  however, migrating to the immoral West or living there is perfectly acceptable, provided you order your life according to Islamic teachings. Using Western technology, electronic gadgets, and weapons are acceptable; but integrating in the Western societies is not acceptable. In sum, Al-Huda and other such organisations help resolve the contradictions between orthodox Islamic teachings and liberal Western values by promoting self-segregation. Al-Huda and the IS both use the Internet to disseminate their teachings, and they tweet their message to wider audiences as service to the faith.

While traditional clergy rejects Hashmis message and many Muslims shun her, Al-Huda has had stunning success among elite Muslim women  at home and abroad  by providing them a space to engage with the religious texts in a way they never experienced before through new interpretations, empowering and assuring them that they have an important role to play  not only procreating but also preparing good Muslims and that they will be rewarded in the afterlife. The focus remains on afterlife, not on this life, which is considered transitional.

When the IS calls upon Muslim men and women to commit jihad in the West, one should not be surprised if average Muslims respond to these calls. Outfits like Al-Huda as nurseries for self-seclusion have done the groundwork already.

Ravi Kalia is professor of South Asian History at the City College of New York; Tahmina Rashid is associate professor in International Studies at the University of Canberra

The views expressed are personal
As India completes 66 years of being a democratic republic we ask young actors what theyd like to see improved in the country.

Sushant Singh Rajput: The love for the country is a beautiful thing but why does it have to stop at borders! Theres a stark difference between what we know and what we think we know, but I hope and pray for the best.

Yami Gautam: Indias part of my identity. We fought for our freedom, we understand what we have today. I hope we become one of the top leading nations and progress on all fronts.

Arjun Kapoor: The first thing I aspire for is that our education system reaches down to each and everyone in the society. We can make it free of cost till a certain level.

Shraddha Kapoor prays for all on R Day. (HT)

Shraddha Kapoor: I hope India flourishes and we all grow together. I see the country progressing in education, technology, business and in every other aspect.

Shilpa Shetty Kundra: Whenever I think of the Republic Day and the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters, singing the National anthem is the first thing that comes to my mind.

Dino Morea: Well, (R-Day reminds me of) holiday for one, because in school we used to look forward to this day. Then we studied about the constitution coming into effect on this day and how important it was.

Vidya Balan: I remember the flag hoisting in school, and it used to be exciting to watch the Republic Day parade on TV ... such colour, splendour and unity!

Rishina Kandhari: We have grown up considering August 15 and January 26 as the most patriotic days for Indians. I am reminded of the tricolour and the progress we have made as a nation.

(L-R) Rishina, Rashami, Raveena and Vidya Balan. (HT)

Rashami Desai: Freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Chandrashekhar Azaad come to my mind when I think of Jan 26. They fought bravely for our freedom, and it is because of them that we are living a free life.

Manish Paul: My childhood memories are attached to this day. Since I am from Delhi, I get reminded of the parade at Red Fort, and how we would all sit together and watch the parade. My favourite are the motorcycle stunts Manish Paul.

Raveena Tandon: It is the Day when the Indian constitution came into effect. On the Republic Day, the first thing that comes to my mind is that we must respect the soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the country.

Follow @htshowbiz for more.
A session on sexual violence entitled A Body of Evidence: Sexual Violence and the Search for Justice in South Asia at the Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur on Sunday managed to be visceral and illuminating at the same time. Talking about Kashmir, author Essar Batool said, We live in a place where every other day is an anniversary of a massacre or a rape. Batool talked about the struggle to get justice for victims of atrocities like Kunan Poshpora. Every act of justice was met with resistance from the Indian state, she said at a session that was very well attended.

Bangladeshi academic Meghna Guhathakurta spoke of her own experience in the aftermath of the Bangladesh war of Liberation. Women were shamed into silence on their horrible experiences during the conflict, she said.

Approaching different histories of war and violence, the panelists delved into the gaze of the state, which plays a large role in the suppression of the voices of victims. Talking of the Sri Lankan war, writer Sumathy Sivamohan commented that our war of 30 years has left a community of victims but no perpetrators. She spoke about how rapes committed then continue to be shrouded in mystery because it is next to impossible to recognise the perpetrators. This, she said, leads to a rethinking of the idea of justice and also a rethinking of the idea of yourself.

Guhathakurta quoted a woman who had faced sexual slavery during the war: No one can take away my survival, my struggle, my identity. The session was full of grisly stories, among them one about women who were compelled to remove their clothes before they moved from one safe territory to another. Forgetting our shame, we walked to our survival, the women said.

Batool brought up a very important point when she stated that men too are often victims of sexual violence but it often goes unreported or unnoticed. She stressed that Kashmir was filled with the cries of women and men. Oppression doesnt have any gender, she added.
The government and banks are planning to take a tough stance on loan defaulters who can pay, but will not.

The government is planning changes in laws that will let banks take strong punitive action, including pressing of criminal charges, on such defaulters.

This issue must be looked into. Where is the guarantee this wont happen again, so most banks have raised this issue that the wilful default needed to be treated as criminal offence, the head of a large public sector bank told HT.

The banking sector has been beset with non-performing assets (NPAs)  loans that have turned bad  which have risen due to slow growth and delays in project implementation. For 39 listed banks, gross non-performing assets rose by 26.87% to Rs 3.4 lakh crore for the quarter-ended September 2015, year-on-year.

The Narendra Modi government is also expected to come out with a mechanism that would ensure timebound closure of legal cases pertaining to NPAs.

At present, such cases can drag in various courts for several years, delaying the recovery process for the banks.

In recent days, mounting bad loans and high default rates by large companies have drawn criticism from experts and regulators.

If you owe a lot of money and still celebrate birthday bashes, it gives a wrong message to the people.. If you are in trouble cut down your expenses, show to the people that you are doing something, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan told NDTV in an interview at Davos last week, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

Rajan had also recently asked central bank employees to show no leniency towards rich wrong-doers.

No one wants to go after the rich and well-connected wrong-doer, which means they get away with even more. If we are to have strong sustainable growth, this culture of impunity should stop, Rajan, known for not mincing words, had written in a message to the central banks employees recently.

Economist and MIT Professor Abhijit Banerjee has also said it was essential to bring down the high levels of bad loans in Indian banks.

One area where we absolutely need to do something is the banking sector, Banerjee said, cautioning against rising default rates among big corporations and a tendency to form the habit to default.

It is like giving large gifts to large people, Banerjee had told HT journalists recently.

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Two former employees of Walt Disney World sued the company and two outsourcing companies  HCL Technologies and Cognizant  on Monday, accusing them of conspiring to replace American workers with less costly foreigners.

The employees, Leo Perrero and Dena Moore, were among the 250 fired by Disney in 2015, and replaced by foreign workers on H-1B visas, mostly from India, provided by HCL and Cognizant.

They have said in their federal lawsuits, for which they have sought class-action status (which all those affected can join), that they were fired after being forced to train their replacements, and were denied alternate employment at Disney.

The lawsuits asserted that the companies violated US laws that mandated them to ensure that when hiring foreign workers, the working conditions of similarly situated employees would not be adversely affected.

Every time they file these, they are lying and falsifying documents, Sara Blackwell, the attorney representing the employees, told Orlando Sentinel.

The lawsuits aim to kick them (outsourcing companies) at their business model, to stop them from systemically abusing the immigration system, Blackwell added.

Disney said in a statement: These lawsuits are based on an unsustainable legal theory and are a wholesale misrepresentation of the facts.

HCL and Cognizant both said in separate statements that they comply with all US laws.

This is not the first time an Indian outsourcing firm has been sued in the US. Infosys paid $34 million in 2013 to settle a case brought against it by an employee accusing it of using business travel visas to bring in short-term workers.

The US grants 85,000 H-1B visas every year to highly skilled foreign workers hired temporarily  for a maximum period of six years  by American employers to make good a shortage of locally available hands.

But critics allege that employers have used H-1Bs to replace American workers with less costly workers from abroad.

Supporters of the H-1B visa programme, however, who include several lawmakers, have argued instead for raising the annual cap. A comprehensive immigration reform bill passed by the Senate in 2013 raised the cap in phases to 180,000 a year.

But the larger bill fell, and with it the H-1B provision.

Opposition to H-1B has been mounting in the meantime.

The US department of labour is investigating the dismissal of American employees at Disney and Southern California Edison, which laid off 540 workers in 2014.

At least 30 former Disney employees have lodged a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming that they have been discriminated against.
Air Indias privatisation is back on the drawing board with a panel of senior bureaucrats recommending to Prime Minister Narendra Modi a government exit from the state-run carrier.

The panel, one of eight constituted by Modi on December 31 to come up with ideas for transformative changes on good governance, stated this in a presentation to the PM on January 20. The group of 12 secretaries, including foreign secretary S Jaishankar, home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das and law secretary PK Malhotra, recommended that the government start planning to get out of sectors such as airlines, hotels and travel agencies to bring Modis minimum government, maximum governance mantra to fruition.

Loss-making behemoths Air India and India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) have been on the disinvestment radar for nearly two decades. But, it has been hard to build political consensus over divestment of government stake in these companies.

A committee headed by former Reserve Bank of India deputy governor Rakesh Mohan recommended to the previous UPA government in 2014 that it should draw up a blueprint to reduce the governments stake in Air India to 26% over a five-year period. But what is different this time is that the recommendation has come from bureaucrats perceived to be powerful in the current dispensation and known to drive its policy agenda.

Officials present at the meeting when the panel made its presentation said the PM did not react to the recommendation on divestment.

The officials told the PM that the government should not be in these sectors. Its also in line with the PMs mantra that the government has no business to do business, a senior official said.

The group on good governance also recommended mobile phone-based identity authentication for all Indians by December 2018 and mobile apps for providing 50 major government services by June 2017. Pushing for faceless, paperless and cashless government services, the group recommended publicising all vacancies on a common portal, and making applications as well as providing appointment letters online. Another suggestion by the group was to provide a 24x7 womens helpdesk in each police station.

All the groups have made a big push for digital governance. Also to bring in accountability, each of the groups has given specific time frames for implementing most of the suggestions, a senior bureaucrat told HT.

For instance, the group on employment generation strategies has suggested linking all employment exchanges with an electronic platform by March 2017. Similarly, the group on health has recommended setting up an interoperable electronic health record of every citizen through the National e-Health Authority.

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Looking to exit the stalled 4,000 MW Krishnapatnam power project, Reliance Power has written to Andhra Pradesh government suggesting that it could be could be done on similar lines to that of Tilaiya UMPP, which was acquired by procurers from the company.

The Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Power has said the Krishnapatnam UMPP, which was awarded to it in 2007, could not be taken forward due to escalated coal cost from Indonesia, among other factors. The Krishnapatnam Ultra Mega Power Project (KUMMP) is located in Andhra Pradesh while Tilaiya plant was in Jharkhand. Reliance Power has informed the Andhra Pradesh government the procurers of Tilaiya UMPP -- which was stalled for over five years -- have accepted the termination of power purchase agreement and decided to purchase the entire shareholding in the project Special Purpose Vehicle from the company by way of mutual discussion with the developers.

We are fully confident that the issues pertaining to KUMPP can also be resolved in the same spirit by following similar principle by parties, CEO of Reliance Power N Venugopala Rao said in a letter to the Andhra Pradesh government last month.

An email query to a spokesperson of Reliance Power did not elicit any response.

We are fully confident that the issues pertaining to KUMPP can also be resolved in the same spirit by following similar principle by parties, CEO of Reliance Power N Venugopala Rao wrote to the state government last month. We, therefore, request you to kindly consider similar resolution for KUMPP by purchasing the ownership of the project SPV with its assets including land from the present owners on mutually acceptable terms and return the Performance Bank Guarantees furnished by us, Rao said in the letter.

Andhra Pradesh energy secretary Ajay Jain told PTI that they are in talks with other state governments and would shortly call for a meeting to discuss the issue.

A similar formula (applied by the Jharkhand government in respect to 3,960 megawatt Tilaiya ultra mega power project) has to be applied because five states are involved now. Shortly, we will call a meeting of all the procurers as this company is not going to take up the project, Jain told PTI.

The land is still with them. That is the whole idea where we can take over the project and implement it. (If everything goes well) we will call tenders, he said.

According to him, if the central government allots domestic coal, then the project can become viable. Coastal Andhra Power Limited (CAPL), a Reliance Power Limited subsidiary, was awarded the Krishnapatnam UMPP in 2007 and the power produced by the project was to be shared by four states -- Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Later, Telangana was added as it was carved out of AP in June 2014.
Indias banks have taken the governments maxim of Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Vikas as their own: They have used technology and ingenuity to bring millions of people into the banking fold, a key step towards achieving of a range of development objectives such as the efficient transfer of benefits and the propagation of small businesses.

The next step is crucial: Boosting financial literacy among a fast-growing population of new clients, partly by setting up financial literacy centres and extending the highly successful Business Correspondents (BC) model.

Since opening brick and mortar branches is not viable in small villages, the Reserve Bank of India provided a major breakthrough in 2006 by allowing banks to set up the BC model. This low-cost model of delivering banking products has matured over the years and has gained the confidence of customers. Over 230 million bank accounts have been opened by the BCs of all banks and transactions volume in the current year is expected to cross Rs 1,20,000 crore.

The launch of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in August 2014 provided a big boost to the banks financial inclusion drive. Over 190 million PMJDY accounts have been opened so far, and in that, SBI is the major player with a 24% share. Under the PMJDY, the mandate is not restricted to opening accounts, the aim is to provide easier accessibility through issuing RuPay Cards, which, incidentally, carry an inbuilt accident insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh. Providing small-value overdrafts based on satisfactory conduct of account, availability of low-cost life insurance (Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana) and accident insurance (Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana) and pension scheme (Atal Pension Yojana) are also part of the PMJDY initiative.

A particularly encouraging development is the reduction in zero balance accounts to just under a third; usage of accounts is also increasing. For a mission of this size, all the stakeholders need to work together  banks, insurers, state governments, National Payments Corporation of India, State-Level Bankers Committees, Lead Banks and the Unique Identification Authority of India, apart from the RBI and the government. One of the big achievements of the PMJDY is that it has connected strongly with the masses and has convinced people of the need of maintaining a bank account. The demand side has been addressed to a large extent and all steps are underway to improve supply side by scaling up banking outlets and BCs in uncovered locations. The ultimate aim is to provide banking services as close as possible to the customers. For this purpose the banking network of branches and BCs is being expanded to cover all sub-service areas; the recent move of the government to provide a Financial Inclusion Fund to support the banks to instal very small aperture terminals for providing Internet connectivity in uncovered areas is a welcome step. The banks are also installing micro-ATMs at BC outlets to facilitate interoperable transactions by using debit cards.

Direct benefit transfers (DBTs) for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have been implemented successfully. DBT for 26 schemes is already functional and the government intends to expand DBT coverage to include fertilizer and food subsidy in the next phase, which will enable a higher flow of funds in the accounts and encourage account holders to save. We also expect that the government will release adequate remuneration to the banks for handling the DBT work. This will add strength to the BC model and make it more sustainable for banks and BCs.

We also need to keep up the effort to provide financial literacy to newly acquired customers. All products are enabled through technology and providing adequate information to a large pool of customers is a big challenge. Banks alone may not be able to handle this, other stakeholders need to pitch in as well. Here, Financial Literacy Centres can play an important role to carry forward this message. Further, BCs too need to be trained and encouraged to communicate well and take care of the banking needs of the population they serve. Their services should be used not only for account opening, but also for recovery and follow-up of loans by providing requisite training and enablement. This will improve their acceptability and also enable them to earn higher remuneration. Around 20% of PMJDY accounts opened by SBI pertain to minors on account of opening of scholarship accounts of students. Our bank has attempted to reach out to the youngsters by holding nearly 5,000 quiz contests for them.

With focus on Mudra loans, many small entrepreneurs, micro enterprises, artisans and other PMJDY customers have started availing of credit facility from banks. Since all such data is captured by credit bureaus, it becomes all the more necessary to communicate and apprise such customers about the utility and benefits of timely repayment of loans so that their track record is not adversely impacted due to their ignorance.

Going forward, I see more competition emerging in this segment with the entry of payment and small banks. Ultimately, it will be the efficiency of entities which determines sustainability of any business model. The recent RBI report on Mid-term Path on Financial Inclusion truly captures the market scenario, emerging opportunities and challenges. All banking players need to build on their existing strengths and capabilities to deliver optimally to the customers, who are at the centre of what we do.

Arundhati Bhattacharya is chairperson, State Bank of India

The views expressed are personal
The Delhi high court has directed the Centre and the DGCA to submit an action taken report on the recommendations made by the expert committee after the air ambulance crash in Faridabad in May 2011 that killed 10 people, including all seven on board.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher said there was a palpable public interest in knowing as to the action taken by DGCA and Centre pursuant to the expert committee recommendation as air crashes generally results in the death of not only of persons on board, but also of persons on ground besides damage to immovable property, such as houses.

On May 25, 2011, an air ambulance with a crew of two pilots, a medical team comprising two doctors and a male nurse returning from Patna with a patient and one attendant, crashed in Faridabad while approaching towards Delhi.

The crash led to the death of all seven occupants on board the aircraft and three persons on the ground and damage to property, including three houses.

An expert committee set up to probe the incident gave few recommendations on air safety, including sharing of weather information received by Indian Metrological Department in real time to be duplicated at the working consoles of the Air Traffic Controllers.

It also recommended that all air crew are made to undergo training to include low speed handling and unusual altitudes and recovery from such flight conditions for aircraft types flown.

It had also recommended forming of a Civil Aviation Authority which could independently examine boards for air crew, ground crew and cabin crew and an independent Accident Investigation Bureau in accordance with international standards.

Justice Shakdher directed the Centre and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR), within four weeks, with regard to the safety recommendations made by the Committee.

The HC order came while hearing the pleas of the families of the captain and co-pilot of the ill-fated aircraft seeking relief, including compensation and damages for loss of life. The HC ordered the insurance company to pay them Rs 40 lakh, over and above the Rs 10 lakh already paid to them.

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India has always held an unusual position in the international system. It is a liberal democracy that is not part of the Western alliance; an Asian nation that is not part of the Asia-Pacific rim and, constitutionally, a socialist state that declined to sign up with the Soviet Union. While this is often attributed in India to its belief in nonalignment, Gandhian ethics or adherence to strategic autonomy it is probably more correct to say that Indias interests are so unique that it is not a perfect fit for these geopolitical parameters. As a consequence, New Delhi has a tradition of seeking out relationships with countries that do not fully conform to their regional architecture or to other multilateral structures. France has long served as this partner for India within the Western alliance. It is why Oman is Indias closest friend in the volatile Persian Gulf. In a less consistent manner, countries like Ethiopia and Tajikistan receive special consideration in Indias foreign policy.

Indias need to seek out niche relations is considerably less in the present day. The nuclear deal with the US removed the technology shackles and pariah status of the nuclear nonproliferation regime. Indias economy is now globally integrated to the point that a concern about sanctions or multilateral isolation is largely academic exercises. New Delhi is regularly wooed by the most powerful capitals in the world. Nonetheless, India still has use for special relationships with nations with independent foreign policies. In theory, improved India-US relations would mean New Delhi has a one-stop place to go for almost any conceivable technological, economic or geopolitical requirement. In practice, the US runs many different policies at the same time. Though this space has increased over time, the convergence between the interests of India and the US is inconstant and changing. New Delhi continues to avoid buying frontline weapons platforms from Washington. There are problems with other countries as well, like Russia that is becoming increasingly subservient to the diktats of Beijing.

Thus it is in Indias interest to maintain close ties with countries like France or Israel  nations with independent but advanced capabilities in defence, energy and high-technology areas, but without the geopolitical constraints that larger nations may have. France is not without its own limitations. It is probably first and foremost among the niche countries to help India fill the gaps in its foreign and security policy.
While the fog took the visibility level down to an all-time low, with even TV screens appearing to be smoked-out, a hint of colour popped out from the crowd as India celebrated its Republic Day. And, we have our Prime Minister to thank for it.

While the Delhi chill has kept the half-sleeved Modi kurta out of sight, the turban clearly continues to be a favourite with our PM.

Read: When Narendra Modi dresses, world watches, his top 10 fashion moments

Dressed in a toffee-tan bandhgala suit paired with a saffron turban (reminiscent of his maiden Independence Day speech) and finished with a silken pocket square, Narendra Modi stood out yet again for his sartorial choice at Rajpath.

His attire was very occasion-perfect. The long end of the turban, which extended at the back, reflected on the symbolic message of the entire ensemble very clearly. It was primarily to celebrate the feeling of national pride on such a special day. I personally loved the choice of colour and the Make in India, with pride philosophy attached to his choice of outfit, says Sunil Sethi, president, Fashion Design Council of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with French President Francois Hollande, the chief guest at the 67th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)

Designer Rina Dhaka feels that amid the sea of monochromes, Modis attire made an impact. The turban was a lovely choice. It not only lent him height and a statuesque form, but the saffron (colour) also added a bit of elegance. There was no way one could miss him even on such a chilly dismal day in a crowd of greys. His fashion sure beats the French!

Designer Nida Mahmood also gives Modis R-Day look a thumbs up. Apart from the colour combination, the length of the jacket is what added an edge to the look. I also love how the pocket square balances out the colours, besides the burst of yellow in the turban.

Read: I dont have a fashion designer, I dress simple, says PM Modi

For designer Anand Bhushan, the turban seems like a form of social commentary. Modi has always remained true to his Indian aesthetics and his Made in India sensibility. The choice is a great social commentary for the international community too, and a reminder that there are people of different backgrounds and cultures who can coexist peacefully.

Prime Minister Modi, President Pranab Mukherjee and French President Francois Hollande arrive to attend the 67th Republic Day parade. (PTI)

Prime ministerial fashion that made news

* The eponymous Modi kurta: Half-sleeved, easy-fit kurta that has been a long-standing favourite with our Prime Minister. Ahmedabad-based label Jade Blue, which gained instant popularity for being the PMs go-to choice for apparels, even sells these trademark kurtas online.

*At the swearing-in ceremony: NaMo charged up the occasion with a light coloured, underplayed ensemble way back in 2014. Ditching his Modi kurta, he went for a full-sleeved version with a bandhgala jacket instead.

Read: Meet Prime Minister Narendra Modis new designer

*His first Independence Day speech (2014): The debut of the celebratory turban in tie-dye. Saw the return of the khadi Modi kurta.

*Second Independence Day speech (2015): The look sobered up a bit, but the turban trend continued in a Gujarati Mashru weave that the Twitterati hailed as Burberry inspired.

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An Air India flight travelling to Milan made an emergency landing in Delhi on Tuesday after it was turned back following reports of smoke being detected in the cabin.

The flight (AI 137) -- carrying 167 passengers  departed from Delhi at 3pm, but turned back after the pilot suspected smoke in the cabin, an official said. The aircraft landed safely at the Indira Gandhi International airport at 4.40pm.

(The aircraft) made a safe precautionary landing with 167 passengers on board at Delhi airport today due to minor smoke detected in the cabin. Passengers are being transferred to another aircraft, expected to leave shortly, statement by Air India said.

The incident came a day after a Kathmandu-bound Jet Airways flight was stopped from taking off in Delhi and its passengers and crew were evacuated following a bomb threat. The aircraft was cleared to fly after a thorough security check revealed the threat was a hoax.

This is the third emergency aircraft landing in the past one week. A Mumbai-bound GoAir flight carrying more than 150 people from Bhubaneshwar had made an emergency stopover an hour into the journey following an anonymous tip about a bomb three days back. However, no suspicious item was found after a security check.
India inked an inter-governmental pact with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter planes on Monday but the two sides could take several weeks to hammer out the multi-billion euro deal.

In April last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in Paris that India would buy the French fighter jets under a government-to-government deal, scrapping the original plan to buy 126 Rafales after commercial negotiations with plane-maker Dassault Aviation collapsed.

What is Rafale?

France launched the Rafale programme as it wanted to deploy an omnirole fighter to replace seven different types of combat aircraft operated by it. The twin-engine warplane is capable of carrying out a variety of missions - ground and sea attack, air defence and air superiority, reconnaissance and nuclear strike deterrence.

India will be the third country to buy the Rafale after Egypt and Qatar. The plane has seen combat in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali.

Read: India, France sign Rafale jet deal, but talks on price to go on

Why Rafale?

The Indian Air Force had projected a requirement for medium, multi-role combat aircraft way back in 2001 to replace ageing Soviet-era fighter jets in its fleet. India floated a global tender in August 2007 to buy 126 modern combat planes to boost the IAFs offensive capabilities.

Dassault Aviation, which manufactures the Rafale fighters, beat off competition from five international rivals and emerged as the frontrunner for the contract in January 2012. However, the tender stood cancelled when Modi announced India would buy 36 Rafales under a g-to-g deal.

Read: With Hollande in India, France get down to business

India requires 45 fighter squadrons to counter a combined threat from China and Pakistan, but it has only 34 squadrons with about 18 planes each. Also, 14 of these squadrons are equipped with vintage MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighter planes.

India desperately needs to upgrade its ageing Soviet-era fleet plagued by engine troubles and poor availability.

What are the hurdles?

Details such as pricing and after-sales support need to be sorted out before the contract can be signed. Dassault Aviation has said the deal could be clinched in around four weeks.

France has indicated a maximum price of around 11.6 billion for the warplanes with full armament complement. India is negotiating to bring the price down to around 8 billion.

Read: Hollande in India: France badly needs deals, ideologies can wait

Rafale specs

Wing span: 10.90 m

Length: 15.30 m

Height: 5.30 m

Overall empty weight: 10 tons

Max take-off weight: 24.5 tons

External load: 9.5 tons

Service ceiling: 50,000 ft

Read: France to invest $1bn more in India every year
The political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh, which is staring at Presidents Rule after 35 years, began a year ago when the Nabam Tuki government was accused of fiscal mismanagement.

Tuki has since been facing dissidence which reached a crescendo with the rebels holding a controversial assembly session last month.

Political stability is crucial for the militarily strategic state that China has been staking claim to. But the frontier state has been witness to political coups since 2003, when former chief minister Gegong Apang helped the BJP form its government overnight.

Read more: Arunachal slugfest continues: Centre awaits Prezs nod, Cong moves SC

In 2007, Dor jee Khandu became the CM by toppling Apangs government. He too faced dissidence from a group of MLAs, one of them being Tuki.

An air crash killed Khandu in April 2011 and the dissidence turned towards his successor Jarbom Gamlin. The rebellion triggered ethnic violence, forcing Gamlin to resign and make space for Tuki from November 1 that year.

Tukis reign hit turbulence towards the end of 2014 as the state ran up debts amid allegations of fiscal mismanagement and diversion of central funds for allegedly dubious payments. The skeletons began tumbling out of the cupboard after Kalikho Pul, the now dissident leader, was dropped as health and family welfare minister in December 2014.

Tuki dismissed four more ministers; some MLAs quit in the next few months. The dissidence gathered momentum after ex-Assam chief secretary JP Rajkhowa was appointed states governor in June last year.

The Cong ress accused Rajkhowa of using Raj Bhavan as a BJP office and working for saffron party to summon a controversial assembly session from December 16-18. It was the trigger for a series of court cases by either side, culminating in the Centre recommending Presidents Rule on Sunday.

Our dissidence is almost a year old, so it is not right to accuse the governor of trying to topple the state government,  Pul had said a few days ago.
A week after the Hyderabad central university remained shut over the suicide of a Dalit scholar, students are beginning to question why various student bodies are continuing their agitation in spite of a judicial probe being ordered into the matter.

Tuesday is the ninth consecutive day the campus remained in limbo, with all academic sessions and research activity at a standstill. Even the library and reading rooms remained closed.

Read more : No pressure from ministry to punish Rohith Vemula, says New VC

The Joint Action Committee of the protesting students had organized a Chalo HCU march to the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Monday where students from other universities, including from other cities, turned up to protest against the administration.

Rohith Vemula, along with four other Dalit scholars, was suspended for an altercation with the student leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), leading to his suicide on January 17. The fight was triggered by a comment on Facebook.

Several students are now taking to the very same medium to vent their anger, appealing to the Ambedkar Students Association that the Dalit scholars are a part of, to let academic studies continue.

If you want to close reading room, library, schools, departments, labs for the sake of involving more and more students in protest I would suggest that you should stop the basic needs of students like food, water, electric supply and extremely important thing i.e. internet, so that huge number of students would join this ongoing movement. Lock our rooms too so that we can also stay and sleep at the shop-com, a sarcastic post on the UoH Facebook community page read, referring to the campus shopping complex that has turned into the nerve centre for protests.

On Monday evening, a poll was created on the unofficial but popular Facebook page asking how many students wanted the library reading room opened. Within the first few hours, as many as 55 students polled in favour of opening the reading room from Tuesday while just a meagre six wanted the controversy resolved first.

A senior professor, part of a failed truce effort made by about 100 members of the faculty to convince protesting students to allow the university to function, expressed displeasure over their adamant stand.

Our effort was to engage the agitators in a dialogue for a resolution as we cannot let all students miss out on their studies and research. But we could not succeed as those on protest refused to talk and appealed to us to support them in their demands, said the professor who approached the students on Friday.

Now that it has been over a week, many are eager to resume their academic activity. My students were calling to know if I am available for guidance in their project works, etc, said a professor from the school of social sciences.

With the academic year heading to its final semester, graduating students of courses like MBA, MCA and MTech fear the repercussions on placements.

University authorities expressed concern that the academic semester could be disrupted if it did not begin functioning soon.
Colour, pomp, canines and camels, daredevilry and a sharp display of Indias military strength; the 67th Republic Day was a spectacle that didnt fail to impress. French president Francois Hollande was the chief guest at this years parade, representing a nation that has now become the most invited foreign country for the January 26 spectacle that celebrates the adoption of the constitution in 1950.

The parade that last almost two hours started with Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying tribute at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate to the many soldiers who died in the line of duty since World War I. Modi then received President Pranab Mukherjee and President Francois Hollande at the saluting base.

Indian soldiers march during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, January 26, 2016. (REUTERS)

The parade this year had quite a few differences that the previous years, including a lesser number of marching contingents, a tableau dedicated to ex-servicemen instead of a marching contingent, awarding the young recipients of the National Awards for Bravery towards the end, followed by the childrens pageant, a daredevil motorcycle display by the Corps of Signals, and the flypast and heavy-lift transports and helicopters of the Indian Air Force.

Rajput Regiment march down Rajpath during the Republic Day parade, in New Delhi, India, on Monday, January 26, 2016. French President Francois Hollande was the guest of honour for this years celebration of the 67th Republic Day. (Hindustan Times)

A total of 23 tableaux were on display at the 67th Republic Day parade with 17 of them belonging to various states and Union Territories. 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 also found their place at the ceremonial parade on the Rajpath. Sates which registered 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. However, there was no tableau from national capital Delhi for the third consecutive year.

Here are five highlights of the parade that saw quite a few firsts:

Dog squad

-- After a gap of 26 years, the Indian armys dog squad was part of the parade. Drawn from the Armys Remount Veterinary Corps, the canines marched in the striped coats of their units colours of maroon and gold. The Labradors and German Shepherds usually work in the restive northern region of Kashmir detecting explosives and landmines or tracking in avalanches. Reportedly just 36 dogs of the 1,200 were chosen for the contingent and underwent weeks of training.

Drawn from the Armys Remount Veterinary Corps, the canines marched in the striped coats of their units colours of maroon and gold

Read more: R-Day parade at Rajpath concludes, IAF flypast steals the show

French march

-- For the first time ever, a foreign contingent joined the celebrations as soldiers from Frances 35th Infantry Regiment, one of the countrys oldest active regiments, marched alongside their Indian counterparts. It was a reciprocal gesture after Indian troops marched down Pariss Champs dElysees on Bastille Day in 2009. The Frenchmen had faced a little trouble during rehearsals as Indian troopers march at a slightly faster pace. However, they managed to sync with the rest of contingents. The infantry was preceded by a pipes and drums band and were seen saluting in an unusual style with the right hand held straight across the chest.

The French marching contingent of the 35th Infantry Regiment of the French Army march during India's Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2016, the first time that foreign military soldiers have taken part in the parade. (AFP)

Stuntmen

Members of the Men Daredevils Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force formed human pyramids and the lotus on Royal Enfields while in motion at Rajpath.

Motor Cycle Display Team "Dare Devil" of the Corps of Signals roll down Rajpath in Human Pyramind formation during the Republic Day parade, in New Delhi (Hindustan Times)

Camel contingent

-- There was a small outcry after it was suggested the camel contingent, usually a mainstay of the parade, may be dropped this year. However, officials lived up to their reassurance that the brightly coloured dromedaries would march as they do every year. The camels, which patrol the Thar Desert near the border with Pakistan, make the journey from Rajasthan every year to participate in the parade, accompanied by their moustachioed border guards. Google also had its Republic Day-themed doodle designed around the brightly decked-out camels carrying bandsmen.

A contingent of camel mounted soldiers of Indian Border Security Force (BSF), march down Rajpath during Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan (AP)

AirForce flypast

-- The finale of the parade was also the most anticipated part of it -- the flypast by the Indian Air Force starting with the Chakra formation with three Mi-35 helicopters. The showcase also included the Hercules-Vic formations by the C-130Jsuper Hercules aircrafts, and the Trishul by three Su-30 MKI. The VVIP enclosure was fitted with a sliding glass roof that was pushed back during the flypast to avoid a repeat of last year; US President Barack Obama was sheltered under a large umbrella when it suddenly began raining on unprepared organizers.
The Dolphin man from Patna University, Prof RK Sinha is hoping the National Dolphin Research Centre is set up at the university as soon as possible and is looking to develop a young research team to carry forward his work. A pioneer in preservation of the Schedule 1 animal for the past three decades, Sinhas work featured in the list of Padma Shri awardees announced on Monday. Buoyed by the distinction, Sinha hopes his focus on dolphins will motivate others to work on saving the Ganga mammal.

I am thankful to chief minister Nitish Kumar for nominating my name for the award. He has been very appreciative of my work since 2006, when I organized a national conference in Patna and now my objective is to develop a workforce of young researchers to carry forward the work for saving dolphins and rejuvenating the Ganga, said the head of the zoology department.

Author to scores of research papers and books on dolphins, Sinha has been working to protect the national aquatic mammal since his student days, back in the 1970s. His work was also the subject of two of French filmmaker Christian Gallissons projects, including Alert on the Ganga.

The central government recognised dolphins as a highly endangered species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and gave it the status of national aquatic animal (in 2010). The maximum dolphins are in Ganga, though they are found in other Bihar rivers also, said Sinha, adding that a comprehensive plan is required to save the mammal.

In 2016, a fresh survey would be undertaken for the dolphin count and a sum of Rs 76 lakh has been sanctioned for the purpose by the National Mission for Clean Ganga. A similar exercise would be undertaken in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bengal for a detailed survey, he added.

The dolphin research centre, the first of its kind in the country, will now receive a major push. The erstwhile Planning Commission had in fact sanctioned a sum of Rs 28.06 crore in 2013, appreciating its unique importance, while the state government released a sum of Rs 19.16 crore for infrastructure in 2014.

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A Gandhi statue in the Dudu area of Jaipur was defaced on Monday, with a message on the statue threatening a blast on Republic Day.

The message scribbled on the statue also claimed support for terror group Islamic State (IS).

The act seems to be by some miscreants but we are taking it seriously and have informed the security agencies. A probe into the incident has begun and we are investigating the objective behind it  whether it was done to create communal tension or was an act by an IS sympathiser, Inspector General (Jaipur rural range) DC Jain told HT.

The police have registered a case under Indian Penal Code Sections 124(a) and 153(a) at the Dudu police station. Prima facie, it seems that the act is by somebody residing in the locality. We have sent our team to investigate, Superintendent of Police (Jaipur rural) Rameshwar Singh said.

Earlier this week, the national investigation agency arrested Abu Anas, who hails from Tonk, on suspicion of being an IS sympathiser. His arrest followed the capture of Mohammed Sirajuddin, posted as the marketing manager of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Jaipur, on charges of links with IS.
Google on Tuesday celebrated Indias Republic Day with a doodle of a tableau of camels carrying band members.

The doodle, draped in gold and red, featured the band on elaborately decorated camels.

A Border Security Force camel contingent will be participating in the Republic Day parade on Tuesday, an annual event which showcases the countrys military might and a myriad of tableaux depicting each states unique culture and history.

French President Francois Hollande is the chief guest for this years Republic Day, an invitation extended to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in solidarity with recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Pathankot.

Unlike many of Googles previous doodles, this doodle does not have any animation.
On the occasion of Indias 67th Republic Day, heres a look at the major headlines of Hindustan Times before and after January 26, 1950.

Last constituent assembly session

On 24th January 1950, the constituent assembly met at the constitution hall in New Delhi, for its last session, at 11 o clock on a Tuesday, with Indias first president Dr Rajendra Prasad in the chair.

Dr Prasad made the following statement with regard to the national anthem.

The composition consisting of the words and music known as Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem of India, subject to such alterations in the words as the Government may authorise as occasion arises; and the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it. (Applause). I hope this will satisfy the Members.

Here is a news clipping of a front page article from Hindustan Times reporting the event on the next day - 25th January 1960.

Another news clipping published on the same day highlights the point that Vande Mataram was given equal status with Jana Gana Mana.

Read moment by moment what happened in the constitution hall two before the first Republic Day here.

First chief guest

President Sukarno of Indonesia was guest of honour for Indias first Republic Day celebrations in 1950. The below article describes the rousing reception given to the Indonesian president and also jots down his itinerary in India.

President Sukarno of Indonesia was guest of honour for Indias first Republic Day celebrations in 1950 pic.twitter.com/adPnfXDTHF  President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) January 17, 2015

The following article, published on 25th January 1950, describes in detail, how Delhi prepared for the first Republic Day celebrations. According to The Hindu, in the beginning the parade did not start from Rajpath and proceed to Old Delhi but was held at the erstwhile Irwin Stadium, New Delhi, with a 21-gun salute.

Read more about the first parade here.

A HT photo shows Dr Rajendra Prasad being sworn in as the president of India at exactly 10.24 am on January 26, 1950, six minutes after India was declared a Sovereign Democratic Republic. This ceremony was held in a brilliantly lit and high domed Durbar Hall at the Government House.

Read more about what happened on the first Republic Day here.

A HT photo shows Indias first president Dr Rajendra Prasad in a chariot at the Parliament Street.

First Param Vir Chakra

The enemy is only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round.

That was Major Somnath Sharmas last message to brigade headquarters in November 1947.

Shortly afterwards, the young officer was killed while leading his men on a fighting patrol to Badgam village in Kashmir while evicting Pakistani raiders from Srinagar airport.

For his exceptional bravery under duress, the native of Dadh village in Himachal Pradesh was posthumously awarded the countrys first Param Vir Chakra, Indias highest gallantry award.

Here is a news item published on 27th January 1950 about the award.

Read more about the Martyrs village here.

A set of eight photos published on 27th January 1950 depict how the national capital celebrated the first Republic Day.

Another set of eight photos show well lit fountains and clock towers in Delhi on the night of the first Republic Day.
Around 400 women left for Shani Shingnapur from Pune early on Tuesday morning to break a decades-old tradition that has prohibited women from entering the sanctum sanctorum of the deity lord Shani, an issue that has brought a group of activists at loggerheads with locals.

The village of 4000, located about 330 kilometers northeast of Mumbai, is famous for the Shani temple that many devotees believe responds to prayers, also called jagrut, and has for the past six decades or so denied women from entering the main temple area.

Locals have barred entry for outsiders and plan to form a human chain around the temple. The administration has also deployed additional security personnel through the village to prevent activists of the Bhumata brigade, who are championing the movement, from entering the inner sanctum.

Read more: Activists threaten to take chopper to temple where women are barred

The women plan to offer prayers at famous Shani temple by climbing the main idol platform, much to the anxiety of local villagers and various socio-political organizations. They claimed to have also booked a helicopter to be air dropped if necessary. The administration however has denied them permission to fly.

We are going to Shani Shingnapur to offer prayers to Lord Shani. We want to exercise our right given to us by constitution and we will do it peacefully, said Truti Desai, who is leading the agitation.

In light of the probable conflict, the joint charity commissioners office in Pune has served a notice to the womens group asking them not to create a law and order issue.

The Shiv Sena has also joined the current controversy saying it would help villagers hold back women trying to push through into the temple.

Sarangi Mahajan, widow of Praveen Mahajan -- a former state BJP leader, also pitched in saying she would support villagers by forming a human chain with her supporters. Only recently, Mahajan floated the Sara Foundation to work for women empowerment.

The temple drew attention after a young woman defied common practice and performed abhishek to lord Shani on November 27 last year. Outraged villagers and temple trustees later purified the idol by performing another abhishek with milk, triggering a major row between women activists who hailed the womans courage and villagers defending the purification ritual as tradition.

Following the controversy, the temple elected a woman as its head, prompting hopes for a progressive decision. Anita Shete however made it clear she would ensure the tradition remained unbroken.

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French President Francois Hollande is the chief guest at Indias Republic Day parade Tuesday, a spectacular showcase of the nations military power and cultural diversity to celebrate the adoption of the constitution in 1950.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande are witnessing the Republic Day parade at Rajpath alongwith thousands of people.

For the first time in the history of the Republic Day parade, a group of foreign soldiers marched down Rajpath shoulder to shoulder with the Indian troops: The French contingent - comprising 56 personnel of 35th Infantry Regiment of 7th Armoured Brigade.

After a gap of 26 years the Indian armys unsung -- or unbarked -- heroes are returning to the parade. A dog squad drawn from the Armys Remount Veterinary Corps marched past wearing striped coats in their units colours of maroon and gold. The Labradors and German Shepherds usually work in the restive northern region of Kashmir detecting explosives and landmines or tracking in avalanches. Reportedly just 36 dogs out of 1,200 were chosen for the big day and underwent weeks of training.

Uttar Pradesh tableau presented art of Zardozi passed on from generation to generation

Uttarakhands tableau showed off Ramman festival based on the story of Ramayana.

Save the forest, save the tiger is the message Madhya Pradesh is spreading.

There was a small outcry after various newspapers suggested the camel contingent, usually a mainstay of the parade, may be dropped this year -- but officials later reassured the public that the dromedaries would perform as normal.

Live: R-Day: Military might cultural diversity, dog squad on display

The camels, used to patrol the Thar Desert near the border with Pakistan, make the journey from Rajasthan every year to participate in the parade, accompanied by moustachioed border guards. They will also be seen by millions online in India in the form of a special Google Doodle showing brightly decked-out camels carrying bandsmen to mark the day.

The theme of the Karnataka tableau was Kodagu: The Coffee Land

Ministry of social justice and empowerment tableau.

The T-90 Bhishma Tank at Rajpath during the Republic Day parade on Tuesday.

The Army Daredevils perform truly daring stunts on motorcycles.
India gifted Nepal 40 ambulances and eight buses on the occasion of the Republic Day on Tuesday.

Indian ambassador Ranjit Rae presented 33 ambulances and six buses to hospitals, charitable organisations and educational institutions at a ceremony held in the embassy in Kathmandu.

The rest of the vehicles were handed over by the consulate at Birganj.

Since 1994, India has donated 542 ambulances and 106 buses to organsations across Nepal on the occasion of its Independence Day and Republic Day.

These vehicles have helped bring healthcare services to people in 73 of Nepals 75 districts. The buses have made access to education easier for thousands of students in 25 districts, officials said.

Notwithstanding the recent dip in relations due to a blockade at key border trade points, which Kathmandu has accused New Delhi of imposing, India has reaffirmed its commitment to support Nepals development efforts.
Better known as Jharkhands waterman, Simon Oraon had always been more popular among farmers in the districts Bedo block than the countrys newspaper-reading public. But all that changed on Monday, when the Presidents office announced that he would be given the coveted Padma Shri award for his contribution to environment conservation.

Oraon, 83, has been waging a war against drought since the day he dropped out of school as a Class IV student. Back then, the land was facing a period of great scarcity  while many died of hunger, others migrated elsewhere in a quest for survival. This disturbed the boy immensely, making him dedicate his life to the conservation of water and forests.

Oraons friends and relatives made a beeline to his house as soon as they came to know about the Padma Shri. The humble environmentalist  also called Baba by villagers  seemed the most surprised of all. I had no idea about the award until a friend from the media called up this afternoon to congratulate me, he said.

Dedicating the award to nature conservationists, Oraon said: This award will inspire many to save the environment.

So, how did Oraons journey begin? It was way back in 1961 that the waterman  then a strapping young man of 28  joined forces with some like-minded friends to construct check dams to tap rainwater. They were not an instant success  the mud structures, constructed with the limited resources at hand, did not last the first showers. But Oraon, like the proverbial King Bruce, did not lose heart. He prevailed upon government agencies until they were forced to help him set up a concrete dam.

The initiative soon took the shape of a movement. Oraon launched a massive tree plantation drive, and dug wells as well as ponds to ensure that rainwater doesnt drain away. In the years that followed, he taught the art of environment conservation to the residents of 51 villages.

Oraons hard work started bearing fruit eventually, and Bedos water level increased magically. The waste lands turned cultivable, and there was sufficient water to grow more than one crop a year. Barely 20% of Jharkhands fields grow rabi crops.

Today, Bedo has become the agricultural hub of Jharkhand. The block supplies nearly 20,000 metric tonnes of vegetables to various districts in Jharkhand, besides neighbouring states like Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal.

Oraon may be an octogenarian now, but he still plants at least 1,000 saplings every year. Whats more, he protects them too -- no villager dares chop off even a single tree branch without his consent.

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Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, who killed 10 guerrillas in 11 days before attaining martyrdom, was posthumously awarded Ashok Chakra -- the countrys highest peacetime gallantry award -- by President Pranab Mukhejree on Tuesday.

The soldier of the armys elite special forces made the supreme sacrifice while fighting the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. The award was received by Bhavna Goswami, widow of Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, on the countrys 67th Republic Day.

On September 2, 2015, Lance Naik Goswami was engaged in a fierce gunfight with terrorists hiding in the Hafruda forests in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. As the gun battle raged, two of Lance Naik Goswamis comrades were wounded.

Undeterred by the intense volley of fire, he rushed to rescue them and in the act -- despite getting grievously wounded himself -- he not only eliminated two terrorists but also saved the lives of his comrades.

The citation read out on the occasion said that Lance Naik Goswami succumbed to his injuries in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

The martyred commando hailed from Indira Nagar village in Haldwani tehsil of Nainital district, Uttarakhand, and is survived by his wife and a seven-year-old daughter. He had killed 10 guerrillas in 11 days before attaining martyrdom.

Ashok Chakra is the peace-time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, awarded for acts of bravery on the battle front. It is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice other than in the face of the enemy.
An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag district early on Tuesday.

While the Indian Army said that the militant has been killed, police are yet to confirm the recovery of any body from the encounter site in Kalhal village of Kokernag.

The encounter started when a joint party of the state police and the army cordoned Kalhal, approximately 70 km from summer capital Srinagar.

There were inputs about the presence of militants and we cordoned the village on Monday evening. The encounter ensued on early Tuesday in which one militant has been killed, army spokesperson NN Joshi said.

An official in the police control room of Anantnag said the encounter is over.

The encounter has finished but we have not recovered anything till now. The searches are going on, he said.

Kashmir has been under tight security to ensure that the Republic Day passes peacefully in the Valley. Separatists have called for a state-wide shutdown urging people to observe the day as black day.
The in-charge vice-chancellor of the University of Hyderabad ( UoH)Prof Vipin Srivastava, who was the head of a sub-committee that reviewed and upheld the suspension orders on the five research scholars, told Hindustan Times that vice-chancellor Appa Rao never ever mentioned to them the letters from the MHRD on the issue and that the only pressure felt by his committee was that from the Hyderabad high court.

Read more: Chalo HCU: Hyd students call for strike at campuses across country

Srivastava, the senior most professor in UoH, was made the in-charge vice-chancellor on Sunday as Rao went on leave, leaving behind the suicide row that has snowballed into a political maelstrom. But his appointment is fiercely opposed by the agitating students and the SC/ST teachers forum, who hold the committees decision responsible for driving the Dalit scholar to suicide.

Rohith Vemula hanged himself on campus on January 17 after he was suspended for an altercation with a student leader.

The forum also charged that Srivastava was involved in the 2008 suicide of another Dalit PhD scholar, Senthil Kumar of the physics department.

I was the dean of school of physics at that time and had no interaction with Senthil. The issue was blown out of proportions after it was realized he was a Dalit. All probes ordered over the incident absolved me of all accusations. That matter ended there and then. (I) Do not know why the issue is raked up every time and is held against me, Srivastava said.

As far as Vemula is concerned, our sub-committee concurred with the proctorial board recommendation of suspension, after our thorough investigation convinced us of an attack on Susheel Kumar on August 3 midnight by a group of 30 people, Srivastava, who was the chairman of the sub-committee of the executive council, said.

The physics professor says that even then the executive council, took a lenient view and reduced the punishment to only barring them from hostels and not from classes and course work.

In my view it is not a suspension but only a sanction imposed on the students for one semester only, Srivastava said, adding, There is no influence whatsoever of the ministry on our work. The only pressure on us is that of the high court as the UoH (University of Hyderabad) had to submit an action taken report before it on November 25, he said.

The high court was hearing the matter after the mother of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad leader Susheel Kumar approached the court seeking protection for her son who was allegedly attacked by the activists from the Ambedkar Students Association, led by the five suspended students.

This appointment as in-charge VC is nothing to cheer about. If anything, wish me luck as I am trying my best to initiate a dialogue with everyone to find a resolution to the impasse on the campus, the professor said.
An NRI woman, who was allegedly duped of Rs 27 lakh by a Jaipur man posing as a Union minister, has now accused the state police of being reluctant in pursuing the case. She said an FIR in the matter could be lodged after several efforts over last two months and only after the intervention of the consulate general of India at Frankfurt.

Anamika Singh, who is currently residing in Germany, said she had sent an online complaint to the Jaipur police in October last year, but the police had refused to lodge the FIR. They wanted me to appear personally for lodging the complaint. An FIR was lodged at Vidhayakpuri police station only after several efforts over two months and now the police have sent me a questionnaire listing 20 queries that are already mentioned in the complaint, Singh told HT over phone from Germany. She said she had also approached the Rajasthan chief ministers office in the matter.

According to the complainant, the consulate general of India at Frankfurt had intervened in the case recently following which the ministry of external affairs was directed to act in the matter earlier this month.

When approached investigating officer, inspector Jitendra Singh, said the matter was under investigation.

Singh, who is originally a resident of Delhi, was befriended by the accused on a social networking site in June 2013. She said the man had identified as Dr Ghanshyam Sharma and posed as a Union minister. He convinced her to invest in several projects pertaining to mines and real estate in Rajasthan and other states. Singh said the accused had impressed her by sending his photographs with political bigwigs like BJP president Amit Shah in the same frames.

I delivered him first installment of Rs 8 lakh in cash at Jaipur in September 2013, followed by Rs 7 lakh in November 2013 and Rs 12 lakh in May 2014, Singh said, adding that when she demanded the high returns the accused had promised, he allegedly had threatened to kill her family in Delhi.

Chair man of Rajasthan Association of North Americas legal cell, Prem Bhandari, who is helping Singh in the case said, The Jaipur police are harassing the couple. As per the 2009 amendment in section 161 (3) of the CrPC, the police can record the complainants statement through audio-visual means.

When HT tried to contact the accused on a number mentioned in the complaint, the call was received by a man who identified himself as Sharmas aide Satish Mishra. Sahib is being implicated in the case through morphed pictures, he said, adding that Sharma knew the NRI couple.
Security for Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik was beefed up on Tuesday after police were tipped off about four suspected terrorists holing up in a hotel near the railway station in Bhubaneswar.

The suspected terrorists who claimed to be Iraqi citizens, however, managed to give the police a slip and escaped before the hotel was raided. The police suspect the four had plans to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations in the state capital.

The four suspected terrorists had come to Bhubaneswar in a car bearing a New Delhi registration number and checked into the hotel identifying themselves as Iraqi nationals. They fled the hotel after the hotel staff asked for identity proof. The number plate of the car was found to be fake, police commissioner RP Sharma said.

The police recovered a hard disc from the room where the foreigners stayed, questioned the hotel staff and also examined the CCTV footage for further clues. A number of police teams also raided several places in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack in this regard.

In view of the Republic Day, the police earlier had set up a four-tier security in Bhubaneswar and sounded a high alert across the state.
Former chief of the inter-governmental panel on climate change RK Pachauri is likely to lose operational control over The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) as director-general of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Ajay Mathur takes over as its head. Mathur is expected to join Teri as its new director-general next week.

TERIs governing council has accepted Mathurs condition for joining that he should have full operational control over the institute with no interference from Pachauri in its day-to-day functioning, sources said.

This was apparently a reason for the delay in Mathur joining as director-general replacing Pachauri, who headed the institute for more than two decades.

Read more: Teri researcher says he was told to help hush Pachauri case

Mathur was appointed the director-general in June 2015 after a female researcher accused Pachauri of sexual harassment, a charge the former co-chair of the inter-governmental body on climate change denied. The researcher subsequently resigned, accusing the top bosses in the institute of harassing her, a charge denied by TERI. Initially, the technocrat was expected to join Teri in three months but the government asked him to continue till the Paris climate conference, where he was designated as the Indias chief spokesperson.

In an email to Hindustan Times in December 2015, Teri announced that Mathur would join the institute on January 5, 2016. That did not happen as the institute failed to provide clarity on what Pachauris role would be once Mathur joined.

This was a key condition put forth by Mathur for joining as Pachauris contract did not have a termination clause, meaning he would continue to be part of Teri till his contract expired. Dr Mathur will not like any interference in day-to-day running of the institute, a person associated with the developments said.

The governing council has now decided to re-designate Pachauri as executive vice-chairman, having no role in the daily functioning of the institute, sources said.

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The Rajasthan Police have cleared the Robert Vadra-promoted Sky Light Hospitality of any wrongdoing, saying the company was a victim of conspiracy and cheating as grabbed government land was sold to it.

The police investigation in a case lodged by the Vasundhara Raje-led state government in 2014 found that 69.55 hectares of land was sold to the company promoted by Vadra and his mother on the basis of forged papers. Vadra is the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and has been accused by the BJP of land grab in Rajasthan and Haryana.

Deputy superintendent of police Ramavtar Soni told HT that as a bona fide purchaser Vadra was certainly a victim of fraud and he had been cheated.

MP (Lok Sabha) from Bikaner Arjun Ram Meghwal, who had leveled allegations against Vadra of acquiring government land, said he was not aware of the outcome of the police probe.

Congress legislator Bhanvarsingh Bhati, however, termed the entire probe a publicity stunt by the BJP which he said ended as a flop show.

HT has accessed the police report that says a total of 69.55 hectare was purchased in 2010 by Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd which it sold to Allegeny Finlease Pvt Ltd in 2012.

The report also names nine people who allegedly forged the documents to sell government land to the company. Of them, six have been arrested.

In all, 18 cases were registered by Bikaner police in the alleged land grab case and four of them were related to the land sold to Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd.

The police report also says Mahesh Nagar, who purchased the land for the company, was a key prosecution witness and Vadra was not aware of the land deals.

The BJP government in 2013 announced initiating an inquiry against land deals by Vadra in Bikaner after the UPA government launched an investigation against the Gujarat snoopgate scandal.

In an interview with HT in December 2013, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje said an investigation into the land deals had found instances of wrongdoing.
Arunachal Pradesh has been placed under central rule after President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday consented to the union cabinets recommendation of imposing the Presidents rule in the eastern state.

The Centre appointed former Delhi police commissioner YS Dadwal and former home secretary GS Patnaik as advisors to the Arunachal Pradesh governor.

The approval came a day before the Supreme Court is to hear state Congress leader Rajesh Tachos plea against the Narendra Modi governments proposal on the allegation that it is an illegal and unlawful attempt by the Centre and state governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa to topple the Nabam Tuki government.

Read | Constitutional experts support move to recommend Prez rule in Arunachal

The Congress reacted sharply to the move. It is the murder of the Constitution on the day when it is being celebrated. On the Republic Day, the Constitution and democracy have been murdered, party spokesman Tom Vadakkan said. The JD-U and AAP also spoke against the imposition of the Presidents Rule in the state.

A Congress delegation had called on the President to seek his intervention hours after home minister Rajnath Singh met Mukherjee to explain the Centres action. The delegation, including senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and Kapil Sibal, also submitted a memorandum saying that this was for the first time that a decision to impose Presidents rule had been taken in the midst of a court hearing.

Read | Presidents Rule in Arunachal: What it means for the state and Centre

Stung by the move, the Congress has declared an all-out war against the trampling of the Constitution by the Modi government and also sought to rally all non-BJP parties against the move in and outside Parliament.

Sibal had earlier come down hard on governors with RSS background appointed by the Centre alleging that they had trivialised the high office by acting as pracharaks of the RSS.

Read | Its against Constitution: Politicians on Arunachal Prez rule move
India on Tuesday showcased its military prowess and achievements in different fields, state-of-the-art defence, diverse cultural and social traditions and the governments emphasis on self-reliance and indigenisation at Rajpath on the countrys 67th Republic Day.

One of the highlights of the colorful parade was the 76-member French army contingent which became the first foreign troop since 1950 to march down the Rajpath. The contingent, which also had nearly 50 musicians, was led by Lt Col Paul Bury of the 35th Infantry Regiment, one of the oldest active regiments of France.

Tableaux from 17 states and six Union Territories were also the part of the parade. And for the first time, a tableau by ex-servicemen took part in the parade where Indian Army veterans showcased their role in building the nation.

Francois Hollande, the guest of honour for the Republic Day parade this year, is the fifth French president to be the chief guest over the decades.

HT brings you the live updates of the Republic Day celebrations across India.

11:44 am The Trishul formation by three SU-30 MK

Precision at tremendous speed is on display; aerobatics with professional skills.

The Globe formation at #RepublicDayParade, comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30s pic.twitter.com/2A9sWxRZXh  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

11:40 AM Dare Devils take charge, school contingents put up folk dances

Motor cycle display team of Corps of Signals, popularly known as the Dare Devils

#RepublicDay School contingents putting up folk dances pic.twitter.com/fZ8FesWkZ1  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

11: 00 am After displaying Indias military might, the parade saw tableau's from different states

#RepublicDay:Sikkim's tableau depicts celebration of #Buddha Jayanti in Sikkim, which is popularly called Saga Dawa pic.twitter.com/Q7YHFuMKsO  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

#RepublicDay: Open to give, open to receive! Chandigarh'stableau depicts the smart,green &dream city of Chandigarh pic.twitter.com/B7oypD12ZD  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

#RepublicDay: Rajasthan's tableau showcases "Hawa Mahal" not as a monument, but as a "lively Building" pic.twitter.com/7rPcBEgNkf  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

10: 20 am As the celebrations for Indias 67th republic day began, India showcased its military might with the Brahmos missile system on display.

The Akash Weapon System of 27 air defence regiment led by Major Neha Singh also participated in the parade. This is the first indigenously developed air defence system capable of firing short range surface to air missile. The regiment had taken part in the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan war, Operation Rakshak-II, Operation Sahayata

Here is a close up of the French contingent marching in the parade: The 35th Infantry Regiment, France is being led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Bury and consists of 75 soldiers. Raised in 1604, it took part in various campaigns and won many laurels for itself.

The Military Colour Party of France (PIB)

MI-17 helicopters displayed at the parade

Parade Commander Lt gen Rajan Ravindran, who has been in service for 37 years, is leading this year Republic Day celebrations. MI-17 helicopters were displayed at the parade before winners of Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra and any other gallantry awards march down the Rajpath.

The 1st formation, with 4 Mi-17 V5 helicopters, showers flower petals to greet #RepublicDayParade spectators pic.twitter.com/ke98FqXAT3  PIB India (@PIB_India) January 26, 2016

Prez, Hollande, Modi arrive at Rajpath, celebrations begin

9:40 am The celebrations began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi driving to the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial to the Unknown Soldier at India Gate and laying a wreath in honour of the countless Indian soldiers who have died in battles since World War I.

Modi then drove up to the saluting base to receive President Pranab Mukherjee and President Francois Hollande.

PM Modi at Rajpath (DD)

The Presidents Bodyguard presented the national salute, the tricolour was unfurled and the national anthem was played to set the tone for a rather poignant moment - the posthumous presentation of the Ashok Chakra, the countrys highest gallantry award in peacetime. It was presented this year to the widow of Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of the Parachute Regiment, who laid down his life while fighting terrorists in the Kashmir Valley last Septmeber.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, the three service chiefs, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, cabinet ministers, a host of dignitaries and a group of women achievers seated in a special enclosure were on hand to witness the hour-and-half long parade.

Modi pays tribute to martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti (Doordarshan)

Meanwhile, the area around Central Delhi was turned into virtual fortress in view of intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the city.

9:00 AM Rosaiah unfurls the tricolour at the Marina beach





Tamil Nadu celebrated the 67th Republic Day with patriotic fervour on Tuesday, with Governor K. Rosaiah unfurling the tricolour at the Marina beach, while a 100 feet tall national f lag was hoisted by BJP leader Ashish Shelar in Mumbai .

ANI

Renowned Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik too created a sand art on the occasion of Indias 67th Republic Day today.

8: 15 am Modi greets nation on Republic Day as Delhi turns into a fortress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended Republic Day greetings and paid tributes to those great personalities who framed Indias Constitution.

Tributes to all great personalities who framed our Constitution. I salute Dr. Ambedkar for his efforts as Chairman of Drafting Committee.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2016

Republic Day greetings to all my fellow Indians.       ...   Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2016

Meanwhile, BJP President Amit Shah hoisted the national flag at party headquarters in Delhi

BJP President Amit Shah hoists national flag at party headquarters in Delhi #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/rbfuXynIyV  ANI (@ANI_news) January 26, 2016

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too was seen hoisting the national flag at his residence in Delhi

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh hoists national flag at his residence in Delhi #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/Dn1pu2wWk1  ANI (@ANI_news) January 26, 2016

Read more: Tight security in Delhi for Republic Day; Snipers, 40k cops deployed

8:00 am Military might, achievements & projects on Rday show

Indias military prowess and achievements in different fields, state-of-the-art defence, diverse cultural and social traditions and the governments emphasis on self-reliance and indigenisation will be showcased at Rajpath on the countrys 67th Republic Day .

Francois Hollande, the President of France, will be the Chief Guest of the parade.

French Army contingent to march on Rajpath for the first time ever

For the first time in the history of Republic Day parades, a 76-member French Army contingent led by a French military band comprising 48 musicians, will march on Rajpath and present a ceremonial salute to the President of India.

Army dogs to take part

After a gap of 26 years, an Army dog squad drawn from the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) will also take part, along with their handlers. ( More details can be read here)

Sticking to the 66-year-old tradition of the Republic Day celebrations, the colourful BSF Camel Regiment consisting of 56 camels led by Deputy Commandant Kuldeep J Choudhary will also march on the Rajpath.

For the first time, the parade will see an ex-servicemen tableau where Army veterans will showcase their role in nation building.

The Indian Armys missile firing capability T-90 Bhishma tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles and Integrated Communication Electronic Warfare System (ICEWS) will be the main draw in the mechanised columns.

Read more: Indo-Pak talks needed but not under a shower of bullets: President

An Indian Air Force tableau, with the theme Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations by IAF: In Service of the Nation and Beyond will showcase models of C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules and MI-17V5 aircraft, emphasising its use in the Forces rescue and relief operations in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Yemen and Nepal.

The Indian Navys tableau will have the theme Empowering India through Maritime security and Indigenisation displaying flight deck operations on the new aircraft carrier Vikrant, under construction at the Kochi Shipyard, and the indigenously constructed submarine Kalvari by Mazagaon Dock, Mumbai, having a Made in India tag on them.

Parade will begin at India Gate

The parade ceremony will commence at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in paying homage to martyrs by laying a wreath.

Read more: India on guard: How well prepared are we to stop another terror attack?

7:30 am Google on Tuesday celebrated Indias Republic Day with a doodle of a tableau of camels carrying band members. The colourful doodle showed men on top of elaborately decorated camels. Unlike many of Googles previous doodles, this doodle does not have any animation.

7:00 am Capital under heavy security, one policeman at every 20 metres

A multi-layer security blanket has been thrown around the national capital with anti-aircraft guns and LMGs positioned at vantage points in view of intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the national capital.

Gunners have been given clear instructions to bring down any aerial object flying without permission. A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has been declared from 10.35 AM to 12.15 PM during which no flights will land or take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. ( Read more here )
Colourful tableaux, massive missiles, imposing tanks and elegant camels  what more can a self-photographer ask for in the background to record momentary privilege? As India celebrated its 67th Republic Day, selfies made a debut at Rajpath on Tuesday with no restrictions on carrying cellphones to the venue.

Since I had no place to deposit my cellphone, I left last year without watching the parade, said Lucknow resident Madhav Singh. But, this year I have clicked many pictures. And they are certainly going up on Facebook and WhatsApp.

The selfie phenomenon has become increasingly popular with the global proliferation of smartphones that have built-in digital cameras, and the ability to share photos instantly on social media to engage ones network in real time events.

As the excited crowd settled in, waiting for the sun to shine, dignitaries formed favourite subjects for photos. Visitors broke into applause when defence minister Manohar Parrikar welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Soon, people were craning their necks and standing on their toes with mobiles held high. Some even tried to snap selfies with a turbaned Modi in the background. With my mobile camera, I could click a selfie with the French President; of course, with him in the background, said Raman Singhal, who had come from Gurgaon.

The craze also created problems for some visitors who could not get a clear view of the parade as people kept standing up with their phones. People here are busier capturing the moment than enjoying it, said Delhi resident Vinay Kumar.

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Three foreign nationals including a Syrian, have been detained in connection with a letter threatening to harm Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as security was stepped up at vital establishments and crowded places in Goa.

A Syrian national, whose identity was not disclosed, was detained on Monday night and he is being questioned, inspector general of police Sunil Garg told reporters on Tuesday when asked about progress in the threat letter case.

The letter, received at the state secretariat on January 13, had ISIS (another acronym for the terror group) written on it and threatened to harm Modi and also defence minister Manohar Parrikar.

Sympathisers of the terror outfit are suspected to be involved in radicalising youth in India.

His (Syrian national) visa has expired and he has been overstaying, Garg added. Two more foreigners - from Yemen and Nigeria - were taken into custody from a casino and are being interrogated separately, said another police official, adding they were staying in the state after expiry of their visas.

Meanwhile, vigil at key establishments and crowded places has been stepped up in Goa, which saw additional rush of domestic tourists over the weekend due to Republic Day holiday.

The government is concerned about security of citizens and is taking all measures required, chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters on the margins of an event here. superintendents of police of both districts (South and North Goa) have reviewed security around vital establishments under their jurisdiction. Gun-wielding policemen have been posted at at these places, another officer said.

Police have increased surveillance at the beaches, churches, temples and other popular tourist spots, he said.

Superintendent of police (special branch) Bosco George said security of VIPs has also been revamped.

We requested Parrikar to accept Z plus security cover while in Goa and he has agreed. Parrikar was moving around without Z plus security cover in Goa (his home state) during his visits, George said. Police have also intensified night patrolling, he said.
After the Dinanagar and Pathankot terror strikes, fingers are being pointed at the Border Security Force (BSF) for its failure to stop infiltration from across the international border and alleged connivance of some of its men with drug smugglers.

The paramilitary force, tasked with guarding the border and preventing trans-national crime, has sacked and jailed seven of its personnel for colluding with the drug mafia, while 108 others have been shifted since 2011 due to suspicious activities, according to information available with the intelligence wing of the BSFs Punjab frontier headquarters in Jalandhar.

Of these seven cases, four, including the recent arrest of a jawan by the police in SAS Nagar, were handed over by the BSF to the state police for investigation, citing the involvement of civilians also.

BSF inspector general, Punjab frontier, Anil Paliwal says the intelligence and vigilance wings keep tabs on all personnel even during their leave period, especially those who belong to the smuggling-prone area.

Transfers are based on reports given by our intelligence wing about their activities or due to complaints regarding doubtful conduct during the posting or leave period, he adds. Other BSF officers also reason that the transfers do not mean that these personnel were involved in any illegal activity on the border. Since 2014, the BSF has also adopted a policy not to offer the home district to any soldier or official. Postings are also not given in buffer districts (two nearby districts from both sides).

Record seizure of contraband

Notwithstanding the flak, the BSF has made the second biggest seizure of heroin and other narcotic drugs on the Indo-Pak border along Punjab in 2015 after setting a record in 2014. A total of 344-kg heroin was seized in 2015 as compared to 361 kg in the previous year.

Though repeatedly blamed by the Punjab government for drug smuggling, the record seizures, despite a drop in heroin production in Afghanistan as per a United Nations (UN) report, are seen by the paramilitary force as a positive sign.

In the past two years, we have enhanced vigil along the border. The numbers speak for themselves. In 2011, 67 kg of heroin was seized, according to Paliwal.

As for intrusion, 21 smugglers and 15 intruders have been gunned down by the BSF since 2011. In addition, 122 Pakistani nationals were caught while crossing the border, mainly for the purpose of smuggling or spying.

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Authorities stopped on Tuesday dozens of female activists heading towards a temple in Maharashtras Ahmednagar district, foiling a bid to end a centuries-old ban on women entering its inner sanctum.

Police hemmed in marching members of the Pune-based Bhumata Ranragini Brigade (BRB) and detained its chief, Trupti Desai, a day after she threatened her volunteers would abseil from a helicopter and offer prayers at the sacred platform of the Shani Shingnapur temple.

Why cant we worship our deity? Despite the fact that we were going ahead peacefully, police stopped us, said Desai. The country is celebrating Republic Dayfor us its a black day.

The unique open temple, visited by thousands of pilgrims from India and abroad every year, has no walls or roof. A self-emerged five-foot high black stone stands on a platform and is worshipped as Lord Shani, a deity associated with the planet Saturn.

The controversy comes months after a woman entered the inner sanctum to offer prayers. The priests and local villagers then reportedly purified the area with milk and oil.

Sources say women are prohibited from praying at the holy place owing to a belief about harmful vibration emanating from Lord Shani.

Following the row, the temple elected a woman as its head for the first time, but Anita Shete made it clear that she would ensure the custom remains unbroken.

As head of the temple trust, I will fight till my last breath to defend the centuries-old tradition, she said. Over the past five years, the trust has decided not to even allow men on the platform where the deity is placed. We allow men and women to take a darshan (viewing) without climbing the platform.

Security was tightened around the temple and in nearby places as the district administration and police sealed all approaches to the shrine, while they stopped the demonstrators about 70km from the area.

To prevent the activists from entering the holy place, around 500 women, mainly local residents, had gathered since morning while villagers had formed a human chain to thwart the protesters from stepping onto the platform.

Shingnapur is famous because almost no thefts have been reported here despite the fact that houses in the village do not have doors, just door frames. Most residents never keep their valuables under lock and key, believing that the deity would punish anyone attempting to steal something.

The controversy comes at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing arguments from petitioners against Keralas Sabarimala temples no-women-allowed stricture, which they say violates the principle of equality guaranteed by the Constitution.

Minister of state for home Ram Shinde said the Maharashtra government would facilitate talks between the activists and Shani Shingnapur temple authorities over entry into the sacred sanctum.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Chintan Upadhyays advocate filed an application on Monday to seal the Juhu apartment and studio, jointly owned by the artist and his late wife, artist Hema Upadhyay, apprehending that false evidence may be planted against him.

Chintan is one of the accused in the murder case of Hema and her lawyer, Haresh Bhambani.

Advocate Amarendra Mishra, representing Chintan, filed the application at the Borivli metropolitan magistrate court. We have filed the application to seal two premises  a jointly-owned apartment and a studio. We are apprehensive about false evidence being planted to frame Chintan, he said. The court is likely to hear the application on Wednesday.

The Juhu apartment is accessible to Hemas family, alleged Chintans friends. The police have, however, not found any concrete evidence against Chintan but told the court he has been arrested based on circumstantial evidence.

Chintan and the other accused - Shivkumar Rajbhar, Vijay, Pradeep and a fifth accused alleged to be juvenile  were produced before the metropolitan court via videoconference. The magistrate court further extended the judicial custody of the five accused till February 8.

Hema and Bhambani were strangled at a Charkop warehouse on December 11. Their bodies were wrapped in cardboard boxes and dumped in a Kandivli sewer, which were found a day later.

The key accused in the case, Vidhyadhar Rajbhar, is still absconding. Police sources said he may be hiding in southern part of country. Hemas family has announced a reward of Rs1 lakh for information on Vidhyadhar.
The governor of Punjab and Haryana and UT administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki unfurled the National Flag at 67th Republic Day parade at the Sector 17 parade ground here on Tuesday.

Referring to Chandigarh as pride of India during his address, Solanki said: Chandigarh will turn out to be an ideal smart city and efforts are on to ensure 24 hour water and power supply, better transportation, environment protection and e-governance in the city. Chandigarh has already taken steps towards e-governance which include e-sampark, e- stamping, e-education, e-campus and gram sampark.

Talking about various initiatives, Solanki said that the city has bagged an industrial policy to ensure the success of Prime Ministers Make in India programme. Likewise, to promote Digital India programme, Chandigarh Administration has adopted the latest technologies to improve its efficiency, he said.

Highlighting the achievements of the city, he said that Chandigarh has been conferred with the Golden Icon Award for its e-sampark programme and CSI-Nihilant Award for being the best e-governed city.

Kaptan Singh Solanki also gave commendation certificates to 18 employees of the administration and general public for rendering outstanding services in the field of public services, art and culture, social services and sports. Around 28 police personnel were also conferred with the Administrators Police Medal for their distinguished and meritorious services. A colorful cultural programme, consisting of Lavni and Bhangra dance, were also presented by school students during the function.

UT adviser Vijay Dev, home secretary Anurag Agarwal and finance secretary Sarvjit Singh, Ajit Balaji Joshi, IGP RP Upadhyaya were also present during the function.

The UT administrator also declared a holiday in all private and government schools of the city on Wednesday.
Punjab has not received the prestigious National Bravery Award given every year to brave children for the past four years.

Officials of the Child Welfare Council of Punjab, the body entrusted with nominating courageous children, said they have not received any application for the same in more than three years.

The award is conferred to give due recognition to the children up to the age of 16 for acts of bravery. The National Bravery Award was initiated by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) to encourage children to perform outstanding acts of bravery and to inspire others to emulate their example.

As many as 25 bravehearts from across the country were given the award by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for the year 2015 and these heroes will be attending the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. The awardees received a medal, certificate and cash award.

The courageous children who got the awards this year belong to Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Telangana, Odisha, Kerala and Maharashtra.

Pritam Sandhu, general secretary, Child Welfare Council Punjab, said, We invite applications from every district and advertise them on a large scale.

We have councils in every district. We inform them and then check the response. We also advertise in various newspapers and release posters. It is unfortunate that we have not received a single application recently, added Sandhu. She further said next time the council will publicise this better so that people become aware and send applications.

Gurjeevan, 11, from Mansa had got the award in 2011 for foiling a bank robbery bid in the district. When some armed men tried to rob a bank at Phaphde Bhai Ke village, the fearless boy picked up stones and hurled them at the robbers. The robbers were nabbed.
Sending flowers is considered a message of goodwill, but a horticulture inspector with the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has found  to his expense  that the gesture can backfire as well, if the top brass is not on the same page. He finds himself suspended twice in less than three weeks. Here goes his thorny tale of sending flowers.

In December, the official, Mannu Singh, sent 25 flower pots of chrysanthemum to CHB chairman Maninder Singh and 50 flower pots to CHB chief executive officer SB Deepak Kumar as well.

In both cases, the officers were not informed that he was sending the flowers.

However, his idea backfired and the chairman took offence to the unsolicited gift and asked him to report to his office, something he failed to do.

Finally, on January 7, the chairman suspended him. However, when chairman Maninder Singh , was away to Nagpur to attend a three-day e-governance workshop from January 21, the CEO Kumar who held the charge of chairman, reinstated Mannu.

Again on Monday, when the chairman returned and took charge, Mannu was promptly suspended again.

Sources in the CHB said that as per norms, the CEO was holding only routine charge and did not have powers to reinstate any individual suspended by the chairman.

When contacted on the issue, board chairman Maninder Singh refused to comment on the issue. CEO SB Deepak Kumar did not respond to calls and SMS on his mobile phone.

Mannu Singh said, I am busy now.

HT has learnt that the issue of the suspension, reinstatement and suspension again would be taken up in a board meeting on January 28.

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A rogue policeman collaborating with insurgents in southern Afghanistan shot dead 10 colleagues on Tuesday after first poisoning their food, an official said.

The latest in a long series of so-called insider attacks took place at a checkpoint in the Chenartu district of the volatile southern province of Uruzgan, district chief Faiz Mohmmad told Reuters.

He said security forces were looking for the policemen and the presumed Taliban allies who joined him in shooting his colleagues in the early hours of Tuesday.

After the shooting, the policeman and Taliban stole their weapons and burnt the checkpoint and a police vehicle, Faiz Mohmmad said.

The Taliban have not claimed responsibility for the attack.

Uruzgan, which borders the traditional Taliban strongholds of Helmand and Kandahar provinces, was the scene of a similar incident last week when four police shot and killed nine colleagues before joining the Taliban with weapons and equipment.

Insider attacks have been a major problem among security forces struggling with low morale and high desertion rates and there have been repeated instances of police and soldiers going over to the Taliban.

The Taliban, ousted from power in 2001 by US-led forces, have stepped up their insurgency since the withdrawal of most foreign troops in 2014 and have launched a concentrated campaign in Helmand and other southern provinces.
Founder of the Bikram yoga, Bikram Choudhury was ordered to pay USD 924,500 on Monday to a former legal adviser who said she was fired for investigating sexual misconduct charges against him, media reported.

Minakshi Jafa-Bodden, the former personal attorney of the celebrity yoga guru, was awarded compensatory damages by a Los Angeles jury for claims of discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and of suffering sexual harassment herself, The Los Angeles Times reported.

During the trial, Choudhury had dismissed the accusations as big lies and said Jafa-Bodden was let go because she did not have a license to practice law in the United States, the Times and other media reported. I dont do that I dont have to, the 69-year-old apparently testified.

The jury found that Choudhury acted with malice, oppression and fraud  findings that allowed Minakshi to seek punitive damages. Minakshi claimed that Choudhury persuaded her to leave her native India to work for him as his general counsel in 2011. During her employment, she alleged, Choudhury repeatedly sexually harassed her and subjected her to obscene comments. Other allegations included harassment, misconduct and rape of one of his female students.

This verdict sends an important message, that speaking out when you see signs of sexual abuse is the right thing to do, Minakshis lawyers said.

The lawsuit is one of multiple cases of alleged sexual assault filed against Choudhury, who built a yoga empire in the US after moving to California in 1971. Choudhury gained millions of followers through his style of yoga, which consists of a series of 26 poses, done over 90 minutes in a room heated to 104 degrees. Choudhury also published a book in 1979 with descriptions, photographs and drawings of his signature postures and two breathing exercises yoga sequence.

Six other women in recent years have sued Choudhury, alleging that he sexually assaulted or harassed them.
A detained Swedish non-profit worker accused of jeopardising Chinas national security has been expelled from the country and is heading back home, reports said on Tuesday.

Peter Jesper Dahlin was put on a flight to Sweden after more than three weeks in detention, the Swedish embassy confirmed to media without giving details.

He was picked up early in January at the international airport.

Chinas state-run television telecast a purported confession by Dahlin, 35, last week. He appeared remorseful in the telecast and expressed regret for his deeds.

I violated Chinese law through my activities here, Ive caused harm to the Chinese government, I have hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. I apologise sincerely for this and I regret that this ever happened, Dahlin said during the broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV).

The Swedish embassy issued a statement that expressed concern at the cases of Dahlin and another Swedish national, Gui Minhai.

The embassy regrets to note the repeated denial of consular access to Mr Gui Minhai (a Honk Kong-based publisher) and we request renewed consular access to Mr Peter Dahlin. Many unanswered questions remain in both cases and we continue to request clarification of what our citizens are being accused of and the formal status of their arrests, the statement said.

Dahlin was co-founder of the China Urgent Action Working Group (CUAWG), which described the confession as apparently forced, according to a report by the AP. The group also rejected accusations that it manufactured or escalated conflicts inside China.

The group says it has been working since 2009 to help advance the rule of law by organising training programs by lawyers for rights defenders focusing on land rights and administrative law. It also releases practical guides on the Chinese legal system, the AP report said.

State-run Xinhua news agency quoted the police as saying that the CUAWG hired and trained others, who were called lawyers and petitioners, to gather, distort, exaggerate and even fabricate negative information about China, providing the so-called Chinas human rights report to overseas organisations.

Dahlins detention is being seen as part of Beijings widening crackdown on lawyers and rights activists. According to the BBC, more than 280 lawyers, associates and activists were detained last year.
Denmarks Parliament on Tuesday adopted reforms aimed at dissuading migrants from seeking asylum by delaying family reunifications and allowing authorities to seize valuables, under legislation that has sparked widespread condemnation.

The government insists the law is needed to stem the flow of refugees even though Denmark and Sweden recently tightened their borders -- a move that prompted Germany and Austria to turn back new arrivals heading for Scandinavia.

After just under four hours of debate, the bill presented by the right-wing minority government of Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen was approved by 81 of the 109 lawmakers present.

Approval had been widely expected, as the main opposition party, the Social Democrats, backed the measures as did two small rightwing parties.

Theres no simple answer for a single country, but until the world comes together on a joint solution (to the migrant crisis), Denmark needs to act, MP Jakob Ellemann-Jensen of Rasmussens Venstre party said during the debate.

The legislation had stirred great controversy, but Rasmussen defended it as the most misunderstood bill in Denmarks history.

International outrage focused on plans to allow police to seize cash and valuables from refugees to help pay for their stay in asylum centres, while rights activists blasted a proposed three-year delay for family reunifications as a breach of international conventions.

Some likened the Danish proposals to the confiscation of gold and other valuables from Jews by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

What is the alternative?

Rasmussen shrugged off the criticism, seemingly more concerned with opinion polls showing that 70 percent of Danes rank immigration as their top political concern.

Social Democrat Dan Jorgensen addressed opponents of the bill, demanding: To those saying what we are doing is wrong, my question is: What is your alternative?

The alternative is that we continue to be (one of) the most attractive countries in Europe to come to, and then we end up like Sweden.

Copenhagen has often referred to neighbouring Sweden as a bad example, where 163,000 asylum applications were submitted last year -- five times more than in Denmark relative to their population size.

Denmarks minority government eventually backtracked on parts of the plan to confiscate migrants valuables in order to secure wider backing.

Asylum-seekers will now have to hand over cash exceeding 10,000 kroner (1,340 euros, $1,450) and any individual items valued at more than that amount, up from the initial 3,000 kroner proposed.

After thorny negotiations with the other parties, integration minister Inger Stojberg agreed to exempt wedding rings and other items of sentimental value.

The government points out that Danes seeking to qualify for social benefits sometimes also have to sell their valuables.

However, they are not subjected to the kind of searches proposed in the new asylum law.

Plain wrong

Once a champion of refugee rights, the Scandinavian countrys goal is now to become significantly less attractive for asylum-seekers, Stojberg said.

The tone in the public debate about refugees and immigrants has undoubtedly become tougher, Kashif Ahmad, the leader of the National Party, which hopes to enter Parliament by targeting the immigrant vote, told AFP.

John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia director at Amnesty International, said the law was plain wrong and a sad reflection of how far Denmark has strayed from its historic support of international norms in the Refugee Convention.

European states must stop this dismal race to the bottom and begin to meet their international obligations, by upholding refugees human rights and dignity, said Dalhuisen. Anything less is a betrayal of our common humanity.

But Marcus Knuth, Venstres spokesperson on integration issues, said such criticism was unfair.

Denmark continues to be one of the most welcoming and caring places that you can seek asylum in. So the criticism that all of a sudden we were doing something wrong we find highly, highly unfair, he told AFP.

We simply wish to be put more at par with other European countries so that we are not one of the countries that receive by far the most asylum-seekers.

Home to 5.6 million people, Denmark registered 21,000 asylum applications in 2015, making it one of the top EU destinations per capita.

Criticism had mounted ahead of Tuesdays vote, with the UN refugee agency UNHCR and the Council of Europe questioning compatibility with international conventions.

But Rasmussen, whose party won a June election after promising an immediate slowdown of Denmarks refugee influx, was unfazed, arguing in turn that the UN Refugee Convention may need to be changed if refugees keep pouring into Europe.

Twenty-seven MPs voted against the bill in the one-chamber Parliament, including three dissenting Social Democrats. A legislator for Greenland, a Danish territory, abstained and 70 MPs did not take part.

The bill is scheduled to be signed into law by Denmarks Queen Margrethe within a few days.

Read more

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Google on Tuesday published a bold, unconventional doodle to mark the controversial Australia Day which is also known as Invasion Day by many.

January 26 is celebrated as Australia Day and marks the arrival of the first European fleet to Botany Bay in Sydney, 1778. The doodle which appeared on google.com.au homepage features Australian aborigines, the indigenous population of the nation continent.

A weeping mother sits in an ochre desert, dreaming of her children and a life that never was all that remains is red sand, tears and the whispers of her stolen dreamtime, the description of the doodle said.

According to critics, the day ironically commemorates the advent of colonialism, followed by clashes, persecution and suffering of Australian aborigines at the hands of the white settlers.

The doodle Stolen Dreamtime is the creation of a Canberra High School student Ineka Voigt, whose design was selected from over 24,000 submissions in the Doodle 4 Google National contest held for Australian kids across the country last year.

Its a powerful and beautiful image that is not only a brilliant artwork but helps bring attention to the critical issue of reconciliation in Australia, Google Australias brand and events marketing manager Leticia Lentini was quoted as saying in media reports.

We are proud to have it on our homepage today, Lentini said.

Clearly, Googles unprecedented move has raged a fierce debate over the tumultuous history of the land Down Under.
The founder of the Bikram yoga practice was ordered to pay $924,500 on Monday to a former legal adviser who said she was fired for investigating sexual misconduct charges against her employer, media reported.

Minakshi Jafa-Bodden, the former personal attorney of celebrity yoga guru Bikram Choudhury, was awarded compensatory damages by a Los Angeles jury for claims of discrimination, retaliation and of suffering sexual harassment herself, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Its an enormous vindication, said Jafa-Boddens attorney, Carla Minnard.

She said Choudhury sexually harassed Jafa-Bodden, inappropriately touched her, and tried to get her to stay with him in a hotel suite. Choudhury fired her in June 2013 when she began investigating claims from other women of sexual abuse, Minnard said.

Choudhurys attorney, Robert Tafoya, did not return a call for comment.

Choudhury, 69, has built an empire around Bikram yoga, a rigorous, 90-minute routine performed in a room that can reach more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). The technique is taught at more than 650 studios worldwide and has drawn a throng of devoted followers.

Mondays verdict is just the latest bad news for Choudhury.

In October, the guru lost a court appeal to copyright his sequence of 26 poses and two breathing exercises. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the sequence used in hot yoga classes is a process intended to improve peoples health, so copyright law does not cover it.

Choudhury is also facing lawsuits by six women who claim he sexually assaulted them, the first of which is set for trial in April.

The most recent lawsuit, filed last February 13, accused Choudhury of raping a Canadian woman who said she used $10,000 from her college fund to pay for a nine-week class so she could teach Bikram yoga to others.
Even as moderate Madhesi parties wage a movement to seek revision in Nepals new constitution, the country is witnessing a nascent separatist movement in the Tarai.

The free Madhes campaign is led by CK Raut, who was arrested by the Nepali government and charged with treason in 2014. He was acquitted by a Special Court and lives in the Tarai town of Rajbiraj, under close state surveillance.

In Delhi on a private visit, he spoke exclusively to the Hindustan Times on his personal trajectory, why he seeks a free Tarai, expectations from India, and if such a campaign can be successful in 21st century South Asia.

Q. Why do you want an independent Madhes?

A. This is not a matter of only Nepal or Madhes. Wherever there is colonial rule in the world, the only solution is complete freedom from the colonising force and that is why we have selected this method. No other means, be it federalism or anything else, can provide a solution for colonial rule.

Read: Madhesi front announces fresh protest after shunning statute rejig

Q. What makes you say Tarai is a colony of Nepal?

A. There are several reasons. One, look at the army. Ninety five percent of the army present in the Madhes hails from outside Madhes, ie from pahad, hills. Even in India, during colonial rule, only 3 to 5% of the armed forces were from Britain. The Tarai is heavily colonised by the pahadi invading force.

Two, in colonisation, people from ruling class migrate and settle there. In 1951, people from ruling class constituted 6% in Tarai but today, it is 36%. This is one- sided migration. Three, even up to 1958, Madhesis required a visa to enter Kathmandu, which proves that we had a separate existence until then.

Fourth, in colonial rule, the colonial power goes to colonised land and exploits resources and brings it back. In Madhes, pahadi ruling class came to Madhes, exploited land, forest and rivers, raised revenues and took it back to the original place. Three-fourths of the revenue is collected from Tarai, but only 10% of the budget is spent on Tarai. There is cash flow from the Tarai to the hills. And fifth, the colonisers impose their language and culture in colonised territory. And in the Madhes, they have imposed the Nepali language and Nepali dress. This is all evidence for colonisation.

Democracy and violence

Q. Even if you are right historically, with democracy, isnt there a possibility of accommodating Madhesis within the ruling structures of Nepal? In the last 10 years, there has been a Madhesi president and vice-president; there were over 200 Madhesis in the legislature; there is increased representation in bureaucracy. Should this process of integration and inclusion not be supported?

Read: 3 Madhesi protesters killed in fresh violence in Nepal

A. For democracy, you need freedom of choice. But that is not possible without liberation. On inclusion, it is not just a matter of numbers or proportion. During British rule, Indians outnumbered British in administration or bureaucracy but the British ruled India. The issue is the quality of inclusion. A small group of the ruling class can have the final say. It does not matter if a Madhesi could become president or vice-president; they could not practice their due rights granted by the constitution. They could barely rise above being second class citizens.

Q. There are other problems with a secessionist movement. The first is it will invite repression. And the second it is not feasible. South Asias map has not been redrawn since 1971 and will not happen now. Isnt this a futile cause?

A. In todays world, human rights have been established. There is well established international law. We can say that in this era of international order, there is a good mechanism for waging a peaceful revolution and asking for liberation. And there are already proper mechanisms like referendum that can liberate a land.

And second, it is not impossible at all. For example, 70 years ago, only 51 countries were registered in UN and now we have 193. In the past 25 years, more than 30 countries have got independence. It is not impossible.

Q. So is your immediate demand a referendum?

A. Yes. We want a referendum in the Tarai on the question of whether Tarai wants to be independent from Nepal or not.

Q. And what if the majority of the people in Tarai say they want to be a part of Nepal. Will you accept it?

A. Yes, I will accept it.

Q. Whenever you raise such an issue, it is inevitable that elements will pick up the gun. Peaceful movements are seen as ineffective for a cause like this. Dont you think your demand will lead to violence and counter violence?

A. I am fully committed to non violence for both reasons of principle and pragmatism. The world is more united against violence than ever. There is no place for it. Second, even if you achieve independence with violent means, you cannot keep it for a long time. We have seen that with the Tamils in Sri Lanka and even the Maoists in Nepal.

People doubt the effectiveness of non violence, but research shows that with non violence, success rate is 70% while it is only 10% for violent movements. The third reason is that wherever there is violence, that society is most affected. We dont want Madhes to be affected like Sudan and African countries.

Q. Where did the Tamils go wrong in your assessment?

A. The whole problem was the violent means. That was a complete mistake. That is why despite hundreds of thousands of Tamils being killed, the international community could not take any significant measures.

The Tarais internal dynamic

Q. The Tarai itself is so diverse. There are multiple castes within Madhesis; there are Tharus; there are Muslims. What makes you think they all want to live together, but separately from Nepal?

A. These are artificially created divisions by the Nepali state so that the ruling class can appear strong. But we are well connected by our language, culture, history and aspirations. The most effective uniting factor is that we are all discriminated and tortured by the Nepali state.

Q. But this is a negative conception of nationalism. You want to build nationalism based on only a common enemy ie the Nepali state? What is the positive thing that binds you?

A. This is just one aspect of nationalism - a common mental aspiration or expression. Madhesis also share other aspects like history, culture, language, economic structures.

Q. But even there, one could argue that history as the Dalit sees it, as the Tharu sees it, as an upper caste Madhesis, as a Muslim sees it is different. One could argue that there is no common language either. How would you respond to that?

A. As I said, those differences are created and projected by the Nepali ruling class. Look at language  you can go from Jhapa to Kanchanpur, and speak in one language, which is Hindi. But the ruling class people taught us that Hindi is not our language, and we must not speak it. You can see the conspiracy right there.

Q. You mentioned that divisions are a creation of Kathmandu. But caste is not a product of Kathmandus politics. The fact that women in Madhes are treated unequally is not because of Kathmandu. Arent these the real problems in Tarai?

A. The caste question is not unique to Madhes. It has been a feature in the Indian subcontinent. Once we have control, we can handle it. The whole control is out of our hands. As long as that key does not come in our hand, we cannot solve anything. That key is freedom. Once we have it, we can take decisions and form a strategy.

Q. As you said earlier, over one-third of the population in Tarai includes people of hill origin. They would, one can assume, strongly oppose any secessionist movement. How will you deal with that?

A. We are not against any community. This is the end of colonial rule for everyone living in the Tarai, and not just one community or the other. Two, even in the US it was the British immigrants who participated in the struggle for independence. In India, AO Hume or Annie Besant supported the nationalists.

We would urge people of hill origin to join the movement. And finally, when the Tarai is colonised, when it is deprived of its share of resources and budget, the pahadis living there also suffer. So it is for their rights too.

Constitution and the Madhes andolan

Q. How do you see the current constitution?

A. The ruling class has done its best job for preserving its agenda and benefits. It is not surprising at all. It is not for Madhesis at all. All articles have been written to exploit Madhesis.

Q. There is a movement underway to revise those aspects of the constitution which Madhes sees as discriminatory. Do you have views on that?

A. We have already done enough movements in the past with the same agenda. That has proven futile. This time, it is coming out of sheer frustration, rather than any definite agenda. The Madhesi parties have not been very consistent in demanding how many federal provinces should be in Tarai. The demands have been wavering.

Q. How do you assess the role of the moderate Madhesi parties?

A. I will say that basically they understand there wont be any achievement except building their party base. Their effort must be appreciated for keeping the movement alive for five months, and preventing any major ethnic clashes and violence during this time.

Q. Do you think that the movement will bring about change the structure of the Nepali constitution and state?

The ruling class has been clear about it - that they do not want to give rights. We are not clear. The problem is with us. Our Madhesi leaders are not clear. They are just busy strengthening their party base. This movement will prolong till the next elections, and everything will be forgotten. The issue will get lost. The movement will end. There will be normal political procedure. Kathmandu has already been victorious. They have not even consulted the Madhesi parties during the recent amendment process.

The politics of sedition

Q. If Kathmandu wins, then what happens? Does your movement become stronger?

A. Yes, yes. If we have can have a referendum right now, it will show that majority of Madhesis already want independence. There is only one way left now.

Q. If there is no referendum and independence is not granted, what happens then?

A. We should not be seeking independence as being granted from them. We should be holding elections, forming our own legislature, and government. It is under our own control. When we are prepared, we should form the government and seek recognition from international community. It is a question of our preparedness.

Q. But that will be sedition and the Nepali state will crack down?

A. That is why we are doing this through peaceful means. If hundreds of thousands of people rise, then the state cannot crack down and charge treason against all of them.

Q. You were arrested last year on sedition. What are that experience like?

A. It was a great experience. I am proud of the time in jail. It gave me a lot of confidence in myself and my way. It also showed the power of non violence. There are many armed groups in existence but the state did not go after them, but us because they know power lies in non violence.

Q. You dont think asking for independence is sedition?

A. Not at all  because sovereignty lies with the people and it is the people who should decide whether Madhes or any region should be independent or not.

Q. Where are you getting support from? Such a movement cannot run on air. There has to be financing, organisation.

A. From the people, the general mass of Madhes. Once they understand why we need independence, they are ready to sacrifice everything because nothing is more valuable than freedom.

Indias role

Q. How do you see Indias role at the current moment and what is your expectation from Delhi?

A. India has a unique role about Madhesis. It has a great responsibility to ensure that Madhesis are not prosecuted. India has played a positive role. Because of the open border and other affinities, India cannot close its eyes at all. If the region becomes violent, it will affect India. During the current movement itself, thousands of Madhesis sought refuge in India. And if the violence increases, that number will significantly increase. If Madhes does not become independent in the next 15 years, there may be hundreds of thousands of Madhesi refugees in India.

Q. But India values its state to state relationship with Nepal; it is committed to Nepals unity and territorial integrity.

Why should India take a stand in favour of a break up of a friendly state? It has not done so anywhere in the region.

A. The last five months has proved that Madhesis will not get any rights within Nepal. It has also proved that Nepal is not in the hands of India. It is in the best interests of India to support a free Madhes because that will lead to a friendly, stable and peaceful neighbour which is Madhes rather than having a violent trodden, communist region that is Nepal.

Personal trajectory

Q. You were among the most successful Madhesi professionals in Nepal  you studied on a scholarship in Japan, and then did a PhD from Cambridge, and you were working in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Most people would like to move from Rajbiraj to Boston, you came back when you could be earning thousands of dollars. Why?

A. I used to make that kind of money. The thing is that once you satiate material desires and pass all those levels of human needs, then you start looking beyond personal and familial needs. Once I became what people call successful, I started looking beyond myself  to my society and when I looked beyond, I saw poor Madhesi people and the problems they were facing.

And because I was at the top of the ladder, I felt it is my responsibility as well to solve those problems. I had worked for two years in the US, and planned to stay for ten years there. But I went on a tour from Mechhi to Mahakali across the Tarai and during that tour, I saw many pitiful scenes of Madhes. People far from my home looked at me with pitiful eyes, hoping I would give a solution. That journey forced me to decide that I must return from the US immediately and do whatever I can on this very land.

Q. Was there a particular moment when you decided you would fight for Madhesi freedom? What was the trigger?

A. Prior to the Hrithik Roshan scandal in December 2000, I used to consider myself a true Nepali. That incident turned me into a Madhesi. For an alleged anti-Nepali remark from Hrithik Roshan, riots were triggered across Nepal and Madhesis were targeted. (Roshan denied making such comments). I was an engineering student in Kathmandu and was staying there during my winter vacation.

I observed it first hand; saw Madhesis severely beaten. Houses of Madhesis were burnt. I was a victim from my own close friends. That incident actually forced me to look at myself and search for my identity and nationality. I was questioned that I was not a Nepali when I considered myself someone ready to die for Nepal.

I was not very open about it because I also had a spiritual inclination. I was always in a dilemma  whether to pursue spiritualism or fight for identity, dignity and rights. I went on a spiritual tour across India and I realized there is no way to run away from ones own identity. That forced me to fight for my identity and nationality. That was the turning point of my life. Then I became an advocate for independence.

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Malaysian authorities on Tuesday launched search operations for a boat carrying up to 35 people, after 13 bodies washed up on a beach in the southern state of Johor.

Police discovered the bodies at a beach in near the town of Bandar Penawar earlier in the day.

District police chief Rahmat Othman said the boat had come from Indonesia and was carrying illegal migrants. Up to 35 people were believed to have been on the boat, police said.

Authorities in Jakarta said the boat had capsized after being hit by strong waves.

ID cards from Indonesia were found, on the 13 victims, Indonesian foreign ministry spokesperson Armanatha Nasir said in a text message.
The mother of a young man dubbed Jihadi Jack following reports he was the first white Briton to join Islamic State has said it is ridiculous to suggest that her son is a terrorist.

Sally Letts said her son Jack, 20, from Oxford, was not a member of the terrorist organisation and had gone to Syria to do humanitarian work.

Over the weekend it was reported that her son now used the name Ibrahim Abu Mohammed and was believed to be living in Raqqa, the de facto capital of Islamic State.

She said she had spoken to him on Sunday and confirmed he had left for Syria in 2014. But she said the press had got it entirely wrong.

We spoke to him yesterday and he said he had never had a weapon in his life. He went out there for humanitarian purposes to help kids in Syrian refugee camps.

It is not as if he is hiding anything  he tells us what he has for breakfast. All this is absolutely ridiculous, it is shocking, she told the Evening Standard.

She said reports he was married may be true but reports that he had a son were not. He is not a member of IS; he is very probably not the first white convert that has gone out there. He does not have a son and is not known as Abu Mohammed, she said.

His mother said the family were worried sick about his welfare because he was in a war-torn country. He is in danger every single moment of the day, she said.

He is very naive, very misguided. He wanted to do good in the world and wanted to see for himself. The fact is he did not see the danger or think about his own safety. We wake every single morning not knowing whether he is alive or dead.

Letts, a former student of Cherwell School, Oxford, was said to have become interested in Islam following the Arab spring of 2011 and started attending the Madina mosque in central Oxford.

His father, Canadian-born John Letts, is a farmer known for his organic wheat.

Jack Letts been under investigation by police for the past year and his mother said the family house had been raided by anti-terror police repeatedly, with computers and a mobile phone seized. But the family said the police had no evidence he had done anything wrong.

Sally Letts said the family, who were pretty well secular, were not opposed to their sons conversion. He is entitled to choose his religion.

When he left Britain in 2014 he told his parents he was going to Kuwait to study Arabic, but he subsequently told them he had gone to Syria. We were in utter shock. We have been trying to convince him to come back, she said.

She said he was initially working with refugees in Syria, where millions have been displaced by the war, and most recently had been helping in a hospital.

She said he categorically denied being a member of IS when asked by the family. He repeatedly said he is not with IS, and he does not lie. He believes it is un-Islamic to lie and if he does he will go straight to hell, so there is no doubt whatsoever.

He has worked in a hospital, done some teaching, done some translating He is integrated with the population.

She said the press made up the moniker Jihadi Jack because it suited them, not because of any evidence.

There are civilians out there despite great risk to themselves and are just assumed to be terrorists. They [the media] have lost Jihadi John so Jihadi Jack fits perfectly.

The imam of Madina mosque, Ahmed Qazi, told the Guardian that he did not remember Jack Letts. He said they had more than 1,000 worshippers and that the mosque condemns Isis.

The Counter Terror Command at the Metropolitan police said it did not comment on individual cases, but said it investigated everyone who returned to the UK to establish if crimes had been committed or whether a person was a threat to the UK.
Pakistans influential army chief on Monday said he would step down at the end of his three-year term in November, the militarys public relations wing said, breaking a precedent of military leaders seeking to extend their terms.

General Raheel Sharif is considered by many to be Pakistans most powerful man.

Since he took office in 2013, the army has launched aerial and ground assaults against Islamist insurgent strongholds near the Afghan border in the northwest, earning the military broad support from a Pakistani population tired of militant violence.

Critics say the crackdown has been selective, going after some militant groups, but leaving others intact.

Elements of Pakistans army have in the past been accused of tacitly supporting Islamist armed groups that launch attacks in Afghanistan and India as a way to pressure both neighbours.

The general has thrown his support behind elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during anti-government protests, while at the same time solidifying the militarys hold over national security and foreign policy.

General Sharif has also presided over a security crackdown in Karachi, the countrys largest city, which has sharply reduced murder rates but drawn protests from opposition politicians who say their activists have been targeted.

Under his watch, the military has been given authority to try civilians suspected of terrorism in secret military courts.

General Sharif is said to have been personally involved in efforts to bring the Afghan Taliban into peace talks with Afghanistan, though those efforts have stalled.

Speculation that General Sharif would seek to extend his tenure for another term was baseless, the armys public relations wing said in a series of tweets issued on Monday.

The Pakistan Army is a great institution. I dont believe in extension, he was quoted as saying.

General Sharifs decision would represent a win for democratic institutions, but raises questions on the future of campaigns against militants. No obvious candidate to succeed him has yet emerged.

General Sharif pledged that efforts to combat terrorism will continue with full vigor and resolve after he retired, the army tweets said.

Pakistans past two military chiefs had sought extensions of their terms instead of stepping down, with General Pervez Musharraf staging a coup to topple Nawaz Sharif during a previous term as prime minister.
Pakistani authorities have closed all the schools in the countrys largest province, Punjab, following an alert over possible militant attacks.

A government memo obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press says there is intelligence that 13 Taliban fighters from neighbouring Afghanistan were planning suicide attacks on schools in Pakistan.

The provinces education minister, Rana Mashood Ahmad, announced late on Monday that Punjab schools would remain closed till the end of the month. He didnt cite the government alert but said the closures were due to harsh winter weather and heavy fog in the province.

The warning comes a week after a breakaway Taliban faction attacked a northwestern university and killed 21 people, mostly students. That university reopened briefly on Monday but then closed indefinitely to give students time to recover from the incident.
Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharifs announcement that he will retire in November 2016 and not seek an extension has received a mixed response and triggered speculation on who will replace him in what is seen as the countrys most powerful post.

The announcement, made on Monday afternoon, came as a surprise but at the same time laid to rest speculation that Sharif would continue to serve as the army chief beyond November, when he is due to retire. In a statement, Sharif said he preferred to relinquish the job, unlike his two immediate predecessors.

I do not believe in extension and will retire on the due date, said Sharif, who will be the first army chief since 1998 to hang up his uniform after a three-year tenure.

Amid speculation about Sharifs successor, The News daily reported that the five lieutenant generals who would be the most senior commanders at the time of the army chiefs retirement are Maqsood Ahmad, Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Syed Wajid Hussain, Najib Ullah Khan and Ishfaq Nadeem.

Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the government welcomed the announcement as it put to rest certain rumours that were circulating in Islamabad. Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan added Sharif had set a good precedent by declaring his intention to step down at the end of his tenure.

Former president Asif Zardari, who gave an extension to Sharifs predecessor Gen Ashfaq Kayani, joined the chorus of approval.

But the business community gave a thumbs-down to the decision. Karachi Chamber of Commerce president Iftikhar Vohra, who led a 2015 campaign in which banners and billboards appeared all over the port city thanking the army chief for bringing peace to the city, said this was bad news for the business community.

Gen Raheel Sharif helped nab criminals that were being patronised by politicians, said Vohra. Now, we feel the criminals will once again resume their activities.

Vohra said it was Sharif who started a military operation in Karachi that led to a drop in criminal activity, especially the extortion racket.

A senior member of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce, Siraj Telli, said he would start a movement to make Sharif change his mind. We need a leader like him. I will petition in front of the PM House if needed.

Media analyst Adnan Rehmat said what was surprising in Pakistan was the fact that the army chief deciding to leave after completing his tenure made such big news. This tells you where the military stands in the state of affairs of the country.
At least 23 people, most of them from the Ahrar al Sham rebel group, were killed by a truck suicide bomber in Syrias Aleppo city on Monday, a monitor said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 19 fighters from the group and four civilians were killed in the blast in the Sukari district of the city.

The attack hit an Ahrar al Sham checkpoint at the entrance to a security complex belonging to the group.

The Observatory said several prisoners being held by Ahrar al Sham at a facility in the complex were also believed to have been killed, but it had no immediate toll.

The blast destroyed three buildings, and people were missing under the rubble, the monitor added.

It was unclear who was responsible for the blast, but Ahrar al Sham has been targeted by assassinations in the past.

In September 2014, most of its top leadership was wiped out in a devastating explosion at its headquarters in Idlib province that killed nearly 50 people.

And more recently, the group has seen several of its commanders among a string of Islamist rebels killed in mysterious targeted killings.

The attacks have not been claimed, and suspicion has fallen on either the regime or the Islamic State group, which considers all forces that have not pledged allegiance to it to be rivals.

Also on Monday, an Ahrar al Sham commander and 11 members of his family were killed in a Russian air strike on village between northern Idlib and western Aleppo province, the Observatory said.

The monitor said three children were among the dead, but gave no further details about the commander.

Ahrar al Sham is one of Syrias most powerful rebel groups, and is a leading member of the Army of Conquest alliance that controls Idlib province along with al Qaeda affiliate al Nusra Front.
Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday raised a question mark over his planned visit to India by saying it will be inappropriate for him to go to New Delhi as long as a blockade of border posts continues.

For more than five months, protest by Madhesis in the southern Terai region against Nepals new constitution has resulted in the blockading of key sections of the 1,868-m border.

Most of the 41 transit points along the southern portion of the border have been besieged by protestors demanding a redrawing of boundaries and greater representation in parliament.

During an interaction with editors at his residence here, Oli said he will not visit India until the situation in the Terai normalises, IANS reported. He expressed the hope the blockade at key border points will be lifted within a couple of days.

I believe in friendship between friends, political honesty among friends and upon my confidence...I am hopeful that the embargo at border points will be lifted, he said.

An India visit by Oli, the first foreign trip after he assumed office, was expected in late February, according to the Nepali media. But the leftist premier, who has been unwilling to address the grievances of Madhesi protestors, has declared his resolve not to visit New Delhi till the agitation in the Terai ends.

The Terai has almost 51% of Nepals population and gets only a third of seats in parliament.

Nepal is falling short of fuel, essential supplies and medicines because of the prolonged blockade. India has been urging Nepal to reach out to the discontented sections in the Terai region as soon as possible.
Lockheed Martin has revealed its new "spider eye" telescope, which is part of a new DARPA-funded project, that features a system with hundreds of tiny lenses, according to the Daily Mail. The project, dubbed the Segmented Plant Imaging Detector for Electro-Optical Reconnaissance (SPIDER), is designed to create telescopes that use a vast array of smaller lenses as opposed to the traditional telescopes that utilize just one large lens. Furthermore, the team claims that this design will allow telescope designs to shrink by a factor of 10 to 100.

Telescopes utilized in space require high-resolution imaging in order to properly resolve far away objects, which typically means bigger designs and thus higher costs for launching them into orbit. This lies in the fact that telescopes work by collecting light and reflecting it to create an image - for far away objects, this typically means a bigger telescope is needed, according to the Telegraph.

"We can only scale the size and weight of telescopes so much before it becomes impractical to launch them into orbit and beyond," said Danielle Wuchenich, senior research scientist at Lockheed Martin. "Besides, the way our eye works is not the only way to process images from the world around us."

In order to reduce telescope size, the SPIDER project is taking advantage of a technique called interferometry, which gathers photons using tiny lenses instead of bulky mirrors or larger lenses. These vast arrays are currently used in observatories around the world in order to collect data over long periods of time and eventually compiles it into extremely high-resolution images of space objects.

"What's new is the ability to build interferometer arrays that have the same number of channels as a digital camera," said senior fellow Alan Duncan, who also works at Lockheed Martin.

This technology also allows for more flexible configuration options for the eyes, reduced risk when in orbit and the move towards thin-disk shapes, such as squares and hexagons, as opposed to the cylindrical telescope shapes that dominate the field today, according to Tech Times.

The new project marks the first new telescope design since the original 400 years ago, according to Gizmag.

Take a look at the SPIDER technology below.

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Former president of El Salvador, Francisco Flores, is reported to be in a coma after a brain hemorrhage and is expected to undergo emergency surgery this weekend. His lawyer, Yanira Ticas, said on Monday that Flores, 56, was found unconscious in his home on Sunday night and taken to the hospital.

"He was unconscious, but with vital signs, when he was transported [to the hospital]," said Jose Cisneros, police chief in San Salvador, the nation's capital,reports La Prensa Grafica. Flores' lawyer said that the stroke has left him paralyzed "from his head to his feet," but according to TeleSUR this has not yet been confirmed by doctors.

This is the third instance in the past 18 months that Flores has been rushed to hospital with critical health issues. Since November 2014, he has been treated for thrombosis, or blood clotting, in the circulatory system.

Flores was president from 1999 to 2004. In 2014, he turned himself in to authorities for charges of embezzlement and financial misconduct. He has since been living under house arrest, under accusations of misappropriating $15 million (USD) that was donated to the country by Taiwan for earthquake relief during his term in office, TeleSUR explains.

He has been charged with diverting $5 million into a private bank account and using the remaining $10 million for his right-wing Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) party, as the Latin Correspondent explained. Flores denies the charges, saying that El Salvador has maintained "a privileged relationship" with Taiwan because it supported the nation's request for United Nations membership, according to the BBC.

Flores' trial was set to begin on Jan. 18, but on Jan. 7 it was postponed indefinitely after the attorney general of the Republic was unable to confirm the presence of witnesses who have relocated to Costa Rica, according to TeleSUR.

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Bandages made of crab shells could soon be on the market in the United Kingdom. Researchers at the University of Bolton have found a way to create wound dressings with chitosan, a mineral found in crustacean shells, according to the Daily Mail. The mineral has healing properties and can even kill bacteria.

"Alginate and chitosan both have a history of being used in medicine. Chitosan is naturally antimicrobial and accelerates wound healing activity, so it does heal and kill bacteria," lead research professor Mohsen Miraflab said.

Known as the alchite wound dressing, it is nearly ready for commercial sales, according to the University of Bolton website. It will be produced in China and sold to customers in the United Kingdom.

The team took 10 years to develop the bandage and the university claims they are the first team to be able to create a strong fiber for wound dressing.

Developers forecast they could make more than $350 million USD, according to the Mirror.

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Zika virus will most likely spread to all the countries across the Americas except Canada and Chile, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced in a statement Sunday. Zika virus will spread throughout the Americas where 'Aedes aegypti' mosquitoes, which transmit the virus in humans, are found - that is, in all countries and territories in the region except Canada and Chile. And because this is the first time that large populations are being exposed to Zika virus, the people in the region have not developed an immunity to it, a factor that could have driven its rapid spread, WHO said.

"We've got no drugs and we've got no vaccines," Trudie Lang, a professor from the University of Oxford, told Reuters. "It's a case of deja vu because that's exactly what we were saying with Ebola."

Although there is still much to discover about Zika virus and its effects on health, it is largely associated with infected pregnant women giving birth to babies with microcephaly. Health experts are also investigating a possible link between the virus and the rare Guillain Barre syndrome, which can cause paralysis and death, CBS News reported.

The virus has been isolated in human semen. There has also been one reported case of possible virus transmission through sexual contact, but it is not yet conclusive, WHO said.

Meanwhile, as health experts continue to know more about the disease, several countries, including Brazil, El Salvador, Colombia, Jamaica and Ecuador, have issued statements recommending that women delay getting pregnant until more information is available, the Washington Post reported.

WHO emphasized the need to prevent mosquito bites and to elminate possible breeding areas of mosquitoes.

"All people living in or visiting areas with 'Aedes' mosquitoes should protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-colored) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets, especially during the day when 'Aedes' mosquitoes are most active," the agency said.

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The chief of Pakistan Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP), Mullah Fazlullah, was reportedly killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan, Pakistan media reported.

Unconfirmed media reports said at least five people, including Fazlullah, his wife and his son, were killed in a drone strike carried out on the Pakistan Taliban chief's house in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on Monday evening, according to Daily Times.

The reports of Fazlullah's are death yet to be confirmed by the Pakistani authorities.

Afghan authorities, on the other hand, confirmed the killing of Taliban commander Qari Hedayatullah in the drone strike while saying that they don't have any information on Fazlullah's death, according to Hindustan Times.

"Earlier we had reports that he was living in Afghanistan's province of Nuristan. We don't know if he moved to Nangarhaar. However, Pakistani officials have said nothing of this sort right now as far as I know. They'll only say something after the confirmation," a senior Afghan journalist told Dunya News.

It is not first time reports about Fazlullah's death appeared in Pakistani media. Earlier, there were several reports of the Pakistan Taliban chief being killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan.

Mullah Fazlullah, known as "Mullah Radio," was the mastermind of the Peshawar school massacre that killed 148 people, mostly schoolchildren.

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The Russian defense ministry has dismissed reports that Moscow is planning to set up another airbase in Syria. "There are no 'new' airbases or an additional staging airfield for Russia's warplanes in the Syrian Arab Republic and there are no plans to create them," ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Monday, according to TASS news agency.

British newspaper, The Times, has claimed that Russia is setting up new airbase in Al-Qamishli province near Syria's Turkish border, according to Moscow Times.

"Speculations on this subject published by The Times are either an amateurish farce or a clumsy attempt of informational cover-up of Turkey's actions to amass troops near the Syrian border in the area of Al-Qamishli," Konashenkov said.

The spokeperson further pointed that Russian warplanes can cover the most distant part of the Syria within half an hour. "We have repeatedly said that the time of flight to any kind of target in the most remote point of this country for warplanes of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic roughly amounts to half-hour," he noted, according to Interfax news agency.

"Therefore, only absolute outsiders can seriously talk of any deployment of the Russian aviation in the populated area of Al Qamishli located at the Syrian-Turkish border," he added.

Russia started air raids against ISIS on Sept. 30, 2015 in support of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. The offensive has so far helped Assad's forces to recapture key areas in eastern Syria.

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At least 30 civilians were killed in four suicide bomb attacks in a remote town near Cameroon's border with Nigeria. More than 60 people were injured in the attacks, which occurred on Monday.

Two suicide bombers reportedly blew themselves up in a crowded local market of Bodo town while others struck at two separate locations in the town, according to Pulse Nigeria.

"There was a quadruple suicide bombing in the village of Bodo this morning," an official told Reuters news agency.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Authorities, however, blamed Nigeria-based militant group Boko Haram for the deadly attacks.

"We have information the four bombers came from Nigeria. We are investigating where they spent the night before attacking the market," regional governor Midjiyawa Bakari said, according to Al Jazeera.

Cameroon's communications minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, told reporters that the country's security forces had killed 17 militants in anti-Boko Haram raids into Nigeria. He also said Cameroon's forces would soon trace the militants involved in the Bodo bombings.

Cameroon is part of a regional task force set up to eliminate Boko Haram, which has killed nearly 20,000 people since 2009. Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Benin are four others nation member of the taskforce formed to fight the Nigeria-born militant group.

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Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has gained support among evangelical Christians, picking up an additional five points in just one week, according to a new poll released on Tuesday.

The real estate mogul now has 37 percent support from the group, while his rival, Ted Cruz, is at 20 percent, according to an NBC News/SurveyMonkey online poll released early Tuesday. Cruz, whose father is a pastor and has recruited religious leaders for the Texas senator campaign for the Republican party's nomination, dropped nine points from the previous week, according to Politico.

"I'm not surprised I'm doing very well with the evangelicals," Trump said during an interview on MSNBC Tuesday morning, according to The Hill.

The major shift may be attributed to the outreach to the evangelical community Trump, a Presbyterian, has conducted in recent weeks ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1.

Last week, Trump spoke to 13,000 people at Liberty University, the evangelical Christian college founded by Jerry Falwell, where he pitched himself as a protector of Christianity and evangelical Christians, in particular. "We're going to go right through the whole group, and I think we can do something really special. And 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," Trump said, according to Yahoo! News. "I hear this is a major theme right here."

Jerry Fallwell Jr. appeared to give his blessing to Trump, although the university cannot, by law, endorse candidates. "Donald Trump is a breath of fresh air," Falwell said, according to CNN, adding, "the American public is finally ready to elect a candidate who is not a career politician but rather who has succeeded in real life."

On a national scale in recent polling, Trump leads the GOP field with 36.2 percent support, according to averages of recent polling compiled by RealClear Politics. Cruz is in a distant second with 19.3 percent.

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Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said Monday that the FBI is ready to indict Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton over her private email arrangement and will go public with their findings if the U.S. attorney general fails pursue charges.

"I have friends that are in the FBI, and they tell me they're ready to indict," DeLay, a Texas Republican, told Newsmax's "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Monday. "They're ready to recommend an indictment and they also say that if the attorney general does not indict, they're going public."

During her tenure as secretary of state, Clinton skirted State Department protocol and opted to use a private email address that was run from her unsecured home-based server rather than use a government-provided account. The FBI opened an investigation in August to determine whether Clinton broke federal law by sending and receiving classified information over the system. More than 1,300 of Clinton's emails have been found to contain information that was retroactively classified, including some classified at levels higher than "top secret," and experts say that foreign governments and hackers were likely able to steal the information from Clinton's server.

"One way or another either she's going to be indicted, and that process begins, or we try her in the public eye with her campaign. One way or another she's going to have to face these charges," DeLay told Newsmax.

The comments came soon after reports emerged claiming that the FBI has expanded its investigation to include possible violations of public corruption laws. "The agents are investigating the possible intersection of Clinton Foundation donations, the dispensation of State Department contracts and whether regular processes were followed," one law enforcement source told Fox News.

Earlier this month, former U.S. attorney Joe DiGenova predicted that if Attorney General Loretta Lynch fails to indict Clinton, there will be a massive revolt inside the FBI.

"The [FBI] has so much information about criminal conduct by her and her staff that there is no way that they walk away from this. They are going to make a recommendation that people be charged and then Loretta Lynch is going to have the decision of a lifetime," DiGenova told Laura Ingraham in a radio interview, reported The Daily Caller.

"I believe that the evidence that the FBI is compiling will be so compelling that, unless [Lynch] agrees to the charges, there will be a massive revolt inside the FBI, which she will not be able to survive as an attorney general. It will be like Watergate. It will be unbelievable," he added.

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Try as he might, Dov Charney just can't win. The founder and previous CEO of American Apparel lost his bid for the bankrupt company he created when he was in college, the New York Times reports. Instead, the judge ruled in favor of a plan proposed by that company and its creditors that would see nearly $200 million in debt eliminated.

The decision was made by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brendan Shannon, according to Reuters. It puts the fate of the company in the hands of a group of hedge funds, Monarch Alternative Capital controlling a substantial number of the company's stores.

American Apparel filed for bankruptcy back in October, having not seen profits since 2009.

Ousted CEO Dov Charney commented on the court's decision. "I did the best that I could. They threw me out and made it worse," he said, Bloomberg reports.

Judge Shannon also commented on the decision, specifically Charney's proposal, saying, "The transaction offered as an alternative doesn't provide sufficient reason to reject the bid."

The decision comes after a two-day trial in which Charney tried to convince the judge of his plan to restore the company to what it once was with the help of his financial backers.

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President Obama on Monday ordered the Bureau of Prisons to halt the use of solitary confinement for juvenile offenders and low-level offenders, calling the practice overused and psychologically devastating.

"Research suggests that solitary confinement has the potential to lead to devastating, lasting psychological consequences. It has been linked to depression, alienation, withdrawal, a reduced ability to interact with others and the potential for violent behavior. Some studies indicate that it can worsen existing mental illnesses and even trigger new ones. Prisoners in solitary are more likely to commit suicide, especially juveniles and people with mental illnesses," Obama wrote in an op-ed in The Washington Post explaining his decision to adopt the Justice Department's recommendations to reform the federal prison system.

He continued: "The United States is a nation of second chances, but the experience of solitary confinement too often undercuts that second chance. Those who do make it out often have trouble holding down jobs, reuniting with family and becoming productive members of society. Imagine having served your time and then being unable to hand change over to a customer or look your wife in the eye or hug your children."

Solitary confinement should "be limited, applied with constraints and used only as a measure of last resort," such as when an inmate poses a threat to staff or to himself, Obama said.

Along with reforming solitary confinement practices, the president said he would also be increasing the amount of time inmates in solitary confinement can spend outside of their cell and expanding treatment for mentally ill prisoners. Some mentally ill inmates will be diverted to alternative forms of housing and the use of "punitive segregation" will be limited, according to NBC News.

"These steps will affect some 10,000 federal prisoners held in solitary confinement - and hopefully serve as a model for state and local corrections systems," Obama wrote. "And I will direct all relevant federal agencies to review these principles and report back to me with a plan to address their use of solitary confinement."

Some 8,625 federal prisoners, or about 5 percent of the total federal prison population, were in solitary confinement as of last November, and more than 1,071 of them were in a cell by themselves for more than 90 days, according to USA Today.

The impact of the ban on juvenile solitary confinement will be minimal because only 71 people under the age of 18 are currently held in federal prison, and as of last September, only 13 had been housed in solitary confinement during the past year, usually for a brief period of time.

Obama's executive actions come six months after he ordered the Justice Department to study solitary confinement at the federal Bureau of Prisons. The investigation found that the number of U.S. prisoners in solitary confinement has dropped by 25 percent since 2012, and officials recommended that the practice still be used for the "most violent and disruptive inmates."

"But as a matter of policy, we believe strongly this practice should be used rarely, applied fairly, and subjected to reasonable constraints," the DOJ said.

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A Texas investigation into Planned Parenthood took a bizarre twist that would have had even the most devout M. Night Shyamalan fans scratching their heads in confusion. A grand jury declined to indict PP, opting to bring charges against the pair of individuals claiming to expose the group the instead.

The grand jury announced criminal charges against The Center for Medical Progress' David Daleiden and activist Sandra Merritt, for their roles in creating the now-viral videos that were aimed at discredited the group, reported CNN. Specifically, the pair of abortion activists were indicted for tampering with a governmental record, a second-degree felony, while Daleiden was also indicted for prohibiting the purchase and sale of human organs, classified as a class A misdemeanor.

In a statement announcing the indictment, Harris District Attorney Devon Anderson declined to provide details on the charges.

"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," she said, according to ABC News. "As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us."

The indictment puts an end to a criminal probe into the abortion group. When announced last August, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R-Texas) accused the group of "dismembering aborted babies" and "selling babies fully intact."

"The people of America and the people of Texas will not accept this callous attitude toward human life, and I will not accept it," Patrick said during a press conference at the State Capitol in August, according to NBC's Texas affiliate KXAN-TV.

However, when all was said and done, jurors were unable to find evidence of illegal activity by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, leaving the Center for Medical Progress at a complete loss.

"The Center for Medical Progress uses the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades in exercising our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and of the press, and follows all applicable laws," said a statement released on behalf of Daleiden.

"We respect the processes of the Harris County District Attorney, and note that buying fetal tissue requires a seller as well. Planned Parenthood still cannot deny the admissions from their leadership about fetal organ sales captured on video for all the world to see," the statement concluded.

On the other hand, Planned Parenthood officials lauded the indictments. "As the dust settles and the truth comes out, it's become totally clear that the only people who engaged in wrongdoing are the criminals behind this fraud," said Eric Ferrero, vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, in a statement, according to USA Today.

"We're glad they're being held accountable," he concluded.

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Canadian Charles Bombardier's newest jet design boasts the ability to take passengers from New York to London in just minutes.

As conceived, the just named 'The Antipode' would be 12 times as fast as the Concorde and can reach speeds up to mach 24, according to the Daily Mail. The plane can carry up to 10 passengers and takes less than an hour to travel over 12,000 miles.

"I wanted to create an aircraft concept capable of reaching its antipode, or diametrical opposite, as fast as possible," Bombardier said.

The machine would need to be built using heat and pressure-proof materials. "LPM could help reduce heat, but it would not eliminate all of it, even if it's working in perfect flight conditions," he explained.

Thanks to rocket boosters on its wings the Antipode would be able to turn any airfield into a flying strip, Forbes reports. At 40,000 feet the accelerators would fall off the plane and return to base. The jet would use a magnetic field to push it along two conductive railings. The rockets would then fire, pushing it further into the air. Then, scramjet engines would propel the jet even further  10 times the speed of sound, The Mirror explains.

It would take the airplane just 32 minutes to fly from New York to Sydney, Australia and 11 minutes from New York to London.

One of the drawbacks to the design, according to Bombardier, is developing a stable and reliable scramjet engine. There would also need to be a plan to deal with the g-forces passengers would experience.

For now, the plane is just in the concept stage, so it will take a few years to build a prototype.

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An Afghan police officer is believed to have turned on his fellow officers at their post near a checkpoint in the country's south, paving the way for Taliban insurgents to raid the area, stealing weapons and ammunition, officials said on Tuesday.

The incident reportedly occurred late Monday night at the police post in the Chinartu district of Uruzgan province when a police officer who was affiliated with the Taliban poisoned 10 other police officers by contaminating their food and then shot them in the head after inviting Taliban fighters to the post, said District Chief Faiz Mohammad, according to The New York Times.

Afghan forces arrived the next morning to find the post under Taliban control. A firefight between the two parties ensued, and the insurgents - along with the turncoat - fled with the weapons and ammunition they stole, after dealing a moderate amount of damage to the area.

"They burned the check post and a police vehicle, and also took the weapons with them," Mohammad said. "The police officer who paved the way for the Taliban managed to escape with the Taliban."

Though all indications suggested that the Taliban were responsible for the incident since it is the only known group of active insurgents in the region, the group later confirmed its involvement in the incident, saying it took over the Chinartu police post Monday night and stole nine AK-47s, three rocket launchers and a variety of other weapons, according to CNN.

"The Taliban carried out a tactical attack, plus received help from inside," said the spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi. "This is not the work of one individual to kill and confiscate weapons and demolish the check post."

The Taliban has waged an insurgency since a U.S.-led military operation in 2001 drove it out of power. In particular, insider attacks have been on the rise in Afghanistan, especially in areas where the Taliban has a strong presence, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Two such incidents occurred last week when a policeman from the same checkpoint opened fire on his colleagues, killing nine of them. On the same day, four other policemen were killed when another turncoat opened fire upon them at a checkpoint in Lashkar Gah, the capital of southern Helmand province.

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AmericInn Hotel and Suites to Expand Into Middle East, South Asia

Largest Mid-Scale Hotel Brand in Mid-America Targeting 2016 Debut

AmericInn, the largest mid-scale hotel brand in the central United States, today announced it is expanding overseas. The expansion plan calls for at least 20 new hotels to be opened across the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent over the next five years as part of a long-term commitment to growing internationally.

Partnering with Singapore- and Dubai-based, Eaglewing Estates and Hotels Pte. Ltd., the expansion will bring an upscale, value-based hotel brand into key international markets including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and beyond.

AmericInn was built upon the values that make America itself so great: hard work, honesty, and the bonds of family and friendship, stated Mr. Paul Kirwin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northcott Hospitality and AmericInn. In 2016, we look forward to bringing our brand and its values to the exciting, high growth markets of the Middle East and India, along with the comfort, warmth and relaxation found in every AmericInn.

Eaglewing is run by founders and principles Dinky Puri and Rahul Raghuwanshi, a duo with over 50 years of experience owning, managing, and operating hospitality and real estate businesses.

Were thrilled to partner with a vibrant, growing hotel brand built upon fundamental American business values like commitment, trust, and cooperation, said Mr. Dinky Puri. Business, leisure, and government travelers alike can expect AmericInn hotels will help them relax, refresh, and recharge while they are away from home.

The AmericInn Hotels and Suites brand is owned by parent company, Northcott Hospitality, a multi-generational family-owned business, successful in creating, developing, and managing hotels and restaurants for over 50 years.

AmericInns new upper mid-scale hotels in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent will target domestic and international business and leisure travelers with short and extended stay accommodations. The hotels will deliver the brands signature amenities and services, including the AmericInn Perk breakfast, 24-hour coffee bar, Serta Perfect Sleeper beds, relaxing pools, workout rooms, and business centers. The hotels will also be designed to meet the unique social and cultural expectations of travelers from the region including a full-service, all-day restaurant in many locations.

AmericInn is launching its international growth strategy in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent to leverage the strong demographic and travel trends in the region.

With the continuing demand for mid-market hotels occurring across the Middle East and Asia, we are eager to work with AmericInns unique design philosophy which provides both a great experience for the consumer and tremendous investment returns for the hotel asset owner, said Mr. Puri.

I had the pleasure of partnering with Dinky and Rahul while working in Asia previously, notes Mr. Kirwin. It was a wonderful experience and I look forward to working with them again to bring a powerful, exciting new hotel brand into the Middle East and Asia.

About AmericInn

AmericInn is the largest midscale hotel brand in the central United States with over 200 locations currently open or under development in 24 states. The brand is dedicated to providing an exceptional lodging value for its guests by offering spacious, comfortable guestrooms, great rates and amenities such as free, hot, home-style AmericInn Perk breakfast, free hotel-wide wireless high-speed Internet, inviting swimming pools and a guest loyalty program. AmericInn is part of Northcott Hospitality, owner and developer of successful franchised hospitality brands for more than 50 years. For more information visit www.americinn.com.

About Eaglewing Estates and Hotels

Eaglewing Estate & Hotels provides hospitality and real estate project advisory and development services with presence in Dubai, Singapore and India. Eaglewing has been promoted by Dinky Puri and Rahul Raghuwanshi, who have many years of hospitality and real estate experience at senior management levels with leading global real estate and hospitality companies. Eaglewing is a full service company having in-house capabilities in hospitality, real estate and investments. Eaglewing has been actively executing hospitality and real estate projects primarily in Dubai and India.

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Knowland to Provide Meeting Market Intelligence to 37 Hotels in Atrium Portfolio

Knowland has been selected by Atrium Hospitality to provide lead generation and market intelligence services to 37 of its properties within the United States.

Atrium Hospitality, a leading hotel- and asset-management company headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, manages properties in 25 states and provides asset management services.

Atrium selected Knowlands meetings search tool, Insight, to enable each of its hotels to meet its unique group needs. Insight will give each property easy access to historical event details to find meetings and events that match those specific needs.

Developing short- and long-term sales strategies that maximize and drive profitability, plus achieve total revenue growth targets, is critical to our properties here at Atrium, said Debbie McCarthy, Vice President of Sales at Atrium Hospitality. Knowland offers our hotels a key advantage when it comes to finding the groups and meetings that are crucial to the successful execution of those strategies.

Atrium is known for delivering successful strategies that surpass the expectations of their owner groups, customers, and wide array of brands they represent, said Tim Hart, CEO of Knowland. Insight fits their financial development and service delivery goals perfectly by empowering their hotels to proactively target new group business.

About Knowland

Knowlands mission is to help drive revenue with meetings market intelligence for the hospitality industry. As a globally recognized provider of meeting and group data, Knowland offers extensive insight into market analytics, group industry trends, and powerful benchmarking through innovative products.

For more information, please visit Knowlands website at www.knowland.com or call (202) 312-5880. You can also follow Knowland on LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Atrium Hospitality

Atrium Hospitality is a leading hotel-management and asset-management company headquartered in Alpharetta, GA. Currently, Atrium has 49 hotels and 12,494 rooms in 25 states under management. Its unique owner-operator platform allows Atrium to develop and execute operating, marketing, and development strategies that are defined by the interests of its ownership, associates, customers, and brands. Atrium has developed an industry-leading executive team to direct its operations, revenue management, marketing, sales, and capital planning departments.
Peppers Docklands Hotel Opens in Melbourne

The only 5-star hotel within the Docklands precinct, the hotel features direct access to the Etihad Stadium concourse. General Manager, Jeremy Nordkamp, believes this is what will differentiate Peppers Docklands from other CBD located properties.

Peppers Docklands has opened its doors in the Melbourne CBD. The opening reflects the continued expansion and evolution of one of Australias most trusted hotel brands, which today delivers contemporary, stylish accommodation for leisure and business travellers alike.

Peppers Docklands is an unparalleled offering within the Docklands precinct, and  in response to demand from our loyal guests - represents a continuation of Mantra Groups strategic direction to grow the Peppers brand in CBD locations. said Kent Davidson, Executive Director  Sales, Marketing & Distribution.

The only 5-star hotel within the Docklands precinct, the hotel features direct access to the Etihad Stadium concourse. General Manager, Jeremy Nordkamp, believes this is what will differentiate Peppers Docklands from other CBD located properties.

Peppers Docklands is located right on the concourse, giving our guests convenient access to the wide range of events staged at Etihad stadium throughout the year, he said.

Named the number one new hotel opening for 2016 by Traveller.com.au, the five star, 87-room hotel is part of Capital Alliance Investment Groups $100 million M Docklands development. The contemporary accommodation is defined by bespoke bathrooms and cutting edge interior design, with hotel facilities including the stylish MOMAMI restaurant and bar, pool, gym, 24-hour reception and concierge, plus a trendy retail and eatery enclave at ground level.

Redefining the rich heritage of the brand, Peppers Docklands joins the growing portfolio of designer Peppers branded city hotels, which includes properties in Adelaide, Canberra, and the Gold Coast. Elsewhere, construction is well progressed on Peppers Kings Square (due to open in Perth in August 2016) and plans are afoot for other Peppers city hotels in Brisbane and Sydney.

Mantra Group is a leading manager and marketer of hotels and resorts in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia and operates three well-known and trusted brands  Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree. The Group successfully listed on the ASX in June 2014 and in its first year as a public company was elevated to the ASX 200. With 125+ properties and over 15,000 rooms under management, Mantra Group is the largest Australian-based hotelier.
Sadly, one of Futures bodyguards, Michael Tanner Phillips, was shot & killed today in his own home in Jonesboro, Goergia around 1:30 p.m Fox 5 Atlanta reports.

The gunman fled the scene in a vehicle, but details on who that might be or what the car looked like is unknown at the time. Lieutenant Frank Thomas of the Clayton County Police Department made the following statement, Some of the neighbors heard some arguing and some gunshots. Were still interviewing some of them to try and piece together everything at this time.

Phillips wife, who happens to be currently pregnant, was reportedly at home at the time of the shooting, but thankfully didnt witness it.

Future has yet to comment on the situation. Check out the local news clip below.

[Via]

Future bodyguard
Having established himself as a leading arthouse director with the likes of What Richard Did and Frank, Lenny Abrahamson is now enjoying serious Oscar buzz Stateside thanks to his intense new drama, Room.

Times they are a-changing. Once upon a time, I would regularly bump into director Lenny Abrahamson wandering around Dublin city, but now that hes become the critically acclaimed director of internationally successful films like Richard Did, Frank and the upcoming drama Room, hes much harder to get hold of.

So much so that upon discovering he was staying in the absurdly swanky hotel where I was interviewing another actor, we couldnt even co-ordinate a cup of tea amidst his hectic schedule of screenings and press interviews.

Lenny Abrahamson has officially made it in Hollywood. Not that hes letting it go to his head, he tells me when we finally talk a few weeks after our missed connection, right after his latest film i>Room, based on Emma Donoghues novel, is released in the States to rave reviews and instant Oscar buzz. Travelling back and forth to LA every two weeks, Abrahamson says that the surreal nature of the city isnt for him.

I quite like being here for short periods, he explains, but I could not live here, because Im weak. I would totally get caught up in the Whos up and whos down of it all. Its hard not to, its such an industry place. Theres a ladder-climbing paradigm that I think would kill me.

The director also occasionally pines for some peace and quiet, admitting that while the attention and acclaim is lovely, he misses having absolutely nothing to do, which I think is the most creative space to be in.

Not that hes lacking for projects or inspiration. Though across the pond Lenny may be known for his stirring dramas (Its funny when people in the States introduce me, its so clear that they think Richard Did is the first film Ive ever made), his work on Garage, Adam and Paul and Frank has shown that he can perfectly navigate social realism as well as quirky, offbeat comedy.And now he seems determined to conquer every genre possible.

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Currently on his slate is an adaptation of Sarah Waters ghostly novel The Little Stranger which is really about class and class resentment, although its dressed up as a poltergeist story. Hes also developing a story about Emile Griffith, who was amazing. He was a black gay boxer in the 1950s and 60s in New York, and killed an opponent who taunted him about being gay. Its absolutely extraordinary  its at that amazing nexus of race and sexuality and politics, because it was during the Cuban missile crisis, which plays a big part in it.

Im co-writing the story, based on a biography by Donald McRae which is really good. And then Im working on a civil war story too, so theres lots going on  but I really want to write something low-key based in Ireland. Just finding the time to do that will be hard, its been a crazy couple of months.

Abrahamson should probably have anticipated the craziness. Room is a stunning adaptation of a truly remarkable story, with a premise that demands attention. Very loosely inspired by the Josef Fritzl case, Donoghues book tells the story of five-year-old Jack and his Ma, who was kidnapped as a teen and has been held captive in a 10x10 shed for seven years.

Told from the childs perspective, the novel was simultaneously heart-wrenching and terrifying. Donoghue herself wrote the screenplay for the film, which has a two-part structure, examining the world the two characters have created within their tiny prison, and then exploring the world beyond. Thrilling, emotive and deeply moving, its a cinematic triumph, and one Abrahamson knew he had to make after reading the opening pages of Donoghues novel.

It was a total experience for me both as a reader and a filmmaker, he reflects. I knew the book was about a mother and son being trapped in a room, having been abducted, but I didnt know it was from the kids point of view. Once I sussed that out, I had two parallel experiences, one of which was the readers experience, and then the parents experience, which is so intense. My little boy Max was nearly four at the time, so I could see him in the story  that strange and gorgeous little optimism the child has, and that openness and vulnerability.

Kids are unaware of how fragile it all is. That chimed with me. But I could also see it as a film, see them in the room and imagine how it would feel. I could imagine how it would be true to the miserable confining feel of the space, but also beautiful, which was the key.

Abrahamson decided to be proactive and wrote a letter to Donoghue, pitching his vision for the film  and also, he admits, slyly indicating that no-one else would be able to adapt her book with as much emotional authenticity as he could.

The gist of the whole thing was, Everyone else will fuck it up! he laughs. It was a long, very well-written spoiler for other peoples pitches. I spent years in the world of academia, so Im suited to writing essays and getting thoughts down, and expressing complicated ideas in ways that are compelling to read. I threw all of that into this letter. I wanted Emma to understand that I really got her novel, and then to talk to her about what film is good at doing, and the native expressive means that film has at its disposal.

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For me its about the immediacy that films can have, their bareness and truthfulness. So I pushed the immediacy of it, and the relationship that creates with the audience. I also said to Emma that it could capture all of the thematic, emotional, magical, fairytale-like stuff that shed managed to sneak into the novel. We could portray all that.

Abrahamson laughs mischievously. And then I threw in a By the way, heres what other people will say and theyre wrong!

The directors sly technique of poisoning other peoples pitches clearly worked, as Donoghue heard many a proposal over the next two years, but kept returning to Abrahamsons vision, finally agreeing to collaborate with him. So began one of the filmmakers most testing challenges to date, as he was confronted with bringing a hugely beloved and bestselling novel to the screen under intense scrutiny. Indeed, even Barack Obama had been photographed with the book, so imagine messing that up. But he also had to find and then work with his lead child actor, Jacob Tremblay, upon whom the entire success of the film rests.

Directing him is the most intense thing, notes Abrahamson. Id always be on my knees beside the camera, talking him through things, parroting lines, and doing really long takes where wed run the scene five or six times within a take  because you lose a kids attention when you stop. But then it was amazing to see Jake turn into a real actor, learning these acting muscles he had and just running with it. It was like teaching your child to ride a bike then seeing them go.

Abrahamson admits that his parenting skills came in handy while working with the seven-year-old, something even Jacob picked up on.

Jake uses that line now, he says, Well Lennys a Dad  he understands kids really well so hes really nice. But then he also says that I sound like the leprechaun from the Lucky Charms ad!

The film is also remarkable in that it defies the conventions of the modern thriller. While modern pop culture has an obsession with celebrating and even fetishising the villainous characters  think Walt in Breaking Bad, Moriarty in Sherlock, the lead in Hannibal  both Abrahamson and Donoghue were determined not to trick the audience into empathising with the kidnapper, dubbed Old Nick.

Hes just a failure of the highest order, says the director. One of the things that me and Emma spoke about was wanting to tell the story from the POV of the mother and son, not the kidnapper. So often you get these stories where the villain is the protagonist, whereas Old Nick is a nothing, a terrible blank. In a way, there are elements of an awful marriage in the story  you have this guy who feels hard done by and unappreciated, but who is in fact the jailor and the destroyer. And then you have this woman who has to pretend to be grateful for this pathetic life shes been given.

This ethical approach of deglamourising representations of heinous crimes and empowering survivors also applied to how the relationship between Ma (beautifully played by Brie Larson) and Old Nick was portrayed.

Another great thing that Emma put in the book that felt so important was that we didnt go for the Stockholm Syndrome thing, points out Abrahamson. We didnt say that shes dependent on him emotionally. We allowed her to hate him and know him for what he was. There were so many cases like that, where women were able to persuade their abductors that they were submissive just so they could get the opportunity to escape. It seems to be that in mainstream culture now, people are much more interested in the closeness of the relationship, because thats considered more complex. But I think theres a real moral clarity to this story, which felt important.

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The movie is generating serious awards buzz, and thanks to the star-power of both Frank, which starred Michael Fassbender, and Room which also stars William H. Macy and Joan Allen, Abrahamson is getting mainstream recognition of the kind hes enjoyed for years on the arthouse circuit. Looking back over his career, he muses that the shift does does feel a little bit different.

It normalises very quickly, like everything in life, he considers, but its like I have this invisible, Access-All-Areas pass at the moment, where I can just kind of wander in and talk to anybody I want in the studios. But whats constant about it is that Im still working with Ed Guiney [producer of Room and Frank and the head of Element Pictures.] All of this stuff is with Ed and were entering that new space together, which feels important. But it is interesting, its really intriguing just from a sociological level to be around all this stuff at this time of year in LA, the premieres and Q&As.

Its nice to know what thats like, even if thats not your primary goal as a filmmaker, because you spend so much time outside it. And now I can get things made that are bigger, and there are more people who want to be in them. So it does feel different, and I havent hit any dark spots  yet!

In spite of the high demand for his work in the States and the exciting path his career is taking, the father of two is nothing short of definitive when he reassures me that hed never leave Ireland permanently.

Look, theres a lot about it that drives me absolutely crazy, he acknowledges, but I feel very rooted in Ireland. Im very much a homebird in some weird way. Im totally connected to the strange, dysfunctional, self-parodying attitude that we have in Ireland. In America, Im always the funniest person in the room, and the person who can drink the most  and I dont even drink that much! I just love the culture in Ireland. And were still messed up in so many ways, but theres a kindness to the psyche that is so important. And I love Ireland physically too, its so beautiful. I cant see myself living anywhere else.

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Room is play in cinemas now.
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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-01-26 Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/> TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 16/16 26.01.2016 [A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS [01] CHP's foreign relations committee continued its contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus [02] Akinci met with the Dutch Ambassador in Cyprus [03] Colak met with the President of the European Women Council [04] Toros called the "government" to speed up its works for the Turkish Cypriot community harmonization with the EU acquis [05] Research shows that the Turkish Cypriots believe that the Cyprus problem is their biggest problem and blame the Greek Cypriots for the non-solution [06] Columnist warns that Cyprus may become a huge construction site after a resolution [07] The remains of 86 persons were found in occupied Maratha and Santalaris villages [08] The self-styled government has reportedly completed its work on the administration of the water from Turkey [09] Familiarization seminars on the EU acquis communautaire in the occupied area of Cyprus [10] A budget of 1.3 million euro for financing the development of SMEs [11] Self-styled ministry of tourism attended a tourism fair in Manchester [12] Historical sites from the occupied area of Cyprus are promoted within the "World Heritage Turkey's promotion project" [13] A 52 year old woman died in the occupied area of Cyprus from "Swine flu" [14] EU confident 3 billion euros will be delivered to Turkey soon [15] Turkish Interior Minister: HDP responsible for PKK's activities [A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS [01] CHP's foreign relations committee continued its contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the delegation from CHP's foreign relations committee, which is currently in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus for a series of contacts, met yesterday with so-called prime minister Omer Kalyoncu, the former Turkish Cypriot leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and Dervis Eroglu and the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot political parties. During the meeting with Kalyoncu, the chairman of the committee Ozturk Yilmaz, who is leading the delegation, explained that they are visiting Cyprus in a crucial period where the Cyprus negotiation process is in progress, in order to support, as he said, the Turkish Cypriots in their effort to find a viable solution. Also speaking, Kalyoncu stated that the prolonged Cyprus negotiation process progress well and added that all the involved parties are very excited from this. Explaining that it is not easy to reach to a solution on the Cyprus problem, Kalyoncu said that there are still three important chapters, the property, the territory and the issue of guarantees and security where no agreement has been reached yet. Kalyoncu also said that the issue of security and guarantees is of vital importance for the solution of the Cyprus problem and the Turkish Cypriots taking into consideration the incidents of the past, as he said. Also, in statements during the meeting with CHP's delegation, the former Turkish Cypriot leader and leader of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CHP-BG) Mehmet Ali Talat, pointed out to the special interest the Turkish opposition parties show on the Cyprus problem and said that he is pleased from CHP's delegation visit. Talat said, inter alia, that the Cyprus problem is "on the rails of the solution". He, however, added that it is difficult to predict when the final text of the agreement will be ready. Supporting that the Greek Cypriot side have started realizing that it needs the solution more than before, Talat added that the Greek Cypriots realized that the solution will bring economic prosperity in the island and the opening of the fenced off city of Varosha. Talat also added that it is the first time that all the involved parties on the Cyprus problem are so optimistic for the solution. On his turn, Yilmaz said that his party wishes for a fair and viable solution of the Cyprus problem to be found, based on the political equality of both sides in the island. He said that it is out of question for the Cyprus problem to be utilized for political purposes and added he will inform CHP's leader Kilicdaroglu about the progress of the talks. Moreover, during the meeting with the delegation, the former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, said, inter alia, that before becoming clear that the Greek Cypriot side has good will for the solution, the solution of the Cyprus problem will not be easy. Referring to the issue of the water crisis, Eroglu expressed the wish that the crisis will be overpassed soon and said that the solution of the problem will come with the signing of the economic protocol. On Turkey's EU bid, Eroglu said that he does not agree with the position that Cyprus is an obstacle for Turkey's EU accession process. Also speaking, Yilmaz said that they are in the "TRNC" to personally see the level of progress in the ongoing negotiations process. Stating that the Cyprus issue is a national cause for his party, Yilmaz expressed the CHP's support to the ongoing talks. CHP's delegation met further with Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democratic Party-National Forces (DP-UG) and Huseyin Ozgurgun, leader of the National Unity Party. Speaking during the meeting, Denktas referred to the importance of the delegation's visit in the "TRNC" especially in this "crucial period", while, on his turn, Ozgurgun, referred to the strong ties they have with the CHP. (AK) [02] Akinci met with the Dutch Ambassador in Cyprus According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 26.01.16), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met this morning with the Dutch Ambassador in Nicosia Brechje Schwachofer. The latest developments on the Cyprus issue were discussed at the meeting held at Akinci's office. Akinci's special adviser for political affairs Meltem Samani and the coordinator responsible for foreign relations Deniz Birinci were also present at the meeting. No statement was issued before or after the meeting [03] Colak met with the President of the European Women Council Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the self-styled minister of foreign affairs Emine Colak met with the President of the European Council of Women (ECICW) Cosima Schenk, and the President of the National Council of Turkish Women and Vice-President of the European Council of Women Fatos Inal and their accompanying delegations. ECICW is visiting the breakaway regime upon an invitation of the "Turkish Cypriot Women Council". During the meeting, Colak referred to the Cyprus negotiations and stated that issues like how to make the solution of the Cyprus problem viable and how to make the two communities, which are separated for so long, to start living together, are essential after reaching the solution of the Cyprus problem. She also stated that everyone has the right to be heard but this is very difficult for a "country" that is not recognized and added that they are exerting great efforts in order to be heard in the international community. "We cannot participate in International activities. And if we try to participate obstacles are put in front of us", she stated. She also said that the decision-making bodies, the "government" and the political parties are the areas that required more participation by women. (CS) [04] Toros called the "government" to speed up its works for the Turkish Cypriot community harmonization with the EU acquis Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade (KTTO) Fikri Toros, in exclusive statements to the paper, said that the "government" acts slowly towards the legislation of the "laws" for the Turkish Cypriot community's harmonization with the EU acquis and warned that if it does not speed up its works, the threats after the solution will be much more than the opportunities. Stating that the solution of the Cyprus problem will bring economic potential, Toros stressed the need for the "government" to implement more quickly the EU harmonization "laws" in order to be able to utilize the economic potentials. Toros warned further that the Turkish Cypriot community will have to confront a lot of dangers in case it does not speed up its steps for its harmonization with the EU. "The works continue very slowly. This is not satisfactory. We are worrying for this. If the process is not speed up, the threats that will have to face the first day after the solution of the Cyprus problem will be much more than the opportunities. I say this openly. Everybody should understand this", added Toros. He further called the "government" to establish a mechanism in order to speed up the works for the legislation of the "laws" without any other delay. (AK) [05] Research shows that the Turkish Cypriots believe that the Cyprus problem is their biggest problem and blame the Greek Cypriots for the non-solution Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the "Research Institute" of occupied Keryneia (GAE) has announced the result of a research conducted in 2015 regarding the short-term political, economic and social expectations of the Turkish Cypriots. The research was conducted on 20 December with the participation of 941 persons (48% women and 52% men) in five occupied districts with the aim of comparing the results with similar surveys conducted in 2013 and 2014. According to the results, 30.29% of the participants said that the most important problem that should be solved is the Cyprus problem, which had been the most important problem in the surveys since 2013, but the number of the participants who described the Cyprus problem as the most important problem of the "country" increased by 10% in 2015. The percentage of those who believe that this problem will be solved this year is only 27%. The reply to the question "who is responsible in case of a non-solution to the Cyprus problem" has not changed during these three years. Every year the Greek Cypriots are considered to be responsible in case of a non-solution, but the number of those considering the Greek Cypriots as the primary responsible for the non-solution increased by 8% in 2015 and reached 57.4%. Turkey is following in the second place as it is considered responsible by 12.6% of the participants. This percentage fell by 5% comparing to the last year's survey. On the contrary, the percentage of those who consider Greece responsible for the non-solution increased to 4.5% in 2015 from 2% last year. Moreover, 6.6% of the participants in the survey consider the Turkish Cypriot side responsible in case of a non-solution to the Cyprus problem. The results show that 50.7% of the participants do not believe that the natural gas and oil will contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem. Furthermore, 48.3% of the participants do not believe that the water which had been transferred to the occupied area of the island from Turkey will contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem. Asked what their biggest expectation from the current self-styled government of the regime is, the replies were the following: 42.9% to solve the Cyprus problem, 22.8% to solve the unemployment problem, and 19.2% to implement the economic "protocol" with Turkey. The views as regards the continuity of the self-styled government have not changed since 2013, as the majority relates this continuity to Turkey's stance. 39.5% of the participants in 2015 said that the "government's" continuity depends on Turkey's stance and 34.6% on the "government's" actions and work. Asked which institution they trust the most, the participants replied: 41.5% the army (this percentage was 22.69% in 2014), 8.82% the "courts" and 1% the media, the "universities", the political parties, the "departments of the state" and the "police". The participants drew a pessimistic picture as regards their economic situation. 65.9% replied negatively to the question as to whether they believe that their earnings or income will increase in 2016. This percentage was 63% in 2014 and 68.6% in 2013. Only 22.7% of the participants replied positively to the above question. Asked "which of the following statements describe best the economic situation of your family", 47.7% of the participants said that they can barely get on, 23.6% that they were forced to get a loan and 13.3% that they could save money. [31] 5% of the participants in the survey work in the private sector, 15.5% in the "public sector", 19.1% were pensioners, 16.9% were housewives, 10,4% students and 6.6% were included in the "others" category. [32] 7% of the participants in the survey were university graduates, 2.3% were holders of a postgraduate diploma, 35.5% were lyceum graduates, 12.2% high school graduates, 15.9% primary school graduates and 1.3% are non-graduates from any school. [18] 1% of the participants in the survey said they have no salary, 3.5% said their salary varies between 500 and 1000 Turkish Liras (TL), 22.5% between 1001 and 2000 TL , 30.1% between 2001 and 3000 TL, 18.1% between 3001 and 4000 TL and 7.7% more than 4000 TL. (I/Ts.) [06] Columnist warns that Cyprus may become a huge construction site after a resolution Columnist Barcin Yinanc, writing in the Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 26.01.16), under the title "Turkey's secret agenda on the Cyprus deal", warns that Cyprus may become a huge construction site after a resolution in the following commentary: "'The visit has achieved the objectives we set at the outset ? To meet the Turkish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, who can take on board the positions of the Greek Cypriot side', said Greek Cypriot Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) head Andros Kyprianou on his return to the island after visiting Turkey over the weekend. 'The second objective was to hear from their side and possibly to try to diagnose what might be hidden behind their words', Kyprianou added. In other words, he was trying to decipher Turkey's 'secret agenda' for any possible Cyprus deal. If you ask me, the most evil secret agenda Ankara might have is to see the whole island become a huge construction site after a resolution. In fact, I was very concerned to read in daily Hurriyet that Turkish Cypriot contractors have already inked a deal with their Turkish counterparts to rebuild the 'ghost town' of Varosha, as hopes of finding a peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue increase thanks to accelerated talks between the leaders of the Turkish and Greek communities on the island. Cyprus is known to Turks as the 'green island'. But I'm not sure how green it will remain if TOKI, Turkey's notorious housing agency, made its entry to the island. If I were a Greek Cypriot, I would rather accept a limited number of Turkish soldiers on the island than accept a flood of Turkish construction companies. But in all seriousness, if Turkey has any secret agenda, the only one I can think of would be satisfying its need to be part of an international success story. It badly needs one, which is why it is acting with utmost precaution on Cyprus and seems to have learned from past mistakes. One of the lessons learned from the past is the need to leave the two sides alone at the negotiation table. That might sound to be too good to be true, and obviously nobody can expect Turkey to shut down its 'radars' on Cyprus and simply tell both sides to call when they have reached an agreement. Indeed, I'm sure Turkey is keeping a close eye on the process and asking to be informed of all the details. But no doubt it is doing its utmost not to damage the perception that the process is a 'local' one, not an 'international one' (as was the case with the Annan process). It seems that even NGOs have been asked to stay away from the process. Another lesson drawn by Turkey from the past is the need to reach out to all stakeholders on the island, especially on the Greek side. The Annan process showed that Greek Cypriots were not ready to accept any solution other than the one promised by their leaders. In that respect, inviting the Greek Cypriot opposition leader to Turkey could be seen as an effort to try to reach out to all stakeholders on the island. Obviously, no matter what it does, Turkey cannot convince the Greek Cypriots on certain issues, such as the issue of 'guarantees'. I was in Greek Cyprus ahead (editor's note: the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus) of the Annan referendum, and was surprised to hear some Greek Cypriots declare they would say 'no' because 300 Turkish soldiers would have remained after the solution (though actually that number was supposed to decrease over time). 'But even if you say "no" you will end up living with thousands of Turkish soldiers on the island', I had replied at the time. Even on the guarantees issue, the Turkish side is now looking for a formula that can satisfy both sides. That was also conveyed to Kyprianou, as he said it was his impression that 'Turkey wants to play a role in security matters, but in a different way than today under the system of guarantor powers. I hope to see whether the possibility of a different approach "accepted by both communities" is possible', he added, according to the Cyprus media. It seems that a solution on Cyprus stands out as one of the rare instances where the Turkish government is not drawing 'red lines'. As I have said, that likely stems from the need to have a 'success story'. Indeed, this would be a rare thing, especially nowadays in the current international setting." [07] The remains of 86 persons were found in occupied Maratha and Santalaris villages Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Member of the Committee of the Missing Persons announced that the remains of 86 persons were found during excavations that took place in the occupied Maratha and Santalaris villages. According to the Committee, excavations are continuing to take place in occupied Mia Milia, Dikomo, Karakoumi, Epicho and Petra villages. The excavations are taking place in areas that there is information that can lead to findings of new evidence. For example in occupied Mia Milia there is information about the remains of a Greek Cypriot and in occupied Dikomo about the remains of three Greek Cypriots. In addition excavations are taking place in Athalassa in the free areas of the Republic for the remains of three Turkish Cypriots, writes the paper. (CS) [08] The self-styled government has reportedly completed its work on the administration of the water from Turkey Under the title "Now is the gentlemen's in Ankara turn", Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the self-styled government has completed its work for the solution of what is described as "water crisis" and concerns the administration of the water transferred from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus through undersea pipelines. According to the paper, self-styled prime minister Omer Kalyoncu signed and sent to Ankara a "TRNC document for further consultation". Noting that the ball is in Ankara's field now, the paper writes that some provisions of the "document" are the following: - The bid document will be prepared within three months. - The bid will be completed within the following nine months. - Within this (one year) period the Water Affairs Department of Turkey [DSI] will provide the water to the "municipalities". - The tenders will be invited by the "Central tender Committee". - Two separate bids will be invited: One for the drinking water and one for the water for agricultural use. - The "municipalities" will continue collecting the revenues. - The "municipalities" will be actively involved in the administration of the water both for the entire "country" and the separate areas. - The price of the water will not exceed 4.5 Turkish Liras. - During the first year the DSI will offer services without aiming at any profit. - A fund will be established with the income of the DSI from the water and this money will be used for covering the debts of the "municipalities". (I/Ts.) [09] Familiarization seminars on the EU acquis communautaire in the occupied area of Cyprus According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 25.01.16), the European Commission Representation in Cyprus is organizing a series of seminars with the aim of introducing the EU acquis communautaire to the Turkish Cypriots. The 4 day "Familiarization Seminars on the Community Acquis" started with sessions on the European Legal Network, EU Migration and Internal Affairs Policies, Foreign Policy and Security, Prevention of Corruption, Social Policies and Employment subjects. Delivering the opening speech of the seminar, the self-styled foreign ministry undersecretary Erhan Ercin pointed out that the European Commission has launched the information seminars on the EU acquis communtaire during a time when efforts towards solving the Cyprus problem are being intensified. "It is difficult to harmonize with the EU acquis communautaire. If these information seminars were held before then the Turkish Cypriot people would have been more prepared for the EU", said Ercin. He stressed the desire to move the EU harmonization process forward by using time effectively and added: "The EU countries created the acquis communautaire on the basis of a common understanding for the benefit of its citizens. EU values are important for raising prosperity and creating a truly functioning social justice system". [10] A budget of 1.3 million euro for financing the development of SMEs According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 25.01.16), the TAPS project carried out jointly by the EU and the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Development Centre (KOBIGEM) which operates under the "ministry of economy, industry and commerce" was promoted to the press with an event on Monday. TAPS, which is short for Technical Assistance Private Sector, is a technical support program aimed at building the capacity of local stake holders and to enhance the competitiveness of the private sector. The project which has a budget of 1.3 million euro and which is aimed at small and medium sized enterprises has been active since November last year. Speaking at the press conference, the Head of the TAPS project team Jean Claude Duplouy said that the project which will continue for 17 months has a budget of 1.3 million euro. Stating that developing and strengthening the private sector of a country is very important, Duplouy said that he is extremely pleased to be working with small and medium sized enterprises in "North Cyprus" (editor's note: the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus). The General Coordinator of KOBIGEM Ebru Kaptan Sertoglu, for her part, said that they are pleased to be working with the EU for the second time. She said that the project, as in the past, will act as a bridge between the "state" and civil society organisations. The self-styled minister of economy, industry and commerce Sunat Atun, speaking also at the event, said that he is pleased to be announcing a new SMEs policy. He said that the "government" has been supporting the grant program for small and medium sized enterprises since 2010. [11] Self-styled ministry of tourism attended a tourism fair in Manchester According to Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (26.01.16), the self-styled ministry of tourism attended the tourism fair "Destinations and Holiday and Travel Market", which was held between January 21 and 24 in Manchester, UK. Brochures regarding general information of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, nature walking trails and bicycle route maps were distributed during the fair. (DPs) [12] Historical sites from the occupied area of Cyprus are promoted within the "World Heritage Turkey's promotion project" Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (20.01.16) reports that the Turkish Tourism and Promotion Platform (TUTAP) has included in its promotion activities many historical sites from the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus within the framework of the World Heritage Turkey's promotion project. The President of TUTAP Fikret Yildiz, in a statement to illegal Bayrak television, said that their aim is to bring 2 million tourists in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus during the tourism season 2016-2017. Yildiz explained that the "TRNC tourism" will be promoted in all the promotion activities being held in the Turkic speaking countries with the contribution of TURKSOY and in all the tourism fairs that they will attend. Yildiz further said that the historical sites from the occupied area of Cyprus that will be included in the "World Heritage Turkey's project" and can be counted as "World Heritage" are the Lala Mustafa Pasa mosque (editor's note: the Saint Nicholas's Cathedral in occupied Famagusta town), the Selimiye mosque (editor's note: St. Sophia Cathedral in the occupied part of Lefkosia), Bedesten (editor's note: Church of St. Nicholas in the occupied part of Lefkosia), Salamis ruins, the Bellapais Abbey, St Hillarion Castle and the Keryneia castle. He added that these historical sites will be promoted in every platform that Turkey is promoted. (DPs) [13] A 52 year old woman died in the occupied area of Cyprus from "Swine flu" Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (26.01.16) under the title: "First death from the swine flu", reports that a 52 year old woman passed away yesterday in the occupied area of Cyprus because of the H1N1 virus, known as "swine flu". According to the paper, the woman was diagnosed with the symptoms of the "swine flu" on January 11 and since then was hospitalized at the "hospital" of the illegal YDU university. In statements on the issue, so-called minister of health Salih Izbul called the "citizens" not to panic. Meanwhile, 23 more people have gone yesterday to the hospital with suspicions of suffering from "swine flu". (AK) [14] EU confident 3 billion euros will be delivered to Turkey soon According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 25.01.16), the European Union assured Turkey on Jan. 25 that a package of three billion euros for Syrian refugees will soon be released, also stressing the need to further stem the influx of irregular migrants from Turkey to Europe before a key summit to take place on Feb. 18 in Brussels. "The talks are ongoing. I am very confident that the amount that was decided before will be there in very reasonable timing," EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said at a press conference in Ankara after high-level political meetings with senior Turkish officials. Mogherini, European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Turkish EU Minister Volkan Bozkir came around the same table as part of enhanced political dialogue between Ankara and Brussels following the Nov. 29 joint statement. The EU delegation later met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. "Today's high-level political dialogue is an essential element of our overall framework of dialogue and cooperation. It provided us with the opportunity to discuss issues high on both of our agendas in a comprehensive manner and that will feed into the preparation of the next EU-Turkey Summit," read a joint statement issued after the Jan. 25 meetings. One of the most urgent issues is the delivery of a financial aid worth 3 billion euros to Turkey to step up support for Syrian and other refugees in Turkey in exchange for the Turkish authorities cutting the illegal flow of migrants to Europe. Italy has blocked the release of the money because of an internal disagreement within the EU. Mogherini said that she wanted to play down "this dramatic approach" over the issue, emphasizing that the funds were "not pocket money". "We are doing the preparatory work for spending this money in an appropriate way. Because again it's not pocket money, it's money that goes to projects. The commission is carrying out all the assessments of the needs for the projects," she said. Cavusoglu also sought to urge calm over the delay. "We don't take it personally ? But any delay is affecting the daily life of the refugees, their schooling and their medical needs," he said. The joint statement reiterated its commitment to provide the financial assistance. "The EU confirmed its commitment to expand significantly its overall financial support by creating a EUR 3 billion Refugee Facility for Turkey. The need to finalize and swiftly move forward the implementation of the Refugee Facility in cooperation with Turkey, in line with the needs assessment, was underlined," it stated. Turkish and EU officials also reviewed the results of recently intensified efforts to stem the number of refugees traveling from Turkey to Europe before a crucial summit between Turkey and eight like-minded countries in February. "The need to achieve further results in stemming the influx of irregular migrants and in fighting criminal smuggling networks was underlined. Turkey and the EU agreed to step up their cooperation to reinforce the interception capacity of the Turkish Coast Guard and acknowledged the importance of maintaining a system of coordinated reporting on migration and refugee flows," the joint statement read. Meanwhile, Turkish and EU officials also exchanged views on the ongoing fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a number of towns in south-eastern Turkey. "We had the opportunity to discuss problems in southeast Turkey. The EU condemns all sorts of terrorist attacks," Mogherini said, calling for an "immediate ceasefire" of PKK attacks while calling for the resumption of peace talks that collapsed last summer. "The EU also continues to be committed to fight against the presence in Europe of the PKK, which is on the official EU terrorist list, with a view to preventing PKK terrorist attacks. The EU stressed the importance of an urgent return to the solution process and attaches the utmost importance to achieving a peaceful and sustainable solution for the benefit of all the people of Turkey," the joint statement said. [15] Turkish Interior Minister: HDP responsible for PKK's activities Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (26.01.16) reports that the Interior Minister of Turkey Efkan Ala stated that the pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HDP) is responsible for the continuation of the military operations in south eastern provinces of Turkey between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Turkish military. Ala stated that the party's Deputies should stand up to PKK and call on the militants to abandon their guns and return to peace talks. However the Deputies of HDP do not act in this way and therefore they are responsible for the continuation of the attacks and the non-end violence, he claimed. He went on and argued that Turkey has changed and is far more democratic than in the 1980s and 1990s, but PKK has not changed, insisting on old practices and ways. Finally he stated that unless PKK militants abandon their arms, the peace progress cannot be launched again. In addition, the paper reports that tanks rolled through the ruined streets of the Cizre district of the south-eastern province of Sirnak yesterday as military operations against PKK continue. Official statements indicate that 446 PKK militants have been recently killed during military operations. (CS) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio (DPs/ AM) Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-01-26 Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> Tuesday January 26, 2016 CONTENTS [01] 'We have to find solutions for the weakest ones,' PM Tsipras says [02] PM offers improvements to pension system laws in meeting with professional associations [03] President Pavlopoulos congratulates new Portuguese president on election victory [04] Protesting farmers block border crossing with Bulgaria indefinitely, set up new road blocks [05] Incredible bureaucracy blocks investments, says Dep. FM Mardas [06] Greece is the guardian of the European civilization, Alternate FM Xydakis says [07] There has been no discussion with Greece on debt, German finance ministry says [08] No plans to 'exclude' Greece from Schengen, Commission spox Bertaud says [09] Common European asylum system is 2016 challenge, UN Assistant High Commissioner Turk tells ANA-MPA [10] Athens replies sharply to Austrian minister's statement on 'retracting' Schengen border [11] Greek FinMin briefed over German model on saving, cooperative banks [12] New VIS biometric visa system to be ready for next tourism season, foreign ministry says [13] Greece's migration minister critical of pressures on Greece over refugee flows [14] FYROM to take action on refugee flows 'in step' with EU countries to the north, Poposki says [15] ND leader received by Cyprus president in Nicosia [16] Greek bond yields fall after S&P raised Greece's rating to BGreek [17] New investment law to offer guaranteed 7-year stable tax system to foreign investments [18] ADEX closing report [19] PPC head supports expansion in the new markets, cooperation [20] One Pakistani dead and two injured in clashes at Evzoni border station [21] A total of 1,481 refugees arrive at Piraeus port on Monday [22] Athens mayor signs Greece's first-ever civil partnership agreement for same-sex couple [23] Seaplanes to fly over the Ionian Sea in the summer [24] Event on the prospects of Euro Mediterranean cooperation to be held in Athens on Jan.26 [25] The history of Hagia Sophia at the Hellenic Cosmos VR 'Tholos' Theatre [26] Weather Forecast [27] Athens News Headlines at a glance Politics [01] 'We have to find solutions for the weakest ones,' PM Tsipras says "We have to find solutions for the weakest ones," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday said in a meeting with representatives of the scientific community, at Maximos Mansion. "It is true that when you take measures for the sustainability of the system, they are usually horizontal. But this is a wrong practice," he said and stressed the need for finding ways to support the middle and low incomers and new scientists. [02] PM offers improvements to pension system laws in meeting with professional associations Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday presented a series of improvements the government is prepared to contemplate to its proposed pension reforms for the professional classes in a meeting with the heads of Greece's professional associations, such as doctors and lawyers. The meeting with the head of the Greece's Technical Chamber George Stasinos, representing civil engineers and architects, the head of the Greek bar associations plenum Vassilis Alexandris and the president of the Panhellenic Medical Association Dr. Michael Vlastarakoswas was also attended by Labour Minister George Katrougalos, who drew up the proposed reforms. Government sources said the prime minister emphasised the need to protect young professionals, as well as freelance workers and the unemployed, in order to make the pensions system viable and socially fair. The prime minister asked for feedback on the government's proposals, the sources said, adding that the government is keeping channels of communication with all the social partners open and is determined to proceed with the reforms through substantive and sincere social dialogue. The proposals included three measures lowering contributions for professionals in the first five years and two measures designed to ease the burden on unemployed professionals by exempting them from social insurance contributions and providing unemployment benefit, as well as transitional measures for a gradual rise in social insurance contributions for incomes above 12,000 euros annually. Tsipras also proposed a reduction in the amount in social insurance contribution paid by freelance workers from 20 pct to 6pct, while the remaining portion must be paid by employers. In statements after the meeting, Katrougalos said he was confident about the outcome of negotiations with creditors on the pension system and stressed that the government will not back down from its "non-negotiable" positions. "We are in an open dialouge with society and a negotiation with the Quartet; we know that the negotiation will be tough. We know, however, that despite the reactions we get from society, our measures are in society's favour, they are just, supporting equality, supporting equality before the law and social justice," he said.. He dismissed as "glaringly inaccurate" claims that those hardest hit by proposed reforms were those earning less than 10,000 euros, noting that this group actually gained under the new system. [03] President Pavlopoulos congratulates new Portuguese president on election victory President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos on Monday called the new Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on the telephone and congratulated him on his victory in the presidential elections in Portugal on Sunday. [04] Protesting farmers block border crossing with Bulgaria indefinitely, set up new road blocks Farmers in central and western Macedonia escalated protest action without warning on Monday, with a decision to indefinitely block the Promachonas border crossing with Bulgaria with their tractors. In the meantime, new farmers continued arriving and new road blocks sprung up at the Kouloura junction on the Egnatia highway, in addition to the road block at the Kerdyllia junction that started on January 20. The farmers and livestock breeders at Halkidona and Giannitsa jointed forces to form a new road block on the Axios Bridge in Thessaloniki made up of more than 1,300 tractors and heavy farm machinery. New farmer roadblocks also appeared at Paleokomi in Serres, Deskati in Grevena and Gomati in Ierrisos Halkidiki, while the number in Pella rose to three, at Arnisa, Mavrovouni and Mesimeri. Further south, the mood remained equally militant and the seven gatherings of tractors in Fthiotida proceeded to block traffic at intervals throughout the day, for one or two hours at a time. The national highway from Athens to Thessaloniki was closed in both directions for over an hour at the Anthili area, with cars diverted onto side roads and the local road network. At Atalanti, farmers only blocked access in the lane from Lamia to Athens, while elsewhere they blocked the old national highway, trapping trucks that were unable to get through to continue their journey. A road bloc at two points on the Lamia-Domokos road to Karditsa and Trikala caused bedlam and huge delays, forcing traffic onto minor roads, while farmers bloced both lanes at the 110th kilometre of the national highway through Viotia for two hours. [05] Incredible bureaucracy blocks investments, says Dep. FM Mardas Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Mardas referred to an incredibly complex bureaucracy in the licencing of new investments in Greece, in an interview on Monday with Praktorio 104.9 FM. Mardas cited the example of a huge tourist investment named "Atalanti Hills" for which the investors have been blocked by bureaucracy since 2006 and the plant that is expected to offer 7,000 jobs can't operate. "The investors have been in trouble since 2006. They do not want to open a chemical plant or a refinery but a huge tourist investment," said Mardas and accused the former government of this condition. He said that 15 similar cases have been found adding that the list of the 15 blocked investments is already in the hands of the relevant ministers in order to give an immediate solution to the problem. Mardas called the investments licencing regime in Greece "morbid" underlining that it can't be changes with small interventions and corrections but "it must be torn up from the roots". He referred to a 40-year culture of corruption, collusion and bureaucracy" noting that the parties of the opposition should make some self-criticism. [06] Greece is the guardian of the European civilization, Alternate FM Xydakis says Greece guards the national and European borders and is not going to sink boats with children, Alternate Foreign Minister responsible for European Affairs Nikos Xydakis said in a statement on refugees. Greece is a guardian of the European civilisation, he underlined adding that this applies to all EU member states that stand by the refugees, such as Germany, Austria, Sweden and others. He noted that Greece has rescued 104,000 children and adults so far in the Aegean Sea. As regards the identification centres, the so-called hotspots, he said that despite the delays, they will have been completed within some days. Xydakis stressed the need for Europe to quickly implement the co-decided with the European Council relocation program of 160,000 refugees and implement the EU agreement with Turkey, the so-called Joint Action Plan, which provides for a drastic reduction in flows, the safe relocation of refugees from the Turkish territory and the extensive readmission to Turkey in the framework and the readmission agreement between Greece and Turkey. Moreover, he placed special emphasis on the EU international role, stressing that it must focus on the real problem, the war in Syria and the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. [07] There has been no discussion with Greece on debt, German finance ministry says BERLIN (ANA-MPA/ F. Karaviti) There have been no discussions with Greece regarding its debt until now, German finance ministry spokeswoman Friederike von Tiesenhausen clarified on Monday, in comments regarding a report in "Der Spiegel". It is absolutely logical that there should not be any discussion on the debt, "since it has been agreed that a review must be carried out first, which will determined definitively what course public spending in Greece will take in the long term," she said. "We will now wait until the review is concluded and then, possibly, there will be such a discussion," von Tiesenhausen added, noting that she could not "rush to conjectures" from the current position and that such questions were not raised at this time. According to the "Der Spiegel" report, a discussion was underway on the possibility that the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) take over the bilateral loans from the first bailout and give Greece "fresh" money on more favourable terms. [08] No plans to 'exclude' Greece from Schengen, Commission spox Bertaud says BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/ C. Vasilaki) There are no plans to either exclude Greece from Schengen or for the "suspension" of the treaty for two years, European Commission spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said on Monday. "No such possibility exists," said Bertaud, a spokeswoman for European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos. She clarified that the only possible course was to activate articles 19 and 26 of the treaty, which allowed the reintroduction of border controls within the Schengen area for up to two years in the case that the situation with the guarding of the external borders has not improved. Community sources said that the European Commission's proposals for the activation of the above two articles will be ready in two weeks, since Greece must be given three months in which to correct the "continuing shortcomings". The maximum period for maintaining controls on internal boders, including Germany, ends in May. Bertaud said the decision to activate the two articles will be taken to save Schengen, citing a statement by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that "We will save Schengen by applying Schengen". Asked about the situation on the borders between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Bertaud said that Greece is expected to register and fingerprint all those entering its territory and to follow normal asylum procedures, denying entry to all those not seeking international protection from Greece, as laid out in the Geneva Convention. She noted that since October, the 12 heads of state along the so-called "Western Balkans" route had made a commitment to stop sending migrants on to other neighbouring countries. [09] Common European asylum system is 2016 challenge, UN Assistant High Commissioner Turk tells ANA-MPA "The greatest challenge for this year is to have a really common European asylum system and just sharing of responsibility system in the EU member-states, UN Assistant High Commissioner for Protection and Director of the Division of International Protection Volker Turk stated in an interview to ANA-MPA adding however that "we need to work hard in order to reach that point." Turk visited the Greece-Fyrom buffer zone at Idomeni, Athens and Lesvos where he had the opportunity to meet with refugees and migrants and discuss with members of the Greek government. Idomeni was Turk's first stop on the day that Fyrom authorities allowed the entrance only to refugees with Austria and Germany as the final destination. "It is a country's sovereign right to control its borders, but at the same time when we deal with people who need protection, we must safeguard that they will have access to this protection," said Turk. "In Europe there is a huge issue because in one hand we have the countries with EU's external borders (Italy and Greece) and in the other hand we have some countries as Germany, Austria and Sweden that have been widely affected by the refugees issue. But what we really need is a collective response from the European Union in order a fair share of responsibilities to exist and we are not at the point yet," said Turk. UN Assistant High Commissioner said he is impressed by the Greek Coast Guard's efforts to save lives. "It is obvious that saving lives is the top priority of the government and the officers are doing a very good job as well as the police, the local authorities and the asylum service staff, but this does not mean that problems do not exist taking into account the huge number of refugees that arrive to the Greek islands." Turk left Greece on Sunday and he visits Turkey where he will meet with members of the Turkish government. Before Greece the UN Commissioner had visited FYROM. [10] Athens replies sharply to Austrian minister's statement on 'retracting' Schengen border In a sharp response to comments made by Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Greece's foreign ministry spokesman Konstantinos Koutras on Monday suggested that she "weigh her words more carefully" when referring to the refugee issue and Greece's supposed responsibility for the problems. "Austrian Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner should think with a more European spirit and vision, and not based on the domestic political balance in Vienna. She could thus contribute towards continuation of the political and democratic integration of Europe, the logic of which does not allow for quarantines or exclusions. The Cold War is over," Koutras said in reply to questions. Mikl-Leitner had suggested that "the Schengen external border will move toward central Europe," if Greece continued not to be able to protect the external EU border with Turkey. Greece's Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias had also advised "greater care" in the statements on this issue, saying that these should be for the benefit of Europe, not spoken with an eye on domestic politics. He also pointed to the position of his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who had dismissed the Austrian minister's suggestions for Greece's 'expulsion' from Schengen as a "pseudo-solution" that would do nothing to stem migrant flows. Kotzias repeated the need to address the root causes of the problem, which were the war in Syria and the state of the refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan. Weighing in on this issue on Sunday, Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs Nikos Xydakis noted that Greece was guarding the borders of both Greece and Europe but would not contemplate pushbacks that put lives at risk. "What we will not do ... is to sink boats and drown women and children. This is forbidden by international and European treaties and the values of our civilisation...the pressure on Greece to change the conditions for controlling the Aegean means a risk of increasing an already large number of deaths," he said. [11] Greek FinMin briefed over German model on saving, cooperative banks Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Monday met with the director of Sparkassenstiftung fuer der Internationalen Kooperation, Niklaas Bergmann and the president of Deutscher Sparkassen -und Giroverband, Georg Farenson. During the meeting, Bergmann and Farenson presented the successful model of operation of Germany's savings and cooperative banks and their significance as another pylon of economic growth and for supporting the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises. The Greek finance minister stressed it was a government priority to support local economies and SMEs and noted that the operation and support of cooperative and decentralised saving banks was of great importance for the stabilisation and growth of the Greek economy. Tsakalotos noted that draining experience from successful models would be extremely useful for the operation and similar institutions in Greece. The two sides agreed to continue cooperation, based on the common view that Eurozone and the EU do not need only a single capital market area, but small banks as well, suitable to support small- and medium-sized enterprises and the needs of real economy. [12] New VIS biometric visa system to be ready for next tourism season, foreign ministry says A new VIS system for issuing visas using biometric data for third-country nationals planning to visit Greece is ready for the coming tourist season, the foreign ministry said in an announcement on Monday. The announcement was issued after a meeting between Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs Nikos Xydakis and Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura with tourism sector associations. Xydakis briefed Kountoura on the preparations made to use the new and more demanding system, which they noted an expected increase of arrivals from Russia this year. [13] Greece's migration minister critical of pressures on Greece over refugee flows AMSTERDAM (ANA-MPA/ M. Aroni) In statements while attending an informal EU justice and home affairs ministers' meeting in Amsterdam on Monday, Greece's Alternate Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas criticised the pressures on Greece relating to the refugee crisis and noted that excluding Greece from Schengen would not solve the problem. At the meeting, EU ministers instructed the European Commission to explore a procedure to extend temporary internal border checks within the Schengen area for up to two years. "Schengen is part of a game for assigning responsibility: if you don't do this or that, we will do this to you. It is a punishment," Mouzalas said, adding that Greece did not wish to take part in a process that leads nowhere and will not help in tackling the refugee crisis. Mouzalas represented Greece at the meeting, along with Alternate Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas. The Council also urged the Commission to examine the possibility that the EU border agency Frontex provide assistance in guarding the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and to examine the existing legal framework with "flexibility" and "pragmatism". Greek authorities were aware of where delays had occurred, Mouzalas told reporters, adding that the problems should be dealt with in common. He noted that countries "in a panic" wanted to close their borders but that this would convert a European crisis into a humanitarian crisis in Greece, where hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees would be trapped. The situation required "more Europe" but isolated actions meant less Europe, he added. While admitting that there were delays in setting up hotspots on Greek islands, Mouzalas said that these will be ready by early March at the latest and noted that delays by other EU member-states were partly to blame, including slowness in providing assistance, providing too little help and failure to swiftly implement agreements on the relocation of refugees within Europe. Since receiving an additional 100 EURODAC fingerprint scanners last week, Greece was now able to take the fingerprints of 80-90 pct of the migrants arriving, he added. Commenting on accusations that Greece was not doing enough to protect its borders with Turkey, the minister noted that Greece was acting in accordance with international law and the law on the sea, as well as European and Greek law. "We are guarding our sea borders very well, in addition to Europe's pride, by saving people," he said. Toskas also pointed to the extreme slowness of the readmission process, noting that the activation of the relevant agreement with Turkey after many years had led to the return of 80 migrants to Turkey in three months, while the results for Morocco and Pakistan were currently nil. [14] FYROM to take action on refugee flows 'in step' with EU countries to the north, Poposki says SKOPJE (ANA-MPA/ N. Frangopoulos) The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) does not wish to close its borders with Greece in order to stop refugee and migrant flows but will "do whatever is necessary" to resolve the refugee crisis if EU countries to the north impose more stringent controls, FYROM Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki said on Monday. The minister said that FYROM was coordinating its actions in step with action taken by of EU countries, such as the decision to distinguish between migrants and refugees last November, or recent requirements that the refugee's destination country be named in documents. The country's authorities have recorded 41,227 refugee arrivals from Greece since the start of the year. [15] ND leader received by Cyprus president in Nicosia NICOSIA (ANA-MPA/ A. Viketos) Developments in the Cyprus problem, regional issues and the island republic's imminent exit from the memorandums dominated the meeting between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and the new leader of Greece's main opposition New Democracy party Kyriakos Mitsotakis here on Monday. Anastasiades briefed ND's new leader on his meetings at Davos with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. Afterward, Mitsotakis stressed ND's unstinting support for the efforts of the Cypriot people and their president Anastasiades to achieve a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue. Finacial News [16] Greek bond yields fall after S&P raised Greece's rating to BGreek 10-year benchmark bond yields fell on Monday in the aftermath of a surprise decision by Standard & Poor's to raise the country's credit rating by one notch to B- on Friday, citing the country's compliance with the terms of a third economic adjustment programme. The credit rating agency expects that a compromise will be reached in the next months on completing the first review of the programme, paving the way for inclusion of Greek bonds in an ECB bond-buying programme. It could also pave the way for a discussion with the country's creditors over a restructuring of Greek public debt. The 10-year benchmark bond yield fell to 9.44 pct in early trade, after reaching 10 pct last week. The two-year bond yield fell to 13.48 pct and the five-year bond yield eased to 11.12 pct. A successful completion of the first review of the Greek economic adjustment programme was of crucial importance as it would signal the beginning of talks with Greece's partners on action to further restructure the country's public debt, while at the same time it will be the key to restoring confidence and the return of deposits to the banking system, Bank of Greece governor Yiannis Stournaras said on Monday. Addressing an American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce conference, the Greek central banker warned that the urgent completion of the first review was imperative, as risks have risen in the global economy. In the framework of increased risks and uncertainties for the course of the global economy, a potential failure to complete the first review would be destabilising as it would lead to a retreat of confidence, deteriorating financial conditions and a bigger recession. Stournaras said that the Greek economy has the ability and prospect to return to positive growth rates this year, despite rising international risks and uncertainties and despite a carry-over from a negative effect of 2015. He stressed, however, that this would depend on implementing commitments undertaken by the Greek government in the framework of the new programme and a completion of the first review. He underlined the experience of the second half of 2014 (when a fifth review failed to be completed) and the "endless" negotiations of the first half of 2015 which led to a resurgence of the Greek crisis and urged the Greek government and all pro-European political parties and the country's creditors to "learn from past mistakes". "Experience shows that each time we fail to complete a programme review, a climate of confidence is burdened and the next review becomes more difficult, leading us to a vicious cycle" Stournaras said. [17] New investment law to offer guaranteed 7-year stable tax system to foreign investments A new investment law to be tabled to Parliament soon will focus on tax-exemptions, preserving direct support to special investment categories and offering incentives to relocation to less-developed regions, Economy ministry sources told ANA-MPA on Monday. The guidelines of the new legislation will be: supporting existing and creating new exportorientated, innovative enterprises, boosting employment and particularly skilled personnel, strengthening cooperation through supporting cooperative groups, social economy enterprises, mergers and clusters, and supporting regions with lower development dynamism. The new law will emphasize on tax-exemptions and subsidizing leasing. Tax-exemption will be offered gradually with completion of 50 pct of the investment, while subsidies will be offered to special investment categories such as start-ups, innovative enterprises, networking or less-developed regions. The new law will focus on internationally acclaimed products and services, while for investments on machinery equipment will be offered favorable terms, fasttrack assessment and inspections. For large foreign investments, fast-track licensing procedures and guarantees of a stable 7-year tax system will be offered. The new investment legislation is currently finalized and will be tabled to Parliament within the next few days. [18] ADEX closing report The February contract on the FTSE/ASE Large Cap index was trading at a discount of 0.05 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Monday. Volume on the Big Cap index totaled 2,944 contracts with 16,843 open positions in the market. Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 31,201 contracts with investment interest focusing on Piraeus Bank's contracts (10,642), followed by Alpha Bank (3,930), National Bank (10,143), Eurobank (3,443), MIG (646), OTE (504), PPC (615), OPAP (149), Mytilineos (254), GEK (263), Ellaktor (134), Jumbo (99) and Folli Folli (66). Greek stocks ended flat in the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday, unable to hold on to their early gains in the aftermath of a decision by S&P on Friday to upgrade the country's credit rating. Buying interest focused on blue chip stock such as National Bank, Folli Follie and OTE while other stocks such as Piraeus Bank, Viohalco, Piraeus Port and PPC suffered heavy losses. The composite index of the market rose 0.07 pct to end at 534.72 points, after rising as much as 542.39 points early in the session. The Large Cap index rose 0.20 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 1.01 pct higher. Turnover was a low 45.693 million euros, in volume of 71,763,834. Terna Energy (3.97 pct), National Bank (2.41 pct) and Folli Follie (2.32 pct) scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Piraeus Bank (4.12 pct), Viohalco (3.73 pct) and Piraeus Port (3.28 pct) suffered heavy losses. Piraeus Bank and National Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day. Among market sectors, Commerce (2.29 pct), Chemicals (2.19 pct) and Telecoms (2.11 pct) scored big gains, while Raw Materials (2.63 pct) and Health (1.76 pct) suffered losses. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 51 to 44 with another 24 issues unchanged. Lavipharm (19.27 pct), Alpha Astika (19.21 pct) and Sidma (17.48 pct) were top gainers, while Akritas (20 pct), Tzirakian (19.67 pct) and Yalco (16.08 pct) were top losers. [19] PPC head supports expansion in the new markets, cooperation Public Power Corporation's chairman and chief executive Emmanouel Panagiotakis on Monday said he was in favor of plans to expand in new markets and forging business cooperation with other companies. Addressing a company event to celebrate the New Year, Panagiotakis said: "We must not hesitate, instead we must exploit fully business cooperation with other companies, private or state, domestic or foreign," Panagiotakis said, adding: "We must constantly seek and exploit with planning and attention, boldly, new opportunities. In the electricity sector, monitoring new developments, such as electric cars, saving energy and in other sectors, such as natural gas. We must find and exploit growth opportunities outside our borders". He presented the four biggest challenges facing PPC: a prevailing economic situation, reduced lignite production (down 50 pct compared with 2009), losing market share (estimated loss around 4.0 pct) and finally an obligation to reduce PPC's market by 25 pct in the next one or two years and by 50 pct by 2020. Panagiotakis made special mention of the need to develop renewable energy sources and noted that investments surpassed 100 million euros and PPC's debt fell by 75 million euros last year. General News [20] One Pakistani dead and two injured in clashes at Evzoni border station A Pakistani national died and two compatriots were injured during clashes that broke out among foreign nationals early Monday near Evzoni border station at Kilkis. According to testimonies, five Afghanis attacked the Pakistanis in order to rob them. [21] A total of 1,481 refugees arrive at Piraeus port on Monday Three ferries with 1,481 refugees aboard docked at Piraeus port early on Monday. More specifically, "Nisos Mykonos" and "Nisos Rhodos" carried 1,127 people from Chios and Mytilene and "tera jet" another 354 from Chios. [22] Athens mayor signs Greece's first-ever civil partnership agreement for same-sex couple Athens Mayor George Kaminis on Monday signed the first ever civil partnership agreement between a same-sex couple in Greece. The registry office act signed by the mayor is dated January 25, 2016 and joins two men, a doctor with a teacher, in a civil partnership. Receiving the couple in his office for the signing ceremony, Kaminis expressed his best wishes for their future and noted that this first day of the implementation of the law allowing samesex civil partnerships was a highly significant day for civil rights in Greece and for harmonising the country with the reality worldwide. [23] Seaplanes to fly over the Ionian Sea in the summer The Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Ministry and the Shipping and Island Policy Ministry in cooperation with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund ((HRADF) are planning to grant licences for the construction of waterways on the islands of Paxoi, Zakynthos, Cephalonia and Lefkada as well as in Patras with the view to creating the first network of waterways in Greece. The first waterway in Greece will operate at the port of Corfu. Procedures for the licencing of another 50 waterways are underway. "Our efforts will focus on the Ionian Sea," Angelos Vlachos, member of HRADF board of directors, said to ANA-MPA in a meeting also attended by Chinese investors of the European seaplanes construction company Dornier Seastar. "We believe that a small waterways network will be ready in the coming months and now rests on the side of the companies to attract airlines and to see seaplanes in the waters of the Ionian Sea within 2016," Vlachos said. "It is a project of national importance, and I am absolutely convinced that not only one, but more companies will operate their seaplanes over the Ionian Sea. Three to four companies have already expressed interest, including a Croatian company that plans to set its base on Corfu and operate routes to Greece and other European countries," the president of Hellenic Seaplanes Tassos Govas underlined. On his part, the president of Dornier Seastar, Conrado Dornier, said: "I am pleasantly surprised from the fact that many things have progressed in Greece over the last year and we are interested in completing our investment plans for our new seaplanes in Greece ... We will finally be able to connect the sky with the sea." [24] Event on the prospects of Euro Mediterranean cooperation to be held in Athens on Jan.26 The prospects of the Euro Mediterranean cooperation will be the issue of a round-table debate organised by the Institute for the Mediterranean, member of the European Public Law Organisation (EPLO) on January 26. The event is held in cooperation with the department of Political Science and International Relations of Peloponnese University and will take place at the offices of the organisations at the Athens district of Plaka at 17:00-19:30. The discussion will focus on the development of the Euromediterrenean relations, the geopolitical dynamic in the region and their repercussions as well as the prospects. The ambassadors of Morocco to Greece Abdelkader EL Ansari, of Italy Luigi Marras and of Netherlands Caspar Veldkamp as well as Greek ambassadors Dimitris Karamitsos-Giras and Vassilis Papaioannou and the professors Ioannis Mazis and Sotiris Roussos will make proposals and suggestions. Professor Spyridon Flogaitis director of EPLO, Ambassador Sotiris Varouxakis director of the Institute for the Mediterranean and professor Pantelis Sklias president of the political science of Peloponnese University will address the event. [25] The history of Hagia Sophia at the Hellenic Cosmos VR 'Tholos' Theatre The 1,500-year-old history of Hagia Sophia, one of the iconic buildings of the world's cultural heritage, is explored in the new 45-minute screening on show at the Hellenic Cosmos Culture Centre's dome-shaped Virtual Reality Theatre or 'Tholos' in Athens. The interactive show charts the building's history from the 6th century, in January 532 after the Emperor Justinian commissioned the building a new church from the architects Anthemios and Isidorus, and weaves in elements of the surrounding Byzantine world, its history and culture. Among others, it explores the challenges faced by the architect in carrying out their groundbreaking and ambitious construction, the problems they had to overcome and also explores the rich decorations of the interior. Details on the days and hours of screenings are available at the website www.helleniccosmos.gr [26] Weather Forecast Clouds and sleet is forecast for Tuesday. Northerly winds will reach 6 on the Beaufort scale. Rain or sleet in the northern parts of the country with temperatures ranging from -01C-11C. Partly cloudy in the western parts with temperatures between 03C-15C. Rain and sleet in the eastern parts with temperatures between 01C-15C. Clouds and sleet over the Aegean islands and Crete, 04C-12C. Partly cloudy in Athens, 01C-13C; the same for Thessaloniki, -01C-11C. [27] Athens News Headlines at a glance DIMOKRATIA: Rage at farmers' road blocks EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Law-incentives for small and medium sized enterprises ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: 5 secret changes in retirement ages ESTIA: It's the implementation, Mr Erdogan ETHNOS: Big rises in basic food prices NAFTEMPORIKI: Tax gifts and other burdens 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE - TEL: 64.00.560-63 - FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr - E-MAIL: anabul@ana gr - PRESIDENT & GENERAL DIRECTOR: MICHALIS PSILOS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-01-26 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> CONTENTS [01] Farmers to decide upon their further mobilisations on Tuesday [02] Stability cannot exist without a new pension system, says FinMin Tsakalotos [01] Farmers to decide upon their further mobilisations on Tuesday Farmers will meet on Tuesday, at 12:00, in Sindos, Thessaloniki, to decide upon their future mobilisations. Another meeting of the farmers that have blocked Nikea, near Larissa, has been scheduled for 13:00 escalating their actions in response to the government's controversial pension system reform and taxation plans. Farmers will block roads for two hours (12:00-14:00) as well as Greece's borders with Bulgaria, FYROM and Albania. However, yesterday they opened the customs offices in northern Greece near the borders with Bulgaria. "The indefinite closure of the customs offices still applies as we want to be consistent with what we say, but when we see that there is traffic congestion, we will open them to avoid further trouble," a farmer told ANA-MPA. Meanwhile, the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) announced a new 48-hour seamen's strike on January 27-28. PNO also decided to participate in the strike called by the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) on February 4, with the prospect of escalating labour action when the draft bill on the social security reforms is tabled in Parliament. [02] Stability cannot exist without a new pension system, says FinMin Tsakalotos "Without a new pension system, we cannot have stability," Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Monday said during a book presentation in Athens. Tsakalotos pointed out that he has a duty as a Finance Minister to contribute to a stable economy through income redistribution and widely expanded tax base. He added that in his recent meetings with the six finance ministers of the eurozone at the Eurogroup, he told them that Greece cannot tolerate any further reduction in pensions, as they have already been cut eleven times. "Pensions in Greece often correspond to family income," he explained to his counterparts, because an entire family in Greece may live on a pension. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-01-26 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> CONTENTS [01] Gov't has specific roadmap for Greece's exit from the crisis, Economy Min Stathakis says [02] Alt. Migration Minister: The Schengen issue is not on the table [01] Gov't has specific roadmap for Greece's exit from the crisis, Economy Min Stathakis says This government has a specific roadmap for Greece's exit from the crisis and return to growth, Economy, Development and Tourism Minister George Stathakis on Tuesday said at a conference organised by Naftemporiki newspaper on the shipping sector. The minister referred to the six major key points of July's agreement which also included the re-negotiation of debt. Based on the old agreements, Greece had to pay about 80 billion euros for debt servicing between 2015 and 2022, something unrealistic, as he said. He added that based on the new agreement these 80 billion euros were converted into a long-term debt of 30 years. He also referred to the Greek banks recapitalization which led to the European Central Bank lowering the borrowing ceiling for Greek banks from the Emergency Liquidity Assistance mechanism (ELA) by 20 billion euros and the upgrade, for the first time after several months, of the Greek economy by the rating agency Standard & Poor's. He also stated that economic estimates, namely that the Greek economy would record recession of 2.5 percent this year and 0.5 percent next year, have changed since the August agreement. "The Greek economy shows zero recession and therefore it is highly likely that it will record significant positive growth in 2016 after the adjustment of the new data," Stathakis estimated. He added that Greece needs to increase investments and support industries that contribute traditionally to the economy such as shipping and tourism. He also noted that significant reforms are needed to support investments, the strengthening of the competitiveness of the Greek economy along with extroversion. Moreover, he stressed the importance of the sound management of the new National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) programme that will be launched on February 2 and will last for five years. [02] Alt. Migration Minister: The Schengen issue is not on the table The Schengen issue was not discussed at the EU ministers meeting in Amsterdam, Alternate Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas noted and revealed that only the Belgian minister touched the issue. "An unbelievable minister proposed setting up a camp for 300,000 refugees in Athens and referred to the possibility of leaving the Schengen zone and pushing back into the sea, which is illegal and constitutes a criminal act," Mouzalas said in an interview with SKAI TV on Tuesday referring to the Belgian Minister. On the contrary, the major EU countries (Germany, France, Italy) said that we need more Schengen and referred to the European Commission spokeswoman's statements on the issue. He declined that Greece was accused of not protecting sufficiently its borders, with the exception of the Austrian Minister, noting that the Frontex's position, as it was expressed at the Summit, was "vindicating" for Greece because as they said "sea is not a field." Referring to the February 15 deadline for the hotspots, he said that it is objective. He recognised that there is a delay but he estimated that Greece will find a way to solve the problem. He announced that hotspots will be ready by the end of February and will start operating in early March. Concluding, Mouzalas said "the Schengen Treaty is in danger at European level, Europe is in danger, Europe is afraid, I am worried." Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-01-26 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> CONTENTS [01] Excavation reveals significant statuettes at archaeological site of Aptera [01] Excavation reveals significant statuettes at archaeological site of Aptera ANA-MPA -- A very important find was unearthed at the archaeological site of Aptera, Chania on Crete. Two small sized sculptures (approx 0.54cm height), one of Artemis made of copper and a second of her brother Apollo made of marble. The statue of Artemis, guardian goddess of Aptera, is in excellent condition and was standing on a square copper base. She is wearing a short chiton, or tunic, and is ready to shoot her arrow. Extremely spectacular is the preservation of the white material used for the iris of her eyes. Apollo's statuette was simpler and in total contrast with the emphatic depiction of the dominating protector goddess. However, the sculpture is of excellent artistic execution with apparent the use of red colour. Both statuettes were probably imported from artistic centers outside Crete in order to decorate the altar of a Roman luxury residence. First estimates date both of the statuettes to the late 1st - early 2nd century AD. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-01-26 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/> CONTENTS [01] PM Alexis Tsipras inaugurates off-the-agenda debate on pension reform in Parliament [02] Greek, Israeli DMs urge Turkey to join 'axis of good' against terrorism [03] Prosecutors to freeze assets of 24 depositors on Borjans list [04] Farmers decide to further escalate protest action [01] PM Alexis Tsipras inaugurates off-the-agenda debate on pension reform in Parliament Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday began an off-the-agenda debate in Parliament on the government's proposed pension reforms, noting that all the political parties were obliged to adopt a position on an issue of such gravity, i.e. the viability of the country's pension system. "If future generations are to have social insurance, there is no room for stalling or prevarication," Tsipras said, pointing out that the system was not currently viable. "Unless we take measures, it will collapse," he added. The prime minister blamed 40 years of state pension fund mismanagement and "looting" under New Democracy and PASOK governments for the system's current problems, as well as an aging population and "political choices in the year of crisis that shrunk GDP by 25 pct and shot unemployment up from 7 pct to 25 pct." He was followed on the podium by main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Updates pending. [02] Greek, Israeli DMs urge Turkey to join 'axis of good' against terrorism Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos received his Israeli counterpart Moshe Ya'alon in Athens on Tuesday, for talks focusing on cooperation between Greece, Israel and Cyprus and the possibility of adding Bulgaria, Jordan and Egypt to a so-called "axis of good" aimed at countering terrorism and fundamentalism in the wider region. At the same time the two ministers called on official Turkey to change its stance and also join in this axis, noting that it was up to the Ankara government to take a decision "to stop supporting terrorists". Ya'alon warned that the west would face a major period of destabilisation in the wider region due to the instability in the Middle East, caused by the internal conflicts between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in the area. He noted that there were no specific enemies but "specific hostile situations" and warned of the risks of terror attacks in Europe by a "complex network of terrorists with legal weapons of mass destruction". Kammenos said the international community must work together, including an exchange of information, in order to combat terrorism. He noted that innocent refugees were being used as a means to promote terrorism and that a solution to the migration issue was to create conditions for growth in the countries refugees were fleeing, so that they could return. Cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, he added, could help control the financing of terrorism, especially its reliance on illegal trafficking in fuel, weapons, drugs and people. The Israeli defence minister commented on Turkey's role, saying the country was responsible for the deterioration in its relations with Israel. He urged Turkey to "stop financing terrorism, activity for which there is evidence" and to stop allowing the migration of jihadists to Europe. He also accused Turkey of protecting Hamas in Istanbul. [03] Prosecutors to freeze assets of 24 depositors on Borjans list Greece's financial prosecutors on Tuesday ordered the freezing of all assets and property belonging to 24 individuals in the so-called 'Borjans list' - a list of tax payers with large deposits at UBS given to Greek authorities by the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The prosecutors announced that the next package of orders freezing the assets of individuals on the 'Borjans list' and the so-called 'portfolio list' was on the way. The order immediately freezes all real estate property, bank accounts, securities and other assets owned by the suspects under investigation for tax evasion and, in some cases, legalising income from illegal activities. The aim is to pressure the suspects into a settlement of the unpaid taxes and fines so they can thus avoid further criminal prosecution. The team of financial prosecutors said they already had a clear picture regarding several individuals with unjustifiably large deposits abroad, compared with the income they declared at home and that the asset freeze orders were issued mainly for such cases. [04] Farmers decide to further escalate protest action Representatives of farmers at 37 protest road blocks throughout the country on Tuesday decided that they will further escalate protests against proposed pension reforms and tax measures, after a meeting in central Greece. They announced plans to extend their blockades of national highways to six hours a day, at times to be decided by the individual protest blocks, though their intention is for road blocks to be coordinated and occur at the same times. They will also seek to join forces with other social groups, participating in other strike action, such as the Feb. 4 general strike. Regarding the prospects of dialogue with the prime minister, the farmers said the government must first take its proposals for pension reform and taxation off the table, starting dialogue on these issues from scratch, while the talks must also examine the matter of production costs. A decision to escalate action was also reached by a farmers' meeting in Sindos, Thessaloniki on Tuesday, where 66 groups of protesting farmers were represented. Participants repeated their refusal to meet the prime minister unless the draft legislation with the tax and pension reforms was first withdrawn. They also refused to meet the leaders of any of the political parties unless they first receive guarantees about the stance the parties' will adopt. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
GoGetFunding

The family of an Ontario teacher killed in Saskatchewan's tragic school shooting Friday is hoping to bring the young man's body home to Uxbridge, with the help of an online fundraiser.

Adam Wood was one of four people killed in a shooting rampage that injured seven others in La Loche, Sask. on Friday.

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A 17-year-old, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder and one count unauthorized possession of a firearm.

Friends of Wood's family have started a GoGetFunding page, titled "In memory of Adam Wood," to help the family with travel and funeral expenses to bring Wood's body back to Ontario.

The fundraiser, which has a goal of $25,000, had raised over $7,500 as of Monday afternoon.

"He was always up for a good challenge and lived each day joyously."

Wood had just moved from Uxbridge, Ont. to the small community in northern Saskatchewan in September, in order to begin his teaching career.

His long-time girlfriend was finishing a PhD in the province, and he wanted to move to Saskatchewan to support her, Wood's former boss told the Globe and Mail.

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Wood's family wrote in a statement that he was an adventurer with a passion for life, who often made people laugh until their stomachs hurt.

He was certainly an adventurer. From 2013 to 2014, Wood spent a year living in a canvas tent documenting his adventures in sustainable living on his blog, "The Northern Pioneer."

In one of his final posts on the blog, he shared an excerpt from a poem by one of his favourite authors, Wendell Berry, titled "Closing the Circle."

Again, again we come and go, changed, changing. Hands join, unjoin in love and fear, grief and joy. The circles turn, each giving into each, into all. Only music keeps us here"  Wendell Berry

Family asks Canada to use tragedy to fuel change

Wood's family took the fundraiser as an opportunity to release a statement, saying they hoped the tragedy would lead to opportunity for creating "lasting systemic change."

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The statement, posted on the fundraiser page asks for Canadians to take the time to listen to the community of La Loche, and hear the kind of support and change the community members need.

"We find ourselves in moments of despair thinking, 'Why did it have to be Adam?' But really, the question is, 'Why did this have to happen?'" writes Wood's family in the statement.

La Loche is a small, primarily Dene First Nations community, with a suicide rate three times Saskatchewan's average.

Residents of La Loche, Sask., say a prayer in front of a makeshift memorial at La Loche Community School.(Photo: Jason Franson/CP)

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Its certainly one of the worst communities for having nothing for youth. I was just talking to the chief and council there last night. We really have to take some dramatic means, Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations told the New York Times Saturday.

"It is in these moments, when tragedy strikes, that we are able to stop and consider life: its frailty, challenges, its laughter, and its tears," reads the statement from Wood's family .

"It is in these moments we are given the opportunity to examine ourselves and hopefully, come out better and stronger as a community and a nation. We feel sadness and remorse but rarely do we use that to fuel change."

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A Toronto teen with autism has become an online sensation after he inspired the internet with his story and his dance moves.

On Friday, a video of a teenager named Sam was posted to Facebook and YouTube by Carly Fleischmann, a woman with autism who works to combat misconceptions about the condition.

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In the description, Fleischmann explained that Sam was diagnosed with autism and a movement disorder, which makes it very hard for him to keep his body still. When Sam was offered a job at Starbucks, he reportedly told his parents that his life had real meaning.

Sam never thought he would be able to work behind the bar but his manager Chris believed in him, she wrote. They turned his movements into dance and now Sam is known as the dancing barista. More people like Sam need to be seen and heard.

Watch the video above to see Sams awesome dance moves.

According to the YouTube post, it took Sam and his manager Chris many hours of practice for the teen to do what he can do now. If it wasn't for Chris believing in Sam he would [have] never believed in himself, Fleischmann wrote.

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Since going viral, the video of the teen has touched the hearts of many. On Facebook, one woman wrote: I love this story! Through understanding and acceptance, something that might have seemed like a hindrance to some employers has become his strength.

I want to shop where the people behind the counter are happy and dancing, she continued. It gives hope to all us parents of ASD children that by the time they grow up, this attitude might be the norm.

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Justin Trudeau didnt have much to say Monday after the NDP demanded the prime minister ask his newly appointed clerk of the Privy Council to apologize for totally unacceptable remarks he reportedly made about university students last year.

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair rose in question period to say that, as a member of the board of governors at Carleton University, Michael Wernick likened a group of students peacefully protesting tuition fees to "Brownshirts and Maoists."

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Trudeau said he was "very pleased" to name Wernick as Canada's top bureaucrat, and praised the veteran civil servant's "long career in the public service."

And we look forward to working with him to renew the profession and nonpartisan public service, Trudeau added.

A report published Sunday resurrected the incendiary comments Wernick reportedly made after students, equipped with a loudspeaker, interrupted a board of governors meeting with a 20-minute protest last spring.

Watch footage of the protest here:

This 20-minute student protest shut down today's meeting of Carleton University's Board of Governors. Posted by Nick Falvo on Monday, March 30, 2015

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According to Press Progress, Wernick  then-deputy clerk of the universitys board of governors privy council  responded to the protest by characterizing strategies utilized by students to those of Nazis and communists.

It has no place in a lawful democratic society  it is the tactics of Brownshirts and Maoists. It has no place in a university  it is the antithesis of free speech and open debate, Wernick wrote in an April 1, 2015 email.

The schools Graduate Students Association (GSA) called for Wernick's resignation.

GSA academic vice-president Michael Bueckert told the schools newspaper that Wernicks comments were inflammatory and outrageous, and reflected a fundamental disregard for public participation in democratic university governance.

Carleton later approved a tuition increase.

Unusual criticism

Mulcairs scrutiny of the clerk of the Privy Council on Monday marks an unusual move because the top bureaucratic role is regarded as non-partisan.

Trudeau announced Wernicks appointment to the role in a new release from Davos, Switzerland last week.

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Michael Wernick, shown in his LinkedIn profile. (Photo: Linkedin)

He replaces Janice Charette, who was appointed by former prime minister Stephen Harper. Trudeau praised Wenick as an outstanding leader in a statement.

He has the depth of experience and the skills we need to move full speed ahead on the implementation and delivery of our governments agenda, Trudeau said. I believe strongly in the vital role a modern, professional public service plays in our democracy.

Wernick has been involved with federal public service since 1981 and most recently served as Charettes deputy. In the past, he has worked closely with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.
OTTAWA  Liberal MPs gleefully welcomed on Monday Conservative interim leader Rona Ambroses apparent new position on the legalization of marijuana.

As health minister, Ambrose had waged a multimillion-dollar television and radio ad campaign aimed at Justin Trudeaus pot plan. Earlier this month, however, in what seems like a stunning reversal of Tory policy, she called on the prime minister to move quickly on his plan to legalize weed.

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Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Jan. 25, 2016. (Adrian Wyld/CP)

On Oct. 19, there was a very clear message sent when he was elected that pot is going to be legal across Canada recreationally, not just from a medicinal point of view, she told reporters Monday. So pot dispensaries are popping up everywhere. [Trudeau] said he is going to manage this, and he is going to keep it out of the hands of kids and so Im waiting to see his plans to do that.

Pot dispensaries did exist before the Liberals win this fall, Ambrose acknowledged, but she said police had previously cracked down on them in some jurisdictions.

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As late as December, the Conservative interim leader had argued that selling pot in places such as Ontarios liquor board would fail to keep it out of the hands of children. She told The Huffington Post Canada she was very skeptical the Liberals would be able to achieve their goals.

But then, in a confusing interview in early January, Ambrose told a Vancouver radio station she wanted the government to move on marijuana legalization as soon as possible. The faster they move on this, the better  the better to protect kids, she told CKNW AM 980's Simi Sara.

Maybe she is coming to the realization that the current drug strategy doesnt work, and if it is not working, doing more of the same isnt going to be helpful.

Former solicitor general Wayne Easter, who represents a riding in Prince Edward Island, told the Huffington Post Canada that he is baffled by Ambroses new pronouncement.

Maybe she is coming to the realization that the current drug strategy doesnt work, and if it is not working, doing more of the same isnt going to be helpful.

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Earlier this month, the Liberals gave former Toronto police chief Bill Blair the task of developing a legal framework with the provinces to tax and regulate pot in an attempt to keep it out of the hands of not only children but also organized crime. Blair is to consult local politicians as well as health and public safety officials in the months ahead, but a formal timeline has not been released.

Opposition Leader Rona Ambrose receives applause during question period. (Sean Kilpatrick/CP)

Treasury Board President Scott Brison told HuffPost Ambrose had probably taken a deep breath and thought about it for a while.

If Ms. Ambrose, now unshackled from the previous rigid ideology, is choosing to follow our lead on evidence-based policy-making, we welcome her support.

Burlington, Ont., MP Karina Gould said she thinks Ambrose is actually trying to be a bit constructive.

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The logic of legalizing and regulating marijuana is obvious, added Halifax MP Andy Fillmore.

I think that the government is making a very intelligent case for that, and the case is working if people are changing their minds to get onboard with a plan that regulates and legalizes it.

Change of tone 'totally hypocritical'

Longtime Cape Breton MP Rodger Cuzner called it Ambroses come to Jesus moment and said it is totally hypocritical of the Tories to change their tune on this.

Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner says Tories changing their stance on key issues is "totally hypocritical." (Adrian Wyld/CP)

My hair is going to catch fire over there, he said, referring to the Commons.

We [Liberal MPs] are doing our best not to heckle them, but when you see just the rank hypocrisy of what is coming out of the front bench of the Conservatives, you know their about-face on  pick a topic  [the inquiry on] missing and murdered aboriginal women, the long-form census , its really strange.

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For a guy who was here for the last 10 years under the Conservative government, just to see how adamantly opposed they were [to legalization] at the time  to even suggest that we have an adult conversation about legalization  they said we were purveyors of evil to the youth of this country. Its just a bizarre about-face by them. But its politics, isnt it?

In addition to pot, since the October election, Conservative MPs have changed their mind on:

Supporting an inquiry into missing and slain indigenous women and girls (Rona Ambrose);

Ending the mandatory long-form census (Tony Clement expressed regret over scrapping it and said that, in hindsight, he should not have done so);

Called for the release of a government document on Saudi Arabias human rights record, despite refusing to do so while in government (Tony Clement);

Expressed outrage at Liberal partisan appointments after making tens of dozens of similar appointments, including several contract renewals of Tory appointees that tied the hands of the new government (Jason Kenney and many other MPs).

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The Zimbabwe National Students' Union (Zinasu) has expressed displeasure at the University of Zimbabwe's (UZ)decision to introduce two intakes per year, saying this will only pile pressure on scarce facilities at the State university.Although the demonstration, organized by Zinasu at the UZ campus, flopped yesterday, reportedly due to heavy police presence, the student representative body said they would continue pushing to have the decision rescinded.UZ director of information, Daniel Chihombori dismissed claims that the introduction of two intakes was a move by the university to raise funds and fight competition from other universities like Midlands State University.Chihombori defended the move, saying it was made to reduce the waiting period for university aspirants, as well as giving an opportunity to deserving candidates
An 11-year-old Jersey girl has launched a project called #1000BlackGirlBooks after getting fed up with the lack of diversity in childrens literature. The drive aims to collect and donate 1,000 books featuring black female protagonists.

Marley Dias got the idea for her project after venting to her mother that there were too many white protagonists in her school books.

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I told her I was sick of reading about white boys and dogs, Dias told Philly Voice, specifically referencing Where the Red Fern Grows and the Shiloh series. And I told [my mom] I was going to start a book drive, and a specific book drive, where black girls are the main characters in the book and not background characters or minor characters.

So far, Dias has collected 400 books. The Grade 5 student is also working in partnership with Phillys GrassROOTS Community Foundation, who will be hosting a book festival at Retreat Primary School in St. Mary, Jamaica on February 13.

Dias mother, Janice, fully supports her daughter and believes its important for kids of colour to see themselves as heroes. For young black girls in the U.S., context is really important for them  to see themselves and have stories that reflect experiences that are closer to what they or their friends have, she said.

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Impressively, Dias is no stranger to social action. In the past, the young girl has received Disneys Friend for Change grant, which helps bring kids creative projects to the community, and traveled to Ghana to help feed orphans.

In regards to her most recent project, Dias reiterated the importance of having diversity in kids' books. My parents have taught me the value of reading and self-love through books that have characters that look like me and talk like me, the 11-year-old said. I want to make sure other black girls around the world can see and love themselves, too, through these books.

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To swear on a Bible is to pledge that you'll tell the truth in a courtroom.

But Ontario courts have found a whole new way for indigenous people to swear an oath, rather than have them do it on the text of the Christian faith.

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The Ottawa Courthouse is allowing aboriginal people to swear on eagle feathers after two such items were handed over to staff in a ceremony last week, CBC News reported.

They were gifts from Greg Meekis, community justice programme coordinator at the Odawa Native Friendship Centre. He provided them after one of his clients asked to swear on an eagle feather, but wasn't able to last year.

"I was gifted with feathers during the course of my life as well," he told the network.

"I've had these two, and following the teachings that we are just carriers of these sacred items, the keepers, until such time that there's an opportunity to pass them on, I saw this opportunity to pass these two eagle feathers on to the courthouse. That way they'll be available to our people when the time comes."

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Eagles are considered sacred figures in certain indigenous cultures, and they're often used in important rituals and events.

Former Manitoba MLA Elijah Harper, for example, held an eagle feather as he delayed discussion of the Meech Lake Accord in the provincial legislature in 1990, effectively blocking its passage.

APTN reporter Nigel Newlove said that residential school and religion have left a "sour taste" with indigenous people, and the feathers provide them with a new option.

The feathers will be kept in a case at the Ottawa Courthouse, and court operations director Jan Crozier has been instructed to open it every day to "let the spirits breathe," the network said.

"Theyll be under lock and key, but they will be breathing every day," she said.

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Ottawa isn't the only city that allows people to swear on eagle feathers  any Ontario courthouse can allow witnesses to use them, if they have them.

Feathers were, for example, given to courthouses in North Bay and Brantford, Ont. in 2012, The Toronto Sun reported.

Sherry Lewis, Brantford Native Housing's then-manager of community programs, suggested that the oath's wording be changed to the following, for those who chose to swear on them: "This eagle feather symbolizes our direct connection to the Creator for my people and I hold it in the spirit of truth."

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OTTAWA  Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre signalled Tuesday that he is open to changing his mind on the Energy East pipeline.

Following a 45-minute meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Coderre told reporters that what he had retained from his meeting with his former Liberal caucus colleague was "this notion of being responsible" and of finding "a balance" between economic development and sustainable development.

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"If we have a role to play, there are people who have homework to do," he said.

Energy East must change its project and then we will see, he later told The Huffington Post Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre following a joint press conference in Montreal. (Photo: Graham Hughes/CP)

For now, the Montreal mayor remains opposed to the project. Last week, he along with mayors representing the Montreal Metropolitan Community came out strongly against the TransCanada Corp. pipeline  which would transport crude oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan through Quebec to a terminal in Saint John, N.B.  citing too many environmental risks, especially to the area's drinking water supply. A major oil spill in the region could cost $10 billion, Coderre said.

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The mayors' stand unleashed a torrent of criticism from Western political leaders. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall suggested Quebec should back a region of the country that had provided the province with billions in equalization payments, while Alberta Wildrose leader Brian Jean said Montreal was being hypocritical after dumping its raw sewage in the St. Lawrence River.

"We need to understand that, you know, there is no plan B to the planet."

Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose urged Trudeau in the Commons on Monday to pick up the phone and call Coderre. The Energy East pipeline is a nation building project that shouldn't divide the country, she told reporters. People in Alberta despairing over a hundred thousand job losses feel this is like Pierre Elliott Trudeau's National Energy Program (NEP) of the 1980s, Ambrose said, pitting regions of the country against each other and shortchanging the West.

A lively exchange in the House today between interim Tory Leader Rona Ambrose and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on pipelines, national unity... and selfies. MORE: http://huff.to/1PO1UdL Posted by The Huffington Post Canada Politics on Monday, January 25, 2016

"It's not because we ask questions, and we ask people to do their homework, that we are lacking respect," Coderre told reporters Tuesday.

"At the end of the day, it is all about being respected," the mayor added. The cities, he said, are trying to be responsible.

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"We said 'yes' to Enbridge because they've done their homework," Coderre added, in reference to Line 9B.

"We need to have those environmental impact [assessments]. We need to understand that, you know, there is no plan B to the planet."

PM asked if he'll approve project without mayors' approval

Trudeau sidestepped a question about whether he might greenlight Energy East without the approval of Montreal-area mayors. He said his job is to find ways to export Canada's products and resources in a responsible way.

The Liberals will introduce a review process soon that will take into account the total greenhouse gas emissions created by new energy projects, and also ensure open consultations with broad groups of people, such as municipalities, indigenous peoples, and scientists, Trudeau said.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on as Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre speaks during a news conference in Montreal. (Photo: Graham Hughes/CP)

"The federal government's role is to put in place a process by which TransCanada or any other company could go demonstrate [at the National Energy Board hearings] that a project is in the public interest and get the approval of Canadians," he said.

"For the past 10 years, we had a government that was, rather, a cheerleader for these projects rather than being a responsible arbiter to establish a clear, open, rigorous and transparent process, and that is what we are going to do."

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You can hardly tell while watching old reruns, but Matthew Perry battled drug and alcohol addiction during his time on "Friends."

The actor told BBC Radio 2 Friday that he doesn't recall filming three years of the hit sitcom.

The actor was responding to a question about his least favourite episode.

"I think the answer is, I don't remember three years of it. So none of those ... somewhere between Season 3 and 6."

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He told ABC News in 2013 that he tried to hide his addictions, but others eventually found out.

"Mostly it was drinking, you know, and opiates," he said.

The actor was in and out of rehab, and didn't look healthy  he said he hates to see paparazzi photos of himself from that time.

"I honestly recoil," he said.

He's now substance-free and has tried to use his personal fight to help others. He opened a men's sober living facility back in 2013 and has been honoured by the White House for his advocacy in favour of U.S. drug courts, which aim to rehabilitate nonviolent drug offenders instead of incarcerating them.

Now in London preparing for his play, "The End of Longing," he'll be the only member of the "Friends" cast not to be on an upcoming NBC special. However, he told The Graham Norton Show that he'll still be a part of it by introducing them from afar.

But the cast might be open to the idea of an actual reunion, he told the BBC Friday.

"It's kind of tough, because we've ended on such a high note, that we don't want to ruin it."

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If you ask Russell Peters, refugees are like any other North Americans  they're just in a very different place.

The comedian said as much in a Tuesday press conference after he visited the Za'atari refugee camp in Amman, Jordan at the invitation of the Canadian Embassy, The Associated Press reported.

.@therealrussellp visited #Zaatari today to meet with refugees & to see the scale of the Syrian humanitarian crisis pic.twitter.com/XaCfzfKA6Z  Za'atari Camp (@ZaatariCamp) January 26, 2016

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"These aren't just poor people that got displaced," he said. "These are doctors, these are lawyers, these are professional people, skilled people, tradesmen, family people.

"They're not very different than us, they're the exact same people, they're just in a bad place."

Peters said that, although refugees are grateful for people's kindness, many don't want to go to North America because they're "just biding their time" in the camp until they can go home to Syria.

That statement adds some clarity to a Globe and Mail story from December, which said refugees are reluctant to travel to Canada.

"Given the circumstances they're in right now, and how they're thriving and making the best of it, I think they can only become an asset to whatever country they end up in," Peters said.

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Pictures captured during the comedian's visit show him meeting with performers currently living at the Za'atari camp.

Emotional & enlightening day @ZaatariCamp Jordan. Met these actors & comedians living there. Thank U @CanEmbJordanpic.twitter.com/oFpsV1M8WP  Russell Peters (@therealrussellp) January 26, 2016

In an Instagram post, he said that "living in North America and relying on the media to keep us informed is a very lazy way of discovering information.

"Seeing it firsthand and talking to the actual humans that are displaced from their beloved homes, really made me understand that they (while they're appreciative) just want the peace of mind to be able to just go back home," he wrote.

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In his press conference, Peters added, "As a comedian, you know, we're the truth tellers in this world. We say what actually happens.

"So for a person like me to go and see firsthand what I saw, it's up to me to spread the word of what's, quote unquote, BS."

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News / Health

by Staff reporter

Harare Central Hospital security guards yesterday assaulted several nurses who were demonstrating against chief executive officer Mrs Peggy Zvavamwe's purchasing of her service vehicle, ahead of the hospital critical operations.The nurses were saying that the shortage of medicines and sundries was hindering their work, and the hospital management unleashed the security guards on them.Mrs Zvavamwe recently bought a Jeep Cherokee for $87 000 raised from patients which was supposed to purchase drugs.Dressed in their white gear, the nurses dropped their thermometers and burst into song and dance in protest at the hospital's administration block.Student nurses had to attend to patients, while their seniors waved placards, teasing the hospital management for prioritising the purchase of the vehicle.One of the placards read: "Paracet US$1-Jeep US$87 000".The demonstration ended after the hospital's security guards descended on the nurses with batons, before taking two of them, Mr Lucas Sharara and Mr Kudakwashe Goko, to Mbare police station for allegedly leading the unsanctioned demonstration.The hospital security officers later dropped their case against the two before pressing any charges.Mr Sharara, who is the chairman of the Harare Central Hospital chapter of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association, said they initially sought audience with Mrs Zvavamwe.He said they discussed the lack of resources in the wards, need for locum, need for free medical care for members of staff and need for a day care centre at the institution for their children."We met the CEO on Thursday last week, where we presented four main grievances, but we did not get any positive response," said Mr Sharara. "By then, it was still a rumour that the hospital had purchased a car for $87 000. Our worst fears were then confirmed on Friday morning when the vehicle was delivered to the institution."Today's demonstration was to show our frustrations to the management."We are frustrated because there are no resources to use in the wards. No gloves, betadine solution, cannular or even anything."Mr Sharara said the workers were also demanding introduction of locums just like any other hospital in the country.Locum is when a health care provider is hired on a temporary basis and paid per services rendered.Mr Sharara said since three quarters of the staff at the hospital were females, they were also demanding that there be a day care centre for their children.He said they were also demanding that the nurses be treated free of charge at the hospital.Other nurses interviewed said the hospital was failing to purchase essentials such as blood, which could have been done using the $87 000 used to purchase the vehicle."We all know that blood transfusion saves lives, but people are dying because there is no blood," said one of the nurses.Mrs Zvavamwe is on record as saying the purchase of her car was above board.She said the purchase of the vehicle was approved in April last year and that is when they started mobilising money.Mrs Zvavamwe said drug shortages experienced at the hospital were not peculiar, as other institutions were facing similar problems.The decision to buy the vehicles for all hospitals' CEOs was reached following an expose by the auditor general that some of the institutions were spending as much as $6 000 per month in car rentals, which did not make economic sense.Harare Central Hospital was one such institution which was renting a car for the CEO.
Canada's foreign affairs minister says the new Liberal government will honour a United Nations request and lift a series of unilateral sanctions against Iran.

Stephane Dion announced the decision in question period Tuesday after Conservative foreign affairs critic Tony Clement asked the government about reports Bombardier was already attempting to do business with the Middle East nation.

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"Does Bombardier know something that the rest of Canada doesn't?" Clement asked. "Has the government already lifted sanctions against Iran?"

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion answers a question in the House of Commons. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/CP)

Dion said it was true the UN asked sanctions put in place under the previous Tory government be lifted in the wake of the recent Iran nuclear deal.

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"Canada will ensure that the regime does not return to nuclear technology," Dion said. "It is with our eyes open, therefore, that we are going to respond to this report from the United Nations."

Deputy Tory foreign affairs critic Peter Kent then rose to call Iran a "bad actor" in the region, saying the country routinely threatens to destroy Israel and provides military support for the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

"Re-opening our Canadian mission in Tehran would put Canadian foreign service workers at risk," he said before asking the government to abandon plans to "normalize" relations with Iran.

Dion shot back that Canada's lack of presence in Iran, thanks to the "misleading approach" of Tories, isn't doing much good for Iranians or the promotion of human rights.

"It's not good for the strategic interests in the region, it's not good for Israel," Dion said. "It is good for nobody. We will change this policy."

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The last government closed Canada's embassies in Iran in 2012.

Past government 'ideological and irrational'

After question period, Dion told reporters that the government will lift the sanctions in a speedy but responsible fashion, in accordance with allies.

He suggested the move was a step away from the ideological and irrational approach of the previous government.

"We think that when you have a disagreement with a regime, you dont flout. You work hard to be sure that you will see improvement," he said.

"It's what our allies did in negotiating with Iran an agreement that is good for the world."

When asked if Bombardier would be allowed to export to Iran once the sanctions are lifted, Dion responded with a question of his own.

"In which way (is it) helping Canada or the Iranian people or Israel or anyone that Canada is hurting its own industry?"

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Clement later told The Canadian Press that the Liberal plan was "180 degrees in the wrong direction."

Canadian companies, he said, "can find plenty of other places in the world to do business where the country is not a state sponsor of terrorism."

With files from The Canadian Press

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bukharova via Getty Images Red Senate Chamber of the Canadian Parliament - Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada. See more in my portfolio.

Most of us, having only a vague understanding of the Senate's possible functions and past realizations, see it as illegitimate or undemocratic, and wish to correct the situation by applying one of two stereotypical and superficial recipes: election or abolition.

I wish to demonstrate that there are multiple forms of legitimacy, that the Senate is legitimate in its own way, and that the best way to reform it is to help its culture evolve.

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Equating democracy with elections is confounding the part for the whole. A regime is democratic when it tries to realize the well-informed will of the people in a just way, taking into account minorities, and limiting the natural excesses of the governors and the governed. Democracy is the result of the interaction of numerous actors and institutions such as the government, parliament, courts of justice, public administrations, military and police forces, the press, associations, pressure groups, large national and multinational companies, and public opinions. Democracy is compromised when any one of these components weakens, hardens, or expands immeasurably.

Most of the actors mentioned above are not elected, but they are each legitimate while they maintain their natural role. All democratic regimes have elections, but not all regimes with elections are democratic. Zimbabwe, Russia, and even Turkey are examples of the latter.

To better understand the various types of legitimacy, let's look at another group of people who, like senators, are appointed: judges. Few people would reject their judgments because they are not elected. Because judicial thinking requires a long training and much practice as part of an ancient tradition, these jurists are strongly constrained by their predecessor's work and the reflections of their peers. They try to base their reasoning on the most probable facts while avoiding personal biases. Sometimes I wish we would see more of that in our politicians! Since our ignorance is profound and our prejudices are most often disguised in seductive appearances, it is certain that judges will sometimes fail. This is why the judicial system has provided various levels of appeal with panels of three and nine judges. All these parts form a whole, making the judicial system legitimate, without elections.

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To get back to the Senate, in 2014 the Supreme Court of Canada studied many questions concerning Senate reform. Here are three important citations extracted from that decision:

"The framers [of the Constitution] sought to endow the Senate with independence from the electoral process to which members of the House of Commons were subject, in order to remove Senators from a partisan political arena that required unremitting consideration of short-term political objectives."

"The appointed status of Senators, with its attendant assumption that appointment would prevent Senators from overstepping their role as a complementary legislative body, shapes the architecture of the Constitution Act, 1867."

"The proposed consultative elections would fundamentally modify the constitutional architecture we have just described and, by extension, would constitute an amendment to the Constitution. They would weaken the Senate's role of sober second thought and would give it the democratic legitimacy to systematically block the House of Commons, contrary to its constitutional design."

The Canadian Parliament is a complex ecosystem of governance, which has adapted and evolved over almost 150 years. The Supreme Court invites us to think deeply before changing its workings, because it is probable that piecemeal modifications would have unintended and undesirable consequences.

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Central to the doubts about the legitimacy of the Senate is the nagging thought that it can impede governance by systematically opposing the will of the Commons. One hundred and fifty years of history should be enough to demonstrate that this is baseless fear. If the Senate is such a danger, we would have noticed it by now.

Better to have a Senate and use it lightly than not have it at all when we really need it.

Without going into details, we can see that the Senate has from time to time blocked proposed legislation, its most recent active period being from 1988 to 1990 when, having a Liberal majority, it opposed the Mulroney government on three key issues: abortion, the GST, and free trade. The Senate, having a real power to block legislation, uses it sparingly, tempered by the absence of electoral legitimacy, its culture and history, and by public opinion.

Why bother with all this? Wouldn't it be simpler to get rid of it? Not so fast! In 2007, Eoin O'Malley published a study (The Power of Prime Ministers: Results of an Expert Survey) comparing the legislative power of prime ministers in 22 parliamentary democracies. He found that Canada's PM is, by far, the most influential. The more the PM's office concentrates power, the more we need counterweights. The House of Commons can hardly take on that role, except during a minority government, so we are left with only the Supreme Court and the Senate.

Better to have a Senate and use it lightly than not have it at all when we really need it.

Senators have generally been chosen in a partisan fashion, appointed for their loyalty to the governing party. This constitutes an assembly with reduced possibilities of complementarity compared to a non-partisan body. When the majority in the Senate corresponds to that of the Commons, its critical sense is diminished. When power changes hands, it often has a tendency to think in opposition rather than in complementarity with the Commons. As long as that assembly remains partisan, it will function well below its capabilities. If we remove the Senate, we will lose forever that source of enrichment to our legislature.

For all these reasons, the Senate has its very own legitimacy, different from that of the Commons. Adopting a nonpartisan nomination and selection process will help it to realize its full potential.

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ImagineGolf via Getty Images A pumpjack in a canola field. The oil industry is a major economic force in Alberta. This oil rig is located in an oil field near Calgary. Drilling rigs first drill a well and then the pumpjack is situated over the well, or borehole. Crude oil is then shipped via rail or pipeline. The Keystone pipeline will deliver oil through the United States from the oil sands in Northern Alberta.

We live in a society that, like it or not, is dependent on oil (petroleum hydrocarbons) and petroleum hydrocarbon-based products.

Our food is produced on farms that need heavy equipment to operate. That food is shipped around the world by air, water and rail, all of which rely on petroleum hydrocarbons to operate. Petroleum hydrocarbons also serve as the feedstock of the petrochemical industry, which forms the basis of all the things that make our modern world work.

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They are the building blocks of our plastics, our computers, the tools we need to keep us healthy and the drugs we take when we are sick.

In December world leaders passed the Paris Agreement. As part of the process Canada agreed to drop our greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

Irrespective of what activists may claim, Canada did not commit to trashing our economy nor did we agree to abandon all fossil fuels. Canada certainly did not commit to achieving a fossil fuel-free status in less than two decades. What this means is that Canada has an ongoing need for fossil fuels.

I know that the term "ethical oil" has some blemishes on it because of issues surrounding its origin, but I believe in the concept behind the term. I want my personal gasoline purchases to go towards subsidizing medicare and not subsidizing a despot or paying for a tyrant to bomb his neighbour.

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I want to know that the oil used in my car was not generated using slave labour in a country without a free press, and where environmental regulations are noted by their absence rather than their application. I want my oil being produced by well-paid Canadians in a country with a demonstrably free press, strong government oversight and a strong tradition of NGOs to watch over the regulator's shoulder.

This brings us to the Energy East pipeline proposal (Energy East). Energy East is a 4,600-kilometre pipeline designed to carry 1.1 million barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in Eastern Canada.

"Canadian oil helps support Canadian jobs and Canadian institutions, and provides the funds to pay for our education and medical systems."

Backers of Energy East point out that Quebec and New Brunswick currently import more than 700,000 barrels of oil every day (b/d) -- or 86 per cent of their refinery needs -- from countries including Algeria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. For a full breakdown of the countries of origin of Canadian oil imports see Table 7.2a of the CAPP Stats Handbook.

As indicated, the direction is swinging towards the U.S. but it still represents imports. U.S. oil will be imported by rail, which has been found to be over 4.5 times more likely to experience a negative occurrence than pipelines.

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While the supporters of the pipeline are predicting over 700,000 b/d, CAPP reports that refineries in Quebec and Atlantic Canada currently import 90 per cent of their requirements. This translates to a potential 640,000 b/d domestic market opportunity for Canadian suppliers.

Opponents of Energy East claim that it is primarily an export pipeline, but as the proponents have repeatedly explained, that is simply not the case. That is why the project includes the Montreal and Levis laterals. Simply put, the majority of the oil running through the pipeline will be available to Canadian refineries.

As for export, a large component of Energy East's excess capacity could well end up going to the U.S. Gulf Coast to address their heavy crude needs resulting from the cancellation of Keystone XL. This will provide the United Sates with oil from a reliable ally rather than leaving our friend dependent on oil from Venezuela or another hotspot.

As a Canadian I will point out again that Canadian oil helps support Canadian jobs and Canadian institutions, and provides the funds to pay for our education and medical systems while subsidizing transfer payments.

Any rent-seeker who thinks that blocking the pipeline will somehow help them is barking up the wrong tree, because the Saudis, Nigerians and Algerians -- who are currently supplying the East Coast refineries -- are not paying into our Federation; they are siphoning money out of it. If you want your bridges, roads and sewage plants built/repaired, then you are going to need money and blocking Energy East is exactly the wrong way to obtain those funds.

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As I have written numerous times at my personal blog, we need to wean Canada off fossil fuels as our primary energy source. If we are to avoid the serious consequences of climate change, we will need eliminate fossil fuels from our energy mix.

However, contrary to what many say, the process of doing so will take decades, and in the meantime we will still need petroleum hydrocarbons.

So, the question that must be asked is: from whom do we want to source our needs? From Canadian provinces that pay into equalization or from foreign despots who use the money generated to fund wars and underwrite totalitarian regimes?

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Phil Ashley via Getty Images open book with censored text and marker pen on desk

Is there a difference between putting pressure on government and on a non-governmental agency? And what, for these purposes, IS government? Should a university, which guarantees academic and artistic freedom, capitulate to pressure put on it by a generous donor? Should an activist organization make policy decisions based upon what may or may not appeal to funders? Should a political party?

I confess to being an avid watcher of the Danish TV series Borgen. In the most recent episode, the leader of a new political party has to decide whether to accept major funding from a bank magnate or to decline the funding because it comes with strings attached. The banker wants to help determine the party's financial policy.

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With his funding, the leader can pay her workers and provide them with free coffee in the office. Without the funding, she will need to depend upon volunteers and people will have to buy their own coffee. I won't spoil the ending of the episode, but suffice it to say, the party leader shows some gumption.

York University has long been a place where intense, lively and heated debate about important issues takes place. It has been a focal point in Canada for demonstrations about conflicts in the Middle East. To say that the administration, faculty and student body have been divided over the Israeli-Palestinian debate is to seriously understate the case.

Two years ago, a wall poster was put on display in the York University student centre. At the bottom of the picture appear the words for peace and justice in multiple languages. In the foreground of the picture there is a figure of a person, shown from the back and likely a man, who is wearing a Palestinian scarf and holding rocks behind his back.

In the background there is a hilly landscape with a building, a tree and a piece of machinery with smoke coming from it. There are no other human figures in the picture, so it is a bit difficult to determine what is happening.

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Paul Bronfman is incensed that this picture, which he refers to as anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic hate propaganda, is displayed at York University. He wrote an open letter to Mamdouh Shoukri, president of York University, demanding that the picture come down or he will withdraw significant funding for an important program that benefits students in York's cinema and media arts programs.

Mr. Bronfman is on the boards of a number of film-making operations, and he is also chairman and CEO of Comweb Corp and William F. White International, as well as the chairman of Pinewood Toronto Studios.

Mr. Bronfman has been quoted as saying, "The upshot is that if that poster is not gone by the end of day today then William F. White is out of York. York is going to lose thousands of dollars of television production equipment used for emerging student filmmakers, access to technical people who do education and student training and student seminars, workshops and open houses at William F. White Center that help them develop the hard skills needed to fill industry infrastructure positions like gaffer or grip: they will no longer be invited. York University will be persona non grata at William F. White international until they take that poster down."

Mr. Bronfman has every right to make his demand and every right to donate or to withdraw funding. But should he? And should York University accept funding that is contingent upon agreeing to remove a controversial piece of art?

Academic and artistic freedom are at the very heart of university existence. Without the ability to explore and express ideas that are troubling and even transgressive, universities would become mills that deliver pre-approved doses of information in community sanctioned packets. Such institutions would challenge no one to think critically, nor to rise up against injustice. I do not imagine that this is the kind of institution Mr. Bronfman and the film companies he represents would support.

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I have no idea whether president Shoukri likes or dislikes the poster, whether he approves or disapproves of its message -- nor do I really care. I do hope, however, that he and his colleagues can stand up to Mr. Bronfman's challenge.

If our universities do not demand independence from partisan influence -- whatever its source, however well-intentioned -- we are all of us in trouble. As my late colleague A. Alan Borovoy often said, "The freedom of no one is safe unless the freedom of everyone is safe."

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Bloomberg via Getty Images Wind turbines operate at the Steinriegel wind farm, operated by Wien Energie GmbH, in Steiermark, in the Styrian Alps, Austria, on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016. Chorus Clean Energy AG tapped proceeds of its recent share sale to buy two wind farms in Austria with a total capacity of more than 21 megawatts. Photographer: Lisi Niesner/Bloomberg via Getty Images

It seems to happen with every new technology. It wasn't so long ago that some people were convinced a photograph could steal your soul. We may read about that now and have a little chuckle, but are we so far removed from the same phenomenon today?

They may start out as a question, worry, anxiety, or even a lie. But let's call them what they have become: myths. They are partial truths or outright untruths that thrive and multiply in our online world.

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Wind turbines and human health

Wind turbines have been blamed for all sorts of health problems, ranging from sleep deprivation to cancer and yes, even death. One person, Dr. Nina Pierpont, even went so far as to coin a term for these diverse effects, "Wind Turbine Syndrome."

"It's certainly true that you can look at the Internet and find stories about wind turbines causing miscarriages, cancer, all sorts of different things," says Robert Hornung, of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CANWEA). "But the science is quite clear on this. Wind turbines can cause annoyance, and that annoyance can be related to many different things...but in terms of having any sort of direct impact on human health, the literature is quite conclusive: Wind turbines do not have such an impact."

Health Canada conducted a study into the phenomenon in 2013. Their findings mirror Hornung's claims that wind turbines have no direct effect on human health. Another study from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection found the "annoyance" related to wind turbines is a response that varies based on a subject's attitude towards the wind turbine itself. Unsurprisingly, the less someone approved of a wind turbine, the more annoyed they felt at its presence.

Simon Chapman, a professor at the University of Sydney, notes that incidences of "Wind Turbine Syndrome" are almost exclusively prevalent in areas where local media have reported on "Wind Turbine Syndrome." So if you feel a little queasy later today, blame us, not your local wind turbine.

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Embodied or life cycle energy

Perhaps you have an armchair economist in your family who, unprompted, loves to drop this little giblet at Thanksgiving dinner: "It takes more energy to manufacture and install a wind turbine than it will produce over its lifetime."

"That's simply false," says Hornung. "There have been many studies that have looked at the life cycle of wind turbines. All of the energy used to produce the raw materials...is offset by the energy produced by the turbine within a span of 12 to 18 months. Since wind turbines have a life span of 20 to 25 years, you're getting a very large net positive benefit in terms of the energy being produced."

The energy used to construct and install a turbine is called the embodied energy. Life cycle energy refers to the energy used to manufacture, install, operate and decommission the project.

Many studies put this number at about one year for so-called energy payback on wind projects. And it just so happens to take 3.67 years to recover the energy that goes into building a coal plant.

So yes it takes energy to build any power plant, but wind stacks up pretty well.

Turbine avian genocide

Hands up if you've heard this one: "Wind turbines are giant egg beaters for birds! It's like having a blender in the sky!"

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Hornung acknowledges that all energy production causes wildlife disruption and it's "important for the wind energy industry to do all it can to mitigate those impacts." However, while this isn't so much a myth, it is a half-truth that needs some context.

"Study after study has shown that wind turbines represent a minuscule contributor to bird deaths," says Hornung. "Much more significant contributors are skyscrapers, transmission lines, automobiles, and house cats."

In fact cats, windows and powerlines kill hundreds of millions of birds while wind turbines kill tens of thousands of birds annually.

According to one study "wind farms killed approximately seven thousand birds in the United States in 2006, but nuclear plants killed about 327,000 and fossil-fueled power plants [killed] 14.5 million."

The New York State Energy Research and Development authority found wind has the second lowest overall impact on wildlife of all the methods of generating electricity.

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In recent years bat researchers have found problems with bat mortality, and more research and work is needed to reduce these impacts. There are many good resources on wildlife impacts.

A few more common questions

What happens when the wind doesn't blow? - Wind turbines produce electricity about 80 per cent of the time, but at varying levels, says Hornung. This is why wind is partnered with other sources of electricity such as hydro, natural gas, biomass or biogas.

Do you need backup for wind? - The electricity system already needs to have enough backup to deal with shutdowns of giant coal, natural gas or nuclear plants and this redundancy can easily accommodate fairly significant amounts of solar and wind generation. Many sources suggest you don't need specific backup until wind is producing 20 per cent of your electricity.

Is wind power expensive? - Wind power is selling for 5 cents U.S. per kWh in the U.S. In Alberta the grid operator paid an average of 5.5 cents/kWh for wind in 2013, the cheapest form of electricity. This combined with fair carbon pricing makes wind look very good.

Are wind turbines noisy? - The simple answer is wind turbines are not very noisy and that people are exposed to much more noise of all frequencies simply by going outside in the city or country. There is plenty of information available about noise and infrasound. One CBC report concluded wind turbines can be associated with only one adverse affect: chronic annoyance.

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Do wind turbines affect property values? - Studies have looked at tens of thousands of property sales and the end have determined wind turbines don't have a significant impact one way or the other.

The more you know...

People fear what they don't understand and fear is a breeding ground for myths. Hornung says support for wind projects almost always increases after construction once people have first-hand experience with wind farms.

None of this should keep people from pushing for higher standards, more community engagement and reduced impacts, but if there is a lesson in all this, it's to be very careful with online claims based on anecdotal evidence.

All forms of energy generation have impacts, but wind has among the lowest overall impact on the environmental and humanity.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE - In this April 21, 2014 file photo, Liberian LNG, or Liquefied Natural Gas, tanker Al Hamra arrives at a port in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo. Japan may find itself the odd man out when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presents his governmentas blueprint for combating climate change at a summit of the worldas leading industrialized democracies Sunday and Monday, June 7-8, 2015. The Group of Seven host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, has indicated she supports a pledge of eventual zero carbon emissions. Japan favors the use of coal, gas and nuclear power over green energy despite rapid growth of investment in renewables since all its nuclear reactors were taken offline following the 2011 disaster in Fukushima. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

The issuance of a key permit required for the development of the LNG Canada project by Shell is an exciting development, as it moves the project one step closer to fruition.

The facility permit from the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission outlines the requirements for design, construction and operation of the proposed liquefied natural gas facility in Kitimat, B.C. While this alone does not guarantee the project will move forward, it is an indication that the proponents of the project still see benefits of establishing an LNG plant in B.C.

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These benefits are considerable: the climate of B.C.'s north coast is colder and therefore requires less energy to liquefy natural gas than in other areas, such as the Gulf Coast; there are abundant gas fields relatively close to the plant; the north west coast of B.C. is considerably closer to many markets than competing jurisdictions; and B.C. has an abundant supply of engineers, planners and construction workers that are fully capable of building and operating a complex plant.

Given the economic doldrums facing other resource-based sectors in B.C. with the collapse of oil prices and the malaise in the minerals and metals markets, the B.C. engineering community recognizes the importance of projects such as LNG Canada moving forward. For many firms, the development of an LNG industry will buffer the impact that the downturn of the resource sector is having.

B.C. engineers bring their technical knowledge and commitment to public safety to every stage of the LNG process. Engineers and geoscientists provide expertise in identifying sources of natural gas and in ensuring that the extraction of the natural gas is done safely and in accordance with the latest standards. Engineers specializing in natural gas projects design and monitor the construction and on-going operations of the pipelines that take the gas from the fields to the plants.

The liquefaction plants that will take the temperature of the gas to negative 160 degrees Celsius will be in done in strict accordance with international engineering standards. Even the ancillary infrastructure surrounding these plants will be designed by engineers to standards that are among the best in the world.

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Once the gas is ready to be shipped, it will be loaded onto a tanker in port facilities that will be designed by engineers experienced in marine terminal design. Tanker routing is subject to the Transport Canada TERMPOL Review Process, involving over 20 in-depth studies, including navigation and risk assessments. Engineers play an integral role in identifying risks and developing strategies to mitigate these risks.

The attention to these details is reflected in the fact that since 1964, one LNG tanker has entered Tokyo harbour every 18 hours, and there has not been a single incident involving a tanker in that harbour in more than 50 years.

There is no doubt that the scope of the LNG Canada project is enormous. The liquefaction plant will cost up to $40 billion and the costs of the pipelines and the extraction will cost billions more. Against this scenario we have seen the price of natural gas drop from just under $6 to under $2.50 per million British thermal units.

The important consideration is that these are projects with a lifecycle of over 50 years. The odds are that given the growth in the world economy over time -- and the increased demand from developing economies that require gas to not only power their growth, but also as a cleaner alternative to coal-power -- there will be growing demand for LNG, and the investment today will be seen as a shrewd move in the years to come.

Keith Sashaw is president and CEO of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia (ACEC-BC).

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Last week, the Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC) came out and stated its unanimous opposition to the Energy East tarsands pipeline. The MMC's denial was on behalf of 82 municipalities, including Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, and 79 others. These municipalities represent 3.9 million people, which is almost half the population of Quebec

Following the announcement the new Alberta government went into damage control. Premier Notley flew to Ontario to meet with Premier Wynne so both Premiers could stand together and trumpet the project. While the Premiers attacked the municipal leaders for being short sighted the real shortsightedness was their own.

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Energy East is an export pipeline. If built it will enable 30-32 million tonnes of GHG's to be emitted into the atmosphere every single year. That's an additional 32 million tonnes of emissions per year at a time when the global scientific community has clearly stated that drastic reductions are what is needed. That is far from climate leadership and doesn't have much long term vision.

In addition to sending Canada in the wrong direction on climate it will also make it impossible for Canada to meet the pledge it made just a month ago in Paris to do its part to stabilize global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 1.5 degrees C is not just a level that means survival for millions of people all over the planet, but its also the best chance we have to reverse the growing climate crisis before it spins out of control.

Stabilizing temperatures at 2 degrees C required over 75% of all remaining fossil fuel reserves in the ground. A safer target of 1.5 degrees C means what needs to remain in the ground gets even bigger. A panel of IPCC scientists in Paris said for industrialized nations the 1.5 degrees C target means emissions need to drop to zero by 2030 or 2040 at the latest.

That climate reality leaves no place for tarsands pipelines.

While the job losses Alberta and other jurisdictions are feeling are devastating, the answer isn't in worsening a problem, doubling down on disaster, and building a pipeline to ship a project the world is and needs to move away from.

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Rather then talking about increasing the damage for short-term gain, Premier Wynne and Notley should be talking about how they can create jobs by collaborating on solutions. Solutions that keep carbon in the ground, create jobs, and that could benefit everyone from coast to coast to coast for generations to come.

In the United States, the solar energy industry grew 12 times faster then the rest of the US economy. In fact there are now more solar workers in the United States then coal workers. Solar also now beats oil and gas extraction workers and is closing on the sector overall.

These are the types of numbers Canada should be boasting about. Canada needs a national clean energy strategy.

Let's ensure when the Prime Minister meets with the Premiers the discussion isn't about pipelines but it's about the long term safety and prosperity of the country through a 100% renewable shift. Let's make the discussion about creating good green jobs, healthy communities, and clean, renewable solutions that allow everyone to participate and benefit. That would be true long-term thinking.
arismart via Getty Images bottles of wine in row

Icewine is perceived as the untamable beast of the wine family. Have you ever heard someone pronounce their undying love for it? Highly unlikely. Most of the time, I get "oh, it's far too sweet" as a response-- and it becomes an afterthought--- perhaps a novelty to try and have with either dessert or cheese. But its relegation to the end of a meal is unfortunate because it has far more potential than that. This 'rogue' family member of wines needs to be given a chance. And who better than to vouch for its amazing qualities than Chef Lynn Crawford herself.

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She supports the Canadian craft involved in producing icewine and showcases its floral bouquet by pairing them with dish creations at her recent brunch and dinner events at Inn on the Twenty. For Chef Lynn, she embraces the bold flavour profiles found in every varietal. She adds with gusto, "Select foods with drama and assertive flavours. They can tolerate the sugars and aromatics in icewine. Do not be timid to taste and explore; spicy foods, seafood, and foie gras work well."

From now until the end of January, it will be a celebration of the sweet, intoxicating liquid. It began with a kickoff celebration at Fallsview Casino with the Icewine Gala. Chefs offered us their culinary concoctions as they used icewine in savoury and sweet applications.

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Niagara's Icewine Festival continues on the weekends until January 31st with their Discovery Pass. A wealth of participating vineyards offer creative dishes to pair with their icewines. This is an ideal way to taste every varietal out there without having to commit to an expensive bottle purchase (unless you find one you're enamoured with on your tasting journey). In a sense, it is a way to discover what your palate enjoys most.

For me, the elements I consider when tasting include minerality (experts describe this as a vibration on the tongue, a saltiness that tempers the sweetness), acidity (another key component that keeps your taste buds enlivened, rather than being dulled by all the sweet), fruitiness (e.g. apples, pear-- detecting these notes help you pair it with meats and vegetables), sugar content, and viscosity (as a general rule, the more syrupy/ molasses-like in the glass, expect the sweetness to pack an assertive punch and flavours to be concentrated).

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Here are my top five selections from the weekend's festivities; I chose these for their well-rounded flavour profile and versatility in being paired with savoury dishes.

Lakeview Cellars Gewurztraminer Icewine 2013 by Diamond Estates pairs beautifully with Peking Duck with steamed wraps, hoisin sauce, cucumber, and green onions. As with any icewine, it is searingly-sweet but there's depth of flavour with notes of orange zest, candied mango, and echoes of apple in the back of the throat. The rich texture of the duck plays nicely with the lively fruit notes found in the wine.

Colaneri's Cabernet Franc Icewine 2013 is barrel aged for 7 months and it is said that doing this mellows all the flavours out. The result is a lustrous texture; as well, it is an alluring sip that works splendidly with chocolate mole. With the wine on the palate, you get the essence of summertime, with strawberry and raspberries on the tongue. While Colaneri suggests pairing it with tiramisu, you get the same effect with the bittersweet notes of the stew that complement the icewine's flavours.

3 .

Chateau de Charmes pairs juicy pork crostini with their 2014 Vidal Icewine. It's something about the soft pulled pork meat along with the tanginess of the apple onion slaw that acts as an ideal counterbalance to the floral, honey & apricot notes found in the wine. This is a sweet and salty pairing that you can easily recreate at home. And if not with pulled pork, BBQ pork ribs with a honey glaze & cider vinegar slaw would work wonders with the wine too.

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4.

Scallops and foie gras are what Chef Crawford recommends with her current favourite icewine: Henry of Pelham's Riesling Icewine (2014). And no wonder, the veteran vines are old souls. At 20 years of age, they produce tiny grape spheres with intense flavours; and on the palate, you get the slightest minerality punctuated with the taste of honey nectar and dried fruits. Her Recipe.

5.

Ravine Vineyards Vidal icewine 2013 is a deep, golden hued elixir that pairs with hearty beef stew & sweet cornbread toasts. It's a comforting, wintertime dish -- the sort of thing that sticks to your ribs and keeps you full for an extended period of time. As you sip, in between bites of stew, the notes of grilled peaches, honey and mango, become more prominent. Also welcome is a strong backbone of acid that prevents the icewine from getting to sickly-sweet on the palate.

Great icewine is no easy feat to produce. Ten icewine grapes produce a mere one ml of icewine vs. conventional wine where only 1.5 grapes are needed to produce one ml of table wine. So, remember to sip and savour -- and most of all -- don't be afraid to experiment with your own pairings.

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Children as young as nine are facing the death penalty in Iran, a damning new report reveals.

Dozens of juvenile offenders are currently sitting on death row, despite Irans claims to have reformed the way it deals with alleged capital crimes by under-18s, Amnesty International says.

Amnesty's latest report details the names and locations of 49 juvenile offenders currently facing execution.

UN figures indicate that at least 160 may be on death row, although Amnesty believes the number is likely to be much higher.

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Amnesty International has lambasted the number of juvenile offenders (some of whom are pictured) on death row in Iran

International law prohibits executing those convicted of crimes that took place when the defendant was under the age of 18. Yet Amnesty's report shows that Iran has put to death 73 juvenile offenders between 2005 and 2015.

Said Boumedouha, Amnesty's Middle East Deputy Director, said: The report sheds light on Irans shameful disregard for the rights of children.

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Iran is one of the few countries that continues to execute juvenile offenders in blatant violation of the absolute legal prohibition on the use of the death penalty against people under the age of 18 years at the time of the crime.

The report paints a deeply distressing picture of juvenile offenders languishing on death row, robbed of valuable years of their lives - often after being sentenced to death following unfair trials, including those based on forced confessions extracted through torture and other ill-treatment.

Amnestys report shows that young people condemned to death in Iran spend an average of seven years on death row before being taken out of their cells to be hanged, though in some cases juvenile offenders have spent more than a decade on death row.

In many cases the authorities have scheduled the executions of juvenile offenders and postponed them at the last minute - a tactic which Amnesty cruel, inhuman and degrading.

After continued criticism of its record on executing juvenile offenders, the Iranian authorities made changes to the countrys 2013 Islamic Penal Code allowing judges to replace the death penalty with an alternative punishment based on a discretionary assessment of a juvenile offenders mental growth and maturity at the time of the crime.

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In 2014, Irans Supreme Court also said that all juvenile offenders on death row could apply for retrial.

But Amnesty said that in practice this has had little impact.

In October last year, Fatemeh Salbehi was hanged for the murder of her husband whom she was forced to marry at 16 and from whom she had reportedly suffered domestic abuse.

She was 17 at the time of the killing. She was re-sentenced to death after a retrial session lasting only a few hours in which the psychological assessment was limited to a few basic questions such as whether or not she prayed or studied religious textbooks.

Meanwhile, in five other cases - Hamid Ahmadi, Amir Amrollahi, Siavash Mahmoudi, Sajad Sanjari and Salar Shadizadi  juvenile offenders were re-sentenced to death after courts presiding over their retrials concluded that they understood the nature of the crime and were not insane.

In some cases juvenile offenders have not even been informed of their right to apply for a retrial.

Boumedouha said: Despite some juvenile justice reforms, Iran continues to lag behind the rest of the world, maintaining laws that permit girls as young as nine and boys as young as 15 to be sentenced to death.

Instead of introducing half-hearted reforms that fall woefully short, Irans authorities must accept that what they really need to do is commute the death sentences of all juvenile offenders, and end the use of the death penalty against juvenile offenders in Iran once and for all.

Last year there was a rise in the use of the death penalty in Iran, with at least 830 people executed between January 1 and November 1, 2015.

There were reports that at least four of these were juvenile offenders.
News / Local

by Staff Reporter

A WOMAN from Bulawayo - Annah Katiyo who is in the habit of assaulting her husband who is a soldier on Monday approached the courts seeking $200 in child support from him.Katiyo has two children with Samson Chivasa.Chivasa told magistrate Batania Tuwe that he could not afford $200."My wife beats me up and has since deserted our home. I caught her in bed with another man but instead she beat me up."Her boyfriend that I caught her sleeping with deserted her and is now living in South Africa. She should move back to our matrimonial home," said Chivasa.He said he would gladly welcome back his wife since he never chased her out of their matrimonial home.Chivasa refused to give Katiyo $70 for rent because they have a house together."I'm offering her $130 for my two children because she doesn't need to pay rent. She should come back to our house. I'm a soldier based out of town so I can't afford to buy food and support three houses," he said.Chivasa said he sponsored his wife for a course in hairdressing so that she could get a job and help out with the bills.Katiyo said she could not find a job because she had no one to baby sit her children.She said her husband could afford to look after her and turned down his offer to return home."I want $200 so that I can be able to buy my children everything they need. I know my husband is in a position to give me that money. That's why I came to this court," said Katiyo.Magistrate Tuwe turned down Katiyo's $200 request and ordered Chivasa to pay $130 towards the upkeep of his children.
In the wake of their "Christian Patrol" in Luton being condemned as "intimidating" and "inflammatory", and days out from another march in Dewsbury, Britain First has upped the ante, declaring the UK is heading towards a "civil war" with British Muslims.

On Saturday 20-members of the far-right political party confronted local Muslims while marching through Bury Park carrying wooden crosses in an act charity Tell Mama said was aimed at stirring up "unrest". The group videoed their interactions, which Tell Mama claimed were done to "paint themselves as defenders of Christian values, something that they are far from". The video has been viewed more than 21 million times on Britain First's Facebook page, and another 800,000 on YouTube.

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Tell Mama, which opposes anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia, has called for authorities to put a stop to the group's marches. It said Britain First "continue to walk into areas, stir up unrest and walk away leaving local communities to pick up the pieces".

Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen has warned of an impending "civil war" with British Muslims

And that's exactly what happened after Saturday's march. Christians from Luton took to the streets on Sunday, handing out roses and reassuring Muslims that Britain First's attitudes weren't reflective of their faith.

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Britain First's deputy leader Jayda Fransen on Tuesday insisted her party "did not spread hate" and vowed that 2016 would be "Britain First's year". UK towns, she said, could expect an unprecedented level of action by the party.

On Saturday the group will protest in Dewsbury, which it has dubbed the "Islamist capital of Britain".

In a call to arms ahead of the event, Britain First wrote: "Islamic terrorism and extremism is a worldwide problem, affecting tens of millions of people.

"Join us in Dewsbury, a well known nest of Islamism, to protest against the scourge of hate preachers, extremism, terrorism, halal slaughter, FGM, child brides, radicalisation, "Trojan Horse" infiltration of our schools, grooming gangs and sharia courts."

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In an interview with the International Business Times Fransen claimed that in recent months the group had "grown enormously, with membership swelling by the thousands". (Around 60 people attended the group's national conference in November and 20 people attended their event in Luton on Saturday).

Fransen said: "We now have Britain First brigades across the country and it's common knowledge our social media reach is bigger than any other political party.

"People can expect a large amount of action for 2016, it's going to be our year. We have so much planned and there are now so many people in our group at an activist level. Our country and Europe is heading for a civil war. Our leaders have sold us out and the way to save us is to head for the streets."

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Fransen confronts a Luton women about her hijab during Saturday's 'Christian march'

Britain First wouldn't reveal its membership numbers to the IBTimes, instead highlighting its social media presence. It's Facebook page has over 1.2 million "likes"  more than the Conservative and Labour parties combined.

Fransen said the group hoped to transfer this popularity to street-level activism, starting with their event in Dewsbury.

The newspaper quoted her as saying: "The indigenous people in Britain don't want their towns turned into Muslim ghettos. It doesn't look like Britain anymore.

"Dewsbury has Islamic extremists coming out of the woodwork so we want to march through the town centre. I'm not concerned about any negative reaction. I'm concerned about my country. We always behave impeccably on the marches, it's the opposition to us that's the problem."

Despite making no arrests during Britain First's Luton march, police later launched an investigation to "determine whether any offences were committed during the course of Saturday's events". Anyone with information is asked to contact Bedfordshire police.

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Coventry City police have been criticised for a "burglary patrol" tactic where officers entered unlocked homes in the city and posed for pictures inside, which they then uploaded to Twitter.

But having initially defended the decision saying local residents were "grateful", police on Tuesday deleted all the posts after they were widely reported on.

Some of the images showed houses with unlocked doors or windows - where street names were visible - but other photographs were of officers standing inside the homes, with the front doors ajar.

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Police said they had received no complaints, but after tweeting on the weekend to thank people for their "feedback" - in a message that ended by posing a question #socialmediasuccess? - the force seemingly answered themselves by deleting the posts.

Coventry City Police have been criticised for posting pictures on Twitter inside resident's unlocked homes

One photo was of an officer in a hallway with the caption: "PCSO Smith speaking to a resident off Holyhead Road about door left open." While another showed an officer inside the hallway of another home with the caption: "Another house left open, owner advised, that's 6 in half hour!! Stop making life easy for thieves."

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One image of a security alarm inside a resident's house said: "Spotted this alarm, great addition to home security, but we were able to walk into its owners home through open door." Another showed an officer inside a home was captioned: "Three house doors in a row left open, victims waiting to happen!"

On burglary patrol making sure life is not being made easy for thieves......  Cov City Police (@Covcitypolice) January 23, 2016

Please ensure you lock communal gates. This is unlocked & provides easy access to rear of houses pic.twitter.com/5pjTkxaQ86  Cov City Police (@Covcitypolice) January 23, 2016

Social media users were quick to condemn the crime prevention strategy as an invasion of privacy.

.@Covcitypolice If you ever went in my house and tweeted a picture you'd never hear the end of it. Are you absolutely fucking thick?  jamie (@MrBlueLips) January 25, 2016

@Covcitypolice You can't just be walking into peoples homes. Its a complete invasion of privacy.  Sheanderthal (@Sheanderthal) January 25, 2016

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@MrBlueLips@Covcitypolice I cannot believe they've walked in, presumably with no warrant, to take a photo to make a point! Outrageous.  G-Unit (@BListAtCapital) January 25, 2016

Cops troll locals by entering unlocked homes and posting pics to Twitter https://t.co/sKF2UqkOTC  Margi Murphy (@MargiMurphy) January 26, 2016

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So Coventry #police have nothing better to do than enter unlocked homes & tweet photos? Really? https://t.co/YaFnCFPcHT  Simplicius (@Simplex2014) January 26, 2016

Though some thought highlighting the problem was a good idea.

#coventrypolice breaking into homes to highlight how easy it is to be robbed  great idea! Lock your doors people or lose it!!  Ben Stoten (@benstoten275) January 26, 2016

Widespread media coverage of Coventry Police going into people's open houses. Awareness campaign done, message: lock your doors, dickheads.  Scott Myers (@ProducerScott) January 26, 2016

Cov City Police responded to one tweet by thanking social media users for their feedback. Another tweet explained that officers tried to find homeowners before entering their properties.

Thanks all for the feedback on one of the burglary prevention tactics. We'll review based on feedback #socialmediasuccess ?  Cov City Police (@Covcitypolice) January 24, 2016

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On finding open door, we shout for occupants, before entering to find someone to lock the door & make sure burglary has taken place already  Cov City Police (@Covcitypolice) January 23, 2016

In a statement, Coventry Police Chief Inspector Helen Kirkman, told the BBC that a "significant amount" of burglaries in the city - in excess of 25% - were "walk in" offences committed by "opportunists taking advantage of properties left unsecure".

He added: "Neighbourhood police teams have been on patrol to deter such offences, look for suspects, and to offer crime prevention advice to residents."

One of the deleted tweets, showing an unlocked door

If they find a door or window left open I think people would want officers to check everything is OK at that address and not to just walk on by."

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Kirkman told the broadcaster: "We encourage our police teams to be proactive and creative in their use of social media to engage with the public and get messages across,'
PADBORG, DENMARK - JANUARY 06: Danish police escort a family from Syria seeking asylum in Denmark after finding them while checking the identity papers of passengers on a train arriving from Germany on January 6, 2016 in Padborg, Denmark. Denmark introduced a 10-day period of passport controls and spot checks on Monday on its border to Germany in an effort to stem the arrival of refugees and migrants seeking to pass through Denmark on their way to Sweden. Denmark reacted to border controls intr Sean Gallup via Getty Images

Danish MPs have passed a law that will allow the confiscation of refugees' valuables to help pay for their stay.

The controversial legislation also delays some families being reunified for up to 3 years but has been condemned by the United Nations and other human rights organisations.

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It follows similar moves by politicians in Switzerland and southern Germany, meaning police will have licence to search asylum-seekers on arrival in the country with the power to confiscate any non-essential items worth more than 10,000 Danish kroner (around 1,000) so long as they have no sentimental value.

Denmark's Minister of Immigration and Integration, Inger Stojberg

After more than three hours debate, the minority Liberal Party government's bill was adopted in a landslide 81-27 vote, opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People's Party lending their support to see it easily through.

Amendments were made, including raising the value of items the asylum-seekers can keep up from 3,000 kroner (300). That brings it in line with welfare rules for Danes, who must sell assets worth more than 10,000 kroner before they can receive social benefits.

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The money raised from refugees' personal possessions will go to cover the cost of their treatment by the state, mimicking how native welfare claimants contribute to their own benefits.

But Tuesday's decision has been criticised by Amnesty International and ex-secretary general of the UN Kofi Annan.

Migrants wait for a train to Copenhagen, Denmark

Amnesty described it as a "mean-spirited vote" that spelt "a sad day for Denmark". It called on EU leaders to "respect refugees' humanity and dignity".

Annan, a Ghanian diplomat who previously worked as the Arab League's Syria envoy, wrote on Tuesday that he was "worried" about the new law.

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"The failure of the European Union to agree to a common migration policy is leading to a race to the bottom by member states.

"Attempting to push problems to ones neighbours is not a sustainable strategy...

"I fear to think what the next national response will be.

Commentators also piled in to scorn policy-makers for seeing the bill through parliament, one describing it as a "national shame".

You try not to get carried away, but one struggles to describe Denmark as a civilised country after that. National shame.  Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) January 26, 2016

'to pay for upkeep', because Denmark is a desperately poor country which needs to keep itself afloat by stealing watches from Syrians  Owen Hatherley (@owenhatherley) January 26, 2016

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A mum has threatened to pull her teenage daughter out of school because teachers segregated her from other pupils for having a "dip dye" hairstyle.

Diane Kelly, 45, said one teacher at Tollbar School in Grimsby had complimented her 13-year-old daughter Daisy's hair, but then it was cited as the reason for the teen being put in "inclusion" and not allowed out on break.

"I support the school policy for pupils going into inclusion for bad behaviour and I totally agree with the uniform policy, but for the colour of hair, I do not," Kelly said.

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"If it was bright red or any other colour I would agree but not when it is just a little lighter."

Kelly said she wants to pull her daughter out of the school

The school rules state that students are not allowed two-tone hair, nor have "extreme" or "vivid" hair colours.

They also state: "No cuts shorter than a number one razor setting, no patterns cut into hair, no beaded braids or braids with cotton/material weaves, no extensions which do not match natural hair colour.

"For girls, a normal plain hair-slide, clip or 'bobble' is acceptable, but the multitude of hair ornaments favoured by some girls is not. Any hairstyles that have a change in hair length must be blended. Hairstyles must be graduated with no 'stepped' patterns or lines."

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Kelly explained: "I suggested [my daughter] put her hair in a bun so it is all the same colour but that was not acceptable.

"How is her hair colour affecting her education? She is not allowed out at break or dinner to play with her friends.

"It has got to the stage that I don't want her in inclusion so I have kept her at home and have asked for them to send her work here. But I have had no response.

"I think it is dogmatic. There is nothing wrong with her hair. I accept the rules have to be adhered to, but they don't have to be clones."

Kelly, who went to Tollbar School herself, said she is deeply unhappy that the school are focusing on student's hair colour.

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Kelly said: "It is ridiculous. I will move her school. I am not happy with her sitting in inclusion where they are left to their own devices. I am backing her 100%.

"They never had any rules like this when I was at Tollbar. They should be concentrating on bullying and other bad behaviour.

"It is bad to put them in inclusion and have the emotional impact that has on a teenager."

Kelly's daughter Daisy, whose ambition is to become an airline hostess or work in the health and beauty industry, said: "There are loads of people with dip-dyed hair and there are teachers who have their roots showing.

"I had it like this for two weeks and a teacher said she liked it."

Stephen Moon, Principal of Tollbar Academy, said: "The Tollbar Academy Policy on two-tone hair was discussed extensively in the Grimsby Telegraph in September 2005.

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"This policy is widely published and has not changed. Parents are made aware of our Academy Dress Policy before they accept a place.
The visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Rome on Monday left museum officials scrambling to cover any artworks that revealed the human physical form.

The Iranian leader met his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi at the Capitoline Museum, with photographs showing both men stood nearby a statue of Marcus Aurelius atop a horse. However, nude statues in the vicinity were encased in large white boxes.

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Hassan Rouhani speaks with Matteo Renzi during a joint news conference at the Capitol Hill in Rome, Italy, on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016

According to The Guardian, the decision to cover the artwork was made by the office of the Italian PM. Italian news agency Ansa reported that alcohol was also prohibited from the meeting, which is standard practice for visiting Muslim dignitaries.

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Rouhani followed the Renzi meeting with an audience with Pope Francis on Tuesday, marking the first official visit by an Iranian president to the Vatican since 1999. The pair discussed common spiritual values, as well as the recently signed nuclear deal, which was backed by the pontiff.

Pope Francis and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani share a laugh during their private audience at the Vatican, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016

The pope thanked Rouhani for his visit, adding he had high hopes for peace. The Holy See later said talks "delved into the conclusion and application of the nuclear accord, and the important role that Iran is called upon to play, together with other countries of the region, was highlighted."

The trip to the Italian capital is part of a push by Iran for a more active role on the world stage following the landmark nuclear deal with the West, which is in the early stages of implementation.
File photo dated 7/8/2013 of The Palace of Westminster, which contains the House of Commons in central London. MPs must be given greater protection from the public, it has been claimed, after a study found four out of five respondents had been victims of intrusive or aggressive behaviour. J.Castro via Getty Images

Parliament will not be relocated out of London during a multi-billion pound refurbishment  but could move to the Foreign Office, Department of Health or Treasury.

MPs and peers have been told that a report on long-awaited plans to renovate the Palace of Westminster is likely to include new options to shift their office space to Whitehall departments.

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The final report is not due to be published until March, but Commons leader Chris Grayling, who chairs the committee in charge of the 5.7bn upgrade, is set to unveil the latest thinking to the Tory backbench 1922 Committee soon.

His Labour Shadow, Chris Bryant, told the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday not to expect that Parliament would be relocated temporarily out of London.

The option of a move north or to Scotland on a rotating basis was popular with some MPs and commentators but has now been all but ruled out by the Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster.

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The Treasury and the Foreign Office, just yards from Portcullis House

Mr Bryant did reveal however that among the possible solutions for the 'Restoration and Renewal' project was a shift of MPs and peers offices to Whitehall, with the Foreign Office, Treasury and Department of Health all considered contenders

The Ministry of Justice was one other option but is understood to have been ruled out on grounds of being too far from Westminster.

MPs will not have to relocate from the northern estate of Parliament - Portcullis House, One Parliament Street, and the Norman Shaw Buildings - during the refurbishment.

As a result, the option of moving Commons offices - and possibly the debating chambers of the Commons and Lords - to Whitehall is seen as among the most attractive proposals.

The Department of Healths Richmond House HQ is just yards from the northern buildings of Parliament, while both the Foreign Office and Treasury are a short walk across Whitehall.

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Richmond House, HQ for the Department of Health

Richmond House was originally built as the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) under the Conservatives in the 1990s but with the Department for Work and Pensions now having its own building, some believe the DH has long had surplus office capacity.

It also has a courtyard that could house a temporary debating chamber, as do both the Treasury and the Foreign Office. Apart from rare occasions, only a fraction of the Commons' 650 MPs turn up at one time, and in the Lords most business is done with around 60 peers at any one time. Both will be factors in any new chamber's construction.

The Houses of Parliaments 150-year-old Grade I listed building is partly sinking, contains asbestos and has outdated cabling.

A 2012 report warned the building could suffer "major, irreversible damage" without significant restoration work.

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Under one plan a 32-year renovation could be achieved by working around MPs and peers, but it would cost 5.7bn. If Parliamentarians were moved out of the Palace completely for six years, the cost would drop to 3.5bn, an independent report said last year.

Both the Foreign Office and Treasury would meet the high security needs of MPs but although the Treasury has been used to house the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in recent years, it is unclear how it could cope with giving up yet more rooms.

The FCO too would have problems with moving its own staff, but options include using other parts of Whitehall temporarily.

The QEII conference centre has been discussed as a possible location for the debating chambers, but many Parliamentarians worry about the cost and distance.

Some peers are backing their own chamber to be relocated to Church House, near Westminster Abbey, just as both the Commons and Lords were during World War II following bomb damage to part of Parliament.

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Plans to relocate the Commons chamber to underground carparks either in New Palace Yard or College Green are seen as highly unlikely to win approval of the committee.

Public consultation for the committee ended last week. Whitehall sources stressed that no decisions have been taken on any of the options yet, not least as the informal consultation stage of the process was still continuing. There are no easy options, one source told HuffPost UK.

The key criteria for the decision will include not just security but value for money for the taxpayer - with a complete relocation from the main Palace building seen as the cheapest option - and proximity to Portcullis House.

David Camerons preferred option of MPs using the Lords and then moving back to the Commons is seen as unlikely as it is very difficult to divide both the Palace of Westminster for urgently-needed repair works.
Residents of a Lebanese town captured a vulture on Tuesday, suspecting it of spying on behalf of the Israeli government. The large scavenger lives on an Israeli nature reserve, but crossed the Golan border in recent days, seemingly bent on committing an act of espionage.

People in the town of Bint Jbeil nabbed the bird after spotting it was tagged with an Israeli identification ring and a location transmitter. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority were alerted to the incident after proud locals started posting pictures on Facebook of the taken spy.

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Pictures were circulated on social media showing the captured 'spy' after its reconnaissance flight

In a statement, the authority said: Reports passed to us show the vulture tied with a rope by local people who write that they suspect Israeli espionage apparently because of the transmitter attached to him.

In the 21st century, we expect people to understand that wild animals are not harmful, it added. We hope that the Lebanese will release him.
Mark Ruffalo appears as genial an A-list actor as its possible to meet  polite, smiley, willing to chat fully and openly on many a topic  but his big beating heart for social justice is clearly not far below the surface.

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On the subject of his Oscar-nominated film, Spotlight, the true story of how the Boston Globes investigative team of journalists exposed the appallingly widespread cover-up of paedophiliac abuse within the Catholic Church, Mark reveals his fury on reading the script was built on his long-held suspicion of diocese practices, dating back to his childhood in Wisconsin.

A long time ago, I felt the Church I experienced wasnt observing the teachings Id read about. It happened to me very young, he tells HuffPostUK.

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Mark Ruffalo has been Oscar-nominated for his role in 'Spotlight'

When I left my Catholic school, I was around 10 or 11 years old, and it started to unravel for me there. Kids pick up on things, if youre interested and inquisitive. I was seeing things that were not in line with what Id been taught about Jesus. It didnt jive with me.

Despite his growing cynicism for the churchs role in his small community, Mark credits those early teachings for what drives him to want to make a film like Spotlight  its a paradox I know, he smiles.

In Spotlight', Mark plays one of the small, tireless investigative team of journalists who worked for nearly a year to root out those responsible for covering up the extent of abuse in Boston and then further afield. His role is Mike Rezendes, a reporter who continues to work for the same paper today. Mike told HuffPostUK it was the most intense, horrifying but satisfying period of his career, and Mark has been Oscar-nominated for bringing him to screen.

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Mark Ruffalo with journalist Mike Rezendes, whom he plays in the film

That the Boston Globe was part of the story, that they looked the other way too, was what shocked the actor the most, referring to a time before Spotlight got hold of the story. Its not what you want to think about your media, because they hold such an important role in the way justice is meted out in the world.

And Mark continues to be agitated about the Churchs reaction to what the team uncovered. Would he say the problem has been healed?

Theyre taking baby steps but its not healed, he leans back. Only a handful of dioceses have put out a list of the priests who were predators. Just the other day, the Seattle diocese dropped a list of 77 priests whod molested hundreds of kids.

Marks sense of fair play fuels much of what he does, even if audiences will generally think of his Hulk in the Avengers before many of his other, diverse roles, previously bringing him two Oscar nominations, for The Kids Are All Right and last years Foxcatcher.

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He agrees justice is often somewhere in the mix. It resonates with me. It isnt the lens or filter that I use to choose everything, but some things strike that chord. Some are just for the sheer joy of doing something I havent done before, some kind of new personal challenge.

'Spotlight' has already won many awards for its undramatic storytelling of a tireless expose of abuse

As a self-professed white, privileged, male, Oscar nominee, Mark gave me such a contemplative and troubled answer about whether hed be attending the Oscars this year, you can read his thoughts on that in this separate piece. However, its by no means the first time hes put his head on the block when it comes to speaking out. During this trip to London, hes booked to work on a video with Friends of the Earth, addressing the fracking issues that fill one section of his activist brain.

Weve been there, theres 500 different studies that show the negative health impacts on air, water, food, from fracking, and so its become an international movement. I like to think were winning the battle.

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Energised by the recent commitment to environmental protection protocols that came out of the Paris summit, Mark remains hopeful of a global solution to the problem. We have viable technologies ready to go, that will create more jobs. You have to give them alternatives, otherwise theyll move into denial. But now weve shown them that alternative, its going to give us more independent energy, it will make countries more independent, it will alleviate strife in the Middle East because were not going to be sending petrol dollars there. Almost all of the strife we see in the world is based on geopolitical interests.

You can see I wasnt lying when I mentioned that big beating heart of curiosity beyond his next close-up, something Mark Ruffalo traces back to his days as a student of Stella Adler, where he learned it was part of an artists responsibility, that and what my father taught me about community.

But should actors speak out? Are they morally bound to, based on their privilege, and are they qualified to? Heres Mark Ruffalos take

Actors, like it or not, their voices carry deeply into the culture, people look towards them for attitudes, for right or wrong, and today the mainstream media doesnt really balance the unheard.

We dont hear from those people in Bangladesh who are living on a 12-foot spit of land that used to be 100 yards. So as an artist I see my reach into other cultures to shine a spotlight on those we dont get to hear from.

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"Then, for every 100 people who go and see an Avengers film, if even five, two, whatever, get active, feel emboldened, mostly its just appealing to peoples sense of possibility. That we do create the world we want. Were not the victims of the world, that were not powerless, that the system hasnt been set up in a way that were no longer able to address the things that bother us, that we actually get a say in it, and I want to engender the possibility in people, because I feel like theyre so hopeless, and I hope that when they see an actor step up, it emboldens them.
How to put someone in the recovery position

St John Ambulance's advice on the recovery position.

1. Kneel next to them on the floor, and place their arm nearest you at a right angle to their body, with their palm facing upwards.

2. Take their other arm and place it across their chest so the back of their hand is against their cheek nearest you, and hold it there. With your other hand, lift their far knee and pull it up until their foot is flat on the floor.

3. Carefully pull on their bent knee and roll them towards you.

4. Check that their airway is open, so they can breathe and any fluid from their mouth can drain away. To do this, tilt their head back, gently tilt their chin forward and make sure that their airway will stay open and clear.

5. Call 999 for an ambulance.
Scotland will vote to leave the United Kingdom if Britain votes to leave the European Union, Tony Blair has warned.

Nicola Sturgeon has warned David Cameron Brexit would lead to an "overwhelming demand" for a second independence referendum in Scotland.

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Speaking to the French radio station Europe1, Blair said: "In my opinion, if the UK votes to leave Europe, Scotland will vote to leave the UK."

On Sunday, Sturgeon told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme: "If Scotland had voted to stay in and the UK as a whole votes to to come out, which therefore means Scotland faces being taken out of the EU when we don't want to be, I have said before and I will say again, it is highly likely that would trigger an overwhelming demand for a second referendum on independence."

She added: "The democratic outrage of being taken out of Europe against our will would make that almost inevitable."

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The Scottish first minister also warned David Cameron that holding the referendum in June would be a mistake.

"Two reasons why I would not be in favour of a June referendum.

"One, you might interpret as being a bit selfish. The Scottish election is in May, indeed the Welsh, Northern Irish, London elections are in May. I think to have a referendum campaign starting in parallel would be disrespectful to those important elections.
News / Local

by Staff Reporter

MDC-T national spokesperson, Obert Gutu has admitted that Bulawayo province is rocked by tense infighting.This is after MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai was forced to call off a provincial meeting in Bulawayo after rival factions booed and heckled each other in his presence.Tempers flared after MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Gift Banda was booed by a group of youths aligned to former chairperson, Matson Hlalo."At the lodge (name supplied), there was chaos. Senior members, who are legislators, ferried youths to the venue and protested outside. While the protests where going on, he (Tsvangirai) met hell inside the meeting room," a source said."Banda was booed when asked to address, as some members still feel he is not their legitimate chairman. Tsvangirai had to call off the meeting to contain the explosive situation."Said Gutu, "President Morgan Tsvangirai's meetings in Bulawayo were a resounding success. The entire leadership of the party is fully behind our leader," he said."Some Zanu PF agents might have attempted to disrupt some of the meetings, but this was a very inconsequential disturbance."The meetings that were addressed by our party leader were very well-attended and the deliberations were extremely fruitful. Bulawayo province remains an MDC-T stronghold and in a free and fair election, we will win all the Parliamentary seats, as well as all the wards."There are no rifts in the party leadership in Bulawayo province. Of course, here and there party cadres might have different opinions on various matters, but that should be expected in a big and democratic political party such as the MDC-T."
Black smoke billowed into the skies in Paris on Tuesday as taxi drivers brought roads to a standstill during rush hour by setting tyres on fire and setting off flares, in a protest over the threat of online competitors such as Uber.

Fights broke out on the ring road of the French capital as masked men and women reportedly stopped cars and other vehicles, and dozens of riot of police and firefighters intervened. Some 300 drivers were said to be involved and 19 arrests were made.

Police charged protesters with batons and used tear gas to try and clear the scene, as hundreds watched on.

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Today has been dubbed "Black Tuesday" in France as the country is also grappling with simultaneous strikes by air traffic controllers, civil servants, hospital workers and teachers.

Paris taxi drivers brought roads to a standstill and set tyres on fire in a protest over the threat of online competitors like Uber

Taxi drivers told local media they were protesting against "worsening conditions in our industry".

Standard taxi drivers are angry at the threat being posed by online competition, being led by Uber.

"Today our survival is at stake, we are fed up of meetings and negotiations," said Ibrahima Sylla, spokesman of the Taxis de France collective was quoted as saying by AFP.

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Police said around 1,200 taxi drivers were protesting in various parts of Paris, while their colleagues also disrupted traffic in Toulouse, northern Lille and southern Marseille.

Police warned drivers to stay off the roads, as go slows by taxis were also used to block major thoroughfares, the Evening Standard reported.

The newspaper said a taxi driver was seriously injured at Orly airport, south of the capital, as a shuttle bus tried to force its way through a blockade. In response, taxi drivers were said to have thrown stones at the bus's windows.

In Marseille, striking drivers caused traffic jams around the city and its Marignane airport.

Rachid Boudjema president of the taxi drivers union in Marseille has been reported as calling industry competitors American cowboys who want to destroy our system, the system we are all attached to.

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Uber said the goal of the protest was to put pressure on the government to ... limit competition and warned that limiting app-based car services would raise costs, put drivers out of work and send customers back to the era before apps and smartphones.
A kindhearted soul once proclaimed, 'A problem shared is a problem halved' but in today's society, sharing your desire to not proceed with a pregnancy is an uncomfortably taboo one.

When it comes to creating the beginnings of a life and then permanently halting it, friends, family, partners and society have a strong opinion on that and they will make it well known. From protesters screeching their disgust at women outside abortion clinics, religion making it clear what you can and can't do, and some countries refusing access to any services whatsoever, women are living in a tough modern world. One in three women will have an abortion in her lifetime. The stigma attached to it leads to a secretive, painful and scolding weight of shame that society is wrapping around many women's necks. All of this, without even considering a woman's personal circumstances, how she got pregnant in the first place and why going ahead with the pregnancy may not be the best option.

When I was nineteen, I was sexually assaulted. Believing in justice, honesty, respect, equality and fairness, I went straight to the police station, gave my statement, gave up my body to be examined for evidence and stuck to my guns because I didn't want it to happen to any other woman. The case never went to court due to a 'lack of evidence'. The whole process was a nightmare and I thankfully never fell pregnant but I spoke out about it because I believe in standing up for myself and others.

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Ten years later, I got pregnant whilst travelling Thailand. With it being illegal there, I rushed to Cambodia, took the abortion pill and carried on as normal. Three months after the ordeal, my emotions began to bubble to the surface and it began to hit me what had really happened. With my mental processing kicking in, I did what I thought was right. I spoke out again. I told my Mum. I told my friends. I told people I loved, trusted and respected. The response was an atomic bomb of love, hate, empathy, disgust, confusion and judgement. 'How could you do that to yourself?', 'You weren't careful', 'You give solo female travelers a bad name'. Many didn't take a minute to ask what had actually happened. I was seeing a guy who I knew. We respected each other. We used protection. It didn't work. We were unlucky.

I'm grateful that did happen to me. Other women can fall pregnant through disturbing circumstances where they are powerless to protect themselves. I count my blessings every day that I had the resources, support and income to be able to go through with my termination. Many women do not have that choice.

Two years after revealing my pregnancy to others, I decided to start my travel blog, Teacake Travels. From the beginning, I've written honest, open and empowering articles for women. It made absolute sense that I should write about my pregnancy experience in Asia and as the article progressed, I knew I had to make something good come from this difficult time. The post contains a resource of abortion laws and services in Asia. It is updated regularly and has received a tremendous amount of support from both men and women. Unsurprisingly, it has also received a good amount of backlash and the arguments for and against what I have done have increased rapidly since the resource has been published on mainstream sites.

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In particular, falling pregnant at the age of 29, many believe I was selfish to not have the baby. This becomes even harder when I have friends who are desperate to have a child, putting a lot of money, time and effort into achieving their dream. Is it my dream? Absolutely not. I love children but I don't want children. Men can make this choice. I want to be able to make this choice too.

Whilst it's encouraging that this information is getting out there, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I'm shaking in my boots. I'm a tough cookie but it's scary to stand up and admit to others who don't know you what has happened.

Regardless, just like me at the age of 19, I know that I've done the right thing and I'm sticking to my guns. I don't regret my decision and I will continue to stand up for women seeking abortion services. I want to encourage women to end their silence, speak up for themselves and encourage a personal and compassionate conversation in society about abortion. It's your body. It's your life. Do not feel ashamed. Help is out there and there are others out there who will support you.
Refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants... does anyone really know the difference anymore? All we're sure of is that they are 'the other', those who are not us. And until recently we've been happily separated from them by distance, on one side of the newspaper us, the spectator, and on the other them, the 'refugee'. The main difference is that we have the luxury of being able to close the newspaper and carry on with our lives, and yet they must remain trapped in the role of 'the refugee'. Forced from their homes because of conflict and made to endure horrific journeys to reach Europe, their stories have become so worryingly common that we have become numb to the horror of it all.

Instead of the horror of the Middle Eastern conflicts, our focus has swiftly changed to back to Britain. The worry that refugees won't integrate within their new communities is always at the top of the long list of reasons why Britain shouldn't be accepting any more refugees. The small number that have made it to Britain are being labelled with such enthusiasm from all sides of society that it is hard to see how they can integrate when we seem to be doing our very best to distinguish them from everyone else.

Until very recently, asylum seekers in Cardiff were expected to wear coloured wristbands in order to receive food. Think of this like an all-inclusive holiday; you go abroad, you get to where you are staying and you get a little wristband so you can get claim your food during the duration of your stay. This is the same really, except when you are an asylum seeker you are not allowed to work and you are not given money, so that little wristband is all you have. And it very conveniently distinguishes you from all the locals so that everyone knows who you are. You are 'the asylum seeker', you don't have a name. Your identity is your wristband.

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This made the asylum seekers so incredibly vulnerable to racial attacks and abuse because their new identity, the main piece of interest about them, is put on show for everyone to see. Categorizing people into groups by their race, their religion, where they are form or their 'status' as a refugee or any other label forced on them is degrading and discriminatory. Asylum seekers become owned by that label.

This is, of course, not the first time refugees have been subject to such discrimination. Some asylum seekers in Middlesbrough were placed in houses that had their doors painted red, a great way to ensure that their house did not feel like a home. Residents who live in these houses complained about being targeted and attacked, but how can this come as a surprise to anyone. Painting the doors on houses to ensure everyone knows refugees live there, not 'locals', is just giving the people who are itching to hurl abuse at 'the other' the go ahead. It is the complete opposite of integration, but this is not down to the refugees.

We are painting their doors red and making them wear wristbands to ensure that even when we share the same ground we still have a way to distance ourselves form them. There is no empathy, and how can there be when we reduce them to a wristband or a red door? It is simple, no one can relate to a red door. But when we are told the red door is a threat to us because it plans to steal our jobs whilst simultaneously claiming benefits, it becomes surprisingly easy to turn against it.
According to British sculptor Michael Sandle, Tony Blair and George W. Bush should be serving jail sentences for war crimes. So you know exactly where he's coming from.

Likewise, his mainly bronze sculptures in this part retrospective, part new show at the Flowers Gallery, pull no punches. As Ye Sow So Shall Ye Reap: An Allegory (Acknowledgements to Holman Hunt) above, for example, with the ghastly depiction of a soldier seizing five dead children by the hair amidst explosions, was inspired by the story of how a father lost five daughters to an Israeli missile attack on a house in Gaza.

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"It's about our hypocrisy in foreign policy," he tells me as we wander around the exhibition. "We cut heads off not with knives like ISIL but we cut them off with drone strikes and air strikes". Sandle draws no distinction between deliberate acts of savagery and deaths of civilians caught in the crossfire of modern conflict. "When you shoot Hellfire missiles you burn people alive and blow them to bits."

The theme of mortality has exercised Sandle throughout his career. "I was terrified of death as a child. I worked out all sorts of strategies to get over it". He was a war child, and his family home in Plymouth was bombed during World War II.

He grew up on the Isle of Man and studied art there and later at the Slade School in London. Tomb art became a fascination - he believes it is the root of sculpture. He is best known for his public memorials most notably his large bronze statue of St George and the Dragon in London's Dorset Rise, the International Seafarers Memorial on London's Albert Embankment and The Malta Siege Memorial, an award-winning monument on the Grand Harbour in Valetta that contains a huge bell that tolls at midday. It's the work of which he is, rightly, most proud.

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Catafalques with an anti-war theme populate this exhibition that is not aimed at the faint of heart. Caput Mortuum: A commentary (in the foreground, above) depicts a makeshift tomb inspired by the Falklands War. Around the dead soldier lies the debris of war. Tyres garland the dead body next to which lies a boom microphone, a comment on authorities' control of the media in conflicts.

There's a complex play on words here. Sandle is fluent in German having been professor of sculpture at Pforzheim, Germany in 1973 and at Karlsruhe in 1980. The German word for tyres, reifen, bears a similarity to the English word wreath, hence the choice of symbolism. Caput Mortuum is the name of a pigment, it also means death head and also worthless rest. "Once a soldier has done his job he becomes worthless. Look at how badly the veterans in Afghanistan have been treated," he protests.

One of his best known works is his so-called "anti-memorial", A Twentieth Century Memorial in the Tate Gallery that depicts Mickey Mouse firing a machine gun, with all the symbolism that embodies. Among the exhibits at this show are working drawings of this and other works that were ways to explore ideas for his sculptures. Study for Machine Gun Monument (above) incorporates different drawing styles and offers a fascinating glimpse into Sandles's artistic process.

Now in his 80th year, Sandle's strong views show little sign of moderating. We see depictions of Hitler with a dunce's cap, of innocent mothers and children being tortured and animals exploited for use in war. He says he inherited this forthrightness from his mother. "By Christ she had a strong personality. I spent all my youth fighting her. And I'm grateful to her."

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He dismisses most of contemporary art as rubbish and is happy being described as a "radical traditionalist". The sculpture I admire most in London is the Royal Artillery Memorial by (Charles) Jagger. I think art is about communication and you know what that monument is exactly about. I was influenced by him as a student."

This show is not completely about war though gruesome elements remain. A new bronze sculpture, The suicide/He took the A Train (above) recalls a story he read in the Vancouver Sun when he was living in Canada some 43 years ago. A man had killed himself by climbing on top of an electric train and came into the station with his body on fire. "I thought it was pretty Wagnerian," he says. He made drawings of it some years ago, which are exhibited here, and finally had it cast in bronze for this exhibition.

Wagner, and music in general, helps Michael Sandle during his bouts of depression. He has been diagnosed as bi-polar but refuses any treatment. "I think it goes with the territory," he insists. "Mr Nice Guy and Mr Norman Guy does't do stuff like this."

Time, Transition and Dissent is showing at the Flowers Gallery, 82 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DP until 20 February 2016.

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I was asked, so I'll answer. Normally, I try to be more eloquent here than I am when speaking. But given that most of this was spouted at 1am, two nights ago, I am definitely writing more from my gut than my mind.

I'm currently in my home town of Perth and the local newspaper The West Australian has asked for a 100 word story that somehow typifies what Australia Day means to me. The idea that, somehow, celebrating genocide is a given. So much so that I could no doubt be able to get there in 100 words. Perhaps an amusing BBQ anecdote, or maybe the time I got punched out the front of a pub to squeegee my boozy goggles of nostalgia.

The fact is, I wilfully forget it. I live in the UK and I need to be reminded every year that it's even happening. Often prompting the question, (well actually, pretty much anyone that knows me, knows to only ever ask this question once) "How come you don't celebrate Australia day?".

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The length of my answer depends on my mood. The short answer being, "You don't see Germans having a happy Auschwitz day now do you?" The long answer is a meandering, enraged, ashamed stream of conscious rant running anywhere from 15-30 minutes, beginning with the words, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

Now no one has ever accused me of being a politically correct douchebag. I make just as much fun of the left for their phony posturing and hypocrisy as I do the right for their pompous entitlement. But c'mon, wherever your politics may lie, surely you can see that Australia Day can fuck right off. And not just for the sheer gumption and disregard it shows to the indigenous population - not that that isn't number one on my list of "reasons Australia day can fuck off" either.

In fact, let's get there in a list: Reasons Australia Day can fuck off

1) It shows a staggering level of disregard for the indigenous population.

We committed genocide. Probably best not to rub it in. Even the deep South of the US have finally admitted that the confederate flag is fucked up. And those people arm their kids at 12. South Africa celebrates and documents the end of Apartheid, not the day it was invented. That's right, racially, we are behind the Deep South and South fucking Africa. It's gross, just so damn gross.

2) Pick any other fucking day or better yet, be honest about what the day really means.

There are other days! Anzac Day, AFL grand final... whatever. Even better still, I think we should shift it to Sorry Day.

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26 May is a shitty day for Sorry Day anyway as it's the beginning of winter and at that time of year 'Sorry Day' will continue to stagnate. It will forever be morose and regretful. We need our day in January for sure. So let's change Australia Day to Sorry Day. You can still have your fireworks, your family gatherings, get drunk. Whatever you need to do. But if the whole country can tune in to watch men kick balls, or smash things with bats for hours, even days on end. Surely we can stomach a minute's silence with our friends and loved ones just to at least acknowledge who paid the price for this world-beating enviable lifestyle? But also just to be honest about what the day actually means.

Because hopefully 'Sorry Day' will eventually evolve into 'Thank You Day'. I'm not even joking. If we actually put the effort in perhaps we can all unite on what is so great about this country. Not just great, remarkable, miraculous even. (More on this in reason number four...)

Because the idea and origin of 'Sorry Day' was so gracious I well up every time I think of it. After years of being screwed by the left and the right, after years of no one really understanding the aboriginal community, white Australia held their hands up and cried, "What do you want, we've given you land, we've thrown money at this issue, we just don't get it. WHAT IS IT YOU PEOPLE WANT?"

And the indigenous population replied, "Well, an apology would be nice." And the conservative PM of the time replied, "An apology? No way, get fucked. Fuck off". (To the tune of The Angels' Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again - Google it foreigners and you'll see that this country wasn't without its influence on me).

Then the following PM, Kevin Rudd apologised and decreed a national day of amends. To the rest of the world such an action may seem like condescending tokenism. But the rest of the world could never understand that when it comes to black/white relations in Australia, things are so messed up that anything that reeks of effort is progress. And effort and acknowledgement is all the indigenous population are asking for. When you think about what we did and what we continue to do, that's pretty damn magnanimous.

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Bill Bryson put it so succinctly in his brilliant travelogue, Down Under when he opined the slogan, "Do more, try harder, start now". I couldn't agree more.

3) It's not like we've turned it into anything cool.

Drink driving goes up, as does domestic violence, street violence, alcohol poisoning, and hospital A&Es are full. At least Thanksgiving in the US is about families getting together for the winter - and they call it 'Thanksgiving' not 'Fuck you! This is America!' Day. That's right, the land that gave you a reality star running for President still handles their patriotism and genocidal invasion with more tact and class than we do. What's more when you consider how much alcoholism has absolutely decimated the aboriginal community, getting drunk and punching each other in the street might not be the best way to atone for our sins.

Now this is where I'm pretty sure I could not be accused of being a PC wowser (or whatever the far right's latest derogatory term for compassion might be). And anyone on the international scene would no doubt scoff at the idea that I would ever described as such but believe me, for this, it will happen.

But actual PC douchebags in Australia would never wish for me to acknowledge this fact: alcoholism is rife in the aboriginal community. That is not stereotyping, it is a statistical fact. It has decimated their people. And quite frankly, fuck any trite, factually unarmed, pseudo-liberal wanker that wants to deny that truth. Because you're in denial, you're an enabler and you're part of the problem.

It takes a few hundred years for a community to be able to handle alcohol and I say that as someone who can't. The introduction of alcohol to a previously teetotal society screwed them up royally. If I were to take you to the North or even to the dry areas (where alcohol is not even allowed), you would be horrified to see just how many people are hammered in the street in the middle of the day.

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Ever found yourself in the dark in this life? I have. Ever found yourself in so much pain you tried to drink yourself to death? I did. And you know for me it was over a simple break up, for some it may be the death of a loved one. Well I put it to you: take that feeling and times it by fucking genocide.

Up in the Northern Territory and Kimberley region you could even be forgiven for thinking there was a huge meth problem but in actual fact, it's even sadder. Meth would be an upgrade, a lot of the people there have issues with petrol sniffing, even falling asleep night after night with soaked cloths over their mouths and noses. Like a lot of alcoholics and drug addicts these people aren't mad, they're sad. You can see it in their eyes, they carry centuries of sadness. It's brutal, we're at the root of it and we rub it in with stubbies on the one day we should probably do it the least. Getting hammered on Australia Day is a bit like turning up to a bar mitzvah in full SS regalia, and going, "Hey where are the gas chambers? I thought this was a party?"

"Hey now come on, you can't possibly compare Australia Day to the Jewish Holocaust."

No I can't.

Because the Nazis didn't succeed. They lost.

The Australian genocide was successful. There are massive parts of Australia where the indigenous population was completely wiped out. There are none left. Mission accomplished, raise your glasses and enjoy your fireworks show, wankers.

4) We're totally celebrating the wrong thing.

Again, I'm not suggesting we don't have a national day, nor to not get together with friends and family. Hell, I'm not even suggesting it isn't a great country. It's an awesome country, with sunshine, beaches, great food and a lifestyle second to none. I love the people of Australia. In the western world there is an all pervasive sense of thin skinned fake outrage everywhere that bores me to tears. Consequently I find Australia's overall demeanour of candour and pragmatism a breath of fresh air. There's plenty to love. Australia made me who I am. But it is also supposed to be the land of "fair go". And this ain't fair go - it's preposterous navel gazing.

Celebrate anything else - or for that matter what really sets this country apart from the rest of the world. Australia is an anthropological and geological miracle. It is the world's oldest, untouched and frankly utterly bizarre ecosystem. New species are found here on a weekly basis. Many of the land masses are billions of years old. There are living dinosaurs in crocodiles some 98million years old. There are a million ways to die and yet we thrive. We have rock formations that geologists salivate over and internationally we are a paleontologist's wet dream.

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We even have living examples of the first organisms to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen - stromatolites. Stromatolites previously only existed in scientific theory then they found fossils of them in Australia in the Fifties. Then, shockingly in the Seventies living and breathing examples were found alive and well in Shark Bay in Western Australia. The lungs of the earth - billions of years old - still ticking along.

Our real history is the history of how life on earth came to be. Screw your Sydney Harbour Bridge you self absorbed over-glorified beavers. We are more than urban structures, we ARE man. We ARE earth. Yet we're all jumping up and down because some white people got here a mere 200 years ago. That is a blip, a dot, barely a nano fart of this country's real history. We can see more stars than most yet we're marvelling at our toes.

We have the world's oldest culture that told us how to survive, here, on this deadly yet beautiful island. With tales that predate history that have recently been proven true by geologists and anthropologists. Yep, I always thought the tales of the big lizards and rising tides were bullshit too. But nope, turns out they're true. Giant crocodilian fossils have been found in the outback. Proven by paleontology and geology - a history not written down but passed on by word of mouth - that predates history itself. That's nuts, that's awesome and we don't give two shits.

Oh yeah, and while we're at it - they invented pantheism before we even knew what it meant. Possibly the only sensible viable religion on the planet. Basically, the belief that nature and god are one and the same. Or better yet, there is no God only nature. And that it is to be loved but respected. Makes way more sense to me than any other "civilised" religion. And a lot less vain for that matter.

So, I'm sorry this Australia Day. I'm sorry we don't celebrate what's great. I'm sorry we don't celebrate what came before us. I'm sorry that we get drunk and rub it in. I'm sorry we don't use this time to prop those up that are so very clearly ill.

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Perhaps if we spent a few decades of apologising on Australia Day we might remind them of their dignity and how remarkable they actually are. And maybe, just maybe, those that are still suffering under alcoholism and drug addiction, might put it down and realise, as Stan Grant so eloquently put it last week, "We're better than that".

This isn't personal propaganda, I have no desire to be the voice of outrage. But if you, like me, actually like being Australian, were never sure why, but you knew definitely why not. I hope I've helped you put it into words somewhat.

Happy Sorry Day Folks. Enjoy your BBQ.
Shelter is 50 years old this year. If 'big' birthdays are prone to make you reflective, then this one is no exception. In our half century we've been well placed to see first-hand the major changes - good and bad - not only in housing and homelessness over the years, but in the very fabric of British society.

Thousands of people contact us every week, and the most consistent thread that quietly binds every one of them together - no matter their income or their aspirations - is the desire for security.

At its core it's a simple human desire. It's the peace of mind of knowing that you are free to put down roots in a community; to start a family and send your children to the local school, to get to know the neighbours, without fear of being uprooted and forced to start all over again.

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This a precious, indefinable quality, but it's what turns a house into a home.

Sadly there's too little of this in our current housing market. For the most part, homeowners enjoy it, but most private renters do not. They are knocked about from pillar to post by the churn in a market that was never designed for families. They face a stressful world of short term lets, sky-high rents and rip off agent fees that, no sooner have they navigated, they are spat out to face it all over again.

This is no place to raise a child or save up for a deposit on a home of your own. Our society needs less of this kind of insecurity, not more.

And it's this fundamental reason why the government simply must abandon its proposals to end security of tenure for new council tenants.

At the moment if you can get access a council property, you are given a secure tenancy. Tenants can still move, and councils can also offer shorter lets if they want. But the starting assumption is that, if you play by the rules, you will be allowed to stay in your home.

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A policy introduced by Mrs Thatcher, it now faces being undone. The government is proposing that most new council tenants should instead have tenancies of only two years, or at most five.

The risk is they will be evicted and sent back into the private rented sector. At present, these secure tenancies are one of the few sources of security open to people on low incomes. In addition, the lower rents help many tenants save up to buy a home of their own (either through Right to Buy or a separate place). Under this change, all this will be denied to them.

With outright home ownership increasingly out of reach for people on low incomes, and government resources diverted towards ownership schemes that only work for people on middle incomes, insecure private renting will be where generations of people on typical incomes live their entire life.

Ministers will roll out the same reasons: waiting lists are long so shorter council tenancies will more regularly free up homes for those on lists. But this is ultimately a false prospectus. It's providing more security for some on the backs of more insecurity for others. Ultimately, it's the sound of deck chairs being moved around. The only answer is to build significantly more genuinely affordable homes to rent so all of these people's aspirations can be met - there is no short cut.

We should be seeking to make private renting more like social renting not the other way around.

Inherent within this change is a shrivelled view of the potential of low-rent affordable homes. It views council housing as a hand out, rather than a hand up: an ambulance service only for the neediest for a limited period of time. But council housing has far greater potential than that. Properly designed and delivered, it can provide huge swathes of workers with security, opportunity and a route to ownership that they will simply never obtain through the market.

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Of course, we must learn from the past. The last generation of mass council house building included some ugly monolithic estates that did not meet people's aspirations, as well as some better designs. The next generation of low-rent homes need to look like any home you'd see on an ordinary street, and work for the same people who live on those streets.
Cancer affects everyone. That's the hard cold truth. Whether it be the people you know, the Bowie's of the world or the strangers we just walk by on the street, we are all susceptible to it, but we never really think it will ever happen to us or threaten the lives of our loved ones. Not now...not even soon. At least I never thought it would happen to me when it did.

The end of 2014 was, in a word, overwhelming. At 24 years old I had just signed with a major record label, come off a European tour supporting Hozier and sold out my first headline show in London. On top of all that I was booked to support Sam Smith on his first arena tour with Years & Years in the UK, and by that point I think he was nominated for 5 Grammys, so for someone who was relatively unknown it was set to be a real opportunity for me to gain exposure. Needless to say things were looking pretty sweet, career momentum was strong and I was really finding my way as an artist.

A few months before the Sam Smith tour I was set to fly to Germany to play some solo shows. The evening before my flight I was checking a few emails, doing the usual pre-flight rituals when I remembered that during the week I had noticed a bunch of male celebrities speak out about "grabbing their nuts" online and sharing the hashtag #feelingnuts. Deciding I should have a feel of the old ones and twos, I went to the shower, got warmed up, and low and behold something wasn't quite right. I had felt something on my right side that appeared to be a lump the size of a grain of rice. Stumbling out of the shower I looked at myself and told my reflection to man up and do something about it. Ironically, I used the expression "man up". I say 'ironically' as I think that we men naturally tend to postpone or ignore health issues, or at least find it harder to discuss what's going on with our bodies. I am just so glad I got it checked out.

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Weeks had passed since then and I had flown home to Northern Ireland to recover from my operation and to start my 9 weeks of chemotherapy in Belfast City. I was relieved to finally know what I had in store. I knew I wouldn't be touring any time soon but I also knew that however tough the 9 weeks were going to be I'd be back doing what I knew best. That was my main motivation for getting better again. I had time to write and plan for my future, all the while learning a hell of a lot about myself. There were many struggles throughout the treatment but strangely enough also many highlights. I struggled with the fear of losing my identity the most. I knew my hair would eventually return but I would constantly think of how people would view me; both presently and in the future. Would I feel "normal" enough to except people to view me as "normal" again? With the support from my friends and family time flew by, and I realised that life does just move on. People get on with their lives. I have since learned not to over analyse things the way I use to.

I'm writing this today nine months into my remission and feeling more alive than ever. Taking some time out has its up's and downs, as anyone can imagine. In the music industry you obviously lose the momentum you worked so hard to create and it doesn't wait. Some people stay by your side and some people easily forget who you are, label bosses are living with constant fear of losing their jobs and artists can be a priority one week and 5 songs short from finishing an album the next. Unfortunately things in this industry can change in the blink of an eye, but as my hair thickened so did my skin.

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I have a newfound appreciation for everything in life and for everyone that has recognised my efforts to get back to building my career as an artist. One person in particular, Lorraine Long who handled my PR at Charmfactory, was just so brilliant. As soon as Lorraine heard my news she began fundraising for Cancer Research by running 10K race a month for a whole year! I didn't expect anyone to be so motivated to help in the way that she did. Lorraine teamed up with Stand up to Cancer, and after months of hard work, organised a charity gig at Union Chapel in London (1st Feb). The sold out show will see Kodaline, James Morisson, Seafret and Dagny take the stage, and will no doubt be one to remember. It will be a big night for me for several reasons. I can finally say with a huge smile on my face I'll be back on the stage. Picking up (almost) where I left off.

Stand Up To Cancer at Union Chapel takes please February 1st with exclusive stripped-back performances from Kodaline, James Morrison, Seafret, Dagny, and Daniel James. The compere for the evening will be esteemed TV and radio presenter Edith Bowman.
When George Osborne stood up in the House of Commons last year and announced that there would be a 'national living wage', many people initially applauded. Yet there was much to be wary of as the Chancellor pulled this rabbit from his budgetary hat.

A pay rise for some of Britain's poorest workers is always something worthy of praise, but the small print - that many of these workers would lose tax credits and end up worse off - certainly lessened enthusiasm for the measure.

Now that those tax credit cuts have been delayed (at least until Universal Credit is rolled out) thanks to a campaign led by UNISON, it's time to look once again at what will be introduced in April, and it's clear that there's still a great deal to be concerned about.

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It's not a real living wage

The living wage is a term with a very clear meaning and value. It signifies the amount someone has to earn to cover the basic cost of living. Anything below the living wage and people are struggling to get by,trapped on poverty wages that make it more likely that they'll be unable to pay their bills and more likely to become reliant on high-interest lenders.

The Living Wage Foundation currently calculates the living wage - the amount it costs to live to be 8.25 outside London and 9.40 in the capital. But the Osborne 'national living wage' when it comes in this April will be just 7.20 - a pound or two an hour less, depending on where someone lives in the country.

The reason for the difference is that the government's 'national living wage' isn't a living wage at all, because it's not based on what it costs to live. Instead it's a rebranding exercise for the national minimum wage that's intended to steal the clothes of anti-poverty campaigners without eliminating in-work poverty. But just changing its name won't change what it really is. I could call a goat a racehorse but that wouldn't make it win any races - and the Chancellor's 'living wage' won't pay people what they need to earn to live on.

The sum of 7.20 an hour is a living wage only in the sense that it is possible to earn it whilst living. But it's not enough to escape from poverty. It's not enough to pay your bills or clothe your kids. And it's not enough to cover the bills or to - heaven forbid - afford a holiday.

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It's not for everyone

Something genuinely called the national living wage would apply to everyone, but this one doesn't. It only applies to those over the age of 25, which means younger workers are more likely to be trapped at an evenlower level of poverty pay than their older colleagues.

Levelling down and levelling up

If the intention of the 'national living wage' is to raise wages, then it's having a decidedly mixed impact. Although those earning less than 7.20 an hour (mostly those on the minimum wage) will receive a rise in April (if they're old enough), those earning only slightly more than 7.20 an hour are far less fortunate - as bosses are likely to seek to use this opportunity to 'level down' wages.

Take Mitie, for example, which has been given a multi-million pound contract to clean NHS hospitals in East Yorkshire. Whilst company directors and others are receiving 2.9% pay rises, the firmwon't give a rise to 570 of its lowest paid staff working at Hull Royal Infirmary, Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham and local clinics and health centres, because they earn more than the new fake 'living wage'. A company spokesperson told the Hull Daily Mail that: "It is worth recognising that all our people already earn at least 7% more than the new 'national living wage'."

Yet if Mitie really wanted to treat these workers well then it would give them the pay rise they deserve - and that would be a 12% pay rise to pay them a real living wage.

Britain deserves a pay rise
Yesterday saw a Twitterstorm with #TraditionallySubmissive trending. This was in response to comments made by a Downing Street adviser that the Prime Minister David Cameron thinks that Muslim women are traditionally submissive. It got Twitter going. It was good to see people reacting to this, both, Muslim and non-Muslim. There were some really funny tweets, which proved that submissive or not, Muslim women do have a very good sense of humour.

But on a serious note, I find this suggestion offensive. To suggest that somehow this particular group of women is submissive because of their religious values is wrong and far from the truth.

Islam is a beautiful religion and especially so for women. It is also a way of life. You will find answers to all aspects of life in the Quran and, contrary to the popular belief, Islam teaches a very balanced way of life. There is no extremism in Islam. The actions of some deviating extremists do not represent the true teachings of my religion. People who think otherwise will probably have their knives out but this is the truth. The true Islam that I know and follow is a beautiful religion.

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The Holy Quran which lays the foundation of Islam, clearly at many, many, points addresses Muslim men and women alike. All the covenants are the same for both genders and similarly the rewards are the same too. Yes, their roles are different but aren't they in reality too? Anyone who says that men and women do not have separate roles as well as common ones in society is in my opinion quite ill-advised

Our biological differences also dictate different roles, of course a man can neither carry nor truly nurture a baby. It's a woman's role. And a Muslim woman is as proud of this role as the rest of half of the world population!

Islam encourages education, secular as well as religious and does so for both men and women. I have seen many #TraditionallySubmissive Muslim girls who outsmart their 'traditionally oppressive' brothers in education! I know of many Muslim mothers who are more concerned about the educational achievements of their sons compared to their daughters, because the daughters are performing extremely well. I don't have to enumerate a list of professions that Muslim women are excelling in but you can see for yourself. Every year at the annual convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the head of our community Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad gives out medals for high academic achievements to men and women. The amazing academic achievements of these Muslim women vary from a multitude of A*s at GCSE and A levels to PHDs and masters, contradicting the premise that they are traditionally submissive.

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You will find Muslim women working in all sorts of fields making commendable achievements alongside men. But then we do have our most admirable role and that is as mothers. Islam puts a lot of emphasis on this role and why shouldn't it? Even the Prime Minister himself recognised the fact that a mother plays an important role in shaping the life of her child. Islam teaches that if we raise our children well, we make their lives paradise in this world and gain one in the world after. The Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be on him) also said that if a father raises his daughters well and educates them he will be granted paradise.

Being a mother is empowering to all women. If the Prime Minister needs evidence he only needs to go and visit primary schools up and down the country at pick up time and meet those hundreds of thousands of British women who chose to stay at home and look after their children. Some of them give up very lucrative careers; because it's natural and instinctive to nurture and care for your children and what a privilege we women have! We get to shape the future generation. What could be more powerful and empowering than that!

Islam recognises this important role that women play as mothers and guides them in this quest, what is wrong with that? Islam gave rights of inheritance , freedom of expression and rights of education to Muslim women hundreds of years before the rest of the world.

Just because Muslim women are seen wearing the hijab or are covered modestly, does not mean that they are being manipulated or controlled by men. Items of clothing do not represent oppression. If that was the case there would be no oppression, no abuse and no discrimination against women who choose not to cover up. Women worldwide are fighting for their rights, like equal pay, gender inequality and sexual harassment. If the Prime Minister has actual figures which prove that Muslim women are more oppressed in this country than non-Muslim women, he should publish them. Yes, there must be Muslim men who do oppress their women, just like men belonging to other races, religions or cultures but that does not make all Muslim women submissive.
Last week, I was in Geneva at a WCC/UN high level conference where representatives from the major churches in Europe were joined by the head of UNICEF and the German Interior Minister amongst many others to see what collaborative approaches can be taken to address issues arising from the refugee crisis. As Co-Chair of the Faiths Forum for London, I spoke on interfaith issues and social cohesion and made suggestions on how we in Britain can do more to help.

What struck me most were the stark figures which made it clear that this is a crisis unlike any other in European history:

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in 2015, Germany took in 1 million refugees;

40,000 new teachers are urgently needed in Germany because of the number of child refugees;

Lebanon's population has increased by 25% due to refugees entering the country;

almost 3,800 migrants died in the Mediterranean in 2015 en route to Europe;

about 1 in 3 refugees is under the age of 18.

Time and again, we heard how Europe was struggling with the arrivals. Public services are stretched. Reception conditions are awful in some countries, with migrants wanting to claim asylum in more hospitable nations such as Sweden or Germany. Social integration is also proving a challenge in some regions which have until recently been homogeneous in their culture and ethnic make-up.

European legislation came in for heavy criticism. Under the Dublin Regulations, a person must claim asylum in the first EU country they enter. That has put immense pressure on border states such as Greece and Italy, and many at the conference considered the Regulations to be in need of drastic reform. One suggestion was that refugees should be split between all of the EU member states according to the availability of resources and capacity.

Another concern raised was the impact of climate change and how the concept of refugees may need to be extended to include people who can no longer live or work in a country due to environmental reasons. Drought, famine, flooding and other natural disasters are all taking their tolls on countries and people are fleeing abroad to areas with a much more stable climate.

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Speakers were united in their belief that we must recognise refugees as individuals, and this was reflected in the statement issued at the end of the conference. It's easy to dismiss a group of people when seen as a mass, but much harder to do so when those people have their own stories to tell. This narrative from refugees is vital if we are to understand what their fears and worries are, and why they have risked their lives to travel thousands of miles to a foreign land for sanctuary.

Britain also has its role to play, and the Government should consider changing its policy towards those already in Europe. Allowing 3,000 unaccompanied children into the UK as refugees would be a step in the right direction, but it is derisory compared to the numbers taken in by other EU states. Britain should take its fair share of refugees and actively be part of the solution. Foreign aid simply isn't enough, and air strikes in Syria have so far failed to bring any semblance of political stability to the region.

Whilst we wait for the Government to change its approach, British charities and public bodies can help towns and cities on the continent with promoting and enabling social integration. We can share our good practices with those areas experiencing social diversity for the first time, as well as highlight where we have encountered our own problems and difficulties. Our NGOs and community groups are well placed to guide those in Europe on how to achieve better social cohesion based on our own experiences, both good and bad.
News / National

by Zvamaida Murwira

The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association yesterday took a swipe at former Botswana President Festus Mogae for attacking President Mugabe over his stance denouncing homosexuality.In an interview yesterday, ZNLWVA secretary-general Victor Matemadanda said Mr Mogae should desist from meddling in the sovereignty of the country.Matemadanda said Mr Mogae's attack on President Mugabe over his stance on gays and lesbians was a direct assault on the people of Zimbabwe who have been consistent and unwavering in their support of their leader.Mr Mogae, made the remarks in an interview with the United Nations online magazine, Africa Renewal, before several media outlets picked the story and widely published it.The former Botswana leader said this while visiting the United States and called President Mugabe to accept gay rights."As war veterans we are disturbed by Mogae's statements and what disturbs us is that it had to take his visit to the United States to say this. What we want Mogae to know is that if he wants to criticise our President, he should first criticise God who created men and women. God made it a sin for someone to be involved in sexual matters with another person of the same sex. This is why Sodom and Gomorrah were burnt down," said Matemadanda."When President Mugabe denounces homosexuals he was representing the people of Zimbabwe, and an attack directed at him is an assault on Zimbabweans."Mogae should know that our culture and that of Batswana are different. In Botswana people can dance while undressed, while one cannot do that in Zimbabwe," said Matemadanda.Matemadanda wondered why Mr Mogae made the remarks while in the United States whose hostility towards President Mugabe was well documented."Maybe, he thinks that when he wants to get money from the US, he has to attack President Mugabe. Let him have his dirty money alone," said Matemadanda."Mogae has made a lot of investments in Zimbabwe and we are going to doubt if he is investing for business or to influence the people of Zimbabwe."Mr Mogae who is Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko's business partner in the Choppies supermarket group was recently in Zimbabwe for the official opening of a Choppies supermarket in Chitungwiza by President Mugabe."What is sad is that he is in partnership with VP Mphoko. That was a miscalculation for him to say those words," said Matemadamda.In the interview, Mr Mogae said African leaders should open up to second generation rights."In my long interaction with LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-sexual) groups and extensive research, I have come to the realisation that we are limited in our knowledge and must be open to new discoveries. I have been converted. I used to hold the same beliefs as my counterparts."President Mugabe has said that he hates homosexuals and is on record as saying they are worse than pigs and dogs. That is still his position."Leadership is not always about you. It is about people and often circumstances. I call upon African leaders to open up to second generation rights," Mr Mogae is quoted as having said.
The Bishop of London, the Right Rev Richard Chartres, has taken the extraordinary step of praising two of the vicars in his diocese not for their piety or self-sacrifice, but for growing their beards.

This, he says, is laudable as a means of connecting with the significant percentage of Muslims who live in their parish, Tower Hamlets in East London. It is certainly true that many Muslims regard having a beard as a sign of religious authenticity - dating from the time that Mohammed instructed his followers to allow their beards to grow.

But this raises some awkward religious issues. For a start, where does that leave female vicars? Does the lack of a beard mean they lack authenticity, or is the very idea of a female minister so unacceptable in Muslim eyes anyway, that a hairless chin makes no difference to their credibility?

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There is also a coded religious history to beards that has often been used as a way of showing your identity, and particularly as a way of differentiating yourself from those with whom you disagree.

Thus whereas the ancient Egyptians saw hairlessness as a sign of divinity, there are many biblical references to the Israelites sporting a beard. This in turn led the Catholic clergy to be clean-shaven so as to distinguish themselves from the people of the Old Testament whose covenant with God they reckoned had now been superseded by the Church.

When Protestantism arose, many of its clergy returned to being bearded so as to separate themselves from the Catholic priesthood, which had become associated with hypocrisy and corruption. The Greek Orthodox priests did likewise, though they have maintained their beards to this day and not let them lapse, as have most Anglicans done.

In the popular mind, too, beards give variable signals. They are a sign of masculinity, as well as marking the arrival of adulthood, with the purchase of one's first razor almost being a rite of passage. Yet beards can have negative connotations too: it is associated with brutality, with the term 'Barbarians' having the image of bearded hordes. Certainly Peter the Great felt they were uncivilized, ordering his nobles to cut of their beards and imposing a beard tax in St Pertersburg for everyone else, as part of his attempt to give a modern make-over to his empire.

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For some, beards are a sign of laziness and those applying for job interviews were, until recently, advised to go clean-shaven. The thinking was: how can you trust someone to work hard in your office when they cannot be bothered to shave in the morning? The hippy adoption of beards as part of their identity was a deliberate protest against such regimented thinking.

It seems that modern politicians also worried that a beard might make the public doubt their suitability for the job, for Jeremy Corbyn is a rare party leader with a beard, and one has to go back to the mid 19th century and Benjamin Disraeli to think of another prominent one.

But if popular icons have a message, it is that most of us are ambivalent about beards: would Father Christmas or Colonel Sanders look so avuncular without one, or Captain Hook and Blackbeard be as villainous? Perhaps the answer is in the type of beard: well-groomed or straggly, cultivated or neglected.
Research released earlier this week by BBC News that personal debt in the United Kingdom has topped 180bn certainly won't make easy reading for the government. November last year saw the biggest monthly increase in personal debt since the financial crisis. To put that into some perspective, the total personal debt in the UK is now a larger figure than the annual budget for the NHS.

Taking a look at the figures more closely, the top 5 "UK debt hotspots" are, in descending order; Manchester, Sandwell, Hull, Barking & Dagenham and Newham. There's a familiar trend amongst all of those hotspots and that's the fact that they're all in England. You'll also notice that Scotland doesn't contribute so greatly towards the UK's personal debt. So why is this? Well, it might be something to do with the DAS, or Debt Arrangement Scheme.

To give you a bit of background into the Debt Arrangement Scheme, it's basically a debt repayment scheme introduced by the Scottish government. DAS is open to all Scottish residents who are struggling with debt. One of the best things about DAS is the fact that when a person enters the scheme, their interest and charges will be frozen and creditors will be unable to add fees on top of what is already owed. This essentially gives the lender some time to pay off their debts without having to worry about further debts building up.

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Those using the DAS are then able to discuss with money advisors their financial situation and choose an affordable monthly amount to be paid back. Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, it is. The Debt Arrangement Scheme has truly gone a good way to improve the personal borrowing situation in Scotland and has proven that sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective.

With the above taken into consideration, it likely comes as no surprise to see that Downing Street is facing increasing calls for the scheme to be expanded across the country, into England and Wales. I can't help but think that the scheme would be incredibly beneficial in the rest of the country, where debt is becoming more and more of an issue and drastically reducing quality of life for the hardest hit.

That being said, it's pretty clear why David Cameron might be reluctant to roll a similar scheme out across England and Wales. It goes without saying that lending companies are undeniably hit the hardest by the Debt Arrangement Scheme. Because the scheme places a freeze on debts and also protects the assets of borrowers, lenders are unable to squeeze that extra bit out of cash out of their customers when they're unable to pay back. For some lenders, like Wonga for example, high late repayment fees are at the core of their business model and the government's ability to freeze those fees is one that is going to hit their business hard. With that in mind, it's no surprise to see that Wonga are truly getting their game together.

In all though, any scheme that goes some way to improve the operations of payday loan companies can't be a bad thing, can it?

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As Chief Operating Officer, Jan brings over 20 years of leadership experience in enterprise high-tech companies to Apcera. Previously, Jan spent 14 years at TIBCO Software where she was most recently SVP Global Sales Operations and a member of the Executive Staff. During her tenure, the company grew from a pre-IPO company into a $1B+ global enterprise software leader. Earlier, Jan held senior roles at Informix Software and Oracle. She received a bachelor's degree in Managerial Economics from University of California, Davis.

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

Grounded in a middle-class up bringing, a strong work ethic was instilled in me at an early age. Our family talked openly about respecting money, being fiscally responsible and not being wasteful. My parents set high standards for expected behavior, but they didn't hover. My independent, entrepreneurial spirit thrived in this environment. At a young age, I created service businesses, such as pet sitting, car washing and errand running. I would often recruit friends and neighbors as my "employees" to earn money for what my mom referred to as "life's extras." I learned early on that finding work and getting work done through others required perseverance and great negotiation

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Although I wasn't required to work through college, I did. The money I earned paid for trips and experiences, which provided me with a broad perspective and appreciation for cultural differences. I visited the hometowns of my friends and joined their family vacations. I stayed in high-rise luxury apartments in New York City, five-star hotels, motels and mobile homes. I dined in nice restaurants and enjoyed home cooked meals prepared by hard-working migrant farm workers. I witnessed extreme wealth and extreme poverty. These life experiences served as my best education.

How has your previous employment experience aided your position at Apcera?

Every position I have held and everyone one I met along the way has played a part in shaping my career and prepared me for the role I have today. Working in fast-paced, high-growth companies for most of my career required me to be agile, wear many hats, be decisive and hire exceptionally good people. These skills are put to good use in my current role. I feel privileged to have learned so much on the job from some wonderful co-workers, employees and mentors.

What have the highlights and challenges been during your tenure at Apcera?

Start-ups are challenging! Technology moves at an incredible pace and keeping up with an ever-changing landscape can be daunting. It is imperative to be innovative and agile, but not distracted.

Focus is the key. The highlights for me have been closing a sizable investment that will allow us to significantly scale.

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What advice can you offer women who are seeking a career in your industry?

The one thing I know for sure is that there is no shortage of advice for women. I would encourage women to know themselves - understand what you really want in life, don't imitate others and develop a network of people you admire and be attentive to them. If you choose a career in technology, speak up (professionally), be heard, but mostly, be yourself.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Achieving work/life balance is a challenge and one that I have yet to master. However, through focus and discipline, I'm making great progress. There will never be enough time in the day so I focus on using my time wisely. I measure results and progress, not the hours I put into each day. I plan my workweek in advance and ensure to allocate sufficient time to focus on strategic and meaningful initiatives. I empower my employees and delegate appropriately. I don't believe in duplicating effort.

In order to be efficient and productive, I think we all need to slow down. If you are going to take time to communicate via email - make sure you take time to ensure your email is clear and complete, and the call-to-action is well defined. If you are going to call a meeting, take time to prepare. Everyone's time is limited, so I respect it and use it wisely. I recognize that busy is not a synonym for productivity.

Using my time wisely at work ensures I accomplish as much as possible. It also gives me peace of mind so that I can be more present when I'm with my friends and family.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Fortunately, I have had the pleasure of working with excellent people - both men and women - at great companies. I have felt respected and empowered most of the time. Feeling comfortable and supported by co-workers and employers is the minimum requirement for anyone to thrive. The tech industry, in which I work, has a culture that is male-dominated and often women do not often feel supported and comfortable in it. In fact, harassment and discrimination are real and I have witnessed them first-hand. Creating a culture of inclusion makes great economic and business sense. But until there is more diversity in tech and in tech roles at all levels, the culture will be defined by its majority. When that culture is monolithic, it can be uncomfortable, or worse, for the minority. It is hard enough to entice women into technology careers, so once they arrive, we need to embrace them, rather than perpetuating an environment that encourages them to drop out. Technology companies can, and must, do better.

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How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I am fortunate to have a great network of professional colleagues. Through networking, many of them have turned into life-long friends and mentors. Although I have not formalized a mentor- mentee relationship with anyone in particular, my network has delivered so much value to me that I cannot imagine life without them. I know I can rely on these individuals for sound advice, business recommendations and invaluable opportunities.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I admire empathetic leaders with strong spirits and work ethic. I have been fortunate to work with and for some great business leaders. One was Karen Blasing, who taught me a great deal about how to lead, to value ethics above all else and to professionally challenge myself and others when necessary. From afar, I admire world leaders and philanthropists who carry themselves with unbelievable grace under pressure. Most notably, Malala Yousafzai for her unbelievable strength, selflessness and can-do spirit; Christine Lagarde, for the warmth and confidence she shows in her demanding and groundbreaking role; and Madeleine Albright for her service and leadership.

What do you want Apcera to accomplish in the next year?
I was one of the many Muslim scholars and other faiths leaders invited to a major summit of its kind in Morocco to debate the rights of religious minorities living in the Muslim world. The summit opened on 25 January and brought together 300 influential thinkers from across the globe to reassert the principles stipulated by the Charter of Medina. The Charter is the first constitution for Muslims which enshrines the principles of tolerance, co-existence and pluralism.

The summit was hosted by Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, who is the President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, with the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Explaining the background to the summit, Bin Bayyah told the summit that extremists were committing violence against Christians, Jews and other faith minorities under the banner of "Jihad". As Muslim leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure that the principles enumerated in Islam are not toppled over by those who have territorial aims and want to create division between communities, said bin Bayyah.

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In his address the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, said that co-existence and cultural diversity is celebrated in Islam. Moroccan history is full of rich examples of celebrating multi-ethnicity. Examples include Moroccans protected some Jews from the tyranny of Nazism. The great grandfather of King Mohammed VI donated the land on which the church in Tangier is built.

The Prophet Muhammad himself and the early Muslim community was religiously persecuted at the time of advent of Islam. Islam has therefore enshrined the rights of religious minorities, and promoted religious tolerance and cultural diversity. The Quran states "To you your religion and to me mine" (109:6), and recognises religious freedom. It means respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich mosaic of global cultures.

Articles 25-40 of the Charter of Medina focus on co-existence and pluralism, stipulating concepts a such as "No Jew will be wronged for being a Jew". The formation of an "ummah" (one community) in the Medina Charter established idea of common citizenship regardless of religious beliefs. We want to counter the idea that Muslims and non-Muslims can't live together. "Jihad was actually given to protect those who were being persecuted", said Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

Peace, amongst the faith groups more than 1400 years ago was achieved in Medina, not through the might of arms but through "tolerance, love, and belief in co-existence", said the Minister of Religious Affairs of Pakistan. "God has determined that we live side by side with other faith faiths in many nations," said the Mufti of Russia.

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Peace in our time can only be achieved through recognising the multi-ethnic, multi-belief and multi-cultural society that is celebrated by Islam. The message of the Religious Ministry of Egypt was that Muslims must implement the constitution of Medina to establish peace in their societies. "The freedoms granted by the Charter of Medina are a sign of political maturity and stability" recognised by Islam, said Dr Azizah Alhibri. "There is no compulsion in religion", (2:256) stipulates Islam.

In a statement issued by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon said that the recent violence in the Middle East goes against the rich diversity of the region. "There are no quick remedies" but religious leaders cannot be complacent. The UN will continue to work with religious leaders to preserve dignity and diversity across the Middle East region.

The radical groups such as ISIS, Daesh, Boko Haram have replaced Islamic values and principles founded in the Quran and Sunnah with anti-humanistic ideology. The leaders from Egypt to Saudi Arabia, Morocco to Pakistan, Russia to Indonesia and many other countries reaffirmed that protection of religious minorities is a human rights issue, and must be a priority for the Muslim world.
If 1,300 flights a day take off from Heathrow airport and no one connects them to the recent flooding up north, does that mean they're not contributing to climate change?

This question is brought to you by the sort of logic we seem to be employing in Britain at present regarding the aviation industry. In 2011 this sector accounted for 6% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, and according to the Aviation Environment Federation (AEF) Heathrow is the only UK airport located in an area known to have air pollution levels that are consistently above legal air quality limits. This, and other pollution issues including the fact that the Heathrow area was found to be in breach of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) standards, culminated with David Cameron's pre-election statement that there would be 'no ifs, no buts' on the matter of the third runway: it made no sense for the expansion to go ahead.

However, since then plans to expand Heathrow have flown beyond reason, and the recently-approved 17bn airport expansion means an additional 250,000 more flights a year, the demolition of 783 homes despite Britain's current housing crisis, and the destruction of most of the neighbouring village of Harmondsworth.

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Enter Plane Stupid, a campaign group that employs direct action to fight airport expansion, and more specifically, the Heathrow 13 who chained themselves to the runway in July 2015, cancelling 22 flights and causing numerous delays. When they were arrested, a police officer told them: 'As a consequence of you being here, you are causing severe disruption and it will be in the millions of pounds.' Similarly, on Monday this week Judge Deborah Wright stated that the 'cost' of the disruption at the airport was 'absolutely astronomical'.

This raises an interesting point regarding cost and consequences that doesn't take into account the great looming elephant in the room that is climate change. There are no easily calculable figures to show the cost to our planet from the additional 250,000 flights a year or the health costs and consequences related to the increased pollution that the new runway will bring. Nor did Judge Wright mention the fact the London exceeded its 2016 pollution limit by the 8th day of this year, making our commitments to emissions reductions laughable, if increased global droughts and floodings were something we could laugh about.

The consequences, then, need a different measure for the scenario relating to the impact of increased pollution levels on human and animal health, and the warming of our planet. I'd say the word 'astronomical' was more fitting regarding this impact, since 2016 is already expected to be the warmest year on record, following in 2015's stead. It's difficult not to divert the discussion to vested interests - and others have speculated that the might of the aviation industry may be a factor at play regarding the reversed decision on the airport expansion - but cost and consequences should definitely be a prominent focus, as the result of this third runway is that of climate change: death and suffering the world over, and the failure of our governing bodies to do anything to prevent it.

Additionally, the consequence of this verdict spits on British freedom to effectively protest emissions increases, because Plane Stupid were tipping the scales in favour of reason when they locked on for the climate, and now that has been interpreted to be a bigger crime by the British justice system. In reality there is no bigger crime against our planet than climate change, and no greater injustice than the death and suffering it continues to bring.

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In response to the original decision to go ahead with the runaway, Sarah Shoraka of Plane Stupid said: 'We need to insert climate change into the narrative, it's been absent from the whole debate ever since the report [approving the airport expansion] came out.' Plane Stupid's statement after the verdict states: 'Today's judgment demonstrates that the legal system does not yet recognise that climate defence is not an offence...Climate change has already claimed many lives, and it is the continued negligence of governance that forces citizens to act in their stead.'

The British legal system has it wrong here, and the aviation activists are in the right. We need to ensure that our governments enforce emissions limits, and that they prioritise health and planetary welfare over perceived profit. We need to stop prioritising foreign investors over local residents and global responsibilities, and to hold those who are driving emissions increases to account. Climate change should form a significant part of the dialogue when costs and consequences are assessed.

In addition to this, we need more people to take a stand against the bullying might of the industries that are trashing our only planet, and we need more voices to be heard in defence of our only home. Sending the Heathrow 13 to prison? That's just plain stupid. And it won't stop them either - as they said after the verdict, they're 'in it for the long haul.' In terms of the planet, so are we all.

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Martin Ollman via Getty Images CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 25: 2016 Senior Australian of the Year Professor Gordian Fulde during the Australian of The Year Awards 2016 at Parliament House on January 25, 2016 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

Senior Australian of the Year Professor Gordian Fulde has hit out at the scourge of alcohol-fueled violence, saying big change needs to be made on the issue across the nation.

Fulde is the head of Sydney's St Vincent Hospital's emergency department where he has worked for more than three decades, making him the longest serving ED head in the country.

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St Vincent's emergency department sees patients from Sydney's nightlife precincts, including Kings Cross, and treats a large number of of bashing victims as well as drug affected and homeless people.

Senior #AusoftheYear is longest serving ED department director Professor Gordian Fulde https://t.co/KqWp08vLY8pic.twitter.com/nhAmTmA1yk  HuffPost Australia (@HuffPostAU) January 25, 2016

Fulde has been a big supporter of the NSW Government's tough alcohol lockout laws, which he says have dented the number of patients presenting at the hospital with alcohol-related injuries.

Speaking on Tuesday, Fulde said he would use 2016 to encourage action on booze-fueled violence.

"Australia has led the way on these things and I think it's about time ... that society, individuals say this is not a good look," he told ABC television.

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.@LaTrioli and Senior Australian of the Year Gordian Fulde live now on @BreakfastNews#ozdayABCpic.twitter.com/3XyEqsqh8p  ABC TV Australia (@ABCTV) January 25, 2016

Senior Australian of the Year went to the country's longest-serving emergency department director Gordian Fulde. pic.twitter.com/5sczaERUzu  Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) January 25, 2016

"We don't need to be drunk, injured, are fighting, whatever, spoiling it for everybody else around us because we are just obnoxious because we have had a few drinks.

"My mission along with everybody else and things, but basically is to put it out there so people can decide we need some change."

Fulde is one of around 800 Aussies to be awarded Australia Day Honours this year.

Former Army chief David Morrison is the 2016 Australian of the Year, with the list also including sportspeople, scientists, artists and community leaders.

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Fulde described himself as overwhelmed at being named the 2016 Australian Senior of the Year.

In the position, Fulde is in an ideal position to speak out about the impact of alcohol on emergency wards.

He recently told The Huffington Post Australia that new research showed late-night injuries decreased when Sydney's controversial pub and club lockout laws were put in place.

"In my concept of it, it made fewer people who were totally out of control drunk be on the footpath and that means there were less cranky, hot-and-bothered, people all tightly jammed up," he said at the time.


Neglected cattle on BLM lands and Indigenous petroglyphs at Mah'ha-gah-doo (Gold Butte)

Photos taken by Fawn Douglas, Jan. 16, 2016

Battles over land, resources, and who has a right to them are central to the history of the United States. Today, this type of conflict continues with the armed occupation of federal buildings in Oregon, led by members of the Bundy family who organized a similar protest two years ago in Nevada.

The militia in Oregon has brought media attention and debate about how the U.S. government should respond. Somewhat perplexed, Native Americans and others are asking the question: why have authorities been so slow to react in Oregon and when will those who are breaking the law be prosecuted for doing the same in Nevada?

Though the Bundy militias have made a series of confusing comments over the years, their main goal has been to eradicate U.S. government oversight of public lands. In short, they want to eliminate federal lands, including national parks, so it can become private property.

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At the same time, Native Americans continue to fight for their sacred lands and are joining with allies from various interest groups to protect the environment in the same areas the Bundy militia is attempting to privatize. The Burns band of Northern Paiute have been working to secure their traditional sites in Harney County, Oregon, just as people from the Moapa and Las Vegas bands of Southern Paiute have been working to conserve Mah'ha-gah-doo (Gold Butte) in Clark County, Nevada.

While they don't always grab the headlines, Indigenous struggles to protect their lands show that colonialism has not ended in the 21st century.

"If you think the Indian wars are over, then think again"

If anyone has the right to demand that the U.S. government hand back federal lands to the people it's Native Americans. For hundreds of years, the federal government has stripped territory from Indigenous tribes who have continually fought to regain their lands as sovereign nations.

One of these many stories is that of two sisters, Carrie and Mary Dann, and other Western Shoshone in Nevada. Since the early 1970s, they fought the U.S. government to maintain their right to graze horses and cattle on lands held by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

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Even though Western Shoshone territory was protected in the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley, this did not stop the federal government from a massive land grab of 24 million acres in parts of Nevada and surrounding states. Nor did it stop the U.S. from building a nuclear bombing facility on these lands in 1951. Since then, 928 nuclear tests have been conducted at the site, which have contaminated and desecrated the land.

In 1979, courts awarded the Western Shoshone $26 million for territory taken by the U.S. government, but the tribe refused to take the money at the time. Instead they wanted their lands returned -- something the U.S. rarely does even after courts rule that lands were taken illegally.

Even though the Western Shoshone legally proved their lands belonged to them, the government denied the Dann sisters and others the right to graze livestock on their ancestral territory. In the 1990s and 2000s, the BLM confiscated their livestock and began to sell the animals to pay $3 million in trespassing fines they received over the years.

Afterwards, Carrie Dann said, "I was indigenous and in one single evening they made me indigent. If you think the Indian wars are over, then think again."

In 2006, the United Nations' Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination found that the Western Shoshone were "being denied their traditional rights to land." The U.N. found that the U.S. government harassed and intimidated Western Shoshone people "through the imposition of grazing fees, trespass and collection notices, impounding of horse and livestock, restrictions on hunting, fishing, and gathering, as well as arrests, which gravely disturb the enjoyment of their ancestral lands."

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For decades, rancher Cliven Bundy similarly refused to follow laws that prohibit cattle grazing on public lands in Nevada. This led to an armed standoff between his militia and federal law enforcement in 2014, where the federal government eventually retreated and has not returned since.

So why is it that the U.S. government acted so differently with the Western Shoshone when compared to the Bundy family?



Reclaiming the Land from Domestic Terrorists

A few weeks ago the two sons of rancher Clive Bundy, Ammon and Ryan, along with a militia of around 20 people took over several remote federal buildings at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon. Though the motives of the armed protestors have not always been clear, one of the things they're calling for are commuted prison sentences for ranchers Steven Hammond and his father Dwight.

Federal courts found the Hammonds guilty of arson for fires that affected both the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and other federally protected areas in eastern Oregon. In 2001, Steven Hammond and his hunting party intentionally started fires to cover up deer poaching on public lands. After handing out matches, Hammond told his crew they were going to "light up the whole country on fire," but later lied to federal authorities on the cause of the fire.

After a decade, a federal court sentenced the Hammonds to the minimum five years in prison, where they are now serving out their time. While the Hammonds may not agree with their punishment, they do not support the current militia occupation in Oregon.

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Still, Ammon Bundy complains that the U.S. government has been expanding wildlife refuges "at the expense of the ranchers and miners." He hopes the ranchers "will come back and reclaim their land, and the wildlife refuge will be shut down forever and the federal government will relinquish such control."

Ironically, the wildlife refuge and surrounding area are the ancestral homelands of the Northern Paiute. Lost in most reporting is the fact that the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was once part of 1.78 million acres of the Malheur Indian Reservation, which was taken from the Northern Paiute in violation of an unratified treaty from 1868.

Over a hundred years ago, when the U.S. government and ranchers were on the same side, they fraudulently confiscated these Indigenous lands. They treated the Northern Paiute much like the Western Shoshone and hundreds of other tribes across the country, forcing them onto American Indian reservations on small portions of refuse land. The Burns Paiute today have a reservation of only 760 acres.

The Bundy militias are not concerned with the land claims of Indigenous peoples. Ryan Bundy stated that they want to "restore the rights to people so they can use the land and resources," in reference to privatization of public lands for logging, mining, and ranching. While these militias wrap their rhetoric around fighting for the "people," they are driven by a rugged individualism that seeks to profit from exploiting the land's natural resources without federal regulation.

"We also recognize that the Native Americans had the claim to the land," said Bundy, "but they lost that claim." He continued: "There are things to learn from cultures of the past, but the current culture is the most important."

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It's clear that these militia members do not include Native Americans as part of the "people" whose grievances equally matter. Instead, on the Oregon militia's website, they compare themselves to U.S. Revolutionary members who protected colonists from "Indian attacks" and threats from the "savages." This language is replicated from the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

In short, these militia occupations are the same colonial histories of the United States remixed in the 21st century.

The Fight to Protect Gold Butte (Mah'ha-gah-doo)

Today the Burns Paiute and other Indigenous nations are working with the U.S. government to preserve their lands, which is why around 4,000 artifacts of the Northern Paiute are located at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. These artifacts are currently held hostage by the militia occupation, but support has come in from various groups across the nation, including First Nations peoples in Canada, ranchers who respect Indigenous rights, and other groups across the country.

Many Native American tribes are also standing with the Burns Paiute. Members from bands of the Southern Paiute have recently held actions in solidarity with what's going on in Oregon. "We're supporting the Burns Paiute in any way we can," says organizer and Las Vegas Paiute member Fawn Douglas.

Currently, members of the Moapa and Las Vegas Paiute are working with environmental groups in southern Nevada to bring needed protection to the area of Gold Butte -- a historical site that has also been threatened by Bundy militias in Clark County, Nevada. Known to the Southern Paiute as Mah'ha-gah-doo, Gold Butte contains endangered wildlife, Native American artifacts, and ancient petroglyphs.

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Since the 2014 Bundy occupation, large swaths of Gold Butte have remained a pseudo-militarized zone, where emaciated cattle illegally roam freely and militia threaten federal employees. Just last summer, the BLM ordered all of its workers out of the area after unknown assailants used gunfire to intimidate surveyors. The BLM hasn't returned since.

Without protection, Gold Butte is left vulnerable to vandalism, unregulated tourism, and invasive cattle grazing. This is why the Sierra Club, Battle Born Progress, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, and Friends of Gold Butte have been working with members of the Moapa and Las Vegas Paiute to preserve 350,000 acres as a national monument or national conservation area.

These groups have come together for rallies and service trips where they clean up trash at the site. In this way, various communities have joined together to protect the natural beauty and sacred space of Mah'ha-gah-doo for environmental, recreational, and cultural reasons.

"These sites are sacred to us," says William Anderson of the Moapa band of Southern Paiute, "that's part of our history, part of our culture. That's who we are."

"The same battles that my ancestors had"

The federal government's retreat in Nevada and silence in Oregon allow the Bundy's misguided agenda to continue to embolden others. If the U.S. government refuses to stop these threats then it once again fails to uphold treaties and disrespects the national sovereignty of Native Americans.

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Concerning the occupation in Oregon, certain Burns Paiute council members are wondering when the U.S. government is going to show up to handle the situation. When asked why he thought the U.S. response to the Bundy militia was different than how his people had been treated in times past, council member Jarvis Kennedy didn't hesitate to answer: "Because they're white. That's about it."

Kennedy also said that if his tribe acted like the Bundy militia they'd already be in jail or worse. "It gets tiring," says Kennedy, "It's the same battles that my ancestors had and now it's just a bunch of different cavalry wearing a bunch of different coats."

Considering the facts over U.S. history, it's hard to disagree.
[UNVERIFIED CONTENT] CAIRO, EGYPT - FEBRUARY 8: An Egyptian protester waves the Egyptian flag during protests in Tahrir Square on February 8, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. The eighteen-day uprising led to the resignation of Hosni Mubarak on February 11, 2011. (Photo by Jonathan Rashad)

I lived in Egypt during the revolution but sadly, I was out of town during the 18 days. In November 2011, I created @TahrirSupplies, a Twitter account which coordinated the humanitarian needs for protesters in the square. The idea was simply to connect those who wanted to help others, despite their political differences.

I like the term "revolutionary moment." Maybe it'll catch on. I don't feel that it lasted longer than that. Moments differ in length, but moments have an ending, and while I can't remember when this one ended, I no longer feel that it really happened!

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The idea was simply to connect those who wanted to help others, despite their political differences.

The movement back then meant change to me-- a chance to look outside our own life and small community and wish for the best for the lives of others. The idea of doing good --and being applauded for it-- drove the actions of many activists and humanitarians, and once that ball started rolling, we felt like we were unstoppable, or that we didn't know how to make it stop!

If you are a doctor willing to help, please head to tahrir, there are several untreated injuries.  Tahrir Supplies (@TahrirSupplies) December 11, 2012

Everything had to be changed, every wrong had to be made right, and everything had to happen at the same time.

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Egyptian doctors treat protesters suffering from the effects of a teargas attack, at field hospital in Tahrir Square in Cairo on November 23, 2011. (Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)

I had never felt so alive, so in love, so overwhelmed with emotions and so true and dedicated to a cause as I did in those years.

We weren't allowing time for change before returning to the streets with new demands, and as this continued, people started becoming irritated by protesters or revolutionaries.

The revolution advocates started losing credibility as they kept changing their demands and raising the bar week after week, without any follow through on previously opened areas of discussion.

Calling out to everyone in Tahrir & Etihadiya Palace, if you know what medical supplies are needed please inform us.  Tahrir Supplies (@TahrirSupplies) December 5, 2012

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In any country, there is a very large portion of the population that resists change and doesn't believe they have anything to benefit from it. The instability of the revolutionary movement allowed those resistant to change to reclaim their place in the driver's seat-- driving the revolution away from course.

Despite everything I've just said: I had never felt so alive, so in love, so overwhelmed with emotions and so true and dedicated to a cause as I did in those years. I believed that we knew what we were doing and I was sure we were going somewhere good.

Here's to the days where everyone you knew was out there doing something good, with good intentions, hoping for the best.  Tahrir Supplies (@TahrirSupplies) January 25, 2016
Imagine you are in a room with 100 people. Ninety-nine people are white, two-thirds are 45 years or older, 57 are men, and more than half are born-again or evangelical Christians. Are you at the Oscars, a retirement seminar, a Rick Warren sermon or the Republican Iowa caucuses?

If you guessed the Republican Iowa caucuses, you win a Bible with a quote from Donald Trump's recent speech at Liberty University: "Two Corinthians, 3:17, that's the whole ballgame."

Trump may be correct, although not about the Bible. The presidential ballgame starts in Iowa, and the news media cover it as though it's spring training. Hope springs eternal if you can hit it out of the park or you can strike out trying. In 2012, Michele Bachmann took the early lead but faded quickly, soon after appearing on the cover of Time magazine. Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota, dropped out, declaring that he thought he brought a "rational, established, credible, strong record. ... But I think the audience ... was looking for something different." What was this audience looking for? And to what degree does it even reflect the state of Iowa?

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In 2012, they found their winner in the figure of Rick Santorum. He had 29,839 votes, beating out by 34 votes Mitt Romney, who in turn beat out Ron Paul by a few thousand votes. Together, their total vote represented less than 14 percent of Iowa's registered Republicans, less than 4 percent of the total registered voters of Iowa. The caucuses vote captured spectacular national media but reflected little beyond the tastes of a very small minority. We call this our democratic process. We shouldn't.

Democracy depends on educated citizens broadly participating in the electoral process. The reality is, very few actually do. As reported in the New York Times, the number of eligible voters casting a ballot in 2014 dropped below 50 percent in 43 of the 50 states. In New York, California, and Texas, it hovered around 33 percent. In other words, we are reaching a point where two-thirds of all eligible voters believe their vote does not make a difference.

The shadow of democracy is that low turnouts create big opportunities for manipulating outcomes. The focus shifts to polarizing issues, such as race and immigration, in order to galvanize the angriest voters to show up for the vote. Trump unapologetically declared himself in a recent debate as "very angry" and insisted that "I will gladly accept the mantle of anger." He speaks out loud what has become obvious. The duty to be outraged has become a qualifying attribute for presidential ambitions.

How low can the voting go? This is a question that preoccupies political consultants. In the last presidential election, many pollsters were beside themselves, not because their predictions were off regarding demographic groups, but because the total number of voters ended up being larger than expected. From the presidential election of 2008 to the midterm elections of 2010, there was a decline of 36 million voters, two-thirds of whom were Democrats. The prediction was that they would mostly stay asleep through the 2012 presidential election, but not nearly enough did -- and President Obama won a second term.

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The upcoming Republican caucuses in Iowa reveal challenging dynamics within our democracy and a clear distortion relative to Iowa's overall voting population. Consistently with past caucuses, we can expect more men to vote than women and a disproportionate percentage of whites to vote relative to minorities, although the white population in Iowa is already close to 92 percent. Caucus voters, on average, have higher average incomes and a higher percentage of college degrees than Iowa's general population, which may surprise people who think that poorer, less educated voters are driving the election. And finally, born-again and evangelical Christians vote in the Republican Iowa caucuses at double their percentage of Iowa's population, 57 to 28 percent, based on results from the last cycle. White, Wealthy, and Born Again may not make a good bumper sticker, but it reflects a particular audience that may feel it has been pushed to the side and now seeks to reclaim a dominant position.

We see similar trends nationally, though with greater nuances. Women vote more often than men, whites more so than minorities, and the wealthy in greater proportion than the disadvantaged. Mark Hugo Lopez, director of Hispanic research at the Pew Research Center, reports that the number of Hispanic people who could vote is growing far faster than those who do vote. In 2012, less than 50 percent of eligible Hispanic voters cast a ballot, and in the 2014 midterm elections, the number dropped to 27 percent. Also, Hispanics are concentrated in states such as California, New York, and Texas, where presidential elections have not been heavily contested. This creates even greater opportunity to ignore them as a national constituency.

Democracy's shadow is known through its distortions. Rather than being a vital force for collective participation, it is increasingly a tool for oligarchy and collective madness. As the wealthiest and most powerful fight among themselves, throwing billions of dollars into the process, they trivialize the democratic process by turning it into personality contests and opening the door to demagogues. And the Republican establishment, while capitalizing on issues that draw together those who fear government, is deeply aware of the lucrative partnership between government and business that butters their bread. Wealthy individuals remain a core Republican constituency for both donors and voters.

Nor have Democrats been immune to the influence of the wealthy. They rely on donations from wealthy corporations and constituents as much as Republicans. Robert Reich noted that Democrats have done little to "change the vicious cycle of wealth and power that has rigged the economy for the benefit of those at the top, and undermined the working class." Bernie Sanders has struck a powerful chord among Democratic voters for just this reason, and Republican candidates want to cash in as well. Trump certainly plays up how he is owned by no one. Being his own billionaire has its financial advantages, but the opportunity to manipulate voter sentiment is priceless.

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One of the core practices of collective wisdom is seeing whole systems. This requires us to step out of our particular bubble and ask essential questions, to diagnose critical relationships within a system, and to work in subtle realms, including what is not immediately apparent. Most significant, seeing whole systems asks us to embrace both the light and the shadow of human interactions, having faith that greater coherence and healthy-functioning communities can be a result.

On February 1, Republican caucus voting will take place in rooms across all of Iowa's 99 counties. But despite the diversity of geographic locations, the people in the rooms will be remarkably similar to each other. And the outcome will be predictable as well. A few candidates will divide up two-thirds of the caucus votes but represent only a small fraction of Iowa's total population. They will not even represent the largest political party in Iowa, which is neither Republican nor Democrat -- the plurality of Iowans register as No Party. And of course they will not even remotely represent the diversity of voters nationally.

Yet the symbolic importance cannot be discounted. In the days after the caucuses, there will be little reporting of the small number of actual votes or analysis of voter diversity. Instead, there will be self-important pronouncements of winners and losers and differing percentages thrown around that appear to make mountains out of molehills. And then all will be forgotten and the media will be on to the next show, or primary in this case. Let's keep our larger perspective intact, and if possible, our sense of humor.
By Kate Sullivan, Allure



Photo: Tyler Boye/WWD

There is hardly a female erogenous zone that hasn't been celebrated in art, poetry, and fashion--the bum included. The most fascinating numbers about one of history's most prized assets.

1: Approximate century the original nude statue Venus Callipyge was created. Translated from Greek, the name means "Venus of the beautiful [kalli-] buttocks [pyge]."

2002: Year Duke University scientists discovered the gene mutation that results in enlarged posteriors on some sheep; they named the animals callipyge sheep.

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28,000 B.C.: Estimated period the Venus of Willendorf, a small statue with a large bottom, was created in Austria.

570: Estimated number of works by Peter Paul Rubens. The Flemish Baroque artist had an affinity for painting full-figured women, and his name gave rise to the term Rubenesque.

1870s: Decade bustles--steel hoops that give volume to the back of a woman's skirt to make her waist appear smaller--became fashionable throughout Europe.

1919: Year surrealist artist Marcel Duchamp painted a mustache and goatee on a reproduction of the Mona Lisa for his piece called L.H.O.O.Q., a play on words meant to sound like the French phrase "elle a chaud au cul," which roughly translates to "her ass is on fire."

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24: Number Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" reached on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1979. The song was later used in the opening credits of Morgan Spurlock's 2004 documentary Super Size Me.

1992: Year Sir Mix-a-Lot wrote "Baby Got Back" after watching a Budweiser Super Bowl commercial that featured women who were "shaped like a stop sign."

22: Years after releasing the hit song that Mix-a-Lot revealed the line "got it going like a turbo 'vette" was inspired by Jennifer Lopez, a dancer on In Living Color at the time.

19.6 million: Number of views the music video for Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda," which samples "Baby Got Back," in its first 24 hours online.

16,000: Number of women in a 2007 study that found that those with a greater hip-to-waist ratio had higher IQs than less-curvy women. Their children also scored higher IQs, perhaps because the fat stored around the buttocks and thighs is high in omega-3 acids, which help a baby's developing brain.

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1998: Year the Ivory Coast prohibited public performance of mapouka, a traditional tribal dance, dubbed "the dance of the behind," that's been cited as the inspiration for the bump and twerking.

2013: Year "twerking," defined as "a dance or dance move involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance," was added to the Oxford English Dictionary.

2010: Year Jean-Leon Gerome's The Snake Charmer, a painting prominently displaying a naked butt, was shown at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, marking the first time the work had returned to France since 1880.

9: Number of backup dancers who wore black thongs and a coat of fine gold glitter to perform with Beyonce at the 2014 Video Music Awards. Collectively, it took about three hours to apply the glitter to the dancers as they lay on the floor.

86.1: Percentage increase in butt augmentations from 2013 to 2014--going from 11,527 to 21,446 procedures, according to American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Butt lifts increased 14.8 percent.

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34,147,700: Number of unique views--twice the annual average for the entire site--that Paper magazine's "#BreaktheInternet" nude photo shoot with Kim Kardashian West received in a matter of weeks.

59: Percentage of Argentine men who said they were more attracted to butts than breasts in a 2013 University of Buenos Aires study.

45.5: Degree angle of a woman's spine--which lifts her butt and make it appear larger--preferred by male subjects in a 2015 study published in Evolution and Human Behavior. Researchers noted, "Men who think they like big bottoms may actually be more into spines."

25: Number of butt dimples that can be treated in one hour by Cellfina, a device that cuts away at cellulite under the skin with no bleeding and minimal bruising--at a cost of $3,000 to $6,000.



7.4 million: Approximate number of followers who subscribe to Instagram celebrity Jen Selter's workout pics and "belfies" (butt selfies).

84: Age of acclaimed news anchor Barbara Walters in February 2014 when she did a workout including squats and donkey kicks on The View, guided by Selter.

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News / National

by Patrick Chitumba

BULAWAYO High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese has called for the setting up of a national register for sex offenders to help monitor the movement of people convicted of sexual offences.Officially opening the 2016 legal year for the Gweru High Court Circuit yesterday, Justice Makonese said an appropriate legal framework should be put in place to ensure that the tracking of sexual offenders is done without violating Constitutional provisions.He said anyone found guilty of a sexual offence against children and mental patients must be put on the register."All offenders and sexual predators must be brought to book. I propose that a national database be created for all persons convicted of child sexual abuse for the purposes of monitoring sexual vultures who tend to re-offend once released from prison," said Justice Makonese.He said child sex abuse is a vice that requires all members of society to report any such cases to authorities.Countries such as Britain, the United States and South Africa have National Registers for Sex Offenders which contain details of convicted sex perverts.In South Africa, the NRSO was established by an Act of Parliament.It is a record of names of those found guilty of sexual offences against children and mental patients.The register gives employers in the public or private sectors such as schools, creches and hospitals the right to check that the person being hired is fit to work with children or mentally challenged people.The register is not open to the public and is kept confidential.Justice Makonese said no right thinking member of society can condone, let alone encourage abuse of young children for whatever reason."I urge those religious groups that encourage abuse of young children to think and think again. No child should be forced to marry or have sexual relations with a male person before the legal age of consent. Child marriages have no place in any democratic and progressive nation," he said.Justice Makonese said cases of domestic violence arising from misunderstandings and crimes of passion were on the increase.The High Court judge commended the police for apprehending offenders and bringing them to book."The courts must play their part in ensuring that just sentences are imposed on offenders. The public will tend to lose faith in the justice delivery system if convicted offenders are seen to be receiving lenient sentences that don't fit the offence and the offender," he said."All judicial officers are urged to shun corruption as this tends to erode public confidence in the judicial system. I would in this regard urge all stakeholders to report incidences of corruption where these are detected."Justice Makonese also applauded regional magistrates for handing down appropriate sentences on child sex offenders. "They must continue to uphold and enforce the law without fear of favour," he said.The judge said despite lengthy prison sentences imposed on cases involving violent crime, particularly murders, there was an upsurge in brutal killings committed by persons of both sexes all around the country.He said of major concern was that juvenile offenders were also committing heinous and brutal crimes."We now live in a society where the respect for human life for some people simply doesn't exist. Knife stabbings have become common place and all manner of weapons such as hoes, shovels, logs, spears, axes, stones, bricks are used to inflict injury against fellow human beings over petty disputes. The courts shall continue to impose heavy penalties on offenders who show little regard for human life," said Justice Makonese.
By Renee Jacques, Allure



Photo: Courtesy Of Neutrogena, Olay, And L'Oreal

We love of splurge as much as the next girl, but sometimes, the drugstore market is just as good as what's in department stores. Ahead, nine of the best drugstore anti-aging products that top dermatologists always recommend to their patients.

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum "It has retinol, which helps with fine lines and exfoliation, and it's gentle, so it won't cause the same irritation and dryness as some prescription retinoids can."--Sandra Kopp, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City

Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream "The combination of retinol and rice protein peptides in the glycerin base work together to stimulate collagen production while hydrating your skin."--Francesca Fusco, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and an assistant attending dermatologist at Mount Sinai in New York City

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Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum "It contains a peptide complex proven to stimulate collagen production."--Vivian Bucay, a dermatologist and the founder of Bucay Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics in San Antonio



Related: The 10 Best Drugstore Mascaras Under $20



RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum "A lot of my patients love this retinol. It helps to soften and smoothen skin, and fix sun damage."--Jason Emer, a cosmetic dermatologist and aesthetic surgeon in Mountain View, California



L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple PowerSerum "Skin feels smoother and softer almost instantly, and very well hydrated--so much so that, depending on your skin type, there may be no need to follow with a moisturizer."--Karen Hammerman, a dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City

Avene Ystheal Anti-Wrinkle Cream This cream is formulated with 0.05 percent retinaldehyde, a non-irritating form of vitamin A, which makes the formula gentle enough for sensitive skin yet still effective enough to optimize cell renewal and boost collagen and elastin production."--Jeannette Graf, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel "It's a true hydrating moisturizer with a high content of hyaluronic acid, therefore it will hold the water inside the skin, giving it a plumper, smoother appearance. It's also very well-tolerated by all types of skin."--Leyda Bowes, a dermatologist in Miami

Women's Rogaine Hair Regrowth Treatment 5% Minoxidil "Keeping a full head of hair is another way to address anti-aging."--Bucay

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RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum "This serum rejuvenates and transforms lashes, while also giving them a nice lift."--Fusco
After careful consideration and analysis of the top ten Republican presidential candidates' websites, it was clear that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio owns the best of them all. But what about Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley? Their report cards are about to be delivered.

Hillary Clinton

Links to issues: 27

Barack Obama recently lauded the Secretary of State in an exclusive interview with Politico, calling her "extraordinarily experienced," plus "wicked smart and knows every policy inside out." Only she can prove her knowledge on policy, but her website shows she does carry an expansive political mindset.

Her economic plan as it's laid out on the web is as detailed as anyone's, and she boasts the most appealing college plan, too. She uses a perfect mix of "I will's," reason and experience to communicate her plans and her credibility to carry them out. Some of her links to issues also delve into topics other candidates have missed: Alzheimer's disease, sexual assault on college campuses and women's rights. It was a bit refreshing to read about issues that aren't talked about on every candidate's web page.

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Clinton's website is definitely capable of grasping readers, but is it the best of the Democratic candidates?

Grade: A-

Martin O'Malley

Links to issues: 15 (plus 15 more links for his goals as president)

If how good candidates' websites are played a factor in how they fare in polls, O'Malley would sit towards the top of Democratic polls, much better than the measly two percent he currently stands at, according to CNN. O'Malley's website does as good of a job as any candidate's at providing context on why the issues he has picked to run on are pertinent, and for the most part provides plans on how to address them.

Though O'Malley's site is not as expansive as Clinton's or Rubio's sites, it is certainly the most detailed of them all, throwing statistics in your face to back up his bold political promises. Anyone can appreciate the former Maryland governor's website. It's really good.

Grade: A

Bernie Sanders

Links to issues: 22

Man, the Democratic candidates' websites outperform the Republicans as a whole by a long shot.

Sanders' site follows the same path of scope and detail as the previous two websites, though the emphasis on his desire for economic reform is immediately visible. His economic proposals mixed with his pride in democratic socialism have caused controversy throughout the public, and while his website doesn't ever proclaim democratic socialism, it doesn't hide from the ideology. The tone of his text on the site echoes his rather depressing view of the country that he uses in public appearances, a tone that has played in his favor so far.

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His site offers yet another great combination of background, context, experience and promises. Sanders seems to know what he's doing: he continues to shrink Clinton's lead in the polls, trailing her now by 14 points in the latest CNN poll, her lowest lead over him since the Democratic field shrank to three.
Britini Port is the founder of Uxibal, "a philanthropic lifestyle brand" located in Antigua, Guatemala. Port uses her own unique designs to create an empowering mission for the women of Guatemala. Uxibal is Mayan for "sister". Her business model is inspired by the desire to create products for women that in turn supports them with education and work experience.

Her passion for helping women in rural Guatemala began while working there in the Peace Corps in 2010. After seeing the struggles by many Guatemalan people, women in particular, she saw an opportunity to have a positive impact on their lives.

In 2012 she began designing shoes and partnered with a local boot-maker to create their first signature leather & textile boots. The handmade and traditional processes allow Uxibal to provide new opportunities for struggling artisans. The company is preserving traditional weaving patterns and in turn shares the Mayan culture with the world.

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Uxibal's products are made with care in-house. The team uses sustainable fabrics that are handwoven by a team of female artisan weavers. Locally sourced materials ensure a high-quality finished product. In line with their mission to have a meaningful social impact in Guatemala, they have partnered with non-profit organizations they are proud to recognize and support.

A few words from Founder & Designer Britini Port:

What has been your biggest challenge in starting your own company?

One of our biggest challenges was accessing the quality materials we needed to create a superior product. We've become creative in figuring out ways to use local materials in different ways- one way we do this is in our packaging. Instead of importing shoe boxes from China, we use handwoven baskets made in Guatemala and recycled textile bags to pack our shoes. They are unique and reusable too!

What advice would you tell someone who was starting their own company, today?

As a business owner, there are many little things you have to think about on a day-to-day basis and it can be overwhelming. Setting short-term goals for your company is a good way to stay motivated and keep your team moving forward. There will always be more you can do. Take the time to celebrate your achievements along the way.

Who is your biggest role model?
The night of our third wedding anniversary, Frank and I arrived in Yosemite Valley at dusk. Insouciant from our wonderful experiences driving 9,000 miles around the country thus far, we confidently expected to get a room at Yosemite Lodge. To our surprise, the cheerful receptionist behind the counter told us "Sorry! We are completely booked!" The resulting night spent in our truck imbibing wine and crusty bread, sleeping fitfully with keys in the ignition in case a bear came along, is described in our book Legacy on the Land.



What a privilege to be included among Yosemite's Ambassadors! Frank and I were photographed in 2009 on the lawn of the Ahwahnee Hotel, a luxury lodging conceptualized by Stephen Mather, the first Director of the National Park Service. Kenn Karst photo.

So to be selected among Yosemite Ambassadors for the park's 125th Anniversary celebrations leading up to the National Park Service's centennial in August, feels like the completion of an incredible arc. It's comparable only to the thrill of serving as "Visiting Squire and Lady" at Bracebridge in 2010.

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I have no idea how any of this happened since, as an immigrant from Jamaica in the 1970s, I never even knew there was such a thing as a national park until that fateful road trip of 1995. But from the first one I saw (Acadia in Maine) I fell so madly in love that I couldn't stand the thought that every American had not seen it. The glory I saw all around me was so uplifting I felt myself a part of it. (Recently I found that the great 20th century sociologist Dr. W. E. B. Dubois wrote of Acadia after his visit, "God molded his world largely and mightily off this marvelous coast and meant that in the tired days of life men should come and worship here, and renew his spirit..."( Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil, 1920)



We're devoted to Yosemite and all our national parks, serving here as 'Visiting Squire and Lady Peterman' at a Bracebridge Dinner in 2010, compliments of our concessionaire colleagues at Delaware North Parks and Resorts.

My mother jokes that I came into the world in such a hurry, it seemed all I needed was high heels and my pocketbook to get started. Discovering the national parks gave me my mission to explore and publicize them. From the grocery store to Congress I told everyone I met about the parks and the glorious opportunities they represent.

When I found out that there were threats to the continued existence of these places, I went into hyper mode. I'm on so many action lists I often joke that by 9 a.m. most mornings I've sent out six or so emails to Congress, my state government and public land management agencies objecting to some noxious proposal that will hurt our parks, environment and people, or supporting the rare positive move.

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So it was a rude surprise to me yesterday when I found myself wondering for the first time if we are fighting a losing battle. It happened when I responded to an alert urging me to write immediately to my state legislature and ask them to vote against a fracking bill. Dutifully, I personalized the message and sent it off. I posted it to Facebook and asked others to write and call. To my horror, within minutes I received a message that the bill had already passed and that now I needed to resist its Senate counterpart.

This was followed by an urgent message from Defenders of Wildlife asking urgent action to protect wildlife refuges from destructive oil and gas drilling. It was preceded by an appeal from the Sierra Club to help save grizzly bears in Yellowstone who may lose protections if the US Fish and Wildlife Service removes them from the Endangered Species List. A day before that an alert from the National Parks Conservation Association asked me to help protect the headwaters of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area from the effects of surface mining. Whew!

So on this beautiful day at sea level in South Florida, celebrating the honor of being named an ambassador of Yosemite National Park in the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains, I've come to the conclusion that we need a revolutionary new approach to conservation. If we as Americans truly care about our national parks, our public lands and our future, then we can no longer allow this macabre dance where "they" propose, "we" oppose and the incessant beat of destruction continues unabated. We must begin by electing people who share those values, and we must hold public land managers accountable to the mission of the agencies.

Do we really want that "post-apocalyptic" world where the entire landscape is raped and razed, where the seas have encroached and people struggle to survive in a harsh environment? That's where we're headed without concerted action. Many people running for office now deny the reality of climate change and would gut our public lands system. Please check out Naom Chomsky's assessment o the issue here.



The African American 'Buffalo Soldiers' patrolled the realms of Yosemite in the early1900s and among other things, protected the park from loggers and ranchers. NPS photo.

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Many people I speak with are quick to point to what others are/are not doing as an excuse for taking no action at all. But excuses will not save us. I am convinced now that only love will save us -- the love of the land we gained in places such as Yosemite. (In his historical novel Gloryland, Ranger Shelton Johnson describes the exultation of the Buffalo Soldiers who patrolled the park in 1904, saying how that sacred space made them feel like Sunday, and being at worship every day.)
Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, arrives for a town hall forum at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. With a week to go until the Iowa caucuses and the Democratic presidential race there in a virtual dead heat, Hillary Clinton and Sanders are mapping out divergent paths toward winning the first votes of the nomination process. Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Pool via Bloomberg

Bernie Sanders keeps refusing to run the way that the pundits think he should -- that's what makes this primary so interesting and perhaps a turning point in American politics.

You could see it last night in the Democratic town hall. Before they let, you know, sensible people ask questions, there was CNN moderator Chris Cuomo. Cuomo, of course, wanted to know if Bernie Sanders was going to "bring back the era of big government." This is exactly the kind of frame that pundits have been trying to put on American politics for about as long as I can remember, which is at least back to the Carter era.

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This question is supposed to be a kind of kryptonite that causes Democratic politicians to sweat and turn pallid and immediately explain that no, they're for efficient government or some such. It's the kind of question that turned Bill Clinton into a triangulating centrist who cut welfare to the bone and elevated corporate power with a series of disastrous trade agreements. Everyone in Washington knows that "big government" is always bad.

Bernie wasted no time in saying that he was going to bring back the era when government helped care for people.

But Bernie wasted no time in saying that he was going to bring back the era when government helped care for people. He thinks government should help people go to college and pay for their medical care, which is what big government does in every other industrialized country in the world. He even -- in an ad released earlier in the day -- dared to advocate that people who have spent their lives working might deserve the chance to relax and be grandparents at the end of the day.

This kind of stuff makes the keepers of our political order crazy. In the last few days, we've seen folks such as Paul Krugman in the New York Times and Paul Starr in Politico patiently explain that Bernie is too far to the left to be president. It's like they're dumping water on the Wicked Witch of the West and waiting for her to shriek, "I'm melting!" But actually, he's just shrugging it off, like a duck. As Cuomo tried to get him to confess to his socialism, his team just tweeted out a list of "socialist" accomplishments: Social Security, the minimum wage, Medicare, the 40-hour workweek.

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'Socialist' programs from FDR and LBJ:

 Social Security

 Minimum Wage

 Medicare and Medicaid

 40-hour work week#DemTownHall  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 26, 2016

The Beltway polls don't quite get how much America has changed -- how unequal and desperate it's become. Sanders has spent his career on the back roads of Vermont, which is America's second-most rural state. That means he's met a lot of poor people and a lot of desperate people -- a lot of people like the woman who started crying at his event in Iowa earlier in the day. The Washington Post reporter described it as "a remarkably moving thing," which it was. But since Post political reporters only meet actual people during those rare moments in a four-year cycle when they happen to intersect with presidential candidates, he perhaps imagined it as rare. This is what life is like.

Which is probably why actual people are also less worried about the other half of the "serious people" test imposed by pundits. Cuomo's next question for Sanders was about if Hillary's experience trumps his. This was pretty much the same question Hillary herself posed to Barack Obama with her infamous "3 a.m." ad eight years ago. In the D.C. world, "experience" is crucial. It doesn't matter what you believe -- it matters how much power you've exercised. Do your time, and you're in the club.

But again Bernie refused to melt. Yes, he said, she's very experienced -- an obvious concession made with the graciousness that's marked his campaign. ("People are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails.") But, hey, experience isn't everything. If it was, we'd elect Dick Cheney to every possible office, because he's had the most experience of all. Instead, as Bernie pointed out, judgment is really more important.

A leader is someone who figures out where the future is going, not someone who joins the party once it's underway.

That is why, he added, it is relevant that he opposed the Iraq War when she supported it. And he opposed the Keystone pipeline when she supported it. He could have gone on for a long time with that list: why did she set up a wing of the State Department to spread fracking around the planet, for instance? Why was she against gay marriage for years? But the point is clear. A leader is someone who figures out where the future is going, not someone who joins the party once it's underway. A canny politician, by contrast, is precisely someone who waits until it's safe and then runs up to lead the parade.

If it was a year for canny politicians, then Hillary would be a shoo-in. She's spent decades perfecting that approach.

But it's not, perhaps, a year for canny politicians. Our Earth is becoming hopelessly unequal (a report last week showed that 62 people owned more assets than the poorest 3.5 billion on the planet) and hopelessly hot. It's a year, perhaps, for people who insist on telling the truth, even if it's in a Brooklyn accent.
Republican presidential candidate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks at the New Hampshire Forum on Addiction and the Heroin Epidemic at Southern New Hampshire University, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

A new poll finds that New Hampshire voters support treating drug use as a health issue instead of a criminal justice issue - this includes decriminalizing drug use and possession, eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing, and making naloxone (the antidote to opiate overdoses) more widely available.

Presidential candidates in both parties are speaking in a new, reform-oriented tone when they talk about drugs, addiction and crime. Our country may finally be ready for an exit strategy from the failed war on drugs.

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Voters don't just want more of a health-focused approach to drugs and drug use - they also want to significantly reduce the role of criminalization in drug policy.

Sixty-six percent - including half of all Republicans and 68 percent of Independents - think people caught with a small amount of illegal drugs for personal use should be evaluated for drug issues and offered treatment, but not be arrested or face any jail time. And 73 percent of New Hampshire primary voters - including 57 percent of Republicans and 76 percent of Independents - support eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders.

Thirty-seven percent of New Hampshire primary voters say that they or someone they know has been affected by prescription drug abuse, heroin abuse or overdose. New Hampshire is among the five states with the highest rate of death due to drug overdose. Nationally, more Americans now die annually from overdose than gunshot wounds or car crashes. Nearly 47,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2014, the latest year data is available.

Eighty percent of New Hampshire primary voters consider addressing prescription drug and other drug abuse and the recent surge in overdose deaths an important or urgent issue. Forty-one percent would be more likely to support a candidate for president who promised federal support for drug overdose prevention. Both President Obama and leading congressional Republicans have said they want to pass overdose legislation this year.

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This is similar to what happened recently with syringe access programs. An increase in injection drug use among rural and suburban populations sparked an uproar in many red states, leading even conservative states like Indiana and Kentucky to implement programs making sterile syringes widely available to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and other infectious diseases. The Republican Congress was forced last year to repeal the decades-long ban on federal funding of syringe access programs.

National polls show that more than three-fourths of Americans believe the war on drugs has failed. In 2014 Californians voted overwhelmingly for Proposition 47, a ballot measure reducing penalties for several nonviolent offenses that included a substantial reduction in penalties for drug possession. Voters in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia have outright legalized marijuana. Overhauling federal sentencing laws is virtually the only thing that Congress and President Obama agree on, and bipartisan reform could pass this year.

Support for ending the criminalization of drug use and possession is gaining traction. More than 1.5 million drug arrests are made every year in the U.S. - the overwhelming majority for possession only. High-profile endorsers of not arresting, let alone jailing, people for possessing small amounts of any drug include the American Public Health Association, the World Health Organization, the Global Commission on Drug Policy, the Organization of American States, the National Latino Congreso, the NAACP, the International Red Cross, and Human Rights Watch.

Last year government officials and community leaders from over 30 city, county and state jurisdictions gathered at the White House to discuss Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, or LEAD. Pioneered in Seattle, LEAD allows police to divert individuals who commit low-level drug offenses to harm reduction based case management services instead of jail. An independent evaluation found LEAD reduces the likelihood of reoffending by nearly 60 percent compared to a control group that went through the criminal justice system "as usual." Santa Fe, New Mexico began implementing LEAD in 2014 and Albany, New York began last year.

Voters want change and smart policymakers are delivering. The old days when candidates for public office could demonize people who use drugs and score political points calling for harsh policies are fading. Millions of Americans have struggled with drugs or know someone who has. Millions more see the devastating consequences of a criminal justice approach to drugs - mass incarceration, racial injustice, wasted tax dollars.

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Smart candidates who have a real plan for reducing the problems associated with both drugs and the failed war on drugs are sure to benefit politically.

Bill Piper is senior director of national affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance. Follow him on Twitter @billjpiper.
It was the sort of invitation that causes both excitement and trepidation, an invite to visit the autonomous mountain enclave in northern Iraq known as Kurdistan to carry out field research. It was exciting because we were being given an "inside track" to a moderate sanctuary inhabited by a pro-American Muslim people known as the Kurds, but frightening for the fact that this sliver of land they inhabited abutted the expanding ISIS Caliphate which threatened them every day.

Tens of thousands of legendary Peshmergas (i.e. "Those who Face Death," a volunteer Kurdish fighting force that had fought Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to create this autonomous zone) manned a thin defensive line stretching 650 miles along Kurdistan's tenuous border with the ISIS state based in nearby Mosul and were under constant attack.

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But our Kurdish hosts, Diyar Jamil and Abdulkarim Karim, assured us that life in this fragile enclave was normal and even peaceful, despite the daily assaults on the Peshmerga front line by fanatical ISIS fighters. In this mountain refuge for the Kurds, an ancient Aryan people related to the Persians, life went on and we were promised the opportunity to safely travel the length and breadth of a beautiful land that few outsiders get the chance to visit.

Ignoring the gloom-and-doom U.S. State Department travel advisories which seemed to apply more to the rest of Iraq proper, which was inhabited by Arabs, my travel companion from a previous trip to visit the pagan Kalash descendants of Alexander the Great in the remote mountains of Pakistan, Professor Adam Sulkowski, and I set out to visit the front line of the war on the ISIS terrorists in January 2016. What we saw in Kurdistan gave us cause for hope not only for the Kurds, the largest nation in the world without their own internationally recognized state, but for the greater Middle East.

"No Friends but the Mountains."

The Kurds are victims of history. When the Ottoman Empire disintegrated after World War I, they were not given their own state like the Arabs and Turks were. Instead, the victorious British and French divided them up amongst Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran.

Those Kurds living in northern Iraq fought for decades for independence from this Arab-dominated state and suffered a genocidal assault from Saddam Hussein in the 1980s that saw 182,000 of their people massacred.

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The long-suffering Kurds of Iraq were largely ignored by the international community and, to this day, have a saying "We have no friends but the mountains" that captures their sense of isolation.

Their chance for freedom from oppression and opportunity to construct autonomy came with the overthrow of Hussein in the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Since then, the Kurds have built a de facto state complete with its own flag, army, democratic government, and an industry based largely on oil.

When we arrived in the Kurdistani capital of Erbil, located at the foot of the Zagros Mountains, we found a boomtown that had everything from KFCs (Krispy Fried Chicken, a local imitation of the American chain) to modern universities and newly-built skyscrapers.

Our goal was not, however, to stay in the capital, which had been temporarily evacuated in 2014 when ISIS conquered Mosul (a mere 50 miles away) and threatened to overwhelm Kurdistan. Our main intention was to see the surrounding countryside. With the skilled Karim driving us deep into the snow-capped mountains, we explored this terrain that was as beautiful as any landscape I had seen in Switzerland or the Himalayas.

The gem of the mountains was Rawanduz, a scenic village precariously perched above the deepest canyon in the Middle East. Standing on the rim of the canyon, watching a waterfall cascade down the side of the green valley walls with snow-capped mountains surrounding us, we felt as if we were in a veritable Shangri La.

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Our journey ultimately took us from near the Iranian border down to the scenic valley of Lailish which overlooked the plain of Gaugamela where Alexander the Great defeated the Persian King of Kings Darius in the 300s B.C.

In Lailish, we found the holiest shrine in the world for the Yazidis, a long-persecuted pagan people who adhere to a syncretic faith that combines the ancient beliefs of Mesopotamia with the worship of angels, such as Melek Taus, the Peacock Angel. Deep in the passageways of their stone enclosure built in the mists of time, we watched Yazidi worshippers tie knots in scarves hanging from fire-blackened pillars and make wishes. The Yazidis believe that when the scarves are untied by other believers their wishes come true. We also visited the grave of Sheikh Adi, a miracle-performing Yazidi saint who was buried in the site roughly 900 years earlier.

Tragically, the ISIS fanatics had conquered the Yazidis' second most important holy spot known as Mount Sinjar in August 2014 and destroyed their ancient shrine there, enslaved their women, and killed their men as "devil worshippers."

The second highest ranked priest of the Yazidi faith, Baba Chawish, explained to us that his people's religion was nonviolent and his small people did not have a tradition of defending themselves. Fortunately, the Kurdish Peshmerga, working with the U.S. Air Force, had liberated their shrine in Mount Sinjar a few weeks before our visit and many Yazidi refugees were returning to their homes to the west.

But this small return movement of Yazidis was a drop in the bucket of the approximately two million refugees that Kurdistan, a land of just five million people, has given sanctuary to. The Kurdistan Regional Government proudly offered refuge to hundreds of thousands of Arabs, despite the bad blood between their peoples (the U.S. by contrast has only accepted 2,000 Syrian refugees).

We visited a sprawling camp for thousands of Syrian refugees near the Syrian border and our hearts were touched by the sense of pride and hospitality these displaced people, who had experienced unimaginable horrors, displayed. One Syrian woman showed us around the bare, concrete hut that provided shelter for her and her four children and jokingly told us that she would love to bite ISIS fighters if she had the chance. When Adam asked her beaming children what they dreamed of being when they grew up, they responded that their only dream was to return home.

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All the refugees we met were grateful for the protection that the Peshmergas offered them and we decided to visit these famed fighters who were the most effective fighting force against ISIS. Our dream in particular was to meet the legendary female Peshmergas who had made headlines across the globe in 2015 when they played a key role in the rout of ISIS in their first setback during the siege of the Kurdish town of Kobane.

It was with great trepidation that we traveled to the front lines near Mosul to a hilltop command outpost facing ISIS known as Base Rosh (Sun). There, we met General Bandal Bande who warmly greeted us and half jokingly told us that Kurdistan wished to be "America's 51st state." He told us that his war-weary troops were constantly low on ammunition, that they were in daily clashes with ISIS who killed his fighters with I.E.D. explosives or sniper rifles, and that the enemy had heavier weapons than his own soldiers. But they were determined to protect their people's enclave and wanted Americans to know that they were fighting the enemy that threatened both peoples.

After our discussion, General Bande led us to the sand-bagged walls of his exposed outpost and introduced us to a platoon of female Peshmergas. These camouflage-clad fighters armed with assault rifles appeared to be young and the beauty of many of them seemed to belay their fierce reputation. But their commanding general assured us that these warriors were the bane of the ISIS fighters and had repulsed many an assault.

Seeing these female soldiers boldly manning the front line with an enemy that had created something akin to ISISphobia among distant Americans, I realized they stood for everything the misogynistic terrorists hated. Whereas ISIS wanted to drive women back to the stone ages, these women were fighting for the future of their nation and its principles of pluralism, equality, and moderation. As we left the exposed base with an undisguised sense of relief, my heart went out to these brave female Peshmergas who always left one bullet in their weapons to kill themselves should they be overrun by the ISIS fanatics.

Our next visit was to a man who waged a different kind of war against ISIS terrorists trying to infiltrate Kurdistan, Masrour Barzani. Barzani was the son of the Kurdistan Regional Government president and served as the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Security Council. He invited us to his heavily-guarded, hilltop headquarters overlooking the capital and spoke with us about his efforts to disrupt ISIS sleeper cells trying to carry out terror attacks in his relatively peaceful land. Thus far, his agents had been incredibly successful in disrupting ISIS plots and Kurdistan had only experienced one major terror attack, even as the rest of Iraq and neighboring Syria descended into chaos. When combined with the ubiquitous Peshmerga checkpoints that are found every few miles on Kurdistan's roads, Chancellor Barzani's security apparatus created a sense of security that made us feel as safe in his lands, if not safer, than in our hometown of Boston.

Our final visit was to the man who shaped Kurdistan's foreign policy in this dangerous neighborhood, the Kurdistan Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir. He explained to us that the Iraqi government had cut Kurdistan off from its payroll in 2014 to punish it for directly selling its oil to Turkey. When combined with the collapse in oil prices worldwide and flight of foreigners who had been working in Kurdistan due to the ISIS conquests, the freezing of Kurdistan's share of the national budget had led to an economic collapse. As a result, no government employees were being paid and even the legendary Peshmerga were now fighting without receiving salaries. But Mr. Bakir summed up the situation with the sort of optimism I found throughout this de facto country "We have survived worse and we will survive this. At least now our oil is not being used by the Iraqi government to carry out genocide against our people."

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It was only later, after we said a fond goodbye to our travel companions Karim and Diyar--who had proudly shown us their homeland and refused to let us pay for anything from meals to the gas that fueled our daily journeys--and we flew back to Istanbul, Turkey, that were able to make sense of everything we had seen in this scenic land.

In Kurdistan we had found a moderate people that protected pagans and ancient Christian minorities (we also met the Bishop of Dohuk who spoke highly of the Kurds' sense of inclusiveness for Christians), empowered women, were democratic, and were actively fighting ISIS at a time when many in America were asking where the moderate Muslims were in the war on terror. But the greatest lesson we learned from our journey among this welcoming people was that, in a time when some American politicians seek to tar whole religions in broad brushstrokes, Islam is not a monolith, it is a mosaic. And, as the case of Kurdistan vividly demonstrates, some of our greatest allies in the war on terrorist groups like ISIS are themselves Muslim. For further photographs from my journey to Kurdistan, including rare photos inside the Yazidi temple at Lailish and pictures of the female Peshmergas, see here.
Houston Crosta isn't your average 27 year old.

"The first car I ever drove was Ferrari. It belonged to my uncle. It's the car I learned to drive stick in. He doesn't know that last part though" he laughed. Houston has had a lifelong obsession with cars. His first was a Lotus before moving onto a Nissan GTR.

Now the Las Vegas native oversees a fleet of over 14 luxury cars.

His company Royalty Exotic Cars of Las Vegas is just a year and a half old but it's quickly becoming a customer favorite amongst the vegas exotic car rental scene. "I met my wife for lunch at the strip one day and saw a GTR my friend had just sold. I had a GTR at the time too, so I introduced myself [to the buyer] and invited him to our car club."

The future partners met in January of 2015. After sharing ideas, they decided to take the plunge in the Summer of that same year. "This is our second summer running now." he said. "It's hard starting any business, especially in the beginning. Plus we had several competitors spring up around the same time we did" he said. But the two persevered.

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Now, with a freshly inked partnership with Caesars Properties, they're poised for major growth. "We're going to have our own booking and outdoor display area. This [deal] is the first of it's kind. We're the first vegas exotic car rental company doing this." he said. Houston credits this and other major breakthroughs to moving in the opposite direction of his competitors.

In an industry that's nitpicky over every mile, Houston does the total opposite.

"We're the only ones who don't charge for mileage in the whole country. Sure, we could be earning a much bigger profit if we did. But we want to give people the best experience." Houston also offers complimentary pickup and drop for all clients. Not in a taxi either. Try a Rolls Royce Ghost.

While most people want to just show off in a red on tan Ferrari, Houston offers several luxury cars under $100,000. Some notables include the Alfa Romeo, Nissan GTR and even a Corvette Z06. "Everybody wants a Ferrari, but not everybody can afford a $350,000 car" he explains. He calls them 'attainable dream cars' and says they're just as important to the fleet.

As for which car is the most popular, Houston says it's a tie between Ferrari and a Lamborghini. "You couldn't give a Ferrari enthusiast a free Lamborghini. He won't take it. And it goes the other way too. You never know what car someone had a picture of on their wall growing up."

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For a vegas exotic car rental, pay Houston a visit at Royalty Exotic Cars, 4305 Dean Martin Dr #120, Las Vegas, NV 89103 or call 702-755-6076.
Let's talk some truth, some difficult truth. Let's talk about something real, about life.



This past year has been a challenging one for me. I lost my grandmother and my dog, Milou, last year, my dad this January and then my brother in August. What shocked me the most was losing my brother, he was only almost 41 and left behind two little children. The news kicked me in the gut and I couldn't breathe. I still remember when I got the phone call from my oldest brother and I knew immediately something was wrong because he was stammering, and he never stammers. When he said those words, everything in my body reacted, I felt like throwing up my insides and I kept screaming "no" to my brother. I wanted more details right away but I couldn't get any until hours later. My head reeled for hours and then the details came. My brother had died in a horrible car accident.

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I hunkered down at home and for hours, stayed on the couch unable to think of anything else. I had trouble sleeping and was waiting for more details each night from Indonesia, where the time difference made it so it was daytime there when it was night time here. And yet something in my brain then took over and said: "it's OK, you've done this before, mourn, grieve, you can do it again..." For a couple days my reactions was: "NO! No, I didn't want to do it again. I can't. I really can't."

I can't do it again. Not this time, not for my brother who was in great health and my first best friend.

We grew up together, the last time I remembered arguing with him was when I was 6 and he smashed my Lego airplane into the ground because he said my plane had a crash landing. I tackled him and made him rebuild my plane. We shared a room for years.

He was my hero and I wanted so much to be like him. He taught me how to ride a bike and we had the grandest adventures together, crossing fields of grass taller than we were just to get his favorite bubblegum. He was all I had and the only person I played with. He told me he was so happy when I was born, he finally had a playmate. We had four other siblings, but our love connected us so tightly to each other. There are so many photos of him hugging me as a baby or kissing my feet. He loved to kiss my feet he said, I can still hear his voice saying that to me with a smile.

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Our mother dressed us as twins because we were so close. In high school, he told his guy friends that I was off limits, and we swam and played badminton together every day. When he left for America for college, he said: "Remember Fievel and his sister? When you miss me, just look up at the moon, because I'll be looking up too and we will be looking up at the same moon." American Tale was one of our favorite movies. I cried for days when he left.

We called each other, sent each other letters and faxed each other. When he met his first girlfriend in America, he called me and excitedly said: "I can't wait for you to meet her, you're going to like her sis, she's so like you." I remember nights while we were both in college, both finally in America, I was too tired to stay up to study like he did, so I would fall asleep in his bed in his bedroom and the next morning, I would wake up to him asleep next to me. We read Calvin and Hobbes together, he said I was as delinquent as Calvin and he would be like my Hobbes and pounce on me every time I walked in the front door. And together we would toboggan and go on adventures.

"I met the one sis, I can't wait for you to meet her, you are going to love her," he says again excitedly, when he met the woman that was to be his wife. As adults, we would send messages to each other all the time, him sending me photos of his kids, me sending him photos of my dogs. When our father passed away this year, he said "it's just you and me now, sis." He was the only one who called me sis, or Carol. I would hate to be called Carol by anyone else. Every time I went home this year, I brought him home and made banana bread. He loved my banana bread, ever since I was old enough to bake them. No one else could have them, just him.

This brother of mine, he was my rock and my amazing guy.



The days following his death were intense. I went to his favorite beach, his favorite banana cream pie in hand and a stuffed Tigger doll (his self chosen spirit animal). I buried the stuffed Tigger in the sand as I said goodbye to my Tigger, hot tears fiercely streaming down my face. His co-workers and friends, old and new, messaged me. They asked me how I was doing, they were concerned because they knew of our bond. They wanted to know when they could see me. People I never met came out of the woodwork. "You are Olin, he always talked about you. He would never share his banana bread and he always showed it off in the office," his boss told me. "Please come by the office when you are next in town, we want to meet Budi's Olin." This brother of mine, this love.

So what do I do when I lose the second most important man in my life after my father, who is the most important man and just left? I mourned, and I mourned deeply.

"But I knew I had to release him, with all my love, and my heart, because my brother was nothing else to me but love. I knew that any sense of sadness and regret would mar the sunshine he was for my life."

For 100 days I didn't attend personal social events. For 100 days I did not wear bright colors. For 100 days I did not cut my hair. For 100 days I closed my apartment down to friends and observed my traditional mourning. We do this to remember, to have time to grieve, to focus on our loss and our departed loved ones, to respect them and to grow. I sent messages to his phone and wrote on his Facebook wall. And through this mourning I learned so much, about love, about life, about priorities, about loss, about relationships, about strength, about my brother and about myself.

"There is no magical anecdote for me to share, no wise message. I learned to lean into the discomfort of grief and to let my body and soul accept it."

I learned the anger that I had when I initially found out about his death seeped away quickly. I learned that sometimes, it still feels surreal and that it just can't be true that he is gone. And then reality sinks in when I can't pick up my phone to call or text him. I learned that my heart was capable of hurting even much more than I thought it could after all the previous losses of the year. I learned to grief. And ultimately, I learned to live with and embrace grief. I learned grief was okay and a natural process. I learned that people were afraid of grief. I learned it was okay to not be okay. And I learned it was okay on some days to be filled with such happiness and gratitude for what life and the universe has given me. You see, there is something beautifully peculiar about this whole thing they called mourning, it's a process, it's a living breathing thing, and while it sits in your deepest bones and it's in every breath you take, it's not constantly dark. It grows, it changes, it evolves, and sometimes it even strikes back with a vengeance. There are days that I was absolutely happy. There are days that I swing back and forth from laughter to tears. There are days that memories of my brother fill me with so much happiness and laughter. Yes, there are times when almost instantly, the intense feeling of missing him makes me break down and cry, but the tears stop when I remember how happy we were, how happy he made me and how much he would want me to be happy instead. If there is one thing I would want my friends to know about this process is this: I am okay, it's okay to hurt, it's okay to talk to me about my brother and there are days it's okay. You see, mourning is okay. Pain is okay. Grief is okay. Loss is okay. Death is okay. I am okay.

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The truth is, I am so lucky to have had such an amazing brother and relationship. I am lucky to still be alive. To be able to live, to breathe, to sigh and laugh. I am lucky to have a job that I am passionate about and can help me through my mourning. I am lucky for a job that reminds me to feel lucky and forces me to find the beauty in life. I am lucky to have friends that love me and care about me. I am lucky to have people in my life that surrounded me in love. I am lucky to have had such an amazing brother that would make me mourn so hard. I am so lucky to have known so much love because he and I loved each other so much, our bond spanned years, countries, and oceans. And this much I know is true, our love will always continue.

"My love for my brother has not stopped, instead it's grown to something deeper and stronger, something that motivates and compels me to be a better person, sister, and daughter. It's a love that has forced me to look at my life in its current state and reexamine my relationships; repair the broken ones. It's a love that has taught me gratitude and compassion."

It's a love that has infused so seamlessly with my ever growing love for my departed father to create a force so strong inside of me that it has forged this burning desire to live my life right, to do the things they would want me to do, to do things for them they couldn't do for themselves and to be the person they would want me to be. My love for my brother and his love for me, has made me into a stronger person, and in truth I have to admit, his death, losing him, has made me into this person. I no longer had any excuse to not be the best person I could try to be. I had to push and fight back as hard as I can to live the life my brother and father would be proud of. I was wrong when I said I didn't have the strength to go through the loss, I didn't realize what great strength the loss would give me.

Sunday marked the 100th day after his passing. On this day, traditionally, we go out of official intense mourning and start our social life again, start wearing colors, and I can finally get a haircut! I woke up on Sunday knowing it's the big day. While I know I would never stop mourning for him, this was the day I start to positively heal and believe it or not, I woke up lighter. My family back home had a memorial for him that I was unable to attend. I wanted to do something for my most special brother and a special and wise friend, Kristi, had told me of a special Native American ritual or burning sage and something special or a letter and setting it out to float. She says the smoke would carry the message to the heavens and it sounded perfect to me, Indonesians believe in the same power of smoke. She says to walk away as it burns and floats away as a sign of respect. This sounded like the perfect way to end my 100 days of mourning, say goodbye to my mourning and say hello to the new version of my brother I had in my heart. The one filled with love and not sadness, the one I will always miss because he makes me laugh with that twinkle in his eye and the one that will stand by my father and hold my hand through my hardest moments.

So a best friend and I head to the river. I had a lump in my throat and my heart was beating wildly, afraid of the emotions I was going to feel but determined that this was what I had to do. So I marched on, with a handful of sage and a card I had written while big fat tears rolled down my cheeks. We pick up branches, we tie them together with dried grass. I told all the gods in the heavens how much I love and miss my brother. I whispered to my brother how much I missed him. I know he knows. We put the card on the branches, a family photo from so long ago, the sage on top and we lit it, a slow but sure fire. We set it down on the water and pushed it off. I cried and hung my head as my friend squeezed my hand. I said I wanted my brother back and my friend hugged me. I watched for a minute and then turned around, my back to the little floating raft of love we had built. And then just like Kristi had said, we walk away and I said goodbye. Goodbye mourning.

Hello dear brother, I will always love you, and on this day we live anew together, with you inside of me. Tonight, I will look up at the moon and know you're looking at it too.



Mourning is hard but beautiful and I learned so much. Yes it is sad, but I am not sad, and that's the biggest distinction I've learned. Thank you for letting me pour my heart out and reading this. Thank you for allowing me to talk about grieving and for being real for a minute. And most of all, thank you for supporting me through my journey of mourning.

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The Boston Globe on Monday published its endorsement of Ohio Governor John Kasich in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary. While Governor Kasich is no doubt happy with the show of support, I want to focus on the 'why' behind the Globe's endorsement - civility and the willingness to work across party lines.

The key reasons the Globe endorsed Kasich are 1) his winning the primary would deal "...a blow to the divisive, demagogic candidates running on nativism and other simplicities; " 2) "New Hampshire can reward a candidate whose politics have been largely positive-and rebuke those candidates who have spent their campaigns appealing to voters' fears and biases;" and 3) his "ability to walk across the aisle to solve big issues" citing specifically his joining a bipartisan deal to impose a 10 year ban on assault weapons when he was in Congress.

So the Globe is sending the message - one that we need newspapers across the country to echo - that civility and bipartisanship matter. Regardless of whether a republican, a democrat or an independent becomes our next president, they will face a divided country and an even more divided Congress, and the only way they - and therefore we, as a country - will be successful is to work together. Disagreements are going to happen - it is simply a fact of life. But the bigger issue is having someone at the table who is willing to listen to all sides and to find a solution that works.

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The president needs to be able to work with Congress - both House and Senate and democrats as well as republicans. He or she also needs to be able to work with fifty governors who have issues and concerns that impact the federal government. At the end of the day the man or woman who succeeds President Barack Obama will need to work with people with differing viewpoints across the US, not to mention the world. And that means having the ability to listen, reason and problem solve for the greater good. We need a president who is going to find the right road - not simply demand it is 'my way or the highway' - that is in the best interests of all Americans, not just those on the left or right.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Two Zanu-PF ministers have strongly condemned the ongoing demolitions of "illegal structures" along Airport Road, which apparently were directed by party leader President Robert Mugabe late last year.Mugabe ordered the demolitions, shortly before going on his annual leave, saying the structures were unsightly and portrayed the country in bad light among tourists using the road.Tourism minister Walter Mzembi and Mugabe's nephew, Indigenisation minister Patrick Zhuwao have described the demolitions as bereft of human empathy, but analysts described the ministers' sense of compassion as insincere.
According to PETA, cosmetics brands Benefit, Bliss, Caudalie, Clarins, Clinique, Dior, Estee Lauder and Gucci all sell their products in China, where the law requires pre-market animal testing for all imported cosmetics. There are also reports of Chinese authorities carrying out post-market animal testing on cosmetics already approved for sale, and also requiring companies to carry out additional animal testing for cosmetic ingredients that have not previously been approved for use in China.



There are many beauty companies, including my own, that have not entered the lucrative Chinese market because of these animal testing implications. Other companies including Estee Lauder and similar big brands, say they do not conduct or commission tests on animals unless required to do so by law or national authorities. However, the choice to export or market cosmetics in China with all its animal testing requirements is a choice to be part of the animal testing problem rather than part of the solution.



The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) are committed to ending cosmetic cruelty through the #BeCrueltyFree USA campaign. They led the legislative effort to introduce the Humane Cosmetics Act, which if enacted would prohibit animal testing for cosmetics in the U.S., as well as the sale of cosmetics or ingredients subject to new animal testing in other parts of the world. The EU, Norway, Israel, India, Turkey, New Zealand and South Korea are leading the way with bans already in place, while Canada, Brazil, Australia, Taiwan and other countries are queuing up with similar legislation of their own as part of the global #BeCrueltyFree effort led by Humane Society International.



What consumers need to do is show a strong preference for cruelty-free cosmetics. Companies like Estee Lauder and Gucci will only respond if animal testing has an impact on their bottom line.



I would like to take this a step further. At PRAI Beauty we believe in supporting animal welfare causes. In fact, we have done shows on home shopping networks in the U.S., Canada, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Japan and Australia where we donated a portion of our proceeds to help animals. I would invite other major skin care companies to do the same.



There are some fabulous organizations out there doing great things for animals, and they could use a little help. Consider the work of Nowzad Dogs, which re-unities soldiers with the dogs they befriended in Afghanistan. The organization won the CNN Hero award in 2014. We also support SPANA, an organization that helps working animals. Donkeys and mules are essential to the livelihood of people in poor countries, but without proper veterinary care, the animals will become ill and unable to work, which can have a devastating impact on their owners. Canine Companions for Independence is a wonderful organization that provides free service dogs to people with disabilities, including soldiers who have been wounded in combat.



In all PRAI Beauty donated more than $200,000 in 2015 alone to help animal causes. This investment in animals is part of our DNA and I believe it is one of the reasons PRAI Beauty is successful.



Let's make 2016 the year where we end animal testing and make the world a better place for all animals.
DES MOINES, IA - JANUARY 25: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign event at the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines on January 25, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. The Democratic and Republican Iowa Caucuses, the first step in nominating a presidential candidate from each party, will take place on February 1. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

One week from today, the preliminary phase of the presidential campaign will finally be over and "primary season" will officially begin, as Iowans brave the cold weather to caucus for the candidates of their choice. For the remainder of February, the other three early-voting states will hold their contests, meaning next month will see the race sharpen for both Republicans and Democrats. As things stand, both parties have two clear frontrunners: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz for the GOP; Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side. At this point, both races are so close in Iowa that nobody really knows what will happen next Monday night. Will the polls turn out to be correct? Nobody knows. Will enthusiasm trump (pun intended) longtime voter turnout? It could happen on either side, and then again it might not.

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In the Republican race, the Iowa state polling currently shows that Ted Cruz might have peaked just a bit too early. For the past few weeks, the storyline has been that Cruz might just beat Trump when the voters finally get to have their say, but since then the polling has shifted back in Trump's direction. This may be due to Trump pointing out that Cruz was born in Canada -- which, beyond the simplistic "birther" line the media gobbled up, is a much more subtle dig at Cruz. After all, both candidates have made being anti-immigrant a centerpiece of their campaigns, so Trump is essentially asking Iowa GOP voters if a Canadian-born Cruz is really the best man to make that argument. Before Trump brought the issue up, many Republican voters in Iowa were unaware of where Cruz was born. Now that they have been informed of the fact, Cruz has slipped in the polls and Trump has regained his lead. Perhaps other factors are at work (Sarah Palin's endorsement may also be helping Trump, to name just one), but Trump playing the birther card seems to have succeeded, for now.

In one of the oddest dynamics of any primary election, both Trump and Cruz are fighting to see who can get the most "anti-endorsements" (disendorsements? unendorsements?) from the bigwigs in their party. The Republican establishment seems torn between its fear and loathing of Trump and its white-hot hatred of Cruz. The well-respected governor of Iowa denounced Cruz (probably for his lack of support for the ethanol program -- which is a honking big deal in Iowa), while a prominent conservative magazine devoted an entire issue to being "Against Trump." Both men proudly wear such denouncements on their sleeves, as badges of honor -- which sounds bizarre, but might be exactly what the GOP voters are looking for this time around. Republican bigwigs are so distracted with making the agonizing choice which candidate to denounce that they've failed to get behind any of their preferred candidates, which has left a scramble among Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, and John Kasich to see who is strongest. Because of this split effort, none of these candidates (with the possible exception of Rubio) has much chance of doing very well in Iowa (the big race for the establishment candidate slot will really come in New Hampshire, a week after Iowa votes).

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The sharpest movements among voters always happen at the last minute, making them impossible for polls to accurately chart. If Cruz can't recover this week and regain some momentum, the last-minute surge will likely head towards Trump. The real question, though, is who will actually turn out. If the turnout is higher than expected, Trump likely has a big advantage. Many of Trump's supporters will be first-time caucusgoers -- if they turn up, that is. Because turnout might be such a crucial factor, the weather will play a big role. If it's sleeting and miserable next Monday night, Trump may lose his advantage as more Iowans decide caucusing just isn't worth the effort. Clear skies and mild temperatures (relatively mild, that is -- it's still going to be pretty cold) might result in a bigger than expected turnout for Trump.

This particular dynamic of the race is similar on the Democratic side. Bernie Sanders supporters have enthusiasm on their side (obviously), but Hillary Clinton has organization on hers. Enthusiasm counts a great deal in the Iowa caucuses, but then so does getting people out to vote. Again, a very high turnout on caucus night will likely favor Sanders, and a blizzard would likely increase Clinton's chances. Will Bernie's supporters actually turn out to vote, or do they just like going to rallies? The question is an open one (as it is for Trump supporters).

There's the demographic dynamic of first-time Democratic caucusgoers to consider as well. Polling shows a wide split in the respective ages of Clinton supporters versus Sanders supporters. Bernie is winning the youth vote by better than 2-to-1 margins, but Hillary has just as lopsided (and impressive) an advantage among older voters. A true generational split has developed -- one that inherently helps Clinton. Older people are much more likely to be regular caucus attendees, and much more likely to actually turn out to vote. Young voters seldom get excited enough to show up for the caucus process. Now, this isn't always true -- the youth vote certainly turned out for Barack Obama, for instance. The question is whether they'll do the same for Sanders or whether their participation rates will be as low as they normally are.

Beyond the demographic argument, though, the next week will be a turbulent one for the Democrats. Clinton has long almost conceded New Hampshire to Sanders (call it the "favorite son next door" advantage), but she knows that losing Iowa would be a much more major blow to her campaign. If she loses Iowa and New Hampshire to Sanders, the whole race changes, because the argument "Bernie can't actually get anyone to vote for him" will be obliterated. On the Democratic side, Nevada will follow New Hampshire, and Nevada is always somewhat of a tossup (for some reason, very little polling is ever done in Nevada, making predictions almost impossible). Even if Clinton holds on to South Carolina, if she loses the first three contests she's not going to look very inevitable anymore, meaning voters in other states will be giving Bernie Sanders a long and serious second look. While the Clinton camp openly calls South Carolina her "firewall" (which may indeed be true, heading into a mostly-Southern Super Tuesday), I'm sure Team Clinton would be much happier if Iowa turned out to be her first win.

Because so much is at stake for Clinton in Iowa, she's pulling out all the stops. Clinton surrogates are absolutely flocking into the state, to talk up Clinton in front of as many audiences as can be managed in one week's time. This includes her biggest surrogate, former President Bill Clinton. Last week, the Clinton campaign began fighting hard against Sanders, essentially reverting to the Clintonian "throw everything including the kitchen sink at your opponent" strategy (which they deployed throughout the 2008 primary campaign). But over the weekend, they seem to have realized that this tactic might not be as effective in famously-polite Iowa. Clinton has reportedly pulled back on the more vicious attacks against Bernie (this involved reining in an attack dog or two), and may spend the week concentrating on making more of a logical argument than an emotional one, in the hopes of avoiding voter blowback against the negativity. We'll see -- anything is possible, at this point. But no matter how positive or negative a tone they strike, Clinton surrogates will be thick on the ground all across Iowa, right up until the caucusing starts.

Clinton did learn her lesson in 2008, and has invested heavily in her Iowa ground game. She's not going to get out-organized again, to put this another way. Bernie has put together his own Iowa team and they feel confident they'll be up to the task, but Clinton began a lot earlier and probably has a slight advantage in this department. So far the polling is about as even as can be -- Hillary showed a bump a few weeks back, and now Bernie seems to be getting a bump. This means it's almost impossible to tell which direction the last-minute movement will take. Since Bernie's currently up, he currently has the advantage here -- but that could change very quickly. Bernie is now focusing on making the "electability" argument, which he can do because of the head-to-head polling showing him to be the stronger Democratic candidate against either Trump or Cruz. This could change too, but it likely won't in one week's time.

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Whoever wins Iowa on the Democratic side, the margin of victory may be tiny. In fact, Martin O'Malley supporters could be the key, due to the strange process of the Democratic caucuses. If, in the first round, one candidate doesn't earn a certain threshold of support, they are essentially told to give up on the longshot and choose between the frontrunners. O'Malley is polling in the single digits, meaning there will likely be many individual caucuses where he doesn't get enough support for the second round. At that point, his supporters will either have to move into the Clinton or Sanders camps, or just not vote. But if Clinton and Sanders are very close, the O'Malley supporters may be the margin of victory. That's all pretty wonky, I admit, but it'll be something to watch for on caucus night.

As all the candidates enter the Iowa homestretch, we'll get to see how they act when the pressure's on. Any of the four frontrunners could walk away a winner, which means they're all going to campaign harder than anything we've seen yet. When the Iowa caucus results come in one week from tonight, there may be a major rewrite of the storyline of the campaign so far. Will Trump voters actually show up to vote? Will Bernie voters make the effort? Have the polls been wildly wrong all along? If either Trump or Cruz wins Iowa, how will the Republican Party react? Will we (hopefully) see multiple minor Republican candidates throwing in the towel on their unwinnable campaigns, or will they fight all the way to New Hampshire? Will Clinton begin a march to victory in Iowa, or will everyone start talking about 2016 being 2008 for her all over again?

The presidential race has been going on for an exhausting amount of time already (since last summer, really). During this period, we've seen several improbable things happen. The political pundit class has been wrong about most of them so far. When Iowa votes, we'll finally have some real ballot-box information to digest -- and the pundits will (if history is any guide) likely proudly state the wrong conclusions from the results. The time when political junkies (and I do include myself in that category) have lots of fun obsessing over a race that few are paying attention to is almost over, and the time for the voters to actually have their say is almost upon us. The only prediction that can now be made with any hope of being accurate is that February is going to be a fascinating month to watch, as it could define the rest of the primary season. Whether you're praying for a foot of snow or clear skies in Iowa next Monday night, we're all finally about to find out what the voters truly think of this year's slate of candidates. One week to go, and counting....

Chris Weigant blogs at:


Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV (photo courtesy Christine Martitz)

With a touch of a button, a swipe of the finger, we crave instant gratification. Everyone is wired-up, blue-toothed--and stressed out. As a yoga instructor I encourage my students to make time to disconnect and go offline. Too much technology is just too much.

So the last place you'd find me is at CES, the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas. The last place on earth I would go. At this point, let me just say: Welcome to Las Vegas! Sin City meets Yoga Girl.

It's the latest and greatest in the world's technology. My friend who was working at CES forced me to join her. What are friends for?

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2.4 million net square feet of exhibit space with over 3600 companies and thousands of new products--I was fully immersed, and I hadn't even gotten to VR yet, VR stands, of course, for virtual reality. Now this is a subject I know a little something about as I made a few 360 yoga videos that are on YouTube.

Speaking of virtual reality, the parties were out of this world. And in spite of myself, I started to have a wonderful time.

I am back in New York City doing what I love the most: practicing and teaching yoga. My students do not know of my trip to the dark side, since what happens in Vegas, you know... But now I am a little more understanding of our addiction to technology.

We all want results, we want to set goals and technology can assist us in everything from counting our steps to counting our calories, heart rate, pulse, and even sleep patterns. All this is going on while your refrigerator contacts the health food store to let them know you are out of wheatgrass juice.

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Ok, let's stop right there. That's too much technology for me. Besides I might want to mix it up and have, say, maybe carrot juice instead of wheat grass. Having said all that, I did enjoy getting the freebee blue tooth that will find my car keys as long as they are nearby and I can hear the very low alarm on my key ring.

I must have been into technology in a past-life. I am not saying that I was Leonardo da Vinci or Thomas Alva Edison but I might have lived across the street from Henry Ford.

(courtesy of Christine Martitz)

So I have some new resolutions: I am not going to count my steps, I am not going to count my breath, I will not take a virtual yoga class although I'll give one, but I will use my new tracking device to find my keys. And if God-forbid, my iPhone ever goes missing again, I can use the tracking device on my keys to find it.

It was so interesting to see such mind-blowing innovation and coming to think of what our world can look like in the not too far future - totally improving our daily life: from robots that get what you need out of your refrigerator to the refrigerator itself talking to you, telling you when you should stock up on milk, eggs and orange juice - it sounded like the refrigerator itself would put a call in for a food delivery when low on a specific item.
In 1857 the African-American anti-slavery leader Fredrick Douglass said:

"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."



The Republican and Democratic party primary 2016 presidential election debates to date indicate a struggle between those candidates who cite their government or business experience and those who seek to redeem the soul of America. There is such a stark contrast between the policies discussed by Republican party candidates and those of the National Democratic Party that my comments in this blog are limited to those seeking the Democratic party's nomination for President.

Within the Democratic party the demographics of an electoral college victory for President of the United States indicate that any candidates' successful path to the nomination depends upon the magnitude of actual voter turn among African-Americans, Hispanic and Asians. The percentage of African-American voter population within several States in the South suggest that the African-American vote could determine the winner in the Democratic Presidential Primaries.

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To date the contest for the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination appears to be principally between the candidacies of former Secretary of State and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont. In the contest between them Clinton cites her "governing" experience while Sanders seeks to reclaim and redeem the core values and soul of the Democratic Party.

African-American voters are presented with a unique and historic opportunity to choose between a candidate based on traditional government experience or one candidate who seeks to "redeem the soul" of the Democratic party to direct its attention to the magnitude of wealth disparity and the power of money in election politics.

Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton repeatedly cites her experience to Democratic primary voters, telling them to select her, who with governing "foreign policy" experience, is prepared to govern "on day one." It is worth noting that Presidential "foreign policy experience" under George W. Bush and President Obama has resulted in 14 years of and counting of war in Afghanistan and a war in Iraq with significant dead and wounded Americans, interest on our national debt as the third largest segment of our national debt, de-stabilization of Libya and Syria, the rise of ISIS, and the failure to date to get Gulf Arab States to commit adequate financial resources to fight ISIS as well putting their own needed "boots on the ground."

Is this what continued commitment of our national treasury in support of foreign policy experience "to govern on day one" looks like, instead of the application of resources to rebuilding our roads, bridges, schools, and addressing the unprecedented private wealth amidst public squalor"?

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Between 1979 and 2012, the top 5 percent of American families saw their real incomes increase 74.9 percent, according to Census data. Over the same period, the lowest-income fifth saw a decrease in real income of 12.1 percent. This sharply contrasts with the 1947-79 period, when all income groups saw similar income gains, with the lowest income group actually seeing the largest gains.

The ratio between average American CEO pay and worker pay is now 303-to-1. 2014, CEO annual pay rose to an average of $16,316,000 compared to only $53,200 for workers

As African-American voters consider their choice for President in the various up coming primaries, they should pause and reflect and ask themselves: How is possible to walk the sidewalks in cities like Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, and see homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks in the richest nation in the world?.

As at other critical times in the history of our country the African-American vote and political action within our communities transformed our nation's commitment to peaceful choices of action in American foreign and domestic policy. Our 2016 Presidential election provides another such historic opportunity in the primary vote for President of the United States for African-American voters to once again redeem the soul of America

In prior blogs I have cited the title of one of Alice Walker's books to remind us that "We Are The Ones We've Been Waiting For."

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And, yes again, I ask: If not us, who?
Jerusalem - Mosque Dome of the Rock and Cross Franciscan Dome, Islamic in front of Christianity.

As an advocate of interfaith dialogue, particularly between Christians and Muslims, I'm often faced with the issue of conversion. People ask me, "If you admire Prophet Muhammad so much, why don't you convert to Islam? Why don't you accept him as "the seal"? I see these questions popping up on my Twitter and Facebook feeds more than you might imagine.

Basically, me admiring Prophet Muhammad isn't "enough" for Muslims; in their eyes, I must take a few concrete steps towards Islam to be fully recognized as a "true believer." Otherwise, I'm just a weirdo Christian who respects Muhammad, but doesn't recognize him as a "the man." Christians, on the other hand, have called me "pseudo Catholic" and "infidel" for my positive writings about Muhammad. For these Islamophobes, I'm quite simply a heretic. There's no way around it. Perhaps my work is irritating to Muslims and Christians because I'm pushing a few traditional boundaries and making people question the very heart of their religious traditions and identities.

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Here's the main issue according to popular narratives: Muslims must recognize Jesus as a prophet of God, as laid out explicitly in the Qur'an. Muslims are't at risk of anything when they say "I believe in Jesus." However, if we switched the situation ("I'm a Christian. I believe in Muhammad as a prophet"), people might start to question my credibility as a self-professed Christian. People might say, "Jesus is the only way. You've turned your back on God. You're no longer Christian."

I'm writing this piece to explain why I disagree with the idea that Christians can't recognize Muhammad as a prophet. Really, what is in question here is the definition of "prophet." "Prophet" can be defined as "a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God." Outside of the dictionary, I've always understood "prophet" to mean a messenger of a Higher Power who works on earth to bring justice and peace to humanity.

Let me say this right off the bat: I fully recognize Muhammad's greatness. He was an exceptional person; he might even be the greatest and most influential human being ever to walk the face of the earth. Prophet Muhammad brought love, peace, and much more to a part of the world that had little of these things.

One of the most overlooked aspects of Muhammad's character is his fierce anti-racist stance. He made the unprecedented move of considering both white people and black people as equals in the eyes of God. Yet many Christians still refuse to recognize Muhammad as an "inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God" (read: a prophet). The issue for some Christians, perhaps, is that Muhammad claims to have the last and universal truth. This rubs some Christians the wrong way. Only Jesus can make this claim.

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In conversations I've had with Muslims, a frequent topic of discussion is Muhammad is "the seal of the prophets." They add that both Moses and Jesus predicted his arrival. Christians, however, find it difficult to "find" Muhammad in their Bible. While some Muslims cite John (14: 16-17) as proof that Jesus predicted the coming of Muhammad, many Christians find it difficult to interpret this verse as the "truth." Perhaps they're in denial, though it doesn't even matter. Christians don't buy it.

Nonetheless, Christians argue that it is "anti-Christian" to say that Muhammad is a prophet. Because Jesus is the clear-cut revelation of God as noted in the Bible, Christians (the argument goes) must not accept any other figure besides him. However, I see nothing "anti-Christian" in recognizing Muhammad as a prophet. As I mentioned earlier, I like to view the word "prophet" as having a very broad meaning. In fact, I don't even like to place it in the realm of "religion," especially not in the Abrahamic tradition. To me, a prophet is someone who has valuable insight and intuition, who is sensitive about the well-being of others regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.

I realize that some Muslims may not be happy with me putting Muhammad on par with other prophets. To be honest, I don't see Muhammad as the "final prophet." That's too limiting for me, but it's also why I'm able to consider him to be a prophet on equal footing with Jesus and others. To be clear, neither Jesus or Muhammad is the "final prophet" in my mind. I can't imagine a Higher Power that stops allowing prophets on earth. This world of ours is broken, and so prophets will emerge as the days move forward. I don't believe in "seals" either. Nothing is "sealed." My views on life in general are too infinite for that kind of "truth."

With that being said, both Muslims and Christians will say that I'm "confused" or "insane." How can you be a Christian if you say Muhammad is a prophet? Why, then, are you not a Muslim? What are the boundaries of your religious identity? Are you both Christian and Muslim? What is going on with you?

I understand. It's confusing, but life is messy, and "religion" perhaps even more so. A clarification is in order: Do I believe in everything that Prophet Muhammad said according to the Qur'an and hadiths? No, I don't, but I also don't believe in everything that Jesus or Moses said according to the Gospel or Talmud. Things kind of cancel out, even out. I accept aspects of both, but neither in their entirety.

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When I read the Qur'an, I don't interpret it as a book for Muslims, but rather for all human beings. The Qur'an (5:47) requests people to "discern what God has sent down to him." The word "discern" is a crucial one. Literally, discern means to "perceive something." My mind tells me that Jesus and Muhammad have equally valuable messages. Both men shared some "truths," but let's be real: they were human beings. They were prone to error. They made some mistakes. They missed some things.

Let me wrap this up by returning to the question: Is Prophet Muhammad worthy of admiration among Christians? I believe he is. His central concern was to lead mankind on the "right path." By right path, I mean justice, mercy, compassion, love, tranquility, and peace. For these reasons, I elevate him to "prophet status."

In conclusion, as a Christian, I don't see my "religion" or "faith" as having a rigid set of principles. The meaning of my religion and faith changes from time to time, from moment to moment. "Christianity" has gone through a similar process. What it means to be Christian today differs significantly from what it might have meant in the 1st or 15th centuries. In short, my religion is fluid. My code is not set in stone, and to be honest, it never will be. I'll always allow space for new ideas, new people, new movements. I'll always find a way to make things "Christian." That's the beauty of "religion" - it can always be made relevant to our current situations.
Row after row of mothers wait patiently, babies fussing in their laps. A nurse in this small clinic in rural Arusha, Tanzania, calls them forward, one by one, and gives the squirming infants shots that will protect them from killer diseases, like measles and polio.

Over the past 15 years, Tanzania has made a concerted effort to immunize its children--and has achieved a remarkable vaccination rate of almost 90 per cent. Tanzania is one of a number of African countries beating U.S. vaccination rates for all-too common diseases such as measles. That's still not good enough for the government and health organizations in that country, though. They want to get as close to 100 per cent as possible.

But figuring out which children have been missed is a huge challenge in a country where many families still live nomadic lives in remote areas.

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Enter Seattle health organization PATH. It's helping out, not with more vaccines or nurses, but a database.

The Better Immunization Data (BID) initiative, shows strong health systems in developing countries aren't built on hospitals and medical staff alone. Knowledge is vital, too.

BID is an ambitious project to boost vaccination rates with an easy-to-use national electronic immunization registry. The initiative was launched in 2013 with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Pilots of the system were first rolled out in Tanzania and Zambia last year. Additional technological expertise is provided by a Canadian college, Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, which has been working on health information systems internationally for eight years.

"In Tanzania, we're able to accurately track needles in children's arms," says Justin Fyfe, Mohawk's senior software architect on the BID project, who explained the registry to us.

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In the U.S., there is still no national electronic immunization registry. Each state, and in some cases even individual cities like New York City, maintain their own independent, unconnected vaccination record systems.

Overseas, when there's an immunization clinic in Tanzania today, nurses are equipped with digital tablets as well as needles. A nurse enters the information on each vaccination into an app, which connects into the country's national registry. In areas where lack of power renders tablets impractical, health workers use a specially-designed paper form that is later scanned into the system.

Once their children are vaccinated, parents get a card with a barcode. Any health center in Tanzania connected to the registry can scan the card and get a child's full immunization record, making it an epic time, labour, and money saver. Before BID, it could take a team of Tanzanian nurses an entire day to prepare for an immunization clinic, says Dykki Settle, a senior technical advisor with PATH. They would have to wade through a mountain of paperwork, identifying which children still need which vaccinations. If a family had arrived from another part of the country, the nurses would have no information to work with.

Tracking how many children are being immunized - and in which areas - will also help Tanzania more efficiently manage vaccine supply and distribution, Settle told us. Officials will know where the real need is, and can then ensure health centres don't run out of critical vaccines.

Perhaps the most ingenious aspect of the project is that the software is both expandable and open source.

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In the future, Tanzanian health workers will be able to use the database to support other projects, such as malaria or HIV treatment. Because it is open source, anyone can change the code that makes up the software, so other developing -- and developed -- countries will be able to adapt the system for their own use, creating their own health databases at little cost.

Overall, the system is designed to eventually become a one-stop health information source, with every Tanzanian citizen having their own electronic health record.

For many donors who support international development, building a database isn't as sexy as building a hospital, but the impact is just as powerful. Just ask nurses, who spend less time doing paperwork and more time helping people. And the moms who sleep at night, knowing their children are safe from disease.
Folks, you probably know about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Lots of people have no clean, safe drinking water and they're in a state of emergency. Yesterday, I announced that I'd teamed up with CrowdRise to launch a massive Water for Flint challenge. Our goal was to deliver 25,000 cases of water to the residents of Flint. Water is one of the most basic human rights. (There's even a donate button at the bottom of this blog post, where you can give right now...)

It's important for people from across the U.S. to support the people of Flint right now.

The challenge: for every $20 you donated to any CrowdRise campaign for the Flint Water Crisis Relief, craigconnects matched the donation with 100 cases of water to be distributed to the residents in Flint by The United Way of Southeastern Michigan.

The deal is I want to put clean drinking water into the hands of every person who's in Flint, Michigan. I actually spent about a decade living not too far from Flint, so this really hits close to home for me.

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Good news: thanks to all the good folks raising awareness and giving back, we met our goal of $50K in less than 24 hours. With a 1pm EST launch time, the goal was met by 8:15pm EST last night. That's 25,000 cases of clean water, or 600,000 bottles of water. This is the real deal, and it's what happens when good folks come together to support our communities in need.

My goal was to make $20 go so much further, which is why I matched donations to any Flint fundraiser on CrowdRise in cases of water. These fundraisers are still running, and you can still give to ensure that there's enough clean, drinkable water.

A few others are really helping out, too. CrowdRise is working with musician and Detroit-native Big Sean and his nonprofit the Sean Anderson Foundation by launching the #HEALFLINTKIDS campaign, Pearl Jam launched a campaign kicked off by a $300,000 donation, and Jack White of the White Stripes and Detroit-based Third Man Records joined the effort.
Events over the past two weeks have brought the challenges facing the LGBT community post-marriage equality to the forefront. Unfortunately, those events played out as a week's worth of bullying culminating in an assault, exactly the methods abhorred by the community for decades.

The largest annual queer conference, Creating Change, occurred last week in Chicago. The centerpiece of the conference is the "State of the Movement" address, given by the Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force until this year when the task was shared by a number of activists. This "chorus of voices" was described by Executive Director, Rea Carey thusly:

No one person -- in this case one white lesbian -- can ever speak authentically or fully for an entire movement in one speech. This is not where we are, nor is it where we are going. Our vision for the future of the movement is one that is broad, inclusive and dynamic. When we made this decision late last year to change the annual speech, I was very much inspired to do so after listening to the many voices on staff and across our movement for change. That's why this year's state of the movement will include a diversity of voices -- featuring some of the people, as Task Force staff, who are driving our movement forward to real freedom, justice and equality for all LGBTQ people and for a changed country. We hope you will enjoy what I believe will be a very powerful speech.

This was a very interesting change, having individuals personally committed to particular tasks (federal law, reproductive rights, substance abuse, re-entry, trans, immigration, religion and elders) speak, and arguably much more powerful than having one person read off a list of those tasks. In some ways it was reminiscent of the Occupy movement, which had no leader nor any hierarchy. The power of the emotive moment is evident in the video, but promoting the balkanization reflected in such a symbolic act is problematic. This is where I see the underlying problem which erupted over the past week and threatens to fracture the movement, ironically at a time of great success.

Coalitions and communities are built on empathy. While no one knows your experience better than you, they can know it sufficiently to empathize and ally. It is those alliances that create real change. Listening is critical, but being bullied is not part of the definition of listening.

The events of the past two weeks were two-fold. The first, which got little press, was the invitation of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to speak at a session where the authorities could engage in dialogue with those most at risk. The leadership at Creating Change felt forced to disinvite the feds when a group of immigration activists declared that it would no longer be a safe space for them. I don't see how having a few federal officials engaging in dialogue in a 4000-attendee conference could be seen as anything but an opportunity, but even if you accept that the fears of some should control the list of invitees, you should recognize that others lost a wonderful opportunity to directly challenge those whose behavior they most want to influence. When I spoke out about it online, I was told I really couldn't understand since I'm not an undocumented Latina. True, I don't understand how it feels right now, but my grandparents shared a similar experience which has become part of my family history (my mother was conceived in Havana during an earlier period of hostility towards immigrants) and allows me to empathize and be a good ally. I speak out and encourage people to overcome their fear. It's not an easy call, but I believe the initial one made by the Task Force was the correct one.

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The more egregious violation of community spirit occurred with reference to the LGBT Jewish group, A Wider Bridge, on whose board I sit. I wrote about the crisis last week, after which the reception came under assault by 200+ protestors creating a great deal of fallout. I will leave it to others to recapitulate those events - there's Mark Joseph Stern at Slate, Kevin Naff at the Washington Blade, Professor Tony Varona of American University Washington College of Law, Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers, and capped by comments from Arthur Slepian of A Wider Bridge and Rea Carey of the National LGBTQ Task Force.

I was very touched by Rea Carey's statement at the closing plenary of the conference, where she stated, with obvious emotion:

I have struggled how to lead at this moment.

I was sadly struck, however, by these words:

If not us, who? And if not at Creating Change, where?

She appropriated the words of Rabbi Hillel, and could easily have credited him with those world-renowned comments, symbolically speaking to both the Jewish queers who were assaulted and those who were insulted by the way the entire situation went down, as well as the conference attendees who needed to hear from the Executive Director that such anti-Jewish bigotry would no longer be accepted at the conference.

My sense, based on how quickly the conference organizers were impelled to disinvite both ICE and A Wider Bridge in the first place, was that she feared speaking so explicitly on stage on behalf of her Jewish friends and allies. I was following the conference on Twitter, and noticed a number of tweets which gave me pause, and might have given her pause as well:

Shouts of fuck ICE and free Palestine and Not One More for deportations. #cc16.  Windy City Times (@WindyCityTimes) January 24, 2016

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In other words, I successfully avoided white people for the day. It was actually wonderful. #cc16   Iris Robin  (@iris_robin) January 24, 2016

*wondering if there is/can/should be a gathering of QTPOC as a safer space than #creatingchange* #cc16  AMJ  Was Dreamin When She Wrote This (@AmandaMichelle) January 23, 2016

Over the past few years there has been a great deal of talk about giving the more marginalized voices in the community a chance to speak. White people shouldn't be speaking for black people, and gay people for trans people, for instance. Each group has more than its share of people who can speak. And everyone else should listen. That has been happening, increasingly so every day. I personally have learned a great deal.

But those who are listening needn't shut up. They should not be bullied into silence, or intimidated out of the room.

Speaking is not leading. Expressing rage is not developing a plan to channel that rage into real change. Unless we're entering a revolutionary moment in American history, which I doubt, particularly when I watch the Republican presidential debates, then the younger voices need to toughen their skins to micro-insults, understand that there are macroaggressions occurring every day, and get out and organize people to engage with the authorities and vote.

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The Creating Change conference is, like it or not, a business. Their customer base is now college students subsidized by their LGBTQ centers who are immersed in intersectionality, microaggressions and trigger warnings, and other forms of queer theory chic. One friend described it as students suffering from micro-aggressions getting macro-angry. Another, Jerame Davis, called it "special snowflake syndrome," which exaggerates identity and feelings above all else. "I feel, therefore I am." There is very little practical experience in that group other than expressing their feelings, and that was manifest at the protest of the A Wider Bridge shabbat reception on Friday night. In some respects it's perfectly acceptable for the younger activists to behave this way (we acted out when we were kids, accomplished a good deal and then destroyed our progressive movement); what's not acceptable is for their elders to enable and encourage it.

I will end this with a quote from my friend and colleague, Professor Tony Varona, from his open letter to Rea Carey:
If there is one thing that we can all agree on about Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), it is that he is a staunch advocate of state rights and local control. He's released reports documenting what he refers to as the Obama Administration's "assault" on state sovereignty. He's vowed to "break apart the federal leviathan that has ruled Washington" by getting rid of the IRS, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. And he has argued that the true savings of these cuts go beyond numbers--his plan to rein in Washington is about "uprooting the centralized power that we have lived under for far too long" in order to restore state sovereignty and local control.

But his belief in local control over local affairs clearly does not extend to those who actually live in Washington, D.C. When it comes to using his own federal power to control and dismantle D.C.'s local laws, he is perfectly happy to intervene.

Last year, Cruz introduced measures in Congress challenging two of D.C.'s local laws, one of which prevents employers from discriminating against women for their reproductive choices and another which requires religiously affiliated educational institutions to comply with the city's gay nondiscrimination laws.

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This week, Cruz introduced the Educational Freedom Accounts Act (S. 2455) which would allow parents to pull their child from public school and have access to taxpayer-funded accounts for private education expenses, equal to the amount D.C. Public Schools normally spends per pupil and taken directly from DCPS's funding.

Cruz's bill is based on Nevada's Education Savings Account (ESA) program, which diverts about $5,000 per student enrolled in the program from public school budgets and places that money into parent-controlled accounts to pay for private school tuition, homeschooling, virtual-learning programs, tutors and other qualifying expenses. Though proponents of the program have argued that low-income students will be the main beneficiaries of ESAs, The Las Vegas Review-Journal found that the vast majority of applicants to the program were from wealthy neighborhoods, with only nine applications coming from students living in the poorest neighborhoods in the state. The Nevada ESA program was slated to go into effect on January 1, 2016, but a district judge recently put the program on hold. In his 16-page ruling, Carson City District Court Judge James Wilson sided with opponents who argued in their complaint that the law would drain public schools of essential resources in violation of the constitution and provide a "windfall" to those that can already afford to send their children to private schools.

Prior to the ruling, Nevada's treasury established more than 4,000 education savings accounts, which amounts to more than $20 million dollars that was set to be diverted from public schools over the course of the school year. In D.C., where school spending per pupil is much higher than in Nevada, the loss of funding that public schools might suffer under such a program could do incredible damage. If 4,000 D.C. parents pulled their students from public school and took the money DCPS spends on average per pupil with them ($17,953 in fiscal year 2013 according to US census data), public schools in D.C. would lose over $70 million dollars. That kind of a loss could effectively cripple the entire school system.

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Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) is calling Senator Cruz out on his hypocrisy and vowing to "go all out" to ensure that this latest attack on D.C.'s local laws goes nowhere.

"Senator Cruz's bill is one of the most radical and blatant attacks on D.C. home rule and local control that we have witnessed, showing how easily his ambitions for the presidency allow him to dump his self-proclaimed principles of local control over local affairs," Norton said.

"Who is Ted Cruz to tell the D.C. government how to spend their own taxpayer funds on education, a great priority in this city? It is one thing for the federal government to meddle with D.C.'s local affairs and set up a private school voucher program with federal funds; it is quite another to force a local jurisdiction to use its own finite funds to pay for an unaccountable voucher program, taking away funding from our traditional public schools and public charter schools."

Congress has always had a weird obsession with D.C. school vouchers, but previous school choice initiatives, such as the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, relied on federal dollars. Though the current voucher program has its problems--many students attend schools that are unaccredited and there is no conclusive evidence that the program boosts student achievement--at least that program did not directly undermine D.C. public schools by stripping them of their funding. With this bill, Cruz is not just using D.C. as a testing ground for a new school choice initiative. Given the magnitude of damage such a program could do in a school system the size of DCPS, it seems as if Cruz is actively trying to destroy public schools in the district altogether.

If Cruz actually cared about the people of Washington D.C., he could show it in other ways. As DCVote suggested in a recent post on Facebook, if Cruz is really so passionate about district, he is welcome to help residents shovel out of this weekend's snowstorm.
Puerto Rico, Old San Juan, flags of the USA and Puerto Rico

When competing with global headlines, which are keeping many a policymaker awake at night, Puerto Rico can hardly hold attention for very long -- especially in a politically gridlocked Washington obsessed with point scoring and jockeying for the White House. Yet, there are many opportunities to reverse the island's economic woes, which have triggered one of the largest non-conflict related resettlements in recent history.

With nearly 10 per cent of the island's inhabitants foregoing the tropical paradise over the last decade, it begs the question of what policy measures can be implemented to reverse this trend and put Puerto Rico on a path toward a brighter future. I have long argued that Puerto Rico's woes are a matter of broad public and security interest in the U.S. and to think the island's hobbled economy is decoupled from pensions, savings and broader economic health is to trigger another 'Lehman-like' game of brinksmanship.

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While Puerto Rico's municipal debt default continues to spiral out of control, it is more akin to falling down a flight of stairs than a precipitous economic collapse. Collapse is near, however, and the debate in Washington about appointing a Federal Financial Control Board signals that an intervention is nigh. The question remains at what cost will this intervention come and how will the long term future of Puerto Rico's Commonwealth be affected. Already, a mute, non-voting observer on Capitol Hill (Puerto Rico and D.C. share this dubious distinction), the likely long term cost of this intervention from a bill introduced by Republican Senator Orrin Hatch in December, 2015, may remove what little powers Puerto Rico has over its domestic and economic affairs. Against this stark backdrop, some options for a path forward:

1.EqualityAcknowledgement of being a U.S. territory conferring equal civil, structural, municipal and financial rights to the island's inhabitants as those enjoyed on the mainland. This includes a voting representative on Capitol Hill. If for this to pass, Puerto Ricans must go to the ballot box exercising their right to self-determination, then such a referendum should be called and the outcome respected. As the expression goes, if you owe the bank $10,000, the bank owns you. If you owe the bank $72 billion, which is Puerto Rico's case, you own the bank. Chapter 9 of the bankruptcy code must form part of this turnaround strategy.

2.Consensus and CentralizationStreamlined island politics and policymaking. With 78 municipalities on an island 110 miles by 40, cutting through the wool of bureaucracy and special interests leaves the narrowest of the island's social fabric to protect its people. The needed era of fiscal austerity, requires leaner more centralized administration in the collective interests of the island.

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3.Shared ProsperitySupport for long term valued-adding investors that engage with the local talent pool, promote middle-income and high-skilled jobs and improve economic mobility. Stricter conditions around arbitrage investors are needed genuinely engaging them in the local economy. If John Paulson's vision of Puerto Rico becoming the "Singapore of the Caribbean" is to be realized, the era of zero-risk, zero-reward investment must come to an end. Paulson is a famed 'special situation' hedge fund manager who has taken up residence on the island along with sizeable investments.

4.Revenue PositiveEnd revenue neutrality. Puerto Rico's low median household income of $19,000 betrays a sizeable underground economy and low-levels of tax adherence from households and businesses. This, coupled with mass migration from the island, which has accelerated to 3,000 residents a week, puts downward pressure on the revenue base against upward pressure on the island's debt burden. Driving tax inclusion and compliance are critical and amnesties along with a simplified tax code should be implemented to spur participation.

5.Right-SizingPrivatization of non-performing, financially strained state-owned enterprises. Beginning with the public electric utility, PREPA, a wave of targeted privatizations of state-owned/operated assets will help right-size the island's balance sheet, improve income while reducing the debt burden. Public-private partnerships can be explored ensuring that the most strategic assets continue to have some public oversight and accountability. Similarly, development concessions around strategically vital industries that improve economic diversification should form part of a revitalization plan.

6.Economic IntegrationCreate, strengthen and improve regional economic linkages. With cultural and linguistic ties spanning the Caribbean, Latin and North America, Puerto Rico has an opportunity to position itself not only as a destination for U.S. investors through its tax decrees, like Act 20 and 22, but as a place for long term, value-adding investors throughout the region. Puerto Rico is a natural staging ground for a wide range of service industries and is a natural hub for regional finance, among other sectors. Internal focus on the ease of starting a business and operating on the island are essential. As a measure of this progress, moving up the World Bank's ease of doing business rankings from 57 to parity with the U.S., which is number 7, is a worthy target. Highlighting the distance to Paulson's vision, Singapore ranks number 1 on the list.

7.Lifting Legacy LegislationRemoval of onerous, narrow and dated legislation that hampers the island's economic competitiveness. Chief among these strangling rules is the Merchant Marine or Jones Act, which strangles ship-borne trade - the veritable lifeblood of an island economy. By lifting the Jones Act, Puerto Rico has an opportunity to leverage its comparative advantage, geographic location and deep water ports improving regional economic ties, trade and security. The proposed legislation (Puerto Rico Assistance Act of 2015) on turning the island's fortunes around says nothing of the Jones Act.

8.Safety and SecurityBroad based improvements in public safety and security. Reversing the tide of violent crime, drug trafficking and the real and perceived dangers on the island are key to assuring public safety, regional security and attracting committed value-adding investors and residents - along with a possible return of the Puerto Rican diaspora. For a highly skilled workforce to see Puerto Rico as more than a brief tourist destination, public safety and security are essential.

9.EducationThe only way to combat long term economic change is through a well-equipped, educated workforce. No investment pays better dividends than education and Puerto Rico's latent bilingual abilities in its people can be propelled with a curriculum that emphasizes in-demand careers, technical and vocational training. Program's that match in-state tuition conditions throughout the U.S., like the one offered to D.C. residents, will help address educational affordability and economic mobility.

10.EntrepreneurshipRenowned for their can do spirit and optimism, Puerto Ricans must begin to shake the despair and hopelessness of a decade of recession and tell a new story. Much like Detroit's ability to rise from the ashes, Puerto Rico's revival depends on whether a spirit of optimism and risk-taking sinks in through all levels of society. A new startup incubator, Parallel 18, begins to establish a startup ecosystem in Puerto Rico.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's ambassador to Tanzania Edzai Chimonyo is moving to grab a farm from a Mutare company asserting he is the rightful owner.In his court papers, Chimonyo cited Matansuka (Private) Limited and Lands minister Douglas Mombeshora as respondents. The retired army major-general wants a court order evicting Matansuka (Private) Limited from Sub-division 1 of Lot 1 of Fangudu Farm in Mutare.Matansuka is a major regional trader of selected commodity fruit and vegetable lines, with strong roots in banana trade, servicing both the formal and informal markets.According to court papers, the farm was originally owned by Matansuka before it was gazetted by government in 2006.Chimonyo was later given an offer letter for the farm by the Lands minister, but he claimed in court papers that the firm was disturbing his occupation of the premises.
He's led his group from Atlanta, Georgia to Richmond, VA to finally Alexandria, VA with losses along the way. This begins part I, an appreciation of Rick Grimes and his close-knit group in The Walking Dead, seasons 1 and 2.

Rick Grimes, husband, father and sheriff's deputy of King County (fictional), Georgia, wakes up from a coma, after having been shot by a robber, in an abandoned hospital nearby Atlanta. He also eventually realizes that he has just awakened into a living nightmare.

In the pilot, titled, "Days Gone Bye," after exiting the hospital to also discover many body bags outside and an abandoned Army helicopter, while still wearing a hospital gown, Rick finds a bicycle at a park. The same place, where he also sees a gaunt horribly decayed woman, though not then realizing she's a living dead, missing all of her lower half while growling at him. Quickly after the gristly sight, he speeds off homeward only to find both wife and son gone. Yet fortunately later, Rick is also cared for by a father and son, Morgan Jones and Duane, telling him that the world has become an apocalypse where the dead have reanimated into flesh eaters, called walkers. That a bite or even a scratch from the dead will lead from infection to reanimation, and furthermore, that the only way to kill a walker is by a gunshot, stab, or trauma blow to the brain.

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Later, Rick, Morgan and Duane arrive at the police station where Rick had worked. After they showered, Rick now dressed in his police uniform takes a duffel bag of full weapons, and says parting words to Morgan. Intending to find his wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and son Carl (Chandler Riggs) in Atlanta, Rick also says he will maintain contact by walkie-talkie. The roles of Rick and Morgan are both played by British actors Andrew Lincoln and Lennie James.

In episode 2, titled, "Guts," Rick is guided to safety by Glenn (Steven Yeun) into an Atlanta department store and is berated by Andrea (Laurie Holden). Morales (Juan Gabriel Pareja) tries to calm Andrea because of Rick's gunshots. Then Morales says, "Every geek for miles around heard you popping off rounds." Thus Rick learns another lesson, keep quiet around walkers.

On the roof, Rick meets the rest of the small group of survivors whose intent was to scavenge for supplies. He also sees Merle (Michael Rooker) terrorizing the group, and then attacks T-Dog (IronE Singleton) with a gun while mouthing the n-word. Soon after, Merle is surprisingly hit on the head with the butt of a rifle by Rick. After handcuffing Merle to a pipe, Rick says the following, "Look here Merle. Things are different now. There are no n----rs anymore. No dumb-ass-sh-- white tr--h fools either. Only dark meat and white meat. There's us and the dead. We survive this by pulling together, not apart." Thus was born that day the maxim of Rick Grimes.

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In episode 3, titled, "Tell it to the Frogs," Rick is reunited with wife and son, and best friend former police colleague Shane (Jon Bernthal). Now among a larger group at a higher elevation at a camp in the woods, Shane questions Rick about retrieving Merle. For during the hasty escape, T-Dog accidentally lost the key to the handcuffs Rick had given him. "Why would you risk your life for a douchebag like Merle Dixon?" asks Shane. "Hey! Choose your words more carefully," exclaims Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), younger brother of Merle. "No, I did," says Shane, who also adds, "The guy wouldn't give you a glass of water if you were dying of thirst." Rick then tells Lori and Shane, besides being inhumane to leave Merle, he has two other reasons. He owes a debt to Morgan and his son to warn them to stay away from Atlanta, and to retrieve his duffel bag full of six shotguns, two high-powered rifles and over a dozen handguns including ammo.

Within the next remaining three episodes of season 1, the survivors suffered more losses. Walkers had invaded the camp. Shane again confronts Rick, who had teamed with Glenn, Daryl, and T-Dog as all returned from Atlanta failing to find Merle, saying they could have used their manpower. Rick replies that if they hadn't gone back to also retrieve the guns they perhaps could have lost the entire camp. In episode 5, Rick makes the decision to forgo the Army base Fort Benning and head to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) HQ in Atlanta. Morales then says, "We have family in Birmingham," who will be going there. After hearing that, Rick gives Mr. Morales a gun, ammo, and a walkie-talkie, followed by others embracing the Morales family.

At the CDC they meet Dr. Edwin Jenner. After all enjoyed showers, rest and meals, Jenner explains that there is no cure. Later, Rick and his group realize they are trapped as Jenner had initiated a self-destruct. Rick pleads. Finally, Jenner shows them a way out as Jacqui (Jeryl Prescott) decides to stay, the only one remaining behind with Jenner in the control room, holding hands before the bomb goes off after Andrea and Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) are the last to escape.

In season 2, episode 1, titled, "What Lies Ahead," begins as Rick speaks into a walkie-talkie, among the words intended for Morgan, saying, "Maybe we'll see you in Fort Benning someday." While driving, they encounter a herd of walkers. All remain quiet while hiding. After the herd passes, a walker grabs at 12 year old Sophia, daughter of Carol (Melissa McBride), who panics and runs into the woods followed by two walkers. Rick finds her, and tells her how to get back to the road before he draws them off. He returns to the others, yet sees that Sophia is still missing. A search has engaged, as Rick, Shane and Carl later see a deer in the woods. Then Carl is shot.

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The next few episodes Carl is treated at the sprawling farm of Hershel Greene (Scott Wilson). It was his foreman Otis, whose bullet went through the deer to also hit Carl. As Rick stayed to give blood, Otis and Shane go into town to get a respirator for Carl and encounter walkers. On his last bullet, Shane shoots Otis in the leg. The two men struggle until Shane breaks free before Otis is attacked. Arriving with the device, Shane lies, saying Otis's death was sacrificial.

In episode 5, the search continues for Sophia. After Daryl's search who finds Sophia's doll, Shane still believes the search is a waste, even after Rick saying they now have evidence. Shane then meets Lori, saying Rick has got to make the tough calls. Then Lori says, "It's the easiest thing in the world to cut our losses and to not help." For Shane also believes he's in love with Lori, and that they all should have gone onto Fort Benning by now instead of staying at the farm.

Yet in episode 8, Rick, Glenn and Hershel find out about Fort Benning from Dave and Tony while in town. Both heard from a soldier that Benning was overrun. So Rick's initial decision to forgo Benning for the CDC, was validated, before he had to shoot the two dangerous men.

By episode 9, Rick had dealt with a lot. Carl shot, Sophia found as a walker in episode 7, Lori's pregnancy and her affair with Shane as she thought Rick died, and their prisoner Randall formerly with Dave and Tony. Then Lori tells Rick she thinks Shane killed Otis as told by Dale, he believes she and the baby are his, to finally saying, "He's dangerous Rick, and he won't stop."

Then in episode 10, Rick gives Shane three chances. After Rick stops the car with Randall bound in the back, he talks to Shane. Later, he saves Shane's life after the two had fought, going back to rescue Shane trapped in a school bus surrounded by walkers. And lastly, he gives Shane his gun back, as Rick says, "It's time for you to come back." After all that, Shane wouldn't yield.

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Last week, on the day after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that 2015 was by far the hottest year on record, the energy industry's chief lobbyists gathered in a downtown Washington ballroom to tell each other that the real problem was not global warming, but rather efforts by the Obama Administration -- and Pope Francis -- to contain global warming.

The remarks of these lobbyists suggested that many of them live on a different planet, where climate change is not an urgent challenge but rather is the obsession of ideological malcontents.

The meeting, held annually, is sponsored by the United States Energy Association, whose chieftains are not the CEOs of America's oil, coal, and gas companies. Rather, they are the heads of the Washington-based trade associations that lobby against regulation of greenhouse gases and toxic pollution. They mostly are former corporate lawyers or Capital Hill functionaries who worked their way up and now receive enormous-for-DC salaries to serve at the beck and call of actual energy executives.

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I think most of us are grateful to the men and women of America's energy companies for providing the power that fuels so much of our lives. The question is, now that the evidence of human-made global warming is overwhelming, what do these companies want to do about it? Will they continue to deny the dangers of climate change and vilify those who seek to slow it? Or can they instead change course and devote more of their skills and resources to innovations for cleaner energy, innovations that could make their companies, not to mention the Earth, more sustainable in the long term?

From the words of their monochromatic lobbyists, spoken at the podium of the State of the Energy Industry Forum, it seems that many in the industry plan to keep fighting for another century of dirty energy.

The first speaker, and the king of the room, based on obsequious interactions during the breaks and on his league-leading $14,103,475 annual compensation package, was Jack Gerard, CEO of the tax-exempt, non-profit American Petroleum Institute. Gerard mostly looked down to read his remarks, but he got somewhat more engaged when he decried an Obama "political ideology" that "ignores the foundational role of fossil fuels in our modern society" and attacked "almost 100 federal regulations designed to thwart American energy production."

Gerard was followed by Chet Thompson, the new President of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, and formerly a Bush EPA official and, more recently, a corporate lawyer at Crowell & Morning. He centered his talk on a recent question from his 10-year-old: "Are you representing the good guys?"

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Perhaps his 10-year-old had picked up some things on the playground. But for Thompson, the answer was unequivocally: Yes! "AFPM's members," he said, "make the world a better place."

Thompson then told the room, if not his child, who the bad guys are. The Obama Clean Power Plan, Thompson said, "sets a bad precedent for everyone in this room." The energy industry, he added, has "had to take on, dare I say, the Pope and many other people waging a war on fossil fuels."

Thompson offered some good news, for him at least, via Powerpoint. Despite the declining price of oil, the "crack spread" -- product price minus crude price -- remains "strong" at $17 a barrel. The US is now "one of the most affordable countries for petrochemical production." And, of course, Congress gave the industry a huge Christmas present by lifting the long-standing ban on oil exports.

But that wasn't nearly enough for Thompson, who, like Jack Gerard, called on Congress to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard, an anti-global warming measure that requires gasoline and diesel suppliers to offer a minimum volume of renewable fuels.

Thompson added that President Obama, in his State of the Union address, touted the improved economy but failed to say that the recovery was "driven by the energy sector." So, Thompson concluded, "Yes, we are the good guys, and I hope our policymakers remember this when they debate climate change in the months ahead."

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Next up was Dave McCurdy, head of the American Gas Association (salary: $2,199,451). The former congressman from Oklahoma went for self-inflating humor: When he brings his tall, big-gray-haired presence to China, people shout at him, "Bill Cwinton! Bill Cwinton!" He didn't mention how his home state has recently seen a huge increase in earthquakes that have coincided with gas fracking operations and the deposit of oil and gas wastewater in the ground.

Instead, McCurdy opined that the Obama Administration's rules -- of the kind that might make Oklahoma shake less -- are not always "science-based."

Dena Wiggins, CEO of the Natural Gas Supply Association, didn't express the same hostility to the Obama Clean Power Plan; she said that gas "has the ability to flourish" under the new regulation.

She also said that, after some holdups, the long-awaited first cargo of exported U.S. liquid natural gas would head overseas in the next few weeks -- greenlighted by the Obama Administration after many visits from Democratic lobbyists.

But as Wiggins celebrated this transformation of the U.S. into an energy colony -- communities fracked to sell gas overseas -- she criticized efforts by the Administration to regulate methane, the main component of natural gas and a toxic, highly flammable substance that is at least 25 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. A disastrous methane leak from a natural gas storage well near Los Angeles has forced thousands of people from their homes and highlighted the lack of effective rules for this danger. Yet Wiggins suggested that voluntary reforms by industry were all that was needed.

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For Wiggins, it seemed, the danger was not escaped methane but free speech. She presented a PowerPoint slide asserting that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission "Faces Unprecedented Environmental Activism" and showing protestors. She spoke of "people protesting, disrupting meetings, lying on the ground." She made it sound awful.

Wiggins said that some critics "are in the 'nope' category" -- even expensive energy lobbyists and public relations firms can't persuade them. But, for people in communities with legitimate questions, "I think we've got good answers." Wiggins was confident that industry "education efforts" could explain that gas "really is a valuable resource, and we can't allow it to just sit in the ground."

Donald Santa (compensation: $2,295,419), CEO of Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, which lobbies for the pipeline industry, decried "a lot of opposition to pipelines today both by land owners and by people whose motivations are ideological." He noted that after the 2010 pipeline explosion in San Bruno, California, his board of directors set an admirable goal -- zero incidents. He also predicted that 2016 would be "a tremendous year for pipeline construction."

Tom Kuhn, President of the Edison Electric Institute (compensation $3,607,927), which represents private electric companies, did say, "I see us leading the way in becoming cleaner," but he also referred to "clean coal," suggesting he might have a low threshold for what constitutes "cleaner."

Kuhn said he drives an electric vehicle, which, he argued, was superior in a snowstorm, like the one that was about to pound the East Coast. If he's right, other CEOs might want to look into these vehicles, because new research suggests that climate change is making East Coast blizzards more severe.

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Marv Fertel, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute (compensation $3,761,026), said that nuclear power was being "squeezed by gas and renewables." He promised to take up with his group a question about overseas financing that was posed by an audience member, Marsha Freeman of Executive Intelligence Review. If Fertel was aware that Freeman's publication was founded by the bizarre convicted felon Lyndon LaRouche, he didn't let on.

Hal Quinn, yet another lawyer and the CEO of the National Mining Association (compensation $1,531,118) said that 2015 was the safest year in the mining industry's history. That was good to hear in the wake of the recent criminal conviction in West Virginia of former Massey Energy CEO Donald Blankenship, under whose leadership 29 workers died in a 2010 incident.

Quinn attributed the recent bankruptcies of U.S. coal companies, including Alpha Natural Resources, to those businesses overpaying to acquire other companies when the market was higher, and then taking on too much debt.

But he also blamed, of course, Obama, whose policies, he said, posed "existential risks" to his industry. He said that the Administration's just-announced moratorium on new leases for coal mining on federal lands was based on "fiction peddling." He insisted that the current lease program already accounts for the societal costs of carbon emissions from coal and that coal companies were paying above-market rates for the leases.

Quinn also complained about the EPA's rule to limit emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants from coal plants. The Supreme Court, by a 5-4 vote, knocked down that regulation last summer, which has forced the agency to scramble to formulate a new cost-benefit analysis to justify its action. But Quinn said that the Supreme Court's nullification of the rule came too late; the harm to the industry was already done.

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Nevertheless, Quinn predicted that demand for coal would rise in 2017.

When Quinn finished, a reporter rose to ask a question, which she prefaced by informing Quinn, and the room, of breaking news: The U.S. Court of Appeals had just declined to stay Obama's Clean Power Plan, pending final review. The industry had hired scores of lawyers to argue for that stay. The room got a little sadder, and Quinn hemmed and hawed for a bit.

The ballroom crowd, seating at round tables, started to thin out as the bad legal news sunk in, the afternoon dragged on, and the three lowest-paid CEOs concluded the program. Even a promised post-event cocktail hour couldn't stop the exodus.

Dan Dolan, President of the New England Power Generators Association (a bargain $257,082 salary), said the Obama Clean Power Plan "is a complete non-event in New England" because carbon mandates imposed by some New England states go well beyond what the EPA is requiring.

Yet another lawyer / CEO, Sue Kelly of the American Public Power Association ($384,314) presented a busy Powerpoint slide full of federal regulatory issues that concerned her, including, again, the dreaded Clean Power Plan.

Finally, when it appeared as if all the energy had been sapped out of the room, Rhone Resch ($627,348), CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, bounded up to the podium. In contrast to the somewhat hunched and lethargic men who make up much of the fossil lobby CEO population, Rhone Resch was tall and ramrod straight in a pressed suit, with the hair, face, and voice of an actor. Maybe he was our energy future.

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Resch then reported that solar energy has just reached 1% of total U.S. power generation - up from .1 % 5 years ago.

That announcement seemed to make little impression on the audience. But all kinds of knowing looks and whispers were exchanged at the event's conclusion when the head of the U.S. Energy Association announced that D.C.'s subway system would be shutting down for the impending massive snowstorm.

It seemed as if the crowd was generally unimpressed with Washington's public transportation system. But I don't think it worried the energy lobby CEOs. Based on the views they expressed, they likely have cars and SUVs waiting for them.

When it comes to moving toward clean energy policies, the U.S. still has a lot to overcome.

This article also appears on Republic Report.
The following is an excerpt from, Social Movements for Good: How Companies And Causes Create Viral Change.

By the time Mallory Brown, founder of World Clothes Line, returned from her first study-abroad experience in college, she realized she'd caught the travel bug, and it wasn't going away. She spent half of her senior year traveling the world again, backpacking through places like Indonesia, Thailand, and Southeast Asia.

These trips were different from what she had witnessed in countries in Europe. She saw firsthand the inequalities that existed in the world, including children and families struggling to have food and clothes, the bare essentials we take for granted.

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She realized that the life she had was much more privileged than most, even though she would be considered by many in the United States as a broke student just getting started in her career.

When she was 24, she started a social enterprise called the World Clothes Line. Her inspiration came from one of her trips. Like so many of us, she brought with her a bag of clothes filled with typical items and necessities. When she encountered so many people on her trip, she realized they needed clothing. It was on that trip that she started to give her clothes away to those who needed it more than she. That was the beginning of what would ultimately become a movement for basic needs in the world.

The concept of World Clothes Line is fairly simple. An individual buys clothes from the website; the company then provides a similar item to someone in need in another country chosen by the consumer, and then Mallory and her team personally deliver the clothes in person. This model allows the individual to participate with Mallory as a partner and supporter rather than just give without knowing what happens in the end to the person who receives it.

Embedded in the model of World Clothes Line is Mallory's global view. From her perspective, whether you are in Asia or Africa, the issues there affect her as much as the issues in Detroit, where she lives. She is trying to help others see how the world is a lot smaller than people really realize. It is possible through the videos that she produces to help consumers witness the act of giving.

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Mallory turned to Crowdrise to start campaigns that could help the families she encountered. But the twist to the campaigns was that she would raise money and then immediately go to work. Her model was to highlight a family or situation in another country, provide basic needs, film the experience quickly, and then return to her donors to help them immediately see what occurred. Using the Crowdrise campaign platform, she was able to tell friends, share the experience with her consumers, and spread the message through social media.

The feedback mechanism of the impact was not typical. As for most campaigns and nonprofit organizations, it takes months to hear back how the individuals were affected--but not in this case. Mallory didn't want people to feel that their money was wasted or forgotten. To maintain the excitement of giving and being philanthropic, she used video and urgency to her advantage.

One of Mallory's first campaigns was for a family in Haiti that suffered greatly during the devastating earthquake of 2010. A single mother named Chantale led the family. She had five children and had to abandon her home and take them to a settlement for disaster victims. Chantale and her younger children were part of the 30,000 families in the settlement that didn't have any clean water, electricity, or proper sanitation. Chantale's oldest son, Jacky, was separated from her during the earthquake, taken by a wealthy family, and eventually forced into slavery.

He finally escaped, living on the streets and sleeping in abandoned cars. Eventually, Chantale would reunite with Jacky, but they still lacked the necessities of life to get started.

To help, Mallory and her team created the 86,402 Campaign. She was already on the ground in Haiti when the campaign started. This meant that she would take the money raised and immediately spend it to help Chantale.

The campaign started with a $5,000 goal, and in 24 hours, raised more than $10,000. She went immediately to work and videotaped the whole experience, sharing what was going on and sending the video back to the donors.

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This whole process was so immediate that it sparked more and more campaigns focused on helping while on the ground and reporting back to donors. In essence, donors would give today, and tomorrow they would see how families and individuals were affected.

Mallory is raising money and donors. People she has never met before are hearing about how Mallory can help, and are immediately shown the impact of the gifts that come through and support the families and real people she encounters. The combination of giving now to people while immediately witnessing the power they have to transform lives resonates. Shooting raw footage on the ground to show people what is happening is important, and it makes people feel like they are with her, every step of the way, in real time.

Of course, she realizes how emotional it is for people to support other people. When connecting a story to someone without the basic needs we take for granted, a natural connection is created. That connection can be reinforced when there is more immediacy in both the story and the response. Engaging an audience to her is not about simply asking and telling a new story later, it is about sharing the powerful role someone can have on someone else now.

Mallory believes strongly that to inspire people, you have to open their eyes to the issues and possibilities. It is not about covering the hurt, but rather the opportunity that exists. For this reason, she has expanded into other issue areas such as homelessness and veterans' issues. Her model of tackling an issue within a 24-hour period, being on the ground and showing the donor how he or she can make a difference can be applied in so many other situations.

Mallory has learned a lot from her experiences so far as a social movement builder. She realizes that she gets the opportunity that most people don't get of being on the ground and being a part of something to witness firsthand. She knows that there are many great people out there who want to be a part of something. When willing to support something, present it in a compelling way, and show immediately what can happen, people will follow. Her comments about her experiences reflect the great opportunity and spirit of a new generation of social movement builders:

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AUSTIN, TX - JANUARY 1: On January 1, 2016, the open carry law took effect in Texas, and 2nd Amendment activists held an open carry rally at the Texas state capitol on January 1, 2016 in Austin, Texas. Armando Valledares of Killeen holds the 'Come And Take It' flag. (Photo by Erich Schlegel/Getty Images)

Faced with terrorism, an epidemic of violent crime, and a rising homicide rate, Texas Republicans concluded that a pistol-packing citizenry posed a threat to public safety. After studying the issue and collecting data, they passed legislation that banned citizens from carrying firearms in cities in the Lone Star State.

Texas? Republicans? Yes. The law they adopted in 1871 remained in force for over a century. And for decades -- even though the Texas Constitution, like its federal counterpart, guaranteed the right to keep and bear arms -- Texas courts upheld the law as a reasonable regulation.

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"In the wake of the Tea Party revolt, too many political leaders have chosen to appeal to fear rather than hope and develop policy prescriptions out of emotion rather than analysis."



Not until 1995 did Texas lawmakers join the movement to allow citizens to carry concealed weapons in public. And just a few weeks ago, Texas became the most populous state in the Union to pass an "open carry law" that allows citizens to carry guns openly in public places. So in Texas, you can now strap on a holster with a .45 before you stroll into the Capitol or the local 7-Eleven.

Why the change? It's not because Texas has become more dangerous since the early 1870s. When the restriction on carrying firearms was adopted, the Civil War was a recent memory; the Ku Klux Klan and other groups used terrorist tactics to reassert white control over emancipated slaves; violent clashes frequently erupted between Confederates and Unionists; and notorious desperadoes like John Wesley Hardin, Cole Blease, and others preyed on blacks and whites alike. Much of the state was frontier and lay beyond the reach of the law.

How much more violent was Texas in the years after the Civil War than today? The homicide rate was 15 times greater in 1868 than in 2014 -- 38 per 100,000 compared to 2.2 per 100,000. Indeed, in the past three decades, homicides have fallen dramatically. Since 1980, the population in the Lone Star State has almost doubled, but the number of reported homicides has decreased by about 50 percent.

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While the data suggest that Texans are far safer today than in 1871, if one listens to many of the state's political leaders, citizens live under constant threat of violent crime and must be able to carry arms to protect themselves and their families. "An armed society is a safe society, so any time you have gun control, there is far more opportunity to become victims," reasoned one legislative supporter of expanding the right to pack heat.

Why the disconnect between perception and policy on the one hand and reality on the other? Why are Texans safer yet feeling more vulnerable? Certainly, it's a manifestation of single-issue politics and the power of the National Rifle Association. But it also reflects the failure of political leadership and the triumph of the politics of fear.

Texas Republicans of the 1860s and 1870s were the Party of Lincoln. They believed in progress and viewed government as its agent. They extended civil rights to former slaves, created a public education system, and expanded the state's transportation infrastructure. In the face of evidence -- carefully assembled evidence -- that progress was threatened by violence, they restricted the right to carry firearms in public.

In the wake of the Tea Party revolt, too many political leaders have chosen to appeal to fear rather than hope and develop policy prescriptions out of emotion rather than analysis. The Republican Presidential debates attest to this. Illegal immigrants, affirmative action, feminism, Muslim refugees, violent criminals, government restrictions on individual liberty, GOP candidates insist, threaten the rights and well-being of hard-working, law-abiding, tax-paying citizens.

Damn the data. Don't bother with the facts. Decent people and their rights are being threatened. Bold action is required. Citizens' constitutional right to carry arms must be restored.

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"Appealing to fear has always been a powerful force in American politics. ... But if fear is a powerful force in our politics, so is hope."



Appealing to fear has always been a powerful force in American politics. Historian Richard Hofstadter argued as much in his 1964 classic, The Paranoid Style in American Politics. The Tea Party, Donald Trump, and the advocates of "open carry" are merely the latest manifestation of an old, if seamy, tradition.

But if fear is a powerful force in our politics, so is hope. In the face of economic collapse, Franklin Roosevelt assured Americans, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." Ronald Reagan proclaimed, "It's morning in America again." And the greatest of our political leaders, Abraham Lincoln, appealed to "the better angels of our nature" even in the face of impending Civil War.

The insanity of transforming public places into armed camps should cause us to take a hard look at contemporary political discourse and reject the politics of fear. If we don't, we may stoke the violence that Texas Republicans of the 1870s attempted to contain and Texas Republicans of the 2010s seem likely to revive.
A minivan is stuck in the ditch of a deserted four lane highway. This image was taken shortly after a snowstorm with severe blizzard conditions. Snow continues to blow and is visible in the background

I know I recently wrote about weather closings, but if you weren't a flood victim, you probably didn't focus on my column. So I'm doing a rerun, this time about snow closings. It's bad enough you're getting hit with a blizzard, so do you have to worry about your finances too? Here's what you need to know if your office is closed due to the snow storm.

Whether you're entitled to be paid when the office is closed depends on whether you are "exempt" salaried or not. Just being salaried doesn't necessarily mean you aren't entitled to overtime. It's possible to be salaried and still non-exempt from the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Many employers misclassify employees as exempt to avoid paying overtime. If you work more than forty hours per week, it's better to be non-exempt. But in the case of weather and emergency closings, it's probably better to be exempt.

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Exempt employees: If you're exempt and you worked any portion of the work week, you have to be paid your entire salary, whether or not the office is closed for a natural disaster such as snow, tornado, or flood. Further, Department of Labor regulations state, "If the employee is ready, willing and able to work, deductions may not be made for time when work is not available." This would include natural disasters, so if you are able to work after a storm then you must be paid even if you didn't work any portion of the week. If you can't get there on time or have to leave early due to the flooding but the office is open, they can't deduct for any partial days you worked.

Vacation time and PTO: Your employer can deduct from your vacation time or PTO for the time taken. However, if you have no accrued vacation or PTO time available, they still can't deduct from your pay if you're exempt.

Non-exempt employees: If you are non-exempt, then your employer doesn't have to pay for the time the office is closed. However, if your company takes deductions and you're a non-exempt salaried employee it may affect the way overtime is calculated.

Who Is Exempt?: You're not exempt unless you fall into very specific categories, such as executives, administrative employees, or learned professionals. Plus, your job duties must fall within those categories, not just your title. In addition, your employer must treat you as exempt by not docking your pay when you miss work.

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Pay For Reporting To Work: If you report to work after a natural disaster, only to find out that the workplace is closed (assuming they didn't notify you), New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon and Rhode Island, as well as the District of Columbia have laws that require your employer to pay you a set minimum amount of time if you show up as scheduled. If your state has no such requirements, maybe it's a good time to start complaining to your legislators.
Much is said these days about the mismatch of missions and resources for the military. Indeed, the chants of neoconservatives on Capitol Hill have gotten quite loud: more military spending, more personnel, more weapons. A recent Rand Corporation report also warned that failing to deploy a large enough Army could "lead to a failure of the U.S. strategy and subsequent regret."

But the solution is not to spend more. It is to reassess foreign policy objectives and decide whether they are worth the cost. Better to scale back an over-ambitious strategy than to waste scarce resources pursuing dubious goals.

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This is not a new problem. In their report, "Limiting Regret: Building the Army We Will Need," Timothy M. Bonds, Michael Johnson, and Paul S. Steinberg pointed to 2007-2008, when the Bush administration decided to increase combat forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan. They wrote: "Unfortunately, insufficient ground forces existed to meet the demands in both Iraq and Afghanistan." This forced "a compromise between the theaters, with the availability of soldiers for Afghanistan closely tied to the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq."

Yet what was achieved by both of these wars? The disastrous Iraq invasion was misguided from the start. The famed "surge" worked only insofar as Sunni tribes turned away from insurgent/terrorist forces, but no reconciliation was effected. The Baghdad government's continued sectarianism promoted the rise of the Islamic State, which eventually allied with former Baathists and Sunni tribes to overthrow Shia government control. Whatever short-term success American lives bought was squandered.

Little more was achieved in Afghanistan, under both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who twice hiked troop levels. Indeed, the entire 14 year nation-building mission was a mistake. The U.S. had reason to strike al-Qaeda for committing the 9/11 attacks and oust the Taliban for hosting al-Qaeda training camps, but attempting to create a liberal, democratic, centralized state in Central Asia was a fool's errand. It's not clear what will survive after the investment of so many lives and so much money.

The problem in 2007-2008 was not too few troops. It was the wrong objectives.

That continues to be the case. The Rand report addressed "current and potential demand for Army ground forces," specifically contingencies involving the Islamic State, Russia in the Baltics, and North Korea. That's on top of "violent extremist activity throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Asia," as well as "Iran's nuclear program and China's territorial disputes with its neighbors," and even such "wildcards" as "the Ebola outbreak in Africa."

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To "limit regret" in confronting such challenges, Rand advocates adding more soldiers. Better would be reducing requirements. After relying on America for decades, Washington's defense dependents should do more to protect themselves, especially handling manpower-rich tasks for which they are well-suited.

First there's the Middle East and the Islamic State. Said Rand, the Quadrennial Defense Review "did not anticipate the threat that ISIL is currently posing and was silent on the continuing threat posed by the Taliban." Moreover, "other groups have emerged, such as Houthis in Yemen, that are wrecking stability in the Middle East." If the mission in these areas changes, noted Rand, then U.S. forces "would need to increase significantly."

Yet Yemen long has been a mess and the Houthis have been fighting the central authorities for decades. More important, in recent years the U.S. has been the most destabilizing force in the Mideast, invading Iraq, ousting Libya's Moammar Qaddafy, attempting to depose Syria's Bashar al-Assad, and supporting Saudi Arabia as it turned Yemen into a sectarian contest. It is a little late to set stability as an American objective.

The Taliban obviously are not going away. There's no reason to believe that keeping combat forces there for another year will change anything, except prolong the collapse of Washington's regime in Kabul. That would be unfortunate, but no threat to important let alone vital U.S. interests. American personnel are being expected to die to prevent obvious failure from occurring during this administration. That's no justification for maintaining troops in Afghanistan. Better to acknowledge a future in which Afghanistan's "president" might rule little more than Kabul and the rest of the nation is governed by various factions and strongmen.

As for ISIL, where are America's supposed Arab allies? The Gulf States have essentially gone AWOL over the past year. Turkey never has contributed much, preferring to support or at least acquiesce in Islamic State activities. Unfortunately, Iran and more recently Russia have done far more to advance Washington's policy.

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Yet the Islamic State is essentially at war with every major country in the Middle East, most directly threatening Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey, as well as autonomous Kurdistan. The group's Sunni extremism challenges Shia Iran, Jewish Israel, and corrupt, libertine Saudi Arabia and the Sunni Gulf kingdoms. ISIL even has expanded into authoritarian Egypt and divided Libya.

Counting paramilitary forces, more than a million men are available to deal with a couple tens of thousands of ISIL fighters. Turkey alone has 400,000 men in uniform. Several nations possess substantial air forces with ground attack capabilities. The Europeans could play a sophisticated and substantive support role. Obviously, this is a fractious group which agrees upon little other than the danger posed by the Islamic State. But that threat is more likely to induce cooperation than American pleas while Washington does the job for everyone else.

The second "threat" to the U.S. comes from Russia. Warned Rand: "the current planning construct does not address the forces and posture needed to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe." In the Rand analysts' view, some 120,000 additional U.S. army personnel are required.

Yet precisely what is the threat to the U.S. and Europe? The lawless dismemberment of Ukraine understandably offends Americans' sense of justice, but endangers neither the U.S. nor Europe. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, has been ruled from Moscow for centuries, and has only modest economic impact on the West. Although odious, aggression against Ukraine, so far limited to heavily ethnic Russian areas in the east, despite manifold predictions of an imminent Putin blitzkrieg, has limited security implications for Europe and even less for America.

The Baltic States are NATO members--an unfortunate consequence of treating the organization more like an international gentlemen's club than a military alliance. Yet they don't bother to do much for their own defense. Estonia devotes a paltry two percent of GDP to the military, while Latvia and Lithuania are at one percent. If genuinely worried about the possibility of Russian aggression, they could create a tough territorial defense to ensure that Moscow would pay a substantial penalty for war.

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As for garrisoning the Baltics, where are the Europeans? The European Union has a larger population and economy than America. If anyone puts more soldiers in uniform to protect European states, it should be European states. Indeed, the best U.S. response to proposals for permanent bases and garrisons and periodic patrols and exercises would be to encourage the Europeans to move ahead. Washington is busy all over the world--in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Korea, South China Sea, and more. Seven decades after the end of World War II the Europeans should take care of themselves.

Finally, there's North Korea. Even Rand acknowledged that "a wealthy and technologically advanced South Korea can now provide well-trained and armed forces to defeat a conventional invasion." But the researchers cited the North's artillery, missiles, and unconventional capabilities, noting that "North Korea poses several threats to the United States, South Korea, and the region." Also, worried Rand, "the collapse of North Korea could lead to the theft and proliferation of nuclear weapons and materials from a large number of research and development, manufacturing, testing, and weapon storage sites." To respond to sustained artillery attack would require another 188,000 U.S. soldiers. A North Korean collapse would necessitate almost as many, 150.000.

But where are the South Koreans? With around 40 times the economic strength and twice the population, they could put another 200,000 men under arms if they worried about such scenarios. Of course they do not want to pay the price. But if anyone should attack across the border to destroy artillery which is bombarding South Korean cities, it is South Koreans. If anyone should sort out a chaotic, disintegrating North Korea, it is South Koreans.

And how about neighboring states? The studious refusal of the South Koreans and Japanese to cooperate militarily depends on Washington's continuing willingness to step into the gap. Even China might not be so gentle with its troublesome North Korean step-child--neither true ally nor client--if Beijing did not see the U.S. as a restraining force.

Moreover, North Koreans in the midst of regime collapse likely would be better disposed to South Korean than American troops. Even more important, China would not likely be comfortable with 150,000 American soldiers heading toward the Yalu despite the changes since 1950. Been there, done that. That prospect might prompt Chinese military intervention to preserve a puppet rump state, keep U.S. forces away from the border, and even collect nuclear materials as well. It would be better for armed Chinese to meet armed South Koreans than armed Americans.

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Pushing defense responsibilities back on those who actually are threatened, in this case by the Islamic State, Russia, and North Korea, is the best way to close the strategy-resource mismatch. After all, noted Rand, if the Baltic and North Korea contingencies occurred at once, The Army would require 545,000 personnel, which would mean either 190,000 more active duty or 475,000 more reservists. Better allied nations add to their forces to defend themselves than America do so.

Rand's objection is striking: "this approach ignores the fact that the most capable U.S. allies are currently cutting their ground forces more than we are and that they rely on U.S. ground forces for much of the combat and logistics support they receive during deployed operations." Yes, because Washington allows them to do so. As long as U.S. officials wander the globe "reassuring" allies which cut military force levels and outlays that America will take care of them, these nations have no incentive to do otherwise. They have become the international variant of the "welfare queens" who President Ronald Reagan once criticized. Like the 1996 welfare reform, cutting the defense dole and telling allies that the good times are over would give them a powerful incentive to reverse course. If they won't defend themselves, why should Washington do so?

The nations with the greatest regret at not doing more militarily would include America. The Islamic State poses an existential threat to neighboring states, not America. The Baltic States and Ukraine are chiefly European, not American, concerns. South Korea's dramatic growth has given it the wherewithal to provide for its defense.

Washington should have begun devolving responsibility on its dependents years ago. After all, attempting to run the world is expensive. As the federal budget heads toward collapse during the coming entitlement tsunami Americans will have little choice but to expect their foreign "friends" to do more. The U.S. should start shifting defense responsibilities now.
About half of the State of Alaska -- an area larger than Texas -- lies in the Arctic. This makes the United States an "Arctic Nation", one of only eight with territory in the region. The others are Russia, Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The Arctic Ocean and closely connected shelf seas cover about 8 million square miles, and the adjacent Arctic lands total about five million square miles. Across this vast land area live only 4 million people, half of them in the Russian Arctic. The Alaskan Arctic is home to only about 140,000 people, at a population density of half a person per square mile (compared to 106 people per square mile in the Lower 48).

Notwithstanding the tiny population of Arctic lands, however, the region is of great economic, environmental, and strategic importance:

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 Arctic lands and shallow seas overlie large resources of oil, gas, and other mineral resources;

 They support important commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries;

 They are home and feeding grounds to vast populations of wildlife, including many species found nowhere else;

 The land is home to indigenous peoples whose culture and way of life deserve respect and protection;

 The decline in sea-ice cover in the Arctic summer is opening up new navigation routes, new access to subsea resources, and corresponding new demands for marine infrastructure and governance;

 Other aspects of climate change in the Arctic are posing major additional challenges both inside the region and beyond it;

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 Questions of sovereignty over the Arctic Ocean seabed beyond the usual 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone are giving rise to conflicting claims and corresponding concerns; and

 Seven of the eight Arctic nations maintain military bases in the region (Iceland is the exception), with the recent expansion of Russia's network of bases having drawn particular worried attention.

The strategic importance of the Arctic region has been clear since World War II, and Alaskan residents and their representatives in Congress have always paid attention to the issues and tensions around fisheries, wildlife, conservation lands, and resource development, as have the Department of Interior (including the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey), the Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service, and the Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service. But recognition from the U.S. Federal government of the need for a coherent, cross-government approach to Arctic issues and policy emerged only in fits and starts, beginning in the 1980s with the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (amended 1990).

In 1996, the United States linked up with the seven other Arctic nations to form the Arctic Council, which is focused on promoting collaboration on and coordination around Arctic fisheries, environmental monitoring and protection, scientific research, maritime search and rescue, and indigenous-peoples' issues. The U.S. Secretary of State and the foreign ministers of the other participating nations lead the Arctic Council, together with the heads of six organizations representing Arctic indigenous peoples.

The first-ever national Arctic Region Policy was rolled out at the end of the Bush Administration, in early January 2009. The Department of the Interior led preparation of an interagency report on Artic Management that was released in March 2013, and the National Security Council coordinated development of a National Strategy for the Arctic Region that came out in May of the same year. The National Strategy defined lines of effort under three overarching focuses: advancing security interests of the United States; pursuing responsible stewardship; and strengthening international cooperation.

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Then, a year ago, President Obama increased the Nation's engagement on Arctic issues yet again by issuing an Executive Order entitled "Enhancing Coordination of National Efforts in the Arctic". The January 2015 Executive Order created a new Arctic Executive Steering Committee (AESC) responsible for fostering communication, coordination, and collaboration among the 25 Federal departments, agencies, and offices with responsibilities in the Arctic region. One of us (Holdren) serves as Chairman of the AESC and the other (Brzezinski) serves as its full-time Executive Director. The Vice Chair is Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Amy Pope.

The President tasked the AESC with helping to shape and reconcile Arctic priorities among the participating Federal entities, promoting coordinated implementation and evaluation of government initiatives in the Arctic region, improving the coherence of the Federal government's engagement with the State of Alaska and Alaska-Native communities, and supporting Secretary of State John Kerry and his team as the United States assumes the rotating Chairmanship of the eight-nation Arctic Council for 2015-17. As we look back on the first year of the AESC's work, we can report significant progress on all of these fronts.

At its first meeting, last February, the AESC set up seven working groups: (1) cross-agency coordination of implementation of the National Arctic Strategy; (2) use of high-resolution satellite imagery for regional planning and emergency preparedness and response; (3) oil-spill preparedness; (4) interactions between the Federal government and native communities; (5) coastal erosion and flooding in high-risk Alaskan settlements; (6) reliable and affordable energy for remote Arctic communities; and (7) planning for a ministerial-level international summit on climate-change challenges in the Arctic.

The first six of these working groups met frequently over the course of 2015, and all have developed and have begun to implement significant new initiatives while simultaneously providing improved coordination and oversight of the implementation of pre-existing efforts. In the remainder of this essay, though, we want to focus on the culmination of the work of the seventh group--the 22-nation GLACIER Conference, which was held in Anchorage on August 30-31, 2015, and President Obama's accompanying multi-stop visit to Alaska, which included the first-ever trip to the Arctic by a sitting American President. (GLACIER stands for Global Leadership on the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement, and Resilience.)

The GLACIER Conference, the President's trip, and additional associated events featuring Cabinet members and other senior Administration officials built upon and helped advance the work of all of the AESC working groups, not just those focused explicitly on climate change. That is evident, for example, in the announcements the President made in Anchorage, Seward, Dillingham, and Kotzebue, which covered a multitude of new initiatives focusing on a wide range of issues. You can read about the announcements here, here, and here.

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But it's the inescapable conclusion of anyone who spends time in the far North that the challenge of coping with climate change looms over and interacts with just about every other issue and interest in the region. Over the past 60 years, Alaska has warmed about twice as fast as the rest of the United States. Last year was Alaska's warmest year on record, just as it was for the rest of the world...until 2015 surpassed it. In some parts of Alaska and other Arctic regions, the rise in average temperature has been three to four times the global average.

As President Obama noted in Anchorage, this reality puts the Arctic at the leading edge of global climate change -- a preview of where the rest of the world is heading. One of the most conspicuous impacts within the region is shrinking sea-ice coverage, which results in increased maritime activity (with economic benefits but also new demands on infrastructure and oversight), increased coastal erosion from storms, and feeding/breeding challenges for seals, walruses, whales, and polar bears (impacting subsistence hunting).

Another impact within the region related to climate change is the melting of mountain and coastal glaciers. Alaska's glaciers alone have recently been estimated to be losing 75 billion tons of water annually. This increases river discharge and turbidity, which in turn affects erosion and, potentially, fisheries in the ocean as well as in the rivers. Other impacts include thawing of the permafrost that underlies 80 percent of the land area of Alaska, leading to subsidence that threatens buildings, roads, and energy infrastructure; and bigger and hotter wildfires, which destroy valuable timber and wildlife habitat, create massive smoke pollution, and accelerate permafrost thaw.

But the impacts of climate change in the Arctic are not confined to the Arctic. The increased discharge to the ocean of meltwater and icebergs from glaciers and the Greenland ice sheet is contributing to the acceleration of sea-level rise worldwide. Increased release of carbon dioxide and methane from Arctic wildfires, microbial action on organic carbon previously frozen in permafrost, and thawing methane hydrates in soils and sediments speeds up global warming. And it's increasingly clear that atmospheric circulation patterns in the mid-latitudes -- including storm tracks and extremes of hot and cold -- are being affected by the more rapid warming of the Arctic compared to the rest of the world. (Read more about climate-change impacts within and beyond the Arctic here.)

The activities undertaken by the Arctic Executive Steering Committee in its first year -- and by the State Department in its work so far supporting the 2015-17 U.S. Chairmanship of the eight-nation Arctic Council -- are only the first step in meeting President Obama's commitment to coordination, cooperation, and global leadership in meeting Arctic challenges. There is much more to do. As the Chair and Executive Director of the AESC, we look forward to the continuation of these efforts, in collaboration with our partners across the Federal government, the people and officials of the State of Alaska, and Arctic stakeholders around the world.

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Democratic presidential candidates Martin O'Malley (L), Hillary Clinton (C) and Bernie Sanders (R) greet one another following the NBC News -YouTube Democratic Candidates Debate on January 17, 2016 at the Gaillard Center in Charleston, South Carolina. / AFP / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

After a Holiday break, the Supreme Court returned to a full schedule of arguments and other activity in January. The crucial oral argument before the Court this month in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, as well as several cases that the Court agreed to review later this year, again show that on a variety of important issues, the Court has enormous influence but is closely divided. With the president elected in November likely to select as many as four new Supreme Court justices beginning as early as next year, the person we elect as president will be critical. Thats why Election Day 2016 will be Judgment Day for the Court and our rights and liberties.

Friedrichs is the latest battle in what the New York Times has called the war on workers and unions being waged by Justice Alito and other conservatives on the Court. A primary target of that war has been a decision almost 40 years ago in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education. In that case the Court determined that although workers cannot be forced to join a union or contribute to its political activities, since that would violate their First Amendment rights, they can be required to help pay for the costs of collective bargaining and related activities from which they benefit even if they are not union members. That solution to what would otherwise be a free rider problem is crucial to the ability of unions to effectively represent the interests of workers. Even though a unanimous Supreme Court recognized the principle of Abood as recently as 2009, subsequent 5-4 decisions written by Justice Alito have criticized that ruling and effectively invited attempts to overturn it. That is exactly what the plaintiffs in Friedrichs, a small group of California teachers, are attempting to do, claiming they should not have to join or pay fair share costs to the state teachers union and that Abood should be overturned.

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The justices comments at the oral argument made clear that the conservative 5-4 majority remains hostile to unions and Abood, and may well be prepared to overrule it this year. (As usual, Justice Thomas did not speak at the argument, but his negative views in this area have been made clear in past opinions). Particularly troubling were some comments by Justice Kennedy, who is often the swing vote on the Court, but in this case maintained that free riders are really compelled riders who, he claimed, are forced to support unions on issues on which they strongly disagree. Regardless of the merits of that claim, on which many have disagreed, it strongly suggests that there may now be five votes to overturn Abood, with disastrous consequences for unions and workers.

It is impossible, of course, to predict the precise outcome of a Supreme Court case based on the oral argument, and the Court could issue a decision that does not completely overrule Abood. The Court could send the case back to a lower court for specific fact-finding on issues like the impact of eliminating free rider payments on unions, as was suggested at one point in the argument, or could limit its holding to the specific case in California. Particularly if the Court chooses one of those alternatives, the question of who will replace older justices like Kennedy, Ginsburg, and Scalia when they retire will be critical. That is why the election in November of our next president, who will nominate such replacements, is crucial for the Court and workers rights. Even an outright overruling of Abood could be softened or revisited, but only if a progressive president is elected and selects more progressives Justices for the Court.

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During January, the Court also agreed to review several important cases on other subjects this year. The case that has generated the most controversy is United States v. Texas, where lower courts have put on hold the presidents executive orders on immigration that would defer deportation enforcement against millions of undocumented immigrants who have children who are citizens or legal permanent residents and would be able to apply for jobs and stay in the U.S. for three years. Twenty-six states led by Texas filed the challenge, and the huge partisan divide on the question almost guarantees that it will be an election issue this fall. The most extreme Justices on the Court (Scalia, Alito and Thomas) have voted against virtually every significant Obama initiative that has come before the Court, and the Courts decision to add a question for the parties to address - whether the Obama order is consistent with the Constitutions language that the president should take care that federal laws be faithfully executed - suggests deep skepticism by some of the justices. The decision itself could have a huge impact not only on this specific issue, but also on the ability of a future progressive president to take other executive action in the face of a recalcitrant Congress. However this case is decided, there is also little question that these issues will return to the Court in 2017 or later, and the views of the president who will appoint future justices will be crucial to the results.

The Court also decided in January to review several other important cases this year. In one, the Court has been asked to decide whether a state constitution can more strictly separate church and state than the increasingly conservative Supreme Court has and can prohibit any direct state financial aid to religious institutions. Thirty-five states have such constitutional provisions, and the Court is very divided on such religion issues, which are very likely to come up in the future as well. And in another big business vs. consumers case, the Court will consider what must be proven to prosecute someone for illegally using inside company information for stock or other trading. This issue has divided lower courts, one of which has adopted a narrow interpretation that has dealt a significant setback to the efforts of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara to crack down on insider trading in the $3 trillion hedge fund industry. The Court is likely to be divided on this issue as well.

The Courts decisions in both these cases later this year will be important in and of themselves. But they are also very unlikely to be the last word on the significant big business, consumer, and religion issues they raise. The fact that these and other crucial issues will be decided by this divided Court in the future, and the fact that four justices on the current Court will be over 80 in the next presidents first term, is what makes the identity of the president who will appoint future justices so important. Statements this month by both Democratic and Republican candidates show that, even as they also discuss other issues, they clearly recognize the importance of the election for the future direction of the Court. In short, Election Day 2016 truly is Judgment Day for the Supreme Court and for all of our rights and liberties.
At a time when the fashion industry remains highly competitive while lacking a strong push for diversity, it's important to acknowledge trends that counter that.

For Philadelphia native Chloe Johnston, her passion to change how the world views women of color's role in fashion was ingrained in her creativity, focus, and innovation. Here's five powerful ways she's changing the way the fashion industry notices black girl magic!

1) She's owns it, literally.

Chloe Johnston is the founder and president of her self-titled fashion company and takes great pride in being able to drive the creative forces behind it. The business specializes in unique tour guides for traveling fashion lovers and an online virtual shopping experience for those who want the experience at home. "As a woman, we often don't have the opportunity to self-actualize our own dreams and see them to fruition," Johnston said. "I'm very grateful to be able to work with a supportive team that allows me to exceed my expectations while I get to help them do so as well."

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2) She's made professional, academic, and social investments.

Chloe's walk into the fashion industry came from her childhood days of playing dress-up and critiquing her relatives' style and tastes. "I was always a trendsetter at heart, and my family never got enough of it," Chloe said humorously. Frequent trips to Paris growing up would later become a defining moment for her career projections. "I fell in love with the city," she said. "The food, culture and energy inspired me to see myself creating something that I could bring back home." Before the days of Travel Noire, Chloe invested personal time and finances in traveling between the popular European city and New York City while working towards her M.B.A. in fashion entrepreneurship at LIM Fashion College. Her company model was first a school project before Chloe realized that her interest in Paris was something that could be "the heart of her career." "I remember one day realizing that I never wanted to let this experience go and mapping out a way to turn this into a life-long career," she said. "It took some time, but I'm happy that I remained patient...it truly goes a long way."

3) She's reinvented the wheel so she can ride it.

Unlike many companies in the industry, Chloe had to create an "experience" that was multi-dimensional in product and outreach. "I just couldn't design clothes and sell them...we had to do more," she said about starting her business as a Parisian fashion tour guide that specialized in boutique dealers. "Our brand was initially about giving people a piece of Paris with them, but now I'm taking it global" she said. Chloe has now launched a flagship building in New York City that also operates with Philadelphia. Being a transplant of NYC and Paris has helped her navigate the different fashion trends and styles for various women.

4) She challenges stereotypes and creative barriers.

"When I first proposed my goals to outsiders in the industry, many were hesitant that my plan wouldn't follow through," Chloe said about the obstacles she faced in an industry that "doesn't generally look and think" like her. "I had to gain encouragement and strength from family and friends who invested in my dream -- my parents and husband have played a larger-than-life role in my accomplishments thus far." Countering stereotypes of black women in fashion, Chloe has made creative decisions that stray from what people usually assume. Her fashion collection and events do not fall into the presumed foray of contemporary urban hip-hop chic nor do her attendees only reflect a certain racial demographic. "I'm about bringing all women together from various backgrounds," she said at a fashion wine tasting mixer she held at Philadelphia's Union League. "I believe we have the power to unite through our universal love for fashion, fun and life... I want people to see the creativity of black women differently than what's being portrayed in the media right now."

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5) She's committed to paving the way for more women and diversity.
Most people know President Putin but few have heard of Patriarch Kirill.

The Russian patriarch, who often has the same objectives as Putin, operates with less attention and in many ways fewer restrictions.

Both men employ what can be broadly described as a three-pronged approach: strengthen the homeland, grow Russia's regional power and increase its international influence.

Their strategy is fueled by a common Russian World perspective which is remarkably analyzed by Sergei Chapnin who was recently fired by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) for criticizing its leadership. In this model, Kirill supports and is often subordinate to the will of Putin.

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Upwards collaboration includes ROC efforts to promote certain domestic policies, as well as tactics to strengthen its role in religious affairs -- especially in Ukraine -- which includes stymieing efforts of global Orthodoxy.

The ecclesiastical organization of the Orthodox Church can be confusing; unlike Roman Catholicism, for instance, Orthodoxy uses a system of synodality without a single person in charge such as the pope.

The Orthodox Church is administratively comprised of 14 autocephalous churches (see full list below) who tend to their flocks, both at home and in the diaspora, based on local needs and traditions. Through their individual synods, autocephalous churches oversee affairs without any formal oversight. While quarrels between local churches arise from time to time, their faithful share in the unity of the faith and together constitute the Church and are joined to Christ.

When pan-Orthodox issues arise, primates from the 14 jurisdictions gather to deliberate and make decisions for the whole Church. It is here that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople occupies an unparalleled primacy of honour with its head, the Ecumenical Patriarch, first among equals.



Orthodoxy's ecclesiastical organization of local synods and church councils is well-defined and affords the Church certain advantages (e.g., checks and balances in decision making). This system also presents certain challenges, particularly when an autocephalous church employs parochial tactics to advance a politically-inspired agenda.

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Enter Moscow.

The ROC under Kirill has closely aligned itself with the political machinery of the Russian state. The church has leveraged its relationships with government officials to construct parishes and monasteries, as well as gain financially. The Kremlin, on the other hand, uses the church to advance certain legislative goals and even defend military action in Ukraine.

While Putin and Kirill promote Russian nationalism within the political arena, its promotion within the Church -- although not without historical precedent from Greeks, Russians and others -- is contrary to Orthodox teaching.

The ROC attempts to influence church affairs in the region, such as in the Czech Lands and Slovakia (which in theory is autocephalous) and, of course, in Ukraine where the relationship between the church in Kiev and Moscow is zealously protected by Kirill.

Russian clergy have in the past withdrawn their participation in pan-Orthodox meetings and used Russian embassies to conduct church services, consistent with a Russian World viewpoint.

The bond between state interest and church affairs was crystallized following the downing of a Russian military jet by Turkey last November. The heated public spat between Putin and his Turkish counterpart affected Constantinople-Moscow church relations.

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For example, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, the skilful chairman of the ROC's Department for External Relations, immediately cancelled a planned trip to meet with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Moreover, the ongoing meeting of Church Primates had to be relocated to the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Geneva, because the ROC delegation, led by Kirill, refused to visit Turkey as originally scheduled.

It is one thing for ambassadors to be recalled or ministers to cancel bilateral visits during times of conflict, but applied to religious leaders is troubling -- unless of course they are an extension and under the control of the state.

The historically volatile church-state relationship in Russia is beyond the scope of this essay but suffice it to say that the present-day actions of the ROC frequently resemble more Vatican-style political activism than the ascetical and mystical tradition of the Orthodox East.

Kirill's relationship with the Kremlin is at a minimum prima facie counter to the position taken by one of his recent predecessors, St. Tikhon, who, after emerging from prison in 1923, stated:

The Russian Orthodox Church is non-political, and henceforward does not want to be either a Red or a White Church; it should and will be the One Catholic Apostolic Church, and all attempts coming from any side to embroil the Church in the political struggle should be rejected and condemned.

This year has the potential to be a historic one for the Orthodox Church as primates have agreed to hold a 'Holy and Great Council' to be convened by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and presided by Bartholomew.

More than 50-years in the making, this Council is in many ways a proxy-battle between Constantinople and Moscow where the Mother, who historically birthed and nurtured the daughter, is now trying to be gently supplanted for the leadership of global Orthodoxy by her offspring.

The ongoing deliberations between primates in Chambesy have apparently resulted in agreement to move the June 2016 Council from Turkey to Crete in Greece -- a small but symbolic victory for the ROC. The Russian delegation continues to hinder progress -- not based on theological arguments or Orthodoxy's rich tradition but instead on technicalities like the working definition of consensus.

A major concern of the ROC and in many ways the Russian state is the potential granting of autocephaly to Ukraine. Not wanting to have its own independence interfered with, the ROC suffocates the freedom of Ukraine's church and the irony abounds.

Lingering in the background will be Kirill and the interests of Russia. Still, if the Holy and Great Council takes place, regardless of location, it will be a truly momentous achievement for Bartholomew but more importantly for the whole Orthodox Church.

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Note: the 14 Patriarchates and Autocephalous Churches are: Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem (the four Ancient Patriarchates); and, Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Albania and the Czech Lands and Slovakia.
News / National

by Staff reporter

An alleged close ally of embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been sucked in a damaging land wrangle in Harare South - with frustrated local residents accusing the bigwig of fronting for a white farmer and pushing them away from the land that they invaded in 2000 and subsequently obtained offer letters for in 2006.The deputy chairperson of Pungwe-Chimurenga Housing Co-operative, Lawrence Tholana, told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that the lives of the Harare South residents - who built their homes at Tizororo Farm - had changed for the worst after the politician-cum-businessman, Oliver Chidawu, claimed to be the owner of the land that they were occupying."Chidawu came here in 2011 and claimed that the land is his and that he has the title deeds for Tizororo Farm. But the truth is that the owner of the farm was a white man and when we chased him away in 2000 he surrendered the title deeds."We also know that Chidawu was renting the farm from the white man and that it was never his. We have our allocation letters which we got in 2006 to prove this," Tholana claimed."It is surprising that we are now being accused of invading private land and yet we have all the papers that prove we own the land. They say we should leave the farm now," he added.Contacted for comment yesterday, Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere said his ministry would look into the matter this week."I am only hearing about the issue now and will check with our officials on Monday," Kasukuwere said.If Chidawu's claims for the disputed farm are sustained, more than 2 000 families are set lose their homes."We have knocked on every door seeking help and answers but we are always referred back to the ministry of Lands where an official who we are supposed to see is adamant that the land belongs to a white man," Tholana said.Repeated efforts to get a comment from Chidawu yesterday were fruitless.Zanu-PF MP for Harare South, Shadreck Mashayamombe, who is also the party's Harare political commissar, said he was looking into the matter with the aim of finding an amicable solution."What is worrying is that the people have offer letters from relevant ministries and therefore are, on the face of things, there legitimately," Mashayamombe said.
When the late Graham Greene's The Comedians was published, the book's description read, "Set in Haiti, amid an atmosphere of brutal force and terror-ridden love, three desperate people work out their strange destinies". The bestseller became a major motion picture starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It was the 1960s and there was a cruel dictator in power.

Greene who had a penchant for spy thrillers and post-colonial maneuverings was hailed in The Nation. A reviewer proclaimed his latest adventure, "the most interesting novel of his career... closer to a tragedy than anything he has written".

Relevance of The Comedians is apparent in Haiti's recently cancelled election runoff that was set for this past Sunday. Indeed, until then, the outgoing president Michel Martelly, a chap with dictatorial tendencies who leads the "Bald Headed Haitian Party" -- insisted on proceeding with business as usual. His would-be successor, Jovonel Moise the so-called leading candidate, is eager to turn Haiti into a "banana republic", a discursive play on his plantain plantation commerce. The opposition, Jude Celestin, boycotted the event and penned an op-ed disavowing the impending masquerade as a total farce. The masses who continue to suffer were being forced once again to absorb this electoral crisis and participate in a "selection", as they say in the local parlance. It is hard to discern which is more comic and/or tragic in these instances.

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Photo credit: Gina Athena Ulysse

"Surely you jest", I say to myself in a mocking tone as elders decry, "the country has lost its dignity", knowing full well that my late grandmother would use expletives.

This Christmas, when I visited family, the ride to the immigrant enclave they call home was, as always, an educational one. My Kreyol vocabulary got a free upgrade as soon as I revealed my identity to taxi drivers, who are often also Haitian. Curious about new views on this moment, I interrogated him (this is an occupational hazard, in part, as I am a cultural anthropologist).

Upon my arrival, I sincerely apologized for making him talk so much. "Au contraire," he insisted, "It would been purely criminal and inhumane if you had not asked me about the state of things in our country."

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Probably a septuagenarian, he is a member of what I call the "Haiti Cherie" generation -- folks who migrated probably in their thirties who knew and can still recite the entire folk song with this title about love for their pays natal. While they have worked and made a life in this country or elsewhere in the Haitian diaspora, they maintain affective attachments to their homeland because as stated in the lyrics, "I had to leave you to understand your true value". As the country's social welfare net, they routinely support relatives with remittances buffering the high unemployment rate, and tend to the sick in the absence of healthcare provisions. Many among them also make annual or more frequent returns during holidays to see family and enjoy post-retirement leisure because as the old saying goes, lakay se lakay. Home is home. In times of increasing political instability, many unwillingly cancel such trips.

The word "laloz" lingers from my conversation with the driver who lamented our beloved Haiti has been turned into a joke by current leadership.

These neo-comedians are a remix that Haitians at home and abroad have previously lived through. This time, the "terror-ridden love" triangle revolves around a people abandonned by their state who have always been casualties of geopolitical games, a divided diasporic population with limited power, and an international community concerned with other matters. There is a (U.S.) presidency at stake. Indeed, Martelly's own rise to power simply cannot be detangled from post-quake dealings involving the Clinton Foundation and the State Department along with a slew of humanitarian aftershocks. Meanwhile a new pattern of brutality continues to go unnoticed by our friends. On the ground, Haitians refuse to turn back. There have been articles and protests. So the silence is not ours.

As our hearts break and spirits crush, nou rete, nap gade. We sit and watch Haiti Cherie fall apart, once again. I asked the driver what he wanted for the future. He stuped with disgust, frustration while confronting the impossibility of his desire:

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Lots of our public conversations these days relate to boundaries. In a presidential election year, with seemingly countless candidates and endless debates, it's hard to avoid the angry voices and fierce scowls.

There is so much arguing over boundaries. Should we welcome refugees from Syria, a nation torn by civil war and terrorism? How should our society respond to others who have immigrated here without government approval? Although immigration from our southern border has declined over the past decade, some public leaders applaud the contributions of undocumented Americans while others spell out the risks they bring. Do we consider immigrants likely contributors or potential criminals? When activists proclaim "Black Lives Matter," the counter-point "All Lives Matter" looks like an attempt to hush a legitimate complaint about policing and criminal justice. I catch myself needing some of those noise-canceling headphones.

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Setting up boundaries amounts to a mechanism for coping with anxiety. Folks in our society just feel anxious these days. As columnist David Brooks describes it,

Less-educated voters are in the middle of a tidal wave of trauma. Labor force participation is dropping, wages are sliding, suicide rates are rising, heroin addiction is rising, faith in American institutions is dissolving.

A hollowing out is happening in American society. The middle of our society no longer expects long-term employment or steady progress. A Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis study points out that even if we keep up with our parents' achievements, few of us can maintain their security. Folks move great distances for education and work, pulling the fabric of extended family and friendship networks. It's no surprise lots of people feel the stress.

Our stress multiplies when we encounter threats like terrorism. The mass shooting in San Bernardino, the multiple attacks in Paris, and the New Year's Eve assaults on dozens of women in Germany have increased the temperature on our spiritual boiling pot. To be frank, neither political party owns a satisfactory response. Our political leaders find it more useful to put a megaphone on our anxiety than to appeal to peace and generosity. When we're feeling stressful, boundaries grow all the more important.

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Our Gospel lesson this week has lots to do with boundaries - maybe something to say about stress as well. The passage, Luke 4:21-30, belongs to a longer unit that would begin at Luke 4:16. This scene is Luke's public introduction of Jesus. Jesus has met John the Baptist and submitted to his baptism. Jesus has also endured his wilderness temptation by the devil. We hear that by the power of the Spirit Jesus has begun teaching and gathering a reputation. But to this point we have heard none of Jesus' teaching. We've witnessed none of his healing miracles.

Now Jesus arrives in Nazareth, his hometown. Mark (6:1-6) and Matthew (13:54-58) also tell the story of Jesus in his hometown, but Luke's is different. In Mark and Matthew familiarity prevents the folks who know Jesus' family from believing in him. We hear nothing Jesus does or says; they simply reject him because they know his unremarkable family.

Not so in Luke. Here Jesus wins a warm reception with his first words (4:16-22). He reads a proclamation from Isaiah, news of good news to the poor and freedom to the oppressed. The hometown audience finds itself highly pleased: at the bottom of a long social ladder that works its way up from landlords to the local king to the emperor himself, they long for Israel's liberation. "All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth."

It looks like things are going well, but Jesus picks a fight. He, not they, brings up tendency for hometowns to reject their prophets. More incendiary yet, Jesus reminds his hometown audience of God's tendency to transgress boundaries. Israel had lots of widows in Elijah's day, but God sent the prophet to a Sidonian woman instead. Likewise, there was no shortage of lepers when Elisha was active, but God cleansed only Naaman the Syrian. That's all the hometown crowd wants to hear. Rising up in anger, they intend to throw Jesus off a cliff. Luke's explanation for Jesus' escape comes up short in details.

Jesus' message is shocking not because he extends the boundaries to include outsiders. His message shocks because it doesn't recognize boundaries at all. When we feel pushed to our limits, we build walls. Jesus' opening speech calls for liberation, but it recognizes no walls.

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Bible Study Questions

1. Where do you perceive stress at work in our society today?

2. Do you believe Jesus' teaching on the boundaries of God's blessing holds relevance for our contemporary conversations regarding boundaries? Why or why not?

3. How can you cultivate peace and generosity in your own spirit?

For Further Reading

William R. Emmons and Bryan J. Noeth, "The Middle Class May Be Under More Pressure Than You Think." Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2015.

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It's time for the World Economic Forum, and this year more than 40 heads of state and 2,500 other participants are unlikely to run short of topics to discuss. "Meeting against a backdrop of market jitters, heightened geopolitical risks and a renewed focus on climate change, there will be intense focus on how these A-listers propose to solve the challenges facing the global economy," reports Marketwatch about the meeting held at the ski resort of Davos, Switzerland.

What should be at the center of discussions is the increased inequality in wealth and income that is affecting U.S. economic growth in particular, but also the rest of the world. But instead of inequality, most of the attention has been focused on China's growth problems, as if China is the world's piggy bank. But it isn't.

How does inequality affect economic growth? Nobelist Joseph Stiglitz has written most recently about what he calls the "Great Malaise", and IMF President Christine LaGarde says is the "New Mediocre" in worldwide economic growth.

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"The economics of this inertia is easy to understand," says Stiglitz, "and there are readily available remedies. The world faces a deficiency of aggregate demand, brought on by a combination of growing inequality and a mindless wave of fiscal austerity. Those at the top spend far less than those at the bottom, so that as money moves up, demand goes down. And countries like Germany that consistently maintain external surpluses are contributing significantly to the key problem of insufficient global demand."

What is aggregate demand? It is an economic term that describes the overall demand for goods and services from consumers, business, and government, first formulated by the British economist JM Keynes. Professor Stiglitz's thesis is that when most of the wealth goes to the top income brackets, less of it gets spent or invested in productive enterprises.

Graph: St. Louis Fed

This is evidenced by the huge amounts of wealth that is hoarded where it does the least good. Corporations are holding more than $5 trillion in cash and cash equivalent assets, rather than investing it in productive enterprises. And the Federal Reserve is holding more than $2 trillion is excess reserves in MZM deposits, meaning that they earn little or no interest.

In fact, the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank reports the Federal Reserve Banks currently hold some $2,330, 461,000 in excess reserves (that are reserves beyond the required minimum bank capital reserves), whereas it was close to $0 before the Great Recession. Why isn't it being invested productively?

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The New York Fed says it is a byproduct of the Fed's easy credit policies. The Federal Reserve Banks lend to commercial banks so that banks with constrained liquidity as a result of the Great Recession will continue to lend. Those loans end up as excess reserves on the Fed's books. But who are the banks lending to? Much of Wall Street's borrowing is for leveraged buyouts, or buybacks of stock to boost stock prices (and CEO salaries, let us not forget).

This is not where banks should be lending, if the goal is to increase productivity, and so economic growth. A major reason for the Great Malaise is the huge cutback in government investments in productive enterprises, such roads and bridges, or R&D, or education, due to the ongoing austerity policies of the western world mentioned by Dr. Stiglitz.

In the U.S., it has been conservative politicians -- mainly Republicans -- that oppose any government stimulus programs, which they believe takes wealth away from those that already have it. But that 'no compromise" mentality made infamous by former House Speaker Boehner has made everyone poorer in the long run, and our public infrastructure in grave danger of collapse.

There is some hope with the new U.S. $1.1 trillion budget agreement, plus the $305 billion Highway Infrastructure Act, plus the Paris Climate Change Accord that should pump $Billions into alternative energy technologies, will mean government is coming back into the productive investment game.

That is how our public highway system was built, after all, as well as our space program, countless medical advances, public education, disaster relief, and the Internet. It took public monies to create the new technologies that private enterprise believed was either too risky, or didn't benefit them directly. So how much longer can such austerians continue to block economic growth and a more hopeful future?

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"The obstacles the global economy faces are not rooted in economics, but in politics and ideology," continues Stiglitz. "The private sector created the inequality and environmental degradation with which we must now reckon. Markets won't be able to solve these and other critical problems that they have created, or restore prosperity, on their own. Active government policies are needed."

Will those attending Davos give us any new ideas on how to boost economic growth? The Paris Accord brought 200 countries together to limit global warming. Can these 'A-listers' do any better? I doubt it.
CROSS-POSTED ON THE HISTORY NEWS NETWORK

By Ray Raphael

Among Ray Raphael's nine books on the Founding Era are "Constitutional Myths" (2013) and "Mr. President: How and Why the Founders Created a Chief Executive" (2012). His most recent work is "The Spirit of 74: How the American Revolution Began" (2015), coauthored with his wife Marie.

One month ago, Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 was the exclusive province of die-hard Obama-hating "birthers." Now, we all want to know: Is Ted Cruz, born to an American mother on Canadian soil, a "natural born citizen," as he must be to become president?

In legal terms, there are two ways to interpret "natural born citizen": jus soli ("right of the soil") and jus sanguinis ("right of blood"). Place or parentage, those are the options. Which method is enshrined in the United States Constitution?

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Let's ask originalists, people like Ted Cruz.

The records of the Federal Convention of 1787--the starting point for any originalist inquiry--are replete with debates on almost every provision, but, sadly, not this one. In fact, the framers had been deliberating for almost two months before they raised the question of requirements for federal office. On July 26 George Mason noted the lapse. Upon his urging, the convention instructed the newly formed Committee of Detail to prepare "a clause or clauses, requiring certain qualifications of landed property and citizenship in the United States for the Executive, the Judiciary, and the Members of both branches of the Legislature of the United States."

The committee did not fulfill its task. It required three years of citizenship for representatives and four years for senators, but said nothing about the president or justices. This apparent oversight is easily explained. At that point in the deliberations, both the president and members of the judiciary were to be appointees of Congress. Their offices were derivative, not original, so it was left to Congress to determine their qualifications.

Four weeks later, a committee suggested that the president should be an "inhabitant" of the United States for twenty-one years, but no action was taken on this proposal.

That is where matters stood on September 4, when an eleven-member committee, composed of one delegate from each state, issued its report. This committee was instructed to address matters "that have not been acted on," but it went far beyond its mission. Prior to that moment, after extensive deliberations, the convention had determined that the president would be elected by a joint session of Congress, serve for seven years, and be ineligible for reelection. Treaty and appointive powers were assigned to the Senate. Reversing these decisions, the Committee on Remaining Matters (as it is now called) recommended that the president be chosen by special electors (known now as the Electoral College), serve a four-year term, be eligible for reelection indefinitely, and assume treaty and appointive powers, subject only to the "advice and consent" of the Senate. It also created a new office of vice president, whose only official job was to preside over the Senate, and determined that the president must be a "natural born citizen."

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The committee's report marked the first time "natural born citizen" came before the body, and not a word about that provision was said on the floor. Larger issues were at stake, and even these were scarcely debated. Having labored for more than three months, delegates yearned to be done with it all. For want of will to continue, the framers enshrined the bulk the committee's report in the United States Constitution. Only the method of run-off elections in the House, should presidential electors fail to achieve a majority vote, was altered. The "natural born citizen" requirement, like most of the committee's more significant revisions, was rushed through. The distinction between jus soli and jus sanguinis was, literally, about the last thing on the framers' minds as they constructed a new framework for the nation.

"Natural born" is not the only problem. How about "citizen"?

Under the Articles of Confederation, still in force during the summer of 1787, Congress engaged only with states, and states with citizens. A "citizen of the United States" was a citizen of one of the confederated states. The framers were literally creating national citizenship by forming a government which passed laws binding on citizens, and to which citizens sent their representatives.

National citizenship piggybacked on state citizenship. According to Article IV, Section 2, Clause 1, "The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the Rights and Privileges of the Several States." (The Articles of Confederation had this same provision.) Rather than establish federal franchise requirements, the framers determined that anybody entitled to vote in a state's "most numerous branch" of its legislature would be entitled to vote for federal representatives. Beyond that, Congress would figure out who could become a citizen. The fourth power granted to Congress, preceded only by powers to tax, borrow money, and regulate commerce, was "To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization." American citizenship was a work-in-progress.

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When the First Federal Congress created this "uniform Rule of Naturalization," it weighed in on the side of jus sanguinis, "right of blood." According to the Naturalization Act of 1790, "The children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born citizens." There was a nod to place, however: "Provided, That the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers have never been resident in the United States."

This provides a hint about the framers' views. One third of those who participated in the Federal Convention of 1787 were in the First Federal Congress, ten senators and eight representatives. These included eight of the eleven members of the Committee on Remaining Matters, which had introduced the "natural born citizen" requirement at the Convention. Several of these men likely assented to the Naturalization Act, including its preference for parentage over place.

But it's only a hint. We do not know how each of these framers-turned-legislators felt about this one provision of a sweeping measure. We do know, however, that James Madison, on May 22, 1789, in the House of Representatives, voiced a clear preference for place over parentage: "It is an established maxim that birth is a criterion of allegiance. Birth however derives its force sometimes from place and sometimes from parentage, but in general place is the most certain criterion; it is what applies in the United States." For Madison, at least in this passage, place prevailed absolutely, with no nod to parentage. And Madison had also been a member of the Committee on Remaining Matters.

There are more complications. In 1795, the earlier Naturalization Act was repealed, and the one that took its place made a significant change in wording: "The children of citizens of the United States, born out of the limits and jurisdiction of the United States, shall be considered as citizens of the United States: Provided, That the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons, whose fathers have never been resident in the United States." Citizens, but nothing about natural born. Was this to correct what legislators, still of the Founding generation, perceived as an error in the first act? Regardless of intent, the revised act does not state unequivocally that a person of American descent, not born on American soil, meets the eligibility requirement for the presidency.

And one more concern: "Right of blood," in those days, meant the father's blood; even in the Naturalization Act's nod to residency, it was all about fathers, not mothers. Of course that has changed, but not by Constitutional amendment. If we look for original intent to settle the issue, this gender bias cannot be ignored.

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Although the search for original intent cannot yield a definitive answer, what about the original meaning of "natural born citizen"? How did people at that time, and in particular those who ratified the Constitution in 1788, construe this term?

Originalists who scour the voluminous sources from the ratification debates will not have their efforts rewarded. There is a scattering of evidence that reveals the obvious motive behind the "natural born citizen" requirement--no European prince should be imported to lead our nation--but none that elucidates a common understanding of how that was to be defined, by place or parentage. Even Hamilton's eleven Federalist essays on the presidency are silent on this matter. Insuring that the president would not be a foreigner, by whatever standard, was among the Constitution's least contentious provisions. Nobody thought it was a bad idea, and without argument, there was little to discuss.

Where else to turn? Paul Clement and Neil Katyal, Solicitors-General in the George W. Bush and Obama administrations respectively, wrote a brief commentary in the Harvard Law Review that has received much attention in the past few days. On the basis of the Naturalization Act of 1790 and Eighteenth Century British statutes, and upon the authority of William Blackstone, whose Commentaries were read widely and cited often by American jurists of the Founding Era, they side with parentage over place and proclaim the case closed.

But another legal scholar, Mary Brigid McManamon, in a more extensive piece published in the Catholic University Law Review, counters that argument. "Natural born Citizen," she observes, is a phrase "derived from English common law, and the Supreme Court requires examination of that law to ascertain the phrase's definition." After citing provisions of English common law, "statements by early American jurists," and passages she selects from Blackstone, she declares, with equal certainty, that "in the eyes of the Framers, a presidential candidate must be born in the United States."

How can we conclude, on the basis of scant contemporaneous evidence and conflicting claims by modern scholars, whether the framers would allow the child of an American mother, born on foreign soil, to become president of the United States? Inquiry into the original intent of the framers does not settle this issue.

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Nor is original meaning much help. How can we be sure that the people who ratified the Constitution would affirm-- or deny--Ted Cruz's eligibility? How did all those folks in thirteen states define "natural born citizen," by place or by blood?

Here is my "originalist" conjecture. "Right of blood" versus "right of place" was a non-issue for the people of those times--even for the ever-fastidious framers, who argued at great length about so much else. The Founding Generation took no notice and didn't really care; they just knew that no foreigner should be president. If forced to declare, they would probably say there had to be some connection by both place and blood, just to be safe. A French couple, while traveling, has a child on American soil? Not good enough. An American couple has a child in England, and the family remains there? We need our president to be more American than that, define it as you will. If the framers had more time, and if they deemed it as significant as we do right now, they might have figured something out, but they didn't. Instead, by their failure to act, they left it to Congress to conjure a definition.

But this is only a conjecture, and we can't build a case on that. Try as we might, originalism in any form fails us here. But if we use the originalist standard only at our ease and pleasure, can it count as a "standard"?

How ironic that Ted Cruz, who has promised to appoint only originalist justices, has become the poster-child--or more precisely, poster-infant--for originalism's deficiency.
CROSS-POSTED ON THE HISTORY NEWS NETWORK

By Rick Shenkman

Rick Shenkman is the editor of the History News Network. His newest book is Political Animals: How Our Stone Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics (Basic Books, January 2016).

If there's one thing everybody -- left, right, center, earthling or Martian -- can agree on it's that Donald Trump projects a larger than life image. Wherever he goes he draws huge (HUGE!) crowds. His poll numbers are eye-popping. His ability to fend off the shooting arrows of fact checkers is little short of stunning. Ladies and gentlemen: We stand in the presence of political genius.

But it's here where I part company with the conventional wisdom. His genius doesn't lie in his ability to make himself look good in the eyes of his supporters. Rather, it's his genius to make his supporters feel good about themselves in his presence.

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But before I explain myself let's first understand why we think the Trump campaign is all about Trump. This almost seems like a foolish question. Of course, it's about Trump. He's the candidate! When a person throws his hat in the ring he puts himself in the spotlight and we focus on him (or her, as the case may be). We study the way they talk (in the case of both Trump and Bernie Sanders, we take note of their thick New York accents), how they style their hair (in Trump's case, hair draws an outsized amount of attention), and their rhetorical ticks (Trump is rightly famous for his; his scorn for losers, fondness for the word "huge," and his appropriation of the word "humane" for policies that are anything but, are sui generis).

While the candidates put out position papers on various important topics from taxes to immigration, the media tend to focus on the candidates themselves. This makes sense given the way the human brain is configured. What we humans find most fascinating are other humans. What we love to talk about more than anything else is how other human beings look, what they're doing, and what we think of them. This is called gossip and it's our number one topic of conversation.

So it's natural for us to think that elections are about the candidates. But in the end they are always about us. What counts is not what the candidates look like or how they talk but how they make us feel about ourselves. It's not, then, as is usually argued, just politicians who are narcissistic. So are we, the voters. How the candidates make us feel is paramount.

Take Bernie Sanders. How do his supporters feel in his presence? They feel idealistic. People who have been offended by the excesses of Wall Street hear his denunciations of bankers and demands for justice with profound sympathy. This is why he's connected so strongly with so many. He's constantly validating their feelings.

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This is what all successful politicians do. It's what Richard Nixon did when he ran for office and slyly suggested that the Silent Majority were right to resent hippies with long hair and war protesting draft-dodging students. Jimmy Carter's 1976 campaign validated the voters' contempt for Washington corruption. Four years later Ronald Reagan validated the voters' feeling that the country under Carter was on the wrong track.

Many were surprised by Barack Obama's ability to draw support from whites in his first race for the presidency. But he benefited greatly by his ability to offer them redemption from the choking accusation of racism, which had been hung around their necks for years. As the conservative scholar Shelby Steele astutely observed, by voting for Obama whites finally could clear themselves of the charge that they were guilty of keeping the black man down and owed him something.

Take almost any of the common explanations for voter behavior. What each one is really about is the voter's feelings. We hear, for example, that the voters this year crave authenticity. What this is about is the build-up of frustration voters have long felt with slick Madison Avenue Ken and Barbie candidates.

To be sure voters have multiple reasons for selecting one candidate over another. Some voters opt for a straight partisan ticket. Others vote on the state of the economy. Still others cast their ballot for the party they think will best meet their needs as measured purely by self-interest. And some, of course, pick the leader they'd like to have a beer with. But all of these explanations turn on the voter's feelings. A partisan voter who goes for a particular party feels the reward of loyalty and bonding. When the economy seems to be the driving factor in a voter's decision it is the voter's own feeling of prosperity that forms the basis of their choice. The question is never really how the economy's doing, it's how the voter is doing.

Pundits may fall into the trap of talking about elections as if it's the candidates who matter, but the way our brain works only our own feelings count. Social science studies show that our choices are generally the result of automatic processes over which our conscious brain has little control and little awareness, if any. (You can tell if your reaction is automatic simply by determining how quickly you reach a conclusion. If your response is whip fast it's an automatic reaction.) Because we're complicated we may have multiple automatic reactions. These have to be sorted out by the conscious brain. But all involve the emotions. Our brain ultimately makes the decision which is the most emotionally satisfying. Once we make a decision our brain rewards us for our decisiveness by convincing us that we have made the right decision.

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Which brings me back to Donald Trump. How he makes his voters feel is not in question. Like nobody else in this year's election he has validated the feelings of voters who for years have felt neglected, put upon, and vulnerable. The mainstream media may think of them as dumb - let's be real, this is how they're regarded by elites - in his presence they feel smart. Here, after all, is a billionaire businessman running for president who continually validates their suspicion of immigrants and fear of terrorists. Elites have made them feel badly for feeling what they've been feeling. Trump makes them feel good.

This is Trump's genius. He's making people scorned as dumb feel smart. This is the big irony of the 2016 election. Who'd have thought that Trump, who plasters his name on everything he builds, would be the one candidate most sensitive to how others feel?

Say what you will about Trump he's figured out that politics isn't about the candidate, it's about the voters. This is something long-time politicians like Hillary Clinton should have learned long ago, but often have trouble remembering after spending years as the center of attention. The result? Even at this stage in the campaign cycle, on the eve of voting, it's not clear what her voters are supposed to be feeling when they pull the lever for her. Is it fear? hope? what exactly? The answer to that question is unknown and that it is suggests she still hasn't made a convincing case for her election. She should learn from Trump, who, no matter what happens in Iowa, has proven he knows how to appeal to voters, whether he can get them out to vote for him or not.

I am not recommending that Hillary or other candidates mimic his demagoguery. Trump's appeals to fear are not good for democracy. But there are many ways to reach people on an emotional level without providing cues that trigger fear responses. Sanders has figured this out. Hillary needs to.

- See more at: http://historynewsnetwork.org/blog/153722#sthash.GyJg0rxd.dpuf
Very wealthy cartoon characters Elmer J. Fudd and Cruella de Vil

In the award winning musical Fiddler on the Roof the main character is "Tevya The Milkman." In today's socio-economic terms you'd probably call him a struggling small businessman. One of his biggest wishes is to "be a wealthy man," so much so that one of the show's main songs is entitled "If I Were a Rich Man." (A riff on this song was done in 2004 by Gwen Stefani called "Rich Girl.")

One of the key aspects of Tevya's song is that if he were in fact a rich man, he would secure prime seating at his local house of worship and in addition everyone would besiege him with questions and for his advice, "problems that would cross a rabbi's eyes" because "when you're rich they think you really know."

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Not much has changed in human nature since the lyrics of that song were written in 1964 because so many people in this country are in thrall in this presidential election cycle to rich people who think they really know.

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders fulminates against the "billionaires who've rigged the system" and how the rich control our economy, the electoral process and the country. He's calling for a "revolution" on behalf of the Average Joe which can sound pretty radical. Even though I disagree with most of Sanders' policies and positions, he's really not far off the mark about the affluent (which can also mean business or special interests) often controlling politics, especially on the national level. Interestingly, most Americans don't see this as any kind of a problem.

Many of the very top candidates (and some not doing well in the polls) do in fact come from either the Patrician or Oligarch class. A reason for that is when you don't have to worry about putting bread on the table or sweating out a monthly mortgage you have a lot of free time to pursue politics. Someone punching a clock every day where their presence would be missed at their desk or on the loading dock? Not so possible.

On the Republican side, the man leading all the polls is an actual billionaire who professes no end of braggadocio about it and uses it as his main qualification to lead the county despite not an hour of experience in elective office or the military.

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Millions of Americans flock to him because he has nothing whatsoever to lose by saying the most outlandish things that can be highly entertaining and is a vicarious release of voters' powerlessness, anger and frustration. Because he has "F.U. Money" he's insulated from the ramifications of his words and because even if he loses he'll still be Donald Trump why not drop malicious gossip bombs hither and yon? What can anyone do to him?

The Wall Street Journal on January 15th reported on the sale of a penthouse Mr. Trump owns personally in his Trump Park Avenue condo building in Manhattan for $21 million the week prior. He sold another unit recently for $14 million and he's got another apartment on the market for $35 million. Mr. Trump's daughter Ivanka in replying to a question whether Mr. Trump's increased visibility because of the presidential campaign has had any effect on these sales said "the [Trump] brand has never been stronger." Nothing to lose. Meanwhile, more worthy and more qualified candidates languish at the bottom of the polls while Mr. Trump entertains himself, the media and the country.

On the Democratic side, the woman leading all the polls has earned vast sums of money from accepting huge speaking and consulting fees from giant corporations and from enormous book advances. She and her husband have pulled in nearly $230 million since 2001. Talk about profiting from public service.

Having been Secretary of State bolstered the Clinton, Inc. brand and now being a top candidate hasn't slowed down the flow of cash to her and her husband. If she wins the presidency the money will literally be Mount Gushmore. Mrs. Clinton because of her wealth, fame and privilege also is quite insulated from reality which is why she doesn't see it as any kind of problem whatsoever that she had her own private hackable email server while working at Foggy Bottom in total violation of the laws for public officials handling sensitive and national security matters.

Like Mr. Trump, Mrs. Clinton hasn't driven herself to work or to the market in years. They both have retinues of aides and staffers to fill their every need and cater to their every whim. How can either of these two people ever hope to really understand the needs, thoughts and hopes of John and Jane Q. Public? Remember when George Bush the Elder didn't know what a supermarket checkout scanner was? The American people rightly intuited that he hadn't a clue about their daily lives. Why then are Americans flocking to these same out of touch flush types now?

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Rumored to be mulling an independent entry into the presidential race is former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- another billionaire -- which would give American voters the choice between rich, richer and richest.

The population of the U.S. is approximately 318 million according to the US Census Bureau. Roughly 153 million Americans are registered to vote (although 215 million are eligible). Of that figure 32 percent are registered Democrats, 23 percent as Republicans and 39 percent are Independents. Out of 153 million American voters the best people we can produce from that vast polity to lead this country are Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? What does this say about the sad state of public life in this country? Why do we want to be led by Elmer J. Fudd or Cruella de Vil?
In 2015, we saw ISIS-inspired (if not claims of ISIS-directed) violence from France, Afghanistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Belgium to San Bernardino. Already in 2016, we have an individual proclaiming allegiance to the Islamic State after trying to execute a Philadelphia police officer and suicide bombings in Istanbul and Jakarta. The question that haunts us is how to prevent the next outburst.

These incidents are not inexplicable. They follow a pattern. None of these attackers is pledging allegiance to the memory of Che Guevara or the Bader Meinhof Gang (Germany in the 1970's). They all respond to what's currently in the news and broadcast by social media. North Korea may have the bomb, but it has not tried to enlist the disaffected in its cause. There were Muslims in the U.S. for decades, but suicide bombing apparently did not occur to any of them until ISIS made martyrdom romantic.

It is almost as though ISIS (under whatever acronym) is acting like a tuning fork. Struck, the organization's social media apparatus vibrates, and people at random around the world, predisposed to feeling discontented, marginalized or disenfranchised begin to vibrate in sync.

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The immediacy and availability of social media amplify the effect. The vibration comes complete with a set of models for patterns of behavior: blow something up, and if you die in the process, this is laudable.

The model matters. I remember an Afghan in Kabul once saying to me, "This [suicide bombing] is all new. We fought the Russians here for 10 years and no one ever blew themselves up."

A different tuning fork would resonate with a different set of disaffected people. Che Guevara was attractive to American and European leftists who saw imperialist and capitalist oppression all around them. Latinos in the U.S. may have paid some attention, but I doubt that American Muslims were interested at all; not an issue that resonated in their community. Suicide was not on the agenda for anyone who caught the Che vibration. The object of a leftist insurgency was to prevail; a reward in heaven was not part of the package.

If the tuning fork analogy has merit, it has implications for the steps we can take to prevent these random attacks.

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If those who respond are largely passive and happenstance recipients or resonators it is neither an effective nor a Constitutional strategy to try to find and neutralize them in advance. After all, the world is full of people with grievances or who are mentally unstable, or feel marginalized, and our First Amendment protects the voicing of anti-government sentiments. Not every Muslim woman wearing the hijab or Muslim man who decides to grow a beard is up to no good.

The more productive strategy is to turn off the tuning fork, eliminating or reducing this particular source of attraction. As I have previously argued, ISIS has grown and metastasized in precisely those Islamic countries with dictatorships (often supported by the U.S. in the name of "stability") and massively disaffected populations with no democratic recourse, often influenced by the Saudi Wahhabi strain of Sunni Islam. ISIS did not arise in native middle class populations in the U.S. or Europe, although some individuals within these populations are susceptible to ISIS's vibrations.

These source problems are identifiable, localized, and capable of being addressed--in contrast to the myriad problems of those around the world who might respond to the tuning fork. This is not to say that solutions are easy--especially given the complexity of civil wars, the Sunni-Shi'ite conflict, oil politics, etc.--but they are amenable to solution if we are clear-eyed about analysis and willing to take on the problems.

If we decide (e.g.) to support dictators for reasons of "stability" or the oil supply, we should at least be honest about the likely consequences and not act surprised when random individuals respond to the tuning fork. The resulting random deaths are a cost of business as usual overseas.

Of course there are some things we can do to lessen the likelihood of identifiable groups of individuals being influenced by conflict overseas. For example, better integration of immigrant and refugee populations in both Europe and the U.S. would help. Brussels would be well advised to pay more attention to the dynamic in the Mollenbeek neighborhood.

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This article originally appeared on Inverse.

By Emily Gaudette

Looking back at vintage conceptions of the future can be interesting. Most depictions of the 2000s that were rendered in the 1800s or early 1900s come off as whimsical, because they're so off-target. Illustrators in the past were often focused on transportation, military tactics, and domestic life, and they predicted everything from whale buses to Fallout-esque fashion. Some illustrated predictions, however, are eerily accurate.

"TV Glasses"

In 1963, science fiction author Hugo Gernsback posed for Life Magazine wearing a fake mock-up of a tool featured in one of his stories. He called the contraption "TV glasses". Considering them now, they look a lot like an oculus rift. Hugo told Life that users would one day watch television on screens so close to their eyes that they felt immersed in the action, effectively predicting the media's recent preoccupation with virtual reality.

No one's sure if Hugo also predicted immersive "action" of the pornographic kind, but that's what technology's up to now.

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The digital classroom

In 1969, the Japanese magazine Computopia published an illustration featuring classroom robots that hit students on the head if they stopped paying attention. Though these robots don't actually exist (they sound like a nightmare for the school system), education has become increasingly tech-savvy in the 1960s. Many classrooms in America, for instance, provide access to iPads, audio and digital textbooks, and remote access to education has seen a boom in popularity.

Although this Japanese illustrator imagined technology would be used for discipline, he also predicted (via that little graphic in the bottom right corner of his art) that students would use computers to solve problems, which is accurate today.

Chemical brain enhancements

In 1965, illustrator Athelstan Spilhaus drew a serious-looking man hooked up to to a "computer" as part of his weekly comic strip, Our New Age. He asserted that 2016 would see men's brains enhanced with drugs and hooked up directly to computers.

Spilhaus wasn't that far off -- recall how many students you knew in college who habitually used Adderall or Ritalin to increase academic performance -- but his cultural influence at the time is the most surprising thing about him. When Spilhaus met President Kennedy, JFK reportedly told the sci-fi comic illustrator that the only science he had ever ingested as a kid came straight from Spilhaus's strip in The Boston Globe.

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The movement for cognitive enhancement has been in the works for years, as Spilhaus predicted. In 2012, Oxford released a paper on Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, arguing that placing sensors on the skull to send and receive digital brain-waves might enhance the active synapses in a user's brain. Similarly, Silicon Valley tech geeks have famously been using Nootropics, a drug meant to enhance brain function. It seems Spilhaus was right on the money predicting both chemical and digital enhancements to the human intellect.

Those damn "hoverboards"

In 1910, French illustrator Jean-Marc Cote assembled a team of similarly-minded folks to release a series of postcards featuring images "set" in the year 2000. All of the illustrations are worth checking out, but some are more accurate than others. Although the gas-powered roller skates featured in the illustration above never really took off, Cote's quaint drawing recalls one of 2015's top holiday gifts: the incorrectly-named and extremely flammable "hoverboard". He even predicted how often people would fall off their toys!

FaceTime and Skype

Many, many illustrators predicted the rise in video calls, although one of the earliest drawings of this type was rendered in 1930.

Vibrators, sex robots, and guilt

The above illustration, available in full here was featured on the cover of Philip Jose Farmer's Strange Compulsion, a science fiction novel published in 1953. Although the plot of Strange Compulsion actually involved a parasite which caused the host to feel attracted to close relatives, the novel dealt with the uneasiness surrounding sex and monogamy that has only increased alongside the development of sex-enhancing technology.

The push for women in STEM fields

The above illustration was published on a Chinese propaganda posted in the early 1980s. The message at the bottom of the poster read, "Love science, study science, use science!", arguing decades before the Western push for young girls in STEM fields that introducing women to science in their earliest years would improve the overall culture. The illustration shows tiny girls operating large machinery, studying astronomy, and piloting high speed trains, predicting the role women would take in scientific fields.

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Self driving cars

In 1940, Popular Science magazine published the above illustration on its cover. The magazine predicted that cars would function as comfortable, portable lounges by 1942. Though technology didn't actually work out this quickly, Popular Science effectively predicted the push for luxurious vehicles that is now culminating in self-driving cars.

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This article originally appeared on Inverse.

By Adam Toobin

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly has been notably quiet in recent weeks -- Late Show appearances aside -- allowing the first Briton ever to go into space, Tim Peake, to Dominate. The. Headlines.

It turns out this reticence wasn't all courtesy. Apparently, he was spending time helping the first flower ever to bloom in space. He accomplished his mission on Sunday, sharing with the world a Twitter picture of a blood orange zinnia:

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Never one to miss an opportunity to point out how cool science can be, he quickly followed up his first post with a message reminding us that life in space can take many forms.

While scientists aboard the International Space Station have grown wheat and lettuce in the past, Kelly's zinnia is the first flower to produce a blossom. NASA's project manager at the "veggie" growth lab told The Independent that his team chose to grow a zinnia for the mission, because "it is more sensitive to environmental parameters and light characteristics," adding "It has a longer growth duration between 60 and 80 days."

"Thus, it is a more difficult plant to grow, and allowing it to flower, along with the longer growth duration, makes it a good precursor to a tomato plant."

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Space's first zinnia (that we know of) may look strong and healthy now, but it's been something of an odyssey to reach this point. A little less than a month ago, Kelly tweeted a picture of some depressed-looking zinnias covered in mold.

Our plants aren't looking too good. Would be a problem on Mars. I'm going to have to channel my inner Mark Watney. pic.twitter.com/m30bwCKA3w  Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) December 27, 2015

So, yeah, he channeled his inner Mark Watney (from The Martian), presumably cutting himself off from the rest of the crew and using the desperation that comes from a close relationship with death itself to bring life to the far reaches of the galaxy. Or he just remembered to water them.

Some of my space flowers are on the rebound! No longer looking sad! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/HJzXaTItIf  Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 8, 2016

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The zinnia flower may be the most beautiful of NASA's recent botanic endeavors, but the goal of growing plants in space has everything to do with survival.

Alexandra Whitmire, of the NASA Human Research Program, told The Independent:

"In future missions, the importance of plants will likely increase given the crews' limited connection to Earth. Studies from other isolated and confined environments, such as Antarctic stations, demonstrate the importance of plants in confinement, and how much more salient fresh food becomes psychologically, when there is little stimuli around."
03 11 08 philadelphia pa ...

I published a column last week in which I explained why I, as a progressive, am supporting Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary. (It was published yesterday on the Huffington Post.) The response was genuinely overwhelming, and I'd like to thank everyone who helped spread my article so far and wide.

Many readers agreed with me. Those who did not generally centered their critiques on one of two points. I'd like to address those points now.

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Bernie Sanders does have a 'plan' for his revolution, but it's a bad one:

I've been accused of fundamentally misunderstanding Bernie's conception of a "political revolution" when I wrote:

I know what a revolution looks like, and this election--using the complicated system of party delegates and the electoral college to choose the leader of one of the three branches of the government of the most powerful empire in the world--is not it. This is politics.

As many have pointed out, Bernie recognizes that he cannot achieve his platform without a new Congress, and this is why he aims to mobilize voters to elect new, progressive officials at every level of government, all of them with a mandate to get money out of politics.

But if Bernie's plan for implementing, say, "Medicare for all"-style health coverage is down-ticket voting, who are these down-ticket candidates? Does Bernie have a bench of socialist candidates hiding somewhere? Has he been identifying and training fellow leftists to pursue office in anticipation of the Glorious Revolution of 2016?

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Or is "political revolution" a euphemism for "voting for Democrats"? After observing the Democratic Congress of 2008, and in light of the 148 members of Congress and 38 Senators who have endorsed Hillary, does Bernie really think a mere Democratic takeover is the same thing as his "political revolution"? I doubt it.

But let us humor for a moment the idea that all Bernie needs in order to achieve his agenda is a blue House and Senate.

Obama has the record [for losing state and local races]. When you have midterms like 2010 and 2014, there's almost nothing you can do to overcome that in one election.

I'm inclined to agree with Suzy Khimm's diagnosis of this apparent paradox between Obama's grassroots support and the Democratic Party's failure. In a case study of Florida elections for The New Republic, she wrote:

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The disconnect between Democratic success nationally and locally is also partly due to the kind of "post-partisan" candidate Obama sought to be in 2008. Obama's young, racially diverse base flocked to him precisely because he promised to transcend both parties. Out of necessity--at the time, much of the party establishment was firmly committed to Hillary Clinton--Obama circumvented the traditional party infrastructure with volunteers and small donors that were more loyal to him personally than to his party.

Sound familiar?

So yes, my original argument assumed that the House in 2017 would still be Republican-controlled, and I stand by that assumption. If that is the case, I would rather have Hillary in the White House. Not because I'm stupid enough to believe that Congress would be more willing to work with Hillary, but because I believe Hillary would be more willing and able to work around their intransigence.

This is where I would locate the major point of divergence between those who agree with me and those who do not.

My argument is that, if Bernie tries and fails, it will be worse than had he never tried at all. It's possible to look at that assessment and say, "Well, we have to try anyway." That's fine. I would hope those people could recognize why the rest of us disagree.

If someone disagrees with me, I try not to assume it's because they are less informed about the facts. It might be because they value, rank and interpret those facts differently than I do.

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In this case, it comes down to our comfort with risk. And this is, I think, why Bernie's supporters skew younger, whiter and more middle-class than the rest of the Democratic base. They can play double-or-nothing with the president's legacy. I'm inclined to opt out of that game.

I don't think I'm unfairly discounting Bernie's political revolution. I get his appeal. I understand the record he has set for individual donations. As a young, white, middle-class person who is surrounded by other young, white, middle-class people, I'm certainly familiar with the enthusiasm he cultivates.

But enthusiasm at this point in the race is a very different thing from voter turnout in November, and it's a very different thing from engagement throughout a four- or eight-year presidency at the level that would be needed to scare Congress into passing socialized healthcare.

Hillary Clinton is not the Wicked Witch of the West:

The most controversial thing I wrote was also the simplest:

I am voting for Hillary because I like her.

For those who see Hillary as nothing but a corrupt, crooked old crone (but no sexism here, amiright?), such a statement is inconceivable. But I stand by this, as well.

I see something in Hillary that I like. I see something in Hillary that I relate to.

Some have accused me of allowing my vagina* to unduly influence my vote, to which I have to reply: Yes. Sure. Guilty as charged. In the words of Jessica Valenti:

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Only in a sexist society would women be told that caring about representation at the highest levels of government is wrong.

So yes, I think there's something unique about having a feminist woman president that can't be matched by having a feminist man be president. Self-representation matters.

Others have simply accused me of being duped by an untrustworthy and regressive cartel boss who would as soon shoot me as have my vote...or something. Because if a woman seeks power, there must be a flaw in her moral compass.

But the idea that Hillary is a closet neoconservative is based almost entirely on impressions of her husband and his tenure, not of her. It's an idea based on an inherently sexist standard. It's an idea Karl Rove and other Republicans have spent millions trying to inculcate.

On the merits of her own voting record, Hillary was among the most liberal Senators, to the left of John Kerry, Joe Biden and Barack Obama. I can't find a shred of evidence that she has ever engaged in a quid pro quo with a donor, and I'm not going to blame the woman simply for having wealthy donors. If you had been the First Lady of the United States and the Senator from New York, rubbing shoulders by necessity with the filthy rich, and none of them decided they liked you enough to donate to your campaigns, I would probably assume there was something really wrong with you.

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So where does that leave us? Benghazi? Give me a break.

Look, I really like Bernie, too. When he first announced his run, I donated and was sure I would end up voting for him in the primary. I love the crank and the dishevel (although I recognize he can only be those things in public because he is a man), I love the debate side-eye, I love the bad dancing on The Ellen Show.

So I actually envy the Hillary haters. It must make things easier to see this campaign as a contest between a perfect candidate and an irredeemable one, rather than as a relative evaluation of two compelling but flawed candidates. But I do not have the easy out of proclaiming that I could never, would never vote for one of the candidates.

Ta-Nehisi Coates has recently been getting a lot of flak from Bernie supporters for drawing attention to Bernie's comparative lack of imagination on racial justice when contrasted with his platform on economic justice. The problem, Coates clarified recently, is one of disappointment with what has been billed as a campaign of perfect possibility:

I thought Sanders's campaign might remind Americans that what is imminently doable and what is morally correct are not always the same things, and while actualizing the former we can't lose sight of the latter.

I've become unconvinced that Sanders has the potential to reach a balance of those two things with which I would be comfortable, and so I am placing my eggs in the basket of the former. I'd like a president who is focused on achieving the imminently doable while the rest of us engage the difficult and ongoing work of agitating for the morally correct.

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That means I'd like a President Clinton.

So would 18 of the largest unions in the country, the mayor of Flint, Michigan, Planned Parenthood, and even, according to the rumors, Elizabeth Warren. It's time we recognize that people on the left can have heartfelt and thoughtful reasons that pull them all over the number line between Hillary and Bernie. It has very little to do with depth of progressive commitment or moral fiber or ties to The Establishment.

None of this means I don't sometimes doubt my decision to vote for Hillary. It doesn't mean I can't be talked out of it. But I also think that, if I settled on Bernie, I would still wonder if I was doing the right thing. I would doubt that, too.

That might be the hardest political feat of them all--making room for doubt and its cousin, humility, in a space built for ego and zero-sum games.

None of us find doubt very likable. But it's necessary.

Some voters will still find the idea of voting for "the other candidate" unappetising:

Those people need to get over themselves.

Please, for the love of God, just vote for the Democratic nominee.

Yes, even if it's O'Malley.

If we can't agree on that much, then none of the rest of it really matters.

*I'd just like to note that not all women have vaginas, but I am a woman who has a vagina, and so the accusation is generally framed in this way.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

A political commentator Ngqabutho Mabhena has said it is clear that the current ruling system will never priorities devolution of power as as the country has gone for almost three years after the government got into power when the new constitution with clauses on devolution was put in place."Having gone for 3 years with the new democratic constitution whose Chapter 14 clearly states that power should be devolved to lower tiers of government at provincial and districts levels, failure by the government to enact an enabling act of parliament or just to put a devolution roadmap or action plan is sign of lack of political will and can only be solved by a counter political response," Mabhena said.He said the only solution that the people have is a political solution because surely it has proved that this system will not prioritise devolution in the near future."Failure by the other national political parties in parliament to stand up and demand devolution is clear testimony that pinning hopes of devolution implementation in national political parties is tantamount to expecting a ghost to impregnate a 75 years old grandmother or putting a castrated bull in the kraal and expect your cows to breed," he said."It is high time serious devolution proponents who are in political leadership called for the devolution of the political parties they belong to. Truly every party that will win the 2018 elections, as long as it is not devolved, it will not devolve power anyway. That party should start showing its devolution sincerity now!"Mabhena said if the current political parties are not willing to devolve, the people, especially of Matabeleland, need to start disabusing themselves of trusting in national politics and national political parties and form their own regional political party. He said this political party will contest in Matabeleland and represent issues of Matabeleland."Do not be fooled regional parties are an international phenomena and they are very successful, effective and popular the world over. What gives regional parties their strength is the issues they represent and the constituency they control and represent," he said."If there could be a strong regional party in Matabeleland, that party leverages its power through coalitions and consortium and its constituency is its bargaining power even in parliament. That party is able to push for the realization of devolution of power."Mabhena said what makes most people be afraid of regional political parties is the fear to invest in time and the idea that we are few to have a presidential candidate that can win."Regional parties have many people in their regions and are not concerned by presidency, but by regional issues. In Zimbabwe it needs to be surely concluded that the issue of the presidency is not a Matabeleland Agenda and to be continuously hoodwinked and dragged into it just derails the development and progress of the region," he said."We know some parties may want to transform to regional parties but are being held by their national outlook. The options are either to devolve or to get the members in Mashonaland to form their own regional parties there and the issue of regional parties become a national idea. If those members refuse, it will be clear testimony they are opposed to the devolution ideology."
The Netflix series Making a Murderer has captivated viewers, sparking outrage around the dubious and possible wrongful convictions of Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey for the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach.

As a founding board member and longtime supporter of the Innocence Project and other criminal justice reform organizations, I've gotten to know many people who served lengthy sentences for crimes they didn't commit. (Consequently, the opinions expressed are mine and not the Innocence Project's.) While every exoneree's experience is unique, I am repeatedly surprised at how well these men and women have dealt with the horror of having served hard time for a crime they didn't commit. While there are certainly emotional scars, these brave men and women have impressed me with their ability to heal and lead productive lives.

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That's what makes the Avery case such an outlier. There is no question that he is absolutely innocent of the 1985 rape of Penny Beerntsen. Avery was represented by the Wisconsin Innocence Project (independent from the Innocence Project), which obtained DNA testing that not only proved Avery's innocence after he served 18 years but also identified convicted sex offender Gregory Allen as the true perpetrator. Yet shortly after his exoneration, Avery made headlines again as the suspect in the murder of Halbach, a crime for which he and Dassey were eventually convicted. In their documentary, filmmakers Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos make a compelling argument that Avery is very likely innocent of that crime too.

As we saw with Serial and HBO's The Jinx, Making a Murderer has exposed the fallibility of the criminal justice system. While it is impossible to know whether Avery and Dassey are innocent solely by the documentary, it raises many issues that we see time and again in the cases of those wrongly convicted.

Consider the police interrogation tactics used against Dassey, who was just 16 and according to school records had an IQ less than 70: the 16-year-old was questioned repeatedly without an attorney or guardian present, and it is clear from the videotaped interrogation that the officers' goal was to get a confession rather than help them solve a murder.

While inconceivable to many people, false confessions have been a key factor in more than a quarter of the 337 DNA exonerations nationwide. Luckily Wisconsin, where Dassey was arrested, requires that interrogations be recorded in full. Without that law, there would likely be no footage of Dassey's alleged confession, making it impossible to prove how he was treated by police. While recording interrogations isn't an absolute guarantee against wrongful convictions, it creates a record for later review by the jury and courts. Yet 31 states, including New York, don't mandate the recording of interrogations. Did we learn nothing from the wrongful convictions in the case of the Central Park Five?

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Making a Murderer also paints a bleak picture of the criminal defense bar. While Avery was able to afford lawyers who did a very admirable job, his nephew had to rely on the attorney provided by the state. Exoneration cases are filled with stories of attorneys who were asleep, drunk, incompetent or simply too overburdened. An Innocence Project report on the first 255 DNA exonerations revealed that claims of ineffective assistance were raised in about 1 in 5 of the DNA exonerations. Yet there are no meaningful systems to track ineffective assistance, much less do anything about the bad lawyers, and many state public defender organizations are woefully underfunded.

Yet what has truly captured the public's attention is undoubtedly the alleged police and prosecutorial misconduct at the heart of the documentary. The allegations that are put forth are indeed very serious -- that police framed Avery and that the prosecutor was so caught up in securing a conviction that he failed in his duty to seek the truth. Here again there is no accountability. Many police departments are subject to civilian review boards, but they almost never find the police at fault. While police can be sued civilly for violating defendant's constitutional rights, the U.S. Supreme Court has given prosecutors almost complete immunity from civil liability, even for intentional misconduct that results in wrongful convictions.

I am hopeful that the public outrage that has resulted from these shows will be remembered as the tipping point when we finally decided to take seriously the need to fix the system. Change will only happen when we demand it. How many more innocent lives will be ruined before we do?
Podhoretz: The cultural signposts Trump brandished in the years preceding his presidential bid are all manifestations of the American id--his steak business, his casino business, his green-marble-and-chrome architecture, his love life minutely detailed in the columns of Cindy Adams, his involvement with Vince McMahon's wrestling empire, and his reality-TV persona as the immensely rich guy who treats people like garbage but has no fancy airs. This id found its truest voice in his repellent assertion that the first black president needed to prove to Trump's satisfaction that he was actually an American.

In any integrated personality, the id is supposed to be balanced by an ego and a superego--by a sense of self that gravitates toward behaving in a mature and responsible way when it comes to serious matters, and, failing that, has a sense of shame about transgressing norms and common decencies. Trump is an unbalanced force. He is the politicized American id.
As Bernie Sanders has surged ahead of Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire and moved into a virtual tie in Iowa, the Clinton campaign has pulled out what it believes to be its trump card (no pun intended): that the 74-year-old Sanders is unelectable. To many, the argument seems compelling; he is, after all, a professed socialist who for most of his career refused to run as a Democrat. But plausible as the electability argument seems, the question remains: is it true?

One widely used indicator of a candidate's prospects in a general election is "favorability" (i.e. the proportion of respondents who report "favorable" as opposed to "unfavorable" views of the candidate). In an average of different polls on this question compiled by Real Clear Politics, voters reported unfavorable views of Hillary Clinton by a margin of over 8 percent (42.8 favorable v. 51.0 percent unfavorable). Sanders, in contrast, had a very narrow positive rating (38.4 percent v. 38.2 percent). In general, social scientists believe that going into an election with over 50 percent "unfavorable" places the candidates in a precarious position.



Source: RealClear Politics | Average of Polls, December 3, 2015--January 10, 2016

Beneath Secretary Clinton's problematic favorability ratings lies a deep reservoir of public mistrust. When prospective voters are asked whether or not she is "honest and trustworthy," their response is sobering; her rating on this dimension is a net negative 24 points, with 60 percent answering no and 36 percent answering yes. The contrast with Senator Sanders is striking in that it is precisely the opposite: a net positive of 24 percent, with 55 percent responding yes and 24 percent no. Though voters have in the past sometimes supported candidates not known for their honesty and trustworthiness (Richard Nixon comes to mind), a deficit on this quality is a not inconsiderable liability.

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Source: Quinnipiac University Poll, November 4, 2015 | Margin of Error: +/-2.9 Percentage points; N: 1,144 Registered voters

Another revealing question sometimes asked by pollsters--and one that traditionally favors Democrats -- is whether the candidate "cares about the needs and problems of people like you." Surprisingly, a narrow majority of respondents answered in the negative when asked about Secretary Clinton (51 to 45 percent). But Senator Sanders enjoyed a clear majority answering in the affirmative, 53 to 35 percent: a net positive of 18 percent, compared to a net negative of 6 percent for Secretary Clinton. For Democrats, whose comparative advantage resides in good part in the popular belief that they are more concerned about the needs and problems of ordinary people than the Republicans, this is a worrisome finding.



Source: Quinnipiac University Poll, December 2, 2015 | Margin of Error: +/-2.9 Percentage points, N: 1,453 Registered voters

Among Independents, a small but still important group in the November election, Senator Clinton's weakness is particularly pronounced. Just 32 percent of Independents polled by Quinnipiac last month have favorable views of her, compared to 59 percent who have unfavorable views (net negative of 27); interestingly, Independents view Sanders much more positively, with 39 percent favorable and 29 percent unfavorable (net positive of 10). The depth of Senator Clinton's problems with Independents is revealed by their ratings of her in the same poll on several specific questions not asked about Senator Sanders (apparently because Clinton was the frontrunner at the time of the poll): "Honest and trustworthy" (23 v 72, net negative of 49), "Cares about the needs and problems of people like you" (36 v 59, net negative of 23), and "Shares your values" (31 v 64, net negative of 33).

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Source: Quinnipiac University Poll, December 22, 2015 | Margin of Error: +/-2.9 Percentage points, N: 1,140 Registered voters

Cumulatively, these finding suggest that Hillary Clinton is more vulnerable as a presidential candidate than many of her supporters realize. Indeed, the most direct measure of electability -- albeit one that should be interpreted with extreme caution this far from the November election -- does not suggest that Sanders is less electable; on the contrary, he outperforms Clinton against the two leading Republican candidates, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Both Democrats beat Donald Trump, but Sanders' margin is 5.3 percent (46.8 to 41.5) compared to Clinton's margin of 2.5 percent (45.3 to 42.8). While Sanders beats Cruz by 45.0 to 41.7 percent, Clinton actually loses to Cruz 45.4 to 46.0 percent.

To be sure, Sanders also has significant vulnerabilities; describing yourself as a "socialist" calling for "revolution" who proposes to raise taxes on the middle class does not exactly seem the shortest route to the White House. It is guaranteed to provoke ferocious Republican attacks claiming that Sanders is far outside the political mainstream and is "un-American"; the only question is how effective these attacks will be.

For her part, Hillary Clinton has considerable strengths, among them her high ratings on competence, experience, knowledge, and strong leadership. At the same time, it is also true that Bernie Sanders exudes authenticity at a moment when the electorate craves it and generates the kind of passion and enthusiasm that is critical for the high turnout that Democrats need to win.

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FILE -- In This April 21, 2014, file photo, provided by the anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows a Syrian man holding a girl as he stands on the rubble of houses that were destroyed by Syrian government forces air strikes in Aleppo, Syria. Nearly four years since it began, Syriaas civil war has defied all diplomatic attempts to broker a peaceful resolution _ and the fierce fighting still goes on daily, though it has taken a back seat to the rampage in the region by Islamic State militants. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center AMC, File)

It is unlikely that the upcoming Syria talks in Geneva will in any way resolve the crisis or even move closer to a resolution. That hopelessness is evident on all sides. What is equally remarkable is the belief that negotiations would end this and similar catastrophes elsewhere -- Yemen, Iraq, Turkey, Libya, Nigeria -- when there's every indication that we are in for a very long, traumatic period with these kinds of uprisings and state violence. I think we might even look at it as a new kind of trench warfare, a poignant if distressing metaphor 100 years after the Somme and Passchendaele. The question is, should we accept this?

The debacle in Syria includes hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. No one knows the actual scale of these embittering numbers. The "sides" in the conflict are nearly indecipherable to all but dedicated observers. The causes of the debacle are equally difficult to discern, though the mayhem is mainly attributable to Bashar al-Assad's brutality in dealing with what was initially a non-violent protest of his authoritarian rule -- you remember, "Arab Spring."

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Matters did not remain so vivid for long, however, as Al Qaeda and other such actors came to dominate the anti-Assad forces and the repugnant Islamic State rose from the ruins of Iraq and seized an opportunity to advance in Syria. Virtually every country in the region has played a role, either as a purveyor of arms and violence (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Turkey) or as a victim of the humanitarian disaster (Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey). President Obama has tried to stay out of it, with uneven results; Israel is mainly a bystander. Russia's big-footed entry into Syria last year has bolstered Assad.

The debacle is not contained to the Middle East, however, as a million refugees have streamed into Europe to an uncertain reception. At first somewhat welcoming, this reception was led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as most refugees sought out German soil. But it has increasingly been fraught with xenophobia or indifference, with Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, and others acting in self-protective and often anti-migrant ways.

The European reaction is noteworthy because much of the strife in the Mideast has Europe's fingerprints all over it. One can harken back to the long dominance of Britain and France in nearly every country of the region, a hegemony disrupted in the two decades following the Second World War. But the impacts are more recent, and include bracing Arab authoritarians, scheming to overthrow some of those same regimes, supporting many of the worst state actors with ample military hardware, and consistently giving political cover to those strongmen, almost all of whom run corrupt and repressive states.

The United States has played a similar role, more or less prominently practicing the same folly. And it is this folly that strikes me as an apt link to the Great War. We look back on that war as supreme folly, with Europe inflamed by the assassination in Sarajevo and war pursued by men who were keen to fight with other people's sons. The passions animating the conflagration, and the way the war was fought, now seem ridiculous. And yet in that time and place these beliefs -- the depredation of the Hun, the necessity of trench warfare, etc. -- were accepted as fundamental truths.

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Similarly, a "fundamental truth" animating American and European policy is that we must tame the violent insurgencies and states, the kinds we've witnessed over the last four decades from North Africa to Central Asia. Yet there's very little evidence that policies of containment, military interventions, counter-insurgency, or accommodation of authoritarians has produced favorable results. Meanwhile, millions of people have died, been impoverished, or displaced by Western policies. Not a few U.S. soldiers have been casualties, too, and like the Great War, they're not the children of the elite clamoring for intervention, either.

So a new trench warfare is upon us. We were told there would be a long war against Al Qaeda after 9/11, but many of us thought that was a conceit of the neocons and we would outgrow it. We haven't. European politicians in 1914-18 could see the slaughterhouse of the Somme (a million casualties in less than five months) and persist as if such losses were fateful. The new trench warfare is similar. Generals quietly say the battle against the Islamic State could be a decade long. It is in some respects a war of attrition, but the attrited are civilians in the war zones. And just as the Great War led to the next one 20 years later, our current wars lead seamlessly to the next: Operation Iraqi Freedom to the war against ISIS.

The zealous baying for bloodshed (Assad's, jihadis', Iranians') alternates with an enervating pathos about the refugees. While this swirl of sentiments is more public than a century ago (what isn't?), the Great War stirred similar cross currents. Vera Brittain, in her brilliant memoir, Testament of Youth, revealed the cynicism and hopelessness of the young officers who fought in those trenches, but they went anyway. All of them -- her fiance, two close friends, and her only brother -- died there, and despite her loss and misgivings she served as a front-line nurse. The recognition of folly did not keep them from "duty" anymore than it dissuades us from one belligerency or another.

Our capacity to remain personally distant from tragedy, from the pain and loss of war, neuters its emotional power and allows us to sustain an ideological commitment to its utility. I write this a few hundred yards from the citadel in Hue, Vietnam, scene of one of the most ferocious and consequential battles of the American war here. At that time, 48 years ago, resisting the Tet Offensive of the Viet Cong seemed as important as defeating the Islamic State is today. The people of this city and country outlasted our hysteria, put many of their own demons to rest, and mostly thrive. It's a lesson, if we'd learn it.

Yet here we are in a never-ending war again, another twilight struggle. We have been at war for half of my lifetime, nearly all of my daughter's lifetime. It is our state of being. Political elites speak only of more of it, as if proposing a hike in Social Security benefits. No one (credible) says, let's just get out of the Middle East. Those who said 50 years ago, let's just withdraw from Vietnam, were ridiculed and marginalized. As Paul Fussell writes in The Great War and Modern Memory, "the drift of modern history domesticates the fantastic and normalizes the unspeakable."

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Man standing near a window

I expected that after top surgery I'd have an immediate and overwhelming relief but instead I had to ease into my new body. This is my top surgery story.

I spent the night before top surgery in a hotel with my girlfriend. I laid on her and wept. I was mourning losing a piece of myself. I thought of all the situations that my trans body may be used against me. What if I was in an accident and unconscious? What if first responders paused in their treatment when they saw my trans body? What if I were thrown into jail? What about when I needed medical care? Will my girlfriend love my new body? Will I ever find someone who can understand such a complicated, scarred body? I was scared of surgery.

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My girlfriend was tender and kind but also nervous about the duties ahead of her. We fell asleep. My breasts would never be touched again. In a few hours that part of me would be gone forever.

Read More: Dispelling The Myth of The Gender Binary

The day of surgery I was in a nervous fog. I tend to shut down when a moment is so immense. I go through the motions to get to the other side. They took me back to a large room. I changed into my gown and cap and sat in a chair. They started an IV. I asked if my girlfriend could come back. I needed a kind touch. My hand was really cold from the IV. She held it and made me laugh. They wheeled me back to the operating room. There were a lot of people in the room. I've never seen that many people in an operating room. It wasn't a comforting thought as I drifted into darkness.

I woke up in the hospital bed. I have a system after surgery. I ask what time it is and then I figure out how long I was under. If it seems like longer than it was supposed to be then I know something may have gone wrong. What can I say, I'm an introvert and pessimist. The surgery was under a reasonable amount of time. I thought, "I must be okay." They moved me to another room and brought my girlfriend back to teach her how to empty my drains. The day was a blur. I threw up that night back at the hotel. The next day we drove west toward my hometown in Indiana.

My recovery would take place at a spiritual community where I spent many pivotal moments of life. We unloaded the car and made a nest in the back bedroom. I stayed in a painkiller-induced warmth for the first week of recovery. I wore a compression vest. I couldn't really move much. I would sit in the tub in shallow water while my girlfriend gave me bird baths. She'd wake up at 5 a.m. when I couldn't sleep because I felt dirty. She would help me into the bathtub and tenderly wash me. I felt cared for and loved. I didn't have many emotions or thoughts about what might be under my bandages and vest. I was just existing and waiting for my body to heal.

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Read More: Ending Violence Against Trans People

After about seven days it was time to get the drains out and bandages off. We drove back over to Cleveland. The holes where the drains entered my body were red and very irritated. We walked into an outdated medical office with a large waiting room. I felt just as nervous as I felt the day of surgery. I was about to see my new chest. I had watched all the YouTube videos of the other transguys' reveal days. They all looked so happy. I didn't know what I would feel.

"Natasha?" the nursed called from the doorway. We stood up and walked through the door. I wasn't meeting with the surgeon, which made me even more nervous. I laid down on the table and the nurse took off my compression vest. That felt nice. The bandages were bloody and she removed them as well. The drains were left dangling from my body. I couldn't look down. The nurse said, "I'm going to take the drains out. Take a deep breath in and let it out slowly." I felt a quick, sharp burning spread through my chest. I looked down. I looked dead. My chest looked like a cadaver's chest. The nurse smiled and asked if I wanted a mirror. I said, "No." I wanted to cover my chest quickly and run out of there. She brushed over the aftercare, "Keep your nipples covered. Use vaseline." It all ran together. I hoped my girlfriend was paying attention. We left and drove the four and half hours back to my recovery house.

I was certain I had made a bad decision. I felt alone. I had made this decision. I was having regrets. How could anyone understand? I didn't hear this experience from other transguys online. My plan was to document my entire recovery, but I couldn't imagine taking a picture of myself. The good news was I could finally take a bath. Baths are my happy place. I filled the tub halfway up and slid down into the hot water. I looked down at my flat, white, bloody chest. The incisions were screaming at me. My nipples looked black and dead. Don't cry. This was your decision. I reached for the soap. My arm knocked a bowl to the floor and it shattered. I cried. I bawled. I leaned forward and held onto my legs. What had I done? My girlfriend walked in and cleaned up the bowl. I couldn't bear to touch my incisions. She grabbed the soap and gently rubbed them while I turned my head away.

I extended my sick leave from work another week. I was too emotional and too weak. I spent that week pacing the house. I rarely left. Then one day after a shower my girlfriend caressed my chest. I felt a tingle. I grabbed her hand and laid it on my breast bone. I felt so connected to her. It felt like the core of who I was rose to meet her at my chest. I was no longer hidden under breasts. I was bare and raw. That was a turning point for me. The surgery and recovery turned out to be more gory and emotionally taxing than I had expected. I finally understood bravery. Bravery is to keep going even when it's agonizing. Bravery means to fight through until you have that moment of peace and revelation. It took me three weeks to get a fraction of peace. But I kept going until I felt it.

It wasn't that I made a bad decision, I had made a hard decision. A physically taxing decision and I had to physically heal before I could fully live within that decision. And it turns out I wasn't the only transguy that felt this way. I wasn't alone in this journey. I wasn't alone in a reveal that wasn't YouTube worthy.

Eventually, I embraced my scarred chest. Hugs felt warmer. I could pull someone in closer. I started taking pictures of my chest and going into the ocean shirtless. The scars are still tender today. They remind me that my flesh can be bent and broken but my spirit cannot.
Concert excitement, evident in the raised hands of youth.

Co-authored by Marie N. Williams, Executive Director, Coalition for Juvenile Justice

"How can we subject prisoners to unnecessary solitary confinement, knowing its effects, and then expect them to return to our communities as whole people? It doesn't make us safer. It's an affront to our common humanity."

--President Barack Obama, January 25, 2016



"...prisoners like Montgomery must be given the opportunity to show their crime did not reflect irreparable corruption; and, if it did not, their hope for some years of life outside prison walls must be restored."

Montgomery v. Louisiana (2016)

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Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued an important ruling on life without parole sentences for children and President Obama issued an executive order forbidding, among other things, solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons. These victories for young people were just the latest in a recent wave of good news for kids involved with the justice system. With a growing national consensus that "children are different" and strong bipartisan support for juvenile and criminal justice reform, we are poised for even greater progress for justice-involved young people.

Solitary Confinement

Any stay in juvenile detention or adult jail or prison has profound effects, including increased risk of mental and physical health problems, poor educational, and career outcomes and negative impacts on families and communities. But solitary confinement is particularly dangerous -- as President Obama said, solitary confinement has been linked to a host of mental health issues, including suicide. Solitary confinement is also overused throughout the country -- President Obama's editorial focused on the story of 16-year-old Kalief Browder, who endured two years of solitary confinement at Rikers Island while awaiting trial for stealing a backpack.

Kalief was released without ever standing trial, but suffered continuing traumatic stress from his experiences at Rikers and committed suicide at age 22. President Obama also refuted the idea that use of solitary confinement increases safety by calling attention to states like Colorado and New Mexico who have decreased the use of solitary confinement with great results, and enacted a number of other reforms related to solitary confinement in federal facilities based on recommendations issued by the Department of Justice.



Montgomery v. Louisiana

The Supreme Court decision, Montgomery v. Louisiana, took a previous Supreme Court decision, Miller v. Alabama (which said that life without parole was only appropriate for crimes committed by juveniles in the rarest of cases), a step further by determining that Miller was retroactively effective. This means that thousands of people in states that were not already re-examining cases decided before Miller are now eligible to have their cases reviewed. Individual defendants like Henry Montgomery (who has been in prison more than 50 years for a crime committed at age 17) will have the chance to show that they can change and become productive, law-abiding members of society, regardless of what state they are in, or what year they committed their crime. Miller, Montgomery, and other local, state, and Supreme Court cases are also part of a growing body of case law that, based on new research on adolescent brain science and development and growing national consensus about the culpability of children, recognizes that "children are different."

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Looking forward

This week's developments are just part of a larger wave of reform in how communities and the justice system view and treat young people, and a growing recognition that some of our past practices and policies were ineffective. There is cause for optimism in juvenile justice beyond the President's action and the Supreme Court decision on Montgomery. The U.S. Senate is currently closer than it has been in almost a decade to reauthorizing (with much-needed updates) the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, or "JJDPA", our nation's flagship legislation that sets baseline -- and some aspirational -- standards for how all young people who come into contact with the justice system should be treated. Thanks to bi-partisan leadership from Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), the JJDPA is closer than it has been in a long time to aligning itself with the most current science and knowledge about what works in juvenile justice.

There are other new, bold efforts afoot that are responsive to what's happening in the field, and across the country. For instance, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention recently launched (in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and our organization, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice), an initiative to tackle the difficult but essential issue of relations between young people and law enforcement.

In his editorial for the Washington Post outlining why he issued the executive order, President Obama said that the "United States is a nation of second chances, but the experience of solitary confinement too often undercuts that second chance." We submit that the President's words could be applied to juvenile justice in general; but along with many other exciting developments in the field yesterday's wins for children can lead to second chances for many more young people involved in the juvenile justice system. While there is still much work to be done, with yesterday's developments, we hold great hope for what comes tomorrow.
Photo Source: Dawn, Pakistan

Pakistan's powerful army chief, General Raheel Sharif, has stunned his supporters and critics with Monday's unanticipated announcement that he would not seek an extension for his job when the duration of his service expires in November. "I don't believe in extension," he said on Twitter through a military spokesman. In a functioning democracy, this announcement would be deemed very strange because the army chief is not supposed to publicly speak about his job. It is generally the president or the prime minister who, with the consultation of the parliament, decides whether or not the commander should be offered an extension.

In Pakistan's case, General Sharif has spoken with a sense of entitlement indicating that if he wants to continue his job, he can easily do so but he will not emulate several of his predecessors. Former dictator, General Musharraf, has already suggested that General Sharif should be granted an extension in order to successfully complete the military operation against the Pakistani Taliban. If General Sharif means what he has stated in his statement, this would have long-term positive implications on Pakistan's democracy. He would deservedly be credited for helping in creating a Pakistan where the supremacy of institutions is given preference over ambitious individuals.

General Sharif's announcement has gained significant attention because rumors about the extension of his term were abundantly circulating in the local media. I would classify the Pakistanis who wanted an extension for Sharif in three categories.

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Reward Sharif General Sharif is indeed very popular in Pakistan. His decision to unleash a military operation against the Pakistani Taliban is probably the main reason for his popularity among the masses. The tipping point for the Pakistani army came on December 16, 2014 when the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) killed 148 people, mostly school children, in an unprecedented attack on Peshawar's Army Public School. The mass killing of children galvanized public support for a decisive action against the Taliban. It has not been a flawless operation but it did inflict serious damages on the Taliban infrastructure. Whatever shortcomings the army experienced during this time were immediately compensated with a sophisticated media campaign. General Sharif has had master publicists and media strategists who have helped popularize his brand. His has been a brand of a general who had said good-bye to the Pakistani army's old policy of supporting the Jihadis. Thus, the Pakistanis who are convinced that General Sharif has actually defeated the Taliban believe he should be rewarded with an extension so that the country benefits from his leadership and the successes achieved under his leadership are preserved and furthered.

Need Sharif

Attacks such as the one recently carried out by the Taliban on the Bacha Khan University in northwestern Pakistan that killed more than twenty people keep this category of the Pakistanis sleepless. These people are appreciative of General Sharif's leadership and acknowledge the gains made in the war against the Taliban but they are also skeptical of the claims that the army has fully won the war against the Taliban. So much credit is given to one man (i.e. General Sharif) for planning and executing the operation against the Taliban that these people believe General Sharif's retirement at a time when the battle against the Taliban is not over will keep one door open for the Taliban to regain power and carry out attacks on ordinary citizens.

Fear Sharif

People in this category respect Sharif solely because they fear him. These are mainly the politicians, both from the government and the opposition. They want him to retire as soon as possible or at least suffice with an extension. They certainly do not want him to overthrow the democratic government and stage a coup, as seen at least on three occasions in Pakistan's history. General Sharif's recent movements, ranging from his trip to the United States soon after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's meeting with President Obama in October 2015 to his latest visits to Saudi Arabia and Iran have all alerted Pakistan's democratic forces. In their views, General Sharif has established a parallel government against that of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Given his tremendous popularity among the people and the unfinished war against the Taliban, General Sharif is unlikely to face public resistance should he decide to overthrow the elected government. In spite of the circumstances that profoundly favor him, General Sharif's decision to retire without finding a pretext to extend his term or troubling the feeble democratic government, is laudable. This is good for Pakistan's democratic institutions and his own legacy.

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What is General Sharif going to do with so much popularity after he retires? There are speculations that he might join politics after retirement. That's not a smart choice. If the General's advisers are thinking that he has a bright future in politics, they are grossly mistaken. Generals and judges are powerful as long as they are in office. When they retire and jump in politics, they do not become overnight revolutionaries. General Sharif should take a leaf out of General Musharraf's book who founded his own party soon after retirement hoping that he would become a political game changer but his one-man party could not even get him elected in the parliament. Musharraf was followed by the former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, also once a popular public figure. Chaudhry has launched his own party but nobody even knows what his party is called because he does not have enough followers.
image of a young professional whispering to another

The political messaging for November's elections grows more intense by the day. Using both traditional and social media, candidates and their SuperPACs purvey both explicit positions and invidious beliefs. We are subjected to truths and half-truths, facts and fiction -- many of them used to spread hatred, fear and prejudice.

The most obvious messaging is a repeating refrain of hate-filled messages that denigrate immigrants and refugees, and target Latinos, African-Americans and Muslims. Yet there is also a quiet melody, purposefully sotto voce, that undermines women candidates by triggering often unrecognized but pervasive sexist stereotypes. The drumbeat of explicit attacks has distracted many who might otherwise be sensitive to sexist messages.

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Subtly sexist attacks are being launched through a two-part formula: (1) attack strengths by (2) using sexist spin. They start with Karl Rove's tactic of identifying and undermining a candidate's strengths. That's what the so-called "Swift Boaters" did to John Kerry: recognizing that his military service and heroism would be strengths for his candidacy, and then purposefully generating doubts about them.

For women candidates, however, Republicans go beyond challenging perceived strengths to invoke sexist stereotypes. Where certain talents or skills are respected in male candidates, they are maligned in women candidates by linking them with sexist attitudes. For example, similar behavior by men and women is often praised as assertive for men but criticized as aggressive for women.

The power of such messaging comes from stereotypes and attitudes that are subconscious or unrecognized. As compared with statements that are outright racist or anti-Muslim, sexist messaging often goes unchallenged. Yet as important as it is to respond unambiguously to openly stated biases, it is equally critical to counter sexist attacks.

Though the formula of attacking strengths and conjuring sexist associations is employed frequently, here are three illustrations relating to Hillary Rodham Clinton:

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1. Clinton's most fundamental strength is her breadth and depth of experience -- as an active and engaged First Lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State. Traditional sexist derision relates to her extraordinary work as First Lady on behalf of women around the world. The value and impacts of those actions are belittled or minimized because she was a First Lady.

Her opponents' strategy has instead targeted her service as Secretary of State. In that role, her strengths include solid knowledge of the world and its leaders (not just seeing Russia from Alaska, or knowing the name of Jordan's current king), having experienced the unpredictable and often inevitable loss of trusted colleagues targeted by terrorists, and having mastered the challenge of handling constant streams of information while engaged in meetings, travel and decision-making. To generate doubts, Republican leadership has challenged her e-mail practices and admitted to politically-motivated Benghazi hearings.

Yet sexist dimensions have increased the impacts. With regard to Benghazi, criticism implies that she failed as a woman because she somehow did not care about people, or was too busy to take care of her State Department family. Her use of a personal email system employs a double standard: Whereas others, including Secretary Colin Powell, had done the same, the Clinton focus plays on sexist fears that girls tell secrets or whisper behind peoples' backs.

2. Next, they target Clinton's intellectual abilities. Clinton's academic and professional peers have praised her critical thinking, debating and public speaking for decades. So to challenge the strength of her speaking abilities, for which she has been able to command significant fees, opponents question payments she has earned from speaking engagements on Wall Street. They emphasize who paid her to speak rather than what they purchased: a first-rate, thoughtful and articulate speaker.

Yet such claims are craftier with a sexist dimension: Certainly Wall Street firms pay substantial fees to many speakers, undoubtedly mostly men and including many Republicans. The sexist implication is that only cronyism and corruption could explain the payment of such substantial fees to a woman.

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3. But the most disturbing example of attacking a strength is targeting Hillary Clinton's lifelong dedication to women and children. From the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women (where she famously opined "Women's right are human rights") through her years as Secretary of State, Clinton has led global efforts to expose injustices against women and to focus attention on women's needs and contributions. At the same time, she has also been a tireless advocate for children and families, from early work with the Children's Legal Defense Fund to her book, It Takes a Village. She has a long and dedicated history of advocating for women and children.

Again, sexist reasoning is a strategic approach: to undermine Clinton's appeal to female voters. It has been a particularly perverse and cynical move to suggest that Hillary Clinton's decision to defend her husband and question the accounts of women accusing him of sexual harassment is evidence that she has not been a truly principled advocate for women. The mentality behind this is familiar: When Anita Hill testified that Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her, members of Congress sought to impeach her truthfulness for not having come forward earlier. In response, women around the country spoke up, noting how many had made the difficult choice to put their professional careers ahead of principled challenges to unlawful harassment.

The effort to impeach Hillary Clinton's commitment to women's rights is similar. Her failure to publicly support or sympathize with the women who accused her husband of sexual harassment does not contravene her feminist credentials. Life is complicated, and she faced an impossible situation, an unenviable clash of principles and values. It is only sexist and duplicitous machinations to suggest that her personally painful decisions at that time put into question her dedication to the welfare and rights of women. Rather than accept suggestions that feminists are the sources of accusations against Clinton, we should recognize the work of Clinton's opponents -- who at the same time seek to divide and conquer.
As a Certified Public Accountant and a CFO for a venture capital firm, Lynn's life in San Francisco was a lot like everyone's normal life - structured and work oriented. But it's one thing being comfortable with your life, it's another thing to feel blissful and energized because you are on track.



Lynn Roulo's heartwarming smile lingers regardless of the subject she discusses -- a manipulative ex-boyfriend and a perilous move to Boston or her biggest passions: Kundalini yoga and the study of the enneagram system. She is benign, enjoys good company and is full of life: "I want you to be happy and start doing what you are here to do" she wishes to the world. How could we possibly remain aseptic to such a genuine call?

An invitation to Greece

There might be a drop of Europeanism in Lynn's heredity, extracted from the first four years of her life in Munich due to her father's work in the defense industry. But Lynn was raised American, and she certainly identifies herself as one.

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Greece didn't just happen in a flash, but it was a gradual instinctive sentiment -- the aftermath of the beginning of a spiritual journey.



I decided to start Kundalini yoga because I was going through a breakup and I was in a lot of pain. I hadn't even heard of Kundalini yoga before but a friend told me that this is how she got through her divorce. So, I managed through my first class. The teacher was in his 60s with a white beard and a white turban, and I was like: 'What is this?' But I felt much better after the class, and I said to myself: 'I don't know what just happened but I will keep doing it.' I got through the not-feeling-well-period, but I was curious. So, I decided to do the teacher training.

Two years later, the thoughts to come to Athens started to flare. Overall, she has no regular connection to Greece -- no Greek descendants, no man or a job to tie her in with the country, yet there was something clear in her mind about living in Athens.

Lynn travelled to Greece two times within 2011, before she started looking in the visa application, researching travelling with animals, putting her car up for sale and renting her apartment out.

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When she talks about the pet psychic she hired a week before she and her three pets left San Francisco, Roxie the dog makes an appearance. Maybe she is trying to tell us that the 15-hour-flight in a cargo is a fodder for another article, but for her to be with Lynn, she would do anything.

Lynn steps in:

I wasn't exactly sure what my plan was going to be, but I figured that out when I got to Athens -- this time for good. I feel that my life started the moment I got on the plane to leave San Francisco. I love San Francisco. I have nothing bad to say about it, but I feel like this is my life, and that other thing was sort of a shadow of my life.

Under the Parthenon, is this an option?

During the summer and when the evenings are mild (it's Greek weather we are talking about), Lynn's yoga community meets on her roof deck -- right under the Parthenon -- for some asanas, deep relaxation and to relish one of the most stunning views in the world.

"Kundalini yoga gives emphasis on the breath, the nervous system and meditation. In my experience, it's one of the fastest paths to health and happiness" she says.

Lynn's yoga classes are seminal, and the Athenians are being hooked after their first time. As the group has grown to 20, she is looking at spaces in the neighbourhood of Plaka for the winter sessions.

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Yoga in its initial form is a technology for enlightenment and for consciousness, and everyone deserves access to that. To me, yoga is medicine, and I don't want people to not be able to have medicine because they can't afford it. In Greece things are hard, people are really struggling. That's why I want to keep the donation classes going. And it creates a different vibration around it. People come in with a different feeling.

But yoga isn't the only skill that Lynn brought with her from oversees.

Currently she is writing a guidebook combining the enneagram system of psychology and Kundalini yoga -- a practice to identify the strengths of your personality and share them with the world. Lynn got into the study of the enneagram 20 years ago in a completely arbitrary way -- she liked the cover of the book and she picked it.



I had that book and at the same time I was dating a guy who turned up to be a pathological liar. He was stealing money from me. I was in my 20s, I was in Boston and I didn't know a lot of people. It was quite dramatic. Enneagram was helpful because I could figure out what his type was and his behaviour started to make sense. It didn't excuse it, but I could imagine what was going on in his head. I healed a lot faster.

Once per month a cocktail party happens in Lynn's home. It's an interactive event that uses the enneagram as a tool for compassion. One of the nine enneagram types narrates the theory of their nature, and Lynn facilitates a discussion.

I feel that almost all of the conflict that we have in the world is because we don't understand each other. If we could know what's going in someone's heart and head we wouldn't have big issues. So, this takes us a step closer to that.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association official Rodrick Fayayo has warned MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai to get worried over whether party members were being lost to either other opposition parties of Zanu PF."If the meetings in Bulawayo are anything to go by, President Morgan Tsvangirai should be worried. What need to be determined is whether he has lost people to Zanu PF, any of the opposition parties or to apathy," he said.Jeremiah Ndhlovu said the democracy in MDC makes Tsvangirai appear a weak leader."He is not happy the party is ran in Bulawayo but because the Standing Committee and National Executive are stronger than him, he has to live with Gift Banda and Matson Hlalo under one roof."Hlalo is the darling of the Bulawayo people while Banda is known by those who smuggled him into the chairman seat,": he said. "Remember we had our last credible chair Mamloyi. Come Gorden Moyo drama took centre stage in the party.Then enter Banda its complete confusion."He said the basket that carried Gorden Moyo is the same that has brought Banda into the same chair."Secondly its no secret that Banda and his gang always use the brand Tsvangirayi to attract a crowd in their meetings.So the protest is directed at the Banda canp and his handlers," he said.
This "wait" has almost always meant "never." ... "Justice too long delayed is justice denied."

In honor of Dr. King's legacy, a mentor-friend of mine, Peter Meyer, sent me an EducationNext report that shows that the achievement gap between blacks and whites first documented in the 1966 government-sponsored Coleman Report has hardly budged some 50 years later when compared to the most recent student achievement data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP):

In both math and reading, the national test-score gap in 1965 was 1.1 standard deviations, implying that the average black 12th grader placed at the 13th percentile of the score distribution for white students. In other words, 87 percent of white 12th graders scored ahead of the average black 12th grader. What does it look like 50 years later? In math, the size of the gap has fallen nationally by 0.2 standard deviations, but that still leaves the average black 12th-grade student at only the 19th percentile of the white distribution. In reading, the achievement gap has improved slightly more than in math (0.3 standard deviations), but after a half century, the average black student scores at just the 22nd percentile of the white distribution.

According to research by Eric A. Hanushek and Paul E. Peterson, the nationwide achievement gap is narrowing at a rate so slow that it would take 250 years to equalize the math learning outcomes (and a few years less in reading) of black and white children in America.

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I think Dr. King would agree that such a long delay is justice denied.

The Coleman Report

I once read that

that the groundbreaking Brown v. Board of Education school integration decision in 1954 would harm black children because it would remove them from supportive black teachers and place them in classrooms with white teachers who might think low of them and hold low expectations.

However, Coleman, a die-hard racial integrationist, asserted that the family backgrounds of students (i.e., education level, size, structure, amount of reading material), had a greater impact on student achievement than teachers and schools.

He wrote that "a pupil's achievement is strongly related to the educational backgrounds and aspirations of other students in the school." Therefore he sought to further the call for desegregation--in particular, court-ordered busing of black students to diversify white urban schools.

By 1975, however, Coleman realized that pushing for urban school desegregation had incited white flight, creating a new residential segregation between the city and the suburbs. Meanwhile, any integration that was left in the city was among poor blacks and poor whites, not the diversity of educational backgrounds Coleman hoped for.

Today, the education debate still rages as to whether forces outside of school influence student achievement more than schools themselves. While Coleman attempted to measure the impact of family backgrounds on student achievement, today's debate has twisted his argument into pitting "poverty" against a child's ability to academically achieve--something Coleman never did. In fact, Coleman never factored families' income into his research and only mentioned the word "poverty" once in his 737-page report.

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Educating Despite Poverty

Were Dr. King still alive would he have told Mississippi sharecropping parents that letting their kids walk three miles barefoot to a one-room schoolhouse was futile because the parents' poverty and illiteracy would impede their children's learning?

No, he championed the need for people of color to have equal educational resources as whites, to help sharecroppers' children lift themselves out of poverty.

Dr. King also fought for fair wages, employment and housing for blacks in the South to curb poverty, but he never asserted that high-quality schools would be ineffective without those things being in place.

No one can do it all, so my strategy as a freedom-fighting educator is to focus on making schooling a rich and worthwhile endeavor for poor children of color, through equal funding, rigorous curriculum, high expectations and spiritually healthy teachers.

My fight is based on my being a Chicago Public Schools student who was born into poverty. I cringe when I hear statements that lump all low-income black families into one bucket, usually stereotyping them as placing too little value on education when the real problem is the lack of opportunity.

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Numerous research studies today have proved Coleman wrong on one point--the biggest impact on student learning in schools is the quality of the teacher. Helping schools get better--not trying to end poverty--is where educators will see the immediate returns for their activism. Let the freedom-fighters who work in housing and economics focus on making their industries less poverty-prone.

I was born six years after Dr. King's death and eight years after the Coleman Report, and the educational outcomes for black children as compared to those white children have virtually gone unchanged.

So I ask, "How long?"

It took nearly 250 years and a bloody Civil War for slavery in America to end, and if we don't make education equity our top national priority it will take another 250 years (and perhaps bloody riots and street wars) to bring socioeconomic liberty and justice to African-American communities.
Photo: Adam Martin

Reed Farrel Coleman, known to thriller lovers everywhere, is the author of the New York Times-bestselling Robert B. Parker's The Devil Wins, in addition to having written twenty-two other novels. Because of his writing style, he's been dubbed a "hard-boiled poet" and the "noir poet laureate". He's received the Shamus Award three times for best detective novel of the year, and has also won the Barry Award and the Anthony Award, in addition to being a three-time Edgar Award nominee. His books include nine novels in the Moe Prager series.

Where It Hurts introduces us to a new protagonist, Gus Murphy, a retired Suffolk County cop. Gus thought he had the world figured out until tragedy struck: his son died suddenly. Gus's marriage fell apart; and now he's divorced and works as a courtesy van driver for a run-down hotel on Long Island. His life is one of mindless tedium until an ex-con, Tommy Delcamino, asks him for help: Tommy's son has been murdered and he feels Gus is the only person he can trust to uncover what happened. Gus agrees to investigate, and is soon ensnared in a web of secrets more extensive than he could ever have imagined, one even threatening his own life.



Where It Hurts begins with Gus Murphy in a terrible place: his son has died; his wife betrayed him; they're now divorced; and his daughter has serious problems. What made you begin a new series with the protagonist in such a dark place?

I think the darker the place a novel starts, the more interesting the possibilities for the series.

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Did Gus's predicament affect you as you were writing about his troubles?

Every protagonist about whom I write affects me because I'm living his plight emotionally. I think that's why people respond to my work.

I must say Gus's voice was so authentic.

Thank you. I take that as high praise. I've been told I have a very strong authorial voice. That comes from the fact that I don't separate myself from my protagonists. I invest myself emotionally in their lives. The emotions they feel are mine. Many other authors write differently, but that's the only way I know how to do it.

It's difficult to imagine you having written Where it Hurts without having been deeply affected by it.

Yes. I can't read the first three pages of the book without crying. The only way I can write well is by putting myself in my characters' shoes. Not only in a protagonist's, but in the antagonist's, too. It's quite draining, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Throughout Where It Hurts, I was very impressed by your description of Gus's bereavement process and its variations. You made it so real. You certainly had your finger on the pulse of grief. Will you talk about that?

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Many people who've read the book have asked if I've had tragedy in my life. While my parents died at ages we would now consider fairly young, fortunately I've not suffered the kind of tragedy Gus has.

I think a writer's job is to be an observer and a sponge. I've been around people who have suffered all sorts of tragedies. So, I absorb those experiences of other people, and pour those feelings onto the page. "Writing as art" is often dismissed for genre writers. The assumption is if it's a mystery or thriller, it's formulaic; it's fluff. I defy anyone who reads this book to conclude it's fluff.

Throughout the book, it's clear Gus is on a journey of self-discovery. Will you talk about a character's evolution through the course of a novel, and within a series?

Oh, absolutely. I was influenced by the classic private-eye novels: Philip Marlow, Sam Spade, and the others. But the flaw I found in those characters was they were static. They didn't evolve. They remained who they were. One happy client walked out of the P.I.'s office, and the next one walked in.

That worked in 1940, but it didn't work for me. What interests me as a reader and writer, is the evolution of a character. In the Moe Prager series, the first book takes place in 1978 and the last book in 2013. Through the course of nine books, Moe ages; gets sick; divorces; and has different businesses. None of us are the same as time moves on, so I love watching my characters change over time.

With Gus, when his son died, he was a good guy who always did the right thing because it was the right thing to do. By the end of Where It Hurts, that's not quite the same Gus Murphy anymore.

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Throughout the novel, Gus makes many observations about the human condition. Will you discuss how this relates to the crime novel genre?

I contend that mystery or crime fiction is perhaps the best platform to discuss the human condition. Crime is essential to this genre, and when there's been a violent crime, people are at a heightened level of humanity--either good or bad. It's like wartime. That's why war novels are often great reflections of humanity. And of course, Gus is a cop. Like writers, cops are always observing. Now, because of his son's death, Gus has a heightened sensitivity about his own humanity. He's seeing a therapist, so he's paying close attention to the world around him in an emotional sense.

Where It Hurts has been praised by Pat Conroy, Michael Connelly, Jeffrey Deaver, Linda Fairstein, C.J. Box, Nelson DeMille, among others. They describe Where It Hurts as "modern noir" with "hard-bitten lyricism." Who are your writing influences?

Everything I read influences me. I'll never stop being influenced by what I read. If I had to pick a few authors who've influenced me, I would say they've been Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and my more modern influences, include Peter Spiegelman, Daniel Woodrell, Megan Abbot, Philip Kerr, Dennis Lehane, George Pelecanos, and Lawrence Block. But I can just as easily read a book by a first-time author and find it influences me. I must repeat, for me, the list of influences is never long enough.



If you weren't a writer what would you be doing?

(Laughter) That's a difficult question because I've had many jobs. My favorites...I'd either be working in the cargo area at Kennedy airport, or driving a home heating oil delivery truck.

Why those two?

I worked in the cargo area at Kennedy for five years, and I'm sure you saw Goodfellas. I worked with those guys. It was like working in the Wild West. And, I loved driving an oil truck. It gave me some of the same things writing gives me: I was alone and had time to think. No boss was bothering me, and I could measure myself as a person and as a man.

What's the most important lesson you learned about writing?

The most important lesson is there's no such thing as wasted writing. The more I do--even at this stage of my life--the better I get.

What do you love about the writing life?

I love the independence. I love not having a boss. I love the discipline of it. Growing up, I was an undisciplined quitter. I love the discipline of having to write every single day. I write seven days a week, and if I can, three-hundred sixty-five days a year.

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Looking back, is there anything about your own journey as a writer you would change or do differently, if you could.

I have some regrets, but I know enough about how things work that if I changed anything in the past, I wouldn't be where I am today. And I'm in such a good place now, I would be a fool to want to change a thing.

Do you ever procrastinate?

It's against my religion. (Laughter). Even as an undisciplined kid, I never procrastinated. I was always the first kid in class to give a speech when no one wanted to do it. I always felt waiting caused me more anxiety than doing something I didn't want to do. I'm still that way.



You're hosting a dinner party and can invite any five people, living or dead, from any walk of life. Who would they be?

I'd invite Moses, Jesus of Nazareth, Marilyn Monroe, T. S. Eliot, even though he'd hate being with so many Jews. (Laughter). And then I'd invite my grandfather. He apparently loved me, but I don't remember him. He died when I was very young.

What's coming next from Reed Farrel Coleman?

I'm just finishing a sequel to Gus Murphy's story.

Congratulations on penning Where it Hurts, a riveting and heart-wrenching crime novel that speaks to many things, among them the nature of duplicity, evil, conscience, and the quest for meaning in a world gone wrong.


Today, the Earth got a little hotter, and a little more crowded.





It's a Cuke! It's a Popsicle! No, no, it's a ... Caterpillar! from an Asian rainforest: one more reason to preserve these carbon-storing ecosystems. Source bayucca at flickr



OO A Cheap, Fast Way to Slow Sea Rise:

Save and Regrow Tropical Forests - says an expert, as nations continue to curb carbon emissions.







Source ajunglescientists.wordpress.com

Forests: the cheapest way to store carbon

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OO 2015 Blew Away Previous Records To Become Earth's Hottest Year - The combination of a record strong El Nino event plus the highest amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at any time in human history have given the climate system the equivalent of a Power Bar plus a shot of espresso.



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OO Climate Change Disaster Is Biggest Threat

To Global Economy In 2016 - say experts. Global warming heads top economists' concerns for the first time.



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Jonas was a Whale of a Blizzard with a 1,000 mile long front dumping near record levels of snow from Virginia and Washington DC up to New York City and beyond, and creating coastal surge flooding. Both snow and flooding records were broken. Credit AerisWeather



OO Monster Blizzard Winter Storm Jonas

Fits Climate Change Predictions - leading climatologists agree that global warming:



heats ocean surface waters, which evaporate more water, raising air moisture and temperature;

weakens the polar jetstream, creating winds that bring frigid polar air into the US.

As cold air meets warm, moist air a heavy snowstorm results with high winds, stoked by the air's heat. Coastal storm surges create flooding.

Under global warming, northeast US precipitation has been increasing over the past 40 years.

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Mosquito Borne Zika Virus Linked to Small Brained Babies - in Brazil, and increasingly elsewhere. Women in their trimester of pregnancy who are infected by daytime mosquito bearing Zika virus are increasingly giving birth to microcephalic babies. The virus may last only a week or so in the women, but permanently harms the baby. Source bn.thetodaypost.com

OO Under Global Warming, Multiple Mosquito Borne Epidemics

Could Occur Simultaneously and the US must prepare for such a scenario, warn doctors in a new report in The New England Journal of Medicine.



Related Headline:

OO Brazil: Panic As Mosquito-Borne Virus

Linked To Brain Damage In Thousands Of Babies



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@@ Climate Change 101: Why Care?

What You Need to Know - Bill Nye tells it all in five minutes amid graphic, dynamic, engaging, compelling imagery. Check it Out!

OO Climate Change Economically Threatens Global Middle Class - the erosion of wealth among the world's middle class due to climate change is a threat to economic and social stability; this could spur its 1 billion members to push for action on global warming, Swiss bank UBS Group AG said.



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Antarctic Iceberg Birth as seen from a NASA satellite.

OO Antarctic Icebergs Help Plankton Store Carbon

As They Raise Sea Levels - more and larger icebergs occur under global warming: as they melt, they release nutrients that trigger oceanic plankton blooms large enough to store carbon equal to that emitted yearly by Sweden or New Zealand, says a new study.



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Diving in Death, a young murre was one of many such seabirds found dead in 2015 in California; now tens of thousands are dead in Alaska, as warm waters reduce their food stocks, scientists suggest.

OO Mysterious Mass Deaths Of Alaskan Birds Baffles Scientists -Tens of thousands of dead birds are washing up on the beaches of Alaska's Prince William Sound; some experts say it may be related to the changing climate.



Related Headline:

OO Starvation Suspected In Massive Die-Off Of Alaska Seabirds - Scientists say ecosystem changes could have reduced the numbers food fish vital to murres.



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Mother And Child in Death - over half (200,000+) of this species, the once populous antelope of the vast Eurasian steppes, perished in 2015 as unusual extreme weather left them vulnerable to lethal disease.



OO In Pitiful Animal Die-Offs Worldwide

-- From Antelopes To Bees To Seabirds --

Climate Change May Be Culprit - which, along with El Nino, created enough extreme conditions to create massive carnage. Some of the most dramatic examples in 2015:

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over half (220,000+) of all Eurasian saiga antelope, stressed from extremely stormy weather, died.

A record mass die-off of murres, diving seabirds, starved to death as their food stocks disappeared

A near record worldwide die-off of corals is occurring as oceans become too hot for them

Drought and heat are causing major die offs of US west coast salmon and other fish.





To Bee or Not to Bee? Wild bumble bees are on the decline, as well as domestic honeybees.

Furthermore:

Bumblebees are declining throughout Europe and North America

US Western drought killed 12 million CA trees and threaten 58 million more

Massive tree die-offs are predicted for the US southwest by 2060

Massive die-offs (700+ studied from 1940 to 201)0, threatening entire species, are increasing

Common to all of these die-offs::

the species' environments are changing, and they're struggling to keep up.

OO South Africa Suffers Driest Year On Record In 2015 as a drought that threatens the vital maize crop and hit economic growth shows no sign of abating.







How Will Nemo Get Home? This school of baby clown fish faces a threatened future.

OO Baby Fish May Get Lost In Silent Oceans As Carbon Dioxide Rises - Future oceans will be much quieter places, making it harder for young marine animals that navigate using sound to find their way back home, new research has found.



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OO Company Behind Methane Leak Is

Ordered To Offset The Climate Damage says the California governor's state-of-emergency declaration.



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SPEAK OUT

OO As Exxon Faces Investigation,

Investors Renew Pressure For Stronger Climate Stance







Credit Greg Nash

OO Fossil Fuel Leases Should Charge

For Climate Change, Says President - he wants companies leasing oil and coal rights on federal land to pay more for the effects those fuels have on climate change.

OO Obama Calls For Economic Help For Coal States



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CLEAN LEADERSHIP





"Why would we want to pass up the chance for American businesses to produce and sell the energy of the future?"

OO Obama Wins Praise as a Champion of Clean Energy Despite Political Gridlock



OO In Climate Move, Obama to Halt New Coal Mining Leases on Public Lands



OO SOTU: Obama Vows To Fix Fossil Fuel Program That Gives Away Cheap Coal - he pushes for changes in how government manages public-land fossil fuels.



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CLUELESS LEADERSHIP





Credit Khalil Bendib at otherwords.org

OO GOP House Allows Coal Mining to Pollute America's Streams by appoving a bill that does so, by blocking new Obama administration regulations designed to reduce the environmental impact of coal mining on the nation's streams. Gee, thanks, guys!



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GOOD CLEAN NEWS





OO US Solar Industry Provides More Jobs Than Oil and Gas Extraction - solar employment continues its 20% annual growth rate.



OO A New Record for Clean Energy Investment - cheap oil and natural gas can't keep renewables down.



Related Headlines:

OO Clean Energy Defies Fossil-Fuel Price Crash,

Attracts Record $329 Billion Global Investment in 2015



In his final State of the Union address, U.S. President Barack Obama said the U.S. must stop subsidizing fuels of the past. Source Reuters

OO Why Clean Energy Is Now Expanding Even When Fossil Fuels Are Cheap - Because:



US Congress extended wind and solar tax credits

Paris agreement encourages the clean energy market

Clean energy jobs are booming

CA, a clean energy leading state, created new policies to boost rooftop solar

OO Solar and Wind Just Did the Unthinkable:

Record Growth Despite Cheap Fossil Fuels



OO Hints And Nods Point To Vast Energy Changes - in the past 7 years, including:

a major Canadian pipeline canceled by US;

a groundbreaking climate deal in Paris;

Solar and wind costs have plummeted;

the return of2-a-gallon gasoline;

some of coal's largest corporations have gone bankrupt;

natural gas has become a major factor - the "new coal" that is NOT shrinking the US carbon footprint (contrary to the article): processing it creates substantial emissions of this highly potent greenhouse gas, making it as dirty as coal.

"Meanwhile, we've cut our imports of foreign oil by nearly 60%, and cut carbon pollution more than any other country on Earth." said President Obama.







Source doodlefinder.com

OO Rapid Switch To Renewable Energy Can

Put Paris Climate Goals Within Reach - Countries can deliver on the promises of the historic Paris climate change agreement by rapid scaling up wind and solar power to 36% of the global energy mix by 2030, an international energy gathering was told.



OO State Renewable Energy Mandates Are Producing Enormous Benefits - As the policy workhorse behind the rapid rise of renewable energy in the U.S.



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but...

OO States' Renewable Electricity Goals Not Curbing Carbon Emissions significantly.



OO DOE Announces $220 Million in Grid Modernization Funding,

In Prep For Clean Energy to support critical research and development in advanced storage systems, clean energy integration, standards and test procedures, and a number of other key grid modernization areas.



OO UK: World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Sets New Generation Record - for offshore wind generation. The London Array generated 369,000 MWh of electricit.



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FOSSIL FUEL FOLLIES





Credit Stuart Palley

OO California Gas Leak Is Emitting 4.5 Million Cars' Worth

Of Pollution Daily



Related Headlines:

OO Utility May Have Understated Health Threat From Gas Leak including the number of times airborne levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene have spiked.



OO Leaking Methane Plume Spreading Across L.A.'S San Fernando Valley raises potential health concerns for people living outside the immediate vicinity of the Aliso Canyon gas leak.



OO The World Is Hemorrhaging Methane,

And Now We Can See Where - The Aliso Canyon breach is accidental, but thousands of other sites are flaring off methane intentionally, as waste.



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Another Form of Fossil Fuel Subsidies... remember Mitt? And now we have so many GOP presidential candidates that fill his shoes! Brings tears to my eyes. Credit Dave Granlund

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OO US Taxpayer Due To Subsidize Koch-Controlled Coal Mine



OO US Coal Companies Getting Pummelled In Stock Market



OO One of the Largest US Coal Companies Filed For Bankruptcy







False Reporting Does Not Change Pollution Levels in China, which then get blown to the US 10 days later. It undermines their international standing.

OO False Emissions Reporting Undermines China's Pollution Fight

OO Southeast Asia High In The Ranks Of Global Polluters - Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels rose 227 percent from 1990 to 2010.



If we do not grow sustainably,

Our children will die inhumanely.



@@ Myth vs Truth: The Huge Value of Contraception is an incisive, heartfelt recognition of the value of contraception by Sarah Brown, CEO, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy



Unintended Pregnancy Costs US Taxpayers:

Unintended Pregnancies Cost US Taxypayers Nearly $11 Billion Yearly

-the Guttmacher Institute

Teen Childbearing Alone Cost US Taxpayers $9+ Billion In 2010

And the costs of raising a child usually ensures decades, if not a life, of poverty for its mother.

- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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WHAT YOU CAN DO

Help prevent unintended pregnancies in your community:

publicize where women can access affordable contraception.

They can go here to find locations:

And there are many more actions you can do, right here.

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SOLAR KEEPS DANCING





OO US Solar Job Boom Continues As Prices Spur Demand - the U.S. solar power industry continued its hiring spree in 2015, growing nearly 12 times faster than overall U.S. employment.



Related Headline:

OO Solar Power: The Next Energy Jobs Juggernaut? As the price of solar power continues to plummet - and the costs of extracting oil, gas, and coal continue to rise - solar is emerging as a significant job creator in a shifting energy economy.







Imagine Staying REALLY Warm as you build your snowman; now MIT has created a material that might someday be used in clothes to capture and retain solar heat. As the sun glows, so do you! Source wotv4women.com

OO MIT: New Material Can Store Solar Energy to Warm You Up Later - While solar power is used to generate electricity, one could save even more power by storing heat. MIT scientists have created a new thin transparent film that does exactly that. When exposed to sunlight, it assumes a "charged" state that can be maintained for long periods of time.

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However, when triggered with a small burst of heat, the material reverts to its original chemical composition, releasing a much larger amount of heat energy. Possible future applications? Self-defrosting windshields, warming your home - or your clothes!





Source www.memphistours.com

OO Middle East Desert Sands Could Store Solar Energy as the region quietly becomes a center for solar power. United Arab Emirates researchers have shown that desert sand could be used to store energy at 1,800+ degrees Fahrenheit (1,000+ degrees Celsius) in concentrated solar power facilities.



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Nevada: Solar Customers Fight Back! Source www.vox.com

OO Solar Customers Launch A Class Action Lawsuit Against NV Energy - saying the utility "conspired to unlawfully reduce incentives" in order to protect its monopoly.



OO SolarCity, Sunrun to Pull Out of Nevada, Cutting Hundreds of Jobs due to the new rules, which decrease the savings that many count on for going solar.



OO GOP Nevada Leaders Oppose Solar -

And Might Help Elect A Democratic 2016 President - indicates a poll among state voters, roughly 90% of whom support solar power, as in rooftop solar installations. Roughly 70-80% of polled likely voters would be "unlikely" to re-elect a politician who failed to raise the solar net metering cap - and that could influence their presidential votes, as well.



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Source news.discovery.com

OO Solar Energy Farm Floats on Reservoir - in France, illustrating how solar arrays could float on reservoirs, quarry lakes, irrigation canals or remediation ponds. Such installations can make these waterways serve a double purpose as they reduce evaporation.





OO Chile: Innovative Project To Provide 24/7 Renewable Energy

To Village - a solar powered pumped-storage hydroelectric plant will pump seawater up a cliff on the coast using solar energy, to a natural storage basin at an altitude of 600 metre. At night, the plant will generate electricity by releasing the stored water, which will rush down through the same tunnels.



Check it out here, right now!

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WHY WE SHOULD ACT NOW: RISING RISKS

Daily Climate Change: Global Map of Unusual Temperatures, Jan 26, 2016

How unusual has the weather been? No one event is "caused" by climate change, but global warming, which is predicted to increase unusual, extreme weather, is having a daily effect on weather, worldwide.

Looking above at recent temperature anomalies, much of the US and the waters surrounding it are experiencing warmer than normal temperatures: the eastern Pacific warm spot continues to prevent enough rain from reaching California, to stop the drought.

Meanwhile, a recent monster blizzard and accompanying coastal storm surge flooding, paralyzed temporarily much of the US east coast. Two effects of climate change fueled the event: unusually warm coastal waters supplied the air moisture and heat that, with an Arctic invasion of cold air, transformed into high winds and lots of snow.

Much of the areas surrounding the North Pole are experiencing much warmer than normal temperatures - not good news for our Arctic thermal shield of ice. Hotter than usual temperatures continue to dominate human habitats.

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There is, of course, much more news on the consequences and solutions to climate change. To get it, check out this annotated resource list I've compiled, "Climate Change News Resources," at Wordpress.com here. For more information on the science of climate change, its consequences and solutions you can view my annotated list of online information resources here.

To help you understand just what science does and does NOT do, check this out!
President Rouhani's visit to Europe this week is a reminder of how much has changed since last July. But Iran's eventual rehabilitation into the international community is by no means a done deal. Now that the nuclear deal has been struck and sanctions lifted, what is the next demand to be made of Iran? All sides appear to agree that it should be based around Iran's human rights record.

Of course, the ultimate aim of any genuine human rights activist must surely be for the UNCHR, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to one day be able to open offices in Tehran. Access for the UN Special Rapporteur Ahmad Shahid to visit Iran would be a good start. The way this might be achieved reveals a lot about the different approaches and real aims of those voicing concerns over Iran's human rights record.

But although when President Rouhani arrives in France he will be greeted by President Hollande and French businesses, he will also be jeered by protestors and demonstrators.

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One group of protestors believe that improvements in human rights will only come about through engagement, dialogue and diplomacy. They demand that Rouhani brings Iran to conform with international standards and laws. The country needs to be opened up to greater scrutiny - a bit like the nuclear inspections regime. Activists like Shirin Ebadi further acknowledge that indigenous pressure groups can only flourish in an atmosphere of security, stability and economic prosperity.

Other protestors, like the Mojahedin Khalq, are simply ratcheting up a new phase of post-nuclear anti-Iran protest. Their demand is 'Don't let Rouhani into France'. They say that the only way to make Iran comply with the international community's demand for improved human rights is for Iran to be isolated and threatened with regime change. This aggressive stance, shared by neoconservatives, Israel and Saudi Arabia, is profoundly incompatible with human rights. Although recent events in Libya, Iraq and Syria should be a salutary lesson in how difficult it is to bomb regime change into country.

Iran's president was elected to office on a two-pronged platform of alleviating economic sanctions and improving human rights. He - his government - has achieved the first. Sanctions have been lifted, a sensitive prisoner exchange negotiated with the US and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed a mega $600billion trade deal with the Islamic Republic. Next, Rohani will arrive in France with a shopping list: 114 Airbus jest.

It is not going to be possible to put this economic genie back in the bottle. Britain's newly appointed trade envoy, Lord Lamont has identified Iran as "the world's biggest emerging market since the collapse of the Soviet Union 25 years ago", and warns that "Britain is languishing behind rivals in its share of business."

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So it is certainly right for the international community to hold President Rouhani to his promise to improve human rights in Iran. How this is done demands mutual acknowledgement of where Iran stands and what is possible.

Rohani has said that he will use the nuclear negotiations with world powers as a model for pursuing Iran's domestic policy goals. Certainly he will capitalise on Iran's success in Syria and Iraq to assert Iran's regional power on the international stage - Rohani is unequivocally part of the establishment, Iran's military are allies not rivals - but his preferred agenda is clearly to strengthen civic society and the rule of law.

Does this signal that Iran is prepared to meet genuine human rights advocates halfway? Dialogue and negotiation will widen Iran's engagement with the international community just as economic prosperity and stability will provide ground to strengthen indigenous pressure groups. Maybe this is a trade-off Iran is now in a position to accept. In contrast, those who advocate improving human rights through the barrel of a gun will surely become more and more isolated and their arguments more and more redundant.
Opinion by Reboot Illinois' Madeleine Doubek

Gov. Bruce Rauner's request that that state's labor relations board declare an impasse between his administration and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 31 didn't get too much attention when it was announced, but it certainly will be one to watch.

Rauner spoke out vehemently against organized labor, in general, and AFSCME in particular, during the 2014 Republican primary, but not many non-primary voters were paying attention. After a close call in the primary, when unions rallied against him and made the race much closer than expected, Rauner curtailed the anti-union theme through the general election campaign. When he came out swinging against unions, fair-share fees and prevailing-wage laws shortly after his inauguration, he seemed to stir a sleeping giant.

The anti-union rhetoric seemed harsher, I suspect, than many independent voters who supported Rauner were expecting. His anti-union Turnaround Tour also solidified public labor's animosity toward him and support for Democratic legislative leaders.

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Plenty of people have speculated since that Rauner pushed too hard, too far, too fast in his anti-union crusade, but was he playing the long game all along?

Consider the down-the-road scenarios from Rauner's request to the labor board.

If the labor board sides with AFSCME and its nearly 40,000 members, then Rauner and the union continue negotiating and essentially keep at what they've been doing for the past year. It would be a win for AFSCME, but it's mostly a moral victory. Certainly they get to thumb their noses at the governor and give themselves and Democrats a round of high-fives and I-told-you-sos, but it's not as if they'd be winning huge concessions or big pay raises. They just go back to negotiating.

In announcing he was going to the labor board, Rauner noted that its majority was appointed by Quinn and that he re-appointed two Quinn appointees. AFSCME's Executive Director Roberta Lynch said union leadership did not believe it was at an impasse. She made clear the union will seek any and all appeals and legal recourse available to it if the board doesn't side with union management.

If the labor board sides with Rauner and declares the two sides are at an impasse, then Rauner wins the moral victory and probably much, much more. At that point, Rauner can offer the union his last, best offer. AFSCME leadership then must decide whether to accept that last offer or strike, something they have never done.

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If they accept Rauner's last, best offer, it's a big win for Rauner. He becomes the taxpayer's hero by saving the state money in personnel costs. Moreover, he boosts his national bona fides as the cutthroat business management dealer. He will claim he pushed the state's biggest union several steps closer to private-sector pay levels. He already has noted he's successfully re-negotiated contracts with several other, much smaller unions this year as the state faces never-before-seen levels of debt.

If AFSCME strikes, Rauner could be an even bigger winner. In this scenario, don't be surprised if he fires striking workers and then hires new workers at far cheaper salaries and benefits. Likewise, he could re-hire former state workers at far cheaper salaries and benefits. He'll be a bigger hero nationally and in Illinois, claiming to have stood up for taxpayers and stood up to what he will portray as the unreasonable and greedy union bosses who control the state and its Democratic party. The governor can dip into his campaign fund to send that message far and wide should he so choose. Depending on when that labor board ruling comes, all of this also could become campaign fodder for both Rauner and the unions this fall as they battle for control of legislative majorities.

Again, if the labor board rules with the governor and the union opts to rouse its members against the evil, union-busting Rauner Rule by striking, a long walkout could just compound the pressure on Democrats to start working with Rauner here and there. Perhaps helped by a governor uncooperative and unwilling to negotiate with the union, a long strike might help build enough pressure from Illinois voters and citizens to end, finally, the ceaseless political playground games we've been forced to endure or ignore for the past year.

Illinois remains more blue than red and Rauner did anger and solidify the hatred union households feel for him after his inauguration, so I don't doubt many Illinoisans will stand in solidarity with AFSCME.

That said, the long-game scenarios look pretty good for the governor.

And with Gov. Bruce Rauner's second State of the State Address a day away, make sure you check out Reboot Illinois' infographic to catch up on the state's current condition, from pensions and jobs to education and the estimated bill backlog for fiscal year 2016.
Traditional muslim family with children and maturity. Set of vector illustration arab family in national clothes.

When I was a toddler, I was terrified of ladybugs. There was just something about how different they looked that made me fear and despise them. To me, they looked harmful. As I grew older, I learned that ladybugs are not only absolutely harmless to humans but also extremely beneficial to us because they feed on landscape pests without harming our plants or other harmless bugs. Knowing this, I no longer am scared of ladybugs and I actually enjoy their presence.

There are millions of Muslims living in the United States and I can guarantee you that every single one has either directly faced some sort of hateful discrimination or knows of a Muslim that has. According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, a Muslim American is a victim of a hate crime every three days. Recent polls show that more than half of Americans have an unfavorable view of Islam. Sadly, Muslims are today's ladybugs.

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As a Muslim American who continually strives to do everything I can for the betterment of my community and this nation, it is saddening to see this hate. Yet just as my fear of ladybugs was caused by my ignorance about them, similar is the case with how Muslims are currently viewed. It's time to change that. Let this be the piece that does away with your unwarranted fear of Muslims.

Here Are Ten Reasons Why You Should Not Be Afraid of Muslims:

1. All terrorists are Muslims EXCEPT the gigantic majority that aren't.

According to the FBI, 94 percent of terrorist attacks carried out inside the United States from 1980 to 2005 have been by non-Muslims. Keyword: Non-Muslims. Looking overseas, less than 2 percent of terrorist attacks carried out in Europe in the past five years have been by Muslims.

If this miniscule percentage isn't calming enough for you, I can present better. From 9/11 to the end of 2015, less than 0.0002 percent of Americans killed were killed by Muslims. No matter where you look, every single statistic will scream to you that there is absolutely no valid association between the over 1.6 billion peaceful Muslims in the world and the terror committed by those who hijack our religion.

Furthermore, if you insist on using these single-digit and decimal statistics to justify such an association, I strongly suggest that you consider the double-digit statistics regarding non-Muslims and acts of terrorism.

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2. Muslims do not plan to take over America with our religion.

One thing more hysterical than my childhood fear of ladybugs is this unfounded fear that Muslims plan to take over this country and impose Sharia law. The fact of the matter is that this is absolutely untrue as the majority of Muslims actually want to adopt American customs and ways of life, according to the Pew Research Center.

But let me humor the Islamophobes: Even if Muslims wanted to take over this nation and turn the White House into a super cool mosque (which totally isn't the case), we would not be able to. Muslims make up less than 1 percent of the total U.S. population. We are a minority of a minority and never in history has 1 percent of a nation's population succeeded in taking over the other 99 percent. To put things into perspective, this would be equivalent to a toddler taking over an entire elementary school during nap time.

3. Speaking of toddlers, if you are scared of Muslims then you should be terrified of toddlers.

More Americans were killed by toddlers than by Muslims in 2013. And in 2014. And in 2015. And every year for the past several years.

Based on these facts, you should be more afraid of toddlers than you are of Muslims, or more realistically, less afraid of Muslims than you are of toddlers. Please remember this the next time you are on an airplane with a Muslim. Speaking of airplanes, you are more than 11,000 times more likely to die in an airplane accident than from a terrorist plot involving an airplane.

4. If you are scared of Muslims, then you should also be afraid of household furniture.

Recent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that since the 9/11 attacks, which have caused Americans to become terrified of Muslims, Americans have been just as likely to be crushed to death by unstable televisions and furniture than they are to be killed by a Muslim. On this same note, in the time it took you to read this far, at least one American has died from a heart attack. In the time it takes you to finish this article, at least one American will have died as a result of suicide. By tonight, at least one American will have died as a result of distracted driving. By the time you wake up tomorrow morning, an American child will have died as a result of gun violence.

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Meanwhile, not a single American would have been harmed by a Muslim as all of this is happening. Rather than fearing Muslims who pose no harm, why not work to address the aforementioned preventable deadly leading causes of death plaguing our nation?

5. When we say Islam teaches peace, we really mean it.

There is no bigger award for those who promote peace than the Nobel Peace Prize. That being said, 5 out of the 12 past people who have won this award have been Muslims. So if all Muslims are terrorists because a single digit percentage of terrorists happen to be Muslim, then all Muslims are peacemakers because 42 percent of Nobel Peace Prize winners in the past 12 years have been Muslims.

6. Muslims play an essential role in fighting terrorism at home.

Many polls and studies conducted in the last few years show that Muslims have played a crucial role in helping law enforcement find terror suspects in the United States. In fact, a recent study by Duke University showed that Muslim Americans helped catch more terrorism suspects and perpetrators than the United States government itself. Furthermore, many Muslims have served and currently serve in the military to help protect this nation from terrorists.

7. Muslims hate ISIS just as much as you do.

Here is a fact that is not well known to many: Muslims are the the largest victims of ISIS's terror as well as the largest victims of all terrorism in general, according to the U.S. State Department. Muslims want to defeat terrorism just as much as any other American, if not more. This is why we have Muslims like Niloofar Rahmani, Kubra Khademi, many Muslim youth, and various Muslim groups and scholars that have done much more to combat ISIS than Islamophobes like Donald Trump ever will.

8. Muslims are doing amazing work in the United States.

We want to help our fellow Americans. We actually enjoy helping. You don't have look far to find evidence of this. Just last year, Muslims raised over $100,000 to rebuild burned black churches, raised nearly $200,000 to help the San Bernardino victims, and donated 30,000 water bottles to help alleviate the current Flint water crisis. Even Deah Barakat and Yusor Abu-Salha, two Muslims who were killed by a hateful non-Muslim terrorist, were recently awarded the MLK Unsung Hero Award for their significant contributions to social justice, equity or diversity, and having made a positive difference in the lives of others.

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9. Muslims are helping break gender stereotypes.

This nation we live in is a seen as a symbol of freedom and opportunity and Muslims lead the nation by example. American Muslims not only hold more college degrees by proportion than the general U.S. population, but also make up the second-highest level of education among major religious groups. To add, American Muslim women hold more college or postgraduate degrees than Muslim men and are more likely to work in professional fields than women from most other U.S. religious groups.

Nearly all Muslim Americans agree that women should be able to work outside the home and a significant majority believe there is no difference between men and women political leaders. It is easy to see that Islam encourages women to aspire for greatness and use their success to help others, this is why the youngest doctor in the world is a Muslim woman and the first university in the world was founded by one as well. In addition, the same Islam that Americans are afraid of has granted women rights of equality thousands of years ago that women in the United States don't have to this very day. While an Equal Rights Amendment still has not been passed in the U.S. allowing women equal rights as men, the Quran granted this right to women long before this nation was ever founded.

10. Muslims have been in the United States for centuries.

The history of American Muslims goes back more than 400 years. Scholars even estimate that a quarter to a third of African slaves brought to this nation were Muslims. Despite the unfortunate circumstance of our first arrival, Muslims played a significant role in the establishment of this nation. And despite all the hatred we continue to receive, we want to play a role in making this nation great and safe.

Twenty-one Muslims were killed by the Taliban in Pakistan this week and I'm still waiting for the world to respond as furiously as they would have if the victims were non-Muslims. As I ululate the names of the 21 Muslim university students killed on Wednesday, I ask myself: Why are Muslims hated because of terrorism when we are the largest victims of it?

There is not a single day that goes by that I don't think of Deah Barakat and Yusor Abu-Salha and how they will never be able to continue carrying out the amazing work they were doing because they were hated and killed simply for being Muslim.

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We can be observers of the political process. Or we can be part of it. For most of my life I have been an observer and a participant.

Today, I want to state why I support Hillary Clinton for President of the United States. It is not a difficult decision.

First, among all the candidates in either party, she is the most qualified to be President of United States. Clinton brings experience in the non-profit and government sectors, representing the people of this country with excellence. Her work with the Children's Defense Fund is often overlooked because of her more recent work as a U.S. Senator and as Secretary of State. Each brings its own challenges, and despite any criticism of her actions, not one other candidate has demonstrated both national and international leadership.

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Second, Hillary Clinton has shown that she understands the issues and how they underpin the aspirations of real people. It is a balancing of what works for the majority of country, instead of dividing Americans on every issue. In running for the U.S. Senate, she overcame the negativity generated during that race because she listened to the people in her state. She is doing the same in the Presidential race. The office of President is to lead all people, not just the few. That is what democracy is about.

Third, Hillary Clinton is intelligent and understands that issues are complex and governance includes compromise. It is easy to go on a campaign trail and make promises that cannot be delivered. In listening to her speak, she knows, and will tell you, what can be done, and what will require more effort. Americans are disappointed with promises that cannot be achieved. If it is hard, she tells us so.

Finally, Hillary Clinton remembers that social justice, the needs of women and children, and the health of the planet and its people is paramount to our survival. Her body of work attests to her passion and her commitment. She shares the values of so many of us who have been dedicated to justice in the world.
Rainbow flag symbolizing and celebrating gay rights and freedom of expression.

There were some protesters at the Creating Change conference who think a disgusting display of anti-Semitism, which is defined as (prejudice against, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews as an ethnic, religious, or racial group) is acceptable. It never was and isn't today.

The protest at the Creating Change conference against the reception and presentation organized by A Wider Bridge will forever be a black eye on the Task Force.



The mission of the Task Force is clearly stated on their website; "We're building a future where everyone is free to be themselves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we've made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights. These barriers must go. That's why the Task Force is training and mobilizing millions of activists across our nation to deliver a world where you can be you."

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While I have spoken out against the unjust actions of the Netanyahu government there is also no excuse for the actions of those who vow the destruction of Israel. If the Task Force becomes a place where there can no longer be more than one point of view presented peacefully and we pit our own community against each other for racial, ethnic or religion reasons, it will go out of business as a viable organization because it will not be able to accomplish its mission.

Gay and Lesbian people may be on all sides of the dispute between the Israelis and Palestinians. We have been on all sides of every political issue because we are thinking people with widely differing views. But the role of the Task Force has to be to work towards the goal, through the open and peaceful exchange of ideas, here in the United States and around the world, that will result in all members of the LGBTQ community no matter in which country they reside to have the freedom to exist and live their lives to their fullest potential. When that happens it will help all people have freer lives.



The individuals who came from Israel to attend the Creating Change conference were there to discuss what was happening in the LGBT community in Israel. If some wanted to debate their view of that the way to do it was to peacefully attend the reception and discuss the issues in a rational way. Or they could have worked with the Task Force to set up another panel. What the protesters did was shut down all debate and reasonable exchange with some calling for the destruction of Israel which in the context of the meeting made no sense at all.

In my opinion the concept of what some are calling 'pinkwashing' is absurd. I have never excused the excesses of the Israeli governments' actions against some of its Palestinian residents because they happen to be the only nation in the region to give rights to their LGBT citizens. One has nothing to do with the other. In fact those who have their full rights can work harder for those who don't. How does not talking about the rights given to the LGBT community in Israel help those living in states that totally discriminate against the community? That is totally irrational.

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I write as a first generation American whose mother escaped the Nazi's in Austria and father escaped them in Germany. They came to America for freedom meeting in New York. My father's parents weren't so lucky and were gassed in Auschwitz. He joined the American army and went back to Europe to fight and was awarded a bronze star. They spent their lives fighting for equality and brought up my sister and myself to do the same. That is why it is so unacceptable to see those who would display anti-Semitism in their fight for other's rights. Let us never forget gays were rounded up and marched with Jews to the gas chambers.



It is only if we continue to have an open dialogue and stand together that we will succeed in ensuring that in America and around the world; Black Lives Matter, women have full equality, recognize that Muslims are not all responsible for jihadist terrorists, LGBT people have their full rights and those who believe Israelis and Palestinians must have a chance to live in peace will be able to accomplish those goals.


(left) Four college students protest segregation at Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C. in February 1960. (right) Picketers march in front of Kress store on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena in 1960 in solidarity with Southern sit-ins.



On Monday, February 1, the Pasadena City Council will make a long anticipated decision about adopting a citywide minimum wage. That date happens to be the 55th anniversary of one of the most important events in American history -- the sit-in at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The sit-in movement and the current movement for a $15/hour minimum wage and across the country are intertwined. Both movements quickly spread to Pasadena.

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Late in the afternoon of February 1, 1960, four young black men -- Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil, all students at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College in Greensboro -- visited the local Woolworth's store. They purchased school supplies and toothpaste, and then they sat down at the store's lunch counter and ordered coffee. "I'm sorry," said the waitress. "We don't serve Negroes here."

The four students refused to give up their seats until the store closed. The local media soon arrived and reported the sit-in protest on television and in the newspapers. Their actions inspired students at other colleges across the South to follow their example. By the end of March sit-ins had spread to 55 cities in 13 states. Many students, mostly black but also white, were arrested for trespassing, disorderly conduct, or disturbing the peace.

People of conscience around the country, including Pasadena, picketed outside local Woolworth and Kress five-and-dime stores in solidarity with the Southern sit-ins. The sit-in movement galvanized a new wave of civil rights protest, including the freedom rides, mass marches, and voter registration drives that eventually led Congress to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Rev. Martin Luther King was proud of the civil rights movement's success in winning the passage of those important laws. But he realized that neither law did much to provide better jobs or housing for the large numbers of low-income African Americans in the cities and rural areas.

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"What does it profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesn't earn enough money to buy a hamburger and a cup of coffee?" King asked.

We often forget that the historic 1963 March on Washington -- where King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech -- called on Congress not only to pass a civil rights bill but also to raise the minimum wage. In 1963, the minimum wage was $1.25 -- the equivalent of $9.18 in today's dollars. One of the march's specific demands was "a national minimum wage act that will give all Americans a decent standard of living." The March's manifesto pointed out that "anything less than $2.00 an hour fails to do this." A $2 minimum wage in 1963 would be $15.49 an hour today.

King observed: "Negroes are not the only poor in the nation. There are nearly twice as many white poor as Negro, and therefore the struggle against poverty is not involved solely with color or racial discrimination but with elementary economic justice." To achieve economic justice, King said, "there must be a better distribution of wealth within this country for all God's children."

"There is nothing but a lack of social vision to prevent us from paying an adequate wage to every American whether he [or she] is a hospital worker, laundry worker, maid, or day laborer," said King, who spoke in Pasadena in 1958, 1960, and 1965.



Martin Luther King delivers a sermon at Pasadena's Friendship Baptist Church in February 1960, shortly after the start of the Southern sit-in movement.

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Like the civil rights movement of the 1960s, there is a growing movement in the United States today protesting the nation's widening economic inequality and persistent poverty. Congress hasn't raised the federal minimum wage of $7.25 since 2009. As a result, low-wage workers for fast-food chains and big box retailers, janitors, security guards, day laborers, and others have forged a grassroots movement to pressure their employers (like Walmart and McDonalds) to raise starting salaries and benefits. These workers and their allies have engaged in civil disobedience and strikes to galvanize public opinion.

They have also successfully pushed cities to adopt minimum wage laws that will pay families enough to meet basic needs. In response, a growing number of cities -- including Seattle, Kansas City, Chicago, and San Francisco, San Jose, Emeryville, Santa Monica, Mountain View, and other California cities -- have passed minimum wage laws tied to local living costs.

Just as the sit-in movement and civil rights protests spread across the country, the movement for a living wage has reached Pasadena, California -- an affluent city characterized by wide inequality and a large number of the working poor. Mayor Terry Tornek and most City Council members have declared their support for gradually raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2020, but the details of the actual ordinance are still up for debate. They are expected to vote on February 1 on a minimum wage.



Pasadenans march to urge the City Council to adopt a $15 minimum wage.

In the 1960s, many Americans opposed the civil rights movement, arguing that their demands for racial justice were "too radical." Today, the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and the California Restaurant Association oppose raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2020 on the specious argument that it will hurt the economy. There is no evidence for this, but the Chamber and its allies repeat this mantra nevertheless.

Pasadenans for a Livable Wage (PLW) --- a broad coalition of low-income workers, middle class professionals, clergy, nonprofit leaders, educators, unions, community and civic groups, and enlightened businesses - is urging Mayor Tornek and the City Council to adopt a plan that addresses this concern. PLW wants the law to include a provision to monitor the minimum wage's impact. It wants city staff to produce annual reports on sales tax revenue, employment, and business licenses comparing Pasadena data with comparable county and state date. If warning flags appear, further analysis will be conducted to determine causes. Temporary waivers may then be given for struggling industries while allowing the planned minimum age increases to go forward for other employers.

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There are only few things that local governments can do to improve the lives of low-income families while simultaneously improving the local economy. Adopting a $15/hour-by-2020 minimum wage is one of them. A $15 per hour Pasadena minimum wage would inject over $230 million per year into the economy.

A recent public opinion poll found that 74% of Pasadena voters support the $15-by-2020 minimum wage plan with strong enforcement and an annual cost of living increase. Large majorities in every City Council district embraced the proposal. But the lobbyists from the Chamber of Commerce and the California Restaurant Association are pressuring the mayor and council members to weaken the proposed minimum wage law.

Dr. King's spirit will be in the City Council chambers in Pasadena City Hall on Monday, February 1, at 6 pm when the Mayor and City Council are expected to vote on the minimum wage law. Fifty-five years after the first historic sit-in, we need to remind our local elected officials that, as Dr. King said: "What does it profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesn't earn enough money to buy a hamburger and a cup of coffee?"
The New York Times reported Sunday on the history behind the White House's secret 2013 authorization for the CIA to arm Syrian rebels with the clandestine help of Saudi Arabia. In intelligence circles they call it "blowback," a deadly unintended consequence of a covert op and the current initiative should give us pause.

Why? Because in the endless revolving door of espionage, leading to war, leading to collateral damage, few examples of blowback, underscore the lethal risks of clandestine partnerships more than the Agency's use of the Saudis to fund the Mujahadeen rebels during the Afghan war.

It was a operation begun in the late 1980s with the best of intentions: to thwart what Ronald Reagan called "The Evil Empire." But as I've documented in four books and multiple HuffPost over the years, that secret funding of "The Muj" can be linked directly, not only to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, but the ultimate destruction of the towers on 9/11 by a cell funded by the principal beneficiary of the secret Saudi-CIA aid: Osama bin Laden.

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If we're to accept George Santayana's dictum that those who forget the past are "condemned to repeat it," the U.S. should be extremely cautious about who we're arming and the deadly long-term effects that could easily blowback to the American homeland.

What follows is an excerpt from my first HarperCollins book, "1000 Years For Revenge."

***

The U.S. price tag for the covert aid reportedly reached $3 billion. As many as twenty-five thousand jihadis poured into Kabul from around the globe to train in guerrilla tactics. Though later dubbed "Afghan Arabs," there were blue-eyed Chechens, black South Africans and Filipinos along with Kurds, Yemenis, Uzbek's and Saudis.

They studied bomb making, hijacking and other covert ops. The difference was that veterans of the anti-fascist campaign in the 1930's like Hemingway later went to Paris to write books, and in this case, the well-trained post-war jihadis decided to focus their attention on the West and blow things up.

THE ROAD TO 9/11

During this period, intelligence officials believe that Ramzi Yousef (architect of the '93 WTC bombing and the 9/11 "planes as missiles" plot) first connected with three men who would one day carve their names in the history of Islamic terror. Abdurajak Janjalani was a Libyan-trained Filipino whose nom de guerre was Abu Sayyaf.

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Mahmud Abouhalima was a six-foot-two redheaded Egyptian who did two tours in Afghanistan. Dubbed "the Red," Abouhalima, was a disciple of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, leader of the al Gamm'a Islamiya, or IG, one of the most virulent Egyptian terror groups.

These Afghan connections would prove crucial to Yousef as his career advanced. Abouhalima, would be one of his key operatives as he built the original World Trade Center bomb in 1992. Sheikh Rahman would be at the heart of Yousef's bombing cell, based in Jersey City. Later, the Abu Sayyaf terror group named for Janjalani, would provide Yousef the infrastructure he needed when he plotted the 9/11 attacks in Manila in 1995.

But the bomb maker's chief sponsor over the years--the man who funded and guided him--was Osama bin Laden, the seventeenth son of a Saudi construction billionaire.

Beginning in the early 1990s, Yousef emerged as the operational point man for bin Laden's worldwide terror network. Al Qaeda, meaning "the base," sprang directly from a string of refugee centers set up as fund-raising conduits for the Mujahadeen rebels.

In short, when probing the origin of the 9/11 attacks, all roads lead back to Afghanistan and Peshawar in the final days of the Soviet invasion.

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AL QAEDA'S NEW YORK CELL

By the late 1980s, New York City was beginning to feel the early stirrings of a clandestine movement born out of a war half a world away. An estimated fourteen thousand jihadis had dispersed after the Russians abandoned Afghanistan in 1989 and untold numbers began to settle in New York and New Jersey.

Ali Mohammed, the ex-Egyptian Army officer who conducted paramilitary training for a cell of immigrant jihadis at a shooting range on Long Island, later told the Feds that al Qaeda sleeper agents called "submarines" were burrowing deep into U.S. cities.

When the Afghan war ended, "we got the hell out of there," said Milt Bearden, the former CIA station chief in Islamabad. "Afghanistan was off the front burner." But America's sudden abandonment of the region, a theater of ops it had invested so heavily in, was a strategic mistake of historic proportions.

A few months after the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, Jack Blum, the former special counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, drew a direct link between the devastation below the Trade Towers and U.S. support for the "Afghan Arabs" in the war against the Soviets.

"Large chunks of our Government don't want to look at the disposal problem at the end of our war," said Blum. "Nobody wants to acknowledge this is our glorious victory in Afghanistan coming home to bite us."

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At that moment, the man with the sharpest set of teeth was preaching from a mosque located on the third floor above a toy store in Jersey City.

ENTER THE BLIND SHEIKH

Born in 1938 near the Nile Delta, Omar Abdel Rahman lost his sight as an infant. By the age of eleven, driven by a relative who forced him to get up at 4:00 a.m. and study Islamic scripture in Braille, the young Omar had memorized the entire Koran. He went on to study at Cairo's Al Azhar, the oldest university in the Islamic world, where he earned a degree in Koranic studies in 1972.

Abdel Rahman preached that Muslims had a duty to kill political leaders who didn't adhere strictly to the Sharia, the holy law of Islam. He was jailed for nine months in the notorious Qala prison, and reportedly subjected to brutal torture, which only steeled his resolve.

In 1988, having been jailed, tried, and acquitted for his alleged role in a wave of terror against Egyptian Coptic Christians, the Sheikh made his way to Peshawar, Pakistan, near the Afghan border.

It was the height of the anti-Soviet war, and Peshawar, a kind of Wild West town near the Afghan frontier, was the staging area for the U.S. supply operation. Here the blind Sheikh soon became allied with the head of the largest Mujahadeen rebel faction backed by the CIA.

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A LETHAL CONNECTION

As billions of dollars poured in from the U.S. and the Saudis, the Sheikh reconnected with another former Al-Azhar instructor, Sheikh Abdullah Azzam. A Palestinian Ph.D., Azzam was one of the founding fathers of the modern radical Islamic jihad.

Terrorism analyst Steven Emerson has said that Azzam "is more responsible than any Arab figure in modern history for galvanizing the Muslim masses to wage an international holy war against all infidels and non believers."

Exhorting Muslims to "unsheathe [their] sword[s]" against the perceived enemies of Islam, Azzam crossed the world from 1985 to 1989. He visited dozens of U.S. cities, and began setting up a network of offices designed as recruiting posts and fundraising centers for the Mujahadeen in their battle with the Soviets.

The first center, established in the early 1980s in Peshawar, was called Alkifah. Over the next decade, Azzam set up branches at mosques in the U.S., the U.K. France, Germany, Norway, and throughout the Mideast. The network was formally known as the Services Office for the Mujahadeen, or Makhtab al-Khidamat (MAK).

FROM AFGHANISTAN TO BROOKLYN

The flagship Alkifah center in the U.S. was established on the ground floor of the Al-Farooq mosque in Brooklyn. Soon Azzam had opened similar offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and thirty other U.S. cities. During the late 1980s the network raised millions each year for the Afghan struggle.

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All of this would come to have deadly importance in 1989, when the Services Office was taken over by bin Laden and morphed into his terror network called al Qaeda.

It was Azzam who introduced the blind Sheikh to the young Saudi billionaire. At the age of twenty-two, bin Laden had arrived in Peshawar in the mid 1980s with a military transport plane full of bulldozers and equipment from his family construction conglomerate, the Bin Laden Group.

Dubbed "the Contractor," bin Laden quickly used the equipment to build roads, storage depots, and tunnels for the Mujahadeen then battling the Soviets. Before long, Azzam convinced bin Laden to help fund his worldwide Services Office network of NGOs.

During the late 1980s, as the Afghan war waged on and the cash poured in, bin Laden became devoted to Azzam.

A RIFT IN THE JIHADI LEADERSHIP

But soon after the Soviets were defeated, a conflict developed between Azzam and bin Laden over the best use of the fortune in aid that still flowed through the centers of the MAK.

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Azzam wanted the money to help install a pure Islamic government in Afghanistan, in a revolution akin to the one that had swept Iran in 1979. But bin Laden's plan was much more ambitious. He wanted the Services Office money directed to a worldwide "global jihad," that would carry the war to secular Islamic nations and the West.

Azzam argued openly and bitterly with the blind Sheikh who backed bin Laden along with two other Egyptians: Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri, head of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ), and Mohammed Atef, an ex-Cairo police official who became bin Laden's right-hand man.

LIKE A MAFIA RUBOUT

The power struggle for control of the Services Office rivaled the internecine warfare of two Mafia families. Finally, after a violent triple homicide, the Egyptian-backed bin Laden bloc prevailed.

On November 24, 1989, Azzam and his two sons were killed by a car bomb in Peshawar, Pakistan, as they drove to Jum'a (Friday prayers). The murders remain unsolved, and although he expressed public grief at their deaths, some U.S. intelligence officials believe that Osama bin Laden himself gave the order for the hit.

At that moment, one of Azzam's most productive U.S. based Services Office outposts was the Alkifah Center in Brooklyn. And as it turned out, the FBI had it under surveillance as far back as 1989, when George Herbert Walker Bush was in the White House.

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THE FBI BEGINS TO INVESTIGATE

On four weekends in July, the Special Operations Group (SOG) from the FBI's New York Office followed a group of "ME's" -- "middle eastern men" in Bureau speak -- from the Al-Farooq mosque to the Calverton shooting range in eastern, Long Island.

Of the "ME's" photographed by the FBI that July, three --Abouhalima, Mohamed Salameh, and Nidal Ayyad-- would later be convicted as Ramzi Yousef's co-conspirators in the World Trade Center bombing and El Sayyid Nosair, would soon use his Calverton .347 magnum training to ignite the first act of al Qaeda violence on American soil: the murder of right-wing rabbi Meir Kahane.

But for reasons unknown outside of the Bureau, the surveillance abruptly ended.

THE BLIND SHEIKH ARRIVES IN NEW YORK

On his return to Egypt in 1990, Sheikh Abdel Rahman was placed under house arrest, but he escaped when his followers used a double to pose for him. By that summer, Rahman had made his way to Sudan. There, even though he'd been on a U.S. terrorism Watch List for three years, the Sheikh was granted a visa to enter America.

This was another massive blunder on the part of U.S. intelligence that became a significant dot on the chart.

Many intelligence analysts believe that Abdel Rahman's entry was payback by the Agency for his help in the CIA's support of the Afghan "freedom fighters." At the time, no one in U.S. intelligence circles or seemed to notice that the chief Afghan warlord, backed by the CIA, was denouncing the U.S. with the same level of hatred he'd shown toward the USSR.

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The night he flew into JFK in July of 1990, Sheikh Omar was picked up by Mahmud Abouhalima, the redheaded Egyptian who had fired AK-47s at Calverton. He was the same man who would drive the aborted getaway cab on the night of Kahane's murder four months later and ultimately be convicted in Ramzi Yousef's February 26th, 1993 bombing of the WTC which killed six and injured a thousand.

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MULTIPLE CHANCES TO STOP 9/11

In the years to come, the FBI would have a number of opportunities to interdict bin Laden's juggernaut: first in 1996 when a Bureau sting in federal jail in Lower Manhattan yielded the presence of Yousef's uncle Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who was hiding out in Doha, Qatar and prepping his nephew's "planes operation."

But, as documented in this HuffPost, the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) dispatched to grab him lost him after Qatari officials allowed KSM flee to the Czech Republic.

Perhaps the Bureau's greatest blunder came in the summer of 2001 when two of the 9/11 hijackers got their fake IDs at a check cashing store in Jersey City called Sphinx Trading.

As I reported in this HuffPost back in 2006, the Feds were onto that location, right below the Blind Sheikh's New Jersey mosque more than a decade earlier. But they failed to continue monitoring it after Abdel Rahman was convicted and imprisoned in 1995.

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In my third HarperCollins book "Triple Cross" all of the dots in this daisy chain of terror were connected: from the 1983 murder of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, up through the covert CIA-Saudi funding of the Mujahadeen, through bin Laden's takeover of Azzam's MAK network and it's deadly morphing into al Qaeda, through the terror network's funding of both attacks on the WTC. It's all laid out in 32 page illustrated TIMELINE.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Teacher unions have petitioned Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene and stop the government's recall of teachers on vacation.Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said it was seeking an urgent meeting with the VP, and hopes it may stop the "victimisation" that teachers are being subjected to.A fortnight ago, government sent out a circular to all schools directing that teachers on vacation report to their stations for a head count by the Civil Service Commission.PTUZ national coordinator Ladistous Zunde said they hope Mnangagwa would restore sanity."Maybe he (Mnangagwa) will intervene in our plight," Zunde said."Government cannot just disregard a legal directive set out in Statutory Instrument (SI) 1 of 2000 which clearly states that teachers are entitled to their vacation."If they had revised the SI, we would not even be complaining but that was not the issue. Government is breaking the law and that is not acceptable."Zunde said apart from seeking an audience with Mnangagwa, they also filed a lawsuit against government protesting against the recall.According to the union, government has lost money "auditing and recounting us using fake, uncouth inspectors who are actually ghost workers themselves."If by now they don't have the real staff complements under their employ then they must resign en masse," PTUZ said."We are surprised that the same people have the audacity to blame parastatals of mismanagement when they equally are just as bad."Source-
In 1989, El Chapo dug the first subterranean passage beneath the border from Tijuana to San Diego, and pioneered the use of tunnels to transport his products and to evade capture. I will discover that his already accomplished engineers had been flown to Germany last year for three months of extensive additional training necessary to deal with the low-lying water table beneath the prison. A tunnel equipped with a pipe-track-guided motorcycle with an engine modified to function in the minimally oxygenized space, allowing El Chapo to drop through a hole in his cell's shower floor, into its saddle and ride to freedom. It was this president of Mexico who had agreed to see us. ...

The trust that El Chapo had extended to us was not to be fucked with. This will be the first interview El Chapo had ever granted outside an interrogation room, leaving me no precedent by which to measure the hazards. I'd seen plenty of video and graphic photography of those beheaded, exploded, dismembered or bullet-riddled innocents, activists, courageous journalists and cartel enemies alike. I was highly aware of committed DEA and other law-enforcement officers and soldiers, both Mexican and American, who had lost their lives executing the policies of the War on Drugs. The families decimated, and institutions corrupted.
Fruits and vegetables in basket

Reverend Timothy Peters wears wire-framed glasses, a button-down shirt, and a bright smile. At first glance, one might imagine him teaching at an Ivy League university. But beneath his jovial, academic exterior, you will find an iron-willed activist. In 2006, Reverend Peters' was featured on the cover of Time Asia alongside the words: "Seoul Saver." He serves as one of the major conductors on Asia's great underground railroad, which spans across the continent and helps North Koreans escape to free countries. In 2015 alone, his NGO, Helping Hands Korea, helped 120 escapees obtain amnesty.

Reverend Peters' latest project, however, aims to impact more lives. Rather than just spiriting a trickle of refugees to freedom abroad, he is also smuggling nutrient-rich vegetable seeds into North Korea, in a bold effort to provide food security for the 24.9 million people still trapped behind its barbed wire borders.

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This campaign comes at a critical time. Due to some minor land reforms in the North, rural families now are allowed to cultivate tiny plots of land privately. A China-based refugee explained to him: "We have the land now, but we don't have seeds."

"When she said that, I knew we were on the right track," Tim said. "I believe we were providentially led in this direction."

The Seed Project began in summer of 2015, when a member of Reverend Peter's activist group, Catacombs, returned from a visit to her family farm in Michigan. She brought vegetable seeds to Seoul, thinking it would be a lightweight and discreet way to send food aid into North Korea.

Reverend Peters recalled of that time: "We sent the first batches into North Korea using various networks. Soon after that, another Catacombs member, Ed, mentioned that his grandfather bequeathed to him a chestnut orchard some time ago. I half-jokingly said: 'Ed, are all those chestnuts just rotting on the ground when you're over here in Korea?' The next thing I knew, his family had sent a big box of seeds from America as a donation to our initiative. That is how The Seed Project began."

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Catacombs volunteers -- a motley assortment of graduate students, English teachers, military personnel, and local high school students -- now gather weekly at a small art gallery. Their goal is to repackage high-quality vegetable seeds with Korean planting instructions, while keeping up-to-date on the latest North Korea headlines. This winter, they have prepped over one thousand units. Food security is still a problem in the North, where the United Nations estimates that 31% of citizens are undernourished. Through volunteer work, Catacombs members hope to slash those numbers. The strategy is effective especially in rural provinces, where people tend to be poor, but equipped with basic agricultural skills.

Attendees spend about two hours a week hunched over two round-top tables. As they repackage seeds, there is a lively buzz of conversation over trays of cookies and hot tea. In one corner, a graphic novelist and an illustrator discuss their latest publications. While scooping seeds from a Daiso container, a Fulbright scholar and PhD candidate quietly lament the tribulations of academics. English teachers at another table recommend EFL songs from YouTube for use in their classes. Around 9 P.M., the conversation quiets as Reverend Peters closes with a group prayer.

Despite the religious nature of Peters' approach, Catacombs enjoys significant support from human rights activists on the secular left. At any given meeting, a third of the attendees are atheist or agnostic. Included in this demographic is regular attendant Craig Urquhart. A Canadian activist, Craig recently donated approximately 100 packets of organic, heirloom seeds designed to grow well in frosty climates.

"It's not like we're sending Bibles North," he said. "We're sending seeds - food - and a path to a better future. Sending seeds North is one way to help North Koreans who suffer repression by their government. It slightly reduces their dependence on the state dictatorship and it fosters food independence. There's no negative to this kind of engagement."

Kurt Achin, a Seoul-based journalist and Catholic supporter of the program, remarked: "I met Tim in 2004 when I came over here to report on defectors and human rights. I am a huge supporter of his quiet approach."

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"The quiet approach" refers to the manner in which Helping Hands Korea has used only a very basic website to create a substantial movement. Despite having no social media presence, they have one of the rescue rates of any registered nonprofit organization. Since 2014, they have helped over 220 North Koreans leave dangerous situations. Reverend Peters has plans to expand The Seed Project over the course of this year, by boosting donations and increasing the number of repackaging workshops.
investing to green business

The highest town in Europe has welcomed the annual smattering of the world's political and business elite to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) yearly conference. Set to build on the Paris climate agreement finalised in December, the participants convening in Davos aim to explore how businesses and governments can work together to reach the below 2C limit of global warming.

The topic of climate change plays a prevalent role during the talks, not least thanks to the latest Global Risks report by WEF labeling it the biggest single threat facing the world economy. This is the first time in more than a decade that the expert respondents ranked climate change as the gravest issue leading the list of menaces - a point that has not escaped the radar of the investor community, who now needs to understand how the effects of climate change will affect financial markets.

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The impact of climate change is nothing new to the investor community and the COP21 climate conference only served to bolster its importance, making it the #1 sustainability issue for investors. And rightly so: A recent Mercer study indicated that several investment committees and boards are not yet very acquainted with climate-related risks - suggesting that the investment sector is not fully prepared to address the topic and leaving many investors poorly positioned.

This in turn leads to a series of questions investors need to start asking themselves: Are my portfolios exposed to fossil fuels adequately valued? How quickly can I adapt? The risks faced by investors will also be linked to the timing and scope of new policies. If new changes are well anticipated, investors can prepare for their impact. Getting caught off guard will be certainly accompanied by potential losses.

A typical "progression" has started to develop on this topic among mainstream investors: many have taken first steps to engage in activities that allow them to better understand their climate impact and create transparency within their investment processes. The Swedish asset management firm Ohman for instance, entrusted with managing assets worth SEK 39bn (approx. USD 4.5bn), conducted a comprehensive portfolio carbon footprint with South Pole Group to better scope out their portfolio's exposure to carbon risk. A signatory of the Montreal Carbon Pledge, Ohman has been able to engage with internal and external stakeholders on the topic of climate change to a much greater degree, leading to a mutual understanding of problems and contributing to the development of solutions.

While the Montreal Carbon Pledge encourages investors to commit to understanding and publicly disclosing the carbon footprint of their investment portfolios on an annual basis, the next step is taking action in the form of "decarbonising" a portfolio. This is what the Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition is all about: the multi-stakeholder initiative aims to drive GHG emissions reductions on the ground and is currently overseeing the decarbonization of USD 600bn in Assets under Management.

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The increasing amount of signatories to such pledges support the growing business case for climate-smart investment. The cost of inaction has recently been given a USD 4.2trn price tag - a sum roughly on par with Japan's entire GDP. Depending on what type of climate scenario unfolds, the average annual returns from, for instance, the coal industry could shrink by anywhere between 18% and 74% over the next 35 years. This poses the risk of assets tied to fossil fuel deposits becoming obsolete - or stranded - when they cannot be extracted and sold.

While divesting and stakeholder engagement both work towards reducing climate-related portfolio risk, neither one of them creates a zero net carbon portfolio. In order to create positive impact, additional investments into emissions savings are necessary. This can be done, for example, by using emission reduction certificates to offset emissions. Leaders with a strong zero net carbon agenda are already creating waves in their industries:

The world's first net zero pension fund, Future Super, never invested in coal, oil and gas, and avoided investments into utilities that burn fossil fuels. Adding on to this series of clean investments with premium emission reduction projects from South Pole Group, the Australian superannuation fund is now saving the same amount of annual emissions that are associated with their remaining investments. Following suit, Credit Suisse, now the world's first climate neutral fund, launched the European Real Estate Climate Value fund that both calculates greenhouse gas emissions from all buildings and then offsets them accordingly. In addition to having zero net impact, the actual pricing of externalities lets asset managers see the real costs of their investments.

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U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers (D-AR), who served from 1975-1999, recently died. Bumpers had flirted with a bid for the Democratic Presidential nomination three times, but ultimately chose not to seek the nomination. Had he run in 1988, Bumpers would have been a good bet to win the nomination and ultimately the Presidency.

Bumpers was a rare breed in American politics. He was a Southern Progressive who could garner the support of liberals, moderates and conservatives in his party. Elected Governor of Arkansas in 1970, then elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974, Bumpers represented a new voice in Southern politics, a voice which opposed racial segregation.

He was also a spellbinding orator, having honed his skills as a lawyer in Charleston, Arkansas. He lost just two cases in his 15-year practice. In 1954, as the only lawyer in Charleston, Bumpers advised the Board of Education to comply with the Supreme Court ruling ordering public schools to desegregate. The Charleston School District became the first district in the entire South to unshackle the chains of segregation.

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The longest serving Governor in Arkansas history was Orval Fabus. He had retired in 1967 after serving for twelve years as Governor of the state. Fabus had left an indelible stain on the state by ordering the Arkansas National Guard to halt African-Americans from entering Little Rock Central High School. Fabus defied the Court's order to desegregate. In 1970, Fabus made a bid to get his old job back, but was defeated by Bumpers, who then went on to defeat incumbent Republican Governor Winthrop Rockefeller in the General Election, capturing a whopping 61.7% of the vote.

Bumpers ushered in a more progressive era as Governor. He accrued accomplishments he could have showcased had he been a Presidential candidate, including reforming state government and raising teacher salaries. In addition, Bumpers left the state with a budget surplus. A 1998 survey ranked Bumpers as the best Governor in Arkansas history. His job approval rating reached a stratospheric 91%.

In 1974, the popular Governor Bumpers upended U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright in Fulbright's re-election bid in the Democratic Primary. Fulbright had first been elected to the Senate in 1944. He became nationally known for his role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. While some in Arkansas came to see Fulbright as abandoning parochial concerns, Bumpers' raw political talent was coming into focus in the state and also within national Democratic circles. Fulbright accused Bumpers of trying to be elected to the Senate as a "stepping stone to the Presidency." Bumpers' resounding defeat of Fulbright gave him the distinction of being the only challenger to defeat an incumbent U.S. Senator in a primary race that year.

For his victory over Fabus, Rockefeller, and Fulbright, The New York Times dubbed Bumpers: "The Giant Killer."

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The stars were aligned for Bumpers in 1988. If he had chosen to run for President, Bumpers could have presented himself as a true proponent of fiscal austerity. He inoculated himself from the aeonian charges leveled against Democrats for being tax-and-spend liberals. While Bumpers voted against the tax cuts signed by Republican President Ronald Reagan, he was one of just three Senators to also vote against Reagan's' proposed spending cuts.

While other Southern Democratic Senators like U.S. Senators J. Bennett Johnson (D-LA), Howell Heflin (D-AL), and Sam Nunn (D-GA), sported voting records too conservative for a Democratic electorate, Bumpers was in the mainstream of the party with a center-left voting record. He could appeal to the party's progressive bloodline with his advocacy of arms control, abortion rights, and gun control. In addition, Bumpers could trumpet having been an early Southern advocate for Civil Rights for African-Americans. Bumpers earned the electorally advantageous moniker "the Northerner's favorite Southerner."

Despite being a progressive in a conservative state, Bumpers was a proven electoral vote-getter, having just proved his electoral bone fides and popularity in 1986 by being re-elected in a landslide. U.S. Senator Paul Simon (D-IL), who eventually ran himself that year, called Bumpers "the most electable of Democratic hopefuls. He combines conviction . . . and a good speaking style. He conveys compassion. People want to have a (candidate) with a really visceral belief in things."

While contemplating a run, Bumpers met with many Democratic well-healed benefactors in New York City who came away impressed. Investment banker Bob Schiffer stated at the time: "if competence is going to be the issue of 1988, Dale Bumpers has to be number one when you look at Democrats. We could raise a million dollars for him in New York."

The 1988 Presidential election cycle was one which historically would have favored the Democrats, the out-party. The Republican nominee was Vice President George H.W. Bush. No incumbent Vice President had won the Presidency since Martin Van Buren in 1836. Moreover, the incumbent President Ronald Reagan had seen his job approval ratings sink to 47% in late 1987, but then rise steadily in 1988.

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There was a clear hankering within the American electorate for a change, as evinced by that year's Democratic Presidential nominee, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, who harbored a 17-point lead over Bush at one point during the summer of 1988. However, Dukakis could not overcome the narrative promoted by the Bush campaign that he was "that liberal Governor from Massachusetts."

Bumpers was an atypical Southern politician. He was popular enough with liberal primary voters to muster his party's nomination. In a General Election, he would have been the worst nightmare for Bush. It would have been nearly impossible to envisage a scenario where Bumpers would have succumbed to the "elitist charge" that was successfully leveled against Dukakis. He was a Marine Veteran who hailed from humble circumstances and once owned a 350-acre Angus cattle ranch. Bumpers was enormously popular in a conservative state where Republican Ronald Reagan had won re-election as President with 60.47% of the vote in 1984. In addition, he was arguably the best speaker and retail campaigner the Democrats could have offered up.

Bumpers seemed to know the political landscape that year. He averred: "There's not any big trick in defining the issues for 1988. Many of the candidates will be saying essentially the same things about how to deal with them. What will be important is trying to demonstrate the kind of aura or personality people want to lead them through the minefields."
For those who value humanity, ISIS is the antediluvian embodiment of human darkness. Beheading hostages on film. Raping women and girls. Pedophilia. Sexual enslavement. Throwing homosexuals from rooftops. Destroying antiquities. Enforcing ignorance and rooting out knowledge. Slaughtering those of different faiths -- Christian, Jew, Muslim, Sunni, Shia. Despising all other forms of governance, whether democratic or authoritarian. ISIS doesn't simply "hate our values" -- they hate every value but theirs.

Their adherents have visited death anywhere they can -- the Middle East, Africa, France, Turkey, Indonesia, Afghanistan, the United States. Far from a "clash of civilizations," ISIS' jihad is against civilization itself. It feeds on, and feeds, alienation and fanaticism. Its imperatives are non-negotiable, its apocalyptic nihilism beyond the reach of reason. Its primal loathing of the other cannot be stilled by "carpet bombing" or "declaring war." It cannot be avoided by withdrawal or wishful thinking, or defeated by bellicose rhetoric.

Inevitably, ISIS has become a significant campaign issue -- particularly important, polls tell us, to Republican primary voters. The realities of confronting ISIS are diabolically complicated -- perhaps too complex, given the constraints of campaigning, for any candidate to fully describe. But we can only evaluate their fitness for leadership by first considering those realities, then comparing them to what the candidates choose to say.

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To start, any leader who wants to address this scourge responsibly must deal with a harsh geopolitical terrain. The context for stanching ISIS resembles a Hobbesian state of nature. Syria, Iraq and Libya are failing or failed states, a condition which -- depending on your point of view -- owes much to our actions, our failures to act, or both.

Thus the theater within which ISIS operates is inhospitable indeed -- a key point in evaluating a candidate's prescriptions for military action. Syria is a violent and chaotic nightmare riven by contending forces -- the enemies of our enemy, ISIS, are hardly our friend. Iraq is a fractious mess ridden by a multiplicity of sectarian hatreds and rivalries, including those between and among the Shia, Sunni, and Kurds.

Sunni and Shia at war with each other and, at times, with themselves. More broadly, the region is marbled with fissures which make an alliance against ISIS difficult indeed. The Turks fear and despise the Kurds, who some candidates cite as a principal weapon against ISIS. The Saudis and Iranians are deeply inimical, the Egyptians gravely concerned with their own security. In Syria, the Russians are trying to prop up Assad. The affinity of Boko Haram with ISIS menaces Nigeria and its neighbors. The bipolar world of the Cold War inspires nostalgia by comparison.

Worse, some of the supposed allies -- notably the Saudis -- on whom candidates propose to rely are anything but reliable. For years the Saudi leadership has financed and exported terrorism as a safety valve to reduce pressure on their own regime. Instead of throwing their weight against ISIS, the Saudis are fighting a brutal sectarian war in Yemen, strengthening Al Qaeda.

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Most recently, their execution of Shia dissidents at home -- another calculated and diversionary effort to stoke sectarianism in order to buttress their regime -- roiled the region and hamstrung efforts to find a common diplomatic approach to the mess in Syria. If our best hope is relying on solipsistic and duplicitous autocracies who suppress their own people, our strategy going forward is flawed at its heart.

Nor, despite what some candidates tell us, is there a clear military prescription. Bombing in itself is patently insufficient. Worse, ISIS has cleverly deployed in heavily populated cities where bombing campaigns would decimate civilians. Ultimately, any sustained success against ISIS on the ground must involve a coalition of Byzantine complexity -- Americans, Europeans, Russians, Iranians, Sunnis, Shia, Kurds and even, God help us, perhaps some iteration of the Syrian regime -- all of whom have disparate and often opposing interests

As for Iraq's army, it is ineffectual, corrupt, and crippled by the enmity between Sunnis and the Shia who run the government in Baghdad. Thus our current partners in the ground war have been largely ineffective. And what may become the heart of our strategy -- arming, training, supporting and advising Kurds and Sunnis in Iraq and Syria -- would inevitably require some deployment of American troops to assist two groups with distinctly different agendas.

Despite these difficulties, there is considerable mention among the candidates of relying on the Kurds -- sometimes in concert with Sunnis. But because of their rivalry with Sunni and Shia alike, Kurdish fighters can be effective only in areas dominated by Kurds -- not in key cities like Raqqa and Ramadi. The Sunnis bridle at fighting for a hostile Shia government closely tied to Iran. And the precipitous drop in oil prices has led to a financial crisis for both the Kurds and Iraqis, straining their resources while deepening the divide between them.

Add to this the ongoing problem of Shiite Iran itself, which continues to advance its destabilizing regional ambitions through military surrogates. Given its deep involvement in Syria and Iraq, we have no choice but to deal with its leaders. But the presence of Iranian-backed Shia militia in both countries is a key component of Sunni alienation. Thus it may be difficult to persuade Sunnis to fight ISIS if they believe that its successor will be oppressive Iranian surrogates.

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To say the least, all this is problematic -- if not indecipherable -- for an American public weary of war in the Middle East and impatient with drawn out commitments for and certain ends. But our challenges are also demographic, and spread around the globe.

ISIS' loathing for modernity does not prevent its skillful use of the internet for propaganda and recruitment. Europe's failure to assimilate its Muslim populace creates a seedbed for recruitment; the tragic migration of Syrians and Libyans exacerbates the problem. The candidates who would confront this simply by walling off refugees simplify the problem: unless these migrants can be properly settled, employed and educated to the greatest possible degree -- however and wherever it is done -- there awaits an international security problem of the first order, a generation adrift and subject to radicalization.

Xenophobia is no refuge. Stigmatizing Muslims down to last five-year-old orphan, in itself inhumane, creates more hatred yet. And the best way to breed homegrown terrorists is to make American Muslims feel like strangers in their own land.

Yet we cannot minimize the danger of transnational terrorism. Borders are permeable; the internet transcends borders. America is vulnerable. The greatest threat -- nuclear terrorism -- is far from remote. If this is a war, it is the very worst kind -- without a locus, its "fronts" everywhere.

Given the confluence of all these factors, the next president will face challenges which would test a leader with unique experience and skills. And then there is the equally important challenge of distilling all this for an electorate stunned by the seeming swiftness of ISIS' rise.

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Americans -- not sophisticated about geopolitical issues in the best of times -- are scared and confused. We are at odds about how much surveillance is enough.The majority lack faith in the ability of our president and government to deal with a menace they do not truly understand. And Barack Obama's careless labeling of ISIS as a "JV team" invested his understandable prudence -- the resolve to avoid actions with grave unintended consequences -- with an appearance of uncertainty.

Granted, there are some recent signs of incremental progress. ISIS has lost territory. Obama is taking measured steps to take advantage of this -- planning for more special operations troops and stepped-up training for local forces, winning a pledge of increased resources from key allies. But his tenure provides a case study in the difficulties which attend every choice, as well as a warning to candidates who would simplify the fight against ISIS.

The tenuous effort to raise a "moderate" Syrian opposition has been an embarrassing failure; the intervention in Libya abetted chaos; Obama's abrupt pull back from the "red line" against Assad led to the removal of chemical weapons, but created uncertainty among his allies and the public. Beyond this, some critics assert that Obama was too quick to accede to the demand by erstwhile Iraqi leader Maliki that U.S. troops should leave, and thereby contributed to the rise of ISIS in Iraq.

Perhaps. But the biggest enabler of ISIS was Maliki himself, an incompetent Shia schemer who gutted leadership of the Army, largely destroying its capacity to fight; alienated Sunnis, many of whom embraced ISIS; and cemented Iranian influence in Iraq.

Undoubtedly, Maliki's depredations against the Sunnis quickened after the departure of U.S. troops. Still, it cannot be asserted with real confidence that a residual American force could have restrained -- at least in a decisive way -- a "democratically elected" Iraqi leader so bent on policies which hollowed out his country. In any event, this question is now academic -- all most Americans know is that Iraq seems even worse than before Obama took office.

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Thus it is difficult for the electorate to take comfort in Obama's sober assessment: that a key to defeating ISIS is to avoid a military overreaction which once again casts us as occupiers. And yet the majority of Americans do not want to express our resolve by sending troops back to the Middle East. They are, in short, as muddled as the tortuous dilemma we confront, a geopolitical Rubik's Cube.

In such a maelstrom, one must hope that our leading presidential candidates would disdain shallow rhetoric for sober truths. For what Barack Obama has grappled with will face the next president: a struggle with no clear means to a good end, where every action or inaction carries risks, and each decision has multiple consequences, intended or not.

Credit Hillary Clinton with a good-faith effort to deal with this complexity. True, she is tarred with the shortfalls in Obama's policies, and one of her departures from the president -- proposing a no-fly zone over Syria -- seems half formed. While she argues that this measure "would help us on the ground to protect Syrians," she declined in debate to say whether the U.S. would shoot down a Syria Russian plane -- a relevant question, to say the least. Asked about a role for Russia with respect to Syria, she responded, "Well, I hope we're not turning to the Russians." In fact, we already are, and small wonder -- they are already there.

Still, her general plan is measured and consistent with reality. An enhanced bombing campaign supported by more robust intelligence resources. Arming and training Sunnis in Iraq who are willing to fight, assisted by a complement of American soldiers. Assembling a larger force of Allied troops to battle ISIS on the ground. Stopping the flow of foreign fighters into the war zone by, among other things, persuading Turkey to close its borders. Enhanced intelligence and counterterrorism operations with Europe. With all this comes an important limitation: that taking on ISIS should not become an American flight.

As modest as this is, achieving these steps would be no easy matter. (Note: Bernie Sanders says that "[t]he United States should be part of an international coalition, led and sustained by nations in the region that have the means to protect themselves," but has not yet spelled out particulars.) While Clinton's approach is a bit more muscular than Obama's, it seems not that different -- an acknowledgment we are in for a long, difficult and complex struggle.

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Modesty -- at least of the rhetorical kind -- does not distinguish the leading GOP contenders. In order to get to the nub of their actual plans, it is first necessary to dispatch the puerile and outright silly, if only to illustrate the disservice they are doing to the electorate. Here Marco Rubio is a good place to start.

Routinely, and irresponsibly, he panders to the Sheldon Adelsons of the world by conflating ISIS with its mortal enemy, Iran, and, as preposterous, the Palestinians. He calls our confrontation with ISIS a "clash of civilizations" -- foolishly apocalyptic rhetoric which glorifies ISIS while overlooking that it hates every kind of civilization but its own. He claims that ISIS does not oppose us because of our presence in the Middle East, but "because of our values" -- ignoring that it originated to fight American forces in Iraq. By Rubio's logic, ISIS also hates the values of those noted democrats Vladimir Putin and the Saudi royals.

But most embarrassing is Rubio's stated plan for special operations against ISIS "where we strike them, we capture or kill their leaders, we videotape the operations" because "I want the world to see how these ISIS leaders cry like babies" and "begin to sing like canaries..."

Skip over the efficacy of Rubio's cinematic ambitions. Why will jihadist killers begin acting like stoolies in a '30s gangster movie? What do actual military strategists think about the downside of a plan to insert American soldiers in hostile territory, film their victory, and that extract the soldiers and their hostages for the sake of propaganda films? And what will President Rubio do when ISIS begins using captured American soldiers in a horrific movies of its own?

The mildest thing which can be said is that Rubio imagines that rhetoric is reality, and posturing is policy. But while somewhat less baroque, his competitors' flights of fancy are no better.

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Ted Cruz assures us that: "If I am elected president, I will direct the Department of Defense to destroy ISIS." If only Barack Obama had thought of that. Fleshing out this vision, Cruz says that: "We will carpet bomb them into oblivion. I don't know if sand can glow in the dark, but we're going to find out" -- causing the former head of the Army War College to remark on his ignorance of modern bombing tactics.

Cruz then proceeded to prove the point. Asked by Wolf Blitzer how he would avoid decimating civilians, Cruz replied that he would carpet bomb "where ISIS troops are, not a city" -- ignoring that ISIS embeds its forces in cities. No doubt this explains his claim that we won the first Gulf War by "carpet bombing" when no such bombing occurred.

Donald Trump? His plan to register Muslim Americans is an ISIS propaganda dream come true. But not to worry, Trump will have closed those "parts of" the internet which are in Syria and Iraq. By then, of course, he will have brought ISIS to its knees by taking its oil and bombing its leaders' families -- imagining, apparently, that fanatic jihadists can be cowed like recalcitrant sub-contractors. And when all else fails he will "bomb the hell out of them." If, as Trump suggests, he gets his military insights from watching Meet The Press, he has not been listening hard enough.

Like his peers, Chris Christie equates rhetorical helium with moral urgency. According to Christie, this is the next "world war." Fortunately for us, the governor will bring to this fight some truly unique capacities -- in debate he proposed to meet face-to-face with Jordan's King Hussein, who has been dead for 16 years. Christie would have us believe that a U.S. attorney in New Jersey -- Christie himself -- was a first line of national defense after 9/11. Which, apparently, obviates the need for a coherent policy against ISIS, at least until Christie dreams one up.

Nowhere do these would-be commanders in chief confront an essential task of leadership -- telling Americans hard truths about the devilish complications any president will face. Instead, yet again, chest-thumping replaces reality. Despite their insistance that they, like the Democrats, intend to rely on other countries to carry the major military burden, they barely acknowledge that this cannot be done by fiat. Even less do they concede that tough talk is no substitute for the arduous diplomacy indispensable to rallying foreign leaders with different interests to undertake this daunting task.

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To the contrary, the example of Christie illustrates a further vulgarity in the Republicans' discussion of this difficult and urgent question -- a characterization of Obama and his policies through insults verging on demagoguery. Inexplicably, Christie suggests that Obama's nuclear deal with Iran fed the creation of ISIS. Calling the president "a feckless weakling," Christie brays that "America has been betrayed" by Obama and Clinton

Ever the competitor, Rubio claims that Obama has "deliberately weakened America" and is "completely overwhelmed." "When America needed a bold plan of action from our commander-in-chief," Rubio goes on, "we instead got a lecture on love, tolerance and gun control designed to please the talking heads at MSNBC." Really. As for Cruz, he asserts that Obama's alleged weakness is due to excessive "political correctness" and, remarkably, that Obama is "willing to use military force [only] if it benefits radical Islamic terrorists." And so on, ad nauseam.

The coda to all this is that Obama and Clinton lack the moral courage to explicitly connect ISIS with the Islamic faith. Rubio castigates Clinton for declining to say that America is "at war with radical Islam." He then invokes this remarkable analogy: Clinton's restraint is "like saying we weren't at war with Nazis, because we were afraid to offend some Germans who may have been members of the Nazi party but not violent themselves." A would-be president capable of comparing Muslims at large to Nazis may well be incapable of questioning the wisdom of linking ISIS with the broader Islamic religion -- let alone the relevance of such linkage to political and military success.

But the Republicans' rhetoric, and their actual proposals, exist on different planets. Here is the reality: when one scratches the rhetorical surface, there is little actual distinction between Clinton and the GOP contenders. The principal differences between Clinton and Obama -- supporting a no-fly zone and safe zones in Syria -- are also the principal differences between Obama and Republicans Rubio and Christie. Both Rubio and Clinton would do more to confront ISIS -- however difficult that may be -- in Syria and Iraq. Indeed, as to this, Trump and Cruz take a more cautious position than Clinton or Rubio, one more akin to Obama's.

Beyond this, looking for substance from Christie or Trump is a fool's errand. Best to examine Rubio and Cruz -- between whom emerges an illuminating and stark disparity.

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First, Rubio. One area of agreement with Obama is that the area is dangerously split between Sunni and anti- Sunni governments in Syria and Iraq. Therefore, both men agree, Sunni populated areas currently dominated by ISIS -- including in Iraq -- need some form of governance by Sunnis.

Beyond this, Rubio, like Clinton, would deploy air controllers in Syria and Iraq to provide more air support; use American special operations forces to assist the Iraqis and other allies; try to raise anti-Assad fighters in Syria; and directly arm the Kurdish and Sunni tribal forces. One potential divergence deserves a deeper discussion of its rationale and consequences: Rubio seems more willing than Clinton to commit American ground troops, perhaps in large numbers, to the fight against ISIS.

Cruz opposes such involvement. Far from being more hawkish, he links Rubio to Clinton as reflexively interventionist -- including with respect to the intervention in Libya, which he labels a "massive foreign policy blunder." Eschewing "nation building," Cruz argues that it s foolish for America to be "a Woodrow Wilson democracy promoter." Far better, he asserts, to support dictators like Gaddafi and Mubarak -- no matter their "terrible human rights record" -- because they are allies in "fighting radical Islamic terrorists."

Disdaining involvement in Syria, he says that "we have no dog in the fight of the Syrian Civil War." With respect to who will take on ISIS, he asserts that "the Kurds are our boots on the ground" -- ignoring the limited territory within which the Kurds wish, or are able, to operate. As to using American troops, Cruz mocks "politicians who like to support boots on the ground in every conflict across the globe in an effort to... show how tough they are."

Fair enough -- though one notes that Cruz may share this sentiment with his bete noir Barack Obama. This raises a very pregnant question: beyond the tough-sounding chimera of carpet bombing, how does Cruz propose to combat ISIS? One cannot tell. So perhaps all that distinguishes Cruz from Obama is the empty rhetoric of an armchair general, best consigned to a video game.

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Thus the real difference is not between Clinton and the Republicans at large, but between Rubio and Cruz. This is worthy of serious debate -- indeed, it is central to the foreign policy identity of the Republican Party and, therefore, important to the country at large.

Yet the GOP contenders have largely skirted this divide. They are too busy hurling insults at Clinton and Obama while telling us that they, and only they, can protect us from a Democratic candidate whose proposals for combating ISIS are little different from theirs. By simplifying a danger which defies simplification, they mislead the fellow citizens they propose to lead, treating us with condescension and contempt.
Hillary Clinton is pushing back against criticism of her vote as a Senator in 2002 to authorize the Iraq war, The Hill reports.

"I have a much longer history than one vote, which I said was a mistake because of the way that it was done and how the Bush administration handled it," the Democratic presidential front-runner said at CNN's Democratic town hall in Des Moines, Iowa.

But many Democrats don't think that the vote to authorize the Iraq war - which has killed thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, wounded many more physically and psychologically, and which apparently didn't really end in December 2011 - can be dismissed as just "one vote." Many Democrats also don't think that the "mistake" of voting for the war can be wholly laid at the feet of the George W. Bush Administration. Twenty-one of the fifty Democratic Senators voted no, including Barbara Boxer, Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Ted Kennedy, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray, Jack Reed, Debbie Stabenow, Paul Wellstone, and Ron Wyden. So it was certainly possible for Democratic Senators to vote no - almost half of them did so.

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In September 2002, it was a knowable fact for Members of Congress that the Bush Administration's public case for war did not match the U.S. intelligence reports that were available to Congress.

Politico recently called attention to a declassified Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS] report that shows that in September 2002, senior Bush Administration officials, including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Air Force General Richard Myers, and Air Force Maj. Gen. Glen Shaffer, knew that the Bush Administration's public case for war did not match U.S. intelligence knowledge.

Politico noted that the 2002 JCS report was available for inspection by Members of Congress, if they were interested. But there was not much Congressional interest in such things among war supporters. As the Washington Post reported in April 2004, as Congress debated the war in the fall of 2002, no more than six senators read the classified National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq WMD. Senator Clinton was not one of the six.

If the United States has not been attacked - and the U.S. had not been attacked by Iraq in 2002 - the burden of proof is on people who want to take the country to war. But at least twenty-three Democratic Senators, including Clinton, accepted the Bush Administration's public case for war without checking it against U.S. intelligence reports to which they had access.

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Senator Dick Durbin, who voted against the war, said on the Senate floor in April 2007 that as a member of the Senate intelligence committee, he had known in 2002 that U.S. intelligence knowledge did not match the Bush Administration's public case for war. "The information we had in the intelligence committee was not the same information being given to the American people. I couldn't believe it," Durbin said. So, if they didn't want to read the reports themselves, Senate Democrats had another option. They could have met with Dick Durbin, and asked him: is the Bush Administration's public case for war consistent with what you know as a member of the intelligence committee? And they could have voted accordingly. That's why we have Democrats on the intelligence committee, to enable that conversation.

On the question of the U.S. use of military force, the past didn't go anywhere - it's not even past. There's a simmering debate now about demands for greater use of U.S. military force in Iraq and Syria, which flares up whenever a terrorist attack starts looping on the cable TV news networks or whenever Republicans have a presidential debate. When Washington political actors demand a major commitment of U.S. troops to Iraq and Syria, it's essential to know: who are these people? What did they advocate for in the past? In particular: what role did they and their associates play in creating the Iraq fiasco?

Politico noted that several Iraq war architects are now advising Republican presidential candidates. Then Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, whose military assistant was copied on the JCS report, is one of Jeb Bush's foreign policy experts. John Bolton is advising Ted Cruz. Elliott Abrams and William Kristol are supporting Marco Rubio.

If any of these Republicans wins the Republican nomination for President, it seems likely that one of their talking points will be the purported need for greater U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Syria, because that's what they're saying right now. And if any of them win in November, it seems likely that escalating the use of U.S. military force in Iraq and Syria is something they might want to do.

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Ian Paris, 21-year-old from Missouri makes calls on Jan. 20. Photo by Pamela Ortega, Oklahoma Routes.

DES MOINES, Iowa-- With the Iowa caucuses only seven days away, the Rand Paul campaign is working to secure students caucusing for their candidate.

Cliff Maloney, 24, is the National Youth Director for the campaign. He has been working on an initiative to have 10,000 students turnout to caucus for Paul since September. Maloney said he is confident that they will reach their goal Monday, Feb. 1.

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"I always say, 'Yeah, we're talking a big game, but I expect a big game to show up on Feb. 1,'" Maloney said. "And I want the numbers to do the talking."

Photo courtesy of U of I Students for Rand chapter.

"In general, my sense of it is that he has a fair amount of our support," Gerry Redlinger, 26, said. "I went to a rally in Iowa City and it was very easy to get, like six friends to go with me. It wasn't even a challenge to do that and that's kind of maybe rare for a politician... and some of them weren't even Rand supporters. They just wanted to hear him."

When Redlinger first heard that the goal was to get 10,000 students out to caucus, he said he thought the number seemed low.

Anna Schuchert, 19, said that although she can't disclose the amount of students pledged to caucus for Paul from the University of Iowa, the campaign will meet its turnout goal across the state no matter what.

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Schuchert is a freshman at the U of I and is involved with on-campus campaigning. Maloney said the campaign has by far the most organized youth effort of the candidates and volunteers are highly active.

Paul tailgating in Iowa. Photo by Anna Schuchert.

"There's no other student group that you see on campus more than Students for Rand," Schuchert said.

Schuchert became involved with the campaign when a friend invited her to a Students for Rand meeting Before that, she said she was never really interested in politics. However, that has changed since she began to follow Paul.

"All of the reasons that I hated it, I absolutely love it," Schuchert said.

According to a campaign e-mail, the campaign has 1,000 precinct captains in Iowa and is ranked in 5th place by the most recent Fox News poll. Schuchert said a precinct captain's goal is to get 30 people each to caucus for Paul.

Hey @FoxNews, When choosing debate candidates, be sure to use your own poll. You'll see @RandPaul in 5th! -America pic.twitter.com/Yj5ytqzwqa  Cliff Maloney Jr. (@LibertyCliff) January 24, 2016

"A lot of the weight falls upon the University of Iowa shoulders, because we are the biggest SFR chapter in the state of Iowa," Schuchert said. The Students for Rand at University of Iowa Facebook has 613 likes. The campaign would not disclose exact numbers.

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Maloney thinks that one reason millennials support Paul is his stance on privacy. Millennials are defined as the generation of people born between 1980 and 2000.

"The reality is that we live through technology," Maloney said. "I mean, we're on our phones constantly, we're on our laptops, tablets and we don't want the government snooping on them... Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians alike, anybody under the age of 40 doesn't want the government snooping on their phone."

Gene Nassif, a 21-year-old law student at Drake University, finds Paul's financial stances most appealing. He said that he doesn't want to be burdened with high taxes, as well as student loans after law school.

"As a college student, how far my money goes has definitely been affected the past five years," Nassif said. "Buying groceries even has gone up, whereas some other things haven't."

For Redlinger, a graduate from U of I, Paul's consistency and track record of voting the way he says he will is important.

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"He was the candidate that I was most excited about even before he announced," Redlinger said.

Redlinger mentioned Paul's social media marketing, appearances on late- night shows and his "Ask Me Anything" on Reddit as ways he has reached out specifically to millennials.

Although Students for Rand has been pushing for millennial votes, Schuchert accepts that he does not have as strong of a rapport among college students like Bernie Sanders does , but cites a lack of policy knowledge as the primary reason. She said Sander's platform of free college is appealing to college students, but isn't realistic.

"My dad actually calls him [Paul] the thinking man's candidate, it just proves he's intelligent, at least for a certain group of millennials being intelligent is something you look up to," she said.

Volunteers from 32 states have flocked to the Rand Paul headquarters in Des Moines, to reach out to voters. More than 60 volunteers call Iowans daily. In one day alone, the campaign has reached out to 60,000 people. Many of the volunteers are college students, with an average age of 21.

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The campaign plans to continue building momentum with college students at upcoming rally events. Rand Paul has rallies scheduled at Drake University on Jan. 28, University of Iowa on the 31, University of Northern Iowa Jan. 30 and Iowa State on Feb. 1 before the caucus.

Even if the campaign has students pledged to caucus, it isn't a guarantee that they will actually go.

The campaign hopes to continue building with college students at upcoming rallies at Drake University in Des Moines on Thursday, at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls on Saturday, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City on Sunday and at Iowa State University on the day of the caucuses.

"We've got more than we need to hit our goal, and now it's just getting them to show up," Maloney said.
While other parts of the west were overtaken with the fracking boom, the Turtle Mountain Band said no thanks. Here's the difference it made.

Drive the long, straight roads of north-central North Dakota, and you pass lake after lake amid hayfields and forests. Migratory birds, attracted by the abundance of water and grain, pause here. Farmers, boaters, and fishermen orient their lives around the pure water.

The water, more than anything, explains why members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians acted so quickly when they learned their region was next in line for fracking. Within just a few weeks of tribal women meeting on the topic in late 2011, the council banned fracking on the 77,000-acre reservation.

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Their ban was one of the first in North America.

Why the women said no

The process started in November 2011 when a tribal elder, Carol Davis, called the women of the tribe together. Fracking was booming on the Fort Berthold reservation just 190 miles away in the heart of the Bakken oil fields. Davis had heard that the Turtle Mountain reservation could be next. In the tribe's tradition, women are responsible for protecting the water, so she invited the women to discuss fracking over a meal.

When she first heard about fracking in Fort Berthold, Christa Monnette, a member of the Turtle Mountain Tribe, thought that an oil and gas boom on her remote reservation would be a good thing. "I remember thinking, 'Wow, how lucky they are! How come we can't strike oil here?'"

After Davis explained her concerns to the group of women, Monette and her half-sister, Cedar Gillette, decided they needed to learn more about the process behind hydraulic fracturing or fracking.

At a second meeting, Davis offered each of the women a tobacco leaf, telling them to accept it only if they were committed to work on the issue.

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Monette took the tobacco reluctantly: She was a single mother of three and worked full time. But the more the women--and the men who joined them--learned about fracking, the more worried they became.

They learned that the frackers would drill right through their precious aquifer, risking contamination of their drinking water and lakes, and that the process produces large volumes of wastewater and contaminated materials.

They learned about Dimock, Pennsylvania, where a well had exploded and groundwater contamination was linked to fracking. The Cabot Oil and Gas company had been ordered to provide alternative water supplies for those affected.

The High Cost of a Drilling Boom

Gillette and Monette were especially concerned about what was happening on the Fort Berthold reservation, where three affiliated tribes, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Tribes (also collectively called the MHA Nation), are in the midst of the fracking boom.



Turtle Mountain Tribe chairman Richard McCloud: "What is sacred to our tribe is water." Photo by Sarah van Gelder.

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Gillette had worked as a domestic violence advocate in Fort Berthold. There, corruption, crime, drug addiction, and human trafficking had accompanied the massive influx of oil workers with money to spend.

"People are fearful," Gillette said.

And for good reason. According to the FBI, the area's violent crime rate rose 121 percent from 2005 to 2011. "These dramatic increases have overwhelmed state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies," reported the 2014 National Drug Control Strategy.

And contaminated material, including radioactive material concentrated during fracking, has been found dumped on the reservation. The MHA Nation lacks the resources to oversee the many drilling sites and waste facilities.

In addition to this pollution, expenses associated with the boom--from damaged roads to social services for the flood of new workers and their families--have eaten up the cash windfall that was supposed to support the tribe for years once the boom ended, according to a report by the Property and Environment Research Center.



Turtle Mountain: No Fracking Way

"We knew what was happening to other areas," Gillette said. "If we didn't protect our water, what would tribal members have seven generations from now?"

It was with this knowledge that Gillette, Monette, and others in the Turtle Mountain group presented their findings to their tribal council on November 2, 2011.

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"People were stunned when we presented the facts." Gillette said. The council called a second meeting and invited the entire community. At that meeting, the council unanimously voted to ban fracking.



Cedar Gillette, Turtle Mountain Tribe.

Still, the meeting was tense for Gillette. "I didn't believe it would pass until they all said yes," she said. After all, an impoverished tribe was leaving millions of dollars on the table. Chairman Richard McCloud supported the ban: "What is sacred to our tribe is water. We all know that in the very near future, water will be more valuable than oil or gold or anything else. This area is where our ancestors did their farming; the springs run through here, and this is how generations survived. The fracking ban will protect our water so future generations can continue to survive."

What the sisters didn't know when the fracking ban passed was that the Bureau of Indian Affairs had been on the brink of opening Turtle Mountain land for oil and gas leasing. The tribe's action put a halt to that plan.

Fast forward to the present, and the Turtle Mountain Tribe is moving forward: Last year, the tribal council adopted a new water code that solidifies the tribe's stance on fracking, and with the help of a Department of Energy grant, the tribe is moving into developing the abundant solar and wind energy resources of the reservation.

Gillette is now attending law school with a focus on environmental law. Monette is still on the Turtle Mountain reservation, still a busy working mom, except she's now the main administrator of the "No Fracking Way Turtle Mountain Tribe" Facebook page, where she posts not only about her reservation, but about other people around the world resisting the devastation of fossil fuel extraction.

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Sarah van Gelder is YES! Magazine co-founder and editor-at-large. Christa Hillstrom, YES! senior editor, contributed reporting to this article. Sarah van Gelder recently completed a four-month road trip around the United States; find her blog here.

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The best sandwiches don't necessarily have lines around the block. There are best-kept secrets from coast to coast. These are 10 sandwiches you probably never heard of, should make a trip for, snap an Instagram of and eat at least once in your life.

Just like our tastes vary, so do our criteria for the perfect sandwich. These great sandwiches challenge your palate and make you feel things you didn't think were possible. Some are massive, some are simple with a twist. Some have tapped into popular culture while others feel nostalgic from the first bite.

Like Silicon Valley, great chefs are being rewarded for taking chances and innovating. If you like beer, burgers, eggs, lobster, kimchi, wagyu and Cheetos you're in the right place. If you're not hungry, or hangry even, by the end of this mouth-watering list then you don't like sandwiches and are probably allergic to fun.

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10. Spam Cubano - Citizen Public House in Scottsdale, AZ

Roasted pork butt, pickled pineapple, confit arugula, Hawaiian roll, spiced fries.



Yes. SPAM. Don't let it scare you. Chef Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House is well known in the culinary world for his innovative menus, he's even cooked at the James Beard House more than once.

9. U.S.S. Lobstitution - Pauli's in Boston, MA

Chunks of fresh lobster meat & mayo on two a grilled long sub rolls, served with a bag of regular Utz potato chips.

Slated at the biggest lobster roll in new England (and possibly the U.S.), the USS Lobsitution includes a whopping 24oz. (1 lbs.) of prime knuckle and claw meat, which arrives fresh daily from Globe Fish Co. at Marine Industrial Park in Boston.

8. Sweet Potato Poorboy - The Peacemaker Lobster & Crab Co. in St. Louis, MO

Roasted sweet potato, sour cabbage, garlic aioli, and arugula.

The Peacemaker is 2014 James Beard Award finalist Kevin Nashan's second restaurant inspired by the Acadian coastal cuisines of the Northeast and Louisiana. A rare and inspired vegetarian poorboy; the sour cabbage is a white kimchi giving it an amazing flavor and crunch.

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7. Cheeto Burger - Clinton Hall in New York City, NY

Cheetos, Vermont Cheddar

This one isn't complicated. It's just fun. Nostalgic flavor in a gourmet burger. Clinton Hall, known for its craft beer selection pours every beer through a flux capacitor which ensures the scientifically perfect pour every time.

6. French Onion Grilled Cheese - Meauxbar in New Orleans, LA

Braised Painted Hills Brisket, gruyere cheese, red wine and thyme caramelized onions and a house-made garlic aioli between thick cut brioche bread.

Chef Kristen Essig wanted an approachable, comforting sandwich, only with a unique twist, when planning the opening menu at Meauxbar, a modern bistro in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

5. The Bear - Short Leash Hot Dogs in Phoenix, AZ

Peanut butter, smoked gouda, bacon, BBQ sauce + Cracker Jacks served on a spicy link on fluffy naan.

"While the unique dog sounds too decadent to eat more than once, I indulged in it multiple times while I was in town. You won't find another absurd take on a hot dog that's as enjoyable and as memorable as The Bear." - Monica Weintraub

4. Ham and Egg Banh Mi - Malai Kitchen in Dallas, TX

Vietnamese Baguette, Ham, Egg, Cucumbers, Spicy Aioli, Sriracha, Cilantro and Thai Basil.

Led by husband-and-wife team Braden and Yasmin Wages, the concept was inspired by their extensive travels through Thailand and Vietnam. Braden takes a traditional banh mi - like the ones he enjoys on the streets of Southeast Asia - and adds ham and eggs for breakfast.

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3. Southern Seoul - Sweet Auburn Barbecue in Atlanta, GA

Korean-style short ribs piled on a roll with pickled daikon and carrots, cilantro, fresh jalapenos, cucumbers and sriracha aioli.

This gem stretches the typical definition of "barbecue," incorporating the Malaysian-Chinese heritage of the owner Howard Hsu and maintaining the playful spirit the restaurant is known for. Sweet Auburn's culinary team, led by executive chef Joey Stallings, is trailblazing the identity of "Atlanta-style barbecue."

2. Gaucho - Eggslut in Los Angeles, CA

Seared wagyu tri-tip steak, chimichurri, red onions and seasoned arugula topped with an over medium egg, in a warm brioche bun.

LA's iconic Grand Central Market, is known for some of the most creative food in the country. At the top of that list is a mix of comfort food, innovation and of course, eggs.

1. Bird In Hand - Kitchen 67 in Grand Rapids, MI

Fresh tender beer braised chicken, hand breaded using housemade Founder's Red Rye beer batter, heavy mayo, crispy lettuce ribbons, served on a caramelized buttery brioche bun branded with a "67" on the top.

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Craft beer is everywhere. Grand Rapids was voted Beer City U.S.A. in a national poll and Best Beer Town by USA TODAY readers. While most restaurants look to pair the perfect craft beer with a sandwich, Kitchen 67 chef Aaron Vince has created a craft take on a classic sandwich using increasingly popular Founders beer for when you want to eat your calories.

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News / Press Release

by Obert Chaurura Gutu - MDC-T National Spokesperson

The State-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper, in its latest edition, reported that Zimbabwe will , inter alia, engage international experts for implementation of a biometric voting system for the 2018 general election. Whilst the MDC welcomes any moves to ensure and guarantee the holding of a free and fair plebiscite in 2018, we should hasten to add that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) should always strive to be sincere, honest, transparent and accountable in all its activities. Indeed, in terms of Section 238 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, ZEC shall ensure that elections and referendums are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law.ZEC should be a truly independent and impartial electoral commission that should jealously guide its independence and integrity, at all times. Once the impartiality and independence of ZEC is placed in doubt, Zimbabwe can never hold free and fair elections that can pass the test of legitimacy. It is a notorious fact that since the year 2000, all elections that have been held in this country have been hugely disputed. In fact, the July 31, 2013 harmonised election really got to an unprecedented level inasfaras electoral rigging is concerned. That particular election set a new record regarding the extent to which the Zanu PF regime can go in rigging elections in order to hold on to power. The level of rigging during the July 31, 2013 plebiscite was so remarkable that even several Zanu PF candidates in numerous Parliamentary constituencies were completely surprised when they were declared winners! The electoral rigging was engineered and masterminded by Nikuv; working in cahoots with some elements within ZEC as well as the Registrar-General's Office.The MDC was also completely taken aback to learn that 800 000 new voters have registered with ZEC since the beginning of 2015. What is particularly striking is that these new voters are said to have registered in constituencies that recently held Parliamentary by-elections. We are surprised why such an apparently huge number of voters could have registered in only one (1) year when ZEC has never, really undertaken a well-publicised national voter registration exercise. Thus, the MDC strongly suspects that the afore-mentioned voter registration was conducted in a very sinister and shadowy manner that betrays the intention of the Zanu PF regime to rig the 2018 general election. We are also extremely concerned that the thoroughly discredited office of the Registrar-General, fronted by one Tobaiwa Mudede,is still actively involved in the voter registration exercise. Tobaiwa Mudede's notorious and shameless record of assisting the Zanu PF regime to rig elections is very well-documented.The Zanu PF regime is not committed to carrying out electoral reforms. This is shown by the regime's reluctance to allow all political parties in this country to openly and freely liase with ZEC regarding the registration of voters. Indeed, in terms of Section 238 (c) and (d) of the Constitution, ZEC is mandated to register voters and also to compile voters' rolls and registers. The MDC is thoroughly disturbed by the role that Tobaiwa Mudede and his office still continue to play in the voter registration exercise. Tobaiwa Mudede has been the Registrar-General since 1981 and he is way past the civil service retirement age of 65.What boggles the mind is that the Zanu PF regime, particularly, President Robert Mugabe, has not seen it fit to retire him regardless of the fact that he is several years above the official retirement age for civil servants. The MDC strongly suspects that Tobaiwa Mudede has been doing a hatchet job for the Zanu PF regime when it comes to the rigging of elections.Because ZEC is financially and materially incapacitated, the MDC calls upon the Zanu PF regime to allow credible stakeholders such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to play a more significant and meaningful role in capacitating ZEC financially, materially and technically. The shadowy and CIO-linked secretariat that is presently working behind the scenes for ZEC should be immediately dismantled and disbanded. ZEC should actually commence a fresh and brand new national biometric voter registration exercise. The national data base is already in existence and surely, working with capable technical partners such as the UNDP, it should pretty easy for the ZEC to conduct a fresh and credible biometric national voter registration exercise.Zimbabwe can simply not afford the luxury of holding another disputed election in 2018.Without holding a free and fair election that is credible, it is virtually impossible to extricate Zimbabwe from the prevailing political turmoil and socio-economic collapse.
Back in the day, supergroups ruled rock's largely white, largely male landscape. Megaliths like my boys Cream, Blind Faith and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young bestrode the earth in all their swaggering testosterone-oozing alpha glory. They dominated the music charts and arenas with power chord chestnuts which legitimized the careers of gatekeeping white music critics and fueled a multi-billion dollar recording industry ripping off black blues/rock trailblazers like Rosetta Tharpe, Muddy Waters, Little Richard and Jimi Hendrix. Outmoded, the supergroups of the 60s and 70s eventually crashed and burned, victim to the ravages of time, drugs, egos, corporate bloat, and the encroachments of disco and punk.

The recent merger of the secular organization Center for Inquiry (CFI) and the Richard Dawkins Foundation (RDF) has been dubbed atheism's supergroup moment. Acknowledging the two organizations' outsized presence in the atheist world, Religion News Service acidly declared it a "royal wedding". The partnership, which gives Richard Dawkins a seat on the CFI board, smacks of a vindication of Dawkins' toxic, reactionary brand of damn-all-them-culturally-backward-Western-values-hating- Muslims New Atheism. As one of the most prominent global secular organizations, CFI's all-white board looks right at home with RDF's lily white board and staff.

Meanwhile, atheists and humanists of color have been going against the white grain to address issues that much of organized atheism and humanism are resistant if not outright hostile to. Last week, the Black Non-Believers organization, the largest network of African American atheists in the country, celebrated its five-year anniversary in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded by activist Mandisa Thomas, the network is an antidote to the ostracism black atheists in the Bible Belt and beyond experience, especially in the absence of supportive secular institutions.

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The intersection of racial segregation, economic inequality and cultural identity is the reason why religious traditions predominate in black communities. When African-Americans across the economic spectrum look to social welfare, educational and civic organizations they are more often than not tapping into those either provided by or connected to faith-based institutions. For example, at a recent Drew University conference (named after pioneering African American physician and scientist Charles Drew) I attended on resiliency and African-American men, faith was often cited as key to motivating young black men to pursue community leadership and academics.

High school students spoke of getting mentoring and college readiness resources from their congregations. In South Los Angeles, re-entry programs that provide jobs for formerly incarcerated black workers meet in and partner with churches. In the absence of community, job and recreation centers, churches offer stable physical space which simply doesn't exist elsewhere in most poor and working class communities of color. Simply put, churches -- for good or ill -- are a political and social platform for people of color in the absence of the kind of secular institutions that provide white people with political leverage, visibility, and validation. Atheists who bash religion but aren't about the business of building social justice institutions that provide alternatives to religious ones are just making noise.

The need for secular reentry initiatives is one issue that will be taken up at this week's Secular Social Justice conference at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Featuring atheist and humanist activists, educators and writers of color, the event is the only secular conference to focus exclusively on racial, gender and economic justice in communities of color without apology or accommodation to white folks' let's-ghettoize-this-into-a-diversity-panel reflex. From the cultural relevance of feminism, to the impact of mass incarceration, the intersectional activism of queer atheists of color and the neoliberal re-segregation of public schools, progressive folk of color who also identify as atheist and/or humanist are broadening the scope of atheist activism beyond merely challenging religious prejudice.

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Yellow

For a color that makes many of us feel cheery and warm, yellow has some surprisingly dark meanings in other cultures.



Take France, for example, where yellow signifies jealously, betrayal, weakness, and contradiction. In the 10th century, the French painted the doors of traitors and criminals yellow. And in Germany, yellow symbolizes jealousy.



In China, yellow is associated with pornography. When the Chinese term for "yellow picture" or "yellow book" is used to discuss any type of publication or media, it's in reference to pornographic images and websites.



Yellow is reserved only to people of high rank in many African nations, because of its close resemblance to gold, which is universally associated with money, quality, and success. Egyptians also closely associate yellow with gold, which was commonly used to paint mummies and tombs before the deceased were sent to the afterlife, making it symbol for mourning.



In Japanese culture, yellow has represented bravery, wealth, and refinement since the War of Dynasties in 1357. During this time, warriors wore yellow chrysanthemumswhich represent the emperor in Japan and royal familyas a pledge of courage.



Considered lucky in Thai culture, yellow is the lucky color for Monday, and it's considered the most important shade of the week because it represents the King of Thailand, King Bhumibol, who has held reign since June 9, 1946, and was born on December 5th, in 1927a Monday. To pay tribute to the king, many Thais wear yellow on Mondays, and some schools require all teachers to wear yellow during the first week of December.



(Photo: William Murphy via flickr/CC Attribution)
"Don't take the straight path or the winding path. Take the path your ancestors have taken." -Cambodian Proverb.

Bopha Malone was born in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, shortly after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. Her first childhood memories are of fleeing her country, at three years old, through the jungle in the arms of her mother who tried desperately to stop her crying for fear that they would be killed. Bopha and her mom would soon make it to refuge in Thailand where her father and brother were anxiously waiting to receive them.

Bopha and her family lived in a Thailand refugee camp for six years until they were sponsored to come to America. Her family came to the United States in 1989 and settled in Pennsylvania where there were very few Cambodian families in in the area. Bopha recalled that nobody in her family spoke English and that the only work her dad could find was in New York City. He would work all week long in the city and then return home on the weekends to be with his family.

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After one year, the family moved to Lynn, Massachusetts, where there were people they knew, jobs, and other people from their culture. Bopha learned English quickly and immersed herself into school. Despite financial constraints, she went on to graduate from Lesley University, then went on to get her Master's Degree, and to start a family of her own, all while making a name for herself in the banking industry and as a community leader. Bopha says that she is the byproduct of a mom and dad who understood the meaning of hard work, sacrifice and perseverance. She eventually moved back to Cambodia for one year, immersing herself in the culture and history from which she had been born. The highly successful community leader hasn't taken the straight nor winding path, but rather has followed the path shaped for her by her parents who survived the frightening tenure of the Khmer Rouge, eventually moving the family to safer ground, while instilling in Bopha and her siblings, simple yet profound lessons on happiness, leadership, and sacrifice.

I sat down with Bopha Malone recently to find out what it means to be a leader, how she holds on to a culture she was torn from at a young age, and what it takes to build a bridge of culture and community from one end of the world to another.

We Are All Rich Beyond Measure: Growing up, Bopha says that her family didn't have much money so she didn't have all the designer clothes and material things that other kids in her school had. However, she says that her parents instilled in her a sense of gratitude for all the blessings they did have, like a home in the United States. Today, Bopha tries to instill this same sense of gratitude in her own young children. One of her favorite books is Three Cups: A Lesson In Life and Money for Children. Through this book, Bopha and her husband have been teaching their kids the importance of earning money and then putting their income into each of the 3 cups; savings, giving, and spending. She says that she always feels as though she's walking a fine line. On the one hand, she wants her kids to have the things in life that she couldn't have as a child. On the other, she realizes that the very fiber of her own being was built on a foundation of gratitude for non-material riches. Bopha says that for her family, Three Cups is a step in the right direction. It starts the conversation about money, blessings, and our responsibility to help others. Since Three Cups has become part of her household, the conversations each month about allowance money has gone from how the kids will spend their earnings on themselves, to how they can save and who they can help with their hard earned money.

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See Yourself Through Others: While in high school, Bopha inadvertently came across a non-profit organization called Girls Inc., a non-profit organization that focuses on giving confidence to girls. Bopha says that her involvement in this organization forever changed the trajectory of her life. She says that she would not be where she is today without Girls Inc. When Bopha was in high school, her sole focus was on graduating and then immediately getting a job so that she could contribute to her family financially. She grew up in a culture where women weren't seen as leaders, but rather they were seen as home makers, and so the thought of going to college never even crossed Bopha's mind. Girls Inc. opened her eyes to possibility. She got to see and meet women who were community and business leaders. Even then, Bopha didn't believe she could ever afford college, but her friends and mentors at Girls Inc. pushed her to research student loans and scholarships. Bopha credits Girls Inc. with helping her see a totally different future for herself, one that was absolutely within her grasp. Bopha went on to graduate from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. It was in Cambridge where she met her future husband, Tom, while he was attending Harvard. Bopha says that her college education, her commitment to her culture and her community, and even her family, are all byproducts of a lucky brush with fate that brought her to the door of Girls Inc. as a young and impressionable girl.

Culture: Even though Bopha lived the first few years of her life in Cambodia and spent her entire life within a Cambodian household, she said that she grew up thirsty for knowledge about her culture and her ancestors. She said that it's not unusual for people who grew up living under the death, destruction, and suppression of the Khmer Rouge, to never speak of it again with family. Such was the case with her own family, where her parents never wanted to bring the bad parts of their lives into their new home in America. Bopha says that the downside to this is that she also never really knew about the good parts of her culture either, and she said that there comes a certain point in your life where you need and want to know about where you came from. Thanks again to the help of Girls Inc., Bopha wrote a grant proposal to an organization with whom she partnered, so that she could spend a year in Cambodia. With the help of strangers, Bopha raised $10,000, and she travelled to Cambodia to absorb her culture. She was so grateful to the people who donated to her trip that each month she would send an email report to the group, letting them know what she had discovered, and at the end of the year she compiled an Annual Report, documenting the entire trip and what she had learned. When it came time for Bopha to start looking for a job in America, she emailed this same group, to see if anyone had ideas on what type of work she should seek based on her skill level. One of her supporters, a woman by the name of Carol Duncan, was on that email string. She was, at that time, the Executive Director of Girls, Inc. of Lowell, and she and her husband, George, had donated to Bopha's trip. Carol gave the email to her husband, who reached out to Bopha for a meeting. George was the founder of Enterprise Bank, a community bank based out of Lowell, Massachusetts. Bopha has now been an emerging leader within Enterprise Bank for more than a decade, and she credits her continued success to the mentorship of George Duncan who supported her even before he knew her, and who has, to this day, remained a valuable advisor, friend, and advocate.

Be A Guiding Light: Bopha says that what she's proudest of in her life and career is that she has been able to be a guiding light to others. As a Regional Business Advisor at Enterprise Bank she helps businesses develop and thrive. She says that her reward is when she drives through a city and sees a prospering business that she helped, because she knows that behind the walls of that business there are countless families who are positively impacted by that enterprise. Bopha has also become a guiding light to multiple charitable organizations. She is the President of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association and is a board member of Girls, Inc. of Greater Lowell. She also volunteers for Women Working Wonders, the Board of Governors of Lowell General Hospital, the City of Lowell Smith Baker Center, and is a Trustee of Middlesex Community College. Bopha says that she lives a blessed life thanks to her mom and dad who figured out a way to America, and thanks too to friends, mentors, non-profits, and complete strangers who reached out and guided her in the right direction when she wasn't sure which way to go. She says it's her mission now to offer the same type of guidance to others.
We are Stefan and Sebastien, gay couple travelling the world and owners of the Nomadic Boys travel blog. We spent 18 months traveling in Asia last year and absolutely loved it.

Although most Asian countries don't have the best reputation when it comes to gay rights, here are our five reasons we think traveling to Asia is fun, romantic and above all, important for supporting and inspiring local LGBT communities.

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1. There are some very gay places in Asia!

Two immediate places that spring to mind are Thailand and Bali.

Although Thai society remains largely conservative, the country welcomes gay tourists with open arms with Bangkok leading the way with one of the best gay scenes in Asia.

Bali is so touristy and international that is has developed an open minded and relaxed attitude to the LGBT community, compared to the rest of Indonesia. As a result there's an active gay presence across the island, particularly in Seminyak.

A few other gay scenes that pleasantly surprised us included Manila, Phnom Penh and Taipei, which hosts the largest annual pride event in Asia.

2. There are lot of gay friendly romantic experiences in Asia.

It's not all about the party, and gay couples will also want to seek out romantic experiences. We certainly do!

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Asia is full of romantic gems targeted to gay couples.

Nusa Dua in South Bali is a popular spot for couples looking for a romantic retreat. Ubud in the centre of the island is another popular spot for gay couples. There was even an unofficial gay wedding ceremony in a hotel in Ubud led by a Hindu priest.

We found the Philippines to be one of the most welcoming places for gay couples. The Filipinos welcome everybody and their hospitality is world famous. Boracay island is one of the popular places to come for a mix of romance and beach fun, with places even offering spa Rainbow Packages for gay couples:

3. Asia is (very slowly) waking up to gay unions and pink ceremonies.

And we mean very slowly!

Gay marriage is still illegal everywhere on the continent. But steps towards civil unions are slowly being made, led by Japan and Taiwan who each now have 3 districts each recognising civil unions. In Taiwan, the newly elected female leader, Tsai Ing-wen, even came out in support of equal marriage rights earlier this year.

As a country's government is starting to accept and recognise gay unions, it not only sends out a positive and encouraging signal to its LGBT community, but also a symbolic nod to gay tourism.

Although the other countries in Asia are slow to catch up with marriage equality, small political moves by a few show a willingness to start to embrace the gay honeymoon market. For example, in Thailand the government started to draft the Civil Partnership Act laws in 2012, but it has since been put on hold due to political instability. And in Vietnam, the government recently legislated to accept gay marriages - ie, if you get gay married in the country, it won't be recognised as legal but they will no longer arrest or fine you.

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It's baby steps, but a symbolic step in the right direction.

4. Don't be put off by the anti-gay laws:. You're still safe!

At the time of writing, being gay was a criminal offence in countries like Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India. But in reality, as a foreigner, you are left alone. At no stage during our travels anywhere in Asia did we feel threatened or in danger for being gay.

In the worst-case scenario, anti gay laws are used strategically by the police to get bribes. For example, the gay club we went to in Delhi was intervened by the police at 1 a.m. The policemen were using the anti gay laws to get a bribe from the club promoters. Everyone else was left alone and told to leave via the back door.

Tourism is big business, so foreigners will be treated differently from locals despite repressive LGBT laws. During our travels in Malaysia for example, we enjoyed a romantic lovers' spa ritual on Langkawi island, where the masseurs chant and throw petals on you after the treatment. It was a very romantic moment and quite progressive for a country like Malaysia:

But whilst it's all well and good saying how safe it is for gay couples to travel to countries in Asia which criminalise the LGBT community, there's a question of ethics:

Why should I spend my pink dollars in a country that wants to imprison me?!

5. Supporting and inspiring the local LGBT community

We strongly believe that we owe the local LGBT communities in countries with repressive anti-gay laws a responsibility to get out there and support them instead of a blanket ban on visiting them.

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The money you spend on gay friendly / owned businesses helps them flourish in a society, which is likely to be fighting to close them down or make their lives difficult.

As a gay couple, we strongly believe that making friends and interacting with the local LGBT community is far more effective then boycotting their country altogether.

Your very presence is most likely to inspire them and encourage them to mobilise and push for equality (over time of course).

In addition, when you check into any hotel as a gay couple (insisting on a double bed!), you will be educating the locals working at reception to show them that gay are in fact just like any other normal human being. This feeling will then gradually filter back to their friends and family.

Imagine you were in their shoes, would you prefer your gay sisters abroad to ignore you, or come over to embrace and support you?

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We sure know what we'd choose...
Netflix has been in the original content business for three years. Yes, that's how long it's been since it released the entire season of House of Cards all at once and created what we now commonly call "binge" viewing. At the time, I wrote an article that criticized the practice -- and in doing so got so much negative feedback that I was forced to rethink the column, and in the end, retract it.

So rest assured -- I won't make that mistake with Netflix new the Making a Murderer documentary series.

Here's the thing about Making a Murderer -- it's not like anything you've seen before. It's not a feature documentary -- as a filmmaker, I know that those come in a 90-minute long feature-length package. And it's not a "series" in the way we've come to know them. It's a 10-hour documentary -- immersive and addictive.

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Honestly, it starts so slowly, the footage is so old and poorly shot and the characters so unsympathetic, it's hard to believe anyone gets past the first four minutes. I bailed out the first time and I know others who did the same thing.

But unlike film where you sit in a theater or a television show where you either watch it in real time or DVR it for later, Netflix long-form non-fiction is a slow, deep, detailed exploration that is hypnotic in its tick-tock rhythm. It draws you in -- revealing its story in no particular hurry and with none of television's required cliffhangers or ginned up characters. Netflix non-fiction is pure story -- and it seems to say: "if you don't like me -- fine, just stop watching." But you can't. Because the story of Steven Avery is so profoundly disturbing that it raises questions that reach far beyond the 10 hours of film that are now being devoured by the Netflix audience.

Lisa Nishimura, VP for original docs at Netflix understood that Making a Murderer needed a different kind of distribution."What was clear was that they were going to need a platform where the series could unfold in the well-paced, immersive way the story demanded," Nishimura told the New York Times.

The filmmakers, Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, have gathered together remarkable resources, and thanks to their choice of venue, present them in painstaking detail. For example, the more than three-hour long interview with Brendan Dassey, a 16-year-old who's police interrogation and eventual confession, plays out like a slow motion coercion. It's too slow to be filmmaking in any conventional sense of the word, yet far too captivating to fast forward through. Of course, it's Netflix -- so you can skip ahead -- but I suspect few viewers do.

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Today, the story of Steven Avery is being debated across the country. It's a massive phenomenon on Reddit where a community of amateur investigators is now building its own case based on their viewing of the series. It's been debated on cable news and in print including Nancy Grace, People Magazine, and Rolling Stone. That a Netflix non-fiction film can trigger such discussion and debate is a tribute to the new nature of the form and the importance of a deeper dive into complicated stories.

It's a massive gathering of almost 700 hours of police interrogation footage, interviews, news reports and courtroom video. As the New York Times describes it, the series is, "immersive, compulsive and unpredictable, but also exhausting."

Back in 2013, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings seemed to see the future. In a letter to investors, he wrote: "linear channels must aggregate a large audience at a given time of day and hope the show programmed will actually attract enough viewers despite this constraint. For linear TV, the fixed number of prime-time slots mean that only shows that hit it big and fast survive. In contrast, Internet TV is an environment where smaller or quirkier shows can prosper because they can find a big enough audience over time."
German Minister of Propoganda Dr. Joseph Goebbels, unseen, intoduces German Chancellor Adolf Hitler, left, to the large audience at the Sports Palace, in Berlin, on Sept. 26, 1938. Seated from left to right; Hitler; Rudolf Hess, Deputy Leader of the Nazi Party; Hermann Goering, President of the Reichstag; Joachim Von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister; Wilhelm Frick, German Minister of the Interior. (AP Photo)

In the 71 years since the Allies defeated Nazi Germany and ended the Holocaust, Nazi propaganda tactics continue to be emulated. The sophisticated communications strategies and techniques that the Nazis employed with such deadly skill are alive and well in contemporary politics.

Rwandan genocidaires in the 1990s drew lessons from Nazi propaganda to incite violence and mass murder in radio broadcasts. Today, ISIS (Daesh or ISIL) produces slick videos for the Internet and social media to foster hatred and foment terrorism. As the Nazis well-understood technology can be a lethal weapon in the hands of an expert propagandist.

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For this reason, UNESCO has decided to mark the 10th anniversary of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th under the theme, "From words to genocide." The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is bringing its special exhibition, State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda, to the UNESCO Paris headquarters.

The Nazis honed their skills in a democracy in which they had to compete with over 30 other political parties for votes and support. Hitler crafted a public persona for himself as the "unknown soldier" in World War I; a common man who pulled himself up by his bootstraps to become leader of the Nazi Party and later the nation. This was a winning formula in Germany's fledgling democracy

Just as importantly, Hitler designed a trademark for his movement, the ancient symbol of the swastika emblazoned in black against a background of red and white. This too was a remarkable innovation for its time since most political parties did not have logos. Today, even those who know little about the symbol identify it with the Nazi Party; few trademarks have had such success.

In order to succeed in democratic politics, the Nazi Party marketed itself as the only political party representing all Germans, regardless of class, region, or religion; the Nazis considered Jews to be a separate race and not a religious group. All their political competitors were presented as special interest groups. Nazi propagandists also engaged in niche marketing, tailoring their messages to diverse audiences, including relatively small groups, such as bank employees and blind Germans. The Nazis created the first national political party in German history.

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The Nazis were good listeners too. They engaged in public opinion gathering by eavesdropping on what Germans talked about in shops and on city streets. They then tailored their political messages to the desires of their constituents. When the Great Depression struck in 1929, the Nazis tapped into the fears of the population and channeled public discontent with the status quo into political support.

This strategy worked. In 1928, the Nazi Party claimed only 12 seats in the German parliament out of 500. Two years later, it captured 107 seats. In the summer of 1932, the Nazi Party won 230 seats, becoming the largest political party represented in parliament. No political party in German, or world, history had ever gone from such unimportance to political prominence in only a few short years. The Great Depression produced extreme public anxiety, which created a conducive environment for Nazi messages. 30 other political parties, however, had the same opportunity. Millions of Germans deserted their previous parties to cast their votes for a movement that had previously been deemed extremist and undesirable.

The innovative nature of Nazi propaganda made a difference. Although the Nazi Party never attained a majority in any free election, it gained power when Hitler was appointed chancellor in 1933 and destroyed German democracy in less than six months. Nazi propagandists proceeded to mobilize the populace around its radical agenda, which culminated in world war and mass murder. Hitler's propaganda machine repeatedly warned the German population that if they did not win the war it would mean their annihilation by "international Jewry." In carrying out the greatest genocide in history, the Nazis created a legacy for later practitioners of mass atrocities by crafting a justification for genocide: self-defense.

The Nazis, however, did not ask Germans to murder their Jewish neighbors, instead they asked them merely to sit back and let the state take care of the "Jewish problem." The SS, police battalions, and other units, which were heavily indoctrinated in Nazi racial ideology, then ruthlessly carried out the murder of millions of men, women, and children. Hitler's propagandists built upon centuries of anti-Jewish sentiment to foment hatred and foster a massive climate of indifference to the fate of Europe's Jews that ultimately led to the Holocaust.

On January 27, as institutions around the world commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is crucial to consider the role that Nazi propaganda played in facilitating the mass murder of Europe's Jews and the persecution of millions of others.

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Ron Clark the founder of Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy recently made yahoo news after his dance routine with his students went viral. The East Carolina native never intended on becoming a teacher nor did he have a teaching license. Clark was convinced by his mother to substitute in a North Carolina School and it was that experience that forever changed his life.



Photo Courtesy of RCA: Pictured here is Ron Clark and his students of the RCA

One day Clark was called into the office assuming he had done something wrong and was told he had to shut his classroom door because the other teachers were being distracted by his teaching style. Clark believes that every student should be in an environment filled with passion, energy, and life. Clark has incredible energy and loves to create new strategies that can help the children learn.

Ron went on to teach the sixth grade in East Harlem, New York at P.S. 83 after he learned that the children lacked motivation and produced low test scores. Ron was dedicated to the children of east Harlem and gave them the tools to be successful while inspiring them to believe in themselves. In 2001, Clark was voted Disney's American Teacher of The Year out of seventy thousand teachers across the country which caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey and led to him being invited as a special guest on the Oprah Winfrey show. In 2007, the Ron Clark Academy was birthed, Clark's ultimate goal was to educate teachers and make it a place where every classroom is full of color; passion, energy, and life.

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Photo Courtesy of RCA: Pictured here is Ron Clark teaching his students



Here at RCA our motto is No Fear. -Ron Clark



Photo Courtesy of RCA: Pictured here is Mackenzy Zau dancing with students of the RCA

Every day at the Ron Clark Academy is full of energy, love, and life. The student body and staff encourage, motivate, and push each other to succeed. The school is designed to birth dreams and inspire children to believe that there is nothing they can't achieve. At the Ron Clark Academy their motto is "No Fear" which allows the children to courageously go after whatever it is they desire to do academically. The Ron Clark Academy challenges their students as well as teachers while creating opportunities to exercise what they've learned. Every year RCA brings in thousands of teachers from all across the country to educate and provide them with the necessary tools to help them win in the classroom and be successful at whatever they do.



Photo Courtesy of RCA:Pictured here are children at the RCA on the red carpet cheering each other on.

Growing up Clark's parents were DJ's and spent a lot of time outside the home while his grandmother watched over him and helped raise him to be a well mannered and respectful young man. As Clark journeyed in his teaching career, he noticed there was a cycle of disrespect among the students, teachers, and parents. Clark's love for teaching and significant method of communication brought them all together which led to a more positive growth experience. Clark is the bestselling author of the book titled Essential 55 which helps educators, parents, and their students with respect and using what they've learned in and outside the classroom.

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Photo Courtesy of RCA:Pictured here is RCA teacher Mr. Fleming teaching

Clark enjoys sharing his teaching style with teachers all over the world and those teachers return to their local community schools and apply what they've learned from the Ron Clark Academy. Clark wants to see every teacher successful as well as every student. Clark continues to get the attention of the White House and Oprah Winfrey and desires for the government to catch on and realize that his teaching methods are making an amazing impact on educators and students across the country.



Photo Courtesy of RCA::Pictured here is Ron Clark Teaching Teachers at RCA

The children of the Ron Clark Academy recently took part in an annual competition that the school holds called "The Amazing Shake." The competition started out with 112 students and narrows down after each round. The purpose of the competition is for the children to practice the art of conversation. Ron Clark teaches the children soft skills from the moment they enter the classroom which consist of a firm handshake and how to make direct eye contact. Clark believes in the importance of teaching the children social skills that they will use in the real world and other aspects of communication. As participants in the competition the children then have the opportunity to meet professionals in Atlanta area and practice what they've learned. The five finalist were surprised with a free Delta flight to New York where one student out of the five was chosen as the winner of the competition.



Photo Courtesy of RCA: Pictured here is the Winner of the Amazing Shake Jasmine a student at RCA

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Clark's parents Ronnie and Jean Clark. They shared that they are extremely proud of their son and his accomplishments. His dad says "OMG! What is he doing now?"As he watches his son on television. Clark's mom stated "Ron is my hero!"His parents are elated and believe greater is to come as their son continues his journey.



Pictured here is Ron Clark as a kid. Who would have ever known that this young man would one day inspire so many lives all over the world. Photo Courtesy of Ron's Parents

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The Portuguese set foot in South Africa in the 15th century, and the Dutch settled at the "Cape of Storms" in 1652. But the noses of the first interlopers into southern Africa were not sharp enough to fore-smell Kimberley's hidden diamonds or the Witwatersrand's entombed gold.

Diamonds were only discovered in 1867 at Kimberley, and, 19 years later, gold on the Witwatersrand.

The group - of mainly Englishmen and Jews - that descended on Kimberley, following the discovery of diamonds was largely the same bunch of money-mongers who flocked to the Witwatersrand when news of gold broke.

By the time the Witwatersrand became the new Mecca of wealth seekers, Kimberley had already produced a diamond cartel led by Cecil John Rhodes - including such outstanding figures as Alfred Beit, Charles Rudd, Barney Barnato, Julius Wernher, J. B. Robinson, Jules Porges, H. L. Eckstein, Lionel Phillips, and others.

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In Kimberley, Rhodes persuaded most of these men - some of whom were initially his arch-enemies, such as Barnato - to form a cartel to control the price of diamonds in London, then the centre of the global diamond trade. De Beers became the cartelised company, named after brothers Johannes and Diederik De Beer, who had sold the land on which the diamonds were discovered.

On the Witwatersrand, these men formed many gold companies financed by money they had made at Kimberley and through investments from London, Paris, Berlin, and the US. Although Rhodes was by no means the richest his company, the Goldfields Company, was among the giants.

What made Rhodes stand out was his profound understanding of the uselessness of money for its own sake. For him, money was an instrument in a big imperial "game". Difficult as it was, he did manage to convince some of the money-mongers who surrounded him to support his mega imperial schemes.

It got to the point where these men became so wealthy that their clout was felt in British politics. Rather disapprovingly, the English media coined and gave them the name "Randlords" - to make it plain that the "Rand" was the origin of the wealth of these insidious "Lords".

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Bringing civilisation

Of particular interest to South Africans is the legacy the Randlords left the country.

First, it is important to acknowledge nature for endowing Kimberley and the Witwatersrand with vast natural wealth, and then proceed to appreciate, maturely, the fact that the Randlords brought know-how, money and the technology by which to exhume dormant wealth from beneath the country's soil.

The civilisation that waves at South Africans from the dizzying heights of Johannesburg's skyscrapers came to the country's shores with the Randlords. The highways on which the tyres of comfortable German cars glide would not be there without the Randlords.

Some of the country's top universities at which today's students wage protests are there thanks to the Randlords. This includes the University of the Witwatersrand, Rhodes University and the University of Cape Town. Even those not linked directly to the Randlords were build by the state using funds from the mining industry.

The idea of the railways that continue to enable South Africa to export its natural resources was first fermented in the heads of the Randlords. So too the national grid of highways. Beit Bridge, the main crossing point between South Africa and Zimbabwe, is a reminder that Alfred Beit offered a hand to Cecil John Rhodes, as he forged ahead to create what he called "the road to the north" - today's N1.

In the world of political correctness, an arena populated by self-congratulators, it is dangerous to say something positive about those whom a group has already condemned. Group-think is the norm.

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The big dilemma

Make no mistake; the Randlords were not angels. And they did not muddy their hands. South African author Sarah Gertrude Millin was right to note that:

The Kaffirs do nearly all the unskilled labour in South Africa. ... On the farms they, and not the farmers, do the planting and reaping and herding. ... They dig the trenches and lay the roads.

In their imagination, the Randlords did not envision the black man ever making use of the civilisation they were erecting, let alone ever ruling South Africa. That is why they never gave black people the education they imparted to their children. To them, black people were permanent "savages".

The cruel idea of detaining black workers in dehumanising compounds was introduced by the Randlords. Rhodes even sponsored a law that authorised mine owners to strip black workers naked, and force them to swallow laxatives before they could go home, hoping to flush stolen diamonds out of the native's stomach.

Thus, the Randlords left behind them a big dilemma: contemporary South Africa is not sure whether to thank them for bringing civilisation, or to curse them for complicating future race relations. Unfortunately they can't receive a memorandum of grievances, were the country's citizens to chant to their graves.

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Prince Mashele, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation, University of Pretoria
Much of my time as a first-generation Black Canadian woman is spent contemplating the ideas of identity, belonging, culture and history -- and the older I get, the more this last point rises in importance. What am I made of? Where do I come from? What impact have my people made in the lands that I call home? Finding the answers to these questions has been a complicated task, and leads me to liken my familial and cultural histories to a broken necklace: the strings holding it all together have snapped and the beads have been strewn about the place, but I'm slowly able to find and gather the pieces and make it whole again.

I've been particularly interested in uncovering the stories of Caribbean women in Canadian history. What made up the mettle of women who, like my own mother, left the life they knew for the hope of something better?

Until the "liberalization" of immigration policy in the early 1960s, Canada had racially discriminatory laws designed to prohibit non-whites from entering the country. In order to fill its post-war need for domestic labor in the 1950s, Canada began recruiting Black women from the Caribbean. The West Indian Domestic Scheme launched in 1955 and brought thousands of women from the region to Canada -- in exchange for one year of service as domestic workers, these women were granted permanent residency and the eventual opportunity to send for other family members to join them in their new home.

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In order to be accepted into the scheme, Black Caribbean hopefuls had to:

be between the ages of 18-35

be single (many left families behind, as only the successful applicant was allowed entrance to Canada)

have at least an 8th grade education

pass a medical examination and interview with Canadian immigration

With little in the way of a transitional welcoming committee, these women arrived to Canada only knowing of the cold and not the other issues that lay waiting: racism, poor employment standards, cultural differences, isolation and the lack or loss of connection to others. While the women did their best to acclimatize to their new lives, it wasn't an easy journey. The reported experiences of domestics were both positive (like Daisy May Gordon, who recounted the kindness of being treated like a family member by her employers) and negative (like Melissa Rowe, who distinctly remembered being overworked and denied personal space by her employers, and feeling culturally isolated), but after one year of work, domestics could seek education and employment in other fields (mainly teaching or nursing).

Toronto's York University recently held a conference honoring the women of the scheme with a keynote address from the Hon. Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to Canada's House of Commons and the first Black woman to serve in Canada's federal Cabinet. Born in Grenada, Augustine came to Canada under the scheme, serving her year as a domestic before finding careers in education and politics.

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My initial knowledge of feminism was very second-wave white-dominant, and I simply could not relate. The complexities of my life and the lives of girls and women like me were not represented. Race, class and immigration weighed heavily alongside the gender component, but no literature I found adequately addressed this, so I began my exploration of feminism and womanism through real-life observation. While I'm careful not to ascribe the feminist/womanist title to women who may not call themselves such, my personal brand of womanism is informed in part by the actions of women like the Hon. Jean Augustine and others who came to Canada through the domestic scheme. Where aspects of this history inspired me to dig deeper into my personal politics, much of the same has led other women to divest from certain identities.

My conversations about feminism with older Black Caribbean women often include a waving off of the label on their part. Feminism is often seen as a concern of white women who fought for the right to work outside of the home, earn equal pay for equal work and have the double burden of work inside and outside the home addressed -- all while neglecting to include Black women for whom work had always been a reality. This historical practice of erasure -- deliberately excluding Black women in a fight that they had a rightful place in -- led to an outright rejection or personal redefinition of the feminist label, which still holds true today.

"Diversity" is a hot buzzword that's beginning to lose its impact, and the scope of who it's meant for is narrowing. Across conversations and criticisms of entities like Hollywood, the tech industry, or the current Canadian Prime Minister's upheld promise of gender parity in his Cabinet, it becomes increasingly apparent that gatekeepers are quite satisfied when "diversity" simply means "the inclusion of White women" in spaces primarily occupied by men. In speaking about her time as an educator in late 1970s Toronto, Augustine said that as a Black woman, she had to "wait for my turn" to become a vice principal, then principal. Black women needing to wait their turn is a common sentiment when conversations of advancement and inclusion are at play.

It's not lost on me that the disregarded work of women like Black Caribbean domestics enabled previous and current generations of white Canadian women to progress and be included. It's not lost on me that this country has been built by immigrants' sacrifice of self-actualization or need to work twice as hard to get just as far as their counterparts. It's not lost on me that, as I often say, Canada has the best PR company in the world -- its history of embracing and protecting multiculturalism doesn't hold up when one looks at the living conditions of First Nations people and also learns that Canada didn't loosen racial restrictions from immigration until 1962, only created its Human Rights Act in 1977, and finally solidified its Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982.

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The lives of women who came to Canada under the West Indian Domestic Scheme provide an intersectional history of race, class, culture, feminism and politics -- a history that generally stays hidden in this country. Growing up in Canada, Black History Month for me consisted of learning about the history and accomplishments of Black people through an American lens, save for the bit about Canada being the promised land at the end of the Underground Railroad. Finding stories on Black Canadians has largely been a self-taught affair, but learning of the contributions of women under the West Indian Domestic Scheme was a revelation.

In the documentary Domestic Pioneers, former domestic Melissa Rowe says, "You do what you need to do in order to support your family, and that's basically what I was doing and what all of us who came here were trying to do -- is to look for a better life for us, and our families."

As I gather this lost bead in the necklace of my history and identity, I thank these women for their work, their sacrifice and their successes -- and the motivation to ensure that my life reflects the fact that their efforts weren't in vain.

This piece by Bee Quammie originally appeared on The Establishment, a new multimedia site funded and run by women.

Other recent stories include:
Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca i Fontane

Food has always been a central part of our lives: the food in our parents' restaurant where we grew up; food as an element of creativity, emotion, dialogue and discovery in our work. Food is an important part of our heart and soul.

Over the years, we realized that how people experience food, cook, and preserve culinary traditions have a direct impact on the fundamental areas of life. What we eat affects our health, our economy, and our planet.

When we learned about the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we wanted to be a part of this ambitious undertaking. Viewing food from the three perspectives of sustainable development - social, economic and environmental - helps we understand many of the challenges we have encountered in our culinary journey around the world.

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Coinciding with the launch of the SDGs this month, we are embarking on a new journey together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG Fund).

We are highly concerned about the loss of food biodiversity in the world, the abandonment of indigenous cultures, and forgotten culinary traditions, all of which can lead to poverty and exclusion. We are concerned that, increasingly, more communities cannot choose what food to grow and how to prepare it, and they depend on prices that fluctuate excessively. It is heart-breaking and mindboggling that in some countries, particularly in Africa, more than half of food is wasted while at the same time 800 million people across the world, including in those very countries, go hungry.

The food industry, from production to distribution to consumption, should not be a threat to sustainability, but rather a source of sustainable development. Agriculture is the main source of employment in much of the world. There are traditional food conservation techniques, which are accessible, inexpensive and simple that can substantially reduce food waste.

When we educate people, especially youth, on the impact that food and its production has on their health, environment and the economy, they start to care about where their food comes from.

That's why we want to do our part, together with UNDP and its partners, by conducting culinary trainings, promoting environmental awareness, and, above all, learning from and sharing sustainable practices throughout the world.

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We want to meet the young people of Vanuatu and Fiji who are discovering that organic agriculture can be a source of employment and food security in places where most food is imported and overly expensive. We want to share experiences with farmers across the globe, to improve food conservation and promote their culinary traditions, especially in Africa. We want to discover how the Andean grains in Cauca, one of the areas most affected by the armed conflict in Colombia, can become drivers of economic growth and peace. We want to work with the education system in Sri Lanka that is setting up a program to improve food education across the country, so that all young people may know how to cook healthy.

We are excited to work with the various United Nations agencies, governments, local organizations and the private sector and hope that what we have learned in our culinary journey can contribute to the work already being carried out in 21 countries by the SDG Fund in areas of food access, nutrition and job creation.
News / Regional

by Staff Reporter

Residents of Gwanda have objected to a Municipality Of Gwanda $500 000 borrowing powers.The cash strapped Municipality recently ran a series of adverts in the local media proposing to borrow half a million dollars from private financial institutions to fund some capital projects in the town. The projects involved a $100 000 borrowing to acquire the hotly disputed prepaid water metres which have been resisted by the residents.The other borrowings by the local authority were $200 000 for roads rehabilitation, $50 000 for income generating projects, $100 000 for a utility truck and $50 000 for streets lighting.Objecting to the borrowing, the residents complained that they local authority had not consulted the residents on the sudden need to borrow the fund when the need was not highlighted in the recent budget consultation meetings.The residents further questioned the council's credit worthiness as council is wriggling in massive debts which include $8 million owed to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority and close to half a million owed to workers in outstanding salaries.Other amounts owed by the local authority include another half a million dollars owed to ZIMRA, $150 000 owed to the Local Authorities Pension Fund and $100 000 in overdrafts.The residents also claim that the council has not been able to produce audited statements since 2012 and so can not be expected to borrow funds based on unaudited accounts.On the specific projects that council is seeking to borrow funds on, the residents claim that Council can not be allowed to borrow funds for roads rehabilitation as the Zimbabwe National Roads Agency ZINARA is already on the ground rehabilitating the roads.The council has also been denied an opportunity to borrow funds for income generating projects as residents feel that council has previously failed to operate income generating projects at a profit leading to the collapse of all the commercial undertakings that council invested into.In the letter of objection signed by the Gwanda Residents Association Secretary Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo, the residents accuse council of failing to invest a $420 000 Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe 2009 recapitalisation fund into profitable business ventures.On the $100 000 borrowing for prepaid water metres, the residents completely rejected the proposal claiming that the residents have previously rejected the prepaid water metres and so will not have council borrow funds for the same.The residents further claim that they can not allow the local authority to borrow funding for street lighting as residents have been paying a street lighting levy over the last 16 years and so demand council to use the funds from the levy to finance the project.Efforts to get a comment from the Town Clerk failed as she was said to be out of town. However an official with the council acknowledged receipt of the submissions but said the council was not yet easy to comment on the residents submissions as the deadline for the submission of the objections is the second of February.
It was the grisliest of stories: a decade and a half ago a former KGB man, Alexander Litvinenko, defected to England and turned on the powers-that-be in his own country, accusing its leader of both acts of assassination and, among other things, pedophilia. Litvinenko died in 2006 thanks to a highly toxic radioactive isotope, Polonium 120, evidently slipped into his tea at a meeting with two Russian agents in a ritzy London bar. That Polonium left a "trail" traced by British investigators from airplane seats to hotel rooms to that bar and finally pinned on the two Russians, one of whom was later elected to parliament and awarded a medal by the very man suspected of ordering the hit: Russian President Vladimir Putin. So says a long-awaited British official inquiry into the death by a respected retired judge.

In other words, it's quite a tale of state-sponsored horror, the kind of morally dark act you'd expect from an autocrat with Putin's reputation and, when the report came out recently, it was significant news here. The New York Times editorial page concluded: "Mr. Putin has built a sordid record on justice and human rights, which naturally reinforces suspicions that he could easily have been involved in the murder. At the very least, the London inquiry, however much it is denied at the Kremlin, should serve as a caution to the Russian leader to repair his reputation for notorious intrigues abroad."

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If Putin actually did such a thing, and it remains only a supposition, those comments are on the mark indeed. A state-sponsored, extrajudicial act of assassination should appall us all and it's the sort of subject that you can expect to be discussed in future election 2016 debates here -- as long as the president in question is Russian. (When, last December, Donald Trump suggested in passing some possible equivalency between Putin's reputed killings and Obama administration ones, he was roundly taken to task.) Let me guarantee you one thing, no mainstream columnist, pundit, or reporter questioning presidential candidates will ever put Putin's putative act in the same context as the extrajudicial, state-sponsored assassinations regularly ordered by another well-known president. I'm speaking, of course, of the White House campaign of drone killings of "terror suspects," including American citizens, across the Greater Middle East and parts of Africa that began in 2002 and has never ended. This despite the fact that, whatever doubt there may be about Putin's order, there is none when it comes to those presidentially approved drone killings.

In fact, President Obama took on the role of assassin-in-chief with evident enthusiasm years ago (as will whoever enters the Oval Office in 2017). He has overseen a years-long drone assassination spree based on a White House "kill list" of candidates chosen in what are called "terror Tuesday" meetings. Keep in mind that that government-planned assassinations were officially banned in 1976. Keep in mind as well that Putin's order, if true, was directed at a single figure and only he died (though the Russian president is sometimes accused of being behind the deaths of Russian journalists and opposition figures, too). Notoriously enough, however, the American assassination program regularly knocks off not only its intended targets but also a range of "collateral" figures, including in one case much of a wedding party in Yemen.

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Once again, the Fast Track line at London Heathrow's Terminal 5 is snagged by those of high status travelling to Zurich, on their way to the mountain-top playground of the possible and, sometimes, probable, where chance encounters with business, science, humanitarian, academic and entrepreneurial leaders could result in a life-transforming moment for the planet -- or, more likely, for one's cyber Rolodex. This is heady serendipity, where even Leonardo di Caprio has stage fright.

When the answer to the question "What is money for?" is not, "to pay the rent," but is a construct of man's creative energies to manage and fix a world of galloping pace and innovation, you know you are at Davos. Its park is themed, and this year's networking revolved around the concept of a "Fourth Industrial Revolution", assuming one has kept up with history's last three. Today's questions the role of humanity at the hands of technology, already under attack by the blue light effect of all-day plenary sessions, and the rapid realisation that the closest one gets to a night's sleep is a nap. Anyway, it turns out it's not a revolution, but an evolution, so we can relax.

Connectivity and convergence are the strategic tools for a better world, whether to solve its dilemmas on climate or conflict, or simply to negotiate one's way around Davos's Congress Hall, a monolithic mother hub of activity. Those driving short-term success are the compact shuttle buses, their cosy interiors optimally delivering sultans and subalterns of influence from snowy exteriors to hotels, TV studios and bilateral or closed-door pow-wows. A 25-year-old explains the legitimacy of bitcoins to Nigeria's former finance minister, because, after all, he has asked Obama to "listen up" and met with the Bank of England. Despite doubtful murmurs about "legitimate tender", the ex-minister nevertheless yields her card, much to the relief of the rest of us nudging knees. Thus ends another random Davos moment that resonates with the insouciance of a cheetah spotting a gazelle.

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Proximity to the upper echelons is an ongoing elixir as I step back, narrowly missing Queen Rania of Jordan's exquisite suede-swathed toes, rub the tweeded shoulder of Christine Lagarde, sit next to Tsipras's fulsome legs, thump the back of Luxembourg's choking prime minister, and get invited to the home of an island's president. "May I know you?" asks a charming woman of epic philanthropy to the giggly Philippine fashion designer who sued his government on corruption, and won.

Yet there is fervour, vibrant and heart-beatingly passionate, with brilliance. Yo Yo Ma's opening performance among his Silk Road musicians will remain a forever memory, long after I am spoon-fed by an ambulatory android. And momentousness too can happen, as when the Greek and Turkish prime ministers of a still-divided Cyprus pledge to unite their territories, in contrast to Britain's philandering behind the back of collective responsibility for a more stable Europe.

Technology might prolong life with new medical discoveries, but I reckon I might die of empathy first, so prevalent was the word in our discussions about remaining relevant among automation, artificial intelligence and meta-data. When algorithms are fast becoming the font of knowledge, Davos's hallowed halls echoed with calls for authenticity and ethics to manage this industrialisation of humanity.

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Yet the biggest force for empathy was virtual, when a room of deviced-up participants were given the chance to walk on Australian soil and sit next to an Aboriginal leader, sharing his memories of Britain's 12 atomic detonations during the 1950's and 60's. If we are to ever attach equal importance to the success of others as we do to our own, it will be because we will have inhaled the breath of someone else's suffering, from a schoolroom desk or a living room sofa. By contrast, the physical simulation of a life in the day of a refugee in which we ducked and dived through falling bombs, were shoved and shunted into tiny tents and generally man-handled in an attempt to understand the terrifying plight of those fleeing, was, according to our commando, but "12%" of the real-life equivalent.
BEQAA, LEBANON - JANUARY 8: Demonstrators holding breads chant slogans against Syrian regime and Hezbollah, during a protest remarking the humanitarian crisis in Syria's Madana town, on January 8, 2016 in Beqaa, Lebanon. (Photo by Ratib Al Safadi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

When the Arab Spring broke out in the Middle East in January 2011, seeds of protest that had been germinating for decades sprouted at an unbelievable pace in nearly every country in the Arab world. At the time, I was an undergraduate student studying abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, and was about to start an internship at Alkarama, an Arab human rights NGO. January and February marked the fall of Mubarak in Egypt and Ben Ali in Tunisia, and protests swelled in every Arab country. As February turned to March, NATO instituted a no-fly zone, just as my internship started. Dignity was at the forefront of every protest movement's demands; dignity in the face of decades of authoritarianism and repression.

The NGO is small, yet it submits a large portion of the cases from the Arab world to the UN human rights Special Procedures Bodies. In March, while violent repression was spreading, there was still hope for relatively peaceful transitions. The day I started work, the Syrian regime released a longtime human rights activist whose case the NGO had repeatedly submitted to the UN since his latest arrest two years earlier. It was part of a larger amnesty of political prisoners over 70, however, and as the majority of his sentence had been served, this was one of many empty gestures the Syrian regime would make to suppress protests. Like so many hopeful moments that spring, it would prove to be the exception to what would happen in the following years, not the rule.

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Dignity was at the forefront of every protest movement's demands; dignity in the face of decades of authoritarianism and repression.

The NGO's legal team and administration together comprised no more than fifteen people, plus the officers in the field who collected testimonies from victims, families, lawyers, and witnesses to human rights violations. While prior to 2011, no more than a few dozen human rights violation reports arrived on an average day (with exceptions), reports of violations grew exponentially as governments turned their security services and live ammunition on peaceful protests. Field officers collected lists and testimonies of hundreds of people each day, placing themselves in extreme danger in the process as human rights activists were being rounded up, detained, and tortured. The reports included crucial legal information on victims as well as the place and manner of their injuries, to provide the basis for an urgent appeal to the UN.

Syrian boys ride their bikes under pre-Baath Syrian flags, that was adopted by the Syrian revolution during the uprising, in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on March 15, 2015. (Zein Al-Rifai/AFP/Getty Images)As a legal intern who spoke both French and Arabic, I was translating, transliterating and consolidating reports, as well as writing drafts of reports and communiques to the UN Special Procedures. The abject cruelty against civilians that was carried out in almost every country was (and is) horrific-- from shrapnel that shredded through boys and girls, to unconscionable torture in detention centers, to now hundreds of thousands of murders-- all at the behest of authoritarian governments and enacted by state security services.

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These so-called "Hama rules" conformed to the way Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad's father, treated protesters in 1982 when his forces massacred tens of thousands of innocent civilians, as demonstrations in the town Hama tilted towards an uprising. In the digital age, with a generation of youth who had grown up under authoritarianism and were disenchanted with their end of the bargain, these actions only served to fuel the anger and frustration experienced by millions. Citizens persisted in demanding their basic human rights, with the tools to coordinate and share information that their forebears lacked, and every violation evinced a backlash of demonstrations, and often further violence.

It's easy to feel as if you're screaming into a void as case after case is carefully documented and presented in multiple languages, and still, the carnage continues.

It was overwhelming to immerse myself in so many reports of horror each day, as I'm sure it was for all of my colleagues, and I was grateful for the trust placed in me and honored to do the work. I called US Embassies throughout the Arab world for updates and information, and one by one, many of them closed their doors as May approached.

A Syrian girl prepares to carry jerrycans filled with water in Aleppo on May 8, 2014 as residents of the northern city suffer constant water shortages due to the three-year-long conflict. (Baraa Al-Halabi/AFP/Getty Images)

I learned more than I could have imagined about how the protests unfolded on the ground as I filed report after report. The senior legal team of professional human rights officers also had to keep up with their ongoing cases and make contact with field officers who were in the line of danger every day. The longtime staff had a seemingly inexhaustible ability to absorb the trauma and horror of thousands of victims, and still press on despite the maddening bureaucracy and legal red tape associated with the human rights field. The field officers faced death for their work and still kept investigating, reporting, and surviving. I could not have had more inspiring colleagues from whom to learn my first, difficult lessons in legal human rights work.

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It's easy to feel as if you're screaming into a void as case after case is carefully documented and presented in multiple languages, and still, the carnage continues. Five years after the fall of Mubarak, it still feels that way, especially in the cases of Libya, Yemen, and Syria. Civilians have paid the price for their countries' descent into chaos, and the interventions of outside powers has only served to worsen conditions. Initially hailed as a foreign intervention success story, post-war Libya is a failed state. Tens of thousands of refugees that arrived on the beaches of Europe this year came via its lawless shores. Yemen is being torn apart in a Saudi-Iranian tug of war. Syria is a bloody patchwork of armed groups and foreign air forces, and more than half of its population is displaced. More than four million Syrian refugees have fled the country and almost eight million Syrians remain displaced inside. Syrians are starving to death, fleeing barrel bombs and guided missiles and bullets and beheadings and stonings and torture. Civilians are paying the price in blood for the perpetuation of the conflict by multiple foreign and domestic actors.

Syrians are starving to death, fleeing barrel bombs and guided missiles and bullets and beheadings and stonings and torture.

An international consensus and cease-fire between the foreign states at war within Syria would be a step in the right direction. A political settlement that would include actual Syrians at the negotiation table would be another. Western responsibility-sharing in the refugee crisis, that would include a fundamental restructuring of the broken global refugee regime, would be an even bigger one. But even these steps (and they are truly baby steps towards regional stability) seem improbable at the moment.

As the hope that permeated the first days of those historic revolutions fades, people in Arab countries as well as in the US and Europe have been left with an identity crisis. Who are we as people, and as nations? What values will we stand for? What does global responsibility entail, and what is it worth? Like Yugoslavia before it, Syria has forced the international community to come to grips with its shortcomings. The preponderance of power, finances, and military might (to stop violence as well as to commit it) lies with external powers. If all the groups on the ground in Syria laid down their weapons tomorrow, Russian, US, and so many others' bombs would still fall. The steady stream of arms and fighters ensures that the conflict will rage on, and civilians will bear the brunt of the costs, as always.

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A damaged building after Russian airstrikes hit residential areas in the Kallese district of Aleppo, Syria on January 17, 2016. (Beha el Halebi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)Watching the Arab Spring from a desk in Switzerland, where some of the most important human rights legal work in the world is done, drove home the impotence of major powers. The supposed wheels of power in the field of human rights turned just a few minutes after the crisis erupted, and yet seemingly, more often than not, they were powerless to do anything in the face of the most egregious violations. State governments, particularly the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, could change the situation in Syria significantly if all parties earnestly and honestly sought a political settlement. The problem with this most fundamental of concepts, it seems, is that none are willing to make the compromises necessary to try.
Turn on the news on any given day - but especially during an election - and you're likely to see and hear confrontation between Democrats and Republicans. News stories about stark disagreements in Congress, negative campaign ads, statements by politicians that sharply criticize the other party, and commentary by political pundits all point in one direction: there is little hope that the Democrats and Republicans can ever agree on anything. Moreover, not only do partisans disagree, but they are also very angry - mostly at each other.

What are the consequences of this cacophony of information about partisan disagreement?

One might suspect that the more people see and hear about partisan conflict, the more they cling to their own partisan side. Indeed, there is research in political science that demonstrates that Democrats and Republicans dislike each other more than they ever have in years past.

But our years of research, published this week in our new book, Independent Politics: How American Disdain for Parties Leads to Political Inaction, reveals a different, potentially more surprising consequence of negativity in politics: the rise of people who call themselves "political independents".

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Over the past decade, the number of Americans who tell pollsters that they are "independent" - rather than Democrat or Republican - has been on the rise. According to Gallup polls, in 2015 an average of 42% of people called themselves independents. According to Pew, independents are higher in number than have been in 75 years of polling.

Our research draws a direct connection between the rise of independents and the onslaught of media coverage of partisan disagreement. News stories show that members of both political parties bicker, fight and, at times, prioritize their party ahead of constructive political progress. This is not a flattering portrait. To no surprise, many Americans do not want to associate themselves with a group that is viewed so negatively by others. As a result, they avoid the party and select the "independent" category.

What this means, as our research shows, is that people who call themselves "independent" may have consistent - even potentially strong - connections to a party. These "independents" are just too embarrassed to publicly admit their secret partisan ties.

In our book we conduct a number of experiments to study how people feel about partisanship and about media coverage of partisan disagreement. In one of our first studies, we asked people to simply answer a question about their own partisanship. The twist was that we randomized how people should answer this simple question. The first group of participants was asked to select the party that would make the best impression on other people. The second group of participants was asked to select the party that would make the worst impression on others.

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We found that among people who were asked to make the best impression, nearly 60 percent selected the independent category. Meanwhile, among people who were asked to make the worst impression, an overwhelming majority chose a partisan category. In short, we found broad agreement that identifying oneself as a partisan is a good way to make a bad first impression.

The more that people hear about disagreements between the Democrats and Republicans, the worse they feel about the parties. In another experiment, we randomly assigned people to three groups. The first group was asked to read information about partisan disagreement, the second was asked to read information about the potential for partisan agreement, and the third did not receive any information about politics at all. We then tasked all our participants with finding images on the Internet that best showcased how they felt about the parties.

People who read about partisan disagreement were much more likely to select negative images than were individuals from the other two groups. For example, just over 20 percent of people who read about partisan agreement selected images that depicted anger to describe the parties, but nearly half of those who read about partisan disagreement picked these types of images.

In additional experiments, we found that people who read about disagreement between the Democrats and Republicans became less likely to identify themselves as strong partisans.

What's more, the people who participated in our experiments were just as frustrated with partisan disagreement among ordinary voters as they are with partisan disagreement among politicians in Washington D.C. This is not a matter of disliking candidates and elected officials. This is a matter of dislike partisans in general.

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These studies point to a difficult relationship between media coverage and partisanship. People view the parties and partisans in a negative way. News stories that emphasize partisan disagreement deepen these negative views of partisans. This should not be surprising -- there is little positivity to draw from stories of anger, insurmountable disagreement and endless political bickering.

The problem for parties is not simply that people have negative views of them, but that people don't want to be associated with them - at least not in public. Decades of research in psychology and sociology suggest that many (if not most) people want to make good impressions on others. When asked to make a good impression, people in our experiments reported that they were independents. It is difficult to imagine people publicly supporting a party or its establishment candidates, when they don't believe that doing so will impress others.
The postponement of the Syrian peace talks until Wednesday at the earliest shows how arduous even setting the basic modalities is and how little ground has been gained by the chief choreographer of the process -- the U.S.

It was a given that with such a picture of disarray and inability, the opposition remains as unreliable and misrepresented as ever before, and the strongly conflicting, or more correctly, opposing interests of regional players such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey keep even the most fundamental prospects bleak.

"The problem about ending the war in Syria and Iraq is that there is a multitude of players who are too strong to lose but too weak to win," wrote Patrick Cockburn, in a detailed analysis of the latest complexity of the picture, published by the UK Independent.

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It would be helpful if the stumbling blocks before the Geneva talks were only limited to the demands between the Bashar al-Assad regime and the opposition maintaining its disintegration.

There is much more, and the latest visit by the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Turkey only exposed how overwhelming the problems are even between the supposedly staunch allies within NATO.

It appears very clear that Biden left Ankara as empty-handed as he was when he landed. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government he de facto chairs, having the army on their side, is determined to have the talks without the presence of the Syrian Kurdish parts, without their analysis and arguments, continuing to challenge the fact that whatever gains may have been made on the ground against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and its derivatives would never be possible without the units of the YPG, the armed wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union (PYD).

What amounts to a historic frustration about the future of Syria -- and Iraq -- stems from special conditions that distinguish the huge conflict from the one about post-Yugoslavia. It looks, by the spectacles of today, a piece of cake, because it lacked a neighborhood where each and every power was driven by insurmountable hostilities, and most importantly, the presence of a very weak Moscow.

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So, by any measures, the Syrian quagmire is the first real consequence of the post-Cold War era.

All the ones preceding it were, as we know it now for certain, dress rehearsals. It not only poses a historic challenge for the US and Russia on whether or not there will be a "reasonable solution" to a peaceful coexistence -- regionally and globally -- based on creative paradigms, but also appears as a litmus test on whether or not the relationships between Turkey and NATO are going to hold.

The question about the latter stems mainly because of an increasingly volatile ground, due to a dramatic discord between NATO and the AKP government, caused by the persistently erroneous, incoherent and obstinate policies of a single ally, which simply is caught between its government's unending sympathy to conduct Sunni sectarianism and, as if it were not sufficiently frustrating, its military body's decades-long fixation and paranoia about the surge of Kurdish aspirations.

So much weight in baggage would naturally keep any power off from flexibility, and a collective policy construction, a "teamwork" with its allies. This is, certainly, what has been happening with Ankara now.

There are certain things we know, as to what consequences the erratic policy-making caused.

We know that the ending of the Kurdish peace process by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was related to what Ankara saw as an utterly worrisome development in Rojava, and in Syrian Kurdistan in general. The clashes in Turkey's southeastern region were welcomed by Iran and Russia, as they gained ground in Syria, militarily and diplomatically.

Ankara's flip-flopping stance on ISIL, as well as the downing of a Russian jet, not so surprisingly brought Washington and Moscow closer to each other than ever before.

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And the current insistence on excluding the Kurdish elements from the talks will complicate the picture so much that the situation, instead of getting somewhat better for the refugees, will get much worse.

Cockburn predicts that Turkey emerges already as the loser of the Syrian issue. He foresees an invasion of northern Syria as the AKP's last-ditch effort to keep control.

But this, we all know, would require American cooperation.
Congratulations on succeeding in putting Phoenix, Arizona's Desert Vista High School on the map. Many seniors aspire to such a feat (though almost none would have agreed to your plan): configuring yourselves so that your t-shirts, emblazoned with an asterisk or gold letter, spelled the word "N-I-*-*-E-R." A photo of your assemblage went viral on Instagram (duh). Now the world is staring at your clueless smiles. You had no idea what was coming! All is not lost. Consider this a teachable moment.

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1. Don't be so obtuse.

Spelling Ni**er was dumb and obvious. If you intend to sidestep the wrath that comes with offending others, it is important you be clever. If you are in need of instruction, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is currently giving a master class. You may also look to Maine Gov. Paul LePage. Had you been deft enough to invoke D-Money, you would have succeeded in conjuring negative stereotypes while rendering #BlackTwitter powerless to do anything other than glare at your shade. But you didn't go that route, and now #BlackTwitter intends to make you pay.

2. #BlackTwitter will drag you.

By blurring your faces and withholding your names, mainstream media did everything possible to protect you from yourselves. Unfortunately, traditional media no longer carry the day. #BlackTwitter wasted no time dragging your names and faces into the town square where a public shaming is now underway. How could you not have anticipated this? It's not like you're Nancy Lee Grahn, the aging soap opera actress who didn't know what was happening when #BlackTwitter came for her. Y'all know about #BlackTwitter. They won't stop until they have devoured every last one of your white tears.

3. This is going to hurt.

According to your school district's website, your punishment has yet to be dispensed as the "discipline process" remains ongoing. Already there is a petition, which as of Monday morning had over 36,000 signatures, demanding your expulsions and the principal's firing. If their demands are not met, there will likely be protests and complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

4. "Good" white people will abandon you.

The incident that occurred today at Desert Vista High School does not reflect the beliefs of the student body! pic.twitter.com/WkOQpkqtaN  DV BSU (@dvhs_bsu) January 22, 2016

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Before Friday's sun had set over Phoenix, ABC15 was reporting the "outrage," "unacceptable" nature, and "disappointment" expressed by your principal, Christine Barela and Tempe Union High School District Superintendent, Dr. Kenneth Baca. Even your white classmates have distanced themselves from you by posing in solidarity with the black students you offended. Understand; the "good" white people aren't tossing you to the wolves because they think you are "bad." Until Apple perfects the machine that can betray our thoughts and hearts, who's good, bad, racist, or otherwise will remain a mystery. But certain "acts" (read yours) are indefensible. In the future, leave wiggle room.

5. This will follow you.

To start with, how do you explain this incident to college admissions officers? You've essentially given them notice that you're at best foolish, possibly a pariah. Believe me; with the heat they are catching from the Black Lives Matter students, they are not looking for additional fireworks. You should also prepare yourselves to be offered up in court as Exhibit A in the lawsuit filed by Desert Vista High School English teacher, Dr. Cicely Cobb, who in 2014 alleged racial discrimination by students and inaction on the part of school administrators. But at least you have youth on your side. Last year, when a white man and his friends racially taunted a little black boy named Cayden, he and his friends were fired. You've got plenty of time to rehabilitate yourselves before you go on the job market.

6. There is good news!

You are white girls (as opposed to black girls, or God forbid, black boys). Even as I comprehend how mean and insensitive you've been to your classmates, I look at those bright smiles and rosy cheeks and see cuteness, and by extension, innocence. (That's how insidious and entrenched the Western culture's brainwashing is.) Your bad deeds will be filtered through your white-femaleness so that before you even offer them, excuses and explanations will have already been formulated in the minds of many. Many are anxious to forgive, protect, and embrace you.

7. There is REALLY good news!!!

You are white. (This simply can't be said enough.) Better still, area demographics suggest your parents are likely educated and affluent, so they can afford the lawyers, counselors, and public relations consultants you now need. Trust me; you'll be fine. The REALLY, really good news is that you have an opportunity few people your age encounter: to confront the person you are and decide the person you want to be. The world is waiting to give you a second chance. Take it, but do me this one solid: Recognize that the people you were mocking are often not so lucky.
ASSOCIATED PRESS In this image made from video broadcast on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, undated footage of Mullah Fazlullah is shown on a projector in Pakistan. Fazlullah, the ruthless commander behind the attack on teenage activist Malala Yousafzai as well as a series of bombings and beheadings, was chosen Thursday as the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, nearly a week after a U.S. drone strike killed the previous chief. (AP Photo via AP Video)

The Morning Wrap is HuffPost India's selection of interesting news and opinion from the day's newspapers. Subscribe here to receive it in your inbox each weekday morning.

Essential HuffPost

Read the full text of President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the nation on the eve of the Republic Day.

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The government announced the 2016 Padma Awardees ahead of the Republic Day. The awards are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Check out the list that includes Sania Mirza, Priyanka Chopra and Rajinikanth, among others.

Vote for me or forget beef; thats how AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has been asking Hyderabadis to vote for him. He claimed, the minority communities would have to stop eating beef if his party was defeated in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election.

The 100 files released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Netaji's birthday has created a new mystery: Did Jawaharlal Nehru write a letter to British PM Clement Atlee calling Bose a war criminal? That has been seized triumphantly by the enemies of the Congress as proof of Nehrus perfidy.

In a proposal to the government, the RSS recommended that schools in big cities work for 12 hours to teach children more languages, and to make life easier for their working parents. It also pointed out that in such a case, co-education will have to be discontinued.

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Main News

India and France deepened their strategic partnership, concluding deals worth an estimated $15 billion over two days. The deals span sectors including aviation, urban development and railways. French firms will invest $10 billion in India over the next five years.

A day after the Cabinet recommended imposition of Presidents Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, President Pranab Mukherjee sought clarifications on it from Home Minister Rajnath Singh while the Congress challenged the Centres move in the Supreme Court and sought the Presidents intervention.

Unconfirmed reports stated that a drone strike was conducted on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Mullah Fazlullah's house in Afghanistan in which he was killed. However, there have been several reports in the past of Fazlullah being killed, all of which have turned out to be false.

President Pranab Mukherjee advocated the need for dialogues between India and Pakistan but qualified his remarks with a caution that peace cannot be discussed under a shower of bullets.

A former researcher with The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) filed a police complaint alleging that some of his seniors had pressured him to persuade a 29-year-old woman to settle out of court her sexual harassment case against RK Pachauri, the institutes executive vice-chairman.

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Off The Front Page

India will set up a satellite tracking and imaging centre in southern Vietnam that will give Hanoi access to pictures from Indian earth observation satellites that cover the region, including China and the South China Sea, Indian officials said.

The CBI officers who probed the Saradha scam, the high-profile Sheena Bora murder, and corruption case involving a Noida engineer, are among 26 chosen for President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Service.

IIT-Guwahati and Savitribai Phule Pune University are among the top 20 places in Times Higher Education's World's Best Small Universities Ranking 2016 released in London. The best small university in the overall rankings is the California Institute of Technology.

Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor said Parliamentary system was ill-suited" to Indian national character but the country was "stuck" with it as it was conditioned to look at the British as "embodiment of everything". He said it was difficult for the Parliamentary system to work in a country as populous and as diverse as India.

The terror suspects linked to the Islamic State, arrested in a countrywide raid over the past few days, had planned to target Goa a few months ago, but Intelligence agencies did not arrest them then as they had not acquired the capability to carry out any terrorist act, said a senior official.

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Opinion

All those who are mute spectators of the processes under way to restore supremacist Brahmanic rule are responsible for the death Rohith Vemula, writes Anand Teltumbde in The Indian Express. The BJPs aggressive drive to saffronise institutions, particularly higher education institutions, portends that many more Rohiths will follow in the coming years, he says.

The Governments Start-up India, Stand Up India plan is strong in spirit, but its success will depend on how well it is implemented over time, writes Preeti Balwani in The Pioneer. In order to gauge the effectiveness of this plan, we need to assess the needs and concerns of start-ups and evaluate if the plan will deliver on those requirements.

A Vinod Kumar writes about the Pathankot blame game and what really ails our security apparatus. Despite many efforts for "sweeping reforms", the national security establishment, like many arms of the State, continues to thrive on mediocrity and complacency, which, in turn, points to a corrupted national ethos and systemic decay that has the potential to subvert the country's progress and governance initiatives.

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Opinion / Columnist

To say 'Zimbabwe is in dire straits' is an insult to the Government which is making tangible efforts on a daily basis to resuscitate the economy.The period of economic hardships that the country is currently experiencing is a phase that will eventually pass. A number of countries, China included, have been in such terrible situations but managed to sail through and now China is the second largest economy. In the same manner, Zimbabwe is on the path to revive its economy.And just as the skeptics were saying that civil servants will not be paid their January 2016 salaries, the Government has proved wrong these doomsayers wrong by timely paying most of the civil service this month.With Zim-Asset being the economic driver, there are a number of projects presently underway which when accomplished can drastically transform Zimbabwe's economy into a force to be reckoned in Southern Africa .There are quite a number of foreign investments that are in the pipeline, waiting for implementation. Foreign investors are much welcome in the country as they support in boosting the nations' economy. Zim-Asset advocates for employment creation. Hence, implementation of the mega deals signed between the Chinese government and the Zimbabwean government will witness a number of jobs being created.It is pleasing that the Chinese government pledged $60 billion aid to develop African countries. Zimbabwe is one of the countries that will benefit from that aid.It is heartening that, a Nigerian billionaire, Aliko Dangote was last year issued with licenses for three projects by the Zimbabwe Investment Authority. The three projects on which the Dangote Group wishes to invest on are energy plant using coal, cement manufacturing plant and a coal mining venture. Full implementation of such deals will indeed add value to the economic growth of the nation.Implementation of mega deals that were signed between Zimbabwe and foreign investors will definitely assist in improving the country's ailing economy.With the hot dry weather conditions being experienced in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe included due to El Nino, it is inspiring that the Government is putting measures to mitigate drought. The Zimbabwe's Meteorological Services Department has started cloud seeding countrywide. If cloud seeding happens as expected, crop production will improve thereby increasing food security in the country.As much as the government is making efforts to revive the economy, it is also the responsibility of every Zimbabwean. The private sector should chip in and support the Government in recovering the economy. There is really need for unity of purpose from all sectors of the economy in addressing the issue economic growth.Economic recovery should be part of the broader community recovery effort, and should not be a preserve of government alone. Economic revival is beneficial to every Zimbabwean as it will provide basic necessities of life such as jobs to sustain the economy in terms of income and tax revenues as well as reinstatement of wealth through the return of property values.First and foremost, the issue of corruption should be put to rest. Zero tolerance to corruption will go a long way in ensuring sustainable economic growth. Responsible authorities should ensure that all corrupt officials are axed. If left unchecked corruption can erode most Government programmes and the nation left in a lurch.It is pleasing that Chinese government has recently released $ 1.2 billion for major refurbishment and expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station. Electricity is one of the major economic recovery enablers. In fact, it is key to economic growth. Adequate electricity supply and distribution will witness industrial revival. Most companies in industries are lying idle because of insufficient electricity. Big companies like Sable Chemicals, a fertilizer manufacturing company and Zisco Steel requires huge megawatts to cater for their processes.Also, skeptics were saying nothing would come out from the Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) that were signed between Zimbabwe and China in previous years were also proved incorrect, as President Xi Jinping signed for the release of the funds.It is a shame that myopic opposition politicians are hiding behind the mantra of economic decay whilst in actual fact they are pushing for their agenda of regime change. Criticizing Government for a natural disaster such as drought depicts how shallow minded most opposition politicians are. Instead of foolishly waffling on the status of the economy, the opposition must find lasting solutions that assists in reviving the economy.Lastly, 2016 will never be a bad year for Zimbabwe if the Government, the private sector and the entire nation join hands together in trying to revitalize the economy.
Opinion / Columnist

As government is busy initiating frantic measures to increase revenue inflows and get the economy back on its feet, a Harare Hospital Chief Executive Officer one Mrs Peggy Zvavamwe, then purchases a USD$88 thousand worthy vehicle displaying the highest order of defiance and undue abuse of the tax payers' money.The topics of corruption and misplaced priorities have undeniably become one of the painful subjects to follow as the legalities and common good tussle while the general populace await decisive action on the perpetrators of the cancerous economic malpractice.Certainly where are the authorities when greedy and unfeeling heads of the nation's strategic institutions line their pockets against calls to front service delivery ahead of lavish lifestyle.The civil service is currently nursing the injuries incurred after the introduction of the pension's contribution while the health levy is rumoured to be on the cards. To then imagine such individuals will be the ones managing the contributions is disheartening and energy consuming.For once let's have heads rolling and balance efforts towards getting the economy working again. Instances such as the Harare Hospital CEO have of late been rampant with the culprits walking scot free from prosecution.If need be let us have economic laws realigned first coupled by a comprehensive and consistent service charter or code of conduct clearly stipulating adjusted benefits in tandem with prevailing economic conditions.Instances where revelations of this nature are made only to result in the matter being abandoned should be a thing of the past. This development is evidence enough that the heads of various institutions are still demanding and enjoying obscene benefits.The Public Service Commission should also re-direct its lances to these and alike government arms and ensure everything is in place for the effective take off of Zim-Asset and justification of the taxpayers' money.Zvavamwe should just reinstitute the funds to the Central Hospital on her way to prison or retirement village. Zimbabwe ought to be left with level headed institutions leaders who are whole-heartedly committed to revival the economy.Harare Hospital remains one of the institutions that require immediate attention as far as service delivery is concerned. It is a critical component that defines Zimbabwe and should be protected from selfish and thoughtless individuals such as Zvavamwe.It is high time we set our priorities right as Zimbabweans and this is achievable enforcing compliance from every corner that shapes Zimbabwe. Corruption and obscene benefits continue to dog development in Zimbabwe making it a mammoth task to achieve set goals and above all attract Foreign Direct Investment.The onus however, lies with government to make sure it gets the right people for the strategic jobs to keep safe the trust of the tax payers. If the tax payers money is put to good use, reflected by tangible benefits to the satisfaction of their needs then Zimbabwe will be a better place for everyone.
Author of book about the first untethered flight in space
According to Bahnhof and its CEO Jon Karlung, the ISP received an email from an investigator who said he had been appointed by the government to look into regulating the Swedish gambling market.

The Swedish government is considering overturning its long-held opposition to internet filtering  so says one of the country's most high-profile ISPs.

The investigation is looking into a new licensing system that would require any gambling site to get a license from the government. Critically, however, in order to make the system enforceable, gambling websites that did not have a license to operate in Sweden would be blocked. And ISPs of course would be responsible for blocking off access to their websites, right down to the IP level.

Even though the investigation is clearly in its early stages, the fact that it is being considered at all has come as a shock to Swedes and the broader internet policy community. Sweden has maintained a firm line against any form of filtering or blocking, even when under intense pressure from other countries.

As one example, a Stockholm district court refused to order Sweden's second largest ISP to block access to copyright infringing website The Pirate Bay late last year saying it was not allowed under Swedish law.

The government... not so much

Although Swedish law is quite firm on the issue of filtering and blocking, the current government has repeatedly signaled that it has a different philosophy. It has repeatedly fought in court  and lost  to have the Pirate Bay's Swedish domains suspended.

It also passed a law requiring ISPs to store all the IP addresses of its customers in an effort to track down illegal file sharers. That was also struck down by the courts but the government held two investigations in order to find a way to reapply it and then do so back in 2014.

On both occasions, the ISP that has signaled its alarm in this case  Bahnhof  fought the Swedish government and won. In 2009, it simply refused to store its customer IP addresses and then when the government withdrew and then reapplied the same law it responded by offering every customers a free VPN service in order to make it impossible for it to hand over its customers' data.

It is worth noting too that Bahnhof hosts the controversial Wikileaks website at its super-secure data center in a bunker buried inside Stockholm's White Mountains.

When the Stockholm court refused to tell an ISP to block a website over copyright concerns, director of IT industry group Bitkom, Bernhard Rohleder, summed up many Swedes views when he said: "The blocking of websites should remain the last resort of network policy. As a measure against copyright infringement, it is quite excessive."

Longer game

Give the Swedish government's repeated and determined efforts to find a way around its current laws however, some suspect it is now trying to find a different way to bring in laws that enable it to enforce internet filtering  and has hit on the regulation of gambling websites as a possible route to do that.

Once such a law is on the books, it would be easier to apply internet filtering to copyright infringement down the line.

"We will not take a position either for or against with regards to gambling," said Bahnho CEO Karlung. "However, we want to strongly warn of action to close parts of the internet that authorities deem objectionable."

Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/22/swedish_government_considers_internet_filtering_law/
American International Group ( AIG ) appears to have bowed to pressure to divest assets, on Tuesday announcing the sale of AIG Advisor Group, one of the largest networks of independent broker-dealers in the United States.AIG Advisor Group is to be sold to investment funds affiliated with Lightyear Capital LLC, a private equity firm specializing in financial services investing, and PSP Investments, one of Canadas largest pension investment managers with C$112bn of assets under management as at March 31, 2015. It invests funds for the pension plans of the Public Service, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Reserve Force. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.AIGs broker-dealer network has more than 5,200 independent advisors and more than 800 full-time employees. Advisor Group is comprised of four broker-dealers, FSC Securities Corporation, Atlanta, GA; Royal Alliance Associates, New York, NY; SagePoint Financial, Phoenix, AZ; and Woodbury Financial Services, Oakdale, MN.AIG CEO Peter Hancock has been under increasing pressure from investors including activist Carl Icahn, to shrink the insurer and boost returns.Commenting on the sale, Hancock said: AIG continues to review its business strategy and take actions to become a more efficient, less complex company, able to respond to our clients needs with greater agility. We believe advisors, clients, and partners of Advisor Group will benefit from Lightyear's and PSP Investments ownership of the independent business, and we look forward to a continued relationship with Advisor Group as an important distributor of AIG products.The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2016, subject to regulatory approvals.It was also recently reported that AIG is set to off-load a chunk of its mortgage guarantee company as part of a new vision for boosting returns and narrowing the companys focus.
In short, the answer is yes. But lately, a spate of mergers and acquisitions has reduced the pool of carriers from which insurance professionals can choose when placing clients. That shift has been especially pronounced when it comes to health insurance. In fact, the American Medical Association says the onslaught of deals in the healthcare realm could change the top carriers from the Big Five to the Big Three, creating real competition issues for brokers. Whats more, the AMA, which represents physicians and medical students in the US, says the combined effect of these deals could even be in violation of the countrys federal antitrust laws.Three insurance professionals told Insurance Business America how these mergers are impacting their businesses.The various mergers and acquisitions are not affecting us right now. There are a handful of [publicly held] national brokers that are on the acquisition trail, and we have bumped into them occasionally. Theyve tried to make some inroads with us ... but I still have my practice.I think the good agencies understand the marketplace quite well. As a business, let alone an insurance agency, brokers need to stick with the core competencies that made them successful. It doesnt mean that they cant amend those core competencies; were constantly tweaking things here and there, trying to see what the next curve will be. Thats just smart business.President and CEOWheatman InsuranceNot yet. I think were just waiting for some of the results to fall out. Most of what I do is in the senior market. For example, I have Humana as a carrier, and they were just bought out by Aetna, but I probably wont see any changes from that until it passes regulatory processes  so probably 2017 or 2018.I dont think it will change too much of the coverage, especially in the Portland, Oregon, market; Medicare Advantage is one of the most deeply penetrated markets in the nation, so there is a lot of competition. Im hoping Humana will keep their name recognition and most of their plan designs, but maybe streamline some of their back-end processes.Managing brokerSenior Solutions NWCompetition is a good thing. Any time one entity controls too much market share ... there should be concern. As an independent agent, I like options. This allows me to access multiple markets to find the best coverage and price available for my clients and their specific needs.When those options are diminished, it can certainly affect my ability to compete and place clients. The way in which mergers are managed and executed can have a high impact on client relations across the board. If the execution is not smooth, client relations suffer, and it can become difficult to get things done, such as underwriting transactions.Vice presidentYates Insurance Services
Opinion / Columnist

In his book, THINGS FALL APART, Chinua Achebe has often written about the harmattan winds or storm as the precursor or bearer of great change. It is the harmattan wind that fanned the inconsequential bush fire into the roaring inferno that destroyed the great forest and all the animals that failed to get away. It was the harmattan storm that carries the swarm of locust whose ravenous appetite stripped the land of every morsel of greenery. First it was the animals that starved to death and soon the people too died of starvation.Nigeria's harmattan storm have continued blowing and, as usual, brought great change. It was the harmattan storm that blew Nigeria's old guard of corrupt and incompetent leaders to bring President Muhammadu Buhari last year. He vowed to deal with Nigeria's (and most of Africa) greatest curse  corruption  and he clearly was meant it unlike so many other leaders who have paid the usual lip-service.A few weeks ago the Nigerian government announced it was going to recover $2 billion from former military strongman General Sani Abacha whose corruption practices have become the stuff of legends. On Monday Nigeria's information minister, Lai Mohammed, announced that the regime has just uncovered corruption cases implicating state governors, ministers, business leaders, public officials and bankers who stole $6.7 billion dollars in the seven-year period 2006 to 2013.The democratic harmattan winds that swept President Buhari into office has fanned an anti-corruption forest fire that is scorching the land and not ever the big game are failing to get away.2006 was the tail end of Olusegun Obasanjo's presidency; he was replaced in 2007 by Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.Zimbabweans will remember Olusegun Obasanjo as the former Nigerian President who was the head the AU elections observer team of Zimbabwe's July 2013 rigged elections. It was him who down played the significance of President Mugabe's failure to produce voters roll, amongst many other serious irregularity, and endorsed Mugabe's victory.Nearly one million Zimbabweans failed to cast their vote that year because their details were not in constituency voters roll they expected to vote in. There is no doubt that the regime had deliberately and systematically posted the details of opposition party supporters into other constituencies other than the constituency they had registered.Of course the people would have discovered their names were not in the constituency voters roll and have this put right if the voters roll had been released for public scrutiny at least one month before the voting as is required by law. The regime's refusal to release the constituency voters roll is therefore highly significant particularly when President Mugabe's winning margin was one million votes  the same as those denied the vote!The Nigeria's anti-corruption drag-net has only dredged one-year of President Obasanjo's eight years, 1999 to 2007 and has already caught some big fish. So corruption was rampant in Nigeria during former President Obasanjo's watch. As a Zimbabwean whose life has been turned upside down as has that of millions of other Zimbabweans; it is impossible to forgive or forget his public endorsement of Zimbabwe's 2013 fraudulent electoral process.The eye of harmattan democratic storm that swept President Buhari into power in Nigeria last year has not as yet reached Zimbabwe but there is no doubt there is a chill in the air. The stories of Nigeria's anti-corruption drag-net catching the granddad of looters like General Abacha recovering the looted wealth is bound to make Zimbabwe's big-spenders who are looting as much as $2 billion a year groan.President Mugabe rigged the July 2013 elections; President Olusegun Obasanjo helped the tyrant get away with it. Mugabe thought he would rig the country's economic recovery too but has since failed. Zimbabwe's worsening economic situation is socially and politically unsustainable. As if that was not bad enough, Zimbabwe is facing an El Nino induced drought; decades of misrule will make the situation worse than ever, the regime is stone broke for a start.Zimbabwe's harmattan democratic storm has brought back home to roost the problems of mismanagement and corruption, Zanu PF has denied existed all these last 36 years; they are the driving force behind the country's worsening economic meltdown. President Mugabe has managed to resist regime change for 36 years by cheating, bribing, vote rigging and even murdering his opponents but in the economy he has met an adversary like no other, he cannot cheat or murderer economic recovery!It is the economic meltdown that will in the end force democratic change, regime change, in Zimbabwe!
by Richard BrownThreats from climate change, combined with losses on assets backing policyholders obligations, should force insurers to divest from thermal coal.Thats the view of Dave Jones, California Insurance Commissioner. The Golden State regulator is the first in the U.S. to call for the divestment of such assets. Jones is also urging insurers to reveal their carbon-based investments, including holdings in oil, gas and coal, on an annual basis.The move comes after last months high-level climate change meeting in Paris under the tutelage of French President Francois Hollande that set a limit on fossil-fuel pollution. Insurers, including Frances Axa SA and the UKs Aviva Plc are to pull investments from fossil fuels or focus more on renewable energy.Robert Hartwig, president of industry body the Insurance Information Institute, took a jaundiced view of Californias call. He said excluding one sector from an investment portfolio creates a slippery slope, where insurers might come under pressure to shed even more holdings and risk losing the benefits of diverse holdings.Apax Partners holding One Call Care Management has added the president and CEO roles to Dale Wolfs Executive Chairman title.Wolf, who joined the workers compensation claims resolution firm in 2014, succeeds Joe Delaney, former President and CEO, who left One Care last year. At the time Joseph Paduda, principal at Health Strategy Associates, said tough competition from smaller, single-focus companies had made the workers medical services sector brutally competitive.Wolf began his career at Travelers in the employee benefits and pension businesses. He joined Coventry Healthcare in 1996 as CFO and became CEO in 2005. During his time at Coventry, the company went from $1 billion in revenue to $13 billion, integrating over 20 acquisitions. The new CEO also served on the boards of Molina Healthcare and Catalyst Health Solutions.Americas biggest telephone and online health provider Teladoc has clinched the Mississippi Fire Department as a client. The Lewisville, Texas firm will provide telehealth services to 13,000 Mississippi Volunteer Firefighters and their dependents. Last year, Teladoc physicians performed over 575,000 telehealth visits.Mississippi State legislature last year authorized funding for the Mississippi Insurance Department to offer a telemedicine medical health plan for volunteer firefighters in the state."This is the first statewide program of its kind in the country. We are excited that the Mississippi Insurance Department chose Teladoc to be its telehealth partner," said Cynthia Mark, vice president, Health Plan Strategy for Teladoc. Were proud to have the opportunity to extend health care coverage within the state and add to our record of providing more than 1 million medical consults to Americans. Argo Group unit Alteris Insurance Services is to become the insurance administrator for a group of water companies in California.Alteris will serve the CalMutuals Joint Powers Insurance Authority (JPIA), a partnership between the California Association of Mutual Water Companies and the American Association of Water Distribution & Management, to insure non-profit water systems in California.The CalMutuals JPIA was formed following Californias legislature passing AB 656 in September 2015. It allows mutual water companies to operate a JPIA for insurance and supporting services. Water districts, sewer districts, conservation districts and community services districts will be able to secure insurance coverage through CalMutuals JPIA, which will begin enrolling members next month.Healthcare services firm Centene has revealed the disappearance of six hard drives containing sensitive personal information on almost a million customers.The St Louis, Missouri-based Fortune 500 company revealed an ongoing internal search for the hardware containing the personal health information of people who received laboratory services from 2009-2015.The data includes their names, addresses, dates of birth, social security numbers, member ID numbers and health information. The hard drives do not include any financial or payment information, the company added.Centene provides services to government sponsored healthcare programs that focus on under-insured and uninsured people.
USI Insurance Services announced Jan. 25 its acquisition of CBDI, Inc., an employee benefits wholesale brokerage company based in New Jersey. CBDI will merge with USIIs employee benefits wholesale brokerage division, Emerson Reid, LLC.Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.While merged with Emerson Reid, the CBDI team will remain in operation at their current location.CBDIs business model perfectly complements ours, and the quality and knowledge of their staff will help us to further our goal of growing and protecting our clients business. I am excited to welcome Jack and his team to Emerson Reid and look forward to working with them to deliver unparalleled service and support to our brokers, said Emerson Reid president George A. Rosiak.Emerson Reid offers its products and services to clients in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas.CBDI, Inc. president Jack J. Piccininni looks forward to the partnership. We are excited to join Emerson Reid and combine our resources to best position our broker partners for success as the employee benefits market continues to grow in complexity and increased competition from non-traditional benefit companies. Our brokers will now have access to Emerson Reids specialized departments, sophisticated marketing technology, and in-depth ACA and compliance resources, he said.CBDI was formed in 1992 in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, providing total benefits solutions, support for brokers, benefit administration and consumer options, which include individual and Medicare coverage.
Superintendent James Montepare, center, cuts the ribbon at Colegrove Park Elementary School. See more photos here. Ryan Goodell, right, leads the school in the pledge. The entire school joined in the afternoon ceremony in the gym. Montepare cuts pieces of ribbon for the students. Mayor Richard Alcombright addresses the gathering. Jack McCarthy of the MSBA tells the children to yell 'thank you.' The project has been through four owner's project manager: Mel Overmeyer, left, Kenneth J. Guyette, Andy Gentile and Dan Daisy. PreviousNext

Students, Officials Celebrate Opening of Colegrove Park School

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The gymnasium at Colegrove Park Elementary School filled with a thunderous "Thank you" as more than 300 children voiced their appreciation of their new school.



The moment came at the bidding of Jack McCarthy, executive director of Massachusetts School Building Authority, as a way to recognize a community that had voted to raise taxes to provide them with a new school.



"It's because you deserve it, you deserve a 21st century education, you deserve to be competitive not just with the rest of the commonwealth but the rest of the world," he said.



The MSBA had partnered with the city on the nearly $30 million renovation, providing some $23 million to fund 80 percent of eligible costs. McCarthy said he was impressed with the results and the investment being made in the city's education system.



"The most excited person I saw when I was going through here was one of your teachers. I walked in and she just said, 'I love this, I love this, I love this,'" he said. "If she's typical of the excitement of your teachers here, then this is an unbelievable institution."



Monday marked the official opening of Colegrove with speakers and a ribbon cutting although staff and students moved in on Jan. 2, leaving overcrowded Sullivan School behind, but taking the important things with them.



"I started out as a kindergartner at Sullivan," said Principal Shelley Fachini. "Mr. Sullivan had to carry me to class because I was so reluctant to go ... so I carried Mr. Sullivan here with me and he's hanging in the office because I will not go anywhere without him and he is the reason I stand here today."



The ceremony in the gym included a continuous slideshow behind the speakers showing images of the old Conte Middle School compared to its renovation as Colegrove. Student Ryan Goodell led the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance and selected children joined the officials on stage to cut a yellow ribbon that retiring Superintendent James Montepare cut into pieces for each participant.



There were sighs of relief along with the cheers on Monday because the renovation of the century-old school building had been a long and difficult road. First built as Drury High School (the third version of that institution), it was transformed into Conte Middle School in the mid-1970s when a new Drury was built on South Church Street. The population pressure that prompted those changes had fallen off 30 years later, and Conte was closed in 2009 as a result of financial strictures and declining population.



The school project began in 2010 with a feasibility study of how to handle the placement of Grades 6 and 7 into the city's three elementary schools. The decision was made to reuse the old Drury once again, only this time as an elementary school.

That proposal was met with a great deal of opposition: parents were unhappy over the closure of Sullivan School, there were perceived dangers in sending small children to a downtown school, there was building's age and different ideas of reuse, and the expense.

Fachini recalled how she had left the city but always found her way back.

"My message to all of my children here, and you are all my children, is you don't need to leave North Adams to become what you want to become," said Fachini, holding up a piece of the yellow ribbon. "I have roots that are very deep here and I will stay here as long as you will have me and I am blessed to be holding this today."
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Following the FTC regulations that govern reviewers I must state that people give me free books and products in exchange for my review of those products. I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews and my reviews are my honest, personal opinion, negative or positive. In no way are my reviews swayed by compensation.

I do receive monetary compensation for product reviews, advertising and promotions on Prism Book Tours.
We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector
Top U.S. military commanders, who only a few months ago were planning to pull the last American troops out of Afghanistan by years end, are now quietly talking about an American commitment that could keep thousands of troops in the country for decades.



The shift in mindset, made possible by President Obamas decision last fall to cancel withdrawal plans, reflects the Afghan governments vulnerability to continued militant assault and concern that terror groups like al-Qaeda continue to build training camps whose effect could be felt far beyond the region, said senior military officials.



The military outlook mirrors arguments made by many Republican and Democrat foreign policy advisers, looking beyond the Obama presidency, for a significant long-term American presence.



This is not a region you want to abandon, said Michele Flournoy, a former Pentagon official who would likely be considered a top candidate for Secretary of Defense in a Hillary Clinton administration. So the question is what do we need going forward given our interests?...



In Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, U.S. officials said they have a willing and reliable partner who can provide bases to attack terror groups not just in Afghanistan, but also throughout South Asia for as long as the threat in the chronically unstable region persists.



The new American mindset also marks a striking change for Obama, who campaigned on a promise to bring American troops home and has said repeatedly that he doesnt support the idea of endless war. And it highlights a major shift for the American military, which has spent much of the last decade racing to hit milestones as part of its broader exit strategy from Afghanistan and Iraq. These days, that phrase has largely disappeared from the militarys lexicon.

Is the new proposed exit date for American troops to leave Afghanistan. The new thinking among the brass and bullshit boys in the Pentagon is that what we were unable to accomplish in 15 years can now be done sometime before the end of eternity.Imagine, if you will, a building the size of the Pentagon filled with people whose careers are based on their ability to piss up a rope. Now accept the fact that these same people are guiding our Imperial military policy from now until the Empire falls.
LAS VEGASA.L. Enterprises, manufacturers of CB-X Male Chastity, released the latest in its Designer Collection: the Gold Edition CB-6000S.

The shorter device accommodates men who are less endowed, but still keeps them locked in the lap of luxury. The expansion of the line is based on customer requests.

"Men and their keyholders have been writing to us since we started shipping the traditionally sized CB-6000 Gold last summer, asking for a shorter version, to fit their lifestyle," said Nikki Yates, corporate director of A.L. Enterprises. "We are always amazed by the feedback we get from real users and encourage it. Let us know what you want, and we will keep leading the pack when it comes to travel-friendly, designer male chastity choices!"

The Gold Edition CB-6000S is perfect for anyone new to the male chastity way-of-life and ready to try it for the first time. It is made of hypoallergenic polycarbonate, with gold plated overlay. Like all of CB-X's male chastity devices, the CB-6000S Gold comes with all the parts necessary to ensure a perfect fit, including a metal lock, as well as plastic travel locks for when he goes out of town.

"We would like to thank those who took the time to respond to our recent customer survey," Yates said. "We are looking forward to the future and planning new innovations based on our customer's needs and requests."

The CB-6000S Gold is now available for shipment. To place an order, contact your local distributor or email [email protected].
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Global Climate Pact Continues to Grow

Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today welcomed Massachusetts and regional governments from Colombia - Guainia and Guaviare  and Austria - Lower Austria - as new signatories to the Under 2 MOU climate agreement, the global pact among cities, states and countries to limit the increase in global average temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius.

The Paris climate agreement was a breakthrough and California was there leading the way. Over 100 states, provinces and regions have now signed on to our Under 2 MOU, said Governor Brown in his State of the State remarks last week. The goal is to bring per capita greenhouse gases down to two tons per person. This will take decades and vast innovation.

Todays announcement follows a flurry of action at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, where 58 jurisdictions were added to the coalition. A total of 127 jurisdictions representing 27 countries and six continents have now signed or endorsed the Under 2 MOU. Together, they represent more than 729 million people and $20.4 trillion in GDP, equivalent to more than a quarter of the global economy.

Massachusetts is proud to join with other states and regions around the world in endorsing the Under 2 MOU as part of our states commitment to addressing climate change and our support of ongoing global efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, said Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. The MOU complements our pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020, and will allow us to work with, and learn from, other leaders in combating climate change as we attempt to reduce emissions through the pursuit of a diversified energy portfolio.

Massachusetts is the 10th American state to sign the Under 2 MOU, joining California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Leaders of the Colombian governments of Guainia and Guaviare also signed the agreement, adding to a growing contingent of signatories from the Amazon basin. In a joint statement, Governor of Guainia Oscar Armando Rodriguez Sanchez and Governor of Guaviare Jose Octaviano Rivera Moncada noted that due to their location in the Amazon region, the Colombian territories enjoy rich biodiversity and natural resources.

For this reason, it is of great strategic importance for Guainia and Guaviare to work closely with the State of California and the other signatories of the Under 2 MOU in order to avoid the destruction of our forests and to secure the sustainable development of our regions, the Governors said. In this way, we want to make our best effort to contribute towards the global goal of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.

Additionally, Lower Austria became the first Austrian state to sign the agreement.

The Under 2 MOU is an agreement to limit the increase in global average temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius, the warming threshold at which scientists say there will likely be catastrophic climate disruptions. Signatories commit to either reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 to 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 or achieving a per capita annual emission target of less than 2 metric tons by 2050. These targets allow each individual government to tailor emission reduction plans to fit regional needs.

For more information on the agreement, please visit www.under2mou.org. The full text of the agreement can be found here.

California's Leadership on Climate Change

While California emits around 1 percent of the world's greenhouse gases, the state is playing a leading role in broadening collaboration among subnational leaders.



The Governor last year traveled to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, the Vatican in Italy, the United Nations in New York and the Climate Summit of the Americas in Toronto, Canada to call on others leaders to join California in the fight against climate change. Governor Brown also recently joined an unprecedented alliance of heads of state, city and state leaders  convened by the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund  to urge countries and companies around the globe to put a price on carbon.



These efforts build on a number of other international climate change agreements with leaders from Mexico, China, North America, Japan, Israel, Peru and Chile and Governor Brown's efforts to convene hundreds of world-renowned researchers and scientists around a groundbreaking call to action  called the consensus statement  which translates key scientific climate findings from disparate fields into one unified document.



Last October, Governor Brown signed landmark legislation  SB 350  that codified the goals he laid out in his January 2015 inaugural address to double the rate of energy efficiency savings in California buildings and generate half of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030. In the same remarks, Governor Brown committed to reduce today's petroleum use in cars and trucks by up to 50 percent within the next 15 years; make heating fuels cleaner; reduce the release of methane, black carbon and other potent pollutants across industries; and manage farm and rangelands, forests and wetlands so they can store carbon.



The Governor also issued an executive order last year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030  the most ambitious target in North America and consistent with California's existing commitment to reduce emissions 80 percent under 1990 levels by 2050.



The impacts of climate change are already being felt in California and will disproportionately impact the state's most vulnerable populations.
Department of Justice Review of Solitary Confinement

Washington, DC - In July 2015, the President announced that he had asked the Attorney General to review the overuse of solitary confinement across American prisons. Since that time, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has undertaken a thorough review to determine how, when, and why correctional facilities isolate certain prisoners from the general inmate population, and has now developed concrete strategies for safely reducing the use of this practice, also known as restrictive housing, throughout our criminal justice system.

That review led to a Report to the President setting out Guiding Principles that would responsibly limit the use of restrictive housing at the federal, state, and local level, as well as specific recommendations for policies that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) can implement for federal prisons. The Report identifies ways to further humane and safe conditions for both inmates and the correctional officers charged with protecting them.

Today, the President announced that he is adopting the recommendations in the Report, which is now available HERE and will be directing all relevant federal agencies to review the report and report back on their plan to address their use of solitary confinement.

Guiding Principles For All Correctional Systems

The Report sets out more than 50 Guiding Principles, which cover a range of important reform areas including the use of the restrictive housing as a form of punishment, the appropriate conditions of confinement in restrictive housing, and the proper treatment of vulnerable inmate populations, such as juveniles, pregnant women, LGBTI inmates, and inmates with serious mental illness. These principles are informed by the best practices developed by the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) and the American Correctional Association (ACA) and include:

Inmates should be housed in the least restrictive setting necessary to ensure their own safety, as well as the safety of staff, other inmates, and the public.

Correctional systems should always be able to clearly articulate the specific reason(s) for an inmates placement and retention in restrictive housing.

For every inmate in restrictive housing, correctional staff should develop a clear plan for returning the inmate to less restrictive conditions as promptly as possible. The plan should be shared with the inmate, unless doing so would jeopardize the safety of the inmate, staff, other inmates, or the public.

An inmates initial and ongoing placement in restrictive housing should be regularly reviewed by a multi-disciplinary staff committee, which should include not only the leadership of the institution where the inmate is housed, but also medical and mental health professionals.

All correctional staff should be regularly trained on restrictive housing policies. Correctional systems should ensure that compliance with these policies is reflected in employee-evaluation systems.

New Policies Addressing BOPs Use of Restrictive Housing

In recent years, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has reduced its use of restrictive housing by 25 percent without compromising the safety of its correctional officers and its facilities. The Report makes concrete recommendations that will accelerate this trend and change the conditions for thousands of inmates through a multi-pronged strategy. The recommendations that DOJ has proposed and the President has adopted include:
BARCELONA, SpainExoClick, the innovative ad network, is pleased to announce that the company is a "supersized" sponsor of The European Summit to be held in Sitges, Spain 29 February3 March, 2016.

ExoClick will also be hosting the event's main party to be held at Sweet Pacha, Sitges on 1 March.

ExoClick will be sharing industry knowledge, tips and insights by speaking on three panels. Publisher Account Manager David Vince will be on the "Ad blockinghurting or helping" panel; Ada Llorca, Publisher Account Manager Team Leader will be on the "Tube Sitesfriend or enemy?" panel; and Advertising Account Manager Oliwia Kaluzynska will be appearing on the "Top Traffic Trends 2016" panel.

ExoClick CEO and founder, Benjamin Fonze, commented, The European Summit in Sitges is a key show for us. Come and meet us in our business lounge during the day to talk traffic and how to getting the best ROI for your site or offers. We also want to tell you about our latest platform updates, our industry leading targeting features, our API and much moreand don't forget our now legendary ExoClick Party on 1st March.

ExoClick will be in the business lounge D1. To arrange a meeting please contact [email protected]

For further press information, contact Giles Hirst at [email protected].
National Security Council Spokesperson Ned Price on Escalating Violence in Yemen

Washington, DC - We are deeply concerned about recent reports of escalating violence in Yemen and resulting deaths of civilians  including the attacks that killed an ambulance driver associated with Medecins Sans Frontieres in Dahyan, a freelance journalist near Sanaa, and civilians in Sanaa and at the Ras Isa oil terminal.

The United States takes all credible accounts of civilian deaths seriously and we again call on all sides of the conflict in Yemen to do their utmost to avoid harm to civilians and to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

The United States also underscores the importance of promoting the safety, security, and freedom of movement of humanitarian personnel in Yemen. We express continuing concern about the terrible violence impacting civilians in Taiz and the need to allow the delivery of full and unimpeded assistance, including food, medical supplies, and fuel to all Yemenis in need. Recent progress in improving humanitarian access in parts of Taiz needs to be replicated across the entire city. It is vital that all attacks on Yemens Red Sea ports come to an immediate end to enable food, medical supplies, fuel, and other essential to reach Yemenis in all parts of the country.

We urge all parties to cooperate with the United Nations in reaching a cease-fire and resuming the peace talks so that a durable solution to the crisis in Yemen can be reached as soon as possible.
The vast majority of women (93%) would be happy to undergo routine chlamydia testing during cervical screening in general practice, new Irish research has found.

The study involved delivering chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing to 228 women aged 25-40 at four general practices as part of CervicalCheck over a six-month period. Participants were made aware of the study using an information sheet and waiting room notice, and written consent was obtained along with consent for cervical screening.

Offering STI screening is a sensitive subject that can be difficult for GPs and potentially offensive to patients. The acceptability and feasibility of testing during cervical screening to both patient and doctor in this study strongly suggests it is an appropriate setting. By normalising STI testing, patients are less likely to feel they are specifically being targeted, and stigma associated with STI screening is likely to be reduced, said the authors from the TCD HSE GP Training Scheme at Tallaght Hospital.

Six patients tested positive for chlamydia and there were no positive results for gonorrhoea. Those who tested positive were offered a follow-up appointment free of charge. A prescription for 1g of azithromycin was given. All patients testing positive were recommended to have additional STI screening performed at the practice or the GUIDE clinic, and to have full contact tracing.

Approximately half of those who gave a reason for not participating believed they were not at risk because they were in a long-term relationship or were not sexually active, and the remaining respondents had been recently tested. Almost a fifth (18%) of patients mistakenly believed STI testing was part of the routine smear test.

A review of the three months prior to the study period indicated that out of 138 smears taken, testing was performed in just 10 cases (7%).

The initial retrospective review of chlamydia/gonorrhoea screening at the time of smear testing demonstrates opportunistic screening is not routine practice. The high participation rate (93%) and largely positive results of the feedback questionnaire clearly indicate chlamydia/gonorrhoea screening is both feasible and acceptable to patients and providers alike, the authors said.

Although the study did not involve a full cost analysis, the HSPC carried out a pilot study between 2007 and 2009. Based on its list of costs, the authors of the current study estimate that a programme of chlamydia screening alone would cost 5.25 million.

The authors of the current study concluded that their results strongly supported the need to conduct a regional or population-based study as part of cervical screening.



IMJ 2016; 109(1):326-27.
St Vincents University Hospital had 53 patients on trolleys in its Emergency Department (ED) earlier today (Tuesday, January 26)  the highest figure yet in 2016, Irish Medical Times reports.

According to the latest trolley watch from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, there were a total of 517 patients on trolleys in EDs or on wards across the country today  414 patients in an ED waiting for an inpatient bed and a further 103 on trolleys on already full wards.

However, this total figure is likely to be an underestimation, as several hospitals were unable to provide either ED trolley counts or ward figures, including in the later instance St Vincents Hospital in Dublin.

Three weeks ago, on January 6, when the overall total was 473, Beaumont Hospital did have a total trolley count of 54. However, this was made up of 46 patients on trolleys in the ED and a further eight on full wards. Todays figures reveal that 42 patients (38 in the ED and four on wards) were waiting on trolleys in Beaumont.

Also with a trolley count of 42  in joint second place was Cork University Hospital (32 in ED, 10 on wards), followed by Drogheda (36), University Hospital Limerick (UHL, 35) and Nass General (32). UHL had the highest total trolley count anywhere in the country last week (Jan 19) at 47 (26 trolleys in ED and 21 on wards).

The figures emerge as the HSE and the Department of Health have come under renewed criticism following a European report placing Ireland at the bottom of the league table for waiting times for emergency treatment in hospitals.

According to the 2015 edition of the European Health Consumer Index (EHCI) published today, Ireland is ranked 21st out of 35, up from 22nd out of 37 in 2015.

However, waiting times for emergency care were found to be frequently more than three hours more often here than anywhere else in Europe, based on feedback provided by patient organisations.

The overall ranking is based on a range of measures across the health service in each country, including access to health services and waiting times, health insurance, and Irelands legal position in relation to abortion.

The Index is published by the Swedish based private company Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP) Ltd and is based on a combination of public statistics, patient surveys and independent research conducted by the authors.

dara.gantly@imt.ie
A new plan to increase the number of GPs that qualify for the Rural Practice Allowance (RPA) by more than a half, from 160 to 250, has been announced by the Minister for Health.

The proposal  which was due to be put to the IMO on Wednesday (January 20)  would see the grant apply to a practice, rather than to an individual GP, and it would in future apply to any population centre of fewer than 2,000 people within a 4.8-km radius.

A number of existing practices that currently do not receive the RPA are now set to receive it. It can be done very quickly. Existing RPA holders would retain it. This is a matter I would like to see concluded as soon as possible, Dr Leo Varadkar added. IMO support was essential to securing Government backing for the mooted change, the Minister said last week.

The guidelines on rural practice were modified recently, which allowed rural practices to qualify for the RPA (and additional secretarial and nursing supports) that would not otherwise have qualified. These included Ballyvaughan, Bangor Erris, Glenamoy and Tully Renvyle.

The most recent HSE figures show that the number of GP list vacancies nationally is 15, down from 21 in May of last year. Ten of the vacant GP lists are in urban areas and the other five are in rural areas, including one in Inis Oirr and Inis Meain, which has been vacant for a number of years. This represented a 0.8 per cent vacancy rate, far lower than the vacancy rate in the NHS in Britain, said Minister Varadkar.

It is a real issue, but it is important not to exaggerate it, added Dr Varadkar. Practices and models of care are changing. As GPs age and retire, we need to make sure that vacancies are filled.

The Minister for Health is also seeking progress on new items of service, particularly enhanced STCs. Suturing is not currently economic for most GPs, but the Minister hopes a deal on this could reduce ED attendances for minor injuries.

Something similar may be possible regarding 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and long-acting reversible contraceptives, Dr Varadkar told an IMO seminar in Dublin last week. He is also keen to get certainty on the outstanding issue of phlebotomy under the current GP contract.

gary.culliton@imt.ie

 See here for more
The Irish Medical Council (IMC) has reiterated its promise to examine the retention fee model to alleviate the financial burden it imposes on doctors, particularly on those new to practice, IMT reports.

Prof Freddie Wood, in the IMC Presidents 2015 Review, furnished detail to the commitment first made in June last year, as the Council embarked on its business and financial planning for 2016.

Proposing a 13 per cent increase in the annual retention fee last year in line with its expanding remit, the Council had pledged that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, it would ensure registration fees remained static until 2018. We are conscious that the initial outlay poses a challenge to younger doctors and want to make the process as fair as possible, while balancing the need to execute a wide range of functions in the interests of the public and profession, Prof Wood said.

Meanwhile, Kingram House has recently amended its procedures on issuing a certificate of good standing. While previously it would have declined to issue such a certificate to a doctor who has a complaint under investigation, the Council will now opt instead to issue a certificate of current professional status to any requesting registrant, with the new document simply reflecting the actual current status of the registrant, the President also revealed.

These certificates are essential to doctors looking to move abroad and this amendment balances public safety interests, so that other regulators are aware of complaints under investigation, without barring a doctor outright from having the ability to work abroad, he said.

Prof Wood cited this as an example of the Councils active engagement with stakeholders in terms of discussing issues and challenges faced by the medical profession.

There had been some major developments during 2015 to which the Council and staff have had to adapt, learn from and engage, he added, pointing to the Corbally v the Medical Council Supreme Court ruling, which established a threshold of seriousness for a finding of poor professional performance in relation to any error on the part of a doctor.

The Council, Prof Wood mentioned, held discussions on the implications of such judgments and introduced processes in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling. We have engaged extensively with the Department of Health to discuss the implications of the judgment, as well as discussing legislative changes and policy reform, he commented.

We are eager to see a suite of amendments to the Act, to improve our processes, across all areas of our work and to see draft legislation at an early juncture.

lloyd.mudiwa@imt.ie
The first confirmed rural GP candidate for the forthcoming General Election has said he expects other doctors along the West Coast to declare in the coming days.

Dr Michael Harty of Kilmihil in Co Clare was due to be officially announced as an independent candidate for the county at a public meeting in Corofin on Tuesday (January 18).

Dr Harty, who is part of the No Doctor, No Village campaign, was selected by mutual agreement after a mandate to put forward a candidate was secured from hundreds of locals who attended two public meetings held in December and earlier this month.

He told Irish Medical Times he believed the urban-rural divide was widening. Taoiseach Enda Kenny says we are the best small country in the world to do business in, but unfortunately we are the worst small country in the world to get sick in.

In rural Ireland we are far removed from emergency services. GPs are taking on a lot more responsibility by the nature of where we live and our geographic location and we feel that is being undervalued and under-recognised by the HSE, Dr Harty said.

As a priority, he is seeking reinstatement of rural practice allowances (RPA) and distance codes. He said he had seen a draft proposal from Government that would see RPAs reduced from 16,000 to 8,000. He added that would make the RPA 40 per cent of what it originally was at 20,000.

Other criteria in relation to how far a GP lived from their practice and the density of population in the surrounding area were cumbersome, complicated and not practical.

We are prepared to see some reform of the RPA because the old criteria were quite restrictive as well. These new criteria reduce the allowance and are very unclear in how they could be applied. We dont see it as a solution but we havent seen the final draft of what [Health Minister Dr] Leo Varadkar has proposed, he told IMT.

Dr Harty added that in his view nothing was going to happen to resolve the issue ahead of the election and it was unlikely there would be progress before autumn. He plans to devote several days a week to his campaign and said he had the tremendous advantage of having access to patients on a daily basis. I have had a lot of support from my colleagues in the county and I would hope they will campaign in their practices on my behalf, he added.

If GPs left rural villages the entire community would be affected, including pharmacies, shops, churches, pubs and schools, because people would not want to live in an area with no services, he said. It is a wider issue and we feel we can start a rural revolution to cast light on what is actually happening in rural Ireland. The removal of RPAs and distance coding is just one aspect, but it just shows how the Government doesnt understand what is happening in our rural areas.

He said he expected other GPs to declare in the coming days along the West Coast.

niamh.mullen@imt.ie
Watch: Dog Jumps on Slide, Glides Down Over and Over Again; Internet Loves it
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Frances Hardinge has pulled off a shock by becoming only the second childrens author to win the Costa Book of the Year, following in the footsteps of Philip Pullman who was victorious more than a decade ago.

Hardinges novel The Lie Tree won the Costa childrens book award earlier this month and was named the overall book of the year at an awards ceremony in central London. The bookies outsider beat heavyweight novelist Kate Atkinsons A God in Ruins and favourite Andrew Michael Hurleys The Loney to the 30,000 prize.

James Heneage, founder of Ottakars bookshop chain, who chaired the judges, said of the winner: Its an important book, not only because its a great narrative, with great characterisation, but its central message of possibility for an intelligent girl who is out of touch in the age in which she lives is a very important one and, I would argue, relevant for today.

Hardinge, 42, who lives in Isleworth, wrote her first childrens novel Fly by Night while working full-time as a technical author for a software company. She only submitted the manuscript to Macmillan after a friends suggestion and it went on to win the Branford Boase Award for outstanding young adult novel by a first time writer. She has gone on to write a total of seven young adult novels as well as short stories.

The Lie Tree is about a 14-year-old Victorian girl called Faith, a budding scientist, who is determined to discover the truth when her father is found dead in mysterious circumstances. It is part horror story, part detective novel and part historical novel.

Ms Hardinge said: It feels like Ive fallen into another dimension. It seems implausibly idyllic."

In the wider world, sometimes childrens fiction is seen as a bit lightweight in a way that I think is not deserved, she added. I would see this as a recognition of the wonderful work done throughout childrens fiction.

Ms Hardinge did not know what she would spend the prize money on but at least a proportion of it may be spent on champagne.

The chair of the judges revealed there had been some dissent among the judges but it was a general consensus that the book that won was the right book to win. He added that, while the novel is aimed at teenage girls, was a book for all ages.

It has so many great themes, and works on so many levels, he said. Its a very clever book.

Andrew Michael Hurleys debut novel The Loney was made favourite ahead of the awards ceremony, while the other shortlisted entries were Andrea Wulfs The Invention of Nature: The Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt and acclaimed Scottish writer Don Patersons 40 Sonnets.
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To modern eyes, the classic trio of Disney princess films released between 1937 and 1959  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty  can seem painfully retrograde. It took 30 years for the studio to produce another animated princess feature  but in 1989, when Disney finally released The Little Mermaid, critics praised this modern new heroine. Unlike her predecessors, the New York Times said, Ariel was a spunky daredevil.

And yet, in one respect, The Little Mermaid represented a backward step in the princess genre: for a film centred on a young woman, there's an awful lot of talking by men. And it started a trend. The plot of The Little Mermaid, of course, involves Ariel literally losing her voice; but in the five Disney princess movies that followed, the women speak even less. On average in those films, men have three times as many lines as women.

The stats come from linguists Carmen Fought and Karen Eisenhauer, who have been working on a project to analyse all the dialogue from the Disney princess franchise and examine what the films are teaching about gender roles. The research is still in its preliminary stages, but they have already found a surprising result.

In the classic three Disney princess films, women speak as much as, or more than, the men: Snow White is about 50-50; Cinderella is 60-40; and in Sleeping Beauty women deliver a whopping 71 per cent of the dialogue. By contrast, all of the princess movies from 1989 to 1999  Disney's renaissance era  are startlingly male-dominated. Men speak 68 per cent of the time in The Little Mermaid; 71 per cent in Beauty and the Beast; 76 per cent in Pocahontas; and 77 per cent in Mulan (not counting when Mulan is impersonating a man).

Part of the problem is that, aside from the heroine, these newer films are mostly populated by male characters. There's one isolated princess trying to get someone to marry her, but there are no women doing any other things, Fought says. There are no women leading the townspeople to go against the beast, no women bonding in the tavern together singing drinking songs. Everybody who's doing anything other than finding a husband, pretty much, is a male.

The older princess films had fewer speaking roles in total, and more gender balance. But The Little Mermaid pioneered a new style, modelled on Broadway musicals, with their large ensemble casts. As the number of characters grew, so did the inequality. My best guess is that it's carelessness, because we're so trained to think that male is the norm, says Eisenhauer. So when you want to add a shopkeeper, that shopkeeper is a man. Or you add a guard, that guard is a man. I think that's just really ingrained.

After Mulan (1998), Disney took a 10-year break before releasing its next series of princess films. These newer films are better at giving lines to men and women equally. In Tangled, women have 52 per cent of the lines, and in Brave, about a mother-daughter relationship, they had 74 per cent. Frozen breaks with that trend, however. Despite being about two sister princesses, men claim 59 per cent of the lines.

Cinderella: female characters get 60 per cent of the lines, but they're judged on their appearances

It's of course incomplete to judge a film just by the number of words that characters say, when what they say is equally important. So far, Fought and Eisenhauer's analysis has focused on compliments  and this is where the trend is positive.

In the classic princess films, more than half of the compliments that women received  55 per cent  referred to their appearance, and only 11 per cent to their skills or accomplishments. But in the renaissance-era films, from the 1990s, the ratio shifted to 38-25. And in the latest batch of films  The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Brave and Frozen  the pattern is finally reversed to 22-40.

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Part of this may be down to the people at the helm of these more recent movies. Frozen and Brave were both conceived, written and directed by women or a team that included women. (Brenda Chapman, who created Brave, said that she specifically wanted to smash the stereotype.)

And the studio has been making visible efforts to inject feminism into its movies. Belle, from 1991's Beauty and the Beast, for instance, was designed as a feminist role model, with scriptwriter Linda Woolverton modelling the character on Katharine Hepburn in Little Women  both strong, active women who loved to read, as Woolverton told the LA Times in 1992.

Disney is clearly proud of its efforts to modernise the genre, but it has a lot of work to do. If you watch the behind-the-scenes documentaries, there's so much explicit discourse on what the princess is going to be like, and it's always feminist in some way, Eisenhauer says. But it never seems to have gone beyond the princess.

Fought and Eisenhauer's research reminds us that it's not just how the princesses are portrayed; it's also important to consider the kinds of worlds these princesses inhabit, who rules these worlds  and even who gets to open their mouths.

 Washington Post
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Biopics frequently seem to be released in pairs - last year there were rival Steve Jobs movies and this year two premiere at Sundance about Florida news reporter and TV host Christine Chubbuck.

The first is a straight-forward biopic, Christine, which sees Rebecca Hall (The Prestige) play Chubbuck, while the second is more meta, with Kate Plays Christine charting actor Kaye Lyn Sheils (House of Cards) preparation for playing Christine in an upcoming movie (which doest exist, but the film has still been classed as a documentary).

Chubbucks story is an obvious choice for an exploration on the big screen, given her intentionally dramatic and even cinematic method of suicide, which inspired the screenplay for 1976 news anchor meltdown movie, Network.

The morning of July 15, 1974

Arriving to work at WXLT Channel 40, a station with a growing tendency to report gruesome news stories (something Christne apparently detested), Chubbuck confused her colleagues by starting her Suncoast Digest show with a news bulletin.

She covered three national news stories and a shooting at a local bar. When the film reel for the latter jammed, the camera cut back to Chubbuck, who looked into the lens and said: In keeping with Channel 40s policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts and in living colour, you are going to see another first - an attempted suicide.

According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Christine promptly drew a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver from a shopping bag behind her desk and shot herself behind her right ear, falling forward and striking her head on the desk before falling to the floor.

Rebecca Hall as Christine Chubbuck in 'Christine' (Picture: Sundance)

Kate Lyn Sheil as Christine Chubbuck in 'Kate Plays Christine' (Picture: Sundance)

WXLTs technical director quickly faded to black, and a standard public service announcement was broadcast, followed by a movie.

She reportedly said attempted suicide to cover herself in case she was not successful, and this was not the only premeditated element to her death.

News director Mike Simmons would later find a complete script for the days show among her papers, which included a report of her death to be read out by whichever reporter took her seat.

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She had written something like 'TV 40 news personality Christine Chubbuck shot herself in a live broadcast this morning on a Channel 40 talk program. She was rushed to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she remains in critical condition,' he was quoted as saying by The Dallas Morning News, and indeed critical was how her condition was reported at the nearby hospital, where she died in the evening.

Chubbuck, who is thought to have killed herself due to personal rather than professional problems - in spite of her final words - purchased a pistol eight days before the broadcast.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune's initial news story on Chubbuck's death

I asked her why she thought she needed a gun, fellow Channel 40 news reporter Rob Smith explained.

She replied: Well Rob, I had this really nifty idea, I thought Id bring it to work and blow myself away during my talk show.'

The broadcast was taped as per Chubbucks request, according to the Tribune, but the only copy of the tape - a continuing object of fascination among the more morbid parts of the internet - was seized by Sarasota County Sheriffs Office as evidence, before later being passed onto Chubbucks family.

Chubbuck had been suffering from depression and suicidal tendencies for a long time, with her mother later summarising of her death: Her suicide was simply because her personal life was not enough.

If you are suffering from depression, get help by calling the Samaritans on 116 123.
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Disney has a pretty huge slate of upcoming films. Not only do they have numerous live-action takes on classic animations such as Cinderella and Jungle Book scheduled for release, they also have numerous Marvel and Star Wars films in the works.

First off, in the Marvel department, theres Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, another Ant-Man and Inhumans. Oh, and three as-yet-untitled projects as well as Spider-Man (with Sony).

Then, on the Star Wars front, theres Episode VIII, Episode IX, Rogue One and a Han Solo spin-off, along with a possible Boba Fett film.

If that wasnt enough for you, Disney CEO Bob Iger has some good news for you: "There will be more [Star Wars films] after that, he told BBC Newsbeat. I don't know how many, I don't know how often.

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Then, when asked about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iger said: "Marvel, you're dealing with thousands and thousands of characters - that will go on forever.

But isn't he worried fans are growing bored of seeing superhero films at the cinema?

"No, I don't think they're getting weary, he said.

"But I think we keep raising the bar in terms of telling stories that bring them back, that excites them, that makes it feel new and that is what we do for a living.

Read our comprehensive stories about every Marvel and Star Wars film coming out.
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Lets give it all up for Michael, yall calls Spike Lee, minutes before his latest documentary, Michael Jacksons Journey From Motown to Off The Wall, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. With Lee taking up so much headline space over the Oscars diversity row, the stage needed to be cleared, even for a giant like Jackson.

Lee is doing more than any other filmmaker to document his heros legacy; two years ago Bad 25 was his exploration, track by track, of Jacksons third solo album. From Motown to Off The Wall is part documentary, part tracklisting of each song from Off The Wall, which, released in August 1979, marked the last days of disco as well as Jacksons long walk to becoming the most famous man in the world, which he achieved with the release of his next work, Thriller.

This is mainly a doc of talking heads, but when they have the faces of Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, producers Mark Ronson and Rodney Jerkins, film director Lee Daniels and Michael Jacksons own mother, its spellbinding. The journey of how the Jacksons went from a singing troupe with Motown to the disco beat of 1978s "Shake Your Body" is peppered with record label anecdotes, made dynamic by the archive  including Jackson singing Ben at the Oscars in 1973.

Recommended Read more Spike Lee boycotts Oscars over lack of diversity

What is clear is that Michael Jackson was no family stooge, but the driving force behind the Jacksons journey to superstardom. Each interviewee tells of his drive, even as a teenager, of his dedication to learning his craft, and his focus. "I will no longer be Michael Jackson, but MJ" a letter to himself reads in 1979. "I will dig in and dig in and dig in ..I will be a perfectionist.

This overriding trait of Jackson, which possibly contributed to his later misfortune, is hammered home, but so his is sheer talent. His producer in 1978 recalls him bolting from the studio during a track and finding him dancing in a corridor. I cant keep still, the teenager apologised.

Most touching of all is Jacksons youth, his beauty, his delicacy. Lee has unearthed footage of Jackson in Studio 54 in New York, when he had an apartment during filming of 1978 film The Wiz. MJ happily tells of how much he loves dancing there. Such was his innocence you can believe thats all he got up to, but its striking: who knew Jackson ever got to go out and have a good time?

Someone calls the Off The Wall record sleeve Jacksons prom picture; hes a 20 year old in a tux, ready to make his next record, Thriller, the biggest album on the planet. Dont let anyone fool you, Lee suggests, thats not what he planned all along.

In 1980, MJs Grammy for Best RnB performance was presented off screen, during a commercial break. Off The Walls legacy was that labels and radio stations accepted the biggest star on the planet could be black. According to Pharrell Williams, the album was even more important than that: He took black music and made it human music, he says. He didnt see black or white.

The Sundance Film Festival runs until January 31, 2016
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If you cant achieve fame with your first feature film, notoriety might be the next best thing.

So Daniel Scheinert and Dan Kwan, two US-based music video and short film directors known collectively as the Daniels, can take some comfort in the fact that everyone at the Sundance Film Festival is talking about their feature debut, Swiss Army Man, otherwise known as the Daniel Radcliffe Farting Corpse Movie.

The plot is definitely original  Paul Dano is a lost soul called Hank who, seemingly the victim of shipwreck, is about to end it all on a beach, when he spies Daniel Radcliffes floating corpse in the water. Radcliffe is quite dead, but is emitting enough flatulence to allow Hank to ride him, dolphin-like, over the waves. If it doesnt bring Radcliffe back to life, it restores Hank, and he lugs the body (called Manny, it emerges) through the woods, until Manny, still dead, begins to talk  while still leaking gas. He has other uses too  his out-of-control erections point Hanks way home, while his mouth leaks life-giving water like a tap.

Despite feeling that you, along with Hank and Manny, might actually be insane or dead to be watching it, both Dano and Radcliffe are terrific and very watchable. Radcliffe is a wonderful corpse  blue with rigor mortis, he manages to convey abject emotion through his eyes and the side of his mouth. Dano, the star of last years Love and Mercy, and coming to prominence with the BBCs War and Peace, also manages to show a living lost soul simply through his eyes.

The woods are Hanks playroom, where he dresses up and re-creates the modern world out of detritus to remind Manny what hes lost, in the hope of bringing him back to life.

The scenes where Hank shows Manny what romantic love is, through a picture of a girl (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) on a nearly-dead mobile phone, are full of whimsy and magic  no wonder it all ends with the boys sharing an underwater kiss.

Recommended Read more Film starring Daniel Radcliffe as a farting corpse prompts walk out

Had the Daniels made Swiss Army Man the theme of a music video, or another short film, they would have got away with it  and theirs could be an interesting voice for the future. But for now, finding an art house audience who like their movies peppered with fart jokes is going to be tricky and, besides, after 90 minutes, the script, unlike Manny, is absolutely limp. By the time Hank crawls back to reality, Manny strapped to his back, he, you and the directors have lost the plot.

All three Daniels  Radcliffe and the directors  knew what flak they were letting themselves in for when they made the film, simply because of who Radcliffe is. All credit to him and Dano for making riskier choices. You get the impression they had a wonderful time down in the woods.

That will be what they take away from the experience, because even the most die-hard Harry Potter fan may turn up their noses at the smell of Swiss Army Man.
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On the 16 February something very sad is going to happen. BBC Three - the digital TV channel that brought us Gavin & Stacy, Little Britain and The Mighty Boosh - will be switched off, the channel going completely online.

At an event in London, the BBC announced a number of new shows and programming which will be made available through the stations online website.

First off, the broadcaster announced two new release platforms: The Best Of and The Daily Drop. The former will bring together original long-form programmes and a range of new content, including short form films, while The Daily Drop will be home to BBC Threes daily content including short-form videos, blogs, social media, image galleries, trending stories and daily updates from news and sport.

It was then revealed that, on the night of the switchover, the first episode of season three of Cuckoo, a BAFTA-winning film and Live From The BBC will all be made streamable.

The BBC also announced a range of new shows, the first of which is a collaboration between BBC Drama and Idris Elbas production company, Green Door Pictures. The two will work together to bring new features and talent to the screen.

Idris Elba on screen Show all 5 1 /5 Idris Elba on screen Idris Elba on screen Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom Elba stars as late South African political leader Nelson Mandela in the Oscar-nominated Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Keith Bernstein Idris Elba on screen Luther Elba played 'passionate and ruthless' DCI John Luther in award-winning BBC One crime drama Luther from 2010 to 2013. Steve Neaves Idris Elba on screen No Good Deed Elba stars as unstable escaped convict Colin Evans in 2014 thriller No Good Deed. Rex Features Idris Elba on screen Prometheus Elba plays ex-military captain Janek in Prometheus, here seen alongside Charlize Theron. Twentieth Century Fox Idris Elba on screen The Wire Idris Elba in 'The Wire'Elba established himself in the US first, playing the role of Russell 'Stringer' Bell in drug drama The Wire Warner Bros/HBO

Also announced was a new drama from Jess Britain called Clique; a new short-form series Life Hacks with Ben Hart; lys Harte and Bronagh Munros investigation series Unsolved: The Boy Who Disappeared; Dan Murdoch's follow up to KKK: The Fight For White Supremacy called Black Power; and a new Stacy Dooley documentary on sex and prostitution in Turkey, Brazil and Russia.

BBC Three is a badge of quality and shorthand for content that will stimulate emotions and provoke reactions, said the channels controller Damian Kavanagh. It's the same award-winning programmes freed from the constraints of linear TV, and because we're freed from the schedule we can use whatever format and platform is most appropriate.

Meanwhile, Idris Elba of Green Door Pictures, said: Im looking forward to working with BBC Three and giving new writers and actors a chance to show what they can do.

The new BBC Three logo was recently revealed, many drawing comparisons between it and a W1A spoof.
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If you're yet to come across the name 'Corey Hawkins', the chances are you either have already or will do extremely soon as the Straight Outta Compton actor's been confirmed as the lead in 24: Legacy.

It was recently announced how 24's original protagonist Jack Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland across nine seasons since 2001, would not be featuring in the Fox Network's spin-off.

Instead, we'll have Hawkins' Eric Carter, a military hero who returns home from deployment to discover trouble has followed him. Requesting the assistance of Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU), Carter consequently becomes embroiled in a mission to foil a US terrorist attack.

Hawkins recently played Dr. Dre in F. Gary Gray's N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton and can also be seen in popular zombie drama The Walking Dead in which he plays Heath, a resident of the Alexandria Safe-Zone.

The 27-year-old actor will also appear in Kong: Skull Island alongside Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson, who is favourite to win this year's Best Actress Oscar for her role in Room.

Filming of 24: Legacy is scheduled to take place later on this year with the show's signature one episode one hour format still in place; the executive producing team (Howard Gordon, Manny Koto and Evan Katz) will all return.
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Clean beaches

EU regulations on water quality have been instrumental in cleaning up Britains beaches. Nearly 600 coastal bathing areas are monitored for potentially dangerous bacteria such as E.coli  with minimum standards set out for safe bathing which have to be displayed.

This pressure has resulted in a significant increase in water quality, with 99 per cent of Englands bathing waters meeting the minimum European standard, and over 82 per cent meeting the tighter guideline standard.

Fish stocks

EU-wide fishing restrictions  although controversial  have had a dramatic effect in protecting fish species from being overfished.

Last year it was announced that cod and haddock quotas would rise after the species showed a dramatic recovery that conservationists have attributed to the success of previous quotas.

Air quality

EU air quality standards set levels for harmful compounds such as carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides and lead. Steep reductions in sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions have helped ensure that the most serious urban smog and acid rain episodes no longer occur at the rate and intensities seen in the past.

Energy consumption

The European Unions ban on incandescent lightbulbs now saves an average UK household 83 a year, while the eco-design directive has lowered energy consumption in many white goods.

Species protection

Evidence published in peer-reviewed journals has shown that the EUs birds directive has significantly contributed to the protection of species most at risk of extinction. Bird populations take more than 10 years to recover but there is clear evidence that most threatened species are progressing better, and EU-wide conservation efforts are more successful than those carried out at a national level.

Climate change

The UK was instrumental in persuading the EU to adopt at least a 40 per cent carbon reduction commitment for 2030 against opposition from some Eastern European states that rely heavily on coal.

In addition, the renewable energy directive has led to a dramatic increase in renewable energy capacity throughout the EU. Between 2000 and 2012, 51 per cent of new power capacity in the EU was in renewable energy.
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Ninety years since the very first demonstration of television has been celebrated by today's Google Doodle.

However, the device in question was not known as the television in 1926, rather it was the "the televisor" or mechanical television, in which a rotating mechanism generated an image.

Its creator was John Logie Baird, a Scot born in 1888, who wanted to be a soldier in the First World War but whose poor health forced him into long hours in his workshop instead.

Here are five facts you might not know about the man in Google's Doodle, who helped bring you the moving image.

1. He showed early signs of genius

Born on the west coast of Scotland and the son of a clergyman, life was not exactly at the cutting-edge for the young Baird.

But while still a boy he rigged up a telephone exchange to connect his bedroom to his friend's across the street.

And although his later engineering degree was interrupted by the war, he kept experimenting with new ideas.

2. His first 'television' was made of an old tea chest

Baird moved to Hastings on the south coast of England in 1923 due to poor health, yet was determined to realise the dream of transferring a moving image to a screen.

His first television set used an old hat box, a pair of scissors, some darning needles, a few bicycle light lenses, a used tea chest, and sealing wax and glue.

His landlord eventually asked him to move out of his workshop - and he set up shop in Soho in London instead.

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celebrating St. David's Day Google The best Google Doodles Steve Biko Today's Google Doodle features anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko Google The best Google Doodles The history of tea in Britain Google celebrates the 385th anniversary of tea in the UK The best Google Doodles Nettie Stevens Google celebrates geneticist Nettie Stevens 155th birthday The best Google Doodles William Morris Google celebrates English polymath William Morris' 182 birthday with a doodle showcasing his most famous designs Google The best Google Doodles Professor Scoville Google marks Professor Scovilles 151st birthday The best Google Doodles Sophie Taeuber-Arp Google marks artist Sophie Taeuber-Arp's 127th birthday

3. Not all the newspapers liked him

Baird decided to look for some publicity for his increasingly successful invention and approached the Daily Express - but the editor was terrified of him.

One staff member quoted him as saying: "For God's sake, go down to the reception and get rid of a lunatic who's down there.

"He says he's got a machine for seeing by wireless. Watch him - he may have a razor on him."

4. 'Stooky Bill' made history as the first moving image on a screen

The head of a ventriloquist's dummy called "Stooky Bill" was successfully transmitted to the "televisor" on 2 October, 1925.

 Best Google's Doodles

The lucky dummy's features were shown at five pictures per second - quickly followed by an office worker named William from downstairs, who unwittingly became the first person to be televised in full tonal range.

Google's Doodle, however, marks Baird's first public demonstration of his televisor to a small audience of scientists, when he used his business partner Daisy Elizabeth Gandy.

5. He lived to see his system beaten by another one

While Baird's system worked through a mechanical scanning device such as a rotating disk or mirror which scanned a scene, other experimenters were going electronic.

In 1935 there was a side-by-side trial of Baird's system and an all-electronic television system - and he lost.

Baird's system was dropped in 1937 and he died nine years later aged 58. He is still seen as one of several inventors responsible for all kinds of programmes being beamed into our homes.
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As he waits for an operation in a suburb of Istanbul, Ibrahim  a dentist from London  admits to some nerves.

Sitting in a medical gown and with a thick pen line drawn across the top of his bare head, he says: Naturally you have anxiety.

However, the allure of a new head of hair at a bargain price was enough for the 30-year-old to set aside any misgivings. I was having hair loss since I was about 16 or 17 years old. I was putting oil in my hair but it was getting thinner and thinner, he says. In the UK, the places [clinics] are very expensive. So I looked abroad, did a bit of research and this place looked the best.

Ibrahim (surname withheld) is one of thousands of people flying to Turkey as part of its booming medical tourism industry, worth an annual $1bn (700m). In December the countrys health ministry said that over 200 hair transplants were carried out each day in Turkey, mostly on foreign visitors.

Drawn by geographical convenience and low prices, most patients come from the Gulf states, Egypt and Libya. But increasing numbers are European. In November, a balding French jihadist was arrested after stopping off for a quick transplant in the Turkish city of Izmir, having returned from fighting with Isis in Syria.

Mehdi Ben Said, allegedly planning a bomb attack on Turkish soil, is said to have told police that he needed to look better before blowing himself up.

With patients from all over the world, Dr Tayfun Oguzoglu has built up tropes of the different nationalities and their follicular foibles. The most important thing that the British guys want is a natural look, said the surgeon.

Arabs dont care about hair density but they want hair down to here, he says with a chuckle, placing his finger just above the bridge of his nose.

Some of the guys coming from the US are scared of being in Turkey. Italians want huge density. Huge! Italians are very complicated. I love the Spanish. They say: Doctor, I trust you. Whatever you do, I accept it.

His company, the straightforwardly-named GetHair, has seen a steady growth in British custom after setting up a London office five years ago. Last year it brought over 215 patients from London  up from 110 two years previously.

When they arrive, clients are collected from the airport by a chauffeur and driven to an all-inclusive hotel. Many turn the trip into a holiday, travelling to Istanbul a few days early to tour the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar before embarking on their scalpel makeover.

The surgery, known as follicular unit extraction, involves using what looks like a micro apple-corer to lift thousands of hairs and their follicles from the back of the head before replanting them on the bare or thinning patches. Patients are given only a local anaesthetic and can watch TV, snooze or stare out at the sprawling cityscape as the doctor and his team of nurses work away. By the end of the process the clients look like something out of a horror film, with up to 4,000 bloody globules across the top and sides of their head. They rest for a day after the operation before flying home. It takes six to eight months for the transplants to settle and for the bald patch to be consigned to history.

British cosmetic surgery associations urge caution when travelling overseas for surgery. Peek into the thousands of pages of online forums where bald men swap notes on clinics and you will find plenty of horror stories about surgeons who left all the work to technicians, gruesome post-operative infections, or simply disappointing results.

Ibrahim, the London dentist, did worry about travelling to a new country and placing his head in the hands of an unknown clinic.

Coming from a medical background, youre a bit worried about complications; about what could happen, he says. But this guy has been doing it a long time.

The whole endeavour, including flights, will have cost him 2,500, saving about 10,000 on the price tag in Britain.

This stark financial difference  and the prospect of regaining a fulsome quiff or lustrous crown  is ultimately what drives thousands of men each year to become transplant tourists. Ibrahim is no different. As he puts it: Why would I go to Harley Street compared to this price?
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For 2,000 years, doctors have been unable to explain scientifically the age-old patients complaint of feeling under the weather. Hippocrates, the Greek physician, first touched on the link between health and the weather in his On Airs, Waters and Places in 400BC.

Only now are experts on the verge of discovering the effect of sunshine and rain on chronic pain, and it is thanks to the mobile phone. Scientists at the University of Manchester are inviting the public to help them work out if certain weather conditions cause pain for people with arthritis and other chronic complaints.

In a world first, the patients will be able to use a smartphone application to tell researchers about their pain, while data on local weather conditions is gathered using their phones GPS signal.

Dr Will Dixon, director of the University of Manchesters Arthritis Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, came up with the idea.

Recommended Read more Woman feels pain for the first time aged 39

He says he noticed during his clinics as an honorary consultant rheumatologist at Salford Royal Hospital that patients were blaming their pain on the weather.

Almost every week, a patient will tell me their symptoms are better or worse because of the weather, but whenever I ask how the weather affects their pain, there is no real consensus.

There is a strong belief that pain is affected by the weather, but nobody has been able to work it out.

Around 10 million people in Britain are living with arthritis  around one in five adults. One in five GP visits involve symptoms of the condition.

Many people with arthritis say their joints ache before a storm, which is thought by some experts to be due to a drop in pressure and a rise in humidity.

But evidence to support a link between their pain and the weather has been anecdotal, with scientists blaming a lack of accurate data.

Recommended Read more Man sent home with headache before discovering he had 24 hours to live

The new study, which is entitled Cloudy with a Chance of Pain, is supported by Arthritis Research UK. Anyone with arthritis or chronic pain aged over 17 can take part using their own smartphone.

The scientists also want people to share their theories about what might be causing their pain.

People taking part in this study will be helping to answer a question that even the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, couldnt resolve, Dr Dixon said. We are able to do that thanks to the mobile phones.

The study could have real benefits for the millions of people in Britain who currently suffer from some form of arthritis.

Crucially, it will help to give people more control over their condition by helping them to predict when they are likely to be in more pain, and it could also lead to research into new therapies and treatments.

The study cannot come soon enough for Carolyn Gamble, 36, from Manchester, who has a genetic form of arthritis, which mainly affects her neck and hips.

There are a number of things that impact on pain, but I do feel that weather plays a role, she said. When its hot and humid, I suffer, but equally when its cold and damp. Now we finally have the technology to find out for certain.
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What exactly is Zika virus?

It is a mosquito-transmitted virus closely related to the viruses that cause feverish illnesses such as dengue, yellow fever and West Nile disease. It has been known about since the 1950s, and named after the Zika Forest near Lake Victoria in Uganda where it was first isolated in 1947 from a captive monkey. It has since spread across equatorial Africa and, more recently, to Asia, Pacific Polynesia and now South America. It has closely followed the spread of another mosquito-borne virus called Chikungunya and is transmitted by the Aedes group of mosquitoes, although it is not yet known whether other mosquitoes can carry it.

Why is it dangerous?

It is not particularly dangerous to anyone other than pregnant women. Symptoms include fever, rash, joint pains or conjunctivitis  red eyes. Many people might not realise they were infected and recover after two to seven days of being infected. However, there is growing evidence of a causal link between Zika virus infection in pregnancy and births of a congenital disorder called microcephaly, where the brain of the developing foetus fails to grow normally and babies are born seriously deformed. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika virus.

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

Whats the evidence that it causes microcephaly?

There is no definite proof as yet. But Brazil has experienced an explosive growth in cases of microcephaly and Zika transmission. Normally, the country reports about 200 microcephaly births a year, but since last October, Brazil has seen nearly 4,000 reported cases of newborns with microcephaly, mostly concentrated in the poorer region of Pernambuco in the north east where between 1 and 2 per cent of newborns now have microcephaly  the normal rate is about 0.07 per cent. At about the same time, the Zika virus has spread rapidly throughout Brazil.

But scientists have also seen an increase in microcephaly in other regions of the world where Zika has recently arrived, such as Yap Island in Micronesia in 2007 and French Polynesia in 2013-14 where many foetuses with microcephaly had been aborted. Other evidence suggests a link, such as two thirds of mothers with microcephaly babies saying they had a rash during pregnancy, and the recovery of zika virus in the womb and in still-born babies.

How far is the Zika virus likely to spread?

Essentially, wherever there is mosquito-borne transmission of dengue, there is a possibility that Zika virus may also spread. In the Americas this means anywhere from about Florida and the US-Mexican border region to the southern tip of Brazil in the south. There is minimum risk of Zika being transmitted by mosquitoes in Britain or northern Europe. Zika transmission is ongoing in Brazil, Columbia, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Surinam and Venezuela, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What should women who are planning to go to these countries do?

Recommended Read more Pregnant women warned to stay away from Olympics over Zika virus fears

Health authorities are suggesting that women in any stage of pregnancy, or who think they might be pregnant, should re-consider their travel plans. The CDC for instance states: Pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who did travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor.

For those who do intend to travel, they are strongly advised to minimise the risk of mosquito bites, both at night and during the day. They should use insect repellent and wear long-sleeves and other clothing that minimises skin exposure. Women living in these countries are being advised to postpone pregnancy if they can until more is known.

What does the future hold?

So little is known about Zika virus, and how it may cause microcephaly, that scientists are anxious to learn more. They said the best-case scenario is that once people become exposed to the virus they develop immunity, which means that it just becomes another childhood infection. The immediate problem, however, is to protect uninfected women who are pregnant or about to get pregnant.
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Dating can be an anxious time for the most confident of people.

Whether its a blind date or a first date with someone youve known for a while, it's entirely normal to get nervous about what to say, what to wear or if youll even like the person youre dating.

But before you go out and commit yourself to a whole evening of bad dating, why not familiarise yourself with some of the red flags of a bad date.

Users on question-and-answer website Quora shared some of their biggest dating bugbears.

If theyre judgmental

Howie Reith wrote that a person being judgemental would be a turn off while on a date.

He wrote: Whether theyre judgemental of me or of anyone else in the vicinity, including ranting about individuals or categories of people, whether it's a race or political group or whatever.

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On top of likely worrying about wedding favours and making sure guests behave on their big day, 49 per cent of divorcees admitted they were unsure before the ceremony that their marriage would last. Some 15 per cent of divorcees polled said they were so wracked with doubt that they felt physically sick in the run up to their wedding. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Students who marry after studying the same subject Picking a university subject is already difficult enough for young people. But heres an extra piece of data to weigh on your decision: you may be picking a life partner as well. Dan Kopf of the blog, Priceonomics, analysed US Census data and found that the percentage of Americans who marry someone within their own major is actually fairly high. About half of Americans are married, according to the 2012 American Community Survey (part of the Census). And about 28 per cent of married couples over the age of 22 both graduated from college. (The survey didnt recognise same-sex marriages for the 2012 data, but it will for 2013 onwards, says Kopf). Sean Gallup/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures How much sex we have (and how much we'd like) As a nation, we dont have as much sex as we would like, a survey has (somewhat unsurprisingly) confirmed. In a poll of 1523 people by YouGov, 64 per cent of Britons said they would wish to have sex at least a few times a month. The same sample said that only 38 per cent had sex at least a few times a month. In addition, 10 per cent said they wished to have sex every day, a goal which only 1 per cent admitted reaching. Rex Love and sex news: in pictures The new female condom Picture an internal condom. The chances are youre thinking of something which resembles a carrier bag. However, this could all be about to change with the new VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine. 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Missionary, which is sometimes scoffed at the most boring position, was favoured by a fifth of the 1,000 people surveyed by high street sex shop Ann Summers, seeing it come in as third under "woman on top". Caiaimage/REX Love and sex news: in pictures Who's most likely to cheat? Men and women who are economically dependent on their spouses are more likely to cheat, a new study has revealed. Researchers have found that men who are solely financially dependent are more like to cheat than women, at 15 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. Men who are rely on their wives may cheat because they are undergoing a masculinity threat by not being the primary breadwinner as is culturally expected, said study author Christin L. Munsch, a UConn assistant professor of sociology. Eye Candy/REX Love and sex news: in pictures Jailed for loud sex noises A woman who breached a court order barring her from causing nuisance by making "loud sex noises" was sent to jail. Gemma Wale, of Small Heath, Birmingham, was given a two-week prison sentence after a civil court judge concluded that she had breached the order by "screaming and shouting whilst having sex" at a "level of noise" which annoyed a neighbour. Rex Features Love and sex news: in pictures Photo of wedding guest proposing to girlfriend in front of bride and groom goes viral When the staggering amount time, money, and effort that goes into to planning a wedding is considered, it seems pretty obvious that all guests have is to do is turn up with some gifts, and not upstage the couple. But this fact seems to have escaped one man, whose grinning face has gone viral after he decided to propose to his girlfriend in front of the bride and grooms top table. The photo, which has been viewed over 1.4 million times on Reddit, shows a boyfriend perched on one knee in front of his crying girlfriend. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Sexual fantasies The results of a sex survey are busting the myth that Britons are sexually repressed, by revealing how the majority of women have lived out their sexual fantasies. As many as 81 per cent of women and 77 per cent of men have shared and acted out fantasies with a partner  with having sex in public topping the list of turn-ons. The study also laid bare the influence of TV and film on our desires, with three-quarters of couples saying they had inspired them. Meanwhile, a further three quarters of women and over half of men have played out a fantasy theyd found in a book. LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures The world's sexiest nationalities Irish men are the worlds sexiest, according to a survey of thousands of jet-setting women. In a poll of 66,000 of single American women who use MissTravel.com, as many as 8,000 said that Irish men are the sexiest. Around half of the females who took said they were turned on by Irish men said their accent influenced their choice, according to the Irish Times. ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures More sex = happiness? Couples were asked to double the amount of sex they had each week over a three month period by researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University, who compared them to couples who had their normal amount of sex. Their findings, published in the Journal of Economic Behavior, went against advice given by the average self-help book  having more sex doesnt automatically make a person happier. Instead, couples who were instructed to have more sex reported a decrease in happiness levels. Mood Board/Rex Love and sex news: in pictures Most sexually satisfied countries It is often considered the most amorous nation on the planet, but France doesn't even feature in a new list of the most sexually satisfied countries. According to a Durex global survey of 26,000 people, aged 16 and older, across 26 countries, only 44 per cent of people are fully satisfied with their sex lives. In the wake of these results, AlterNet has compiled a list of the 12 most sexually satisfied countries, with Switzerland, Spain and Italy topping the list. INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Sex o'clock They say women are from Venus and men are from Mars  but a new sex survey suggests that members of the opposite sex seem to operate in different time zones too. While women like to get steamy between 11:21pm on average, men are more likely to be turned on at the rather inconvenient time of 7:54am. These times fall into the broader timeslots of 11pm and 2am for women, and 6am and 9am for men. PIERRE ANDRIEU/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures More sex = more money People who have more sex are likely to earn more, new research claims. The research, partly conducted from the responses of 7,500 people, found employees who have sex two or three times a week earn 4.5 per cent more than colleagues who do not. Rex Love and sex news: in pictures The effects of watching porn Contrary to suggestion that porn desensitises viewers to sex, a study has found that it doesn't "negatively impact sexual functioning" and in fact boosts couples' sexual attraction to one another. In research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, scientists at the University of California tested the effects of visual sexual stimuli on men in relationships, finding that it "is unlikely to negatively impact sexual functioning, given that responses actually were stronger in those who viewed more VSS." Rex Love and sex news: in pictures 'I have herpes' A woman diagnosed with herpes at the age of 20 has written an emotional essay about living with the common condition to fight the stigma surrounding it. Ella Dawson, now 22, said she had never had unprotected sex and thought she wasn't the sort of person STDs happened to when the symptoms first appeared during her time at university in the US. She wrote that the diagnosis initially felt like a punishment for her values and relationships and worried her that telling boyfriends would ruin her love life. Ella Dawson Love and sex news: in pictures More sleep, better sex A new study could have a simple answer to enhancing your sex life  just get a good nights sleep (if you are a woman at least). A study conducted by a team at the University of Michigan Sleep and Circadian Research Laboratory found women who get an extra hour of sleep at night reported higher levels of sexual desire and were more likely to have sex with their partners. Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Swipe right A woman has detailed her experiences of a week of always swiping right on Tinder. 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Researchers at Kings College London and a London NHS trust said they hoped the review would help address the concern that some men have about their penis size and aid people suffering from anxiety and distress. They revealed that the average flaccid penis is 3.6ins (9.16cm) long, or 5.2ins (13.24cm) when stretched, and 3.7ins (9.31cm) in circumference. Erect penises are 5.1ins (13.12cm) long on average and 4.5ins (11.66cm) in girth. Rex Love and sex news: in pictures One true love Men fall in love more times in their life than women, according to a new survey. 2,000 adults were asked about relationships, and discovered that more than half of men say they've loved more than one person their lifetime. For women, it's markedly fewer, with only 45 per cent saying they've had multiple loves. Love and sex news: in pictures Dating site for 'beautiful people only' A self-proclaimed elite dating website has removed around 3,000 members because they were "letting themselves go". BeautifulPeople.com describes itself as the largest internet dating community exclusively for the beautiful and puts peoples photographs to a members vote to decide if they are allowed in. But administrators have now shown that the rigorous 48-hour selection period is not a permanent pass by taking thousands of profiles down, mainly because of weight gain and graceless ageing. Love and sex news: in pictures Sex is a 'miracle cure' Regular exercise  including sex, walking and dancing  are miracle cures staring us in the face and could dramatically cut our risk of cancer, dementia, heart disease and diabetes, leading doctors have said. In a new review of existing evidence which reveals the full extent of benefits that can be accrued from exercise, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said the improvement in health and savings to the NHS could be incalculable. Susannah Ireland Love and sex news: in pictures Pornhub searches by age of user Pornhubs prolific Insights blog fires out many reports of sociological interest, none more so than its latest on age, which lays bare different age groups' sexual proclivities. Looking at the most popular searches among 18-24s, there are several familial terms including 'step mom', 'milf', 'mom' and 'step sister', a trend that seems to die out somewhat in users' 30s. By 65, 'massage' becomes the top term, while 'granny' perhaps unsurprisingly also hits the top ten. PlaceIt/Just Another IKEA Catalog Love and sex news: in pictures Mature sex Research into the sexual lives of more than 7,000 men and women between the ages of 50 and 90 in England reveals that half of men and almost a third of women aged 70 and over were still sexually active, with around a third of these sexually active older people having sexual intercourse twice a month or more. Around two-thirds of men and over half of women thought good sexual relations were essential to the maintenance of a long-term relationship or being sexually active was physically and psychologically beneficial to older people. Getty Creative Love and sex news: in pictures The secret to an eighty year marriage Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that 42 per cent of marriages in England and Wales end in divorce, and the average British marriage which ends in divorce lasts 11 years and six months. Helen and Maurice Kaye, now aged 101 and 102, have been married for 80 years, and say the secret is: I think its important to have patience and tolerance. You're two entirely different people who suddenly live together, which can't be easy. But if you love each other, you get over the difficulties. Love and sex news: in pictures Valentine's Day porn Pornhub saw a (slight) drop in traffic on Valentine's Day as people focused on pleasuring their partners rather than themselves. Everywhere, it is, except for London. Overall UK traffic dipped 3 per cent across the UK, with Plymouth and Oxford seeing the biggest drops of 11 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. In fact every major city spent less time watching porn bar London, the Pornhub audience for which grew by 2 per cent. Getty Love and sex news: in pictures 1 in 10 men paying for sex A tenth of British men have admitted to paying for sex, according to a new study. Professionals aged 25 to 34 who binge drink and take drugs were found to be the most likely to have used the services of prostitutes, based on findings from a study of 6,108 men. Around 11 per cent of subjects, in the study published in the Sexually Transmitted Infections journal, have ever paid for sex in their lifetime and four per cent admitted to doing so in the last five years. Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Questions that determine if you're in love The existence of love and its nature is something that has troubled philosophers for centuries, but a pair of scientists believe they have a set of questions that yield "clear empirical evidence" of it, or at least whether your relationship will end in divorce. They are: 'How happy are you in your marriage relative to how happy you would be if you weren't in the marriage?' and 'How do you think your spouse answered that question?' Columbia

If theyre disrespectful

Michael Diamond explained that disrespecting those around them  including waiting stuff  would signal that a date was not a good person.

It's easy to be nice to someone you want to impress. But are you nice to the waitress, and the Uber driver and the ice cream server? Those are real tells of character. If someone is mean to the people around them, that's a red flag.

If theyre a phone addict

Gwen Sawchuk said someone constantly using their mobile phone would annoy them on a date.

I'm here. Let's talk. Let's have a good time. No, you don't have to post every word you say to social media. Everyone is allowed to have 1 hour a day to eat a meal without taking a text. There, I said it. Put your phone away.

If theyre late

Charlotte Lang thought that being late  without prior warning  would be a sign that a date may not be all they seem.

Being more than 15 minutes late without a text or phone call telling me you're delayed. I'll give you a 15 minute window-traffic, accidents, or other unplanned things can derail you. But if you're gonna be late, tell me. I have no problem if you tell me you're delayed.

If theyre competitive

Tina Marie Balacano warned of dates with a competitive streak.

Does your date one-up all of your stories? Is the conversation filled with name-dropping and stories of overachievement? If she a workaholic? Youre looking for a partner, not a nemesis. And you want her to be available to you, not holed up in the office obsessed with climbing the corporate ladder faster than her peers.
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Irelands status as a tax haven for vast US multinationals has come under fire again, after two huge American manufacturers struck a $20bn (14bn) merger deal under which the combined business will base itself in Cork and save $150m a year in taxes.

Johnson Controls  a maker of air-conditioners and batteries  will merge with Tyco International, best known for fire-protection equipment.

News of the deal comes just days after Google, which also uses an Irish base to avoid tax, agreed a controversial deal with the UK government to pay 130m in tax. It also follows The Independents revelations of the super-low tax payments of General Electric, whose biggest offshore base is in Shannon. The European Commission, meanwhile, is close to ruling on whether Apple must repay up to $8bn of unpaid taxes from its Irish-domiciled business.

Although Johnson is far bigger than Tyco, the deal is being structured so that the smaller company is the buyer. This means it can take advantage of Tycos tax base, which it moved recently to Ireland, giving as its postal address an office in Mahon, Cork. Despite being essentially a US company with a US stock market listing, Tycos accounts show it was previously registered in Switzerland, before which it was in Bermuda.

As a result of the deal, Johnson will save some $150m in taxes a year. Most of that will be in lost tax revenue to the US, where nearly half of its profit is made, but the more aggressive structure could include losses for taxpayers in Britain, where Johnson has several businesses.

Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled  leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year.

Like many other recent deals, the transaction is what tax planners call an inversion, where a US company buys another one in a low-tax jurisdiction in order to shift its domicile there.

Britains recently assumed low-tax status famously attracted Pfizers attentions to AstraZeneca  a deal which did not end up succeeding, But many more companies have shifted to Ireland, where taxes are even lower.

These tax tricks include the Double Irish, where a company sets up two Irish companies to buy from each other via a third company set up in a tax haven destination such as the Caribbean islands. While the Irish government has banned the dodge from the start of this year, pre-existing deals can still stand.

Clark Gascoigne, director of the Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency Coalition in the US, said: We are fed up with companies who abandon their home countries to avoid taxes when they benefit from all the resources, education, workforces in countries there.

He repeated his call for Congress to put a two-year moratorium on tax inversions, but said that senior Republicans were likely to block such a move. Republicans have been using the tax inversion flood in the US to push for lower corporate taxes, which are high by international standards, at 35 per cent compared to the UKs 20 per cent and Irelands 12.5 per cent.
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Education is the most underfunded sector in humanitarian response where children living in conflict have an average of 38p spent on their education per month, new research from War Child shows.

The charity said that half of all children out of school worldwide live in conflict zones. Each child living in conflict has an average of 38p being spent on their education per month.

The number of children forced out of education during 2015 due to conflict was high. In northern Nigeria Boko Haram forced nearly 1.2 million children to flee their homes due to their terrorist activity. Over 1,100 schools were attacked or destroyed by the group with 600 teachers allegedly murdered, while 19,000 teachers fled, according to War Child, while in Yemen 1.8 million children have been forced to leave their classrooms due to fighting.

Half of the 4.4 million people who have fled Syria during the crisis to neighbouring countries are reportedly children. While a million refugees have travelled to Europe to escape the conflict, thousands have died on the journey across the seas and some 500 children have reportedly drowned.

The charity states that more than 16 million babies were born in warzones, which accounts for one in eight births worldwide last year.

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.

War Child claims a pledge made by world leaders in 2000 to provide all children with basic education by 2015 has not been fulfilled, but has hailed a promise from world leaders to ensure all children receive a quality primary and secondary education by 2030 as part of new Sustainable Development Goals from the UN.

Rob Williams, Chief Executive at War Child UK, said: Today were asking people to think about the value of a childs future. 38 pence isnt very much, it can buy small things - a tin of beans, a packet of dried pasta, a single apple. It doesnt buy much, and it certainly does not buy an education.

We believe education is the most important tool to enable the worlds most vulnerable children to build their own futures.

A Unicef report released earlier this month warned that extensive gaps in education can contribute to long-term economic and social crises. It stated that South Sudan has the highest proportion of children not receiving an education, followed by Niger, Sudan and Afghanistan.
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One of the least acknowledged - and most original - thinkers in astronomy is being acknowledged by Google Doodle.

Beatrice Tinsley was responsible for breakthrough discoveries on how galaxies moved with time but her name is virtually unknown outside academic circles.

Born in England, she spent most of her schooling in New Zealand before moving to Texas, achieving recognition for her work by the late 1970s.

Here are five facts about New Zealand's most uncelebrated brains:

1. Tinsley's work helped to unlock the past and future galaxies

The astronomer realised that, since galaxies are made out of billions of stars, scientists could use what they already knew about the lives of stars to learn about the histories of galaxies. She calculated not just how galaxies look today, but how they would look over time depending on how they had originally formed their stars. She even calculated models for different types of galaxies - a demanding task in the days before computers could run algorithms.

Tinsley realised that the rate of galaxy expansion could be calculated (Getty)

2. Her work affected theories about the Big Bang

Tinsley's research changed the standard method for determining distances to far-away galaxies. This was significant in determining the size of the universe and its rate of expansion - leading ideas behind the development of the Big Bang theory. She pointed out to her professors as a PhD student that factors such as how many chemical elements, the mass of the galaxy and the rate of starbirth had all been overlooked in determining how fast a galaxy was expanding.

 Possible 9th planet discovered

3. She was not taken seriously as a married woman

Despite being offered a scholarship at the high-powered Center for Advanced Studies in Texas and gaining a PhD, Tinsley was excluded from permanent work. She did not realise when she married her husband, university classmate Brian Tinsley, that she would also be stopped from working at Christchurch in New Zealand because he was employed there.

In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Major Tim Peake blasting off into orbit on board the Soyuz space capsule on his way to becoming the first British astronaut to join the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) PA In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Major Tim Peake (left) blasting off into orbit on board the Soyuz space capsule on his way to becoming the first British astronaut to join the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) PA In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Photographers take pictures as Russia's Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft carrying the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 46/47 crew of Britain's astronaut Tim Peake, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and US astronaut Tim Kopra blasts off from the launch pad at Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome AFP In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Expedition 46-47 crewmembers ESA astronaut Tim Peake, NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and commander Yuri Malenchenko launch into space from Baikonur cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan Getty Images In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space The Russian rocket launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in front of the world's media following weeks of preparation PA In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space The Russian rocket minutes before launch In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Tim Peake, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), waves to his children from a bus prior the launch of Soyuz TMA-19M space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space US astronaut Tim Kopra waves as he boards the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome, prior to blasting off to the International Space Station (ISS) Getty Images In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Britain's astronaut Tim Peake (bottom), Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko (top) and US astronaut Tim Kopra board the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome, prior to blasting off to the International Space Station (ISS) Getty Images In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space British astronaut Tim Peake, member of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), during inspecting his space suit prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan AP In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space British astronaut Tim Peake, left, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, center, and U.S. astronaut Tim Kopra, members of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), walk to report to members of the State Committee prior to the launch of Soyuz TMA-19M space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan AP In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space From left, British astronaut Tim Peake, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and U.S. astronaut Tim Kopra, members of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), wave to their relatives near a bus prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan AP

4. Two adopted children made life difficult

Through a combination of events, Tinsley found herself the mother of two adopted children. For years she would try to fit in her science between when her children were asleep or on visits to libraries. In 1974, she divorced her husband and left her children so as to continue with her work.

5. She died when she had just got going

Only four years after leaving her family behind, Yale University made her professor of astronomy. In the six years she was there, she published many scientific papers which cosmologists today have said make her world-leading in the field. But, aged 40, she died of cancer. She would have been 75 this year.
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Marvin Minsky, a legendary cognitive scientist who pioneered the field of artificial intelligence, died Sunday at the age of 88. His death was announced by Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the MIT Media Lab, who distributed an email to his colleagues:

With great great sadness, I have to report that Marvin Minsky died last night. The world has lost one of its greatest minds in science. As a founding faculty member of the Media Lab he brought equal measures of humour and deep thinking, always seeing the world differently. He taught us that the difficult is often easy, but the easy can be really hard.

In 1956, when the very idea of a computer was only a couple of decades old, Minsky attended a two-month symposium at Dartmouth that is considered the founding event in the field of artificial intelligence. His 1960 paper, "Steps Toward Artificial Intelligence," laid out many of the routes that researchers would take in the decades to come. He founded the Artificial Intelligence lab at MIT, and wrote seminal books  including "The Society of Mind and The Emotion Machine  that colleagues consider essential to understanding the challenges in creating machine intelligence.

You get a sense of his storied and varied career from his home page at MIT:

In 1951 he built the SNARC, the first neural network simulator. His other inventions include mechanical arms, hands and other robotic devices, the Confocal Scanning Microscope, the Muse synthesizer for musical variations (with E. Fredkin), and one of the first LOGO turtles. A member of the NAS, NAE and Argentine NAS, he has received the ACM Turing Award, the MIT Killian Award, the Japan Prize, the IJCAI Research Excellence Award, the Rank Prize and the Robert Wood Prize for Optoelectronics, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal.

One of his former students, Patrick Winston, now a professor at M.I.T., wrote a brief tribute to his friend and mentor:

Many years ago, when I was a student casting about for what I wanted to do, I wandered into one of Marvin's classes. Magic happened. I was awed and inspired. I left that class saying to myself, I want to do what he does.

M.I.T.'s obituary of Minsky explains some of the professor's critical insights into the challenge facing anyone trying to replicate or in some way match human intelligence within the constraints of a machine:

Minsky viewed the brain as a machine whose functioning can be studied and replicated in a computer  which would teach us, in turn, to better understand the human brain and higher-level mental functions: How might we endow machines with common sense  the knowledge humans acquire every day through experience? How, for example, do we teach a sophisticated computer that to drag an object on a string, you need to pull, not push  a concept easily mastered by a two-year-old child?

His field went through some hard times, but Minsky thrived. Although he was an inventor, his great contributions were theoretical insights into how the human mind operates.

Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. 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In a letter nominating Minsky for an award, Prof. Winston described a core concept in Minsky's book "The Society of Mind": "[I]ntelligence emerges from the cooperative behavior of myriad little agents, no one of which is intelligent by itself." If a single word could encapsulate Minsky's professional career, Winston said in a phone interview Tuesday, it would be "multiplicities."

The word "intelligence," Minsky believed, was a "suitcase word," Winston said, because "you can stuff a lot of ideas into it.

His colleagues knew Minsky as a man who was strikingly clever in conversation, with an ability to anticipate what others are thinking -- and then conjure up an even more intriguing variation on those thoughts.

Journalist Joel Garreau on Tuesday recalled meeting Minsky in 2004 at a conference in Boston on the future evolution of the human race: "What a character! Hawaiian shirt, smile as wide as a frogs, waving his hands over his head, a telescope always in his pocket, a bag full of tools on his belt including what he said was a cutting laser, and a belt woven out of 8,000-pound-test Kevlar which he said he could unravel if he ever needed to pull his car out of a ravine."

Minsky and his wife Gloria, a pediatrician, enjoyed a partnership that began with their marriage in 1952. Gloria recalled her first conversation with Marvin: He said he wanted to know about how the brain worked. I thought he is either very wise or very dumb. Fortunately it turned out to be the former.

Their home became a repository for all manner of artifacts and icons. The place could easily merit status as a national historical site. They welcomed a Post reporter into their home last spring.

They showed me the bongos that physicist Richard Feynman liked to play when he visited. Looming over the bongos was 1950s-vintage robot, which was literally straight out of the imagination of novelist Isaac Asimov  he was another pal who would drop in for the Minsky parties back in the day. There was a trapeze hanging over the middle of the room, and over to one side there was a vintage jukebox. Their friends included science-fiction writers Arthur C. Clarke and Robert Heinlein and filmmaker Stanley Kubrick.

Minsky said Turing brought respectability to the idea that machines could someday think (Getty) (Getty Images)

As a young scientist, Marvin Minsky lunched with Albert Einstein but couldnt understand him because of his German accent. He had many conversations with the computer genius John Von Neumann, of whom he said:

He always welcomed me, and wed start taking about something, automata theory, or computation theory. The phone would ring every now and then and hed pick it up and say, several times, Im sorry, but I never discuss non-technical matters. I remember thinking, someday Ill do that. And I dont think I ever did.

Minsky said it was Alan Turing who brought respectability to the idea that machines could someday think.

There were science-fiction people who made similar predictions, but no one took them seriously because their machines became intelligent by magic. Whereas Turing explained how the machines would work, he said.

There were institutions back in the day that were eager to invest in intelligent machines.

The 1960s seems like a long time ago, but this miracle happened in which some little pocket of the U.S. naval research organization decided it would support research in artificial intelligence and did in a very autonomous way. Somebody would come around every couple of years and ask if we had enough money, he said  and flashed an impish smile.

But money wasnt enough.

If you look at the big projects, they didnt have any particular goals, he said. IBM had big staffs doing silly things.

But what about IBMs much-hyped Watson (cue the commercial with Bob Dylan)? Isnt that artificial intelligence?

I wouldnt call it anything. An ad hoc question-answering machine.

Was he disappointed at the progress so far?

Yes. Its interesting how few people understood what steps youd have to go through. They aimed right for the top and they wasted everyones time, he said.

Are machines going to become smarter than human beings, and if so, is that a good thing?

Well, theyll certainly become faster. And theres so many stories of how things could go bad, but I dont see any way of taking them seriously because its pretty hard to see why anybody would install them on a large scale without a lot of testing.

 Washington Post
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Shakespeare enthusiasts will not need to offer their kingdom for a horse this spring, but they may have to cross their fingers for a bus.

A lucky few will get to travel London on a double decker to visit the historic buildings where Richard III was filmed with its star Ian McKellen on board acting as chief tour guide.

Sir Ian launched the BFIs Shakespeare on Film programme on Monday, marking the biggest ever programme of Shakespeares big screen adaptations across the UK and touring the world.

The programme includes the chance to accompany Sir Ian as he retraces scenes shot on location around the capital from the acclaimed 1995 version of Richard III in which he played the title role.

I always thought it might be fun to take a bus tour around the sites of Richard III. You would watch snippets of the film and then arrive at the actual location, he said, revealing he had come up with the idea. I want to be the tour leader.

Robin Baker, BFI head curator, said the event would go ahead, but as yet they had not decided how many times Sir Ian would do the tour or how the tickets would be allocated. Its a pretty special event and they will be pretty lucky people who get to go on it with him.

Among the locations used in the film that also stars Maggie Smith and Jim Broadbent, were St Pancras station, Tate Modern and Battersea Power Station as well as Hackneys gas holders.

The locations absolutely make the film; that familiarity but yet they feel so unfamiliar and foreboding, Mr Baker said. The film really stands the test of time remarkably well. Its helped internationally that half of Downton Abbey is in it.

 Give to GOSH 12 Days of Christmas  Sir Ian McKellen.mp4

It is set in an alternative fascist Britain of the 1930s. Ive long thought Shakespeare works best when he is done in modern dress, Sir Ian said. He continued that if viewers cannot recognise people from their old costumes youre not going to get the story. In Oliviers Richard III there can be some confusion as they all wear the same sort of clothes. Put them in modern-ish dress the clarity improves.

Sir Ian has been performing Shakespeare throughout his six decade career from Henry V and Edward II at the Edinburgh Festival in 1969 to Trever Nunns production of Macbeth with Judi Dench seven years later. In the opening ceremony of the London Paralympics in 2012, he played Prospero.

The bus tour is part of the wider 400th anniversary celebrations marking Shakespeares death this year. It will show adaptations from the silent era to Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles and Kenneth Branagh to Baz Luhrmans Romeo and Juliet.

Mr Baker said: No writer has had a greater impact on cinema, or inspired more films. At the last count, IMDb lists Shakespeare as the writer of 1,120 titles.

Sir Ian admitted he was not sure about many cinematic adaptations of the playwright but since working on the project with the BFI it is already changing my mind about putting Shakespeare on film. I think the answer is a resounding yes. He went as far as to suggest that Shakespeare invented the cinematic cut.
- 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."
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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, one of the most senior scientific communities in the world, could be about to announce that it is pushing forward its Doomsday Clock.

The clock is used as a way of conceptualising the danger that humanity is in. The closer it gets to midnight, the more likely a catastrophic event  and the clock is already as close to midnight as it has ever been before.

Here are all the things that might make The Bulletin push the clock even further than three minutes to midnight. At that point, the group  which is taken incredibly seriously and includes 16 Nobel laureates  will be proclaiming that humanity is more at-risk than at any other time in its existence.

Nuclear weapons

The Bulletin was formed in the depths of the nuclear age, and destruction by atomic weapons is still one of the biggest motivating factors behind changes to the clock.

The group pointed explicitly to nuclear proliferation concerns, including the recent North Korean nuclear test, in its preview of the announcement.

It was largely nuclear weapons that led The Bulletin to push the clock forward by two minutes last year, taking it closer to midnight than it has ever been before.

Which countries have nuclear weapons? Show all 14 1 /14 Which countries have nuclear weapons? Which countries have nuclear weapons? USA Have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Russia Have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? UK Have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? France Have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? China Have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? India Say they have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Pakistan Say they have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? North Korea Say they have nuclear weapons EPA/Rodong Sinmun Which countries have nuclear weapons? Israel Believed to have nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Belgium Nations hosting nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Germany Nations hosting nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Italy Nations hosting nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Netherlands Nations hosting nuclear weapons Getty Which countries have nuclear weapons? Turkey Nations hosting nuclear weapons Getty

Today, unchecked climate change and a nuclear arms race resulting from modernisation of huge arsenals pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity, said Kennette Benedict, executive director of the Bulletin, last year. And world leaders have failed to act with the speed or on the scale required to protect citizens from potential catastrophe.

These failures potentially endanger every person on Earth.

The committee pointed out that the optimism about the nuclear situation that characterised recent years has mostly disappeared. Many countries are looking to build up their armoury, and the groups that were pushing for disarmament appear to have lost momentum, The Bulletin pointed out.

Some progress has been made this year, with the US opening up towards Iran after it committed to a new nuclear programme. But with North Korea claiming to have successfully tested hydrogen bombs and increased tensions between many nuclear states, the fear is growing.

Global warfare

The Bulletin also pointed to Tensions between the United States and Russia that remain at levels reminiscent of the Cold War. Those large-scale issues have been reflected in places like Syria, and the rise of murderous groups like Isis and Boko Haram are likely to contribute towards The Bulletins assessment of the fate of humanity.

Climate change

The world is getting close to dangerous levels of global warming, which could bring with it massive changes to the environment. That could lead to the widespread destruction of large parts of humanity and other animals.

Changes in sea levels are likely to bring flooding to many parts of the world, and could eventually lead to large parts of the world going underwater. Large parts of major cities including London, Shanghai and New York could become inaccessible, and people are likely to have to migrate to other parts of the world.

 What's the effect of global warming on our seasons?

Continued changes in temperature will also have huge effects on ecosystems inland, too. They will in turn bring threats to human life that could include new viruses and bacteria, starvation from food shortages and major wars as people fight over dwindling resources.

Many of those effects are already happening. But The Bulletin has warned that if politicians and companies dont work harder to avoid the worst effects then the result could be apocalyptic  pushing us further towards midnight.

Artificially created biological weapons

One of The Bulletins big concerns is that the advances in genetics and biology that have been made in recent years could soon be turned on humanity itself. The new knowledge has mostly been used for good  but it could just as easily be turned on us.

Those could be anything from new types of "nonlethal" agents, to viruses that sterilize their hosts, to others that incapacitate whole systems within an organism, The Bulletin has said. The wide availability of bioengineering knowledge and tools, along with the ease with which individuals can obtain specific fragments of genetic material (some can be ordered through the mail or over the internet), could allow these capabilities to find their way into the hands of groups bent on violent disruption.

Even scientists with the best intentions might accidentally create harmful biotechnology that could wipe us out. The Bulletin has previously pointed to examples like an event in 2001, when Australian researchers said that they had accidentally created a new and virulent strain of mousepox wile they were trying to make a method for controlling rodents.

New, murderous technologies

Cyber and internet technology is being applied everywhere from industrial manufacturing to the design of tiny systems and computers. And thats mostly good  but the Bulletin point out that there are few ways of guaranteeing it will stay that way.

 Robots evolve on their own

Whether by governments or non-state actors, technologies can be unleashed on societies causing grave and irreversible harm. And even with the best intentions, deploying technological solutions, say in geoengineering to combat climate change, may lead to unintended consequences with devastating effects, the Bulletin has written.

Furthermore, some of these emerging technologies are being developed for military applications that may increase the effectiveness of military operations, the accuracy of weapons in combat, and the control of weapons systems. But such knowledge cannot be kept secret. By utilizing powerful new technologies, militaries may create new methods of killing and subduing populations that could come back to haunt us.
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Three men, a woman and a teenage boy have been arrested by detectives investigating the death of a homeless man whose body was found in a burning tent.

Firefighters discovered the body of Daniel Smith as they tackled a blaze under a railway arch in Salford, Greater Manchester, during the early hours of 20 January.

Police launched a murder inquiry after a post-mortem found the 23-year-old, who had been homeless for some time, died from multiple injuries.

Recommended Read more Two arrested over murder of homeless man found burning in tent

Greater Manchester Police said on Monday that officers had arrested three men aged 26, 24, and 19, a woman aged 28 and a boy aged 16 on suspicion of murder.

It comes as two men aged 25 and 31 arrested on Sunday on suspicion of murder remain in police custody for questioning.

A boy aged 16 arrested in the early hours of Saturday and a man, 24, arrested on Friday, have both been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Detective Superintendent Jon Chadwick, from Greater Manchester Polices Major Investigation Team, said: We now have several people in custody who are being questioned in relation to Daniels death and our enquiries remain ongoing.

We have specialist officers providing ongoing support to Daniels family and I would ask for anyone who has information that could assist this police investigation to please get in touch and tell us what they know.
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Police in Scotland have launched an investigation after a man, who is now HIV positive, received abusive messages from someone he had previously slept with, boasting they did not wear a condom.

Three other people in the area also claim to have received similar messages, according to Buzzfeed News who reported the investigation.

Matt, who is in his twenties and has chosen not to reveal his real name, told BuzzFeed he had sex with a man after meeting him on Grindr  a social network app geared towards gay and bisexual men  on 24 July last year.

Matt said he explicitly requested safe sex before penetration took place, to which the man agreed. He added that he saw the man remove a condom from a draw by the side of his bed, but could not be sure if he had used it or not. He said the condom did not appear to have semen in it after sex.

In August, Matt claims he received abusive Whatsapp messages from the man, using crude language and boasting he had not used a condom during their encounter. According to BuzzFeed one of the messages reads: I c***ed in youre a** without a condom.

After receiving the messages and experiencing health concerns, including a swollen throat and fever, Matt visited a sexual health clinic in Edinburgh, who confirmed he was HIV-positive late last year.

The HIV status of the man who sent Matt the Whatsapp messages is not known.

The suspect allegedly sent abusive Whatsapp messages to Matt suggesting he had not used a condom during sex Getty (Getty iStock)

Matt told BuzzFeed a nurse at the sexual health centre said other patients had received similar messages to those sent to him.

Matt said: My nurse didnt say how many people. But my [Criminal Investigation Department] officer said they know of three others, and is getting statements off those three men. I dont know what stage hes at.

A Police Scotland spokesperson told the Independent: Police in Edinburgh are currently investigating this matter and are looking to speak with a number of individuals as part of this inquiry to establish the full circumstances.

Dona Milne, Deputy Director of Public Health, NHS Lothian, said: We are assisting police with their enquiries and it would be inappropriate to comment further on an individual case.

"However, we would encourage men to look at the information provided by HIV Scotland on their website about the risks of HIV transmission and to make contact with services for testing and advice if they have concerns.

According to BuzzFeed News, Matt has received an email from his CID officer saying they are close to being able to detain and interview [the suspect].

Under Scottish law exposing or infecting someone with HIV comes under culpable or reckless conduct. The maximum penalty in Scotland for these common-law offences is life imprisonment, in England and Wales it is five years.

Another offence for the deliberate transmission of HIV comes under assault law, however it is almost impossible to prove someone intended to infect another person with HIV, therefore most cases are investigated as reckless conduct.

Earlier this month it was revealed the number of crimes linked to the use of dating apps, including Grindr and Tinder, has increased by 560 per cent in the past two years.

In November, the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases in Europe hit an all-time high of 142,000. The World Health Organisation said the figure was the largest recorded in the continent since reports began in the 1980s.

Over 103,000 people are living with HIV in the UK, according to Public Health England.

Clarification: An error in this article stated a quarter of people in the UK are living with HIV - this has been corrected to *Over 103,000
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Thousands of children have been evacuated from least 14 schools across England after a string of bomb threats were made in a suspected hoax.

In London, Ricards Lodge High School in Wimbledon and Raynes Park High School were thought to be among four that received calls claiming a suspicious device had been left at their premises.

The schools were evacuated as a precaution while the incidents were looked into, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said.

Searches of the premises have been completed and all the incidents have been stood down.

The incidents are being treated as malicious communications.

At around the same time on Tuesday morning, West Midlands Police said calls were made in quick succession to six schools in Sandwell, Dudley and Birmingham.

The force said bomb threats were received at around 9am but that intelligence experts have since verified there is no credible threat.

The affected schools were the Oldbury Academy in Pound Road, Holly Lodge High, in Smethwick, Bristnall Hall Academy, in Oldbury, George Slater High School, in West Bromwich, Earls High School, in Halesowen and Four Dwellings Upper School, in Quinton.

It followed similar phone threats to four schools in the Black Country last week that saw hundreds of pupils evacuated before police confirmed they were hoaxes.

Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said: Police intelligence suggests there is no credible threat behind the callsthey mirror the hoaxes several schools received just a few days ago.

Local police officers have been sent to the affected schools to carry out checks and to offer reassurance.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2022 Visitors at the PoliNations garden in Victoria Square, Birmingham, which is made up of five 40ft high tree installations and over 6,000 plants. The PoliNations programme aims to explore how migration and cross-pollination have shaped the UKs gardens and culture PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2022 Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews take part in the traditional Pier Walk along the harbour walls of St Andrews before the start of the new academic year PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2022 The Massed Pipes and Drums parade during the Braemar Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2022 Number 12 Company Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks, central London, before commencing their first Guard Mount at Buckingham Palace PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2022 A salmon leaps up the weir at Hexham in Northumberland, despite the drought warnings and low water levels, the River Tyne is still flowing well allowing the salmon and sea trout to head up river to spawn. Every year tens of thousands of salmon make the once-in-a-lifetime journey along the Tyne to spawn, having been out a sea PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2022 Flowers are placed at the gates outside Kensington Palace, London, the former home of Diana, Princess of Wales, on the 25th anniversary of her death PA

A police investigation is underway to find the person responsible for the calls.

Four more secondary schools in Cornwall had received calls suggesting a potential security threat at around 8am.

Teachers made the decision to evacuate the buildings in Truro, St Ives and Penzance, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

By 9am, following police attendance and immediate enquiries, there was quickly found to be no threat and no risk to any children or staff, a spokesperson added.

Police could not confirm whether the threats were from the same source or part of a co-ordinated hoax and inquiries continue.
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Facebook messages sent from the account of the 20-year-old Briton dubbed Jihadi Jack appear to show him mocking people who mourned the Paris terror attacks as bloody fools.

Messages posted from Jack Letts account and seen by The Independent also include claims that his friends in the Middle East have killed soldiers, and references to beheading.

The Independent revealed that Mr Letts had used recent Facebook posts to deny being an Isis fighter  and claim that other extreme people had used his account to post inflammatory messages.

It is not clear whether the disturbing views expressed in a new cache of Facebook posts passed to The Independent were written by Mr Letts himself, or others with access to his account.

But the former Oxfordshire schoolboy remains under investigation by counter-terror police amid fears he has become the first white British man to go to there to fight for Isis. His family insist that he went to the Middle East country to help refugees.

In one Facebook post about jihad last October, the person controlling his account quoted the Prophet Muhammad as saying: I was sent before the hour with the sword until Allah is worshipped alone without partners.

In pictures: The rise of Isis Show all 74 1 /74 In pictures: The rise of Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters of the Islamic State wave the group's flag from a damaged display of a government fighter jet following the battle for the Tabqa air base, in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from Islamic State group sit on their tank during a parade in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from the Islamic State group pray at the Tabqa air base after capturing it from the Syrian government in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from extremist Islamic State group parade in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping A video uploaded to social networks shows men in underwear being marched barefoot along a desert road before being allegedly executed by Isis Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping Haruna Yukawa after his capture by Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping Khalinda Sharaf Ajour, a Yazidi, says two of her daughters were captured by Isis militants Washington Post In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Spokesperson for Isis Vice News via Youtube In pictures: The rise of Isis A pro-Isis leaflet A pro-Isis leaflet handed out on Oxford Street In London Ghaffar Hussain In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Isis Jihadists burn their passports In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid A man collecting aid administered by Isis in Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid A woman collecting aid administered by Isis in Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid Local civilians queue for aid administered by Isis. Since it declared a caliphate the group has increasingly been delivering services such as healthcare, and distributing aid and free fuel In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces detain men suspected of being militants of the Isis group in Diyala province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Mourners carry the coffin of a Shi'ite volunteer from the brigades of peace, who joined the Iraqi army and was killed during clashes with militants of the Isis group in Samarra, during his funeral in Najaf In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi Shiite Turkmen family fleeing the violence in the Iraqi city of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, arrives at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Arbil, in Iraq's Kurdistan region In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi A photograph made from a video by the jihadist affiliated group Furqan Media via their twitter account allegedly showing Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi delivering a sermon during Friday prayers at a mosque in Mosul. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an Islamist caliphate in the territory under the group's control in Iraq and Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq Shiite's Al-Qubba Husseiniya mosque explodes in Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq Smoke and debris go up in the air as Shiite's Al-Qubba Husseiniya mosque explodes in Mosul. Images posted online show that Islamic extremists have destroyed at least 10 ancient shrines and Shiite mosques in territory - the city of Mosul and the town of Tal Afar - they have seized in northern Iraq in recent weeks In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq A bulldozer destroys Sunni's Ahmed al-Rifai shrine and tomb in Mahlabiya district outside of Tal Afar In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces celebrate after clashes with followers of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi, in front of his home in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi at his home after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis A vehicle burns in front of a home of a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi woman holds her exhausted son as over 1000 Iraqis who have fled fighting in and around the city of Mosul and Tal Afar wait at a Kurdish checkpoint in the hopes of entering a temporary displacement camp in Khazair In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees Displaced Iraqi women hold pots as they queue to receive food during the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, at an encampment for displaced Iraqis who fled from Mosul and other towns, in the Khazer area outside Irbil, north Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria A militant Islamist fighter waving a flag, cheers as he takes part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa. The fighters held the parade to celebrate their declaration of an Islamic "caliphate" after the group captured territory in neighbouring Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters wave flags as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province Reuters In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters travel in a vehicle as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Fighters from the Isis group during a parade with a missile in Raqqa, Syria. Militants from an al-Qaida splinter group held a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria, displaying U.S.-made Humvees, heavy machine guns, and missiles captured from the Iraqi army for the first time since taking over large parts of the Iraq-Syria border In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Fighters from the Isis group during a parade in Raqqa, Syria. Militants from the splinter group held a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria, displaying U.S.-made Humvees, heavy machine guns, and missiles captured from the Iraqi army for the first time since taking over large parts of the Iraq-Syria border In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters hold a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria A member loyal to the Isis waves an Isis flag in Raqqa In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi anti-government gunmen from Sunni tribes in the western Anbar province march during a protest in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. The United Nations warned that Iraq is at a "crossroads" and appealed for restraint, as a bloody four-day wave of violence killed 195 people. The violence is the deadliest so far linked to demonstrations that broke out in Sunni areas of the Shiite-majority country more than four months ago, raising fears of a return to all-out sectarian conflict In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces hold up a flag of the Isis group they captured during an operation to regain control of Dallah Abbas north of Baqouba, the capital of Iraq's Diyala province, 35 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq Isis fighters parade in the northern city of Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants from the radical Isis group, demonstrate their skills during a graduation ceremony after completing their field training in Najaf In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Kurdish Peshmerga troops fire a cannon during clashes with militants of the Isis group in Jalawla, Diyala province In pictures: The rise of Isis Lieutenant General Qassem Atta speaks during a press conference Iraqi Prime Minister's security spokesman, Lieutenant General Qassem Atta speaks during a press conference about the latest military development in Iraq, in the capital Baghdad. Iraqi forces pressed a campaign to retake militant-held Tikrit, clashing with jihadist-led Sunni militants nearby and pounding positions inside the city with air strikes in their biggest counter-offensive so far In pictures: The rise of Isis A police station building destroyed by Isis fighters An exterior view of a police station building destroyed by gunmen in Mosul city, northern Iraq. Iraq's new parliament is expected to convene to start the process of setting up a new government, despite deepening political rifts and an ongoing Islamist-led insurgency. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani issued a decree inviting the new House of Representatives to meet and form a new government In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq Smoke billows from an area controlled by the Isis between the Iraqi towns of Naojul and Tuz Khurmatu, both located north of the capital Baghdad, as Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces take part in an operation to repel the Sunni militants In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An elderly Iraqi woman is helped into a temporary displacement camp for Iraqis caught-up in the fighting in and around the city of Mosul in Khazair In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi Christian woman fleeing the violence in the village of Qaraqush, about 30 kms east of the northern province of Nineveh, cries upon her arrival at a community center in the Kurdish city of Arbil in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi woman, who fled with her family from the northern city of Mosul, prays with a copy of the Quran AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq The body of an Isis militant killed during clashes with Iraqi security forces on the outskirts of the city of Samarra Reuters In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi civilians inspect the damage at a market after an air strike by the Iraqi army in central Mosul EPA In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Members of the Al-Abbas brigades, who volunteered to protect the Shiite Muslim holy sites in Karbala against Sunni militants fighting the Baghdad government, parade in the streets of the city AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Shia tribesmen gather in Baghdad to take up arms against Sunni insurgents marching on the capital. Thousands have volunteered to bolster defences AFP/Getty In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis A van carrying volunteers joining Iraqi security forces against Jihadist militants. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced the Iraqi government would arm and equip civilians who volunteered to fight AFP/Getty In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters of the Isis group parade in a commandeered Iraqi security forces armored vehicle down a main road at the northern city of Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq An Islamist fighter, identified as Abu Muthanna al-Yemeni from Britain (R), speaks in this still image taken undated video shot at an unknown location and uploaded to a social media website. Five Islamist fighters identified as Australian and British nationals have called on Muslims to join the wars in Syria and Iraq, in the new video released by the Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Al-Qaida inspired militants stand with captured Iraqi Army Humvee at a checkpoint belonging to Iraqi Army outside Beiji refinery some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad. The fighting at Beiji comes as Iraq has asked the U.S. for airstrikes targeting the militants from the Isis group. While U.S. President Barack Obama has not fully ruled out the possibility of launching airstrikes, such action is not imminent in part because intelligence agencies have been unable to identify clear targets on the ground, officials said In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants attacked Iraq's main oil refinein Baiji as they pressed an offensive that has seen them capture swathes of territory, a manager and a refinery employee said In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants from the Isis group parading with their weapons in the northern city of Baiji in the in Salaheddin province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq A smoke rises after an attack by Isis militants on the country's largest oil refinery in Beiji, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad. Iraqi security forces battled insurgents targeting the country's main oil refinery and said they regained partial control of a city near the Syrian border, trying to blunt an offensive by Sunni militants who diplomats fear may have also seized some 100 foreign workers In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group stand next to captured vehicles left behind by Iraqi security forces at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province. For militant groups, the fight over public perception can be even more important than actual combat, turning military losses into propaganda victories and battlefield successes into powerful tools to build support for the cause In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq An injured fighter (C) from the Isis group after a battle with Iraqi soldiers at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis aiming at advancing Iraqi troops at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis group taking position at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis group inspecting vehicles of the Iraqi army after they were seized at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq One Iraqi captive, a corporal, is reluctant to say the slogan, and has to be shouted at repeatedly before he obeys Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Iraqi captives held by the extremists Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Iraqi captives held by the extremists Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group force captured Iraqi security forces members to the transport In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group transporting dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members to an unknown location in the Salaheddin province ahead of executing them In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq A major offensive spearheaded by Isis but also involving supporters of executed dictator Saddam Hussein has overrun all of one province and chunks of three others In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group executing dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis militants taking position at a Iraqi border post on the Syrian-Iraqi border between the Iraqi Nineveh province and the Syrian town of Al-Hasakah In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis rebels show their flag after seizing an army post AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis militants waving an Islamist flag after the seizure of an Iraqi army checkpoint in Salahuddin Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Demonstrators chant slogans as they carry al-Qaida flags in front of the provincial government headquarters in Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad. In the week since it captured Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, a Muslim extremist group has tried to win over residents and has stopped short of widely enforcing its strict brand of Islamic law, residents say. Churches remain unharmed and street cleaners are back at work

After the Isis attacks in Paris last November, a message was posted mocking those who changed their Facebook photos to the French flag. It read: Would not dare put a France flag on my profile pic. The same country who fines your mothers and sisters for wearing the veil. You bloody fools. What muppits you are.

In January another messages accused Saudi Arabia of cooperating with the US to persecute Muslims, and referred to Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the Shia cleric executed in Saudi Arabia at the start of this year, as a filthy scholar. Isis targets Shia Muslims, not regarding them as true believers in Islam.

The posting read: Saudi helping America against muslims who attack its embassies is Kufra Akbar according to the quran, the sunnah and consensus of the scholars. Whoever is pleased with it is a disbeliever, kaafir. Make tawbah if you support this puppet regime. Ask Allah for the truth. (I dont include the filthy shiI scholar that was killed when I use the term muslims so dont get confused)

In response to another Facebook users comment taht he should Go and behead someone, Mr Letts account responded: Your way to far away for me to behead you.

This echoes comments made in an exchange on Facebook last November in which a posting purportedly from Mr Letts reportedly told his former classmate, Enoch Hadrada: your not my mate. My mates died fighting and killing your countries brainwashed soldiers and its servants in the east.  Thames Valley Police said: The South East Counter Terrorism Unit is aware of reports regarding a 20-year-old man from Oxford travelling to Syria and can confirm we are investigating. This investigation began in March 2015 and is ongoing. 

Mr Letts went to Cherwell School in Oxford and his interest in Islam is thought to have been prompted by the Arab Spring in 2011. By last year he was in Syria, having initially told his family he was travelling to Kuwait to study Arabic.

Mr Letts appeared keen to put his side of the story, posting: Does anyone know a sincere muslim journalist who will not change my quotes? I want to speak to them to clarify misinformation on both sides.
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The front doors of asylum seekers homes in Middlesbrough are being repainted following claims they became the target of vandalism and racial abuse because of their distinctive red colour.

A housing firm subcontracted by the Government denied there was a deliberate policy to colour-code the houses but refugees reported terraces being pelted with eggs, stones, dog excrement and having National Front slogans scratched into the wood.

Reports sparked comparisons to the treatment of Jews by Nazi Germany and the immigration minister said he was deeply concerned by the issue.

Today, work started to repaint doors on more than 100 affected homes owned by urban regeneration firm Jomast, which is subcontracted to provide housing by security firm G4S.

Photos posted on social media initially seemed to show all doors being painted grey, sparking criticism that the new colour would just become yet another marker to identify asylum seekers by.

But a spokesperson for G4S told the Independent that grey was merely an undercoat and would be covered with a range of colours when decorators return.

The Times had previously identified 168 Jomast houses in some of the most deprived areas of Middlesbrough. Of those, 155 had red doors and out of 66 visited, asylum seekers were found living at 62 of them.

Asha Perera, an asylum seeker living in one of the homes with his wife and two children, told the Independent that everybody knows the asylum-seekers in this area have red doors.

They shout, they knock on the door and they throw stones at the windows," he added.

 Asylum-seekers abused

It happens every night. Two days ago, somebody spat on the door. We have two children, one a baby. My wife is scared. She sleeps downstairs and is afraid to go upstairs. They should change the colour of these doors.

Andy McDonald, the Labour MP for Middlesbrough, called the practice reprehensible and said it reminds you of Germany in the 1930s".

Stuart Monk, the owner and managing director of Jomast, told Sky News his firm did not distinguish between private tenants and asylum seekers and that red paint had been used in bulk during refurbishment work.

"If anybody was normally to walk down the street they wouldn't notice the difference between these properties and any other properties in the street, he added.

"We think this has been blown out of all proportion but we are responding to it."

The Home Office has ordered an urgent review of the matter (Mark Pinder)

The repainting comes after a private firm contracted by the Home Office to manage asylum seeker housing in Cardiff dropped a controversial policy to make them wear brightly coloured wristbands.

Refugees housed by Clearsprings Ready Homes were allegedly told they would not be fed if they did not wear the wristbands at all times.

People seeking asylum are not allowed to work and are only entitled to a 36.95 weekly payment card from the government.

Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens said the companys director agreed to cease enforcing the policy after she intervened.

Eric Ngalle, who lived at a house run by the company until he was granted refugee status in November 2015, had told the Guardian refugees would sometimes receive abuse if they were spotted wearing the wristbands as they walked down the street.
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The British government could be sued for its comments about the inquiry into the murder of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, Russias foreign minister has said.

Addressing journalists at his annual press conference, Sergei Lavrov took aim at the report from Sir Robert Owen, the British judge who presided over the inquiry, which he said included serious allegations against the Russian leadership, but contained absolutely no evidence.

In line with the Kremlins narrative surrounding the results of the inquiry, which concluded that President Vladimir Putin is likely to have approved the murder, Mr Lavrov criticised the use of the word probably in the report and warned that the circus surrounding the Litvinenko case will hurt relations between Russia and the UK.

Not probably or possibly. Definitely, he said.

Mr Lavrov also offered a fuller denial of a report last week which detailed the mission of a senior Russian intelligence officer to Damascus late last year to pass on a message to Syrian President Bashar al Assad from Vladimir Putin, asking him to step down.

Its not true, Mr Lavrov said.

Mr Lavrov added that Russia had neither offered nor received a request from Mr Assad for political asylum in the event of him having to flee his country.

We have made no such suggestion, he said.

And we have neither received nor offered any form of asylum.

Mr Lavrov urged that leading Kurdish groups should be included as part of the Syrian peace talks due to begin this Friday, but said the decision as to who to invite to the talks would be left to the United Nations.

It will be the most serious mistake not to invite Kurds, but we will not impose any veto, he said.

The foreign minister also announced that Russia had no plans to take back any refugees who crossed over the border into Norway via Russia, accusing them of lying about their true purpose for being in the country.

"The talk is about people who arrived in Russia with a purpose of either to work in Russia or to visit relatives, he said.

They had not declared their true purpose of their visit as a transit to Norway.

 Russian ambassador accuses UK of 'provocation'

This means that they had deliberately stated false data about the purpose of their visit to the Russian Federation. This is why we do not want to admit these people back to Russia.

Russia and Norway have been at loggerheads over the fate of more than 5,500 refugees who crossed the border into the Scandinavian country from northern Russian city Murmansk by bicycle, with neither country wanting to grant them asylum.
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It is an old dilemma for any intelligence agency battling terrorists that to get information, they need people on the inside. The drawback is that for the informers to be effective, they have to talk and act like terrorists.

During Northern Irelands long Troubles, it was well known that MI5 had informants inside loyalist and republican paramilitary organisations, including the IRA. While violence persisted, the security services were more likely be criticised for failing to prevent a terrorist attack than for the methods they used to combat terrorism. But now that the Troubles are over, attention turns to what these spies in the pay of the British government did.

The most notorious is Freddie Scappaticci, alleged to have been the feared head of the IRA Nutting Squad, which dispatched known or suspected British spies such as Frank Hegarty, shot in the head in 1986, or Joseph Mulhern, similarly put to death in 1993. All along, Scap apparently had another identity as Stakeknife, British Military Intelligences most valued IRA informant. This raises the grim possibility that his British handlers turned a blind eye when lesser informants were murdered by their most prized asset.

Across the sectarian divide there was Brian Nelson, who was recruited in 1985 to act as an army agent within the Ulster Defence Association. He supplied the UDA with names of IRA members, who were then killed. His role was uncovered by John Stevens, future head of the Met Police, who was assigned to investigate collusion between the security force and loyalist paramilitaries. Nelson pleaded guilty to five cases of conspiracy to murder and was sentenced to 10 years.

Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday Show all 9 1 /9 Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday Against the wall: A mural in the Bogside depicts the events of 30 January 1972 GETTY IMAGES Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday The Hands Across the Divide statue symbolises a more peaceful era GETTY IMAGES Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday Headstones in Derry City Cemetery GETTY IMAGES Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday Sign of the times: A street sign reveals the politics of the city's name GETTY IMAGES Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday Visitors cross Shipquay Street GETTY IMAGES Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday A river runs through it: The River Foyle marks the segregation of the city GETTY IMAGES Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday A mural depicting a British soldier knocking down the door of ahouse with a sledgehammer REUTERS Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday Former Bishop of Derry Father Edward Daly talks to Sinn Fein MP MartinMcGuinness in 2002 REUTERS Dark past, bright future: The legacy of Bloody Sunday St Patrick's Day souvenirs on sale this year GETTY IMAGES

The Shankill bombing in 1993 was particularly horrific because it involved the deaths of young children. It has also been an embarrassment to the IRA, which claimed the bomb was not meant to go off when it did.

The shocking possibility that a British agent planned the outrage is a propaganda gain for the republicans.
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Storm Jonas is coming to the UK, bringing storm force winds, heavy rainfall and further flooding misery.

The storm has already battered the east coast of the US, leaving New York City and Washington DC at a complete standstill due to the heavy snowfall, and has caused the deaths of at least 25 people.

Flood-hit communities left devastated by Storm Desmond now risk being affected a second time as areas across north-west England and Scotland could see rainfall of more than 150mm  almost as much as in December, according to the Met Office.

Recommended Read more What Storm Jonas looks like from space

Torrential rain and heavy winds are expected on Tuesday morning as the weather system brought by Storm Jonas hits the UK. The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning covering most of Wales, north-west England and West Scotland.

Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire were some of the worst affected areas during Storm Desmond, and are all covered by the fresh weather warnings.

Severe gales and storm force winds are expected in exposed coastal areas on Tuesday morning bringing gusts of up to 75 mph, while exposed areas of Scotland could see winds of over 80 mph.

"We are in for some heavy rain and strong winds, a Met Office spokesperson said.

"The amounts of rainfall could be pretty high, there is potential for 50 to 100mm, which is four inches.

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

"Across northwest England and Scotland there could be upwards of 150mm, almost rivalling what we saw in December.

"These are quite wet areas and they are susceptible to flooding."

The worst of the rain will clear by Wednesday, the Met Office said, but further rain is expected later on Thursday and into Friday, with further weather warnings likely to be issued due to the heavy totals of rainfall.

Storm Desmond devastated communities in the north of England, where thousands of people had to be evacuated from their homes due to the flooding, while businesses were left ruined.

The Environment Agency said it is monitoring river levels and has warned residents to "be prepared for the possibility of flooding".

"We will monitor rainfall closely and urge communities to be vigilant," a spokesman said.

"With heavy rainfall predicted in those areas there is obviously a risk of flooding.

"We will have crews out in the next couple of days and if the river levels rise then we could issue warnings."

Additional reporting by PA
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Pulling out of the Europe Union would encourage Westminster politicians to tear up decades of environmental protections, damaging Britains countryside for the sake of short term competitive advantage, some of the UKs most eminent naturalists have warned.

In a letter to the Environment Secretary Liz Truss the academics and conservation experts say that, far from being red tape, the rules and regulations coming out of Brussels have been critical to improving the quality of Britains water, air and natural environment.

And they warn that a vote to leave would put in jeopardy international efforts to tackle climate change and pollution, restore fish stocks, and improve biodiversity.

The letter, which has been passed to The Independent, is signed by among others the former heads of Natural England, English Nature, the RSPB and the National Trust.

In it they say that Britains membership of the European Union has had hugely positive effect across a range of environmental issues many of which people now take for granted.

And the group warn that pulling out of the EU could lead to a very sharp decline in pan-European protections in areas as diverse as water quality, energy efficiency and habitat and species protection.

Being part of the Union has enabled us to co-ordinate action and agree policies that have improved our quality of life, including the air we breathe, the seas we fish in, and have protected the wildlife which crosses national boundaries, they write.

 Hague makes EU exit warning

As individuals who have spent much of our working lives seeking to deliver a greener Britain, we know from experience that EU coordination, legislation and policy has been critical to improving the UKs environmental quality.

Members of the group argue that many EU environmental directives have only been possible because they apply across all 28 member states  and so no one is put at a competitive disadvantage by not adopting them.

In contrast if the UK were to pull out of the EU the Government would be under huge pressure from industry to water down environmental protections in areas like energy efficiency to help the UK to become more competitive against our former European partners.

Never mind what you think of the EU generally, you have to be very careful what you wish for in terms of the impact of Brexit on UK natural habitats and landscapes, Professor Sir John Lawton former chair of Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution told The Independent.

UK politics has a tendency to be short term and see the natural environment as an impediment to economic growth, and EU agreements help mitigate this by encouraging us to be more long term in our public policy.

Professor Paul Ekins, Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy at University College London, voiced concerns that Brexit would lessen the UKs voice in tackling global environmental concerns.

Individual nations can have limited influence, but working through the EU greatly enhances our potential to tackle transnational issues such as climate change, deforestation and unsustainable wildlife harvesting, he said.

The authors of the letter point out that higher European manufacturing standards for cars, lights and household appliances have lowered consumer energy costs as well as stimulating business innovation.

If the UK were to leave the EU it is very unclear which elements of existing European policy would continue to apply to the UK, the authors write.

The rules of engagement are very uncertain and would be subject to lengthy and protracted negotiation.

While the heads of Government quangos such as the Environment Agency and Natural England are not allowed to speak out in favour of Britains membership the fact that their immediate predecessors have signed the letter is significant.

It reflects concern that the debate about Britains EU membership has so far been dominated by migration and the economy and not other areas of policy which they claim are equally important.

"It's vital to recognise that virtually the entire legal protection for our environment here in Britain derives from European safeguards, said Lord Smith, the former chair, Environment Agency.

"It's vital to recognise that virtually the entire legal protection for our environment here in Britain derives from European safeguards. Our air, water and land are kept clean by European laws. And rightly so, because pollution knows no national boundaries. We ignore these protections at our peril."

Full list of singatories

Professor Bill Adams, professor of conservation and development, University of Cambridge

Professor Andrew Balmford, professor of conservation science, University of Cambridge

Dr Andy Brown, former chief executive, English Nature

Mr. Poul Christiensen CBE, former chair, Natural England

Professor Paul Ekins OBE, professor of resources and environmental policy, University College London

Mr Nigel Haigh OBE, former chair of Green Alliance and former director, the Institute for European Environmental Policy

Sir John Harman, former chair, Environment Agency, and founding director, Aldersgate Group

Professor Sir John Lawton CBE FRS, former chair of the Royal Commission on Environment and Pollution, former chief executive, Natural Environment Research Council

Mr. Adrian Phillips, former chief executive, Countryside Commission, former Chair, IUCN Word Commission on Protected Areas

Dr Helen Phillips, former chief executive, Natural England

Dame Fiona Reynolds, chair Green Alliance, former director general, National Trust,

Lord Chris Smith, former chair, Environment Agency

Sir Graham Wynne, deputy chair, Green Alliance, former chief executive, RSPB

Baroness Young of Old Scone, former chief executive, Environment Agency and the RSPB
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It is absurd to blame Google and other multinational corporations for not paying their taxes, Boris Johnson has said.

The search giant reached a settlement with the tax authority to pay 130m in so-called back taxes after an open audit of its accounts.

The deal was criticised as derisory by Labour, whose shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the deal should be investigated by the Governments public spending watchdog.

Mr Johnson however defended the actions of Google and other multinationals, who have been accused of seeking to minimise the amount of tax they pay.

He claimed that it was company directors jobs to pay as little tax as possible within the law and that they should not be expected to do otherwise.

Everyone is complaining that it isnt enough, that it still amounts to a tax rate of only about 2 per cent on earnings, he wrote in his column for the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Boris Johnson has been mooted as a successor to David Cameron Getty (Getty)

It is absurd to blame the company for not paying their taxes. You might as well blame a shark for eating seals. It is the nature of the beast; and not only is it the nature of the beast  it is the law it is the fiduciary duty of their finance directors to minimise tax exposure.

He also argued that EU member states should be in competition with each other to offer firms the lowest corporate tax rates.

Mr Johnson said it would be a good thing if companies paid more tax but blamed the Government for structuring the tax system as it had done.

He said he did not want tax rates to go up or for European Union countries to do this in concert, however.

In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China boris-china-1.jpg PA In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China boris-china-2.jpg PA In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China boris-china-3.jpg PA In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China boris-china-4.jpg PA In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China boris-china-5.jpg PA In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China boris-china-6.jpg PA In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China boris-china-7.jpg PA In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China boris-china-8.jpg Reuters In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China boris-china-9.jpg PA In pictures: Boris Johnson visits China boris-china-10.jpg PA

Last last year it was reported that George Osborne's tax avoidance crackdown had missed its targets by hundreds of millions of pounds, according to data released by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

One of the possible successors to David Cameron as Prime Minister, Mr Johnsons views on corporation tax could be of significant consequence were he to come to lead his party.

Googles tax deal, agreed on Friday night, covers money owed by the company since 2005 and was the result of a six-year inquiry by HMRC.

Meg Hillier, chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said at the weekend that the amount of money raised was a small amount for the corporation.

Matt Brittin, head of Google Europe, told BBC News: Today we announced that we are going to be paying more tax in the UK.

The rules are changing internationally and the UK government is taking the lead in applying those rules so we'll be changing what we are doing here. We want to ensure that we pay the right amount of tax.
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A former Labour leadership contender has said she lost last years race to replace Ed Miliband because she was the eat your greens candidate.

Liz Kendall, who finished in last place with 4.5 per cent of the vote, said she stood by her campaigns political analysis but said she had clearly failed to inspire the partys members.

Widely perceived as the Blairite candidate from the right of the party, Ms Kendall swung behind the partys interim leadership when it backed the Governments proposed welfare cuts, including some cuts to tax credits.

The Leicester MP's other policies included scrapping proposed tax rises on the wealthy, a points-based immigration system, and worker representation on company boards.

There were two reasons why I think that I lost the Labour leadership election: firstly it was people didnt agree with my analysis about why we lost the general election, and they didnt feel that I set out an inspiring enough alternative for the future, she told BBC Twos Daily Politics programme on Tuesday.

I think I became a little bit of the eat your greens candidate. Now, you know, although I stick by what I say in terms of why I think we lost, that possibly wasnt the best way to win an internal Labour leadership contest."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who began as an outsider in the contest, won in the first round of voting with 59.5 per cent of the vote of members, supporters, and affiliates.

Labour leadership: The Contenders Show all 4 1 /4 Labour leadership: The Contenders Labour leadership: The Contenders Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn started off as the rank outsider in the race to replace Ed Miliband and admitted he was only standing to ensure the left of the party was given a voice in the contest. But the Islington North MP, who first entered Parliament in 1983, is now the firm favourite to be elected Labour leader on September 12 after a surge in left-wing supporters signing up for a vote. PA Labour leadership: The Contenders Liz Kendall Liz Kendall has been labelled the Blairite candidate throughout the contest, which partly explains why she has failed to attract the support needed in a party that has drifted even further from the centre-ground of British politics since the election. She has faced criticism over her relative lack of experience, having only served as an MP since 2010 and having no experience of ministerial or shadow cabinet roles. But that very lack of experience allowed her to initially make a pitch as the only candidate offering real change and a real break from the Blair/Brown/Miliband years, until Jeremy Corbyn entered the race and shifted the whole debate to the left. She is set to finish a disappointing fourth. PA Labour leadership: The Contenders Andy Burnham Andy Burnham started out as the front-runner in the leadership election, seen as the candidate of the left until Jeremy Corbyn entered the race. The former Cabinet minister has found himself squeezed between the growing populism of Corbyns radical agenda and the moderate, centre-left Yvette Cooper, not knowing which way to turn. It has attracted damaging labels such as flip-flop Andy, most notably over his response to the Governments Welfare Bill. He remains hopeful he can win enough second preference votes to take him over the 50 per cent threshold ahead of Corbyn. PA Labour leadership: The Contenders Yvette Cooper.jpg Yvette Cooper has put her experience and achievements in government at the heart of her offer to the Labour party. She played a key part in setting up Sure Start in Tony Blairs government and has pledged to continue her record on delivering for young families by promising a revolution in the way families are supported by introducing universal free childcare. She has also championed her role as a full-time working mother, taking pride in telling audiences that she does the school run for the kids before her day starts as a politician. But she has been criticised for being too wooden and lacking in passion and her attacks on Liz Kendall for swallowing the Tory manifesto at the start of the leadership contest have been criticised for helping Jeremy Corbyn brand all three mainstream candidates as Tory-lite. PA

Andy Burnham came in second place with 19 per cent, and Yvette Cooper came third with 17 per cent.

Though well-liked by insiders, having easily secured the required nominations from her MP colleagues, Ms Kendall failed to secure support from members.

Mr Corbyns flew in the face of advice from party grandees that Labour should ditch the so-called left wing approach of Ed Miliband and move back to a New Labour approach.

After Mr Corbyn's election Ms Kendall said she would remain on the back benches because of political differences with his approach.
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The British public is relatively unconcerned about the apparent assassination of Alexander Litvinenko by Russian agents on British soil, a new poll suggests.

An official inquiry found that Mr Litvinenko, who died from radioactive poisoning in London in 2006, was probably ordered to be killed by Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The former FSB agent, who was living in London under asylum after he accused Russian FSB agents of assassinating an oligarch, worked as a writer and consultant for the British intelligence services.

Recommended Read more Britain cannot let Russia get away with murder

Pollsters YouGov asked the public whether the incident was an outrage that merited action against the Russian government or one of the facts of international espionage that required no special response.

41 per cent of the public responded that the assassination was simply a fact of life, while just 24 agreed it was an outrage. 14 per cent of the public responded neither and 21 per cent said they did not know.

The publics world-weary response somewhat contrasts with the Government, which has taken new measures in response to the inquirys findings.

Home Secretary Theresa May announced the freezing of assets of two men believed to have administered the poison  Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun.

Opposition MPs and some Conservative backbenchers have said the Governments response has not gone far enough, however.

Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham said the response did not go anywhere near enough in answering the seriousness of the findings and suggested the immediate expulsion of every Russian FSB operative from the UK, as well as new economic sanctions against the country.

Russias foreign ministry described the inquirys findings as politically motivated and that the killing of Mr Litvinenko was a purely criminal matter.

YouGov conducted the poll of 2677 UK adults on 22 January 2016. The company confirmed to the Independent that the poll was properly weighted to represent GB demographics.

The full wording of the options was "This kind of thing is one of the facts of international espionage and there is no need to treat this event any differently" and "This is an outrage and the British government should take serious action against the Russian government".
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A Conservative MP has rubbished concerns about asylum seekers being forced to wear red wristbands in order to receive food.

David Davies, MP for Monmouth told LBC said it was ridiculous that people were annoyed at the policy, which has been likened to practices identifying Jewish people in Nazi Germany.

The wristbands revelation follows a furore over asylum seekers having their doors painted red, a policy which reports suggest has made residents a target for xenophobic attacks.

Recommended Read more Red doors of asylum seeker housing in Middlesbrough repainted

It's absolutely ridiculous that there has been such a fuss over, really, nothing at all, Mr Davies told LBC Radio.

How on earth is that comparable to Nazi Germany? We need a sense of proportion about this.

The asylum seekers were made to wear red wristbands by a contractor as a condition of receiving free meals at Cardiff Hospital.

The policy has been scrapped after an outcry. Some critics likened the wristbands to the yellow stars Jewish people were forced to wear in Nazi Germany.

The Clearsprings Group, which runs the food service, said the wristbands had been a reliable and effective way for its workers to identify asylum seekers.

Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Show all 10 1 /10 Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Migrants walk in a long line along the highway near Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015 AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Migrants walk on the railway tracks between Bicske and Szar, some 40 km west of Budapest, Hungary, 04 September 2015 EPA Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria The destination for most of those walking is reportedly Austria AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Most refugees have come to Hungary through the southern border with Serbia AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria People walk in a long line along the highway near Budapest, Hungary AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees walk along Budaorsi Street on their way out of Budapest EPA Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees hold up an EU flag as they on the highway out of Budpest AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees exit Budapest AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Hundreds of migrants walk after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station AFP

Asylum seekers in Middleborough housed by a subcontractor of G4S group said they had been targeted with anti-immigrant abuse after their front doors were painted red.

The doors of the 155 homes, owned by Jomast, are now being repainted, the company says.

Last September the Daily Mirror newspaper reported that hard line far-right groups were planning systematic attacks against refugees coming to the UK.

Vigilante gangs in Germany have targeted asylum seekers en masse earlier this month, with roaming thugs beating up migrants and independent businesses that appeared to be owned by foreigners.
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There are now over 9,000 people camped out in refugee areas in northern France - including at Calais and Dunkirk.

Most of the people want to get to the UK and some of them are trying to enter without papers.

Politicians in Britain are at odds about how to deal with the situation: here are their responses.

Labour: Jeremy Corbyn

There have been reports of internal fighting in Jeremy Corbyn's inner-circle (Getty/Christopher Furlong)

Jeremy Corbyn has called the Government to be reasonable and to consider letting people in with connections to the UK. He says all European countries should work together to take a share of the people in the camps.

We cannot just ignore the fact that are a large number of people in a very serious, deeply depressed state and they need our help, he told ITVs This Morning programme on Monday.

I think there should be a system agreed with all European countries to take some people so we all take a share.

Im not saying all 9,000 should come in, start with those that have a British connection and a British passport - that's an obvious one. And the Home Office can let up a bit and be reasonable in those cases.

Conservatives: David Cameron

David Cameron attends the funeral of Charles Kennedy in November 2015 (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

David Cameron has rejected taking people from Calais, though Government ministers have hinted they are considering changing policy on giving asylum to unaccompanied child migrants.

Jeremy Corbyn supports an entirely open-door migration policy, so I'm not surprised by his views, he told a Downing Street press conference on Monday night in response to Jeremy Corbyns comments.

I think it would be a very bad move to make Calais a magnet for even more people to come by saying there was some kind of direct access from Calais into the UK, as Jeremy Corbyn seems to be saying. That's the wrong approach.

Ukip: Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage raised the issue of the camp over the summer. He described the situation and scary and said he had witnessed it first-hand.

"I was stuck on that road outside Eurotunnel a few weeks ago. I was there for about 40 minutes and I was surrounded by scores of migrants, crossing the motorway and trying the passenger doors on my car. It is a pretty scary situation, he told BBC London on July.

"The British government appears not to want to criticise the French government at all but frankly they are not doing enough."

Liberal Democrats: Tim Farron

Tim Farrons Private Members Bill would commit the UK to allow in unaccompanied refugee children (Getty)

Tim Farron called on the Prime Minister to visit hot-spots such as a Calais and come up with a plan to house unaccompanied children.

This weekend we saw the usual nod and winks from 'sources' and Number 10 stoking speculation that an announcement is coming. Every day the Government waits is another night that a child sleeps rough, in Europe, in sub-zero temperatures, he wrote in a letter.

Britain must open its heart and open its doors to those in need. After much pressing, the Government now seem to agree - it's time to act.

SNP: Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon is making education a focus for the SNP election campaign (Getty)

Nicola Sturgeon has previously raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in the camp, as well as the impact on business of regular disruption at the port.

"Our primary concern over the current situation in Calais must be to play our part in addressing the underlying humanitarian issues. Increasing security at the Channel Tunnel, whilst welcome, will only help in the short term, and is not addressing the root cause of the issue," she wrote in a letter in August.

"Seafood from Scotland is the UK's biggest food export, worth more than 600 million annually. The delays, damage and uncertainty caused by the lack of safe and timely passage through the Tunnel is costing the sector millions of pounds every week and placing future markets in jeopardy."

Green Party: Natalie Bennett

(Getty)

Natalie Bennett said Britain should be taking a lead in getting Europe to take more refugees and that taking in people with ties to the UK could end the disruption in Calais.

In Britain, we should abandon the fiction of our own utterly risible vulnerable Syrians programme and sign up to the UN scheme to take our fair share of the most vulnerable, she wrote in an article for the Huffington Post UK website.

And in terms of a Europe-wide response, we should not be the foot-draggers, not be the resistors, but instead join Merkel's leadership in demanding a programme to ensure that those refugees who reach European soil are fairly distributed among European states - with Britain taking its reasonable share considering both our population and relative wealth.

That programme should be particularly focused on those with family and community ties already here, and the language skills that make them want to come to the UK. That's what would end the crisis and disruption at Calais.
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Public officials in two fundamentalist Mormon towns on the Arizona-Utah border pledged loyalty to the sect leader Warren Jeffs even after he became a fugitive wanted for child sex offences, a federal lawsuit has alleged.

The two adjoining small towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, are home to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a radical Mormon group that still practises polygamy more than 100 years since the mainstream Mormon church disavowed it.

Polygamy is also banned in the Utah state constitution, yet the sect has somehow survived unprosecuted for decades, despite its male adherents having multiple wives.

Women must wear ankle-length dresses, while children are home-schooled and denied access to television and the internet to prevent any engagement with the outside world.

The group won national notoriety in 2005, when Jeffs was charged with the sexual assault of a minor and went on the run after authorities found evidence that one of 24 women he called his wives was aged just 12.

Now the two towns themselves are on trial, after the US Justice Department claimed officials discriminated against non-sect members by denying them fair access to housing and other services. Jessica Clarke, the prosecutor, told jurors in Phoenix: Their plan was to deny basic rights and freedoms to those non-FLDS families so they pack up and move away.

Lawyers representing the two remote communities, whose joint population is no more than 10,000, say the government is denying the sect religious freedom.

But on Monday an FBI agent, Robert Foster, testified about letters written by local officials, including Colorado Citys mayor and its chief of police, pledging loyalty to Jeffs and to the sect. In 2005 the towns clerk, Joseph Allred, wrote to Jeffs, saying: I want my work in the town government, as town clerk, to be an extension of priesthood.

When Jeffs became a fugitive, local police officers denied having any information on his whereabouts. The towns lawyers say those police officers who refused to co-operate in the manhunt have since been decertified and left the force. But Agent Foster, who was involved in the search for Jeffs, told jurors: I view Colorado City, Hildale and FLDS as one and the same.

Jeffs was finally arrested outside Las Vegas in August 2006, with more than $50,000 (35,000) in cash and multiple mobile phones, laptops, wigs and sunglasses in his car. He is now serving a life sentence in a Texas prison for sexually assaulting of one of his underage brides, but is still believed to wield significant influence over the FLDS community.
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Two base jumpers are feared dead after jumping off a bridge over the Pacific ocean as one man tried to rescue his female companion, officials say.

Mary Katherine Katie Connell, from Ventura, California, first jumped off the 260-foot high Bixby Creek Bridge with one parachute and landed in the water below.

Footage not released by police shows that high waves overcame her shortly after landing, as reported by Monterey Herald.

The footage also shows her companion from Finland, who has not yet been named, jumping off the same bridge on about 7.30am Wednesday morning to rescue her. Both are now feared dead.

Police discovered an abandoned rental car near the scene on Saturday afternoon. They identified Ms Connell through documents left in the car.

Police also found a helmet and attached camera partially buried on the beach.

In a news conference on Monday Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal told reporters that the footage shows Ms Connell landing safely in the creek that leads to the ocean, but large waves overwhelmed her.

As the water retreats back into the ocean, Connell and the parachute are not seen retreating back to shore, Mr Bernal said.

Divers are searching the scene and officials are also searching the land by aeroplane.

The documents in the car revealed that the Finnish man was an experienced base jumper with more than 300 jumps. He was a base jumping instructor, according to KSBW.

"Base" jump stands for building, antenna, span, earth, referring to four objects from which thrill-seekers use to jump off.

Jackie Faust, general manager of Skydive Monterey Bay, said base jumping can be more dangerous and less regulated than skydiving.

(Base jumpers) dont have two parachutes, they have one, and its completely different equipment, she told Monterey Herald.
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Police in Thailand have seized a life-sized doll being used to smuggle drugs at Chiang Mai airport.

According to Thai news website, Khaosod English, the 'Look Thep' doll contained 200 tablets of yaba, a widely-used Thai amphetamine.

Lt Col Kom Chetkhuntod told Thai media that police discovered the drugs hidden inside one of the dolls - which have become a craze in the country - in a black suitcase at the airport parking lot on Monday.

The seizure of the doll comes as Thai Smile Airways reportedly announced it would treat the dolls as real passengers, even encouraging owners to purchase flight tickets for the dolls.

Look Thep dolls, which are said to be possessed by the soul of a child, have become increasingly popular in Thailand.

The dolls popularity soared after several local celebrities publicly vouched for the good fortune the dolls brought them.

What are Look Thep dolls?

According to local media outlet, Coconuts Bangkok, Look Thep means Child God or 'Child Angel'. The dolls are supposedly powered by the souls of children and are said to bring good luck, wealth and health to their owners.

People who own the dolls often treat them as if they are real children, pampering them with gifts.

A 'Look Thep' doll (Getty)

Where did they come from?

A woman called Mananya Boonmee, also known as Mama Ning, claims to be the creator of the popular dolls.

In an interview with Coconuts Bangkok, Ms Boonmee showed her vast collection of dolls, which she treats as her own children.

Mananya Boonmee, also known as 'Mama Ning', claims she is the creator of the popular 'Look Thep' dolls in Thailand (Coconuts Bangkok)

The first doll she made was called Petch, in the likeness of her own son, who she said was stubborn.

So I thought to myself, How do I control him? How can I make him behave himself? So I was inspired to make a doll in his representation and created a soul for it, she said.

How are they made?

According to Ms Boonmee, a soul is created in the doll by chanting incantations, and filling the doll with charms and seeds, which are meant to represent lifes essence.

She then paints over the dolls to make them appear more realistic and adjusts their hair to her customers' preferences.

The dolls are sold for as much as 16,000 Thai baht (about 312), with the most expensive dolls imported from the US.

Why are they so popular?

Thailand is a deeply superstitious country, with many of its traditions rooted in its main religion, Buddhism. Local celebrities' endorsement of the dolls have also encouraged the public to believe claims about their abilities.

However, Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-ocha urged people not to "get carried away" with the dolls, according to broadcaster Thai PBS.

He said the dolls are all about superstition and are not indispensable, and advised people not to spend money on them if they cannot afford it.
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Malaysias Attorney General officially cleared the countrys Prime Minister, Najib Razak, of any criminal wrongdoing as he declared that $681m (475m) channelled into his private bank accounts was a personal donation from Saudi Arabias royal family.

The decision, announced at a hastily convened press conference, was seized upon by Mr Najib as evidence that the scandal that has embroiled the political establishment for the past 11 months was now over. He has confirmed what I have maintained all along: that no crime was committed, Mr Najib said in a statement.

But the revelation of the $681m donation appeared to confirm many of the allegations at the heart of the scandal and raised new questions about the governance of one of Asias most important powers.

Rumours about vast corruption within the court of Mr Najib, who came to power in 2009, have swirled for years, focusing on his relationship to a scandal-prone banker alleged to be close to Mr Najibs stepson, and more recently on a financier from the United Arab Emirates.

The financier and Mr Najib were centre stage in 2013 at the announcement of a joint venture between the Emirates and Malaysia which, according to the press release, was meant to create hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs for Malaysians with the investment of 39 billion Ringgits  about 6.4bn  in Malaysian projects, supervised by 1MDB, a Malaysian state investment fund whose advisory body Mr Najib chairs.

But despite the grand announcement, the Emirates failed to make good on their side of the bargain, while of the $3bn raised by the 1MDB, just over half that money is now missing, according to opposition politician Tony Pua.

But the rumours suddenly gained more traction last July when Sarawak Report, a website devoted to shining a light on corruption in the country, published sensational and detailed allegations about the vast sum paid into Mr Najibs account  the claim now officially confirmed by the Attorney General.

In Malaysia, Sarawak Reports website states, there is no platform allowed for those wish to bring corruption to light and no voice given to the opposition parties who are denied access to the state-controlled media. Sarawak Report exists to provide that platform and to offer an alternative vision of justice, transparency and a fairer future.

But after the charges against Mr Najib were published, the Reports founder and editor, Clare Rewcastle Brown, sister-in-law of former UK prime minister Gordon Brown, found its website officially blocked on grounds of national security, while the Malaysian government tried and failed to have her placed on a Interpols Red Notice list of most wanted suspects.

Malaysia's Attorney-General, Mohamed Apandi Ali, cleared Prime Minister Najib Razak of any criminal wrongdoing over the hundreds of millions of dollars in political donations in his bank accounts (EPA)

The revelation about the provenance of the money paid into the Prime Ministers account came at a press conference in the capital Kuala Lumpur. The speaker was Malaysias Attorney General Apandi Ali, a loyalist of the ruling party appointed to the job after Mr Najib sacked his predecessor, Abdul Gani Patail, when he showed no inclination to drop his investigation into the remittance.

Mr Najibs critics pointed out that Mr Apandi, who as a judge once ruled that Malaysias Christians were not permitted to use the word Allah for God, is due to retire in weeks. They claimed that his successor, another party loyalist, had insisted that the scandal be buried before he took office.

In his statement, Mr Apandi said, I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly. Evidence obtained from the investigation does not show that the donation was given as an inducement or a reward for doing or forbearing to do anything in relation to his capacity as prime minister.

Mr Apandi said $620m of the sum had been returned after the general election. Critics claimed that the sum did not go to the Saudis but into a private account of Mr Najibs in Singapore which has been sequestered by Singapore authorities in an investigation into illegal transfers. Mr Apandi made no effort to explain what the money was for.

Kim Quek, an opposition spokesman, said: If the top public servant of the country can openly amass billions with impunity, why cant lesser officials similarly enrich themselves in lesser amounts? Wouldnt that open a floodgate of runaway corruption in the country?

A country led by such a morally bankrupt leader would jeopardise the investment climate and cause a serious dent to the economy, which is already caught in a tailspin. There has been so much evidence made public implicating Najib, there are huge holes in the attorney generals statements. He has answered none of the questions that have been raised. No one is going to believe this.

Despite such trenchant comments, and bitter attacks on him by his former patron, ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mr Najib may survive: his party, the United Malays National Organisation (Unmo) has succeeded in ruling Malaysia uninterruptedly since independence because it protects the interests of the Malays, the countrys largest ethnic block, and tribal leaders in Sabah and Sarawak.

Loyalists of the ruling party may be unconcerned that their leader took personal possession of this huge sum from persons unknown within the Saudi royal family, for purposes that have not even been hinted at. But internationally, the economic fall-out could be substantial. The only thing we can do, Dr Mahathir said last year, is to have the prime minister resign or be removed. Because he is the principal person who has brought about this bad image for the country.
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The family of a woman who was stabbed to death at a refugee shelter in Sweden have described her as an angel.

Alexandra Mezher, 22, was attacked at around 8am on Monday morning and died of her injuries in hospital.

She had reportedly been working alone on a night shift at the accommodation for unaccompanied migrant children in Molndal, near Gothenburg.

Alexandra Mezher, 22, died of her injuries after being injured in a reported knife fight at a refugee centre in Sweden (Facebook)

She was my air, she was my everything, why her? her mother, Chimene Mezher told the Goteborgs-Posten newspaper.

She was not just my daughter, she was my angel. She was a just and fair human being. There were so many who loved her. She was my daughter, my friend, my companion.

When relative were asked who they blamed for the tragedy, one of Ms Mezhers cousins said the blame lay at the feet of those they accuse of failing to control migration to Sweden and putting refugees in allegedly overcrowded accommodation.

It is Swedish politicians fault she is dead, the unnamed cousin told Expressen.

It is so terrible. She was a person who wanted to do good, who wanted to be good  and then she got murdered while doing her job.

Alexandra Mezher, right, and her friend Lejla Filipovic, left, when they graduated from high school in Boras Sweden. (AP)

Lejla Filipovic, 22, one of Ms Mezher's closest friends, told the Telegraph she started working at the accommodation several months ago.

She loved working with the kids, she wanted to do something good, Ms Filipovic added.

I know that some of the kids aren't in a good place right now, because they came without their parents, so sometimes I was worried, but I knew that she had good co-workers.

Members of Ms Mezher's family were flying in from Lebanon and Israel today ready to attend her funeral.

It was unclear whether she had been deliberately targeted during what police initially described as an altercation involving several teenagers at the house.

The 15-year-old suspect was restrained by two other asylum seekers and has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police investigators are seen outside a home for juvenile asylum seekers in Molndal in south western Sweden on January 25, 2016 (AFP/Getty Images)

Thomas Fuxborg, a spokesperson for Swedish police, described the aftermath as messy with "a lot of blood" on the floor.

The perpetrator had been overpowered by other residents, people were depressed and upset," he told the TT news agency.

The shelter houses around a dozen asylum seekers aged between 14 and 19, who are among the thousands of unaccompanied minors who have arrived in Europe without their families in the past year.

Staffan Alexandersson, a social worker for the group running the shelter, said a crisis team had been sent in to support staff and residents, who have been moved elsewhere while the criminal investigation continued.

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.

Swedens Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven, has expressed his sadness at the terrible crime and claimed there was concern for the future.

"I believe that there are quite many people in Sweden who are very concerned that there may be more cases of this kind, when Sweden receives so many children and youths arriving alone, he told Radio Sweden.

It came as Swedens police commissioner, Dan Eliasson, requested 4,100 additional officers and support staff to help fight terrorism, carry out deportations and police migrant accommodation.

Around 163,000 asylum applications were made last year in Sweden, which is one of the main destinations for refugees and migrants entering the EU.

Border checks came into force earlier this month after Sweden was granted a temporary exception from the Schengen agreement, as efforts continued to slow the number of arrivals.
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A 22-year-old woman has been stabbed to death at a refugee shelter for unaccompanied children in Sweden.

Police said the staff member, named by Swedish media as Alexandra Mezher, was taken to hospital but died of her injuries.

Relatives described her as "an angel", telling Expressen: It is so terrible. She was a person who wanted to do good, according to a translation by Sky News.

We have cried a lot. She was such a nice person, warm and happy.

Alexandra Mezher, 22, died of her injuries after being injured in a reported knife fight at a refugee centre in Sweden (Facebook)

It was unclear whether she had been deliberately targeted during a fight between several teenagers at the accommodation in Molndal, near Gothenburg.

The 15-year-old suspect was restrained by other asylum seekers and has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Thomas Fuxborg, a spokesperson for Swedish police, described the aftermath of the fight in the shelter as messy with blood on the floor.

The perpetrator had been overpowered by other residents, people were depressed and upset, he told the TT news agency.

The shelter houses around a dozen asylum seekers aged between 15 and 19, who are among the thousands of unaccompanied minors who have arrived in Europe without their families in the past year.

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.

Amal Hassan, who works at the home, told the Goteborgs-Posten newspaper that she was shocked.

Everyone who lives here is really nice, she added. There has never been any trouble before.

Staffan Alexandersson, a social worker for the group running the shelter, described the attack as a horrible and tragic event and said a crisis team had been sent in to support staff and residents.

We regret what happened, and we're working right now in the crisis team to deal with both staff and children, he told TT.

Swedens Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven, visited the shelter on Monday and expressed his sadness at the terrible crime.

I believe that there are quite many people in Sweden who are very concerned that there may be more cases of this kind, when Sweden receives so many children and youths arriving alone, he told Radio Sweden.

It came as Swedens police commissioner, Dan Eliasson, requested 4,100 additional officers and support staff to help fight terrorism, carry out migrant deportations and police asylum accommodations, The Local reported.

 Sweden's deputy PM cries while announcing refugee u-turn

"We are forced to respond to many disturbances in asylum reception centres, he told TT.

"In some places, this takes significant police resources. This was not the case six months ago and it means that we won't be able to respond as effectively in other areas.

Around 163,000 asylum applications were made last year in Sweden, which is one of the main destinations for refugees and migrants entering the EU.

Swedish Migration Agency data shows the number threats and violent incidents at refugee shelters have been rising with the number of arrivals.

In 2015 the figure was put at 322, while arson attacks, threats and hate crimes against refugees are also on the rise.

Border checks came into force earlier this month after Sweden was granted a temporary exception from the Schengen agreement, as efforts continued to slow the number of arrivals.
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The Danish parliament has approved a controversial law allowing authorities to seize refugees cash and valuables, and delay them being reunited with their families.

After more than three hours of debate, the minority Liberal Party government's bill was adopted by 81 votes to 27, with the support of the opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DPP). One politician abstained and 70 others were absent.

Martin Henriksen, immigration spokesman for the populist DPP, used the debate to call for an extension of the border controls that have currently been introduced on a temporary basis.

Denmark has taken the decision to tighten its border controls (AFP/Getty Images)

We are talking about a real exodus, he said. We need tighter immigration rules.

Opponents criticised the legislation for tightening Denmark's laws and called for a common European solution to the refugee crisis.

This is a symbolic move to scare people away," argued Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, of the opposition left Red-Green Alliance.

Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen previously called the proposals the most misunderstood bill in Denmark's history in the wake of international criticism.

The United Nations warned the measures would fuel fear and xenophobia but Danish politicians claimed they were about creating equality between migrants and Danes.

 Denmark: launches anti-migrant ad campaign

Arriving asylum seekers will be allowed to keep up to 10,000 kroner (1,000) in cash and valuables but anything above that will be seized to pay for their stay.

Denmarks original proposals set the threshold at 3,000 kroner (300) for cash and tangible assets of considerable value but it was increased in the wake of international criticism.

Authorities also exempted sentimental items like wedding rings after comparisons were made to the treatment of Jews by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.

The current figure is in line with welfare rules for Danes, who must sell assets worth more than 10,000 kroner (1,000) before they can receive state benefits.

A spokesperson for the Danish government confirmed that body and luggage searches will be carried out but said asylum seekers will always be able to keep assets which are necessary to maintain a modest standard of living, e.g. watches and mobile phones.

Those people who can manage by themselves shouldn't have assistance from the state, migration minister Inger Stoejberg said.

But critics have accused Denmark of seeking to send a message to refugees as the country seeks to slow arrivals.

Danish prime minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has come under fire for his government's anti-immigration party (Reuters)

The country received 21,300 asylum applications last year, one of the highest rates per capita in the EU, and has introduced tougher border controls alongside neighbouring Sweden.

Tuesdays bill includes several other measures regarding asylum seekers, including raising the waiting period before refugees can apply for their families to join them from one year to three.

The legislation also allows officials to consider integration potential in resettlement cases, cut temporary residence permits to two years and increase administrative fees.

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.

Nils Muiznieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, wrote to Denmarks immigration minister to oppose the property seizures.

I believe that such a measure could amount to an infringement of the human dignity of the persons concerned, he said.

The family reunification delays have also been heavily criticised, with Denmark being accused of violating the European Convention on Human Rights.

Jonas Christoffersen, the director of the Danish Institute for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera: The right of refugees to be reunited with their family is protected by numerous international conventions ratified by Denmark.

We believe the government is overstepping international law by implementing this bill.

Amnesty International said the country had started a race to the bottom as support for refugees continues to wane across Europe.

To prolong the suffering of vulnerable people who have been ripped apart from their families by conflict or persecution is plain wrong," John Dalhuisen, its Europe and Central Asia Director said.

"This is a sad reflection of how far Denmark has strayed from its historic support of international norms enshrined in the Refugee Convention.

"European states must stop this dismal race to the bottom and begin to meet their international obligations, by upholding refugees human rights and dignity. Anything less is a betrayal of our common humanity.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Politicians in Denmark are expected to vote today on a controversial law that would force refugees to hand over cash and valuables and delay family reunifications.

The bill has provoked international debate since it was announced last month, with the United Nations warning it would fuel fear and xenophobia but Danish politicians claiming it is about creating equality between migrants and Danes.

What does the bill propose?

Arriving asylum seekers would be allowed to keep up to 10,000 kroner (1,000) in cash and valuables but allow anything above that to be seized to pay for their stay.

The original proposals set the threshold at 3,000 kroner (300) for cash and tangible assets of considerable value but it was increased in the wake of international criticism.

Authorities have also exempted sentimental items like wedding rings after comparisons were made to the treatment of Jews by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.

Danish prime minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has come under fire for his government's anti-immigration party (Reuters)

The Danish Immigration Service shall ensure that asylum seekers receive the necessary support while their asylum applications are being considered, a statement in December said.

The support includes basic maintenance, health care and accommodation.

A spokesperson for the Danish government confirmed that body and luggage searches would be carried out but said asylum seekers will always be able to keep assets which are necessary to maintain a modest standard of living, e.g. watches and mobile phones.

The bill would bring in several other measures regarding asylum seekers, including raising the waiting period before refugees can apply for their families to join them from one year to three.

The legislation would also allow officials to consider integration potential in resettlement cases, cut temporary residence permits to two years and increase administrative fees.

Refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea and Iraq seek asylum in Denmark (Reuters)

Why is the government trying to do it?

Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has called the plan the most misunderstood bill in Denmark's history.

Members of the Danish government have said the measure merely intends to cover costs for food and lodging.

Those people who can manage by themselves shouldn't have assistance from the state, migration minister Inger Stoejberg said.

Anders Vistisen, an MEP from the right-wing Danish Peoples Party, said Danes who suddenly become unemployed are also expected to sell their most valuable possessions to receive state support.

The new law is about creating equality between migrants and Danes, so that everyone under the welfare system has the same possibility to receive public benefits, he told The Local.

A spokesperson for the government said it was in line with current laws that asylum seekers with sufficient funds to support themselves should not also receive support from the Immigration Service.

But critics have accused Denmark of seeking to send a message to refugees as the country seeks to slow arrivals.

The country received 21,300 asylum seekers last year, one of the highest rates per capita in the EU, and has introduced tougher border controls alongside neighbouring Sweden.

Denmark has taken the decision to tighten its border controls (AFP/Getty Images)

Has there been any opposition?

Yes, the bill has been highly controversial both within Denmark and internationally.

A Danish MEP defected from the Liberal Party immediately when it was announced, saying the move showed his former party were pandering to right-wing populists.

It cannot be right that we have to accept that they take the last bits of jewellery and the last dignity from refugees when they arrive to Denmark, Jens Rohde said.

And he was not alone in his criticism. Nils Muiznieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, wrote to Denmarks immigration minister to oppose the law.

I believe that such a measure could amount to an infringement of the human dignity of the persons concerned, he said, adding that he was also deeply concerned at parts of the law that would delay refugees joining their families.

Video: Danish government launches anti-migrant campaign

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said the bill would fuel fear and xenophobia.

In its report on the legislation, it said the proposals were evidently aimed at conveying a message to make it less attractive to seek asylum in Denmark, and is a deeply concerning response to humanitarian needs.

The UNHCR also highlighted that the valuables refugees entering Demark have managed to retain are precious and often represent the only assets he or she managed to save before the flight from persecution or war.

An online petition entitled No to state confiscation of asylum seekers valuables had gathered more than 16,700 signatures by the day of the vote.

Plans to delay family reunification have also been heavily criticised, with Denmark being accused of violating the European Convention on Human Rights.

Jonas Christoffersen, the director of the Danish Institute for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera: The right of refugees to be reunited with their family is protected by numerous international conventions ratified by Denmark.

We believe the government is overstepping international law by implementing this bill.

Police with migrants and refugees at a railway station in Demnark (AFP/Getty Images)

Are any other countries doing the same?

Yes  two are so far and more could follow.

German authorities have started confiscating jewellery, valuables and cash from refugees entering from Austria.

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).

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.

Seven countries have 'temporarily' reintroduced border controls (Getty Images)

How are refugees reacting?

Mehran Ziai, a Kurdish asylum seeker from Iraq, told NPR he would have avoided Denmark if he had known about the law.

He said Hungarian border guards had taken his phone, clothes and about $130 (90) in cash, sot there was nothing left to take.

"I had no choice but to come to Europe but maybe I wouldn't have come to Denmark, because I see now they don't like refugees here, he added.

"Maybe I would have gone to Sweden or Norway or another country.

Additional reporting by agencies
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An Icelandic primary school has removed gender signs from its toilets so as not to "force anybody into a pre-designed form."

The headteacher of Akurskoli school said the children just choose which of two bathrooms to visit and advised other schools to think about doing the same.

Sigurbjorg Robertsdottir said the policy would be helpful to transgender pupils at the school.

Famous and gender fluid Show all 12 1 /12 Famous and gender fluid Famous and gender fluid Miley Cyrus "I didnt want to be a boy. I kind of wanted to be nothing. I dont relate to what people would say defines a girl or a boy, and I think thats what I had to understand: Being a girl isnt what I hate, its the box that I get put into" Getty Images Famous and gender fluid Tilda Swinton Actress REUTERS/Vincent Kessler Famous and gender fluid Andreja Pejic Transgender model Getty Famous and gender fluid Elly Jackson La Roux singer Getty Images Famous and gender fluid Milla Jovovich Model and actress Getty Famous and gender fluid Jaden Smith All black is pretty much my go-to look. If somebody is just wearing something for the blogs, that's really sad because they're not living for themselves, versus someone wearing a kimono who's having an awesome time. I really look to see, do you care more about what other people think, or are you having fun? Getty Famous and gender fluid Casey Legler Former Olympic swimmer, now models exclusively for menswear designers Getty Famous and gender fluid Jared Leto Actor and musician Famous and gender fluid Glenn Close Actress Reuters/Mario Anzuoni Famous and gender fluid Grace Jones Actress, singer, and model Rec Features Famous and gender fluid Annie Lennox Singer Famous and gender fluid Boy George Musician Getty Images

"One simply has to be conscious about the fact that we are not all the same and everybody has the right to be as they are; that everybody should be able to be themselves," she told GayIceland.

"And since there are currently children attending the school who are gender-fluid or trans, it's not up to us, the school, to force them or anybody else into a pre-designed form."

She said the new arrangement made school no different to home, where people of all genders share the same bathroom without distinction.

The school's stance is one of a raft of measures aimed at phasing out dividing the children up by gender.

Swimming lessons also do not require students to wear a particular outfit - trunks for boys and suits for girls - and boys and girls are not separated for games either.

Instead of earlier phrasing requiring that "girls should wear swimsuits and boys wear swim trunks", letters home to parents from Akurskoli school simply require that children where appropriate swimwear.

"We don't see anything wrong with girls wearing trunks at the swiming pool, or boys wearing a swimsuit," Ms Robertsdottir told GayIceland.

"The kids can simply choose which one to use."

Iceland is rated one of the happiest countries in the world, according to the World Happiness Index 2015, with a history of leading gender equality level.

The country is not the first to have educational institutions implement gender-neutral toilets as traditional understandings of men and women are challenged in popular culture.

A British school in East Sussex was criticised by parents after it introduced unisex toilets to help prevent "transphobia", the Daily Telegraph reported.

Meanwhile, the Boarding Schools' Association was called on to introduce gender neutral uniform as prevention against LGBT bullying in May last year.
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Italy has covered up ancient nude statues ahead of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani's official visit to Rome.

As the leader arrived to meet Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the Pope, plain white boards were pictured obscuring the sculptures in the city's Capitoline Museum.

A video published on Italian news websites showed the measures taken at the attraction.

The action was taken as a sign of respect for Mr Rouhani, whose country is a strongly conservative Islamic republic, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

The decision was also made not to serve alcohol at dinners with the visiting president, although this is a more standard diplomatic procedure for visiting officials from Islamic countries.

However, the move has been met with criticism.

A statement issued by Iranian women's rights campaign group My Stealthy Freedom called for female Italian politicians to speak out.

"So Italy! You respect Islamic values but the Islamic Republic of Iran does not respect our values [or] our freedom of choice," the statement said.

"They force any non-Muslim women to cover ourselves in Iran. If you are just visiting Iran uncovered you will be deported from the airport or if you are an Iranian woman then you won't have any education."

Twitter user Darius Arya criticised the decision, saying: "Iran visit brings Italy back to Counter-Reformation."

It is not the first time statues have been covered up in Italy for fear of causing offence to visiting Muslim diplomats.

In October 2015, Gazing Ball, a statue by Jeff Koons in Florence, was obscured when the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, visited Mr Renzi.

Mr Rouhanis trip to Europe is the first since international sanctions against Iran were lifted, after the country's government agreed to limit Irans nuclear programme last year.

The Italian government is expecting the Iranian contingent to sign deals worth up to 17 billion euros with Italian companies during the visit. The southern European country has been suffering economically in recent years, particularly from high youth unemployment.

"This is just the beginning of a journey," Mr Renzi said, standing alongside Mr Rouhani.

"There are sectors where we must work closer together,"

Mr Renzi also addressed the issue of international terrorism, while referencing militant group Isis - which opposes Iran and the West in equal measure.

"I am sure this visit will be a fundamental part of our ability to overcome together the challenge of fighting terrorism, atrocity and evil that we all have to confront together," he said.

Meanwhile, others on social media ridiculed the decision to hide statues with exposed genitals, with many people sharing an image seemingly doctored from pictures similar to the one above.

Reuters contributed to this report.
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The future of Europes passport-free travel zone is reportedly hanging in the balance as EU ministers are on the verge of agreeing to suspend it for two years in response to the refugee crisis.

After the meeting in Amsterdam on Monday, the Dutch migration minister, Klaas Dijkhoff, said the member states would ask the European Commision for permission to extend border controls from May onwards if they cannot stem the flow of refugees from the Middle East and Africa.

Some ministers have said the move would force more refugees to claim asylum in the first safe country they reach - as they are supposed to under the terms of the Dublin Regulation.

This would mean many more refugees staying in countries like Greece - where more than 40,000 people have already arrived by sea from Turkey this month, despite a deal with its government to limit the numbers.

Greek officials said closing borders would not stop the refugees, but northern governments - Germany's in particular - are under increasing political pressure to restrict the influx of refugees.

EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos urged member states to put the controls designed to limit refugee numbers into practice or else they would be running out of time to save the 30-year-old Schengen zone.

Seven countries have 'temporarily' reintroduced border controls (Getty Images)

But Mr Dijhoff believes time had already run out: "The 'or else' is already happening," he said. "A year ago, we all warned that if we don't come up with a solution, then Schengen will be under pressure. It already is."

The European Commission - the EUs ruling body - can allow countries to reimpose controls for six months no more than three times until May 2018.

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.

It is currently conducting a review on whether Greeces failure to process refugees within its borders was a "persistent serious deficiency" on an external EU border, which would allow member states to reimpose restrictions on people coming from the country.

Sweden's interior minister Anders Ygeman said: "In the end, if a country doesn't live up to its obligations, we will have to restrict its connections to the Schengen area.

"Speaking about timetables, it's already too late. We have seven countries with border controls."

Additional reporting by Reuters
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At least 31 refugees drowned in the Aegean Sea after rescue workers stationed nearby were initially left unable to assist them until the boat had left Turkish waters.

Australian national Simon Lewis says he and a team of rescue workers were sailing in international waters near the Greek island of Lesbos when they heard reports of a refugee boat nearby.

Because the boat was still in Turkish waters at the time, Mr Lewis crew were not dispatched to the scene and were therefore not in a position to help when the vessel subsequently started to sink, leaving 31 people dead.

Had the vessel made it into international waters before sinking then rescue workers could have approached them and helped.

 Volunteer observes silence as baby girl washes up on Kagia beach

That's the nature of lifesaving, we put ourselves in that situation to help prevent people from drowning and yet because it's across the way in international water you're restricted and can't actually do anything about it, Mr Lewis told Australias ABC News.

Maritime law states that refugees must cross borders under their own steam and that anybody assisting them in doing so by piloting or towing vessels could be charged with people smuggling.

Due to these rules, rescue workers usually assess refugee boats from a distance while waiting for them to cross maritime borders unaided.

Should the initial assessment reveal that the boat is taking on water or presenting a threat to the refugees lives, then lifesavers would not delay intervention.

Mr Lewis described reports in Australia that his team had simply stood by and watched as refugees a boatload died in front of them as having been hyped up.

Mr Lewis revealed that he had been inspired to help refugees after seeing harrowing photographs of Syrian toddler Alan al-Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach last year (AP)

Speaking to The Independent, he said: We didnt actually have 31 people drown right in front of usTheir boat was either going to come towards us or come towards [the Greek island village] Skala.

The [people smuggling] rules may still apply but what lifesaver would not [intervene]?, he added.

Mr Lewis also spoke of a separate incident in which he thought a desperate refugee mother was considering throwing her baby into the sea in the hope rescuers would have no choice but to dive in and save its life.

This was an inflatable boat crammed with people and we were kind of near the boat as we intercepted it. The mother turned and went to pass us her child and we were like oh f*** - because we knew what she was doing.

So we pulled away and she was just like why dont you want my child? the look on her face; she stared me in the eye like wed just broken her heart, he added.

We realised exactly what she was about to do so we just pulled away. We had to make that snap call knowing that she was about to drop the kid in the ocean and push it towards us, Mr Lewis said.

Had the mother dropped the child into the sea, the risk to the child and any rescue worker who went in after it would have been immense.

Thankfully the sinking vessel was subsequently escorted to shore by Mr Lewis team with no loss of life.

Mr Lewis, who went to Greece as part of a joint venture between the Greek Lifeguards and the International Surf Lifesaving Association, said his team were able to save the lives of 517 people in just 10 days. He estimates 2,000 refugees passed through the waters in that time.

He also revealed that he had been inspired to help refugees after seeing harrowing photographs of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach last year.

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.

I didnt go there for any political reason, he said. I didnt go there for anything other than Im a life guard and I saw the image of the infant that drowned and I realised that Ive got this unique set of work skills, so I asked myself why am I not going to this crisis?.

I couldnt answer that question but in a way I just felt I had no excuse. So I just went yep, Im going  Im going to go there and Im going to try and help, so I just volunteered.

Upon returning to Australia, Mr Lewis ran a crowd-funding campaign which raised A22,000 to pay for a rescue jet ski which Greek lifeguards will use to help them reach stricken refugees more speedily.
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In 1683, a vast Ottoman army camped outside the gates of Vienna. For centuries thereafter, the siege and final decisive battle that took place would be cast as a defining moment in a clash of civilizations -- that time the forces of Islam were halted at the ramparts of Christendom.

Yet look just a little bit harder, and that tidy narrative falls apart. The Ottoman assault had been coordinated in league with French King Louis XIV. And perhaps more than half of the soldiers seeking to capture the Austrian capital were Christians themselves. There were Greeks, Armenians, Hungarians, Bulgarians, Romanians, Serbs, all fighting alongside Arabs, Turks, Kurds and others in the Ottoman ranks.

One of the main figures joining the Turkish campaign was Imre Thokoly, who was a Protestant born in what's now Slovakia and an avowed Hungarian nationalist. Tens of thousands of Hungarian peasants who were angry at the rapacious behavior of the Catholic Church, and the imperial Habsburg dynasty in Vienna had rallied to Thokoly's banner. His alliance with the Ottomans enabled the rapid Turkish march toward the Austrian capital.

It reflected, writes British academic Ian Almond in his 2009 book "Two Faiths, One Banner: When Muslims Marched With Christians Across Europe's Battlegrounds," how "little use terms such as 'Muslim' and 'Christian' are to describe the almost hopelessly complex web of shifting power-relations, feudal alliances, ethnic sympathies and historical grudges" that shaped much of European history.

That sense of nuance fades over centuries, and certainly wasn't apparent last year when another Hungarian nationalist -- the country's current Prime Minister Viktor Orban -- cited the legacy of the Ottoman conquest to justify keeping Syrian refugees from passing through Hungary's borders.

"I have to say that when it comes to living together with Muslim communities, we are the only ones who have experience because we had the possibility to go through that experience for 150 years," Orban told reporters last year, apparently referring to the period of dynastic warfare and mayhem that was sparked by the initial Ottoman invasion in the 16th century.

Orban has hardly been alone with this sort of grand, historical rhetoric. A host of Eastern European leaders, representing various right-of-center, nationalist governments, echoed Orban's line, painting the migrant influx as an existential threat, an "invasion" of people whose cultural identity is wholly alien to Europe. A coalition of far-right activist groups in the region last week warned of "Islam conquering Europe" and announced plans for joint protests.

Further west, from France to the United States, conservative politicians -- including Republican presidential candidates -- also have gestured at a clash of civilizations when proposing bans on refugees or even halting Muslim migration altogether.

"Today, words such as 'Islam' and 'Europe' appear to have all the consistency of oil and water," Almond writes. But, he goes on, "the fact remains that in the history of Europe, for hundreds of years, Muslims and Christians shared common cultures, spoke common languages, and did not necessarily see one another as 'strange' or 'other.'"

The starkest proof of that lies in the battlefield, where Muslims and Christians died next to one another over many centuries.

It wasn't just the Ottomans who had multi-confessional armies. Muslims and Christians fought on all sides of the struggles in medieval Spain, where the last Muslim kingdom was snuffed out only in 1492. The Grand Catalan Company, an infamous mercenary outfit, ended up employing thousands of Turks even after it had been paid to fight them.

Frederick II, a 13th-century king who became the Holy Roman Emperor, deployed thousands of Arab Muslim archers and warriors during his wars with rival factions in Italy, including the armies of the pope. Chroniclers at the time documented the presence in the emperor's ranks of elephants bearing wooden towers bristling with Saracen, or Muslim, soldiers.

The Crimean War of the mid-19th century, a conflict a bit closer to our modern moment, saw a similar mishmash of identities and loyalties. Algerian soldiers were conscripted into the French army; Tatar Muslims were in the Russian ranks; all sorts of Christians -- including Cossacks, Romanian militias and Greek doctors -- were in the service of the Ottomans.

The point is not to romanticize this past -- which, in any event, was rather bloody and brutal. But it's worth bearing in mind these historical footnotes when thinking about the ideological divides and political rhetoric of the present.

"Strategically choosing when to talk about religious differences and when to keep quiet is the oldest trick in history," Almond writes. It's a pretty useful tactic in politics, too.

Washington Post
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World leaders must use the opportunity of Hassan Rouhanis visit to Europe to raise urgent concerns about Irans use of the death penalty, rights campaigners have said.

In a report released to coincide with the first European state visit by an Iranian President for more than 16 years, Amnesty International said the Islamic republic had at least 160 juvenile offenders waiting to be killed on its death row.

The rights group said it could provide the names and locations of dozens of people sentenced to death for offences committed when they were under the age of 18.

Amnesty said this was partly due to outdated Iranian laws deeming someone criminally responsible for the worst crimes if they had reached sexual maturity  over the age of nine in the case of girls.

Demonstrators protest against Iranian President Hassan Rouhani 's visit in front of the pantheon on January 26, 2016 (AFP/Getty Images)

While Britains close business and strategic links to Saudi Arabia have seen a corresponding scrutiny of its justice system, Iran  which kills many more people on average  has more or less gone unnoticed.

President Rouhani met the Pope on Tuesday at the Vatican, where he painted Iran as the safest and most stable country in the entire Middle East. An estimated 17 billion of contracts were signed with Italian businesses on Monday, and similar trade partnerships are expected to be agreed in France.

Though the UK is not included in the four-day trip, David Cameron has spoken to Mr Rouhani on the phone in what is seen as a step towards normalising relations with Iran.

May Foa, head of the death penalty team at Reprieve, said it was deeply worrying to see European countries lining up a vast package of support for Irans drug police.

Rouhani's is the first European state visit by an Iranian President in 16 years (AFP/Getty Images)

Irans government is overseeing a horrifying surge in executions, the vast majority for drugs offences, she said.

It is vital that European countries use their growing ties with President Rouhanis government  including these donations  to urge an end to the use of the death penalty for drugs offences.

Amnestys Said Boumedouha said the groups 110-page report sheds light on Irans shameful disregard for the rights of children. The country is one of the few that continues to execute juvenile offenders in blatant violation of the absolute legal prohibition, he said.

Among the specific cases raised by Amnesty in its report was Fatemah Salbehi, a woman who was forced to marry a 30-year-old man at the age of 16.

The ID card of Fatemah Salbehi. The Farsi text accompanying it reads says she was arrested in April 1388 (Islamic calendar) in her school library (Image supplied) (Supplied)

She was found guilty of his murder when she was 17 years old, Amnesty said, at which time an official medical examination found she suffered severe depression and suicidal thoughts. Her conviction was obtained through confession, one which Iranian rights groups say was made under duress and she later retracted.

Fatemah was executed without advance notice to her lawyer on 13 October last year, according to Amnesty, despite the fact that she would ordinarily have been entitled to a final level of appeal.

In another extraordinary case, a 14- or 15-year-old Afghan boy named Janat Mir was executed in April 2014 because of a drugs offence.

His family say Janat was arrested in October or November 2011 after drugs were found at the home of a friend where he was staying. They were not told what had happened to him until he phoned them from prison to say he had been sentenced to death, several months later.

Where most executions were carried out in 2014 Show all 10 1 /10 Where most executions were carried out in 2014 Where most executions were carried out in 2014 1. China (1000+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 2. Iran (289+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 3. Saudi Arabia (90+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 4. Iraq (61+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 5. USA (35+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 6. Sudan (23+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 7. Yemen (22+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 8. Egypt (15+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 9. Somalia (14+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 10. Jordan (11+) Getty

It appears the authorities waited for Janat to turn 18 before hanging him, at which point they told his parents to collect his body and refused to let them return with it to Afghanistan.

Amnesty said that, after China, Iran is the most prolific user of capital punishment, with at least 830 people executed between 1 January and 1 November 2015. Reprieve said around two thirds of those killed last year were for drugs offences.

Ms Foa told The Independent: When European leaders sit down with President Rouhani this week and consider boosting their support for Iranian criminal justice bodies, they must not forget the many victims of Irans huge surge in executions  people like Jannat Mir, arrested by Irans drug police at the age of 15 and subsequently executed, or Fatemah Salbehi, sentenced to death despite severe mental illness.

While Iran continues to sentence to death and execute juveniles, innocent scapegoats and the mentally ill, European states must refuse to fund the police which arrest them, and the courts which convict them.
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An armed force set up to protect Libyas oil assets  the only effective source of income for the failing state  has been accused of siphoning off supplies and then abandoning facilities to advancing Isis fighters, actions that have resulted in more than $60 billion revenue being lost.

The Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), a group about 27,000-strong meant to be bipartisan in a country with two rival governments, has become the biggest obstacle to raising money from the industry and a hindrance to forming a unified government, according to the head of Libyas National Oil Corporation (Noc).

The PFG has become a private army for its head, Ibrahim Jadran, according to Mustafa Sanalla, chairman of Noc, which is based in Tripoli. They have tried to sell oil themselves and then they failed to protect the places they were meant to, he told The Independent.

We estimate that the activities of the PFG has adversely affected 70 per cent of oil production, he said. We are an autonomous body serving Libya rather than either of the governments. The PFG are also meant to be like that, but their only loyalty is to making money.

The PFG has gained control of the oil ports and complexes in Ras Lanuf, Sidra and Zueitina in eastern Libya. In March 2014 Mr Jadran announced that he had given himself greater autonomy and sent the tanker MV Morning Glory, flying North Korean colours, loaded with 234,000 barrels of crude oil for sale abroad.

The incident led to the collapse of the government in Tobruk of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, who fled the country. The ship was seized by US Navy Seals on the orders of the Obama administration.

In pictures: The rise of Isis Show all 74 1 /74 In pictures: The rise of Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters of the Islamic State wave the group's flag from a damaged display of a government fighter jet following the battle for the Tabqa air base, in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from Islamic State group sit on their tank during a parade in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from the Islamic State group pray at the Tabqa air base after capturing it from the Syrian government in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from extremist Islamic State group parade in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping A video uploaded to social networks shows men in underwear being marched barefoot along a desert road before being allegedly executed by Isis Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping Haruna Yukawa after his capture by Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping Khalinda Sharaf Ajour, a Yazidi, says two of her daughters were captured by Isis militants Washington Post In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Spokesperson for Isis Vice News via Youtube In pictures: The rise of Isis A pro-Isis leaflet A pro-Isis leaflet handed out on Oxford Street In London Ghaffar Hussain In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Isis Jihadists burn their passports In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid A man collecting aid administered by Isis in Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid A woman collecting aid administered by Isis in Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid Local civilians queue for aid administered by Isis. Since it declared a caliphate the group has increasingly been delivering services such as healthcare, and distributing aid and free fuel In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces detain men suspected of being militants of the Isis group in Diyala province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Mourners carry the coffin of a Shi'ite volunteer from the brigades of peace, who joined the Iraqi army and was killed during clashes with militants of the Isis group in Samarra, during his funeral in Najaf In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi Shiite Turkmen family fleeing the violence in the Iraqi city of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, arrives at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Arbil, in Iraq's Kurdistan region In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi A photograph made from a video by the jihadist affiliated group Furqan Media via their twitter account allegedly showing Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi delivering a sermon during Friday prayers at a mosque in Mosul. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an Islamist caliphate in the territory under the group's control in Iraq and Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq Shiite's Al-Qubba Husseiniya mosque explodes in Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq Smoke and debris go up in the air as Shiite's Al-Qubba Husseiniya mosque explodes in Mosul. Images posted online show that Islamic extremists have destroyed at least 10 ancient shrines and Shiite mosques in territory - the city of Mosul and the town of Tal Afar - they have seized in northern Iraq in recent weeks In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq A bulldozer destroys Sunni's Ahmed al-Rifai shrine and tomb in Mahlabiya district outside of Tal Afar In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces celebrate after clashes with followers of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi, in front of his home in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi at his home after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis A vehicle burns in front of a home of a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi woman holds her exhausted son as over 1000 Iraqis who have fled fighting in and around the city of Mosul and Tal Afar wait at a Kurdish checkpoint in the hopes of entering a temporary displacement camp in Khazair In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees Displaced Iraqi women hold pots as they queue to receive food during the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, at an encampment for displaced Iraqis who fled from Mosul and other towns, in the Khazer area outside Irbil, north Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria A militant Islamist fighter waving a flag, cheers as he takes part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa. The fighters held the parade to celebrate their declaration of an Islamic "caliphate" after the group captured territory in neighbouring Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters wave flags as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province Reuters In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters travel in a vehicle as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Fighters from the Isis group during a parade with a missile in Raqqa, Syria. Militants from an al-Qaida splinter group held a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria, displaying U.S.-made Humvees, heavy machine guns, and missiles captured from the Iraqi army for the first time since taking over large parts of the Iraq-Syria border In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Fighters from the Isis group during a parade in Raqqa, Syria. Militants from the splinter group held a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria, displaying U.S.-made Humvees, heavy machine guns, and missiles captured from the Iraqi army for the first time since taking over large parts of the Iraq-Syria border In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters hold a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria A member loyal to the Isis waves an Isis flag in Raqqa In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi anti-government gunmen from Sunni tribes in the western Anbar province march during a protest in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. The United Nations warned that Iraq is at a "crossroads" and appealed for restraint, as a bloody four-day wave of violence killed 195 people. The violence is the deadliest so far linked to demonstrations that broke out in Sunni areas of the Shiite-majority country more than four months ago, raising fears of a return to all-out sectarian conflict In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces hold up a flag of the Isis group they captured during an operation to regain control of Dallah Abbas north of Baqouba, the capital of Iraq's Diyala province, 35 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq Isis fighters parade in the northern city of Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants from the radical Isis group, demonstrate their skills during a graduation ceremony after completing their field training in Najaf In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Kurdish Peshmerga troops fire a cannon during clashes with militants of the Isis group in Jalawla, Diyala province In pictures: The rise of Isis Lieutenant General Qassem Atta speaks during a press conference Iraqi Prime Minister's security spokesman, Lieutenant General Qassem Atta speaks during a press conference about the latest military development in Iraq, in the capital Baghdad. Iraqi forces pressed a campaign to retake militant-held Tikrit, clashing with jihadist-led Sunni militants nearby and pounding positions inside the city with air strikes in their biggest counter-offensive so far In pictures: The rise of Isis A police station building destroyed by Isis fighters An exterior view of a police station building destroyed by gunmen in Mosul city, northern Iraq. Iraq's new parliament is expected to convene to start the process of setting up a new government, despite deepening political rifts and an ongoing Islamist-led insurgency. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani issued a decree inviting the new House of Representatives to meet and form a new government In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq Smoke billows from an area controlled by the Isis between the Iraqi towns of Naojul and Tuz Khurmatu, both located north of the capital Baghdad, as Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces take part in an operation to repel the Sunni militants In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An elderly Iraqi woman is helped into a temporary displacement camp for Iraqis caught-up in the fighting in and around the city of Mosul in Khazair In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi Christian woman fleeing the violence in the village of Qaraqush, about 30 kms east of the northern province of Nineveh, cries upon her arrival at a community center in the Kurdish city of Arbil in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi woman, who fled with her family from the northern city of Mosul, prays with a copy of the Quran AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq The body of an Isis militant killed during clashes with Iraqi security forces on the outskirts of the city of Samarra Reuters In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi civilians inspect the damage at a market after an air strike by the Iraqi army in central Mosul EPA In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Members of the Al-Abbas brigades, who volunteered to protect the Shiite Muslim holy sites in Karbala against Sunni militants fighting the Baghdad government, parade in the streets of the city AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Shia tribesmen gather in Baghdad to take up arms against Sunni insurgents marching on the capital. Thousands have volunteered to bolster defences AFP/Getty In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis A van carrying volunteers joining Iraqi security forces against Jihadist militants. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced the Iraqi government would arm and equip civilians who volunteered to fight AFP/Getty In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters of the Isis group parade in a commandeered Iraqi security forces armored vehicle down a main road at the northern city of Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq An Islamist fighter, identified as Abu Muthanna al-Yemeni from Britain (R), speaks in this still image taken undated video shot at an unknown location and uploaded to a social media website. Five Islamist fighters identified as Australian and British nationals have called on Muslims to join the wars in Syria and Iraq, in the new video released by the Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Al-Qaida inspired militants stand with captured Iraqi Army Humvee at a checkpoint belonging to Iraqi Army outside Beiji refinery some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad. The fighting at Beiji comes as Iraq has asked the U.S. for airstrikes targeting the militants from the Isis group. While U.S. President Barack Obama has not fully ruled out the possibility of launching airstrikes, such action is not imminent in part because intelligence agencies have been unable to identify clear targets on the ground, officials said In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants attacked Iraq's main oil refinein Baiji as they pressed an offensive that has seen them capture swathes of territory, a manager and a refinery employee said In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants from the Isis group parading with their weapons in the northern city of Baiji in the in Salaheddin province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq A smoke rises after an attack by Isis militants on the country's largest oil refinery in Beiji, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad. Iraqi security forces battled insurgents targeting the country's main oil refinery and said they regained partial control of a city near the Syrian border, trying to blunt an offensive by Sunni militants who diplomats fear may have also seized some 100 foreign workers In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group stand next to captured vehicles left behind by Iraqi security forces at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province. For militant groups, the fight over public perception can be even more important than actual combat, turning military losses into propaganda victories and battlefield successes into powerful tools to build support for the cause In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq An injured fighter (C) from the Isis group after a battle with Iraqi soldiers at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis aiming at advancing Iraqi troops at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis group taking position at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis group inspecting vehicles of the Iraqi army after they were seized at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq One Iraqi captive, a corporal, is reluctant to say the slogan, and has to be shouted at repeatedly before he obeys Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Iraqi captives held by the extremists Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Iraqi captives held by the extremists Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group force captured Iraqi security forces members to the transport In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group transporting dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members to an unknown location in the Salaheddin province ahead of executing them In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq A major offensive spearheaded by Isis but also involving supporters of executed dictator Saddam Hussein has overrun all of one province and chunks of three others In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group executing dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis militants taking position at a Iraqi border post on the Syrian-Iraqi border between the Iraqi Nineveh province and the Syrian town of Al-Hasakah In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis rebels show their flag after seizing an army post AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis militants waving an Islamist flag after the seizure of an Iraqi army checkpoint in Salahuddin Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Demonstrators chant slogans as they carry al-Qaida flags in front of the provincial government headquarters in Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad. In the week since it captured Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, a Muslim extremist group has tried to win over residents and has stopped short of widely enforcing its strict brand of Islamic law, residents say. Churches remain unharmed and street cleaners are back at work

Mr Jadran, a former member of the Libyan Islamist Fighting Group, which took arms against the Gaddafi regime, has spoken out against the Tripoli government and stressed his opposition to Isis. I am the leader of a security force like the police, he said recently. The previous [Tripoli] government tried to give me a big bribe, I totally refused and demanded an investigation into the exporting of oil since the revolution and this is the real cause of dispute between me and the previous government.

He added: We reject claims by some people that we are continuing to smuggle oil, we havent exported any oil since Morning Glory.

Mustafa Sanalla, chairman of Libyas National Oil Corporation, has blamed the Petroleum Facilities Guard for abandoning facilities to Isis (AP)

With Isis fanning out from its base in Muammar Gaddafis hometown, Sirte, and heading for the oil facilities, Mr Sanalla said he sent a tanker to drain the storage facilities in Ras Lanuf. But Mr Jadran refused permission for this to take place. Isis fighters attacked the port and the oil was set alight. We could have saved the oil, but the PFG sabotaged this, said Mr Sanalla. Then they failed to put up resistance and Isis were able to carry out their attack and destroy the fuel.

There werent that many Isis fighters taking part in the attack, so we dont know why PFG just went away, he added. They had failed to protect other facilities as well and these have been looted. The infrastructure is being badly damaged.

Fighting involving the two rival governments, in Tripoli and Tobruk, and competing militias has led to chaotic conditions in Libya. At the same time, a 75 per cent fall in world oil prices has meant that the value of exports has fallen drastically. The International Monetary Fund has pointed out that the fiscal deficit last year of 54 per cent of gross domestic product was one of the highest in the world.

Mr Sanalla said: Isis are not occupying the oil facilities; they are damaging them and they are doing this with a small number of people. They want to prevent the country unifying under one government and we need the unity to save the economy, which is in a bad way. The PFG too is a hindrance to unity; it needs to be disbanded or integrated into a future army. Without a single government there will be no security and Libya will decline further into lawlessness and chaos.

But, despite prolonged negotiations under UN auspices, forming a unity government for Libya is proving problematic. The Tobruk government parliament has voted overwhelmingly to reject a proposed caretaker administration because of its supposed militia influence. However it offered the negotiating council 10 days to present new proposals.
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The Syrian opposition signalled that it would attend peace talks in Geneva despite threats of a boycott.

Salim al-Muslat, a spokesman for the Western-backed opposition delegation, revealed that a final decision would be reached on Wednesday at a meeting in Riyadh, but said that there was a consensus that the group should attend negotiations to end a conflict of almost five years.

The UN announced this week that the latest bid to find a solution to the Syrian war would begin on Friday, but deep reservations among the opposition and rows between rival powers over the participants have thrown the process into doubt.

The talks are the first major push to halt the fighting, which has claimed the lives of at least 260,000 people, since the failure of the last round of negotiations in early 2014. The UN has downplayed the prospects of success, warning that progress will be slow.

Turkey threatened to stage a boycott if Kurdish military forces were invited at Russias behest. Britain, meanwhile, accused Moscow of hypocrisy and warned that it was jeopardising the fragile negotiations by helping the Syrian army.

While the Syrian government, having gained momentum with the help of Russian air power, has said that it will attend the talks, the official opposition has been wary.

Increasingly disillusioned by what it sees as US concessions to the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his backers, it had declared that it cannot take part unless the Syrian government proves its commitment to peace by stopping bombing rebel-held areas.

However, amid heavy pressure applied by the US, the UK and others, the delegation appeared to be leaning towards turning up for the talks. The process is due to begin with indirect negotiations with the aim of bringing the opposing sides together over several months.

The picture has been further complicated by the messy web of competing interests in Syria which has pitched the US, Saudi Arabia and Turkey against President Assad and his allies Russia and Iran.

A major argument has erupted over the role of Kurdish forces. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said excluding Syrian Kurds from the negotiating process would be unfair and counterproductive, warning that Turkey was likely to use blackmail to keep the Kurds out of a political settlement.

Turkey, locked in a diplomatic row with Moscow since November after shooting down a Russian fighter jet, is deeply anxious that Kurdish ambitions in Syria could bolster the aspirations of Turkeys own Kurdish population.

The Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said in a CNN interview that Ankara supported the inclusion of Syrian Kurds in the peace process but not the YPG, a Western-backed rebel force that is linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, which has waged an 30-year armed struggle against Turkey.

His Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said Turkey would boycott the talks if the PYD were invited. It appeared that Turkey had been placated as Salih Muslim, the groups leader, told Reuters that he had not received an invitation. The manoeuvring comes amid gains made by the Syrian army since Russian air strikes began in September.

Gareth Bayley, the UKs special representative to Syria, rebuked the Kremlin after the fall of Sheikh Miskeen, a town near the border with Jordan. He said: By continuing to support the regime in its bombardment of the moderate opposition, Russia risks damaging the already-fragile process of intra-Syrian negotiations.

Last fighter vow: Jihadists warned

The international coalition against Isis has reportedly dropped flyers warning jihadists that it will not stop bombing until the last fighter is killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said that two types of leaflet were dropped in north-east Syria by aircraft from the US-led air campaign against the group.

One, intended for civilians, pointed out the difference in living conditions for Isis fighters and ordinary citizens. It said: Isis enjoys plenty of meals while you wait in line for water and food.

A second, aimed at undermining the morale of Isis forces, said Isis terrain was shrinking and many of its leaders had been killed. We will not stop the bombing and we will not stop the war until the last fighter dies, it said.

Laura Pitel
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As the Iranian President continues his landmark visit to Europe, Syrian children have been photographed with posters calling on leaders to oppose his alleged intervention in the countrys civil war.

Pro-rebel activists in Aleppo, where civilians have been indiscriminately bombed during continuing battles between the Syrian regime, anti-government rebels and Islamists, claimed to have photographed the children in the rubble of their former homes.

They were seen holding posters accusing Hassan Rouhani of being responsible for crimes committed by the Iranian regime in Syria and addressed Francois Hollande, asking the French President to force his counterpart to withdraw troops.

Anti-government activists in Syria say Iran's support for President Assad is leading to civilian deaths (Syrian Media Group)

Anti-government activists in Syria say Iran's support for President Assad is leading to civilian deaths in Aleppo (Syrian Media Group)

Others were aimed at Mr Rouhani himself or the EU, reading in Arabic and English: Ask Iran to stop killing us in our country.

The photos, taken by activists linked to the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran, could not be independently verified and are the latest in a series of images using children by all parties in the Syrian conflict.

Troops from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are believed to be supporting Bashar al-Assads forces in Aleppo and elsewhere in the ongoing civil war.

While the government officially denies it has deployed any combat troops in Syria, the official Irna news agency announced the deaths of at least 400 Iranian and Iran-based volunteers over the past four years in June.

Anti-government activists in Syria say Iran's support for President Assad is leading to civilian deaths in Aleppo (Syrian Media Group)

Anti-government activists in Syria say Iran's support for President Assad is leading to civilian deaths in Aleppo (Syrian Media Group)

Officials have also confirmed the death of several high-ranking IRGC commanders in Syria, where they were said to be martyredfulfilling their duty as military advisors and defending the holy Shia shrines.

Four were killed in a week in October. While state media only said they died in Southern Syria of unknown causes, it came as a major offensive was launched by the Syrian regime and its supporters.

While announcing the deaths, Tehran said the IRGC was increasing the number of military advisors at the request of Bashar al-Assads government, which it said it was supporting against unspecified terrorists.

The Iranian President is currently visiting Italy and France as a thawing of relations continues following the implementation of last years nuclear deal.

In pictures: Syria conflict Show all 40 1 /40 In pictures: Syria conflict In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrians carry children amid debris following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian man carries a girl on a street covered with dust following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrians react as they stand amid debris following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian man carries a girl amid debris following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis An injured Syrian man walks out from the rubble of a destroyed building following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian woman makes her way through debris following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis People stand on the rubble of collapsed buildings at a site hit by what activists said was a barrel bomb dropped by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in the Al-Fardous neighbourhood of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrian residents stand amid the rubble of destroyed buildings In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian resident grasps a mattress amid rubble in the al-Firdous neighborhood of the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A view taken from Tel al-Sawadi shows a large explosion allegedly at the Wadi Deif Syrian army base in northwestern Idlib on May 14, 2014, which opposition fighters have been trying to capture for more than a year. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Islamist rebels detonated explosives planted in a tunnel under the army base killing or injuring dozens. AFP In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A bullet-riddled parking sign stands amid debris in a deserted street leading into the old city of Homs In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A general view shows abandoned buildings on a deserted square in the old city of Homs after Syrian government forces regained control of rebel-controlled areas In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A military vehicle that belongs to the Free Syrian Army is seen in Al-Amariya district in Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A mosque is pictured through shattered glass in the old city of Homs, as rebel fighters withdrew from the city centre in line with a negotiated withdrawal deal with the government after having held out under tight siege for nearly two years In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Buses carrying Free Syrian Army fighters leaving Homs. Exhausted and worn out from a year-long siege, hundreds of Syrian rebels left their last remaining bastions in the heart of the central city of Homs under a cease-fire deal with government forces. The exit of some 1,200 fighters and civilians will mark a de facto end of the rebellion in the battered city, which was one of the first places to rise up against President Bashar Assad's rule, earning it the nickname of "capital of the revolution" In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrian government forces hold up a portrait of President Bashar al-Assad (L) while others raise the national flag on top of a pole in the old city of Homs In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad run through Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr crossing after their release by rebels. They were freed as part of a larger deal which saw the last remaining Syrian rebels in central Homs city evacuate their positions and free captives in several locations in northern Syria In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian woman and two children walk past heavily damaged buildings in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A man carries a wounded girl following a reported bombardment with explosive-packed "barrel bombs" by Syrian government forces in the al-Mowasalat neighborhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A wounded man sits as he is treated at a makeshift hospital following a reported bombardment with explosive-packed "barrel bombs" by Syrian government forces in the al-Sakhour district of the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Debris rises in what Free Syrian Army fighters and Islamic rebels said was an operation to strike Al-Sahaba checkpoint, which is considered a gateway to Al-Dayf valley, and remove forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad in Maarat Al-Nouman, Idlib province In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Men try to put out fire at a site hit by what activists said was an air strike by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the town of Azaz, north of Aleppo, near the border with Turkey In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Civil Defence members try to put out fire In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Survivors react at a site hit by what activists said was an air strike by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the town of Azaz, north of Aleppo, near the border with Turkey In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Residents queue as they wait to receive food aid distributed by the UNRWA at the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, south of Damascus In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Belongings of Syrian rebels inside a chapel at Crac des Chevaliers, the world's best preserved medieval Crusader castle in Syria. The village was destroyed in fighting between the government and rebel forces while the castle, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, also has been damaged over the past two years In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Hosen Sabah, a 16-year-old student is comforted by his mother at a hospital in Damascus. Nosen was wounded by a mortar outside his school, while 14 other students were killed and over 80 wounded In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Free Syrian Army fighter works on a locally made launcher before firing it towards forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad in Mork town In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrian policemen and citizens inspecting the site of a car bomb at the entrance of Moadhamiyet al-Sham neighborhood in rural Damascus. According to Syria's Arab News Agency (SANA), a car bomb explosion has gone off in the countryside of Damascus and initial information say there are casualties, where a car rigged with explosions was remotely detonated at the entrance of Moadhamiyet al-Sham neighborhood in rural Damascus during engineering units it was trying to dismantled it In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Opposition fighters carrying a rocket launcher during clashes against government forces in the Sheikh Lutfi area, west of the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian man helps a woman to make her way through debris following reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian man reacts as he carries the body of injured boy following reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 33 civilians were killed in the attack In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrian rescue workers carry the body of a woman following reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian woman walks past the burning wreckage of a car following reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A man and two children run to a safer place following reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A man holds an injured child after, according to activists, two barrel bombs were thrown by forces loyal to Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad in Hullok neighbourhood of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis An injured man talks on a walkie-talkie after, according to activists, two barrel bombs were thrown by forces loyal to Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad in Hellok neighbourhood of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A man walks inside a mosque damaged by, according to activists, a barrel bomb thrown by forces loyal to Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad in Old Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrians gather at the site of reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Rebel fighters carry their weapons as they run to avoid snipers loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the town of Morek in Hama province

Mr Rouhani met the Pope today, with the Vatican saying they discussed the nuclear accord and the important role that Iran was called to play to combat terrorism and arms trafficking.

The Vatican described the talks as cordial and said common spiritual values were highlighted, while photos showed the pair exchanging gifts including a Persian rug and medal depicting Saint Martin.

Mr Rouhani's visit was the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian president since 1999.

Before going to the Vatican, he told a forum of business leaders in Rome that Iran is the safest and most stable country of the entire region.

Italy has always backed the role of Iran as a regional player in resolving tensions in the area, starting with the Syrian crisis, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said.

Additional reporting by agencies
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The Pont de lEurope is no longer the free-flowing emblem of unity for a continent at peace. The wide bridge straddles the Rhine, connecting Strasbourg in France with the German town of Kehl. But since the atrocities in Paris in November, traffic has been reduced to a single lane, with cars and trucks trickling past a police checkpoint.

President Hollandes move to impose border controls is just one of many changes as concerns about terrorism and migration grow - leading to a new term, Schengend.

The treaty on the free movement of people and goods was signed in the tiny Luxembourg village of Schengen in 1985. A decade later, amid much ceremony in the same location, it took effect.

Luxembourg, along with the Netherlands and Belgium, was a pioneer of border-free travel: frontiers were abolished in Benelux in 1960. So the village located where the borders of France and Germany converge on the Grand Duchy gave its name to pan-European openness.

Recommended Read more Schengen scheme on brink of collapse after Amsterdam talks

But in 2016 motorists taking the bridge across the Moselle into Germany and immediately turning south into France will encounter a police check aimed at detecting terrorists.

Six hundred miles south-west, where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean, the grand old customs house at Port-Bou railway station is no longer a relic from the past - but a checkpoint where Spanish border officials verify the identities of passengers arriving on trains from France.

Mark Smith, the founder of the Seat61.com international rail website, said: It would be ironic if the creation and subsequent abolition of the Schengen agreement results in more difficult cross-border travel than if it had never existed.

As politicians at the Folketinget (parliament) in Copenhagen passed a package of measures aimed at deterring migrants from seeking asylum in Denmark, a few miles away thousands of travellers were being delayed by ID checks imposed on rail travellers by Sweden.

Last month, the government in Stockholm ended direct trains from Denmark to Sweden. At the station serving Kastrup airport, passengers must leave one train, pass through immigration control and board a different train - almost doubling the travel time between Copenhagen and Malmo.

Europe's trains ran across borders perfectly well before Schengen, with controls carried out relatively painlessly on board trains, said Mr Smith.

The danger is that governments have now forgotten how it used to be done.

Motorists also face delays, according to Edmund King, president of the AA: In some ways UK drivers will be better prepared than their EU counterparts as we always drive to Europe with our passports. However, the downside of re-introducing frontier controls will mean the re-introduction of mega traffic jams and border control queues.

Yet the sheer number of international crossing points and the intensity of 21st-century travel means checks can be avoided by choosing alternatives to the main arteries. While Austrian frontier officials focus on the E50 highway and express rail line from Hungary to Austria, travellers face no significant hassle when crossing the border at the nearby town of Sopron - the location, in 1989, for the first, historic breach in the Iron Curtain.

Back at the Franco-German frontier in Strasbourg, a British expatriate working for an international organisation said: Of course, anyone intent on crossing the border with a bag of drugs or arms needs only walk over on the nearby pedestrian bridge, with no surveillance.
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Health authorities are struggling to control the Zika virus. Locally transmitted cases have been reported in Florida, and there is now concern about a possible link with male sterility. Simon Calder, The Independent's Travel Correspondent, answers readers questions about the threat the infection poses to travellers

Is Zika like the Ebola outbreak?

No - except for the degree of panic it has created among some prospective travellers. There are very significant differences. Ebola fever is difficult to catch but often fatal; Zika virus is easy to catch but, for most people, harmless. Only about one in five people who are infected with Zika develop symptoms, which include a fever, a rash and aching joints.

But for a small proportion who contract the virus, there are serious effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) says: "Based on research to date, there is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome."

Health officials believe that when the virus is caught by pregnant women, it may cause microcephaly: babies born with an unusually small head, a disability that causes life-long problems. That is why WHO deems Zika a public health emergency of international concern, as it did with Ebola.

There are also links with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. "When severe, the person is almost totally paralyzed," says the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders. "In these cases the disorder is life threatening."

UPDATE: What about the male sterility aspect?

Some evidence has emerged of a possible risk to male fertility. A study by researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle, published in Nature, looked at the effects of Zika on fertility in mice. When infected with a strain of the virus, some mice developed shrunken testicles, low testosterone levels and low sperm counts. The researchers believe the damage may be irreversible. They point out The extent to which these observations in mice translate to humans remains unclear. But right now the risk for men cannot be ruled out. The researchers say that "genito-urinary signs and symptoms" in people infected with Zika have been reported, including blood in the semen and pain when urinating.

Where are travellers at risk?

Zika is spread primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is present in hot, humid locations. (It may also be spread by the Aedes albopictus mosquito, which has a wider range of habitats.) The virus has appeared in Africa, South East Asia and the Pacific, but the highest number of cases have appeared in recent months in Latin America and the Caribbean.

At the end of July 2016 the first cases were reported in Florida, in a small district in the Miami area. On 19 August, the authorities reported an outbreak in Miami Beach.

What precautions can travellers take?

There is no vaccination against Zika. The mosquito responsible bites during the day, and indoors. To avoid mosquito bites, wear long sleeves and long trousers tucked into socks, and use Deet-based insect repellant on exposed skin. At night, use insect screens and air conditioning if your bedroom has them. If you are backpacking then consider taking a mosquito net.

Can it be transmitted directly between people?

The mosquitoes which carry dengue usually proliferate in times of heavy rain with the illness affecting between 50 and 100 million (AFP/Getty)

The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned the infection may have been sexually transmitted in the US. Officials in Dallas believe a woman contracted Zika through sex with her husband, who had previously been infected abroad. Public Health England says: If a female partner is at risk of getting pregnant, or is already pregnant, condom use is advised for a male traveller for 28 days after his return from an active Zika transmission area. If symptoms suggest he has may have contracted Zika virus, the recommended duration is six months.

What are the options for people booked to fly to destinations afflicted with the disease?

The Zika virus presents an unprecedented situation for the travel industry: a rapidly spreading disease that is mildly inconvenient for the average holidaymaker, but extremely serious for pregnant women. So airlines and holiday firms have been devising policies as they go along, focusing on people booked to travel imminently. Where changes are allowed by travel firms, they apply equally to the pregnant womans travelling companions.

What are package-holiday firms saying?

Ana Beatriz is held by her father Alipio Martin during a medical appointment at the Altino Ventura Foundation in Recife, Brazil (EPA)

Thomson, which also includes First Choice, is the UKs biggest holiday company. It says pregnant customers due to travel to Florida, Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Cape Verde and a number of other affected locations can change destination without incurring an amendment fee. If the new holiday is cheaper the difference will be refunded; if its more expensive, you pay the extra. But anyone booked to travel by the end of October must take the alternative holiday by then.

Thomas Cook, the other big tour operator, says: All those due to travel who are planning on getting pregnant and are concerned about a future holiday booking should call us so that we can support them appropriately.

Can you claim from travel insurance?

The Association of British Insurers says if a doctor tells someone not to travel to a particular destination, then most travel insurance policies will cover cancellation costs that cannot be reclaimed elsewhere. Of course, this is provided that the trip and insurance were bought before the advice changed.

Will it spread elsewhere?

The mosquito is a weak flyer and cannot cover more than about a quarter-mile. But infected people who go to another country where the Aedes aegypti mosquito exists could inadvertently spread the virus. In addition, the mosquito could be transported by air or sea. Health officials fear it could spread to every other country in the Americas where the mosquito exists - which is all of them except continental Chile and Canada.

While the Aedes aegypti mosquito does not survive in cooler climates, the World Health Organization warns that a close relative, the Aedes albopictus mosquito, can also transmit the virus.

In May, WHO said there is high likelihood of local Zika virus transmission (ie by being bitten by a mosquito that has previously bitten a carrier of Zika) on the island of Madeira and the north-eastern coast of the Black Sea, where the Aedes mosquito is found. It also warned that there is a moderate risk in 18 countries in the region of local transmission of Zika, because the Aedes albopictus mosquito is present. In order of likelihood (highest to lowest), the nations of concern are France, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Israel, Spain, Monaco, San Marino, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Georgia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

Should I cancel my trip to the Med?

No. At present there are no locally transmitted cases of Zika, and there may never be. WHO says: "These countries and areas should prepare well in order to protect their populations from the spread of Zika virus disease and its potential neurological complications, including microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome."

But at this stage, it would be premature to panic about travel to these destinations in and around the Mediterranean - and holiday companies and airlines are unlikely to be sympathetic to anyone who wants to cancel a trip.

This article was first published on 2 April 2016 and updated on 4 November 2016 to include an update about the potential effect of the virus on male fertility

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We are far enough away from the next general election to have an almost sane debate about the NHS. As soon as that election moves into view we will leap towards a fantasy land where public services are delivered without spending any money and where genuinely difficult reforms are cast to one side. For now though  as the NHS creaks, generating disturbing headlines most days of the week, and demand soars for elderly care while spending is cut  important voices dare to speak out.

Before we hear them, remember what the debate was like before the election last year. I am afraid a brief return to the madness is necessary in order to show how difficult it is to make tangible progress.

Labour would not commit to spending more on health and elderly care than the Conservatives, although privately its senior figures knew that it would have to do so if they won and that in one form or another taxes would rise to pay for the increases. The Conservatives insisted that the NHS and elderly care could improve magically without the need for tax rises. Much of the media encouraged the fantasy debate by screaming hysterically about any utterance from a politician that implied a halfpenny increase in public spending. What about the deficit? Taxes on your hard earned money will soar pointlessly!

Now let us wallow in the current fleeting post-election sanity. This week the Chief Executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, called for a new national consensus on a properly resourced and functioning social care system. Former Health Secretaries or ministers, Stephen Dorrell, Alan Milburn and Norman Lamb seek a cross-party commission to examine resources and structure, aiming for an end to the destructive, morale sapping, money wasting, bureaucratic divide between health and elderly care, while acknowledging more spending is needed.

Recommended Read more Picking a fight with junior doctors is no way to improve the NHS

All of them echo the Barker Report, commissioned by the Kings Fund and published in 2014. In her prescriptive and illuminating report, the former senior Treasury official Kate Barker proposed bringing together health and social care, a single ringfenced budget, with one commissioner to co-ordinate it all. Equally important, she also argued that the government should assume spending on health and social care would rise to between 11 and 12 per cent of GDP by 2025 - a level of expenditure already met by other equivalent countries for health alone.

In order to pay for what other countries take for granted Barker recommended a series of tax rises on the affluent elderly, including the end of universal free travel passes and other costly perks that a lot of the beneficiaries could do without. I spoke at the launch of the Barker report and warned that, while the report was admirable, its timing was not good. Before an election no party would commit to tax rises that hit those who vote.

Not only did they not commit, but matters have got worse since then. Barker reported back towards the end of last year, noting that real terms cuts in social care is placing even greater pressure on the NHS, with matters worse in the local authority sector. In October, the Quality Care Commission reported that one in five homes did not have enough staff on duty to ensure safe care. Good luck falling old and needing care in the NHS or separate social care system. You or your relatives will either spend a fortune on lightly regulated private care or face neglect as public spending falls to miserly levels.

Some health specialists wonder whether George Osborne will make further cuts to tax relief on pensions, in effect a hefty tax rise on the relatively well off, to meet the need. He might do, but I doubt it. Osborne has a Tory leadership contest to fight. After which that seemingly far off general election comes into view when we enter the tax and spend fantasy world where public services improve by magic. On the other side Labour is not trusted, at least when out of power, to spend a halfpenny of voters money.

How to resolve the conundrum, at a point where voters do not trust politicians and yet only politicians can act to bring about the changes required? I am no fan of referendums but if we are to have them I can think of no better cause than one on the question of whether voters will back a tax rise-specified in detail - in order to pay for health and elderly care, combined with thought through reform instead of the chaotic fracturing of recent decades.

Every penny of proposed spending and the merger of the NHS and social care would be scrutinised in advance, while the government and providers would be held to account subsequently. The referendum would not be about the fate of a Prime Minister. A government would offer to facilitate the changes and investment if the voters wanted them to go ahead. If not, we would all struggle along as now.

It would be about the voters and what they expect a government to deliver. The voters would have a stake as tax payers, decision makers in a referendum and as potential users of the services. As direct participants they would be in a position to make connections, between a debate about colossal sums of money, structures and outcomes.

We are about to have a referendum on the wrong topic. The UKs membership of the EU should not be the big issue of the day. Responding to the needs of a growing elderly population is the overwhelming challenge. I know the problems of referendums and the Treasury will have a nervous collapse, opposed to earmarked taxes let alone an unpredictable plebiscite to decide whether they will happen. But such a referendum resolves the nightmarish conundrum in an era where politicians are unfairly loathed or ideologically disinclined to act.

Let the voters decide whether for selfish reasons they want to invest through higher taxes, and support significant reform, or spend a much bigger fortune when they or their relatives need poorly delivered care.
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Legislation to enshrine in law the idea that citizens have a right to know how public authorities operate was hard won in this country. The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act was passed in 2000, more than two centuries after Swedens more open-minded politicians had taken the plunge. Less than 20 years on and it is clear the UKs current administration wishes to take a hammer to FOI: Scandinavian-style transparency be damned.

Representatives of the human rights organisation Liberty, the Society of Editors, and the Campaign for Freedom of Information have appeared before a commission set up by the Government last year to consider new restrictions to the Act  a chilling remit if ever there was one. The evidence they gave should highlight just how outrageous it would be if curbs to FOI were to be introduced. If anything, it is already too limited in its provisions.

The case against FOI has two main planks. First is cost, with public authorities said to be disproportionately burdened by responding to requests for information, some vexatious, made under the Act. Second, the Act is alleged to have had the effect of discouraging legitimate debate among policy-makers and advisers, who are ever-fearful that their discussions will become public in years to come.

As to the economic toll of the legislation, it was pointed out to the commission that the cost of FOI is a fifth that of running the Governments public relations service  a nice line which demonstrates that truth is cheaper than propaganda.

The question of whether public officials are too worried by the prospect of exposure to engage in full, on-the-record conversations with colleagues is more nuanced. Yet it isnt clear precisely what kind of exchanges are not being had as a result of FOI-inspired trepidation. And while good governance requires that officials can communicate frankly with one another, it seems like a reasonable rule of thumb that if their ideas or advice would outrage the public, then that is precisely the type of information we should know about.

Another theme beloved of political opponents of the FOI Act is that it has become simply a means by which journalists fish for stories. It is an oddity that this is regarded as inherently a bad thing, but of course it has to be remembered that FOI was vital to the exposure by the media of the MPs expenses scandal  not to mention a raft of other matters that were self-evidently in the public interest.

Giving evidence to the commission last week, the National Police Chiefs Council noted that only a third of FOI requests it receives are from journalists. The Governments narrative that new restrictions are a means of curbing unjustified journalistic activity is unsustainable: fresh constraints would be an assault on the ability of all citizens to hold the powerful to account.

In recent months, anxieties about national security have given succour to those who would empower state agencies to snoop more deeply into our lives. In this climate it is more vital that the power wielded by public bodies is open to proper scrutiny  or we may come to see a horrifyingly inverted scenario in which the only agency with free access to information is the government itself and the information it wants is ours.
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In the debate over renewal of Trident, the two crucial issues are the assessment of future risks against which a British independent nuclear weapon would be effective insurance, and the costs of maintaining the means of delivery.

The nature of conflict in todays world is quite different from the era of the Cold War, when mass destruction was the overriding threat to the country. Brutal and persistent as many current regional conflicts are, none of them poses an existential threat to the UK. The question therefore arises against whom and in what circumstances Britains independent nuclear weapon would be a necessary deterrent.

An international crisis of such gravity that brought into prospect the possible use of nuclear weapons would be a crisis for the whole of the western alliance. Surely, it is inconceivable that the UK would use its weapon independently of the US? And as both the warheads and their means of delivery are American made and supplied, it is certain that any decision on deployment would be taken in Washington rather than London.

The cost of renewing Trident is estimated at between 40m and 100m. This is a huge amount to pay just so the UK can continue to pose as a Great Power. There are better things to spend the money on, military and otherwise, not least the augmentation of our conventional forces, which seem more likely to be required for intervention in regional disputes.

John Crossland

Petts Wood, Kent

Multiple, or even single, warheads re-entering the atmosphere having followed a ballistic trajectory from a sub-sea launch will be taken to be nuclear weapons until proved otherwise and predictable responses will be made before impact.

Telling the target country that they only contain a few tons of conventional explosive will make no difference. A conventionally armed Trident system is a total waste of resources.

The UK does not need two classes of U-boats. The Astute class are excellent and can launch cruise missiles carrying nuclear or conventional warheads  as well as doing all the other things that such boats do.

Increasing the number of Astute class boats, adopting our own or an allys cruise missile (French Perseus?) and manufacturing our own nuclear weapons would give us a convincing level of deterrence, a practical measure of ambiguity, tactical flexibility, genuine independence of action, stealthy characteristics denied to ICBMs, and greater resilience  an enemy has to fret about a much larger number of boats and much lower cost.

Steve Ford

Haydon Bridge, Northumberland

May I propose a solution to the Trident problem that will enable the Tories to pursue their relentless austerity programme, while releasing Jeremy Corbyn from his red button dilemma?

Given that Trident and successors work purely as deterrents and by their nature must remain invisible, why not simply pretend we have them? Yes, we would still need one or two convincing-looking craft occasionally to appear at and disappear from their home base  manned by just a skeleton crew, of course  and during their development we would need convincingly to incur massive cost over-runs, accompanied by appropriate parliamentary hand-wringing.

And ideally, the decoy craft could stage accidental and embarrassing groundings during their proving trials off Scotland, in order to send out the right signals to watchful eyes. All of which would save a fortune, avert the meltdown of the Labour Party, and maintain our psychological defence posture.

Of course, whatever happens, we must not let on to that naughty Mr Putin and his gang.

Ian Bartlett

East Molesey, Surrey

Yugo Kovach, a critic of Britains Trident submarine missile system, argues that it is inconceivable that No 10 would fire Trident in anger without prior approval from the White House (letter, 26 January).

Yet should we not be considering a hypothetical, worst-case scenario whereby the US has retreated into neo-isolationism in the event of a Russian attack on Western Europe, or Washington is wavering over the protection of the West? Under those circumstances, Britain would have to consider firing Trident missiles without Washingtons approval.

Anthony Martin

London SE15

A deterrent can deter only a rational enemy. Such a person would be adequately deterred by the knowledge that we still had a couple of rusty old Polaris missiles which might still work.

An irrational enemy, such as a group of jihadis planning another 9/11 in a flat in Hamburg, would be neither deterred by, nor relevant to, possible nuclear retaliation.

Roger Martin

Wells, Somerset

Britain has atoned for colonial crimes

I strongly disagree with Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Britain must face up to its shameful past, 25 January).

Two of the greatest freedom fighters, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, have pride of place in Parliament Square. David Cameron was at the unveiling of the Gandhi statue last year. He paid homage to the great man.

Britain took responsibility for its colonial past and welcomed Yasmin and tens of thousands of Asians from Uganda, Kenya and other countries.

Yes, a great amount of atrocities and injustices took place during the colonial period. It was a different generation of people. The subsequent generations of people have acknowledged the worst excesses of the time.

Yasmin says that spicy food and home languages were banned in her school in Uganda. I went to school in Kenya and we never had such restrictions. Prime Minister Cameron hosted Prime Minister Modi of India last year and the two countries are forging a great partnership as equals. Diwali is now celebrated at 10 Downing Street.

We have come a long way and it is tiresome to hear the woes repeated.

Nitin Mehta

Croydon, Surrey

No right to gender segregation in public

I am glad that Farzana Yousuf is one of the majority of peace-loving Muslim women, but I think she misses the point about our government moves to ban gender segregation in public places (letter, 26 January).

In the past women and men of this country have fought to have the right to be treated as equals and be included in social and political life. Every woman in this country has equal rights and no one of whatever religion should be segregated in public because of their gender.

If Muslim people wish to segregate in private then fine, they have that freedom; but in todays society women should be free to sit wherever they like and speak to whom they like, whatever gender, especially in schools and public places. Thats what our government is protecting.

Linda Dickins

Wimborne, Dorset

Voles kinder than scientists

The endearingly anthropomorphic headline Small kindness: prairie voles display empathy when their friends suffer (22 January) belies the cruelty of the story, which reveals that electric shocks were given to these animals to induce suffering as part of the experiment.

Your science editor writes that empathy is considered one of the higher emotions and that the researchers were surprised to find that small-brained mammals have it.

It seems that prairie voles stand rather higher on the evolutionary ladder than these cold scientists whose emotional intelligence appears to be at absolute zero.

Philip Henneman

Bournemouth

Its not all right to insult asylum-seekers

The firm that insisted that asylum-seekers wear wristbands to claim meals has been, rightly, criticised, since identification has attracted insults and threats. But what of those who insult and threaten the asylum-seekers? Are they not blameworthy? Why do we assume that if asylum-seekers are identifiable they will be threatened?

Sylvia Platt

Oxford

Dont disparage the brave Sara Keays

I really did not like your obituary of Cecil Parkinson (26 January). It almost made Sara Keays out to be a villain. She wasnt. She was a victim.

I apologise for speaking ill of the dead, but the fact that she didnt just quietly go away with her baby and never bother him again isnt a reason to disparage. She was unbelievably brave. Especially when she reported him for telling her those stupid secrets.

Helen Braithwaite

London NW3

Sack the corporate tax-avoiders

I have uninstalled Google from my PC. When Google asked me why, I entered: You dont pay enough tax to the UK. I recommend that everyone does the same.

David Rose

Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
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The announcements by Malaysias Prime Minister and his newly appointed attorney general (the last one got sacked after taking a less forgiving view of his bosses actions) provide a welcome, if indirect, vindication of my reporting of what I described as a massive corruption scandal over the past few months.

The Malaysian authorities have confirmed some of my core allegations: that $681m was paid into Najib Razaks private bank accounts before the 2013 election, and that a further sum equivalent to more than $10m was channelled into another of his private accounts from a public company, SRC International, that he controlled, and which raised money from a public pension fund.

Now Mr Najib has come up with a series of risible excuses for these extraordinary admissions, which his loyal attorney general has chosen to believe. Whether these absolve him in public opinion is another matter entirely however, since Malaysians are gasping at what their leaders are now asking them to swallow.

First, Mr Najibs excuse for the $681m is that an anonymous Middle Eastern donor, now said to be a Saudi royal family member, wanted to help him win the election and sent the money, no strings attached. As for the further $10m, the Prime Minister says he believed it too came from the so-called donation. But, as weary Malaysians observe, Mr Najib originally swore that he had taken no money for personal use. Very little adds up, in fact.

A more plausible explanation for Mr Najibs windfall, and in fact where this story begins, could relate to my blog Sarawak Reports revelations early last year, documenting how billions of dollars missing from Malaysias now floundering development fund 1MDB ended up in the personal accounts of a Malaysian-Chinese businessman, regarded as Mr Najibs proxy.

I published a comprehensive money trail, which showed that almost $2bn from 1MDBs original investment in a UK-based Saudi company was funnelled into the businessmans Swiss bank account, and from there to Singapore, between 2009 and 2010. The deal is currently being investigated by the FBI and the Serious Fraud Office.

It did not help Mr Najibs cause that the youthful businessman went on a spending spree immediately afterwards, including extravagance in some of the worlds top nightspots. Public uproar over that sparked the official investigations that threw up the evidence about the later payments into Mr Najibs own Kuala Lumpur accounts.

These payments came hard on the heels of 1MDBs next series of questionable investments in 2012-13, linked to one of Abu Dhabis sovereign wealth funds. 1MDB borrowed $6.5bn for these vague projects, much of which has fallen off the books between the accounts of the two funds.

When the official investigations arrived at Mr Najibs own front door with my stories on these payments in July, the real Malaysian crisis took off. Mr Najib sacked his Deputy Prime Minister and several other Cabinet members, and dismantled four separate investigations into the 1MDB affair. Civil servants were arrested and questioned, and some were sacked. A prosecutor who drew up draft charges against the Prime Minister  and leaked them to me  was abducted, and was later found murdered.

My blog has been banned in Malaysia and draconian new press laws have curbed once relatively independent online media. In July, Malaysia issued a warrant for my arrest for activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy, but Interpol has declined to get involved. Meanwhile, I have been followed and harassed in London by unknown photographers, and my computers and emails hacked.

Despite all this, Malaysian authorities produced not one example of false reporting on my part  only various excuses for what I have brought to the publics attention.
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What is your capacity for the cold, hard truth? If you went to the doctor with a scary symptom, would you prefer to hear: a) Im not going to lie to you, it may be something nasty, so that if the test results came back positive a week later, youd be cushioned against the shock? Or b) Im quite sure its absolutely nothing, but we might as well check it out to be safe), giving you another seven days of relative peace?

If your choice is b), I must instruct you to leave this column immediately and find something less distressing to read. But if a) is your bag... Look, Im not going to lie to you. A week from now theres every chance that we will be talking about Donald Trump as a plausible presidential contender.

To the seemingly rhetorical question: When does a delicious frisson of dystopian fear become a blast of blood-freezing terror? the literal answer may be: On 31 January 2016, mate.

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If Trump wins the Iowa caucuses next Monday, as the betting markets deem twice as likely as not, the conventional wisdom dismissing the prospect of President Trump as too absurd to contemplate will be redundant. He will not only be odds-on for the Republican nomination. He will be a short-priced second favourite for the Oval Office. Or rather, an even shorter priced second favourite.

All the excitement of his wrecking ball campaign against decency and the hilarity of Sarah Palins stream of semi-consciousness endorsement has disguised the hard truth that Trump is now an 100/30 shot for president. That equates to almost one chance in four  slightly less likely than Arsenal winning the Premier League, if context is required, but a little likelier than Andy Murray winning the Australian Open. Until now, more of that conventional wisdom further insisted that, even if Trump beats the repulsive Ted Cruz and those like Marco Rubio who pass in the modern Republican party for moderates, his colossal unfavourability ratings among Democrats and independents would make him easy general election meat for Hillary Clinton.

The one tiny drawback to the conventional wisdom in our febrile post-economic crash times is that, since its modelled on precedent from the more centrist pre-crash era, it increasingly resembles the conventional idiocy.

As with Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour leadership, everyone regarded as Trump as nothing more than the comic relief candidate  until he wasnt.

It is too early to understand exactly how the Trump nightmare edged towards reality, but among the obvious factors are the raw power of a personality cult and his gift for tapping into the grievances of low-reading-age white voters. For almost half a century, Americas non-professional middle class has seen lives of comparative ease become harder as pay stagnated under pressure from an enlarged immigrant work force and outsourced manufacturing. Like the Afrikaner farmers of South Africa when apartheid ended, a sense of entitlement denied fuels vicious resentment. What they most resent, judging by the comments on race-baiting online news resources such as breitbart.com, is being made to feel guilty for racist thoughts they know they can no longer express, but without really understanding why. (If its ok for rappers to use the n word, why not us?).

So when a liberal, Ivy League insider who inherited tens of millions from daddy presents himself as an up-by-the-bootstraps crypto-fascist anti-establishment miracle man with quick fixes for troubles decades in the making, they couldnt be less interested that the beliefs he espoused five minutes ago are anathema. They could not care less that recently Trump was pro-abortion and anti-guns. Even the women among the right wingin, bitter clingin, proud clingers of gunsngod, to borrow from Sarah Palins exquisitely polished speech, couldnt give a toss that Trump finds their bodily functions disgusting, or playfully cracks jokes about fancying his own daughter (an obvious vote-winner, when you think about it, in the Appalachians). When he depicts the US military as cripplingly underfunded, they leave the reality in which America still spends more on defence than the next nine biggest spending powers combined and find sanctuary in the alternate universe in which this putrid, mad-coiffed demagogue is a visiting messiah who speaks the truth of god.

Two commodities he gives them are potent enough to relegate all other criteria to irrelevance. He legitimises their Jim Crow racism by affecting to share it, and offers hope that he can pop the US in a gold-plated Tardis and return it to 1956.

We know here that the appeal of fantasy-regressionist politics extends beyond the reactionary right. In Mays general election, Ukip damaged Labour more than the Tories. If disaffected working-class people in industrial northern England flocked to Ukip, why wont they flock to Trump in the industrial swing states of Ohio and Pennsylvania? And if early wins in Iowa and New Hampshire give him the momentum to wrap up the nomination quickly, why wouldnt this deceptively canny operator spend six months backtracking from the doolally and softening his tone to target disaffected independents and Democrats?

Traditional Republican candidates driven to extremes to win the nomination (see Mitt Romney) are too hamstrung by their previous positions to make it back to the centre ground. Trump can reverse anything without damaging himself because the one thing no one seeks from a messiah is consistency. Odds are no more than rough guides and the odds remain firmly against him reaching the White House. But a buoyant Trump with more free publicity than he can use and unlimited spending power versus a stale, fatigued Hillary looks nothing like a rank outsider.

So brace yourselves for some bad news. If the contemptuous laughter hasnt taken on a nervous timbre yet, it probably will next week.
Governor of the Central Bank Professor Philip Lane also said sterling had slipped partly as a result of Brexit uncertainty

Major multinationals are stalling on plans to invest in the UK while eyeing up Ireland in the event of a Brexit, Dublin's Central Bank chief has said.

Professor Philip Lane also blamed the sliding value of sterling on mounting fears over the in/out referendum on whether Britain should remain part of the EU.

Before a parliamentary watchdog in Dublin, the governor of Ireland's Central Bank said he was sure international companies were holding off on decisions about locating in the UK until after the vote.

"I have no doubt, it has to be the case that any sensible major firm considering where to make a location decision, and if the competition is between UK and Ireland, I'm sure any rational firm is going to stall for a few months," he said.

"So, I think the number one issue is delay, it is going to delay decisions about projects."

Speaking to parliamentarians on the Oireachtas Finance Committee, he added: "I think we are seeing sterling weaken in recent weeks, which is partly (due to) speculation ahead of a Brexit risk.

"Then, what happens after that, whether firms decide to come here (to Ireland) instead of the UK, and so on, I think there is a lot of different scenarios.

"It's hard to make strong predictions about that effect."
A new healthcare project that aims to foster partnerships between the private sector companies and the health service has received a funding injection of 5m.

The National Health Innovation Hub in Cork was formally announced in August 2014. According to the Department of Jobs it has cultivated "a number of innovative healthcare products and services" since it was set up on a pilot basis in 2012 based in University College Cork.

The Health Innovation Hub had been funded as a pilot project and following evaluation of the pilot, the Government decided to scale the project up to the national level with direct financial support being provided by Enterprise Ireland and in-kind support being provided by the Health Service Executive including dedicated staff.

Following a competitive process a consortium led by University College Cork, with partners including Cork Institute of Technology, Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland Galway, was appointed to host Health Innovation Hub Ireland.

A new Hub Director will now be appointed, who will guide the Hub through the next five years. The first call for proposals will be made later this year. A Stakeholder Advisory Group will also be set up to act as a forum between suppliers and users.

Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton and Minister for Health Leo Varadkar have announced that the 5m in funding will be spread out over five years.

The department of Jobs said that the initiative will allow "innovative Irish healthcare companies to easily access the health service to test their products and services.

It added that the Hub has already supported 23 projects involving 27 companies.
The Central Banks chief economist has urged voters and political parties to be cautious and prudent given the extent of the risks facing the economy.

Gabriel Fagan called for more than the minimum required to cut the debt and deficit given the vulnerabilities he says are facing the Irish recovery.

Despite the global markets turmoil and concern of a slowdown in China, the bank gave an upbeat assessment of the economy overall, saying the pick-up in spending and continuing strength of employment growth confirms that a convincing recovery is well established.

The banks latest quarterly bulletin  the first since Governor Philip Lane took office  said the performance of the economy reflects a recovery which is broad based and has increasingly come to be driven by a significant rebound in domestic demand.

Growth last year as measured by GDP was estimated at 6.6pc, and is forecast to ease to 4.8pc this year and 4.4pc in 2017, it said.

But Mr Fagan said that despite the strong numbers, there are significant risks, from both the high, although declining, levels of both public and private debt, and the threat posed to the global economy.

He repeatedly urged prudence, and said his call wasnt confined to politicians.

Its a message not just to parties; its a message to the country as a whole, to the voters and to society as whole, he said.

Weve done a lot of progress; tremendous achievements have been made on the fiscal side. But be careful, there are risks out there, there are vulnerabilities there, so be cautious and be prudent. Thats essentially our message.

Mr Fagan said if there is scope, more should be done to slash both the debt and deficit to build up as many buffers as can be built up.

If it is at all possible, given the risks that the economy faces, to go for a more ambitious, a faster pace of deficit reduction, which would imply a faster pace of debt reduction, he said.

Serious consideration should be given to using that [fiscal] space, given the vulnerabilities that the economy faces.

Oil extended its slide below $30 a barrel today and Chinese stocks took another plunge amid concern about the countrys slowing economy and confusion over Chinas central banks foreign exchange policy.

Luca Onorante, the Central Bank of Ireland's acting head of monetary policy, said there is considerable uncertainty facing the global economy.

There is uncertainty from the financial side, there is uncertainty about the numbers, there is uncertainty about what the connections are between a change in monetary policy in the United States and to what extend it may affect other emerging market economies, especially those that have a high level of debt in dollars, he said.

This is a global phenomenon, but the numbers as we have shown them today are subject to a clear downward risk.

The banks latest quarterly bulletin, despite the risks posed, states that Ireland is going through a period of exceptionally strong growth. The bank said outside factors have also contributed to the strong recovery.

In particular, the stimulus to incomes from an employment-rich recovery has been augmented by both the emergence of wage growth and the further boost to purchasing power from lower energy prices, the bulletin said.

Growth has also benefited from a more benign policy environment, reflected in both the easing of the pace of fiscal consolidation and continued favourable financial conditions, while additional support has been provided by the ongoing improvement in household and firm balance sheets and continued favourable financial conditions in Irelands main export markets.

Rising employment has helped stimulate a strong pick-up in consumer spending, which last year grew at its fastest rate since 2007.

The bulletin said domestic demand is expected to be the main driver of growth over the coming period, with a robust outlook for both consumption and investment spending.

Domestic demand is expected to grow by 5pc this year, before easing to 3.6pc next year.

The bank said the unemployment rate is forecast to drop to 8.2pc this year, and 7.4pc next year.
The European Central Bank failed to share its reasons for blocking burden sharing with senior bondholders under Ireland's bailout, the EUs auditors have said.

And the report was also critical of the European Commission's role around the time of the bailout and its failure to spot warning signs in the run up to the financial crisis.

It quoted a Commission report on the Irish economy from March 2008 which found that the risks attached to the budgetary projections are broadly neutral for 2008.

In a first-of-a-kind probe into EU bailouts published today, the European Court of Auditors - the blocs budget watchdog - acknowledged the International Monetary Fund's finding that alternative policy actions were available to contain the risks from higher burden-sharing, but were not pursued.

The report says that although the ECBs advisory role in eurozone bailouts was very broad, it did not extend to sharing documents or analysis with the European Commission or the IMF.

Providing advice did not mean, however, that the ECB supplied the other partners with the analysis underlying its position in programme talks, the report said. For instance, the ECB did not provide the Commission with its internal deliberations on burden-sharing by senior debt holders in the restructuring of Irish banks.

Given the level of support the ECB was providing to Irish banks - almost 100pc of the states GDP at the time - the auditors say that it was essential to the success of the programme.

The auditors were examining the Commissions management of financial assistance provided to five EU countries - Ireland, Portugal, Latvia, Hungary and Romania - including a EUR22.5 billion loan to Ireland that formed part of the larger 2010 bailout.

Jean Claude Trichet was president of the ECB at the time.
The number of IDA-sponsored visits by overseas investors last year soared by 57pc to 565.

New figures released by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton show that the number of IDA visits rose by 206 from 359 to 565 last year.

The figures show that the dominance of Dublin on the list waned significantly as the IDA oversaw a much greater geographical spread in site visits last year.

In 2014, Dublin accounted for 57pc or 205 of the 359 site visits - last year, the 242 site visits to Dublin represented 43pc of the overall total.

The figures also show that the number of counties completely by-passed by overseas investors dropped sharply last year.

In 2014, there were no IDA sponsored visits to Laois, Longford, Monaghan and Roscommon. Only Cavan was bypassed last year.

The figures show that Cork received the second-highest amount with 48 site visits, followed by 41 to Galway and 40 to Limerick.

In a written Dail reply to Dara Calleary TD, Mr Bruton confirmed that Waterford hosted 31 visitors with Westmeath hosting 28.

Those to host five or less were Donegal (5), Laois and Wexford (4), Mayo (3), and Longford, Monaghan and Roscommon (2).

In a statement accompanying the figures, Mr Bruton said: "It is important to note that data on site visits is not a true measure of the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in a region or county.

Approximately 70pc of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base.

"Working with stakeholders is exceptionally important in positioning any regional location to attract FDI, and IDA Ireland continues to do so, as well as working with existing clients in all regional locations," said Mr Bruton.

"While IDA Ireland does attempt to influence the choice of location, the final decision as to where to visit and ultimately where to locate is taken in all cases by the investor.

"The true measure of FDI is reflected in IDA's record 2015 results," Mr Bruton added.

"IDA client companies created just under 19,000 (18,983) jobs on the ground during the year across a range of sectors, with every region of Ireland posting net gains in jobs. Net jobs were 11,833 compared to 7,131 in the same time period last year - representing a year-on-year rise of 66pc.

Separate figures in a Dail reply provided by the Minister Bruton to Deputy Sean Fleming (FF) show that Dublin recorded the largest net gain in IDA jobs between 2011 and 2015 at 5,812 jobs.

This followed a gross gain of 8,864 jobs and a gross loss of 3,052.

The second best performing area in terms of IDA jobs - boosted by the growth of Apple in the area - was Cork where a net jobs gain of 3,429 was recorded.

The figures show that Limerick has recovered well in terms of IDA jobs following the major jobs loss at Dell in 2009.

The figures between 2011 and 2015 show that Limerick recorded a net gain of 910.

The total net gain of jobs over the period across the country was 11,833.
Donall OKeeffe: was lined up to head the new merged body. Photo: Caroline Quinn

The proposed merger of the country's two publicans' groups has collapsed amid concerns over the salary of the new body's chief executive.

Months of negotiations between the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) and the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) broke down in recent days.

It had been expected that an amalgamated body would be in place by the middle of this year, with LVA boss Donall O'Keeffe identified as CEO designate.

Such a body would have unified representation for Dublin pubs, for which the LVA currently acts, and rural pubs, which are represented by the VFI, for the first time in over three decades.

However, sources said the VFI got cold feet when its representatives failed to get answers about Mr O'Keeffe's salary.

There has been considerable speculation about the pay package, but it has never been publicly disclosed. Sources close to the LVA have said it is in the region of 200,000, but others in the industry have suggested it could be up to 300,000.

Accounts for the LVA do not list the salary, but show that the organisation's five staff shared almost 490,000 in wages and pension payments in 2014.

In a joint statement to the Irish Independent, the LVA and VFI confirmed that the councils of both organisations had suspended the merger process.

"A number of complex issues have arisen, which include issues of a legal and technical nature," the statement said.

Sources within the VFI camp said Mr O'Keeffe's remuneration was raised in the aftermath of the pay controversy which rocked the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) last November.

"Clarity was sought in relation to the pay issue, but it was never disclosed for confidentiality reasons," said one source with knowledge of the talks.

"What brought it to a head was the IFA situation. People started asking questions, but they weren't being answered to the satisfaction of the VFI."

The VFI's national executive council met last week and decided to withdraw from the process.

However, one industry source said the LVA had already decided to pull the plug on the merger before then.

The source said both sides reached an agreement on salaries as far back as last August.

This was said to have involved independent experts "to ensure market rates were being paid and that things were done in an objective manner".

The source said that the VFI "attempted to row back on the agreement at a late stage" and wanted pay to be re-examined.

This caused the LVA to lose confidence in the merger process, the source said.

While the merger is now dead in the water, both bodies have agreed to continue working together on issues affecting publicans.
Security giant Tyco International and manufacturing multinational Johnson Controls will save $150m (138.5m) in taxes annually when they merge and move their combined headquarters to Ireland.

Cork-based Tyco, valued at $13bn, specialises in fire protection systems while US-based Johnson Controls, which has a market value of $23bn, makes heating and ventilation systems and car batteries. Although Tyco moved its global headquarters from Switzerland to Cork in 2014, the company was founded in the US and has the majority of its operations there. Its operational headquarters is in Princeton, New Jersey.

The two companies announced yesterday that they are to merge in a deal that will place the combined company's headquarters in Ireland. Johnson reported revenues of $37.2bn in its 2015 financial year, while Tyco's was $9.9bn.

Under the terms of the agreement, Johnson Controls will own about 56pc of the merged business and receive a cash payment of about $3.9bn. Tyco has secured a $4bn bank facility to finance the cash aspect of the deal.

The combined company will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. It will maintain Tyco's Irish legal domicile. The primary operational headquarters in North America for the combined company will be Milwaukee, where Johnson is based.

The merger will create savings of at least $500m in the first three years, the companies said.

They added that the transaction is expected to create "at least $150m in annual tax synergies". The companies didn't provide an exact value for the merger.

The deal marks another tax inversion involving an Irish-headquartered company. An inversion is when a company shifts its legal domicile to a lower-tax country while usually keeping its material operations in the country of origin. Ireland has a 12.5pc corporate tax rate compared to about 35pc in the US.

The new company, to be called Johnson Controls Plc, will be headed by Johnson Controls chief executive Alex Molinaroli for 18 months after the closing of the deal. Afterwards he will be succeeded by Tyco CEO George Oliver.

Johnson Controls has been preparing to spin off its automotive seating and interiors business and said yesterday that the spinoff was on track for early in the first quarter of 2017.

Shares of Johnson Controls have lost more than a quarter of their value since the start of 2015, while Tyco's shares have fallen by over 30pc. Johnson Controls' shares were down 0.8pc at $35.30 in pre-market trading, while Tyco's were up 10pc at $33.65.

Tyco was broken up into three companies after turnaround expert Edward Breen took the helm from former chief executive Dennis Kozlowski, who was convicted in 2005 of grand larceny, securities fraud and other charges.

Under Breen, Tyco spun off its electronics and healthcare businesses in 2007. In 2012, Tyco was again broken up into three pieces, while its commercial fire and security businesses combined into "New Tyco". (Additional reporting by Reuters)
Minister for Data Protection Dara Murphy and Kevin ORegan, CEO of Fortuity at the technology firm announced the creation of 10 new jobs.

About 160 technology jobs are to be created with the expansion of several companies in Galway and Cork.

In Galway, a merger of two tech firms is to result in 100 new jobs.

Intuity said it plans to create the positions over the next three years.

The company was formed following a merger of software solutions consultancy Ice Cube, and IT support business Tec Support in late 2014.

The Ice Cube business has been providing software solutions, IT consultancy and support primarily to the credit union, marts and quarry industries for over 40 years. Tec Support has worked in IT consultancy and project management across multiple business sectors nationwide for almost a decade.

Intuity chief executive Gerard Cox said the company is looking forward to a "busy" 2016. He said: "[We have] a number of strategic acquisitions already identified, key international partners in place and the addition of a third office here in Ireland planned for the coming months."

Separately, Hortonworks, a California-headquartered software firm, announced yesterday that it is opening a new office in Cork.

It is recruiting for 50 staff in technical support, finance, HR, marketing, IT and operations roles.

Founded in 2012, the company provides technical support for software used in managing large amounts of data.

It has recently opened offices in London and Sydney.

The company said its new Cork office will "provide space for an expanded global technical support team for the more than 750 customers as well as space for other operational professionals".

The investment was supported by IDA Ireland.

Also in Cork, home-grown technology company Fortuity said it was doubling its workforce by taking on ten new staff.

The roles in cloud computing, business software, data analytics and cloud and cyber security will be based at the firm's Carrigtwohill offices. (Additional reporting Press Association)
Lack of praise and recognition are the biggest reasons for a loss of motivation among employees, a survey has found.

And it's a growing problem, rising from around 50pc of respondents in 2014, to 59pc now, according to the latest Mazars' external employee motivation survey.

Overall, motivation levels are on the rise, with 81pc of respondents enthusiastically knuckling down to work.

A third of workers are more motivated this year than last year, thanks to changing roles, a new job, a bump in wages or a change in reporting structure.

But for the majority of those who just can't seem to muster up the enthusiasm for work anymore, the problem lies with their bosses, and the latter's apparent inability to recognise good work.

This issue has been gradually rising year-on-year, from 51pc in 2014 to 56pc last year and now 59pc.

"More than ever, employers need to do more to recognise and reward where an employee delivers results and desired behaviours," the report stated.

"Demotivating management style continues to be an issue for employee motivation."

The second demotivating stickler for workers is the style and attitude of management, and their inability to deal with unsatisfactory performers.

More than two thirds of respondents said that they don't feel the management/leadership teams do enough to motivate them.

The Mazars survey was carried out during October with 500 respondents from a range of sectors in Ireland.

The mix of companies surveyed was large private companies/multinationals (22pc), public sector (45pc), not-for-profit organisations (7pc), SMEs (15pc), partnerships (8pc) and other organisations (3pc).

Personal satisfaction with their role at 67pc is again ranked as the highest motivating factor. And as the economy continues to improve and the employment market becomes more active, there is a greater focus among employees for a greater work/life balance (50pc), with financial benefits (48pc) also remaining high on the agenda.

"While the promise of tax cuts in our forthcoming general election is music to every employees' ears, business leaders need to understand what other factors motivate their most valuable resource," said Keith McCarthy, Mazars human resources director.

"In order to take advantage of the growth in the economy, having a strong, motivated workforce is important to ensure business objectives are achieved, absenteeism levels are kept low, productivity and turnover levels are satisfactory and attraction and retention strategies are effective."

The views of employees towards mental health, and the attitude of their employers, are mixed in the survey.

The majority of respondents - 79pc - report that they are able to identify symptoms of mental ill health in colleagues and employees.

But a significant number - 61pc - also pointed out that they would not feel comfortable disclosing a mental illness to employers.

"Organisations should ensure that further training is provided to both employers and their staff in the area of supporting and managing colleagues with mental health issues, while also taking steps to adapt their culture to a more comfortable environment where staff can feel more open to discussing issues with colleagues," the report said.
The Guardian is seeking to slash 54m in costs after a review of its finances found that at its current rate of spending it could burn though its 758m trust fund in less than a decade.

Kath Viner, the left-leaning newspapers editor, and David Pemsel, its chief executive, told staff that the fund had declined by 100m since July amid a steep fall in print advertising. The financial position is "fragile", they warned.

Announcing deep cuts, they said they will shave 20pc off annual running costs of 268m, in an attempt to match spending with revenue growth and staunch operating losses within three years. Costs are up 23pc in the last five years, compared with only a 10pc rise in turnover.

At the first of two town hall meetings at the Guardians Kings Cross headquarters, Mr Pemsel declined to comment on potential cuts to its 1,960 staff. Heads of department have been asked to find savings wherever possible, with the number of job losses due to be revealed in March.

Mr Pemsel, appointed in June, added that the Guardian could even consider moving out of its offices in the Kings Place building. He has already halted work on a nearby events venue in the historic Midland Goods Shed and is considering pulling out of the plans completely.

Plans for the Midland Goods Shed are already on hold Photo: Bennetts Associates

The venue was to be a hub for the Guardians membership scheme, which asks readers to pay up to 600 per year for access to debates and other live events. However, there are doubts as to whether the building is a good investment given it will not be able to host large events.

The membership scheme will in any case be relaunched with the goal of doubling revenues in three years, staff were told. Mr Pemsel ruled out a 'paywall' to charge for access to the Guardians website or mobile apps, but suggested some content could be available to paying members only.

The loss-making operation is supported by a 735m investment fund. It was boosted last year by the flotation of the used car classifieds publisher Auto Trader, which the Guardian owned in a joint venture with the private equity firm Apax Partners.

The pair are lining up their other shared asset, the conference organiser Ascential, for a stock market debut next month. It should provide a further boost to the Guardians dwindling trust fund, which is charged with ensuring the newspapers survival.

But Mr Pemsel said its current spending could not continue.

He said: Against the backdrop of a volatile market, we are taking immediate action to boost revenues and reduce our cost-base in order to safeguard Guardian journalism in perpetuity.

This plan will ensure our business is increasingly adaptable and better able to respond quickly to the pace of change in the digital world.

The Guardian has invested heavily in newsrooms in the United States and Australia but has yet to see significant commercial returns from the international operations. Staff were told there would be increased focus on increasing their contribution to the overall business.

The newspaper will also seek to replace print advertising sales by increasing its efforts on 'branded content, whereby advertisers sponsor online articles and videos.

The planned cost cuts are likely to cause particular concern at the Observer, Guardian Media Groups Sunday title, which is not protected in perpetuity in the same way as the Guardian.

A source familiar with the cost-cutting plans said: This should not be taken as a sign that the Observer is at risk.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Energy companies have been accused of profiteering after it emerged wholesale gas prices are at a six-year low.

Energy Minister Alex White said he was considering again calling electricity and gas suppliers into his office to demand answers to why residential prices are not falling much faster.

But consumer campaigners warned the minister was wasting his time.

It came after figures showed the cost of wholesale gas, the main input for generating electricity and for producing domestic gas, has collapsed.

The average wholesale price for January is now 40pc lower than the average monthly price for the same month over the previous three years, experts at energy suppler Vayu Energy said.

In the last year alone, prices are down 29pc, Joanne Daly of Vayu said. But electricity and gas prices charged to householders fallen by only 5pc in the last year, knocking up to 50 off bills.

Strong supplies, mild winter weather conditions and high quantities in storage are behind the plummeting cost of wholesale gas.

No energy companies are regulated on the price they charge consumers now that the market dominance of ESB and Bord Gais has receded.

Deputy chairman of the Consumers' Association Michael Kilcoyne accused energy suppliers of "profiteering".

He said it was a waste of time for Mr White to call them into his offices to push them to reduce prices.

"He needs to just tell them he wants cuts. The failure of energy firms to pass on wholesale gas cuts is profiteering," Mr Kilcoyne said.

Mr White said he had no powers to set prices, so could not tell companies what to charge. But he was considering asking the main suppliers into his offices to explain their reluctance to pass on price cuts, he told RTE radio. "It is important that energy prices are kept low. I would expect more reductions," he said.

Simon Moynihan, of price comparison site Bonkers.ie, said there was scope for cuts of at least another 5pc.

"Suppliers have argued that they buy gas years in advance and wholesale prices can take a long time to pass through to customers. However, wholesale prices have been falling for years now, which should lead to greater cuts than we have seen to date."

He warned families not to wait and hope for suppliers to cut prices further.

They should take the savings themselves by switching to benefit from discounts of up to 26pc, he said.

Asked whether it was profiteering, Electric Ireland said fuel costs represent around 30pc of the overall price of electricity, but said it took time for wholesale price change to feed into customers' bills. It applied a 3pc reduction in unit rates in November.

"We continue to keep our prices under review and customers can look forward to further reductions if the current wholesale energy price trends continue."

Bord Gais Energy said it was the only energy supplier to pass on two price reductions, in both gas and electricity, in 2015.
We don't often get the chance to peer inside a billionaire's wardrobe, so when Mark Zuckerberg posted a photograph of his online, the world's attention was piqued.

"First day back after paternity leave. What should I wear?" Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page.

One might have expected to see a varied collection of sartorial choices, but instead what was seen was a small, tidy line of identifcal grey t-shirts and charcoal grey hoddies.

For a man that could afford to personally fly Giorgio Armani himself into his home, Zuckerberg's rather simple wardrobe seems, well, strange.

But Zuckerberg, along with US President Barack Obama, has long been known as an advocate of puritanical simplicity when it comes to his wardrobe.

Why?

Well, Zuckerberg reasons that he simply doesn't have the time and energy to pick a new outfit every day. He says that by stripping his day of this needless decision, he has the headspace to make more important ones.

I really want to clear my life to make it so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything except how to best serve the community, he said.

Obama has also been quoted as saying his decision to strictly streamline his wardrobe is deliberate.

"You'll see I wear only gray or blue suits," [Obama] said. "I'm trying to pare down decisions. I don't want to make decisions about what Im eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make."

"You need to focus your decision-making energy. You need to routinize yourself. You can't be going through the day distracted by trivia."

Is it a genius move, or is it just that, only a choice that a privileged genius could afford to make? Or is simplicity in the wardrobe a key way of reducing one of life's many stresses?
Mysteriously abducted by television schedulers 14 years ago, The X-Files returned to the small screen tonight on RTE2.

Once more, viewers were invited to drink deep of Agent Fox Mulder's paranoia and/or share in Agent Dana Scully's fourth-wall-breaking scepticism. Here's what we learned from the first episode of the new six-part mini- series...

1: They're Playing The Nostalgia Card.

Twenty-three years since The X-Files debuted, creator Chris Carter has stuck with the original opening credits. Agents Mulder and Scully are preternaturally fresh-faced; the jumpy editing screams early 90s MTV; the wispy theme is just as fans remember.

2: But They've Upped The Budget.

Back in the day, The X-Files enjoyed teasing audiences by hinting at mind-bending happenings but without ever showing much on screen. Here was television that did not believe in the 'money shot'. Thirty seconds into the new series, we'd already seen a giant UFO careen into the desert at Roswell. Later, Mulder got an upclose peep at a giant stealth airplane that drew on covert alien tech. Both were gorgeously realised  testament to the greatly-boosted production values of returning franchise.

3: The Chemistry Endures.

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Mulder and Scully were one of television's original odd couples, with Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) communicating the philosophical gulf between the characters with just a raised brow or tug at the corner of the mouth. After more than a decade apart (excluding a flop cinematic outing from 2008), the sardonic spark between the pair is much as we recall.

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4: Duchovny Still Sounds As If He's Just Woken Up.

The actor's flinty drawl can be mistaken for the woozy meanderings of someone just fallen out of bed. So it was here  as he delivered his scene-setting opening monologue, you may have found yourself stifling a yawn. All these decades later, the actor's slow cadences are still a panacea for insomniacs.

5: They Haven't Gone All Snowden On Us

In early '90s paranoia was optional. The Cold War was over, the internet still an obscure technology. Nowadays, we have justifiable grounds for worrying our email is being snooped on or that our movements are tracked via mobile phone. However, in The X-Files universe our biggest concern turned out to be that aliens ploughed into the side of a mountain in New Mexico in 1947. There was something innocent and sweet about Carter's determination to serve up an old school brand of neuroticism.

6: The Smoking Man IsBack.

When The X-Files took its leave in 2002, we were encouraged to believe Mulder and Scully arch-nemesis The Smoking Man had died in a rocket attack. Yet here he was, still breathing (and puffing). At the conclusion of an often cartoonish first episode, it was good to know he remains out there wheezing and scheming.

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The second episode airs tomorrow night Wednesday, 9.55pm RTE2.
THE Government has been accused of leaving acute hospitals 100m short in the 2016 budget plan.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said it was the third consecutive year in which the Government produced fraudulent health budgets for the year ahead. He said the HSEs own plans revealed that population was on the increase and there were more older people putting pressure on the hospital services.

This means real trouble ahead for 2016, Mr Martin said  warning that it would add to the current queues and pressure at hospitals over the rest of the year.

The Taoiseach said the Government had put in an overall 800m extra for health services in 2016. He said there were more doctors and nurses hired and it was up to the HSE to manage the service within the budget allocated.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said the Government had totally failed to deliver more new social houses. He said only 28 social or affordable houses were built by local councils in the entire country last year as he accused Environment Minister Alan Kelly was guilty of PR spin.

The Taoiseach said the Government had put plans and funding in place for local councils to resume a major housing programme. He said the building programme had been halted due to economic recession.
A homeless charity has hit out at "anti-homeless" bars that have been installed outside a building used by Tanaiste Joan Burton's department.

The Department of Social Protection has offices in Gandon House on Amien Street in Dublin's city centre.

This week workers installed metal bars along the outer ledges of the building, which one charity has likened to the anti-homeless spikes that caused outrage in the UK just a few months ago.

Director of Inner City Helping the Homeless (ICHH), Anthony Flynn, blasted the move last night, saying it was the first example of the anti-homeless barriers he could remember in Ireland.

"It's probably the worst place that you could have possibly installed them," he said.

"This is the department that is supposed to look after our vulnerable people.

"There are thousands of businesses up and down the city with homeless on the doorstep, and have they spent money on the implementation of these spikes, no they have not," he continued.

Unsympathetic

"This is the most unsympathetic way of dealing with the homeless crisis, it's a 'not in my doorstep attitude' and we certainly condemn it.

"The department has shown a real lack of consideration and sympathy and I would like to hear their reasons," he said.

Mr Flynn said that the response to the images had been overwhelming already and that supporters of the charity were "disgusted" by the fact that the barriers had been installed.

The bars appear to be in place in a manner that would block anyone from sitting on the window ledge, or using them in any way.

Last night a spokeswoman for the Department of Social Protection deferred all queries on the matter to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The OPW leases the building on behalf of the Government from a private landlord.

Landlord

"The works to the front of Gandon House are outside the demise of the OPW and they are being undertaken by the landlord," a spokeswoman for the OPW said.

In the UK the issue of "anti-homeless spikes" has cropped up over the past year as metal studs were installed in London doorways and crevices to prevent rough sleepers bedding down. Last October a group of artists, who called themselves 'Better than Spikes', turned the spikes outside a nightclub into a comfy bed, complete with a bookshelf for passers-by to enjoy.
A former winner of the Irish 'Apprentice' reality TV series has appeared before Dun Laoghaire District Court on drug and public-order charges.

Michelle Massey (34) was allegedly found with a small quantity of cocaine after gardai brought her to Blackrock Garda Station in May of last year.

Judge Grainne O'Neill adjourned the matter to a date in February for the attention of Judge Anne Watkin, who previously dealt with the case.

The defendant, with an address at Corrig Hall, Ticknock Hill in Sandyford, appeared before Dun Laoghaire District Court, accused of public drunkenness and threatening and abusive behaviour.

The breach of the peace, contrary to the public order act, allegedly took place at Taney Road in Dundrum on May 1, 2015.

She is also charged with possession of cocaine at Blackrock Garda Station on the same date.

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The case was before the court yesterday for an updated probation report, after Judge Watkin had raised a number of matters from the initial probation report.

Defence solicitor Richard Young told the sitting judge, Judge O'Neill, that Judge Watkin had been dealing with the case and he believed it was appropriate that she should finalise matters. He also told the court that Ms Massey is working.

Garda Sergeant Peadar McCann consented to an adjournment to a date in February.

He said the prosecuting garda should be in court on the next date, as the defendant "has an issue with something in the probation report and we need the garda in court".

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Judge O'Neill adjourned the matter for five weeks and noted that the prosecution garda is expected to be in court on the next date.

Ms Massey, a former sales consultant from Peterborough in England, won the third series of the Irish version of 'The Apprentice' in 2010. Her prize at the time was a one-year 100,000 contract working for Bill Cullen.

According to her LinkedIn profile, she now works as senior account manager for a US multinational.
Best Hair Removal Cream for Men

Beat Razor Burn for Good With These Top Hair Removal Creams

The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.

Product photos from retailer site.

Theres a good chance youve Googled how to get rid of body hair at some point in your life. While youve had shaving your face down since you hit puberty, its not as easy getting a smooth, ingrown hair-free shave elsewhere on your body: shaving your back requires a very unappreciated skillset, and its not uncommon for manscaping of any kind to end up in one too many uncomfortable nicks. But thats where hair removal cream comes in.

RELATED: The Best Razors for Men

The stuff has come a long way since it first became a thing. One of the initial hair removal cream formulas back in the 1500s involved a concoction of quicklime and arsenic, but todays hair removal creams are much safer, not to mention more effective. While methods like waxing can be a pain  literally!  using a hair removal cream is pretty fuss-free and actually lasts a long time. Once you apply the cream to your skin, the chemicals dissolve your hair right below the surface, turning it into a sludge you can wipe right off your body. Afterward, your skin stays hair-free for up to four weeks, depending on the product.

Before you get started, keep these tips in mind.

Do a Patch Test: Since youre dealing with chemicals, its always a good idea to do a patch test to see if youll have a bad reaction to the formula. Some people might be especially sensitive to the ingredients used in the creams, so try it out on a small section of your body  like part of your arm or leg  before using it all over. I

Since youre dealing with chemicals, its always a good idea to do a patch test to see if youll have a bad reaction to the formula. Some people might be especially sensitive to the ingredients used in the creams, so try it out on a small section of your body  like part of your arm or leg  before using it all over. I Pay Special Attention to the Directions: Some creams are specifically made for your chest and back, while others are safe to use on more sensitive areas.

Some creams are specifically made for your chest and back, while others are safe to use on more sensitive areas. Get Your Timer Ready: Dont leave the hair removal cream on your skin any longer than youre supposed to, as it could result in a chemical burn or skin irritation. The first time you use a product, you might even want to leave it on for a little less than youre supposed to, just to play it safe. Eventually, youll find the timing that works for your skin.

Now that you know the ins and outs of hair removal creams, its time to figure out which product is best for your needs. One plus about buying these products in 2020 is that the companies have worked hard over the years to ensure they not only smell much better than the ones you remember seeing years ago, but also make them much easier to apply. And because of the addition of moisturizers and other buffers into the ingredient list, theyre not nearly as harsh as they used to be, making it easy for you to remove your hair worry-free.

When youre ready to give hair removal cream a try, start with these products. Theyre cost-effective, highly rated, and favorites of men everywhere.

Best for Coarse Hair

Nair Hair Removal Cream

Nair

Men who have extremely course and thick hair will love this product. Best for the back, chest, arms, and legs, it couldnt be easier to use: Just apply to dry skin without rubbing in, wait a minute, then get into the shower. You can go about your typical routine  avoiding the areas you applied the product to  then rinse it all off once the time is up.

Promising Review: "This will remove any amount of hair quickly and easily without a super offensive smell. Follow the directions well, it does *exactly* what it says. That means do NOT think you're special and able to use this on your sensitive parts. It will burn you just like it says you will, trust me, not fun. For the amount you get, the effectiveness and price this is an easy 5 star with the only mild downside of the scent not being pleasant (But not offensive). Once again, read the directions, don't be like me. Your fleshy fun-bridge will turn into the plains of hell faster than you can say 'Oh god, it's BURNING!'"  Juliett Sierra

$11.69 at Amazon.com

Best for a Smooth Finish

Nad's for Men Hair Removal Cream

This popular cream says its not suitable for use on the genital areas, but that just so happens to be why its a favorite of men around the world: in just a few minutes, all the hair can simply be wiped away. Like Nairs product, its also great on any other thick and coarse hair too, but with added ingredients like shea butter and sweet almond oil, youll get a silky smooth finish no matter where it ends up.

Promising Review: "Great product, no burning, no strong smell either but it still has like very mild smell. Most people complaining obviously are doing it to just b***h. I was skeptical about the effectiveness and chemical burning but neither are a concern for those not allergic"  Jacob B

$8.99 at Amazon.com

Best for Removing Pubic Hair

Veet Gel Hair Remover Cream, Sensitive Formula

Veet

Alright, alright  this product is specifically made for women. But, it might be used by men just as frequently for one simple reason: it works great in the pubic region. Since its made for sensitive skin, its safe to use on a womans bikini line  which made men want to try it out in their nether regions as well. And the result? Thanks to a formula enriched with vitamin E and aloe vera, it will keep the genital area hair-free for weeks.

Promising Review: "I married a hairy beast. And he vowed on the sacracy of our sex life to keep his back hair free for me. Fast forward 9 years and the vow went out the door. Bored on Amazon I order this stuff and forgot all about it until it showed up. I never believed this would work. I did a test patch and after 6 minutes... I was hyped when I wiped and it looked like baby skin. Probably because the hairs so thick his skin hasnt ever seen the light of day. I slathered that stuff on the rest of his back so fast! Voila people! Its freaking magic! I cant belive my eyes! Im going to have to start buying it in the gallons!"  Addicted to Prime

$8.99 at Amazon.com

Best for Long-Lasting Smoothness

Magic Shave Razorless Cream Shave Light Fresh Scent, Regular Strength

Its hard to find a hair removal cream suitable for the face, but thats exactly what this one is aimed at. Magic Razorless Cream Shave  designed for African American men, but useable on any skin tone  is a great alternative to shaving. Men love it for its ability to get the look of a close shave without annoying razor bumps on the face and neck. Plus, the result lasts for up to 4 days.

Promising Review: "This stuff is great! I use it on my *ahem* Lady Bits. You just put it on and let it sit for about 4 minutes, then rub it off with a wet washcloth. The smell is not awful like it is with other diplitory creams. It has a pepperminty smell. It did tingle a bit, but did not hurt. According to the label, if everything does not come off in the first try, you can do it again in 24 hours. I would say do it a day or two in advance of your special date!"  April Kyle

$23.75 at Amazon.com

Best for General Hair Removal

Veet Men Hair Removal Cream for Sensitive Skin

Veet

While the aforementioned Veet for Women product is known for getting rid of hair down under, this is another solid option for other parts of the body  particularly the chest, back, arms, and legs. Just dont use it anywhere else  especially the groin or nipples  because it doesnt do well on sensitive skin. If you do use it in sensitive areas, youll most likely end up with a burn, redness, and other irritation.

Promising Review: "Brilliant product. Despite all the warnings and cautions I brought this product to remove pubic hair after years of shaving. I can confirm that after slapping it all over and waiting about 8 minutes I was completely smooth, all without any discomfort."  Matthew

$20.99 at Amazon.com

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A 31-YEAR-OLD man accused of attacking a judge following a court hearing in Dublin has been granted bail on condition he signs on twice daily at a garda station.

He is accused of attacking Judge Miriam Walsh who was hospitalised after she was allegedly punched and kicked following a district court hearing on December 11 last.

Dublin District Court heard today that bail has been be taken up by the accused who had been remanded in custody at an earlier stage. It was the man's fifth appearance since being charged.

Court Gda Sergeant Niall Gillooly told Judge John Cheatle that directions from the DPP need to be obtained. The accused, who took up bail on December 29th, sat silently as the court heard that the investigation file has been sent to the office of the DPP and progress would be expected in five weeks.

Gda Sergeant Gillooly objected to an application by the defence to amend the signing-on requirement imposed on the defendant as a condition of bail. He said that it had been one of the reasons why bail had been granted.

Judge Cheatle said he would not interfere with the existing conditions and adjourned the case until March. Directions from the DPP are required to help determine if the case should be dealt with in the jurisdiction of the District Court or instead should go forward to the Circuit Court, which has tougher sentencing powers.

The defendant, who has not yet entered a plea, was remanded on continuing bail. The court heard today that he is currently unemployed but is looking for work or maybe resume his education.

His other bail conditions state he must stay away from the Dolphin House district court building in the city-centre where he allegedly assaulted and caused harm to Judge Miriam Walsh on December 11th last. He has to reside at an address furnished to the court and notify gardai of any change of residence.

Judge Miriam Walsh had been presiding over a case involving two parents and their adult son in which a protection order was sought; the proceedings were at the district court in Dolphin House in central Dublin.

The judge was allegedly punched and kicked and brought to hospital however her injuries were not serious and she was later released.

Gardai arrested the man and he was later charged with assault causing harm to Judge Walsh.

He was held in custody overnight and brought to appear before Dublin District Court the following day. Det Gda Francis Byrne had then said the man made no reply when he was charged with the offence.

At his first hearing on December 12th, the court had heard it was alleged Judge Miriam Walsh had been assaulted in court and was punched and kicked, and suffered bruising.

The garda agreed with defence solicitor Peter Connolly that the defendant had never been in trouble before and has no history of bench warrants for failing to attend hearings.

Mr Connolly had said the defendant, who is from Dublin, has Asperger syndrome and was vulnerable.
A DOCTOR has been found guilty of poor professional performance and professional misconduct on multiple counts at a disciplinary inquiry.

Dr. Omar Hassan Khalafalla Mohamed  who did not turn up in person for the decision  faced a large number of allegations relating to time he spent working at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, Mayo General Hospital and University Hospital Galway.

Today marked the eleventh day of the fitness to practice inquiry at the Medical Council headquarters in Dublin.

Dr. Hassan, who took in the hearing today via telephone, was found guilty of 28 counts of poor professional performance and six counts of professional misconduct.

Dr. Hassan, whose medical registration has already been suspended, denied the allegations throughout the proceedings.

Sanctions against Dr. Hassan, 30, will be determined at a later date.

A number of former colleagues expressed grave concern regarding Dr. Hassans clinical abilities throughout the inquiry, which initially began on 4 January.

Two of his former colleagues at Galway were so concerned about Dr. Hassans clinical abilities that they looked on the Irish medical register to confirm whether he was actually a registered doctor.

A senior colleague at Galway also told the inquiry that Dr. Hassans level of competence was so low that someone off the street would do a better job than he did.

The inquiry also heard of a number of bizarre incidents that took place while Dr. Hassan, originally from Sudan, was working as a senior house officer at the three hospitals.

Consultant Odhran Murray, who worked with Dr. Hassan in Galway, previously told the inquiry of an instance in which Dr. Hassan mistook an x-ray of an ankle for an image of an elbow during a training session with colleagues.

Doctors were discussing cases, and Dr. Hassan answered a question regarding an x-ray. Mr. Murray told the inquiry that an image of an ankle went up. Dr. Hassan thought it was an image of an elbow and proceeded to tell everyone about the elbow fracture.

There was an audible gasp in the room, said Mr. Murray, who said he would expect a medical student  let alone a senior house officer such as Dr. Hassan  to know the difference.

Mr. Murray also recalled an instance in which he and Dr. Hassan were scrubbing up in preparation for theatre, so that they would not cause contamination during surgery.

Mr. Murray said he was surprised to see Dr. Hassan re-contaminate his hands by touching a non-sterile area while scrubbing up, as he would expect a medical student to know how to do it properly.

I lost all confidence in him when I saw that, said Mr. Murray, especially in the context of other issues. This was the straw that broke the camels back.

During the second week of the inquiry, consultant orthopaedic surgeon Aiden Devitt, who worked at University Hospital Galway while Dr. Hassan was there in early 2014, said Dr. Hassan was taken off unsupervised duty after his first weekend on call, after several colleagues raised concerns about Dr. Hassans clinical abilities, and patient safety.

Mr. Devitt told Dr. Hassan during the second week of the inquiry: I got the strong sense you genuinely did not understand how basic your deficiencies were.

However, Mr. Devitt told the inquiry he was more concerned about Dr. Hassans apparent unwillingness to learn from others, and his seeming inability to understand the adverse consequences that his lack of knowledge could have on patients.

You didnt seem to accept that you need to know those things and knowing those things is [essential] for patient safety on the ward, Mr. Devitt told Dr. Hassan.

I dont think you know what it means to be a doctor.

Mr. Devitt said that, after their first weekend working with Dr. Hassan, two colleagues checked whether he was actually a registered medical doctor because you were so far off the scale in terms of your competencies, said Mr. Devitt.

If you pulled someone off the street they would make a better fist of it than you did, said Mr. Devitt.

Dr. Hassan worked for brief periods of time at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise in 2012, Mayo General Hospital in 2013 and University Hospital Galway in 2014.

In his closing statement to the inquiry last week, Dr. Hassan said he totally rejected the majority of the allegations. For several others, he claimed he had no recollection of the alleged incidents.

He argued that this case has had a devastating effect on himself and his health.
Convicted criminal Kieron 'The Wolf' Ducie is being investigated by gardai for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident after he was involved in a car crash which left a model with injuries.

The model, Emily Jane Stewart (23), the former partner of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch's nephew Alan Hutch, is said to be recovering from back injuries she received in the crash at around 8.30pm on Sunday.

Both Ducie (46) and Ms Stewart, who is from Clonshaugh in Dublin, required hospital treatment after the incident, which occurred less than a kilometre from his home in Kilmessan, Co Meath.

Ducie was driving his Toyota Landcruiser when it crashed into a ditch while his pal Ms Stewart was a passenger.

After the crash, Ducie allegedly left the vehicle, leaving an extremely distressed Ms Stewart to call the emergency services.

The model was brought to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown for a back injury and she was no longer in the vehicle when Ducie arrived back at the scene around two hours after the accident.

Ducie, who was not arrested or breathalysed, suffered minor injuries.
It was described by gardai during yesterday's hearing at Clonmel Coroner's Court as "one of the worst cases ever seen".

On March 26, 2012, shortly after 10.30pm, a car driven by 17-year-old Robert Stoker from Monkstown in Cork veered on to the wrong side of the road just outside Bansha in Tipperary and ploughed into the side of a car driven by Mary Enright (28), from Dungarvan, Co Waterford, who was 34 weeks pregnant.

Mrs Enright (nee Walsh) and her unborn daughter Mollie were killed, as was Mr Stoker.

Jurors agreed with the coroner Paul Morris that the verdict in the case of both adult drivers should be 'death by multi-traumatic injuries consistent with being in a road traffic accident'.

In the case of Mollie Enright, they said the cause of death was 'a lack of oxygen' due to injuries sustained by her mother in the tragic collision.

While the coroner said he was satisfied Mollie's death could be registered on a death certificate as a 'stillbirth', the Enright and Walsh families asked him not to make the ruling as they are taking a Constitutional challenge to the High Court.

They believe the cause of Mollie's death should be classified as a road traffic accident.

Mollie's grandfather and Mary's father, David Walsh, said the view of the coroner was 'disappointing' and that the family would continue its legal challenge.

"They say the Constitution protects the unborn child but in this case it has not," he added.

The coroner said: "The problem is one of interpretation. In essence, to die you have to prove you are born.

"The State's definition of a stillbirth is that the foetus has to be 24 weeks and that he or she must measure a certain weight, and in this case Mollie meets these criteria."

He said he was satisfied the separation of the unborn child from the mother, during an autopsy, can be deemed a birth under the relevant legislation.

"So it is my belief that I could issue such an instruction," he added.

"However, the Walsh and Enright families have asked that I do not do this as they are continuing their Constitutional challenge."

During the hearing, Mrs Enright's widower Patrick - who was a passenger in the car - said he felt his whole life had been taken from him.

"Two days before the crash, Mary and I had bought clothes for the baby, though we didn't know if it was going to be a boy or a girl," he said.

"Now we will never know the colour of Mollie's eyes or hear her cry," his statement said.

He continued: "Mollie will forever be wrapped in the blanket we got for her.

"All Mary ever wanted was to be a mother. Without her, life has become unbearable.

"Normal life can't continue, I can't go to the local beaches, shops or restaurants because there are reminders of her everywhere. Nothing is normal."

It was claimed that Mr Stoker's vehicle veered across the road and that Mary Enright had no time to avoid the collision.

Superintendent Patrick Dunne, who was involved in the investigation told the inquest: "It was one of the worst cases that I've ever seen."

The inquest heard Mr Stoker had taken his mother's car without asking that evening and that he had never driven unaccompanied before.

His actions were described as "totally out of character".

A Missing Persons investigation was initiated after his mother Maria reported to gardai that he had gone and it later became the subject of a GSOC inquiry, which exonerated the officers.

A blood sample from Mr Stoker tested by the State Laboratory which showed an alcohol level far in excess of the drinking driving limit was dismissed by the coroner.

Dr Rob Landers, a consultant pathologist at the University Hospital Waterford, who carried out the autopsies, described the toxicology findings as "clinically spurious".

"The findings from the blood sample were 913mg of alcohol per 100ml of bl ood but it would not be possible to consume that much alcohol," he said.

"Anything over 400mg would lead to death."
A father has been given a six year sentence for heinous sexual abuse of three of his children.

The 71-year-old man, who can not be named for legal reasons, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of indecently assaulting his three sons at locations in the city, mainly in the family home, on dates between 1974 and 1986.

The children ranged in ages between six and 15 years old during the period of abuse.

Judge Catherine Murphy said these offences were particularly heinous having been perpetrated over a protracted period by a father against three innocent and vulnerable sons.

She said the three men did not wish the court to refer to any details in their victim impact statements but said she wished to make it clear that each had suffered profoundly as a result of the offences.

Judge Murphy said each had courageously given clear, cogent and convincing evidence.

She noted the accused man had shown neither regret nor remorse. She also took into account factors such as the relationship of the man to his victims and the children's ages at the time of the offences.

She imposed sentences totalling six years which she backdated to reflect time in custody.

Detective Garda Shay Woods told Garnet Orange SC, prosecuting, that the abuse of each of the children started when they went to their father's bedroom looking for money for treats. He began by opening the children's clothes and masturbating the boys.

The abuse progressed over time but ended when the children's mother made a decision to move the family away. The accused man has a number of previous convictions but none for sexual offences.

Victim impact statements made by the three complainants were handed into court.

Michael Bowman SC, defending, said his client had lived a transient lifestyle since his relationship with his wife collapsed.

He said there were no outstanding matters in relation to any other members of the family and he had not come to any further attention in relation to offences of this kind.

Mr Bowman said the accused man was in advanced years and, although he had no particular health issues, serving a sentence would be difficult at his age.
A homeless man, who stole lap-dancers' money during a burglary at a Dublin strip club, has been given a six-month sentence.

John Maughan-McDonagh (35), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to the burglary which took place in the early hours of December 2nd at the Barclay Club on South William Street in the city-centre.

Garda Damien Guckian of Pearse Street station told Judge Michael Walsh that Maughan-McDonagh entered the club at 1.50am and walked upstairs where he entered changing rooms of the staff and stole property from four of the staff.

The court heard he took 600 and two identity cards which are issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau. None of the property was recovered, Garda Guckian added.

Drug addict Maughan-McDonagh had eight previous convictions for similar burglaries and within the past week he had been given a nine-month sentence with three months suspended.

Defence solicitor Tony Collier told the court his client was a homeless man and had been living on the streets. He suffered from a drug addiction and had no supports for his problem, however he is now on a methadone course, the court heard.

He is now motivated to obtaining drug abuse treatment, the solicitor said, pleading for his client's existing sentence not to be extended.

Judge Walsh imposed a six-month sentence but said he was taking into account the principle of totality. Sparing him additional jail time, the judge ordered that the sentence would run concurrently with the term recently imposed on Maughan-McDonagh.

Legal aid was granted to the defendant who did not address the court and he has had all sentences back-dated to December 3rd when he initially went into custody on his charges.
A doctor who admitted stealing 10,000 from an elderly patient with Alzheimer's has been warned that she faces prison for the "mean and deplorable" offence.

Dr Michelle Mellotte pleaded guilty to a single charge of fraud at Omagh Crown Court sitting in Belfast.

The 61-year old, from Bannagh Beg Road in Kesh, Co Fermanagh, was charged with occupying a position in which she was expected to safeguard the financial interests of the pensioner and dishonestly abused that position to obtain 10,000 from Michael McGrory.

The offence was committed over a period from January 30, 2010 to April 22, 2011.

When the charge was put to Dr Mellotte, she replied: "Guilty."

The court heard that the victim, who was in his late 70s at the time, is now deceased. It also emerged that Dr Mellotte has since paid back the 10,000.

Crown prosecutor Sam Magee said the case against Dr Mellotte concerned an "arrangement" regarding a loan between her and the elderly patient, who at the time was suffering from Alzheimer's.

Describing the patient as a "vulnerable individual with ailing mental and physical health", Mr Magee said the doctor's plea indicated that she accepted she abused her position of trust to defraud the pensioner out of 10,000. Mr Magee added that it was the Crown's case that the financial arrangement between the doctor and her patient was "improper".

Dr Mellotte retired from her practice in Ederney in March 2012 while Mr McGrory died in December of the same year.

A defence barrister representing Dr Mellotte asked that sentencing be put back for a month to allow the preparation of pre-sentence reports and character testimonials. He also requested that his client be released on continuing bail until sentencing.

Judge Piers Grant agreed to continuing bail, but before she left the dock Dr Mellotte was warned that she could face jail for the "mean and deplorable offence".

Saying he accepted that the money "has eventually been repaid", the Judge told the Co Fermanagh woman it was "almost inevitable" that he will send her to prison.

She is due to be sentenced for the offence next month.

MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Tom Elliott, said the offence was a betrayal by a doctor.

"I hope that this is a one-off incident as it's very traumatic for the family who had to go through the situation," he said.

"It's a betrayal of trust and that's worrying. This person has done something terribly wrong and the patient has been betrayed."

John Coyle, SDLP councillor for the area described it as a "despicable crime".

"I would call for locals to look out for vulnerable people in our community and keep them in mind," he added.

"The whole community around Ederney and Kesh are in total shock at this. She left the practice some time after the offence was committed and left the community without a GP which rumbled on for a few months and left people without the right healthcare cover."

Dr Mellotte was also the GP for Arthur McElhill, who died in a house fire he started which killed his partner and their five children.

The GP told an inquest into their deaths in 2009 that she had prescribed Mr McElhill antidepressants, but he did not always take them. She said that before the fire he had complained of feeling down and overweight, and told her he was "tired of his wife's shouting in the house".

Dr Mellotte told the court she had asked Mr McElhill questions designed to find out if he was suicidal or homicidal, but his answers raised "no concerns".
A man who performed a handbrake turn into oncoming rush hour traffic in order to avoid gardai has been sentenced to four and half years with the last 18 months suspended.

Richard Mansfield (21) of Kiltalown Way, Tallaght, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of endangerment, taking a vehicle and dangerous driving at Tallaght Bypass on January 7, 2015. He admitted to gardai when arrested that he had been smoking cannabis before he drove the stolen BMW.

Judge Melanie Greally said that instead of complying with garda instruction, Mansfield embarked on a passage of driving which can only be described as absolutely disgraceful and exposed a large number of people, including gardai to serious injury or death.

She accepted that he had a supportive family and girlfriend and that he had plenty of time to grow up and engage in a positive life which they could be proud of.

Judge Greally suspended the last 18 months of the four and half year sentence on strict conditions including that he engage with the Probation Service for two years upon his release. She also disqualified him from driving for four years.

Earlier this month Garda Stephen Murray brought Mansfield before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court when he arrested him on foot of an outstanding warrant. He told Judge Greally that Mansfield had appeared on RTE's Crimecall as a man who gardai were looking to arrest.

Today Garda Alan Young told John Fitzgerald BL, prosecuting that he spotted Mansfield at the junction of Old Bawn Road with the Tallaght Bypass and instructed him to pull over into the hard shoulder.

Mansfield accelerated at high speed across three lanes of traffic before he pulled a hand brake turn at the junction of the Tallaght bypass with the Belgard Road.

Gda Young said traffic was very heavy at the time and many motorists had to take evasive action to avoid an accident.

Mansfield continued to drive at high speed and narrowly missed a second patrol car, which hadn't been involved in the chase and that had been stopped at a junction near the M50. A number of pedestrians who were crossing the bypass at the time had to jump out of the way to avoid being knocked down.

Gda Young said he ultimately had to radio for assistance when Mansfield drove out of sight.

He was notified a short time later that two colleagues were chasing two men across a green area in Tymon North. Gda Young came to assist and later arrested Mansfield, who was hiding beside a wall.

Gda Young said the owner of the BMW had been on holidays when his car keys were stolen from his hall table.

He said Mansfield had 60 previous convictions including dangerous driving, trespass, having no driving license and no insurance, burglary and possession of drugs.

He told Mr Fitzgerald that Mansfield was from a small immediate family but a member of a larger extended family.

Gda Young didn't accept a suggestion from Keith Spencer BL, defending. that Mansfield had a drug addiction but agreed that his client did use drugs.

Mr Spencer said Mansfield was addicted to tablets but now had a handle on it and was clean of all drugs. He said he had managed to put some sort of order to his life and wanted to put matters behind him.

Counsel said there was the promise of a job for his client and he had a supportive partner, parents and grandparents.
A victim impact report stated that the taxi driver was out of work for three weeks.

A man who threatened to kill a taxi driver while armed with a blood filled syringe has been sentenced to four years with the last 12 months suspended.

Carl McGuinness (20) of Beneavin Road, Finglas East, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making threats to kill and possession of a syringe on Townsend Street, on August 29, 2015. He has 49 previous convictions including theft, fraud and possession of a syringe.

Garda Gary Woods told Grainne O'Neill BL, prosecuting, that the taxi driver had stopped to allow people to cross in front of him when McGuinness opened his passenger door and threatened to kill him.

The man could see that McGuinness had a blood filled syringe in his hand before he threatened to kill him twice more. Another man then came and pulled McGuinness away from the taxi.

Gda Woods said the man was left terrified and dialled 999. He then followed McGuinness and the other man in his car and was able to point him out when gardai arrived.

McGuinness was searched and admitted that he had an uncapped syringe. This was then retrieved from a pocket in his tracksuit bottoms.

A victim impact report stated that the taxi driver was out of work for three weeks. He said the incident was always at the back of his mind while working and if a potential passenger looked anyway tricky he would not pick them up.

Gda Woods agreed with Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, that it was an entirely random attack.

Counsel told Judge Melanie Greally that McGuinness was in residential care from the 13 to 18 years old. He then served a prison sentence before he spent time living on the streets due to a drug addiction.

Mr Le Vert said his client had been using both heroin and snow blow on the night of the attack.

Judge Greally said it was a very serious offence and the victim had been going about his lawful occupation with no reason to believe that such an offence was going to unfold.

She sentenced McGuinness to four years in prison and suspended the final 12 months on strict conditions including that he engage with the Probation Service for two years upon his release.
By Steve Anderson, Contributing Writer

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Businesses are known for charitable efforts; community service not only allows for a healthy tax deduction, but also improves a business' image. A Courteous Communications was already well-known as an answering service throughout the United States, but it's also becoming better-known for its focus on charitable giving. It recently offered a rundown of its 2015 in charity, and the list was substantial to say the least.





A Courteous offers not only specific answering service solutions, but also is often seen working with outreach programs, something that company vice president Jean Pearson has always been closely connected to. Her staff, meanwhile, appears to have followed along, going into organizations like the Christian Service Center of Central Florida. Having now worked with the group for three years running, A Courteous volunteers time serving meals under the organization's auspices. A Courteous also works with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida, helping out at local hospitals.

Pearson offered up praise for her team on this point, saying It is an incredible feeling to know that the employees of A Courteous Communications give their time willingly to help others. It is such a blessing to be able to participate and volunteer to help others and have your employees say, 'thank you for the opportunity.' This was a point echoed in turn by the company's president and founder, Doris Primicerio, who joined in the volunteering but also made several donations in support of a variety of causes.

Call centers helping out and giving back is nothing new; those who go to ITEXPOnow running through January 28 at Fort Lauderdale's Broward County Convention Centerwill be able to see a prime example of this. On Thursday, January 28 at 11:00 am, VoiceNation's Erik Schurke will offer a case study on a non-profit organization that used open-source software to rehabilitate former prison inmates.

This is certainly welcome news from A Courteous; surely the charities are grateful for the help. This could, however, ultimately do more harm than good; one of the biggest problems with telling people about charity is that, for the more cynical, it turns into a question of motive. Why is A Courteous telling us about this, the cynic asks. Does it expect some kind of reward, with potential buyers making purchases on the strength of perceived charity? While not everyone is this cynical, some may be, and some of those may be potential buyers as well.

Still, there's no doubt that A Courteous has done plenty of good for the community, and that in itself is good news. While the cynic may doubt the motive, the help was still provided, and the community has A Courteous to thank for that much extra help.

Edited by Kyle Piscioniere
A MOTHER who sued two doctors after a swab was left inside her during the delivery of her baby has been awarded 117,000 by the High Court.

Sarah Daly (38), a marketing manager from Rathfarnham in Dublin had sued her consultant, Valerie Donnelly, and another consultant, Charles Julian Dockeray, who managed the delivery and was standing in for Ms Donnelly on April 22, 2013, at Mount Carmel Hospital in Dublin.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross said what ought to have been a very joyous occasion for Ms Daly had become something that will live with her for the rest of her life.

The judge said Ms Daly was entitled to be compensated for the wrongful insertion of the swab and the fact that it was not diagnosed despite her complaints for a considerable time.

She was also entitled to compensation because no internal examination took place and she was discharged from hospital when the swab was removed without any anti-biotic and had developed a significant infection.

Ms Daly was admitted to Mount Carmel on April 22 and her baby was safely delivered.

Three days later, she was in extreme pain and distress and taken back to the hospital by her husband but no internal examination was carried out, the judge said.

On April 28, in an internal examination, the swab which was "offensive and malodorous" and the "size of a plum" was removed.

The judge said it is common case the swab ought not to have been left inside Ms Daly and should have been detected sooner. It would have been detected had there been an internal examinations carried out on her first complaints, he said.

He believed a total award of 117,000 was fair and reasonable.
A High Court judge has today indicated that a second Special Criminal Court, the establishment of which was announced by the Government last October, will not sit during this legal term.

The judge said it appears the new court will sit during the next legal term, which begins after Easter.

Mr Justice Paul Butler made the comments this morning during mentions of a number of cases at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.

Trial dates for a number of the cases, most of which deal with alleged dissident republican activity, were fixed for November, 2017.

Mr Justice Butler said that when the second Special Criminal Court is established, lawyers in these cases may apply for an earlier trial date at the new court.

The current incarnation of the Special Criminal Court has previously heard that a second court may be established to deal with the backlog of cases.

In October, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald confirmed the establishment of a second court after expressing concern about delays of almost two years in cases coming to trial.

Legislation for the establishment of a second court was already in existence but had never been brought into play despite an increasing case load due to dissident republican activity. Seven serving judges were appointed to the bench of the new court.

Mr Justice Butler said today that reports appeared in the media last week which said he "did not believe a second court would be set up" and that he was "increasingly pessimistic" about the court's proposed establishment.

The judge said this was not the case and that his comment was a reference to the listing of a case of two Mayo brothers, accused of IRA membership and possession of explosives.

He further stated that the process of establishing a second Special Criminal Court, including the appointment of a registrar and judges, is under way.

There is "unlikely to be a second Special Criminal Court sitting before next term," Mr Justice Butler said.
A PLUMBER who went back to his date's house after the pair met on a matchmaking site took her car as he had no other way of getting home.

David Brennan (34) gave false details to the woman he dated, but gardai later found the car at his home in Tallaght.

A court heard Brennan has had a partner for a number of years, and she is battling cancer.

Judge David McHugh said Brennan's behaviour was "high-handed and cavalier".

The judge sentenced Brennan to four months in prison but suspended it for 12 months.

The defendant, of Redwood Lawns in Tallaght, admitted before Blanchardstown District Court to the unauthorised taking of a vehicle at Erris Square, Waterville in Blanchardstown on October 20, 2014.

Garda Martina Drew said Brennan met the victim on a dating website and the pair arranged a date.

Gda Drew said the couple went on another date and Brennan was in the woman's home.

The garda said Brennan took the car keys to the victim's Nissan Almeria, and drove it home.

Gda Drew said Brennan gave false details to the injured party.

Convictions

The court heard the 2002- registered car was later found outside the defendant's home.

Brennan has 26 previous convictions, but he hasn't been in trouble since 2010.

Defence solicitor Kelly Breen said Brennan was "at a location far from where he wanted to be", so he took the keys of the car to make his way home.

Ms Breen said Brennan and the injured party had "some communication" after the incident, but they're no longer in contact with each other.

In relation to the incident, Ms Breen said it was "not what he ought to have done".

Ms Breen said Brennan has a partner who she is suffering from cancer and receiving chemotherapy.

Ms Breen asked the judge not to send Brennan to jail, as he is working and supporting his sick partner.
A young woman with Down Syndrome had her whole life upended when she was raped by a man who lured her into his home, a judge has said.

At the sentencing hearing of Faisal Ellahi in Dublin's Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the rape of the woman on June 12, 2013, "goes beyond trauma".

"This victim's life has been upended in the most radical way," he said, disagreeing with Padraig Dwyer, defending, who had said he didn't know if the effects of the offence on the victim in this case was worse than that in other rape cases.

The judge agreed the victim had the support of a loving family to help her but stressed "all of their good work has been set at nought".

At a previous hearing last week, the victim's mother told the court years of work building up the independence of her daughter were instantly destroyed when she was raped.

Ellahi was convicted last December of raping and sexually assaulting the woman after luring her back to his apartment when she became separated from her mother near their Dublin home.

Ellahi, who is originally from Haripur in Pakistan, has pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person. The jury was not required to deliberate on the third count if it convicted him of rape.

The court heard he continued to deny the charges and maintained his position that he did not know the woman had Down Syndrome.

He has no previous convictions in this jurisdiction and gardai are unaware of any convictions in his native country.

Mr Justice Hunt agreed with counsel this case involved a single incident of rape, unlike cases of multiple rape or rape over a prolonged period of time, which Mr Dwyer presented to the court.

But the judge added: "The effects of [that single incident] are horrendous, way beyond the normal range of the offence because of the victim."

Mr Dwyer told the court he was seeking a psychiatric report for his client to deal with an issue over his client's IQ level.

Mr Justice Hunt listed the case for mention on February 2 to allow time for this report to be prepared.

Counsel told the court most cases of rape do not attract sentences of more than 10 years. The judge said whether this is correct or not is "another day's work".

Mr Dwyer maintained that his client's case does not attract a sentence beyond the median range, which is defined at five to seven years in an analysis of rape sentencing carried out by the Irish Sentencing Information System.
Convicted criminal Kieron 'The Wolf' Ducie is being investigated by gardai for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident after he was involved in a car crash which left a Dublin model injured.

Emily Jane Stewart (23) - who is the former partner of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch's nephew, Alan Hutch - is said to be recovering from back injuries she received during the incident at around 8.30pm on Sunday.

Both Ducie (46) and Ms Stewart, who is from Clonshaugh, required hospital treatment after the crash which occurred less than a kilometre from his home in Kilmessan, Co Meath.

Distressed

Ducie was driving his Toyota Landcruiser when it crashed into a ditch with Ms Stewart a passenger in the front.

After the 4x4 left the road, Ducie allegedly fled the scene - leaving an extremely distressed Ms Stewart to call the emergency services.

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The model was brought to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown with a back injury.

She was no longer in the vehicle when Ducie arrived back at the crash scene around two hours later.

Ducie was not arrested or breathalysed by gardai but was taken to the same hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

Gardai seized his vehicle and were carrying out a technical examination of it yesterday.

It is understood that both Ducie and Ms Stewart have made statements to gardai.

Ducie was not at home in Lambertstown Manor when the Herald called yesterday afternoon.

He also did not return calls made to his personal and work numbers.

Less than half-a-mile from his house, some wreckage from a black vehicle could be seen at the side of the road. It's believed this could be from the same vehicle that he was driving.

Strewn

It appears that the car left the narrow road and crashed into a wooden telegraph pole. The smashed front bumper and some broken glass could be seen strewn at the roadside.

It is understood that Ms Stewart is "very shaken" about what happened.

Described as a "lovely lady", she was previously in a long-term relationship with The Monk's career criminal nephew, Alan Hutch (32), who is serving an eight-year jail sentence for threatening to kill three gardai and claiming he had a grenade.

Hutch was on bail for a violent robbery and dangerous driving when he assaulted the gardai in November, 2012.

Ducie was given a two-and-a-half year suspended jail sentence at Trim Circuit Court in February, 2013, for organising another man to supply cocaine to model Katy French.

Ducie and his former partner, Ann Corcoran, admitted procuring Russell Memery to supply cocaine to Katy on the night before she died from an overdose.

In 2011, Ducie was convicted of assaulting a garda when he was arrested at a nightclub in Dublin - and, a year later, he was given 240 hours of community service after pleading guilty to an assault on his then pregnant partner, Elaine Buggle.
While there is some anecdotal evidence that drug use has been a factor in several expulsions in recent years, no data has been collected on the issue (Stock image)

Department of Education guidelines ensure secrecy around cases where school pupils are found to have been involved in drug possession or abuse. But most schools retain the right to expel pupils over drug incidents.

While there is some anecdotal evidence that drug use has been a factor in several expulsions in recent years, no data has been collected on the issue.

Department guidelines say such incidents should be treated on a 'need-to-know' basis.

All records must be held confidentially by the principal or deputy principal.

While the department is clear in its stance that the use or supply of illegal drugs in schools is not acceptable, its behaviour and disciplinary guidelines also state that expulsion is to be considered only as a last resort "after every effort at rehabilitation has failed and every other sanction (has been) exhausted".

While most schools adopt a version of the department's suggested guidelines, some take a noticeably harder line when it comes to drugs cases.

At fee-paying Terenure College, the possession or consumption of illegal substances in school or during school-related activities is "not tolerated" and is punishable by expulsion.

Welfare

The college says its strict stance is motivated by a concern for the individuals involved and the welfare of the other pupils.

According to its substance-abuse policy, the possession or consumption of alcohol at school or during school-related activities "may also incur expulsion".

Similarly, the code of responsibility and behaviour at St Joseph's Patrician College in Galway city also takes a hard line. Although its code says expulsion will be considered only "in the most extreme cases of indiscipline and after every other effort at rehabilitation has failed and every other sanction has been exhausted", there are exceptional circumstances where a student can be expelled for a first offence.

These could include supplying illegal drugs and committing violence or sexual assault.

However, many other schools are less clear in their codes of conduct about how they would deal with a drugs case.

Some emphasise the need for considering a range of disciplinary measures for breaches of the school code, without explicitly stating how that code would be applied in a drug-related incident.

All the school policy documents seen by the Irish Independent say support should be offered to students involved.
Tanaiste Joan Burton was asked by the Irish Independent yesterday if she would rule out Independent TD Michael Lowry supporting a government with the Labour Party? Here's her answer. Note the lack of a 'Yes' or 'No'.

Our focus is on particularly the Labour Party returning to government in significant numbers. And secondly Fine Gael being returned to government so that this government can do its job for another five years and get everybody back to work.

I would be very concerned if there was talk that the next government would be beholden to a series of Independents with different personal agendas and different local agendas.

I do recall that when that arrangement worked on a previous occasion there were long debates in the Dail over a period of almost five years to even find out what was in the agreements with the individuals who were at the time propping up a particular Fianna Fail government.

So it would certainly concern me deeply if the media were to suggest that we would want a government propped up by Independents. Let me be very clear, both Enda Kenny and myself, want a government of Fine Gael and Labour which is elected sufficient to have a mandate to carry on the recovery. To hand a critical role in our government to Independents with different personal agendas and different local agendas that would be to put the very recovery at risk.

I will certainly in the course of the election be appealing to the electorate to make their decision in favour of the Labour Party, to make their decision in favour of balanced government. We saw for instance at the weekend at the Fine Gael ard fheis Michael Noonan sensibly saying that Fine Gael, following discussion with the Labour Party, have now agreed they will prioritise social investment and social spending into our road network, into public transport, into education, into health and that they will prioritise that while also providing room for phasing out USC on people earning up to 72,000.

So there is a good and very intense discussion going on between the two government parties and I think that that is really what has enabled both parties to relentless drive this pro-jobs agenda.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told British Prime Minister David Cameron that all of his government's concerns about membership of the EU are "solvable".

Mr Kenny pledged his support for Britain in its attempts to negotiate EU reforms in the areas of sovereignty, competitiveness, economic governance and migration ahead of a so-called 'Brexit' referendum.

The two leaders met in Downing Street yesterday, where Mr Kenny invited Mr Cameron to come to Ireland as part of the 1916 centenary commemorations "at some time during the year if that's appropriate".

Mr Cameron said 2016 "marks the centenary of some important events in our shared history".

The upcoming in/out EU referendum - due by the end of 2017 - topped the agenda.

The Taoiseach said all of Britain's issues of concern "can be concluded successfully and strongly in the interests of everybody throughout the union".

Mr Cameron, who said his government has made "good progress" in the negotiations, also made supportive noises about the Taoiseach's election prospects, after Mr Kenny told reporters voters should back the Coalition if they wanted to "keep the economy moving".

Asked by the Irish Independent if he had any advice for Mr Kenny on how to win a "surprise" overall majority - as his Conservative Party did last year - Mr Cameron replied: "I wouldn't give advice. But that last answer [by Mr Kenny] sounded to me like the 'Long-Term Economic Plan'," he said, referring to his party's 2015 slogan.

"The Irish election is a matter for the Irish electorate."

Mr Kenny, who has warned a 'Brexit' could mean a return to border controls in the North, was asked about how it could affect the peace process. "The guns are silent and this has taken a great deal of work and this should not be put at risk," he said.
By Tara Seals, Contributing Writer

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When it comes to customer service trends that marked 2015, the rise of the always-on, always-reachable enterprise truly became a reality. Between social integrations, video, chat and other technology shifts, companies found themselves in a deep state of flux when it came to customer engagement.





According to Abhishek Jain, a consultant with more than 10 years of experience within the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, the shift in customer service has been led mostly, he noted, by the fact that contact centers have become true engagement centers.

It generally used to bewhere a customer [would] visit the website, have a look at the services you are offering and would leave, he said in a column. But when you have a look at the contact centers today they are believed to be the seamless extensions of brands, along with a place of constant feedback between your business and customers, building a stronger relationship.

And all of that feedback means a raft of useable data, which can be fed back into the system, for use in improving processes.

Even the smaller business organizations could get full customer service views and data that they need to compete effectively with bigger and more entrenched competitors, he explained.

This main sea change has also been underpinned by an increased use of new channels of communication and engagement, like video. Jain calls video a great support for the BPO industry.

Todays consumers are accustomed of watching videos by visiting YouTube (News - Alert), and learning how to do things; making your own electrical generator, or teaching the dog how to play etc., he explained. In 2015 the text heavy sites would go the way of paper phone books.

Equally as important as having the right avenues to the customer is having the right customer service agents: Those that are trained and savvy when it comes to this brave new digital world.

Technology has enabled business organizations to gain better and better customer service, but the individuals behind thisstill continue to be the soul of the organization, Jain concluded.

Edited by Kyle Piscioniere
Health Minister Leo Varadkar and Alan Connolly, chairman of Coolmine Therapeutic Community, at the Pathways Through Treatment launch at the Mansion House in Dublin. Photo: Maxwells

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has revealed that he is examining a proposal to allow users of drugs in venues such as clubs to have them tested for potentially lethal ingredients.

It is part of the Department of Health's scrutiny of some of the more unorthodox measures to tackle the problem of drug misuse which are already in place in other countries.

The radical plan is being examined as part of the work which has recently got under way in drawing up a new national drugs strategy from 2017, with the aim having a report ready in October.

Under the plan, which would require a change in the law, drug users could have illicit drugs or party pills legally tested for potentially lethal ingredients on-site in a club or at a festival.

Mr Varadkar said: "We know from years of experience that education on its own does not work. People need to be aware that when it comes to anything bought over the internet or street they don't really know what they are taking."

He was speaking after the tragedy in Cork when Alex Ryan (18) died after taking an N-bomb synthetic drug.

The minister said there may be a role for these testing kits because "much as we may like to believe it, just telling people not to experiment in drugs has not proven effective for decades".

The testing is not foolproof but it is already in place in countries such as Canada.

Commenting on the proposal, Dr Garrett McGovern, a drug counsellor in Dublin, said he would support it and he warned that dangerous drugs were flooding the market.

In the case of an ecstasy pill, the test could tell the percentage of ecstasy but could also detect some lethal impurities, he explained.

"It has been marketed at revellers in pubs but the potential is there for anyone to get their drugs tested," said Dr McGovern, who will attend a meeting on the new strategy today.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said a steering committee, chaired by John Carr, former secretary general of the INTO, has been established to advise on the new strategy.

An international group chaired by Paul Griffiths, scientific director with the Lisbon-based European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), is in Dublin this week.

They are reviewing the impact of the current strategy in terms of tackling the drugs problem in Ireland.

The introduction of drug-testing kits is among the options being looked at along with opioid substitution.

Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar yesterday welcomed the results of the first longitudinal outcomes study tracking the progress of addicts who underwent treatment at Coolmine Therapeutic Community in Dublin.

It found that 72pc of those who were treated were still drug-free two years later.

The majority were no longer involved in crime and employment levels had risen from 3pc to 25pc over the two years.

Chairman Alan Connolly said some 144 clients, ranging in age from 18 to 50, took part in the study.

More than half had been abusing more than one drug, although the majority were addicted to heroin.

The report from Trinity College found that the proportion who experienced accommodation problems rose once they had completed the course.

Around one in four was in "acute housing need" two years after treatment.

On average they were in treatment for four months to 14 months as part of the residential course.

One former addict, Paul, who did not want to give his full name, said that he had been addicted to heroin for 30 years.

The turning point came in Coolmine and a key factor was the realisation that he could not continue blaming others.
An air traffic control strike in France has ruined the travel plans of hundreds of Irish passengers as dozens of flights to and from France are cancelled.

Both Aer Lingus and Ryanair are advising their customers to check their flight status before travelling to Dublin airport.

Already a spokesperson for Dublin Airport said they had cancelled four outbound flights so far, and that they were expecting further cancellations as the day goes on.

Aer Lingus has cancelled two flights to and from Paris, while Ryanair has been forced to ground four flights in and out of Dublin due to the strike.

Worse still for the budget airline, it has had to cancel some 200 flights in and out of France because of the disruption.

We regret that weve been forced to cancel over 200 flights, both to/from France, (including 4 Dublin flights to/from Barcelona and Paris Beauvais) and flights overflying France, as a result of this unwarranted ATC strike, said a spokesperson for the airline.



Ryanair customers can monitor their flight status here.

Air France is currently operate all of its long-haul flights and more than 80 percent of its short flights.

The French air traffic controllers unions are striking over job losses and concerns about proposed changes to how salaries are calculated.

Among the affected airports are Charles De Gaulle, Orly, BeauvaisTille, LyonSaint-Exupery, Nice Cote dAzur, Marseille Provence, BordeauxMerignac, Toulouse Blagnac and Nantes Atlantique.

Ryanair has called on the European Commission and European Parliament to either ban air traffic control strikes, or allow rival providers to manage flights during strikes, to minimise travel disruptions such events.

On Monday the French civil aviation authority (DGAC) asked airlines to cancel one in five flights into and from French as preventive measure ahead of the strike.
GardaI have recovered equipment which may have been used to dismember the body of murder victim Kenneth O'Brien.

A number of items were found after garda divers recovered a bag from the Royal Canal, near Carton House, in Maynooth, north Kildare.

Several body parts were also found in the Grand Canal at the village of Sallins when a bag was retrieved on Sunday. Further bags were located in the same area yesterday.

The equipment, which is currently undergoing forensic examination, does not include a saw or a blade but is a component part of a device, which may have been used by the gang who murdered the 33-year-old west Dublin man last Friday week.

Investigating officers have described the Carton and Sallins finds as significant and said they would provide a significant boost to their inquiries.

Senior gardai have confirmed that an extensive line in their investigation into the murder of Mr O'Brien is gangland activity.

Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin, of the Kildare Division, said he was satisfied with progress of the investigation.

"We have a very large number of detectives from Kildare division, supported by both national and regional units, working hand in hand and it is our speed and determination to bring the perpetrators of this brutal murder to justice and before the courts," he said.

"We will treat every iota of information that we receive with the strictest of confidence."

He added that previous murders of a similar nature were also being reviewed by the investigation team.

"Quite obviously, as part of the several lines of inquiry, we will be looking at other murders to see are there links and any similarities," he said.

Superintendent Gerry Wall of Leixlip Garda Station said the investigation was wide-ranging.

"It has extensive lines of inquiry and information. As with any murder investigation, we follow every line of inquiry with a slow methodical process.

"That (gangland) could be an aspect of it and we will certainly look at that during our inquiries," Supt Wall said.

The senior garda said the O'Brien family were understandably "very stressed during a traumatic time".

"They are enduring a very seriously stressful time in their lives that nobody would wish on anyone to suffer or endure. They've lost a loved one, a son, a partner, a father, a brother, a cousin. It is indeed a very traumatic time for them," he said.

He revealed that gardai have so far followed over 300 lines of inquiry during the murder probe and continued to appeal for anyone with information to come forward. One theory being looked at is that the father of one became involved with criminals with whom he grew up in west Dublin.

A source explained that Mr O'Brien was persuaded by an organised crime outfit to hand over cash to fund a drug-dealing network with the promise of a prosperous return on his investment.

"It appears that this gang persuaded him to part with big cash sums on the promise of a return on his investment.

"This may have worked out once or twice before but something went wrong along the way this time," a source said.

"Kenneth was not a gangster. He wasn't into drugs or violence, but he was taken advantage of by people who grew up around him and knew he was making money in Australia," they added.

"He got into something he thought he could handle.

"He thought it was the quickest way to turn a profit on his money and provide for his family's future but something went wrong somewhere."
Independent TD Michael Lowry has said his constituency colleague Alan Kellys decision to categorically rule him out of the next government smacks of his customary arrogance.

Mr Lowry launched a sting attack on the Labour Party deputy leader today, saying he has jumped on the bandwagon.

And he said that threats and innuendo from Alan Kelly will not decide the formation of the next government.

"In relation to Alan Kelly, Id just say that his comments smack of his customary arrogance. Effectively what hes trying to do is circumvent the will of the Tipperary people.

"The bottom line is that thankfully we have a democracy, elections are due, and elections are about the people have their say and electing their representatives, he said.

Its not the media, its not the political pundits. Its not threats and innuendo from Alan Kelly that will make the decision, its the people who will make the decision known.

I havent at any stage spoken to any political party about any alliances or any pacts or any agreements after the election.

Speaking on his local radio station, Tipp FM, Mr Lowry hit out at the speculation around his involvement in coalition talks after the election.

Since Saturday politicians from Fine Gael and the Labour Party have faced repeated questions as to whether they would rule seeking Mr Lowrys support to prop up a minority government.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Joan Burton have continuously attempted to sidestep the question but Mr Kelly broke ranks, telling todays Irish Independent: Just to be categorical on it, the Labour Party would never work with or ask for the support of anyone like Michael Lowry.

The Moriarty Report found that Mr Lowry conferred benefit on businessmen Denis OBrien, who made or facilitated payments to the former Communications Minister.

There were no findings that Mr Lowry benefited from payments and Mr Lowry has rejected the findings.

Responding to Mr Kellys comments today, Mr Lowry said: Im not going to be presumptuous by thinking Im going to be one of the five representatives for Tipperary.

He said he hasnt spoken to any political party about a deal, but said he does believe independents will hold the balance of power after the election.

The people of Tipperary know me. They know my character. They know my personality. They know my background. They have been reading this for 20 years, he said.

However, he added: You dont expect to be harangued in public by one of your constituency colleagues.

He said Mr Kelly is suffering from a bit of delusion.
Four men have been arrested under Operation Thor after allegedly stealing a caravan in Northern Ireland.

The suspects, aged in their late teens to mid 30's, were arrested at on the M1 at Balregan in Dundalk yesterday afternoon shortly after 3pm.

They were towing the caravan at the time.

The men were arrested by Gardai from the Regional Support Unit, Northern Region and were detained at Dundalk Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The caravan, which is believed to have been stolen in Newry, was recovered during the operation which was carried out with the assistance of and in cooperation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The jeep they were driving was also seized but is not believed to have been stolen.

Three of the men were charged in connection with this investigation.

One men (21) is due to appear before Dundalk District Court this morning.

Two men were released on bail and are due to appear before Dundalk District Court on a later date.

The male in his late teens was released without charge.
Irish Water has warned the public to be vigilant against an email phishing scam impersonating the state agency and requesting account details.

Emails were sent out to Irish Water customers and others, claiming to be the company and requesting users to log in through a hyperlink for 'annual account maintenance.'

The bogus email, which used the Irish Water logo, said: "Irish Water is performing the annual account maintenance procedure. Please login to your account and complete the requested actions."

A spokeswoman for Irish Water said the scam had nothing to do with its website and that all customer account details were secure.
THE insurance industry is still refusing to provide cover to homes in areas where flood defences have been put in place.

In a major embarrassment for the Government, the insurance industry is standing by its staunch criticism of the use of temporary flood defences, or so-called demountables.

And the industry has admitted that over one in ten properties in areas where there are permanent flood defences do not have cover.

Earlier this month, Taoiseach Enda Kenny hauled representatives of the insurance industry to a meeting in Government Buildings and demanded a report within seven days.

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But in a blow to Mr Kenny, the insurance industry made no pledges, instead encouraging the Government to create its own social compensation scheme for homeowners who cannot secure cover.

Insurance Ireland encourages the Government to place the emphasis on fixed defence standards built and maintained to the 1:100 year standard in future as this delivers the best solution to policyholders and the insurance sector. However, we recognise that this is not always possible, the letter states.

Equally, it is not possible to achieve a 100% rate of flood insurance cover nationally for the reasons outlined in this letter. In short therefore, if the Government is minded to develop a form of social compensation scheme for properties that cannot get flood cover, Insurance Ireland is prepared to work with the Government to explore alternative solutions.

But the insurance industry said its members remained concerned about providing cover in areas which are protected by demountables.

Insurance Ireland has always insisted that the fixed defence approach is essential when building flood defences and our findings continue to show that flood coverage rates are at their highest where fixed defences are built.

We have canvassed our members for their views on demountable flood defences. There is no standard position because insurers make their own individual decisions on whether to provide flood cover and what premium to charge. However all of our members have concerns about demountable defences and we will elaborate on these concerns below.
Traveling around the world is one of the best hobbies. Though sometimes we meet some problems on our way which better be solv
Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

2.23pm today, the moment the sea at Malahide estuary started to swallow parked cars. Photo: Paul Larkin

Cars destroyed in Toft car park in the flooding in Salthill as storm Jonas hits the West coast. Photo: Andrew Downes

Cars destroyed in Toft car park in the flooding in Salthill as storm Jonas hits the West coast. Photo: Andrew Downes

Toft car park in in Salthill as Storm Jonas hits the West coast. Photo: Andrew Downes

Thousands of homes have been left without power as high winds caused by Storm Jonas battered the ESBs electrical network earlier today.

The majority of the areas hit are in the south and south-west of Ireland, with Munster the worse affected region.



Some 604 homes in Bandon in southern Cork are without power, while in the town of Curraleigh ESB crews are working to restore power to another 194 properties.

There are also 239 homes in Milltown in Kerry suffering faults.



To the north in Limerick and Clare, there are 200 sites without power in Kilshanny and Garryspillane.



While the Westmeath, there is another 126 homes affected power outages.

Speaking to Independent.ie, a spokesperson for ESB Networks said that much of the faults were caused by Storm Jonas.



Weve been seeing very heavy hits in these areas so its not surprising theyre suffering outages .



We should have the majority of affected areas restored later this afternoon.

Those high winds have caused some outages this morning for updates https://t.co/VMtxFrW7FY if NOT listed ring 1850372999 #staysafe  ESB Networks (@ESBNetworks) January 26, 2016

Many of the homes without power are in areas that Met Eireann warned would be hit hard by the arrival of Storm Jonas.

The country has been bracing itself for a deluge and strong gale force wind since it was announced that the tail end of the powerful storm front would reach Ireland this week.

Exposed coastal communities along the west and south coasts would take the brunt of the winds, the forecaster warned.

On Monday, Met Eireann issued a yellow weather warning for Wexford, Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Waterford, saying that these areas are at risk of coastal flooding and high winds until at least 2pm this afternoon.

A second status yellow wind for the entire country, this time for warning, is due to remain in effect until 3pm today, with gusts of 110kmh experienced in some regions.

Further strong winds and rain are expected to follow later this evening, with another front making its way towards the west coast tomorrow.



Following a trail of misery in the United States, where the blizzard has killed at least 35 people, Storm Jonas is expected to cause unsettled weather until Friday afternoon  whereby conditions will improve.

While the weather is not expected to deteriorate to the conditions seen in December, local authorities remain on standby.

Elsewhere, motorists who had left their cars in Salthills Toft carpark in Galway overnight returned to find them under several feet of water this morning.

Expand Close A map of the expected rainfall in Ireland for Tuesday Credit: Met Eireann / Facebook

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Whatsapp A map of the expected rainfall in Ireland for Tuesday Credit: Met Eireann

The carpark which is prone to flooding was one of the first areas impacted by Storm Jonas approach, with over a dozen cars badly affected.

A second carpark on Salthill promenade was also underwater in the early hours of this morning.

Expand Close Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning / Facebook

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Whatsapp Commuters struggling in the wind and rain in Clontarf earlier this morning

Gardai have warned motorists in Galway to take exercise extreme caution on coastal roads due to flooding and dangerous gusts.

Earlier today AA Roadwatch reported that many routes into Dublin City centre and other main hubs were moving very slowly due to a heavy build up of traffic.
Bridie Willers outside her home at the height of the flooding. Photo: Andrew Downes

A Galway woman who has returned to her home one month after being evacuated due to floods has told of her ongoing anxiety about future flooding.

Bridie Willers and her family were forced to leave their home in Ardrahan, Co Galway, on St Stephen's Day after flood waters breached the defences.

The family finally returned to their home on Saturday, but Ms Willers said they are now living in constant anxiety about the future.

"The water is gone from the house and it is drying out, but we really don't know the extent of the damage yet.

"Most of our things we had put up on stilts away from the water but it's still hard to quantify what has been ruined - floors and skirting boards and then things you don't realise at first."

Ms Willers, a former Fine Gael councillor, said she and her neighbours were in "a state of limbo".

"The floods are gone from the house, but there are acres and acres of floods outside the front door. There are just lakes of water. We don't know what to do. Do we start refurbishing the house just for this to happen again?

"We are living with the nervousness that we will be faced with the same thing again. Nobody out there can say it won't happen because they have all been proven wrong in the past. It's the same thing every year now."

Ms Willers said the past two months had been extremely difficult for everyone in the area and that locations were still flooded.

"It's a very hard time for people. Every home from Kilchreest to Gort, we've all suffered the same sort of anxiety. We have been out of the house since St Stephen's Day but we've been battling the floods since the start of December with Storm Desmond.

"At the start, we were so busy with the sandbags and pumping and keeping the floods out but now we're back to reality with the clean-up and the cost."

Ms Williers said that she and other families in the region wanted to see action from the Government, instead of just promises.

"Government after government has ignored the problem. We need some real action to be taken. I don't want to find myself in this same position later this year.

"How many times do we have to go through this?"
This is the moment a gunman opened fire at police during serious disorder in Lurgan, Co Armagh.

On Sunday night officers came under sustained attack for a number of hours with more than 100 petrol bombs thrown at police cordons in the area of the Lake Street alert.

At one point a gunman emerged from the crowd and fired at least one shot at police.

It can be seen around 1 minute 55 seconds into the footage.

Dissident republicans were blamed for the violence and a senior police officer said those responsible were "no better" than Islamic State terror group Daesh.

Video footage from the hours of trouble on Sunday night has emerged which appears to show the gunman firing.

Police in the Co Armagh town remain on high alert after coming under sustained attack from rioters, some reportedly as young as eight years old, while attempting to make safe a potential bomb on the railway line.

It came as police probed the second bomb alert in 24 hours - after examination the two suspicious objects were later declared as hoaxes.

Twenty five paint bombs, bricks and other masonry were thrown by a large and aggressive crowd who gathered at around 9pm and remained until the early hours of the morning.

No police officers or members of the public were injured however a number of police vehicles were damaged.

Helicopter air support, specially trained riot police from other parts of Northern Ireland and dog teams had to be brought to deal with the trouble.

Speaking at a press conference Superintendent David Moore said: "The people that are behind this have no ideology, they have nothing to offer, in many respects they can be compared to Daesh, they have got little to offer but destruction in their own communities."

Daesh is a name for the terror group also known as Islamic State which is fighting for territory in Iraq and Syria.

"We are very lucky not only to be dealing with the loss of life or serious injury to a police officer but we could be dealing with any member of the community in the same position this morning."

Mr Moore added: "The work of dissident republicans is evident here, not in any way organised, because it is the easiest thing to drop something on a railway line and have someone drunk batter on the window of a crossing guard's booth.

"It is the easiest thing to make phone calls...to try their best to confuse the police response.

"Eventually we deployed in a very careful, tactically sound way and what did we find? Five hours of sustained violence waiting for us."

The violence was met with widespread condemnation.
IRISH Water have warned the public to be vigilant against an email phishing scam, which is being used to impersonate the State agency and solicit account details.

Scammers sent emails to addresses nationwide claiming to be the company and requesting users to login through a hyperlink for "annual account maintenance".

The bogus email, which uses the Irish Water logo, states the following: "Irish Water is performing the annual account maintenance procedure. Please login to your account and complete the requested actions.

"Once you logged in you will be guided to the rest of the process. Log into My Water now to complete the maintenance."

Spokeswoman for Irish Water Florence White told the Herald that the scam has nothing to do with the utility company and that all customer account details are secure.

"Technically speaking, it has nothing to do with us, but the people sending out these emails are purporting to be from Irish Water, so we just want people to be aware that it's not us," Ms White said. "It's people right across the country, it's not specific to Irish Water customers.

pretending

"They don't have any of our customer information, and I don't know where they got the email addresses from".

The company received notice of the scam through social media and have instructed the public not to open the email and to delete it immediately.

The agency insist that they will never ask customers for financial information in this way and say that they have no idea how many people received the email. They will also not be following up on the issue with the gardai.

"If you got an email then you would be the one that would report it, because the criminal activity was looking to access your information," Ms White said.

"Irish Water data is absolutely secure. We would have no way of knowing who the emails went to because we didn't send them, so we'd have no way of knowing what complaint we could make to the gardai."

This is the third high-profile phishing scam in six months - with student support agency SUSI the victim of a similar issue in August.

In November, an email was distributed from phishers purporting to be Electric Ireland, telling customers to login to their online billing account to view their refund status.
Peter Conroy, who was killed last June after he was stabbed outside a B&B

A young mother who watched the brutal killing of her partner alleges she has received text messages threatening to chop up her and her children.

Elaine Blount (22) was present when the father of her two children Peter Conroy (25) was killed at a B&B in Palmerstown village in County Dublin last June.

Following the incident, Ms Blount claims she was forced to flee the area after receiving a series of text messages threatening her and her two children, Sophia (3) and Annabelle (1).

Speaking to RTEs Liveline earlier today she said: If you dont answer the doors, were going to come up and chop you up.

Ms Blount was moved to the Tallaght Cross apartment complex in South Dublin following the killing of her partner but said that after five months the harassment began and she had to leave for the sake of the kids.

Another text received by the 22-year-old read: [Well] kill you and the kids in the apartment.

The young mother-of-two told host Joe Duffy that she was now living in a tiny room, no bigger than an average bathroom in a B&B in Rathgar.

Struggling at times to speak, she said she felt abandoned by South Dublin Council County [SDCC], which, she claims, have refused her request to be given a house.

Im cracking up. Ive no one helping. I was up with the Council and asked them to house me but they said they cant help.

I was up in the doctor and I told him I was suffering with depression and stuff and then I went back to the Council and told them but they literally wouldnt do anything for me and my kids.

Its disgraceful Im staying in Rathgar in a B&B in a tiny room, no bigger than an average bathroom.

 I just want someone to help me - Ive never had the start of a life with a house for my kids.

She continued: Everything I cry my little daughter says mommy is it daddy, she picks up the picture of him and asks Is it daddy?

It really does break my heart I cant deal with it anymore.

Also detailing Ms Blounts current situation was her mother Philomena, who said that SDCC had been unable to help the pair because they had too many homeless people to deal with.

You should see her room [at the B&B], its very tiny. Theres no where for the kids to play.

The Meath woman, who said she had been homeless for most of her life, told host Joe about her 16 other children but said that none of them where in a position to help her or Ms Blount.
Celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna is moving her restaurant from Dublin's Blackrock with plans to launch a "new dining experience" in the coming months.

The Dublin-based chef, who opened Clodagh's Kitchen in the southside suburb in 2013, confirmed that she has removed her branding from the venue.

The restaurant temporarily closed at the end of last year to undergo renovations, and was reopened this week under a new name.

"Clodagh has removed her brand from Blackrock and is opening in another Dublin location this year," a spokesperson for the chef confirmed to the Herald.

Speaking about the move, Clodagh said: "With great thought I have decided to move location and to create and develop a new dining concept.

"The exact location will be announced over the next couple of months. I am very excited and so grateful for the support from all of our loyal customers over the years," she added.

The Ballymaloe-trained chef also runs a Clodagh's Kitchen restaurant in Arnotts in Dublin's city centre and used to run the Homemade by Clodagh Food Court at the store before terminating her contract by mutual contract.

Speaking recently about the opening of her standalone restaurant in Blackrock, Clodagh described it as "the hardest six months of my life".
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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.
On March 18, 1968, three months before he was assassinated, Robert Kennedy said: "Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile."

I think the same can be said about our approach to well-being and mental health. We seem to disregard the things that make life worthwhile - the beauty of poetry, the strength of our relationships, the intelligence of public debate. We seem to forget the central role that compassion and wisdom play in shaping a society where individuals can live good lives. We seem to forget that the health of our children, the quality of their education and the joy of their play lay the very foundations for later well-being and mental health. Until we approach mental health from this perspective nothing is going to change.

Over the last three decades there is growing evidence that we need to work with whole systems if we are to improve health and well-being. I firmly believe that if we continue to think in siloed terms about mental health and well-being we are going nowhere quickly.

We know intuitively that the alarming increase in self-harm and consistently high rate of suicide in this country is a whole-society issue. It is tragic that the annual figures for the number of people who end their lives by suicide in this country is unchanged over the last decade or more. In 2001, for example, there were 519 suicides, and in 2012 there were 507 suicides.

This national tragedy, made up of life-shattering loss for those left behind, needs a whole-society response. As long as we continue to seek a solution in one particular department or in one particular service the HSE provides, such as the mental health services, we are destined to repeat the annual national tragedy of more than 500 lives lost to suicide. We cannot continue to abdicate the entire responsibility for well-being and mental health to specialist mental health services or to the minister with responsibility for mental health. Well-being and mental health are whole-government responsibilities and we have to stop thinking in segments, in artificial departmental divides.

I am very pleased to say this Government's recent suicide prevention strategy, Connecting for Life (2015), is a good example of a whole-government approach. But we need to start much earlier than at the point of suicide prevention. We need to adopt a proactive whole-government approach to well-being as foundations of mental health. If we fail to adopt a whole-system approach to well-being and positive mental health, to put it simply - we are at the wrong end of the pitch.

To do this we have to recognise the well-established determinants of health - the social, economic, political, cultural and environmental factors that determine health. If we are serious about the mental health of our nation we have to radically embrace a multi-factorial approach to well-being and mental health.

Too often decisions taken by our governments are made without consideration for the social determinants of mental health or, as Kennedy said, things "that make life worthwhile".

The well-being of our citizens will never be advanced if we simply see ourselves as an economy and continue to measure our success only by advances in GDP and loose sight of ourselves as a society, as an interdependent collective.

We need to move away from the understanding that well-being is simply the result of some magical internal psychological process. We need to be very cautious of an insidious mentality that places excessive responsibility for well-being and mental health in the hands of the individual.

We are a collective and an interdependent species. We need to fully credit the power of deprivation and inequality to erode the capacity of the individual at an emotional, spiritual, psychological and intellectual level. There are of course other factors at play, but social injustice and inequality play a pivotal role - we know these from decades of research in the field.

As a psychologist and educator for almost 20 years, I remain convinced of one thing - equality is the best form of therapy.

It is abundantly clear that the chronic stress inherent in disadvantaged communities has significant impact on their mental health.

An extensive body of research confirms the relationship between social inequalities, general health and poor mental health. The well-being that we seek as a nation will not be achieved until our policymakers and leaders address these inequalities.

We need to radically reorient our approach in the evidenced-based knowledge that social and economic development are two sides of the same coin, and that a sustainable flourishing economy is only built on a flourishing population.

There isn't a citizen in the country who doesn't want radical change to the well-being and mental health of the people of this country. How do we do this?

We have to determine prospectively the potential implications of governmental action upon the social determinants of mental health.

Just as we are now accustomed to making an environmental impact assessment of proposed projects, we need to adopt a mental well-being impact assessment.

This can be done by legislating for the provision of mental-health-proofing all future government actions. There are a number of well-recognised tools available and used in other jurisdictions, such as the Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment (MWIA) tool.

The MWIA assesses the impact policies, programmes and services have on mental well-being at individual, community and structural levels. It focuses on the social determinants of health and protective factors which are associated with mental well-being including control, resilience, community assets, participation and inclusion.
Regarding the now annual A&E crisis, I was intrigued listening to Ivan Yates's interview with an A&E doctor last week.

Yates asked him what were the main issues with people presenting at A&E. The doctor casually, but I presume genuinely, offered the flu and colds as the first major issue. I was dumbstruck. Since when do the flu and colds qualify as either an accident or an emergency?

Why should cases that are non-life threatening and not involving intense pain bring the whole hospital system to its knees? Surely, people should have basic common sense when faced with such mild discomfort?

Then I thought, surely there should be an initial screening before A&E to filter out these non-life threatening conditions ... but there is not. Does the solution not simply lie in some pre-screening before presenting at A&E? GPs work a long enough day, granted, in normal business hours.

Is there not some third-party service that can be contracted for out-of-hours non-critical conditions at a fraction of the cost of expanding hospitals and new consultants?

I say this as someone who hasn't a clue how that behemoth, the Health Service, works.

I had an issue on St Stephen's Day where I took a healthy swig of an innocuous looking bottle inside our medicine cabinet at home. (Note to self: put on glasses before plucking a bottle from the medicine cabinet. Benilyn begins with a B!). My wife rang the out-of-hours service, who advised on going straight out to A&E. Subsequently they reported it to the toxicology unit, who rang my wife to say "get him to A&E immediately".

I did as I was told. After the usual admissions procedure, I looked around the waiting room - over 40 people. I asked the receptionist how long I might have to wait. In fairness to her, she admitted I'd be a minimum of four hours. Good luck, I said, I'm out of here.

Now my point is, in my very brief stay there in the waiting room, I didn't see anybody with an arm hanging off, anybody vomiting or anybody rolling on the floor in pain.

It seemed quite calm and civilised to me - not remotely like 'Casualty' or 'ER'. Why are people there if it isn't an accident or an emergency? Why is there not some pre-screening, even if outside normal GP hours?

This issue has to be sorted and any road-blocks, bed-blocks or more importantly, people-blocks should be dealt with sternly.

Frank Buckley

Tullamore, Co Offaly

Bruton and the Rising

I felt privileged recently to find myself at the burial plot of 14 patriots in Arbour Hill who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf in 1916. These educated and honourable people believed in our right to freedom from the discrimination, sectarianism and deplorable treatment over the centuries of British rule.

It struck me that because of them we are enjoying all of the benefits of independence instead of dancing to the tune of those who treated us as lesser beings. Perhaps Mr John Bruton should take time out to appreciate the even greater privileges which they made possible for him to enjoy, and he might recite a silent prayer for them as an apology for his rather insulting recent comments questioning the necessity of the Rising.

Incidentally, I admired the courage and humility demonstrated by Queen Elizabeth in her efforts at reconciliation when she visited us.

Seamus Hanley

Shannon, Co Clare

Let's be decisive in election

One must only wonder what the next government will be?

All the polls are saying Fine Gael will have the most seats, but who can, or who will, go into government with them? Labour is set to be hammered at the polls, so that could rule them out; the Greens and Renua don't seem to be doing that well; and the Social Democrats lack the policies that could make a good government. Sinn Fein won't enter government with Fine Gael, and Fianna Fail are all over the shop and don't know who to trust?

Let's hope the Irish people stand up and vote the right parties in so we don't end up like Greece.

David Gazeley

Wexford

Learning from 'Rebellion'

I read with incredulity Ian O'Doherty's tirade (Irish Independent, January 22) against the RTE drama 'Rebellion', which is based on the events of the Easter Rising.

Now, maybe I am in the minority, but I have thoroughly enjoyed 'Rebellion' to date.

The acting is of a very high standard, while the script is both interesting and diverse.

I'm sure it has evoked strong feelings among viewers, as well as provoking numerous talking points.

'Rebellion' has attempted to provide the Irish public with an understanding of the events of 1916, and, personally, seeing a recreation of the events from this time has helped create a far greater imprint in my mind than reading all the historical accounts printed in books and papers. I'm looking forward to the final instalment.

So let's have a bit more positivity and recognition for the efforts of all those involved in the series.

Richard Holden

Maynooth, Co Kildare

Europe and Republicanism

It's puzzling that some of the politicians and parties currently scrabbling for ownership of the 1916 Rising can't seem to arrange Ireland's further disappearance into a European empire quickly enough.

How, exactly, does that fit in with their 'Republican' principles? Could any of them please enlighten me?

Peter Keating

Charleville, Co Cork

Pre-election promises

Although we are supposed to live in a democracy, we are in fact living under a system of government that has more in common with a dictatorship.

Okay, every five years or so there are elections held in this country, but are they fair and free? Certainly they are not free from interference from long-established political parties who have allocated themselves millions of euro from public funds to fight any election.

After our "democratic" election next month, the main parties fight a mock battle to form a coalition government. But using the excuse of having to agree a "programme for government" allows the participating parties to discard completely any promises they fought the election on. There are many examples of this, but the Labour Party's almost total scrapping of its pre-election promises in 2011 is the most blatant.

Thus, one can safely say "we get the best democracy money can buy".

Anthony Woods

Ennis, Co Clare
Blake Harrison, known to many younger viewers for his role as Neil in The Inbetweeners, stars in the film

Ian Lavender, who starred in the TV series as Private Pike, attended the premiere

Catherine Zeta-Jones at the world premiere of Dad's Army at the Odeon Leicester Square, London

Catherine Zeta-Jones said filming the new movie version of TV classic comedy Dad's Army reminded her how much she loves the UK.

Her affection may not have extended to the British weather though as the cast huddled under umbrellas on a damp red carpet at the film's world premiere in Leicester Square.

The Welsh actress, 46, kept all eyes off the rain clouds in her low-cut teal dress as she joined co-stars Toby Jones, Sir Tom Courtenay and Sir Michael Gambon.

Now based in Los Angeles with husband Michael Douglas and their two children, Zeta-Jones said filming it in England was like "coming home to a cup of Ovaltine".

She said: "It was everything I hoped it to be, it was all these great actors, knew their lines, knew what they were doing.

"We were laughing all the way through it and it just reminded me how much I love being in the UK to work and to be with British actors.

"It's nice to come home and this was like coming home to a cup of Ovaltine, nice and cosy."

The big screen version of the Second World War-set BBC sitcom, which ran from 1968-77, sees Zeta-Jones plays journalist Rose Winters, whose arrival in Walmington-on-Sea to report on Captain Mainwaring's (Jones) Home Guard sets pulses racing and proves a distraction while the group try to smoke out a German spy in their midst.

Suddenly the fate of the nation falls in the hands of the Home Guard played by an all-star British cast which also includes Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, Bill Paterson as Frazer, Daniel Mays as Walker and Blake Harrison as Private Pike.

Sir Michael says the set was full of laughter.

"It was nothing but laughing and fooling around. I was mucking around with all of them," he said.

It was not too difficult for Sir Michael to get into character as he said was just like gentle but doddery Private Godfrey, best remembered for perpetually nodding off and being excused for his weak bladder.

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He joked: "I'm like Godfrey, I'm always mooching around, I'm not doing anything right, I forget things. If someone says left, I turn right. I'm not very bright up here."

Filming felt like "coming home" for the last two surviving cast members of the original TV version: Frank Williams revives his role as Reverend Timothy Farthing in the new film and Pike actor Ian Lavender has a cameo.

Williams said: "It takes me back to a very happy time in my life when I was doing Dad's Army originally and as my scenes are in the church hall, it was very much like coming home again."

Lavender admitted he was jealous of the new Pike, who not only has a girlfriend in the new film, but, he discovered, gets to share a kiss with Zeta-Jones.

"Blake kept that one quiet from me! If they'd have put that in my script, I'd have done it for half the money," he laughed.

All the cast acknowledged the risk involved in remaking such an well-loved show - which can still attract three million viewers for TV repeats - but hope it will introduce a new audience to the characters.

" I think it's so touching and heart warming it'll inspire a whole new generation of lovers of Dad's Army," Zeta-Jones said.

The film is out in UK cinemas on February 5.
Brendan OCarroll said he was really touched by the story. Photo: Channel 10

Kind-hearted Mrs. Browns Boys star Brendan OCarroll has donated $50,000 to an Australian family who lost their pregnant mother in a devastating car crash last week.

Sarah Paino (24) was killed in an accident in Hobart, Tasmania after a 15-year-old drove into her car.

Her unborn baby, Caleb, survived and was delivered in hospital where he remains in a stable condition in intensive care.

OCarroll said he was really touched by the story and yesterday, live on Australian television, he announced that he would donate the equivalent of 32,370 to the family.

We as the Brown family would like to donate 50,000 to that fund, he said.

When the crash occurred, Sarah had just dropped her partner Daniel to work. Travelling home with her two-year-old boy Jordan in the back seat, Sarahs car was hit by a stolen vehicle which ran a red light.

Sarah lost her life - she was 32 weeks pregnant.

A fundraising effort was started by her partners employer, Banjo's Corporation, to assist the family.

Touched by the cause, OCarroll said he felt this was a way of giving something back to Hobart.

We look forward to doing the show in Hobart and we hope to make you guys smile when we get out there. Hobart has been very good to us.
The bodies of four men and nine women have been discovered on a beach in Malaysia, police said

Thirteen bodies, believed to be Indonesian illegal immigrants, have been washed ashore after their boat capsized in bad sea conditions, Malaysian police said.

District police chief Rahmat Othman said the bodies of four men and nine women were discovered on a beach in southern Johor state by members of the public early on Tuesday.

He said authorities found an overturned wooden boat not far from the beach, and that a search and rescue operation was under way.

Mr Rahmat said the boat was believed to be carrying 30 to 35 people, most likely Indonesians trying to sneak into the country.

Many Indonesians travel on boats believed to be old and unsafe to work in Malaysia illegally, or to return to their hometowns.
People try to navigate a snowbank in the middle of Park Avenue in New York yesterday. Photo: Getty

US residents clobbered by the weekend blizzard have trudged into the working week amid slippery roads, disrupted transport services and mounds of snow that buried cars and blocked pavements.

For others, the weekend extended into yesterday because of closed schools and government offices.

The storm dropped snow along the US east coast from the Gulf Coast to New England, with near-record snowfalls tallied from Washington DC to New York City. At least 31 people died as a result of the storm. The deaths occurred in car accidents, from carbon monoxide poisoning and from heart attacks while shovelling snow.

Flying remained particularly messy after nearly 12,000 weekend flights and hundreds more yesterday were cancelled.

Crews worked all day on Sunday to clear streets devoid of their usual bustle, but one day was not enough to clear many roads. Cars parked in neighbourhoods were encased in snow and pavement entrances were blocked.

New York mayor Bill de Blasio encouraged people to leave their cars all week. Some did not have a choice; ploughs clearing streets buried cars under mounds of ice and snow.

Broadway reopened after going dark at the last minute during the snowstorm, but museums were closed in Washington, and the US House of Representatives postponed votes until February.

Overall snowfall of 68cm in Central Park made it New York's second biggest winter storm since records began in 1869, and Saturday's 67.6cm made for a single-day record in the city.

In Washington DC, officials warned residents that it would take several more days for the city to return to normal after the blizzard dropped more than two feet of snow.

Mayor Muriel Bowser urged residents to stay off the streets while crews cleared snow from secondary roadways, parking lanes and highway shoulders.

"It's important to know that the roads are still dangerous," she said. "We're going to be dealing with snow all of this week."
A delivery person on a bicycle passes a front end loader working to remove snow in Times Square in New York. Photo: Reuters

A 37-year-old Brooklyn man was killed on Saturday night in New York's only recorded homicide of the blizzard when a friend accidentally shot him, according to police.

Zdzislaw Golabek was with Gorecki Maciej (32) when a shot went off at around 8pm. The victim was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head.

Mr Maciej has been arrested and charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

According to the 'Mail Online', the suspect told police that the pair were playing Russian roulette in the moments before the shooting occurred.

It has emerged that Mr Golabek lived in the building but not in the apartment where he died, while Mr Maciej lives in the area.

Andrzej Golabek, the victim's brother, told the 'New York Post': "I still can't believe it. He was really quiet. He never got into trouble."
A female Aedes aegypti mosquito on the arm of a researcher at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in Sao Paulo, Brazil (AP)

Brazil's health minister has reportedly acknowledged the country is "badly losing the battle" against the mosquito that transmits Zika, a virus linked to a rare birth defect.

Reports in all the major dailies said Marcelo Castro suggested that prior governments had been too lax in efforts to eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also spreads dengue and chikungunya.

The reports say he made the comment as a crisis group on Zika was meeting in the capital, Brasilia.

Brazilian health officials linked Zika to a sharp spike in cases of microcephaly, in which babies are born with unusually small heads and often with developmental problems.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it suspects a link between the Zika virus and microcephaly but said so far the evidence is circumstantial.

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said the "big task" is to try to establish a link between the virus and the birth defect.

The UN agency plans a special session on Thursday on the virus during a Geneva meeting of its executive board, he said.

The virus has been associated with close to 4,000 microcephaly cases in Brazil, and El Salvador, Panama, Colombia and Cape Verde also have "large outbreaks", he added.

Mr Lindmeier said the "huge increase" of Zika cases "gives a lot of reason for concern".
A female Aedes aegypti mosquito on the arm of a researcher at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in Sao Paulo, Brazil (AP)

Brazil will mobilise some 220,000 troops in the battle against the mosquito blamed for spreading a virus linked to birth defects, the country's health minister said.

Marcelo Castro said that nearly 220,000 members of Brazil's armed forces will go door-to-door to help in mosquito eradication efforts, according to Rio de Janeiro's O Globo newspaper.

It also quoted Mr Castro as saying the government would distribute mosquito repellent to some 400,000 pregnant women who receive cash-transfer benefits.

And all major Brazilian dailies quoted Mr Castro as saying the country is "badly losing the battle" against the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

"The mosquito has been here in Brazil for three decades, and we are badly losing the battle against the mosquito," the Folha de S Paulo newspaper quoted him as saying as a crisis group on Zika was meeting in the capital, Brasilia.

Worry about the rapid spread of Zika has expanded across the nation, and the hemisphere beyond.

Repellent has disappeared from many Brazilian pharmacies and prices for the product have tripled or even quadrupled where it is still available in recent weeks since the government announced a suspected link between Zika virus and microcephaly, a rare birth defect that sees babies born with unusually small heads and can cause lasting developmental problems.

Nearly 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported since October, compared with fewer than 150 cases in the country in all of 2014.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has advised pregnant women to reconsider travel to Brazil and 21 other countries and territories with Zika outbreaks over fears about microcephaly.

Both Brazil's Zika outbreak and the spike in microcephaly have been concentrated in the poor and underdeveloped north east of the country, though the prosperous south east, where Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located, is the second hardest-hit region.

Officials in Rio also ramped up their fight against the Aedes aegypti, dispatching a team of fumigators to the Sambadrome, where the city's Carnival parades will take place next month. Governor Luiz Fernando Pezao was to be on hand for a ceremonial handover of around 30 vehicles to help poor Rio suburbs fight the spread of the mosquito, his team said.

Officials have also pledged to redouble mosquito eradication efforts during the Olympics. Rio will host the August 5-21 Games.

Argentina authorities say they are investigating a possible case of infection by the mosquito-borne Zika virus. It would be a first for the nation that shares a border with Brazil.

Santa Fe health department official Andrea Uboldi told La Red radio that the man is in the city of Rosario and had recently visited Brazil, where hundreds of thousands of cases of Zika are suspected and authorities are investigating a possible link to birth defects.

Meanwhile, officials in the Argentine province of Corrientes have declared an epidemiological alert due to an outbreak of dengue in the area. Dengue and Zika are both transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Police and bomb disposal experts found no evidence of any explosive devices

Thousands of children were evacuated from least 14 schools across England this morning after a string of bomb threats were made in a suspected hoax.

In London, Ricards Lodge High School in Wimbledon and Raynes Park High School were thought to be among four that received calls claiming a suspicious device had been left at their premises.

The schools were evacuated as a precaution while the incidents were looked into, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said.

Searches of the premises have been completed and all the incidents have been stood down.

The incidents are being treated as malicious communications.

At around the same time on Tuesday morning, West Midlands Police said calls were made in quick succession to six schools in Sandwell, Dudley and Birmingham.The force said bomb threats were received at around 9am but that intelligence experts have since verified there is no credible threat.

The affected schools were the Oldbury Academy in Pound Road, Holly Lodge High, in Smethwick, Bristnall Hall Academy, in Oldbury, George Slater High School, in West Bromwich, Earls High School, in Halesowen and Four Dwellings Upper School, in Quinton.

It followed similar phone threats to four schools in the Black Country last week that saw hundreds of pupils evacuated before police confirmed they were hoaxes.

Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said: Police intelligence suggests there is no credible threat behind the callsthey mirror the hoaxes several schools received just a few days ago.

Local police officers have been sent to the affected schools to carry out checks and to offer reassurance.

A police investigation is underway to find the person responsible for the calls.

Four more secondary schools in Cornwall had received calls suggesting a potential security threat at around 8am.

Teachers made the decision to evacuate the buildings in Truro, St Ives and Penzance, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

By 9am, following police attendance and immediate enquiries, there was quickly found to be no threat and no risk to any children or staff, a spokesperson added.

Police could not confirm whether the threats were from the same source or part of a co-ordinated hoax and inquiries continue
A young migrant pulls a fire extinguisher in a muddy field at a camp of makeshift shelters for migrants and asylum-seekers from Iraq, Kurdistan, Iran and Syria, called the Grande Synthe jungle, near Dunkirk, France. REUTERS/Yves Herman

DENMARK'S parliament passed measures today aimed at deterring refugees from seeking asylum, including confiscating valuables to pay for their stay, despite protests from international human rights organisations.

The measures, which also include extending family reunification among refugees from one year to three years, are the latest sign that the Nordic welcome for refugees is waning as large numbers flee war in Africa and Middle East for a better life in Europe.

The "jewellery bill" is the latest attempt by Denmark's minority centre-right government to curb immigration to a country that took in a record 20,000 refugees last year.

Under the bill, refugees could keep possessions amounting to 10,000 Danish crowns ($1,450), raised from 3,000 crowns after criticism from human rights organisations. Valuables of special emotional value such as wedding rings will be exempt.

The Liberals Party government has just 34 out of 179 seats in parliament and depends on support of rightist parties, including the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DF), to pass laws.

During a three and a half hour debate, dissenting voices from small leftwing parties were heard including from Red Green Alliance.

Expand Close Denmark's Minister of Immigration and Integration Inger Stojberg listens to the debate in the Danish Parliament, REUTERS/Mathias Loevgreen Bojesen/Scanpix / Facebook

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Whatsapp Denmark's Minister of Immigration and Integration Inger Stojberg listens to the debate in the Danish Parliament, REUTERS/Mathias Loevgreen Bojesen/Scanpix

But the bill passed with an overwhelming majority, backed by the main centre-left opposition party Social Democrats, highlighting a shift to the right in Denmark's political landscape thanks to DF's popularity and rising concern over refugee numbers.

"I wouldn't say that I have become racist or anything," said Poul Madsen, a taxi driver, before the bill was passed. "But I may be more aware of the fact that this has some downsides and may be a potential problem for our society and our economy."

Denmark is not the only one Nordic country trying to shut its doors to migrants. Sweden, which took in over 160,000 refugees last year, the most per capita in Europe, introduced checks on its border to Denmark at the start of the year.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven promised on Monday more resources for police after an employee was stabbed to death at a refugee centre for unaccompanied minors. A minor was arrested on suspicion of murder or manslaughter after the incident in western Sweden, local TT news agency reported.

A poll on Monday showed support for Lofven's Social Democrats at its lowest for nearly 50 years, in part due to a sense the government was unable to cope with the refugee influx.

Norway, meanwhile, has been trying to send back refugees who crossed over from Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday Moscow would not take them back.

Denmark is also not alone in targeting migrants' valuables. Switzerland has started taking valuables from asylum seekers over 1,000 Swiss francs ($985), the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg valuables above 350 euros ($380), while other southern states have been reported to do the same.

"Most (refugees) have lost everything and yet this legislation appears to say that the few fortunate enough to have survived the trip to Denmark with their few remaining possessions haven't lost enough," the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said, mirroring criticism from many organisations
The underground bunker where Trenneborg planned to keep his victim for 10 years AFP/Swedish police authority

A Swedish doctor who locked a woman in an underground bunker drew up a sex contract which would reduce the time he kept her imprisoned if she obeyed.

Martin Trenneborg, 38, has gone on trial in Stockholm accused of drugging his victim by lacing strawberries with Rohypnol in her home before allegedly raping and abducting her.

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She was driven 350 miles to a house close to Kristianstad in southern Sweden where she was locked up in an underground bunker for six days.

He has denied raping her but admitted the other charges.

The contract included a list of sex acts and behaviours which - if she agreed - would give her "discounts" on the amount of time she would have to stay in the bunker, Mail Online reports.

Under the terms, she would be required to give him the "GFE"(or "girlfriend experience") by kissing him during sex and would be required to shave all her body hair, pierce her navel and let him film and photograph her.

The contract - written in English - also said she would be punished with additional time in the soundproof bunker if she refused sex, masturbated or tried to escape.

The document - found on Trenneborgs computer after his arrest in September last year - suggested he was planning to keep her prisoner for ten years.

But Trenneborgs plan unravelled when he found police at her apartment a week later when he returned to collect some of her belongings.

He forced the woman - believed to be in her 30s - to go to the local police station to call off the search for her but officers became suspicious of her fake story.

The woman told police that Trenneborg - dubbed "Swedens Josef Fritzl" - had not raped her again while she was in the bunker but she lived in fear of what he may do.

She said: "Every time he came I didn't know what was going to happen, whether he would rape me or torture me or murder me.

"At one point he told me that if I were to try to escape, he would punish me by chaining me to the bed and I would get nothing to eat but crisp bread.

"He only said that he would keep me there a few years and that he would release me after that."

She also said he planned to bring another woman to the bunker "possibly a celebrity" or the victims own mother.

Documents found on Trenneborgs computer showed he had been planning the kidnap for years and had scouted out at least ten women before settling on his eventual victim.

He said: "She was suppose be my girlfriend for years, that was the purpose. But now that I am imprisoned she will not be my girlfriend in the ordinary sense, even I can understand that.

"She was not suppose to be a punching bag or something. We were suppose to be kissing, hanging out, having sex and stuff that normally people do".

The trial continues.
Police investigators are seen outside a home for juvenile asylum seekers in Molndal in south western Sweden on January 25, 2016

Alexandra Mezher, 22, died of her injuries after being injured in a reported knife fight at a refugee centre in Sweden

A 22-year-old woman has been stabbed to death at a refugee shelter for unaccompanied children in Sweden.

Police said the staff member, named by Swedish media as Alexandra Mezher, was taken to hospital but died of her injuries.

Relatives described her as "an angel", telling Expressen: It is so terrible. She was a person who wanted to do good, according to a translation by Sky News.

We have cried a lot. She was such a nice person, warm and happy.

Expand Close Police investigators are seen outside a home for juvenile asylum seekers in Molndal in south western Sweden on January 25, 2016 / Facebook

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It was unclear whether she had been deliberately targeted during a fight between several teenagers at the accommodation in Molndal, near Gothenburg.

The 15-year-old suspect was restrained by other asylum seekers and has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Thomas Fuxborg, a spokesperson for Swedish police, described the aftermath of the fight in the shelter as messy with blood on the floor.

The perpetrator had been overpowered by other residents, people were depressed and upset, he told the TT news agency.

The shelter houses around a dozen asylum seekers aged between 15 and 19, who are among the thousands of unaccompanied minors who have arrived in Europe without their families in the past year.

Amal Hassan, who works at the home, told the Goteborgs-Posten newspaper that she was shocked.

Everyone who lives here is really nice, she added. There has never been any trouble before.

Staffan Alexandersson, a social worker for the group running the shelter, described the attack as a horrible and tragic event and said a crisis team had been sent in to support staff and residents.

We regret what happened, and we're working right now in the crisis team to deal with both staff and children, he told TT.

Swedens Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven, visited the shelter on Monday and expressed his sadness at the terrible crime.

I believe that there are quite many people in Sweden who are very concerned that there may be more cases of this kind, when Sweden receives so many children and youths arriving alone, he told Radio Sweden.

It came as Swedens police commissioner, Dan Eliasson, requested 4,100 additional officers and support staff to help fight terrorism, carry out migrant deportations and police asylum accommodations, The Local reported.

"We are forced to respond to many disturbances in asylum reception centres, he told TT.

"In some places, this takes significant police resources. This was not the case six months ago and it means that we won't be able to respond as effectively in other areas.

Around 163,000 asylum applications were made last year in Sweden, which is one of the main destinations for refugees and migrants entering the EU.

Swedish Migration Agency data shows the number threats and violent incidents at refugee shelters have been rising with the number of arrivals.

In 2015 the figure was put at 322, while arson attacks, threats and hate crimes against refugees are also on the rise.

Border checks came into force earlier this month after Sweden was granted a temporary exception from the Schengen agreement, as efforts continued to slow the number of arrivals
NINE children were among at least 47 people killed in air strikes believed to be carried out by Russian warplanes on a town in eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has revealed.

The raids on Khasham, near the city of Deir al-Zor on Saturday, were among a series of strikes that also hit two other towns killing scores of people.

On the orders of President Vladimir Putin, 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.

Meanwhile, a Saudi-led coalition air strike killed a Yemeni judge and seven members of his family in the capital Sanaa on Sunday, as an aid convoy delivered food to a besieged southern city for the first time in months.

A coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been bombing the Iran-allied Houthis, who have controlled the capital since March. Nearly 6,000 people have been killed, around half of them civilians, according to UN figures.

The bomb partially destroyed the home of Yahya Rubaid, a judge appointed by the Houthis to a national security court who had prosecuted cases against militant groups like al-Qa'ida but had also presided over treason cases against President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and other ousted foes of the Houthis.

All of Rubaid's family, except one of his sons, were also killed in the blast, which destroyed the two-storey home, residents said. President Hadi, driven out of Sanaa last year by Houthi fighters that Arab neighbours say are backed by Iran, has returned to lead a government from the southern port of Aden, recaptured in July by troops from the Saudi-led coalition.

Pro-Hadi and Gulf Arab forces have pushed up toward the capital but have been bogged down in mountainous battlefronts for months, especially in the southwestern city of Taiz. Residents of the city, Yemen's third largest, have been caught in the crossfire and cut off from humanitarian aid for nine months, which many residents call a "siege" imposed by the Houthis.

The United Nations World Food Programme said on Sunday it was able to send 12 trucks laden with food into some of the worst-affected districts of Tai, providing enough aid to feed 3,000 families for a month.

The delivery followed weeks of intense lobbying by international aid groups with the Houthis to relieve stricken civilians in the city, one of the country's worst war zones. The Yemeni prime minister and his Cabinet returned yesterday to the volatile southern port city of Aden, months after he was targeted in a suicide bombing that forced them to leave the country.

Yemen has been torn by conflict since 2014, when Shiite rebels known as Houthis and allied with a former president captured large swathes of the country, including the capital, Sanaa, which they took in September that year.

In March 2015, a coalition of mainly Gulf Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes against the Houthis and later, a ground operation to retake ground from the rebels. More than 5,800 people have been killed and over 80pc of Yemen's population is in dire need of food and aid.
Taxi drivers on strike stand next to their cars as they demonstrate in Paris (AP)

Paris police have fired tear gas and taxi drivers lit bonfires on a major highway amid nationwide French strikes and protests over working conditions and competition from non-traditional services such as Uber.

One in five flights were cancelled at Paris airports and other flights faced delays as air traffic controllers staged a walkout and taxi drivers disrupted roads. I-Tele television reported that a taxi driver was injured at Orly Airport while trying to block a bus entrance.

Some teachers and other public servants are also on strike over a range of issues including wages, education reforms and working conditions.

It is the latest challenge to Francois Hollande's Socialist government and its stop-start efforts to modernise the economy.

Hundreds of French taxis, joined by a few from Belgium and Spain, blocked a massive intersection leading into western Paris, causing disruption throughout surrounding avenues.

Dozens of taxi drivers tried to march from the Porte Maillot intersection on to an eight-lane bypass, but police pushed them back with tear gas. Some drivers set pre-dawn bonfires put out by firefighters.

Traditional taxi drivers are protesting against what they consider unfair competition from Uber, which has faced a string of legal challenges in France. Previous protests have also turned violent.

Uber drivers "vandalise professionals who are paying taxes, who respect the rules", said Rachid Boudjema, 37, president of the taxi drivers union in Marseille, where striking drivers caused traffic jams around the city and its Marignane airport. He described "American cowboys" who "want to destroy our system, the system we are all attached to".

Uber sent a message to French customers warning of potential violence around Tuesday's protests, saying the goal of the protest is "to put pressure on the government to ... limit competition".

It warned that limiting app-based car services would raise costs, put drivers out of work and send customers back to the era "before apps and smartphones".

Prime minister Manuel Valls met with taxi drivers in an apparent attempt to defuse tensions.

He condemned the drivers' violence but promised to strengthen a police crackdown on the competing taxi services they are protesting against.

He is also forming a panel of taxi company representatives and government ministers to discuss reforms in the sector.
Police and bomb disposal experts found no evidence of any explosive devices

A Russian group has claimed responsibility for the evacuation of thousands of school children across Europe after at least 20 schools received bomb threats on Tuesday.

A Twitter account going by the handle Evacuators 2K16 (@Ev4cuati0nSquad) said it was responsible for the international "mayhem".

In a message posted online, the group, which used a .ru domain name, asked users to send in details for the schools they wished to receive bomb threats.

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The profile said in its biography "we are six individuals based internationally and claimed support for the regime of Syria's Bashar al-Assad  a key ally of Russia in the Middle-East.

Tweets sent from the account specifically mentioned the West Midlands and Paris, two regions which saw a number of schools evacuated after receiving bomb threats.

Each post also made reference to SWATTING, a type of online harassment wherein emergency services are called to response to an address based on false information.

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Earlier today, fourteen bomb threats were made to schools in the UK.

Six of these were in the West Midlands, four in London and four in Cornwall.

Almost at the same time, six schools in central Paris were also evacuated after receiving similar threats.

It is also believed a school in Norway which received a bomb threat this morning is too linked to the groups claims.



The schools all received the same warning between 9:20 am and 11:20 am (GMT).

So far no devices have been found, according to multiple police reports.
What is it like to be a barbecue competition judge?

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By Anna Bard Brutzman

On Oct. 10, 1911, businesses shut down in Honea Path and scores of angry men carrying guns formulated a plan.

An 11-year-old girl who had been walking her cow to a pasture emerged muddy and dazed from a thicket of woods at 8 a.m. that morning. She accused a 17-year-old delivery boy, who was black, of assaulting and trying to rape her.

Officers later that morning tried to "spirit" the boy away to safety in Greenville County. Willis Jackson would be dead before midnight, lynched before a crowd of 5,000.

The case, which rested on the complicity of an entire town and the active involvement of a senior state legislator, never went to trial. It made headlines around the Southeast and drew criticism from papers in Charlotte, Spartanburg and Columbia. The then two-year-old NAACP took the story national through its magazine "The Crisis."

Today, few people know about the lynching. It's not mentioned in the town's official history, "Honea Path Milestones."

Anderson native Joey Oppermann first learned of it while visiting an exhibit in Atlanta with a college class more than seven years ago. He said he was surprised he'd never heard about it. Now an attorney, Oppermann said he hoped the incident's anniversary would spark discussion of the area's history, for bad and good.

"It's the desire to know what's hidden in your community," Oppermann said. "It's also knowing how your place fits into a larger national story."

Allen Ashley, whose great-great uncle, Joshua W. Ashley, was among the mob's leaders all those years ago, said the man's involvement was well known in the family. The victim, he said, was a neighbor.

"This is not the stuff that goes into history books," Allen Ashley said. "When they went into the jail they had on hoods. They were certain (Jackson) was guilty. She saw him and verified that he'd tried to rape her."

He said he heard the story again about six months ago from a man whose grandfather was at the lynching.

Such swift justice void of consequences, Clemson University history Professor Abel Bartley said, was a form of terrorism at the time. The Tuskegee Institute counted nearly 3,500 lynchings of blacks between 1882 and 1968, 156 of those in South Carolina.

Joshua Ashley served more than 20 years in the state Legislature. He was the author of the state's first law limiting the hours of labor. The 1920 tome "History of South Carolina" stated he "supported every cause safeguarding the real rights of people" and had "the power of argument to convince others that he was right."

Jackson worked at a meat market and made deliveries to the girl's home. Unnamed sources describe a man putting his hand over the girl's mouth and dragging her into the woods. He used a cow's rope to tie her up. But when he heard a buggy approaching, he let her go out of fright.

Four black men were brought before the girl within the next couple of hours, and she singled out Jackson.

The girl was not named in any of the newspaper accounts, though Allen Ashley said he knows who she was and where she lived. At the time, The Daily Mail reported that her condition was not thought to be "in any way dangerous" after the attack.

The Daily Mail covered the case in front page stories for three days with correspondents in Honea Path, Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg.

The race started when Anderson County Sheriff W.B. King, worried for Jackson's safety, ordered a local doctor to use his automobile ? relatively rare at the time ? to transport Jackson to a jail in Greenville. Leaders of a mob secured about 12 cars and followed.

Greenville County Sheriff Perry Poole got word of the coming mob and arranged to have Jackson transported again, this time to a jail in Spartanburg. Poole and an Anderson deputy, V.B. Martin, rode along.

"Within 10 minutes after the automobile bearing the negro had departed, a big Anderson touring car containing Josh Ashley and four other men steamed through Main Street," The Daily Mail reported. "The mud-bespattered occupants, upon being readily informed by Greenville citizens which way the negro had been carried, applied the power to their machines and dashed on."

Sheriff Poole's car, going 15 mph at most, got as far as Paris Station, and the mob was gaining. Hoping to avoid the mob, Poole and Martin decided to get out of the car with Jackson and hide in the woods, Martin would later tell The Daily Mail. Car and driver were sent back to Greenville.

Rep. Ashley was ready to give up the pursuit when he learned that the sheriff's driver had returned to Greenville.

"?Citizen' Josh clutched a Winchester rifle in his hands and eagerly inquired where the negro had been taken," The Daily Mail reported.

The armed mob headed for Paris Station and surrounded the officers.

"Sheriff Poole and Deputy Martin each took an arm of the negro and marched him to the machine of Mr. Ashley," The Daily Mail reported.

Martin sat next to Jackson until the mob dropped the deputy off in Belton, miles from the lynching. Martin told The Daily Mail that night he didn't think Jackson was guilty.

Once the mob reached Honea Path, the girl again identified Jackson. He was taken to the scene of the crime, made to confess, and then strung up by his left ankle from a telephone pole. Jackson begged for mercy until a single shotgun blast silenced him. A volley of shots from hundreds of guns followed.

The time was 11:25 p.m.

"The mob, after finishing the work in hand, dispersed quietly, and 30 minutes later not one was to be found near the scene," the paper reported.

Sheriff King and Coroner J.E. Beasley cut down Jackson's body the following morning. His fingers had been removed as souvenirs. Onlookers took home pieces of the rope that strung him up, too.

An inquest two days later produced no witnesses, the paper reported.

"It was impossible to learn the names of any who had witnessed the execution or had part in it, and a verdict in accordance to the facts was returned," the paper reported, "that the ?deceased came to his death from gunshot wounds at the hands of an unknown mob.'"

Citing "conditions in the South," the solicitor P.A. Bonham also told the paper that pursuing charges against the lynch mob would be pointless.

The Daily Mail even issued a clarification saying Rep. Joshua Ashley and his son, Joe, had not been involved in the lynching itself. Joe Ashley would be elected Anderson County sheriff in 1912.

In its November 1911 issue, the NAACP's "Crisis" magazine quoted then Gov. Coleman Blease saying he'd sooner resign than use his officer to deter such lynchings. The governor had contacted Anderson County's clerk of court, sheriff and a county judge the morning of the girl's assault to issue instructions.

"The whole point of lynching made no sense," Clemson's Bartley said. "The judge was white, the jury was white, the prosecutor was white. There was no chance he would get off if he committed a crime."

The Mosaic Theater in Anderson is staging "To Kill a Mockingbird" next month and director Rick Mascaro said he is using accounts of the Honea Path case to explain the link between the acclaimed novel and Anderson's own history.

"I always think about this case because the similarities are pretty striking," Mascaro said.

Bartley said the Honea Path story followed the narrative shared by most lynchings of the era ? black man assaults white woman and the community rises up to see to it justice is done. Historians have found no such rapes during the Civil War, Bartley said.

"Then right after the war, all of a sudden black men were raping women, when all these armed men were back home," Bartley said. "It made no sense. What they were doing was establishing the notion of white supremacy."

As part of Mascaro's production, Oppermann is playing the role of Atticus Finch, an attorney bent on defending a black man from the accusations of a white woman.

Atticus Finch and Joshua Ashley, he pointed out, were both state legislators, from Alabama and South Carolina respectively.

"The difference is," he said, "Atticus Finch tries to stop a lynching instead of lead it."
Margaret Mack of Belton reflects upon the day she was introduced as a teacher at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson. Mack taught English and was the first black teacher during integration.

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By Sarah Freishtat

This story has been corrected from its original version.

It was only after Margaret Mack retired as a teacher at T.L. Hanna High School that she began telling the story of her first day of work.

She went to the library to be introduced, like all new staff, to the other faculty members. She sat at a table by herself, patiently, while an administrator read through the long list of new teachers, finally reaching her name last.

"This is the way I was introduced," Mack said. "He said ? and I never tell who it was, I just say he was an administrator ? he said, ?Well, we've all known for a long time this day was going to happen. And it's here. And there she is. We don't want her here, but there's nothing we can do about it."

The administrator continued.

"?Well, if any of you all want to help her ...' And he never finished that statement," Mack said.

Mack was the first black classroom teacher the administrator had ever introduced at T.L. Hanna. It was 1968, and she was about to start teaching English at the formerly all-white school.

On Sept. 3, 1963 in Charleston, Jacqueline Ford and Millicent Brown became the first black students in South Carolina to attend an all-white school. Fifty years later, Mack, now 75, recalls what it was like to integrate a school in Anderson five years later.

Although Mack settled in quickly after her first year, things were not easy for her in the beginning, she said.

"I was really afraid," she said. "Because I grew up in Anderson, and I knew Andersonians. I went through the whole gamut of segregation during my years here."

She never sought to be a pioneer, she said, but the circumstances were right. She was the right age and had teaching experience. She had experience working in an all-white school in North Carolina, and she knew Anderson School District 5.

Mack was born in Anderson. She graduated valedictorian of her class at Westside High when it first opened as an all-black school in 1955, one year after the U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education had officially ended race-based school segregation.

"Most of the black schools, wherever you were in the South, were inferior," Mack said. " ... And when I say inferior, I'm talking about structure. Poorly built, poorly furnished, poorly equipped."

She spent time in Georgia, first at the historically black women's college Spelman in Atlanta and later teaching in Georgia and North Carolina, before returning to Anderson.

One spring break, Mack took her husband, Roy, also a teacher, to visit her old teachers at Westside. They ran into her old principal, Bowen Wakefield, and the next thing she knew, she and Roy both had jobs. Soon after that, when the school district mandated that two black teachers be sent to every white school and two white teachers be sent to every black school, she was selected to go to T.L. Hanna by herself.

Although there had been a black librarian at Concord Elementary School, Mack was the first black teacher to have a classroom mostly full of white students and parents, except for the 10-20 black students who attended Hanna during the school-choice program, where students could choose to attend a school outside their home zone for the sake of integration.

Mack was worried about her arrival at Hanna. She did not know if there would be violence, or if she would be accepted as a teacher. But Roy encouraged her to take the job, and she said.

"I thought, ?If they've got the confidence in me, I ought to give it a try,'" Mack said.

Her students never gave her trouble, except for the usual pranks students play, Mack said. It was the adults, she added, who gave her a hard time.

She remembered sitting in faculty meetings while school administrators discussed sending a white teacher from Hanna to teach at all-black schools, including her alma mater, Westside. They were very frank about how they felt about integration, she said.

"I'd go up the ramp in tears every day, and I'd try not to let anyone see those tears," Mack said.

But by her second year at the school, Mack was going to social outings and playing cards with her colleagues. And within five years, she was the English department chair.

Current Hanna principal Sheila Hilton was one of Mack's students, and has worked with Mack for Hilton's entire career. Now, Mack sits on the school district board, and continues to work with Hilton.

Hilton said Mack was strict and focused in the classroom, but could take a joke. She told her students they had to turn in their term papers by the deadline, even if that meant their funeral procession had to drop it off on the way to the cemetery. So her students borrowed a hearse and a coffin, and acted out a funeral procession on their way to turn in their papers.

As a colleague, Mack was a professional, a friend and a mentor.

"She's one of those people that commands such respect, I would never feel that way, that I was her boss," Hilton said.

While Mack won over her colleagues, she continued to have trouble with her students' parents. During one parent-teacher conference, the parents of her student refused to say a word to her the entire time. They wanted their child to be removed from Mack's class, but the administration would not allow it.

Now, Mack goes to see movies with her former students. At one outing, she told her student she wished she had gotten more involved in the civil rights movement.

"These things fell into my lap," she said. "I was in the right place at the right time."
If you've come here thinking this is to poke fun at a rad love charger this will be a good time to return. This is serious news. It is being written with a straight face and should be read with one.

Guru Ram Rahim Singh Insan has, once again, made the nation proud.

He has received an honorary doctorate degree from the UK-based World Records University. No, it's not for drawing an entire nation to the cinema halls for cinematic marvels like MSG and MSG -2 The Messenger. Although there should an award for that too.

Honored to receive PhD, Doctorate Degree from World Record University London in #Happy25Jan celebrations! pic.twitter.com/gGJEzAkLIY

 GURMEET RAM RAHIM (@Gurmeetramrahim) January 26, 2016





Before you say 'it keeps getting longer' and follow it up with 'that's what she said', Dr Guru Ram Rahim Singh Insan has won this award on merit. He has broken records sir, he has broken more records than attempted.

If you're wondering about the credibility of this University, you must realise that this is as legit as it could get. The UK-based World Records University is an autonomous university formed by the conglomeration of Record Books throughout the World, and is the only university to offer an honorary Doctorate to Record Holders / breakers Community. This honour is only reserved for only a handful of those who have accomplished a world or a national record. And Dr Guru Ram Rahim Singh Insan has broken all the records. Including locking up a comedian for imitating him. Because it's easy to impersonate, but very difficult to actually be. It is, however, a mere coincidence that the Indian office of World Record University is based out of Faridabad - Dera Sacha Sauda's headquarters aka Babaji's playground.

thecinecircle.com

Now if you were to call this university asking why such an honour went to such an honourable man, Rachna Sharma, the head of the university's Indian office would be happy to inform you that,"Ram Rahim has 53 world records in various categories, out of which 17 are Guinness records, 27 are Asia Book records, 7 India Book records and 2 are Limca records. Basically, Babaji's personality is an all-round one, which we considered. In the five years of India operations, the university has awarded around 100 Indians so far."

If you take a look at some of the records he's broken you'd know what separates a mortal from Dr. Guru Ram Rahim Singh Insan. There are records like -

Most people in a selfie.

Largest number of people dancing on a film launch.

Receiving most handmade greeting cards.

Largest poster for film promotion.

Most people wearing Rakhi together.

Most people saluting together.

Most people waving wearing wrist bands.

Largest blood donation camps.

Largest eye camp.

For those wondering why none of these awards were set/broken Ram Rahim alone, it is because he doesn't like to do things alone. Obviously.

ibtimes

Congrats babaji! May you keep shining like a star that you are. As for World Record University, only one thing remains to be said - 'Drugs na lena re, drugs na lena'.

Sorry Shaktiman!
Agencies are reporting that an Indian Air Force jet 'accidently' dropped 5 live bombs over Gugdi in Barmer, Rajasthan.

Though explosions were heard over the region of 10 Km radius, there were no casualties reported. This incident comes at a time when the entire nation was celebrating its 67th Republic Day and security forces are being extra cautious over any untoward incident.

#SpotVisuals Five bombs accidentally drop from a fighter plane over Gugdi (Barmer, Rajasthan). No casualties. pic.twitter.com/dSrceNnJKg  ANI (@ANI_news) January 26, 2016

The Air Force has already begun its investigations into the episode and a team is on its way there.
It's easy for us to sit at home in front of our TV screens and laud the efforts of our defence personnel. But those who actually give the supreme sacrifice never get their due.

One of such heroes is Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, a Special Forces Commando of the Army who laid down his life while battling militants in Handwara in September last year. Before he died he had eliminated 10 militants in a short span of 11 days before making the supreme sacrifice in Kashmir.

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"In the last 11 days, he was actively involved in three counter-terrorism operations in the Kashmir Valley in which 10 terrorists have been eliminated and one captured alive," Udhampur-based Defence Spokesman Colonel S D Goswami had said then.

For his efforts and sacrifice, he will be awarded with the Ashok Chakra today during the republic day parade.

The spokesman said Lance Naik Goswami volunteered to join the elite Para Commando outfit of the Army in 2002 and went on to gain the reputation of being one of the toughest soldiers of his unit - "no small feat in an outfit that boasts of being one among the best in the world".

The Lance Naik volunteered for all operational missions undertaken by his unit and was a part of numerous successful counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The first operation was conducted in Khurmur, Handwara, on August 23. The operation resulted in elimination of three hardcore LeT terrorists of Pakistan origin.

indian defence forum

"He volunteered for a second back to back operation in Rafiabad, Kashmir. The operation was conducted over two days on August 26 and 27. It witnessed a fierce gunfight that led to the elimination of three more LeT terrorists," the spokesman had said.

He said Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Sajjad Ahmad alias Abu Ubaidullah, resident of Muzzafargarh, Pakistan was captured alive in this operation. "The apprehension of a terrorist has proved to be a shot in the arm to prove Pakistan's complicity in abetting terrorism in J&K," he added.

Lance Naik Goswami once again volunteered to be part of an operation launched in the dense Hafruda forest near Kupwara. "This proved to be his last operation but not before elimination of four terrorists in a heavy gunbattle," the spokesman said.

A true soldier, Lance Naik Goswami breathed his last in action. "The mortal remains of this brave heart commando have been flown by an IAF aircraft to his home town in Bareilly. They will be taken by Army helicopter to Pant Nagar and onward to his native place where he will be cremated with full military honour," he said.

Lance Naik Goswami was a resident of Village Indira Nagar, Haldwani in Nainital. He is survived by wife and a seven-year-old daughter.
Follow us on government examines coastal economic zones to boost manufacturing

New Delhi: Government is planning to create coastal economic zones along the country's 7,500-km long coastline covering many states, ports and special economic zones having uniform policy to further boost manufacturing.

"There is a thinking in the government that there should be a port-led development as was done in China where cities were granted special status of open coastal cities. These cities enjoyed special policies of the government," a senior official told PTI.

Though India has many ports, there is no cluster or a section of coastline that enjoys special status and incentives.

However, there are special economic zones (SEZ) where investors can set up their manufacturing base and get incentives like tax exemption, speedy regulatory clearance, round the clock power and security.

"SEZ's have made a difference, but we want to create coastal economic zones where investor will be provided host of incentives and facilities uniformly across many town, cities, ports and states," the official said.

Elaborating further he said: "Like in China, these zones would attract investment as well as workforce to create facilities to manufacture not only for domestic production but for exports in large quantities. That is what China did."

The idea is, however, at the conceptual stage. After firming up the proposal, the ambitious plan could be announced by the Prime Minister himself like in the case of 'Make in India', the official said.

In the present scenario, these coastal economic zones could come up in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The official said: "India has not exploited its potential and capacity to manufacture and export world over. The country has required workforce and ports. Once the proposal firms up then investment is not a big issue.

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Follow us on rekha conferred with 3rd national yash chopra memorial award

Mumbai: Veteran actress Rekha was honoured with the Yash Chopra Memorial Award on Monday evening in Mumbai for her contribution to the film industry.

The award has been instituted by the T.S.R. Foundation of T Subbarami Reddy in the memory of the producer-director, who died in 2012.

"Am honoured to be bestowed this award in Yash ji's memory. Yash ji thought me how to love & I am eternally grateful for the memories & films that I have had the privilege to be a part of.

"I can only say that this is not the climax, this is only the best phase of my life and there is a lot more to come. What I learnt from Yash ji is that if you love someone then you should love with alll your heart so that there is no scope of loving anything else," Rekha said.

The Foundation annually honours a distinguished senior film personality for outstanding contribution to film industry with a Gold Medal and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.

Rekha, 61, who worked with Chopra in 1981 romance "Silsila", will be given the honour on February 2 next year by the Governor of Maharashtra in a glittering ceremony in Mumbai.

Previous recipients include Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar and megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

The Jury constituted to zero in on this year's awardee comprised of such highly-regarded names as Pamela Chopra, Simi Garewal, Boney Kapoor, Jayaprada, Pinki Reddy and Reddy himself as its Chairman and they unanimously decided that the 3rd Award should go to the actress par-excellence Padma Shri Rekha Ganeshan.

Among the celebrity guests included Ranveer Singh, David Dhawan, Poonam Dhillon, Pamela Chopra, Jaya Prada, Adnan Sami, Mohan babu, Gulshan Grover and many others.

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Follow us on ashok chakra awarded posthumously to lance naik nath goswami

New Delhi: Nath Goswami of the Special Forces, who took part in back-to-back operations in Jammu and Kashmir which resulted in killing of 10 terrorists in 11 days before being martyred, was today posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, the country's highest peacetime gallantry award, by President Pranab Mukherjee.

The award was received by Bhavna Goswami, widow of Goswami, at the country's 67th Republic Day.

Goswami was killed at Hafruda forests in Kupwara district in fierce gunbattle with terrorists, but not before he killed two himself and helped in killing another two.

Army sources said Goswami had been actively involved in three such operations in which ten terrorists were killed and one, captured alive in 11 days.

In the first operation, three Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in Khurmur, Handwara on August 23.

Then, he again volunteered for a second back-to-back operation in which three more Lashkar terrorists were killed and another Sajjad Ahmad alias Abu Ubed Ullah captured alive during the two day-long fierce fire fight in Rafiabad on August 26-27.

Goswami once again volunteered to be part of an ongoing operation launched in the dense Hafruda forest near Kupwara, Kashmir.

This was his last operation but not before he killed two terrorists.

According to the citation, at about 8.15 pm on September 2, there was a fierce encounter with four terrorists wherein two of his comrades were injured and pinned down.

He, along with his buddy, dashed forward to rescue their injured colleagues, knowing well the risks to their own lives.

"He first assisted in eliminating one terrorist. Sensing grave danger to three of his wounded colleagues, Lance Naik Mohan with utter disregard to his own personal safety, charged at the remaining terrorists drawing intense fire from them.

"He was hit in the thigh. Unmindful, he closed in and eliminated one terrorist, injured another and was again shot in the abdomen. Undeterred by his injuries, he hurled himself on the last terrorist and killed him at point blank range before succumbing to his wounds," the citation read.

Goswami not only killed two terrorists, but also assisted in neutralising the other two and save the lives of three of his wounded colleagues.

He was awarded Ashoka Chakra (posthumous) for exhibiting most conspicuous gallantry in personally eliminating two terrorists and assisting in evacuation of his wounded colleagues.

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Follow us on delhi turns into fortress for republic day

New Delhi: A multi-layer security blanket has been thrown around the national capital on Republic Day eve with anti-aircraft guns and light machine guns (LMG) positioned at vantage points in view of intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the national capital.

In fact, the cover will be so dense that every 20 metres will have a policeman. And these policemen will have orders to shoot if they spot suspicious activity around Rajpath, said sources.

As many as 1,000 snipers along with 49,000 security personnel under the close watch of 15,000 CCTV cameras will guard the capital on the Republic Day to ensure a safe visit of the chief guest, French President Francois Hollande.

Gunners have been given clear instructions to bring down any aerial object flying without permission. A 'NOTAM' (Notice to Airmen) has been declared from 10.35 am to 12.15 pm during which no flights will land or take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Special arrangements have been made at the historic Rajpath where President Pranab Mukherjee, who is the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, will be witnessing nation's military might that will be on display.

The hotel where the French president is staying and areas around the airport from where he will leave on Tuesday evening have been sanitised by central forces.

French President Francois Hollande, who is the Chief Guest of this year's Republic Day, will be seated along with Mr Mukherjee and host of VVIPs including Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As a precautionary measure, LMGs have been positioned at 10 vantage points along the route which the parade will take.

"Specially trained police personnel with light machine guns have been deployed at 10 strategic spots in New Delhi area," a senior police official said.

Besides the entire might of Delhi Police, personnel from paramilitary forces have also been pressed into security duty service.

Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, central security agencies and NIA busted a module by arresting 14 members of a terror group which was taking diktats from banned terror group ISIS. The group had planned to carry out sensational strikes at important installations and its members had also visited the national capital, official sources said.

The senior official said that sniper had been put on 45 buildings overlooking Rajpath besides providing a similar cover along all the buildings along the parade route.

Meanwhile, the airspace will remain out of bounds for commercial flights arriving and departing out of the IGI airport between 10.35 am and 12.15 pm tomorrow. Around 60 arrivals and departures take place at the IGI airport during this period, for which the notice was issued by the Airports Authority of India.

As many as 1000 traffic officials have been issued revolvers so that they can deal with any untoward incident amid heavy security arrangements across the city involving around 25,000 police officials.

"We are coordinating with central security forces and adequate security arrangements have been made," Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said.

(PTI)

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Follow us on india displays military precision glimpses of heritage at majestic r day parade

New Delhi: Over the years, the Republic Day parade in the national capital has come to be associated with an equal mix of military precision and a glimpse of the country's diverse cultural heritage and so it was on Tuesday - except that everything this year was rather business-like and minimalistic.

The display of military prowess was without flourish. President Pranab Mukherjee took the salute from an enclosed podium on the magnificent Rajpath boulevard as the chief guest on the occasion, French President Francois Hollande, looked on at the passing men and machines of the services.

For the first time, a contingent from the French 35th Infantry Regiment - elements of which had served in India in 1781-84 - was given the honour of leading the marching contingents and it performed with panache, preceded by a pipes and drums band and saluting in a rather unusual style with the right hand held straight across the chest.

The celebrations began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi - dressed in a brown bandgalla suit and sporting a saffron Gujarati turban - driving to the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial to the Unknown Soldier at India Gate and laying a wreath in honour of the countless Indian soldiers who have died in battles since World War I.

Modi then drove up to the saluting base to receive Mukherjee and the visiting French president.

The President's Bodyguard presented the national salute, the tricolour was unfurled and the national anthem was played to set the tone for a rather poignant moment - the posthumous presentation of the Ashok Chakra, the country's highest gallantry award in peacetime. It was presented this year to the widow of Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of the Parachute Regiment, who laid down his life while fighting terrorists in the Kashmir Valley last Septmeber.

The emotion on Mukherjee's face was visible as he presented the medal and the citation to Goswami's widow.

The French contingent apart, there was much that was different this time around. The armoured element was bare-boned - just the T-90 Bhishma main battle tank and the BMP infantry combat vehicle - the marching contingents were fewer, as were the massed bands.

Then, instead of a marching continent of ex-servicemen, there was a tableau dedicated to them in the first part of the parade, an army dog squad with handlers made an appearance after 26 years, and the camel-mounted troopers of the Border Security Force brought up the rear of the parade's military element.

Still, there were the perennials, most notably soldiers of the Parachute Regiment trotting down in quick time in full battle gear, tableaux and marching contingents of the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, and also a representation of the central paramilitary forces like the CRPF and the Assam Rifles.

There was, of course, the stirring martial music: AJai BharatiA, AGalaxy RidersA, ADesh Hamara Anmol HaiA, AVijay BharatA, ADeshon Ka Sartaj BharatA, AKadam Kadam Badhaye JaA and AAssam Rifles Ka Sipahi Desh Ka Shan BadhayeA, to mention just a few.

But, in another break with tradition, the young recipients of the National Awards for Bravery came up towards the end, followed by the children's pageant, a daredevil motorcycle display by the Corps of Signals, and a grand flypast by fighters, heavy-lift transports and helicopters of the Indian Air Force.

In between all this were the tableaux, 23 of them, representing 17 states and six central ministries, showcasing among others the government's flagship Digital India and Swachh Bharat initiatives.

The tableaux, presenting India's varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage, came as a welcome relief as they showcased the country's progress in different spheres. What particularly caught the eye were floats from Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam but one surely what the Central Public Works Department offers year after year - fully fabricated out of flowers and depicting a variety of themes.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the three service chiefs, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, cabinet ministers, a host of dignitaries and a group of women achievers seated in a special enclosure were on hand to witness the hour-and-half long parade.

As the event ended, the stands quickly emptied out, with many perhaps wondering what Beating Retreat ceremony on Saturday, the precision display by the massed bands of the three services which brings the Republic Day celebrations to a close, would have in store.

Here are the highlights of the Republic day celebration

After a gap of 26 years, an Army dog squad drawn from the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) will also take part, along with their handlers

Trishul formation by air force

Motor cycle display team of Corps of Signals, popularly known as the Dare Devils

Dance representing everlasting sparkle of national river NirmalGanga

Songi Mukhota dance of Maharashtra

Panchayati Raj Tableau

Swachh Bharat Tableau

Election Commission Tableau

Tableau from Bihar

Tableau from Rajasthan

Tableau from West Bengal

BSF and Pak rangers official exchange sweets

#Brahmos WPN system goes past the saluting base

#Akash Weapon System of 27 Air Defence Regiment led by Major Neha Singh.

Close-up of the French contingent marching in the parade

The Akash Weapon System of 27 Air Defence Regiment led by Major Neha Singh.

Major Neha Singh leads Defence Regiment

President Pranab Mukherjee, Francois Hollande arrive at Rajpath

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave President Mukherjee and Hollande a warm welcome as they arrived at the main viewing gallery along Rajpath.

President Hollande is the chief guest for the 67th Republic Day celebrations.

President Pranab Mukherjee, French President Francois Hollande, and Vice President Hamid Ansari have left Rashtrapati Bhavan for Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath.

PM pays tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh hoists national flag at his residence in Delhi

Google's Republic Day Tribute

Renowned Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik too created a sand art on the occasion of India's 67th Republic Day today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended Republic Day greetings to the Nation

PM Modi took to Twitter early this morning paying tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar, the father of India's constitution.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat hoists national flag at Nagpur

Meanwhile, BJP President Amit Shah hoisted the national flag at party headquarters in Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee offers warm greetings to people of India and Australia

Latest India News
Follow us on syrian under goa police lens over isis threat letter

Panaji: Three foreign nationals have been detained, one of them a Syrian in connection with a letter threatening to harm Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as security was stepped up at vital establishments and crowded places in Goa.

A Syrian national, whose identity was not disclosed, was detained last night and he is being questioned, Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg told reporters today when asked about progress in the threat letter case.

The letter, received at the State Secretariat on January 13, had "ISIS" written on it and threatened to harm Modi and also Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Sympathisers of the terror outfit are suspected to be involved in radicalising youth in India.

"His(Syrian national) visa has expired and he has been overstaying," Garg added.

Two more foreigners - from Yemen and Nigeria - were taken into custody from a casino last night and are being interrogated separately, said another police official, adding they were staying in the State after expiry of their visas.

Meanwhile, vigil at key establishments and crowded places has been stepped up in Goa, which saw additional rush of domestic tourists over the weekend due to Republic Day holiday.

"The Government is concerned about security of citizens and is taking all measures required," Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters on the margins of an event here.

"Superintendents of Police of both districts (South and North Goa) have reviewed security around vital establishments under their jurisdiction. Gun-wielding policemen have been posted at at these places," another officer said.

Police have increased surveillance at the beaches, churches, temples and other popular tourist spots, he said.

Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) Bosco George said security of VIPs has also been revamped.

"We requested Parrikar to accept 'Z' plus security cover while in Goa and he has agreed. Parrikar was moving around without 'Z' plus security cover in Goa (his home state) during his visits," George said.

Police have also intensified night patrolling, he said.

Latest India News
Follow us on beijing to spend 2.57 billion to improve air quality

Beijing: Beijing will earmark 16.5 billion yuan ($2.57 billion) to improve air quality in 2016, sources with the Beijing environment authorities said on Sunday.

The funds will be used to cut back on coal use and eliminate outmoded vehicles in the capital, Xinhua reported.

The average density of PM2.5, airborne particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, in Beijing last year declined by 6.2 percent year on year, statistics with the Beijing Environment Protection Bureau show.

Beijing aims for a year-on-year drop of five percent in its average PM2.5 reading in 2016.

The city government has promised to remove 200,000 high-emission vehicles from the roads and promote the use of clean energy in 400 villages this year.

In December last year, Beijing had twice issued its red alert for air pollution. The city government had limit vehicles on roads, banned fireworks and outdoor barbecue as an emergency response to heavy pollution.

Citizens were advised to reduce outdoor activities and kindergartens, primary and middle schools were expected to suspend classes during the alert.

Beijing issued its first ever red alert for air pollution on December 7, when PM 2.5 reached the top of the scale at 500.

Latest World News
Follow us on cameroon suicide bombings kills 35

Yaounde: At least 35 people were killed and 60 injured in five suicide bomb attacks in Cameroon's Far North Region on Monday.

One army source told Xinhua five women who pretended to be vegetable vendors detonated the bombs hidden in their vegetable baskets at around 11.30 a.m. on Monday in Bodo, a town in Far North Region, killing at least 35 people, including themselves, and injuring 60.

The attacks were suspected to be made by Nigerian Islamic sect Boko Haram who has started to attack Cameroon since 2013, leaving over 1000 people killed.

Latest World News
Follow us on will not visit india until blockade is lifted nepal pm

Kathmandu: Raising a question-mark over his visit to India next month, Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on Tuesday said it will not be appropriate for him to visit New Delhi as long as a blockade of the Nepal-India border continues.

A now more than five-month-old snti-Constitution protest by Madhesis in the southern Nepali Terai has led to a blockading of a major portion of the 1,868-m open border that the landlocked Himalayan nation has with its southern neighbour.

Most of the 41 transit and customs points along the southern portion of this open border have been besieged by the Madhesi protestors who are demanding, among others, a redrawing of the boundaries of the provinces in Nepal as proposed in the new Constitution -- promulgated on September 20 last year; and representation in Parliament on the basis of population.

Significantly, the Nepal Terai has almost 51 percent of the country's population and yet gets only one-third of seats in Parliament.

The Madhesis also seek proportional representation in government jobs and restoration of rights granted to them in the interim constitution of 2007 which the new charter has snatched away.

An India visit by Oli, the first foreign tour by him after assuming the office, is likely to take place in late February with preparations apace, according to reports in the Nepali media.

But the leftist premier, who has assumed an ultra-nationalist posture and shown unwillingness to meet the grievances of the Madhesi protestors, has often declared his resolve not to visit New Delhi till the agitation in the Terai was over.

In an interaction with senior editors at his residence here on Tuesday, Oli expressed the hope that the blockade at key Nepal-India entry points will be lifted within a couple of days.

He also reiterated that he will not visit India until the situation in the Nepali Terai normalises.

"I believe in friendship between friends, political honesty among friends and upon my confidence... I am hopeful that the embargo at border points will be lifted," Oli declared.

Nepal is falling severely short of fuel, essential supplies, medicines and other stuff due to the prolonged blockading of the border customs points by Madhesi protestors.

India has been urging Kathmandu to reach out to the discontented sections in the Nepal Terai as soon as possible.

Unnerved by the prolonged Madhesi agitation, the ruling major-Left coalition as also the main opposition Nepali Congress last week approved two amendments to the four-month-old Constitution partly meeting the demands of the agitating Madhesis.

Also last week, the government launched an ambitious NRs.5 billion Border Area Development Programme (BADP) in the south-eastern Nepali Mahottari district.

The five-year development programme shall initially target the development of proposed province number 2 -- the heartland of the ongoing Madhesi agitation -- and will seek to create physical and social infrastructures in the region that borders southern neighbour India.

The region chosen for the programme has villages and towns bordering India. It has been lagging behind in life expectancy, literacy and per capita income values as compared to other regions of the country.

Oli told the senior editors that his government had fulfilled demands of the agitating parties. "There is no question why the embargo will not be lifted," he said.

However, the Madhesi Morcha spearheading the agitation on Monday rejected the amendments to the statute and announced a fresh agitation programme besides calling for a broader alliance among all forces in the Terai-Madhes region.

The agitating four-party alliance, at a meeting here on Monday, resolved that the stir would continue until their demands were met by the ruling elite in Kathmandu.

The Madhesi Morcha later asserted that their struggle would continue till all their demands were met in a package. The meet also demanded the setting up of a high-level judicial panel to probe the numerous instances of killings by the state in the Terai.

In its fresh programme, the Morcha has announced candlelight vigil at district headquarters on Wednesday as a tribute to those killed during the protests; regional assemblies on Saturday to inform people about the latest political developments; and interactions with professionals, intellectuals, labourers and traders on Monday next about the Morcha's agenda.

Latest World News
Follow us on ttp s leader mullah fazlullah executed in joint operation report

Dubai: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's (TTP) leader Mullah Fazlullah, the mastermind behind the Peshawar school massacre that killed 148 people including schoolchildren, along with the commander Qari Hedayatullah, were reportedly killed in an air strike in Afghanistan.

As per the reports by a Dubai's leading daily, Fazlullah was assassinated during a joint-operation of Pakistan army and US-led forces in Afghanistan. This execution is being touted as a big blow' that will break the back of TTP terrorists.

Although no official statement has been issued till yet, confirming Fazlullah's death, but the source that has made this revelation is said to be highly reliable. The source has also claimed that the big news' will be soon made public.

However, the killing of Taliban commander Hedayatullah has been confirmed by an Afghan News agency on its Twitter feed.

This joint operation was conducted when Raheel Sharif, Pakistan Army Chief General rushed to Afghanistan immediately after the school massacre on Friday and demanded Afghan government to take action against TTP's most feared leader.

The army chief shared intelligence details with the Afghan officials which showed Fazlullah giving directives to terrorists from his hideout in Afghanistan.

Pak President Mamnoon Hussain had said, Peshawar tragedy has united the nation and people are now seeking the complete elimination of terrorists to make the country safe.

PM Nawaz Sharif was informed about the joint operation on Saturday, sources said.

Latest World News


Question : Dear Kryon: I live in Spain. I am sorry if I will ask you a question you might have already answered, but the translations of your books are very slow and I might not have gathered all information you have already given. I am quite concerned about abandoned animals. It seems that many people buy animals for their children and as soon as they grow, they set them out somewhere. Recently I had the occasion to see a small kitten in the middle of the street. I did not immediately react, since I could have stopped and taken it, without getting out of the car. So, I went on and at the first occasion I could turn, I went back to see if I could take the kitten, but it was to late, somebody had already killed it. This happened some month ago, but I still feel very sorry for that kitten. I just would like to know, what kind of entity are these animals and how does this fit in our world. Are these entities which choose this kind of life, like we do choose our kind of Human life? I see so many abandoned animals and every time I see one, my heart aches... I would like to know more about them.



Answer: Dear one, indeed the answer has been given, but let us give it again so you all understand. Animals are here on earth for three (3) reasons.



(1) The balance of biological life. . . the circle of energy that is needed for you to exist in what you call "nature."



(2) To be harvested. Yes, it's true. Many exist for your sustenance, and this is appropriate. It is a harmony between Human and animal, and always has. Remember the buffalo that willingly came into the indigenous tribes to be sacrificed when called? These are stories that you should examine again. The inappropriateness of today's culture is how these precious creatures are treated. Did you know that if there was an honoring ceremony at their death, they would nourish you better? Did you know that there is ceremony that could benefit all of humanity in this way. Perhaps it's time you saw it.



(3) To be loved and to love. For many cultures, animals serve as surrogate children, loved and taken care of. It gives Humans a chance to show compassion when they need it, and to have unconditional love when they need it. This is extremely important to many, and provides balance and centering for many.
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The federal government appears to be prepared for a long-drawn battle with leading telecoms player, MTN, as it has rejected the firms offer of out of court settlement over the $3.4 billion fine slammed on it last October.

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, had in October of 2015 imposed a record $5.2 billion file on MTN Nigeria for failing to disconnect about 5.1 million unregistered lines from its network, but later reduced it to $3.4 billion after high-level discussions.

Apparently dissatisfied with the fine reduction, MTN took the Nigerian government to court.

However, the company on Friday issued a statement, saying it would now settle the case with the government out of court.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja Tuesday where he unveiled the new ICT road map for 2016-2020, the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, said the federal government was not aware of any out of court settlement over the fine.

We are not aware of any out of court settlement on the issue. We will not accept out of court settlement until MTN willingly discontinue the case, Adebayo said.

The Minister noted that by going to court, the telecoms firm, which had a deadline of December 31, 2015 to pay up the fine, just wanted to buy time.

He insisted that the federal government would slug it out with the company to the final point.
The Founder and General Overseer of the Household of God Church, Pastor Chris Okotie, has called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari as he continues to clean up the corruption he inherited from the Peoples Democratic Party.

Okotie, a three-time presidential candidate, described Buhari as the epitome of transparency and discipline, noting that his attitude had rubbed off on the armed forces, which he said had become more effective in the fight against insurgency.

The clergyman also described the 16-year rule of the PDP at the centre as the government of the corrupt, by the corrupt and for the corrupt.

More than at any time in our history, we need discipline in the armed forces. And, thank God we have an ex-general, who is an epitome of discipline and transparency, in power. I urge Nigerians to support his anti-corruption campaign which aims to rid this country of PDPs legacy of a government of the corrupt, by the corrupt, and for the corrupt.
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State yesterday threw his weight behind President Muhammadu Buharis anti-corruption campaign.

He gave his endorsement in a chat with State House correspondents after meeting Mr. Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Emmanuel noted that the anti-corruption campaign deserved the support of all Nigerians, saying the campaign was fantastic.

The governor, however, said the anti-corruption war needed effective institutional structures that would enable the system run smoothly.

Gov. Emmanuel said: If we must move forward as a country, we must tackle corruption. I believe its essential to put in place strong institutional structures to fight corruption, to set up structures that would enable systems to run effective without interference. All hands must be on desk in fighting corruption.

When were talking about corruption, well start looking round. Why cant we start looking at ourselves?

Lets start from even you as a person. What is corruption? Its not only when money exchanges hands that is corruption. Somebody trying to influence an unjust cause; its corruption one way or the other.

Corruption is a broad concept: If you gave N10 at hand and youre not honest about it, you will never be honest about it when you have N10 million at hand. So, corruption has a lot of ramifications; it is not in terms of the magnitude.

It is core value system that really needs to be analyzed. We strongly support the fight against corruption. All the governors in Nigeria are waging the same war in their different domains, trying to set up structures, trying to see how we can minimise, at least, if it is not possible to deal with it overnight.

But at least we must deal with corruption, even to the barest minimum.
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Relations has concluded preliminary investigations into the alleged diversion of N1tn by the immediate past Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde. Here are 5 things you need to know about the Senates call for his arrest as out together by INFORMATION NIGERIA.

1. Lamorde is being investigated by the Senate panel following a petition by one George Uboh, who accused him of diverting about N1tn proceeds of corruption recovered by the EFCC, over a period of time.

2. The Senate Committee has sumoned the ex-EFCC boss to appear physically before it on three occasions which he ignored on all three occassions.

3. Lamordes lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, threatened legal action if the committee remained adamant that his client must appear in person to react to allegations contained in a petition against him, having left office as the anti-graft agencys boss.

4. The counsel subsequently dragged the Senate and three others before the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, to stop the upper chamber from summoning Lamorde.

5. In response to this the Senate Committee chairman said that they have not received any injunction from the court restraining them from doing their duty as far as the matter is concerned and that if the Senate deems it fit to issue a warrant of arrest against him, it will be determined at plenary during the consideration of our interim report.
The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Governor Ayodele Fayoses threat to bring down the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as treasonable.

The party, therefore, urged security agencies not to underestimate the governor, saying Fayose made the latest threat because he got away with alleged impunity of the past.

Governor Fayose was reported to have said at a forum at the weekend that Buharis government would be brought down should anything untoward happen to him (Fayose).

In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, APC urged security agents to protect the integrity of the Constitution being challenged by Fayoses alleged seditious remarks, which constitute a threat to the nations democracy.

Mr. Olatunbosun further accused Fayose of recruiting 10 thugs in each of the 16 local government areas for training in Ifaki with Toyota Hilux vans allegedly put at their disposal for undisclosed purposes.

He also lampooned the governor, saying he must have been acting under psychological stress that had denied him emotional sanity.

The APC spokesman said the governor was also being haunted by his sordid past, stressing that the partys call for an investigation into the latest outburst by Mr. Fayose to bring down the Buhari administration could not have been empty.

APC said: We want to appeal to Nigerians around the world to see Fayose as a special breed with a special case of psychosis among Ekiti people; so, he should be treated as a special man whose actions should not be equated to Ekiti standard of behaviour.

Even with his special condition of mental torture, which requires psychiatric management, we shall still urge the security agencies to watch the governor over his subversive activities within and outside the country and to act now to bring him under the law to account for his actions.

We had alerted security agencies that Fayose stockpiled arms in the Government House with hundreds of criminals already trained in arms handling. The arms and ammunition are still there.

We are telling the security agencies again with all sense of responsibility that Fayose is currently recruiting 10 thugs from each of the 16 local government areas to assemble at a training facility in Ifaki-Ekiti.

Who he wants to attack with armed thugs, we dont know; but we know he has already made Hilux vans available to them for initial operations.

Nigerians and security agencies should note that as our son, who we know very well, Fayose cannot survive in a society where the law works. He knows he cant survive his criminal past, including his election fraud, with a decent President like Muhammadu Buhari. That is why he will never wish the President and Nigerians well in their hope of getting an accountable leader to put smiles on their faces.

Put Fayose where he naturally belongs and Ekiti people will know peace. As such, he needs a world clearly outside of Ekiti world of Omoluabi credo, where he can survive with his volatile temperament and lawless conduct.

He was well fit into the last administrations scheme, which thrived on lawlessness. That is why he invaded the court with thugs to beat up a judge and tore court records in the Chief Judges office and nothing happened except thunderous ovation and thumps-up in the Presidency.

He shut 19 lawmakers out of the state and used seven lawmakers to pass the budget and impeach the Speaker in the House of Assembly of 26 members and Goodluck Jonathans Presidency hooted in celebration of an accomplished thug being unleashed on the integrity of the nations constitution on the altar of political expediency.
The Federal Government on Monday welcomed the global endorsement of its anti-corruption campaign, describing it as an incentive to continue with the fight, which it said must be won for the nation to achieve sustainable growth and development.

The FG said the acknowledgement of the efforts of President Muhammadu Buharis administration by the US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last week, was commendable.

The Federal Government is delighted that the anti-corruption war being led by President Muhammadu Buhari has been acknowledged and applauded on a global stage.

It is particularly gratifying that in that speech, Mr. Kerry made the link between corruption and terrorism. We agree that corruption is indeed a radicalizer because it destroys faith in legitimate authority. Let me remind you, gentlemen, that radicalization is a key causative factor of terrorism, the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said during a meeting with newsmen in Lagos.

The minister announced that he would flag off a series of town hall meetings across the country to take the sensitization campaign, which he launched in Abuja last Monday, directly to Nigerians, in addition to using the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the relevant units of the ministry to reach every part of the country.

According to Mr. Mohammed, government was aware that when one fights corruption, corruption also fights back.

We know that those who stole us dry are powerful. They have newspapers, radio and television stations and an army of supporters to continuously deride the governments war against corruption. But we are undaunted and will not relent until corruption is also decimated, he said.

The Minister blamed the endemic poverty in the country on the scourge of corruption, pointing out that whereas Nigerias national budget has increased from just over 900 billion Naira in 1999 to over 6 trillion Naira in 2016, poverty has also increased almost by the same proportion.

The reason is not far-fetched: appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of a few looters, he said.

He minister continued: When the money meant to construct roads are looted, the end result is that the roads are not built and the people suffer and even die in avoidable road accidents. When the money meant to provide electricity is looted, we all are perpetually sentenced to darkness. When the money meant for healthcare is pocketed by a few, we are unable to reduce maternal and infant mortality. These are the costs of corruption.

Mr. Mohammed also made a comparative analysis of the number of beneficiaries of the $2.1 billion arms deal fraud popularly called Dasukigate and the amount they collected from the office of the National Security Adviser in 2015 on one hand, and the list of projects and amount of funds deployed across the nation in the Zonal Intervention project of 2015 appropriation act.

Whereas the sum of N51.829 bn was appropriated for 1,278 projects in the Zonal Intervention Projects for 2015, a total of 21 individuals and companies benefited from the fraud to the tune of N54.659 bn as we know so far. The implication is that the amount received by 21 individuals and companies is more than the 2015 Zonal Intervention Project budget by N2.829 bn.

Furthermore, the value of what beneficiaries of Dasukigate contributed to development is zero, compared to how the lives of Nigerians would have been transformed, poverty reduced and livelihoods improved by the projects which  as we have shown  would have cost N2.829 bn less than the Dasukigate fraud, the minister said.

He said contrary to speculation in some quarters that the government was dwelling too much on the war against corruption to the detriment of other areas of governance, the time spent on eradicating the menace cannot be too much.

The situation is very grim indeed, as far as corruption is concerned. That is why the Federal Government is embarking on this sensitization campaign. Our approach  which is to count the cost of corruption  is not to vilify anyone but to use facts and figures to give Nigerians a sense of what corruption has done to their lives, the minister said.
Trial opened on Monday at the Federal high Court, Abuja in the money laundering charge against the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, with the prosecution calling two of its planned 18 witnesses.

The first witness, Nneka Ararume, an employee of Asset and Resource Management (ARM) Company Limited, who admitted she collected $2million cash from Metuh in his house at the Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja, in one day.

Ararume, a Wealth Manager at ARM, said she collected the cash from the PDP spokesman on December 2, 2014 with an instruction to invest the money in the name of his company  Destra Investments Limited.

The witness, who said she was assigned to manage Destra Investments Limiteds funds with ARM, said she later converted the $2million naira with the help of two Bureau De Change operators.

Led in evidence by the lead prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, the witness said: Metuh gave me the sum of $2million in $100 bills. It was taken to Bureau De Change operators who would then transfer the money to ARM. From there (Metuhs house), I proceeded to Sie Iyenomes office at Wuse 2 where I gave him the sum of $1million.

I also invited Mr. Kabir Mohammed and I also gave him the sum of $1million to transfer the naira equivalent in favour of Destra Investment Limited. Later on the same day, December 2, 2014 Kabir and Sie Iyenome confirmed the receipt.

The defence also sought an adjournment after Ararume completed her testimony.

Under cross-examination by the defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Ararume said Destra, owned by Metuh, had been ARMs client before she was employed by the financial services company in April 2013.

When asked if she knew how long it took the defendants to accumulate the $2million he gave the witness in one day, the witness said no.

Source:TheNation
RUSH: "A .50-caliber rifle found at Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's hideout in Mexico was funneled through [Obama's] gun-smuggling operation known as Fast and Furious, sources confirmed Tuesday to Fox News. ... Former Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt after he refused to divulge documents for a congressional investigation into the matter," if you recall.

"A .50-caliber is a massive rifle that can stop a car, or as it was intended, take down a helicopter." El Chapo was found to have one in his possession, and it was part of Obama's Fast and Furious operation. Now, for those of you new to the program or people with short memories, let me give you the CliffNotes version of Fast and Furious. It is something that Obama and Eric Holder initiated in their first term. Eric Holder was the attorney general. They desperately, like all liberals, wanted massive new gun control legislation or executive orders.

They wanted to get guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens, because, by definition, that's the only people you can take them away from. By definition. You're not gonna get guns out of the hands of criminals because, by definition, criminals are breaking the law and will do whatever it takes to get a gun. The only guns you can go get are held by the law-abiding. But it's a rite of passage, an article of faith in liberalism that guns are bad in the hands of people. The Second Amendment's stupid and folly.

It shouldn't be there, and we gotta go get people's guns.

So we hatched a program, which was actually something that got started during the Bush administration but was abandoned. What Obama and Holder did was build on the Bush program. The Bush program was nothing at all like Fast and Furious ended up to be. It just provided the foundation. And it was very simple. The Obama administration allowed guns like this -- assault rifles, .50 caliber rifles, massively huge/powerful weapons -- to be sold in gun stores in the Southwest (Phoenix, for example) and they were then allowed to be taken across the border into Mexico.

The plan was -- it really was -- that these guns purchased legally in American gun stores, would then be used in horrible crimes south of the border. When these horrible crimes took place featuring much murder and mayhem, the news media was supposed to react with outrage, report the details, and focus on the fact that this wouldn't have happened if it weren't for gun laws in America which makes the sale of these weapons perfectly legal. So mayhem was supposed to ensue after the Regime allowed these guns to cross the border after having been sold.

The desired result was that the American people would be so mad and express such outrage that they would stand up in unison and demand that the government do something about all these guns. That didn't happen. Fast and Furious was an absolute failure because the Regime continually then, as now, misunderstands the American people and the relationship they have with the Second Amendment and the role of guns legally in people's lives. So it didn't happen, and the program , after all this, was then discovered, and it had a name: Fast and Furious.

And the short version is that when it was discovered for what it was, people such as me here on this program and many other, sstarted describing it. The Regime started to deny. "No, no, no. It didn't happen, it's crazy!" They made it sound like there was nothing to it. I think a border agent ended up dead as a result of Fast and Furious. There was one American death, and it was a Border Patrol agent. So, anyway, it was a total bomb from the Regime standpoint. The guns are still in the hands of criminals, as the evidence in this story.

A .50 caliber rifle purchased in an American gun store ends up in the arsenal of El Chapo, who happens to be the drug kingpin of Mexico. Did you see they discovered another tunnel? Some people were digging another tunnel this prison the other day. Just right out in the middle of the day, they found some people digging another tunnel to get the guy out of there. They weren't even waiting to do it under cover of darkness. And then there's a companion story from The Politico: An Obama-appointed federal judge has rejected "Obama's assertion of executive privilege over documents pertaining to Operation Fast and Furious..."

"US District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled Tuesday that the Justice Department's public disclosures ... undercut Obama's executive privilege claim" to deny Congress access to records pertaining to the operation, which is essentially... It was a gunrunning operation run by the United States government to get guns into the hands of criminals in Mexico so they could raise hell, mayhem, and cause outrage in the American media that was supposed to bleed over to the American public, and public would demand something get done.

Now, people want to see the records of the program. Obama says, "No, no, no, no. You guys in Congress don't have the right! It's executive privilege."

And the judge told him to go pound sand. One of the judges he appointed. By the way, Fast and Furious involved thousands of weapons. Not just a handful of guns, not just a few .50 caliber rifles, but thousands of guns were allowed to cross the border. There's nothing "alleged" about Fast and Furious. It did allow thousands of weapons to be sold to drug dealers in Mexico. The only question is whether this was the sole purpose of the program.

A lot of experts think that Obama wanted the drug cartels to commit such heinous crimes with these US weapons, so the public would demand more gun control laws.

Count me in that camp.
Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to cancel the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta state.

The Council made the plea in an open letter to Buhari, signed by its president, Udengs Eradiri and Spokesman, Eric Omare, Esq.

Mr. President, we call on you to reject the proposed decision of the Ministry of Transportation to cancel the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, the letter said. If it is decision that already has your blessing, we appeal for the reversion of the decision. It is not in the interest of the country and your administration. The decision would only provide justification for hostility in the Niger Delta region towards your administration.

Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi had while briefing the Senate Committee on Marine Transport about the activities of his Ministry on Tuesday, the 19th of January, 2016, announced the proposed cancellation of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.

According to the Minister, the project was cancelled because there is already a higher institution in Oron, we have Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, and we have the Nigerian College of Aviation in Zaria, which we could upgrade to a University status and NIMASA is proposing to build a new one.

Mr. Amaechi further wondered: Who will attend the University? How many parent will allow their children to go to such place where it propose to site the University?
Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central Zone) has said that over $200 billion was being stashed away in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, specifically, its global financial hub, Dubai, by corrupt Nigerians.

Corrupt Nigerians have stashed unbelievable amount of monies in Dubai alone in the name of estates acquisition, purchase of exotic houses and business partnership in the last 16 years. Some have stashed raw cash. This is why the US, and Europe are making conditions for laundering of money into their countries very difficult, Sani told journalists after women supporters from his political ward paid him a solidarity visit at one of his campaign offices in Kaduna.

These crooks have now found it conducive to use the Middle East and South East Asia as their destinations. They use names of their cronies, family members and friends to siphon public funds out of Nigeria.

Some of them are APC members, who had their political upbringing in the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Sooner than later those who are parading themselves as Buharis friends, but are corrupt, will be interrogated, prosecuted because the President does not know friend or relation as far as the fight against corruption is concerned.

It was based on the information on the quantity and quality of the assets of corrupt Nigerians, that President Buhari had to sign that agreement with UAE at Abu Dhabi. I can tell you that it was smart and patriotic move, Sani said.

Buhari, last week in UAE, signed a Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, which includes the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth.

Sani continued: Let me advise the President to steer clear of hypocrites, because it is better to live with an enemy than hypocrite because hypocrite derives joy from stabbing ones back.

Over $200 billion Dollars are stashed away from Nigeria to Dubai alone. This may the monies stolen since in the past 20 years. I am not talking about estates and bonds and other securities bought with Nigeria stolen money.

Buhari is going to recover all these monies and assets with the help of UAE.

If you notice now, since the agreement, some of the corrupt persons are now rushing to Dubai to effect changes in the ownerships of the ill-gotten assets. But, they are just wasting their time.

President Buhari needs the support of all Nigerians to wipe out corruption from the country. The President is on rescue mission. He needs our support.

We cannot sit down idly and watch people sabotaged Buhari, and I can tell you that since Buhari went to Dubai, there were three attempts to sabotage Buharis government.

The first one was that they planted a story in newspapers that there was crisis in Buharis government because he went to Dubai;

The second one was that they planted fake lists of Nigerians that have property in Dubai, while we were waiting for the original list of those who have houses in Dubai. And the third one was to sponsor foreign media to discredit Buharis economic policies, he said.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said the Federal Government will design fresh measures to tackle pipeline vandalism in the country, following the discovery of an illegal oil bunkering facility in Lagos yesterday.

Guardian

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has condoled with the family, friends and associates of the late Group Deputy Editor, Politics, of Thisday Newspapers, Prince Ademola Adeyemo, on his sudden death.

National Mirror

Organised labour movement in Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the proposed conditional cash transfer, a programme modelled after the social security programmes of developed countries by the Federal Government.

The Nation

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said the allegation of treasonable comments against him by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is ridiculous and from those he called unsound minds.

Daily Independent
The Ogun State government has denied claims of any outbreak of the Lassa fever virus in the state.

According to the Commissioner for Health, Mr Babatunde Ipaye, who made the clarification on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while addressing reporters on the development, the state is safe.

He noted that epidemic preparedness centres to respond to any crisis had also been put in place in the states capital as well as the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu.

Although two children from Abeokuta and Sagamu were suspected to have the virus, Ipaye said they were diagnosed with the clinical result coming out as negative.

He, therefore, appealed to the residents to remain calm while asking them to maintain proper hygiene.

Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has reached 17 states and has led to close to 100 deaths. It is caused by the Lassa virus which is transmitted by the multi-breasted rat found in most West African countries.
A former Governor of Edo State, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor (SAN), has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the forthcoming governorship election in the state by a wide margin, if he is nominated as the partys candidate.

Osunbor expressed the confidence that no other party would be able to field a candidate who would match his records.

The ex-governor spoke in Benin, the state capital, when he declared his intention to contest on the platform of the APC.

He offered to be assessed on his antecedents and performance rather than on zoning.

Osunbor said the 2012 governorship election proved that candidates from other senatorial districts, other than Edo South, could win the governorship poll.

He also said he has built a reputation for excellence, integrity, hard work and a track record of achievements.

According to him the former governor, he waited for some time to declare his intention because of his respect for Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who he said appealed to aspirants not to distract governance in the state.

He, however, debunked insinuations that he joined the APC after the presidential election, saying he campaigned for the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2013, prior to its change into the present APC.

He said: I am an academician and intellectual; an outstanding legislator and a law reformer with a legacy of impressive performance in governance.

Edo State voters have demonstrated in the past that they vote on the basis of track record of performance by the candidates rather than by geography or any other primordial consideration.

Osunbor was a two-term senator representing Edo Central between 1999 and 2007 until he was elected Governor of Edo in 2007 on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His stint as governor was short-lived as the Governorship Election Tribunal nullified his election and asked the INEC to declare Mr. Oshiomhole of the then Action Congress as winner of the April 2007 guber polls.

A federal Appeal Court sitting in the state capital in November of 2008 upheld the ruling of the petitions tribunal declaring Oshiomole to be the Governor of Edo State.
Researchers say developing a vaccine for the Zika virus  suspected of causing brain damage in babies  could take up to five years, as health experts called for new incentives for drug companies. The Zika outbreak, which the World Health Organization says is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile, follows the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which also caught health authorities off guard. Weve got no drugs and weve got no vaccines. Its a case of deja vu because thats exactly what we were saying with Ebola, Trudie Lang, a professor of global health at the University of Oxford, told Reuters. Its really important to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible.

Large drugmakers investment in tropical disease vaccines with uncertain commercial prospects has so far been patchy, but the pace of the outbreak has demonstrated how quickly little-known diseases can emerge as global threats. We need to have some kind of a plan that makes [companies] feel there is a sustainable solution and not just a one-shot deal over and over again, Francis Collins, director of the US National Institutes of Health, said last week.

The Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute, which is currently leading the research charge on Zika, says it plans to develop a vaccine in record time, although its director has warned this is likely to take three to five years. British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline also told Reuters on Monday it was studying the feasibility of using its vaccine technology on Zika, while Frances Sanofi said it was reviewing possibilities.

Aljazeera.
The Syrian army has captured a key southern town from rebel forces after weeks of fierce fighting, a Syrian activist group says. The fall of Sheikh Maskin on Monday means government forces will strengthen their hold on Deraa province, while cutting off rebel factions from key supply lines.

Deraa, the scene of the earliest protests against the Syrian government in 2011, contains routes crucial to both the Syrian army and rebel fighters. The town is very important for both sides. They have both fought fiercely. Now by taking it, the regime has cut off the rebels links between eastern and western Deraa, said Rami Abdulrahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks violence in the country through a wide network of local sources.

The destruction in the town is huge. The organisation said fighting involved government troops backed by fighters from the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, as well as air support from Russian fighter jets. Rebel groups include al-Nusra Front, Islamic factions, and those alligned with the Western-backed Free Syrian Army. Juan Cole, a Middle East analyst at the University of Michigan, told Al Jazeera the recent gains by government forces in Syrias south were significant, considering rebels once controlled about 70 percent of Deraa province.

Cole also underscored Russias role in the advance. Largely because of Russian air intervention the rebels are being scattered. Things have just turned around 180 degrees for the regime since the Russians came in Now there is a significant reversal that will affect the rebels logistics, said Cole.
On this day in 2014, a total of 138 persons were killed in terrorist attacks in Northern Nigeria

The night of 26 January saw a pair of simultaneous attacks that occurred at Kawuri, Borno state and a Cathlolic church in Chakawa village, Madagali Local Government Area, Adamawa State respectively.

In Kawuri, a village in Konduga Local Government, Borno State (located some 37 kilometers southeast of Maiduguri), some 85 people were slain overnight. The attacks have been blamed on Boko Haram.

In Chakawa (also known as Waga Chakawa), the throats of several church worshipers were slit, while others were shot. An estimated 41 people were killed.

The final death toll was put at least 138 people.
The UN Refugee Agency and its partners on Monday called on donor nations for more than half-a-billion US dollars this year to help hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee conflicts in Nigeria and the Central African Republic (CAR) and the host communities providing them with shelter and other basic services.

The two Regional Refugee Response Plans (RRRP), presented at a donor briefing in Yaounde, Cameroon, include $198.76 million for 230,000 Nigerian refugees and some 284,300 members of host communities in Niger, Chad and Cameroon as well as US$345.7 million for 476,300 CAR refugees and some 289,000 people hosting them in Chad, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Republic of Congo.

The RRRP in Nigeria and CAR cover needs in sectors such as protection, education, food security, health and nutrition, livelihoods, shelter, basic aid and water, hygiene and sanitation.

The Nigeria appeal is made by 28 organizations. UNHCR alone is seeking US$62.33 million under the Nigeria RRRP.

These two humanitarian crises must not be forgotten; they are not going away. The suffering is great and the needs acute among both the displaced and host communities, said Liz Ahua, UNHCRs Regional Refugee Coordinator for the CAR and Nigeria situations.

Ahua said violence occurs on almost a daily basis in north-east Nigeria and CAR, generating fear and new displacement in the region, citing as examples suicide attacks, kidnapping, indiscriminate killings and massive human rights abuses.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we wont see it unless there is a much stronger commitment from African governments and the international community to help re-establish stability and peace, Ahua said, urging donors to give more generously. In 2015, the Nigerian RRRP received 52 per cent of its financial requirements whilst the Central African Republic RRRP received just 27 percent.

Despite important steps towards restoring peace in both north-east Nigeria and CAR, there were also reverses and continuing significant population displacement in 2015. In Nigeria, the government rolled back Boko Haram gains, but the insurgent group turned to terror tactics that spread into neighbouring countries.

The crises in Nigeria will continue to provide major challenges throughout 2016 in countries such as Cameroon, which provides sanctuary and assistance to refugees from Nigeria. For just this country, the appeals seek US$56.36 million to help 100,000 Nigerian refugees and 20,000 hosts in Cameroon.

Highlighting some of the needs, Ahua said: We need funding to prevent malnutrition among children; to run schools, build up proper sanitation systems and provide clean water; and to make sure that families have shelter over their heads.
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Friday, 22nd January 2016, granted the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Olisa Metuh bail in the sum of 300 million Naira and two sureties in like sum. Metuh is facing a seven-count charge of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering.

In the ruling on Friday, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, stressed that the sureties must be resident in Abuja, Nigerias capital city. There have been mixed reactions as to how Metuh who is still being detained will meet the bail conditions. Pastor Adeboyes son Leke is one of the Nigerians puzzled at what will happen to Metuhs bail money. Below is what he(Leke Adeboye) shared on Facebook:

I have two questions.

1. Where does a normal man get 300 million N. Thats 1Million dollars o. As bail money

2. What happens to the bail money. Who keeps it and who uses it?

Source: Facebook
Rush does a good job breaking this story down.

RUSH: I just got an audio sound bite here from Michael Mukasey, who is the former attorney general. He was an AG during the George W. Bush administration. He was on Coast to Coast with Cavuto on the Cavuto Fox Business Network talking about the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton and her private e-mail server. And of course, I mean, you recall everything that we have been told about this. We've been told there are 150 FBI agents tracking this down.

The latest, by the way, that we have on this is that Clinton aides -- and if this is true, I don't know why there hasn't been an indictment yet. If this is true, that her aides were cutting and pasting classified documents and attaching that to e-mails sent to her private server. Cutting and pasting! I mean, you could argue that that knowingly is worse than strictly passing on the e-mails, or stripping the markings off. Some of that you could claim you didn't see, inadvertent, but to cut-and-paste classified intel would mean that you have to know you're looking at classified intel. Gone is the excuse that it was inadvertent. Gone was, "Ah, I didn't notice it." Gone was, "Well, the markings were taken off of it." Gone is the excuse, "Well, it's an innocent mistake."

This is purposely sought out, and to have it identified and cut-and-pasted into other e-mails. And don't forget Mrs. Clinton's e-mail server is being mirrored to an e-mail server over at the Clinton Crime Family Foundation, further clouding or blowing up this whole notion of security and giving greater indications of what the real purpose for this was.

So here's Mukasey, who was being interviewed by Cavuto, and he said, "Let's say the FBI recommends taking action against Secretary Clinton." This is the thing that we heard over the weekend, that the FBI is getting close to recommending that Department of Justice make a move on Mrs. Clinton. So Cavuto says, "Let's say the FBI recommends taking action against Secretary Clinton and the Department of Justice does not follow suit, then what?"

MUKASEY: Then I think you get the kinds of dramatics we got at the time of Watergate with resignations, and I don't think it's gonna come to that. It's huge. I don't think that this is gonna end happily for Mrs. Clinton, given the kind of evidence and the amount of evidence that we've already seen: being top-secret data, being her clear knowledge of what was there, and her instruction to people to send classified material in an unclassified setting.

RUSH: Right. That's part of the whole cut-and-paste story. Take it out of the secure e-mails and paste it into e-mails that she's sending -- I tell you what, you know what that is? I mean, that is a purposeful, willful desire to send classified data over unsecured -- so she could send it to people not qualified. That's what that means.

She's got donors, big donors, they could be from any corporation, they could be from any entity around the world, it could be from, say, the government of San Cordoba, pick a country. I made that one up. There actually isn't a San Cordoba. The mission impossible crew saved it back in the sixties on one episode. I've never forgotten the country of San Cordoba. They produced rich Corinthian leather there.

Anyway, somebody from San Cordoba would love to see some top-secret intel. Mrs. Clinton can send it to 'em because they want to see it, and they've donated. So she goes to people, says find it, cut-and-paste it, take it out of there. In a way, something like that would be done to hide. If she sends classified e-mails from her server over her own network and it's ever discovered, I mean, that's a direct violation. To avoid doing that, that's an effort to remain undetected. "Oh, no, I never sent classified e-mail to the president of San Cordoba, not once."

And technically that's true, until somebody cut-and-pasted whatever would have been of interest to the president of San Cordoba and Mrs. Clinton pasted it in just a standard, ordinary, "How you doing today, Mr. President" e-mail. "Oh, by the way, you might be interested in knowing that," and then they paste in the intel. She's passing it on.

This is deathly serious. This just keeps getting worse. Mukasey is right. But here's the thing. My friend Andy McCarthy wrote extensively of this on Saturday at National Review Online. And that is the FBI can do nothing but investigate. The FBI cannot charge you. The FBI cannot indict you. The FBI cannot arrest you. The Department of Justice has to issue warrants for all of that. The grand jury indicts. So this is what he was being asked by Cavuto. So what's gonna happen? Well, what has to happen here is that the FBI has to convince Loretta Lynch, which means convincing Barack Hussein O, that what they've got in terms of evidence is such that they can't let it slide, they can't just sweep it away. This really, really serious stuff.

And if Loretta Lynch says, "You know what, we're not indicting." The FBI is paralyzed. Nothing they can do. Now, they could call the media and surreptitiously leak stuff if they wanted to. But in terms of actual law enforcement, they say "lar" in New York, not law, but law enforcement, they can't do a thing. They collect the evidence, they turn it over, they recommend, they cajole. In most cases the FBI's investigating at the request of a United States attorney, or somebody else in the DOJ, or maybe they're investigating independently based on tips they've got, but they can't indict, they cannot arrest, and they cannot charge.

And it's an important point only -- I mean, it's not big news to anybody, but there's some people thinking what's the FBI waiting on here if they've got all this evidence? It's not up to them. That's why there are grand juries. Grand juries indict. Now, sometimes a prosecutor can charge without a grand jury. But in many cases, a prosecutor who doesn't want to charge, there's public pressure, mounting pressure to charge a suspect with something, and the prosecutor, for whatever reason, doesn't want to. "Okay, off to the grand jury. And we'll present evidence in such a way." I mean, they get what they want out of the grand jury. It's the standard operating -- you've heard the old saw that they can indict a ham sandwich if the prosecutor wants, that the grand jury's just a rubber stamp.

But, by the same token, if a prosecutor doesn't want to indict, they can present the case to the grand jury, make it look like there's really nothing here. I know you're seeing things in the news and this, but this is all we've got. I'm gonna leave it up to you. You get as a true bill or no true bill. That's an indictment or no indictment. Oftentimes a prosecutor, when he wants no fingerprints on it, will go to the grand jury one way or the other, for an indictment or not for one. Sometimes you don't have to get an indictment, but in many cases be something like this, you'd have to have a grand jury involved. And I don't know that there is yet. Could be.

You know, they're shrouded in secrecy, until they're not, 'til somebody leaks, like they told us when Bill Clinton lost it when asked by that sex pervert, Ken Starr, how he used the cigar on Monica. So we all watched that testimony, and there wasn't anything. There was nothing to it. We were totally set up by a bunch of phony leaks. So we all know those things happened. But Mukasey here, if he says that there's overwhelming evidence, then he's eminently credible here. You'd throw him in there, even rank him higher on the credibility chart than you would Joe diGenova who has also said this.

This cut-and-paste information, it is really, really serious. And it's all gonna come down to Obama, I guarantee you. I hate to oversimplify it, or to simplify it, period, but if Obama doesn't want her indicted or charged, then that's what's going to happen. Now, how they get there, whatever public relations, marketing, whatever they take into account so that they don't slime themselves in the process, who knows. But we know that there is a double standard. All these IRS people, Lois Lerner, not a thing happened to her, not a single thing.
The battle of government reach into data stored in overseas data centers should be top of mind for IT organizations. It has significant implications for whether cloud-stored data can be protected, and the battle so far suggests if either side completely wins, the result would be unpleasant.

The U.S. Justice Department and Microsoft are waging a war over whether federal prosecutors in the United States can access email stored on servers in Ireland. The specific issue is the feds demands for emails that belong to a suspect in a narcotics investigation, but the big issue is whether national governments can force a company to provide access to user data stored in other countries.

The Justice Department requested the emails in December 2013. However, Microsoft refused that request. It stated that U.S. authorities have no power to enforce a warrant for data stored overseas.

In April 2014, a federal judge agreed with U.S. prosecutors and ordered Microsoft to hand over the emails. Microsoft again refused and was found in contempt; the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has been asked to settle the case. Oral arguments took place last September, and a ruling is expected imminently.

These kinds of cases will accelerate as the government tests the bounds of existing, often outdated laws and as cloud providers try to protect what they see as their -- and their customers' -- private data. After all, companies moving to cloud may think twice about cloud adoption if any government has access to its data on demand anywhere it resides.

For example, as Microsoft argues, if the United States can compel it to turn over data stored in Ireland, the Chinese government could compel it to turn over data stored in the United States. The unintended consequences of the U.S. government's request are worrisome to contemplate. That's why a full Justice Department win here is worrisome.

But a full win by Microsoft is also worrisome. I understand the desire to deny access to everything, but the government will fight that stance to the point of distraction. Cloud providers and cloud users need clarity, not more limbo.

I cant help but think there is a compromise that can be had here between the cloud providers and the government. Although the government should not have access to data in clouds on demand, there should be a defined process that would allow the government access to some data when specific criteria has been satisfied -- and the authorities in the countries where the data resides are able to participate.
Disney IT workers laid off a year ago this month are now accusing the company and the outsourcing firms it hired of engaging in a "conspiracy to displace U.S. workers." The allegations are part of two lawsuits filed in federal court in Florida on Monday.

Between 200 and 300 Disney IT workers were laid off in January 2015. Some of the workers had to train their foreign replacements -- workers on H-1B visas -- as a condition of severance.

The lawsuits represent what may be a new approach in the attack on the use of H-1B workers to replace U.S. workers. They allege violations of the Federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act, claiming that the nature of the employment of the H-1B workers was misrepresented, and that Disney and the contractors knew the ultimate intent was to replace U.S. workers with lower paid H-1B workers.

The lawsuits cite a form that H-1B employers fill out when placing a visa worker, the LCA (Labor Condition Application).

In the LCA, an employer states the job location, salaries paid to the H-1B workers and also attests that U.S. workers will not be "adversely affected."

But former Disney IT workers Dena Moore and Leo Perrero, in their respective lawsuits, allege that they were indeed adversely affected. They had to train their foreign replacements brought in by contractors, and then were terminated.

Both lawsuits name Disney as a defendant; additionally, Moore is suing Cognizant and Perrero is suing HCL.

The LCA requires employers to swear the visa workers "will not adversely affect working conditions" of existing employees, said Sara Blackwell, the Florida attorney who is bringing the case. "Obviously, if you have to train your replacement and then are fired, that is an adverse effect."

Since his layoff, Perrero has been working to raise awareness among lawmakers about the displacement of U.S. workers by foreign temporary labor.

"No shortage exists of American STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) workers," said Perrero. "Disney is not the only one to do this and lawmakers need to take action."

Blackwell is representing, as well, some 30 former Disney IT workers who have filed complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over the loss of their jobs. These employees are arguing that they are victims of national origin discrimination.

Blackwell said her goal is to "stop the systemic abuse of the immigration system."

Officials at the two contractors and at Disney were asked for comment; none immediately responded.

This story, "Disney IT workers allege conspiracy in layoffs, file lawsuits" was originally published by Computerworld .
Microsoft Azure Stack, a cloud platform that runs within customers' own data centers, is being made available for testing this week as a technical preview.

When originally announced, Azure Stack snapped into focus in Microsoft's plans for a hybrid cloud system. Instead of building one stack to run locally and another to run in the cloud, Azure Stack consists of the same code Microsoft uses to run Azure.

In addition to making it easier to move workloads between local systems and Azure, Microsoft thinks customers will prefer this approach because it familiarizes the development and management experiences in either environment.

A familiar shade of Azure

The current preview of Azure Stack is based on Windows Server 2012 R2, but the final release version will be based on Windows Server 2016, with all of its cutting-edge features. Among those are components Microsoft has stumped for as part of its new vision for an enterprise cloud stack, such as Windows Server Containers (Docker) and Hyper-V Containers.

Courtesy Microsoft Azure Stack's design is meant to mimic the under-the-hood design of Azure. Users with Azure experience shouldn't notice any difference in terms of how to provision resources or call APIs.

In a phone conversation with InfoWorld last week, Mike Neil, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Enterprise Cloud group, described the Azure Stack approach as "cloud as a model, not a place." The goal is to present people with an experience and a set of resources that are functionally identical to what's in the cloud. The self-service portal for setting up Azure resources, for instance, relies on the same provisioning infrastructure and offers the same APIs in both the public cloud version of Azure and in Azure Stack.

"It's not going to feel alien to [users]," said Neil.

Another advantage of this approach, according to Neil, is it allows Microsoft to give customers something akin to the full cloud experience in environments where an Azure data center isn't available yet. "If all you have is the public cloud," said Neil, referring to the competition, "you've got to get everybody to move to the public cloud. But that's not the reality faced by most businesses."

Most of the customer feedback Microsoft has received has asked for a consistent operating model that will allow users to move to the cloud in their own time and on their own terms, Neil said. Very few of Microsoft's customers are 100 percent public cloud, so Neil expects to see applications in the on-premises environment that necessarily differ from what's in Azure.

Hitting closer to home

Microsoft's idea for an Azure hybrid cloud is similar to plans promulgated by those building on platforms like OpenStack: Use the same code to build both the in-house and remote instances of a cloud.

However, Microsoft breaks from the OpenStack model in two ways: One, Azure is proprietary and governed by a single vendor, rather than an industrywide open source effort. Microsoft hopes to make it easy to deploy Azure Stack on OEM-packaged hardware (see the Cloud Platform System), and the overall experience is not meant to be nearly as sprawling as OpenStack.

Two, Azure is meant to directly leverage Microsoft's presence in enterprises. Microsoft now includes in its stack many of the open standards that matter to cloud environments -- such as application delivery by way of containers -- so there is less need to defect from Microsoft's platform.

Neil also expects that local solutions-and-service providers will offer Azure Stack to their customers as a managed option. Many of them, he pointed out, are already providing value-adds like compliance with regional government regulations.

Even if they effectively compete with the public Azure, Microsoft remains the driving force.

"There are lots of airlines out there," said Neil, "but only one Boeing."
German leader warns against 'worldwide renaissance' for coal AP - 19 minutes ago BERLIN (AP)  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday that mustn't lead to a worldwide renaissance for coal  comments that come as Germany itself brings coal-fired power plants back online... $SPX : 3,695.16 (-0.67%) $DOWI : 30,423.81 (-0.33%) $IUXX : 11,103.38 (-0.40%)

EU leaders head into divisive summit on energy crisis AP - 1 hour ago BRUSSELS (AP)  European Union leaders were heading into a two-day summit Thursday with opposing views on whether, and how, the bloc could impose a gas price cap to contain the fueled by Russian President... $SPX : 3,695.16 (-0.67%) $DOWI : 30,423.81 (-0.33%) $IUXX : 11,103.38 (-0.40%)

Allstate Stocks analysis - Short-Term Pressure The Smart Investor - 1 hour ago Background: Allstate is a US-based leading insurance services provider catering for a diversified clientele from the commercial to the retail segments. The company has developed a long line of insurance... ALL : 135.15 (-1.62%)

Ukraine's utilities threatened by Russia in war's new phase AP - Thu Oct 20, 2:31AM CDT KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  When a missile struck a power station less than a mile from his apartment on the outskirts of Kyiv, Oleksander Maystrenko didnt panic, run to a bomb shelter or consider evacuating,... $SPX : 3,695.16 (-0.67%) $DOWI : 30,423.81 (-0.33%) $IUXX : 11,103.38 (-0.40%)
Weve written a lot lately about the new philanthropists emerging from the tech sector, and how they think. But what about the new funders coming out of finance? What generalizations might hold true for these people?

Its an important question, given the enormous wealth that has been created through finance in recent decadesand how much of that wealth is starting to flow to philanthropy. Regardless of what you may think of the tax and regulatory policies that have helped Wall Streeters get so rich, anyone who raises money has to understand this crowd.

Along with tech, finance is the sector thats producing the largest number of major donors these days. At least 25 members of the Giving Pledge made their fortunes in finance, and some rank among the very wealthiest people in the United States. Beyond that top tier of mega-givers, though, are numerous other philanthropists from finance, many of whom fly well under the radar. At Inside Philanthropy, weve written profiles of over 100 of these donors. Here are few general points we can offer about Wall Street donors in terms of who they are, how they operate, and how to get to them. (Click on links for related IP articles.)

They Give More Than You Think

The finance world has a reputation for greed, and a zeal for making money so intense that ethics may fall by the wayside. But strong philanthropic currents have long run through this world, and have grown significantly in recent years. The growth of the Robin Foundation, Wall Streets favorite charity, is a good barometer of whats been happening. That group pulled in $161 million in contributions in 2014, up from $64 million in 2005. Many of the largest financial firms have robust employee giving programs and some have even required employees to contribute. (Bear Stearns, the investment firm which collapsed in 2008, compelled employees to contribute 4 percent of their bonus money every year to charity.) Weve been struck by how many philanthropists weve identified that are associated with just one firm, Goldman Sachs. At least a half-dozen Goldman guys have appeared on our radar, including Hank Paulson and Larry Linden. But it's hedge funds that are producing the most significant new donors from finance, including George Soros, James Simons, Julian Robertson, Bill Ackman, John Arnold, John Paulson, Steve Cohen, Ray Dalio, Stanley Druckenmiller and Tom Steyer. Are Wall Streeters giving as much as they should be? No, but more new donors are emerging from this world than Inside Philanthropy can easily track, and we discover new ones all the time.

Many Are Just Beginning

While some philanthropists from finance, like George Soros, have been giving for decades, a great many are just getting started and have barely scratched the surface of their wealth. For example, weve written a bunch about Ray Dalio, whos worth $15 billion and signed the Giving Pledge. Dalio has been ramping up fast, giving away over $100 million in some recent years. But thats nothing compared to what hes likely to give down the line. This is even more true of Carl Icahn, another Giving Pledge signatory, whos currently worth $18 billion and has said that nearly all that money will go to charityyet he has only given modestly so far. Other finance winners, like David Tepperwhos worth $11 billionhave emerged as very active philanthropists, but not yet at a level that can make a dent in their fortunes. Quite a few of these people are still relatively young and focused on their careers. In short, whatever giving were seeing now from Wall Streeters is nothing compared to what lies ahead. Within a few decades, well probably see a half-dozen foundations larger than Ford created with finance money.

They Are Spread Out Geographically

If you raise money in the New York area, youre in the right spot, since many of the top new funders in finance live and work in the Tri-State area. Many also like to focus their giving locally. But finance is very much a national industry, and its grown greatly in the past decade in places outside New York. We track finance donors living all over, including in Boston, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area. Notable non-New York finance donors include the Johnson family in Boston, and also Seth and Beth Klarman; Herb Sandler and Charles Schwab in San Francisco; Kenneth Griffin in Chicago; Denny Sanford in San Diego; David Rubenstein and Daniel D' Aniello in Washington; John Arnold in Houston; and others. In turn, these big names are just the tip of a large iceberg of local finance money.

Many Are Quite Intellectual

A lot of the new finance money has been made using sophisticated strategies to predict the markets, and the hedge fund world in particular has some notably intellectual billionaires. Soros, of course, is most well known in this regard, as the author of numerous books and articles. Then there is James Simons, who parlayed his math genius into trading gains, ending up with a $14 billion fortune. I could name plenty of other billionaires whove gotten rich, in large part, by monetizing their intellectual prowess. A related key to their success is predicting trends and using leverage. This holds a few implications for their philanthropy: First, many of these donors understand complicated fields that involve science, such as climate change and medical research; two, they appreciate the importance of research and the role of expertise; and three, they are often drawn to sophisticated grantmaking strategies developed with expert input.

They Tend To Be Politically Moderate, But Very Pro-Market

Most finance donors arent very ideological. Theyve spent their careers focused on making money, not thinking about public policy. That said, many believe deeply in the power of markets to solve problems, and that belief can drive their giving in different ways. Most famously, of course, finance donors are stalwart supporters of the school choice movement. But their belief in markets extends to other areas like the environment, where theyve sought to create new financial incentives for ecological progress (see Larry Lindens funding); and global development, where some, like Bill Ackman, see see a huge potential for social enterprises to combat povertyfor example, through helping small farmers make more money.

Some Are Key Ideological Donors

Finance donors play a key role in underwriting policy groups on both the left and the right. Two of the top conservative think tanks in Washington, AEI and Cato, rely heavily on Wall Street money, as do many lesser-known outfits. We wrote recently, for example, about how the hedge fund executive Robert Mercer has emerged as a top funder of conservative causes. While you might expect finance guys to back such work, more surprising is how many notable progressive donors have emerged from finance. Beyond George Soros, there is Herb Sandler, whos backed liberal think tanks; Tom Steyer, who is leading a high-profile charge on climate change; David Gelbaum, whos given huge sums to the ACLU and Sierra Club; and Glenn Hutchins, a major backer of the Center for American Progress and other liberal work. Meanwhile, there are a number of philanthropists from finance who dont self-identify as progressive, yet give heavily on such issues as climate change, gun control, or college access for undocumented immigrants. Finance donors have played an especially key role in scaling up environmental groups in recent years.

Most Keep a Low Profile

Philanthropists from finance are often very private about their giving. Many dont have well-established foundations or publicize their donations. They seldom speak to the media about their philanthropy. In fact, the only way to learn about what a great many of these people are doing is to pull their 990s and study up. (Or subscribe to Inside Philanthropy!) Related to this, many of these donors dont have clearly established processes by which fundraisers can get in touch, and anyway, dont accept unsolicited proposals. This can make things very difficult for fundraisers, who struggle to find an entry point. Extensive networking is essential for getting anywhere near these people.

Their Wives Are Key

Nearly all of the top philanthropists from finance we track are men. That said, much of the money flowing from this world is controlled by womennamely, their wives. As weve discussed before, nearly all philanthropic couples make their giving decisions jointlyyet its the wives who often handle the day-to-day details, and that seems especially true in finance. Many finance leaders are older, and traditional gender roles are more pronounced here than in tech. As a practical matter, this means that fundraisers dont actually need to get to well-known financiers; they need to get to their wives, who are often more accessible through charitable networks.

Most Will Keep Getting Richer

While finance leaders already have a lot of spare cash, theyll have even more in coming years. These people just keep getting richer and richer. George Soros net worth, for example, has more than tripled in the past decade. Quite a few younger philanthropists from finance are still at relatively early stages in their careers, and will be much wealthier down the line. Of course, entirely new finance billionaires keep popping up. Anyone who raises money wants to watch this world like a hawk.

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Leonardo DiCaprios environmental giving is going strong, and in the past six months or so, hes become increasingly vocal about climate change. He still gave his latest round of $15 million in grants mostly to conservation projects, but will his foundation dive deeper into climate?

Weve been quite interested in DiCaprios philanthropy for a while now, as its steadily grown over the past few years from dropping a few million here and there to giving pretty regular salvos to a wider variety of topics.

Related: Leonardo DiCaprios Giving Just Got Way More Interesting

For such a prominent environmental philanthropist, its surprisingly difficult to tell where DiCaprios foundation is headed. Yes, he gives rousing speeches and has more awards for his activism than his acting, but were still just getting a sense of his giving strategy, as compared to the data-driven Bloomberg, or philanthrocapitalist Gates.

Part of the difficulty in pinning him down is that the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation is still just a donor-advised fund within California Community Foundation, so we have no idea how much money it has (DiCaprio regularly raises several millions of dollars through celebrity charity events) and we're only recently getting a fuller picture of its grantmaking.

The foundation is making some strides to shed light on its giving through its website, with some general numbers and broadly defined priorities listed. LDF now lists biodiversity, wildlands, oceans, and climate change as its priorities. His giving used to be heavily tied to specific species, or marine protections, and still is, to an extent. But his June round of $15 million in giving was much more diverse, giving toward some energy work and individual grassroots activists, for example. Just this month, LDF gave another $15 million, this time in more typical larger chunks mostly to big conservation projectsNature Conservancy, Rainforest Action Network, Oceana, Clearwater and Ceibo Alliance for work in South America.

One outstanding question is just how invested in climate work LDF will be in the future. DiCaprio has expressed a primary interest in protecting ecosystems, but lately, he cant stop talking about climate change.

We simply cannot afford to allow the corporate greed of the coal, oil, and gas industries to determine the future of humanity, he told the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he also received an award. He made similar comments at the Paris climate summit, and not too long before that, he pledged to divest his own personal investments and LDFs investments (however much that is) from fossil fuels as part of the global divestment campaign.

But while the latest round included $1.5 million to Mark Ruffalos clean energy outfit the Solutions Project, climate change still feels like a somewhat peripheral issue for DiCaprio. He and Executive Director Justin Winters seem much more interested in responsive efforts to protect species than reducing GHGs.

If his public role as an environmental spokesperson is any indicator, theres a good chance that future funding is going to shift toward the latter. Yes, his roots are in rainforests, but his rhetoric is drifting much more toward coal plants.
What if everyone were able to work to the degree that they are truly able?

In some ways, this question defines the quest that George Roberts and his wife, Leanne, embarked on in 1997 when they created the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF), a pioneering organization developing workforce programs for people facing multiple barriers to employment like homelessness, drug addiction, former incarceration, and a history of trauma.

George and Leanne Roberts wanted to do something to fight the growing tide of homelessness in the Bay Area. They believed that an employment-centered approach would be much more effective than other ways of coming at the problem. As a co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., a venture capital firm, Roberts was confident that there was a role for enterprise in addressing homelessness in the region.

Roberts helped develop the basic concept of venture philanthropy, adapting to the social sector lessons of private equity that successfully combined financial assistance and hands-on business advice, while focusing on outcomes achieved. "We helped a number of different companiesJuma Ventures, Rubicon, New Door," says Carla Javits, who came on as executive director of REDF in 2007 with the goal of expanding the organization's footprint and impacting the lives of more people. Javits brought a wealth of experience in the social sector, primarily with the Corporation for Supportive Housing, where she was CEO and president.

In order for REDF to achieve its goal of getting people on the employment ladder, the terms of work often need to be redefined to allow for a more nuanced spectrum of options for people with different skill levels and experience. The businesses that REDF funds make money and then reinvest their revenue so they can hire and help more people. The standard of success for REDF is not measured in financial return alone, but also in return in terms of improved behavioral or social outcomes.

REDF expanded its reach in 2004 when it converted from a family foundation into an independent nonprofit. Part of the goal of this transition was attracting funding that would allow the group to expand. That happened, thanks to grants from foundations like the Woodcock, Kresge, Weingart, and Kellogg, and this support has continued to grow and branch into new areas. In fact, two of REDF's biggest funders today are corporate foundations, including Bank of America Foundation and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. Since 2004, REDF has also received significant support from the San Francisco Foundation, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Packard Foundation, the Herringer Family Foundation, the Marie-Josee and Henry R. Kravis Foundation, and the Phalarope Foundation. Other large grants in recent years have also come from the Surdna Foundation and Marin Community Foundation.

With additional help from a $7.5 million grant from the Social Innovation Fund from 2011 to 2015, REDF was able to expand even further. They also received another $7 million from the Social Innovation Fund for 2016 to 2017. Assuming Congress continues to fund the Social Innovation Fund, REDF should receive an additional $10.5 million for 2018 to 2020.

"I do think that universally in the U.S., we value work," says Javits, stressing that Americans put great stock in the ideology of "pull yourself up by your boot straps," and the belief that "anybody can go to work and have a better life."

Indeed, the breadth of support of REDF is striking. A number of its funders are quite progressive, yetas you might imaginethis outfit is quite popular in the conservative funding world. A recent publication from the Philanthropy Roundtable featured REDF prominently as a program worthy of investment. The report, issued in 2015, is called Clearing Obstacles to Work: a Wise Giver's Guide to Fostering Self Reliance, by David Bass.

But REDF also appeals to fans of impact investing. Workforce development for people face multiple barriers to employment has generally been driven by government and philanthropic dollars, but with REDF's model, business revenue is part of the mix. "It's using business revenue in a very conscious way to create a positive social benefit," says Javits. "It's a win-win that a lot of people really understand and appreciate."

Javits adds that REDF's diversified funding model is especially "important now, because we see that there is an erosion of support for government funded programs."

REDF has the twin benefits of building up the evidence that its businesses are a good public investmentreducing recidivism, reducing use of government benefitswhile also offering a model that prepares people for long-term work. But one of the keys to REDF's success is the redefining of work as a value that can be fulfilled at different levels by people of different abilities.

"Helping people to get back to work sounds simple, but is pretty tough to do," says Javits. We talked about a hypothetical example, a 35-year-old childhood trauma survivor with a recent history of drug addiction, prostitution, and violent relationships, who also receives disability payments, but is essentially homeless. The task of an organization like REDF is to help someone like this find work while not compromising what little financial security they may have.

The social enterprises REDF funds and works with use a variety of program models that allow them to effectively support their employees as they move through their program and strengthen their skills. "Some of the social enterprises REDF supports have a shorter window and a higher number of hours they expect people to work, and some may allow a much longer time for people to get acclimated to work."

Javits says this is one of the keys to the success of their programs. "We're trying to create some alternatives that say, let's maximize the amount of work effort people can put in, because they want to work, and because there are so many collateral benefits to working, in terms of having a network and a sense of purpose."

REDF develops social enterprises where the clients "don't feel threatened by maximizing work, and know they can still have a decent quality of life," says Javits. "It makes intuitive sense, but the way programs have been set up over the years, they don't necessarily provide the right incentives, so that's something we're changing."

Some examples of social enterprises profiled by REDF include Greyston Bakeries in Yonkers, New York, which employs 144 people and has a partner foundation that provides support services. The business makes brownies and cookies for major companies like Ben & Jerry's and Whole Foods. Another, Women's Bean Project, produces handcrafted gourmet foods and jewelry in Colorado, and recently secured Walmart as one of its buyers. While studying organizations like these, REDF is now preparing to expand again. It recently had several hundred applicants for funding from 36 states, and will be announcing the new programs shortly.

While part of REDF's strategy involves expanding its reach, it also wants to help different regions of the country do more of this work on their own. "We're eager to spread the word," says Javits. "There are so many great opportunities for investing resources in this program. We could get 100,000 people to work if we could stimulate a wider conversation in business, philanthropy and government." Javits says that part of REDF's strategy is to build up "local ecosystems" so that they can support growth of this model.
Innovate+Educate, in partnership with Alcoa Foundation, on Monday announced the launch of Tennessee Manufacturers Works. This effort has partners from the Chattanooga area  Tennessee Association of Manufacturers and Thinking Media  Learning Blade. This initiative is aimed at creating clear pathways to manufacturing jobs, with training and curriculum that is aligned to industry demands, said officials.

Tennessee continues to show growth in manufacturing. Data resources provided by Innovate+Educate, a national nonprofit focused on new pathways to employment, shows that as many as 12,000 jobs will need to be filled in Blount/Hamblen counties in the next four years. This includes workers that will retire, and new jobs that will be created. The project will focus on aligning employer needs (competencies) with the training in the region, working to provide assessments and job training to 250 candidates in 2016.

"The urgency for creating new pathways to manufacturing jobs has never been greater," said Ryan Kish of the Alcoa Foundation. "Tennessee has a strong manufacturing economy, but many jobs remain unfilled for months, signaling a need for better career entry points. Alcoa Foundation, with our partners at Innovate+Educate, Tennessee Association of Manufacturers, and Learning Blade are developing innovative fast track pathways to careers in manufacturing. We believe this model has the potential to be scaled nationally, resulting in effectively placing skilled talent into in-demand, well paying manufacturing jobs.

Tennessee Manufacturers Works will leverage real-time labor market information, forecasting tools, and employer feedback on competencies to articulate the competencies required for high demand manufacturing jobs. The effort will also focus on ensuring entry level workers have the ability to move into higher paying jobs within the field, assuring a promising pathways in manufacturing, said officials.

"As we work daily with manufacturers across Tennessee, the number one concern we hear from CEO's and plant managers is the lack of availability of a skilled and dedicated workforce," said Tim Spires, president of Tennessee Association of Manufacturers. "With the recent growth of manufacturing jobs in Tennessee, the increasing retirement of our skilled workforce, and the technical requirements of advanced manufacturing today, we are excited to be working with our partners in this effort. Tennessee Manufacturers Works will bring together industry, education, government, and community partners to build pathways to preparing our future workforce for great paying jobs in manufacturing."

Stakeholders interested are invited to attend one of two launches to be held Tuesday at the TCAT in Knoxville at 10 a.m. and Morristown at 1 p.m. For more information contact Megan King at mking@tennam.com or call 266-1902.






Do you ever wonder how major legacy foundations are born? OK, probably not. But some of us find such things fascinating. How does a big pile of money earned by a business leader get molded into a professional philanthropic institution designed to spew out grants until the end of time?

Many foundations dont do a very good job of recording their histories, so decades laterwhen the original founders and even their kids are goneit can be hard to know how a foundation emerged.

Which is why its interesting to watch what is happening at the Barr Foundation right now. A place that started as an anonymous giving operation, and then a family foundation, is now maturing under its first president into a more professional outfit set up to exist in perpetuity.

If youre not from Boston, you probably dont pay much attention to Barr. If you are from Boston, and raise money for a nonprofit, you might well have dreams about Barr. Or nightmares.

Barr is one of the biggest funders in the city, so its priorities matter a lot to any number of groups. And with the foundation engaged in strategic planning over the past year, this has been a jittery time for Boston nonprofits.

Barrs new president, Jim Canales, is leading the review. He was hired in 2014 from far outside Boston. One nightmare thats surely stalked city nonprofit leaders is that Canalesa hotshot tapped to run his second foundation before the age of 50would pull the plug on any number of longtime grantees who dont fit into some fancy new strategic plan.

Meanwhile, though, Ive mused about a much rosier scenario: That Canales secret mandate is to build a stronger, more professional foundation that can handle a major infusion of new assets from Barrs benefactors, Amos and Barbara Hostetter. The couple is worth $3 billion and are getting up there in years. Its not unreasonable to imagine that a big chunk of their money is destined for Barr, creating a much larger foundation that spreads even more grants around Boston. (Barr last reported assets of $1.6 billion.)

Well, today, Barr unveiled the overall results of its strategic plan, in a blog post by Canales, whom I recently spoke with to learn more about where the foundation is going. Here are a few key takeaways from that conversation.

First, as weve already reported, Barr is not going to make any seismic changes. The overall theme, here, is that the foundation aims to serve as both stewards and catalysts. The foundation will continue to support long-time interests, even as it aims to back some breakthrough work. Specifically, if you were worried that the foundation was going to look beyond Boston, cutting off local grantees as it sought greater glory on the national scene, you can sleep soundly tonight. Barrs commitment to Boston wont diminish in any significant way, Canales told me. The foundation is also staying with its three core issue areaseducation, arts and creativity, and climate change.

Second, though, Barr will step up its regional funding role. It plans to do more arts grantmaking throughout Massachusetts, and its education work will also look further afield, connecting up with other efforts underway across the state and in New England. Likewise, Barrs climate program will engage more with regional challenges, expanding its reach in the Northeast, according to Canaleseven as it doubles down on key elements of its Bostons work related to transportation and building resilience.

Third, there will definitely be some pain for existing Barr grantees, mainly in the area of education, which Canales called the area of biggest transition as a result of the new plan. Here, Canales said, the foundation really did take a step back We wanted to see if there was some particular zone where Barr could have a unique impact.

While the full details of the foundations new education grantmaking are not yet available, it will mark a real departure from the past. A key focus will be ensuring that young people arent just ready for college, but also are prepared to thrive in the workplace. Such school-to-career efforts are hot right now, both with private and corporate funders, as weve been reporting, and its a field Canales knows well from his previous stint at the Irvine Foundation, which focuses its education funding in this area, through its Linked Learning program. If youre looking for the place where Canales is putting his own stamp on Barrs priorities, this would seem to be it.

Education isnt the only area where many details remain to be filled in regarding Barrs new direction. Canales statement today provided just the broad architecture of that new direction. A series of blog posts are still to come that explain how this all translates across Barrs programs.

As for the billions of dollars the Hostetters are still sitting on, Canales said he doesnt know anything about that. And probably he doesnt. But my bet is that the Barr Foundation will be twice the size it is today within a decade.

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Say the words "education philanthropy" to someone, and you'll likely conjure up images of new charter schools and standards for teachers. But as we often point out, the agenda of K-12 funders is actually remarkably broad, and a number of new priority areas have emerged in recent years.

One niche worth spotlighting is absenteeism.

Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing at least 10 percent of school days in a single school year for excused or unexcused reasons, is a primary driver of low academic achievement and a significant predictor of which students will eventually drop out of school. The problem of chronic absenteeism is especially prevalent among students who already face significant education challenges, including low-income students, students of color, and those with disabilities.

Among a growing number of school systems, the rate of chronic absenteeism is replacing the traditional average daily attendance (ADA) rate as the measure of student school attendance. High ADA rates of 90 percent and higher suggest high student attendance overall, but may mask significant rates of chronic absenteeism in particular schools or student populations.

Recognizing the problem that chronic absences pose, the U.S. departments of Education, Justice, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services teamed up together last fall to launch "Every Student, Every Day: A National Initiative to Address and Eliminate Chronic Absenteeism," a companion to President Obama's My Brother's Keeper initiative. The initiative aims to forge tighter links among various stakeholders to build awareness of the problem of chronic absenteeism and work to eliminate the problem.

This initiative has roots in efforts that go back nearly a decade, with foundations playing a key role. In 2006, the Annie E. Casey Foundation commissioned research that looked at why so many young children were missing a lot of school days, how absenteeism was affecting educational outcomes, and what might be done about this problem. That work to led further research finding that absenteeism had serious negative consequences, especially for Latino kids. As a result, a number of educational advocacy groups began to make absenteeism a priority, and Attendance Works, a new national initiative, was launched in 2010 to tackle the problem with initial funding from Casey and also the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. It has since received funding from a number of other major foundations, including the California Endowment and the Packard Foundation, as well local funders backing its work in specific areas, including the San Francisco Foundation and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, which focuses on Arkansas.

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is another funder in the space. Last fall, it awarded up to $1 million in grants in support of Every Student, Every Day. Mott's grants will fund a public awareness campaign and a mentoring project. On the public awareness side, Mott awarded $500,000 to the Advertising Council, which will collaborate with the Department of Education on a campaign to educate parents and communities about the problem of chronic absence and its detrimental effects on student success.

On the mentoring side, Mott will support a data-driven campaign aimed at reaching targeted students in communities across the country. For this effort, Mott awarded a $500,000 grant to Johns Hopkins University and will ensure that the funder's hometown of Flint, Michigan, will receive technical assistance in implementing the mentoring program.

Mott's support of this initiative to reduce chronic absences aligns with the funder's longstanding support of after-school programs. Research indicates that participation in quality after-school programs can lead to improved student outcomes, including improved attendance.

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Self-storage properties are constantly changing hands, and Inside Self-Storage is regularly notified of these market transactions. Many are covered in detail on the ISS website and available for viewing on the Real Estate topics page. Following are additional acquisitions and sales that werent covered independently due to missing information such as buyer, seller, sale price or other relevant details.

Seminole Storage, a 55,225-square-foot facility in Zephyrhills, Fla., was sold for $2.4 million. The property at 38847 County Road 54 and 37822 State Road 54 includes 306 storage units and five office suites.

The seller, private investor Ander Gibbs, was represented in the transaction by Michael A. Mele, senior vice president of investments in the Marcus & Millichap Tampa, Fla., office and senior director of the firms National Self Storage Group, as well as Brian Baldwin, associate, and Luke Elliott, senior associate, also from the firms Tampa office.

Fort Knox Self Storage, a 118,986-square-foot facility in Greensboro, N.C., was recently sold. The property at 1900 E. Bessemer Ave. sits on nearly 8 acres. It has 865 interior units, 107 of which are climate-controlled, 51 interior parking spaces and 38 outdoor parking spaces.

Brett R. Hatcher, an investment specialist in the Marcus & Millichap Columbus, Ohio, office, represented the buyer and seller with assistance from Raj Ravi, regional manager for the companys North Carolina, South Carolina and South Virginia offices.

Sahara Mini Storage in Las Vegas was sold to a limited-liability company for $3.4 million. The property at 8140 W. Sahara Ave. comprises 52,672 square feet of storage space.

Cameron Glinton, associate, and Christopher R. Secreto, senior associate, in the Marcus & Millichap Las Vegas office represented the buyer and the seller, a personal trust, which plans to donate all proceeds of the sale to charity.

Add Space Storage, a 39,125-square-foot facility in Cincinnati, was sold for $1.8 million. The property at 4932-5040 Marburg Ave. sits on 2.5 acres and includes 331 units.

Hatcher represented the buyer and seller.

Stor'N'Loc, a 54,878-square-foot facility in Comstock Park, Mich., was sold for $1.1 million. The property at 4970 W. River Drive N.E. also has a satellite location at 820 W. River Center Drive N.E. The properties sit on a total of 3.14 acres of land and offer 229 units, some of which are flex-space units ranging in size from 25 to 2,304 square feet.

Hatcher represented the seller, a limited-liability company, with assistance from Steven Chaben, senior vice president in the Marcus & Millichap Detroit office.

San Rafael Self Storage Emporium in San Rafael, Calif., was sold for $3.3 million to an investor in the San Francisco Bay area. Built in 1982, the 1.39-acre property comprises 22,960 net rentable square feet of storage space in 168 units.

Bobby Loeffler and Tyler Skelly, self-storage specialists with The Loeffler Self-Storage Group (LSSG), represented the seller, 3105 Maleville LLC.

Phoenix-based AMERCO Real Estate Co., the acquisition and development entity for The U-Haul Co., purchased Cowboy Storage in Stillwater, Okla., for $2.3 million. The property at 1000 Airport Road comprises 58,519 rentable square feet of space.

Jared Jones, director of Porthaven Partners, represented the seller in the transaction. Jones is a broker affiliate in Oklahoma for the Argus Self Storage Sales Network.

Metro Storage LLC, which operates the Metro Self Storage brand in 12 states, purchased the two-facility Pak-It-Inn Self Storage portfolio in Conyers and Mableton, Ga., for $9.2 million. The portfolio includes 882 units, 155 of which are climate-controlled, as well as one retail unit.

Jay Crotty and Thomas Doyle of BayView Advisors represented the seller, Pak-It-Inn Self Storage Inc., and the buyer in the transaction.

AMERCO is the parent company of U-Haul International, Oxford Life Insurance Co. and Repwest Insurance Co. Established in 1945, U-Haul has 40 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,200 owned and managed facilities throughout North America.

Argus is a Denver-based network of real estate brokers who specialize in storage properties. Formed in 1994, the company has 36 broker affiliates covering nearly 40 markets.

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., BayView specializes in self-storage acquisition, development, facility expansion and renovation, refinancing, and sales.

LSSG is a commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in self-storage properties throughout the West.

Marcus & Millichap is a commercial-property investment firm with more than 1,500 investment professionals in offices throughout the United States and Canada.

Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Metro Storage is a privately owned, fully integrated real estate operating company specializing in the acquisition, development and management of self-storage facilities nationwide. It operates more than 100 self-storage properties in 12 states comprising more than 6.5 million square feet. The company also operates in Brazil under the MetroFit brand name.
Lynn Good, CEO of Charlotte, North Carolinabased Duke Energy Corp., the U.S.s largest utility, is hardly a stranger to controversy. She spent the first part of her career at accounting firm Arthur Andersen, eventually becoming a partner  a dream job for the daughter of a high school principal and a teacher  only to see the firm flame out in 2002 after it was indicted by the Department of Justice for its role in Enron Corp.s accounting scandal.

In February 2014, seven months after becoming CEO of Duke, Good learned that a drainage pipe under a storage pond at an old coal plant had broken, allowing deadly coal ash to flow into the Dan River, which lies on the border of North Carolina and Virginia. Soon Good was being attacked by environmentalists, regulators and the media. Having previously served as the energy companys CFO, she wasnt used to the spotlight. After the disaster she was constantly in the public eye and demonized as the face of corporate indifference in ads sponsored by environmentalists. The controversy culminated in a 60 Minutes profile in which Good was interviewed by veteran reporter Lesley Stahl.

Today the Dan River spill is largely behind Duke, which provides electricity to the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Although the companys move to cleaner energy started before the accident, Good has since been leading Dukes transformation into renewable energy  though its still a small part of the overall mix  and away from coal. Duke has dramatically increased its natural-gas capabilities. Good, 56, who led the companys renewable-energy projects in their initial development phase before becoming CFO, is guided by her belief that the largest U.S. electric power utility has to balance reliability, cost and the environment.

Dukes energy profile has changed significantly. In 2008 it had no natural-gas generation in the Carolinas. Since then it has modernized its system by retiring coal and introducing gas. Now about 25 percent of the companys generation in the Carolinas comes from gas.

The company has made significant investments to expand into natural gas and away from coal. In September 2015, Duke filed an application to develop the $5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline with Charlotte-based Piedmont Natural Gas and Richmond, Virginiabased Dominion to support what the companies believe is an increasing need for gas generation for electricity, as well as industry demand for infrastructure in eastern North Carolina. Earlier last year Duke said it would spend $1.1 billion to modernize plants in western North Carolina and replace a coal facility with gas. It has closed 40 coal units since 2011. Duke has spent $3 billion on commercial and regulated renewables since 2007 and plans to invest another $3 billion over the next five years.

Good says her childhood in Fairfield, Ohio, encouraged a strong work ethic. Her parents were born during the Depression, worked their way through college and became teachers. My assignment, she explains, was to go to college, find something great to do and be passionate about it. She studied systems analysis and accounting at Ohios Miami University and joined Arthur Andersen as an auditor after she graduated in 1981. When the firm collapsed, she was stunned. There wasnt much time for emotion when we were transitioning clients and staff, she recalls. But then the weight of it all hit me over a period of time. I had lost everything I had worked for.

Good moved to Deloitte & Touche in May 2002 but soon wanted out of public accounting. She took a position with Cincinnatibased Cinergy Corp. the following year. After Duke purchased Cinergy in 2006, Good first became Treasurer and then headed its commercial business. Three years later she became CFO.

Senior Writer Julie Segal recently spoke with Dukes CEO about her companys move to cleaner energy and its role in the conversation investors are having about climate change, the environment and social responsibility.

Institutional Investor: What did you learn from the Dan River spill?

Good: It was a difficult situation. As I think back to those early days, it was a relatively small spill by industrial standards. The drinking water was never affected. The river was back to normal for recreation within a relatively short period of time. But that event triggered a much broader conversation. In 2014 that conversation was about coal and it was about whether or not ash that had been stored for decades could be stored safely anywhere. The conversation got much bigger than the spill. I was constantly challenged to try to stay ahead of where it was going next. I learned to seek advice and counsel so that I could get perspective on how big [the problem] was and how it was being interpreted or dealt with by customers, legislators, regulators and employees.

Is there a scene from the spill that really stands out for you and informs what youre doing now?

I was on the site pretty quickly after the event occurred. Until you lay eyes on something, its often hard to get a full picture. We had industrial equipment everywhere. We had pumps. We had lights. We had cranes in place. We had a 24-hour operation. I was getting out of the car, and the head of fossil generation says: Lynn, Im sorry. We will fix this. And you can see the human emotion on the faces of people that are out there, that this is extraordinarily important to them and they are giving every ounce of human effort to make it right.

Youve said you dont like the spotlight. But youve been the CEO of a company in the thick of things for some time. Do you find that exhilarating in some ways?

I think its important to keep it in perspective. The outside perspective of the media or what might be in social media or whats in the newspaper  its important. Youre in the spotlight, and you have to care about getting that information as right as you can. But thats only one small slice of the pie that youre managing. Youre also overseeing internal resources, youre managing short- and long-term decisions, and youre managing the relationship of that event to others. That has to be balanced with all of the other things that are happening at the company.

Investors are increasingly interested in climate change, sustainability, governance and other social responsibility issues. How does Duke fit in?

Duke has had, and continues to have, a very keen focus on stakeholder outreach. These issues of climate and even governance matters are complicated ones. It requires sitting down and sharing perspectives, trying to get to a common view of where were trying to go and what options will be available to get there. Duke is a company that has made huge strides in these areas.

Can you talk about carbon emissions?

Our carbon emissions are down more than 22 percent since 2005. We have been moving down a very aggressive path and modernizing. Weve retired half of our coal fleet. Weve introduced natural gas and natural-gas infrastructure to support baseload generation. We are the third-largest nuclear operator in the U.S. with baseload carbon-free generation. And we also have invested more than $5 billion in renewables in North Carolina, in South Carolina and really throughout the U.S., as we have built not only solar but wind, beginning in 2007.

Its a priority. I understand the interest of investors and seeing what a companys objectives are moving forward. I think our track record demonstrates that we are moving in that direction.

We are, of course, always balancing environment with reliability.

Does there have to be a balance?

Yes. Our customers count on 24-7 uninterrupted power. Our customers also care about affordability, whether its a low-income customer who has a limited set of resources and the power bill is in the same stack as the food bill, or an industrial customer who is trying to compete with overseas opportunities and advantaged labor costs in certain markets. Energy can really be a differentiator here in the U.S. The solutions to complex problems are not simple and are not solved overnight. Im asking how we keep moving in a direction that balances all of these things: meeting the needs of our customers, producing cleaner power and maintaining the reliability that everyone counts on.

Tell us about your conversations with institutional investors, such as endowments, that are under pressure to divest from fossil fuel companies.

Its much like the one were having right now. They want to understand what our vision is of the future, how we think about clean energy and where were making our investments, how we balance affordability and reliability and the environment. Weve found that institutional investors appreciate that there isnt a silver bullet. We certainly cant close every plant we have and build completely new and find a balance with those three priorities. I think its generally a good discussion about the steps were taking to achieve a longer-term vision.

Are there any personal stories about that balance that stand out for you?

Yes, at our annual meetings, we have an opportunity to engage with a lot of different stakeholders. Recently, one stakeholder said, I think every coal plant should be closed tomorrow, and I think you should replace every one of them with renewables. And then sitting right next to that stakeholder was a customer on a fixed income, who said, I cannot afford one more dollar for my power because of my circumstances. So we are at the intersection of those two statements.

Please talk about the challenges involved with nuclear power.

Well, first, the benefits. Duke has had a long history of nuclear power, and its really been an innovator and a leader over decades. If you look at the price of power in the Carolinas, we are well below the national average. And one of the reasons is nuclear generation. Our communities here in the Carolinas are very supportive of nuclear. They understand the economic development benefits, the clean-energy element, and I think they have confidence around our and the industrys safety track record.

As a company, as an industry, we want to keep nuclear in the mix for as long as we possibly can, because it runs all the time and it produces no carbon emissions. But new nuclear is extraordinarily difficult. Its very expensive. It takes seven or eight years to build. We have had a license application pending at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for eight years and expect perhaps to hear from them this year.

How can you plan around that?

Exactly, thats an eight-year license cycle and a seven-to-eight year build cycle. Even if you started the day you got it, its end to end, 15 years. And the price tag is in the range of $15 billion for a new plant. Given the changes in technology and political sentiments that could occur in that time frame, as well as stakeholders being as active as they are, it is a tough decision to build new nuclear. There are only four units under construction in the U.S. right now. There are over 20 under construction in China. I think it needs to be part of the clean energy conversation, but theres still a lot of work to do.

Though nuclear energy might be an outlier, arent most of your investments implemented far into the future?

Yes, I always need to be planning for circumstances in 2020, 2025 and 2030. Think about technological innovation. We cannot conclude weve innovated everything today. I need to keep my options open for investment as technology continues to develop. I cant create great obsolescence risk for my customers. Whether its a solar panel, whether its a smart meter, whether its a communication device, every one of those are going to have innovations between now and 2025.

Tell us about your R&D priorities, particularly in clean energy.

We are one of the largest investors in storage, exploring technology for renewables  large-scale portable devices that could help during service interruptions and even smaller storage solutions for customers homes. We are focused on storage because it represents a potential solution for some of the issues that hamstring renewable energy: the wind doesnt always blow, for example, so you need to store this energy for a calm day.

Were also looking at technologies around the grid  the wires connecting a generating station and a customer. We need more resiliency, better communication techniques and better information for customers. We spend a lot of time on renewables and how to make them more efficient. Were exploring how to get more energy out of them, where to place them and how the inconsistency of renewables energy output fits with the rest of our system.

Follow Julie Segal on Twitter at @julie_segal.

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Since early last year, Jon Finneys duties at CTC myCFO have included building out the impact investing practice. Finneys mission as director of impact investment with the $41 billion registered investment adviser: Identify opportunities that deliver social and environmental benefits as well as financial returns.

Like other RIAs, Chicago-headquartered CTC myCFO is seeing more interest in sustainable, responsible and impact (SRI) investing. The firm views impact, whose high-profile proponents include British venture capitalist Sir Ronald Cohen and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, as the next generation of SRI.

Impact investments let clients hone their SRI interest to specific social and/or environmental interests, geographic regions or specific companies, among other advantages, says Portland, Oregonbased Finney, who reckons that 5 to 10 percent of CTC myCFOs 300-plus clients have inquired about SRI opportunities.

Those investors are part of a growing trend. U.S.-managed assets using SRI strategies swelled by 76 percent, from $3.74 trillion to $6.57 trillion, between the start of 2012 and early 2014, according to the Washington-based US SIF: the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Nationwide, such assets now account for more than 1 of every 6 dollars under professional management, US SIF reports.

Institutional investments make up roughly two thirds of the SRI total, but a February 2015 survey by the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing found that 71 percent of individual investors are interested in sustainable options.

People used to view their portfolios as just a livelihood, says Andy Kapyrin, director of research and partner at RegentAtlantic Capital, a $3 billion RIA in Morristown, New Jersey. But clients attitudes are changing, Kapyrin notes: Social concerns have started to influence their portfolio decisions. For example, some no longer allocate to industries they find objectionable, like those involved in tobacco or weapons. Others are seeking out investments aimed at tackling problems such as illiteracy and disease.

RegentAtlantic and other RIAs agree that more clients, particularly Millennials, the demographic cohort born between 1981 and 1996, want information on socially responsible investments. Kapyrin estimates that 2 percent of his firms customers focus on SRI; another 4 to 5 percent would qualify as engaged, based on their reservations about industries like tobacco. To cater to these clients, RegentAtlantic suggests strategies and investments that address their concerns and strive to keep portfolios diversified.

The original SRI used so-called negative screens to eliminate industries and corporations that conflicted with an investors values. As consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors gained traction in the mid-1990s, managers began adopting positive, or inclusive, screens to identify companies with strong social and environmental track records.

Given the variety of approaches available to investors, its not surprising that RIAs customers differ on how to make SRI part of their portfolios. Mick Bleyle, vice president at $14 billion Innovest Portfolio Solutions in Denver, says some of his clients want negative screens; others prefer positive, inclusive screens or wish to explore impact investing.

Screening out broad categories like tobacco and weapons remains the easiest SRI strategy to implement, but Kapyrin warns that imposing multiple negative screens can reduce diversification opportunities. Bleyle and CTC myCFOs Finney report that more of the investment managers they work with are including positive screens in their research, which reduces the RIAs workload.

One common criticism of socially responsible investments is that they fall down when it comes to financial reward. But such investments produce competitive returns, according to the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing, which last March published a report examining the performance of more than 10,000 open-end mutual funds and some 2,800 separately managed accounts. One finding: For 64 percent of the periods studied from 2007 to 2014, sustainable mutual funds had equal or better returns and equal or lower volatility when compared with their traditional counterparts.

The authors conclusion: We ultimately found that investing in sustainability has usually met, and often exceeded, the performance of comparable traditional investments. This is on both an absolute and a risk-adjusted basis, across asset classes and over time.

At Innovest, more clients are moving toward impact investing, Bleyle says. In most cases, though, that interest hasnt translated into dollar commitments. Some clients have decided to keep making impact investments through their private foundations grants, but others are unsure how proceed when it comes to their portfolios.

We have clients that have been discussing allocating a percentage of their portfolio to impact investments, Bleyle explains. We have clients who have been discussing using impact investment loans as part of their fixed-income allocation. In early March, to help them decide, Innovest is co-sponsoring CO Impact Days, a three-day Denver event that will connect philanthropists and investors with social ventures.

Although managers may consider impact investments at a global level, RIAs clients often seek local opportunities, where they can play a more active role, Bleyle says. Hes found that his firms diverse client roster, which includes nonprofits, can serve as an informal network for donors and local organizations seeking funds: It makes for a great opportunity to match some of those pairs of individuals, both those that are seeking capital and those that are looking to invest the capital.

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The commission responsible for enforcing workers compensation laws in North Carolina has cracked down in the last year on employers who dont carry proper insurance, collecting $1 million in civil fines from uninsured companies.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that the state Industrial Commission also charged 100 employers with misdemeanors for willingly going without coverage.

State law requires any employer with three or more employees to provide workers compensation insurance at no cost to the workers.

Despite the improvements, commission leaders know problems continue.

The goal is to head it off and get to compliance before theres an injury, said Andrew Heath, who has overseen the commissions work since Gov. Pat McCrory appointed him chairman in early 2013. Heath will soon leave the commission to be McCrorys budget director; a replacement at the commission has not yet been named.

The News & Observer reported in April 2012 that as many as 30,000 employers in North Carolina required to purchase workers compensation had not. The following year, the state auditor reported the commission had done nothing to intervene as more than 11,000 businesses in 2012 canceled policies or let them lapse.

In the last fiscal year, the commission investigated nearly 2,000 cases involving potential lack of coverage, and those efforts brought 800 companies into compliance. In that same year, the commission ruled that 71 workers were injured while working for employers without proper insurance.

Its unclear how many employers currently lack coverage because of changes made in 2013 in how the information is shared between insurance carriers and the commission.

So far, the commission has not pursued companies that misclassify employees as independent contractors. Gov. Pat McCrory, however, has ordered the commission to take a new role in stopping misclassification.

In mid-December, McCrory issued an executive order placing the Industrial Commission in charge of coordinating how various state agencies respond to information about businesses that might be cheating. He charged each agency to enforce its rules and issue appropriate sanctions when they find a business misclassifying workers.

McCrory acted after lawmakers didnt pass legislation that would have established a team of investigators at the state Department of Revenue to pursue companies that misclassify workers.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Workers' Compensation Commercial Lines Business Insurance North Carolina
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Coca-Cola Co. and 73 other companies that together buy more than $2 trillion of goods and services are unprepared for climate shocks because suppliers are ignoring requests for data on their exposure to rising temperatures and climate regulation.

Almost half of the 7,879 main suppliers to 75 companies including General Motors Co., Microsoft Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. failed to respond to requests for data on managing climate risk, according to a report on Tuesday by non-profit organizations CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, and BSR, a sustainability consultant.

Many large companies pledged to take measures to address climate change to contribute to a United Nations climate agreement between 195 nations sealed last month in Paris. Theyre taking steps to prepare for weather extremes such as flooding and drought brought on by global warming. While theyre setting targets to cut their own fossil-fuel pollution, the report shows their suppliers, which are responsible for as much as four times as much greenhouse gas emissions, are out of sync.

Companies have a vital role to play in implementing the Paris agreement, Paul Simpson, chief executive officer of CDP, said in an e-mailed statement. Those that are unable to do so risk being the losers from this inevitable transition.

Only 4,005 suppliers, about 51 percent of those asked, provided data on their climate risk management, water risks or carbon emissions. Of those which did respond, 72 percent said climate change risks could significantly impact their operations, sales or costs. Nearly two-thirds said climate policies, such as carbon taxes, posed a risk to their business.

But less than half of respondents set a target to cut carbon emissions and only 34 percent reduced emissions in the past year.

Emissions are not reducing at the rate required to meet the Paris goals, nor are suppliers building the resilience they need to deal with the climate impacts they will inevitably face, Christiana Figueres, the UNs top climate diplomat, said in the report.

Companies should work with suppliers to encourage greater action on climate change, according to the report. For example Danish toymaker Lego A/S started hosting innovation camps in the hope of creating joint projects with suppliers that could reduce carbon emissions collaboratively. Other companies have threatened to drop suppliers that fail to comply with their environmental policies.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Climate Change Risk Management
Islamic State and other militants are very likely to attempt big new attacks in Europe following those in Paris, the EUs police agency said on Monday, echoing previous warnings by senior security officials.

The assessment was based on discussions concluded eight weeks ago by security agencies from EU states. The eight-page public report said further attacks could even take place quite soon.

The events in Paris appear to indicate a shift towards a broader strategy of IS going global, of them specifically attacking France, but also the possibility of attacks against other member states of the EU in the near future, it said.

There was every reason to expect an attack, by Islamic State or IS-inspired terrorists or another religiously inspired terrorist group. This is in addition to the threat of lone actor attacks, which has not diminished, it said.

At a news conference to mark the launch of a new European Counter Terrorism Centre within Europol, based in The Hague, its director Rob Wainwright said Islamic State has the willingness and capability to carry out further attacks in Europe.

Since immediately after the Paris attacks on Nov. 13, in which Islamic State gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people, Wainwright, a senior British police officer, has said further similar attacks are likely in Europe and that lone wolf militants are no longer the prime threat.

The Europol report said Islamic State may have established an external action command trained for special forces-style attacks in the international environment and noted that, as the Paris attacks showed, the group was largely active in Europe through radicalized European citizens, not foreigners.

The report also warned of a risk of cyber attacks but said there was no evidence of Islamist militants trying to use chemical, biological or nuclear material as a weapon in Europe.

Wainwright welcomed what he called a considerable improvement in the level of intelligence information that EU governments were now willing to share with each other through Europol following the attacks on Paris, which have concentrated minds on a need for cooperation against Islamist threats.

Currently, some 30 Europol experts are working to support the Franco-Belgian investigation into the Paris attack, Wainwright said, helping track movements of money, weapons, fake documents and other elements of the plot.

(Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Tom Heneghan)

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Europe
XL Catlins insurance segment announced it has opened its third office in Australia, located in Brisbane.

The office will be initially staffed by Geoff Still and Steve Rogers covering property & casualty underwriting, respectively, with expansion planned into other lines over time.

Steve Williamson, regional engineering leader for XL Catlins property engineering division  Global Asset Protection Services (GAPS), will also be based out of the Brisbane office.

Still has been with XL Catlin since 2013, and has over 15 years experience in property underwriting and broking, including six years in the Brisbane market. Rogers joined XL Catlin in 2008 and has almost 20 years experience in liability insurance, on both the claims and underwriting sides of the business. Williamson has 21 years industry experience; he joined XL Catlin in 1995, before moving to Australia with GAPS in 2004.

Commenting, Robin Johnson, country manager, Australia, said: Opening this office continues our Australasian expansion. It will allow us to get closer to our Queensland brokers and clients, to be more responsive to their needs and provide them with the service excellence that they expect from XL Catlin.

XL Catlins operations in Australia date back to September 1998, when the company opened its first office in Sydney. Today, XL Catlin in Australia has over 100 employees across the three offices of Angel Place in Sydney, 500 Collins Street in Melbourne and now Riverside Centre, Brisbane.

Source: XL Catlin

Topics AXA XL Australia
Bank of England Deputy Governor Andrew Bailey will become the new chief executive officer of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, as the Chancellor George Osborne turned to a familiar face following a six-month search for the countrys top markets regulator.

Bailey, 56, will take over from acting CEO Tracey McDermott for a five-year term once his successor at the Prudential Regulation Authority, where hes currently CEO, is found, the U.K. Treasury said in a statement Tuesday. The FCA said in a separate statement he was expected to take up the role in July 2016.

We have cast the net far and wide for this crucial appointment and, having led the Bank of Englands response to the financial crisis, Andrew is simply the most respected, most experienced and most qualified person in the world to do the job, Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said in the statement. His appointment is an important next step in the establishment of the FCA as a strong regulator, independent of government and industry.

The search for a new chief of the FCA has been under way since last summer when Osborne ousted former CEO Martin Wheatley in July, saying different leadership was needed. The move came on the back of comments from Osborne that the era of ever- larger fines for bank misconduct was over.

Todays announcement is the first time Baileys name had been connected to the top FCA job during a lengthy search that was heavily covered in national newspapers.

Drop-Outs

The search has been punctuated recently by candidates that withdrew from the race. McDermott pulled out of the running last year, while media reports Monday said former CEO of Ofcom Ed Richards also pulled out of the process. Other candidates linked to the role were Greg Medcraft, the head of the Australian markets regulator, and Swiss regulatory chief Mark Branson.

The appointment of Bailey, who is already a member of the FCA board, brings an end to a 30-year career at the Bank of England where he has held roles including executive director for banking services and chief cashier. He became CEO of the PRA when it was created from the former Financial Services Authority in April 2013. The FSA was split in two to create the FCA and PRA in a government effort to better manage regulation and supervision of the banking sector post-crisis.

Bailey studied at the University of Cambridge where he received a degree in history and a Ph.D. in economic history.

In taking up the FCA role, Bailey may face a tough road ahead after the regulator has come in for criticism over a number of issues in the last two years, including a a botched press briefing in 2014 that sent shares in the insurance market tumbling and, more recently, a decision to drop a review into banking culture.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Legislation
A man labeled by Visitors Bureau officials as their "number one enemy downtown" has been charged with aggressive panhandling.

Police said Mendon John Price, 49, was hustling patrons attending a Symphony performance at the Tivoli Theatre when he was arrested last Thursday.

Police said Price is "banned from many parts of downtown for being a nuisance panhandler."

Officers said he has been issued numerous citations to City Court, but he ignores those "and continues his aggressive panhandling."

Police said he keeps a harmonica with him "as a prop. He pulls the harmonica out when we show up in guise of entertaining for proceeds."

Price has an extensive record dating back to 1996.

He is a resident of the Boynton Overlook Apartments at 1201 Boynton Dr., according to police.


American International Group Inc. announced $3.6 billion in expenses to fill a reserve shortfall after higher-than-expected claims costs and will exit its mortgage insurer and sell an adviser network as Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock seeks to boost returns and protect his job amid criticism from activist investor Carl Icahn.

Hancock will offer a 19.9 percent stake in the mortgage unit United Guaranty Corp. to the public in a step toward a complete exit of that business, AIG said Tuesday in a statement ahead of the CEOs presentation to Wall Street. The insurer also is reorganizing into modular business segments to create flexibility to sell or take public additional units if they underperform. Hancock vowed to return $25 billion to shareholders over the next two years as he reshapes the company after spending more than $9 billion in 2015 on share buybacks.

AIG has given activist shareholders some red meat, maybe not as much as they wanted, David Havens, a debt analyst at Imperial Capital, said in a message. They are navigating a middle ground that preserves most of AIG as it is now, but offers the flexibility to spin off or sell units in the future.

Hancocks company climbed 2.6 percent in early trading to $56.80 at 7:25 a.m. in New York. AIG, which offers both life insurance and property-casualty coverage, trades for about 70 percent of book value, while large P&C carriers such as Chubb Ltd. and Travelers Cos. are valued at more than the metric of assets minus liabilities.

Legacy Portfolio

The CEO also announced the creation a legacy portfolio of assets that he will sell or wind down. Hancock designated Charlie Shamieh, who oversaw life, health and disability operations, as legacy CEO.

The reserve shortfall highlights weaknesses even at units that Icahn envisions as the core of a scaled-back company. The fourth-quarter pretax cost to fill the gap includes $1.3 billion tied to policies from 2004 and earlier, with the remaining $2.3 billion covering the period of 2005 through 2014. Most of the expenses were tied to casualty coverage, where it can take many years before claims are fully paid. Insurers periodically review whether they have enough money set aside for such expenses, and the cost of strengthening reserves drains earnings.

AIG has been stung repeatedly by higher-than-expected costs from risks that the company assumed in the past, whether from environmental liabilities or workers compensation policies. The New York-based company was built into the worlds largest insurer by Maurice Hank Greenberg, and each of the five men who held the CEO post since his 2005 departure has grappled with the insurers complexity.

Decade of Trying

The company shrank by half as AIG sold assets to repay a 2008 bailout, and Hancock narrowed the focus further after taking over in late 2014. He sold stakes in aircraft lessor AerCap Holdings NV and lender Springleaf Holdings Inc. while parting with businesses in Central America and Taiwan.

After a decade of trying to fix the firm, given the substantial structural disadvantages unique to AIG, we believe breaking up AIG and selling it off piece by piece to its structurally advantaged peers is simply a more realistic path to creating shareholder value, Josh Stirling, an analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., said Monday in a note.

Icahn has said the insurer needs to shrink to escape its status as a systemically important financial institution, which can lead to tighter capital rules from the Federal Reserve. Hancock has said that the costs are not overly burdensome, and that the insurer will continue to be highly regulated even if its not a SIFI.

Chairmans Support

AIG believes that a full breakup in the near term would detract from, not enhance, shareholder value, Chairman Doug Steenland said in a statement. The boards actions reflect its full support for the plans that Peter Hancock and his management team have put forward.

Insurer MetLife Inc., one of the other three non-bank SIFIs, said this month that it will separate a domestic retail unit with $240 billion in assets through a sale, spinoff or public offering as CEO Steve Kandarian seeks to limit regulation. General Electric Co. said last week that it is targeting a March exit of too-big-to-fail status after wrapping up deals to sell commercial lending assets and unload a Utah bank charter.

Buying the Bad

The mortgage guarantor contributed $464 million in pretax operating income in the first nine months of last year, or about 12 percent of the total from commercial insurance. The United Guaranty unit is probably worth $3.5 billion or less, according to estimates in the past week from analysts John Nadel of Piper Jaffray Cos. and Meyer Shields of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. They cited the share plunges this year of publicly traded mortgage insurers like MGIC Investment Corp. and Radian Group Inc. That compares with AIGs market value of more than $68 billion as of Mondays close.

I still dont see the benefit of spinning part or all of UGC  its a profitable business, and the only purpose seems to be to fund the buyback, Shields said in an e-mail Tuesday. In other words, selling good businesses to buy more of the remaining bad businesses.

Icahns View

Icahn sent his third letter to AIG last week, telling the board that management could lose credibility if Tuesdays presentation fails to outline a drastic change. The activist first publicly voiced his separation plan in an October letter to Hancock, and sent another a month later saying he may solicit shareholders and seek a new director, who would agree in advance to take the CEO post if the board asks.

Hancock had also set new financial targets in February. He pledged to boost book value, increase return on equity and cut general operating costs by 3 percent to 5 percent annually through 2017. The CEO has since committed to eliminating hundreds of senior level positions. Still, operating ROE trails rivals at AIG and was 7.1 percent in the nine months through September.

Amazingly, you have turned the quest for a 10 percent ROE into a half-decade journey, Icahn said in October.

AIG said Tuesday that it is targeting a consolidated ROE of about 9 percent by next year, with at least 10.3 percent in the operating portfolio that Hancock sees as the core of the business. He also announced expense reductions of $1.6 billion within two years.

AIG has taken another major step in simplifying our organization to be a leaner, more profitable insurer, while continuing to return capital to shareholders, he said in the statement. The creation of more nimble, standalone business units that can grow within AIG or be spun out or sold allows us to do what is in our shareholders best interest.

Advisor Group

The AIG Advisor Group is being purchased by funds affiliated with Donald Marrons Lightyear Capital and by PSP Investments, a pension fund manager in Canada, Hancock said in a separate statement that didnt disclose terms.

Hancock previously said that the insurer benefits from its breadth of product offerings and global reach, and that a separation could squander at least a third of AIGs tax assets, which were valued at about $15 billion in the third quarter of 2015.

The insurer accumulated tax assets in years when it was unprofitable, and they help limit future obligations to the government. Icahn said this month that the loss of tax assets wont be as severe as Hancock said because they become less valuable over time, and it will take a while to complete transactions.

A separation could also be bad for bondholders, Hancock has said. Moodys Investors Service has called Icahns initial plan negative for the companys debt.

With assistance from Dan Reichl and Katherine Chiglinsky.

AIGs Plan to Maximize Shareholder Value:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers
American International Group Inc. has agreed to sell AIG Advisor Group to investment funds affiliated with Lightyear Capital LLC, a private equity firm specializing in financial services investing, and PSP Investments, one of Canadas largest pension investment managers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2016, subject to regulatory approvals.

AIG Advisor Group is among the largest networks of independent broker-dealers in the United States, with more than 5,200 independent advisors and more than 800 full-time employees. Advisor Group is comprised of four broker-dealers, FSC Securities Corporation, Atlanta; Royal Alliance Associates, New York; SagePoint Financial, Phoenix; and Woodbury Financial Services, Oakdale, Minn.

AIG continues to review its business strategy and take actions to become a more efficient, less complex company, able to respond to our clients needs with greater agility, said Peter Hancock, president and chief executive officer of AIG, who cited high compliance costs of the broker-dealer unit as one reason behind the divestiture move.

Lightyear Capital, through its three affiliated private equity funds, has raised over $2.5 billion of capital and makes primarily control investments in North America-based, middle-market financial services companies.

PSP Investments is one of Canadas largest pension investment managers, with CAD$112 billion of assets under management as at March 31, 2015. It invests funds for the pension plans of the Public Service, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Reserve Force.

Topics Agencies Canada
American International Group (AIG) CEO Peter Hancock, who announced the sale of the companys AIG Advisor Group and a partial (19 percent) spin-off of mortgage insurer United Guaranty Corp., said AIG is open to further divestiture, even of its biggest divisions, however now is not the right time.

Hancock told analysts that before selling off additional businesses or splitting the company, AIG prefers to wait to learn the full regulatory effects of its systemically important financial institution (SIFI) designation and to focus on its two-year plan for increasing shareholder value. The plan promises returning at least $25 billion in capital to shareholders over the next two years, on top of the $12 billion returned in 2015.

Hancock said any possible sale or spinoff of the larger Commercial Insurance and Consumer Insurance businesses would depend on tax considerations and their performance.

In addition to the broker-dealer and mortgage business divestitures, the plan calls for reorganizing the remaining AIG businesses into nine modular units, each with its own financial metrics, and taking steps to cut expenses by $1.6 billion including continuing to move operations to low cost sites and use of outsourcing.

Icahn Split

Activist investor Carl Icahn has been pressuring Hancock to shrink the company in order to shed its SIFI designation, which can lead to tighter capital rules from the Federal Reserve. MetLife, also a non-bank SIFIs, announced recently that it will spinoff its domestic retail unit to limit regulation tied to its SIFI designation. Also, General Electric Co. plans to sell its commercial lending business and a Utah bank to exit its SIFI designation by March.

But Hancock said his company has already taken some of the de-risking steps other non-bank financial firms are now announcing to avoid restrictions posed by SIFI.

Hancock said AIG believes there are important tax and diversification reasons that preclude major divestiture in the near term.

Worrying about about a SIFI designation today is a distraction from its plan for profitability, Hancock said.

He said SIFI risk is maybe number 15 on the list of things the company needs to do to improve value to shareholders.

He said that while there are no sacred cows when it comes to divestiture or improving value, reorganizing into nine modules will eventually help make it easier for anyone to evaluate the units including potential acquirers.

He rejected again the idea of splitting AIG now into separate property/casualty, life and mortgage insurance businesses.

A modest pace of divestitures is what makes sense at this time, according to Hancock.

His position has the support of the AIG board of directors.

After careful consideration, AIG believes that a full breakup in the near term would detract from, not enhance, shareholder value. A lack of diversification benefits would reduce capital available for distribution, and there would be a loss of tax benefits. Being a non-bank SIFI is not currently a binding constraint on return of capital, Chairman Doug Steenland said in a statement.

Icahn has not yet responded to Hancocks plan. However, last week continued his criticism of Hancock and he said small-scale asset sales and incremental cost cutting would not be enough to satisfy shareholders.

If this occurs then the little credibility management now has will be lost, Icahn said in a statement. It is my hope that after the events outlined above and in light of managements poor performance over the last several years, particularly in the property & casualty (P&C) segment, the board will take matters into its own hands if management still resists drastic change.

Icahn has vowed to organize shareholders to replace Hancock with a CEO willing to follow his plan to split the insurer into three.

P/C Operations

Hancock maintained that the property/casualty operation, while it has fallen short in some areas, has made progress in reducing its accident ratio and cutting troublesome casualty lines. The current goal is to further reduce the commercial lines accident year loss ratio, which has been cut by 10 points in recent years, by six additional points. Hancock said it takes time to improve this business since it has long tails in the U.S.

In terms of improving the property/casualty operations, Commercial CEO Robert Schimek said AIG would continue to concentrate on improving its U.S. casualty business as well as its global property business by narrowing its focus and by greater use of reinsurance and loss mitigation resources.

Narrowing its focus could mean shrinking or withdrawing from certain lines of business or countries and dropping customers for whom AIG is not their most valuable insurance partner.

We think there are lines that despite our efforts we should exit, he told analysts. In addition he said there are clients that buy only one product from AIG and that single relationship may not fit with AIGs desire to be its clients most valuable insurer.

Geographically AIG operates in 90 countries and while Schimek said it is important for AIG to maintain its multinational platform, there are some countries where AIG may narrow its focus.

Schimek would not name lines or countries where AIG might pull back.

In the area of consumer insurance, AIG hopes to expand on its success in the high net worth market while reducing its footprint for individual products in 15 countries.

Topics Trends Property Casualty Property Casualty
AXIS Healthcarethe division of AXIS Insurance that provides professional liability insurance and associated standard casualty coverages for physician groups, hospitals, allied healthcare facilities and individual physicianshas launched a new medical catastrophe (contagion) business interruption product for hospitals. The coverage protects medical entities in the U.S. and Canada against a loss of revenue caused by the outbreak of a contagious disease.

The AXIS Healthcare Medical Catastrophe Business Interruption and Extra Expense product includes coverage for any disease that is transmitted by direct or indirect contact. These diseases include bubonic plague, MRSA, Legionnaires Disease, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Hantavirus, SARS, West Nile Virus, HIV, Ebola Virus, Marburg Virus, Lassa Fever, Influenza, and Bird Flu, as well as other lesser-known viruses or plagues. The new product would also provide coverage for diseases that have not yet been discovered by science, or a disease that could mutate into a pandemic at some point in the future.

Kimber Lantry, head of AXIS Healthcare said pandemics represent an especially serious risk for healthcare providers. During the 2003 SARS outbreak, hospitals were identified as the source of the spread of infection, resulting in the partial or complete shutdown of three hospitals in Canada. Additionally, Kimber added, after the first Ebola patient was admitted to Texas Presbyterian Hospital in October of 2014, the hospital lost $20.3 million in revenue over a two-month period, with a decline in inpatient days of 22 percent and a decline in ER visits of 49 percent during the first month.

The policy responds when the contagion directly results in any one of four triggers:

A governmental quarantine of a hospital;

If 25 percent or more of the medical personnel do not come to work;

A 25 percent or more reduction in inpatient stays; or

A 25 percent or more reduction in emergency room visits.

The maximum length of coverage is limited to twelve months from the date the coverage is triggered.

Prior to offering a quotation, a hospital must work with AXIS Healthcare on a pandemic preparedness assessment. The company will send, at its own expense, a healthcare risk manager with specialized skills in pandemic preparedness to assess the quality of the hospitals pandemic program.

AXIS Capital is a Bermuda-based global provider of specialty lines insurance and treaty reinsurance.

Topics COVID-19
Federal safety regulators cited a Texas flooring company for workplace hazards after a worker required hospitalization due to workplace injuries.

Subfloor Systems Inc. of Hurst, Texas, was fined $66,990 by the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a worker fell off a balcony at a Fort Worth commercial construction site.

An inspection that began on July 29, 2015, resulted in citations for one willful and one serious violation. The citations were issued on Jan. 20, 2016.

The companys failure to ensure employees use fall protection resulted in the willful violation, and failing to train workers in recognizing and avoiding fall hazards, specifically in a language that each employee understands, led to the serious violation.

Subfloor Systems, a flooring and concrete company, employs about 62 workers at its headquarters in Hurst, Texas.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA

Topics Texas
The latest workers compensation report from Floridas insurance regulator says the states workers compensation market remained competitive and well capitalized in 2014, but reforms put in place by state lawmakers in 2003 may have reached their maximum effectiveness.

Findings and analysis from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulations (OIR) 2015 Workers Compensation Annual Report reports this factor, coupled with several pending court cases, could impact the affordability and capacity of the Floridas workers comp market going forward. The reports results didnt stray too much from OIRs 2013 analysis as there has yet to be a decision on three of the four major workers comp court cases.

The annual report of the states workers comp market in calendar year 2014 compared Florida with the six most populous states  California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. In 2014, 256 privately-owned insurers actively wrote workers compensation insurance in Florida, ranking it fifth of the six states.

However, OIRs analysis found that Florida is one of only two states where a private market insurance company  Bridgefield Employers Insurance Co.  is the largest insurance company in the state rather than a state-created residual market entity. Private insurance companies dominate the Florida market by writing more than 95 percent of the workers compensation coverage.

In total, these private sector insurers wrote more than $2.5 billion in premium. Three insurers entered the Florida workers compensation market in 2014 and five insurers voluntarily exited the Florida market; three of the exits were insurers merging with another insurer.

These new entrants and voluntary withdrawals had no disruptive impact on the marketplace, as should be the case in a competitive market, the report states.

Bridgefield had 10.5 percent of the market share in 2014. That was down from the 11.34 percent the company had in 2013. The other top insurers in the state were FCCI Insurance Co. with 5.27 percent of the market and Zenith Insurance with 5.24 percent, followed by Technology Insurance Co., RetailFirst, Comp Options, Associated Industries, Amerisure, FFVA Mutual, and Twin City Fire. The top 10 companies carry a cumulative market share of 43.16 percent, with no one firm having an overly dominant impact on the market.

Bridgefield, owned by Summit Holdings Southeast, was sold by Liberty Mutual at the beginning of 2014 to American Financial Group and is now a member of AFGs Great American Insurance Group. According to the report, AFG has 12.6 percent of the Florida workers comp market. Thats down from Liberty Mutuals 16.9 percent the year before but still gives AFG the largest market share of any other insurer group in the state.

AmTrust NGH is right behind AFG with 12.2 percent of the market, followed by Travelers with 6 percent, Fairfax Financial with 5.5 percent, and Hartford Fire & Casualty Group with 5.4 percent.

Additionally, OIR said rates in the state have remained low. OIR ordered the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) to decrease rates by 4.7 percent for policies effective on January 1, 2016. This was the second decrease in two years and represents a 60.3 percent cumulative reduction in Floridas workers compensation rates since legislative reforms were passed in 2003. The report states this is an indication the reform measures delivered the desired result and lowered costs dramatically.

However, the report goes on to warn that medical cost drivers, particularly in the areas of drug costs, hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgical centers are higher in Florida than the countrywide average. It recommends lawmakers pass legislative reforms to address these issues.

There are also still several pending court cases that could negatively affect the workers compensation market by leading to increased rates and the states inability to retain its competitive advantage in this area.

One of the cases that has been in limbo for several years was over the constitutionality of the exclusive remedy provision of the Workers Compensation Act. A lower court judge found the provision unconstitutional but that decision was later overturned by the Third District Court of Appeals. In December, the Florida Supreme Court denied a request by the plaintiffs to review the case.

The three other cases still pending include one over whether the 104-week statutory cap on temporary total disability benefits is unconstitutional and another questioning the constitutionality of the statutory attorney fee formula.

The third case currently being reviewed by the Florida Supreme Court is also challenging the constitutionality of Floridas workers compensation law. The appellant in the case claims the 2003 law is an inadequate replacement for the tort system because of the elimination of permanent partial disability benefits (PPD) and the addition of a copay for medical visits after a claimant reaches maximum medical improvement.

OIR said in its report these cases are being closely monitored by Florida regulators.

Floridas residual market, the Florida Workers Compensation Joint Underwriting Association (FWCJUA), has remained small despite significant increases in the number of policies and in written premiums for the past several years. In an NCCI analysis of the residual market based on size, Florida had the smallest percentage of premium when compared with 26 other states except for Idaho. The state also had the smallest number of policies than all states included in the analysis except for Idaho, the District of Columbia, Alabama and South Dakota.

Based on calendar year 2014 data, only 2.3 percent of Florida policyholders obtain coverage through the FWCJUA, which represents only 1.2 percent of the Florida direct written premium.

The residual market is small, suggesting the voluntary market is absorbing the vast majority of demand, the OIR report states.

Floridas aggregate loss ratios are also encouraging  55.6 percent for the direct loss ratio and 63.8 percent for the direct loss ratio plus defense cost containment costs says the OIR report. In 2014, they were the second lowest among the six most populous states with only Texas having lower ratios. However, they were up slightly from 2013s loss ratios of 50.77 and 57.10, respectively.

Workers compensation fraud continued to plague the state, the report says, but the Bureau of Workers Compensation Fraud, within the Division of Insurance Fraud made 540 workers comp fraud-related arrests for fiscal year 2014-2015, an increase of 14 percent. In excess of $4.3 million in restitution was requested as a result of the Bureaus investigations of shell companies, labor brokers and check cashing stores.

Overall, OIR said Floridas workers compensation system is robust and not overly concentrated. It continues to allow for ease of entry and exit for insurance companies in the marketplace.

OIR released its findings to the Florida Legislature, as required by law, to annually evaluate competition in the workers compensation market and to investigate and use data in its review of such rate filings.

Related:

Topics Carriers Florida Legislation Workers' Compensation Fraud
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is on board with letting Uber offer rides in West Virginia.

Tomblin spokeswoman Shayna Varner says the governor plans to introduce a bill letting ridesharing companies, including Uber and Lyft, operate in the state.

An Uber push in the GOP-led Legislature died last year. Among other issues, a pocket of lawmakers opposed a provision to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender riders from discrimination.

Varner says Tomblins version will require that companies have a nondiscrimination policy and comply with nondiscrimination laws.

The bill would require companies to have a Division of Motor Vehicles permit, car insurance, underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage and a zero tolerance drug and alcohol policy.

Tomblins bill hasnt been released yet.

Republican Sen. Chris Walters has also introduced an Uber bill.

Topics Virginia
Several Utah universities are joining colleges around the country in restricting hoverboards on campus as federal officials review dozens of fires tied to the self-balancing scooters.

At least two Utah schools, including Brigham Young University, bar riding them on campus, and four others dont allow them in student housing, including the flagship University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

The rules come as the two-wheeled, motorized scooters gain popularity on campus. Southern Utah University spokeswoman Ellen Treanor said she sees them every day.

People are parking blocks away and jumping on their hoverboards to ride them in, she said. The Cedar City-based institution has a temporary ban on them in on-campus housing, and riding them is restricted at some places on campus. Dixie State University has a similar policy and is also working to keep them out of other indoor spaces.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported in early January that its investigating fires in 19 states tied to the motorized scooters.

The gadgets have been blamed for fires that damaged homes from New Jersey to California.

The commission announced Wednesday that it was expanding its investigation to look at how the design of the devices has led to falls and serious injuries such as fractures and brain injuries.

The current designs of these products might not take fully into consideration the different weights of different users, potentially leading to the units speeding up or lurching in a manner that a user would not have reason to anticipate, especially a first-time user, Commission chairman Elliot Kaye said in a statement.

Nationwide, more than 30 colleges and universities have banned the devices. The potential fire danger comes from the lithium-ion batteries that power the hoverboards.

The devices also are prohibited on New York City streets, and a new law in California requires riders to be at least 16 and wear a helmet in public.

In Utah, some schools regulate the devices like skateboards. Both are barred from Brigham Young Universitys Provo campus due to concerns about collisions or falls.

Were a pedestrian friendly campus, said Todd Hollingshead, a spokesman for the school. Its a safety issue.

Weber State University has a similar policy barring people from riding hoverboards or longboards on campus. The Ogden institution sent out notice in early January that students cant take hoverboards inside campus buildings.

Weve been getting questions, said spokeswoman Allison Hess, but only one student has been stopped on a hoverboard since they became popular.

Utah Valley University in Orem also treats them like skateboards, allowing their use outdoors but not indoors. Theyre also allowed at safe speeds outdoors at Salt Lake Community College, similar to longboards or roller blades.

The Salt Lake City-based University of Utah allows them on campus sidewalks but keeps them out of students on-campus living spaces over fire fears.

Utah State University in Logan doesnt have a hoverboard policy yet, but its looking into the fire hazard concerns and are considering banning them indoors, spokesman Tim Vitale said.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Education Universities
A Utah county reached an agreement over the weekend with ridesharing company Uber to stop operating helicopter flights at the Sundance Film Festival.

Summit County said helicopter companies agreed to cease operating in connection with the festival. The companies have also agreed not to conduct the flights without getting the required land use approval.

County spokeswoman Katie Mullaly said she did not know if Uber or the helicopter companies might be able to conduct flights in the area in the future.

Going forward, well be addressing this issue, Mullaly said. Whether that means its possible or not, I dont know.

Uber representatives confirmed the company is dropping the helicopter service. The company had said Friday that it would resume flights to Park City despite a cease-and-desist order from a Utah sheriff.

Sheriff Justin Martinez said that he would consider ticketing or arresting pilots because the companies didnt get the proper permits to land in a field not far from homes in the mountain town.

Uber and the helicopter companies say they tried to work with local authorities, but they argued that zoning laws dont apply to air travel and there was no permit to apply for.

Uber spokeswoman Taylor Patterson could not say if the company planned to talk with the county about offering chopper rides at the festival in the future.

As far as future conversations, we just want to make the remainder of the festival go as well as possible in terms of our partnership with Sundance, Patterson said.

A judge decided that prosecutors didnt have enough evidence for a restraining order. She was set to take up the case again Monday, after Uber had planned to end the service. Mullaly said she believes that case will now be dropped.

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 was 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.

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 theres an accident, according to Hilder. Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have run into regulatory troubles before, but its less common with the fledgling Uber Chopper service.

This is an interesting case. It deals with a lot thats happened in the world and happened very quickly, Hilder said. You essentially have a revolution in transportation.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Aviation
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In the next steps to hire a city manager, the Cleveland City Council on Monday approved a motion to form a screening committee to weed out applicants for the position that is expected to bring in tons of applications.

After 42 years of working for the city of Cleveland, City Manager Janice Casteel has announced her upcoming retirement.

I personally think were going to have tons of applicants, Councilman David May, Jr. said of the open job.

The screening committee will be made up of seven candidates that council members elect from each district.

During the work session prior to the regular meeting, the topic of concern revolved around hiring the right person for the job.

I think we need to cast a very large net, Councilman Bill Estes said in regards to finding the right candidate. His statement ran against some views presented at the last council meeting to hire a city manager from Tennessee, as that person would already be familiar with state ordinances.

Agreeing with Councilman Estes, Councilman Avery Johnson said the city should conduct a national search for the city manager.

According to Councilman Richard Banks, the city should operate the hiring process as a business. Businesses hire headhunters - individuals who search for suitable candidates for the job. But Councilman Banks would want the headhunter to work with MTAS (Municipal Technical Advisory Services) - an agency that offers technical consulting to cities in Tennessee.

According to one Cleveland resident, the city of Cleveland has changed over the years from being a small farm community to a metropolitan city in need of top talent. The resident agreed a headhunter working in coordination with MTAS would be an appropriate strategy for finding the next city manager.

After council members voted unanimously to form the Screening Community, they voted to have headhunters submit an RFQ (request for quote) by the next council meeting.

During the work session council members said the search for a city manager would cost around $25,000 to $30,000.

On a different topic, council members approved the motion to have the Tennessee Attorney General look at the increase in the Hotel/Motel tax, which is reportedly set to benefit Bradley County and not the city of Cleveland.

The Bradley County Commission recently requested an increase in the Hotel/Motel tax from five percent to seven percent. While 80 percent of the money from the increase will go into a tourism fund, the other 20 percent will go to the county to be applied towards county projects.

Councilman Dale Hughes, who runs two hotels in Cleveland, said the city operates 23 hotel/motels; yet none of the money from the two percent tax increase will go to the city. He questioned if the city should be the recipient of some of these funds and inquired if the attorney general could be consulted on the matter.

According to Ms. Casteel, if the city wants to benefit from the increase in the hotel/motel tax, it would have to add its own tax in addition to the two percent established by the county.

If its going to happen, the city should get its share, Councilman Hughes said.

Council members voted unanimously to consult the attorney general on the issue.

The members also voted unanimously in favor of the necessity of a 24-hour taxicab service in the city of Cleveland.

Taxi Driver William Franklin Honey, Jr. requested a taxicab permit to open Speedy Cab - a 24/7 service. He claimed the city of Cleveland and Bradley County needed his business because they currently do not have a taxicab service that operates past midnight.

According to a member of the public, who spoke in opposition to Speedy Cab, the city cab service she works for stays open until 2 a.m. on Fridays, 3 a.m. on Saturdays. She said Mr. Honey was taking away jobs for the taxi company she works for.

To clarify the resolution, Councilman May said, If we vote for this motion were saying we think Cleveland is big enough to have another cab company.

With council members approving the permit request, the next steps to get Speedy Cab running are background checks on the cab drivers and inspections on the company vehicles.
A corporate merger or acquisition can have a profound effect on a companys growth prospects and long-term outlook. But while an acquisition can transform the acquiring company literally overnight, there is a significant degree of risk involved.

In the sections below, we discuss why companies undertake M&A transactions, the reasons for their failures, and present some examples of well-known M&A transactions. Many successful people, like Christine Lagarde, are known for studying the topic.

Key Takeaways Companies will buy or merge with another company in hopes of boosting the growth of their own business or fending off competition, among other reasons.

But there are risksthings that can lead to a failed M&A dealsuch as overpaying or the inability to properly integrate the two companies.

M&A can affect a company in a number of ways, including its capital structure, stock price, and future growth prospects.

Some M&A deals are key successes, such as Gilead Sciences-Pharmasset in 2011, while others are notorious flops, e.g. AOL-Time Warner in 2000.

Why Companies Engage in M&A?

Growth

Many companies use M&A to grow in size and leapfrog their rivals. In contrast, it can take years or decades to double the size of a company through organic growth.

Competition

This powerful motivation is the primary reason why M&A activity occurs in distinct cycles. The urge to snap up a company with an attractive portfolio of assets before a rival does so generally results in a feeding frenzy in hot markets. Some examples of frenetic M&A activity in specific sectors include dot-coms and telecoms in the late 1990s, commodity and energy producers in 2006-07, and biotechnology companies in 201214.

Synergies

Companies also merge to take advantage of synergies and economies of scale. Synergies occur when two companies with similar businesses combine, as they can then consolidate (or eliminate) duplicate resources like branch and regional offices, manufacturing facilities, research projects, etc. Every million dollars or fraction thereof thus saved goes straight to the bottom line, boosting earnings per share and making the M&A transaction an accretive one.

Domination

Companies also engage in M&A to dominate their sector. However, a combination of two behemoths would result in a potential monopoly, and such a transaction would have to run the gauntlet of intense scrutiny from anti-competition watchdogs and regulatory authorities.

Tax Purposes

Companies also use M&A for corporate tax reasons, although this may be an implicit rather than an explicit motive. This technique called corporate inversion involves a U.S. company buying a smaller foreign competitor and moving the merged entitys tax home overseas to a lower-tax jurisdiction, in order to substantially reduce its tax bill.

Why M&A Fails?

Integration Risk

In many cases, integrating the operations of two companies proves to be a much more difficult task in practice than it seemed in theory. This may result in the combined company being unable to reach the desired targets in terms of cost savings from synergies and economies of scale. A potentially accretive transaction could therefore well turn out to be dilutive.

Overpayment

If company A is unduly bullish about company Bs prospectsand wants to forestall a possible bid for B from a rivalit may offer a very substantial premium for B. Once it has acquired company B, the best-case scenario that A had anticipated may fail to materialize.

For instance, a key drug being developed by B may turn out to have unexpectedly severe side effects, significantly curtailing its market potential. Company As management (and shareholders) may then be left to rue the fact that it paid much more for B than what it was worth. Such overpayment can be a major drag on future financial performance.

Culture Clash

M&A transactions sometimes fail because the corporate cultures of the potential partners are so dissimilar. Think of a staid technology stalwart acquiring a hot social media start-up and you may get the picture.

M&A Effects

Capital Structure

M&A activity obviously has long-term ramifications for the acquiring company or the dominant entity in a merger than it does for the target company in an acquisition or the firm that is subsumed in a merger.

For the target company, an M&A transaction gives its shareholders the opportunity to cash out at a significant premium, especially if the transaction is an all-cash deal. If the acquirer pays partly in cash and partly in its own stock, the target companys shareholders get a stake in the acquirer, and thus have a vested interest in its long-term success.

For the acquirer, the impact of an M&A transaction depends on the deal size relative to the companys size. The larger the potential target, the bigger the risk to the acquirer. A company may be able to withstand the failure of a small-sized acquisition, but the failure of a huge purchase may severely jeopardize its long-term success.

Once an M&A transaction has closed, the acquirers capital structure will change, depending on how the M&A deal was designed. An all-cash deal will substantially deplete the acquirers cash holdings. But as many companies seldom have the cash hoard available to make full payment for a target firm outright, all-cash deals are often financed through debt. While this increases a companys indebtedness, the higher debt load may be justified by the additional cash flows contributed by the target firm.

Many M&A transactions are also financed through the acquirers stock. For an acquirer to use its stock as currency for an acquisition, its shares must often be premium-priced, to begin with, else making purchases would be needlessly dilutive. As well, the management of the target company also has to be convinced that accepting the acquirers stock rather than hard cash is a good idea. Support from the target company for such an M&A transaction is much more likely to be forthcoming if the acquirer is a Fortune 500 company than if it is ABC Widget Co.

Market Reaction

Market reaction to news of an M&A transaction may be favorable or unfavorable, depending on the perception of market participants about the merits of the deal. In most cases, the target companys shares will rise to a level close to that of the acquirers offer, assuming of course that the offer represents a significant premium to the targets previous stock price. In fact, the targets shares may trade above the offer price if the perception is either that the acquirer has low-balled the offer for the target and may be forced to raise it, or that the target company is coveted enough to attract a rival bid.

There are situations in which the target company may trade below the announced offer price. This generally occurs when part of the purchase consideration is to be made in the acquirers shares and the stock plummets when the deal is announced. For example, assume the purchase price of $25 per share of Targeted XYZ Co. consists of two shares of an acquirer valued at $10 each and $5 in cash. But if the acquirers shares are now only worth $8, Targeted XYZ Co. would most likely be trading at $21 rather than $25.

There are a number of reasons why an acquirers shares may decline when it announces an M&A deal. Perhaps market participants think that the price tag for the purchase is too steep. Or the deal is perceived as not being accretive to earnings per share (EPS). Or perhaps investors believe that the acquirer is taking on too much debt to finance the acquisition.

An acquirers future growth prospects and profitability should ideally be enhanced by the acquisitions it makes. Since a series of acquisitions can mask deterioration in a companys core business, analysts and investors often focus on the organic growth rate of revenue and operating marginswhich excludes the impact of M&Afor such a company.

In cases where the acquirer has made a hostile bid for a target company, the latters management may recommend that its shareholders reject the deal. One of the most common reasons cited for such rejection is that the targets management believes the acquirers offer substantially undervalues it. But such rejection of an unsolicited offer can sometimes backfire, as demonstrated by the famous Yahoo-Microsoft case.

On Feb. 1, 2008, Microsoft unveiled a hostile offer for Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) of $44.6 billion. Microsoft Corp.s (MSFT) offer of $31 per Yahoo share consisted of one-half cash and one-half Microsoft shares and represented a 62% premium to Yahoos closing price on the previous day. However, Yahoos board of directorsled by co-founder Jerry Yangrejected Microsofts offer, saying that it substantially undervalued the company.

Unfortunately, the credit crisis that gripped the world later that year also took its toll on Yahoo shares, resulting in the stock trading below $10 by November 2008. Yahoos subsequent road to recovery was a long one, and the stock only exceeded Microsofts original $31 offer five and a half years later in September 2013, but ultimately sold its core business to Verizon for $4.83 billion in 2016.

M&A Examples

America Online-Time Warner

In January 2000, America Onlinewhich had grown to become the worlds biggest online service in less than 15 yearsannounced an audacious bid to buy media giant Time Warner in an all-stock deal. AOL Inc. (AOL) shares had soared 800-fold since the companys IPO in 1992, giving it a market value of over $165 billion at the time it made its bid for Time Warner Inc. (TWX). However, things didn't quite go the way that AOL had expected, as the Nasdaq commenced its two-year slide of almost 80% in March 2000, and in January 2001, AOL became a unit of Time Warner.

The corporate culture clash between the two was severe, and Time Warner subsequently spun off AOL in November 2009 at a valuation of about $3.2 billion, a fraction of AOLs market value in its heyday. In 2015, Verizon purchased AOL for $4.4 billion. The $165-billion original deal between AOL and Time Warner remains one of the largest (and most notorious) M&A transactions to this day.

Gilead Sciences-Pharmasset

In November 2011, Gilead Sciences (GILD)the worlds largest maker of HIV medicationsannounced an $11-billion offer for Pharmasset, a developer of experimental treatments for hepatitis C. Gilead offered $137 in cash for each Pharmasset share, a whopping 89% premium to its previous closing price.

The deal was perceived as a risky one for Gilead, and its shares fell around 9% on the day it announced the Pharmasset deal. But few corporate gambles have paid off as spectacularly as this one did. In December 2013, Gileads drug Sovaldi received FDA approval after it proved to be remarkably effective in treating hepatitis C, an affliction that affects 3.2 million Americans.

While Sovaldis $84,000 price tag for a 12-week course of treatment stirred some controversy, by October 2014, Gilead had a market value of $159 billiona more than five-fold increase from $31 billion shortly after it closed the Pharmasset purchase. However, things have since cooled off, as Gilead has a $85.66 billion market cap as of July 2021.

ABN Amro-Royal Bank of Scotland

This 71 billion (approx. $100 billion) deal was remarkable in that it led to the near-demise of two of the three members of the buying consortium. In 2007, Royal Bank of Scotland, Belgian-Dutch bank Fortis and Spains Banco Santander won a bidding war with Barclays Bank for Dutch bank ABN Amro. But as the global credit crisis began intensifying from the summer of 2007, the price paid by the buyers of three times ABN Amros book value looked like sheer folly.

RBS stock price subsequently collapsed and the British government had to step in with a 46 billion bailout in 2008 to rescue it. Fortis was also nationalized by the Dutch government in 2008 after it was on the brink of bankruptcy.

The Bottom Line

M&A transactions can have long-lasting effects on acquisitive companies. A flurry of M&A deals may signal an impending market top, especially when they involve record transactions like the AOL-Time Warner deal of 2000 or the ABN Amro-RBS deal of 2007.
Social media platform Pinterest (PINS) makes money from advertising. Shares started trading on the New York Stock Exchange on April 18 under the symbol PINS.

Founded in 2010, Pinterest went public on April 18, 2019. Its initial public offering (IPO) price was at $19 per share and it raised $1.4 billion, giving it a valuation of roughly $12.7 billion including restricted stock and options. As of Dec. 3, 2021, the company had a market capitalization of $23.3 billion. Roughly 431 million users, or "pinners," use the bulletin board-like platform every month to browse and share images and other content in the form of "pins."

Key Takeaways Pinterest makes its money via advertising, specifically, promoted pins. These promoted pins are ads that look similar to user-generated pins (posts).

The company has integrated a buy it button which permits users to buy pinned products directly from Pinterest, rather than visiting a separate merchant site.

In 2021, the company generated $2.57 billion in revenue but posted a net loss of $316 million.

Opportunities for increasing revenue that Pinterest plans to pursue include greater international expansion, focusing on video and increasing ad capabilities, as well as pursuing its own e-commerce efforts.

Pinterest History

The company, which grew out of an app called Tote that dated from 2008, received $100 million in financing when it was valued at $1.5 billion in 2012. The funding firms included Rakuten, Goldman Sachs (GS), and Andreessen Horowitz. It was valued at $12.3 billion during its last round of funding in 2017. The company has a dual-class structure.

When it was founded, Pinterest seemed to follow the model of social network sites like Meta Inc. (META), formerly Facebookmeaning that it aimed to develop a massive network of users first and then to install means of generating revenue later on. It generated $756 million in revenue in 2018, a jump of 60% from the previous year. The company generated $261 million in revenue during the second quarter of 2019, a 62% year-over-year increase.

Our advertising products help businesses reach Pinners across their decision-making journey," said the company, which cited a Talk Shoppe survey that said 68% of weekly active users discovered a new brand or product on Pinterest.

"We address various advertiser objectives through our Promoted Pin ad format, which contains either a single image, a carousel of images or video. Our ability to develop new and improve existing advertising products will be an important driver of our future growth."

So just how has Pinterest come to be one of the most-hyped social media companies among investors and what is a promoted pin?

Monetizing Pins

Before looking at more traditional means of generating revenue, its worth looking at how Pinterest has utilized its unique pin system to create opportunities for monetization. The company has integrated a buy it button which permits users to buy pinned products directly from Pinterest, rather than visiting a separate merchant site.

Merchants participating in BigCommerce, Shopify, or Salesforce Commerce Cloud are allowed the opportunity to partner with Pinterest; its unclear whether Pinterest charges any commissions from these partners.

Promoted Pins

Pinterests primary source of revenue is what it calls promoted pins. These special pins are effectively advertisements, paid for by identified sponsors. As with Facebooks timeline feature, promoted pins look very similar to (but not exactly the same as) standard pins. Pinterest utilizes user data to target advertisements based on user interests and searches, as well as other demographics. Given that users pin items that they are interested in already, this process is relatively straightforward for the company.

Pinterest's revenue is driven by interest and use of its platform, which is increasingly popular among fashion and beauty brands. Given that the users of Pinterest are overwhelmingly female and have above-average incomes, using its platform as an e-commerce gateway is more than ideal.

Next Steps

Pinterest's user base has grown over the years, where its carved out a niche that allows it to not directly compete with the likes of Facebook. Pinterests leadership has adopted a much less aggressive approach to growth than its competitors. Revenue has grown since the company has gone public, but so has its net loss, as the company has ramped up spending on sales and marketing and research and development.

One big future opportunity is being able to tap the international markets, where Pinterest currently has little reach. Beyond that, Pinterest is interested in building out its e-commerce efforts (what exactly that looks like remains to be seen), as well as continuing to develop advertising tools including video capabilitiesfor advertisers.
American Funds has been offering mutual funds since 1934. Based in Los Angeles, it is a subsidiary of global asset manager Capital Group. Capital Group is Americas ninth-largest asset management firm with assets under management (AUM) of $2.7 trillion, as of March 2022. It provides wealth management and financial advisory services to high net-worth individuals, nonprofit foundations, governments, corporate pension plans, retirement funds, and individual investors.

American Funds Amcap Fund

The American Funds Amcap Fund (AMCPX) invests in equity securities with the objective of long-term capital appreciation. Portfolio managers primarily invest in blue-chip U.S. companies with large market capitalizations but may invest in companies of any size, as long as they have good growth potential, and they look at foreign equities as well. It's a rather venerable fund, having been established in 1967.

A team of analysts supports ten portfolio managers. The funds managers have an average tenure with Capital Group of 26 years and have worked for the Amcap Fund for an average of 8 years. This level of longevity contributes to the fund's consistency.

Capital Group portfolio managers do not invest based on a team consensus. Rather, each portfolio manager and analyst working with the fund is assigned a portion of the funds $68.48 billion in AUM (as of Sept. 2022) to invest. It is the firms thinking that results are improved when each person has a higher, individual level of responsibility to the funds performance.

Portfolio

As of September 2022, 85.2% of the fund's net assets are invested in U.S. equities, 6.7% are invested in non-U.S. equities (primarily Europe and Asia and the Pacific Basin), and 8.1% is held as cash. Large-cap firms make up 69.1% of the portfolio, mid-cap is 25.4%, and the average capitalization size is $98.52 billion. The three largest sectors of investments are information technologies at 24.6% of assets, health care at 20.8% of assets and communication services at 15.8% of assets. Other represented sectors include communication services, financials, industrials, energy, consumer staples, materials, and real estate.

The fund owns stock in more than 200 companies. The top 10 holdings account for 31.7% of its net assets. Its three biggest holdings are Netflix (NFLX), Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta (META), formerly Facebook, with Abbott Laboratories (ABT), Alphabet (GOOG) and Amazon.com (AMZN) rounding out the top six. The fund has a turnover ratio of 28%, an expense ratio of 0.65% and a beta of 0.98.

Performance

The American Funds Amcap Fund receives a two-star rating from Morningstar. Its one-year return is -27.67%, its five-year average return is 7.23%, and its 10-year return is 10.72%. These figures put it pretty much in line with both the Standard & Poors 500 Index and the Lipper Growth Funds Index; some years it has had slightly greater returns than the indices, and some years it has slightly underperformed them. However, the fund tends to outperform other funds in the multi-cap core funds category, according to Lipper.
Financial fraud dates back to the year 300 B.C. when a Greek merchant named Hegestratos took out a large insurance policy known as bottomry. The merchant borrowed money and agreed to pay it back with interest when the cargoin this case, cornwas delivered. If the merchant refused to pay back the loan, the lender could claim the cargo and the boat used for its transportation. Hegestratos planned to sink his empty boat, keep the loan, and sell the corn. The plan failed, and he drowned trying to escape his crew and passengers when they caught him in the act.

This is the first recorded incident of financial fraud, and there have been many since. This article will focus on the growth of stock market fraud in the U.S., as tracked by a quartet of scandalsall of them devious schemes based on greed and a desire for power.

Key Takeaways William Duer committed an insider trading scandal in the late1700s when he relied on his information edge to keep ahead of the market.

Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War general, created a financial panic in 1884 when he could not raise funds to save his son's failing business.

In the late 1800s, Daniel Drew used techniques known as a corner, poop and scoop, and pump and dump to defraud stock market investors.

After World War I, stock pools composed of the wealthy manipulated large stocks such as Chrysler, RCA, and Standard Oil until the market crashed in 1929.

The First Insider Trading Scandal

In 1792, only a few years after the U.S. officially became independent, the nation experienced its first fraud. At this time, American bonds were similar to developing-world issues or junk bonds todaythey fluctuated in value with every bit of news about the fortunes of the colonies that issued them. The trick of investing in such a volatile market was to be a step ahead of the news that would push a bond's value up or down.

Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, began to restructure American finance by replacing outstanding bonds from various colonies with bonds from the new central government. Consequently, big bond investors sought out people who had access to the Treasury to find out which bond issues Hamilton was going to replace.

William Duer, a member of President George Washington's inner circle and assistant secretary of the Treasury, was ideally placed to profit from insider information. Duer was privy to all the Treasury's actions and would tip off his friends and trade in his own portfolio before leaking select information to the public that he knew would drive up prices. Then Duer would simply sell for an easy profit. After years of this type of manipulation, even raiding Treasury funds to make larger bets, Duer left his post but kept his inside contacts. He continued to invest his own money as well as that of other investors in both debt issues and the stocks of banks popping up nationwide.

With all the European and domestic money chasing bonds, however, there was a speculative glut as issuers rushed to cash in. Rather than stepping back from the overheating market, Duer was counting on his information edge to keep ahead. He piled his ill-gotten gains and that of his investors into the market. Duer also borrowed heavily to further leverage his bond bets.

It all came outand came crashing downeventually; Duer and a lot of other New Yorkers were left hanging onto worthless investments and huge debts. Hamilton had to rescue the market by buying up bonds and acting as a lender of last resort

The Aftermath

William Duer ended up in debtor's prison, where he died in 1799. The Financial Panic of 1792 was, interestingly enough, the catalyst for the Buttonwood Agreement, which marked the beginnings of the Wall Street investment community and the New York Stock Exchange.

Fraud Wipes out a President

Ulysses S. Grant, a renowned Civil War hero and U.S. president, only wanted to help his son succeed in business, but he ended up creating a financial panic.

Grant's son, Buck, had already failed at several businesses but was determined to succeed on Wall Street. Buck formed a partnership with Ferdinand Ward, an unscrupulous man who was only interested in the legitimacy gained from the Grant name. The two opened up a firm called Grant & Ward. Ward immediately sought capital from investors, falsely claiming that the former president had agreed to help them land lucrative government contracts. Ward then used this cash to speculate on the market. Sadly, Ward was not as gifted at speculating as he was at talking, and he lost heavily.

Of the funds Ward squandered, $600,000 was tied to the Marine National Bank, and soon both the bank and Grant & Ward were on the verge of collapse. Ward convinced Buck to ask his father for more money. Grant Sr., already heavily invested in the firm, was unable to come up with enough funds and was forced to ask for a $150,000 personal loan from William Vanderbilt.

Ward essentially took the money and ran, leaving the Grants, Marine National Bank, and the investors holding the bag. Marine National Bank collapsed after a bank run, and its fall helped touch off the panic of 1884.

The Aftermath

Grant Sr. paid off his debt to Vanderbilt with all his personal effects including his uniforms, swords, medals, and other memorabilia from the war. Ward was eventually caught and imprisoned for six years.

The Pioneering Daniel Drew

The second half of the 19th century saw men such as Jay Gould, James Fisk, Russell Sage, Edward Henry Harriman, and J.P. Morgan turn the fledgling stock market into their personal playground, and their maneuvers weren't always the most honorable. However, Daniel Drew was a true pioneer of fraud and stock market manipulation.

Drew started out in cattle, bringing the term "watered stock" to our vocabularywatered stock are shares issued at a much greater value than its underlying assets, usually as part of a scheme to defraud investors. Drew later became a financier when the portfolio of loans he provided to fellow cattlemen gave him the capital to start buying large positions in transportation stocks.

Drew lived in a time before disclosure, when only the most basic regulations existed. His technique was known as a corner. He would buy up all of a company's stocks, then spread false news about the company to drive the price down. This would encourage traders to sell the stock short. Unlike today, it was possible to sell short many times the actual stock outstanding.

When the time came to cover their short positions, traders would find out that the only person holding stock was Daniel Drew and he expected a high premium. Drew's success with corners led to new operations. Drew often traded wholly owned stocks between himself and other manipulators at higher and higher prices. When this action caught the attention of other traders, the group would dump the stock back on the market.

The danger of Drew's combined poop and scoop and pump and dump schemes lay in taking a short position. In 1864, Drew was trapped in a corner of his own by Vanderbilt. Drew was trying to short a company that Vanderbilt was simultaneously trying to acquire. Drew shorted heavily, but Vanderbilt had purchased all the shares. Consequently, Drew had to cover his position at a premium paid directly to Vanderbilt.

Drew and Vanderbilt battled again in 1866 over a railroad, but this time Drew was much wiser, or at least much more corrupt. As Vanderbilt tried to buy up one of Drew's railroads, Drew printed more and more illegal shares. Vanderbilt followed his previous strategy and used his war chest to buy up the additional shares. This left Drew running from the law for watering stock and left Vanderbilt cash poor.

The Aftermath

The two combatants came to an uneasy truce: Drew's fellow manipulators, Fisk and Gould, were angered by the truce and conspired to ruin Drew. He died broke in 1879.

The Stock Pools

Until the 1920s, most market frauds affected only the few Americans who were investing. When it was confined largely to battles between wealthy manipulators, the government felt no need to step in.

After World War I, however, average Americans discovered the stock market. To take advantage of the influx of eager new money, manipulators teamed up to create stock pools. Basically, stock pools carried out Daniel Drew-style manipulation on a larger scale. With more investors involved, the profits from manipulating stocks were enough to convince the management of the companies being targeted to participate. The stock pools became very powerful, manipulating even large-cap stocks such as Chrysler, RCA, and Standard Oil.

Prices continued to spiral upward. Eventually, though, a sense that the market was overvalued began to spreadand investors began to sell. The inflated share prices collapsed, and as the panic spread, the entire stock market crashed in 1929.

The Aftermath

Both the general public and the government were staggered by the level of corruption that had contributed to the financial catastrophe. It's possible that the news released in October 1929 that the public utility holding companies would be regulated was the actual trigger of the crash. Stock pools took the lion's share of the blame, leading to the creation of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Ironically, the first head of the SEC was a speculator and former pool insider, Joseph Kennedy Sr.

The Bottom Line

With the creation of the SEC, market rules were formalized and stock fraud was defined. Common manipulation practices were outlawed as was the large trade in insider information. Wall Street would no longer be the Wild West where gunslingers like Drew and Vanderbilt met for showdowns. That isn't to say that the pump and dump or insider trading has disappeared. In the SEC era, investors still get taken in by fraud, but legal protection do now exist giving investors some recourse.
Successful investors seek to learn as much as they can about a company and its financial position before adding it to their portfolios. Conducting fundamental analysis is the most effective way to project if good things are ahead in a company's financial future. Fundamental analysis includes examining a company's financial statements, 10-K and 10-Q reports, stock performance, and paying especially close attention to certain financial ratios, such as the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio and debt/equity (D/E) ratio.

The savviest investors do not stop at analyzing the company itself. External factors influence a company's direction greatly. A particularly useful tool for studying how certain external factors influence a company is Porter's Five Forces model.

Porter's Five Forces Model

Michael Porter developed his Five Forces model in 1979. He felt the existing tools to examine market forces, such as the SWOT analysis that considers a company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, were insufficient and lacking in scope.

Porter's Five Forces model seeks to determine a company's threats from competition. It examines three potential horizontal threats, meaning threats from actual competitors, and two potential vertical threats, meaning supply chain threats that could put the company at a competitive disadvantage. The horizontal threats considered are industry competition, the threat of new entrants, and the threat of substitutes. The vertical threats considered involve the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers.

An Overview of Verizon

Verizon Communications, Inc. (VZ) is the largest wireless communications service provider in the United States. The firm's market share of 35% as of 2018 beats rivals such as AT&T (34%), T-Mobile (17%), and Sprint (12%). Despite a reputation as one of the more expensive companies in the industry, Verizon has dominated market share on the strength of its expansive coverage network and its reputation for outstanding customer service. The company tends to cater to higher-income consumers than its less-expensive competitors, such as Sprint. While Verizon costs more than competing providers, the company has successfully imbued its service with the perception of value.

A Five Forces analysis of Verizon reveals its strongest horizontal threats are from industry competition and substitutes, while the strongest vertical threat comes from the bargaining power of buyers. The company faces less significant threats from new entrants to the market and the bargaining power of suppliers.

Industry Competition

The threat of competition in the wireless industry is fierce. Verizon's biggest and most longstanding rival is AT&T. The typical customer profile for the two companies is similar, and AT&T claims the highest market share in the industry behind Verizon. Additional competition comes from T-Mobile, which has a smaller market share but, as of 2016, is adding customers more quickly than any other carrier, and Sprint, which has launched aggressive price promotions to turn around its sagging market share.

Verizon's coverage network has been the strongest in the industry since at least the early 2000s, but its competitors have invested much capital into catching up. The coverage difference between Verizon and its competitors is smaller than ever, and the gap could disappear completely within five to 10 years as other companies add towers and advance their technologies. If this happens, Verizon must find a new way to set itself apart from its competitors.

Buyers' Bargaining Power

Buyers have significant bargaining power in the wireless industry. Switching carriers is easy and inexpensive, and Verizon's competitors constantly run promotions offering perks specifically to customers who switch from Verizon. For example, Sprint ran a campaign in late 2015 and early 2016 to cut Verizon customers' bills by half. The promotion even covered the cost of terminating a Verizon contract early.

Customers can switch to another carrier within an hour or less while keeping the same phone number and experiencing no service interruption. Verizon must continue to give its customers reasons to stay. Up to this point, the company has done so by touting its superior network and its lower rates of dropped calls and texts. As these advantages wane, the company must seek a new edge.

The Threat of New Entrants

New entrants to the marketplace pose a very low threat to Verizon. The cost of establishing a wireless company and building a network that can compete with a low-budget carrier, much less an industry behemoth such as Verizon, is substantial. Additionally, a wireless service company must navigate a labyrinth of government regulations before earning a dime. Even if a new player can bear the cost and get past the regulations, next comes the process of building a brand name that can compete. Verizon has been around since the early days of the industry and has spent years building its name. It is unlikely that a new company can arrive on the scene and clear the necessary hurdles to compete with Verizon.

Suppliers' Bargaining Power

Verizon's suppliers have little bargaining power and represent an insignificant threat to the company. Verizon calls on suppliers for products to help build and expand network infrastructure and for components to manufacture physical products. The number of suppliers Verizon has to choose from is huge. By contrast, the number of companies as big and deep-pocketed as Verizon that these suppliers have the opportunity to do business with is not large. This asymmetry places most of the leverage firmly in Verizon's hands. Verizon can negotiate from a position of power, and in most cases, it can switch from one supplier to another without much trouble if necessary.

Threat of Substitutes

The threat of substitutes is perhaps the biggest one Verizon faces. The company would argue that service from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint is not a perfect substitute for Verizon service, as these companies offer less extensive coverage and, according to consumer surveys, inferior customer service. However, the chasm is narrowing between Verizon's network and those offered by competitors, and lower prices are a constant looming temptation for Verizon customers. If financial winds shift in an ugly direction and the economy goes through a repeat of 2008, many customers might be tempted to let Sprint cut their wireless bills in half or to take advantage of similar promotions that competitors undoubtedly will be running.
Jefferies downgraded tobacco giants Philp Morris International Inc. (PM) and Altria Group (MO) on Friday, saying trends toward vaping are likely to continue to weigh on the companies.

The investment bank lowered its rating on both tobacco firms to hold from buy. For Philip Morris International, Jefferies sees significant share loss in part as Japans market for tobacco products heats up.

Philip Morris products include brands like Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims, which it sells in 180 markets outside the U.S. Its products account for a substantial share of the tobacco market, however the rise of vaping with smoke-free devices has pressured its sales.

So, in response, the company has invested more than $4.5 billion shares to market smoke-free products, like its iQOS heat-not-burn tobacco product, that are growing in demand. Philip Morris stock is down 30.3% the past year and down 24.5% year to date (YTD). Shares were down 3% early in Fridays session near $79.85. (See also: Philip Morris Launches iQOS in UK, Predicts End of Cigarettes)

Jefferies new price target for Philip Morris is $80 per share.

Altrias Challenges

For Altria, which will market the iQOS product in the U.S., Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett wrote that he sees it at a disadvantage in vapour due to available formats, and concerns around delay on iQOS will likely weigh. Philip Morris Internaitonal is currently waiting for approval of the device from the Food and Drug Administration

Shares of Altria are down 7.7% the past 52 weeks and down 17.8% YTD as of Friday. The stock was down about 1.9% early in Fridays session near $58.61. Jefferies new price target on Altria is $61 per share.
Marijuana Stocks With the Best Performance Price ($) Market Cap ($B) 12-Month Trailing Total Return (%) Cronos Group Inc. (CRON) 2.86 1.1 -51.5 Verano Holdings Corp. (VRNO.CX) CA$6.85 CA$2.2 -54.2 Green Thumb Industries Inc. (GTII.CX) CA$14.25 CA$3.4 -59.0 4Front Ventures Corp. (FFNT.CX) CA$0.51 CA$0.3 -59.2 Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (IIPR) 94.20 2.6 -59.2 Russell 1000 N/A N/A -15.2 ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ) N/A N/A -66.3

Source: YCharts

Cronos Group Inc.: See above for company description.

See above for company description. Verano Holdings Corp.: See above for company description.

See above for company description. Green Thumb Industries Inc.: See above for company description.

See above for company description. 4Front Ventures Corp.: 4Front Ventures is a cannabis operator and retailer. It owns, operates, or manages cultivation and manufacturing properties in five states and employs over 600. Its stores attracted more than 1 million unique customers in 2021. 4Front also trades OTC under the symbol FFNTF. The company reported Q2 2022 earnings results on Aug. 15. The company's net loss widened marginally YOY even as revenue rose. 4Front 's revenue saw growth in both revenue from sale of goods and real estate income.

4Front Ventures is a cannabis operator and retailer. It owns, operates, or manages cultivation and manufacturing properties in five states and employs over 600. Its stores attracted more than 1 million unique customers in 2021. 4Front also trades OTC under the symbol FFNTF. The company reported Q2 2022 earnings results on Aug. 15. The company's net loss widened marginally YOY even as revenue rose. 4Front 's revenue saw growth in both revenue from sale of goods and real estate income. Innovative Industrial Properties Inc: See above for company description.

Trends to Watch in Marijuana Stocks

Marijuana stocks have given investors a wild ride over the past few years, staging eye-watering rallies and substantial declines. Those who invest in this emerging sector should monitor these key trends as they will likely guide price direction in months and years ahead.

Financing: Most U.S. financial institutions avoid offering to fund cannabis companies as marijuana is still federally illegal, meaning lenders that provide loans could face possible prosecution. However, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (SAFE)which passed through the House in 2021aims to address this by preventing the federal government from penalizing banks that offer financial services to the cannabis industry. Although the legislation has failed to gain support in the Senate, investors should monitor any amendments to the bill that could increase the chances of it gaining congressional approval.

Increasing Merger and Acquisition Activity: As of last year's fourth quarter, $8.5 billion worth of merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions had closed in the sector, significantly higher than the $3 billion worth of deals in 2020 and $3.6 billion in 2019. Increasing dealmaking in the cannabis space indicates that institutional investors have growing confidence in the industry's future.

Potential U.S. Legalization: While several cannabis legalization bills grace the halls of Congress, bipartisan support remains difficult to achieve, creating a large amount of uncertainty for industry participants. However, several leading Canadian operators, such as Cronos and Tilray, are banking on the U.S. cannabis market, with both companies entering into acquisition deals subject to its decriminalization south of the border.

Advantages of Marijuana Stocks

Despite the underwhelming performance of marijuana stocks over the past year amid an uncertain regulatory environment, the sector offers risk-taking investors significant growth potential. According to industry analysis firm MJBizDaily, U.S. cannabis sales will surpass $33 billion in 2022 before reaching $52 billion by the end of 2026. Moreover, the global cannabis market is expected to reach nearly $200 billion by 2028, up from $28 billion in 2021.

The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed herein are for informational purposes only and should not be considered individual investment advice or recommendations to invest in any security or to adopt any investment strategy. Though we believe the information provided herein is reliable, we do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. The views and strategies described in our content may not be suitable for all investors. Because market and economic conditions are subject to rapid change, all comments, opinions, and analyses contained within our content are rendered as of the date of the posting and may change without notice. The material is not intended as a complete analysis of every material fact regarding any country, region, market, industry, investment, or strategy.
Countries that want to stay competitive in the global economy are adapting to 5G technology at an increasingly rapid pace. The race to see which country will have the best 5G network has begun in earnest. Communication service providers around the world are battling one another to build-out, validate, and deploy commercial 5G networks.

What's at stake in the 5G race? According to estimates published in an Informa Tech research paper, 5G technology could be responsible for 22.3 million jobs and $13.2 trillion of global economic output by 2035. Here we review the progress several countries have made in adapting to 5G technology.

Key Takeaways South Korea, China, and the United States are the countries that lead the world in building and deploying 5G technology.

Telecommunications operators around the worldincluding AT&T Inc., KT Corp, and China Mobilehave been racing to build the fifth-generation (5G) of wireless technology.

As more devices connect to the Internet, the need for high-speed 5G networks becomes more critical.

Even smaller countries like Sweden, Turkey, and Estonia have taken significant steps to make 5G networks commercially available to their citizens.

The United States

The Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) Spectrum Frontiers Order laid the groundwork for the use of 5G technology in the United States. The next generation of technology provides a greater amount of spectrum for wireless communication, smaller sizes of wireless cells, and more modulation schemes, letting greater numbers of wireless users share the spectrum. 5G technology offers at least one gigabit per second for connection speeds, shorter delays than 4G technology, and millimeter-wave (mmW) bands for supporting applications requiring large capacity.

In July 2016, the FCC began creating rules for 5G technology, making the United States the first country opening a high-band spectrum for the technology. Because the spectrum bands are available for licensed, unlicensed, and shared users, more than four times the amount of spectrum is available for flexible use than in previous years. Also, 15 times more unlicensed spectrum is available for users than in previous years.

U.S. carriers AT&T Inc. (T), Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), Sprint Corp. (S), and T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) are actively developing, testing, and deploying 5G components. As of Jan. 2020, 5G had been deployed in 50 cities in the United States. Sprint has rolled out mobile 5G in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, D.C. AT&T has made its mobile 5G+ network live for consumers in parts of 35 cities and 190 markets.

As of Jan. 2020, commercial 5G networks have been deployed in 378 cities across 34 countries.

South Korea

South Korea is ahead of other countries in 5G deployment. The country has rolled out 5G to 85 cities as of Jan. 2020. Government officials estimate 90% of Korea's mobile users will be on a 5G network by 2026. The key to South Korea's success seems to stem from the collaboration of three carriers that have worked on 5G deployment: SK Telecom, LG Uplus, and KT Corp.

KT Corp (ADR) (KT) completed a successful trial of a system from NEC Corp. using extremely high frequencies for transmitting data at up to 3.2 Gbps (gigabits per second) in the Taebaek Mountains. NECs iPasolink EX ultra-compact microwave system links between LTE (long-term evolution) base stations to enable telecommunication, which is much easier than laying fiber for the links. The microwave system conveys data at frequencies of 70 to 80 GHz, which keeps more signal going through the air than other systems and uses a form of encoding that lets more data be transmitted.

Sweden and Estonia

Swedish-Finnish operator Telia Company AB and Swedish provider Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (ERIC) reported that Stockholm, Sweden, and Tallinn, Estonia went live with their 5G test network on Dec. 20, 2018. It's projected both Estonia and Sweden will have a commercially available 5G network in 2020, although it's likely to take several years before most people have access.

Digitalization of industries and the Internet of Things (IoT) will mostly benefit technology companies at first, but ultimately the technology will benefit the public through new services and applications.

For example, 5G technology will control self-driving cars and robots working in mines, which are two areas that current infrastructure cannot support. Also, citizens living in rural areas will have higher bandwidth and better communication capabilities.

Turkey

Turkeys 5GTR Forum, consisting of mobile network companies, Turkish public institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and domestic producers, is facilitating a faster transition to 5G technology. Through working together, the organizations share information and ideas to help Turkey implement the technology and keep its citizens informed on its progress. Once implemented, 5G technology will connect people, transportation, objects, and cities at higher speeds and with fewer delays, using the same infrastructure.

Turkeys goal in implementing 5G technology is providing affordable technology services to its citizens and increasing domestic production through research and development (R&D). Turkish organizations are required to participate in R&D studies and help establish infrastructure as part of utilizing the technology. Additionally, the Ministry of Science, Industry, and Technology is studying ways the country may use domestic hardware, software, and other mobile communication products. Because Turkey is still in the trial phases of implementing 5G technology and building out the required infrastructure, it's unclear when 5G access will be available commercially.

Japan

Japan has met its goal to launch 5G mobile service by 2020. Japans largest wireless carrier, NTT DOCOMO, began its quest for 5G in 2010 with initial experiments. In Sept. 2019, the company rolled out pre-commercial 5G services. The test phase went well, and NTT DOCOMO began offering consumer 5G services on March 25, 2020.

The countrys communication ministry had a hand in the country's success. Early on, the ministry met with Japans three biggest carriersNTT DOCOMO Inc., KDDI Corp., and SoftBank Group Corpas well as private-sector manufacturers of handset and base stations, such as Panasonic Corp, Fujitsu Ltd, and Sharp Corporation to promote the research and development of 5G technology.

Japans communication ministry states that 5G technology will be close to 100 times faster than LTE, which is used most often throughout the country, and ten times faster than 4G technology. Implementing 5G technology will help integrate high-resolution-video services streaming in 4K and 8K, which need substantial amounts of bandwidth.

China

After South Korea, China ranks second as the country with the most cities in which 5G is available. As of Jan. 2020, China had deployed 5G technology in 57 cities.

In Oct. 2019, three major wireless carriers in China launched 5G networks: China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom. While coverage is limited in some areas, Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are the cities with the best coverage thus far.

Because Chinese authorities control the implementation of the technology, some experts wonder if the 5G rollout process throughout the vast nation will be slow. The implementation of 4G technology did not occur until late 2013, many years after South Korea, Japan, the United States, and other nations had 4G technology.

However, China's top telecommunications companies seem determined to not replicate earlier 4G mistakes and have done an impressive amount of testing and infrastructure build-out of the 5G network. The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) projects China will have 460 million 5G connections by 2025.
If youre constantly on the back foot when it comes to your shavers, then check out the top razor subscriptions that deliver straight to your home.

A razor subscription, where you get new blades delivered to your door before you run out, is worth signing up for if you find yourself struggling to shave with blunt blades.

Weve all been there: You end up with three or four disposable razors on-the-go at once, none of them particularly sharp. Or, you realize too late that you used your last good blade during your previous shaving session.

Best Overall: Harrys Harrys Sign Up Now At Harrys you start by shopping for one of the kits. While theyre designed for men, women can totally use them too. The Starter Set, discounted from $13 to $5, includes a 2oz foaming shave gel, rubberized handle, five-blade razor cartridge, and a travel blade cover. Or, depending on your budget, you can consider treating yourself to one of the larger, more deluxe kits. Prices per bundle range from $15 to $35. Once you have added a bundle to the shopping cart, you can opt for a subscription to have refill blades and shaving gel shipped every two, three, or five months. Subscribing saves you 5% or more, shipping is free, and you can cancel at any time. And, not to worry: Harrys will email you a reminder that your refills are due to give you enough time to modify or cancel before each shipment.

Best for Women: Billie Billie Sign Up Now Billies subscription razors are offered in multiple colorful and super chic-looking handles. Using the online system, you let the company know whether you shave daily, a few times a week, or once a week, so they can determine how often to send you new blades. You also get the option to add a non-aerosol shave cream, with shea butter and Aloe Vera, to your order as a one-off or recurring purchase with your blades. The first time you shop with Billie youll get a starter kit that contains a handle in your chosen color, a magnetic holder, and two, five-blade razor cartridges. Your blade refills (you get four at a time for around $10) will then arrive at your door either every month, every two months, or every three months, depending on how regularly you shave.

Best for Men: Dollar Shave Club Dollar Shave Club Sign Up Now The Dollar Shave Club for men offers two types of razors in its subscription: The 4 Blade All-Terrain or 6 Blade Extra Close options. Depending on which option you choose, prices range from approximately $8 to $10 a month. You can subscribe to receive them every two monthsno frills. If you want a kit that comes to your door complete with all the shaving accouterments you might need, then complete the online questionnaire and youll be recommended products like shave butter, body cleanser, and even deodorant. You can customize your order to remove unwanted products or perhaps increase the number of razor cartridges, before setting up your subscription. There is the option to have the kit sent every two, three, or four months. And, youre not tied down, so you can cancel or edit your subscription at any time

Best National: Gillette Venus Gilette Venus Sign Up Now With Gillette Venus, you can keep things super simple by subscribing to their Venus Direct Shave Plan. Choose from a Smooth Sensitive blade or Extra Smooth blade and handle color preference. When subscribing you have the option to receive four refill blades every month, two months, or three months the prices range from $13 to $25. You can also "add some flair" to your order in the shape of shaving cream, a travel handle and case, or a selection of Olay face and body products pricing is separate from your razors subscription plan. Alternatively, you can go for the Venus Starter Kit, for around $7, which includes a handle, razor blade, shower hook, and shaving cream. You'll still have the option to select the frequency of refills and add more products to your order if you want the convenience of having your other shower products delivered to your door, as well.

Best for Rewards: The Womens Shave Club The Womens Shave Club Sign Up Now With The Womens Shave Club there are four different types of razors to choose from. The Mini Go comes with its own carrying case, a small handle, and a full-size four-blade head. The ELLE 3 is a disposable shaver with three blades for sensitive skin, while the ELLE 4 is also disposable, but has four blades. The Reya 5 hasyou guessed itfive blades and heads that you can replace. The ELLE 3, ELLE 4, and Reya 4 all have a lubricating strip below the blades, enriched with Aloe and Vitamin E for easy-glide shaving. Once you have chosen your razor of choice, you can opt for a one-time trial or you can subscribe to receive a new batch, either monthly or bi-monthly. There is no contract so you can cancel at any time and shipping is free. Plus, if you refer a friend and they subscribe, youll get around $5 worth of points that you can put towards future purchases.

Best Basic: Happy Legs Club Happy Legs Club Sign Up Now At Happy Legs Club, there are two razors to choose from: His and Hers. His comes with a silver six-blade razor and Hers comes with a pink five-blade razor. Both cost around $18 per cycle. Each blade has a lubricating strip, enriched with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, and you'll receive four cartridges upon your initial order. Each renewal for both the His and Hers options comes with six new refill cartridges. You can opt to have them shipped every two or three months, depending on how often you shave. Before checkout, you have the option to add an organic shave soap to your order, with scents like lemongrass tea and shea honey oat to choose from. An added bonus: Shipping is free.
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Silverdale Baptist Academy is hosting bullying expert and public speaker Paul Coughlin for a four-day Courageous Community Conference Sunday, Jan. 31, through Wednesday, Feb. 3, on the campus of Silverdale Baptist Academy.

Mr. Coughlin is an expert witness regarding bullying and the law, and is a Fox News analyst and contributor. He is a popular speaker who has appeared on Good Morning America, Nightline, CSpan, and has been published in The LA Times, The New York Times, Newsweek and other media outlets. Mr. Coughlin is a bestselling author of eight books, including the freedom-from-bullying parent and teacher resource Raising Bully Proof Kids, as well as a former newspaper editor. He works with numerous professional organizations to diminish bullying, including the Baltimore Ravens.

His antibullying curriculum is used throughout North America as well as in South Africa, Uganda, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil among other countries. Mr. Coughlins curriculum, known as The protectors focuses primarily upon the potential strength, heroic desire, and rescuing capacity of bystanders, transforming them into what he calls alongside standers. He also provides assertiveness training for targets, helps authority dispel the many damaging myths about bullying, and inspires children who bully to employ their power in life-affirming directions instead.

One school superintendent wrote Mr. Coughlin saying, I just wanted you to know how meaningful your presentation was to the students in our school district. For you to be able to talk to students in grades five through high school about bullying in a context that they could understand and appreciate, was very gratifying for usPerhaps, more importantly, was the time you spent with our parents and neighbors from our school community. For them to hear how many ways they could actually help their own children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews grow strong and understand how bullying really works was a most profound experience for them.

While Mr. Coughlin is at Silverdale, he will be speaking to different groups on the campus. There is a community night scheduled for Sunday evening, with special events on each of the following days focused on community groups like local youth pastors, school counselors, and heads of school/school administrators. Complete details can be found on the website at www.silverdaleba.org/ccc. For more information, contact the Office of Development at 892-2319 ext. 2224 or development@silverdaleba.org.






What Is Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU)?

Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) is an old international trade term indicating that the seller is responsible for the safe delivery of goods to a named destination, paying all transportation expenses, and assuming all risks during transport.

Once the goods arrive at the agreed-upon location, the buyer becomes responsible for paying import duties, as well as further transport costs. However, Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) indicates that the seller must cover duties, import clearance, and any taxes.

Key Takeaways Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) is an international trade term meaning the seller is responsible for ensuring goods arrive safely to a destination; the buyer is responsible for import duties.

By contrast, Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) indicates that the seller must cover duties, import clearance, and any taxes.

DDU is still commonly used in transportation contracts, even though the International Chamber of Commerce has officially replaced it with the term Delivered-at-Place (DAP).

The primary benefit of delivered duty unpaid (DDU) shipping is that it gives the buyer more control over the shipping procedures.

From the seller's perspective, DDU shipping provides the ability to take more of a "hands-off" approach when it comes to the destination country's shipping rules.

The biggest problem for buyers in DDU shipping is the possibility of surprise duties and/or tax charges when their shipment finally arrives.

1:06 Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU)

Understanding Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU)

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is an organization that was originally formed after World War I with the goal of fostering prosperity in Europe by setting standards for international trade. It was this group that, in 1936, published a set of standardized terms for different types of shipping agreements, known as Incoterms.

Incoterms are contract specifications outlining who bears the costs and risks of international transactions; they are subject to change at the discretion of the ICC. Because of the legal and logistical intricacies of international shipping, the ICC seeks to simplify matters for businesses by standardizing its terms.

Notably, 2020 Incoterms revision is available for purchase direct from the site.

Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) was actually not included in the most recent (2010) edition of the International Chamber of Commerce's Incoterms; the current official term that best describes the function of DDU is Delivered-at-Place (DAP).

However, DDU is still commonly used in international trade parlance. On paper, the term is followed by the location of delivery (e.g., "DDU: Port of Los Angeles").

DPU Shipping Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU) is the third term used to differentiate between shipping methods. Under DPU, the seller is also responsible for unloading the goods at the place of destination.

Responsibilities Under Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU)

According to DDU arrangements, the seller secures licenses and takes care of other formalities involved in exporting a good; it is also responsible for all licenses and costs incurred in transit countries, as well as for providing an invoice at its own cost.

The seller assumes all risk until the goods are delivered to the specified location, but it has no obligation to obtain insurance on the goods.

The buyer is responsible for obtaining all necessary licenses for importing the goods and paying all relevant taxes, duties, and inspection costs. All risks involved in this process are borne by the buyer. Once the goods are placed at the disposal of the buyer, all further transportation costs and risks fall on the buyer.
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Jack F. Rutledge, M.D. and CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care will host two free seminars in February on surgical weight loss options. The seminars will be held at CHI Memorial Hospital in the community room on Tuesday, Feb. 2 and Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m."Obesity can be devastating to a persons health and self-esteem. This educational seminar is designed to help you better understand metabolic surgery and how it may benefit your health. Topics include: who is a good candidate for the procedure, what to expect during the recovery period, and lifestyle changes needed to foster a successful outcome,' officials said.The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program granted CHI Memorial accreditation."This means people in the Chattanooga region have access to the some of the most effective weight loss surgery options along with a highly trained medical staff that supports individuals through their weight loss journey," officials said.CHI Memorial is recognized as an Optum/United Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence and Aetna Bariatric Surgery Institute of Quality program.Call 423-495-2501 to register or for more information. Walk-ins are also welcome. Attendees are asked to arrive at the seminar location at 5:30 p.m.CHI Memorial Hospital is located at 2525 de Sales Ave. in Chattanooga.For more information and additional dates and locations for upcoming seminars, visit www.CHIMemorialMedicalGroup.org . Search for CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care and then click on Free Educational Seminar.
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) today launched their J-1 Visa Guide in a push to show Irish students they can still find jobs on a J-1, despite the new rules.

With support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and American Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin OMalley, USI is urging Irish students planning on traveling with the visa this year to apply quickly and start on the job hunt as soon as possible.

With the implementation of new rules by the J-1 visas U.S. sponsors CIEE and Interexchange, 2016 is the first year that J-1 students must have employment in place before they can enter the US, causing further difficulties for those planning their American summer adventure.

The J-1 Summer Work Travel (SWT) Program has long been a rite of passage for Irish third-level students who travel to the US during the summer months to work, mainly in the retail and hospitality industries.

Of the 300,000 worldwide participants on the program in 2014, 8,000 were Irish students and more than 150,000 have traveled from Ireland since the program was launched in 1966.

Read more: An Irish J-1 student's "Parent's Guide" to New York (PHOTOS).

The introduction of new rules requiring pre-employment in order to travel to the US led to fears there would be a massive decline in Irish students undertaking the visa this year and in the future, resulting in thousands more students staying in Ireland during the summer months and looking for employment.

As a result, USI has urged potential participants to sign up early to the program to ensure they have time to organize a job.

Speaking in advance of the guide's launch on Tuesday, Jan 26 USI President Kevin Donoghue said, USI and the Department of Foreign Affairs have produced this guide to working and living in America under the J-1 visa.

It includes tips on staying safe and planning the J-1 trip of a lifetime, while being a good ambassador for Ireland and showing the best example to American citizens of how Ireland is today.

The guide also includes information on the main J-1 agents working with Irish students, USIT and SAYIT, who are currently running placement programs to help students secure a summer job in the US.

Booked your J1? Remember to book an interview with a US Employer on your tracking a/c asap! https://t.co/1AHvS0qslI pic.twitter.com/WIVKPUyTA5  USIT (@UsitTravel) January 23, 2016

Were urging students to get involved now with the job placement process so they can take up the roles that are on offer, Donoghue said. Once students have a job secured, theyll have all the hard work done and be able to look forward to a great summer in the US.

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Enda Kenny previously announced his concern about the rule changes, stating that it would lead to an abrupt ending to the J-1 system as we know it and predicted a drop in Irish participants by 60-80%.

To counteract a possible drop in participants in 2016, USI has worked in close collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and American Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin OMalley, to create this new 2016 guide offering advice to students on how to find a job, secure accommodation and make the most of their opportunity to experience the American way of life.

The Governments focus is on maximizing student participation in the J-1 program in 2016 and beyond. I am pleased that the Department is in a position to support USI in the production of this excellent and informative guide, said Irish Minister for Diaspora Affairs Jimmy Deenihan.

I strongly encourage students wishing to apply for this years summer J-1 to engage with the process now so that they can meet the requirements of the program and go on to have a great experience in the US.

Another concern for USI in the creation of this guide was the issue of accommodation. There has been growing concern as to the future of the program in general following a number of high-profile cases in which Irish students are said to have damaged property while staying in the US.

The guide advises students to also secure accommodation before traveling but to make sure they are dealing with a legitimate rental agency or landlord.

They further advise students not to sign a lease unless it is completely understood, to never pay in cash and to always get a receipt if possible.

With the recent changes, the U.S. government is working with applicants, Irish government representatives, and independent U.S. and Irish implementing institutions to ensure that Irish students continue to benefit from the J-1 program just as they have in the past, said U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Kevin OMalley.

The key to success with this latest change is for students to be proactive. We encourage all J-1 participants to plan ahead and register early for the job fairs.

Even as some aspects of the J-1 program evolve and change, the cultural exchange and entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of the program remain exactly the same. The J-1 experience will continue to be a life-changing one that connects the next generation of Irish and Americans and strengthens the bonds of friendship between our two countries.

Read more: Why Donald Trump is wrong to get rid of J-1 visas in his immigration policy.

Others have agreed that the new rules will help to clean up the J-1 SWT Program. Speaking to IrishCentrals sister publication the Irish Voice in November 2015, Michael Doorley, managing director of the Shandon Travel Group which oversees the Irish J-1 agency SAYIT, said that it would now be easier for students to find US jobs.

The U.S. sponsors are tidying up the situation, Doorley said. We have been talking to some students and they feel that it will be helpful for them to have a job in the U.S. before they go. It will let them know exactly what theyll be doing and where they will be. It will also help them get a head start on getting accommodation.

It will be much better for the students to have all of this work done before they depart so they wont have to worry about what theyll do when they get to the U.S, he added.

The USI J-1 Visa Guide can be viewed online here.

You can find further advice and personal stories on the J-1 year-long graduate visa in IrishCentrals J-1 visa series here.
A priest, originally from County Tyrone and now based in the United States, claims he has been frozen out of the Catholic Church after calling the police to investigate a fellow clergyman who had shown child-porn images to 14-year-old parishioner.

Fr John A Gallagher (48), from Strabane, Co Tyrone, is now living in a holiday home belonging to one of his friends and parishioners. He says the locks on his parochial house were changed and he was placed on medical leave by his bishop in the Diocese of Palm Beach, FL. Gallagher says he was told by the Catholic Church to put a pedophile priest on a plane back to India rather than cooperate with the police.

Gallagher has been living in the United States since 2000. Prior to this he served in the Long Tower parish in Derry. He is well-known in the Catholic community in the US and has made several religious music records and TV appearances. In 2012 he received a personal note from Pope Benedict XVI thanking him for his work, but Gallagher said this was little comfort as he felt the wrath" of the Church in the past year.

A local police chief in Palm Beach has also voiced his concern over the treatment of Gallagher and wrote to the Church to complain.

The incident took place in January 2015. Gallagher, who has remained silent on the matter until now, has written to bishops and cardinals in Ireland and America as well as the Vatican but has been unable to locate the Indian clergyman in question. He said he has not received a satisfactory response from the Catholic Church.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that Fr Jose Palimattom, who had been at the parish of the Holy Name of Jesus Christ in West Palm Beach for just one month, approached a 14-year-old boy after Mass. The priest showed the boy as many as 40 images of naked boys. According to ABC news, the tag words in the images included "little boys," and "young boys 10-18 yoa."

Palimattom (48), a priest of the Franciscan Province of St Thomas the Apostle in India, was serving a two-year residency at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in West Palm Beach from December 2014.

Police say he was in the first stages of grooming the boy.

The night after Palimattom had shown the young boy the photos he sent him a Facebook message which read Good night. Sweet dreams.

The young boy told a friend who reported this to the Church choirmaster, who immediately informed Fr Gallagher.

The Irish priest says that on the night he found out he was told by a Florida Church official, We need to make him go away, put on a plane."

He had been instructed to put Fr Palimattom on a plane to Bangalore. Gallagher was also told do not keep written notes, by the same official.

All of this has been recorded in documents, filed with the Vatican, by a specialist Canon Lawyer on behalf of Gallagher. These were sent to Cardinal Gerhard Muller, Prefect of the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in Rome.

Rather than following the Churchs instruction to make him go away, Gallagher interviewed Fr Palimattom along with one of his parishioners, a retired police officer. The parishioner took notes at the meeting.

Palimattom admitted to showing nude pictures of boys to the teen. He also admitted that he had sexually assaulted boys in India before arriving in the US. A few hours later he repeated this confession to detectives from the specialist unit of the West Palm Beach Police.

Gallagher contacted the police, following the rules the Catholic Church had set down after hundreds of cases of sexual abuse carried out by the clergy on children.

At the time the Palm Beach diocese released a statement saying that despite prior investigation they had no knowledge of Palimattoms previous assaults in India.

They said, As part of its due diligence, the diocese completed a background screening which also included a screening in India, and received a Certificate of Aptitude from the Minister Provincial in India. During this background process, no prior misconduct was revealed.

Palimattom admitted, ABC news reported, that the prior assaults were not on record as they had not been reported to police. It was also claimed by the media that Palimattom was under orders from the Church to avoid being in the company of minors without other adults in attendance.

Having reported Palimattoms actions to the police, and despite the fact that he was following the Catholic Churchs own rules, it was made clear to Gallagher that his actions were not approved of.

He said, It was made clear to me that what I had done (co-operating with the police) wasn't what I should have done.

"It was a very distressing time for me and the parish. But we had a special Mass and I told the congregation what had happened. I told them it was now in the hands of the rightful authorities, the police.

"Palimattom was on the local TV news as his arrest became public. I did the right thing."

He was arrested and his bail set at $10,000. The Catholic Church dealt with the victims family through lawyers and an out-of-court settlement was made. Palimattom has been sent back to India to an undisclosed location.

In late April 2015 Gallagher was called to meet with the Bishop of Palm Beach, Gerald Barbarito. Three other Church officials were in attendance. Gallagher was in line to be promoted and was surprised to receive a phone call the day after their meeting telling him he was being demoted.

The Irish priest said, "No reason was given. I asked if I could meet with him again and this was refused. He said if I didn't wish to be demoted and moved to another parish, I should leave the priesthood."

Four weeks later Gallagher was rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack. He had become unwell while hearing Confession.

Gallagher said Bishop Barbarito visited him in the hospital but did not anoint him or bring him Communion.

Six days later Gallagher asked Dominican nun, Sister Ann Monahan, to retrieve files on the Palimattom scandal from his office at the Holy Name of Jesus Christ church. She retrieved the files but later when she returned a church official stopped her and took the keys to the building from her. The 84-year-old nun has now been officially retired.

When Gallagher got out of the hospital he found the locks on the parochial house had been changed and a new priest appointed to his parish. Under the bishop's orders Gallagher was due to leave one month later, in July.

Gallagher said, I was in shock. I had just suffered a suspected heart attack and wanted to return to my home to recover. Instead, I was homeless."

In a letter the Bishop suggested that Gallagher needed treatment for his mental health. An all-expenses paid trip was offered to him, to a clinic in Pennsylvania. Gallagher refused and has been on paid leave since.

When the police, who were investigating the Palimattom case, learned of Gallaghers absence they wrote to Church leaders, including Bostons Cardinal Sean OMalley, the head of the Pontifical Commission for Child Protection, a group established by Pope Francis in 2014.

Chief Deputy in the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office Michael Gauger, who has been a cop for 44 years, said this was not the first time that the Church has impeded investigations.

He wrote, Due to Fr Gallagher's co-operation the case was swiftly resolved and the opportunity for additional crimes was diminished.

"Educated in the pattern of behavior by those engaged in this inappropriate behavior, the crime could have escalated to something physical which would have been devastating to the victim as well as the Catholic Church."

Chief Deputy Gauger urged Cardinal O'Malley to ensure the Irish priest received accolades for his compliance with criminal investigators."

Another detective working on the case had written a memo to Gauger on May 5, 2015, before Gallaghers heart attack. Detective Debi Phillips also said she had been hindered by the Church in the past and expected to face the same opposition in Gallaghers case. However, she was wrong.

She wrote, Reverend Gallagher and his staff provided timely evidence that was needed to arrest and ultimately convict Jose Palimattom for the felony charge of Showing Obscene Material to a Child.

"If it wasn't for the co-operation ... other children would have also been victimized."

Gallagher communicates with his Bishop, Gerald Barbarito, only through his canon lawyer.

Gallagher did receive a response from Dublins Archbishop, Diarmuid Martin, who wrote back to him and left a voice message. Gallagher now believes that the Church in Ireland can help break the wall of silence over here (in Florida)."

He continued, "Because of the structure of the Church, each diocese is run separately from the other, so there is no broad church.

"This is now 2016 and this is what happens to whistleblowers in the Catholic Church.

"Pope Francis speaks of ridding our church of the crimes of sexual abuse and being open and honest about doing it. I haven't seen that in Pope Francis's Church yet."

When contacted, none of the parties  from Gallaghers Palm Beach Diocese, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in Rome, or Palimattom's order in India, the Franciscans Province of St Thomas The Apostle  was available for comment, at the time of this reports publication.

Heres an NBC report on Palimattoms case from January 2015:
Dublin: Prior to Enda Kenny's address to the annual Fine Gael party conference in the Citywest Hotel on the outskirts of Dublin there was speculation that he was planning to announce the date of the Irish general election. The rumors were so strong that, even before the speech, he made it clear this wasn't going to happen.

If he had gone ahead and named the day, it would have been an unwise move, causing great annoyance among his Labour partners in government. With Labour's annual gathering scheduled for the following weekend, such an announcement by the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) would have meant a major reduction in TV coverage of that event.

When an election is declared, strict rules of balance apply to the Irish broadcast media. Sinn Fein had already suffered in this regard. They were planning to hold their conference on the first weekend in February but were advised that, since the election campaign is likely to be officially under way by that stage, they would not get the TV coverage they would otherwise receive.

The most important part of that coverage is always the broadcast of the party leader's speech from 8.30 to 9 pm on the Saturday night. That's prime-time in TV terms of course and a great opportunity to get a political message across.

But the persistence of the misguided speculation that Kenny would go ahead and tell us the chosen date reflects the level of election fever gripping the Irish political class and news media at the moment.

Nor did he give any indication yesterday, following his meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street, though he did share the news that he had extended an invitation for Cameron to attend the 1916 centenary celebrations.

For the election, the smart money is still on Friday, Feb 26, with the day before, Feb 25, and the first week in March not totally ruled out.

Pundits predict that Fine Gael will continue to be the largest party but with fewer seats than their present total of 67. My own estimate at present is that the party will lose about ten TDs.

As I write, I am looking at the cover of the program for their conference  or ardfheis ('ard-esh')  which carries the message, "Let's keep the recovery going." I have conducted a search through the scripts for the Taoiseach's two speeches to the ardfheis, which were emailed to journalists, and they contain the word "recovery" 41 times.

He asks voters if they want the recovery in the economy, which involved so much sacrifice on their part, now to be put at risk? There are two ways in which this could happen, according to the Fine Gael leader. Yes, you've guessed it, one is by voting for Fianna Fail who, he claims, "wrecked the economy in the past." The other is by backing Sinn Fein, "whose populist promises would wreck our future by blowing a huge hole in the public finances."

It is traditional election rhetoric but after the votes have been counted, there will almost certainly be an insufficient number of Fine Gael TDs to give Kenny the minimum figure of 79 Dail votes required to secure a further term as Taoiseach. So where will he get the extra support he needs?

Last time, there was no problem, as Labour had 37 TDs to supplement Fine Gael's 76 and the two parties swept into office on a wave of revulsion against Fianna Fail, which was seen as having mismanaged the economy on a massive scale.

Currently Labour has 33 Deputies in the Dail, but few believe they will return with anything close to that figure. Many observers believe that big Labour losses will be one of the major news stories on election day and that the party will be lucky to make double-figures.

In that situation there are two problems Kenny will potentially have to face. The first is that with, say, 57 Fine Gael TDs and perhaps ten from Labour, he will need to shop around for support from other quarters. The Independents and fringe parties, who will be present in abundance in the new Dail, are obvious contenders in this respect.

It's a difficult but not daunting prospect for the leader of Fine Gael. Much more worrying, however, is the possibility that Labour, having been decimated at the ballot-box, might decide to stay out of government altogether, with a view to rebuilding their strength from the opposition benches. Past history suggests that Labour will not lightly turn down the opportunity of office, but it could happen on this occasion.

In that case, if Kenny wished to be re-elected Taoiseach, he might have to consider an unprecedented coalition with Fianna Fail, presuming that Micheal Martin's party was open to offers. Another, rather more remote possibility, would be an approach to Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein.

A grand alliance between the "Blueshirts" and the "Soldiers of Destiny" would be an historic development given the bitterness that marked the relationship between the two parties for many decades. But Fianna Fail is in a difficult place. They have only 21 Dail seats, 50 fewer than when the last general election was called. FF is expected now to improve considerably on their current total, but it will be a partial rather than total recovery.

Under the Irish system of proportional representation, vote transfers are very important. Voters can and do give their order of preference when filling out the ballot-paper. When a candidate is elected or eliminated, subsequent preferences of his or her supporters can help to get someone else past the winning-post.

Fianna Fail will be hoping that their contenders get plenty of high transfers, particularly from supporters of Fine Gael and Sinn Fein. So far, Martin has ruled out coalition with either of the other two parties and this will probably help because, if he declared his intention of going in with FG, it would alienate SF supporters and vice-versa.

At the same time, it has left the party open to the charge that it is campaigning to remain in opposition and that people would be wasting their votes by supporting them. Naturally, Fianna Fail would deny that, but the suspicion still lingers. Martin has accused Fine Gael of having hard-right policies on the economy while for a long time now he has excoriated Sinn Fein because of that party's history with the Provisional IRA.

As for Sinn Fein itself, the party that scored 9.9 percent of first-preference votes in the 2011 election is now getting close to double that figure in opinion polls. Currently in possession of 14 Dail seats, there is a good chance they will at least double that figure on this occasion.

What then for Adams & Co.? At their last national conference in Derry back in March, delegates voted to reject the prospect of joining a coalition that was led by either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. There was some small print in the motion that might conceivably allow for a situation where a left-wing alliance headed by Sinn Fein was the majority partner in such an arrangement. Even if FF or FG had more TDs in a set up of that kind, Gerry Adams and his friends could possibly still claim to be running the show.

Since Sinn Fein is already in office in the North, there is an argument that for the party to hold power in both parts of the island on the centenary of the 1916 Rising would be a major historic development. The question is what price the party would be willing to pay for such a deal, because coalition usually involves giving up some of your cherished policies to reach a compromise.

As for the far left, they are likely to do quite well in the election although the controversy over the imposition of water-charges on the public has considerably died down. The attendance at the latest protests was a good deal less than in former times and, despite a claim that there was a crowd of 20,000 in Dublin city center, it looked more like 2,000 to me. But the Government has suffered serious political damage all the same.

---

Deaglan de Breadun's latest book is "Power Play: The Rise of Modern Sinn Fein", published by Merrion Press.
A new series of online exhibitions will focus on the well-known and not-so-well-known stories of people and events surrounding the Easter Rising. The exhibitions will come online over the first six months of 2016.

"Inspiring Ireland 1916: Weaving Public and Private Narratives" will use fascinating objects  digitized photos, diaries, posters, aural recordings, video, and ephemera  to tell the stories of the 1916 Easter Rising and to paint a picture of everyday life at the time. The project presents a new series of seven themed exhibitions that weave public and private narratives related to 1916.

The project is the culmination of a partnership between the National Library of Ireland (NLI) and the Digital Repository of Ireland. The exhibitions will combine expert narrative with iconic objects from the National Library of Ireland, the National Archives of Ireland, the National Museum of Ireland and RTE Archives, alongside previously unseen publicly collected memorabilia from Collection Days hosted by the National Library of Ireland.

Inspiring Ireland 1916 creates a dynamic, multi-media reflection on the people, events, and legacy of 1916. Part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, Inspiring Ireland is jointly funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and the Minister for Diaspora Affairs at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Dr Sandra Collins, Director of the NLI and Chair of Inspiring Irelands Steering Group, said Inspiring Ireland is a wonderful addition to the 2016 commemorations, bringing beautifully curated images and themes of 1916 to life for everyone across the world to enjoy. Working together with the Digital Repository of Ireland and the other custodians of primary sources such as RTE Archives, the National Museum and the National Archives shows the variety and richness of these online exhibitions.

The Inspiring Ireland partnership is a key element of the NLIs 2016 Programme, as part of Ireland 2016, and allows the NLI to share important artifacts and the stories that surround them.

Read more: Eyewitness to 1916: Young Irish female fighter in the GPO tells her story

Dr Natalie Harrower, Director of the Digital Repository of Ireland, unveiled the schedule of exhibitions, which begins with stories of Women and the Rising.

By combining public content cared for by Irelands national cultural institutions with private items shared by members of the public via our national and international Collection Days, Inspiring Ireland 1916 is able to show a side of the Rising that is not as well documented. In our first exhibition, we use the lens of womens lives to explore class, politics, grief and survival through this remarkable period in Irish history. And this is just the start of the stories that have inspired Ireland through the Rising.

Inspiring Ireland 1916 will also unveil exhibitions that use brand new sources, for example, the witness testimonies of British soldiers sent to quell the fighting in Dublin, and official compensation claims for damaged property from businesses and individuals  including artists Jack B. Yeats and Harry Clarke.

The Digital Repository of Ireland is delighted to be able to expand the Inspiring Ireland project to share new discoveries, and the artifacts and stories that surround them, alongside important existing memories from our treasured cultural institutions, added Dr Harrower.

The NLI recently announced a unique digital repository of personal papers and photographs that tell the story of the momentous events of 1916. In addition to the 70,000 digital images already available through the NLIs online catalogue, the digitized personal papers and photographs of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation will all be available online by April 2016. The full collection of Ceannt, Clarke and Connollys papers are already available to the public, free of charge at catalogue.nli.ie.

Katherine McSharry, Head of Outreach and the person responsible for the 2016 program at the National Library, commented: The NLIs 2016 program has been developed to make the stories of 1916 accessible to all and we are delighted to partner with Inspiring Ireland to highlight items from our collection as well as content shared by members of the public via the Collection Days. This content reveals a side of the Rising that is not as well documented and we look forward to what may be revealed at future Collection Days and events to be held in New York and London over the coming months.

Inspiring Ireland is built on the preservation infrastructure of the Digital Repository of Ireland, which means that digital objects are preserved for long term access and discovery, ensuring Irelands digital cultural heritage will be available when the next centenary rolls around in another hundred years.

Read more: Lily Kempson, the longest surviving rebel of 1916, died 20 years ago

Details of the NLIs full 2016 program of events, from exhibitions and public events to major digitization projects, are available on the NLIs website www.nli.ie.

To view the Inspiring Ireland exhibition, visit www.inspiring-ireland.ie.
On January 26, 1907, The Playboy of the Western World opened at the Abbey Theater in Dublin and caused such a fuss that projectiles were flung at the stage in what is now known as the "Playboy Riots".

The play tells the story of Christy Mahon, a young man running away from his farm, claiming he killed his father. Patricide was a shocking enough topic but the play also mentioned ladies undergarments. The riots were stirred up by the Irish nationalists who viewed the content of the performance to be an offense to public morals and an insult against Ireland.

"A vile and inhuman story"

Sinn Fein leader Arthur Griffith described the play as "a vile and inhuman story told in the foulest language we have ever listened to from a public platform." He also perceived it as a slight on Irish womanhood.

Sadly, within two years Synge was dead but his play was well on its way to becoming a global success. However, by 1911, when the show went up in New York, it seemed that little had changed.

Potatoes, stink bombs, and rosaries are just three of the items hurled at the stage of the Maxine Elliott Theater on November 27, 1911, as a riot again engulfed the auditorium and police expelled protestors.

Read more Walking in the footsteps of Irish literary giants

Roosevelt and Lady Gregory

Standing in front of the audience, a rotund and determined Lady Augusta Gregory urged the actors to Keep playing. The founder of the Abbey Theater and patron of W.B. Yeats clinched victory two nights later when she arranged for Theodore Roosevelt, the former US president just two years out of office, to attend the performance.

Roosevelt and Lady Gregory were friends. As part of the rich tapestry of her ascendancy background, Lady Gregorys great-grandfather had known George Washington. The audience applauded Roosevelt and his enjoyment of the play won them over. Lady Gregorys canny diplomacy had disarmed the rioters.

The frenzy caused by The Playboy in New York was a repeat of the violence that greeted the play when it was premiered in Dublin in 1907. Audience hostility, aroused by the depiction of Ireland, ignited over the use of the word shift (underwear) in the second act.

Lady Gregory and the US

Despite removing the contentious lines from the text before the US tour, The Playboy provoked an uproar. After further rioting in Philadelphia in January 1912, the local Clan na Gael leader brought an injunction against the production on the grounds of indecency and the actors were arrested. John Quinn, a New York lawyer and Irish American patron, won the court case and the tour continued to Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Chicago.

As Judith Hill reveals in her biography, "Lady Gregory: An Irish Life," these events in the US had a transforming influence on the life of the woman at the heart of the Irish Literary Revival. From the moment the 59-year-old docked in Boston on September 29, 1911, she was on a new path.

When Lady Gregory went to the US, she was seen as independent, warm and as a very attractive figure, says Hill. She wasnt fazed by the opposition. She knew that the potential stirrers of opposition were a small minority.

There was a strong desire among mayors and police to allow the play. She appealed to them. She was instinctive and uninhibited. When she was in Ireland, she was more closeted.

Despite her reputation as a pioneering folklorist and her prolific literary output (including 42 plays, biography, stories, and poems), Lady Gregory had a very traditional view of the role of women and had never spoken in public.

But as she was embraced by the US press for her vitality, Lady Gregory was persuaded to speak to an invited audience in Boston. Soon, she was giving lectures, interviews and became the main defender against the United Irish American Societies resolution to drive the vile thing [The Playboy] from the stage.

Between 1911 and 1915, Lady Gregory traveled to the US four times. While touring with the Abbey Theater in December 1912, she raised $20,750 in funds to establish an art gallery in Dublin for her nephew and art collector, Hugh Lane.

Sadly, bitter disputes with Dublin Corporation meant that it was almost 50 years before the gallery would eventually open. Lane would never see it as he was on board the British-registered Lusitania when it was sunk by the Germans off the coast of Cork in May 1915. Lady Gregorys son, Robert, was also killed in the First World War and is commemorated in Yeatss renowned poem "An Irishman Foresees his Death."

Lady Gregorys first visit to the US didnt just change her public persona. She also fell in love with John Quinn, the lawyer who defended the Abbey players in their Philadelphia court case. Lady Gregory is seen as a classic Victorian figure, aloof and repressed. But as Hills insightful biography shows, Lady Gregory  described as Irelands greatest living Irishwoman by George Bernard Shaw  was a passionate and complex character.

Read more Irish experts top 10 Irish books you should definitely read

Why do I love you so much? she wrote to Quinn, 18 years her junior, shortly after her return to Ireland in 1912. It ought to be from all that piled up the goodness of the years. Yet it is not that  it is some call that came in a moment  something impetuous & masterful about you that satisfies me  that gives me perfect rest.

By the time The Playboy tour limped to Chicago, the last stop on the American tour, in February 1912, it was derided as "Cowboy of the Western World." In the Windy City, Lady Gregory received a death threat in the form of a sheet with a rough drawing of a coffin, hammer, nails and a pistol. On it was scrawled: your fate is sealed never again shall you gase [sic] on the barren hilltops of Connemara.

Lady Gregory was unperturbed. She continued to walk to the theater every night and caustically dismissed the threat when she remarked to her friend: I dont feel anxious, for I dont think from the drawing that the sender has much practical knowledge of firearms. Ouch.

Lady Gregory  An Irish Life by Judith Hill is published by The Collins Press.

* Originally published in 2011. Updated in January 2022.

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Best Master's Degrees has ranked Southern Adventist University as one of the 10 Most Affordable Top Ranked Online MBA Entrepreneurship degree programs.

The organization evaluated accredited programs that received high rankings from a number of credible organizations. Tuition data was gathered from the NCES College Navigator database.

Southern Adventist University came in at #5. Best Master's Degrees editors noted that "Southern Adventist University offers an affordable online entrepreneurship MBA degree programs that is fully accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education."

The article and a high resolution badge can be found here:

http://www.bestmastersdegrees.com/top/affordable-online-mba-entrepreneurship
95% of advertised rental properties are out of reach of people receiving rent supplement.

That is the finding of a new report by the Simon Communities of Ireland, which is repeating its call for the government to increase the payment.

It comes as the Environment Minister Alan Kelly is to bring proposed schemes on affordable rent and social housing before the Cabinet this morning.

Kelly's plans would provide support for low income workers and construction companies.

Under one scheme the government would pay 30% of the rent for low earners.

To qualify people would have to be spending 30% of their net income on rent, but not be eligible for social housing.

Meanwhile, a plan aimed at getting more investment in social housing would see the government guarantee up to 90% of the income stream from the schemes.

Minister Kelly has said he wants to provide a healthy mix of social housing, affordable rental accommodation and private housing.

Niamh Randall of the Simon Communities has said there has been a major drop in properties that are affordable for people getting rent assistance.

There was 746 properties available to rent, now thats gone done 13% since August and 35% since May, said Randall.

But what was most worrying was the gap between market rents and rent supplement and HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) payments.

There was only 4.5% of the total that fell within these limits. Thats down 47% since August 2015, but its actually down a shocking 75% from May 2015.
A gap is emerging between public sector and private sector employers when it comes to how they treat Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender workers.

A survey by GLEN has found the public sector scored 21% on its benchmark system - compared to 51% for private sector employers.
Argentina says it keeping up efforts to control a locust infestation threatening crops in at least three states.

The countrys agricultural inspection agency said in a statement on Tuesday it has controlled 31 new outbreaks of the insect in the states of Catamarca, Santiago del Estero and Cordoba.
The transaction will combine the companies building-control businesses and move Johnson Controls to Ireland to avail of the lower corporate tax rate.

Johnson shareholders will own about 56% of the combined company and receive aggregate cash consideration of about $3.9bn (3.6bn), the companies said in a statement yesterday.

The companies estimate the merger would deliver at least $150m of tax savings each year and $500m in costs over the initial three years.

Tyco, which reduced its workforce in Cork by laying off hundreds of staff in 2008, made a dramatic return by relocating its global headquarters to the city in late 2014.

The fire prevention specialists now employs hundreds of staff at its Mahon facility which it is due to leave in the coming weeks as it relocates to One Albert Quay in the city centre to accommodate its continued expansion.

The company is also among the finalists for the Cork Company of the Year awards which are to be announced next month.

Both companies expect the deal to close by the end of September.

BREAKING: Hillary Clinton says as president she would block deals like Johnson Controls and Tyco inversion with 'exit tax'  Reuters U.S. News (@ReutersUS) January 25, 2016

Johnson Controls shareholders may choose one share of the combined company or $34.88 per share in cash.

Johnson Controls is continuing with its plan to spin-off its car-seating operations, slated by year-end.

A deal would complete the transition of Johnson Controls from a diversified manufacturer of car parts, batteries and building controls into two more focused companies.

A merger also would end one of the last vestiges of Tyco, the one-time conglomerate that divided into multiple companies after former CEO Dennis Kozlowski was forced out in 2002 and later went to prison.

Johnson Controls has been trying to reduce its reliance on the car-parts industry, which accounted for about 54% of its fiscal 2015 sales.

Johnson Controls chairman and CEO Alex Molinaroli will have the same roles at the combined company for 18 months after the closing, while Tyco CEO George Oliver serves as president and chief operating officer, as well as director.

Tyco, which is based in Cork and run from Princeton, New Jersey, makes commercial fire and security systems with a stockmarket value of $13bn.

The combined company will have its primary operational headquarters in north America in Milwaukee.

The US corporate income tax rate, 35%, is the highest in the developed world, and certain corporate tax laws mean an independent US company could end up paying more taxes than an identical US company owned by a foreign parent.

Since 1982, more than 50 US companies have reincorporated in low-tax countries, with Ireland becoming a popular corporate home.

The move, known as an inversion, has become more frequent since 2012 and has become an issue in the US presidential race, with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton among those calling for an end to the practice.

Tyco itself got a foreign tax address in the late 1990s through an inversion.

That transaction involved a takeover of the security company ADT, which was incorporated in Bermuda.
California-based software firm Hortonworks followed up recent office openings in London and Sydney by opening its first Irish facility in Cork, with the creation of 50 jobs.

The company distributes freely downloadable software  known as Apache Hadoop  for storing, analysing, and managing large amounts of data.

The boost was preceded by another jobs announcement for the city, as Fortuity  formerly Avalon Technologies  outlined its plans to create 10 additional roles as part of its expansion.

While we work with clients of all sizes and across a range of sectors, this company growth is being fuelled by the adoption of cloud, security, and data analytics services by small and medium-sized enterprises, said Fortuity founder and managing director Kevin ORegan.

There is no longer a perception that these solutions are just for multinationals, but that small and medium-sized businesses can benefit and leverage business opportunities very successfully to punch above their weight in the market.

Dara Murphy, the data protection minister, welcomed the expansion of the Carrigtwohill-based firm, saying it highlighted the growing opportunities in cloud computing and data analytics.

Galway, meanwhile, was boosted by the news that tech firms Ice Cube and Tec Support are to merge, creating up to 100 new positions.

The companies  which are based in Ballybrit  plan to create the roles as part of their expansion over three years.
Figures released by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton show the number of IDA visits rose 206 from 359 in 2015.

The data shows that the dominance of Dublin waned significantly as the IDA oversaw a much greater geographical spread in the site visits last year.

In 2014, Dublin accounted for 57% of all site visits.

Last year, the 242 site visits to Dublin represented 43% of the overall total.

The figures also show that the number of counties completely bypassed by overseas investors dropped sharply last year.

In 2014, there were no IDA sponsored visits to counties Laois, Longford, Monaghan and Roscommon. However, only Cavan was bypassed last year.

The figures show Cork received the second highest amount with 48 site visits followed by 41 to Galway and 40 to Limerick.

392 companies from #Europe have invested in Ireland - here's where they came from #WhyIreland pic.twitter.com/b5XTtsOBUw  IDA Ireland (@IDAIRELAND) January 22, 2016

In a written Dail reply to Fianna Fail TD Dara Calleary, Mr Bruton confirmed Waterford hosted 31 visitors with Co Westmeath hosting 28.

Those to host five or less were counties Donegal (5), Laois and Wexford (4), Mayo (3), and Longford, Monaghan and Roscommon (2).

In a statement accompanying the figures, Mr Bruton said: It is important to note that data on site visits is not a true measure of the level of foreign direct investment activity in a region or county.

"Approximately 70% of all foreign direct investment investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base.

Working with stakeholders is exceptionally important in positioning any regional location to attract foreign direct investment and IDA Ireland continues to do so, as well as working with existing clients in all regional locations.

While IDA Ireland does attempt to influence the choice of location, the final decision as to where to visit, and ultimately where to locate, is taken in all cases by the investor, he added.

Last year saw a 66% rise in net job creation among IDA Ireland client firms, with a record level of 11,833 created; something which showed the true measure of Irelands foreign direct investment success, Mr Bruton said.

At the recent publication of the IDAs 2015 results, the agencys chief executive Martin Shanahan said the pipeline for additional investment and job creation, for the first quarter of 2016 is strong.
The Dutch who hold the EU presidency for the first half of this year and like Ireland have a tax system much favoured by multinationals, say they hope to have agreement by July.

The proposed directive would ensure that companies cannot shift high-interest inter-company loans to subsidiaries in high-tax countries, allowing them to offset it against their tax liability.

This has long been a complaint of Germany against Ireland and the new rule would limit the amount of interest that can be deducted, and would only be deductible up to a fixed ratio based on the taxpayers gross operating market.

Exit taxation, which would see companies having to pay tax before they can move tax residence or assets to a low- tax jurisdiction would affect Ireland, as it is often the receiving country.

Another area where Irelands tax regime would be affected is a proposed controlled foreign company rule to combat shifting profits within group, including the ownership of intangible assets such as intellectual property.

This is followed as a second step by shifting large amounts of income in the form of royalty payments into a low-tax country outside the EU.

The new rules proposes reattributing the income of a low taxed controlled foreign subsidiary to its parent company, usually in a high-tax state.

On hybrid mis-matches that can lead to double deductions in two countries, and which has been covered by OECD voluntary base erosion and profit shifting proposals, the EU rule would be that both countries involved in the mis-match would change their rules to block its further use.

Other elements of the proposed directive are a switcher-over clause to prevent foreign income being exempted from tax and would instead see it taxed with credit for the amount of tax paid abroad.
The Southern Lit Alliance hosted Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Rick Bragg on Thursday at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center for the first of five lectures in their new South Bound series.

Despite the wintry weather and calls for rain and snow, the event was a sold-out success, with over 150 people attending. In addition to sponsors and supporters, So Lit had a volunteer base coordinating registration, a cocktail reception with Mr. Bragg, and the book signing.

The audience included men and women from around Chattanooga and as far as Knoxville and Vermont. Mr. Bragg spent the evening telling stories that celebrate hardworking Southerners, answering questions about his life and career, and threw in some friendly Alabama v. Auburn banter with an audience-member.

Mr. Bragg was also the special guest of a benefit dinner hosted at Easy Bistro. The small five-course dinner of 35 guests was a fundraiser for the many outreach programs sponsored by So Lit in local schools and arts-deprived communities.

So Lit President Clif Henry sayid, So Lit is proud to host one of Americas greatest storytellers, and nicest guys, and we are so grateful to our Chattanooga community for joining us in this program. We hope to see similar energy for the remainder of the series.




Global same-store sales surged 5% in the fourth quarter, the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company said in a statement.

Analysts had estimated 3.2% growth.

Profit also topped predictions, raising optimism that Mr Easterbrook can pull McDonalds out of its worst slump in more than a decade.

Revenues amounted to $6.34bn for the period, beating the $6.23bn estimate.

The worlds biggest restaurant chain started serving breakfast all day in the US in October, bowing to a longstanding demand from customers.

Mr Easterbrook, who took the CEO job last March, also has focused on speeding up service and improving order accuracy.

It looks like theyre definitely under way with the turnaround, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jennifer Bartashus.

A good chunk of it is the all-day breakfast.

Still, its unclear if selling Egg McMuffins beyond the morning rush will be a long-term benefit, Ms Bartashus said.

The real question is whether that will be a sustained positive influence beyond people just trying it out for the first time.

The companys shares rose as much as 4.5% to $123.72 in early trading after the results were released.

In 2015, McDonalds gained 26%, outpacing the Standard & Poors 500 Index, which lost 0.7%.

Like Starbucks, which reported quarterly results last week, McDonalds cited France as being a weak spot.

Business there was hurt by last years terrorist attacks in Paris.

McDonalds saw stronger results in the UK, Canada and Australia, as well as positive same-store sales in Russia and China.

We took bold, urgent action in 2015 to reset the business and position McDonalds to deliver sustained profitable growth, Mr Easterbrook said in yesterdays statement.

We enter 2016 committed to managing the business for the long term, he added.
The Dublin-based plastics and environmental services-focused group is looking to develop a state-of-the-art food grade manufacturing facility at the Cork home of subsidiary firm, Protech Plastics.

The move will enable the company to produce innovative packaging products for Irish food producers.

It will also boost Protechs workforce from 100 to 125 over the next two years.

Protech currently manufactures containers and specialist components for multinational customers in the nutrition, pharmaceutical and data storage sectors.

Last year, One51 paid over 200m for a controlling stake in Canadian plastics firm, IPL.

Group chief executive, Alan Walsh said that has provided One51 with a considerable product portfolio and competence in the area of food grade packaging which can be leveraged through Protechs expansion.

The expansion of Protechs facility is an exciting opportunity for the group and one that we will seek to grow in the future, he added.

The group is also planning to expand the Shanghai-based manufacturing plant of its OnePlastics Group subsidiary, which supplies plastic products to multinational clients.

According to management, the expansion is required in order to cater for rising customer demand and to ensure that its facilities are appropriately configured for future customer growth.

The move will result in a doubling in size of the Irish groups Chinese manufacturing capabilities.
During a specially cleared visit to the heart of Chernobyls vast nuclear exclusion site, Cllr Chris OLeary will be briefed on the progress of the 1.5bn steel and concrete shield, or sarcophagus, being built to contain radiation in the plants number four reactor, which exploded in April 1986.

A French-led team of scientists, engineers, and construction workers are building the shield, which, when complete next year, will be twice the size of Croke Park and tall enough to house the Statue of Liberty.

The Irish Government, which has contributed 8m towards the project, is one of 40 countries and organisations funding the confinement structure.

Mr OLeary will be accompanied on the five-day visit by Cork City Council chief executive Ann Doherty; Irish ambassador to Belarus David Noonan; and Adi Roche, the voluntary chief executive of the Cork-based Chernobyl Children International (CCI) charity, which, since its foundation 25 years ago, has overseen the delivery of over 100m in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Belarus.

They will visit orphanages, clinics, hospices, foster homes, and independent living units which have been built and funded by CCI, Irish volunteers, and the Irish Government; meet relatives of families directly affected by the radioactive fallout; and visit abandoned towns like Pripyat. Mr OLeary and Ms Doherty will also meet with the mayors of Glusk and Gomel.

The visit has been organised to recognise the work of CCI over the last 25 years.

Cork is rightly proud of the fantastic work that has been done by the charity, said Mr OLeary last night.

It is an honour for me to be travelling to Chernobyl not only to witness this work, but also to pay tribute on behalf of the people of Cork to the charity and to the hundreds of volunteers over the years.

Ms Roche said it is significant that the Lord Mayor of Cork will lead the first official Irish delegation to Chernobyl given that the people of Cork were among the first responders to the nuclear crisis 30 years ago.

We hope that his presence will be a reminder of the threat Chernobyl still poses to the world and we are particularly pleased that he will have an opportunity to see the extraordinary work which Irish volunteers have been doing in regions affected by the Chernobyl accident, she said.
An airline spokesman said its position may have been lost in translation after reports in a Norwegian newspaper suggested the launch was being deferred following an unprecedented two-year delay over the issuing of a foreign carrier permit by the US authorities. He said Norwegian is still awaiting clarification from the US on the foreign carrier permit application submitted by its Irish subsidiary, Norwegian Air International.

So our position hasnt changed, he said.
One TD, Kerrys Brendan Griffin, went as far as to say he would prefer to go back to the country in a second election rather than do a deal with the controversial Tipperary TD.

Mr Lowry, who was forced to resign as a Fine Gael minister in disgrace in the 1990s, said Independents like him could hold the balance of power in the next Dail after the General Election.

However, despite the failure of Taoiseach Enda Kenny to rule out doing such a deal with Mr Lowry, with whom he is friends, TDs from across the country were very vocal yesterday in their opposition to any deal being done.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Griffin was vehement that such a deal would do enormous damage to Fine Gael.

Lowry would be out of the question for me. I could not do business with someone like that. Not under any circumstances should it be considered, he said.

Lowry would represent a massive step backwards. Id rather go to the country again then go into government with Michael Lowry. There is no room for low standards in high office, he added.

Cork North West TD Michael Creed said: I have an anathema to side deals. If the TDs want to support the Government, but I do have a problem of being held hostage to the parochial interests of Holycross, said Mr Creed. I do have a problem if his vote comes at a cost, he added.

Former junior minister Fergus ODowd too voiced concern about the need to rely on Mr Lowry to form a government.

I think there should be no formal deal with him, not with Michael Lowry. Individual Independent TDs can vote their own way including to support a government if they wish, but we should not do a deal with him, he told the Irish Examiner.

Carlow TD Pat Deering said he would rule out doing any sort of deal. He has baggage we dont need. I would be well aware of all that. Numbers will dictate if he is the mix or not, he said.

His constituency colleague Pat Breen shared his concerns saying there are other Independents Fine Gael should look to.

Dublin North TD Alan Farrell also expressed his opposition to entering into a deal with the Tipperary TD.

I would be quite firmly against the idea. His exit from Fine Gael was troublesome and his difficult legacy is something I want nothing to do with, he said.

However, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney was one of four Fine Gael ministers who yesterday failed to rule out doing such a deal with Mr Lowry, but said his preference would be not to have to rely on Independents. Theres far too much talk about Michael Lowry, quite frankly and I dont want to add to his profile one way or the other, he added.

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton and Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe also declined an opportunity to rule out seeking Mr Lowrys support.

However, the Labour Party made clear its unease about the potential of a deal with Mr Lowry. Tanaiste Joan Burton told reporters she would be very concerned if theres talk the next government would be beholden to Independents with separate agendas.

She repeated her view that it would certainly concern me deeply if the next government is dependent on individual TD deals which would put the very recovery at risk.

Junior Minister Kevin Humphreys was explicit in his opposition. I would not like to serve in any government that is supported by Michael Lowry. I am not in favour of any deal with Lowry, he told the Irish Examiner.
The House Democratic Caucus on Tuesday called for an independent ethics investigation into the handling of the sexual harassment allegations involving Rep. Jeremy Durham (R. Franklin) "following an investigation by the Tennessean newspaper which revealed three different women who said they received inappropriate text messages from the Franklin lawmaker."

The report prompted Rep. Durham to resign his leadership position with the House Republicans.



Democrats asked for the appointment of a special bi-partisan investigative committee with the power to subpoena witnesses and documents to fully investigate the charges.

Caucus Chairman Mike Stewart said, "Before we meaningfully review our existing policy, we have to know where the breakdown occurred in this case.

Democrats rejected Republican proposals as "too little too late."

Chairman Stewart said, There is nobody less qualified than the House Republicans to address this issue. We need a bi-partisan body that can obtain witness testimony, review texts and other documents and figure out where the system failed. Only then can we move forward.

Sherry Jones said Republican leaders statement that Legislative interns should not share phone numbers with legislators "amounts to blaming the victims."

She said, We dont know if interns were involved, but regardless the problem is not with interns, but with the House Republican leadership.
The social media mogul announced the start of construction of the 200m facility at Clonee on the Meath-Dublin border on his own Facebook page, quickly attracting 800 responses.

But among the congratulations from around the world and tongue-in-cheek job applications from this country, there were questions about why he wasnt building it in the US, which led to debate about Irelands reputation as a tax haven.

Mr Zuckerberg replied that he already had four data centres in the US and he was locating at Clonee for technical reasons. Its helpful to also have data centers on other continents so theyre closer to the people were serving there. That makes our services faster for people around the world, he wrote.

Internet services connect at the speed of light. That is very fast, but if you live all the way around the world, it might mean introducing 0.1s or 0.2s of lag for every connection made.

Since using our services often takes tens or hundreds of requests, putting data centers around the world adds up to a meaningfully better experience over time.

The IDA backed Clonee centre will provide 2,000 jobs during construction and 150 when it opens late next year or in early 2018. Tanaiste Joan Burton was among the first to applaud the move. Good news that Facebook to begin construction on data centre in Clonee, as we launch Dublin Action Plan for Jobs today, she tweeted.

Facebook has been criticised for exploiting low tax environments for its operations. Facebook Ireland paid just 3.4m in corporation tax last year despite the companys revenues hitting almost 5bn.

But Mr Zuckerberg seemed to be taking the detractors with a pinch of salt yesterday as he enthused about the technology being used in the design at Clonee.

One interesting engineering detail is that were cooling the facility with outdoor air, but because this is near the Irish Sea well be using an indirect air cooling process to filter the salt from the air, he said.
The 40-year-old man sent the woman texts and emails calling her a whore, and threatening to tell her family and neighbours that she was a prostitute if the charges were not dropped.

A character witness described the offender as a straight and decent man who he was prepared to stand by.

After a six-day trial last December, a jury found the man guilty of two counts of threatening or putting in fear a witness in a Garda investigation on dates between April 29 and May 28, 2010.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the charges.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy

said he couldnt ignore the seriousness of such offences, which undermine the administration of justice, while also noting the direct impact the mans actions had on the victim.

He read from her victim impact report that she was left alone, terrified, and with no support. She was in constant fear of what would happen next.

Mr Justice McCarthy said because the man had made it clear he knew where the woman lived, she moved her family to a different area of the country to feel safe.

He took into account the fact the man had no previous convictions, a good employment record, that he has a number of children, and that he was otherwise of good character.

Mr Justice McCarthy sentenced the man to three years in prison. He suspended the last 18 months on strict conditions including that he make no contact or attempt to make contact with the victim in any way.

The woman told the trial she was terrified when she received that email. I was not sleeping, not eating. I was terrified he would come after me. I didnt know how far he was going to take it.

The court heard that the accused was identified after investigating garda Detective Ronan Conway tracked down 250 IP addresses linked to his Escorts Ireland pseudonym. This led gardai to a former employer who identified the accused from CCTV footage from the hotel.

The accused told gardai that the texts were not threatening and denied that he had threatened or intimidated the woman.
But it was only a few years ago that his grand-daughters husband, Robert Doyle, found the letter, during a clearout for a house extension, in a treasure trove of items on nationalist Ireland from the end of the 19th century.

Eamonn thanked his mother, Mary, at home in Ballysax, in the Curragh, Co Kildare, for sending newspapers, and told her about conditions in Wakefield Prison, in west Yorkshire. He would soon be moved to Frongoch, in Wales, where a distillery previously converted to a camp for German prisoners-of-war would accommodate what the British authorities considered the most serious Irish troublemakers.

Dont send any more tobacco for a bit. I have a lot. But send cigarettes and matches, he wrote, saying he had just received letters from three other relatives.

Gus seems to think we are downhearted here. Were not a bit, quite a jolly crowd, but, of course, would give a lot to be in Ireland, he wrote.

Picture: Letters of 1916 project.

But, before all that, his first inquiry was about life on the farm at home; like most of those arrested and interned from the Irish Volunteers ranks, he was from rural Ireland, and wanted to deal with his sister, Maires query about sheep, instructing that she send those that are fit to Newbridge.

Re mares, I did not intend sending them, no use, he wrote.

The letter is one of hundreds from family collections and public libraries and archives that have been digitised, placed online and transcribed by the public, in the Letters of 1916 project, which is led by Susan Schreibmann at Maynooth University.

The website is a fantastic snapshot of the lives of Irish people at the heart of the political and military tensions of the period, but also of those with no connection whatever with the historic events of that year.

An irony of Eamonns detention was that he was not particularly in favour of the Rising, according to Robert Doyle.

The old cocoa box in which Eamonn OModhrains Wakefield prisoner badge and his 1916 prison cutlery were stored undiscovered for decades. Picture: Brian Cregan

Doyle has established that OModhrain travelled Co Kildare on a motorbike on Easter Sunday, 1916, to circulate news of Irish Volunteers chief-of-staff, Eoin MacNeills order countermanding plans to mobilise. That order meant the scale of the eventual Rising was far reduced from that envisaged by its instigators, and was restricted mostly to Dublin.

But OModhrain would go on to command the 6th Battalion of the Carlow Brigade, during the Irish War of Independence, the latter part of which he spent in Mountjoy Jail, in Dublin. As an anti-Treaty member of the IRA, he spent most of the Civil War in prison.

Many of the prison letters discovered by Robert, along with Eamonns moth-eaten badge  showing the same prisoner number, A 3/56, that appears at the head of his Frongoch letter  are the focus of an exhibition opening at the Riverbank Theatre in Newbridge, Co Kildare, on February 29.

The badge, with prisoner number A 3 56, assigned to Eamonn OModhrain in Wakefield, where he was sentafter his arrest in 1916, before being transferred to the Frongoch prison in Wales. Picture: Brian Cregan

Read this and hundreds of other personal and official documents, written between November, 1915, and October, 1916, at: http://letters1916.maynoothuniversity.ie
News of the planned deployment came yesterday as crews from LE Eithne, LE Niamh and LE Samuel Beckett were accorded a civic reception in County Hall for saving the lives of 8,631 men, women and children.

Naval service top brass have been making preparations in recent weeks in anticipation that they will be called on again to aid Operation Pontius, supporting the Italian Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre in rescuing migrants trying to cross into Europe from Libya.

Mayor of County Cork, Independent councillor John Paul OShea said on behalf of the people of Cork he wanted to thank the three ships crews for their phenomenal work and dedication.

This civic reception is just a small token on behalf of the people of Co Cork in recognising the tremendous effort undertaken by the Irish Naval Service. We, as a local authority, are truly proud of each and every single one of the crews who carried out such incredible humanitarian work and to say thank you from the people of Cork.

Mr OShea said that on top of saving lives, the crews treated a number of people suffering from dehydration and burns caused by leaking fluid from the unsuitable vessels in which they attempted to make the crossings.

The naval service flagship, the LE Eithne, left Cork harbour on May 15 last under the command of Commander Pearse ODonnell and 69 crew. During her six-week mission she rescued 3,376 people, of 21 different nationalities, the youngest of which was a two-week old baby.

A civic reception was held in County Hall last night by Cork County Council honouring the Irish Naval Service for their humanitarian efforts in the Mediterranean Sea during the distressful events in 2015. Teenager Sarah Bryant from Cobh is pictured with A-Mech Dean McEvitt, Lt Andrew Bugler, LS Dean Smith, SPO William Bryant, A Comm, Sean Reilly, L Stephen Stack and A-Mech Sean Kilmartin. Picture: Martin Walsh

Following the return of the LE Eithne, the LE Niamh, commanded by Lieut-Comdr Daniel Wall set out for a 10-week mission. On one single day her crew rescued 370 men, women and children.

There was also the task of the recovery of 39 bodies from the sea after a barge capsized close to them. During her mission LE Niamhs crew rescued more than 4,100 migrants and made history as the first Irish vessel on which a baby was successfully delivered. The baby was named Destiny.

LE Samuel Beckett, under the command of Lieut Comdr Anthony Geraghty and his 59 strong crew, was the third ship to take part in the mission rescuing 1,088 people in the waters between Libya and Sicily.

LE Eithne captain, Commander Pearse ODonnell spoke on behalf of the crews and said they were sincerely grateful for the honour. He said such was the nature of the migrants plight he believed many wouldnt have survived without the navys intervention.
He is in his early 20s and already controls a 15m-a-year drugs business which covers the Mid-West and wider Munster area.

Networks formerly controlled by the citys long established gangs, many of whose members are now in jail or in custody, are now under his control.

Former detective Sean Lynch, chairman of the Limerick city and county joint policing committee said he has been shocked to learn of this new drugs boss.

He has served jail sentences for serious crime carried out when he was in his teens. Now in his early 20s I am reliably told he is bringing in up to two kilos of heroin into the city each week, said the Fianna Fail councillor.

One kilogram of heroin has a street value of 150,000.

Former senior crime figures, who are not in custody, now work for this young man, said Mr Lynch.

He has been involved in at least one very violent incident as a teenager in which another teenager died. This fellow is now one of the biggest drugs figures outside of Dublin.

He said that while great work has been done in cracking down on drugs gangs in Limerick, this work is now being undermined by a lack of resources.

While many are behind bars, this guy has now control of a massive drugs operation and huge money is involved.

At present, the Limerick garda divisional drugs squad is made up of a detective sergeant and five detectives. And to make matters worse, there is no female in the squad as those who were there have moved on with promotion. They have to cover an area stretching from Abbeyfeale on the Kerry border right over to Oola near Tipperary town and that includes the city.

Mr Lynch said this new drugs boss is amassing huge sums from vulnerable families trying to pay off the debts of their sons or daughters.

There are unknown numbers of families who are being made targets of extortion. This guy preys on a vulnerable young people from good backgrounds, gets them into drugs, gets them hooked. As the habit worsens into addiction, his dealers give their victim or client credit and things then spiral out of all control.

All of a sudden the dealer comes looking for payment, but the amount demanded is a multiple of the amount owed. But families fear these people and pay off the money to try and get free of these people.

The problem is compounded in rural areas, where families in these circumstances have no local garda they know to turn to.

Mr Lynch said the death of Cork student Alex Ryan from the hallucinogenic drug, N-bomb, will be a main item on the next meeting of the Limerick joint policing committee.

Limerick has a huge student population, and we have to ensure everything is being done to prevent another such tragedy, he said.
Instead they have used figures provided by patients groups and from interviews they carried out with healthcare officials in the public and private sector.

As a result Irelands healthcare ranked 21 out of 35 in a detailed annual survey carried out by the Swedish Health Consumer Powerhouse now in its ninth year.

The countrys ranking dropped from 14th place because of the waiting time, not just for surgery and medical appointments but also because patients report having to wait at least three hours to be seen at accident and emergency  the longest of any country surveyed.

The report, from the independent Sweden-based Health Consumer Powerhouse, said that; Ireland has detailed official statistics on waiting times all over healthcare, and that data was been allowed to prevail up until European Health Consumer Index 2013.

However, for several European Health Consumer Index years, Irish patient organisations have been radically more pessimistic in their responses to the survey conducted as part of European Health Consumer Index research.

As the same pessimistic results reoccurred in 2015  Ireland, the UK and Sweden had the worst patient organisation feedback on accessibility among the 35 countries  doubts must be raised on the validity of official statistics.

The author of the report, Professor Arne Bjornberg, said that after seven years of being told by patients and bodies that the figures they used from the HSE were untrue, they used data from an independent survey they commissioned.

For those seven years, we got a lot of free-text comments to the survey saying the HSE numbers were untrue. Most used language somewhat stronger, said Dr Bjornberg.

As a result they decided to use the patient organisation feedback and as a result, the countrys ranking fell from 14th to 22nd in 2014, with a slight recovery in 2015, but scoring 100 out of 225.

They noted that long waiting times are despite Ireland having the highest percentage of its population, up to 40%, paying for healthcare insurance.

This raises the issue of whether this is a reflection of extreme dissatisfaction with the public system, or simply a technical solution for progressive tax, the report notes.

Professor Bjornberg, said there was no relationship between accessibility to healthcare and the money spent.

It is inherently cheaper to run a healthcare system without waiting lists than having waiting lists. Contrary to popular belief, not least among healthcare politicians, waiting lists do not save money  they cost money.

On the positive side Ireland was among the top five countries when it came to costs of pharmaceuticals scoring 86 out of 100.

This is a major turnaround for the Irish health system where up to recently cheaper generics were seldom prescribed.
It could be worse.

Eight out of 10 people in Ireland and 70% of young people regard themselves as happy, observes clinical psychologist Dr Keith Gaynor, whose new book on happiness and the Irish is published later this week.

We have voted ourselves one of the happiest countries in the world, says Gaynor.

Why then has he devoted a significant part of his new book to the topic of How to Build A Happier Country?

Launched as we are all waiting with baited breath for a general election date to be set, Gaynors book is a must-read for those preparing to take on the politicians who will shortly appear on our doorsteps to assure us that they will make everything better.

Take, for example, the fact that mental health problems form such a large undercurrent of Irish society  some 23% of the burden of disease in this country is directly attributable to mental health issues, says Gaynor, senior clinical psychologist at the Outpatient Department of St John Of Gods Hospital who adds that some 40% of all disability payments are down to mental ill health.

In fact, government figures show that mental health problems cost the Irish economy 11 billion a year.

Were not talking about the salaries of healthcare workers here, says Gaynor - were talking about the cost of people dropping out of work through absenteeism or illness with a subsequent loss of productivity not to mention the bugbear of early retirement.

Despite this, he says: Mental health is the elephant in the room of public policy and nobody is talking about it. Ignoring the fact that it affects every family and every community, we tend to dismiss mental health issues as a niche problem.

Yet the most common mental health issues in this country are depression, which affects some 300,000 people in Ireland, and anxiety disorders.

The largest sector of society affected by these conditions are children and young adults aged 10 to 29  hardly a niche group.

THE STRESS OF WORKING PARENTS

On top of that, warns Gaynor, many women are struggling to cope with the anxiety and feelings of guilt brought about by the expectation that they balance difficult and multiple roles in the home and at work.

Part of this problem is the over-emphasis we place on the importance of the workplace. Most people want a job and a family, Gaynor points out, but, he warns, that balancing act can be complex and difficult in a society where the importance of the workplace is hugely prioritised  perhaps, on reflection, disproportionately so.

These days, he reflects, many companies expect employees to be responsive on a 24/7 basis: Employers expect employees to be literally on call to the organisation all the time, and thats very hard on family life.

Theres a constant pull in multiple directions which can be overwhelming for people.

Most men and women want a family and a job, and these should not be pitted against each other.

Yet its constantly a case of job versus family, says Gaynor.

This pull between the home and the workplace is a particular stressor for out-at-work mothers, he says:

In subtle and unsubtle ways, organisations provide little or no flexibility for people with families. We should make that balancing act easier, he suggests by legislating for and incentivising job-sharing, part-time work opportunities, affordable childcare and improved maternity and paternity leave.

These are achievable, practical policies that ensure work and life are not in constant competition. Nor are they anti-economic.

Theres strong evidence that they improve staff loyalty, staff retention and productivity.

CREATE DECENT JOBS

We can increase job security and ban zero-hour and low-hour contracts.

Job insecurity is a recipe for stress and illness.

High job satisfaction rates lead to lower absenteeism and higher productivity.

This is an economic benefit to everyone. Work cant be a zero-sum game. It can be one of the most fulfilling aspects of our lives. But there is lots of evidence to suggest that the happier we are in our jobs, the harder we work. Legislation must incentivise large employers to do the right thing, he believes. Paradoxically, employers will benefit in the long term, he says, adding that short-term contracts, zero-hour contracts, and jobs without career paths mean more stress.

We shouldnt be surprised then if people clock-watch, call in sick, are unproductive or unengaged. Happiness pays. The research says so, says Gaynor who points to recommendations by the OECD last year which exhorted employers to see mental health as a key element of efficiency and productivity.

Further work is required to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health he says. More still is needed to make the existing mental health services significantly more relevant and accessible to those they aim to serve through early intervention and the provision of specialist cognitive behavioural services to deal with anxiety and depression.

LONELINESS

But the mental health services cant do it all  what about that basic human need in all of us for people to love, for people who love us in return, and for an occupation that gives us a sense of meaning and satisfaction? These are things that a mental health service cannot provide, says Gaynor, adding that love, belonging and work, come from our friends, family and from the whole community.

Loneliness kills, he says bluntly. Research repeatedly reinforces that isolation drives and maintains every mental health disorder.

Yet isolation cannot be addressed by a mental health service. It is incumbent on all of us to build the bonds of friendship and support that break through these feelings, he says adding that existing community structures like gyms, churches and GAA clubs should be used to help target mental health difficulties through exercise, meditation and volunteering. Theres also a wide range of volunteer organisations which encourage us to re-engage with the world around us, he says, pointing to the new social entrepreneur organisations which, he believes are able to reach out to people who have become isolated and separated from their community.

Neighbours always used to look after neighbours. This is what Ireland used to be like. Weve just forgotten how to do it. Or is it, perhaps, that we havent really internalised the crying need to de-stigmatise mental health issues?

Why else would so many Irish people phone a complete stranger to confide their problems?

The number of calls to the Samaritans is increasing  the year from October 2014 to September 2015 showed a 30% increase in the number of contacts.

We are seeing the numbers of people calling us constantly increasing, says Rachel Wright  Policy and Communications Manager with the Samaritans.

We know that loneliness is a huge factor  youd have to wonder what is happening in a society where its easier to ring someone we dont know rather than have a conversation with family and friends, adding that The Samaritans would like to see what they describe as the Department of Healths very good strategy on Suicide Prevention being rolled out with strong cross-party support.

Also on the Samaritans wishlist are a network of well-resourced community mental health teams  there are several such teams in place around the country, she says, but not all are as well-resourced as they could be.

But theres also the issue of individual responsibility.

SEEK HELP

When I caught up with her, Dr Claire Hayes, Clinical Director of AWARE was on Day Three of the organisations DAWN Week, its annual national campaign highlighting depression and bipolar disorder.

The theme for the 2016 AWARE campaign, says Hayes, is Stand Up for Surviving.

Theres a sense of hopelessness in the country about mental health, she observes.

Theres a feeling among some people that were in a hopeless situation, but its important to recognise that change is possible and that there is hope. Hayes points to research showing that AWAREs online *Life Skills programmes for depression work.

Hayes wants to see a change in the mindset of society; an acceptance that, actually, something is working.

And, she emphasises, there is an individual responsibility here too  for people to take the support that is out there.

Protecting Mental Health (Veritas Publications, 12.99) will be launched by Dr Tony Bates of Headstrong, in Buswells Hotel, Dublin tomorrow.
Originally, they were made with great care and vernacular engineering skills for the use of mules and donkeys carrying produce from the green terraces and river basins to bigger tracks that would take it to the sea for shipment overseas.

The Bishopstown group numbers 43 and members can chose the routes that will best suit them during their five days of enjoyable and industrious trekking on this stunningly beautiful and spectacular island, with its forests, fields, hills, mountains and seashores. Local guides accompany them on graded itineraries.

Grade A walkers but for the lack of a pair of extra legs  are the nearest thing to mountain goats. They swarm up steep slopes at a rate that would, I imagine, be the envy of elderly Gomeros who, until 1959, had no roads to get from one valley or mountain pasture to the next, and tell me that they could reach the village over the mountain faster than I could do so in a car.

These grade A hikers intend to climb Mountain Teide (3,718m) when they stop off on Tenerife on the way home. They will make a race of it. I am, frankly, gobsmacked. As a long-term Gomera walker, I see that many of the scheduled Grade B walks would stretch me to the limit.

Yesterday evening, I spoke to Maureen Ahern and Theresa Lynch from Cork; they had just completed a five-hour grade B walk, but looked fresh as Paris daisies (a Gomero daisy that grows in bright clumps in the mountain). They, and a bevy of enthusiastic companions, including an Irish Examiner staff member and, coincidentally, a friend from Courtmacsherry, were in excellent form after the outing, and wanting to know where they could enjoy local food, music and wine.

Even grade C walkers are no strollers. They hoof it at a lively rate up hills and down dales attempts of which I would be highly circumspect. The Bishopstown Club are adventurous outward-bounders indeed, making excursions to all parts of the globe and visiting the Canaries regularly. Good for them. The weather is perfect these days; hot on the beaches, fresher in the mountains. Sun and no rain.

Gomero paths (called senderos) should not be rushed; they, and the flora around them, reward close study. Where a contour path of earth and bedrock ends at an abutment which had to rounded to continue the route, human intervention created tall, secure, drystone walls built up from a lower contour to support a bridge. Countless hours and great risks were involved, building by hand on sheer slopes with rocks split from the mountain.

Works of art, these paths have survived, leading along ledges and ridges with 1,000m drops below, and descending in hairpin bends to rough piers where produce could be loaded for export. Tomatoes, tobacco, silk, bananas, cochineal, all were produced and exported, but happily, there were no sugar mills on Gomera, so the forests, instead of being fed into furnaces to boil the sugar cane crops from cleared land, survived.

Not so on other islands, which were denuded of their forests and upon which the few substantial copses that remain are mainly Canarian pine, the unique, indigenous laura-silva woodland having been cleared and burnt for sugar production.

Gomera woodland survived because just as it was the next island destined to be stripped for plantations, it was discovered that cane could be more economically produced in the Spanish West Indies with a tropical climate and the labour of slaves from Africa and convict/slaves from Ireland. So, Garajonay World Heritage National Park forests remained largely intact until August 2012, when 30% was lost to wildfires. Happily, some is recovering.

The Bishopstown Hillwalkers will trek not only forest paths dark or dappled with sunlight, but paths across the deheasa, the wild grazing land already, in January, sprinkled with wild flowers. They will walk mountain trails edged by cactuses, spurges, and sisal clusters which shoot their thin flower spikes 4m tall with candelabra-like heads, pastel yellow against China blue skies.

Sisal was also a crop here, for rope and sail making. The leaves have dangerous needle-sharp tips, regularly chopped off by the seemingly invisible local-authority workforce that maintain the senderos as they always were.
YEAR-round sun, a long seafront, an atmospheric medieval old city, the finest museums in southern France, and a cityscape bedecked in belle epoque and Art Deco styles? Nice is magnificent.

Its not cheap, however. People return with scare stories of having to take out second mortgages on their homes for a glass of wine. I decided to test out my pet theory that everywhere is affordable, with the right planning.

A city of over 340,000 souls, its an idiosyncratic resort in many ways.

Firstly, theres a long beach, but no sand  the stones are about the size of your hand and extremely tricky to navigate.

Secondly, the airport, despite being the busiest outside of Paris, is slightly ramshackle and has no connection to the Cote dAzur rail line, despite it running about 200m away.

There are no signs at the airport that the rail line even exists. Some destinations clasp you to your bosom at first sight, and Nice could learn from them (there are plans to extend a tram system to the airport by 2017).

Until then, youll end up paying 6 for the 98 bus into town from the airport. Later I discovered that there are buses on the coastal road, a 20-yard walk, that will convey you to the city for 1.50. It was off to an inauspicious start on the budget front.

I booked an en-suite room at the Victoria Hostel, (small but very clean and 35 per person sharing) which boasts a communal vibe and an excellent location.

I met a well-heeled young Turkish couple who had spent the previous night on a park bench in St Tropez after being unable to find a bed. Lets just say I was glad I booked ahead.

There are three interesting parts to urban Nice  the pedestrian shopping district between the colourful Massena Square the train station; the Promenade des Anglais, built by the citys many seasonal English residents, and the medieval city  Vieux Nice. You can have a wonderful evening getting lost in the old citys labyrinth. Rosso Pomodora on the Cours Saleya, near the seafront, does great gourmet pizza for 13.

Lunch and breakfast, meanwhile, can be taken care of pretty reasonably. As well as boulangeries for bread, there are several cheap supermarkets: Monoprix on the Rue-Jean-Medecin, near the Basilica, and Carrefour on Rue de Lepante. Tucked under a railway bridge on the Boulevard Raimbaldi, meanwhile, lies a Lidl, albeit a Lidl desperately short of basics. Cereal, for example.

Flush with securing three days worth of supplies for 25, its time for a decent dinner under the cathedral at Plassa San Domenque.

Unfortunately, I made the fatal error there of plumping for a three-course 16 special at Le Clocher, which began with what once were mussels, and finished with an apple tart that managed to be both frozen and charred to a crisp. Much better to get one good dish than three mediocre ones.

Towering over Nice, on a rocky outcrop, is the Parc du Chateau, or Castle Hill. There is a free elevator to the top, which is a wonderful touch. Its there that Nice was founded around 350BC by Greeks. They named the area Nikaia, apparently to commemorate a victory (Nike) over the Ligurians, a Celtic people.

It was held by successive Counts of Provence and the Dukes of Savoy until, in 1706, Louis XIV had the place torn down after his troops occupied Nice in the War of the Spanish Succession. Its a reminder that Nice only became permanently French relatively recently, in 1860.

Today, its more park than castle, but is impressive nonetheless, commanding views across Vieux Nice and the Promenade, and also to the elegant new port on the citys eastern side.

Thanks to Frances first-class rail and bus network, Nice is also a superb base for exploring the rest of the Riviera. After all the tastefully laid-out urban planning of Nice, you might want to balance it out by seeing some gaudy, ostentatious consumption. Monaco and Cannes, in other words.

Never before has so much cash been hoarded to so little effect as it has in the tax haven of Monaco. It is so weighed down by money and Botox, its a wonder it doesnt all slide down into the sea.

If youre a Formula One fan, you might like to trace the route of the Grand Prix. I walked up the Beau Rivage section to Casino Corner, and had a quick look at the familiar corner at Portiers, where Ayrton Senna crashed out in 1988.

I paid 6 to have a look around Monte Carlo Casino. Although the lobby was superbly preserved, the actual casino looks as if the Louvre has allowed Dr Quirkys open a concessionary outlet.

Imagine having rooms full of Renaissance decor and paintings, and then throwing flashing-light slot machines in the middle of it. Im not sure what I was expecting, but it was certainly something classier than that.

Unless you plan on spending another 6 for a coffee, I wouldnt linger. For 15, you can buy an all-day train ticket covering Nice, Cannes and Antibes  and it was hither I went after about 90 minutes moseying about Monaco.

For a budget traveller, Monaco is probably worth a flying visit. Cannes isnt. There are miles of privatised beaches, and two square miles of shops flogging Hermes bags.

Antibes, however, is something quite different. The old town pales compared to Nice, but there are fine city walls and a walled harbour, both superbly maintained. Private workmens clubs and artists have set up shop in their arches, which lends a homely air to an otherwise fairly exclusive resort.

Walking the top of the walls, you see the broad sweep of the Cote dAzur: the wooded Cap dAntibes, the sprawl of Nice, the Parc du Chateau; and the majestic Alps towering in the distance. At the end of the harbour walls, you reach Nomade, a gigantic sculpted man made of steel letters.

Antibes also has the most accessible free sandy beach on the Riviera. Its surreal to paddle in beautifully warm water looking at the snowy Alps, and on the other that gigantic sculpture of a man clasping his knees to his chest.

Nices seafront lacks sand, but not swimmers or waves. I scouted a relatively sheltered cove directly beneath the castle hill, drank some tea, read my paper, and quietly marvelled at the confidence of my topless neighbour, a remarkable woman of advanced vintage.

The strand is hard to traverse, and I half-crawled, half-shuffled down to the water, which plunges in depth about two yards in. Its generally colder water than in Antibes, but the waves made up for it.

The current is quite strong, but I got chatting to a fellow swimmer who assured me it was perfectly safe  and demonstrated the fact by setting off to the rocks at the edge of the bay. He returned, close to an hour later, and close to exhaustion. See? he panted. Nothing to it.

I congratulated him, but seriously considered fetching him an ambulance, or at least a bottle of beer.

Nice is easy to navigate by foot or tram, and has plenty of free museums and galleries. There are also cheap buses to small villages along the coast. I spent 1.40 on a bus to the Moorish hilltop village of Eze, which has hosted both Fredriech Nietszche and Walt Disney.

The views on a clear day from the Jardin Exotique are stunning, but as it was overcast, I was much more taken by the church, built 250 years ago on the site of an old temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis. Rather than taking the bus back, walk down the 45-minute Chemin de Nietszche to Eze Sur Mer, where the philosopher completed the dangerously brilliant book Thus Spake Zarathustra.

As well as inspiring philosophers, the rocky path tends to ruin a good pair of shoes, but luckily there is a train back to Nice at the bottom. I popped back, checked out, and grabbed the 52 bus to the airport (1.50).

You can have a reasonably priced holiday on the Riviera, if youre careful about how you spend.
This phenomenon started in Japan (where else) and has been slowly spreading around the world since then. Now it has landed in Ireland and the Crazy Cat Cafe is ready to launch in Dublin. But it needs your help.

Georgina O'Neill has a property in mind and a full plan for what she wants to achieve with the Crazy Cat Cafe, now she just needs a little money to get started. A new Kickstarter campaign has been set up, with a goal of 35,000. That will be enough to get set up and get punters in the door. There are a range of rewards on offer, from a discounted visit to the cafe to sponsoring and naming your own kitty. Click here to give it a view.
This time 50 years ago, people throughout the US were talking about an Irishman who was being blamed for a transport strike that was crippling New York City. The New York Supreme Court ordered the suspension of the strike, but Mike Quill, president of the Transport Workers Union (TWU), tore up the court ruling order in front of television cameras.

The judge can drop dead in his black robes, Quill said. The strike was continuing and he would go to jail, but as he being taken to jail, he suffered a heart attack and ended up in hospital instead.

Quill was born in Gortloughera near Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, on September 18, 1905, the second youngest of eight children. As a 14-year-old, he became a message carrier and scout for the No 2 Kerry Brigade of the IRA during the War of Independence. His family home and his uncles house in Kilgarvan were renowned for revolutionary sympathies.

Quill participated in the Civil War as an IRA volunteer. Free State troops seized Kenmare on August 11, 1922, but Republicans retook the town two days later.

The 17-year-old Quill was one of those who took part in that engagement, one of the few real military victories enjoyed by the Republicans.

After the civil war, Quill felt he had little chance of a job at home and his only real option was emigration. He arrived in the New York City on March 16, 1926.

Still only 20 years old, his first job there was in construction on the New York subway, but he did not feel suited for construction work.

After a variety of jobs, he went to work as a ticket agent for the Interboro Rapid Transit Company (IRT), which was the biggest subway operation in the US.

Working conditions there were horrendous. Quill was often required to be in attendance for four hours without pay until work might finally become available, and then he was condemned to a slave-driving schedule of 84 hours a week  12 hours a night, seven nights a week for 33c an hour. There was no sick leave, holidays, or pension rights.

While moving from station to station, he got to know many of the IRT employees, especially those Irish migrants who had fled to the US in the wake of the troubles at home. He jokingly referred to them as the Irish Republican Transit.

Although he had only had a national school education, he studied at night and read up on James Connolly, whom he greatly admired for patriotism and his drive in unionising workers. Quill and Thomas H OShea, a native of Queenstown (now Cobh), were the two main founders of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) on April 12, 1934. At the time it had close ties with the Communist Party.

OShea was selected as the unions first president, but he was soon replaced by Quill, who worked fulltime as TWU president for almost 30 years.

With the help of trusted colleagues to identify union activists, Quill built up the union in a patient manner, conducting some brief protests, or strikes over working conditions while avoiding major confrontations. The union, which began with 400 members, quickly won over all 14,000 IRT employees.

The first strike that Quill called was on January 23, 1937, in support of two men who were fired by Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation for union activity. The sit-down strike won the enthusiastic support of other company employees and helped to boost the TWUs membership to 45,000.

On July 4, 1937, the TWU signed its first contract with the IRT. Union membership stipulated that all members should be treated equally and justly, regardless of race, or creed. Hitherto a black person could only work as a porter on underground trains, but this rapidly changed under Quills leadership.

Unlike other unions, which treated black people as second-class citizens, Quill was a quarter of a century ahead of his time in insisting on treating them properly. The TWU appointed Clarence King, an Afro-American porter, to its executive board. If we, black and white, Catholic and non-Catholic, Jew and gentile, are good enough to slave and sweat together, then we are good enough to unite and fight together, Quill proclaimed in 1938.

He opposed the Irish-American demagogue Fr Charles E Coughlin, who was famous for his radio broadcasts throughout the US. In the process, Quill provoked the ire of Fr Edward Lodge Curran and his Christian Front movement.

The two priests were rabidly anti- Semitic, but Quill took them on openly. In June 1939, he organised a rally against anti-Semitism in the South Bronx, which was predominantly Irish-American. Christian Front literature denounced Quill as Red Mike, an agent of Judeo-communists.

In 1940, Quill was called before a Congressional hearing of the notorious House Committee of un-American Activities about communist involvement in the TWU. He confronted the chairman Martin Dies, who promptly decided to go into private session.

You are afraid to hear the truth about our union, Quill snapped. You cant take it, but the American labour movement will live.

That committee was building the notorious reputation that it developed during the 1950s when Senator Joe McCarthy poisoned American politics with his red smear tactics. Racist opponents tried to smear the civil rights movement as a communist front. It was a measure of Quills standing that he managed to avoid the worst of the smears.

Quill successfully ended a wildcat strike of white members in Philadelphia who were trying to block the promotion of eight black porters. In 1961, when 25 TWU airline workers in Tennessee protested against the unions support for the Civil Rights desegregation campaign, Quills response was to invite the Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King to address a TWU convention.

He introduced King to the gathering as the man who is entrusted with the banner of American liberty that was taken from Lincoln when he was shot 95 years ago.

Dr Kings life at this moment is in just as great danger as was Lincolns, Quill added. And he has to walk with care if he is to continue to lead this crusade.

Quill was a crusader himself. Most of my life Ive been called a lunatic because I believe that I am my brothers keeper, he explained in summing up his philosophy of life. I organise poor and exploited workers, I fight for the civil rights of minorities, and I believe in peace. It appears to have become old-fashioned to make social commitments  to want a world free of war, poverty and disease. This is my religion.

The conditions of his union members had changed beyond all recognition during Quills tenure as TWU president. Yet throughout his career, until his final month, he only initiated one strike. Some thought he was afraid to lead a major strike, but they were wrong.

On January 1, 1966, the mayor of New York called TWUs bluff, but Quill was not bluffing in threatening to paralyse the New York subway. The Transport Workers Union is on strike, Quill announced on television during the early hours of the New Year. The issues will now be decided on the streets of New York.

After 12 days, the subway bosses capitulated and offered the TWU acceptable terms. Quill had won, but he had little time to enjoy his success. He died just days later on January 28, 1966.

He spent his life ripping the chains of bondage off his fellow man, Martin Luther King declared in a tribute following Quills death. This is a man the ages will remember.
Justice Minister, Frances Fitzgerald, confirmed that under no circumstance would Ireland be part of an EU border and coast guard, remaining outside the Schengen area and maintaining a travel-free zone with the UK.

The emphasis of the ministers with responsibility for migration was firmly on stopping the flow of migrants, most looking for asylum and mainly coming into Greece through Turkey.

However, more than 30,000 arrived into Greece by sea in the last three weeks, Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said, on top of the million that arrived in 2015.

The six countries that have imposed border controls want to extend them beyond the current six months, while a commission report on Greece due in February may trigger a procedure effectively isolating them from Schengen for up to two years.

A commission spokesperson said they were in unchartered waters however, as these steps had not been taken before.

However Dutch migration minister, Klass Dijkhoff, said the Schengen system was under pressure and the discussion about the first of a possible of four six-month exclusion for Greece, known as Article 26, is a consequence of what is happening.

@eucopresident #tusk states that #EU border guard is priority of Dutch presidency - agreement expected by June pic.twitter.com/AouWnLBgGu  FTI Consulting EU (@FTIconsultingEU) January 19, 2016

This followed Swedens interior minister, Anders Ygeman, telling Reuters, if a country doesnt live up to its obligations, we will have to restrict its connections to the Schengen area.

However, as the ministers told Greece they must do more to reduce the influx of migrants, Greek migration minister Yiannis Mouzalas, launched a broadside against the other member states for their failures to help the country so far.

He said that certain politicians were telling lies about Greece.

The migration crisis in Europe is a European problem with Greece just the first part of the corridor to the EU, he said.

He said that boats came from Turkey just 4km away in some cases and under EU, Greek and international law they must rescue them.
Susanne Hinte, a grandmother of four, came forward after it was announced that the winning numbers had been selected in Worcester and residents had been told to check down the side of sofas.

The woman claims the paper slip went through the washing machine in the pocket of a pair of jeans.

She says the numbers are visible but faded.

She presented the tattered remains to Ambleside News, where she said she bought it.

Ms Hinte was at home in floods of tears.

Her daughter Natasha Douglas, 28, said: My mum has a heart condition. She was in intensive care in August. Shes already had begging letters from people asking for money.

She works and has worked all her life but Im not saying what she does.

She has two children and four grandchildren.

If she has won she wants to set her family up for life and she plans to give some money to charity. Shes said if she is the winner, great. But if shes not the winner, shes not the winner.

Susanne Hinte told The Times: Ive been a nervous wreck. I havent slept ... since I found it in my jeans pocket, my daughter and I have been drying it out with the hairdryer. You can see 2016 but not the date.

A Camelot spokeswoman confirmed it is aware of the case and said any claim has to be made in writing.

She has to go through the same process as anybody else, she added.

They basically need to submit a claim in writing within 30 days of the draw stating where they bought it, the time, date, and any other details they can provide.

We get quite a few of these, we get them with any unclaimed prizes and with this being quite a large amount we would expect several claims.

No decision will be made by Camelot until 180 days after the draw was made, the time given anyone with an intact ticket to come forward.

Ms Douglas added: The ticket has been through the wash, the numbers are visible but faded.

She wanted to stay anonymous but obviously her name has got out through people talking on Facebook.

When she found out she had the winning numbers she couldnt breathe and she hasnt slept since.
The 38-year-old man, whose name was not published in Sweden in line with privacy rules, has admitted to sedating the woman, abducting her and locking her up for almost a week in a soundproofed bunker he had built inside a machine shed next to his home.

He denies charges he also raped her.
Islamic State and other militants are very likely to attempt big new attacks in Europe following those in Paris, the EUs police agency said, echoing previous warnings by senior security officials.

A report said further attacks could even take place quite soon.

The events in Paris appear to indicate a shift toward a broader strategy of IS going global, of them specifically attacking France, but also the possibility of attacks against other member states of the EU in the near future, it said.

There was every reason to expect an attack, by Islamic State or IS-inspired terrorists or another religiously inspired terrorist group.

This is in addition to the threat of lone actor attacks, which has not diminished, it said.

At a news conference to mark the launch of a new European Counter Terrorism Centre within Europol, based in The Hague, its director Rob Wainwright said Islamic State has the willingness and capability to carry out further attacks in Europe.

Since immediately after the Paris attacks on November 13, in which Islamic State gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people, Wainwright, a senior British police officer, has said further similar attacks are likely in Europe and that lone wolf militants are no longer the prime threat.

Published today: Changes in modus operandi of Islamic State terrorist attacks. Download pdf: https://t.co/uyKUdQ4JNF pic.twitter.com/UZ2flMBGi5  Europol (@Europol) January 25, 2016

The Europol report said Islamic State may have established an external action command trained for special forces-style attacks in the international environment and noted that, as the Paris attacks showed, the group was largely active in Europe through radicalised European citizens, not foreigners.

The report also warned of a risk of cyber attacks but said there was no evidence of Islamist militants trying to use chemical, biological, or nuclear material as a weapon in Europe.

Meanwhile, France will not allow threats to weaken its resolve against terrorism, president Francois Hollande has vowed.

He spoke out hours after Islamic State released a video showing the extremists who carried out the Paris attacks training, beheading, and shooting captives in territory controlled by the group.

He said that it was because of the threat that he is asking to keep France in a state of emergency.

Mr Hollande imposed the state of emergency just after the November attacks which left 130 dead in the capital, allowing border checks, warrantless searches, and house arrest without a court order.

The primarily French-language footage was apparently filmed in IS territory before the attackers slipped back into Europe.

The 17-minute video shows the extent of the planning that went into the multiple attacks in Paris, which French authorities have said from the beginning were organised in Syria.

The video was provided online by the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi websites and in it IS also threatens to attack Britain.
Burma At Least a Dozen Missing in Latest Hpakant Landslide

At least a dozen jade prospectors are missing after a fresh landslide in Kachin States Hpakant Township, the latest in a series of deadly incidents.

MANDALAY  At least a dozen gems prospectors are missing after a fresh landslide on Monday in Kachin States Hpakant jade mining region, the latest in a series of deadly incidents.

According to a local on the scene, two piles of mining waste located between Suttaung and Shansu villages collapsed on Monday afternoon while prospectors were sifting through soil in search of jade overlooked by the large companies that mine the area.

About 100 prospectors were searching the gems residues there and suddenly the waste pile of Triple Three Company collapsed, and later another pile of Aung Hein Min [company] collapsed, said Aung Lin, a local prospector who survived the collapse.

We were a bit far from the collapsing area and we were able to run away to save our lives. But we cant help others, and could only watch the collapse bury them alive, he added.

According to local police, the number of missing people could not be confirmed on Tuesday morning and rescuers efforts to exhume the bodies are ongoing.

We are still collecting the data and cant confirm the exact number yet. But we believe more than a dozen are missing, said a police officer from the Lon Kin police station.

According to law enforcement authorities, rescuers are attempting to dig out bodies but face the risk of more debris collapsing as a result.

They are trying to exhume the bodies but the waste pile keeps collapsing so that it is now very dangerous for rescue works. We believe the rescue works will take about two or three days, said the officer.

Deadly landslides are common among the jade mines of Hpakant Township. Locals complain that the frequency of incidences has increased in recent months, however, amid a flurry of excavation from big companies, many Chinese, that reportedly fear their window for exploiting the regions rich jade deposits could close when a new government takes power in April.

At least six deadly landslides have occurred in the region since mid-December. They were preceded by a massive collapse on Nov. 21 that killed at least 113 people, the deadliest incident in years.
Burma DKBA Splinter Group, Govt Army and Allied BGF Clash in Karen State

Fighting flares in Kawkareik Township, where a joint force of Burma Army and Karen Border Guard Force troops is accused of razing 10 civilian homes.

RANGOON  Fighting flared again on Tuesday in Kawkareik Township, Karen State, where Karen rebels accuse a joint force comprising the Burma Army and Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) of burning down at least 10 houses in the village of Pyar Pin a day earlier.

Clashes broke out after 1 pm local time, according to Col. Nai Maung Zaw from the government-allied Karen BGF, who said he could still hear gunfire while speaking to The Irrawaddy over the phone on Tuesday afternoon.

Conflict first erupted on Saturday in the same area, pitting a splinter faction of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) against the joint pro-government force. The Karen BGF colonel said no soldiers from his side were wounded in the fighting, but acknowledged that troops from the joint force did burn down some huts in Pyar Pin village on Monday.

We did not burn down the houses of civilians. We burned some huts where their [the DKBA splinter faction] leaders stayed. They spread propaganda saying we burned down civilians homes, said Nai Maung Zaw.

The breakaway DKBA faction goes by the identical acronym, but beginning this year reverted to the DKBAs original name, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, after its leadership was purged from the Benevolent incarnation of DKBA last year. The Benevolent DKBA is led by Gen. Saw Lah Pwe, who expelled Col. Saw Kyaw Thet and Col. Saw San Aung from the ranks of his army following fighting between DKBA and government troops along the Asia Highway last year.

Saw Lah Pwes DKBA replaced Buddhist with Benevolent in 2012 to reflect the armed groups secular nature.

The breakaway faction involved in conflict with the government this week is believed to number some 100 men, who were formerly part of the DKBAs Klo Htoo Wah tactical group.

The group fired artillery shells into a base of Burma Army Light Infantry 97 in Kawkareik Townships Kaw Moo village on Tuesday, according to a member of the group.

A statement from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army on Monday said no one from its ranks was wounded in Saturdays flare-up, but claimed two members of the Karen BGF were injured in the fighting.

Their troop members were wounded in the fighting. Therefore, they were angry and then they burned down about 10 houses in the village where we were fighting, said Capt. Ye Htet from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
Burma Karenni Groups Fear Calls for Inclusion Will Fall on Deaf NLD Ears

Karenni civil society and political groups are concerned their voices may be drowned out in the incoming National League for Democracy-led local parliament.

RANGOON  In December, some 40 ethnic Karenni organizations, including armed factions and political parties, penned a letter to National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi calling for Karenni voices to be adequately represented in the states new government.

As new MPs prepare to take up their seats in Union Parliament next week, Karenni civil society groups say their concerns have yet to be acknowledged.

Khun Bedu, a central committee member of the Union of Karenni State Youth, said the letter welcomed the NLDs thumping election win but also urged party members to include ethnic voices in the new local government.

When the Kayah [Karenni] State government is formed, ethnic MPs as well as Burman MPs living in Kayah will participate in the process. But if mostly ethnic groups are included, there could be better communication with ethnic armed groups, Khun Bedu told The Irrawaddy.

What we want is to include more local ethnic voices. People actually living here have a better understanding of the state.

Solomon, deputy-chair of the All Nationals Democracy Party (Kayah State), said that the letter also urged the NLD to appoint a local as chief minister.

He acknowledged that the shape of the new Karenni State government would not be known until next month but that Suu Kyi had promised a national government based on a principle of national reconciliation, including ethnic representation.

The NLD has stated its intention to appoint members from within the party to the top executive posts in Burmas states and divisions.

The All Nationals Democracy Party (Kayah State), which failed to win a seat of 26 contested on Nov. 8, has yet to be contacted by the NLD, according to the ethnic party. The NLD won six Lower House, nine Upper House and 11 regional seats in Karenni State.
Burma Presidential Post Still an Open Question

While reports emerged last week of the National League for Democracys parliamentary picks, the partys plans for president have been kept out of the media.

RANGOON  While reports emerged last week of the National League for Democracy (NLD)s potential appointees to speakership positions in Parliament, the partys plans for president have been kept out of the media spotlight.

NLD chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi, constitutionally barred from the countrys top post as her two sons are foreign nationals, has stated that the position would be filled by an individual from within the party.

In other, widely-publicized comments, the pro-democracy figurehead also pledged she would be above the president when the NLD takes power.

The potential candidate would need to be highly respected, not only among NLD members and the general public, but also by the countrys powerful military.

With that in mind, few would seem more qualified than former army commander-in-chief and NLD patron Tin Oo. The 89-year-old co-founded the NLD in 1988 and spent years under house arrest due to his political activities.

He has currency with Burmese citizens and was a frequent presence by Suu Kyis side during campaigns around the country in the lead-up to the November general election.

But the retired general has publically disavowed any presidential ambitions.

I wouldnt even if I was asked I am 89 now, he told The Irrawaddy last year. A person who is around 90 is deteriorating either physically or mentally. It is not easy [to serve as president].

Despite his comments, some observers remain reluctant to rule him out, asking: how would he react if Suu Kyi endorsed him for the position?

Its understandable that a man of Tin Oos age would be reluctant to assume the countrys highest office, but given Suu Kyis vow to lead the country, regardless of her official position, the presidential role may be slightly less burdensome.

Before Novembers election, Suu Kyis personal physician, Tin Myo Win, was among those touted for the role. This notion gathered steam on Monday when it emerged the doctor was a member of the NLDs small delegation, led by Suu Kyi, that met with Burma Army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw.

Htin Kyaw, a senior party member, and his wife Su Su Lwin, the daughter of the late U Lwin, one of the NLDs founders, have both separately been tipped for the position, which will be voted on in the new Parliament, which opens on Feb. 1.

Khin Zaw Win, founding director of the Tampadipa Institute think tank, said whoever becomes president will only be in office a short while.

[Suu Kyis] ultimate goal is to become the president of Burma. So surely she will try to fix Article 59(f) of the Constitution, he said, referring to the clause that bars the NLD leader from the job. So the president-elect will be temporary.

Indeed, Suu Kyi has, for several years, made no secret of her political goals. I want to run for president and Im quite frank about it, she said during a World Economic Forum symposium in Naypyidaw in 2013.

To amend Article 59(f) in Parliament, Suu Kyi would need the support of military lawmakers who command a quarter of legislative seats and an effective constitutional veto, as major amendments require approval of more than 75 percent of MPs.

Its evident that Suu Kyi has endeavored to cultivate a healthy relationship with the military, emphasizing national reconciliation and collaboration. She has met with the commander-in-chief on two occasions since the election and also with ex-dictator Than Shwe at his residence in the countrys capital.

From the slivers of information made available, the high-level meetings have thus far proceeded smoothly.

But Khin Zaw Win warned that building relations with the countrys military should not be the sole objective on the NLD chairwomans radar.

Rather than striking a deal with the army, she should also reach out to the ethnics. How would they feel if she gives too much attention to the military? he said.

Khin Zaw Win also warned that the quest for the presidency should not overshadow other important matters of governance, such as addressing administrative issues and the peace process.

U Thein Sein has failed to fix the administrative problems. His policies were good on the table but when implemented, they didnt work due to administrative problems at lower levels, he said. As the head of the incoming government, she has to be aware of it.
Burma Shan Delegation Tours Switzerland to Study Federal System

A delegation of ethnic Shan representatives tours Switzerland for an intensive study on federalism, according to a source close to the group.

A delegation of ethnic Shan representatives toured Switzerland this month for an intensive study on federalism, according to a source close to the group.

Lt-Gen Yawd Serk, the leader of an ethnic armed organization in southern Shan State, and journalist Khuensai Jaiyen, who is a senior member of the peace support group Pyidaungsu Institute, were among the high-profile members of the delegation.

The source, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Irrawaddy that the group of Shan leaders and young intellectuals were learning about federalism, but could not elaborate further.

Yawd Serk is the commander of the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S), the armed wing of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS). His troops number about 7,000, and the group was one of eight non-state forces to sign a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government in October.

Khuensai Jaiyen joined the delegation on behalf of the Pyidaungsu Institute, an organization funded largely by the Euro-Burma Office (EBO). The EBO is directed by Harn Yawnghwe, the son of Shan royalty and an influential yet divisive figure in the peace process.

The delegation was said to have toured Murten, a municipality in the See district of Fribourg. It is unclear whether the visit was brokered by the EBO.
Burma Singapore Looks to Bring Burma Closer Through Tourism

Given the rising number of Burmese travelers to Singapore, the city-state is looking to tourism to strengthen its relationship with the former pariah state.

RANGOON  Given the rising number of Burmese travelers to Singapore, the city-state is looking to tourism to strengthen its relationship with the former pariah state.

According to figures from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), there were more than 112,000 Burmese visitors to Singapore in 2014, while the number of Burmese leisure visitors to the country had increased by approximately 50 percent over the past 5 years.

Some of the key things that visitors from Myanmar [Burma] look for when they travel are activities to do with family, opportunities for personal improvement, relaxation and the ease of getting around the destination. Singapore offers these, and hence it is an attractive destination for Myanmar people, said Sherleen Seah, STBs area director for Thailand and Burma, at a press conference on Tuesday.

She added that Singapore offers a wide range of family-friendly activities suitable for all ages and that more than 50 percent of Burmese travelers are looking for these sorts of experiences, compared to only 20 percent who travel for business purposes.

Yet unlike several other Asean nations, Singapore has yet to agree to a visa waiver for Burmese nationals, posing a hurdle to smooth travel for many would-be visitors.

We can apply online for a Singapore visa, but this costs money, and if we go to an embassy, it can take up to a week [to finish the process]. If Singapore were to waive visa requirements, as Thailand has, more Burmese travelers would go there, said frequent traveler Thet Aung, though some industry experts doubt that obtaining a visa is truly an issue.

STB also noted that, on average, Burmese leisure travelers visit Singapore for 8 to 9 days, much longer than the global average.

We dont have specific figures for how many Myanmar travelers we expect for this year, but we will try to promote more travel to Singapore, Seah said.

In an attempt to provide more information on Singapore to potential travelers, STB recently launched the YourSingapore group on Facebook, and it has plans to roll out more content in the future with the aim of bringing Burma and Singapore closer together. STB will also ask key public figures to share their Singapore experiences with Burmese people.

Aung Myat Kyaw, vice chairman of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, pointed out some of the reasons that Burmese and Singaporean travelers venture to the others country.

Burmese travelers mostly go to Singapore for leisure, while Singaporeans mostly come here [to Burma] for business, though we still receive more visitors from Thailand, he said.

Were promoting tourism not only to Singapore but to other countries in the region as well.

Burma greeted some 4.68 million tourists in 2015, according to figures from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
Burma Survey to Highlight Ongoing Decline in Irrawaddy Dolphin Population

As Burmas Irrawaddy dolphin population drops, the Wildlife Conservation Society Myanmar documents the species remaining numbers.

RANGOON As man-made threats contribute to the yearly decline of Burmas Irrawaddy dolphin population, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Myanmar is set to survey the species remaining numbers in early February.

Numbers have been falling since the annual ten-day inquiry began in 2002. It is conducted in a section of the Irrawaddy River starting in Mandalay and ending in Kachin States Bhamo, where most dolphins have been spotted, according to WCS Myanmar.

The survey team is concerned by the continued drop in the dolphin population, which is estimated to be 7,000 worldwide, but up to 90 percent of which are critically endangered and living in the coastal waters of Bangladesh. The other ten percent are spread throughout South and Southeast Asia.

Kyaw Hla Thein, a project coordinator with WCSs dolphin conservation team, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the water mammals numbers have fallen in recent years: in 2012, there were 86 river dolphins recorded in Burmathis dropped to 58 in 2015.

He explained that environmental degradation caused by mining operations remains a hazard to dolphins survival; it fills rivers with extra sediment and can release poisonous mercury into the habitat. Fishing practices such as gillnetting drown river dolphins, which become entangled in mesh nets placed across rivers to catch smaller fish.

Another danger facing the Irrawaddys dolphins is the increasingly common fishing tactic of releasing an electrical current into water in order to shock or kill fish in the vicinity, also known as electro-fishing.

Among all these threats, electro-fishing still remains the worst, Kyaw Hla Thein said.

Although electro-fishing is illegal in Burma and violators face a three-year jail sentence, Kyaw Hla Thein said that authorities still face difficulties in arresting offenders, who have become hard to control.

Unlike in previous years, [they] are now going around in groups on the river, with upgraded electro-fishing equipment, he said of those who are violating the law.

In coordination with the Department of Fisheries, in 2005, WCS Myanmar designated an Irrawaddy Dolphin Protected Area (ADPA) in Sagaing Division, from the towns of Mingun to Kyauk Myaung, where most dolphins are found. But as recently as late 2014, two dolphins were found dead on the bank of Irrawaddy River in Mingun due to electric shock.

Han Win, a deputy officer in the Department of Fisheries, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that while his department is responsible for apprehending illegal fishing groups, he felt the practice of electro-fishing could not be properly controlled without the cooperation of other authorized parties.

To be honest, law enforcement is very weak. But the fisheries department can not do it alone, he said. Cooperation from the police department and local authorities is also required in order to arrest illegal fishing groups.

Han Win also suggested that more public awareness programs could reduce the current threats facing the dolphins, as well as to educate people on the value of Irrawaddy dolphins and the importance of conservation.

Some fishermen from central and northern Burma are known to have fostered a mutually beneficial relationship with the Irrawaddy dolphins which predates the use of electro-fishing, but is now endangered by it. Also referred to as cooperative fishing, fishermen and dolphins work together by communicating through a series of sounds and physical signals. The dolphins then herd the catch into fishing nets, taking the escaped fish as a reward.
Opinion Maintaining Arms Embargo is Crucial to Peace Process

The international community must not ease up on arms restrictions as Burmas fragile peace process continues.

In 2016,the question of lifting the on-going arms embargo and related sanctions against the Tatmadaw, as the Burma Army is known, and its civilian cronies will be revisited by Western governments. The fact that the current embargo imposed by the European Union and that has existed since 1998 is set to expire on April 30th makes this inevitable. While in some ways this will be a continuation of a process of lifting political and economic sanctions by these foreign governments that began in 2011 with the transition to quasi-civilian rule and then intensified after the 2012 electoral gains of the National League for Democracy (NLD).

During the coming months, it can be expected that this process will enter a new phase with pressure from within Burma for the lifting of military-related sanctions. While senior Tatmadaw can be expected to seek this as a reward for their good behavior, it can also be expected that the new NLD government will also voice its support as a demonstration of its commitment to national reconciliation and the role of the military as a national institution.

It is difficult to see how any ethnic armed organization could retain any faith in foreign intermediariesin what is already seen by many as a broken processshould they permit state-owned or private arms companies from their countries to do business with the Tatmadaw. This is because the lifting of these sanctions would undermine trust in the good faith of these governments in three key areas.

The first of these concerns the impact that this change in policy would have on the faith that ethnic armed organizations have in the commitment of foreign governments to promoting good governance and the rule of law in Burma.

Under the 2008 Constitution, the military will remain outside of the oversight and control of the incoming NLD led government, as will the administration and budgets of the ministries of Defense, Interior and Border Affairs. This independence will continue to be facilitated by the militarys control of an economic empire administered through the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings, Ltd. and the Myanmar Economic Corporation, which also includes significant off-the-books income from the looting of natural resources such as timber, jade and precious stones in areas largely inhabited by non-Bamar ethnic minorities.

Additional income is also obtained through the confiscation of land, which continues to occur in places such as Karenni State as well as from Chinese companies that have been allowed to operate in Burma. One such example is the massive jade extraction in Kachin States Hpakant area. As the money to pay for weapons, equipment or military-related services would come from such sources, governments that allow state and private companies to do business with the Tatmadaw risk being viewed as its partner in crime and thereby taint their involvement in the current peace process.

This association can also extend to the second major issue of concern: on-going human rights abuses committed by the Tatmadaw against non-Bamar ethnic minorities in conflict-affected areas across the country.

The fact is that even after the transition to quasi-civilian rule and the beginning of the current peace process, the Tatmadaw has continued the practice of forced labor, as well as committing rape, torture and killing civilians. Such abuses have long been a feature of the militarys notorious scorched-earth Four Cut strategy. In addition, the Tatmadaw has also continued its practice of indiscriminately laying landmines and deliberately shelling civilian populations. In both Shan and Kachin states, the scale and intensity of these crimes have resulted in tens of thousands of civilians being displaced from their homes.

While it would be bad enough that a lifting of military-related sanctions would be seen as a tacit acceptance of these abuses, the third major issue of concern is that the Tatmadaw continues to violate ceasefire agreements and even refuses to engage some ethnic armed organizations in peace talks.

In the case of the Shan State Progressive Party, the political wing of the Shan State ArmyNorth, this group has had more than 100 clashes with the government over the past three years. At the same time, it has been subjected to repeated demands that it withdraw from outposts, bases and towns that are under its control. It was the refusal of Shan State ArmyNorth to withdraw from the outposts in Mong Hsu as well as the strategically located river port town of Tar San Pu in Kyethi Township, Shan State, which resulted in the Tatmadaw launching an attack that displaced about 10,000 civilians.

One doesnt need to know much about Burma to understand that a willingness to do business with the Tatmadaw as it continues to violate ceasefire agreements and refuses to negotiate with some ethnic armed organizations would risk further emboldening it to use force against them, rather than seeking a genuine political settlement to the countrys protracted civil war.

Of course, the already weak response of the international community to these crimes and its failure to force Naypyidaw to abide either by its ceasefire agreements or obligations under international treatiesincluding the Geneva Conventions and Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflicthas not gone unnoticed. Nor has the fact that the United States, the European Union and others have done little to dissuade or prevent countries receiving large amounts of aid from selling arms to the Tatmadaw. A recent example is their failure to stop Pakistans sale of JF-17 Thunder multirole fighters, which could be used not only against ethnic armed organizations but also civilian populations.

Lifting military-related sanctions would be a betrayal on a scale unseen since the United States and the United Kingdom abandoned the Karen and Kachin after World War II. For this reason, efforts by political parties, NGOs and civil society to maintain the arms embargo and other sanctions against the military must be sustained if the current peace process is to survive.

Khu Oo Reh is Vice Chairman of the Karenni National Progressive Party and General Secretary of the United Nationalities Federal Council.
[gallery type="slideshow" ids="105300,105258,105263,105264,105265,105268,105269,105320,105321,105322,105323,105324,105325"] RANGOON  Lynn Wunna credits the guidance he received from one of Burmas most renowned and influential artists, Bagyi Aung Soe, as setting him on his own unique artistic path. Art is not for money, he recalls Bagyi Aung Soe advising. It is your obligation to create works of aesthetic appeal. Whether or not you can make money, that depends on fate. The eldest of six siblings, Lynn Wunna was born in Rangoons Tamwe Township. His father was an English teacher and his mother a civil servant. He began learning the very basics of painting when he was young as well-known cartoonist Myay Zar taught art at his local kindergarten. When he was in fifth grade, he studied basic painting from the artist Lun Kywe and by the ninth grade, he was taking tips from Bagyi Aung Soe, who lived just four doors down from his home. Bagyi Aung Soe did not teach him painting techniques directly at first but instead showed him pictures in books and explained how they were drawn and asked him to imitate the style. He still remembers much of the late artists advice. One day he said I had become half an artist, Lynn Wunna said. I asked him what I was supposed to do to be a fully-fledged artist and he told me to read a lot. Bagyi Aung Soe also helped him undergo mind training exercises such as mediating and counting beads to obtain Satoria state of mind helping a person to better understand their true nature. Dont be a second Aung Soe; be the first Lynn Wunna, Bagyi Aung Soe once told him. Lynn Wunna was arrested on September 9, 1990, and spent three months in Insein Prison for his involvement in politics. He studied at the State Fine Arts School in Rangoon from 1991-94 but, just two months after graduation, he was arrested for a second time and spent another year in jail. Artists love freedom. Throughout history, artists have always confronted rulers during dark eras in which freedom is prohibited, Lynn Wunna said. I took part in basic education school student unions after the 1988 pro-democracy uprising and was consequently imprisoned when I was in 10th grade. After his release, he was no longer permitted to study at school and had to take exams off-campus. I think politics concerns everyone living in the country. Unless and until people enjoy complete human freedom and there is responsibility and accountability, politics will remain a crushing burden on us, Lynn Wunna said, adding that he was optimistic about the countrys future. The Rangoon-born artist has so far held eight solo exhibitions since 1996 and participated in dozens of group shows and charity events. He describes the creation of his works as dependent on his mental state. I focus on color rather than figures and draw out my feelings on canvas in a state of mind between consciousness and unconsciousness. If consciousness is stronger than unconsciousness, my painting is dominated by drawing techniques and if unconsciousness is stronger the painting is dominated by abstract composition, he said. Sometimes images which hide in the deepest parts of the mind come out onto canvas without the knowledge of the creator. When asked how he defines a successful artist, he pointed to Bagyi Aung Soe and Kin Maung Yin as examples. They have attained the highest state. [By that] I mean a state in which an artist can free his mind and draw out his feelings freely without being burdened. This I think is the highest achievement for an artist, he said. Aside from painting, Lynn Wunna is also involved in illustration. To illustrate, you need to have a strong imagination, and for arts, you need to have strong feeling, he said. Translated by Thet Ko Ko.
Tuesday, January 26th, 2016 (10:31 am) - Score 1,492

Ultrafast fibre optic ISP Hyperoptic has today announced that their 1000Mbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network is now starting to go live across several large buildings in Reading (Berkshire, England).

The ISP generally focuses upon connecting larger buildings (e.g. Multi-Dwelling Units with at least 50 units) or big office blocks, where the local demand is deemed to be strong enough for them to invest. In keeping with that the first buildings to go live are Portman Square, Heron House and Cygnet House, a new build section of Kennet Island development.

Apparently many more developments are currently undergoing installation in Reading, including the new build sections of Kennet Island. The large town is one of twelve on the providers current roll-out plan, with others including London (this is where they have the most coverage), Glasgow, Sheffield, Cardiff, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle.

Philip Cooper, Hyperoptics Head of Field Sales, said: Hyperoptic is investing heavily in infrastructure across Reading, to give residents and businesses access to the fastest broadband speeds in the UK. Reading was one of the first locations we announced as part of our hypercities programme; so its fantastic to confirm that services are now live across the town  we are committed to connecting thousands more residents in the coming months, so that they can live their online lives without compromise.

The ISP claims that Reading is also a strategic focus for them, not least because they opened an office in West Reading during 2014 for their customer services and warehouse staff, which has recently been hugely extended (the office now employs over 20 staff and is actively recruiting a Head of Customer Support and warehouse assistant / driver).

Otherwise Hyperoptics medium-term UK plan is to cover 500,000 premises by 2018 (they currently reach well over 100,000) and theyre also running a January Sale (here), which has helped to cut their service prices for new subscribers.
Tuesday, January 26th, 2016 (10:05 pm) - Score 944

The Government has launched a consultation to help it decide upon a new procurement approach for future state aid supported broadband deployment projects under the national Broadband Delivery UK programme, which is unable to sign new contracts until an agreement can be reached.

At present BDUK is predominantly working with BT, and a few smaller altnet providers, in order to ensure that 95% of the United Kingdom can access a superfast broadband (24Mbps+) service by 2017/18. So far nearly all of the contracts needed to do this have already been agreed under the old EU state aid approval and BDUK framework.

However the original umbrella agreement with Europe expired at the end of June 2015 and since then the Government has been busy trying to negotiate a new arrangement (details), which has taken longer than expected. Unfortunately no new contracts can be signed until an agreement is reached, unless of course they go outside of the BDUK framework.

As part of this effort the Governments Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has begun a Market Engagement Consultation, which is seeking views from Local Authorities / Devolved Administrations and operators of broadband networks regarding a proposed new procurement approach that would form part of a new state aid decision.

Statement from the Market Engagement Consultation As part of these discussions between BDUK and DG Comp, a new approach has been developed which has incorporated learning from both organisations since the approval of the previous decision in 2012 and reflects the publication of the 2013 Broadband Guidelines. A key principle of these Guidelines is that networks built with public funds should where possible offer full open access, which requires the network operator to offer access to any part of the network for any purpose. The proposed approach aims to achieve the following:

 Optimise the number and quality of bidders, in particular reducing the hurdles to participation in procurements by smaller suppliers;

 Align supplier incentives to maintain competitive tension as far as possible. While Local Bodies have the option of procuring networks that would only require open access networks, based on discussions with the market, BDUK anticipates that such procurements may not always yield suitable bids. For example, if potential bidders consider that the value from new broadband customers is offset by the risk to existing business customers as a result of opening up their network. Working with the Commission, BDUK has developed an approach to mitigate this risk through a procurement approach that would consider a reduced form of network access, where no suitable open access bids are submitted. This would be compatible with State aid rules while supporting deployment in the context of the marketplace across the UK.

Last month BDUK informed ISPreview.co.uk of their belief that they could reach a more acceptable compromise in time for the end of February 2016, which they claimed would retain the required full open access basis.

The above approach suggests that BDUK may soften the open access requirement, which could attract some more altnets to bid on future broadband contracts (altnets tend to prefer closed networks in order to better protect their investments, although this can also result in less choice of ISP for consumers). However there are several options on the table for the funding and delivery side of things.

The Different Delivery/Funding Model Options  Investment Gap Funding: An Implementing Body or Bodies procures broadband infrastructure outcomes from a private sector supplier (a single supplier or a consortium) through a service contract.  Public private partnership: An Implementing Body or Bodies form a Joint Venture (JV) or Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with a private sector supplier or suppliers. The JV or SPV would invest in, and provide, broadband infrastructure services to end customers (e.g. service providers/retailers wishing to use the infrastructure network) through service contracts, with the public body and supplier sharing the profits or liabilities.  Concession to Build-Operate-Transfer: Under this approach an Implementing Body lets a concession contract to build, operate and generate revenues from a network, which returns to public ownership at the end of the contract (e.g. North Wales Fibrespeed).



 Public sector owned supplier: Under this approach, an arms-length company, owned by one or more Implementing Bodies, would invest in, and provide, broadband infrastructure services to end customers through service contracts.

Hopefully theyll avoid the public sector owned supplier approach because putting the public sector / politicians in charge of an alternative broadband network doesnt always seem to work out so well (e.g. the failed Digital Region project in South Yorkshire).

The consultation is due to close on 24th February 2016, which rather suggests that the Government will not achieve the desired state aid approval in time for the end of next month. As such it may also be a struggle for them to finalise something in time for the next budget announcement.

Meanwhile the wait goes on to see if any additional state aid funding will be made available to tackle parts of the final 5%. At the same time some delayed Phase 2 BDUK contracts, such as the stalled Devon and Somerset scheme, will similarly have to continue twiddling their thumbs for a little while longer (mind you we recently heard that CDS may not now enter procurement until later this year anyway).

UPDATE 1st Feb 2016

We understand that BDUK are now encouraging everybody with an interest to respond, not just operators and local authorities.
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A day before the planned peace talks in Geneva regarding Damascus and Syria, the Syrian pro-government forced to retake a key rebel-held town in coastal Latakia province.

Syria's government troops and militiamen pressed offensives both in the west and northwest of the country, with the goal to reverse gains made by insurgents last year. They are supported by Moscow's air power as well as Lebanese Hezbollah fighters and Iranian forces.

According to an article originally published by Reuters, "the recapture of the town of Rabiya in Latakia province has paved the way for an advance up to the border with Turkey, which supports insurgents fighting against President Bashar al-Assad, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights."

Rabiya is considered to be an important base for rebels in the northern Latakia. It ranks second after the town of Salma.

On the other side of the story, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said that both the United States and Turkey have prepared for a military solution against Islamic State in Syria in case the Syrian government and rebels "fail to reach a political settlement."

Meanwhile, Washington is wage an air campaign while Russia is separately striking Islamic State.

On another note, another article published by Reuters has stated that the peace talks have been stalled on partly over the question of who would represent the opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he "expected clarity within a day or two, and expressed support for the United Nations envoy who has the tricky task of issuing invitations for the first talks in two years to end the 5-year-old civil war."

The war-torn Syria has been a result of a conflict that broke out after an uprising in 2011. As of latest statistics a total of 250,000 people have died while around 11 million has been displaced.
A file picture of a Starbucks coffee shop in Shanghai. [Xinhua]

Foreign companies are keen to invest in China's service and high-tech industries to maintain robust growth, senior Commerce Ministry officials said on Monday.

There is no sign that multinationals are withdrawing from the country on any scale, according to the officials.

Overseas firms are eager to enhance their earning abilities, said Huang Feng, deputy director-general of the ministry's Department of Foreign Investment Administration.

Huang said that multinationals are keen to invest in healthcare, environmental protection, pharmaceuticals, communication and information services in China, and also in high-tech industries that are being developed more slowly than the overall pace of development.

"Foreign companies have discovered that market demand in China is changing as consumers and companies want to buy more high-value-added products and that there is surging demand for the service industry in the country," Huang said.

He was commenting after foreign media reports said that global companies such as Microsoft, Panasonic and Sharp would withdraw or remove part of their business from China to either their home bases or to other emerging markets.

Foreign direct investment into China rose by 6.4 percent year-on-year to $126.27 billion last year, the ministry said.

Foreign investment in the service industry rose by 17.3 percent, accounting for 61.1 percent of the flow in 2015. The remaining FDI was attracted by the country's high-tech, high-end manufacturing and other sectors.

Wan Lianpo, deputy director-general of the ministry's Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services, said, "Major global companies are still optimistic about the Chinese market and investment prospects after assessing the market potential of other major global economies."

Multinationals including Syngenta, Volkswagen, Luft-hansa, Samsung Electronics, Air Liquide, Bridgestone and Intel made substantial investments in China's service, manufacturing and agricultural sectors last year.

Starbucks plans to open 500 stores this year in China, its largest market outside of the United States. It aims to create 10,000 jobs in the country each year up to 2019.

Uber Technologies, the US ride-hailing company, has committed to invest 6.3 billion yuan ($957 million) in China to diversify its businesses ranging from transportation services to automotive financing.

Li Jian, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said that although some multinationals had complained about the changing investment environment in China, they should get used to the new market development model.

This is because China is moving up the value chain and optimizing its industrial structure amid the "new normal"  the phrase introduced by President Xi Jinping to describe growth that is slower but of better quality.
Beijing will make further efforts to apply for UNESCO World Heritage recognition for the city's Central Axis to increase its historical and cultural appeal, said city mayor Wang Anshun.

Beijing's central axis. [File photo]

He made the statement while delivering a work report at the fourth session of the 14th Beijing Municipal People's Congress that opened on January 22.

Wang said Beijing vows to inherit and carry forward traditional culture through many projects, such as via evacuation and renovation of designated areas under cultural protection.

Construction of a history and culture zone at Qianmen Street will be accelerated while work gradually takes place at the Temple of Heaven to restore it to its past glory, he added.

The Central Axis is the best preserved core area of the old city of Beijing, which has an 800 year history of urban development.

It is 7.8 kilometers long, starting in the south of the city at Yongding Gate, then running across Zhengyang Gate, Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Jingshan Hill, before ending at the Drum and Bell Towers in the north.
With most young people having gone to work in big cities, elderly residents of a village in Southwest China's Sichuan Province had to use an excavator to help slaughter pigs to prepare for the upcoming Spring Festival.

A villager uses an excavator to kill a pig in Bazhong City, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

A group of photos on a forum taken in Bazhong City show several elderly people lifting a pig with an excavator. The images have gone viral on the Internet.

A villager in his 80s said they were unable to find a capable young man to help in the process.

"We went to several villages nearby but failed to find a man strong enough to help," he explained.

About 20 million people leave Sichuan province every year to work in more economically developed regions. Residents in many villages in the province, especially mountainous regions, are now mostly aged people or children.
Johnson Controls cooperate headquarters at 5757 N. Green Bay Ave. in Glendale is seen Monday. Credit: Mike De Sisti

By of the

In moving its headquarters to Ireland as part of the merger with Tyco International, Glendale's Johnson Controls Inc. would be able to take advantage of a tax-reduction strategy increasingly popular with American companies.

Called "inversion," the move to relocate headquarters outside the U.S. through an acquisition lets a company pay corporate income taxes on its overseas earnings at the tax rate of its new home country  a rate lower than the 35% in the U.S., which is the highest among developed nations. In Ireland, the corporate tax rate is 12.5%.

Johnson Controls' taxes worldwide totaled $600 million in fiscal 2015  an effective corporate tax rate of 18.6%, which it said was kept lower than the U.S. rate because of "continuing global tax planning initiatives" and other actions. It said Monday it expects the combined company to save $150 million annually in taxes. And while it still would pay U.S. and Wisconsin taxes on profits it earns in America, some aren't pleased.

"I think there's going to be some elected representatives and regulators who are not going to be happy with another inversion," Efraim Levy, a Wall Street analyst with S&P Capital IQ in New York, said in an interview.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders wasted no time Monday in condemning the proposed Johnson Controls-Tyco merger, saying it "would be a disaster for American taxpayers."

"If you want the advantages of being an American company then you can't run away from America to avoid paying taxes," the Vermont senator told Bloomberg News.

Some say inversion is an unpatriotic tax avoidance strategy. Others say it is just good business, given the taxation landscape.

Larry Harding, a Boston-based international tax expert with Radius, a firm that helps companies expand into foreign countries, said inversion is "a logical sort of decision based on the elements of our tax code in comparison with the tax codes of other countries."

"As frustrating and vexing as it is, it's sort of a logical outcome from the ways things currently are structured  what the rules are, what the rates are, what the shareholder expectations are," said Harding, speaking generally. "So that's what's maddening, is that it's a bunch of people making rational decisions and yet it's so potentially destructive to U.S. jobs and U.S. tax income."

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said decisions like the one Johnson Controls is making are driven by the U.S. tax laws, and said those laws need to be fixed.

"I appreciate the fact that Johnson Controls will maintain its operational headquarters in Wisconsin after it acquires Tyco. I am disappointed, but not surprised, that it is doing what Tyco did a few years ago and taking Ireland as its domicile for tax purposes," Johnson said.

Johnson continued: "As one of my Democratic colleagues said during a hearing on exactly this topic, 'It's just math.' America needs to get its math right by scrapping our current tax code and replacing it with a very simple and globally competitive one."

Since 1982, more than 50 American companies have reincorporated in low-tax countries. Inversions have become more frequent since 2012.

In one high-profile case, Burger King announced in 2014 it was acquiring the Canadian doughnut chain Tim Hortons, and planned to relocate corporate headquarters to Canada, where the corporate tax rate is 26%. That deal drew criticism from American politicians who called the move a tax dodge.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Monday pointed the finger at the U.S. tax codes.

"This is yet another example of why we need tax reform to keep our employers and jobs in America, rather than encouraging them to move overseas," Ryan said in a statement.

Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, noting that she is a cosponsor of the Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2015, said "powerful special interests have rigged the rules with corporate tax loopholes, like inversions."

"Instead, we need tax reform that rewrites the rules of our economy and rewards patriotic companies that invest in American workers and economic growth here at home," Baldwin said in a statement. "I strongly support congressional action on corporate tax inversions because we have got to start building an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top."

Harding said he sees two ways to address the issue.

"One falls under that sort of comprehensive tax reform, so that the U.S. rates are more competitive with Irish rates or other rates around the world so that there's less of an economic incentive to do these inversion deals," he said.

"The other approach is to put laws in place that would make higher hurdles, so that even if the economics would say 'try and do it,' there's laws that either say you can't do it or it makes it too painful or otherwise more difficult to make those rational decisions."

Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
Heather Ludwig, head brewer for Pabst Brewing Company

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By of the

So you want to be a brewer, Wisconsin? That's what your Google searches suggest.

Dailydot.com claims Nebraska is hung up on telemarketing jobs and Iowa residents would go to the mat for wrestling. And who knew Georgians were so into refinishing furniture? But Wisconsin, you looked up "brewer."

Read on for places and events where you can try beers from your favorite brewers:

Jan. 31: At Sugar Maple, 441 E. Lincoln Ave., beer school is in. This time they'll study beers from Destihl starting at 4 p.m. The program is $15. The class will study Abbey's Single, Belgian Series Dubbel, St. Dekkera Excommunie Deau, a barrel-aged sour Belgian Dubble and Metallurgy Sour Collection, a stainless-steel-aged sour with pears, according to the Destihl event Facebook page.

Feb. 2: Beer School #122 is called to order at Comet Cafe, 1947 N. Farwell Ave. Think you know about stouts? There's more to learn.

Feb. 3: They're breaking out the aged Big Bad Baptist for an Epic night at Draft & Vessel, 4417 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood. Start time is 6 p.m., according to the Draft & Vessel Facebook page.

Feb. 3: Goodkind, 2457 S. Wentworth Ave., hosts its first full-on beer dinner (four courses), pouring Central Waters brews for each. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. The cost is $100, according to the Central Waters Dinner Facebook page.

Feb. 4:Biloba Brewing, 18720 Pleasant St., Brookfield, releases a Belgian Abbey at the brewery. On Feb. 11, Biloba releases its Raspberry Lambic on Feb. 11. Bottles are $12.

Feb. 4: Barley's Angels get Enlightened. They meet at Enlightened Brewery, 2018 S. First St., at 6 p.m., according to the Barley's Angels Facebook page. Admission is $5.

Feb. 5: I'm moderating a panel on women's history with beer, part of the "Brew City MKE" exhibition at the Milwaukee County Historical Society. Guest brewers include Jamie Baertsch of Wisconsin Dells Brewing Company, Ashley Kinart of Capital Brewery, Allyson Rolph of Thirsty Pagan Brewing and Heather Ludwig of Pabst Brewing Co. Tickets are $20 ($15 for members). The panel starts at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5: Central Waters takes most of the taps starting at 5 p.m. at The Brass Tap, 7808 W. Layton Ave., in Greenfield, according to The Brass Tap Facebook page.

Feb. 6: Burnhearts, 2599 S. Logan Ave., hosts its annual Mitten Fest. The free party with live bands, rare beers from Central Waters and Founders, starts outside at noon. See the Mitten Fest Facebook page. Bring food, clothing and/or cash donations for Hunger Task Force.

Feb. 20:Food & Froth at the Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St., features more than 100 beer names and eight bands from 7 to 10 p.m. Ticket prices range from $125 for VIP admission to $75 for general admission.

Feb. 21:Midwinter Brewfest raises money for the MACC Fund. It's held at the Milwaukee Ale House, 233 N. Water St. The fest runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $45.

Feb. 23:Atlas BBQ, 1304 12th Ave., Grafton, and Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. team up for beer and cocktails. The menu includes Pork Belly and Deviled Egg, Smoked Osso Bucco and Strawberry Shortcake. It's $40 for three courses, each with a beer or cocktail pairing. Call (262) 618-2181

Other dates to keep in mind:

 Milwaukee Beer Week kicks off on April 16 and the annual Crafts & Drafts Spring Beer Festival is set for April 17 at Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave.

For a guide to beer news and more, check out Tap Milwaukee's Beer Here page: jsonline.com/beer.
Tug of war is a popular activity at adult summer camps like Camp No Counselors. Rising in popularity like other things from the past (turntables, vinyl records), adult summer camps run from pricey pampered affairs to something more like survival training. And like their counterparts for kids, the time to register is now. Credit: Photo courtesy Camp No Counselors

By of the

Adult summer camp means never writing a sad letter home.

It's the place where camp crafts means craft cocktails, and the end of the day is marked with a scotch- and cigar-tasting session instead of taps.

Andrew Griswold, a 26-year-old Milwaukee native, has upped the ante on personal nostalgia by creating such a getaway for adults. He calls it Camp Halcyon.

It's named for "a period of time that was idyllically happy and peaceful," he said about the four-day adult camp.

Griswold  who owns Wander & Co., a retail shop that sells products that have a direct benefit for social causes  will host the summer camp on the grounds of Camp Lakotah in Wautoma, the same campground he attended as a boy. Camp runs July 7 through 10.

A growing trend, adult summer camps run from pricey pampered affairs to outings that are more like survival training.

And like their counterparts for kids, the time to register is now.

At Camp Halcyon, the schedule also includes yoga on the beach, canoeing, kayaking and other classic camp experiences. Afternoons are saved for wine tasting, lessons in brewing beer from Northern Brewer or sipping a brew from Milwaukee's Enlightened Brewing.

Four days and three nights cost $399 a person, including food and all the events.

One reason more adults are spending cash for a summer camp of their own is they want to re-experience childhood memories.

"It's the chance to make friends like you did when you were kids, and it didn't really matter what your job was," said Adam Tichauer, who founded the adult Camp No Counselors in 2013.

Last year, Camp No Counselors put down stakes in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles and Chicago, which held camp at Camp Chi in Lake Delton. For 2016, it has expanded to Austin, Miami, San Francisco, Boston, Toronto and near Grand Rapids, Mich.

Escaping plugged-in life

Another attraction is the lure of disconnecting with technology. Camps typically have no Wi-Fi and spotty cellphone service.

"It does seem that the more we get tied to technology, and the fast pace that comes with it, the more we're all looking to reconnect with the simple pleasures of a simpler time," said David Hernandez. "We call it disconnecting to reconnect."

Hernandez and his wife, Tereasa Surratt, own Camp Wandawega in Elkhorn. They rent the camp  which has a historic past, from brothel to the church camp Hernandez attended as a child  out to groups. The couple have also created many of its own not-for-profit camps.

Grown-ups can go to Space Camp, Wine Camp or Adult Band Camp. Angela Ritchie's Ace Camps lets campers study food styling abroad. Prices range from $500 to $2,179 for overseas camps, airfare not included.

For a more traditional summer-camp experience, adults have more choices. There's Camp Grounded in California, New York, North Carolina and Texas; Camp Throwback in Ohio; or Soul Camp, which meets on either coast.

"I think for some people it's the nostalgia of it all," said Tichauer, whose concept turned into a full-time job. "For the other half, it's because they never got to go to camp and wouldn't it be cool to go on my own terms."

Camp No Counselors draws campers ages 25 to 35, who pay between $500 and $600 for three nights in a coed bunk. Food, drink and activities are included.

"Once you get on the bus, you don't need your phone or your credit card," he said.

'Get people interacting'

Tichauer said Camp No Counselors is still working on a location for this year's Chicago camp, but said it will definitely be in Wisconsin. According to Camp No Counselors' Facebook page, registration opens Feb. 1.

For Camp Halcyon's first year, Griswold is shooting for a diversity of ages. He knows a few of his friends will come to camp, and he's expecting a married couple in their 50s to attend. The number of attendees is capped at 120.

"We want to make sure that we are bringing together an eclectic, diverse blend of people to make the session interesting and fun for everyone involved," he said.

To do that, he's reviewing applications on a case-by-case basis and using the application to determine demand for camp activities.

"The whole purpose is to get people interacting," Griswold said.

Griswold's plans for Camp Halcyon rely on a luxe version of his camp memories. Breakfast, for instance, includes a bacon bar and an after-hours food bar. S'mores rate a s'mores bar.

It's no coincidence that the popularity of summer camp parallels the return of other things from the past, such as turntables and vinyl records. Hernandez, who bought the camp of his youth, believes it's a longing for tangible and tactile things in a digital world.

"For millennials, it's not even true nostalgia, as they're digital natives who grew up in a digital world. They have no memory of these vintage things, but they feel like they live in a world where they're missing out on the experiences that earlier generations had," he said.

But as campers, Hernandez added, "they can get their hands dirty. They can play shuffleboard, throw a hatchet, shoot an arrow, and jump in a lake."

And perhaps send letters home by mail.
Officer Marcell Daniels addresses questions posed by Milwaukee Area Technical College students at an event in September. Credit: Michael Sears

SHARE Marcell C. Daniels is seen in his Milwaukee County Jail booking mugshot Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office

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A former Milwaukee police officer was charged this week with sexually assaulting and exploiting a teenage girl whom he met after she was arrested in 2005.

The recently retired officer, Marcell H. Daniels, 45, also was the subject of an earlier complaint in 2004 when the mother of a 14-year-old girl told police she saw sexually explicit text messages between Daniels and her daughter, according to the newly filed criminal complaint.

The old complaint was investigated both internally and as a criminal matter, police spokesman Sgt. Tim Gauerke said Tuesday.

The internal investigation was "not sustained"  meaning there was not enough evidence to prove it  and the Milwaukee County district attorney's office declined to issue charges after the victim and her family did not continue with "steps for prosecution," Gauerke said.

Daniels made his initial appearance in court Monday on charges of second-degree sexual assault of a child, child sexual exploitation and child enticement, all felonies that bring a combined maximum potential prison sentence of 105 years.

The current investigation began when Daniels' wife contacted the Milwaukee County district attorney's office and said she had, in the past, seen sexually explicit photos of teen girls on a USB drive.

She gave permission for investigators to search the couple's laptop, where they found explicit photos of a teen girl, the complaint says. Daniels' wife filed for divorce earlier this month, according to online court records.

Authorities interviewed the girl, who told them she met Daniels after she and a friend were arrested. The girl was 14 at the time.

After she was released from custody, an officer, presumably Daniels, drove her home, and about a week later she started getting phone calls from him, according to the complaint.

The girl identified herself in the photos found on the laptop, including two in which she's posing with a gun, and said Daniels told her to take photos of them engaged in sex acts and with weapons, the complaint says.

The girl told investigators she "dated" Daniels for several years until she was 18, during which time the two had sex and he gave her alcohol and marijuana, according to the complaint.

Daniels is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 1 for a preliminary hearing. He was released on a $5,000 bail, online court records show, and the judge ordered him to have no contact with the victim or anyone under age 17.

Daniels retired from the Milwaukee Police Department on Jan. 3. He was featured in the Milwaukee police union's latest newsletter as celebrating 25 years on the job. He drew a gross annual salary of about $76,000 in 2014.

Personnel records obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2010 showed Daniels received discipline several times, including for failing to appear in court and failing to fully investigate a battery and trespassing incident. He received one merit award for an arrest in a homicide investigation in 1998.

He also was featured in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story in September on the "Educate 2 Empower" workshop at Milwaukee Area Technical College, a two-day program that sought to strengthen relationships between police and students.

"Policing, it should be transparent," Daniels said at the time. "There should be no secrets about it. You guys should know what we do, whether there's a camera on us or not."
SHARE Sheree Wimberly Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office

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A 46-year-old Milwaukee woman has pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless homicide after co-sleeping with her infant grandson and killing him.

Sheree Wimberly was charged after authorities determined she was intoxicated the night of Oct. 15, 2014, when she co-slept with her 4-month-old grandson, K'Dyn Carson.

Milwaukee police were called to 3700 block of N. 15th St. about 3:30 a.m. Oct. 16, 2014, for a report of a child who was not breathing. Once they arrived, family members told officers Wimberly had rolled on top of K'Dyn while the two were sleeping, according to the criminal complaint.

Wimberly told detectives she felt "buzzed" after drinking vodka that night, but not drunk when she fell asleep on a bed with her grandson, according to the complaint.

Officers collected four empty vodka bottles from the house.

Wimberly's blood-alcohol level was 0.084 when police arrived at the house, according to the criminal complaint. Prosecutors say a toxicologist from the State Crime Laboratory estimated Wimberly's blood-alcohol level to have been between 0.13 and 0.17 at the time of the call to police three hours earlier  about twice the legal level considered proof of intoxication in Wisconsin.

Wimberly entered the plea on Monday and is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 1. She faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says the safest way for babies to sleep is alone, on their backs, in a crib free of pillows, blankets, toys and other soft objects.

NOT THE SAFEST way for your baby to sleep

Avoid sleeping with infants. Babies can be easily crushed by the weight of an adult.

Keep pillows, thick bedding, stuffed or fluffy toys, and padded items away from your sleeping infant. These can become impediments to your child's breathing.

Avoid over-blanketing your infant. Watch for damp hair, flush cheeks, rapid breathing or heat rash.

Don't place baby on an adult bed. There are no barriers to prevent a fall.

THE SAFEST way for your baby to sleep

Use a safety-approved crib or Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association-approved bassinet or cradle. Use a firm mattress and tight sheets.

If more than a sleeper is needed, use a light blanket tucked into the sides and bottom half of the crib, below the baby's arms.

The recommended sleeping position is on the baby's back.
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Milwaukee police were locked in a standoff with a suicidal man for hours Monday night before the man surrendered without incident, police said Tuesday in a news release.

Officers responded around 7:30 p.m. to the 5600 block of N. 40th St. after the 54-year-old man had called saying he wanted to kill himself and would shoot any officer who came to the house.

Police negotiated with the man for hours before he surrendered just after midnight and was taken to a hospital for treatment, the news release said.
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University of Wisconsin-Madison's vice chancellor for finance is leaving to take a job at the University of Texas.

Both schools posted news releases Tuesday saying Darrell Bazzell will leave Wisconsin in March and begin a stint as senior vice president and chief financial officer at the University of Texas at Austin on April 18.

The UW-Madison release said officials at that school will appoint an interim vice chancellor as soon as possible.

Bazzell graduated from UW-Madison in 1984 with a degree in sociology. He served as secretary of the state Department of Natural Resources from 2001 until 2003 under then-Gov. Jim Doyle. According to the UW release, Bazzell has family in the Houston area and his nephew is a recent UT graduate.
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Use driver's ed as incentive

In the Jan. 24 "Crossroads" section, columnist James E. Causey suggested that driver's education could help kids become responsible drivers ("Driver's ed can help reverse a bad trend"). He went on to say that the course was one that the kids took seriously, even the class "clowns."

Driving is a huge motivator for kids. Why not use this motivation to keep them in school until graduation? Offer the driver's license when they graduate from high school, rather than at 16 years of age. This might lower insurance rates a little, the kids would have a good head start on their futures, and those two extra years of maturing are quite significant at that age.

If transportation to jobs is a problem for 16-year-olds, couldn't an arrangement be made to route buses to where the suburban jobs for young people might be? The driver's education course could be offered in the junior year of high school, at 17, a time when kids think school goes on forever and they're tempted to drop out.

This could be just the motivator needed for some students.

Dave Koven

Fox Point



Causey inconsistent?

Journal Sentinel columnist James E. Causey says Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder should face charges over his handling of the Flint, Mich.., water problem ("Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder should be charged," Jan. 21).

Causey compares Flint's troubles with the 1993 Cryptosporidium outbreak in Milwaukee. He doesn't mention charging anyone in that dereliction of duty. Causey also doesn't mention the recent poisoning of the Colorado River.

I wonder if the difference could be that the Michigan governor happens to have an "R" after his name? Snyder is in the midst of trying to clean up a state sinking in debt after 50 years of Democratic rule.

So, how about a little bit of consistency, Mr. Causey?

Jerry Luedtke

Mukwonago



Coyote killing contest

I was very interested in reading Lee Bergquist's Jan. 22 story about the coyote round up in Argonne ("Coyote hunting contest draws complaints from environmental groups"). It certainly created some interesting table (and bar) talk in the North Woods.

As a longtime resident of Argonne, I respect hunters' right to enjoy their sport. Some hunters however, are very closed-minded and clearly disregard the rights of others who don't hunt. We, too, are entitled to a quiet walk through the national forest or our backyard without the fear of a stray bullet. Coincidentally, I had a beautiful full blood German Shepard who easily could have been mistaken for a wolf or coyote. He disappeared a couple of years ago around the same time as one of these hunts.

There are less violent ways to raise funds for those in need without reverting to the old pioneer practices of terminating an entire species. Contrary to what Patrick Quaintance, president of the Wisconsin Association of Sporting Dogs and former Department of Natural Resources warden says, there is no real scientific evidence that shows these indiscriminate killing contests serve any effective wildlife management function.

L.A. Sturnot

Crandon



Perplexed by settlement

As a Milwaukee taxpayer, I am perplexed as to the settlement of the illegal strip searches ("Milwaukee aldermen OK $5 million settlement of strip search lawsuits," Jan. 20).

While lawyer, I mean Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett feels compensation is justified, I am again disgusted to think that while each of the 74 plaintiffs will receive an average of $34,000 each, the Chicago law firm gets $2.3 million. The disparity is mind-boggling.

In the bombardment of advertisements for lawyers who operate under the guise of helping people get what they deserve, I would rather they call it what it is and simply say thank you for allowing us this ability to line our pockets from your misfortunes.

There might come a time when law firms get all the money from the settlement, and if they're in a good mood, maybe they will give some to the victims.

Jeff Otto

Milwaukee
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton poses for a photo with an infant during a campaign event at the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines on Monday. Credit: Associated Press

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It has never been easy to be Hillary Clinton.

Evidence for that proposition is already in the minds of many who are reading this: What do you mean Hillary hasn't had it easy? Would she even be in this race if she hadn't been married to Bill Clinton? Would she have been elected to the Senate from New York? Would she have received all those speaking fees?

See what I mean?

Few people are as assiduous as she in learning lessons from past failures. In 2008, her staff was a jumble of conflicts. So for this campaign, she has put together a relatively harmonious operation. The last time around, she was outmaneuvered by a Barack Obama campaign that understood the delegate selection rules cold. So Clinton hired on many Obama '08 veterans and is as hip to the small things as to the big things.

And if you like policy, she sure as heck is giving you a lot of it. Her proposals on issue after issue are detailed, plausible and progressive. It's said that she has moved left in response to the challenge from Bernie Sanders. Of course she knew where the danger to her would come from in the primaries. But because everything she does is assumed to be about politics  and not in the best sense of that word  the actual substance of what she's saying is usually swept aside.

If you gather from this that I have a more favorable view of her than the current conventional wisdom prescribes, you'd be right. As a friend said recently, there is the Methodist-youth-group side of Hillary Clinton that people don't pay much attention to, the moralist who was moved by Christian social justice concerns away from the conservatism of her family. (I may empathize with her conversion because a similar thing happened to me as a Catholic.) Her earliest work was on behalf of poor kids and migrant workers.

Yes, she eventually wanted to make some money and, yes, that desire caused her a variety of public embarrassments (see: cattle futures and speaking fees). But all this seems to be held against her far more than it is against other politicians who did very similar things. The big upside to being named Clinton has a steep downside: Everything she does arouses automatic suspicion and controversy.

And in Sanders, she has an opponent whom every progressive (myself included) instinctively likes. Sanders' willingness to declare himself a democratic socialist helps him more than it hurts him among Democrats.

The first two states to vote, Iowa and New Hampshire, are demographically well set up for him, and his strength in both is entirely predictable. (For what it's worth, I said last October  and it took no genius to see this  that he could win both.)

Moreover, after seven years in which Democrats felt constantly on the defensive against waves of Republican attacks, Sanders' "Here I stand, I can do no other" approach is a tonic.

It's the Obama Paradox. The president has a 91% favorable rating among Iowa Democrats (which is why Clinton is hugging him so closely). But many Democrats who admire him still wish he had been more aggressive in sticking it to the GOP. They identify with the Sanders who told me (and anyone else who'd listen) back in 2010: "While Obama and the Democrats have a large number of achievements, it was not enough. We needed to be bolder." Most Democrats want to be bolder now.

My hunch is that Clinton's stock is being undersold. After Iowa and New Hampshire, the contest moves to ground far more favorable to her.

But Sanders' new ad built around Simon & Garfunkel's song "America" is a warning to Clinton: It brilliantly captures how his campaign, like Obama's, feels like a movement. It is a cathartic expression of Democratic frustration with prudent pragmatism in the face of Republican intransigence.

The quietly rational Methodist who observed in 2008 that the "celestial choirs" rarely sing in politics and that she is under "no illusions about how hard this will be" was quite right about governing these days. But someone for whom nothing will ever be easy still needs to find her own brand of inspiration.

E.J. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post. Email ejdionne@washpost.com. Twitter: @EJDionne
Zhou Xiang, a 44 year-old businessman, has recently rented ten hotel rooms in reserve for homeless people exposed to the freezing weather in Anji County, northwest Zhejiang Province.

Zhou, who runs a business in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, returned to Anji, his hometown, with his wife for the Spring Festival, a celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, as the couple did not spend the festive holidays with their family in that county in recent years.

"If anyone encounters any homeless people caught in the freezing weather conditions tonight, call me," Zhou wrote on his WeChat, China's equivalent to Facebook. "I rented ten rooms with heating in Anji to shelter people from the cold front," said Zhou.

He also left his phone number in his message, expecting people to tell him the location of the needy people who he'll pick up in his car.

Zhou offered his help when looking at a message forwarded by his friend online to call for the care of homeless people as severe cold weather swept the county on Jan. 21.

I was deeply moved by the message. It gave me the idea that I could rent guest rooms equipped with heating in small hotels in the county for homeless people, Zhou said in an interview with the Qianjiang Evening News.

However, no homeless people have been spotted so far and the majority of the calls Zhou received were from people skeptical to his motivations. There were also people telling him false locations for fun.

Against everyone's misconception of her husband, Wang Lu, Zhou's wife, said that every time her husband spotted a passerby waiting for a vehicle, he would stop to ask if they needed help. He maintained high spirits even when his genuineness was mistaken and people turned away from him.

Despite the vacancy of the rooms that Zhou rented at the cost of 70 yuan (US$10.6) each per day, Zhou remains upbeat, because, he said, every time he extends his hand to people in need, he feels happy and satisfied.
Snow-covered rail tracks lead to the entrance to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in February or March 1945. Credit: Associated Press

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Today is an important day. Today, the whole world pauses to remember and honor the memory of 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

Jan. 27 has been named International Holocaust Remembrance Day because it's the day Russian troops liberated Auschwitz, the most notorious death camp. The United Nations chose this date, and it encourages all member states to dedicate the day to remembrance.

From Sweden to the United Kingdom, from South Africa to Australia, countries all over the world are today holding candle lightings, sponsoring speeches, offering seminars and showing films. These activities are to honor the memory of the 6 million, plus the few remaining survivors and those who took risks or lost their lives to help the Jewish people.

The Nazis also targeted and killed the disabled, homosexuals, Roma and many others. It was the Nazi focus on the "Final Solution" to exterminate all Jews that had them build camps such as Auschwitz. Theirs was a systematic, organized, state-sponsored effort at persecution and murder. The Nazis, who ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945, believed Germans were racially superior and that Jews were inferior.

The Nazi regime deported children and parents who had done nothing wrong to death camps, merely because they were Jewish. Freedom at home was replaced with a culture of fear and evil, with neighbors turning in neighbors and children learning Nazism at school.

Even after all of these years, the world is still trying to make sense of the Holocaust.

As the child of a Holocaust survivor, it's frankly important to me that people worldwide remember. We remember because we believe that doing so can help prevent genocide in the future. We remember to honor the victims, especially those who had no survivors to honor them. We remember simply because it happened.

My own journey of remembrance happened last September when I traveled with a Milwaukee Jewish Federation trip to Poland. I walked on the hallowed ground of Auschwitz, where ovens and barracks and even human ash and bones still can be found. It was a horrible, remarkable experience. It stays with you.

Ironically, as the world honors the memory of the Holocaust, Iran is holding a Holocaust-denial cartoon contest. It is Iranian policy to deny the Holocaust, and Iranian leaders have encouraged people worldwide to create cartoons to show that it never happened. They have changed the call for "never again" to "never happened."

This is unacceptable, but is perhaps not surprising, coming from a regime that is itself known for gross intolerance and injustice at home.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said: "Denying historical facts, especially on such an important subject as the Holocaust, is not acceptable. Nor is it acceptable to call for the elimination of any state or people. I would like to see this fundamental principle respected both in rhetoric and in practice by all members of the international community."

On this Jan. 27, I invite us to join the international community in honoring the memory of the victims. We remember the bravery of those who fought Nazis and rescued Jews, and we're grateful for those direct witnesses who endure painful memories to tell their stories.

By remembering, we commit ourselves to a more just path, a true commitment to never see such things happen again on Earth.

Daniel Bader is chairman of the board of Milwaukee Jewish Federation and is president/CEO of Bader Philanthropies, Inc.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a rally on Tuesday in Marshalltown, Iowa. Credit: Getty Images

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Marshalltown, Iowa  GOP front-runner Donald Trump said Tuesday he has all but decided to skip Thursday's much-anticipated Republican debate in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses, the latest bizarre installment in a running feud with the debate's sponsor, Fox News.

"Let's see how much money Fox is going to make without me," Trump told reporters at a wild news conference here, calling his decision "close to irrevocable."

Trump's declaration comes as he angles for a jaw-dropping victory in a state that once seemed out of reach.

Revisiting the campaign issue that helped launch his presidential bid last year, Trump appeared here with a newly announced supporter, the lightning-rod spokesman for immigration hard-liners, sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona.

Trump also announced the endorsement Tuesday of Jerry Falwell Jr., son of the pioneering leader decades ago in the emergence of evangelicals as a political force in the Republican Party.

Polls place Trump in a close fight with Ted Cruz in Iowa, the opening battle on the road to the nomination.

Cruz boasts strong support from the deeply conservative and evangelical voters that play a huge role in the caucuses here.

But Trump's support cuts more broadly across the party's political fault lines.

In an Iowa poll released Tuesday by Quinnipiac: Trump led with 31%, followed by Cruz at 29%, Marco Rubio at 13% and no one else above 7%.

"I have bonded with the people of Iowa," Trump told reporters here. "I've really bonded with the evangelical wing, the tea party and the people of Iowa."

Cruz had enjoyed the inside track in Iowa ever since the political collapse of two early rivals, Ben Carson and Gov. Scott Walker.

But a Trump win here could deeply damage Cruz, position the New York developer to sweep the first two states (he is heavily favored in New Hampshire) and give him a daunting upper hand in the nominating fight.

"If we win, I think we can run the table," he bragged to supporters here.

It is a prospect that unnerves Trump's opponents.

Cruz reportedly warned local pastors in a private meeting Monday that Trump might be unstoppable if he wins Iowa.

"Please, nobody here vote for Trump!" a member of the audience at a Rubio event in Marshalltown pleaded Tuesday as he took the microphone. "He is JPN  Just Plain Nuts."

In a shot at both Trump and Cruz, Rubio told the same gathering that, "you have a right to be upset" by the country's leadership but "being angry is not a plan."

Trump drew a huge crowd  a few thousand people  to an event here Tuesday, preceded by a combative news conference in which Trump suggested that his plan to skip Thursday's debate had gone from a possibility to a near certainty. His campaign later confirmed he would not participate.

He repeated past attacks on Fox moderator Megyn Kelly, complained about the wording of a news release Fox had issued about Trump and excoriated Fox for not contributing debate revenues to Wounded Warriors.

"They can't toy with me like they toy with everybody else. Let them have their debate (without me). Let's see how they do with the ratings," he said.

"Why should the networks continue getting rich on the debate? Give some to Wounded Warriors."

Trump feuded with reporters over their questions. He defended his reversal on abortion from "pro-choice" to "pro-life" but deflected questions about the details of his views.

And he repeated his broadsides against rival Cruz, calling him a "nasty" person who is operating under a legal cloud over his constitutional ability to serve as president because of his Canadian birth.

He said Cruz was a "nervous wreck" over his eligibility to be president.

As he tries to close the deal in Iowa, Trump's vanity, combativeness and outrageousness continue to draw very mixed reactions from Iowa voters.

"I think we would be in trouble if (Trump) gets in. I think he's got too big a mouth," said a GOP voter who came to see Rubio, Barbara Miller. "I think he's smart and I think he knows a lot because he's been around. But I just think he needs to stop and think before he says some of the dumb things he says."

Another woman at the Rubio event, Carla Madsen, was flabbergasted by Trump's recent comment that, "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters."

Said Madsen: "Wow! Who does he think he is?"

She lamented that Trump can seemingly get away with saying almost anything.

But many Iowa Republicans remain on the fence about Trump. Amy Snyder of Marshalltown went to see Trump campaign with Sarah Palin last week.

"It was epic," she said of the event.

"I know he rubs a lot of people the wrong way, but he says a lot of things that I like, too. ... It's kind of nice that he's not so careful all the time, but then he puts his foot in his mouth sometimes," Snyder said.

And even some Trump supporters admit to mixed feelings, saying the positives (a bluntness and candor that signal strength to them) outweigh the negatives (lack of tact or restraint).

"I can't say it doesn't bother me at all, but I kind of think part of the reason why he doesn't have to spend a lot of money is because of those jabs he throws in there. It's a magnet for the media. I kind of understand that's part of his tactics. Some of them are a little extreme for me, (but) nobody's perfect," said Chris Smith, who described himself as a traditional Democrat who is unhappy with that party's support for gun control. He plans to caucus for Trump.
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A public interest law firm filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Natural Resources, alleging unreasonably long delays in responding to public records requests.

Midwest Environmental Advocates said in one case, it has been waiting for more than 10 months for the DNR to provide records it asked for, although in this case, the firm said it learned recently it had missed a payment deadline for processing the records.

In another case, the law firm said it has waited more than seven months for records.

"We've experienced too many instances where records requests have been unreasonably delayed," Tressie Kamp, an attorney for the law firm, said in a statement. "Now we and many of our partners in communities across Wisconsin feel that the trust that is inherent in the open records laws is misplaced."

Midwest Environmental Advocates filed the suit in Dane County on Monday, alleging the agency violated state law governing open records by failing to timely respond to records requests and not turning over the documents sought.

The records were related to regulation of microscopic air particles, wetland permits and information on large-scale dairy farms known as concentrated animal feeding operations.

The firm said it filed the suit to resolve the cases but also to highlight what it said was an emerging pattern of delays in honoring record requests from citizens, nonprofit groups and the media.

In the farm cases, the law firm asked for permit records on June 3. After an inquiry from the firm, the DNR acknowledged receipt of the request more than four months later  on Oct. 26. The law firm has received no further correspondence from the agency.

In a request for records on regulation of particle pollution, the law firm submitted an open records request on Aug. 19. The DNR acknowledged receipt on Nov. 10 and asked that the firm narrow the scope of the request. The law firm complied in an email eight days later but has received no other response from the agency.

In the longest-running case, the law firm asked on March 9 for information related to wetlands permits for several projects, including an oil pipeline project running the length of the state and We Energies' Oak Creek power plant.

On April 24, the DNR acknowledged receipt of the request and asked for $162.50 for costs associated producing the documents. On June 29, the law firm paid the DNR, but the agency did not acknowledge receipt of the payment, did not produce the documents and did not respond to the firm on the status of its request.

Calls and emails by the law firm to the agency went unreturned until Sept. 9. The firm called the DNR again in December and received a response on Jan. 12 that because payment was received after the May 24 due date, the case had been closed and all documents were returned to staff.

In a statement, spokeswoman Jennifer Sereno of the DNR said: "DNR takes its responsibility to state open records very seriously, each year processing thousands of requests. We are reviewing the complaint but would not comment on pending litigation."
Brooks says judge can't 'tell him what to do' on Day 13 of Christmas Parade trial
Defense attorneys Jerome Buting (from left) and Dean Strang and prosecutor Thomas Fallon confer with the judge during Steven Averys 2007 murder trial in Chilton. Credit: Journal Sentinel files

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The lawyers who defended convicted killer Steven Avery in his trial in the death of 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach will discuss the Netflix documentary on the case at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee.

The moderated discussion with attorneys Dean Strang and Jerry Buting is scheduled for 8 p.m. March 18, with doors opening at 7 p.m., according to a news release from the theater.

Tickets for the event are $45.50 and go on sale at noon Friday, according to the release.

Avery, 53, was convicted of killing Halbach in 2005 in Manitowoc County and sentenced to life in prison.

The Netflix documentary "Making a Murderer" has renewed debate over Avery's guilt.

Since the airing of the documentary Avery has filed an appeal of his conviction.

Just announced: A conversation on Making a Murderer w/ Attorneys Dean Strang & Jerry Buting https://t.co/rf9EOVYc1e pic.twitter.com/Woipx7Ys3N  Pabst Theater Group (@PabstTheater) January 26, 2016
FDA falls short on safety checks on disposable wipes makers

This report was originally published on Dec. 27, 2011, as part of the series "Shattered Trust."

Five years ago, whistleblowers sent a letter to federal regulators warning that contaminated baby wipes were streaming out of an Arkansas factory - and the Wisconsin-based owner wasn't telling the government or the public.

The two employees wrote to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that Sheboygan-based Rockline Industries knew of the contamination but continued to ship potentially dangerous wipes to "the hands and bodies of thousands of Americans."

They even warned that plant officials had a code phrase they would broadcast over the intercom - "Judy Life to the front desk" - in the event of a surprise inspection.

Two weeks later, on Nov. 7, 2006, an FDA investigator arrived unannounced and found problems including faulty product testing and poor sanitation. Company records show customers had been complaining about mold and foreign objects in the wipes, such as a dead cockroach and razor blade.

Rockline, which makes wipes for retailers under different brand names, announced a nationwide recall later that month of 20 brands of potentially contaminated baby wipes but said they posed little risk.

FDA test results soon came back, proving the suspect wipes were contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia, a bacterium that poses a health risk to anyone with a compromised immune system. The levels were thousands of times higher than FDA and industry guidelines, enough to sicken anyone, even those with healthy immune systems, experts told the Journal Sentinel.

"I wouldn't want to use a wipe with organisms at that level, especially on a baby," said Charles Gerba, a microbiology professor at the University of Arizona and a member of an FDA advisory board.

Industry experts contacted by the Journal Sentinel say the sky-high levels suggested poor manufacturing practices, filthy conditions or both.

The FDA took no enforcement action.

Internally, Rockline worked to find and punish the person top executives referred to as "the mole," doing handwriting analysis and considering DNA samples and fingerprints of workers, records filed in court show.

Now, the same plant is in the midst of recalling the same product, again because of contamination. The FDA has returned and found fresh problems, but once again hasn't taken any enforcement action.

And the public knows even less about this recall.

Rockline, one of the largest makers of baby wipes and coffee filters in North America, is the second Wisconsin company - and the third nationwide - to launch recalls of potentially contaminated wipes this year.

The Hartland-based Triad Group was raided by federal agents in April and recalled sterile alcohol wipes used in hospitals and other products. The FDA has received reports of 11 deaths and hundreds of illnesses possibly connected to the use of Triad wipes.

New York-based Professional Disposables International is in the midst of its own recall of alcohol prep wipes because of bacterial contamination. A review of case files and an analysis of the FDA's inspection database by the Journal Sentinel shows lax manufacturing practices by the wipes manufacturers, shoddy oversight by the FDA and a failure by anyone to adequately notify the public of health risks.

While the disposable wipes industry has grown rapidly, churning out everyday products that millions use in hospitals and at home, the nation's public health watchdog has not kept up.

The Journal Sentinel found:

 The FDA has not inspected several thousand drug and device makers in at least five years, and hundreds of plants have not seen an inspector in a decade. Despite the whistleblower's warning and serious problems found in the Arkansas plant, Rockline's flagship plant in Sheboygan was last inspected in 1992. FDA records show Rockline's plant in south China and products shipped from there have not been inspected. By law, both plants are supposed to be inspected every two years.  FDA inspectors found problems at Rockline's Arkansas plant in 2001, in 2006 and again in June - sometimes in the same areas - but the agency did not take enforcement action.  An FDA inspector overlooked key problems in the Arkansas plant in 2006. A bacterium that can cause toxic shock syndrome was listed in company lab results, but not noted in FDA reports. The inspector also failed to note customers had complained about foreign objects in the wipes.

No serious injuries or illness have been definitively linked to the contaminated wipes. However, the only public notice of the current recall has been an item buried deep in the FDA website. If people were sickened, they may not have known the cause.

Rockline officials said they put consumer safety first and denied they knowingly shipped contaminated products. They said as soon as they knew there was a problem they took action. If the problems were serious, they said, the FDA would have taken action.

Rockline president Randy Rudolph says the company has a strong track record for making safe products, and that the problems in Arkansas were an anomaly that led to improvements at all of its plants.

"We are all about doing the right thing, and it's the reason we are having success with our major customers," he said. "I am damn proud of what we do here."

More: How data was gathered for this report

Rockline History

Rockline founder Ralph Rudolph, father of Randy, was a pilot for the German military during World War II before he immigrated to the United States after the war, by his own account. He worked as a janitor when he arrived, later rising to vice president of a Sheboygan-area factory before the plant moved and he was laid off.

Unemployed at 54, he started Rockline in 1976 with a focus on coffee filters. By the mid-1980s sales flattened, but stores soon asked the company to get into a promising new market: Disposable wipes.

In 1989, the family-run company bought a plant owned by Midwest Converting in Springdale, Ark. The plant made moist towelettes and baby wipes for private label customers. Rockline produced the products for others, including Wal-Mart and Roundy's.

Over 15 years, the Arkansas plant expanded from a $5 million-a-year operation to one that brought in more than $150 million in revenue, according to court documents.

The company eventually expanded to six plants - four in the United States, one in China and one in England - and raced to the forefront of a billion-dollar industry. The Sheboygan plant added baby wipe production in the 1990s and now has 700 workers. It recently announced a $10 million expansion.

There have been no recalls of products made in the Sheboygan plant, according to FDA records.

The last time FDA was in the Sheboygan plant was 1992, according to agency records - and that was a mistake. An FDA inspector went to Sheboygan in response to a complaint about wipes made in Arkansas. A report said company leaders knew little about wipes, three years after acquiring the Arkansas operation.

"Randy Rudolph said neither himself or anyone else at the Sheboygan plant are familiar with the baby wipe products or formulas," the 1992 FDA report read.

Patchwork Of Rules

Disposable wipes are used for everything from combating infectious diseases to cleaning up household messes. Demand for wipes, both consumer and industrial, is forecast to top $2.3 billion in 2014, up from $1.4 billion in 2004.

But as their popularity has surged, the FDA is saddled with a patchwork of rules.

Wipes labeled as sterile are required to be free of bacteria and are classified as drugs, used to treat or prevent diseases. That's because they can come in direct contact with wounds, bloodstreams and spinal fluid. They are tested prior to going on the market, and production plants are supposed to be inspected by the FDA every two years. Wipes also can be considered devices if they are included in an injection kit, for instance.

Non-sterile wipes are not subject to clear bacteria limits but are regulated as a drug if they are anti-bacterial. They are typically used for tasks such as wiping down countertops and cleaning hands.

Other non-sterile products, such as baby wipes, are regulated as cosmetics and are subject to less oversight. When it comes to baby wipes, Congress has left the FDA largely toothless.

Federal law says a cosmetic must not be "adulterated" - meaning made in unsanitary conditions - or have high levels of organisms on it.

The agency can take legal action against a company in such cases. But the law does not spell out what conditions or organism levels are violations, leaving each company to set its own standards, microbiologists said.

"Wet wipes are not well-regulated, which has shown itself to be a problem as they are difficult to preserve as a product and difficult to manufacture in a sanitary manner," said Scott Sutton, a New York-based microbiologist who has worked as a consultant to cosmetic manufacturers for 25 years.

Baby wipes are made from non-woven paper material that is soaked in water, with a small amount of sanitizer and preservative. When packaged and sealed, it creates a ripe environment for bacteria growth once contaminated.

Companies are not required to report contamination but are encouraged to notify the FDA of a recall. The agency cannot order a recall of wipes - sterile or not.

Congress requires the FDA to inspect drug firms every two years, but the Journal Sentinel found that roughly 1,400 drug-making locations have not been inspected in five years or more. FDA officials, who did not dispute the findings, said they focus limited resources on plants that pose the most risk to the public.

As for cosmetic manufacturers, registration is voluntary, and the FDA has no mandate to track or inspect the plants.

FDA manuals suggest examining cosmetic firms that make "high-risk" products such as those used on infants, because they pose "the greatest potential health hazard if they become contaminated with bacteria."

Customer Complaints

In 2001, an FDA investigator visited Rockline's Arkansas plant after learning the company was recalling baby wipes because of bacterial growth, agency records show. The company pledged to do a better job keeping the plant clean.

The FDA did not check that promise until 2006. It returned only after receiving the whistleblower letter.

The whistleblowers were ultimately fired. A subsequent lawsuit provided a rare view into the wipes maker's operations by making public a series of internal Rockline documents.

Those documents show Rockline was receiving a stream of customer complaints about mold in 2006.

"This is a very serious situation, and we need to respond immediately to insure (sic) the manufacturing of safe product until we can isolate the exact cause of the contamination," a company memo to the production team read.

Around that time, customers reported finding a razor blade, tape and dead bugs in the wipes. There also were reports of rashes and infections possibly due to the wipes.

Randy Rudolph, the company president, told the Journal Sentinel that mold and bacteria sometimes grow on wipes, if a worker touches the material with a bare hand, water drips from a roof leak or an insect flies through an open plant door.

"You just can't control everything unless maybe it's a sealed plant that is building microchips," he said.

Report Of Bacterium

In September 2006, Rockline received a report from its outside lab that there was Burkholderia cepacia on its wipes, according to the company records.

That bacterium threatens people with compromised immune systems, is antibiotic-resistant and can live even in alcohol solutions, according to Dave Warshauer, chief bacteriologist at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene.

Potentially contaminated wipes were making it to market because the company routinely shipped them before the results of lab testing were available, according to FDA and company documents. Experts said it is very unusual to ship a product before receiving test results.

"I can't imagine releasing without testing," said Phil Geis, a microbiologist who retired after three decades with Procter and Gamble. "You would lose control."

The company received positive results of four different bacteria in September and October 2006, yet no recall was launched and no customers were notified, according to FDA reports and company documents.

Sam Wilson, the plant's human resources director, and Teri Jacques, who worked for him, were alarmed that the company was not telling anyone about the contamination. They sent the whistleblower letter to the FDA in October 2006. They also sent it to Rockline's wholesale customers.

A spokesman for Rockline told the Journal Sentinel the initial test results were contradictory but once the company saw there was a problem, it notified customers and the FDA.

A company official contradicted that statement, saying in sworn testimony that Rockline never notified the FDA of the 2006 recall, court records show. He noted the law did not require it.

FDA records show the agency learned of the contamination from the whistleblower letter, and the FDA didn't know the company was doing a recall until its unannounced inspection.

FDA inspector Janice Hickok arrived at the Springdale, Ark., plant on Nov. 7, 2006 - two weeks after the whistleblower letter was sent.

She was allowed to look at complaints and lab reports but was blocked by plant officials from copying them.

Rockline spokesman Evan Zeppos said Hickok was not allowed to make copies because of a policy that only employees can use company equipment such as a copy machine.

That kind of defiance has landed other companies in trouble with the FDA, according to Marcia Crosse, head of health care for the General Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress.

"That is unusual and would likely be cause for heightened alarm at the agency," Crosse said.

Yet the agency took no enforcement action.

Behind the scenes, plant manager Joel Slank tried to thwart the inspector, according to his assistant.

"I heard Joel Slank on his phone in his office ordering someone at an off-site warehouse to get rid of and destroy that contaminated product before the FDA found where it was located," Pam Ogden said in a deposition taken for one of the whistleblower lawsuits.

Ogden, Slank's assistant, was fired with Wilson and the other whistleblower after they were accused of violating the company's email policy by making unprofessional comments about supervisors. Ogden would only say in a phone interview that everything in her deposition was true.

Hickok wrote in her inspection report that the firm used tap water without additional filtration or treatment. Experts said using plain tap water could contribute to contamination. But there are no rules governing baby wipes manufacturers, only suggestions.

Hickok told the company in November 2006 to cover the assembly line to avoid contamination. Managers said conveyors were not covered at other plants in the industry and refused.

Company records showed a more virulent bacterium, Staph aureus, was found on Rockline wipes twice in 2006. A form of Staph aureus was implicated in the toxic shock syndrome that sickened and killed women through contaminated tampons in the 1970s.

But FDA documents do not even mention that bacterium. It was listed in Rockline's internal lab results - which the inspector could not copy. The company's lab results were entered in court records through one of the whistleblower's lawsuits.

The FDA test of Rockline wipes revealed levels of a different bacterium, Burkholderia cepacia, that microbiologists interviewed by the Journal Sentinel called "gross contamination."

While federal law does not set a maximum, the FDA has said a cosmetic should not contain an excessive level of bacteria. It quotes industry guidance, which says baby products should not have more than 500 microorganisms per gram.

The Rockline baby wipe tested by FDA showed 97 million to 190 million parts per gram - thousands of times over that recommended level.

"That is profound," Geis said. "It is about as high as you can get."

Experts said such a high contamination level qualifies as "adulterated," a violation of the cosmetics law. And it could sicken a healthy person, not only someone with a compromised system.

"That is filthy," Sutton said. "It was either manufactured filthy or it is inadequately preserved and allowed low numbers of microorganisms to grow to unacceptable levels."

Zeppos said the Arkansas facility was clean. And he said the plant's use of tap water and its policy to ship before receiving test results were accepted industry practices, despite what the experts told the Journal Sentinel.

"If we were filthy, we would be shut down," he said.

Zeppos said the bacterium levels listed in the FDA test were artificially high because of testing techniques. Microbiologists told the Journal Sentinel that regardless of the exact level, the FDA test indicates the product was adulterated.

"Whether 97,000 or 9.7 million, it is just not relevant," said David Steinberg, a microbiologist and industry consultant who works for Rockline . "It is contaminated. It is a cause for concern."

Zeppos acknowledged problems in the Arkansas plant in 2006 but said the company took swift action.

"We have a strong track record at Rockline that when we make mistakes, we do our lev elheaded best to solve them," he said. "When we find them, we spend millions to fix it."

Ron Johnson, a former FDA official hired by Rockline in the whistleblower lawsuit, told the Journal Sentinel that the company acted correctly during the 2006 recall. He said it was the first major recall in the country of baby wipes for bacteria.

"This episode was problematic. There is no doubt about that," he said. "This occurred and the industry said, 'We need to tighten things up.' "

Hunt For Whistleblowers

As the FDA investigated Rockline's 2006 contamination, the hunt was launched in the Arkansas plant for the whistleblowers.

Ralph Rudolph, the company's founder, told executives to spend whatever money they had to, "as long as we find the 'mole,' " according to an email sent to Wilson, one of the whistleblowers.

Wilson wrote back that the private investigator hired by Rockline had interviewed employees and done handwriting analysis and computer searches. Fingerprinting and DNA swabs were next.

Wilson asked if it was legal to take DNA and wondered in an email what Wal-Mart would think.

"Should we not be more focused on fixing the quality issues and the rest will take care of itself?" he wrote.

Wilson and Jacques were fired in early 2008. Both sued in federal court.

Wilson, 68, who worked at Rockline for 15 years, contended in his lawsuit that he was fired because he was a whistleblower and also because he was old. A jury found in Wilson's favor last year, on both complaints. He received $72,000 in back pay and insurance costs. He could not sue under the federal whistleblower law because he worked for a private company. Under Arkansas law, he was not allowed to sue for punitive damages. Jacques' case is pending.

Wilson could not be reached for comment.

Randy Rudolph told the newspaper that Wilson was an unstable man who tried to hurt the company, and his letter to FDA was riddled with inaccuracies.

"Sam Wilson was a very disgruntled employee," Rudolph said. "I would not put stock into his comments."

New Recalls

In 2007, Rockline issued a new recall of wipes from the Arkansas plant, FDA documents show. No FDA inspector returned to the plant.

Rockline recalled wipes from its China plant in 2010 because they did not have enough preservative and listed no expiration date. FDA has the authority to inspect overseas operations if their product comes to the U.S., but no inspection has been performed, according to agency records.

In March 2011, the company again found bacterial contamination on wipes made at the Arkansas plant.

The company notified the agency it was recalling 18 brands of wipes, including Wal-Mart's Equate and Roundy's Baby Wipes, because of possible contamination with Enterobacter gergoviae, a bacterium experts said is associated with fecal matter.

In response to the recall, the FDA arrived at the Springdale plant last June, its first visit since 2006. The plant had added an in-house lab and treatment of its tap water.

An FDA report noted that company leaders thought sanitation problems were to blame for the current contamination. The inspector also found the plant was not investigating complaints and making basic errors in testing.

Zeppos said all the problems have been addressed.

Rockline has not alerted the public about the latest recall. Zeppos said the FDA told the company a news release was not necessary.

Kim McCarthy, a Kenosha County mother of a baby girl, unknowingly used two of the products on the current recall list. She said the recall should have been widely publicized.

"Contamination doesn't seem like something I should have to worry about, but obviously there is cause for concern," she said. "We give these companies our business, and we trust they are putting out a safe product."

Ben Poston of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

John Diedrich is an investigative reporter whose work has revealed injustices and wrongdoing including hospital policies that turn away ambulances, federal agents whose flawed undercover gun-buying stings took advantage of those with mental disabilities, and fight officials who failed to protect an amateur kickboxer who died in his first bout. Diedrich, who joined the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff in 2004, has been recognized with numerous national journalism honors, including a George Polk Award and a National Headliner Award for public service journalism. He is a Milwaukee native and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.



Email him at is an investigative reporter whose work has revealed injustices and wrongdoing including hospital policies that turn away ambulances, federal agents whose flawed undercover gun-buying stings took advantage of those with mental disabilities, and fight officials who failed to protect an amateur kickboxer who died in his first bout. Diedrich, who joined the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff in 2004, has been recognized with numerous national journalism honors, including a George Polk Award and a National Headliner Award for public service journalism. He is a Milwaukee native and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.Email him at jdiedrich@journalsentinel.com ; follow him on Twitter: @John_Diedrich

Rick Barrett is a business reporter who covers agriculture, large manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, the telecom and defense industries, and other topics. Barrett's coverage of Wisconsin's struggling dairy industry received a 2019 National Headliner Award  his second. His work also has earned a Gerald Loeb Award for outstanding business reporting, a Barlett & Steele Award for investigative reporting, and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Society of Environmental Journalists, and the Association of Health Care Journalists. Barrett lives on a hobby farm near Appleton where he takes care of donkeys. He joined the Journal Sentinel in 2000.



Email him at is a business reporter who covers agriculture, large manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, the telecom and defense industries, and other topics. Barrett's coverage of Wisconsin's struggling dairy industry received a 2019 National Headliner Award  his second. His work also has earned a Gerald Loeb Award for outstanding business reporting, a Barlett & Steele Award for investigative reporting, and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Society of Environmental Journalists, and the Association of Health Care Journalists. Barrett lives on a hobby farm near Appleton where he takes care of donkeys. He joined the Journal Sentinel in 2000.Email him at rick.barrett@jrn.com and follow him on Twitter: @rbarrettJS
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By Hsain Ilahiane | (Informed Comment) |  

Arabs and Muslims Made and Are Still Making America Great: One came on foot, one with camels, and one brought Apple products to us.

Arabs and Muslims have been under clouds of suspicion and scrutiny since recent mass shootings in Paris, France, and San Bernardino, California. Populist politicians such as Donald Trump, along with a chorus of fretful conservative radio talk show hosts and social media commentators, have declared open season on immigrants and have unleashed a relentless barrage of vitriolic attacks and scorn on Muslims, Syrian refugees, and Hispanics. In a series of chilling rants against all things Muslim, Donald Trump and his supporters have proposed halting Muslims and Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.  The unsympathetic descriptions and images of Arabs and Muslims coupled with post-9/11 islamophobia and racism disingenuously exclude Muslims from belonging to the United States, purposefully dehumanize them, and misleadingly dismiss Arab and Muslim contributions to making America great. History tells us that Arabs and Muslims were and have been part and parcel of making America great since the arrival of European settlers to the shores of the Americas.

Accounts of three major figures who originate from Muslim North Africa and the Middle East are briefly profiled below; they embody the American experience, and changed America and the world. One came on foot with the Spanish conquistadores in the 16th century; one came with camels in the 19th century; and one co-founded Apple at the end of the 20th century. They are the Moroccan Estevan De Dorantes, explorer of the American Southwest; the Syrian Hadji Ali, the camel driver of the US Camel Corps in the American West; and the Syrian by descent Steven Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, respectively. The first two incarnated in some measure the beliefs of Manifest Destiny while the last one epitomized the tenets of the Californian Ideology.

Estevan De Dorantes: Moroccan-Spanish explorer and connector of the Old World and the Americas.

One of the most fascinating men in the history of the American Southwest was the Moroccan slave known as Estevan de Dorantes. Estevan was one of the four survivors of the Narvaez Expedition, which sailed from Spain in 1527 with the objective of conquering Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The survivors were stranded on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and soon captured by Native Americans. After eight years of slavery, the expedition members escaped and traveled west, across western Texas, through the southwestern borderlands, and arrived in Cualiacan, Mexico, in the spring of 1536. Three years later, Estevan led the first Spanish expedition to Zuni lands and was the first Arab (or Berber or Black) Muslim and non-Native American to set foot in present day Arizona and New Mexico (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Map showing the approximate route of Estevan De Dorantes, 1527-1539. Source: http://www.princeton.edu/~bsu/images/Estevanico2.jpg

Despite Estevans role in Spains age of exploration and imperialism in the Americas, historical accounts are silent about him except to note that he was a slave who accompanied Fray Marcos De Niza on his travels through the American Southwest. Nevertheless, Estevan remains an important figure in the social history of Pueblo Indians, and indeed figures in a legend shared by the Zunis and Hopis. Dennis Slifer and Jim Duffield, in their book Kokopelli, suggest that a connection between Zuni and Hopi is implied in the form that Kokopelli takes at the Hopi village of Hano. Here he appears as a big black man, known as Nepokwai, who carries a buckskin bag on his back. Even the kachina dolls of this figure are painted black. Nepokwai maybe based on the Moorish slave Estevan, who accompanied Fray Marcos De Nizas expedition. Estevan was stoned to death at Zuni for molesting their women. Additionally, Edmund Ladd, a Zuni anthropologist, wrote that Estevan was one of the first to see the Mississippi River, the first to contact the pueblo people and the first to die at the hand of the native peoplehis place in history is as important as Viceroy Mendoza, Coronado, or Antonio Espejo. (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Estevan Park, Tucson, Arizona. The park does not have a historic marker. Photograph by Hsain Ilahiane, 2016.

Hadji Ali, a.k.a. Hi Jolly and later as Philip Tedro: Syrian-American camel driver and connector of the American West.

The United States government experiment with establishing a camel corps began in 1855 when Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War and later president of the Confederacy, commissioned seventy-five or so camels to be shipped from the Levant (Middle East) for military purposes and expansion in the American West. Hadji Ali arrived in the United States in 1856 as a camel driver in the Jefferson Davis Fort Tejon Camel Corps experiment. Hadji Ali, born in Syria in 1828 and a veteran of the French Army in Algeria, was the first camel driver to be hired by the US Army to train soldiers in the ways of the camel and to lead the US Camel Corps experiment in the deployment of camels for reconnaissance and transportation in the Southwest. Soldiers whom Hadji Ali was assigned to teach about camels could not pronounce Hadji Ali, and they changed it to Hi Jolly. The name of Hadji Ali is Arab. The title Hadji is an honorific title given to a devout Muslim who has successfully completed pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj. In other social contexts, it may also refer to an elder since it usually takes time to gather funds for travel to Mecca (see Figure 3).

Figure 3. A replica of Hi Jolly memorial and a display showing Hadji Ali in Arab dress and a herd of camels in the Municipal Center and Library, Quartzsite, Arizona. Photograph by Hsain Ilahiane, 2015.

In its early years of operation, the camel corps proved successful. It connected dispersed settlements, opened communications between Texas and California and transported military equipment and supplies throughout the new Western frontiers. However, with the eruption of the civil war and the lack of government funding the camel corps experiment ended. In 1864, some camels were sold in California and Texas; others escaped into the wild. In 1870, Hadji Ali was dismissed from the US Army and bought two camels and ran a freight route between the Colorado River and the mining towns of eastern Arizona. His freight service failed, and he released his camels into the desert. In 1880, he became a United States citizen and in 1885 he served in the US Army in the Arizona territory and worked with pack mules for Brigadier General George Crook during the Apache wars, particularly the Geronimo campaign.

After retirement from army service, Hadji Ali settled down in Quartzsite, Arizona, where he prospected in the area using a mule, and occasionally scouted for the U.S. government until his death in 1902. In 1935, the Arizona Highway Department dedicated a pyramid-shaped monument to Hadji Ali and the camel corps (see Figure 4). The monument dedication plaque reads:

The last camp of Hi Jolly, born somewhere in Syria about 1828 / Died at Quartzsite December 16, 1902 / Came to this country February 10, 1856 / Camel driver  packer  scout-over thirty years a faithful aid to the U.S. government. Arizona Highway Department, 1935.

In the course of time, camels and the legend of Hadji Ali entered the myth of the American West and have spawned several novels, movies, tales, songs, plays, and ghost stories. Today, the Hi Jolly cemetery is the most visited site in Quartzsite, and every January 10, the Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce hosts a festival in honor of the Syrian camel driver,Camelmania: Hi Jolly Daze Parade.

Figure 4. Hi Jolly tomb and memorial, Quartzsite, Arizona. Photograph by Hsain Ilahiane, 2015.

Steven Jobs: Syrian-German-American innovator and connector of the global village.

While Manifest Destiny provided America with a moral justification to control a continent and to create what Jefferson called the empire of liberty, the proponents of the Californian Ideology fused information technology with capitalism to create and connect a global village of liberty. The Californian Ideology, which emerged in the Silicon Valley, refers to a melange of hopeful technological determinism with rugged individualism, libertarian politics, cultural bohemianism, and neoliberal markets. With the convergence of information and communications technologies in the 1990s, the proponents of the Californian Ideology celebrated the democratizing potentialities of information technologies and sought to establish a new Jeffersonian democracy as well as a global village where all will be empowered to express themselves freely and to extend the frontiers of freedom inside and outside cyberspace. While the Californian Ideology advocates harnessed the integrative powers of the Internet and mobile technologies such as the iPhone, they have qualitatively changed how people, corporations, and governments negotiate the boundaries of freedom.

Steven Jobs was born in San Francisco in 1955 into a Syrian-German family. He was adopted at birth and grew up in Mountain View, California, in what is today known as Silicon Valley. Jobs biological father, Abdulfattah Jandali, was born into a Muslim family in Syria. Jobs was a pioneer of the personal computer of the 1970s, a champion of the Californian Ideology, and a leading advocate of the emancipatory potentialities and effects of information technology (see Figure 5).

Figure 5. Steven Jobs fused information technology with capitalism and counterculture to create life changing technologies. Source: http://eandt.theiet.org/magazine/2014/01/new-utopias-for-old.cfm

Jobs was the co-founder of Apple Inc. and several other creative industries. With the Think different advertising campaign in 1997, he collaborated with industrial designer Jonathan Ive and developed a line of products that have fundamentally transformed how often people use technology and how people work, play, and connect with each other. These products include the iMac, the MacBook, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad, iTunes, the iTunes Store, the App Store, and Apple Stores. Walter Isaacson, Jobs official biographer, described him as the creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. (see Figure 6).

Figure 6. Banskys painting of Steven Jobs, Son of a Migrant from Syria at the Jungle Migrant and Refugee Camp, Calais, France, shows Jobs with a bag of his belongings and carrying a Mac Classic. Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/banksy-paints-son-migrant-syria-steve-jobs-refugee-camp-n478611

In conclusion, contrary to popular and simplistic portrayals of Arabs and Muslims as belonging outside American history and culture, the short accounts above of Estevan De Dorantes, Hadji Ali, and Steven Jobs indicate the embeddedness of Arabs and Muslims in the American experience. These pacesetters and risk-takers, each in his own way and in a creative composite of American and Arab-Muslim cultures, contributed to linking up dispersed places and regions across distance and to connecting people who inhabit diverse cultures and histories. Whether these acts of bringing people together take the form of trails and passageways of past centuries or the present-day information highways and circuits of the Internet, these trailblazers succeeded in pushing forward the frontiers of freedom and in extending the area of opportunity and possibility inside and outside the United Statesmaking the American Dream and way of seeing and being in the world reachable to all. Arabs and Muslims have had and continue to have profound influences on making America great from sea-to-shining-sea. Would America be the same if these three individuals had been denied entry due to their religion, ethnicity, or country of origin? The contributions of these three Arab and Muslim individuals represent only three select examples. How many are there and how many more could be?

Hsain Ilahiane, Anthropology, University of Kentucky
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

Russia is so far winning big in Syria, and making Moscows projection of force in the Middle East a reality that the other great powers have to recognize. As Russia has emerged as a major combatant against Syrian al-Qaeda and against Daesh (ISIS, ISIL), it is being accepted back into a Europe traumatized by two major attacks on Paris. France is signalling that it hopes to end sanctions on Russia over Ukraine by this summer. While the Minsk peace process is going all right, the motivation here is to ally more closely with Moscow against Muslim radicals in the wake of Russias successes against them in Syria.

Russias intervention in Syria last October was in many ways a desperate measure and a gamble. It is said that in mid-summer of 2015, Iranian special forces commander Qasem Soleimani flew to Moscow with a blunt message. The Syrian regime was going to fall if things went on the way they were going and Iran did not have the resources to stop it.

Vladimir Putin, still smarting from having lost Libya as a sphere of influence, was determined to stop the fall of Syria.

The regime of Bashar al-Assad has to control a y-shaped area and set of transportation routes if it is to survive. The Y is anchored at the bottom by Damascus, the capital. In its metropolitan area, given shifting population, live around 5 million Syrians who are afraid of the two major forces battling the regime, al-Qaeda (the Nusra Front) and Daesh (ISIS, ISIL).

The trunk of the Y stretches up to Homs and then veers off to the left, to the key port city of Latakia. The right branch of the Y goes up through Hama to Aleppo, a city of 4 million before the war, which is divided in half, with the west in the hands of the regime.

Controlling this huge Y where 70% of Syrians live is a tall order. It is vulnerable at several key points, of which the rebels have attempted to take advantage.

1. Deraa province to the south of Damascus is largely Sunni and rural and its clans could sweep up and take the capital, with Jordanian, US and Saudi support. If that happened, game over.

2. The Army of Islam, backed by Saudi Arabia, has strong positions besieging the capital just to its north. If it could come down into Damascus, game over.

3. If the rebels could take and hold Homs and Qusayr in the middle of the Y, they could cut Damascus off from resupply by truck from the port of Latakia.

4. If the rebels, who took all of Idlib Province in the northwest last April, could move west from Idlib and take Latakia, they could cut Damascus off from its major port and deny it ammunition, arms, even some foodstuffs.

5. If the rebels can move from south of Aleppo to cut off the road from Hama and strangle West Aleppo, they could take all of the countrys largest city, making it difficult for the regime to survive.

Along this Y set of trunk roads, the most effective fighting force has been al-Qaeda in Syria, which reports to 9/11 mastermind Ayman al-Zawahiri. This affiliate, called the Support Front or the Nusra Front, is formally allied with other Salafi jihadis in the Army of Conquest coalition and is tactically allied with many small groups in whats left of the Free Syrian Army. The CIA has sent medium weaponry, including T. O. W. anti-tank weapons to 30 vetted groups in the FSA, via Saudi Arabia. Many of these weapons have made their way into the hands of al-Qaeda and been used against regime tanks and armored vehicles to devastating effect.

So when Soleimani went to Moscow, it seemed that the road from Hama to West Aleppo had been lost and Aleppo would fall. Al-Qaeda had also made advances in the south, taking al-Sheikh Miskin just south of Damascus, and preparing for a push on the capital. Idlib had fallen and Latakia might well have been next.

So when Putin sent in his air force, it concentrated on protecting the red Y in the map above. It mainly hit al-Qaeda, the primary threat to regime control of the Y, but also struck at Free Syrian Army groups backed by the US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which were tactically allied with al-Qaeda. This move was necessary to defend the Y. It drew howls of protest from Washington, Ankara and Riyadh demanding to know why Russia wasnt instead targeting Daesh/ ISIL.

The answer was simple. Except at Aleppo and at a point below Hama, Daesh for the most part posed little threat to the Y. Al-Qaeda and its allies were the big menace, so Putin concentrated on them.

Air support to a determined local ground force can be an effective strategy. It worked for Bill Clinton in Kosovo. It worked for George W. Bush in Afghanistan in 2001, when the US-backed Northern Alliance handily defeated the Taliban. It worked again in March-April 2003, when US air support to the Kurdish Peshmerga guerrillas, allowed them to defeat the Iraqi Baath army in Kirkuk, Mosul and elsewhere in the north.

And so this strategy has been working for Putin. He appears to have rearmed and retrained the Syrian Arab Army, which has new esprit de corps and is making significant headway for the first time in years. It is of course aided by Hizbullah, over from Lebanon, and by a small contingent of some 2000 Iranian spec ops forces (many of them actually Afghan).

So what has the Russian air force accomplished?

1. It allowed the reopening of the road from Hama to West Aleppo, ending the siege of that regime-held part of the city and pushing back the rebels from it.

2. It retook most of Latakia Province, safeguarding the port. Yesterday came the news that the major northern al-Qaeda-held town of Rabia had fallen to the government forces, meaning that Latakia is nearly 100% in government control. These advances into northern Latakia involved hitting Turkmen proxies of Turkey, which is why Turkey shot down a Russian plane last fall. Likely the next step will be to take back cities in Idlib like Jisr al-Shughour, which fell last spring to an al-Qaeda-led coalition, and which could be used as a launching pad for the taking of Latakia port.

3. It strengthened regime control of Hama and Homs, ensuring the supply routes south to Damascus.

4. It hit the Army of Islam as well as al-Qaeda and Daesh around Damascus, forcing the latter two to withdraw from part of the capital and killing Zahran Alloush, leader of the Army of Islam.

5. It hit al-Qaeda and FSA forces in Deraa Province and yesterday the key town of al-Sheikh Miskin fell to the Syrian Arab Army. This is a Deraa crossroads and its loss affects the rebels ability to maneuver in this province.

The Russian air force, in conjunction with Syrian troops and Hizbullah and a few Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps fighters has therefore profoundly braced regime control of the Y where most Syrians live and along which the capitals supplies flow. If in July through September it appeared that the regime could well fall, and quickly, now al-Assads minions are on the march, pushing back their opponents.

It shouldnt need to be said, but I want to underline that the above is analysis, not advocacy. Be that as it may, in the past 4 months, Putin has begun winning in Syria, which means so has al-Assad. And the spillover effects on Russian diplomacy are huge.
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By Amanda Klasing, Senior Researcher, Womens Rights Division | (Human Rights Watch) |  

Nearly two years ago, the city of Flint, Michigan switched to a less expensive water source that turned out to be highly corrosive and led to lead poisoning of many children. Public outrage pushed the government to find a safer source, but the damage is done. Lead is pernicious. There is no safe level of lead exposure and pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable.

The full story of what officials knew and when they knew it is unfolding. The 274 emails released by the governors office last week reveal a trail of missed opportunities, or worse  the New York Times editorial board has called it depraved indifference.

Flint parents are left wondering whether their children will face a lifetime of struggle because they drank water the government claimed was safe. Its an ongoing nightmare, one Flint resident said in an email to Human Rights Watch

There is a human right to water, and there are also rights to information and health. The tainted water in Flint  and the governments failure to provide timely information about it to the public  is a human rights disaster.

Sadly, the United States cant seem to make up its mind about safe drinking water as a human right. It has supported United Nations resolutions on the right to water and efforts to realize the right in other countries. But it hasnt ratified the major treaty addressing the right to water and has distanced itself from the idea that the right could apply to US citizens.

Its long past time for the US to finally treat water like the human right it is. Government authorities at the national, state, and local levels need policies that both guarantee safe drinking water and ensure people have access to information. As Flint and other drinking water disasters demonstrate, failure to do so puts communities at grave risk.

Via Human Rights Watch



Related video added by Juan Cole:

WXYZ-TV Detroit | Channel 7: Attorney General launches investigation into Flint water crisis


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Fire engulfed a homeless shelter in south China's Shenzhen on Monday night, leaving three people dead and one injured, local authorities said on Tuesday.

The fire, which grew to 30 square meters, occurred at 10:45 p.m. Surveillance camera footage suggests the fire was started by a 31-year-old man who was admitted to the shelter on Sunday and suspected of having a mental disorder.

The fire was put out about 15 minutes later. One person is being treated for minor burns at the hospital.

Police have opened an investigation into the case.
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By Nader Habibi | (The Conversation) |  

Turkey has become one of Americas most vital partners in the Middle East in promoting stability and growth in the region and a key ally in the Wests fight against the Islamic State, or ISIS.

This is partly because of its status as the only majority-Muslim member of NATO, but also because at the start of the 21st century, Turkey began viewing its economic interests as the top priority of its foreign policy.

This helped deepen its diplomatic and economic relations with regional neighbors such as Iran, Syria and Egypt that previously were seen as adversaries or even security threats, thus enhancing its geopolitical significance for the U.S. and Europe. It also led to warmer relations with Israel, another key U.S. ally in the region.

But recent actions by Turkey  such as its downing of a Russian fighter in November  suggest its foreign policy is beginning to hum to a different tune, one that will not hesitate to confront a major economic partner over a border violation issue that could have been handled differently.

These developments raise questions about the role of economic priorities in President Tayyip Erdogans foreign policy. Is Turkey still a so-called trading state that puts economic interests first, or has it abandoned this type of diplomacy in favor of ideological and security objectives?

And what does this mean for its partners such as the U.S. as they try to defeat ISIS and bring an end to the almost-five-year-old Syrian civil war  not to mention the regions many other challenges?

These are the questions that have interested me as Ive been conducting research into the economic and diplomatic relations of Turkey with its Middle Eastern neighbors after the Arab Spring uprisings.

Rise of Turkey as a trading state

For most of its life as the Republic of Turkey  established in 1923  Turkish foreign policy was driven by geopolitical and ideological priorities that reflected the values and perceptions of the Kemalist secular elite.

There was little interest in developing close ties with Middle Eastern neighbors, and Turkey routinely aligned its foreign policy with the U.S. and Europe in the context of the Cold War.

That changed in the 1980s when new market-oriented economic reforms put a high priority on promoting export-oriented industries such as textiles and attracting foreign investment. For the first time, economic and trade interests received serious consideration in Turkish foreign policy.

Political instability and ethnic unrest in the Kurdish regions, however, reduced the significance of economic objectives in the 1990s.

The victory of President Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2002 reoriented Turkeys foreign policy toward economic goals once again, but even more so than before.

Zero problems policy

The AKPs foreign policy strategy was designed by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who believed that the top priority of Turkish foreign policy was to serve the countrys economic interests. He dubbed his approach zero problems foreign policy, which emphasized cooperation above confrontation.

Turkey looked at the rest of the world as either friends or potential friends.

Instead of viewing Russia, Iran and Arab countries as security threats, Ankara looked at them as potential export markets and energy partners. Good relations with Israel and the Arab world gave Turkey more diplomatic and economic weight in both sides. Similarly, Turkeys friendly relations with Iran and Western nations gave it some leverage in the recent nuclear negotiations.

Turkeys main business association successfully lobbied the government to improve diplomatic and economic relations with Iraq and particularly with the independent Kurdish region. Similarly, the Turkish Federation of Businesses and Industrialists convinced the AKP to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with Africa.

Russia, meanwhile, quickly became Turkeys second-largest trade partner after Germany  worth more than US$35 billion in 2013  and its largest supplier of natural gas. And the volume of trade between Iran and Turkey rose from $1.2 billion in 2002 to $21.3 billion in 2012.

By focusing on economic diplomacy, the AKP transformed Turkey into a successful trading state that was more mindful of not alienating international creditors or regional consumers of its exports than previous governments.

While this economic-oriented diplomacy served Turkey well for nearly a decade (from 2002 to 2010), a number of recent developments have cast doubt on whether Turkey is still a trading state, most recently its decision to shoot down a Russian jet fighter. And ties to Egypt and Syria have been severely strained by President Erdogans support for Islamist opposition groups.

Decline of economic diplomacy

While this more ad-hoc foreign policy remains focused on economic objectives in relations with many countries such as China, its more ideological and interventionist approach to others has come at a steep cost.

This new course was best demonstrated by Turkeys reaction to the Arab Spring uprisings that began in 2010. Immediately after the 2011 uprisings in Egypt, for example, Turkey sided with the demonstrators and Muslim Brotherhood and called on then-President Hosni Mubarak to step down.

These interventionist postures were surprising because they politicized Turkeys previous growing economic relations with Egypt. For example, a free trade agreement that went into effect in 2007 catapulted trade between the two countries to $4.1 billion in 2011 from under $1 billion in 2005.

Lucky for Turkey, the Muslim Brotherhood took the reins of power in elections in 2012, which led to a further expansion of trade. But just a year later, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi  whom Turkey vociferously opposed  toppled the government, leading to a decline in trade and investment.

Turkeys response to the Syrian uprisings in 2011 was similar. The affinity of AKP toward Islamist opponents of President Bashar Assad shaped Turkeys initial response to the uprisings despite strong economic ties that had developed during the zero problems era, when exports to Syria soared from $266 million in 2002 to $1.64 billion in 2010.

This support for Syrian rebels also led to the downing of the Russian fighter. The desire to protect the Turkmen minority of Syria from Russian attacks and frustration with Russian support for the Assad regime were somehow perceived by the Turkish leadership as being more important than economic relations with Russia (not to mention a nuclear power).

Whats behind the shift

Two important factors can help explain the new direction of Turkeys foreign policy in recent years.

First, over time the Islamists and conservative Muslims have gained more influence in the central committee of AKP and have demanded a more active intervention in support of moderate Islamists in other Middle Eastern countries.

This ideological shift has coincided with the AKPs ability to increase its influence over the judiciary, the armed forces and the media. As a result, the AKP has gained more control over both domestic and foreign policy while moving in this ideological direction.

Second, the stability and progress of Turkey during the zero problems era has boosted the confidence of the AKP leadership (particularly President Erdogan) in Turkeys unique position as the economic and political leader of the Middle East region.

This perception has encouraged the AKP to intervene in regional issues and even challenge major outside powers such as the United States and Russia. The combination of these two factors explains many of Turkeys foreign policy actions that have been costly for Turkish economic interests in recent years.

A costly trade-off in the long run

The AKP and any other Turkish administration, however, cannot afford to ignore economic diplomacy in the long run because the Turkish economy remains heavily dependent on foreign trade and investment.

And foreign policy thats driven more by ideology risks unsettling relations with some of Turkeys most important allies, such as the U.S. and the European Union.

Although a deal over Syria remains elusive, President Erdogans visits to Saudi Arabia late last year helped pave the way for the latters cooperation in talks to end the fighting there and elsewhere (as well as promoting more trade and investment). But incidents like the one with Russia jeopardizes such talks and cooperation.

In addition, Turkeys recent steps to normalize relations with Israel is also partly motivated by economic interest as Turkey considers importing gas from Israel. Better relations with Israel can give Turkey more regional influence as a stabilizing element in future Arab-Israeli flare ups.

Overall, Turkey still remains a trading state, but it has changed from reliably consistent trading state to an erratic and ad-hoc one in recent years.

It is now more likely than during the zero problems era that ideological and emotional factors will damage relations with a trading partner.

When this happens, the government will try to open new markets and engage in damage control. But as a result of occasional tensions with economic partners, Turkish industrialists and merchants will face higher political risks in their relations with foreign counterparts. And Turkeys allies will be forced to deal with a less predictable regional partner.

Nader Habibi, Professor of the Economics of the Middle East at the Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.



Related video added by Juan Cole:

Euronews: US: Joe Biden slams Turkey for poor example of freedom of expression
Shortly after New Year's Day, China's intensive involvement with the Middle East's "political whirlpool" attracted worldwide attention. All evidence suggests that China will play a more crucial role in the reconstruction of the political order in the Middle East.

A visitor takes photos during the "Chinese Lacquer towards the World" exhibition, an exhibition of lacquer art collection from China's Hubei Museum of Art held in Cairo, Egypt on December 15, 2015. [Photo: Xinhua]

It is worth noting that not all Middle Eastern media outlets are currently confident about China's Middle East policy. There is a view in the region that "given China's lack of experience in handling religious and political conflicts that are commonly seen in the Middle East, for China, the Middle East is full of risk." There are also voices accusing China of consistently leaving affairs in the Middle East to other permanent members of the UN Security Council. Such views are not uncommon in the Middle East. China needs to step up media campaigns targeted at the region.

In the early years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, China has handled foreign affairs on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence . Supplemented by economic diplomacy, the foreign policy emphasizes political and ideological differences. Since the period of reform and opening up, with economic development positioned as a central task, China's diplomacy has gradually shifted from emphasizing politics to growing the economy. It no longer draws lines according to ideology or social systems. As a result, China has kept a low profile in foreign policy and tried to avoid excessive ideological promotion. Compared with the Western powers' promotions of their values in the Middle East, China has benefited from its foreign policy, with barely any negative comments about China in the region. However, the low profile foreign policy has also hindered China's media campaign.

In recent years, guided by Chinese culture's "going out" strategy, the Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television and other Chinese media are actively expanding cooperation with the media platform in the Middle East. However, most of the media campaigns are about China's traditional culture, folk customs, social landscape and plain knowledge about political and economic cooperation between China and the region. There are no systematic explanations regarding China's domestic and foreign policy. Therefore, due to colonial history, the Western media has become a major source for local people in the Middle East to gain "in-depth" understanding about China.

With China's ever-growing influence in the Middle East, we need to talk more about the "China model." Rather than imposing our system on them, it represents a more in-depth and comprehensive self-interpretation to the outside world. The purpose is to reduce the doubt and misunderstanding about China.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
West Palm Beach, FL, 01/26/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/

Palm Beach DUI lawyer States FL Supreme Court to Rule on Punishment for Breathalyzer Refusal

Palm Beach DUI lawyer Attorney Andrew Stine discusses a pending Supreme Court decision about whether its constitutional to punish a driver for refusing a breath test

The Florida Supreme Court will answer a very important legal issue regarding DUIS in Florida. The Florida Supreme Court will decide whether or not it is constitutional to criminally punish a driver for refusing to submit to a breath-alcohol test, when the stopping officer conducting the breath test does not have a warrant to request the drivers breath be examined. Under Florida law, law enforcement officers and prosecutors have long taken advantage of Section 316.1939 of the Florida General Statutes, which is known as refusal to submit to a breath test.

Section 316.1939, refusal to submit to a breath test, provides in pertinent part that: (1) Any person who refuses to submit to a chemical or physical test of his or her breath, blood, or urine, as described in s. 316.1932, and whose driving privilege was previously suspended for a prior refusal to submit to a lawful test of his or her breath, urine, or blood, and: (a) Who the arresting law enforcement officer had probable cause to believe was driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle in this state, while under the influence of alcoholic beverages, chemical substances, or controlled substances; (b) Who was placed under lawful arrest for a violation of s. 316.193 unless such test was requested pursuant to section 316.1932(1)(c); (c) Who was informed that if he or she refused to submit to such test, his or her privilege to operate a motor vehicle would be suspended for a period of 1 year or, in the case of a second or subsequent refusal, for a period of 18 months; (d) Who was informed that a refusal to submit to a lawful test of his or her breath, urine, or blood, if his or her driving privilege has been previously suspended for a prior refusal to submit to a lawful test of his or her breath, urine, or blood, is a misdemeanor; and (e) Who, after having been so informed, refused to submit to any such test when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer or correctional officer commits a misdemeanor of the first degree and is subject to punishment as provided in Sections 775.082 or 775.083; 316.1939, Fla. Stat.

Under Florida law, by operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway, the driver consents by such operation of a vehicle, to allow for a test of their breath by law enforcement, when law enforcement believes the driver is under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that their BAC is greater than .08 or their normal faculties are impaired. For a quick rendition of the law, look at the bottom of your Florida Drivers License, it specifically states the law.

But with all 4th Amendment searches by the government, without a warrant, the consent to search by the citizen may be withdrawn at any time. For instance, a citizen under the protections of the 4th Amendment may consent to a warrantless search of their person, automobile, home or business by law enforcement officers, but may also withdraw the consent at any time. Thus, the search by law enforcement officers must immediately cease.

Well, the same argument is being made in the Florida Supreme Court in William Williams v. State of Florida, where Williams the driver was stopped for DUI and then refused to provide his breath sample for testing to law enforcement officers. Williams is arguing that while he may have given consent to provide a sample of his breath by using Floridas roadways and receiving a Florida Drivers License, he withdrew the consent to search when he was stopped by law enforcement officers for DUI and refused to provide his breath sample. Williams is right under the laws of America and Floridas Constitution. This is because, under the unconstitutional conditions doctrine, the government may not deny a constitutional benefit to a person, like the rights afforded under the 4th Amendment to be free of warrantless searches and a right to operate a vehicle.

Here Williams may consent to search of his person, by law enforcement officers who do not have a warrant, as all Floridians may under the 4th Amendment, but with the consent also comes the right under the same 4th Amendment to withdraw that consent at any time! So, this doctrine is very important because under the unconstitutional conditions doctrine, it vindicates the Constitutions enumerated rights, by preventing the government from coercing people into giving them up; in other words, what the state may not do directly, it may not do indirectly. This is exactly what the Florida breath consent laws through Florida judges, prosecutors and the Florida DMV have done for years.

The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, through its administrative powers, has dangled the carrot of a drivers license in front of the donkeys nose, the Florida driver, with the Florida driver giving away their 4th Amendment rights to be searched without a warrant, since the passing of Section 316.1939. This type of legislative giveaway of a Constitutional right to secure another Constitutional right or privilege is exactly what the unconstitutional conditions doctrine aims to prevent. Briefly stated, the unconstitutional conditions doctrine aims to prevent a citizen giving up one Constitutional right to get the benefits of another Constitutional right.

If the Florida Supreme Court decides on the side of the US and Florida Constitutions, and preserves the 4th Amendment through the unconstitutional conditions doctrine, then you will see a huge blow to the Department of Motor Vehicles, DUI prosecutions and law enforcement officers through the Sunshine State. Given the huge blow to the money grabbers of the Florida people, namely law enforcement officers; states attorney and the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, I will go out on a limb and report that the Florida Supreme Court will not do the right thing in William Williams v State and find that the drivers consent cannot be withdrawn because driving an automobile is a privilege and not a right. Remember its always about the money even when you dont think it is.

So, the 4th Amendment right to search the driver/person without a warrant, after probable cause has been established by the law enforcement officers that the driver is under the influence of alcoholic beverages will be held constitutional by the Florida Supreme Court is my guess. Therefore, it will remain legal in Florida to punish a person criminally for refusing to submit to a breath-alcohol test; when the officer conducting the test does not have a warrant to request that the drivers breath be examined under Section 316.1939.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for DUI, DUI with injury or property damage or DUI manslaughter in Palm Beach County, FL or throughout the State of Florida, contact West Palm Beach DUI lawyer Andrew D. Stine at 561 880 4300. Palm Beach DUI attorney Andrew D. Stine has been passionately defending DUI drivers for more than 13 years. Call today for your free consultation. Hire Stine or Do the Time!

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The terrorist group Islamic State is planning large scale Paris-style terror attacks, focusing primarily on Europe, the head of European Union's police agency Europol warned on Monday.

"The so-called Islamic State has developed a new combat style capability to carry out a campaign of large scale attacks on a global stage with a particular focus on targets in Europe," Europol's director Rob Wainwright told reporters in Amsterdam on Monday when launching a new Europe-wide counter-terror initiative, the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC).

Wainwright's warning was based on the key findings of an expert report released Monday by Europol on the November 13 Paris shootings.

The report stated that European states, and France in particular, may face another terrorist attack intended to cause mass casualties amongst the civilian population. The report warned that the threat from IS was the worst the continent has faced in more than 10 years.

Contrary to growing attempts to link terrorist threats to the influx of refugees into Europe, the report stated that "there is no concrete evidence that terrorist travellers systematically use the flow of refugees to enter Europe unnoticed". Wainwright ensured that Europol will use all expertise "in encountering illegal immigration".

The expert report warned that "IS terrorist cells currently operating in the EU are largely domestic and locally based" and implicitly suggested that European member states should do more to integrate immigrants as it assessed that "a real and imminent danger is the possibility of elements of the (Sunni Muslim) Syrian refugee diaspora becoming vulnerable to radicalisation once in Europe and being specifically targeted by Islamic extremist recruiters".

The ECTC will be an enhanced central information hub by which the member states can increase information sharing and operational coordination, focusing mainly on the 5000 European foreign fighters, according to Wainwright as they impose "most of the terrorist threat perpetrated in Europe today". Europol has detailed files on 3700 foreign fighters engaged in conflict zones.

According to the British counter terrorist expert many of the European foreign fighters "have returned back and pose a direct security threat".

"Our ambition is for the European Counter Terrorism Centre to become a central information hub in the fight against terrorism in the EU, providing analysis for ongoing investigations and contributing to a coordinated reaction in the event of major terrorist attacks," said Wainwright.

In a similar tone Ard van der Steur, Minister of Security and Justice of the Netherlands, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU, said the ECTC "will improve the exchange of information between law enforcement agencies. This is the kind of cooperation Europe needs in the fight against organized crime and terrorism".

Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, called the initiative "a major strategic opportunity for the EU to make our collective efforts to fight terrorism more effective". The Greek Commissioner, whose country is at the front line of the immigration crisis, called on EU member States "to cooperate and not to work in isolation".

By serving as a centre of expertise, the ECTC at Europol's headquarters in The Hague will focus on tackling foreign fighters, sharing intelligence and expertise on terrorism financing, online terrorist propaganda and extremism, illegal arms trafficking and international cooperation to increase effectiveness and prevention.

"It establishes for the first time in Europe a dedicated operation centre," Wainwright said. "We will be working to improve intelligence sharing and to maximize our capability to track terrorist financing."

ECTC will also monitor the way in which Islamic State and other extremist groups "are abusing the Internet and social media, in particular for their propaganda and recruitment purposes".

Although the creation of the centre was announced nine months ago, it was the Paris attacks conducted by terrorists mainly based in Belgium that highlighted the importance of information sharing among intelligence authorities and law enforcement agencies among EU member states giving new impetus for implementing the decision taken within the framework of Europe's new security agenda.

In the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris extremists took advantage of gaps in European intelligence as they plotted and executed the rampage that killed 130 people.

According to Europol's director the centre will aim "at improving the level and effectiveness of information exchange between the national authorities in the EU".

Europol experts are already helping the French and Belgian authorities to investigate the Paris attacks. According to the agency's director 60 officers have been deployed providing with thousands of leads relating to the financial and other activities of the suspects and their movements in Europe.
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Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hua Chunying urges Laos to investigate an attack on Sunday that killed two Chinese citizens at a daily press briefing on Jan. 25, 2016. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday urged Laos to investigate an attack on Sunday that killed two Chinese citizens.

Two Chinese nationals were killed and another injured in a suspected bombing in Xaysomboun Province of Laos on Sunday morning. One of the victims was an employee of a mining company from China's Yunnan Province.

"The Chinese embassy in Laos is paying close attention to the incident and has started an emergency response mechanism," said spokesperson Hua Chunying at a daily press briefing on Monday.

Chinese embassy officials maintained close communication with Laos, Hua said, adding that China demands prompt investigation into the attack and protection of Chinese citizens in Laos.

Xaysomboun Province is located in central Laos with a population of some 82,000. The mountainous area has seen a rise in violence recently.
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Iraqi airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) positions and hideouts killed 32 extremist militants on Monday, including two IS local leaders, security and medical sources said.

In Iraq's western province of Anbar, Iraqi warplanes carried out an airstrike on a house which was used by IS suicide bombers in Soufiyah district in the eastern part of the provincial capital city of Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad, a provincial security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

A suicide group leader, named Abu Humam, and six IS militants were killed, the source said.

Separately, another airstrike bombarded buildings housing IS militants in the IS-held town of Heet, some 160 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, leaving 15 militants killed and eight others wounded, a medical source from the town's hospital told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Also in the province, four IS militants were killed in artillery shelling by Iraqi army on an IS checkpoint in Huseiba al-Sharqiyah area, some 10 km east of Ramadi, the security source said.

The security forces captured downtown Ramadi from the IS on Dec. 28, but some small parts of the city has not yet been fully secured due to a large numbers of bombs planted by the IS.

For months, the troops have been fighting to retake control of key cities and towns in Anbar, the Iraq's largest province, from IS militants who previously seized most of Anbar and tried to advance toward Baghdad.

In Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, an army helicopter gunship bombed three IS vehicles in the desert area of Liyn, in west of the city of Samarra, some 120 km north of Baghdad, killing Abu Abdul-Aziz, head of IS intelligence in the province, and five of his aides, a provincial security source told Xinhua.

A recent UN report estimated that more than 7,500 people have been killed and 14,800 injured in 2015 due to the armed conflict in Iraq.
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City of Athens Mayor Yorgos Kaminis signed on Monday the first ever same-sex civil partnership in Greece, according to a press release from his office.

"Today is an important day for human rights," Kaminis tweeted, after wishing the best to the two men, a doctor and a teacher.

Kaminis, the first Greek official to ink such unions, signed a total of five registry office acts on Monday for same sex couples, according to the announcement.

The Greek parliament passed the relevant law which opened the way for same sex partnerships in December 2015. The assembly had voted on the bill which introduced civil partnerships for heterosexuals seven years ago.

Under the new legislation, same sex couples can sign cohabitation pacts the same way heterosexuals can. The new legislative framework acknowledges homosexuals as having almost equal rights with heterosexuals in civil partnerships.

Same sex couples were granted some pension and tax rights, but are still not allowed to marry or adopt children.
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A grand show performed by Chinese artists from the country's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was staged here on Monday evening, kicking off a two-week tour to mark China's Lunar New Year in Poland.

Featuring traditional poetry, music, dance, and acrobatics from the northern Chinese region, the show is part of the sixth edition of the Chinese Lunar New Year gala in Poland, which was co-organized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Embassy in Poland.

The gala was arranged to celebrate the arrival of the year of monkey according to Chinese zodiac. The Chinese Lunar New Year falls on February 8 this year.

In a message delivered to the participants of Monday's event, Polish President Andrzej Duda expressed his best wishes to people celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, in Poland.

The year of monkey - a symbol of dynamism, energy and courage - would mean that these features might accompany Polish-Chinese relations, which are developing very well, according to Wojciech Kolarski, Undersecretary of State in the Chancellery of the President, who delivered the message on behalf of the Polish President.

After Monday's show, the performing troupe is scheduled to visit five Polish towns in the next two weeks.
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China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) has signed a contract with Guinea to build a new hydropower station for the western African nation, the company announced on Monday.

The Souapiti hydropower plant on the Konkoure River will have an installed capacity of 450,000 kilowatts. The plant will not only meet the power demands of Guinea but extra electricity will be transmitted to neighboring countries.

The contract is worth 1.38 billion U.S. dollars and construction is expected to take 58 months.

The Kaleta hydroelectric power station, CTGC's first project in Guinea, saw its first generating unit going into operation last year. It will have a total capacity of 240,000 kw.

Established in 1993, CTGC is a clean energy group focusing on large-scale hydropower development and operation. It manages the Three Gorges -- a multi-functional water control system consisting of a huge dam, a five-tier ship lift and 26 hydropower generators in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.
"Moorim School" will conclude with 16-episodes, shortening its originally scheduled run.

On January 26, an official for KBS announced the programming change in a report published by the domestic outlet, Star News.

"Moorim School' will end its telecast from a 20-episode series to 16 and will be replaced by the original one-play with the working title, 'Babysitter," said the KBS spokesperson.

Star News cited the friction surrounding the supernatural drama and the production costs for the series, which continues to receive lackluster ratings, as motivating factors behind the decision to shorten its run.

According to statistics released by Nielsen Korea, "Moorim School" recorded 3.5 percent for its January 25 episode, drastically trailing MBC's "Glamorous Temptation" which received 12.5 percent in viewership and the rating juggernaut, "Six Flying Dragons," which yielded an audience percentage of 15.

Disappointing ratings for "Moorim School" follow a lackluster year for KBS dramas, with series like "Blood," "Sassy Go Go," "Assembly," and "Masked Prosecutor" yielding low viewership. "Producer," "Who Are You School 2015," and "Healer" were gems that stood apart from the fray of network flops.

Set within the fictitious Moorim Institute, the teen drama features an international cast in addition to leading stars Lee Hyun Woo, Hong Bin of VIXX and Seo Ye Ji.

It should be noted that "Moorim School" was one of the only KBS series to premiere in early 2016 that have not aired post-production.

KBS is paving the way for the post-production model with upcoming dramas like "Uncontrollably Fond" and Descendants of the Sun." Industry insiders have noted one of the major benefits to moving away from live shooting includes the ability for Chinese censors to screen the content of programs prior to purchasing them for simulcast on portals.

The series previously garnered attention for an alleged production stop, following a controversial scene which depicted stars Lee Hyun Woo and Hong Bin, burning yuan, the currency of mainland China.

Chinese netizens took to social media to respond to the scene, which came on the heels of a recent scandal involving Taiwan-born TWICE member Tzuyu and allegations that she was supportive of the separatist movement, which advocates for an independence Taiwan, as opposed to the "one-China" concept.
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John Bills, left, a former Chicago transportation official, leaves the federal building in Chicago, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, after a jury returned a guilty verdict on all 20 counts for taking bribes to steer $100 million in red-light camera contracts to Phoenix-based Redflex Traffic System. (James Foster/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2015 file photo, Effie Brown attends The Project Greenlight Season 4 premiere of "The Leisure Class" at The Theatre At The Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. Women and people of color have been complicit, at some level, in taking a back seat in Hollywood. Thats what film and television producer Brown told a rapt audience Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, at annual Women at Sundance brunch, saying, Somehow, we co-signed this. Somehow, we participated. (Photo by Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - In a April 13, 2015 file photo, actor Timothy Olyphant attends the screening for the television series finale of FX's "Justified" in Los Angeles. Olyphant will be starring in the comedy "Hold on to Me Darling," a comedy that will make its world premiere this spring at the off-Broadway Atlantic Theater Company in New York. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images, File)
FILE - In a June 9, 2006 file photo, actor-comedian Abe Vigoda attends the Friars Club celebrity roast of legendary comedian Jerry Lewis in New York City. Vigoda, whose leathery, sunken-eyed face made him ideal for playing the over-the-hill detective Phil Fish in the 1970s TV series `Barney Miller' and the doomed Mafia soldier in `The Godfather,' died in his sleep Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, at his daughter's home in Woodland Park, N.J. He was 94. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, File)
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(Kitco News) - Gold prices have been on the rise since the start of the year, and one precious metals research firm even sees the metal jumping back above $1,200 an ounce.

In a company webinar Tuesday, analysts from Thomson Reuters GFMS said they remain cautiously optimistic on gold in the year ahead, particularly in the first half of 2016.

We expect the gold price to average around $1,164 an ounce for 2016 as a whole, said Saida Litosh, senior precious metals analysts for the firm.

Gold prices have been on the rise since the start of the year in the midst of plunging equity and oil prices, as well as concerns over emerging market economies, particularly China. February Comex gold futures were last quoted up $12.90 at $1,118.20 an ounce.

Reasons behind GFMS relatively bullish forecast include a 5% increase in global demand, a decline in global supply, and a slower pace of tightening in the U.S. The market has been arguably pricing in four rate hikes this year, noted Litosh.

However, she said the Fed is likely to do only two small increases at most this year given the global economic uncertainty currently hurting the equity and oil markets.

She added that concerns of the slowdown in China and the negative outlook on the yuan will also help gold prices in the medium term.

When asked at which price point fund managers would further increase gold holdings, GFMS head of metals research & forecasts Rhona OConnell said it is hard to pinpoint an exact level.

Im not going to give you a price point  not because I cant but because there are other factors involved, she said during the webinar.

She added that movement into gold will likely happen once investors have perceived the market has bottomed out, noting that the attitude among fund managers right now is that they would rather lose the first 9% of an upward move than lose in a downturn.

So far this year, holdings in the worlds largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund SPDR Gold Shares (AMEX: GLD) have increased3.4% and stand at roughly 664.17 tonnes, year-to-date -- a level last seen in November.

By Sarah Benali of Kitco News sbenali@kitco.com

Follow me on Twitter @SdBenali
Gold At Nearly 3-Mo. High On Safe-Haven Demand

(Kitco News) - Gold prices are higher and hit a nearly three-month High overnight, on continued safe-haven demand and an improving near-term technical posture. World stock markets are mostly lower Tuesday, led by another rout in Chinese stock indexes. The Shanghai stock index fell over 6% on Tuesday and is now down 22% so far this year. Worries about the plunging value of the Chinese yuan and capital leaving the country are helping to fuel panic selling of equities in China, which in turn is leading to solid selling pressure in Asian equities markets and also spilling over into European and U.S. stock markets. By Jim Wyckoff, contributing to Kitco News; jwyckoff@kitco.com

Follow Jim Wyckoff @jimwyckoff

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

kitco news
OceanaGold Exceeds Guidance During Transformational Year

OceanaGold Corp. (TSX, ASX, NZX: OGC) says the company exceeded its 2015 gold-production guidance range with 419,153 ounces and achieved copper-output guidance range with 23,109 tonnes. The gold production was up 36% year-on-year. The company says it recorded unaudited all-in sustaining costs of $709 per ounce sold and cash costs of $458, both within guidance. Key events during the year were acquisition of Romarco Minerals, thereby taking ownership of the Haile gold mine in South Carolina, and acquisition of the Waihi gold mine in New Zealand from Newmont Mining. The company lists 2016 guidance of 385,000 to 425,000 ounces of gold at AISC of $700 to $750 per ounce. Mick Wilkes, president and chief executive, called 2015 a transformational year for OceanaGold. Through exploration, we have already demonstrated additional resources at Macraes along with solid results from Waihi," he adds. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com Centerra Gold Reports Fatality At Kumtor Mine Tuesday January 26, 2016 08:03 A fatality occurred at Centerra Gold Inc.s (TSX: CG) Kumtor mine in the Kyrgyz Republic. A mill employee was fatally injured while working on the night shift Sunday at the ore conveyor, the company reports. An internal investigation has begun, and the company says it is also cooperating with Kyrgyz authorities to determine the cause of the accident. "Centerra and Kumtor are deeply saddened by this event and extend our deepest condolences to the individual's family, friends and colleagues," says Scott Perry, chief executive officer. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

kitco news
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By Kitsap Sun Staff

PORT ORCHARD  A felon accused of punching the mother of his children in the face and threatening her with a pistol Friday evening in a residence near Brownsville Elementary School was charged in Kitsap District Court.

The 32-year-old allegedly assaulted the woman and made the threat and then fled on foot. Kitsap sheriff's deputies searched the area for about three hours using a tracking dog, eventually locating the man hiding in some bushes, wet and shoeless, according to the Sheriff's Office. Two bottles of whiskey were found, but no firearm was recovered. The school, which was hosting a magic show, went on voluntary lockdown during the search.

Reports say the man had intended to take his children to the magic show but was intoxicated and got into a fight with the mother and assaulted her. When someone in the residence began to call 911, the man allegedly produced a pistol and warned them not to call police, according to reports.

The man was charged Monday with first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. A live .22-caliber round was found on the running board of his vehicle, and when he was searched six more .22 rounds were located, according to court documents.
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By Ed Friedrich of the Kitsap Sun

BREMERTON  The Navy seeks to restore full living expenses for shipyard employees who work away from home for months at a time.

Last year, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard sent 3,055 workers on long-term temporary assignments, primarily maintaining aircraft carriers in San Diego and Yokosuka, Japan. Their average stint was 93 days.

While they were away, the Navy used to cover 100 percent of the cost of food and lodging.

A rule change in November 2014 kept the pay the same for the first 30 days, dropped it to 75 percent for days 31 to 180 and to 55 percent after that. The reduced rate is an incentive for workers to seek extended-stay lodging where they can cook their own meals because it's less expensive. It's expected to save the Department of Defense $22 million a year.

Naval Sea Systems Command, the parent command of PSNS and three other public shipyards, said the changes could wind up costing the Navy more than it saves and wrote last week asking for the changes to be reversed.

"This is jeopardizing the successful execution of off-station availabilities and costing the Navy more than the intended savings," said Vice Adm. William Hilarides, Naval Sea Systems commander.

It's difficult to find housing with food-preparation amenities in San Diego and Yokosuka. Even at 100 percent, the per diem rate isn't enough to cover daily expenses when the worker stays in a hotel and eats out at low-end restaurants. The $64 rate falls short by $5.44 a day, according to the letter.

If workers feel at risk of paying expenses out of their own pocket, they're less likely to volunteer. If not enough employees volunteer, workers with the least seniority are forced to go. This results in the most junior employees being sent to perform highly technical work, states the letter to the DOD's Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee.

Twenty percent of employees assigned to a six-month overhaul of the USS Carl Vinson were forced to travel to San Diego, Hilarides said.

Hilarides requested a permanent return to the previous policy of travel at the 100 percent per diem rate for all naval shipyard civilian workers supporting Navy ship maintenance. It would go into effect no later than Sept. 30. An immediate waiver would suffice until then.

U.S. Reps. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, and Walter Jones, R-North Carolina, introduced legislation in March to restore the compensation.

"This bill gives our shipyard workers some relief," said Kilmer, whose 6th District contains the shipyard. "It's only right that when we ask workers to leave their families for four to six months to help maintain our naval edge, we compensate them fairly."
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By Kitsap Sun Staff

PORT ORCHARD  A 28-year-old North Kitsap man suspected of cashing scratch-off tickets stolen from a nearby gas station was charged Monday in Kitsap District Court with possession of meth.

The Chevron station at Highway 3 and Big Valley Road was burglarized Thursday. At about 6:30 a.m. the same day, three Washington lottery tickets reported stolen were cashed at the Gliding Eagle store south of Hansville.

A Kitsap sheriff's deputy reviewed security footage from the store and with the help of employees identified the suspect.

The suspect was extradited from Port Gamble S'Klallam Reservation. When the suspect was searched, the deputy found more than 6 grams of meth and four narcotic pills in a cigarette pack, according to court documents.
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By Chris Henry

PORT ORCHARD  South Kitsap High School will host an information meeting about International Baccalaureate, a program of advanced course work, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The district is certifying Hidden Creek and Orchard Heights elementary schools, Cedar Heights Junior High School and the high school as IB World Schools. Advocates say the IB program offers rigorous classes that can open opportunities for students in higher education and beyond.

The meeting is geared for students now in eighth, ninth and 10th grades.

The high school is at 425 Mitchell Ave.
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Why did the white working class abandon the Democrats?

The conventional answer is that Republicans skillfully played the race card.

In the wake of the Civil Rights Act, segregationists like Alabama Gov. George Wallace led Southern whites out of the Democratic Party. Later, Republicans charged Democrats with coddling black "welfare queens" (the term gained traction during Ronald Reagan's 1976 presidential campaign), being soft on black crime (George H.W. Bush's "Willie Horton" ads in 1988) and trying to give jobs to less qualified blacks over more qualified whites (the battle over affirmative action).

The bigotry now spewing forth from Donald Trump and several of his Republican rivals is an extension of this old race card, now applied to Mexicans and Muslims  with much the same effect on white working-class voters, who don't trust Democrats to be as "tough."

But this doesn't tell the whole story. Democrats also abandoned the white working class.

Democrats have occupied the White House for 16 of the last 24 years and in that time scored some important victories for working families  the Affordable Care Act, an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Family and Medical Leave Act, for example. But they've done little to change the widening structural imbalances in the economy that have taken a huge toll on the working class.

Both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama ardently pushed for free-trade agreements, for example, but didn't provide the millions of blue-collar workers who thereby lost their jobs means of getting new ones that paid at least as well.

They also stood by as corporations hammered trade unions, the backbone of the white working class. Clinton and Obama failed to reform labor laws to impose meaningful penalties on companies that violated them, or enable workers to form unions with a simple up-or-down vote.

I was there. In 1992, Clinton promised such reform but once elected didn't want to spend political capital on it. In 2008, Obama made the same promise (remember the Employee Free Choice Act?) but never acted on it.

Partly as a result, union membership sunk from 22 percent of all workers when Clinton was elected president to fewer than 12 percent today, and the working class lost bargaining leverage to get a share of the economy's gains. The Obama administration also protected Wall Street from the consequences of the Street's gambling addiction through a giant taxpayer-funded bailout, but left millions of underwater homeowners to drown.

Both Clinton and Obama allowed antitrust enforcement to ossify  with the result that large corporations have grown far larger, and major industries more concentrated. And they turned their backs on campaign finance reform. In 2008, Obama was the first presidential nominee since Richard Nixon to reject public financing in his primary and general-election campaigns. And he never followed up on his re-election campaign promise to pursue a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United v. FEC, the 2010 Supreme Court decision that opened the floodgates to big money in politics.

What happens when you combine free trade, shrinking unions, Wall Street bailouts, growing corporate market power and the abandonment of campaign finance reform? You get an economic structure favoring the wealthy and a political system favoring the powerful, while workers without college degrees suffer declining real wages and dwindling job security.

Why didn't Democrats tackle the structural problems of the economy  in some cases making them worse? True, they faced increasingly hostile Republican congresses. But they controlled both houses of Congress in the first two years of Clinton and Obama's administrations.

In part it was because Democrats bought the snake oil of the "suburban swing voter" in the 1990s.

Meanwhile, as early as the 1980s, Democrats began drinking from the same campaign funding trough as the Republicans  big corporations, Wall Street and the very wealthy.

"Business has to deal with us whether they want to or not" crowed former Democratic Rep. Tony Coelho, then head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, when in the early '80s Democrats assumed they'd continue to run the House for years. Coelho's Democrats soon achieved a rough parity with Republicans in contributions from corporate and Wall Street campaign coffers, but it proved a Faustian bargain as big corporations and Wall Street gained increasing influence in the party.

Nothing in politics is ever final. Democrats could still win back the white working class, putting together a coalition of the working class and poor  of whites, blacks and Latinos. This would give them the political clout to restructure the economy.

But to do this, they'd have to stop obsessing over upper-income suburban swing voters and end their financial dependence on big corporations.

Will they? That's one of the biggest questions underlying the 2016 elections, and beyond.

Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich is Chancellor's professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies.
Bob Austin, Seabeck

Transit proposal undermines voters

Shame on Kitsap Transit for even considering a plan ("Transit Weighs Vote on Fast Ferries," Jan. 20) that clearly attempts to manipulate the results of an election by excluding voters from sections of Kitsap County which have in the past shown little enthusiasm for adding fast ferries to the current system.

Such a plan might be viewed more favorably if the citizens who are to be denied their vote were also to be excluded from the new fast ferry taxes, but Kitsap Transit, and those who manage it, know full well the excluded citizens do their shopping in areas of the county where the tax would be collected.

When government proposes cynical, if not arrogant, action such as that contemplated by Kitsap Transit in excluding a portion of Kitsap County citizens from their right to vote, our democracy is undermined. Is it any wonder so many American citizens hold our governmental institutions, politicians, lawmakers, and bureaucrats in such low esteem ?
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By the Kitsap Sun editorial board

The North Mason School District is asking voters to renew its maintenance and operations levy  and we recommend the community support the measure.

M&O levies are the unfortunate byproduct of the state's failure to fully fund education, and the local money pays for basics like building maintenance, classified staff and teacher salaries and computers in classrooms. A better scenario would have the state distributing all dollars for the basics, which is the Legislature's task to have implemented by 2018. We're all waiting for that action  particularly the courts that consider the Legislature in contempt for its lack of a schedule toward that goal  and in the meantime our system of individual districts using M&O levies is absolutely vital.

North Mason handled this renewal responsibly, not adding to the tax burden but renewing the levy at a constant tax rate, $2.36 per $1,000 of assessed property value for three years, and holding to a reasonable levy load of 18 percent of the operating budget. That's fair planning for property owners who foot the bill, and a sign the district can conservatively manage its spending. We strongly endorse a "yes" vote to renew North Mason's M&O levy.

The Kitsap Sun editorial board is Editor David Nelson; Opinion Editor emeritus Jim Campbell; and community members Martha Burke, Susanne Hughes, Bart Kale, Drayton Jackson and Jim Stark.
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JULIE WATSON, Associated Press

ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press



SAN DIEGO (AP)  The Navy said Tuesday an initial inspection at Naval Medical Center San Diego found no sign of a gunman or a shooting.

The disclosure came after military police had checked Building 26 after a person reported hearing three shots in the basement earlier in the day, Navy spokesman N. Scott Sutherland said.

The base remained on lockdown as authorities went from room to room and led personnel out of the facility.

TV images showed uniformed Navy personnel walking outside the medical facility. Their hands were in the air and they were being patted down by base police as a precaution.

School officials said a lockdown had ended and instruction has resumed at three schools near the medical center.

The Navy hospital previously said on its Facebook page that an active shooter was reported and people were told to run, hide or fight.

All non-emergency personnel had been asked to stay away from the area.

A dozen unmarked SUVs  some with flashing lights  entered the center through the emergency room driveway gate around 9 a.m. A San Diego County Sheriff's Department armored truck followed minutes later.

San Diego police Officer Travis Easter said police received a notification call from military police at 8:03 a.m. of shots fired but assistance was not requested.

Alvy Furlong, whose husband had surgery at the hospital last night, told KGTV-San Diego that a nurse came in and said to be prepared for possible evacuation.

"The doors are closed and locked," she said. "All of the windows have been covered."

Traffic backed up around the facility during the morning rush hour.

The 272-bed, multispecialty hospital and ambulatory complex is located on about 78 acres in the southeast corner of Balboa Park, about 2.5 miles from downtown, according to its website. Center staff is comprised of more than 6,500 military, civilian, contractor and volunteer personnel.

NMCSD personnel deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Djibouti and aboard the USNS Mercy, the website said. The facility is affiliated with 19 civilian nursing schools, training more than 400 students per year in clinical rotations.
Stuff reports:

Former Mediaworks journalist David Farrier should be tickled pink by the response to his debut documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.

Farrier, who recently left the broadcaster and his role on late night show Newsworthy, premiered Tickled at the prestigious Utah-based annual festival on Monday evening NZ Time.

A documentary that explores the world of competitive endurance tickling and boasts British comedian Stephen Fry as an associate producer, it has already received some impressive notices from renowned film industry magazines and websites.

Writing for Variety magazine, Dennis Harvey says that what sounds like a fun look at a particularly outre subculture turns out to be no laughing matter.

David Farrier and Dylan Reeves documentary traces the New Zealand duos investigation of an online tickling-video empire, behind which there lurks a monster of cyberbullying and litigiousness. An alarming cautionary tale about how easy it is in the Internet age to ruin peoples lives while hiding behind a cloak of anonymity, the pic boasts a humorously titillating entry hook that soon gives way to engrossing conspiracy-thriller-like content.

Predicting that the movie will sell well internationally, Harvey says the well-shot and tightly edited pic manages to maintain a sense of humour without belittling its subjects, and glimpses a somewhat gamey underworld without descending into a tabloid-style shocking expose. 

At times his [Farriers] perky narration, half indignant, half tongue-in-cheek, and the confrontational, hidden-camera style of some of the films investigative sequences, remind us of one of those exposes British comedian/journalist John Oliver used to do on The Daily Show before he became too well-known.

But theres something else going on in Tickled too, something a little more cinematic. Part of this is a portrait of a lost blue-collar America, a post-Springsteen world where young men from no-hope towns try to scrape some money together by letting themselves be pummelled in Mixed Martial Arts bouts  or being tied down and tickled, on camera. If that sounds a little reminiscent of Foxcatcher, at least in mood, it is.

Marshall predicts the film will find a cinematic release and revealed that Vendetta Films had already signed up to distribute the film in Australasia. No release date has so far been announced.
The Herald reports:

The car barrelling down a Japanese freeway with New Zealands transport minister on board lacked a driver. Instead of drifting into a side barrier, the state-of-the-art Nissan seamlessly changed lanes to overtake other cars.

Simon Bridges was joined by long-serving Ministry of Transport chief executive Martin Matthews for the ride in one of Nissans autonomous vehicle prototypes, during a visit to Japan last July.

There was a person in the drivers seat but not doing anything, and we were on a motorway and this vehicle was changing lanes and passing other vehicles, Matthews recalled.

The manufacturer said that vehicle will be on showroom floors in five years.

The hype around driverless vehicles and the revolutionary effect they could have has produced sceptics, and much remains unknown, including how the vehicles might operate in normal traffic.

But the Nissan ride impressed our top transport official, and his ministry is working out how radically the countrys transport system could change as technologies arrive.

In the US this week, the Obama administration proposed spending nearly $4 billion on driverless car development over the next decade.

Car-makers and safety regulators hope self-driving cars could eventually eliminate the 94 per cent of fatal crashes that involve human error. They also believe the technology could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and loosen gridlock.
Scott Boruff, former CEO of Miller Energy Resources, stands next to one of the companys oil pumps in Huntsville, Tenn., on Feb. 4, 2010. (Photo by Wade Payne, Special to the News Sentinel/File)

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The founder of the formerly Knoxville-based Miller Energy Resources and his wife are suing former President and CEO Scott M. Boruff, claiming Boruff borrowed $6 million from them and has not repaid it.

Deloy and Sharon Miller filed the lawsuit Dec. 4 in Knox County Circuit Court against Boruff, claiming that he still owes them $5.7 million from a $6.2 million promissory note that he executed with them on Aug. 10, 2012.

Boruff could not be reached Monday for comment.

"The Note requires the Borrower to repay 'the entire principal balance of this Note and unpaid interest' at the date of the Note's maturity," the lawsuit reads. The note reached maturity and became payable on Sept. 10, 2014, according to the suit. The note accrued interest computed daily at a 6 percent annual rate.

According to the lawsuit, Boruff made some payments on the interest of the note, but also requested additional distributions of principal.

Deloy and Sharon Miller are requesting the unpaid balance of the note, additional interest through the date of the court's judgment, and attorneys' fees and costs.

Boruff and Deloy Miller are themselves parties in a host of other legal actions involving Miller Energy's financial turmoil. The company, which was headquartered in Knoxville but is now based in Houston, is going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in Alaska.

Miller Energy shareholders Marcia Goldberg and Kenneth Gaynor have filed a lawsuit against the company alleging violations of securities laws. The lawsuit, assigned to U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan, names Miller, Boruff, and several other Miller Energy executives.

The lawsuit claims that Miller Energy financial reports issued from 2010 to 2015 were based on false valuation of the company's oil and gas properties in Alaska. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status for the lawsuit, claiming hundreds of investors were affected.

Their claims mirror similar charges that were brought against Miller Energy in April by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC alleges that Miller Energy overstated the value of its Alaska assets by more than $480 million, which artificially boosted the company's net income and total assets to turn a penny stock company into one listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Miller Energy announced in October that it had reached terms with Apollo Investment Corp. and affiliates of Highbridge Capital Strategies for a restructuring that would substantially reduce its debt and "preserve its going-concern value for all stakeholders."
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SEARCHING FOR BRANSONS

Art patrons who think they may own a painting by the late Knoxville artist Lloyd Branson are invited to a Jan. 30 event at the East Tennessee History Center.

The event was originally set for Jan. 23 but was postponed due to last week's inclement weather.

Branson created hundreds of paintings, from landscapes to portraits, during his long life. The Museum of East Tennessee History, 601 S. Gay St., is currently showing more than 50 Branson paintings in the exhibit " Celebrating a Life in Tennessee Art: Lloyd Branson, 1853-1925."

Branson was known for his portraits of East Tennessee's affluent and influential. He also created a number of paintings showing 19th-century rural East Tennesseans as well as large landscapes showing historic moments in Tennessee history. But no detailed record of his art exists. The East Tennessee Historical Society is conducting a survey of works associated with Branson, and the Jan. 30 event is an invitation to the public to help that effort.

Members of the public are invited to bring Branson paintings, photographs or other materials relating to him. Items will be photographed or scanned and included in a database of Branson's known work. The documentation goes on 10 a.m.-noon and 1-2 p.m. Jan. 30 at the history center. At noon, Andrew Hurst will conduct a brown bag lunch lecture and program on caring for paintings and other artifacts. The event is free.

DISCOUNT AT ARROWMONT

Residents of Sevier, Blount, Cocke, Jefferson and Knox counties will save 50 percent on tuition at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg. Arrowmont offers more than 160 weekend, one-week and two-week workshops. Choose from classes in clay, basketry, book arts, drawing, enamels, fiber, glass, metals, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, and wood or explore special topics including shoe making, banjo making, stone carving and more. Workshops are open to all skills levels.

Register before February 1st and save the $50 registration fee. For information or to register, visit www.arrowmont.org or call 865-436-5860.

DUCK AND COVER

Join Ijams senior naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales for a look at 15 species of duck that can be found in the waters around us during Ijams Nature Center's Quack-ology program at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31. Enjoy duck-themed munchies (maybe, cheese and "quackers") and then have a thrilling rubber duck race down Toll Creek to see which species is fastest (weather permitting). Fee is $5 for Ijams members and $8 for non-members. To register, call 865-577-4717, ext. 110.

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SHARE Brian Witham, 45, of Waterville, Maine, one of two men accused in robbery and kidnapping schemes at two area banks and a third in upper East Tennessee. The other man is Michael Benanti, 43, of Lake Harmony, Pa. (FBI/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS SENTINEL) Michael Benanti, 43, of Lake Harmony, Pa., one of two men accused in robbery and kidnapping schemes at two area banks and a third in upper East Tennessee. The other man is Brian Witham, 45, of Waterville, Maine. (FBI/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS SENTINEL) Brian Witham, 45, of Waterville, Maine, one of two men accused in robbery and kidnapping schemes at two area banks and a third in upper East Tennessee. The other man is Michael Benanti, 43, of Lake Harmony, Pa. (FBI/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS SENTINEL) Related Coverage Prosecutor: Pair hatched bank extortion plot in prison

By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

KNOXVILLE  An ex-con accused in a conspiracy to rob banks by holding bankers' families hostage will be arraigned today on a 15-count federal indictment.

Brian Witham, 45, of Waterville, Maine, is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Guyton in U.S. District Court for arraignment on an indictment returned against him and alleged co-conspirator Michael Benanti in connection with three kidnapping and extortion plots last year.

Benanti, 43, of Lake Harmony, Pa., is set to be arraigned on the same indictment on Friday.

The indictment accuses the pair of two counts of attempted armed bank extortion, one count of armed bank extortion, three counts of carjacking, six counts of brandishing guns during the extortions and carjackings and three counts of being felons in possession of guns. The brandishing charges alone carry minimum mandatory prison terms totaling 132 years which must be served in addition to any other sentences imposed in the remaining counts.

Witham and Benanti are accused of conspiring to rob three banks by holding bankers' loved ones hostage  the Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April, a SmartBank branch in West Knoxville in July and Northeast Community Credit Union in Elizabethton in October.

In the April plot, two armed men kidnapped the wife and teenage son of Mark Zeigler, president and CEO of the Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge, from their West Knox County home. The wife and son later were left bound but unhurt in their vehicle outside Gettysvue Country Club. The robbers avoided capture, but got no money.

Tanner Harris, first vice president and commercial lending officer at SmartBank, was taken hostage with his wife and infant son by two armed men who forced their way into the family's home off Northshore Drive in West Knoxville in the July case.

The three were blindfolded and driven to SmartBank's Cedar Bluff branch, where Harris was forced to retrieve an undisclosed amount of cash. He was left at the bank, and his wife and child were driven miles away before being released unharmed.

An employee of the Northeast Community Credit Union in Elizabethton told police that armed men kidnapped her and her son in an attempt to get money from the credit union in October.

Benanti and Witham were arrested in November in North Carolina for allegedly stealing three vehicles in three separate incidents. They remained jailed in that state when, in December, the FBI's field office in Knoxville unveiled the extortion plot indictments obtained from a federal grand jury in secret by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lewen.

More details as they develop online and in Wednesday's News Sentinel.
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By News Sentinel Staff

A 7-year-old boy was flown to a Knoxville hospital Monday after being shot in the head by another child in what Crossville, Tenn. authorities say appears to have been an accident.

The shooting was reported shortly before 3 p.m. when four children were left unattended in a car while their mother and stepfather were paying a bill at a business on U.S. Highway 127 North, according to the Crossville Police Department.

One of the children found a semi-automatic pistol in the mother's purse, which was left in the vehicle. When the child apparently tried to remove the magazine from the gun, it fired, striking the boy, police said.

The family was visiting Crossville from White County. The ages of the other children were not released.

The boy, whose name was not released, was flown by helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. His condition was not immediately available.

The Cumberland County District Attorney General's Office and the Tennessee Department of Children's Services are involved in the investigation.

More details as they develop online and in Tuesday's News Sentinel.
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By Hayes Hickman of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Prosecutors in Cumberland County will decide whether to file criminal charges in the death of a 7-year-old boy who was accidentally shot while he and his siblings were left unsupervised inside the family van at a parking lot Monday, according to authorities.

The boy and his three siblings were waiting while their mother and stepfather stepped inside a Verizon store to pay a bill shortly before 3 p.m. CST, according to a Crossville Police Department incident report.

The victim's 8-year-old brother found a loaded Taurus ACP .380 in their mother's purse, which also was left in the vehicle, police said.

The child attempted to unload the semi-automatic handgun by removing the magazine and accidentally pulled the trigger. The bullet that was in the chamber was fired, striking the victim in the head, authorities said.

Members of Crossville's police and fire departments and the Cumberland County Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene. According to authorities, the boy was bleeding from the head and not breathing.

The boy taken to Cumberland Medical Center and then flown by medical helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where he died Monday evening, the incident report states.

The report identifies the parents as Samantha Farley, 29, and Jacob Farley, 29, both of Sparta, Tenn.

Authorities have not released the name of the victim or the other children.

Maj. Mark Rosser, a spokesman for the Crossville Police Department, said Tuesday he was uncertain whether the mother has a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit.

Tennessee Department of Children's Services spokesman Rob Johnson said Tuesday the three siblings  who also include two girls, one 9 years old and the other 4 months old  are in the care of a relative. The family has no case history with the state agency.

Police were expected to forward the results of their investigation to the 13th Judicial District Attorney General's office.
SHARE Rhonda Reece (JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

By News Sentinel Staff

A former Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Office worker was arrested Monday on charges of theft and misconduct.

Rhonda Michelle Reece was taken into custody by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents and booked at the Jefferson County Jail.

Reece, 37, of Newport, was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury Jan. 11 on one count of theft over $10,000, one count of theft over $1,000 and four counts of official misconduct.

An investigation into missing funds totalling more than $11,000 began Aug. 7 at the request of 4th District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn, according to a TBI news release.

The missing funds were discovered initially by an internal audit and confirmed by a Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury audit.

Agents developed information that led them to Reece as the source of the missing funds. She had been terminated in June before the county learned of the discrepancy, according to the news release.
Howard H. Baker Jr. Federal Courthouse Tuesday, Jun. 17, 2014. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)

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By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

The son of a drug trafficker faces as much time in federal prison for using Facebook to threaten a witness as his father does for conspiring to peddle more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine.

Daniel Sands pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to a charge of obstructing justice by making threats of retaliation against a witness. Senior U.S. District Judge Leon Jordan set a May 17 sentencing hearing.

Under a provision of federal law intended to deter violence and threats of violence against witnesses, the penalty range for obstructing justice by threatening a trial witness is determined by the punishment for the crime at stake in that trial. In Sands' case that means he faces a minimum mandatory term of 10 years and as much as life in prison because that is the punishment his father, Leonard Sands, is facing for his conviction in a November trial in U.S. District Court to drug conspiracy and money laundering charges.

Leonard Sands was on trial for his role in a large-scale distribution network in East Tennessee, smuggling more than 200 pounds of a form of methamphetamine known as "ice." The conspiracy spanned from 2013-2015 and involved Arizona suppliers.

Eugene "Geno" William Loiselle II has confessed heading up a network of ice peddlers in East Tennessee. Sands was among 16 people indicated as underlings.

Loiselle pleaded guilty, as have most of the underlings. Leonard Sands opted for a trial. David Walker, who already had been "threatened, physically assaulted and has had personal property destroyed for working as a confidential source" in the case, testified against Leonard Sands, DEA Agent James Blanton wrote in a criminal complaint.

After Walker's testimony, Daniel Sands used Facebook Messenger to contact Walker, Blanton wrote. According to a copy of the message attached the criminal complaint, the younger Sands cursed Walker and wrote, "I'll be sure to pay back the faver (sic). Thanks, you little (expletive). Daddy was good to u (sic). C (sic) U (sic) around."

Leonard Sands was convicted a day later. He remains jailed pending sentencing. The following day, his son began posting what Blanton termed "indirect threats of violence to snitches," including a memo depicting three skeletons with the headline, "Don't be a snitch."

According to a plea agreement brokered between Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kolman and defense attorney Karmen Waters, David Sands has since admitted "he placed the message and posts on Facebook for the purpose of scaring David Walker."
Howard H. Baker Jr. Federal Courthouse Tuesday, Jun. 17, 2014. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)

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By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

A Mexican national who worked as a director for a Chattanooga turbomachine manufacturer will spend a decade in a federal prison for a planned tryst with a 12-year-old girl.

Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips on Monday sentenced Juan Alberto Robles Zavala to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for enticement of a child for sexual exploitation.

Robles served as factory director for Alstom, a turbine manufacturing firm based in Chattanooga, at the company's facility in Mexico before being transferred to the Chattanooga plant under a work visa. In October 2014, Robles responded to an email account set up by authorities in search of online child predators. He then became the target of a joint probe by the Knoxville Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, or ICAC, and a similar unit operated by the Blount County Sheriff's Office as well as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Over the next few months, an undercover agent traded emails with Robles. The emails indicated he believed he was communicating with the mother of "Amy," a 12-year-old girl, and would be her first sexual partner.

Eventually, Robles began directing his emails to the fictitious girl, asking her about school, outlining the details of their sexual encounter and assuring her he would be gentle. In February 2015, Robles arrived in the parking lot of a restaurant on Strawberry Plains Pike with condoms and a sex toy for a planned tryst. He was arrested instead.

Robles, represented by defense attorney Mike Whalen, maintained in a trial in U.S. District Court last year he thought the adult woman with whom he believed he was communicating was herself playing a fantasy role of child and that he never intended to have sex with a 12-year-old. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kolman countered his emails made clear his intent to rape a minor.
SHARE Katie Connell, former East Tennessee resident killed in a BASE jumping accident in California. (FACEBOOK) Katie Connell, former East Tennessee resident killed in a BASE jumping accident in California. (FACEBOOK) Katie Connell, former East Tennessee resident killed in a BASE jumping accident in California. (FACEBOOK) In this Monday, Jan. 25, 2016 photo, people watch as divers and fire personnel search the area near Bixby Creek Bridge for the bodies of Mary Katherine "Katie" Connell, 30, and her companion, a man from Finland whose name has not been released, who are believed to have parachuted Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, from the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, Calif. (Vern Fisher/Monterey Herald via AP)

By Staff And Wire Reports

A celebration of life service is planned Saturday for a native Knoxvillian who is presumed drowned after BASE jumping from a California bridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Authorities have yet to recover the bodies of Mary Katherine "Katie" Connell or her companion, who both parachuted from the Bixby Bridge last week.

Relatives said the 30-year-old Connell was living in Ventura, Calif., while working as a traveling registered nurse. She was reported missing Saturday after failing to report for work.

Investigators believe the pair jumped from the bridge Wednesday.

Monterey County sheriff's officials said Monday a video from a helmet camera shows Connell descending roughly 300 feet and landing in Bixby Creek, which feeds into the Pacific. Shortly after landing, large waves overtake her.

Julie Connell said Tuesday that her sister-in-law was an experienced skydiver and BASE jumper with nearly 300 jumps. She said officials speculate that changing wind conditions between the bridge and the water below may have contributed to her death.

"She normally would not jump with any high winds," Julie Connell said. "Katie knew what she was doing. She just got into a situation that no one could get out of."

BASE is an acronym for building, antenna, span and earth  the four fixed objects parachutists jump from in the high-risk sport.

Her sister-in-law said Connell had researched the Bixby Bridge jump for about a year.

Katie Connell was a graduate of West High School and the University of Tennessee who later earned a nursing degree from Lincoln Memorial University.

She briefly worked as a nurse at Blount Memorial Hospital before leaving Knoxville in 2014 to see the country as a traveling nurse. She had been based in Ventura since September, her sister-in-law said.

Connell's family say they respected her passion for the sport, despite their misgivings.

"Obviously you don't want to see someone you love doing something dangerous," Julie Connell said. "At the same time, Katie died doing something she loved.  We want people to know she knew what she was doing."

A celebration of life service is set for Saturday at Hardin Valley Church of Christ. The receiving of friends will be held at 3:30 p.m. with the service to follow at 7 p.m.

Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal said Connell's companion jumped off the bridge to try to save her. His name and age have not been released, although authorities said he was from Finland.

Bernal said the man likely took off his helmet and parachute to try to rescue her; that's where the footage ends.

The sheriff said there are no plans to release the video. Divers searched the area and other officials searched from land and by airplane.

Julie Connell said the family was informed Tuesday that authorities had called off the search.

Deputies didn't learn about the jumpers until Saturday afternoon when inspecting an abandoned rental car. A parachute and helmet were found partially buried on the beach.

Deputies looked up the car renter's name and discovered he had an extensive background in BASE jumping and skydiving.

Jackie Faust, general manager of Skydive Monterey Bay in Marina, said while skydiving and BASE jumping are similar, there isn't much overlap in the communities. She said BASE jumping can be more dangerous and isn't regulated like skydiving.

"(BASE jumpers) don't have two parachutes, they have one, and it's completely different equipment," she said.

Faust added that jumping off Bixby Bridge can be especially dangerous because of the ocean and the relatively quick drop.
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By Hugh G. Willett

A Loudon County Commissioner has proposed that the county schools adopt firearms safety training for students, including those in elementary school.

Commissioner Van Shaver, a former school board representative, sent a letter to the Board of Education this week proposing gun safety training be conducted for students in all grades.

"I would like to ask the Loudon County Board of Education to strongly consider offering gun safety courses in all Loudon County schools beginning in the 2016-17 school year," Shaver wrote.

Related: Commissioner Van Shavers letter to director of Loudon County Schools and Board of Education

As a strong supporter of the second amendment, member of the NRA and holder of a gun permit, Shaver said he has concerns about gun safety. He said everyone should have the opportunity to learn at least the basics of gun safety.

"As Obama would say, if it would save the life of one child, it would all be worth it," he said.

Shaver said he comes to the board of education not as a commissioner but as a parent and grandparent with the safety of all children in mind. Many of these children would never have the opportunity to learn any gun safety anywhere else, he said.

"How often do we hear of shooting accidents, especially among children, that could have been so easily prevented with proper safety education?" he asked.

"Politicians often call for more regulations on law-abiding gun owners which we all know does no good. President Obama says if we could save the life of one child, all his regulations would be worth it."

Kenny Ridings, a Loudon police officer, a former School Resource Officer and hunter safety education trainer, said he's interested in looking into the program. He said he's proposed hunter safety education in the past but the idea hasn't gotten much traction.

"It would be something to look into," he said.

School board member Jeremy Buckles said he is open to exploring firearms safety training and said he will bring it up during the February school workshop held on first Thursday of the month, which is Feb. 4.

Buckles said in the past the Loudon schools offered the hunter safety training needed to get a hunting license as an after-school program. The program was discontinued under a previous school board, he said.

"I believe it's an important part of education. The parents should also take responsibility," he said.

Former Loudon County Commissioner David Twiggs is East Tennessee Group Leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. He said he's for teaching children to be smart by avoiding guns and for parents to act responsibly by asking whether there are guns in the homes where their children might visit. He said he wouldn't support any kind of gun training that involves bringing actual guns into schools.

"I trust in God more than guns," he said.

Will Crawford, parent of a Loudon High School student, said he's OK with safety training but has some reservations.

"Well, there are goods and bads. Students with anger disciplinary issues or gang ties can't be allowed. All depends on the class goals/curriculum," he said.

Loudon parent Wendy Baustian said far too many children die from accidental gun violence.

"I am a huge advocate of education and guns are no different. If educating kids on the dangers of firearms save just one life, then I think it is worth considering it, providing the class is conducted similar to the D.A.R.E. program from the perspective of safety and education and done by a licensed professional," she said.

Baustian said she would suggest some guidelines.

"So long as they don't get actual hands-on training, I think educating kids could go a long way. They can tie it into a discussion on gangs or peer pressure but I think it can be worked into the discussions at all levels and reinforce safety," she said.

Shaver said guns are so much a part of the American way of life that it only makes sense to integrate them into the education system.

"Doesn't it make sense that everyone have the best possible understanding and knowledge of the proper use of guns?" he asked.

School Resource Officers currently work in every school, are highly trained with knowledge and background in all aspects of gun safety and could provide basic gun safety training to all children in the school system, said Shaver.

The training would be optional and parents who don't want their children to take the safety course could opt out, he said.

Knox County Schools provide basic firearms safety training to elementary schoolchildren through the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle program. Katy Davis is a licensed teacher working for the Knox County Sheriff's Office. She has been teaching firearms safety to children for 23 years.

Davis said there are guns in almost every home in East Tennessee. Across the country five to 10 children are shot accidentally every day, she said.

"We teach them that if they see a gun to stop, don't touch, run away, tell a grown up," she said.
Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell, center, holds a news conference about embattled Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. Harwell and Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Ryan Haynes, right, called on Durham to resign following reports that the lawmaker sent inappropriate text messages to women working at the Legislature. House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada, left, looks on. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

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NASHVILLE (AP)  House Speaker Beth Harwell and State Republican Party Chairman Ryan Haynes on Monday called for state Rep. Jeremy Durham to resign from his seat in the Tennessee General Assembly amid allegations of sexual harassment.

In a news conference at the legislative office complex, Harwell also announced an overhaul of sexual harassment policies following a report in The Tennessean over the weekend that Durham sent inappropriate text messages to women working at the Legislature.

"In light of these recent revelations, it is important that Rep. Durham step down from his position as a member of this body," Haynes said.

Harwell said it would ultimately be Durham's decision, but she said she believes he should resign.

"I think I've made my feelings clear," she said. "I think he needs help, and I think it would be in his best interest."

Harwell said the House will begin work to update the Legislature's 19-year-old sexual-harassment policies. Once that is complete, each of the chamber's 99 members will undergo sexual-harassment training, she said.

The speaker also said interns will be banned from attending legislative receptions or parties, and they will be instructed not to give their cellphone numbers to lawmakers.

Durham announced Sunday that he would step aside from his position as House majority whip, but would remain in the Legislature and aggressively seek re-election to the Williamson County seat this fall.

In a written statement Monday, Durham denied any wrongdoing.

"I've never sexually harassed anyone and I'm sorely disappointed that members of my own party would rush to such judgment given that no complaints were ever filed and the general lack of evidence suggesting I did anything wrong," he said.

Durham has been in the spotlight since it was revealed that prosecutors in 2014 sought fraud charges against the lawmaker on allegations of altering two prescriptions. A grand jury declined to indict him, however.

The lawmaker's judgment was also questioned by other Republican leaders after he wrote a character reference letter on behalf of a former youth pastor who pleaded guilty in federal court to child porn possession.

In its report, The Tennessean also said a woman had contacted Republican Rep. David Alexander of Winchester about Durham's behavior the week before a Jan. 12 caucus meeting being convened to discuss Durham's future in House GOP leadership.

"The words she used were 'sexual harassment,'" said Alexander, who said he referred her to the Legislature's human resources officer. Caucus officials, however, declined the woman's request to address the caucus about Durham. Durham narrowly survived an effort to oust him at the caucus meeting.

In response to the Tennessean's report over the weekend, Durham was quoted by newspaper as saying that he did not remember sending the text messages.

The legislator did not mention the allegations in his resignation announcement, which blamed the negative attention on what he called a "relentless media-driven agenda."

The House majority whip is in charge of incumbents' re-election efforts, and some Republicans worried that donors could become skittish if Durham remained in the role.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Macy Mancini earlier in the day demanded the resignation of Harwell and other House GOP leaders for failing to prevent what she called a "toxic" atmosphere for women at the legislative office complex.

Haynes dismissed Mancini's call as "absolute nonsense," and in turn urged her to demand the resignation of Democratic Rep. Joe Armstrong of Knoxville, who faces a federal trial on tax fraud charges related to a cigarette tax hike a decade ago.
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At the urging of the Tennessee Medical Association, lawmakers plan to propose an amendment to the state constitution explicitly giving the Legislature the power to cap pain-and-suffering awards in civil cases.

Tennessee already has a $750,000 limit in place, but a Hamilton County judge ruled last year the cap was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court later vacated the ruling, saying the case was not ready for the justices to consider.

Changing the constitution would be a drastic and unnecessary step. Indeed, the Legislature should not have infringed on the constitutional right to a jury trial in the first place.

The Legislature set the cap in place in 2011 to reduce medical malpractice costs and aid economic development by making Tennessee a more attractive place to practice medicine. Under the law, juries are not told about the cap and may award any amount they please. The judge, however, must impose the cap if jurors award an amount over $750,000 or over $1 million in cases involving catastrophic injuries or losses.

In the Hamilton County case, Donald and Beverly Clark filed a lawsuit against AT&T and one of its employees in connection with a car wreck. They asked for more than $22.5 million in damages for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, according to court records.

In an order issued in March, Hamilton County Circuit Judge W. Neil Thomas III wrote that the right to a jury trial is a fundamental right. Judges must place laws affecting fundamental rights under strict scrutiny, the toughest legal standard. The Tennessee cap on noneconomic damages fails, according to Thomas, because economic development is not a compelling enough reason to undermine a fundamental right. Thomas also found the law does not provide due process or equal protection, and labeled the $750,000 limit arbitrary.

The Supreme Court tossed out the ruling in October. The justices said they could not rule on the law's constitutionality unless and until a jury awards more than $750,000 and an appeal lands before them.

The TMA is taking no chances. The proposed amendment would establish that placing limits on noneconomic damages would not abridge the right to trial by jury. To amend the constitution, both legislative chambers must pass a resolution by simple majorities this year and two-thirds majorities next year before voters are asked to approve it in 2018.

The Times Free Press has reported the 2011 law and other tort reforms initiated since 2008 have reduced malpractice insurance premiums, according to the TMA, and state court records show a similar drop in the number of malpractice lawsuit filings. Thomas, however, wrote he could find no data to support the notion that jury verdicts in Tennessee had been excessive or that the cap has affected economic development.

We concur with Thomas' analysis that placing caps on pain-and-suffering awards shows a disrespect for the jury system. Juries should be able to award whatever amount they deem to be just, and judges can always rein them in if they are out of line. The Legislature is unlikely to repeal the 2011 law, but lawmakers should let the courts decide its constitutionality.
Brown Bag Lecture: Caring for Your Paintings and Artifacts





Lloyd Branson painting. Image courtesy of East Tennessee HIstorical Society.



If you own a work of art by Knoxville artist Lloyd Branson, the East Tennessee Historical Society would like to know about it. A program, Lloyd Branson Painting Documentation & Caring for Your Paintings and Artifacts, A Brown Bag Lecture by Andrew Hurst is scheduled for Saturday, January 30.



In the decades after the Civil War, Lloyd Branson rose from a precocious sketcher on his familys East Tennessee farm to become an accomplished artist and Knoxvilles most popular portraitist. He won acclaim in his studies at the National Academy of Design in New York City, and upon his return to Knoxville established an emporium with photographer Frank B. McCrary. Branson was a leader on the local art scene and mentored such artists as Catherine Wiley and the African American painter Beauford Delaney.



Lloyd Branson completed hundreds of paintings, but unfortunately we have no detailed original records listing his artistic production. To document the breadth of Bransons career, ETHS is conducting a survey of works associated with Knoxvilles native genius. The public is invited to bring Branson paintings, photographs, and other materials to the East Tennessee History Center to be photographed or scanned by ETHS staff and entered into a database of Bransons known works. John Anderson, author of The Art of Lloyd Branson: A Family Connection, will be available to sign copies of his book. At noon, Andrew Hurst, a retired professional from the University of Tennessees McClung Museum, will conduct a program on caring for your paintings and other artifacts. For more information about the Branson Documentation, please call Michele MacDonald, curator of collections, at 865-215-8829.



The lecture is sponsored by the Harriet Z. Albers Memorial. There is no admission fee. The lecture will begin at noon at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. There will be a break in the documenting during the noon program. Guests are invited to bring a Brown Bag lunch. For more information on the lecture, exhibitions, or museum hours, call 865-215-8824 or visit the website at www.EastTNHistory.org. Published January 26, 2016
Federal court rules Kentucky Ark can ride high

By Jeaneane Payne





Religious freedom in America has won another victory in federal court. A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction against the state of Kentucky for unlawfully blocking efforts by the Ark Encounter theme park developer, Answers in Genesis ("AiG"), to participate in the Kentucky Tourism Development Program.



According to Mike Johnson, chief counsel of the public interest law firm, Freedom Guard, who argued the case for AiG, their application was turned down by the Kentucky Department of Tourism for its tax rebate program. Johnson said that originally there was no problem with the application until the state's previous tourism secretary, Bob Stewart, viewed a video produced about the Ark. They knew the Ark had a Biblical theme, but the Kentucky Department of Tourism thought that theme was limited to the Old Testament. When they viewed the video and saw that the name Jesus was mentioned a number of times, they chose to decline the application.



On Monday, January 25, 2016, the federal court found "that the Commonwealth's exclusion of AiG from participating in the program for the reasons stated  i.e., on the basis of AiG's religious beliefs, purpose, mission, message, or conduct, is a violation of AiG's rights under the First Amendment to the federal Constitution". The judge has ordered the state to move forward in processing AiG's application for the available tax rebate incentives that would become effective after the Ark opens and is operating.



In his decision yesterday, Judge Greg Van Tatenhove of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky also upheld AiG's right to religious preferences in its hiring. In the last paragraph of his ruling, the judge declared that AiG may "utilize any Title VII exception for which it qualifies concerning the hiring of its personnel."



The lawsuit, filed February 5, 2015, by AiG and its affiliates, Crosswater Canyon and Ark Encounter, accused the state's previous tourism secretary, Bob Stewart, and the former governor, Steve Beshear, of engaging in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination "by wrongfully excluding the plaintiffs from participation in the Development Program simply because of who the plaintiffs are, what they believe, and how they express their beliefs." These same officials previously granted approval and expressed enthusiastic support for the Noah's Ark theme park as an economic driver and job creator for the state, until secularist groups began to exert their vocal opposition.



In his ruling, Judge Van Tatenhove posed and then answered the question: "If a tourist attraction, even one that as described here 'advances religion,' meets the neutral criteria for tax incentives offered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, can the Commonwealth still deny the incentive for Establishment Clause reasons? This opinion is long but the answer to that question is short -- no".



The popular rebate program has allowed many other tourist-attraction developers to qualify for a gradual rebate of a portion of the new state sales taxes their projects generate, yet AiG's lawsuit explained that its application for the program had been blocked by state officials simply because of: 1) the Ark project's religious messaging; and 2) the possibility of AiG exercising its right as a religious organization to use religious preferences in hiring at the Ark.



Oral argument was held on July 1 before Judge Van Tatenhove. At issue was the state defendants' motion to dismiss the case, as well as motion for preliminary injunction (which was granted today). The ruling in favor of AiG will now prohibit the state from excluding the Ark Encounter and other applicants simply because they are religious in nature.



"I rejoice in the court's decision today," said Ken Ham, AiG president and the visionary behind the theme park. "The state gave us no choice but to bring this legal action. We, along with our attorneys, tried for many months to show these officials why their actions were blatantly violating our rights under the federal and state constitutions, as well as the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act. The law is crystal clear that the state cannot discriminate against a Christian group simply because of its viewpoint, but that is precisely what happened here. The decision today is a victory for the free exercise of religion in this country, including in hiring."



"This ruling is an important precedent," Johnson. "The court has affirmed a longstanding principle that the Constitution does not permit a state to show hostility towards religion. The First Amendment does not allow Christian organizations to be treated like second-class citizens merely because of what they believe."



Ham noted the AiG case was about more than just a tax rebate: "We are standing up for all religious groups and churches that want to maintain their free exercise of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment when that freedom is challenged by the government," he said. Construction is continuing on the $92 million first phase of the Ark Encounter, scheduled to open July 7, 2016 in Williamstown, Kentucky. Over $90 million has been raised for land purchase, infrastructure, exhibit construction, plus the building of the park's centerpiece: a massive, full scale, 510-foot-long recreation of Noah's Ark.



Contrary to a widely held myth, no taxpayer dollars are being used to construct the Ark, as the state tax rebate incentive at issue in the lawsuit is not made available for payment to a new tourist attraction until 12 months after its opening.



The sales tax rebate incentive requires the tourist attraction to meet the requirements (as appraised by outside consultants) of the possibility of bringing a significant net economic impact to the state. If the attraction is approved for the rebate, then a portion of the sales tax generated within the facility itself will be refunded after 12 months of operation. The rebate occurs over 10 years and is calculated as a percentage (based on initial capital costs) of the sales tax generated within the attraction, up to a pre-determined maximum.



It is not yet known if any party will appeal the judge's decision, although the current Kentucky governor, Matt Bevin, has expressed support for the Ark to receive the tax rebate.



Tourism plays a vital role in a states economy. Kentucky generates more than $1.37 billion annually in tourism dollars.

Published January 26, 2016
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday vowed to take stern measures against a walkout by a major labor organization.



The warning comes as the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the country's two umbrella labor groups, was to go on an indefinite walkout in protest of the government's adoption of contentious labor guidelines.



"The KCTU's general strike is a clear illicit strike that goes against a difficult economic situation both home and abroad, crisis such as North Korea's nuclear test, and the hopes of young job seekers," Hwang said during a Cabinet meeting.



Last week, the Ministry of Labor and Employment announced that it will ease restrictions for employers to fire "noticeably" underperforming workers and allow companies to change employment rules more easily, as part of its reform drive.



The KCTU, which has more than half a million workers as its members, argues that the government's labor reform would end up making it easy for companies to fire workers, eventually worsening overall working conditions.



Hwang also said that the Ministry of Justice will bring criminal charges against those who stage illicit protests across the country. (Yonhap)




By Lee Hyo-sik



Ssangyong Engineering & Construction (E&C) said Tuesday that it has won a $252 million contract to construct a subway line in Singapore.



The deal is expected to further strengthen Ssangyong's presence in the city-state in which the firm has been building schools, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure over the years.



To bid for the construction project, the builder formed a consortium with Hyundai Engineering & Construction. Ssangyong has a 75 percent stake in the project and Hyundai 25 percent.



Ssangyong will build the section of the Thomson East Coast Line that crosses Singapore from north to south. It will also construct the Marine Terrace Station and excavate two tunnels underneath apartment complexes and other urban structures.



The project, which is to lay a 1.78 kilometer subway track, is expected to take eight years to complete.



"There were other bidders who offered lower prices for the project. However, Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) picked us," a Ssangyong E&C spokesman said. "This shows we have earned a great deal of trust for our engineering and project management capabilities. The latest deal is also significant that we are cooperating with our rival, Hyundai E&C, rather than compete, to create a win-win solution."



Ssangyong has been involved in a series of subway construction projects in Singapore over the past few years, the spokesman said.



"We have always met the deadlines and successfully completed the projects without causing a single industrial accident. We have formed a strong partnership with the LTA and private sector customers," he said.



The latest deal came a month after Ssangyong was awarded three contracts worth $1.6 billion in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. This has provided a much-needed boost to the builder, which was acquired by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) early last year.



In January 2015, the ICD, which has nearly $200 billion under its management, acquired a controlling stake in Ssangyong E&C.



The ICD is one of the world's largest sovereign funds and has 30 companies under its control, including Emirates Airline and Emirates National Oil Company.



The ICD's ownership has been widely expected to help Ssangyong secure more lucrative deals in Asia and the Middle East.




South Korean products are losing their competitiveness against Chinese goods that could reduce their outbound shipments down the road, a central bank report said Tuesday.



According to the report by the Bank of Korea, the competitiveness of South Korean products somewhat improved over the 2005-2013 period, but that the rate of improvement in Chinese goods, partly measured in terms of global market share, outpaced that of South Korean products.



"The country's global competitiveness has somewhat improved since 2005, but the range of improvement is smaller than that of China, meaning the gap between the two countries' competitiveness is narrowing," it said.



South Korea's exports to the world's second-largest economy continued to increase at a steady pace over the 2010-2013 period, but the rate of increase lagged behind the increase in China's overall imports, indicating a drop in the relative competitiveness of South Korean products in the Chinese market against those of other countries, it noted.



South Korean products are also believed to be losing their competitiveness against Chinese goods.



Between 2005 and 2013, the increase in the global market share of most South Korean products fell behind the rise in the global market share their Chinese competitors, the report said.



Also showing a narrowing gap between the competitiveness of South Korean and Chinese goods, the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) of South Korean semiconductors only inched up to 3.39 points in 2013 from 3.13 in 2005 while that of Chinese semiconductors surged to 1.60 from 0.70 over the cited period.



The RCA, which shows the relative competitiveness of a product or an industrial sector over those of others, of South Korea's entire electronics sector slipped to 1.79 points from 1.85 points over the 2005-2013 period, while that of China advanced to 2.11 points from 1.88 points.



The slowing growth in exports to China was also attributed to South Korea's apparent failure to accommodate changes in China's economic structure and the tastes of Chinese consumers.



In the 2005-2013 period, products from four major industrial sectors -- the electronics, machinery, petroleum-petrochemical and steel industries -- accounted for 91.6 percent of South Korea's total exports to China, while the No. 1 economy in Asia continues to expand its imports of consumer goods.



The report said consumer spending was expected to account for 42.7 percent of China's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020, up from 37.7 percent in 2014, while the proportion of China's exports to its GDP is expected to shrink to 17.5 percent from 38.9 percent over the cited period.



"South Korea needs to continue maintaining the competitiveness of its key products in China while realigning its economic structure to better complement that of China and thus utilizing China's future economic development as an opportunity for growth of its own," it said. (Yonhap)




Customers of Volkswagen vehicles in South Korea plan to file a class-action lawsuit against the German carmaker in the United States for deceiving them on emissions results of cars with 3-liter diesel engines, their legal representative said Tuesday.



This is in addition to the ongoing class-action suit filed by customers of the carmaker's 2-liter diesel models whose emissions results were proved to be faked by using the so-called defeat device.



"As (Volkswagen) admitted to its wrongdoing related to the 3-liter diesel engines in the U.S., we plan to gather victims here and file a lawsuit with a court there first," said Ha Jong-sun, a lawyer of local law firm Barun.



The lawyer said that there are more than a few Volkswagen customers making inquiries about a possible legal action in relation to the damage they claim to have suffered due to manipulated emissions results.



The lawsuit is likely to be filed in the middle of February in the U.S. A similar suit will be sought in South Korea later, he added.



Vehicles newly found in the U.S. to have faked emissions through the engine electronic control unit are the A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 that were produced from 2009-2016, along with the Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touareg.



Some market estimates put the number of the cars of the same models sold in South Korea at 50,000-100,000.



Last week, the environment ministry here asked the prosecution to investigate the head of the local unit of Volkswagen for failing to provide sufficient data related to its recall plan for around 125,000 emissions-faked vehicles.



In November, the ministry ordered Volkswagen to recall the vehicles whose emissions were found to be manipulated through the defeat device. The carmaker was also asked to provide data related to how it would maintain fuel efficiency even after removing the device.



Customer complaints are growing in South Korea as Volkswagen has not provided any compensation measures for its customers in the wake of the emissions-cheating scandal as opposed to its offering of around US$1,000 worth of vouchers and other benefits to those in the U.S. and Canada. (Yonhap)




Jeju International Airport on South Korea's southernmost resort island operated hundreds of flights overnight, carrying some 23,900 people off the island after passengers had been grounded by heavy snowfall for over 40 hours, the government said Tuesday.



The Jeju Regional Office of Aviation said a total of 355 flights -- 155 inbound and 200 outbound -- were safely executed as of 5:20 a.m. Tuesday. The authorities temporarily lifted night flight restrictions to deal with the backlog of flights.



Some 150 flights, in addition to regularly scheduled ones, have been in operation since the resumption to help people stranded on Jeju.



The overnight operation came after heavy snow, sub-zero temperatures and strong winds forced one of South Korea's busiest airports to go dark early Saturday evening, which resulted in flight cancellations and thousands of stranded travelers.

It is estimated that some 86,900 people had been stuck, with 1,400 forced into an extended stay at the airport terminal itself.



The authorities said the airport, with one main operational runway that can accommodate 34 takeoff and landing slots per hour, was put into full operation. At peak time around 10 p.m., separate flights landed and took off with just 100 seconds between them.



Meanwhile, part of an engine cover of a passenger flight belonging to South Korea's No. 1 carrier, Korean Air, was found broken off at the island's airport at around 11 p.m. The flight had departed from Seoul's Gimpo International Airport to pick up passengers at Jeju.



The plane had no passengers on board at the time and no casualties were reported, but the incident delayed some 10 flights which were planning to fly to and from the island for about an hour. Authorities are investigating the details and exact cause of the incident.



On Tuesday, 556 flights -- 269 inbound and 287 outbound -- are scheduled to operate at Jeju airport, with another 40,000 passengers estimated to leave the island. (Yonhap)




By Jhoo Dong-chan



Tobacco makers and importers may have to disclose all the ingredients in cigarettes as part of the government effort to control the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.



The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said during a policy report to President Park Geun-hye at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday, that it will seek to require tobacco importers and manufacturers to disclose all of the ingredients, additives and emissions in their products to the ministry before baing allowed to sell them.



Based on the information, the ministry plans to control the use of flavoring materials and additives. It will seek to limit the levels of harmful substances and prohibit sales if the levels are exceeded. The ministry also plans to inform the public about the harmful substances.



A government-designated agency will be responsible for examining tobacco products and taking punitive measures, such as correction orders, suspension of business licenses or recalls against tobacco product manufacturers and importers who violate the regulations.



The ministry has been developing a test to study tobacco's harmful ingredients and evaluation techniques since 2013. Related developments will continue through 2018.



Regarding tobacco, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) opened a research institute last year to study the ingredients in tobacco and assess the harmful effects of smoking. The ministry will work with the institute and share information.



Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the opposition People's Party, proposed a bill for controlling tobacco's harmful effects in November. The bill suggests that tobacco companies make public some 4,000 ingredients in their tobacco products, including carcinogenic substances such as urethane and phenol. Disclosing such information is recommended by the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Korea ratified the convention but has yet to implement it.



In the meantime, the ministry also plans to expand its regulations on narcotics by punishing those who share information about making and selling narcotics on the Internet.



It will expand the crackdown to online drug manufacturing tutorials and advertisements found on the Deep Web, or Hidden Web, a term referring to content that is not indexed by standard search engines but accessible only with special software. Due to the difficulty in searching the Deep Web, it has often been used for online drug trades.




By Chung Ah-young



Two former Korean victims of sexual slavery before and during World War II called for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to apologize to the wartime victims during their visit to Japan, Tuesday.



This is the first visit to Japan by the victims since the Korean and Japanese governments reached an agreement on the sexual slavery issue on Dec. 28.



Lee Ok-sun, 90, and Kang Il-chul, 89, denounced the Korea-Japan agreement, demanding Abe's apology, at a press conference in Tokyo.



"Think about why we are here," Lee said. "Where are the victims and where is the (Korean) government? The government has attempted to cover our mouths with some money, leaving us out of the talks. No way!" she said.



In the agreement, the Japanese government promised to pay 1 billion yen to establish a foundation for the 46 surviving victims.



She expressed strong anger toward both governments.



"How can we receive an official apology from Abe and legal compensation? We want to see Abe here," Lee said.



Kang said that the deal is invalid because it was made without the victims consent.

Regarding some Japanese politicians' claims that wartime sex slavery was not forced, they expressed strong anger. "I was kidnapped by two men while I was on my way home. I was stabbed in the leg when I attempted to escape from the brothel," Lee said.



The women also stressed that a girl statue, a symbol of Korean sex slavery victims during World War II, set up in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, cannot be moved.



"Nobody can touch the statue. As long as we are alive, nobody can remove it from there," Lee said.



The two will request a meeting with Abe through some Japanese lawmakers.

Lee and Kang were forced to serve for the Japanese troops in China when they were 16. After liberation from Japan, they lived in China and have lived in the House of Sharing, a shelter for the victims in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.



Koreans accounted for the majority of the estimated 200,000 wartime sex slaves.




By Jhoo Dong-chan



The health authorities are considering designating Zika fever as a state-managed infectious disease, as its cause, the Zika virus (ZIKV) that also causes microcephaly in unborn infants, is spreading worldwide.



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said Tuesday that it may announce the designation as part of preventive measures against the disease.



The designation would allow the government to take prompt action in the case of an outbreak.



The virus is transmitted by a mosquito variant and has with an incubation period of 10 days. Those who contract the disease are reported to suffer fever, rashes and a minor degree of arthralgia. If a woman contracts the Zika virus during pregnancy, the baby may be born with a reduced head size. No human deaths from the disease have been reported so far.



"We haven't seen any signs that the virus is coming to Korea," said a KCDC official. "It is unlikely for the virus to spread to Korea because mosquitoes are not active in the winter here. But we recommend being cautious when traveling to countries where the virus is spreading."



The virus was first reported in Brazil last May and has been spreading throughout Latin America including Mexico and Columbia. The infection has most recently been reported in the U.S and Taiwan.




By Jun Ji-hye



South Korea's changing stance on the THAAD missile defense system reflects growing worries here about China's two-faced approach toward North Korea and its nuclear program, analysts said Tuesday.



President Park Geun-hye and key defense officials have indicated that Seoul can allow the U.S. to deploy the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system that can detect and destroy North Korean missiles loaded with nuclear warheads, since the Northfourth nuclear test conducted on Jan. 6.



Their comments triggered speculation that Seoul is leaning toward the deployment of the missile defense system because China is refraining from joining international efforts to toughen sanctions against the North.



Korean officials had until recently been reluctant in expressing opinions about THAAD, only sticking to the stance of the so-called "three Nos," which means there has been no request from the U.S., no negotiations with the U.S. and no decision made about it.



That was largely because of China.



However, the Korean government, by hinting at THAAD deployment, is apparently trying to add pressure on Beijing to play a much-needed role in discouraging the repressive state's nuclear ambitions. Experts say that the government is well aware that Beijing is strongly opposed to having THAAD on Korean soil, out of concerns that its radar system could snoop on Beijing's military activities and missile capabilities.



Kang Jun-young, a professor of political science at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said the government apparently intends to deliver a message to China that it should swiftly rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions if it does not want THAAD to be deployed on the peninsula.



"China is very concerned about the deployment of THAAD as well as U.S. strategic assets here as China itself could be included in THAAD's operational radius," he said during a radio appearance. "The government's open debate on THAAD will surely play a role in sending a message to China, such as, Six-party talks have failed to resolve the North's nuclear issue, and that is why THAAD deployment is being discussed now. If China doesn't want such deployment, it should actively come forward to resolve the issue.'"



Beijing, traditionally an ally of the North, has been largely seen as maintaining a lukewarm stance on Pyongyang's nuclear development, although South Korea and the U.S. keep stressing its role. This has raised speculation that China, a veto-holding permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, is seeking to water down the U.N.-led sanctions  in a familiar pattern  following the North's previous nuclear and long-range missile tests.



After the North's nuclear test, President Park as well as Defense Minister Han Min-koo openly cited the need for the nation to review THAAD deployment on Jan. 13 and again Jan. 25. Their remarks followed U.S. politicians and experts' emphasis on the necessity of deploying missile defense systems in South Korea.



For the proponents of THAAD deployment, the North's fourth nuclear test is a good excuse to persuade those who are opposed to the deployment. The latter cast doubts on its effectiveness and the burden of its high cost, as well as being concerned of worsening relations with China, analysts said.



"The latest remarks of the government apparently show that its position about THAAD deployment has changed," said Kim Dae-young, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum. "Reflecting the recent mood of mounting threats from the North following its claimed H-bomb test, the government seems to be making the move in earnest toward THAAD deployment."





Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye




Clare's Law' recommended for protection of women from boyfriends



By Kim Se-jeong



Violence against intimate partners, mostly men against women, is becoming more vicious and frequent.



This often ends up with fatal results and so calls are growing for the legislation of preventive legal measures.



The Korean Institute of Criminology recently recommended the government review the United Kingdom's domestic violence disclosure law, also known as "Clare's Law."



The law was named after Clare Wood, who was killed by her partner in 2009 and triggered a national debate on the issue. According to the law implemented in 2014, women can request police to disclose the criminal records of their partners.



"In the United Kingdom, the law is preventing young women from falling victims to serial violent criminals," researcher Hong Young-oh said. "We think there is a need for Korea to review the U.K.'s system."



According to the study, 76.6 percent of criminals indicted for murder, rape and assault against their partners between 2005 and 2014 had previous convictions.



"If the country has strict standards about information disclosure, the system will help prevent crimes and protect privacy as well," Hong said.



The researchers said many people want the law. According to their survey of 2,000 female adults, 86.8 percent answered they were in favor of the measure, while 9.8 percent disapproved, citing possible human rights violations.



Among 2,000 male respondents, 22.5 percent said they support the measure, while another 40.2 percent answered they would support it if such information was strictly managed without personal data leakage.



Those who opposed the measure argued it's human rights issue. "It's discrimination against men," an Internet user said.



Last month, a 41-year-old man turned himself in after spraying hydrochloric acid on his girlfriend for saying good-bye to him. The man sprayed the hazardous chemical on her face in front of her home, resulting in damage on her right cornea and burns on shoulder, arm, knees and face. Yongsan police in Seoul said he also attempted to kidnap her.



In March last year, a 35-year-old man in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, hit his girlfriend, 31, for not showing respect over the phone. He slapped her, and kicked and choked her for two hours in her home.



The study also recommended the government revise laws on domestic violence to protect unmarried women when hurt by their partners. Other recommendations included raising awareness about violence among unmarried couples.




South Korea's point man on inter-Korean affairs said Tuesday the international community should be united in making North Korea "face consequences" by slapping stronger sanctions over its latest nuclear test.

"Through sanctions, the international community should clearly let North Korea know that it was wrong and it should not repeat such misbehavior," Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo said at the start of a meeting with researchers from the U.S. Brookings Institution.

The United Nations Security Council is working on a fresh resolution for drawing up stronger sanctions over North Korea's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6.

Hong stressed an importance of seeking international cooperation in deterring the North from making another provocation.

"South Korea will make efforts to have one voice with the global community (in dealing with the North's nuke issue). In that sense, it is important to have close coordination with the U.S. and other countries," he added.

In respond, Richard Bush, director of the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution, echoed such a view.

"I agree with you 100 percent that (the North's) misbehavior should have consequences," Bush said, adding that forming a wider coalition of countries is important as it sends a "strong" message against the North. (Yonhap)
South Korea and four other middle-power countries will hold high-level talks later this week on ways to strengthen partnerships, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.



South Korea launched the forum in 2013 with Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey and Australia in a bid to play a bigger role in regional and global issues. The cross-regional caucus is dubbed "MIKTA" from the initials of the English names of the participating nations.



The five sides plan to hold their second high-level meeting in the Australian capital of Canberra on Thursday, said the ministry.



They plan to discuss ways for closer ties and plans to open a foreign ministerial session in the first half of this year. (Yonhap)




By Yi Whan-woo



Korea and Iran will resume talks next month to revive their business ties in response to the international lifting of nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran on Jan. 16, according to officials, Tuesday.



The working-level dialogue took place 10 times before it was suspended in 2007.



The officials said that Korea will also discuss with the United States and Iran about restoring Seoul's payment channel for euros with Tehran as part of preparations to help Korean enterprises advance into the Iranian market.



"The ministries are working together on the government's efforts to expand its economic relations with Iran," an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on condition of anonymity. "Under such circumstances, the economic dialogue is scheduled on Feb. 29 and it will take place between the commerce ministers of the two nations."



The official said that the Seoul and Tehran governments may sign a set of 15 memoranda of understanding relating to various sectors, including trade, construction and pier businesses.



It is speculated that Iran will finance Korea in nurturing Seoul's medical care system through a $4 billion-worth project involving Tehran University of Medical Sciences.



POSCO, Korea's leading steelmaker, seeks to collaborate with PKP, an Iranian steel manufacturer, to jointly set up a mill there.



An envisioned Korean economic delegation, which will be comprised of officials from up to 80 companies, is scheduled to visit Iran on Feb. 29, hold business forums and meet Iranian entrepreneurs.



Meanwhile, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance will consult the U.S. Department of the Treasury as well as the Central Bank of Iran to restore the payment channel using euros. The lifting of the U.S-led sanctions against Iran still excludes trade conducted in dollars.



"Given such circumstances, use of euros will be relevant at the moment," said the foreign ministry official.



The official cited that finance authorities from Seoul, Washignton and Tehran will also discuss whether Korea should maintain a payment channel in Korean currency with Iran.



With consent from the U.S., Korea purchased a limited amount of crude oil from Iran and made the payment in Korean currency when the Washington-led sanctions were in effect.

The preparation on the governmental level comes after concerns that the government is behind China and Japan in helping its enterprises run businesses in Iran.



The critics have cited that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held a summit on Jan. 22 for economic cooperation.



Xi is the first foreign head of state to hold bilateral talks with Rouhani since Jan. 16.



Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is speculated to visit Tehran by June at the latest for a Japan-Iran summit.



Cheong Wa Dae has not mentioned anything about President Park Geun-hye's possible trip to Iran.



"I'd say Korea is being a slow starter and it would help if Park travels to Iran in the the second half," said Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong University.




Piper Garrett Barton leads guests including Chieftain Brian McEachen and former British Ambassador Scot Wightman, rear, during the "Burns Night" event at Grand Hyatt Seoul in January 2015. / Courtesy of St. Andrew's Society of Seoul



By John Redmond

Seoul's Scottish expat community will gather for a supper in honor of Scottish poet Robert Burns, in recognition of Burns Night at the Hyatt Seoul, Saturday.

"Burns Night is a traditional celebration of one of the world's finest poets, Robert Burns, the Scottish bard," said Sally McEachen of the St. Andrew's Society of Seoul.

Since 1801, Scots have gathered for supper together with their friends, wearing their kilts and family tartan, to remember him on Jan. 25, his birthday.

"Here in Seoul, our Burns' supper will include many of the same customs as most formal Burns Night celebrations including the playing of bagpipes to pipe in the chieftain's table and later the haggis, the Selkirk Grace before dinner, the Immortal Memory of Rabbie Burns speech by our chieftain, and the traditional toast to the lassies, and reply to the laddies," McEachen said.

Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns, was a late 18th century Scottish poet and lyricist, widely regarded as Scotland's greatest poet and a pioneer of the Romantic movement.

The St. Andrew's Society of Seoul was founded in 1976 and its main function is to serve as a focal point for all things Scottish. The Society holds three main functions a year: St. Andrew's Ball, Burns Night and the Muckleshunter.

Burns Night will include the piping of the haggis, a Scottish savory pudding containing sheep's pluck minced with spices encased in the animal's stomach, as well as poetry and singing.

"The haggis is a much underappreciated dish, and although it has lowly origins, it is now an indispensable part of many Scottish celebrations. Later in the evening, there will be more poetry and some singing, plus our own competition, hotly contested between the tables, to write a poem in the style of Burns to a theme set on the night," said McEachen.

She also mentioned another tradition, the quaich ceremony in which the St. Andrew's Society Quaich (a pewter bowl with two flat handles) is brought round the tables by the chieftain, and one guest from each table drinks whiskey from it. "They then upturn the quaich over their head, to show they are man  or woman  enough to drain the cup," she said.

Tickets for Burns Night are 120,000 won per head and can be reserved by contacting Sally McEachen at st.andrews.seoul@gmail.com.



John Redmond is a freelance writer.
Navy chief ordered maritime forces Tuesday to stand with full combat readiness for the possibility of unexpected military provocations by North Korea.



"The enemy has always launched provocations in manners and timings that are hard for us to predict," Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Jung Ho-sup said during his visit to the 1st Fleet based on the east coast.



Jung inspected the maritime defense posture of the maritime forces in the East Sea area during the visit which came after North Korea's latest nuclear test on Jan. 6 escalated military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.



"Forces should maintain a defense posture under which they could react immediately even in a highly unexpected emergency situation," the Navy chief said, aboard an Aegis destroyer patrolling the East Sea.



"If the enemy's submarines launch provocations, do not fail to track and sink them," the admiral noted. (Yonhap)




By Oh Young-jin

Is there no way of resolving North Korea's nuclear challenge?

To state the obvious conclusion first, there is one and it is not something new. After its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6, everybody is pretending there is none.

South Korea, the United States and Japan blame China for not doing its share of thwarting Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions; while Beijing claims that it has few options of its own.

President Park Geun-hye has been so frustrated that she suggested launching a five-party dialogue excluding North Korea. China and Russia said an immediate no to Park's off-base idea. U.S. President Barack Obama appears up to his neck with the Iran nuclear deal, while Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may be using the North as an excuse for its own nuclear program.

China's President Xi Jin-ping is obviously satisfied with the North serving in its traditional buffer role against the U.S. Russia's President Vladmir Putin is still obsessed with getting in the way of the U.S. and showing Moscow still has global influence.

And the North's 33-year-old dictator Kim Jong-un must be happy to see he can play the same game his father and grandfather did by getting away with another nuclear test.

In short, all parties want no drastic change in the status quo. For the South, it has acted as if it wanted to bring about change but hasn't been audacious enough to stomach overtures needed to disrupt the inter-Korean stalemate.

So what are the two game changers that all concerned parties pretend do not exist _ because they prefer to keep the situation as it is _ but can be doable by the South.

They are the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the South and a military option on the North.

Both are bold because they go far beyond what has been discussed as options to resolve the North Korea problem but have been shunned for various reasons.

Asking the U.S. to pack up and leave is something unthinkable at the moment. The U.S. drew the Acheson Line excluding the South from its nuclear umbrella, inviting the North, backed by the Soviets and Chinese, to start the 1950-1953 Korean War. Ever since, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), now reduced to 28,000, has served as tripwire that will automatically involve reinforcements from the mainland U.S. and thereby is taken by South Koreans as the cornerstone of its security against the North.
By Kim Jin-hyun



On Nov 25, 2015, the local assembly of Seongnam on the outskirts of Seoul passed three bills: "The Public Postpartum Clinic Bill", "The Fresh Middle School Students' Uniform bill" and "The Youth Allotment Bill."



As soon as the news spread, the Park administration as well as leaders of Saenuri Party said that the bills should be cancelled because of the budgetary deficit. Then, they criticized the city's policy as "welfare service for populism."



But Mayor Lee Jae-myeong said that the practice of the pledges was proper, citing Article 1 of the Basic Law for Social Welfare, that a country or a local government should improve citizens' welfare.



In fact, Seongnam declared a moratorium because of excessive debt in 2010. That year, Lee was elected as the new mayor. He paid the debt through budget cutbacks and ordered an adjustment of business investment for a few years.



Moreover, in 2014, the city was evaluated as the most financially independent one, at 65.1% of expenditure, compared to the national average of 51.1%. His successful city management led to his re-election.



Before being elected, President Park made promises related to welfare policies such as free daycare for children and a basic old age pension, but she retracted them due to budget shortfalls. On the contrary, the city decided to honor its pledges. To do so is valuable not only to citizens but also to other politicians as a way to gain trust.



The book, "Two Faces of Welfare Politics," published by co-authors including Ahn Sang-hoon maintained that a politically sensitive welfare policy should have social consensus and arrive at a realistic viewpoint.



Thus, it is not desirable for the President to veto the bills unilaterally without compromise because she does not think they are timely.



Starting from the 2010s, Korea has endured a low birthrate, a rapidly aging society, and a lack of purchasing power due to sluggish development. In this situation, deliberate welfare policy may be more urgent.



One of the city's bills, "The Youth Allotment" gives 1 million won annually to young people aged from 19 to 24 living in Seongnam. The policy will helpful to stimulate its economy.



In a democratic society, politicians are elected by their pledges and power of execution. Thus, these are duties that should be practiced. But until now, most Korean politicians have frequently given them up due to their infeasible pledges.



Relatively, the mayor has the will to practice the promises that he made to the citizens. By doing so, he believes that he will be able to govern society more sensibly and improve it positively.



Nevertheless, the progressive mayor's choice seems negative to conservative groups because they consider his behavior to be a political gesture.



But the mayor said, "Seongnam city doesn't demand more of the government's budget and more tax, and it even doesn't try to get more loans in order to practice the welfare policy. Instead, the policy is one way to repay the tax that citizens have paid."



Creative leaders know how to understand their citizens' desires and then implement them. In addition, they provide a more optimistic vision.





The writer is an English teacher at Yeosu High School in South Jeolla Province.
By Doug Bandow



Another North Korean nuclear test, another round of demands that China bring Pyongyang to heel. Said Secretary of State John Kerry: Beijing's policy "has not worked and we cannot continue business as usual." Alas, his approach will encourage the PRC to dismiss Washington's wishes.



The Democratic People's Republic of Korea may be the most vexing problem of U.S. foreign policy. Three successive U.S. presidents have insisted that the DPRK simply cannot, must not, develop nuclear weapons. Yet it has.



So attention naturally shifts toward the People's Republic of China, which joined Washington in criticizing the latest blast. The PRC is the most important investor in and provides substantial energy and food assistance to the North. Beijing also has protected the DPRK by weakening past UN sanctions and enforcing those imposed with less than due diligence. If only China would get tough, runs the argument, the Kim Jong-un regime in Pyongyang would have to give way.



Alas, Chinese intervention is not the panacea many appear to believe. Contra common belief in Washington, the U.S. cannot dictate to the PRC. Threats are only likely to make the Chinese leadership more recalcitrant.



In fact, Beijing's reluctance to wreck the North Korean state is understandable. If the administration wants to enlist China's aid, it must convince Beijing that acting is in China's, not America's, best interest.



That requires addressing the PRC's concerns.



While unpredictable, obstinate, and irritating, so far the DPRK is not a major problem for China. Economic cooperation remains profitable.



The North disrupts American regional dominance and forces Seoul and Washington to beg for assistance in dealing with the DPRK. Even Pyongyang's growing nuclear arsenal poses no obvious threat to China.



Why, then, should the PRC sacrifice its political influence and economic interests? A Chinese cut-off of energy and food would cause great hardship in the North. But a half million or more people died of starvation during the late 1990s without any change in DPRK policy.













Thus, the DPRK leadership may refuse to bend. The result might be a return to the 1990s, with a horrific collapse in living conditions but regime survivaland continued development of nuclear weapons.



Even worse, from Beijing's standpoint, Russia, which recently revived its relationship with Pyongyang, might save North Korea. In either case, the PRC would have compromised its position for nothing.



Or the North Korean regime might collapse, with the possibility of violent conflict, social chaos, loose nukes, and mass refugee flows. The PRC might feel forced to intervene militarily to stabilize the North.



Moreover, in a united Republic of Korea China's political influence would ebb. PRC business investments would be swept away. Worse, a reunited Korea allied with America would put U.S. troops on China's border and aid Washington's ill-disguised attempt at military containment.



Overall, then, sanctioning the North appears to create enormous benefits for Beijing's rivals but few advantages for China.



Washington and Seoul must make a compelling case to the PRC. They should begin by pointing out how unstable the current situation is, with an unpredictable, uncontrollable regime dedicated to creating a nuclear arsenal of undetermined size. Much could go wrongto China's detriment.



At the same time, the U.S. and ROK, along with Japan, should put together a serious offer for the North in return for denuclearization. The PRC has repeatedly insisted that America's hostile policy underlies the DPRK nuclear program. Beijing responded acerbically to Washington's latest criticism: "The key to solving the problem is not China."



The three allied countries should offer a peace treaty, diplomatic recognition, membership in international organizations, the end of economic sanctions, foreign aid, suspension of joint military exercises, and discussions over ending America's troop presence. This should be presented to the PRC with a request for the latter's backing.



At the same time, the U.S., South Korea, and Tokyo should promise to share the cost of caring for North Koreans and restoring order in the case of regime collapse. The U.S. and South should indicate their willingness to accept temporary Chinese military intervention in the event of bloody chaos.



The ROK should promise to respect Beijing's economic interests while pointing to the far greater opportunities that would exist in a unified Korea. Finally, Washington should pledge to withdraw U.S. troops in the event of unification.



Getting Beijing's cooperation still would be a long-shot. But the effort is worth a try. The U.S., ROK, and Japan have run out of options to forestall a nuclear North Korea.



Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and a former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan. He is the author of "Tripwire: Korea and U.S. Foreign Policy in a Changed World" and co-author of The Korean Conundrum: America's Troubled Relations with North and South Korea.
By Bruce E. Bechtol



On January 6, 2016, North Korea once again showed the world that it has a successful nuclear weaponization program that it has no intention of dismantling or even freezing. This should be something that policy makers and analysts could have and should have realized years ago. Even if the weapon tested was a more primitive weapon than what the North Koreans announced, such as an HEU or Plutonium weapon (North Korea claimed it was an H-Bomb), this most recent test shows North Korea continues to march forward with its nuclear program because Kim Jong-un and the elite believe it is in Pyongyang's national interest (if the test was of a more primitive weapon, it shows North Korea has  at the very least  a capability that can probably create a similar blast to that seen at Hiroshima or Nagasaki in 1945).



In the United States, some governmental officials and a number of those in academia have downplayed the latest test  as if North Korea is not providing itself with capabilities that could threaten Washington's national interests. But the fact of the matter is that a nuclear weapon becomes far more of a threat once it can be used as a warhead and launched on a long-range missile. North Korea has made distinct advances toward this goal during the Obama administration. North Korea on December 12, 2012 showed the world that it could successfully launch a ballistic missile through all three of its stages  meaning it could potentially hit the mainland of the United States. In addition, high-ranking government officials from the intelligence community and the Department of Defense have publicly stated the assessment that a North Korean ICBM that comes on a mobile launcher (the KN-08) and has the range to hit the United States mainland is close to being operational  and that if and when it is operational, it can carry a nuclear warhead. So this brings us to the obvious end state  what actions can be taken to coerce North Korea into changing its rogue state behavior?



As is the case following any North Korea created crisis, there have been pundits who have called for "pressuring China to pressure North Korea." But without exception, this has not worked in any meaningful way in the past. There are others who insist that only through engagement can North Korea be brought back to the road of international norms. But this too has proven to be unsuccessful  on numerous occasions  in the past. Finally, there is the argument over sanctions  do we need more sanctions to truly affect North Korea, will sanctions ever work, and what is the modus operandi for putting enough pressure on North Korea to force their leadership into positive action?



North Korea can in fact be slowed by sanctions  if this involves Banco Delta Asia (BDA) style actions involving more sophistication and on a wider scale. It worked once and it can work again.



In fact, we already have the sanctions in place to do this. The problem is that the Obama administration (unlike what was done during the BDA clamp down) refuses to commit the resources, or the personnel, and also refuses to conduct initiatives with allies in Asia and elsewhere to clamp down on the banks, front companies, and individuals who enable North Korea to run a "system outside of the international system" to conduct its illicit activities and proliferation. This illegal and illicit system (much like a mob family) is estimated to account for at least 40% of North Korea's real economy.













Unless and until the Obama administration (or whoever succeeds it) makes the move to actually 1) commit the resources, 2) commit the personnel, and 3) conduct initiatives with our allies in Asia and elsewhere that HAVE TEETH, North Korea will continue to conduct rogue state behavior. While we all know this, I think it is important to point out, that forming State Department and Treasury Department task forces, working with the UN, conducting important initiatives with allies in Asia and elsewhere, these are all actions that (for the most part) must be initiated by the Executive Branch. To date, since 2009, any actions initiated have (to be blunt) been weak.



Everyone has known since 2005 how North Korea can be squeezed  but no one has been willing to do it since the Bush administration called the BDA actions to a halt in their quest to reach an agreement on denuclearization with the DPRK. The Bush administration (and those who were advising his decisions on North Korea) made a huge mistake in doing this  and in taking North Korea off the list of nations supporting terrorism. These two mistakes have not been fixed, or even addressed in a meaningful way by the Obama administration.



If there are those who say (and there are many) "we don't want to back North Korea into a corner," so be it. But let's be honest - all of us - if we "don't want to back North Korea into a corner," stop talking about taking real action after this nuclear test. Sanctions, or financial actions, or any other actions are EXACTLY about backing North Korea into a corner. Otherwise, how would we be putting any pressure on the regime?



Bruce E. Bechtol Jr. is a professor of political science at Angelo State University, and is the author or editor of six books on North Korea, most recently "North Korea and Regional Security in the Kim Jong-un Era: A New International Security Dilemma." Contact him at bruce.bechtol@angelo.edu.
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This time the law must be enacted without fail



The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to vote on a long-delayed bill on North Korean human rights during Friday's plenary session.



The agreement is belated but welcome. If the bill is approved, the legislative process will be completed 11 years after a ruling party lawmaker first proposed enacting such a law in 2005.



The United States passed a law on the North's human rights situation in 2004, and Japan followed in the footsteps of Washington two years later. The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution on Pyongyang's brutal human rights violations every year since 2005.



In both 2014 and 2015, the General Assembly also approved bills asking the U.N. Security Council to refer the North Korean leadership to the International Criminal Court, citing the North's state-perpetrated crimes against humanity.



It's shameful that South Korea has been dragging its feet on enacting the much-touted human rights act. And for that reason, the political opposition can't avoid criticism.



The center-right Saenuri Party has submitted draft legislation on North Korea's human rights violations to the National Assembly repeatedly since 2005. But the opposition has been against any such bill, alleging that it could worsen inter-Korean relations.



However, given the universal value of human rights, the liberal opposition should have reacted more furiously to the dismal rights situation in the repressive state.



It's clear why the human rights bill must be enacted. Needless to say, it ought to serve the purpose of improving North Koreans' human rights  albeit slightly.



The bill calls for establishing a foundation to look into the North's human rights records and develop preventive measures and an archive to preserve written testimonies and other resources. It also envisions creating an advisory committee under the wing of the Ministry of Unification, which will consist of 10 members  five each from the governing party and the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MBK).



The parties have yet to reach an agreement on the objectives of the human rights law. The Saenuri Party is focused on stepping up efforts to improve human rights, whereas the MBK sheds light on improving inter-Korean relations. But they are expected to negotiate a fair solution by Friday because their differences are not so serious as to betray their earlier compromise.



What's worrisome is a possible violent backlash from Pyongyang after the passage of the bill and its adverse impact on the already-sour inter-Korean relationship.



All this explains why Seoul should be more prudent and restrained than ever, and that is a prerequisite to making the law instrumental in improving the rogue state's human rights conditions.



One of the key purposes of the law is to provide financial support for private organizations, which have been providing human rights activities for North Koreans. But ill-advised support might irritate the impoverished state unnecessarily.



The bipartisan agreement on the North Korean human rights law is quite significant in that it will normalize what has been abnormal. The law would prove to be successful only if it could serve to cause the North to acknowledge its human rights issues.




Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., South Korea's aircraft maker, said Monday it has successfully conducted the maiden flight of a new medical transport version of its Surion helicopter.



The 20-minute test flight took place at the KAI's headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, on Friday under the observation of about 40 officials from the defense procurement agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Army and the Armed Forces Medical Command, according to the KAI.



The new chopper will be put to further tests to verify its operability under various conditions by the end of this year before being deployed as the military's medical transport vehicle from 2018, the KAI noted.



"It is the first medical transport helicopter developed and adopted locally," the aerospace firm said in a statement.



The new chopper will come with medical transport capabilities to take charge of patient evacuation and first aid both during wartime and peacetime, the company added.

The medical transport edition is the latest variant of the KUH-1 Surion, the first-ever indigenous helicopter in South Korea which the KAI developed in 2010 via a 1.3 trillion won (US$1.1 billion) military procurement project.



A police variant is currently in service with the KAI recently completing another edition for the Marine Corps.



The medical transport variant will come with weather radar, a traffic collision avoidance system and detachable auxiliary fuel tanks to be able to operate under tough climate conditions or at night.



Other emergency medicalservice functions like a respirator, oxygen pump and defibrillator will also be added, the KAI said.



The aircraft maker said it will replace some 400 helicopters currently in service in South Korea with new Surion choppers over the next 20 years and push to sell another 600 units outside of the country. (Yonhap)




Ahn Myoung-ock, left, head of the National Medical Center, poses with Ma Young-sam, Korea's ambassador to Denmark, at the Korean Embassy in Denmark. Behind them is seen Jutlandia Hall within the embassy which commemorates the service of a Danish medical ship during the Korean War.

/ Courtesy of National Medical Center



By Yoon Ja-young

Ahn Myoung-ock, chief of the National Medical Center, paid a special trip to Denmark to meet veterans of the MS Jutlandia, a Danish medical ship which was deployed to save lives during the Korean War (1950-53).

After the outbreak of war, the Danish government decided to help by deploying a medical ship to support Korea  its only contribution, but one that made a huge difference. It borrowed a private ship and outfitted it into a medical ship with four operating rooms and 365 beds.

Jutlandia left for Busan from Copenhagen in January 1951, with a crew of 187 as well as 91 doctors and nurses. It treated around 5,000 soldiers and more than 6,000 civilians including war orphans during its three-year tour of duty around Korea.

Ahn was invited to the 65th anniversary commemorating the deployment of the ship. She also met with the veterans of the Jutlandia to hear their stories and thank them.

"It was an opportunity to show our gratitude for Denmark's dedication during the Korean War," Ahn said.

She also pointed to the special tie the National Medical Center has with Denmark. The center was established in 1958 following an agreement between the Korean government and three Scandinavian countries  Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They promised to set up a medical center to help the war-torn country treat patients as well as nurture and train doctors and nurses.

Ahn, who was inaugurated as the chief of the National Medical Center in December 2014, has been actively promoting its historical background. Such effort led the hospital to open its Scandinavia Memorial Hall within the hospital last April.

Ahn majored in obstetrics and gynecology at Yonsei University and studied public health at UCLA. She said that one of her core values is contribution to the public. "Both my parents were doctors, but my father was more proud of being a government worker than a doctor. I also had a passion to play a role for the public good. That's why I started studying public health," she said. She served as a lawmaker between 2004 and 2008.

"The National Medical Center started its history thanks to the three Scandinavian countries back in 1958," she said. "Now, it is time for us to expand the values of universal fraternity and the love for mankind. The efforts will go on both domestically and overseas."
K-Pop Double Take is a weekly review column highlighting recent releases that have yet to receive the attention we feel they deserve.

Music has always moved forward on the strength of tiny innovations.

Even the greats stood on the shoulders of the giants who came before them, adding just enough of a twist to stand out and move forward.

On the single "No Make Up," released on Oct. 15, the 26-year-old South Korean hip-hop artist and producer Zion. T puts this premise into action. "No Make Up" is simultaneously a throwback and a very contemporary slice of funk-infused pop.

Having only emerged in 2011, Zion. T has been winning awards and scoring hit singles ever since. On "No Make Up," Zion. T is seen finessing his smooth R&B approach. Similar to other youthful artist-producers like Frank Ocean or The Internet, both out of the Los Angeles-based Odd Future collective, Zion. T invests himself heavily in a thoughtful refurbishing of R&B music's past.

Zion. T leads a trio of instrumentalists (if the music video for "No Make Up" is to be believed) whose backing parts are anything but inconsequential. Guest pianist Yoon Seok Cheol contributes playfully unpredictable chords, giving "No Make Up" a musicality that less sophisticated songs lack.

In the verses, Zion. T and his band interact with one another, bouncing syncopations back and forth between the foreground and background. His interest in creating compositions that not only have hooks and heart but also inventive and imaginative arrangements gives "No Make Up" a quirky freshness that harkens back to the true legends of R&B, such as Prince or R. Kelly.

But this is no neo-soul throwback. Borrowing from a more modern--but equally brilliant--mind, the drums follow a stark, stiff pattern that brings to mind the so-called "drunken style" of late producer J Dilla.

Though, for all of these nods to the past, "No Make Up" is still a distinctly contemporary piece of music.

The production is slick as anyone could want and Zion. T's melodies are as broadly sweeping as anything that could be dreamt up by Usher or Maroon 5.

The song maintains a light touch, moving along at a breezy clip with a premium placed on smoothness. There's a notable absence of the heavy-handed drum programming or gratuitous synth-bass that crops up amongst Zion. T's EDM-influenced peers.

Through this more stripped-down sound, Zion. T is able to reference the purity of classic vintage recordings while still bringing something new to the table on "No Make Up."

Watch the music video for Zion. T's single "No Make Up" RIGHT HERE

Jeff Tobias is a composer, musician and writer currently living in Brooklyn, New York. As of late, he has been studying arcane systems of tuning and working on his jump shot.
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KUMAGCOW.COM wants to redefine what everyday life should be for the Filipino Man. An alternative lifestyle.

KUMAGCOW literally means a kid you can't control + cow. It's a moniker I got in college from playing network games.



This site talks about lifestyle events, gadget reviews, your views, events and fashion photography.



The world is too small for US, so please, come and join me for the ride!



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SEATTLE (TNS)  When Gabriel Ruthford was born at Seattles Swedish Medical Center in 2012, he was so premature that doctors seriously doubted they could save him  and almost didnt try.

The Maple Valley boy arrived at 22 weeks, six days  one day shy of 23 weeks, then regarded as the lowest threshold at which medical crews should attempt resuscitation. He was so early that in some states, he legally could have been aborted.

Gabriels parents, Eric and Miri Ruthford, wanted intensive interventions to save their baby  including help breathing and keeping his heart beating  but say they encountered a medical system that actively discouraged such care.

The doctor said that he advised against resuscitation because the results were just so poor at that stage, recalled Eric Ruthford, 36. He said, If you give birth after midnight, Ill be the one who comes and does the resuscitation, but my heart wont be fully in it.

Ultimately, the parents prevailed and the 1-pound, 6 1/2-ounce baby survived, trumping the medical odds. To be sure, he wasnt out of the woods and endured weeks on a ventilator and other breathing devices, plus five months in neonatal intensive-care and special-care units  all at a cost of more than $1 million.

Three years later, Gabriel Ruthford is an active preschooler who loves peas and train videos and shows few signs of his early birth. But hes also the embodiment of an ongoing debate about when to aggressively treat such premature babies and how best to counsel their parents to make the agonizing decisions they face.

Last month, two groups of national and international experts lowered the bar for neonatal resuscitation to 22 weeks, down from 23 weeks, based in part on new evidence that shows a tiny number of such babies can survive without serious problems, with medical treatment.

The move offers new hope to parents such as the Ruthfords, but it also raises questions in a country where abortion laws hinge on the definition of viability and complicated ethics surround medical care at the margins of life.

The thing that people question is, is there a hard stop? said Dr. Andy Beckstrom, a neonatologist at Swedish, one of three regional hospitals  along with the University of Washington Medical Center and Tacoma General Hospital  where extremely premature infants are delivered.

Medical consensus has generally regarded 24 to 28 weeks as the age of viability. The U.S. Supreme Court has said that states must allow abortion if a fetus is not viable outside the womb, so lowering the threshold may spark new debate about when abortion is legal.

But for parents facing premature delivery, the question is this: Can my baby be saved?

We try not to be locked into policies, but to approach these cases when they individually occur, Beckstrom said. Every child is going to be unique.

The new guidelines urge doctors to focus more on parental preferences and values when they have the hard conversations that can occur weeks  or even minutes  before a premature birth.

We tried to emphasize that factors other than gestational age contribute to survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes, said Dr. Kristi Watterberg, a professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee that issued the new rules.

Thats a relief to the Ruthfords, who say doctors need to do more to ensure that families facing such circumstances understand every option, from active medical intervention aimed at preserving life to comfort care to ease death.

I think everyone should be given the choice and not pushed one way or the other, said Miri Ruthford, 35, a veterinary technician.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, a baby like Gabriel wouldnt have had a chance. Infants born between 20 and 25 weeks were considered nonviable, according to a 2014 workshop on early births convened by groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. When such babies were born, they were allowed to die, without attempts at lifesaving interventions.

But as technology has improved, so have efforts to revive such tiny preemies. Doctors now routinely rely on ventilation, intubation and other measures to boost preemies lung and brain function, including corticosteroids given to mothers before or during labor and use of artificial surfactant, a liquid that coats the inside of babies lungs and keeps them open so they can breathe.

Such efforts have boosted survival rates dramatically. About 72 percent of babies born at 25 weeks survive, and about 55 percent of those born at 24 weeks will live, data show. That drops to about 26 percent of babies born at 23 weeks  and just 6 percent born at 22 weeks.

Now, the conversation is changing.

Families expect babies to survive now at 25 weeks, said Beckstrom, the Swedish Medical Center neonatologist. The discussion of 22 weeks is a relatively new thing in our world.

That discussion grew sharper last spring, with the publication of a study of nearly 5,000 babies born between 22 weeks and 27 weeks at two dozen centers across the U.S. Posted in The New England Journal of Medicine, it found that a small number of babies born at 22 weeks who received medical treatment survived, even though most died or suffered debilitating health problems.

Of the 357 babies born at 22 weeks, active treatment was given to 79 infants, and 18 survived, the study found. Of those, seven did not have moderate or severe impairment by the time they were toddlers.

The difference between fetal development at 22 weeks and 23 weeks can be significant, said Beckstrom.

The challenge with data is that 22 and 0 days is a much more immature baby than the one born at 22 and 7, Beckstrom said. We have a mantra that says every day counts at that gestation.

When Miri Ruthford went into labor not quite 22 weeks into her first pregnancy, doctors said shed have to reach at least 24 weeks for the baby to a chance.

They kept saying it was too early, too early, too early, she recalled.

Doctors emphasized that Gabriel likely wouldnt survive, and if he did, he could have serious problems such as blindness, deafness or severe cerebral palsy. They warned the burden of caring for such a child could be too much for the family to bear.

The Ruthfords said that didnt sway them. Weve always been of the belief that as soon as a child is conceived its a child, Miri Ruthford said. Im not going to give up on my child just because its hard.

When her water broke and it became clear the baby would arrive on April 25, 2012, at 22 weeks, six days, the Ruthfords say, they still didnt feel supported in their decision to seek active intervention.

It felt like we were bucking the will of the doctors, Eric Ruthford said.

Today, theyre glad they did. Gabriel is a typical 3-year-old boy, his mother said, one who likes emergency vehicles, airplanes and singing The Wheels on the Bus way too much.

Hes still smaller than other children his age and has problems with eating, likely related to so much time using feeding tubes as an infant. To ensure that he gets the nutrition he needs, Gabriels parents feed him some meals through a tube in his stomach.

Those amount to minor problems, said Eric Ruthford, a former journalist and manager of a nonprofit homeless shelter whos writing a book about neonatal resuscitation and has become an advocate for expanded parental choice.

In the face of such varied outcomes, the new guidelines are a welcome acknowledgment that there is no single answer about whats best for the tiniest babies, Ruthford said. Parents should be fully informed about the odds and the options, but then allowed to decide, without pressure.

We want to tell doctors, dont be so negative about a childs chances, he said. Statistics are for groups, but our one child might live. Each kid is an independent event.


Over 2,000 world leaders and economic specialists, including Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe participated at the inaugural ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland on Wednesday (20).

It is the first time in history that a Sri Lankan leader attended the World Economic Forum on a special invitation.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also held discussions with the Heads of many large scale trading companies.Special attention were drawn to the investment opportunities in Sri Lanka during these discussions between the Prime Minister and Heads of global companies. During these meetings, they expressed their willingness to bring in large scale investments to Sri Lanka within this year.

On the sideline, the Prime Minister also held bilateral talks with Sweden Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

The Prime Minister addressing a press conference at the World Economic Forum last evening said, that the Sri Lankan government has embarked on a great mission towards achieving reconciliation. He said, We have started off on a great experiment. Firstly on reconciliation of bringing the country together where people had grown apart as a result of a long drawn off war of nearly. 30 years and on re-establishing constitutional democracy and also having a framework of agreement on the major economic and social problems. The Prime Minsiter further emphasized that there will be a national policy in place and whoever governs will not change and these are the challenges that the government has to face.
The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

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The eight latest arrivals to the Stanley Correctional Institution will be transported in a vehicle with cages. Once they get on the grounds of the medium-security on Friday, Jan. 29, the new arrivals will be unleashed.

They will look, well, adorable. Some may even have their tails wagging.

Stanley prisoners will train eight puppies from 12 to 18 months. Then the dogs will receive final training elsewhere before being given for free to people with disabilities needing assistance, including those needing help with hearing, mobility, seizures, diabetes and autism.

Its part of the Can Do Canines program based in New Hope, Minn., a non-profit project of the Lions Clubs in Minnesota. The program, which trains dogs in four prisons in Minnesota, has placed 470 dogs in Minnesota and another 30 in Wisconsin.

Stanley will be the first Wisconsin prison to host the Can Do Canines program, said program founder Alan Peters.

It came to our attention because one of our puppy raisers had a family member imprisoned there, Peters said Thursday.

The Stanley Prison was attractive to the program because it was able to hire an experienced dog trainer, Dylan Larson, who will work with prisoners and volunteers who will come to the prison twice a month to pick up the dogs to give them a furlough, a taste of the outside world.

Peters walked through the prison with prison officials and walking with a Golden Retriever. Another Can Do Canines official walked with a black Laborador.

The dogs were big hits with the inmates.

People came up and said, Can I touch your dog? I havent touched a dog for 20 years. I miss my dog, Peters said.

He said the prisons staff was very open to the program and are willing to be flexible about a possible expansion later. They were extremely positive, he said.

Each puppy will be paired with two prisoners, and all will share the same cell. Only prisoners in good standing will be selected to handle the dogs and the inmates know they can lose that privilege.

The puppies selected for the program come from several sources, including from dog breeders. The program looks closely at the medical conditions of the dogs parents, and their temperaments.

We are very selective, Peters said.

Thats important, because once their training is finished the dogs will have important jobs.

For instance, dogs that are nose driven are candidates to help people with Type One diabetes. The dogs smell the persons breath and lets them know when their blood sugar is dropping before the diabetic passes out.

Peters explained a smell develops in the stomach of Type One diabetics that signals blood sugar is dropping. Its that smell the dogs are trained to detect and alert the person something is wrong.

The dogs are trained in all sorts of environments so they are comfortable with situations once they are paired with people needing help.

As a part that process, volunteers are needed twice a month to take the puppies outside the prison on furloughs, so the dogs can adjust to regular life.

Anyone interested in volunteering to provide the puppies a furlough can attend an informational session about the program from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 at the Stanley-Boyd High School Library, 507 East 1st Ave., Stanley.

As for the prisoners, the program reconnects them with life outside. Peters said guards at the prisons the non-profit organization currently serves said having dogs around improves the attitude of the prisoners and lessens conflicts.

The impact is huge for them, he said.
A San Francisco hedge fund wants prepaid debit card firm Green Dot Corp. to boot founder Steve Streit from the corner office, saying the longtime chief executive has mismanaged the company, resulting in big losses over the years.

Harvest Capital on Monday sent a letter to Green Dots board of directors, saying the Pasadena company needs to bring in a more experienced CEO to replace Streit and make other changes to reverse a long slide in the companys share price.

In our view, Mr. Streit must be immediately replaced due to his persistently poor performance, misleading and inconsistent investor communications and inability to deliver on promises to shareholders, Harvest wrote.

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Harvest, which has a 6.2% stake in Green Dot, also wants the company to cut costs, replace two board members and do more lending through Green Dot Bank. The Utah bank, owned by the company, has a tiny loan portfolio for a bank of its size and makes very little money from interest.

Green Dot on Monday afternoon released a statement saying it would carefully review Harvests suggestions but that it is confident in our road map for growth. The company did not make Streit available for comment.

Green Dot, founded in 1999 and a public company since 2010, was a pioneer in the business of issuing prepaid debit cards -- reloadable cards that are similar to those that come with a checking account but that can be purchased at many convenience stores.

The company remains one of the nations top prepaid card issuers, but it has faced increased competition over the past few years. Meanwhile, costs have climbed, profits have slid and the company remains dependent on Wal-Mart, which sold half of all Green Dot cards in the most recent quarter.

The companys best year was 2011, when it reported net income of $52.1 million on revenue of $467 million. In 2014, profit was just $42.1 million on revenue of $602 million. Through the first nine months of last year, Green Dot was on pace to barely top 2014s profit figure.

The past year has been especially rough for the company, which lost a big source of revenue when it discontinued Moneypak, a product designed to let customers load cash onto debit cards but that became a popular tool for scam artists.

Revenue for the Green Dot division that oversaw Moneypak was $28.5 million in last years third quarter, down more than a third from the same period a year earlier.

Jeffrey Osher, a Harvest portfolio manager, said Green Dot is growing more slowly than it should, given how well the prepaid industry is doing.

New products have failed to stimulate growth, Osher said. That comes down to a lack of execution. Its not an industry issue. The industry is actually quite healthy.

Green Dot has announced a handful of new initiatives for this year, including a checking account product for small-business owners and gig workers as well as a credit card. But Osher said hes not convinced they will boost the companys fortunes.

This management team, under its current composition, does not have a pattern of successful execution of new product launches, he said. Its been one failure after another.

In its letter, the hedge fund called Streit -- a former radio disc jockey who first envisioned prepaid cards as a way for kids to safely spend money online -- as an entrepreneurial visionary. But it noted that Green Dot is no longer a start-up, but a big, complex firm in need of more experienced leadership.

Personally, I like Steve, Osher said. I just dont think hes the right leader for Green Dot today.

Osher would not comment on what role, if any, he would like Streit to have with the company.

Analysts who follow Green Dot dont expect much better performance. Most rate it a hold, with a target price of just under $20 -- the high end of where shares have traded for the past year.

Shares have been trailing the market for years, losing 60% of their value since the companys initial public offering. Thats despite a bull market that sent the S&P 500 up more than 70% over the same period.

Green Dot shares ticked up 1.6% Monday to close at $17.36.

james.koren@latimes.com

Twitter: @jrkoren

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An estimated 74% of Americans use emojis every day. We use them in text messages, Facebook posts and when we chat online. You can even text a pizza emoji to Dominos to order a pizza.

Yet, despite our avid usage of the yellow smiley faces, hand gestures, animal icons and poop emojis, few people know where emojis come from.

Who designs them? Who decides which new emojis get added each year? Can anyone suggest an emoji? Or is there some kind of emoji illuminati that calls the shots?

To answer these questions, The Times called Mark Davis, president and co-founder of the Unicode Consortium, the nonprofit Silicon Valley group responsible for emojis, among many other things. In addition to running the Unicode Consortium, which is largely a volunteer effort, Davis is also an internationalization engineer at Google who previously worked at IBM and Apple.

The following interview has been edited and condensed.

When you say the Unicode Consortium is responsible for emojis, what does that mean?

Our main focus is supporting the languages of the world, such as Chinese characters, Japanese characters, Cyrillic letters and others. We have roughly 7,000 characters slated for release this year, and roughly 70 are emoji.

How many emojis are there today?

1,624.

Co-founder of the Unicode Consortium, Mark Davis. (Tracey Lien)

Who gets to suggest emojis or decide which ones the consortium will approve?

Anyone can propose an emoji character, but they have to make a solid case for it. The process and timeline are described on Unicode emoji website. Its more than just saying, Well, I think there should be a drunken chipmunk emoji. You have to give us some good reasons that would establish why it would be a successful and valuable addition. You also have to provide an image in black and white and in color of what it could look like. The image typically wont be used by the vendor, but it gives us an idea of its intended appearance.

Think of Gringotts with the goblins working underground. [The Consortium is] like that.

Mark Davis, co-founder of the Unicode Consortium

What are the criteria?

We dont accept emoji for persons living or fictional, deities, business logos or anything strongly connected to a particular business product.

We look at the expected frequency that the emoji is going to be used. Thats a very strong factor. We also look at whether its needed to flesh out an existing set. For example, we have silverware, but we dont yet have chopsticks, so there was recently a proposal to add chopsticks.

Does it cost anything to submit a proposal?

No, its completely free. But you do have to complete a detailed proposal, and sometimes a proposal will go through a number of changes.

What we find is a lot of people dont realize they can do it. Well get some people saying, You ought to have an emoji for X, and well tell them thats fine, you can submit a proposal.

Whos responsible for the art?

Each vendor [i.e. Apple, Google, Facebook, etc.] is responsible for supplying whichever characters they want to supply, and thats the case for Unicode as a whole. Its also up to the vendor whether they want to support an emoji. So if they dont want to offer a facepalm emoji, thats their choice.

Ive heard that it can take up to two years for an emoji to go from a proposal to appearing on our phones. Whats the deal with that?

The most difficult things about emoji arent the individual emoji, but the mechanisms for emoji. For example, with the skin tone emoji modifier, you can hold down on a woman emoji and pick a different skin tone. That mechanism probably took a year to develop because we had to worry about compatibility issues and make sure whatever we came up with would work effectively on all computers.

How does the approval process work?

The consortium is made up of members who have voting powers, and there are around a dozen people on the emoji subcommittee who parse through the submissions. They come from all around the world and have different backgrounds. We get around 100 proposals a year for new emoji. We operate by consensus, and we forward proposals to the technical committee.

The emoji subcommittee meets 45 minutes a week, twice a week, often by phone or Skype. The technical committee meets a week every quarter, typically at meetings held in the Bay Area.

(Tracey Lien)

What are those meetings like?

Have you seen the Harry Potter movies? Think of Gringotts with the goblins working underground. Its like that.

Wait, really?

Ha! No. Its a bunch of people meeting in a conference room.

Who can join the consortium?

Any individual or organization can pay a fee to join.

And once youve decided on the emoji you like, what happens then?

Once we approve of them, we put them on the Unicode website where anyone can comment on them. Theres approximately a six-month time period where they can comment on an emoji and flag it if there is something inappropriate about it.

If it makes it past that, theres a final decision in May of each year, and it gets released that June. There's a detailed timeline at Process and Timeline.

Twitter: @traceylien

READ MORE: Why emojis are a no-brainer for digital communication
California Public Utilities Commission officials plan a public hearing on Charter Communications proposed $67-billion acquisition of two cable companies, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, which serve Southern California.

The PUC hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Junipero Serra State Office Building at 320 West 4th St. in downtown Los Angeles.

It is expected to be the only public hearing in California on the cable company tie-up, which would catapult Charter into a regional juggernaut with nearly 2 million customers in the greater Los Angeles area.

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Charter, which is based in Connecticut, needs the PUCs approval to take over communications licenses currently held by Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks. Charter also is awaiting a decision by the Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Department of Justice.

The three-company merger, announced in May, has attracted less opposition than last years failed bid by Comcast Corp. to buy Time Warner Cable.

Earlier this month, New York regulators approved the Charter deal, leaving New Jersey and California officials still mulling benefits and potential harms of the merger.

Charter would become the nations third-largest pay-TV provider, serving more than 17 million homes, and the second-largest high-speed Internet provider with more than 19 million customers.

The additional heft is worrisome to consumer advocates.

This deal raises serious concerns. The new Charter would cover about 82% of Southern California, Paul Goodman, senior legal counsel for the Greenlining Institute, told The Times on Monday. And for about 69% of Southern California consumers, this would be the only company offering broadband Internet speeds of at least 25 megabits per second, which is the new FCC standard.

Charter had hoped to close the deal by now, but the various government regulators have not reached their decisions.

We expect a strong showing of support at the hearing and we are looking forward to working further with the California Public Utilities Commission and other interested parties, said Alex Dudley, spokesman for Charter.

Twitter: @MegJamesLAT
In Outsiders, premiering Tuesday on WGN America, civilization meets civilization as a coal company seeks to dislodge a large tribe of Appalachian mountain people from land theyve occupied for hundreds of years. Its a mixed bag of a series that can seem smart or silly from scene to scene and is less convincing in its epic poses than in its most ordinary moments.

Created by Peter Mattei (Love in the Time of Money), it offers a fairly whimsical take on mountain living, in the person of the Farrells, whose lusty, rough-and-tumble world looks less like anything you might have seen in a Walker Evans photograph or a Barbara Kopple documentary and more like the cast of Braveheart taking over a production of Hair.

It is true that remoteness and lack of mobility conspired to preserve colonial folkways and Elizabethan speech patterns in the hollows and highlands of Appalachia, but Outsiders takes its cues from fiction, from Game of Thrones. Sons of Anarchy and whatever in its drama of power and succession might be labeled Shakespearean. Fans of Justified will recognize the setting and the dynamic and find Outsiders in some respects a less realistic version of that already romantic show.

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For all their back-to-1600, off-the-grid lifestyle, they have a marked affection for all-terrain vehicles; and there are electric guitars in one scene, a solstice celebration with fire breathing, slow-motion dancing and coyly represented toplessness. While some of the Farrells illustrate the old Bob Dylan line that to live outside the law you must be honest, others are fine with running down to the Whatever-Mart and taking stuff; some employ the head butt as a rhetorical device.

Still, all told and compared with the industrial hammer poised to come down on them  notwithstanding the promise of jobs, pretty much everyone associated with the coal interests is a creep  they are easily the more sympathetic, more handsomely portrayed party.

And yet something is rotten in their state of statelessness. David Morse plays Big Foster Farrell, who, like an English prince long denied the crown, is eager for his queenly mother (Phyllis Somerville as Lady Ray) to get out of the way so he can run the joint. Its a desire most immediately stymied by her unwillingness to do so, and more obscurely by the return of his cousin Asa Farrell (Joe Anderson)  theyre all cousins up there  who left the mountain a decade earlier to live in the world of cellphones and fast food. Soul-sick, he has come home  fulfilling a prophecy, to Lady Rays sign-sensitive mind.

More conventionally, his arrival creates a triangle whose other points are his old love Gwinveer (Gillian Alexy) and her new one, Big Fosters son Lil Foster (Ryan Hurst), a more or less decent sort a little too dependent upon his fathers approval. As the best-looking people in the show, Asa and Gwinveer are also its magnetic center; their fated intersection is the point against which other characters goodness or actions will be measured.

The show leans on what might be called a dramatic inconvenience  entrusting the Farrells removal to the understaffed local constabulary on the grounds its an election year and the governor doesnt want the state involved. (Some will note a resemblance between the Farrells and the Bundy brothers ongoing occupation of Oregon parkland, but it is one that quickly fades.)

The weight of that task falls on Sheriff Wade Houghton (Thomas M. Wright, from Jane Campions Top of the Lake, another series Outsiders resembles in part), a pained widower who is trying his best to direct attention away from the mountain, because he remembers what happened the last time this was tried, 25 years before.

Wrights performance is one of the shows greater pleasures. (As his sister, a one-woman campaign against the mining, Rebecca Harris also does lovely work.) And next to the broad-chested drama up on the mountain, I much prefer the stumbling, star-crossed attraction between the hapless Hasil (Kyle Gallner) and townie checkout girl Sally-Ann (Christina Jackson); the space between them feels actual, their future authentically fraught.

robert.lloyd@latimes.com

------------

Outsiders

Where: WGN America

When: 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Tuesday

Rating: TV-14-DLSV (may be unsuitable for children under age 14 with advisories for suggestive dialogue, coarse language, sex and violence)
Woody Allens upcoming Amazon series has a cast, and its a doozy.

Screenwriter and comedian Elaine May and former child actress/current pop star/all-around scamp Miley Cyrus are set to headline the series alongside Allen himself sources familiar with the project confirm to the LA Times.

Amazon announced its collaboration with Woody Allen in January 2015, at which time Allen said, I dont know how I got into this. I have no ideas and Im not sure where to begin. In addition to starring in the project, Allen will also be writing and directing.

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As for his leading ladies, May and Cyrus make a curious pair.

May, whose last onscreen role was in Allens 2000 film Small Time Crooks, broke into the industry in the 50s as half of the comedy duo Nichols and May, alongside future famed director Mike Nichols. The pair won a Grammy for best comedy album in 1962. May went on to a successful career as a screenwriter, garnering two Oscar nominations for screenwriting for 1978s Heaven Can Wait and 1998s Primary Colors.

Cyrus, on the other hand, came to prominence through the Disney Channels Hannah Montana, in which she played a secret teenage pop star. She went on to find success in the music world in her own right, achieving her first No. 1 single in the United States with Wrecking Ball in 2013 and a Grammy nomination for pop vocal album with Bangerz.

Amazon has yet to announce a release date (or a title) for Allens series, but in the meantime, Mays latest directorial project, Mike Nichols: American Masters, airs Jan. 29 at 9 p.m. on PBS.

Follow me on Twitter at @midwestspitfire.

libby.hill@latimes.com
Ive said it all along and will say it again: The antiabortion sting videos purporting to trap Planned Parenthood into admitting it harvests and sells aborted fetal parts for profit were as malicious as they were untrue.

On Monday in Houston, a grand jury agreed.

Asked to investigate Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, a branch of one of the countrys most important healthcare providers for women, the grand jury found no wrongdoing on the part of the group, whose staffers were secretly videotaped talking about the cost of procuring fetal tissue for research. Instead, the grand jury handed down indictments against two of the antiabortion zealots involved in the sting.

If thats not poetic justice, nothing is.

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David Daleiden, the antiabortion zealot who created the Center for Medical Progress as a front for his deceptive efforts, has been indicted on a felony charge of tampering with a government record. (The reason for that charge is unclear, but Planned Parenthood has alleged that Daleiden and his associates used fake government identifications and used aliases.)

He also was indicted on a misdemeanor count that is related to soliciting the purchase of human organs, according to a statement from Harris County Dist. Atty. Devon Anderson (a Republican, I might add, who was appointed by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry).

Daleidens associate, Sandra Merritt, was indicted on a charge of tampering with a government record.

Anyone with an ounce of sense or knowledge would not have believed the preposterous claims against Planned Parenthood. Its destruction/delegitimizing/defunding is the Holy Grail of the American antiabortion movement.

In July, the first of several Center for Medical Progress videos was released. Planned Parenthood Federation of Americas senior director of medical services, Deborah Nucatola, was secretly videotaped as she ate lunch with people she believed to be executives from an Irvine human biologics company. They pretended to be seeking sources of fetal tissue for medical research.

In what was supposed to be some sort of bombshell, antiabortion crusaders claimed that Nucatola admitted harvesting aborted fetal parts, changing abortion procedures to accommodate the harvesting of aborted fetal parts, then illegally selling the aborted fetal parts to medical researchers.

I watched and rewatched the video. I read the transcript. Although Nucatolas conversation may have been unsavory  who wants to talk about fetal body parts over salad?  I never believed for a moment that she was describing anything illegal or unethical.

As I have noted previously, there will always be abortions in this country. As a result, there will always be aborted fetal parts. Without fetal cells, we probably wouldnt have vaccines for German measles, chicken pox and polio. Fetal cells are used in research seeking cures for Parkinsons, Alzheimers, AIDS, dementia, diabetes and heart disease. Some researchers have experimented with neural stem cells to treat spinal cord injuries.

Later videos, released with great fanfare and accepted as gospel by antiabortion politicians around the country, suffered from the same problem. Just not credible.

And then, in September, presidential candidate Carly Fiorina stood onstage at a Republican debate and upped the stakes against Planned Parenthood. She told a whopper. The undercover videos, she said, showed a fully formed fetus on the table, its heart beating, its legs kicking while someone says, We have to keep it alive to harvest its brain.

Her claim was widely debunked.

But Fiorina has never apologized or corrected herself about what Dahlia Lithwick of Slate described as her big lie. As of this writing, I have seen no statement from Fiorina regarding the felony indictment in Texas.

Among Texas abortion foes, hope springs eternal. The Republican governor still thinks he has a case against Planned Parenthood, proving he is immune to logic and facts.

Nothing about todays announcement in Harris County impacts the states ongoing investigation, said Gov. Greg Abbott. The state of Texas will continue to protect life, and I will continue to support legislation prohibiting the sale or transfer of fetal tissue.

Thats too bad since so much good has come of fetal tissue research.

Im thankful that a group of citizens with common sense were able to see what was clear to people who support the ability of women to rule their own reproductive fates: Planned Parenthood has done no wrong.

Its the scheming antiabortion types who have crossed legal and ethical boundaries. Theyre the ones who should go to jail.

robin.abcarian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AbcarianLAT

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The South Los Angeles intersection of Vernon and Western avenues is anchored by a liquor store and a boarded-up mini-mall. Murders have roiled the area over the last year  including a recent drive-by shooting before noon. Neighbors complain that prostitutes and drug dealers linger nearby.

At a recent hearing at City Hall, community members and activists argued it was no place for people trying to shake off a criminal past. They denounced the plans of a company that wants to open a Vernon Avenue residential facility that would provide services to scores of former inmates.

If you want to put parolees in an environment where theres drugs, prostitution, gang war  all the vices that will send them back to jail, I think this is the location, said Karim Zaman, a businessman who said he had heard fatal gunshots across the street from his Vernon Avenue office.

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But others argue that the facility is exactly what former inmates need.

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The people who are being released from prison are coming to our community anyway, said Leonard Delpit, an area representative on the Empowerment Congress Central Area Neighborhood Development Council, which backed the plan. He praised the company, Geo Reentry Services, for being willing to empower these people.

After a contentious hearing this month, a Los Angeles City Council committee voted against the Vernon Avenue proposal, sending it to the entire council for a final decision. A report by council staff said the facility does not promote a strong and compatible commercial sector, was not compatible with community plans and would worsen neighborhood blight.

Any reasonable person that stands at the corner of Vernon and Western for even five minutes knows that this makes no sense, Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson said at the hearing.

His spokeswoman Chanelle Brown later said that the councilman also had concerns about former inmates being negatively affected by illegal activity in the neighborhood.

Geo counters that the neighborhood is no worse than many other areas that successfully host such programs and has a number of advantages over more isolated sites, including easy access to public transportation. It says it wants to provide an array of services to men exiting prison, including job training, anger management, GED preparation and substance abuse treatment.

Without reentry programs, these folks are going to be facing those temptations every day in their life, said Rachel Kienzler, regional director of business development for the reentry services provider. Our job is to prepare them to be able to cope with that.

Company representatives point out that the Vernon Avenue building, now vacant, had been approved and used for similar programs in the past. Former inmates wouldnt be able to loiter in the neighborhood, Kienzler said. Residents would be able to leave only for previously approved reasons, such as going to work or visiting family, Geo officials said, and the company would check on them randomly.

Last year, planning officials and a city commission supported the plan for a facility housing up to 140 men, deeming it suitable for the area. The local neighborhood council backed it too, telling planning officials in a letter that the new facility would provide vital programs to help men get their lives back on track.

But the proposal troubled some activists and other community members, who urged city lawmakers to reject it. Community organizer Cheryl Branch argued that the area was stricken with violent crime and would not help people leaving prison to thrive. She said the area should instead have viable, robust commercial uses along its valuable transit corridors.

Experts said they knew of little research on whether the crime rate in a neighborhood affects the success or failure of programs for people transitioning out of prison. Many said that other factors, such as whether they could access jobs, were much more crucial.

Ultimately, however, I think a lot of what will determine the success of the halfway house is how its operated, said Stefan LoBuglio, director of corrections and reentry for the Council of State Governments Justice Center. Communities have legitimate concerns to ask, Will this be an asset to my community?

Much of the debate over the Vernon Avenue facility has swirled around Geo and its track record. Geo Reentry Services is part of Geo Group, which identifies itself as the biggest corporation providing correctional and reentry services worldwide.

It has repeatedly faced lawsuits and allegations of mistreatment at other facilities. For instance, the Department of Justice said it found egregious and dangerous practices at one of its Mississippi correctional facilities four years ago, including a pattern of excessive force used against youth.

These people have been profiting off of our misery, said Susan Burton, executive director of A New Way of Life, which assists formerly incarcerated women.

Company officials said that most of the troubling incidents in the report had happened either before Geo assumed management of the Mississippi facility or in the first few months afterward. The company also said it had made significant improvements. However, the federal report stated that key personnel, policies and training  did not change substantially after the reentry services provider merged with its previous operator.

Closer to Los Angeles, the company has also faced criticism over an immigrant detention center that it runs in Adelanto. The ACLU of Southern California and several immigrant rights groups wrote federal officials last year, raising concerns that Geo consistently has denied or delayed necessary medical and mental health treatment to Adelanto detainees.

In response, Geo vice president of corporate relations Pablo Paez said the facility provided comprehensive, around-the-clock medical services pursuant to strict contractual requirements. The company also touts high scores for Adelanto and other facilities from the American Correctional Assn.

Angela Moore, whose late father, Roy Evans, headed the previously operating Bridge Back program at the Vernon Avenue site, said he had purposefully sought out Geo after his own program dissolved. The Evans family still owns the building, which is slated to be sold to Geo if it gets city permission for the facility.

He didnt just enter lightly into this, Moore said. He chose them to carry out his legacy.

Branch, who faced public accusations that she was trying to get the building for herself, denied that and said her reasons for opposing Geo were simple.

We do not want private prison operators in our neighborhood, even if they rebrand themselves as reentry programs, Branch said.

The council is scheduled to take up the proposal Tuesday.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesEmily

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As city and county officials gear up for what is promised as a $100-million program to reduce homelessness, thousands of volunteers will hit the streets to document the scale of the problem.

Nearly 7,500 volunteers have signed up to take part in the 2016 homeless count, said Naomi Goldman, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, which organized the event.

The volunteers will gather at 150 deployment centers across the county over three nights beginning Tuesday night in the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles.

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The count will move to the San Fernando Valley, West Los Angeles and the South Bay on Wednesday night. Malibu, Pacific Palisades and the Antelope Valley will be counted Thursday morning. The count will conclude Thursday night in the central city and South Los Angeles.

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This year marks the first homeless count to be conducted in consecutive years. Since 2005, the joint city-county agency had organized the massive effort during only odd-numbered years.

Amid growing public concern over the spread of homeless encampments to neighborhoods far from skid row, last years count set off alarms by recording a dramatic increase in homelessness. The count set the number at 44,000 homeless people, a 12% increase over the previous count.

More than 33,000 of those were classified as unsheltered, living on the streets in encampments, doorways and vehicles.

Under pressure to respond to what has been perceived as a growing crisis, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this month published a blueprint for spending $150 million on short-term responses to homelessness. On the same day, L.A. city officials released a study concluding that ending homelessness would require the expenditure of $1.85 billion over a decade, mostly for permanent housing.

The 2015 count also shined a harsh light on a subset of the homeless population: veterans.

Its estimate of about 4,400 in the county forced Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to back off a pledge he had made in July 2014 to end veteran homelessness by the end of 2015.

Garcetti made the pledge during a high-profile appearance with First Lady Michelle Obama at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

In January 2015, the mayor said he was more than halfway there, but the count conducted that month and released in May showed a 6% increase in the citys homeless veteran numbers.

Garcetti readjusted his goal to summer 2016.

The persistence of veteran homelessness was in part responsible for the Homeless Services Authoritys first even-year count.

During the summer, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs put up money to supplement city and county funding for the $1.35-million enterprise.

Goldman, the Homeless Services Authority spokeswoman, said the 2016 volunteer response exceeded last years, when 6,000 people scoured about 89% of the countys census tracts.

This years count will cover nearly 95% of census tracts, Goldman said.

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The count  actually an estimate rather than a true count such as the U.S. census  begins at deployment centers where volunteers are dispatched in small groups to survey specific census tracts.

At last years count, each group received several clipboards, each with a map of a census tract. They were instructed to drive some tracts and walk others. The volunteers made hash marks on the clipboard for each individual, occupied vehicle or encampment they spotted.

Their tallies, tabulated by Homeless Services Authority workers over the next few days, were extrapolated into estimates by statistical consultants. The program used results of a separate in-depth survey of homeless people to assign a specific number of individuals to each vehicle, shelter or encampment. The final estimates were released in May.

doug.smith@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATdoug

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On Newsstands Now: Here's Everything You'll Find in CityBeat's Latest Issue

From a Bigfoot hunt to delightfully spooky ghost stories from one of Cincinnati's watering holes, here are the stories you'll find in CityBeat's latest print edition.

By CityBeat Staff Oct 19, 2022

For many of us, Bigfoot is a legend present only on an episode of Ancient Aliens, or perhaps only among the towering, mysterious pines of the Pacific Northwest. However, for CityBeat's latest issue, we went on a hunt for Bigfoot in a place where the massive furball had allegedly been spotted before  Ohio's Pleasant Hill Lake Park...
Silver Lake resident Bobby Peppey went for a walk on Sunset Boulevard a few days after New Years and quickly realized something was wrong: There wasnt as much shade.

Someone had cut back a handful of trees at Sunset Triangle Plaza, a city-owned patch of green space that borders Sunset and Griffith Park boulevards. Those trees, planted roughly a decade earlier, had grown tall enough that they blocked views of the rooftop billboard next door, Peppey said.

City officials say the work, carried out between Christmas and New Years, left three trees so badly damaged that they will need to be replaced. Six others were so severely cut they will take years to grow back, they added.

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Its a huge loss, said Peppey, a 59-year-old retiree. We could sit there and be shaded in the middle of summer  90 degrees  and not have the sun blaring on us.

Outfront Media, which owns the billboard, confirmed it hired the tree-cutting company. Now, Peppey and his neighbors are calling on city leaders to crack down on the sign company by pursuing criminal charges and securing concessions.

Ryan Brooks, Outfront Medias senior vice president for government affairs, said his company fired the tree trimming crew for doing the work without city permits. But he declined to say whether he agrees with residents who portray the tree-trimming work as a hatchet job.

Im not an arborist, I wouldnt know, he said. I could see this tree and I wouldnt know one tree from the next tree.

Foes of outdoor advertising describe the situation on Sunset Boulevard as part of a larger, citywide problem. Dennis Hathaway, president of the Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight, said he has photographs of street trees in Venice, Mid-City and elsewhere that were hacked after growing too tall near a billboard.

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These are trees that belong to the public. Theyre a visual and ecological amenity to the city, he said. And for billboard companies to just cavalierly hack them off is really disturbing.

Hathaway said he never managed to catch tree cutters in the act. But in late December, a community volunteer in Silver Lake spoke to a member of the tree trimming crew at Sunset Triangle Plaza. That worker provided the name and number of a contact at Outfront Media, according to Genelle LeVin, president of the Silver Lake Improvement Assn.

Since then, residents have circulated a petition targeting Outfront Media and attended a community meeting devoted to the controversy.

Councilman Mitch OFarrell, who helped arrange the meeting, plans to introduce a motion Tuesday to make sure such incidents do not happen again. OFarrell said Outfront should be held accountable for its contractors act of vandalism.

These trees were trimmed to make the billboard visible, and that was the only consideration that was made, said OFarrell, whose district stretches from Echo Park to Hollywood.

OFarrell said Outfront Media has agreed to replace the most seriously damaged trees and provide other contributions to the plaza, such as the installation of umbrellas for shade. But Brooks said that his company has not made any commitments, and that conversations with the community are continuing.

Under the citys regulations, billboard companies have the right to trim street trees near their signs if they pull the proper permits and get the property owners consent, said Ron Lorenzen, assistant director for the citys Bureau of Street Services. They also must follow city guidelines on how the tree is pruned, he said.

If Lorenzens agency finds that Outfront damaged public property, City Atty. Mike Feuer could pursue a misdemeanor case that comes with a $1,000 fine or six months in jail.

Unlawfully hacking down trees is totally unacceptable, Feuer said in a statement. If the evidence confirms thats what happened here, well prosecute.

Brooks said billboard companies have been responsible for trimming thousands of trees across the city  saving taxpayers the trouble. Theres no reason to change a policy that works, he added.

Peppey, on the other hand, doesnt trust advertising firms to be stewards of the citys urban forest.

I dont think the billboard companies should be touching street trees, or trees in our parks. When they do, its vandalism, he said.

david.zahniser@latimes.com

Twitter: @davidzahniser

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Im Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I dont want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

Armed, Dangerous and Maybe Nearby

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Investigators are turning to the Vietnamese community for help in apprehending three inmates, whose brazen escape  think: hacksaws and bedsheets  from the Central Mens Jail in Santa Ana is under investigation. Please turn yourself in, pleaded the sister of one of the men. It was the third getaway at the jail since the facility was built in 1968. Heres the latest in the search and why it took so long to detect the escape.

The Grand Solicitor

Ted Cruzs career had flat-lined. A mid-level bureaucrat in the Bush Administration, he had little more to recommend him than his Ivy League pedigree, but when he received a call from the Texas Attorney General, all that changed. As the states solicitor general, he polished his ego and honed a knack for self-promotion while leaving a trail of resentment along the way.

Big Oil and the Class Conflict

When oil prices drop, as they have over the last few weeks, the suits in Houston suffer the most. Layoffs and cutbacks among geologists and engineers have rocked the corporate offices, but 30 miles east in the refineries along the Gulf Coast, business is booming for blue-collar workers, who gathered at a burger and beer joint to share their good luck.

No Flu? Thank El Nino

Experts monitoring this years flu season have been asking why the state has recorded only three flu-related deaths since October. Two years ago by late January, influenza had claimed 146 Californians. Todays decline points to El Nino, whose wet and warm conditions are not conducive for spreading contagion. Heres why.

Emojis: A no-brainer for digital communication

We all know theyre cute but the real innovation behind emojis lies in their ability to help people online say what they really mean. The colorful icons have become a no-brainer for digital communication.

Vindication for Planned Parenthood?

A Texas grand jury indicted two antiabortion activists who made and released videos, allegedly showing the unlawful trafficking in fetal tissue. The videos, covertly shot in a Gulf Coast clinic, led to a congressional investigation in a futile attempt to defund the organization. We must go where the evidence leads us, said the district attorney.

CALIFORNIA

-- Nearly 7,500 volunteers take to the streets of Los Angeles for the annual homeless census.

-- City and billboard company disagree over the fate of the trees trimmed in Silver Lake.

-- Does the lottery help schools? One nonprofit claims the money is inequitably distributed.

-- More tumult at Twitter as top executives are shown the door by co-founder Jack Dorsey.

NATION-WORLD

-- Julian Castro, a rising star among Democrats, becomes Hillary Clintons attack dog in Iowa.

-- The crowd in Cairos Tahrir Square looks nothing like it did during the Arab Spring five years ago.

-- Recent killings in Bangladesh suggest the Islamic State is influencing local terrorists.

-- With the Iowa caucus less than a week away, President Obama weighs in.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- Amazon wins big at Sundance: $10 million to stream the talk of Park City.

-- The ever-intrepid Long Beach Opera takes on a flop with a glittering score.

-- Carolina Miranda: A roundup from Islamic State depredations to X-File fashion.

-- The buzz from Sundance and what everyones talking about.

BUSINESS

-- Dov Charney, the founder of American Apparel, loses his fight in bankruptcy court.

-- Michael Hiltzik: Raising retirement age for Social Security is a terrible idea.

SPORTS

-- Olympic housing for 2024 athletes proposed for UCLA.

-- Kings skeptics are silenced by Vinny Lecavaliers play.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- From wunderkind to pariah, Ryan Kavanaugh leaves Hollywood wondering, what happened? (Vulture)

-- Keeping theater alive means adapting to your audience, even if it means playing to the children. (The Guardian)

-- Forget sodas. Vending machines in Grenoble, France, offer short stories. (The New Yorker)

ONLY IN L.A.

Call it Straight into Compton. With three weeks to go before the Grammy Awards, rapper Kendrick Lamar has released a short film, celebrating this often benighted city in South L.A. Witness Greatness features residents mobbing Lamar, best known for his album To Pimp a Butterfly, and declaring We gonna be alright. Heres the story with a link to the film.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.
Lottery commercials and billboards plastered around the state suggest that the long-shot gamble of buying a lottery ticket can not only make you rich but also make you a better person.

Billboards and videos on the California Lotterys website make playing the lottery seem like something of a civic duty.

Thanks for helping us support public schools, reads one ad from the state lotterys 30th-anniversary campaign.

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A recent analysis by an education nonprofit, however, suggests that whats really happening is a $449 million wealth transfer between winners and losers that can make rich schools richer without doing much to help poor schools.

Follow the Times education initiative to inform parents, educators and students across California >>

EdBuild, an organization that focuses on ways to pay for public education, says the states distribution of lottery money is unfair.

In fiscal year 2013-14, a total of $1.3 billion from the lottery went to California schools. Almost all of that amount, representing 21.7% of total lottery sales, went to the states K-12 public schools.

Districts statewide got about $163 for every student, as determined by average daily attendance  regardless of how much money is made from lottery ticket sales in those districts.

That distribution, said Rebecca Sibilia, EdBuilds chief executive and founder, runs counter to Californias recent efforts to address inequity in the way it pays for public education.

As it is, there are essentially two ways the state pays. Regular funding is distributed equally to all schools, while a second stream of money that might be termed inequity funding is passed out in a more targeted way, to address the bigger problems in schools with lots of students from low-income families.

Californias new Local Control Funding Formula assumes that some students need more money than others. This attempt at an egalitarian approach, pushed through by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013, tries to put more taxpayer money into low-income areas where struggling schools and students needs are greater.

The problem, according to EdBuilds analysis, is that relatively few rich people buy lottery tickets  but if their children attend public schools, each gets as much money from lottery sales as kids in the states poorest school districts.

A fairer distribution would give the money to school districts based on how much the lottery made in those communities, Sibilia said.

Take, for example, the lottery payouts of La Canada Unified School District, which has the highest median income of any school district in Los Angeles County, and Inglewood Unified School District, which has one of the lowest median incomes.

In fiscal year 2013-14, students in the richer district received about $166 a piece and those in the poorer district received about $164, with the variance probably caused by differences in the way money is allocated to charter schools.

According to EdBuilds data, that means that La Canada Unified receives about $105 more per student than it would if the money were allocated proportionally to revenue from the areas lottery ticket sales. Inglewood Unified, meanwhile, receives $211 less per student than it would on an adjusted formula.

A crowd lines up to buy Powerball lottery tickets at Bluebird Liquor in Hawthorne earlier this month. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

The fair approach, according to EdBuild, would ensure that if a districts census tracts account for 3% of all lottery sales, that district would receive 3% of the total lottery payout.

The researchers concede that just looking at lottery money distribution at the school district level doesnt tell the whole story. The data show that many districts that have a low median income appear to be getting as much lottery money as they would on an adjusted formula. Thats possibly because different neighborhoods balance each other out in a district such as L.A. Unified, where the city of Bell may have lots of lottery sales while Bel-Air may have relatively few.

One problem with changing the funding structure is that its difficult to make assumptions about whos playing the lottery, said California Lottery spokesman Alex Traverso.

Although more tickets might be sold in low-income areas, customers may live elsewhere  including, in the case of tourists, on the other side of the country. But overall the people who buy lottery tickets regularly tend to be lower-income.

Changing the way money is doled out would not be easy. A 1984 ballot measure created the current lottery, so significant changes would probably require another public vote, said Ken Kapphahn, a fiscal and policy analyst for the California Legislative Analysts Office.

But the lotterys relatively minor contribution to California K-12 schools  about 1.6% of the total dollars allocated in 2013-14 fiscal year  may not be enough to rally reformers, experts said.

I dont know if we would necessarily get into the issue of how its portioned, said California State PTA President Justine Fischer.

Even the California Lotterys own spokesman acknowledged that buying a ticket is an inefficient way to get money to schools.

Most people arent buying tickets because they want to support schools, Traverso said. " I think if people are motivated to support their schools theyll just support their schools directly.

sonali.kohli@latimes.com

joy.resmovits@latimes.com

Times staff writer Joe Fox contributed to this report.

EdBuild receives funding from the Broad Foundation. The Times receives support for its Education Matters digital initiative through several donors. The California Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles administer grants from the Baxter Family Foundation, the Broad Foundation, the California Endowment and the Wasserman Foundation. Under terms of the grants, the Times retains complete control over editorial content.

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All shelter in place orders at the Naval Medical Center San Diego following reports of an active shooter have been lifted with no evidence of an attacker or gunfire found, authorities said Tuesday.

The order was lifted for a last building on the campus about 4 p.m. following a search by police and K9 units, officials said.

No sign of casualties or other evidence of a shooting were been found in a sweep of the entire facility.

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There is nothing which substantiates reports of a shooting, said Navy Capt. Curt Jones, commanding officer of Naval Base San Diego, at a news conference Tuesday.

Reports of a possible active shooter about 8:22 a.m. caused the medical center to issue an alert telling hospital occupants to run, hide or fight.

Apparently someone said they heard three shots in the basement of Building 26. Maybe they did or not is not the point; thats what they reported, so thats why we responded accordingly, said Jon Nylander, Navy spokesman. We havent gotten any reports of any injuries.

The Naval Base San Diego alerted personnel to reports of an active shooter via Facebook, and advised all non-emergency personnel to avoid the compound in the 34800 block of Bob Wilson Drive.

An active shooter has just been reported in building #26 at Naval Medical Center San Diego. All occupants are advised to run, hide or fight, the hospital wrote.

If you are in the vicinity, shelter in place. If in immediate danger, hide or seek shelter in secure space. Barricade the door and dial 911. Silence phones and other devices. Stay away from doors and windows. Remain calm and quiet.

Law enforcement also began searching the hospital with a K9 unit, according to Nylander, as part of a top down search of the building. The basement is a combination gym and barracks, he said.

U.S. marshals, the Chula Vista Police Department and the California Highway Patrol are assisting, authorities said.

The medical center posted an update shortly after 9 a.m. saying that all childcare facilities were secured:

For all concerned, the childcare facilities at NMC are currently secured. All children are accounted for and safe. The entire complex is secured, there is no access to the facilities at this time. 

The Navy Medical Center San Diego comprises more than 400 physicians, 760 registered nurses and thousands of civilian and military personnel. The 272-bed facility offers medical care to active duty members and their families from Miramar to El Centro.

Located at the southeast corner of Balboa Park, the hospital has a dental clinic for active duty service members, a virtual reality lab for post-traumatic stress syndrome treatment and recreational facilities.

The facility boasts the only U.S. Navy medicine amputee center in the Western Pacific.

The hospital can treat more than 250,000 San Diego residents.

Three San Diego Unified schools were temporarily placed on lockdown as a precaution, the district announced on Twitter.

Roosevelt Middle School and San Diego and Garfield high schools were all temporarily locked down as a precaution, the district said.

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA and @JosephSerna

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A Los Angeles jury on Tuesday awarded more than $6.4 million in the first of a series of lawsuits against renowned yoga guru Bikram Choudhury in which women accuse the founder of the popular Bikram yoga style of sexual misconduct.

The verdict marks a significant financial and legal blow to Choudhury, who claimed millions of followers in a global empire centered around hot yoga, performed in sweltering rooms.

The case involved a lawsuit by his onetime legal advisor, Minakshi Jafa-Bodden, who alleged that Choudhury sexually harassed her while she worked for him and that she was fired after she began investigating claims that he had raped a yoga student. Six other women in recent years have filed civil lawsuits accusing Choudhury of sexually assaulting them.

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Choudhury has denied any wrongdoing, and Los Angeles County prosecutors decided not to file criminal charges in several cases, saying there was no corroborating evidence.

The Beverly Hills resident testified Tuesday that he has spent millions of dollars on legal bills in recent years and that his Los Angeles-based yoga business has waned, leaving him nearly bankrupt.

I have to borrow money from my family and friends, he told jurors. I have no money.

Under cross-examination, Choudhury admitted keeping a fleet of up to 40 luxury cars  including Bentleys, Ferraris and Rolls-Royces  in a Van Nuys garage. He said he gave the vehicles to the state to start a school, the Bikram auto engineering school for children.

The remarks drew smirks and laughs from several jurors. A spokeswoman for the governor told The Times no such agreement exists.

Tuesdays award of punitive damages came on top of more than $924,500 that jurors awarded Jafa-Bodden in compensatory damages Monday.

I feel vindicated, Im elated, Jafa-Bodden said after the verdict, describing Choudhury as a dangerous, dangerous predator.

She said she was gobsmacked by the size of the punitive damages.

One of the jurors hugged her after the verdict, telling her she was a warrior for women. The juror, Elvira Castro, said she was appalled by the way Choudhury treated the attorney.

Hes disgusting, Castro said.

Choudhury, 69, left the courtroom soon after the verdict was announced without commenting. His attorney declined to comment.

Choudhury was born in Kolkata, India, and moved to California in 1971. He quickly became a prominent figure in the yoga world at a time when the practice was gaining popularity in the United States. He styled himself as a yogi to the stars, bragging that Raquel Welch and Quincy Jones were among his clients and that he healed Richard Nixon of phlebitis.

His yoga routine consists of a series of 26 poses, done over 90 minutes in a room heated to 104 degrees.

Last year, Choudhury lost a legal fight to copyright the sequence. He had argued that only he had the right to determine who could teach his method, but the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that his yoga method was not protected by copyright law and that competitors could not be held liable for teaching it without his blessing.

The public allegations of sexual misconduct have battered Choudhurys image in recent years and embarrassed even some of his most devoted followers, said Benjamin Lorr, who wrote a book about his time becoming a Bikram yoga competitor.

This weeks legal defeat in Los Angeles could further dent Choudhurys standing in the yoga world, where he fashioned himself as a spiritual leader whose methods could help heal ailments, promote health and lead followers to a better, more peaceful life, Lorr said.

Its another sign that the emperor has no clothes, said Lorr, author of Hell-Bent: Obsession, Pain, and the Search for Something Like Transcendence in Competitive Yoga.

One of the women who had filed a lawsuit alleging that Choudhury raped her filed court paperwork this month saying a conditional settlement had been reached; the filing did not disclose the agreements details. The five remaining lawsuits alleging sexual assaults are pending in Los Angeles County courts.

Jafa-Bodden alleged that she was persuaded by Choudhury to leave her native India in 2011 to work for him as a legal analyst. Choudhury, she alleged, often made offensive comments about women, blacks, Jews and gays.

She was repeatedly required to meet with him in his hotel rooms while young female employees massaged him, her lawsuit claimed. At one point, she alleged, Choudhury asked her to join him in bed during a meeting in his hotel room. At other times, he used his hands to simulate oral sex and urinated in front of her, she alleged in her complaint.

Her lawsuit said that she was fired after she began to investigate several allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Choudhury, including a rape claim made by one of his female students.

Choudhury denied the allegations, and his defense team argued that Jafa-Bodden was let go because she did not have a license to practice law in the United States.

On Monday, the jury found that Choudhury acted with malice, oppression and fraud  findings that allowed Jafa-Bodden to seek punitive damages.

On Tuesday, Jafa-Boddens attorneys complained in court that Choudhury had failed to turn over financial records showing his net worth, which they said is considerable.

Choudhury testified that his yoga business relies on revenue from teacher training sessions, which involve a nine-week course required for followers who want to teach at a Bikram-affiliated studio. The sessions cost $12,500 to $16,600, according to his website. In recent years, attendance has dropped and the trainings have lost money or broken even, Choudhury told jurors.

One of Jafa-Boddens lawyers, Mark Quigley, asked Choudhury about his collection of cars and displayed photos of a pair of white Ferarris, which Choudhury said he bought for his children. Quigley also showed jurors a photograph of Choudhurys Beverly Hills mansion.

Choudhury said he did not know his net worth, repeatedly answering questions about his finances with, You have to ask my accountant.

After the verdict, Quigley said that Choudhury was attempting to hide his wealth.

Its a sham, Quigley said. He lives a life of luxury.

Several jurors said they did not believe Choudhurys claims of financial hardship or his other testimony during the trial, including his insistence that he had not abused women.

Juror Debbie Valencia of Montebello said she was unconvinced by Choudhury.

You could tell he was lying, she said.

For more Los Angeles County civil court news, follow @sjceasar.

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The message from Gov. Jerry Brown in his latest budget proposal could not have been more clear: Cal State schools are not graduating enough students within four years.

To emphasis the point, his budget summary included a chart with four-year graduation rates for freshmen at each of the systems 23 campuses. All but three were below the national average of 34% for public universities.

The governor wants Cal State  and the University of California, for that matter  to send more funds to campuses that are improving their graduation rates and reducing disparities between students from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

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That controversial proposal awaits the Cal State Board of Trustees as they begin two days of meetings in Long Beach today.

Among other items of interest are expected to be faculty demands before the Trustees Collective Bargaining Committee to resolve a long-running stalemate over salary negotiations. The faculty union wants a 5% across-the-board increase, while Cal State management is offering 2%.

And students are scheduled to ask trustees to reject recommendations by a university panel studying long-range planning that call for annual tuition hikes and year-round academic schedules.

Trustees may also announce new presidential appointments for the San Jose and Sonoma campuses.

Chancellor Timothy P. White is scheduled to present his annual overview of the nations largest four-year university system. Expect him to discuss enrollment, tuition, budget concerns, faculty hiring and various system-wide initiatives aimed at improving student success.

In a separate presentation, trustees will get an update on Whites initiative to reduce the time it takes students  both freshmen and transfers  to obtain a degree. By 2025, the goal is to have a six-year freshman graduation rate of 60% (up from 57% now) and a four-year graduation rate of 24% (up from 17%).

The target two-year graduation rate for transfer students who enter Cal State as juniors would jump to 35% from 27%. The plan also calls for reducing ethnic and income gaps.

The goals are commendable, but they fall short, according to Brown.

The trustees sustainability plan based its goals on the continuation of past trends rather than setting more ambitious graduation rates, the governor stated in his budget summary. Given the magnitude of these challenges and their real impacts on students each year, this work must be done more quickly.

Browns budget proposal provides no guidance on what targets he would find acceptable  the details are up to White and the trustees, said H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the Department of Finance.

But Palmer pointed out that schools that Cal State considers comparable for the purposes of setting executive compensation do a far better job of graduating their students in a reasonable amount of time.

For instance, in 2013, the four-year freshman graduation rate was 65% at James Madison University in Virginia, 44% at Illinois State University and 40% at Western Washington University, according to the budget report. Comparable rates at Cal State ranged from 49% at the California Maritime Academy to 6% at the Dominguez Hills campus, the report said.

The system-wide average is 17%.

That comparison is unfair, said Eric Forbes, Cal States assistant vice chancellor for student academic services. The 2013 figures for Cal State reflect campuses struggling to overcome funding cuts, reductions in classes, faculty layoffs and other hardships brought on by the recession, he said.

To make significant improvements in the four-year rate will be a a heavy lift and will take several years, he acknowledged.

The system already is upgrading advising programs at all campuses and redesigning some courses to reduce bottlenecks, among other strategies to move students through more quickly.

The biggest key is making sure students admitted to Cal State are better prepared for college-level math and English classes. Remedial courses, which do not count toward a degree, can add a year or more to studies, Forbes said.

Many educators at Cal State and elsewhere criticize the narrow focus on graduation rates, contending they dont accurately measure campus performance. Thats especially true in a system such as Cal State, where many students work and take less than a full load of units.

At Dominguez Hills, for example, 30% of students attend part time and 80% require remedial classes, said William Franklin, vice president of student affairs at the campus.

More than half of students are the first in their family to attend college, and two-thirds are community college transfers.

Investments in peer mentoring and advising programs are moving the needle, Franklin said. The six-year graduation rate for students who entered the school in 2010 is projected to be 43%, up from 28% only a few years ago, he said. And retention of students after their first year is 81%, the highest in many years, Franklin said.

The metrics of four-year and six-year graduation rates are great indicators, but at the end these are students and folks who deserve to get to the finish line, Franklin said.

Follow me on Twitter @carlariveralat

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Is El Nino wimping out in Southern California? Not quite

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Apartment buildings lining a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean in Pacifica, Calif., are in peril after recent El Nino storms severely eroded the crumbling bluff.

Video recorded from a drone posted on YouTube over the weekend shows several buildings on Esplanade Avenue teetering on the cliffs edge as other portions of the bluff appear to have disintegrated into the crashing waves below.

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City Manager Lorie Tinfow declared a local emergency after the storms not only wreaked havoc on the cliffside, but also caused damage to Pacifica Pier and the Milagra Watershed. Rains also triggered the failure of a seawall along Beach Boulevard and Santa Maria Avenue in the coastal Bay Area city, about 15 miles south of San Francisco.

El Nino is hitting the citys coastline very hard and creating almost daily reports of impacts to both public and private property, Tinfow said in a statement.

The apartment buildings in the 300 block of Esplanade Avenue have been deemed uninhabitable and the property owners were working with the city to demolish them.

FULL COVERAGE: El Nino in California >>

Residents had been living in another 20-unit apartment building along the same cliff until Monday, when city officials decided it was no longer inhabitable.

Chief building official Mike Cully said cavities were forming along the bluff, compromising south, west and north sides of the building. Cully anticipated the slopes would become more stable in the next few days as they fall back and settle in.

Tinfow called for state and federal assistance to help with the citys failing infrastructure.

Pacifica Police Chief Dan Steidle said officials reached out to the American Red Cross and Pacifica Resource Center to assist affected residents.

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>

Last weeks rainstorm caused minor flooding throughout the Bay Area and dropped more than an inch of rain on Pacifica. King tides -- unusually high tides that occur near the solstices -- pummeled the coastline for days.

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA

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Orange County Sheriffs officials said Tuesday that they were extremely troubled that it took at least 16 hours for deputies to realize three inmates had escaped last week, as new details emerged about the lengths the trio went to break out of the high-security lockup in Santa Ana.

With the inmates now at large for five days, the jail has come under intense scrutiny for several policies that some believe may have made the escape easier.

Jail personnel conduct only two physical head counts of inmates per day, one at 5 a.m., the other at 8 p.m. Investigators believe the three men vanished after the 5 a.m. check, and the escape was not discovered until late Friday night.

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Lt. Jeff Hallock, a department spokesman, said at a news conference Tuesday that immediate steps have been taken to improve the inspection process but would not provide any specifics.

Court documents made public Tuesday offered the most detailed description of the escape scheme yet, suggesting that more than 17 hours may have elapsed before evidence of the jail break was discovered.

Jail staff first realized something was wrong around 8 p.m. Friday during a nightly count of inmates that came up three short, according to the arrest warrants filed late Monday. The warrants make no mention of a jailhouse brawl that sheriffs officials have said delayed completion of the bed check until about 9 p.m.

After identifying the missing men as Jonathan Tieu, Bac Duong and Hossein Nayeri, deputies checked the inmates schedules to make sure they hadnt been in court that day or been left behind in a visitor area. They also checked whether the inmates were in classes offered at the jail.

With no leads, deputies performed a second head count, confirming what many of them probably were dreading  the three men werent merely missing, they might have escaped.

At 8:45 p.m., deputies launched a physical search of the entire facility. Seven inmates claimed they saw Tieu, Duong and Nayeri during the jails 5 a.m. head count but did not see them the rest of the day.

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>

As teams swept every cell, bunk bed and dorm, other deputies scoured the buildings roof and plumbing tunnels, finding makeshift ropes, cut-apart gates and sawed-open vents. Slowly, investigators were able to trace the trios path from Module F, the fourth-floor dormitory where they were housed, to a rope of knotted bed sheets they used to descend from the roof.

Sheriffs Department officials have said the escape probably began with the inmates cutting through a metal screen in their fourth-floor cell. This gave them access to a plumbing tunnel, but according to the warrant, deputies discovered that the tunnel would quickly lead the escapees to a ventilation shaft.

A deputy who had been searching the plumbing tunnel said he found the shafts security bars had been cut away. About two feet below the shafts entrance was a white bed sheet tied into a sling, with another sheet tied to more security bars, according to the affidavit.

This was used as a way for the inmates to pull themselves up into the vent, one deputy wrote.

Once inside the shaft, the escapees had to remove multiple ventilation louvers, or shutters, before they reached a trap door leading to the outer edge of the roof, according to the reports.

That area is outside a security gate that keeps inmates in a recreation area. Hallock said the fact that inmates typically use the roof for recreation purposes is one of many design flaws of the nearly 50-year-old jail.

The reports in the warrants say the escapees sawed through some of the security bars but make no mention of any tools they may have used or from where they may have gotten them.

Once atop the jail, the inmates cut barbed wire from the rooftops edge and used the bed sheets to rappel to the ground, deputies wrote.

About 10:30 p.m., investigators found two pairs of jail-issued sandals and a paper bag containing more rope that the trio presumably left on the roof before making their way to freedom.

Since the escape, the Sheriffs Department has conducted a roof-to-basement check of the entire jail, Hallock said.

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The preliminary investigation into the escape has caused the sheriff concern as to some of the jail inmate count practices and how they were conducted, he added. The sheriff is extremely troubled by the time it took the staff to determine the three inmates housed in a maximum security jail were unaccounted for.

The Orange County Grand Jury has called on the Sheriffs Department to improve antiquated surveillance systems in county jails six separate times, from 2008 to 2014. An $11-million plan to revamp those outdated camera setups was not launched until last year.

It remains unclear whether Module F is equipped with cameras. In a report published in 2014, an Orange County Grand Jury said surveillance equipment in the countys adult and juvenile facilities were extremely outdated, with some deputies left to review videotapes.

After touring all jail facilities, the grand jury surveyed the video systems at each jail, which range from severely outdated VHS tape technology, to touch screen operations. Each jail has a different system, the report read. This grand jury again found that all jails were lacking adequate video monitoring equipment to protect both the inmates and the staff. Recommendations by the previous six grand jury reports have not changed this fact.

While Mens Central Jail was not among those equipped with a VHS system, the facilitys camera setup did allow for several blind spots, according to a member of the grand jury who requested anonymity because grand jury members are not allowed to speak publicly about their findings. The grand jury member wondered aloud if increased surveillance could have done anything to prevent the escape.

This has been a problem that has been building for some years and now, boom, here we are, the grand jury member said. Had the responses been taken seriously and the funds allocated in the past, we wouldnt be here.

The Sheriffs Department launched a project to upgrade its camera system at all county jail facilities last year, with an approved budget of nearly $11 million, the reports show. Between 1,500 and 2,000 cameras are to be installed as part of the plan.

Hallock said the upgrade process was ongoing at all jails but declined to elaborate.

Questions about the surveillance systems were among several raised Tuesday, as local leaders continued to try to understand how the three men managed to get through several layers of metal, steel and rebar undetected.

We were all scratching our heads, said County Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who announced a $200,000 reward Tuesday for information leading to the capture of the fugitives. How on Earth did this happen?

Spitzer said he was particularly concerned about delays of Nayeris trial date.

The 37-year-old was arrested in 2013 and charged as part of a plot to kidnap and torture a wealthy marijuana dispensary owner in hopes of forcing him to surrender $1 million. Nayeri and his accomplices allegedly burned the man with a blowtorch and severed his penis, then left him to die in the Mojave Desert, court records show.

Hallock would not say whether the mens pending trial dates helped motivate the escape, but all three were due in court to answer charges that could carry life sentences within the next two months. Nayeri was scheduled to face a pretrial hearing Feb. 2, 10 days after the escape. Duong was slated for a pretrial hearing on an attempted murder charge Feb. 8, and Tieu was to be retried in a 2011 gangland murder the following month.

During the news briefing, Hallock defended the sheriffs policy of holding inmates awaiting trial for violent crimes in the dormitory-style housing. Corrections experts have said the three men should have been detained in individual holding cells.

Hallock, however, said at least half the men held in Module F are violent offenders.

Each of the three inmates were housed appropriately in a maximum security jail, he said.

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT and @lacrimes for crime and police news in Southern California.

Times staff writers Veronica Rocha, Christopher Goffard and Anh Do contributed to this report

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Residents in Orange Countys Little Saigon awoke Monday to a troubling warning from authorities.

The grim faces and names of three escaped convicts were splashed on the front pages of Vietnamese-language newspapers as well as on local TV and radio broadcasts.

Orange County authorities made a direct appeal to the Vietnamese community to help in the search for three inmates whod escaped from the Mens Central Jail in Santa Ana: Jonathan Tieu, 20, Bac Duong, 43, and Hossein Nayeri, 37, might be hiding in the area.

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Tieu was described as a documented Vietnamese gang member, and the official in charge of the search for the three men said he believes they may be embedded somewhere in the community.

Those comments sparked concern and a bit of bemusement in the bustling Vietnamese immigrant communities of Garden Grove and Westminster, where bets on the escapees hideouts dominated talk in local cafes.

Discussion of their whereabouts took place between servings of iced coffee and gelato, as puffs of smoke swirled in the languid afternoon air.

If their motive is to fit in  and I think it would be  this is the perfect place to hang out, said Evelyn Dang, a junior at Fountain Valley High School.

As she munched on sweets at the Creamery Pop, a dessert bar in Westminster, she and her friends said they hoped news of the inmates would not reach their parents quickly.

If my dad heard this, I dont think he would allow me to go out, Dang said. Things could get dangerous.

Radio announcers explained the workings of the Orange County jail system in Vietnamese, repeating the phone numbers of law enforcement agencies, urging their audience to stay vigilant and to focus their energy on helping authorities capture the former prisoners.

Theres no need for fear, disc jockeys said on air, as members of the public were urged to share anonymous tips.

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How do we know theyre not in Mexico? asked Anh Nguyen, owner of the Creamery Pop and the nearby Coffee Factory, where Vietnamese Americans have gathered to share the latest Little Saigon happenings for years.

This is a situation unheard of in our community, she added. We have our safety and our reputation to protect. If we see them, we need to alert the right people. We dont want these guys around and I would hope that they make posters for us to hang everywhere.

Lt. Dave Sawyer, who is overseeing the escape investigation, said Monday that police have no evidence to suggest the men fled the state, much less the country.

A few residents expressed concern that some people might hesitate to call the police if they spotted one of the men.

Imagine we saw them walking around. Some people would be afraid to report the escapees because theyre uncomfortable with calling the police  or they feel they wouldnt have proof its the real guys, said Emily Pham, a junior at La Quinta High School in Westminster.

On the outskirts of Little Saigon, residents of an Edwards Street apartment complex where Tieus family lives said they are on alert and they are familiar with the physical descriptions of the escapees.

If they need money, they could take us hostage, said Joy Navongsak. They are capable and especially if they need to go somewhere fast. Still, I feel most of the time, they would just run to Bolsa Avenue  the main artery of Little Saigon  where they could just duck and hide.

Times staff writer James Queally contributed to this report.

Follow @newsterrier for news about Orange County.

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The escape from Orange Countys largest jail probably took only a few minutes.

But it took 16 hours for jailers to realize that three dangerous inmates had broken out of the Santa Ana lockup. This gap gave the men a huge head start on their pursuers, who on Monday continued a sweeping but unsuccessful dragnet.

The length of time it took for authorities at the Mens Central Jail in Santa Ana to detect the escape was one of several issues detention experts and others were dissecting Monday amid the manhunt. Some also questioned why inmates accused of violent crimes were housed in dormitories rather than individual cells, which is the practice at other jails and prisons in the state.

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The last time jail personnel saw Hossein Nayeri, Jonathan Tieu or Bac Duong was during a 5 a.m. Friday prisoner count. Orange County jail staff only conduct two physical inspections of inmates each day. The second check Friday was delayed until 9 p.m. by a jailhouse brawl that some investigators believe was designed to cover the initial escape, officials said.

Nayeri, 37, was charged in the 2012 torture and kidnapping of a wealthy marijuana dispensary owner and his housemates girlfriend. Nayeri and several accomplices allegedly dragged the man into a desert, burned him with a blowtorch, doused him with bleach and severed his penis, authorities have said. They believed he was hiding up to $1 million in cash and hoped the torture would cause him to surrender the money. The victim was left to die in the desert but was rescued after the woman with whom he was kidnapped ran nearly a mile to get help.

Tieu, 20, was described as a documented Vietnamese gang member awaiting a retrial in connection with a 2011 gangland murder, prosecutors said.

Duong, 43, has several prior convictions and had been charged with attempted murder in a 2015 shooting in Santa Ana.

The three were also formally charged with escape Monday, prosecutors said.

The men were held in a section of the Santa Ana jail known as Module F, a fourth-floor dormitory where 68 inmates sleep in bunk beds rather than individual cells. To escape, Nayeri, Tieu and Duong had to cut through at least four layers of metal, steel and rebar in the dormitory, go through unsecured plumbing tunnels and make their way to the roof, where they used a makeshift rope of knotted bedsheets and cloth to rappel to freedom, said Lt. Jeffrey Hallock, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriffs Department.

These guys have nothing to lose. These guys were looking at life terms, said Martin Horn, a former head of corrections in New York City and Pennsylvania who now teaches at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Why are they, looking at life or worse, not being held in closed cells? Who made that judgment?

Merrick Bobb, who once oversaw reforms of the Los Angeles County jail system, said it seems unlikely that the men obtained the materials necessary to create their escape route on their own, and he said he was surprised to hear that what was tantamount to a weeks-long construction project went undetected.

These arent tools that can be made out of dental floss, Bobb said. Such cutting creates a lot of noise, and it would have to be covered up.

No jail employee has been suspended as part of the investigation into the breakout, and officials said they have not found any evidence that jail personnel played a role in the escape.

In contrast to Orange County, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department houses inmates accused of murder or attempted murder, such as Tieu and Duong, or inmates with violent criminal pasts, such as Nayeri, in individual cells, said Cmdr. Keith Swensson, a department spokesman.

At the state level, inmates convicted of violent crimes are also normally held in individual cells. An inmate convicted of murder could, with a lengthy stretch of good behavior, be promoted from maximum-security housing to a less-secure dormitory setup, but that could take as long as 20 years, said Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Orange County also conducts physical counts of its inmates less frequently than jailers in Los Angeles County and those at the state level. In Los Angeles, deputies conduct physical checks on inmates at the downtown Mens Central Jail at least three times a day, Swensson said. State corrections officials are required by state regulations to do so a minimum of four times a day.

Since its construction in 1968, the Santa Ana jail facility has seen only three escapes, the last of which came in 1989, Hallock said. But that success rate could have been part of the problem.

Complacency is the No. 1 enemy of good jail administration. No one has escaped in years, so why worry? Horn said. Officers and deputies tend to believe nothing happens, so they let down their guard. When I was in Pennsylvania, we had three escapes, and complacency was to blame for them all.

During a Monday news briefing, Orange County sheriffs officials were repeatedly asked about the decision to house the three men in dorms and the time gap between the jailhouse counts.

The focus right now is on apprehending the suspects; at some point we will be looking at our protocols, said Orange County Sheriffs Lt. Dave Sawyer, who is leading the investigation.

Sawyer said that investigators do not believe the three men have fled the state or country. Based on Tieu and Duongs gang connections, Sawyer said it is more likely that the men may be embedded somewhere in the community. Police made pleas to the local Vietnamese community in both English and Vietnamese, asking for help in capturing the escapees.

We sincerely need input from the community to help us put these three dangerous individuals back into custody, Sawyer said.

A spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Department said Sunday that the men would not have been housed in the dorm-style area if they were known to be flight risks. It is unclear what information jailers had when they assigned the escapees to their living quarters.

Although it does not appear Nayeri had been accused in a previous prison break, he has twice fled the country to escape criminal charges. After the alleged attack on the marijuana dispensary owner, Nayeri fled to Iran and remained there for several months before he was arrested in Prague, Czech Republic, according to Orange County authorities.

The scene outside the Central Mens Jail in Santa Ana. (Christina House / For The Times)

In 2005, after hed been arrested in connection with a drunk-driving death in Madera County, Nayeri also fled the country after posting bond, said Roger Bonakdar, an attorney representing relatives of the victim, Ehsan Tousi. He was arrested again in 2006 and sentenced to one year in prison under a plea agreement, Bonakdar said.

Several calls to the Madera County district attorneys office seeking information about the case were not returned.

The Orange County case has drawn national attention after a similar escape at a maximum security prison in upstate New York last summer. Convicted killers Richard Matt and David Sweat sparked a three-week manhunt after they used power tools to cut through steel pipes and plates inside the aging Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y., to break through a brick wall and climb out through a manhole cover on their way out of the prison.

The escape also raised questions about the possibility that the men had received help and sparked criticism about the freedom the men were given despite their murder convictions. The two were granted more freedom than most inmates because they were members of an honor program. An investigation later revealed that a prison employee provided them with some of the tools necessary for their escape.

Matt was shot and killed 20 days after he escaped, and Sweat was shot and captured two days after that.

Escapes from state prisons have declined greatly in California in recent decades, records show. Some experts said the Orange County breakout highlights the issue of holding inmates awaiting trial for violent crimes in jails, rather than prisons, which are designed to contain inmates for lengthy stretches of time.

If you give them enough time, Bobb said, they will learn your systems.

Times staff writers Christopher Goffard and Anh Do contributed to this report.

richard.winton@latimes.com

james.queally@latimes.com

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Los Angeles is facing sunshine and warmth this week even as El Nino remains strong 1,000 to 2,000 miles south of California. Its the third week without big storms this month. But El Nino is not wimping out. Heres whats going on:

Why hasnt El Nino brought us rain already in Los Angeles?

Put simply, its too early for El Nino-influenced rains to arrive in Southern California.

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During the last two strong El Ninos on record, the heaviest rains came during February 1998 and March 1983, said Bill Patzert, climatologist for NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge.

Los Angeles has actually done well for rainfall in January. As of Monday, downtown recorded 109% of average rainfall this month, largely due to big El Nino-influenced storms the first week of January.

So why is L.A. so pleasant and sunny this week while even Northern California has been getting hit by rain and snow?

There are masses of high pressure sitting on top of Southern California and over Nevada right now.

High pressure literally means theres more air in the atmosphere above you. And it pushes down on the air. And when it does that, it compresses it, and it literally heats up through compression, Patzert said.

Thats why in a high pressure system, you get heat waves.

That mass of high pressure needs to flatten out and go away for storms to return to Southern California, National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Bruno said.

What about the conveyor belt of storms we were promised?

That pattern did emerge in the first week of January, but hasnt returned since then.

Why are some experts confident that the El Nino-style rains will come to Southern California?

The two biggest El Ninos on record, which developed over 1982-83 and 1997-98, brought double the rain and double the snowpack for California, Patzert said. This El Nino is in the same league as those two.

El Nino is the warming of surface ocean temperatures about 1,000 to 2,000 miles south of California that fuels atmospheric disturbances worldwide. Its 2.5 times the size of the continental United States.

What makes this El Nino very impressive is that its still so huge compared with the El Nino of January 1998, which was already contracting by then, Patzert said.

Periods of sunny and warm weather are typical even in strong El Nino winters, Bruno said. No need to be alarmed that El Nino is a bust.

Why would warm ocean temperatures 1,000 to 2,000 miles away from Southern California impact storms coming our way?

Think about the western Pacific Ocean. The ocean surface is warm, and theres lots of clouds, rain and storms.

From Japan, those warm temperatures fuel the subtropical jet stream  a narrow band of strong winds in the atmosphere that pushes storms west to east. But that jet stream typically peters out in the middle of the ocean, around where the oceans surface starts cooling.

But during El Nino, when warmth arrives to the sea surface of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, stormy energy comes with it, Patzert said. Think of it like a kick-starter for the subtropical jet stream.

They energize a subtropical jet stream in the normally calm eastern Pacific, Patzert said.

All that warm water strengthens and elongates the subtropical jet stream, Patzert said, and gives it a second life. Due east of Japan happens to be Southern California, and so the renewed subtropical jet stream aims for a collision course with Southern California and the southern United States.

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So when will those big storms finally show up?

We dont know for sure. The L.A. forecast for the rest of the week is sunny or partly cloudy, with highs in the 70s. Theres a 40% chance of rain Sunday.

Forecasters dont know whether that rain will be significant. One computer model suggests 1 inch of rain Sunday; another says it could be as little as 0.1 of an inch or 0.25 of an inch, said Bruno of the National Weather Service.

As for the first week of February, there were initial signs that a big series of storms could come, but that has since fizzled. In February, the models are very inconsistent, Bruno said.

Still, Bruno expressed hope that El Nino would come through.

During the strong El Ninos, just about every one has produced heavy rain for the winter. Until that track record is broken, were going to believe February and March are going to be met, Bruno said. I have faith in just the fact that the track record has proven that.

The National Weather Services Climate Prediction Center forecasts above-average precipitation for California and the southern United States through the three-month period of March, April and May.

Has this winter been disappointing for rainfall in Southern California?

It depends on your point of view.

The National Weather Service recently changed the rain year for Los Angeles to begin Oct. 1. By that measure, L.A. has only 58% of the average rainfall to date, or 3.77 inches compared with the average of 6.54 inches as of Monday.

But that arbitrary date ignores the traditional rain year for L.A., which used to be July 1 through June 30 -- which neatly began during the driest period of the year.

The new rain year ignores the rain Southern California received in September when the remnants of Hurricane Linda washed ashore, dumping more than 2 inches of rain on downtown.

The old rain year would put downtown L.A. at 6.54 inches of rain since July 1 -- about 97% of the average of 6.72 inches.

January has been decent for Los Angeles. Downtown L.A. recorded 2.74 inches of rain since New Years Day, which is slightly above the average so far this month of 2.51 inches.

The snowpack is a really important indicator of Californias water supply. How are we doing on that?

The water content in the snow in the northern Sierra Nevada on Monday was pegged at 129% of average for Monday. For the central Sierra, it was 118% of average and for the southern Sierra, 99%.

State officials say the snowpack water content needs to be at 150% of average to come close to digging California out of the drought. Thats an ambitious benchmark that will be difficult to achieve, and its more likely that California will be about average for the year, officials say.

What do water managers think about the recent rain and snow?

Theyre optimistic, but point out that the reservoirs are so low that it will probably take more than one year of above-average rain and snow to recover. For instance, Californias fourth-largest reservoir, New Melones, is only at about 15% of capacity.

The Southlands chief importer of water, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, has exhausted two-thirds of its drought backup supply. And its unclear how much Southern California will get from water supplies in the north later this year.

Even an average year of rain and snow might result in Southern California getting only half of what it wants from the State Water Project, a vital aqueduct that supplies the south with water from the mountainous north, said Deven Upadhyay, manager of the water resource management group at the MWD.

ron.lin@latimes.com

Follow me for the latest news in earthquake safety, El Nino, and the drought: @ronlin

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If the manslaughter trial of Police Officer Peter Liang were to be turned into a movie, lawyers who presented opening arguments in a New York courtroom on Monday would have written two very different scripts.

According to the defense, Liang would be a tragic character  a young, inexperienced cop patrolling one of the most dangerous housing projects in the city who accidentally fired his gun, the bullet catching an innocent man several floors below.

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The prosecution offered a more sinister, true-crime story in which the officer recklessly fired his gun, sending a bullet ricocheting down a darkened stairwell and fatally striking Akai Gurley, 28, in the chest as he was stepping into the stairway after leaving his girlfriends apartment.

Instead of immediately reporting the shooting to his superiors, prosecutors alleged, Liang fretted about losing his job and then did nothing to help when he and his partner descended the stairs from the eighth floor and found Gurley lying in a pool of blood on a fifth-floor landing, his girlfriend helplessly administering CPR.

This man had just shot an innocent man and he never tried to undo what he had done, Assistant Dist. Atty. Marc Fliedner told jurors.

The story of the young Asian officer and an unarmed black man is a more nuanced narrative of the deadly encounters between police and black residents that have ratcheted up tension in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Ferguson, Mo.

The shooting occurred at a public housing development called the Pink Houses in the East New York section of Brooklyn on Nov. 20, 2014. At the time, the city was on edge.

Just months before, the New York Police Department had been embroiled in the controversy over the death of Eric Garner, an incident that sharpened the nations focus on the use of lethal force by police, especially in dealing with black men. Garner died after his arrest on suspicion of selling untaxed cigarettes; video taken by a bystander showed a police officer wrestling him to the ground and putting him in an apparent chokehold.

Although a grand jury declined to bring charges against the officer in the Garner case, a Brooklyn grand jury recommended that criminal charges be filed against Liang. The charges include manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

On Monday, Liangs defense attorney Rae Koshetz told the jury of five women and seven men not to be swayed by the public debate over police use of force.

This is not a referendum on policing in the United States, Koshetz said during her opening statement. This was an accident. He had no intent to hurt anybody.

She asked Liang, 28, to stand briefly so the jurors could see him clearly. Liang, in a dark blue suit, white shirt and red tie, showed no emotion as he rose from his chair at the defense table.

Koshetz said Liang, who had been on the force for 11 months when the shooting occurred, was in shock after he realized the bullet from his gun had struck Gurley.

Describing the scene in the stairwell, she said: Patrick Liang is a wreck. Hes hyperventilating. He needs oxygen. Hes not just upset about his job.

Koshetz said she believed that by the end of the trial, which is expected to last two to three weeks, the prosecution would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Liang acted criminally when his gun went off.

We will ask you not to see another tragedy occur in this courtroom, she said.

Fliedner, the prosecutor, described the shooting in detail during his statement to the jury. He said Liang and his partner had entered the stairwell on the buildings eighth floor, where the lights were not working.

He said Liang went first, a flashlight in one hand and his gun drawn in the other. He pumped out a bullet that landed an inch from Akai Gurley and then tore through his chest, the prosecutor said. He should be alive today. Akai Gurley is dead because he crossed paths with Peter Liang.

Melissa Lopez, a prosecution witness and a resident of the Pink Houses who first reported the shooting to police, described the chaos and emotion in the stairwell.

Lopez testified that she remained on the phone with a woman from the citys emergency medical service, who gave CPR instructions, which Lopez then relayed to Gurleys girlfriend, Melissa Butler, in the stairwell.

While this was unfolding, Lopez said, she saw the two officers reach the landing where Gurley was lying.

Did he have any contact with Mr. Gurley? Fliedner asked, referring to Liang.

I didnt see either one of them do anything, Lopez replied.

Several relatives of Gurley who were in the courtroom had tears running down their faces during Lopezs testimony.

Liang faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of second-degree manslaughter, the most serious charge. He is on modified duty at the Police Department, his lawyers said.

Haller is a special correspondent.

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A grand jury has indicted a white police officer caught on video using a stun gun on a black city council member in Prairie View, the same southeast Texas town that drew national attention over the death of Sandra Bland in July.

Bland, who was black, was found hanging in her cell at the Waller County Jail three days after being pulled over and arrested by a state trooper.

Her death became a high-profile exhibit in a growing national debate about racial profiling and use of force by police. The only charges brought by a grand jury were against the state trooper for misdemeanor perjury related to his testimony.

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The stun-gunning of Jonathan Miller, a 26-year-old city council member, in October returned attention to Prairie View, a largely black college town about 55 miles west of Houston.

Miller was arrested in front of his apartment for allegedly trying to intervene when Prairie View police stopped to question some of his friends.

In a video of the incident, he can be seen kneeling on the ground as a taser strikes his back, causing him to scream in pain.

On Friday, a grand jury charged Officer Michael Kelley with official repression, a misdemeanor. If convicted, he could be fined as much as $4,000 and sentenced to up to a year in jail.

Kelley has been suspended without pay pending the criminal prosecution and was expected to turn himself in Monday, said Prairie View Mayor Frank Jackson.

The Police Department is taking steps to put itself on really sure footing, and I would hope the council would support their efforts to do that, Jackson said. I dont see our Police Department being out of compliance with standards. Were working to be sure we do the right thing.

One of half a dozen patrol officers, Kelley has worked for the department for about a year, according to the police chief, Larry Johnson.

Johnson said the department had yet to start an internal investigation into the taser incident. Weve asked for an external person, a neutral party, to do the investigation, he said.

Miller referred questions Monday to his attorneys, who did not immediately respond.

A council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, and at least one member plans to ask questions about the status of Millers case.

Councilwoman Marie Herndon said she had been frustrated at the pace of the Police Departments internal investigation, and called the chief this week to complain.

Im just so glad the grand jury did their due diligence and their job, she said. I would like to see the Prairie View police do the same thing.

Twitter @MollyHF
With the Democratic presidential contest in Iowa a toss-up less than a week from the first vote of 2016, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on Monday took starkly different approaches to pursuing wavering voters in their final appearance on the same stage.

An uncharacteristically confrontational Sanders, taking umbrage at the barrage of attacks from his rivals campaign, launched into a spirited critique of Clintons career. Clinton responded later with little of the feistiness she has shown recently on the campaign trail, instead reverting to her earlier posture of confident front-runner, emphasizing her qualifications for the office and trying to avoid engaging her rivals.

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Except Clinton is no longer the clear front-runner in Iowa. She is locked in an unexpectedly tight race with the self-described democratic socialist senator from Vermont, scrambling to avoid an early loss that would significantly complicate her path to the nomination.

The town hall Monday night at Drake University in Des Moines, hosted by CNN, was an opportunity for the candidates to make what amounted to closing arguments. Though the rivals did not appear onstage together  each separately fielded questions from audience members and CNN moderator Chris Cuomo  the stakes were as high as those of a presidential debate.

Sanders appeared first, and he would eventually stray from his usual talking points about income inequality and Wall Street greed to rise from his seat and launch into a vigorous rebuke of the Clinton campaigns argument that she is substantially more qualified to serve as commander in chief.

This calls for a standing-up response, Sanders said after Cuomo asked his reaction to a Clinton campaign advertisement that implied she was the only candidate in the race prepared for the job. Hillary Clinton has devoted her life to public service. And I have tried, as I hope you all know, not to run a negative campaign.

Bernie Sanders was more confrontational than usual at the Des Moines town hall, criticizing Hillary Clintons long record. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

But Sanders offered a litany of decisions that Clinton has made in her career that Sanders said were bad, starting with her vote in the Senate to go to war with Iraq.

The truth is, the most significant vote and issue, regarding foreign policy, that we have seen in this country in modern history was the vote on the war in Iraq, he said. Thats the fact. I voted against the war in Iraq.

He then moved on to climate change, noting that Clinton avoided taking a position against the Keystone XL oil pipeline until months into the campaign, by which time Sanders had spent years fighting the proposal reviled by environmentalists that would ship oil from the Canadian tar sands to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

On Day One, I said the Keystone pipeline is a dumb idea, he said.

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He also noted that Clinton stayed on the sidelines for most of the fight against the Pacific trade deal opposed by organized labor.

Sanders concluded, Yeah, I do think I have the background and the judgment to take this very difficult job.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley, who continues to struggle with weak voter support, appeared after Sanders. OMalley said not to count him out. None of the pollsters back East can tell you how its going to work out, he said.

Martin OMalley struggling for support, said, None of the pollsters back East can tell you how its going to work out. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)

Clintons mere appearance at the town hall was a reminder that little about this race has been going as planned for her. When Clintons rivals protested a primary debate schedule set by the Democratic National Committee designed for minimal viewership, the front-runner had no complaints; it wasnt in her interest to give her little-known rivals more attention.

The days of her coasting with a comfortable lead disappeared weeks ago as the huge turnout at Sanders rallies began growing into durable support.

The Sanders campaign, which got a late start in Iowa and is not as well-financed as the Clinton operation, is eager to harness the enthusiasm the senator has generated into turnout at the caucuses. It is a tricky endeavor. Caucuses are time-consuming and confusing, and could prove daunting for the new voters drawn to Sanders.

A victory in Iowa has the potential to give his candidacy national momentum, particularly as Sanders is now leading in New Hampshire. Although the former secretary of State continues to enjoy a comfortable lead nationally, early wins for Sanders would force Clinton into the kind of bruising race for the nomination she has spent months working to avoid.

The town hall took place as President Obamas shadow over the race continues to grow. Sanders is increasingly fashioning himself as the kind of insurgent Obama was during his surprise caucus victory in Iowa in 2008. Clintons talking points of late have consistently turned to her ties to the Obama White House, her eagerness to preserve its legacy and warnings that Sanders would unravel some of its landmark achievements.

Hillary Clinton acted like a confident front-runner again and mentioned compliments from President Obama. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

This week, Obama, who pledged to remain neutral, made some candid remarks about the race that were welcomed by the Clinton campaign. In an interview with Politico, he called Clinton a good, smart, tough person up against a bright, shiny new alternative who is less tested.

Clinton delighted in talking about the remarks.

He knows how hard the job is, Clinton said.

But Clinton bristled at a questioner who brought up Vice President Joe Bidens recent comment that she is a newcomer to the issue of income inequality, saying inequality goes beyond just economics.

I have a really long history of taking care of all kinds of inequality, she said.

She used the question to pivot into talking about the landmark speech on womens rights she gave in Beijing. In fact, Clinton spent much of her time onstage reminding voters of the weighty policy decisions she has been involved in, including helping to lay the groundwork that ultimately resulted in the Iran nuclear deal and negotiating cease-fires between Israel and Hamas.

Clinton also found herself asked by a younger voter to explain why so many people of his generation are unenthusiastic about her and find her dishonest. Clinton attributed it to all the attacks she has endured during her decades in politics.

People have thrown all kinds of things at me, she said. You have to say to yourself, why are they throwing all of that? Well, Ill tell you why. Because Ive been on the front lines of change and progress since I was your age.

Recently, the one issue that Sanders and Clinton have spent a lot of time arguing over is gun safety. Clinton has repeatedly accused Sanders of too often siding with the gun industry.

When the topic came up Monday night, Sanders suggested Clintons views on gun control used to be much more conservative, pointing out that in the 2008 presidential campaign, her then-opponent Barack Obama referred to her as Annie Oakley for saying there shouldnt be blanket rules about how and to whom guns were sold.

One area that Clinton and Sanders did find agreement on was the quality of his new campaign advertisement. The montage of inspirational scenes featuring Sanders supporters is set to the Simon & Garfunkel tune America. Clinton called it fabulous.

But she cautioned, Look, you campaign in poetry, you govern in prose.... I believe that Im the better person to be the nominee.

Halper reported from Washington and Megerian from Des Moines. Times staff reporter Kate Linthicum contributed to this report.

Twitter: @evanhalper, @chrismegerian

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MORE ON THE DEMOCRATIC TOWNHALL

Democratic town hall takeaways: Little new ground broken with unusual format

Sanders and Clinton clash on judgment and experience in Iowa town hall
Anger erupts as Trump touts support from Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Immigrant activists preparing to protest the Trump/Joe Arpaio rally in Marshalltown. pic.twitter.com/MP189Qq5nu  Kate Linthicum (@katelinthicum) January 26, 2016

In a move that seemed designed to provoke, Donald Trump appeared alongside Arizonas controversial anti-illegal-immigration sheriff Joe Arpaio on Tuesday at a rally in Marshalltown, Iowa, a city with a rapidly growing Latino community and a history of harsh immigration enforcement.

Its like a slap in the face, said Diego Alvarez, 25, who joined a protest outside Trumps event at a high school here.

Were working our butts off and theyre coming in to divide the people of this community, said Alvarez, a construction worker who was brought to the country illegally at age 4. These people are basically importing racism from other states.

Later, Trumps rally was disrupted by several chanting activists, who were quickly ejected.

Marshalltowns police chief joined in, condemning Arpaios endorsement in a statement Tuesday. Marshalltown has been enriched by the arrival and contributions of immigrants to the community, said Chief Mike Tupper, who said relations between police and the community are challenged when immigrants feel threatened. Harmful rhetoric from candidates jeopardizes the relationship that we in law enforcement have worked so hard to develop and maintain.

At a news conference before the rally, Trump dismissed claims that he was fanning conflict. The American people, he said, agree with me on illegal immigration.

Arpaio, sheriff of Arizonas Maricopa County, is a hero to those who favor stricter immigration enforcement. At the rally, he was greeted with shouts of You rock! and We love you, Joe!

But he is hated by many Latinos and immigrant activists, who say his far-reaching policies to identify immigrants in the country illegally amount to racial profiling. Several of his policies have been successfully challenged in court.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has long been under attack from self-righteous critics. Now its traditions and procedures are under attack by the academy leadership, which last week capitulated to political correctness.

The #OscarsSoWhite controversy, as its known on social media, is bedeviled by misinformation. I have read numerous accounts of how 6,200 mostly old white males produced the lily white nominations of 20 actors this year. In fact these nominees were selected by the 1,138 members of the actors branch, which has a larger percentage of African Americans than other branches, and probably skews younger as well. (The academy doesnt keep statistics on age.)

These same voters in the last few years gave best acting Oscars to Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland), MoNique (Precious), Viola Davis (The Help), Lupita Nyongo (12 Years a Slave), and a nomination to Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave).

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FOR THE RECORD

Viola Davis was nominated for an Oscar for her role in The Help, but did not win.

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Beyond the acting category, its absurd to pretend that the academy ignores films created by or about people of color. 12 Years a Slave won three Oscars in 2014. Selma was nominated for best picture in 2015. A few months ago, the academy gave Spike Lee an honorary Oscar for his contribution to cinema.

And the academy routinely recognizes socially conscious films. This year, for instance, two films dealing with LGBT themes received nominations in the acting category: Carol and The Danish Girl.

The academy does not make movies. Critics unhappy with the number of black, Latino or Asian directors and actors must look elsewhere  to the studios and independent producers.

As for what gets nominated, as an academy member it seems to me that we should remain colorblind and reward artistic excellence without regard to race (or class, or creed, or gender). Of course, in years with many great performances and thought-provoking films, worthy work can escape official recognition.

Why is no one talking about which actors should not have been nominated, so that colleagues of color could have taken their place? Could it be that the current nominees are all worthy? Why is no one talking about the nominations in non-acting branches? Alejandro G. Inarritu, who is Mexican, won a directing Oscar last year and is nominated again this year for The Revenant. Arent Mexicans still considered a minority in PC circles?

I certainly count myself among those who value inclusion and believe that our countrys demographic diversity is a positive good. But why must the academy perfectly mirror that diversity? Its a meritocracy. The only entrance requirement is excellence in ones chosen field. At least, that was true until last week.

These measures seriously risk devaluing the importance of membership, the Oscar itself, and the Academys reputation as a benchmark for moviemakers.

Since 2012, the academy has encouraged its branches to seek qualified artists from diverse backgrounds. Change was occurring naturally. Unfortunately, not fast enough for some. Succumbing to years of pressure, the academy leadership Friday unveiled a radical plan to satisfy the PC mob. With the express goal of doubling the number of female and racially diverse members by 2020, the leadership decided to supplement the traditional process in which current members sponsor new members by launching an ambitious, global campaign to identify and recruit qualified new members who represent greater diversity. The leadership also moved to curtail lifetime voting privileges. Each new members voting status will last 10 years, and will be renewed if that new member has been active in motion pictures during that decade.

In case its not obvious, the point is to purge older (presumably white) members and create something akin to affirmative action for new members.

Among other issues, I find it troubling that the leadership pushed through these changes without consulting the academy at large. It may be legal for less than 1% of the academy to unilaterally upend tradition, but is it moral? Its certainly not democratic.

Since its creation, the academys focus has been excellence in motion pictures. The new focus, apparently, is diversity, and Im sure Im not alone in finding this re-conception misguided. In the past, black, Latino and Asian industry professionals could rest assured that they were admitted to the academy or awarded an Oscar for one reason only: the brilliance of their work. Now they and outsiders will wonder if they were tapped to fill some arbitrary quota.

These measures seriously risk devaluing the importance of membership, the Oscar itself, and the academys reputation as a benchmark for moviemakers.

The academy is not a government agency, and its not our job to legislate social change. We can, however, inspire and give opportunity to young filmmakers by expanding the academys educational outreach programs.

A good film touches the souls of people all over the world regardless of their race, gender, politics or sexual orientation. Filmmakers only concern should be to strive for that level of achievement; academy members only concern should be to recognize that level of achievement.

Of course, this matter goes beyond the academy or the arts in general. We must all commit ourselves to creating a society where, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, we are judged by the content of our character rather than the color of our skin.

William Goldstein is a longtime academy member who serves on multiple executive committees. He has been a recording artist for Motown and CBS Masterworks and has composed music for films and the concert hall.

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Californias fiercely independent Coastal Commission has been an amazing success for 40 years. You can drive Highway 1 from Santa Barbara to Monterey and not see a single stoplight. Our pristine coastline and unspoiled beaches are the envy of the world.

Yet for as long as the commission has existed, real estate developers and their lobbyists have wanted to weaken it, or dispatch it altogether. Now those efforts have reached a critical point. Lobbyists for land developers have persuaded commissioners to fire Charles Lester, the executive director of the Coastal Commissions staff.

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FOR THE RECORD:

California coastline: A Jan. 27 op-ed stated that there are no stoplights on the drive between Santa Barbara and Monterey. There are stoplights on the Pacific Coast Highway in the towns of Cambria and Carmel-by-the-Sea.

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The coast ... is an irreplaceable asset. The commission that protects it should not be hijacked for profit.

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After a closed-door hearing on vague performance issues, Lester was offered a choice of stepping aside or opting for a public hearing. Performance issues in this case means not approving developers projects, or not doing so quickly enough. Some commissioners are apparently willing gut their own agency, violate the public trust and deliver a more compliant executive director who will make it easier to build large projects on the coast with less oversight.

Think of zoning in your neighborhood. Zoning laws there probably prohibit someone from building a 40-story apartment tower next to your two-story house. If the developer persuades the city council to change the zoning, however, hell make a lot of money and you will live in the shadow of a skyscraper.

The Coastal Commission is the zoning board for the whole California coast. For example, theres a proposal to build 1,100 houses in the coastal zone in Southern California before the commission right now. At $1.5 million for each house near the ocean, thats nearly $2 billion at play. Huge sums are at stake for developers, who regularly challenge coastal staff rulings, donate heavily to politicians, and hire teams of lobbyists to persuade commissioners to make an exception for their individual project.

Despite this continual assault, the Coastal Commission has historically not wavered on its mission to protect and enhance the coastal zone and give the public access to it, while also preserving the rights of private property owners. Its staunch independence has infuriated lobbyists, state legislators, even governors. When big donors are yelling at a politician to get something done, a truly independent agency is exasperating. Still, the commissions executive directors held the line and consistently put the public interest before political interests.

Now the commissioners in the sway of developers want to remove Lester, but he isnt giving up without a fight. He believes the public trust is at stake. The environmental community, complacent during the last five years, appears ready to rally to his defense at the commissions public hearing Feb. 10 in Morro Bay.

More than environmentalists and regulatory wonks should be angry about this move against Lester. We should all take an interest. The coast belongs to all Californians, and it is an irreplaceable asset. The commission that protects it should not be hijacked for profit.

The irony in all this? The cabal of commissioners pushing to remove Lester are appointees of Gov. Jerry Brown  the same governor who signed the Coastal Act into law 40 years ago. Unlike the other eight commissioners, who serve a fixed four-year term, they have at-will appointments. That means the governor can replace them in 30 seconds if he is unhappy with them.

But so far neither Brown nor John Laird, Californias secretary for Natural Resources, have stepped up to defend the independence of the commission under the leadership of its executive director.

Brown has accomplished much in his last two terms. Hes gotten California back on its feet economically, the universities are growing again, and the state has a large rainy day fund. But 40 years from now, people are not going to say, Hey remember the budget of 2015? What Californians will remember are his actions about our coastline.

Do we want to look at miles of beaches behind locked gates and wall-to-wall condos and ask, Did he sell out 40 million Californians for a few rich developers? Or, do we want to share with our grandchildren the same open vistas and glorious beaches that we have enjoyed and say, Jerry Brown left all of us a coastline like no other in the world? Let the governor know.

Steve Blank is a retired Silicon Valley executive and now a consulting associate professor at Stanford University. He served as a coastal commissioner from 2007 to 2013.

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On any given day, two-thirds of the people sitting in California jails havent been convicted of anything. These 42,000 people are simply awaiting their day in court, many of them incarcerated for no reason other than being too poor to post bail.

That fundamental unfairness is at the center of a federal case getting underway Tuesday in San Francisco. The class action suit asserts that Californias bail system allows rich people to buy their freedom while awaiting trial, but assumes poor people endanger community safety and cant be trusted to show up on their court date.

The median [bail] amount in California is $50,000 -- five times higher than the national median. Most people dont have anything close to that kind of cash available.

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One of the lead plaintiffs is Riana Buffin, who was arrested in San Francisco on suspicion of theft and conspiracy, and jailed when she couldnt produce $30,000 in bail money. The 19-year-old Oakland resident was given no opportunity to tell a court officer that she had a job, lived with her mom and three younger brothers, and posed no flight risk or danger to the community. A few days later, the charges against her were dropped. But because Buffin missed work while being jailed for a crime she didnt commit, she lost her job as an airport baggage handler.

In California, the bail process varies depending on where youre arrested. In some counties, judges can quickly release people to await their court date at home. But in others, like San Francisco County where Buffin was arrested, those without bail money are stuck.

Bail isnt pocket change either. The median amount in California is $50,000  five times higher than the national median. Most people dont have anything close to that kind of cash available; a survey last year found 37% of Americans couldnt cover even a $500 car repair bill. Many wind up turning to a bond company to get released. But bail bondsmen charge about 10% of the bail amount, money people dont get back if charges are dropped. Still, people agree to that debt because a short stay in jail can cause major struggles, such as losing a job or custody of children.

Bail compounds the already substantial race and class discrimination problems rampant in the justice system. People of color experience higher arrest rates to begin with. Then they are charged with crimes that carry heavier sentences and in turn face higher bail amounts. Finally, those who cant afford bail are more likely to give in to pressure to plead guilty. Research shows that those jailed while awaiting trial end up receiving longer sentences than people facing similar charges who are able to wait for their court dates at home.

The theory behind bail is that people are less likely to flee or commit a crime while awaiting trial if they will lose money as a result. However, studies have shown that those risks are more reliably assessed by looking at a combination of factors including having a job, family and community ties, and ones history of substance abuse or prior arrests. These assessments are not perfect and have prompted concerns about bias given that, for instance, the unemployment rate for African Americans was about double that of white people in 2015. Still, such assessments represent an improvement over the status quo.

Counties such as Napa are showing the way. If youre arrested there, a county probation department staffer will gather information about your personal circumstances and arrest history. An on-call judge uses this information to decide within 24 hours whether you can be released pending your court date and determines the appropriate level of supervision. Sometimes thats as simple as a text message reminder of an upcoming court appearance. Other times, supervision includes mental health care or addiction treatment. In Napa County, more than 90% of those released pending trial show up for court and stay out of trouble in the meantime.

The cost of these pretrial supervision services ranges from $2.50 to $5 daily per person. Compare that with the $114 a day it costs to keep someone in jail. By moving to this kind of proven approach, California counties could save tens of millions of dollars a year and significantly reduce the number of people in jail.

The bail lawsuit could force San Francisco and maybe even the whole state to adopt pretrial supervision practices, but counties shouldnt wait for a ruling to do the right thing. Counties have the authority to reform their bail systems now, and they should.

Zachary Norris is executive director of the Ella Baker Center in Oakland. Mary Lou Fulton is a senior program manager at the California Endowment.

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Following the advice of juvenile-justice advocates (and a Los Angeles Times editorial), the Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 this week in favor of Henry Montgomery, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing a Baton Rouge deputy sheriff in 1963, when Montgomery was 17. Mondays decision offers a chance of freedom for as many as many as 2,500 prisoners in a similar position.

The precise legal issue in the case was whether the court would make retroactive its 2012 decision in Miller vs. Alabama striking down mandatory life sentences without parole for juvenile murderers. Under Supreme Court precedent, procedural decisions apply only prospectively, while substantive or watershed decisions apply retroactively.

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The decision was significant to constitutional-law buffs because it cut through some complicated objections to retroactivity in this case based on differences between state and federal court jurisdiction. (In dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia complained of the majoritys astonishing conscription of state courts into federal service.)

But non-lawyers will likely regard it as simple justice that Montgomery and others in his position benefit from the courts evolving understanding that children are constitutionally different from adults for purposes of sentencing -- because they are less mature and more impulsive and also because they are better candidates for rehabilitation.

It isnt just courts that have recognized that, because of different brain chemistry, adolescent killers are less culpable than adults. In California, where some 300 prisoners are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for crimes they committed before they turned 18, a law signed by Gov. Brown in 2012 allows such prisoners to submit a petition for recall and resentencing to a court.

One can welcome this trend without adopting the naive view that adolescent killers bear no responsibility for their crimes because my brain made me do it. Obviously most adolescents dont commit violent crimes, and those who do must pay some price. Diminished capacity for practical or moral reflection doesnt mean no capacity at all.

Also, some murderers who committed their crimes when they were young continue to pose a danger to society decades later, and judges and parole boards can take that into account. But as Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his majority opinion:

Those prisoners who have shown an inability to reform will continue to serve life sentences. The opportunity for release will be afforded to those who demonstrate the truth of Millers central intuition  that children who commit even heinous crimes are capable of change.

If thats true of juveniles who receive mandatory life sentences now, its equally true of those who were given no hope of freedom before the Supreme Court saw the light.

As Kennedy put it in the poignant closing of his opinion:

Henry Montgomery has spent each day of the past 46 years knowing he was condemned to die in prison. Perhaps it can be established that, due to exceptional circumstances, this fate was a just and proportionate punishment for the crime he committed as a 17-year-old boy. [But] prisoners like Montgomery must be given the opportunity to show their crime did not reflect irreparable corruption; and, if it did not, their hope for some years of life outside prison walls must be restored.

Follow Michael McGough on Twitter @MichaelMcGough3

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Its a race against the clock for some Democrats in Californias congressional delegation.

With less than a year until their replacements are sworn in, 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.

With Republicans in charge, gridlock at its peak and scant working days left on the congressional calendar given this is an election year, its a daunting challenge.

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Boxer, who was elected to 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.

As long as Im vertical, Im going to be working on these issues, said Boxer, 75.

The senator 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.

The feeling is similar for Capps, 78. Saying it was time to go home to Santa Barbara, she said in April she wouldnt pursue an 11th term.

Her 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.

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 that 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.

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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.

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 Corps.

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

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One of the three inmates who escaped from Orange County Jail on Friday was a fugitive from local law enforcement once before in connection with a 2012 kidnapping in Newport Beach that eventually landed him in the county lockup.

Hossein Nayeri, 37, fled to his native Iran after the kidnapping, in which authorities say a marijuana dispensary owner was abducted from his Newport home and dumped in the Mojave Desert after his penis was cut off in an attempt to extort him.

Nayeri was arrested by FBI agents in November 2013 in Prague, Czech Republic, where he was changing planes to visit family in Spain, according to the Orange County district attorneys office. He is accused of kidnapping and torture.

Three other people were arrested in California in connection with the case.

Nayeri was extradited in September 2014 and had been in custody at the Orange County Mens Central Jail in Santa Ana until Friday.

Thats when Nayeri and two other inmates  Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Bac Duong, 43  escaped sometime after a 5 a.m. head count, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Department.

1 / 2 Orange County sheriffs Lt. Jeff Hallock speaks at a news conference Monday outside the Central Mens Jail in Santa Ana, where three inmates escaped Friday. (Nick Ut / AP) 2 / 2 Orange County sheriffs deputies investigate early Saturday after three inmates charged with violent crimes escaped Friday from the Central Mens Jail in Santa Ana. (Kevin Warn / AP)

Authorities believe the three used tools to cut through a metal screen so they could access the buildings plumbing. From there, they reportedly cut through more barriers and made their way to the roof, where they used ropes made from bed linens to rappel five stories to the ground.

More than 16 hours later, around 9 p.m., deputies completed an evening head count and found that the three were missing, according to the Sheriffs Department.

In a news conference Monday morning, sheriffs officials declined to describe the tools the inmates used and would not comment about whether the trio had help from inside or outside the jail.

We do believe this was a well-planned, well-thought-out escape, said Lt. Jeff Hallock, Sheriffs Department spokesman.

The escape prompted a manhunt that has continued around the clock, according to Hallock.

Officials asked the public to call in any leads. They repeatedly cautioned that the escapees are very dangerous and likely armed.

Sheriffs officials said Monday that theres no indication that Nayeri or the others fled the country or even the state.

Its possible, but local investigators are partnering with the U.S. marshals office and FBI to try to make sure that doesnt happen, according to sheriffs Lt. Dave Sawyer, who is leading the search.

Teams have served more than 30 search warrants so far as they look for the escapees, Sawyer said Monday.

All three inmates were incarcerated while awaiting trial in connection with violent felonies.

Tieu is charged with murder and Duong with attempted murder. Both are documented gang members, according to Sawyer.

Nayeri has a previous homicide conviction, Sawyer said. Details of that case were not immediately available.

In the Newport Beach case, kidnappers broke into the dispensary owners house after surveilling him and following him to the desert, where they believed he had buried large amounts of money from his business, according to prosecutors.

After the break-in, the kidnappers loaded the man and a female roommate into a truck or van and drove them to the Mojave Desert. They beat the man, burned him with a torch, poured bleach over him and cut off his penis, according to prosecutors.

Eventually the assailants left, taking the severed penis with them so it couldnt be reattached, prosecutors said.

Both victims were left in the desert to die, Sawyer said. But the woman walked more than a mile in the dark and reached a highway where a Kern County sheriffs deputy discovered her and rescued the man.

Days later, Newport Beach police arrested Fountain Valley marijuana grower Kyle Shirakawa Handley, who authorities said had supplied marijuana for the dispensary owners business. After a high-rolling Las Vegas trip together, Handley believed the man had a large amount of money that could be stolen, according to prosecutors.

Two other suspects, Ryan Anthony Kevorkian and Naomi Josette Kevorkian, were later arrested in Fresno.
Canadas Jean Pascal wanted to work with Freddie Roach. Well, he found out quickly thin skin wont make it inside Hollywoods Wild Card Boxing Club.

Early in training camp, after leaning on the advice of countryman and former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Georges St-Pierre to retain Roach, Pascal started throwing heavy punches at a sparring partner.

Roach would have none of it, saying he told Pascal, You do that again, ever, and its over. Ill be on my way home.

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Saturday on HBO (6:45 p.m. Pacific time), former light-heavyweight world champion Pascal (30-3-1, 17 knockouts) has a second chance in Montreal to defeat dominant three-belt light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs).

Kovalev beat Pascal by eighth-round TKO on March 14 and is confident a similar outcome is at hand, telling reporters he accepted the fight because the money was good. Its his first fight of a year that could include dates with fellow champion Adonis Stevenson and former super-middleweight champion Andre Ward.

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Roach said his the Haiti-born Pascal, 33, needs to outbox the Russian. Roach said Pascals footwork and use of both hands have improved dramatically at Wild Card.

His left hand is almost as good as his right, Roach said. He has to box. I told him, You look for the knockout, youre going to get knocked out again. You have to outbox this guy one round at a time. But you cant go in there thinking youre going to knock out a puncher. Why fight his game? 

Roach said Pascal has shortened up his punches and done well to embrace the lessons in short order.

There are parallels, Roach said, to how he trained James Toney to a 2003 TKO of Evander Holyfield.

I told James, Youre too fast for this guy, use combinations and body shots, and dont stand in front of him after the combinations, because hes going to throw back,  Roach said. You have to use angles, walk the guy into the shot. If you stand in front of a puncher, hes going to throw back.

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Pascal acknowledges, I need to do everything different in the Kovalev rematch.

I know Im much better than that. I have more skill than Kovalev, Pascal said. Ill make sure this night will be my night.

Those whove watched Pascal in training say his power has increased, and the challenger hinted he will seek to unleash it.

I hit a little harder than I have been, Pascal said. If the first fight was so easy for him -- and hes saying hes going to knock me out before the eighth round -- lets bet on it, $50,000 to the charity of our choice.

Pascal said he is not intimidated by the imposing champion, and accepts the desperation of the challenge.

I am the better athlete, and the other fight was a bad night for me, Pascal said. I have the skills. I needed to polish those skills with Freddie. Hell bring me to the next level I need to be.

This is a redemption fight for me. I need to win to get to the next level. I beat this guy, Im right back on top.

Twitter: @latimespugmire

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Winter can be a bit nippy in Las Vegas, but its always downright frigid inside one bar along the Strip.

Minus5 Ice Bar, located in the Shoppes at Mandalay Place, has reopened after a major remodel that nearly doubled the size of the attraction.

A whopping 120 tons of ice was shipped in from Canada to create the furnishings inside the bar, where the thermostat is set at 23 degrees Fahrenheit. (In Celsius, thats minus 5; the creators are from New Zealand.)

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Sure, its colder than that right now in the Plains states. But the super-cold freeze is particularly inviting on a scorching summer afternoon in Las Vegas.

And its good cold fun. Conde Nast Traveler last year put this ice bar (and its siblings in other cities) on its list of 8 Ice Bars You Wont Believe Exist.

The bar, the benches and even the drinking glasses are all made of ice.

New custom-carved sculptures include one of the Las Vegas skyline and the Iron Throne from TVs Game of Thrones. LED lighting keeps the party vibe going.

In the makeover, bar space grew to roughly 1,300 square feet. The Mandalay Place location claims to be the largest permanent ice bar in the world, according to a company news release.

Minus5 is open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Guests wear heavy winter coats and gloves. The cold-weather gear is included in the $19 admission fee. For $39, you can add two cocktails.

Free valet parking comes with the package too.

Although Mandalay Place is part of MGM Resorts, the company has said that new parking fees for its hotel-casinos to be implemented this spring, will not include the shopping complex.

Info: Minus5 Ice Bar, (702) 740-5800.

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It has been nearly a year since Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-born American citizen, was hacked to death on the street in this South Asian countrys teeming capital, part of a series of grisly killings of secular writers who criticized Islamic fundamentalism.

But in the last four months, Bangladesh has been stunned by a second wave of deadly attacks  against religious minorities, security forces and foreigners  that is unusual even with the nations long history of political violence.

The more recent killings have raised fears that Bangladesh is entering a disturbing new phase of instability inspired from abroad. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for several of the attacks and is stepping up its efforts to recruit from this country of 160 million people, the vast majority Sunni Muslims.

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This month, Islamic State said it was behind the latest slaying, of a village doctor in western Bangladesh who reportedly had converted to Christianity. That followed shootings of Italian and Japanese nationals, bombings of Shiite Muslim worshipers, stabbings at a Sufi shrine and other attacks claimed by the Iraq- and Syria-based militant organization.

The Bangladeshi government denies that Islamic State has a presence in the country, but officials acknowledge that its murky pool of homegrown militants could be taking direction from foreign extremists.

There is an effort by a group of people in different parts of the country  probably being supported from foreign lands  to destabilize Bangladesh, Mohammed Shahriar Alam, state minister for foreign affairs, said in an interview. We are not immune to what is happening in the rest of the world. But the government is determined not to allow them to succeed.

Since an Italian aid worker was gunned down while jogging in Dhakas diplomatic quarter Sept. 28, there have been at least 45 attacks across the country, according to the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, an independent think tank. Islamic State or its supporters claimed responsibility for 10 attacks, the institute said.

Others included the slaying of a police constable and an explosion at a mosque in the countrys main naval base in Chittagong  both still shrouded in mystery.

Although the incidents havent inflicted a massive death toll, they have touched all possible targets: sectarian, law enforcement, military, foreigners, said retired Maj. Gen. A.N.M. Muniruzzaman, president of the institute. They have covered the whole spectrum.

The violence has coincided with a prolonged, bitter political crisis that some say has made Bangladesh  which prides itself on religious tolerance  more vulnerable to extremism.

Since taking office in 2009  and solidifying her power in a 2014 election marred by an opposition boycott  Prime Minister Sheik Hasina Wajed has gone after Islamist political rivals with the stated goal of protecting the secularism enshrined in Bangladeshs Constitution.

The largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, has been banned from politics and most of its top leaders convicted by a domestic tribunal Hasina established for crimes committed during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

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Three senior Jamaat officials and a leader of the main opposition party have been put to death since 2013 despite allegations from human rights groups  and the Obama administrations former ambassador for war crimes  that the trials were unfair. Jamaat protests against the verdicts have often turned violent.

After the recent killings, Hasina and other officials publicly blamed Jamaat, although the party denies involvement and has condemned the violence.

The government regards Jamaat as culpable partly because of its links to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, or JMB, a banned domestic militant group that carried out coordinated bombings in all 64 districts nationwide in 2005. Authorities have raided hide-outs and arrested several JMB suspects, including some believed to have been active in Jamaat within the last several years.

A November article in Dabiq, Islamic States propaganda magazine, calls JMB a proper jihad organization, prompting speculation of an alliance. Titled The Revival of Jihad in Bengal, the article signaled for the first time the militant organizations designs on Bangladesh and said it had named a regional leader in the country.

Matiur Rahman Akanda, a member of Jamaats working committee, said the party has no responsibility over people who are not with us any longer, referring to JMB members who were once active with Jamaat-e-Islami. He blamed the governments crackdown on opponents  more than half the 30-member working committee is behind bars  for fueling unrest.

When there is no democracy, violence may arise, Akanda said. If the government gave the people of Bangladesh the opportunity to raise their voices, there would be no violence.

Although bloggers had been in the crosshairs of domestic militants as far back as 2013  authorities have arrested members of an Al Qaeda-linked group that had compiled a hit list of secular writers  Bangladesh had seen none of the Sunni-Shiite strife that afflicts the Arab world.

That changed Oct. 24, when homemade bombs were hurled at a crowd observing the annual Ashura ritual at Dhakas most important Shiite shrine, killing one person and wounding dozens. An attack on a Shiite mosque in the countryside followed a month later. One person was killed and three injured.

Right now Shiites are concerned about their safety and security in all of Bangladesh, said Firoz Hossain, superintendent of the management committee of Hussaini Dalan, the Dhaka shrine.

After the Ashura attack the whole outlook for Hussaini Dalan changed. Before the attack around 1,000 visitors, including foreigners, came here every day. But now the number is around 100.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for both attacks. But Hasina and other officials have dismissed reports of the groups activity in Bangladesh as a conspiracy to open the door to foreign military intervention.

Many secular activists worry that the government is in denial about the threat, yet say they are increasingly reluctant to speak out as Hasina consolidates power.

Editors of two of the countrys main independent newspapers, Prothom Alo and the English-language Daily Star, said more than two dozen major private companies have pulled advertising from their pages, reportedly under pressure from officials unhappy with their coverage.

I think we are at serious risk, and downplaying and politicizing the threat doesnt help, said Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Shujan, a group that advocates for good governance. The strategy has been to silence dissenting voices. If it continues, none of us will be safe.

Special correspondent Mohiuddin Kader contributed to this report.

NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >>

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EU police warn of more Islamic State attempts at large-scale attacks
Islamic State and other extremist groups are capable of carrying out more large-scale attacks in Europe and are likely to attempt to do so, the European Unions police agency Europol said Monday.

Rob Wainwright, Europol director, said Islamic State had developed a new combat-style capacity to carry out a campaign of large-scale terrorist attacks on a global stage  with a particular focus in Europe.

Wainwright was speaking at a meeting of European interior ministers in Amsterdam when he announced the findings of a new Europol report on how the militant group operates. The report coincided with the launch of Europols new counter-terrorism center in The Hague.

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So-called Islamic State has a willingness and a capacity to carry out further attacks in Europe, and of course all national authorities are working to prevent that from happening, Wainwright said.

The eight-page report says further attacks could take place soon.

Europe is currently facing the most significant terrorist threat in over 10 years. The Paris attacks on 13 November 2015 indicate a shift towards a clear international dimension of Islamic State to carry out special forces-style attacks in the international environment, it reads.

The threat of further terrorist attacks in Europe remains high. Therefore there is a great need within the European Union to strengthen our response to terror, to suspected terrorist networks and foreign fighters, and have an improved strategic understanding of threats.

The report adds that Islamic State was directing attacks at soft targets, those considered unprotected or vulnerable, and was trained for special forces-style attacks.

There is every reason to expect that IS, IS-inspired terrorists or another religiously inspired terrorist group will undertake a terrorist attack somewhere in Europe again, but particularly in France, intended to cause mass casualties amongst the civilian population, the report says. This is in addition to the threat of lone actor attacks, which has not diminished.

The report downplays widespread fears in Europe that extremists were making their way across European borders among the wave of refugees and migrants fleeing war or poverty in Syria and elsewhere.

There is no concrete evidence that terrorist travelers systematically use the flow of refugees to enter Europe unnoticed. A real and imminent danger, however, is the possibility of elements of the (Sunni Muslim) Syrian refugee diaspora becoming vulnerable to radicalization once in Europe and being specifically targeted by Islamic extremist recruiters.

Wainwrights warning came as French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve warned that the countrys intelligence services had prevented 11 planned terrorist attacks since the attack last January on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Cazeneuve told France 5 television that one of the foiled attacks targeted a concert hall. In November, militants carried out a series of shootings and suicide bombings in Paris that left 130 dead, including 89 at the Bataclan music club. Europols report describes the violence as complex, well-coordinated attacks  on carefully chosen targets.

The attacks were designed to kill and injure as many civilians as possible, it says.

The Europol report came a day after Islamic State released a video purportedly showing nine of the Nov. 13 assailants apparently training in an unidentified desert location.

In the video, Islamic State also threatened an attack on Britain. Prime Minister David Camerons picture was shown alongside the words whoever stands in the ranks of kuffar [unbelievers] will be a target for our swords.

The men in the film, speaking in Arabic and French, addressed their message to all the countries taking part in the coalition that has been carrying out airstrikes against the group in Syria and Iraq since September 2014.

Willsher is a special correspondent.

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As the bus rumbled toward Berlin, dozens of television crews began following it.

On board were 31 Syrian refugees who had been living in the Bavarian county of Landshut. Driving separately in a car was Peter Dreier, a local politician there who had arranged the 342-mile journey.

His plan: to drop them at the doorstep of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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By time the bus arrived at Merkels office, Dreier was well on his way to national fame as a symbol of the opposition against the policies that have forced small communities across Germany to take in many of the thousands of refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere arriving in the country each day.

I wanted to send a signal that we cant simply carry on with the same policies on refugees anymore, Dreier, 49, said in an interview back in Landshut a week after the mid-January trip.

Our national leaders have to do a better job coordinating all this and cant just dump the problems on the counties and cities like theyve been doing, he said.

Germany took in 1.1 million refugees last year, more than any other country. More than 3,000 people a day have been arriving this month from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries in turmoil.

Merkel has refused to close the borders or  as every other country in the European Union has done  set limits on how many refugees will be admitted. She argues that turning people away is inhumane and would leave tens of thousands of people stranded on a treacherous route.

Last Friday, more than 40 people, including many children, died when two wooden smuggling boats capsized in the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece.

Merkel has also said she fears that restricting the borders would snarl traffic and imperil trade.

Her stance has left her increasingly isolated in Europe and at home. One opinion poll last week found that 79% of Germans opposed her open-door policy and that 90% of voters in her own party, the Christian Democratic Union, wanted her to change course.

The vast majority of refugees have settled in big cities, and that is where the issue has been most explosive. Some refugee centers house hundreds of people.

In an incident that turned many Germans against Merkels policy, hundreds of women in Cologne reported being groped and robbed on New Years Eve by mobs of men. Among the 30 suspects detained, half were asylum-seekers from Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.

Landshut, in contrast, has been a peaceful place for refugees. The idyllic southern county of 152,000 people is one of Germanys wealthiest, with two large BMW factories and unemployment hovering just above 1%.

It has taken in about 2,200 refugees so far, according to Dreier. Roughly 70 more have been arriving each week.

Groups of 10 to a maximum of 40 live in private houses or remodeled restaurants rented by the county.

Weve found it helps promote integration when the refugees are sheltered in smaller private houses, said Jakob Fuchs, head of public security and foreigner issues in the county. Weve rented 69 separate facilities in 30 of the 35 towns in the county and for the most part its worked well. Theyre taking German lessons and integration courses.

The impact has been relatively minor, and officials want to keep it that way. Dreier said that if the refugee influx continues, it will eventually become impossible to house them all.

That was one message he intended to convey with the bus trip, he said.

When the bus arrived, it parked in front of Merkels office for 90 minutes amid uncertainty about the next move. Some of the refugees told reporters that they felt they were being exploited for political purposes and that they felt duped.

They told us the situation in Berlin would be better and we could go there if we wanted to, one man from Damascus told a television crew.

Dreier said he was disappointed that Merkel didnt come out to greet the refugees.

When authorities in Berlin finally offered the refugees a place to stay, Dreier got an firsthand lesson in the difference between cities and the countryside when it comes to accommodating the newcomers.

They were going to send us to an emergency shelter set up in abandoned factory building with some heating on and mattresses set up on the floor, he said. The place they offered wasnt fit for human beings so I turned that down and we went to a hotel instead.

He said he paid the $1,500 hotel bill with his own money and dined in the hotel restaurant with the refugees.

The next day, the refugees were told that they were welcome to stay in Berlin. All but two chose to take the bus back to Landshut.

Refugees interviewed there described the locals as generous and hospitable.

Its actually a nice place, said Tamar Assafin, a 26-year-old who fled Syria and walked for weeks to Germany from Greece last summer. Id like to learn German so I can move on in society and start to look for a job. I worked as an accountant in a hotel in Syria, and on computers and as a translator.

Assafin said he considered taking up Dreiers offer to take the bus to Berlin but decided against it. We asked where we would end up in Berlin, in a house or private apartment? But he said he didnt know either. Its a good situation here, and the chances for a job here are better.

He said he could understand German angst over the influx. You cant blame the Germans for getting angry, he said. Theyre afraid because theres such a massive number of people coming into their country.

Those fears have helped transform Dreier from a little-known county commissioner into a popular national figure.

He said he has received more than 1,000 supportive emails, letters and faxes. A poll last week by Radio Trausnitz, in Landshut, found that 94% of respondents agreed that the bus trip was a courageous step, and 6% thought it was just a public relations gag.

Gerti Simmet, one of more than 500 people in Landshut who have volunteered to tutor refugees in the German language and culture, said Dreiers bus trip to Berlin had put a much needed spotlight on the problem.

I think it woke a lot of people up about the things the refugees urgently need, like places to live, said Simmet, 54, who is helping 11 Syrians.

But Johanna Triebs, a 17-year-old student in Landshut, said Dreiers trip to Berlin was misguided: These are refugees from a war zone, and you cant just dump them off on someone else.

There arent even that many refugees here, and you hardly see them in town, she said. I think its great that Germany is helping so much. Why not? Were a rich country and we can afford to help them.

Kirschbaum is a special correspondent.

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U.N. Security Council votes to send hundreds of peace monitors to Colombia if deal is signed
Colombias goal of ending 50 years of civil conflict moved closer to reality on Monday when the United Nations Security Council voted to send hundreds of monitors to oversee a cease-fire and the disarming of leftist rebels if a peace accord is signed.

By a 15-0 vote, the Security Council approved the petition by the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. The two sides have been negotiating in Havana since November 2012.

Observers said the joint request for monitors meant a final peace agreement may be imminent. President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Timoleon Jimenez previously set a March 23 deadline for a deal.

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Calling the U.N. decision a monumental step forward, Bruce Bagley, a University of Miami international relations professor, said the Security Council has bought into the notion that this is the end of hostilities and the end of the long-running guerrilla war.

He cautioned though that a peace accord would still leave the country with significant challenges, including organized crime, drug-related violence and paramilitary groups.

Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington, noted that peace will ultimately depend on domestic politics in Colombia.

Recent polls show a majority of Colombians are skeptical about terms of a peace deal, which would include amnesty and post-conflict political roles for the rebels. A final peace accord would have to be put before Colombian voters for approval.

The outcome of a popular referendum is uncertain and implementation of the accords could also be quite difficult, Shifter said. Santos has won over the international community, but whether he can win over most Colombians is another question. 

The FARC rebels and the Colombian government have been at war since 1964 in the hemispheres longest-running conflict. Peace negotiations between 1999 to 2002 ended in failure. A unilateral cease-fire by the FARC last summer has remained in effect.

Britain played a key role in drafting the plan to send the monitors, which would come from several Latin American nations as well as Colombia. The number of monitors to be sent to Colombia was unclear Monday.

Verifying a cease-fire and disarmament will be a very demanding job and require professionals with high credibility and past experience, said Adam Isacson, a senior researcher at the Washington Office on Latin America. The U.N. can provide both.

Training of monitors will take several months, so the Colombian government was eager to start the process with the Security Council vote even though a final pact hasnt been signed.

In her address Monday to the Security Council, Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin said the monitors would arrive in Colombia soon after the signing of a peace accord and stay for a year.

The will of the council to work with Colombia on this matter is of fundamental importance to the success of the process, Holguin said.

The government and the rebels are still negotiating several issues, including how disarmament will be carried out.

El Tiempo newspaper reported Sunday that the rebel group wants to demobilize its 17,000 fighters and urban militia members in 63 different points across the nation. The government has proposed 30 sites.

Another unresolved issue is how to fund the peace process, which the International Monetary Fund has estimated will cost billions over a 10-year period. Isacson and other political analysts have said they expect Santos to ask the U.S. Congress for $1.5 billion in aid over the accords first three years.

Such support would be considered an extension of Plan Colombia, the U.S. aid program that has given Colombia more than $10 billion in military, intelligence and social development support since 2000 to fight the drug trade and terrorism.

Kraul is a special correspondent.
Bolivia celebrated its growing prosperity during the annual Alasitas Festival on Sunday. Bolivians took to the streets to purchase miniatures and counterfeit money in hopes that these emblems will bring them luck and wealth for the year.

In a report with The Guardian, the streets of La Paz came alive on Sunday as Bolivians and tourists alike splurged on creative and colorful miniatures and counterfeit currencies. The South American country has enjoyed a boom in the economy, and this year's Alasitas Festival is proof of that.

Those who took part in the annual festival took the opportunity to splurge on miniatures crafted in the likeness of cars, tiny crates of beer and even tiny suitcases filled with paper credit cards, passports and travel visas. These were being sold by cholitos in Plaza Murillo.

Students who wanted to have luck during the year could purchase miniature degree certificates and liscenses from leading universities. Those who wished for good health in their family could also purchase health certificates from some of the world's most respected health institutions.

Local custom dictates that these purchased miniatures must be blessed by a local shaman. These indigenous shamans bless the miniatures using incense and offer it to the Bolivian God of fortune, Ekeko. A fee is charged for every blessing that they give.

Even Catholic priests have taken the opportunity to bank on the festivities by charging the faithful for their own blessings.

The God of fortune is represented by a chubby man smoking a cigarette. Believers keep a statue of Ekeko in their own home and offer him the miniatures with their prayers.

The annual Alasitas Festival runs for a month in La Paz, Bolivia reports BBC. The miniatures may be small in size, but those who purchase them dream big. The festival is a celebration of abundance and prosperity. Those who join in the festivities also hope that this will hold true throughout the year.

Formerly one of the poorest countries in Latin America, Bolivia is currently enjoying its greatest prosperity to date. It was reported by The Guardian that this year, sales of the miniatures have exceeded expectations.

However, with the reality of global commodity prices, Bolivians might need a little more than luck on their side. The Bolivian nation is rapidly changing and developing, but for festivals like these, Bolivia proudly holds on to its traditional culture.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The breathtaking Galapagos Islands in Ecuador are a favorite destination for tourists and travelers because of the rich marine wildlife.

Despite its natural beauty, many are hesitant to travel to this paradise because of budget concerns.

However, traveler and Trip Advisor contributor Raereen disagreed, noting that there are cheap alternatives when traveling to the Ecuadorian travel spot.

She mentioned on a Trip Advisor post that a cheap tour around the islands would cost $950 for about 16 people with food provided to travelers.

As for diving adventures, Raereen advised tourists to negotiate, with prices usually starting at $120.

"You can spend anywhere from US15 a night if you are prepared to stay in hostels or dorms. If you want a private room it can start from US20 per night," she added.

On the other hand, Departful noted that travelers should also choose the low season when visiting Galapagos, which is from September to October.

It explained that during low seasons, few people travel to the area so there are more vacancies on cruises, tours, and accommodations. Lower prices or discounts are also found during low season.

The same travel website highlighted that individuals planning to visit the destination should book directly with cruise operators. Through this, they can save around $350 per person.

Contact details of cruise tour operators can be found on the tourist information guide of Galapagos.

Travel to Galapagos is another thing to consider when on a budget. Thrifty Nomads said the cheapest way is traveling between Quito, Ecuador and Baltra Airport in Galapagos.

Booking a flight in advance should be highly considered, since deals less than $200 could be available.

"You will find the best rates by searching Skyscanner. If you're not planning to be in Quito, try searching from your preceding destination to the Baltra Airport anyway," advised Thrifty Nomads.

When it comes to food, the same travel website noted that travelers can opt to just make their own meals and save a lot of money in doing so.

Stacking up on snacks is also advisable to avoid paying more for big meals when you are really hungry.

But if you are too tired to prepare or cook your own food, Thrifty Nomads said some good meals are available for $2.

As per UNESCO, The Galapagos Islands are a "melting pot for marine species," since it is where three ocean currents merge.

Since it is isolated from the rest of Ecuador, the islands contain unusual animal species, like the giant tortoise and iguana.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Passengers on an airplane which came from Mexico and arrived at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York last week, were able to bypass customs check, a necessary requirement to avoid entrance of terrorists in the country.

The New York Post said this is already the second time in two months that such an incident has happened, at the terminal of the American Airlines.

The US Customs and Border Protection pinned the blame on the airline, saying that it was not able to have the passports of its passengers checked when they arrived at JFK airport.

"Due to an airline error, some of the international passengers were inadvertently directed to exit through a domestic gate before being processed by CBP," said spokesperson Anthony Bucci in a statement quoted by the New York Post.

He added that their office is already investigating the incident and exploring means to ensure that this will not happen again in the future.

Providing more details on what happened, New York Daily News said the American Airlines Flight 1223 arrived from Cancun, Mexico, Monday last week.

It noted that aside from the passports, the bags of the passengers were also not checked prior to entering the country.

One of the passengers shared with the New York Daily News that he found the lack of security checks absurd, since anyone can just enter the country as they please.

He explained that when he asked a Transportation Security Administration agent about the security procedure, he was told that he was fine and that he could go ahead.

The same report claimed that the lapse in security also happened with the same airlines last November.

It was added by New York Post that the American Airlines claimed responsibility for their shortcoming in security protocol.

"We take the safety and security of our customers, employees and operation very seriously. Some passengers on Flight 1223 did not complete immigration and customs process upon arrival when they were inadvertently directed to the domestic terminal," the airlines' statement furthered.

New York Daily News noted that an airline asked their passengers to return to JFK and complete the customs check. The message, however, was too late for them to properly check what the passengers carried with them from Mexico.

One of the passengers, as per the same report, tagged this measure as a desperate move from the airlines, which he claimed clearly messed up with the lack of security checks.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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The United States is in a hurry to close telecommunications deals with Cuba, but the Caribbean island nation is still holding out.

After a second round of meetings held in Havana, Daniel Sepulveda, the U.S.' coordinator for international communications and information policy in the State Department, said that the U.S. is hurrying to make progress and close telecommunications deals while President Barack Obama is still in office, Miami Herald reported.

Sepulveda headed a 14-member delegation that held meetings from Wednesday through Friday with their Cuban counterparts, the news outlet added. The delegates discussed U.S. regulations allowing American telecommunications and Internet firms to establish a variety of commercial activities in Cuba.

Both sides described the meetings as positive, Miami Herald further reported. Sepulveda said that U.S. companies continue to visit Cuba wishing to settle deals that would improve telecom services and Internet connectivity.

"We're doing as much as we possibly can on our side. At this point, the biggest thing that is missing is trust" -- on both countries, Sepulveda told Miami Herald on Monday.

He noted that there are around a half-dozen proposals from U.S. and non-U.S. firms to build a North-South undersea fiber optic cable between the U.S. and Cuba, Miami Herald added. The island currently connects through satellite and an undersea fiber optic cable that links the nation to Venezuela.

Cuba has one of the slowest connectivity rates globally, and only approximately 5 to 25 percent of Cubans possess any kind of Internet service, the news outlet wrote.

Internet access in the island is also uncommon and restricted, KSWO reported. In 2015, the government established dozens of public Wi-Fi hotspots. The price, however, is too expensive for many Cubans, reaching $2 per hour.

New U.S. regulations permit American companies to sell personal communication equipment in Cuba, "work on joint ventures with Cuba's telecom monopoly ETECSA to improve the island's outdated Internet and telecom infrastructure," and set up offices in the island and take on Cubans as employees, the news outlet wrote. The new rules also allow a U.S. company to hire a private Cuban coder or other service provider.

According to KSWO, a Foreign Ministry statement said that both sides exchanged outlooks on using the Internet for "economic and social development." On Friday, the Ministry said that Cuban officials raised its concerns about the U.S. embargo's negative effects on island communications.

Despite the delay in agreements, Sepulveda stressed out that out of any sector, the new telecom regulations is the most openly allowed by the U.S. to conduct business with Cuba, Miami Herald added.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The oil glut crisis has got the entire world worried as US stock markets continue to plummet.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the strong oil output in the Middle East and the United States has caused the extreme reduction of oil prices, the lowest recorded in more than 10 years.

It highlighted that the global oil glut has already pulled the price of an oil barrel by almost 60 percent in the last 18 months.

In addition, Bloomberg mentioned that the cause of the overwhelming supply could be attributed to the oil pumping more than the required levels as well as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) abandoning its output ceiling last month.

The same report said that despite an agreement between OPEC and its rivals, the crisis continues to threaten the globe.

"It is crucial that all major producers sit down to come up with a solution to this," said OPEC secretary-general Abdalla Al-Badri.

He claimed that that the stocks of oil in some countries were 260 million barrels more than their estimated average for the end of 2015.

Al-Badri, however, said that the market may soon recover and balance itself again when an expected growth in demand happens this year.

"The current environment is putting this future at risk. At current price levels, it is clear that not all of the necessary future investment is viable," he added in a similar Business Insider report.

Meanwhile, BBC said that Opec member Saudi Arabia has refused to cut their production of oil, despite the crisis.

Al-Badri also blamed non-Opec members for the global oil glut.

He noted that though the organization was responsible for the additional supply in 2015 "majority of this has come from non-Opec countries."

According to Telegraph, OPEC has decided to embrace its competitors and talk about the solutions for the oil glut.

Al-Badri has warned the public that this current crisis could result in a supply shock in the future.

He explained that prices could shift from one extreme end to the another and that the problem should be addressed right now.

In line with this, The Australian reported that Russia has expressed its willingness to work with OPEC when markets are able to rebalance a year after.

It was also noted that the decision to agree on a deal with OPEC greatly depends on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The country's leader has reportedly considered oil as a small factor in the problem.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Former El Salvador President Francisco Flores is currently in a coma after suffering from a stroke in his house. where he is being detained for misappropriating Taiwan's donations for the 2001 earthquake victims.

On Monday, Flores' lawyer Edgar Morales Joya explained his current condition upon his arrival at a private hospital in San Salvador.

"He is in critical condition," the Tico Times quoted him saying, adding that the 56-year-old former leader of El Salvador was found unconscious at his home Sunday night.

After rushing him to the hospital, doctors explained to them that Flores had a stroke, which paralyzed the right side of his body.

According to BBC News, this is the third instance the former president was rushed to the hospital for the past 18 months due to serious health problems since he surrendered to authorities for embezzlement allegations.

Tico Times reported in December 2015 that Flores, who led the country from 1999 to 2004, is being accused of siphoning off donation money from Taiwan, which was supposed to aid victims of the earthquake that had hit the country in 2001.

According to The Guardian, $5 million allegedly went to his private bank account, while the remaining $10 reportedly went to his party's funds.

This led to Judge Miguel angel Garcia's long-awaited ruling in September 2014, stating that Flores will face charges of money laundering, embezzlement of public funds, among other illicit activities.

Tico Times further revealed that the accusations against him and other members of his National Republican Alliance party were first made public by then-El Salvador President Mauricio Funes.

After that, Flores turned himself in and had been kept under house arrest until today.

However, he remained stern in his statement that the accusations were not true, saying that the donation from Taiwan was to help efforts of rebuilding facilities and houses destroyed after two consecutive earthquakes hit the country.

He also said the money was to help in the Central American country's bout against criminal activity.

He further noted that Taiwan and El Salvador had "a privileged relationship," since the Asian country was requesting membership with the United Nations.

During his reign, Flores also maintained close ties with the United States, and even ordered the deployment of Salvadoran soldiers to Iraq to support U.S. forces, according to his detailed biography posted in The Famous People.

He also initiated a free trade agreement with the nation as well as dollarization of El Salvador's historical currency into U.S. dollars.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
President Barack Obama and his administration are feeling the heat from several immigration advocacy groups to grant temporary protection to Central American immigrants. At least 270 of these advocacy groups are pressuring the Obama administration to offer protection to the immigrants and their families who have arrived at the U.S. border in 2014.

According to NBC News Latino, in an official letter, the National Immigrant Justice Center and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center wrote that the 17,500 violated deaths that were a result of gang violence in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador last year were far greater than the death count in Somalia, Libya and South Sudan.

The U.S. government has taken safety measures in preventing a repeat of the events of 2014, in which immigrants went to cross the U.S. border by the thousands. The Obama administration also considered recent illegal border crossers as a priority for deportation.

In early January, the U.S. government began efforts to arrest these Central American immigrants, which included women and children. These immigrants have been denied stays of deportation. The move was largely criticized by many advocacy groups as well as Latino groups.

The report with NBC News Latino says that the Obama administration has already set up the processing for asylum requests, while Congress has granted a $ 750 million aid to help Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to combat the violence in their countries.

According to a report with The Miami Herald, the advocacy groups urged President Obama and his administration to grant the undocumented immigrants a Temporary Protection Status (TPS). The report also says that should Obama grant the TPS, it could very well spark controversy, as it would cover tens of thousands of immigrants, including children.

The TPS is an immigration benefit that grants protection against deportation to those countries that are designated by the federal government. This would mean that those who have been granted TPS can overstay their visas and stay legally in the country because their country is deemed dangerous and unsafe. The advocacy groups argue that sending the Central American immigrants back to their home countries would be like a death sentence, as Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador continue to experience civil unrest. The letter even called the situation a "humanitatian crisis."

The benefit allows these immigrants to seek a job in the United States. They are also also granted an option to return to their homeland once conditions have improved.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Australian government has released a list of 20 countries that people should avoid traveling to until further notice. Health officials deemed the nationwide recommendation as a precautionary measure to combat the spread of the dreaded Zika virus.

As per the Australian government's official website, here's the list of countries stricken with the Zika virus:

Barbados

Bolivia

Brazil

Cape Verde

Colombia

Ecuador

El Salvador

French Guiana

Guadelope

Guatemala

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Martinique

Mexico

Panama

Paraguay

Puerto Rico

Saint Martin

Samoa

Suriname

Venezuela

The new directive is mostly targeted at pregnant Australian women, since the Zika virus has been linked to numerous birth defects in the above-stated countries. BBC reported that the recent outbreak was first reported in Brazil early last year. Since then, multiple countries have issued travel warnings to South America, while South American women have been asked to postpone their pregnancies.

Symptoms of the Zika virus are surprisingly mild. People who are infected hardly feel anything at all. However, in some serious, albeit rare cases, the Zika virus causes fever, rash, severe headaches, joint pain and muscle pain. Infected children, adults and senior citizens usually do not require hospitalization, but the same cannot be said about pregnant women.

Brazil's health ministry discovered last November that the Zika virus was linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in the country. The birth defect is known as microcephaly, a condition that causes infants to have small heads and underdeveloped brains.

Just last week, The World Health Organization indicated, via The Guardian, that the number of suspected microcephaly cases in Brazil has ballooned to 4,000.

Laura Rodrigues, a health professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the Zika virus was initially considered as non-threatening to the public, thus only a small amount of research has been conducted. However, the recent outbreak has completely changed the scientific community's view on the mosquito-borne virus.

"Evidence includes temporal association between Zika outbreaks and microcephaly outbreaks both in Brazil and French Polynesia," the epidemiologist said. "The virus is neurotropic. It grows in the brain of the foetus and destroys brain structures so the developing brain is malformed -- small -- that's the cause of the microcephaly."

Oxford University health professor Trudie Lang hoped the research community will be able to know more about the Zika virus quicker than it did with Ebola.

"There are many unknowns and so research is urgently needed to understand what is happening and how to prevent further cases," she said.

In Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that out of all the mosquito types breeding in the country, only the Aedes aegypti is capable of transmitting the Zika virus. This particular mosquito can only be found in north Queensland.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NASA will provide radar imagery to Peru to help protect the famed Nazca Lines, one of the world's most mysterious archaeological sites.

The lines etched on the area are giant drawings, also known as geoglyphs, which show images of animals, plants, and mythical creatures, according to Fusion. The drawings are spread out over dozens of miles of desert located in southern Peru, and are believed to have been carved into the ground starting in 700 B.C. These etchings can only be completely viewed from an airplane.

NASA's local partner announced that it will now share data with the Peruvian government to spot potential threats to the Nazca Lines, including information on areas that have encountered majority of the human activities. In 2013 and 2015, an unmanned NASA aircraft equipped with the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar, or UAVSAR, apparatus flew over the ancient archaeological site and took hundreds of photographs.

Under an agreement with U.S.-based Cultural Site Research and Management, Peru's Culture Ministry will be granted no-cost access to information acquired by NASA's UAVSAR, La Prensa reported.

"Thanks to these images we now have an X-ray of the Nazca plains that will help us to develop a conservation plan," Juan Pablo Puente, Peru's vice minister of culture, said in a statement quoted by Fusion. He noted that the images from NASA could also assist archaeologists in discovering new geoglyphs.

What captured officials the most is the precision of the drawings, which include a monkey, a hummingbird, and a spider, Fusion listed. This is considered strange, given that the people who made them had no resources to observe the lines from above.

Archeologists have long debated whether the lines functioned as an observatory, a religious spot, or an irrigation system, the news outlet further reported.

Peruvian officials said that damage to the ancient site has swelled in recent years, Fusion wrote. Archaeologists said that majority of the threats are illegal mining projects and tourists who walk on the fragile lines.

In 2014, Greenpeace activists entered the site illegally and damaged it when they staged a publicity stunt by putting a huge sign near the hummingbird image, Fusion reported. The incident has sparked outrage in Peru, and the group was forced to go to court to pay a fine.

Last week, Peruvian newspaper El Comercio published a NASA radar image of the hummingbird, which seemed to show black spots near its beak. El Comercio quoted a NASA scientist saying that the black spots are proof that stones and rocks have been taken out from the area and were signs of "irreparable" damage.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro just got endorsed by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Latino business group says that they have come to know Castro well, and they believe in his advocacy and are confident in endorsing him for the VP bid.

Politico reported that the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce announced their endorsement of Julian Castro on Saturday. Castro is a Democrat who has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. The pair appeared in a "Latinos for Hillary" event in San Antonio, Texas last October.

Javier Palomarez, CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said in an interview with the publication that they were proud to announce their bid for Castro. He added that the Latino business group has come to know Castro and have seen his projects. Because of this, they believe that Castro is deserving of their endorsement. Palomarez also added that it wouldn't matter to them if Castro was a Republican. Prior to his current term in office as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Castro served three terms as mayor of San Antonio,Texas.

Despite their support for the Mexican-American candidate, the Latino business group said that it doesn't mean that they have declared support for Clinton as well.

Latina Magazine reports that while Palomarez said that this does not necessarily mean that he is not a fan of Hillary, he added that the business group was not prepared to give their presidential bid as he has heard that several presidential hopefuls are vying for Castro to be their running mate.

Earlier in October, Hillary Clinton heavily hinted about the business group on her bid to announce Castro as her running mate for the 2016 elections. The Chamber of Commerce noted that Clinton could see how good Castro is, which is why she said that she would "look hard" at him as her possible vice president.

Palomarez added that for now, at least, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce wants to focus its sights on Castro and help him with his efforts.

He also added that he would feel "very sorry" for the Republican who would come up to him and complain of his siding with the Democratic bid. He added that the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has a long history of working with "both sides."

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Lima-born chef and restaurateur Ricardo Zarate is known the world over for his deconstruction of popular South American dishes. The Latin Kitchen calls him "the godfather of Peruvian cuisine" for his innovative yet simplistic style of preparing popular Peruvian dishes. Here we present some of chef Zarate's top entrees.

Ceviche with Black Truffles

No Peruvian banquet is complete without the sight and taste of Ceviche, a raw seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of South America. Zarate's own twist on the traditional Peruvian meal includes thin slices of fish topped with a decent serving of black truffles, a special kind of tuber native to Southern Europe.

The Wall Street Journal theorized that Ceviche could soon become a global food. Numerous well-respected chefs, including Alain Ducasse and Jose Andre have integrated the dish to their newly opened restaurants in Europe and the United States. Peruvian chefs have also strongly advocated for the popularization of Ceviche.

Kampachi Tiradito in Squid Ink

This dish is indicative of Zarate's culinary inclusiveness. Kampachi is a sashimi-grade fish popular in Japan, while Tiradito is a native Peruvian dish featuring raw fish cutlets usually dipped in spicy sauce. This particular Tiradito uses the Kampachi meat flavored with rocoto oil, yuzu garlic dressing, Himalayan black salt and of course, the ever-edible squid ink.

Zarate told Examiner that his LA Peruvian restaurants Picca, Mo Chica, and Paiche all serve variations of Tiradito.

The Floating Island

The Floating Island is composed of a slice of Lucuma on top of a generous trickle of custard sauce sprinkled with chocolate shavings. To those wondering what a Lucuma is, Zarate told LA Times, via Peru This Week, that it is a native Peruvian fruit resembling an avocado with bright yellow innards.

Solterito

Solterito is a specialty dish from Arequipa, Peru. It is a vegetable salad usually consisting of choclo corn, giant lima beans and a healthy dab of fresco cheese. Zarate's version of the Solterito features fingerling potatoes, burrata cheese made from mozzarella and cream, English peas, fava beans, avocado mousse, tomatoes, quinoa grain and a splash of rocoto vinaigrette.

"It was actually much, much better than I'd anticipated," kevinEats said about the Solterito. "A bevy of light, bright flavors and disparate tastes and textures, augmented in weight by the queso fresco, and beautifully tied together by the rocoto vinaigrette."

Surf and Turf

This stuffed shell fish is oozing with the right Peruvian flavors. The dish can most likely be ordered at Picca, one of Zarate's restaurants, which flaunt fresh seafood entrees featuring only the best Amazonian ingredients, per Grub Street.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
It looks like Apple's "Project Titan" is at a standstill.

In a report from Apple Insider, it seems that the tech company has frozen hiring on the team in charge of the company's automobile ambitions. This is due to Apple design chief Jony Ive's progress review expressing "displeasure" with the group.

Right now, Apple is said to have over a thousand people working on Project Titan in and out of Cupertino. With a hiring plan so aggressive, the company is said to be poaching talent from other tech giants like Tesla, Ford, GM, Samsung, and NVIDIA.

But there is also the possibility that the stall is made due to the departure of Steve Zadesky, who was in charge of the project, as noted by the Wall Street Journal. Although a person close with Zadesky said that his departure was due to personal reasons, there has been no official statement from the Apple overseer regarding the issue. Mac Rumors suggested that Apple may be holding off on the hiring until a new project leader can be established to continue working on the rumored electric vehicle.

While Apple itself hasn't confirmed the existence of its car project, the Wall Street Journal noted that it has hired automobile industry veterans as well as battery technology and autonomous driving experts. At the WSJD Live conference in October, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that he thinks "there will be a massive change in the industry" as tech like autonomous driving becomes more and more important.

Apple Insider also noted that the car initiative has already seen a couple of setbacks in the recent months. In September, some manufacturing issues forced the company to consider partnering with an established automobile company, many suspecting it to be BMW. The tech company's interest in the German automobile came thanks to their willingness to move beyond traditional car making approaches, as seen by their partnership with the i3.

It has also been suggested that the Cupertino-based company is aiming for the final engineering specifications to complete Project Titan by 2019 to 2020, but if it is internal issues that they have to sort through, then they could as easily hire a replacement for Zadesky as well as other people to spearhead the project within days.

The potential Apple Car will not make it to retailers any time in the next three years, especially with the current standstill. However, do you think it will be worth it for the company to invest in automobile making, or should they stick to the gadgets that they are already known for?

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Though the Mexican government's decision to grant temporary shelter to Cuban migrants in Costa Rica is a noble act, some sectors believe that the move has created first and second class migrants.

Activists said Mexico's new immigration policy only widened the disparity between Cuban immigrants and Central American migrants currently living in the United States, per IPS. The former are now being given humanitarian privileges, while the latter are plucked from their homes and eventually deported.

"They have double standards, and Mexico plays into their interests. It contradicts the goal of achieving orderly, safe migration flows," said Guatemalan activist Danilo Rivera. "Mexico isn't coherent, because it's a country that produces migrants itself."

Two weeks ago, Mexico started granting transit visas to Cuban migrants in Guatemala who were flown in from Costa Rica.

Reuters pointed out that a total of 120 Cubans were put in buses en route to Mexico. Authorities in Central America are currently holding meetings to decide how the trips will be paid for as well as if the transit programs will be continued or not.

Before the current immigration issue broke out, Cubans hoping to reach the United States did so by traveling to Ecuador, where then could board boat rides going to California. The trip crossed Costa Rican shoreline and surely enough, over 8,000 Cubans were caught along the border of Nicaragua and Costa Rica in November 2015.

Nicaragua refused to give sanctuary to the stranded Cuban migrants, which was why an agreement between Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico was formed. Cuban migrants were flown from Costa Rica directly to Guatemala, where they were put on bus rides to the neighboring country of Mexico.

Just this week, the Costa Rican government announced that the second batch of Cuban migrants will be flown to Guatemala this Feb. 4. ABC News reported that the second airlift will carry 184 Cubans. Costa Rican authorities will be constantly monitoring the group of Cubans, and will inform them of what important documents to bring.

The common goal of the Cuban migrants is to land on US soil and have a chance to apply for permanent US citizenship. A longstanding US decree, known as the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act, makes this possible. The law is colloquially referred to as the "wet foot-dry foot policy."

According to The Washington Post, the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act provides political and social relief to Cubans who wish to escape the country's authoritarian rule. It also grants migrants the pathway to US citizenship, regardless if they were brought in legally or illegally.

The law does have a caveat for Cubans migrants wishing to exploit it. Those who are caught at sea will be deported, while those who managed to land in the US, and have lived quietly in the country for one year and one day, will be allowed to stay.

 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Mexican Lawmakers on Medical Marijuana Legalization: Current Policy 'Not Working'

media@latinoshealth.com By Staff Writer Jan 26, 2016 05:30 AM EST

Mexican lawmakers are proposing a bill to legalize medical marijuana for patients in the country.

The bill is being proposed by Cristina Diaz, an Institutional Revolutionary Party senator. According to Reuters, legalizing medical marijuana would allow patients in the country access to the substance.

It is hoped that the bill will be passed by May of this year by Mexico's Congress. President Enrique Pena Nieto opposes the legalization of marijuana but has agreed on a national debate. Diaz hopes that the debate will help other lawmakers see the benefits of having medical marijuana legalized.

"Once the debates begin, that will raise awareness." she said. "This is a medical emergency. Nonetheless, I'm not trying to end the Mexican state's prohibition (of marijuana)."

Mexico's President of Chamber of Deputies, Jesus Zambrano, championed the legalization of both recreational and medical marijuana in the country. According to Telesur TV, Zambrano cites following Colombia and Italy in creating policies to decrease drug-related crimes. There have been more than 160,000 drug-related deaths in the country from 2007 to 2014.

"The topic has its international component and efforts need to be combined, particularly between the United States and Mexico, to have common rules, laws that are essentially identical, though each with its own modalities, because we are distinct, but the United States must help our country apply, for instance, legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use," Zambrano said, as the outlet reported.

Zambrano adds that the anti-drug policy which aims to punish people breaking the law has bred new drugs, human rights violations and promotion of organized crime groups in the country.

"We have the challenge of proposing an alternative to the problem of the illegal market for marijuana and its negative consequences. Or remain as we are, running the risk of compromising the health, security and dignity of people," he said during the hearing, Fox News reports.

Senate president Roberto Gil supports Zambrano's view by stating that current drug policy of the country "is not working."

We can't continue like this with the status quo, we have to use our imagination and take political responsibility to make the best decisions for Mexico," Gil said. He is a member of the conservative National Action Party.

On Dec. 11 of last year, four citizens won the case to be allowed to cultivate and recreationally use marijuana. The case was heard by the Supreme Court, however, the ruling did not grant them the right to sell or commercially produce marijuana.

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Bullying Obstructs Development of Sexual Minority Youth: Study

media@latinoshealth.com By Staff Reporter Jan 26, 2016 05:30 AM EST

A new study to be published in the "American Journal of Public Health" reveals how the development of sexual minority youth is affected by bullying, Eurekalert reports.

CDC defines sexual minority youth as those who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or those who have sexual contact with persons of the same or both sexes. Sexual minority youth may often experience stigma, discrimination, family disapproval, social rejection, and violence, depending on the environment they are reared in.

Researchers led by Robert W.S. Coulter, M.P.H., a doctoral student in Pitt Public Health's Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, analyzed data from 1,870 adolescents in American schools and after-school programs in 45 states across the nation. Using the "Five Cs" model, the survey determined positive youth development and assessed competence, confidence, connection, character and caring/compassion. Those who had higher levels of the Five Cs meant that they had positive contributions to society while those who had lower levels were linked to an array of risky behavior, including cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and younger sexual initiation. The survey included a question about whether the participant had been bullied multiple times in the last several months.

Results showed that 127 participants, which amounted to 6.8%, were sexual minority youth, and among these participants, 24% admitted to have fallen victim to bullying. Only 12% of their heterosexual counterparts have reported to be victims of bullying.

According to Science Daily, the sexual minority youth had significantly lower scores than their heterosexual peers in three of the Five Cs, namely, competence, confidence, and connection. Competence pertains to the positive outlook of a person's actions in social, academic, cognitive and vocational areas while confidence is defined as the internal sense of overall positive self-worth. Connection is defined as having a positive and supportive bond with friends, family, school, and community.

However, when researchers controlled for the effects of bullying victimization, there was a decrease in the difference of scores between sexual-minority and heterosexual youths.

"This research quantifies how bullying hinders sexual-minority youths' access to the essential building blocks of health and well-being. Anti-bullying policies at schools are necessary but insufficient," Dr. Coulter commented. "Multifaceted interventions in all arenas, including schools, families and communities, should focus on building more accepting and supportive environments for sexual-minority youth."

"Bullying is only one part of the story. It is one manifestation of more pervasive problems, such as stigma and discrimination," Dr. Coulter explained. "We need to take a holistic approach to positive youth development and create evidence-based programs that bring about a cultural change, allowing all youths, regardless of their sexual orientation, the same opportunity to thrive."

About one in four or one in three American students report to have been bullied at school, the US Department of Health & Human Services reports, and most bullying is reportedly occurring in middle school, where such abuse occurs through verbal and social bullying.

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Easy Winter Skin Problems Home Remedies

media@latinoshealth.com By Staff Reporter Jan 26, 2016 06:23 AM EST

Fight back against winter's war on your skin with these home remedies using ingredients you can easily find. Here are some tricks to soothe your skin and leave it soft and supple throughout winter:

Avocado Mask

WTOP reports that avocados are essentially full of vitamins, healthy fats and antioxidants. For the mixture, Ludmilla Milic recommends using half of avocado, a teaspoon of lemon juice and a drizzle of honey.

Using your fingers or makeup brush, apply the mixture on your face and leave it on for about 15-30 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water.

Avocado is said to be suitable for all skin types, especially for dry and dehydrated skin. This is best used during winter months which can leave your skin dry.

Coconut Oil

For cracked lips, Today recommends using a teaspoon of coconut oil and honey with a quarter-teaspoon sugar to exfoliate dry lips. Lips dry out because they don't have enough oil in them, says Dermatologist Debra Wattenberg. Licking your lips will dry it out more.

Pumpkin Mask

Milic says that pumpkins are rich in vitamins A and C, as reported by WTOP. They are also full of zinc and enzymes which help in cell repair as they neutralize free radicals.

To make your skin irresistibly young-looking, mix pumpkin with a little olive oil and an egg yolk. Apply on your skin and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Again, rinse off the mask with warm water.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is a great moisturizer for dry hands and cuticles. Simply soak hands in warm water and apply a thin film of olive oil to hands.

Before slipping your hands into a pair of gloves, don't forget to wrap them first in plastic wrap. This will help the skin to soak in the olive oil, reports Today.

Oatmeal Honey Mask

To exfoliate your skin, you need oatmeal says Milic. This recipe is also a great scrub that will leave your skin soft and supple.

According to WTOP, you need to cook the oatmeal. However, be sure it's not too mushy.

Cook it for about a minute or two. To help bind the mixture, add a drizzle of honey.

Honey has antibacterial properties and actually keeps skin hydrated. For added moisture, add a spoonful or two of plain yogurt. Leave the mask for about 15 minutes and rinse it off with warm water.

Today has another version of this recipe for dry, inflamed patches or eczema. To create the soothing pack, add a teaspoon each of honey and olive oil to  cup of oatmeal. Mix the paste adding 2 to 3 tablespoons of hot water. Apply it on the irritated area for several minutes before rinsing it off.

Split Ends

If your hair is extremely dry and full of split ends, this hair mask can repair your damaged hair. Simply mix two egg whites with ripe avocado. Apply to hair and leave it on for 15 minutes. Make sure hair is washed rinsed out properly.

For more home remedies, check out the video below:

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Common Cold Remedies: Which Ones Work, Which Ones Don't

media@latinoshealth.com By Julio Cachila Jan 26, 2016 05:14 AM EST

The common cold is, well, pretty common. WebMD stated that the symptoms, which include a runny nose, a scratchy throat and fits of sneezing, are really hard to miss. However, before you go and try your favorite home remedies, it's best to understand what a cold is and what remedies do and don't work against it.

The common cold is a viral infection of your nose and throat, Mayo Clinic shared. It's usually harmless but shows varying symptoms depending on any one of the more than 100 viruses that cause it. Although kids are at the greatest risk of contracting a cold, even healthy adults can have it too.

Thinking of a remedy for the cold? Here's a quick guide to what does and what does not work, shared by Today.

What Works

Honey

This sweet gift of nature works, said Today. Mixed with either tea or warm water and lemon, honey is helpful in alleviating sore throat for adults and coughing in children.

In one study, kids two and older that had respiratory tract infections were given up to 2 teaspoons of honey before sleeping. They were reported to have better sleep and less coughing.

Despite that, Today warned against giving honey to children younger than 1 as there is a possible risk for a rare form of food poisoning called infant botulism.

Zinc

Research has found that zinc, when taken as supplements during the first few days of a cold, may shorten the duration of a cold. However, be warned that it is toxic in high doses.

Hot Liquids

Hot liquids such as tea works in helping ease congestion, sniffles and sneezing.

Researchers from the Common Cold Center at Cardiff University found that hot beverages helped relieved the symptoms of cold way better than drinks at room temperature. Other studies found that hot foods like chicken soup also worked.

Salt Water

Rinsing with salt water does help in breaking nasal congestion and cleaning out the sinuses. However, Today advised using only distilled, sterile or previously boiled water in making the solution, otherwise there's a risk of infection.

What Doesn't Work

Vitamin C

Surprised? According to Today, research shows that taking vitamin C against colds only help when the person already has a deficiency in the vitamin when the cold happens. People living in cold climates, for example, might have low levels of vitamin C and, for them supplements might work. Otherwise, exercise will help.

Chili peppers

Although some people might believe that this finger-sized dynamite helps clear up congestion, Today reported that experts do not say so.

Echinacea

NBC News reported that this herbal remedy doesn't help prevent or treat colds. Despite being touted as medicine for centuries, numerous research hasn't found enough evidence that it really helps, Today shared.

Garlic, however, can be helpful in preventing the colds.

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Move Over, 'El Chapo' Shirts! Bakery in Mexico Selling 'El Chapo' Cupcakes

staff@latinoshealth.com By Monica Antonio Jan 26, 2016 06:00 AM EST

The Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has been heading the headlines for quite some time because of his capture earlier this month. Now, the face of the famous Sinaloa Cartel leader will be heading to the tummies of pastry lovers as a bakery in northern Mexico is offering El Chapo cupcakes, WGN TV reports.

According to the news outlet, the El Chapo cupcakes shows the drug lord's face during the time of his capture while wearing the same soiled T-shirt. The controversial cupcakes of El Chapo is the brainchild of Alfredo Soria, a pastry chef from Hermosillo, who told FOX that upon the release of his creation, social media has been at a "shock" of the pastry goodies. WTOC notes that the El Chapo cupcakes instantly went viral on the internet just hours after uploading it.

This cupcakes comes after Dalton Avalos Ramirez from the famous pinateria in Reynosa, Mexico, released a pinata in the form of El Chapo, New York Post reports. The El Chapo pinata retails from $28 to $56. It shows the drug lord's arrest, wearing a dirty tank top, blue jeans while in handcuffs. To add humor, a thought bubble with a picture of a woman in a bikini floats above his head.

The famous pinateria has also created some quirky pinatas from famous personalities like that of Kate del Castillo. According to The Guardian, the latina actress was the one who made Sean Penn's interview with El Chapo possible. However, over the weekend, Univision reports that del Castilo claims that the Mexican government is trying to "destroy her" because of her said part in the meeting.

I have no reason to give explanations to the press. If I dont talk it's because my lawyers told me not to because the government wants to destroy me, del Castillo said.

The creator of the drug lord pinata, in an interview with Expreso Press via New York Post, says that some customers are not buying the El Chapo pinata for whacking but to keep it as a fun souvenir.

Mail Online reports that El Chapo was captured on Jan. 8 after escaping his maximum security prison through a tunnel. The notorious leader of the drug cartel was captured 1,300 miles away from prison in a motel in Los Mochis, Mexico. During the encounter, El Cholo, the drug lord's right hand, was also captured while six gangsters were arrested while five gangsters were killed.

What do you think of the El Chapo cupcakes and pinata? Will you buy one for yourself?

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Latin Post presents "Turnout," a series featuring leading politicians, government leaders and advocacy groups discussing and debating the most important issues facing the Latino voting bloc.

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In 1991, Guillermo Linares became the first Dominican-born elected to public office in the U.S., and today he's on the campaign trail that could land him another historic achievement: the first Dominican in Congress.

Linares is campaigning to become the Democratic Party's candidate for New York's 13th Congressional District, presently held by Democrat Charles Rangel, who previously announced the current 114th Congress would be his last. In describing Rangel, Linares considers him an ally with a progressive leadership that has been respectful to the diversity of the district.

"This is a very diverse district," Linares told Latin Post when describing the district, which covers Manhattan's various northern neighborhoods such as Harlem, Spanish Harlem, Inwood and Washington Heights, and The Bronx's Kingsbridge, home to large segments of Cubans, Dominicans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, African Americans and Jewish populations.

Immigration

Linares, who currently serves as assemblyman for New York State's 72nd District, said he's keenly aware of how life is as an immigrant, as he and his parents immigrated to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic, and he was aware of the significance and opportunities to seize upon entering the country. As he matured, Linares discovered he wanted to become a teacher to better improve life situations he had encountered, such as bilingual education and assimilating in the neighborhood.

Linares supports President Barack Obama's immigration executive actions, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA), which would give nearly 4.9 million eligible undocumented immigrants with temporary protections. But he has been critical on the Obama administration for its deportation raids.

"It has been extremely detrimental to families, often there have been people deported back home when they have lived here most of their lives. This is the country that they know. But I think what is the most devastating part is when you rip apart families and the impact that has created," said Linares.

"It's my hope that his [executive] action will help remedy the devastation that so many families have experienced over the time he's been the president."

Puerto Rico

In the State Legislature, Linares and a coalition of New York State lawmakers have called on Congress to help Puerto Rico address its financial and $70 billion debt crises. Linares, a committee member of the State Assembly's Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force and noting there are more Puerto Ricans living in the mainland U.S. than in the island commonwealth, said Puerto Rico has sacrificed everything for the U.S., particularly during times of war.

"Puerto Rico has been a strategic location for the United States throughout its history ... that, in itself, should be more than enough for the U.S. Congress to step up to the plate and come to the rescue and allow for Puerto Ricans to address this crisis that threatens the entire island," said Linares.

The Dominican said he's ready to stand with all Latino-elected, minority-elected and progressive-elected in not only New York but across the U.S. to increase Latino voices and to hold Congress accountable.

"We need to rally as a country, as a nation, regardless of what background we have, whether we come from the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East or Southeast Asia, this is something that speaks to the type of justice that can take the United States and present another face -- not the face of war, not the face of bullying others because they're perhaps developing or weaker -- but the face of what has made this country great: recognizing the diversity, the ingenuity that we have, establishing greater relationships based on trust and respect ... and Puerto Rico is the symbol that can tell the rest of the world that the United States is looking at Puerto Rico with its heart and not with its economic interest."

His Credentials

Linares is competing against seven other Democrats for the political party's nomination. Linares said New York's 13th Congressional District needs someone with diverse, organizing and mobilizing experience and to bring people together to confront challenges yet create opportunities, particularly for small businesses, public safety and the young, emerging youth professionals in both private and public sectors.

Linares said the youth has to play a key role in holding the civil rights torch his generation raised, which opened opportunities for people like him. He said such civil rights progress made throughout the last few decades have been under attack by conservatives, "who want to see nothing but serving that one percent when we know that what has built this country is the 99 percent."

"What makes a difference in terms of what I bring to the table is that I have local experience working and mobilizing in neighborhoods to face challenges affecting everyone. I have city experience as the Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs and as a city councilmember in New York City, as an assemblymember at the state level and I was also appointed in 1995, by President [Bill] Clinton, to join his commission on education for Hispanics, nationally."

Linares helped mobilize nine new schools and the 33rd police precinct into the Washington Heights neighborhood, as students were cramped into classrooms and crime levels skyrocketed, which fueled tension between police and the community.

"I'm very proud of having been in the lead and I was the only Dominican-elected official for five years while this crisis was being confronted in northern Manhattan," Linares said.

He also served as New York City's Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs between 2004 and 2009, which he crafted language policy for the millions of immigrants, including half a million undocumented, living in the Big Apple. Later, in the New York State Assembly, he would help build the state's DREAM Act, although it has yet to become law.

"As a child of the civil rights movement, we've seen challenges facing the city, the state and country but I take it on a neighborhood level because I believe that the problems of this country and the problems that we face all go down to where we are raising our children, where we have our families, where we have the fabric of our neighborhood," said Linares.

"I want to take the wealth of experience in a leadership role ... I want to bring that experience to Washington and I want to bring my neighborhoods to Washington. I want to bring Washington to the neighborhood."

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.
At a time when the rest of the country is pulling back on harsh sentencing and criminal legislation, New Mexico is preparing to implement stricter anti-crime laws.

According to The Associated Press, New Mexico lawmakers met last week to discuss their new agenda, which may involve extending prison sentences and expanding on anti-crime measures such as the three-strike law.

The state's tougher stance on crime is likely motivated by recent tragedies, including the killings of two police officers and the shooting of 4-year-old Lilly Garcia in a road rage incident.

"What we're trying to do is provide legislative solutions to keep this handful of violent offenders off the street," said New Mexico House Majority Leader, Rep. Nate Gentry of Albuquerque. "Our No. 1 job as legislators is to make sure people are safe in their homes."

The proposed legislative changes bring to mind the wave of anti-crime laws introduced in the 1990s, many of which other states are now looking to reverse.

The Washington Post reports one proposal would widen the list of violent felonies applicable under the three-strike law. Violent offenders with three or more convictions would be more likely to receive life sentences.

According to The Post, law enforcement officials have complained that the law is too narrow, achieving little effect since its implementation in the '90s. Lilly Garcia's mother, who lost her daughter to a repeat offender, has also supported a change.

Republican politician Gentry also proposed making assaults and killings of police officers punishable as a hate crime. However, the idea has been opposed by many Democrats who believe the change may have little effect on deterring attacks on law enforcement. The law would also be introduced at a time of nationwide outrage in response to unnecessary killings and excessive force by the police.

One measure that has received bipartisan support is a proposed reform of the bail bond system, which would allow judges to deny bond to suspects who pose a risk to the public. On the other hand, a provision in the amendment would allow for non-violent criminal suspects without money to be granted bail.
Unimpeded by any major sporting events, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley made their final nationally televisied pitch ahead of the Iowa caucus next Monday.

One week before decisive Iowa caucus that may trim the presidential field, Democratic presidential hopefuls joined in a CNN town hall highlighting differences in policy ranging from gun control to Wall Street reform. Each stuck to their bread-and-butter throughout; Clinton to foreign policy and Sanders to economic inequalities.

Unlike traditional debates, the large number of undecided voters got to see the candidates in an impassioned environment, one where question came from the voters themselves.

Sanders defines democratic socialism

Asked for his definition of a democratic socialist -- a term synonymous with his campaign -- Sanders said "we cannot continue to have a government dominated by the billionaire class and a congress that continues to work for the interest of the people on top while ignoring working families."

CNN moderator Chris Cuomo pressed Sanders on his cost-free plans for universal healthcare and community college early on. After saying Cuomo's assessment that Sanders is vying for one of the biggest tax hikes in history," the Vermont senator conceded that he would, indeed, raise taxes.

"Yes we will," Sanders said. "But also let us be clear, Chris, because there's a little bit of disingenuity out there. We may raise taxes, but we are also going to eliminate private health insurance premiums for individuals and for businesses."

Following a campaign ad touting Clinton as the more experienced candidate, Sanders rose to his feet to dismiss decisions she made as New York senator and U.S. secretary of State, specifically on authorizing the Iraq war and questioning climate change.

"On day one, I said the Keystone Pipeline was a dumb idea. Why did it take Hillary Clinton a long time before she came into opposition to the Keystone Pipeline? I didn't have to think hard about opposing the Trans Pacific Partnership. It took Hillary Clinton a long time to come on board on that," Sanders said.

Clinton admits Iraq war mistake, denounces Islamophobia

Sanders insinuated that Clinton doesn't appeal to younger voters. The first audience question Clinton received was from a Sanders-leaning voter who hears she is dishonest.

Claims of dishonesty, Clinton said, come from opponents' mudslinging.

"They throw all this stuff at me, and I'm still standing. But if you're new to politics, if it's the first time you've really paid attention, you go, 'Oh my gosh, look at all of this," Clinton said, waving her arms in animated panic. "You have to say to yourself, 'why are they throwing all of that?"

In response to her support of the Iraq war, Clinton acknowledged her vote was a mistake, but reaffirmed that she has a "much longer history than one vote."

Clinton cited her role in last year's historic nuclear deal that will stop Iran from acquiring uranium to build a weapon. Instead of bombing Iran and possibly starting another war, Clinton said she spent 18 months creating a coalition aimed at finding a peaceful solution.

While she mostly averted going after Sanders - especially after viewing a campaign video she called "fabulous" - Clinton didn't hold back in denouncing GOP front-runner Donald Trump's derogatory attacks on Muslims, though she never mentioned him by name.

"It's not only shameful and contrary to our values to say that people of a certain religion should never come to this country, or to claim that there are no real people of the Muslim faith who share our values. And to have the kind of dismissive and insulting approach," she said. "It's not only shameful and offensive, which it is. I think it's dangerous."

Clinton's response came after an American-Muslim woman who served in the Air Force asked why the U.S. is the best place to raise her children, given growing fears of Islamophobia. Clinton said a coalition built to defeat ISIS cannot succeed without allied Muslim nations.

"It's pretty hard to figure out how you're going to make a coalition with the very nations you need if you spend your time insulting their religion," she said.

As for the State's response to the 2012 Benghazi attack and ensuing Congressional hearings, Clinton said it's still an issue "because Republicans want to keep it an issue."

Clinton referenced previous terrorist attacks - 1983 U.S. embassy bombings in Beirut during Ronald Reagan's presidency and 9/11 under George W. Bush - and how political parties didn't immediately blame one another.

"I understand that they will try to make this an issue. I will try to continue to answer, and my best defense is the truth," Clinton said.

Clinton and Sanders reaching different voter bases

A CBS News/YouGov poll released ahead of Monday's town hall found a wide age gap among caucus-goers favoring one Democratic candidate over another.

Nearly 60 percent of adults 65 years of age or older chose Clinton while half of the voters below age 30 favored Sanders. An overwhelming number of youths though the Vermont senator would do better on health care (73 percent); the economy (82 percent); Wall Street reform (82 percent); and taxes (90 percent).

Older voters preferred Clinton's policies on gun control (68 percent) and terrorism (72 percent).
With Haiti experiencing its most current and volatile political crisis yet, the country might very well shift to a temporary transitional government after outgoing President Michel Martelly steps down from power, according to The Daily Mail.

Haiti Special Coordinator from the United States Kenneth Merten stated that despite world powers such as the U.S. preferring that Haiti holds its elections for a smooth transition of power, the current state of the nation, especially the chaos embroiling it, has placed a massive roadblock in the nation's electoral process.

Thus, Haiti might not be able to hold any form of elections before Martelly's intended departure on Feb. 7.

Haiti was actually set to choose the outgoing president's successor last Sunday. However, the refusal of the opposition's standard-bearer, Jude Celestin, to participate in the elections have put a definitive stop to any attempts at voting, reports Al Jazeera News.

According to Celestin, his stern refusal to participate in the elections last week was due to the elections being riddled with fraud from the government's party. His refusal eventually sparked a number of anti-government protests in the nation, with some of the demonstrations ending in violence.

With no elections in the foreseeable future, there might be no recourse for Haiti than to opt for a transitional government. Such a decision, however, has proven dangerous and volatile in the past. Nevertheless, Merten believes that considering the circumstances, it might be the nation's only option.

"Realistically speaking, we may be looking at some sort of temporary solution until there is a handover to a newly elected president. Our fear is that we go into a situation that is open ended. In our analysis that is a dangerous place to go," he said, according to Yahoo! News.

After all, the unrest in the nation could not be pointed at the opposition's supporters alone. Though supporters of Celestin were responsible for a number of volatile protests, supporters of his rival, government-backed Jovenel Moise, also staged a very prominent protest that caused unrest.

Demanding quick elections, Moise's supporters blocked one of Haiti's most important trade routes, blocking the route with trucks and burning tires. Later, they also marched through the nation's northern cities, demanding an election.

The unrest in Haiti has caught the attention of the United Nations, with secretary-general Ban Ki-moon expressing his concern about the issue and the violence in the nation. According to the U.N. chief, Haitians must work towards a "peaceful completion of the electoral process without delay."

As of the moment, however, Merten stated that the U.S., as well as other world powers, are watching the delicate nation very carefully.
Latinos are known to drink more coffee than other nationalities. Around 74 percent of the general Latino population drink 1 to 2 cups of coffee on a daily basis as per Cafe Cortez.

With a coffee drinking average of 1.32 cups per day, Brazil is known to be one of the countries with the most Latin American coffee drinkers. As per World Atlas, Brazil is also one of the largest coffee producers with 2,339,630 hectares allotted for coffee farming.

With their love for coffee, Latinos can without a doubt produce top notch coffee quality. Listed below are 4 Latin American coffees that every coffee lover must try!

Cafe Pilon

The coffee brand which originated in Cuba has been around for more than 100 years. Cafe Souto became the most popular coffee brand in Cuba after the Souto family, headed by Pepe, decided to sell their home roasted coffee within the neighborhood. By doing so, the family's coffee business started to expand as their popularity increased by word of mouth.

The family then renamed the coffee brand Cafe Pilon after a business man contacted Pepe with an offer to sell him the Cafe Pilon brand; he then took advantage of the deal and decided to purchase the entire Rowland Coffee Roasters.

Cielito Querido

Cielito Querido is one of Starbucks' toughest competitions in Mexico as per the World Crunch website. The cafe does not only serve coffee, but it also serves several drinks with a twist. One of which is their hot chocolate infused with chili peppers.

As per Diego Landa, the marketing director, "When there is market that is dominated by such a famous competitor, the rest are like a flock of sheep, and the theory is that if you want to enter the market, you should emulate the dominant player as much as possible. "

Los Planes Pacamara

Known as one of the most expensive coffees in the world, Los Planes coffees cost around $40 per pound. Grown in Citala, El Salvador; the delicious brew won second place in the 2006 Cup of Excellence.

It is entirely made from Pacamara which is a high quality Arabica bean. It may be expensive, but once youd get to try the brew, its most definitely worth it.

Cafe Santo Domingo

Dominican Republics well-loved cafe continually gathers recognition worldwide. The family-owned company has been part of the Dominican Republic culture for over 70 years, as is now one of the biggest cafe brands in the international market.

As per Abdallah Castillo, the director of the Dominican Republic tourism Board based in Canada, the coffee is already part of their culture, I remember when I was a child, I used to make Cafe Santo Domingo ice cream. So you can just imagine what this coffee means to us. Its part of us, of every Dominican."
This blog contains articles and commentary on Climate Change / Global Warming. These changes will have an affect on the entire planet and all of us who reside therein. Life as we know it will change drastically. There is also the view that there is a high likelihood of climate change being a precursor of conflits triggered by resource shortges.
The immigration issue in the U.S. has been in the center of talks according to Fox News Latino. The most recent development in the issue is that women and children are reportedly being detained too long than the law allows.

The situation further had legislators calling for the Obama administration to end immigration raids, the Associated Press via Equal Voice reports. Meanwhile, according to Fox News Latino, the Department of Homeland Security might as well look forward to facing legal suits against advocates for keeping women and children immigrants for up to six months in detention centers like in Dilley, Texas.

"It is unconscionable that the government is holding a firm line and continuing to detain them," said Manoj Govindiah, an attorney with RAICES, one of the legal advocacy groups for women, as quoted by the publication.

Govindiah further urged that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency lack the determination to end the long ordeal that the women and children from countries like Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala face in detention centers.

The news agency added that the long detention might be against the law such as what happened in the Flores case during the 1980s, where a girl from El Salvador was detained with adults. The case was the first to establish long-term detention of children immigrants.

However, the government has filed appeals since the current case, where mothers are with their children, does not apply to the Flores case, which talks about unaccompanied minors.

The issue was opposed by advocates like Govindiah, saying that the detention of women and children, although together, "violates letter and spirit of the Flores case."

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson sticks to claiming making changes to the centers. "We have implemented significant reforms to how we operate our family residential centers to ensure compliance with the District Court's...orders," Johnson's statement read as quoted by the news agency.

The news comes during the call of senators in a letter to the Obama administration to slow down immigration raids and to give immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras a special status.

The letter was from 22 senators, including democrats in the Senate like Senate Democratic Leader Richard Durbin of Illinois, presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the publication reports.

In the letter, the senators urged that the situation is that of "a humanitarian and refugee crisis involving a vulnerable population and not strictly as a border security and immigration enforcement matter," the legislators wrote as quoted by the news agency.
Conservative Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio is now on his nine-day campaign period in Iowa, just days before Iowans cast their first votes, the New York Times reports. The publication says that the senator is doing better in his most recent visit as crowds grow and endorsements surface.

Rubio makes his way to Iowa in his straight nine-day campaign after opponents Ted Cruz and Donald Trump have had their fair share of glory in the state. The outlet says that Rubio is seen to be doing strong so far, which is an important factor before initial votes are cast.

"I'm very optimistic about the energy we're gaining, the endorsements, the support and the turnout on a day like today," Rubio told the crowd at Best Western as quoted by the publication.

Not only did he hear the crowd screaming his name in support of his campaign, Rubio also reportedly gained endorsements -- both direct and indirect -- that are both favorable to his possible seat at the White House, the news agency reports.

Apparently, Rubio's visit gained him the support of the state's biggest newspaper, The Des Moines Register. To add to his supporters, Rubio's campaign announced that famous Iowa senator, Joni Ernst will accompany him to his rally on Monday.

Although not mentioning that the Iowa senator is supporting Rubio's Presidency, the news outlet revealed that Ernst will, however, not be joining any other presidential candidate. Meanwhile, the news comes after word spread out that Rubio is nowhere near getting the White House to be elected as president.

However, Rubio's party believes the opposite. "No poll in New Hampshire matters until Iowa votes, and no poll in South Carolina matters until New Hampshire votes," said senior strategist for Rubio Todd Harris as quoted by the news agency.

Fox News Latino reports that Iowa will be casting their leadoff votes on Feb. 1. Rubio urged the state voters to choose wisely saying, "We are not just picking a political party," Rubio said in a Cedar Rapids hotel ballroom. "We are picking the very identity of our nation. That is what's at stake in this election," he added.

Without mentioning any names, Rubio also urged that the "next president should tell you as a candidate how they will fight the war on terror," he said as quoted by the news outlet on news that other presidential candidates voted for the approval of a reduction in federal military spending.
As the search for more valuable items continues at the late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar's former mansion in Miami, The Miami Herald reveals a recent development -- a discovery of another safe. Although the publication fails to reveal what lies inside the safe, it is speculated to contain something of value.

New owners Christian de Berdouares and his wife, television journalist Jennifer Valoppi, purchased the mansion last year at $9.65 million and previously announced their desire to remove all the attributes that have been connected to the drug business of Escobar in the 1980s, the news agency reports.

In light of their plans, the two have also asked experts to dig into walls and floors of the famous 7,336-square-foot pink mansion in Miami to discover some possible wealth that has been left behind by the "King of Cocaine," the news outlet reported.

So before completely tearing down the 33,000-square-foot property and the mansion, one of their workers saw the safe. Miguel Mato, while working with an excavator, was reportedly the one to discover the safe.

"We had left one of the walls because they had to film a scene for the documentary... when I started to knock it down, a piece of rubble hit the foundation, the floor sunk and I saw it," Mato said as quoted by the publication. "It was something gray. I grabbed it with the excavator's claw, realized it was a safe and started to yell to tell them."

De Berdouares, who previously said that anything connected to the drug lord is not something that the Chicken Kitchen owner wanted to be associated with, was surprisingly happy to have in his possession a safe that could be very valuable.

"This is real. It's still locked. It's very, very heavy. We can't believe it -- now Pablito is my best friend," De Berdouares said as quoted by the news agency.

Meanwhile, EFE reports that after concluding searches, the owners will now be demolishing a new house away from all the past crimes that are associated to Escobar.

The Miami Herald further revealed that Escobar was killed in 1993 in Colombia during a police shootout. The famous pink mansion was bought at an original price of $762,500 by Escobar in March 1980. However, by 1987, the property, as well as other properties amounting to $20 million, was seized by the U.S. authorities, the news agency reports.

De Berdouares and Valoppi will reportedly release a documentary on the Escobar mansion soon.


The capital of Baja is also home to the largest "Chinatown" in all of Mexico -- a fact that may surprise not a few people in the country and even abroad.

"La Chinesca," another name for the settlement, was home to hundreds of Chinese immigrants in the early 1900s and is found entirely under the ground. It consists of a maze of tunnels that connect with each other under Mexicali, Mexico.

The Chinese immigrants arrived south of California's Calexico in the early 20th century, all of which were laborers imported by the United States from China in the late 1800s to build train tracks, as per The Los Angeles Times. They later shifted to working in the cotton fields in the area, with some later leaving agricultural work to open up shops and cafes.

However, the Chinese experienced racism from the second Mexican Revolution and also some resentment from the locals due to the cheap labor they were known for. As such, they opted to make their homes underground. It also helped them escape the desert heat, according to Fox News Latino.

As the settlement grew, the subterranean "Chinatown" later harbored opium dens and brothels, even breaching the U.S. border underneath the ground.

Some archivists have speculated that the tunnels were also used to supply alcohol from Mexico to the U.S.

Today, the Chinese in Mexicali no longer occupy the underground settlement. The abandoned catacombs have since been made available for tours by the Committee for the Historic Center of Mexicali and Project Origins.

Some who have visited the underground community have since written about their experience, like W. Scott Koenig.

"One basement we visited staged what one of those 'dens of iniquity' might have looked like," he said of one of the cells in his piece for SanDiegoRed.com. "There's a daybed for the lethargic opium smoker with a nightstand containing several long-stemmed pipes."

Still roulette wheels and empty card tables sit, recalling jollier times in the now dark room's perimeter. Since the opiate-inclined came here to 'chase the dragon,' there are a couple of the swirling mythological creatures painted on the wall for good measure," he added.

He also explained that the Chinese settlers in Mexicali left their underground residence partly after air conditioning was invented. However, some Chinese families appear to still have a yen for underground living as there are apartment buildings that have been built to sit partially beneath the ground.

WATCH:
Hillary Clinton suffered a massive fit of coughing in the middle of her speech on Monday, which fuelled doubts that she was unfit to become the next U.S. president because of her poor health, WND reported.

Clinton had to stop in the middle of her campaign speech in West Des Moines, Iowa because of her uncontrollable cough. A video taken during her speech has made the rounds on YouTube. Daily Mail posted a footage of the said coughing incident, where it showed the politician on stage struggling to catch her breath.

The U.S. presidential candidate had to pause from her speech to drink water. However, even after taking a few gulps, the 68-year-old continued to cough. Her coughing was also heard from the microphone placed in front of her.

Based on the video below, Clinton's cough lasted for more than 30 seconds. It started to subside after she took a cough drop. Clinton was finally able to continue with her speech afterwards, albeit in a hoarse voice. She also had to clear her voice multiple times in the middle of her speech. However, she also managed to joke about the situation on stage, which the crowd cheered and applauded to.

Clinton's massive coughing fit on stage immediately trended on Twitter. One user commented on how the politician's cough was more interesting than her speech. Meanwhile, another Twitter user said Clinton was choking on her own lies during her campaign speech.

THIS JUST IN: Hillary Clinton suffers coughing fit in Iowa; audience says coughing more interesting and believable than prepared remarks.  NihilistIdealist (@NihilistIdealis) January 25, 2016

'Choking on her own lies'? Hillary Clinton wracked by coughing fit [video] https://t.co/ZqtHuK8bh3 pic.twitter.com/EomU3NcLTC  Chris (@Chris_1791) January 25, 2016

Her massive coughing fit on Monday came after her health was questioned during a speech rally in Clinton, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 23. According to ABC News, a woman from the crowd asked the politician to comment on a report from FOX News claiming that she is unfit to be the next U.S. president because she is ill.

The woman's question reportedly drew laughter from the crowd. Meanwhile, Clinton gave the query a smile and an eye roll. She also suggested that people shouldn't believe everything they hear about her on the news.

"Oh my. Well, you know, they say nearly anything about me. I've got to tell you. There are several themes they keep beating the drums on," she said according to ABC News.

Clinton likewise addressed concerns over her health during her campaign speech in Clinton, Iowa. She reportedly assured the crowd of 450 people that she was willing to match her endurance against anybody. She also updated her supporters on her current health condition and revealed that her doctor sent out a letter confirming that she was in "great health."
Single on Valentine's Day? There's a whole world out there waiting for you. Celebrate being free with a trip somewhere far from the happy couples. After all, hitting the road is an adventure, alone or not, and sometimes it's even more rewarding to travel solo. Here are the top five destinations that will make travelers fall in love with the world.

New York, New York

It's practically impossible to feel completely alone as a tourist in New York. There's so much to see and do even as a solo traveler, and if you're looking to meet someone new, the vibrant scene is the perfect place to talk to a friendly stranger, according to a report from Trips to Discover. Get lost in the city that never sleeps and discover why so many people flock to the Big Apple.

During the day, tourists can explore the array of museums in the city, including the world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nightclubs are a good place to meet new people, but visitors can also hit The James New York's rooftop pool in Soho, where locals and tourists converge to swim, mingle and have fun.

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans features a different vibe from the Big Apple, but it's just as lively and colorful. Tourists going solo can immerse themselves in the rich culture, from the incredible music scene (it is known as the birthplace of jazz) to the flavourful fare of the party city. Strolling down the streets is an experience in itself in this cultural hub.

According to a report from Yahoo!, tourists can opt to sit back and relax with the Valentine's Day packages of Loews Hotel New Orleans. Get buzzed in bliss with the "A Spirited Stay" package, which includes a two nights' stay, welcome cocktails, wine tasting, discounts on spa services and more. If the singles would rather band together, the hotel also offers the "Girlfriends Getaway" package.

Solola, Guatemala

Venture farther away and into a new country. The backpacker haven of Solola, Guatemala is perfect for solo travelers with plenty of activities available. According to a report from USA Today, those who are seeking adventure will find it in this city where one can kayak, dive, hike, rock climb and even explore nearby volcanoes. Tourists can also get a glimpse of the local culture with the Mayan fire-healing ceremony or take a moment to breathe in a yoga retreat. The blissful city of Solola will leave travelers feeling thankful for their freedom on Valentine's Day and beyond.
An official of the U.S. Department of Treasury has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being corrupt, per BBC News. The U.S. government has already made some moves on several Putin supporters, but it it the first time that it has directly accused the Russian president of corruption.

"We've seen him enriching his friends, his close allies, and marginalizing those who he doesn't view as friends using state assets. Whether that's Russia's energy wealth, whether it's other state contracts, he directs those to whom he believes will serve him and excludes those who don't. To me, that is a picture of corruption," Adam Szubin of the U.S. Treasury said.

Szubin took part in BBC Panorama's investigation of the Russian leader's secret wealth. He noted that the U.S. government has knowledge of Putin's corruption for many years. Although he directly told the British news outlet about his accusations, Szubin declined to comment on a 2007 secret CIA report about Putin's secret wealth that was estimated to be worth more than $40 billion.

"He supposedly draws a state salary of something like $110,000 a year. That is not an accurate statement of the man's wealth, and he has long time training and practices in terms of how to mask his actual wealth," Szubin said.

In a report by Yahoo! News, Putin declared back in that his earned assets in 2014 only include a total of 3.7 million Russian rubles or equivalent to $104,000. He also declared ownership to a 77-square-meter apartment, a garage, a piece of land and three Russian-made cars.

The figure is one of the lowest among Russian officials despite many of his ministers having luxury vehicles and mansions all over Europe. Putin has also denied the report that he is the wealthiest man in Europe.

"It's simply rubbish. They just picked all of it out of someone's nose and smeared it across their little papers," Putin said.

According to The Independent, the 63-year-old leader is the mastermind in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. He is a former Russian Federal Security Service agent and one of the well-known detractors of Putin that was killed in London back in 2006 via radioactive polonium poisoning.

It is not the first time that Putin has been accused of corruption, per The Guardian. He allegedly received one-third of the $50 billion budget of the 2014 Winter Games held in Sochi, a claim Putin has denied. Russia's former deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov even accused his rival of getting more than $30 billion of the budget.
Thousands of Cubans are planning to migrate to the United States, and the numbers have been staggering. The latest figures are reportedly the biggest since 1994.

Miami Herald revealed that about 180 migrants have traveled from Costa Rica to El Salvador so far this year. These migrants have plans to proceed to the United States. The first among 8,000 Cuban migrants reportedly arrived in Laredo, Texas.

The migrants previously spent several months stranded in Costa Rica after Nicaraguan authorities closed the border in November 2013. Ecuador and Costa Rica ceased providing visas to Cubans, who wanted to get to the US before the country changes its migration rules as relations with Cuba break down. At present, Cubans only need to arrive in the US to enter. However, Nicaragua attacked the American policy for triggering thousands of Cubans to migrate.

Based on the same Miami Herald report, the Central American leaders eventually agreed to fly thousands of Cubans to El Salvador where they will move on by land to Mexico and allowed to cross.

The first 180 individuals were included in the pilot program, who traveled to Mexico and crossed the US border in smaller groups. The Cubans stated that they were well-treated in Mexico. They paid for their own flights and other modes of transportation to reach the US.

The pilot program will be evaluated in the following days as more migrants use the same route and mode. Kathya Rodriguez, migration director of Costa Rica, assessed that 28 more flights will be required to transfer all stranded Cubans.

Fox News Latino reported that dozens of Cubans are waiting outside a social services agency that provides aid to immigrants and refugees. They were looking forward to transferring to the US, saying that it is impossible to make a living and get ahead in Cuba. The last time that Miami has witnessed such a huge influx of Cuban migrants was in 1994, which resulted in the US policy of rejecting individuals who fled the island and were intercepted at sea.

The Pew Research Center obtained data from the US Customs and Border Protection, which showed that 43,159 Cubans entered the US in the fiscal year 2015, which was a 78 percent rise compared to the total in 2014. Most Cuban migrants entered via the Texas-Mexico border while almost 10,000 entered via Miami. In 1994, 35,000 Cubans traveled from Cuba to Florida. People have become concerned by the surge of Cubans in Miami.

More updates and details on the huge Cuban migration are expected soon.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned North and South American countries about the spread of the Zika virus across the continent, per the Pan American Health Organization. As of Jan. 23, 2016, reported cases of the mosquito-borne virus has been documented in 21 countries and territories in the Americas.

WHO noted that there is still no vaccine for the Virus spread by Aedes aegypti mosquito with the most effective form of prevention is reducing its populations. It can be done by destroying the insect's habitats while people could prevent bites by using insect repellents and physical barriers.

The countries and territories that already reported cases of the virus include Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Samoa, Suriname and Venezuela. According to PAHO, countries that don't have the Aedes aegypti mosquito like Canada and Chile are less likely to have Zika outbreaks.

In a report by Voice of America, the Zika virus was first discovered in monkeys back in 1947 in Uganda. Cases of the virus were very rare until 2007 when the first serious outbreak happened in 2007. It hit the Pacific island of Micronesia with cases reaching the Cook Islands, Easter Island, New Caledonia and Polynesia.

The Zika virus has also been linked with a rare birth defect called microcephaly, wherein a newborn baby's brain fails to develop properly, resulting to a deformed, small head. The Brazilian Health Ministry has told FOX News that the country has over 3,500 cases of microcephaly causing the government to fund research to combat the virus.

It has also been linked with another rare condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome, per the Associated Press. Brazil and El Salvador have reported an alarming increase in the number of Guillain-Barre cases since the outbreak of the Zika virus in October 2015.

"Guillain-Barre syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the body usually is responding to another infection. It has an immune response that destroys the covering of nerves and interferes with the ability of nerves to function and survive," Dr. Bruce Hirsch of the North Shore University Hospital in New York told CBS News.

The U.S. has already reported several cases of the Zika virus with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issuing a travel warning in the 20 countries and territories mentioned above. They are encouraging pregnant women to cancel their planned trip to these areas and doctors to ask their pregnant patients about their travel history.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates and British Chancellor George Osborne have pledge $4.3 billion (3 billion) to fund a five year research to eradicate malaria.

As stated by the Express, for the next five years, the Britain's international development will allocate 500 million while the Gates Foundation will spend 140 million each year. The focus of the study is to develop an insecticide that can kill the mosquitoes which could infect people with malaria.

"When it comes to human tragedy, no creature comes close to the devastation caused by the mosquito. We both believe that a malaria-free world has to be one of the highest global health priorities," Gates and Osborne wrote in The Times.

Nowadays, malaria is considered as the world's worst mosquito-borne disease as it can affect billions of people. In fact, in 2015 alone, the World Health Organization has reported that an estimated of 438,000 people have died because of it, and majority of those were children. Most recorded deaths have occurred in Africa, which, according to PC Mag, reliable healthcare is out of reach.

Gates and Osborne also shared how the world, through its science and technology, has reduced the number of malaria deaths during the past 15 years. That's why through this research, Gates, Osborne and all the people behind the research are expecting to win this battle for the world to be malaria-free. With the world-class universities, strong support with the national level and pharmaceutical companies working on the study, the UK is focused to lead the world towards this great innovation.

"We are optimistic that in our lifetimes we can eradicate malaria and other deadly tropical diseases, and confront emerging threats, making the world a safer place for all," they added.

The United Nations, through this research, is also looking forward to win against malaria parasites. The organization is expecting to cut new cases and deaths from malaria by 90 percent before 2030.

The study against malaria was first led by the Gates Foundation for several months now. The foundation is being led by Gates and his wife Melinda. As they work together, the Gates Foundation battles against different issues and illnesses around the world especially those that affect people the most. Their foundation has worked on issues like HIV, source of clean water and more. Recently, Gates and his wife shared that through their foundation, they will donate $100 million to Nigeria to help the country fight against malnutrition.
Samsung may be on the verge of appending its Samsung Galaxy Tab E family, what with reports that two new models will be debuting this year.

The alleged new members are the Galaxy Tab E 7.0, Galaxy Tab E Lite and Galaxy Tab E Kids.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab E 7.0 will reportedly boast of a 7-inch display with 1280x800 pixel resolution, 1.5 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage that is expandable, as per a leak from Twitter.

SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab E 7.0 WiFi, 8.0GB, Black (SM-T280NZKA) 1.3GHz, 1.5GB RAM, 8GB Flash  7.0" (18cm), 1280x800 Pixel. 4G model is (SM-T285)  Roland Quandt (@rquandt) January 25, 2016

The actual SoC that will be used remains unknown though Android Headlines bares that it will be clocked at 1.3 GHz. It will bear the model No. SM-T280/SM-T285.

There will be two models for the Galaxy Tab E 7.0, a 4G LTE and a WiFi only version. Just like other Tab E models, they are expected to be affordable. As far as the operating system is concerned, there is no certainty for now, though some are hoping it would be on Android 6.0 M.

For the Samsung Galaxy Tab E 7.0 Lite (model: SM-T113) and Tab E Kids, there is no word yet on what specs and features the said devices would carry, though both could probably be loaded with software for kids similar to what the Galaxy Tab 3 Kids back in 2013 had to offer.

It wont be surprising though if the Lite and Kids variants pick off from what the regular Galaxy Tab E 7.0 would carry. It is speculated to be something that may come with protective gear and likely to be offered in varying colors to appeal to young tablet users.

Being lite and models made for kids, it should not be surprising if the processor were to be clocked down a bit. It could end up offering only 1 GB of RAM and maybe a lower resolution display.

Being lower models to the Galaxy Tab E 7.0, it could be as speculated above or could be lower to make the main Galaxy Tab 7.0 E tablet stand out.

With the tablet market crippled in terms of sales for quite some time now, it will be interesting if these new tablets can do something to infuse new consumer interest.

Tablets have been coming out in different sizes and varying specs but at the end of the day, the proper price and specs still matter to the buyer.

It remains to be seen if Samsung will be a hit in the same way that its Galaxy Tab E 8.0 was when it launched in Taiwan.

That variant was a budget-friendly solution armed with higher specs and better connectivity, and hopefully, the new Galaxy Tab E 7.0 line can add some more options for consumer electronic buyers.
More than one-third of registered voters have stated that they will acquire information on 2016 presidential candidates through digital media, according to a new study. With this information, campaign heads will have to direct their focus on a number of platforms to target black and Latino voters.

Based on a report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau, 35 percent of registered voters said that digital media will be their primary source of information regarding 2016 presidential candidates. The report further showed that 61 percent of voters will use digital outlets and television as primary sources of information in choosing among Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders and others as the GOP and Democratic primaries draw nearer.

Adweek wrote that the results may prompt campaigners to boost their mobile ad investments to target key demographics like African Americans and Latinos. Sixty-seven percent of Hispanics and 60 percent of African-American voters tend to use their mobile device to visit political websites, compared to 49 percent of voters overall.

"U.S. Hispanic and African-American voters are crucial to candidates, and this research shows that mobile is the best way to reach them," stated Anna Bager, senior vice president and general manager of mobile and video at the IAB.

Bagers study, titled The Race for the White House 2016: Registered Voter sand Media and Information During the Primaries, cited that 28 percent of registered voters shared that they will use social platforms to get information.

Thirty-one percent will read political articles and links shared by their contacts on social media websites. Twenty-five percent found a social media ad about a candidate while 24 percent unfollowed or unfriended a contact due to his or her political comments on social media.

MediaPost said that Latino voters will be important in the outcome of the 2016 presidential race. There are currently 52 million Latinos living in the U.S. with 16.7 million expected to be registered voters. Mobile advertising will be the key to reaching the group, considering how Hispanics are quickly resorting to smartphones to gain online information. In the 2012 presidential election, mobile advertising was important to reach Hispanics and affect votes in key battleground states.

Micro-targeting has become more important at present. There is also a lack of connection between affiliation and political point of view which means that the GOP can reap benefits when advertising to Latinos, highlighting similar conservative values and swaying voters.

More updates and details on campaign strategies for the 2016 presidential election will surface soon.
Donald Trump has soared to a campaign-high 41 percent support among Republican voters in the latest CNN/ORC poll, more than doubling the level of support of nearest challenger Ted Cruz at 19 percent.

According to CNN, not only 4-in-10 GOP voters nationwide are now saying they back the Republican front-runner but also two-thirds of all party voters also agree that he is the candidate most likely to emerge as the formal nominee.

Other than Cruz, no other Republican candidate hits double digit support, with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio standing at 8 percent, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 6 percent and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 5 percent.

Trump's sizable lead is based on his front-runner standing with a number of subgroups, including both men and women, younger and older voters, white evangelicals, conservatives and both self-identified Republicans and independents that lean toward the party.

Support for Trump also appears firm with 70 percent of his backers indicating they've definitely made up their mind to support him, compared to 40 percent for other candidates.

Among GOP voters, Trump also rates as the candidate viewed as best equipped to handle both the economy and illegal immigration, holding 60 to 12 and 55-16 leads over Cruz on those respective issues.

Over the course of the campaign season, Trump has also steadily gained ground on the values issues that are often meaningful among Republican primary voters. In all, 28 percent of GOP voters now believe he would do the best job on social issues, almost double the 15 percent he rated at just four months ago.

The poll also finds Trump is seen as four times more likely to win in the general election (63 to 16 percent) than Cruz, while Rubio nets a 10 percent rating.
Recognizing the United States as a "nation of second chances," President Barack Obama has banned solitary confinement for juveniles.

Justice Department Review & Recommendations

Following a review the U.S. Department of Justice conducted on solitary confinement use, Obama said some circumstances warrant solitary confinement, such as the need to protect an individual from staff or other inmates, but other examples have shown the practice should be limited and used as a last resort.

Included in the review is the Justice Department's recommendation to end the practice of placing juveniles in "restrictive housing," expand the mental health treatment programs, and significantly reduce restrictive housing as a form of punishment, which includes an outright ban on solitary confinement for individuals who committed low-level offenses.

The DOJ review also recommended correctional staff must be clear on reasons to place a detainee in solitary confinement, develop a plan for the inmate to be placed in "less restrictive conditions," reviewed regularly by detention, medical and mental health staff, and improved training on solitary confinement policies.

"These steps will affect some 10,000 federal prisoners held in solitary confinement -- and hopefully serve as a model for state and local corrections systems. And I will direct all relevant federal agencies to review these principles and report back to me with a plan to address their use of solitary confinement," wrote Obama in an op-ed for The Washington Post.

The review distinguishes that isolating an inmate does not immediately equate as "solitary." The DOJ report refers to the practice as "restrictive housing" and defined it as:

(1) removal from the general inmate population, whether voluntary or involuntary; (2) placement in a locked room or cell, whether alone or with another inmate; and (3) inability to leave the room or cell for the vast majority of the day, typically 22 hours or more.

The report notes the aforementioned definition is open for "substantial room for variation."

Congressional Action

Obama acknowledged that members of Congress have pushed for criminal justice reform, ranging from sentencing to reentry programs laws, and he hopes to receive legislation soon. One example is the "Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015" (S. 2123), introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and has received bipartisan support from Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a bill prohibiting juvenile solitary confinement, "except in limited circumstances." The Senate bill was introduced in October 2015 but has yet to advance.

A congressman that has also push for juvenile justice reform is Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif.

"I am very encouraged by the President's actions," Cardenas said in a statement on Tuesday morning. "It's about time that we stop exposing children, our future generation, to what is essentially physiological and emotional torture. There is no question we still have a long way to go, but we are moving in the right direction."

Last June, he introduced the "Protecting Youth from Solitary Confinement Act" (H.R. 2823), which would amend the federal criminal code prohibiting solitary confinement for juveniles. His bill also called for an annual report to the president and Congress analyzing each incarcerated juvenile's offense, age, gender, race and purpose and number of hours in confinement.

"My bill, the Protecting Youth from Solitary Confinement Act, would codify these evidence-based recommendations for youth. I will keep working every day to pass this and other bills to make sure our kids aren't left out of Congress' criminal justice reforms,' Cardenas added.

"In America, we believe in redemption. ... We believe that when people make mistakes, they deserve the opportunity to remake their lives," Obama wrote in the op-ed. "And if we can give them the hope of a better future, and a way to get back on their feet, then we will leave our children with a country that is safer, stronger and worthy of our highest ideals."

According to the president, federal prisons have eased on solitary confinement use by 25 percent, but some states have also led efforts on restrictive housing, particularly Colorado and New Mexico.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.
Actor and global activist Leonardo DiCaprio has donated $3.4 million to help the people of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

According to El Universo, the donation, part of a $15 million effort to help organizations working on environmental causes around the world, will benefit two main causes in Ecuador: ClearWater, which has continuously worked to help those affected by the Chevron oil disaster, and Ceibo Alliance, which helps indigenous groups protect their land, water and culture.

The financial contribution will be particularly beneficial to four indigenous tribes: the Cofanes, Secoyas, Sionas, and Huaoranis. The founder and executive director of ClearWater, Mitch Anderson, also discussed how DiCaprio's foundation is supporting their cause.

This support is poised to protect millions of acres of tropical rain forest by empowering and strengthening the indigenous nationalities to fend off the extractive industries," he said.

In a statement on the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation website, the actor explained that the destruction of our world has been ignored for far too long and requires immediate attention.

I am proud to support these organizations who are working to solve humankinds greatest challenge," he added.

During his 2016 Golden Globes acceptance speech for Best Actor in a Drama for "The Revenant," DiCaprio dedicated his win to indigenous groups around the globe and expressed the need to protect their lands and cultures.

It is time that we recognize your history and that we protect your indigenous lands from corporate interests and people that are out there to exploit them," he said. "It is time that we heard your voice and protected this planet for future generations.

The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation website includes an entire list of the causes benefiting from DiCaprio's $15 million donation.

Watch DiCaprio's 2016 Golden Globe speech below.
Caracas, Venezuela's capital, has once again been named world's most dangerous city, according to a new report released by a Mexico-based nongovernmental organization.

The Venezuelan commercial and cultural center, home to more some 3.3 million inhabitants, recorded 3,946 homicides in 2015, which accounts for almost 120 murders for every 100,000 residents, the Citizen Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice detailed in its report. With that figure, the capital superseded San Pedro Sula in Honduras, which had a rate of about 111 homicides.

San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Homicide Numbers Drop

San Pedro Sula, Honduras' commercial hot spot, was previously named most dangerous in the Citizen Council list for four consecutive years. But Venezuela's increasingly volatile economic and political situation seem to have contributed to the rise of violent crime in that country's capital.

Jose Antonio Ortega Sanchez, the president of the independent Citizen Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice, said in a statement that San Pedro Sula had achieved a "significant decline in homicide numbers."

Ortega Sanchez's organization, meanwhile, decried the fact that 50 of the world's most dangerous cities can be found in Latin America. El Salvador's capital of San Salvador (198 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants); Acapulco, Mexico (105); Maturin, Venezuela (86); Tegucigalpa, Honduras and surroundings (74); Valencia, Venezuela (72); Palmira, Colombia (71); Cape Town, South Africa (66); and Cali, Colombia (64) round out the top 10 of the tragic list.

Most Cities on List in Brazil

Of the top 50 cities and metropolitan areas detailed, 21 can be found in Brazil, eight in Venezuela, five in Mexico, four in South Africa, four in the United States, three in Colombia and two in Honduras, the Citizen Council noted.

Meanwhile, the latest edition of the annual account also made for some good news for certain cities across the continent: Municipalities including Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Medellin, Colombia; as well as a the Mexican cities of Chihuahua, Cuernavaca, Juarez, Nuevo Laredo and Torreon are no longer included as their homicide numbers have dropped significantly.
Teachers have a hard time getting students to show up to class, much less on time, especially in underserved communities. Now there's an app that helps educators keep kids on track by taking a new approach to the old ritual of taking attendance.

The app, Kinvolved, allows teachers to take attendance with a swipe of the finger on a mobile device. The app seeks to help schools create more effective learning environments by getting parents involved, and by training kids to be accountable. According to The New York Times, Kinvolved has been piloted at five schools in Harlem since November 2015, and it's showing results.

Etta Covington, a science teacher at the Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Harlem, says the app had an immediate effect on attendance. "My average that comes in on time is seven students out of 30," she told the Times. "This one, you used to hardly ever see," she added. "Now she is one of the first in class in the morning."

Kinvolved is more than an attendance app, because it engages parents in the process in real time, remotely. When a teacher marks a child absent or tardy, Kinvolved automatically sends a text message to the parents.

Alerts can also be customized by teachers to include the number of minutes of class time students missed by being late. The app can send notices in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and other languages, and can also be used to send notifications about school events or upcoming tests.

Some parents were reportedly overwhelmed by messages when the school launched Kinvolved; "There was one parent who said, 'Please stop sending me these messages,'" noted Wadleigh's community school director Habib Bangura. As if the attendance messages were "like a telemarketer."

Of course, that points to one caveat with Kinvolved: technology by itself cannot do the heavy lifting when it comes to getting kids to come to school consistently and on time. Engaged parents are key, and so is removing other environmental barriers to good school attendance in underserved communities. "There are legitimate and structural reasons that some students are late to school," noted Bangura, "and we are trying to put some solutions in place by communicating with the family."

But Kinvolved can help schools get a better handle on those problems, and get a broader picture of student and parent engagement in the process.

Data logged over time through the app, for example, can help identify families whose children miss school most often, giving educators a clear idea of where to direct extra attention. "It takes the guesswork and excuses out of it," noted social studies teacher Jillian Fisher to the Times.

Kinvolved is the product of a three-year-old startup of the same name. It was co-founded and headed by Miriam Altman, who previously taught history at a New York City high school and became frustrated with the outdated attendance and parental notification system in place.
A former Honduran Cabinet official has been killed after he was shot by three gunmen in the country's northern city of La Ceiba on Jan. 24.

The Associated Press identified the official as Marco Julio Trochez and said he had previously served as Honduras' youth minister under President Porfirio Lobo Sosa. The local newspaper La Tribuna, however, listed the man's name as Marco Tulio Trochez and his cabinet rank as vice minister.

Trochez owned what The AP called "numerous businesses" in La Ceiba, a port city of about 200,000 inhabitants some 250 north of the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Three gunmen attacked the former official as he drove up to his apartment building, the newswire detailed based on police reports.

Gunmen Waited for Hours

The Honduran National Police were investigating the incident, according to La Tribuna. Quoting witnesses, the newspaper said that Trochez had been accompanied by other members of the country's National Party when he approached his residence, where the gunmen had been waiting for hours.

Fernando Meza Lazo, a local coordinator for the government program "Vida Mejor" was injured in the shooting, the paper added. The official suffered four gunshot wounds in different parts of his body and was taken to a hospital, while Trochez was pronounced dead at the scene.

Honduras Among World's Most Violent Nations

Honduras has long seen rampant gang violence, and it ranks among the countries with the highest per-capita homicide rate in the world. According to official government statistics, at least 14 people are killed in the South American country every day. Last year, the overall homicide rate was 57 for every 100,000 people.

Nevertheless, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez celebrated on Jan. 25 that his nation was no longer the most dangerous in the world, according to Univision.

"Honduras has ceased to be the most violent country on the face of the earth," Orlando Hernandez said in his annual state of the union address before the country's Congress. "We have changed the tendency," the president insisted.
A piece of debris found on the coast of Southern Thailand is being inspected by both Thai and Malaysian officials to know if the metal piece is part of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The said flight has vanished nearly two years ago.

According to uInterview, Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said that he already initiated the Malaysian civil aviation officials to contact Thailand about the newly found wreckage speculated to be part of MH370. It is a curved piece of metal that measures about 6  feet by 10 feet with electrical wires hanging and numbers imprinted. Lai also stated that he urge the media and the public not to take risk because it will give excessive pressure to the loved ones of the victims of MH370.

The latest piece of wreckage was reportedly found on the eastern coast of southern Thailand's Nakkon Si Thammarat province. This is about 370 miles south of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand. The debris can float thousands of miles on ocean currents but that location would be a surprise based on the data from Flight MH370.

Reuters added that Greg Waldron, Asia Managing Editor at Flightglobal, said that based on the markings, engineering, and tooling apparent in the debris strongly indicate that it is aerospace related. Additionally, the found wreckage will need to be carefully examined to really determine the exact origin. He stated that one of the possible sources of aerospace debris included the launching of space rockets by India eastwards over the Bay of Bengal.

Nevertheless, there has been no official confirmation from Thailand if the wreckage really belongs to the plane. But a spokesman for the Joint Agency Coordination Centre stated that they are still waiting for the results of the official examination done with the material.

For reference, People stated on its article that MH370 primarily vanished on March 8, 2014, after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, going toward Beijing. The said flight that is carrying 239 crew members and passengers was deliberately abstracted from its flight path before disappearing completely. Furthermore, the investigators later concluded that the plane ended up in the Indian Ocean and all passengers died.

However, the search for the missing passengers and crews of the MH370 is still ongoing. The second phase of the explorations is anticipated to be finished by June.
Burkina Faso's army captured five members of the ex-presidential guards suspected of raiding an armory. One of the suspects was killed by government authorities when he tried to engage near the border of Ghana.

ABC News reported that army spokesman Captain Aziz Ouedroaogo said they were pursuing seven more soldiers connected to the raid of an armory near the capital Ouagadougou last Friday. Officials haven't released official reports on how many weapons were taken during the raid. However, there are reports that several Kalashnikov rifles and anti-tank rocket launchers were lost. The soldiers were presidential guards who were loyal to former president Blaise Compaore, who was ousted during the 2014 uprising.

The Miami Herald wrote that the armory raid comes a week after Islamic extremists attacked a cafe and hotel in Ouagaougou that is famous among foreigners. Thirty people, most of them foreigners, were killed during that attack in the West African country.

Meanwhile, according to Reuters, the authorities already captured members from the disbanded ex-presidential guards. The Blaise Compaore loyalist soldiers were disbanded after their members staged a six-day coupe against the transitional government September last year. During the coup, members of the cabinet were captured and taken hostage. The soldiers handed power back to the government after strong international pressure.

The head of Compaore's Congress for Democracy and Progress, Eddie Komboigo was also arrested last Saturday. It is not yet clear under what charges was he arrested on, but he has been under investigation since the September coup.

The raid last Friday was the first time the ex-presidential guards carried out an attack since its September coup attempt. Burkina Faso has been under political turmoil since 2014, when long time leader Campaore was ousted. Protests flared up against him as he tried to change the constitution to remain in power after ruling the country for 27 years. The transitional rule ended when Roch Marc Kabore became president November last year.
A lawsuit was filed against the state of Utah and Washington County for violating the Sixth Amendment of the US Constitution, which states that criminal defendants have the right to an attorney whether they can afford the service or not.

Fox 13 Now reported that the lawsuit was filed by William Cox and Edward Paulus, who both are facing criminal charges. Cox is charged of being an unlicensed broker, while Paulus is charged with aggravated sex abuse. Both of these men were convicted in their cases. They accuse the Washington County of not providing adequate attorneys for those who can't afford one.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, there is a proposal to make the case of Cox and Paulus a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the many criminal defendants who can't afford their own attorney and are only represented by public defendant. The lawsuit that was filed Friday at a US District Court claims that the Utah and Washington County has a broken defender system. The attorneys are overworked and underpaid. They also lack the training and support needed to win their cases.

"(Washington County) enter(s) into fixed-price contracts with local attorneys to provide indigent defense services to those charged with criminal wrongdoing in the district court," according to the lawsuit in a report by ST George News. "The contacts are structured and administered in a manner that impedes the ability of the attorneys to provide constitutionally adequate legal representation to their clients."

The suit was filed by Ogden-based lawyer Michael Studebaker. The lawsuit claims that Washington County officials failed to renew Paulus' public defender's contract. That contract is open and his case is scheduled to go on trial next month. Meanwhile, Cox's case states that Utah Attorney General's Office is prosecuting him, but he doesn't receive any fund for his public defense. The lawsuit also claims that Washington County public defenders aren't adequate and effective.
The lead negotiator in the Syrian opposition claimed on Sunday that the peace talks are under pressure all because of the US Secretary of State John Kerry. He said that the Syrian opposition is pressured to attend the peace talks in Geneva this weekend to negotiate on issues such as a halt to air strikes.

The opposition's High Negotiation Committee, which are political and armed opponent groups of President Bashar al-Assad, has stated that it refused to attend the negotiations until the government stops the bombings, removes blockades, and releases detainees. And these are the steps mentioned in a United Nations Security Council resolution, which are passed a month ago.

Negotiator Mohamad Alloush stated that John Kerry, who met HNC officials on Saturday, had "come to pressure us to forgo our humanitarian rights ... and to go to negotiate for them". "There will be a big response to these pressures," Alloush stated to Reuters, without giving any more details regarding the issue. But when asked if the peace talks would pursue this week, the Syrian negotiator claimed "we leave this to the coming hours".

Ocean Side Post noted that the opposition council, the High Negotiations Committee was founded in Saudi Arabia just last month. As the war on the Islamic State group grinds on, USA forces are building an air base in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province. A political leader of the Saudi-backed Islamist armed group Jaish al-Islam, Mohamed Alloush was named as its chief negotiator at the talks.

Government forces were able to capture the city "thanks to the support of the friendly Russian aviation", Latakia Governor Ibrahim Khder al-Saalem, then, stated. The sectarian was torn between mostly Shiite Iran and predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia, which has helped fuel the war, while Assad is also backed by Russian Federation. "Particular attention was given to the need to form a genuinely representative opposition delegation", the statement mentioned via Bills Insider.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports were also claiming that the United Nations might invite two separate opposition delegations to the Geneva talks in an evident negotiation. The plan calls for cease-fires in accordance to the talks, a new constitution and elections in a year and a half. And as of the now, Syrian peace talks set to begin on January 25, will most likely be delayed by a few days.
Mark Frye, the primary supplier of heroin for a violent Atlantic City street gang is sentenced for 13 years in Prison. The Paterson man pleaded guilty for distributing more than one kilogram of heroin.

According to the Daily Progress, Fry worked with another man to run their sophisticated drug operation in an apartment complex located in Paterson. These men supply heroin to "Dirty Block," a violent street gang that uses threats and intimidation to maintain control over the illegal drug trade in Atlantic City.

Press of Atlantic City reported that Frye, 36, was working with Maurice Thomas, 34, to run their drug-distribution business from the Presidential Towers apartment complex located in Paterson. Frye was arrested by the authorities in February 2013, after 200 bricks of heroin were found in the car he was driving. That would amount to 10,000 packers, since a brick is worth 50 packets of heroin. He bailed out from those charges, but was arrested again after a month as FBI's investigation led to the charge of three dozen other people. Thomas also pleaded guilty for distributing heroin in September 2014, and is now waiting for his sentence.

The FBI led a six-month investigation on Frye, where the authorities gained access to phone calls and text messages between Mark Frye and Mykal Derry, the leader of Dirty Block.

Galloway Patch wrote that US Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced January 7 that Mykal Derry, a.k.a. "Koose" was sentenced to life in prison for weapons charges and drug conspiracy. The 35-year-old gang leader was previously convicted of heroin charges. His brother, Malik Derry, was also convicted of the same offenses as his brother. The 24-year-old is now awaiting sentencing.

According to documents "Dirty Block" controls the drug trafficking operations in the areas of Stanley Holmes public housing complex, Brown's Park, and the areas surrounding it. Mykal Derry will still be tried in the Atlantic County Superior Court for a separate murder charge.
Jan 25, 2016, 4:37pm ET

Contractor preps Jeep Wrangler for battlefield use

Hendrick Dynamics promotes the Wrangler as the perfect balance between the Humvee and consumer side-by-sides.

Defense contractor Hendrick Dynamics has modified the Jeep Wrangler for potential use on global battlefields.

The North Carolina-based company expects the US Army to need another vehicle to fill the gap between the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, known as the Humvee, and small Lightweight Tactical All Terrain Vehicles, commonly referred to as side-by-sides in the consumer market.

"One of the best points of the project is you're starting with such an incredibly capable vehicle which comes right off the line in Toledo," Hendrick Dynamics general manager Marshall Carlson told The Blade.

The company starts with a diesel-powered Wrangler Rubicon, modified for higher payload capacities and certified for transport via helicopter and aircraft. Adding in a 24-volt electrical system, additional safety provisions and military gear is said to bring the per-unit price up to $75,000.

Hendrick Dynamics is not the first company to view the Wrangler as a useful light vehicle for tactical deployment. Chrysler once established a joint venture to build a specially-modified Wrangler, known as the J8, as an alternative to the Toyota Hilux for foreign militaries.

The J8 was also a diesel variant, upgraded with a payload capacity of nearly 3,000 pounds and a tow rating approaching four tons. Other modifications ranged from a snorkel to armor plating. Some have been manufactured in Egypt, while others are built in Israel and known as the Storm.

The US military has not yet awarded a contract for its next light-duty tactical vehicle.
Jan 26, 2016, 2:46pm ET

VW's diesel cover-up may have been "open secret"

VW\'s diesel scandal might go back nearly a decade.

Volkswagen's emissions-cheating diesel software may have been an open secret within the company for nearly a decade, a new report finds.

Even after admitting late last year that nearly 11 million of its diesel-powered vehicles sold worldwide were equipped with "cheating devices that allowed them to artificially pass emission tests, VW maintained that the illegal software was the result of a few rouge engineers. However, a new report from Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper indicates that the cheat was an open secret within VW's engine development department.

According to the report, which cites results from VW's own internal investigation, staff and managers within VW's engine development department came up with the idea of a defeat device in November 2006 as a way to meet the management board's charge of selling a cost efficient diesel engine in the United States. Achieving that task within the boundaries of U.S. law wasn't possible, so the software cheat was devised without informing VW's upper-management or board members.

"Within the company there was a culture of 'we can do everything', so to say something cannot be done, was not acceptable," Sueddeutsche Zeitung said, according to Reuters, quoting the VW internal report.

"Instead of coming clean to the management board that it cannot be done, it was decided to commit fraud.

Those involved in the fraud would receive engine management software from supplier Bosch and then manipulate the code at VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg, according to the findings.

It remains to be seen how many people were in on the cover-up, but it sounds as though the problem was more widespread than just a few people. If the entire department was in on it, the number of people in-the-know could have been in the hundreds or even thousands.

VW is expected to publicly reveal the finds of its internal investigation this April at its annual shareholders' meeting.
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Allentown police officers responding to a disturbance call Sunday afternoon were met by a man who admitted to not only one crime, but three of them, police said.

Allentown police say officers responding to a disturbance call were met by a man who confessed to three crimes. (Sarah Cassi | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Ronald Rankins, of Philadelphia, told officers he had just sold marijuana to another man at North Race and Court streets in Allentown, police said.

But the customer didn't pay the $20, so Rankins hit the man in the face and stole the customer's phone, police said.

Rankins, who turned 39 on Tuesday, was arrested and officers found the stolen cellphone on him, police said.

When Rankins was told he was under arrest, Rankins initially said his name was John Smith, police said. Police later determined his real identity.

Rankins is charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, theft, simple assault and giving a false identity to law enforcement. Rankins was sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
COLUMBUS  Jamie Heine didnt have to spend a whole lot of time introducing herself to co-workers when she started at Tooley Drug & Home Care last year.

Shes known many of them her entire life.

The 27-year-old grew up in the downtown business, hanging out at the soda fountain, playing with the pricing gun and cleaning glass display cases to pass time.

Her great-grandfather Dick Tooley Sr. and his brother Frank started Tooleys in 1928, making Heine the fourth generation to work at the pharmacy, which has undergone a couple of moves and expansions over the decades but always remained downtown.

Although the business is basically in her blood, Heine wasnt always convinced she wanted to follow in her familys footsteps.

The 2006 Scotus Central Catholic graduate had her sights set on the medical field, but not necessarily pharmacy school.

They didnt push it all, she said of her father Tim Tooley and grandfather Dick Tooley Jr., who run the pharmacy at Tooleys downtown location and have a combined 90 years of experience at the business.

Heine studied biology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she played volleyball for three years, then moved to Denver, Colorado, to attend pharmacy school at Regis University.

While doing some job shadowing through UNO, Heine said she enjoyed the mix of medical know-how and patient interaction that comes with being a pharmacist.

To me, its kind of the best of both worlds, said Heine, who met her husband John, a Bow Valley native, while living in Denver.

As graduation from pharmacy school neared, the Heines still hadnt decided where they wanted to settle down. It came down to Alaska and Nebraska, Heine said, and they chose their home state over The Last Frontier.

In the end, we just decided that we were ready for something smaller, to be closer to family, she said.

Its a great town to raise a family in, Heine, who has a 3-month-old daughter, said of Columbus.

Plus, she knew it wouldnt be hard to find a job here.

Since returning to her hometown in July 2015, Heine has worked alongside her father and grandfather at the 13th Street pharmacy, where grandmother Joan Tooley runs the gift shop side of the operation.

Its fun every day to come in, and I get to see my dad, and I get to see my grandpa, said Heine, whose husband works as a civil engineer in Norfolk.

Tim and Dick know nearly every customer by name, something Heine is still learning as she soaks in other information from the pharmacy veterans.

So far, she said theyre getting along like one big, happy family.

Theyre pretty laid-back. Theyre pretty easy guys to work with. I couldnt ask for better bosses  most days anyways, Heine said with a smile.

Tooleys newest pharmacist  one of seven total between the business downtown, 38th Street and Osceola locations  doesnt plan on leaving that atmosphere anytime soon.

She wants to raise her daughter in Columbus, where a fifth generation of the Tooley family will be needed behind the pharmacy counter one day.

I have to start reading her prescription pads before she goes to bed and start grooming her, Heine said.
Tributes have been paid to Jim Tynan, who died this week.

Tributes have been paid to Jim Tynan, who died this week.

The award winning chef ran one of the landmark eateries in the country at The Kitchen and Foodhall in Portlaoise for 30 years.

He leaves behind a rich legacy in relation to food and culinary excellence.

The author of two well received cookbooks, he was Leinster Express Person of the Year in 2007 and wrote a weekly food column for this paper.

In an interview with the Express in the run up to the publication of his second book, Jim outlined how his interest in food began when he was a child, and he was influenced by the cooking skills of his mother and grandmother.

After leaving school, he trained at Rockwell Hotel and Catering school, and worked in the world famous Claridges Hotel in London, before opening his first premises in 1982.

For years, The Kitchen and Foodhall was the most popular restaurants in the region. It built up an unparalled reputation for excellent food and its ambient atmosphere during those years. For many it was the beating heart of the town, and oasis to retreat to.

Speaking about his first cook book Jim said: I have felt really privileged to have become a part of daily cooking in so many homes. Ive loved people telling me that theyve cooked things from the book and hearing their opinions about this. The one thing that pleased me the most about Jims Kitchen was that people said they felt very comfortable using it. They found the recipes easy and accessible. This was great to hear as some of the recipes may become classics in other peoples kitchens.

Food critic and author of the Bridgestone Guide, John McKenna launched Jims second cook book and noted that: The key to Jim Tynans success is simplicity. He encompasses my Four Ps definition of artisan food - person, place, product and passion. He is an adherent of all of these and more.

Jim passed away on Tuesday, September 10 at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. He is survived by his wife Sarah, and family Kathy, Craig and Chloe, sisters and extended family and friends.

Reposing at his home on Thursday evening, September 12, from 8pm with Rosary at 9pm. Rosary on Friday evening at 9pm also. Removal to St. Edmunds Church Castletown on Saturday for Funeral Mass at 2pm, followed by interment in St Fintans Cemetery Mountrath.

Family flowers only, donations in lieu of flowers to the Denis Burkett Unit at St James Hospital Dublin.

House private on Saturday morning.
Planning is underway to mark the part Laois played in the 1916 Easter Rising, with 30,000 in grants this year for community projects.

Planning is underway to mark the part Laois played in the 1916 Easter Rising, with 30,000 in grants this year for community projects.

The 30,000 for 2015 was described as A derisory amount by Cllr James Kelly.

Maybe we should write looking for more for next year, he said.

Heritage Officer Catherine Casey is heading a council committee that will hand out the money to support local projects.

The government has given 1 million for local authority programs, with every one getting 30,000. The breakdown is to be decided but its early days, I assume we will get the same money in 2016, she said.

Debate and discussion are encouraged this year she said.

We want to engage all sectors of society, including new communities. We are aware of a number of creative and inspiring projects and we hope to support them all, she said.

The James Fintan Lalor School this Autumn will focus on the rising, while history projects will involve schools and local groups.

A lot of 1916 activities happened here in Laois, people are very proud of that, added Ms Casey.

Librarian and Cllr Mary Sweeney said people are coming in to research 1916 already.

The area of genealogy is going to be very important for librarie. There is a huge awareness in primary and secondary schools, there is a new generation that is going to be enthused by this, she said.

Extra members were added to the committee at the March council meeting, following criticism by Sinn Fein Cllr Caroline Dwane-Stanley, who was concerned that it did not represent all political parties.

I have no issue, but I would like to see cross party representation, thats fair and reasonable, she said.

Director of Services Ann Marie Delaney explained that herself, Ms Casey, the Arts Officer, County Librarian and Tourism Officer are on the committee, as well as a councillor from each of the three municipal districts; Fianna Fail Cllrs Catherine Fitzgerald and Padraig Fleming, and Independent Cllr James Kelly.

Fianna Fail have taken over, said Cllr Willie Aird.

The 1916 committee is for everybody, said Cathaoirleach John Joe Fennelly.

I dont disagree but I propose that each party be represented, said Cllr Dwane.

I have no difficulty with that, we were trying to get county wide representation, said Ms Delaney.

Added on were Labour Councillor Noel Touhy, Fine Gael Cllr John King and Sinn Fein Cllr Aidan Mullins.

The committee will form a draft plan by the end of April, with public consultation before a final plan in October.

The national program was launched recently by Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks.

Nationwide activities include a Proclamation day in schools on March 15 where children can rewrite their version, and state ceremonies.
There was no mention of other Laois candidates at Laois Fine Gaels election launch, but Fianna Fail got lambasted for the economic crash, with dire predictions if they win power again.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan noted his party's turnaround of the worst economic catastrophe back to stability over the past five years, and the chance to make history now.

We have an historic opportunity for the first time ever to ensure a second term in office. I am the first government minister in this constituency for forty years, and that is a foundation we can build on. Im proud to stand alongside Thomasina, but dont let anyone tell you this election is going to be easy, he said at the launch in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel last Friday January 15.

He did not hold back in describing the economy they inherited when elected with Labour in 2011.

Five years ago you could sense the fear and despondency. Cowen had presided over the worst economic disaster in the history of the state. We saw ghost estates, school playgrounds covered in prefabs, long dole queues. We saw young people pack their bags and leave. We saw the tumbleweed blow down the main streets as people hesitated to venture to the shops. In Dublin we saw the Troika stride into government buildings, he said.

He listed how Laois has improved, with 36 million invested in the countys schools, 7.6 million in roads, 41 new Garda vehicles in the Laois Offaly division, and a refurbishment of Portlaoise Garda station.

He warned that a government of independents and Fianna Fail would plunge us back into chaos and crisis.

How long would it take Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, Shane Ross, to reverse progress and destroy the hard work we have done? This election is about a choice of stability. We must ensure our message is sold on the doorsteps. I know from experience that there is no such thing as a safe seat. Let's make the most of this campaign for our great party, leave no stone unturned to maximise votes, and fight the good fight, he said.

The outgoing Laois TD also noted that the live register has fallen by over 20 percent.

Solicitor Thomasina Connell from Ballybrittas began an energetic campaign weeks ago, door to door in Laois and the new constituency area of south Kildare, undeterred even by a dogbite in Arles.

I am thrilled that people have responded so positively to me, she noted.

She is relatively new to Fine Gael, but points to her youth, her farming background, her expertise in the legal world, and being female, as her strengths.

I believe we can win two seats. Laois has not been represented by a woman since the foundation of the state and I aim to change that, she said, noting that 51% of the constituency is female.

She was in her 20's when the present government was formed.

The future looked bleak, with mass unemployment and emigration. The future is full of opportunity now. People may point to mistakes made and areas of work that need to be achieved, but there is simply no credible alternative other than Fine Gael as the next government. I want to deliver for the people of this constituency, she said.

Bolstering the campaign launch of Minister Flanagan and Ms Connell was Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, who stirred up the room of stalwart supporters.

This is the third time in fifty years that Fine Gael have had to pick up the reins after Fianna Fail destroyed the economy, he said to a round of applause.

In truth Fine Gael has never really been in a full term of government in a time of growth, because we have been fixing whats broken. We have an opportunity this time to get re-elected, Minister Coveney said, urging supporters to help on the campaign to get reelected for the first time in history.
Outgoing Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley warned his supporters to expect a fight on his hands to retain the seat he won historically for his party in 2011.

Many neutrals saw the Offaly vote contributing significantly to his sucess when he polled more than 8,000 votes in the old five seat Laois Offaly constiuency.

The SF Environment spokesperson in the Dail put his election team on notice of the challenge faced at the launch of his election campaign in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel last Tuesday night.

"We have a fight on our hands in this gerrymandered three seat constituency. It will require a major team effort .

"Sinn Fein is a solution based party. Our alternative budgets have been fully costed and they are fair and equitable," he noted.

Directing his attention to the Labour Party, he produced a Labour Party ad from the last election.

"Look at the Tesco style ads the Labour Party ran for the last election, warning people of the dangers of voting for Fine Gael. They went into government with them, and helped them to implement right wing policies.

"We heard a lot about Labour's way or Frankfurt's way. It was all hot air which perished in the cold winds of austerity. They stopped at nothing when it came to cuts, he said.

The future of the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise was high on Dep Stanley's agenda.

"The record on Portlaoise Hospital speaks for itself. Sinn Fein will not tolerate any attempts to reduce services in Portlaoise, particularly in the Emergency Department at the hospital, he said.

The TD said the future of community nursing units must also be clarified.

"A clear plan, property costed, needs to be put in place for Mountmellick, Shaen and Abbeyleix. Sinn Fein is committed to improving the public health system,  he said.

With an eye on the inclusion of parts of Kildare in the new three seater, the TD highlighted other cuts.

"The door was closed on Monasterevin Day Care Centre. The school dental service in primary schools is over. We have gone back to the 1930s in relation to child dental services."

As regards jobs, Deputy Stanley said there was a huge question mark over the quality of jobs. Pointing to the IDA's record in Laois, he said that foreign direct investment was needed in the county.

The TD also attacked the track record on housing.

"Housing is a major issue. There are 5,000 people homeless in the country, and some of these are in Laois. 90,000 families are in mortgage arrears. Just six local authority houses were completed in Laois in 2015," he said.

On crime he said that crime figures had increased in Laois/Offaly and noted the impact of the closures of Ballacolla and Ballinakill garda stations.

He lambasted what he called the "arrogance and incompetence of Irish Water. "It is a pathetic entity, defended by Fine Gael and Labour," he stated.

"Sinn Fein will abolish Irish Water and water charges. We want a fair recovery.

"As regards Fianna Fail, we will not be taking any sermons from the curate Martin, the man who created the HSE, who sat in cabinet during the Galway tent era, and in a government which bankrupted the State, slashed the minimum wage and closed the sugar beet industry," he said.
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.

Soup supper set for CHS

COLUMBUS -- Columbus High School will host the CHS Band Booster Soup Supper from 5-8 p.m. Friday in the school cafeteria.

Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for kids ages 5-12 for all-you-can-eat soup and chili along with desserts and beverages.

Proceeds will go towards summer band camp scholarships, trips and expenses for the band and color guard, and instrument repair and replacement. Tickets are available from band students or booster members, or at the door.

Soup supper at Christian school

COLUMBUS -- The community is invited to Columbus Christian Schools annual soup supper from 4:30-7 p.m. Feb. 5.

The school is located at 3418 15th St.

The meal will include homemade soups and desserts for a free will donation. There will also be a bake sale.

Mardi Gras at Eagles Club

COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Eagles Club will host a Mardis Gras Feb. 6, serving BBQ ribs and wings from 5:30 p.m. until they are gone.

There will be live music provided by Rocks in a Pocket, Thudwinker, and Standing Stranded from 7 p.m.-midnight.

Proceeds will go toward the Eagles building fund.

Foundation seeks award nominees

SCHUYLER  The Schuyler Community Schools Foundation is seeking nominations for a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

If you know someone who you believe deserves this honor, visit www.schuylercommunityschools.org, click on the Foundation tab and complete a nomination form. Forms are also available from the office of the superintendent, 401 Adam St., in Schuyler or by contacting Shelley Friesz at 402-352-3527 or shelley.friesz@schuylercommunityschools.org.

The purpose of the Schuyler Community Schools Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award is to celebrate and acknowledge outstanding Schuyler alumni and inspire and empower current students to strive for high achievement.

The criteria for this award are outstanding leadership, service and/or scholarship and significant contributions to community, state and/or nation. Only nominees who attended Schuyler Community Schools at least 10 years ago are eligible for the award. Nominees may be living or honored after death.

Nominations should include biographical information, date of graduation, list of achievements, nominee's or family representative's contact information and at least two signed letters of recommendation. Nominations must be received by March 1 at the office of the superintendent by mail or online.

The award will be presented at the May 15 graduation ceremony.
Getting ready for a general election is like sitting in a changing room, getting ready to get out there and beat the head of somebody, to use a GAA term, noted Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, at the launch of Laois Fine Gael's campaign in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel on a bitter cold Friday night, January 15.

He gave Laois Fine Gael supporters a pep talk.

Five years ago people were very fearful of what the future held, for their children, for the value of their homes. We saw businesses crumbling because of mismanagement and greed. We were seen as a problem child internationally, he said, before listing the changes.

Now economic growth is at 7 percent, 13,000 jobs a week are being created. Ireland is back on an even keel. It hasn't been easy, we tried to do some things too quickly and made people angry, but we are now on a steady path of growth. Imagine after all that toil, to hand it to somebody else to be popular for a few years and wreck it again. Let's finish the job this time, and create an economy that serves its people, he said.

He praised Minister Flanagan for his great wit, sharp political mind, and strategic thinking, noting that as foreign minister he used intelligence and sensitivity to deal with terrorist attacks, tragedies, migration and Northern Ireland Assembly's near collapse.

Thomasina is young, smart, experienced in law, and has seen inequalities in rural Ireland. She passionately wants to be in the cockpit in Leinster House, working to find solutions and improve her community. We have a team of youth and experience, Minister Coveney said.
TRIBUTES have been paid to Garda Supt. Gerry Giblin, who retired from Leixlip Garda Station last Tuesday, 28 February. It is not known yet when he will be replaced.

TRIBUTES have been paid to Garda Supt. Gerry Giblin, who retired from Leixlip Garda Station last Tuesday, 28 February. It is not known yet when he will be replaced.

Sgt. Gerry Curley of the Garda Press Office told the Leader: Allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner. I am not aware of who is replacing Giblin but appropriate arrangements will be put in place.

At Kilcock District Court on 21 February, tributes were paid to Supt. Giblin who came to Leixlip in 2009. Garda Inspector Paul Dolan said Supt. Giblin had been very very good to me...very helpful.

He has been approachable and had a very open door and gave very good advice. After a cup of coffee with him, a problem never became a mountain but a molehill. To prosecute, not persecute was his way.

Inspector Dolan said the retiring superintendent would be a loss and that would not be any criticism of who or when we would get as a replacement.

On behalf of the legal profession, solicitor, Eddie Timmons, said Supt Giblin had been very fair and human. He also said the Superintendent was handy to have around when a car tyre burst.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said Supt. Giblin was a true professional and approachable by anyone, solicitors, Gardai, the Court Service and the public. He was willing to listen and take on board grievances...very friendly, very humane, very thorough and very conscientious.

In that position, said the Judge, you have to have a conscience, not simply be an administrator. I am going to miss him, he said.

On 1 January 2009 the new Leixlip Garda station became the headquarters of a new Garda district, and Supt Giblin arrived to head it up just after that.

The Castlebar natives father Owen who retired as Chief Garda Superintendent from his Drogheda base in 1988. Educated at St. Josephs CBS in Drogheda, Supt. Giblin was the only one of his siblings to join the Gardai.

A keen fan of Donaghmore Ashbourne GAA club in Meath, he left school in 1980 and worked in the insurance industry for a year before opting for the force, starting at Store Street station in Dublin. After four year there he moved to the Garda Fraud section, where he spent eight years.

In 1993, he returned to Store Street as a Sergeant but two year later he returned to the Fraud Squad as a Detective Sergeant. He spent another six years there and the section was renamed the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation (GBFI).

In January 2000, he returned to Store Street as an Inspector but in 2002 went back to the GBFI as a Detective Inspector responsible for money laundering investigations.

He and his wife, Ann, also a Garda, have three children.

He remained at the GBFI until 2007 when he was promoted to Superintendent and moved to Cavan.

Supt Giblin stressed the very important role of the public in helping the Gardai with inquiries. We have enjoyed great support.

But he and also said out that the Gardai dont always have answers.

Between Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth Garda stations, there are now over eighty serving Gardai in North Kildare.
In the Guardian, Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the SNP, has objected to the possibility of the referendum being held on 23 June. Her reason on is very odd. She says it would be disrespectful to Scotland due to the Scottish parliament election in May. She seems to overlook the fact that the whole UK is voting in one or more election and May and 23 June gives six clear weeks  comparable to a General Election campaign.

82% of people consider that leaving the EU would be a risk reports the Independent.

IN campaign chairman Lord Rose is urging people to focus on the economy in the referendum debate, according to BT News.

The chief economist at Citigroup, Willem Buiter, told Skys Samantha Washington that Brexit would be economic disaster (video).

The Express is salivating over 40 Tory MPs, led by sacked Cabinet Minister Liam Fox, who no longer recognise Camerons authority.

In another signal of the fracturing of Camerons grip on his part, former leader Michael Howard hinted her will vote for exit, reported in many places including the National.

The medicines industry is worried about the threat of Brexit (FT, ).

A holiday company that organises political tours now has an itinerary to Brussels for a Brexit debate holiday, reports the Independent.

Sputnik speculates that we might see the pound devalued in due course, in part because of Brexit risk.

* Antony Hook was #2 on the South East European list in 2014, is the English Party's representative on the Federal Executive and produces this sites EU Referendum Roundup.
Its 99 days to go till the Scottish election and Willie Rennie is making a major policy announcement tomorrow. He will be launching his plan to save Scottish Education.

Hell be visiting an Edinburgh nursery tomorrow where hell be laying out what is being described as a bold, costed plan.

He is expected to say:

A Scottish education was once the envy of the world. It has fallen hard and fast. But we have the plan that will put it right back up there. College places cut by 150,000 places since 2007. Only 7% of two-year-olds receiving early years education. One in five businesses not getting the skills they need  higher than anywhere else in Britain. Liberal Democrats are not prepared to stand by while the SNP prepares to inflict even more devastating damage in the form of their multi-million-pound education cuts. Bold action is needed urgently to save our education system and the progressive plan I will announce would make the biggest investment in Scottish education since devolution. To get Scotland fit for the future our economy and our children need the best education.

If you want to sign up to get the news first hand, you can do so here.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
SIGNIFICANT search activity by the emergency services on the River Shannon in Limerick city this Tuesday morning has failed to throw up any results.

A number of units of Limerick City Fire and Rescue Service  including its FireSwift rescue boat  paramedics and gardai were called out after there was reports of an object being seen in the river. However, sources have indicated that it might have been a bogus call with good intent".

Someone may have seen a log floating and thought it was something, said a source.

A spokesperson at the Fire Control centre in Limerick said the service had reports of "something in the river, but they didnt find anything and it may have been rubbish or something.

Meanwhile, a body has been recovered following searches for a man seen entering the water in the city early on Monday morning.

A body was discovered by the Rescue 115 helicopter at around 2.30pm on Monday at Barringtons Pier. The fire service, along with Limerick Marine Search and Rescue, recovered the remains using the FireSwift boat.
EDUCATION Minister Jan OSullivan has secured support for her election campaign  from an unlikely source.

The long-serving Limerick TDs campaign team have placed a huge billboard advertisement on the side of Fianna Fail metropolitan mayor Jerry ODeas Mulgrave Street pub.

Cllr ODea says he is flattered at the decision to use his pub, where his cousin, the former Defence Minister Willie ODea holds weekly constituency clinics.

It is an interesting ad. I would lease the site to a contractor in Dublin, so it would not be my decision as to what signs go up. But in saying that, I have always had a great working relationship with Jan, and I am a bit flattered she has chosen the side of our building to promote her [campaign], he said.

The City East councillor said he wishes Ms OSullivan the best in the election campaign, saying: She would be well regarded locally.

He jokingly added: If my cousin Willie wants to put a sign up there alongside Jans, we would be open to suggestions.

He has had a clinic in our pub the last 30 years. Maybe he needs to find the funds and get his own sign up there soon!

Ms OSullivan said Cllr ODeas pub was chosen due to its location in Limerick.

We have put up four of these posters. We were picking good entry routes into Limerick, where there would be a lot of passing traffic, both cars and pedestrians, and it was one of the locations we were able to secure.

But Im delighted we are on the wall of such a well established and a well-renowned hostelry, and I am sure it will not do any harm to Jerry ODea or his clients, she said.

First elected at a by-election in 1998, Ms OSullivan is seeking a fourth full term as TD in the city.

Deputy O'Sullivan will face Finance Minister Michael Noonan, Deputy Kieran ODonnell (both Fine Gael), Mr ODea (Fianna Fail), Sarah-Jane Hennelly (Social Democrats), Cllr Cian Prendiville (Anti-Austerity Alliance) and Cllr Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein) in the election.
LIMERICK City and County Council is to send Mayor Liam Galvin to Boston to complete a twinning arrangement with the American city.

Councillors have agreed to set aside almost 4,000 for the seven-day trip in March, which it is expected will see the formalising of a Sister Cities twinning agreement between the two cities. That includes the cost of sending council CEO Conn Murray with the mayor.

Mayor Galvin will represent Limerick at Bostons St Patricks Day parade, and will spend the remainder of the trip meeting a number of local businesses and tourism representatives with a view to promoting Shannonside.

In a document prepared for councillors, Christy OConnor, the local authoritys senior executive officer, stated: It is hoped that a formalisation of this agreement would yield significant benefits for Limerick in the areas of tourism, culture, community and economic development. The development of formal links with Boston under the Sister Cities programme would be a significant boost to furthering the promotion of Limerick in the wider US arena.

Although the majority of members approved the spend, Cllr Cian Prendiville, Anti-Austerity Alliance, asked for a breakdown of the costs of the trip.

He said: This would almost be enough to restore the bin waiver to those on the blind pension who recently lost it. We should have details of the costs.

It was agreed a full breakdown of the trip  which will cost an estimated 3,874  would be circulated to members.

Fine Gael councillor Michael Sheahan said: Last year, we established a connect when the Mayor of Boston passed through Limerick. Vistakon has its headquarters in Boston, and since we have established the link I think we should continue with this arrangement.

Limerick already has a relationship with eight other cities across the world. Five of these are in the USA: New Brunswick in New Jersey, Spokane in Washington, the Limerick township in Pennsylvania, plus Kansas City and Lowell, Massachusetts. There are also links with Quimper, in the Brittany region of France, Starogard Gdanski in Poland and A Coruna in Spain's Galicia region.

Meanwhile, councillors have also this week approved financial assistance of 497.50 towards a twinning initiative between Adare and Buchloe, Germany, led by the Adare community council.

And 826 of financial assistance to Cappamores twinning committee was approved for a link between the village and the French commune of Langonnet.

It is the second time in as many years the Mayor of Limerick has visited Boston.

Last year, Cllr Kevin Sheahan, the first Mayor of Limerick City and County, was forced into a climbdown after he announced a proposal to go on an 18-day tour of four cities in the United States.

But a late intervention from Fine Gael and members of his own Fianna Fail party obliged Cllr Sheahan to cut his trip to just three days  and only taking in Boston.
Farm operators and agronomists from across the state are invited to attend the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network research update program at a location near them.

Locations and times are:

Feb. 8 at the West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte,

Feb. 9 at the Hall County Extension Office located on the College Park Campus in Grand Island,

Feb. 11 at the Lifelong Learning Center located on the Northeast Community College Campus in Norfolk, and

Feb. 12 at the University of Nebraskas Agricultural Research and Development Center (ARDC) near Mead.

Registration is at 8:30 a.m. and the program is from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Grand Island, Norfolk and Mead. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. and the program is from 12:00-4:30 p.m. at North Platte. Lunch will be served at all locations.

Producers will obtain valuable crop production-related information from on-farm research projects conducted on Nebraska farms by Nebraska farmers in partnership with University of Nebraska faculty.

The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is a statewide, on-farm research program that addresses critical farmer production, profitability and natural resources questions. Growers take an active role in the on-farm research project sponsored by Nebraska Extension in partnership with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, the Nebraska Corn Board and the Nebraska Soybean Board.

These February programs will provide an opportunity to hear growers who conducted on-farm research share their results from the 2015 growing season. Field length replicated treatment comparisons were completed in growers fields, using their equipment.

Research projects to be discussed will include: Variable rate seeding, planting populations, Maize-N nitrogen rate decision tool for sidedress nitrogen, starter fertilizer, fungicide applications, row spacing, cover crops, foliar micronutrients, seed treatments (including new treatment for Sudden Death Syndrome), and others. Project SENSE (Sensors for Efficient Nitrogen Use and Stewardship of the Environment) will also be discussed. This is a special 3 year initiative which focuses using crop canopy sensors to direct variable-rate, in-season nitrogen application to improve the efficiency of nitrogen fertilization in corn.

Certified Crop Advisor Credits are applied for and pending upon approval.

There is no fee to attend. Preregistration is requested for meal planning purposes. Call 402-624-8000 or e-mail onfarm@unl.edu to register for any of the three sites. To learn more about the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network and how to participate, visit http://cropwatch.unl.edu/farmresearch.

Source: Laura Thompson, extension educator, Nebraska Extension, 402-624-8033, laura.thompson@unl.edu.
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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.
History is a set of lies agreed upon. The Dude
DO YOU have a Boulevard Aristide-Briand near you? Or do you send your child to school in a Jules-Ferry or a lycee Emile Combes? If so, you are already familiar with key names in the construction of the French Republic.

Between them, these three politicians were responsible for free state schooling, obligatory education for girls and the rock of state neutrality towards religion on which la Republique is built: the principle of laicite.

The term is very much in the news, with a new laicite charter being introduced into schools this autumn alongside classes in morale laique. Presenting the charter, Minister for Education Vincent Peillon explained: Everyone is free to have his own opinions but no one has the right to contest teaching content or miss a class in the name of religious precepts.

Public debate over the Muslim community in France pops up in the news regularly and is nearly always related in one way or another to perceived challenges to this element of the Constitution. Peillons remarks refer also to repeated evangelist pressure to alter class content, in particular regarding the theory of evolution. A recent example was the proposal to swap two Christian holidays with Jewish and Muslim ones: confusing whether France was secular or multi-religious.

Left and Right politicians often unite to initiate laws to protect laicite. Once the source of conflict with the Catholic Right over private education funding, the principle, an important element in the integration process, regularly generates ill feeling these days among extremist sectors of the Muslim community. That is why, a century after the original 1905 law, several new laws have been passed to protect it.

First, a few explanations. Laicite does not translate well. Secularity is close but confusing. Laicite is not easy to define either. It has evolved over two centuries and is evolving still. The concept was born of the Revolution, which guaranteed freedom of conscience to all and first separated State and Church.

Napoleon backtracked, signing a concordat with the Vatican in 1801 that was to poison Church-State relations during the 19th century and put laicite on the back burner for much of it. (For historical reasons, this concordat still applies in Alsace and Moselle.)

Having been suppressed by the Vichy regime (along with liberte, egalite, fraternite  without which laicite could not function), the principle was cast in the constitution of the Fourth Republic in 1946  the State is indivisible, laic, democratic and social  and remains firmly in that of todays Fifth.

To understand the concept is to go a long way towards understanding the French. Maybe it could be defined as their permanent search for a delicate balance between sharing what they all hold in common, the Republic, and catering for diversity.

It is the principle that protects both personal and collective liberty and, as such, is the responsibility of both State and citizen. The indivisibility of the State is the States refusal to recognise any religious or ethnic community. France is one. There are two major dates in the history of laicite: 1881 and 1905. In 1881-82, Minister of Education Jules Ferry decreed school to be publique, gratuite et laique  state-run, free and non-clerical.

Teaching in French to a national programme provided children, whatever their linguistic background or beliefs, with the theoretical possibility of equal opportunity.

It created a framework in which adults could bring no pressure to bear on pupils to adhere to any philosophy, religion or political idea. That remains the basis of the French educational system today.

The 1905 law, engineered by Emile Combes and Aristide Briand, enforced the neutrality of the State and State institutions through the separation of the Churches and the State. Since that date, the State recognises no religion and therefore cannot directly fund any either.

If the same law grants the individual total liberty and privacy regarding beliefs, there is one condition: they must not disturb public order.

Given the repeated trauma that religion has caused in Frances recent history  from the Wars of Religion to the expulsion of the Huguenots and the Dreyfus affair  this means no proselytising and nothing that could be remotely interpreted as such.

It also explains why, in France, religious belief is far more than a private matter. Things spiritual belong to the realm of intimacy. It is extremely unusual to see anyone wearing any conspicuous religious symbol in public. To do so is perceived as a deliberate act, a message to others.

It is unthinkable to ask someone what their religion is and most people will be frankly embarrassed by anyone saying what theirs is. When Nicolas Sarkozy publicly announced he had appointed Frances first Muslim prefect, he sent shockwaves throughout the land.

Knowing this helps in understanding intense French reaction to young girls wearing veils. It is seen not only as an unacceptable way of bringing religion into the public sphere, but also a form of peer pressure on other girls to do the same. Which takes us back to Jules Ferry and neutrality in the classroom.

This insistence on the privacy of beliefs was of course also reinforced after World War II by the fate of Frances Jews under the Vichy regime, and the obligation to publicly show their religion by wearing the yellow star. As a result of the trauma of State responsibility in their deportation and extermination, no statistics may be made regarding peoples religious beliefs, ethnic origin or colour.

All citizens are not only equal, but remain neutral in the eyes of the State.

The mosque debate

The 1905 law was finally well accepted by both Catholic and Protestant churches in France, who benefited financially when the State handed existing buildings and their costly maintenance over to local authorities. But the State cannot fund new religious buildings.

Hence the mosque-building debate and recent legislation allowing local authorities to contribute. For with generous donations from Saudi Arabia and Muslim foundations abroad pouring in, the inherent risk of encouraging fundamentalist movements to develop in France is obvious.

Under the Nicolas Sarkozy government, the training of imams in France to Republican principles was considered.

But the State cannot finance religious education either. The impasse has been paradoxically circumvented by the Catholic University offering courses, and Algerian imams due to work in France being trained in French and laicite at the government-funded Institut Francais in Algiers.

Conspicuous symbols and full-face veils

After a number of potentially inflammatory cases in which some schools were confronted with Muslim girls wearing Islamic headscarves, legislation was passed in 2004 banning the wearing of any conspicuous religious symbol or sign in state schools. Never specifically aimed at the Muslim community (kippas, large crosses and Sikh turbans fall under the same category), the new law, despite fears it would be perceived as discriminatory and arouse further reaction, had the almost immediate effect of calming the situation, though some veiled Muslim girls and turbaned Sikhs found their way to private schools.

But this legislated solely for public schools, not privately run establishments. In March of this year, Fatima Afif, an employee dismissed in 2008 from the privately run Baby Loup creche in the Yvelines for refusing to remove her headscarf, won on appeal for wrongful dismissal on the grounds of religious discrimination.

New legislation is now under consideration to cover pre-school structures and religious symbols in the workplace, none of which are currently covered by law.

When, in late July, a police officer in the town of Trappes stopped a fully veiled young women for an ID check in the middle of Ramadan, he did not know he was unleashing days of rioting. But Cassandra, 22, was not infringing any law on laicite. This time it was the one against dissimulating the face in the public sphere, put into effect by the Sarkozy government in 2011.

Introduced ostensibly as anti-terrorism legislation, many felt its real purpose was more anti-veil. In fact, the number of women in France wearing the niqab is extremely small, and the number of women fined likewise.

Laicite with an adjective

The latest solution of Frances politicians to calm the debate has been to add adjectives. Sarkozy invented laicite positive, in which the government took into account the existence of religious groups in France.

He created a representative Muslim council, through which to address the Muslim community in France. Representative of only a portion of Frances Muslims, many of whom are non-practising, it has created more problems than it has solved.

The Hollande government has coined laicite apaisee, a low-profile approach in which negotiation would replace legislation as the best way of winning over those who regard the principle with suspicion.

True laicistes believe the principle cannot survive any moderating tags. It must exist alone.

Universities oppose campus headscarf ban proposal

In early August, Le Monde published a report signed by members of the Haut Comite de lIntegration (HCI), a body no longer briefed to deal with laicite since the creation of a separate mission last April. It called for a Muslim headscarf ban in universities.

Government replies were swift but hardly in unison. Minister of the Interior Manuel Valls stated evasively that the subject needed to be considered, while Genevieve Fioraso, Minister for Higher Education, warned that we should avoid problems where there are none.

For Gerard Blanchard, president of La Rochelle University, and vice-president of the national CPU, Conference des Presidents dUniversite, laicite is not an issue on his campus or anywhere in France. We have 14% foreign students in La Rochelle, mostly from South East Asia, and we only ask women students to take off their veils in science laboratories, for safety reasons. That has never posed a problem.

The University Presidents Conference has issued a public statement against any specific university ban. For Blanchard, the over-mediatised debate that burst upon us mid-summer is without foundation. He is adamant that he has never had a complaint from a teacher. An environmentalist, he is far more concerned by pressure that could be brought on teachers to introduce non-scientific versions of the origins of the universe into the syllabus. No university teacher should ever have to submit to any pressure on the content of his teaching.

Jean-Loup Salzmann, president of the CPU, and president of Paris XIII, in the heart of Seine- Saint-Denis, one of the most multi-cultural universities in France, firmly believes in laicite, but sees no need for new laws on the campus. His main concern is elsewhere. He is angered by the incongruity of the State promoting laicite on the one hand, while financing the Catholic universities on the other.

Expressing a personal opinion, he said: The main issue for these young Muslim women, who have enough problems coping with family pressure, is to achieve independence and emancipation through their studies, whether they wear a veil or not. An anti-veil law would achieve the opposite of what we want. Many of these women would then not have access to university at all.

How the principle of laicite is applied today

NICOLAS Cadene, chairman of the Observatoire de la Laicite, a watchdog committee created last April by President Francois Hollande to report on how the principle of laicite is applied in France today, spoke to Connexion.

Can you define this difficult concept for our readers?

Laicite is a principle which allows us all to live together. It is not a ban on religion or religious practices. On the contrary, it guarantees believers and non-believers alike the freedom to express themselves, to practise or not to practise a religion as they choose, on condition that public order is not disturbed. The State adopts an attitude of total impartiality towards citizens, who are all equal in the eyes of the State.

Do the current religious bank holidays not favour one religious group?

Christian festivals have, for the majority, become traditional holidays with little religious significance. Still, the State does not want to be seen as favouring one religion over another. In 1905, there was no Muslim population. But I dont think this poses a real problem. Employees can use their RTT (recuperation of unpaid overtime in the form of days off) as they wish. The Stasi Commission (set up by President Jacques Chirac in 2003) went a long way towards identifying issues in the workplace. We shall build on that.

The conspicuous religious symbols ban was seen as directed only at women. Is that not a form of discrimination?

If people set out to present themselves in a way which is obviously a proselytising or a provocative attitude, that is not acceptable. It is not so much what people wear or their physical appearance, as the reason behind the choice. This is one of the subjects we shall be working on.

Islam has no clerical hierarchy. Isnt the laicite legislation trying to apply to individuals a law aimed at an institution? Doesnt the 1905 law need to be adapted?

Not at all. The principle enables us all to live together. But, of course, we must avoid situations in which one group feels stigmatised by the law. That is one of our major subjects of reflexion. But there is no question of adapting the principle to new circumstances. It is one of bringing people to understand that laicite is not a ban on religious practice but a system of personal freedom and helping them to adapt to the principle.

There has been talk in the press over banning the Islamic headscarf at university. [The full-face veil is already banned anywhere in public].

The State has a duty to protect minors from any form of ideological persuasion, hence the headscarf ban in schools. University is a world of adults. But the Republic has a duty to protect its citizens against the dangers of extremism. Some people attribute to laicite powers it simply does not have. There is an urgent need for strong political action, at state and local level, in order to resolve the many problems the threat of extremism has brought to certain sectors of society.

The Observatoire has published its first report, a history and background to the concept. What else has it achieved?

We helped draw up two important documents: the laicite charter and the syllabus for non-religious morality for schools. Both take effect this year. In addition, our report has pinpointed situations needing close attention in public administrations and local authorities (non-Metropolitan France included), as well as in the private sector.

How do you see your work developing?

We need a better definition of laicite that reiterates the States position of neutrality and is more clearly understood by all, in France and at an international level. We are drawing up guidelines for the application of laicite and religious practice in the workplace, and in the wake of the Baby Loup issue [see main article], for pre-school structures. We must show people how to react to situations. Overreaction is one of the major problems we face, when so much could be achieved by negotiation and taking things calmly.
A cockroach species is one of the only insects in the world that shares some notable traits with humans: Like humans, beetle mimic cockroaches give live birth to their young, and they also seem to be able to provide nutrients from their bodies to their young, similar to the nourishment provided by breast-feeding in humans.

Now, one researcher is learning how these creatures developed these traits on the genetic level, and the findings might help to explain these roaches' very mammal-like behaviors.

The beetle mimic cockroach (Diploptera punctata) is not the same pest you might see scurrying around on your kitchen floor; it is a much smaller species of cockroach that is native to the tropical forests of the Polynesian islands. This cockroach is also one of the few insects that give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.

"Not only are they carrying their offspring, but they are prodding them with a milky secretion," Emily Jennings, a doctoral student in the University of Cincinnati Department of Biological Sciences and the lead researcher on this project, told Live Science. The milky secretion is made up of carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients necessary for baby roaches, she explained. [20 Startling Facts About Insects]

To learn more about what happens when a beetle mimic cockroach gets pregnant, Jennings examined the insects' RNA, or ribonucleic acid. This molecule stores information that is essential for carrying out all of the instructions stored in an organism's DNA  sort of like an instruction manual with all of an organism's genetic information. Whereas the study of DNA by itself is very important for understanding how different functions can work, RNA tells scientists which genes are actually active in the body, according tothe U.S. National Institutes of Health.

When Jennings started this project, there were fewer than 100 genes that had been identified for the beetle mimic cockroach, she told Live Science. Now, Jennings and her colleagues have found more than 11,000 beetle mimic cockroach genes. Although they haven't yet sequenced the genome, or decoded the entire genetic formula, for this insect, Jennings has started to look more closely at a few that affect the female cockroach during pregnancy.

She and her colleagues found several genes that were specifically associated with pregnancy in the female cockroach. There were a lot of genes associated with metabolism  functions like lipid metabolism and nitrogen metabolism pathways that clearly were expressed more during pregnancy, Jennings said.

It's important for scientists to understand how metabolism functions during pregnancy because it dictates how certain nutrients are stored in the female body to nourish the developing offspring. For example, scientists think pregnant women's metabolism changes to build up proteins in the muscles as a reserve for later, according to research from scientists at the University of Cambridge. They also found a protein associated with the successful production of the mother cockroach's milky secretion.

In previous research, researchers found that there were some juvenile hormones in insects that played a huge role in development and reproduction, and almost every insect biological function. The hormone completely inhibits the production of the milky secretion, Jennings said.

Jennings and her colleagues now have a much clearer understanding of what's going on during different stages of the beetle mimic cockroach's pregnancy.

Jennings hopes her research has set the stage to begin a whole genome sequence for this cockroach species. She said she hopes it will help to unravel an interesting reproductive puzzle in convergent evolution  living organisms that evolve the same traits independently from one another. In this case, the beetle mimic cockroach and mammals both evolved to birth live young, but they did so on different branches of the evolutionary tree.

"Reproduction where the mom gives live birth has evolved in the animal kingdom independently 200 times," Jennings said. Biologists have known about this for a long time but stilldon'tcompletely understand how it happens, she said.

Jennings also wants to unravel some mysteries about what it takes for an insect to successfully give live birth and raise offspring. "[Live birth reproduction] can have a long-term impact on the mom and the babies after they are born," Jennings said. "Babies are greedy. And the mom wants to give them everything that she can while still maintaining her own health and fitness."

If scientists can understand how these stresses and pressures affect pregnant and mama cockroaches, it might be possible to model this same phenomenon in mammals or other insects, Jennings told Live Science.

Jennings presented her findings Jan. 7 at the national meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in Portland, Oregon.

Follow Elizabeth Newbern @liznewbern. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
Henry Worsley's trek was to end at the Ross Ice Shelf (shown here at the Bay of Whales).

Explorer Henry Worsley has died of exhaustion and dehydration, just a few dozen miles short of completing his historic voyage across the ice of Antarctica.

"It is with heartbroken sadness, I let you know that my husband, Henry Worsley, has died following complete organ failure, despite all efforts of ALE [Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions] and medical staff at the Clinica Magallanes in Punta Arenas, Chile," his wife, Joanna Worsley, said in a statement.

The 55-year-old adventurer had traversed 913 miles (1,469 kilometers) of the continent alone and was just 30 miles (48 km) shy of completing Sir Ernest Shackleton's unfinished 1907 "Nimrod Expedition" across the coldest continent. After Worsley was airlifted, doctors discovered that he was suffering from peritonitis, in which the lining of the abdomen becomes infected. [In Images: Antarctic Explorer Robert Falcon Scott's Last Photos]

Many people are wondering why the tragedy occurred, given the meticulous planning and sophisticated tools Worsley had that his Antarctic explorer predecessors didn't. It turns out that all of the sophisticated technology available to modern-day explorers cannot completely erase the essentially dangerous nature of the place.

"Antarctica is the last wilderness on the planet," said Martin Siegert, a geoscientist and Antarctic explorer at the University of Bristol in England, who has led expeditions to Antarctica in the past. "There are no native humans living on Antarctica, and there's a good reason for that."

New technology, old limitations

So much has changed since Shackleton and his fellow ice explorers first set foot on the most southerly continent. Antarctic adventurers now have access to radio communications, state-of-the-art clothing, GPS devices and maps that are light-years better than the giant blank space Shackleton faced. In addition, people can be evacuated now within 12 hours, whereas Shackleton and his crew were completely on their own once the Endurance sank. What's more, thousands of people live on the ice for extended periods, at both the McMurdo Station and the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. [Extreme Living: Scientists at the End of the Earth]

Map shows notable features and facts about Antarctica. (Image credit: by Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

It's likely that every step of Worsley's voyage was meticulously planned and accounted for, from the likelihood of inclement weather or poor conditions, to his route, to the amount of food he carried, to his energy expenditure, Siegert said.

Yet, ultimately, all that planning and all of the advanced technologies at hand could only partially buffer against Antarctica's frigid conditions.

"You can't account for, and you can't train for, something like this," Siegert said.

Dehydration

Not surprisingly, Worsley's fiercest adversary was the bone-chilling cold. Average temperatures on the continent during this time of year dip to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 degrees Celsius), and people wear the ultimate extreme-weather gear. Worsley, who was pulling a sled, was engaged in incredibly arduous physical activity.

The combination of being bundled up and working so hard leads to a lot of sweating. For instance, when Siegert was working in Antarctica doing hard manual labor, his clothes would become sopping wet from the sweat, he said.

"It's like being in a sauna," Siegert told Live Science. "You're almost permanently dehydrated; you can't replace the liquids you give out."

Dehydration and exhaustion also impair thinking, leading a person to make irrational decisions and causing a dangerous downward spiral, Siegert added.

And although Worsley was surrounded with frozen water, melting that ice takes a lot of time and energy, so it may have been impractical for him to melt enough ice to drink while keeping up with other aspects of the journey, Siegert said.

Earlier warning signs

Worsley was using radio communications with a large support staff for safety purposes. What's more, once the decision was made to evacuate him, an Aleutian plane was able to reach him within 12 hours and fly him to get medical attention in Chile.

See more

So, in this instance, the real issue was that Worsley, and those he communicated with, did not recognize how dire the situation had become until it was too late, Siegert said.

"When does a person realize that they cannot go on?" Siegert said. "That cannot be when they can no longer put one [foot] in front of another. That's far too late."

The people communicating regularly with Worsley could have noticed his judgment or ability was impaired well before he was airlifted, Siegert said. "The telltale signs should have been noticed," he said.

In fact, Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition provides a similar lesson, Siegert said. The calm, collected leader stopped 97 miles (156 km) before his ultimate destination of the South Pole. He actually stopped well before the true point of no return, having calculated that there was no way to make it back with all of his men alive if he were to have pressed onward, Siegert said.

Worsley's ill-fated trip may suggest that going it alone in the Antarctic wilderness is simply too dangerous an endeavor, Siegert said.

"It's such a feat of human endurance that maybe it's not possible to do this sort of thing," Siegert said. "Maybe you have to be so lucky with conditions that it's too risky and not worth doing."

Follow Tia Ghose on Twitter and Google+. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
Scientists in China have developed a flexible, rollable, foldable battery inspired by traditional Chinese calligraphy involving ink on paper.

Worldwide demand for flexible electronics is rapidly growing, because the technology could enable such things as video screens and solar panels to bend, roll and fold. These flexible electronics require batteries that are equally flexible to power them, but conventional batteries are too rigid and bulky to be used in flexible electronics.

Chinese scientists, however, have developed a flexible lithium-based battery that is based on Chinese brush painting. [5 Crazy Technologies That Are Revolutionizing Biotech]

Lithium-ion batteries power most portable devices, from smartphones to tablet computers to laptops. However, so-called lithium-air batteries could, in principle, hold five to 10 times as much energy as a lithium-ion battery of the same weight. This means that lithium-air batteries could theoretically give electric cars the same range as gasoline ones.

Batteries usually contain two electrodes  the anode and the cathode. In a lithium-air battery, the anode is generally made of lithium metal, while the cathode is typically a porous carbon material that allows the surrounding air into the battery. As the lithium reacts with oxygen in the air, it discharges electricity. Recharging the device reverses the process.

The scientists noted that the main component of black painting ink is carbon, and that paper is porous, thin, flexible, light and cheap. They reasoned that ink drawn on paper could serve as a cathode for a lithium-air battery in a very simple manner.

"Due to the ultra-high theoretical energy density of lithium-oxygen batteries, they may be one of the most suitable candidates in the future for the development of flexible electronics," study senior author Xinbo Zhang, a materials scientist at the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry in China, told Live Science.

The researchers constructed a battery from a sandwich of three layers  an ink-paper cathode, a sheet of lithium foil as the anode, and a sheet made of glass fibers between the anode and the cathode that permits electrically charged ions to flow between the cathode and anode.

Zhang and his colleagues found their prototype batteries possessed energy-storage capacities comparable to commercial lithium-ion batteries, even after 1,000 cycles of flexing back and forth. They could also easily fold these sheets into battery packs.

In the future, Zhang said he and his colleagues will explore lightweight flexible coatings for these batteries to protect them from corrosion.

Zhang and his colleagues detailed their findings in the Dec. 22 issue of the journal Advanced Materials.

Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
A gigantic mushroom cloud billowed over Nagasaki, Japan, when an atomic bomb was dropped on the city in 1945.

The world is still 3 minutes to doomsday.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists chose not to move the hands of the "Doomsday Clock," which tracks how close humanity is to a global catastrophe. The clock was updated to 11:57 p.m. in January of last year.

"The clock remains at the closest to the brink since 1983, when U.S.-Russian tensions were also at their iciest," Lawrence Krauss, a chair of the Bulletin Board of Sponsors and the director of the Origins Project at Arizona State University, said on behalf of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists at a press briefing on Tuesday (Jan. 26).

Despite some bright spots, including the signing of a historic climate-change agreement in Paris and a nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran, other geopolitical factors weigh against moving the hands of the clock back, scientists said.

For instance, tensions between Pakistan and India remain at a flash point, and both countries have significant nuclear arsenals. The bulletin also cited the worsening relations between the U.S. and Russia, as well as their programs to modernize their nuclear weapons arsenals. Continued icy relations between the U.S. and North Korea also factored into the decision not to move the clock hands farther from disaster, the scientists said. [End of the World? Top Doomsday Fears]

Worrying trend

The Doomsday Clock doesn't make any prognostications about the actual coming of doomsday. Rather, the clock is a metaphor to illustrate how close humanity is to a global calamity, inspired both by the notion of midnight as the apocalypse and the "countdown to zero" language used before detonating a nuclear weapon. Failure to act on threats such as nuclear proliferation and global warming can spur scientists to push the clock hands forward, while scientists can turn back the clock on future catastrophe when conditions change for the better.

Though the climate change agreement reached in Paris late last year are one of the few bright spots cited by the scientists, the agreement is voluntary, and it's too early to say whether nations involved will honor their commitments, Sivan Kartha, a member of the bulletin's Science and Security Board and a senior scientist and climate change expert at the Stockholm Environment Institute, said at the meeting.

"Even if all countries do meet their voluntary commitments, global emissions will continue to grow, rather than sharply decline, as will be needed to meet the 2 degree goal," Kartha said, referring to a goal of keeping Earth's warming below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels  a commitment many scientists believe is necessary to prevent the most serious effects of climate change.

Another worrying trend is the United States' and Russia's push to "modernize" their nuclear weapons arsenals. Both superpowers have plans to spend billions of dollars creating weapons more suited for modern warfare, including nuclear-tipped weapons capable of penetrating underground bunkers, scientists said at the news conference.

"The dangers are greater than during the Cold War," William Perry, a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and former U.S. Secretary of Defense, said at the news conference.

Past changes

The Doomsday Clock has been updated 22 times in the past 68 years. In January 2015, the group of scientists ticked the minute hand forward to three-minutes to midnight. Prior to that, the Doomsday Clock sat at 11:55 p.m.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was formed in December 1945, after the U.S. dropped atomics bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, leveling large swaths of the cities and killing at least 85,000 people instantly. The group was made up of former Manhattan Project physicists who hoped to warn the public about the dangers of nuclear weapons. The Doomsday Clock came into existence in 1947.

Since the clock was first conceived, humanity has been metaphorical minutes away from total world destruction. The clock debuted in 1947 at just seven minutes to midnight, and in 1953, the clock shifted forward to 11:58 p.m. after the two superpowers first tested the H-bomb. After the Soviet bloc collapsed and the U.S. and Russia signed the first nuclear disarmament treaty, the group's optimism spurred it to turn the Doomsday Clock all the way back to 11:47 p.m.

Follow Tia Ghose on Twitterand Google+. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
COMBINED strike action by taxi drivers and air traffic control is causing disruption to journeys across the country today.

Civil servants are also staging a walkout against pay and conditions, while teachers are striking against education reforms in primaire and college.

Taxis

Taxi drivers are protesting against what they claim is unfair competition from voitures de transport avec chauffeur(VTC) - services like moto taxis and other companies such as Allocab, Chauffeur-Prive, Cinq-S, Marcel, SnapCar or Uber.

Traffic is disrupted on the peripherique around Paris, where protesters have thrown burning tyres into the road.

There are also blockages at Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly airports plus go-slow disruptions along the A7 at Marseille and in Toulouse.

The VTC transport group Liberty Trans claims stones have been thrown at moto taxi drivers at Porte Maillot, where protesters are currently gathering.

Des pneus brulent sur le peripherique #PorteMaillot pic.twitter.com/CfMyOKhyJQ Paul Louis (@paul_louis11) January 26, 2016

Air Traffic Control:

Airlines say that they have already contacted passengers by text advising them of whether they are travelling.

The French Civil Aviation Authority has asked airlines to cut 20% of flights going to or from from Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, Lyon and Nantes.

Ryanair:

Has a list of cancelled flights here.

Easyjet:

Check your flight using their flight tracker.

Air France:

The airline said it is operating

-all of its long haul flights

-80% of short and medium haul flights

More information here

British Airways:

Latest information and flight tracker here.

EU document on your passenger rights here.

Teachers:

Around one third of teachers in maternelles and elementaires are expected to be on strike, plus teachers in college - they are protesting for better pay deals and against education reforms.

The worst-hit departments are: Haute-Garonne, Haut-Rhin, Seine-et-Marne and Seine-Saint-Denis

Civil service:

Some 5.6 million civil servants (fonctionnaires) could be off work today. They are protesting against pay freezes or low salary rises that have been in place since 2010, plus the loss of jobs in key sectors of public service, such as the loss of 150,000 posts in education since 2007.

All Caisse d'allocations familiales (Caf) public offices are expected to be shut today.

Rail

Two regional rail strikes are also taking place today, in Aquitaine and Poitou-Charentes

TER Aquitaine

TER Poitou-Charentes

Plus a derailed maintenance train is blocking all trains between Nice and Monaco in both directions.
To the editor:

As a proud American, I would encourage everyone in our community to watch the film titled 13 Hours.

You will gain the greatest appreciation and respect for our military and ex-military who work these security jobs.

You will also become aware of the sacrifice they make to keep us and American interests abroad safe.

You will learn the truth about Benghazi as told by these ex-military men who where on the ground fighting and experiencing the life or death situations.

They said in the movie, that there never was any video, nor was there ever a protest.

It was a full attack by these militias of radicals.

It is heart-wrenching to watch the movie and to know that the Ambassador, according to Mrs. Clintons emails, had requested extra security 600 plus times.

This was because of the danger that he and all the civilians working at the Embassy and at the Annex were in.

Yet, this woman who did nothing wants to be President of the United States.

It is heart-breaking to remember the caskets of those who died in this conflict, were unloaded at Dover air force base and this administration continued the fallacy of blaming this tragedy on a video.

We had just lost our Ambassador because of the failure of this administration to act like leaders.

They behaved like cowards by watching everything happen in real time and doing nothing.

Had it not been for 6 courageous heroes who took it upon themselves to lay their lives on the line, everyone would have been killed.

The families of those killed, who came to pay their last respects to their loved ones, were each told that this administration would make the person responsible for this video accountable.

The administration continued with this dishonest rhetoric on all the networks.

During the hearings, Hillary Clinton stated, What difference does it make?

How would you feel if she was speaking about your family members?

You see this is how important our military and veterans are to her.

In my opinion, she can never be president when 60 percent of Americans think she is untrustworthy.

What do you think of the fact that this administration took all measures to secure the release of Berghdal; yet, they abandoned and allowed our Ambassador to be murdered?

Before you cast your vote, know the truth about Benghazi and watch the movie that I mentioned.

America cannot afford another mistake.

This president, through his executive orders, has violated many of our Constitutional rights and inherent rights.

He has done this with his immigration policy and his gun control policy in my opinion.

Sincerely,

John Stabile
Tech & Science, Seasonal & Current Events

By Chris Boyle Published: January 26 2016

Breathtaking planetary conjunction visible to naked eye taking place over the next month, says Stony Brook Astronomy Professor.

Stonybrook, NY - Jan. 22, 2016 - People interested in celestial phenomena will find their hands full for the next month or so, as a fascinating event  one that only occurs once ever decade or two  will be unfolding in the skies over Long Island.

From now until approximately February 20, the pre-dawn sky will be a showcase for five planets of our solar system  Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter  which will actually be visible to any casual observer, according to Stony Brook University Astronomy Professor Fredrick Walter.

This is a conjunction of planets that you can all see with the naked eye, all five of them, he said. The planets all orbit the Sun in a flat plane, as does the Earth; hence, the planets all seem to move across the sky in a line known as the ecliptic. The planets all move along the ecliptic at different rates, and sometimes, in rare instances, they end up on the same side of our sky.

Professor Walter has been teaching at Stony Brook since 1989; he notes that hes been interested in Astronomy as far back as he can remember, starting with an early fascination with the United States space program as a child.

I grew up in the 1960s, and I remember listening on the radio about the Mercury astronauts and things like that I had wanted to be an astronaut, but I suppose everybody wants to be one at some point, he said. When I got older, I got an undergraduate degree in Physics and a PhD in Astronomy, and then became a teacherit was a lot of fun, so I kept on doing it.

Walter explained that the reason for the rarity of this current conjunction of planets is due to the radically different orbits of all the planets involved.

They are all different distances from the sun and theyre all moving around the sun at different velocities Saturn is the slowest, but they all get faster the closer theyre moving towards the sun, he said. So, in order for them to be in the same part of the sky, theyve all got to catch up with one another. It takes 10-20 years for all of their orbits to synchronize in such a way that theyre all visible at oncethats why its a rare phenomenon.

As for actually viewing the event, Walter noted the main time to see it is right before dawn, with the planet Mercury being the most difficult to spot due to its proximity to the sun; the rest of the planets, he said, are fairly easy to spot, particularly Mars by its distinct redness.

Youll want to look maybe an hour, or a half-hour before sunrisethe early morning. Its cold, its dark, but thats when you can see the planets, he said. There are no planets visible in the evening sky right nowtheyre all in the morning sky. Its just the current alignments and where they are, but next year that will changethen, they will be in the evening sky.

In order to spot the planets within the conjunction Walter notes viewers must wait until Mercury comes over the horizon, given that it is the most difficult to see; binoculars can help in this instance, he said, although its still perfectly visible to the naked eye.

In addition, for your viewing pleasure, Walter suggests an occasional road trip upstate for optimal sky conditions, although stargazing can still be quite effective even in your own suburban backyard.

The best thing you can do to see the sly is to go to a dark placeget off of Long Island, get away from New York City, so up to the Catskill or the Adirondack mountains, and youll be astounded at the number of stars you can see, he said. However, you can still see the conjunction just fine from Long Island as well you just need a clear horizon and clear skies. Itll look the same from basically anywhere, but the difference is that upstate you can see thousands of stars as well, whereas on Long Island on a good night usually only a hundred or so are visible.

While this conjunction of planets will surely make for an impressive sight, Walter noted that  for those will a bit of patience  an even more breathtaking display of planets will be taking place just a wee bit further into the future.

This isnt a particularly great conjunction as far as they go yes, all five planets are visible, but theyre all separated by 120 degrees, so theyre spread out over a third of the sky, he said. If you wait until September of 2040, all five naked eye planets will all be within eight degrees of each other. But regardless, this current conjunction is still quite spectacular.

For Astronomy buffs, Walter said that this isnt the end of the fun; meteor showers tend to be visible several times every year, and an amazing solar eclipse is due to hit in August of 2017.

Theres always something happening in the sky, he said.
School & Education, Local News, Business & Finance, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: January 26 2016

Suffolk County Legislator Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) recently participated in a meeting of the Lindenhurst High School Business Advisory Board (BAB).

Lindenhurst, NY - January 25, 2016 - Suffolk County Legislator Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) recently participated in a meeting of the Lindenhurst High School Business Advisory Board (BAB). The breakfast meeting took place in the schools library, and it was attended by student leaders, teachers, and various members of the local Chamber of Commerce.

The Business Advisory Board was created to build a stronger relationship between the school and business community in order to create career exploration opportunities for tomorrows workforce. In addition to establishing a vibrant network with the community and spearheading a number of programs, the BAB works vigorously to make the schools curriculum meet the needs and expectations of the 21st century workplace.

Legislator Kevin McCaffrey addresses the meeting.

With all of the major advances in science and technology, todays students will be provided with opportunities never dreamt of before, said McCaffrey. In order to ensure that tomorrows graduates have the knowledge and tools that they will need to succeed, we have to do all that we can to provide a solid educational and experiential foundation.

Underscoring the rapid changes in todays economy, one of the speakers mentioned that those in kindergarten today may have jobs in the future that do not even exist yet. This is something that could be a little unsettling to some at first, but todays educators are ahead of the curve and meeting the challenges head-on.

Our day-to-day lives are changing, as are the trades and professions, added McCaffrey. It only makes sense that the manner in which we prepare our young adults for their future careers changes as well.

To learn more about the Lindenhurst School District, particularly their current events and cutting-edge programs, those interested are encouraged to visit their website.

Legislator McCaffrey represents Suffolk Countys 14th Legislative District which encompasses the Village of Lindenhurst, Babylon Village, the hamlets of West Babylon and North Lindenhurst, portions of Copiague, North Babylon, and Babylons barrier beach communities.
Nature & Weather, Local News, Health & Wellness, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: January 26 2016

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman to immediately share data from their monitoring wells with all affected Long Island Water Districts. Schumer is urging the Navy and ...

Long Island, NY - January 25, 2016 - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman to immediately share data from their monitoring wells with all affected Long Island Water Districts. Schumer is urging the Navy and Northrop Grumman to work closely with these water districts in order to define the reach of the plume and to remediate it.

In November, the Massapequa Water District requested access to the wells in order to perform an isotope analysis on water from the Superfund site in Bethpage. The Water District wanted to test whether the contaminated water had the same chemical composition as the water in the monitoring wells. As of December, the Navy and Northrop Grumman were still reviewing the Water Districts request. Schumer said that the Massapequa Water District should be allowed to access this data, especially because the plume is slowly making its way towards Massapequa.

Schumer today called for more transparency and information sharing between the U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman and all Water Districts affected by the plume. Schumer explained that the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman are responsible for providing the resources needed to proactively manage the plume before it spreads to additional drinking wells.

The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman must stop stonewalling and start sharing when it comes to information about potentially carcinogenic chemicals like TCE that show up in nearby monitoring wells and potentially threaten Long Islanders precious drinking water supply. They must be more forthcoming when it comes to information needed to help remediate the Bethpage plume and they need to be more proactive in cleaning up the mess they made said Senator Schumer. Once again, the Navy and Northrop Grumman have made things even more difficult for the Long Island Water Districts and ratepayers. Every day they fail to promptly share critical information is another day when this plume could creep closer to drinking water supplies. These impacted communities need and deserve timely information about the extent and content of the plume, and they need the Navy and Northrup Grumman to do more to remediate this toxic threat.

At the press conference Assemblyman Joseph Saladino said, It is obvious that the foot-dragging is an attempt by the responsible parties to stall the cleanup process and avoid the financial responsibility of removing the plume. Each day this plume moves, increasing in size and contaminating uncontaminated portions of our precious and finite water supply. During WWII and through the Vietnam War, Long Islanders were there for our American government and the protection of our countrys freedom. Its about time that the Navy, Grumman and our nation are here for us. Clean water is too precious for this stalling. Turn over the data, clean up the plume once and for all and do it now!



The responsible parties continue to show a lack of urgency in remediating and preventing additional impacts to public supply wells. In the Navy and Grumman response letters to Massapequa Water Districts CSIA sampling request, they continue to deflect responsibility and place an added financial burden on the water suppliers and tax payers, said Massapequa Water Commissioner Raymond Averna.

There are at least two plumes within the Bethpage community caused by the U.S. Navys decades-long operation of a Naval Weapons Production Facility. While there have been efforts to mitigate the effects of the plume, these efforts have continued to fall short, said Schumer. Specifically, elevated levels of a potential carcinogen, trichloroethylene (TCE), an industrial solvent used at the former defense plant, was found in the area. Just recently, the Massapequa Water District requested data from the monitoring wells in an effort to protect the drinking water for the community they serve. But it has taken months for the Navy to review this request. Schumer said that all affected water districts should be granted access to data from these monitoring wells to help manage and prevent the spread of the plume. Senator Schumer was joined by New York State Assemblyman Joseph Saladino, who has consistently championed the issue of protecting ground water from the plume and passed legislation forcing the NYS DEC to prepare the data needed to effectively contain and clean up these dangerous chemicals.

The U.S. Navy operated a Naval Weapons Production Facility for decades beginning in the 1930s, which has resulted in at least 2 plumes containing chemicals classified as carcinogens. Since 1976, when contamination concerns were first identified, the plume has spread and is currently threatening over 20 additional public drinking wells that serve over 250,000 Nassau County residents in Bethpage, Levittown, Massapequa, South Farmingdale and Wantagh.

There are at least two plumes currently within the Bethpage community, and contaminants were detected in five of the eight wells operated by Bethpage Water District. The first plume originated from the Grumman Aerospace Corporation and Navy manufacturing facilities, and the smaller plume is associated with the Bethpage Community Park where Grumman and the Navy disposed of wastes. The Bethpage Water District currently has 8,800 customers. Hot spots were recently discovered between Bethpage Water District Plant 6 and the GM 75 hotspot. Elevated levels of a potential carcinogen, trichloroethylene (TCE), were found in the groundwater 1,700 feet away from a Bethpage drinking water well. TCE is an industrial solvent and was used at the former defense plant in Bethpage, which was operated by Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy.
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
The video portrays French forces in Mali as Western Crusaders.

In a low-quality video released earlier last week, Ansar Dine, a largely Tuareg front group for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), highlights its coordinated assault on a Tuareg separatist group in northern Mali last month. The separatist group, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), previously worked with Ansar Dine and other al Qaeda groups to take over Malis north in 2012.

The video begins with archival footage of the French intervention in Mali in early 2013 before sending a message to the MNLA. It was the message of the mujahideen in this clear-cut war that the first target was the invading Crusaders and with them the invading Malian army and the groups that profess national defense on the land, of whom holds clear hostility against the mujahideen. The statement continues by saying that it was our position with them to unite in neutrality, not targeting them unless they subjected us or opposed our path.

It then shifts to showing the preparation and then execution of the assault on the MNLA-held town of Talhandak, close to the Algerian border. The jihadists are shown attacking the town with technicals (armed pickup trucks), variants of the AK-47 assault rifle, light machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). The last few minutes of the video shows the jihadists collecting their spoils of weapons and then burning a truck that belonged to the MNLA.

According to the video, 11 members of the MNLA were killed in the operation. Additionally, four vehicles were burned, two were captured, and Ansar Dine took control of the town after four hours of the battle. The capture of Talhandak was reportedly confirmed by Sahara Media last month.

The assault on the MNLA was originally claimed on behalf of Ansar Dine by AQIM, al Qaedas official branch in North Africa, late last month. According to a statement released by AQIM and later translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, the jihadist group said it targeted a local agent of the Crusaders known as Trawa Trawa, who heads the so-called internal security cells funded by France in northern Mali to fight Islam and the Muslims. In the same statement, AQIM warned the MNLA to stop working with the Crusaders. [See LWJ report, Al Qaeda group strikes in northern Mali.]

The attack and subsequent video come as tensions between Ansar Dine and separatist Tuareg groups have escalated. According to some reports, Ansar Dine and the MNLA have officially declared war on each other and the two have seen other clashes and kidnappings of members of their respective groups. One MNLA source told Jeune Afrique that the group has been able to seize 16 vehicles and around 60 motorcycles from Ansar Dine, as well as a plethora of weapons, ammunition and cell phones since 2014.

Sporadic conflicts have been reported since last year. For instance, on Jan. 26, 2015, AQIM said it assassinated a senior MNLA official in his home near Tessalit. A week before that, two MNLA fighters were killed in an IED attack, which is suspected to have been perpetrated by al Qaeda. On March 2, 2015, three MNLA fighters were killed in another IED attack near Kidal. And while the assault in Talhandak was occurring, Ansar Dine ambushed a convoy of MNLA fighters near Kidal who were reportedly attempting to reinforce the besieged fighters further north. [For more information, see this map of al Qaeda-linked attacks in Mali made by The Long War Journal.]

Screenshots from the video:

Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

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.
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Go 'Beyond the Bedroom' with Van Gogh and Waldorf Astoria Chicago



Two VIP tickets to The Bedroom exhibition, allowing guests to forgo lines



Complimentary cocktails for two at the hotel's intimate Bernard's Bar



Breakfast for two to enjoy at Balsan or in-room dining



Special souvenir door handle card, beautifully designed with the namesake painting from the exhibition



In celebration of this historic event, Waldorf Astoria Chicago is offering guests the complete fine art experience in the hotel room and beyond with the The Bedroom package . Available February 15  May 9, 2016, this artfully crafted package includes*:Van Gogh's The Bedroom exhibition features 36 works by the artist and engaging interactive presentations, including a digitally enhanced reconstruction of his bedroom, allowing visitors the chance to experience his state of mind and the physical reality of the space that inspired him. The exhibition provides an in-depth study of the artist and his relentless quest for home, specifically his beloved bedroom in Arles, France  arguably the most famous bedroom in the history of art.To toast the partnership, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago has also created a specialty cocktail, The Vincent, which will be available at Bernard's Bar. Made with vodka, yellow chartreuse, absinthe and lemon juice, this cocktail is inspired by the artist's love affair with absinthe and the Yellow House in Arles, France, home to the bedrooms.As an additional nod to Van Gogh, Waldorf Astoria Chicago will be offering a one-of-a-kind interactive painting party in collaboration with Bottle and Bottega on Thursday, February 4, 6-9 p.m. ($50 per person). Guests are invited to recreate one of the artist's best known paintings and take an epic journey through Van Gogh's exquisitely executed and inspiring masterpiece accompanied by sharp angles and bold contrasting colors. Please visit EventBrite for more information on tickets.Located in Chicago's historic Gold Coast neighborhood, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago boasts an array of luxurious amenities, including expansive guest rooms and suites with gorgeous interiors, elegant fireplaces and pristine marble bathrooms, in addition to the award-winning Waldorf Astoria Spa & Health Club with an indoor pool, fitness center and DreamDry salon.Waldorf Astoria Chicago participates in Hilton HHonors, the only guest loyalty program where guests who book directly through www.waldorfastoria.com have access to benefits including digital check-in, choose your room, and complimentary Wi-Fi at over 20 Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts worldwide.To learn more about or experience the Waldorf Astoria Chicago, please visit Waldorf Astoria Chicago *The package starts at $425. Terms & Conditions apply. The VIP ticket admits guests on any date and includes additional exhibition fee. Breakfast is valued at $70.
The common notion has been that every year wed get a new iPhone refresh, but 2016 may be the exception. Turns out that this year we could get two new iPhones. The first one up is the rumored iPhone 5se, an enhanced replacement of the 4-inch iPhone 5s, thats reportedly set to come out this spring.

To help make sense of the chaotic hearsay, were collecting every rumor that has surfaced about the iPhone 5se, from its reported specs to its guesstimated release date, and everything in betweenas well as tried to discern the plausibly of each rumor.

Heres what (we think) we know so far.

Whats the latest?

The rumor: The alleged new iPhone was allegedly spotted at some tiny kiosk in Huaqiangbei Shenzhen China, a place this video on the Nick Beeep YouTube channel refers to as the Silicon Valley of Hardware (and its OK if your brain made air quotes around that, as the video hostess makes them too). The video shows a phone that looks pretty much exactly like the iPhone 6s, but smaller.

Plausible? Not so much. Most damning is that the iPhone doesnt turn on. But the color is also offas if Jony and the team wouldnt insist on an exact match with the rose gold devices already on the market. Not to mention the improbability of a genuine iPhone SE being viewable at this little hole in the wall by anyone who walks up and says hi, just one week before its expected to be announced on stage. But heres the video anywayyou know, for entertainment purposes only.

Wait, is this the iPhone SE or the iPhone 5se?

The rumor: According to 9to5Mac, Apple is likely to drop the 5 from the name of this new 4-inch iPhone, and it will simply be called the iPhone SE. This will be the first time an iPhone upgrade doesnt have a number in its name. And 9to5Mac is assuming that this would remove the iPhone SE from the yearly upgrade cycle.

Plausible? If Apple is looking to launch an entirely new line of smaller iPhones with this model, it makes sense that the company would start from zero. And having an iPhone branded as 5 next to the more recent 6s models and coming up on the iPhone 7 might make this smaller iPhone seem like an outdated device. But what if its a major success, will Apple upgrade it to an iPhone 2 SE next year and start a new naming trend? Dropping the number from the iPhone name seems to raise more questions than it answers about Apples forthcoming plans for iPhones of all different sizes.

How closely will it resemble the iPhone 5s?

The rumor: The iPhone 5se will look almost identical to the iPhone 5s, but with a few slight differences, one casemaker told 9to5Mac. While both phones are more petite than the 6s and 6s Plus at 4 inches, the 5ses edges and glass are reportedly more curved than the 5sthough not so much that they wont fit into cases designed for its pint-sized predecessor. The new phone will come in silver, gold, space gray, and rose gold.

Rumor has it Apple has also moved the power button on the 5se from the top, where it is on the 5s, to the side, where it is on the 6 and 6s-series phones.

Plausible? We dont usually trust casemaker sources, because it would be unlike Apple to share product information with them before the public launch. Also, were not sure how a 5s case designed with a top power button in mind could fit a 5se with a power button on the side.

But other sources have said that the 5se will look more like a 5s than a 4-inch 6s, which is kind of disappointingwed love to see a thin, curved 6s mini.

Which chip will power the iPhone 5se?

The rumor: When it comes to processing power, we may have originally underestimated this little iPhone. After previously reporting that the iPhone 5se will boast A8 and M8 chips, like the iPhone 6, 9to5Mac is now saying that it will have the faster A9 and M9 chips, like the iPhone 6s. Or at least a variant of those newer chips.

Plausible? The reason Apple is choosing to upgrade the iPhone 5se with A9 chips is because the iPhone 7 will most likely have an A10 processor. And it makes sense that they wouldnt want their iPhone 5se to be behind by two generations in just a few months when the 7 comes out. Ah yes, the iPhone 7 rumors are starting already, too, but thats another story

Will it include always-on Siri?

The rumor: One of the perks of adding faster processors to the iPhone 5se is the ability to incorporate the always-on Hey Siri functionality. Hey Siri lets you access Siri by simply calling out her name and without having to press down on the Home button or having to plug in the device.

Plausible? Apple wants to keep making Siri smarter and more proactive, so we can expect for Hey Siri to become a standard feature on all their devices. If the iPhone 5se has the M9 chip needed for an always-on Siri, then its totally worth it to incorporate it.

How much storage will it have?

The rumor: The lowest-costing iPhone 5se model will start out with an abysmal capacity of 16GB. But for the next step up, Apple is reportedly doubling the capacity from 32GB to 64GB, like how they did with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Plausible? Weve been waiting for Apple to get rid of 16GB as a starting iPhone capacity, but given that the iPhone 5se is intended as an affordable alternative, it figures that it the starting model only has 16GB.

When will it come out?

The rumor: According to 9to5Mac, Apple is planning to introduce the new iPhone 5se during a media event on or around March 15. During said event Apple is also rumored to introduce new Apple Watch bands and the iPad Air 3. Shipping for iPhone 5se could start as soon as late March or early April.

Plausible? The original rumor was that Apple would introduce a new 4-inch iPhone in February. Now the rumor is mid-March, so the official date is still up in the air, especially if Apple faces any setbacks in the production schedule. However, the late March/early April timeframe seems to be a sweet spot for Apple product launches.

How much will it cost?

The rumor: 9to5Macs sources say that the cost of the current iPhone 5s will be assumed by the new model, which means the iPhone 5se will cost the same. Currently the iPhone 5s costs $450 for an unlocked 16GB model, and $499 for 32GBalthough, again, that higher price could be bumped up a little if the iPhone 5se comes in 16GB and 64GB sizes. To compare, an unlocked iPhone 6s costs $649 for 16GB, $749 for 64GB, and $849 for 128GB.

Plausible? If Apple is looking to make the iPhone 5se a budget-friendly option for people who think the iPhone is way too expensive, then it makes sense that it would be priced exactly the same as a three-year-old model.

Why is it called the iPhone 5se?

The rumor: Apple employees have been told that the se stands for either special edition or enhanced version of the iPhone 5s.

Plausible? Apple has never been consistent about what the s stands for in its iPhone modelsthe 3GS stood for speed and the 4s for Siri, for exampleso this rumor will probably never be confirmed or denied. Lets just say the se will be forever open to interpretation.

What are some of the other features?

The rumor: According to 9to5Mac, the iPhone 5se will sport an 8-megapixel camera, an NFC chip for Apple Pay and will be able to take Live Photos. It will reportedly lack 3D Touch capabilities, however.

Plausible? Apple wants to expand Apple Pay, so why wouldnt it be incorporated in a new iPhone model? And iPhones are now the most popular camera in the world, so you bet upgraded photo-taking features would seal the deal for some people.

Will I still be able to get the iPhone 5s?

The rumor: No. The iPhone 5se is set to replace the iPhone 5s. Rumor has it that it will also replace the iPhone 6 once the iPhone 7 comes out. At the end of this year, your iPhone choices will be the iPhone 5se, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, and the new iPhone 7 models.

Plausible? Its been three years since the iPhone 5s came out, so this upgrade is the perfect time to kick that model to the curb. About that iPhone 6 and 6 Plus getting replaced though, were not sure if people are ready to let them go (especially if they are discounted more than the s models).
2015 was the year when Scandinavia took two major steps towards full harmonisation of validation formalities in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway regarding translation requirements and payment of fixed fees rather than fees depending on the number of pages of a validated patent.

Re translation requirements, the major event was, of course, that the London Agreement entered into force for Norway on January 1 2015, meaning that, from then on, only the claims are to be translated into Norwegian for European patents granted after that date.

Another step re translation requirements took effect on April 1 2015 for Denmark and Norway and harmonised all the Scandinavian countries: if the language of proceedings of the European patent is English, only the translated parts are to be filed. If it is German or French, the specification is to be translated into English or the relevant national language and is to be filed along with the national-language translation of the claims.

Re fixed fees, Norway and Denmark introduced, on April 1 2015, fixed fees for validations, meaning that the fee payable no longer depends on the number of pages filed. Sweden led the way in this respect already when joining the London Agreement in 2008 and introduced a fixed publication fee covering a basic fee for publication of translation.

However, full harmonisation of fixed fees is still missing on one point: in Sweden the fixed fee applies only to the first eight pages, and a fee for publication of each started page of the application beyond the first eight pages remains.

The harmonisation of translation requirements and fixed fees provides two substantial advantages to European patent owners. It is now much easier to use one entry into Scandinavia and much less expensive to validate in Scandinavia.

Ina Bjerre Larsen

ZaccoArne Jacobsens Alle 15DK-2300 Copenhagen S DenmarkTel: +45 39 48 80 00Fax: +45 39 48 80 80contact@zacco.comwww.zacco.com
2015 was an eventful year for the IP regime in Singapore. Many IP milestone events occurred in 2015, especially in the patents sector. The accessibility, interoperability and quality of the IP landscape in Singapore can be seen in this summary of important 2015 events.

At the start of 2015, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and Cambodia's Ministry of Industry and Handicraft (MIH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding whereby patents and industrial designs can enjoy IP protection in Cambodia via filing in Singapore at IPOS. Then, businesses and inventors in Singapore and China obtained greater protection, exploitation and commercialisation of intellectual property through the establishment of an IPOS Representative Office in Guangzhou, China in April 2015 at a Trilateral Meeting in Guangzhou affirming the joint commitment between IPOS, the State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO) and the Guangdong Provincial People's Government to develop the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (SSGKC) into a model zone for IP cooperation between China and Singapore.

On September 1 2015, Singapore reached an important milestone towards becoming an IP hub of Asia when IPOS began operations as ASEAN's first International Patent Search and Examination Authority under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), joining a select group of 19 IP offices worldwide (and becoming the fifth in Asia after China, India, Japan and Korea) that have been appointed as international authorities for the PCT. This means that local and global businesses and inventors are able to fast track their applications for patent protection in multiple markets via Singapore. Patent applicants are able to experience faster turnaround times for a first office action and rebates of up to 75% when filing a PCT application through IPOS. In October 2015, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) of Indonesia and Thailand appointed IPOS as a competent International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) for patent applications entering their respective markets under the PCT. Innovators in Singapore and Singapore-based technology companies now have cost-efficient access to a growing list of markets when they utilise the patent search and examination services provided by IPOS-International. This is in addition to the patent prosecution highways offered by Singapore that expedite patent applications in over 30 countries, including key economies such as Europe, China, Japan, Korea and ASEAN.

In a more recent update, Tang Heng Shim Daren was appointed as chief executive (CE) of IPOS on November 16 2015. He succeeds Tan Yih San, who has served as chief executive since June 2011. In his previous position at IPOS, Mr. Tang oversaw the Registries Cluster, the development of Singapores IP regulatory regime and was responsible for all international IP negotiations, including negotiations at WIPO and in free trade agreements.

Singapore is shaping up to become an IP hub in Asia and internationally with the flurry of events in the year 2015. More of such bilateral agreements and cooperation between IPOS and other countries are expected in the year 2016 as Singapore establishes itself as a centre for innovation and creativity in the IP industry in Asia and throughout the world.

Daniel Collopy Rico Teo

Spruson & Ferguson (Asia) Pte Ltd152 Beach Road#37-05/06 Gateway EastSingapore 189721Tel: +65 6333 7200Fax: +65 6333 7222mail.asia@spruson.comwww.spruson.com
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Hate to break it to you, but your leg hair isn't all that different to his facial fluff. So why are we paying 37% more for razors to remove it? We caught up with Sexist Surcharge campaigner Stevie Wise to find out what we can do...

On the off chance you haven't signed this petition to eliminate the #SexistSurcharge (the one that means women pay more than men for pretty-much-exactly-the-same products), you should probably do it now.

Yep, whether you've realised it or not, items targeted towards women tend to cost around 37 per cent more than they do for men.

And now, after a week of campaigning, Boots have put out a statement about the #SexistSurcharge.

'This review has reassured us that the two reported examples, Boots disposable razors and Botanics eye roll on, are indeed exceptional cases which do not completely meet our principles and we have taken action to correct these with immediate effect.'

And while you're staring at your purse in disbelief / screaming 'IS THAT WHY I'M BROKE ALL THE TIME?!' at the pink razor that's currently congealed to the side of your bathtub, we caught up with Stevie Wise, 29, who created the petition last week, to find out what we can do to take things even further...

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO START THE PETITION?

Just over a year ago I had my hair cut very short and I soon noticed that, although my hair was now as short as most men's hair, I was being charged 45 for cuts while men were paying just 20 in the same salon, with the same stylist. I asked if I could be charged at the men's rate and they said no. The reason? Simply because I'm a woman - that's just how it works.

So I wasn't surprised when the Times published research last week showing that women are charged more than men for equivalent goods and services on our high streets, but the sheer scale of this was truly shocking to me - the fact that woman are being charged on average 37% more for the same stuff is an absolute scandal, particularly in a context in which women earn on average 9.4% less than men in similar roles - a pay gap based on gender that is showing little sign of narrowing.

The Fawcett Society called this a "sexist surcharge" and in my view, that's exactly what it is, and combined with the gender pay gap it means that as women, we suffer the double whammy of being paid less and charged more. How that that be right in 2016?

So I started the petition because I wanted to start a conversation about it and hopefully, help to start making a change.

WHAT HAS THE REACTION BEEN LIKE?

Honestly, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. The petition has a very clear campaign aim in response to an issue which is very clearly wrong - and that seems to have been reflected in the response. There has been some negative feedback; I've received the odd critical tweet - and ignored a couple of sexist ones. Someone I don't know added me on Facebook today and when I looked at his profile, he had just shared my petition and called me a moron! I'm not sure why he thought we'd be good friends!

The main criticism is based solely on razors - "if you don't want to pay more buy the cheaper ones", or even worse "if you're stupid enough to buy the pink ones then you deserve everything you get."

My response to that is two-fold: firstly, many women have no idea that buying "men's products" is even an option, or that they're cheaper - they go straight to the women's products and look straight at those. How would they even know how much the men's ones cost? Worse still, these things are marketed to us as if they contain magical, women-only ingredients or are made of materials that only work on women's skin. For the most part it's just not true, and it's dishonest for companies like Boots to continually allow women to think that's the case, simply to line their own pockets.

Secondly, this is about much more than razors. Selling 8 razors to women for 2.29 and 10 to men for just 1.49 is indeed outrageous - I don't apologise for that message and Boots must know that is wrong - but the critics are fixated on this one example. It makes the issue seem trivial, but it is so far from trivial; it's endemic.

What about the clothing and the hair cuts and the dry cleaning? The moisturiser, the perfume, the underwear? Calvin Klein sell their plain white pants at 12 a pair for men and 18 a pair for women, despite the women's pants using less fabric and having fewer seams. Where are these choices that women are supposed to have? It is wrong that Boots sell razors at a far higher cost to women than to men, but this is not just about razors, and it is disingenuous to dismiss the campaign by saying that it is.

HOW MANY SIGNATURES DO YOU WANT TO GET?

How long is a piece of string?! I woke up on Monday to 4000 signatures and was absolutely delighted - what an achievement for just four days of campaigning. At lunchtime the same day, I almost fell off my chair to discover this had jumped to 14,000 signatures in just a couple of hours. It's now on well over 30,000 and rising all the time. 30,000 people who want to challenge sexist pricing on our high streets is absolutely wonderful - but of course, I'd love to hear from even more people. Every person who signs is another person who will make Simon Roberts and other CEOs listen, and that is a wonderful thing.

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN CAMPAIGNING OR IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME?

In 2010, as a student at Edinburgh University, I ran a campaign which won two awards from the National Union of Students the following year. We lobbied our local Liberal Democrat MP to vote against increased tuition fees and mobilised 2000 students to write letters to him in just two days. We delivered the letters to his office in huge ring binders - it was hard work but really fun! He eventually did vote against the proposals, which was a huge success for us, even if ultimately it wasn't enough to stop tuition fees increasing.

I now work in a students' union and support students to run their own campaigns - they're currently campaigning to improve the cost and quality of housing in London ahead of the upcoming Mayoral election. I love working with passionate people who care about things enough to do something about them and while I'm nervous about all of the things that come with running a campaign like this - the inevitable twitter bullying and losing a lot of the spare time I used to enjoy - it's absolutely worth it if it means we can start to move closer to equality for women.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT 'CLICKTIVISM' AND ONLINE PETITIONS FOR CHANGE?

The internet has opened up all sorts of doors for people to share information and express their views and I think that's a wonderful thing. It helps us hold politicians to account, understand our world better and ultimately is helping to bring about social change. I think the idea that 'clicktivism' is somehow a lesser form of activism is wrong - we need to know what people think about things and we need to recognise that people want to say what they think in a way that works for them.

30,000 people have told the world that they think sexist pricing is wrong - and many of them have left comments to explain why this is. My favourite so far is "I'm an old man, but I've always been a feminist". I learn something from every single comment, and every single click. It's a conversation - people are telling us that they agree and they want to be heard. If only 1% of the people who have signed this petition join me and my friends in doing something more practical, that's ok, because we know they're behind us.

HOW CAN SUPPORTERS GET INVOLVED - OTHER THAN BY SIGNING THE PETITION?

The first thing is to say a massive thanks to everyone who has signed and shared the petition, with particular thanks to the Fawcett Society for supporting the campaign.

After that... good question! It's all happened so quickly! A group of us are meeting up to discuss what we will do next - of course, the first thing we plan to do is get in touch with Simon Roberts and try to discuss the issue with him directly. If we don't get the answers we want to hear, then we'll start to actively campaign to draw attention to the issue, and would love supporters to help us.

First of all, please follow @sexistsurcharge on twitter and instagram and send us examples of sexist pricing as you come across it - we'll share them and catalogue them. We'll also use these platforms to share campaign updates and provide opportunities for people to get involved. If someone could design us an image for our Twitter profile that would be a really great start!

Marie Claire reached out to Boots for comment: 'At Boots UK, we are committed to offering our customers great value and quality. To help us achieve this all of our products are priced individually based on a range of factors including formulation, ingredients, and market comparison. In addition we provide a wide range of product promotions, and offers linked to our Boots Advantage Card, to give our customers greater flexibility and choice. - Boots Spokesperson, 26 January 2016
Continuing support from key markets across Asia helped Contship Italia Group, the leading container terminal and intermodal transport operator in Italy, to report a steady set of results for 2015.



Contship Italia Group terminals handled a total of 6.3 million TEUs last year on the back of increased volumes at La Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT), its main gateway for Asian cargo.



LSCT, with four weekly calls from China, the Far East, and South East Asia, continues the positive trend that has seen Asia trade via La Spezia increase by 3.5% on the previous year (up 19% over the past five years).



In 2015, 197 of 938 total calls at LSCT were associated with Asia services offered by the 2M, O3 and CKYHE alliances handling vessels in the 10,000-14,000 TEU capacity range.



In February 2015, LSCT became Italys first gateway port to welcome a 16,600 TEU vessel.



For total TEUs from all locations, including those from Asia which account for 40% of its full TEUs, LSCT set a new record for the second year running, up 8% against 2014.



The overall results mean the privately held Contship Italia Group maintains its position as a major gateway for Asia cargoes in southern Europe, as well as confirming its status as a leading container terminal operator in Italy.



Overall, four out of five terminals operated by Contship Italia Group experienced volume growth in 2015.





Italy 2015 (TEU) 2014 (TEU) MCT  Medcenter Container Terminal 2,547,000 2,970,000 CICT  Cagliari International Container Terminal 686,000 656,000 LSCT  La Spezia Container Terminal 1,196,000 1,109,000 TCR - Terminal Container Ravenna 212,000 198,000 SCT - Salerno Container Terminal 341,000 320,000 Morocco Eurogate Tanger 1,295,000 1,428,000

Contship Italia Group Intermodal and Logistics:

2015 2014 Hannibal (transported TEUs) 247,000 240,000 Oceanogate Italia (km - trains) 1,074,000* 1,078,000 Rail Hub Milano (operated trains) 5,870 5,190

* forecast

The 6.3 million TEUs for last year represents a slight overall decrease from 2014 (6.6m TEUs), mainly due to network adjustments by the shipping lines in the Mediterranean hubs.However, the groups Intermodal and Logistics division transported an overall increase in volumes in 2015, supported by the new Rail Hub Milano business unit, launched in January 2015 and expanded in the second quarter.Cecilia Eckelmann-Battistello, Contship Italia Group President, said today: Contships global shipping line customers continue with their main challenges  sustainable trade growth, capacity, revenues, environment, uncertainty in global markets, leading to increasing questions about the outlook for demand in the world economy. Cost, leadership, and efficiency remain top of the agenda.Contship Italia Groups response in supporting valued customers is to continue to invest strongly in facilities, paving the way for the increasing size of tonnage being deployed. The investments involve both maritime and inland terminals, delivering fully integrated port-to-door products for the global supply chain, she said.As the Groups customer base extends to the total supply chain in Italy, South Europe and beyond, Contships alternative gateway solutions are gaining momentum, providing opportunities for shipping lines, freight forwarders, and cargo owners to re-think their options in terms of faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly transport.Italy has changed and will keep changing. Contship will continue to drive that change in the supply chain sector, she added.As Italys first inbound gateway call for cargo from Asia, LSCT offers one single integrated system making cargo flow easy and unique in Italy with up to 200 trains per week available. Its preclearing options and full control from port-to-door, both for rail and road delivery, represent the fastest cargo delivery options for Asian shippers into Italian markets. This has enabled LSCT to keep expanding its catchment area of 43% of Italian GDP, as well as into many Southern European destinations.Other terminals operated by Contship Italia Group, Medcenter Container Terminal (MCT) in Gioia Tauro and Eurogate Tanger saw a slight fall in volumes, generally consistent with the Mediterranean transhipment market trend. In September 2015, MCT celebrated 20 years in operation with a cumulative 52 million TEUs handled.Cagliari International Container Terminal (CICT) continued its positive trend (total volumes up 5% on 2014).Terminal Container Ravenna (TCR) reports an overall increase of 7%. The results of investment in 2015 will further enhance both service and new opportunities in 2016, when new RMGs will be deployed.Salerno Container Terminal (SCT) also reports an increase in volume performance (+7% on 2014).Contship Italia Groups Intermodal and Logistics business units achieved positive results both domestically and internationally.Rail Hub Milano, having increased its number of operated trains, will continue to expand with terminal equipment improvement in 2016 with the deployment of two brand new gantry cranes on the extended 4 x 750m length rail tracks.Hannibal, now responsible for the Groups domestic and over The Alps intermodal connections, is providing rail and truck services for maritime and continental cargo across the main South-North logistic corridors. The volumes transported by rail in 2015 generated a CO2 reduction in excess of 9,400 tons (calculated using http://www.ecotransit.org/), equivalent to the amount 447,600 trees absorb each year, making a vital contribution to the environment (www.arborenvironmentalalliance.com).Both Hannibal and Rail Hub Milano expect to improve their scope of service following the opening of the Gotthard tunnel, planned for June 2016.Finally, Oceanogate Italia, Contship Italia Groups rail traction company, continued in line with 2014, extending the scope of activities linked with Rail Hub Milano.
SAAM has taken delivery of its first two tugs to be powered by GE Marine.

These new 80-ton RAstar 3200 terminal support tugs include two 8L250 GE Marine diesel engines. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd. and built at Guangdong Bonny Fair Heavy Industry Limited in China, the tugs will operate out of Uruguay. Arriero, reached its new home port of Montevideo on November 16 and the second tug, Maneador, is currently en route. Two additional vessels ordered by SAAM and also to be powered by GE Marine, the Yunco and Huairavo will sail out of Chile.



This particular tug design, having an overall length of 32 m with a moulded beam of 12.8 m, is very versatile and can be used in a range of duties, from port operations and escort duties to support work for the offshore oil industry. As part of this tug application, the 8L250 GE Marine diesel engines are able to effectively support this range of duties by developing 2,440 kW at 1,050 rpm driving Rolls-Royce US 255 FP azimuth thrusters giving a bollard pull over 85 tons.



The combination of main equipment selected for this project of four LNG Terminal tugboats and GE engines were chosen after a deep assessment involving important factors including total cost of ownership throughout the lifetime, explains Pablo Caceres, SAAM Fleet Technical Manager. We have high expectations on the reliability that our engines should provide our business in the different ports where we operate throughout the American Continent.



SAAM is the largest tug operator in the American Continent and the fourth largest in the world with more than 170 tugs in operation in 11 countries. In July 2014, SAAM entered into agreement with the Boskalis Group to merge their fleets, creating joint ventures in Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Panama.
Willard Marine, Inc., recently delivered a SOLAS 670 rescue boat to the U.S. Army to serve aboard the USACE Dredge McFarland in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.



Outfitted with a Volvo Penta D3 220hp inboard engine paired with a Hamilton Jet HJ2274 water jet, the 22 5 SOLAS rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) performs at speeds of up to 26.5 knots and accommodates nine passengers. A Cranston Eagle single-point lifting frame is incorporated into the SOLAS 670 to allow for a more dynamic launch and recovery system. Extensive safety features include a self-righting frame and a 40-ounce, UV-resistant polyurethane collar with a reinforced rub strake.



Willard Marine has manufactured SOLAS 670 vessels to agencies across the United States including the Military Sealift Command, MAERSK, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Navy for more than 10 years. Willard Marine also offers a 16 1 SOLAS 490 model and is awaiting Coast Guard certification for a 17 10 SOLAS 540 and a 19 3 SOLAS 590.



The USACE Dredge McFarland maintains the navigation channel of the Delaware River and Bay, and is made available for federal dredge navigation projects anywhere on the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States.



In an emergency at sea, people need a rescue boat they can count on, said Ulrich Gottschling, President and CEO at Willard Marine. Thats why military agencies and large maritime operations consistently choose Willard Marine, the only American manufacturer of SOLAS fast rescue boats, Gottschling explained.



Since its founding in 1957, Willard Marine has developed world-class watercraft for the U.S. military, Department of Homeland Security, foreign governments, law enforcement agencies, search and rescue organizations and private companies. Willard Marine is also the exclusive builder of commercial vessels originally designed by SeaArk Marine and Crystaliner. Based in California with facilities in Maryland and Virginia, Willard Marine is ISO 9001:2008 certified and the sole American manufacturer of SOLAS rescue boats.
Jensen Maritime was recently selected to provide detailed design and production engineering services for two, 100 passenger, U.S. flagged, coastal cruise ships for Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.

The twin screw diesel ships, will be built at the Washington state shipyard of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) and have planned delivery dates of second quarter 2017 and 2018. Once complete, the $94.8 million duo will operate tours between Baja, Costa Rica and Panama during the winter months and southeast Alaska, Oregon, Washington and Canada during the summer months.

For this project, Jensen will utilize its innovative 3D modeling capabilities to allow Lindblad the unique opportunity to confirm the vessels layout, maintenance envelopes and operational access prior to construction. The group will combine all the details of the structural, electrical, mechanical and HVAC systems of the vessel into one comprehensive, full-size 3D, computer model resulting in a virtual vessel that can be inspected early in the design process for safety, maintainability and constructability.



We at Jensen are pleased to showcase our full service design and production engineering services for this exciting new build project, said Johan Sperling, vice president, Jensen. With our 3D capabilities, the customer will have virtually walked every deck and inspected every system long before stepping onto the vessel and long before each system is installed, giving them further confidence that this ship will be exactly the high quality passenger vessel they intended.



These new ships mark an exciting step in the long-term growth of the company, and enable us to capitalize on the substantial demand for our expeditions, said Sven Lindblad, president and CEO of Lindblad. With our significant resources we can continue to deliver on our promise of expedition travel at its best, and can now expand our unique offerings in the Americas where we have very strong demand.



Some key features of the new 238-foot ships include:


Norwegian-born billionaire John Fredriksen has teamed up with investment bank Arctic Securities to form a ship broking company aimed at taking on bigger rivals and betting on a recovery in the global shipping market.



Many segments of the shipping industry, including dry bulk commodities, are struggling with tougher conditions due to world economic worries and a surfeit of vessels.



Fredriksen, via his family's investment company Geveran Trading Co, and Oslo-headquartered Arctic Securities said on Monday they had established a 50-50 joint venture broking company, Arctic Shipping Norway, which they expect to start operations in the first half of this year.



"I am truly convinced that both the shipping and the offshore markets will recover. Establishing a new business during tough times is not new to us. Arctic Securities was established in 2007, a short time before the financial crisis," Arctic Securities chief executive Mads Syversen said.



The tough environment for shipping has resulted in tie ups in the ship broking world, as companies hunt for scale.



Last year, ICAP's shipping business completed a joint venture with rival shipbroker Howe Robinson. This followed leading ship broker Clarkson's acquisition of Norwegian broker and investment bank RS Platou in 2014 and Braemar Shipping Services' acquisition of fellow British shipbroker ACM Shipping in 2014.



Fredriksen is among the world's top players in global shipping and other sectors - with many interests controlled via his Fredriksen Group such as rig firm Seadrill, fish farmer Marine Harvest, tanker company Frontline and dry bulk carrier Golden Ocean.

By Jonathan Saul
Efforts by Iran to start exporting oil to Europe are being held up as foreign tanker owners are still struggling to secure insurance for cargoes, leading shipping players said on Tuesday.



A nuclear deal between world powers and Iran earlier this month led to the removal of curbs on Tehran's banking, insurance and shipping sectors.



Since then, Iran has ordered a 500,000 barrel per day (bpd) increase in oil output, of which 200,000 bpd will go to Europe.



But many foreign firms remain wary of violating other sanctions that were imposed by the United States and have not been lifted. Measures still in place from Washington prohibit most business between U.S. persons, U.S. companies and Iran as well as no dollar trades.



Paddy Rogers, chief executive with tanker operator Euronav , said his company had been approached to carry Iranian oil to Europe.



"We have had enquiries. It is interesting that the first enquiries to move Iranian oil came from Europe not from China," Rogers told a Capital Link web conference.



Third-party liability insurance and pollution cover for vessels is provided by P&I clubs - marine insurers owned by shipping clients and reinsured internationally.



Rodgers said the umbrella International Group of P&I clubs were still unable to confirm payments under re-insurance contracts.



"It has not been cleared yet. So, nobody can load at the moment it seems to me ... unless somebody has some alternative method of insurance," he said.



"I think this is going to come on. But it will take time and it won't be very straightforward."



Greece's biggest oil refiner Hellenic Petroleum agreed on Friday to buy crude oil from state-owned National Iranian Oil Company, becoming the first European refiner to restart trade relations with Tehran.



Iran's oil exports have fallen to just over 1 million bpd, from a peak of more than 3 million bpd in 2011 - before the imposition of tougher sanctions.



Oil held by Iran on its domestic tankers in floating storage is estimated by shipping sources to be at least 40 million barrels as the country struggles to offload supplies because of a global glut.



Robert Hvide Macleod, chief executive with tanker group Frontline Ltd, said he expected additional Iranian exports of at least 500,000 bpd this year.



"They will do what they can what they can to get the European market back and there will be demand for international tonnage to handle this volume," he said.



Macleod said the insurance and payment system was still not there yet, but added that it "will get in place in the short-term".



Nikolas Tsakos, president and chief executive of another leading tanker player Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd, said competition between Iran and arch rival Saudi Arabia was expected to heat up, further boosting vessel demand.



"They are going to compete and are going to try to out produce each other," Tsakos told the call. "That, of course will add supply in the market."





Reporting by Jonathan Saul
Spain's Supreme Court sentenced the captain of the Prestige oil tanker, which sank off Spain's northwestern coast in 2002, covering thousands of kilometres of coastline in fuel oil, to two years in prison on Tuesday.



The captain, Apostolos Mangouras, was convicted of recklessness resulting in catastrophic environmental damage, according to a statement by the court, overturning a previous sentence which cleared him of criminal responsibility.



The sinking of the Greek tanker, which was sailing to Gibraltar, released an estimated 63,000 tones of foul-smelling black fuel along the Galicia coast and forced the closure of the country's richest fishing grounds.



The new ruling opens the door to damage claims against the captain and the insurer, The London Steamship Owners Mutual Insurance Association, with one prosecutor calling for more than 4 billion euros.



The Galician regional court had previously concluded it was impossible to establish criminal responsibility and that the disaster was partly due to the 26-year-old tanker's poor state of repair.



After a storm damaged one of its fuel tanks, the ship had spent days drifting at sea having been refused permission to dock by Spanish, Portuguese and French authorities. It eventually split into two and sank about 250 miles off the coast, spurting oil into the water from the sea bed.



In Tuesday's ruling, Mangouras was accused of guiding the tanker in treacherous conditions with full knowledge of its weakened structure while the ship was overloaded by at least 2,000 tonnes of fuel oil.





Reporting by Paul Day
Shipbuilding group Fincantieri said it has signed a number of framework agreements with some primary Iranian companies.

The preliminary understandings were reached in the presence of the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the President of Iran Hassan Rouhani on an official visit in Italy and are prior to the accomplishment of several contracts worth some hundred million euros and to the potential development of joint activities, the shipbuilder said.

As part of the deals, Fincantieri has reached a cooperation and development agreement with Azim Gostaresh Hormoz Shipbuilding Industry Co (AGH), a new shipyard in the Persian Gulf within the special economic zone, for the construction of new merchant vessels and offshore units both in the field of ship repairs and conversions and in refitting activities of already operating units. AGH is controlled by the larger Iran Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Complex Company (ISOICO), which is under the administration of the Industrial Development & Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO), one of Iran's largest organization involved in the country's development and industrialization process.

The cooperation will affect the development of detailed engineering, optimization of the construction processes, technical consultancy and assistance in all production phases and personnel training both on site and in Italy. The two companies will create specific working groups engaged in activities to establish a synergic cooperation and to develop a business partnership in the area.

Moreover, Fincantieri, through its subsidiary Isotta Fraschini Motori, has signed two further agreements concerning the marine propulsion sector and the one of rail transports. Isotta Fraschini Motori has signed an agreement with Iranian trading company Arka Tejarat Qeshm (ATQ) to set up a joint proposal for the supply to Iranian Governmental User (IGU) of 600 marine engines for smaller vessels. Additionally, in partnership with Titagarh FIREMA ADLER, a company active in the production of rolling stock, it has signed an agreement with Wagon Pars Co. (WPC), Iranian company operating in the railway vehicles construction field, to set up a joint proposal for the supply to the Iranian Railway (RAI) of 70 shunting locomotives engines.

Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated, "We have once more demonstrated the ability to attract the industrial interest of one of the countries with the highest development potential in the world. The agreement which we have achieved thanks to the company's presence in all the areas of the shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing industry, will surely represent an added value of outmost importance to increase the worldwide dimension and the export share of our group.
Last month we were offered an in-depth discussion on marine salvage with Captain Gregg W. Baumann, U.S. Navy, Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving. Captain Baumann and his team have a long history regarding difficult missions accomplished, including most recently the location and filming of the lost TOTE containership El Faro.



What is the scope of the responsibility of the Supervisor of Salvage & Diving; Director of Ocean Engineering?



The responsibilities of the Supervisor of Salvage & Diving; Director of Ocean Engineering (SUPSALV) include being the Center of Excellence for diving for the Department of Defense (DoD), the system safety certification authority for DoD diving and manned hyperbaric equipment, the technical authority for military diving equipment, the technical authority for underwater ships husbandry repairs & inspections, and salvage; By authority of the Salvage Facilities Act (10 U.S.C. 7361-7364) SUPSALV provides salvage facilities for public and private vessels and provides Admiralty legal support to settle claims for salvage services rendered by the Navy. Within the context of this authority, SUPSALV provides for the equipping and maintenance of a national salvage capability for use in peacetime, war, or national emergency.



I would like to put your office into scope. Please give an overview of the personnel and physical assets under your guidance.



SUPSALV has more than 565 military, civil servants, and full time contracted employees supporting our Washington, District of Columbia headquarters office, our Naval Experimental Dive Unit research laboratory in Panama City, Florida, our deep ocean search and recovery equipment program, our Emergency Ship Salvage Material (ESSM) warehouse system, diving engineering services, and our world-wide, underwater hull cleaning services for fleet vessels. Our facilities include a headquarters office, eight ESSM warehouses and support centers around the world, a Deep Ocean Search and Recovery warehouse and engineering facility in Maryland, and diving services support offices in Virginia, California, Hawaii, Japan, and Bahrain. Our inventory of search equipment, diving support material, oil spill recovery equipment, and spares total more than 30,000 items, more than 500,000 sq. ft. of facilities, and a world class diving and equipment research facility. SUPSALV maintains national mission assets of search and recovery systems with capabilities ranging from shallow water to 20,000 ft. that include the Towed Pinger Locators, towed Side Scan Sonars, and Remotely Operated Vehicles. Additionally, we maintain three worldwide commercial salvage services contracts for which we can immediately surge in personnel and equipment. Our annual average operating budget is approximately $110-120M, but increases significantly when we conduct large reimbursable salvage and oil spill operations. The value of our non-facility related inventory is in excess of $110M.



We understand that you assumed this post in October 2014. A little more than a year into the position, what do you find most rewarding? The most challenging?



What is most rewarding and most challenging is one in the same. Specifically, SUPSALV is the backbone for providing the U.S. Navy fleet with diving support and salvage capabilities as a national level first responder. Providing all of these services on a daily basis so that the Navy fleet can maintain its strong military presence at sea and keeping our sailors, airmen, soldiers, marines, and guardsmen safe is what drives me each and every day. However, meeting all of these challenges with limited budgets and resources, requires making difficult decisions to keep the warfighter prepared and safe while still operating in a difficult fiscal environment. Helping our forces accomplish their missions safely and effectively is the reward for our teams hard work and diligent efforts.



For this interview, we are interested to focus on salvage and diving safety. Given that scope, could you share a case study or two which best exemplifies the capability of your office?



First, Id site two recent marine incidents. The first is the M/V El Faro which went missing on or about Oct. 1 in the Bahamas. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the conduct of their safety investigation deemed they needed SUPSALVs experience and resources. With our long standing working relationship, we quickly partnered and developed plans to search for, locate, conduct a Side Scan Sonar survey of the accident area, video document the ship, and retrieve the ships Voyage Data Recorder (VDR). Utilizing our 20,000 ft. Side Scan Sonar ORION, our 20,000 ft. Remotely Operated Vehicle CURV, and the Military Sealift Commands ocean going tug USNS Apache (T-ATF 172) we mobilized and satisfied three of the four objectives within just a few weeks. Unfortunately, we have yet to be able to locate the VDR. The accident is still under investigation with the NTSB and United States Coast Guard.

A second salvage example would be the successful removal of USS Guardian (MCM 5) in 2013. The ship unfortunately ran hard aground on Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea in the Philippines. Due to the sensitive reef environment, the inability to access the vessel with large removal equipment, monsoon weather and seas, SUPSALV brought together a team of navy divers, a navy salvage ship, salvage engineers, and commercial salvors to safely remove the ship from the reef by cutting it up. Balancing environmental concerns, effective salvage plans, and political sensitivities, SUPSALV safely sectioned the ship into four 250-400 ton lifts, and removed the ship without causing any further damage to the reef or allowing the release of pollution or hazardous substances into the environment.



Your job by its inherent nature is a dangerous one. Put the emphasis on safety in perspective.



On diving safety, personnel safety is always the primary consideration. This involves ensuring safety is paramount in both the design of Divers Life Support Systems (DLSS) as well as diving operations themselves. We ensure safety is designed into, tested for and eventually certified in all of our DLSS. Tragically though, we lost four sailors in diving accidents in 2013. As a result, we conducted a strategic assessment of the safety of diving operations throughout the Navy. SUPSALV co-chaired a Diving Operational Assessment Integrated Project Team that conducted a holistic review of Navy Diving Program compliance with requirements with particular focus on supervisor accountability. Integral to this effort was an assessment of the culture within the diving community, as it affects our ability to adequately assess operational readiness, effectively plan missions, accurately apply operational risk management, safely execute dives, and apply lessons learned. The findings of the review found: Navy diving continues to meet Combatant Commander requirements and supervisory accountability, and that navy diving is effective. However, there were specific areas that were deemed to need improvement: improve supervisor decision making, development, qualification, and proficiency; build effectiveness in command level diving assessments; become a self-learning organization; establish better diving mishap reporting and trend analysis; and update the Navys diving program instruction.



Marine Salvage is intriguing, literally an engineered solution each time out. In your career, what one technology do you count as having the greatest impact on allowing salvage to be conducted more efficiently and safely?



Unequivocally, its the improvements in the area of information technology that have had the greatest impact in our response capability. In most cases the physical rigors of salvage are basic, rudimentary, and dont have huge strides to make with the increase in technology. However, the software tools now immediately available to the salvor are game changers. The software packages available today have the capability to rapidly perform very detailed and complex analyses of vessel loading, stability, and structural characteristics for intact, damaged, and grounded vessels and evaluate these properties over the full range of salvage operations. Within SUPSALV, we use a Navy unique software package, Program of Ship Salvage Engineering or POSSE for short. As IT systems continued to grow, SUPSALV teamed with a commercial vendor to jointly fund and develop POSSE. It has given us the ability to fully model every ship in the Navy inventory. As a result, when a salvage incident does arise, within minutes we have our engineers conducting risk assessments, developing salvage plans, and providing understandable engineering solutions to complex, and multi-variable problems.





When we speak to commercial salvors, most cite the increasing size of ships as one of their top challenges today. How is the market changing to present challenges to your office?



As it relates to SUPSALVs participation in the salvaging of commercial vessels, the increased size of ships is certainly at the top of the list of challenges. However, as it relates to SUPSALVs overall salvage operations, its the increased focus on minimizing damage to the environment and pollution discharges while conducting the salvage.

As a result SUPSALV regularly conducts spill exercises with the fleet, provides on-going hands on and table top training, and maintains one of the largest oil spill equipment repositories around the world in our ESSM system.



We cover Navy and Government vessels in our pages regularly, and to say current government spending is challenged is an understatement. From where you sit, what are your funding issues, if any, and how has this had a material impact on your service.



The center focus of the Navy budget every year is shipbuilding and the 30 year shipbuilding plan. Since the Cold War ended, the Navys inventory of ships has dwindled and replacement with more complex technologies has become more expensive for the same size of vessel. As a result, finding the right balance of ships in the 30 year shipbuilding plan has become increasingly challenging. Our current inventory of four tugs and four salvage ships is aging and will require replacement in the not too distant future. How the Navy will replace this capability to meet the fleet mission requirements is still being discussed.



Looking at your career, explain in as much detail as possible the most difficult or challenging dive or salvage operation, explaining why.



The operation that clearly stands out the most to me is the salvaging of the Japanese high school training fishing vessel, F/V Ehime Maru, and recovering eight of the nine souls lost off the coast of Hawaii in 2000 ft. In 2001, one of our submarines tragically hit and sunk the Ehime Maru during a routine training exercise. Showing true sorrow and good will to the Japanese families who lost loved ones in the incident, President Bush promised to do everything possible to recover those who were lost. In looking at the possible solutions at this depth, we came up with few alternatives. At 2000 feet, we couldnt find anyone certified to conduct saturation dives to this depth. We then looked at the idea of penetrating the ship with ROVs. This option was ruled out due to the high probability of ROV entanglement and inability to access the entire interior of the vessel. The solution we eventually arrived at was to place two straps beneath the ship, lift and suspend the ship beneath a ship on the surface, then carry it to shallow water where we could safely and effectively dive on it. A salvage of this nature had never been accomplished before so we were developing innovative solutions as the operation progressed. To obtain expertise conducting complex operations at this depth, we turned to the deep ocean oil field support companies.

Teaming with a handful of these companies and a commercial salvor, we successfully placed two straps underneath the ship and brought the ship into a depth where we could dive on it.

This operation was by far the most difficult in my career due to the depth of recovering the ship and use of ROVs to do so, the political sensitivities involved between the two governments, the cultural sensitivities involved, the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks taking place while recovering the ship, and most importantly the human compassion involved in trying to help the nine families. In the end we were only successful in locating and recovering eight of those lost. In the 29 years Ive served in the Navy, the memory that has etched itself the deepest in me was notifying the family of the 9th victim that we were unable to locate their teenage son.

Captain Gregg W. Baumann



Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving



Captain Baumann is a native of Vestal, NY. He graduated from Clarkson University in 1986 with a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering. Following graduation, he joined the Navy and was commissioned in 1987 through Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. Baumann also earned a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School and completed the Total Ships Systems Engineering (TSSE) program at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.

Baumanns first assignment was aboard USS Gridley (CG 21) serving as the Electronic Warfare Officer, Boilers Officer, and the Ships Material Maintenance Officer. Following sea tour, Baumann was selected to Engineering Duty Officer and completed training at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, in Panama City, FL.

As an engineering duty officer, Baumann served as: Project Officer to the detachment of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP), New Orleans for numerous Navy, Marine Corps, and Foreign Military Sales small craft new construction contracts; Production Officer for MCM repair availabilities and tasked with standing up a new SUPSHIP New Orleans repair detachment; Production Officer and Diving Officer at the Navys Ship Repair Facility (SRF) in Sasebo, Japan; and Assistant for Salvage in NAVSEAs Office of the Supervisor of Diving & Salvage. During this tour, Baumann was the salvage engineer for many diving and salvage operations including the salvaging of the sunken Japanese fishing trawler off Pearl Harbor, Ehime Maru, the grounded USS LaMoure County (LST 1194) off the coast of Chile, and the oil recovery from the sunken USS Mississinewa (AO 59) in Ulithi Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia.

Captain Baumann continued his career with tours as the Engineering Duty Officer Detailer and Community Manager, Navys Bureau of Personnel; DDG 51 Program Managers Representative, Supervisor of Shipbuilding Bath, ME; Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Ship programs and the Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition (ASN RD&A) at the Pentagon. In 2010, he was assigned as the Program Manager for the International Fleet Support Programs Office (PMS 326) within NAVSEAs Surface Warfare Directorate (SEA 21) where he was responsible for multiple projects in excess of $5B that provided ships, weapon systems, and life cycle support equipment to more than 40 foreign partners. Captain Baumann assumed command from CAPT Mark Matthews as the Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving in October 2014. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of ocean engineering for the U.S. Navy, including salvage, in-water ship repair, contracting, towing, diving safety, and equipment maintenance and procurement. Baumann has earned a Legion of Merit (w/ gold star), Meritorious Service Medal (w/ four gold stars), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (w/ two gold stars), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

The feature El Faro spot aired on CBS on Sunday, January 3, 2016. If you missed it, view the 60 Minutes video here:http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/lost-in-the-bermuda-triangle

(As published in the January 2016 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News - http://magazines.marinelink.com/Magazines/MaritimeReporter)


Is oil driving stocks? Photo by Seth Joel/Getty Images.

Oil! Got your attention? Headlines are blaring about an alleged link between oil and stock prices, with several noting a near-perfect correlation over the last few weeks-and saying high correlation is common during recessions or periods of "financial stress." One prominent article pronounced the correlation over the last month to be the highest since 1990. Many take the link one step further, warning cheap oil is about to cause a recession. Texas jobless claims are now considered a key national indicator. But we've crunched the numbers, and frankly, we don't get the hype. Oil's recent tight relationship with stocks is an interesting observation, but its predictive powers are about nil. And fundamentally speaking, oil's economic impact, for good or ill, just isn't big enough to move the needle in the US or globally.

Exhibit 1 shows why everyone is very excited about oil.

Exhibit 1: WTI Crude and S&P 500, 12/1/2015 - 1/22/2016

Source: FactSet, as of 1/25/2016. S&P 500 Price Index and WTI Crude Oil Price, 12/1/2015 - 1/22/2016.

Yes, we manipulated the y-axes to make these look more alike, in magnitude, than they really are. That's what much of the media coverage did-a time-honored trick to "lie with statistics" to whip up a frenzy, as the brilliant Darrell Huff explained in his classic book titled, well, How to Lie With Statistics. If you index each series to 100 in order to show the cumulative percentage change in each, they don't look so striking.

Exhibit 2: A Less Salacious Version of Exhibit 1

Source: FactSet, as of 1/25/2016. S&P 500 Price Index and WTI Crude Oil Price, 12/1/2015 - 1/22/2016. Indexed to 100 on 12/1/2015.

The correlation isn't so striking, either. Yes, over the last month, it's about 0.97, which is about as close to perfect correlation (1) as you can get. But this isn't exactly a unique development. Nor is it especially telling. Exhibit 3 shows oil and stocks' rolling one-month correlation since April 1983, the longest daily dataset we could build. It is perhaps the noisiest chart in the history of MarketMinder, and perhaps the most meaningless.

Exhibit 3: A Meaningless Chart

Source: FactSet, as of 1/25/2016. Rolling 1-month correlation between WTI Crude Oil and the S&P 500 Price Index, 4/11/1983 - 1/22/2016.

Yes, we've seen similarly high correlations during bear and bull markets, recessions and expansions alike. By our calculations, the correlation was a smidge higher in 2011 and 2012-no recession, no bear market.[i] We can only presume it gets hype now because it fits the narrative that oil prices are a key economic driver.

Yet this is a deeply flawed narrative. For broad, diverse economies like the US, cheap oil is neither a huge tailwind nor an oppressive headwind. It is just a thing that creates winners and losers. The same is true when you tally up the entire world. Cheap oil hurts Energy firms, oil transporters (who lose business as cheap prices discourage production) and nations whose GDP and state revenues depend heavily on oil exports (e.g., Brazil, Russia and the Middle Eastern petrostates). Yet cheap oil helps retailers (who often benefit when consumers spend less on gasoline), energy-intensive manufacturers and any firm trying to ship goods. In the US and Europe, the winners outweigh the losers, and the economy usually receives a net benefit.

Oil's share of the US economy is small. Currently, the Energy sector is about 6.5% of S&P 500 market cap. (In June 2014, when oil began tumbling in earnest, it was about 10.9% of the index-larger than today, but still only the fifth biggest sector.) In Q3 2015, Energy contributed less than 5% of total S&P 500 earnings. (In Q2 2014, it contributed 10.8%, the fourth-largest sector.) Excluding Energy, S&P 500 earnings are still growing. Many fear distressed loans to the Energy sector endanger bank balance sheets, but the four biggest banks' Energy exposure ranges from 1.9% to 3.5% of total loans. Certain regional banks are more vulnerable, but even their exposure is around 5% to 10%.

More broadly, in 2014, oil and gas extraction comprised just 1.7% of GDP.[ii] Its support industries were just 0.4% of GDP. To put oil in perspective, it is about half the size of our construction industry, less than one-fifth as big as manufacturing, and approximately 0.025 times the size of the service sector. And while jobs are a late-lagging economic indicator, it's worth noting oil and gas extraction accounts for just 0.1% of all US jobs. Any way you slice the industry, it is small.

We have two hypotheses on why headlines are so hung up on oil anyway. One, when markets are volatile, human nature makes us hunt for a cause-we think understanding can bring comfort. Being able to say "oh, it's because of oil" brings that understanding and, for some folks, something to hope for: oil rebounding so stocks can rebound, too. We get the appeal, but the harsh truth is that this is a behavioral error, not sound analysis.

Two, rewind a year ago, and pundits near-universally agreed that cheap oil would be ginormous, consumer-boosting stimulus. Yet we haven't exactly had rip-roaring growth in the interim, and now they're re-evaluating. But the oil-as-consumer-stimulus narrative wasn't ever really right. As we explained at the time, spending on gasoline is part of total consumer spending. When oil and gas prices fall, we spend less at the pump. Even if we spend every last penny saved on gas someplace else, the impact is only zero sum. But many folks don't spend every last penny saved on gas. They save it or repay debt instead. Don't get us wrong, we like paying less to fill up, but the primary driver of consumer spending is disposable income. Gas prices aren't part of that equation.

Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't address the China angle. Some argue cheap oil stems not just from a massive global supply glut, but from falling Chinese demand-another iteration of Chinese hard landing fears. The primary evidence here is China's falling imports. Yet those import tallies are skewed by falling prices. Measured in volume terms, which removes the skew, China's oil imports are soaring. They hit a record-high 335.5 million barrels last year, rising 8.8% from 2014. China-watchers expect them to slow this year, but still grow 6%. Chinese oil demand, like Chinese economic growth, is fine. The supply glut just swamps it.

Sensational ghost stories like the oil-stock two-step are normal in corrections. They're part of the fear surge. It can make corrections that much more uncomfortable, which makes it harder to stay disciplined. But corrections often end as suddenly as they begin. Longer-term, fundamentals still look strong, and soon enough we expect the oil-stocks-eek hype to be a distant memory.
The CIAs Presidents

Any unmasking of the shadow forces that pull the strings that often determine events requires a time frame context. Historical study can go back to antiquity for classic examples of surreptitious intrigue, but in an age of distorted and diachronic mind control, the creation of the CIA by President Truman was our modern day and literal water shed monument. Coming out of the Office of Strategic Services, the brainchild of Wild Bill Donovan developed into the playpen of Allen Dulles. The OSS origins on their face are clandestine by nature. Spooks and spies might be a trendy name for a board game, but when the pieces on the squares are pushed in direction of liquidation and oblivion, the uninitiated are truly the uneducated, for not grasping their significance. Being one of those pieces requires the responsibility of every citizen to wake up out of their lethargy.

Research material is so extensive that penning another account on the hidden secrets behind the throne may just confuse the public even more. One needs to take off the blinders and face the consequences of the big picture. Presidents have seldom been autonomous leaders. Those who demonstrated independence, integrity and courage were either marginalized and banished from positions of influence or killed.

The CIA is not just a standalone organization. The Agency is more of a euphemism than a society of black bag hit squads. The underlying ethos that underpins the operations and missions of the Intelligence Community has a distinct purpose. Never let an administration, much less a President, gain the actual power to rule the country or the global empire.

Until people accept and admit that the SYSTEM is the ultimate crime syndicate, no one can liberate their minds or their circumstances.

Few remember the black and white culture that existed in the United States forty years ago. John Chuckman writes in the Foreign Policy Journal, The CIA and Americas Presidents.

The 1975 Church Senate Committee looking into earlier illegality came into being because a number of sources were suggesting the CIA had been engaged in assassination and other dark practices, matters which at that time quite upset the general public and some decent politicians.

Two things are totally different all these years later. Only a grub living under a rock would be shocked by reports that the government continues a policy of dark practices. But they would be genuinely surprised if someone could find and prove there is a single descent politician.

Examine the record. George H. W. Bush, was a CIA director, his successor William Jefferson Clinton was a CIA asset during his years avoiding his Rhode Scholar classes, George W. Bush another Skull and Bones diabolist followed in the familys footsteps and who could forget the current POTUS, Barack Hussein Obama II the son of a CIA recruit and a 3D printed prototype of a mystery man with a false identity. The manufactured indoctrination of these anointed commanders in chief is the true definition of The Good Shepherd movie account.

The Great Man theory of history has been relegated to the most efficient synthesis organization that is based upon the official version of elitism Political Correctness.

Presidents must surrender their contrary visions, objections and actions against the established order. However, that power embodied by the supra elites, requires a silhouette caricature of subversion as their instrument of coercion, while bearing the focal image of blame.

No balanced observance of sincere national interest would dispute that the function of gathering information and analysis of its significance is out of bounds in a civilized society. The bounds, extent and intrusive methods are fair game for debate; however, the need to know is valid.

Deciding who should have access to that information is a core concern. When Hillary Clinton is allowed to violate even the most rudimentary security practices, one has to wonder why she is so special to get away with her treason.

In the book, Compromised: Clinton, Bush and the CIA by Terry Reed, critic John Cummings looks at the definitive book on the Mena connection that bonds the Clintons and the Bushs with their CIA overseers. A short video that interviews a Former C I A Agent Chip Tatum On George H W Bush Bill Clinton's Cocaine Smuggling Connect, provides first hand testimony.

The point of going over a decades old record that was a bomb shell at the time, but never gaining the critical political mass support within the government is that nothing has really changed in all these passing years.

Looking at this experience from the vantage of a conspiracy perspective misses the very essence of how power is imposed on the planet. The question is not does the CIA control American Presidents, but the proper perspective is to embrace has the psychopathic globalist implement their sociopathic system of command and control on humanity, using organizations like the CIA to foster the sinister strategy of enslavement that every President promotes.

Taylor Caldwells master work in her book, Captains and the Kings, is not just the story of an American Dynasty; it is a template of the way the world actually operates.

The forbidden reality that is suppressed is that any President may order men and women to their deaths for trivial jingoistic reasons, but none of these fearless leaders can tame the hidden cabals that keep the Nefarious Warrior Organism growing and destroying humanity. The NWO is served by intelligence organizations, even when they jockey with their foreign counterparts for a perceived advantage.

The CIA conducts their cloak-and-dagger wars in plain sight. If U.S. Dollars cannot buy loyalty, a hellfire strike from a drone will kill you. Such a foreign interventionism is not a beneficial policy protecting our country.

Managing the poppy field in Afghanistan to keep the opium trade profitable is far more important to the boys from Yale, than defending our own borders from the mujahideen terrorists, who were trained and taught many tricks of the trade under the tutelage of Agency contract mercenaries.

Eating ones own is not taboo when the political powers on high deem a sacrifice is needed. Former Director David Petraeus is no General George S. Patton, but he was thrown under the bus quicker than in a New York minute.

The irony that the former NY Senator, Hillary Clinton can get another pass to her much more grave violations of security and law, only goes to prove that being the CIA top spy does not provide enough protection, when the Arkancide mafia family is threatened.

Now you know the substantial value of all those J. Edgar Hoover secret files when it comes down to the blackmail game.

Avid history buffs always ask the question. Who are behind and actually controls the puppets that are selected to win elections? This is no connivance experiment to out the most unlikable villain that a Hollywood CIA script writer can pen. No, the film industry has always been an integral part of a dream machine to spoof the public with subtle reminders of who is really in control.

The flick, 'Spectre' Is The Worst 007 Movie In 30 Years, reveals an important lesson.

Pretty much everything Spectre has to offer amounts to something that a previous Bond movie did better. And thats the trap of doing a Bond movie in the generational nostalgia sandbox. You end up replaying the best parts of other films and reminding audiences that prior 007 adventures did it better. The notion of 007 doing generational nostalgia is interesting and timely, but the end result is merely an example of it rather than a dissection or deconstruction.

The message about replaying the best parts from other operations should not go unnoticed. How else can an immortal demonic enterprise continue their dissection and deconstruction of civilization?

There is no hero coming, who will mix shaken elixirs that will stir the public to go cold turkey and jump on the wagon of political sobriety. The CIA is meant to distract the television addicts to become and remain junkies of false reality propaganda. The so called threats of the last sixty plus years were necessary to divert the public away from the consolidation of power under NWO governance that is totally visible for everyone to see.

Another Bay of Pigs looms. This time it will be nuclear, and there in no JFK in the oval office. Nor will it take place in Cuba. Obama awaits the development of condos on the shores of Guantanamo Bay. CIA agents reserved their slot and are on the waiting list.

The synergistic and comingling of mutual interests drives the interdependency among different factions within the family structure of government mob enterprise. Ideological deviations are mostly for populace amusement.

When the professional assassin bureau engages in plausible deniability, they are really contracting out the assignment to an expendable fall guy. Can anyone shout out Oswald?

The figure head position of the most powerful person in the free world is less mighty than the corpse of E. Howard Hunt. Those magic bullets always hit the wrong victims.

Source: http://batr.org/forbidden/012616.html

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UK Personal Loan Rates Tumble to Significant Lows

Personal loans have seen considerable rate cuts since the start of the year resulting in some of the lowest rates ever seen, Moneyfacts.co.uk records show.

Providers have been competing against each other for a place in the best buys, with Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank most noticeably slashing rates by as much as 2.0%. Lenders are even cutting rates within days of each other in order to beat their rivals to the top spot.

Since the start of January, the following 13 providers have already cut their loan rates: AA, Cahoot, Clydesdale Bank, HSBC, M&S Bank, Nationwide, NatWest, RBS, Sainsburys Bank, Santander, Tesco Bank, TSB and Yorkshire Bank.

A small handful of cuts were for loans of 5,000, but the vast majority focused on the advertised tier of 7,500 to 15,000 - pushing average rates for mid-tier borrowing to significant lows. Currently, HSBC and M&S Bank offer a rate of 3.3% for loans of 7,500 over five years, the lowest rate ever recorded.

Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, said:

There is now a full-on war between providers who are slashing their loan rates to attract new borrowers. Starting a new year is the perfect time for consumers to re-visit their finances and see whether using a competitive loan to consolidate more pricy debts can be a money saver.

Using a personal loan to get on top of debts can be a cost-effective option, but it remains to be the case that the best rates are for customers who need 5,000 or more. Advertised rates (APRs) on loans start from 7,500 which may be much more than some people need, plus only 51% of successful applicants may get the advertised rates, so customers should never assume that they are guaranteed the best deals.

Borrowing slightly less than this could result in being charged unnecessary interest. For example, borrowing 3,000 over three years on a rate of 7.4% would leave borrowers more than 250 out of pocket, compared with a 40-month 0% balance transfer card with a 2.95% fee. As long as customers make sure to pay off the credit card before interest applies, its clear to see how there could be hundreds of pounds to be saved.

However, borrowing larger amounts through a personal loan could still be cost-effective. Similar to a January sale, these low rates may not stay around forever, so anyone considering a loan would be wise to check their credit report and see if they can get a good deal before rates rise.

*Moneyfacts average loan data spans back to June 2006. APRs = Annual Percentage Rates.

The best loan for borrowing 3,000 over three years is from Sainsburys Bank at 7.4% APR, total interest 342.60. Comparing this with the best balance transfer card, which is Halifaxs 40-month interest-free deal with a 2.95% fee (88.50), the difference in cost would be 254.10.

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Gold Price Revaluation Coming To $22,000 Per Ounce?

Hugo Salinas Price, Mexican business magnate, investor, and philanthropist and the president of the Mexican Civic Association for Silver, writes today that gold will soon return to its traditional role in the international monetary system.

The current melt-down of the worlds debt bubble is likely to continue in the course of the next months and Salinas believes that the salvaging all debt and derivatives might require a gold price as high as between $22,000 and $50,000 per ounce.

He believes that gold will soon help balance international trade, discipline government budgets, and reliquefy debt that is becoming unpayable.

The secular trend to expansion of credit has morphed into contraction and liquidation. It is my opinion that the new trend is now established and no action by any of the Central Banks (CB) that issue reserve currencies will do anything at all to reverse that trend.

Salinas Prices commentary is headlined The Coming Revaluation of Gold and its posted at the civic associations website, Plata.com.mx, here:

LBMA Gold Prices

26 Jan: USD 1,114.70, EUR 1,028.42 and GBP 785.80 per ounce

25 Jan: USD 1,103.70, EUR 1,020.29 and GBP 773.96 per ounce

22 Jan: USD 1,097.65, EUR 1,012.55 and GBP 769.63 per ounce

21 Jan: USD 1,096.80, EUR 1,006.98 and GBP 774.99 per ounce

20 Jan: USD 1,093.20, EUR 999.73 and GBP 771.08 per ounce

This update can be found on the GoldCore blog here.

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From 1937-45, China became one of the main theatres of the Second World War. This entangling of China in World War II raised the country out of its subjugation on the world stage, such that at the Wars conclusion China was given a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Only 4 years later the immense Chinese revolution was finally completed, freeing China from imperialist domination. The war's violent dragging of China onto the world stage had effected a thoroughgoing internal transformation of China. In this article we examine the war and its effect on China, the role of the Chinese ruling class in the war, and the strategy and tactics of the Chinese Communist Party that led the revolution of 1949. [Editor's note: this was originally a 10 part serialised article, which has now been combined into a single article.]

All this time was required to produce the philosophy of our day; so tardily and slowly did the World-spirit work to reach this goal. What we pass in rapid review when we recall it, stretched itself out in reality to this great length of time. For in this lengthened period, the Notion of Spirit, invested with its entire concrete development, its external subsistence, its wealth, is striving to bring spirit to perfection, to make progress itself and to develop from spirit. It goes ever on and on, because spirit is progress alone. Spirit often seems to have forgotten and lost itself, but inwardly opposed to itself, it is inwardly working ever forward (as when Hamlet says of the ghost of his father, Well said, old mole! canst work i the ground so fast?) until grown strong in itself it bursts asunder the crust of earth which divided it from the sun, its Notion, so that the earth crumbles away. Hegel, Philosophy of History

In the dead of night on 8th July 1937, a unit of the Japanese Army opened machine gun fire on Chinese troops stationed around the Marco Polo or Lugou Bridge in Wanping, now a suburb of Beijing. The shots were fired in retaliation for the apparent (but not actual) kidnapping or killing of a Japanese soldier by the Chinese.

But by the end of the night, the bridge was back in Chinese hands and both sides swiftly came to a gentlemanly agreement to prevent anything like this happening again. However, the high-minded intentions of the peace-loving Japanese and Chinese Generals notwithstanding, by the very next day hostilities had not only recommenced but increased, beginning an unavoidable slide to all out war. How can an insignificant little skirmish quickly resolved have been allowed to start a war?

The Israeli occupation of Palestine has familiarised the contemporary reader with the principle that imperialist occupations have an insane logic of their own. The contradictions and injustice of the occupation are precisely the fuel for further encroachments and oppression; each act of resistance or even miscommunication a justification for defensive assaults on the occupied. The Japanese occupation of China after 1931 was no different, and it was just such a mistake which sparked the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937-45, which was to be the Pacific theatre of World War II, claiming around 32m lives, the vast majority Chinese civilians.

With a similar unconscious necessity, this entangling of China in World War II would raise the country out of its passivity and subjugation on the world stage, such that at the Wars conclusion China was given a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. But this violent dragging of China into world relations could not be achieved without effecting a thoroughgoing internal transformation of China. China could only match the tasks of modernity by throwing off all its accumulated baggage and mess from the past, and thus its modernisation and active participation in world politics meant the long overdue Chinese social revolution.

The accidental spark known as the Marco Polo Bridge or Lugouqiao Incident is possibly the best example of necessity expressing itself through chance one could imagine. Crossed wires, mutual stubbornness and minor (or not so minor) outbreaks of verbal or actual hostilities are inherent in imperialist occupations, and of course they are always the responsibility of the imperialists. As the only point of connection between free China and the key city of Beijing (not then Chinas capital), the taking of the Marco Polo Bridge was naturally an immediate aim of the Japanese occupation of China, which was in reality a one-sided war ongoing since 1931 [see http://www.marxist.com/chinese-comminist-party-1927-37-part-8.htm].

Chiang Kai-shekFor that reason the Japanese had been patrolling the bridge every night with the kind permission of Chiang Kai Shek (the dictator of China), on the condition that the Japanese only inform the Chinese each night of their plans. For one reason or another, on the night of 8th July 1937 this communication failed to take place, leading the Chinese troops to interpret the maneuvers as an actual attack, who as a result fired their weapons (ineffectively). When a Japanese soldier failed to return with his squad, it was assumed he was killed or kidnapped, leading ultimately to the Japanese attack.

Japan had its own reasons for using this pretext, which was an inevitable outcome of six years of occupation and exploitation, to further invade and enslave the profitable regions of China. But in addition to its main motivation of greed, several authors contend [see Guillermaz 1968, p287 and Eastman, Nationalist China During the Sino-Japanese War 1937-35] that a major cause of the Japanese aggression after this incident was the appearance of growing Chinese resolve to resist Japan as realised in the Guomindang governments new alliance with the Chinese Communist Party [CCP]. They wanted to strike before the Chinese had time to mobilise.

The likelihood of this as a factor demonstrates the inseparability of the twins of the Sino-Japanese war and the Chinese revolution - as we have previously shown this resolve and unity came not from Chiang Kai Shek and his Guomindang. It was instead a product of the powerful impetus amongst the Chinese masses towards launching a revolutionary war against the Japanese invaders, an impetus that was fast propelling the CCP to the power it would finally take in 1949. Therefore, before we look at the eight years of war, we will examine this second unlikely alliance between the two nemeses of the Chinese revolution, the Guomindang and the CCP. This alliance to defend China was struck in the months before the Marco Polo Bridge Incident under revolutionary pressure. As Marxists we are naturally most interested in the perspectives and justification for the alliance that the CCP elaborated around 1937, in order that we can compare this with the actual history of the war and its aftermath.

The CCPs Opportunist and Nationalist Perspectives in 1937

As explained previously, the CCPs perspectives for the Chinese revolution and war with Japan had been changed under Moscows orders in late 1935 in the direction of opportunism. The first major fruit of this perspective was the alliance struck with Chiang Kai Shek at gunpoint in late 1936. Why a revolutionary party, finding itself in possession of the defenceless dictator responsible for killing thousands of its own members, would then sign a deal with him on terms favourable to his regime, is analysed in our above linked article. Such a choice of action should in itself be enough to condemn the new perspectives of the CCP.

What followed was a rapid degeneration of the partys programme along nationalist lines. National unity between the CCP and Guomindang was preached; talk of socialism was relegated, in its place the CCP promoted democratic reforms to be introduced by the Guomindang at its leisure; property, including of the landed kind, was not to be touched; rural soviets and the independent Red Army were to have their names changed and placed under Guomindang leadership.

Outlining to party members his new perspectives, Mao stated that

the democratic [i.e. not socialist] revolution (will) transform (itself) in the direction of socialism. There will be several stages of development in the democratic revolution, all under the slogan of the democratic republic, not under the slogan of the Soviet...We maintain that socialism will be reached through all the necessary stages of the democratic republic...To maintain that the bourgeoisie should be eliminated because of its transitional nature and to accuse the revolutionary groups of defeatism and collaboration with the bourgeoisie are Trotskyite words with which we cannot concur. The present alliance between the bourgeoisie and the revolutionary group is a necessary bridge to socialism. (Mao, speech to the National Conference of the CCP, 1937, our emphasis)

We have already explained at length why the perspective of a necessary bourgeois democratic stage to the Chinese revolution was utterly false, as was proven concretely in 1927. For now, it is sufficient to point out that the very man whose personal dictatorship of China proved in practice the falseness of this perspective, was the man whom the CCP was here allying with as the embodiment of the present alliance between the bourgeoisie and the revolutionary group. If Chiang Kai Shek obliterated his previous alliance with the CCP and all hopes for a democratic stage to the revolution in 1927 by staging a violent coup, why rekindle that alliance only ten years later, during which time he had done nothing but strive for the physical liquidation of the CCP?

Of course, what had changed since 1927 was the invasion by Japan. But it was elementary to anyone in the CCP that Chiang Kai Sheks dictatorship was the primary obstacle to fighting Japan, since he had pursued a policy of total capitulation to the stronger Japanese forces, concentrating instead on eliminating the CCP. Thus the Japanese invasion only further increased his criminality. Nevertheless, Mao argued that these policies must be carried out only with the consent of the Guomindang [i.e. of Chiang Kai Shek], because the Guomindang is at present still the largest party in power. (Mao, Urgent Tasks of the Chinese Revolution since the Formation of the KMT-CCP United Front, 1937). Well, it was the only party in power, because China was a one-party dictatorship! It is not an exaggeration to say that at this stage, the CCP was transforming itself into the chief prop of Chiangs dictatorship.

Such a perspective requires the substitution of the reactionary nationalist ideology of national unity at all costs for one of class struggle. It is no surprise then, that at the same time the CCP, in a public statement only one week earlier than Maos above remarks, claimed that the aggression of imperialist Japan can only be overcome by the internal unity of our nation...all our fellow-countrymen, every single zealous descendent of Huangdi [Chinas first emperor] must determinedly and relentlessly participate (CCP Public Statement on KMT-CCP Co-operation, 1937, our emphasis). To clear up what was meant by all countrymen, Mao stated it is a united front of the whole nation...of all parties, groups, classes (Mao, op cit., our emphasis).

The ideology of the CCP was at this time, under Maos leadership, drifting away from Marxism and internationalism and emphasising nationalism above all else. According to Brandt, Schwarz and Fairbank, Mao answered to the question whether the Communists are Chinese first or Communist first, with Without a Chinese nation there could be no CCP. The implication is clear - we are nationalists who use Marxism only insofar as it is useful to achieve national ends. This compares very unfavourably with Marx and Engels statement in the founding document of Marxism that the workers of the world have no country. Maos biographer Schram believes that for Mao himself, the alliance of all Chinese for the salvation of their country was not merely skilful tactics; it was a value in itself. (Schram, Mao Tse-Tung, our emphasis). The same author points out that the main content of political work [by the CCP at this point] both within the army and among the population was to preach national revival, to stimulate national consciousness (ibid).

Defenders of the Party will argue that this emphasis merely reflected the concrete reality of fighting a war of national liberation, and that tapping into the national feeling to fight Japan was a revolutionary act, the first step on the road to social revolution. But the task of Marxists in preparing the masses for socialist revolution would in these circumstances be to elevate the national consciousness of the workers to class consciousness. This should not be hard to do given that the bourgeois nationalist party with which they were now in alliance, which was the only serious bourgeois party in China, had been practising a complete national sellout to the Japanese by refusing to fight them.

This is further underlined by the fact that the Guomindangs new pledge to fight Japan was only won against their wishes and under revolutionary pressure from below. Contrary to Maos claims, the invasion did not make possible the alliance of all classes, instead it revealed the traitorous complicity of the ruling class in that invasion. To this should be added the general fact that, since the end of the Opium Wars, the Chinese bourgeoisie had always sacrificed the wider nations interests in favour of the imperialists for a share in the latters profits. The lesson for China was that, along with all other capitalist countries, it was not one nation to be united but a class divided nation.

The perspectives outlined for the party by Mao in 1937 cut across the very real tendency for the CCP to gain support at the Guomindangs expense (being rightly seen as the only force prepared to stand up for the oppressed Chinese). The new programme worked to lower the masses consciousness of the need for the overthrow of Chiangs dictatorship.

This is clear from the extraordinary historical revisionism in the Guomindangs favour which we find in Maos justifications for the alliance. He explained that as a result of the co-operation between the two parties on major policies, the Great Revolution of 1925-7 was successfully guided[!!] to the point where we were able to achieve, within two or three years, the revolution for nationalism, democracy, and peoples livelihood (Mao, op cit.). For those unclear on exactly what happened in the revolution of 1925-7, please see our series of articles here:http://www.marxist.com/90-years-of-the-chinese-communist-party-part-one.htm. For the aftermath of this successful revolution, please see our subsequent series of articles: http://www.marxist.com/chinese-comminist-party-1927-37-part-1.htm. Suffice it to say here that the revolution of 1925-7 was wrecked because of this alliance, and its product was twenty two years of dictatorship, the virtual breakup of the nation into warlords fiefdoms, and the continuing domination of the country by Japan and the West. One can hardly imagine a less successful revolution.

This revisionism was followed up with poetic praise for Chinas dictator and his apparent role in freeing China, If [the Guomindang] do not consent [to our offer of an alliance to fight Japan], then...Japanese imperialism will not be defeated[but] the more intelligent members and leader of the KMT will certainly not allow this to happen. (Ibid).

No wonder then that Roosevelts personal envoy to Chiang Kai Shek Patrick Hurley did not believe that Mao and his comrades were real Communists (Schram, op. cit.), and that Molotov had told him that the Chinese were radish Communists, red on the outside, white on the inside! (Harrison, The Long March to Power).

The alliance between the bourgeoisie and the revolutionary group in Practice

Mao in 1946Given that Chiang Kai Shek described the Communists as Chinas disease of the heart as opposed to the mere skin disease that were the Japanese, the second attempt at mixing the oil and water of the Guomindang and CCP would require a special recipe concocted to meet Chiangs tastes. This can already be seen in the above quoted historical revisionism of Mao in which he paints the Guomindangs history in bright colours. At this time Mao also predicted a brilliant future for the Guomindang, and praise[d] its great leader Chiang Kai Shek (Schram, op cit.), whom Mao also especially hope[d] would take up the task of reform (Mao, op cit.).

The concrete application in policy was of subordination to the Guomindangs political programme and leadership, under the one precondition that the Guomindang remain committed to fighting the Japanese - though that too was predictably violated, as Mao admitted in 1945 that 64% of the fighting against the Japanese and 95% of that against Japanese puppets was carried about by the much smaller CCP forces (Mao, Chinas Strategy for Victory).

This meant in practice that the CCP publicly pledged that it

abandons all its policy of overthrowing the KMT by force and the movement of sovietization, and discontinues its policy of forcible confiscation of land from landlords...abolishes the present Soviet government and practices democracy based on the peoples rights in order to unify the national political power...abolishes the designation of the Red Army, reorganises it into the [Guomindang controlled] National Revolutionary Army, places it under the control of the Military Affairs Commission of the National government, and awaits orders (CCP Public Statement on KMT-CCP Co-operation, 1937, our emphasis)

For any who still believe that in making such statements, the CCP was merely maneuvering to gain legality and breathing space for itself, or to tap into any feeling for national unity without actually surrendering independence from the Guomindang, it must be noted that these public pledges were accompanied by a drive from Mao and the CCP for a common political programme for both parties (Mao, op cit.). In the same document of 1937 Mao argues for the need for co-operation between officers and men in the army, without in any way putting forward concrete demands regarding the character of the army, the election of officers or any other social or progressive content whatsoever. Such a position, when coupled with the offer of abolishing the Red Army, the Soviet political bases and for a common political programme acceptable to the Guomindang dictatorship, could only mean supporting the domination of rank-and-file peasant soldiers by the corrupt Guomindang officers.

We have argued in our previous series on China that such a strategy of political alliance with the Guomindang may indeed have been cleverly engineered to gain the party greater organisational breathing space; but as we showed, this only reveals a complete degeneration for a Marxist organisation. In the Communist Manifesto Marx and Engels stress that The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. As we argued previously, the point is that they publicly declared they were [following the Guomindangs orders]. They publicly supported and propped up the Guomindang bourgeois dictatorship. They deflected popular anger away from Nanjing, and thus made themselves incapable of mobilising the masses for a political overthrow of the regime.

This is borne out by the fact that little was gained in the way of recruits or influence from within the Guomindang. CCP members doing entry work in the Guomindang were generally isolated and for the moment served mainly in intelligence work (Harrison, op cit, p350).

It must be understood that this inversion of priorities, of sacrificing the duty to raise the class consciousness of the masses for organisational gains, flows from its abandonment of its urban working class base for a strategy of using the countryside to win power militarily and independently of any mass class mobilisation. This thinking is revealed in a Party meeting in August 1937 in which a compromise was reached whereby the CCP accepted Guomindang military leadership and the "suspension of the political commissar system", but "would keep real control under the CCP". "Zhang Wentian proposed and won approval for, first, following nationalist orders in Shanxi and assigned areas in order to gain nationalist confidence... Then expanding into other areas." (Harrison, op cit.).

In September 1938 Mao reported to the CCP Central Committee that to subordinate the class struggle to the present national struggle to resist Japan - that is the fundamental principle of the united front (Ibid). [I]n September and November he sent pledges of support for Chiangs leadership (Ibid), as did Zhou Enlai according to Chiang himself. He even accepted in advance two limitations similar to those which Chiang had imposed in 1926 [and which aided his coup and subsequent slaughter of Communists] on the activity of Communists in the Guomindang: a complete list of Communist Party members who joined the Guomindang would be handed over to the latter, and Guomindang members would not be recruited into the Communist Party (Schram, op cit.).

Finally, we can add to this that the party publicly promoted in its Manifesto on the Current Situation that it was not only cooperating with the dictatorship under the special and dire circumstances of the war, but also that it is determined to cooperate [with the Guomindang] for national reconstruction after the successful conclusion of the war (Harrison, op cit., our emphasis). There can be no doubt that the CCP was in this time guilty of out and out opportunism and a complete abandonment of any Marxist, class based perspective for the war and Chinas future. All this was justified under the tag united front. Let us therefore compare Maos United Front with the classical United Front worked out by Lenin and Trotsky in the Third International.

Lenins United Front

The starting point for the united front tactic of Bolshevism is political independence. We mean by this not necessarily refusing to work with or in other parties and tendencies, but only steadfastly committing to a truthful Marxist analysis, irrespective of this or that trend or pressure. In fact, the Bolsheviks were always independent, in the sense that they never compromised in the defence of their revolutionary programme, policy and theory (Woods, Bolshevism). As Trotsky said on behalf of the leadership of the Communist International in 1922,

In order to summon the proletariat for the direct conquest of power and to achieve it the Communist Party must base itself on the overwhelming majority of the working class. So long as it does not hold this majority, the party must fight to win it. The party can achieve this only by remaining an absolutely independent organization with a clear programme and strict internal discipline.

The question of all questions for Marxist parties is how to help the working class become conscious of this programme and its necessity, in other words, how to unite the maximum possible number of proletarians around a revolutionary programme. It is the role of the united front tactic to bridge the gap between Marxists and their programme on the one side and the working masses on the other, many of whom will be involved in and loyal to non-revolutionary organisations.

Now, it is a rather difficult and clumsy discussion to compare the united front tactic as worked out in the Communist International under Lenins leadership, with Maos purported united front with Chiang Kai Sheks Guomindang, since none of the conditions for the former apply to the latter. In particular, the united front is not operable outside the context of working class organisations. It has no purpose other than to raise the need for unity amongst workers and to reveal that the chief obstacle to that is the erroneous reformist leadership of many workers organisations, such as the Social Democracy.

Only those who cannot think dialectically imagine that a united front of different political forces requires the denial or suppression of those differences. On the contrary, it opens up a broader and more equal platform for the fighting out of those forces, within the confines of and in relation to certain agreed common aims. A common campaign allows all forces of that campaign to debate with one another as to the best means to achieve the campaigns ends, and of course to debate the real causes of and solutions to the issue at hand.

Hence the fact that in the Communist Internationals formulations for the United Front tactic to be employed under different circumstances by different sections, it was expressly stated that

any sort of organizational agreement which restricts our freedom of criticism and agitation is absolutely unacceptable to us. We participate in a united front but do not for a single moment become dissolved in it. We function in the united front as an independent detachment. It is precisely in the course of struggle that broad masses must learn from experience that we fight better than the others, that we see more clearly than the others, that we are more audacious and resolute. (Trotsky, On the United Front, 1922)

It is self evident that the logic of these two united fronts is diametrically opposite. The united front of Marxists is a clear and carefully chosen political programme advanced to raise the revolutionary consciousness of the working class, and operates only in the context therefore of workers organisations. The demands and political content of the call for a united front must be framed in relation to the workers real problems and their solutions; thus the programme has an educational content. It is not so much about necessarily achieving unity in action, although that would be desirable, especially if under the instigation of the Marxists:

A policy aimed to secure the united front does not of course contain automatic guarantees that unity in action will actually be attained in all instances. On the contrary, in many cases and perhaps even the majority of cases, organizational agreements will be only half-attained or perhaps not at all. But it is necessary that the struggling masses should always be given the opportunity of convincing themselves that the non-achievement of unity in action was not due to our formalistic irreconcilability but to the lack of real will to struggle on the part of the reformists. (Ibid)

Maos United Front with Chiang Kai Shek, on the other hand, has a directly contrary logic. Mao was indeed correct to centre the CCPs programme around the need for a war to be waged against the Japanese occupation. Given that there were no mass organisations of the working class in China at this time, there was no basis for a united front proposal to fight Japan, since workers were not loyal to reformist leaders. However, if we allow ourselves the luxury of imagining the Guomindang was a mass workers organisation, then it would have been necessary for the CCP from 1931 onwards to place the demand on it for a united front to fight Japan. This call could then be filled with a Marxist content - in other words, its concrete points would be that such a war should be organised by the workers organisations involving such weapons as a general strike, occupations of Japanese owned factories and the formation of a workers militia responsible to the trade unions etc.

There can be no doubt that such a call, if energetically campaigned for in the cities amongst the working class, would have gained an enormous echo and helped the CCP to rebuild in urban centres. It would not matter from this point of view if the proposal were rejected by the other party; the CCP would have made its point and would have advanced class consciousness thereby.

Precisely because the Guomindang was not a democratic workers organisation with a real base, but was instead a bourgeois party under the direct control of the state apparatus, the CCPs offer of unity with it could have no such character. It would be useless and absurd to fill the proposal with a revolutionary class content, for the Guomindang represented a different class and was already detested by workers. That is why the proposal lacked any programmatic content. It served no educational value for workers and can only have alienated them from the CCP - which had up till 1936 regained a degree of respect from workers for being the only organisation willing to fight Japanese imperialism and for its unjust suppression by the Guomindang. At a stroke, the alliance with Chiang Kai Shek served to destroy much of this.

Maos sole justification for the alliance was that it rallied a greater number of people to fight Japanese imperialism because armed invasion by Japanese imperialists has brought about changes in class relations in China, thus making imperative and making possible the alliance of all classes (Mao, Urgent Tasks of the Chinese Revolution since the Formation of the KMT-CCP United Front, 1937, our emphasis). If that were the case, the Guomindang would have not spent the first six years of the occupation co-operating with the Japanese to fight the CCP. Why was the proposal for the alliance made before the intensification of the occupation after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, and why could the Guomindangs hand in this alliance only be won on the basis of literally holding a gun to Chiang Kai Sheks head, if the invasion had made possible and natural an alliance of all classes? As argued above, a far better way to rally greater numbers to fight would have been to consistently make an appeal to the working class for a general strike and the formation of urban workers militias like in Shanghai in 1927 to overthrow the Japanese and the capitulationist dictatorship of Chiang, and to organise militias in the cities to cripple the Japanese.

We will see in the course of these articles that there is no evidence that the unity of these two parties ensured a stronger resistance. Japan maintained its occupation and got what it wanted from China throughout the war until it was defeated by the US in 1945, and a class based mobilisation of strikes in the industries the Japanese were profiting from would have been far more effective. We will also see how, far from changing the class relations and somehow bringing the bourgeoisie into solidarity with the workers, the rotten Chinese bourgeoisie only intensified its plundering of the nation and used the oppression of the Japanese as an excuse to economically and politically crush the working class. Unfortunately, the CCPs alliance with the bourgeoisie only aided the latter in doing so.

The CCPs Direct Participation in the Regime

A Marxist organisation must be extremely flexible in its tactics. Any opportunity to reach a bigger audience with its ideas should be considered. That can even mean, in conditions of dictatorship or political repression, forging temporary alliances with liberals to gain political freedoms or changing the language of ones publications to get it past the censor - but always under the condition that the fundamental revolutionary ideas and programme are not thereby violated. Indeed, the more the party understands correctly the necessary political programme for building socialism, the more confident it will be of applying this flexibly without selling out.

After the CCPs mistaken alliance with Chiang was made, there were many more legal openings for the party to take. The question is, did they skilfully use these to advance a socialist programme to the working class?

One such political opening was the convening of the Peoples Political Council in 1938, which is comparable to the Dumas formed under the Tsar in Russia, but without even the slither of democracy the Dumas represented. In the workers elections to the Shidlovsky Commission in 1905, the Bolsheviks rightly participated in the early stages, despite the sham democracy the elections represented. This is because for the first time in Russian history it afforded the working class a limited opportunity to express itself politically and organisationally, and so by participating the Bolsheviks linked themselves and their programme with the masses, gained a larger audience for their ideas and in turn themselves learnt from the working class.

However, there was a strict political limit placed on this tactic which was that there could be no democratic liberal intrusions into the politics they put forward. Instead, they used the opportunity of the elections to denounce the Tsarist regime and the idea of a peaceful, liberal democratic reform of it. At no point did the Bolsheviks use the elections to seek careers for themselves nor did they entertain any illusions in reforming the regime from within. In some cases they ran in the first round of elections, to gain a hearing, only to boycott the second round. In genuine bourgeois democracies, Marxists would participate in Parliament under certain conditions, but again would in no way seek to sow illusions in its democratic nature as the true voice of the people, but would instead simply use it as a soap box for revolutionary ideas.

Given the CCPs perspectives of national unity with the Guomindang dictatorship, it is not surprising that when these legal openings for the CCP did arise after 1937 they did precisely the opposite of the Bolsheviks up to 1917. The Peoples Political Council was a mere consultative assembly formed by Chiang in 1938 to appease demands for democratic reform without threatening his own rule. Several leading Communists were invited (not elected) by Chiang to participate in this body. Given that this body had no democratic legitimacy or independence whatsoever, it is elementary that the CCP should have denounced this move and demanded instead a real Constitutional Assembly. Instead they participated in the council which they used chiefly not to address the masses with revolutionary ideas but to develop alliances with the liberals, both within and without the Guomindang, who also sat in this council. One can only imagine the spectacle this presented to the Chinese workers enduring the twin evils of occupation and Guomindang dictatorship as well as ruthless exploitation and poverty made constantly worse by hyper-inflation. The effect would not be dissimilar to that of the discrediting of social democracy in contemporary Western society in the eyes of the working class.

In total contradiction with this was Lenins method, which always warned most sharply against alliances and illusions in liberalism, the nice face of the regime of capitalist dictatorship, the most dangerous of advisers are those liberal friends of the workers who claim to be defending their interests, but are actually trying to destroy the class independence of the proletariat and its organisation. (Lenin, The Liberals Corruption of the Workers, 1914)

At the same time, Zhou Enlai was invited to attend the Guomindang National Executive Congress...he was even appointed Deputy Minister of Political Training in the army, maintaining the post until 1940, though its attributions were entirely honorific (Guillermaz, op cit., our emphasis). In other words, the leading Communist Zhou Enlai accepted political and moral responsibility for the bourgeois Guomindang dictatorship without even gaining the consolation of a little control of the army!

It is interesting to note that at exactly the same time as this, the Stalinists in Spain (along with the Anarchists) were participating in another bourgeois government to save the country from the threat of fascism. In both cases the tactic led to the negation of any effective working class based resistance to fascism, whether foreign or native.

Finally, the CCPs self-debasement in favour of liberalism was completed when it enthusiastically lent support to the US governments proposals for liberal reform in China in 1944, taking the opportunity to flatter the American imperialists at the same time by heap[ing] lavish praise on the American democratic tradition (Schram, op cit.) - despite the fact that at this time, as previously and as they would do in the civil war after Japans defeat, the US continued to arm and support the Guomindang against the CCP. Just before they agreed a project with US General Hurley for liberal democratic reform (on terms agreeable to US imperialism of course), the CCPs Liberation Daily wrote that: Democratic America has already found a companion, and the cause of Sun Yat Sen a successor, in the Chinese Communist Party and the other democratic forces (quoted in Schram, op cit.).

This reveals the full extent of the CCPs descent into opportunism in the late 1930s on the eve of the war that would decide Chinas fate and put all political and class forces to the test. With this understanding of the programme of the CCP and the alliance of political forces, we must now evaluate the playing out of the Second Sino-Japanese War not only so that we can better understand the background to the peculiar revolution of 1949, but also so that we can understand what could have happened had the party had a Marxist programme and leadership.

The Sino-Japanese War

If the Japanese leadership had not planned the Marco Polo Bridge Incident which sparked the full-scale war, they didnt let that show. By October, only three months after the war started, the Japanese had already reached the most westerly point of the entire war.

They succeeded in totally destroying Chinas air force in only a few weeks, which enabled them to mercilessly bomb civilians for the remainder of the war with no threat to themselves, like shooting fish in a barrel (Guillermaz, op cit. pp287). Between 1939 and 1941, the temporary capital of free China, Chongqing, was bombed 268 times, with 4,400 being killed in the first two raids (Eastman, op cit.). Within a year Japan had effectively taken control of all the lucrative areas of China it desired - that is the industrially developed and agriculturally productive North and East of the country. In a number of key battles that were all over by the end of 1938, the Japanese brutally crushed any hopes of an effective Guomindang led resistance.

Losing 15 of 18 Provinces

We have argued that a far more effective means of fighting the Japanese would have been to organise a revolutionary war of resistance by mobilising the hundreds of millions of Chinese workers and peasants on a socialist programme to make the occupation impossible. Given that the CCP sacrificed this perspective for one of collaboration with the militarily stronger but politically reactionary Guomindang, it is our duty to honestly assess the calibre of this fighting force with which the CCP had allied at such great political cost.

Evidently, the Guomindang did not match up well to the Japanese since it only took the latter twelve months to achieve all it wanted - the control of North and East China and the total destruction of the Chinese air force. The anti-Japanese united front for which Mao argued so vociferously failed spectacularly to defend China. But how and why?

Part of the reason for Japans rapid success was Chiang Kai Sheks cruel contempt for the Chinese people. Despite Chiangs nationalism, these hundreds of millions never entered his plans as Chinas greatest force for resistance. Anticipating the war he argued in 1935 that even if we lose 15...of the 18 provinces of China proper, with Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces in our control we will definitely beat any enemy (quoted in Eastman, op cit.). Instead of spending the period from 1935 onwards to prepare the masses in the 15 other provinces to make the Japanese occupation impossible, he sacrificed those millions to Japans tender mercies with barely a fight.

The key northern cities of Beijing and Tianjin were taken with ease by Japan in only a few days in late July 1937 thanks to Japans already existing military occupation of Manchuria. Immediately after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, Japan was able to mobilise 160,000 troops in Northern China in only a few weeks. The vital southern city of Canton (now Guangzhou) fell without a fight in October 1938.

The most graphic application of Chiangs policy of sacrificing the majority of China to the Japanese was his scorched earth policy in which he took the trouble to kill and destroy Chinese people and industry on behalf of the Japanese in order to make their occupation less feasible. For example, in November 1938, as the Japanese were approaching Changsha, capital of Hunan province, it was decided to set fire to the entire city to make its occupation strategically pointless and costly. Tragically, in their haste they started the blaze before everyone had evacuated, so not only was this historic city destroyed but so were the lives of 2,000 of its inhabitants.

A much worse incident had already taken place in June of 1938 on the Yellow River at Kaifeng, Henan province. Retreating from encircling Japanese forces, the Guomindang commanders hit upon the idea of destroying the entire valley behind them by diverting the great river in order to halt the Japanese. It worked rather too well, flooding 4-5,000 whole villages and leaving over two million homeless, destitute and without crops and food (Eastman, op cit.). Guillermaz even claims that millions of Chinese peasants died from the loss of harvest. It was a funny kind of national united front against Japan when the nationalists were often responsible for more death and destruction of Chinese than were the Japanese.

The Invasion of Shanghai and the Nanjing Massacre

Despite the policy of retreat and self-sacrifice (or rather, the policy of sacrificing the Chinese masses on their behalf), there were some instances of determined Guomindang led-fight backs and even victories in the early days of the war, however these often only sparked off a more vicious Japanese assault for which the Chinese were not prepared.

Only one month after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the Japanese found a pretext for invading the lucrative city of Shanghai when a Japanese lieutenant was killed by a Chinese guard in August 1937. The Japanese lost no time in seizing the excuse for an invasion with a front line of troops formed outside the city in a couple of weeks. Feeling that to lose Shanghai without a fight would be too politically humiliating, Chiang moved in roughly 300,000 soldiers to the city to fight the 200,000 of Japan (Guillermaz, op cit. p291). However despite not only their numerical superiority but also their enormous home advantage, the Guomindang army lost the battle with around 270,000 killed and by November were retreating from Shanghai.

History shows that an occupying force, even one of tremendous technical superiority, can have enormous difficulties in winning a war in a large city if its inhabitants are united in fighting against the occupation. Every building becomes a war zone, a potential hiding place for snipers and bombs, every citizen a potential soldier. It is therefore testament to the Guomindangs fear of and hostility to their own people, as well as their general ineptness and corruption, that they failed to hold Shanghai or make the Japanese occupation of it particularly difficult despite the fact that the latter had not even made plans to invade this far south. As Guillermaz points out (referring to later battles), the Japanese action was helped at a political level by the unpopularity of the nationalist troops who, underfed and undisciplined, laid waste countryside already hit by severe famine.

Had the CCP spent the decade since 1927 rebuilding a base in cities like Shanghai, campaigning against the bourgeois dictatorship of Chiang Kai Shek and for the need to wage a revolutionary war with Japan, they could have mobilised the working class of Shanghai (their original stronghold along with Canton) for a general strike and urban guerrilla warfare against this Japanese invasion.

But worse was to come from this defeat, for Chinese forces retreated in such a way as to give the Japanese open access to Nanjing, the then capital of free China, failing even to use the deliberately constructed concrete fortifications outside the city, which the Japanese entered on 13th December 1937. This was when the defenceless population suffered the infamous rape of Nanjing in which up to 300,000 civilians were raped and massacred, for which one of the chief perpetrators Prince Asaka was never tried. The methods of killing included burying alive and burning alive with kerosene (Eastman, op cit.).

The Guomindang government fled Nanjing and set up a temporary command in Hankou (now part of Wuhan) before reestablishing the national government in Chongqing, which would remain the capital until the end of the war.

The Character of Chiang Kai Sheks Military

If war is a continuation of politics by other means, than it is no surprise to find the Guomindangs army was as corrupt, inefficient, inept and exploitative as was his political tutelage.

We have already explained the reasons for the corruption and degeneracy of Chiangs regime. In summary, despite being a so-called party of national unity and modernisation, because in coming to power it had to base itself on Chinas weak and corrupt bourgeoisie in order to defeat the working class-led revolution, the party sunk into the worst backwardness. It abandoned itself to the most reactionary forces, in particular landlordism and warlordism, since those were the ones who were allies against the CCP.

Thus Chiang maintained his power by balancing between, flattering and bribing the archaic local warlords and the most corrupt speculative capitalists. His regime had to be one of corruption because its power base was an inherently corrupt class. He had no independent power to unite the country, and so it actually became more divided into competing warlord fiefdoms than before. Frequently, when his power loomed too large above those of his lords, they would forge alliances against him, and he would have to bribe one or the other with promises of political influence. Chiang very much resembled a feudal king or chief thief sitting uneasily atop many lesser thieves.

Given that Chiangs power was based on that of local warlords, it is unsurprising that such corruption and disunity found its sharpest expression in the military and the war against Japan.

Many Chinese commanders were hesitant and cowardly. Most of them had enjoyed regional autonomy too long to risk their lives and power merely at Chiang Kai Sheks command. Governor Han Fuju, for example, ignominiously abandoned Shandong province to the Japanese, although he, in contrast to most, paid for his disregard of Chiangs orders with his life. He was executed in January 1938...It was not, however, a united, national army, but a coalition of armies which differed in degrees of loyalty to the central government as well as in training, equipment and military capabilities...Long Yun, governor of Yunnan, for example, resisted central government encroaches upon his provincial power...Governor Yan Xishan, commander of the Second War Zone in North China and vice chairman of the Military Council, ruled his native Shanxi as an autonomous satrapy. He prohibited units of the Central Army from entering his war zone...since 1941, Yan had even maintained close and amiable relations with the Japanese. (Ibid).

Eastman points out that from non-Central Chinese armies, 12 generals defected to the Japanese in 1941, 15 in 1942 and 42 in 1943, taking with them around 500,000 troops who were now used against the Guomindang and, in the main, the CCP! And of course we cannot leave out the most infamous of all desertions, that of Wang Jingwei, who in 1927 was trumpeted by the CCP as the leader of the Guomindangs left wing and a reliable ally for the Communists. In 1938 he deserted the Guomindang and by 1940 was installed as the leader of Japans puppet Reorganised National Government of China based in Nanjing.

As with all gangster politicians, Chiang demoted or minimised the influence of the few generals with actual talent since they posed a threat to his power with their independent ideas and incorruptibility. The others were promoted precisely because they were mediocre or came from powerful warlord backgrounds but typically with no idea how to fight a modern war - nor the desire to do so. The epitome of this was reached when in 1944 Roosevelt demanded that Chiang place the US general Stilwell in full command of the war effort since Chiang and his commanders could not be relied upon, and instead Chiang sent Stilwell back to America, understanding this as a mortal threat to his own power. Stilwell was replaced by General Wedemeyer, who quickly drew the same conclusions and hit the nail on the head when he described Chiangs commanders as incapable, inept, untrained, petty...altogether inefficient.

Class exploitation in the Military

What they lacked in talent, determination and unity, they made up for in the art of exploitation and cruelty for their own troops. All males between 18 and 45 were subject to military conscription, however

recruitment was left in the hands of the local gentry [again revealing Chiangs complete dependence on these anachronistic classes and lack of any real national state apparatus], which meant that al the relatively well-off families escaped conscription. Consequently the poorest and physically weakest sections of the population found themselves herded into primitive depots, and then had to cover several hundred or thousand kilometres on foot to join their units. Out of 1,670,000 men conscripted in 1943, 750,000 never reached their destination. (Guillermaz, op cit., p302, our emphasis)

In many cases peasants were simply rounded up without any formal conscription process taking place. Guillermaz quotes General Wedemeyer on the realities of conscription, Conscription comes to the Chinese peasant like famine or flood, only more regularly - every year twice - and claims more victims. Famine, flood, and drought compare with conscription like chicken pox with the plague.

Eastman adds more horrific details to the treatment of peasant conscripts,

Frequently the recruits were tied together with ropes around their necks. At night they might be stripped of their clothing to prevent them from sneaking away. For food, they received only small quantities of rice, since the conscripting officers customarily squeezed the rations for their own profit. For water, they might have to drink from puddles by the roadside - a common cause of diarrhoea. Soon, disease coursed through the conscripts bodies. Medical treatment was unavailable, however, because the recruits were not regarded as part of the army until they had joined their assigned units...Within a month [of General Wedemeyers appointment] he realised that the soldiers were too weak to march and were incapable of fighting effectively, largely because they were half starved...An American expert, who in 1944 examined 1,200 soldiers from widely different kinds of units, found that 57% of the men displayed nutritional deficiencies that significantly affected their ability to function as soldiers.

Unsurprisingly, not only did millions of soldiers die from starvation and disease - more than from fighting the Japanese - but in many cases over half the soldiers in a given unit would desert - sometimes to the CCP, others just fled in desperation. It is genuinely not an exaggeration to say that during the Sino-Japanese war, the most fearful and directly harmful enemy of the Chinese people was their own Guomindang government (and the class it represented).

This is the reality of the regime established by Chinas successful bourgeois revolution of 1927. It is undeniable proof that the Chinese bourgeoisie, to the extent it even existed, was incapable of taking society forwards or even holding it together. This was a rotten, bedraggled and crisis ridden regime ripe for the overthrow. We believe we have shown enough evidence of corruption, cruelty, ineptness and disunity to prove that the CCPs about-face and silencing of all anti-Guomindang propaganda was profoundly wrong. The united-front was clearly a farce because the Guomindang could not even hold together its own army to fight Japan, not to speak of the way it ran the economy and exploited the working class (more on that soon).

And yet despite finding itself unable to organise an army worthy of the name, it did manage to keep one generals forces well fed and trained - those of General Hu Zongnan, because it was his troops that in the early 40s - whilst the united front was still being practiced by the CCP - that were charged with containing the CCPs forces in the north. At times in the war Chiang committed as many as 500,000 of his best troops to blockading the CCPs bases, especially after the Guomindangs treacherous role in the New 4th Army Incident, which will be explained in part III. Throughout the war Chiang deliberately held back the anti-Japan war effort in order to save his forces for a future struggle to wipe out the CCP. This fact says everything about the sincerity of the Guomindangs alliance with the CCP to defeat Japan.

The united-front was always a fiction dreamt up in Moscow and imposed onto the Chinese reality, because for Stalin the CCP was not an agent of the Chinese revolution but a bargaining chip in his negotiations with Chiang Kai Shek. This is underlined by the fact that the USSR signed a treaty of nonaggression [with Chiang Kai Shek] on August 21, 1937, sent aid of about $300m to the Nationalists, and stationed as many as 500 military advisors and pilots with them, though none with the Communists, so far as is known. All this aid reportedly led Mao to query in December, 1937, If so much could be given to Chiang Kai Shek, why could we not get a small share? Why indeed.

The Literal Bankruptcy of Chiang Kai Sheks Regime

The same ossified, fractured approach to the war effort was the defining characteristic of Chinas economy in this period. Social and economic life was choked by an intolerably corrupt, short sighted and grasping bureaucracy taking advantage of the absence of a strong capitalist class able to control the state. This state of affairs, already firmly entrenched by the ten years of Chiangs rule before 1937 fed off itself in a vicious circle; the dead end of Chinese capitalism and all pervasive corruption it caused only further encouraged those with the ability to fleece the state, workers, peasants and anyone else to do so with abandon.

Faced with a Japanese blockade of what was already an extremely sickly economy, the government increased its issuance of currency over 700 fold from 1937 to 1945; as a result average prices rose over the same period by a multitude of 2,395! There are a number of reasons why price rises were around three times as high as the increase in currency; the main one was most likely the huge decline in industrial output after Japan took possession of the most productive cities, meaning that supply could not meet demand. Industrial production fell to below 12% of the prewar level. As well as the loss of factories to Japan, within Guomindang controlled China 82% of factories folded due to a particularly short-sighted boom in 1939-40 (Eastman, op cit.). Farmers in turn started to hoard grain as they had lost confidence in the currency, the resulting lack of grain naturally caused this staple commodity to rise in price, worsening the inflation.

Additionally, during the 1930s the rural economy suffered under the iron fist of Chiang, who imposed compulsory labour onto the peasantry that benefited the rich landowners, and the brutality of this experience forced them into striking (Bianco & Lloyd, Peasant Movements, Cambridge History of China volume 13, p290). Agricultural production worsened still thanks to the Japanese invasion, especially from 1942 onwards, further impoverishing both rural and urban workers (Myers, The Agrarian System, Cambridge History of China volume 13, pp267-9).

Indeed the effects of this on the working class were devastating, as wages failed to rise by anything like this amount, a fact which Eastman perversely celebrates as the one success of Chinas hyper-inflation, the consequences of inflation were not all negative. During the eight years of war, for example, real wages of workers rose only during 1938; thereafter, to the benefit of employers, they declined. The destitution of the working class is always a silver lining for the capitalists when enduring a crisis!

With rampant inflation came rampant speculation, which had always been the chief vice of Chinas capitalist class (see the above linked article), diverting investment from productive activity: investors made substantially larger profits simply by storing the cotton than by chancing long term investment in mills that processed cotton (Ibid). 86% of liquid capital went into speculation as opposed to real investment in 1944!

Thanks to all this, from 1937-45 industrial workers real wages fell by more than half! Roughly the same figure applies to rural workers, although farmers who owned their land only saw their incomes fall by around 20%. But extraordinarily, the real wages of civil servants, university workers and professors and soldiers all fell by around 90%! (Ibid). The poverty of soldiers, professors and civil servants is explicable by the governments austerity drive to counter the costs of inflation on war expenditure, and in the case of the civil servants also gives an insight into why corruption became so rampant.

We apologise for the lack of a discussion of the CCPs analysis, propaganda and political intervention regarding this dire economic situation and class exploitation, but thanks to its alliance with Chiang Kai Shek and its absorption in rural and military survival, the CCP said and did little or nothing about this state of affairs. Consequently it failed to make political headway amongst urban workers, students and professors.

Rapidly spiralling prices, which the government had failed to anticipate, forced a reaction. In 1941 it started to scratch around for tax revenue to pay for the war. Thus it fell back on the hated likin tax (again, please see above linked article), one of the most economically depressing taxes possible, as well as other ingenious taxes like the contribute-sandals-to-recruits tax, the comfort-recruits-families tax, the train-antiaircraft-cadres tax, and the provide-fuel-for-garrisoned-troops tax! (Fairbank & Goldman, China: A New History, p314).

For the same reasons the government also pursued a harsh austerity agenda. Through measures like holding down the wages of government employees during extreme inflation and cutting back on government support for industry, the government actually reduced its real expenditure during the war by more than three quarters, despite having to feed a huge army! Although, as we have seen, it barely fed the soldiers if it could help it.

Bureaucratic Capital

Far from uniting the working class with the bourgeoisie, the rigours of the war revealed the bourgeoisies rotten, self-serving and venal characteristics, preferring as it did to use the chaos of war to speculate and hoard, driving millions to starvation. Wartime, more than any other, demands the superiority of a collective plan and unified effort to overcome what are profoundly social questions. Such an effort and coordination was far beyond the capacities of a class raised on a diet of usury and easy money.

Whereas the planned economy of the USSR was able, despite all its bureaucracy, to move the key war industries in a short space of time from European Russia to behind the Urals, the anarchic Chinese capitalists failed in their equivalent task. Despite the governments bribery of guaranteed 5-10% profit rates for 7 years, plus low interest rate loans and free factory sites for capitalists who moved their factories into the interior far away from the Japanese, only 120,000 tons of equipment ever got moved, far less than both what was available to be moved and what needed to be moved. [M]ost industrialists and financiers felt little or no personal involvement in the cause of Chinese resistance...They did not allow patriotism to dull their business instincts. (Eastman, op cit.). And yet the CCP remained wedded to this patriot class right to the end of the war.

Indeed the failures of the capitalist class in the war forced the government to play the leading economic role long before the CCP nationalised the means of production after 1949. By 1942 the state controlled 17.5% of all factories, 70% of all capital, 32% of workers and 42% of horsepower (ibid). This tendency towards statisation of Chinese capitalism is important to note for the later discussion on exactly why - contrary to their stated aims and perspectives - the CCP proceeded to expropriate capitalism after taking power. It also forms important evidence in our argument that the alliance with the bourgeoisie was totally unjustified for it lacked the capacity to and interest in taking China forwards.

Of course, this had been obvious ever since the bourgeoisie backed Chiang Kai Shek to become the dictator of China. His autocracy was the political expression of the same inability of Chinese capitalism to develop the productive forces that forced the government to play an increasingly large economic role. The terms of the CCPs deal with Chiang was that his regime would gradually reform itself into a democratic one in which the CCP could legally participate, and yet in 1939 the Military Affairs Commission, chaired by Chiang, arrogated to itself all administrative functions of government, making Chiangs control direct for every aspect of Chinas life.

Chiang Alienates the Imperialists

Given the basket case of China under Chiang Kai Shek, the British and American imperialists were in 1939 giving serious thought to forging an alliance with Japan, which they correctly estimated as being so much stronger than China that it might be worth abandoning the latter. The British, perhaps understanding how rotten and unpopular Chiangs regime was, even wanted to wait to see if Wang Jingweis Japanese puppet regime in Nanjing might manage to be more popular than that of Chiangs before choosing whether to back China or Japan. However these designs were scuppered by Japanese intransigence with regard to British and American interests in China (Akira Iriye Japanese Aggression and Chinas International Position, Cambridge History of China volume 13, pp525-6). The imperialists had no concern for the plight of the Chinese masses under the heel of Japan and only sided with China to protect their narrow interests there, and in the hope that China could be used in an American dominated post-war setup to contain Russia and grind Japan and Germany into the ground.

With China apparently an important inclusion in the schemes of the imperialists, the egotistical Chiang began to fantasise that this had elevated China into one of the worlds great powers. In reality Chinas lying prostrate in the face of Japanese imperialism meant that it required the American and British imperialists, who were concerned about the Japanese threat to their interests only, to fight the battle on its behalf. We have already seen how the Chinese capitalists were not prepared to lead the fight themselves, economically or militarily. Chiangs foolish delusion that having the US fight on his behalf (whilst he concentrated on the CCP) would mean the future elevation of China at the hands of the US led to increasing frustration from the US, to the point where they refused Chiangs government a $1bn loan and considered supporting the CCP more (which they saw as the better fighters, and not really Communists anyway).

Chiang Kai Shek was a miserable, grasping and lazy leader only ever interested in the preservation of his own power. He staffed his army with incompetent generals simply because they were loyal, and concentrated his best troops not against Japan but the CCP. As disastrous as this was for the Chinese ruling class, they could have it no other way, for they had not the means to effectively resist Japan without arousing the masses to military activity, the last thing they wanted. Chiangs cowardice and preference for passivity in the war by banking on the US to fight on his behalf, and his determination to get the maximum for his regime from the US with the minimum disturbance to his kingdom, is the true political expression of a capitalist class born too late and with no role to play.

The CCP at war

For twenty two years after 1927 the comrades of the CCP knew of no state other than constant war. Physically liquidated from the cities in 1927-8, they fled to the countryside, where they suffered one extermination campaign after another by the Guomindang, forcing them to embark on the Long March in 1934. This exhausting state of affairs brought the party to near extinction (it certainly was enough to destroy its Marxist programme), a big factor in its forging an alliance with Chiang Kai Shek in 1936 to gain breathing space. And yet no sooner had this truce been signed when Japan launched an all out war with China, a war whose secondary motivation for the Japanese (after the exploitation of Chinese industry and raw materials) was the extermination of the communist threat.

Throughout this new and higher stage to the struggle, it must be noted that the CCPs successes and survival owed themselves to its politics and not its military. Despite its erroneous support for Chiangs dictatorship the party continued, at least to some extent, to be seen as the only genuinely anti-Japanese and anti-landlord force in China.

Beneath the surface of shoddy deals the CCP cadres continued to organise the peasants and dish out something resembling revolutionary ideas of a way out from endless poverty and exploitation. Of course, this was nothing as compared with what the party could have done had it retained political, revolutionary independence from the loathed Chiang regime. However it was something and that was enough to distinguish the CCP from the rest. In many cases the objective necessity for an independent left wing party was forced onto the CCP by events themselves.

The Expansion of the Red Bases through Political Work

Throughout this war the CCPs headquarters, as agreed with Chiang, remained where they ended up after the Long March, in Yenan (now known as Yanan; we will use Yenan as this is the form of the name most closely associated with the CCP), Shaanxi province, north west of Chinas population centres.

Our thesis is that the CCPs strength lay in its political role as apparent liberator of the peasant masses and leader of the anti-Japanese and anti-Guomindang movement and not in its armed struggle. This is backed up by the fact that when the CCP concentrated not on fighting the Japanese or Guomindang, but concentrated on consolidating its bases, implementing its (admittedly somewhat mild) land reforms and recruiting and training cadres, it significantly expanded its membership and areas under its control. The Red Army fought no major battles for more than two years after late 1937, and its most rapid growth came during this period of relative calm, with the recruitment of up to 400,000 men into the Eighth Route Army and 100,000 into the New Fourth Army by 1940 (Harrison, The Long March to Power, p294).

Although the CCP forces managed to expand massively during the war, they were always playing catch up with the much larger and better equipped Japanese and Guomindang forces - in 1937 the Guomindang had around 1.5m troops in total, and the Japanese roughly 600,000, whereas the CCP had at most 100,000 - all of whom were worse equipped. The CCP expanded significantly, as the above figures suggest, but never nearly enough to catch up with the also expanding forces of their enemies.

The CCPs one advantage would always be its independent political role and ability to inspire its own troops and the wider peasant population with its propaganda and land distribution. During the years 1937-9, when it fought no major battles, its military forces increased not through military victories but through political expansion and recruitment. Without any battles taking place, the [Guomindang] government watched its rivals steady military and territorial expansion far outreach the three divisions of the Eighth Army and the eighteen districts in the Pien chu laid down by the agreement of September 1937...The population under communist control was to increase almost a hundredfold in eight years (Guillermaz, A History of the Chinese Communist Party 1921-49, p345). Between 1937 and 1940, the party membership increased from 40,000 to 800,000!

Thanks to its political influence the CCP managed to expand into areas far away from its headquarters in Yenan, setting up new soviet bases without military invasion. For example, it managed to recruit the remnants of anti-Japanese militias formed in the western Shandong province so that by 1943 the CCP controlled an area with 15 million inhabitants with a 500,000 strong militia (Harrison, op cit. p302). According to Guillermaz, from 1937 onwards the CCP even managed to maintain a force of up to 50,000 behind Japanese lines (Guillermaz, op cit. p308). Their effectiveness is proof of the military advantages the Red Army enjoyed thanks to its political basis, The teams were organised on the three in one principle - they were to fight as troops, to do political work on behalf of the government but to act like the common people in ordinary times. Military and political struggles thus went hand in hand...The armed work teams would appear or disappear unexpectedly in the very heart of the enemy occupied areas. Their whereabouts were known to the people all the time, but the enemy could never find them.

Naturally such political successes were profoundly uncomfortable for the Japanese and Guomindang alike, and therefore each square mile and military division gained by the CCP was pregnant with military conflicts. It is in fact not quite true that the CCP fought no battles whatsoever between 1937 and 1939, for in September 1937 Lin Biaos 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army distinguished itself in a joint strike with the Guomindang on Japanese forces at the Battle of Pingxingguan in Shanxi province, capturing 1000 weapons and 100 vehicles and inflicting around 500 casualties on the Japanese (Ibid, p308). A similar, smaller scale success was achieved shortly after nearby. These were however ultimately insignificant and involved few CCP forces.

They did however allow the CCP to establish the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei military zone on the basis of these victories, since Guomindang officials had left the area with the Japanese defeat (Harrison, op cit. p299). Out of this zone the CCP managed to form the Chin-Cha-Chi Border Region government, which involved a great many local residents in its administration who were not in the CCP. This government was very successful in organising the peasant masses of this region into womens, youth and self-defence organisations, and in educating them and establishing medical facilities, and consolidated itself by recruiting disaffected Manchurian Guomindang troops and commanders who had disobeyed Chiangs orders (we mustnt forget that the Japanese had long established a colonial regime in Manchuria, to which Chiangs regime had completely acquiesced, causing Manchurians to be much more sympathetic to the CCP than most).

It was strong enough to resist the Japanese counter-attack which involved the burning to the ground of this governments capital in March 1938. Following the capture of another region further to the south by other CCP forces with the aid of local activists, the CCP was able in July 1941 to establish a much larger government linking these two and other bases in Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong and Hunan provinces, despite intense Japanese attacks (Ibid, pp301-2). These successes caused not only frictions with the jealous Guomindang but were part of the cause of the complete breakdown of relations between the two parties, more of which later.

The Conditions Behind CCP Lines in the Sino-Japanese War

There were however severe economic and military difficulties implicit in this strategy of forming politically independent rural bases. We have analysed at length the economic and political realities of such rural submergence in our previous series of articles ( http://www.marxist.com/chinese-comminist-party-1927-37-part-4.htm) , (http://www.marxist.com/chinese-comminist-party-1927-37-part-5.htm), and later in this series we will look more closely at the limitations of the peasant movement and how this conditioned the opportunist programme on which the party rose to power.

Nevertheless it should be pointed out here that the new administrative systems [of the newly conquered areas] had great difficulty in gaining a foothold and their power was precarious right to the end. As the region was important both strategically and politically, the Japanese felt obliged to purge it from time to time. Cleaning up campaigns...acted as a deterrent to the inhabitants, who as far as possible avoided taking part in elections, with the risks they involved (Guillermaz, op cit. p311).

In a moment we will take a look at both these attacks and others from the Guomindang. Before we do so, we must note that the effect on the CCP of having to maintain a viable administration responsible for leading the economic life of millions of peasants and landlords etc. Generally, the rural areas most revolutionary were those most densely populated and fertile, for these had the highest, most exploitative rents. The logic of taking administrative and military responsibility for certain areas, against constant attacks from two militarily stronger powers, politically consumed a party which had already lost all trace of proletarian politics and obliged it to seek solace in non-revolutionary areas and layers of the population (see Bianco and Lloyd, Peasant Movements, in The Cambridge History of China Volume 13 p324)

The CCPs forces had therefore to be constantly replenished by new recruits. Its survival depended on the fine quality of its cadres and its strict discipline (Ibid, p328), and yet these cadres were regularly being killed or absorbed in the tasks of bare survival. True, its effective propaganda conducted by ordinary people among other ordinary people who were their fellow-countrymen, in the language of their region or even their profession, could not fail to succeed among the Chinese (Ibid, p335), and thus furnished a regular supply of new faces. However, this propaganda was limited in scope by the shackled political programme of the CCP we have discussed above.

The rapid turnover in membership and the influx of rural recruits lacking any political experience in organisations of their own (unlike the working class, who have experience in trade unions), led Mao in 1937 to decry the tendency towards warlordism in the Eighth Route Army, many of whose members have become unwilling to submit strictly to Communist Party leadership, [and] have developed individualistic heroism (quoted in Guillermaz, op cit. p329). Mao therefore stressed that the Red Army must oppose the danger in which the military does not obey the political and that the army must be one led by the proletariat (Ibid, p329). But that was exactly the problem - thanks to Moscows shortsighted strategy, to which Mao adapted so well, the party had long ceased to have any relation to the proletariat, and the army could in no way be led by anything other than the largely petty bourgeois individuals at the top of the CCP.

These very problems, inherent not only in submerging the party in a rural environment, but even more so in attempting to establish on that basis an alternative government under constant siege, were to lead in the early 1940s to the Zhengfeng or Rectification Campaign as the party leadership struggled to keep control of this band of roving-rebels. In this campaign around 10,000 were killed and was the precedent for the Cultural Revolution more than twenty years later.

The Hundred Regiments and Three Alls Campaigns

The CCPs enormous gains in northern central China described above were as mentioned causing serious concern amongst both Japanese and Guomindang leaders. Their fears were proved correct when the CCP launched its biggest and most successful (unless we count its consequences, as we shall see) military campaign of the entire war period, ending its period of peaceful advance. This is known as the Hundred Regiments Campaign, and it lasted from August to December 1940 and involved 400,000 CCP led troops against roughly 290,000 Japanese. The fighting spanned five provinces in northern central China.

It is difficult to assess the damage inflicted by the CCP onto the Japanese forces, as both sides claimed (and still claim) wildly divergent figures. There is no doubt however that the initial battles were an enormous success for the CCP, with tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers killed and much of the Japanese military infrastructure destroyed. The ability of the CCP armies to fight head on a far more well equipped and trained imperial army is testament to the incredible growth of CCP forces from their political work and organisation, as well as their tactical nous.

Nevertheless the true results of this military adventure once again underline the futility of the strategy of armed rural struggle and further justify our contention that the CCP should have stuck to clandestinely recruiting workers in the cities with socialist propaganda. For ultimately the CCP was and always would be powerless in the face of the Japanese army, which maintained complete freedom of action at a strategic level (Ibid, p332).

This harsh fact was proven by the Japanese counter-attack to the Hundred Regiments Campaign, which was aptly named the Three Alls Policy - standing for kill all, burn all, loot all. Since the Japanese imperialists managed to so succinctly sum up the character of their invasion of China, I think it is only reasonable to suggest that their entire invasion of China and other countries be known by this name.

There was a calculated purpose behind such an indiscriminate strategy of literally killing, burning and looting everything within areas associated with the CCP, which, as with all ultra-reactionary and counter-revolutionary campaigns, was to punish the masses for daring to pose a political challenge to the status quo and to traumatise them into never doing so again. In particular, the aim of this campaign was to drain the water from the Communist fish (Harrison, op cit. p301) - in other words, to so effectively massacre the rural poor that the CCP could have no social basis in this region. According to Mitsuyoshi Himeta the death toll of this vile campaign totalled more than 2.7m Chinese.

This campaign devastated the CCP in northern central China, and the CCP would not launch another campaign of any significance against Japan for the remainder of the war. Although the CCP did manage to recover their influence in the region around three years later, this was tellingly achieved through political action and propaganda, not military offensives. Not only would it have been possible, it would have been easier and far more effective to carry out this political propaganda had the CCP concentrated on work amongst the urban proletariat and, having won influence this way, among the rural poor. This would have freed the party up both politically and organisationally to campaign for the need to paralyse the Japanese occupation with strikes and for a government of the workers to carry out a revolutionary war against the Japanese.

Guomindang Betrayals

As if to underline the fact that the CCP had fallen into an opportunist trap by accepting the Guomindangs proposal for Zhou Enlai to be Deputy Minister of Political Training in early 1938 (as discussed in Part I), a few months later the very government in which leading Communist Zhou Enlai was now a minister dissolved a mass organisation [in Hankou] suspected of having strong communist sympathies. The Guomindang then rebuffed communist overtures towards forming a new inner block (Guillermaz, op cit. p348).

These (entirely inevitable and predictable) traitorous actions should have been taken as a sign that the Guomindang was planning an attack on the CCP. No quantity of overtures and second-rate ministerial portfolios could protect the CCP from the Guomindang, which only lulled the CCP into a false sense of security. In the spring of 1939, 300 CCP guerrillas were allegedly slaughtered in Shandong province by Guomindang forces (Brandt, Schwartz & Fairbank, A Documentary History of Chinese Communism, p240).

What the communists represented both to the poor and the rich was in itself enough to invite repression. CCP speeches were sufficient to whet the peasants appetite for land and freedom, but proved unable to put that genie back in its bottle when the CCP line changed. Nor for that reason could such acquiescence ever convince the Guomindang and the ruling class of the CCPs loyalty, especially when it had armed layers of the peasantry. Beneath the surface of the alliance the Guomindang was always maneuvering and strategizing to inflict mortal blows on the CCP. Different tendencies and factions within it proposed different ways to deal with the CCPs continuing popularity, including dissolving its bases in different provinces by dictat. Local armed clashes with the CCP began to increase and certain generals from Chongqing [the seat of governmental power since late 1938] were plotting with the Japanese to attack the CCP (Guillermaz, op cit. p315).

These tensions were caused by the very objective forces which the CCPs political allegiance with the Guomindang made it incapable of anticipating, explaining or consciously leading. Despite the formal alliance, these contradictory forces operated in and through these two parties because of their conflicting class bases. The political successes the CCP scored, particularly in Shanxi and around the western ends of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers as described above, by basing themselves on the peasant masses, made inevitable the Guomindangs betrayal of their alliance.

Rising tensions led to more numerous skirmishes until the barely suppressed conflict exploded in the New Fourth Army Incident in 1941 in precisely this geographical area. This was already presaged by the Pinzhiang and Zhukou Incidents in June 1939, in which the Guomindang raided the New Fourth Army and executed CCP members and their families (see Harrison, op cit. p305 & Kataoka, Resistance and Revolution in China: The Communists and the 2nd United Front, p233).

The New Fourth Army Incident

In June 1940 an agreement had been reached between the two parties that the CCP could keep its newly conquered bases in the northern part of central China, i.e. north of the Yellow River, so long as it abandoned the peasants of central China in between the two great rivers. Chiang could not tolerate the success of the CCP in this area and here attempted to exploit the CCPs opportunist policy. On the basis of this agreement, Chiangs representatives showed active hostility to CCP forces in the central China region they had now been ordered to evacuate (Schram, op cit. p218). Because of this, as they were leaving the area the CCP forces successfully attacked Guomindang troops encountered on the way.

This caused Chiang to hasten his demand that the CCPs New 4th Army evacuate the entirety of the area south of the Yellow River. For one reason or another, despite the vast majority of the army meeting the deadline, the 9,000 strong HQ force had failed to cross the river in time and in January 1941 it was ambushed and wiped out by the Guomindang. Following this, the Guomindang demanded the dissolution of the remainder of this strongest of CCP armies. This the CCP refused to do and the ensuing strengthening of the army ended the farce (though not officially) of CCP/Guomindang allegiance.

From a revolutionary point of view, we cannot help but conclude that the New Fourth Army Incidents taking place was a good thing precisely because it brought the infamous national united front to an ignominious conclusion. This is proven by the fact that following this incident the CCP continued its meteoric rise throughout China, so much so that arguably no single event in the entire Sino-Japanese war did more to enhance the Communists prestige vis- a-vis the Nationalists than the destruction of the New Fourth Army headquarters while it was loyally following orders (Johnson, Peasant Nationalism and Communist Power: The Emergence of Revolutionary China, 1937-1945, p140).

Once again we can see that the CCPs gains came not from military successes - indeed in this case its biggest success came from a defeat - but from its political role as the (perceived) opposition to a capitulationist government. In this case the objective forces, which required (and rewarded) such an opposition, were so strong that they were imposed onto the CCP against its will.

Interestingly, Mao, who was evidently under pressure from left wing critics inside the CCP, felt the need to explain that the New Fourth Army incident did not prove that the allegiance with the Guomindang was a mistake (see Mao, Conclusions on the Repulse of the Second Anti-Communist Onslaught, May 1941). He argued that the war with Japan meant that the primary contradiction of Chinese society was not a class one but a national one. In Maos article On Contradiction, he reveals his highly mechanical interpretation of dialectical materialism, whereby different contradictions supplant one another whilst remaining entirely unaffected and self-contained, like billiard balls knocking into each other. He uses this to justify the opportunism of allying with the Guomindang, for according to him the primary contradiction now being between China and Japan, the internal class contradictions of China are effectively negated. A real understanding of dialectics would teach the direct opposite - that Japans exploitation of China would happen through Chinas class system, making the two inseparable. The New Fourth Army Incident is merely one in a long list of examples where the Chinese ruling class proved that the dynamic of the Sino-Japanese war was the class struggle.

There is one final betrayal of their alliance by the Guomindang we ought to mention. In the remote province of Xinjiang the CCP struck a similar alliance with its warlord Sheng Shicai (who was not in the Guomindang) as its national alliance with Chiang. However, for the very same reasons as the New Fourth Army Incident, namely the CCPs gains in Xinjiang (along with Moscow ceasing to butter-up Sheng with arms), Sheng turned in 1942. He joined the Guomindang and arrested 600 Communists, many of which he then executed, including Maos brother.

And yet flying in the face of reality the CCP continued to articulate a thoroughly acquiescent and frankly liberal line with regards to the Guomindang. One would expect and hope it would use its repression at the hands of the Guomindang as the political justification for the need to overthrow the Guomindang to liberate China from both imperialism and its stooge the Chinese ruling class. Instead the leadership demanded in March 1942 only legal status for the CCP and the recognition by the government of its war efforts, including the request for more troops. Proving the utter failure of the attempt since 1936 to ally with the Guomindang, even these demands were rejected.

It is very interesting to note that the character of these demands is not only exclusively bourgeois-democratic, lacking a single social demand, but also in its demands for political liberty refers only to the CCP, not the Chinese working class and peasantry. There are no demands for political liberty or a constituent assembly. More than a decade of isolation in rural armed struggle found its expression in the CCPs inward looking demand for CCP, not Chinese, freedom.

When the Sino-Japanese war began in 1937, the CCP had already been an exclusively rural party for almost ten years. As we pointed out previously, this was an improvisation born out of the partys confusion at Chiangs power grab. By 1935, when Mao became the undisputed leader of the party, this improvisation and temporary retreat had been transformed into the partys raison detre.

The Peasants Sans CCP

According to Bianco and Lloyd, the revolutionary decade of 1922-31 saw no significant increase in all types of peasant disturbances - from theft of landlords property to local uprisings. The fluctuations that do occur seem only correlated to particular years in which there happened to be a good or bad harvest. Furthermore, the type of action taken remained in its traditional form - riots or petitions - and rarely if ever escaped a purely local horizon. Furthermore, they contend that in any case the total number of disturbances remain extremely small (Bianco and Lloyd, Peasant Movements, in The Cambridge History of China Volume 13, pp278-9).

The peasants, without the CCP would, quite simply, never have conceived the idea of a revolution thanks to their parochialism which overrode distinctions of class. The typical village, to which peasants narrow horizons and allegiances were restricted, was a  socially heterogeneous community that villagers sought to protect against attacks from outside. This is attested by the frequent incidence of vertical movements resembling wars between different peoples rather than social warfare. As in a national war, the natural enemy is not the privileged member in ones community but the foreigner (Ibid, p302).

Bianco and Lloyd give many examples of movements in the early 1930s, around the time the CCP was embedding itself in this milieu, which were based exclusively on opposition to new taxes, not rent, and thereby could unite peasants and landlords, with the latter more often than not initiating and leading the movements. The character of such movements, more common than those aimed against rent and landlordism, are not progressive since they aimed to preserve local privileges in the tax system, chiefly to the benefit of the local landlords. Indeed, sometimes the wrongs against which the taxpayers rise up are purely imaginary. They suspect any project of fiscal reform...allow[ing] themselves to be incited into a revolt, which is harmful to their own interests, by a handful of large landowners practicing tax evasion on a large scale (Ibid, p284).

Throughout these movements, what is notable is the lack of a questioning of landlordism by its peasant victims: the principle of paying rent is almost never called into question (Ibid, p278). Along with hostility to new tax codes, most peasant disturbances were strictly local in the sense that they pitted one village or Xien against another. So one group of peasants, led by their landlord, would frequently fight those with the same conditions of poverty in a neighbouring village, because the latter had, say, dredged rivers to improve their crop, which threatened to flood the other village.

These conflicts, which Bianco and Lloyd argue should be known not as peasant but as rural disturbances due to their vertical social character, frequently had an extremely violent character. They were spontaneous, chaotic and unplanned explosions of rage with no political perspective attached to them. They were not prepared and the rebels do not appear to have had a strategy nor is there any discernable progression in the forms taken by the resistance. There was no fundamental questioning of the principle of tenancy, simply a protest against sudden changes in the status quo (Ibid, pp274-5). Instead of landlords or even local government leaders being attacked, it was usually their underlings, who were more visible to the peasants. Bianco and Lloyd insist that we cannot even speak of a rural movement (other than the CCPs army), only local flare-ups of fury.

The theory of Marxism has always explained that the peasantry can be an important ally of the revolutionary working class but can never politically lead. It must be led by a more organised and homogenous urban based class. This evidently applied to 1920s and 30s China, to the extent that Maos talk of the Sinification of Marxism due to Chinas special rural conditions and revolutionary peasantry must be rejected entirely. According to the evidence, the peasants themselves hardly ever take up arms offensively with a view to improving their lot.

The apparent peasant basis of the 1949 revolution is therefore an outcome not of peasant revolutionary initiative and elan, but of the CCPs dogged hiding out in its mountain fastness. The peasant revolts had nothing in common with the CCPs Red Army, which latter had a national political character that the former lacked entirely. They were generally conservative, more interested in rising up to maintain old privileges, against local rivals or the mysteries of the governments vicissitudes. They were not inspired by any overall vision of society nor questioned the bases of its organisation (Ibid, p303). It was precisely this parochialism and passivity that suited the CCP, because in the rural backwaters they were hard to find and suffered no danger of ambitious revolutionary demands from the politically passive peasants the Soviet bases administered. The rural submersion of the party was ideal for launching a military struggle but not a social and revolutionary one.

Wearing the Peasants Coarse Garb

As we shall see, the CCPs approach in the countryside resembled the discredited strategy of the Russian Narodniks of the 19th Century. It is a profound irony that the Chinese offshoot of the Communist International should repeat the mistakes of the Russian forefathers of the Bolsheviks, when it was precisely the learning and overcoming of these mistakes that produced the Russian Marxist organisation that in turn gave birth to the Communist International!

When Peng Pai, before he joined the CCP, experimented with a Chinese Narodnism in the early 1920s, he was initially, just like the Narodniks, rejected by the peasants as a strange outsider with grandiose and unrealisable goals. He found that he had to change his clothes and speech and enticed and entertained [the peasants] as a conjuror and magician, taught the children a song of his own composition, had them listen to a gramophone he had brought along, and put on a puppet show (Ibid, p308) in order to get them to take seriously his ideas of liberation.

Ten years later, the CCP found itself having to perform similar routines each time they settled in a new rural location. Because of the completely rural base of the party, the CCP was obliged to send any workers or intellectuals it recruited in the cities to the countryside. Whereas in the cities they would have been able to carry out political work quite naturally, Mao explained the requirements of their work in the countryside: they should enthusiastically go to the villages, exchange their students clothes for the coarse garb of the peasants, start willingly from the bottom...help awaken the peasants...and fight for the completion of the extremely important task in Chinas democratic revolution - the rural democratic revolution (Mao, < On Coalition Government<, April 1945).

Despite these efforts, the CCP leadership regularly found that the organisations of peasant liberation and awakening they had set up, when left on their own, frequently pursued policies quite different from the Party line and resented the directions of outsiders, whatever their politics (Harrison, < The Long March to Power<, p312). It is quite clear that the contradiction between the self-appointed leadership of the rural revolution in the CCP and the peasants themselves was never overcome. This relationship is in stark contrast to that of a Marxist organisation and the working class, since the aim of the former is always to win the confidence of the workers not by dressing up as them but by being part of and giving voice to the already existing class struggle. Marxists recruit, and themselves often are, workers. They do not parachute in members from elsewhere to occupy and administer workers districts!

Indeed the CCP sent vast swathes of its recruits away from the cities in which they were recruited, thus negating any potential they may have presented for building a permanent urban working class base for the party. They used the legal openings gained through the allegiance with the Guomindang not so much to begin building in the cities but to set up within them Communist Liaison Offices to facilitate the emigration of volunteers to Yenan (Guillermaz, A History of the Communist Party 1921-49 , p348). Peng Shuzi, an early leader of the CCP before being expelled for Trotskyism, stresses that the CCP did everything possible to encourage the most active elements of the working class to leave the struggle in the cities and join the peasants in the countryside. It was for precisely this reason that while the CCP considerably increased its armed peasant forces during the Resistance War, its influence remained extremely weak among the worker masses of the cities (Peng, The Causes of the Victory of the Chinese Communist Party over Chiang Kai-Shek, and the CCPs Perspectives).

The environment into which these workers and urban intellectuals were taken was one of extreme poverty and backwardness. As with the pre-Long March bases in Jiangxi and especially the Jinggangshan, Yenan made an effective base precisely because it was so barren and therefore hard to penetrate and considered strategically irrelevant by the Guomindang. Here CCP comrades, including leaders, were forced to live in caves carved into the cliffs. The area at the time had an estimated 60% infant mortality rate, 1% literacy rate, the death of up to 2.5m people (one-third of the provincial population), and the migration of another half-million in the catastrophic famine of 1927-30 (Harrison, op cit., p310).

Because the Guomindang suspended its subsidy of $100,000 per month (part of the united front agreement) in 1940 due to the above discussed breakdown in the alliance, the CCP was obliged to increase the tax burden on the Shaanxi population it was occupying, especially of the peasants (Ibid, p316). In other CCP bases inflation rose to even higher than in Guomindang controlled areas, but this failed to take place in Yenan as the economy was largely a barter one!

As described in more detail our previous series, the bare struggle to survive in these remote conditions absorbed the partys attention to the detriment of its political and theoretical development - although it must be said that the biggest obstacle in that respect was not the rural conditions but the non-revolutionary programme. As a result the number of leaders with 
14989114191_1c9c9cd183_o.jpg

A Staples store in Danbury, Connecticut.

(Flickr Creative Commons - Mike Mozart)

The office supply chain Staples Inc. is laying off hundreds of employees at its Framingham headquarters, according to a source close to the company.

The Boston Globe reports that a Staples employee, who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions, confirmed the impending job cuts first reported by Forbes late Monday.

Staples announced it was "streamlining its structure" in a press release Monday, but did not mention the firings. The release detailed a redistribution of top executives, as well as the resignation of Demos Parneros, who ran the company's North American Stores and online division for nearly 30 years.

Company spokesman Kirk Saville would not confirm or deny the layoffs.

Staples announced in Feb. 2015 its plans to acquire Office Depot, but has met opposition from the Federal Trade Commission. The agency maintains that the merger is anticompetitive.

Staples stock has gone down more than 50 percent since the merger announcement, according to Forbes, and the company's annual sales have declined 9 percent since 2011.

Oliver Wintermantel, a Staples stock analyst, told the Boston Globe that the layoffs are likely a tactical move meant to strengthen the company's competitiveness in the event that the merger fails.

In Western Massachusetts, Staples has stores in Northampton, Hadley, Chicopee, West Springfield, Springfield, Westfield, East Longmeadow, Greenfield and Pittsfield.
Though born the eldest of three sons, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker became a big brother to another as a young man.

Long before a run for office, Baker served as a mentor in the Big Brother program.

He and John Newlon could not have been more different. Baker was the product of a notable family enrolled at Harvard College while Newlon was a recently expelled teenager whose family struggled financially.

The two were paired by a Big Brother program in the Boston area and their first year together is one described by the now-governor as both formative and tense.

"He was having a hard time figuring out why I was so interested in spending time with him," Baker said.

Eventually, Baker won Newlon's trust. The two men have gone on to keep in touch decades later, through Baker's rise in politics and Newlon's highs and lows.

The governor spoke of his experience as a mentor during Youth Mentoring Day at the State House last week.

Addressing a crowd of legislators, members of not-for-profit organizations and participants in youth outreach programs, Baker emphasized that everyone needs someone to be there for them through success and setback.

"You watch people stand up at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, whatever it happens to be and the first thing they do is thank someone that was that special person who helped them find their way," he said. "Mentoring is another version of this."

He emphasized the need to work with children without role models at home.

"Kids are smart and kids who have gone through troubled times are smarter. They know what disappointment feels like and they want to keep it from happening," Baker said, speaking from experience.

When children and teenagers find someone who will be there no matter what, "it's a game changer," he said.

Thursday's event was the 10th annual Youth Mentoring Day at the State House, organized by Mass Mentoring Partnership and Highland Street AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring.

Marty Martinez, president and CEO of Mass Mentoring, said he was honored to have Baker serve as the keynote speaker during the event. His longstanding and personal commitment to mentoring as well as his recognition of the role that empowering youth-adult relationships can have in strengthening our communities makes him the

ideal person to join us for this important day."


DORCHESTER - A 34-year-old man was shot in the stomach Monday during a dispute over a shoveled out parking space on Nightingale Street, according to CBS Boston.

The television station reports that the shooting took place around 2:30 p.m. The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries.

ANightinggale St where one person shot allegedly over a parking spot. Local pastor says victim was in spot. #WBZ pic.twitter.com/P6IyjEXxGx  Louisa Moller (@LouisaMoller) January 25, 2016

Police told WHDH News that the shooter pulled up in a black BMW and argued with another man about a parking spot. The shooter was allegedly upset because he had shoveled out the space, the television station reports.

The victim was going to move his car before the shooting, police told Boston news outlets.

Police are looking for the 27-year-old shooter.
Via The Guardian, an AP report: Brazil is 'badly losing' the battle against Zika virus, says health minister. Excerpt:

Brazils health minister was warned that the country is badly losing the battle against the mosquito blamed for spreading Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects.

Marcelo Castro said that nearly 220,000 members of Brazils armed forces would go door-to-door to help in mosquito eradication efforts, according to Rio de Janeiros O Globo newspaper. It also quoted Castro as saying the government would distribute mosquito repellent to some 400,000 pregnant women who receive cash-transfer benefits.

But all major Brazilian dailies quoted Castro as saying the country is badly losing the battle against the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

The mosquito has been here in Brazil for three decades, and we are badly losing the battle against the mosquito, the Folha de S Paulo newspaper quoted him as saying as a crisis group on Zika was meeting in the capital, Brasilia.

Emails to Castros office for comment were not immediately being answered.

Worry about the rapid spread of Zika has expanded across the nation, and the hemisphere beyond. Repellent has disappeared from many Brazilian pharmacies and prices for the product have tripled or even quadrupled where its still available in recent weeks since the government announced a suspected link between Zika virus and microcephaly, a rare birth defect that sees babies born with unusually small heads and can cause lasting developmental problems.
ROC 59457 is a business plan competition designed to make your business idea into a reality within the Lewistown downtown district.

The written business plan is due Thursday, March 31st. The top three ideas will have an opportunity to present to a local panel mid-April with the community-wide announcement celebration scheduled for the end of April.

Aspiring entrepreneurs may be able to win a $5,000 cash prize towards implementing their start-up business or expansion proposal and a support services package that includes consultant/mentoring services, a marketing package, facility location assistance, and a professional services package of accounting and legal services.

Contest Rules and Regulations:

 The competition is open to any start-up or expanding business entrepreneur, 16 years or older, that will locate their business venture within the Lewistown downtown district.

 Application includes:

1.) The one-page application form,

2.) A cover letter that includes a statement on the intended use of the prize money and

3.) A business plan that includes the plan concept, history, marketing plan, management, and finances.

 We will accept all applicants in our first round with our professional judging panel from the Montana Community Finance Corporation. The professional judging panel will select three (3) contestants to "pitch" their business plan to a local panel.

 Applications are accepted starting January 1st, 2016. Applications must be received at the Snowy Mountain Development Corporation (SMDC) office at 613 NE Main or emailed to: [email protected] by 3:00 PM on Thursday, March 31st

 The top three (3) contestants will be expected to present a live "pitch" to a local panel. The live "pitch" will be no longer than 20 minutes in length with a 30 minute question and answer period and they must provide a photo for publicity and announcement purposes.

 Submission of an application to the contest implies that all information on the one-page application form and the publicity photo of the top three (3) contestants is public information and may be used in this and future contest marketing materials, on social media, by SMDC or members of the ROC committee, in media releases, etc.

 Application packets may be obtained at the following locations:

Snowy Mountain Development Corporation at 613 NE Main, Lewistown, MT; or

Lewistown News Argus at 521 West Main, Lewistown, MT; or

Online at http://www.snowymtndev.com

 Applicants are encouraged to contact SMDCs Business Development Director, Bob Giese at 535-2591 for assistance. A resource guide is attached to assist you in your business plan preparations.

 Selection considerations will be: impact to Lewistown downtown, near-term business plan implementation, completeness of plan, and realistic plan.

 Committee reserves the right to not award support and cash incentives if applications are determined invalid.

Kathie Bailey

SMDC Executive Director

Government Contracting Advisor

Snowy Mountain Development Corporation

613 NE Main | Lewistown, MT 59457

Phone: 406-535-2591

http://www.snowymtndev.com

[email protected]

SMDC is a Certified Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) funded through the Montana Department of Commerce and Economic Development District (EDD) funded through the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. the content of any written materials or verbal communications of SMDC does not necessarily reflect the official views or implies endorsement by these agencies. SMDC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Via The New York Times: Two Cases Suggest Zika Virus Could Be Spread Through Sex. Excerpt and then a comment:

At the moment, experts know of just one case in the medical literature of live Zika virus being detected in a mans semen.

The man was an unidentified 44-year-old Tahitian man, exposed during an outbreak of Zika virus in French Polynesia in 2013. French scientists helping to investigate found high levels of the virus in semen samples taken from the patient, even after it disappeared from his blood.

It was unclear how long the virus had persisted in his body: He had had two episodes of fever that might have been caused by the Zika virus, one shortly before he was tested and another about two months earlier. The virus was also found in his urine.

A more unusual episode  the first clue that Zika could be sexually transmitted  occurred in 2008.

Brian D. Foy, a biologist specializing in insect-borne diseases at Colorado State University, was in rural Senegal with a graduate student, Kevin C. Kobylinski, collecting mosquitoes for a malaria study. Both were bitten many times.

About a week after they flew back to Colorado, Dr. Foy and Mr. Kobylinski each fell ill with rashes, fatigue and headaches, symptoms typical of several mosquito-borne illnesses.

A few days later, Dr. Foys wife  Joy L. Chilson Foy, a nurse and mother of four  showed similar symptoms, slowly developing a rash worse than that of either man, along with greater headache pain and bloodshot eyes.

All three eventually recovered. Late in his illness, however, Dr. Foy had genital pain and what appeared to be blood in his semen.

Blood was drawn from all three patients and tested for the usual West African suspects: malaria, dengue and yellow fever. All were negative.

Their infection remained a mystery until a year later, when Mr. Kobylinski, back in Senegal, met another scientist who suggested it could be Zika virus. The blood samples  which Dr. Foy had frozen  tested positive. That left the question of how Mrs. Foy had been infected.

She had not left northern Colorado, which has none of the mosquitoes that transmit Zika. And it seemed unlikely that she and her husband had been bitten by the same mosquito: The virus needs more than four days to move from the insects gut to its salivary glands.

Neither had passed the disease to their children, so even close family contact seemed noninfectious. The most likely explanation, the couple realized, was that they had had sex shortly after Dr. Foys return, before he fell ill.

Dr. Foy wrote about his experience in 2011 in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In an interview, Dr. Foy said he had been trying to get research money to study the phenomenon, but there have been obstacles: Until the last few weeks, there has been little interest in the obscure virus.

PAHO has said today that virtually all of the Americas are likely to see Zika except Chile and Canada, where Aedes aegypti can't survive. But Canadians like other northern peoples love to head south in winter, glorying in their January tans acquired by baring their flesh in Florida, Mexico, Costa Rica, and other getaways. No doubt Chileans are fond of travel to similar regions in the southern hemisphere.

So we northerners are likely to get plenty of imported Zika cases in the near future. If some of those cases also spread it sexually, Zika won't need no stinking mosquitoes.
Via MSF.org: Yemen: Health facilities under attack - MSF wants answers. This is the first such MSF statement that has explicitly named the Saudis as the perpetrators. Excerpt:

Barcelona - The war in Yemen is being fought with total disregard for the rules of war, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which has seen three of its health facilities in Yemen come under attack in the last three months.

The way war is being waged in Yemen is causing enormous suffering and shows that the warring parties do not recognise or respect the protected status of hospitals and medical facilities. We witness the devastating consequences of this on people trapped in conflict zones on a daily basis, says Raquel Ayora, MSF Director of Operations.

Since the war began in March 2015, public places are being bombed and shelled on a massive scale. Nothing has been spared  not even hospitals, even though medical facilities are explicitly protected by international humanitarian law, says Ayora.

MSF medical activities in Yemen have come under attack four times in less than three months, each incident more serious than the last.

The first took place on 26 October, when fighter jets from the Saudi-led coalition repeatedly bombed a hospital in Haydan district, Saada Province.

An MSF mobile clinic was then hit by an airstrike on 2 December in Taizs Al Houban district, wounding eight people including two MSF staff and killing one person nearby.

On 10 January the MSF-supported Shiara hospital came under attack in an incident that killed six people and injured at least seven, most of them medical staff and patients.

On 21 January, an MSF ambulance was hit and its driver killed in a series of airstrikes that wounded dozens and killed at least six in Saada Governorate.

MSF has yet to receive any official explanation for any of these incidents.

Increasingly, we are seeing attacks on medical facilities being minimised, being labelled mistakes or errors, says Ayora. Just last week the UK Foreign Secretary claimed that there have been no deliberate breaches of international humanitarian law in Yemen by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This implies that mistakenly bombing a protected hospital would be tolerable. This logic is offensive and irresponsible.
Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank.
by Randall Rothenberg , January 25, 2016

An extended excerpt from a speech by IAB CEO Randall Rothenberg at the Annual Leadership Meeting on Jan. 25:

Freedom of speech, diversity of thought, access to the means of universal communication, the opportunity to speak truth to power  these are the way societies grow. They are the underpinnings of economic competition, for reaching people with and attracting them to new commercial ideas is the stimulus to all innovation.

In turn, that competition  competition among economic actors, and competition in the marketplace of ideas  assures that neither a single dominant economic power nor the state itself can control all the levers of society.

In all advanced societies around the world, advertising has been a central contributor to assuring such freedom and diversity of expression and economic action.

This fact has been well documented in every major history of media in the United States. As Princeton Professor Paul Starr wrote in his Pulitzer Prize-winning history, The Creation of the Media, American journalism became more of an independent and innovative source of information just as it became more of a means of advertising and publicity.

'I HATE AD-BLOCK PROFITEERS'



It is for this very reason  the virtuous circle that links freedom to advertise to freedom of the press to freedom of expression to economic freedom  that Article 19, the influential NGO, says: The right to freedom of expression covers any kind of information or ideas, not only contributions to political, cultural or artistic debate but also mundane and commercially motivated expressions.

And this is why I hate the ad-block profiteers.

Now, you may be aware of a kerfuffle that began about 10 days ago, when an an unethical, immoral, mendacious coven of techie wannabes at a for-profit German company called AdBlock-Plus took to the digisphere to complain over and over that IAB had disinvited them to this convention. That, of course, is as much a lie as the others they routinely try to tell the world. We had never invited them in the first place. They registered for this event online. When we found out, we cancelled the registration and reversed their credit card billing. Why? For the simple reason that they are stealing from publishers, subverting freedom of the press, operating a business model predicated on censorship of content, and ultimately forcing consumers to pay more money for less  and less diverse  information.



AdBlock-Plus claims it wants to engage in dialogue. But its form of dialogue is an incessant monologue. Dont take my word for it. During Advertising Week in New York last fall, the company convened a dinner it fatuously billed as Camp David, a round table discussionto hear from publishers and others about what we can do to improve advertising and the Internet for all.

Scores of publishing executives were invited. Two showed up. They could get none of their questions answered about how the company intends to administer its so-called Acceptable Ads program, who would serve on that programs allegedly independent board, what powers that board would have, or how its payment plans would work. Each used the same word to describe the AdBlock-Plus executives: disingenuous.

Perhaps most notably, neither of these publishers has received a single follow-up call in the four months since Camp David took place. So much for dialogue.

Of course, none of this surprises me. This is what happens when your only motivation, your only metric, is money. For that is what AdBlock-Plus is: an old-fashioned extortion racket, gussied up in the flowery but false language of contemporary consumerism.

PROTECTION RACKET

Im far from the first person to notice this. Writing up an interview with AdBlock-Pluss leaders more than two years ago in Salon, Andrew Leonard said: It still sounds to me like something that bears more than a passing resemblance to a protection racket. Pay up, or well break your windows! Pay up, or millions of Adblock Plus users will never see any of your ads.

Taiwanese reporter and blogger Sascha Pallenberg said similarly, calling AdBlock-Plus a mafia-like advertising network.

The bad news is, AdBlock-Plus is not alone. For-profit ad-blockers have been one of the more recent darlings of the venture capital industry and angel investors  including firms with investments in advertising technology and ad-supported publishing companies.

Shine, an Israeli startup trying to sell ad-blocking software to mobile phone networks, is backed prominently by Horizons Ventures, the VC arm of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, and run by his girlfriend. His other investments include Spotify and Facebook.

The latest ad-blocking company is a Web browser startup called Brave. It was launched by former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich, whose last major investment was in banning gay marriage in California. His business model not only strips advertisements from publishers pages  it replaces them with his own for-profit ads.



AD-BLOCKERS: MASQUERADING AS FRIENDS



THIS is the true face of ad blocking. It is the rich and self-righteous, who want to tell everyone else what they can and cannot read and watch and hear  self-proclaimed libertarians whose liberty involves denying freedom to everyone else.

The ad-block profiteers are building for-profit companies whose business models are premised on impeding the movement of commercial, political, and public-service communication between and among producers and consumers. They offer to lift their toll gates for those wealthy enough to pay them off, or who submit to their demands that they constrict their freedom of speech to fit the shackles of their revenue schemes.

They may attempt to dignify their practices with such politically correct phrases as reasonable advertising, responsible advertising, and acceptable ads; and they can claim as loudly as they want that they seek constructive rapport with other stakeholders. But in fact, they are engaged in the techniques of The Big Lie, declaring themselves the friends of those whose livelihoods they would destroy, and allies to those whose freedoms they would subvert.

There certainly are intelligent, well-meaning critics of advertising, marketing, and media with whom we engage, whose aim is to advance consumers interests through dialogue and development. The ad-block profiteers are not among them. They cloak themselves in a Halloween mask of consumerism as they attempt to impose private taxes on consumers and businesses alike. Their technologies indiscriminately obstruct competitive pricing data, information about product features, vital political opinions, site content, user options, public interest communications, and other intelligence necessary for the functioning of democratic capitalist societies.

AD BLOCKERS OUT FOR THEMSELVES

Surveys repeatedly show that upwards of 75% of consumers prefer ad-supported Internet sites where the content is free over ad-free sites where they would pay fees for content. Fewer than 10% of consumers want to pay for content. By driving digital publishers, including some of the most prestigious news organizations in the world, to impose fees on consumers in order to continue to support their business and content-development objectives, the ad-block profiteers are subverting the will of consumers.

So where is the good news in all of this?

Well, in their race to the bottom and frenzy for investment, the ad-block profiteers seem more intent on killing each other than on killing advertising  which, of course, they require in order to feed their business models.

Many of their business models are undoubtedly illegal. Already, Shines model of ISP-level ad-blocking has been cited by regulators as a probable violation of net neutrality principles.

More and more publishers are initiating what IAB calls detection-notice-choice-and constraint regimes. They are installing scripts that enable them to see when consumers coming to their sites have ad-blockers installed; they are providing notice to consumers about that and about publishers business models, which largely require advertising to support otherwise free content. They are offering consumers choices  to turn off their ad-blockers, to pay a subscription fee, or another alternative. And absent one of those choices, the publishers are constraining consumers access to content, reinforcing the immense value of what they deliver.

DOING IAB A FAVOR

And its working  IAB publishers implementing DNCC are seeing high percentages of consumers making mutually beneficial choices to maintain their access to desired content.

But the best news of all is that the ad-block profiteers have done this industry a favor. They have forced us to look inward  at our own relentless self-involvement  and outward, to the men, women, and children who are our actual customers.

IAB Senior Vice President and Tech Lab General Manager Scott Cunningham put it best and most succinctly in an October IABlog post: We messed up. As technologists, tasked with delivering content and services to users, we lost track of the user experience.

IAB research conducted in 2014 found that one-third of U.S. Web users  and 41 percent of millennials  had installed ad-blocking software on one device or another. The no. 1 reason consumers used ad blockers was the fear that advertising could infect their computers or smartphones with viruses. But more than two-thirds of ad-blocking consumers also said they believed advertising slowed their access to the Internet.

The worst ads load so slowly that they use up data plans and sap battery life, The New York Times reported recently.

CONSUMERS SAY NO

Why did we lose track of user experience? For much of the past decade, the digital ad industry, aided and abetted by venture capitalists with no long-term stake in the viability of media and marketing businesses, have been in a headlong rush to subvert industry standards, hoping they can own the single business model that can lock in proprietary advantage and lock out competitors in the $600 billion global ad industry.

The result has been breathtaking innovation  but also suffocating chaos. Multitudes of could-be formats and wannabe standards crowd screens, interrupt consumers activities while impeding the delivery of desired content, create supply chain vulnerabilities, generate privacy concerns, and drive fears about data security.

Ad-blocking has been a consumer plebiscite; as former Mozilla executive Darren Herman noted at the IAB Ad Operations Summit a few months back, the software offered consumers a vote  and they have voted no on chaos, opacity, and slowness.

Fortunately, there is a real way out of this conundrum. It requires this industry to embrace the founding rationale for the IAB, articulated 20 years ago by our forefathers and foremothers. We must create new operating standards  consumer-friendly rules of the road that regulate how we will operate our sites, our advertising, and our delivery. And we must develop technical standards that will realize these guidelines effectively and efficiently.

LEAN IN

This will not be easy. Unlike every other major medium, the Internet is a collectively owned and managed enterprise. Whereas a broadcast television network controls and maintains rigorous standards for everything a consumer sees on its channel, an Internet page is a cobbled-together assembly of parts, managed by perhaps dozens of independent businesses, each contracted individually by the publisher, agencies, and marketers. Some of these entities supervise the content you see; some administer and analyze the invisible data that governs, measures, and optimizes how and to whom the content is delivered.

This decentralized cauldron of innovation requires a new set of guiding principles. That is why the IAB and the IAB Tech Lab developed the LEAN Principles.

LEAN stands for advertising and ad operations that are light, encrypted, AdChoices-supporting, and non-invasive. We believe LEAN will be as important to the future of the digital advertising industry as the first IAB Universal Ad Package was to its creation.

Scott Cunningham will talk much more about LEAN this afternoon, in the Town Halls, and on this stage tomorrow. But please know this now: We intend to make LEAN the foundation of IABs activities for the foreseeable future. And among our very first goals is introducing a public LEAN scoring system by which all publishers, all advertisers, and all agencies will be able to measure their activities against rational, reasonable, and consumer-friendly performance benchmarks.

LEAN is the basis for a sustainable advertising ecosystem. We firmly believe that a combination of LEAN advertising and media, and publisher implementation of detection-notice-choice-and-constraint, will limit the impact of ad-blocking.

But more importantly, an embrace of LEAN principles will bring this industry back to the rational center  focused on making money, to be sure, but cognizant that successful businesses require long-term attention to and concern for the users themselves. Remember that those users represent all races and creeds, and that their happiness success means your success and happiness, too.

The full text: http://www.iab.com/news/rothenberg-says-ad-blocking-is-a-war-against-diversity-and-freedom-of-expression/
Via Folha de Pernambuco: Gravidas do Bolsa Familia receberao repelentes contra o Aedes aegypti.[Pregnant women in Family Purse will receive repellents against Aedes aegypti]. Edited excerpt from the Google translation:

Marcelo Castro met with other ministers and President Dilma Rousseff to discuss extermination actions against the mosquito. On Friday (29), the president will visit the National Center for Coordination and Control Fight Plan to Microcephaly, in Brasilia, where she will conduct a meeting by video conference with the governors, each in their state to fight against mosquitoes.

In interviews with journalists late on Monday (25), he said an action plan for the 13th of February will put 220,000 men of the Armed Forces in the streets to visit homes, distributing leaflets and guiding families to participate in the mobilization against the Aedes aegypti.

"For 30 years, this mosquito has lived in the country and we cannot eliminate it. If Brazilian society does not take on this responsibility at this grave moment, in one of the greatest public health crises ever experienced in Brazil, we will be victorious,"added Marcelo Castro.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 26, 2016

Software developer Carrier IQ and several mobile phone manufacturers will pay a total of $9 million to settle a class-action privacy lawsuit.

If accepted by U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco, the deal will resolve a four-year-old lawsuit alleging that Carrier IQ's software violated smartphone users' privacy by logging their keystrokes. Carrier IQ and the manufacturers previously told Chen they had settled the case, but the details weren't revealed until late last week.

Allegations of a privacy breach first surfaced in November 2011, when a researcher posted a video that appeared to show keystroke logging. The report led to numerous lawsuits against Carrier IQ as well as Motorola, Pantech, Samsung, LG Electronics, HTC, and Huawai. The cases were consolidated in front of Chen in 2012.

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Carrier IQ, which was acquired late last year by AT&T, acknowledged that its software sometimes logs the contents of messages, but said the data isn't readable. The company also said its software was intended to help mobile carriers to discover the source of network problems, like dropped calls.

The class-action settlement provides for consumers to receive a portion of the $9 million fund, contingent on how many of the estimated 79 million class members submit claims. If so many people submit claims that the payout would be less than $4 per person, no class members will receive any money. Instead, the fund will go to three outside organizations -- the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Center for Democracy and Technology, and CyLab Usable Privacy and Security Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University.

The deal also calls for the attorneys who brought the case to receive around $2.25 million.

Other privacy cases have been resolved with similar arrangements. For example, LinkedIn recently agreed to create a $13 million fund to settle allegations that it misappropriated users' names by sending email invitations to their friends. That deal calls for LinkedIn to distribute $9 million of that fund to class members who submitted claims -- but only if so few people do so that the payouts are at least $10 per person. Otherwise, the settlement fund will go to various nonprofits.

In that case, only around 550,000 LinkedIn members submitted claims; each person who did so will receive around $16, if the deal is finalized.

News about Carrier IQ's software spurred the Federal Trade Commission to bring an enforcement action against HTC. The FTC accused the manufacturer of failing to disable a code that was used in testing. HTC also allegedly installed Carrier IQ in such a way that many third-party apps could access users' keystrokes and gain access to the phone numbers users' called, browsing histories and other data. The manufacturer settled those charges by agreeing to issue software patches, establish a security program, and undergo security audits for 20 years.
Cognitive function and health appear to be genetically linked, according to research published in Molecular Psychiatry. The study was carried out by an international team from the US, the UK and Germany.

Share on Pinterest Could cognitive function in early life predict health in later life?

Low cognitive function has been associated with a number of debilitating and life-threatening conditions such as Alzheimers disease, schizophrenia and autism.

In some cases, the illness appears to lead to cognitive impairment; other instances suggest that lower cognitive function in early life indicates a higher risk for a number of mental and physical conditions later on.

Previous studies have suggested that lower educational attainment and poor health outcomes often go together. A study of twins has highlighted common genetic effects linking cognitive levels with lifespan.

Cognitive function shows signs of heritability, as do many physical and mental illnesses. This has prompted researchers to look at the overlap between the two, in a search for genetic clues.

The investigation, led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the UK, examined data from the UK Biobank for around 100,000 people.

The team wanted to investigate whether illness causes a loss of cognitive functioning, or if an existing cognitive impairment indicates a higher risk, or if the same cause underlies both.

The subjects cognitive level, assessed through mental test data, was compared with the 22 health indicators and the results of their genome.

The data were for tests on reaction time, memory and verbal-numerical reasoning. Educational attainment was also considered, where, incidentally, if a person did well in one of the three categories, they also tended to do well in the others.
Nicotine patches and nicotine replacement therapy make little difference in the effort to stop smoking, according to research published in JAMA.

Share on Pinterest Do nicotine patches really help smokers to quit?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 17% of all adults in the US aged 18 years and above, or around 40 million people, were cigarette smokers in 2014. Although down from nearly 21% in 2005, the figure is still too high.

Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the US, causing 20% of all deaths and killing over 480,000 people annually. Over 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease, and not all of them are smokers: many are children put at risk by other peoples habits.

As Kathleen Sebelius points out in a 2014 Surgeon Generals report, Smoking has killed 10 times the number of Americans who died in all of our nations wars combined. The report notes that in 50 years, 20,830,000 Americans died from smoking-related causes.

To help people quit smoking long-term, nicotine patches, varenicline and combination nicotine replacement therapy, consisting of nicotine patches plus a nicotine lozenges (C-NRT), are commonly used.

Recent research has suggested that varenicline is safe, but the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have warned that it could cause serious neuropsychiatric or cardiovascular problems. For this reason, it is only available on prescription, and treatment must be accompanied by careful screening and monitoring.
All tumor cells are the offspring of a single, aberrant cell, but they are not all alike. Only a few retain the capacity of the original cell to create an entire tumor. Such cancer stem cells can migrate to other tissues and become fatal metastases. To fully cure a patient's cancer, it is crucial to find and eliminate all of these cells because any that escape can regenerate the tumor and trigger its spread through the body.

Liang Fang and his colleagues in Walter Birchmeier's group at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), working with colleagues on the Berlin-Buch campus, have now discovered a molecule that interrupts biochemical signals essential for the survival of a certain type of cancer stem cell. The work is published ahead of print in the online edition of Cancer Research.

In their study Liang and his colleagues focused on a biochemical network within cells called the Wnt signaling pathway, which Birchmeier's lab has studied for many years. One of their discoveries has been that certain types of cancer stem cells require continual stimulation via this pathway to survive and maintain the properties that make them so dangerous. A component of the network called beta-catenin plays an essential role in transmitting Wnt signals to genes that promote the survival and reproduction of the cancer cells. In healthy cells there is no signal from Wnt, and beta-catenin is destroyed.

"In the absence of a signal, beta-catenin is locked out of the cell nucleus," Birchmeier says. "It is linked to a complex of proteins that ultimately break it down. Normally it requires a signal to be released from this 'destruction complex,' and it travels to the cell nucleus." There beta-catenin binds to transcription factors such as the protein TCF4, and in combination the molecules activate specific target genes. In cancer there is no signal, but defective cellular molecules behave as if they have received one and release beta-catenin from the complex.

It might be possible, the scientists reasoned, to prevent this by interrupting the interaction between beta-catenin and TCF4 with a drug. Contacts between two proteins are normally very difficult to destabilize with the small molecules that make up drugs. Proteins usually bind over large areas of their surfaces, which means that a comparatively small obstacle won't prevent the interaction. That is the case with other beta-catenin binding partners.

But the crucial points of contact between beta-catenin and TCF4 appeared to be small "hotspots" which suggested that an inhibitor might block it. Liang Fang took the problem to the campus Screening Unit and Medicinal Chemistry group, a partnership between the MDC and FMP. The facility has high-throughput technology platforms and a "library" of tens of thousands of substances that scientists use to search for inhibitors. The screen turned up a compound they called LF3 which very strongly inhibited binding.

After showing that the compound stripped cancer stem cells of some properties essential to their survival, the lab's next step was to determine whether it would have any effect on tumors in living animals. The scientists turned to the company EPO, a campus-based spin-off of the MDC, to develop lines of mice with tumors derived from human colon cancer tissue. The company specializes in creating mouse models from individual patients' tumors, then testing the animals with a battery of known drugs in hopes of finding one that will effectively combat a specific case of cancer. In this case, all the animals developed tumors, even when injected with a relatively small number of enriched cancer cells.

The animals were then treated with LF3. "We observed a strong reduction of tumor growth," Walter Birchmeier says. "What remained seemed to be completely devoid of cancer stem cells - LF3 seemed to be powerfully triggering these cells to differentiate into benign tissue. At the same time no signaling systems other than Wnt were disturbed. All of these factors make LF3 very promising to further develop as a lead compound, aiming for therapies that target tumors whose growth and survival depend on Wnt signaling."
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have identified a molecular property of the hemagglutinin protein that contributed to the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus. The findings may help officials recognize and control flu viruses that pose the greatest risk to humans. The study appears in the online, early edition of the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Hemagglutinin is carried on the surface of the flu virus. The virus needs the protein for binding to and infecting host cells.

The researchers showed that hemagglutinin became more stable in an acidic environment as the H1N1 virus shifted from swine to humans. The adaptation increased the protein's stability in the acidic conditions of the human respiratory tract and lowered the pH at which hemagglutinin was activated. Activation triggers an irreversible change in the protein's molecular shape that fuses the virus and target cell.

Investigators demonstrated in the laboratory that the hemagglutinin adaption was essential for airborne viral transmission in ferrets, the animal model of the human disease. Mutating hemagglutinin to reduce the protein's stability in acid, and increase the pH of activation, blocked the virus' ability to spread through airborne particles.

"We have identified hemagglutinin acid stability as an essential property of pandemic viruses," said Charles Russell, Ph.D., an associate member of the St. Jude Department of Infectious Diseases who led the research. "These findings should aid pandemic preparedness by helping officials recognize and prioritize circulating animal viruses for surveillance, vaccine production and other measures."

The pH of activation differs for different flu viruses. Avian and swine viruses are activated at pH 5.5-6.0 compared to pH 5.0-5.5 for human flu viruses. Previous studies by Russell and others showed that changing the hemagglutinin to reduce the protein's stability in acid, and lower its pH of activation, led to transmission of avian flu viruses in mice and ferrets. Now researchers have linked such changes to a human pandemic virus.

In this study, researchers tracked the pH of activation in H1N1 swine flu viruses before and during the 2009 flu pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, H1N1 swine viruses were activated at pH 5.5-6.0. The H1N1 virus that infected humans early in the pandemic was activated at pH 5.5. In later cases, the activation pH of the H1N1 pandemic virus declined to 5.2-5.4.

"The hemagglutinin protein plays a central role in human flu pandemics, yet until now the molecular properties required for pandemic viruses have remained largely undefined," Russell said. "Our findings suggested that one requirement for a pandemic influenza A virus was an acid-stabilized protein with an activation pH of 5.5 or less, which was sufficient to allow airborne human-to-human transmission at the start of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic."

When scientists mutated the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus to make it more like swine flu virus and give it a hemagglutinin with a higher activation pH, the virus caused less illness and spread more slowly in mice and ferrets.

The virus responded to the loss-of-function mutation by quickly altering hemagglutinin in the laboratory to a lower activation pH of 5.3. The spontaneous change restored airborne transmissibility of the virus in ferrets. An analysis of pandemic H1N1 samples collected from more than 21,000 human cases worldwide found a small number with the same H1 mutation.

"The hemagglutinin shape change that causes the membrane fusion and gets the viral genetic material into target cells is triggered by a drop in pH," Russell said. "The virus can be exposed to low pH in the mildly acidic upper respiratory tract of humans and other mammals. If hemagglutinin is too easy to trigger, it is like a mouse trap triggered prematurely, and the virus is inactivated before reaching the target cell."
Introduction

For over two years, the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has been implementing a policy of siege and starvation in areas of Syria where it encountered harsh resistance by armed opposition forces. But the main victim of this policy has been the unarmed civilian population. While it weakens the opposition forces, this strategy is also aimed at exhausting the civilian support and causing it to reject these opposition forces, which the regime can leverage to pressure the opposition into signing local ceasefire agreements.[1] The regime calls these agreements, which are de facto surrender by the opposition forces, "national reconciliations" or "local reconciliations." Assad himself said in December 2015 that the reconciliations are obtained when the armed opposition members "hand over their weapons and return to their normal lives, and the government pardons them."[2] One notable example of this strategy is the January 2014 ceasefire between the regime and opposition forces across large parts of the Old City of Homs that were heavily besieged by the regime. According to reports by opposition elements, the regime regularly violates these agreements, bombing and besieging areas where it had agreed to maintain a ceasefire, whenever it needs to and in accordance with its progress on the ground.[3]

In addition to vanquishing opposition forces, which frees up its own forces for other fronts, these "reconciliations" also enable the regime to establish its claim that it is fighting local armed elements - and that it is not facing a widespread popular uprising with national political demands. Thus, it avoids the need to negotiate with the political opposition, as doing so could harm its status and even lead to its ouster.

In recent months, UN representatives in Syria have played a role in negotiating such ceasefires between the regime, on the one hand, and representatives of the local population and of the opposition forces, on the other, in several areas where there has been severe fighting. This has happened, for example, in the city of Al-Zabadani in the Rif Dimashq governorate in northwestern Syria, where regime and Hizbullah forces were fighting Ahrar Al-Sham and Jabhat Al-Nusra, and in the Al-Wa'er neighborhood in the Old City of Homs, also the site of fighting against Ahrar Al-Sham and Jabhat Al-Nusra along with dozens of other opposition factions. Under these agreements, the sides agreed that the regime would lift the siege, and that in return the armed fighters would either leave the area for the Idlib governorate, which is under opposition control, or hand over their weapons. In both cases, UN representatives attended the talks and negotiations that led to the agreements.

In the town of Qudsaya in Rif Dimashq, a similar regime-opposition agreement was attained; in this case, the opposition consisted primarily of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Under this agreement, armed fighters and civilians who wished to could leave for Idlib, in return for the regime's lifting of its five-month siege. While UN representatives were not present during the negotiations that led to the agreement, they did oversee the opposition forces' departure.

As noted, the new element in the agreements reached in Al-Zabadani, Al-Wa'er, and Qudsaya is UN representatives' presence in both the negotiation and implementation phases. These representatives explained that the agreements allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to local populations after months during which this was not possible due to siege by the regime and its allies, or by opposition elements.

Moreover, the UN representatives, led by UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura, praised these agreements, pinning their hopes on them and portraying them as a model for arriving at a complete ceasefire across Syria, as stated in UN Security Council Resolution 2254 - even as they disregarded the fact that they had been achieved following months of heavy siege and the starvation of the local populace. The UN's involvement in such agreements and its attitude towards them - especially in light of the fact that they came at the same time as international efforts were stepped up to resolve the Syria crisis and to implement UNSCR 2254 - could be perceived by the Syrian regime as implicit consent to the siege and starvation strategy that it is using to defeat the opposition, and as acceptance of these "national reconciliations" as a way to instill calm.

Indeed, early signs of such UN acceptance of the regime's methods of vanquishing the opposition were clear in the "Aleppo First" initiative presented by de Mistura to the Security Council in October 2014. The initiative involved a freeze on fighting in defined areas, and the transfer of humanitarian aid to them. The first aim was to address the devastating humanitarian conditions and to allow both sides to turn their weapons on the Islamic State (ISIS), which was depicted by de Mistura as an enemy to both the regime and the opposition. Its long-term goal was to gradually build trust between the sides, leading to political negotiations. The city of Aleppo was selected as the first area where these measures were to be implemented, both because of its dire humanitarian situation and because ISIS was advancing on it. In talks with the regime to implement the initiative, de Mistura accepted many of its preconditions, including restricting the initiative to the neighborhoods where the regime had encountered large-scale resistance, and stopping airstrikes but continuing with ground operations. While the initiative was ultimately not implemented due to additional regime demands and due to opposition objections, it did reflect a change in the UN's approach to the crisis - that is, prioritizing fighting ISIS and rejecting opposition demands to be allowed to fight both ISIS and the Assad regime. De Mistura's outline for resolving the Syria crisis is along the same lines as the regime's - that is, local ceasefires for forces on the ground.

President Obama also recently voiced support for this paradigm, but neglected to mention the circumstances under which it was used or its actual implications. At a press conference during the December 2015 United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris, he said: "What can happen is if the political process that John Kerry has so meticulously stitched together - in concert with Foreign Minister Lavrov of Russia - if that works in Vienna, then it's possible, given the existing accord that the parties have already agreed to, that we start seeing at least pockets of ceasefires in and around Syria. That may mean then that certain opposition groups no longer find themselves subject to either Syrian or Russian bombing; they are then in a conversation about politics. And slowly, we then are able to get everybody's attention diverted to where it needs to be, and that is going after ISIL in a systematic way."[4]

The Assad regime views UN involvement in these agreements, which were arrived at in accordance with the model that it set forth, as legitimizing its path to resolve the Syria crisis. On the other hand, various opposition elements have been extremely critical of the UN involvement, stating that the organization is now a party to the siege, starvation, and crimes committed by Assad against the Syrian people.

This paper will discuss the agreements arrived at in Al-Zabadani and the Al-Wa'er neighborhood in Homs with the participation of UN representatives, and the criticism they sparked among the Syrian opposition.

The Al-Zabadani/Al-Fu'ah/Kefraya Agreement

On September 29, 2015, a local ceasefire was signed in Istanbul, with Turkish sponsorship and UN oversight, between the opposition and the regime; the latter was represented by Iran. The ceasefire followed months of intense fighting in and around the city of Al-Zabadani between regime and Hizbullah forces, who heavily besieged the city, and opposition forces led by the Islamic Ahrar Al-Sham movement, which is part of the Jaysh Al-Fatah coalition led by Jabhat Al-Nusra. The agreement tied Al-Zabadani and its surroundings, where Assad and Hizbullah had the upper hand, to the villages of Al-Fu'ah and Kefraya, both Shi'ite enclaves of regime loyalists in the Idlib governorate that were besieged by opposition forces led by Jaysh Al-Fatah.

The main sections of the agreement's first phase included a 48-hour complete ceasefire with an option to extend it; allowing all opposition fighters to leave Al-Zabadani for Idlib with only their small arms, and any civilians who so desire to leave as well; destroying all opposition heavy weaponry in the city; allowing 10,000 women, children, and men below and above fighting age to leave the Shi'ite villages; allowing safe passage for the wounded from both sides; ceasing all offensive action, including the denial of humanitarian passage to the Shi'ite villages and denial of entry into the towns of Madaya, Baqin, and Serghaya, which are adjacent to Al-Zabadani; and establishing a committee of representatives from the UN, Iran, and the armed groups to oversee the implementation of the agreement and deal with any emerging problems (the UN and Iranian representatives would stay in Damascus). In the second phase of the agreements, a six-month ceasefire (hudna) is to be declared, and hundreds of prisoners released.

The agreement explicitly stated that the first phase would "be implemented with the sponsorship, oversight, and presence of the UN" and that the second phase "could take place under UN supervision."[5] According to other reports, the agreement also includes the delivery of humanitarian aid to the areas it covers.[6]

Despite the above, in actuality both sides violated the ceasefire many times, and only a few sections of the agreement were implemented, and with much delay. Only on December 27, 2015, three months after the agreement was signed, did some 130 opposition fighters, most of them wounded, leave Al-Zabadani with their families, along with some 300 families and wounded from Al-Fu'ah and Kefraya. It is not clear how many opposition fighters remain in Al-Zabadani. In the four months between the signing of the agreement and the end of the year, humanitarian aid was brought in to the besieged areas only once.

Madaya: Ongoing Siege Despite UN-Sponsored Ceasefire

One of the regime's blatant violations of this ceasefire is the ongoing siege of the town of Madaya, near Al-Zabadani. According to opposition reports, the siege was stepped up after the agreement was signed, and the regime and Hizbullah forces surrounding the village mined its entrances so that food could not be brought in. These reports stated that the town's 40,000 residents, some of them refugees from Al-Zabadani, are suffering from severe shortages of food and medical supplies, and are surviving on weeds and tree bark, and are even killing and eating cats.[7] Although under the agreement the regime undertook to lift the siege and allow aid convoys to enter the town, by December only one aid convoy had been allowed to enter. Residents even reported that there had been some deaths from starvation.

It was only after local residents and opposition elements raised an outcry on social networks and in the media about the severity of the situation that the international community acted; following pressure, the regime and Hizbullah allowed aid convoys to enter the town, on condition that similar convoys would be allowed into the Shi'ite villages of Al-Fu'ah and Kefraya. Following a visit to the town, Red Cross and UN representatives confirmed the reports of dire humanitarian conditions, and also reported that there had been several starvation deaths even after the aid convoys were allowed in.[8]



Social media campaign "Madaya Calls To You": "One of the sections of the agreement is the delivery of aid to Madaya. Where is it?" (Source: "Lift Siege from Madaya" Facebook hashtag, January 3, 2016)



Hashtag: "Madaya Dying of Starvation" (Source: Orient-news.net, January 3, 2016)

The Al-Wa'er Agreement

On December 1, 2015, after some two years of siege and heavy shelling by the Syrian army, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the regime and dignitaries from the Al-Wa'er neighborhood in the Old City of Homs along with representatives of the armed opposition factions in the neighborhood. One opposition body reported that the fighters belonged to several factions, including Ahrar Al-Sham and Jabhat Al-Nusra.[9]

UN representatives were present during the negotiations for this agreement also - Khawla Mattar, the head of de Mistura's Damascus office, and UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator Yacoub Al-Hillo.

Al-Wa'er, nicknamed "the capital of the revolution," was the last bastion of the opposition in the Old City. The other neighborhoods there had been handed over to the regime in "reconciliation agreements" signed in May 2014 after fierce battles and after the humanitarian situation had deteriorated due to the regime's siege and starvation strategy. Agreements had also been signed concerning Al-Wa'er, but both sides had violated them.

There are conflicting reports regarding the details of the December 1 agreement. The regime maintains that after it comes into force, "Al-Wa'er will be completely safe and stable, and will have no weapons other than those of the state, and all state institutions will resume operation, including regime and security elements, and these elements will be responsible for maintaining security."[10]

However, the opposition forces that signed the agreement contend that the agreement allows them to continue their control of the neighborhood. They do acknowledge that under the agreement only fighters who do not oppose the agreement will be allowed to stay, and that they will not be allowed to possess medium and heavy weapons. These weapons will be turned over to the regime, and regime security and police forces will secure and operate the public and government institutions in Al-Wa'er. They also acknowledge that the agreement stipulates that residents leaving the neighborhood must go through a regime security forces checkpoint, and that wanted men will be turned back until their status vis-a-vis the regime is resolved.[11]

Both sides, however, agree that in the first phase of the agreement, the siege on the neighborhood will be lifted and humanitarian aid will be allowed in, in return for the gradual exodus of armed elements opposing the agreement, with their families, for the rebel-controlled Idlib. In the second phase, entry and departure from the neighborhood will be permitted, and prisoners will be released.

Several days after the agreement was signed, the first phase began to be implemented; some 300 fighters and 100 families left the neighborhood for Idlib, accompanied by a UN vehicle, and humanitarian aid and food were sent in.



Fighters leave Al-Wa'er accompanied by UN representatives (Source: Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, December 9, 2015)

In addition to the exodus of the fighters and the entry of humanitarian aid, UN representatives are set to meet with teams dealing with aid, humanitarian services, and healthcare in the neighborhood,[12] apparently in order to observe the rehabilitation process.

UN Representatives Praise Al-Wa'er Agreement - Although It Was Arrived At Following Siege, Starvation

Although the Al-Wa'er agreement was arrived at because of the dire humanitarian situation resulting from the regime's siege and starvation of the populace, UN representatives praised it and considered it a model for other agreements for other battlegrounds, particularly in the wake of UNSCR 2254 that calls for a complete ceasefire in Syria in January 2016. Following the signing of the Al-Wa'er agreement, Farhan Haq, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said on behalf of Staffan de Mistura: "The UN's clear goal is to reach, as soon as possible, a nationwide ceasefire. [Meanwhile] initiatives like this one bring relief to besieged or isolated communities and have great value... They help the perception that a nationwide ceasefire brokered by the members of the International Syria Support Group is doable and that the UN can and will do its part."[13]

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O'Brien said that he hoped to see more local ceasefires like the Al-Wa'er ceasefire[14] - a statement that the regime might interpret as acceptance of its siege and starvation policy. Several days later, O'Brien clarified that humanitarian aid should not be conditional upon such agreements.[15]

UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator Al-Hillo also praised the agreement: "This is an historic day in Homs - a clearly Syrian-Syrian day, because the agreement was reached among the Syrians themselves." Downplaying the UN's role in it, he said: "The UN is on the ground as an element to reassure, and to build trust between the sides, and not as a party to the agreement."[16]

Syrian Regime: The Ceasefire Mandated By UNSCR 2254 Will Be Achieved Via Local Reconciliation Agreements

Naturally, the Syrian regime welcomed the UN's involvement in the recent agreements, and saw it as a legitimization of the path it was taking in order to resolve the Syrian crisis. At the same time, the regime is seeking, successfully, to limit UN involvement to logistical aspects only, in order to show that these agreements are intra-Syrian and do not include foreign intervention. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mu'allem stressed, at a meeting with O'Brien, that it is crucial for relevant UN bodies to undertake to act in the capacity of their humanitarian and aid-providing roles[17] - that is, that they should not interfere in the political aspects of the of the situations. The governor of Homs, Talal Al-Barazi, also underlined that "there is no international participation in the content of the Al-Wa'er neighborhood agreement, which was achieved via Syrian-Syrian dialogue several months ago." He continued: "The role of the UN and the Arab Syrian Red Crescent is only to participate in the logistical operations and in the evacuation [of fighters and citizens]."[18]

Al-Thawra columnist Ahmad 'Orabi Ba'aj wrote about the Syrian regime's view of these agreements and of the ceasefire mandated by UNSCR 2254: "The achievements of the Syrian Arab army forced the terrorist organizations to retreat, and have resulted in local reconciliations... that prepare the ground for the removal of weapons and the return of those areas to the lap of the state. This is the most precise translation of the term 'ceasefire' that recently appeared in Security Council resolutions. There can be no ceasefire with the presence of terrorist or armed organizations that do not hand their weapons over to the legitimate regime anywhere in the world - and the same goes for Syria as well..."[19]

Syrian Opposition Elements: The UN Is Party To Assad's Starvation Crimes, And Isn't Trying To Stop Them

Conversely, elements in the Syrian opposition harshly criticized the UN's involvement in these agreements - particularly in light of its inability to bring about an end to the Syria war which has been raging for nearly five years, or even to pressure the regime to stop using barrel bombs and its strategy of siege and starvation.

One of the opposition's main arguments is that the UN is legitimizing the regime's siege and starvation strategy, and is thus violating UNSCR 2139 that calls on all parties in Syria to allow the transfer of humanitarian aid.

Ali Hamidi, of the oppositionist website Orient-News, wrote: "In both cases [i.e., the agreements in Al-Wa'er and Qudsaya] the UN was present and was a direct partner, as well as [being involved through the mediation of] Special Envoy de Mistura. This is unprecedented in the history of this organization, which is overseeing the regime's crimes in Syria instead of attempting to put a stop to them. In fact, [the UN] is cooperating to a large extent with the regime in subduing the areas... which increases the possibility that the Assad regime will continue to use siege scenarios in other areas so as to reach agreements and ceasefires with the UN's consent and sponsorship..."[20]

The Saraya Al-Ghurabaa organization, which operates under the auspices of the FSA in Al-Wa'er and which opposed the ceasefire agreement, stated that the UN, by being party to the agreements, had violated Security Council resolutions. It said in a statement following the Al-Wa'er agreement: "The humanitarian bodies, especially those belonging to the UN, are not neutral. They should have transferred aid to the neighborhood without turning to the regime, in accordance with UNSCR 2139 and 2165."[21]

Syrian Oppositionist: "Dracula's Grandson" De Mistura Sucks The Blood Of Syrians, Delights At Their Corpses

Following the reports of the severe starvation in Madaya resulting from the ongoing siege, that was in direct violation of the Al-Zabadani/Al-Fu'ah/Kefraya agreement, oppositionist writer Iyad 'Issa penned a personal attack on UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, calling him "Dracula's grandson and rightful heir" and accusing him of accepting bribes from the Syrian regime. He wrote: "The more appropriate name [for de Mistura], which is more fitting of this situation, is Dracula, after Count Dracula, the famous original model for vampires. It is no coincidence that both have the title of Count... [De Mistura] was born to an Italian father and has dual Italian and Swedish citizenship, but he is more likely Dracula's grandson and rightful heir...

"The 'grandfather' Dracula was a respected killer. According to legend, throughout his life he sucked the blood of only 40,000 people. However, his grandson de Mistura sees the attempt to eradicate a similar number in the starvation-struck Madaya as a mere appetizer to the 500,000 victims of the Syrian 'roasted meat banquet' that has been raging for five years with UN sponsorship. Since we [first] had the honor of becoming acquainted with de Mistura, the special envoy for the great murderers club falsely known as the Security Council, in July 2014, who served as... mediator in the 'starve or submit' reconciliations, he has been more like a hyena than a vampire, since vampires prefer warm blood rather than feasting on carrion or delighting in corpses, as de Mistura did in Homs's Al-Wa'er neighborhood and in Qudsaya before that, and as he is currently doing in Madaya, Al-Zabadani, Darayya, Al-Ma'adamiyeh, Duma, Al-Qabun, and dozens of occupied Syrian cities, towns, and villages. [He does this] in return for a public monthly salary [from the UN] and a hidden salary [from the Assad regime]..."[22]

UN Enabling The Regime To Enact A Policy Of Expulsion And Uprooting

Opposition elements are also claiming that the UN is enabling the Syrian regime and its allies to forcibly relocate local Sunni populations with the aim of creating contiguous Shi'ite territory, by helping expel residents from areas covered by local ceasefires.

Thus, for example, after the signing of the Al-Wa'er agreement, and concurrent with the implementation of the second phase of humanitarian aid transfer, several dozen residents protested against what they called "the organized expulsion being carried out by the Assad regime with UN backing."



Al-Wa'er residents protesting: "Revolutionaries are our people. [It is] Al-Assad regime who is killer. United Nations [does] what...?!" (Source: Orient-news.net, December 12, 2015)

Dr. Riad Na'asan Agha, spokesman for the opposition's Syrian Supreme Commission for Negotiations, said that the UN's actions in favor of these ceasefire agreements and its participation in them are dangerous and overstep the UN's mandate. This, he said, is because they include removing the original residents of the areas where the agreements are signed, leading to demographic shifts that are based on ethnicity.[23]

'Amar Shahda, writing in the oppositionist website Orient-News, argued that the UN was an accomplice in the expulsion and uprooting of Syrian civilians from their homes: "Recently there has been a clear increase in the local 'reconciliations and arrangements' in several Syrian governorates, the most difficult and painful of which [involved] the forceful uprooting of residents from their areas via agreements for organized expulsion, all of which are godfathered by the UN. In this way, the UN violated one of the main articles of its human rights declaration. Videos documenting the forceful removal of residents of the Al-Wa'er neighborhood, which, under siege, was the last bastion of the revolution in its capital of Homs, showed devastating sights of forceful uprooting of people from their areas, under an agreement organized by the UN... Homs was emptied [of its original residents] under the auspices of the UN...

"All the agreements for expelling the original residents from their areas, under the slogan of 'arrangements, ceasefires, and reconciliations,' went through UN channels. The international organization is knowingly and deliberately violating one of the main articles in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights... which states that every person has the right to travel and choose his place of residence within the borders of his country. The only result of the UN's efforts after some five years of war against the Syrian people was the uprooting and expulsion of residents from [various] areas in Syria... while this organization and its various branches... failed to stop the daily killing and the bombardment with barrel bombs and missiles... and to end the policy of siege and starvation implemented by Assad's forces and the Shi'ite militias in Homs and the Rif Dimashq [governorate]...

"This time, the UN took these steps with clear Russian backing and with a green light from America, especially after Barack Obama's recent announcement of support for 'regional solutions'..."[24]

* N. Mozes is a research fellow at MEMRI.

Endnotes:
Be sure to read the first official Derby Dozen in Blood-Horse magazine next week!

1 Greenpointcrusader Dominick Schettino BernardiniAva Knowsthecode, by Cryptoclearance The Holy Bull should tell us if his stay at No. 1 will be short-lived or not. This is going to be an early reality crusher for several of them, having to face undefeated Mohaymen and another Top 12-ranked horse Conquest Big E, as well as other talented colts with promise. A victory is not necessary by any means, as hes not exactly tearing up the track in the morning. He just needs to be coming at the end over a track that normally is conducive to speed and show hes moving in the right direction. If he flunks his test, at least we wont be investing too much time with him on top, and we can move on quickly. Hes listed as a probable, but if he doesnt show up, then we have to take a different mindset altogether. Hes far from firmly entrenched in the top spot, so we need to take a positive away from the race to keep him there.

2 Brody's Cause Dale Romans Giants Causeway Sweet Breanna, by Sahm Hes following the Street Sense path to the Derby  the Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. That should be sufficient to get him to the Derby fit, as he has a pretty good 2-year-old foundation under him. Hes in a virtual dead-heat for the top spot, and has Derby horse written all over him. But for now, we can only just sit on him until he shows up in mid-March. Hes a powerful closer with an excellent turn of foot, and I love the way he stormed past a top-class horse in Exaggerator in the Breeders Futurity. Cant fault his fast-closing third in BC Juvenile, in which he was hurt by the short stretch run. Surprised to see him show up on the work tab after 3 months with a :47 4/5 breeze, so hes already sharp. He followed that up with a solid 5f breeze in 1:01.

3 Mohaymen Kiaran McLaughlin TapitJustwhistledixie, by Dixie Union He could very well jump into the top spot if he wins the Holy Bull Stakes impressively, but it all depends on how fast Greenpointcrusader is coming at the end. If he runs to his works (5f in :59 2/5 breezing last Friday), everyone could be running for second. If someone had told Kiaran McLaughlin after the 2014 Holy Bull that the next Triple Crown sweep not only was imminent but the horse that will sweep it will have an Egyptian-themed name, you can be sure he would have envisioned himself in the history books, considering he had just won the Holy Bull by nearly six lengths with a horse named Cairo Prince. But that would have been a nasty tease, as Cairo Prince would finish fourth in the Florida Derby as the 6-5 favorite and never race again, while American Pharoah showed up two years later to march into history. And who was the immediate victim of American Pharoah in his Belmont Stakes victory? Runner-up Frosted, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. Come on, tell me the Derby gods arent on top of this.

4 Nyquist Doug O'Neill Uncle MoSeeking Gabrielle, by Forestry Worked 6f in a tepid 1:15 3/5 for scheduled debut in the 7f San Vicente Stakes, where hell tangle with the top-class Exaggerator. Hard to find faults in an undefeated 2-year-old champion and winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile and two other grade I stakes. Should get 1 1/8 miles, but not sure how effective hell be at 1 1/4 miles, especially with only a 7-furlong and 1 1/8-mile race scheduled before the Kentucky Derby. His female family does trace to a number of class/stamina influences, such as Pleasant Colony, Seeking the Gold, Buckpasser, Arts and Letters, and Coxs Ridge, so question marks surrounding his distance ability may not be warranted. People are going mainly by Uncle Mo and Forestry up close, but both those horses do have sufficient stamina in their pedigrees when crossed with stamina influences.

5 Exaggerator Keith Desormeaux CurlinDawn Raid, by Vindication Desormeaux has been concentrating on long stamina building works rather than short speed works, which looks to be a wise move as he prepares for the San Vicente. His last two works (6f in 1:13 4/5 and 7f in 1:25 4/5) should have him plenty fit for his 7f debut, indicating Desormeaux, like he did last year with Texas Red, is using the San Vicente itself as a sharpener and a first step on the Derby trail. We already know he has sprinting speed, and you dont want him setting any records first crack out against the 2-year-old champ. The main task right now is bringing out his true talent, which I dont believe weve seen yet, even with his impressive credentials. You have to admire his consistency and having already run at Santa Anita, Saratoga, Del Mar, Keeneland, and Delta Downs. Hes won graded stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs and 1 1/16 miles and has good tactical speed. Brodys Cause caught him late in the Breeders Futurity and nipped him for third in the BC Juvenile. He just has to keep progressing and take that next step up to where he can defeat horses like Brodys Cause and the other leaders of the division.

6 Airoforce Mark Casse Colonel JohnChocolate Pop, by Cuvee Good to see him back on the work tab Monday after missing his last work with a slight temperature. He breezed his half in :48 flat, the third fastest of 70 works at the distance, so, fortunately, everything is back on schedule and this shouldnt set him back any. He still has to prove he is as effective on a fast dirt track as he is in the slop and on the turf, but his victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes was flattered when runner-up Mor Spirit came back to win the Los Alamitos Futurty and third-place finisher Mo Tom captured the LeComte Stakes. And his pedigree does lean toward dirt. Being inbred to In Reality could very well have accounted for his big performance in the slop. The fact that he won the Kentucky Jockey Club with authority and was drawing away from very good horses at the end is extremely encouraging. He gets stamina from Colonel John, a son of Tiznow, but his broodmare sire is pure sprinting speed. The classy distance grass horse With Approval gives him more stamina in his tail-female line.

7 Mor Spirit Bob Baffert EskendereyaIm a Dixie Girl, by Dixie Union Continues to to work well for possible start in the Feb. 6 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Breezed 6f in 1:13 3/5 Saturday. Hard-knocking grinder type who keeps coming at you whether racing on the pace or back in the pack. The good news is he looked impressive coming from off the pace to defeat stablemate Toews on Ice in Los Alamitos Futurity. Bad news is that Toews on Ice tired badly next time out in the Smarty Jones Stakes, a rare poor effort from a Bob Baffert horse at Oaklawn Park. Gary Stevens seems to be very high on him and looks to be the perfect fit for a horse with his diverse running style. Eskendereya would have been a solid favorite in the 2010 Kentucky Derby before suffering an injury and looks to be a promising young stallion.

8 Flexibility Chad Brown Bluegrass CatSanta Vindi, by Vindication If you like Mohaymen you have to rank this colt pretty high following a pair of strong seconds to the Shadwell colt in the Nashua and Remsen Stakes and then coming right back to win the Jerome Stakes impressively. He ran a big race in the Remsen, pressing the pace, with two horses, including Mohaymen, right on his tail. Mohaymen was able to slip between horses on his inside to take the lead, but he battled on to the finish in a game effort. In the Jerome he had a perfect setup, sitting in fourth with three horses battling head and head for the lead. He went by them in one fell swoop and drew off despite lugging in on his wrong lead. He did switch to his right lead inside the final sixteenth and finished with good energy. Hes run four times in less than 3 months and has already been 1 1/8 miles, so Brown might want to give him a little break and point for the Gotham and Wood Memorial. But we'll see if shows up for Saturday's Withers Stakes.

9 Conquest Big E Mark Casse TapitSeeinisbelieven, by Carson City Thought his allowance victory over Unexplained was going to be an important race, but following Unexplaineds dull effort in an Oaklawn allowance race I dont know what to make of that. Hes been working sharply for the Holy Bull Stakes, so we should find out soon enough just where he belongs, as he takes on Mohaymen and Greenpointcrusader. I believe there is more to this colt than what hes shown so far and this would be an excellent opportunity to see just what hes made of, especially on a fast track. His tactical speed should suit Gulfstream and his last three works at Palm Meadows were strong, so there is no reason to think he wont make his presence felt. His female family traces to the C.V. Whitney-bred Silver Spoon and the George Widener-bred Belmont Stakes winner Jaipur, so there is plenty of class on the bottom.

10 Cherry Wine Dale Romans Paddy OPradoC.S. Royce, by Unbridleds Song Could it be this colt that will spoil the coming out party for Mohaymen, Greenpointcrusader, and Conquest Big E in the Holy Bull? What I love about him is the way he puts himself into the race quickly on the far turn and without any urging. He is able to make his way through all kinds of traffic, flying past horses with his rider straight up in the saddle, and then blow his opponents away in the stretch. There is no doubt hes improving in leaps and bounds and its just a matter of whether he can now step way up in class and duplicate what hes done against lesser competition. If he cant, he will join Unexplained as a very brief addition to the Top 12. But if he can against this caliber of horses, then he likely will move way up the list and be considered a major Derby contender and a heckuva one-two punch with Brodys Cause. I sure wouldnt bet against Dale Romans with a pair like that.

11 Mo Tom Tom Amoss Uncle MoCaroni, by Rubiano Although he runs like a horse who wants more distance, one does not associate his sire and broodmare sire with stamina. He is a half-brother to Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Beautician, who was more geared toward speed, and his dam is a half-sister to the top-class sprinter Kashatreya, although she is inbred to Nijinsky. His LeComte victory, running by everyone with a clean outside move, was a much more professional effort than his Ky. Jockey Club third-place finish, in which he jumped over to his left lead under right-hand whipping and ducked in sharply, coming precariously close to hitting the rail. The bottom line is, he runs contrary to his pedigree, so its difficult to assess up to what distances he will be effective.

12 Zulu Todd Pletcher BernardiniTemporada, by Summer Squall There really isnt too much to add about him that hasnt been said last week, as hes strictly a guess based on his potential from a visual standpoint. His two races statistically reveal very little and Im merely going by the eye test and what he might be capable of accomplishing stretching out to two turns against far better competition. And he is playing catch-up, with only two sprint races to his credit. But he looks to have a world of talent, and I love the way he won a 7f allowance race by 7 1/4 lengths, showing good natural speed and the ability to rate behind horses. And he possesses the turn of foot and flowing stride you want to see in a young horse. There is a good chance he will lose his place in the Top 12 as others prove their merit before he runs next in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. But I just wanted him there initially, and then well see where he fits.

Knocking At The Door

Running in the Golden State Juvenile Stakes and Cal Cup Derby seemed like a highly unlikely path to the Kentucky Derby until California Chrome used it successfully two years ago. Well, say hello to SMOKEY IMAGE, who has already won the Golden State Juvenile and three other Cal-bred Stakes, and is undefeated in five career starts. The son of Southern Images performance in the Golden State was one of the most impressive Ive seen from this crop of horses, as he overcame a bad start and a ton of traffic problems. One second he was checking on the far turn and backing out of contention and behind a wall of horses and the next he was flying along the inside and back in the hunt, eventually winning by three-quarters of a length over the Paul ReddamDoug ONeill horse FOUND MONEY, winner of the Santa Anita Juvenile who went on to win the King Glorious Stakes and finish fourth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths in the Sham Stakes. Despite never changing leads, Smokey Image was striding out strongly at the wire. In the Im Smokin Stakes at Del Mar, he battled head and head on the lead through fast fractions and drew off to a 4 1/4-length score in 1:09 3/5. The Cal Cup Derby will tell us how effective he is around two turns.

Ive already had to drop one horse off the Top 12, as UNEXPLAINED ran a lackluster race in an Oaklawn allowance, finishing a non-threatening fourth behind the Jack Van Berg-trained CUTACORNER, a close fourth in the Remington Springboard Mile. The only excuse I could give him is he is missed some training due to the weather, but he again failed to change leads and thats not a good habit for a young horse to get into. He certainly looked more promising in his debut and then finishing a fast-closing second to Conquest Big E in a Churchill allowance race. Well see where he goes from here.

If youre willing to throw out his fifth-place finish in the Delta Jackpot in the mud, then you might want to follow the Ron Moquett-trained WHITMORE, who has sandwiched that performance with two brilliant sprint victories, the last coming in a 6f allowance race at Oaklawn Jan. 16. As a son of Pleasantly Perfect, there is no reason to think he wont stretch out effectively. In his maiden victory, he cruised to the lead with jockey Didiel Osorio already taking a peak behind him. He changed leads smoothly, but when he was hit with a left-handed whip as he was starting to pull away he ducked out sharply. He straightened himself out and was then hit with a right-handed whip and jumped over to his left lead. But he quickly switched back to his right lead on his own, and once the whip was put away he coasted under the wire by 7 1/4 lengths under wraps. After the Delta debacle, in which he was on the pace and tired, Moquett put blinkers on and dropped him back in a sprint and it was obvious the blinkers made a difference. Down the backside he was in heavy traffic and had to check, but continued to bide his time. Stuck behind horses, the rail opened up and he took off. Osorio hit him with a series of right-handed whips, but kept them backhanded on the saddle cloth and Whitmore continued to run straight and true, drawing off in the final furlong. He did switch over to his left lead late, but was already well clear, winning by 3 1/4 lengths. I cant wait to see this colt stretch out again, likely in the Southwest Stakes.

One horse Ive been high on since his second in a maiden race is MR. COKER, who came back win on Jan. 18 for Jerry Hollendorfer. But he, like Unexplained, has problems changing leads. Once he matures and breaks that habit, the feeling is he could turn into a serious horse. The son of Candy Ride has plenty of distance in his pedigree, but with only two sprints, he has a lot to prove and a lot of catching up to do. Speaking of Hollendorfer, he sent of his fleet-footed I WILL SCORE for a 6f work in 1:11 3/5. The undefeated son of Roman Ruler still has to show hes more than a sprinter, having torn up the clock in his two starts with fractions of :21 3/5 and :21 1/5 for his quarters and :44 2/5 and :43 3/5 for his halfs. Hell have to harness that speed big-time if he has any hopes of succeeding on the Derby trail.

One very interesting horse who has been turning in some sneaky good works at Palm Meadows is the Graham Motion-trained RAFTING, who was a mess in finishing third in an allowance race, in which he got very rank and dragged jockey Florent Geroux up into contention after drifting wide into the first turn, then looked awful on his wrong lead in the stretch. But in his last start, the one-mile Smooth Air Stakes, he was a totally different horse and much more professional as he drew off to a 2 1/4-length victory, although in a tardy 1:40 for the mile. Even though this was a big improvement, he still didnt handle the first turn very well and has to work on that. Hes turned in back-to-back 6f breezes in 1:13 and 1:13 1/5 and if he takes another step forward he could make his presence felt.

It was DISCREETNESS and GORDY FLORIDA who battled it out in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn, but the horse to keep an eye on at longer distances is third-place finisher SYNCHRONY, who saved ground all the way, but ran up behind a wall of horses in the stretch and was bumped and leaned on from the outside while still stuck on his left lead. He finally found a clear path and when he switched to his right lead he showed excellent acceleration and was running strongly at the end. Its good to see the familiar Pin Oak Stable silks on the Derby trail.

A maiden winner who caught the eye at Fair Grounds last week was the Greg Foley-trained ZAPPERINI, a well-bred son of Ghostzapper with a ton of stamina in his pedigree. After closing like a rocket only to get beat a neck by Z Royal in his career debut at a mile at Churchill Downs, he came back with a gutsy maiden score at a mile and 70 yards, going 5-wide at the head of the stretch, holding off one challenge on his outside and wearing down a tenacious Virtual Machine while doing it all under a hand ride and coming in and crowding the runner-up in the final sixteenth. I like the way he moves and I like the way he passed horses so methodically on the turn without being asked.

The exciting SHAGAF moved a step closer to his 3-year-old debut, breezing a half in :48 4/5 at Palm Meadows. Hes entered in a one-mile allowance race Friday against Todd Pletchers maiden winner RALLY CRY, who has turned in two excellent works at Palm Beach Downs, breezing 5f in 1:00 1/5 and then turning in a bullet half-mile in :48 breezing, fastest of 32 works at the distance. Another brilliant lightly raced colt, DREFONG, worked 6f in 1:13 1/5 at Santa Anita for Bob Baffert. Hopeful winner RALIS, who has been disappointing since that impressive victory, was back on the work tab, breezing a half in :50 1/5 at Santa Anita.

Those looking abroad for Derby horses have to keep their eyes on the Japanese colt LANI and the Godolphin colt BLUE CREEK. Lani, a son of Tapit, out of a Sunday Silence mare, has won his last two impressively, and Blue Creek, by Street Cry, out of a Dynaformer mare, won his only start at Meydan by 5 lengths. Both colts likely will hook up in Dubai as they prepare for a run at the Kentucky Derby.

An interesting horse to keep an eye on, possibly in the Fountain of Youth or Risen Star or at Tampa, is the Chad Brown-trained GIFT BOX, who demonstrated an impressive turn of foot on the far turn in the Remsen Stakes, but was unable to sustain it in the stretch, finishing third in only his third career start. Hes turned in a couple of solid half-mile breezes at Palm Meadows. He is a half-brother to Stonetastic, who was primarily a sprinter, but could stretch her speed out to some degree to 1 1/16 miles. I do like his inbreeding to Fappiano through Cryptoclearance and Unbridled, and he broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont, beating a promising and talented horse in MATT KING COAL, who came back to break his maiden by nearly 6 lengths going a flat mile at Belmont.

Another interesting prospect, GUN RUNNER, who finished a good fourth, beaten only 3 1/4 lengths, in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes has been working solidly at Fair Grounds, breezing 5f in 1:01 1/5 on Jan. 19. SUNNY RIDGE, second in the Champagne and Delta Jackpot, has had some curious works at Belmont Park, breezing 5f in 1:03 2/5 and a half in :55 4/5. Will we see a battle of the Champagne and Remsen runners-up in the Withers? Jerome runner-up VORTICITY is another possibility for the Withers.

AWESOME BANNER had his first breeze since winning the Hutcheson Stakes by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:09 2/5, going an easy 3f in :36 1/5 for trainer Stanley Gold. The son of Awesome of Course set a track record for 4 1/2 furlongs in his career debut, winning by 9 3/4 lengths. Hes no doubt lightning fast, but well see how far he can carry that speed if they elect to stretch him out.
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ELKTON  A love of birds and photography led to a very unique opportunity for Elktons Sue Courliss.

The bird-watching enthusiast was on her way home from work the afternoon of Jan. 14 when she decided to take a back road. Traveling down Farver Road north of Elkton, she saw what she thought was a hawk flying back and forth over the ditches.

Eventually, the creature flew over top of where Courliss had pulled off to watch, which is when she noticed it was an owl. After the owl gently landed in a tree near Courliss, a picture presented itself and she took advantage.

However, it wasnt until weeks later that Courliss found out just how rare her picture really was. After posting it on Facebook seeking help identifying what kind of owl it was, it got in front of the eyes of a representative from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, who told Courliss she had quite the find.

They said it was a short-eared owl and they are endangered in Michigan, Courliss said.

Following the encounter, Courliss has taken the same route home on multiple occasions, with no sign of the rare owl. She was told that her experience likely came as the result of a fly through for the bird on its way to somewhere else.

Im pretty excited to think that I was able to document an endangered species in the wild, she said.

Courliss said she has been taking photos in nature for a couple of years, The hobby was inspired by another exciting moment she experienced.

I saw an eagle and it just filled me with awe, she said. From that point, its like I just cant get enough of it. I really, really enjoy it.

With time and experience, Courliss said she has managed to put together a decent amount of photos, including some of eagles, hawks and snow owls. In the end though, its all about the happiness it brings to her.

I dont feel like Im very good. Its just something that I enjoy, she said.
The Lenawee County Continuum of Care met last week to review its sheltering options, particularly for families with young children, The Daily Telegram of Adrian reported. Options for families are filled, while others are open to adults only and victims of domestic violence.

Group co-chairwoman Khristine Henson-Jones said homelessness in the county has become so desperate for some families that efforts to find shelter include walking around stores at night to stay warm and sleeping in restrooms.

Beth McCullough, coordinator for Families in Transition Program for Lenawee County, said the situation is a "perfect storm" of issues, including funding cuts for motel vouchers and families not able to find affordable housing.

Henson-Jones said Continuum of Care used to get $10,000 in motel voucher funds, but that was cut to $4,100 in the fall and was used up within two months.

As a short-term solution, the group has established a fund to accept donations that will be turned into motel vouchers for those needing shelter. The group, made of agencies, community leaders and others seeking to coordinate resources, will meet next month to discuss long-term solutions to homelessness.

Adrian Salvation Army Envoy Terry Gaster said it's time the Continuum of Care reached out to the community for help. He said he doesn't want to have to turn away families and tell them to look to neighboring counties for help.

"This is an emergency and it's one we need to address as a county," Gaster said.
Today, her art is on display in the center of Berlin at a special exhibition of Art from the Holocaust that opened at the German Historical Museum on Monday.

"I hope that generations to come will look at this and know what atrocities made me do this," Toll told The Associated Press at the opening.

Toll's paintings are among 100 artworks created by Jewish artists during the Holocaust on display, the first time the collection from the Yad Vashem memorial in Jerusalem has been shown outside Israel.

The exhibition includes work by Jewish artists in hiding, in concentration and labor camps, and in ghettos. Of the 50 artists featured, 24 were killed by the Nazis. Alongside the mostly unknown names are acclaimed artists such as Felix Nussbaum and Ludwig Meidner.

Toll is the only artist represented in the show who is still alive. One of her paintings, "Girls in the Field," shows two girls, dressed in bright blue, red and yellow-dotted dresses walking across a sunny lawn confined by lush green trees.

"I made 60 paintings while in hiding and all of them express happiness," said Toll, who lost her father and brother in the Holocaust. She emigrated to the United States with her mother after the war.

Like many Jews who created art while being surrounded by death, fear and suffering, painting was a way for Toll to break free and escape from the Holocaust's harsh reality to imaginary places of beauty and happiness.

"I would have conversations with the characters in my paintings for hours," Toll remembered.

Not all the works show an escape into a happy imagination. Some artworks are shocking in their depictions of life in the ghetto, daily discrimination and fear of being killed by the Nazis.

Halina Olomucki's 1939 pencil work, "After the Shearing of the Beards," shows two orthodox men with bandages around their heads after their beards had been torn or burned off by Germans in the Warsaw ghetto.

Leo Haas' "Transport from Vienna" shows the arrival of a train full of elderly Jews at the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1942. Painted in dark, monochrome India ink, people with faces like hollow skulls can be seen tumbling out of cattle cars, many lying lifeless on the ground as a soldier keeps pulling more people off the train.

The show's curator, Yad Vashem's Eliad Moreh-Rosenberg, called the creation of art during the Holocaust an "uncompromising act of resistance" by artists in mortal danger.

It was very difficult for the artists to get painting supplies, but despite that and their appalling living conditions they managed to portray life during the Shoah, fighting their dehumanization by the Nazis and leaving behind painted witness accounts, Moreh-Rosenberg said.

Among the most touching works is a postcard painted in 1941 by both Karl Robert Bodek and Kurt Conrad Loew while at the Gurs camp in southwestern France, which was then under the Vichy regime that collaborated with the Nazis.

Titled "One Spring," the watercolor shows a bright yellow butterfly sitting on top of black barbed wire, free to fly wherever it desires, while the two artists were confined to the dark barracks of the camp depicted at the bottom of the painting.

Bodek was killed a year later in Auschwitz-Birkenau, while Loew survived and died in his birth city of Vienna in 1980.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was to officially inaugurate the show on Monday night, said on her weekly podcast released over the weekend that such exhibitions are still critical for educating younger Germans about the Holocaust.

"It reminds us that we have an enduring responsibility for what has been done in the past..." she said. "I think it is very, very important that every generation reacquaints itself with Germany's history."

Merkel specifically cited fears raised by German Jewish leaders about a possible rise in anti-Semitism with the arrival of nearly 1.1 million migrants last year.

"We have to deal with it, especially among young people whose family background is from countries where hatred of Israel and the hatred of Jews is widespread," she said.

The exhibition runs through April 3.
Nearly a week after the Marine Corps and Coast Guard called off a search for 12 Marines who went down in a CH-53E collision off the north shore of Oahu, a small group of local civilians continues to hunt for signs of them.

The grassroots effort began a week ago when Makani Christensen, a Hawaii native and veteran Marine captain, came from his hometown Manoa on the other side of the island to offer his help with the official search. At the time, military and civilian officials, who had been combing a debris field since the choppers crashed Jan. 14, were preparing to end active search-and-rescue.

On Jan. 19, the day the official search came to an end, Christensen launched a Facebook page titled "Find our Marines." He began to recruit groups of locals to walk the now-abandoned beaches near where the choppers went down. The searchers were instructed to notify Marine officials of any debris sightings or discoveries, to operate safely and to be respectful and avoid taking photographs in case of finding remains.

Christensen said the aim of the searches was to assist military officials by finding evidence and wreckage, while holding out hope for survivors.

"'Til all the Marines are found, somebody could still be alive," he said.

A spokesman for III Marine Expeditionary Force, Capt. Timothy Irish, told Military.com he was aware of the grassroots search effort. He expressed appreciation for the volunteer work and offered a reminder to searchers not to swim out to find or recover debris, which could prove dangerous.

"We thank them for their care but remind everyone that we do have Marines standing by and ready to respond at the Wahiawa Police Department," Irish said via email. "We do not feel there is a need for a civilian led effort otherwise our own larger ground search teams would still be on scene."

The dozen Marines who were in the two choppers have been formally listed as deceased. Irish previously confirmed that remains had been located, but did not offer specifics or say whether all Marines were accounted for.

The civilian searches started small, but interest swelled. Christensen recruited searchers through the Oahu Veterans Center and garnered support from members of veterans' groups, including Team Rubicon and Team Red White & Blue.

"Everyone just mobilized and showed up," he said. "It was about the Marines, it was about the community getting involved."

The group's largest search day was Saturday. Some 300 members of the community showed up to comb nine miles of coast line. Christensen coordinated logistics with the help of veterans' groups, who defrayed the cost of portable toilets and two shuttle buses to ferry volunteers along the coast.

The day began with a traditional Hawaiian ceremony, in which conch shell trumpets, or Pu, were blown to the four corners -- north, south, east and west. A formal blessing was pronounced over the search, and volunteers burned pu kiawe, a red-berried plant that signifies remembrance.

"It was powerful," Christensen said. "It's a healing process when you're actually doing something."

So far, the search parties have recovered a CamelBak hydration pack, military cargo straps, and a few unidentified pieces of debris -- all of which have been turned over to military authorities.

Volunteer numbers waned as a new week began, but Christensen said he plans to continue walking the beaches for a few more days. Regardless of the outcome of his search effort, he said, he hopes the families of the lost Marines will receive a message of support from the civilian-led effort.

"The community is behind the families, the Marines, the military, and all our service members who put their lives in jeopardy every day to protect the freedoms we have," he said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@monster.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
Demand for the new tabs had indeed led to small shortages, but the problem was suddenly blown up into something much larger...
An active shooter was reported Tuesday morning at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, triggering a massive response from law enforcement, but the incident appears to have been a false alarm.

Capt. Kurt Jones, commander of U.S. Naval Base San Diego, said an investigation into the matter turned up "absolutely nothing."

"As you're aware, we've had reports -- I'd like to emphasize the word 'reports' -- of shots fired this morning," he said during a press conference later in the day. "As of right now we have found absolutely nothing that would indicate that any shots were fired."

His comments came a few hours after the medical center announced on its Facebook page a report of an active shooter on campus. The message began, "ATTENTION!" and advised employees and patients to "run, hide or fight."

"An active shooter has just been been reported in building #26 at Naval Medical Center San Diego," it states. "All occupants are advised to run, hide or fight. All non-emergency response personnel are asked to stay away from the compound, located at 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134."

The Navy in a statement later confirmed "a single witness" reported shots fired at the location.

"According to initial reports of a single witness, at approximately 8 a.m. this morning three shots were reportedly heard in the basement of Building 26, a combination gym/barracks, at the Navy's Medical Center Balboa Park facility," it stated. "First responders and Navy working dog units are on scene clearing Building 26. The Medical Center is on lockdown and a shelter in place order has been given."

There were no reports of any injuries and no patients were evacuated during the incident, according to Capt. Jose Acosta, commanding officer of the San Diego Naval Medical Center.

NBC later reported that a Navy source said an "initial sweep of building 26 found no signs that shots were fired" and officials couldn't find the person who made the call.

Live television footage showed police cars and SWAT trucks, including a K-9 unit, responding to the scene. Officials from the U.S. Marshals, Justice Department, California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement departments were also reported on the scene.

CNN reported the Naval Medical Center San Diego, including its child care facility, was secure. The center admits some 19,000 patients a year with a variety of medical services, including births, according to the news organization. The facility also houses offices and barracks for wounded sailors and Marines.

The nearby Naval Base Point Loma was temporarily locked down, as were nearby schools.

"We're not taking any chances and are executing procedures we've been trained for in this kind of situation," spokesman Mike Alvarez told the Associated Press.

Deadly shootings have occurred in recent years at military installations in the U.S., including Fort Hood, Texas; the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.; and facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

--Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com.
Elite Iraqi troops have taken the lead wherever the country's military forces have had success on the battlefield, and they are expected to do the same in the long-delayed campaign to wrest Mosul back from the Islamic State.

The so-called Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) troops "are the best light infantry the Iraqis have," said Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island and the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said of the CTS troops.

But, the senator added, they risk being worn out by overuse.

The elite forces recently led the way in taking back Ramadi from militants affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS and earlier spearheaded the offensive to recapture Tikrit when conventional Iraqi troops and Shia militias backed by Iran failed. They held on at the Baiji oil refinery when others fled and recently routed ISIS in fighting near Haditha in western Anbar province, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials.

"They are beginning to prepare for other efforts to retake territory" from ISIS, said Reed, who recently returned from Iraq and meetings with U.S. and Iraqi commanders.

"One of the major objectives is Mosul," he said, but "that's probably months and months away" in the campaign against ISIS.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford said the U.S. was looking at ways to speed up the timeline for commencing operations in Mosul. In Paris on Sunday, Dunford told reporters traveling with him that he will soon make recommendations to President Barack Obama on the possible repositioning of U.S. troops in northern Iraq to aid an assault on Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city.

"We're about winning" and "we want to have the Iraqis win," he said.

The repositioning would involve placing U.S. advisors closer to Mosul than the Joint Operations Center in Irbil, capital of the Kurdish autonomous region, according to a Defense Department news release.

"It is fair to say we will have positions -- we already do (in Irbil) -- up in the north that will facilitate supporting Iraqi security forces as they isolate Mosul," Dunford said after meetings with Gen. Pierre de Villiers, chief of France's defense staff.

For the Iraqi Security Forces, the push north from Baiji up the Tigris River valley to Mosul will require more Iraqi troops and more U.S. soldiers to train them for a major operation, Army Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said in a briefing to the Pentagon from Baghdad last week.

"Hundreds, not thousands" of additional U.S. troops will have to be deployed for the training assignment, he said. "The reason we need new trainers or additional trainers is because that's really the next step in generating the amount of combat power needed to liberate Mosul."

Warren added, "We know we will need more (Iraqi) brigades to be trained, we'll need more troops trained in more specialties" to liberate Mosul, the largest city controlled by ISIS.

It was impossible to know how many ISIS fighters were defending Mosul, but Warren said the estimates run from 5,000 to 10,000. To take back the city, the second largest in Iraq, "We think we're going to need, you know, in the neighborhood of eight trained brigades" of about 3,000 troops each, he said, "but that's adjustable."

In Ramadi, three brigades of Iraqi Security Forces were used but only after the Counter-Terrorism Service troops cleared the way into the city. The troops threw up a pontoon bridge across the Euphrates River after ISIS militants blew the existing bridges. The elite forces then attacked to the city center, using bulldozers to throw up earth berms on either side of the advance to block ISIS suicide truck bombers on their flanks, Warren said.

The Ramadi assault followed a pattern of Iraqi attack -- CTS troops lead the way, conventional ISF forces conduct clearing operations, and Iraqi National Police, and on occasion Sunni tribal fighter, provide continuing security for rebuilding efforts.

When Ramadi was retaken, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that Mosul also would be retaken in 2016. "We are coming to liberate Mosul, which will be the fatal blow to" ISIS, he said.

In the north, Fuad Hussein, chief of staff of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, said his troops were ready for the push on Mosul but were awaiting the arrival of the Counter-Terrorism Service and Iraqi Security Forces.

"We had [a] discussion to liberate Mosul last year in March, and now we're in January 2016. So it has been delayed," Hussein told the Kurdish Rudaw news service last week. "The question is why? To be honest it has to do with the Iraqis -- we need a partner."

Hussein praised the professionalism of the elite CTS troops. "That unit has good fighters and are well organized and has a lot of experience," he said, "So we need them to be with us as partners so that we can jointly, with the American help, liberate Mosul."

Since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the CTS, which was created by the U.S., has received the most training and the best equipment from the U.S., which recognized their unique role in the Iraqi national security structure as a relatively independent and non-sectarian fighting force.

To avoid political influence that plagues other units, the Counter-Terrorism Service reports directly to the prime minister, rather than going through the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior.

In a paper on the elite troops for the Brookings Institution, retired Army Special Operations Col. David Witty, said, "Organizations such as CTS are at the heart of U.S. strategies in the Middle East that aim to develop indigenous capacity to combat insurgents and terrorists."

After ISIS invaded Iraq and took Mosul in 2014, "five of Iraq's 14 Army divisions were rated as ineffective, or had disappeared completely. U.S. advisers rated remaining units as infiltrated with Shia militias and Sunni extremists. At the other extreme, the Counter-Terrorism Service was assessed as the one bright spot of ISF. It was the best military organ," Witty said.

The elite unit "was able to maintain its cohesion and effectiveness, despite experiencing some of the most intensive combat, suffering heavy losses, and continuing to be used as a regular, although elite, ISF unit, rather than in a dedicated counter-terrorism role," Witty said.

In a roundtable session with reporters earlier this month, Sen. Reed said of the service, "We need to have capable forces fighting alongside them, and that's the goal, and we are trying to train up those forces now."

--Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Several states on Monday and Tuesday de-activated the National Guard troops called up for Winter Storm Jonas while other states heavily hit by the snow emergency kept, or in some cases increased, the soldiers and airmen involved in clearance and emergency response.

On Saturday at the height of the storm, 2,372 National Guard soldiers and airmen had been activated across 11 states and the District of Columbia, according to the count by Lt. Col. Tom Crosson at the Pentagon. To date, there had been no federal activations under Title 10 of Guard troops.

In addition to the District, the activations were in Arkansas, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Delaware and New York. The callups ranged from 490 in Virginia to 54 in Arkansas.

By Monday night, the total had gone down to 2,049 in seven states  Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware -- and the District of Columbia.

Although four states had de-activated, others heavily hit by the storm increased the number of Guard troops involved in the cleanup. Maryland boosted the number of soldiers and airmen from 386 to 597. The Pennsylvania increase was from 210 to 325.

Sgt. 1st Class Thaddeus Harrington, a spokesman for the Maryland Guard, said Tuesday that 120 Guard vehicles were involved in the snow response. "They're mostly helping the police answer calls and going places where the police vehicles can't get to so the first responders can get to the scene," Harrington said.

In New York, which had a near record snowfall, up to 700 Guard troops were on standby but were not involved in the response that was handled by local police and fire units, said Eric Durr, a spokesman for the New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs. "They really didn't have to execute any missions," he said.

In Delaware, where nearly 300 Guard soldiers and airmen were activated over the weekend, Guard vehicles assisted medical personnel and first responders in getting to work and also aided in evacuating about 40 people from flooded areas.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com
A Marine Corps recruiter wounded on the job during the deadly mass shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee last July received the Purple Heart medal today.

Sgt. DeMonte Cheeley received the medal in a Chattanooga ceremony presided over by Brig. Gen. Terry Williams, commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Eastern Recruiting Region.

Cheeley was wounded in the leg at the Armed Forces Career Center July 16 by shooter Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez during a terror-inspired rampage that would claim the lives of four Marines and a sailor at the nearby Navy Reserve Center.

Cheeley, the only service member who was shot and survived, returned to his post a week after the attack following a brief hospitalization.

"I can't take anything away from the five brave men who paid the ultimate sacrifice," Cheeley said at the ceremony, according to a Marine Corps news release. "I will wear this in honor of those men and every recipient before me. I can only move forward from here and continue to recruit the future of the Marine Corps.

The five troops who were killed at the Reserve Center, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, Sgt. Carson A. Holmquist, Lance Cpl. Squire D. "Skip" Wells, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith will all receive the Purple Heart in future ceremonies attended by their families, Marine Corps officials said.

The awards process began after the FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service determined in December that Abdulazeez' attack had been "inspired by a foreign terrorist group," a finding that made all six men eligible for the medal.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus -- in his announcement that he planned to award the Purple Heart to Cheeley and others wounded in the shooting -- voiced his hopes that the awards would provide a measure of solace.

"Their heroism and service to our nation will be remembered always," Mabus said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@monster.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
As the next few days see a gradual meltdown of the snowpack from Winter Storm Jonas, forecasters are keeping a wary eye on a possible noreaster that could move up the Atlantic coast on Friday.

Just about every forecast model has a storm developing well east of the Midstate off the coast of New Jersey, said Ryan Coyle, a meteorologist with abc27.

In theory, this second noreaster in as many weeks could glance or even miss southcentral Pennsylvania, but it could also bring more snow if the storm tracks further west than expected.

It certainly bears close watching, Coyle said, adding how a lot could happen in the next three to five days. The weather system being monitored was over the Pacific Northwest on Monday afternoon.

This system would still need to move across the country before dipping south into the Gulf of Mexico to absorb moisture prior to making the track up the east coast.

The weather pattern for this week calls for short periods of melting during the day followed by refreezing at night on untreated surfaces, Coyle said. He added a gradual melt is good because the current snowpack contains the equivalent of 2 1/2 inches of rain water that if released suddenly could result in the heavy flooding of creeks and streams.

The forecast Tuesday is for cloudy skies with a high temperature of up to 37 degrees. A weak area of low pressure will move through the region bringing a slight chance of stray showers producing less than one tenth of an inch of total rainfall, Coyle said.

This trace amount of precipitation would only be enough to moisten the ground and to soak some rainwater into the snowpack. The low temperature Tuesday into Wednesday would be down to 28 degrees.

Lingering clouds Wednesday morning will give way to clear skies in the afternoon and a high temperature of about 35 degrees, Coyle said. The low Wednesday night into Thursday will be about 17 degrees.

Thursday will be partly cloudy with a daytime high of 30 degrees and a nighttime low of 20 degrees. For now, Coyle is predicting dry conditions Friday with a high of 35 with a watchful eye to a storm developing along the coast.

There is no major wind predicted in the forecast for all of this week.
One of the greatest gifts my hardworking, blue-collar father gave me when I was young was the belief that no one owes me anything. His wisdom carried me through some difficult times growing up and helped shape me into the person I am today. It seems that self-reliant attitude my dad instilled in me is all but lost in this country.

As the presidential election draws near, with Hillary possibly being fitted for an orange jumpsuit with complementary ankle chains and the self-avowed socialist, Bernie Sanders, rising in the polls, it might be time to consider my dads ideals and the freedoms we once knew will soon be a thing of the past, should a liberal take office.

Typically, what one president does in moderation, the next like-minded president usually does in excess, so going from a closet socialist to a full-blown socialist is not a big leap for Democrats. But, for those of us who still believe in our beloved constitution and cling to the freedoms within, a socialist president represents the greatest threat to our constitution in modern times and would take us about as far from what our founders intended as we could go.

Not that long ago, my fathers can-do attitude was common place, until snakes from both sides of the political aisle began to understand immense power could be gained by peddling handouts in exchange for votes. If they know anything at all, these self-serving political serpents understand human nature. If you give people what they didnt earn from sources to which they didnt contribute, they quickly become dependent. Add a bit of Machiavellian wordsmithing by redefining those handouts as rights and voila! You create a permanent voting base.

Our founders spoke of unalienable rights. Like modern day snake oil salesmen, politicians market tangible handouts, a never ending list of miscellaneous freebies, instead of the intangibles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They have succeeded in transforming the Declaration of Independence into a Declaration of Dependence.

The Democrat Party is predominately the trustee of that Declaration of Dependence but they are not alone. Under Speaker of the House Paul Ryans leadership, likeminded Republicans just assisted President Obama in engineering the largest expansion of the federal governments safety net in fifty years.

The $1.8 trillion deal approved in December made permanent certain tax breaks and credits which were originally considered temporary relief during Obamas first year to help people through the recession. Despite the fact that we cannot afford this expansion, it is now permanent  and our children and their children will foot the bill. The Seattle Times reports this expansion is the governments largest cash-assistance program...with more than 40 million people receiving benefits each year.

All the Democrat Party presidential candidates say they want to expand far beyond this government overreach while a couple of sensible-minded conservatives propose policies intended to roll back unnecessary handouts to help get America back on the track to being the exceptional nation she once was. Allowing individuals to enjoy their God-endowed freedom to achieve their unique definition of The American Dream ensures that future generations will have the opportunity to stand on their own without government interference or the slavery of dependence.

Had Americas founders believed entitlements trumped ingenuity, the New World would be just like the old one, which is a case study in what happens when liberals are left to themselves. Long before he became president, Ronald Reagan said, Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didnt pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our childrens children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

Susan Stamper Brown is a recovering political pundit from Alaska, who does her best to make sense of current day events using her faith. Her columns are syndicated by CagleCartoons.com. Email her at writestamper@gmail.com.
The Cold War is over, but it still deeply distorts U.S. immigration policy.

Consider the bizarre situation at our southern border. A wave of migrants is expected to appear there, hoping for safe passage into the U.S. and an expedited path to legal status and eventually full citizenship. They will get it.

These lucky migrants wont be Mexicans fleeing drug cartels. They wont be Hondurans, who must endure the worlds highest murder rate. And they wont be citizens of El Salvador, where the Peace Corps just suspended operations due to the increasing violence.

No, we deport those people.

They will be Cubans. In recent months, increasing numbers of Cubans have been leaving their island country, flying to Ecuador first and then traveling northward through Central America. They wish to migrate to the U.S., fearful that thawing diplomatic relations will end the special treatment that Cubans who leave the island have long received.

That special treatment needs to end.

The hypocrisy that is embedded in U.S. immigration law will be on full display as the Cubans begin arriving, which could happen within the next few weeks.

Since 1966, the Cuban Adjustment Act has given Cuban people an extraordinary advantage over other migrants wishing to enter the U.S. The law was originally intended as a political and humanitarian reply to communism and the oppression of Fidel Castro. No proof that a person has suffered persecution. Where he or she arrives from is enough.

When people attempt to arrive through the Florida Straits, the policy that developed was dubbed wet foot, dry foot. If a Cuban can get one foot on dry U.S. soil, they can stay and are offered permanent legal status in a year and many other benefits of welfare and help to restart their lives.

The benevolence of the law made sense in decades past. But a good argument can be made that many of the migrating Cubans are fleeing not persecution but economic turmoil. And in doing so, they are not any more desperate, perhaps even less so, than those fleeing the violence and poverty of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Thousands of Central Americans arrived and asked for asylum in the summer of 2014. But those people are the wrong type of Latino for our policies. Many of them are indigenous, poor and have little formal schooling. So they were held for months in detention camps at the border. Many were eventually released, free to stay the U.S. at least until their pleas for asylum status or legal residency can be assessed by an immigration judge. Raids and deportations of undocumented immigrants continue.

Meanwhile, as many as 8,000 Cubans who have been stranded in Costa Rica will soon be making their way northward through Mexico, after agreements were worked out by several Latin American governments. The Obama administration plans to open refugee screening centers in Central America, an attempt to stem the flow of non-Cuban migrants.

In this election year, especially in light of the GOPs appeals to anti-immigrant sentiment, the migrant Cubans will present a political test.

GOP presidential contender Sen. Marco Rubio, whose parents left Cuba before Castro took over, has introduced legislation to curb abuses of the American generosity toward Cubans. The Sun Sentinel of South Florida in 2015 documented cases in which Cubans claiming to be exiles were taking U.S. government benefits or committing other types of fraud, even after returning to Cuba.

How far Rubios legislation and the companion bill in the House will advance remains to be seen. And there is virtually no appetite in an election year to overhaul immigration for the benefit of more than just Cubans.

Amnesty is still a curse word in most GOP circles. In decades past, that didnt matter in the case of Cubans, who could be counted on to become Republicans.

If the GOP is to have any hope of salvaging the Latino vote this presidential cycle it will have to traverse this sticky thicket, also acknowledging the needs of other Latino migrants. They have to beat back the anti-immigrant bleating of Donald Trump, as South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley did in her response to the State of the Union speech.

They must vow to be just. They must promise to rewrite immigration law to weigh all humans needs equally and fairly, with no favor based on country of origin or likely partisan affinity. And they must not bow to nativist screeds.

Mary Sanchez is an opinion-page columnist for The Kansas City Star. Email her at msanchez@kcstar.com.
One of the most remarkable hiplife Artistes of our time,Guru ,has paid homage to the Minister for Gender,Children and Social Protection in Ghana, Hon.Nana Oye Lithur for endorsing his "Education For All" project.

Just recently, the "Me ba be tiao" hit maker as part of his social responsibilities supported the Ministry by donating 1000 exercise books and 1000 pens to pupils at a social gathering organized by the Ministry at Moree in the Central region.

The Minister,Hon. Nana Oye Lithur after receiving the donation on behalf of the pupils in a huge gathering comprising of Students, teachers ,the town elders and government Officials present,lauded Guru for being the first artistes from Ghana to donate 1000 books and 1000 pens to school Children.

Seancitygh.com went upclosed with the Azonto Music front runner,Guru,to ascertain his gesture for being lauded by the Minister:

"In fact,am short of words.its one of days am not going to forget in my career.I'm so much proud of myself and also proud of the Minister for seeing the significance in my project.This should be a lesson to my fellow artistes that its not just about mounting the stage or going to the studios but paying back to the society is also essential. I thank Hon.Nana Oye Lithur for all the compliments not forgetting NKZ Music headed by Ray Moni for the immense support",Guru noted to Seancitygh.com.

The "Education for All Project" has seen Guru donate over 30,000 exercise books and pens to pupils in Accra,Takoradi, and Cape Coast.

The next phase of the project would be announce later.Guru is currently promoting "Me ba be Tiao" which is enjoying massive air play.
26.01.2016 LISTEN

Prof. Kojo Yankah and Essikadohene at opposite ends unveil the 3Fm logo

3FM, an Accra-based radio station owned by General Radio Limited, has been launched at Adesa We (forecourt of TV3), Accra, last Thursday.

At the event, Head of station, Petra Asamoa, disclosed that the station is much aware that it has entered an industry that is dynamic and highly competitive, but is well-prepared to weather the storm by introducing global best practices to prove the difference in broadcasting.

She mentioned that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that their listeners get credible and fair content, adding that it is not by chance that management has adopted the catch phrase 'Fair and Square' as its tagline.

The general manager also mentioned that seasoned presenters with longstanding experience in the media such as Mariam Osei Agyeman, Alfred Ocansey, Oheneyere Gifty Anti, Dr William Okyere-Frimpong, Michael Oti-Adjei, among others, will host their flagship programmes.

Nana Kobina Nketsia, Essikadohene, who was the guest speaker at the ceremony, reiterated the need to give constant training to staff, which, according to him, will help ensure that standards of the profession are met besides keeping them compliant to latest global standards.

Board Chairman for Media General Radio Limited, Prof Victor Gadzekpo, said 3FM and its other affiliates are geared up towards providing a new kind of radio which works for community solutions.

Deputy Minister of Communications, Ato Sarpong, urged media houses to position themselves for the digital switch, adding that management of Media General Radio Limited likewise must champion the cause of proper journalism.

By Solomon Ofori


26.01.2016 LISTEN

Benita Dankwa

In a private ward at a physiotherapy centre in Tema, Benita Dankwa scrolls through her photographs on a Samsung tablet. The 29-year-old lady does so with a pang of nostalgia because the gloomy Benita Dankwa holding the tablet is a shocking impersonation of the breezy Benita Dankwa in those photographs. The lady looking at the photographs is not the same as the woman in those photographs.

This is not how I was, she says, showing more photographs of her former self to make a point. And she is right. This is not how she was.

The woman in the photograph is full of life. She is a charming beauty. The woman in the photographs is smiling; she is standing; she is walking; she is posing; she is working. The woman in the photograph is enjoying life. That woman has a loving husband33-year-old Effort Dankwa. And she looks forward to a beautiful family.

I had dreams of a sweet husband having me alone as the wife; no other person Having our kids just jumping around and all that. But it never happened that way, Benita says.

Indeed, there is a world of difference between the cheerful woman in the photographs and the low-spirited woman now looking at images of her former self. However, they both bear the same name  Benita Dankwa. That is where their similarities end.

The Benita Dankwa on the hospital bed is paralysed from her chest downwards. Dr Francis Caiquo of the Tema General Hospital explains that in a layperson's language it means that part of her body is dead. The only reason it is not rotten is because of blood circulation, he says.

Apart from her hands and head, the Benita Dankwa on the hospital bed cannot move any part of her body. Those parts don't belong to her any longer, or rather, they do but she has lost control over them. She cannot feel any sensation there.

HAPPIER TIME! Effort and Benita Dankwa

HAPPIER TIME! Effort and Benita Dankwa

The Benita Dankwa on the hospital bed can neither pass out urine nor empty her bowels. A urinary catheter is attached to her urinary tract. It is emptied periodically by her 54-year-old mother, Mrs Agnes Yirenkyi, or anyone who is present when it is full. Benita also wears diapers to contain the involuntary discharge of faecal matter. That's not all the woes of the woman on the hospital bed.

When Benita lifts the cloth covering the lower part of her body, huge plasters covering her bedsores are exposed. She has large bedsores on her buttocks and on her hips. The Benita Dankwa on the hospital bed has swollen feet. She is bedridden and needs someone to bathe her and turn her from time to time to enable the bedsores heal.

The woman on the hospital bed is also anaemic. Doctors at the Tema General Hospital say her haemoglobin (blood) level is 6.1, half what it is supposed to be. The ideal level is 12. Hers dropped to four and has risen to 6.1 through medication. The low haemoglobin level hampers the healing of her sores. She also stands the risk of a heart attack because of her low blood level.

I miss many things because now I can't do anything, says Benita.

I miss walking. I miss working. If I could walk, I can do anything.

On a bed beside Benita's hospital bed lies Nana Kwame, Benita's four-month-old baby. Benita was supposed to be taking care of him and changing his diapers. But Mrs Agnes Yirenkyi, Benita's mother, now does all of that. She changes the diapers of her four-month-old grandson and 29-year-old daughter, the first seed of her womb.

This family is going through severe pain and suffering, Agnes Yirenkyi speaks of the agony of the family since they received a dreadful call on the morning of Saturday, August 29, 2015, that Benita had been shot.

Life for Benita Dankwa, a supervisor at Asky Airlines, was an auspicious one until the sun of her bright future set on Friday, August 28, 2015. She was seven months pregnant, the first pregnancy of her four years' marriage. That evening Benita had closed from work and was watching television when her husband, Effort Dankwa, a teacher at Angels International School in Tema, arrived.

Everything was okay at home, Benita recalls. Her husband took his bath and went to bed. She also went to bed later. When she woke up at about 5:30 am, she felt like a balloon. There was a hole on her chest and another one at her back.

Benita Dankwa on her hospital bed

Benita Dankwa on her hospital bed

She had been shot.

According to a report by the Tema Community 11 police, their investigation revealed that the victim (Benita Dankwa) was shot from a close range at her chest and the bullet penetrated through her body and was rushed to the hospital for treatment, but no point of penetration or breakage into the couple's room was detected.

The report continues: A live ammunition believed to have been shot from a pistol at close range was found about 2 inches deep in the mattress [on] which the couple were lying. Bloodstains believed to be human blood were also found on the bed sheet and the mattress of the couple.

Benita was in the room alone with her husband, Effort Dankwa. When she woke up, her husband was still sleeping. When she woke him up, he was feeling as if he was confused, running up and down and all that, she recounts.

He didn't shout. He didn't do anything. Because I was feeling like a balloon, I thought he could not carry me so I asked him to call there were two boys on the compound so I asked him to call them so that one could go for a taxi so that one could help carry me into the taxi, Benita narrates what happened when she opened her eyes that morning.

Benita Dankwa

Benita Dankwa

Neighbour's Account

One of the young men who went to help Effort carry Benita to the hospital is John Asaah. John lives in the same compound. His room is about five metres away from the Dankwas. At about 3am on Saturday, August 29, 2015, John said he heard a gunshot that was too loud and appeared to have been fired close to the house.

It didn't take hours and I heard my friend call me to come and help him to take his wife to the hospital. That friend was Effort, Benita's husband.

According to John, Effort did not give him the impression that Benita had been shot. He was coming as if nothing had happened. 'Oh Johny, wifee no dey feel fine oo. Go bring me taxi,' John quotes Effort asking him (John) for help in casual Pidgin English.

You won't even know that something like that had happened, John tells myjoyonline.com.

John says if he had known that it was a shooting incident, he would not have entered the room to help. Effort, he says, did not mention any shooting even as they sat in the taxi and headed for the hospital.

The husband didn't tell us anything. All that I knew was that the wife was pregnant so I thought she was about to deliver. John says when the taxi driver asked what was wrong with Benita, he (John) said it was her first pregnancy. Benita's husband, who was also in the taxi, did not mention that his wife had been shot. John says Benita was first taken to the maternity ward of the Tema General Hospital. He says the first time he realised Benita had been shot was when a nurse at the maternity ward interrogated the husband and he said it was a gunshot.

The nurse asked the husband to show her where the gunshot was and he opened the dress on the chest and I saw a hole on her chest and some small blood, John says.

The nurse told them gunshots were not treated at the maternity ward and so referred them to the accident centre. At the accident centre, doctors at the Tema General Hospital realised Benita had a spinal injury so they referred her to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

THE PRIME SUSPECT

According to Benita's father, Mr S.O.S Yirenkyi, Effort refused to report the shooting of his wife to the police. We did all we could but he would not go to the police, says Mr Yirenkyi.

He said this was a domestic issue involving a husband and wife so there was no need to report it. Later in the day, Bright Ofori, Benita's 25-year-old brother, went to the police station to report the incident.

If you are with your wife in the room and you wake up to find out that she has been shot, should you not be the first to report to the police? Mr S.O.S Yirenkyi, Benita's 68-year-old father asks.

John says when he returned from the hospital that day, he went round the house and tried to locate any form of penetration or break in but there was none.

We even took chairs and climbed onto the roof to see if there was anything from the roof, but there was nothing to show that maybe the thing was coming from armed robbers (sic), he reveals.

When this reporter visited the house, he found out that the windows and the doors had mosquito nets and wire mesh. They were covered with curtains so if anybody wanted to shoot from outside, they would have had to cut through the mosquito net and wire mesh, shift the curtains aside before they could locate their target. But all the mosquito nets at the doors and windows were intact.

Benita being carried into her dad's car

Benita being carried into her dads car

Me, I can say that the thing (shooting) happened in the room, John emphasises.

If you want to know the truth, then it will be [between] Benita and her husband who know what happened.

There were two people in the room. One person was shot. Police investigation revealed that the shot was not from outside. So who fired the shot? asks Mr S.O.S. Yirenkyi, Benita's father. I suspect Benita's husband shot her, he alleges.

Benita also shares the same view. She believes her husband shot her.

On September 15, 2015, more than two weeks after the shooting incident, the police arrested Effort Dankwa for investigation. He has denied shooting his wife.

On September 16 and 30, 2015 the police also arrested one Ernestina Dede Lagbeneku, who confirmed being in a relationship with Effort Dankwa for the past five months. The two of them were cautioned and bailed pending further investigations.

For now fingers are pointing in a certain direction, but because investigations are still ongoing we cannot confirm. But then, questions are coming up and answers are coming up, Tema Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Juliana Obeng, tells Myjoyonline.com.

The question now is: who did it? ASP Juliana Obeng asks. Let me give you an example: If I were with you alone in the house and I wake up to have some injuries on my body and I find some other things in the room that have to do with bloodstains and there are no other persons in the room, and nobody came to the room, then your guess is as good as mine (sic), she adds.

.

The police PRO, however, says they cannot draw a conclusion now.

Criminologist and Dean of the Central University College Faculty of Law, Professor Ken Agyemang Attafuah, agrees with the police that based on the facts surrounding the case, Effort Dankwa is a legitimate person for the police to consider as the prime suspect.

BLOODSTAINED TOWEL

Mr Yirenkyi said in the panic and the desire to save Benita, the family took certain pieces of evidence for granted because it never occurred to them that the one who shot her could be someone in the room with her. One of such pieces of evidence was a bloodstained towel that Effort allegedly asked Benita's cousin to throw away.

Priscilla Asare, 25, was sent by her mother (Benita's aunt) to fetch a stove at the crime scene (Benita and Effort's home) to be taken to the hospital. This was on Wednesday September 2, 2015, four days after Benita was shot.

When I got there, Benita's husband said I should tidy up the room. In the process, I found a towel stained with blood; the blood had dried up. When I told him (Effort) about the towel, he said I should throw it away, Priscilla explains.

When Priscilla took the towel home and told her mother about it, she asked her not to throw the towel away. My mother said I should wash it for her so I did. Priscilla said she was also the one who washed the bloodstained bed sheet on which Benita and Effort lay when the shooting happened.

Benita says when she opened her eyes that morning, there was not much blood on her body. John has confirmed this. He said Benita wore a white night gown as they took her to the hospital and if there was any blood on her, he would have seen it before they got to the hospital.

Benita says when she opened her eyes, she did not see her husband wipe any blood from her body so she was surprised when the towel soaked with blood was used on her. A woman who lives in the house and was present when the police first entered the crime scene also told Myjoyonline.com that when they entered, there was very little blood on the mattress and the bed sheet. She wondered if there wouldn't have been more blood had there been a gunshot.

I think he shot my daughter and cleaned all the blood before my daughter became conscious, Mr Yirenkyi speculates. He thought my daughter had died, but God saved her.

Criminologist Professor Ken Attaffuah says this is possible. From the report, a neighbour heard a gunshot around 3am. It was not until at about 5am that this woman complained of pain and asked her husband for assistance. She possibly was in coma for a while or she had been chloroformed. There is evidence from what you [this reporter] tell me of a towel that contained blood and that towel ought to be taken to the police forensics for investigation.

A SOUR MARRIAGE?

Benita met her husband nine years ago. They are both members of the Jehovah's Witnesses sect. And that's where they met. They dated for five years and were married for four years before the tragedy struck.

Benita says their marriage was without problems. If there was any problem, it was the suspicion of infidelity on the part of her husband. Benita's mother, Mrs Agnes Yirenkyi, says she once mediated one such misunderstanding that arose when Benita returned from work one evening to find her husband in their room with a woman whose pictures and suggestive messages she had seen on his phone. She says the lights were off and when she knocked, Effort did not open the door immediately. Benita said he denied having anything to do with the lady but when she sent an insulting message to the lady in question, he was livid.

A police report signed by ASP Owusu Dwomoh, Tema Community 11 Crime Officer, suggests that Benita was sharing her husband with another woman.

The report states: It was established during investigation that the suspect, Effort Dankwa, who is legally married to the victim, was also in another amorous relationship with one lady called Ernestina Dede Lagbeneku alias Christine Dede and had been going out to places like Prime Beach Resort at Prampram and Cocoa Beach Hotel at Nungua, Accra, to relax and make love. It was also revealed that while the suspect's wife, victim Benita Dankwa, was at the hospital panting [fighting] for her life, the suspect had the presence of mind to engage in love conversations via WhatsApp, a social network, with the said Christine Dede.

The police report says when suspect Christine Dede was arrested and interrogated, she confirmed being in relationship with the accused, Effort Dankwa, for the past five (5) months.

Benita has revealed that while they were courting, Effort once mentioned that he did not want any children in their marriage but she took it for a joke until they got married and he repeated it.

When we got married, I started worrying him about kids and he started declining and all that. Fortunately, or if I should say unfortunately for him, I got pregnant, she states.

She says he never said anything bad about the pregnancy and no issue ever came up until she delivered. Sources close to the church say there is a group of people within the Jehovah's Witnesses who have made up their minds not to give birth because they want to dedicate their time to the preaching of the word. Benita is aware of this but says her husband is not part of that group.

Benita was delivered of the baby by caesarean section on September 9, 2015 after 31 weeks. She says when she delivered, her husband started raising issues about the paternity of the baby. He says the baby is not his, Benita says.

According to Benita, a gynaecologist once attempted to have an affair with her when she visited the hospital, and when she got home, that was the first thing she told her husband. She said her husband did not raise questions about the pregnancy but when she delivered he used that as an excuse to say that the doctor may have impregnated her.

Benita's father, Mr Yirenkyi, believes the pregnancy is the reason Effort Dankwa wanted to kill his daughter.

We decided to call the child Nana Kwame because he is a male born on Saturday. We are still waiting for the father to come and name him, Benita says.

BENITA'S HOPES AND FEARS

Today is Sunday. It's 9:00am. At the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Tema Community 11, the congregation is singing a hymn. They are standing, except one woman at the back. That is Benita. She sings from her wheelchair standing next to her father and mother. In a baby cradle in front of them, Nana Kwame, Benita's four-month-old baby, lies smiling.

Nana Kwame is both oblivious of today's teaching on judgement day and the reason her mother now sits behind the congregation. After some time, his grandmother picks him up and begins to feed him with a milky liquid in a feeding bottle.

One medical doctor has described her safe delivery as a miracle. Maybe God has something special for that child, the doctor observes.

After the worship, Benita's brother helps her out of the church. Before she is lifted into the car, she is interrupted by well-wishers from the congregation. This is where Benita met Effort nine years ago. For the past four years, they came to church together. On Sunday mornings, she fixed breakfast and he drove her to church.

That changed when Benita was discharged from the hospital. She did not return to their matrimonial home. For now, the physiotherapy centre is her new home. She says her husband has never visited her there. He asked me not to call him again so I have stopped calling him.

She relies on the benevolence of her father and friends to go to church. Today, her father and a family friend lifted her onto the front seat of her father's wine Pickup vehicle. When they parked, they lifted her onto the wheelchair and wheeled her into a space behind the congregation reserved for her. She often meets her husband, Effort, in church.

I often see him from afar, Benita says. When asked whether he also sees her in church, she says she cannot tell. The congregation is not a big one. It is sub-divided into English and Akan sections.

Both Benita and Effort worship at the English section; and looking at the size of the congregation, it would take a lot of efforts from Effort not to notice the presence of his wife in the church. But Benita does not yearn for his attention.

Anytime I see him, my heart begins to beat, she says. But it is not the heartbeat of love. Since the shooting happened, she's been living in fear. At the physiotherapy centre, her bed has been repositioned. Out of fear for her life, she is hiding in the corner. She fears whoever wanted her dead could shoot from the window directly facing where she used to lie. One of the persons she dreads most is her husband.

This Sunday, January 24, 2016, however, her husband is not in church. She has been informed that two days ago, the police arrested and detained him. How did she receive the news?

I won't say I am sad about it. It is something that has to be done, she shrugs.

Some have described Benita's survival as a miracle. The happy marriage and family she hoped for have now drifted from reality to a faint imagination. But her greatest hope is to be able to get back on her feet and walk again.

Dr Francis Caiquo of the Tema General Hospital thinks the chances of reversing her paralyses are very slim. The medical report from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital states that she had a complete spinal cord injury (T3 sensory level).

It will be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse her condition, Dr Caiquo says.

Benita's blood level is very low but her religion forbids blood transfusion. Dr Caiquo, who saw her at her last visit to the Tema General Hospital, says that impedes the healing of her bedsores and also has the potential of causing heart problems.

When asked whether she has hopes of getting back to her former self, Benita bursts into tears. I think it will take a long time, but I have hope.

It's rehabilitation that she needs most. She needs a physiotherapist, a psychologist her hands are okay. If the wounds heal, I am sure she will be able to hold her baby and take care of one or two household chores, Dr Caiquo recommends.

We hope the Lord has something for her, he adds.

CREDIT: Manasseh Azure Awuni, myjoyonline.com.
Global Dreams Management, organizers of the prestigious Fashion Icon Awards has announced Ghanaian top model, Chantell Dapaah as the event BRAND AMBASSADOR for 2016. The announcement was made by the Event Director, Bashiru Olu as he released 2016 event calendar.

Chantell Dapaah, Ghanaian top model who has graced runways across the world for 8years; promoting true African beauty with a distinct style in modelling. She has modelled for top designers in Ghana and International. Chantell has achieved success as a runway, editorial and commercial model.

she has walked on Runways such as Durban Fashion Fair (South Africa), Expo (Milan-Italy), Festival ELIMA (Togo), Mercedes Benz African Fashion Festival, BLISS Africa fashion Week, 1981 Launch, The Gold Show, Accra Fashion Week, etc

She Started her modeling journey and training with Exotic Modeling Agency in 2008 and has since done lookbooks for both local and international Brands such as Fatimoda (USA), Black Pepper (South Africa), AbrantieTheGentleman, Totally Ethnic, Sarah Christian, Bello Edu, Forever Clear (FC), Zaron MakeUp Ghana, Luxoca Online Store, Nonterah, First Choice Hair and beauty salon, YN lace Wig, Beige Village, Simple Elegant Bridal

Chantel is currently the face of Printex campaign and a brand ambassador for Cultured Concepts (A jewelry line based in USA) and also T'Best Ghana (A healthy fruit Juice).

She has been featured on covers and billboards such as Woodin, Printex, BO 16 and Jia Duo Tea. She is indeed a runway queen, a Miss Ghana 2010 finalist and Female Model of the year 2015 at Afroma Awards in Ghana.

Editorial features in Ebony Magazine, OH YES Magazine, Canoe Magazine, Word Magazine and TV commercial for Tigo telecommunications. The 2016 industry awards night would be held in July and grand finale in August.

Nominations for this year awards will be open to general public on the event website http://www.fashioniconawards.com between 1st of February to 11th of March, 2016 for the following categories

Brand of the year

Accessory brand of the year

Female personality of the year

Male personality of the year

Female model of the year

Male model of the year

Contribution to fashion - Organization

Contribution to fashion - Textile

African brand of the year (New Category)

Stylish Model of the year (New Category)

This year event is in collaboration with Blizz Media Inc. and supported by UNAIDS.

For more information, contact 050-007-5234, 050-007-5233, 020-718-2907 or email [email protected]
The first blast occurred at the Medina Gate entrance to Mogadishu airport, home to the UN, aid agencies and foreign missions and contractors. By Tristan McConnell (AFP/File)

02.01.2017 LISTEN

Mogadishu (AFP) - Twin suicide car bombs claimed by the Al-Qaeda aligned Shabaab insurgent group wounded nine people Monday at the entrance to Mogadishu's fortified airport and a nearby hotel, officials said.

The first blast occurred at the Medina Gate entrance to Mogadishu airport, home to the UN, aid agencies and foreign missions and contractors as well as the headquarters of the African Union military mission, AMISOM.

Soon afterwards another, larger vehicle exploded outside the Peace Hotel, popular with foreign visitors to Somalia.

The blasts left a scene of destruction with rubble strewn across the road and some nearby villas all but collapsed, however there were no immediate reports of fatalities other than the bombers.

"The number of casualties was very minimal compared to the magnitude of the blast," said Abudkadir Mohamed, a security officer, adding that "at least nine people were wounded" including two of the hotel's security guards.

The Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement issued by its Anadalus Radio media arm.

"The Mujahedeen fighters carried out two suicide attacks one of them targeting a checkpoint alongside the road to Halane," the statement said using the local name for the airport compound.

"This was to clear the way for another bomber who was driving a truck which targeted Peace Hotel."

The Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government in Mogadishu and regularly uses suicide bombers against government, military and civilians.

Mogadishu airport is a regular target but this is the first time the well-known and popular Peace Hotel has been attacked.

Somalia is in the midst of a drawn-out election process to choose a new government with most of the parliamentarians sworn in last week.
25.01.2016 LISTEN

A cold snap sweeping across East Asia has killed at least 85 people in Taiwan and stranded 60,000 tourists in South Korea.

Taiwanese media reported deaths from hypothermia and cardiac disease following a sudden drop in temperature over the weekend.

Meanwhile heavy snow forced the closure of the airport on the Korean holiday island of Jeju, cancelling flights.

The cold spell has also hit Hong Kong, southern China and Japan. Sudden drop

Many of those who died in Taiwan were elderly people living in northern regions such as Taipei and Taoyuan. Those areas accounted for 66 of the deaths.

Another 16 were confirmed dead in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

The temperature in Taipei city fell to a 44-year low of 4C (39F) on Sunday, and many homes in Taiwan lack central heating.

Many victims reportedly had heart trouble and shortness of breath.

In our experience, its not the actual temperature but the sudden drop thats too sudden for peoples circulatory systems, said a city official quoted by AP news agency. The risks in the cold

Most excess winter deaths and illnesses are not caused by hypothermia or extremes of cold, but by heart and breathing problems. Frail elderly people are particularly at risk.

Cold weather makes your heart work harder to keep your body warm. It increases your heart rate and blood pressure and can cause changes to your blood that increase the risk of developing blood clots that may lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Low temperatures can make it harder to breathe and can make existing chest problems, such as asthma, worse. There is also more flu circulating during the winter.

If you have reduced mobility, are 65 or over, or have a health condition such as heart or lung disease, experts say it is a good idea to heat your home to at least 18C.

.

A 56-year-old man surnamed Chen was found dead on the street Sunday morning, reported Focus Taiwan , but most of the victims in the city and its surrounding region, known as New Taipei City, were found indoors.

Authorities have warned people, especially senior citizens, to keep warm and stay out of the cold.

In South Korea, more than 500 domestic and international flights have been cancelled in Jeju as the island, known for balmy weather and beaches, saw -6C weather. The airport was due to reopen on Monday night.

Thousands of tourists were left stranded over the weekend. Yonhap news agency reported that local officials were scrambling to find transport and accommodation.

In Hong Kong, residents shivered in 3C, the lowest temperature there in nearly 60 years.

Parts of Guangzhou and Shenzhen in southern China have also seen the rare appearance of snow, while the southern Japanese island of Okinawa has seen sleet for the first time ever, report Chinese and Japanese media.

Snowstorms have hit large parts of Japan as well, with more than 600 domestic flights cancelled across the country on Sunday and Monday, reported NHK news.

At least five people have died so far and more than 100 have been injured in Japan.

Temperatures have dropped in some parts of South East Asia as well, including Vietnam and Thailand.

In Bangkok, which rarely sees temperatures below 20C, temperatures dropped to around 16C on Sunday, while Vietnam saw the coldest weather in about two decades over the weekend, with Hanoi experiencing 6C.

-bbc


26.01.2016 LISTEN

With reports of bad health about Malawi President Peter Mutharika circulating in the country, his recent submission to the force of gravity has just made the situation worse.

According to media reports, President Peter Mutharika on Saturday had a rude awakening when he planted himself into a hole he had dug for a tree.

It is said that after Mutharika had planted a first tree, he had trouble planting the second tree and did a 'Mugabe' in full view of the camera.

It was not a mere stumble according to the media reports that suggest that Mutharika slipped while he was just standing, apparently meaning that the Malawi leader collapsed. A thing which is a bad report on his health that has become a gossip among some Facebook groups and news sites.

However while the local media found a juicy story in the collapse of the aged Mutharika, Malawians appear to not be amused that their leader's fall like the Kwacha has been captured in the media.

What is news about a President falling? a Malawian asked apparently unamused that the newspaper focused on Mutharika's collapse. .

The rain will keep being dodgy if we will remain focused on the trivia, wrote another person. Is it even worthy a front page material? another queried to the sensational title carried in one of the papers which exclaimed 'oops! Peter falls' A few people however saw nothing wrong with the news as they said that the fall communicated a lot about the President's health. People are trying hard to downplay Mutharika's fall as nothing but in a larger picture it says a lot about the President's health, commented another person.

Last year Zimbabwe President who died but resurrected according to Prophet Liabunya, Robert Mugabe was an Internet sensation after he fell down. Mugabe was helped to his feet by his bodyguards just as Mutharika's self-planting exercise was brought to an end by his bodyguards.

-Malawi24


CNNYAW (CNN Young African Writers) has donated $8,000 to two charities, one helping children children get quality education and the other helping Syrian refugees.

The CNN Young African Writers (CNNYAW) said $4,000 would go to UNICEF in Africa with $4,000 helping the Human Appeal International.

Thousands of children don't have access to quality education in Africa and the money donated will do a little to help.

In Greece, work is continuing to help provide food for those fleeing Syria.

CNNYAW Assistant Head Of Operations in Sierra Leone, Margaret Joles said: "These charities urgently need funding to deliver vital food, shelter and medical supplies in countries devastated by conflict and natural disasters.

"The support from the CNN Young African Writers will add to donations from other nations to improve the lives of thousands of vulnerable people."

HOP of CNNYAW in Sierra Leone also said they'd be donating over 3,000 books to help the kids in learn in Africa. She mentioned that "education is bright future assured."

The branch of CNN which was launched July 2015, is working hand in hand with UNICEF to eradicate poverty in Africa. www.cnnyaw.com has been operating in Africa for more than 5months now and is partnering with Humanitarian aid agencies to fight poverty and uneduaction in Africa and middle east.

Official website of the CNNYAW is www.cnnyaw.com
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) says it has issued an order to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), to correct the metering and billing anomalies resulting from implementation of the 2015 Major Tariff Increase.

A statement from the PURC signed by Dr Simons Akorli, Director, Regulatory Economics and Research reiterated that the percentage increase across board for all categories of electricity consumers as announced by the Commission is 59.2 per cent.

It said the Commission would publish for the benefit of electricity consumers and the public, the electricity tariffs as gazetted, effective December 14, 2015 and published in The Ghana Gazette of December 11, 2015 as well as the tariffs published in Ghana Gazette of July 8, 2015.

The statement said the ECG had also been directed to develop and implement detailed Communication Plan for engaging the public on the impact of the December, 2015 tariffs and measures put in place to resolve implementation challenges arising from the tariffs.

'The PURC wishes to reassure all consumers that the Commission is monitoring all the feedback arising from the recent tariff increases and will not relent in ensuring that the ECG discharges its obligations to consumers,' it added.
Seychelles underwent its second cycle review under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the United Nation's (UN) Human Rights Council yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland. The delegation for Seychelles was led by Secretary of State at the Foreign Affairs Department, Ambassador Barry Faure. The session was telecast live online and watched by many Seychellois as well as interested partners abroad.

The UPR is a peer-review mechanism, whereby UN States engage in an interactive dialogue and provide recommendations in view of furthering human rights within domestic and international frameworks. The UPR process is cognizant that tailor made solutions  rather than one-size fits-all approaches  are essential to improve upon fundamental rights.

In elaborating upon the significant strides Seychelles has made since its first UPR review in 2011, Ambassador Faure noted that in the Seychelles context guaranteeing human rights for all is not a concept of radical change, but rather a part of everyday life, and present in the smallest of actions. He made particular emphasis on the irrefutable effect that climate change has upon the fundamental rights of all persons, but especially with regards to SIDS and low lying coastal areas. He noted that we are drowning from the consequences arising out of a world that is not making climate change the highest priority that it must be. These are not metaphors, but a reality that the people of my country face

Sixty States attended Seychelles' UPR and shared their views, making about 160 recommendations towards improving Seychelles' human rights performance. Seychelles will now study these recommendations and following consultation at the national level, convey its position on each recommendation to the Human Rights Council at its next session.

Seychelles' review under the UPR is based on the National Report submitted by the Government of Seychelles in November 2015; a compilation report summarizing various comments and recommendations Seychelles has received under the various UN human rights mechanisms and treaty bodies, compiled by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and the Summary of Stakeholders information, which is a summation of inputs from the National Human Rights Commission and Ombudsman's Office, the Civil Engagement Platform Seychelles (CEPS) and a London based NGO called Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children.

The delegation was also composed of: Ambassador Selby Pillay, Seychelles' Permanent Representative to the UNOG based in Brussels; Ms Michelle Marguerite from the Social Affairs Departments; Ms Gayethri Murugaiyan from the Foreign Affairs Department; Ms Irene Sirame from the Attorney General's Chambers; and Ms Audrina Dine from Seychelles' Mission in Geneva. The delegation was also supported by a back-up delegation based in Seychelles compromising of resource persons from relevant agencies in Seychelles.
26.01.2016 LISTEN

Parliament of Ghana will be reconvening today for the first meeting of the last session of the sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic with the Presidents State of the Nation address which is expected to be delivered by mid-February going to be the major attraction.

Since the year is also an election year, electioneering matters might also crop up while attendance could be affected because Members of Parliament who were maintained as parliamentary candidates would also be busy canvassing for votes in their respective constituencies.

Some minority members who spoke to DAILY GUIDE about their expectation of the Presidents State of the Nation Address said they expect the president to admit the governments total failure and its responsibility for inflicting on Ghanaians unprecedented hardship.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Kwabre East, Kofi Frimpong told DAILY GUIDE that his strong expectations would be for the president to admit first that it is the IMF which is indirectly ruling Ghana by proposing to the government to implement killer tariffs which have worsened conditions of Ghanaian workers resulting in the massive demonstration by the labour front last Wednesday.

I expect the president to also talk about the massive corruption in his government which has resulted in the resignation of the Transport Minister.

According to the Kwabre East MP, since this year is also an election year, he expects the president to talk about the bloated voters register and ask the Electoral Commission to replace it.

Everybody is talking about the register being bloated except the ruling party and now the NPP and other political parties have been vindicated with the British Government coming out boldly to tell the whole world that Ghanas voters register is bloated by 10 percent meaning that if we had 14 million voters on the register 1.4 million are ineligible voters, he said adding that the President must take the information seriously and order for a new voters register to restore credibility in the 2016 general elections.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Keta, Richard Quashigah however expressed the optimism that the economy had seen some tremendous transformation despite the challenges in the oil industry and that he expects the president to talk about the effects of that positive transformation.

By Thomas Fosu Jnr


A maintenance supervisor at Forewin Ghana Limited has been put before the Chief Justice's Special Court for allegedly bypassing the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) meter on the company premises and stealing power valued at GH205,303.35.

The accused person, Francis Mensah, who is also the company's electrician, is alleged to have every month collected GH30,000 for the purchase of power for the company's prepaid meter but bought only GH10,000 each month.

Mensah is standing trial with a cashier at Equity Lynx Vending Station, Akushika Mingle, with whom he connived and shared the booty .

While Mensah has been charged with two counts of stealing power and interfering with the distribution system of the ECG without authority, Akushika has been charged with abetment of crime.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court, presided over by Mr Wolanyo Kotoku, granted the two bail in the sum of GH80,000, with three sureties, two of whom must be public servants.

ECG investigations

Presenting the facts of the case, the Manager in charge of Prosecutions at the ECG, Mr Paul Assibi Abariga, said the bypass was detected on January 11, 2016 when the ECG task force, on its usual routine checks visited Forewin Ghana.

He said the case was reported to the ECG Investigations Unit, which found that Forewin had been giving GH30,000 to Mensah every month to purchase power.

The court heard that Mensah, who was suspected to have carried out the bypass, was arrested.

Mr Abariga said in his caution statement, Mensah denied bypassing the meter but claimed that he was rather not buying the amount of power as issued by the company.

Mensah, according to him, said he and a former Administrative Manager of Forewin, Abdul Yasmin, who passed away in September 2015, had arranged with Akushika to issue receipts for GH30,000 worth of credit but loaded the prepaid meter with only GH10,000.

However, after the administrative manager died, Mensah continued with the deal.

How money was shared

The court was told that each month Mensah pocketed GH16,000, while Akushika received GH4,000 out of the GH20,000.

Mr Abariga said investigations by the ECG indicated that Mensah did the bypass so that he could steal the money given to him for power.

It was also found that Akushika used the GH30,000 cheque issued by Forewin in the name of the ECG to account for her sales.

Akushika is said to have declined to give her statement to the police when she was arrested.
26.01.2016 LISTEN

The Art of Leadership

By Dag Heward-Mills

How do you view money as a leader? Does money make you feel safe? Is money your source of pleasure, satisfaction and achievement? Well, you can also view money as a weapon that can be used against enemies. There are some problems that can be solved by money. Sometimes, a payment of money can reduce your stress and deliver you from a great evil. Leaders fight, using money as a weapon whenever they have to.

Spending money to buy the right car may save you much more money than you would gain by buying a cheaper car. When we started having crusades, we bought cheap used cars for our crusade directors. I was always excited at the low cost of these cars. But with time, I realised that my crusade directors were spending more time fixing their cars than preparing for a crusade. The Crusade directors were converted into mechanics and spent most of their time at the workshop waiting for their cars to be repaired. Also, their cars would break down at crucial moments in the build-up to the crusade. All these created crises situations that cost even more money to correct. At a point, I felt that evil spirits were attacking the crusades through these second-hand cars.

Indeed, it could have been evil spirits that were attacking the engines and the brain boxes of these cars. I could have fasted and bound these powers that were unleashed against the crusades. But I decided to fight back by buying brand new cars.

It seemed expensive initially, but it ended up being cheaper in the long run. Not only was it cheaper in the long term, the attacks on the crusades came to an end. The enemy lost his power to prevent the crusades from coming on.

Every evil spirit, every entity, every demonic being and every principality lost its control over the crusades when I used money as a weapon. Remember that spending money can be a weapon to give you victory!

Atilla the Hun

Atilla the Hun was a fifth-century warrior who helped to unite the Hun kingdom. Atilla lived in an area that is now called Hungary. Atilla the Hun was a particularly brutal, plundering and devastating warrior. He was so brutal that he came to be known as the scourge of God because of the devastation he left in his wake. Atilla invaded a vast area that stretched through Germany, Russia, Poland and south-eastern Europe. He was so successful that he invaded the Roman Empire. At that time, the Roman Empire was divided into the eastern and the western part. The western part had its headquarters in Rome and the eastern part had its headquarters in Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey). King Theodosius II ruled the eastern part of the Roman Empire.

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Constantinople was a huge walled city that had been undefeated for several hundred years. It had withstood wave after wave of invaders and never fallen. But the Roman Empire, was in a weaker state and not ready for a war with somebody like Atilla the Hun. Instead of fighting with Atilla the Hun, the emperor of Constantinople constantly warded off Atilla the Hun by paying him higher and higher monthly payments.

Atilla the Hun entered into various treaties with the Romans. Each treaty involved higher sums of money to be paid by the emperor of Constantinople to Atilla the Hun. In one of the treaties, the Romans agreed to return the Hunnic fugitives, double their previous tribute to the Huns, open their markets to Hunnish traders and pay a ransom for each Roman taken prisoner by the Huns.

The Huns were so happy with the provisions of their treaties that they left the Roman Empire in peace and returned to their home in Hungary. Constantinople paid for peace with high amounts of money until Atilla the Hun eventually died. Through this tradition of paying for peace, they were able to avert a war with great losses.

King Theodosius II wisely used money to fight his wars with Atilla the Hun. Today, you must use money as a weapon when you have to.

Remember, dear leader, that you cannot save all the time! What is the point in storing up riches for a day that you will never see? What do you need today? Do you have the money for what you need? Will paying for something help you out of a crisis? Then pay for it! If buying something or spending money on something can help you out of your crisis then do it!

The Bible says:

 money answereth all things Ecclesiastes 10:19

[email protected]


26.01.2016 LISTEN

Whoever he thinks and takes himself to be, Mr. Michael Ampong has absolutely no business presuming to lecture the President of the Ghana Conference of Catholic Bishops on how to address the concerns of the Church and Ghanaian citizens at large vis-a-vis the unilateral decision by President John DramaniMahama to resettle two high-risk former Guantanamo Bay prison inmates in the country (See Gitmo Two Catholic Bishops Must Apologize to Mahama Starrfmonline.com / Ghanaweb.com 1/24/16).

I am glad that the executive operatives of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) decided to get rid of the former spokesman of the Greater-Accra Branch of the party when they did quite a while back. Very likely, Mr. Ampong has been collecting charitable crumbs from the dining table of the Chief Resident of the Flagstaff House, thus his early morning madness.

Needless to say, what Mr. Ampong clearly does not seem to appreciate, or perhaps adamantly refuses to accept, is the fact that Bishop Joseph Osei-Bonsu would advise Mr. Mahama to seasonably balance compassion with common sense vis-a-vis his rather reckless, to speak much less about his thoughtless, decision to consent to using Ghana as a cesspit for the disposal of Arab terrorists captured on the killing fields in Americas War-on-Terror against Al-Qaeda and Taliban and the institutional associates of these Islamist and Jihadist terrorist networks.

Indeed, President Mahama direly deserved the sort of morally sobering and chastening language used by Bishop Osei-Bonsu. I personally would have used harsher language than the one attributed to the Catholic prelate. And if he were capable of deep thought, Mr. Ampong would rather be more worried about the insufferably disrespectful decision by Mr. Mahama to so facilely consent to using the lives of some 25 million-plus Ghanaian citizens as cannon fodder for the war games between the United States and its allies, on the one hand, and the Al-Qaeda, Taliban and ISIL jihadist corporate networks, on the other.

If the failed New Patriotic Party National Youth Organizer aspirant really believes that Bishop Osei-Bonsu was very insensitive in his comments on President Mahamas patently unwise decision to have the Gitmo Two resettled in Ghana, then he had better promptly seek out the services of a licensed psychiatrist. For it goes without saying that what President Mahama has done is tantamount to treacherously launching a war with foreign collaborators against the very people who unsuspectingly, in retrospect, offered him their political mandate.

In a way, the proverbial handwriting-on-the wall was quite glaring from the beginning, but most especially so recently when Mr. Mahama told a visibly flabbergasted Ghanaian citizenry and voters that only former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum-Kufuor had a right to criticize his administrative performance, because it was only these two retired Ghanaian premiers who appreciated what it meant to be president of Ghana, since Messrs. Rawlings and Kufuor, in American popular cultural parlance, were the only two living Ghanaian citizens who had been there and done that.

In other words, for Citizen Mahama, short of Kawukudiing their votes to him periodically, Ghanaian citizens, especially eligible voters, had absolutely no say in how he chose to govern the country or administer their affairs. Most of all, Mr. Mahama was of the conviction that Dr. MahamuduBawumia, the Oxbridge-educated former Deputy-Governor of the Bank of Ghana and three-time Vice-Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, was the least qualified Ghanaian citizen to critique, or evaluate, the performance of his National Democratic Congress government.

If Mr. Ampong thinks that Bishop Osei-Bonsus indisputably edifying admonishment to President Mahama was in bad taste, then he had better tell the rest of us precisely how tasteful and becoming was Mr. Mahamas intemperate tell-off to the very people who offered him the mandate or the presidency that, somehow, they woefully lacked the requisite qualifications and judgmental faculties to evaluate his job performance.

Bishop Osei-Bonsus critic may also be too lightheaded to appreciate the serious implications of the foregoing, and so some levelheaded Son-of-a-Gun like yours truly ought to charitably apprise Mr. Ampong of the fact that what President Mahama meant by the preceding paraphrased statement is that those Ghanaian citizens who voted to elect him President in 2012 were congenital buffoons who ought to have known better what to do with their ballot papers and/or thumb-prints.

Is this the sort of person or moral reprobate that Mr. Ampong would have Bishop Osei-Bonsu apologize to for doing the enviable yeomanly bit of setting aright? Come on, Mr. Ampong, put on your thinking cap! That is, if you actually own one.

*Visit my blog at: kwameokoampaahoofe.wordpress.com Ghanaffairs
Emmanuel T. Obeng (Left) joined by Mrs Sheila F. Obeng (Middle) to engage some of the company's partners

26.01.2016 LISTEN

The chairman, board of directors and management of JISLAH Financial Services last week held a special event to interact with key clients, shareholders and staff in Accra.

The event was used to take stock of JISLAH's operations last year, acknowledge the support and loyalty of the company's clients and celebrate 20 years of business.

The Chief Executive, Emmanuel T. Obeng, told the gathering that JISLAH made commendable strides in 2015 despite the challenges in the financial sector to emerge as 42nd Company in Ghana Club 100 awards last year.

He said that in spite of the power outages, economic downturn and the unfriendly business environment weighed heavily on the financial sector, JISLAH was able to sail through.

We are here to say thank you to God Almighty, our board of directors, partners and the management and staff of JISLAH that together we made it, he said.

For 2016, JISLAH will explore every opportunity to excel and deliver to ensure that all stakeholders' expectations are exceeded, the CEO added.

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Some of the stakeholders at the event included Dr. Sampson E. Apraku, Executive Chairman of Samara Group of Companies (SASSO), representatives of Fidelity Bank, Royal Bank and NDK Financial Services Limited.

Other members of the board at the event who freely interacted with the stakeholders were Dr. Sam Mensah, Chairman of the Ghana Stock Exchange, Clifford Mettle, President of the Institute of Bankers, James K. Anaman, former President Ghana Chamber of Mines, Daniel S. Obeng, Managing Director of Integrated Solutions Limited and Mrs Sheila F. Obeng, Executive Director.

On his part, the Board Chairman and Chairman of Ntrakwa and Associates, a leading corporate law firm in Ghana, Lawyer Felix K. Ntrakwa commended the management and staff for working hard to develop the company.
Members of the Ashanti Regional Election Security Taskforce being sworn in by Justice Gibson K. Azagli

26.01.2016 LISTEN

THE ASHANTI Regional Election Security Taskforce for the 2016 polls has been inaugurated, and a stern caution has been issued to the public not to indulge in political malfeasance.

The taskforce, which is headed by the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kofi Boakye, has all service commanders in the region and the Ashanti Regional Electoral Commission (EC) chairman as its members.

DCOP Kofi Boakye warned that the taskforce would not hesitate to pounce on anybody who would try to create trouble before and during the elections, urging the public to remain tolerant and stay out of trouble.

He said the police would ensure that the country remains peaceful before, during and after the elections, noting that the taskforce would remain fair and firm in the discharge of their important duties.

DCOP Kofi Boakye was speaking during the official inauguration of the Ashanti Regional Election Security Taskforce for election 2016 at the police headquarters in Kumasi on Monday.

The police chief said very soon the composition of sub-committees to support the security taskforce to maintain law and order in the region in order to ensure peaceful polls this year would commence.

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DCOP Kofi Boakye said the sub-committees include legal, prosecution, intelligence and investment, personnel mobilisation and deployment, ballot security and logistics and transport.

He disclosed that the rest of the sub-committees include media and communication, finance and budget as well as medical and welfare, adding that a joint operation centre to monitor political issues would be set up.

DCOP Kofi Boakye stated that the success of the impending election hugely depends on the taskforce, admonishing its members to work assiduously with firmness devoid of malice.

Brig Gen Joseph Adu Boampong, GOC, Central Command, Ghana Armed Forces, charged the taskforce to sustain their professionalism so that the coming polls would be incident-free.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
26.01.2016 LISTEN

EMOTIONS ran high last Saturday at Adansi-Dompoase in the Ashanti Region after a groom was arrested right in the middle of his wedding to a banker in the community.

Augustine Antwi, who claims to be a teacher, was arrested for fraud by uniformed police officers deployed from Offinso, moments before the signing of the marriage certificate at the Dompoase Methodist Church.

He and his bride had exchanged vows and were getting ready to sign the certificate when two law enforcers stormed the church hall and handcuffed him to the amazement of the congregation, including relatives, and whisked him away.

Supt Amankwa, Offinso Municipal Police Commander, confirmed the arrest and indicated that Antwi was apprehended and detained on charges of defrauding by false pretences.

He told DAILY GUIDE the gentleman was placed on police wanted list after officers received reports about his nefarious activities  swindling at will with false pretences.

According to the police chief, Augustine Antwi managed to dupe his victims of several thousands of Ghana Cedis after promising them visas to enable them travel abroad.

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The police commander added that the suspect also rented someone's car and used it for three weeks without paying, and later abandoned the car after damaging it.

It remains packed at the police station pending further investigation into the case, Supt Amankwa said.

Meanwhile, the female banker with the Adansi Rural Bank remains inconsolable following the dramatic event that characterised her big day.

The officiating minister, Very Rev Ebenezer Eshun, told Adom Fm's reporter, Isaac Kofi Normanyo, in an interview that the bride cried uncontrollably when the ceremony was brought to an abrupt end, adding that the lady was in shock.

Rev Eshun said he had since directed the parents of the bride to counsel her to help her recover from the shock.

From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi


26.01.2016 LISTEN

Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam

Africa Centre for Energy Policy

There is no doubt that oil producing countries are reeling under extreme pressure to reconcile spending with revenues as crude oil prices continue a nose dive; reaching an 11-year low in January 2016. Demand for oil remains low relative to supply on account of a slowing Chinese economy. US gasoline stockpiles grew by 10.6 million barrels at the beginning of January 2016  the biggest weekly build since May 1993  and distillate supplies rose by 6.3 million barrels. Iran is expected to increase oil production by another 500,000 barrels daily and could go up to a million barrels, following lifting of sanctions on the country. This throws price expectations very wide; and the implication for this is predictable.

African producers are the worse hit by the oil crush due largely in part to their less diversified economies, over-dependence on oil revenues, lower tax effort, fiscal indiscipline and corruption among others. In spite of the lower benchmark prices of between US$50 to US$60 per barrel used by most of the countries in the 2016 budget, they are now compelled to make difficult fiscal adjustments which are not only going to be unpopular with their people, but also affect their macroeconomic outlook. The question that confronts these governments is simple  Does lower oil price provide a silver lining for introducing tough fiscal measures?

Nigeria, the leader of the pack in its 2016 budget outlined a number of measures to address some of the challenges that plaque the country amidst the oil crush. For example, the government expressed its plan to prioritize agriculture as a way to diversify the economy away from oil, widen the tax net, and remove fuel subsidies. Ghana has already imposed new taxes and levies on petroleum products and electricity, and withdrew subsidies from petroleum. Other producers like Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon are still faced with policy dilemmas whilst their economies are suffocating from the oil squeeze. There is cause to believe that some of the fiscal measures are unpopular with the people. Ghanaian Labour Unions have already held a march to protest the new taxes and levies on petroleum, whilst making demands for increase in salaries.

The economic environment created by the oil crush is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing because; consumers of petroleum products now enjoy lower prices of petroleum products as demonstrated in Nigeria and Ghana where pass-through prices have favoured downward price adjustments. Also, the reduction in the petroleum import bill for these countries, who although produce crude oil, import large quantities of petroleum products, has been significant bringing desirable improvements on their terms of trade. The governments also now have basis to remove subsidies from petroleum products.

It is however a curse because savings from subsidies are unlikely to finance the deficits from lower oil prices. Government's can also introduce or increase taxes on petroleum products reducing the benefits of price over-recoveries to consumers. Further, these countries are compelled to cut spending, which adversely affects social welfare.

It is therefore not surprising that oil-producing countries are taking tough fiscal measures to raise additional revenues to meet budget targets. For example, the Government of Ghana will raise incremental revenue of about US$800 million annually from new taxes and levies on petrol, diesel and LPG alone.

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Key policy issues arising from the oil price crush in producing countries however remain unanswered, which could undermine the positive effects of any fiscal measures introduced.

The stabilization mechanisms through Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) are weak and poorly funded. With the exception of Libya and Algeria, the rest of the oil producers by the end of 2015 had very lower balances in their Funds (Angola  US$5 billion; Nigeria  US$1.4 billion; Gabon  US$400 million; Ghana  US$450; Equatorial Guinea  US$80 million). This throws into doubt the efficacy of the Funds in fulfilling their primary objectives of providing inter-temporal stabilization, diversification and risk adjusted investment. The economies of most oil producing countries are not diversified from oil dependence. Oil exports constitute about 40-50% of GDP for countries such as Gabon, Angola and the Republic of Congo, and 80% for Equatorial Guinea. Also, oil accounts for 75% of government revenues in Angola, Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea. Tax efforts in most of Africa's oil producers are lower than their non-oil producing counterparts. For instance, non-oil tax efforts in these countries according to the African Economic Outlook are  (0.39 in Angola; 0.42 in Republic of Congo; 0.53 in Algeria; 0.08 in Equatorial Guinea; 0.28 in Chad; 0.58 in Sudan; and 0.52 in Gabon). Tax effort of less than 1 shows that these countries are not collecting taxes relative to the potential of their economies. Governance challenges relating to fiscal integrity such as fiscal discipline, tax administration, corruption and wasteful spending remain a dominant feature in these countries. Also, most of these countries that are introducing new taxes and levies to raise additional revenues do not have accountability measures to govern the utilization of the money. They will merely be spent through the Consolidated Funds without strong parliamentary scrutiny  using their parliamentary majority and weak parliamentary structures to have their way.

As a result of these challenges, adoption of tough fiscal measures in addressing the effects of lower oil prices will therefore not only amount to window-dressing the problems but is also unsustainable.

Africa's oil producing countries must not adopt a hand-to-mouth fiscal policy for spending their oil revenues in spite of the shortfalls. Even in these difficult times, they must exercise fiscal restraint and encourage savings as was done by Chile to its Copper Stabilization Fund. To diversify their economies, they should invest in agriculture by increasing agricultural spending to at least 10% of the national budget in line with the Maputo Declaration. They should also invest in infrastructure to promote manufacturing. They can do these by promoting market friendly reforms to attract foreign investments as well as through public-private-partnership. Tax effort must be increased. New taxes as well as higher taxes can only increase the tax burden of the current profile of taxpayers; and could tax them out of the economy. Tax effort requires the widening of the tax net as well as improvement in the efficiency of tax collection. Most important is the troubling issue of corruption and poor public accountability in these countries. The recent corruption perception index shows that the performance of Africa's oil producers is deteriorating; a disturbing trend undermining economic development.

As OPEC expects to recover its power through consensus on production cuts, which have become ineffective though, non-OPEC producers are more willing to increase production to raise more revenues. Whether Saudi's strategy to hold its market share succeeds or not is another issue. Meanwhile, the Chinese economy is still in comma. All these factors increase the uncertainty about a significant oil price recovery. This also puts to test the effectiveness of robust fiscal measures African oil producers are introducing, which are mostly shot-term by form. Eventually, only policies that are forward looking culminating in economic diversification, savings, and good governance, can support Africa's oil economies to gradually adjust to sustained equilibrium.
26.01.2016 LISTEN

Tension is gradually mounting in the Muslim community at Subinsu Number 2 in the Wenchi District of the Brong Ahafo Region over who should be the Imam of the local mosque.

Two factions are each claiming right of succession after the death of the late Imam, creating tension in the community. The intervention of the district and regional Chief Imams and the arrest of some people have not doused the tension.

The case filed at the Wenchi District Court by one of the factions is to be heard on 29th January this year. A visit to the community shows that tempers are high as the court hearing draws closer.

Explaining the criteria and qualification for an Imam, Alhaji Gyasi Ahmed Dauda, board chairman of Muslims in Brong Ahafo, said the two persons laying claim to the Imam positionAlhaji Omar Kadri and Jihad Suahala Adam are both qualified.

As a result, when the issue came before the regional Chief Imam for settlement, their ages were used as a yardstick to determine the more suitable of the two. More so, he added, since the positions are twoImam and his deputy (Nayibii)the board decided to allow the elder, Omar Kadri, to assume the position of Imam whilst Suahala becomes Nayibii.

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The latter accepted his position but Omar Kadri protested, saying his deputy did not hail from or stay in the town permanently, though his wife is domiciled in the community. Suahala was subsequently impressed upon to relocate to the town and he did.

However, when it was time for his installation, Omar raised another objection that his deputy hailed from the tribe of the late Imam so if allowed to become his deputy, that tribe would have been given undue advantage over the rest. The regional Chief Imam and his board saw this as absurd and went ahead to perform the rites for Suahala to assume the position of Nayibii, though Omar boycotted it.

DAILY GUIDE's investigations revealed that though the two factions still go to the same mosque, the Nayibii is not allowed to perform religious rites in the mosque.

[email protected]

FROM Daniel Yao Dayee, Sunyani


The Hague (AFP) - Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo will finally step into the dock on Thursday to face four charges of crimes against humanity in the wake of deadly post-election violence five years ago.

He is the first ex-head of state to go on trial at the International Criminal Court. Here are five questions about the ICC, the hearing and the procedures.

Q: Who are the main players?

A: Three judges will hear the trial of Gbagbo and his co-accused Charles Ble Goude, which is likely to last three to four years. The presiding judge is Italian, Cuno Tarfusser, who will be backed by Olga Herrera Carbuccia, from the Dominican Republic, and Geoffrey Henderson from Trinidad.

Gbagbo's defence team is led by French lawyer Emmanuel Altit, while Dutch advocate Geert-Jan Knoops heads up Ble Goude's defence.

The prosecution is led by Fatou Bensouda, who will likely be represented most of the time in the courtroom by Canadian Eric MacDonald.

The court has agreed that 726 victims of the five months of unrest -- which played out from late 2010 to spring 2011 when Gbagbo refused to concede electoral defeat to his rival Alassane Ouattara -- can be legally represented during the trial. If the men are found guilty they could be eligible for compensation.

Q: What is the court's procedure?

A: The ICC is the world's only permanent war crimes court, and its rules are laid out in the Rome Statute adopted by its founding members, which entered into force on July 1, 2002.

After opening arguments by the prosecution, the legal team for the victims and the defence on Thursday and Friday, Bensouda's team will start laying out its case from February 1.

The prosecution says it has 5,300 elements of evidence, including 300 videos, to bring against Gbagbo and his co-accused. Some 138 witnesses are also prepared to give evidence, though not all will be called.

After the closing arguments, the judges will retire to consider their verdict which could take several months. If the two men are found guilty, a sentencing hearing will be convened. Judges can pass jail terms going up to 30 years or more for "very serious" offences.

Q: What is the state of Gbagbo's health?

A: The ageing former leader is now 70 years old, and his health has been the source of speculation and debate.

Judges ruled in November that he is fit to stand trial, after hearing reports from three medical experts. They determined that he no longer suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

However, some experts said Gbagbo tires easily. Judges refused a defence request to only sit four afternoons a week, but said the registrar must ensure "the necessary facilities" are in place to allow him to rest during court sessions, or to leave the court-room briefly as needed.

Q: Who can see the trial?

A: There is a public gallery in the court building, which has 75 seats. There are also cameras which show the hearings on the court's website with a 30-minute delay in French and English.

The delay was notably brought in to protect witnesses, and means a name for example can be struck out to avoid identifying someone by accident.

The ICC is also trying to organise places to follow the hearings in the Ivory Coast.

Q: What does the ICC look like?

A: Gbagbo's trial will be the first to open in the ICC's new permanent home which it moved into in December. The modern glass-fronted building is nestled in the dunes of Scheveningen, a seaside district to the west of the Dutch city of The Hague.

It is only steps from the jail where other ICC defendants are held, making it easy to move them and is protected by a series of design measures including armoured-glass revolving doors, and a deep moat which skirts the building, but cannot be seen from the road.

Extensive measures have also been built into the court to protect the witnesses, with separate entrances which hide them completely from public view.
Nana Ntiamoah Amankuo III and his elders

26.01.2016 LISTEN

The Akwamuhene of Bekwai Traditional Council (BTC), Nana Ntiamoah Amankuo III says traditional leaders cannot continue to rely on government to develop their communities and towns.

The chief wants his colleagues to use resources generated by their stools to initiate community projects and economic empowerment programmes to improve the well-being of their subjects.

Speaking at the opening of a new palace complex for the Bekwai Akwamu stool, Nana Amankuo said resources of a stool did not belong to the chief alone but also his subjects who must be benefactors of any largesse that is accrued to the stool.

This palace that you see today was constructed by me, but it belongs to the Asona family and the entire people of Bekwai community, the chief stated.

According to Nana Amankuo, he noticed that the Akwamu palace was in bad shape when he was sworn in as the Akwamu chief of Bekwai, and therefore decided to put up a befitting modern palace for the people.

He indicated that the palace which was built at the cost of GH400,000 has a conference hall and three chamber and hall apartments fitted with toilet facilities that can be used for all purposes, including the sitting in state of Nananom.

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Prior to this, the chief had contributed to the construction of a clinic at Bepotenten, a farming community in his traditional area aside donating a number of computers to some selected schools in the area.

He mentioned Jacobu ICES, Afoako D/A Primary School and Denase M/A Basic School as some of the beneficiaries.

Responding to a question, Nana Ntiamoah explained that palace is a first point of call when any visitor comes to town so it was ideal to pull down and restructure the Akwamu palace. He disclosed that he used resources of his stool and philanthropic aids to build the new palace.

He appealed to President John Mahama to make the district a benefactor of the ongoing infrastructure projects as roads in the area are in deplorable state.

A representative of the Bekwai paramount chief, Nana Opoku Adonten, praised the Akwamuhene for his good works and urged other chiefs to emulate the Akwamuhene's initiative.

From Ernest Kofi Adu, Bekwai
Family of Maame Kumasi with the Ashaiman Constituency Chairman of NDC, Parliament candidate elect of the party at the site

26.01.2016 LISTEN

TENSION IS brewing at Lebanon, a suburb of Ashaiman, following National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s decision to build a new house for one of their party supporters whose house was among the several others demolished by the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA).

The beneficiary, Margaret Adongo, 90, popularly called Maame Kumasi, had her place of abode demolished recently by the assembly in an effort to rid the Ashaiman Irrigation Dam site of unauthorized settlements.

It will be recalled that Maame Kumasi had, after the demolition, charged fellow party supporters to vote against the NDC in the impending general elections. She described the party led by President John Mahama as unsympathetic and wicked and must not be retained in power.

But the assembly together with the NDC party, in a quick move, had decided to relocate the woman in a new house leaving the rest who were equally affected by the demolition exercise to their fate.

The decision has angered some of the affected persons who thought the gesture was politics of favouritism since they were all Ghanaians and some of them were also NDC supporters.

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According to them, they were yet to understand why the Assembly and the party could empathize with only one person when they were all affected by the assembly's action.

They threatened to do everything possible to stifle the party's decision unless they all benefit.

Information available to DAILY GUIDE indicated that the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Ashaiman, Ernest Norgbey had donated assorted items worth GH1, 000 and undisclosed amount of money to the 90-year-old woman.

The Parliamentary candidate had also purchased a piece of land at Zenu in the Kpone-Katamanso District of Accra to enable him, the party and ASHMA put up a one room self-contained apartment for the woman and her husband who had been sleeping in the open after the demolition.

Mr. Norgbey promised to complete the house within 3-months.

From Vincent Kubi, Ashaiman
26.01.2016 LISTEN

MADAM MARY Afriyie, who is 102 years-old and has lived under all the previous governments in the country, insists the present NDC government, is the bad ever in terms of performance.

She observed that even though all the previous governments of the state had their shortfalls, in general, they performed far better than what the present Mahama-led NDC administration is doing.

All the previous government's had their negatives one way or the other, but in general they did well and I must commend them, the old lady, who walks by the aid of a walking stick, told DAILY GUIDE during an interview.

Madam Afriyie said she is yet to see a single thing or programme that President Mahama and his government had done to better the lives of the populace since he assumed the mantle as the first gentleman of the land.

She ranked the NPP administration led by ex-President Kufuor as the best government that Ghana had had in its history, noting that Ghana experienced development in all sectors of the state during that time.

The centenarian also ranked the late President Abrefa Busia's administration as the second best government in Ghana's history, noting that Busia could have done more but he was prevented by a military takeover.

Madam Afriyie said Ghana usually suffers major setback on its developmental journey anytime NDC occupied the seat of government, noting that Messrs Rawlings and Mills administrations also failed to deliver.

She however observed that Messrs Rawlings and Mills' governments were better when compared to the present President Mahama's government, saying the Mahama government is the worse in Ghana's history.

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According to her, President Mahama and his government appointees seemed only interested in what they could do to win the next election, but they don't care about the difficulties the populace is going through.

Madam Afriyie, who was seen clad in NPP colours during the party's fund raising event in Kumasi on Saturday, said she was visiting the venue to contribute her cash to help the NPP campaign well to defeat the NDC in the polls.

She said it is time for patriotic people in the country like her, to hit the streets to campaign for the NPP and Nana Akufo-Addo to save the country from the bad NDC administration which is destroying the country.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi


26.01.2016 LISTEN

Chairman Acolatse introducing Laywer Buaben Asamoa

Samuel Yaw Buaben, New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Adentan, has launched his campaign for the 2016 polls.

The launch of the campaign indicates that the party is set to woo more votes to capture power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The event, which was held last Sunday at a venue close to the party's constituency office at Ritz Junction, was attended by several party faithful and sympathizers, including former Member of Parliament (MP) for Adentan, Opare Hammond, Chairman Obri Yeboah, Nii Noi Adumoa and Newlove Morgan.

The Adentan Constituency Chairman Koku Acolatse, who introduced the parliamentary candidate to the audience, said the 2016 campaign message would basically focus on issues related to the economic crisis in the country.

Mr Acolatse averred that we are ready to lead the people for the needed change by drawing their attention to the realities on the ground.

He added that all party faithful and those who share in their aspirations should join hands with the campaign team.

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The chairman urged members of the party to remain focused and not to be distracted by any strategies the National Democratic Congress party (NDC) may adopt.

Lawyer Samuel Yaw Buaben aka YB reiterated that they would work with everybody during the campaign period, stressing that the slogan for the constituency is 'Adentan must win.'

He mentioned that Ghanaians need a change in leadership to develop the country's economy.

Mr Buaben gave the assurance that the Adentan road project started by the previous NPP administration would be pursued vigorously to beautify the area.

Speaking on the voters' register, Samuel Yaw Buaben indicated that the NPP is not at war with the Electoral Commission (EC) but wants a new register to give credibility to the elections.

Some party supporters, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, said they would cooperate with the constituency campaign team to win more votes for the party.

By Solomon Ofori


26.01.2016 LISTEN

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah

Minister of Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah stopped by Platon Gas Oil Ghana Limited in Tema as part of his official work.

The visit was to update the Minister on progress made by the company after it was issued with the required licenses to operate.

Platon Gas Oil Ghana Limited is a fast growing oil refinery in Ghana dedicated to supplying quality diesel, petroleum and Residual Fuel Oil to clients in the West African sub-region.

Speaking to management of Planton Gas Oil Ghana Ltd. Hon. Buah applauded the company for making Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) a key part of their business and also commended the company for their contribution in developing Ghana's downstream sector.

Hon. Buah further emphasized that government was keen on ensuring full participation of Ghanaians in the oil and gas industry, stressing the need for companies operating in Ghana to make local content their first priority.

Management of Platon Gas Oil Ghana Ltd thanked the Minister for the visit and assured him of the company's commitment to Ghana's downstream sector.

A business desk report


26.01.2016 LISTEN

Over the last two months AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb) or the Al-Moulatan Brigade has launched two high profile and successful attacks in Bamako and in Ouagadougou. These attacks targeted Western (UN and French) Interests and hotels in both cities. In both instances Western Forces assisted in the recapture of the hotels.

It appears that the Islamists suspect that the outsiders were using these facilities in an effort to gather intelligence regarding future operations. Several Nations in the region suffer from the classic formula that allows groups like this to thrive. Weak Governments with porous borders act as incubators for groups like this to thrive.

History bears that out for AQIM. It was formed in 1998 after the turbulent period of time in Algeria. It was known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GPSC) and changed its name in January 2007 after formally joining Al-Qaeda in 2006. Previously the group has used Northern Mali and Southern Algeria as a base of Operations however it is suspected of moving into both Tunisia and Libya.

So the question now becomes what will become the next target or base of operations? There are plenty of opportunities in West Africa but recently one event occurred that has French Speaking Media Outlets talking openly about the region. It appears that a Mauritanian National who was a member of Al-Qaeda and had escaped Death Row after admitting his role in a Car Bomb Assassination Plot against the President and who had escaped was captured along the Border between Guinea and Guinea-Bissau [4] . The question about whether or not AQIM was attempting to form a cell has probably been answered in the affirmative however the question of where it is located be it in either Guinea or Guinea-Bissau has yet to be determined.

Above is a picture of the Mauritanian Terrorist Saleck Ould Cheikh who was captured on the border between Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. Courtesy The North African Post

Already several steps have been taken by Nations in the region. In Dakar and in NDjamena hotels in these cities are increasing security [5] . Both Senegal and Chad are close allies of both Paris and Washington in the effort to defeat Islamist Groups. Chad itself has been targeted by the Nigerian Islamist Group Boko Haram on more than one occasion [6] during the last year.

So its not that much of a stretch of the imagination to conclude that Dakar could be the next target of the Islamists. There is another interesting wrinkle that could be exploited by the Islamists. Neighboring Gambia has declared itself an Islamic State recently. [7] Due to the close proximity it is also a host for some of the Gambian Opposition Parties as well. After the 2014 coup attempt in Banjul the US and Dakar are now sharing Intelligence regarding what is occurring in the region [8] .

Al-qaeda had a presence in the region during the Sierra Leone Conflict during the 1990s [9] . The Group was involved in the Blood Diamond Trade in order to raise funds to launch Operations against American and other interests.

Both Guinea and Bissau have had a history of Coups and poor Governance. They sit on historical trade routes as well so this means that there is an opportunity to find an interest to exploit and raise funds that way. Two things that could generate some interest are the trade in both Narcotics and Human Beings. Also the Extractive Mining Industry in Guinea could be a quick and easy source of revenue.

http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2015/11/mali-french-us-special-forces-rescue-hostages-during-hotel-siege-mali/123894/

[2] http://www.nytimes.com/live/burkina-faso-hotel-attack/french-soldiers-assist-burkina-faso-security-forces-outside-hotel/

[3] http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/aqim.html

[4] http://northafricapost.com/10588-mauritania-terrorist-on-the-loose-arrested-in-guinea.html for a english translation of this story.

[5] http://www.reuters.com/article/us-burkina-attacks-hotels-idUSKCN0UZ1JZ

[6] http://www.startribune.com/suicide-bombings-at-chad-market-refugee-camp-kill-38/331881701/

[7] http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/gambia-president-declares-islamic-statehood-151212153025585.html

[8] http://allafrica.com/stories/201501091583.html

[9] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2775763.stm
26.01.2016 LISTEN

Africa has been considered among the world's most corrupt continents and this can said to be the declining cause of development and impoverishment in many African states. Out of the ten countries considered most corrupt in the world, six are in sub-Saharan Africa, according to Transparency International, a leading global watchdog on corruption.

Since the last two decades, public management was supposed to check corruption by promoting neutrality, transparency and accountability. Political institutions and their ability to address corruption especially in sub-saharan Africa have received global attention and this has raised the eyebrows of numerous people as to the extent political institutions can go or the part the can play in eradicating this canker in the sub-region.

Political Institutions are organizations that create, enforce, and apply laws that mediate conflict, make public policy on the economy, social systems and provide representation for the populous. It refers to the recognized structure of rules and principles within which human elements operate; for example political parties, the courts, parliament, media, pressure groups and so on.

Corruption is a complex phenomenon since it covers a broad range of human actions. It is presumably, as old as the time when organized society first established public institutions for its preservation and development. It can be termed as the abuse of public office for private gain. Corruption may take several forms like nepotism, bribery, fraud, influence peddling, embezzlement etc. Moreover when a private agent abuse office by offering bribes to escape public policies and processes for competitive advantage and profit it constitutes corruption .The roots of corruption lies in the bureaucratic and political institutions.

Some of the causes of corruption are lack of ethical leadership, accountability, transparency, over centralization, inefficiency, to mention but a few. In several African countries, the effects of corruption over the years have translated into political instability, coup detats and so on. The demand for transparency, accountability and other anti-corruption reforms will be sustained when there is the involvement of all stakeholders, thus civil society groups, non-governmental organisations, governments, private sectors and the International community. In Ghana, its no surprise that political institutions are putting in relentless efforts to curb corruption since in a democratic dispensation it is mandatory for the existence of political institutions so that there will be no room for corruptible acts. Below are the roles of some political institutions in addressing corruption.

Parliament is an integral public institution so far as democracy and good governance is concerned and as a primary expression of the peoples will, have a duty to fight corruption. Parliament ensures that state institutions including itself are transparent and accountable to withstand corruption or permit its rapid exposure. The constitution of Republic of Ghana gives Parliament the authority to summon public servants through its select committees like the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to be queried concerning any malfeasance. It also enacts legislation providing for adequate and precise sanctions against those who engage in corruption.

The civil service is also an important political institution, which has one of the highest responsibilities to address corruption in a democratic dispensation. A merit- based recruitment and promotion system that shields employees from favoritism is important. In Africa, the mobilization of civil society and effective institutional reforms are crucial for combating corruption. The media is regarded as the 4th arm of government. Ace Investigative journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas (Ghana) Rosemary Nwaebuni (Nigeria) Eric Mwamba (Congo) and Benon Herbert Oluka (Uganda), Selay Marius Kouassi (Cote DIvoire) have exposed the great deals of corruption in the public service like the Ghanaian immigration service, the Ghanaian Judiciary, the Ugandan army, The Kinshasa Kidnap and so on. The print and electronic media such as have exposed corrupt acts in public management and media men like Malik Kweku Baako and Kwesi Pratt of Ghana and award winning Musikilu Mojeed of Nigeria educate and inform the public domain on corrupt deals of the public service.

The judicial service is a very important institution so far as enforcement of anti corruption laws is concerned. In Ghana, the judiciary is doing everything possible to curb corruption like judgment debt, which is making the airwaves in Ghana. The Waterville, Isofoton cases are all corrupt cases the Judiciary has ruled on. The judiciary also took necessary steps and dismissed corrupt judges who were exposed during Anas Aremeyaw Anas undercover investigation in the Judiciary dubbed Ghana, In the eyes of God The judiciary through its courts of competent jurisdiction ensures that cases involving corruption are expedited and punish the perpetrators according to the law. The Ghanaian judicial system has set up a public complaint unit as an anti-corruption tool to encourage Ghanaians to report issues on corruption.

Moreover political parties are highly regarded as a vibrant political institution that greatly addresses corruption in public management. Parties in opposition play a very conspicuous role to ensure that corrupt deals in government are brought to light. Political parties therefore serves as a check on incumbent government and this keeps the government on his toes. Most of the monetary malfeasance and acts of corruption in public management are brought to light by opposition acts. Opposition parties are more or less like shadow governments, watchdogs and critics of public mismanagement.

In addition, pressure groups like AFAG (Ghana), Aro Juvenil (Mozambique) , African Youth Movement (Nigeria) and think tanks like IMANI, ACEP all serve as watchdogs to the actions and inactions of the public service. In the light of this, they keep the government on his toes by revealing acts of corruption in the public service by organizing demonstrations and press conferences. Pressure groups also organize press conferences to query the government on certain deals they deem corruptible.

However despite the relentless efforts by political institutions in sub-saharan Africa to address issues of corruption in public service, those institutions who have a duty to check corruption are faced with huge setbacks like corruption, negligence, marginalization in their quest to lead anti-corruption campaigns. Corruption flourish when state institutions are weak, where there are loopholes in government policies or regulatory regimes and where the watchdog institutions like parliament, pressure groups or civil society notably the press, are marginalized or suffer corruption.

In the judicial service, the Chief Justice of Ghana once said the judiciary was expected to lead in the fight against corruption, however there were times that the body was associated with issues of dishonesty which was a great threat to public confidence in the judicial system. The Ghana Integrity Initiative; Transparency Internationals Chapter in Ghana, with funding from the German Development Cooperation, has undertaken a systematic observation of the judicial system through its Judiciary Watch Project (JWP). This pilot project was jointly developed with Transparency International in Nigeria and Cameroon

Political parties as an institution charged with a duty to expose corruption are faced with problems like marginalization, which prevents them from making valuable contribution to the countrys governance

The legislature as a political institution has suffered major setbacks in the pursuit of an anti-corruption campaign. This is because incumbent governments in countries like Ghana, Togo and Nigeria controls the parliament and therefore influences decisions and recommendations in parliament since the strict separation of power are not deeply entrenched in those countries

Concerning the civil service, many public servants in countries like Central Africa Republic and Eritrea, Malawi, Burundi where most unskilled workers are not paid a living wage are demoralized by inadequate salary and the feeling that their achievements go unnoticed in either remuneration or future prospects. In African countries like Nigeria, Cote DIvoire, Liberia societal and institutional reforms are controlled by political and economic elites who are interested in protecting the political system. Governments discount the concerns of the media who make empirical findings. This is however a breach of the tenets of participatory governance. African leaders tends to sideline civil societies in participatory governance

In order to ensure the political institutions execute their duties diligently so that corruption can be brought to the barest minimum, political institutions must be well resourced so they can be more effective. The US president once said Ghana needs strong institutions and not strong personalities. Public officials must be accountable to the people thus ensuring accountability. The civil service must receive incentives like pension funds and other retirement benefits that are generous enough to deter civil servants from accepting payoffs.

The institutions fighting against corruption must be backed by a strong political will. In sub-Saharan Africa countries like Ghana, South Africa, Somalia and Cameroon the political will is absent. However Uganda has made steady progress by establishing bodies that can independently prosecute defaulters of corrupt deals, powerful legislative tool most African states including Ghana dont have. The overthrow of corrupt leaders like Mobutu, Ghadaffi and so on shows that Africa is making steady progress towards fighting corruption.

To sum it up, in my optimum view keeping corruption at bay lie in the bosom of civil liberties in particular press freedom and the ability of citizens to form associations for information to the public. Larry Diamond argues that implementing sanctions against corruption requires an institutional framework to control corruption.

The international community like the IMF, UNDP, OECD and other bilateral donors have developed new policies to demonstrate intolerance for corruption and push African governments to institute measures to control this canker. This means the better-developed civil society is and the more citizens can make their voice heard and influence the government, the less room there will be for corruption. Long live Ghana, Long Live Africa.

Bernard Osei-Asibey

[email protected]

0246577401
Before 2013, if there was any first lady in the history of Ghana who could have been said to have wielded so much power and influence in governance of Ghana, that person should arguably be Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. A wife of charismatic but dreaded President Jerry John Rawlings, even with her husbands autocratic posture, Nana Konadus power and influence were hardly undermined. Especially riding on the back of Rawlings popularity and 31st December Movement, Nana Konadu became a common name of many households and establishments of State.

One may not be able to specifically determine the full extent to which Konadu Rawlings must have influenced government appointments, contracts and policies. But it definitely is the case that she lived a fulfilled life in the power to control and influence political decisions of her husband during the period Rawlings was sitting President of the republic between 1981 and 2001. However, during this period when she was overwhelmingly exposed to the largesse of the State, little would she have recognized that unmeasured use of too much power gets you addicted. And that when you allow yourself to get addicted to such power, you would eventually get to lose yourself anytime you no longer have the grips of it.

The reason for which Mrs. Rawlings, instead of enjoying her retirement in the comfort of her husband, rather looks frustrated is primarily because she had apparently abused the enjoyment of political power to the extent that she almost may have thought she would have had in her bosom the political power forever. So when the tenure of her husband finally ended in 2001, she amazingly saw a mirage in the image of apparition chasing her in her day dreams as if the lack of power reality that had dawned on her was fictitious. Neither her political party (NDC), a party founded by her husband, could contain her nor could any institutional structure. Without she and her husband in grips of political authority, nothing ever appear to be working well in Ghana again, to her flattered mind.

To this day, I suspect, Mrs. Rawlings would have wished she had treaded cautiously when she and her husband ruled the country for more than one and half decades. The manner in which two succeeding first ladies postured themselves with political power was largely perceived to be clothed with humility. Thus, Mrs. Theresa Kufuor (President Kufuors Wife) and Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills (President Evans Atta Mills Wife) respectively succeeded Mrs. Rawlings as First Ladies of the republic in 2001 and 2009 but theirs is a story of fulfillment and let-go. Because they may have handled political power and influence with measured steps and expectations when their husbands were Presidents, they simply have been able to live quiet and uninterrupted lives after the departure of their husbands from the Presidency. The crowing of the cock is said to be a harbinger to the dawn.

The interesting precedence that has been set by previous First Ladies should therefore be a license to the more reason why Mrs. Lordina Dramani Mahama, current First Lady of Ghana, must wake up to the call of treading very cautiously with political power while her husband H.E President John Dramani Mahama is still president of Ghana until 2016 or 2021. If the news making rounds in respect of Mrs. Lordinas use of political power and influence were to be thought of, a few triggers other than worries would emerge in the reasoning processes.

Can the seemingly ludicrous insinuations, for example, by Nana Akuffo Addo that Mrs. Lordina lords over governments contracts be borne out of factual grounds? Is Lordina Mahama in charge of ministerial and deputy ministerial appointments? Is Lordina Mahama in charge of appointment of board members and chief executives of state institutions? Is Mrs. Lordina in charge of distribution of projects, resources and opportunities to individuals, groups, regions and communities? Is Lordina Mahama managing the country from behind the scenes other than President John Mahama? How powerful really is Mrs. Lordina in influencing political decisions in Ghana? Is she using the name of the President to amass wealth?

Is the perception that Mrs. Lordina is the real President ill-perceived or overhyped or intentionally distorted or calculated attempts to get at President Mahama through his wife? Is Mrs. Mahamas prominence in international scene and her support for the needy with the help of OAFLA and Lordina Foundation as well as her husbands travels and popularity a fundamental reason behind the perception of how much governmental power she actually wields?

Undoubtedly, a good wife should be a strong pillar behind every successful home. It is hard to therefore think, for a minute, that any righteous President including President Mahama would not allow his wife including Nana Lordina to have a say in his government. At least, opinion or advice of the wife would always be sought by the husband on decisions that affect lives. Also, in order to support the husband well in his political endeavor, the wife may have been given a political clout so that she would have some command to be respected in her dealings with the public. It, however, gets awry when it tends to appear that the role of the president is usurped by the wife who should only be adviser and supporter.

To my mind, even though it is difficult to see smoke without a trace of spark of fire, the allegations being raised against Her Excellency Lordina Mahama may just be far too fetched. She may simply be playing her supportive role as wife of President of a republic where expectations and demands are too overwhelming on anyone that holds public office especially those deemed to be closer to the President or Presidency.

Whatever the situation may be, Mrs. Lordina Mahama must be reminded that political power comes and goes. She must handle the opportunities she has now with utmost care, humility and prudence, knowing that she would be better placed to become a fulfilled former first lady in future only if she does not overplay the power and influence her husband has been given by the good people of Ghana.

Adam Abukari

International Legal Specialist

[email protected]

25th January 2016
26.01.2016 LISTEN

There has never been a time in our recent history as nation that Ghanaians from diverse ethnic, religious, class, political, and ideological persuasions clearly articulated their displeasure against an act by a government that has direct consequence for human and national security until President John Dramani Mahama violated Ghanas Anti Terrorist Act and by implication the Presidential Oath by bringing in the ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees.

What the president calls an act of humanitarianism and questioning the compassion of some religious leaders who had criticized his decision is a clear indication of the lack of diplomatic tact on the part of the president in a globalizing world.

Why should President Mahama put the lives of 26 million Ghanaians in danger by accepting to settle the two ex-Gitmo detainees in Ghana? In our view, the presidents decision is a true sign of failure of exercising leadership on foreign policy matters as the number one diplomat of the state. It is certainly not in the national interest of Ghana for the President to take a decision that has created so much controversy. We join Ghanaians in venting our anger against the reckless decision of the John Mahama government.

The Presidents defense that the Gitmo-two are not terrorists defies reality especially when the two men will be under the surveillance of national security while they remain in Ghana for the next two years. Why are their liberties being curtailed if indeed they do not pose any threat to Ghanas national and human security fourteen years after being in captivity? The humanitarian justification by President Mahama of the presence of the ex-detainees in Ghana in no way can diminish the real threat they or their terrorist-cronies may pose to the current and future security of Ghana.

To be sure, international politics has changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is therefore incumbent on political leaders, especially, those from developing countries to learn the art of statecraft and marry it with diplomatic tactfulness as they pursue their national interest. The lack of appreciation of this fact of international life by the John Mahama administration accounts for the current tension that is brewing in our beloved Ghana since the arrival of the ex-Gitmo detainees.

Prudent leadership in the international arena is about making foreign policy decisions to satisfy the national interest, including the rights of citizens to live in freedom from fear. Indeed, this cardinal principle underpins the policy of the Barack Obama administration regarding the transfer of the Guantanamo detainees to Ghana.

President Obama acted to protect the national interest of the United States! Yet, the John Mahama administration ignored all the potential threats, fear, and panic that the acceptance of the detainees could bring to the nation and the people by sacrificing the national interest on the altar of humanitarianism to please the United States.

By his action, President John Mahama did not protect the sovereignty and national security interest of Ghana. He has literally made Ghana the 51st state of the United States as our foreign policy decisions appear to be made in Washington instead of Accra. Ghanaians are therefore right to express their fear of a possible terrorist attack in the country and convey their anger to the government in the strongest possible terms.

We want to remind Ghanaians that this is not the first time that the United States has made a request to Ghana on an issue that borders on national and human security. Indeed, in 2007 the John Agyekum Kufours government rejected the United States request to establish its Africa Command military base in Ghana.

President Kufours skilful and bold rejection of the United States request is what leadership in the international arena is aboutstanding up to protect the national interest and the security of your citizens. It requires skillful diplomacy and tact to dealing with major powers such as the United States. In spite of Kufours decline to the United States request, Ghana still had good relations with the United States.

The Kufour administration found in Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo the qualities of an astute lawyer and a diplomat to push Ghanas national interest on the international agenda. Not surprisingly, Ghana and President Kufour was invited to exclusive summits of major economic powers such as the G8 and G20.

Africas rising star, Ghana, played an actively role in the establishment of key international institutions at the turn of the twenty first century, including the International Criminal Court. At the continental level, not only did president Kufuor serve as the AU Chairman but as well Ghana played a leading role to promote continental programmes such as the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD).

Moreover, Ghanas election to the UN Security Council and Nana Akufo-Addos chairing of Security Council Meetings as president is another powerful testimony of how Ghana was held in high esteem by the international community. Nana Addos outstanding performance as Foreign Minister and one time president of the Security Council partly explains why he has been a toast of world leaders and international institutions.

Nana Addo was appointed as the chair of the Commonwealth Observer Mission for the South African national and provincial elections in May 2014. Moreover, Nana Addo has on several occasions received European Union delegations and paid official visits to world leader such as the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. All these have taken place while he is the leader of the opposition party, NPP. Readers should note carefully that these international assignments and diplomatic courtesies that are extended to Nana Addo are rare in a competitive international scene where sitting presidents even struggle to have audience with the movers and shakers of world politics.

It is therefore not surprising that the Africa Courier International Magazine in its October/November issue in 2014 named Nana Addo among the Fifty (50) Best Africans who are the key drivers of the rising continent of Africa. This list includes former UN Secretary- General, Kofi Annan, and President Kufuor. At home, we want to refresh the memory of readers that Nana Addo was named the most influential politician in the e-TV-Ghanas annual Ghana Most Influential Awards in May 2015. These recognitions bear further testimony to the exceptional leadership qualities of Nana Addo.

Thus, in Nana Addo, Ghana will have a president of high international repute assisted by a world respected economist and a brilliant young man, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, whose every prediction about the Ghanaian economy under John Dramani Mahama has come to pass. This unique combination of domestic political experience, international reputation, and intellectual prowess is the kind of leadership Ghana needs to thrive in a competitive global political economy.

We the members of NPP Canada are of the candid opinion that every generation of political leaders have geniuses among them and that in Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghanaians would have what it truly means to be a transformative leader.

These great men have the international and domestic clout not only to save the ailing Ghanaian economy and address deep rooted corruption in government, but as well, they have what it takes to make prudent foreign policy decisions that will safeguard Ghanas national interest. Ghana cannot afford another four years of corruption in high places of government, poor management of the economy that has brought untold hardship on the already poor Ghanaians, and reckless foreign policy decisions of the John Mahama administration.

NPP Canada Communications Team

[email protected]

www.nppcanada.org

Tel: 587-708-9915 / 647-800-3585
Over the past year we have witnessed digital innovation continue to transform Africa's economic and business landscape. We have seen the continent become the largest growth market in the world for smartphone sales, as data consumption accelerates dramatically. We have watched the likes of Facebook and Google scramble to expand their presence in African markets, as well as committing to connect millions to the internet for the first time.

While Africa finds itself in a strong position to maintain the pace of its digital revolution, this should not be taken for granted. There is much to suggest an optimistic outlook for the continent in 2016, but this will depend increasingly on greater cooperation between the key players in the industry, innovators, governments and regulators.

Looking at 2016, these are the trends we can expect to see taking shape from Cairo to Cape Town:

4G connections will boost data consumption as more African countries auction spectrum

Several African governments will open auctions of public airwaves to mobile operators in 2016. Spectrum auctions will give a much needed boost to increase the adoption of 4G, which currently accounts for only 1 percent of connections, against a global average of 11 percent.

Regulators will have a big role to play in treating spectrum both as an asset and as an engine to propel their economies' digital growth. Efficient allocation of spectrum will make mobile broadband more affordable and widely available, as well as allowing operators to invest more capital on other key infrastructure and technology.

More African countries will catch up with the continent's digital champions, as governments include technology in economic development policy

South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria stand out in terms of the remarkable progress they have made in digitalising their economies. Tech hubs in Johannesburg and Nairobi have captured global headlines and international funding for their start-ups.

As ICT is increasingly seen as an economic imperative, many African countries are expected to follow in the steps of Rwanda, which is rolling out the SMART Rwanda initiative to achieve its ambitious ICT vision for 2020. Such policy initiatives promoting the pervasive use of online public services like e-education, e-health or e-government will have a central role in accelerating the uptake of broadband and bringing about more dynamic business environments on the continent. These will be essential to advance the digital revolution of recent years.

Fixed lines will support growth in B2B sector through ICT modernization in Africa's cities

Unlike most parts of the world, Africa bypassed fixed telephone lines to develop mobile networks. Most of the infrastructure investment from telecoms companies over the past decade went into expanding mobile networks and provide first voice, then data services to increasing numbers of people.

As demand for higher internet bandwidth and faster connections grows in Africa's urban and business hubs, broadband providers will invest in high-speed fixed networks. Such connections will further support the growth of the B2B sector across the region, especially the acceleration of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Infrastructure sharing has now become an effective way for telecoms operators to deploy capital more efficiently and to increase mobile and data penetration in Africa. A similar system could be an important factor in the expansion of fixed lines. This is another area where regulators will be able to impact progress by creating a stable and viable environment for investment and cooperation between providers.

Sub-$30 entry level smartphones will catalyse digital service adoption

Although already fast growing in 2015, breaking the $30 barrier in 2016 will accelerate even further the smartphone and digital service adoption rate in Africa. This will be especially true for markets where smartphones are taxed less heavily. With a bigger critical mass there will be more incentives for app development in major cities across the continent to satisfy a growing demand for local content. African start-ups and international brands with a strong understanding of the continent will seize the opportunity.

The increasing availability of 4G connections will also allow Africans to use more bandwidth-demanding digital services on their smartphones, such as video and music streaming including Africa's Tigo Music, expanding the market for over-the-top (OTT) service providers, such as YouTube and iRoko, dubbed as the 'Netflix of Africa'.

Mobile Financial Services (MFS) innovation will be supported by African FinTech companies

A new wave of OTT financial products and services will be developed by African start-ups and offered to mobile subscribers via the operators' infrastructure.

Emerging players in the MFS space like South Africa's Jumo will continue to expand the MFS offer and develop more advanced products, for instance microloans and credit checks via mobile usage history. As MFS and services like Tigo Cash evolve, millions more Africans will benefit from inclusion in the formal financial system and access to ever more diverse financial products and services.

Cynthia Gordon, the CEO for Africa of Millicom
In the first week of January this year, the medical team from Amazing Grace Childrens Hospital organized a Health Fair to support children in Ashiaman, a community in the Greater-Accra region.It was indeed a life changing experience for all the children who benefited from the medical support program.

The Amazing Grace Childrens Hospital, led by Madam Gloria Nimo, is a mission team with dedicated volunteers from both U.S. and Ghana, who are focused on improving lives of children and other less privileged people in the society. Some major social activities of the Amazing Grace team includehealth awareness programs and community outreach programs.

Their main aim of the Health Fair was to help ensure that children in Ashiaman community are living in good health conditions and also to provide them with the necessary medical items that will help improve their lives. The children benefited from general body checkup, eye screening, dental screening and ear screening. Over 500 children benefited from these health support services and also received souvenirs which include school bags, tooth brushes, tooth paste, hand sanitizers, coloring books, pencils and crayons.

During the mission program, the medical team from Amazing Grace Childrens Hospital visited the Echoing Hills Village, an orphanage and a home for children living with Autism. They donated various items to these children and also supported them medical items to help care for the children in the orphanage.

It was an exciting moment for the children and caregivers of the orphanage. Other beneficiary of the mission project was Princess Marie Louis Childrens Hospital. Various medical items were donated to the hospital, to help support their work and also support the less privileged children.

Madam Gloria Nimo, the leader of the Amazing Grace team, made known of their intention to alwaysvisit Ghana every 6 months and also made mention of other future social projects that will be organized to support less privileged children. One of their major projects is building of the childrens hospital.

She stated that, it is always their heart desire to see lives of children been impacted positively and she together with her team are foreverdedicated to do the mission work in Africa.

The Amazing Grace Childrens Hospital is working in partnership with the Autism Ambassadors of Ghana, Share A Smile Initiative Ghana (SASI) and Universal Child Care Foundation in all their various social projects.

Amazing Grace Childrens Hospital  Its all about the children.

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Customers of struggling microfinance company, DKM, are scrambling for the companys properties after securing a court order to sell the properties to recover their deposits.

The customers are packing out all movables at the headquarters of DKM in Sunyani, Brong Ahafo region.

Joy News has learnt, a similar scramble for assets is going on in DKM branches in Wa, Berekum and Damango.

The dismantling began in Monday morning. Trucks showed up in sizes that revealed the disgruntled clients were dead serious in exacting their pound of flesh.

Just look at the deep 'tummy' of a truck for a company deep in debts

Well-arranged 'booty' of tables, chairs, refrigerators, computers were among the items collected from the offices.

The books of DKM microfinance have been in terrible shape. But as you can, their office equipment are in good shape enough to qualify for sale.

Customers on Monday stormed the offices and packed out anything movable they could lay their hands on.

Even light bulbs were removed from the offices.



Apprently plastic chairs can help defray the huge debt. One cost GHC20.

Fire extinguishers suddenly had more than one use. They were taken away by the aggrieved customers.

The final journey of DKM properties begin. The ponzi scheme has gone down, leaving the temper of defrauded customers high up.

See Also:

An inside story of DKM customers

Customers besiege offices of DKM Micro Finance as it reopens

DKM Microfinance blew GHa102m deposits; No refunding in sight for angry clients

DKM for sale: Duped clients scramble for properties

DKM for sale: Lawyer predicts more raids on company property

Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com|NSA
26.01.2016 LISTEN

Addis Ababa, 26 January 2016: African heads of state are being urged to adopt a protocol on older peoples rights by organisations representing older people across the continent, at the 26th Summit of the African Union meeting in Ethiopia this week.

Dr Prafula Mishra, Regional Director at HelpAge International said, Adoption of this Protocol provides the opportunity for African heads of state to demonstrate their commitment to every Africans human rights, at every stage of their life. It is a fitting way to mark the beginning of 2016: African Year of Human Rights.

The letter to heads of state has been written by HelpAge International and endorsed by 34 organisations working with older people across the continent. In addition, to urging heads of state to adopt the protocol, it asks them to continue to show leadership by ensuring that the protocol is ratified and deposited with the African Union Commission as well as developing plans and strategies to domesticate and implement the protocol at all levels.

Adopting the protocol would be an act of commendable leadership and foresight on your part, said Toby Porter, Chief Executive of HelpAge International, signing the letter. It is a commitment that will empower older people to claim their rights and enable them to live dignified lives.

According to UN data, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa, would protect the rights of 66.5 million older Africans if it is adopted. This is predicted to rise to over 105 million by 2030.

This protocol provides a framework for governments to end ageism and discrimination against older people in Africa, said Jamillah Mwanjisi, Head of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns, HelpAge International, East, West and Central Africa. Adopting the Protocol would be a significant step by governments and provide them with a framework to help them meet their human rights obligations towards people in older age. It also provides us with an advocacy tool which we can use to challenge the ageist attitudes and behaviour that occur at every level of society, from the individual up to large institutions.

The protocol reaffirms the rights of older people in Africa and outlines what governments must do to protect them. It covers a wide range of rights including prohibition of all forms of discrimination against older people; access to justice and equal protection before the law; the right to make decisions; protection from abuse and harmful traditional practices: the right to care and support; and the rights to employment, social protection, health, and access to education, transport and credit facilities, amongst others.

Older people often face harmful, negative ageist attitudes and behaviour towards them.

When asked how they were discriminated against, an older person from Cameroon said, The doctor avoids touching me when consulting me. A man from Uganda said, I am considered a spent force with nothing left to contribute to society, that I have had my turn and should give way to the youth. An older person from South Africa said, South Africa is no different to most other nations, in that older persons often are discriminated against or experience inequality in society.

Older women and men are also denied their human rights across different aspects of their lives. They are subjected to different types of violence and abuse, denied access to health care and an adequate standard of living and treated with disrespect because of their older age.

In a study conducted by HelpAge International in Mozambique in 2012, 74 per cent of older people surveyed said they had experienced at least one form of violence and abuse since the age of fifty, 22 per cent said their health needs had been neglected, 30 per cent said they had been refused work while 27 per cent said they had been refused a loan. 51 percent said that other people looked down at them and or treated them in a humiliating, shameful or degrading way.
The Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang has led a demonstration at Agogo in the Ashanti region to evict Fulani herdsmen from the area.

The demonstration was dubbed "operation kill any cattle seen on farmlands."

The youth in the area say the action is a last resort as traditional leaders of the area have failed to solve the age-long Fulani menace.

The nomads have been accused of perpetrating crimes including murder and rape besides the destruction of farm crops by their grazing cattle.

Residents of Agogo and surrounding communities have for years raised concerns about the activities of Fulanis and their cattle in the area.

Despite a court order in 2012 for the eviction of the Fulanis, the nomads are still around with no immediate sign of the conflict with residents abating.

There were times when women in Agogo and some other farming communities in the area hired male escorts in order for them to go to their farms, markets and other places.

An Operation Cow Leg, introduced by security forces in a renewed effort to curb the menace in January last year, has also not yielded results.

But in a press statement, the youth of the area have vowed to prevent chiefs from celebrating any festival until the Fulanis are evicted.

They accused some chiefs of exploiting the issue to their advantage. They have also urged all citizens of Agogo to disregard any announcement from the Agogo Traditional Council.

The youth have warned citizens of Agogo not to render any kind of services such as selling of food items, transport services to the Fulanis. They warned that anyone who does so shall be considered an enemy of Agogo and shall be treated as such.

They added that they will continue with the peaceful public campaign until the last Fulani and their cattle leave their land.

Story by Myjoyonline.com| Akosua Asiedua Akuffo| [email protected]
Members of the Abudu royal family are threatening to go on demonstration to protest what they say is government's failure to allow them access to the Gbewaa Palace to perform the final funeral rite of their late chief Naa-Mahamadu Abdulai IV.

The family issued an ultimatum two weeks ago with a threat to enter the Palace by force if government fails to give them the go ahead.

But the Andani family issued a counter threat daring the Abudus to enter the palace and bear the consequences of their action.

The war of words have triggered some tension in the area especially because the two families have a history of a bloody war.

Government beefed up security in the area to avert a repeat of the 2002 massacre which led to the beheading of the overlord of Dagbon Ya-Na Yakubu Andani and the killing of some elders.

Joy News' Northern Region correspondent Martina Bugri reports the security personnel are moving around the area and interrogating anybody they find suspicious.

According to her the situation is normal, at least for now, with residents going about their usual businesses.

Schools are in session, businesses are going on smoothly despite the heavy police presence in the area.

The residents are also accusing the media of heightening tension in the area.

Meanwhile, the Abudus have set aside February 4, 2016 to hit the streets in protest over government discrimination.
Police in the Upper West region are working to extradite to Burkina Faso a bodyguard of ousted president Blaise Compoare who is alleged to have committed some crimes in his home country.

Zuure Braimah was arrested at Gbollu in the Sissala west District after police became suspicious of his movement in the town.

Upper West Regional Director of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Fuseini Musah Awinba in an interview with Joy News correspondent Rafik Salam said the suspect confirms after interrogations that he is a former guard of Blaise Compoare.

On January 23, 2016, the Gbollu police had an information that a certain young man was loitering in the township and is suspected to be a criminal. So they went in, arrested him and when he was interrogated, he confirmed being a former member of the disbanded Burkina Faso presidential guard unit.

As he was being interrogated, the Burkina Faso police also came in and stated that he was wanted man. For now we are hearing that he is a terror suspect but no confirmation has come from the Burkina Faso side that he is wanted in the terror case that happened a few weeks ago, Superintendent Fuseini Musah Awinba said.

Superintendent Fuseini Musah Awinba

In the absence of the real facts relating to the case, Sup Awinba said the most appropriate thing to do is to refer the case to the security agencies in Burkina Faso for further investigations.

The Burkina Faso police will be able to know if he is linked or involved with the terror attack since it happened there, he added.

He advised the general public not to panic, we are collaborating very well with the police and military at the Burkina side and we are sharing information and assisting each other.

So for now we do not have any fear that some of the terror suspects are within our territory, he assured.

Meanwhile, government has moved to tighten security at the countrys borders following the attacks in Burkina Faso.

Outgoing Minister for the Interior, Mark Woyongo, says the countrys security agencies have beefed up security at shopping malls, mosques, churches, and other public places.

Tight security measures have also been taken at Ghanas borders in the Northern part of the county.

Last Friday, at least 25 people were killed when al-Qaeda's affiliates in West Africa launched a bloody assault on a hotel and a cafe in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | [email protected]
A Scottish Oil & Gas delegation is in Nigeria from 25-28 January 2016. The aim of the visit is to gain a good understanding of local market conditions and to look for potential local partners interested in enhancing their own offer by linking up with a Scotland-based company. The group is participating in the Offshore West Africa conference and exhibition at the Eko Hotel and Suites from 26-28 January and promoting the strengths of the country's very large oil and gas supply chain via a Scotland Pavilion.

Scottish Development International (SDI) is the international economic development arm of Government in Scotland and provides a broad range of services to support companies and institutions to help them develop their overseas business. SDI also helps overseas businesses tap into Scotland's key strengths in innovation, knowledge, high levels skills and technology, Operating in 29 countries around the world, SDI opened its first office in Africa in the British High Commission in Accra in June 2014. Whilst regional in its geographic focus, sectorally the focus of activity in Africa is exclusively oil and gas and education and training related to oil and gas.

A statement from Gary Soper, Regional Manager for Africa for Scottish Development International, who is leading the delegation for this visit, I am delighted to be bringing such a large trade delegation from Scotland and participating in the 20th edition of Offshore West Africa. Our presence is aimed at promoting the strengths of the Scottish industry and developing ties with Nigerian businesses. Sub sectors represented include education and training; subsea engineering; winches; electrical product distribution; well construction and engineering services; and remote communications systems to name but a few. '' Amongst the delegation, awareness of the need to address local content and local participation issues is high.

Scotland is a true Global Hub for oil and gas. The oil and gas cluster makes a huge contribution to the Scottish economy and Scotland has grown many creative and innovative companies already operating in over 100 countries worldwide.

And whilst some Scotland-based companies are already operating in Nigeria, there is scope for more to be active here through developing partnerships and transferring some of the technologies and skills that have been built up over the 50 years of operating in the North Sea.

The delegation comprises some 13 companies: 271 Offshore ACE Winches AGR Crummock Oil and Gas Forth Valley College Glasgow Caledonian University JEE Ltd McDermott Marine Construction Ltd Peprime Limited Plexus Ocean Systems Limited RigNet Africa Robert Gordon University Zenith Energy
Accra, Jan. 26, GNA - Some 6,806 beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme are being issued with e-zwich cards in order to receive their funds electronically.

The enrollment, which began last week in some nine districts in five regions, follows a contract signed between the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, which supervises the LEAP Programme and the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), a subsidiary of the Bank of Ghana.

Chief Executive Officer of GhIPSS, Archie Hesse, commended the decision by LEAP, and said GhIPSS together with the banks would ensure a smooth service.

He expressed the hope that the introduction of electronic payment to the LEAP beneficiaries would go a long way to encourage other members of their families to embrace e-payment systems.

Mr. Hesse also lauded the government for the adoption of e-zwich in a number of its initiatives and institutions.

He said the move by the government would eventually popularise e-payments, especially e-zwich.

A number of banks including UT Bank, UMB, First Allied, GN Bank and other financial institutions such as Kintampo, Figya and Zabzugu Rural banks, as well as Salaga Credit Union are taking part in the enrollment exercise in the nine districts.

The use of e-zwich to pay LEAP beneficiaries would ensure transparency while the funds would only be received by the designated persons.

The e-payment would also allow for proper reconciliation and effective audit trail, which would enable LEAP managers to produce their reports on time.

The LEAP Programme Manager, Dzigbordi Agbekpornu, expressed excitement about the e-payment system and expressed the hope that it would lead to improved service to the beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the electronic payment of the beneficiaries has also begun. The remaining LEAP districts are expected to be enrolled by the end of the first quarter this year.

Currently, student loans, National Service Allowance, the School Feeding Programme, and other such initiatives, use e-zwich as the mode of payment, leading to a significant reduction in malfeasance while enhancing efficiency in those operations.

GNA
Accra, Jan. 26, GNA - Airtel Ghana, has donated information communication technology (ICT) equipment to Kanjarga community through its flagship CSR programme- Airtel Touching Lives, in the Builsa South District of the Upper East Region.

The items donated include computers, public address system, audio-visual equipment (projector and screen), multi-purpose printer, routers and books to facilitate and improve the ICT teaching and learning skills of the youth in the community.

The centre would serve students, the youth who are out of school and individuals who are interested in learning ICT.

A statement issued in Accra by Mr Richard Ahiagble, Head Corporate Communications and copied to the Ghana News Agency said Airtel Touching Lives is a sustainable corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme that offers the platform to celebrate humanity whilst inspiring hope and enhancing people's quality of life.

It said the programme identifies extraordinary individuals from all walks of life, who are going an extra mile to make a difference in the lives of others in their families and communities to award them with grants to inspire change in their lives and the community.

It noted that the donation was in fulfilment of Airtel Ghana's commitment made to the community through its sustainable multiple award-winning CSR television series Airtel Touching Lives when the community centre was nominated to benefit from the programme.

Chief of Kanjarga, Nab Akanfella Akanjenya expressed gratitude to Airtel for honouring its promise to the community. 'We are very much grateful to Airtel with this presentation.

'This is a true reflection of how responsible you are to deliver on your promises. This will help the youth in this community to gain knowledge in ICT which we didn't have access to.'

Kwame Osafo-Amoah, Northern Ghana Zonal Business Manager- Airtel Ghana, stated during the presentation of the items to the community that 'sustainable initiatives such as this and other examples of an honoured promise further consolidate Airtel's position as the leader in the CSR space'.

The company's flagship CSR initiative, Touching Lives - an all-embracing project, opened to all who are not even on the Airtel network with the keen interest to support and stimulate the power of potential in people to turn things around for their good'.

'At Airtel, we believe in empowering people and creating positive impact in our communities by recognising and rewarding people who have worked selflessly to make an impact in their communities. We will continue to fulfill our social mandate to help individuals and communities to continue with their efforts to create a better world for themselves and others,' he concluded.

Airtel Ghana continue to be at the forefront of CSR in the country with Airtel Touching Lives having been recently recognized for the third consecutive year as the Best Community Relations programme at the IPR Excellence Awards.

GNA
Accra, Ghana - 26 January, 2016  Emirates continues to engage with its fans far and wide as it becomes the first airline to hit the coveted one million follower mark on Instagram. The remarkable achievement positions Emirates as the largest transportation brand on the popular photo and video-sharing platform.

Recently named the worlds most valuable airline brand, Emirates launched its Instagram channel in November 2013. In less than three years, the airlines diverse and engaging content on Instagram has generated over 5.8 million likes and comments. From sports, lifestyle and travel, to adventure and food, Emirates uses the channel to tell visual stories that embody what the brand stands for: connecting people with what they love.

Creative activations such as its hugely popular Emirates Cabin Crew Instagrammers campaign - where six members of the airlines cosmopolitan cabin crew community exclusively took over the Emirates Instagram channel to showcase their life, travels and experiences - generated over 1 million likes and comments in less than two months.

As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Instagram is a great platform for us to share inspiring visual content about our people, interesting aspects of our operations, places to see, and things to do while travelling. Emirates has grown its Instagram following organically, and we are proud to hit the 1 million followers milestone, said Boutros Boutros, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing & Brand.

Aside from its recent Instagram milestone, Emirates has also become the first airline to hit 500,000 followers on LinkedIn. This positions the airline as the most followed travel brand in the world on the professional social media network as well as the most followed brand in the Middle East. With a combined community size of over 11 million users across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Instagram, Emirates has set the bar for engagement, not only in the airline category but amongst other lifestyle brands.

Our engaged and growing audience on social media reflect the deep-rooted connection that our customers and fans have with the Emirates brand. We would like to thank all of our fans for their support. We will work hard to continue surprising and delighting them with relevant, entertaining, and inspiring initiatives, Boutros added.

To thank its 1 million Instagram followers, Emirates has launched a month-long global competition on Instagram with flight tickets and goodie bags up for grabs. To participate, users need to upload a photo or video on Instagram featuring Emirates, using the hashtag #ILoveEmirates and mention @emirates for a chance to win a pair of Economy Class tickets to any one of Emirates 150 destinations, or one of five goodie bags featuring products and merchandise from the Emirates Official Store.

Follow Emirates on:

Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/emirates/

Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/emirates

Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/emirates

Google+ at Google.com/+emirates

Youtube at Youtube.com/emirates

Linkedin at Linkedin.com/company/emirates
British Ambassador John Casson today visited a support centre in North Cairo court for women who have suffered violence, set up with assistance from the British Embassy in Cairo.

Casson met Assistant Minister of Justice Counsellor Ghada el-Shehawy, the North Cairo court chief judge Mahmoud el-Rashidy and employees at the women support centre, which is one of four centres established to provide support to women who have suffered violence or sexual harassment.

The centres are part of the My Right project  a UK-Egyptian initiative run through a partnership of the British Embassy in Cairo, the British Council, the Ministry of Justice, and Egyptian civil society organisations.

The initiative aims to help reduce the reduction of violence against women and help them know and understand their rights.

The centres provide women who have suffered violence with legal advice and psychological support, and can help women find additional support such as medical help.

Since April 2015, over 150 women have received specialised help from the centres, which are based in North Cairo, Alexandria, Tanta, and Aswan. This year, four new centres will open in Assiut, Banha, Beni Suef, and Mansoura.

British-Egyptian partnership is at the centre of project. The women support centres were modelled on existing Victim Support Centres in the UK and British Embassy funding for the project is worth 6.7m LE.

Casson said:

The My Right project is a ground-breaking and innovative initiative that is making a real difference to Egyptian women's lives. It is empowering women to be decision-makers. It is an excellent example of partnership where Egyptian civil society and government experts have taken British ideas and experience and transformed them into a model suited to Egyptian society. Egypt is rich in human resources and can achieve anything if it empowers people and protects their rights.
26.01.2016 LISTEN

There have been reports of witchcraft related attacks in communities across Malawi in recent weeks and bringing an end to this murderous practice has become so urgent. Thelatest case of witchcraft related murder clearly highlights this unfortunate and tragic situation. On January 22, four persons reportedly murdered a 70 year old man who was identified as Limion Julius for practicing witchcraft. The incident took place in Mpango village in the district of Dedza. Local police claimed that the suspects murdered Julius in the night after accusing him of making a person sick through witchcraft and the supposedly bewitched later died.

The suspects attacked Julius with pestles and he died on the spot as a result of what a postmortem examination revealed to be severe head injuries. According to the report, none of the suspects has been arrested. The report also noted some of the provisions in the countrys penal code which could be used to prosecute the suspects whenever they are apprehended. In addition, the report cited another incident where people murdered a 40 year old man after locals accused him of witchcraft. The police were investigating the matter to establish the murderers.

Now I would like us take a critical look at the dynamics at play in these tragic incidents so that we may understand ways which we can assist in tackling this problem. First of all, one issue is the local understanding of the cause of diseases and death. The notion that people can be made ill through magical means persists in Malawi and in other countries in Sub Saharan Africa and health officers and other stakeholders in the control and management of disease need to rise up to the challenge of educating people to understand that the cause of diseases and death has nothing to do with witchcraft or magic.

I urge all international health agencies that are working in Malawi and in other African countries to rise up to this challenge Please the WHO, could you integrate some programs in your Africa health projects to educate people that illness or death has nothing to with so called witches and wizards?

Another dynamic is gender. The two people murdered for witchcraft according to this latest report are male. So, witchcraft is not exclusively a female enterprise in Malawi as it is the case of many African countries. Getting Malawians to dissociate witchcraft from all persons both male and female should be central to any health and civic education program. Another factor is age. Those who are murdered for witchcraft are predominantly elderly persons. It is important to stop associating witchcraft with old age.

Another issue is the police. The police in Malawi have proved ineffective in addressing the program. The police are unable to protect people from being attacked by hoodlums and whenever they are attacked or killed, the police are not forthcoming in making arrests. For instance, in the case that was reported, the suspects are still at large. They are yet to be apprehended and may never be apprehended and prosecuted. So, where have the suspects gone to? Why is it that nobody has a clue as to where they have fled to or where they may be hiding? The police in Malawi need help in ensuring security of citizens and in bringing to book witch hunters and witch killers. The police need to put in place mechanisms that can enable them respond swiftly to witchcraft related attacks.

In addition, witch killing continues in Malawi because perpetrators are not arrested at the end of the day and if they are arrested, they are not prosecuted and if they are prosecuted they are not convicted and penalized. Instead, persons who are accused of witchcraft are arrested, prosecuted and sometimes jailed by police and court officials who misinterpret the law!

That brings me to the last dynamic, which is the provisions of the law. The recent report cited some sections of the Malawian law that could be used to prosecute those who kill witches. The question is this: Why are these provisions not being used? Why are the necessary laws not being applied or better properly applied to stop witchcraft accusation and witch killing? The police and the judiciary in Malawi need assistance in this area so that they can put the existing law into effective use.

Why cant SADC take up this challenge and help Malawi and other countries in Southern Africa to address what is clearly an obstacle to their economic development? How does SADC think that countries like Malawi can prosper economically when people live in constant fear of being accused of witchcraft or being murdered in cold blood for committing an imaginary offence? What is AU doing? Is it that officials at the African Union do not know that witch hunters constitute a security threat to the region than the terrorists? Why has AU not come up with a regional mechanism to tackle witch hunting? What about the United Nations? The UN has offices in Malawi and in other African countries. What are the officials doing? Why are they not at the forefront of addressing witchcraft related abuses? I am aware that some UN agencies have published documents on witchcraft accusation in sub Saharan Africa.

No doubt this is a welcome development. However my question is: Of what use are these documents and reports if they are not put into effective use in addressing the phenomenon of witch hunting? These reports have highlighted the gaps in law enforcement and adjudication of cases. What are the UN agencies doing to help countries like Malawi fill in these gaps? Why cant the UN call out the government of Malawi when these savage killings happen?

Furthermore, western countries claim that they provide development aid to Malawi and to other countries where witch hunting still takes place. Agreed. But how has the so called development aid reflected positively on the issue of witch hunting? Why cant western countries use their development aid strategically and get African countries to establish effect mechanisms against witchcraft accusation and witch killing? I am aware that it is the duty of the government of Malawi to protect its people.

At the same time, the world needs to do its part in helping Malawi address this problem. Sure, Malawi has so far failed to stop the killing of its citizens in the name of witchcraft. In fact as I was about to send out this piece I got thenews of another case of witchcraft related killing in the Neno community. Again, a local mob murdered four persons, Eliza Kanjete 86, Elenefa Kanjete 76, Byson Kanjete 76 and Julius Kanjete, 69 for practicing witchcraft.

They were accused of being behind the mysterious death of a 17 year old girl who was killed by a lighting on Monday. Apparently, their killers believed that they sent the lightning that killed the girl. Again the report says that by the time the police arrived at the scene, it was too late to save these victims of witchcraft accusation. There was no mention at all if some arrests were made. Is that how Malawi is going to effectively address this problem? I dont think so. An effective global response is urgently needed to stop this murderous trend in Malawi
26.01.2016 LISTEN

Head of the Syrian community in Ghana, Abdul-Ghani Badenjki

The Head of the Syrian community seeking refuge in Ghana, Abdul-Ghani Badenjki, has told Citi News he is unhappy about Ghana's decision to accommodate the two Yemeni nationals released by the United States from the Guantanamo Bay Detention Centre. There has been a raging debate with many Ghanaians criticizing Government for accepting to host the two men with the excuse that they are reformed and pose no security threat to the country. Amidst the disagreement on the hosting of the two former Guantanamo detainees, government also announced the hosting of Syrian refugees fleeing instability in that country on humanitarian grounds.

But it appears that not only Ghanaians are worried about the presence of the two supposed repented terrorists. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Citi News' Nana Boakye Yiadom through an interpreter, Abdul-Ghani Badenjki, who says the United Nations has appointed him to liaise with Ghana's Foreign Affairs Ministry to integrate his country folks into Ghana, said the activity of Yemenis in the Middle East gives him so much to worry about. He however noted that the presence of Syrians in Ghana poses no security challenges for the country.

As a leader speaking on behalf of Syrians here in Ghana and those on their way coming into the country, I am not happy about the presence of the two Yemeni nationals in Ghana. My reason is that, we in Syria are not extremists when it comes to our religion. We have some form of freedom when it comes to our culture such as listening to music and doing other things. We are not like the Yemenis who are very hard and are ready to do anything. We in Syria are even against terrorists and we don't support it because it is destroying the image of everyone and that's why we are not happy about the Yemenis being here. The Ghana Refugee Board has explained that the upkeep of some Syrian Refugees in Ghana is at no cost to the tax payer. According to Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Hannah Tetteh, Government has agreed to provide humanitarian assistance to persons from Syria following the crisis in that country. As at January 7th this year, only ninety-four Syrian refugees had arrived in the country with more expected in the coming weeks.

-citifmonline


The Volta Region has recorded seven suspected cases of meningitis, Dr Yaw Ofori-Yeboah, Deputy Director, Public Health of the Volta Regional Health Directorate, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday.

He said samples of all the cases have been sent for laboratory investigations whilst the patients were receiving treatment at health facilities in the Region.

Dr Ofori-Yebioah said the cases were from Sogakope, Keta, Ketu-North, Krachi-West and Nkwanta South.

He said reports indicate that the result of the case from Sogakope is negative adding that the Region's surveillance system was working and there was no cause for alarm.

He said the surveillance system was being strengthened to be more sensitive and called for public support.

Dr Ofori-Yeboah said standard operation guidelines have been given to health facilities for the management of potential cases.

He said the Region's Public Health Management Committee had begun a public campaign on the disease to let the public know its symptoms and the need to practice good personal hygiene.

Mr Mathew Draffor, Volta Regional Public Health Surveillance Officer, urged the public to send all sick persons to nearby health facilities for early detection and treatment.

The northern part of Ghana is in the meningitis zone but some districts and communities outside the zone have reported cases in a recent outbreak.

At least 32 people in the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Northern regions reportedly died having suffered from pneumococcal meningitis.

Until now cerebro-spinal meningitis was the only known meningitis variant in the country and it occurs mainly in the northern parts of the country.
A combined team of some unknown soldiers and policemen numbering 400 have raided a mining community at Wiawso and Gwira Tumentu in the Western Region and committed some despicable atrocities.

The brutalities took place on Thursday 17th December 2015 when Nana Amponsah, owner and manager of Okobeng Mining Company Limited and who claims to have the full backing of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, attempted to drive out the small scale miners from a prospecting licensed concession belonging to West Star Mining Company Limited.

West Star Mining Company Limited had entered into an agreement with the miners and granted them a small scale gold concession under some terms and conditions.

Whilst many of the licensed small scale miners were beaten, large quantities of gold and money was extorted and fuel reserves running into millions of Ghana cedis were impounded and taken away.

According to statistics provided by the Prestea/Huni-Valley Branch of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, the operations of the licensed small scale miners on the concession have reduced unemployment rate in Prestea and its environs drastically.

Two of the affected miners, Mustapha Nuhu and Isaac Thompson, are licensed with the Ghana Minerals Commission and have consistently filed their Small Scale Mining License Monthly Returns Form to the commission.

The form legitimizes the operations of the small scale miner by providing information to the Minerals Commission about the quantity of gold produced in a month, the type of equipment used in operation, the reclamation method adopted by the miner and the number of labourers employed.

In what appears to confirm the criminality of this raid the Municipal Chief Executive of the Nzema East Municipal Assembly, the District Chief Executive of the Nzema East Municipal Assembly, the District Chief Executive of the Prestea Huni Valley District and the Western Regional Police Commander say they are unaware and did not authorize the raid.

In a petition to the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, the National Security Coordinator and the Inspector General of Police, the traumatized miners are calling for a thorough investigation into what they describe as a cruel act.

The licensed small scale miners say they are operating legally with the full permission of the Ghana Minerals Commission and are therefore calling on the authorities of the state to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are made to compensate them.

Meanwhile, a copy of a report on reconnaissance conducted by the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed signed by Lieutenant Colonel J.K Kumado in the possession of this reporter has identified Nana Amponsah as one of three individuals spear heading illegal mining activities in the area.

The report recommends that a team of Military and Policemen be authorized to conduct cordon and search operations to arrest the indicted persons and clear all illegal mining activities from the area.

AFFECTED MINERS DEMONSTRATE AND ASK FOR JUSTICE

AN EXCAVATOR OF A LICENSED MINER SET ON FIRE BY UNKNOWN SOLDIERS
Minister for Africa urges further progress on peace agreement beginning with formation of Transitional Government of National Unity

James Duddridge, Minister for Africa, made his first visit to South Sudan on 25-26 January. The Minister met with President Kiir, Foreign Minister Barnaba, Finance Minister Deng and SPLA-IO Chief Negotiator Taban Deng. Mr Duddridge also met with representatives from civil society and members of the diplomatic community who have been supporting the peace agreement. In his meetings the Minister emphasised the UK's desire to see the peace agreement fully implemented and urged the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity without further delay.

The Minister visited an UN Protection of Civilians camp and an UK Aid supported girls' school to see how the UK is helping to provide practical support on the ground. The UK is committing long term support to the South Sudanese people, along with emergency humanitarian assistance, to help the country recover after two years of conflict. Beginning this year, the UK is also committing over 250 UK military personnel to the UN Mission in South Sudan so it can more effectively support peace and security.

At the end of his visit Mr Duddridge said:

'I was pleased to be able to visit South Sudan at such an important time and made clear to South Sudan's leaders that the Transitional Government of National Unity must be formed without further delay. All South Sudan's leaders bear a responsibility to their people to implement the peace agreement fully so the long and difficult task of rebuilding the country can begin. The UK has a long term commitment to South Sudan and we will continue to work towards the peaceful and prosperous future its people deserve.'
An agreement signed by Ethiopia's State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Taye Atske-selassie and INTERPOL Secretary General Jurgen Stock has paved the way for the world police body to open a Special Representative office at the African Union.

With Africa facing a wide range of crime issues including terrorism, child labour, fake medicines, cybercrime, drug trafficking, environmental crime, maritime piracy and stolen vehicles, the agreement will build on the capacity building, training and operational support already provided by INTERPOL through its Regional Bureaus in Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Recent operations in Africa supported by INTERPOL have led to the rescue of nearly 50 victims of child trafficking, and the seizure of 4.5 tonnes of elephant ivory and rhino horn, some 150 tonnes of counterfeit and illicit medicines and more than USD 216 million in illegally harvested timber.

Signing this agreement opens a new era of cooperation between Ethiopia as the host country of the African Union and INTERPOL, and is to be welcomed at many levels, said State Minister Atsek-selassie.

I know that the already strong relationship between us will continue to develop in supporting national, regional and global security efforts to protect both citizens and visitors to Africa, added the State Minister.

Building on an INTERPOL General Assembly resolution in 2010 and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between INTERPOL and the African Union, the agreement will enhance communication and cooperation between the two bodies.

The threat posed by terrorism is sadly a daily reality for Africa and in 2016 alone we have already seen deadly attacks across many countries including Burkina Faso, Libya, Somalia, Nigeria and Cameroon, said Secretary General Stock.

Combining INTERPOL's worldwide law enforcement network with the African Union's expertise and infrastructure will create a strong partnership in enhancing security both within and beyond Africa. INTERPOL's Special Representative office will build on the strength of our Regional Bureaus and National Central Bureaus across Africa as we unite our efforts against terrorism and other forms of transnational crime, concluded the Secretary General.

The Special Representative Office at the African Union is the third such base operated by INTERPOL, with the first established at the United Nations in New York in November 2004 and the second opened at the European Union in Brussels in 2009.
Who is this Ghana-based Ibo King taking the country by storm, inquires Yaw Poulous?
A private licensed cocoa buying company, Agro Eco, is partnering chocolate manufacturing firm, Mondelez International, to assist farmers to maximize income from their farms.

Under an initiative farmers are being supported to overcome the annual ritual of running into financial difficulty as they introduced to inter-cropping vegetables and other food crops with cash-crops.

Ashanti Regional Manager for Agro Eco, William Albert, says farmers are faced with recurring financial challenges in lean cocoa season which negatively affect them and their extended families.

We try to help the farmers with diversification. It shouldnt only be cocoa but other crops that they will plant in the fields to reduce the hardship on families in the lean season.

The scheme will make available to farmers irrigation and technical support to improve their yield.

Meanwhile, Country Lead for Mondelez International, Yaa Peprah Amekudze, believes the impact of climate change on agriculture needs national attention.

She expects frequent interaction between farmers and researchers to help mitigate the effect.

Let us be responsive, things are changing and farmers are complaining. Even if we provide them with fertilizers, farmers will not be able to apply them because they are waiting for the rains to fall. Yaa Peprah has said.

She spoke to Luv FM Business Report at the launch of the 3rd Rural Service Centre at Nhyinahini in the Atwima Mponua District for training and sale of agro-chemicals.
Dakar (AFP) - Faced with a growing jihadist threat, West African nations are scrambling to boost security but are seeing visitor numbers fall as foreign governments warn their nationals about the risks.

"The alert is being taken very seriously," said a Senegalese security source after police carried out a weekend of security operations in a bid to tackle the "terrorist threat".

Some 900 people were detained, mainly for security checks.

The situation is being taken particularly seriously in Dakar's Corniche district, which is home to many hotels, he said.

Hotel security has been stepped up after 30 people were killed earlier this month in a deadly attack on a top Burkina Faso hotel and a nearby restaurant in the capital Ouagadougou.

Senegal is "an island of stability in an ocean of instability," said Bakary Sambe, researcher on religious radicalism at Gaston Berger University, referring to the unrest gripping Mali to the east and Nigeria further south where the Boko Haram jihadists are active.

"It is increasingly a strategic retreat area for western organisations" and occupies a "privileged position" in the region, he said.

That, however, is now making it an attractive target for destructive forces, "a symbolic target, because in attacking Senegal, you hit many interests," he said.

Mohamed Fall Oumere, security expert and director of the Mauritanian newspaper La Tribune, said he expects Islamist attacks to extend westwards to countries such as Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mauritania which have hitherto been largely spared "because of the security noose" around the area.

- 'Allies of the Crusaders' -

The jihadists want to send three messages, Oumere says.

One is to France, telling them that their 2013 intervention in Mali "remains unresolved" while another is to France's allies to warn them that "they are still in the firing line," he said.

The third is a message to the Islamic State group, a competing Islamist faction, "which will unfortunately result in much damage and bloodshed," he said.

Northern Mali fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012 but they were largely ousted by a French-led military operation launched in January 2013 although large swathes of the area remain lawless and prone to attacks.

In an interview with Mauritania's Al-Akhbar website, a leader of the Al-Qaeda Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) group threatened allies of the Western "crusaders" in reference to Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Senegal and Togo whose troops make up most of the UN forces housed at US and French military bases in Mali.

"We say to all those countries in the region which are allied to France and which participate in this Crusader war against Umma (the Islamic community) that we will spare no effort to strike them, and the Western interests they house," Yahya Abu el-Hammam said.

Speaking to AFP, French security expert Yves Trotignon, who knows the region well, said Niger seems very vulnerable and that mounting an attack on the capital Niamey "wouldn't be very difficult".

- 'Avoid crowded areas' -

Last week, Nigeria's Interior Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou spoke for the first time of arrests over the past month of people who came to Niamey intending to carry out the kind of attacks seen in Ouagadougou.

"We receive information and threats around every two months," he told the French broadcaster RFI.

In Dakar and Abidjan, the US and French envoys have urged their nationals to "avoid crowded areas" as they did after the November 20 attacks on a hotel in the Malian capital Bamako, which killed 20, 14 of them foreigners.

Even in Sierra Leone, where the Ebola virus has hit the tourist sector and where the authorities lend little credibility to threats of attacks against their hotels, security is being beefed up around major buildings, according to the US embassy.

Last week Idriss Deby Itno, president of Chad -- a key member of France's counter-terrorism mission in the Sahel region -- said terrorism had become a worse threat than Ebola, which has killed over 11,000 people.

During a recently solidarity visit to Burkina Faso, he described terror as "an epidemic, worse than Ebola, worse than any illness."

The Chadian leader said it imposed an additional burden on poorer countries which already had enough problems to deal with.

"With the meagre means available to us in this region, you cannot combat terrorism while also thinking about development, about youth employment, about creating jobs," he said.

"It's impossible."
Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda party has become the largest group in parliament after 22 lawmakers who quit the secular Nidaa Tounes party submitted a request Tuesday to form a new bloc.

Parliament vice president Faouzia Ben Fodha told the house of representatives that "a new bloc, called Al-Horra (The Free) has been created" and comprises 22 members.

All are former members of Nidaa Tounes, the party founded by President Beji Caid Essebsi, and have resigned amid infighting over the party succession, according to Bochra Belhaj Hmida.

A former Nidaa Tounes member herself, Hmida said however that she has not joined Al-Horra.

Nidaa Tounes had already been weakened by the departure of Essebsi, in line with the constitution after he was elected president in December 2014.

For months the party had been riven by bad blood between its secretary general Mohsen Marzouk and the president's son, Hafedh Caid Essebsi, in what insiders said was a battle for succession.

Marzouk supporters have accused the president's son of trying to seize control of the party.

The crisis came to a head at the end of October after accusations that Essebsi supporters wielding sticks had blocked rival party members from a meeting of its executive committee.

With the departure of 22 deputies, the Nidaa Tounes bloc has shrunk to 64 lawmakers, making the moderate Islamic Ennahda the largest party with 69 deputies.

Most of Al-Horra's members back Marzouk, who also quit Nidaa Tounes and is expected to announce the creation of a new political party in March.

Former president Moncef Marzouki also applied in December to form a new party, citing a "catastrophic" situation in Tunisia, birthplace of the 2011 Arab Spring revolutions that have toppled several autocratic regimes in the region.

Al-Horra's formation comes as Tunisia was hit this month with a wave of protests against poverty and unemployment in the worst social unrest since the 2011 revolution.

Prime Minister Habib Essid, who reshuffled his cabinet on January 6 as the country grapples with a growing jihadist threat and a feeble economy, is expected to address parliament on Wednesday to discuss the latest social unrest.
Today I bring you the part two of three of the memoir written by David Russell, a teacher in Massachusetts, the state with the best education system in the United States. David Russell was a volunteer in Africa who worked with us for one month. Our organization has worked with several hundreds of volunteers coming as groups or individuals to help in the development of poor communities. They support healthcare and education, especially of women and children. In my blog, I discuss the experiences of people who visit our countries in Africa, their perspectives, the impact they make, as well as the experiences and perspectives of families and communities who encounter them. And now here is the second episode of the memoires of David Russell. In case you missed the first one, the title was Ghana from my "Obruni's lens - A bastion of hope, pride and determination"

David Writes

OK, they call me "bruni." It can make me uncomfortable. The wonder is that there are not more frequent sharper challenges. Hospitality is a matter of national pride, and I consistently experienced it from acquaintances and from strangers. When I arrived at Kotoka Airport in Accra one of the first things I saw was a giant banner Akwaba! I was to hear this Twi word for welcome many times during my stay, and it was not just something people said. I was amazed by how welcome I felt.

After school on the day before I was to leave Kumasi, as I gathered in the kitchen with the gangRose and her daughters, the cousins from next doorhitherto unexpressed words were voiced. "Send me dollars!" said Harriet. "Me, too!" joined Yvonne. "I want a walkman," urged Awuraa Abena. Meefia chimed in, "I want a laptop."

While I was able to elicit laughs"I'll send a BIG bag of dollars!"it was clear that the requests were not brought up in jest. I have vastly more, and since we had become fast friends during these four weeks, it seemed reasonable, I surmise, to them to request that I should share more of what I have.

We all knew that despite our pledges to stay in touch and my statement that I hope to return, momentarily we would again be separated by thousands of miles and disparate life circumstances. The physical chores that we in the US can find so demanding are a joke compared to what Meefia and company routinely, uncomplainingly, carry out daily. It isnt fair.

In the midst of repeated requests for financial assistance the next morning Harriet stated, "David, I wish I had hair like yours." "Grey?" I teased. "No! Like your daughters'." Yvonne also, "Yeah, David, I want your hair." I playfully tried to pull it out to give her.

What does this mean? I wondered. Harriet and Yvonne seem to be proud young women, but these hair comments mixed with the yearnings for the riches of America made me think about how it may be hard for them not to associate white with better. OK, maybe they were just frustrated with taking care of their hairYvonne with Awuraa Abena's help had just impulsively removed the "plaits"(extensions) from her hair. Or was there something more?

Spendilove, one of my seventh grade students, had described to me at school recently that many Ghanaians use chemicals to try to lighten their skinI later noticed such products at the convenience store around the cornerand think that being light "is something special." On TV the light-skinned announcers and actor/actresses are in much higher proportion than in the population at largerare. When Joe Mensah, a teacher at St. Georges saw the 700+ page book I was reading about Africa he announced, "that's why the white man's always getting ahead." On another occasion I expressed amazement to him at how a digital camera operates. He responded, "You're the white man. You should be the one who understands."

I shouldn't be surprised by these comments, I suppose. I remember seeing an interview in the "Eyes on the Prize" video series about the American civil rights movement. Activist Amzie Moore explained that as he was growing up, "it seemed that the white man was superior because he had everything." Evidently, even in their proud black nation, Ghanaians can have a struggle not to attribute the 80 times greater US per capita GDP to racial characteristics.

"Are you tired yet, bruni?" I was asked by an unseen bystander while on a run with my Sunday morning fitness group. "Not yet!" I shot back spiritedly. But when I ponder global inequality, I can get weary. Why are things as they are? How can they be changed?

Martin Meredith, author of the tome "The Fate of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence" that Joe observed me studying, concludes after an extensive review that "In reality, fifty years after the beginning of the independence era, Africa's prospects are bleaker than ever.even given greater Western efforts, the sum of Africa's misfortunespresents a crisis of such magnitude that it goes beyond the reach of foreseeable solutions.Time and again its potential for economic development has been disrupted by the predatory politics of ruling elites seeking personal gain, often precipitating violence for their own ends."

Are the prospects so gloomy? Another ambitious volume, "The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time" by Jeffrey Sachs, supports a different perspective. In this book, according to Sachs, he has "identified the specific investments that are needed; found ways to plan and implement them; shown that they can be affordable; and addressed the counsels of despair who claim that the poor are condemned by their cultures, values, and personal behaviors." His question is "Will the world act?"

Sachs addresses analyses such as Meredith's. Yes, "by almost any standard, Africa's quality of governance is low." But, Sachs contends, "the problem for Africa, however, is that African countries on average grow less rapidly than other developing countries at the same level of income and the same quality of governance, but in different parts of the world..This slowed growth is caused, in my opinion, mainly by Africa's adverse geography and deficient infrastructure."

Read the concluding part of David Russell's memoir next.

Thank you
IVA Struggling with debt? Compare your debt options and write off up to 80% of your unsecured debts  from 80 per month Get Started for free

What is an IVA? With an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) you can make affordable monthly payments towards a percentage of your debt for 5 years. At the end of the 5 year plan, your remaining debt will be completely written off.

Benefits of an IVA

Here is a list of the cost common advantages of an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA):



 Affordability  You will only be asked to pay back what you can afford, with allowances taken into account for food, bills, entertainment, travel, childcare and others. You may be sacrificing certain essential costs at the moment. With an IVA they are budgeted for so they will no longer be neglected

 No upfront costs  When you set up an IVA, there are no upfront costs whatsoever. This means that you can put a debt solution in place today without spending a penny

 You have a finishing line  Do you feel like there will be no end to your debt problems? With high interest costs and charges, the balances of your credit accounts may not reduce as you need them to. With an IVA you will become totally debt free at the completion of the IVA (usually 5 years). You can use this as an opportunity to change your financial life, for good

 Confidential  Your IVA is not advertised in the London Gazette or local newspaper. It is your decision whether you would like to disclose it to other people or not

 No more contact from creditors  When you are in an IVA, your creditors will no longer have the right to contact you or refer the debt on to debt collectors/bailiffs. This is a great benefit for most people as it will take away the stress caused by constant calls/texts/emails and home visits

 Stay in your house  Unlike some debt solutions, an IVA will allow you to stay in your current home. This is even the case if the property has a mortgage or is owned outright

 Your pension  An IVA does not have an impact on your pension. You will not have to surrender your pension or withdraw money from it to pay into your IVA

Risks of an IVA

Here is a list of the cost common disadvantages of an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA):

Equity Release  If you own your property and it has value, you may be asked to release the equity in the property

Credit Rating  If you have a perfect credit rating, this will be damaged and you will not be allowed to take out more debt whilst in an arrangement

You must keep up with repayments  If you do not keep up with your monthly repayments, there is a risk you will be made bankrupt

Who qualifies for an IVA?

There is no office guidelines to who qualifies for an IVA. It is a legally binding, Government legislation designed to help all people. Generally speaking, insolvency practitioners (IP) will look at your situation if they think the IVA proposal they submit is beneficial to both yourself (the debtor) and your creditors. This often restricts people to a certain criteria which you will have to meet:

Over 5000 worth of unsecured debt You must have 2 or more creditors of 2 or more lines of credit Must live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland Must be insolvent Must be willing to pay at least 70 per month into their IVA Must have some type or types of regular income

What debts can I include in an IVA?

You can include a wide range of unsecured debts within your IVA. These include:

Credit card debt/credit cards

Loans/loan debt

Payday loans

Council tax arrears

HMRC debt

Overpaid benefits

Catalogues

Gas and electricity arrears

Overdrafts/overdraft debt

Water arrears

Income tax arrears

Debts to friends and family

Other unsecured debts

Note: If you are a resident of Scotland, you will need to apply for a Scottish Trust Deed (legally binding). Speak to our advisors for Scottish Debt Advice.

What debts cant be included in an IVA?

Secured loans

Your mortgage (if you still live in the house)

Car finance (if you still have the car)

Rent arrears for your current property

Court fines/Police fines

Hire purchase arrears (if you still have the product)

Log book loans (if you still have the vehicle that the debts are secured on)

Student loans

Other secured debts

What does I.V.A stand for?

IVA stands for Individual Voluntary Arrangement. It is a formal way to consolidate your debts into one affordable monthly repayment, resulting in the debtor becoming debt free at the end of their payments.

Can I apply for an IVA online?

Use the IVA Calculator to check your eligibility Prepare your IVA proposal and apply for your IVA. When your IVA is accepted, your creditors can no longer contact you. Pay 60 low monthly payments. After 5 years, you are out of your IVA and completely debt free.

Will an IVA affect my employment?

In most occupations, your credit rating or credit scoring is not a factor and it may never have been checked in the past, it may also be likely that it is not checked in the future either.

There is no law to tell you that you must advise your employer that you have entered an IVA or that you owe money. They will not be notified by your insolvency practitioner. If you wanted to keep it a private matter, in most cases this would be absolutely fine. With some roles such as financial advisors, solicitors or bank workers it may make up part of your contract to advise them of changes like this. In these situations we would advise to inform your employers of your intentions before you enter into any arrangements. This way there will be no nasty surprises for you later down the line. More often than not, we find that your employer would not be concerned by your IVA and that it would not affect your employment status. An IVA is a formal solution and could affect some employments, such as if you were a solicitor or accountant for example. We would always recommend that you receive approval from your employers that your job isnt affected before you sign up for anything.

Will an IVA impact my partner?

There are certain situations where you may not want to involve your partner at all in your IVA proposal due to personal reasons. Insolvency Practitioners are very aware of these circumstances and can operate solely via telephone and email and at your convenience, so rest assured that your matters can be kept completely private.

If the debts which you are looking to place into your IVA are in joint names, then this would be different. Your IP would look to place all of your debts into an IVA, including joint debts therefore you would have to inform your partner of your plans.

If your debts are solely yours, then there would be no negative impact on your partner, their credit score would remain unaffected and they would not be entered onto any registers or be tainted in any way.

Will an IVA affect my credit score/credit file?

Whilst you are in your arrangement, you will not be able to get any credit. An IVA will stay on your credit file for 6 years, so 12 months after a typical IVA. When this time has passed and your monthly payments have ended, you will be able to rebuild your credit rating.

What proof will I need to apply for an IVA?

Proof of ID  Passport/driving license/birth certificate/utility bills/national insurance identification/credit agreement Bank statements  3 months bank statements with all transactions displayed Proof of income  3 months payslips/P60/proof of benefits

How long does it take to set up an IVA?

Your initial call will only last around 5-10 minutes. The IVA process will be explained to you and you will be told what further information you will need to provide to proceed with your IVA proposal. Once you have returned the required information, an IVA will usually take between 7-14 days to get into place. You will be protected from creditors within this time, your advisor will provide you with documentation via email.

How long does an IVA last?

Most IVAs will last for a length of five years. The i v a will remain on your credit file for a period of six years and is placed on the Insolvency Register for that period. You can work out what date it will be removed from your credit file, it will be six years from the start date of the IVA term. So if the IVA started on 1 January 2000, it should be removed from your credit file six years from that date, which would be 1 January 2006. When you apply for an individual voluntary arrangement your Insolvency Practitioner (IP) will tell you if you qualify for an IVA, how long it lasts, how much it costs and provide you with any other debt advice which you may need.

How much will debt advice cost for an Individual Voluntary Arrangement?

The advice cost for individual voluntary arrangements is free of charge. Your I.V.A company will tell you if you qualify for an IVA. They will talk to you about your different debts, provide you with free debt advice and check if your creditors are likely to approve your proposal for your IVA for debt.

How does an IVA affect your life?

By taking out an IVA you may affect your overall financial position. You will not be allowed to take out credit for 6 years. You will struggle to get a mortgage or remortgage your existing property. It also may affect any future increase in earnings or windfalls you may receive, as these will need to be paid to your insolvency practitioner. Your insolvency practitioner will take control of your debts for this period, they will deal with all of your creditors and this is legally binding. That means you will not be allowed to take out any more debts whilst in the IVA.

Once the plan is completed, any debts which you accrue will be managed by yourself. Your ability to take out further debts in the future will not be impacted once the IVA has completed.

What is the IVA protocol?

The I.V.A protocol is a voluntary set of guidelines which your Insolvency Practitioner (IP) can sign up for which improves the efficiency of Individual Voluntary Arrangements. When you apply for debt advice, it is important that you understand the steps of the debt solution, so you can decide whether or not the solution is the best one for your circumstances.

How do I know if creditors will accept my IVA?

Generally speaking, most creditors will approve voluntary arrangements for unsecured debt. But some debts can not be included within one formal debt solution. Your Insolvency Practitioner will tell you how likely it is that your creditors will be willing to accept your proposal, based on the voting creditors.

Can I pay in one lump sum?

There are occasions when you may be eligible for a debt solution which is payable in a one off lump sum as a final settlement to your creditors. This is usually when the money is being gifted from some one else, or you have received inheritance or a windfall for example. With a one-off lump sum payment, the advice is usually the same as when you normally apply for an IVA. You wouldnt have to make regular payments into the solution, your IP can provide you with more advice on one off lump sum solutions for your debts. Your IP will provide you with more advice on the debt IVA and explain what is IVA to you.

Who regulates the debt industry?

At present the debt industry is not regulated. Some Insolvency Practitioners offices choose to sign up to the Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA) or register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can contact the IPA using the contact details or email address on their website. Your creditors do not regulate the debt industry and your creditors will not be able to impact any decisions which the IPA or FCA make. In our experience, the regulators will take assertive action on any advisers or businesses which do not comply with their strict codes of practice. To check if a person is regulated by the FCA, enter their name into the search box in the FCA website.

Should I use a debt charity?

There are thousands of companies which provide debt help in the UK. You may be looking for an alternative to a private company. You should know that charities usually pass their fee charging products to sister companies which charge fees and disbursements, just like private companies. So what you initially thought was a good option, on further analysis could be different to what you originally thought. Charities do have their part to play though. They can help you if you have a problem with your bank accounts, maintenance arrears, living costs, credit reference agencies, child support arrears, bankruptcy, assets, accountancy issues, mortgages, creditor issues, insurance providers, mobiles, your bank account, rates arrears, PAYE contributions or if you want to work out your expenditure. They can make sure that you speak to an adviser or supervisor and look at proposals to offer your lender. A petition has started with the possibility of a debate in parliament about how charities represent themselves and their services.

Which charities help with debt?

You can contact Money Advice Service, National Debtline, Step Change, Shelter or a combination of the three. Charities are particular useful for a low debt level under 1,000. If the debt is high (such as a debt value of 10,000 or more) you would usually seek an assessment from a professional adviser. If you do decide to use a charity to guide you, make sure you check their charity number and the registration number on their website to make sure you are content that their team can answer your questions in the right ways. A lot of clients of charities have a minimum debt level which does not meet the basis for an IVA, so you could always chat to a charity that is happy to act on your behalf for low debt levels.

Although an I.V.A could be the answer to your debt problem, its important to understand the monthly payment so call us on our free phone number. Anyone customers can receive expert feedback on their rights from debt charities, if they cant help they will usually point you in the director of firms which help with IVAs.

We are homeowners, will lenders see my proposal differently?

In some cases yes. In the majority of cases, if you are a homeowner you will not need to remortgage or take out any additional finances that will effect your property. You will need to sign a additional restrictions which remove your ability to take out additional credit tied to your property, which is something that is restricted once you are in an i.v.a. There are exceptions to this, such as when you have a lot of equity in your property/properties. If you own half of a property and another party owns the other half, only your equity will be affected.

If you are landlord and you are in a position of equity, your IP may review your trading position or business to make sure the figures in question are in order. This is usually the case if you have two or more properties, as sometimes the equity can be used to form a repayment to your creditors. But this usually depends on the amount of value built up in your properties.

Banks and building societies will not change the terms of your mortgage as long as a contribution is still being made for the duration of your arrangement. Your mortgage payments will be added to your expenses and accounted for within your budget, as long as you can provide evidence that you can afford to continue to make payments into your mortgage for duration of the plan.

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January 26, 2016

Libya: The Imperial Violence Keeps Giving

Imperial violence is a gift that keeps giving. After the U.S. lied to the UN Security Council about alleged Ghaddafi threats against "protesters" in Benghazi the UNSC allowed for the use of force to protect them. Russia and China abstained instead of vetoing it.



Libya, Spring 2011

The U.S. and its NATO allies abused the UNSC resolution. They weaponized the "protesters", bombed the country to smithereens and killed the leading government figures including Muhammar Ghaddafi. Then U.S. Secretary of State, Clinton the monster, famously bragged (vid): "We came, we saw, he died."

The UNSC resolution is the reason why then Russian President Medvedev was not allowed to run for a second term. Now President Putin - then as Prime Minister only responsible for interior politics - said that as he read the UNSC resolution he found holes in its wording a whole army could march through. Medvedev had made a huge mistake by allowing it to pass. That he had to go is the only positive result of the NATO attack on Libya.

Now the U.S. wants to attack Libya again:

Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Friday that military officials were looking to take decisive military action against the Islamic State, or ISIS, in Libya, where Western officials estimate the terrorist group has roughly 3,000 fighters. Administration officials say the campaign in Libya could begin in a matter of weeks. They anticipate it would be conducted with the help of a handful of European allies, including Britain, France and Italy.

This will go it always goes, bomb strikes, special forces on the ground, proxy fighters trained by U.S. forces or private companies who will then develop into their death squads and terrorize the population.

There is chaos in Libya as was foreseeable and predicted here when the war on Libya began. There are many armed groups and two parliaments and two rudimentary governments, on in the east and one in the west. The UN just tried to set up a third, unity government and failed:

Libya's internationally recognized parliament voted on Monday to reject a unity government proposed under a United Nations-backed plan to resolve the country's political crisis and armed conflict. ... Since 2014, Libya has had two competing parliaments and governments, one based in Tripoli and the other in the east. Both are backed by loose alliances of armed groups and former rebels who helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Many of the "rebels" who were paid by Qatar and others to overthrow the Libyan government are Islamists. Many went from Libya on to Syria to fight against the Syrian government and the U.S. helped to supply weapons from Libya to those foreign terrorists in Syria.

It is unlikely that the real U.S. interest now is to fight the few foreign Islamic State fighters in Libya. Most of the Islamic State followers in Libya are locals of some specific tribes who earlier were part of this or that local Islamist gang. They are not a threat and other local forces will hold them at bay.

The U.S. wants the whole country under its indirect control but has so far only half of it:

The armed forces allied to the eastern government are led by Gen. Khalifa Haftar, a former Gaddafi ally. He has also fought Islamist militants in the eastern city of Benghazi and has become one of Libya's most divisive figures, enjoying strong support in the east but despised by forces allied to the government in Tripoli.

Haftar was once with Ghaddafi but was shunned after he screwed up in a war with Chad. Around 1990 he tried to overthrow Ghaddafi but failed. He went to the U.S., became a U.S. citizen and worked for the CIA. In 2011 he was back in Libya again attempting to overthrow Ghaddafi.

In 2011 the U.S. failed to install its proxy ruler over Libya. It is now going back in a new attempt to gain full control over the country and its resources. Once established in Libya it can subjugate countries in northern Africa.

It is easy to see that this will develop into more war, more terror and more refugees who will flee their home. The imperial violence keeps giving.

Posted by b on January 26, 2016 at 16:34 UTC | Permalink

Comments
Listed information, including addresses, has been gathered from arrest and incident reports publicly available at area law-enforcement agencies. If your name appears here and your case was dismissed or you were cleared of the crime, let us know by calling Lisa Wall at 828-432-8939, or by emailing editor@morganton.com.

SEE WHOS IN JAIL

Want to see who is in jail? Visit www.morgantonps.org to view arrest reports, incident reports and to see current confined individuals.

The following charges were served by the Morganton Department of Public Safety:

Wednesday, Dec. 23

 Audie Luke Smith, 30, of 2380 NC Highway 181 in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor false reports to police. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $500 secured bond. His trial date has been set for Feb. 16.

Thursday, Dec. 24

 Dontarious Devonn Johnson, 26, of 202 Rockyford St. in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor all other larceny. He was cited and released. His trial date has been set for Feb. 23.

 Cynthia Joy Bennett, 56, of 809 W. Union St. Apt. G in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor all other larceny. She was cited and released. Her trial date has been set for Feb. 23.

 Cynthia Joy Bennett, 56 of 809 W. Union St. Apt. G in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor all other larceny. She was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond. Her trial date has been set for Jan. 25.

 Veronica Rita Moss, 50, of 208 Stephens Road in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance. She was cited and released. Her trial date has been set for March 2.

 Veronica Rita Moss, 50, of 208 Stephens Road in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor larceny. She was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $500 secured bond. Her trial date has been set for Feb. 23.

The following charges were served by the Burke County Sheriffs Office:

Wednesday, Dec. 23

 Kenneth Reeves Hubbard, 27, of 122 Powe St. in Morganton, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor failure to appear. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond.

 Chad Ashford Causby, 27, of 1880 Zion Road in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $2,000 secured bond. His trial date has been set for Feb. 1.

 Douglas Lee Edwards, 34, of 4811 Frank Barus Ave. Lot 9 in Valdese, was charged with two counts of felony motor vehicle theft of an automobile and two counts of possession of stolen goods and two counts of misdemeanor failure to appear. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $17,000 secured bond.

 Ashley Nicole Bradshaw, 29, of 3925 Martin Fish Pond St. 8 in Hickory, was charged with misdemeanor all other larceny. She was cited and released. Her trial date has been set for Jan. 26.

 Misty Street Teague, 34, of 2114 Hunterwood Drive in Hickory, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear. She was placed under a $500 secured bond and released.

 Henry Wilson Prada, 45, of 1215 Salem Road in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor second degree trespassing. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $500 secured bond.

Thursday, Dec. 24

 Jacquelyn Denise Anderson, 45, of 1204 Bee Mountain Road in Lenoir, was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. She was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under $1,000 secured bond. Her trial date has been set for March 16.

 Kevin Brian Wood, 43, of 3413 Icard Dairy Barn Road Lot 53 in Connelly Springs, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $1,500 secured bond.
Listed information, including addresses, has been gathered from arrest and incident reports publicly available at area law-enforcement agencies. If your name appears here and your case was dismissed or you were cleared of the crime, let us know by calling Lisa Wall at 828-432-8939, or by emailing editor@morganton.com.

SEE WHOS IN JAIL

Want to see who is in jail? Visit www.morgantonps.org to view arrest reports, incident reports and to see current confined individuals.

The following charges were served by the Morganton Department of Public Safety:

Friday, Dec. 25

 Rigoberto Renoj Hernandez, 31, of 206 Shady Rest Road in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $2,000 secured bond. His trial date has been set for March 2.

 Jeremiah Chad Allison, 38, of 5830 Willow Point Drive A in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor simple assault and battery. He was cited and released. His trial date has been set for Jan. 26.

 Steven Troy Kennedy, 21, of 108 Riverside Drive in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor damage or injury to real property, hit and run with property damage and reckless driving to endanger. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $3,000 secured bond. His trial date has been set for Jan. 20.

Saturday, Dec. 26

 Pascual Jose Jimenez, 29, of 613 Carbon City Road in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and fictitious, canceled, revoked or altered registration card or tag. He was cited and released. His trial date has been set for March 9.

 Brandi Nacoe Lipscomb, 32, of 1760 Peaceful Lane Lot 10 in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor all other larceny. She was placed under a $1,000 secured bond and released. Her trial date has been set for Feb. 1.

The following charges were served by the Burke County Sheriffs Office:

Saturday, Dec. 26

 Roy Nelson Patton Sr., 72, of 2573 Willow Tree Church Road in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor communicating threats. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail.
Listed information, including addresses, has been gathered from arrest and incident reports publicly available at area law-enforcement agencies. If your name appears here and your case was dismissed or you were cleared of the crime, let us know by calling Lisa Wall at 828-432-8939, or by emailing editor@morganton.com.

SEE WHOS IN JAIL

Want to see who is in jail? Visit www.morgantonps.org to view arrest reports, incident reports and to see current confined individuals.

The following charges were served by the Morganton Department of Public Safety:

Sunday, Dec. 27

 Timothy Wayne Williams Jr., 29, of 107 Ross St. Lot E in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and driving during revocation. He was cited and released.

 Kew Hang, 19, of 3625 NC Highway 18 S in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and consuming alcohol while driving. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail. His trial date has been set for Jan. 20.

 Howard Gene Cook, 31, of 1041 Iron Lane in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury or with a deadly weapon and assault on a female. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail.

 Grover Wayne Pritchard, 30, of 4039 Glen Powell Ave. in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond. His trial date has been set for Jan. 20.

 Tevin Ashaun Ferguson, 19, of 942 German St. NW Apt. C9 in Lenoir, was charged with misdemeanor possession of a schedule VI controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was cited and released. His trial date has been set for Feb. 24.

Monday, Dec. 28

 Dennis Shayne Cole, 47, of 105 Ross St. in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $500 secured bond. His trial date has been set for Feb. 8.

 Starla Nichole Bristol, 22, of 606 Bouchelle St. in Morganton, was charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule VI controlled substance and misdemeanor child abuse. She was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $10,000 secured bond.

 Leonard Eugene Wright Jr., 44, of 1116 Apple Lane in Hudson, was charged with misdemeanor stalking and second degree trespassing. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $2,000 bond. His trial date has been set for Jan. 19.

 Charles Steven Setzer Jr., 42, of 115 Patton St. in Morganton, was charged with felony common law robbery. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond. His trial date has been set for Feb. 15.

 Aaron Ralph Gragg, 27, of 1313 Razors Ridge Road in Morganton, was charged with felony probation violation. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $10,000 secured bond. His trial date has been set for Feb. 15.

 Orlando Lavern Jones III, 25, of 763 Cline Ave. SW in Valdese, was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female and resisting, delaying or obstructing. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail. His trial date has been set for Feb. 3.

 Amanda Michelle Plante, 26, of 215 Oakland Ave. 202 in Drexel, was charged with misdemeanor larceny by changing price tag and all other larceny. She was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond. Her trial date has been set for Feb. 23.

The following charges were served by the Burke County Sheriffs Office:

Sunday, Dec. 27

 Wendell Sherwood Osborne, 33, of 6463 Edwards Way in Granite Falls, was charged with felony possession of a weapon by a felon and two counts of probation violation and misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $26,500 secured bond. His trial date has been set for Jan. 26.

 Robbie Allen Bowman, 32, of 7853 George Hildebrand School Road in Connelly Springs, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond.

Monday, Dec. 28

 Stoney Lee Smith, 50, of 3460 Lytle Drive in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female and damage to personal property. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail.

 Pamela Dawn Hamrick, 41, of 185 Enchanted Drive in Nebo, was charged with misdemeanor all other larceny and failure to appear or comply. She was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $3,000 secured bond. Her trial date has been set for Feb. 5.

 Kimbery Dawn Handy, 36, of 1811 NC Highway 127 in Taylorsville, was charged with felony obtaining property by false pretense and two counts of misdemeanor larceny by trick. She was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $10,000 secured bond.

 Roger Dale Hagy, 50, of 5278 Rogers Road in Hickory, was charged with felony obtaining property by false pretense and misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $10,000 secured bond.

 Michael Jonathan Cook, 29, of 2114 Hunterwood Drive Y in Hickory, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was placed under a $500 secured bond and released. His trial date has been set for Feb. 16.

 Jesse Joe Potter, 25, of 2001 Main St. E in Valdese, was charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $15,000 secured bond. His trial date has been set for Feb. 15.

 Natalie Miranda Smith, 35, of 4044 Owens Mountain Ave. in Connelly Springs, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. She was placed under a $1,000 secured bond and released. Her trial date has been set for Jan. 25.

 Angela Frye Johnston, 41, of 6000 Hubert Park Ave. Lot 20 in Connelly Springs, was charged with felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and cyber stalking. She was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $10,000 secured bond. Her trial date has been set for Feb. 15.

 Bailey Tyrone Tillery, 31, of 205 S. College St. in Morganton, was charged with misdemeanor simple assault and battery and disorderly conduct. He was cited and released. His trial date has been set for Jan. 21.

 Jonathan David Brittain, 33, of 100 First Ave. NE in Hildebran, was charged with misdemeanor failure to appear or comply. He was transported to Burke-Catawba jail and placed under a $1,000 secured bond.
Looking back on last year, as well as looking forward to the new year just begun, Mayor Seth Radford believes the city of Bismarck has and will continue to do all it can to help improve the lives of both its current and future residents.

In 2015, we cleaned up a lot of the trash, Radford said. The city had the ability to assist the citizens again in cleaning up the areas. We were able to help them by getting the dumpsters out there. We help the citizens instead of punishing them for cleaning up. Weve got several houses that look a whole lot better. Weve got assistance from prisoners picking up trash around town. Theyre cleaning up the town quite a bit.

Right now we have a few houses that have been abandoned and are dilapidated. Thats one thing we did last year  we got rid of a couple of houses that needed to be gotten rid of. Right now were working toward the cleanup of some more houses to raise the property values of neighbors and raise property values with the city. So, thats one big thing were going to continue focusing on.

In addition to cleaning up existing buildings and homes, Radford and the citys board of aldermen are focusing on bringing new families and businesses to Bismarck.

Our next big thing is trying to get some contractors in here to start building new housing in our city, he said. Anybody interested in that can feel free to call city hall. Wed also like to see more small and local businesses in the city. So, the board is going to try to develop some strategy working with a few other agencies on getting some businesses over here to bring jobs to our city.

A major concern facing the city for more than a few years has been the lack of a sidewalk along Cedar Street (Route N) connecting two senior apartment complexes with the citys edge. There has been a growing concern that elderly and physically disabled apartment residents making their way into town might be seriously injured or even killed.

After losing out on a Missouri Department of Transportation grant that would have funded a large percentage of the project, Radford and the citys board of aldermen contacted elected officials ranging from the state level all the way up to the federal requesting help in finding the financing necessary to complete the project. Radford is pleased with all the city has accomplished thus far.

Weve worked with MoDOT and secured the funding and have set it back for the new sidewalk that goes to the senior apartments, he said. Its still going to take a little bit of time. Were working right now with the railroad to get an easement. Were hoping within the next year  or by the following spring  that well get the easement with the railroad figured out and straightened out. Its just a matter of getting all the paperwork done and getting all that to MoDOT. From there, well get it built.

"Our biggest thing is helping our citizens. I think weve got the attitude where were out there helping the citizens and promoting lot of events. Weve worked with the chamber on several of them and making Bismarck a more friendly community.

Radford said efforts have been made by the city and its police force to improve the safety of its residents.

Weve actually increased police protection for our citizens, he said. The purpose is not to oppress our citizens, but all about the safety of the citizens. Were working on the safety and keeping things safe for the people. I feel that weve made the town a whole lot safer. Police Chief Kyle Colyott is doing well. Weve got the police officers working with the kids. The police officers go to the ballgames and get out there with them. The chief has done a great job on that.

Were a pro-family community. We work well with our school district and we want to have a great school district that works well with the city. I want to make sure that we have the best area around here and the citizens are working on that. Its not just the political officials doing it. Its everybody working together to make the city great again.

Finishing up his first term as Bismarck mayor in April, Radford has nothing but good to say about the towns citizenry.

I just appreciate the time they have given me to work as the mayor and hope I can continue doing that for them, he said. Im tickled to death that the citizens are all working together to make this a great community that you can feel safe in  a place where you can feel safe having your child outside playing.
For most of last year, investment commentators lauded two equity markets for their risk/reward trade-off  Japan and Europe.

In spite of the Greek crisis hauling share prices down over the summer and exit becoming all too common a suffix regarding potential eurozone leavers, the FTSE World Europe ex UK index gained more than 32% over three years to January 20 and many country-specific European indices featured among last years winners only beaten by the Nikkei.

Ryan Hughes, fund manager at Apollo had reasons to be cheerful: We have liked Europe for about 18 months and have been running overweight, at around 15%, in our Multi Asset Balanced fund in European equities for most of last year, which proved to be good call.

We believe we were overweight when compared to many of our peers because we saw Draghis QE plans and thought the weakening euro would boost exports and that thesis has played out pretty well. We fully expected Europe to be the second-best performing market last year and we were right.

Is There Still Time to Join the Party?

Crux Asset Managements Richard Pease is expecting more of the same in 2016.

We could have had very similar conversations over the last year or two  the macro remains ugly, he says.

Pease, who runs the Bronze Rated, triple-starred European Special Situations fund, concedes the oil price and migrant crisis are two bodies of shifting sands but with each comes buying opportunities.

Its not a one-way ticket to hell because there are consumer benefits to be enjoyed. If you are not flogging oil youre using it and you will benefit to some extent.

He doesnt intentionally focus on the core versus periphery dichotomy or even the idea of selling Europe, stating he is not fixated on ones place of birth, it is more about what you do after you are born and the same applies to the corporate world.

Having said that, his portfolio clearly shows a northern European and Scandinavian tilt.

We generally find the Scandinavians tend to offer more of what we are looking for, he said. We believe that if you are born into a small economy then in order to do well you will have to do well outside your own boundaries so we have always ended up naturally in Swedish companies, or Finnish, or Swiss

Avoiding a predisposition for the government-owned or quasi-government owned businesses so often featuring in Spanish and Italian portfolios, Pease prefers to invest where management have real money in the business, otherwise it just doesnt tick our boxes.

James Sym, manager of the Neutral Rated, two-star Schroder European Alpha Plus fund, is coming round to a similar way of thinking.

Having been heavily exposed to the hot spots of Spain and Italy, he is considering reallocating to gain exposure to northern Europe as the Mediterranean recovery starts to fade.

One of the big risks to the region this year is if the politics start to deteriorate, he says. Italy is a bit better than Spain  at least they have Renzi, at least they have a government but his popularity has been fading.

Believing the consumer-led pent up demand for Europe should lead to mid-single-digit earnings growth forecasts across the region, Sym thinks currency fluctuations and the weak oil price will boost earnings.

Its not really a valuation call, he says, suggesting instead the opportunity from market volatility will feed through into corporate earnings.

The market is behaving as though we are going into a recession but I dont think we will because we will have the boost from the oil price.

Apollos Hughes appreciates Mario Draghis challenge of striking the right chord with his various constituent political interests with the economic needs of the region.

He says: One of the major headwinds this year might be if Draghi does want to expand QE but Germany doesnt want that. Marry that with the migrant crisis and the north/south or two-tier clash over currency strength, and all those conflicting tensions create a challenging backdrop, which is why we tend to favour active managers who can cherry pick the best ideas, complemented with tactical use of futures for cheap and quick access to take advantage of short-term volatility.

Noting the bifurcation of valuations where the good guys get more expensive and the bad guys get cheaper, Pease is a fan of the support service sector.

A key characteristic of the sector is not just its resilience in a difficult economic climate, but where it actually benefits.

The sales pitch is quite simple  do you want to save 15% on your catering bill? No one is ever going to say no, they may just want to use someone else, which is also fine.

With ISS, Elior, and Swedish company Coor featuring strongly in Cruxs special situations portfolio, he says they share a powerful business model where around 94% of the business is recurring, they are under-geared and have enough change to do bolt-on acquisitions if they see fit.

We see every reason why we can double our money in 3-5 years, and no reason why we wouldnt, he concludes.
The process of forming a community health initiative for St. Francois County moved forward Monday at the latest gathering of participants representing local businesses, public agencies and the health care community held at the North College Center on the Mineral Area College campus in Park Hills.

Precipitating the decision to create a community health initiative were the results of a 2015 Community Health Rankings that ranked St. Francois County 101st out of 114 counties in the state of Missouri. Rankings were based on several criteria: socioeconomic factors, health behaviors and the physical environment in the county.

In comparison to other Missouri counties with similar demographics, St. Francois County has a greater percentage of deaths caused by cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, coronary heart disease, diabetes and motor vehicle accidents. More of its population is infected with HIV or suffers from older adult asthma and depression.

At the groups third meeting held in November, attendees worked together to create a vision and mission statement, along with short- and long-term goals. Comprehensive wellness in St. Francois County was selected as the initiatives vision. Its mission statement is Building a healthy community to create a path to wellness." Chosen as short-term goals were to build awareness and educate the public on building a healthy community. The initiatives long-term goal was to build interest in wellness.

The fourth program, sponsored by the St. Francois County Health Center, was once again led by Assistant Director Jessica McKnight with the assistance of Tiffany Tuua, program partnership and resource specialist for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The purpose of tonights meeting is to brainstorm strategies and activities that will help us work towards achieving our goals, set a structure for the group and look forward to the future, McKnight told the approximately 30 people attending the meeting.

The first item taken care of in the meeting was the selection of a name for the group. Someone in the crowd suggested the group call itself the St. Francois County Health Coalition. Although the suggestion was quickly agreed to, no official vote was taken however, both Tuua and McKnight stressed the name could be changed in coming weeks should somebody came up with a better idea.

Participants were reminded that the countys leading health concerns, as determined by the group at an earlier meeting, were chronic disease; substance abuse; maternal and child health; and preventable emergency room visits.

The bulk of the meeting involved discussion of various upcoming health events, activities, emphases and programs held throughout the year and how the coalition could best help promote them and participate in them.

Concluding the evening, McKnight said, Even though weve only been meeting the last couple of months, weve seen how many things there are going on and the opportunities that are out there. I guess as long as we keep each other in the loop, well best be able to use our resources for this community.
With the increasing number of Syrian refugees (thousands in the past month alone) entering Canadas shores, private developers are hard at work in creating effective ways to offload the pressure on government settlement agencies.



In tight housing markets like Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver, settlement agencies are finding the influx of immigrantswho had larger families than anticipatedunsustainable in the long run. This has led to more and more developers constructing suitable housing solutions at manageable costs for refugees.



The Community Foundation of Canada has already raised $6 million in its drive to create a national fund for immigrant housing. Some owners have even started providing residential spaces at prices lower than market averages.



We just felt this was the right thing to do, Concert Properties president and COO Brian McCauley told CBC News. His companys two-bedroom units run for $700 per month for a year, far below the $950 benchmark for this housing type.



Industry observers pointed at the immediate need for affordable long-term housing solutions, as immigrants will receive only 12 months of financial support from government, which is on par with social assistance for Canadians.



You don't set people up in a home they can't afford a year from now, Canadian Council of Refugees executive director Janet Dench said.



Minister of Citizenship John McCallum reassured the public that any plans finalized between the government and the private sector wont unduly favor new arrivals over Canadian nationals who have waited years for subsidized housing.
In November 2013 a young intern working in the banking/financial services industry suffered an epileptic seizure  believed to be caused by overwork  and consequently died.



While its true that fatigue-related incidents in transportation and front-line industries such as mining, healthcare and aviation make the headlines, the first example above

 as extreme and isolated as it might appear

 demonstrates that white-collar jobs could



also benefit from a focus on fatigue management and more effective rostering and time and attendance management.



Fatigue management has wider benefits as part of an overall workforce management strategy. Aberdeen Groups 2014 report, Bottom Line Reasons for a Total Workforce Management Strategy, highlighted why:



 4% increases in revenue per FTE for those organizations with a workforce management solution

 9% boost in workforce utilisation capacity

 6% improvement in customer satisfaction scores



James Kissell, a senior manager at WorkForce Software, says that in any industry, regulated or not, fatigue can take a toll on business performance. There are strong parallels (and research) showing how working as a fatigued employee is akin to working under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In fact, being awake for 17 hours straight has been equated to having a blood alcohol content of .05.



Why it matters

The most significant impact is on productivity, worker safety and even employee satisfaction. WorkForce Softwares white paper, titled Examining the Hidden Costs of Fatigue: Risks & remedies for Australian businesses, provided these insights: There is increased likelihood of errors amongst fatigued workers. When tired workers are faced with tasks that require alertness, mental acuity or decision-making (in short, most jobs), a

measurable decrease in accuracy and quality will result. Fatigued persons are slower at interpreting visual information than alert peers  a limitation that can have significant impacts on job performance.



Fatigue can also lead to an increase in tolerating or undertaking risky behaviour.



Fatigued individuals frequently have a very different opinion of whats good enough compared to fresh, non-fatigued colleagues. Fatigued workers are prone to cutting corners, which can have a negative impact on everything from worker safety to the quality of your brand and its products and services.



Fixing the problem

Fortunately, there are solutions. The first essential step is preventing the work conditions that cause employee fatigue in the first place. A thorough review of all jobs and shifts within the organization will identify those functions that cause fatigue, require statutory rest periods, or are at

risk of fatigue-related incidents.



A step further is to provide an automated technology solution in order to better manage the three components that make up fatigue management:



Time and attendance: This is your master record of hours worked, spelling out who worked, on what task, and for how long. Having accurate

information about time worked is crucial to knowing which employees may be approaching the threshold of fatigue.



Fatigue factors: A configurable rules engine tracks the rules, regulations and policies that govern your organizations fatigue mitigation strategy. This allows you to create a system that meets the unique needs of your business and allows managers to override alerts in certain circumstances. To be maximally effective, it must be able to consider different factors for specific jobs, in order to accurately reflect the distinct risk profile of a given shift and type of work.



Where to next?

Dont wait until theres an accident!



Business leaders should act now. Employers in Canada can kick their fatigue management systems to the next

level by:

 Monitoring employee productivity

 Focusing on the roster cycle

 An important part of the solution but not the whole solution

 Provides strong indications of when employees need resting

 Checking on absenteeism

 Implementing an IT-driven fatigue management policy

 IT solutions will automate processes, remove complexity, and give you greater coverage across the




On Monday, U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (MO-8th) testified in front of the Missouri House of Representatives Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources about the disputed acquisition of land in Oregon County.

Smith, a Republican, said as a result of few details, no clear plan, and a lack of transparency from the state for the land purchased in Oregon County, he was there to express his support for legislation authored by State Reps. Robert Ross (142) and Jay Barnes (060) which would require the Department of Natural Resources to sell off the recent land acquisition.

The Oregon County land acquisition was done as part of the Strategic Restoration Implementation Plan in which the state received damages from mining metal contamination to restore natural resources in impacted areas. One problem, according to Smith and local legislators, is that the purchase of more than 4,000 acres for a proposed state park in Oregon County is more than 100 miles from the impacted area  the counties effected in the lawsuit in which the state was awarded the funds.

He said postings about the proposed land purchase were buried in the 500,000 plus page federal register or on the DNR website. Smith is concerned that very few of those in the impacted areas actually use either of those sources to get information about their community.

During his testimony, Smith expressed concern with the overall lack of openness and transparency in which the DNR selected the restoration site, made that information public and solicited public feedback.

Afterward, Smith continued to express frustration, To not even hold a public hearing in the area where thousands of acres of land was purchased simply flies in the face of trying to claim this process was open and transparent. Im used to being disappointed with federal bureaucrats in Washington failing to disclose appropriate information to the American public, but in this instance it was the state government that flat out failed in its obligation to the taxpayers of Missouri to go above and beyond in its efforts to be honest with this land purchase.

According to the DNR, 10 primitive camp sites are planned on the new park.

"I went to see the property last week, its thousands of acres of rolling farm land with cattle grazing on it, so it begs to question how this will ever be a national forest area or a place with primitive campsites on it?" he asked. "I would also have to question why the state would plan to spend millions of dollars creating a forest where there isnt one.

"Where is the plan, where is the transparency the citizens of Missouri and residents of Oregon County are entitled? With the information I have now, I can tell you that the state purchased the wrong piece of land. This land was purchased by a bunch of executive and state level bureaucrats. There was no input from the state senators, state representatives, town members or taxpayers.

Smith has asked Governor Jay Nixons administration for additional details on the transfer of these private lands. Smith has previously called the transfer a clear misuse of funds.

In October the Congressman sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Dan Ashe, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, and Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Sara Parker Pauley, outlining his numerous concerns.

According to the Associated Press, on Monday, a leader of a local Sierra Club chapter spoke against the bill, saying the park could be a source of economic growth due to tourism.
DALLAS _ Shane Farren has a timing problem.

In 2011, when the Dallas native enrolled at Texas A&M and picked what was then one of the most lucrative college majors, oil prices were soaring above $100 a barrel and energy companies were recruiting petroleum engineers as early as their freshman year.

Four years later, with a degree in hand and oil prices tanking to an 11-year low, Farren had to turn to his Plan B _ graduate school, a part-time job at a Dallas-area oil company and hopes of a rebound.

"I'm just taking it step by step," Farren said. "But I really want to stay in the industry."

The boom-and-bust cycles in the oil business can be brutal for those wanting to make it a career. Recent graduates entered the field when colleges boasted near 100 percent job placement rates and six-figure jobs awaited the top of the class.

Today, the biggest colleges in Texas have enrollment caps in place and advise petroleum engineering majors to consider other disciplines, take entry-level jobs to stay in the industry, or go to graduate school until conditions improve.

But the next two graduating classes _ the petroleum engineers who entered school before the 2014 crash _ are still the largest in history.

The few universities that put enrollment caps in place before the price collapse, such as Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin, had been getting as many as 15 applicants for each available spot, said Jon Olson, chair of UT's petroleum engineering department.

"Really, it was kind of out of hand," Olson said. "There was so much demand."

Those who research the industry realized several years ago that increased demand could oversaturate the job market, especially if there was a steep drop in oil prices.

2010 "was when we collectively in the U.S. started talking about it," said Lloyd Heinze, a professor at Texas Tech who has collected data on petroleum engineering programs since the 1970s. "But a university is a large boat, and it's hard to turn very fast."

In 2010, there were 4,721 petroleum engineering students in the United States, according to Heinze's data. Today, there are 11,332.

"That gives you an idea of what happens when universities think there's a job market there," Heinze said. "We've collectively probably produced way more students in the last five years than we should have."

For Farren, the challenging classes were worth it, and not just for the money the career would yield.

"Taking classes revolving around oil, I just fell in love with it," he said. "I find myself picking up books about oil and gas and reading them. And I'm a slow reader, so that should tell you something."

Companies were courting freshmen and sophomores for internships, and Farren worked them during the summers. Typically, companies offer interns who are entering their senior year full-time positions at the end of the summer.

The June before his senior year, the price of oil peaked at $115 a barrel. By December, it had fallen to less than $70. Now it's below $30.

That precipitous drop forced oil and gas companies to cut more than 250,000 jobs worldwide, according to industry consultant Graves & Co.

The first jobs to go were those closest to the rigs, the actual hands-on work in the field. But it wasn't long before employees with the least seniority were cut. And there are no employees with less seniority than those who haven't even started working yet.

"One of my good buddies had a full-time offer that got rescinded," Farren said. "That was a real eye-opener for me. That's what got me thinking, 'Whoa, we're in some bad times.'"

___

The last comparable slump was in the mid-1980s, when crude oil prices fell more than 46 percent between January and March 1986. Students then faced similar job shortages.

"There's not many industries like this," said Mike Minarovic, a 1987 UT graduate who now manages an oil and gas company in Houston. "The price of an F-150 truck doesn't go down 50 percent in 12 months. The lows are low and the highs are high."

In the long term, enrollment caps and high grade-point average requirements will help reduce class sizes. Heinze's data shows that enrollment tends to lag oil prices by about two years.

There are still jobs in the industry _ just fewer of them, said Daniel Hill, head of Texas A&M's petroleum engineering department.

"We tell students in times like this you just have to work at it a lot harder," Hill said. "You can't just wait on campus for jobs to come to you, like you maybe could a few years ago."

In 2014, about 80 percent of Texas A&M graduates were placed in full-time positions or in graduate programs, Hill said. That percentage, while lower than petroleum placement in the past, was still higher than the national employment rate for college graduates, which was 69.4 percent in 2014.

But in a December poll in a Texas A&M senior seminar, only 50 percent of those graduating have job offers, and 10 percent plan to go to graduate school, Hill said.

At Texas Tech, Heinze estimated the numbers are even lower. "I'd be surprised if more than 25 percent of them have a job," he said.

___

The consensus among petroleum engineering professors, professionals and students is that the industry will be back on the rise by the time this year's freshmen graduate. Some experts cautiously predict prices to climb into the $60 range by 2020. By then, Heinze predicts that class sizes will have shrunk to a reasonable level.

"Maybe instead of 15 applicants for every chair, we'll have six or seven," UT's Olson said.

The demographics of the industry also ensure that companies will hire in the future as engineers brought on before the 1980s price crash begin reaching retirement age.

But for the three or four years of students in between _ the ones like Farren in grad-school limbo _ prospects may be more uncertain.

"I've heard from friends still in school that it seems like a lot of the companies that go to A&M now to recruit are mostly looking at freshmen and sophomores for internships," Farren said. "They're not looking at the juniors or seniors as much. So those guys are just stuck in the middle."

___

(c)2016 The Dallas Morning News

Visit The Dallas Morning News at www.dallasnews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

_____

PHOTO (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194):
AUSTIN  With the Supreme Court close to deciding whether Texas method of funding public schools is constitutional, a recurrent talking point again has pervaded the conversation: Charter schools are disadvantaged when compared with traditional school districts because they get less money on average from the state.

That narrative is incomplete at best, experts said.

Lawmakers and lobbyists often say that only about five people in the state of Texas really understand how school finance works. Weighted average daily attendance, the cost of education index, golden pennies  the way state and local tax dollars fund public schools is a complex set of concepts that takes time and effort to understand.

In addition, as a result of seven lawsuits challenging the systems constitutionality since 1984, Texas has ended up with a patchwork set of formulas, weights and measures that is updated in some areas and outmoded in others.

Add charter schools to the mix, and things get more complicated, according to Lisa Dawn-Fisher. As associate commissioner at the Texas Education Agency in charge of school finance, Dawn-Fisher is the top expert on public school funding in the state.

I dont think theres anything about school finance that is as simple as people want it to be, Dawn-Fisher said recently. I think its hard to wrap your mind around all these esoteric concepts.

State lawmakers first approved charters 20 years ago. Texas now boasts 195 charter providers, which operate hundreds of individual campuses, most clustered in large urban areas. Charters are public schools funded by taxpayer money, just like traditional public school districts.

There are some differences, however.

Every traditional public school district has access to two pots of money from the state: one to cover daily operations costs, called maintenance and operations, and one for capital development, known as facilities funding.

Up to the reader

Charters do not get facilities funding from the state, nor do they have the option of asking voters for additional money through the issuance of bonds. Instead, they often cover new building costs out of operations money or through private donations.

That facilities funding gap is the basis for the narrative that charter schools generally are disadvantaged compared to public school districts. Dawn-Fisher points out, however, that on the operations side of the equation, charters get benefits that school districts just cant achieve, by and large.

Small- and medium-sized districts each get extra money from the state, depending on their enrollment numbers. Charters, however, get both size adjustments, a perk that ripples through the rest of the formulas to the charters advantage. In addition, while charters do not have the ability to hold a bond election, they benefit every time local taxes are raised because they receive so-called enrichment money based on the average of all school districts.

Charters get about $1,000 more per (average daily attendance) than a school district for their maintenance and operations funding. And on average, school districts get about $1,000 per ADA in state aid and local taxes for facilities, and so its kind of up to the reader to decide whether or not those things wash out, Dawn-Fisher said.

The Texas Charter School Association takes issue with Dawn-Fishers numbers, saying they cannot include all state and local components of the funding mechanism.

At a December meeting of the Senate Committee on Education, TCSA Executive Director David Dunn told lawmakers that charters, on average, get $1,000 less than districts when looking at a number called weighted average daily attendance. The figure is a district or charters average daily attendance, with additional money for students that are more expensive to educate, such as English language learners.

Dunn and other charter representatives included the $1,000 less talking point in arguments before the Texas Supreme Court.

The State provides charter schools not only significantly less funding than necessary to achieve a general diffusion of knowledge, but also significantly less funding than it provides to school districts. In fact, it is undisputed that this discrimination costs charter schools $1,000 per weighted student, the TCSA wrote in a brief to the high court last August.

Misleading numbers

That assertion is far from undisputed.

Scott Hochberg and Lynn Moak both have spent decades working on school finance, the former as a long-time legislator and consultant and the latter as a top researcher on the issue. Both said the problem with the charters narrative is that they rely on averages that do not provide a complete picture.

Averages are misleading, said Hochberg, who was involved with the creation of the charter system in Texas in 1995. You might not drown in the average water level in Sims Bayou, but I wouldnt go stand there in a rainstorm.

Moak agreed. A study he recently co-authored found charters with an average daily attendance of more than 1,000 kids received more operations funding per child from the state than similarly-sized districts, while smaller charters were disadvantaged in that same funding when compared with smaller-sized districts. The study did not look at facilities funding because the different ways charters and districts calculate their weighted average daily attendance means it is not an apples-to-apples comparison.

One of the things we discovered in our report, mentioned in our report, is that school districts and charters operate under different accounting systems and include different things, Moak said. You cant make a generic statement.

Comprehensive solution

Dunn said his group has joined in on the school finance lawsuit precisely to address how to fix the way Texas funds public schools, including charters. He said they draw attention to the facilities funding gap because it is the most negative , impactful problem arising from the current system for charters.

Ultimately, all of us in the public education system are after the same thing, and that is better educational outcomes for kids, Dunn said. The more that we can find ways to work together to achieve better education outcomes for kids, the whole state of Texas wins.

Hochberg said the solution is not simply to issue a blank check to charters to make up for the facilities funding gap  something theyve asked for in the past  but a more comprehensive answer that could involve allowing charters to issue bonds.

No one denies theres an issue with charter schools facilities funding, Hochberg said. I think the problem is the lack of a creative solution to provide both the funding they need and the accountability that the taxpayers deserve.
Midland College and Baylor University announced Monday the creation of a formal Baylor Bound transfer agreement that will help students transfer more easily between the two institutions, according to a release from the college.

Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr and Midland College President Steve Thomas signed the partnership agreement during a ceremony in the Scharbauer Student Center Carrasco Room at Midland College.

As one of its goals under the strategic initiative, Baylor intends to create 10 Baylor Bound partnerships during the next five years. The Baylor-Midland agreement, according to the college, is the seventh partnership, along with McLennan Community College in Waco, Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Blinn College in Brenham, Collin College in McKinney, Temple College in Temple and Alamo Colleges in San Antonio.

The Baylor Bound program will serve students from Midland College who, upon meeting the programs criteria, will transfer to Baylor to complete their bachelor degrees.

Thomas called Baylor Bound a wonderful opportunity for our students. He added the agreement with Baylor University adds to MCs list of quality universities that enable Midland College students to seamlessly transfer in order to continue their studies.

By beginning their college careers at Midland College, students can take advantage of the Legacy Scholarship and other opportunities while receiving the personal attention and specialized assistance for which Midland College is renowned, Thomas said. After completing an associate degree, students have the opportunity to transfer to esteemed higher education institutions such as Baylor.

Starr said the Baylor Bound program provides an affordable avenue for community college students who wish to complete their studies at Baylor University.

Students may declare their intent to transfer to Baylor by submitting the Baylor Bound application before enrolling at MC or while enrolled as a full-time student, according to the press release. Admission to the program will be determined by Baylors Office of Admission Services. Students at Midland College who become part of the Baylor Bound program can choose a plan from 66 majors, all of which are articulated through specific MAPS -- or Major Academic Planners -- that will assist them as they move toward degree completion. More information about these majors and course transfer equivalency between Baylor and Midland College is available at www.baylor.edu/advising/bbmaps.

Advisers from both institutions will help students select courses that satisfy program requirements to allow for a successful transition from Midland College to full-time status at Baylor. Midland College Baylor Bound students also will receive information about scholarships for transfer students and special transfer residential experiences. Also, students from Midland College will have access to Baylors libraries via the Interlibrary Loan Agreement as well as special opportunities to visit the Baylor campus and meet with Baylor representatives.

Baylor and Midland College officials, along with approximately 100 alumni, friends and special guests from across the region, including U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway and Texas Rep. Tom Craddick, gathered at a reception following the signing to celebrate the partnership between the two institutions.
Midland College recently honored nine faculty members at a luncheon Jan. 14 at the Scharbauer Student Center Carrasco Room.

The Teaching Excellence Award is the most prestigious awards that the college gives its faculty. Recipients are nominated and selected by their peers.

Award winners are:

-- Pedro Avalos, department Chair, Automotive/Diesel Technology

-- Alma Brannan, associate professor, Mathematics Center Coordinator

-- Cindy Cuny, associate professor, Associate Degree Nursing

-- Chad Farris, instructor, Aviation Maintenance

-- Leland Hart, instructor, Emergency Medical Services

-- Sonia Ford, department chair, Math, Physics & Engineering

-- Miranda Poage, program Chair, Biology

-- Sondra Richards, program chair, Government

-- Lori Thomas, associate professor, Mathematics

Conaway to host Academy Day

SAN ANGELO -- U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway will be hosting Academy Day 1:30-4:30 p.m. March 5 for students interested in applying to one of the military service academies. The event will be at Angelo State University, MCS Building, Room 100, 2200 Deana Drive.

The Academy Day program will feature information about the nomination process. Academy liaison officers, ROTC representatives and others will be on hand to meet with prospective students and their families. Congressional staff members also will be in attendance to assist prospective applicants.

Application deadline for the class of 2021 is Oct. 18. High school juniors may submit their applications to Conaway at his San Angelo Regional Office, 33 East Twohig, Suite 307, San Angelo, Texas 76903.

For more information, call Joanne Powell at 325-659-4010.

GT applications being accepted

Midland ISD is accepting applications for GT (Gifted & Talented) Student Services for the 2016-17 school year. Deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Friday.

Applications are available on the MISD website. Information on the nomination process is available at the Advanced Academics web page.

Trinity to host author Ashley Merryman

Trinity School is hosting its annual Hal and Sweetie Peck Memorial Speaker Series Feb. 4. The speaker is author and journalist Ashley Merryman.

The topic of Merrymans talk is Raising Children Who Are Fearless When Facing Challenges and Resilient in Defeat.

Tickets are $55. Deadline to buy tickets is Friday. For more information or to buy tickets call 697-3281 or visit www.trinitymidland.org.

GHS to offer credit by exam tests

Greenwood High School will be offering credit by examination tests, 8 a.m. to noon March 1-3.

To be eligible to take the test with prior instruction, students must have received a grade of at least 60 in the course failed. To receive credit, the student must score a minimum grade of 70 and meet all other district requirements.

To be eligible to earn credit by examination without prior instruction, students must meet all district requirements for that grade level or applicable course. To receive credit, the student must score a minimum of 80 or better.

Wednesday is the deadline to register for the exams. Contact the school counselor to register.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A Houston grand jury investigating undercover footage of Planned Parenthood found no wrongdoing Monday by the abortion provider and instead indicted anti-abortion activists involved in making the videos that provoked outrage among Republican leaders nationwide.

David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to purchasing human organs. Another activist, Sandra Merritt, was also indicted on a charge of tampering with a governmental record. It's the first time anyone in the group has been charged criminally since the videos started surfacing last year.

In a statement announcing the indictment, Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson didn't provide details on the charges, including what record or records were allegedly tampered with and why Daleiden faces a charge related to buying human organs. Anderson's office said it could not provide details until the documents charging Daleiden and Merritt were formally made public, which was expected later Monday.

"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," Anderson's statement said. "As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us."

The anti-abortion Center for Medical Progress has released several covertly shot videos of Planned Parenthood officials discussing the handling of fetal tissue from abortions. The center claims that Planned Parenthood illegally sold fetal tissue; Planned Parenthood officials have denied any wrongdoing and have said the videos were misleadingly edited.

A phone message left seeking comment from the center about Monday's indictment wasn't immediately returned.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has called footage from the Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston "repulsive and unconscionable." It showed people pretending to be from a company that procures fetal tissue for research touring the facility. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also opened his own investigation into the videos.

Abbott said the indictments will not impact the state's investigation, adding that Texas will "continue to protect life."

Planned Parenthood officials swiftly hailed the indictment as just.

"This is absolutely great news because it is a demonstration of what Planned Parenthood has said from the very beginning: We follow every law and regulation and these anti-abortion activists broke multiple laws to try and spread lies," said spokeswoman Rochelle Tafolla of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

The videos provoked an outcry from the anti-abortion movement, and prompted numerous investigations of Planned Parenthood by Republican-led committees in Congress and by GOP-led state governments. Thus far, none of the investigations has turned up wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood. Republicans in Congress last summer unsuccessfully called for cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood says it abides by a law that allows providers to be reimbursed for the costs of processing tissue donated by women who have had abortions.

The Texas video was the fifth released by the group. Before its release, Melaney Linton, president of the Houston Planned Parenthood clinic, told state lawmakers last summer that it was likely to feature actors  pretending to be from a company called BioMax  asking leading questions about how to select potential donors for a supposed study of sickle cell anemia. Linton said the footage could feature several interactions initiated by BioMax about how and whether a doctor could adjust an abortion if the patient has offered to donate tissue for medical research. She also said Planned Parenthood believed the video would be manipulated.

Earlier this month, Planned Parenthood sued the center in a California federal court, alleging extensive criminal misconduct. The lawsuit says the center's videos were the result of numerous illegalities, including making recordings without consent, registering false identities with state agencies and violating non-disclosure agreements.

After the lawsuit was filed, Daleiden told The Associated Press that he looked forward to confronting Planned Parenthood in court.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, in tandem with local law enforcement authorities, arrested two methamphetamine distributors on Saturday. Rene Zamaripa, 41, and Sandra Moreno, 46, were arrested in Odessa in connection with being in possession of two pounds of methamphetamine and three handguns, according to the DEA.

The arrest come on the heels of a large-scale raid in Odessa that netted 13 pounds of the drug and arrests of 24 people earlier this month, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram report. Though Saturdays arrest was not related to that larger drug ring, authorities stress how this continues to indicate the growing meth problem in the Permian Basin.
We didnt know there was such a need in the community to drink a beer while watching a movie.

The thought comes to mind as the Midland City Council is set to pass an item on todays agenda that would allow the Regal Tall City Stadium 14 on Loop 250 to sell all alcoholic beverages, for on-premises consumption, in a movie theater.

Alcohol is sold at Cinergy Cinema at Business 20 and Loop 250. We knew that was the companys plan before ground was broken on its facility. Regal must realize business is being lost and, therefore, dollars are not coming in because they are not operating on the same playing field.

Its kind of sad. We tend to agree with a letter that has made its rounds in the community that Midland doesnt need every theater to sell alcohol. We would prefer that patrons have the option of being able to attend a movie with their kids or allowing kids to watch a movie by themselves without alcohol being consumed in the theater.

The truth is, alcohol is part of the business plan of most new establishments in Midland. In fairness to the Regal Licensing group that is asking for the alcohol permit for its theater, there are at least six other petitioners asking for alcohol permits. One is a supermarket that wants to sell alcohol to customers eating in its in-store restaurant. So, yes, alcohol is big business. Its where restaurants, and apparently movie theaters, can make their largest profits.

Alcohol is also in demand elsewhere. One of the most-attended Midland RockHounds games during any homestand is Thirsty Thursday, when all drinks, including beer, are half off their normal price. We also cant have a community event without alcohol being served, and nonprofits have been known to debate locations of an event specifically because they want the ability to provide alcohol for its patrons who expect it.

We arent under the illusion that the theater item  which passed 5-2 on first reading  wont pass again. Only Jeff Sparks and Sharla Hotchkiss voted against the item the first time. We hope there is real discussion on the issue at todays meeting.

In the end, it is hard to envision the reversal of a 5-2 decision on first reading. Regal will have the ability to sell alcohol, and consumers will be able to stand in line wondering whether to buy a outrageously high-priced soda or an even slightly higher-priced cup of beer.
Guardian to Create Data and Insight Team

In the UK, Guardian News & Media (GNM) has outlined a three-year business plan, which includes the creation of a new Data and Insight team to support editorial and commercial innovation; and the implementation of an ad model that tracks evolving market trends.



Editor-in-Chief Katharine Viner (pictured) explained that the plan has been designed to enhance operating efficiency, reduce costs, and secure new growth opportunities for the global news organisation. This plan also includes measures to reduce the Guardian's 268m cost base by 20%, aiming to break even by 2018/19; relaunch a membership offer to double reader revenues; and align editorial and commercial operations to harness higher-growth membership and digital opportunities. In addition, the media group will focus its international growth efforts on the US and Australia.



Viner commented: 'Over the next three years, a growing and far deeper set of relationships with our audience will result in a reimagining of our journalism, a sustainable business model and a newly-focused digital organisation that reflects our independence and our mission'.



In 2014, Kantar acquired the Guardian's data visualization and interactive business Guardian Digital Agency, which was set up to offer external clients access to the newspaper's expertise in areas including site design, branding and graphics, content strategy and data visualisation. It is not yet known how the creation of the new Data and Insight team will impact on the existing Audience Insight team, led by Audience Director Charlotte Putnam.



Web site: www.theguardian.com .




Anna Faris has built a career on making people laugh, but there are currently two people in her life who provide Faris with more than just comic relief. On Thursday (Jan. 21), the Mom star stopped by HuffPost Live to talk about her Emmy Award-winning CBS sitcom, raising a child in Hollywood, and why she loves her "sexy" husband Chris Pratt.

The 39-year-old took fans inside a part of her life they don't see very often. Faris opened up about the most important roles she's taken on outside of Hollywood: wife to Jurassic World star Pratt and mother to their three-year-old son Jack.

The two welcomed their child into the world in August 2012. Jack was born nine weeks premature and spent a month in the neonatal intensive-care unit for a month before they were able to take him home. Faris admits becoming a mother completely transformed her as a person.

A photo posted by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on May 17, 2015 at 5:32pm PDT

"Especially as a woman, your identity changes," Faris told HuffPost Live. "You are now a mom, sort of the most important job in the world, and the pressure and the guilt and all the things that are sort of wrapped up in that, I don't think anyone can prepare you for."

Faris and Pratt are attempting to provide a normal childhood for their son while living under the public eye. The happy parents often struggle with decision to raise Jack outside of Hollywood, in order to ensure he has a more simple and humble upbringing. Faris admits the two are learning to "live a little less selfishly."

Despite his young age, Jack is not camera shy. Faris recalled a time when she was picking Jack up form preschool, only to find some paparazzi waiting outside. Although she wasn't too pleased to see them, Jack greeted them with a wave and said "cheese." She also noted the paparazzi don't usually show up to the school unless her hubby's in town.

Parenting is a new thing for both actors and even though she admits they don't quite know what they're doing, Faris describes the 36-year-old former Parks and Recreation star as a great dad. She loves watching her two boys together, especially when son's face light up whenever Pratt comes home.

Her husband's parenting style is a mix of fun and strict, according to The House Bunny star. The actress couldn't help but gush about Pratt. They met in 2007 on the set of Take Me Home Tonight and married in 2009 in an intimate Bali wedding. He restored her views on love.

Falling in love wasn't hard for her when it came to Pratt. She was blown away by his kind heart and his intelligence. His physical appearance was an obvious plus, but for Faris, it was his personality and character that really drew her in.

"He's humble, and he's a great leader, and he's an incredible father and a great husband," Faris said. "And I feel like, after years of dating people that weren't the best for me, I found somebody who's love I could really accept."

Watch the full interview below:

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Last week, 50 Cent launched all out war against the 4/4 rapper, Meek Mill, after he caught wind of him taking jabs on the "Gave Em' Hope" record. The constant back and forth between the two even elicited a response from former Murder Inc. CEO, Irv Gotti. As a result, 50 Cent and Gotti exchanged words via Instagram following he and Mill's fall out, and it got so ugly that The Kanan Tape rapper even made some cruel remarks towards against Gotti's 82-year-old father.

To say 50 Cent and Gotti's longstanding grudge between one another is water under the bridge would be utter delusion for anyone peering in. Gotti may now be paying the ultimate price for coming to Mill's aid, as he and 50 Cent are in the midst of an ugly battle, after Gotti posted an alleged order of protection that 50 Cent took out against he and his brother years ago.

WARNING: INSTAGRAM POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE

A photo posted by The Shade Room (@theshaderoominc) on Jan 22, 2016 at 11:43am PST

Although the post has since been deleted from Gotti's Instagram account, it did, however, receive an immediate response from 50 Cent. According to Vibe, prior to 50 Cent deleting his own response, he said some pretty harsh things to say about Gotti's father who was celebrating his 82nd birthday saying,

"Irv said he a grown man and his father 82 years old.Tell you daddy I said hurry up and die punk. Lets get to it no more IG."

50 Cent's seemingly heartless response catching Gotti's father in the crossfire garnered a response from Mill in the comments of the post saying, "let him drown hisself he's showing his card." Mill's comments exacted a threatening response from 50 Cent where he vented, "I see you b*tch you don't want no parts of me girl. I'm watching you, now be the same when I see you."

The whole ordeal looks like it could potentially get much uglier before it gets better gauging from the heated responses coming from all parties.

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Justin Bieber has nothing to apologize for - he's dominating the charts. For the third week in a row, his Purpose single "Sorry" tops the Hot 100, and Bieber takes the runner's up spot as well with "Love Yourself." And though the 21-year-old pop star is seemingly everywhere, new singles from the likes of Alessia Cara, The Chainsmokers and Twenty One Pilots are climbing up the charts.

Bieber's "Sorry" once again reigns supreme on the Hot 100 thanks to its ironclad hold on streaming, Billboard reports. With 20 million plays in the U.S., "Sorry" was easily the most-played song online this week. But, that's not the only way this song managed to hold on to No. 1 for three weeks. "Sorry" is also the second-most played song on radio with 144 million audience impressions and sold a respectable 81,000 copies this week as the No. 5 digital download.

But, as "Sorry" tops the charts, there's another song fighting for the top spot... Bieber's "Love Yourself," which rose one spot to No. 2 this week. "Love Yourself" leads digital downloads for the third week with 139,000 copies sold. And while that track topped sales, its 16.7 million streams (No. 2) and 117 million audience impressions on radio (No. 4) weren't enough to be No. 1, though it seems as though this song is still rising.

Bieber's back-to-back singles at the very top of the charts isn't his only appearance on the Hot 100 this week. His lead Purpose single "What Do You Mean?" also hangs in the top 10 at No. 10.

In the middle of all the Bieber singles, Adele's former 10-week No. 1 single "Hello" slips down one spot to No. 3. Similarly, another big hit Drake's "Hotline Bling" also continues its chart decline, slipping down two spots from No. 7 to 9.

While Adele and Drake fall down the charts, alt-rock newcomers Twenty One Pilots' "Stressed Out" holds strong at No. 4 on the charts for a second week with 127,000 digital downloads (No. 2), an 18 percent increase in streaming (11.8 million plays) and a 15 percent boost on radio to 106 million audience impressions.

Another Hot 100 newbie Alessia Cara also fared well this week. Her debut single "Here" bumped up into the top five this week, for a new high position at No. 5.

She's followed by fellow youthful pop stars Shawn Mendes and Selena Gomez, whose singles "Stitches" and "Same Old Love" landed at Nos. 6 and 7, respectively.

One new song rose in to the top 10 this week, The Chainsmokers' "Roses" featuring ROZES. The EDM hit lifted three spots from No. 11 to land at No. 8 this week. Best known for the viral hit "#SELFIE," The Chainsmokers have their first top 10 single thanks to 72,000 downloads (No. 6), 68 million radio impressions (No. 13) and a boost from No. 17 to 15 in streaming with 8.1 million plays.

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It's no secret how close actor/music artist Tyrese Gibson and actress Taraji P. Henson have become since their days on the 2004 film, Baby Boy. Their friendship has been promoted on Gibson's Instagram site, and they both have publicly admitted how much they love one another, but only as friends. But, it's a new year so could the two finally be ready to take that next step into a full blown relationship? Gibson speaks on the possibility of dating Henson and his new talk show with Rev. Run during a recent interview.

As Jody and Yvette, Gibson and Henson seem to create the perfect on-screen chemistry. So much so, their die hard fans of the film Baby Boy would love to see the pair together in real life, as a couple. It's not like Gibson doesn't often proclaim his love and admiration for Henson via his Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts. Recently Gibson sat down with co-host Rev. Run and Essence Live to discuss his new talk show, which is geared towards adults in relationships, and finally speak on whether or not he and the Empire star could create magic together as a real life couple.

"I don't really know what that chemistry is independent of the movie set and we both have never tried to go there either," explained Gibson of what it would be like to date Henson according to Urban Belle Magazine. Gibson explained how they are really good friends and although he is aware that most people want to see them together and are rooting for them to become a couple, he's just not sure if their personalities would work together in a romantic relationship.

"I mean I do love her and I do know her, but she's got a very big personality and I do too," explained Gibson during the Essence Live interview. "And I feel like when you get in a relationship, you can cancel each other out. And it has nothing to do with her success versus mine...she's a Virgo, she's loud, she's aggressive. And I'm big, and I'm aggressive and I need a woman that's got a soft voice, and her voice doesn't even go above a certain octave."

So maybe Henson is just a little bit over the top with her bigger than life personality for Gibson but that doesn't stop him from posting photos with captions like this about his on-screen boo...

Maybe it won't be long before the Golden Globe actress is featured as a guest on the new talk show, It's Not You It's Men. The show plans to tackle subjects that many couples may face during the span of their relationship like bad sex; sex before marriage and the idea of marrying someone if the sex is bad. Gibson brings in his perspective, coupled with the perspective of Rev. Run, who's a married man of faith.



The show premiered on Sunday, Jan. 23 on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and is set to have numerous guests this season including Jordin Sparks, Amber Rose, Marlon Wayans, Vin Diesel and more. &amp;amp;amp;nbsp;

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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?
This February marks the 10th anniversary of legendary hip-hop producer James Yancey's death. In celebration of J Dilla's legacy, a number of star-studded celebrations are being planned for what would have been the artist also known as Jay Dee's 42nd birthday weekend.

Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey, Jay Dee's mother, is hosting the second annual J Dilla Weekend in Miami February 5-7th. The festival's lineup features Bun B, Jay Electronica and Black Thought of The Roots among others, Hot New Hip Hop reports.

In addition to performances, Ma Dukes' memorial event also features an official James Yancey Record Exchange hosted by Discogs and Vinylhub. According to the event's Facebook page, the weekend-long festivities will also include producer panels, BBQs, photo/art exhibits and a number of other events celebrating the life and lasting influence of the Detroit-born artist.

The same weekend also marks the 10th annual edition of the J Dilla Changed My Life party series organized by The Doctor's Orders at Scala in London. The tribute event's lineup features performances from Illa J (Jay Dee's brother), De La Soul's DJ Maseo and the honoree's longtime MC, Phat Kat, among others, MixMag reports.

All proceeds from the UK event are going to the J Dilla Foundation as well as Lupus UK, DJ Mag reports. Ma Dukes founded the aforementioned foundation with the purpose of helping fund inner-city music programs and providing scholarships to students in need so they may attend schools with progressive music courses of study.

Yancey died at 32 from complications caused by Lupus and a rare blood condition. Donuts, which was released just days before his death, had been partially recorded in the hospital thanks to a portable studio.

Since then his estate has unearthed countless other tracks and he's seen a number of posthumous releases, many of which have been collected and released by Ma Dukes herself. Jay Dee's most recent posthumous release was an especially electronic-influenced collection titled Dillatronic, which dropped last October. Listen to "Dillatronic #7" below.

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Last week, Macklemore ignited a social media debate with the release of White Privilege II and references to Miley Cyrus and Iggy Azalea. More recently, the Seattle rapper denied that the track was a diss aimed at Azalea and explained the concept behind the song.

On his latest release, Macklemore offered up his perspective as a white rapper and detailed his experience during a Black Lives Matter rally after Darren Wilson was not indicted for shooting and killing Ferguson teen Mike Brown. He further detailed the experience during an interview with Rolling Stone.

"I remember streaming it, watching the non-indictment, and feeling sick, physically sick, frustrated and angry," he said. "I got in my car, and I drove by these people assembled outside of the police precinct. I parked my car as the march was coming down the street, we proceeded to march all over Seattle, and we ended up shutting down the freeway."

Following his involvement in the protest, the Downtown rapper revealed that he was contacted by "an O.G." hip-hop artist, who he decided not to name. He referred to the dialogue as a "defining moment.

"He sent me a DM on Twitter and then he called me, and he said, 'I see you, I see what you're doing,'" Macklemore said. "He was very complimentary about the music we've made, and it led into him saying, 'You have a platform, but silence is an action, and right now, you're being silent. You're not saying anything about what's going on, and because you're a white rapper you have perspective and an insight onto these issues that you need to be speaking about. It's very important that you engage your audience.

Aside from reflecting on his observations during the rally, Macklemore also used the track to address cultural appropriation and he name dropped two other acts who have been accused of being culture vultures. While talking with the publication, Macklemore insisted that his lyrics where intended to include Cyrus and Azalea in the larger discussion.

"It's an unpacking moment of internalized criticism and self-doubt, and 'What have I done,' and letting the criticism infiltrate who I am," he said. "'Why am I insecure at a protest?' And I think that people get put into boxes, and the conversation around cultural appropriation  I was at the forefront of that, rightfully so. And that conversation also included Miley Cyrus and Iggy Azalea, and that's why their names are on the record."

In December, Mac Miller shared similar sentiments in a series of tweets.

Dear White People who listen to rap music... What have you done for the #BlackLivesMatter movement  Mac (@MacMiller) December 16, 2015

Music is something bringing people together for sure. But just because we listen to rap music doesn't mean we get it https://t.co/EJ2dzmAZXh  Mac (@MacMiller) December 16, 2015

Azalea seemingly took offense to being mentioned on "White Privilege II" and engaged in an exchange with rapper/activist Talib Kweli via Twitter.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' This Unruly Mess I've Made album is slated for a February 26 release.

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Welcome back! On Monday (Jan. 25), Love & Hip Hop: New York aired the seventh episode of season six, properly titled "Ups and Downs." To much surprise, this episode dealt with more personal growth than drama. Tara Wallace confronted Peter Gunz about his messy past and reveals she is pregnant with his baby, again. French Montana makes a surprise appearance during a studio session, while old beef is brought to life during a different studio session. Find out what went down last night in the full episode recap below.

The episode starts with Rah Ali meeting with stylists, Rose and Talia Coles, to talk about the drama that went down between Sexxy Lexxy and MariahLynn at her fashion show. Rah reveals the only reason she chose MariahLynn to perform at her event over Lexxy is because MariahLynn has been an established solo artist for years.

Although she's been rapping for awhile, Lexxy is new to performing solo. Rah also told the ladies about her issues with Remy Ma, admitting she's not ready to forgive or forget. Still upset by it all, she's willing to resolve things with her friend. When Rah asks if anyone has any tea to spill, Rose drops a bombshell. She reveals she's dating DJ Self. It looks like that kiss went a little further than what the cameras actually showed.

In preparation for their wedding, Remy and Papoose go cake tasting. Papoose inquires about the guest list for their ceremony. Remy admits she's concerned and frustrated with Pap's mom for not visiting her while she was in jail. She also feels like people in her family turned their back on her. Papoose believes the best thing to do is to work out all the family problems before they walk down the aisle.

Yandy Smith hits the studio with Miss Moe Money. She plays Moe the same song she played for Bianca Bonnie, for some friendly competition. Moe reveals just how hungry she's been to get in the studio and make some music. At this time, Moe feels she made the right decision to leave BBOD behind her and kick off a solo career. Believing in her potential, Yandy signs Moe back up for Self's Gwinin Fest. Yandy hopes this time Moe will be able to show off her skills without bringing any drama. Yandy also reveals Bianca Bonnie will be performing too. Moe doesn't view Bianca as competition and readies herself to shut things down at Gwinin Fest.

Amina Buddafly reflects on her decision to terminate her pregnancy and finds a way to translate her emotions into a song. While playing the song, Peter Gunz walks in on her session. She says Peter has been more attentive and loving since finding out about the abortion. She appreciates how supportive he's been. Peter apologizes and admits he's trying to take the proper steps needed to win her back. Amina admits that she's happy and is willing to work on their estranged marriage.

Lexxy meets with Moe to talk about their break up and the drama with Rah. The way the two ended their business relationship has been making Lexxy feel uneasy, so she looks to Moe for assurance surrounding the current status of their friendship. Moe feels like Lexxy allows outsiders to manipulate her (i.e. Rah). Lexxy disagrees, telling Moe her attitude is a major problem. Moe tells Lexxy she's been making moves as a solo artist and how she's been working with Yandy. Lexxy gets in her feeling, because she believes while Rah is signing her up for fashion shows, Moe is getting registered for actual music events. Before Moe leaves for another studio session, the ladies discuss their disgust for MariahLynn and Bianca.

Cardi B invites Bianca and MariahLynn to blow glass in an attempt to partake in activities that won't get them into trouble. MariahLynn tells Bianca about her beef with Moe and Lexxy. Although Lexxy tried to fight her at Rah's fashion show, MariahLynn admits she's not really worried about her. Her real problem lies with Moe. Knowing Bianca has a problem with Moe as well, MariahLynn tells her she'd be down to fight Moe with her if she ever needs a helping hand. Trying her best to put that etiquette class to use, Bianca changes the topic and invites the ladies to her next studio session with Yandy.

Lexxy meets with Rah to finally address the issues that have been bothering her. She also reveals just how fed up she's been with Rah's managing skills. Lexxy is eager to get into the studio and put her skills in motion. Rah tells her she's already arranged studio time with a huge rapper and is also planning on looking into signing her up for Self's event. After the conversation, Lexxy feels more at ease and confident about her career path.

Rich Dollaz holds a boy's night with Self and Papoose. Self tells them about his love for Yorma and the temptation that's been calling his name with Rose. Surprisingly, Rich offers Self some positive advice about keeping the woman he loves happy. Rich tells Self to focus on Yorma and leave Rose alone. Self isn't the only one with something to get off his chest. Papoose tells the guys about the family issues going on with Remy. He knows the only way to resolve the problems is to address them head on. Papoose is eager to have a sit-down with Remy and his mother.

Lexxy's faith in Rah is fully restored when she finds out Rah reserved a studio session with rapper French Montana. French listens to Lexxy's track, watches her perform, and gives her some pointers on being successful in the business. The studio session goes well. French seems to be feeling Lexxy's track and ultimately decides to hold on to it, just in case he decides to add a verse to it.

Tara Wallace asks Peter to meet with her so she can tell him she's five months pregnant. Peter tells Tara that Amina got an abortion. Tara doesn't seem too surprised about the news and is looking for the conversation to focus back on their unborn child. Tara gets frustrated at Peter, wishing he would own his wrong doings and get himself together. He breaks down in tears, admitting the negative shadow people have cast on him really hurts his feelings. Peter tells Tara he's trying to be a better man. Peter worries how he going to break the news to Amina.

Papoose calls a meeting between his mother Irene and Remy so they can talk about the things that have been bothering her. Remy wishes Irene visited her in prison and questioned why Irene wanted her son to stay away from her while she was incarcerated. Irene reveals the truth behind their big misunderstanding. It's not that she didn't want Papoose to hold her down in jail, in reality, Irene wanted to make sure her son didn't let his career fall behind while he takes care of Remy. Remy is appreciative of their honest conversation, but is still hesitant about inviting her mother to her own wedding. Remy is still holding on to some bottled up anger toward her family and Papoose sees it as another opportunity to have an open discussion.

Moe hits the studio to lay down a few verses for the beats Yandy supplied her. Bianca and Cardi B walk in on their studio session. Not only is Bianca surprised that Yandy's working with Moe, but she's also annoyed that Yandy offered Moe the same track she originally played for her. Bianca confronts Yandy and gets into a yelling match with Moe again. Moe warns Bianca to stay in her place and that doesn't sit with her well. Bianca then forgets all about her etiquette training and decides to throw a drink at Moe. Moe charges at Bianca in retaliation, but security stops her before any damage is done. The episode ends with the ladies both being restrained.

Love & Hip Hop: New York airs on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on VH1. Tune in next week for another recap of the drama.

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Ted Cruz, as a senior in high school, gave a video taped interview in which he facetiously claimed he wanted to take over the world. Some, after viewing the footage, are now wondering to what degree the controversial senator was dismissive in his young adult remarks.

Cruz's name and personality have become best identified with a word that is nonexistent in the English language. According to Cruz's freshman roommate at Princeton University in New Jersey, this word is "Backpfeifengeshicht." To quote the man himself (Craig Marzin), "When I met Ted in 1988, I had no word to describe him, but only because I didn't speak German. Thank you, Germans, for 'Backpfeifengesicht.'"

This term, according to Vice News, loosely translates into English as "face that should be slapped." His despised Senate colleagues despite the candidate, and Cruz has earned the revulsion of many Republican National Committee members.

Yet, Cruz has surged in the polls as of late due to his hardline, right-wing conservatism and evangelical Christianity, appealing to early primary voters in important states like Iowa.

One high school peer, Laura Caraway described Cruz as "...not well liked. [There was] this weird personal disconnect. I hear that hasn't changed." Caraway was a member of the same debate team as Cruz during their senior year.



Everything aside, do any of these testimonies, reputations, or anecdotes mean the man is truly bent on taking over the world? Yes, some have known him as a callous, even ruthless politician. And he certainly has alienated many, many members of his party, even calling the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a liar on the Senate Floor. However, Cruz cannot be indicted for a facetious speech he gave as a high school-er, no matter how prescient those aspirations may have proven. Cruz has been demonized in every possible way in the press, Congress, and Republican primary battle, and deserves at least a modicum of responsible judgment when hauling considering criticisms toward the rising candidate.

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SXSW 2016 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the grass roots to large scale festival. Tony Visconti, who was the mastermind behind some of fallen legend David Bowie's most lasting albums, including his last, Blackstar, has just been confirmed as opening keynote speaker.

Perhaps partly in honor of Bowie, Visconti is slated to deliver to deliver the opening address on the music portion of the festival, which stretches a week for the festival's 30th anniversary.

According to Billboard, Visconti's work with Bowie stretches back to his album David Bowie, released in 1969, as well as the "Berlin Trilogy," which includes albums Low, Heroes and Lodger. He also produced Bowie's unexpected album, The Next Day, which was released in 2013. Perhaps one of his most important contributions was his work on Blackstar, which was released just a few days before Bowie died.

Aside from his work with Bowie, Visconti has also worked with Thin Lizzy, U2, Angelique Kidjo, Esperanza Spalding and Daphne Guiness.

It's fitting that Visconti has been chosen to deliver the opening address since it was just discovered that SXSW co-founder Roland Swenson, along with Austin's Wicked Signs owner Jason Carter placed a "David Bowie" sticker over Bowie St. in downtown Austin. Before the culprits were discovered, Austin publications were sent a .GIF in an email that captured two unknown men switching the sign, although no one came forward immediately.

"After Bowie passed away this week, I thought to myself, 'We'll never have Bowie at SXSW, but we can still have David Bowie Street," Swenson said in a statement.

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Things appear to be looking a little better for the beleaguered and once might dance music conglomerate SFX Entertainment that has recently been teetering on a potential bankruptcy. SFX has settled its lawsuit, which alleged that the current Chairman and CEO Robert Silllerman stole the idea behind the company.

Sillerman was being sued by EDM promoter Paolo Moreno, who is a manager at Disco Donnie Presents, artist manager Lawrence Vavra and Moreno's brother, Gabriel Moreno.

Terms of the deal are not being disclosure, but according to Billboard, the settlement agreement was signed on Jan. 22, just two weeks before the case was set to go to trial.

Lawyers on the behalf of the plaintiffs told Billboard that they "are very satisfied the settlement."

The $100 million lawsuit was not looking for SFX after losing several key battles along the way.

The Morenos and Vavra sued SFX, Sillerman and the company's chairman of strategy and development Sheldon Finkel in 2014, claiming to have a joint agreement / partnership over the concept to built the EDM version of a Live Nation. Their idea included purchasing seven or eight different companies and put them under one umbrella. Sillerman allegedly reneged on his agreement to provide the plaintiffs with equity in SFX.

SFX attempted to dismiss the case, but the case moved forward with new emails being provided as evidence against SFX.

SFX is currently in a deep hole financially. Its stock price towards the end of day on Tuesday, Jan. 26 sits at $.11, despite receiving $20 million in emergency funding from Canadian private equity firm Catalyst Capital Group. It has hired a consultancy firm to weigh options that include assets sales, debt restructuring and bankruptcy.

It still has another outstanding lawsuit by shareholders who allege Sillerman made "false and misleading statements" in his attempt to take the company private. One fire has been put out, but there is still a lot of work to be done to save SFX.

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Actress Sophia Vergara has filed a $15 million lawsuit against a beauty company for the unauthorized use of her image.

According to UPI, a Los Angeles based non surgical beauty company, Venus Concept, reportedly used Vegara's image in some of their promotional marketing without her permission. The Modern Family actress reportedly received a treatment from Venus Concept back in 2014. During one of her visits to the office, she took a selfie from inside of the office and posted it to her Instagram account, as reported by the site.

According to reports obtained by People, Vergara, who starred in Hot Pursuit alongside Reese Witherspoon, received the company's Legacy Skin tightening massage treatment in August of 2014, in preparation for the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards. She reportedly did not like the treatment she received and felt it was a "a waste of time and money" that didn't produce the type of results that she was looking for, according to the lawsuit report.

Since her visit and the posting of her selfie to Instagram, Venus Concept has reportedly been using that same Instagram image on their website and at trade shows. In an attempt to protect her brand, the 43-year-old filed the lawsuit against the company on Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

What is so funny Marilyn?? Legacy massage at @drlancerrx A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Aug 22, 2014 at 4:16pm PDT



The Legacy treatment received back in 2014 was more than likely an effort to look her absolute best for the Emmys, seeing as how she was literally put on a pedestal, and rotated around for the audience and nearby cameras to catch every angle of her shape and form, while spinning around in her white gown that evening.

Accordiong to an August 2014 Time article, Vergara stood in the center of a pedestal that rotated 360 degrees while Bruce Rosenblum, chairman of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, jokingly spoke about the state of the television industry.

"What truly matters is that we never forget that our success is based on always giving the viewer something compelling to watch," stated Rosenblum as Vergara rotated. Vergara proceeded to wrap up the skit with her own humor. "Okay enough, enough," exclaimed Vergara. "That's why I stopped doing the car shows!"

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Similar to her character on the BET hit series Being Mary Jane, Gabrielle Union certainly did not bite her tongue as it relates to fellow actress Stacey Dash and her recent comments made about diversity in America. The shade was so real when Union was asked about her take on Dash's comments. Her response was unbelievable.

Union has joined the likes of many celebrities who have not-so-nice words to say about the Clueless actress since she voiced her opinion on diversity in America, according to Rolling Out. During a segment of Fox & Friends, Dash expressed how, in an effort to be rid of segregation once and for all, Americans need to eliminate black networks like BET, awards ceremonies like the Image Awards, and also, black history month.



The video of Dash's remarks soon went viral, causing people like Whoopi Goldberg, Marlon Wayans, Roland Martin and even her own family member, Dame Dash, to weigh in on the topic.

Union, however, is taking a different approach. To her, Dash doesn't even exist, and no one knows who she is.

While attending the Sundance Film Festival on Tuesday Jan. 26, Union was asked in an interview what she thought about the comments made by Dash. "Who's that," asked Union of the former VH1 Single Ladies. "Who's Stacey Dash? Is she like, related to Dame Dash? Was she on Roc-A-Fella?"

43-year-old Union referred to Dash as a "crazy lady," according to Perez Hilton, and suggested what she thinks will keep Dash quiet once and for all.

"The more that we focus on inclusion and a true representation of this country, I think that crazy lady will have less to say," explained Union.

Though Union expresses her lack of association with Dash, and claims to not know of her, the two did work together on a film that was released back in 2004. Ride or Die, also known as Hustle and Heat, starred both actresses, in addition to Vivica A. Fox, Duane Martin, Meagan Goode and comedian Faizon Love.

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Eva Longoria is joining the fight against homophobic behavior by posing in a same sex couple's photo shoot, for an Olivier Ciappa project titled, "The Imaginary Couples"

Entertainment Weekly reported the Telenovela actress stood face-to-face, in an affectionate and endearing photo, alongside singer Lara Fabian in an effort to promote love, peace and unity.

@larafabianofficial et @evalongoria #lescouplesimaginaires #imaginarycouples A photo posted by Olivier Ciappa (@olivierciappa) on Dec 11, 2015 at 1:54pm PST

Longoria and Fabain represent only one photo from "The Imaginary Couples" project. According to the site, Ciappa enlisted the help of other straight actors, artists and athletes to project the message of love, despite one's sexual orientation. Ciappa posted on his website a brief explanation as to why he was inspired to create this body work, explaining that a photo posted on the web of himself, his partner and their child received such a response from the internet world that exhibited homophobic behavior.

"Homophobia is the first symptom of a widespread ignorance of homosexuality, a distorted vision, sometimes fantasy," Ciappa explained on his website. "...I wanted the viewer to confront the gentleness, the simplicity of these images in order to change their look, sweep their representations, and keep only the essentials: love, nothing but love." The French actor shared other photos from the project on his Instagram that speak to what American families can look like in 2016. Captioned with the hashtag #gaydads, Ciappa captured the image of two men and a little boy taking a group photo while sitting on the sand at the beach.

#AmericanFamilies #gaydads #olivierciappa A photo posted by Olivier Ciappa (@olivierciappa) on Jan 26, 2016 at 9:35am PST



Others who joined Longoria for the Ciappa project were director Denis Villeneuve and Jean-Marc Vallee.

Though Longoria showed her support for Ciappa and his project, she is in the process of celebrating a love of her own after recently becoming engaged to Jose Antonio Baston. According to ET, the Desperate Housewives star announced her engagement on Instagram by flashing her Ruby engagement with the hashtag, "ummmm so this happened."

Ummmm so this happened....#Engaged #Dubai #Happiness A photo posted by Eva Longoria (@evalongoria) on Dec 13, 2015 at 7:47am PST

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
As I write, the annual March for Life is about to happen on the National Mall, despite the massive snowstorm descending on the East Coast.

People from across the country are gathered around a table, hosted by the National Review Institute, to discuss the value of human life and the dangers to it. The conversations are intense and overflowing with gratitude. Gratitude for lessons learned and gifts received, for opportunities to help people in their most painful moments and throughout their lives. Despite the frequently painful circumstances being described, there is hope here.

Karen talks about her past so others might not repeat it, knowing the pain it has brought her family. She talks about it, too, because of the choice she didn't really fully have when she was young and scared, her mother driving her to the abortion appointment. Lizanne talks about her daughter with Down syndrome because her daughter is her gift of joy and she doesn't want scared parents to be deprived of a similar gift.

Earlier in the day, former Cosmopolitan magazine writer Sue Ellen Browder talked about the freedom that comes in disassociating oneself from abortion advocacy and the cultural warfare that accompanies it. The hashtag on Twitter for those marching in protest of the Supreme Court's legalization of abortion is "#WhyWeMarch." Broder marches against a dehumanizing relativism, a cultural indifference that devalues the wondrous possibility and endless miracle of life.

Abby Johnson is sitting across from me. If you're looking for something radical in the world, she's it. Johnson is a former Planned Parenthood clinic director who now runs a ministry dedicated to helping people leave the abortion industry.

A few months back, when shocking undercover videos involving Planned Parenthood and fetal tissue harvesting were being released, I asked Johnson what she thought people might need to hear. "I want women and men to know that there is healing from aborting your own child or participating in the abortion industry. We aren't meant to suffer in silence or suffer alone. We are meant to voice our burdens to others so that they can accompany us on our healing journey."

She continued: "In this country, we are currently seeing a lot of outrage regarding abortion and the abortion industry. And that's fine. But we need to remember that there are real people inside those clinics who are worthy of healing and redemption ... they deserve a new and better life than the one they are currently living. We don't need rage in this movement. We need action that is bathed in compassion and mercy ... that is what brings about true conversion. We don't need anger. There is enough anger and hurt inside those abortion clinic walls. Ours needs to be the voice of hope."

Her hope extends to those who work in abortion clinics. She doesn't demonize them. She will not dehumanize anyone. She knows that people who work in abortion clinics are often parents. They need to make a living and put food on the table. She doesn't agree with their cause, but she was once in their shoes. She's happy to help them if they want to get out of this ugly business. And she wants them to know that pro-life love extends to them.

In the midst of pain and suffering, there is light and hope. One speaker at the conference described the annual March for Life and the pro-life movement itself as an "army of love." May it ever be so, and may that love spread throughout a fallen world.
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GOP: Energy Bill Is Our Next Bipartisan Accomplishment

Microphone and US Flag View Photos

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski delivered this weeks Republican address and discussed the Energy Policy Modernization Act.

Murkowski was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are her words:

Hi, Im Lisa Murkowski.

Im proud to represent the great state of Alaska in the U.S. Senate, where I serve as Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

And Im pleased that just days from now, the Senate will consider broad energy legislation.

Following the passage of a highway bill, education reform, and many others, the energy bill promises to be our next bipartisan accomplishment on behalf of the American people.

It will also be the first major energy legislation considered on the Senate floor since 2007.

Its been over eight years, folks.

Back then, we were living in an era of energy scarcity, with many afraid that America was running out of resources.

But since then, an energy revolution has occurred in our country.

Newer technologies have allowed oil and natural gas production to soar on state and private lands, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

On top of that, the cost of many other technologies  from solar panels to batteries for electric vehicles  has declined dramatically.

Unfortunately, the passage of time has also brought new challenges.

Our infrastructure continues to age.

Access restrictions, permitting delays, and other bureaucratic hurdles are sapping the competitiveness of our energy sector.

And President Obama has ignored the good work going on in Congress as he attempts to unilaterally recast our nations energy policy.

His gauntlet of burdensome regulations, many just beginning to take effect, threatens the affordability and reliability of our energy.

His policies are shutting down energy-rich states like Alaska.

He rejected the Keystone XL pipeline on political grounds.

And then his administration imposed a moratorium on federal coal leasing.

Decisions like those cost us jobs. They weaken our growth. And they strengthen some of the worlds worst actors, at the expense of hard-working Americans.

There is a better path for our energy policy. And under Republican leadership, Congress is taking it.

While the President lifted sanctions on Iran, letting the regime sell its oil into global markets, we ensured American producers can do the same by repealing an outdated export ban that applied to the United States.

Instead of standing in the way of new infrastructure, members of both parties have supported it.

And instead of relying on burdensome mandates and regulations, many of us have chosen to promote innovation.

But our work is hardly finished. In order to truly protect our nation, we must do more to update our energy policies.

Thats why I worked with my colleagues on the Energy Committee to develop a broad, bipartisan bill.

It will help America produce more energy. It will help Americans pay less for energy. And it will firmly establish America as a global energy superpower.

We agreed to expedite liquefied natural gas exports to boost our economy and the security of our allies.

We agreed to bolster our mineral security so that we dont have to rely on foreign countries for the raw materials needed for everything from smart phones to military assets.

We agreed to promote hydropower  not to mention geothermal and other clean, renewable resources.

We focused on innovation and efficiency  both of which lead us to a brighter energy future.

We started to tackle permitting reform.

And we agreed to increase government accountability, and took steps to prevent another Solyndra.

We did this by working together. And our bill  the Energy Policy Modernization Act  passed our committee with strong bipartisan support.

It is our latest contribution to a better energy policy for the United States. It is our latest effort to restore regular order. And it will be on the floor, on the Senate floor, starting this week.

Thank you for listening.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 AM.
Sonora, CA  As Tuolumne County leaders are preparing to build a new jail, it appears as the state may build a new courthouse at the same time.

Tuolumne County Administrator Craig Pedro says Governor Jerry Browns proposed budget released this month includes $55-million for a new courthouse. Pedro adds, The way that it would turn out is that the jail and courthouse would essentially move on the same schedule for design and construction, so it is very possible that the jail and the courthouse would be under construction at the same time.

The courthouse would be built by the state and the jail construction would be overseen by the county.

Pedro acknowledges that it would create much activity out at the law and justice center property off Old Wards Ferry Road, but at the same time create many construction jobs over the short-term.

As for the jail, the county has received state grant funding to cover $33-million of the $38.6 million price tag. Design documents are still being worked on, and the plan is for the final construction documents to be completed early next year, and later followed by bids. Construction would get underway and then potentially wrap up in late 2018, with an opening in 2019.
Some of the homeless people camped out at the Volusia County Administration Center in Daytona Beach are expected to leave.

The Salvation Army is opening an emergency shelter Monday and will take at least 46 homeless people from the county building on Beach Street to that shelter.

Last week, the county appraisers office closed its Daytona Beach location at that building. The property appraiser said an employee felt intimidated by a homeless man.

The county building provides services like tags and titles, as well as permits.

But because of the growing group of homeless people camping out at the building, Volusia County is closing the facility for the safety of its government employees.

"Well that would be a disaster, said Daniel Perkins, who came to the building Monday to file for a homestead exemption. There's too many people locally here that need this location."

Perkins said it was inconvenient to drive to the county's other offices.



Daniel Perkins reads the letter on the door of the Volusia County Property Appraiser's Office.

County Councilman Josh Wagner says the closing of the appraiser's office signals that employees feel they are working in an unsafe environment, that people who use services in Daytona Beach could feel intimidated as well and the liability is too great.

"We'd have a liability for our own employees under worker's comp, Wagner said. And then we'd have a liability from a personal injury standpoint as far as the general public coming to renew their tag or something along those lines if they were accosted."

Council Chairman Jason Davis hopes the Daytona Beach offices will re-open after the county and cities can figure out a way to build a long-term homeless shelter.

While the Salvation Army is taking in some of the homeless for now, there will still be many left without a place to go. Last week it was estimated well over 100 homeless people were camped out on Beach Street.



That means Perkins and others accustomed to visiting the Daytona Beach offices will have to go the county's offices in New Smyrna Beach, Orange City or Deland.

The county is still figuring out when the rest of the offices at the administration center on Beach Street will close.
Two Brevard County deputies were attacked and hurt Tuesday morning while responding to a disturbance call at a home in Mims, deputies said.

Deputies Michael Hriciso and Marie Skinner went to the home on the 2600 block of Pineapple Avenue at about 11:25 a.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing what sounded like a "violent" argument coming from the backyard of a home, the Sheriff's Office said.



The deputies were initially denied entrance into the residence, but they went around back when they heard an argument in the backyard.

As the two deputies tried to break up the argument, the man, identified as 22-year-old Skylar Francis, pulled out a collapsible baton and began beating Hriciso in the head and face, the Sheriff's Office said.

"They tried to separate the two, and as they did, the white male suspect pulled out a collapsible baton and started striking one of our deputies," Sheriff Wayne Ivey said.



Skinner came to Hriciso's aid, but she, too, was struck in the head.

As other deputies arrived on scene, the woman in the argument, identified as 22-year-old Courtney Johnson, "began to interfere with the arrest of the male subject," deputies said.

Hriciso incurred several blows to the head, suffered severe injuries and was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne for treatment. Skinner was taken to Parrish Medical Center in Titusville. Both deputies are expected to recover.

"You go from being at a call where you are trying to help somebody to being at a call where somebody is trying to take your life," Ivey said.

Neighbors said they were shocked that two law enforcement officers were attacked on their street.

"It should not have gotten to this level," Rose Fishmon said.



Despite their injuries, the two deputies were able to take both Francis and Johnson into custody, the Sheriff's Office said.

Francis has been charged with two counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and is being held in the Brevard County Jail on no bond.

Johnson was charged with resisting arrest without violence. She posted bond early Wednesday morning and was released from jail.



Investigators aren't aware of any previous incidents at this home.



Skylar Francis and Courtney Johnson are charged in the attack of two Brevard County deputies Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (Brevard County Sheriff's Office)
U.S. marshals are now involved in the search for Gary Bullock Jr., the inmate who escaped Friday from work release in Daytona Beach.

The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed Tuesday that they are picking up the hunt for Bullock.

Bullock, 24, was serving an eight-year sentence for multiple felony offenses that included robbery, grand theft and burglary.



Deputies think Bullock and his girlfriend, Natasha Quigley, are armed and on the run with Quigley's 3-year-old son, Xander.



Xander Quigley (left) is believed to be with his mother Natasha and her boyfriend, escaped inmate Gary Bullock Jr.

Bullock was being housed at a work-release center in Daytona Beach operated by the Tomoka Correctional Institution. He left the prison facility to report to his job at El Caribe Resort & Conference Center on Friday.

Detectives said that's where Quigley picked him up. Before leaving the area, detectives say Bullock cut off his ankle monitor and tossed it in the parking lot.

A Florida Missing Child Alert was issued for Xavier Quigley, but not an Amber Alert. Deputies said an Amber Alert hasn't been issued because the child was not abducted.



A past picture of the car Gary Bullock and Natasha Quigley are believed to be using. It's a white Chevrolet Cobalt with Florida license play EUJ-L31. This picture wasnt taken during the current search effort. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office)



Tammy Wimble, Xander Quigley's grandmother, handed out fliers in front of the El Caribe Resort on Tuesday and hoped for information to find her missing grandson.

"He's an escaped felon, and they have a gun," Wimble said. "And my baby could be caught in some crossfire if it comes down to that."



Bullock is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 173 pounds.



Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Florida Department of Corrections at 850-922-6867.

U.S. marshals say that if they find Bullock, he will be turned over to Volusia County.
A Melbourne father is hoping the city doesn't go through with a plan to place a yearlong ban on growing a low-potency strain of medical marijuana commonly referred to as 'Charlotte's Web."

The state has approved the low-THC cannabis that could help ease the pain for people who suffer from cancer and epilepsy.

"Charlotte's Web" has also helped children who suffer from severe seizures.

Brian Cavins' 2-year-old daughter, Hannah, was born with a rare congenital birth defect and suffers from several seizures a day.

The seizures can last five minutes or more than an hour.

"We've tried a lot of different seizure medications," Cavins said. "Pretty much everything we could and, right now, "Charlotte's Web" is one of our only last hopes of a medicine that we can actually try out for her to try and get some of her seizures controlled."

Cavins is pleading with the city of Melbourne to put in place rules and regulations that would allow the cultivation, processing and dispensing of the "Charlotte's Web" strain in the city.

City leaders placed a 180-day moratorium on the issue, which is set to expire next month.

The city is planning a yearlong ban on rules and regulations because leaders are concerned a zoning ordinance would go against federal law that considers marijuana illegal.

"It would appear to create some level of conflict as to how the city should regulate  if at all  the low-THC medical marijuana," Melbourne City Attorney Alison Dawley said.

City leaders hope to get more clarification from the federal government over the next 12 months, but Cavins said a year is too long of a wait.

"We don't have a lot of time on the clock for this," he said. "We want to make sure that we can mitigate anything that may happen. I mean, we never know. When I kissed my daughter goodbye this morning, it could be the last time. I don't know."

Melbourne city leaders contend that although the state allows "Charlotte's Web," none of it is currently available in Florida because state health officials map out their own regulations.

Only five nurseries have been issued licenses to grow the strain of marijuana in Florida and they must begin cultivating low-THC cannabis by June.
AUSTIN  The Farm Credit Bank of Texas Board of Directors has re-elected James F. Jimmy Dodson of Robstown board chairman and Lester Little of Hallettsville board vice chairman of the Austin-based cooperatively owned bank.

The two South Texas farmers were re-elected to one-year terms during the boards annual organizational meeting in January. Dodson has served on the FCBT board since 2003, and Little has been a board member since 2009. Both were first elected to their current officer positions in 2012.
AMARILLO - With 2016 shaping up to be a tough marketing year, producers should attend Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services Developing This Years Marketing Plan for Feed Grains workshop Feb. 10-11 in Amarillo, according to an AgriLife Extension economist.

At least adequate-to-surplus supplies of all crops in the U.S. and world markets, stagnant ethanol demand, questionable feed demand and a strong dollar are just some of the factors that could make profitable marketing of the 2016 feed-grains crop difficult, said Dr. Steve Amosson, AgriLife Extension economist in Amarillo.

Feed-grain producers need a sharp pencil to get the most production for the least cost, and then they need to do a good job of marketing their crop to have a successful year, Amosson said.

The feed grains workshop, co-sponsored by the Plains Land Bank and Capital Farm Credit, will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 6500 W. Amarillo Blvd. The registration fee is $125, which covers the cost associated with instruction, breaks, meals and materials, Amosson said.

The course is limited to 50 participants. To register and pay for this course, go to: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/Grain or call 979-845-2604. While this is the preferred method of registration and payment, Amosson said payments will be accepted at the door. However, all registrations must be completed by Feb. 5, either online or by phone. For the registration brochure or more information, contact Kim Garcia at 806-677-5626 orkim.garcia@ag.tamu.edu.

Amosson and Dr. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension grain marketing specialist in College Station, will be the primary instructors during the workshop, which will dissect the feed-grain market and analyze each of its components.

Segments will cover cost of production, break-evens, crop insurance decisions, seasonal price patterns, anticipated weather, as well as supply, demand and technical factors that will influence the feed grains market for the upcoming year, Amosson said. Additionally, an industry panel will provide their insights.

Based on all the information, well then look at and evaluate marketing strategies that can help manage risk and potentially increase profitability for this years crop, he said. Our objective is simple - to arm participants with the knowledge to make informed marketing decisions. The ultimate goal of this workshop is for the producer to be able to develop a successful marketing plan for the 2016 crop.

Guest speakers for the feed grains workshop will include a panel of area lenders, brokers and grain merchandisers, who will address key issues facing local producers in the upcoming marketing year. In addition, the National Weather Service in Amarillo will provide the weather forecast for the upcoming growing season.
Texas legislation passed in 2013 is now ready to revolutionize the requirements of obtaining a high school diploma, a revolution designed to amplify the voices and interests of students and better ensure their journey into higher education after high school.

"House Bill 5 has triggered a lot of changes, and it's kind of the driving force behind this," said Plainview High School principal Tye Rogers as he and PISD counselors prepare for a new graduation program that will allow students to optimize their electives in order to better lay the ground work for possible career paths.

To be more specific, HB5 will eliminate the former "4 by 4" system of graduating, which required students to successfully complete four full-year courses in each of the four basic subjects: English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. Plans were broken up into minimum, recommended and distinguished graduation distinctions.

Starting with the class of 2018, HB5 creates a new graduation plan called the Foundation High School Program, which offers students an opportunity to take classes tied in to their career plans.

The new graduation plan will now require 22 foundation credits, which includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of science, three years of social studies and two years of foreign language which can include computer programing.

On top of the foundation will be "endorsement" plans which focus on a specialty area that a high school student chooses in addition to the basic requirements. The endorsements will be filled with Career and Technical Education Programs or CTE.

In their path to obtain endorsements, students will complete curriculum requirements for each CTE. In other words, as the student moves up, the more advanced the classes will be in the field they choose.

Divided into five categories, endorsements available are STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), Business and Industry, Public Services, and Arts and Humanities.

Plainview High School will be one of the first schools in the region to offer all five endorsements. Some schools can opt out by only offering one endorsement and a modified "4x4" plan. This action may be taken by smaller schools without the same resources.

Math and science classes offered in the foundation classes will fall into the endorsement plans. On Thursday, PISD board trustees voted to add courses to PHS that will open opportunities for students to explore career options.

New classes to be introduced next year are Principles of Education and Training, Welding, Medical Coding and Billing, Principles and Elements of Floral Design, Human Growth and Development, Engineering Design and Problem-Solving, Forensic Science, Statistics and Risk Management, Principles of Information Technology, Human Resource Management, Virtual Business, Concepts of Engineering Design and Technology, Global Business, Mathematical Application in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Veterinary Medical Applications, Professional Standards in Agribusiness, Small Animal Management, Pharmacology and Cosmetology.

Programs already offered at PHS include Certified Nursing Assistant training and Auto technology.

With some of the endorsement programs, students can even earn certifications by the time they graduate, or at least be a few semesters away from earning it in college.

Already tackling a lot of the requirements for earning career certifications, Rodgers and high school counselors Amy Hagerman and Valinda Parker think the endorsement plans will be a gateway for students to continue post-secondary education and maybe even strive further than their original intentions.

Rodgers said in the last five years, PHS has gone from having 55 percent of students signing on to a post-secondary education programs to 91 percent in 2015.

The numerous combinations of endorsement plans can be arranged to better prepare a student for any career path they choose, ranging from working as a teacher or nurse to a doctor or lawyer. Electives from band, choir and theater will also be better utilized in endorsement plans like Arts and Humanities.

The foundation courses and endorsements will be presented on transcripts. A student can still earn a Distinguished Level of Achievement at graduation by adding on Algebra II, and completing four science classes.

Also, to help students bridge the gap between high school and beyond, PHS will require freshmen to take an AVID/College Transition course to help students be more successful in the world of work and college after high school.

In terms of post-secondary learning, AVID will smooth out any stumbling blocks in the transition to college as students will be taught studying skills and test-taking strategies.

"We want to get them ready for the rigor and the pace of college work and the way college professors teach," Rodgers said.

And the new graduation program doesn't just start at the high school level. PISD counselors across the district have joined together to instill the aspects of higher learning from elementary school on up.

In brief, elementary students are introduced to exploring possible career plans, junior high students are motivated to investigate careers and by high school, students are ready to walk the path.

But Rogers said the path they choose isn't permanent or mandated. High school students can explore their options and decide what they like and don't like about a career field.

"It's better to do that now than in college when they're paying for classes," Hagerman said.

The introduction of CTE classes will not require additional teachers to be hired at the high school.

The new plan eliminated the teacher load of "4 by 4" requirements, moved health classes to eighth grade and did away with a half-credit speech class. With those changes, the high school has been able to free up teachers.

Through online courses, teachers can be certified to instruct the CTE courses.

"At this point we are not planning to increase staff members," Rogers said.

Rogers said students and teachers are excited about the program and educators are looking forward to teaching classes that students are sincerely interested in.

"Students will be totally passionate for what they're teaching," Hagerman said.

For the past two years, counselors have met with parents and explained the processes of the graduation change and have held a number of learning fairs and meetings on the subject.

One learning fair will take place from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 4 at the high school.

Parents will also eventually meet with counselors face-to-face as all parents must sign off on endorsement plans.

"It's going to be really good for our kids and it's going to forward opportunities to help them in their educational careers," Rogers said.

"We're all committed to this, and it doesn't matter to us what their background is or anything like that, we believe we can be good enough at what we do that we can get all students prepared for college and successful. That's our goal."
Renovations on the 54-year-old Petersburg Community Center have been halted and Petersburg City Council members are seeking outside legal counsel as they question a move by the city manager and mayor to start the project without their approval.

In a special called meeting Jan. 19, Petersburg councilmembers voted 4-1 to hire outside counsel to determine the legality of Petersburg Mayor Darin Greene and City Manager Ronald Heggemeier's decision to transfer and spend city funds for a project known as the Community Center Remodel without the council's approval.

The city council also seeks the outside legal counsel's opinion on related items. This includes whether any engineering is required on a municipal project of this size, which is approaching $60,000, not including labor; the use of Petersburg Economic Development Corporation funds for the same project without approval by the City Council and if the PEDC is operating legally with that action; the creation of performance standards for review and evaluation of city manager duties and inquire if the mayor or city manager have the authority to allocate/transfer funds to and from line items for projects not approved by the city council.

Until outside legal opinion is given, the council voted 3-2 to immediately stop construction at the building.

The issue was first brought up in the City of Petersburg's regular city council session Jan. 12.

City Councilmember Justine Turner sponsored an agenda item to question all funding spent or obligated for the community center renovation which was not voted on by the council or specifically budgeted in this fiscal year.

Greene said he did nothing wrong and approving the renovation of the building was in the scope of his executive powers as mayor of Petersburg.

Renovations include overall structure improvements, upgrades to utilities, removing floors believed to contain asbestos, removing areas of black mold, fix leaks, electrical issues and renovating bathrooms to meet current accessibility codes.

Greene said the electricity issues were so bad, electrical arches were found in the structure.

Greene said he was surprised the building had not yet burned to the ground.

Thus far, around $46,129 has been spent or has been obligated for materials and installation, not including the price for total bathroom or floor renovations.

Greene said other funding for the project has come from donations, which includes $6,000 from citizens, and a donation from the PEDC.

Greene said some of the work would be handled by city employees.

But the council says that wasn't Greene or Heggemeier's decision to make despite some councilmembers' opinion favoring the idea of the renovation.

Council members like Jenny Livar felt the project was financially large enough that it needed to be voted on.

In their Jan. 12 meeting, Livar said the money could have been spent in a matter that benefited all citizens of Petersburg, not just those who rent or use the community center.

A citizen attending the meeting said some of the money could have been spent to help ambulance or fire services in Petersburg, which have been struggling with keeping volunteers.

Councilmembers said issues at the center needed to be addressed, but this move was out of line.

"I don't think it's right to spend $60,000 because you think you can without a vote. This is what the city council is here for," Livar told Greene.

Turner added that the Texas Municipal League had strongly advised the city seek outside legal counsel.

But Greene disagreed, stating the council had allocated $918,785 for the City of Petersburg's budget.

Saying the position of mayor made him the Chief Executive Officer of the budgeted money, Greene said during the Jan. 19 meeting he could spend the funds how he chose fit without the approval of the council.

Greene said any action to limit the reigns of the mayor or city manager's decisions was in fact seizing authority of the executive powers; calling the council the legislative branch of government.

In the City of Plainview, any purchases made by the city manager that exceed $50,000 is required to be put out for bids and voted on by the city council.

On Jan. 12, the Petersburg City Council agenda contained an item concerning placing a cap on the spending authority of the City manager. The proposal required that any amount over a possible $10,000, $7,500 or $5,000 limit would have to be voted on by the council. That item was put on hold until legal counsel was found.

Currently, the council is meeting with legal counsel on the matter.

The community center construction was originally slated to wrap up in April, however work has been stopped dead on the tracks. As is, the center cannot be used.
WASHINGTON  After more than three days with life at a virtual standstill in the nations capital and elsewhere up and down the East Coast, the cities hit hard by a massive snowstorm were getting closer to their normal routines.



In the Washington area, the Metro subway system was scheduled to be close to fully operational Tuesday morning after it gradually lurched back into service throughout the day Monday. Trains were expected to still run less often, though.



Schools in the District of Columbia, northern Virginia and Maryland were still closed, and federal offices were closed for another day. District government employees will be back at work.



In Washington, crews spent the day concentrating on clearing roads in the downtown core, most of which were still covered in brown slush Monday. That would have caused problems for commuters, but there werent many, with both federal and local government offices closed and many private businesses still shuttered. The monuments and memorials on the National Mall and the Smithsonians museums were closed, too. Some, but not all, of the museums will welcome visitors again Tuesday.



By early Monday evening, many roads downtown still had fewer lanes than usual, street parking was all but nonexistent and pedestrian walkways were treacherous. But the citys emergency management director, Christopher Geldart, said major arteries were 100 percent passable.



New York City got back up and running much faster, with subway and bus service fully operational Monday, although commuter trains were limited. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio credited better communication between the city and state  lessons learned after the fiascoes of the 2010 storm nicknamed Snowmageddon. But New York usually gets much more snow than Washington, and it budgets accordingly.



With the District likely to blow through most if not all of its annual $6.2 million snow-removal budget, Mayor Muriel Bowser has already requested federal disaster assistance. City officials have a hard time figuring out how much to set aside for snow because the totals can vary so much  some recent winters have brought fewer than 5 inches. On average, the city gets 14.5 inches, while the storm on Friday and Saturday dumped nearly 2 feet.



Baltimore, too, was likely to spend more than it planned.



When you have a storm of historic proportions, the budget will be historic as well, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.



Baltimore government offices would be open Tuesday as the city continues to dig out from more than 2 feet of snow. Schools would remain closed.



Residents in southern New Jersey were still cleaning up the mess from flooding caused by the storm, and officials warned that repairing the damage and beach erosion could be expensive.







Jessica Gresko in Washington, Jonathan Lemire in New York and Juliet Linderman in Baltimore contributed to this report.






San Antonio lawyer John Steen Jr. was chosen Monday by CPS Energy trustees to fill an a seat on the five-member board.

City Council, which has to approve CPS board changes, is expected to vote on Steens nomination next month. His first board meeting is expected to be on Feb. 29.

Steen replaced CPS Energy chairwoman Nora Chavez, who is leaving the board after moving out of the city-owned utilitys northeast quadrant. Board members must live in the quadrant they represent.

Retired USAA Real Estate CEO Ed Kelley, who sits on the board, was elected to replace Chavez as chairman.

Derrick Howard, Freeman Coliseum executive director, was elected as vice chairman.

Steen is a former Texas secretary of state. He is a Princeton University graduate who received his law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Steen also is son of a former City Council member. John Steen Sr. also was a 1981 mayoral candidate, losing to Henry Cisneros.

If confirmed, Steen will serve a five-year term on the CPS Energy board and be eligible for another five-year term.

Steen was selected from 36 applicants. The board interviewed three finalists.

The board met in closed session for more than one hour to discuss the vacancy left by utility CEO Doyle Beneby, who resigned in October. But the board did not take any action to replace their top executive.

A utility spokesman said they are in negotiations with a final candidate, without disclosing any details.

dhendricks@express-news.net
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There just may be life after Chris Marrou after all.

Jeff Brady is the first KENS-TV anchorman to sign on post-Marrou who seems a natural fit with co-anchor Sarah Lucero and the rest of the 6 and 10 p.m. team.

Maybe its his warmth. Perhaps its his familiarity with the city  he anchored once before here, from 1995 to 2000 on KSAT. Or could it be that charmer of a Texas twang  hes a Lone Star State native  that makes the difference?

Whatever the case, the 52-year-old newscaster and married father of three already is getting positive reviews.

As I was away covering television on the West Coast for much of January, I got my first glimpse of Brady on KENS just last week. I found him commanding without seeming full of himself and quick with a smile and fun retort. Best of all, he seemed totally at home next to Lucero.

She feels just as comfortable with Brady.

Jeff is an easygoing, smart news guy, Lucero told me, and I feel like Ive known him forever, not just a few weeks.

The admiration is mutual.

Sarah is lovely; shes talented; shes the epitome of an established, accomplished newswoman, Brady said in a phone chat. I cant tell you how happy I am to be here.

Reactions from viewers also have been upbeat.

I went back to watching KENS 5 newscasts because of him, Janice Hull Labuda wrote on my Facebook page. He is professional, amiable and still has onscreen presence. The slight Texas accent that comes through on some words doesnt hurt, either.

Finally, a winner of a pairing! wrote Tim Rearden in an email.

Terry Falconhawke touted Bradys chemistry with the rest of the team. And Pat Dunlap noted: Glad to have Jeff back with us and so glad Sarah has an anchor partner everybody already knows.

Yes, it looks as if the stations third Jeff since Marrous departure just might be the charm.

Itll be interesting to see if theres an upswing in KENS-TVs news ratings. Sweeps month kicks off Feb. 4.

All by herself

Meanwhile, its cool to see Deborah Knapp, as seasoned and strong an anchor as there ever was here, helming two newscasts solo, at 4 and 5 p.m.

It strikes me as a vote of confidence from KENS that the bosses havent rushed someone in to pair with Knapp, whose multiple decades of experience on TV  both in San Antonio and in Philadelphia  have turned her into a news force who can handle any situation, light or serious.

News at noon

While were on the subject of news, it also was lovely to be back in time to watch WOAI-TV debut its first noon newscast  at least the first one I can remember.

The new half-hour, which bowed Monday, gives its appealing morning team of Michael Garofalo and Leslie Bohl a stage beyond the bleary-eyed block of 4:30 to 7 a.m.

The format isnt much different from other lunchtime news programs (on KENS, KSAT and KABB): plenty of breaking local and national stories and weather from sunny meteorologist Jeannette Calle.

Theres also a nifty segment with a crime expert on ways to avoid theft and other criminal activity.

The half-hour is followed by gossipy celebrity program The Insider at 12:30 p.m.

For those looking for The Rachael Ray Show, which used to play on WOAI at noon, that has moved to 8 a.m. on CW affiliate KMYS-TV.

Back to work

Although its tough to tear herself away from her baby, Garofalos wife, Claudia, finally has settled on a return date to WOAIs air.

She said shell be back reporting traffic in the mornings on Monday. Motherhood is such a magical time, Garofalo said of spending her days with her second child, Anna Kate, who was born in early December.

New boss at KVDA

Will a new president and general manager at San Antonios Telemundo affiliate KVDA-TV help boost the stations local newscasts out of its No. 2 Spanish-language slump?

For years, the station has trailed behind its S.A. competitor, Univision affiliate KWEX-TV, at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m..

Recently named KVDA boss Jose Alberto Suarez certainly has hefty credentials. Before coming here, he worked for various TV stations in Florida, Ohio, New Mexico and Texas and also worked at the Telemundo Station Group as director of digital platforms, managing online editorial content for Telemundo-owned stations across the country.

Jeanne Jakles column appears Wednesdays and Sundays in mySA, and she blogs at Jakles Jacuzzi on mySA.com. Email her at jjakle@express-news.net.
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The city unveiled a $1 million public art project Tuesday afternoon at a ribbon cutting for the Convention Center expansion.

Titled "Liquid Crystal," the large-scale interactive sculptural tower by the London-based Jason Bruges Studio is located in the north entry atrium lobby.

Before the unveiling, the sculpture was kept under wraps behind blue curtains. City officials including Mayor Ivy Taylor and council members tugged on ropes for the big reveal.

The piece is 30 feet tall. It's made up of stacked pyramid-shaped modules with 3,510 LCD interactive panels that create a digital fountain effect in response to the number of people and activity in the atrium.

Artist Jason Bruges said he visited San Antonio multiple times over the past two years to create the site-specific work.

The rippling effect across the surface of the piece is evocative of water in keeping with the kind of setting of waterways and riverside River Walk that we have here in San Antonio, Bruges said.

The sculptural tower is one of two million-dollar public artworks commissioned as part of the $300 million construction project. The other is Cactus, a 900-foot architectural frieze by Los-Angeles based artist Christian Moeller that wraps around the exterior of the expanded Convention Center. Visible from Interstate 37 and the Alamodome, the artwork depicts a field of native cacti.

Another $1 million was spent on renovating and relocating existing artwork, bringing the total for the project to $3 million - or 1 percent of the overall budget  the most money ever spent on public art for a single city project.
Opening statements began this morning in the trial of a man accused in the stabbing death of a 24-year-old woman at a Northwest Side Park on New Year's Eve 2013.

Christian Ivan Bautista, 31, has been charged with murder in the death of Lauren Bump, who was found face down in a pool of blood at O.P. Schnabel Park, a popular destination for runners at 9606 Bandera Road. She had been stabbed repeatedly, authorities said.
The New Braunfels Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying the duo behind a "car tipping," and information on a string of vandalism including smashed car windows, windshields and home windows.

NBPD released surveillance footage of the two people flipping a blue smart car belonging to a business in the 200 block of Stone Gate, and are hoping the public can offer more information as to who the two people are, or if more are involved. The surveillance footage shows two people with shirts over their faces tipping a car over in the early morning of December 27. The vehicle sustained damages worth approximately $2,500.
Before hikers made Enchanted Rock a regular destination and before millennials captured yoga selfies atop the dome, the Hill Country behemoth was a mystical place full of legend and mystery.

When humans first inhabited the area 12,000 years ago, Enchanted Rock was seen as a strange structure from a supernatural world.
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Liking the rock band Nickelback is a pretty heinous accusation by most standards, but it takes on a new flavor when hurled at a presidential candidate.

Especially if that candidate is Ted Cruz.

RELATED: Video: Young Ted Cruz cries out for "world domination"

A young male protester has continuously showed up to Cruz events during January in Iowa holding a sign declaring, "Ted Cruz Likes Nickelback."

Sometimes, the protester shows up with just the sign in hand.

But, on Saturday, he donned a Royal Canadian Mounted Police uniform, planted small Canadian flags and a photo of Cruz's face over a maple leaf in the ground outside of a rally hosted by the freshman senator's super PAC, The Washington Post reported.

RELATED: Rick Perry backs Ted Cruz for president

The protester, who has refused to identify himself to the press or name his affiliations, also handed out copies of Cruz's birth certificate, according to the newspaper.

"I just don't want, really, a Canadian in office," the protester told The Washington Post. "It seems like he's got a lot of controversy behind him whether he's a U.S.-born citizen or not and I'm just out here making a statement."

Cruz has endured questioning by Republican primary rival Donald Trump regarding whether Cruz's birthplace of Calgary disqualifies him from residing in the Oval Office.

Cruz's mother, however, was a U.S. citizen at the time, making Cruz a citizen as well under U.S. law.

RELATED: Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling bashes Donald Trump spokeswoman, a Texan, for 'pure breeds' tweet

Tying Cruz to the Canadian band Nickelback  whose members grew up in Alberta, the same Canadian province where the Texas senator was born  has the double, but obscure, whammy of reminding primary voters of the questions raised by Trump while also implying that Cruz has terrible musical taste.

However, the band took the protester's jabs in stride in a Jan. 11 tweet, "NICKELBACK Employee of the Month. January 2016. #Election2016 #Nickelback4President"

But, when asked about his favorite Nickelback song, the protester told the Post, "I don't like Nickelback."

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports
SAN ANTONIO  Authorities say brake failure may be the cause of a crash that sent the driver of a Lexus barreling into a taxi Tuesday morning on the North Side.

According to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, the crash happened around midnight at TPC Parkway and Bulverde Road.
In my time representing Texas, Ive found that bringing proven solutions from our state to Washington has a positive impact on the entire nation. So when considering how to fix our broken mental health system, it only made sense to first look to the reforms enacted right here at home.

More than a decade ago, Bexar County began implementing serious changes to care for the mentally ill and keep its citizens safe. The reforms expanded training for mental health and law enforcement professionals, established health treatment options and post-trial services, and importantly, focused on a collaborative approach that diverted mentally ill individuals to treatment instead of prison. As a result, overcrowded jails have been reduced in size, taxpayers dollars have been saved and lives have been changed for the better.

Last year, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand just one example of this success story in action. I visited the Center for Health Care Services Restoration Center in San Antonio, which is an integrated mental health service center that is now the first stop for police when they have arrested someone who is mentally ill. Through a partnership with Bexar County, the Restoration Center provides support to mentally ill offenders, such as substance abuse treatment programs and job training, to help them recover, and keep them from becoming frequent fliers through the criminal justice system. The Center for Health Care Services also partners with nonprofits like Haven for Hope to reduce the broader causes of homelessness in the San Antonio community, giving individuals the hand they need to lead productive lives.

Its clear to me that the Bexar County model to restore the lives of those struggling with mental illness deserves national attention and commendation. And now its time to bring some of these reforms to the rest of the country.

Soon the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will have an opportunity to highlight legislation Ive introduced  the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act  that takes some of the lessons learned in Bexar County to the national level. Like the reforms implemented 10 years ago, this legislation is a significant step forward that will help the mentally ill get the treatment they need and equip our nations law enforcement officials with tools to keep our communities safe.

Im excited that the committee will hear testimony from Bexar Countys own Sheriff Susan Pamerleau. Sheriff Pamerleau is a longtime advocate of sensible mental health reforms that not only increase safety in our communities, but also help those struggling with mental illness. I look forward to the committee hearing her guidance, and listening to her tell the story of how Bexar County has become a national leader in effective mental health care.

Importantly, the legislation Ive introduced also takes a page out of the Bexar County playbook by addressing the limited capacity the criminal justice system has to respond to those with mental illness. The Mental Health and Safe Communities Act would help bridge this gap by targeting existing funds for training, assessment and treatment for those struggling with mental illness in the justice system. In this way, my bill would promote efforts to help redirect mentally ill offenders from repeatedly landing in prison and into an environment that can better meet their needs.

The nation can learn a great deal from the hard work of Sheriff Pamerleau and the folks in Bexar County. I know that my colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee will feel similarly after hearing her testimony. Bexar Countys successful approach of focusing on treatment of the mentally ill, rather than incarceration, makes it a model for state and local governments across the nation. To put it simply, it can be done, and San Antonio gets it right.

Now Congress should follow their lead.

John Cornyn is the senior U.S. senator from Texas.
That Americans have been sending bottled water to a people in desperate need is no surprise. We are a generous people who are often quick and eager to respond to a crisis. Whether its an earthquake in Haiti, a tsunami in Japan or flooding here at home, those hurt by such tragedies can expect assistance from the people of the United States.

Americans are now sending bottled water to fellow Americans in Flint, Michigan, not because of a sudden and unavoidable natural catastrophe, but because of prolonged inexcusable and avoidable man-made decisions of elected and appointed public servants.

And at this point, those officials responsible for Flints contaminated water crisis have forfeited any high-minded claims of the work they do as public service. Theyve served the public, whose interests they were sworn to protect, with a negligence that will cause incalculable damage, especially to that communitys children.

A beleaguered city of just less than 100,000 people of which a majority are black, Flint has suffered thousands of job losses as auto factories closed over the years. Its unemployment rate is 40 percent, and its finances are so bad that its under emergency management by the state. That is why, as a cost-saving measure, a decision was made in April 2014 to switch Flints water supply from Detroits water system, which it had been a part of for more than five decades. The source of Detroits water is Lake Huron. Flints new source was the Flint River.

Inexplicably, especially given the age of Flints lead pipes, a decision was made to not add anti-corrosive agents to the water.

Almost immediately, residents complained that the water was discolored, and tasted and smelled bad. Within months, tests were showing high levels of lead and bacteria such as E. coli. By October 2014, a General Motors plant stopped using the water because it was rusting its parts.

If water from the Flint River was corroding machinery, imagine what it was doing to human bodies, including the smallest and most vulnerable. Tests of children began showing elevated levels of lead in their blood.

Putting aside 2014 tests on children and water, and GMs decision to no longer use that water  and, obviously, these were put aside by state officials  wouldnt foul-tasting and foul-smelling brown water be enough to cease using that water source?

Yet it wasnt until Jan. 5 of this year that Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency and not until one week later that he mobilized the National Guard to help distribute bottled water and water filters.

Last week, in his state of the state address, Snyder apologized for how the water crisis has been handled and said, Government failed you at the federal, state and local level.

Well, yes and no.

The purpose and scope of government is an ancient debate. It was debated in the writing of the U.S. Constitution, and its debated every day across the nation, especially in a presidential election year.

But government, like power, isnt inherently good or bad. Its how theyre used. It was Michigan government officials who failed.

Emails released last week by Snyders office show that these officials were dismissive and frustrated about those warning about the water. It wasnt until late last year that they understood they had a public health crisis. This is too late for children who drank that sludge for months and will suffer developmental and physical problems for the rest of their lives.

What happened in Flint were mistakes grossly compounded by arrogance and callous disregard.

Mistakes werent made by the apparatus of government but by those at its levers. Had they not ignored government standards designed to make water safe, they wouldnt now be looking to the federal government to help the people the state of Michigan ignored.

Cary Clack is a San Antonio writer.
Well, Donald Trump looked like a definite contender by using every secret punch he could think of, even hitting below the belt a few times.

Why, oh, why, would he want loudmouth Sarah Palin in his corner? She ruined John McCains solid chance at victory, and she can do it again.

Did the Donald seriously ask for her help? Sounds like he just gave everyone else a better shot at winning. Who thought that the sky would open up and drop the Palin bomb on Trump? America has a chance at staying great.

Fred Machado

Palins gall

Obviously there is no limit to Sarah Palins nerve.

First, she endorses the man who called the candidate who picked her as his running mate, military hero John McCain, a loser  this in the eyes of Donald Trump  for getting captured during wartime. Then she blames President Barack Obama for her son getting arrested for domestic violence.

I would say unbelievable, but for her and her endorsee, it is par for the course.

Nancy Powlas

National distress

After watching President Barack Obamas performance with his crocodile tears (what a joke) on gun control, as well as his State of the Union address, I am reminded of the Affordable Care Act. He wanted insurance for all. We should provide barf bags for all, like the ones supplied on airplanes, for Americans who make the mistake of watching his nauseating speeches.

Im just glad the nauseous feeling hes given me for the last seven years is almost over.

Kelly McMakin

Heart of stone

Re: Fake tears flowing, Your Turn, Jan. 20:

How heartless can this letter writer be? Unless, of course, she is the official chef for the White House, personally cutting the onion so President Barack Obama could rub it on his nose and eyes to produce tears.

I surely hope this woman never has to shed a tear and, if so, does it by rubbing an onion on her eyes. People may not like the president, who was voted into the White House not once but twice, but have a little compassion and a heart, preferably one not of stone.

Adela Vega Munoz

South San antics

Re: Another bizarre chapter in South San saga, Gloria Padilla, Other Views, Jan. 16:

Thank you for your reporting on the South San Antonio Independent School District. As a San Antonio resident for more than 60 years, it seems as though the South San ISD has been the subject of tawdry, insider self-dealing and/or feudal turf wars for most of that time. The board members antics could provide 20 full seasons of Emmy award-winning material for Real Board Members of South San. Of course, the program would appeal only to those with less than a third-grade education.

I remain amazed that no one seems capable of breaking the apparent lock these buffoonish groups seem to have on the district. That adults are willing to behave in this manner at the expense of education-needy children or that the voters condone such behavior is disgusting.

But, then again, look at the candidates Americans are supporting for president.

Tim Swan

Wall Street rules

Re: Goldman Sachs helped fund Cruzs 2012 campaign, Nation & World, Jan. 14:

One of the best quotes from President Barack Obamas State of the Union address for 2016 was: Food stamp recipients didnt cause the financial crisis; recklessness on Wall Street did.

Luckily, we have Sen. Ted Cruz to fight these Wall Street thieves! OMG, now we are beginning to learn that the tea party Republican and presidential candidate received a million-dollar loan from Goldman Sachs, his wifes employer.

The common denominator seems to be Wall Street.

Who is looking after John Q. Public?

Richard Caldwell, Boerne

Life is sacred

Re: Abortion vote, Your Turn, Jan. 2:

I congratulate our mayor and City Council members who voted to make abortion a little more difficult! I pray for the day that our great state of Texas and our great country ban all abortions and return to the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb!

Regina Boysen

Integrity takes a hit

Re: Gov. seeks to crimp high court; Abbott wants constitutional convention, State, Jan. 9:

Here we go again. Gov. Greg Abbott got applause from members of an ultra-right-wing group, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Maybe he should have locked the doors before his speech to keep out the liberal press. Thanks to reporters, we know what he had to say.

Abbott said he wants to dramatically curtail the Supreme Courts power and slash federal oversight of states. When he speaks to these corporate-sponsored right-wing groups, he tells them what they want to hear. A Google search will show this group advocates most of the same things our illustrious governor advocates. A few examples: limit government spending  oppose health care reform  attack environmental protections and pollution regulations  deny climate change  attack renewable energy  cut public employee pensions  privatize public education.

These are all very serious issues that impact Texas. Abbott has proven time and again he is willing to sacrifice the welfare of the public to satisfy the wishes of these corporate sponsors of right-wing policy. Of course, everyone knows their long range goal is to replace government by the people with government by the corporations.

These antics by our governor and his friends, the lieutenant governor and attorney general have become an embarrassment to many Texans. These state officials go out of their way, by both word and deed, to impress the radical right-wing element of their party. The integrity of our entire state suffers as a result.

David Smith, Bulverde

Birther question

With tongue in cheek, I ask: If a presidential candidate was born by cesarean section, is he/she ineligible due to not being a natural born citizen?

Patsy F. Shinn
Abortion foes will undoubtedly proclaim David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt martyrs.

But their indictment by a Harris County Grand jury  and a finding that clears Planned Parenthood from any wrongdoing  should prompt Texas to discontinue its investigation of the organization. Moreover, the state should cease trying to boot the organization from Medicaid funding.

The video the now-indicted pair produced  purporting to show Planned Parenthood trying to illegally sell body parts  has been shown to be misleading and fraudulent on many fronts now. A Houston clinic was featured in part of the video.

The indictments are just the latest chapter involving the highly edited video that created a wave of efforts nationally to defund Planned Parenthood, including in Texas.

Against reason, both Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton say the investigation of Planned Parenthood will continue, as will the effort to deny Medicaid funding to the group.

And this defunding also goes against reason. Medicaid money cannot be used for abortions. Planned Parenthood and other organizations, however, do use this money to take care of basic health needs for low-income women, care that includes family planning to prevent the unwanted pregnancies that lead to abortions.

Planned Parenthood has sued Texas to halt the defunding. And it has also sued the Center for Medical Progress accusing the group Daleiden directs and Merritt works for of a three-year criminal enterprise to target the organization.

The Harris County Grand Jury indicted Daleiden and Merritt on charges of record tampering, involving their alleged creation and use of fake California drivers licenses with an intent to defraud. And Daleiden also faces a charge that he tried to purchase human organs. This is apparently connected with his offer to buy in order to provoke Planned Parenthood into selling.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick requested this investigation by the Harris County District Attorney. But now that it is complete  and the organization been exonerated while the videographers indicted  Patrick is undeterred.

And this, along with the refusal of Abbott and Paxton to relent, reveals their true motivation  an end-run around the constitutional protections for abortion.

Those constitutional protections, so far, are a matter of settled law. These grand jury indictments and a finding of no wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood, should reasonably compel Texas to stop targeting the group.
Calling Elizabeth Warren.

The latest you cant make this stuff up ruse on behalf of investors to hide from plunging asset prices is to run for the supposed cover of illiquid assets, where lax valuations allow fund managers to fudge valuations, meaning pretend things are less bad than they are.

Not only is choosing to prefer flattering and misleading accounting over economic reality not a wise idea, but virtually all of the illiquid asset classes, like real estate, infrastructure investing, and private equity, rely on the liberal use of borrowed money. That means they are riskier, in investment terms, than those embarrassing, loss-exposing asset types like stocks and bonds. In other words, if the objective were to be retreating from risk, rather than trying to camouflage it, this would be the last place youd want to go. But Wolf Richter tells us investors are herding to the false cover of so-called alts (alternative investments):

BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager, polled 174 of its largest institutional clients, including corporate pension funds (34%), public pension funds (25%), insurers (25%), endowments and foundations (7%), investment managers (6%), official institutions (1%), and others (4%). This might be an adequate sample of all institutional investors. The poll, conducted in December, sought to find out about changes in their asset allocations for 2016. The results are not exactly a vote of confidence for this stock market. Institutional Investors to Embrace Illiquid Assets. Thats how the headline of the announcement started out. And they would do so to combat macro-economic trends, anticipated market volatility, and divergent monetary policy.. With reductions in equities and bonds, what are they going to buy? Long-dated illiquid strategies, thats where asset allocations are heading. In order of magnitude of the shift: private credit (over half plan to increase their portfolios), real assets (53% increase v. 4% decrease), real estate (47% increase v. 9% decrease), and private equity (39% increase v. 9% decrease). The report offered two reasons why investors are fleeing into illiquid assets: to earn the higher return premia that illiquid assets offer, and most prominently, to escape the volatility of stocks and bonds. Illiquid assets  because they arent regularly traded, there is no pricing data  have an advantage over stocks and bonds for institutional investors in these trying times: their losses dont have to be booked every time a statement goes out. Losses arent known, and certainly arent disclosed, until years down the road.

And its not as if these investors arent aware of the fact that they are just playing accounting games. Consider this section from CalPERS private equity workshop last November:

In some ways, I hate singling out this workshop panelist, Bob Maynard, since hes candid about the issue of the smoothing being questionable. But his remarks illustrate the point: that the investors know full well that this supposed advantage amounts to gaming of reporting systems and the larger political processes that are tied to them, and they embrace this gimmickry. Allan Emkin, Pension Consulting Alliance: The next question is what do you individually and your boards see as the role of private equity in the portfolio? Bob Maynard, Chief Investment Officer, Public Employees Retirement System of Idaho: Were I think more skeptical of private equity than many and actually Ive been quite surprised at the experience weve had, which has been dead solid on the average. Our time-weighted returns are almost exactly yours [turning to CalPERS head of private equity Real Desrochers], that 1.34 above what you could put in the public markets is exactly our experience, so weve actually gotten average institutional experience, so its worked out better than we were expecting. We knew we were entering an area where we would not have much influence over what we could do. Ah, in fact, ah, we recognized however that we were going to get some pressure to look at local investments in private side, we did know that our actuaries and accountants would accept the smoothing that the accounting would do. It may be phony happiness, but we just want to think we are happy and they actually do have consequences for ah, ah, actual contribution rates we are going to be able to put in place. So were looking for it even if it just gave public market returns, wed be in favor of it because it has some smoothing effects on both reported and actual risks, as seen that way. Once you get into the area, this is kind of a like a rental car return type investing. Once your front wheels are over the spikes, you cant back up. Youve got to keep kind of going forward. If were going to have a little bit, weve got to at least have enough to have a difference in the portfolio, which means get to at least 5 to 10%. And by the time we got to the 2000s, we had gotten to that point, so it did make an appropriate difference. So were there, its demonstrated benefits in the portfolio, were happy if it gives public market returns, anything extra, because of its effect having some smoothing of the risk as seen by the accountants and actuaries and, um, just dont, youve got to keep going once you are there. As you can see, this is an unusually straight-forward acknowledgment that what is driving the selection of private equity is accounting treatment that Maynard admits is phony. And he does not expect to get any other benefit from private equity.

Richter underscores that point:

This is not a strategy to reduce risk  some of these illiquid assets are very risky. Its a strategy to reduce the requirement to book losses when asset prices head south.

But its even worse than that. First, this predisposition for risky, illiquid assets is the worst possible choice in a deflationary environment. The place to be is cash and cash equivalents, and high quality bonds.

Second, in the runup to the last crisis, investor appetite for illiquid assets not subject to mark to market discipline (as in unlike corporate bonds, the modeling allowed for particularly flattering valuations) led for them to be manufactured on a grand scale. From a 2010 post:

An incentive failures that has gotten a free pass in the crisis is the way money is managed in the Anglo Saxon world: annual time horizons and measurement against benchmarks. One of the factors that keeps pushing investors into greater risk taking is competitive pressure. If your performance lags, even it is because you are making better risk/return decisions, you will lose assets (and if you are at a big firm, you will be replaced). Yet we see remarkably little impetus to change a system which rewards the fund managers and gatekeepers (who have a particularly powerful role in keeping this system intact) since they earn.annual fees! A classic And where are the customers yachts? problem. And too much risk is a no-no too, but the measurement of risk was volatility of returns. So what did we see in the crisis just past? A rise in popularity of strategies that used illiquid assets.which were therefore marked to modelwhich therefore did not show much (any) price volatility until their credit quality decayed. Indeed, one of the features of the crisis was, just as the dot com era saw companies like Pets.com and boo.com being manufactured to meet investor appetite, so too were appealing-looking investment strategies ginned up this time around. From an extraordinarily prescient April 2007 paper, Cracking the Credit Market Code, by Henry Maxey of Ruffer and Company (no online version; more on this paper in future posts): This leads us to the theoretical holy grail of hedge fund strategies: leveraged spread strategies in illiquid assets. Illiquidity in the assets is essential. The danger with liquid assets is that market forces can change prices for both fundamental and haphazard reasons. Ordinarily holders of assets expecting a 20% return will accept commensurate volatility, but in a world demanding smoothed returns, this is unacceptable. Consequently, it becomes key that the capital value is not left to the vagaries of the market place. Without a liquid market to price an asset, pricing is supplied by, for example, models. These frameworks tend to be self-serving because they are developed by players, such as ratings agencies and investment banks, who are more incentivised to give investors what they want than to ensure the price is an accurate reflection of the fundamentals. Prices, therefore, dont change until the fundamentals, e.g., default rates, force a reassessment of the model inputs. Everything hangs on default and downgrade. Actual default or downgrade become the critical events rather than markets forward looking pricing of that event, so problems are withheld until discontinuous pricing events occur rather than being anticipated in a continuously priced market. The capital prospects for the asset beyond 12 months are not of primary importance while the leverage yield spread provides the necessary return/volatility performance figures. Such a strategy is encouraged by a lack of visibility of the underlying portfolio (strategy secrecy), and a lack of regulation. Yves here. This is a key point: it wasnt just the demonized, presumed dumb money that took losses in this game. Hedge funds and prop trading desks were on the wrong side of many of these trades too.

In other words, perverse measurement incentives led investors to seek out precisely the sort of risks that were highly failure prone because they were not subject to market price discipline and investors would continue to demand them even as their fundamentals were decaying. For instance, in 2005, as the Fed was tightening, demand for prime mortgages fell, as youd expect, while spreads for subprime mortgages tightened. That was the reverse of what had happened in any previous credit cycle (spreads on risky loans widen first, and more than those for more pristine borrowers). That was a reflection of the distortion created by CDO consisting of largely of credit default swaps, the perverse effect of the Magnetar trade which drove demand to the worst mortgages in the later part of 2005 through early 2007. And that resulted from investor appetite for safe-looking assets (the AAA tranches that proved to be anything but) and more venturesome investors thinking they could go long one tranche and short another, an idea so disastrous that at Morgan Stanley, it racked up the biggest losses of any trading strategy evah.

Now the entire point of illiquid investments is that they supposedly dont go boom in such a dramatic way. But the crisis just past showed that they lead investors to underestimate the risks of those strategies and overdo them in a very big way. And the undue enthusiasm for investments with flattering valuations evident in the BlackRock survey suggests the odds of a recurrence of bad outcomes, meaning major losses, is high.
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Suffolk Construction has hired Joe Visgaitis as safety manager for its Southwest Florida operations team.

Vi at Bentley Village said Erica Sills is the new director of home care for the continuing care retirement community.

New business

Brian Bland, certified mold remediation and water damage specialist and Florida general contractor, has opened iMold in Fort Myers. Information: 239-208-6572; www.iMold.us

Events

The Young Professionals of Naples will host a Lunch and Learn at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Hilton Naples. Information: ypnaples.com

To submit your business news directly online, go to naplesnews.com/BIZwire or email news@naplesnews.com.
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By Laura Layden of the Naples Daily News

It starts with a spark.

With its new initiative SparkSWFL, the Women's Foundation of Southwest Florida hopes to ignite change.

The idea is to get community leaders more involved in the giving process, allowing the new group's founding members to determine how the philanthropic dollars it raises are spent to help women and girls in need.

The group is modeled after Spark in San Francisco, California, a philanthropic network of young professionals who invest to improve the lives of women around the world. The organization here will have a much more narrow focus, concentrating on local needs and giving to local charities.

The founding leaders in SparkSWFL will work together to determine how its grants are awarded and will research, identify and select new grant partners based on causes that are important to the community.

"This really gives ownership to people," said Dayhanna Acosta, CEO of Create SFN and the public engagement coordinator for the Women's Foundation.

Often, people donate money to charity and they never hear any feedback about how it's spent, with that decision left up to the nonprofit's executives or board of directors, she said.

"It's all about building the community and actually giving help where it's needed. The feedback is going to be given by the founding members. Those are the ones who are going to be making those decisions," Acosta said.

The group's goal was to have its 100 founders identified by Jan. 26. The count stood at 90 Tuesday morning, a day ahead of SparkSWFL's official launch.

The launch event, slated for Wednesday, is at the Vyne House at Talis Park in North Naples, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. More than 100 people are expected to attend. The keynote speaker is Teresa Younger, president of the Ms. Foundation for Women, and a well-respected feminist leader.

To find its initial members, SparkSWFL has targeted young professionals and people who are passionate about giving and want to get involved in the process of doling out grant money. For young professionals, like herself, it will offer a way to network and to improve leadership skills, with part of the money raised spent on leadership training for its members, Acosta said.

Founding members will each contribute $250 to support SparkSWFL's grants and its leadership development fund. The United Way of Collier County contributed $10,000 to help support the launch of the new initiative.

"We believe the best way to drive change in the community is to unite forces to address critical issues," said Steve Sanderson, president and CEO for the local United Way, in a statement.

Initially, SparkSWFL's grants will benefit the Pace Centers for Girls in Lee and Collier counties and Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.

Membership in the new group will be capped at 200. How the group will recruit its next 100 members and how much they will pay for their annual memberships is still to be determined, Acosta said.

"The key part of the initiative is making sure the founding members have a say in how we do things and why we do things," she said. "So we think it's very important to get their feedback."

The Women's Foundation, a nonprofit focused exclusively on women and girls, has several key initiatives, including a microloan program for female entrepreneurs and a campaign aimed at stopping child sex trafficking. The foundation plans to build a $5 million endowment dedicated to the advancement of women and girls by 2020.
North Collier Fire District (Corey Perrine/Staff)

An irresistible force met an unmovable object Monday.

Unfortunately, North Collier residents are caught in the middle.

Collier County commissioners and the governing board of the North Collier Fire and Rescue District met for four hours Monday but were unable to agree on a plan to allow the district's firefighters to use advanced lifesaving techniques past midnight Friday, when an existing agreement expires.

Both boards insist they want the firefighters to be able to do ALS, but neither side was willing to budge in their positions, meaning firefighter/medics, while still on the job, will only use basic lifesaving skills going forward.

Paramedics working for Collier County EMS will continue to do advanced lifesaving, such as administering drugs, in the district.

An impasse was declared after a contentious back and forth during which the two sides argued about legalities, questioned procedures and pointed the finger at each other.

North Collier officials came away insisting lives are being endangered while the county commissioner majority believes a plan to augment EMS crews with paramedics working overtime will fill the gap.

At its core, the issue is more bureaucratic than medical.

North Collier's view is that the department needs a certificate from the state to allow its firefighters to do ALS. It needs the county's blessing to receive that certificate, which also allows it to have its own medical director who sets training standards.

It has had such a certificate for five years but last year commissioners balked when it was time to renew it, setting up the showdown.

The county commission's position is that North Collier's medics could do ALS under an interlocal agreement with the county. The county's medical director would be the one setting protocols and training standards.

The North Naples fire department, which merged with Big Corkscrew Island to form North Collier, operated under an interlocal agreement for years before getting a state certificate.

Now, North Collier's leaders insist such interlocal agreements aren't legal.

Commissioner Tim Nance views the situation as a chance to move toward a unified emergency response system in Collier County. North Collier's refusal to fall in line is an obstacle, he said. "This issue has been kicked down the road for 20 years. We have an opportunity right now to build a unified response. They (North Collier) have the ability to cooperate. What is lacking is the will to do so," he said.

But North Collier's board says it's the county commission that's created the crisis.

The system in place has been working well, North Collier Chairman Norm Feder said. "It's not like we have a problem we're trying to solve," he said.

North Collier board member Chris Lombardo said the denial of the renewed certificate took everyone by surprise. "We didn't know about the new approach until September. We're four days away from shutting down the system. In four days someone's going to have to answer why 100 paramedics were taken out of service."

Lombardo isn't buying the argument that the experience of the county's paramedics makes up for the number of paramedics the fire department can add. "Less is not more," he said.

Lombardo and others pleaded for a temporary extension of the existing agreement until a judge or the Florida Attorney General's office can issue an opinion on whether interlocal agreements are an acceptable arrangement between departments.

If they're deemed unacceptable, agreements with other fire departments who perform ALS under the county's auspices could be jeopardized.

Fire chiefs from Marco Island and Immokalee attended, as did more than a dozen residents on each side of the issue.

As the meeting dragged on past its scheduled conclusion, the two sides moved fitfully toward a resolution.

North Collier commissioners agreed to seek a legal ruling on the propriety of interlocal agreements, but only if Collier commissioners would extend the present certificate during the process.

Collier County Commissioner Tom Henning wanted to wait until the commissioners' scheduled meeting Tuesday before committing to that, saying he wanted to discuss the idea and the time frame with the county attorney.

No legal way to carry Monday's meeting over into Tuesday and still satisfy public notice requirements could be found so an impasse was declared, the meeting adjourned and the participants straggled out. A lawsuit filed by North Collier after the certificate renewal was turned down will proceed but resolution is likely months away.

In the back of the room Dr. Jeffrey Panozzo, North Collier's medical director, said politics are clouding more important questions over the delivery of emergency medicine.

Regardless of the person filling the job, the county should be moving toward a more evolved view of the office of medical director. A team of people working under that office should be heavily involved not just in training and protocols, but in quality assurance and data analysis too, Panozzo said.

"Nothing was spoken today that really gets to the medical. It kept going back to the political and legal," he said.

(Connect with Brent Batten at brent.batten@naplesnews.com, on Twitter@NDN_BrentBatten and at facebook.com/ndnbrentbatten)
Ghost Walk volunteer guide Randi Levey recites historical information about the Koreshans during a rehearsal for the moonlit tours this weekend at Koreshan State Historic Site. Laura Gates/Banner Correspondent

SHARE This Koreshan artifact in the Art Hall demonstrates Cyrus Teed's hollow earth theory. Laura Gates/Banner Correspondent Ghost Walk organizer Kate Griffith portrays Sister Eleanor Castle. The Koreshan story will be brought to life for two weekends at Koreshan State Historic Site. Laura Gates/Banner Correspondent Bill Petit, Geri Malecki and Diane Ashjian portray new members of the Koreshan Unity during Ghost Walk at Koreshan State Historic Site. Laura Gates/Banner Correspondent

By Laura Gates

"I think damnation awaits your soul, sir!"

These are the fiery words which close out the first scene of Ghost Walk at Koreshan State Historic Site. They are spoken by Cyrus Reed Teed, the self-proclaimed "Master Koresh," to Gustave Damkohler, a German-born early homesteader of Southwest Florida, who donated his land for Teed's "New Jerusalem."

Historical records show Damkohler changed his mind too late to reclaim the 130 acres he donated while grieving the loss of his wife and two children. Damkohler left the Koreshan Unity, but many other devotees followed Teed from Chicago, New York and other metropolitan areas into the swamplands of Estero. While they never numbered the 10 million Teed envisioned, about 250 souls called this utopian settlement home in the heyday of "Koreshanity" in the early 1900s.

Ghost Walk celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, telling the story of the Koreshan legacy by moonlight and lanterns.

"I was here at the first Ghost Walk 25 years ago," recalled Doc Heitz, who portrays Damkohler. He's done several other roles over the years but now has settled into the character of Damkohler, playing opposite Stan Malecki as Cyrus Teed.

As vice president of the Friends of Koreshan Citizens Support Organization, Heitz knows the value of Ghost Walk. Not only is it popular enough to sell out each season, it is expected to bring in about $13,000 over two weekends of performances, Jan. 29-30 and Feb. 5-6. That money will help restore the Koreshan General Store, Machine Shop and other areas in need of repair, Heitz said.

The cast is completely made of volunteers -- about 65 of them this year. While many serve as docents at Koreshan Park throughout the year, others have come on board exclusively for Ghost Walk.

Barry Cavin, a professor of Theatre at Florida Gulf Coast University, recruited several students to play roles in Ghost Walk this season.

"This is an opportunity for students to come over here and get involved with something that is celebrated in the community where the university is," he said.

Cavin is so intrigued by the Koreshans that he is writing an original play based on their story. "The Perfect Island of Doctor Teed" is scheduled to be performed at the Koreshan Art Hall in April by Ghostbird Theatre Company.

"I'm really interested in doing local-knowledge theatre and keeping the community involved with the craft," Cavin said.

As part of his research, he plowed his way through Teed's expositional hollow earth theory called "The Cellular Cosmogony." It's full of invented terms and pseudo-science no logical mind could follow, Cavin said.

Ghost Walk confirms most Koreshans didn't understand it, either. They simply trusted in the illumination of Master Koresh, their messiah. They were befuddled when he died and failed to reincarnate.

However, the "Seven Sisters" of the Planetary Court, who governed the commune, agreed Koreshanity must continue. The Koreshans operated a bakery, machine shop, post office, printing press and art hall, leaving an indelible mark on Estero's early history.

Ghost Walk brings the Koreshans back to life for today's residents, said Shawn Woodsmith, who portrays Sister Victoria -- second in command to Teed. She and her husband, David, have logged more than 2,000 hours as volunteer docents at Koreshan Park.

"Our guests can really see what it was like for the Koreshans living here," Woodsmith said.

Not only does she act, Woodsmith also is responsible for sewing, crafting or acquiring the many period-appropriate costumes and props used in Ghost Walk.

"This year was hard because we have a lot of new people and new characters," she said.

FGCU student Randi Levey is among the new talent. A communications and philosophy major, Levey is interning at Koreshan this spring.

"When I heard about Ghost Walk, I really wanted to be part of it," she said. "It's a beautiful park, and there's so much history."

Holly Hagen, a freshman at Florida Southwestern State College, also joined the cast this year. In her role as Sister Etta, she demonstrably grieves the death of Master Koresh as the Ladies of the Planetary Court discuss how to proceed.

While much of the cast consists of retirees, these younger actors are welcomed, as they may help accurately portray the original Koreshan population. Prominent Koreshan Vesta Newcomb left her mother and brother behind in Chicago at the age of 15 to join the Koreshan commune. She was among the final four Koreshan believers, who donated their land to the state of Florida in 1961.

Her cottage -- still standing on the property today -- is the set for one of the final Ghost Walk scenes, as Newcomb and fellow Koreshan pioneer Allen Andrews discuss the decline in membership and the future of the settlement in their latter years. Andrews is known as one of the "Tamiami Trailblazers" who trekked through the everglades from Fort Myers to Miami in 1923 to demonstrate the need for a highway.

Ghost Walk highlights Koreshan history from its founding in the 1880s through its final days. Tours start at 7 p.m. and run every 15 minutes.

"This production is a joint effort by so many wonderful volunteers, and it's to their credit that Ghost Walk takes place each year, bringing the Koreshan story to life," said Kate Griffith, who heads logistics for the leadership committee.

Tickets may be purchase in advance by calling the ranger station at 239-992-0311.

IF YOU GO

Ghost Walk

When: Jan. 29-30 and Feb. 5-6

Where: Koreshan State Historic Site, 3200 Corkscrew Road, Estero

Tickets: $20

Information: 239-992-0311 or visit floridastateparks.org
About 350 students from three counties presented science fair projects in FGCU's Alico Arena Jan. 23 as part of the Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Science and Engineering Fair, while about 300 young inventors competed in the 28th Regional Inventors Fair. Laura Gates/Banner Correspondent

SHARE Aidan Knack, a student at Rayma C. Page Elementary, demonstrates his invention, the EZ Trash can, which opens for easier garbage bag removal. He participated in the Thomas A. Edison Festival of Light Regional Inventors Fair Jan. 23. Emily Schwartz, an 11th grader at Canterbury School, presents her project on beauty to judges during the Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Science and Engineering Fair at FGCU Jan. 23. Laura Gates/Banner Correspondent

By Laura Gates

Who couldn't use a pair of Disposable Downpour Dungarees? For just $4.99, these plastic over-pants will cover your feet and legs, protecting them from the torrential downpours of Southwest Florida.

"Whenever I use an umbrella in the rain, it never protects me from the waist down," explained MacKenzie McDonald, the brilliant mind behind this wet-weather accessory we never knew we needed.

A fifth grader at Pinewoods Elementary, McDonald joined more than 300 other young inventors vying for recognition, scholarships and prizes at the Thomas A. Edison Festival of Light Regional Inventors Fair, held at Florida Gulf Coast University's Alico Arena last Saturday. Another 350 students presented their scientific solutions to life's problems during the simultaneously held Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Science and Engineering Fair.

"Business creation and innovation is a big part of what is going to help this country," said Dr. Gary Nelson, who launched the Inventors Fair 28 years ago and now chairs the joint Thomas A. Edison Regional Science and Inventors Fairs.

Creative inventions included The Chicken Cradle, to help with administering medical care on the farm, and the Sketch-n-Go for artists on the run. There also was Non-stick Gum for wearers of braces, a Drool Pad for kids who slobber on their pillows, and a pair of high heeled shoes which convert to flats for partygoers with fatigued feet.

Students are encouraged to find solutions for problems they encounter in everyday life, explained Inventors Fair Coordinator Roxann Camel.

"They might make a difference in actually solving a problem in their family," she said.

This year's inventions showed an increase in humanitarian causes, noted Camel, pointing out projects designed to aid communication for nonverbal children and seniors with Alzheimer's. Life Bars, invented by 11th grader Ethan Burt, are enriched to fight malnutrition and illness in developing nations. The Forget Me Not Car Seat by fifth grader Evangeline Bolgiano causes an alarm to go off "so parents won't forget their baby in the car," she explained.

"I always tell the kids to think big; think of things that are going to impact a lot of people," said longtime Inventors Fair adviser Debbie Backes, of the Community School of Naples. "It's great to see the lightbulb go off when they come up with a problem and they can solve it."

Among a number of environmental inventions was the Boat Buddy Pollution Solution, by fifth grader Grace Ryan. This canvas garbage receptacle features a "Just Push" lid designed to reduce debris in the ocean. Another project, Evaporation Wateration, by fourth grader Amaya Etcheverry, collects water from the air using energy from the sun, producing fresh water.

Fair judge Andrew Williams, with the Entrepreneur Society of America, identified several projects which he esteemed as potential "profit centers." The society is extending invitations to select fair inventors for its Hatchlings Program.

"It's like a Shark Tank setup where investors come and get asked to invest in these ideas," Williams explained.

For the Science and Engineering Fair, awards include dozens of scholarships from FGCU, as well as scholarships from Florida Southwestern State College, Southwest Florida Community Foundation and the Caloosa Veterinary Society. There also are cash awards from various organizations and thousands of dollars worth of product prizes from Sony Electronics.

Awards will be presented Thursday at 7 p.m. at Alico Arena. Grand Prize winners advance to state competition in Lakeland, and four Senior Division winners get an automatic bid to international competition in Phoenix. Many students also land summer internships and other opportunities through networking at the Science and Engineering Fair, noted Director Lee Hughes.

Lee County Schools Superintendent Greg Adkins stopped by Saturday's fairs to scope out student innovation.

"Kids learn so much by being able to work on a project and do the actual research," he said, pointing out a particularly impressive project by a group of Lee Virtual School students who studied sand dollars on Sanibel Island.

Under the director of marine biologist Bruce Neill, these middle school students collected research on the growth rate of sand dollars. Upon finding juvenile sand dollars as small as two millimeters in diameter, the team realized they may have discovered something previously unknown. Their evidence contradicts the prevailing theory that sand dollar reproduction takes place just once a year.

"This is real-world science," Adkins marveled. "This is a real discovery that kids have made out on Sanibel Island."

Adkins also is awaiting a future presentation to the Lee County School Board by a pair of Lehigh High School students who studied the environmental hazards of using styrofoam lunch trays. Chelsea DeSilva and Wadley Pierre plan to petition the board to switch to cardboard trays, at an additional annual cost of $9,900 for Lehigh High alone.

"What is more important, the money or the environment and your children?" questioned Pierre. "This is a serious issue. We could make a big difference."

Other scientific discoveries which could affect the school environment include a project by Bonita Middle School student Cassidy Dameron. She tested whether students performed better on tests proctored by males or females and found that females students respond better to a male voice.

Estero High sophomore Jessica Walsh's project, "Mess of Stress," was personally motivated.

"I know how bad it is to be overwhelmed by stress, so I wanted to try to figure out why teenagers are so stressed," she explained. The results of her survey showed they overwhelmingly stressed more about school than society and self.

Three Oaks Middle School student Rachel Burnes said she appreciated the opportunity to participate in the regional fair.

"You get to meet new people and get project ideas for next year," she said, adding, "Getting to talk to judges makes you more outgoing."

Judges say they want to give back through mentoring young innovators.

"These kids are encouraged to have new ideas and not be afraid to try new things," said Bryon McCartney, of the Entrepreneurs Society. "As we grow older, we become more fearful of having new ideas and pursuing them."
Looking east, the intersection of Bonita Beach Road and U.S. 41. File

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By Patrick Riley of the Naples Daily News

When Derrick Botana was a kid, he remembers seeing a sign along Bonita Beach Road, right when drivers would exit Interstate-75 and enter the city's only artery to the beach.

"It said: Gateway to the Gulf," he said. "And all of a sudden that sign disappeared, for unknown reasons, I'm not sure why, but to me that spells what Bonita Beach Road should be. It should not be an Interstate, it should be something that's very fluid."

Botana was one of more than 20 residents who gathered Monday evening at Bonita Springs City Hall to formulate their vision of what the 10-mile long east-to-west corridor could, should and needs to be.

The hour-and-a-half-long public workshop kicked off the public input phase of the city's visioning study for the road, which will be conducted by Maryland-based Toole Design Group. Throughout the week, the planning, engineering, and landscape architecture firm will meet with stakeholders along the corridor, including developers, property owners and city and county officials, collect resident feedback and eventually compile a report that will be presented to city council later this year.

"We don't know the street very well," Ian Lockwood, Toole Design's regional office director for the firm's Orlando location, told residents Monday. "We know our craft really well. But you know the street really well. So what we want to do is learn from you, so that we can help you design a really cool street that meets your needs and desires."

A large part of the study will consist of making the busy corridor  which also acts as the city's only connection to I-75  more pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly and solve some of its interconnectivity issues, Lockwood said.

"The canary in the mine for a city is the pedestrian," he said. "And so whenever we go to a city we look to see how the pedestrians are accommodated. And if they're not well accommodated, it's either a land use planning problem or a transportation planning problem. Or both."

Florida is a notoriously dangerous state for pedestrians, Lockwood said, in part because many southern cities grew much later than their northern counterparts.

"(Northern cities) developed when walking was far more common," he said. "And when our cities developed we were mostly driving. And so our cities are inherently more car-oriented."

Bonita Beach Road still exhibits design elements of an era when conventional wisdom was to move cars as fast from A to B as possible, Lockwood said. The road doesn't fit in with the rest of the "beach-oriented community," he said.

"(Bonita) has kind of a resort kind of feel to it," Lockwood said. "People want to retire, slow down, relax. There's a lot of adjectives that go with this city that don't go with the design of that road."

But the corridor's biggest problem is its "lack of network," Lockwood said.

"That street is being asked to be a commuter route, a main street, or business route I should say, a bicycle route, access to the beach route, it's defining the character of the city as people come in, it's access to every neighborhood, it's a way to your downtown," he said. "It's being asked to do every single thing and it's very difficult for a street to do everything well."

Monday, citizens, seated in groups around tables and armed with felt pens and large black and white printouts of the corridor, tried to define what they wanted Bonita Beach Road to be. They discussed what needs to be preserved, what is missing and what needs to be changed.

For Botana  who, along with his brother Adam, runs Bay Water Boat Club, which sits on Bonita Beach Road  Monday's objective was to improve Bonita and "make sure everything is done right for future generations."

He wants the road to return to its "Gateway to the Gulf" roots.

"If you look on a map it's the geographically closest location off (I-)75 to the gulf," he said. "I thought that was really cool when I was a kid."

Though there are other areas, like downtown, that are being revitalized, Bonita Beach Road "needs to be taken care of," said Adam Botana.

"When you get off I-75 it looks like any other town from here all the way to Ocala," he said. "It could be better."

Another public workshop will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 28, at city hall. Consultants will have informal office hours from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26, and Wednesday, Jan. 27, at city hall.
SHARE Photo by Tom Trotta Jim Kornas of Bloomfield Township, Mich. and Marco Island places a gas nozzle in its cradle Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 at Murphy USA gas station near Walmart in Naples, Fla. Gas prices are currently at sub-two dollar levels in Collier County. This station was priced at $1.93 for regular unleaded. (Corey Perrine/Staff)

1. Gas price drop now averaging about half cent a day

Prices at the pump are dropping at a rate of about a half cent a day even after oil prices increased during the tail-end of last week, according to AAA.

The state average has been under $2 a gallon for 23 days in Florida, and the average price for gasoline is under $2 in 37 other states The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $1.83, 7 cents lower than a month ago, 21 cents lower than this time last year, AAA reports.

"Oil prices dropped like a rock last week, and took gas prices with them," said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman. "The low price of crude remains the primary contributor to discounts at the pump, making it cheaper to produce gasoline."

Crude prices went on a roller-coaster ride last week. A barrel of oil dipped down to $26.55 (lowest daily settlement since May 7, 2003) on Wednesday, then climbed to $32.19 (highest since Jan. 8) on Friday. Some speculators believe the price of oil has bottomed out and could reach $50 by the end of 2016, and $70 next year. The latest forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Administration has oil averaging $38.54 this year and $47 in 2017.

"Gas prices could slip another 5 to10 cents to align with current crude levels, but if oil prices gain solid ground this week, the gas price drop could come to an end," Jenkins said. "Even if oil remains the same, gas prices could start inching up in the next couple of weeks as refinery maintenance season begins. This is a time when refineries do routine upkeep on their machinery, which slows their output. Because of this, we've seen gas prices rise 50 cents between February and June."

2. Golden Gate Estates man arrested on suspicion of beating, sexually assaulting teen girl

A Golden Gate Estates man was arrested Saturday on charges of child sexual abuse.

According to arrest reports, Scott Justin Prince, 36, engaged in sexual activity with a girl 12 to 15 years old on three separate occasions. The last time, on Jan. 22 to 23, he videotaped her, slapped her and forced himself on her. She was later hospitalized.

Prince and the girl met on an anonymous website called Omegle, exchanged phone numbers and began texting and talking on the phone. He picked her up on three occasions in his yellow Ford Fiesta and took her to a parking lot or to his home to engage in sexual intercourse.

He was arrested on Jan. 23 and charged with child abuse, lewd and lascivious battery, promoting a sexual performance by a child and distributing obscene material to a minor.

According to the report, the Collier County Sheriff's Office conducted an undercover investigation at Prince's address in January 2015 for the transmission of child pornography.

Prince's court date is set for Feb. 15.

3. A look at the Florida panther

At 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26, the Marco Island Historical Society welcomes Tom Trotta, a Florida Master Naturalist, to Rose History Auditorium. His lecture will focus on one of the world's rarest and most beautiful predators, the Florida panther.

These incredible animals once roamed throughout the South. Their territory is now only five percent of what it once was, and they can only be found in the low pinelands, palm forests and swamps south of Lake Okeechobee. As Florida continues to grow, panther habitat and numbers continue to shrink. Researchers estimate that there are fewer than 100 panthers left in the wild, making them the most endangered species in the eastern United States.

A resident of South Florida for over 60 years, Trotta is also the president of the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge, a locally-based volunteer organization that works to protect and preserve panthers in the wild through public education and political advocacy.

Trotta's lecture is free to members of the Historical Society; $5 for nonmembers. Rose History Auditorium is located at 180 S. Heathwood Drive next to the Library.

For more information, call 239-389-6447 or visit theMIHS.org.
SHARE County Manager Leo Ochs acts as emcee. County officials held a ribbon cutting on January 21 for the $20 million road improvements recently completed at the intersection of Collier Blvd. and US 41. Lance Shearer/Eagle Correspondent Collier County Growth Management Dept. head David Wilkison addresses the group along US 41. County officials held a ribbon cutting on January 21 for the $20 million road improvements recently completed at the intersection of Collier Blvd. and US 41. Lance Shearer/Eagle Correspondent Students from Nicaea Academy sing the National Anthem. County officials held a ribbon cutting on January 21 for the $20 million road improvements recently completed at the intersection of Collier Blvd. and US 41. Lance Shearer/Eagle Correspondent Zachary Burch of FDOT thanks the group for "a ribbon cutting in January, not July." County officials held a ribbon cutting on January 21 for the $20 million road improvements recently completed at the intersection of Collier Blvd. and US 41. Lance Shearer/Eagle Correspondent

By Lance Shearer

When things go right, people are happy to talk about them. That was the case with the recently completed $20 million road improvements centered around the U.S. 41, Collier Boulevard intersection.

The massive project that has had those roads torn up, with traffic diversions, lane closings, and hundreds of orange cones and barrels was completed "within the contract time and under budget," trumpeted the news release from Collier County's Growth Management Department.

The county hosted a ribbon cutting Thursday, under a tent at the northwest corner of the intersection, with County Manager Leo Ochs acting as master of ceremonies, and speakers including County Commission Chairman Tim Nance, and commissioners Donna Fiala and Penny Taylor.

In all, almost 80 people showed up for the ceremony, including Growth Management department head David Wilkison, Transportation Engineering Division director Jay Ahmad, and Zachary Burch, government affairs and communications manager for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

A steady stream of vehicles passed along the roadways behind the speakers, which was what the ribbon-cutting was all about, but when semi trucks or, in one instance, a group of motorcyclists rumbled by, they made it impossible to hear the speakers' remarks. Wilkison, who grew up in Collier County, drew on his long-term memory bank.

"When I was a child, this was an intersection between two two-lane roads," he said. Ahmad noted that the site was on the county's list of "most crash-prone" intersections, with a "skew" that put northbound traffic directly facing southbound vehicles on Collier Boulevard, also known north of the intersection as County Road 951, and south of it as State Road 951.

Another of the improvements, Ahmad noted, rerouted all the storm sewer and utility lines to alongside the road instead of underneath the middle, so they can be worked on without tearing up the pavement and shutting down traffic. Drainage for the site required a 17-ft. deep hole, and a 54-inch pipe carrying storm runoff.

That pipe, said Fiala, goes into the pond that sits adjacent to where the ribbon cutting was held on Thursday. The site previously held an abandoned gas station, that she called "an eyesore. I told them to get that gas station down even before we were ready to get the road going," she told the assemblage. Now, she said, "we need a pond with a fountain  hint, hint," remarks smilingly but pointedly addressed at the government and transportation officials seated all around.

In addition to relocating utilities and eliminating the skew, and allowing traffic to proceed straight across the intersection, bike lanes were added, along with sidewalk and bus stop enhancements on both north and southbound Collier Boulevard, and connections to the FDOT improvements on U.S. 41.

Related work that was completed concurrently included milling and resurfacing the existing 951 roadway from south of the Trail to south of Fiddler's Creek Parkway, widening the shoulders, designating bike lanes with permanent signs and pavement markings, adding a 10-foot shared use pathway, and upgrading traffic signals at the Manatee Road intersection. Nance noted the project was doubly difficult as it was constructed on top of the existing roadway, which had to be kept open for traffic.

"This was a rebuild  not build on a clean palette," he said.

Almighty assistance was invoked both before and after the ceremony, with an invocation from Rev. Gleb McFatter, priest in charge at St. Demetrius Orthodox Church, which is close enough to hear those trucks and motorcycles, and a benediction afterward. Live vocal music came from a choral group supplied by Nicaea Academy, under the direction of head of school Justina Kenny. They sang the national anthem and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to open the program, and closed it with "My Country 'Tis of Thee."

In between, the young students were subjected to a pop quiz by Taylor, who grilled them on some of the facts about the project that had been announced from the podium.

"This road is built for you, for the future," she told the children, who showed by their quiz answers they had indeed been listening.

Then the dignitaries cut the ribbon, twice, with Fiala wielding the oversized scissors. In the long-running race between growth and road construction, the road builders got ahead, at least for a while. But plans are already in the works for a "flyover," similar to that at Golden Gate Parkway and Airport-Pulling Road, that will eventually have Collier Boulevard traffic cross above U.S. 41.

Ahmad from FDOT, who got thanks since the state ponied up an additional $2 million for changes after the project had started, eventually shouldering approximately $14 million of the $20 million total, estimated the flyover would cost in the $60 million range.

Asked before the ceremony when the flyover would happen, Ochs responded with a 15-20 year time frame, but speakers put the estimated start date at 2025 during the presentations.

Speakers did say the just-completed work was laid out with an eye to easing construction of the flyover, but whenever that project happens, while it is being built, it will be a mess.
The scene of a triple homicide at an Iona Lakes apartment in Fort Myers is pictured on Monday, Jan 25, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff)

By Jessica Lipscomb and Kristine Gill of the Naples Daily News

A Lee County man who was arrested in a triple homicide case Sunday told detectives he and his girlfriend planned to kill her two daughters and then themselves.

An arrest report obtained Tuesday says Patrick Carlopoli, 27, told investigators he and his girlfriend, Tammy Modlin, stabbed their dog and their 3-year-old daughter, Jeanne Carlopoli, then shot Modlins 16-year-old daughter from a former relationship, Montana Modlin.

Patrick Carlopoli said he next shot 37-year-old Tammy Modlin but could not go through with killing himself. Lee County sheriffs deputies arrived at the familys Iona Lakes home after Carlopoli called 911 to report three dead bodies inside the apartment.

Through a spokesman, Sheriff Mike Scott declined to comment Tuesday on Carlopolis statement. Its unclear if detectives believe Carlopolis version of events.

At a news conference Monday, the sheriff said the killings remained under investigation.

Theres a lot to be processed here, he said. Weve got gunshots, weve got knife wounds, and weve got a chain of events that, you know, may or may not have led up to that. Obviously, we have to look at pre-events.

As of Wednesday, Carlopoli remained in jail without bond. He faces one count of second-degree murder in connection with Tammy Modlins death, two counts of conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse in connection with the childrens deaths, and one count of felony animal cruelty in connection with the dogs death.

Neither Modlin nor Carlopoli had been arrested in Florida prior to Carlopolis arrest Sunday, according to a state background check.

Excluding Carlopolis call to 911 early Sunday, the Sheriffs Office had been called to the familys home on Iona Lakes Drive only once in the past two years, when Modlin called to report harassing phone calls from her father out of state, according to a Lee County Sheriffs Office spokesman.

While neighbors said the couple sparred, no court records exist documenting any kind of reported abuse or safety concern in Lee County. A spokeswoman for the Department of Children and Families said the agency did not have contact with the family before Sunday.
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By Kristine Gill of the Naples Daily News

The wife of a Naples man who recruited investors to a Miami-based Ponzi scheme will do her own time behind bars.

Lorie Ann Williams was sentenced to one year and one day in prison followed by two years of supervision for her role in evading requirements for bank reporting.

Williams, 48, left the courtroom sobbing Monday after her attorney said she spent all but a few months of her life with a squeaky clean criminal record.

"There is no place for Ms. Williams in federal prison," Williams' attorney Douglas Molloy said.

Sydney "Jack" Williams got about 60 people to buy into a massive Ponzi scheme run by Nevin Shapiro, the former University of Miami booster. Sydney Williams took about $12 million in commissions while those who invested lost a combined $38 million.

Nevin Shapiro owned a company called Capitol Investments USA Inc., that took in millions of dollars of fraudulent investments, pretending to deal in wholesale grocery businesses. Shapiro is serving a 20-year sentence in a Louisiana federal prison on fraud and money laundering charges. He's also the face of a recent scandal at the University of Miami, where Shapiro says he gave thousands of impermissible benefits to athletes between 2002 and 2010.

Lorie Williams began withdrawing money from her husbands account after lawsuits were filed against him for his involvement. The withdrawals took place before the couple filed for bankruptcy.

Williams admitted in October to withdrawing $332,500 in cash in increments of $9,500 over a 50-day period.

The withdraws were just under the $10,000 limit that would force Williams to report them to federal regulators. Prosecutors said Sydney Williams accompanied his wife to the bank on several occasions.

Lorie Williams read a brief statement Monday saying she deeply regretted her actions but didn't realize she was breaking the law.

"Our world was spinning out of control," she said. "And we needed to pay our bills ... I understand ignorance of the law is not an excuse and I accept responsibility for my actions."

Lorie Williams was facing up to 24 months in prison for her role but Senior U.S. District Judge John Steele accepted a variance on that sentence.

"She never intended to hurt anyone and there are no identifiable witnesses in this case," Molloy said. "I think the question really is: Is this a person who belongs in prison?"

Judge Steele also pointed out Williams' pristine record leading up to her arrest.

"I wouldn't really expect to see you back again," he said.

Sydney Williams will be sentenced Monday.
FILE - Walter Tester, right, Director of Facilities and Construction for NCH, walks on the roof of the NCH North Naples Hospital at the end of the workday.

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By Liz Freeman of the Naples Daily News

The NCH Healthcare System has expanded its pulmonary health center at its North Naples Hospital, doubling patient capacity in a project that was funded entirely by philanthropy.

Local resident James P. Growney provided a $250,000 gift and the center has been renamed the NCH Growney Pulmonary Health Center in his honor, said Jim Martin, chief development officer at NCH.

The total project cost was about $1 million, and more than 125 Naples residents, visitors and organizations covered the difference, according to the NCH foundation.

NCH officials are holding a dedication ceremony Wednesday at 5 p.m. to thank supporters.

"Our pulmonary rehabilitation services staff now has the space, as well as upgraded facilities and equipment, to provide high quality, safe care to more people in the community who are struggling with debilitating lung diseases and conditions," Dr. Allen Weiss, president and chief executive officer of NCH, said in a news release.

"Patients receiving these services tend to have fewer hospital visits, most are able to resume daily activities and experience an improved quality of life," Weiss said.

Construction began June 1, and was completed Oct. 30, with $540,000 of the cost going toward the renovation and $430,000 being spent on exercise equipment and technology upgrades, said Mason Ayers, executive director of the foundation.

Patient capacity has doubled to between 30 and 40 patients a day, and the center can accommodate 60 patients during peak season, Scott Wiley, director of cardiopulmonary services, said.

Growney, an Army veteran who was an executive with several companies in New York, including his own computer consulting firm, provided the largest gift in recognition of his late wife, Kathy Growney, who suffered from lung disease.

"I am one of many advocates and supporters of NCH's pulmonary rehabilitation services," Growney said in a news release. "When I learned about the need for additional space and newer equipment to serve more people with lung conditions, it was an easy decision to find a way to help fund the project. Once the project got rolling, I was immediately impressed by the number of dedicated people who jumped in to help."
SHARE Jack Antaramian

By Laura Layden of the Naples Daily News

Naples developer Jack Antaramian has filed a reorganization plan in bankruptcy court that could end a long-running, costly and bitter legal feud with his former partners in the Naples Bay Resort project.

The plan is designed to unify the resort, club and shops in downtown Naples, putting them all under Antaramian's control and management.

He wants his former partners to give up their ownership in the club and shops. In return, he'd walk away from their shared interests in four other commercial properties: Pettit Square in downtown Naples, the Aurhaus furniture store in North Naples, the Fifth Third Bank Center off Metro Parkway in Fort Myers, and undeveloped land nearby.

"A major objective was to end the litigation and end the fighting," said Antaramian's bankruptcy attorney, Chad Bowen.

Antaramian declined to comment. On Aug. 29, his company, Antaramian Properties LLC, filed for Chapter 11 protection, with more than $20 million in debt. With million-dollar judgments and a series of court rulings against him, Antaramian said at the time he had no choice but to seek bankruptcy protection to reorganize his company so it could pay off what it owed.

There are myriad legal disputes between Antaramian and his former partners, and the reorganization plan could end them all, including his appeal of a Collier circuit judge's ruling that thwarted his attempts to foreclose on the resort development's club.

Through the foreclosure case, Antaramian hoped to gain control over the club. The ruling instead left the club's owner as Knightsbridge Partners of Naples LLC, a partnership between Antaramian and his battling partners ? Fred Pezeshkan, a nonexecutive chairman for Manhattan Construction Florida, and investors Iraj Zand and Raymond Sehayek from Switzerland.

Under the reorganization plan, Antaramian's trio of partners could collect the millions they're owed in legal costs they racked up to defend themselves in another bankruptcy case involving the Naples Bay Resort. A final judgment in their favor and against Antaramian Properties in that case was recorded Aug. 15 for more than $2.8 million.

In the other case, Antaramian and other creditors forced the project's original developer, Basil Street Partners, into Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2011, saying it was the only way to get the financing needed to keep the resort open and to pay off its debts. Antaramian was once a partner in Basil Street, along with Pezeshkan, Zand and Sehayek.

Jordi Guso, a Miami attorney representing the three partners and NBR Shoppes LLC, the owner of the shops, said a mediation is scheduled for Nov. 17-18 to try to resolve his clients' concerns about Antaramian Properties' reorganization plan. He said if there's not a resolution, the court will hold a two-day confirmation hearing Dec. 18-19.

"In light of the pending mediation and court hearings, it is not appropriate for us to comment publicly on the plan and the problems presented by it," Guso said in an email.

One of Antaramian Properties' largest creditors is Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, a company that represented him in the first bankruptcy case. The firm has a more than $4.6 million judgment against Antaramian Properties and an affiliate for unpaid legal fees. Antaramian proposes to make quarterly payments to pay off that claim in his plan.

The first bankruptcy case gave Antaramian control over much of the resort project. With new financing, he acquired 11 residences, 26 hotel units and 75 boat slips at the 20-acre development, near Tin City.

Antaramian Properties' largest creditor is Naples Bay Financial Holdings LLC, a limited liability company controlled by Randal Bellestri, an industrialist and part-time Naples resident, who was recently sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for tax evasion.

Naples Bay Financial has a claim of $16.74 million for a first mortgage on the resort property owned by Antaramian Properties. Under the plan, Antaramian would surrender nine residential units, 19 boat slips and 16 hotel units to the lender. If that turns out not to be enough, he'd make cash payments or give up other resort property to fully satisfy the claim.

For the reorganization plan to be confirmed, a bankruptcy judge must independently determine it's in the best interest of all creditors and equity security holders.

With the plan, Antaramian Properties argues the recoveries for creditors will be much greater than they would be if its assets were liquidated under Chapter 7.

"We are literally trying to resolve claims and pay creditors the absolute maximum amount for legitimate claims," Bowen said.
Councilman Bill Barnett, Mayor John Sorey and Councilwoman Teresa Teresa Heitmann at the Naples mayoral debate on Jan. 25, 2016. Photo by Joseph Cranney/Staff

SHARE A scene from the Naples mayoral debate on Jan. 25, 2016. Photo by Joseph Cranney/Staff A scene from the Naples mayoral debate on Jan. 25, 2016. Photo by Joseph Cranney/Staff Councilman Bill Barnett, Mayor John Sorey and Councilwoman Teresa Teresa Heitmann at the Naples mayoral debate on Jan. 25, 2016. Photo by Joseph Cranney/Staff at the Naples mayoral debate on Jan. 25, 2016. Photo by Joseph Cranney/Staff A scene from the Naples mayoral debate on Jan. 25, 2016. Photo by Joseph Cranney/Staff

By Joseph Cranney of the Naples Daily News

Monday's first three-way debate in the Naples mayoral election highlighted the similarities between Councilman Bill Barnett and Mayor John Sorey, and how the two differ from Councilwoman Teresa Heitmann.

For 80 minutes before an overflow crowd at the Naples City Council chambers, Heitmann clashed with Barnett and Sorey on nearly every topic: fire and emergency services consolidation; leadership styles; rebuilding of the city dock; and the city's handling of the design of Baker Park.

"Naples deserves a change in leadership," said Heitmann, who has served on the council since 2008 and is prohibited by term limits from seeking re-election.

The mostly cordial affair Monday night before an overflow crowd at the Naples City Council chambers turned political when Sorey was questioned about his full-time job as executive director of the Sugden Theatre. After Barnett, who also has served as mayor, questioned Sorey's accessibility as mayor, Sorey said he spends more hours working in the elected position than Barnett and added that Barnett spent summers in New York when he was serving in the office.

"When you can't run on substance, you have to look for other things," Sorey said, which elicited groans from the crowd.

When asked to respond to the exchange, Heitmann said, "I think both of them are self-serving, unfortunately. I think this is a political conversation of who can attack who."

Barnett's platform of public safety was reiterated through a discussion about the possibility of fire district consolidation. Barnett, without taking a firm stance for or against consolidation, said, "We want what's going to work for us best. Simple as that. God forbid one of us has a heart attack tonight or a stroke, we want the best service as fast as possible."

Barnett formerly served as mayor from 1996-2000 and 2004-12. He has been a councilman for the past four years and entered the mayor's race in September.

Sorey, who became mayor after an unopposed election in 2012, boasted his experience and pointed to what he describes as progress since assuming office. During his closing remarks, Sorey said the debate "clearly indicated" who is best suited to be the next mayor.

"When you look at knowledge, ability and the capability of getting this job done," Sorey said. "I am the candidate."

Heitmann has said she will run on a platform of transparency and civic responsibility, calling Monday for more public inclusion and the suggestion that city staff should present unbiased information to the council.

After Barnett and Sorey agreed that redevelopment of old buildings into mixed-use projects is good for Fifth Avenue South and the rest of downtown, Heitmann gave an impassioned response.

Heitmann said "a powerful group of developers" has gained the favor of the council and called for a re-evaluation of council's role in building approval.

"People moved here because they do not want it to be Miami," Heitmann said, which garnered the loudest applause of the night. "It's the responsibility of council to look at fair ways to develop ... and not to give away our city."

The League of Women Voters of Collier County will hold another debate on Wednesday night at the council chambers for the six council candidates running for three open seats. Election Day is March 15.
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By The Associated Press

MIAMI (AP)  Eight people have pleaded guilty in a major synthetic drug ring in Miami.

The Miami Herald reports (http://hrld.us/1OLMskT) 37-year-old Jorge Ramon Hernandez and seven others pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to traffic drugs.

Authorities say Hernandez, who spearheaded the ring, faces up to 15 years behind bars for importing the party drug Molly from Chinese chemical labs. Prosecutor Marton Gyires said Hernandez admitted to importing up to 120 kilos of Molly through the U.S. mail and laundering more than half a million dollars.

Anich admitted to his role in the ring. He's now serving prison time.

Attorney Michael Rosen says his client, Mario Melton, wasn't part of the drug-dealing conspiracy and will go to trial next month. Melton is accused of receiving packages of Molly and steroids at his grandfather's business.
Hurricane Ian: Journalist shares personal, professional perspective

A Sarasota Herald-Tribune reporter writes about her return to Cape Coral, her hometown, to report on Hurricane Ian's aftermath.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has promoted Angela Martens to controller and assistant vice president. She maintains the general ledger and prepares reports and financial statements, as well as overseeing the human resources department.



Martens joined the bank in 2014 and has more than 25 years of accounting and banking experience in Southwest Florida and Nevada in positions including vice president/controller and business manager. A Fort Myers resident, she is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management. Martens has completed several American Bankers Association-sponsored courses and holds Bank Financial Management certification. Martens volunteers with United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America and The Salvation Army.



Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has two locations in Fort Myers, one in the Myerlee community and the second on McGregor Boulevard near Kelly Road. It is the only bank chartered on Sanibel Island, where it has two locations. The banks professionals provide customized individual and business banking services including free personal and business checking, residential lending and competitive rates. Sanibel Captiva Community Bank also offers online banking and electronic statements and recently introduced a mobile banking app. To learn more, visit www.sancapbank.com.
The Walmart Foundation opened the application period for its State Giving Program funding cycle this week welcoming Florida nonprofits with programs that focus on hunger relief & healthy eating, career opportunity and disaster preparedness to apply for funding. The deadline to submit grant requests is 11:59 p.m. CST on Jan. 29.



In 2014 (the most recent year for which data are available), community giving in Florida from Walmart stores, clubs and the Walmart Foundation totaled $82 million.



"The Walmart Foundation's State Giving Program is another way we extend our mission to help people live better," said Corbin Norman, Walmart vice president and regional general manager. "In addition to the thousands of community service hours our associates perform and the in-kind donations that are spread throughout the communities we serve, these State Giving grants allow us to help nonprofit organizations fulfill their mission and continue on their path of service."



Launched in 2008, Walmart associate-led State Advisory Councils work with the Walmart Foundation to help identify needs within their state, review grant requests and make funding recommendations to the Foundation. Eligible applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the programs minimum funding criteria. Grant submissions are only accepted online at http://giving.walmart.com/foundation.



By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women's Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart's giving, visit http://www.foundation.walmart.com.


WCI Communities has named Michael Farmer community representative for LaMorada Naples, its intimate community planned for only 343 luxury homes.



With more than 27 years of resort and real estate sales and marketing experience, Farmer most recently worked as a new home sales consultant with a Bonita Springs homebuilder.



Farmer will introduce homebuyers to a variety of one- and two-story home designs available in the exclusive neighborhoods of LaMorada Naples, including multi-family Carriage Homes and single-family Grand Villas, Classic Homes and Grand Estates from 1,710 to more than 5,000 air-conditioned square feet.



LaMorada Naples planned 13,700-square-foot lakefront clubhouse, Club LaMorada, will include a resort-style pool, outdoor bar, fitness center, theater, and culinary arts center for cooking demonstrations. Club LaMorada is currently underway and slated for completion later this year.



Homes in LaMorada Naples are from the mid-$300,000s to $1 million.



LaMorada Naples entrance is located on Woodcrest Drive off Immokalee Road in Naples, approximately one mile east of Collier Boulevard/CR 951 and less than five miles from 1-75.



For more information about LaMorada Naples homes, call 239-444-4450 or visit www.wcicommunities.com.
David Carleton Hall, executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief operating officer of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, has been elected president of the board of trustees of Southwest Florida Symphony Endowment Foundation. Hall has served on the foundation board since 2008.



John Boyd serves as board secretary, and Corey Vertich is treasurer. Both are certified financial planners, Boyd with Raymond James Financial Services and Vertich with Uhler and Vertich Financial Planners. Other board members are Robert Diefenbach and Don King.



We are fortunate to have a strong endowment board guided by David Halls leadership and experience, said Amy Ginsburg, acting executive director of the Southwest Florida Symphony. With our endowment in such capable hands, we are confident that we can expect excellent stewardship of the fund and that it will continue to grow.



The foundation was established in 2002 to build assets for the long-term financial support of the Southwest Florida Symphony, Lee Countys only professional orchestra. Since then, the endowment has grown to more than $2.75 million. The boards goal is to increase the endowment to $5 million by 2020.



Hall, a Fort Myers resident since 1991, is a founding director of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. He holds a business degree from University of Florida and is a certified public accountant with nearly four decades of banking experience. He is secretary of Florida SouthWestern State College Financing Corporation and treasurer of Fort Myers Community Concert Association. For 10 years, Hall served as chairman of the finance committee for the Lee County Public Schools and was named business partner of the year in 2008. He also is director emeritus of the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium and Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida.



For more information about Southwest Florida Symphony and its endowment, visit www.SWFLSO.org, or call 239-210-2345.



The professionals of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, which opened in 2003, provide customized individual and business banking services including free personal and business checking, residential lending and competitive rates. With two locations on Sanibel and two in Fort Myers, the bank also offers online banking, electronic statements and a mobile banking app. To learn more, visit www.sancapbank.com.
Olympic gold medal figure skater Brian Boitano speaks with a reporter as members of the U.S. delegation meet with the media ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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The chefs for the 2016 Naples Winter Wine Festival are:

Colin Bedford, The Fearrington House Restaurant, Pittsboro, North Carolina. A James Beard Award semifinalist, Bedford serves up dishes like brown sugar-cured monkfish with parsnips and currants and smoked cod with potato veloute (a sauce) & malt vinegar. The Fearrington House Restaurant won Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence for 2015.

Brian Boitano, host of Food Network's "What Would Brian Make," San Francisco. He pitches his Food Network show as finding "inventive ways to eat and entertain." Both funny and smart, Boitano says that cooking is an important part of friends and family.

Nash Cognetti, Tra Vigne, St. Helena, California. The $80 (for two) Steak alla Fiorentia is served with garlic and rosemary roasted potatoes, Bloomsdale spinach and Napa olive oil. Graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in business, but wound up leaving the cold weather for Big Sur.

Gary Danko, Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco. Combines French, Mediterranean and American. Was executive chef at the San Francisco Ritz-Carlton before opening his namesake eatery near Fisherman's Wharf.

Curtis Duffy, Grace, Chicago. Opened his three Michelin starred restaurant to immediate acclaim in 2012, as well as a James Beard Award for Best Restaurant Design (plus he's always on Twitter, @curtisduffy). Serves two 8-12 course tasting menus named "Flora" and "Fauna."

John Folse, Restaurant R'evolution, New Orleans. The Louisiana native once served catfish to thousands during a "pop-up" restaurant in Moscow during a Reagan-Gorbechev summit in 1988. Has written nine Cajun/Creole cookbooks, plus a novel.

Ken Frank, La Toque in Napa, California. Was just 23 when he opened his first La Toque on the Sunset Strip in 1979. Loves truffles (La Toque has a $200 all truffle menu), going so far as to declare "Flavored truffle products are crap" on his website.

Sarah Grueneberg, Monteverde, Chicago. The Texas native was branded a "mean girl" while making it to the finals of the ninth season of Bravo's "Top Chef." Her new restaurant's pasta has won raves with the Chicago Tribune declaring she "should have rented a bigger space."

Jen Jasinski, Rioja, Denver. Another "Top Chef" alum (and a James Beard Award winner), Jasinski has a burgeoning restaurant empire in Denver, including seafood and oyster bar Stoic & Genuine. Rioja's menu includes mocha-roasted beets with pecans, handmade pasta and even venison with squash, mustard greens and pickled sultanas.

Daniel Joly, Mirabelle, Beaver Creek, Colorado. Born in Belgium. Purchased Mirabelle in 1999. Brand ambassador for Stella Artois beer. His cookbook is titled "Not Just Another Cookbook."

Gerry Klaskala, Aria, Atlanta. Was tapped by Esquire magazine as one of America's best new restaurants in 2010. Latest venture Atlas is on the second floor of Atlanta's St. Regis Hotel, where he serves up yellowtail with serrano peppers and truffle potato pierogi dumplings.

Emily Luchetti Marlowe, Park Tavern and The Cavalier, San Francisco. One of fog city's top pastry chefs, Marlowe has written six cookbooks. She's also got a delicious-looking Pinterest page with hazelnut sandwich cookies and fudge cookie and mint ice cream sandwiches.

Tory Miller, L'Etoile, Madison, Wisconsin. James Beard winner has a mini-empire in Wisconsin, serving Spanish tapas, global cuisine and more. The menu for his burger/gastropod place Graze shows his Asian background. Witness corned beef brisket served with pastrami and kimchee or pork belly served with hoisin sauce alongside a pickle board of daikon, kimchee, escabeche, beets and cucumbers.

Nancy Oakes, Boulevard Restaurant San Francisco. Boulevard, opened in 1993, is a culinary fixture on San Francisco's Embarcadero waterfront. Her menus are rooted in classic American cuisine with a focus on fresh, sustainable practices.

Patrick O'Connell, The Inn at Little Washington, St. Washington, Virginia. Self-taught chef whose restaurant opened in 1978 in a former gas station has been referred to as "the Pope of American Cuisine."

Richard Reddington, REDD and Redd Wood, Yountville, California. Graduated with a degree in business, but decided to travel around Europe. His eponymous restaurant blends classic French training with a variety of influences from his travels (skate served with parsnips, huckleberries and toasted hazelnuts).

Bryce Shuman, Betony, New York, New York. One of Food & Wine magazines 2015 class of Best New Chefs and an Eleven Madison Park alum. His restaurant is named for an herb in the mint family. Raised in North Carolina, his cultural mother made sure he was exposed to a variety of exotic travels.

Holly Smith, Cafe Juanita, Kirkland, Washington. James Beard winner studied political science before going to culinary school. Calls her restaurant, which serves Northern Italian food, a "labor of love" on her website.

Craig Stoll, Delfina, San Francisco. A New York native, Stoll was turned on to food by a series of high school jobs in restaurants (he once told a magazine cooking helped him get girlfriends). Worked at Michelin-starred Da Delfina in Tuscany. Met his wife in California when she managed in the cafe across the street from him.

Ari Taymor, Alma Restaurant, Los Angeles. Alma, which recently closed, was named Bon Appetit's best new restaurant in 2013; Taymor was Food & Wine's best new chef in 2014. Critics from across the City of Angels raved about his butter-soaked carrots.

Bill Telepan, Telepan, New York, New York. On the Upper West Side since 2005, Telepan celebrates vegetables and fresh, local food. Also the executive chef of Wellness in the Schools (WITS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to making school food healthy.

Rick Tramonto, Restaurant R'evolution, New Orleans. Rochester, New York native will serve as the chef de cuisine at this year's festival. His culinary career started at Wendy's and went on to include seven cookbooks and appearances on "Iron Chef" and "Top Chef Masters."

Dustin Valette, Valette, Healdsburg, California. Sonoma chef closed his restaurant for a week to participate in the wine festival. Partners with his brother Aaron, the food has been called "rustic" and "eclectic" after its focus on the freshest ingredients.
Defiant South Tipperary householders will bin their Irish water bills on Saturday in a further public show of protest to the introduction of water charges.

Defiant South Tipperary householders will bin their Irish water bills on Saturday in a further public show of protest to the introduction of water charges.

The first Irish Water bills will arrive in the post this morning (Wednesday) and the opposition to water charges will be demonstrated again in Carrick on Suir on Saturday with the binning of the bills.

Irish Water is rolling out the issuing of bills on a phased basis over the next eight weeks. The anti water charges group in Carrick on Suir, the scene of a number of well attended water charge protest marches, has called on the public to come out in force to send out a strong message to Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly in his own constituency.

We are calling on the South Tipperary public to stand with us and bin these unwanted and unjust bills, said Eddie Reade of the Carrick on Suir anti water charges group.

Members of the public are asked to meet in the Castle Field for 2pm on Saturday.

From there they will march to the town hall where facilities will be in place for the public to bin their bills.

We know that despite Irish Waters continued spin and tall tales regarding customers signing up, the majority of people remain totally opposed to paying for water a third time and we will be showing this to be the case on Saturday, said Mr Reade.

In Clonmel the opposition to water charges will be spearheaded by a newly elected Right2Water group which was elected after two well attended public meetings in the town recently.
Sinn Fein has insisted it is sticking to running one candidate in Tipperary in the next General Election following the selection of Nenagh-based Cllr Seamie Morris as its candidate at the convention attended by about 200 party delegates in Cashel on Monday night.

Sinn Fein has insisted it is sticking to running one candidate in Tipperary in the next General Election following the selection of Nenagh-based Cllr Seamie Morris as its candidate at the convention attended by about 200 party delegates in Cashel on Monday night.

The staunch Republican councillor beat off the challenges of South Tipperary rivals Cllr Martin Browne from Cashel and Cllr Catherine Carey from Clonmel at the selection convention in Halla na Feile addressed by Cork based Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada.

Unlike the recent Fianna Fail convention, the Sinn Fein party chose not to announce the votes each candidate received and declined to reveal the number of votes cast.

Just the winning candidate was announced at the end of the two and half hour long convention. Cllr Browne, however, has confirmed he was second in the contest and Cllr Carey placed third.

Sinn Fein party members representing ten cumainn across the county voted and the ballot was open to each party member rather than delegates representing individual cumainn.

This was the first time the Sinn Fein party organisation in Co. Tipperary has run a contest to select a general election candidate . Cllr Martin Browne said the party had a long time ago decided to run just one candidate in the constituency as it believes two candidates will just split the party vote rather than maximise it.

The partys success in winning five seats in the Tipperary Co. Council election last year and its rating in opinion polls nationally means its in with a fighting chance of winning a seat in the general election in this constituency. Its 93 years since the party had a TD in Co. Tipperary.

Cllr Morris, who is a member of Nenagh Municipal District Council and Tipperary Co. Council, has contested the past two general elections for Sinn Fein in the old North Tipperary constituency.

He received a standing ovation from the assembled delegates when he was announced as the partys candidate. Cllrs Browne and Carey both congratulated him and urged the local party organisation to get fully behind Cllr Morris candidacy.

Cllr Morris was proposed at the convention by Thurles Cllr David Doran and seconded by Sinn Fein Tipperary Comhairle Ceanntair Chairman Paul Hayes.

Speaking to the delegates after his selection, Cllr Morris paid tribute to the people who came before him, his family and the republicans of the 1960s, 70s and 80s for whom being a republican meant serving 12 months in jail.

He said they were all at this convention for one thing - to get the first Sinn Fein TD for Tipperary since Joseph McDonagh (brother of the Rising leader Thomas), and urged the party machine in the county to work as a united body to win that seat.

He said his priorities will be to seek proper rights for workers, not JobsBridge schemes, to get proper jobs for the county, to improve the countys roads infrastructure, which he slammed as a shocking disgrace and to have Tipperary stand as an economic beacon.

In his speech before the vote, Cllr Morris emphasised to delegates that choosing him as the candidate would be the best option for taking on Labour party Minister Alan Kelly in the general election.

There was a time when Sinn Fein conventions were monitored by British intelligence. This convention will be monitored very closely by a certain minister in Portroe, he said.

The minister for Uisce Eireann will jump with joy if I am not selected tonight as it will leave the whole of north Tipperary open to him to exploit and will in all probabilities elect him, he warned.
Bank of America and nine other banks have agreed to pay about $63 million to settle claims they misled the state of Virginia into buying faulty residential mortgage-backed securities.

The banking companies were accused of misrepresenting to the Virginia Retirement System the quality of securities they were selling, according to a press release. The banks did not admit or deny wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The lawsuit against the banks was initially filed by Virginia's attorney general.

As part of the settlement's terms, Bank of America's Countrywide Securities and Merrill Lynch units agreed to pay $19.5 million, the largest amount of the defendant banks. Royal Bank of Scotland's RBS Securities agreed to pay the second-largest amount, $10 million.

Other banks that are party to the settlement are Barclays, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Credit Suisse and UBS.
American International Group announced $3.6 billion in new costs to fill a reserve shortfall and said it will hold an initial public offering for its mortgage insurer and sell an adviser network as Chief Executive Peter Hancock seeks to boost returns and protect his job after criticism from activist investor Carl Icahn.

Hancock will have an IPO of a 19.9% stake in the mortgage guarantor United Guaranty as a first step toward a complete exit of that business, AIG said Tuesday in a statement ahead of the CEO's presentation to Wall Street. The insurer also is reorganizing into "modular" business segments to give the company flexibility to sell or take public additional units if they underperform. The insurer didnt provide timetables for most of the initiatives.

The plan is less ambitious than the proposals made by Icahn, who said in October that the insurer should break into three separate companies. The billionaire called last week for an alternate approach for the company to sell assets and narrow its focus to property and casualty coverage. New York-based AIG, which is also one of the largest life insurers in the U.S., trades for about 70% of book value, while large P&C rivals such as Chubb and Travelers are valued at more than the metric of assets minus liabilities.

Chairman's Support

"AIG believes that a full breakup in the near term would detract from, not enhance, shareholder value," Chairman Doug Steenland said in a statement. "The board's actions reflect its full support for the plans that Peter Hancock and his management team have put forward."

Icahn has said the insurer needs to shrink to escape its status as a systemically important financial institution, which can lead to tighter capital rules from the Federal Reserve. Hancock has said that the costs are not overly burdensome, and that the insurer will continue to be highly regulated even if it's not a SIFI.

Insurer MetLife, one of the other three nonbank SIFIs, said this month that it will separate a domestic retail unit with $240 billion in assets through a sale, spinoff or public offering as CEO Steve Kandarian seeks to limit regulation. General Electric said last week that it is targeting a March exit of too-big-to-fail status after wrapping up deals to sell commercial lending assets and unload a Utah bank charter.

Legacy Portfolio

Hancock vowed to return $25 billion to shareholders over the next two years as he reshapes the company after spending more than $9 billion in 2015 on share buybacks. He also announced the creation a "legacy" portfolio of assets that he will sell or wind down. Hancock designated Charlie Shamieh, who oversaw life, health and disability operations, as legacy CEO.

The reserve shortfall highlights weaknesses even at units that Icahn envisions as the core of a scaled-back company. The fourth-quarter pretax cost to fill the gap include $1.3 billion tied to policies from 2004 and earlier, with the remaining $2.3 billion covering the period of 2005 through 2014. Most of the expenses were tied to casualty coverage, where it can take many years before claims are fully paid.

AIG has been stung repeatedly by higher-than-expected costs from risks that the company assumed in the past, whether from environmental liabilities or workers' compensation policies. The company was built into the worlds largest insurer by Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, and each of the five men who held the CEO post since his 2005 departure has grappled with the insurers complexity.

The company shrank by half as AIG sold assets to repay a 2008 bailout, and Hancock narrowed the focus further after taking over in late 2014. He sold stakes in aircraft lessor AerCap Holdings and lender Springleaf Holdings while parting with businesses in Central America and Taiwan.

'Decade of Trying'

"After a decade of trying to fix the firm, given the substantial structural disadvantages unique to AIG, we believe breaking up AIG and selling it off piece by piece to its structurally advantaged peers is simply a more realistic path to creating shareholder value," Josh Stirling, an analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein, said Monday in a note.

The mortgage guarantor contributed $464 million in pretax operating income in the first nine months of last year, or about 12% of the total from commercial insurance. The United Guaranty unit is probably worth $3.5 billion or less, according to estimates in the past week from analysts John Nadel of Piper Jaffray and Meyer Shields of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. They cited the share plunges this year of publicly traded mortgage insurers like MGIC Investment and Radian Group.

That compares with AIG's market value of more than $68 billion as of Mondays close. Shields wrote in a note Sunday that the main focus should be boosting margins at larger property-casualty operations.

Icahn's View

Icahn sent his third letter to AIG last week, telling the board that management could lose credibility if Tuesday's presentation fails to outline a drastic change. The activist first publicly voiced his separation plan in an October letter to Hancock, and sent another a month later saying he may solicit shareholders and seek a new director, who would agree in advance to take the CEO post if the board asks.

Hancock had also set new financial targets in February. He pledged to boost book value, increase return on equity and cut general operating costs by 3% to 5% annually through 2017. The CEO has since committed to eliminating hundreds of senior level positions. Still, operating ROE trails rivals at AIG and was 7.1% in the nine months through September.

"Amazingly, you have turned the quest for a 10% ROE into a half-decade journey," Icahn said in October.

AIG said Tuesday that it is targeting a consolidated ROE of about 9% by next year, with at least 10.3% in the operating portfolio that Hancock sees as the core of the business. He also announced expense reductions of $1.6 billion within two years.

"AIG has taken another major step in simplifying our organization to be a leaner, more profitable insurer, while continuing to return capital to shareholders," he said in the statement. "The creation of more nimble, standalone business units that can grow within AIG or be spun out or sold allows us to do what is in our shareholders best interest."

Advisor Group

The AIG Advisor Group is being purchased by funds affiliated with Donald Marron's Lightyear Capital and by PSP Investments, a pension fund manager in Canada, Hancock said in a separate statement that didnt disclose terms.

Hancock previously said that the insurer benefits from its breadth of product offerings and global reach, and that a separation could squander at least a third of AIGs tax assets, which were valued at about $15 billion in the third quarter of 2015.

The insurer accumulated tax assets in years when it was unprofitable, and they help limit future obligations to the government. Icahn said this month that the loss of tax assets wont be as severe as Hancock said because they become less valuable over time and it will take a while to complete transactions.

A separation could also be bad for bondholders, Hancock has said. Moody's Investors Service has called Icahns initial plan "negative" for the company's debt.
Despite laudable efforts to protect markets and consumers from systemic risk, the myriad new compliance requirements mandated since the housing crisis have in many ways unintentionally created a fractured regulatory framework for the financial services industry. This has the potential to create a scenario where this mass of regulations operates in silos, with the same result as having no regulations, but at many times the cost of compliance and reporting.

To combat this, organizations must take a comprehensive approach to addressing regulatory requirements that streamlines efforts and maximizes efficiency.

While economic cycles and housing bubble formations are inevitable, there are significant differences in the current housing finance structure from seven years ago. Old and new regulatory agencies implemented rules with sometimes unintended consequences, causing a dramatic change to the housing market landscape in less than a decade. For example, risk aversion in the market has given rise to players outside of traditional banking, while the increasing use of technology has disrupted traditional business processes.

A work-in-progress example of the drive toward standardization is the development of the Common Securitization Platform by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The CSP provides a common infrastructure for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to securitize loans and help ensure consistency in terms of security onboarding, pricing and transparency. Efforts to create a single security between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are another step toward bringing consistency in the housing finance market.

From a guidelines perspective, defined standards, such as Basel III, Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements and Servicer Total Achievement and Rewards program, all help manage counterparty service levels and risk management. While each of these is undoubtedly helping to mitigate some of the risks and eventualities which led to the meltdown, an analysis of the potential unintended impact of these regulations is also worth examining.

Having in place a greater number of regulations has affected operational costs for many organizations, including the cost of enhancing data, regulatory compliance reporting and adherence to different rules and standards. In certain segments of financial services that are heavily dependent on legacy infrastructure, the costs have been dramatic as new regulation has forced wholesale re-architecting of business processes and the systems that support them.

The changes in housing finance regulations, in particular, should encourage organizations to think more strategically about their operational and technology investments. Although this task is by no means easy, the mortgage industry can take a few steps to help them with the task.

Increasing investment in enterprise data integration programs to consolidate both structured and unstructured data is crucial. While most organizations have already invested in enterprise wide data management, the consolidation and availability of data, rather than its production, is rapidly becoming the key to unlocking its potential.

Likewise, making investments in standardized enterprise data transfer mechanisms and protocols  whether through defining canonical data models for the enterprise or participation in key industry standards like those championed by the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization  is increasingly critical to reducing integration and change management costs to help drive these efficiencies.

Originators can also use their partners to mitigate business risk. For example, the recent elimination of automated underwriting system fees will make it easier for originators to run the same underwriting checks as the enterprises. The ability of primary and secondary market parties to work with their technology partners and other enterprises to co-invest in software and share best practices would be of immense benefit to the overall housing finance ecosystem.

For many of these programs, the key success criteria are adoption, making investment in an enterprise wide adoption and change management program critical. An example of one way to drive adoption across the firm could be through compliance scorecards with funding linked to quarterly goals for business units.

While home prices have seen significant appreciation since the U.S. mortgage market bottomed out in 2012, in part thanks to a renewed focus on affordable housing and upward trending jobs data, questions are being asked on the sustainability of this appreciation. There is already mention of the lead up to the start of the next housing bubble.

It will be interesting to see in the next few years how technology and partnerships on both sides (regulators and market participants) may help reduce systemic risk and lower associated operational costs. With the right investments in technology and standards, regulators and organizations may be able to better integrate regulatory frameworks, dynamically access the right information and make more informed decisions proactively through the use of advanced analytics and visualization techniques.

Hans Godfrey is a vice president at Sapient Global Markets based in Washington, D.C.
Atmospheric spraying to fight 'global warming' is actually causing it

Geoengineering will destroy all planetary life if not stopped

(NaturalNews) The world, at least as we currently know it, could very soon cease to exist. Climate scientists clinging to the man-made global warming theory are now warning that we are in the very last days, and that a global mass extinction event is at the doorstep. But missing from their distressing narrative is the damage that geoengineering projects are causing to the planet, projects that ironically are taking place to supposedly stop global warming.Carbon dioxide, and specifically methane gas trapped beneath the earth's crust and oceans, is said to be the primary driver of global warming. And industrial activities are the scapegoat in this mass carbon release, which some scientists say is creating an indeterminate feedback loop in which progressively more methane is being unlocked from deep within the earth, spurring even more warming and more methane release.There are literally trillions of tons of carbon in the form of sequestered methane hiding beneath the earth's surface. This methane is naturally locked by glaciers, land, and other features of the earth that are increasingly releasing it, allegedly due to expanding human activity on the earth. So the goal, naturally, is to reduce this activity, and global warming activists suggest that governments can accomplish this by restricting people's freedoms and implementing more taxes.But what they're not telling you is that governments and other devious parties are actively spraying the world's skies with particles that are rapidly accelerating the warming process, resulting in higher methane releases. Such activities, which are being conducted under the guise of mitigatory geoengineering , are further perpetuating the problem, which global warming fanatics errantly blame on everyday human activities.Sure, burning fossil fuels and concentrating animals in factory farms isn't helping any. But neither is blanketing the skies in sulfur dioxide, aluminum, barium, and other toxic particulates that are further sequestering excess warmth and driving more methane gas out of the ground. While the corporate media foolishly bemoans the natural methane releases in cattle flatulence, unmarked airplanes are busy blasting the skies with poisonous chemicals that are doing far more harm."The ongoing climate engineering programs are not mitigating this problem, but rather making it worse," explains. "In an attempt to hide the unfolding climate and environmental cataclysm from the public for as long as possible, the power structure and the geoengineers are actually fueling the fire overall and effectively poisoning the entire planet in the process."A team of scientists from the U.K. recently admitted that geoengineering schemes, which were previously excused as "conspiracy theories," are very much real. They also admitted that such projects "could harm billions" of people, blocking out sunlight, toxifying soils, and polluting oceans, all effects that exacerbate destructive changes to the climate."Personally, I find this stuff terrifying," explained Dr. Matt Watson, a climate scientist at Bristol University, to. "We don't like the idea, but we're more convinced than ever that we have to research it."Besides damaging the ozone layer , which is one of the earth's natural climate control mechanisms, geoengineering actually shrinks the atmosphere, leading to massive changes in precipitation patterns. The result? Animals end up going extinct, large areas of land become deserts, and biodiversity comes to a screeching halt."Without the ozone layer, life in any form would likely not exist on our planet," adds, adding that this destruction will leave earth prone to massive solar flares that would result in much higher temperature spikes than the normal fluctuations or warming and cooling that already occur.
Wood-burning stove bans already common in the U.S.

The argument in favor of wood-burning stoves

(NaturalNews) In a blatant attack on those who prefer living as self-sufficiently as possible , citizens of Montreal have been ordered to first register their wood-burning stoves, and then ultimately get rid of them within three years, unless they meet rigid air quality standards.The deadline to register wood-burning stoves and fireplaces in Montreal was December 22, 2015, and the new emissions regulations will be implemented in 2018. Those who refuse to comply will be subject to fines, and those who are willing to adjust will be forced to pay for expensive modifications to their wood-burning stoves and fireplaces.From the"Starting in 2018, wood-burning appliances will be banned unless they meet the rigorous new emission standards of 2.5 grams of fine particles or less per hour. The bylaw is among the strictest in North America, said Real Menard, the city's executive committee responsible for the environment. Presently, transforming a stove or fireplace with inserts so that it is in compliance with the coming regulations costs between $2,000 and $8,000."Many outraged Montreal citizens have left comments on news articles and social media platforms regarding the new regulations, voicing the fact that they see the new standards for exactly what they are: an attempt to demonize those who prefer to avoid dependence on the grid for their heating and cooking needs.One such comment on thestory was submitted by a man named Tristan Verboven, who hit the proverbial nail on the head:"After thousands of years relying on fire as a source of heat, suddenly humans have discovered fire is so dangerous that we must use the power provided by a government monopoly instead. Yet somehow vehicle and industrial emissions are not worth eliminating. Thats [sic] would be way more complicated than inspecting people's private homes to enforce a law everyone knows is a racket."These types of bans are already becoming commonplace in the United States. And although the U.S. bans are not directly issued by the EPA , the agency has issued stricter emissions guidelines that make compliance with local wood-burning restrictions nearly impossible to meet without either expensive modifications or investment in expensive new EPA-approved stoves and fireplaces.From"It seems that even wood isn't green or renewable enough anymore. The EPA has recently banned the production and sale of 80% of America's current wood-burning stoves , the oldest heating method known to mankind and mainstay of rural homes and many of our nation's poorest residents. The agency's stringent one-size-fits-all rules apply equally to heavily air-polluted cities and far cleaner plus typically colder off-grid wilderness areas such as large regions of Alaska and the American West."Not only are traditional wood-burning stoves and fireplaces a time-honored American tradition, but there are also compelling arguments in favor of their use.One of the most eloquent and reasonable defenses of wood-burning appliances comes from the WoodHeat.org website, in an article entitled. It's a lengthy read, but it offers a detailed analysis of the benefits of wood heating.An excerpt:"Judged by coverage in policy discussions about our energy future, wood heating is virtually nonexistent. Most politicians don't debate its merits or plan for its strategic use. ..."The one thing that almost no governments do is encourage householders to heat with wood. Fuelwood is the only renewable energy resource that most governments don't seem comfortable with."In other words, even though wood is a renewable resource that could reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, it is being systematically outlawed by the authorities.The only logical reason for this is that governments do not want to encourage self-sufficiency; they would rather keep us completely dependent on them and the energy companies they represent for all of our needs.Wood burning bans are just another method that the Agenda 21-promoting authorities use to keep us helpless and under their strict control, while generating enormous profits for energy providers.
'I don't want to lowball ...'

Planned Parenthood should be held 'accountable'

(NaturalNews) In a different time in our history, this kind of insanity would not only have been shunned and ignored, but ridiculed and excised from society.In a stunning  and ironic  turnabout, Planned Parenthood, the nation's biggest danger to unborn children, is suing groups who exposed it for grotesquely selling aborted baby body partswhich is, by the way, against federal law.As reported by, a legacy media source whose Left-wing editors are no doubt cheering the legal action, Planned Parenthood's suit is aimed at pro-life groups that secretly videoed some of its officials wheeling and dealing to get better prices for aborted fetal tissues and organs.Calling the groups "anti-abortion extremists," Planned Parenthood, in its federal suit filed in the liberal bastion of San Francisco (as in: Yes, they were court-shopping), claimed the journalists had engaged in a three-year "complex criminal enterprise." Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.noted further:"The lawsuit ... was brought by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its seven California affiliates. The named defendants include the Center for Medical Progress (the anti-abortion group that made and released the videotapes); its director, David Daleiden, who appeared under an alias in many of the videos; Troy Newman, the head of Operation Rescue, who is accused of helping to plan the elaborate deception; and others who played roles in a sham medical company.""The people behind this fraud lied and broke the law in order to spread malicious lies about Planned Parenthood ," Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a written statement, according to. "We filed the case to hold them accountable."Beginning last summer, the Center for Medical Progress began releasing the undercover videos one at a time. In the first videos, senior Planned Parenthood medical officials casually discussed, and as they drank wine  the provision of organs and fetal tissue for a profit to a group of undercover journalists who posed as a medical research company.The undercover researchers claimed the tapes make clear  and they do  that Planned Parenthood was routinely engaged in the illegal sale of body parts, a charge that the nation's largest abortion provider has sickeningly denied. In one video, one PP official, while discussing price, even said she wanted "a Lamborghini"  automobiles which are quite expensive. In the same video, that same official, Dr. Mary Gatter, president of PP's Medical Director's Council, also said, when the subject turned to the price of body parts, "You know, in negotiations whoever throws out the figure first is at a loss, right?" and, "I just don't want to lowball. ..."In its own written statement, the Center for Medical Progress called the lawsuit "frivolous," and then accused Planned Parenthood of filing it "in retaliation for CMP's First Amendment investigative journalism that has done nothing more than tell the truth about Planned Parenthood's lawless operations."The suit, at 65 pages, alleges that defendants established a fake company called Biomax Procurement Services, while claiming to be a legitimate provider of fetal tissue to researchers, and that they used fake identities to gain access to closed meetings of PP and the National Abortion Federation.Interesting, considering that Left-wing animal rights organizations use undercover techniques like those used by the CMP all the time , and yet they are praised by the liberal media.Not only that, but any attempt by states to ban such undercover videoing of slaughterhouses and farms, has been struck down by a federal court in the same 9th Circuit that will hear the PP case.It doesn't get anymore ironic  or hypocritical.If anyone needs to be held "accountable" here, it's the ghoulish Planned Parenthood. Maybe the next president won't be as much of a radical pro-abortion extremist as Barack Obama , and will appoint someone to the attorney general's post who cares about enforcing U.S. law.
Citizens take radiation measurements into their own hands, as government ignores threat

California to ban aloe vera and goldenseal based on unrealistic, unevaluated and bogus assumptions

(NaturalNews) Americans have every reason not to trust incompetent government authorities, especially when that government disregards the threat of cancer-causing radioactive elements in the water . Americans have every reason to despise a government that lies to the public and says that Aloe vera and goldenseal root are cancer causing, when both are actually wonderful plant medicines Did you know that mass citizen concerns for Fukushima radiation levels off the West Coast are being completely ignored by government safety agencies, leaving independent scientists no choice but to raise their own funds to test the radioactivity of coastal waters?Ken Buesseler, a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and director of WHOI's Center for Marine and Environmental Radioactivity, took fellow citizens' concerns seriously and crowd-funded his own testing operation. He leads a grassroots effort that measures for radioactive elements in coastal waters, spanning from Alaska to La Jolla. Buesseler has been able to set up 30 testing sites with no government help. He is also able to study how radioactive elements move with ocean currents and how they dilute in the water.While the brain-dead California government leaves everyone in the dark, Buesseler has discovered various amounts of cesium-134 and cesium-137 off the West Coast. The amounts are 50 million times less than measured directly at the Fukushima disaster site, but this is concerning, considering how vast the Pacific Ocean is, and how pervasive radioactive elements can be, especially since Japan cannot fully contain the radioactive leak.But California's government doesn't care. As Buesseler told the, "Look, ideally this is the kind of thing our government should be doing. But no one is picking it up. The DOE [Department of Energy] says it doesn't do ocean research, and NOAA [the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] says it doesn't do radionuclides. But when there's this kind of public interest, we should have governmental support. But until that happens, we still need all the help we can get."Sadly, Californian bureaucrats are more concerned about banning the healing Aloe vera plant and wonderful, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, immune system-strengthening goldenseal root. In fact, on December 4, 2015, California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) added the two plant-based medicines to its list of "chemicals know to the State of California to cause cancer."The American Herbal Products Associations (AHPA) immediately criticized California for going after these two natural healing substances. Herbalists and naturopaths know that Aloe vera and goldenseal enhance the immune system, not cause cancer.The incompetent OEHHA of California added aloe Vera and goldenseal to its list of cancer causing substances to be banned by Proposition 65. To vilify these healing substances, OEHHA used a "labor code listing mechanism" which requires all substances listed as possible or probable human or animal carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to be banned under California's Proposition 65.There have been no proper evaluations, just incompetent assumptions. As OEHHA states, they "cannot consider scientific arguments concerning the weight or quality of the evidence considered." Upon further investigation, the IARC data actually included peer reviewed articles indicating that goldenseal has anti-cancer properties, but these articles were ignored by OEHHA.When AHPA (the good guys) evaluated the study that OEHHA did accept, they found that the amount of goldenseal used in the study would equate to 72,000 and 116,000 milligrams per day for a human adult. (The standard dose for goldenseal is only 2 grams daily), so the experiment used to vilify goldenseal was unrealistic, and should never be used as a basis to claim that the substance is cancer-causing.
Flame retardant chemicals prone to leaching into environment, exposing people

Lower IQs directly correlated to early chemical exposure in children

Reducing your exposure to toxins

(NaturalNews) Early exposure to toxins in infants and young children not only affects their individual growth, but society as a whole, according to Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a health scientist with Simon Fraser University, who coproduced a video elaborating on the subject.The video entitled "Little Things Matter," was unveiled at conference at the University of Ottawa, November 20-21, illustrating the impacts of toxins on children and highlighting the fact that even low levels of chemicals can cause irreversible damage to the brain and hinder neurological development.An expert in his field, Lanphear was named the principal investigator for his most recent study examining fetal and early childhood exposures to prevalent environmental neurotoxins such as lead, pesticides, mercury, alcohol, PCB's and environmental tobacco smoke.The project just received addition funding allowing Lanphear to study children from the original birth cohort to five years of age, analyzing the effectiveness lead hazard controls have on children's blood lead levels and their risk for developing learning and behavioral problems.In "Little Things Matter," Lanphear explains that chemicals are biologically active even at low levels, in some cases affecting children's IQ. PBDEs, or flame retardant chemicals , aren't chemically bound to plastics, foam or fabrics, in which they're used, making them susceptible to leaching, exposing people and the environment.The average IQ score for children ranges from about 85 to 115, while only 2.5 percent of kids (or 6 million), have an IQ of 130 or above, which is considered "gifted." On the other end of the distribution, another 2.5 percent have an IQ below 70, which is considered "challenged."Studies show that when the body burden of PBDEs increases in pregnant women, their child's intellectual ability decreases. When PBDE levels increase from 10 parts per billion (PPB) to 100 ppb, a child's IQ decreases by5 pointsA similar pattern occurs when children are exposed to organophosphate pesticides early in life.Lead, which is found in 100 percent of children's blood, causes similar damage.As the level of lead in children's blood increases from zero to 100 ppb, IQs drop about 6 points. IQs drop another 2 points when lead levels increase from 100 ppb to 200 ppb, and decrease 1 more point when they reach 300 ppb.A 5-point drop in IQ caused by lead exposure results in a 57 percent increase in the number of children that are considered challenged, increasing from 6 million to 9.4 million. The number of gifted children drops from 6 million to 2.4 million."There is strong evidence that learning disabilities and lower IQ scores can be attributed to extremely low levels of exposure to toxic metals like lead and mercury, persistent toxins such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), and other toxins including organophosphate (OP) pesticides and compounds used as flame-retardants. These toxins are common in our daily environments," says Lanphear. "Children are exposed to many toxins and dozens of untested chemicals all the time. These chemicals can be biologically active at very low levels. We can no longer ignore the impact toxins have on the developing brain and children's ability to learn."Companies in the U.S. and Canada add toxicants to consumer products, releasing them into the environment beforetesting for their toxic effects, explains Lanphear, adding that stricter regulations must be enforced to protect our kids. For example, the European Union requires chemicals be proven nontoxic before allowing them to enter the market.There are many things you can do individually to keep your kids safe, including eating organic food, avoiding use of pesticides around your home, checking for lead hazards and constant cleaning of floors and surfaces to remove unwanted chemical particles.
Ebola appears more unpredictable, deadly than HIV

Ebola doctors just as reckless as HIV "criminals"

(NaturalNews) If Ebola really is as dangerous as the mainstream media continues to claim it is, then why are possible Ebola carriers like nurse Kaci Hickox being treated as "virus-free" while HIV carriers continue to be prosecuted as criminals?In case you weren't aware, individuals diagnosed as HIV-positive -- that is, people who show signs of HIV antibodies -- can be prosecuted for infecting others with the virus,Many an HIV-positive individual has served a prison sentence for allegedly infecting someone else with the virus, even when symptoms weren't present or they weren't even that they had the condition. In some cases, prosecuted individuals said to be HIV-positive may not have actually had the disease in the first place, as the most common testing methods aren't foolproof.There's been much controversy, in fact, over HIV diagnoses and how these are used to prosecute people who may not be guilty of any actual crimes. Like Ebola, HIV isn't fully understood by the medical profession, and there's still plenty of debate over whether or not it's even a real disease in the way most people think of it.Ebola has been similarly misconstrued. It has evolved from a disease confined to "the bush," to a disease that could jump continents but is only spread through bodily fluids, and to a potentially airborne killer with an unpredictable infection trajectory.Both diseases apparently show no symptoms initially, and infected individuals without symptoms can act as carriers infecting others. This much is known about the two diseases, and yet they are treated much differently from one another by the criminal justice system.As previously stated, HIV carriers have to be extra cautious to avoid even the possibility of spreading infection. But Ebola carriers seem to have free reign to travel freely without consequence, an anomalous paradigm that seems to have no basis in science.In the case of nurse Hickox, state officials ordered her to remain under self-quarantine after returning from West Africa, a mandate that she blatantly ignored. The courts tried to block her from going out into public places, but her lawyers ultimately succeeded in having this mandate overruled.The same is true of Dr. Craig Spencer, who galavanted around New York City just days after returning from the Ebola hot zone. Reports indicate that Dr. Spencer went to the bowling alley, took public transportation and ate at restaurants despite potentially being infected with the hemorrhagic illness.All of this is despite the fact that Ebola appears to bethan HIV and much more of a public health threat. Since it was first identified back in the 1960s, HIV has yet to show any signs of airborne transmission, which can't be said of Ebola."Hickox, Spencer, and anyone else who's been exposed and wants to come into the United States should be quarantined in the country of exposure before being allowed to enter the U.S.," wrote Robert Vickers for"Anything less is inviting public comparisons to Gaetan Dugas, the Canadian flight attendant once identified as the 'patient zero' of HIV in North America. Dugas continued to have unprotected sex even after being diagnosed and after doctors warned him that future liaisons would expose his partners to the deadly virus."
Cohorts

UCSF

Subjects were recruited from those enrolled in the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) AD Research Centre. Study information has been given elsewhere.19, 20 The study was approved by the UCSF and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory committees for human research. All subjects provided written informed consent before participating.

ADNI

ADNI is a longitudinal cohort study aiming to validate the use of biomarkers in AD clinical trials and diagnosis. Data used in the preparation of this article were obtained from the ADNI database (adni.loni.usc.edu). The ADNI was launched in 2003 as a publicprivate partnership, led by Principal Investigator Michael W Weiner. The primary goal of ADNI has been to test whether biological markers and clinical and neuropsychological assessment can be combined to measure the progression of MCI and AD. For information, see www.adni-info.org. ADNI was approved by the institutional review boards of all participating institutions, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Metabolomics

UCSF

Blood plasma samples were available for 91 subjects enrolled in the UCSF AD Research Centre. The ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method used in this study has been previously published.15 Twenty microliters of plasma per subject was required for analysis, with sample treatment being described elsewhere.15, 21 The method primarily detects lipids and has been shown to measure abundances of over 4500 metabolic features. The instruments included a Waters ACQUITY UPLC and Xevo Quadrupole Time-of-flight System (Waters, Milford, CT, USA). The Xevo Quadrupole Time-of-flight System was operated in both negative and positive ion modes. Samples were analyzed as one batch in a randomized order, with pooled plasma quality-control (QC) samples run between every 10 samples.

ADNI

Metabolite data were available for 853 blood serum samples. Twenty-four subjects had two samples included in the study. Targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using the AbsoluteIDQ p180 assay (Biocrates Life Sciences, Innsbruck, Austria) requiring 10 l of serum per sample. The samples were run in 11 batches with two pooled QC samples present in each batch: one run before the samples and one afterward. More information on the assay, sample treatment and instruments can be downloaded from the ADNI website (adni.loni.usc.edu/).

Candidate protein assays (UCSF only)

The proteomics approach used in this study has been described elsewhere.16 In short, a set of candidate proteins was quantified using single analyte sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In this study we investigated two proteins that have been replicated as NAB markers: FGG and PPY.16, 18, 22, 23

NAB measurements

UCSF

Details of PET imaging are given elsewhere.20 All PET scans used Pittsburgh compound B (11C-PiB) as the radioactive tracer. Scans were performed using two different scanner types, Biograph TruePoint 6 PET/computed tomography (N=9) and Siemens ECAT EXACT HR PET (N=69), and were processed using methods described by Lehmann et al.24

We considered two PET outcomes. Two experienced raters who were blinded to plasma and clinical data rated the scans as either high NAB or low NAB to give a dichotomous outcome. Second, the 5070-min standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) was used as a continuous outcome.25

ADNI

Details of PET imaging in ADNI (using both PiB and AV45 markers) and CSF measurements are detailed elsewhere (www.adni-info.org). PET end points were dichotomized into high and low NAB at the SUVR thresholds previously used in ADNI (1.5 for PiB and 1.11 for AV45). CSF measures of amyloid were taken from the data set UPENNBIOMK2 available on the ADNI website. The CSF measures were dichotomized at the previously published threshold (192 pg ml1). We combined the three amyloid end points into a combined amyloid end point to maximize sample size. A subject was classified as NAB-positive if at least one measurement indicated high brain amyloid burden, and classified as NAB-negative otherwise.

Statistical analysis

All statistical analyses were performed in R version 3.1.1.26

Data pre-processing

In UCSF, metabolic feature data were extracted from netCDF files using the R package XCMS.27 The package performed filtration and peak identification before matching peaks across samples and performing a retention time correction. Following data extraction, the negative- and positive-mode data were processed separately using the pipeline detailed in Supplementary Text 1. ADNI data were also processed using this pipeline. The processing included outlier removal, normalization through autoscaling and a log base 2 transformation as well as batch correction using the empirical Bayes method, ComBat.28

After pre-processing, the UCSF data collected in negative and positive modes were merged.

Protein data were subject to a natural logarithm transformation and screened for per sample, per protein outliers defined as values outside of 6 s.d.'s of the mean (as above). Each protein was autoscaled.

Single metabolic feature analysis

Single metabolic feature analysis was performed in UCSF for both NAB outcomes for each of the 2760 metabolic features detected. SUVR was linearly regressed against each metabolic feature in turn with APOE 4 status and age included as covariates in the model. The APOE 4 status is defined as 1 if a subjects genotype contained any 4 alleles and 0 otherwise. Similarly, logistic regression was performed for the dichotomous outcome. In both cases, a BenjaminiHochberg correction of the false discovery rate was applied.

Multiple metabolic feature analysis

Multiple metabolic feature analysis was performed on UCSF data using the R package caret.29 Partial least squares (PLS) and PLS discriminant analysis were used for the continuous and dichotomized outcomes, respectively. Ideally, we would have split the data into a training and test set; however, owing to relatively small sample size, this was not possible and a cross-validation (CV) approach was taken instead. All metabolic features, age and APOE 4 status were included in the model building. The number of components to include was tuned using five-fold CV through the train function. Recursive feature elimination was used to select a subset of variables using five-fold CV. The subset sizes considered varied from 2 to 99 in steps of 1 and from 100 to the total number of covariates in steps of 100. In PLS modeling, the lowest root mean squared error (RMSE) was used to select the best model, whereas for PLS discriminant analysis the highest accuracy was used. The function pickSizeTolerance was then applied in an attempt to find a smaller subset of variables that maintained RMSE or accuracy to within 5% of the best model. We also built models using the 10 most important predictors, the maximum number of metabolic features we could feasibly identify. Model statistics resulting from five times CV within recursive feature elimination are presented in this report.

For comparison, we used five-fold CV to build a model based on age and APOE 4 status alone using the train function to tune the number of components as above. This method was used, despite the small number of predictors, to ensure continuity between modeling techniques. We checked that the results were consistent with those gained from a linear regression model. This model is referred to as the demographic-only model throughout.

Metabolic feature and protein joint analysis

The final multiple metabolic feature models were updated by adding proteins. Model building followed that of the demographic-only model detailed above. FGG and PPY were included both together and separately. We also modeled PPY and FGG (with and without age and APOE 4 status) against continuous and dichotomized NAB without metabolic features for comparison.

Putative metabolite identification

Putative identification of selected metabolic features from statistical analysis was attempted using the median m/z and their corresponding retention time, initially using an in-house database and the Human Metabolome Database.21, 30 To enable the confirmation of features from the database-matching, fragmentation patterns were analyzed using level-two MS spectra.

Replication in ADNI

We searched the ADNI metabolite data for any of the metabolic features putatively identified in UCSF. Logistic regression models of the combined amyloid end point were built using individual metabolites as predictors, covarying for age and APOE 4 status.

Code availability

All R codes used to generate this analysis are available from the corresponding author on request.
A new dinosaur species was recently unearthed in Alabama, suggesting duck-billed dinosaurs originated in what is now the eastern United States, before dispersing rapidly around the world.

In the latest study, an international team of researchers from Florida State University, the McWane Science Center in Alabama, and the University of Bristol in the U.K. examined the nearly-complete skeleton of what they found to be a primitive duck-billed dinosaur, subsequently dubbed Eotrachodon orientalis. The dinosaur's new name means "dawn rough tooth from the east" and pays homage to "Trachodon," which was the first duck-billed dinosaur named in 1856.

"This is a really important animal in telling us how they came to be and how they spread all over the world," Gregory Erickson, one of the study researchers and a Florida State University Professor of Biological Science, said in the university's news release.

Fossils indicate this duck-billed dinosaur - also known as a Hadrosaurid - was between 20 and 30 feet long as an adult. Researchers say the creature likely walked on its hind legs, but would come down on to all four to graze on plants with its grinding teeth. While it had a scaly exterior like most of its relatives, what set it apart was the exceptionally large crest on its "big ugly nose."

The remains of this 83-million-year-old dinosaur were found alongside a creek in Montgomery County, Alabama in marine sediment. Dinosaur fossils from the South are extremely rare, and a nearly complete set - including a full skull with teeth, multiple backbones, a partial hip, and a few limb bones - is even harder to come by. Since the remains were encased by marine sediment, researchers believe the animal was washed out to sea by river or stream sediments after it died. (Scroll to read more...)

It is also believed that this creature is among some of the first hadrosaurids in the eastern U.S., as its teeth are similar to those found in early individuals who were able to grind up plants like modern cows or horses. This suggests the dinosaurs were able to eat a wide variety of plants, thus allowing them to live in all sorts of environments around the world.

However, during the late Cretaceous Period - roughly 85 million years ago - North America was divided down the middle by a 1,000 mile ocean that connected the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean and created two separate landmasses: Laramidia to the west and Appalachia (comprising the U.S. East Coast) to the east.

"For roughly 100 million years, the dinosaurs were not able to cross this barrier," Jun Ebersole, director of collections at McWane Science Center, explained. "The discovery of Eotrachodon suggests that duck-billed dinosaurs originated in Appalachia and dispersed to other parts of the world at some point after the seaway lowered, opening a land corridor to western North America."

Although researchers had a difficult time pin-pointing the dinosaur's exact age, its highly vascularized bones indicate it was growing very rapidly at the time of death, suggesting is many have been a teenager when it died.

Their study was recently published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

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-Follow Samantha on Twitter @Sam_Ashley13
South Africa recently instated a year-long ban on leopard hunting in 2016 after conservationists convinced officials that the lack of an accurate leopard count makes hunting the cats  perhaps a seriously endangered population  highly irresponsible.

The Department of Environmental Affairs said it was acting on recommendations from South Africa's scientific authority, which had suggested that actions be taken to ensure the species' survival. This ban will be reviewed at the end of the year.

"We just don't know how leopards are faring in South Africa," Guy Balme, a conservationists from environmental group Panthera, said in a statement. "They're secretive, mainly nocturnal, solitary and range over huge areas."

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) allows South Africa 150 permits each year for the trophy hunting of leopards destined for export. Selling these permits generates some $375 million for the country every year, according to the environment ministry.

However, conservation activists say updates on population numbers and carrying capacity are needed before hunting can be re-instated.

"It's important to ensure that any wildlife trade we do is sustainable," Kelly Marnewick, carnivore conservation manager at the Environmental Wildlife Trust, added. "If we can't do that, it's highly problematical. We need a trade ban until we can get to that."

Currently, the main threats to South Africa's population of leopards are the mismanagement of trophy hunting and the illegal trade of fur. In fact, dignitaries from South Africa's Zulu community traditionally wear animal skins - specifically leopard fur - for ceremonies.

A video detailing the year-long leopard hunting ban can be found online.

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-Follow Samantha on Twitter @Sam_Ashley13
When it comes to planets, stars, galaxies and more, Neil deGrasse Tyson knows more than a few things. With a BA in Physics from Harvard and a PhD in astrophysics from Columbia, the host of "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" clearly knows a bit more than the average person.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise then that when rapper B.o.B spoke out on Twitter claiming the Earth is flat, Tyson stepped in.

"Earth's curve indeed blocks 150 (not 170) ft of Manhattan. But most buildings in midtown are waaay taller than that," he tweeted Sunday night. "Polaris is gone by 1.5 deg S. Latitude. You've never been south of Earth's Equator, or if so, you've never looked up."

He continued, "Flat Earth is a problem only when people in charge think that way. No law stops you from regressively basking in it. Duude--to be clear: Being five centuries regressed in your reasoning doesn't mean we all can't still like your music."

https://twitter.com/bobatl/status/691630923851436033

While B.o.B continues to express his skepticism, we're taking a look back at some of the people who have engaged in interesting debates with Tyson.

1. Stephen Colbert: While promoting "Cosmos," Tyson was faced with an important question from the late-night host: Why don't we have to present both sides of every scientific theory? "Don't you want to be fair and balanced?" Colbert asked. Tyson responded, "That would be a waste of everyone's time. When different experiments give you the same result, it is no longer subject to your opinion. That's the good thing about science: It's true whether or not you believe in it."

2. Bill Nye: When it comes to the pop culture debate "Star Wars" vs. "Star Trek," both science enthusiasts couldn't help but join the conversation. "Oh that's easy. Oh my gosh. Oh, the Enterprise. There's no question! No question," Tyson explained. "The Enterprise has the benefit of being real. In the sense that there are real scientists and real engineers on the ship, monitoring its engine and its warp drive, its photon torpedoes. And so, it's 'fake-real,' as opposed to the Millennium Falcon, which is just 'fake-fake.'" While Nye has many "Star Wars" fans, he also had to agree with Tyson.

[NATL] Top Entertainment Photos: Best of the American Music Awards, and More

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3. Jon Stewart: To continue the theme of healthy debates, the then-host of "The Daily Show" couldn't help but ask Tyson if he would pick Superman or Batman to win a fight. Tyson made it clear he believes Superman is "invincible" and can win. As for Tyson, he has some doubts. "At the end of the day, what might matter is the public reception of the superhero and superhero's conduct and if Batman executes our wishes in the city and superman does what the hell he wants, that's a conflict."

4. Bill Maher: When the host of "Real Time With Bill Maher' brought up arguments between political parties, Tyson couldn't help but highlight how Congress is made up of very few scientists. "I realized this when I was a kid, I said I wonder what profession all these senators in congress were. Law, law, law, law, law, businessman," he explained. "I said there are no scientists? Where are the engineers? Where is the rest of life represented?" He later defended science to Maher against his right wing critics.

5. Joe Rogan: In a radio interview several years ago, the former host of "Fear Factor" debated moon landing conspiracy theories. While Rogan didn't necessary believe the speculation, he couldn't help but share what some were thinking. "Some people are only happy when they're sad," Tyson explained. "You can do simple statistics on this. For example, Earth has been here for billions of years and if you think it will end in your lifetime, that's awfully hubristic of you."

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In response to a spiraling homeless issue that has left drifts of trash strewn along the banks of the Russian River in the tiny Sonoma County resort town of Guerneville, residents have organized themselves into frenetic weekly cleanups to reclaim their river.

The small town of 4,500 has struggled for answers in the face of a growing homeless population that per capita is almost four times that of San Franciscos. The thick woods lining the winding river reveal numerous tent cities surrounded by piles of abandoned clothes, food scraps, and even human waste - threatening to wash into the ocean when the river swells.

Well its bad, said Chris Brokate who began organizing twice-weekly volunteer cleanups over a year ago. I hate seeing it. It breaks my heart and I hate to see anybody living like this too.

On a recent Monday in Guernevilles town square, Brokate summoned his troops together  a ragtag group of a dozen area residents decked out in bright orange vests. He explained the target of the days mission  a river bank just outside of town spattered with debris.

Ive been going in there for six months now, Brokate said to the group. Just going after stuff thats been left behind.

The homeless issue has gripped Guerneville over the last couple years  a recent and heated town meeting drew around 500 people to debate the issue. Since the beginning of December, the town which lives off tourism, has been hit by five suspicious fires including an arson fire at a health facility that caters to the homeless. Police said none of the fires seemed to be started by vagrants occupying abandoned dwellings  deepening the mystery.

Sonoma County officials have proposed building a homeless service center in the area while some residents oppose the effort, saying the added services would only draw more to the already beleaguered area.

But on the lines of the twice-weekly trash cleanups, it seems finger pointing is far down the list of priorities.

I could brood and I could yell and scream whose fault is it? said cleanup volunteer Robin Johnson. Or i could pick up a bag and get this stuff out of here.

Group members began affectionally calling themselves the the garbage patch kids, taking up industrial red trash bags as their symbol. Often the sites relinquish hypodermic needles, homemade toilets and other gritty evidence of the former campers. But volunteers joke and laugh as if the outings are a recreational excursion.

You just have to have a good sense of humor and a willingness to pick up trash, Johnson said, and youre in.

Last year the group hauled away an estimated 80 thousand pounds of trash from the river banks, using funds from the county, Russian Riverkeeper and donations to pay the dumping fees.

Brokate, who runs a local cleaning business, said there is a special urgency to remove the trash during the winter when the rain-swollen river is famously known to climb its banks.

One high rise out of the river, Brokate said, and this stuff gets swept down to our beaches.

Brokate regularly visits the ramshackle tent cities along the river, visiting with their current occupants and enlisting their aid in the cleanup  even delivering garbage bags to be later collected.

Longtime homeless Guerneville resident Avery Goodman began forming his own cleanup around his camp where a smattering of tents look out on the river.

Most people dont seem to care, Goodman said of his fellow campers. I cant help but pitch in and clean up other peoples messes.

As the garbage patch kids descended on Goodmans camp, he began hauling trash bags to an already staggering pile of garbage. His fellow campers shouted their disdain at the intrusion. The load easily filled the beds of two large pickup trucks, with a large mattress tied to the top. He assessed the colorful group buzzing with activity and quickly whisking away the load.

Local people going out of their way, Goodman said, money out of their pockets to help us clean messes we and people before us have made.

If Brokate harbored a grudge at the campers, or the lack of county resources for cleanup, he kept his cards close to his chest. Instead he supervised the cleanup with only a gentle barking of orders  briefly taking in the newly cleaned area before joining his fellow volunteers for a pizza lunch.

Were doing it because its there and somebody needs to, Brokate said. Its just the right thing.


Over the objection of San Francisco's police union, county supervisors unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday to officially declare July 22 "Mario Woods Day," dedicated to the memory of the 26-year-old Bayview resident who was shot and killed by San Francisco police on Dec. 2, 2015.

"Because of Mario Woods and the video associated with the case, we have entire communities throughout the city that do not trust the police department, said Supervisor David Campos at a news conference ahead of the board meeting.

Police have said Woods was armed with a kitchen knife at the time of the shooting and is suspected of stabbing a person earlier that day. Videos of the shooting and the moments beforehand spurred outrage among the public, with many arguing that Woods was walking away from officers when officers opened fire.

"Its not just (because of) remembrance that we have to do something, Campos said. "This resolution does something very important. Its the first time the Board of Supervisors would be on record saying we are committed to police reform.

The move to memorialize Woods and the shooting has upset the San Francisco Police Officers Association. POA President Marty Halloran wrote a letter addressed to board on Monday. He pointed to three officers who died in the last dozen years in the line of duty who didnt get dedicated days.

"It will be a hurtful day to their families if this citys elected officials decide to recognize and honor an individual that preyed upon our most vulnerable citizens, Halloran wrote.

Halloran also said Woods was a threat the day of the shooting, who "inexplicably slashed an innocent stranger with a kitchen knife and refused to drop that knife when confronted by police.

Campos said hed be the first to support remembrance days for those fallen officers if the POA made the proposal. He added its a separate issue.

"I think what the police officers' union, unfortunately, would like the city to do is stick its head in sand like nothing's going on, there's no problem here, Campos said.

Also on Tuesdays agenda were two other resolutions connected to Woods. One, sponsored by Supervisor London Breed, urges a federal investigation into the Woods shooting. Another, led by Supervisor John Avalos, urges the San Francisco Police Department to review its use-of-force policies and to study de-escalation tactics.

In a separate move, Supervisor Malia Cohen is announcing a June 2016 ballot measure requiring the Office of Citizen Complaints to conduct an independent investigation after any officer-involved-shooting.
As the massive natural gas leak in Aliso Canyon continues to pump methane into the air above Los Angeles, environmental activists are warning about a much bigger and more widespread crisis that is not drawing nearly as much attention: leaks throughout the nation's oil and gas supply chain.

A series of studies spearheaded by the Environmental Defense Fund beginning in 2012 found problems across the country at every point of the natural gas supply chain, from thousands of wellheads to miles of utility lines underneath city streets. Emissions at the Barnett Shale in Texas, one of the country's major oil and gas producing regions, were almost twice the estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, researchers found.

Together the leaks add up to more than 7.3 million metric tons of methane emissions a year, dwarfing what is happening at Aliso Canyon  and producing the same effect on the climate over 20 years as 160 coal-fired power plants, the Environmental Defense Fund says. Earlier research of methane in the atmosphere indicated emissions were 50 percent greater than estimated by the EPA.

"Aliso Canyon on the one hand is unique because it's so big and because it is happening at a gas storage facility but it is at the same time very symptomatic of a problem that exists across the oil and gas industry," said Mark Brownstein, a vice president in the organization's climate and energy program.

With the United States now the largest producer of natural gas in the world, the Obama administration has been promoting it as a cleaner energy alternative. Even as environmental officials urge the country to lessen its dependence on natural gas, it remains a significant part of the U.S. energy mix.

And methane, the primary component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas. In the United States, it amounted to 10 percent of greenhouse emissions in 2013, the second most prevalent gas connected to human activities after carbon dioxide, according to the EPA. Pound for pound, its effect on climate change is 25 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.

Complaints of headaches and nosebleeds

The leak above the Los Angeles neighborhood of Porter Ranch, which has sickened some residents, is enormous  one of the largest ever recorded, according to Timothy O'Connor, the Environmental Defense Fund's oil and gas director in California. It has released more than 87,000 metric tons of methane into the atmosphere since the end of October, the equivalent of more than $13 million worth of natural gas wasted or 827 million gallons of gasoline burned, according to the organization.

The escaping methane is a blow to California's position as an environmental leader. Earlier this year, Gov. Jerry Brown announced an ambitious goal of curbing greenhouse gases faster than originally planned  but now officials estimate Aliso Canyon to be responsible for 25 percent of the state's methane emissions. Brown was forced to declare a state of emergency at the beginning of the month while Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has compared the leak to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Aliso Canyon is used as a storage field by the Southern California Gas Co., whose crews discovered the leak at one of the wells on Oct. 23. The gas company says it could take until the end of February to cap it. A plan to capture and burn off the leaking gas was abandoned on Jan. 18 because regulators were afraid of a catastrophic explosion of the well. On Jan. 23, state regulators ordered the gas company to close the leaking well permanently.

The leak has driven thousands of people from their homes in Porter Ranch, many with complaints of headaches, nosebleeds and nausea, possibly from odorants that have been added. Natural gas has no odor so a smell of "rotten eggs" is added to help detect leaks. A group of residents have filed a class-action lawsuit and are demanding that the storage field be closed permanently.

"I think it's poisoning our family," one resident, Christine Katz, told NBC Los Angeles.

Southern California Gas Company said it will cap off the monthslong Porter Ranch gas leak by the end of February, if not sooner. Annette Arreola reports for NBC4 Today in LA on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016.

She and her husband, Brian, sued Southern California Gas Co. and its parent company, Sempra Energy, in December after one of their children was hospitalized for trouble breathing.

"She's never had a breathing problem," Christine Katz said of her 2-year-old daughter, Ava. "She's never had asthma."



The Gas Company has said it does not comment on pending litigation.

"Stuff just goes wrong"

There are 400 other natural gas storage facilities across the country, with their potential for leaks. But it is the generally much smaller leaks occurring throughout the system that are more of a problem, said Adam Brandt, an assistant professor at Stanford University's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Science.

"Getting the overall leakage percentage down of the whole system, not just of any particular leak, is pretty important for future use of gas in the face of climate concerns," Brandt said.

Natural gas is a significant component of the U.S. energy supply  supplying a third of the country's electricity, heating about two-thirds of the homes and fueling stoves  plus it is used for plastics and fertilizer.

An earlier study, conducted by researchers from Stanford University and elsewhere and of which Brandt was the lead author, found that methane leaks had negated the climate-change benefits of using natural gas over diesel fuel for transportation  though it also found that generating electricity by burning gas instead of coal would still lower greenhouse effects over 100 years. That's because burning coal not only releases an enormous amount of carbon dioxide but mining it also releases methane.

There are close to 1 million oil and gas wells across the United States and millions of miles of pipes. The methane leaks are a result both of aging infrastructure and the complexity of the system, Brandt said. Often wells are scattered in remote areas, added to the challenge of locating leaks and repairing them.

"Youve got a complex system under pressure with a lot of devices and valves and safety systems associated with it and stuff just goes wrong," he said.

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New federal regulations

David Allen, a professor in chemical engineering and director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Resources at the University of Texas at Austin, said that one way to tackle the problem would be to find so-called super-emitters or equipment, wells or sites that emit large amounts of methane and make repairs or replacements there.

"Often a small subset of wells, or sites, or specific pieces of equipment, dominate the emissions from that type of emissions source," said Allen, the principal investigator for one of the Environmental Defense Fund's studies, in an email.

For example, about 20 percent of pneumatic controllers  devices found all along the oil and gas chains to control the opening and closing of values  account for 95 percent of methane emissions from pneumatic controllers, he said.

The first federal regulations to require the county's oil and gas to cut methane emissions were proposed in August by the Environmental Protection Agency. The regulations are meant to reduce emissions by 20 to 30 percent; the EPA's goal is a drop of 40 to 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025. In addition, on Jan. 22, the Interior Department proposed rules for emissions at operations on federal land.

Footage shows towering flames in San Francisco as crews battle a fire caused by a gas explosion.

The oil and gas industry says the regulations are unnecessary and expensive. The cost to industry, would be up to $420 million a year by 2025 but that would be countered by savings of up $550 million a year, according to EPA estimates.

Environmentalists back the regulations but say they do not go far enough because they apply primarily to new wells not existing ones.

Opposition from the oil, gas industry

"The fact is that America is already leading the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," the American Petroleum Institute said in a statement. "Even as oil and natural gas production has risen dramatically, methane emissions have fallen, thanks to industry leadership and investment in new technologies."

The institute's president, Jack Gerard, has said that even as oil and natural gas production has surged, methane emissions from hydraulically fractured natural gas wells have fallen nearly 79 percent since 2005, and carbon dioxide emissions were down to 27-year lows. The decrease was a result of significant investments in new technologies and leadership from the industry, he said.

Mayor Eric Garcetti said there needs to be accountability for an ongoing gas leak at a Southern California Gas Co. facility near Porter Ranch, but the first responsibility is to cap the well, which has been releasing natural gas into the atmosphere for more than two months. Marin Austin

The president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, Barry Russell, said in a statement that administration was proposing a costly and complicated regulatory program for few environmental benefits. The cuts would inflict more pain on the men and women working in the oil and gas industry at a time when it was already buffeted by falling prices.

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Texas Republican Rep. Lamar Smith, the chairman of the House of Representatives Science, Space and Technology Committee, called the proposed rules another example of the "Obama administration's war on American energy jobs."

"The EPA's own data show that methane emissions in the United States decreased by almost 15 percent between 1990 and 2013, yet EPA is forging ahead with this extraneous and unnecessary regulation," Smith said in a statement over the summer. "Instead of conspiring with extreme environmental interests, EPA should stop punishing cooperative industry stakeholders and start partnering with them in their current efforts to capture methane in a responsible manner.

The Environmental Defense Fund disputes that representation of emissions data and says that the 7.3 million metric tons estimated by the EPA show a 3 percent increase over 2012.

Demonstrators rallied outside the EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. over the months-long gas leak in Porter Ranch. Adrian Arambulo reports for the NBC4 News at Noon on Friday, Jan. 19, 2016.

"There needs to be a requirement frankly that companies do systematic and routine surveys of their operations so that in the event that there is a problem it can be found and fixed," Brownstein said.

A handful of states, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wyoming, have implemented their own regulations for finding and fixing leaks  Pennsylvania announced on Jan. 19 that it would include existing natural gas operations  but others have not.

"I think that's ultimately why you need a federal standard, because some states are going to step up and other states won't," Brownstein said.
A Houston grand jury investigating undercover footage of Planned Parenthood found no wrongdoing Monday by the abortion provider, and instead indicted anti-abortion activists involved in making the videos that targeted the handling of fetal tissue in clinics and provoked outrage among Republican leaders nationwide.

David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to purchasing human organs. Another activist, Sandra Merritt, was also indicted on a charge of tampering with a governmental record, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

It's the first time anyone in the group has been charged criminally since the release of the videos, which began surfacing last year and alleged that Planned Parenthood sold fetal tissue to researchers for a profit in violation of federal law. Planned Parenthood officials have denied any wrongdoing and have said the videos were misleadingly edited.

The footage from the clinic in Houston showed people pretending to be from a company that procures fetal tissue for research touring the facility.

In a statement announcing the indictment, Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson didn't provide details on the charges, including what record or records were allegedly tampered with and why Daleiden faces a charge related to buying human organs. Her office said it could not disclose more information and a court spokesman said it was unclear whether copies of the indictments, which typically provide more insight, would be made public Monday.

"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," Anderson, an elected Republican, said in her statement. "As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us."

Daleiden issued a statement saying that his group "uses the same undercover techniques" as investigative journalists and follows all applicable laws.

"We respect the processes of the Harris County District Attorney, and note that buying fetal tissue requires a seller as well," he said.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has his own ongoing investigation into Planned Parenthood, said Monday that the "the videos exposed the horrific nature of abortion and the shameful disregard for human life."

The Texas video was the fifth released by the Center for Medical Progress. The videos provoked an outcry from the anti-abortion movement and prompted numerous investigations of Planned Parenthood by Republican-led committees in Congress and by GOP-led state governments. Congressional Republicans unsuccessfully called for cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood has said a few clinics in two states used to accept legally allowed reimbursement for the costs of providing tissue donated by some of its abortion clients. In October, Planned Parenthood announced that it would no longer accept reimbursement and would cover the costs itself.

The group called Monday's indictments the latest in a string of victories since the videos were released, saying that by its count, 11 state investigations have cleared the nation's largest abortion provider of claims that it profited from fetal tissue donation.

"This is absolutely great news because it is a demonstration of what Planned Parenthood has said from the very beginning: We follow every law and regulation and these anti-abortion activists broke multiple laws to try and spread lies," said spokeswoman Rochelle Tafolla of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

Before the Texas video was released, Melaney Linton, president of the Houston Planned Parenthood clinic, told state lawmakers last summer that it was likely to feature actors  pretending to be from a company called BioMax  asking leading questions about how to select potential donors for a supposed study of sickle cell anemia. Linton said the footage could feature several interactions initiated by BioMax about how and whether a doctor could adjust an abortion if a patient has offered to donate tissue for medical research.

Despite the lofty name of the Center for Medical Progress, public filings suggest only a small number of people are affiliated with the nonprofit, none of whom are scientists or physicians engaged in advancing medical treatments. The people named as its top officers are longtime anti-abortion activists with a history of generating headlines.

Earlier this month, Planned Parenthood sued the center in a California federal court, alleging extensive criminal misconduct. The lawsuit says the center's videos were the result of numerous illegalities, including making recordings without consent, registering false identities with state agencies and violating non-disclosure agreements.

After the lawsuit was filed, Daleiden told The Associated Press that he looked forward to confronting Planned Parenthood in court.
Three fugitives who broke out of their maximum-security jail dorm early Friday in an elaborate escape that could be ripped from the pages of a Hollywood script were considered armed and dangerous as their criminal histories began to emerge.



Jonathan Tieu, 20, Bac Duong, 43, and Hossein Nayeri, 37, were awaiting trials for unrelated violent crimes. They vanished from a dormitory they shared with about 65 other men at the Orange County Men's Central Jail.



Officials launched a massive manhunt across the region, serving more than 30 search warrants and offering $50,000 in rewards for information leading to their recapture. Todd Spitzer of the Orange County Board of Supervisors said Monday he would request the board increase the reward by $150,000, bringing the total to $200,000.



The Mexican border is only a couple hours south of the prison, but authorities said they had no evidence that the men had left the country.



Authorities said they believe Tieu and Duong may still be in the region due to their ties to local Vietnamese-American gangs.



Heres what we know about the trio:



Hossein Nayeri

Nayeri and two other men are accused of entering the home of a marijuana dispensary owner who they believed was burying large amounts of cash in the Southern California desert. They allegedly kidnapped the owner and his roommate Nov. 7, 2013, then tortured the owner in a van as they drove into the desert.

The men beat the victim, used a blowtorch to burn him and cut off his penis, according to authorities. The victim was doused with bleach and dumped on the side of a desert road. He was later found after his roommate flagged down a police officer. Nayeri allegedly fled to Iran, where prosecutors said he remained for several months before his arrest during a transfer at an airport in Prague.

Nayeri faces two felony counts of kidnapping for ransom and one felony count each of aggravated mayhem, torture, and first-degree residential burglary, with a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury.



Bac Duong

Duong allegedly shot a man Nov. 18, 2015 after an argument on the patio of a Santa Ana home. He was charged with one felony count of attempted murder, one felony count of assault with a firearm, one felony count of first-degree residential burglary, one felony count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or house, one felony count of assault with a firearm with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a firearm, personal discharge of a firearm and great bodily injury.

He was being held without bail on an immigration hold pending a possible federal deportation hearing.

Duong also faces sentencing enhancements for a prior strike conviction for first-degree burglary in 1995 in San Diego County, prior prison convictions for second-degree burglary in 2007, reckless evading of a peace officer in 2008 and possession for sale of a controlled substance in 2011. Prior to the escape, Duong was scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Feb. 8.

Jonathan Tieu

On the evening of March 20, 2011, Tieu, then a juvenile, was allegedly involved in a shooting with two others that left a man dead and wounded a second person in a gang-related fight.

Tieu was tried, but a jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict and the case ended in a mistrial. Before he escaped jail, Tieu was scheduled for retrial on March 18.



Tieu is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder, one felony count of attempted murder, one felony count of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, and one felony count of street terrorism with sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity, and vicarious discharge of a firearm by a gang member causing death.

If convicted, Tieu faces a maximum sentence of 84 years to life in state prison.
A 38-year-old jogger and beloved pres-school teacher died after she and another jogger were hit by a car in northwest Indiana Saturday afternoon.

The two women were running eastbound on County Road 1200 North near 370 East about 2 p.m. in unincorporated Jackson Township when a 1979 Chevrolet Corvette came over a hill from the west. The driver lost control when he saw them in his path and hit both joggers, according to Porter County sheriffs police.

The women were taken to Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso. One of them, 38-year-old Elizabeth Scott of Porter, suffered incapacitating injuries and was transferred to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead Sunday night, police said. The other womans injuries were considered minor.

The 18-year-old Chesterton man at the wheel of the Corvette stayed at the scene. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor, police said.

Scott worked at Field Station Cooperative Preschool in Chesterton, according to the schools director Laurie Metz. She coached cross country at Discovery Charter School in Porter and was an avid runner, the Northwest Indiana Times reported.

The school canceled classes Monday following the tragic accident,

The road was closed in the area for about two hours as authorities investigated. No citations or charges have been issued.
Five men were killed and at least 11 other people were wounded in shootings Monday across Chicago, police said.

The most recent fatal shooting happened in the Washington Heights neighborhood on the Far South Side.

Officers responding to a call of a car crash and shots fired in the 10600 block of South Sangamon Street at 8:22 p.m. found a 25-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the back in the drivers seat of a vehicle that crashed into a parked car, according to Chicago Police. The man was taken to Roseland Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. The Cook County medical examiners office could not immediately confirm the death.

A Little Village neighborhood shooting left a man dead early Monday evening on the Southwest Side. A 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were outside in the 3000 block of South Kedvale Avenue at 5:01 p.m. when someone walked up to them, pulled out a gun and fired shots, police said. The 19-year-old was shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The medical examiners office could not immediately confirm the death. A police source said he was a documented gang member. The 16-year-old was shot in the back and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where his condition was stabilized, police said.

About 30 minutes earlier, a 39-year-old man was fatally shot in the Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side. He was shot in the 1000 block of East 100th Place at 4:37 p.m. in a drug-related incident, police said. The man was shot in the abdomen and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was later pronounced dead, police said. The medical examiners office could not immediately confirm the death.

Earlier in the day, a 19-year-old was shot to death in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side. Davon Horace was found unresponsive with several gunshot wounds in the 7200 block of South May at 11:24 a.m., authorities said. Horace, of the 6700 block of South Throop, was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:13 p.m., according to police and the medical examiners office.

Two hours earlier, one man was killed and another was wounded in a shooting along a CPS Safe Passage Route in the West Englewood neighborhood on the South Side. Trevon Stiger, 20, and an 18-year-old man were walking in the 2000 block of West Marquette at 9:18 a.m. when a gunman walked up and fired shots, then ran away, authorities said. Stiger, of the 2100 block of West 68th Place, was shot in the abdomen and pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center at 2:57 p.m., according to the medical examiners office. The 18-year-old man was shot in the face and was taken in serious condition to Christ Medical Center. Police said the shooting might be gang-related. The shooting happened along Harper High Schools Safe Passage Route.

Mondays most recent nonfatal shooting happened in Englewood.

A 40-year-old man was in a parked vehicle in the 5700 block of South Emerald about 9:30 p.m. when another vehicle pulled alongside and someone inside shot him, police said. He was shot in the left leg and the bullet eventually struck him in the right leg as well. The man was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition stabilized.

At 7:50 p.m., a man was shot in the Auburn Gresham neighborhoods 8900 block of South Ada Street, police said. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, but his condition was not known, police said. Further information was not immediately available.

Earlier Monday afternoon, a man was shot in the Roseland neighborhood on the Far South Side. At 3:23 p.m., the 26-year-old man and two other people were in a vehicle in the 9500 block of South La Salle Street when someone walked up to the group and fired shots. The man suffered a gunshot wound to the head and the people in the vehicle took him to St. Bernard Hospital. He was then transferred to Stroger Hospital where he was listed in serious condition, police said.

About 40 minutes earlier, a 22-year-old man was shot in the foot in the 10600 block of South Cottage Grove at 2:41 p.m. in the Roseland neighborhood on the Far South Side, police said. He took himself to Roseland Hospital.

Less than an hour earlier, two men were shot in a vehicle in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on the Northwest Side. They were riding in a vehicle in the 2700 block of North Long at 2 p.m. when another vehicle pulled up and someone inside fired shots. A 19-year-old was shot in the shoulder and arm, and an 18-year-old was shot in the shoulder. They drove to Community First Hospital, where their conditions stabilized, police said.

About 1:15 p.m., a man was shot in West Town. The 28-year-old man was shot in the lower back by three males in the 1400 block of North Fairfield, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition stabilized.

About an hour and a half earlier, a man was wounded in a Back of the Yards neighborhood drive-by shooting on the South Side. The 36-year-old man was standing on a corner in the 900 block of West 50th Street at 11:42 a.m. when a black SUV drove by and someone inside fired shots. The man was shot in the leg and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said.

About 10:20 a.m., a 56-year-old man was shot in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side. The man was driving in the 500 block of South California at 10:19 a.m. when he heard gunfire and realized hed been shot in the back. He drove himself to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition was stabilized. A police source said the man is a documented gang member.

Before the outbreak of violence Monday, no one had been shot in Chicago since 12:35 a.m. Sunday.
Emily Bastedo, former associate counsel for the Bruce Rauner administration, will receive a $100,000 salary to serve as chief of staff for Illinois First Lady Diana Rauner.

[Bastedo] will work closely with Deputy Governor Trey Childress and State COO Linda Lingle in transforming Illinois health and human services agencies, specifically those that interact with children and have a role in education, said Catherine Kelly, a Rauner spokesperson.



Prior to politics, Bastedo worked as an associate for Chapman and Cutler, a law firm with a financial focus. More recently, Bastedo has functioned as associate counsel for Rauners office. Bastedo also serves as a member of the Elmhurst District School Board.



In her new position, the First Ladys chief of staff also will be tasked with overseeing the renovation of the Illinois Executive Mansion that has fallen into disrepair in recent years.



It has been well-documented the building is in desperate need of repairs, said Kelly. Emily will work with the Illinois Executive Mansion Board as they work to move into Phase Two of the restoration project, which will be a multi-million dollar undertaking.



The State of Illinois has been operating without an official budget since June of last year. As a result, the state has been forced to cut off a variety of important social services. Last week Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, the state's largest and oldest provider of social services, announced plans to lay off 750 employees and cut services for 30 programs.



Bastedo replaces Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, appointed state representative for the 99th Illinois House district in November of last year. Jimenez also earned $100,000 annually while serving as the First Ladys chief of staff.



Bastedos $100,000 salary matches the amount she was making while serving as legal counsel to the administration.



Emily is making the same salary she made as an Associate Counsel in the Governors Office and the same salary her predecessor made, said Kelly.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold an open house Wednesday to discuss a soil sampling of Chicagos Pilsen neighborhood.

EPA officials will field questions from residents at Holy Trinity Croatian Church beginning at 5:30 p.m., with a public meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m.

EPA will be asking for permission from property owners to take samples within the Pilsen Area Soils site, a residential area bounded by 18th Place to the north, an alley halfway between Allport Street and Racine Avenue to the east, 21st Street to the south, and Loomis Street to the west, according to officials.

Since 2011, the agency has been investigating the area after getting involved with the cleanup of dangerous lead found at the former Lewenthal Metals factory.

The meeting will be held in the basement of the church at 1850 S. Throop St., officials announced.

For information and to download the access agreement, visit: www.epa.gov/il/pilsen-area-soil-site.
Two juveniles have been arrested after a 37-year-old woman was carjacked last week in Chicagos West Town neighborhood.

A 17-year-old girl was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and a 16-year-old girl was charged with criminal trespass, police said, but its not clear if the two girls were the ones who attacked the woman last Thursday.

Marlene Ho told police she was returning home to the 1600 block of West Ohio after running errands when she saw two kids in her driveway. The pair asked her for a lighter, but she said she didnt have one.

Thats when Ho said one of the attackers charged her with a knife.

"The next thing I know, it's jabbing and punching in my head and on my side and on my arms and all over and I thought, is this really happening to me right now? And I'm trying to fight this person off,Ho said. And then the next thing I know, it's repetitive. You're going to give me this. You're going to give me your car. I'm going to kill you."

Ho said she gave the pair what they asked for, but managed to keep her phone, which was in another bag. The attackers drove off in her car as she screamed for help.

Ho was transported to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County where she needed stitched on the back of her head and treatment for stab wounds on her back. She credits the thickness of her winter coat with saving her life.

"I was like crying hysterically, like in pain, and I'm checking my head and my body, Ho said. I could feel moisture on my side and then all of a sudden, I touched my head and my hand was covered in blood and it was a lot and I thought, Oh my gosh, is this really happening to me?"

Ho said she told police she thought her attackers were boys, but couldnt be sure because they were bundled up. Police said the vehicle was later recovered on the citys South Side.

Police said an investigation into the carjacking is ongoing.
Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday he has personally apologized to a southern New Jersey official whom he called a "crazy mayor."

Christie made the remark about North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello during a town-hall style campaign gathering in New Hampshire on Monday. It was in response to the Republican mayor's statement that flooding in his Cape May County town was worse than during Superstorm Sandy.

Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Christie said Rosenello is "a longtime friend." The Republican presidential candidate said he got carried away at a town hall, noting that it's not the first time that has happened.



"I had a night to sleep on it and I didn't feel good about what I said, so I called him to apologize," Christie said. "It merited an apology and I gave him one."



Christie has said the flooding that occurred in New Jersey was not as bad as it could have been, saying Cape May was the only county where it happened. Some other counties in the southern part of the state had minor or moderate flooding.



When the Republican presidential candidate was asked Monday why he was campaigning in New Hampshire instead of staying in New Jersey, Christie reiterated his statements and said he had heard "one crazy mayor down in South Jersey say this is worse flooding than Sandy."



Christie then said that North Wildwood did not get hit by the October 2012 storm, which caused catastrophic damage along the coast and in other areas of the state.



"So of course it's worse than Sandy for him!" Christie said. "Well, damn, man. You didn't get any flooding in Sandy! So if you got a foot of flooding  it would be worse than Sandy."



When the questioner persisted, Christie said: "I don't know exactly what you expect me to do. You want me to go down to Cape May with a mop?"

Rosenello, who said he was "disappointed" to hear about Christie's remarks, confirmed with NBC10's Ted Greenberg that Christie later called to apologize.

He said he accepted the "genuine" apology but the governor should also reach out to other people he offended.

"The governor very graciously did call me this morning. Again, Ive known the governor for many years. He knows my wife and he knows my children. He apologized for the personal comments that he made about me. I accepted that apology. I think it was a genuine apology," Rosenello said. "I think that the lack of compassion for our residents and business owners  I expressed that to him  that is still a concern and the lack of respect that was shown for our first responders. So I would hope that he would take the time at some point in the near future to communicate that fact to them."

Rosenello also disagreed with the notion that Sandy was a non-event in North Wildwood.

"A lot of the same people who were flooded out this past weekend had significant damage during Hurricane Sandy," Rosenello said.



Rosenello had said Monday that he was "disappointed that (Christie) would lower himself as much as he did," noting that he was one of his earliest supporters during both of his runs for governor. Rosenello also said he has met and interacted with Christie and his family numerous times.



The mayor said his town's dune system had suffered major damage and was "severely compromised" by the weekend snowstorm. He also said that roughly 150 people were safely evacuated from their flooded homes during the weekend storm.



"My perspective is somewhat different from that of the governor as he campaigns in New Hampshire," Rosenello said.



Residents in North Wildwood and neighboring towns were still working Tuesday to clear water-logged carpets, appliances and other items they say were damaged by the flooding.



West Wildwood resident Bob Steffney told The Press of Atlantic City that he saw flooding creep up to his front porch before it receded without getting into his home.



"It was scary. You had piles floating down the street like it was a river," the 66-year-old Steffney said. "I don't have flood insurance. I'm retired. I can't afford it."



State Sen. Jeff Van Drew, a Democrat who represents Cape May and Cumberland counties, asked the governor on Monday to seek a federal disaster declaration for those areas, citing the reported flood damage. Christie said the state is assessing the damage to see if it meets the required minimum to apply for such relief.

Christie further clarified his comments during an interview with NBC10's Cydney Long Tuesday.

"What I was objecting to both on Sunday, Monday and I object to today is any type of characterization of what happened in Jonas to be anywhere near what happened in Sandy," Christie said. "It's not even close. It's not even in the same ballpark. Now, if your house is flooded, that doesn't matter to you. If your business is flooded that doesn't matter to you but I was not gonna allow there to be a conversation, which is mostly driven by the media, that somehow this was worse than Sandy."
The singer of the punk rock band Green Day spoke out Monday after learning that Enfield High School in Connecticut decided not to perform the musical "American Idiot," the group's rock opera.

"It would be a shame if these high schoolers were shut down over some of the content that may be challenging for some of the audience," Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong said on Instagram. "But the bigger issue is censorship."

The superintendent, Jeffrey Schumann, of Enfield schools told NBC Connecticut that the rock opera was "dividing our kids." he sat down to the drama club director to discuss the production.

"This is not a censorship issue," Schumman told Catalina Trivino with NBC Connecticut. "This is a participation issue. We chose to change our production so we can get maximum participation."

The Enfield High School's drama club, the Lamplighters, had previously advertised the showing of "American Idiot" and encouraged students to audition, according to a letter sent to members of the school community.

But the school theater's drama club director, Nate Ferreira, and the prinicipal decided it was best to cancel the show after complaints from parents, said the letter, posted by arts administrator Howard Sherman.

"Unfortunately, a very small number of extremely vocal people have complained about our choice of production," Ferreria wrote. "To be clear, Mr. Longey (the school's principal) did not force us to change...At this late stage it is very difficult to switch to a different play, but I do feel that it is best for us to set aside 'American Idiot' for the time being."

Ferreira said the play had a lot of explicit language and scenes involving drugs and sex. The director also said he had been working with the musical's publisher to ensure a more appropriate version of the rock opera.

"Due to the mature content of the original production, I have been working with the publisher to modify the script, to ensure that it would be appropriate for a high school group to perform," Ferreira wrote in a letter on Jan. 17.

The school will preform "Little Shop of Horrors" which is a sci-fi musical about a venus flytrap that feeds off human blood.

Armstrong maintained in his post that there was a version of the musical appropriate for a high school audience. He asked the school to rethink its decision.

"I hope you reconsider and allow them to create an amazing night of theater! as they say on Broadway .. 'the show must go on!' rage and love," Armstrong said.

Armstrong's full post can be found here.

dear Enfield high school board, #enfieldhighschoolmusical #highschoolidiot #enfieldidiot



It has come to my attention that you cancelled your high school theater production of American Idiot.

I realize the content of the Broadway production of AI is not quite "suitable" for a younger audience.

However there is a high school rendition of the production and I believe that's the one Enfield was planning to perform which is suitable for most people.

it would be a shame if these high schoolers were shut down over some of the content that may be challenging for some of the audience. but the bigger issue is censorship. this production tackles issues in a post 9/11 world and I believe the kids should be heard. and most of all be creative in telling a story about our history.



I hope you reconsider and allow them to create an amazing night of theater!

as they say on Broadway .. "the show must go on!" rage and love



Billie Joe Armstrong



ps. I love that your school is called "Raiders"
Town officials in Bloomfield approved a Niagara bottled water plant, but residents say they did not know about until it was too late and have concerns.

On Monday night, residents and environmental activists packed a town council meeting Monday night to try and change officials minds.

Theyve made a big mistake, Guthrie Sayen, of Bloomfield, said. One is our water security. Will we be secure in a time of drought?

The plant, a 440,000-square-foot facility on Woodland Avenue, is slated to open in November and supporters said it will bring jobs and more than $1 million in tax revenue for the town.

Opponents said they are not pleased with the pollution the plant will cause, the tax abatement the town offered and the way in which officials approved it.

All of the sudden one day, this pops up and it just happens, Kevin Gough, of Bloomfield, said. No one knew about it.

Bloomfield Mayor Joan Gamble said the town never made the project a secret, and if they were to pull out now, Niagara could sue.

According to our town attorney, it is too late, Gamble said. They could start construction without the tax abatement if they wanted.

Those who are against the plant disagree and have hired a lawyer.

They said they are not going down without a fight.

No one from Niagara showed up at Monday nights meeting.
Stamford's Board of Education voted 8-0-1 at a special meeting Monday night to terminate the former Stamford High School principal after her suspension over allegations that she knew about a teacher having sex with a student and failed to report it.

Donna Valentine served as Stamford High School's principal when police say English teacher Danielle Watkins had sex with one of her students and provided him and another boy with marijuana. Watkins is now serving a five-year prison sentence.

Former Supt. Winifred Hamilton recommended that the district fire Stamford High School Principal Donna Valentine back in May before her retirement Jan. 1, accusing Valentine of failing to report suspicions about Watkins to state officials and police. Hamilton also moved to terminate Assistant Principal Roth Nordin. Both were suspended.

Valentine pleaded not guilty Oct. 2 to criminal charges of failing to alert authorities.

Attorney Mark Sherman previously told The Advocate newspaper that Valentine would request a hearing by an impartial arbitrator, who would make a recommendation on her employment to the Board of Education. If the board votes to fire Valentine, she can appeal the decision in state Superior Court.

Stamford's school board met Monday at a special meeting to review the analysis of the impartial hearing officer's "Findings of Fact and Recommendations regarding the performance, employment or dismissal of Dr. Donna Valentine," discuss and hear advice from the board's attorney "regarding deliberation meeting procedures and statutory process for developing Board's decision on the performance, employment or dismissal of Dr. Donna Valentine" and to talk about how to act in response to the investigation report "regarding the employment, performance, or dismissal of Dr. Donna Valentine."

The board ultimately voted 8-0-1 in favor of accepting the hearing officer's findings and recommendations and to terminate Valentine due to "inefficiency," "insubordination" to follow board rules, "moral misconduct" and other "due to other due insufficient cause" effective Jan. 26, as well as to allow its attorneys to provide Valentine with written notification of the board's decision. Board assistant secretary Mike Altamura abstained from all four votes on the matter.

Parts of the meeting went into executive session for private discussion.

NBC Connecticut has reached out to the district and hasn't received comments at this time.

Raymand Manka is serving as the high school's principal, according to the school's website.

Hamilton previously rescinded her initial recommendation to terminate Assistant Principal Angela Thomas-Graves. Thomas-Graves was briefly suspended when the allegations first came out but returned to work after a week. In June, Hamilton recommended Thomas-Graves be suspended for a month without pay and her one-year transfer to a new role as head administrator of adult and continuing education, a position that's remained posted for two years.

"Ms. Thomas-Graves brings a deep knowledge of Stamford and its communities as well as many years of experience here as an assistant principal," Hamilton said in a statement in June posted on the district's website. "Therefore she is an ideal fit for this position."

Assistant Supt. Michael Fernandes offered to resign, according to an announcement posted on the Stamford Public Schools website last week, but Hamilton asked that he rescind his resignation. He is the most senior school official involved in the case.

Stephen Falcone, executive director of human resources for Stamford Public Schools was suspended for at least one month, but he's still listed on the district website as employed in that role. Head of security Curtis Tinnin, security guard James Jordan and high school social worker James Cooney received letters of warning, Hamilton previously said.

Hamilton announced her retirement as superintendent in May, effective Jan. 1, due to the scandal and her desire for the district to move forward and rebuild it's reputation, according to her statement posted on the Stamford Public School's website.

"The violation of public trust created by the abuse of a student at Stamford High school, and all of the events that have followed, have led to the diminished trust and perception of Stamford Public Schools by our community and has distracted attention away from our primary focus of preparing students for higher education and success," Hamilton said in a statement from May announcing her retirement. "As superintendent, the day-to-day focus should be on students: ensuring effective leadership is in place; continuing to close the achievement gap; managing a $3 million budget cut; trying not to reduce our teaching staff; and planning for our increased enrollment challenges, as well as building a new school. Instead, over the past several months attention has been interrupted and shared the focus. Because I believe the children of Stamford deserve undivided attention, I am announcing my retirement, effective January 1, 2016. This timeframe should allow the Board sufficient time to conduct the comprehensive search this district needs to be sure Stamford gets the best Superintendent for our students and allows for a proper transition. I remain committed to ensuring the work of this district continues to move forward while that search and transition takes place."

James A. Connelly, who previously served as district chief for Bridgeport Public Schools for 18 years and served as interim superintendent in Killingly, Putnam, District 16 (Prospect/Beacon Falls), Montville, Woodbridge, Oxford and Naugatuck started as interim superintendent Jan. 1, according to the district's website.

Mr. Connelly has served as interim superintendent in many Connecticut school districts, Stamford BOE President Jackie Heftman previously said in a statement. The Board believes his broad experiences as superintendent, interim superintendent, and teacher give him the right skill set to lead Stamford Public Schools while we search for a new superintendent.
East Haven police arrested a 17-year-old boy who is accused of crashing a stolen Mercedes Benz SUV into a snow mound and a fence early Monday morning, then running from the scene.

New Haven Police were trying to stop the SUV there when it entered East Haven at 4:14 a.m. and hit a snow mound and fence on South Strong Street, police said.

The driver ran and police officers from East Haven and New Haven began chasing him, with help from a Connecticut State Police K-9.

Police soon received a phone call reporting a man running through a yard on John Street, so the East Haven Police K-9 unit responded to this area and found a teen hiding in a shed behind a home on John Street.

The teen was charged with evading responsibility, interfering with police, and second-degree trespass in East Haven and was turned over to the New Haven Police Department.
Reports of an active shooter at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) Tuesday morning led to a lengthy lockdown of the military facility, but U.S. Navy officials confirmed no gunman was found and no injuries were reported.

NMCSD was placed on lockdown just after 8 a.m. and people inside were ordered to shelter in place after an unidentifed Department of Defense employee reported hearing three shots fired in the basement of Building 26, which houses a gym and barracks, according to the Navy.

More than two hours later, K9 units were sweeping the military medical center, honing in on Building 26, Brian O'Rourke, PAO Navy Region Southwest said.

Initial searches of Building 26 turned up no evidence of a gunman or shots fired, O'Rourke said.

When Naval Medical Center San Diego went into lockdown, some San Diegans were not able to access loved ones in the hospital. NBC 7s Military Reporter Bridget Naso has that side of the story.

N. Scott Sutherland, Deputy Director of Public Affairs for Navy Region Southwest, sent out the following information just after 10:30 a.m., echoing the details from ORourke.

The investigation of Building 26 continues. First responders and Navy working dog units have conducted an initial top down inspection of the Building and have not located any casualties or evidence of a shooting having taken place. There have been no reported casualties at this time. There is a secondary, more thorough floor by floor inspection taking place at this time. The medical facility remains on lockdown and a shelter in place order remains in effect.

Patients needing immediate medical attention should go to their nearest Naval Medical facility other than Balboa Park, Navy officials added.

After a lengthy lockdown and massive law enforcement response, Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) was deemed safe and cleared of the reported threat of an active shooter. No evidence of a shooting was found. NBC 7s Greg Bledsoe reports.

The first alert of a possible active shooter at the facility came around 8:10 a.m., after NMCSD posted the following notice to its Facebook page:

**!ATTENTION!** An active shooter has just been been reported in building #26 at Naval Medical Center San Diego. All occupants are advised to run, hide or fight. All non-emergency response personnel are asked to stay away from the compound, located at 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134. [[366563381,C]]

NMCSD employees received the following text message alert:

"CODE WHITE NMCSD. SHELTER IN PLACE AND STAND CLEAR OF BUILDING 26 POSSIBLE ACTIVE SHOOTER IN BUILDING."

But Navy officials said at 10:30 a.m. that there was no threat at the Naval hospital.



We have done a number of clearing sweeps of the building and as of this time, we have found nothing that substantiates those reports, explained Capt. Curt Jones, Commanding Officer of Naval Base San Diego.



We are continuing to clear the building to ensure there are no casualties and theres nothing thats not quite right in the building, he continued. I can tell you the person who reported the gunshots was in the building at the time and reported that they thought they heard three gunshots.

NMCSD Capt. Curt Jones speaks to reporters during as press conference, discussing the reported threat at the center.

As of now we have found absolutely nothing that indicates there were any shots fired. There are no casualties at this time, Capt. Jones added. Id like to emphasize, we take all reports like this very seriously. We do a lot of training to help people recognize what theyre supposed to do in the event of an active shooter.

Capt. Jones said many San Diego-based agencies aided in the emergency response. Officials with some agencies came on their own when they heard something extremely serious may have been happening at the facility.



Building 26 at NMCSD serves a number of functions: barracks, a gymnasium, facilities for wounded warriors, medical administration, and residential and office facilities, Jones said.



Capt. Jones said part of prior training at the facility has included telling active duty and civil servants to do three things in case of an active shooter situation: run, hide or fight, just as NMCSDs initial Facebook alert advised.

As the situation unfolded just after 8 a.m. and a massive law enforcement response stormed the facility, NMCSD advised all personnel to not report to work and avoid the area.

At that point, NMCSD officials told NBC 7 that, as far as they knew, this was not an active shooter drill or training.

At around 9:15 a.m., NMCSD released the following details, which were still developing:

"The sound of gunshots were reported in the basement of building #26 at Naval Medical Center San Diego at about 8 a.m. today. Naval Medical Center San Diego is treating this as a possible active shooter. All personnel are advised to execute active shooter procedures. Non-emergency response personnel are asked to stay away from the compound. San Diego Police Department and Chula Vista S.W.A.T. are on scene at building #26."

One by one, individual buildings at the Naval hospital were all placed on lockdown, one employee told NBC 7. The front gate to the facility was also locked.

Florida Drive was blocked off to traffic as law enforcement surrounded the area, including California Highway Patrol officers who were seen entering the facility through an emergency room entrance. A steady stream of patrol cars from multiple agencies, including the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) and Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD), could then be seen flowing into the area.

With access to some roads blocked, traffic was backed up for miles.

By 8:45 a.m., a SWAT truck honed in on the military hospital.

Images: Active Shooter Reported at NMCSD

A concerned staffer for the childcare center at NMCSD told NBC 7 that employees at the facility have undergone training in the case of an active shooter situation. The staffer said the childcare center opens daily at 5:30 a.m., so, at the time of the reported incident, there could have been more than 200 children there.

This is the first time Ive ever seen this happen," the staffer told NBC 7. "Im thinking this is something real serious if the SWAT team has to come in. Its really concerning for me that theres something going on at the hospital.

At 9:08 a.m., Naval Base San Diego officials posted this update on Twitter for parents of kids at the childcare facility: "For all concerned, the childcare facilities at NMC are currently secured. All children are accounted for and safe."

NBC 7 also spoke with military couple, Nikki and Broderick, whose son, Sydney, is a patient at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) inside the military hospital.

The couple waited anxiously outside NMCSD gate Tuesday morning, waiting for any information on the activity, hoping to soon be reunited with their baby boy, who was born at 34 weeks gestation.

They both said they understood the extra precautions preventing them from getting to their son.



I want them to have this situation under control as much as possible because I wouldnt want anything to happen to anyone, Broderick said.

Emergency workers from around San Diego arrived quickly at the medical center in the center of Balboa Park on Tuesday morning after reports were received of an active shooter.

Navy Petty Officer King, an X-Ray instructor at the medical center, was waiting outside like everyone else. Some of his students had reached out to him to check on his safety.



I just hope no one is hurt today, King said while he waited for word on what was going on inside the facility.



NBC 7 spoke with a source whose mother was locked down inside the Occupational Room on the second floor of Building 26. She said her mother sent her a text message saying everyone was safe. They were told to barricade the door, stay quiet and shelter in place.

NBC 7 also spoke with representatives inside the facility's Continuous Improvement Department, at Building 6-5, and at Building 1-3, the facility's Dialysis Center, who said everyone inside those buildings was safe. They were all told to shelter in place and remain on lockdown..

By 10:05 a.m., officials were seen leading people out of the facility with their hands up. A law enforcement official told NBC News Pete Williams an initial sweep of the building turned up no forensic evidence of shots fired. They were checking rooms a second time and working to locate the person who made the original report.

!UPDATE/REMINDER!



Investigation still ongoing at NMCSD. All personnel continue to remain clear of NMCSD and... https://t.co/aQTiroVYgS  NBSD (@NavBaseSD) January 26, 2016

Meanwhile, amid the investigation at NMCSD, several temporary lockdowns were activated, including one at Naval Base Point Loma. By 9:35 a.m., that lockdown had been lifted, officials confirmed.

San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) officials confirmed the following nearby schools had also been placed on temporary lockdown: Garfield Middle School on Oregon Street, San Diego High School on Park Boulevard and Roosevelt Middle School, also on Park Boulevard.

SDUSD officials said the lockdowns were precautionary, and that all staffers and students across the campuses were safe. By 9:45 a.m., the SDUSD confirmed those school lockdowns had been lifted.

At a second news conference at noon, both San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman praised the quick response and teamwork by local and federal agencies.

This is what we train for, as a region, as a city, said Faulconer.

This is exactly what we want and we train for this. When that call came in that there was an active shooter on the base, no one hesitated, added Zimmerman, calling the coming together of law enforcement a unified collaborative response.

At that briefing, Capt. Jones said investigators remained at the Naval hospital and were still working to clear Building 26 in a very methodical fashion.

He said that within the initial report of gunfire at the building, about 10 minutes passed before the entire NMCSD staff had received the warning and the wheels were in motion for city, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies to begin working together.

There is a very substantial response that would ensure that if there was a problem, it would have been immediately dealt with, he added.

By 2 p.m., Navy officials released another update, saying the shelter in place order had been lifted for all parts of the facility, with the exception of Building 26, and personnel were permitted to move about.

Access to NMCSD was resuming, as well as patient care, officials said. The main and emergency gates to the facility were reopened to outbound traffic.

By 3:40 p.m., the shelter in place order was lifted for Building 26 as well.

"Operations are going back to their normal cycles at the hospital as patient care and access to the NMCSD facility is resuming to business as usual," Navy officials said.

According to the NMCSDs website, Building 26 -- the site at the center of Tuesday's incident -- houses several amenities, including a fitness center. The Liberty Center is also located near Building 26, and offers recreational activities for all active duty service members and NMCSD ID cardholders, including a cyber cafe, billiards tables, a music room and a 25-seat movie theater.

The large staff at NMCSD is comprised of more than 6,500 military, civilian, contractor and volunteer personnel. The 272-bed, multispecialty hospital and ambulatory complex is located on 78.4 acres in the southeast corner of Balboa Park, about 2.5 miles from downtown San Diego.

The military hospital treats families of military members, too.

NMCSD personnel deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Djibouti and aboard the USNS Mercy. The facility is affiliated with 19 civilian nursing schools, training more than 400 students per year in clinical rotations.
Airlines canceled around 1,600 flights Monday, and another 1,200 experienced delays, in the aftermath of a massive weekend blizzard that slammed into the eastern U.S., wreaking havoc on travel in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City.

Even as the airlines resumed operations, the remnants of the storm posed problems. For instance, Delta said snow continued to hamper operations at LaGuardia and Newark airports.



On Monday, airports in the New York City area and Washington D.C. metro areas suffered the highest number of cancellations. For some travelers in those locations, getting home continued to be an adventure.

Dulles International Airport listed 128 cancellations and 5 delays. Reagan National had 124 cancellations. Baltimore/Washington International listed 74 cancellations.

Newark Liberty International listed 260 canceled flights and 48 delays as of Monday afternoon, the most of any U.S. airport, according to the flight tracking service FlightAware. Meanwhile, LaGuardia listed 177 canceled flights and 30 delays with John F. Kennedy airport listing 46 cancellations and 40 delays.

Many airlines waived change fees for travelers who were affected, but some of them continued to charge consumers for any difference in fares. Here's where to find the airlines' travel policies:

Delta

Southwest

American

United

Spirit

Frontier

JetBlue

Travelers said they had to go to extraordinary lengths to get home.

John Escobar, 27, finished a three-month work contract surgical technician at New York Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital in Brooklyn on Friday and has been trying to get home to Fort Lauderdale ever since.



Escobar had flights canceled Saturday and Sunday. He booked a flight Monday on American Airlines, but there were no direct flights for under $1,000, "so I'm flying to Boston, then Charlotte, then home.''



Among the major airlines, United Airlines, which is owned by United Continental Holdings Inc., suffered the brunt of cancellations as it has key hubs at both Newark Liberty and Washington Dulles. There are already more than 200 flight cancellations for Tuesday, with the bulk from United Airlines' regional carrier United Express at Washington Dulles.



Overall, airlines canceled about 13,000 flights for the five-day period Friday through Tuesday.
Dallas police are investigating whether a suspected armed carjacker is responsible for other crimes in a North Dallas neighborhood this month.

Police arrested 21-year-old Zamondre Brown, but his alleged accomplice is still on the run.

There have been more than a half-dozen armed robberies and carjackings near Interstate 635 and Skillman Road in recent weeks.

Police said Brown and his accomplice pulled guns on a man at the Waterchase Apartments in the 12300 block of Plano Road and forced him to empty his pockets at gunpoint. They, then stole his red Toyota vehicle, police said.

Officers later spotted the stolen car and engaged in a brief pursuit, but the car crashed at 12100 Audelia Road.

Brown faces multiple charges, including aggravated robbery, but police still want to know if he is responsible for other robberies in that area this year.

Chase McDonough is a victim of a recent carjacking at the Stone Ranch Apartments near I-635 and Skillman.

At about 3 p.m. on Jan. 3, McDonough and his wife, Trisha, were visiting friends at the apartments. Trisha McDonough is a professional photographer, and the couple was setting up for a baby photo shoot.

When Chase McDonough ran back downstairs to the his car, a red Mazda SUV, to get more photography supplies, he was met by two strangers, who pulled a gun on him.

"They got within eight inches of my face, pulled a gun to my head then quickly moved it to my stomach. They said, 'Empty out your pockets,'" Chase McDonough said. "They told me, 'Get in the car, you're gonna get in the car with us.'"

Chase McDonough thinks his SUV's unusually-shaped key may have saved his life.

"They were messing around with that switchblade key and couldn't really figure out how to operate it," he said. "When they still couldn't figure out how to unlock it, I ran. I ran right up to the apartment and called 911 immediately."

But then, Chase McDonough and his wife waited an hour, they said, for police to show up.

Officers and a robbery detective took a report and gave them business cards, but Chase McDonough said his phone calls were only met with terse email replies.

When he finally got detectives on the phone, he said they were rude and demeaning.

"Then they (police) tell you, 'Do you know how big Dallas is? Do you know how much we have going on?'" he said. "If someone is a victim of any crime, you should have heart and compassion for that person. We're not just a number. We are your city."

As the days rolled on, Trisha McDonough started tracking crime statistics and writing down all the other armed robberies at the same apartment complex.

The list kept growing. There were no arrests in her husband's armed robbery and carjacking, no named suspects and no recovered vehicle.

"I'm pretty sure that as bold as they are, to be doing this in broad daylight, it's not the first time they've done this. And I really honestly feel like if the detective had taken the steps he needed to take, to care more about it, somebody else might not have been victimized the same way we were," she said.

Detectives notified the McDonoughs that their stolen red Mazda SUV was recovered 13 days later on Jan. 16, although the car wasn't returned until Jan. 21.

The delay, Trisha McDonough said, was because officers told her on the phone that the SUV may have been connected to two other January armed robberies in North Dallas.

Records show that while the McDonoughs' car was missing, there was an armed robbery, a burglary and an auto theft all originating from the Stone Ranch Apartments.

"I truly feel that if the detectives just put just a little more effort into this, they could have saved a lot of other people from having to deal with this, too," Trisha McDonough said.

However, a Dallas police spokesman on Tuesday afternoon said that there's no evidence the stolen Mazda was used to facilitate any other crimes.

The McDonoughs' SUV has been in the body shop for the last week. Mechanics at the Ewing Body Shop in Plano said it could take another week before the car is returned.

Chase McDonough said the crooks put hundreds of miles on the car and caused thousands of dollars in damage.

Officer Carlos Almeida also disputed the accusation that robbery detectives were aloof and unprofessional towards the couple.

"I'm told that detectives have spoken to Mr. McDonough on multiple occasions related to his offense," Almeida said. "Detectives assigned to his case have previously reached out to the apartment complex to try and retrieve any video that may exist."

But Trisha McDonough said she's been trying to get detectives to return to the apartment complex and get the video in person.

"I'm not sure why they insist they need to go wait on a hard copy. Had you gone and viewed the tape, you guys could have probably seen the suspects and then saved at least four or five other families from the heartache that we've had to deal with," she said.

Police said they haven't identified any suspects in that carjacking and it's still an open investigation.
Classes have been canceled for the rest of the week at Woodrow Wilson High School after the school was evacuated Tuesday due to a two-alarm fire, according to Dallas Independent School District officials.[[366575361,C]]

All extra-curricular activities at the school have also been canceled through the weekend.

The school will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday for students and staff to retrieve any personal belongings they may have left behind. Those who want to retrieve their belongings will be escorted to classrooms and will only be allowed to stay for a few minutes.

For more information about classes and other campus events, click here.

Dallas ISD officials said school will resume Monday morning.

Classes have been canceled for the rest of the week at Woodrow Wilson High School after the school was evacuated Tuesday due to a two-alarm fire, according to Dallas Independent School District officials.

Fire on Campus

Firefighters were called at about 11 a.m. Tuesday to the facility in the 100 block of South Glasgow Drive, in the Lakewood area, after someone reported smelling smoke on the building's second and third floors.

Classes have been canceled Wednesday at Woodrow Wilson High School after the school was evacuated Tuesday due to a two-alarm fire.

Emergency crews observed smoke coming from the second and third floors when they first arrived, and school faculty and staff safely evacuated the nearly 1,800 students.

"Typically, with something like this, if you have 1,700 students evacuated it would require a larger response than a 2-alarm, but DISD staff and faculty did an outstanding job of following their own protocols and evacuating students prior to our arrival," said Jason Evans with Dallas Fire-Rescue.

After fire at #DallasISD's Woodrow Wilson HS, all students & staff are safely out of the building and accounted for; more details to follow.  Dallas ISD (@dallasschools) January 26, 2016

Firefighters located and extinguished a small fire on the third floor in a bathroom closet, officials said.

No injuries were reported in the fire or evacuation. The fire was relatively small, according Evans, but the extent of the damage is still being assessed by Dallas ISD administrators.

"Due to extensive smoke and water throughout the two floors, we had to call for a second alarm just for manpower," Evans said.

The cause of the fire is still unknown and under investigation.

Several restoration crews spent Wednesday at the school working to get it into a position to reopen Monday.

"Our main focus here is to make sure that we can get our students and staff it back into the building on Monday and have class as normal," said Dallas ISD spokesperson Robyn Harris.

For now, the district is not sure if students will be required to make up the two days of school missed as a result of the fire. Harris said the district will request a waiver from the state in hopes the days will not have to be made up.

NBC 5's Eric King, Todd L. Davis and Holley Ford contributed to this report.
Eight people protesting immigration policies blocked an intersection near the federal building Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles before they were taken into custody.

Several dozen protesters gathered about 8 a.m. near Los Angeles and Temple streets, and some of them sat down on the pavement while others walked in a circle around them. The 101 Freeway exit ramp was closed at Los Angeles Street due to protests.

Some participants said they were protesting deportations of Central American immigrants. A coalition of immigrant-rights organizations earlier announced plans for the statewide rally.

An unlawful assembly was declared at about midday.

The protests come after 22 Democratic senators asked President Barack Obama last week to stop the recent round of federal deportation raids, highlighting anew the schism within the party over the administration's handling of Central American immigrants. In a letter, the senators wrote that the raids were sweeping up mothers and children who face threats of violence and death when they are returned to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

"We are troubled by the priorities reflected in these enforcement actions," the lawmakers wrote. "It is important to evaluate this as a humanitarian and refugee crisis involving a vulnerable population and not strictly as a border security and immigration enforcement matter."

The senators said the tactic of using highly publicized raids, sometimes in the pre-dawn hours, was "shocking and misguided." They also rejected administration arguments that the operations would deter additional immigrants from fleeing the region to the U.S., saying, "That argument relies on the false premise that most of these people are not fleeing extraordinary danger."

So far, at least 121 people -- many from Central America -- have been detained in raids that began during the holiday season. Also on the horizon are the first votes in the 2016 presidential caucuses and primaries, a campaign in which GOP contenders Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have staked out tough positions against illegal immigration.

"I'm doing this for all the families who are being separated, for the children who are being traumatized, and for community members who are currently at risk of being deported,'' said protester Luis Enrique Gonzales.

Los Angeles & Main Street closed by anti-ICE protest. Demanding end to all deportations of undocumented immigrants. pic.twitter.com/DHViB1cSqE  Conan Nolan (@conanNBCLA) January 26, 2016

Administration officials have cited an increase in the numbers of families and children arriving at the U.S. border from Central America, spurring memories of the large numbers of people who tried entering the country in the summer of 2014.

"While we recognize the serious underlying conditions that cause some people to flee their home countries, we cannot allow our borders to be open to illegal migration," said White House spokesman Peter Boogaard. "Those who come here illegally will be sent home after being provided an opportunity to have their cases and humanitarian claims heard, consistent with our laws and values."

Boogaard said those taken into custody in recent weeks by immigration enforcement agents have been ordered by courts to be removed from the U.S. and "have no outstanding appeal or claim for asylum or other humanitarian relief under our laws."

The 22 senators comprise nearly half of all Democrats in the Senate. Among those signing were No. 2 Senate Democratic leader Richard Durbin of Illinois, presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.

Not signing were Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who has expressed hope the raids would be paused, and the lawmaker likely to succeed him as Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York.

In the letter, the senators asked that deportations be slowed so the immigrants could be given legal counsel, even though that is not required. They also asked that immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras be granted a special status that lets people stay in the U.S. temporarily until federal officials declare it is safe for them to return.
A proposal to increase the reward for information in the search for three "very dangerous" inmates who escaped from an Orange County jail by $150,000 was approved Tuesday by county supervisors.

Todd Spitzer of the Orange County Board of Supervisors requested the board increase the reward by $150,000, bringing the total to $200,000. The motion passed unanimously at Tuesday's meeting.

"Money talks and the stakes couldn't be higher," Spitzer said. "Apparenlty, the $50,000 cumulatively is not getting the job done."

Jonathan Tieu, 20, Bac Duong, 43, and Hossein Nayeri, 37, were awaiting trials for unrelated violent crimes when they vanished from a dormitory they shared with about 65 other men at the Orange County Men's Central Jail.

"They could be very desperate," said Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock. "We don't have any information to indicate that they are together. But time would tell you they get to a point where they become desperate, whether they need money or somebody to help facilitate their well-being on a day-to-day basis. But obviously the concern is that they are desperate.



"They are facing some very serious charges. That's why we're pleading for the public's help because we know somebody out there knows something."

The men had a nearly 16-hour head-start before authorities realized they were missing Friday. Authorities said they believe Tieu and Duong may still be in the region due to their ties to local Vietnamese-American gangs.

"We think that there's obviously ties, based on the fact that one of the individuals is a documented Vietnamese gang member," Hallock said. "We think it's a strong possibility that he may have connected with those fellow gang members in the Vietnamese community."

Around 30 warrants had been served since the escape was discovered. Those warrants were served and homes and used to search electronic devices, such as computers and phones.

The men are believed to have escaped Friday shortly after a 5 a.m. physical body count, one of two that take place each day at the jail. The disappearance wasn't discovered until about 9 p.m. Friday, during the second daily headcount, which was to have started at 8 p.m. but was delayed by an altercation possibly staged to help delay discovery of the escape, Hallock said.

Authorities were continuing to investigate whether other inmates had a hand in the escape, notably through the altercation that delayed the 8 p.m. body count.

The men cut through a steel grate, half-inch steel bars and plumbing tunnels early Friday before making their way to an unsecured part of the jail's roof and using makeshift ropes to rappel several floors to the ground.

Nayeri, of Newport Beach, was in custody on kidnapping and torture charges for the abduction of a marijuana clinic owner who Nayeri allegedly drove to the desert and burned with a blowtorch. The victim, his attackers thought he had stashed money in the desert, was also sexually mutilated, prosecutors said.

Nayeri fled the United States to Iran. Authorities do not have extradition agreements with Iran, where Nayeri has family, so investigators used a ruse to get him to the Czech Republic, which is more cooperative with the U.S. for extraditing fugitives, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy. Nayeri was arrested in Prague while changing flights from Iran to Spain to visit family, Murphy said.

Tieu, of Fountain Valley, faces murder and attempted murder charges in connection with a gang hit, prosecutors said, and Bac Duong, of Santa Ana, faces an attempted murder charge and was being held without bail on an immigration hold pending a possible federal deportation hearing.
A southwest Missouri woman has admitted to plotting with a daughter to fatally poison her husband and son with antifreeze and attempt to kill another daughter over a 14-month period.



Diane Staudte, 53, of Springfield, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree assault, The Springfield News-Leader reports. Another daughter, 25-year-old Rachel Staudte, pleaded guilty earlier to helping with the poisonings at her mother's insistence.



As part of a deal with prosecutors, Diane Staudte will avoid a possible death sentence. She faces a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.



Staudte told investigators that she poisoned her 61-year-old husband, Mark Staudte, with antifreeze because she hated him, and that she killed her 26-year-old son, Shaun Staudte, because he was "worse than a pest," according to the probable cause statement. She also admitted poisoning her daughter Sarah Staudte over four days because "she would not get a job and had student loans that had to be paid," investigators said.



A medical examiner initially ruled that her husband's April 2012 death was from natural causes and her son's September 2012 death was from prior medical issues. But a tip led authorities to re-examine the deaths in June 2013 following the hospitalization of Sarah Staudte, who was then 24.



Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson told the judge that Sarah Staudte suffered physical and brain injuries after being poisoned. He said the college graduate has a guardian and lives in an assisted living facility.



In a statement that Sarah Staudte read in court, she said she forgave her mother.



"Not only she took away my dad and brother, she also took away my livelihood and my independence," the statement said. "I prefer to be a survivor than a victim."



Diane Staudte admitted under questioning that she poisoned her family by putting antifreeze in their soda and Gatorade. She originally told police she was the only one involved. But after Rachel Staudte admitted to taking part in the poisonings, Diane Staudte told investigators that the pair had planned, researched and committed the crimes together.



Rachel Staudte's plea deal said she did not want to poison Shaun and Sarah, but she did so because of her mother's instructions.



A poem that was found in Rachel Staudte's purse when she was arrested was read during the sentencing. It ended with the line: "Only the quiet ones will be left, my mother, my little sister and me."



A third daughter in the Staudte family, 11, was not harmed and was placed into foster care, according to The Springfield News-Leader.
A Florida man accused of helping an undercover FBI agent posing as a terrorist plan a bombing at a 9/11 commemoration has a long history of mental illness, according to court documents unsealed Monday.

A mental competency evaluation performed by a federal prison psychologist shows Joshua Goldberg, 20, had been diagnosed previously with schizophrenia and anxiety disorder before his arrest last fall at his parents' home by federal authorities.

The document was unsealed by a federal judge after The Associated Press, Florida Times-Union newspaper and other media challenged the judge's ruling to seal it.

The FBI said Goldberg claimed to be a radical with ties to the Islamic State group and that he used online aliases including the moniker "Australi Witness.'' The government has said Goldberg sent bomb-making plans to an undercover agent who claimed he wanted to attack a 9/11 commemoration in Kansas City, Missouri. No bomb was ever produced.

Goldberg, who lives in a Jacksonville suburb, initially caught the attention of authorities after online posts calling for an attack on the May 3 contest for drawings of the Prophet Muhammad in Garland, Texas, according to the complaint filed against him.

Goldberg is charged with distributing information relating to explosives and weapons of mass destruction.

In December, a federal judge ruled Goldberg mentally incompetent to stand trial, and ordered a second psychological evaluation to see if he could be treated.

Goldberg's thinking "contained delusions of persecution, as well as delusions of grandeur,'' wrote Dr. Lisa Feldman, a forensic psychologist with the Federal Detention Center in Miami. She added that he had an "exaggerated notion of his importance, power or identity.''

Feldman said at a hearing last month that Goldberg, while in the federal detention center in Miami, stopped bathing and was briefly put on suicide watch.

Goldman's attorney, Paul Shorstein, has indicated to the court that he plans to argue an insanity defense should the case proceed to trial.
A Miami police union is outraged and upset after a man who allegedly stabbed a Miami Police officer was granted bond and allowed to walk out of jail.

Now, it appears a simple mistake may be to blame. A minor detail not filled out on an arrest report is the reason that suspect is now free.

The nearly deadly encounter happened on Jan. 21 at the Magic City Casino. Witnesses corroborate the Miami Police version of events: Jose Carvajal-Lopez attacked an officer, stabbed him in the face, and the officer fired back with his gun, sending Lopez to the hospital.

"If you're gonna stab a police officer in full police uniform, you're not gonna have a problem stabbing anybody else," said Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President Javier Ortiz.

Carvajal-Lopez was charged with second-degree attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence. He bonded out of jail after recovering from his gunshot wound, which outraged the union president.

Ortiz wrote a scathing letter to Judge Mindy Glazer, saying: "The Miami Fraternal Order of Police is extremely concerned and outraged by your less than honorable decision of granting a measly $20,000 bond for a man that attempted to kill a Miami Police Officer. Your actions have placed every law enforcement officer in jeopardy with allowing this piece of trash back onto the streets of Miami."

But it turns out, Judge Glazer had nothing to do with it. She wasn't working that day, and in fact, according to the court system, Carvajal-Lopez bonded out without ever facing a judge because the arresting officer did not check the "hold for bond hearing, do not bond out" box on the arrest form.

Former prosecutor David Weinstein explains, "The box wasn't checked. So when this defendant was released from Ward D after having been treated for his injuries, he was checked into the facility, the system saw what the standard bond was, he picked up the phone, made his call, talked to someone who posted the standard bond and he was out before he was even required to make that initial bond appearance."

Judge Glazer would not comment on the case.

Ortiz is out of town but responded with the following message: "What I can tell you at this time is the information given to me was confirmed by the Miami Police Department. If the information is incorrect, I will surely apologize to Judge Glazer. Regardless, an attempted cop killer shouldn't be walking free on the streets of Miami."

Later that evening, Ortiz wrote an apology letter to Judge Glazer that reads in part:

"I am out of town due to legislative affairs. The information that was given to me was confirmed by the Miami Police Department. The personnel involved in that confirmation would like to meet with you to personally apologize for this mishap. I apologize for any stress that this has caused you."
Nearly 6,000 people from around the world attended BroadwayCon, the inaugural convention for theater fans that took over the New York Hilton Midtown this weekend.

While Broadway matinee and evening performances were canceled this weekend in the wake of the historic blizzard, BroadwayCon went on, turning its mainstage ballroom into a giant slumber party.

To make up for the absence of Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan and other high-profile celebrities who couldnt attend the event due to travel delays, organizers set up a Broadway Party Line. Co-organizer Anthony Rapp, gossip columnist Michael Riedel and Playbill Editor-in-Chief Blake Ross cold-called celebrity talent, chatting -- on speakerphone and FaceTime -- with Patti LuPone, Joel Grey, Audra McDonald, Betty Buckley, Laura Benanti, Criss, Jordan and more.

In spite of the weather and what really could have been a big mess, they covered for each other and made the best of it said Barbara Feldman, a 69-year-old retired theater educator from Jacksonville, Fla. It may have been a storm outside, but you really didnt feel it in here.

Feldman traveled to BroadwayCon from Jacksonville with fellow theater-fan Pat Gorman, 68. The duo saw two Broadway shows while in town -- Something Rotten and Noises Off -- and plan to come back next year to see more.

Feldman and Gorman werent the only two out-of-towners who traveled into New York City for BroadwayCon. 15-year-old Lucy Swinson, of Oakland, Calif., flew in for the convention with her father, Ian. Lucy had never seen a show on Broadway until seeing Something Rotten this weekend -- though the aspiring actress has been in 14 local theater productions herself.

As a dad, the one thing I want to do is give her opportunity to fulfil her passion, said Ian. Seeing her enjoy it, experience it and be inspired by so many women role models involved in theater has been amazing.

Barbara Feldman, of Woodmere, Long Island, said she also felt "inspired" about seeing the convention through the eyes of her 13-year-old son, Andrew -- who has performed in about 65 shows since seeing Beauty and the Beast on Broadway.

For Andrew, BroadwayCon gave him a chance to connect with other people who have the same passion as he does. Theater is all about community, he said, Its been amazing to feel the sense of community with the people that we admire so much.

This is an opportunity for the walls between artists and audience members to be broken down, Anthony Rapp said. As much as were living on our screens, we learned this weekend that people want to be together in person. Watching everyone share in the celebration of that, learn about what makes Broadway tick and what makes it meaningful has made this a success.

Rapp and organizers of BroadwayCon say they hope to restage the event next year -- possibly even moving to a larger location, like the Javits Center. Of the 30 people NBC 4 New York spoke to for this piece, all said they would return another year.
Officials are assessing the damage along the Jersey Shore after last weekends blizzard flooded or destroyed beaches and homes.

Record flooding swamped Ernesto Ruizs house in West Wildwood, New Jersey. Water was pouring out of his fridge and, worse, out of boxes of sentimental items.

We lost a lot. Even like priceless stuff like our wedding stuff, Ruiz said.

Hes among many starting the process of cleaning up and salvaging whatever they can.

Everything that we gathered up was not high enough for this storm that came. It was twice as high as Sandy, Ruiz said.

The Jersey Shore took a beating during the historic blizzard, which flooded beachside towns with icy water and hammered buildings and homes with frigid winds.

The Holgate section of Long Beach Township was hit especially hard, with houses now dangerously close to the ocean after the ground under them was washed away. In North Wildwood, the raging surf caused a major dune breach. Emergency repairs are underway in both communities.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin got a firsthand look at damage along the coastline of Stone Harbor on Monday.

Weve had coastal engineers up and down the entire coastline, Martin said. Part of us being out here is working with coastal engineers to make a damage assessment of the entire coastline.
A friend of an unarmed man who was shot by a rookie NYPD officer in a darkened housing project stairwell can be heard wailing in the background on a recording of a 911 call that was played publicly for the first time Monday at the officer's manslaughter trial.

"He's not breathing!" the friend, Melissa Butler, yelled as the caller stood nearby and relayed a medic's phone instructions for CPR on the night of Nov. 20, 2014.

The recording also captured a brief exchange between the caller, a resident who heard the shot, and defendant Peter Liang and his partner. The uniformed officers appeared while Butler  her hands covered in blood  was frantically trying to save the life of Akai Gurley. But they never offered any assistance as they descended the stairwell, Melissa Lopez told a Brooklyn jury.

Liang "didn't do nothing," Lopez said.

Prosecutors sought to use the tape and Lopez's testimony on the first day of Liang's trial to show that, along with recklessly firing his weapon, he callously ignored his duty to aid his victim.

"A police officer  this police officer  shot an innocent person . and he never even knelt down and try to fix what he'd done," prosecutor Marc Fliedner said in opening statements Monday.

The defense claims Liang, because his weapon accidentally discharged, didn't commit a crime. The officer has pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and other charges.

"Peter Liang had no intent to hurt anybody," said defense lawyer Rae Koshetz.

The Liang trial is being closely watched by advocates for police accountability, who see it as a counterpoint to decisions by grand juries declining to indict white police officers in other killings, including those of Eric Garner on Staten Island and Michael Brown in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson. Meanwhile, Chinese-American supporters of Liang say he has been made a scapegoat for past injustices.

At the time of the shooting, Liang, an officer for 18 months, and his partner were patrolling the Brooklyn housing project amid reports of a spike in violent crime. The officer had his gun drawn as he entered the stairwell on the eighth floor because he was headed to the roof  "the most dangerous place of a dangerous place," his lawyer said.

The 28-year-old Gurley and Butler had already entered the door into the seventh-floor landing to head down to the exit. Liang  his gun in his left hand and using a flashlight in his right because the lights were burned out  fired a shot that ricocheted and hit Gurley, who made it down two flights of stairs before collapsing.

Koshetz said Liang initially had no idea the bullet had struck anyone. Once he learned, "he was in a state of shock and was hyperventilating," she said.

But prosecutors say after the gun went off, rather than check to see if someone was hurt, Liang repeatedly told his partner it was an accident, argued over which one should report it and fretted about what it would mean for him.

Liang "stood there whining and moaning about how he could get fired," Fliedner said.

Prosecutors are expected to call Butler and Liang's partner as their key witness. Liang also is expected to testify in his own defense.

Gurley's slaying recalled two others by officers patrolling Brooklyn housing projects  the shootings of 19-year-old Timothy Stansbury on a rooftop in 2004 and of 13-year-old Nicholas Heyward Jr. while carrying a toy gun. Neither officer was charged.

Gurley's family has brought a wrongful-death lawsuit on behalf of his estate and his young daughter.
UPDATE: Governor Christie apologized to Mayor Rosenello and clarified his comments. DETAILS HERE

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie addressed criticism over his response to this weekend's record flooding at the Jersey Shore.

The Republican presidential candidate returned to the campaign trail in New Hampshire Monday after spending time in New Jersey during the weekends blizzard, which flooded streets and homes in several Shore communities and left thousands without power.

During a town hall meeting in New Hampshire Monday, Christie took a question from a woman who said she once attended school in Pennington, New Jersey. The woman asked on behalf of her family and friends at the Shore, "Why are you here in New Hampshire campaigning instead of there, helping to survey the damages done by the coastal flooding from the storm?"

"Because its already done," Christie replied. "Its already done. Tell me why you think it isnt."

The woman told Christie her friends and family had sent her videos and pictures of flooding "all over the state."

"All over the state?" Christie replied. "Really? Theres been one county thats flooded in the state. That was Cape May County. So I dont know where from all over the state, since we have 21 counties, where thats happened. Second, I dont know what you expect me to do. You want me to go down there with a mop?"

New Jersey Governor and Republican Presidential candidate Chris Christie addressed criticism on his response to the weekends flooding at the Jersey Shore.

Christie told the woman that all roads in New Jersey were cleared, NJ Transit returned to normal operations and that workers helped any families who had flooding in their homes.

"No one needed to be evacuated," Christie said. "People left voluntarily and went to see family and friends like we asked them to if they lost their power."

He asked the woman for the names and numbers of all her family and friends in New Jersey, claiming he would call them all personally to answer any of their questions.

Christie claimed around 94,000 people at the Shore were without power at the height of the storm but the number was reduced to 500 Monday. He went into detail on the efforts taken by the Department of Environmental Protection to assess beach erosion, as well as officials with the Economic Development Authority who were helping any businesses that sustained damage.

The governor said he was told by Department of Transportation officials that there was no residual flooding and all the floodwater had receded back.

"So for your friends and family who are concerned about why Im not there, Im just wondering what it is they think Id be doing today," Christie said. "Im the governor. Im not the chief engineer. I run a government of 60,000 people. They know exactly what they need to do. I was on the phone with them six different times today to check on whats going on. If I was there, thered be certain folks who would be complaining about what I was doing, or not doing, based upon whatever their political position is."

Christie said he was in New Jersey during the height of the storm checking on conditions throughout the entire state.

"By the way, you know what the National Weather Service called the flooding?" Christie asked. "Moderate. Except youre watching CNN and theyve got nothing else to show. Because plowing snow is pretty boring. So when you see water flowing in with little icebergs on them, you say, 'Oh, look at that.' Its not good. But I heard people actually compare it to Sandy."

Christie then addressed North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello, who told NBC10 that Saturday mornings flooding was half a foot higher than what his town experienced during superstorm Sandy in 2012.

"I heard one crazy mayor down in South Jersey say this is worse flooding than Sandy," Christie said. Heres the one thing you need to know about that mayor. His town didnt get hit by Sandy. So of course its worse than Sandy for him! Hes down in North Wildwood, which is south of Atlantic City, for those of you who do not have a masters in New Jersey geography as I do. Hes south of Atlantic City, the storm comes in on Atlantic City and the hurricane tail is whipping north. So if youre south of where it came on Shore, youre in good shape. So he makes the incredible statement, 'Its worse than Sandy!' Well damn, man, you didnt get any flooding in Sandy! So if you got a foot of flooding, it would be worse than Sandy."

He also responded to critics of his handling of the storm during an appearance on MSNBC Monday, according to NBC News.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, New Jersey congressman Frank LoBiondo and West Wildwood Mayor Chris Fox plan on touring West Wildwood, Sea Isle City, and Atlantic City on Tuesday to inspect any storm damage.

Rosenello responded to Christie's comments Monday night.

"Unlike the governor who is in New Hampshire, I am in New Jersey and have been through this entire weather event. I have been with our paid and volunteer rescue personnel throughout the weekend and have witnessed their rescues and heroic efforts throughout the weekend. His comments are disrespectful to the property owners and residents who went through a traumatic weather event," Rosenello said.
Iran's president has told a forum of business leaders in Rome that his country is now the safest and most stable in the region. Hassan Rouhani is using the first state visit by an Iranian president to Europe in nearly two decades to boost his country's economy, now that a nuclear deal has led to the lifting of sanctions.

Italy also sees Iran as a potential peacemaker for Syria. Pope Francis, who stressed reconciliation and mediation, could explore that potential at his meeting on Tuesday with Rouhani.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni says, after meeting his Iranian counterpart, that Tehran can be a regional player in reducing Middle East tensions, starting with Syria's civil war.

Rouhani told reporters the political talks leading to the nuclear deal could provide the blueprint for pursuing peace in the Middle East.

Rouhani's four-day visit to Italy and France is part of efforts by Iran to reach out to its old partners following the implementation of the nuclear deal, and Rouhani is eager for foreign investments after the lifting of international sanctions. The trip was originally planned for November but postponed by the attacks in Paris.
Developer Glen Straub said on Tuesday that he plans to reopen the shuttered Revel resort with a casino, although a smaller one than what was there before.

Straub, who owns the site, told The Associated Press he has made up his mind to offer casino gambling at the resort, ending a long period of uncertainty about its future.

"We'll have a casino that's about 50 percent of what was there," he said.

He gave no timetable for the opening of a casino, which he indicated would come after other plans that are already underway for the resort. Straub said he is moving forward first with plans for a water park at the resort, which could start construction in late May. Hotel rooms could be open by June, he said.

The Florida developer's application for a state casino license is incomplete, and it appears unlikely a casino could open at Revel this summer, given the lengthy investigation state gambling regulators would be required to undertake.

Straub said he plans to hire an operator to run the casino, which would include Asian gambling attractions.

Revel had high hopes of reinvigorating Atlantic City's struggling casino market when it opened April 2, 2012. But it never caught on with gamblers, filed for bankruptcy twice and shut down on Sept. 2, 2014. It was one of four Atlantic City casinos to go out of business that year.

It cost $2.4 billion to build, but Straub bought it for $82 million from bankruptcy court.

If Straub succeeds in reopening Revel with a casino, it would become the city's 9th casino. Its next-door neighbor, the former Showboat Casino Hotel, was bought last week by Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein, who has yet to decide whether to reopen it as a casino or as a non-gambling attraction.

Taken together, the two developments could represent some hope for growth in the Atlantic City casino market, even as the area braces for losses from two new casinos being proposed for the northern part of the state. A bill is pending in the state Legislature for a November referendum in which voters would be asked whether to approve the new casinos.

Atlantic City's eight surviving casinos have begun to stabilize their finances with less competition, and it remains to be seen how a reopened Revel or Showboat might affect that tenuous balance.

Straub has also said the new casino won't be named Revel, but he has yet to decide on a new moniker.

He cleared away a major obstacle to its reopening last fall when he decided to buy the power plant that was at the heart of months of litigation that was preventing the complex from being occupied again.
If theres one word to describe the general feeling following the Blizzard of 2016, its this: frustration.

The snow started falling late Friday night and didnt stop until about 24 hours later. Days after the last snowflake fell, some streets in the Philadelphia area remained impassable leaving people frustrated.

[PHI-Roads]Blizzard 2016: Snow-Covered Streets

From Norristown, to Upper Darby, to South Philadelphia and Northeast Philadelphia, and numerous other neighborhoods in between, one thing remained clear: residents want to know when their streets will be plowed.

NBC10 viewer Marc Eichler reached out via Twitter to voice his concerns over the conditions of his street in the citys Somerton section.

Eichler has lived on Foster Street since 1996 and told NBC10 every time theres a significant snow, his street remains basically untouched. Eichler said back in 1996, the city claimed his development was private, but according to Eichler, thats not the case.

Every time we have a major snow, its an uphill battle with City Hall and City Council and the Streets Department to try to get a plow out here, Eichler said.

According to Eichler, the road was plowed, but he claims he has yet to see a salt truck come down the street, which is covered in ice.

Eichler said his development has a good amount of elderly residents and sick individuals. In addition, Eichler said numerous police officers and firefighters live in the development.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Jim Kenney's Office said that 80 percent of the city's 2,500-miles of streets were cleared, including all the primary roads. The Philadelphia Parking Authority chipped in as crews continued to get to smaller streets. The city suggested calling 311 if your street wasn't plowed.

Eichler told NBC10 he tried calling the citys 311 center, but was unsuccessful.

In Norristown, Montgomery County, its a similar scene.

Its slow moving. Theyll probably get it done sooner or later, but theyre very slow moving  I dont see us getting out today either. Its sad, its really sad, Norristown resident Cynthia McFadden said.

The situation in Norristown prompted a City Council member to apologize to residents for the snow response failure.

Philadelphia Streets Commissioner Donald Carlton said the storm posed a challenge not just because of how much snow fell, but also the way it fell.

It was not just the actual storm. We had up to 17, 18 inches of snow drifts that actually drifted onto some of the city streets. Its an ongoing battle, Carlton told NBC10.

Carlton said the city had enough equipment to handle the storm.
A man suspected of killing his two teenage nephews at their Arcadia home last week before fleeing to China told a court Monday he won't fight extradition to the United States.

Shi Deyun told a magistrate several times that he was willing to be sent back to the United States "as soon as possible," adding that the allegations against him weren't true.

Shi arrived Saturday afternoon in Hong Kong, a semiautonomous Chinese city, on a flight from Los Angeles. Police, acting on a request from U.S. officials, apprehended him at the airport. He was taken to a hospital and then formally arrested early Sunday.

Shi is wanted in connection with the double slaying of teen brothers William Lin, 15, and Anthony Lin, 16. The two were found with head trauma in their home located in the 400 block of Fairview Avenue after police responded to a 911 call on Friday just before 1 p.m.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Shi's wife was hospitalized on Thursday after he allegedly attacked her with the head of a hatchet at a home in La Canada Flintridge. Shi became enraged upon finding out that his wife had filed for divorce and obtained a restraining order against him, officials said.

Investigators believe the uncle may have forced his way inside the Arcadia home while the boys' parents were away tending to the suspect's wife at the hospital.

Shi declined the services of a duty lawyer and planned to represent himself. He was wearing a grey blazer over a black shirt and had a scratch on his right cheek. When the judge asked if he agreed to extradition, Shi said through a Mandarin interpreter, "I consent as soon as possible."

Shi also applied for bail, saying he could offer a "high amount of bail money" because he had assets in mainland China and the United States.

"The details of the allegations against me are not true," Shi said. "But I'm not inclined to go into the details and give a rebuttal here. I believe I will restore the truth in the U.S. with supporting facts."

He said he was in poor health and had a history of cardio disease and poor mental health. However, Chief Magistrate Clement Lee refused his application and he was remanded into custody. The case was adjourned until Feb. 11.

The teen boys were honored at a vigil Monday night by students, parenst and teachers at Arcadia High School.

"We had two bright lights that aren't here anymore. And we miss that," Brent Forsee, principal of Arcadia High School, said.

Many fellow students took to social media to express grief for the boys as a shrine grew on campus with flowers and black ribbons.

"They were both very, very intelligent and very kind and respectable," Travis Chen, a friend, said.

Beverly White and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Generally you have to leave your home to see a doctor. But the trend towards "on-demand" medical care is changing that

Heal, a smartphone app, is bringing the old school house call back, according the Renee Dua, a physician and founder of the house call program.

She got the idea when she and her husband were in a waiting room for more than an hour with their young son. Now they've expanded their house call service from San Francisco to San Diego.

"We are able to schedule on demand at your need," said Dua, "a visit from a doctor to your home, to your office or to your hotel room."

A doctor with an assistant can be scheduled for a visit in less than two hours with a cost of $99. Dua said they are accepting a number of PPO insurance plans, and their patients are equally divided between children and adults. But the doctors do have their limits.

"Heal is not an emergency room," said Dua. "We are not going to operate on you in your house."

But she said anything you can think of that can be done in the office setting can be done in the house setting too.

Dr. Elly Shahabi, who works for Heal, said patients seem much more relaxed when you visit them at home.

"They're not frustrated because they've been sitting in a waiting room for two hours before being seen," said Shahabi.

But where do they conduct most of their medical exams when they visit the home?

"A lot of time it's the living room," said Shahabi, "but I've had plenty of patient encounters where the patient is in bed and doesn't feel well, and that's the point of us coming out to them."

The on-demand health care trend is expanding across the country. In San Diego people can see nurses inside a Target store or CVS Pharmacy. Scripps Healthcare is expanding into office buildings. Expanding into house calls may be the next step in personal care.

A California company named Heal wants to bring back the old school practice of doctor house calls. Using a phone app... Posted by Consumer Bob on Monday, 25 January 2016

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A 5-year-old girl was killed Monday after she was hit by a car while sledding, Maryland authorities said.

The girl had been sledding down a driveway in Sykesville Sunday morning when her sled went onto Heritage Lane, where she was hit by a Kia Sorento driven by a 49-year-old woman Sunday, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office said.

The child was rushed to Carroll Hospital Center, but she died of her injuries.

No charges have been filed against the driver at this time, authorities said. Neither speed nor alcohol appear to have been factors in the accident, they said.

Once the investigation is complete, the case will be presented to the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office for final determination.

The sheriff's office is not releasing further details, including the identities of the child or driver.
Seven residents of an apartment complex in Herndon, Virginia, were hospitalized after the weekend blizzard due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

The complexs ground floor furnace room had its vents completely blocked by snow. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue spokesman Randy Bittinger said the incident occurred on Elden Street at about 8 p.m. Sunday.

Bittinger said one of the apartment buildings was evacuated briefly while firefighters and workers resolved the situation. All seven residents who were hospitalized have recovered.

The fire department is urging people to clear snow from the exhaust pipes of furnaces, cars, gas stoves and dryers whenever possible.
The District of Columbia will be seeking funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay for cleanup from the snow storm.



City officials made the announcement Monday at a press conference.



District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser says the city will be "dealing with snow all of this week.'' Bowser says that since the snow stopped, officials have worked to make major roadways clear. She says she hopes that city government offices and schools, which were closed Monday, will re-open Tuesday, but no decisions have been made.



Officials say they are getting some help from outside the city. District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Director Christopher Geldart says the city is getting a snow melter from Indiana, as well as equipment from Connecticut.


D.C. police say a man has been arrested in a case involving threats to government officials in the Washington area.



Police said Tuesday morning that 36-year-old Adrian Daigle was arrested in Jessup, Maryland, aabout 25 miles north of D.C.



Police spokeswoman Alice Kim said she didn't know which agency found Daigle or what charges, if any, he might face.



Police put out a bulletin Monday night, saying Daigle was wanted for questioning "in reference to an active police investigation involving threats.''

They provided no further details.




Jurors at a federal trial against two polygamous towns in Utah and Arizona heard testimony Monday about the influence that sect leader Warren Jeffs still wields over the communities from his Texas prison cell.

An FBI agent testified about letters in which local police officers pledged loyalty to Jeffs while he was on the run from charges of arranging marriages between girls and older men. A prison mailroom administrator described how Jeffs tried to send coded messages to his followers from prison.

The federal government offered the letters as proof of its allegations that Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, are serving as an enforcement arm of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The sect broke away from mainstream Mormonism when the latter disavowed polygamy more than 100 years ago.

"I view Colorado City, Hildale and FLDS as one in the same," testified FBI Agent Robert Foster, who helped search for Jeffs when he was a fugitive during the mid-2000s.

The U.S. Justice Department alleges in a lawsuit that the towns discriminate against nonbelievers by denying them housing, water services and police protection. The communities deny the allegations and say religion isn't a motivating factor in their decisions.

On the stand, Foster said Colorado City officers claimed to have no information on Jeffs' whereabouts while he was a fugitive. A handful of the officers later were decertified, including one who refused to answer a grand jury's questions about Jeffs' whereabouts.

Attorneys for the towns have acknowledged past problems with the police department but pointed out that the officers who didn't cooperate in the search for Jeffs are no longer working in law enforcement. They say no officers have been decertified since then.

Some of the letters written to Jeffs were found during a 2005 traffic stop in Colorado of a vehicle carrying his younger brother, Seth Jeffs. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered $200,000 in cash, prepaid credit cards and a donation jar with Warren Jeffs' photo and a label saying, "Pennies for the Prophet." Authorities say the items were intended for Jeffs.

Some letters professing allegiance to Jeffs were written by then-Colorado City Mayor Richard Allred, other town officials and two police officers, including Fred J. Barlow, who was leader of the towns' police department.

"I want my work in the town government, as town clerk, to be an extension of priesthood," then-Colorado City Town Clerk Joseph Allred said to Jeffs in an October 2005 letter.

Colorado City attorney Jeff Matura repeatedly pointed out that Jeffs didn't respond to the letters in question.

Jeffs was captured during an August 2006 traffic stop outside Las Vegas. Investigators found more than $50,000 in cash, cellphones, laptop computers, a police scanner and wigs inside the SUV in which he was traveling.

He is now serving a life sentence in a Texas prison for sexually assaulting one of his 24 underage brides, prosecutors said.

In other testimony, Jennifer Smith, an administrator for the mail system at Texas' prisons, described the huge volume of letters that Jeffs still receives. Jeffs would get 1,000 to 2,000 letters per day when he was first locked up, though that number now tops out around 500 per day, she said.

Some letters written by Jeffs in prison weren't actually mailed because they were written in code, Smith said.

The trial ended for the day after a juror experienced a health problem. Testimony is expected to resume Tuesday.

It comes as a federal judge began hearing evidence Monday in a separate child labor case involving the sect. Federal investigators say a company tied to the faith used 1,400 unpaid laborers, including 175 children, from the sect during a 2012 pecan harvest in Utah.

Paragon Contractors says women and children were volunteering to collect fallen nuts, not working as employees.
Extra police will be at Lincoln Middle School in Meriden as a precaution after a Facebook threat that appears to have come from Florida.

Meriden police said they were alerted around 7:30 p.m. on Monday about a possible shooting at a Lincoln School, which was supposedly scheduled to take place during the school day on January 26.

The post, which appeared on Facebook, made a threat toward Lincoln students and police investigated and determined that the threat was made in Tallahassee, Florida.

Police then contacted the Leon County Sheriffs Department in Florida and confirmed that they were investigating the threat that originated from their, according to Meriden police.

The Meriden Police Department has assigned police officers to Lincoln Middle School to alleviate any concerns that parents might have about the confusion the post has created.

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the threat was directed toward Lincoln Middle School in Meriden, CT, police said in a statement.

Meriden is not the only school district to add police because of this threat.

Lincoln High School in Dallas was on a precautionary lockdown on Monday.
Authorities are on the scene of a large two-alarm fire and hazmat situation in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Thick smoke poured once again from the Nut Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Quincy, after a fire there rekindled.

Firefighters faced a dangerous battle, flames underground in blackness, about 7 stories or 100 feet down.



Electricity had to be cut to the building.

However, the situation at 147 Sea Ave., the site of Nut Island Headworks, a sewage screening facility, is contained.

A "scrubber" caught fire due to a malfunction, according to Quincy Police. There are chemicals within the "scrubber."

Five male workers were down below doing what the Mass Water Resources Authority calls routine maintenance on a machine that eliminates odor from waste, when a fan ramped up, possibly causing the explosion, and subsequent fire.

All five people have been transported to Boston Medical Center for smoke inhalation and eye irritation.

Now waste from all over the area, is being bypassed from Nut Island to the Deer Island Treatment Plant in Boston.



Officials say residents were never in any danger, and say there's no environmental impact.



The exact cause is still under investigation, and the State Fire Marshal's Office is also on scene.
With the New Hampshire primary just two weeks away, Donald Trump told the crowd in the Farmington High school gym on Monday what he needs to do in New Hampshire on Feb. 9.

"It's so important, we need big numbers, we have to get a mandate We are unified."

Trump's poll numbers show he has every reason to feel confident. The latest polls out of New Hampshire give him a double-digit lead over his Republican opponents, though Ted Cruz has been nipping at his heels in Iowa - making Cruz, Donald Trump's public enemy number one.

"Cruz has a lot of problems. He's fallen in the polls, he's concerned and he should be," Trump said.

Trump also continues to take down his favorite opponent, Jeb Bush. "Jeb, your mother is not going to help you negotiate with China," he quipped.

And Trump lavished praise on his new BFF, Sarah Palin.

"She likes what we're doing. She's a fine woman, a loyal woman. And she is smart," he said.

Brandy Chagnon of Rochester said, "I like that he has no filter, he kind of will say it like it is.

Misty Doherty of Portsmouth said, "He's different. He is someone who really tells us how it is and how we need to hear that and we need to start doing things different."

Kathy Mihachik of Chichester said, "I like Trump. I wanted to hear what he has to say. If there's anything new that he has to say, then I want to hear it personally, but just because I like the guy."

That last woman may have been a bit disappointed. Not a lot of new material, though last Saturday, Trump made a comment that his supporters are so loyal he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and they would still vote for him. There was no mention of that on Monday night and no mention of another person he often speaks up on the campaign trail - Tom Brady.
Disney IT workers laid off a year ago this month are now accusing the company and the outsourcing firms it hired of engaging in a "conspiracy to displace U.S. workers." The allegations are part of two lawsuits filed in federal court in Florida on Monday.

Between 200 and 300 Disney IT workers were laid off in January 2015. Some of the workers had to train their foreign replacements -- workers on H-1B visas -- as a condition of severance.

The lawsuits represent what may be a new approach in the attack on the use of H-1B workers to replace U.S. workers. They allege violations of the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), claiming that the nature of the employment of the H-1B workers was misrepresented, and that Disney and the contractors knew the ultimate intent was to replace U.S. workers with lower paid H-1B workers.

The lawsuits cite a form that H-1B employers fill out when placing a visa worker, the Labor Condition Application (LCA).

In the LCA, an employer states the job location, salaries paid to the H-1B workers and also attests that U.S. workers will not be "adversely affected."

But former Disney IT workers Dena Moore and Leo Perrero, in their respective lawsuits, allege that they were indeed adversely affected. They had to train their foreign replacements brought in by contractors, and then were terminated.

Both lawsuits name Disney as a defendant; additionally, Moore is suing Cognizant and Perrero is suing HCL.

The LCA requires employers to swear the visa workers "will not adversely affect working conditions" of existing employees, said Sara Blackwell, the Florida attorney who is bringing the case. "Obviously, if you have to train your replacement and then are fired, that is an adverse effect."

Since his layoff, Perrero has been working to raise awareness among lawmakers about the displacement of U.S. workers by foreign temporary labor.

"No shortage exists of American STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) workers," said Perrero. "Disney is not the only one to do this and lawmakers need to take action."

Blackwell is representing, as well, some 30 former Disney IT workers who have filed complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over the loss of their jobs. These employees are arguing that they are victims of national origin discrimination.

Blackwell said her goal is to "stop the systemic abuse of the immigration system."

A Disney spokeswoman, in response to the lawsuit, offered this response via email: "These lawsuits are based on an unsustainable legal theory and are a wholesale misrepresentation of the facts. Contrary to reports, Ms. Moore was offered another position in the company at comparable pay, and more than 100 of the workers affected by the changes were rehired.

According to Blackwell, Moore applied for many jobs at Disney and wasnt hired. After being laid off, she went to work at another firm. Not long after she started that job, Disney sent Moore a job offer letter, prompting Moore to quit her new position so she could return to Disney. Although she expected to start work right away, the hiring date kept getting delayed and the putative Disney job turned into work on a short-term project, said Blackwell.

As a result, Moore did not ultimately take the job.

Officials at the two contractors were also asked for comment; none immediately responded.

This story, "Disney IT workers allege conspiracy in layoffs, file lawsuits" was originally published by Computerworld .




DC Luxury Property from Matterport on Vimeo.

Various real estate firms in the Washington, D.C. area are collaborating with the Silicon Valley company Matterport to createfor homebuyers. The technology allows potential homebuyers to feel out a property before they buy it, exploring the nooks and crannies of a home and seeing a birds-eye view of the furniture and architectural details in place.

Founder and CEO of HomeVisit Bryan Vaughan introduced the technology to different real estate companies, including Washington Fine Properties, and says that once he explains how the software works, "they just immediately want it." The way that the 3D showcases are made is with a Matterport Pro 3D camera. The user is able to control the camera with an iPad, telling it to spin 360 degrees in a room, take photos and gather spatial data. After taking photos in one spot of the room, the user then moves the camera to a different location in the room and has it spin around again. The process continues -- taking photos, moving the camera, taking more photos -- until the entire room is captured. Once complete, the user uploads the photos to the Matterport servers so that they can be stitched together for the finished 3D showcase.

It may sound a little complicated or even tedious at first, but CEO of Matterport Bill Brown said, "The process is very easy. It's intuitive. Most people after they place the camera in a couple locations, they kind of get it." He added:

"Just as a marketing tool, it's a much more effective way to engage prospective buyers or renters of the property  It also kind of exhilarates the process for those people that are interested. They can establish that serious interest before they've even gone and visited the property."

The camera, itself, costs $4,500, which is fairly comparable to a high-end DSLR with lenses. According to Brown, no other company has a system that is able to capture really simple, quick, and inexpensive 3D presentations in such a realistic way. To see more of Matterport's 3D showcases, check out some of their work on their website here.
These bird species could be gone forever. Can we save them?
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
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A plastic derived from cornstarch combined with a volcanic ash compound, Montmorillonite clay, could help heal the bones of hundreds of thousands of patients with orthopedic injuries who need bone replacement after tumor removal, spinal fusion surgery or fracture repair.

Traditional bone graft procedures require surgeons to remove bone from another part of the patient's body to heal the affected area and encourage new bone growth. Harvesting a patient's bone can result in complications at the harvest site. Some surgeons also use bone donated from cadavers. However, there is a limited supply of donor bones available.

Researchers at Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak will publish their preclinical findings in the journal Nanomedicine. Kevin Baker, Ph.D., director, Beaumont Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, worked on the study with Rangaramanujam Kannan, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins, formerly with Wayne State University.

Using a synthetic material will likely lead to a reduction in the surgery complication rate. The patient will only need to heal from one surgery because harvesting bone would not be necessary.

The goal is to use the material without any additional permanent hardware placed in a patient's body. Current procedures often require a metal or non-resorbable plastic implant because traditional bone grafts are not strong enough without the added support.

"This improves outcomes for the patient because internal hardware can pose a challenge with respect to being a potential site for infection, and can complicate MRI and CT imaging tests. In addition, from the surgeon's perspective, not having to worry about a large piece of metal or hard plastic in the area may make future procedures easier," Baker says.

The biodegradable polymer, reinforced with Montmorillonite clay nanoparticles for strength, dissolves in the body within 18 months. As the material dissolves, new bone formation takes its place. The material is created by injecting the polymer-clay mixture with carbon dioxide, resulting in an implant that looks like foam, but is rigid like bone. Researchers designed the bone material to be porous, just like actual human bone.

The material is still in the research phase and likely won't be available to patients for several years.
Treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other inflammatory diseases may benefit by new findings from a study that identified potential therapeutic targets for a devastating disease striking some 2.3 million people worldwide.

Inflammation is an important part of body's response against infections and tissue damage, but unresolved inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases and promotes cancer development.

The study, led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, described a protein regulator known as Trabid as an important piece of the puzzle that leads to autoimmune inflammation of the central nervous systems in MS patients.

Study results were published in the Jan. 25 online issue of Nature Immunology.

"Our findings highlight an epigenetic mechanism for the regulation of the cytokine genes, IL-12 and IL-23, and established Trabid as an immunological regulator of inflammatory T-cell responses," said Shao-Cong Sun, Ph.D., professor of Immunology. "Trabid appeared to regulate histone modifications by controlling the fate of a histone demethylase called Jmjd2d."

Cytokines are small proteins important for cell signaling, and IL-12 and IL-23 are mediators of inflammation and associated with inflammatory diseases. Sun believes that Trabid and Jmjd2d may be potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as MS.

"Since chronic inflammation is a major risk of cancer, future studies will examine whether Trabid and Jmjd2d also have a role in cancer development," said Sun.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-12 and IL-23 connect innate responses and immune responses and are also involved in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, said the researchers. The innate immune system, also known as the nonspecific immune system, is an important subsystem of the overall immune system that comprises the cells and mechanisms that defend the host from infection by other organisms.

"Cells of the innate immune system including dendritic cells and macrophages, have an important role in regulating the nature and magnitude of adaptive immune responses," said Sun. "They recognize microbial components including various receptors that trigger intracellular signaling events that impact the function of those cells. Deregulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by cells of the innate immune system also contributes to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases."

Sun's team found that deletion of a protein-coding gene known as Zranb1, which encodes Trabid, in dendritic cells inhibited expression of IL-12 and IL-23, impairing differentiation of inflammatory T-cells. The process protected study mice from autoimmune inflammation.
Twitter Wants Kantara To Be India's Official Entry For Oscar Next Year
Seems like 2013 started on a great note for Kamal Haasan. After his 'Vishwaroopam' getting all the right kind of attention in the industry, the actor was recently honoured by Cinema Pathirikaiyalar Sangam.
Some of the possessions Haley Burgess prizes the most are 16 wigs.

When the 20-year-old college student isnt working as a nanny or taking online classes, Burgess takes on the role of a real live Disney Princess.

What started out as a simple cosplay as Ariel with her college roommate turned into Royal Princess Virginia, a party and event character service which brings some Disney magic to the greater Lynchburg area.

When I was Anna [from Disneys Frozen] at a party a little girl came up to me, Burgess said. She had Anna on her goodie bag and she pointed to her and said, They didnt make your face right. They really think that youre the real character.

Burgess first started the business in her hometown of Winfield, West Virginia after she moved back from Lynchburg back in 2014.

Thats when it really blossomed, she said. What built it up was the Take A Look, Read A Book campaign we did where one of the characters would go read at a local school. We would hand out business cards to the kids.

Though the business thrived in West Virginia, Burgess felt pulled back to Lynchburg in May 2015 and took her business with her.

I was pretty much on my own, she said about the move. It wasnt until I was walking around helping the cast members get ready that I realized I was a business owner and a freaking cool one at that. I just felt like it was time to move out and experience life on my own.

Burgess now has 12 fairytale characters that include everything from Frozens Elsa and Anna to classics such as Sleeping Beauty. Theres also a Minnie Mouse mascot, three superheroes, and Burgess newest addition: Kylo Ren, the villain from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

So what does it take to be a part-time princess? A lot of research.

You have to have the will to make yourself that character, Burgess said. You really have to study your character. Theres all this trivia that the little kids come up with like, where does Ariel live?

With being back in Lynchburg, Burgess had to start from scratch. With the help of a friend, she held auditions for new cast members and Kayla Vinson decided to give it a shot.

Vinson said she always dreamed of running off to Disney to become a princess.

When I was little, I was convinced I was going to grow up to become Belle, she said.

Vinson first got involved with Royal Princess Virginia in August 2015 while she was on maternity leave from her job at HumanKind.

On a whim, Vinson said she saw a post looking for someone to play Elsa for an upcoming event on Facebook.

I sent in my audition tape, she said. Haley contacted me and said wed love to have you.

While her husband supported her, Vinson said friends asked her if she thought it was the right timing to take on being a princess while balancing her full-time job and being a new mom.

Its never going to be the right time to pursue your dreams, she said. I cant do this forever. At some point Ill get wrinkles and be too old to play a Disney princess. Id only be able to play a Disney villain.

Vinson said her favorite part is seeing the childrens reactions to meeting their heroes.

Theres nothing like having a parent come up to you at a meet-and-greet and tell you that you just made their childs year, she said. They think youre the real deal. Their sense of imagination isnt going to be there forever, but right now its real to them.

For more information on Royal Princess Virginia, visit the Facebook page or www.royalprincesswv.com.
BEDFORD  Attorney Carl Boggess was appointed Bedford County Administrator by Bedford County Supervisors Monday night.

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors announced the decision to hire Boggess at its regularly scheduled meeting in the County Administration Building. Boggess, the countys attorney, has been interim administrator since the previous administrator, Mark Reeter, left the post at the end of April 2015.

"I look forward to the challenges of the position," Boggess said, adding he was pleased to be appointed to the job.

Supervisors appointed Patrick Skelley county attorney. Skelley previously served as senior assistant county attorney.

The board interviewed several candidates for the county administrator position but called off the search in September to await installation of new board members in January.

Boggess has been employed by the county for about 14 years and expressed interest in the job last year after Reeters departure.

Supervisors also voted Monday to allow Bedford County employees to bring their guns to work if they have a permit to carry concealed weapons. The change to the county policy was approved unanimously.

Other weapons, including knives and grenades are still banned, according to meeting documents. The countys insurance carrier said the rule change will not impact premiums.

I dont really want them carrying grenades, Supervisor John Sharp said during Mondays meeting.

The issue was first raised by newly-elected supervisor Tommy Scott at the boards Jan. 11 meeting. People visiting the County Administration Building and other county facilities are allowed to carry weapons, Scott said Jan. 11.

The policy change gives employees the same right.

Lynchburg City and Campbell County government do not prevent employees from carrying concealed guns, Boggess said.

The board also approved forwarding a letter to Attorney General Mark Herring, the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates voicing its displeasure at his decision to stop recognizing concealed handgun permits from 25 states.

Before the regularly scheduled board meeting, supervisors received an update from representatives of designers, Moseley Architects, and school board members. The group presented a proposal for a 136,000-square-foot middle school and supervisors answered questions.

Presenters told supervisors the proposed design has a price tag of $51 million. The number brought some surprise and dismay from the board which was gave the school division a $38 million threshold last June.

We want to really design it for the future, school board chairman Gary Hostutler said.

Supervisor John Sharp said he understood building beautiful things is important, but the $38 million is all the county can afford.

I see a lot of niceties, Sharp said. A lot of things you would like to have, and I understand that, but maybe we cant have everything we want.

Supervisor Andy Dooley said he understood the project was expensive, but wanted to make the right decision on the project.

This county has a very high batting average of saying, I wished I would have, Dooley said.

The board plans to discuss whether it will provide additional funds for the project at its Feb. 8 meeting.

The board also approved four building permits and zoning changes during its meeting:

Renew Auto Wash was granted a special use permit to open a car wash adjacent to Kroger in Forest. The site is located along Forest Road, approximately a quarter-mile west of the intersection with Burnbridge Road.

The board approved a request to rezone an area across from the intersection of Homestead Drive and Performance Road from medium-density residential to commercial. Foster Builders Inc. plans to build a 30 foot by 80 foot building and a 234 foot by 77 foot screened storage area. The area will not have any retail space, planners said.

Glenwood Propane was granted a permit to build two new above-ground propane tanks at 2115 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway in Huddleston. Each tank is expected to be between 41 feet by 10 feet in size.

A special use permit was granted for Thomas Road Baptist Church to construct five cabins and a bathhouse planned to open by summer. The area was zoned for agricultural use, and required board approval. The new camp, for middle and high school students, is located next to Sharp Top Mountain off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The matter had opposition from owners of a neighboring parcel of land. After a lengthy discussion, the board added provisions requiring the church to add and maintain fences, gates and signs to the property line.
Osaka Prison cell where inmates are held in solitary confinement

NAGOYA  Prosecutors on Monday demanded the death penalty for a man indicted over the 1998 murder and robbery of a couple in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.





The death penalty was sought for Hiroshi Sato, 39, in a lay judge trial at the Nagoya District Court over the murder of company executive Ichio Magoori, 45, and his wife Satomi, 36, in the city of Hekinan.





Prosecutors said Sato committed a cruel and evil crime, taking the lives of a couple who had done nothing wrong just to get money. The court is expected to hand down a ruling on Feb 5.





Satos accomplice, Yoshitomo Hori, 40, who was sentenced to death in December, has appealed the ruling.





According to the indictment, Sato conspired with Hori and Teruo Hayama to kill the couple at their home and stole approximately 60,000 yen in June 1998. The three men were co-workers at the time.





Satos defense counsel urged the court not to sentence him to death, saying he just helped his accomplices and has reflected on what he did, praying for the repose of the couples souls.





Sato offered an apology to the relatives of the victims in the trial.





Separately, Sato and Hori have been indicted for attempting to kill a woman in her 70s by strangling her at her home in Nagoya and robbing her of around 25,000 yen in 2006.








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
Women rule Couva monarch

A former senior Couva calypso monarch, Cooper topped the preliminary round of the 2016 competition with a soulful rendition of More Hope and leads 13 contenders into the final which takes place at the Couva Carnival centre, Couva Car Park, on February 5.

At the preliminaries which were held at the Balmain Community Centre last Saturday, seven female calypsonians qualified for the finals, with regular contender Tamico Spicy Moore placing second, singing The Champion.

Helon Francis, who made his debut in the Couva competition in 2013 and registered the hattrick in 2015, is determined to hold on to his crown in 2016.

I know it will be very difficult to do four straight but they will have to come real good to take my crown, said a confident Francis in a media release. Francis is yet to decide on the song he will sing in his attempt to blaze new ground.

Rehearsals and draw for positions for the finals take place at the Balmain Community Centre, Balmain Main Road, Couva, on February 1, from 6 pm.

The female dominance is also reflected in the Junior Calypso Monarch competition, with Emily Allen topping the preliminaries from seven contenders, five of whom are females. They come up against pocket powerhouse NJanela Duncan-Regis, who is also aiming to complete a beaver-trick of wins in the junior category. Wilton Flex Griffith, executive member of the Couva Carnival Committee (CCC) and co-ordinator of the calypso competitions, said the finals would be highly charged since the contenders in both senior and junior categories will be pulling out all stops to deny Francis and Duncan-Regis from making it four straight wins. When you look at the points in the prelims, they were all bunched closely together, with a five-way tie for seventh position for the seniors.

It is going to be a battle royal when they clash. We will see if history will repeat itself or not, Griffith said.

Meanwhile, registration for all mas competitions  Band of the Year, King and Queen of the Bands, Individuals, Kiddies Carnival, JOuvert, etc takes place at the Couva/Pt Lisas Chamber of Commerce (636-5017) or with CCC chairman Ramchand Rajbal Maraj (354-4093).

Finalists  Couva Senior Calypso Monarch Competition

Helon Francis (Defending champion)

Victoria Queen Victoria Cooper - More Hope (269 points)

Tamico Spicy Moore - The Champion (267)

Terry D Masso Moore  The Incurable Vernella (265)

Sharlan Bailey - That Is Legacy (262)

Derrick Campbell  Looking For Solutions (259)

Anika Collins  A Chant For The Griot (256)

Carlton Louison  Fixing T&T (255)

Dick D Juiceman Lochan  Everybody Is An Expert (255)

Lystra Nurse  Watchwords For Progress (255)

Marion Pamponette  Save Dem (255)

Wendell Goodrich  Lock Dem Up (255)

Kerice Pascall  A Message From Ella Andell (253)

Georgia McIntyre  Just One Mile (252)

Reserves: (1) Maurissa Ramsome  Should I Invest Time (251)

(2) Eric James  Not In My House (250).

Finalists  Couva Junior Calypso Monarch Competition

NJanela Duncan-Regis (Defending champion)

Emily Allen  Look Ah Bandit (257)

Jeremiah James  Union Strong (249)

Sharissa Camejo  Our Blessed Land (244)

Jason James - The Promise (240)

Caryn McCarthy  Lets All Hold Hands (239)

Melina Smith  D Island (236)

Josiah James  Forty-Plus (236)

Zachiya Grant  Carnival Baby (234)

Reserves: (1) Shirvon Rodney (229)

( 2) Jerrisha Duncan-Regis (224).
8 vie for Chaguanas queen title

Chaguanas Carnival Committee (CCC) chairman Ronald Heera told Newsday the queen pageant would take place at Ramsaran Street on February 6, instead of at the Chaguanas Market Square where it was usually held. He said the event had to be cancelled in 2015 because of a lack of funding, however, this year sponsorship is forthcoming from the private sector due to the efforts of committee member Vashti Persad.

Former Mayor Orlando Nagessar who is vice chairman of the committee said on the day of the queen show Ramsaran Street would be blocked off to allow more spectators as this event would be free to the public.

The contestants made their first public appearance on January 9 when the CCC launched its 2016 celebrations at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation.
TT Chamber: Fill top cop post

It said this should be accompanied by an effective and integrated approach to intelligence gathering; a solid, airtight and trustworthy Witness Protection Programme to support those who wish to come forward with valuable information; an enforced policy of zero tolerance for even the most minor of infractions, and a reformed criminal justice system that is as resolute in its condemnation of white collar crime, as it is for blue. The business body expressed its outrage at the upsurge in heinous crimes committed since the beginning of the year, saying things reached a sobering head with the murders of teenaged students Mark Richards and DeNeilson Smith, last Thursday. The boys were travelling home from school in taxis along Laventille Road, when gunmen stopped the cars, pulled out the two boys and shot them to death. In extending sympathy to the families and loved ones of the two boys, the Chamber said that from all reports from their principal, teachers and schoolmates at the Success Laventille Secondary School, the boys were exemplary youths.

It praised the Police handling of the case, but stated that it is daunting that criminal activity continues relentlessly throughout the country.

The Chamber says it supports Prime Minister Rowleys call for the resumption of joint police and army patrols in areas east of Portof- Spain, and anywhere else they are considered necessary. However, it said neither the Government nor any one body should be held solely responsible for bringing an end to crime, although the Government must take the lead in ensuring that concrete initiatives are implemented for the restored safety and security of all citizens.
Firemen commit to end violence against women

The 25th day of every month was designated UN Womens Orange Day by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon when International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was last observed on November 25, 2015.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Roosevelt Bruce, who led the way in the signing yesterday at the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service (TTFS) headquarters on Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain said that the TTFS would have been the right place to start off the campaign in TT.

We have been demonstrating gender equality, he said for decades, and noted that when the TTFS accepted women into the service 23 years ago they were accepted with very little teething problems in getting them to hold their own with the men. Claiming that by the actions of firemen committing to end violence against women they have become a beacon for the rest of the country to follow in the fight, Bruce said that throughout the world, fire services have set standards where gender equality was concerned.

Gia Gaspard-Taylor of the Network of Rural Women Producers of TT, who lobbied for the TTFS to sign onto the online campaign, noted that Mayor of Arima George Hadeed, Chairman of Toco/Sangre Grande Regional Corporation Terry Rondon and Port-of-Spain City Mayor Raymond Tim Kee signed the online campaign.

Giving a background to the campaign, alderman of PoS Corporation Asha Parmanand said, it warms the heart to have the fire service involved.

When you think of the fire service you think of rescue...rescuing you. She was pleased that after Orange Day was declared, Mayor Tim Kee became the first man in TT to address the issue with some real force.
Student in court for marijuana cookies

And, according to the report, the cakes were being peddled by a particular student up to last week, he having been kept under surviellance by teachers for sometime now. Last week, police were called in at the school and a 16-year-old Form Four student was arrested and charged.

He appeared before a magistrate in the Portof- Spain Magistrates Court. The teen pleaded not guilty and was placed on $25,000 bail to return to court on February 16.
Reginald Clemons

Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce announced Monday she will re-try Reginald Clemons, whose 1st-degree murder conviction and death sentence were thrown out by the Missouri Supreme Court in November.





Joyce said she will seek the death penalty again.





Clemons had been fighting his death sentence for the 1991 murder of sisters Julie and Robin Kerry on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. In a 4-3 decision written by Chief Justice Patricia Breckenridge, the state's high court sent the case back to circuit court, giving Joyce 60 days to refile charges.





In a comment posted to Twitter, Joyce said her office has reviewed the state's evidence, availability of witnesses and reporting officers and discussed the case with victims' families. She said she has filed charges of 1st-degree murder, rape and robbery.





She said that "modern DNA testing" had corroborated the state's cases against Clemons and two other men convicted of murder in the case, Marlin Gray and Antonio Richardson.





"2 charges of rape against Clemons were originally filed by prosecutors in this case," she said. "At the time of this incident, the law prohibited prosecutors from trying Clemons for both the murders and the rapes at the same time because the death penalty for murder was being sought.





"After Clemons was convicted, prosecutors dropped the rape charges because Clemons had been sentenced to death," she said.





Ginny Kerry, the mother of the victims, said in an interview that prosecutors were "doing what we want them to do."





"We all met with the Circuit Attorney's Office weeks ago, and we want the new trial to go on," she said. "Why would we want him being set free for killing my kids? He's guilty, he's always been guilty and he knows he's guilty."





Clemons' attorney, Joshua Levine, with the Simpson Thacher & Bartlett law firm in New York, could not immediately be reached for comment.





The Supreme Court's decision to throw out the murder conviction cited the findings of Michael Manners, a retired judge appointed by the state's highest court as "special master" to review Clemons' case.





Manners found that Clemons had failed to prove his innocence in the case, but concluded that St. Louis prosecutors wrongly suppressed evidence and also found that detectives had beat Clemons into confessing to the crimes.





Manners said in his report that the jury in Clemons' case might never have heard his taped confession if the state had not failed to disclose a probation officer's statement that he saw injuries to Clemons' face after a police interrogation.





The officer also claimed that one of his supervisors and the lead prosecutor in the case attempted to convince him to change his written report of the injury. He refused, but the report was altered anyway to remove any reference to the injury.





In dissent, Judge Paul C. Wilson wrote that there had been no failure to produce evidence by the state. The state had given Clemons' attorneys the identity of the probation officer "and the document on which (he) supposedly noted this observation long before trial," Wilson wrote.





And he said Clemons was not entitled to relief unless the evidence would have been likely to change the verdict.





Clemons remains in prison on a 15-year sentence for his conviction in 2007 of assaulting a Department of Corrections employee.





Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 25, 2016




The Hit That Killed Mobster

Was Ordered by His Own Son
Washington: A BBC reporter who was researching online about jihadis got the shock of her life when she was proposed by an ISIS thug.

The reporter created an online profile with the name Zahra and joined various social media groups, in a bid to get in touch with the jihadis for her research. Several men, including a man named Mario, contacted her.

While talking to Mario, she introduced herself as Zahra, a Muslim woman who wanted to join ISIS. Within 30 minutes of their conversation, Mario expressed his intention of marrying her. He also told her that a passport and a ticket to Turkey is all that is needed to join the terror group.

Mario also told her that he could send some of his brothers to pick her up if she revealed her current location to him.

The reporter who was disguised beneath a burqa said that she was very scared, even though she knew it was just an online conversation, yet the thought of talking to a terrorist scared her.

She said: 'I was looking into the eyes of a terrorist and was very nervous, I'll be honest. I knew he was miles away, it was just a computer screen, but my first reaction was he is a terrorist, an IS terrorist. An organisation known for beheading innocent people, raping women, killing children.'

She told the BBC that the terror group has spread its wings everywhere due to their social media presence. She also said that social media facilitates ISIS to address their messages to different audiences easily.

Zahra, the undercover reporter while talking to Mario, learned that he had been working with ISIS for over two years.

ISIS posts nearly 1,000 propaganda messages on social media on a monthly basis. It is believed to have around 50, 000 Twitter accounts that are aimed at recruiting jihadis from the Western countries.
Indian-American Yoga guru Bikram Choudhury has been asked to pay USD 924,500 as compensatory damages to his former lawyer. (Photo: PTI)

Washington: Prominent Indian-American Yoga guru Bikram Choudhury has been asked to pay USD 924,500 as compensatory damages to his former lawyer by a US court over allegations that he sexually harassed her and fired her for probing claims of abuse made by other women against him.

Attorney Minakshi Jafa-Bodden in her lawsuit claimed that she suffered gender discrimination, wrongful termination and sexual harassment while working for 69-year old Choudhury, the founder of Bikram Yoga.

Los Angeles jury yesterday deliberated for about a day, before returning with a unanimous verdict in favour of Minakshi.

During testimony, Choudhury strongly denied allegations of sexual assault against him.

Choudhury described accusations of mistreatment and abuse of employees as "lies" and "big lies."

"I don't do that," he testified. "I don't have to."

Choudhury said Minakshi was let go in 2013 because she did not have a license to practice law in the United States, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The jury found that Choudhury acted with malice, oppression and fraud ? findings that allow Minakshi to seek punitive damages, the daily said.

Minakshi claimed that Choudhury persuaded her to leave her native India to work for him as his general counsel in 2011.

During her employment, she alleged, Choudhury repeatedly sexually harassed her and subjected her to obscene comments.

The lawyer alleged that she was fired in 2013 after she attempted to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Choudhury, including allegations of rape by one of his female students.

Mark Quigley, who along with attorney Carla Minnard represented Minakshi, after the jury's decision said, "She faced retaliation and intimidation when she refused to stay silent about witnessing illegal behaviour."

"This verdict sends an important message, that speaking out when you see signs of sexual abuse is the right thing to do," Quigley said.

Choudhury's lawyer, Robert Tafoya, declined to comment after the verdict.

Minakshi's lawsuit is one of multiple cases of alleged sexual assault filed against Choudhury, who built a yoga empire in the US after moving to California in 1971. Choudhury gained millions of followers through his style of Yoga, which consists of a series of 26 poses, done over 90 minutes in a room heated to 104 degrees.

Six other women in recent years have sued Choudhury, alleging that he sexually assaulted or harassed them.
(Newser)  Ever wonder how hackable your private webcams are? Not only are they hackable, a search engine exists that has a section devoted to unsecured webcam images, showing everything from cribs to kitchens to private laboratories, Ars Technica reports. Called "creepy" by Quartz, the Shodan search engine can access webcams that have no password authentication and share video via the Real Time Streaming Protocol. That includes millions of insecure webcams, according to security researcher Dan Tentler. "The consumers are saying, 'We're not supposed to know anything about this stuff [cybersecurity]," he says. "The vendors don't want to lift a finger to help users because it costs them money." Quartz suggests a relatively easy fix for worried webcam users: "Put a password on them."

Still, the question of webcam security easily applies to other so-called "Internet of Things" deviceslike cars and medical devicesand raises the possibility of government regulation. (Tech site Slashdot going has a thread on the story.) The FTC has already accused over 50 companies of failing to secure services, products, or networks, and given IoT manufacturers guidance on proper security. "The thing that really does come next after guidance is regulation, if they don't pick up their game," security researcher Scott Erven tells Ars Technica. Meanwhile, a researcher group called I Am the Cavalry is creating a rating system for consumer IoT devices, and the US Air Force has funded a similar "Consumer Security Reports" project, Inside Cybersecurity reported in October. But don't expect the moon: "Our dependence on technology is growing faster than our ability to secure it," says Erven. (Not even Barbie is safe.)
Colombo: Sri Lanka's main Tamil party on Tuesday demanded devolution of powers in the new Constitution to resolve ethnic issues.

"The only solution to the national problem could be the devolution of power. We hope the new Constitution will address this issue," Tamil National Alliance (TNA) front line parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran told reporters on Tuesday.

The need for a new Constitution is felt by all in that the process will lay the ground for a new arrangement. The Tamil minority seeks power devolution arrangement to give autonomy to the traditional Tamil regions in the north and east of the island, he said.

The government early this month presented a resolution in parliament to enact a new Constitution replacing the 1978 Constitution. However, the parliamentary vote on its mechanism scheduled for today has been postponed, sources said.

There was a tussle between the government and the opposition over the mechanism needed to formulate the Constitution. While the government opted for making the whole parliament a Constitutional Assembly, the opposition dubbed the move as unconstitutional.

The Tamils had stayed away from both previous Constitution making processes in 1972 and 1978.

Unhappy with sharing of power, the Tamils demanded self-determination in 1976 that was later converted to a bloody military campaign carried out by the LTTE. The armed

Tamil group fought a guerrilla war to create a separate Tamil state.

With the LTTE's military defeat in 2009, the moderate Tamils parties have consented to the realisation of Tamil demands through consultation.
(Newser)  The Mizzou journalism professor who stepped down after video surfaced of her calling for some "muscle" to force a journalist away from student protesters has been charged. Melissa Click, who was seen pushing away a journalist's camera on the video, was charged with third-degree misdemeanor assault Monday, NBC News reports. She faces up to 15 days in jail. Though Click resigned her professorship at the journalism school after the incident, she still has an associate professorship in the media department, Mediaite reports. Many have called for her ouster, but ABC 17 reports that the school's interim chancellor says she's keeping her job as a task force investigates the incident and determines whether she'll get tenure. (Read more University of Missouri stories.)
(Newser)  On the penultimate evening of 1999, Danny and Kathy Freeman were shot to death in their mobile home just outside of Welch, Okla., and their home was set on fire. But when police arrived on the scene, the Freemans' daughter, Ashley, and her best friend Lauria Bible, both 16 and having a sleepover in the home, were nowhere to be found, reports the Oklahoman. Now new leads in not just Oklahoma but Kansas and Missouri have Lauria's mother, Lorene, launching her own campaign for help on Facebook, and investigators asking anyone for any information they may have, reports Fox23.

The case had a few odd details from the get-go. Lauria's car, for instance, was parked near the charred remains of the home, her keys still in the ignition, and her purse, which contained money, was found among the ruins. Investigators also found an arsenal of weaponsDanny Freeman was said to have dealt marijuanathough his arrowhead collection was never recovered. Jeremy Jones, a convicted rapist and killer now on death row in Alabama, once confessed to killing the couple and later the girls, but his leads never played out and he has since recanted; the owner of the property was later convicted of murdering another girl, reports the Miami News-Record. "There are still people scared of whoever did this," Bible says. "I need information that will lead to something good." (This teen's disappearance finally looks solved 25 years later.)
(Newser)  President Obama thinks solitary confinement does far more harm than good when it comes to juvenile offenders, and he's now banning the punishment outright in federal prisons. The president laid out his reasoning in a Washington Post op-ed, declaring that "the United States is a nation of second chances, but the experience of solitary confinement too often undercuts that second chance." Instead of rehabilitation, it's more likely to result in long-term psychological damage, he said. Obama also ordered federal prisons to restrict the use of solitary confinement with adult prisoners and to expand treatment of inmates with mental illness. USA Today notes that the juvenile ban won't affect many kids: It covers only federal facilities, which house few juveniles. As of December, 71 juveniles were in Bureau of Prisons sites, and only 13 of them had spent any time at all in solitary in the previous year.

Still, Obama writes that he hopes the federal action will "serve as a model" for state and local facilities, where the vast majority of juvenile offenders are held. How can we subject prisoners to unnecessary solitary confinement, knowing its effects, and then expect them to return to our communities as whole people? he writes. It doesnt make us safer. Its an affront to our common humanity. In a statement, Amnesty International called the reforms "a momentous break with this shameful legacy, and an acknowledgement that tens of thousands of human beings should not be condemned to live in a cage." In a separate story, the Washington Post notes that at least 12 states have taken steps in the last year or two to curb solitary confinement, sometimes as the result of lawsuits. (Read more President Obama stories.)
(Newser)  Disney and two outsourcing companies abused immigration law by colluding to bring in foreign workers to replace Americans, according to lawsuits from two tech workers. Leo Perrero and Dena Moore say that before they were laid off with around 250 other people in 2014, they had to train lower-priced replacements who were brought in on H-1B visas, reports the Orlando Sentinel. H-1Bs are temporary visas for high-tech workers, and the lawsuits accuse the companies of lying under oath on visa applications when they declared that "similarly situated employees would not be adversely affected," the Sentinel reports.

The lawsuits filed Monday, which both seek class-action status, mark the first time Americans have sued outsourcing companies and former employers for abusing the controversial H-1B system, the New York Times reports. Disney issued a statement saying the "lawsuits are based on an unsustainable legal theory and are a wholesale misrepresentation of the facts." "I don't have to be angry or cause drama," Moore tells the Times. "But they are just doing things to save a buck, and it's making Americans poor." She says that at 53, starting over at a new company has been toughand her 13 grandchildren definitely miss the free Disney passes. (Read more H-1B visa stories.)
(Newser)  Pope Francis has concluded an annual weeklong prayer for Christian unity by making a sweeping apology for Catholic wrongs committed against other Christians, reports the AP. On Monday, Francis asked forgiveness for the "sin of our divisions"an appeal he made in June last year during a visit to a small evangelical house of worship in Italy. "I would like to invoke mercy and forgiveness for the non-evangelical behavior of Catholics toward Christians of other churches," he said. "At the same time, I invite all Catholic brothers and sisters to forgive if today, or in the past, they have suffered offense by other Christians ... We cannot cancel what has happened, but we don't want to let the weight of past harm continue to pollute our relations."

Earlier Monday, Francis announced he will visit Sweden, home to about 150,000 Catholics, to mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation. The one-day trip Oct. 31 to the southern city of Lund, where the Lutheran World Federation was founded in 1947, will be the first papal visit to Sweden since 1989. The Vatican said the visit will "highlight the important ecumenical developments that have taken place during the past 50 years of dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans" and will include a common worship service. Martin Luther's challenge to the Catholic doctrine of indulgences in 1517 is remembered as the start of the Reformation, from which the Protestant churches originated out of criticism of the Church of Rome led by the pope. (Read more Pope Francis stories.)
(Newser)  An American couple vacationing on the Caribbean island of Grenada was coming back from a hike when tragedy struck in the form of what appears to be a "robbery gone wrong," police say, per NOW Grenada. Physician assistant Jessica Colker, 39, of Atlanta and her husband, Brian Melito, were strolling on the beach Sunday when a man with a machete attacked them, WGCL reports. Melito managed to escape, but Colker's body was found not far from were they had been assaulted about an hour after she was reported missing; autopsy results Tuesday showed that Colker died of "extensive skull fracture and asphyxia," reports CNN. Officials are still mum on a motive, but they have a suspect: NOW Grenada reports that Dave Benjamin, recently let out of jail after serving time for rape and "carnal knowledge," turned himself in to local cops on Monday.

"What I can tell you now is that he is in custody," a Grenada police rep tells the site. "He was not captured, but he turned himself in and our investigations will continue." Colker and Melito, 62, had only been married for two years after meeting in Costa Rica at a dance workshop, per the New York Daily News, and then spending the rest of that vacation "dancing, talking, surfing, eating great food, swimming under the stars, and generally falling in love," according to the website they set up to celebrate their 2014 wedding. Now Melito, who apparently wasn't injured in the attack, and others are mourning Colker. "Jessica was a valued member of our children's team," her employer, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, said in a statement, per CNN. "We are deeply saddened by this horrific news." (A US tourist mistaken for a thief died in India after villagers chased him into a rice paddy.)
(Newser)  As the search for three escaped inmates stretches on, Orange County jail officials are facing pressure to explain why the men weren't held in individual cells. Authorities at the Men's Central Jail in Santa Ana say Hossein Nayeri, 37, Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Bac Duong, 43charged with violent crimes including torture, kidnapping, murder, and attempted murderfled through a hole in a wall hidden behind bunk beds in a 68-man dorm. However, the sheriff's department in neighboring Los Angeles County says it keeps inmates accused of similar crimes in one-person cells, reports the Los Angeles Times. At the state level, the California Department of Corrections adds that inmates convicted of violent crimes are typically only held in a dormitory after 20 years of good behavior. "These guys have nothing to lose, a former corrections head says. "Why are they, looking at life or worse, not being held in closed cells? Who made that judgment?"

Los Angeles County requires at least three physical checks per day, while a minimum of four are performed at the state level; Orange County performs just two. The escapees were last spotted during a 5am check on Friday, but were missing during the next check 16 hours later; it was delayed by an hour due to a "jailhouse brawl" that could have been a cover-up, the Times notes. A further cause of concern is that authorities might have had reason to suspect that one of the inmates was a flight risk. Nayeri fled to Iran after allegedly cutting off a marijuana dispensary owner's penis, per the Times. He was eventually arrested in the Czech Republic. A former jail official says the inmates likely had help getting the tools to cut through four layers of steel and rebar. "Such cutting creates a lot of noise, and it would have to be covered up," he says. "Once we get the inmates back into custody, we'll focus on how they were able to get out," an officer tells the Orange County Register. (Read more prison break stories.)
(Newser)  Those who feel the Bern can now eat their feelings, thanks to one of the founders of Ben & Jerry's. To honor fellow Vermonter Bernie Sanders, Ben Cohen unveiled a limited-edition batch of "Bernie's Yearning"plain mint ice cream covered by a milk-chocolate disc, Politico reports. "Open Joyfully: Political Revolution Inside" is the directive on the pint container shown on the website Cohen has set up to promote the product (both he and Ben & Jerry's note that Cohen created this on his own).

What the disc represents is "the huge majority of economic gains that have gone to the top 1% since the end of the recession. Beneath it, the rest of us," per the back of the container. "Jerry [Greenfield] and I have been constituents of Bernie Sanders for the last 30 years," Cohen writes on the site. "We've seen him in action and we believe in him." Cohen is only whipping up 40 pints of the frozen treat, 25 of which are going right to Bernie's campaign. Interested parties can try to win one of the remaining pints on the site. (Another thumbs-up for Sanders came from Walter Scott's lawyer.)
(Newser)  Those seeking asylum in Denmark with more than $1,500 in assets can now expect to part with anything above that amount thanks to a new law. Advancing what the country's PM has deemed "the most misunderstood bill in Denmark's history," Danish lawmakers voted 81-27 Tuesday to pass the bill, allowing authorities to confiscate assets from asylum seekers to help pay for housing and other expenses, CNN reports. The value of assets migrants can keep was amended from about $440 to the $1,500 mark, per the AP, but anything from money, jewelry, and watches to mobile phones, and computers can be seized, per the Danish immigration ministry (a rep who spoke to the Independent somewhat contradicted that, saying "assets  necessary to maintain a modest standard of living," such as watches and phones, could be kept). Exempt are "sentimental" items such as wedding rings and medals. Those for the law say it holds migrants to the same standard as citizens, who must sell assets over $1,500 before they can collect social benefits, the AP notes.

In exchange for this "payment," refugees get the same access to universal health care, education, and other benefits as citizens, a Liberal Party rep told CNN earlier this month. (The rep added, "We are not going to take the jewelry away from people.  [That] is outrageous.") The AP notes some German states and Switzerland have similar laws. But human rights groups are decrying the measure, with Amnesty International saying it's the latest step in a "dismal race to the bottom" of dealing with the migrant crisis. "To prolong the suffering of vulnerable people who have been ripped apart from their families by conflict or persecution is plain wrong," a rep says, per CNN. "Today's mean-spirited vote  seeks not only to pilfer the possessions refugees cling to." The new law also boosts the waiting period for refugees to apply to bring family over from one year to three, per the Independent. (Read more Denmark stories.)
Leonardo DiCaprio's latest film, The Revenant, may have won a lot of awards during the Golden Globes but it did not win the heart of French-Canadian actor, Roy Dupuis who said that the film is highly discriminating.

In an interview with Huffington Post via National Post, Dupois pointed out that the film is hugely anti-French-Canadian for assigning characters belonging to the minority the 'worst roles' who are engaged in rape, lynching and keeping of sex slaves.

"There is no credibility in this revenge drama. It's completely stupid!" the actor told the publication.

The Ontario-borne actor is said to have been initially offered the role of Toussaint, the leader of a French-Canadian fur trading expedition but declined since he did not like the portrayal of the character he is playing.

In the end, Toussaint was played by the French actor, Fabrice Adde.

The Revenant is a story of Hugh Glass, an American frontiersman, who had to survive in the perils of a lonely, snowy landscape in forest after he was attacked by a Grizzly bear and was abandoned by his fellow trappers. Despite the cold, he managed to crawl the entire 320km to finally get his share of revenge.

There were scenes in the movie portraying French fur traders stealing furs from dead Americans, keeping a chief's daughter as a sex slave and maltreating a pawnee.

Recently, the stuntmen Glenn Ennis who is responsible for the bear movements before they were processed and refined by CGI, talks about the challenges in his role.

"In rehearsals, I would wear a blue suit with a bear head. Obviously that doesn't make it into the film, and the CGI guys paint the bear in. Alejandro [G. Inarritu] was adamant that the blue bear moved just like a real bear would move, and it was essential that it had the same nuances that a bear would have. Even though it was a big Smurf bear, it still had to be as authentic as possible," he said as mentioned by Time.

The Revenant is said to have raked $16 million in its fifth week in cinemas. Sales during the weekend have plunged up to 50 percent, however, with the blizzard happening over the weekend, Inquirer.net said.

It is said to have 12 nominations for this year's Oscar Awards.
Apart from Aishwarya, Shah Rukh Khan and Aditya Chopra were also invited.

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan met honorable French President Mr. Francois Hollande on 26th of January in New Delhi. The lunch was hosted by the French ambassador of India.

The gorgeous actress, who has been religiously invited for the prominent Cannes Film Festival for the last 14 years and has millions of international fans all over the world, represented Indian Cinema at this respectable lunch.

Apart from Bollywoods blue eyed diva, Shah Rukh Khan and Aditya Chopra were also invited.

The actress looked every bit the traditional diva in Swati and Sunainas designed saree.

With Polki jewellery, red bindi, red rose and red lip colour, Aishwarya completed her look.

Aishwarya and Shah Rukh Khan have been awarded by the French government. SRK is a recipient of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres award, whereas Aishwarya is a recipient of 'Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters', the second highest French civilian honour.

Hollande is on a three-day visit to India and the French President will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations here tomorrow.
A Grand Jury in Houston, Texas that was in charge of investigating claims against Planned Parenthood has indicted two abortion opponents instead. The jury arrived at this decision on Monday.

According to the Harris County District Attorney, Devon Anderson, David Daleiden, the leader of the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress, will be facing one felony charge for tampering with a government record. He is also facing a misdemeanor count for trying to buy human tissue. Daleiden's employee, Sandra Merritt, faces the same charge for tampering.

The charge for tampering accuses both members of acquiring fake California driver's licenses with the intention of defrauding others.

Daleiden had gone undercover as a representative with a biotechnology company at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. He secretly recorded his interactions with Planned Parenthood officials as he tried to buy fetal tissue for research. The videos, which were released starting in July, led to many accusations against Planned Parenthood.

One of the key issues with the videos was the tone and candid language that some of the Planned Parenthood officials used. The organization has apologized for discussing fetal tissue in this manner but maintained the fact that they did not break any laws at all. The grand jury agreed with Planned Parenthood.

"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," Anderson said in a statement. "As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us. All the evidence uncovered in the course of this investigation was presented to the grand jury. I respect their decision on this difficult case."

Deleiden released this statement, reported by the New York Times:

"The Center for Medical Progress uses the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades in exercising our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and of the press, and follows all applicable laws. We respect the processes of the Harris County district attorney, and note that buying fetal tissue requires a seller as well. Planned Parenthood still cannot deny the admissions from their leadership about fetal organ sales captured on video for all the world to see."

The vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Eric Ferrero, said reported by the Washington Post, "These anti-abortion extremists spent three years creating a fake company, creating fake identities, lying, and breaking the law. When they couldn't find any improper or illegal activity, they made it up."

Monday's jury findings will not affect the Texas attorney general's office's investigation into Planned Parenthood.

"Nothing about today's announcement in Harris County impacts the state's ongoing investigation," Governor Gred Abbott (R) said in a statement. "The State of Texas will continue to protect life, and I will continue to support legislation prohibiting the sale or transfer of fetal tissue."

The investigation is being carried out with the help of the inspector general of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Former New York Governor George Pataki has endorsed Republican candidate Marco Rubio for U.S. president on Tuesday.

Pataki, 70, said during an interview with FOX News, "In my mind there's one person who stands out, and that is Senator Marco Rubio. We need someone that is going to bring Americans together. Senator Rubio has the leadership, he has the vision, he has the intelligence from Congress to understand what it takes to defend us from radical Islam. I'm proud to endorse Senator Rubio."

"I don't just intend to endorse him. I'm going to do everything I can to help Sen. Rubio win this election," he added.

Pataki, who dropped out of the race last month, weighed in on the Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, saying that Trump will only continue to divide the party.

Pataki's endorsement came shortly after the Des Moines Register announced that it will be supporting the 44-year-old senator from Florida. The Register also endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Rubio is not the only candidate to receive endorsements recently. Rick Perry, the former governor of Texas and Glenn Beck, a conservative TV personality voiced their support for Ted Cruz. Trump received that backing of former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin.

The Iowa Caucuses are less than one week away. The polls currently have Rubio in third behind Trump and Cruz.
The Parliament in Denmark has passed a controversial bill on Tuesday that will undoubtedly deter refugees from seeking asylum.

Under the "jewelry bill," which was passed 81 to 27 with one abstention, Danish officials will now be legally able to seize valuable items and cash worth up to 10,000 Danish kroner ($1,450) from the refugees as a form of payment for their stay.

The Danish Ministry of Immigration stated that items with "sentimental value," which can include "wedding rings, engagement rings, family portraits" and more would not be seized.

Several international human rights groups have voiced their opposition to this law.

"To prolong the suffering of vulnerable people who have been ripped apart from their families by conflict or persecution is plain wrong," John Dalhuisen, the director of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia, said in a statement reported by CNN. "Today's meanspirited vote in Danish parliament seeks not only to pilfer the possessions refugees cling to, but also to needlessly lengthen their separation from their loved ones."

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) stated recently that the bill "could fuel fear, xenophobia and similar restrictions that would reduce -- rather than expand -- the asylum space globally and put refugees in need at life-threatening risks," the Washington Post quoted.

Under the new bill, refugees can apply for reunification with their family members in Denmark in three years instead of the previous one-year wait.

"The aim is to make sure that (fewer) people come to Denmark, if it's hard to bring your family," Martin Henriksen, spokesman for the right-wing Danish People's Party said.

The party supported the bill.

Prior to the bill, the government explained the importance of having every resident contribute to the nation's welfare.

"All Danish citizens and refugees coming here receive universal health care; you receive education from preschool to university, and you receive elderly care; you receive language training and integration training free of charge, paid for by the government," Liberal Party spokesman Jakob Ellemann-Jensen explained to CNN's Christiane Amanpour in December. "The only demand that we set to measure this is if you have the means to pay for your housing and for your food -- regardless of whether you are a Dane or whether you are a refugee -- then you should."

Denmark took in a record number of 20,000 refugees who were fleeing dangerous conditions and war times in their home countries last year.
New Delhi:

Angry over the move to clamp Presidents rule in party-ruled Arunachal Pradesh, Congress approached President Pranab Mukherjee, the Supreme Court and sought to rally round non-BJP Chief Ministers, declaring an all-out war against the trampling of the Constitution by Modi government.



The Constitution is being trampled upon. Just a day before the Republic day, the Union Cabinet is taking such a decision. We will fight an all-out war. We will fight in Parliament, in court and along with people. Will tell them how democracy is being endangered, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters.



After meeting the President along with a party delegation, Azad contended that destabilizing the sensitive state bordering China was fraught with dangerous consequences for all non-BJP states which could be made unstable through Governors.



Azad said that the party would seek to rally round all non-BJP parties on the issue in the coming budget session of Parliament noting that they had backed Congress when such attempts had been made in Arunachal Pradesh in the last session.



Party leader Kapil Sibal, a noted lawyer, said it was shocking that the Arunachal Governor had recommended Presidents rule in the state in spite of an assurance by his lawyer in the Supreme Court that no precipitate action would be taken.



It is an act to mislead the apex court. We will seek justice, Sibal, a former Law Minister, said adding that a petition has already been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the governments recommendation to impose Presidents rule.



In a memorandum, the party told the President that this is the first time since independence that such a recommendation has been made to impose Presidents rule in the midst of a court hearing. It also enclosed a summary of events detailing the disquieting events leading to the Governors illegal actions.



Expressing confidence that he would do justice in the matter, the Congress leaders requested the President to reflect upon what is stated in the summary of events and take that into account while dealing with the memorandum.



Besides Arunachal Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and PCC Chief Padi Richo, the memorandum is signed by Azad, Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, Mallikarun Kharge, Sibal and AICC General Secretary V Narainsamy.

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Washington:

The Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease suspected of causing serious birth defects, is expected to spread to all countries in the Americas except Canada and Chile, the World Health Organisation said.

Zika has suspected but unproven links to microcephaly in which babies born to women infected during pregnancy have abnormally small heads.

The virus is already present in 21 of the 55 countries and territories across the Americas, the WHO said in a statement Sunday.

But it stressed that the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries Zika and also dengue and chikungunya viruses, is already present in all countries in the Americas besides Canada and Chile.

WHO pointed out that since people in the region had not been exposed to Zika before it emerged in Brazil last May they lacked immunity, allowing the virus to spread quickly.

The UN health agency said it therefore anticipates that Zika virus will continue to spread and will likely reach all countries and territories of the region where Aedes mosquitoes are found.

WHO chief Margaret Chan told the opening of the organisations executive committee meeting in Geneva Monday that the explosive spread of Zika virus to new geographical areas, with little population immunity, is (a) cause for concern, especially given the possible link between infection during pregnancy and babies born with small heads.

She stressed that a causal link between Zika infection in pregnancy and microcephaly has not been established, but added that the circumstantial evidence is suggestive and extremely worrisome.

A surge in incidents across Latin America, notably in Brazil, has prompted the United States and other governments to warn pregnant women against travelling to the regionan alarming prospect for Brazil as it gears up to light the Olympic torch on August 5.

Brazil has recorded 3,893 microcephaly cases since an unusual spike in the rare condition was noticed in the countrys northeast in October. Previously an annual average of 160 cases was the norm.

Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica have advised women to avoid pregnancy altogether, an idea echoed by a top Brazilian health official, although the official line so far simply urges women to avoid mosquitoes.

Guatemala said Sunday it was raising vigilance levels at maternity wards.
New Delhi :

Beverages major Coca Cola today announced its foray into value-added dairy drinks segment in the Indian market with Vio brand, which will make its debut across the country next month.

The company, which will introduce two flavours under Vio, has tied up with Reliance Retail as part of pilot launch to make the brand available exclusively across the latters 500 stores starting today.

We have been getting into new categories and we will be getting into sparkling drinks with juices. We are now getting into dairy segment with Vio in two flavours in the value added dairy category, Coca Cola India & South West Asia President Venkatesh Kini told reporters here.

The company has tied up with Schreiber Dynamix Dairies Pvt Ltd which will manufacture the product.

Vio will be available in Kesar Treat and Almond Delight variants, priced at Rs 25 per 200 ml pack.

Kini said Vio will be rolled out across modern retail stores in India on February 3 and later on we will move into our traditional distribution chain.

When asked about investments for the foray into the new segment, he said it will be a part of the doubling investments in India to USD 5 billion (about Rs 28,000 crore) by 2020 which was announced in June 2012.

We do have plans to set up our own packaging units in future for the dairy products, but we will not get into milk collection, Kini said.

The company had earlier done a pilot test with Maaza Milky Delight in the dairy segment but with the brand strongly associated with mango drinks, it has decided to discontinue it and launch the Vio brand.

We found that the Indian consumers expect rich creamy taste and we realised that we needed a lot more milk content, he added.

When asked about expectations from the dairy segment, Kini said the company would like to play a large role in helping the value added dairy products segment grow in the Indian market.

The overall dairy segment in India is largely unorganised but is estimated to be 120-135 billion litres a year, he said.

The company has 54 plants in India of which 24 are franchise plants, 25 are company-owned and 5 are co-packers. It sells a range of soft drinks including Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Fanta, Limca, Sprite and Maaza, among others.

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New Delhi :

The Islamic State (IS) terror group is planning Mumbai-style attacks in Europe after the Paris massacre last November, a report by the Europol police force has warned.

Rob Wainwright, chief of the European Union (EU) police agency, told a press conference that the so-called Islamic State had developed a new combat style capability to carry out a campaign of large-scale terrorist attacks on a global stage with a particular focus in Europe.

He was unveiling the findings of a new Europol report on changes in how the terrorist group operates, coinciding with the launch of the agencys new counter-terrorism summit at The Hague on the Netherlands.

The unit will seek to improve information exchange and identify the links between terrorism and other areas of crime.

The Europol report said: IS is preparing more terrorist attacks, including more Mumbai-style attacks, to be executed in member states of the EU, and in France in particular.

The attacks will be primarily directed at soft targets, because of the impact it generates. Both the November Paris attacks and the October 2015 bombing of a Russian airliner suggest a shift in IS strategy towards going global, it said.

IS had claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks on November 13 which killed 130 people.

The new report has concluded that the group has training camps in the EU and the Balkans, as well as in Syria.

It, however, said there was no concrete evidence that terrorists were using the influx of refugees into Europe in order to sneak themselves in and carry out attacks though it warned refugees might be vulnerable to radicalisation.

The new counter-terrorism centres priority would be to improve information exchange between EU members and will also focus on links to other criminal sectors.

Europol has about 800 staff at its headquarters in The Hague. They work with law enforcement agencies in the 28 member states and in other non-EU partner nations to combat serious crime.

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Islamabad:

Aftab Shivdasani and Tusshar Kapoor starrer raunchy Bollywood adult comedy Kya Kool Hain Hum 3 has been banned in Pakistan after the censor board there decided that the movie was unsuitable for public viewing.

The Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) and its provincial censor boards both decided after a meeting yesterday that the film was unsuitable for public exhibition.

CBFC chief Mobashir Hasan said the film was found to be an out and out obscene film with vulgar dialogues and nudity.

The film is full of nudity and has a lot of vulgar content in its dialogues. The board has officially disallowed the film from public viewing, he said.

Hasan said the film couldnt be allowed for public viewing even with an adult rating as it was over the top vulgar.

Interestingly, some cinemas had started screening the film since Friday but the general manager at a cinema said after just two days they got orders from their distributor to suspend the screening of the film which has reportedly grossed about Rs130 million in India in its first two days of release.

We have issued a showcause notice to the distributor and he faces a hefty fine for importing this film and selling it to some exhibitors without first going through proper channels, Hasan said.

Fakhre-Alam, chairperson of the Sindh Board of Film Certification (SBFC) said all the provincial censor boards, including Punjab and Sindh, found it unsuitable for public exhibition in cinemas.

Kya Kool Hain Hum 3 starring Tusshar and Aftab revolves around two boys, who end up joining the adult film industry, but have to pretend to be sober to win the heart of the girls family. It is directed by Umesh Ghadge.

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Dehradun:

On Republic Day, a high alert was sounded in Dehradun after a suspicious man was spotted in the vicinity. Police has also been instructed to remain on toes.

According to reports, a group of six to seven people have probably got into the city and might execute a terror attack.

A CCTV image of one of them has also been released by the Uttarakhand Police and people have been asked to contact the cops if they spot the person.

The Local Intelligence Unit and the police teams are searching the 'suspicious' man.



The step comes next to the arrests made by a joint police team of Uttarakhand and Delhi on January 14.

Four youths- Ahlkaq-ur-Rehman, Mohamad Osama, Mohammad Azim and Mohammad Meraj- were arrested from different areas of Roorkee I adjoining Haridwar district.

They had the plan to blow up a rail track during the ongoing Ardh-Kumbh. Over 5 crore pilgrims are expected to visit Haridwar during the four-month long Ardh-Kumbh, which started on January 1.

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Rajkumar Hirani is busy promoting his latest flick Saala Khadoos which will hit the screens on Friday. After the release of Saala Khadoos, I will sit and work on Sanjay Dutts biopic which will go on floors in July.

He believes that his growing up in a small town help him portray his thought process onto the celluloid in a modified manner. In fact, I fancy the small town living experience; there we do not need to make a phone call before visiting people. We could go anywhere at any time. The simple life in a small town definitely makes one feel at ease. I do dig my experiences and put it in my films; I do not believe in shallow film making. My content has to have loads of belief in the script. I do not make a conscious decision to make films which would pass some message, but having grown in a small town whatever things I learned growing up will be there, he says.

That must have prompted him to make a movie like Pk. He agrees, Pk was a film based on religion that I really wanted to make. All over the world, people are divided on the basis of religion; they want to protect their Gods I feel it is the duty of God to protect them and they need not unnecessarily fight over such petty issues.

About his family, Rajkumar says, My wife works as a pilot for Air India; she flies almost every day. Ours was an arranged marriage, and since she belonged to the Army background, her parents had to come to terms to get their daughter married to a man who merely earned his bread and butter by editing and making a few commercials.

She supports him a lot, he adds. My wife is quiet stern and disciplined, but I must confess that she supported me a lot while we were residing in a one-room kitchen apartment at Goregaon. She would at times ponder as to how this man will be able to make it onto Bollywood, but when I finally did, she was very happy.

Raju has high opinion of his son Vir. It would not be too much if I say Vir has inherited my creative qualities. He understands cinema; I can sit and discuss things with him and he responds very well. He had recently worked on a film project with some of his school friends that he had titled Life and Death, which he shared with me. Vir has yet not told us what his professional ambition.

However, we will readily support him, whatever it is. Raju also says he is very much open to criticism for the betterment of films. In my office, even a peon has the right to discuss while we are writing the script. No one is small or big; everyone has a voice, he says, adding Ever since we began working together, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Abhijat Joshi and I have become closer. Abhijat has also become an integral part of our film making; though he is in Gujarat, we talk for hours on a daily basis.

On his upcoming Sanjay Dutt biopic, Rajkumar says, I decided to do this because there is a lot of drama and thrill in his life and Sanjay did not want me to make any changes. I am very determined that it has to be made without any interference. I always like to tell a story with honesty.

He adds, We will be casting the right pair for his parents; Ranbir Kapoor plays the main lead. The film goes on floors in July.

What is your success mantra? Think of a unique idea; satisfy yourself; never try to satisfy everyone; if you laugh, cry and get the thrill with your story, people will also like it; be open to worthy criticism, he sums up.
Bengaluru:

Bollywood actor and Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan will inaugurate the eighth Bengaluru International Film Festival here on January 28.

The inaugural will be held in front of Vidhana Soudha (state secretariat) and Mysore Palace will play host to the closing ceremony on February 5.

Jaya Bachchan will inaugurate the eighth BIFFES on January 28 which will culminate on February 5, Karnataka Information Minister Roshan Baig told reporters here.

The fest will begin with the screening of award winning Kannada movie Thithi directed by Raam Reddy, he said.

Reddy is the grandson of the first CM, K C Reddy.

Baig said the event would be more inclusive this time with greater participation from the Kannada and other Indian film industries.

The chief guests would be Oscar-winning lyricist Gulzar, Hollywood and Bengali filmmakers Ashok Amritraj and Aparna Sen and they will also interact with the audience.

Other guests to grace the occasion would be Bajirao Mastani director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Telugu film star D Venkatesh and filmmaker Maniratnam.

Cultural events will include dance recitals by actress Shobana and Nirupama Rajendra.

Marathi stage artiste and Bollywood star Nana Patekar may attend the event, S V Rajendra Singh Babu, who heads the 14-member committee, said.

We have also invited Nana Patekar. The actor told us he would attend the event if gets time off from his shooting schedule, he added.

The film fest will feature theme section, special theme section, academic activities and exhibitions among other related sections.

Films of world renowned filmmakers like Istvan Szabo from Hungary, Jafer Panahi (Iran), Jia Zhang Ke (China), Hou Hsiao-Hsien (Japan), Emin Alper (Turkey), Jacques Audiard (France), Christian Petzold (Germany), Nanni Moretti (Italy) and others will be screened in the event.

A total of 172 films from 50 countries will be shown during the festival. In the competition section, Asian, Indian and Kannada films will be screened.

There would also be an additional International Jury for Kannada Cinema which, culminating in a special NETPAC award. Oscar winning Sound Designer Resul Pookutty will conduct a workshop on Sound Design.

The closing ceremony and award distribution will be held on February 4 at Mysore.

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Kolkata:

Stating that the CPI(M) is trying to bring opposition parties under one umbrella to oust the TMC, party Politburo member Mohammed Salim today asked the Congress to come clean on the issue of alliance.

We are trying to unite people from various sections including political parties to fight against the misrule of TMC. The people of Bengal, who love democracy, want this alliance, he said.

Without naming the Congress, Salim addressing a rally, said, It cant happen that you will say something and do something else. It cant happen that you will go to Kalighat (TMC supremo Mamata Banerjees residence) and say something publicly. You have to come clean on what you want, on your stand. You have to respect the feeling of unity among masses.

Amid talks of a possible tie-up between Congress and CPI(M) in the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal, 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 Trinamool Congress from the state.

Reacting to Salims comments, state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said his party would take a decision at an appropriate time and was not answerable to any other party.

In the upcoming elections, TMCs aim is to return to power, CPI(M)s aim is to regain lost ground and Congresss aim is to oust TMC. We are not answerable to anyone or any other party. We are only answerable to the masses. We will take our call at an appropriate time, Chowdhury said.

State Trinamool Congress general secretary Partha Chatterjee said both Congress and CPI(M) were trying to gain prominence in state politics by trying to forge an alliance, but people would give a befitting reply by rejecting them.

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Kuala Lumpur:

Malaysias government said today that a piece of debris found on Thailands southern coast was not from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The announcement appeared to end speculation about a link to the doomed aircraft, coming a day after Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said the metal panel was probably from a rocket it manufactured.

Malaysias transport ministry said a team of experts from the government and Malaysia Airlines had examined the debris in Thailand.

From their detailed report, they have ascertained that the part assembly number, wire bundle number and bolts part number do not match those of a Boeing 777, a transport ministry statement said.

Saturdays find of the debris stirred speculation it may be part of MH370, a Boeing 777 that vanished on March 8, 2014 with 239 people on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Investigators believe the plane went down in a remote part of the Indian Ocean, though the cause of the disappearance remains a mystery.

Last July a two-metre-long wing part known as a flaperon washed up on a beach on the French-held Indian Ocean island of Reunion, thousands of kilometres from Thailand.

French authorities subsequently confirmed it was from MH370.

Nothing further has been found despite an extensive Indian Ocean search.

Yesterday, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said images of the debris found in the Gulf of Thailand featured serial numbers indicating it may be from a rocket it made for launching satellites.

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Boston :

NASA is developing a six-feet tall humanoid robot that could assist astronauts in risky and extremely hazardous deep space missions to Mars and asteroids in the future.

The US space agency is considering ushering new humanoid robots that could offer astronauts a helping hand in future expeditions.

NASA is counting on robots to setup and care for deep space exploration facilities and equipment pre-deployed ahead of astronauts, Sasha Congiu Ellis of NASAs Langley Research Centre, told Astrowatch.net.

Robots are also excellent precursors for conducting science missions ahead of human exploration, Ellis said.

That is why the agency is developing a six-feet tall humanoid robot called R5, previously known as Valkyrie. The machine weighs about 131 kilogrammes.

It was initially designed to complete disaster-relief manoeuvres. In November last year, NASA awarded two R5 robots to university groups - the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Northeastern University in Boston.

According to NASA, the teams have two years to perform research and software development in order to improve the robots autonomy. They also have access to onsite and virtual technical support from the agency.
New Delhi :

Facilities of Air India has been under question again after a Milan-bound flight with over 130 passengers onboard makes emergency landing at Delhi airport.

The flight was called back in less than an hour after smoke filled in the passenger cabin.

The plane, a Boeing Dreamliner, landed in Delhi with ambulances and fire engines on stand-by.

"Delhi-Milan flight AI 137 made a safe precautionary landing at Delhi Airport today due to minor smoke detected in the cabin," said the airline.

All the passengers were evacuated and transferred to another aircraft.

Air India flt 137 Delhi to Milan which departd at 1500 hours has reportd smoke inside the cabin.Full emergency landing back at IGI.  CP Delhi (@CPDelhi) January 26, 2016

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Geneva:

The UN childrens agency is launching a USD 2.8 billion appeal to help children in the midst of humanitarian emergencies across the world this year.

UNICEF director of emergency programs in Geneva Sikander Khan says about one-quarter of that appeal aims to go for education, which the agency considers a life-saving measure for children at a time when war has shuttered many schools.

The appeal is part of a broader funding drive by the UN humanitarian agency that targets 76 million people in 63 countries.

The largest single chunk of UNICEFs appeal USD 1.16 billion is targeted for Syria and countries including Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan that have taken in millions of refugees from Syrias war. The appeal hopes to help some 5 million Syrian children inside and outside Syria.

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New Delhi :

Arunachal Pradesh today came under central rule with President Pranab Mukherjee giving assent to the Union Cabinets recommendation on such a course following political instability in the state.

Official sources said the President signed the proclamation two days after the cabinet held an unscheduled meeting on Sunday to recommend that the northeasten border state be brought under central rule.

Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju had said the cabinet was forced to take the decision because of a Constitutional breakdown as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state Assembly.

Yesterday Mukherjee called Home Minister Rajnath Singh and put some queries to him on the need for the imposition of Presidents rule even as Congress, the ruling party in the state, met him and opposed the cabinet decision.

The party urged the President not to give assent to the cabinet decision saying the issue was before the Supreme Court which has decided to hear the Congress petition tomorrow.

Other major opposition parties had also attacked the Centres decision saying it amounted to murder of democracy while the BJP said the crisis was of Congress making because it had lost numbers in the Assembly.

Arunachal Pradesh has been rocked by a political crisis since December 16 last year when 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to impeach Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as illegal and unconstitutional by the Speaker.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court decided to hear on January 27 the Congress plea challenging the Cabinet decision.

The petition seeking urgent hearing was mentioned before Chief Justice T S Thakur, at his residence, who directed the matter to be listed for hearing on Wednesday.

Up in arms against Tuki, 21 rebel party MLAs, including 14 disqualified a day before, with the help of BJP and independent legislators, congregated at a community hall after the state Assembly complex was sealed by the local administration, and impeached Rebia in an impromptu session chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok.

27 MLAs in 60-member Assembly, including the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues, boycotted the proceedings.

A day later, in a bizarre turn of events, opposition BJP and rebel Congress MLAs congregated in a local hotel to vote out Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and to elect a rebel Congress MLA in his place but the Gauhati High Court intervened to keep in abeyance decisions taken at the rebel session.

A no confidence motion moved by BJP MLAs and Independent MLAs was adopted with Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok, who is also a rebel Congressman, in the Chair. A total of 33 members in the 60-member house, including 20 dissident Congress MLAs, later elected another dissident Congressman Kalikho Pul as the new chief minister of the state.

The Chief Minister had also written the President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking their intervention to uphold the Constitution in the face of the unprecedented murder of democracy and bypassing of a democratically-elected government by the Governor.

Angry over the Governors action in calling a session of the Assembly bypassing the government, the Congress had paralysed the Rajya Sabha for two days during the winter session.

In the High Court, Justice Hrishikesh Roy observed prima facie the Governors decision to advance the Assembly session to December 16, 2015 for taking up the impeachment proceedings against the Speaker was in violation of Article 174 and 175 of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court has referred a batch of petitions on the Arunachal Pradesh crisis to a Constitution Bench.

Rebia, who has challenged in Gauhati High Court various decisions of the Governor and Deputy Speaker including his removal from the Speakers post, had alleged that the High Courts Acting Chief Justice had erroneously rejected his plea, filed on the judicial side, in administrative capacity. He had also sought recusal of Justice B K Sharma from hearing his plea.

Rebia was removed from the post of the Speaker by 14 rebel Congress MLAs, disqualified by the Speaker, and BJP MLAs on December 16 in an assembly session presided over by the Deputy Speaker in a Community Hall in Itanagar. The Deputy Speaker, before removing Rebia from Speakers post, had also quashed the disqualification of the rebel Congress legislators.

Another bench of the High Court later overturned Justice Roys order and dismissed the Speakers petition.

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New Delhi :

Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was in ravishing red Banasari silk sari when she meet French President Francois Hollande over lunch to discuss films. The private event was hosted by the ambassador of France, Francois Richier.

Aishwarya, a former beauty queen has been a frequent visitor to the Cannes Festival in France for over a decade. She is also a recipient of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, the second highest French civilian honour.

The actress who has been in the midst of shooting her new film Sarbjit, has taken out time from her busy schedule to attend the lunch.

The sari that Aishwarya has worn is from designer duo Swati and Sunaina, and made in Banaras -age-old weavers from where are poised for a facelift courtesy Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She was in Indian attire for the lunch and impressed the invitees.

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Kathmandu:

Nepals Prime Minister K P Oli today said it would not be appropriate to visit India until the border blockade ends, linking his maiden foreign trip next month to the normalisation of situation at the border.

It would not be appropriate for me to visit India unless the situation returns to normal, Oli told a select group of journalists at his office here when asked whether he will visit India if the current border blockade continues.

Oli alleged that India had imposed an unofficial border blockade and said that the country will soon lift it.

The Prime Minister said the government is keeping a close eye on separatist movements in Terai.

Oli is expected to travel to New Delhi early next month on his first foreign visit as Prime Minister. Earlier, there had also been speculation that the Communist leader could visit China ahead of India.

During his telephonic conversation with Oli a couple of months ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited him to visit India at an appropriate time.

No Nepalese Prime Minister has visited India after Prime Minister Modis two trips to Nepal last year.

Nepal government has alleged that the border embargo had been imposed by the Indian government, a claim which India has denied.

India has made clear that the obstruction in the movement of goods through the Indo-Nepal border was due to the protests by the Madhesis.

Nepal is facing acute shortage of cooking gas, petroleum products, medicines and other essential goods due to the five-month-long blockade of key border trade points with India due to the protests by the Madhesis.

Olis remarks come after the announcement by Madhesis of new protest programmes yesterday.

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.

The amendments addressed two key demands of the Madhesis proportionate representation and seat allocation in the Parliament on the basis of population.

Madhesis have rejected as incomplete the constitutional amendments passed by the Parliament for failing to address their concerns over redrawing borders.

The agitating Madhesi community that shares strong cultural and family bonds with India is demanding demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. At least 55 people have been killed in the protests.

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Mumbai:

Maintaining that women have right to pray, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today favoured a dialogue between authorities of Shani Shingnapur temple and activists to find a way out over the ban on entry of female devotees into the inner sanctum of the shrine.

He urged the temple authorities to hold a dialogue with the womens group that is campaigning for entry of female devotees into the inner sanctum of the shrine in Ahmednagar district.

Indian culture and Hindu religion gives women have the right to pray. A change in yesterdays traditions is our culture. Discrimination in praying is not in our culture. The temple authorities should resolve the issue through a dialogue, tweeted Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.

Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said the government will facilitate talks between the temple authorities and women activists to arrive at an amicable solution.

If there is a dispute between activists and temple authorities over allowing women access to the (Shani Shingnapur) temple, the state government will act as facilitator for talks between them so that the issue can be resolved amicably, Shinde told PTI.

The activists (members of Bhumata Brigade) were detained as they had violated the law. CrPC Section 144 had been imposed by police (banning Assembly of people) which they did not adhere to.

As far as their religious views are concerned, it is the governments duty to ensure that the issue is resolved, he said.

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The actress is out and about the city to promote her upcomign film.

Mumbai: It was an eerily emotional Republic Day morning for Sonam Kapoor when she visited the Bombay Scottish School.

This was the school attended by Neerja Bhanot, the heroic air hostess, who perished while saving the lives of hundreds of hijacked passengers on board at Panam flight on 5 September 1986.

Says director Ram Madhavani, who accompanied her, It was essentially a visit to familiarize the younger students of the school who may or may not be familiar with what Neerja had done. Her achievement was not just to try to save those lives but also to conquer that fear which we cannot even imagine when placed in a crisis situation of the proportion that Neerja faced. It is a story where fear is conquered by courage.

Sonam, wearing a Khadi saree, reached the venue at 7:40 am sharp for the flag-hoisting ceremony and interaction with the students.

It was eerie and moving because all those imperishable patriotic songs that we grew up with were playing. Neeras spirit was very much alive while Sonam spoke about her courage to the students of the school that Neerja once attended, says the films director.

Director Ram Madhavani with Sonam Kapoor at the Republic Day celebration. Dressed in Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla attire, the actress looked graceful.

Sonam Kapoor attended the flag hoisting ceremony. Sonam Kapoor delivering a speech at the school. Sonam also delivered an inspiring speech.
For the first time, Sunny Leone is trying her luck in adult comedy 'Mastizaade'.

New Delhi: For the first time, Sunny Leone is trying her luck in adult comedy 'Mastizaade' and the actress says she had asked her director to tone down some scenes and dialogues as she was not comfortable with them.

Directed by Milap Zaveri, 'Mastizaade' stars Leone in a dual role alongside Tushar Kapoor and Vir Das in lead with Shaad Randhawa, Suresh Menon and Vivek Vaswani in supporting roles.

When I read the script, there were certain things which I told Milap that I cannot do because I was not comfortable with the dialogues and scenes. The best thing was Milap and my producer (Rangita Pritish Nandy) were accommodating and they made changes in the script and discussed options with me, Sunny told PTI.

In the film, Sunny would be seen in a dual role of Lily and Laila.

Laila is the typical bombshell and outrageous character and Lily is the complete opposite. She is shy and conservative. Playing double role was not tough because the whole crew organised each day so nicely that everything went well. I never felt that I am doing something difficult.

The 34-year-old Indo-Canadian actress feels more filmmakers should come forward and make films in the adult genre, which has still not got acceptance in the society.

People should soften a little towards such comedies as they feel these films are all about dirty jokes. Filmmakers should come make more films in this genre and it would help solidify it, he said.
Could rainwater collection save the residents of Flint, Michigan?

Despite being considered a developed nation, the U.S. often still fails to provide its citizens with the infrastructure necessary to survive, including clean drinking water. The most recent example of this occurred in Flint, Michigan, where state and federal regulators allowed the public drinking water supply to be contaminated with toxic lead, resulting in widespread health effects that will persist in the community for generations to come.

The damage caused by the lead poisoning could have largely been prevented had the government not denied the problem. Despite a multitude of complaints from residents that the water smelled foul and was discolored, the government insisted it was safe to drink  an unthinkable mistake (or crime, depending on how you look at it) that may forever impact the people of Flint.

Both low and high levels of lead exposure pose a range of health risks, especially for developing children, some of which are considered permanent. The World Health Organization warns that there is no safe level of lead exposure, as it may lower ones intelligence, cause attention deficit disorder, social ineptness and various development delays.(1)

Rainwater could be an alternative to untrustworthy public tap

Exposure to this heavy metal may also damage reproductive organs and cause immunotoxicity, hypertension and anemia. Those are some pretty scary  and in some cases  life-altering health effects, highlighting the seriousness of drinking unsanitary water.

If you cant trust your citys tap, then what source can you trust? The answer to that is unclear. However, there are some alternatives.

Rainwater collection appears to be the only solution to avoiding contaminated drinking water, especially for those who are unable to afford bottled water  a costly, yet crucial, commodity these days.

Though rainwater collection is regulated by the government in some states, Michigan is not one of them, meaning there are no laws in place prohibiting citizens from gathering rainwater in barrels to use for flushing toilets, laundry and showers.

Water contamination isnt the only problem keeping Flint residents from accessing clean water. Though the citys water supply is toxic, it still isnt cheap. The Flint Journal reported in 2014 that water and sewer bills reached an upwards of $140 per month in some places, forcing those less privileged off the tap.(2)

Flint resident Pastor Bobby Jackson operates a small, independent homeless shelter where he provides those in need with bottled water and rainwater. Nicknamed the water guy, Pastor Jackson has been the subject of various media stories celebrating his heroic humanitarianism, which he is able to provide based solely on donations.

Pastor Jackson isnt the only Michigander utilizing rainwater. Detroit resident Fayette Coleman has lived off of rainwater for two years, according to The Detroit News. She was forced off the citys water supply in 2013 after being unable to afford her soaring water bill. She is not alone. At least 23,000 Detroit residents have had their water shut off over the last 12 months, and 4,000 of them have never had it reconnected.(3)

Coleman, 66, is a former factory worker with a slew of health problems. To avoid being completely without water, she uses a trash can to collect rainwater off the roof to flush her toilet. Her drinking water is provided through charities.

One thing I really miss is washing my clothes, said Coleman. Once every couple of months, when Im able to get some money, I can go to the laundromat.

Building rainwater collection systems for the poor

Though state-of-the-art rainwater collection and filtration systems can be costly upfront, theyre economical in the long run, as users will never have to pay another water bill again.

A team of engineering students from Michigan State University is currently building a rainwater collection system that will service at least 500 elementary school students in Buyuni, Tanzania. The project is one of 10 student-led sustainability projects in this years $250,000 challenge, according to the university.(4)

The system is expected to reduce the demand on the local water well and provide safe and affordable drinking water during the dry season.

Rather than providing assistance to those thousands of miles away, perhaps they should focus their philanthropy (and grant money) on people in need in their home state, as countless Michigan residents could greatly benefit from such a project.

Sources used:

(1) WHO.int

(2) Freep.com

(3) DetroitNews.com

(4) MSUToday.MSU.edu

(5) BeltMag.com

(6) PNNL.gov

(7) DetroitNews.com

Submit a correction >>
Still from the video posted by Priyanka Chopra.

Mumbai: After winning notable awards for her role as an FBI agent in the American TV series, 'Quantico,' Priyanka Chopra will be seen playing a a cop in Prakash Jha's upcoming action drama film, 'Jai Gangaajal'.

On the occasion of Republic Day, the entire team paid tribute to police officers. In a video, Priyanka is dressed in a police officers uniform and is seen singing the National Anthem with director Prakash Jha and the entire team of 'Jai Gangaajal'.

She posted the video and wrote, "Proud to be Indian & so thankful for everything this wonderful nation has given me!Happy Republic Day"

Written and directed by Prakash Jha, the film revisits the dusty heartland of Central India, and examines the society police relationship. The film is all set to release on March 04, 2016.
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DANBURY  More than 15 years ago, Peter Amaral bought a second-hand pickup truck and three used lawn mowers to start a landscaping business.

Having worked as a child in his fathers business, Amaral, who was pursuing a degree in accounting at the time, missed working outdoors. In 1999 he started Exterior Design Landscaping and Construction, a company on Beaver Brook Road that now has more than a dozen trucks on the road, 20-plus employees and scores of customers throughout the region.

While going to school I kept doing some landscaping and masonry work on the side and I found that I enjoyed that much more than what I was studying, so I decided to give it a go, he said. Weve been growing ever since.

The company specializes in property management, maintaining the grounds for about 18 condo associations in the region and more than 80 homes, and also provides services including tree trimming and designing and building an outdoor oasis.

These days a lot of people are staying in their homes longer and they are looking to make improvements with their property, he said. Outdoor living spaces have been very popular in recent years.

In years past a homeowner might want to install a patio, but todays work often includes additional features such as fire pits, sitting walls and outdoor barbecues, he said.

It really runs the gamut of the clients own imagination, Amaral said. And with all of the improvements in materials in recent years, there are so many different things to choose from to match your home and existing landscaping.

Often, Amaral said, he helps clients create a master plan for the property that can be developed throughout the years in various stages.

Ron Catalano, president of the Walnut Tree Village residents association in Sandy Hook, said Amaral and his crew have been maintaining the 55 and over condo complex for more than eight years.

Weve developed a good relationship with Peter over the years and thats very important to me, Catalano said. Last week we had some freezing rain and some icing. I called Peter and his guys were out there salting within 15 minutes. That really means a lot in an age-restricted property. An ambulance had to pick up a resident later than night. If it wasnt for Peter and his crew they would have had a hard time getting out.

The relationship between the company and the complex is so strong, Catalano said, that the residents will take shifts making coffee for the crews when they work stretches into the early morning hours.

We know all the guys by name, he said. Theyve become part of our family.

Amaral also does a lot of community work, having donated time and materials recently to construct the Bethel Dog Park. Hes also worked on projects for local schools including the Buddy Bench at Rockwell School in Bethel.

I like to be the guy that people come to when they need help, Amaral said. I grew up in this area and its important to me to give back.

dperrefort@newstimes.com
It started with a missing ring. Then a pair of $600 Chanel shoes.

A homeowner on Valley Road soon discovered that 11 other pieces of jewelry and valuables had gone missing from her home.

Those missing items eventually led to the arrest of a house cleaner, now charged with a felony for allegedly stealing and then selling the jewelry at a pawn shop in Danbury.

Grace Guzman, 35, a divorced mother of three, was freed on a $35,000 bond this week and is due back in Stamford Superior Court on Friday.

According to the arrest warrant, the woman did not notice the missing ring, her grandmothers wedding ring, right away last fall. While she initially thought she had misplaced the item, a thorough search revealed that more objects had gone missing and that these instances had been more than a coincidence, according to arrest report filed in court.

Family members were at a loss to explain what happened to the jewelry. Guzman, who cleaned the house once a week, denied knowledge of the missing items.

Police were called in, and during an interview with a detective, Guzman said she had only been to a Danbury pawn shop once to help sell some items for a friend, according to the arrest warrant.

The Yankee Peddler Pawn Shop on Main Street in Danbury had receipts of Guzmans sales on three separate occasions in 2014 and 2015, with photographs of the items she sold, as well as a photograph of Guzman in the store.

According to the stores records, a diamond ring worth some $15,000 was pawned in late 2015, and an 18 carat gold bracelet, with an estimated value of $3,000, was pawned in late 2014. Guzman received some $700 for the goods she took there on three visits there.

Police said the owner of the items cried when she reported that a pair of earrings given to her by her grandmother for her high school graduation was also gone. Thirteen items were also reported missing from the Greenwich womans residence, but not all of them were pawned through the store in Danbury. The approximate value was $55,000. It was not clear if any of the items had been returned.

Guzman, a native of Ecuador, turned herself into police late last week. In addition to the felony theft charge, she was booked for providing a false statement to police  telling authorities that she had only been to the pawn shop once with a friends items.

Robert.Marchant@scni.com
HARTFORD --The state is sending two snow removal crews to Maryland and Washington, D.C. to help clean up the winter blast over the weekend that buried much of the Northeast.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said two seven-person crews will be sent to Gaithersburg, Maryland and Washington, DC, for a total of four crews, along with four jumbo snowblowers, four plow trucks, repair gear and other ancillary equipment.
Unless there is significant shift in polling, the same seven candidates who faced off last time, in the Charleston, South Carolina, debate, will meet in Iowa on Jan. 28, just three days before the first votes are cast in the caucuses. Plenty has happened since the last debate. We offer suggestions for the Fox News moderators:

For Donald Trump:

Given the British report on ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenkos 2006 murder, do you now think Vladimir Putin is involved in murdering political opponents? If so, how does that affect your strategy for dealing with him?

Were you wrong to say Russia was helping to get rid of the Islamic State, and is it in our interest to have Russian and Iranian troops in Syria?

You say your health-care plan is terrific. What is in it, and how do you pay for it?

For Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas:

Does it matter if the establishment likes an opponent or not, given that you raise money from the New York and Washington big-money donors?

When, in your political experience, have you demonstrated the ability to negotiate and win over political adversaries to get an imperfect, but positive, result?

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says your plan to carpet-bomb the Islamic State is out of touch with reality. Others say it would be a war crime. How is this a serious approach?

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush:

Would you allow the Democrats more domestic spending if they agreed to your plan to rebuild our military?

You said you wanted to run with joy, and yet your duper PAC is dropping millions of dollars in negative ads. How do you square those two things?

Your education plan includes incentives and outcome-based criteria for federal support for K-12 schooling. Why should the federal government have any role in K-12 education?

Sen. Marco Rubio, Fla.:

How do voters know you have the administrative skill and judgment to staff the federal government and make critical decisions when advisers advice conflicts?

Which should be a higher priority  undoing same-sex marriage or addressing the number of kids born to single mothers?

The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funding of abortions unless the life of the mother is endangered, or incest or rape is involved. Would you seek to change that?

Ohio Gov. John Kasich:

Youve had plenty of time to study it, so why dont you have a specific plan to balance the federal government?

If Iran abides by the nuclear deal, it gets to zero breakout in 10 years and along the ways gets plenty of money to support terrorism. Why is it acceptable to keep it in place if Iran does not cheat?

Would you do what you did in your own state  expand Medicaid without overhauling it?

Ben Carson:

Does your campaign management demonstrate that you lack the skills to be president?

Does mass deportation of illegal immigrants comport with your religious beliefs and values?

Can you explain once more how your health-care plan would work?

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie:

Do you want to correct your answer from the last debate on support for Justice Sonia Sotomayor?

Do you favor deportation, self-deportation or neither for millions of people here illegally? If neither, tell us what categories of people you would allow to remain.

Your tax plan  and many other candidates plans  disproportionately benefits the rich and also widens the deficit. Is this responsible?

Jennifer Rubin is a columnist at the Washington Post.
Despite President Obama current effort to enforce background checks, in reality, he has been easy on the gun industry corporations during his administration. Like our President, advocates for safe gun reforms (practically our entire nation) only want an innocuous, non-infringing background check law passed, and are in a constant conflict with the Republican-dominated Congress, the gun lobbies, and the leadership of many gun organizations.

However, the gun industry  the gun, ammunition and sales corporations, who make the Yankee dollar  are the financial culprits who help support and promote them, and are able to maintain anonymity.

When America won its wars to reduce deaths, injuries, and sickness against the automobile and tobacco industries, it directly fought its adversaries, the auto and tobacco corporations. America didnt have to fight the AAA, who unlike the NRA, worked to make us safer.

There isnt any doubt the present NRA leaders are under the influence of the gun industry. Prior to 1970, the NRA was concerned for the safety of our citizens and members  and assisted the government in passing gun laws that infringed and kept submachine guns and military style assault weapons off the streets.

Sandy Hook parents have a wrongful death suit against the Remington Corporation, over the deadly AR-15. Whether they win or not, they are already successful in putting a spotlight on gun corporations.

President Obama, also a victim of the gun lobby, did nothing in his first term for gun safety reform.

Only after his visit to Sandy Hook did he become a strong supporter for gun safety reform.

Tears came to his eyes when the subject of the little angels who were lost in Sandy Hook came up while he was making a speech promoting background check laws  however, he brought tears to my eyes when all he had to tell gun corporations was to develop smart guns or safe guns. The CEOs from gun corporations must love Obama  he wants them to make millions of smart guns to replace dumb guns, or unsafe guns. This should make them billions of dollars in sales.

While smart guns are a step in the right direction, they wont replace the millions of guns in circulation today. Even the Presidents push for background checks will only have a minuscule effect on gun deaths  we still will have three hundred million guns in circulation.

Connecticut and states with gun registration and licensing have reduced gun violence  statistics have proved that the states with weak regulations have more gun deaths. Connecticut would be even safer if other states had our laws  over half the crimes committed are with guns from other states.

The Second Amendment is our only national gun law, and when it was written, they did not have a weapon of mass destruction  the AR-15, which can fire off hundreds of shots in the time a musket could only fire one. The Second Amendment only adds to our gun violence problems.

Since everyone in our country agrees we do not want criminals and the mentally unstable to possess guns, then why not bring the Second Amendment into the twenty-first century, and rewrite it, to make it clear that only law-abiding and mentally stable people have the right to bear non-military guns!

When the laws of one state affect the safety and welfare of the citizens of another state, then a uniform national law is required. Connecticut and the U.S.A. learned that lesson with the minimum alcoholic drinking age. How many Connecticut youths were unnecessarily killed or injured coming home from New York, because both states had different minimum drinking ages? It stopped only when all states agreed on a national minimum drinking age of 21.

President Obama finally shot a bulls-eye when he said that we must only vote for candidates who want gun reform. This is the only way we can replace the gun puppets in Congress!

Paul Adinolfi is a resident of Sandy Hook.
The WSHU Public Radio Group announced that as of Monday, it would no longer be broadcasting two of its radio stations: WSTC (1400 AM, Stamford) and WNLK (1350 AM, Norwalk).

In a statement, WSHU General Manager George Lombardi said: "This was a strategic decision. We are a non-profit organization and a community resource. We have a responsibility to our supporters to make smart business decisions, and we have found that it is not financially viable to operate these stations at this time."
New Delhi: Photojournalist Steve McCurry, noted for his thought-provoking pictures including the iconic 'Afghan Girl', says he undertook several train journeys across the length and breadth of India in search of the perfect photo

and "liked Kolkata a lot."

"Train stations are a microcosm of life. Like people living on the platform. The stations are full of activity, they are so crowded, so lively. When I was here in 1985, most of the people travelled through trains," McCurry told PTI in an interview here.

The photographer, whose picture of an Afghan refugee girl in 1984 made it to the cover of the National Geographic magazine, has collated photos taken across the country, capturing lives of everyday people in extraordinary settings

into his new book titled "India by Steve McCurry".

During his sojourns, McCurry visited cities like Mumbai and Delhi, but admits it was the city of Kolkata, which caught his eye. "I liked Kolkata a lot, there is a whole lot of culture, art, photography, poetry, the colonial architecture. The city

has a lot of characters. It has a lot of activity on the streets, it is always a wonderful surprise whenever you visit Calcutta," he said.

The prolific photographer who first came to India in 1978 pointed out that in a space of over 30 years the country had changed a lot and change was but inevitable. "Nowadays you have cell phones, all those Ambassador cars are gone," he said, adding "Progress is unstoppable, it is inevitable, it's the way things evolve."

The illustrious photographer said that while photographing in India, McCurry observed that people "lived their lives in public." "Children playing, people working in the street, I think it's the people living their lives in public, in most part of the world people's lives are private," he said.

McCurry's "India" explores the lives of everyday people in extraordinary settings: from the Ganesh festival on Chowpatty beach in Mumbai to the Kolkata railway station before dawn; from the flower markets of Kashmir to the streets of Old Delhi; from the mountains of Ladakh to Bollywood.

The book has reproduced in a large format with captions140 images taken across the Indian subcontinent, many previously unpublished and is accompanied by an introductory essay from historian and writer William Dalrymple, who hosted the photographer at the just concluded Jaipur Literature

Festival.

The tome has been published by Phaidon, UK who has partnered with Roli Books to bring the book to the Indian sub-continent.
OTTAWA, Jan. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - Export Development Canada (EDC) announced today an annual record in the amount of financing it provided to facilitate business between Canadian and Indian companies in 2015, nearing an estimated USD 1 billion.

"2015 was EDC's most successful year to date in India, and there's a lot more room to grow," said Nathan Andrew Nelson, EDC's Chief Representative in India. "We've been working closely with Global Affairs Canada and provincial trade partners to provide Canadian companies with direct access to many of the country's top-tier companies."

Overall, Canadian and Indian companies used more than an estimated CAD 2 billion of EDC services for their trade transactions in 2015.

EDC's permanent representatives in Mumbai and New Delhi made more than 100 introductions between Indian buyers and Canadian companies in 2015, and co-led three significant trade missions in the oil and gas, information and communications technologies, and infrastructure sectors.

As an example of how EDC leverages relationships with top-tier Indian companies, EDC established a new USD 500 M financial protocol agreement for the Tata Group in 2015. The financing agreement allows Tata to access the financing for transactions involving Canadian companies across all of Tata's global supply chains.

EDC has provided more than USD 3.7 billion in financing over the past decade for Indian companies that have, or are open to, business with Canadian companies. "This," said Nelson, "established EDC as a long-term, reliable financing partner for companies trading between Canada and India." EDC has been doing business in India for more than 30 years, and has had a permanent presence there since 2005.

Nelson noted that EDC will be adding staff to its Mumbai office this year to handle increased demand for its services, reflected in the following growth figures (CAD) relevant to Indo-Canadian trade:

Exports of goods to India grew by 52 per cent between 2010 and 2014, and exports of services grew by 58 per cent during the same period

grew by 52 per cent between 2010 and 2014, and exports of services grew by 58 per cent during the same period Overall bilateral trade in goods between Canada and India totaled CAD 6.3 billion in 2014 while trade in services in 2013  the last year for which figures are available  totaled CAD 1.6 billion

and totaled in 2014 while trade in services in 2013  the last year for which figures are available  totaled India accounted for 6.1 per cent of Canada's total global exports of goods in 2014, up from 5.2 per cent in 2010

accounted for 6.1 per cent of total global exports of goods in 2014, up from 5.2 per cent in 2010 India's GDP is nearly USD 2 trillion and is forecast to grow by more than 8 per cent this year, the fastest growth in the G20

EDC plans to continue its focus on the key relationships that helped propel the record-setting year, while also reaching out to even more Canadian companies doing business with the world's ninth-largest economy.

"India presents huge opportunities for Canadian exporters," added Nelson, "many of which will benefit from the type of assistance EDC can provide to help them do business there."

About EDC

EDC is Canada's trade finance agency, providing financing and insurance solutions locally and around the world to help Canadian companies of any size respond to international business opportunities. As a profitable Crown corporation that operates on commercial principles, EDC works together with private- and public-sector financial institutions to create greater capacity for Canadian companies to engage in trade and investment.

For more information about how we can help your company, or how other Canadian companies are finding success overseas, call us at 1-888-434-8508 or visit www.edc.ca.

SOURCE Export Development Canada

For further information: Spokesperson: Phil Taylor, Export Development Canada, (613) 598-2904, [email protected]
TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - SESQUI today announced the Government of Canada's commitment to support SESQUI as a Signature Initiative of Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation.

SESQUI, short for "sesquicentennial", is an interactive festival experience that will travel to communities across Canada in 2017. The festival will be housed in a portable village of dome structures, including an immersive digital space that will host live events, interactive programs and a cutting edge 360 film experience.

"The 150th anniversary of Confederation gives us a unique chance to get involved in our communities and celebrate our shared values, our achievements, our environment's majestic character and our place in the world," said Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage. "The year 2017 promises to be an extraordinary one, full of opportunities to celebrate and create lasting legacies for future generations. I invite all Canadians to take part in the SESQUI experience that will be travelling across the country."

Through this traveling festival and digital initiatives, SESQUI celebrates our dynamic creative spirit, inviting Canadians to share experiences and work together to build the Canada of tomorrow. A recent study from The Gandalf Group suggests Canadians are excited to come together in celebration.

"A recent study by The Gandalf Group revealed that over 90% of Canadians feel the 150th anniversary of Confederation in Canada is worth celebrating, and 75% of Canadians are excited to have the SESQUI mobile dome experience come to their community," said Heather Sinclair, Executive Producer of SESQUI. "We are thankful to Canadian Heritage for their generous support which allows us to confidently engage Corporate Canada for additional partnerships to bring this unique experience to Canadians."

In addition to the film, interactive programming and live events, SESQUI will have an online hub that will offer rich digital content and act as an information and education resource. For information and to learn how to become a partner of SESQUI, please visit www.sesqui.ca.

About SESQUI

With a vision to celebrate Canadians from coast to coast to coast, SESQUI is an interactive media touring festival that will travel across the country in 2017 for Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation. A Canadian initiative, SESQUI aims to engage millions of Canadians through its 360 cinematic experience, immersive content, live events, online activities and education programs showcasing the best in Canadian culture and innovation. SESQUI is a Signature Initiative of the 150th anniversary of Confederation, poised to lead the celebrations in Canadian communities in 2017. For information and to learn how to become a partner of SESQUI, please visit SESQUI.ca.

SOURCE SESQUI

Video with caption: "Video: SESQUI is proud to be chosen as an official Canada 150 Signature Initiative". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20160126_C5375_VIDEO_EN_605959.mp4&posterurl=http%3a%2f%2fphotos.newswire.ca%2fimages%2f20160126_C5375_PHOTO_EN_605959.jpg&order=1&jdd=20160126&cnum=C5375

Image with caption: "SESQUI (CNW Group/SESQUI)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160126_C5375_PHOTO_EN_605957.jpg

For further information: Media inquiries: Andrea Grau, Touchwood PR, E: [email protected], P: 416.593.0777; SESQUI inquiries: Linda Antoniadis, Vice President, Marketing and Partnerships, E: [email protected], P: 647-406-5467
Alibaba Group is expected to post its weakest quarterly revenue growth on record. (Representational Image)

Beijing: Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group is expected to post its weakest quarterly revenue growth on record, Thomson Reuters data shows, a slowdown analysts say will heat up the battle with smaller rival JD.com Inc in a tougher economy.

Alibaba's revenue for the quarter ending December is projected to grow at 26.6 per cent, according to a Thomson Reuters SmartEstimate survey of 28 analysts, which would be the slowest rate since the company started publishing such data 3-1/2 years ago.

The pace also lags the 47-51 per cent revenue growth JD.com projected for the same period, which is also the slowest expansion since the company started releasing records.

Alibaba and JD.com declined to comment, citing the pre-earnings quiet period.

"When the market starts to slow you start to have real winners and real losers," said Brian Buchwald, chief executive of consumer intelligence company Bomoda. "I think that they need to pay attention to their immediate competition."

JD.com has focused on more affluent shoppers in China's biggest cities, a strategy that may be paying off in an economy that last year grew at its weakest pace in a quarter of a century.

While the two companies calculate the total value of goods sold - known as gross merchandise volume (GMV)differently, JD.com's GMV grew 82 per cent in the nine-months to September while Alibaba's rose 34 per cent, suggesting China's biggest e-tailer was losing market share.

Earlier this month, Alibaba Chief Executive Daniel Zhang said the company will pivot towards these "first-tier" cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, after having trumpeted a push into China's countryside, as well as abroad.

In an article on Alibaba's blog page, Zhang also said the company was seeking to retain and win over more customers by "enhancing reputation and optimizing user experience".

This may be a tough ask, as quality concerns still dog Alibaba and as JD.com has already carved out its own space in these cities by offering speedy delivery and quality assurances.

"They have faster shipping speeds, and the quality is more trustworthy," said Zoe Li, who works at a tech start-up in Beijing, referring to JD.com compared to Alibaba.

Last month, the Chinese e-commerce giant avoided being named on a US blacklist for sites hosting the sale of fake goods, and appointed a new head of anti-counterfeiting.
Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central Zone) has said that over $200 billion was being stashed away in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, sp...

Buhari, last week in UAE, signed a Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, which includes the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth.Senator Sani said he was making the revelation from the point of strength as the chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debts, as well as Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.Sani, who was fielding questions from journalists after women supporters from his political ward paid him a solidarity visit at one of his campaign offices in Kaduna, told reporters that any corrupt person warming to President Muhammadu Buhari for cover would be exposed, investigated and prosecuted.He said: Corrupt Nigerians have stashed unbelievable amount of monies in Dubai alone in the name of estates acquisition, purchase of exotic houses and business partnership in the last 16 years. Some have stashed raw cash. This is why the US, and Europe are making conditions for laundering of money into their countries very difficult.These crooks have now found it conducive to use the Middle East and South East Asia as their destinations. They use names of their cronies, family members and friends to siphon public funds out of Nigeria.Some of them are APC members, who had their political upbringing in the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.Sooner than later those who are parading themselves as Buharis friends, but are corrupt, will be interrogated, prosecuted because the President does not know friend or relation as far as the fight against corruption is concerned.It was based on the information on the quantity and quality of the assets of corrupt Nigerians, that President Buhari had to sign that agreement with UAE at Abu Dhabi. I can tell you that it was smart and patriotic move.Let me advise the President to steer clear of hypocrites, because it is better to live with an enemy than hypocrite because hypocrite derives joy from stabbing ones back.Over $200 billion Dollars are stashed away from Nigeria to Dubai alone. This may the monies stolen since in the past 20 years. I am not talking about estates and bonds and other securities bought with Nigeria stolen money.Buhari is going to recover all these monies and assets with the help of UAE.If you notice now, since the agreement, some of the corrupt persons are now rushing to Dubai to effect changes in the ownerships of the ill-gotten assets. But, they are just wasting their time.President Buhari needs the support of all Nigerians to wipe out corruption from the country. The President is on rescue mission. He needs our support.We cannot sit down idly and watch people sabotaged Buhari, and I can tell you that since Buhari went to Dubai, there were three attempts to sabotage Buharis government.The first one was that they planted a story in newspapers that there was crisis in Buharis government because he went to Dubai;The second one was that they planted fake lists of Nigerians that have property in Dubai, while we were waiting for the original list of those who have houses in Dubai. And the third one was to sponsor foreign media to discredit Buharis economic policies, he said.Earlier, leader of the women group, Hajiya Azumi Madugu, hailed Sani as friend of the poor and an enemy of oppression.
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday leave Abuja for a three-day state visit to Kenya. According to a statement on Tuesday by h...

According to a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President will on arrival in Kenya join his host, President Uhuru Kenyatta and other dignitaries at a memorial service for Kenyan soldiers who were killed by Al-Shabaab in Somalia on January 15.After the memorial service in Eldoret, Buhari will proceed to Nairobi for bilateral talks on Thursday with Kenyan Government officials led by President Kenyatta.The statement read in part, Before the conclusion of his visit, President Buhari and President Kenyatta will jointly preside over a Kenya-Nigeria Business Forum in Nairobi.The Presidents entourage to Kenya will include the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Industry, Trade and Investment.At the conclusion of his visit to Kenya on Friday, President Buhari will go on to Addis Ababa for the 26th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government.President Buhari will also participate in a meeting of the African Unions Peace and Security Council before returning to Abuja on Sunday, January 31st.
Eritrean men have been asked by the government to marry more than one wife or risk being jailed for life. This is contained in a state...

This is contained in a statement in Arabic by the Grand Mufti (the highest official of religious law in the country) which scanned copy surfaced on social media sites on Thursday last week.In the statement, Eritrea called for all men in the country to marry at least two wives and the government assured the men that it would pay for the marriage ceremonies and houses.According to the government, the order is because there is an acute shortage of men occasioned by causalities during the civil war with Ethiopia.Afkinsider.com said the document, which could not be independently verified, warned that any man or woman who opposes the decision will face a life sentence.TheThe document in Arabic, which is in Arabic, says, Based on the law of God in polygamy, and given the circumstances which the country is experiencing in terms of men shortage, the Eritrean department of Religious Affairs has decided on the following:First that every man shall marry at least two women and the man who refuses to do so shall be subjected to life imprisonment with hard labour.The woman who tries to prevent her husband from marrying another wife shall be punished to life imprisonment.More than 150,000 Eritrean soldiers were killed during the secession war from Ethiopia between 1998 and 2000. At the time Eritrea had about four million people.Eritrea, is a country in theHorn of Africa. With its capital at Asmara, it is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. The northeastern and eastern parts of Eritrea have an extensive coastline along the Red Sea, across from Saudi Arabia and Yemen.The nation has a total area of approximately 117,600 km, and includes the Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands. Its name Eritrea is based on the Greek name for the Red Sea, which was first adopted for Italian Eritrea in 1890.The country ranks that worst (189 out of 189) on the World Banks ease-of-doing-business index.
The Federal Government has said that it had not closed any criminal case being investigated in the country, technically raising the pote...

The Federal Government has said that it had not closed any criminal case being investigated in the country, technically raising the potential for some prominent Nigerians implicated in the legendary Siemens and Halliburton scandals to face trial.The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, who made the disclosure in a chat with newsmen, also dismissed as untenable the notion that President Muhammadu Buhari was afraid of taking the Halliburton and Siemens cases because the key suspects were top military leaders.Malami was responding to enquiries about the claim that Buharis administration had jettisoned the probe into the Halliburton and Siemens corruption scandals, in which Nigeria lost billions of Naira to high-ranking Nigerians who held sway at the time.Media reports yet to be dispelled by the administration had claimed that the government was afraid to confront the powerful beneficiaries of the scam which had landed other suspects in the United States, Germany and others in jail.Nigeria is said to have lost over $182 million to the Halliburton corruption case alone.Malami said Buhari was not a man who could be restrained by fear from doing what was right and in the overall best interest of Nigerians he had sworn to defend and protect from harms way.The minister said those who had jumped to the erroneous conclusion that the major corruption scandals had been swept under the carpet should note that the present administration had zero tolerance for corruption and would, therefore, not close any criminal case.Malami, however, said in tackling the corruption cases, the Federal Government would not be assuaged by what he called extraneous influences or action by available prima facie evidence.Malami said: The idea of fear does not come in at all as far as this President is concerned in the fight against graft. Dont forget that whatever Mr. President does is guided by the rule of law and available evidence.It must be noted, however, that no extraneous influence can influence our actions as we move to fight corruption in all its ramifications. To be noted also is the clear fact that no criminal case can be closed once the facts are handy regardless of who is involved.Buhari has come under criticism for not taking up the two major corruption scandals that predated the Jonathan era. The verbal attack arose out of the decision of Buharis administration to limit its probe of corrupt officials to the Jonathan administration.According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, it will be a distraction for the President to begin digging into all former administrations.Adesina said: But for a proper take off of President Muhammadu Buharis government, there is need to look into the immediate past government (Jonathans). We are interested in investigating Jonathans government to recover stolen funds.
Jaipur: Bollywood actor Anupam Kher and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra sparred during a debate over the limits imposed on freedom of speech and were joined in by a politically divided audience at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Tuesday.

Speaking against the motion at a session entitled 'Should Freedom of Speech be Absolute?' Kher alleged that a perception of intolerance was being created at festivals like JLF, adding that there should not be an impression that people in the country are living in fear.

"There is a perception of intolerance being created at festivals like these. Freedom of expression comes with a sense of responsibility in every citizen of the country. The rules which you follow at home (freedom of speech), you should follow in the country as well," he said.

The actor, who was selected for the Padma Bhushan, said India is one of the countries with an "expansive freedom of expression".

"Let's not create this impression that we're living in a country, where we have to live in fear and that there is no freedom of expression here and that people are going to come to your home to arrest you and then put you in jail," he said.

Kher said that it was only in this country that one could call the Prime Minister a coward or a psychopath and get away with it whereas when he went abroad he was "subjected to a lot of checking, where I have to take off my shoes and sometimes even my pants".

Hitting out at Kher for apparently targeting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjriwal, Aam Aadmi Party minister Mishra said that Prime Minister was not the only person who could speak his 'Mann Ki Baat'.

"Can only one man do his 'Mann Ki Baat' in the country? Everybody can do it. Politicians must not tell me what I write on Twitter or Facebook. Those very people who've assumed the position of the country's culture and religion have no knowledge of our 'dharma'," he said.

Mishra said everyone has the right to chant Modi's name without being afraid of being jailed, to which the crowd responded by chanting the prime minister's name.

Vigorously leading the chants was Kher, who was described by fellow panelist Salil Tripathi as a "bad music conductor".

JD(U) MP Pavan K Varma posited that reasonable restrictions were required on freedom of expression, adding that if everybody exercised their right to speak without restraint, democracy would collapse.

Madhu Trehan and Suhel Seth also spoke against the motion stating a danger of fringe elements hijacking the discourse, and cited examples of figures like US politician Donald Trump.

Dalit writer P Sivakami brought forth view that freedom of press is essential to bring forth the narratives of those who have been subjugated by the upper echelons of the society.
Nine years after preferring the charges of alleged diversion of the Plateau States N1.126bn ecological funds against a former governor ...

The trial began with a Supreme Courts judgment delivered on February 27, 2015, laying to rest an interlocutory application filed by Dariye and which had stalled the trial since it was filed in 2007.The apex court after dismissing Dariyes appeal in the judgment ordered Dariye, who was the Plateau State governor between May 29, 1999 and May 18, 2004, to submit himself for trial.Dariye, who is currently a senator representing Plateau Central, dressed in a brown kaftan, and looked unruffled as the first prosecution witness testified in court on Monday.The prosecution called its first witness, Musa Sunday, who narrated to the court, presided over by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, how Dariye allegedly diverted the states N1.126bn ecological funds.Sunday, a detective with the EFCC, said he was involved in the investigation into how Dariye allegedly diverted Plateau States funds while serving as governor.The witness said investigation by the EFCC operatives revealed that the former governor had, in 2001, applied for the ecological funds in the name of his state but collected the money in person and lodged it with the Abuja branch of the All States Trust Bank Plc (now defunct).The witness added that the bank manager, allegedly acting on Dariyes instructions paid N100m in the name of PDP South-West. The money he said was later traced to a company  Marine Float Nigeria Limited  allegedly owned by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.Sunday, who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said efforts to ensure that the firm refunded the money failed.He said Dariye instructed the payment of N178.8m to an unregistered company  Ebenezer Retnan Venture Limited, which was later discovered to belong to the former governor.He said investigation also revealed that Dariye ordered the payment of N80m from the ecological funds to the Permanent Secretary in the Ecological Fund Office, Kingsley Nkumeh.The witness said although the EFCC later recovered the N80m from Nkumeh, he fled the country on learning that he was to be prosecuted.He said Nkumeh had yet to return to the country.Sunday added that Dariye paid N250m to a firm  Pinnacle Communications  owned by a contractor to the Plateau State Government.He told the court that the decision to investigate Dariye was informed by a request by the London Metropolitan Police for Nigerias assistance in investigating some parties and companies linked with the former governor.The witness said, We invited Pinnacle Communications and the representative of the company actually confirmed collecting the N250m, but told us he is a contractor of the Plateau State Government.The N80m paid to Union Homes turned out to have been paid to a Permanent Secretary, Ecological Funds Office, Kingsley Nkumeh.When interviewed, he said that was his share for facilitating the payment of the ecological funds to the state. The said amount was recovered by the EFCC from the Permanent Secretary of Ecological Funds Office.Charges were later prepared for him to be charged to court in Lagos. He was granted an administrative bail; he resigned and left the country. Our investigation at Union Homes revealed that the cheque was cleared into an account owned by the Permanent Secretary, Nkumeh.The bank gave us the mandate card of the Permanent Secretary, into whose account the N80m was paid. The N176.8m was traced to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures account domiciled at All States Trust Bank. From investigation at the Corporate Affairs Commission, we found it was not registered. There was no record of the companys existence.The N100m paid to the PDP South-West was traced to Marine Float Limited. The mandate we received from the bank showed that Marine Float is owned by a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Efforts at recovering this money have been going on. We did not succeed in recovering it.The court proceedings were interrupted by an outage.Sunday, also in the course of his testimony, narrated how the bank, All States Trust Bank Plc (now defunct), aided the former governor to lodge the cheque into his (Dariyes) account instead of the state governments accounts.The witness said, The CBN cheque and the handwritten disbursement letter were recovered and another additional type-written disbursement letter by the defendant to the banks branch manager was all recovered.When we recovered those documents and cheques from CBN, we traced it to where it came from. Investigation led us to the Ecological Funds Unit, under the Presidency. At the Ecological Funds Unit, we interviewed one Mr. Adewusi, who told us that there was a time the Plateau State Government applied for ecological funds for ecological problem in the state, and approval was given for N1.126bn.And that before the cheque was prepared, a payment voucher covering the said amount, which had other documents attached to it, were prepared and audited, at the end of which payment was made.When the cheque was ready for collection, the defendant and his orderly, one Inspector Victor, went to the Ecological Funds Office and, upon instruction by the defendant, the aide signed for the cheque and the defendant took the cheque to All States Trust Bank, Abuja.Investigation revealed that in the office of the bank manager, the defendant instructed the bank manager how the money should be disbursed to some individuals and companies. The banks branch manager complied with the defendants instruction.Instead of the money to be paid into any of the Plateau State Governments accounts, the bank used its own bank accounts to clear the cheque and disbursed to individuals and companies as instructed by the defendant.Copies of his instructions, both type written and handwritten were made available to us during investigation.Sunday is expected to resume his testimony today (Tuesday) by 10am.The EFCC, in 2007, preferred money laundering and charges bordering on the diversion of the ecological funds against Dariye.
In six years of Goodluck Jonathans presidency, the opposition told us again and again the man was clueless. It made sure the tag stuck...

In six years of Goodluck Jonathans presidency, the opposition told us again and again the man was clueless. It made sure the tag stuck to him like glue. But now we have a new sheriff in town, with the APC claiming to be better at everything than the PDP. While that might still be subject to debate, there is overwhelming evidence that in the cluelessness department, the PDP is certainly no match for the APC.Here is a compendium from the APC textbook of cluelessness, provided within barely one year in office. If you want to know how to be a clueless president, this is the APC blueprint.Instead of giving Nigerians the change you championed, give them excuses. Blame Goodluck Jonathan for everything, including the harmattan. Whenever you make a blunder, pass the buck to the former president. If there is petrol shortage, blame it on Goodluck Jonathan. If the budget is dead on arrival, blame it on Goodluck Jonathan.In the middle of an economic crisis, promise to provide Nigerians with free education; free meals daily for millions of Nigerian public school-children; free tertiary education; free health-care and free houses. Facing a drastic drop in Nigerias income, declare you will be giving grants of $1.5 billion a year to Nigerias poor. When you fail to deliver on any on these highfalutin promises, blame it quickly on Goodluck Jonathan.Forget the name of you vice-presidential running-mate. Call him Yemi Osunbade instead of Yemi Osinbajo. Tell President Obama the name of your political party is the All Nigerias Peoples Congress when it is All Progressives Congress. Call your party on CNN the All Progressives Confidence.Tell Al Jazeera INEC means Independent Nigerian Electoral Commission instead of Independent National Electoral Commission. Even though West Germany ceased to exist in 1999 and the current German president is Joachim Gauck, refer to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel as President Michelle of West Germany.Destroy INEC by turning it into a National Commission for Inconclusive Elections. Go to the United Nations and give rousing speech about fighting Boko Haram, then fail to attend the crucial meeting on Boko Haram at the same U.N. session. Tell the Americans the Chibok girls were abducted from their hotels instead of their hostels.Tell Nigerians there is nothing like petroleum subsidy. Then as president, announce the removal of the non-existent petroleum subsidy. Claim Jonathan diverted $700 million from the $1.1 billion Chinese loan for the Lagos/Kano rail project when only $400 million was earmarked for Lagos/Kano rail. Announce that foreign exchange can now be paid into domiciliary accounts without specifying if depositors will be allowed to withdraw them.Declare that you will kill corruption in Nigeria while being surrounded and bankrolled by corrupt politicians. Then invite those with corruption allegations hanging over their heads into your cabinet. Maintain: Jonathans ministers stole 150 billion dollars. But fail to prosecute them for stealing $150 billion. Tell Nigerians $2.5 billion was stolen by the PDP through Dasukigate, but charge people to court for stealing no more than $100 million.Believe that trying members of the PDP for corruption on the pages of newspapers amounts to waging a serious war on corruption and is a substitute for national economic policy. Say: We cannot build an economy where corruption is the working capital. Then declare to no effect that recovered stolen monies will be used to revamp the national economy.Insist Abacha never stole any money, and then probe the PDP for the mismanagement of the non-existent Abacha loot recovered from abroad. Fail to recognise that with the official exchange-rate at N198 to $1, while the parallel market rate is $305 to $1, you have created the widest parallel market margin ever recorded in Nigerias history of Nigeria and laid the foundation for widespread corruption in the banks.Accuse the opposition of using public funds to finance its election campaign, but fail to disclose where you got the money to finance your own very expensive election campaign. Claim to be so cash-strapped, you had to borrow N27.5 million to pay for the presidential nomination papers of your party; then state in your assets declaration that you have N30 million in your bank account. Commend INEC for running the ostensibly free and fair election that brought you to power; then challenge in court every election conducted by the same INEC that your party lost.Claim you inherited an empty treasury in spite of the over $30 billion left in our foreign reserves. Say you met no money in the treasury, then spend N2.2 billion on a four-day junket to the U.S. with no agenda and with nothing achieved.Say: the federal government of Nigeria is: the biggest Boko Haram. Then become the head of the federal government of Nigeria. Declare grandiloquently: I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody. Then say: The constituents (that) gave me 97 percent cannot in all honesty be treated on some issues with constituencies that gave me 5 percent. Say you belong to everybody but ensure that your personal aides are virtually all Northerners.Say: I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue. Then send EFCC dogs after Elder Godsday Erubebe.Say: I pledge myself and the government to the rule of law, in which none shall be so above the law that they are not subject to its dictates, and none shall be so below it that they are not availed of its protection. Then seek to replace the rule of law with the rule of fear. Go on national television and tell Nigerians you will not be obeying the courts in the cases of Dasuki and Kanu. Interfere in the judicial process by publicly declaring your enemies guilty without trial.Tell Christiane Amanpour on CNN that you will defeat Boko Haram within two months if elected. Then say you did not say so. Declare that you will defeat Boko Haram by the end of December 2015, then say you only meant to defeat it technically after it unleashes mayhem on Maiduguri while you were busy celebrating its fictional defeat.Say: Boko Haram is a typical example of small fires causing large fires. An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by his extra judicial murder at the hands of the police. Then send troops to massacre hundreds of Shiites in Zaria. Involve Nigeria in a Middle Eastern regional struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran by joining the Saudi led anti-terrorist coalition. Open the door for wider terrorist attacks on Nigeria by killing Shiites in the North while the Saudis execute Shiite mullahs and prisoners in Saudi Arabia.Prosecute avoidable wars on several home-fronts: against Boko Haramites in the North-East; Shiites in the North-West; Biafrans in the South-East; and Niger Deltans in the South-South.Grind the country to a halt by making yourself Sole Administrator of Nigeria for six months. Squander your vital first 100 days in office doing absolutely nothing; while receiving cheers as Baba Go-Slow. Present body language as a substitute for policy. Ensure that over N5 trillion is wiped off the Nigerian Stock Exchange within six months of your coming to office.Promise: I will stabilise global oil price. Then watch as the oil price tumbles from $50 to $28 within eight months of your presidency. Also ball-watch as the naira tumbles to a record-breaking N305 to one dollar.Declare when the country is broke: I will provide one meal a day for children in public primary schools. I will make direct cash transfer of 5,000 naira to the 25 million poorest and most vulnerable citizens. Propose through your Minister of Science Fiction to create 3.4 million jobs in Nigeria in 2016 through the production of pencils. Plan to have 365 cultural festivals 365 days a year under your Ministry of Culture.Shout chanji, chanji while a large chunk of your party-members are turncoats from the same PDP that ruled the country for the last 16 years. Refer to ministers as noisemakers then establish a Cabinet of ministers. Take six months to choose a cabinet then come out with old cargoes. Tell Nigerians you delayed appointing ministers because you were looking for saints and angels, then appoint many known devils. Say: The corrupt will not be appointed into my administration. Then appoint those with corruption allegations hanging over their heads.Delight in putting square pegs in round holes. Make Kayode Fayemi, who has a Ph.D. in War Studies, Minister for Solid Minerals instead of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Make Professor Anthony Anwukah, a professor of Education and a former vice-chancellor a Junior Minister to a journalist, Adamu Adamu, in the Ministry of Education. Make Solomon Dalong, a former Assistant Inspector of Prisons the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. Make Muhammadu Bello, who headed the National Hajj Commission for eight years, FCT Minister.Propose a N6 trillion budget in 2016 for a nation that failed to meet revenue estimates of N4 trillion in 2015. Predicate this on borrowing N2.2 trillion, which requires N1.2 billion daily to service.Benchmark your budget on the price of oil being $38 in 2016, making it dead on arrival with the oil price falling to $28 within a fortnight of your budget presentation. Fail to anticipate that, once sanctions against Iran are lifted, the oil price will go further down as Iranian oil is added to the international oil glut. Allocate N40 billion to look for oil in the North-East in the middle of an oil glut when Nigeria needs to diversify from oil.Within the framework of a drastic cut in Nigerias income, raise the budget for Aso Rock from N6.6 billion in 2015 to N18 billion in 2016. Earmark N3.6 billion for the purchase of several BMW saloon cars! Budget N1.75 billion for feeding in Aso Rock in 2016 when Jonathan only budgeted N530 million in 2015. Allocate only N29 billion to the Ministry of Agriculture, while earmarking N39 billion for the Ministry of Information and Culture.Present the budget to the National Assembly without first scrutinising it. Present the budget with fanfare, then send someone to steal it from the National Assembly. Present the budget, then withdraw it after reading it. Remember this: when the budget fails, blame it on Goodluck Jonathan!
The Islamic Republic of Iran has called for the release of the leader, Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-zakyzaky, saying ...

The Islamic Republic of Iran has called for the release of the leader, Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-zakyzaky, saying his continued detention is illegal and unfair.Iran expressed the belief that El-zakyzakys detention was not in consonance with the Nigerian constitution, stating that his release would heal the hurt of his followers.The Iranian ambassador to Nigeria, Saeed Koozechi, who said this during an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, also advised the Federal Government to compensate those who suffered various losses during the bloody clash between the Shiite movement and the Army in Zaria, Kaduna State.He described the Shiite Islamic sect as a peaceful religious movement which he said had no connection to extremism.He called for a transparent probe into the clash as well as fair prosecution of those involved.Koozechi said, The Shiite is a small minority group in Nigeria, they engage in peaceful religious activities, they are not harmful to anyone. We have never heard of unrest and extremism from the Shiite followers in Nigeria.The Zaria incident is unfortunate and regrettable. We hope the investigation and prosecution will be fair and transparent. We hope the government will assist those who suffered financial losses during the clash.We dont believe the continued detention of El-zakyzaky is legal or fair, he shouldnt be kept for a long time. We look forward to seeing his release and his wife soon. The Shiite are Nigerians too and they have rights like other citizens. The government must be clever to not pour fuel on fire. Recognizing the rights of minorities is a real value to social development.
Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lokoja yesterday struck out two motions seeking interlocutory injunction t...

Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lokoja yesterday struck out two motions seeking interlocutory injunction to stop the inauguration of the Governor-elect, Yahaya Bello as the governor of the state.Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Halima Mohammed, in her ruling dismissed the motions, saying though the tribunal has Jurisdiction to entertain such prayers, but the motions were not contained in the original petitions brought by the plaintiffs involved.She said granting the motions filled by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party, LP, will definitely affect the life of the original case before the court.The Tribunal also dismissed the motion filed by Reuben Egwaba, the counsel to Labour Party seeking to stop the inauguration of Yahaya Bello because he (Bello) has no Deputy as at the time of the supplementary election of 5th December 2015.Justice Mohammed urged all the parties in the case to prepare for accelerated hearing of the substantive case which will commence from next sitting, warning that the tribunal will no longer entertain the pre -hearing matters again.Meanwhile, the campaign coordinators of the Kogi State governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in the Eastern Senatorial district of the State yesterday unanimously endorsed an Abuja based publisher Mr. Gowon Usman Egbunu as their preferred deputy governorship candidate.This is coming on the heels of an appeal by the factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Godwin Osuyi, that all aggrieved parties in the political crisis currently rocking the state to embrace peace and support the incoming governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.The endorsement of Gowon Usman Egbunu was contained in a-six-page letter addressed to the Governor-elect and signed by Dr. Yakubu Ugwalawo, the Leader and Senatorial Coordinator as well as Hon. Hassan Haruna, Hon. Yahaya Menyaga and Prince Isah Abdullahi among other co-coordinators.In the letter, with copies were sent to the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, the National Deputy Chairman (North Central Zone) of the Party, National Secretary, State Chairman of the APC, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment (who is from Kogi State) and all APCSenators from Kogi State, the Coordinators pointed out that the nomination of Mr. Egbunu was based on the fact that he is tested, matured, creative and dogged.In related development, the factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Godwin Osuyi, urged all aggrieved parties in the political crisis currently rocking the state to embrace peace and support the incoming governor of Alhaji Yahaya Bello.The factional speaker, Godwin Osuyi, said that the state will benefit more in an atmosphere of peace than political rancour.
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it would no longer tolerate the use of public school premises for social functions and parties...

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it would no longer tolerate the use of public school premises for social functions and parties.The government also warned owners of private schools across the state to comply with rules and regulations guiding their operations.The Deputy Governor of the State, Idiat Oluranti Adebule, said this while briefing journalists on the strategic focus of the state government on education this year, adding that the Governor had directed that schools should no longer be used for social functions.She said: The Governor has directed that schools will no longer be used for social activities any longer. We want to implore members of the public to report any school that violates this directive and we would ensure that defaulting schools are sanctioned accordingly.Adebule, who also oversees the Ministry of Education, said the state government was putting a searchlight on the standard of education in the private schools, saying it will no longer be business as usual for such schools that undermine best practices.She said as a first step, the government will engage with private school owners and proprietors to intimate them on the action plan of the present administration towards improving the standard of education, saying although government is willing to partner with private schools, they must also be willing to adhere strictly to the acceptable standard.
EKITI State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged Nigerians to ignore Governor Ayodele Fayoses perceived seditious r...

EKITI State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged Nigerians to ignore Governor Ayodele Fayoses perceived seditious remarks threatening to bring down President Muhammadu Buharis administration, claiming the Governor has been acting under psychological stress.The party, which described the governors outburst as treasonable acts capable of threatening the survival of democracy in Nigeria, implored security agents to closely monitor him.But in a swift reaction, Governor Fayose, described the allegation of treasonable comments made against him by the Ekiti APC as not only ridiculous but coming from an unsound mind.Fayose had over the weekend in an interview with an online media, said if anything happened to him or his government over the military probe of June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state, that he would bring President Buharis government down.Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement, the party said, We want to appeal to Nigerians around the world to see Fayose as a special breed with a special case of psychosis among Ekiti people and so he should be treated as a special man whose actions should not be equated to Ekiti standard of behaviour. Even with his special condition of mental torture that requires psychiatric management, we shall still urge the security agencies to watch the governor over his subversive activities within and outside the country and to act now to bring him under the law to account for his actions.We had earlier alerted the security agencies that Fayose stockpiled arms in the Government House with hundreds of criminals already trained in arms handling. The arms and ammunition are still there.We are telling the security agencies again with all sense of responsibility that Fayose is currently recruiting 10 thugs from each of the 16 local government to assemble at a training facility in Ifaki-Ekiti. Who he wants to attack with armed thugs, we dont know, but we know he has already made Hilux vans available to them for initial operations.Fayose, in a statement by the governors Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Asdelusi, said the tone of the press release by Olatubosun really showed his poor state of mind.Berating the party, Fayose said There is no point wrestling with a pig. For people with sound minds, they would, no doubt, wonder why somebody with a decent background and sound mind would refer to the governor of his state as needing psychiatric attention or not being able to survive in a law abiding society?
NIGERIAs crude oil export is set to rise in March, a compilation of loading programmes showed yesterday. This, according to data obt...

NIGERIAs crude oil export is set to rise in March, a compilation of loading programmes showed yesterday.This, according to data obtained from Reuters, is coming on the heels of the lifting of force majeure declared by some oil companies, while it added that the increase was in spite of the fact that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, raised the official selling prices for Nigerias crude oil gradesfrom more than 10-year lows, reflecting the stronger market.The report, however, did not state the price at which the NNPC is selling the crude oil grades. Several key grades, according to the report, were set to increase from the previous month, including Bonny Light, Bonga, Forcados, Brass River and Escravos, early loading programmes showed. The report said one of the 10 cargoes of Qua Iboe set for March loading was also deferred from the February programme, setting it slightly higher than the previous month.Since the February export plan was issued, ENI has lifted its force majeure on Brass River crude, while Shell has reopened the Trans Niger Pipeline which carries Bonny Light to the export terminal. The report further noted that March exports already included 62 cargoes, or 56.7 million barrels of oil, compared with the 59 cargoes and 55.2 million barrels originally planned for February. The barrels per day (bpd) total of 1.83 million was below Februarys initially planned total of 1.9 million bpd, due to the shorter month, but several programmes were still pending, making March likely to surpass that figure.
Ijaw elders in Delta State, yesterday, said it was impracticable for them to hand over the former General Officer Commanding, GOC, of th...

They also said that they do not have any information that Tompolo was involved in the three-day bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in the state, while many see the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCCs case against him as a form of persecution.The Federal Government, last weekend, asked Ijaw communities to hand over suspects involved in the bombing, alleged to be hiding in their areas, to security agencies, while the Joint Task Force, JTF, had earlier threatened to hold community leaders responsible for further acts of pipeline vandalism in their communities.Chairman, Ijaw (Izon) Okosu Otu (Ijaw Council of Elders), Delta State, Chief Bare Etolor, said, It is unfair for the Federal Government to ask Ijaw communities to handover suspects that carried out the bombing because we do not know them. In addition, I do not see how anybody expects us to handover Tompolo to security agencies because we do not have the power to do that, except they want to humiliate us.Another Ijaw leader in Gbaramatu Kkingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekame, who re-echoed Etolors position, said it was impossible for them to handover Tompolo to the government.Some Niger Delta and Ijaw youth groups, including the Niger Delta Security Watch Organszation of Nigeria, NWSON and Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, threw their weight behind the elders, saying that the understanding of many Ijaw people was that the government was persecuting Tompolo because he refused to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.However, Executive Director of Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged, CENTREP, Warri, Delta State, Mr. Oghenjabor Ikimi, said there was nothing wrong in the residents of the affected areas and ex-militants giving useful information to security agencies to unmask the culprits.Chief Etolor told newsmen: It is unfortunate that the Presidency wants to handle the matter from this angle. Which of the Northern elders did they tell to produce the Boko Haram leaders that are bombing in their areas. So, why are they telling us to handover people who bombed pipelines here?If they know the person that did it and ask us to help produce the person and we see him, we can assist with information if we have any. How can anybody say Ijaw leaders should handover suspects? We do not know who did it.It is not right. Even if they tell us the person, we do not have arms to arrest anybody. What they are doing is to make us not to have confidence in this government. What power do we have over armed militants? We can only talk to them as elders, not arrest them with guns.I am not supporting criminality. In fact, anybody among us, the Ijaw elders, can be a victim anytime. It is difficult for us to produce Tompolo. If they cannot see him with all their intelligence, where do they expect us to see him? I have not even seen Tompolo myself for ages.On his part, Chief Gbenekame said, How can you say we should hand over Tompolo to the EFCC, are we security agents? If he had dealings with EFCC, they should arrest him. Why are they calling Gbaramatu elders?What I know is that Tompolo made many enemies when he worked for the Federal Government to guard the pipelines. He burnt illegal refineries, razed boats and these people are not happy. He has been a partner to the government all this while, that is why we called for a political solution to the matter.Meanwhile, Niger Delta Secuity Watch Organisation of Nigeria, NSWON and Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, in a joint statement by their leaders, Dickson Bekederemo and Austin Ozobo, said: The people of Niger Delta and the ljaw in particular are not at war with President Muhammadu Buharis administration. However, the ljaw will never sacrifice their bravest to satisfy the quest for neo-colonialism. When the moment comes, we shall stand with Tompolo.We believe that what the Federal Government wants to do is a repeat of what the Russians did to Poland during World War II, kill the bravest of their braves, the rest is history. We wish to inform President Buhari that in the hearts and minds of every Niger Deltan lies an embryonic Tompolo waiting to hatch.We call on President Buhari not to be deceived by a few pipelines surveillance contract seekers. There was Judea, yet Christ resurrected from the dead. There were traitors, yet Allah protected Prophet Mohammed in the cave with a cob web when people led his enemies to capture him.It may interest you to know that Tompolo is a strong member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, even in defeat. Unlike some elements of the party from our region that are bread and butter members. Tompolo alleged that the APC- led government persuaded him to decamp to its fold. The party until date, did not refute his assertion.Suddenly, the EFCC froze the bank account of Global West Vessels Limited. The management of the company initiated an action against EFCC in court. The agency bluntly refused to file a defence, only for the agency to file charges against him in another Federal High Court.The question we will like to ask is: Is Tompolo the chief executive or the Managing Director of Global West Vessels Limited? Assuming, for the purpose of argument, that Global Vessels Limited committed financial crime, is Tompolo the alter ego of the company? The EFCC invitation and subsequent harassment and persecution of Tompolo goes beyond what meets the eye.
Bengaluru: A jolly ride turned tragic for three second PU students on Monday morning when one of them died and two others suffered critical injuries after their speeding car rammed into a streetlight pole on the median and jumped to the opposite side of the road, ramming into two other vehicles before coming to a halt on Kempegowda International Airport Road.

The deceased, Suvin Sukumar, 18, was a co-passenger in the car and a resident of Bellandur. The two injured students are Syed Sameer Ahmed, 19, the driver, and Fayaz Nawaz Khan, 18, who was sitting behind, the police said.

Suvin hailed from Kannur in Kerala and his father Sukumar owns a bakery in Domlur. Syed and Fayaz are residents of Jayanagar. All the three were pursuing their second PU at Jain College in Jayanagar, the police said.

The trio left early in the morning in a Volkswagen Vento (KA-03-MP-4561) that belongs to Syeds uncle to watch the sunrise from Nandi Hills. They were returning to the city when the accident occurred. When they reached near the Border Security Force (BSF) premises at Bagalur Cross on the expressway before the Air Force base, they lost control of the vehicle as they were speeding. The car crashed into a streetlight pole on the median, jumped over to the opposite side of the road and rammed into a Toyota Innova and Duster before coming to a halt. The two vehicles were heading towards the airport and the occupants of the two vehicles did not suffer any injuries, the police said.

The impact of the collision was so high that the entire left portion of the car was mangled, killing Suvin, who was sitting on the left, on the spot. Passersby informed the police who rushed to the spot and shifted the victims to a hospital. Suvin was declared brought dead and his body was shifted to a government hospital for the postmortem. Syed and Fayaz, who have sustained injuries, are being treated at Deeksha Hospital in Yelahanka Old Town. They are said to be out of danger.

If the student who drove the car does not hold a valid driving licence then the owner of the car will be prosecuted according to the law, said a senior police officer. Yelahanka traffic police have registered a case against the driver for causing death by rash and negligent driving on a public way, and causing hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety of others. The police have seized the car and are waiting to question Syed and Fayaz.

Padma winner in one of the cars

Anita Reddy

Ms Anita Reddy, a social activist and Padma Shree award winner, was travelling in one of the vehicles involved in the serial accident. She was travelling in her Innova with two others, including her driver, to a village. It all happened so quickly like bombs going off here and there. The youngsters car hit the streetlight pole, rolled over, came to our side of the road and rammed into an SUV, which crashed into our car, causing the pileup. Our driver and one of my associates escaped because of the airbags. We were in shock after the accident, she said.
The Pan Yoruba Socio- Political Group, Afenifere Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to make Anti-Corruption crusade as its on...

The Pan Yoruba Socio- Political Group, Afenifere Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to make Anti-Corruption crusade as its only agenda but face frontally the nations crippling economy.It also kicked against the plan to finance the 2016 budget through excessive borrowing from international financial institutions.Rising from its monthly meeting held at the Akure, Ondo state country home of its leader. Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the group kicked against the sensationalising of corruption by governmentThe groups spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin in a Communique issued and read to newsmen said We were embarrassed and scandalized by the processes that characterized the presentation of 2016 budget which is unprecedented in the history of our country.That a budget will be presented, declared missing without knowing another one will surface and then President will now writes on the matter.If they were mistakes in the ealier budget presented, government should have come out clean and said sorry, we make mistakes and we want to correct the errors. We encourage the federal that this should not happen again in our country, it is embarrassing and scandalous.But more importantly, having gone through the whole budget presented, we have seen many headings in that budget which suggest that either we are not aware of the situation we are as a country or we are doing more of what brought us to where we are.They are scandalous expenditure in that budget which cannot be justified which are not rationale and which nobody should think is what we need as this moment.For instance we are in court prosecuting a fomer NSA, that he was alleged to have disbursed so much money. Now, in this current budget, after we have giving money to all security agencies, we still voted N50billion to the office of NSA.We have N3.9billion to buy cars for the Presidency, N800million for President Gym.They voted about N300million to lay cables to drivers rooms and we dont know what that means in the government. Renovation of villas and the former president renovated the villas.Today the cost of producing a barrel of oil is $5 more than what is being sold in the market. So how are we going to continue to spend on this frivolities?We therefore call on national assembly to properly scrutinise every budget line and ensure that we have a budget that shows that we appreciate where we are as country and we are doing proper things in way to bring prudence into the system.We have noticed that in trying to solve the problem occasioned by the dwindling revenue, the federal government is introducing certain measures.One, we have noticed the increase in Kerosene price, Which can only increase the hardship of poor people of Nigeria, two we have noticed the imposition of N50 stamp duty on every bank deposit. We consider this an anomaly. That a central bank that should encourage banking culture in the country is trying to discourage banking culture.The excessive borrowing that is going to characterized the 2016 budget which are unhealthy. And for how long are we going to borrow?All these measures to us, are cleared that the federal government wants to run aways from solving out problems today which is to diversify the economy, by diversifying the economy is not possible without restructuring the country.We are saying and insisting that to get out of this economy crisis that this nation will not finally crumble, the federal government should immediately consider the restructuring of this country along the recommendation of 2014 national conference.The last government organised the conference and said they are going to implement the report, since government is a continum, the present government should immediately implement it so that we can create the new corridor of prosperity that will take Nigeria out of the current crisis we are facing.Odumakin said that Afenifere supports the review of anti-corruption war going on in the country. We support the war, because corruption is evil but we quickly warned that our war against corruption should not be selective, sectional and should be all embracing and compassing.It should be fought within the confines of rules of law. And the anti-corruption war should not be the only agenda of the government. They should concentrate on rebuilding the economy because we have seen countries that have been ravage by war, Liberia, Serria-Lonne, people took over government there and they started rebuilding the economy.So we should not turn anti-corruption to the only agenda. Building the economy is important.The naira is collapsing. Every sector is going down. Investors are leaving our country.This should attract the attention of the government but not to continue to sectionalise anti-corruption war because ultimately, our experience have shown that anti-corruption takes a long time to win the war.The last legacy is thing that are being put on ground that is the solid foundation that lay for the economy, while the agencies that are supposed to fight corruption are fighting it. Let EFCC, ICPC do their work. The duty of the Presidency is to rebuild the economy and not just the anti-corruption war.The group however congratulate the new Ooni Ife Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and commended the step he has. Taken in uniting traditional rulers in Yorubaland.The group also  commiserate with the people of Ibadan on the passing away of Olu!adan of Ibadan.Oba Odugade Odulana and prayed that God should give the people of the town. the fortitude to bear the lost.
Th e H o u s e o f representatives said on Monday that the current Minister of Petroleum Resources would be invited to answer questions o...

Th e H o u s e o f representatives said on Monday that the current Minister of Petroleum Resources would be invited to answer questions on the controversial Refined Product Exchange Agreement contracts executed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiary, the Pipelines Product Marketing Company, between 2011 and 2015.Otherwise known as SWAP, the deals involved the exchange of crude oil for refined petroleum products in which the corporation gave out part of its 445,000 barrels daily share of crude to trading companies.The House Ad hoc Commi t t e e , which is investigating the deals, already had evidence that crude worth over $24bn exchanged hands between the government agencies and some crude marketing firms, including Duke Oil and Tranfigura.The committee is chaired by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Kwara State, Mr. Zakari Mohammed.Mohammed revealed that the minister would have to appear before the committee to speak on the role of his ministry in the deals.When reminded that President Muhammadu Buhari doubles as the p e t roleum minister, Mohammed replied that the President could delegate his Minister of State, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to appear before the committee.He explained that the committee was not interested in knowing whether Buhari or Kachikwu was not in office when the contracts were signed.Mohammed added, This is an investigation. The committee will invite the minister we know today. If the President cannot come, that is why there is a minister of state; Mr. President can delegate him.Let the minister come and tell the committee that he knows nothing about the transactions because he was not the minister at that time.They should lead us to the minister (ex-ministers) who have the right information.Mohammed stated that the minister and the NNPC would be the last to testify before the panel, following which the committee would tidy up its report on the findings.The committee had on Thursday last week summoned the chief executive officers of two firms, Ontario and Aiteo, to appear on Tuesday (today) without fail or risk arrest by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.The two got sub-contracts from Duke Oils share of 33.7 million metric tonnes of crude.The summons followed the disclosure by the PPMC that Ontario still had $98m worth of refined products to deliver to the country while Aiteo owed Nigeria $37m worth of products.Mo h a m m e d h a d complained last week that the two firms had refused to appear before the committee preferring to send legal representations.He said, After sending invitations to them and they have failed to turn up, the next step is to summon them.
Hackensack Body 1/25

A body was found in a car parked at a Burger King in Hackensack, Jan. 25, 2016. (Myles Ma | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

BERGEN COUNTY -- Cold was a contributing factor in the separate heart disease deaths of two women whose bodies were discovered in Bergen County after a massive blizzard slammed the region, officials said Tuesday.

Frances McQuaige, 78, of Medford, New York, and Mary Wall, 64, of Mahwah, each died of coronary artery disease, said Bergen County spokesman Michael Pagan, citing a medical examiner's findings.

McQuaige told an employee at a Hackensack Burger King that she didn't want to drive in the snow Saturday night, city police said. On Monday morning, workers discovered her dead in her snow-covered Cadillac parked at the restaurant's lot on Hackensack Avenue.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of Mrs. McQuaige," the fast food chain said in a statement.

The company did not respond to a message seeking further information. Employees at the franchise declined comment.

In Mahwah, several children found Wall's body outside her Sunnyside Road home around 3:30 p.m., also on Monday, township police previously said.

Wall apparently suffered a medical emergency while shoveling snow, according to Mahwah police Sgt. Michael Blondin.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
FORT LEE - A police officer was injured Monday night when he was struck by a car while directing traffic.

(File photo)

Officer Anthony Bozzetti was helping pedestrians cross on Main Street in front of the borough's library and senior center when the accident occurred about 8 p.m., according to northjersey.com.

The vehicle that hit Bozzetti left the scene but was stopped a short distance away. The driver has been cooperative, according to the report.

Bozzetti was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center with injuries that are not considered life threatening, according to the report.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
HACKENSACK - Frances McQuaige of Medford, N.Y. has been identified as the woman found dead in a parked car in the parking lot of a Hackensack Burger King Monday morning, according to her family.

McQuaige, 78, parked at the restaurant on Saturday, telling a worker that she was afraid of driving in the snow.

Workers found her dead in the snow-covered car on Monday.

"She was just a wonderful lady," said Brian McQuaige of the Bronx, N.Y., who identified himself as her nephew.

McQuaige, 46, said police notified the family on Monday evening that Frances McQuaige had been identified as the person found in the gold-colored Cadillac in the parking lot of the Hackensack Burger King.

The family has not been provided with a cause of death and police were not immediately available to comment on Tuesday.

Brian McQuaige said the family did not know why his aunt was in Hackensack - more than two-hour drive from her Long Island home.

"She told an employee on (Saturday) night that she was going to stay parked there because she's afraid to drive in the snow," Hackensack Police Director Michael Mordaga told NJ Advance Media on Monday.

A short time after the woman spoke with the employee, the Burger King closed.

Employees found the body about 8:30 a.m. Monday as they arrived to work.

Mordaga said the death is not believed to be due to carbon monoxide because the car's tailpipe was not obstructed and because the car was not running. The keys were not in the ignition, he added.

Foul play is not suspected, the police director said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
CAMDEN -- The manager of a high-profile law firm in South Jersey traded sex from both male and female clients for legal services, a lawsuit claims.

The complaint, filed in Camden County Superior Court in December against attorney Conrad Benedetto and his law office, alleges that the law firm's manager, John Groff, used his position to lure Camden man Javier Castillo to the firm as a client and promised to keep Castillo out of jail in exchange for sex with both Castillo and his girlfriend on multiple occasions.

Groff, a convicted felon, also convinced Castillo to remain a fugitive to continue their sex deal, exchanged pictures of his gentials with Castillo and made other false and illegal guarantees about Castillo's criminal case, according to the lawsuit filed by Cherry Hill Attorney Matthew Wolf on behalf of Castillo, now an inmate in Camden County's jail.

The suit goes on to allege that once Castillo was taken into custody and his girlfriend became pregnant, the firm's "zeal" in representing Castillo dropped significantly.

"If the allegations are true, than what John Groff was doing is despicable and ... he should not be working at a law firm," Wolf said Tuesday.

Benedetto did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday. He has gained significant public attention in recent years after taking on high-profile cases. He represented the family of the man killed by Bridgeton police in December of 2014, the family of a Vineland man killed in police custody last year, and Penns Grove officials accused of assaulting a police officer.

The complaint includes numerous screenshots of both Facebook and text message conversations between Groff, Castillo and Castillo's girlfriend, some including the explicit photos in question.

According to those documents, Groff first reached out to Castillo on Facebook asking about Castillo's criminal charges, which were related to a violation of probation after Castillo allegedly made terroristic threats to an ex-girlfriend and posted nude photos of her on Facebook.

In the conversation, Castillo said he had warrants out for his arrest in Camden and Gloucester City, had been "on the run" for two months and planned to turn himself in the next day. Groff told him to "do nothing" until they met.

The claim states this "further aggravated" Castillo's legal situation. He was later arrested while at his place of employment, according to the documents.

"As a result of having specific promises made to him regarding the results of his criminal case, and as a result of realizing that he was duped into having sex in exchange for results that were not delivered, and for other reasons related to Mr. Groff's bizarre law firm management, [Castillo] has suffered severe emotional distress," the suit states.

He said Groff was not named as a defendant since he is not an attorney, and that Benedetto's law firm, which has offices in both Laurel Springs and Philadelphia, bears the brunt of the responsibility of his actions.

"In the legal community, we expect attorneys to know what's going on in their firm and it would be negligence on the part of Mr. Benedetto if arrangements for representation are made on the basis of sexuality activity," said Wolf.

The lawsuit also lays out Groff's extensive criminal history, which dates back to 1992 and includes eight convictions on crimes ranging from passing bad checks to theft and insurance fraud. The claim argues Benedetto should have known about Groff's long history with the justice system before hiring him to manage the firm.

"[Groff] is unethical, he is untrustworthy and is a completely inappropriate person to entrust with the management of a law firm," the suit states.

Groff could not be reached for comment.

Michelle Caffrey may be reached at mcaffrey@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ShellyCaffrey. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
Bengaluru: The state cabinet on Monday approved a budget of Rs 40 crores for Invest Karnataka 2016, a three-day event which would be inaugurated by Union finance minister Arun Jaitley here on February 3.

Official sources said the whos who of India IncRatan Tata, Anil Ambani, Anand Mahindra, Sajjan Jindal, N.R. Narayana Murthy, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Kris Gopalkrishnan, Gautam Adani and Kumar Mangalam Birlahave confirmed participation in this global investors conference. Besides, partner countries which have confirmed participation include France, Japan, Sweden, South Korea, the UK, Italy and Germany. Karnataka would showcase 145 projects during the event. The government has also approved Rs 110 crore to provide underground drainage system in 110 villages that come under BBMP limits, the sources added.

The cabinet approved amendments to certain sections of Tourism and Cooperative Acts to help the new industrial policy. The government decided to convert government loan of nine spinning mills into equity and waive off the interest. Other major cabinet decisions are: Release of Rs 1540 crore as input subsidy for farmers, who have lost crops due to drought. A list of 3.8 lakh beneficiaries is ready and the money would be released to deputy commissioners for disbursal; Cabinet approved a proposal to convert Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Pratistan into Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Kshetra Development Authority which would be headed by CM Siddaramaiah; Cabinet approved amendment to Karnataka State Minorities Commission Act 1994, extending the power to it on the lines with other commissions.

Zoroastrian Parsis have been added under Sub Sec 2 and given minority status; Cabinet decided to put on hold a proposal to demolish MS Building, which was earlier mooted by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. The committee had recommended demolition of the building and construction of an integrated complex. The issue was referred to a technical committee, which stated that the building would remain strong for 30-40 years.

Siddaramaiah empowered to pick two MLCs

The cabinet on Monday left it to the discretion of CM Siddaramaiah to nominate two eminent personalities to the upper House. Two MLCs - Prof Krishna Bhat and Mr Jaggesh - nominated during the previous BJP government under quota earmarked for arts and social service would retire in a couple of months. Official sources said the council of ministers at todays meeting authorised the CM to pick two candidates to fill these vacancies.
Students of various universities and colleges during a protest over Rohith Vemula's suicide at Hyderabad Central University campus in Hyderabad (Photo: PTI)

Hyderabad: One of the students on hunger strike over the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula was on Tuesday shifted to varsity's health centre after his health deteriorated.

"One of the seven students who are on the indefinite hunger strike was admitted to university health centre following the deterioration of his health," Ravindra Kumar, chief medical officer said.

"He was semi-unconscious in the afternoon. He was taken to the health centre. His condition is stable now," Kumar said.

The second batch of seven students sat on indefinite hunger strike day before yesterday after the first batch was forcibly taken away and admitted to hospital on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) today handed over a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to Rohith's mother Radhika.

The cheque was given by TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy at the varsity campus.

"It (Rohith's suicide) is very sad. Congress will fight until the culprits are punished. From Telangana Congress side we have given Rs 5 lakh to Rohith's mother. We will support the bereaved family in (all) possible ways," Reddy told reporters.

"The (Central) government is handling the issue of appointment of interim Vice Chancellor (VC) in an irresponsible way. They should remove the VC immediately and appoint another person. We demand that both the central ministers (HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya) be sacked," he said.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice said it had earlier requested the Indian People's Tribunal (IPT) to send a fact finding team to investigate Rohith's death.

The IPT team comprising Justice (Retd) Suresh H, Desi Disa Editor Sujata Surepalli, CBC Federation Chairman U S Rao, Researcher Meena Menon and senior advocate Gayatri Singh in its report said the death of Rohit was caused by acts of omission and commission of the authorities.

The JAC for Social Justice of HCU has also given a call for shutdown of universities across the country tomorrow.
Thiruvananthapuram: Victims of endosulfan pesticide and their family members on Tuesday staged a protest in front of the state secretariat demanding immediate disbursal of the compensation amounts due to them.

Women and small children were among those who participated in the protest which was started by opposition leader, V S Achuthanandan.

The organisers said the Kerala Human Rights Commission had five years ago ordered the government to disburse the compensation.

However, a statement from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's office stated that the UDF government had disbursed Rs 150.71 crore to the victims.

As per the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission, the UDF government had sanctioned Rs 104.40 crore and Rs 46.31 crore for disbursing monthly pension and other benefits.

Endosulfan, a pesticide, which is not easily degradable after its spraying several years ago in Kerala, contaminated the soil and water and found its way into the food chain, affecting lower and higher forms of life, including humans.
New Delhi: French President Francois Hollande is the chief guest at the Republic Day parade Tuesday, a spectacular showcase of the nation's military power and cultural diversity to celebrate the adoption of the constitution in 1950.

Here are five facts about India's 67th Republic Day:

Dog squad

dog regiment

After a gap of 26 years the Indian army's unsung -- or unbarked -- heroes are returning to the parade. A dog squad drawn from the Army's Remount Veterinary Corps will perform a march past wearing striped coats in their unit's colours of maroon and gold. The Labradors and German Shepherds usually work in the restive northern region of Kashmir detecting explosives and landmines or tracking in avalanches. Reportedly just 36 dogs out of 1,200 were chosen for the big day and underwent weeks of training.

French march

French contingent marches at Rajpath.

For the first time in Republic Day history foreign troops will join the celebrations as soldiers from France's 35th Infantry Regiment, one of the country's oldest active regiments, march alongside their Indian counterparts. It is a reciprocal gesture after Indian troops marched down Paris's Champs d'Elysees on Bastille Day in 2009. But rehearsals haven't gone entirely smoothly. "Indian troopers march a little faster than us. After rigorous practice for over a week, we have tried our best to synchronise," Lieutenant Colonel Paul Bury, who is leading the contingent, told India's Firstpost.

StuntwomenStunt women at Republic Day

Instead of the usual stunt men on two-wheelers -- picked out as a highlight by President Obama during last year's parade -- daring female motorcyclists from the Women Daredevils Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force will for the first time show off their skills on Royal Enfields in front of the crowds at Rajpath. The white-and-red helmeted daredevils were seen practising their stunts -- which include the human pyramid and lotus formation -- near Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential residence.

Camels return

BSF camel contingent

There was a small outcry after various newspapers suggested the camel contingent, usually a mainstay of the parade, may be dropped this year -- but officials later reassured the public that the dromedaries would perform as normal. The camels, used to patrol the Thar Desert near the border with Pakistan, make the journey from Rajasthan every year to participate in the parade, accompanied by moustachioed border guards. They will also be seen by millions online in India in the form of a special Google Doodle showing brightly decked-out camels carrying bandsmen to mark the day.

Drizzle precaution

R-Day-2015

It rained on the Republic Day parade last year, forcing President Obama to take shelter under a large umbrella, in what was said to be an embarrassment for organisers. This year the VVIP enclosure -- Indian shorthand for very, very important people, including Hollande and other dignitaries -- will have a motorised sliding glass roof to keep them dry, according to the Indian Express. But the roof will be rolled back for the Air Force fly past -- which unfurls a vapour trail in the saffron, white and green colours of the national flag -- to give them a clear view of the spectacle.
New Delhi: The 67th Republic Day of our nation brought with itself a string of new episodes. Ranging from a march by the French contingent to that of a tableau put forth by the ex-servicemen, this year's celebration was indeed a jaw dropper. Here's a collation of the five firsts that marked the celebrations.

For the first time, France made its own musical offering. Forty-eight members of The Music of the Infantry, a ceremonial band based in Lyon, played two military tunes as they advanced along Delhis ceremonial boulevard. (Photo: AP)

Participation of French Army soldiers: The French Army soldiers created history by marching down the Rajpath during the Republic Day parade, becoming the first foreign military contingent to take part in the celebrations. Forty-eight members of 'The Music of the Infantry', a ceremonial band based in Lyon in France, played two military tunes at the parade as the spectators cheered them.

Republic day parade (Photo: AP)

A shorter parade: This year the duration of the parade was also curtailed from more than two hours to 90 minutes but the format remained the same.

Tableau by ex-servicemen (Photo: AP)

Tableau from ex-servicemen: The ceremonial parade also saw the first tableau from ex-servicemen where Army veterans showcased their role in nation building.

A march by women contigent: In a first, an-all women contingent of the CRPF marched on the Rajpath, replacing the traditional mail contingent from the force.

Installation of light machine guns: Also, for the first time, light machine guns were installed at 10 strategic points in New Delhi area.
New Delhi: Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of the Special Forces, who took part in back-to-back operations in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in killing of 10 terrorists in 11 days before being martyred, was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, the country's highest peacetime gallantry award, by President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday.

The award was received by Bhavna Goswami, widow of Goswami, at the country's 67th Republic Day.

Goswami was killed at Hafruda forests in Kupwara district in fierce gunbattle with terrorists, but not before he killed two himself and helped in killing another two.

Army sources said that Goswami had been actively involved in three such operations in which ten terrorists were killed and one captured alive in 11 days.

In the first operation, three Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in Khurmur, Handwara on August 23.

Then he again volunteered for a second back-to-back operation in which three more Lashkar terrorists were killed and another Sajjad Ahmad alias Abu Ubed Ullah captured alive during the two day-long fierce fire fight in Rafiabad on August 26-27.

Goswami once again volunteered to be part of an ongoing operation launched in the dense Hafruda forest near Kupwara, Kashmir.

This was his last operation but not before he killed two terrorists.

According to the citation, at about 8:15 in the evening on September 2, there was a fierce encounter with four terrorists wherein two of his comrades were injured and pinned down.

He along with his buddy dashed forward to rescue their injured colleagues, knowing well the risks to their own lives.

"He first assisted in eliminating one terrorist. Sensing grave danger to three of his wounded colleagues, Lance Naik Mohan with utter disregard to his own personal safety, charged at the remaining terrorists drawing intense fire from them.

"He was hit in the thigh. Unmindful, he closed in and eliminated one terrorist, injured another and was again shot in the abdomen. Undeterred by his injuries, he hurled himself on the last terrorist and killed him at point blank range before succumbing to his wounds," the citation read.

Goswami not only killed two terrorists, but also assisted in neutralizing the other two and save the lives of three of his wounded colleagues.

He was awarded Ashoka Chakra (posthumous) for exhibiting most conspicuous gallantry in personally eliminating two terrorists and assisting in evacuation of his wounded colleagues.
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.
Hyderabad: At long last, one of Telanganas most famous artists, Kalal Laxma Goud, 75, got recognition from the Centre, which awarded him the nations fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, on Monday.

The Centre had ignored his name last year when it was forwarded by the Telangana state government. The award was finally given when the state pressed his case a second time this year.

Laxma Goud is recognised for his graceful, yet powerful line drawings, etchings and water colours. Laxma Goud was born in Nizampur, now in Medak district, in 1940 and earned a diploma in drawing and painting from the Govern-ment College of Art in 1963.

Mr T. Hanumanth Rao, a close friend, said, It is an honour to Laxma Goud's entire family and those who intend to follow his path. His passion and dedication brought him this far. He has a vision, plays with his ideas and brings a new meaning to life.

Dr. Nageshwar Reddy - Padma Bhushan

Dr. Nageshwar Reddy - Padma Bhushan

Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy, winner of Padma Bhushan, said on Monday that the award brought to him more responsibility as a doctor. For me, the takeaway is that the field of gastroenterology has been recognised and the work which is presently going on in this stream will be highlighted, he said in his response. Dr Reddy is one of the experts in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy and president of World Endoscopy Organisation which has units in over 150 countries. Dr Reddy had won several awards including Master Endoscopist award from the American Society of Gastroenterology and Master of World Gastroenterology from World Gastroenterology Organisation.

He has nearly 400 research papers and several textbooks to his credit. He graduated from Kurnool Medical College, did his masters at Madras Medical College and gastroenterology specialty from PGIMER Chandigarh.

Sunita Krishnan - Padma Shri

Sunita Krishnan - Padma Shri

Padma Shri award winner Dr. Sunitha Krishnan, founder of Prajwala, an anti-trafficking organisation, says the award will build more fire within her to fight against the demand for paid sex. The award comes with more responsibility. I will be more aggressive in my work, I believe thousands of women and children would be saved by bringing an end to paid-sex. My aim is to make lives miserable for rapists and finally they may understand the term deterrence. I hope I will succeed in getting a national sex offender register. I am humbled and believe that the award is more of a recognition to the cause. She was born in Kerala, but concentrates on and has an established organisation in AP and Telangana. She won award under the AP category.

Dr. Y. Lakshmi Prasad - Padma Bhushan

Dr. Y. Lakshmi Prasad - Padma Bhushan

The prestigious Padma Bhushan award has been conferred on Dr. Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad on Monday for his outstanding literary contributions in Hindi and Telugu.

Dr. Lakshmi Prasad served as a professor and head of department of Hindi in Andhra University. He was a member of Rajya Sabha between 1996 and 2002. Dr Prasad told DC he viewed the award as a honour coming the way of Telugu language.

I would try to push the case work for establishing a Telugu University in Rajahmundry. The state government should encourage communication in Telugu language in government offices and make Telugu a mandatory language from Class I to intermediate, Dr Lakshmi Prasad added. Dr Prasad wrote about 62 books in Telugu and Hindi and was honoured in the past with Sahitya Akademi awards twice. Dr. Prasad got Padma Shri in 2003.

Dr. A.V. Rama Rao - Padma Bhushan

Dr. A.V. Rama Rao - Padma Bhushan

Dr A.V. Rama Rao who won Padma Bhushan for his works in science and engineering is a former director of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology. Dr Rao continued work even after his retirement in 1995. Dr Rao said, I was conferred the Padma Shri in 1991 and the government has recognised my works even after retirement and given me one more award. I get scientific awards every year but this award is more important. Dr Rao has developed over 50 drug technologies that have been commercialised by the pharmaceutical industry.

Dr. Mannam Gopichand - Padma Shri

Dr. Mannam Gopichand - Padma Shri

Dr Mannam Gopichand, who has conducted over 3,000 surgeries on children with heart problems, said the Padma Shri award that came his way was both an exciting and humbling experience. I am very much humble, the cardiothoracic surgeon at Star Hospitals at Banjara Hills said. I am the face of the award, but it also belongs to the 20 people who have worked with me. After graduation from Guntur Medical College, he left for West Indies where he developed his initial skills in surgery.

Dr. A.G. Gokhale - Padma Shri

Dr. A.G. Gokhale - Padma Shri

Dr Alla Gopalakrishna Gokhale who won Padma Shri is attached to Apollo Health City in Hyderabad. This has come as a pleasant surprise. Whatever I and my team are doing has been to ensure that emergency patients are well-taken care of. The heart transplants, emergency cases and cardio-thoracic surgeries are done not only in private but also government hospitals, Dr Gokhale said. He graduated from Guntur Medical College and did his masters from the Christian Medical College, Vellore. To start with, he performed about 15 heart

transplants and one lung transplant in 2012.

Dr. Yarlagadda Nayudamma - Padma Shri

Dr. Yarlagadda Nayudamma - Padma Shri

Work hard. You will get recognition one day, responded 69-year-old Dr. Yarlagadda Nayudamma, the senior paediatric surgeon who was honoured with Padma Shri marking the nations 67th Republic Day. His services are spread over three decades. The outstanding ones were separations of three sets of conjoined twins, all of them leading healthy lives today. He is at present a consultant paediatric surgeon here. Born in 1947 in remote village Karamchedu in Prakasam district, he did his schooling from the Yarlagadda Nayudamma Oriental High School.

Andhra Pradesh

Padma Vibhushan, CH .Ramoji Rao

Padma Bhushan

Dr. Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad

Dr. Venkata Rama Rao Alla

Padma Shri

Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale

Dr. Yarlagadda Nayudamma

Ms. Sunita Krishnan

Telangana

Padma Bhushan

Professor D. Nageshwar Reddy

Saina Nehwal

Sania Mirza

Padma Shri

Dr. T.V. Narayana

Dr. Mannam Gopi Chand

K. Laxma Goud
Security forces march during the Delhi Republic Day parade in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: India's military prowess and multi-hued images of the country's rich cultural diversity and achievement were on display at the majestic Rajpath today during the Delhi Republic Day parade which was attended by French President Francois Hollande as the chief guest.

Read:Five firsts that marked the 67th Republic Day celebration

Thousands of people flanking both sides of the imposing Rajpath, India's ceremonial boulevard facing the seat of power Raisina Hills, braved the winter chill and cheered loudly as the marching contingents and tableux went past them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with French President Francois Hollande and Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar watch the flypast during the Delhi Republic Day parade. (Photo: PTI)

The national capital, particularly the Central and New Delhi areas, were brought under unprecedented security blanket as thousands of personnel kept a hawk-eye vigil to thwart any untoward incident. There were intelligence inputs that terror groups may target some important installations in the city.

A French military contingent also marched down the Rajpath, a first by any foreign armed force. In 2009, an Indian contingent had also participated in France's annual Bastille Day parade.

Read: Five facts about Republic Day parade

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of Republic Day and paid tributes to the framers of the Constitution, especially BR Ambedkar.

Tributes to all great personalities who framed our Constitution. I salute Dr. Ambedkar for his efforts as Chairman of Drafting Committee.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2016

Here is a blow-by-blow account of the event:

9.45 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave President Mukherjee and Francois Hollande a warm welcome as they arrived at the main viewing gallery along Rajpath. Earlier, Hollande, who is on a three-day state visit, was received by Modi who introduced him to the three services chief -- Army, Air Force and Navy.

Modi greets people as he arrives for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

10.00 am: Alongside Hollande, the fifth French President to attend the celebrations, the parade was watched by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, BJP president Amit Shah and the country's top political and military brass, besides the diplomatic community.

President Pranab Mukherjee, French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajpath.

Minutes before the parade began, Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the three service chiefs laid wreaths at 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the war memorial at the India Gate where an eternal flame burns in memory of those who laid down their lives defending the frontiers of the nation.

10.15 am: Before the start of the ceremonial parade, Mukherjee presented the Ashok Chakra (Posthumous), highest peacetime Gallantry award, to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Force) for his bravery in fighting with terrorists on the intervening night of September 2/3 last year in Haphruda forest at Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. The award was received by his wife Bhavna Goswami.

Read: Braveheart honoured posthumously for killing 10 terrorists in 10 days

President Pranab Mukherjee presents the Ashok Chakra to Bhawana Goswami on behalf of her husband, Late Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami at the 67th Republic Day parade. (Photo: PTI)

10.20 am: A 76-member French Army contingent led by a French military band consisting of 48 musicians march on Rajpath as they present a ceremonial salute to the President of India.

Read: French troops become first foreign contingent to march down Rajpath on Republic Day

In a first, French soldiers march on Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

10.22 am: Apart from India's missile firing capability T-90 'Bhishma' tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP II (Sarath), Mobile Autonomous Launcher of the BrahMos Missile System, Akash Weapon System, Smerch Launcher Vehicles, the highlights of the parade also included a canine squad.

The synchronised military and police contingents led by General Officer Commanding (Delhi), Lt General Rajan Ravindran marched proudly to the lilting tunes of the bands through Rajpath where Mukherjee, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, took the salute from a specially erected dais.

10.25 am: After a gap of 26 years, an Army dog squad drawn from the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) took part in the parade, along with their handlers, adding a special charm to the occasion.

Read: Canine soldiers make spectacular comeback, lustily cheered on

Army's dog squad march down Rajpath during the 67th Republic Day parade in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

10.35 am: Another attraction was the colourful BSF Camel Regiment consisting of 56 camels. For the first time the parade saw an ex-servicemen tableau, displaying the role of veterans in nation building.

A 34-camel mounted band marched alongside the BSF camel regiment.

Union ministers and political leaders were among thousand of spectators who cheered at the military contingents, dance troupes performances and tableaux from various states during the Republic Day parade today at Rajpath.

Union Ministers Suresh Prabhu and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore took the lead in cheering the marching contingents of the Parachute Regiment and NCC girls.

10.45 am: Tableaux from 17 States and six Central Ministries and Departments, featuring varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country, were among the major attractions at the parade. The parade of tableaux begins at Rajpath with Goa, followed by Gujarat and Sikkim.

The Tableau depicted some rare and exotic varieties along with Sidi community, settled in the Gir forest, performing their traditional dance number. Gujarat Tableau (Photo: AP)

TV cameras focused on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar -- who was sitting in the VIP enclosure along with President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande  when the Goa tableau crossed the enclosure. Parrikar was the former Goa Chief Minister.

10.50 am: Tableaux of Rajasthan showcases 'Hawa Mahal' not as a monument, but as a 'lively building'. Rajasthan was followed by Chandigarh, Tripura and Odisha.

Rajasthan tableau

10.55 am: The Bihar tableau beautifully highlights the Champaran movement. While Madhya Pradesh tableau gives a message of conservation of forests, Karnataka highlights coffee production.

Bihar Tableau (Photo: AP)

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad cheered the tableau from his state of Jammu and Kashmir, while Union ministers D V Sadananda Gowda and Ananth Kumar along with their family members clapped when the Karnataka tableau drove past Rajpath.

11.02 am: The tableau of Chhattisgarh depicts Khairagarh Music and Art University. Uttarakhand's tableau depicts the festival of Ramman based on the story of Ramayana while Tamil Nadu showcases the Toda tribe of Nilgiri district.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi was seen cheering young artists from Odisha who performed the state's Sambalpuri folk dance.

Read: 23 vibrant tableaux on display at Republic Day parade

11.15 am: Similarly floats of Ministry of Communication and IT based on 'Digital India', the Ministry of Panchayat Raj float on 'Empowered Women and empowered Panchayat Raj and Society' and float of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation on 'Swachh Bharat Mission' showcased some of the flagship programmes of the Government.

Digital India tableau

11.25 am: Folk dance from various states follow the display of tableaux from different states. Folks from Rajasthan depict the uniqueness and spirit of bravery through their dance Dharti Dhora Ree'.

Twenty three of 25 children selected for the National Bravery Award 2015 also participated in the parade. Two children have got the award posthumously. In the children's pageant section, about 500 boys and girls drawn from five schools in Delhi and a group of school children from South Central Zone Cultural Centre performed colourful dances on Rajpath.

11.30 am: 'Dare Devils'- the motorcycle display team of Corps of Signals was a major attraction of the parade. They performed different stunts like 'Salute to President', 'Signal Rocket', 'Signal Fighter', 'Abhimanyu', 'Shradhanjali' and 'Human Pyramid', etc. on moving motor cycles.

Read: Army motorcyclists leave Republic Day parade audience spellbound

Motorcycle display team of Indian army's 'Corps of Signals', popularly known as 'Dare Devils', make a formation on a motorcycle as they roll down Rajpath. (Photo: PTI)

11.40 am: The grand finale of the parade was a spectacular flypast by the IAF. It started with the 'Chakra' formation, comprising three Mi-35 helicopters in 'Vic' formation, followed by the 'Hercules' formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Trailing them was the 'Globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30s. Next, five Jaguars flew in Arrowhead formation. Then the breath-taking 'Trishul' formation comprised three Su-30 MKI.

The Globe formation during the fly past.

The flypast concluded with another Su-30 MKI carrying out a 'Vertical Charlie' anoeuvre over the saluting dais.

11.40 am: The celebrations ended with the national anthem.
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Maybe I'm just stupid but this doesn't make sense to me

There's a distinct possibility that I'm stupid. You see, I thought constructing, maintaining and managing transportation infrastructure  highways and the like  was part of the reason we invented governments.

As of Nov. 15, Ontario Northland will be changing its motor coach service schedules on some routes, which have experienced low ridership. Supplied photo.

There's a distinct possibility that I'm stupid.



You see, I thought constructing, maintaining and managing transportation infrastructure  highways and the like  was part of the reason we invented governments. I thought part of that infrastructure included publicly funded transportation systems to move people and freight around the province quickly and efficiently.



Funding public transportation systems makes economic sense. It's a generally safer way to travel. It helps minimize greenhouse gas emissions. And it's generally a cheaper way of moving resources to production centres and goods to market.



Premier Kathleen Wynne thinks so. Last April, she announced the Moving Ontario Forward plan, a $31.5-billion promise to modernize that transportation infrastructure in Ontario.



GO Transit's share of that is $16 billion to improve the speed and frequency of GO train trips in the GTA, looking to go from 1,500 trips a week to 6,000 in five years. GO Transit's more than 60 million rides fund 80 to 85 per cent of its operating costs. Still, last year the province kicked in the $160 million GO needed to make up the difference. The subsidy makes sense. Public transportation is important.



With the population of southern Ontario continually growing, getting more cars off the road should be a priority. State-of-the-art public transit that's easy and convenient and fast as hell is a necessity, no doubt about it.



Here's the thing though. While GO Transit gets billions for development and millions in subsidies, GO Transit's sister agency, responsible for public transportation in Northern Ontario, has had to fight for decades to stay afloat.



I've covered news in the North for 16 years. In that time, I've reported on nearly every route cancellation, fight for funds, latest government scheme, and faint glimmer of hope when it comes to Ontario Northland. I used to know the names of the commission members for goodness sake.



And I've watched first a Conservative government then a Liberal government make its services so inconvenient that people who needed to couldn't rely on it.



Ontario Northland's latest battle for existence began in 2012. That year, it received $103 million in provincial subsidies, which included funding for its telecommunications arm, Ontera (sold to Bell Alliant in 2014 for $6 million, taking a $61-million loss in the process  not kidding, look it up).



That was the same year the Liberals decided Ontario Northland wasn't worth the expense and said they were selling it off. Rick Bartolucci was Northern Development minister at the time. He said the province needed to shovel that $103 million into the hole of Ontario's projected $16-billion deficit.



The government eventually backed off. Instead, they added a few bus routes, killed the Northlander passenger train and sold off Ontera. But Ontario Northland is still fighting for life.



I can't understand why this necessary service for Northern Ontarians (not to mention the jobs it provides to northerners) always seems to have a target on its back. Need proof? Look at a couple of the more recent decisions.



That sale of Ontera? Besides losing its $61-million value, the government spent $6.5 million to get advice on whether to sell it, but only got $6 million for the sale. You only do something that daft when you're playing poker with someone else's money.



Or try to wrap your head around this one. Ontario Northland pays half a million dollars a year in fees to use GO Transit terminals in southern Ontario  even though they're both provincial agencies.



Put another way, it's like a married couple with a joint bank account, but one member of the relationship has to pay the other for the privilege of sleeping in the marital bed. So one spouse withdraws money to pay the fee to the other spouse, who then deposits that money right back into the joint account.



Put yet another way, the ONTC is like a stray cat at Queen's Park  politicians feel somewhat responsible for it, so they throw a few scraps its way, but if it disappeared tomorrow, it really wouldn't be missed.



Ontario Northland was created to open up the North to development. That job isn't done.



I don't understand why Northern Ontario is supposed to be grateful for receiving second-class service. We shouldn't be expected to settle. Perhaps I'm mistaken, but shouldn't there be just one agency responsible for public transportation in this province, providing a comparable level of service across Ontario?



Why does GO Transit get to snuggle up by the fire, while Ontario Northland is left out in the cold?



To me, a single transportation agency just makes sense. Then again, maybe I'm stupid.



Mark Gentili is the managing editor of Northern Life and NorthernLife.ca.
Being on a waiting list for organ transplant is not only stressful, it can be expensive. Tina Proulx  a Sudbury woman who received a double-lung transplant in December  knows this first-hand.

Being on a waiting list for organ transplant is not only stressful, it can be expensive.Tina Proulx  a Sudbury woman who received a double-lung transplant in December  knows this first-hand. Her extended stay in Toronto, after being added to a lung transplant wait-list in October 2014, proved a rude awakening concerning the need for out-of-town patients to access affordable accommodations down south.Proulx and her husband, Joel, both Sudbury natives, left behind their lives in Ottawa so they could be near Toronto's General Hospital , in case a pair of lungs became available for transplant.Once lungs are removed from a donor's body, there is only a two-hour window to transplant them. After that, the organs aren't viable.High-tech XVIVO systems, invented by Toronto doctors, can extend that time frame by a bit, but a quick turnaround remains essential.Without jobs in Toronto, Proulx said she and her husband eventually had to bend the truth to find an apartment.We tried the honest approach and explained our situation, she said. Unfortunately, we weren't very successful with that.When they did find an apartment, they were on the hook for $1,475 per month in rent, without any steady income.Through various fundraising efforts, and a strong family support network, they managed to get by, but the cost added another layer of stress when Proulx was fighting for her life.When sick children travel from Northern Ontario to Toronto for medical care they can stay at the Ronald McDonald House, but there is not equivalent institution for sick adults.Proulx received a double-lung transplant on Dec. 2, 2015, but will need to remain in Toronto until March 2 at the very earliest, before she is well enough to return home.But the difficulties she faced finding accommodations could actually help future transplant recipients who need to travel to Toronto.When her parents  Lorraine and Andre Giroux  visited her during the holiday season, they rented a a furnished apartment at a discounted rate through Toronto's Sky View Suites Lorraine Giroux shared her daughter's story with Sky View partner Matt Regush, and it struck a chord.I've been doing this for almost three years and I've never had a tenant cry and give me a hug before, Regush said. It was a pretty special feeling.Another partner with the company previously worked in palliative care, and Regush said they had debated creating at least one charitable suite that out-of-town patients could use for short periods.Proulx's story convinced Regush making at least one furnished apartment available free of charge for transplant patients was the right move.It's surprising that nothing like that exists, Regush said. It's unfortunate to be honest.Sky View Suites partnered with Toronto General Hospital, which now refers patients to the College Street apartment, only blocks from the hospital, if it is available.For now, he said they are starting with the single apartment, but would like to make more available down the line.To help as many patients as possible, they are making the apartment available to patients who are in Toronto for short stays, while they are in the early, and stressful, diagnosis period.There are a number of buildings downtown that outright don't allow short-term stays, Regush said.For patients who expect to be in Toronto longer term, Sky View can offer discounted rates.Giroux said she plans to meet with Nancy Griffin, the widow of well-known radio host and organ donor Rich Griffin, about expanding support for accommodations in Toronto. Nancy Griffin launched the #1Saves8 campaign in November 2015 to encourage organ donations, and honour her husband.
The Rajasthan Government rubbished reports of a clean chit being given to Robert Vadra. (Photo: PTI)

Jaipur: The Rajasthan Government on Tuesday rubbished reports of a clean chit being given to Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra in the Sky Light Hospitality case and said that the investigation in this regard was still on.

"There is no clean-chit given to Robert Vadra. There is no such report. The investigation is still underway; we are awaiting the result. We can't say anything until then," Rajasthan's Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria told the media here.

Reports earlier suggested that the Rajasthan Police has given a clean chit to Vadra-promoted Sky Light Hospitality in a land grabbing case, saying the company was a victim of 'conspiracy' and 'cheating' as grabbed government land was sold to it.

A leading daily published a report, saying the police investigation in a case lodged by the Vasundhara Raje Government in 2014 found that 69.55 hectares of land was sold to the company promoted by Vadra on the basis of forged papers.

Several cases have been registered by the Bikaner Police in the alleged land grab case and four of them were related to the land sold to Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre had earlier accused Vadra of grabbing land in Rajasthan and Haryana when the Congress was in power.
Three police personnel were injured during Republic Day celebration in Rajasthan. (Photo: PTI)

Bikaner: Three police personnel were injured on Tuesday as their motorcycles collided while performing stunts during Republic Day function here.

The accident occurred at the function attended by Governor Kalyan Singh and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, at Dr Karni Singh Stadium here, police said.

The personnel, part of the motorcycle display team, were performing stunts when their bikes collided, they said.

The injured, identified as Gayard Singh, Chaina Ram and Daya Singh, were rushed to PBM Hospital here where they were stated to be out of danger.

Later, Raje visited the hospital and enquired the injured personnel about their health. She also ordered that they be provided best treatment.
Around 10,000 Indian workers, most of them belonging to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, were arrested by Kuwait security forces. (Representational image)

NIZAMABAD: Around 10,000 Indian workers, most of them belonging to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, were arrested by Kuwait security forces over the last few days. Women too were taken into custody It is believed that the oil crisis in Kuwait forced the local authorities to crack down on illegal immigrants.

Around 17,000 Indian workers went to Kuwait in search of a livelihood and were working in private firms there. A large number of women were working as house maids, some of them not possessing a visa nor work permit. Workers in Kuwait hail also from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines and Egypt and illegal immigrants from these countries have also been arrested since last November.

The authorities shifted the workers to jails and seized their belongings, including their cellphones, making communication with their families impossible. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle from Kuwait on Monday, A. Gangeshwer of Ergatla village in Morthad mandal of Nizamabad district said that Indian workers, especially those from Andhra, were living in fear of being arrested, staying confined to their rooms.

The situation at Mahabulla, Fahil, Titan, Farsania, Abasia, Jahra, Hawalli and other areas in Kuwait was grim, with workers having been put in jail, and lacking the means to return to their home towns, he said. Their salaries were meagre and having turned to unauthorised work, they had turned illegal immigrants, Gangeshwer said.

He pointed out that while the Philippine embassy had immediately responded to the plight of their nationals, the Indian embassy did not. Gangeshwer has urged the Central, Telangana and AP governments as also NGOs to help in their safe return.
Chennai: The deaths of three college students, who may have taken their own lives on Saturday night by jumping into a well on their college campus, continued to rock the state with the Madras High court dragged into the issue even as the Chief Ministers office swung into action Monday. The absconding chairperson of the SVS college of yoga and naturopathy near Villupuram surrendered before a magistrate in Tambaram.

The HC, entertaining a petition from Tamilarasan, the father of one of the deceased (Monisha), ordered a second autopsy by a team of doctors. While condoling the deaths, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa ordered the payment of solatium of `1 lakh to the bereaved families. The opposition parties, including the DMDK and DMK, pressed for a probe, either judicial or by CBI.

The Registrar of the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, Dr P Arumugam told reporters that the varsity had not given affiliation to the BNYS and BHMS courses offered by the Kallakurichi- based college for 2015-16. Other disciplinary measures are being contemplated against the college which is shut for now.
If you wondered why Indiana is a no-fault divorce state, these 1929 stories might answer your question.

Prior to September 1973, when a spouse no longer had to specify grounds for the divorce, the court proceedings went into detail.

Divorce filings are still public record. Anybody can read, though few do.

Back in the 1920s, when newspapers were less discriminating when it comes to local news stories, the details of divorce complaints were often printed right there on the front page for everyone to see.

In looking at Lake County Times pages from late 1929 on microfilm, I found some particularly juicy details.

You'll find stories about hurling dishes, about refusing to do housework, about stepping out with a telephone operator who is named in the court records.

The drama might not have changed over the years, but the way the courts and newspapers have handled it sure has.
Henry Ford, whose hangar at the Lansing Municipal Airport is a reminder of his imprint on the Region, was in Europe 100 years ago, attempting to broker world peace. His mission was doomed.

The tantalizing headline, "Wild fist fight before Ford sailed," on the Jan. 14, 1916, front page of The Lake County Times is enough to make anyone want to learn more about Ford's peace mission.

Ford chartered an ocean liner, the Oscar II, and recruited prominent peace activists to join him on a mission to Europe to try to convince the warring nations to end World War I.

This was before the United States got involved in the war.

Ford tried to get President Woodrow Wilson's support, but Wilson declined. Ford also tried to get inventor Thomas Edison to join him, but Edison declined. So did Jane Addams, William Jennings Bryan and John Wanamaker, all of whom were so prominent that their names remain familiar a century later.

The Oscar II set sail from Hoboken, N.J., on Dec. 5, 1915. According to Ford biographer Steven Watts, in "The People's Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century," a jokester placed a cage with two squirrels and a sign reading, "To the Good Ship Nutty" on the gangplank just before the ship sailed.

Two days later, the president addressed Congress, calling for increases in the U.S. Army and Navy ranks. The peace delegates aboard the Oscar II disagreed on the response to that speech. A majority signed a resolution to denounce Wilson's move, while a minority said to do so was unpatriotic.

There was an influenza pandemic at the time, and the ship was not untouched by it. Ford became ill and withdrew to his cabin. David Traxel, in his book "Crusader Nation: The United States in Peace and the Great War 1898-1920," wrote that reporters barged into Ford's cabin to check out rumors that Ford had died aboard ship.

When the ship landed in Christiana, Norway  now known as Oslo  on Dec. 18, Ford was still ill. He met with the press a few days later, but spoke little about the peace mission. He abandoned the mission, leaving his hotel Dec. 23 and boarding another ship to return to the United States.

The peace ship continued its trip around Europe, with delegates returning in February 1916. But Ford's early departure was newsworthy for weeks afterward.

On Jan. 14, a reporter following the peace ship reported on Ford's departure, confirming the peace mission was hardly peaceful.

"A wild scene preceded Henry Ford's departure from the peace expedition at Christiania (Oslo) it was learned here (The Hague, Netherlands) today," United Press Cablegram correspondent Charles F. Stewart wrote. "Several Ford leaders exchanged blows before Ford sped away in an automobile to catch a train that was to take him to Bergen where he took passage to New York."

"Ford it was said learned that Mme. (Rosika) Schwimmer's documents from warring and neutral rulers encouraging the peace movements were a declaration of nothing  that they were worthless," Stewart wrote.

That's how Stewart's story begins. But two paragraphs were pulled out and displayed above Stewart's byline, right below the sub-subhead, to give additional juicy details:

"Ford's chauffeur drove up, bundled Ford into the car and drove away while Mme. Schwimmer yelled 'kidnapers! murder!' Ford's chauffeur waved his hat in the air and beat a hasty retreat," Stewart wrote.

"Mme. Schwimmer it is believed was working in the interests of German propaganda."

It wasn't the only Ford faux pas when it came to exporting his ideas abroad  an article in National Geographic this month tells of Ford's Brazilian rubber plantation failing when workers were expected to adhere to Midwestern culture  but a peace mission that includes a fistfight is a great story, even a century later.
BELAGAVI: It was celebration time at Hindalga Central Prison in Belagavi on Tuesday as 114 prisoners, including five women, became free after spending more than a decade inside the jail.

They were freed by the government for their 'good conduct' on the occasion of Republic Day.

All the arrested had completed more than 10 years in jail and the authorities had recommended for their release. Among those released, 63 inmates had completed life imprisonment of 14 years, while 51 had completed 10 years of jail term.

District in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi issued certificates of release to them at a programme in prison to mark Republic Day. According to jail authorities, 90 per cent of the prisoners released on Tuesday were jailed for committing murders and 10 per cent for incidents relating to attacks over property disputes and illicit relationships.

A committee headed by Principal District and Sessions Judge, Deputy Commissioner and several other noted personalities, including former mayors Siddangouda Patil and Vijay More, had recommended the government for release of 127 prisoners based on their conduct in the past few years.

The committee found that the inmates selected by them would be able to lead a crime-free life outside the jail.

While addressing the freed prisoners Mr Jarkiholi said that cases of 13 others had to be rejected by the government due to technical reasons. He assured them that they would be released in future during some special occasion.
Who can resist the temptation of drinking radioactive water? Sure, you can, but it was popular in 1929, when Brumm & Sons in Hammond placed this ad.

Sleepy Water, as the product was called, was "nature's own permanently radioactive natural mineral water direct from the springs" at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas.

The park's origins go back a long way.

On April 20, 1832  40 years before Yellowstone became a national park  President Andrew Jackson signed legislation to set aside "...four sections of land including said (hot) springs, reserved for the future disposal of the United States (which) shall not be entered, located, or appropriated, for any other purpose whatsoever," according to Sharon Shugart's 2003 book, "Hot Springs National Park: A Brief History of the Park."

If you saw the movie or read the book, "The Road to Wellville," you'll have a better sense of what some of the "cures" were like a century or so ago, before medical science became more of a science.

West Baden, Indiana, became a hot spot in part because of the hot springs, much like Hot Springs National Park. Mineral water remains popular today, although radioactive water is taboo today. We know better now, especially after the Chernobyl disaster on April 26, 1986.

But hot springs remain popular, and so does Hot Springs National Park, which attracts some 1.4 million visitors a year.

That park would have been on everyone's mind in the late 1920s. According to the National Park Service website for that park, "Hot Springs National Park Ranger James Cary was the first National Park Service ranger to be killed in the line of duty. He was shot by bootleggers while patrolling West Mountain on March 12, 1927."

Radioactivity was a hot topic in 1929, too. Marie Curie visited the White House in October 1929, two days after the stock market crash, and was given $50,000 by President Herbert Hoover for the "beneficent service Madame Curie has given to all mankind." Curie was using uranium in health research at the Curie-Polish Cancer Hospital and Laboratory in Warsaw, Poland.

Nuclear medicine is still a big deal, but self-medication with radioactive drinking water would be horrifying today. No one is singing the praises of radioactive water today. Medicine and health practices have come a long way since 1929.
CHICAGO  A Calumet Region-made vehicle has a supporting role in the much-hyped return of the X-Files, which already was one of the longest-running science fiction network television series in the United States.

The Ford Explorer, which is made at the Chicago Assembly Plant in Hegewisch, is featured along with other Ford vehicles as product placement on the hit sci-fi show that airs on Sundays on Fox. FBI Agent Dana Scully, whos played by Gillian Anderson, drives a Ford Explorer Platinum, a more upscale version of the best-selling SUV that debuted last fall.

More than 5,000 workers at the Chicago Assembly Plant on the Calumet River and the Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights, make the Explorer Platinum, which features upgrades like a leather-wrapped interior, a lane-keeping system, and rain-sensing wipers. The Explorer, which supports hundreds of additional automotive jobs in Hegewisch and Northwest Indiana, has been Americas best-selling SUV and has posted annual sales gains since Ford first started producing it at the 92-year-old factory on Torrance Avenue in 2010.

Pairing the vehicle that set the bar for SUVs with the show that set the standard for sci-fi television is a great relationship, said Ginger Kasanic, Ford marketing manager for SUVs and technology. To be a part of an iconic television show that is so technology-centric is a perfect fit for Explorer  a vehicle loaded with driver-assist technology.

The X-Files has featured Ford vehicles since it first aired in 1993. Agent Fox Mulder, whos played by David Duchovny, even described his Ford Taurus, which is also made in the Calumet Region, as a good American car.
INDIANAPOLIS  State Reps. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, and Bill Fine, R-Munster, have filed paperwork with the secretary of state to run for re-election to the Indiana House.

Brown, whose House District 3 includes Gary, Lake Station and New Chicago, said his experience serving as a state representative since 1982 makes him ideally suited to help address the public health, education and social justice issues facing Indiana.

"I believe we have worked together well to bring to our Region a renewed commitment to make the future something to embrace rather than fear," Brown said.

"Ongoing attacks on public education and a failure to address very real economic and health care needs demand our attention going forward."

Fine is serving his first two-year term representing House District 12 residents in Munster, Highland, Griffith and Hammond.

He said his role in securing additional revenue for Region schools through changes to the education funding formula, helping to find money to pay for South Shore commuter rail expansion to Dyer and working this year on a comprehensive roads plan are among his top accomplishments.

"I want to continue this momentum and build on the progress we've made," Fine said. "I'm hopeful that voters will value these tangible returns as a vast improvement from past state representatives. We are all tired of their empty political promises."

Brown so far is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination and in the general election. The filing deadline is Feb. 5.

Fine is unopposed for the Republican nomination, but likely will face former state Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, in the November general election.
INDIANAPOLIS  The Indiana House voted 92-0 Monday to make it easier for rape victims who become pregnant through the attack to prevent contact between the rapist and his child.

House Bill 1064, sponsored by state Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, creates a process to terminate the parental rights of an alleged rapist who fathers a child with the victim, even if the perpetrator is not convicted of a criminal rape charge.

"It's hard to believe that in the state of Indiana where a child is conceived in rape, the rapist can pursue custodial rights," Slager said.

Under his plan, a rape victim who gives birth to her attacker's child can request a civil court judge terminate the rapist's parental rights if the judge finds "clear and convincing evidence" of rape, a lower standard than "beyond a reasonable doubt" required in criminal cases.

A rape victim would have six months after giving birth to file the petition. If the victim is younger than 18 years old, the victim would have two years to seek termination after turning 18.

Slager said the timeline is intended to discourage false rape claims connected to divorce-related child custody disputes.

"Some victims' groups don't like that, but the benefit of this rule is that hopefully it will encourage reporting," Slager said. "Because quicker reporting and dealing with this issue sooner than later will be beneficial for all parties."

The legislation, co-sponsored by state Reps. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, and Michigan City native Christina Hale, D-Indianapolis, will be shepherded in the Senate by state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso.
INDIANAPOLIS  Two Indiana Senate committees are set Wednesday to act on three proposals aimed at resolving the ongoing debate over LGBT civil rights protections and religious freedom concerns.

None of the measures is the four-words-and-a-comma solution touted by Freedom Indiana, Indiana Competes or the other business and community organizations pushing to add "sexual orientation, gender identity" to the seven classes already protected under state civil rights statutes. The protected classes are: race, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability and age.

Instead, two of the proposals (Senate Bills 100 and 344) offer some anti-discrimination provisions for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Hoosiers, but with numerous exceptions for religion-affiliated organizations and many wedding-related businesses.

In addition, Senate Bill 100 repeals local LGBT anti-discrimination ordinances and punishes any frivolous discrimination claim by a $1,000 fine. It also permits the state to award contracts to businesses that require workers to live by a religious-inspired code of conduct.

Senate Bill 344 excludes gender identity from its LGBT anti-discrimination protections and directs a legislative study committee review transgender discrimination issues. Local governments with ordinances guaranteeing civil rights to transgender Hoosiers could keep them, but no other communities could enact one.

The Senate Rules Committee, which includes state Sens. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte, Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, will evaluate and consider changes to both of those measures starting at 3 p.m. Region time.

Senate President David Long, R-Fort Wayne, the Rules Committee chairman, said the proposals, sponsored by state Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, will get a "full public debate," but still could be amended by the panel before any vote to advance them to the 50-member, Republican-controlled Senate.

"I believe this is an important discussion for our state to have, but there's no denying that it is a difficult one," Long said. "Sen. Holdman's legislation will help provide a framework for that discussion."

The third proposal, Senate Bill 66, actually repeals the minimal LGBT protections against discrimination that were enacted last year as part of the "fix" to the nationally controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which also would be repealed.

This so-called "Super RFRA" proposal, sponsored by state Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, also declares that protections for freedom of religion, speech, assembly and the right to bear arms, as provided by the Indiana Constitution, are fundamental rights and only can be infringed by the state through the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling government interest.

However, unlike RFRA, it does not spell out exceptions or defenses, leaving courts to determine whether any law runs afoul of the strict scrutiny required by the legislation.

Chris Paulsen, campaign manager for Freedom Indiana, said the state risks once again damaging its already battered reputation as a welcoming place if Super RFRA becomes law.

"Senate Bill 66 is RFRA on steroids," Paulsen said.

"Not only would it reopen the national and international wounds caused by last year's discriminatory RFRA legislation, it (also) would make it easier to discriminate against any group currently or potentially protected under our civil rights law."

The Senate Judiciary Committee, which is led by Young and includes state Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, will begin deciding at 8 a.m. Region time whether to advance that legislation to the full chamber.

Gov. Mike Pence, a Republican, said earlier this month he is not certain it is possible, or even necessary, for the Legislature to try to reconcile LGBT anti-discrimination protections and religious liberty.

In any case, he said he will not sign any civil rights legislation that lacks significant exceptions for individuals or organizations that could be classified as religious.

"I will not support any bill that diminishes the religious freedom of Hoosiers or interferes with the constitutional rights of our citizens to live out their beliefs in worship, service or work," Pence said.
Sandy Lewis, a member of Holy Name Catholic Church in Cedar Lake, presented a check for $1,500 to Jamie Donsbach, manager of the prenatal assistance program at St. Clare Health Clinic in Crown Point. Lewis said the money was raised during the parishs annual Baby Bottle Ministry campaign, which takes place in October, during Respect Life Month. She added the donation was made in appreciation of the programs pro-life support. More than 500 pounds of change was donated, not including paper currency and checks. Donsbach thanked Lewis and called the gesture a blessing, adding the funds will be used to purchase diapers and other baby supplies. St. Clare, located at 1121 S. Indiana Ave., is under the auspices of Franciscan St. Anthony Health. The clinic provides free primary health care for area residents who fall within established income guidelines, are uninsured and are not eligible for government assistance. The clinic is sustained through philanthropic support. Call the foundation at (219) 661-3401, or visit: GiveToFranciscan.org.
GARY | DeCarol Deloney-Cain was a loving sister and mother, who traveled the world and loved to cook.

Deloney-Cain's body was found Monday in the trunk of a car abandoned in a wooded area in the 2000 block of East 22nd Place. She suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to her head, according to a statement from Lake County Coroner Merrilee Frey.

Her body was wrapped in some type of material, and her identity was not released until Wednesday.

An autopsy was performed Tuesday, and the Gary homicide investigators and the Lake County Sheriff CSI will continue to work with the coroner's office to close the case, according to the statement.

As police combed Deloney-Cain's Crown Point home for clues to her murder, Todd Deloney said his sister, 54, who worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines, was "vivacious" and had numerous friends. He last saw her about two weeks ago when they visited their mother.

Deloney-Cain's son, Blake, said he last saw her in June, and other family members saw her just prior to the July Fourth weekend, when she was supposed to baby sit some of her grandchildren.

On Sunday, Blake Deloney said, he was contacted by the airline and told his mother had not reported for work for the first time in 25 years. He called his sister, Alyssa, after he was unable to reach his mother by phone. It wasn't until Monday afternoon the family learned of her fate.

"She was an amazing woman," Blake said. "She was always trying to help other people. She was strong and determined, and she always wanted the best for me and my brother (Keith) and sister."

Both men said she always brought back gifts from her travels with the airline. When Blake was younger, she brought him Pokemon cards from Japan as well as other toys and trinkets.

"She didn't have any enemies," Blake said. "She never wished ill will toward anybody."

He said his mother was very health conscious, even going so far as to say she was a health nut, refusing to serve red meat to her family and insisting they eat lean meat, fruits and vegetables. Fortunately, she was a very good cook, he said.

"Everything she cooked was good. She was really into cooking food. She talked about going to culinary school, and she watched the Food Channel for hours," Blake said.

Anyone with information about the case should call Detective Richard McClelland with the Gary Police Department at (219) 881-4748 or James Tomko of the Lake County Sheriff CSI at (219) 755-3340.
CROWN POINT  A 19-year-old woman who admitted to telling her boyfriend she wanted her mother dead and then watched as she was killed, told the court Tuesday that her mother didn't deserve it.

"She was an outstanding mother," Alyssa Barrett said in a soft voice.

Barrett pleaded guilty to a charge of murder for her role in the stabbing death of her mother, DeCarol Deloney-Cain, 54, of Crown Point.

Lake County Criminal Judge Salvador Vasquez sentenced Barrett to 50 years in prison, which is the agreed term the state and defense reached during negotiations. She will have to serve 75 percent of the sentence.

"It's a long time for reflection," Vasquez said. "And for the act of killing one's own mother, it's appropriately so."

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Jatkiewicz said the plea agreement was fair because Barrett didn't have any adult criminal history. Still, she was in a position of trust, because no parent expects to be killed by their child.

"The state impresses that you simply don't kill your momma," Jatkiewicz said. "The defendant is going to have to live with that."

Deloney-Cain's body was found July 7, 2014, in the trunk of her abandoned car near 21st Avenue and Mississippi Street in Gary. Barrett admitted she told her boyfriend, Damarius McGriggs, that she wanted her mother dead.

On July 3, 2014, Barrett and her boyfriend lured Deloney-Cain into the basement of her home in the 9400 block of Roosevelt Street in Crown Point by turning off the electricity.

Barrett watched as McGriggs hit, stabbed and placed a pillow over her mother, according to the plea agreement.

McGriggs has pleaded not guilty to murder charges he faces in the homicide.

Deloney-Cain's body was wrapped in black plastic bags, bound with tape by her hands and feet and placed in the trunk of her car. Barrett, who was 17 years old at the time, put her mother's suitcase in the car to make it appear as though she had left for a work trip. Deloney-Cain was a United Airlines flight attendant.

With the assistance of two others, the couple left the vehicle in Gary. The group drove to ATMs to withdraw money from Deloney-Cain's account, and the couple purchased an engagement ring, according to court records.

Defense attorneys Sonya Scott-Dix and Derla Gross described working on the case as difficult with it taking an emotional toll on them. Scott-Dix became emotional as she thought of her own mother.

Scott-Dix and Gross said their client has matured and reached a state of remorse they believe is sincere.

Wearing a green Lake County Jail uniform, Barrett apologized to her family and told them it hurt her every day thinking about what happened.

"I really never understood the consequences that could happen in a blink of an eye," Barrett said.

According to the plea agreement, Barrett had been arguing with her mother days before the homicide about her pregnancy. Deloney-Cain wanted Barrett to get an abortion, but Barrett and McGriggs wanted to keep the child.

Barrett was pregnant when she was arrested, and her daughter is now in foster care.

Her father, Wayne Barrett, said Barrett lived in several foster homes starting when she was about 13, because an allegation arose that Barrett had been molested. Wayne Barrett and DeCarol Deloney-Cain had been divorced for years by then.

Jatkiewicz said the molestation allegation was later unsubstantiated by the Indiana Department of Child Services. Barrett lived with her father before returning to live with Deloney-Cain.

Barrett was also at some point diagnosed with having mental health problems, though court-appointed doctors determined she was competent to stand trial.

Deloney-Cain's husband, Jerome Cain, said Deloney-Cain cried and prayed for Barrett to return home during the years she was in foster care. A little more than a year after Barrett returned home, Deloney-Cain was killed.

Cain urged Barrett to come forward with information about who stole a safe from their home that contained a firearm. He said he was worried someone would get hurt.

"You have enough blood on your hands," Cain said.

Todd Deloney, who is the brother of DeCarol Deloney-Cain, told Barrett the family respected her for pleading guilty, which spared them from having the case go to trial.

"We forgive you, baby," Deloney said. "Look at me, we forgive you."

Barrett nodded while she was seated next to her defense attorneys.

Rogina Smith, a cousin and friend of DeCarol Deloney-Cain, said everyone has been hurting since the homicide. Speaking directly to Barrett, Smith said the family wanted her to get help.

"We are just here because your mother in spirit has been telling us to be here," she said. "We know that your mother still loves you."
CROWN POINT | A Gary man who has spent more than half his life in prison waiting to be proven innocent of a murder and a robbery soon could be free.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez and Magistrate Kathleen A. Sullivan vacated the convictions of 47-year-old Willie T. Donald on Monday and ordered him brought from the Indiana State Prison on Thursday when the Lake County Prosecutor's Office must choose whether to retry him or let him go.

Veteran defense attorney Thomas Vanes, who won this appeal, said he expects charges to be dropped since Donald already has served time for the erroneous conviction, and Rhonda Fleming, who previously said Donald robbed her, has recanted, now believing her identification of him in a 1992 police lineup was a mistake.

And the whereabouts of the man who stuck a gun in Fleming's face and also fatally shot Bernard Jimenez in a separate holdup 24 years ago?

"God only knows; certainly the criminal justice system doesn't," Vanes said Monday.

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said Monday he was aware of the rulings and is looking into options of what to do next.

The Times featured Donald's case and the work of Vanes and a team of journalism students associated with Northwestern University's Medill Innocence Project in a 2009 series of stories by Christopher Smith and Sarah Tompkins.

There were a series of holdups that took place the night of Feb. 27, 1992, in Gary's Glen Park neighborhood.

Rhonda Fleming told police she was awakened by a knock at her door by a man claiming to be her neighbor. He burst through the open door, held a gun on her, then fled with $50.

Jimenez, his fiancee and their three young daughters were arriving home from shopping when what authorities believe was the same armed man came out of the shadows, grabbed their 7-year-old and demanded money.

Jimenez gave him the less than $20 in his wallet, but the assailant threw the money down, said, "You don't value your family," and put the gun against the cheekbone of their 1-year-old.

Jimenez picked up a small wooden picnic table and threw it at the assailant. The rest of the family, who ran inside, heard gunshots and saw Jimenez, who had chased the offender, collapse on a neighbor's porch from his fatal wounds.

Police suspected Donald, who had previously been arrested on suspicion for minor offenses. Although police recovered no physical evidence, they and the prosecutor's office convinced a jury from the eyewitness identification that Donald was guilty.

The court ruled Monday that Fleming's identification was flawed, and Gary police hid that from Donald and his trial lawyer.

Vanes said, "Before Donald was ever arrested, (Fleming) made a panicked call a few days after the crime to the police saying the guy who robbed me is across the street, come get him. By the time they came, he wasn't there. Donald was at work at that time.

"But that street sighting never made it into court, because the Gary cops never passed that along," he said. The late John Jelks, a Gary detective with a minor role in the investigation, found the discrepancy.

Vanes said Fleming gave testimony in 2013 as part of Donald's appeal that she always had doubts about the identification, but was convinced by police they had the right man.

"It was always a square peg in a round hole. The key descriptor for the robber was an acne-scarred face. No one looking at Donald then would have used that term to describe him," Vanes said.

"Donald had a chance to go home in 2013. The prosecutor was willing to set aside the (Fleming) robbery conviction if he quit fighting the murder conviction.

"He decided, 'I'm not doing that. I don't want people to see me as guilty. I want to keep the fight up.' He has spent the last three years in prison fighting to clear his name when he had the option of going home. No guilty person does that."
CROWN POINT  An arrest warrant was issued this week for an Illinois man after he skipped the last day of his jury trial.

Devon L. Hunter, 30, of Dolton and Calumet City, was present for most of his trial in Lake County Criminal Judge Salvador Vasquez's courtroom except for last Friday when defense attorney Jack Friedlander and Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Michelle Jatkiewicz and Sean Mullins made their closing arguments to the jury.

A Lake County jury that same day found Hunter guilty on three counts of dealing in cocaine, possession of cocaine and maintaining a common nuisance.

Hunter was accused of selling cocaine in Hammond to a confidential police informant, according to court records.

During the first transaction, Hunter on Nov. 20, 2013, sold the person 1 gram of cocaine in exchange for $100, according to the affidavit. He then allegedly sold to the informant 1.2 grams of cocaine for $80.

On Nov. 25, 2013, Hunter again sold 1 gram of cocaine in exchange for $100 to the person who was actually working with Hammond officers, according to the affidavit.

All the transactions happened in the 800 block of Summer Street in Hammond, which officers noted was near a school.

He was initially arrested Jan. 15, 2014, in the parking lot of Thomas A. Edison Elementary School in Hammond. According to the affidavit, police found 0.4 grams of cocaine inside his car.

He was released out of Lake County Jail days later after he posted a $5,000 cash bail, according to court records.

A warrant was issued Monday after he failed to appear for the last day of the trial. He was not in police custody as of Tuesday morning.

Hunter is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 24 by Vasquez.
Bengaluru: The number of foreign nationals overstaying in India, has always been a cause for concern. Neighbouring countries Pakistan and Bangladesh top the list. There has also been a gradual rise in the stay of foreign students from Sri Lanka, Iraq, Iran, Tanzania, Oman and Kenya.

In one such case, a 39-year-old citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, had approached the High Court, seeking directions to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, to extend the stay visa of the petitioner till the completion of his studies in Bengaluru and to also hand over all his original documents.

But after the court received information that the student who had got admission for the B.D.S. course at the Vakkaligara Sangha Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru, in 2002, had overstayed and is still completing his degree for the past 14 years (the outer limit to complete the dentistry course is eight years), has now refused to extend his visa.

The students advocate said that his clients visa period expired in the year 2015 and that the conduct of the student has been without any blemish and he has not done anything warranting the rejection of his request for the extension of his visa.

He also said that the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences has permitted the student to appear for the fourth year of the B.D.S. course. The petitioner additionally stated, that the student has booked his ticket to fly back to Iran.

He is asking for extension of his visa period, or for him to be granted an exit visa on humanitarian grounds.

However, Krishna S. Dixit, the Assistant Solicitor General, has stated that the student has not disclosed in his writ petition, the reason why he has not completed his B.D.S. course even after 14 years.

He further complains of suppression of material facts by the petitioner. His visa was extended on five occasions to enable him to complete his B.D.S. course.

It was also submitted that the petitioner was a foreigner and has over-stayed after the expiry of the visa period, so has become an offender in the eyes of the law. As per Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946, the petitioner is liable to be imprisoned for five years.

No cogent explanation is forthcoming, as to why the petitioner has not completed the 5 years of the B.D.S. course, but has taken about 14 years... Just because the RGUHS has granted the permission to the petitioner to appear for the fourth year examination in the 14th year of the petitioners studies for the B.D.S. course, the petitioner cannot claim extension of the visa period as a matter of right, the court observed.

As far as the students request for the issuance of an exit visa is concerned, the court said that it is not even the subject matter of this petition.

As far as launching the prosecution against the student for over-staying in the country is concerned, it is again for the concerned authorities to take a call on the same considering the petitioners conduct and the background and antecedents of his case, the court said, while disposing of the matter.
CROWN POINT  Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub is withdrawing a claim the county has been double-taxing Cedar Lake and Schererville residents for a county E-911 service those towns don't receive.

Scheub, D-Crown Point, said last week he and his advisers were wrong the week before when he demanded the county refund Cedar Lake and Schererville residents $125,000. He thought those municipalities had been erroneously charged that amount to fund the county's police, fire and emergency medical service call center serving other areas of the county.

Scheub's political opponents blasted him for spreading misinformation, saying his retraction raises questions about his motivation and knowledge of local government finances.

"It all came out in the wash as I knew it would," Lake County Councilman Eldon Strong, R-Crown Point, said.

"He wrote a letter to elected officials, stamped confidential to them and then sends a copy of it to the media. That is politicking 101. That was wrong."

Schererville Town Councilman Jerry Tippy said, "I found it hard to believe that the (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance) did not catch this mistake. Maybe next time the commissioner will do his homework."

Scheub, one of county government's top executive officials, is running for re-election this year as a Democrat. Republicans Strong and Tippy are competing in their party's spring primary for the chance to capture his seat this fall.

The state required Lake to merge its county, city and town E-911 police, fire and emergency medical service telephone and radio communications last year.

Most cities and towns joined the new county network, called a public safety answering point. Cedar Lake and Schererville town officials formed a second, independent Southcom PSAP.

The state informed local officials that each PSAP must fund its operation exclusively out of its own property taxes.

Scheub said John Dull, the county attorney, and Larry Blanchard, a part-time consultant for commissioners, suspected earlier that the County Council breached that rule when filling a $1 million gap in the county's E-911 2015 budget from property tax revenues to which Cedar Lake and Schererville taxpayers contribute.

He said, "I just wanted to make sure, from the start, Cedar Lake and Schererville weren't paying for something they shouldn't. I told (Blanchard and Dull) to check it out and if it is true, then we want to bring that out.

"It turned out at the last minute the state corrected (the county budget) for 2015, but we already had sent the letter. I was just representing the taxpayers in my district. We are just glad it's straightened out."

Strong, who represents Cedar Lake and other south county residents on the County Council, scoffed that he and other members of that fiscal body knew about the double taxation ban and crafted the county E-911 budget that doesn't draw taxes from Cedar Lake and Schererville last year or this year.

"We had the same concern months ago and made sure it didn't happen. The council was very diligent and made sure the entire E-911 levy only came out of the 15 communities  and not Cedar Lake and Schererville," Strong said.
VALPARAISO  At least two Porter County emergency service workers will travel to Maryland to help out with the aftermath of Winter Storm Jonas.

Porter County EMA Director Russell Shirley said Monday more would have answered the call to help dig out those affected by the winter storm, but a crew of 10 Porter County EMA members have been in Dubois County, in southern Indiana, since Thursday assisting with the avian flu epidemic that has caused the destruction of more than 400,000 turkeys and chickens.

One of those in Dubois County, said Shirley, is his assistant Mike Weber, who will travel from southwest Indiana to Maryland. The local responders will first go to South Bend to meet up with other emergency workers before traveling east.

Chesterton Fire Chief John Jarka will also be heading to Baltimore to help.

Jarka said he had been on the list to go to southern Indiana, but couldn't make it last week. He had expected to be deployed to Dubois County this week before getting the call to go to Baltimore.

Jarka responded three years ago to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey.

Jarka said Monday afternoon he's not sure what his role will be in Baltimore, but it could be simply to help relieve local incident commanders who have been working around the clock since the weekend.

"It is rewarding helping out a community," Jarka said.

Shirley also serves as the Indiana Department of Homeland Security District 1 Task Force commander.

Members from Districts 1, 2 and 3 will form a Type 3 incident management team deploying to Baltimore for seven days in response to the snowstorm, according to a news release from the IDHS. Other emergency responders will come from Elkhart, South Bend, Angola, Kendallville and DeKalb, Fulton, Kosciusko and Pulaski counties.

"It is a national level event with the need for local emergency responders," Shirley said.

"A Type 3 IMT is a multi-jurisdictional team used for extended incidents that is formed and managed at the local, state or tribal level. Type 3 IMTs are deployed as a team of 10-20 trained personnel from different departments, organizations, agencies and jurisdictions who manage complex incidents requiring a significant number of local, state or tribal resources," according to the release.

Shirley said when such a deployment is needed, the district is usually contacted and put on stand-by deployment to determine who can respond to an incident. Response depends on an individual's availability.
Corrie Meyer, an entrepreneur working in the urban environment and graduate of Boone Grove High School, has been selected to participate in the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series 2015-2016 class. Only 20 women across the state of Indiana were selected to participate, following an application process, in this mentorship program to prepare women for public leadership.

Through her company, Innovative Planning LLC, Meyer leads the Carmel Redevelopment Commission and Reconnecting to Our Waterways, a collective impact in Indianapolis. Prior to starting Innovative Planning, Meyer spent 11 years at Schmidt Associates, an Indianapolis architecture and engineering firm, and another five years at engineering and landscape architecture firms.

I applied for the Lugar Series because I am eager to continue learning from the best in the state in regards to servant leadership and leading in the public sector, Meyer said.

Meyer holds a bachelors in landscape architecture and master's in urban and regional planning from Ball State University. Her work as a community leader and design professional has earned her the following honors: Indianapolis Business Journals 2015 40 under 40, 2013 and 2012 Junior Achievements Top 100 Indianapolis Professionals, McGraw Hills Construction Magazines Top 20 under 40, and Graduate of the Last Decade Award from Ball State University.

Meyer is driven to inspire and support others make a positive change in their environment by thinking through significant goals that influence the course of time. The Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series will set a course for Meyer to act out this personal mission.
The overtures for civility in local, state and national politics are growing in very visible and encouraging ways, and the message is resonating on both sides of the partisan aisle.

Earlier this month, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, and President Barack Obama, a Democrat, became the most high-profile political leaders to nationally embrace a message of civility.

During Obama's final State of the Union address, he noted, "It's one of the few regrets of my presidency  that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better."

The president went on to urge civility in the political process and in society, including not branding all Muslims as enemies of the state and being tolerant of all walks of life, even those with whom we disagree.

Haley, who delivered the GOP's official rebuttal to the president's address, took the message of civility even further.

"During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices," Haley said. "We must resist that temptation. No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country."

Matching overtures in a frequently dueling two-party system, particularly in such a high-profile and national setting, was encouraging.

But the Obama-Haley calls for civility are not the only ones providing hope.

Today, Indiana Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, is slated to introduce a state Senate resolution, supporting the Community Civility Counts effort that began right here in Northwest Indiana.

The Community Civility Counts effort began as a partnership between the Gary Chamber of Commerce and The Times Media Co. and has expanded with initiatives including anti-bullying in schools and greeting of visitors to last summers Pierogi Fest in Whiting. Locally, the Gary, Hammond, Valparaiso and Lake County councils have passed civility resolutions.

The Indiana Senate resolution follows verbal support recently voiced by both Republican and Democratic leaders in the Indiana House. A copy of the resolution can be found on today's Opinion page.

Also earlier this month, Ohio legislators began endorsing civility and cooperation across party lines in a series of state round table discussions.

We can only hope these are all signs of political leaders realizing that venom and intolerance have frayed the patience of voters to the point of being threadbare.

Civility truly does count if we're to advance as a society, and our leaders are getting it.
Snowstorms have tripped up plenty of mayors before, but Mayor Bill de Blasio may be emerging from the weekend's blizzard largely unscathed. New Yorkers in parts of Queens are still dealing with snowy streets in desperate need of a plow, and they are not happy, as NY1's Grace Rauh reports.

"This is not your average storm," de Blasio said. "Point-two inches more and it would have been the greatest snow fall in the history of New York City in the last century and a half. We've got to get that through everyone's head.

The mayor never said he wished more snow had fallen on this city this past weekend. But he almost seemed to be wanting that, if only to say he presided over the biggest snowstorm in city history. And did so largely successfully by most accounts.

Much of the city got back to normal Monday. Schools were open. Subways running. Washington D.C., by contrast, was still at a standstill.

"No one is saying mission accomplished around here," the mayor said. "What we are saying is, a lot of good work has happened. You can get around this city by and large today."

But in parts of Queens there was little praise for the mayor.

"This is two days after the storm and it looks like it ended two minutes ago," said Queens City Councilman Eric Ulrich.

On Monday afternoon, many streets were still buried and looked as though they hadn't seen a plow at all.

"I want the mayor to come to this community and tell my constituents why the streets have not been plowed for two days and why there is three feet of snow preventing them from living their lives when the rest of New Yorkers are back on their feet," Ulrich said.

Another Councilman from Queens, a Democrat, said the city's online snow plow tracker map was inaccurate, indicating that roads had been plowed when they were still buried.

"Sometimes there's glitches, but by and large I think it's a very helpful tool," the mayor said.

The storm also proved to be a helpful tool in bringing together two frequent adversaries.

Despite the near record levels of snowfall there did appear to be a thawing in the relationship between the Mayor and Governor Cuomo.

"The governor, the state, the MTA, a lot of coordination," the mayor said. "I probably talked to the governor a half dozen times.

Perhaps some of the friction between the mayor and governor will melt away with the snow.
Compared with the sounder underpinnings of "The Little Mermaid" and especially of "Beauty and the Beast," this has an unfortunately shallow ring, as do the two teen-age types on whom the story is centered. The blandly intrepid Aladdin (with the speaking voice of Scott Weinger) and the sloe-eyed Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin), a nymph in harem pants, use words like "fabulous" and "amazing" to express unremarkable thoughts. (Jasmine's main concern is deciding whom she will marry.) Luckily, they are surrounded by an overpowering array of secondary characters who make the film's sidelines much more interesting than its supposed center. The scene-stealing monkey Abu (with noises supplied by Frank Welker) is a particular treat, as when he jealously mimics the Princess or otherwise comments on Aladdin's adventures.

As directed by John Musker and Ron Clements (the "Little Mermaid" team), "Aladdin" is a shade less smoothly paced than its recent predecessors. An opening number, "Arabian Nights," gets the film off to a grand start but ends sooner than viewers will wish. A sample lyric by the irreplaceable Mr. Ashman, who died of AIDS before completing this film's score:

Oh I come from a land,

From a faraway place,

Where the caravan camels roam.

Where they cut off your ear

If they don't like your face.

It's barbaric, but hey, it's home.

A lot of early exposition time is also used to explain the chicanery of Jafar (voice by Jonathan Freeman), the Sultan's evil vizier, whose chilling, bony features suggest a composite of Nancy Reagan (the animators have mentioned this as a deliberate reference, along with a more pointed one to Conrad Veidt in "The Thief of Bagdad") and Captain Hook. It's a long time before Mr. Williams's Genie makes his arrival, and some of the film's early moments -- notably Aladdin's descent into a daunting, computer-animated cave -- are on the scary side. But this "Aladdin" has so much in its favor that these drawbacks are truly minor. When it comes to Disney animators and children's films, this remains certain: nobody does it better.

What will children make of a film whose main attraction -- the Genie himself -- has such obvious parent appeal? They needn't know precisely what Mr. Williams is evoking to understand how funny he is. And the crazily antic pacing of the Genie's outbursts will be utterly familiar to small viewers, even if they can't identify a lightning-fast evocation of "The Ed Sullivan Show." What will come through clearly to audiences of any age is the breathless euphoria of Mr. Williams's free associations, in which no subject is off-limits, not even Disney itself.

When Aladdin promises the Genie his freedom, the Genie mutters "Yeah, right" and turns into a nose-growing Pinocchio. Late in the story, the Genie cries out: "Aladdin! You've just won the heart of the Princess! What're you going to do next?" And the Genie even alludes to the centerpiece numbers of Disney's last two animated films by flashing an "Applause" sign after he sings "Friend Like Me," an heir apparent to the applause-getting "Under the Sea" (from "The Little Mermaid") and "Be Our Guest" (from "Beauty and the Beast"). "Aladdin" actually has two of these sensationally playful songs, the other being "Prince Ali," in which Abu the monkey becomes Abu the elephant, and Aladdin struts his stuff on a grand scale.
SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING

By Amy Tan.

474 pp. G. P. Putnam's Sons. $26.95.

Amy Tan is among our great storytellers. In each of her previous novels, she has seduced readers with the intimate magic of her tale. In "The Joy Luck Club" and "The Bonesetter's Daughter," she enthralled us with the painful complexity of human relationships, especially between mothers and daughters. Obscure parts of history became as immediate as the reader's own experience; she made us breathe the air of other times and places.

Her newest novel, "Saving Fish From Drowning," half spoof and half fairy tale, is narrated by Bibi Chen, a San Francisco socialite and art dealer who was supposed to lead a group of high-powered friends on a trip down the Burma Road, starting in Lijiang in China and continuing across the border into Myanmar, appreciating cultural sites and natural beauty along the way. Bibi Chen has died under mysterious circumstances, but the group goes off on the trip anyway, and Bibi goes along as a spirit, invisible to the travelers, only sporadically able to influence what is going on, but very much involved with -- and frequently rather annoyed by -- her friends and their choices. A quirky narrator, alternately omniscient and helpless, she is enthusiastic, colorful and spirited, but also self-important, snobbish and didactic. Tan uses the contrived plot device of Bibi's status inconsistently. When it suits Tan to give the dead woman special powers -- to rearrange dates with a guide by appearing in his dream, for example -- she does so. And when it suits her to make the narrator out to be impotent, she does that, too. Nonetheless, Bibi Chen is a compelling creature. She is also the only fully realized character in the book.

The trip is a comedy of errors for the group, all errors that Bibi sees coming but, being dead, cannot prevent. The trouble starts in China when they accidentally desecrate the Stone Bell Temple in Yunnan -- by using one of the grottoes as a urinal, among other atrocities -- and are cursed by a tribal chief. This leads to much bickering, at the end of which the travelers cut short the Chinese portion of their itinerary and cross into Myanmar. There the book's central incident takes place: Karen tribesmen abduct the group at Inle Lake. The tribesmen have mistaken one of the party for the fabled Younger White Brother for whom they have waited 100 years, and who will lead the Karen people to victory. Most implausibly, the Americans do not realize that they are being held captive and continue for some weeks to believe they came to the Karen village deep in the jungle as part of a standard tourist agenda, and have been detained because the collapse of a bridge over a nearby gorge has destroyed the route back to civilization. The tribe, meanwhile, does not realize that their godhead is just an American teenager. The book plays lightly over the funny diction of Chinese and Burmese guides, awkward romantic dalliance among the travelers, and their emergence as a major international news story on GNN (Global News Network). Tan provides a great deal of local color and detailed touristic information, including recommended menus. You could plan your own vacation after you read this book.

"Saving Fish From Drowning" is well paced, as one would expect from Tan. Her lovely and evocative images add charm to the ordinary observation of landscape, in passages that might be dull in lesser hands. "The gnarled pine, I would have said, touch it. That is China. Horticulturalists from around the world have come to study it. Yet no one has ever been able to explain why it grows like a corkscrew, just as no one can adequately explain China. But like that tree, there it is, old, resilient and oddly magnificent." For the most part, however, she fails to use her greatest gifts, historical lyricism and private emotion. The emphasis of "Saving Fish From Drowning" seems to be humor; these unconvincing characters are there to make you laugh. The book has clever moments and some good one-liners, but none of Tan's books is funny; humor is not her forte. She has a clunky way with irony, and the sprawling slapstick set pieces at the core of this effort are draggy and inept. The sophistication that has served such elegant purpose in her previous books is overwhelmed here by well-intentioned crudeness, some of it sexual, much of it scatological (the guy with an enlarged prostate and his concerns that his stream of urine is too trickly; the details of the diarrhea that many of the travelers contract), which reads not as vigorously brazen but as depressingly self-conscious. The deliberately absurd plot, not moving enough for the kind of elegiac fiction that has made Tan famous and not meaningful enough to pass for allegory, appears to be satire. It aspires to the mordant social burlesque of Evelyn Waugh in "Black Mischief," but it lacks Waugh's lightness and wit, so the caricatures seem hackneyed instead of clever, the dialogue dim instead of playful, and the sorties into political incorrectness obnoxious and even colonialist rather than daringly honest and self-assured.
New Delhi: India will not be tied down to a timeline on the Rafale deal and is prepared to wait it out for the French to lower the cost, sources have indicated. Sources also indicated that even in the run-up to French President Fran-cois Hollandes visit, the Indian government had decided that it was not going to be pushed into a corner on time lines due to the presidential visit.

When you are acquiring a product, you look for the best price. Why should we set ourselves a time line, sources said.

Read: Rafale deal on right track, says French President ahead of India visit

As it turned out, the Indian government stood its ground due to which the two sides could not mutually agree on the cost of the deal.

Speculation is already rife that while France wants about 11.5 billion euros, India wants the cost lowered to about 8 billion euros.

But the development is bad news for the Indian Air Force (IAF), which desperately wants modern fighter aircraft to boost the number of fighter aircraft squadrons.

Read: Rafale: India, France ink IGA, to sort out 'financial aspects'

The developments have also become an example of how urgently-needed acquisitions for the armed forces have been delayed by several years, adversely impacting the operational preparedness of the three services.

In this case, the "request for proposal" (RFP) was issued way back in 2007 for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), a race which Dassault ultimately won after being selected as the lowest bidder.

But after protracted contract negotiations between India and Dassault. the proposed deal made no headway, following which India decided last year, during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to France, that it would acquire 36 Rafale fighter aircraft directly from the French government by a separate process, citing the operational necessity of the IAF.

India also decided to "withdraw" the earlier-issued RFP for 126 MMRCA. But the cost negotiations for these 36 aircraft, even after months of negotiations, could not be concluded in time for President Hollandes visit, with top government sources describing the negotiations as "complicated".

French firm Dassault - the manufacturer of the Rafale - had already issued a statement on Monday saying it was actively supporting French authorities in their efforts to finalise a complete agreement in the next four weeks.
10. A U.N. envoy said Syrian peace talks should begin Friday in Geneva but would not identify who would have a place at the table. He said he wanted to make sure that when and if we start, we start on the right foot, adding, It will be uphill anyhow. European foreign ministers met in Amsterdam to debate how to limit the influx of migrants, including Syrian refugees, and whether to retain border blocks for up to two more years.

_____
Over the past decade, our municipality worked hard to revive and preserve this heritage. We oversaw the restoration of many historic buildings, including mosques and churches. The reopening of the Surp Giragos Armenian Church, which is now the largest Armenian church in the Middle East, after nearly a century in ruins has encouraged hidden survivors in Turkey of the 1915 genocide to rediscover and embrace their heritage. Efforts to restore the old synagogue in memory of Surs once vibrant Jewish community were underway before the eruption of violence last summer.

In 2012, Surs community leaders established an interfaith dialogue group bringing together representatives of the regions different religions, cultures and civil society groups. Known as the Council of Forty, it has played a crucial role in keeping sectarian violence from reaching our city. Thanks to its efforts, Sur came to symbolize the vision of peaceful coexistence in a region plagued by intolerance.

It causes me immense grief to see that pluralism fall apart along with Surs buildings. Sectarianism is destroying Syria before our very eyes. To avoid the same fate in Turkey, the Council of Forty has called on the government to lift the curfews, and asked all sides to end hostilities and return to peace talks within the framework of parliamentary democracy.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said recently that military operations in the besieged Kurdish towns would continue until they were cleansed of terrorists. You will be annihilated in those houses, those buildings, those ditches which you have dug, he threatened. But what peace can be built through destruction? Decades of military policies against the Kurds have shown only that violence begets more violence.

Many residents of these towns are poor families who were forced to flee the countryside when the conflict between the Kurds and the Turkish state was at its peak in the 1990s. Those who are digging trenches and declaring self-rule in Sur and other cities and towns of southeastern Turkey today are mostly Kurdish youths in their teens and 20s who were born into that earlier era of violence, poverty and displacement, and grew up in radicalized ghettos.
Listening to the designer Suk Chai describe a garment in thorough detail is almost like seeing it and touching it for yourself. She fine-tuned her fashion vocabulary as a child, watching items that originally belonged to her eldest brother get passed to her second-oldest brother, then to her older sister, and finally to her. I waited for this particular tweed coat and red beret for at least six years, says Chai, now 43, who was born in Korea and raised in Seattle. Her first non-hand-me-down came in the form of a white, crew-neck, short-sleeved, all-cotton dress with patchwork and a poofy skirt (the occasion: her second-grade piano recital). Both outfits were special, she remarks. The tweed coat  I had my eye on that for a long, long time, and I loved it and knew itd eventually be mine; but I did like having my own clothes.

Image Suk Chai Credit... Sarah Marie DEugenio

That childhood awareness of fashion certainly contributed to the launch of her own womens wear line, called Schai  though it came after Chai had already spent more than 20 years in the fashion industry. She graduated from FIT in 1995 and headed to Adrienne Vittadini and Liz Claiborne, then returned to Seattle and developed Nordstroms private label. It was a huge collection  250 styles or more, per season, petite and larger sizes, Chai says. Everything that I learned, I probably learned at Nordstrom  sourcing, quality check, specifying measurements and fit  and there were a lot of teaching-myself moments, because the Nordstrom Product Group was just starting when I joined. The company is so strong now, and known worldwide, but at the time, many mills and factories in Italy and Asia were like, Who are you? Whos Nordstrom? Though I feel like Ive been doing this forever, Schai is new to market, so people were also like, Who are you? Its the same thing.

In 2011, she left Nordstrom after 14 years  though she didnt rush into Schai. Instead, she took a two-year-long break from fashion (including shopping) to regroup mentally and travel. One day, she found herself in the Seattle Barneys outpost, touching a buttery 100-percent cashmere coat by Lanvin. I had tears in my eyes, I had goosebumps all over my body, my heart was racing  it was such a visceral and emotional moment, Chai says. That was the reason I got back in. I said to myself, I need to do something thatll make me feel just as great and as attached to the product, and the customer whos going to wear my clothes needs to experience the same attachment. She sketched the entirety  and then some  of her debut collection in a single night, drawing 45 head-to-toe looks (easily 90 or 120 pieces, by her count) from 8:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.; she edited the selection and decided to bring her Italian and Japanese fabrics to New Yorks garment district (and to do some consulting on the side to pay for them). Salt, her inaugural offering for fall 2014, inspired by a magnified image of a salt crystal from her then-20-year-old sons microscope, was picked up by three stores.
Mr. Paxton, whom I also began to watch in the 1980s, is most famous for inventing contact improvisation (a genre that has always been far more engrossing when hes one of the participants). But hes also created pieces with fixed choreography and can still be an extraordinary performer. In 2010, he not only shared a program with Mikhail Baryshnikov but emerged as the more haunting of the two. His latest project (at the Kitchen, Jan. 28-Feb. 6) is part of the premiere staging of the composer Robert Ashleys opera-novel Quicksand (three hours with intermission); Mr. Paxton (who turned 77 last week) is one of the three announced performers.

Dancing Sculpture: The Faun at Pompeii

Since dance is the art of movement, its endlessly fascinating to see how artists have depicted it in fixed, unchanging images  especially in painting, drawing and sculpture. In some parallel universe, Ill organize a series of exhibitions of works that demonstrate this imagery.

Just now the show Id love to see (indeed, to arrange) is one of Hellenistic portraits of dancers from the Greek-influenced part of the Mediterranean world between the fourth century B.C. and the first A.D.; and Id like it to include many of the items in the archaeological museum in Taranto in Puglia (Italy), too little known even among classicists. (Among its many fascinations is a tiny terra-cotta sculpture of a couple that I call the Fred and Ginger of Magna Graecia: shes in a full-length dress, and theyre side by side, almost cheek to cheek, tilting back while advancing their front legs.)

A prime example is in Washington now. Its part of the Power and Pathos exhibition of Hellenistic bronze sculpture at the National Gallery of Art until March 20: namely, the Dancing Faun (discovered in 1830), which gives its name to the largest villa in the main part of Pompeii. (The exhibition has traveled to Florence and Los Angeles, but this sculpture has only been in this final leg of the tour.) The implication of movement pervades the fauns body: Hes poised precariously on the balls of his feet, with bent knees, but hes ecstatic, with his face, upper body and arms all addressing the air above and ahead of him.
Nahnatchka Khan answered the questions here.

Nahnatchka Khan, the show runner of Fresh Off the Boat on ABC, is taking questions from Times readers.

Fresh Off the Boat, adapted from a memoir by the iconoclastic food personality Eddie Huang, premiered last year. Much of the early attention focused both on Mr. Huangs ambivalent feelings about the series and the fact that it was the first network sitcom focused on an Asian-American family since Margaret Chos All American Girl, which debuted in 1994 and ran for one season.

But Fresh Off the Boat, tracking the Huangs often bumpy adventures in assimilation, has since settled in as a Tuesday-night fixture for ABC, with critics praising Constance Wus matriarch, in particular. The show returns on Feb. 2 with an episode about the Taiwanese familys efforts to celebrate the Chinese New Year in suburban Orlando.

Ms. Khan previously created another ABC sitcom, Dont Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, and also worked on Seth MacFarlanes American Dad.
Perhaps the most anticipated trial exploring the art market in recent years began Monday in United States District Court in Manhattan with a lawyer for a couple that bought a fake Rothko asserting in her opening argument that Knoedler & Company, a once-celebrated Manhattan gallery that is now defunct, had deceived its customers while selling them dozens of fake works that it said were by master artists.

The couple, Domenico and Eleanore De Sole, paid Knoedler $8.3 million in 2004 for the purported Rothko, Untitled, 1956. In 2012 they sued the gallery and its former director and president, Ann Freedman, accusing them of racketeering and fraud in the sale and asking for damages of $25 million. Mr. De Sole is chairman of the board of Sothebys.

These defendants were lying to their clients about the paintings, Emily Reisbaum, a lawyer for the De Soles told 10 jurors. They were also hiding the truth.

The gallery and Ms. Freedman have denied the accusations, though they acknowledge now that the works were fake. They say they too were taken in by an elaborate scheme to sell counterfeit art.
Cypruss finance minister, Harris Georgiades, says the island nation is on track to conclude its multibillion-euro rescue program on time this March, almost three years after receiving the lifeline. Mr. Georgiades told the European Parliaments Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Monday that strict adherence to fiscal and other reforms meant that Cyprus had not used more than 2 billion of the 9 billion euros, or about $9.7 billion, that its eurozone partners made available to it under the 2013 bailout deal. Mr. Georgiades said Cyprus would not need a conditional credit line once the program concludes.
In the fall of 2008, with General Motors and Chrysler on the precipice of bankruptcy, executives at the car parts supplier Johnson Controls flew to Washington. The companys president testified before a Senate panel and implored lawmakers to bail out the auto industry.

Speaking for our company, and, I am sure for all auto parts suppliers, we respectfully urge the members of this committee, and the Congress as a whole, to provide the financial support the automakers need at this critical time, Keith Wandell, then the president of Johnson Controls, said, warning that the failure of even one automobile company would implode the supply chain and lead to broad job losses.

Congress approved a bailout plan worth almost $80 billion for General Motors and Chrysler, saving the automakers and, indirectly, suppliers like Johnson Controls. By 2010, with its business back on track, Johnson Controls doubled the pay of Stephen Roell, then its chief executive, to more than $15 million.

Despite the federal governments rescue  and hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks over the last several decades from states like Michigan and Wisconsin  Johnson Controls said on Monday it was renouncing its United States corporate citizenship by selling itself to Tyco International, based in Ireland, a deal struck in large part to reduce its tax bill, which it said should drop by about $150 million annually.
Why the grim outlook? Any number of reasons hung in the crisp mountain air.

Global events beyond the control of the World Economic Forum certainly played a role. The continuing depression in oil prices took the wind out of the sails of attendees from the Middle East and Russia whose swagger during previous forums was underpinned by the strength of their oil-based economies.

If you look at the figures, our economy will not look like anything good this coming year, Vladimir A. Dmitriev, the chairman of Russias Vnesheconombank, sighed during a panel on the outlook for Russia.

For others, the sharp swings in the markets took a toll. One financier who attended said that his optimism fluctuated with the vicissitudes of the market, particularly after the sharp plunge Wednesday as the forum began. The markets then rebounded on Thursday and Friday.

Yet others appeared anxious over the very disruption that lay at the heart of the theme of this years World Economic Forum, the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It was a formulation aimed at describing the rise of new digital technologies that have been upsetting incumbents in a variety of industries.

Several of those being disrupted seemed to be struggling to find their balance, even at a conference seemingly built to assure them of their importance. On a panel titled Future-Proofing Global Finance, Bank of Americas chief executive, Brian T. Moynihan, repeatedly both defended the importance of traditional banks and encouraged tougher regulation of the new financial technologies that have begun to eat into his business.
Utility-scale solar power generation alone is expected to increase by 45 percent by 2017, according to the Energy Department. Administration officials express an ambition to make wind power the source of more than a third of the American electricity supply by 2050.

In China, the worlds biggest greenhouse gas emitter, the government implemented a new rule that no matter how low world crude oil prices may fall, the price of gasoline and diesel will continue to be set as though the world price of oil were still $40 a barrel. The goal is to prevent gasoline and diesel from becoming so cheap that Chinas citizens would start consuming it indiscriminately.

Chinas heavily state-owned refining industry will also not be allowed to keep the extra profits from buying crude oil cheaply and selling gasoline and diesel as though the crude oil still cost $40 a barrel. Instead, the Chinese government will take the extra refining profit margin and put the money into a special fund for energy conservation and pollution control.

But across the globe, the picture is not entirely rosy for zero-emission technologies.

Several nuclear power plants, which emit virtually no greenhouse gases, have closed in the United States in recent years, and few are under construction in part because of the competition of cheap natural gas.

Low oil prices also jeopardize the development of alternative fuels to replace petroleum in transportation and industry, including the advanced biofuels that once looked so promising. Cheap oil also reduces the price of diesel, the primary competitor of renewables in spreading electricity generation to impoverished rural areas of Africa and Southeast Asia.
New Delhi: The President on Tuesday called Union home minister Rajnath Singh and put some queries to him on the need for the imposition of Presidents Rule even as the Congress, the ruling party in the state, met him and opposed the Cabinet decision.

The Congress urged the President not to give his assent, saying the issue was before the Supreme Court which has decided to hear the Congress petition on Wednesday.

The petition seeking urgent hearing was mentioned before Chief Justice T.S. Thakur at his residence and he directed the matter to be listed for hearing on Wednesday.

Other major Opposition parties had also attacked the Centres decision, saying it amounted to "murder" of democracy, while the BJP said the crisis was of the Congress making because it had lost numbers in the Assembly.

Arunachal Pradesh has been rocked by a political crisis since December 16 last year when 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of the BJP and two Independents to "impeach" Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, a move branded as "illegal and unconstitutional" by the Speaker.

The Union Cabinets decision to impose Presidents Rule was based on state governor J.P. Rajkhowas report.

Up in arms against then state chief minister Nabam Tuki, 21 rebel party MLAs, including 14 disqualified a day before, with the help of the BJP and Independent legislators, congregated at a community hall after the state Assembly complex was "sealed" by the local administration and "impeached" Mr Rebia in an impromptu session chaired by deputy speaker T. Norbu Thongdok.

Twenty-seven MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, including the CM and his ministerial colleagues, boycotted the proceedings.

A day later, in a bizarre turn of events, the Opposition BJP and rebel Congress MLAs gathered in a local hotel to "vote out" CM Nabam Tuki and "elect" a rebel Congress MLA in his place, but the Gauhati high court intervened to keep in "abeyance" decisions taken at the rebel "session".

The then CM had also written to the President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking their intervention to "uphold" the Constitution in the face of the "unprecedented murder" of democracy and "bypassing" of a democratically-elected government by the governor.
Marvin Minsky, who combined a scientists thirst for knowledge with a philosophers quest for truth as a pioneering explorer of artificial intelligence, work that helped inspire the creation of the personal computer and the Internet, died on Sunday night in Boston. He was 88.

His family said the cause was a cerebral hemorrhage.

Well before the advent of the microprocessor and the supercomputer, Professor Minsky, a revered computer science educator at M.I.T., laid the foundation for the field of artificial intelligence by demonstrating the possibilities of imparting common-sense reasoning to computers.

Marvin was one of the very few people in computing whose visions and perspectives liberated the computer from being a glorified adding machine to start to realize its destiny as one of the most powerful amplifiers for human endeavors in history, said Alan Kay, a computer scientist and a friend and colleague of Professor Minskys.

Fascinated since his undergraduate days at Harvard by the mysteries of human intelligence and thinking, Professor Minsky saw no difference between the thinking processes of humans and those of machines. Beginning in the early 1950s, he worked on computational ideas to characterize human psychological processes and produced theories on how to endow machines with intelligence.
In looking into the suicide of a Navy SEAL team commander, Job W. Price, during a deployment in late 2012, Times reporters learned more about the stresses on elite Special Operations troops, the stigma that many have felt about seeking help for mental health issues and what the military is trying to do to change that. Christopher Drew, one of the reporters who worked on the story, discusses these issues.

Why did The Times look into Commander Prices suicide?

When we researched stories about SEAL Team 6 and allegations of detainee abuse involving members of SEAL Team 2, several SEAL team members mentioned that much about Commander Prices death in December 2012 remained a mystery even to other SEALs. We spoke with his father and sister, and they were not satisfied with the explanations the Navy had provided in ruling his death a suicide and still had many questions about it.

What about your findings surprised you most?

Most of the movies and books about Navy SEALs portray them as warriors who remain resilient in the face of any difficulties, and it was almost unfathomable that a veteran commander would kill himself in the middle of a deployment. But as we studied the Navys investigative documents and talked to Commander Prices friends, it became clear that he was haunted by the deaths of two soldiers and two SEALs under him. The losses seemed to burden him even more because they came after the United States had started to pull out of Afghanistan.

How common is traumatic stress within the Special Operations forces?

Medical researchers have found that the nations Special Operations forces  which include Navy SEALs and the Armys Delta Force, Green Berets, and Rangers, as well as special Marine and Air Force units  are suffering just as much, or more, than regular troops from post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries. Most of these special operators have had multiple deployments in Iraq or Afghanistan, and the stresses and brain injuries they experience  some stemming from exposure to explosive blasts in breaching enemy compounds  have been linked to depression. Several dozen members of the Special Operations community have killed themselves over the last several years, usually after they have returned home or gotten out of the military.
The offices of the New York attorney general and inspector general have declined to open investigations into the 2013 constitutional amendment that allowed a private company, NYCO Minerals, to conduct open-pit mining on state land in the Adirondack Mountains.

Protect the Adirondacks, one of several environmental groups that opposed the amendment, requested the inquiries, accusing state officials of violating the New York Constitution by advocating the amendment.

The group obtained hundreds of documents through Freedom of Information Law requests that showed officials with the Department of Environmental Conservation worked to persuade environmental groups and lawmakers to support the bill. The states efforts, the group charged, ultimately paved the way for the amendment, which was narrowly passed by voters.

Environmental officials had argued that the proposal would be good for the state and save jobs in the North Country region of the state. Protect the Adirondacks said the governments advocacy violated the constitutional provision that mandates that state funds shall not be given or loaned to or in aid of any private corporation or association, or private undertaking.
In the latest indication of how daunting it has been to remake the troubled New York City jails, the de Blasio administration is spending an additional $7 million on an international consulting firm that it first hired in 2014 to develop a blueprint for reform.

While the consultant, McKinsey & Company, specializes in reorganizing corporations, it has rarely if ever worked in jails or prisons before the Rikers Island jail complex. The firms consultants  often youthful graduates of elite universities  are expected to focus on measures to reduce the violence, which persists even as the city spends tens of millions of dollars to improve conditions.

Officials declined to describe how many consultants would be involved or what services would be provided by McKinsey, which was first hired by the city in September 2014 for $1.7 million.

The department is committed to creating a culture of safety within the citys jails, and extending our current contract with McKinsey is part of that ongoing effort, a Correction Department spokesman said in a statement.
Justice Solomon said a silver .22-caliber pistol recovered during the arrest could be admitted into evidence, even though the only officer who could testify that he had seen it in Mr. Waterss hands was Officer Randolph Holder, who was shot and killed in October while trying to make another arrest.

Image Officer Randolph Holder Credit... New York Police Department

During the chase, the judge noted, Officer Holder had informed his commanding officer, Sgt. Christopher Giannetti, that Mr. Waters had drawn the gun and dropped it in a stairwell before sprinting away. That gave the police the probable cause they needed to make the arrest, Justice Solomon said, citing several similar cases.

I find the motion to suppress the weapon must be denied under the law, he said.

Officer Holder was fatally shot on Oct. 20 while chasing a convicted drug dealer on the East River promenade near 120th Street. The man, Tyrone Howard, had been involved in a gunfight with rivals on East 102nd Street a few minutes earlier, the police said. Mr. Howard was charged with Officer Holders murder.

In October 2014, Officer Holder and his partner, Javish Acevedo, arrested Mr. Waters on charges that he was carrying a loaded pistol in the George Washington Carver Houses, near Park Avenue and 104th Street.

In a criminal complaint, Officer Holder said he saw Mr. Waters drop the gun in an outdoor stairwell at 50 East 104th Street.
The death brought sorrow to those who knew Ms. Torres-Gonzalez.

Born in Utuado, Puerto Rico, she was one of three daughters in a family of coffee farmers, said her cousin, Carmen Rodriguez, who lives in Puerto Rico but was visiting her son in Lakewood, N.J., at the time of her cousins death.

Ms. Torres-Gonzalez moved to New York in the 1980s, shortly after marrying Carmelo Torres, who died 20 years ago of cancer, relatives said. The couple had two daughters.

Image Carmen Torres-Gonzalez

For many years Ms. Torres-Gonzalez taught Spanish to preschool-age children in the Bronx. She was like a missionary, said another cousin, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was afraid of the killer and his family. The cousin said Ms. Torres-Gonzalez was always making visits to nearby nursing homes and hospitals, some where she was registered to offer comfort to families of the deceased or the terminally ill.

She was a very truthful Christian woman her whole life, Ms. Rodriguez, 64, said by phone from her sons home in New Jersey. Everybody is going to tell you the same thing.

But her regular visits to her 77-year-old mother, Ana Elba Rodriguez-Gonzalez, had put her in contact with Mr. Feliz-Volquez, whose erratic behavior had drawn at least four visits by the authorities since June, the official said. Twice, the police came and Mr. Feliz-Volquez was taken for observation to Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center; the two other 911 calls were handled by ambulance crews.

Mr. Feliz-Volquezs mother told investigators her son had a mental illness, was prescribed medication for schizophrenia and had been in and out of institutions, the law enforcement official said. On Aug. 24, Mr. Feliz-Volquez pleaded guilty to third-degree assault, according to court papers, after he hit a co-worker at a restaurant in Manhattan, the official said.
The Pentagon is ramping up intelligence-gathering in Libya as the Obama administration draws up plans to open a third front in the war against the Islamic State. This significant escalation is being planned without a meaningful debate in Congress about the merits and risks of a military campaign that is expected to include airstrikes and raids by elite American troops.

That is deeply troubling. A new military intervention in Libya would represent a significant progression of a war that could easily spread to other countries on the continent. It is being planned as the American military burrows more deeply into battlegrounds in Syria and Iraq, where American ground troops are being asked to play an increasingly hands-on role in the fight.

Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Friday that military officials were looking to take decisive military action against the Islamic State, or ISIS, in Libya, where Western officials estimate the terrorist group has roughly 3,000 fighters.
Some Israeli officials have argued that Palestinians benefit by working in settlement businesses, producing what one factory owner calls goods of peace. But many work in settlements only because Israels stifling of the Palestinian economy has deprived them of alternatives. Because the government rarely conducts labor inspections, Palestinian workers often earn less than the Israeli minimum wage. If workers complain, employers sometimes retaliate by fabricating a security incident that will deprive Palestinians of their work permits, according to the H.R.W. report.

To view goods made under these conditions as no different than products made within Israel requires going blind to such indignities. Unfortunately, that is exactly what new legislation that will soon land on President Obamas desk would require the United States government to do. Under a provision of a larger piece of legislation, popularly known as the Customs Bill, that has been approved by the House and is expected to soon pass the Senate, American officials will be obligated to treat the settlements as part of Israel in future trade negotiations.

The ostensible reason this provision was added to a bill on international trade is to combat the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, a grass-roots campaign that seeks to pressure Israel to change its policies toward the Palestinians. But under existing law, Washington already forbids American companies to cooperate with state-led boycotts of Israel. Under the guise of an antiboycott provision, the Customs Bill extends similar protections to Israeli-controlled territories  meaning settlements. For American trade negotiators, the industrial zones dotting the occupied territories would have the same status as the high-tech industry in Tel Aviv, just as settler zealots insist.

This potential, and largely unnoticed, shift in American policy comes just as frustration with the stalled peace process and Israels deepening grip on the occupied territories is leading to more targeted pressure on Israels settlements. This month, the pension board of the United Methodist Church decided that five Israeli banks that fund construction in the settlements are ineligible for its investment. In November, the European Union, Israels largest trading partner, declared that products made in the occupied territories should be labeled separately from Israeli goods.

As the H.R.W. report makes clear, these steps are consistent with international law. Since all companies that do business in or with settlements inevitably contribute to human rights violations, they should stop. And since no country recognizes Israeli sovereignty over the occupied territories, all of Israels trading partners should insist that the label Made in Israel be removed from products from the settlements.
A few things feel off in The Burial at Thebes. But one big thing  the script  is on, and that saves this version of Antigone from failure.

That script, adapted from Sophocles by the great Irish poet Seamus Heaney, is lovely to hear, even as it tells a vicious tale. In the ancient story, Antigones brother Polyneices has been killed while trying to overthrow the city of Thebes. The king, Creon, brands Polyneices a traitor and decrees that his body remain unburied, a carcass for the dogs and birds to feed on.

Out of respect for her brother, Antigone defies the edict, setting in motion the tragedy and raising the ideas that keep the play enduringly vital  of what is good versus what is legal, of our obligation to ourselves versus our duty to society.

Heaneys version was written in response to the American invasion of Iraq. (Early on, Antigone relates an edict from Creon: Whoever isnt for us/Is against us in this case.) It is beautifully spare and potent, and line after line is actor-friendly and quotable, as when Haemon, the kings son, declares: Nobody can be sure theyre always right/The ones who are fullest of themselves that way/Are the emptiest vessels.
Two of the three inmates who escaped Friday from a maximum security jail in Orange County are believed to be members of Vietnamese gangs, and sheriffs officials said on Monday that they believe the men could be embedded within the countys sizable Vietnamese community. Officials identified Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Bac Duong, 43, as likely members of Vietnamese gangs, which they declined to name. Officials put out a message in Vietnamese asking for any information about the fugitives. The family of Mr. Tieu spoke to a local television station, and asked him to turn himself in. The two men and a third inmate, Hossein Nayeri, 37, have not been seen since the Friday morning head count at the Orange County Central Mens Jail in Santa Ana. It is unclear if they had help from jail employees or contractors.
The police have been accused of committing at least 40 atrocities against transgenders, under the cover of Section 36A of the Karnataka Police Act.

Bengaluru: Shreeja (name changed), a transgender who begs on the city streets, has been bullied and dragged by the cops to police stations, often for cases not related to her. Hers is not an isolated case. The police have been accused of committing at least 40 atrocities against transgenders, under the cover of Section 36A of the Karnataka Police Act, alleges the transgender community.

Section 36A is aimed at controlling the objectionable activities of eunuchs. But activists have condemned this section, saying it is a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. Akkai Padmashali and other activists met Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs T.B. Jayachandra recently, and he assured them that the government would remove the Section.

Akkai told Deccan Chronicle, The government is quiet on the issue. We have met several leaders, but it has been of no use. Our fight will not end till Section 36A is fully repealed. I have trust in the present government, and hope that it will remove the offending section.

In April 2011, the state government amended the State Police Act and introduced Section 36A. It empowers the commissioner to pass orders to maintain a register of names and addresses of all transgender, who are reasonably suspected of kidnapping or emasculating boys, committing unnatural offences, or any other offences.

Members of the Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum filed a PIL on January 12 against the state government, demanding that the section be scrapped with immediate effect.

The forum maintains that this section is also against the recent judgement of the Supreme Court in response to a PIL filed by the National Legal Services Authority in April 2014. The Supreme Court has upheld the rights of transgenders and urged the governments to take steps towards the welfare of transgenders.
A judge on Monday again denied a request by the Detroit Public Schools to obtain a temporary restraining order for teacher sickouts that have closed dozens of buildings this month. Judge Cynthia Stephens of the State Court of Claims said the district did not present enough evidence to prove the teachers union or its president had encouraged members to miss work. Teacher strikes are illegal under Michigan law. The district sued last week to stop the sickouts, which on Wednesday closed more than 85 of the districts roughly 100 schools. Two schools were closed Monday because of teacher absences, the district said. Teachers are protesting their pay, class sizes, supply shortages and the poor conditions in some school buildings. Judge Stephens had previously denied the districts emergency motion for a temporary restraining order. A preliminary hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for Feb. 16.
We werent going to let that happen, Mr. Sadosky said.

The assault has dented Mr. Christie, perhaps badly, in New Hampshire, where he has focused most of his efforts in the campaign. After he climbed into the low teens in December, more recent public polls have shown Mr. Christie slipping back into the single digits. A survey released by CNN and the New Hampshire television station WMUR last week put his support at 6 percent.

Jeb Bradley, the Republican majority leader in the New Hampshire State Senate, said Mr. Christie, whom he has endorsed, had been able to address some of the attacks in town hall meetings with voters. Mr. Bradley said he recalled that, when Mr. Christie was asked about his states credit downgrades recently, he explained that it takes time to clean up the mess that he inherited.

Mr. Trump is probably going to win, although anything can happen in three weeks, Mr. Bradley said, referring to Donald J. Trump, who holds a wide lead in New Hampshire polls. Of Mr. Christie, he added, Its my hope that he comes in second. I think thats possible.

Mr. Christie has projected an aura of indifference to the attacks. He quipped that candidates draw fire only when they are ahead, and criticized his opponents for running negative campaigns. He has not yet aired attack advertisements of his own. But he has increased his criticism of other Republicans and redoubled his emphasis on crisis leadership.
WASHINGTON  President Obama on Monday banned the practice of holding juveniles in solitary confinement in federal prisons, saying it could lead to devastating, lasting psychological consequences.

The move, which Mr. Obama outlined in an op-ed article published by The Washington Post on Monday night, adds the weight of the federal government to a growing movement among state prison administrators, who have begun sharply limiting or ending the use of solitary confinement.

Mr. Obama said federal prisons would no longer use solitary confinement for juveniles or for inmates serving time for low-level infractions. He said the change, along with expanded mental health treatment, would affect as many as 10,000 inmates in the federal system, about a tenth of those being held in solitary confinement in the United States, including in state prisons.

Research suggests that solitary confinement has the potential to lead to devastating, lasting psychological consequences, Mr. Obama wrote. It has been linked to depression, alienation, withdrawal, a reduced ability to interact with others and the potential for violent behavior. Some studies indicate that it can worsen existing mental illnesses and even trigger new ones.
WASHINGTON  Buried less than two miles from the Capitol is the man many blame for the toxic partisanship infecting Congress today even though he died 202 years ago.

Elbridge Gerry was a patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence, drafter of the Constitution, House member, governor and vice president under James Madison. Yet he is best known today for the twist on his name that now defines the twisting of legislative boundaries to give one party or candidate an electoral advantage. This gerrymandering is seen by many as a root cause of Washington gridlock, a point President Obama underlined anew in his final State of the Union address.

Mr. Gerry, as governor of Massachusetts in 1812, signed into law a state legislative map that included an irregularly shaped district obviously drawn to benefit his party. A cartoon in The Boston Gazette archly observed that the map resembled a salamander and added a head, wings and claws to bring it to life.

Better say a gerry-mander, retorted the waggish opposition newspaper editor Benjamin Russell, who is often credited with coining the exact term. Thus, a lasting element of Americas political lexicon was born. (Mr. Gerrys name was pronounced with a hard G that has been softened in the contemporary use of gerrymander.)
Senator Ted Cruz is trying to antagonize Iowans against Donald J. Trump, with whom he is locked in an increasingly contentious fight, in this new ad, New York Values.

On Screen

Over ominous orchestral music, the ad opens with Mr. Trump speaking on Meet the Press in 1999. In a New Yawk accent that in hindsight seems over-the-top even for him, he tells Tim Russert, I lived in New York City and Manhattan all my life, so my views are little different than if I lived in Iowa.

A narrator interrupts. They are different. Like on abortion, she says, mirroring a headline that overtakes the screen. Asked by Mr. Russert if he would ban a late-term procedure called partial-birth abortion by opponents of abortion rights, Mr. Trump says, I am pro-choice in every respect.

The narrator interrupts again: And what does Mr. Trump think about Iowa? At which point Mr. Trump, arms outstretched on the stump, mouth agape, is shown asking rhetorically, How stupid are the people of Iowa?
CAIRO  Lawmakers in Libyas internationally recognized Parliament overwhelmingly rejected a proposed United Nations-backed unity cabinet on Monday, dealing a blow to diplomatic efforts to swiftly reconcile the countrys splintered factions.

The Parliament, which meets in the eastern city of Tobruk, rejected the 32-member cabinet out of concern that it was too large, and that its members had been chosen not for their competency but to satisfy various regional factions, according to Abu Bakr Buera, an influential lawmaker.

Diplomats have been urging Libyan officials for more than a year to bridge the divisions that emerged in the years following the 2011 revolt against Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, and that have left the nation battered by violence and split between competing governments in the east and west of the country.

The foreign pressure has also reflected growing concern about the rise of the Islamic State, which has capitalized on a vacuum of authority to seize territory and carry out deadly attacks, including a series of recent assaults on oil facilities.
BUENOS AIRES  Farmers and fumigators in Argentina are running out of time as they scramble to control the countrys worst plague of locusts in more than half a century, officials warned on Monday.

The provincial authorities and Senasa, the governments agricultural inspection agency, have intensified their efforts to exterminate swarms of the insects in the dry forests of northern Argentina. But their attempts might not be enough to prevent the locusts from developing into a flying throng in the coming days  when they will then threaten to devour crops like sunflowers and cotton, and grasslands for cattle grazing.

Its the worst explosion in the last 60 years, Diego Quiroga, the agriculture agencys chief of vegetative protection, said in a telephone interview. Its impossible to eradicate; the plague has already established itself. Were just acting to make sure its the smallest it can be and does the least damage possible.

Small pockets of locusts, which first appeared last June, at the start of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, have spread across an area of northern Argentina about the size of Delaware. The mild and rainy winter here created comfortable breeding conditions for the locusts; their surge outpaced the ability of the authorities to control the spread of the insects.
SAN SALVADOR  When in human history has an epidemic become so alarming that a nation feels compelled to urge its people not to have children for two years?

Grappling with a mosquito-borne virus linked to brain damage in infants, El Salvador is doing just that, advising all women in the country not to get pregnant until 2018  the equivalent of a Hail Mary pass that, to many here, only illustrates their governments desperation.

Its not up to the government; its up to God, said Vanessa Iraheta, 30, who is seven months pregnant with her second child. I dont think the youth will stop having children.

The virus, known as Zika, has rattled Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly Brazil, where more than a million people have been infected and nearly 4,000 children have been born with microcephaly, a rare condition in which babies have unusually small heads.
Cecil Parkinson, who held senior posts in the British government under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and was seen as her possible successor until a sex scandal forced him to resign, died on Jan. 22 in Britain. He was 84.

The cause was cancer, his family said.

After managing the Conservative Partys 1983 election campaign, leading to a landslide victory four years after Mrs. Thatcher had become prime minister, Mr. Parkinson was poised to rise in the government. Mrs. Thatcher considered elevating him to foreign secretary or chancellor of the Exchequer.

But his prospects ended the day after the election when, according to Mrs. Thatchers memoirs, she received a letter from Col. Hastings Keays saying that his daughter Sara had been having a long-running affair with Mr. Parkinson and that she was carrying his child.

Mr. Parkinson was instead put in charge of the trade and industry department. He resigned a few months later, when the affair became public.
Nearly 500 years ago, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of a German church, beginning the Protestant Reformation that led millions to break with the Roman Catholic Church and ushered in more than a century of conflict and war.

On Monday, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis will participate in a joint Lutheran-Catholic worship service in Sweden this October, kicking off a series of events planned for 2017 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

The effort to mend relations with Protestants has been on the agenda of many popes before Francis, but it is a delicate endeavor. The worship service in Sweden was billed by its sponsors, the Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation, as a commemoration, not as a celebration, in order to avoid any inappropriate note of triumphalism. Some Catholics have criticized the notion of a pope celebrating the anniversary of a schism.

Francis addressed the troubled history between the Christian churches as he led an ecumenical vespers service at a basilica in Rome on Monday to mark the closing day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. He appealed for forgiveness for the sin of our divisions, an open wound in the Body of Christ.
The flipping of a calendar is only a chronological convenience. The switch to 2016, however, does seem to have had a sobering effect on many, including Aamir Khan, who, upon seeing in the cold light of a New Year the intolerance debate he had fuelled, has retracted his leave India comment. His sense of growing disquiet apart from alarm seems to have dissipated.

He takes recourse to the standard excuse that the media had twisted his words. It is in the light of sobriety that he concludes he should never have given vent to his private thoughts. And he is not alone as several writers and scientists, who were also carried away after the Dadri lynching, now wish to take back the awards they had returned.

The need to state opinion has never been so compelling thanks to the ubiquitous social media, which gives rise to the feeling that every Internet Indian is an opinion-maker. Celebrities and politicians seem to suffer even more from this foot-in-mouth syndrome whose symptoms rise in proportion to proximity to a microphone.

There are many who have not found it expedient to recant. Among last years worst excesses were the vitriolic comments of a Chief Minister aimed at the Prime Minister, denouncing him as a coward and a psychopath. Nothing said in the public domain, even in a particularly loud year, could have been so vituperative. Isnt it time the maverick took back his words spoken in anger or haste?
Iran is one of the leading executioners of juvenile offenders, despite its improved legal protections for children and a pledge more than two decades ago to end the death penalty for convicts younger than 18, Amnesty International said Monday.

In a new report, Amnesty International said that it had documented the execution of at least 73 juveniles in Iran from 2005 to 2015 and that 160 juvenile offenders are languishing on the countrys death row.

The report casts doubt on laws meant to improve childrens rights in Iran in the past few years, including new discretion by judges to impose alternative punishments on juveniles convicted of capital crimes. In reality, the report said, these changes are attempts by the authorities to whitewash their continuing violations of childrens rights and deflect criticism of their appalling record as one of the worlds last executioners of juvenile offenders.

Amnesty International, a leading global advocate for abolition of the death penalty, had also recorded the execution of juveniles in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and there are juveniles on death row in the Maldives and Nigeria.
Asked about how the revolutions anniversary was marked in prison, he replied: Every year is different. On Jan. 25, 2014, I was jailed along with my comrades Ahmed Douma, Ahmed Maher and Mohamed Adel. We partied and listened to music. Back then, we still had the energy to share memories with both pride and sarcasm. However, on Jan. 25, 2015, I was separated from my colleagues, which turned me melancholic and nostalgic. As for this years Jan. 25, I just want it to pass.

In a letter from prison, published in The Guardian and the Cairene news site Mada Masr, Mr. Abd El Fattah bemoaned the fact that the very language of revolution was lost to us, replaced by a dangerous cocktail of nationalist, nativist, collectivist and post-colonialist language, appropriated by both sides of the conflict and used to spin convoluted conspiracy theories and spread paranoia.

However one of the bloggers sisters, Sanaa Seif, noted the anniversary with more hope.

Ms. Seif, who was released from jail in September after serving more than a year for attending a peaceful protest, dared to stage a solitary walk on Monday along the route of one of the most daring protest marches on the first day of the 2011 uprising. She walked across the Qasr el-Nil Bridge into a tightly guarded Tahrir Square, with the slogan It is still the January revolution emblazoned on her back.
Airstrikes by the Saudi-led military coalition on Monday hit the home of a senior judge in Sana, Yemens capital, killing the judge along with six relatives, according to witnesses and medics. The judge, Yayha Alrubaid, who headed a court that dealt with national security matters and terrorism, had recently prosecuted members of Yemens Saudi-backed government in exile for high treason, officials said. Saudi Arabia entered Yemens civil war in March on the side of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was driven from power by Houthi rebels last year. Coalition airstrikes have routinely hit civilian targets and killed hundreds of people, according to human rights workers. The Obama administration, which has supported the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen, issued an unusual statement on Saturday, criticizing recent airstrikes that killed a Yemeni journalist and an ambulance driver working with Doctors Without Borders, though the statement made no mention of Saudi Arabia or the coalition.
After a year that included its $170.4 million auction of Amedeo Modiglianis Nu Couche in November, Christies on Tuesday announced total sales of $7.4 billion for 2015, down 5 percent over the previous year.

The company, unlike its rival Sothebys, is privately owned  by the French billionaire Francois Pinault  and is not required to report profitability on its sales, which can carry large guarantees, or promised minimum prices.

Christies said that the results for 2015 were the second-highest total in company history and that the appetite for artworks at all price points remains strong.

You never know going into 2016, because you always start from scratch, said Stephen Brooks, Christies deputy chief executive, in a telephone interview from London. But at the moment weve entered the year with the wind in our sails.
To prepare himself for the role  a high-ranking mobster, or capo, who runs a crew of his own  Mr. Vigoda frequented the Lower East Side and other New York neighborhoods that are backdrops in the story. He told Vanity Fair that he practically lived in Little Italy during the shoot.

Tessio is an old friend and ally of the Godfather, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). But in a story that traces a classical tragic arc, he becomes a figure of disloyalty who pays a steep price for his betrayal.

He reprised the role in a flashback scene in The Godfather: Part II in 1974.

A year after that, Mr. Vigoda was cast as the worn-out Detective Fish on the station-house sitcom Barney Miller, opposite Hal Linden in the title role. Mr. Vigoda stayed with the series for two seasons, 1975-76 and 1976-77, and the opening episodes of a third, earning three Emmy nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series. (The show continued without him until 1982.)

He was so successful that he achieved a rare television feat: appearing in his own spinoff, Fish, while still in the cast of the original show. Fish centered on the detectives home life as the foster parent of five children of various racial and ethnic backgrounds. It ran from February 1977 to May 1978.
Once upon a time there was a serious, well-behaved young black cat.

Beatrix Potter wrote those words in a notebook more than 100 years ago, when she began work on The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots, about a well-mannered cat who leads a double life. Though Potter went on to write at least three drafts of the story, she never got around to illustrating it fully.

Now the manuscript, recovered from Potters archives in London, will finally be released this fall by Penguin Random House, the publisher announced on Tuesday.

The discovery of a previously unpublished 72-page story by Potter, who is best known for her classic childrens book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, adds a surprising footnote to her body of work, which remains popular more than 70 years after her death. The Tale of Peter Rabbit has sold more than 45 million copies globally since first being published in 1902, and more than two million of her childrens tales sell globally each year.

The search for the manuscript began two years ago, when Jo Hanks, the publisher of Penguin Random House Childrens in Britain, stumbled across a reference to an unfamiliar Potter character named Kitty. Ms. Hanks was doing research for The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit, a continuation of Potters Peter Rabbit stories written by the actress Emma Thompson, and picked up a 1971 literary history about Potter by the scholar Leslie Linder.
The problem for the critics is not the administrations idea of choosing a woman  with the exception of a few respondents, like the man who posted on Twitter that he would demand two fives if ever handed a $10 note featuring a woman. Rather, the common gripe is that the $20 bill was not chosen instead of the $10 bill for a womans portrait.

To the bureaucrats, the choice of the 10 was natural and justifiable. For security reasons, the $10 bill was recommended for revision in 2012 by the Advanced Counterfeit Deterrence committee that is led by Ms. Rios and has representatives from the Treasury, the Federal Reserve, the Secret Service and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

So the $10 note became the vehicle for an administration eager to make a historic statement about women before President Obama leaves office. Despite the complaints, officials say, they cannot switch bills.

Yet they might have better anticipated the blowback, critics say.

Even before Mr. Lew announced last summer that a woman would be on the $10 bill, a group called Women On 20s inspired Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, and others in Congress to introduce legislation calling for a womans portrait on the 20. The National Organization for Women got behind the campaign, according to Terry ONeill, president of the group.

Barbara Ortiz Howard, the founder of Women On 20s, was at Mr. Lews announcement last June. They were all excited with their plan, and we had some cautions, she said. We thought there might be some issues with it  like the fact that its not the 20.

The $20 bill is more numerous by far than the $10 note, and the common currency of the ubiquitous A.T.M. For a woman to be put on the $10 note instead suggests women are of lesser worth, some people complained. Though several of those critics said wryly that the lesser note would aptly symbolize that women still earn less than men on average.

The bigger issue, however, turned out to be Hamilton versus Jackson. Many respondents asked: Why displace Hamilton, the first Treasury secretary and the architect of the American financial system, rather than eject Jackson from the $20 bill given his record of violence against Native Americans and opposition to national banking?
The stock market slump has hit activist hedge funds particularly hard, raising the question of whether shareholder activism can survive a down market.

Activist hedge funds specialize in taking aim at troubled companies. The core idea is for the fund to push for a new strategy that will turn the company around or, more commonly, to instigate some event that crystallizes value, like a spinoff or a sale. In the rising stock market of the last five years, this was a wonderful strategy.

Acquisitions were hot and the exits were easy. Mistakes in picking targets were covered up by gains in the market. Activist hedge funds tend to invest in stocks that are more volatile than the overall market, so these stocks tended to rise more than the market itself. Activism seemed to be a surefire way to mint millions in stock profits.

In a down market, this exuberance has come tumbling back to earth. What was volatile on the upside is now shooting downward. And although the downturn is recent, takeover activity  if it follows past patterns  will certainly slow.
At American International Group, big is still better, at least for now.

The insurance giant, which became the starkest example of too big to fail when it had to be rescued by the government during the financial crisis, is now trying to streamline itself to be more profitable and to fend off activist investors who are calling for it to be broken in three.

After pressure from those activists mounted for months, A.I.G. announced a strategic shift on Tuesday that stopped well short of an outright breakup. Instead, the company will offer part of its mortgage insurance unit in an initial public offering, sell its financial advisory business and create nine distinct operations in its commercial and consumer divisions that could pave the way for future sales or spinoffs.

The company plans to spend $25 billion on stock buybacks and dividends over two years, and to cut $1.6 billion from operating costs. It shored up its loss reserves by another $3.6 billion.

A.I.G.s president and chief executive, Peter D. Hancock, however, remained resistant to investor demands  led by Carl C. Icahn  that the company take radical action to shake off the regulatory burden of being labeled a systemically important financial institution, or SIFI, by the government.
The high-frequency trading takeover of the New York Stock Exchange is now essentially complete.

Global Trading Systems, a computerized trading firm based in New York, said on Tuesday that it was taking over the seats on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange that have been run by the British bank Barclays.

Barclays was the last traditional financial institution to still run a major operation on the floor of the Big Board. Barclays has been the so-called designated market maker for 1,200 stocks listed on the exchange.

Designated market makers at the New York Stock Exchange are responsible for setting the opening and closing prices for stocks listed with the exchange. They used to sit at the center of the American stock market, but they have lost that role as more trading has been done by computers.

The market makers are now best known from the photos from the floor of the exchange that run with news reports about movements in the stock markets.
Those who were put into the recovery position were ultimately 72 percent less likely to be admitted to the hospital than those who weren't put in the position. (Photo: Pixabay)

Passed-out children who are positioned on their side have lower odds of needing to stay in the hospital, according to a new study from Europe.

"This is just a simple part of the first aid and resuscitation techniques that anyone can be taught," said Dr. Elizabeth Murray, who was not involved with the new study but is an expert in pediatric emergency medicine at the University of Rochester Medicines Golisano Childrens Hospital in New York.

The so-called recovery position has the patient being put on their side, with the mouth facing downward to allow fluid to drain. The study researchers say this position should be used on unconscious children who are breathing normally with already cleared airways.

But do parents know this? To find out, the researchers looked at data on 553 infants and children up to age 18 who were brought to 11 pediatric emergency rooms across Europe for loss of consciousness in 2014.

As reported in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, the average age was about three years. The average time spent unconscious was about two minutes, although about a third of the group had lost consciousness for more than 20 minutes.

About one in five patients had an existing condition like epilepsy. And about half of the patients had previously lost consciousness.

About 26 percent of parents had put their children into the recovery position, with about 70 percent of those parents reporting they'd learned that technique from doctors or first aid classes.

Those who were put into the recovery position were ultimately 72 percent less likely to be admitted to the hospital than those who weren't put in the position.

More than half the parents had tried other techniques. Some of those techniques could be potentially dangerous, including shaking and slapping their children. Parents reported learning those potentially dangerous techniques from family members or the media.

"You can understand why a family member would do anything to make it stop," said Murray. "Just like fever or other medical conditions, there are remedies or potentially folklore that can be passed down."

Kids whose parents used a potentially dangerous technique to try to restore consciousness had twice the odds of being admitted to the hospital, according to the researchers, who were led by Dr. Sebastien Julliand of Paris Diderot University in France.

People who don't know what to do when a child loses consciousness should call the emergency operator, Murray told Reuters Health. In the U.S., that number is 911.

"Its really important to remember that the majority of dispatchers in our 911 system can give advice over the phone," she said.
Huntington Bancshares said on Tuesday that it would buy FirstMerit Corporation in a deal worth $3.4 billion in stock and cash.

The two companies, which own regional lenders and are both based in Ohio, said in a news release that the merger would create the largest bank in Ohio by deposits. The combined company would have nearly $100 billion in assets.

FirstMerit shareholders are to receive 1.72 shares of Huntington common stock and $5 in cash for each share that they own.

FirstMerit, the holding company for FirstMerit Bank, will merge with a subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares, while FirstMerit Bank will merge with the Huntington National Bank. Four independent members of the FirstMerit board will join Huntingtons board.
A little more than five years after federal agents raided the offices of Level Global Investors, securities regulators are returning $21.5 million in settlement money that the hedge fund paid to resolve an insider trading investigation.

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the hedge funds 2013 settlement vacated after the Securities and Exchange Commission said it would not oppose the request by lawyers for the now-defunct hedge fund.

Level Global shut its doors in 2011 after investors lost confidence in its management when one of its founders, Anthony Chiasson, was implicated in the insider trading scandal. Mr. Chiasson was convicted at trial, but the verdict was overturned and the charges tossed out by a federal appeals court in 2014.

The ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which made it more difficult for federal prosecutors to pursue certain insider trading cases, has led to a number of convictions being overturned as well.
WASHINGTON  Home prices in the United States increased at a faster clip in November, propelled by solid hiring growth, low mortgage rates and a shortage of houses on the market.

The Standard & Poors/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 5.8 percent from a year ago, after a 5.5 percent pace in October, according to a report on Tuesday. Also Tuesday, the Conference Board said consumer confidence rose in January, from December.

Home values nationwide have nearly recovered from their July 2006 peak, as the real estate market has slowly recovered from the housing crash that set off the recession. But several metro areas have fully rebounded from the downturn. Four of them  Dallas, Denver, San Francisco and Portland, Ore.  have either matched or eclipsed their highs. And Charlotte, N.C., is less than 1 percent below its previous high.

Buyers crowded back into the housing market last year. Sales of existing homes rose 6.5 percent over the past year, to 5.26 million, according to the National Association of Realtors. More Americans have been able to buy homes as employers have added 2.7 million jobs and borrowing costs remain low. But the number of available listings has fallen 3.8 percent from a year ago, causing tight inventories that have sent prices up.
Those skeptical about the data point, in part, to the underlying numbers.

For example, electricity consumption, long a barometer of economic health and of the veracity of economic statistics, was nearly unchanged last year instead of rising in line with growth in Chinas gross domestic product. Some have cited the lack of correlation as a sign of possible fudging in the countrys economic statistics, while optimists have said that the figures may show how China is shifting away from energy-intensive manufacturing.

State news media reported last month that several officials in northeastern China had admitted to inflating investment figures and other data in previous years. Such moves, the reports indicated, helped explain steep drops in reported data from the region last year.

Still, the bureau has consistently and repeatedly defended its statistics, contending that critics do not adequately understand the data or the Chinese economy. And the market impact of the investigation could be limited by the fact that many were already wondering about Chinas data.

The international credibility of Chinas G.D.P. figures is anyway very low, so this probably is not a severe blow, said Diana Choyleva, the chief economist and head of research at Lombard Street Research, an economic analysis group in London. Lombard estimates that Chinas gross domestic product grew 3.2 percent last year, not the 6.9 percent that the National Bureau of Statistics claims.

The reliability of Chinas economic data goes to the heart of the markets concerns.

At the official rate, China grew last year at the slowest pace in 25 years. The government is trying to manage a slowdown without letting the pain create social unrest.

That can make it hard to discern whats really happening in the economy. Among other problems, it has a glut of old-line factories that make products like steel, glass and cement. That industrial overcapacity stems from years of debt-financed investment in industries that now show little sign that they can repay those loans.
PARIS  Taxi drivers and air traffic controllers in France went on separate but simultaneous strikes on Tuesday, blocking traffic in major cities and disrupting flights at several airports.

The strikes were part of a wider day of protests in the public sector, including hospitals and schools, to call attention to staff reductions, low salaries and education overhauls. More than 100 demonstrations were planned around the country, and CGT, one of the unions that organized the strike, said that 130,000 to 150,000 people participated nationwide.

The police in Paris said that about 2,000 taxis had blocked or delayed traffic around Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, as well as Porte Maillot, a major intersection in western Paris, and near the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Some taxi drivers set fire to tires and tried to block the highway that circles the French capital, but the police pushed the demonstrators back with tear gas.
Headliner

Wisefish Poke Not that restaurants are any more reliable than finance, but Drew Crane and Bryan Cowan have fled the world of money management to bring their passion for poke (poh-kay), the Hawaiian specialty they encountered in the islands, to New York. We love poke and saw that it has exploded on the West Coast, Mr. Crane said. We want to make it acceptable here. (Actually, New York now has a number of poke options.) The dish is simple: raw fish, often tuna, diced in a bowl with rice, garnishes and dressings. And it is well suited to fast casual dining; bowls, in three sizes, are assembled at a counter according to set combinations or the customers choice of ingredients: 263 West 19th Street, 212-367-7653, wisefishpoke.com.

Opening

Le Botaniste Alain Coumont, an owner of Le Pain Quotidien, the global chain of farmhouse-style cafes, has turned what was once one of his New York locations into a vegetarian wine bar  plant based is the term hes using. The food is prepared in the increasingly popular bowl format in the front half of the restaurant, to eat in or take out; in the back, with a counter and communal tables, is a wine bar dispensing natural wines with minimal or no sulfites. The decor suggests an old-fashioned pharmacy, and the bowls, containing a starch, sauce or side item and a topping, all organic, are called prescriptions. Whats not eaten is recycled or composted. (Opens Thursday): 833 Lexington Avenue (63rd Street), 917-262-0766, lebotaniste.us.

Meyers Bageri Claus Meyer, the Danish entrepreneur behind this group of bakeries in Denmark, is using the same name for a pop-up bakery on Saturdays inside Margo Patisserie in Brooklyn. Mr. Meyer, who is a partner in Noma in Copenhagen and is opening a Nordic food hall in Grand Central Terminal in the spring, will sell Danish baked goods, including whole-grain rye breads, Danish pastries, a poppy-seed pastry, cinnamon buns and wheat loaves and rolls starting at 9 a.m. until supplies run out. Phone and email orders can be placed by noon Thursday for pickup on Saturday. Another edition of the bakery will be installed in the food hall, and in the late spring, the Danish bakery will also take over Margo Patisserie full time. (Saturday): 667 Driggs Avenue (Metropolitan Avenue), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 347-696-8400, aneli@meyersusa.com.

The Regal The partners in Hotel Chantelle on the Lower East Side, along with Delores Hoskins Auguet of Hope Garage, the previous tenant here, have set up this diner-style restaurant with a sophisticated bar. The menu from the chef Seth Levine includes chorizo meatloaf, a tuna tartare melt and a newly trendy spicy fried chicken sandwich. (Wednesday): 163 Hope Street (Union Avenue), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 718-388-4626.
Women should be screened for depression during pregnancy and after giving birth, an influential government-appointed health panel said Tuesday, the first time it has recommended screening for maternal mental illness.

The recommendation, expected to galvanize many more health providers to provide screening, comes in the wake of new evidence that maternal mental illness is more common than previously thought; that many cases of what has been called postpartum depression actually start during pregnancy; and that left untreated, these mood disorders can be detrimental to the well-being of children.

It also follows growing efforts by states, medical organizations and health advocates to help women having these symptoms  an estimated one in seven postpartum mothers, some experts say.

Theres better evidence for identifying and treating women with depression during and after pregnancy, said Dr. Michael Pignone, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an author of the recommendation, which was issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. As a result, he said, we specifically called out the need for screening during this period.
We have done a lot of things so far that have worked for the private sector. You have seen non-casino gaming revenue grow, you have seen more private sector investment in Atlantic City, outside of the casinos. Whether it was Bass Pro Shops or other things that have gone on down there that have been really positive and the Mayor has been a large part of that since hes been there in terms of giving people confidence that he wanted to do the right thing. The bottom line now is, the only thing that is really holding Atlantic City back is its governmental structure and the debt and the cost of its government. And so, Steve and I talked about this five years ago when we did the first Atlantic City package. We talked about the possibility of doing this type of intervention then and we just could not come to an agreement with all the parties involved to be able to do it at that time and we said, ok, lets set up the tourism district, lets do some other things to try to encourage this to work and see if it will. It worked in part in the private sector, but it did not work with the government and so now we have to take this next aggressive step. This is something that Steve and I have been talking about for five years. We wanted to give Atlantic City a five year opportunity to have some of these problems work out on their own, they did not. So now we need to take those stronger steps to intervene and to work as partners with the Mayor going forward, and I think we will be able to do that. So that is what happened. We looked to come to a solution and Steve said it very well, when folks say that you cant get things done, this is another example of an issue that was at least being portrayed in the media and by some stakeholders as being intractable and unsolvable, but when people of goodwill get in a room and they talk to each other as Steve has done and I have done and the Mayor has done, you can get things done.
A knife-wielding man who charged at New York City police officers in the hallway of his grandmothers East Village apartment early on Tuesday was shot and wounded by a sergeant after refusing orders to drop the weapon, police officials said.

The police identified the man as Julian DeJesus, 25, who had been arrested at least six times since 2009, spent more than a year in state prison and had been scheduled to appear in Criminal Court in Manhattan on Wednesday for an open assault case against him. Instead, he was in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital Center with a gunshot wound to the upper chest, officials said on Tuesday evening.

Responding to a 911 call, officers from a police housing unit went to Jacob Riis Houses on Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive around 12:20 a.m., the police said. By the time they arrived, Mr. DeJesus was heading for No. 765, another building in the public housing complex. The officers saw him enter the lobby and board an elevator bound for the sixth floor. The officers, Sgt. Carlos Roberts and Officer Ercan Tutku, followed it up and heard a commotion one floor above, the police said.

They walked up a flight to the seventh floor and saw the door to Apartment 7E open. As they entered, they saw Mr. DeJesus with the knife next to two women, one of whom was his grandmother, the police said.
To the Editor:

Re Consultant on Rikers to Be Paid $7 Million (news article, Jan. 26):

It is baffling to me that New York City, with many experienced employees on its own payroll, needs to pay an outside contractor millions of dollars for the advice of youthful graduates of elite universities to develop solutions to the problems at Rikers Island.

Is there no one in the citys employ who can do this job? Is the opinion of a newly minted bachelor of arts so valuable? Is this a good use of the citys limited resources?

One would expect that the city could find those with the necessary expertise and commitment to reform to solve this pressing problem within its own ranks.

BETTY JANE JACOBS

New York
The reality is that no part of Nigeria has a monopoly on victimhood. The impulse to protest suffering and to seek to determine ones destiny is not wrongheaded; the problem lies in seeking change in a manner that incites ethnic hatred and violence. It would be better for Biafran separatists to drop their calls for independence and push instead for constitutional change that would strengthen the federal system Nigeria purports to practice. Our current Constitution, like the others that followed independence from Britain in 1960, is the product of military leaders whose agenda has rarely coincided with the public good. Though it opens with the requisite words (We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ... ), it was crafted by a handpicked committee and not made public until the military transferred power to the civilian government on May 29, 1999.

Igbo separatists would also do better to follow the example of Scotland and push for a referendum to decide the future of the region. Admittedly, the central government would be unlikely to endorse such a call for fear that it might trigger an avalanche of referendum requests in this country of more than 250 ethnic groups. But were one to take place, my guess is that it would turn out overwhelmingly in favor of preserving union with Nigeria.

There will never be enough support in the southeast for independence from Nigeria, mainly because most of the people there realize that there would be little to gain and much to lose. Its doubtful that the deltas several minority ethnic groups share the conviction of the Biafran agitators that the oil-rich delta states are a natural part of Biafra. Without the Niger delta, Biafra would be a tiny, landlocked nation, its enterprising people hobbled by a requirement to obtain visas to do business in places where theyve lived and traded in for decades.

Moreover, an independent Biafra would remain riven along the very tribal and religious lines that are being invoked to justify its leaving Nigeria. Its easy for the Igbo to regard themselves as a cultural and religious monolith as long as they remain in Nigeria. But all Nigerians should know that there is no end to subdividing ourselves, once we give in to the impulse. In an independent, overwhelmingly Christian Biafra, people would begin to identify themselves as Anglicans and Catholics and Methodists  as they already sometimes do in local politics. In the run-up to last years elections, for example, Anglican bishops warned the ruling party in the Igbo state of Enugu that they would not accept a gubernatorial ticket composed entirely of Catholic candidates. The party disregarded the warning.
THE day after it stopped snowing in New York City last weekend, I took my daughter sledding in Prospect Park. Despite the near record blizzard, things were, remarkably, back to normal in my part of Brooklyn  thanks to stalwart efforts by city employees. The streets were plowed and salted to glistening blackness. The subway arrived seconds after we did. On Prospect Parks circular drive, cyclists serenely spun past.

There was only one flaw in this picture-postcard image of spirited urban resilience: the sidewalks. The walk to the subway was the most difficult part of our journey. There were the stretches that had not been shoveled (in front of houses under renovation, the perimeter of my neighborhood park) or barely shoveled, forcing walkers into an elaborately pantomimed dance of turn-taking on narrow passageways.

Where things got really bad, however, were intersections. Crossing the street meant plunging into slippery, thigh-deep masses of snow piled up by passing plows. Where a few hardy souls had first traversed, there were now single-file crevasses, filled with a melting, exhaust-tinged mire. As my 6-year-old struggled to navigate this urban Tough Mudder course, other pedestrians stacked up behind us, anxiously trying to get out of the street before the light changed and traffic began to rush through again.



Crossing the street  even with the walk signal  is one of the most statistically hazardous things a New Yorker can do. Asking people to run an icy gantlet compounds this. I can only imagine how much more taxing this is for parents pushing strollers, people in wheelchairs or using walkers, or older pedestrians already struggling with making the light. A curb cut is of little use when covered by a barricade of snow.
One after the other, investigations of Planned Parenthood prompted by hidden-camera videos released last summer have found no evidence of wrongdoing. On Monday, a grand jury in Harris County, Tex., went a step further. Though it was convened to investigate Planned Parenthood, it indicted two members of the group that made the videos instead.

The Harris County prosecutor, Devon Anderson, a Republican who was asked by the lieutenant governor, a strident opponent of Planned Parenthood, to open the criminal investigation, said on Monday that the grand jurors had cleared Planned Parenthood of any misconduct.

Yet despite all the evidence, Texas Republican governor, Greg Abbott, said on Monday that the state attorney generals office and the State Health and Human Services Commission would continue investigating Planned Parenthood. This is a purely political campaign of intimidation and persecution meant to destroy an organization whose mission to serve womens health care needs the governor abhors.

Fortunately, in the Harris County case, the jurors considered the facts. David Daleiden, the director of the Center for Medical Progress, which released the videos, and Sandra Merritt, an employee, were indicted on felony charges of tampering with governmental records, probably connected to their alleged use of fake drivers licenses to get into a Planned Parenthood office.
On a stretch of coast between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay, rows of apartments sit on cliffs, dangerously close to falling into the Pacific Ocean.

Powerful waves and heavy rains from El Nino storms have accelerated the erosion of the coastal bluffs in Pacifica, Calif., a spectacle widely shared online. On Friday, city officials there declared an emergency. On Monday, they condemned 20 apartments, placing yellow tags on doors and ordering tenants to collect their belongings and leave.

Recent bluff failures have resulted in unsafe conditions for living space at 310 Esplanade Avenue, Mike Cully, the chief building official, said in a city announcement. Cavities in the bluff are forming to the south, west and north of the building and these critically over-steepened slopes are anticipated to fall back to more stable profiles in the next several days.
Its a big drag on tourism, said one council member, Doug Daniels, a real estate lawyer who wants to ban beach driving altogether.

Mr. Daniels said local nostalgia was fueling the beach driving campaign. But Daytonas beaches have changed, he said: They are urban and crowded, no longer the rural idyll of yesteryear.

Riding around Daytona Beach is like driving around the mall parking lot  it doesnt have that feel of freedom anymore, Mr. Daniels said.

He added that nobody in the county wanted access so restricted by hotels, Miami Beach-style, that locals have a tough time getting onto the sand.

Many residents blame the county for making things crowded by having already closed off access to 30 miles. For them, driving on the beach is nearly a birthright, and the county has slowly constrained access. They are also skeptical that the incentive will help spur a development renaissance. Developers here have often chosen to flip their land for profit rather than build in an area that does not look like a four-star neighborhood.

They are risking citizens rights on a quick-fix scheme, said Mr. Zimmerman, whose group recently refiled its suit. The end game is to privatize this beach. They will make it more difficult to access the beach. The harder to reach the beach, the less people will care if you take it away from them.
In Americas hidden world of prisons and jails, officers are unarmed and outnumbered by inmates: Their peers are their only protection.

Officer Colleen Payton expected that her job at the Little Sandy Correctional Complex in Kentucky could be dangerous, but she did not expect that it would be because of a threat from a male colleague. Ms. Payton and four of her fellow officers have been subjected to a series of alleged sexual attacks at the hands of a co-worker. And they are not alone.

A nine-month investigation for this short documentary, Code of Silence, has found that female officers around the country regularly face sexual harassment by colleagues and superiors. And that fear of retaliation stops many from reporting incidents, while those who do can face repercussions.
Lead contamination in tap water went unchecked for months in a cluster of Ohio villages, state officials said Tuesday, as a local official waited too long to raise an alarm, caused more delays with shoddy paperwork, failed to do required testing and might have even falsified documents on water quality.

Ohios Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday that even after some corrective action had been taken, tests showed that water from many faucets and drinking fountains in public schools in Sebring still showed measurable levels of lead. Most levels, however, were below the allowable limit set by the federal government. The agency had reported similar results in Sebring homes.

The news came amid the crisis in Flint, Mich., where for months, local and state officials brushed off indications of lead contamination. As in Flint, the problem with the Sebring municipal system, which serves 8,100 customers there and in the neighboring communities of Beloit and Maple Ridge, appears to be that it draws from a river with water that is unusually corrosive, causing lead to leach out of old pipes.

Craig W. Butler, the director of the state environmental agency, said that when Sebrings water was tested in 2012, lead levels were within allowable limits, and that the source  the Mahoning River  had not changed since then. Exactly what drove a change in their water quality, it is undetermined at this point, he said.
Wheres Jeb Bush?

You know who is not here? Jeb Bush, who has all but abandoned Iowa for a New Hampshire-or-bust strategy. Mr. Bush has spent just two days in Iowa this month. But the super PAC supporting him, Right to Rise, continues to drop heavy ordnance on Senator Marco Rubio of Florida in TV ads and on Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Gov. John R. Kasich of Ohio in mailings.

The circular firing squad among establishment-leaning Republicans baffles some strategists.

If Right to Rise spent $50 million contrasting Jeb Bush and Donald Trump, this race would be very different, said Stuart Stevens, who was Mitt Romneys top strategist in 2012 and whose consulting firm is advising Mr. Christie, although he is not directly involved in the campaign. Instead, Mr. Stevens added, that money has been used to attack those who most agree with Jeb Bush.

And Dont Forget Ben Carson

Just because a candidate is out of the news media spotlight doesnt mean he isnt out there. On Monday night, Ben Carson addressed a crowd of about 200 at Simpson College in Indianola. Mr. Carsons support in Iowa has dropped in the Real Clear Politics polling average to 7 percent from 29 percent in early November. His state director asked for a show of hands of attendees planning to caucus for Mr. Carson. Only about one in seven went up.

I ran into Kedron Bardwell, a political scientist at the college who is my go-to expert on Iowas Christian conservatives, who once flocked to Mr. Carson. Mr. Bardwell said the former surgeon, known for his eyebrow-raising statements, had attracted both Christians and those who hated political correctness (sometimes the same group). Many of Mr. Carsons former supporters had turned to Mr. Cruz or to Mr. Trump, Mr. Bardwell said.

If youre a Christian conservative and believe what Carson does, Cruz is the natural alternative, he said. And if you want to blow up the system, youll be with Trump.
DES MOINES  Republican leaders are growing alarmed by the ferocious ways the partys mainstream candidates for president are attacking one another, and they fear that time is running out for any of them to emerge as a credible alternative to Donald J. Trump or Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.

Leaders of the Republican establishment, made up of elected officials, lobbyists and donors, are also sending a message to the mainstream candidates, such as former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, that they should withdraw from the race if they do not show strength soon.

The members of the party establishment are growing impatient as they watch Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz dominate the field heading into the Iowa caucuses on Monday and the New Hampshire primary eight days later.

Party leaders had hoped that one of their preferred candidates, such as Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, would be rising above the others by now and becoming a contender to rally around.
Amid the protests, President Obama ordered a review of the military equipment program by a panel including the heads of the Defense, Homeland Security and Justice Departments. The panels report, made public last year, cited the public uproar caused by the police response in Ferguson and said the government had failed to adequately oversee the program. It also pointed to a June 2014 report by the American Civil Liberties Union that documented the flow of battlefield gear to local police departments and instances of its abuse.

The equipment, the A.C.L.U. report said, had resulted in more aggressive tactics by departments, particularly in minority neighborhoods, leading to deaths and serious injuries.

In one 2014 episode highlighted by the A.C.L.U., a heavily armed police officer in Cornelia, Ga., threw a stun grenade into a playpen during a raid, blowing a hole in the face of a 19-month-old baby and causing severe burns. The officer was not criminally charged.

Weve seen how militarized gear can sometimes give people a feeling like theres an occupying force, Mr. Obama said last year as he announced the recall of some of the equipment, as opposed to a force thats part of the community, thats protecting them and serving them.

Local officials say the recent shooting rampages in San Bernardino  the nations worst terrorist attack since Sept. 11  and at a Planned Parenthood building in Colorado Springs show that even modest-size departments need military gear. They point out that fears about terrorism have spread to the smallest communities.

They also say that the equipment has been helpful amid tight county budgeting and that it is used in all sorts of ways that do not involve civil unrest or terrorism, including training exercises and confrontations with gunmen. Armored vehicles, which move on tanklike tracks, are often used for search-and-rescue operations after storms or floods to navigate rough terrain, they say.
New Delhi: The Republic Day might have saved Indian stock markets from a severe crash as world markets led by China plunged on Tuesday.

Shanghais stock market slumped more than six per cent the declined as oil prices slipped back below $30 a barrel. Tokyos Nikkei lost 2.4 per cent, while Hong Kong slumped 2.5 per cent.

European stocks, which opened in red, recovered in later in the day. This reversed a brief global rally on hopes of fresh central bank stimulus.

Chinas stocks tumbled to the lowest levels in 14 months amid concern that capital outflows may accelerate as the economy slows.

Russias stock exchange tumbled by 3.5 per cent and the rouble plunged deeper as oils fresh drop continued to hit one of the worlds biggest energy producers.

However, Indian markets were closed on Tuesday due to the Republic Day isolating them from global fall.

If Indian markets were opened today, it would have definitely reacted negatively to what is happening around especially in China and Europe. Hopefully, due to holiday here, investors will get time to calm their frayed nerves and dont react too negatively when markets open here, said a analyst with a stock brokerage firm.

Recently investors have been concerned over weakness in oil prices and its knock-on effects. Oil prices have been declining since mid-2015, creating more pain for companies in the energy sector and their shareholders. Shares and crude prices now are most correlated since 2013.

Crude oil supply has stayed at levels ample enough to keep visible OECD inventory in surplus. Incremental oil demand growth remains relatively robust, estimated at over one million barrels per day in 2015 and in 2016, but not robust enough to drain the surplus, said HSBC in its research note.
RIO DE JANEIRO  Brazils government has decided to deploy 220,000 troops for a day next month to spread awareness about the Zika virus, which has been linked to severe birth defects in thousands of infants.

The move came as Brazils top health official acknowledged that the country was badly losing the battle against mosquito-borne diseases like Zika.

Marcelo Castro, the countrys health minister, disclosed the troop mobilization in an interview with the newspaper O Globo, and said he expected it to occur on Feb. 13. A spokeswoman for the Health Ministry later clarified that the troop deployment was expected to last only a day, largely involving personnel from different branches of the armed forces going door-to-door handing out pamphlets.

The mobilization focuses scrutiny on President Dilma Rousseffs response to Zika, which arrived in Brazil recently and is rapidly spreading to other parts of Latin America. More than 3,800 infants in Brazil have recently been found to have microcephaly, a previously rare condition linked to Zika in which babies are born with brain damage and abnormally small heads.
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan  Ten police officers in the southern Afghan province of Oruzgan were poisoned by a rogue colleague and shot in the head by Taliban fighters the officer was working with, the second insider attack on the police in the province in less than two weeks, officials said Tuesday.

The recent insider attacks have added to the woes of an Afghan security force that suffered record casualties in the past year as the Taliban mounted strong offensives across the country, stretching the governments fighters thin. Officials say the situation in several districts of Oruzgan is fragile, as it is in neighboring Helmand Province, with government operations unable to break the Taliban momentum.

The latest attack occurred late Monday night in the Chermistan area of the Chinarto district, said Faiz Mohammad, the district chief. A police officer who had forged ties with the Taliban poisoned the 10 officers and invited Taliban fighters to the post; they then shot the poisoned men in the head, he said.

They burned the check post and a police vehicle, and also took the weapons with them, Mr. Mohammad said. The police officer who paved the way for the Taliban managed to escape with the Taliban.
BANGKOK  Malaysias attorney general said on Tuesday that he had closed an investigation into transfers of hundreds of millions of dollars into Prime Minister Najib Razaks personal bank accounts because no laws had been broken.

The decision, greeted with outrage and cynicism by the opposition, appears to prolong the embattled premiership of Mr. Najib, who has struggled to explain why nearly $700 million had been transferred to him.

Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali told reporters at a hastily convened news conference on Tuesday in the countrys administrative capital, Putrajaya, that he had ordered the anticorruption commission to close the investigation into the money that Mr. Najib received.

Mr. Apandi, who was appointed by the prime minister last year after the previous attorney general abruptly left office, said the largest amount, $681 million, was a personal donation from the Saudi royal family.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka  A group of saffron-robed monks chanted as officials crushed more than 300 elephant tusks in a seaside ceremony on Tuesday, as the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena sought to differentiate itself from its predecessor by sending a powerful message of intolerance for elephant poaching.

Sri Lanka is the first South Asian nation to publicly destroy ivory obtained through elephant poaching and the 16th country in the world to destroy confiscated elephant tusks so that they cannot be traded in the black market.

The previous Sri Lankan government, led by Mahinda Rajapaksa, had planned to distribute the tusks to Buddhist temples around the island, including the Sacred Temple of the Tooth, the countrys most revered. That spurred an outcry from Sri Lankan environmentalists and international wildlife agencies, who argued that the ivory would later be traded.

The crushed ivory weighed 1.5 tons, far less than some caches that have been destroyed. But the action was significant because Sri Lanka is a transit hub for trading in illegal ivory, which is popular in Asia as a symbol of prosperity and for use in Buddhist religious ceremonies. More than 100 tons of poached ivory have been destroyed since 1989, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
LONDON  Denmark passed a law on Tuesday requiring newly arrived asylum seekers to hand over valuables, including jewelry and gold, to help pay for their stay in the country. The move underscored an anti-immigration backlash that has prompted several European countries to seek ways to discourage migrants from entering.

Under the law, which passed by a sizable majority after several hours of debate, refugees who enter Denmark with assets of more than 10,000 kroner, about $1,450, would have to contribute toward the costs of their lodging. After a global outcry over the law, however, goods with sentimental value like wedding rings and family portraits are exempt from seizure.

The bill also stipulates that asylum seekers must wait three years before they can apply to bring their families to Denmark, a provision that some advocates for refugees have criticized as inhumane.
MOSCOW  The Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said on Tuesday that while he wanted to see a reset of Russias relations with the United States, Moscow would not budge on any of the issues that put it at odds with Washington.

Speaking at an annual news conference in the Russian capital, Mr. Lavrov said Russia was ready to cooperate with the West, but only on what it sees as equal terms.

There will be no business as usual anymore, when the U.S. and the European Union tried to impose agreements on us that were most of all in their interest, and tried to persuade us that it will not damage our interests, Mr. Lavrov said. This story is over.

The news conference was dominated by questions about the conflicts in Ukraine, where Russia backs separatist rebels in the east, and in Syria, where Russia has intervened on the side of President Bashar al-Assad.
The two-minute video began with Mr. Abu Zaids crew inflating condoms as if they were balloons and writing a sarcastic message on them: From the youth of Egypt to the police on Jan. 25.

Mr. Abu Zaid and Mr. Malek then joined the official celebration in Tahrir Square, kissing officers and posing for photos with them on the same ground where tens of thousands of Egyptians had fought pitched battles with the security forces five years ago.

After the video was posted online and its satirical intentions were clear, a senior police officer asked prosecutors on Tuesday to charge the pranksters. Mr. Abu Zaid released a statement defending his right to address social issues in a comedic way, and complained of threats against him posted on a pro-police Facebook group.

The Constitution of the Republic of Egypt that was approved in 2014 explicitly protects the freedom of speech and creativity, and holds all bodies of state up to the duty of protecting those expressing their opinion and creativity, not to terrorize and threaten them with abduction and torture, Mr. Abu Zaid said in the statement.

On Saturday, two days before the anniversary of the Tahrir uprising, Mr. Abu Zaid had uploaded a documentary with images from the protests on that date in 2011 to his YouTube channel.
JERUSALEM  Hours after an Israeli woman who was stabbed by Palestinian assailants in a West Bank settlement died on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel rebuked the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, who criticized Israels settlement activity and said it was human nature to react to occupation.

Addressing the Security Council in New York, Mr. Ban condemned the recent wave of Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians, including the stabbings of two Israeli women on Monday in the settlement of Beit Horon. But he added, Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half-century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process.

Mr. Ban described Israels continued settlement activities as an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community. He added, So-called facts on the ground in the occupied West Bank are steadily chipping away the viability of a Palestinian state and the ability of Palestinian people to live in dignity.

In an unusually personal retort, Mr. Netanyahu said, The words of the U.N. secretary general give a tailwind to terrorism.
VATICAN CITY  Pope Francis met with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran on Tuesday  the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian leader in nearly 17 years  and urged Iran to play an important role in finding political solutions for the various conflicts afflicting the Middle East.

The two leaders stressed the importance of interreligious dialogue to achieve this aim and the responsibilities of religious communities in promoting reconciliation, tolerance and peace, the Vatican said in a statement.

The private, 40-minute encounter with the pope came midway into Mr. Rouhanis packed agenda on his four-day visit to Italy and France, where he is trying to re-establish trade and business ties after years of crippling sanctions. The trip follows the lifting of sanctions on Jan. 16, after Iran was judged to have complied with last summers deal with six world powers to limit nuclear activities.

To shake hands with the pope and other world leaders is by itself a success for Mr. Rouhani, who has promised to restore ties with Western countries. Iran had long been isolated over its nuclear program, and the previous president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, alienated many world leaders with his statements denying the Holocaust.
One conspicuous group, meanwhile, embraced the psychological implications of the term: Criminal defendants who claimed that upon coming into close contact with a gay person, they were so overwhelmed by gay panic that they assaulted or murdered them. It wasnt until 2014 that California officially banished gay and transgender panic defenses from its courtrooms. In 2012, The Associated Press banned social and political -phobia constructions, including homophobia and Islamophobia, from its stylebook, declaring them too charged for use in objective reporting. Homophobia is just off the mark, Dave Minthorn, then deputy standards editor at The A.P., told Politico. Its ascribing a mental disability to someone and suggests a knowledge that we dont have. It seems inaccurate.

Bigotry is an emotionally charged phenomenon, and a persistent critique of the political -phobia is that its hooked on the wrong feeling. Anti-gay rhetoric and hate crimes often seem more consistent with the emotion of anger than fear, Herek wrote in 2004. Both emotions cozy up in our nervous systems  think of the fight-or-flight response  but culturally, fear and anger register as two very different social responses, especially in men. We cower before an angry man but laugh at a frightened one. One reason homophobia was such a provocative neologism was its somewhat trollish imputation that the person who holds anti-gay beliefs is pathetically scared of gay people. Weinbergs alpha-male patients, you assume, would be significantly more comfortable with a diagnosis of hating gays than of fearing them.

Antagonizing your ideological opponent is built into the -phobia frame, and activists have sparred over whether that catalyzes progress or impedes it. Robin Richardson, an activist who edited the influential 1997 report on Islamophobia published by the Runnymede Trust, a British race-equality think tank, later revisited the term he helped popularize: To accuse someone of being insane or irrational is to be abusive and, not surprisingly, to make them defensive and defiant, he wrote. Reflective dialogue with them is then all but impossible.

Fostering reflective dialogue is one way to go about advancing an agenda. Shaming your ideological opponents into silence is another. That strategy plays particularly powerfully on Twitter, where the one-liner with the most retweets wins the debate round. And just as counting up likes and retweets lends a mathematical sheen to the Twitter contest, the -phobia suffix carries with it an air of scientific authority. Adopting the language of the medical establishment imparts a bit of linguistic legitimacy to the activist underdogs cause. Now it lends social legitimacy, too. A copycat neologism (like fatphobic) automatically conjures a comparison between a struggling cause (like fat acceptance) and the overwhelmingly successful gay rights movement. The Jezebel flap over whorephobia was emblematic: Jezebel staff members denied that they were motivated by fear, and their critics countered that that is just what a homophobe would say. As one put it, The actually Im not scared of  response to phobia accusations is a real telltale sign of bigotry.

Medical models have long served as metaphors for the spread of cultural ideas. Xenophobia is a disease more dangerous to a free people than a physical plague, reads a 1923 New York Times editorial against the Ku Klux Klan. The paper called for a political Pasteur who could isolate and destroy the germ which shows itself in the indiscriminate hatred of other nationals or other races. Nowadays, we pathologize ideas with talk of memes that mutate from host to host and information that reaches a critical mass by going viral. Its a powerful trope, but it also risks trading one stigma for another: Phobia is now so embedded in our language that its easy to forget that it is a metaphor comparing bigots to the mentally ill. The comparison also has the effect of excusing those Americans  like certain presidential candidates in the 2016 race  who wield prejudices strategically. Its not your fault if you get sick. But hating people is a choice.
Damascus: At least 22 people were killed in a double suicide bomb attack at an army checkpoint in the central Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, state media said.

In a breaking news alert, state television said 100 people had also been injured in the blasts in the Al-Zahraa neighbourhood of the city, which has been targeted in bomb attacks multiple times before.

The provincial governor of Homs, Talal Barazi, said at least 19 people had been killed in the attacks.

He said the two bombers appeared to have pulled up at the army checkpoint in a car together, with one exiting the vehicle before the other detonated his explosives while still inside.

In the chaos of the first blast's aftermath, and as a crowd gathered, the second bomber detonated his explosives, Barazi said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, also reported the blasts, saying at least 21 people had been killed, among them 13 regime forces.

The group's director Rami Abdel Rahman said the second suicide bomber had been wearing military clothes.

The Al-Zahraa district of Homs has been targeted in multiple bomb attacks in the past, including in late December, when 19 people were killed in several simultaneous blasts.

The residents of Al-Zahraa are mostly Alawites, the minority sect of Syria's ruling clan, and the Islamic State group has in the past claimed attacks on the district.

Homs city was once dubbed the "capital" of Syria's uprising, which began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

But after years of devastating fighting and government sieges, most of the city is now back in regime hands, with the exception of the Waer district, which is being gradually turned over to the government under a deal with opposition fighters.
But perhaps the diciest assumption made by the Cruz campaign is that it not only can turn out more registered evangelical voters than Romney did but also can recruit millions of unregistered evangelicals at the same time. Every demographic group includes many people who have no interest in the political process, and persuading them to engage is not as simple a matter as offering an appealing slate of issues. Should she become the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton will be mining the electoral turf for new voters as well. And in general, the task is an easier one for Democrats, given that their targets are more densely concentrated in urban areas. Cruzs strategists assert that Clinton will not inspire voters the way Obama did, and this may well be true. But the same might be said of Cruz among various voter groups. With his hard-line stance on immigration, will he repel even more Latino voters than Romney, who received a paltry 27 percent of their votes? Though Cruz might catalyze large pockets of unregistered evangelicals, Jones and others suggest that such voters are primarily in states like Alabama and Tennessee that are already firmly in the Republican column. Pursuing them with a deeply conservative platform could gain Cruz very few electoral votes, while costing him significantly among moderate voters in swing states like Virginia and Ohio.

For some Republicans, this situation suggests a more disquieting comparison. Whats flawed about Cruzs approach is that its the same argument Barry Goldwater made in 1964, says Doug Gross, a longtime fixture in the Iowa Republican establishment who worked on the Bush and Romney campaigns of 2000 and 2008 and has not endorsed anyone in the 2016 field. Though 80 percent of Republicans fell in line with Goldwater at the polls, only 36 percent of voters under 30, 38 percent of women and 6 percent of nonwhites preferred him over the landslide winner, Lyndon Johnson. While Cruz may seem pure and virtuous within the confines of his own base, you cant get elected with those voters, because there simply arent enough of them. Now, within the Republican Party, the establishment and Tea Party are probably in a standoff. But within the general electorate, there are far more of me than there are of him.

There is only one way to know for sure what will happen if Republican voters nominate Ted Cruz  and some in the party establishment are already braced for it, with Job-like resignation. As Gross told me: We may have to learn this lesson the hard way. This may well be the year that Cruz wins the nomination and we have to have a bloodletting as our medieval cure.

I was looking up and seeing Joshua 24:15 on the wall, Cruz said one morning in early January, to a crowd of 200 or so wedged among the shelves of a Christian bookstore in Boone, Iowa. Squinting, he read from the sign:  Choose you this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And what a powerful reminder of values that Washington, D.C., seems to have forgotten. What a powerful reminder of the values that built this great country.

This country, Cruz said, is in crisis. But, he added, Im here this morning with a word of hope and encouragement and exhortation. All across the state of Iowa and this country, people are waking up. There is a spirit of revival that is sweeping this country. The candidate went on in a cadence that frequently descended into stage whispers or attenuated pauses, his face clenched in Shakespearean rapture, varying barely a syllable from the monologues he would deliver with equal fervor in 27 other stops on this six-day swing through the Hawkeye State.

Whether Cruz was making a personal connection to this audience in Boone  whether they truly liked the messenger and not just his message, whether they saw in him the affable Reagan to whom he invited comparison  was difficult to judge. But at least a dozen times during his reliably 32-minute oration, someone standing nearby me murmured, Amen. Some of their faces went taut with resolve as he declared: The men and women of this room scare the living daylights out of Washington. And when politicians are terrified, liberty is never safer. What we are seeing is a grass-roots army coming together!

And when Cruzs final words invoked the Judeo-Christian values that made America that shining city on the hill, the audience exploded in applause. Many of them made their way toward the candidate. Others stood and looked at one another for a few moments, blushing with pleasure. It took a while for all of them to file out of the cramped little bookstore. Once Ted Cruzs grass-roots army had dispersed into the streets of Boone, the candidate and his half-dozen strategists climbed aboard the campaign bus and headed an hour westward, bound for another event at a steakhouse in Carroll, Iowa. Before the month was done, Cruz would visit all the states 99 counties, delivering with practiced zeal the same singular message: I am one of you, and I can win. He could not pretend to be Donald Trump  wildly unscripted, crass, impossible to ignore or forget. He could only be Ted Cruz, with one case to make.
NYU today announced that 63,702 students applied for admission to the Class of 2020, marking the ninth year in a row of record applications. NYU applications have more than doubled since 2002 and it is believed that NYU receives more applications than any other independent research university in America.

8,428 students applied for Early Decision admission, a 10% increase over last year - another university record.

Interest in NYU's new campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai continues to grow, with a 14% rise in applicants to NYU Abu Dhabi and a 6% increase in applicants to NYU Shanghai.

"We are once again humbled by the unprecedented interest in NYU, said Shawn Abbott, assistant vice president and dean of undergraduate admissions. It appears that with 175 countries represented in this year's applicant pool, we are inching closer to enrolling a student body that is truly a microcosm of the world, with now nearly every country on the planet sending students to NYU."

Data as of January 22, 2016
The amendments addressed two key demands of the Madhesis -- proportionate representation and seat allocation in the Parliament on the basis of population. (Photo: AP)

Kathmandu: Nepal's Madhesis on Tuesday announced fresh week-long protest programmes, a day after they rejected as "incomplete" the constitutional amendments passed by the Parliament for failing to address their concerns.

The agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front unveiled its fresh protest programmes starting from tomorrow after its meeting held at the office of the Terai Madhes Democratic Party.

The protest programmes announced by the Madhesis include candlelight vigil in district headquarters to honour those killed in the protests, regional assemblies to inform people about latest political developments and interactions with professionals, intellectuals, labourers and traders about the agenda of the protest.

The announcement of the new protest programmes comes just two days after Nepal's parliament 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 amendments addressed two key demands of the Madhesis -- proportionate representation and seat allocation in the Parliament on the basis of population.

Madhesis yesterday rejected as "incomplete" the constitutional amendments passed by the Parliament for failing to address their concerns over redrawing borders, dimming hopes of an early end to the political crisis and blockade of trade points with India.

The front, however, after the passage of the amendments, seems to have softened its stance, observers say.

The agitating Madhesi community that shares strong cultural and family bonds with India is demanding demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation, and have been protesting for months.

At least 55 people have been killed in the protests that have also led to a blockade of the country's key trade points with India.
LAGUNA BEACH  Security cameras and stepped-up police patrols at Laguna Beach High School have been put in place following a rash of vandalism incidents.

The cameras  installed by the Laguna Beach Fire Department  followed two incidents this month in which vandals spray-painted graffiti across the schools campus and some of its classrooms. Those incidents were preceded by other acts of vandalism in December, when a heating and ventilation unit was covered in graffiti, and in August, when one of the schools windows was smashed with a fire extinguisher.

Those cameras are temporary. But on Tuesday, the Laguna Beach Unified School Board is expected to consider a $10,000 contract with a private security vendor, Paul Klepp, for a security camera system that would be used district-wide and tie in to the Laguna Beach Police Department, said Jeff Dixon, facilities director for the district.

We are hopeful that having the cameras acts as a deterrent as much as they would help identify potential vandals, he said.

The cameras could also prove to be a benefit in more serious situations  such as an active shooter at one of the campuses, Dixon said.

The cameras would be among the first in the county at schools tied to police, and similar to what Saddleback Unified School District put on its school campuses 18 months ago. At Saddleback, school resource officers can access the cameras when on site, but the cameras are not directly tied into the Orange County Sheriffs Department, which provides law enforcement to those cities.

If the Laguna Beach school board agrees to the contract, the consultant will identify possible locations, equipment types and software for implementing security cameras district wide. The cameras would likely be in place at all of the four schools by this summer.

If the security camera system is approved, the districts surveillance policy requires that they not be placed in areas where students, staff or community members have an expectation of privacy.

In addition, sounds near the cameras will not be recorded. Signs will be placed in conspicuous areas letting the public know that surveillance may occur in these locations.

If the surveillance system creates a student or personnel record, the school board and superintendent will ensure that the images are accessed, retained, and disclosed in accordance with law, board policy, administrative regulation, and any applicable collective bargaining agreements, the surveillance policy says.

In the meantime, the four cameras are still in use at the high school, and while they are not monitored by the police department, they can be reviewed in the event of an incident.

Laguna Beach police Sgt. Tim Kleisser said detectives have some leads on possible suspects involved in the recent vandalism incidents.

The worst of the damage occurred when vandals spray-painted and destroyed one of the high schools heating and air conditioning unit located on the roof. The repair cost the school $10,000, Dixon said.

Contact the writer: 714-796-2254 or eritchie@ocregister.com or twitter:@lagunaini
ORANGE  Requiring an overflow room, 64 people representing two dozen Orange County cities spoke out against proposed bus service changes on Monday, and it appears the transportation authority will take at least some of their comments to heart.

Heart-wrenching testimonies came from disabled individuals who said route reductions would leave them with no other way to get around. Students, educators, transit advocates and Spanish-speaking housekeepers also voiced opposition during the Orange County Transportation Authority boards public hearing at the agencys headquarters, the final chance to provide input.

After listening to more than two hours of public speeches  on top of more than 800 comments received through four community meetings and other communications  OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson told the 17-member board the input will not go unheeded.

We will come back and I fully anticipate we will make some series of modifications still within the fiscal constraints that we are faced with, Johnson said.

Transit authority staff are expected to consider comments from the public outreach process and come up with a final 2016 Bus Service Plan for the board to possibly adopt in February.

OCTA deems that reallocating resources from lower routes to higher-demand areas is necessary to reverse declining ridership that has dropped from 69 million boardings in 2007 to 47 million in 2015. Officials say the new routes will add 1.6 million more boardings over the next three years.

The plan beefs up service in the central core of the county that makes up about 80 percent of total average daily boardings, but eliminates or cuts back routes in outlying areas, particularly South County.

San Clemente resident Mary Thomasson, who takes routes 191 and 193 to buy food, said the proposed elimination of those buses is a life or death matter.

There is no way I can get up that hill on my wheelchair, she said about accessing other transit options. I dont want to die.  I dont want to starve to death.

Speaking in Spanish, Carmen Eaberra said she represented Santa Ana residents who rely on routes 82 and 83 to get to Rancho Santa Margarita, where they work cleaning houses.

We are worried you will cut the lines, because there are people who need the service because it is how we make our livelihood, Eaberra said.

Jane Reifer, spokeswoman for Transit Advocates of Orange County, a volunteer-run nonprofit that works to improve bus, rail, biking and walking in the county, pointed out that OCTA touted 92 percent of riders would benefit from more frequent or no change in service, but that out of that figure 75 percent would be unaffected.

Reifer added the organization was founded 15 years ago as the Orange County Bus Restructuring Task Force to oppose a bus route overhaul at the time from a radial to grid system that she says has led to more transfers for riders.

We feel we are still living the legacy of a poor restructuring, Reifer said.

Gregory Winterbottom, who has served as a public member of the board for 21 years, said hes seen OCTA go through route overhauls four times and the crowd Monday was nothing new.

Its unfortunate that we cannot provide the service that we really need to, he said, but its just too expensive.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7762, jkwong@ocregister.com or on Twitter: @JessicaGKwong
Women should be screened for depression during pregnancy and after giving birth, an influential government-appointed health panel said Tuesday, the first time it has recommended screening for maternal mental illness.

The recommendation, expected to galvanize many more health providers to provide screening, comes in the wake of new evidence that maternal mental illness is more common than previously thought; that many cases of what has been called postpartum depression actually start during pregnancy; and that left untreated, these mood disorders can be detrimental to the well-being of children.

It also follows growing efforts by states, medical organizations and health advocates to help women experiencing these symptoms  an estimated one in seven postpartum mothers, some experts say.

Theres better evidence for identifying and treating women with depression during and after pregnancy, said Dr. Michael Pignone, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an author of the recommendation, which was issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. As a result, he said, We specifically called out the need for screening during this period.

The recommendation was part of updated depression-screening guidelines issued by the panel, an independent group of experts appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2009, the group said adults should be screened if clinicians have the staff to provide support and treatment; the new guidelines recommend adult screening even without such staff members, saying mental health support is now more widely available. The 2009 guidelines did not mention depression during or after pregnancy.

Its very significant that the task force is now putting forth a recommendation thats specific to pregnant and postpartum women, said Katy Kozhimannil, an associate professor of public health at the University of Minnesota. Policymakers will pay attention to it. Increased screening and detection of depression is an enormous public health need.

The panel gave its recommendation, which was published in the journal JAMA, a B rating, which means depression screening must be covered under the Affordable Care Act.

For years, obstetricians and other health care providers who saw women during and after pregnancy often felt ill equipped or reluctant to ask about problems like depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Ob-gyns thought that if they identify something and dont have resources to support it, it puts them at significant legal risk, said Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, the director of the perinatal psychiatry program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Pediatricians have the added caveat that the mom isnt really their patient  the child is.

And, she said, many women are reluctant to share symptoms with doctors on their own. If a mother is feeling so anxious youre going to come out of your skin or feeling that youre going to harm your baby, you may think: Oh my God, Im having these crazy feelings and nobodys talking about it. I must be a terrible mother.

No one screened Melissa Mead, 30, of The Dalles, Oregon, during or after her first pregnancy, five years ago. Shortly after her son Bradys birth, I experienced postpartum depression, anxiety and OCD, she said, and I didnt know what it was.

Mead cried constantly, barely slept, rarely left home and was scared to death that my baby was going to suffocate, she said. At her job as an optician, she said that people asked, Isnt everything so wonderful? and I was like I kind of feel like dying on the inside, and you dont want to say that because youre afraid what people will think of you.

After a year, she saw a psychiatrist for talk therapy. When her second son, Emmett, was born, and she had more symptoms, including fearing that she would stab herself with a kitchen knife, Mead tried several medications until one worked. She now volunteers for Postpartum Support International.

The panels recommendations do not specify which clinicians should screen or how often, and Pignone said that anyone who has a caring relationship with the patient should sit down and say, How do we want to do this in our practice? For screening methods, the group said that the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, a 10-question survey, was effective.

The panel said evidence showed that cognitive behavioral therapy was helpful to mothers. It said that the use of some antidepressants during pregnancy could cause potential serious fetal harms, but that the likelihood of these serious harms is low.

Pignone also emphasized that untreated depression has a lot of adverse consequences itself.

Among them, experts say, are that pregnant women with depression often take poorer care of their prenatal health. And maternal mental illness can affect children, leading to behavioral problems, emotional instability and difficulty in school.

Besides citing evidence that screening accompanied by even minimal counseling helped women with depression, the panel found that screening caused no harm.

A decade ago there was more concern that screening pregnant and postpartum women for mental health would do more harm than good, said Wendy N. Davis, the executive director of Postpartum Support International. Medical providers would say to me, If I screen and she screens positively for depression and anxiety, Im afraid that it will just make her feel more scared, or theres more stigma to that label.

But, she said, screening tools actually can give a language for both the providers and the patients to feel comfortable talking about it and prevent the stigma.

The panel recommended that clinicians have the ability to diagnose and treat women, or to refer them elsewhere.

That is crucial, said Dr. Lee S. Cohen, the director of the Center for Womens Mental Health at Massachusetts General Hospital. I applaud identifying women who are ill, he said. But will she be appropriately referred, will she get treated whether its medication or therapy, and over time does she actually ever get well?

The only state that requires screening, New Jersey, has had mixed results because too few treatment options have been available. While pediatricians and obstetricians were trained to screen, they were not compensated for screening, a study by Kozhimannil found.

A dozen other states, including New York, now have laws encouraging screening, education and treatment. And Bill de Blasio, New York Citys mayor, recently announced a goal of universal screening of pregnant and postpartum women, saying it should be a part of routine care.

Routine screening could have benefited Jenna Zalk Berendzen, 40, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, even though during her first pregnancy, five years ago, she was studying to be a nurse practitioner and had medical knowledge. She also had a family history of postpartum depression but had assumed its not going to happen to me, she said.

A week after delivering a son, Maxwell, depression hit me very, very severely, she said. She felt suicidal, and at one point, while her husband and baby were sleeping, I had in front of me 15 bottles of different kinds of meds, she said. I would open the bottles up and I would close them, open them and close them. I didnt want to die, I just thought, Its never going to get better.

Zalk Berendzen ultimately found effective treatment, and has since weaned herself to a low dose of medication. She had no symptoms with the 2014 birth of another son, Samuel. She now works in gynecology at UnityPoint Health in Waterloo, Iowa, where, she said, Within the last year, weve started to recognize we need to be screening every woman.
VATICAN CITY  Pope Francis met with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran on Tuesday  the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian leader in nearly 17 years  and urged Iran to play an important role in finding political solutions for the various conflicts afflicting the Middle East.

The two leaders stressed the importance of interreligious dialogue to achieve this aim and the responsibilities of religious communities in promoting reconciliation, tolerance and peace, the Vatican said.

The private, 40-minute encounter with the pope came midway into Rouhanis packed agenda on his four-day visit to Italy and France, where he is trying to re-establish trade and business ties after years of crippling sanctions. The trip follows the lifting of sanctions on Jan. 16, after Iran was judged to have complied with last summers deal to limit nuclear activities.

To shake hands with the pope and other world leaders is by itself a success for Rouhani, who has promised to restore ties with Western countries. Iran had long been isolated over its nuclear program, and former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad alienated many world leaders with his statements denying the Holocaust.

Rouhanis visit is the first to Europe since taking office. He planned to sign several contracts that he hopes will restart his countrys ailing economy. In Italy, he signed a gas deal and in France he is expected to commit to buying 127 Airbus planes and sign a deal with the French automaker Peugeot.

The Vatican statement spoke of the important role that Iran is called upon to fulfill in promoting peaceful solutions to Middle East conflicts and countering the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking.
Islamabad: A 14-year-old boy was gang-raped by three men in a remote village within the limits of Shinkiari police station in Pakistans Mansehra district.

The accused also recorded a video of the incident and uploaded it on social media, a police official said. Medical examination confirmed the rape. However, the accused were still at large.

Shinkiari police quoted the victim from Bhogar Mang village - whose identity was not revealed - as saying he was going from school on the afternoon of January 19 and when he reached the forest near Dadar village, three men, identified as Shah Zeb, Banaras and Ishfaq, intercepted him.

The abusers dragged him to the forest and raped him, one after the other, and filmed the scene. The teenager said the accused asked him to keep silent and bring cash and gold jewellery from home, or else they would upload the video clips on social media and even kill him.

The victim said he kept mum about the incident but his father and uncles found out about the incident from locals who saw the video on the internet, uploaded by the accused rapists.

The police have registered a criminal case against the accused under sections 337, 355, 292/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
A deputy district attorney compared one of the men who escaped Friday from the Central Mens Jail to a movie villain and contended the Sheriffs Department was too lax in its handling of the suspect after it was warned about his violent past.

Hes diabolical, said prosecutor Heather Brown, who is handling the 2012 case against Hossein Nayeri on charges of kidnapping and torture.

My first reaction was: Oh, my God, they let Hannibal Lecter out. He is sophisticated, incredibly violent and cunning.

An Orange County Sheriffs Department spokesman said the escape remains under investigation but that Nayeri was properly housed in a maximum security lockup.

Officials had not found the men as of Tuesday morning and did not have any new details. Authorities plan to hold a 2 p.m. press conference at the Sheriffs Department headquarters, which neighbors the Central Mens Jail, to discuss the latest information.

Nayeri is accused of participating in a 2012 attack against a Newport Beach resident who ran a licensed marijuana dispensary in Santa Ana.

In that attack, according to Brown, Nayeri burned the victim with a butane torch, beat him with a pistol and a rubber hose, and eventually ordered another suspect to cut off the mans penis.

Nayeris trial was set to begin Feb. 23. He has pleaded not guilty.

Nayeris defense attorney, Salvatore Ciulla, could not be reached for comment Monday.

More than 250 investigators from local, state and federal agencies executed 30 search warrants Monday in an effort to hunt down Nayeri and fellow escapees Jonathan Tieu and Bac Duong. All three men remained on the run Monday after they cut their way through metal barriers early Friday and rappelled from the roof to escape from the Central Mens Jail in Santa Ana.

Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer said Monday hell recommend that the county increase the reward for help in the capture of the three fugitives to $200,000 from $50,000.

Tieu, 20, is charged in a 2011 gang murder in Westminster. Duong, 43, is charged with attempted murder stemming from a shooting in November in Santa Ana. Both men pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors said Monday that all three men were being charged with an additional felony count of escape.

NAYERI CALLED POSSIBLE LEADER

Investigators spent time Monday talking with people in the Little Saigon neighborhoods where Tieu and Duong had friends and relatives, and appealing for help in the countys broader Vietnamese American community.

Brown described Nayeri as the potential leader of the escape.

Nayeri has fled prosecution at least twice before. He spent three years in Washington, D.C., after fleeing officials in Madera County, where in 2005 he was in a drunken driving accident in which a passenger in his car was killed. In 2012, after his initial arrest in the torture and kidnapping case, he jumped bail and fled to Iran. He was re-arrested in 2013 in Prague.

Though born in Iran, Nayeri, 37, grew up in central California. While attending Clovis West High in Fresno, Nayeri, a wrestler, had at least three close friends  two men and a woman  who also were charged in the 2012 kidnapping and torture.

He served in the U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton, according to court documents.

Several people wrote to the court after Nayeri pleaded no contest in the 2005 drunken driving case, saying that severe injuries in that accident had left him depressed and emotionally scarred. Since this moment, he has never been the same, and I dont know if he ever will be, one of the letters said.

Brown said Newport Beach police and the FBI warned the Orange County Sheriffs Department about Nayeri, suggesting that the nature of the allegations against him  and his history of getting away from captivity  indicated he should be treated as a high-risk prisoner. Still, Brown said, Nayeri was white-banded at the jail, meaning he was housed in its lowest-security area. She said the Sheriffs Department should be investigated for the way Nayeri was handled.

Sheriffs Department spokesman Lt. Jeff Hallock said because Nayeri was a flight risk on the outside didnt make him a security risk inside the jail.

The Central Mens Jail, where the three escapees were housed, is a maximum security facility. Hallock said Nayeris classification status  whether he was white-banded or otherwise classified  is under investigation.

But Brown noted that when Nayeri was arraigned, 10 bailiffs ushered him into the courts holding cage, indicating that some in the department believed he warranted extra attention.

Its mind-boggling that he was housed in a dorm with such low-level security, Brown said. They were notified of the flight risk.  That should be looked into.

(click image to enlarge)

Brown said she believes Nayeris escape partners are in danger.

Theyre liabilities, she said, referring to how Nayeri might view Duong and Tieu. I guarantee he doesnt trust them. Hes desperate. Hell do whatever it takes to not be in jail.

HARROWING STORY

Browns comments line up with the story told by the woman who was kidnapped along with the Newport Beach man who was tortured in October 2012. The Register is not identifying the woman because she is a victim of sexual violence.

She told a harrowing story of the night she was dragged into the desert.

She was asleep in her bed when the assailants barged into her bedroom around 2 a.m., pressed a gun barrel to the back of her neck and quickly blindfolded her. They zip-tied her hands and ankles. She said she never saw any of the assailants because she was blindfolded the whole time.

The men kidnapped her and her male roommate and threw them in the back of a van. They drove them out to Antelope Valley, repeatedly asking the roommate, Wheres the money?

The vehicle came to a stop in a remote area of the desert.

For the next two hours, she said, the men beat and tortured her roommate. They incorrectly believed he had money buried in the desert.

She was on the ground just feet away, blindfolded, gagged and tied up, as she heard him cry in agony.

They were beating him horribly. They were hitting him with something.  I instantly knew it was a rubber hose.

She said one of the men was extremely brutal.

I think he went unconscious, she said of her roommate. I really just wanted to do all I could do to survive and help him.

After the attack on the roommate, she said, one of the men tossed a dull knife near her, one of the knives used on the roommate.

He said, Im gonna throw it and youre gonna roll and if you find it you can set yourself free and youre gonna live. Today is your lucky day.

He then told her to count to 100.

As soon as I heard the tire  on the gravel I managed to sit up and push the blindfold up with my knees. It was still semi-dark, predawn, getting a little bit light. I could see the knife. I crab-walked over there. I was in shock, but adrenaline is an amazing thing. I was able to get the knife.

Though her hands were still bound, she said she could use the knife to cut herself free. While she cut the ties, she tried talking with her roommate.

I told him to stay calm and try to take deep breaths. I told him I was going to get him some help.

She tried to cut the zip ties on his wrists but his hands were too swollen and she was cutting into his skin.

She then sought help, walking about half a mile, barefoot, on desert gravel.

I could see the car lights, and the sun was starting to come up. I just kept thinking, You gotta walk fast. You gotta walk fast.

When she reached the road she tried to flag down cars but nobody stopped.

Then I saw a state trooper, and I was so very grateful. I just spit out exactly what happened. I told him my friend might bleed to death, they tortured him and hes in bad shape.

Police and ambulances arrived on the scene within minutes.

She said all she could think about was helping her roommate.

I did the only thing any normal, caring person would do. I was not going to let them win.

On Monday, Brown, the deputy district attorney, said she is worried that Nayeri has already fled the country.

If I was him, Id be in Mexico drinking margaritas right now, she said.

Staff writers Alyssa Duranty, Alma Fausto and Scott Schwebke contributed to this report.
I head to Cuba this week to see what 50 years of socialism have done to that countrys economy and to the well-being of the citizens. I want to get there before normalization, meaning when there are a CVS and a Pure Barre on every corner.

Cuba is a great lesson on how bad, central command-and-control, populist policies ruin a country. Historically, refugees from Cuba come to America for safety, opportunity and freedom. Obama is doing all he can to change that.

The decline of dysfunctional cities like Ferguson, Mo., Baltimore, Chicago and Flint, Mich., has accelerated under Obama, much like what happened to Cuba. These cities have in common: longtime, socialist/liberal, Democratic rule, inept and race-obsessed government, teachers unions whose members get paid more for poorer student outcomes; and high local taxes that run businesses out of town.

Since the criminal Michael Brown was justifiably shot after committing a crime and attacking a Ferguson police officer, the riots and the St. Louis area communitys reaction, in concert with the Obama White House, have led to further economic decline for the St. Louis suburb. Property values are down another 30 percent, the St. Louis Rams are leaving for Los Angeles, and business owners are scared to reopen for fear of further looting. Obama has fanned the fires of racial divide every chance he could.

From injecting wrong opinions on the arrest of professor Skip Gates in Cambridge, Mass., to Trayvon Martin, to taking control of the Ferguson police  and, now, Baltimore, after the death of Freddie Gray  Obama has divided us. He was in a unique position to heal racial wounds. Sadly, he chose instead to inflame them with thin facts in cases like these. He has sold more guns to Americans than have pawn shops and has made us all less trusting of each other.

Obama has turned our Midwest into the Middle East, with gun violence climbing in places like Chicago. He blames Republicans, not the thugs and gang-bangers shooting each other in the streets of these gun free zones he so loves. Chicago is now saying it will be a sanctuary city for Syrian refugees. Havent those people suffered enough? Chicago is not a refugee oasis; its a social studies lesson.

The only signs of racial unity in America are photos of an African-American guy and an anarchist white guy together carrying a flat screen TV from a looted store.

The result of Obama blaming the police, instead of condemning criminals who riot and loot, has led us to what is being called the Ferguson effect. Police officers who daily risk their lives in crime-ridden neighborhoods, only to be vilified and second-guessed by liberal politicians like New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, simply slow down their efforts. Its a reasonable reaction to the lack of support from Democratic politicians.

The Breitbart news site reported that gun violence was up 60 percent in Baltimore and that May 2014 was the deadliest month in 15 years. Chicago shootings were up 24 percent and homicides up 17 percent. Good thing these are gun-free zones. St Louis saw a rise of 43 percent in homicides, 39 percent in shootings and 43 percent in robberies. In de Blasios New York City, one East Harlem precinct reported that shootings were up 500 percent.

Imagine how hard it is now to get a conviction from juries who nullify prosecutions under the notion of social justice.

Business does what it can. Drew Carey brought his TV game show show The Price is Right to Baltimore after the looting. It worked on two levels: It supported the city and helped looters put a price on the things they stole.

Crime predictably rises when you persecute the cops and condone rioting. In essence, Obama says, Blame the cops. The result is chaos, danger and more dependence on big government. Stoke misplaced anger, and act like you are there to save these poor people from the oppressive local police, and you undermine the people who are most in need of empowerment. You make them more dependent on you. Liberals have a name for it: the Cloward-Piven strategy.

So prepare for the next wave of riots and looting after the Baltimore police officers charged with causing Freddie Grays death are found not guilty. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will urge her citizens to be sure to make a list of the items they want to loot. Nothing makes you feel more embarrassed than when you loot iPhone 6 cases, then you get home and realize you have an iPhone 5.

Ron Hart, a libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, is a frequent guest on CNN. He can be contacted at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @RonaldHart on Twitter.
Cerritos-based Gatten Sushi will pay its employees more than $450,000 in back wages and damages as a result of a settlement with the U.S. Labor Department, the agency said Monday.

Eleven Gatten Sushi restaurants were affected, including two in Irvine, one sushi restaurant and a Yushoken Ramen eatery, and a shuttered location in Fullerton.

The company will pay its workers $464,586 for violating the minimum wage, not paying overtime and not keeping records as outlined in the Fair Labor Standards Act, according to the Department of Labor. Gatten Sushi also will pay $156,640 in civil penalties.

In all 369 employees including sushi chefs, servers and kitchen staff will receive back pay and damages. The investigation found some of the sushi chefs reported working more than 90 hours per week without receiving overtime pay, and the chain routinely shaved off hours from workers time cards and docked their pay for 10-minute breaks.

Unfortunately, the wage, overtime and record-keeping violations found at this employers establishments are all too common in the restaurant industry, said Ruben Rosalez, the departments Wage and Hour Division regional administrator in San Francisco, in a prepared statement.

This employers failure to pay legally earned wages hurts the workers, their families and restaurant owners who play by the rules. This investigation and its outcome should send a strong message to others who may be cheating workers.

The company did not return a call for comment.

Contact the writer: lwilliams@ocregister.com, 714-796-2286
FULLERTON  Cal State Fullerton has won a $3 million grant to continue training the next generation of scientists on stem cell research.

The award from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine will help the university continue its scholar program in stem cell research and regenerative medicine.

With this new grant, we will be able to provide excellent training and amazing opportunities to 50 more students over the next five years, said Nilay Patel, associate professor of biological science who directs CSUFs Bridges to Stem Cell Research program.

CSUF students have been participating in the Bridges project, which focuses on training stem cell researchers, since 2010. Up to 10 new students are selected each fall to prepare for a seven-month paid internship to conduct stem cell research at partner institutions, including UC Irvines Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.

The university has been awarded slightly more than $6 million since 2010 for Bridges to Stem Research. Forty-six students have completed the program, while another seven are interns through July.

In 2004, California voters approved Prop. 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act, in support of a comprehensive in-state stem cell research program and to fund scientific research. The proposition is allocating $3 billion, and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is a state agency that awards funds.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3777 or rkopetman@ocregister.com
Heres a roundup of restaurant and retail news from across Orange County. Take a look at the slideshow for more details on each.

Playground: With his food projects exiting 4th Street Market, chef-owner Jason Quinn said he can refocus on Playground. Quinn recently took over a vacant taco shop next to his upscale Santa Ana restaurant, which is known for its American haute cuisine. Quinn is overhauling the space to add more seating to his 110-seat restaurant, which is constantly turning away guests on weekends.

Grocery Outlet: Discount grocery Grocery Outlet will make its way to Orange by June 1, the company said recently. The chain, which calls itself the T.J. Maxx of food, sells name-brand groceries at discounted prices.

Kmart: Kmart will close four stores in California, including one in Anaheim. The closures are expected to take effect in March and April. The Kmart on Katella Avenue will close mid-March. Liquidation sales have already begun.

Muscle Maker Grill: Irvine-based American Restaurant Holdings is bringing its latest concept, Muscle Maker Grill, to Orange County. Last year, the company bought Muscle Maker, a fast-casual restaurant that sells salads, wraps and vegetarian dishes. The brand has locations in New Jersey, Florida and Texas.

Foxfire: Foxfire, a well-known Anaheim Hills restaurant and bar, will close its doors, most likely the first week of February, according to manager Michelle Valencia. The bar, which has earned a reputation as a being a cougar bar patronized by older women seeking younger male companions  has been in business for more than 30 years. Foxfire is at 5717 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road.

Chefs Toys: Fountain Valley-based Chefs Toys has acquired Michael Blackman & Associates, a restaurant kitchen designer. Mike Krepistman, a principal partner at Chefs Toys, said the acquisition will help the company grow its restaurant services.

Staff writer Joanna Clay contributed to this report.

Send any retail updates to hmadans@ocregister.com and any restaurant news to nluna@ocregister.com
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  A Denver man has logged the fastest Grand Canyon river trip on record, battling blisters and rapids as he paddled his kayak down a 277-mile stretch of the Colorado River in 34 hours and two minutes.

Ben Orkin reached the end of his journey Sunday, exhausted after navigating the water in the dark and swimming part of it when a rapid toppled his kayak. Orkin beat a record set last week by more than an hour and a previous one set by three men in a non-motorized boat in 1983, according to Tom Martin, secretary of the Grand Canyon Historical Society.

Im super happy I beat it, Orkin, a 25-year-old certified public accountant, said Monday. Im never trying it again.

The unofficial records kept among river rafters started with Maj. John Wesley Powell, who rowed the river in 29 days in 1869.

Most people take their time on the river, stopping to hike within the canyon and camp. But river rafting enthusiasts say doing the trip as quickly as possible is becoming a personal challenge for some.

Orkin and a friend from college, Harrison Rea, attempted an overall speed record last January but fell an hour short. They lost time after Reas kayak got stuck and cracked, forcing them to repair it on shore.

Orkin launched his latest venture in the dark Saturday from Lees Ferry near the Arizona-Utah border, aiming to beat the 1983 record of 36 hours and 38 minutes that was set when the water was flowing much faster. On his way to the river, he got an email from a fellow kayaker that would make it even harder: Four men just finished the trip in 35 hours and five minutes.

Orkin said he knew within hours that he could beat that time if he kept up his pace of just over 8 miles an hour. He grew up in a family of whitewater river rafters, spent years developing a relationship with the Grand Canyon and trained hundreds of hours for a speed trip.

He was confident about a record run until he hit the Lava Falls Rapid, one of the most challenging on the river. The rapid rolled his kayak and sent him swimming for about half a mile to shore. He emptied the water in his kayak and kept going, he said.

Taking a break otherwise is out of the question, Orkin said. He carried food that was easily accessible and wouldnt upset his stomach, a lighting system and a spreadsheet with the river miles. He launched his kayak based on the time of day he was expected to hit certain rapids.

The planning is huge; its a very specialized skill set, Orkin said. Not only running rapids in the dark, but you have to be comfortable doing so alone and exhausted.

He got a boost from other river rafters who cheered and clapped as he paddled by. But he said he went the last 22 hours of the trip without seeing anyone. And when the river calms about 30 miles after the last rapid, exhaustion set in.

You have to paddle the hardest youve ever paddled to break the record at that point, he said.

Martin, of the Grand Canyon Historical Society, and others tracked Orkins progress online, until he lost the GPS device in the water with less than an hour to go. A backup GPS gave him the exact coordinate that signaled the end of his trip at Lake Mead on the Arizona-Nevada border.

Veteran river rafter Craig Wolfson helped greet Orkin as he finished. He and Orkins father, Arthur Orkin, helped the record-setter off his kayak.

Its an amazing feat, Wolfson said. I stood there looking at him and was in awe of what he had accomplished  knowing what I do, having been through the canyon so much and what it takes.
ROME  Italys premier said Monday that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, kicking off the first state visit to Europe by an Iranian president in nearly two decades, can play a fundamental role in the stability of the Middle East.

Matteo Renzi told reporters after meeting privately with Rouhani that the landmark deal on curbing Irans nuclear activities is just a first step for a new season of peace and prosperity, not just in Iran, but in all the region.

If we reached a nuclear deal, we can reach a deal on Syria. We must reach a deal on Syria, Renzi said.

Rouhanis four-day visit to Italy and France is part of efforts by Iran to reach out to its old partners following the implementation of the nuclear deal, and Rouhani is eager for foreign investments after the lifting of international sanctions. The trip was originally planned for November but postponed by the attacks in Paris.

After their meeting, Rouhani and Renzi looked on as government and business counterparts from the two countries signed a series of agreements for future cooperation, including one for high-speed trains, and two between Iranian gas companies and Saipem oil services.

Rouhani told reporters the political talks leading to the nuclear deal could provide the blueprint for pursuing peace in the Middle East.

The question of security for our region cant be resolved with military solutions, he said. We need to work through the political channels, he said, calling for the European Union to contribute to a solution to find peace and security for our region.

Europe was Irans largest trading partner before the sanctions, and a range of business and trade deals are on the table, including with Airbus for the purchase of new aircraft. The trip is also aimed at expanding tourism as Rouhanis administration is planning to diversify its revenue sources.

Rouhani met earlier with Italian President Sergio Matterella, and on Wednesday will meet Pope Francis at the Vatican. In France, he is to be welcomed by President Francois Hollande.

Italy was among Irans top trading partners, with 7 billion euros ($7.6 billion) in trade dropping to 1.5 billion after the sanctions. Italian officials hope to rebuild that to 3 billion in exports alone through 2018.

The last trip to Italy by an Iranian leader was in 2008, when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended an FAO summit in Rome without any official meeting with the host countrys leaders.

In 1999, then-President Mohammad Khatami visited Italy. It was the first time since Irans 1979 Islamic revolution that an Iranian leader had visited any Western country.
SAN SALVADOR  When in human history has an epidemic become so alarming that a nation feels compelled to urge its people not to have children for two years?

Grappling with a mosquito-borne virus linked to brain damage in infants, El Salvador is doing just that, advising all women in the country not to get pregnant until 2018  the equivalent of a Hail Mary pass that, to many here, only illustrates their governments desperation.

Its not up to the government, its up to God, said Vanessa Iraheta, 30, who is seven months pregnant with her second child. I dont think the youth will stop having children.

The virus, known as Zika, has rattled Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly Brazil, where more than 1 million people have been infected and nearly 4,000 children have been born with microcephaly, a rare condition in which babies have unusually small heads.

Other nations around the region have issued warnings similar to El Salvadors, with officials in Colombia and Ecuador urging women to put off becoming pregnant for months, or until the dangers of the virus are better understood.

But El Salvadors advice to stop having children for two full years struck many experts as particularly sweeping, leaving them to wonder when else a nation has tried to halt its birthrate in the face of an epidemic.

I can tell you that I have never read, heard, or encountered a public request like that, said David Bloom, a professor of economics and demography at the Harvard School of Public Health.

If El Salvadors advice sounds like a cry for help, critics say, thats because it is.

I mean, the futility of saying something like this, said Dr. Ernesto Selva Sutter, a leading public health expert in El Salvador, shaking his head. Are you going to stop having sex?

This small nation is already home to an epidemic of gang violence, pushing tens of thousands of its young people to flee north every year and stretching the governments resources. By one estimate, El Salvador earned the unenviable title of being the Western Hemispheres most violent country.

Now the Zika virus is crashing through its doors. With at least 5,000 cases of Zika in a nation of 6 million, more than 1,500 in the last month alone, the government has been scrambling for solutions. It has dispatched teams of fumigators and treated water supplies to combat the Aedes mosquito, which also carries diseases like dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya.

Standing water, which allows the insects to breed, is a fact of life here, as are the pools of trash cloaking many city streets in the dense neighborhoods that carve through the hillsides of the capital.

One community leader said that a government clinic in his neighborhood shut down three months ago after repeated threats from the gangs, the kind of conditions that experts say make it harder to treat and combat the virus.

The countrys vice minister of health, Eduardo Espinoza, said that the recommendation to stop having children is not the governments principal approach to the epidemic, but rather a secondary strategy stemming from the fact that these mosquitoes exist and transmit this disease.

We see ourselves obligated to make this recommendation to partners trying to get pregnant, he said.

The World Health Organization said it would not recommend suspending pregnancies for two years.

There are many questions that need to be answered before making that recommendation, said Dr. Marcos Espinal, the director of communicable diseases for the Pan American Health Organization.

One of the most important, he said, is whether the country is at the peak of its epidemic. You have to assess the risk in making such a recommendation of how it will impact the birthrate of a country, he said.

Other experts said that Zika had brought nations like El Salvador into uncharted territory.

I have never seen or read of any instance of a government warning its citizens not to get pregnant, said Dr. Howard Markel, who teaches the history of medicine at the University of Michigan.

Markel cited other medical warnings related to pregnancy: Pregnant women are cautioned by doctors to stay away from anyone with rubella, for instance, because it causes devastating birth defects, including microcephaly.

Early in the AIDS epidemic, when there was no treatment and mothers frequently passed HIV to their babies, he added, there was some sotto voce debate about whether it was morally ethical for a doctor to advise a woman not to get pregnant because of the risk to her child.

But no one said, Its verboten, dont do it.

The governments advice to postpone pregnancy for years is a delicate issue in this conservative, religious nation. It would require the ubiquitous use of contraception, which can be complicated in a country that is more than 50 percent Roman Catholic.

Like the government, the Roman Catholic Church in El Salvador seems unprepared for a confrontation. The archbishop has yet to weigh in. Over the weekend, when many expected him to discuss the issue, he was sick and unable to say Sunday mass. The auxiliary bishop, Gregorio Rosa Chavez, indicated that there would be a meeting of bishops next week that might yield some answers.

Certainly this is a new theme, and it has to be looked at calmly, he said in an interview. I think that the church is going to take this very seriously. I would just wait a little.

Waiting does not appear to be a problem for some women. Unlike many developing nations, the birthrate in El Salvador is already low, and the fear of Zika infecting a child seemed to rank third or fourth on the list of reasons many women cited for why they did not want to get pregnant.

First, they say, is the violence. Gangs operate with impunity and the war between them, as well as with the police, has produced homicide levels not seen since the countrys civil war that ended in 1992.

Women also mentioned economic fears, with severe underemployment and more than a third of the population living under the poverty line.

Its not a question of this disease, said Sara Galdamez, 21, accompanied by her 3-year-old daughter and husband. Honestly, its a question of economics and, well, the state of security.
Wooing undecided Iowa voters, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on Monday night each cast themselves as lifelong champions for tackling economic inequality, but offered differing visions for addressing the nations problems.

Sanders, who is riding a burst of enthusiasm in Iowa, reiterated his calls for free tuition at public colleges and universities and implementing a single-payer health care system that would cover all Americans, even though hed raise taxes to pay for the latter proposal.

Yes, we will raise taxes, said Sanders, an admission rarely heard in presidential campaigns. We may raise taxes, but we are going to eliminate private health insurance premiums for individuals and businesses.

Sanders and Clinton spoke separately at a CNN town hall forum, fielding questions predominantly from voters still undecided ahead of the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses, which kick off the nominating process.

Clinton pushed back at suggestions that shes new to the economic issues that have been at the center of Sanders campaign.

I think its fair to say I have a 40-year record in going after inequality, said Clinton, adding that shes also fought inequality on the basis of race, gender and sexual orientation. While the questions she faced were less specific on policy, she emphasized the tough challenges a president faces  an implicit suggestion that Sanders is proposing unrealistic ideas.

Clinton also embraced favorable comments from President Barack Obama published in Politico on Monday that looked very much like an endorsement, though Obama has said he wont formally back a candidate in the Democratic primary.

I was really touched and gratified when I saw that, said Clinton, who has touted her close ties with Obama on the campaign trail and cast herself as best positioned to build on the presidents policies.

While Clinton has led the Democratic field for months, shes being challenged anew by Sanders in Iowa, as well as in New Hampshire, which votes second in the primary contest.

Sanders, an independent from Vermont, who caucuses with Democrats on Capitol Hill, has energized young voters in particular with his call for a political revolution.

We are touching a nerve with the American people who understand that establishment politics just arent bold enough, Sanders said Monday.

A self-described democratic socialist, Sanders cast his governing philosophy as one reflecting that the right for economic security should exist. But he sidestepped a question about whether his policies would mean an era of big government.

The 74-year-old Sanders pledged to release his medical records before Iowa votes, saying theres nothing in the papers that will surprise anybody. And while Sanders typically avoids veering into personal topics, preferring to focus squarely on policy, he spoke emotionally about what his late parents would think to see their son running for president.

This would be so unimaginable, Sanders said.

Clinton was immediately put on the defensive by a young voter who said many of his peers view her as dishonest. She vigorously disputed that notion, suggesting it was the result of decades of attacks from her political opponents.

They throw all this stuff at me and Im still standing, Clinton said. When asked later if she was slow to apologize for controversial use of private email and a personal Internet server while serving as secretary of state, Clinton said, I think thats a fair criticism.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley has struggled to win support in the race, despite aggressive campaigning in Iowa. He was cheered enthusiastically when he cited climate change as the top issue young people in America should be concerned about.

OMalley was pushed on what his supporters should do on caucus night if  under the Iowa process  they dont reach a minimum level of support in their local precinct. Should that happen, the OMalley backers would have to pick another candidate.

But OMalley said his message was simply: Hold strong at your caucus.
WASHINGTON  A homemade bomb left behind by the husband and wife who perpetrated a mass shooting at a California social services center failed to detonate because it was poorly constructed, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.

The failure compelled Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 29, to drive around the area of San Bernardino after the shootings that killed 14 people. They were apparently trying to set off the remote-controlled bomb, one of the officials said.

The officials were briefed on the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the case publicly.

Investigators believe the couple intended to detonate the improvised explosive device  placed in a bag left at the center that morning by Farook before the shooting  to kill emergency responders or possibly before their attack.

The plan to set off an explosive device as part of a wave of attacks is similar to an aborted 2012 plan by Farook and his longtime friend Enrique Marquez, who has been charged for his role in aiding the violence. The pair planned to explode pipe bombs on a freeway and then shoot emergency responders.

The device found at the scene in San Bernardino consisted of three pipe bombs, constructed with Christmas tree lights and attached to a remote-control toy car switched to on. The couple had the remote with them in their rented SUV. It was found after the shootout.

The FBI is still trying to determine where the couple was or what they did during 18 minutes between the Dec. 2 attack and a shootout with authorities that left them dead.

Investigators have no details on the couples whereabouts between 12:59 p.m. and 1:17 p.m. that day and worry that they may have met with someone, dropped by a storage unit or visited a residence. Authorities accounted for the couples movements using traffic and surveillance cameras, witness accounts and other techniques.

While driving around San Bernardino and Redlands afterward, the couple appeared to drive aimlessly and stopped multiple times over a roughly 20-mile area, according to the FBI. They never strayed far from the location of their initial attack, and at one point appeared to be trying to drive closer. Farook and Malik also stopped by a nearby lake, which a dive team searched unsuccessfully for days, trying to find any abandoned electronic devices.

Detectives watching the area saw the couple driving toward their home in the SUV, and Farook and Malik died in a shootout with authorities.

One of the officials said the hard drive has still not been found, and the two cellphones, which were sent to the FBI lab, were so badly crushed that investigators have not yet been able to conduct a forensic examination on them.

One rifle used in the attack was modified in what appears to be an effort to make the gun fully automatic. But despite the installation of the required parts, the machining wasnt done properly and so the effort was unsuccessful, one official said. The errors constructing the explosive device and modifying the gun may indicate that the two killers were self-taught, but without potential electronic evidence on the couples computer hard drive and phones, it is hard to know for sure, officials said.

The FBI has said theres no evidence that the attack was directed from overseas.
Islamabad: Pakistans influential army chief on Monday said he would step down at the end of his three-year term in November, the militarys public relations wing said, breaking a precedent of military leaders seeking to extend their terms.

General Raheel Sharif is considered by many to be Pakistans most powerful man.

Since he took office in 2013, the army has launched aerial and ground assaults against Islamist insurgent strongholds near the Afghan border in the northwest, earning the military broad support from a Pakistani population tired of militant violence.

Critics say the crackdown has been selective, going after some militant groups, but leaving others intact.

Elements of Pakistans army have in the past been accused of tacitly supporting Islamist armed groups that launch attacks in Afghanistan and India as a way to pressure both neighbours.

The general has thrown his support behind elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during anti-government protests, while at the same time solidifying the militarys hold over national security and foreign policy.

General Sharif has also presided over a security crackdown in Karachi, the countrys largest city, which has sharply reduced murder rates but drawn protests from opposition politicians who say their activists have been targeted.

Under his watch, the military has been given authority to try civilians suspected of terrorism in secret military courts.

General Sharif is said to have been personally involved in efforts to bring the Afghan Taliban into peace talks with Afghanistan, though those efforts have stalled.

Speculation that General Sharif would seek to extend his tenure for another term was baseless, the armys public relations wing said in a series of tweets issued on Monday.

The Pakistan Army is a great institution. I dont believe in extension, he was quoted as saying.

General Sharifs decision would represent a win for democratic institutions, but raises questions on the future of campaigns against militants. No obvious candidate to succeed him has yet emerged.

General Sharif pledged that efforts to combat terrorism will continue with full vigor and resolve after he retired, the army tweets said.

Pakistans past two military chiefs had sought extensions of their terms instead of stepping down, with General Pervez Musharraf staging a coup to topple Nawaz Sharif during a previous term as prime minister.
LANSING, Mich.  Michigans attorney general named a former prosecutor on Monday to spearhead an investigation into the process that left Flints drinking water tainted with lead, though Democrats questioned whether the special counsel would be impartial.

Republican Bill Schuette said Todd Flood, a former assistant prosecutor for Wayne County, which includes Detroit, will lead the probe and be joined by Andy Arena, a retired head of Detroits FBI office.

Schuette said the two would play key roles in the investigation and prevent conflicts of interest since the attorney generals office also defends the state. Both will report to Schuette, who promised they would provide an experienced and independent review of all the facts and circumstances.

He dismissed any concerns about Flood, who is now in private practice and has donated to candidates from both parties.

I dont care who he (Flood) has given money to, Republican (or) Democrat. It doesnt matter, Schuette said. This is about conducting a thorough, exhaustive, complete investigation. Thats what were doing.

The investigation could focus on whether environmental laws were broken or if there was official misconduct in the process that left Flints drinking water contaminated.

Flood mostly declined to discuss which laws may have been broken, except to note there are prohibitions against misconduct by public officials. He said a plethora of laws potentially could be used to charge someone.

Schuette gave no timetable for the investigation.

Flint switched from Detroits municipal water system while under emergency state financial management and began drawing from the Flint River in 2014 to save money, but the water was not properly treated. Residents have been urged to use bottled water and to put filters on faucets.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has been a focus of criticism, but Schuette said political affiliations would not be a factor there either.

Democrats noted state records showing Flood gave $3,000 to Snyders campaigns in 2010 and 2014 and money to Schuette. Flood also gave $1,200 to former Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and various judicial candidates.

State Rep. LaTanya Garrett, D-Detroit, is asking U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to open a federal investigation instead. She noted that Schuette denied a Democratic legislators September request for an investigation.

I am not confident that he can serve in the best interest of the Flint citizens, Garrett said.

Schuette had declined to investigate in December but later reversed course and announced the inquiry Jan. 15. That came more than four months after a Virginia Tech researcher said the Flint River was leaching lead from pipes into peoples homes because the water was not treated for corrosion.

The attorney general said he continually reviews information that comes his way and a mass of new data that came to light around New Years prompted him to open a probe.

Because the attorney generals office represents both the people of Michigan and the state government, Schuette said having the special counsel will help prevent conflicts between Schuette and his investigation team and those defending the governor and state departments against water-related lawsuits.

Lawsuits against Snyder and the state will be supervised by Chief Deputy Attorney General Carol Isaacs and Chief Legal Counsel Matthew Schneider. Schuette noted there was a similar effort during Detroits bankruptcy case to avoid conflicts of interest.

Flood represented former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in state court in 2013 when Kilpatrick was accused of violating parole in a case that forced him out of office. Arena heads the Detroit Crime Commission, a nonprofit aimed at reducing criminal activity.

This is going to be a Joe Friday investigation, Arena said, referencing the detective
Mike Sheldrake makes surfboards, but he does it with a material most wouldnt mix with water  cardboard.

The unconventional cardboard surfboard idea came to Sheldrake 10 years ago after he quit his computer science job. Between sending out job applications, he decided to try to make his own surfboard. The Orange native has been riding waves since age 9.

I decided I needed a new surfboard and I thought, well, maybe I can make myself a wood surfboard, Sheldrake, 40, said recounting how it all started in 2006. But wood is expensive, and I didnt want to waste any materials, so I thought: Ill try in cardboard first.

It worked.

Sheldrakes design was even sturdier than he had hoped. When he added the layers of fiber glass and epoxy, he thought, why make it in wood if it works in cardboard?

Now, Sheldrakes two-car garage in Orange is the hub for all of his creative cardboard, and more recently cardstock, projects.

To one side is an old Volkswagen van  a classic of the surfing 60s. Above his tools are three intricate cardboard lampshades he designed. At the center of the garage is the computer where he does all his designing.

Sheldrakes latest model is made of cardstock.

At first glance, you might think the board would fall apart or feel unstable when its moved. But, it doesnt, and that is even before it has been layered with epoxy and fiberglass.

Sheldrake designed an almost honeycomb-like pattern of triangles he calls quarter isogrid that makes the surfboards durable. The core is about an inch thick.

The structure is really just as strong as a regular surfboard, Sheldrake said of the traditional foam-core boards.

Sheldrake has been selling surfboard kits for several years, but has made a DIY surfboard pattern available online.

I think its common for a lot of surfers to dream about making their own board. The ones that actually do are probably a very small minority, but I think theres a growing movement toward doing it yourself, he said. When people buy the kit it becomes a plus because they get to build it themselves, which is what they want to do.

The kits include the individual cardboard pieces you need to assemble a surfboard and instructions.

More recently, Sheldrake has been encouraging people use the shops popping up where the average person can learn to use laser cutters, 3D printers and other high-tech tools for personal projects.

The point of my process is about people building their own boards, because there is such a buzz off of that, he said. Once you start pushing it (kits, and surfboards) to make a living, you start thinking of volume and production and you stop thinking about the people and lose the fun of it.

He also said making the boards should be a more eco-friendly and cheaper option, but his orders were popular on the East Coast and in Australia, Europe and Brazil. When he adds up the fuel emissions from shipping, he says it wasnt as eco-friendly as he had planned.

Someone from Switzerland emailed me the other day telling me how they were using a lab near them to make my design, Sheldrake said. Im not making any money from it, but the boards are being built.

Sheldrake said he hopes to make money in the future, by doing more research and development with his cardboard designs.

Some of the things I make could be used in different industries, he said. Id like to be paid to do the tinkering and creation of these structures Im building for use elsewhere.

In the meantime, he is working to create an online program where people can virtually design their own surfboard. The program would take their design and give them the measurements and formula to construct the surfboard themselves.
Grocery Outlet opens in La Habra

The bargain market Grocery Outlet, which recently opened stores in Costa Mesa and Westminster, is coming to La Habra this week.

Its new spot at 2001 Whittier Blvd. has its grand opening Saturday. The retailer plans to open another store at 1803 E. Chapamn Ave. in Orange in June.

The Emeryville-based discount store, which has 235 locations in the U.S., is planning to open about 10 more stores in Los Angeles and Orange County this year. It sells discontinued or overstocked national brands, sometimes as much as 70 percent off. A stores stock is tailored to its community, so individual locations may vary in offerings.

La Habras store will be open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Its owned by Eric and Shannon Flick, who previously operated stores in West Sacramento and Davis. The store plans to create 30 new jobs.

Register staff noted the following mark-downs at the Costa Mesa location when it opened late last year:

 Best Foods Mayonnaise: two for $3, compared to $3.99

 Annies Crackers and Granola Bars: 99 cents, compared to $3.30

 Bag of Granny Smith apples: 99 cents, compared to $2.99

 Bacon wrapped 12-ounce filet steak: $5.99, compared to $8.99

 Six-pack of Sapporo beer: $4.99, compared to $9.99

Saturdays grand opening is 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes complimentary coffee and treats. The first 100 customers will get $5 off and the first 500 customers get reusable tote bags.

El Chef comes to Westminster

Mexican restaurant and catering company El Chef Tacos recently opened at 14502 Beach Blvd. in Westminster.

Meals range from $6 (such as 2 tacos, a burrito or quesadilla) up to $8 for combination plates, including taquitos, enchiladas or chile relleno.

Rene Cuevas, 27, owns the eatery, which started as a single taco cart when he was studying at Santa Ana College. Five years later, he has 12 carts and a business degree under his belt from Cal State Fullerton.

He said he is excited to open up a brick-and-mortar restaurant in his hometown of Westminster. He also opened an El Chef in Orange in 2014.

Cuevas is carrying on his familys tradition of Mexican cuisine. His parents, Jose and Valencia Cuevas, opened Taqueria El Rancho more than 20 years ago in Stanton.

El Chef is already getting love on Yelp.

One commentor applauded the al pastor and carne asada tacos  most definitely will come back soon.

A Westminster customer added: It was my first time trying it, but enjoyed everything about this place from the moment I walked in the door. I stayed within my comfort zone and ordered a simple carne asada burrito but it delivered

Kmart in Anaheim closing

The Kmart store at 10870 W Katella Ave. in Anaheim is closing in mid-March. Liquidation sales have started and will continue until its closing, staff said.

Staff Writers Nancy Luna and Hannah Madans contributed to this report.
Southern California-based mobile app Tinder now offers its millions of date seekers a direct way to find not their one true love  but instead their nearest sexually transmitted disease testing site.

The recent move is meant to appease public-health advocates who suspect the rise of such dating, or hook up, services are partly to blame for the spikes in STD cases nationwide. Gonorrhea and chlamydia, two of the most common sexually transmitted infections, have been trending up Orange County and statewide.

For the uninitiated, Tinder is a mobile phone app that presents users photos of prospective matches sourced from their extended Facebook networks. People are only paired if they both swipe right, or mutually approve, which starts a line of communication.

Last week, the startup added a health safety section that includes a link to a searchable database of free HIV and STD testing centers.

It all began when health nonprofit, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, expressed concern with such apps, which are often associated with casual sex and riskier behavior.

The foundations concern manifested into a provocative billboard campaign last fall showing silhouettes of couples with the words Tinder and Chlamydia splashed on them. Tinder was not amused. But after months of talks, both parties agreed on including the health portal in the app.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation called Tinders decision welcome news earlier this month and hopes other dating sites follow suit.

Meanwhile, counties statewide are facing surges in STD cases and rates.

The occurrence of gonorrhea cases in Orange County was 57 per 100,000 people in 2014, the most recent year available, up from 38 per 100,000 in 2010. The actual number of gonorrhea cases increased by more than 50 percent in that time span.

The chlamydia rate was 297 per 100,000 people, up from 267 per 100,000. The county saw a 15 percent increase in total cases.

At Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing accounts for roughly 19 percent of services rendered, said spokeswoman Nichole Ramirez.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are the two most common sexually transmitted diseases. Such ailments can be particularly concerning because a lot of times (patients) dont have symptoms, Ramirez said.

The statewide Planned Parenthood network has launched new ways to get more people screened, including a mail-in testing service, which launched less than a year ago.

Users download the Planned Parenthood Direct mobile app, where they can order a test kit that, at least for now, only checks for chlamydia and gonorrhea. The test kit arrives in an inconspicuous brown package. You send the kit back with your urine, and the results get delivered straight to the app.

So far, the service is only available in California.

Contact the writer: 714-796-4976 or lleung@ocregister.com. Twitter: @LilyShumLeungSpot government waste or a business scam? Email watchdog@ocregister.com
Re: MLK knew value of the labor movement [Opinion, Jan. 15]: As a former conservative member of the California Teachers Association union, I have to disagree with Jennifer Muir. So much of what she said is terribly untrue and leaves no doubt of her bias and ignorance concerning both the union and nonunion states, their philosophies and economies.

I tried on three different occasions to opt-out of having my union dues go to a political party (Democrats) as I disagreed with their general ideas and tried to give a portion of my dues to a charity. After sending three different letters and speaking directly with my site representative and the district representative, nothing happened. I never received any notice telling me I had been successful in opting out of the unions political contributions.

Therefore, I have firsthand knowledge of the workings of the CTA that you apparently do not.

She also made a comparison of union states and non-union states and their economies. Has she been able to check with your fact checker or read any sources other than CTA-printed papers? The state of Texas has a much better economy than California and the teachers do not have to join a union! Please do not try to state that the schools in Texas are not the same caliber as California as that is also untrue. California schools could not fall much further on the list as currently they are 43rd in overall education and 49th for school safety. Texas is ranked 27th overall and 19th for school safety.

Why are charter schools trying to grow so fast in California? Parents do not want their children in the public school system as students are not learning the skills needed to be educated. The union has created a stranglehold on this states education, controls politicians in Sacramento through massive donations and corruption and will not improve these conditions until there is more competition. However, unions of any kind do not welcome competition as that creates less money for the union bosses.

For 10 years, our daughter, who has a masters degree in education, was a gifted special education teacher in an Orange County middle school. She married, gave birth to two children and decided to tend to the needs of her family and not return to teaching.

This was seven years ago. With all her experience and degrees, at this point in order to return to the classroom she would have to return to university for another year in order to qualify for a teaching position. Teaching does not change that much in seven years. Isnt there a need for good teachers? The union, if it were truly interested in teaching students and in having good teachers, could change that and more.

Tenure should have been re-evaluated before it was even implemented. There were several tenured teachers at my last school who were just waiting for another bump in their pay scale so they could retire. Needless to say, not much learning was happening in their classes as all they needed to do was show up to school on a regular basis. They were protected by the union and could not be dismissed for being lazy and incompetent. One was guilty of picking a fight with the students and throwing books at his class, and he was given the rest of the day off to calm down.

Discipline needs to be enforced and teachers need to feel secure in their work. Restoring classes that teach trades should be considered as not everyone is college bound or ready to face the rigors of college.

At one time unions in the labor force were needed, however, today the unions have overstepped their importance and forgotten what they are supposed to do. The union does not produce or guarantee a good worker, teacher, electrician, plumber or protect the worker  or in education, the students. The union provides a safe haven of money for the union hierarchy and politicians bought with union money.

If the unions are so wonderful, the state should stop forcing the members to donate, through taking the money out of their paychecks before the member gets it. People love to contribute to good causes and if the unions are so wonderful, let the members contribute on their own, without being forced to contribute.

In that way you wont worry about free riders, which by the way is a great name for union leaders as they are definitely getting a free ride. If you do not believe me, look up their salaries.

A teacher is not made by the union, but a teacher is used by the union for the benefit of the union and the politicians, and this does not benefit teachers or students.

Patti Hugh

Huntington Beach
In a chilling turn of events, some taxi drivers in Japan are claiming to have picked up ghost passengers in the aftermath of the tsunami that devastated the nation in March 2011. As many as seven of the 100 drivers interviewed by Yuka Kudo, a student of sociology at Tohoku, admitted to having encountered phantom fares.

Kudo conducted the interviews as a part of her graduation thesis, traveling to the coastal town of Ishinomaki every week for a year to speak to taxi drivers waiting for fares. She asked over 100 drivers the same question: Did you have any unusual experiences after the disaster? Many of them ignored her, some even got angry, but seven drivers agreed to describe their strange encounters.

One driver recounted a particularly unsettling story  in the summer of 2011, a woman dressed in a coat climbed into his taxi near Ishinomaki station. She said, Please go to the Mianmihama Station. When he pointed out that there was nothing left standing in the district, she asked him in a shivering voice, Have I died? The driver immediately turned around, only to find the back seat empty.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Another driver recalled how a young man who looked to be in his 20s got into his taxi. When the driver looked in the rear-view mirror for directions, the man kept pointing towards the front. The driver then asked for a destination, to which he replied, Hiyoriyama (mountain). When the taxi reached the area, the man had disappeared from the taxi.

Its easy to dismiss these stories as hallucinations or imaginations, but the drivers logs are proof that they really might have occurred. When these ghosts got into their cabs, the drivers started the meter, which is recorded. So even though these passengers disappeared during the ride, they were still counted as clients. The drivers then had to pay their fares out of their own pockets. Some of the drivers even wrote down their experiences in their logs.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

All these phantom travelers were described to be young, which compels Kudo to believe that they were indeed victims of the 2011 tsunami. Young people feel strongly chagrined (at their deaths) when they cannot meet people they love, she said. As they want to convey their bitterness, they may have chosen taxis, which are like private rooms, as a medium to do so.

Interestingly, none of the drivers reported feeling any fear, instead holding their special passengers in reverence. Having lost loved ones in the disaster themselves, they perceived the encounters as a spiritual experience, meant to be remembered and cherished forever. It is not strange to see a ghost here, a driver said. If I encounter a ghost again, I will accept it as my passenger.

Kudo herself was moved by the interviews. I learned that the death of each victim carries importance, she said. I want to convey that to other people.

According to official records, over 15,000 people died during the magnitude-9 earthquake that lasted for six minutes and triggered a 133-ft high tsunami that swept six miles inland. Numerous sightings of ghosts and spectral figures have been reported in residential districts in the affected areas in the aftermath of the disaster.

Source: Asahi
In your Jeep Creep questions, please list your first and last names, your hometown, and your state/province/country, so that we can publish that information here. If you dont provide this information, we may not be able to publish your question and answer. Dont forget to be as complete as possible with the description of your Jeep and its problems, too. Send your Jeep questions to [email protected], Attn: Jeep Creep.

More Jeep Creep Q&As

December 2015

November 2015

October 2015



Three Jeep recalls from NHTSA this month

(www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/monthlyreports.cfm)

15V-826: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 18, 2015, to September 10, 2015, and equipped with the power liftgate option. In the affected vehicles, water may leak into the Power Liftgate Control Module and result in a high-resistance short circuit. A short circuit in the module increases the risk of a fire. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the module and connectors for corrosion, replacing the damaged components as necessary. The mastic shield will be removed and the module will be covered with a water shield. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chryslers number for this recall is R67.

15V-878: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2015 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles manufactured January 1, 2015, to May 11, 2015. During assembly, the power steering hose retention clamp may have been installed at an incorrect location, resulting in the detachment of the low pressure return hose. If the power steering fluid return hose detaches, it would leak fluid and increase the risk of a fire. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the return power steering hose clamp, repositioning the clamp as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chryslers number for this recall is R68.

15V-879: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured December 3, 2009, to September 1, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after having been remedied for a prior recall for the vanity lamp wiring. This recall is also addressing certain vehicles that have not been remedied under that prior recall. The vanity lamp wiring may short, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire. Chrysler will notify owners. The remedy plan is still being developed. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chryslers number for this recall is R71.

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you have less trouble this year than you did in 2015, but please keep those questions, queries, and comments coming in.Jim Brightly



MPG?

Im thinking about buying a 1976 Jeep CJ-5. I know its not going to be good on gas, but how bad is it? Its a straight six.

Stephen Austen

Carson City, NV

If youre worried about mileage, you dont want a Jeep, Steve. Youre going to find out that youll be having so much fun with the Jeep that you wont be thinking about mileage! As a rule of thumb, Steve, the better you make a Jeep work off-road the less mileage occurs on road. Lifting it creates a larger wind wave to push down the road; larger tires and wheels mean more weight for the engine to twist; and lower gears cause the engine to rev higher for the same speeds. I remember testing a brand-new blue 1976 CJ7 with a six in 76 for Four Wheeler magazinenot sure if the gears and tranny match yoursbut with a 4-speed (if I remember correctly) I managed 12-15 mpg. Of course in those days I was more interested in performance than in mileage.





Fouled-Up Fuse

I have a 1994 Jeep Cherokee with 213,000 miles. My taillights and instrument cluster lights are not working. I keep replacing the fuse in slot #15 but it keeps on blowing. Where do I start looking for this problem? Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Michael Connelly

Oceanside, CA

You have a short somewhere in the taillight/running/headlight circuits, Mike. Do you have a trailer plug on your Cherokee? If you do, Id start there and work forwardthats more than likely the culprit. It can be easily damaged from dragging on a rock or the raised center of a deeply rutted road. If you dont have a trailer plug, start at the taillights and work forward (the taillight wiring is much more susceptible to road damageits less protected than the grille lights). Disconnect the lines at each connector and test the fuse. If you havent found it by the time youre back at the fuses, begin again at the parking lights and work backward. Dont forget the side running lights. If its not in these lighting circuits, itll probably be a breakdown in the dashs printed circuit board.

Hard Hardtop

I have a 2004 Jeep Wrangler and I bought an aftermarket hardtop for it. The problems that I am having are the drivers side door fits very tightly and the liftgate is leaking water. I believe the problem with the liftgate is there is a gap between the gate and the tailgate that is allowing water, dust, and snow to come through. Can you help me?

Melissa Galley

Charlotte, NC

Thats a real bummer, Melissa, with all the storms that have been hitting your area this winter! If the hinges arent rusted to the body, the door is simple to correct, although it will require some arm/wrist strength and the proper tool. Loosen the hinges enough so that they still provide resistance against the body. Now move and adjust the door until it fits properly. Retighten the hinges. (The reason you want the resistance is because if its too loose, the hinges will just fall against the loose screws whenever you let go of the door. With solid resistance, the door hinges will remain where you leave them while you try the fit.) For the tailgate gap, use Velcro-glued strips on the lift gate and the tailgate. Make up a strip of material the proper size, apply Velcro to it to match the strips on the gates, and stick it on. Apply the Velcro to the inside of the lift gate and the outside of the tailgate (when youre applying the Velcro to the gates, think shingles).

Goofy Gauge

I have 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. Recently, Ive noticed the oil pressure goes up to about 60 psi on the gauge when I start the engine. The pressure mostly stays there while Im driving. The gauge never used to do this so I am a little worried. Is there something wrong that I need to get fixed? I love my Jeep and I dont want to let a problem go unattended.

Luke Tracely

Walla Walla, WA

Have the OEM electric oil pressure gauge verified with a mechanical gauge for comparison. The problem might be with the sender or with the gauge. If the sender is contaminated with debris, removing it to insert the mechanical probe and cleaning it with brake cleaning spray will more than likely remove the debris. If the mechanical shows a different pressure, reinstall the OEM sender to make sure it is defective before replacing it. If the gauge now works fine, youre finished. If the gauge is still goofy, youll need to buy a new gauge, which is going to be expensive (and you may have to buy an entirely new dash PCB). You may want to replace the OEM gauge with a pair of aftermarket gauges. The second gauge can be either a temperature gauge or battery-condition gauge. You can even leave the OEM gauge online with a brass T in the engine. Connect the original sender to one side and the new sender to the other side of the T-junction.

Jerking and Juddering

I have a 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and I have a couple of problems, hopefully they are all related. 1) At times, when I am driving, the Jeep jerks and the RPM go way down, then it will all of a sudden speed up again like normal. 2) Sometimes when I get in the car to start it, nothing happens, no crank or nothing, and then all the gauges go to the end and back. Afterward, I can turn the key and it starts like normal.

William Bushnell

El Paso, TX

I think you better check your battery connections. It sounds like you have corrosion on one or both sides of the battery. Check at the posts and at the cable connections. You can clean them with a baking soda/water solution (just make sure the solution doesnt get into the batterys cells). If that doesnt solve your problem, trace and verify all the wires and connections of the alternator. Lastly, verify that the ignition key switch and all its wiring are okay. If youre having other problems with the tumbler assembly, replacing the ignition switch will fix it. If it doesnt, youre still ahead because it sounds like the assembly should be replaced anyway.

Hot TJ

I have a 1999 Jeep TJ, which I bought used and have loved every minute of it. However, my A/C stopped working along with my blower on all speeds. I raised the hood and tapped the relay and it started again. I drove it home and when I turned the Jeep back on, the A/C clutch and blower were not working again. I tapped on the relay but this did not work. I need some expert advice.

Patrick Allison

Casa Grande, AZ

Obviously, Id start with installing a new relay. Also, since its a 99, Id have the A/C recharged. The electrical part of the ignition switch may be wearing out. Try returning the key to the run position manually to help the return-from-the-start-position spring. If that works, then replace the electrical part of the ignition switch or the entire ignition switch.

Drink Holders

Does anyone offer additional or replacement mounting brackets for BCS drink holders? I would like to be able to move the holder from vehicle to vehicle.

Robert Crane

Perth Amboy, NJ

Bob, Google the drink holders; it may surprise you. Or check the websites of Summit Racing, 4Wheel Parts, and Quadratec. One of them should have the drink holders. If none of that works, try Camping Worlds website.

Lifted Grand

I have a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee; I would like to know how much lift I can install without hurting the driveline or doing anything else to the transfer case or the transmission. A friend told me to put on a 4-1/2-inch kit. I have 33-inch tires, can I put them on?

Tim McCoy

Dana Point, CA

You can safely lift it 2.5 inches without doing anything else, Tim. The 33-inch tires should fit beneath the fenders, but might contact the body or the fenders during tight turns with the change in elevation.

As usual, each month, Im shouting out a huge THANK YOU to Paul Schupp at Rock Lizard 4x4 in Kingman, Arizona, for his invaluable assistance in answering many of the Jeep Creep questions.

Send your Jeep questions to [email protected], Attn: Jeep Creep.

More Jeep Creep Q&As

December 2015

November 2015

October 2015
MEP for Offaly and Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness and Ulster Unionist MEP, Jim Nicholson recently met with the European Commissioner for Competition, Margethe Vestager in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss competition or a lack of it in the beef sector both North and South of the border.

By Damian Moran

e-mail: damian@offalyexpress.ie

Twitter: @offaly_express

MEP McGuinness stated that "the merger of ABP Food Group with Slaney Foods has consequences in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland" and she added that "farmers need a guarantee that this merger will not cause further distortions in an already highly concentrated market".

The Competition Commissioner reassured the MEPs that the issue will be dealt with by the UKs Competition and Markets Authority and Ireland's Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and if necessary, will be referred to the EU Commission to ensure that the proposed merger will not further distort the beef market.

Jim Nicholson MEP highlighted that the merger may uncover deeper competition issues in this market and will significantly highlight price gaps for beef in Northern Ireland compared to mainland UK.

The MEPs who are members on the European Parliament's Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, also raised the general issue of competition in the food sector arising from the imbalance of power between producers, processors and retailers.

Last year the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee unanimously voted in favour of adopting legislation to stamp out unfair trading practices in the food supply chain. The committee is awaiting the publication of a study from Commissioner Bienkowska that will assess voluntary initiatives such as the Supply Chain Initiative (SCI) and national best practices in tackling unfair trading practices.
YESTERDAY (Tuesday) marked the 15th anniversary of the disappearance of Tullamore woman Fiona Pender.

YESTERDAY (Tuesday) marked the 15th anniversary of the disappearance of Tullamore woman Fiona Pender.

Her family have put up posters with a different photo of Fiona on them in the hope of finding some information about how and why Fiona went missing.

Fiona has been missing from her home at Church Street, Tullamore, on August 22 1996. At that time she was 7 months pregnant and had spent the previous day shopping for baby clothes with her mother in Tullamore. She was in good form and was looking forward to the birth of her baby.

The disappearance of the popular hairdresser led to the largest Garda operation ever seen in the Tullamore area.

Air Corps helicopters searched over the Slieve Bloom mountains, while tracker dogs were also used in searching Offaly bogs.

Sub-aqua divers searched in the Grand Canal and the Tullamore River. Fionas friends in the UK, the United States, Germany and Italy were contacted, and the help of Interpol and Londons Metropolitan Police enlisted.

All maternity units in Ireland and Britain were notified, and posters placed in a wide range of locations in both countries.

Fiona and her boyfriend, John Thompson, had worked for a period at the Hilton Hotel at Croydon in south London, but this proved of no relevance to the disappearance.

The suffering of the Pender family was all the greater as Fionas brother Mark had died in a motorbike accident in 1995. Her father, Sean, died in tragic circumstances some years later.

John Thompson has consistently denied having any involvement with the disappearance. In 1997, on the first anniversary, he gave an exclusive interview to Offaly Express in which he rejected suggestions that he or his family were involved, and criticised the Garda operation.

He has stated that he left her on the morning of August 23 to go to work on the family farm between Killeigh and Mountmellick.

He also rejected suggestions that there was any hostility on the part of his father, Archie, (who is since deceased) or his sisters, towards Fiona.

It had been widely believed locally that there were problems relating to religious differences - Fiona was a Catholic, the Thompsons a Church of Ireland family - but the late Archie Thompson told the Offaly Express that he liked Fiona, that he had provided a site for land for a home for the couple, adding I have to say, before God, I liked her.

Mr Thompson also stated All I wanted was that John would find a girl he was happy with and I couldnt care less whether she was a Protestant or a Roman Catholic or no religion. I couldnt care whether she was black or white. The discovery of a small wooden cross in May 2008 with Fionas name on it in a wooded area in Moincknew in the Slieve Bloom Mountains proved to be a cruel hoax. After excavation Gardai failed to discover anything let alone human remains at the site.
Schools in Offaly are invited to register to take part in this years National Scratch Competition.

By Damian Moran

e-mail: damian@offalyexpress.ie

Twitter: @offaly_express

Scratch is a visual programming language that encourages children to develop coding skills through fun and interactive learning. The 2016 Scratch National Final will take place in the RDS, Dublin, during Tech Week 2016 (24  30 April). The closing date for registrations is Friday, 12 February.

Scratch is an innovative educational tool that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving and communication skills in children. Participants can to create their own interactive stories, animations, games and music which can then be shared on the web. Since the inaugural competition in 2010, Scratch has established itself among students and teachers as a leading platform and showcase for Irelands aspiring digital creators. In 2015, the competition attracted 738 entrants with 25 projects progressing to the national finals.

The competition is run by the Irish Computer Society (ICS) and supported by Lero, the Irish Software Research Centre. Speaking about Scratch, Mary Cleary, Deputy CEO at the ICS said, We live at a time were almost every part of our lives is impacted and improved by technology. Ensuring our children have good digital skills needs to be seen as an important part of their development.

Furthermore, Ireland needs over 45,000 skilled new ICT professionals by 2018 to fuel the continuing growth of our economy. The current generation of children and teens are digital natives but instead of just using technology, we want them, and their parents, to understand the opportunity that exists and to figure out if technology is for them at an early stage. They can then choose the correct subjects and make college decisions on an informed basis around all that technology has to offer. Fun competitions like Scratch can help young people to understand more about what technology has to offer and to gain confidence in their digital aptitude, added Ms Cleary.

The use of Scratch in Irish schools has increased significantly since the tool became available from the MIT Media Lab in 2007. The Scratch competition is a great way to encourage students to use their creativity to build their own projects and showcase their own ideas in Scratch, said Clare McInerney, Education and Outreach Manager in Lero.

Scratch is open to individual students, classes and groups of all ages. Further information, including details on how to register, can be found on scratch.ics.ie or www.scratch.ie.

Organised by the Irish Computer Society, Tech Week 2016 will involve over 100,000 primary and post-primary pupils all over Ireland in a huge range of fun activities including the finals of tech events that have been running throughout the past year.
Pakistani security personnel check students outside the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, Pakistan. Authorities have closed all the schools in the countrys largest province, Punjab, following an alert over possible militant attacks. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: Pakistani authorities have closed all the schools in the countrys largest province, Punjab, following an alert over possible militant attacks.

A government memo obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press says there is intelligence that 13 Taliban fighters from neighbouring Afghanistan were planning suicide attacks on schools in Pakistan.

The provinces education minister, Rana Mashood Ahmad, announced late on Monday that Punjab schools would remain closed till the end of the month. He didnt cite the government alert but said the closures were due to harsh winter weather and heavy fog in the province.

The warning comes a week after a breakaway Taliban faction attacked a northwestern university and killed 21 people, mostly students. That university reopened briefly on Monday but then closed indefinitely to give students time to recover from the incident.
The Minister for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Cooperation, Sean Sherlock T.D., is calling on all Offaly primary school pupils from 3rd to 6th class to take part in the 2016 Our World Irish Aid Awards and imagine what our world might look like in 2030

By Damian Moran

e-mail: damian@offalyexpress.ie

Twitter: @offaly_express

Through the Awards, pupils learn about the lives of children in developing countries and the work of Irish Aid, the Governments programme for overseas development. Pupils then create projects to highlight the challenges facing poor communities in developing countries, and the progress being achieved by Ireland and other countries in the global effort to fight poverty.

Offaly was well represented at the 2015 Awards, with St. Cronan's N.S. and S.N. Naomh Eoin making it to the regional finals.

The theme of the 2016 Awards, One World, One Future, asks pupils to imagine how their world might look in 2030, and enables them to learn about the new United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development, which seek to address the root causes of poverty worldwide.

Calling on all Offaly primary schools to get involved, Minister Sherlock said: The Our World Irish Aid Awards give pupils from all over Offaly a great opportunity to gain insight into the lives of children in the developing world and convey their understanding through projects which are both creative and educational. This year pupils will learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which were agreed upon in September 2015. The Goals are aimed at eradicating poverty, addressing environmental degradation and climate change, and building a more peaceful, fair and sustainable world. The Global Goals offer an ambitious framework to tackle the most pressing social, economic and environmental problems facing the world today. It is so important that pupils in Ireland today learn about these Goals which are so vital for the creation of a better world and a better future for all.

I encourage all Offaly schools to get involved in this great programme.

All entries are assessed on their creativity, understanding of the theme, and their impact. Projects that illustrate strengths across these three areas will receive an Our World Irish Aid Award plaque at regional awards ceremonies in May, and the 12 top entries will win a place at the final awards ceremony in June, where they will receive trophies, with one outstanding project winning the overall Our World Irish Aid Awards trophy.

The inaugural Our World Irish Aid Awards Teacher of the Year Award will also be introduced this year, where one teacher will be recognised for their outstanding contribution to the Awards and be invited to act as an ambassador for the Awards for the 2016-2017 programme.

Over 1,000 primary schools throughout Ireland participated in the Our World Irish Aid Awards in 2015. Registration for the 2016 Awards programme is now open and the deadline for entries is Friday, March 11.For more information on how to take part please visit: http://ourworldirishaidawards.ie/
Local Sinn Fein councillor and General Election candidate Carol Nolan has hit out at the Government after new figures released today by the INMO show record levels of hospital overcrowding in 2015.

By Damian Moran

e-mail: damian@offalyexpress.ie

Twitter: @offaly_express

Cllr Nolans comments coincide with the partys recent publication of a Private Members Motion on Hospital Overcrowding.

Cllr Nolan said, The figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation today show that a staggering 92,998 people were cared for on trolleys in hospitals across the state in 2015.

She added that in the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore, 2758 people were cared for on trolleys, more than three times the number than when this Government took office.

Not only has this Government failed spectacularly to deliver on its promise to end the trolley crisis during its term but the fact that the Taoiseach has refused to commit to ending it if re-elected is a slap in the face to the people in this area, Cllr Nolan continued.

Anyone who does not possess a clear and hardened resolve to end this crisis once and for all has no place in Government and in my view. Unlike this Government, Sinn Fein has not washed its hands of this crisis  our Private Members motion put forward a number of measures aimed at tackling hospital overcrowding.

The motion provides for an increase in hospital beds, the recruitment of front line staff, the provision of additional funding to the Fair Deal Scheme, the provision of extra nursing home beds, a commitment to increase home help and homecare packages and the establishment of an Emergency Department Taskforce on a permanent basis.

Fine Gael and Labour have presided over complete chaos in our health system for long enough and the people of this area deserve better, she concluded.
Voting to crown the winner of this years Doodle 4 Google competition will open from Sunday, 7th of February and the public will have just one week to cast their votes with the poll closing on Sunday, 14th of February.

Over 4,000 entries were received and shortlisted to 75 finalists.

By Damian Moran

e-mail: damian@offalyexpress.ie

Twitter: @offaly_express

Now, Nicole Tighe (Group 4) from Gallen Community School, Ferbane is in with the chance of becoming this years overall Doodle 4 Google champion.

This year, students were asked to design a Doodle on the theme Ireland Is with the winning Doodle appearing on the Google homepage on Easter Monday, 28th March 2016.

The panel of judges which included the artist Maser, one of Irelands leading visual artists working in the urban environment, Aideen Howard, director of The Ark, a Cultural Centre for Children and Tomm Moore, co-founder and Creative Director of Cartoon Saloon, who directed the Oscar nominated film The Secret of Kells and the film Song of the Sea, had the difficult task of selecting the 75 finalists from the thousands of entries that were received.

Members of the public can vote from February 7th for their favourite Doodle on www.google.ie/doodle4google. Voting will close at midnight on the 14th of February. The five most popular doodles, one from each age category, will go forward to the grand final where the overall winner will be chosen by the Google Ireland team.

Ronan Harris, VP and head of Google in Ireland said, This years Doodle 4 Google competition is very special, as it is part of Googles 2016 commemoration programme, with the winning doodle featuring on the Google Ireland homepage on Easter Monday, 28th March. Millions of people will have the opportunity to see it, and understand how young people view the modern Ireland of 2016. Weve seen some amazing doodles this year and its now up to the public to vote for their favourite doodle.

The winner will also receive a 5,000 scholarship towards their third-level studies, a Chromebook, and a 10,000 technology grant for their school. Each of the five class group winners and their teachers will also win a Chromebook each.

For more information and to vote for the winning doodles go to: www.google.ie/doodle4google/
Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph. Haile Selassie
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Islamabad: Terrorism graph was the lowest in Pakistan since 2006, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Tuesday.

He said sporadic and desperate acts of terrorism should not be portrayed as failure of National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.

Addressing a ceremony at National Defense University (NDU), he said the National Action Plan was chalked out with the consensus of all political parties and it has helped improve security situation in the country.

The Minister said those spreading despondency and pessimism after every incident of terrorism are playing into the hands of enemies.

He said some political parties and individuals are hell bent on scoring political points at the cost of national interest.

Mr Khan stressed the need to reiterate a firm resolve to defeat terrorists at all costs instead of creating impression of weakness.

The minister said the elements spreading pessimism and cynicism should remember that the graph of terrorism in the country was the lowest today since 2006.

The previous governments did not formulate any internal security policy despite terrorism incidents in the country, he added.

These remarks by the Interior Minister came few days after several people started questioning the effectiveness of the NAP against terrorism after Taliban gunmen stormed Bacha Khan University (BKU) in Charsadda and killed more than 20 people.

NAP was formulated in the wake of attack on Peshawars Army Public School (APS) in December last year to deal with the menace of terrorism.

More than 150 people - most of them children - were killed in the tragic incident on December 16, 2014.

Afterwards, Pakistan army intensified action against militant groups in the tribal areas of Pakistan, successfully clearing most of the North Waziristan. More than three thousand terrorists have been killed in ongoing operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Earlier, Information Minister Pervez Rashid reaffirmed the governments commitment to continue fight against terrorism until its complete elimination from the country.

He said the government was taking effective steps to eliminate terrorism and extremism.

Mr Rashid said on the Prime Ministers directives, federal ministers including Abdul Qadir Baloch, Baleeghur Rehman, Sardar Mohammed Yousaf and he himself, visited the Bacha Khan University soon after the attack to express solidarity with the families of the victims.

He said the operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched to purge the country of anti-state elements, which will continue until the target was accomplished.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued an order to internet service providers to block access to more than 400,000 adult websites. (Photo: PTI)

Islamabad: Pakistan has ordered internet service providers to block access to more than 400,000 adult websites as part of a major crackdown on online pornography.

The directive was issued yesterday by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), days after ban on the YouTube was lifted nearly after three years for carrying a blasphemous movie.

Access to sites featuring smut and pornographic material will be restricted at the domain level, The Express Tribune reported.

The move apparently follows a recent order by the Supreme Court wherein the telecom sector's regulatory body had been asked to "take remedial steps to quantify the nefarious phenomenon of obscenity and pornography that has an imminent role to corrupt and vitiate the youth of Pakistan".

PTA said it has decided to take pre-emptive measures to block such websites at the domain level to control dissemination of pornographic content through the internet as it provided ISPs with a list of 429,343 domains to be blocked on their respective networks. The list provided by PTA was extensive and that they would face challenges, especially of time, while trying to block content, the report said.

Officials said that blocking websites at the domain level was a gigantic and costly exercise, since it would require changes in their systems and special equipment to block such a large number of websites not to mention a significant amount of man hours needed for this purpose.

However, they said that they had started work on the order since they were bound to abide by the law.
Cartel Land (Netflix): This newly Oscar-nominated doc follows (1) a doctor in Michoacan, Mexico, who leads a resistance against the drug cartels and police corruption; and (2) a paramilitary group on the other side of the U.S.-Mexico border trying to keep cartel violence from creeping north. Thrilling, troubling and a great companion to Sicario.

The Overnight (Netflix): Adam Scott and Taylor Schilling are a new-to-Los Angeles couple who make friends with a peculiar husband and wife (Jason Schwartzman, Judith Godreche) and accept a dinner invitation to their swanky home. Things get weird. Thirty minutes in, this could have become a horror movie. Instead, it opts for a chatty sex romp with some powerfully awkward moments.

Chelsea Does: Season 1 (Netflix): A Netflix original docuseries in which comedian Chelsea Handler gives her take on various issues facing the day.

Entourage (HBO Now and HBO Go): A movie, bro!

As Above/So Below (HBO Now and HBO Go): A couple of dumb horror movie victims head deep into the catacombs beneath the streets of Paris. Theyre looking for dark secrets. They find horrible deaths.

Mad Dogs (Amazon Prime): This new Amazon original series follows a group of 40-something buddies who get wrapped in a criminal endeavor while visiting their friend in Belize. Stars Ben Chaplin, Michael Imperioli, Steve Zahn, Romany Malco and Billy Zane. Executive produced by Shawn Ryan (The Shield, Terriers).

The Missing (Amazon Prime): Right in time for the woman-led Western Jane Got a Gun riding into theaters this week, here is another: the Ron Howard horse opera that stars Cate Blanchett as a cowgirl who goes all The Searchers when an Apache brujo kidnaps her daughter. Solidly entertaining.

Mortdecai (Amazon Prime): Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany, Jeff Goldblum, Olivia Munn and yet still a terrible movie.

The Thin Blue Line (Hulu): Before there was Making a Murderer and the Serial podcast, there was The Thin Blue Line, Errol Morris excellent crime doc that helped exonerate a man falsely convicted of murder in Texas.

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (Hulu): A film that exonerated no one.
I wasn't prepared for the way I felt when my 18-year-old son, Dylan, lifted off for a trip to Asia during his winter break.

I was thrilled the moment he first told my husband and me that he wanted to use some of his savings to visit a friend studying in Shanghai and travel around the continent. Michael and I had sojourned to Southeast Asia for a few months before we were married, and Dylan would be visiting some of the same places. We were excited for him to explore the world. We told him that traveling was one of the best ways to spend his money. "Collect experiences, not things," we said. "The memories will last a lifetime."

It was exciting for me knowing my oldest child would be on such an adventure even so far from home. Last fall, in fact, while several friends were having a hard time letting go of their first-borns headed off to college, I was oddly okay with Dylan leaving home. I chalked my coolness up to that he'd already been away  sleep-away camps and a summer job in New England  and I felt comfortable with him being on his own. And with his college only a few hours from home, if something went wrong we could drive to him the same day.

Then came winter break and the sheer joy of having Dylan home again. Our family of five was together and I was at peace.

On the morning of Dylan's departure, he woke the other kids to say goodbye, stuffed a few more things in his bag, and headed to the airport. Before he and Michael pulled away, I yelled one last time, "Be safe, and text when you arrive in Shanghai."

That night, while he was flying somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, it hit me that Dylan was really on his own. I woke hourly, each time checking the clock and counting the hours before he would land the following morning. Doubting my decision to let him go, I felt anxious, prayed and thought about all the things that could go wrong.

As parents, we know our kids grow up and may be ready to face the world, but do we ever see them beyond little kids heading off to their first day of school? I wanted Dylan back home, building a fort in the basement for his younger sister, like he did days earlier.

And then I heard from him. The first text said he'd arrived. The second text said his luggage didn't make it. At the time, the thought of him not having his belongings seemed monumental to me. It felt like he was missing the things that connected him to home.

I frantically attempted to track down his bag. The following day, I persuaded him to go back to the airport and search lost baggage, urged him to file a second claim and suggested he go to the airline's office in downtown Shanghai. My efforts were futile. I was frustrated, and all the while Dylan was texting me he was all right.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," he wrote. It was exactly what I needed to hear. He was okay and I could let go. From that moment on I gave him space to be on his own and to discover the wonder of new places without my input. There was no more talk about lost luggage or what he should do next. I knew that he'd figure it out, and that the life lessons would be deep.

Several days into the trip (now traveling with his good friend, Jack), Dylan sent a photo from the top of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. The sky was blue and clear, the city and harbor sprawled far below, and he was smiling and wearing the same clothes he left home in. His note read, "I thought I could never study abroad anywhere but Europe, but I could definitely do it here."

And I was at peace.
Lucknow: Four ministers and about 20 MLAs of the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh are ready to cross over to the BJP as and when their tickets are finalised for the UP Assembly elections, due in 2017.

These SP ministers and legislators are in constant touch with top BJP leaders and have even had meetings with them in New Delhi.

According to highly placed sources in the BJP, these SP ministers and MLAs have said that as soon as their tickets for the Assembly polls are cleared, they will waste no time in quitting the Samajwadi Party. A senior BJP leader admitted several SP leaders had met the party leadership but added that the final decision would be taken by the BJP parliamentary board.

Sources said the call details of some of these ministers had been given to Samajwadi leaders and it was because of their frequent conversations with BJP leaders that some of them were dropped from the council of ministers in October 2015.

Two of the eight ministers who were dropped had been regularly talking to BJP leaders on the phone. Ministers whose portfolios were downsized were also found to be in touch with BJP leaders, admitted a Samajwadi leader.

An SP MLA, suspected to be hobnobbing with the BJP, spoke freely on the subject after being assured anonymity. We belong to the ruling party but the bureaucrats do not listen to us, the chief minister does not have the time and we get caught in the crossfire between top leaders. Unless the MLAs belong to a particular caste or owe direct allegiance to a top party leader, even an inspector does not listen to us. In such a situation, how can you even expect the people to vote for you, he said.

A senior minister whose portfolio has been downsized said he had no qualms admitting to the meetings. I have personal relations with some BJP leaders and I do not deny that I meet them whenever I go to Delhi or they come to Lucknow. If this was why I was given a less important portfolio, then even the top SP leaders are guilty because they invited the Prime Minister for a family wedding last year. The SP leadership should learn to differentiate between political and personal relations, he said.

The minister said he was upset at the manner in which he had been treated by the SP and he would not mind switching over to the BJP if offered a seat. In fact there are about two dozen leaders, including ministers and legislators, who are ready to move to the BJP, he disclosed.
67th R-Day: RSS wing to hoist National Flag at 1500 madrassas across the country

India

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New Delhi, Jan 26: On the occasion of 67th R-Day, a RSS wing is all set to organise flag hoisting ceremonies at 1500 madrassas within the country. The name of this RSS wing is Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM).

Live: India gears up to celebrate 67th R-day; French Prez to be chief guest

It is being said that aim of the programme is to make aware the students of the country about Muslim scholars who laid down their lives during the freedom struggle.

According to a Indian Express report, RSS leader Indresh Kumar will himself hoist the National Flag at a madrassa in Rai Purani, near Panchkula in Haryana. Apart from tricolour hoisting ceremonies, MRM will also organise an "Insaniyat Jagao" programme at several Muslim localities.

When asked about this news report, MRM patron Indresh Kumar was quoted as saying, "Our programme is to hoist the Tricolour and recite patriotic songs at all madrasas as is done at other educational institutions".

He further said that MRM has requested its workers to organise such functions throughout the country.

National convenor of the MRM was quoted by the Indian Express as saying, "The flag hoisting will be followed by the Insaniyat Jagao (awaken humanity) programme at nearly 1200 places. During that we will recite Ayat-e-Karima (verses of the Holy Quran) for peace, harmony and development, and for elimination of terrorism from the country and good relationship with neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh".

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Tuesday, January 26, 2016, 9:13 [IST]
Badal's condition stable, recovery absolute satisfactory: Doctor

India

oi-PTI

Chandigarh, Jan 25: The condition of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is admitted to PGIMER here following complaints of chest congestion and fever, is stable and doctors attending to him have expressed "absolute satisfaction" over his pace of recovery.

A team of doctors attending on Badal has expressed "absolute satisfaction" over the pace of recovery from chest infection, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said here this evening. According to the spokesperson, the Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Dr D Behra after thorough examination of the Chief Minister this evening, said that Badal was satisfactorily getting better day by day as his all medical reports were fine and he was showing signs of "remarkable recovery."

He, however, said that Dr Behra had said the Chief Minister would be kept under observation in the hospital till his infection was completely cleared. Earlier, an spokesperson of PGIMER had said that Badal's condition was stable.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Chandigarh, had enquired about Badal's health at PGIMER. Three days back, Badal was admitted to a local hospital in Nawanshahar after he had complained of chest congestion.

The 88-year-old five-time Punjab CM had suffered from chest spasm after he had just concluded the Sangat Darshan at village Behloor Kalan in Nawanshar on Friday. After being discharged from the private hospital at Nawanshahr, Badal was admitted to PGIMER here.

The Chief Minister's engagements for the time being had been cancelled. As per the doctors' advise, the Chief Minister has also cancelled his pre-scheduled visit to Amritsar on January 26, 2016, where he was to unfurl the National Flag and participate in the Republic Day celebrations, as he was indisposed.

PTI
'This may give sleepless nights to some': Eknath Shinde on sharing dais with Sharad Pawar

Bollywood expresses patriotism on Republic Day

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Jan 26: On the occasion of 67th Republic Day today, Bollywood stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Akshay Kumar among other expressed their affection and patriotism for the country.

The stars took to Twitter to wish their fans on the occasion. Bachchan tweeted, "Happy Republic Day.. 2016 !! January 26."

"Namaskar. Wish you all a very Happy Republic Day," wrote melody queen Mangeshkar along with the link of Vande Mataram sung by her. Actress Priyanka Chopra, who is one of the Padma Shri honourees expressed her gratitude towards the country and wished women police force on the occasion.

"Proud to be Indian & so thankful for everything this wonderful nation has given me!Happy Republic Day," she wrote.

The 33-year-old will be seen playing a woman cop in her upcoming film "Jai Gangaajal". Padma Bhushan winner of 2016, Kher tweeted, "On this auspicious occasion of Republic Day I wish all the Indians. Jai Hind." Actor Akshay Kumar, whose Republic Day release, "Airlift" is garnering great reviews wrote, "Just holding this flag swells up ur chest in pride. She did what no other country did for its people #HappyRepublicDay".

Actress Juhi Chawla urged her fans to be a "good citizen" of the country. "It's important to do well .. But it's more important to do good !! Be a great and good citizen of this country .. Happy Republic day ..!!" "A very happy Republic Day to all," tweeted "NH10" star Anushka Sharma. Arjun Rampal, who is currently busy shooting for "Rock On 2" pledged to make India the best.

"Happy Republic day everyone. Let's work to make INDIA the greatest. Do your best. Jai Hind". "Happy Republic day, Jai Hind. Vande Mataram," wrote filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar. Riteish Deshmukh tweeted, "Wish you all a very Happy Republic Day. 26/01/2016."

PTI
Hoax it: The new mantra of terrorists

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Jan 26: Hoax it if you cannot strike. This appears to be a new motto of terrorist groups in a bid to spread panic and confusion. Moreover they are ably aided by a section of the media covering such events who always put 2 and 2 to ensure that the sum total is 5.

In a lighter vein an intelligence bureau official had said, " we issue an alert, the media and police then go berserk and in the bargain ensure that the public panics beyond imagination.

However the point is that terrorist groups are relying heavily on making hoax threats and this seems to be the order of the day. For a terrorist group creating panic in the minds of the public is considered to be a victory. The ISIS in particular is a master at this game and it is clear that 20 per cent of what they claim does not take place in reality.

Pathankot terror attack: Here are the proofs which nail Pakistan

Hoax it if you can't strike:

Intelligence Bureau officials say that in the recent past and especially after the emergence of the ISIS, the propaganda battle has become bigger. There have been several hoax calls made in the past which has sent the security mechanism in India into a tizzy. For the cops it is a difficult situation. In most cases the cops do know that it is a hoax, but cannot ignore it too.

Recently in Bengaluru there were two incidents. While one was a letter written to the French consulate threatening terror attacks another involved a bag being placed in a busy area. Both turned out to be hoaxes, but whoever did it managed to spread panic among the public.

Terrorist groups have largely relied on propaganda material to further their cause. While one part of the agenda does involve destruction and killing through strikes, the other involves just creating panic. The ISIS is known to rely largely on a propaganda battle. 80 per cent of the beheading videos are staged in a studio.

The fact however is that they are so slick in their production that it does manage to create a great deal of panic among some. It also impresses others who end up getting recruited into the terrorist group.

Killing people for the cameras:

Aki Peritz had a unique job in Iraq. One of his duties was to view beheading videos and track al-Qaeda in Iraq's media output for the CIA. Aki Peritz co-author of the book "Find, Fix, Finish: Inside the Counterterrorism Campaigns that Killed bin Laden and Devastated Al Qaeda," is also a former CIA counterterrorism analyst.

He says, " I have watched dozens of these gory videos, and they used to be crude, amateurish efforts. But AQ's media operatives were quick learners and soon upgraded their product to the slick, multimedia productions commonplace today. They clearly killed these people for the cameras. Terrorists enjoy murdering people.

Despite the justifications for killing that often accompanied these videos, the murderers seemed to really have a good time putting people to the knife. Watch enough of these productions, and you'll generally notice the terrorist participants - the executioners and the others in the shot - seem very much at ease with what they are about to do.

They take to their jobs with gusto. Even the chants of "God is great" that accompany each murder are happy, full-throated ones. And they sometimes go well beyond execution and into mutilation.To my knowledge, few of these killers expressed remorse for their actions when they were caught.

Those true believers felt that what they were doing was completely acceptable - even essential - to advance their warped cause. And many are now free men again: After ISIS staged a largebreakout from Abu Ghraib prison in 2013, some 500 individuals at all levels of the terrorist organization found themselves back on the streets.

ISIS's delight in its gruesome exploits indicates the way its leaders would run their self-declared "caliphate" across a broad swath of Iraq and Syria. The ISIS uses a multi-layered strategy to gaining publicity- both on the Internet as well as in traditional media outlets. They reach different audiences.

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Story first published: Tuesday, January 26, 2016, 10:59 [IST]
International news brief: Confident of Pak's commitment, ability to secure its nuclear assets, says US & more

How many more times will TTP chief Fazlullah die?

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Jan 26: Mullah Fazlullah alias Radio Mullah, chief of the dreaded Tehrik-e-Taliban has died according to reports emerging from the Pakistan media. Since 2010, this is the third time that the death of Fazlullah the mastermind of the Peshawar school attack has emerged.

Pakistan court declares TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah proclaimed offender

This time around the Pakistan media had stated that Fazlullah had been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.

There is however no official confirmation of the same and the Tehrik-e-Taliban too has not made any official statement on the same. If he is dead this time, then it brings about a relief for security agencies as he is a deadly operative capable of big attacks.

The Pajhwok Afghan News agency on its Twitter feed stated that Afghan officials had confirmed the killing of Taliban commander Qari Hedayatullah in a drone attack but there were "no reports" of the killing of Fazlullah.

Dead again?

News regarding the death of Fazlullah have not emerged for the first time. In the year 2010, similar news had broken out regarding the death of Fazlullah. It was said that year that he was killed along with six of his accomplices in the Barg Matal district of Afghanistans Nuristan province, which lies close to the border with Pakistan.

This had even been confirmed Mohammad Zaman Mamozai, chief of the Afghan border force for the eastern region.

The second time news of his death was reported was on December 20 2014. It was stated that the jets of the Pakistan Air Force had taken Fazlullah down in Afghanistan. However this news too turned out to be untrue. While the news floated on the media, there was no confirmation from the Pakistan military or air force.

There appears to be a pattern relating to the news of Fazlullah's death. Either the target has been genuinely missed or the TTP itself puts out such news to avoid heat on their leader. For the TTP the existence of Fazlullah is very important as he has by and large managed to keep the outfit united and made it deadlier than before.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Tuesday, January 26, 2016, 11:11 [IST]
Why an RTI on Subhas Chandra Bose may not be entertained

26,000 man hours went into making Netajis statue which will be unveiled by PM Modi

Netaji's daughter wants DNA test of ashes in Renkoji temple

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 26: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's daughter Dr Anita Bose Pfaff wants a DNA test to be conducted to establish whether the ashes kept in a Japanese temple are her father's, but believes that the 1945 aircrash in Taipei was the "most likely cause" of his death.

"I believe that the plane crash is the most likely cause of his death," Pfaff said when asked whether she believes in the theory that her father died in an air crash near the Taihoku aerodrome in Taipei on August 18, 1945.

However, she said she wants a DNA test of the ashes kept in an urn at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo to ascertain whether the remains belong to the freedom fighter.

"A DNA test could provide proof, provided that the bones are not too badly charred for extracting DNA," Pfaff, the only child of Subhash Bose and Emilie Schenkl, said in an interview from her home in Stadtbergen, Germany.

Bose family sources said the 73-year old German economist, who is likely to visit India next month, may urge the government here to talk to Japan for conducting DNA test of the remains kept in the Renkoji temple in Tokyo.

On whether the recently declassified documents sufficiently proved Netaji's death in the aircrash, Pfaff said "while I have only looked at a few files, I get the impression that a death certificate is not contained."

Asked about her opinion that Bose was not treated with as much respect as were leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Pfaff said: "That certainly seems to be the case for the official treatment.

"But the general public, the so-called man in the street, however, seem to have kept his memory alive in a very touching way. It was a shame how the Indian government treated the INA veterans for decades."

To a question about Nehru's approach towards Bose, she merely said, "Since their relationship lasted over many years, it was multi-faceted, I imagine. In many aspects they held similar views, in others their views differed."

PTI
Bengaluru: The ruling Congress party seems to have finally ended the confusion over the prized Hebbal Assembly seat with wealthy party MLC Byrathi Suresh, the choice of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and many other senior leaders, getting the nod from the Congress high command. The last day for filing nominations is Wednesday.

Mr Siddaramaiah had backed his millionaire friend, Byrathi Suresh, though a section of Congressmen had preferred loyalists like H.M. Revanna or Naseer Ahmed rather than an outsider for Hebbal. Veteran Congress leader Jaffer Sharief had tried his best to push the prospects of his grandson, Abdul Rehman Sharief.

The Chief Ministers preference is crucial as the high command usually goes by his choice in states where the party is in power while it favours the Pradesh Congress Committee presidents nominee wherever it is not in government.

The party has reportedly finalised Rajashekar Naik for Devadurga and Rahim Khan for Bidar.

AICC president Sonia Gandhi is yet to sign the final order, so the official communication has not been issued, party sources in New Delhi said.

Dr G Parameshwar warns Rizwan, Sharief

Taking serious note of the tussle between Youth Congress president Rizwan Arshad and former railway minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief over the Hebbal seat, KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar cautioned both of them not to air their opinions in the media. Speaking to reporters, he said, I am pained to read such reports. It is not a good tendency to air views publicly. The decision on Hebbal will be made by central leaders, not us. Whatever may be the decision, it will have to be honoured.

BJP to field Narayanaswamy?

The BJP which had won the Hebbal seat in the 2013 Assembly polls, is likely to field sitting MLC, Y.A. Narayanaswamy in the bypolls necessitated by the death of its MLA, Jagadish Kumar. A formal announcement is expected anytime, party sources said.

The party is likely to field Shivanagouda Naik, a relative of Congress MLA late Venkatesh Naik, from Devadurga constituency. For Bidar the party may select either Suryakanth Nagmarpalli, son of late MLA Gurupadappa Nagmarpalli, or Prakash Khandre. Hebbal has a high population of Vokkaligas who might back a party candidate from their community, sources in the BJP said while explaining the rationale behind choosing Narayanaswamy. The party zeroed in on Mr Narayanaswamy after local strongman Katta Subramanya Naidu refused to contest. It was Mr Naidu who won this seat in 2008 while his loyalist, Jagadish Kumar bagged it in 2013. Besides the caste factor, Mr Narayanaswamy has reportedly developed a big team of workers in the constituency over the years.

In Devadurga, represented by late Venkatesh Naik who died in a rail accident, his relatives dominate. So, the BJP has decided to field Mr Shivanagouda Naik who was a minister in Yeddyurappa cabinet.

The tussle is in Bidar between Suryakanth Nagmarpalli and Prakash Khandre. Mr Nagmarpalli is reportedly trying for Congress ticket while retaining the option of securing BJP ticket if Congress refuses him ticket. BJP sources said After we came to know that he is trying for Congress ticket, we are considering fielding Mr Khandre. We will take a decision by Wednesday afternoon, sources said.
R-Day: IAF honour for two braveheart helicopter pilots

India

oi-Oneindia

By OneIndia Defence Bureau

Bengaluru, Jan 26: Two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter pilots have been awarded the prestigious Vayu Sena Medal, Gallantry, as India celebrates 67th Republic Day.

The recipients, Wing Commander Nirmal Kumar Bakshi and Wing Commander Rajiv Dobhal, are Mi-17 V5 helicopter pilots.

According to IAF Spokesperson, Wg Cdr Bakshi was chosen for the award for the courageous missions while undertaking relief operations in Nepal, which was severely hit by an earthquake last year.

"The Nepalese officials rushed to Wg Cdr Bakshi after on May 12 after a second earthquake hit with information of different locations where grievously injured causalities were reported. Bakshi got airborne immediately, followed up with a precise plan in air, addressing the criticality and reached the respective areas," says an IAF Spokesperson.

Wg Cdr Bakshi is commanding a frontline Mi-17 V5 unit January 27, 2015.

IAF says undeterred by the setting sun and low visibility conditions, Wg Cdr Bakshi courageously pressed on with the rescue and skillfully brought down the helicopter amongst obstructions. He maintained the helicopter rock steady and light on wheels to avoid a possible land slide.

The evacuation spots provided little or no margin for error that called for courage and professionalism of the highest order. Displaying both, Wg Cdr Bakshi evacuated nine serious casualties, including four children from different locations in the shortest possible time.

IAF says the mission was well appreciated and boosted the morale of the rescue teams to a new high. Apart from this courageous mission, he flew 55 hours in 78 sorties in the region.

Spanish rescue team evacuated under hostile conditions

Wing Commander Rajiv Dobhal, who is commanding a front line Mi-17 V5 Unit since May 12, 20914, was tasked to participate in Operation Maitri in Nepal last year. He got airborne and positioned at Gorakhpur in difficult weather conditions and proceeded to Kathmandu.

According to IAF, Wg Cdr Dobhal flew 176 sorties, undertaking several demanding missions and rescuing numerous survivors. "The most noteworthy was the rescue of 95 stranded Indian mountaineers from Lukla - one of the most dangerous airfields in the world," says IAF.

Later, Wg Cdr Dobhal was tasked with the evacuation of a Spanish rescue team from Langthang village at an altitude of 12,5000 feet on May 5. On landing at Langthang, he found that the rescue team had moved away and the situation started becoming critical due to onset of a hailstorm and deteriorating light conditions.

IAF says after thoroughly assessing the risk involved, the pilot decided to search for the team.

"With the weather close at heels, he flew along the valley bottom and finally spotted the team 10 km away. Displaying utmost professionalism, he skillfully maneuvered his helicopter to land on a restricted field and rescued the Spanish team," says IAF.

As the helicopter exited the valley, the entire area was engulfed by hailstorm.

OneIndia News
'This may give sleepless nights to some': Eknath Shinde on sharing dais with Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar amused by rumours of his 'death'

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Pune, Jan 26: Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar, presently in hospital for a medical routine, was mighty amused about rumours of his "death" doing the rounds on social media networks here on Tuesday, Jan 26.

So persistent were the gossip and grapevine that the NCP released a brief video clip of the party supremo seated on a bed in Ruby Hospital, sporting a blue patient gown and chatting away with his daughter Supriya Sule, family members, party workers and media persons.

Appearing hale and hearty, Pawar, 76, was seen laughing and enjoying the "death" rumours about him over the past two days, with some even speculating that it was being kept a "secret" on account of Republic Day celebrations and the sad news would be revealed on Wednesday.

Pawar countered this by relating some famous incidents from the past when prominent personalities were reported "dead" but not only were they alive, but lived for many more years - including the "death" announcement of Loknayak Jayprakash Narain made prematurely by then prime minister Morarji Desai in parliament.

"Such rumours actually increase the life-span of the person concerned," Supriya, member of parliament, was seen saying in a lighter vein in the video uploaded by NCP executive president Jitendra Awhad.

Pawar was admitted to the Ruby Hospital late Sunday after he complained of breathlessness and fatigue. He then underwent a series of medical tests.

Several top party leaders including Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Nawab Malik and others, besides attending medicos, took pains to dispel all the "wild rumours" about Pawar and asserted that he was "extremely fit, fine and would be discharged in a day or so".

Pawar, a three-time former chief minister of Maharashtra and union minister in the governments of then prime ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh, is reportedly a contender for the post of president of India, for which elections are due mid-2017.

IANS
Suspected Bangladeshi held for taking snaps of Def facility

India

oi-PTI

Kolkata, Jan 26: A person with a Bangladeshi passport has been arrested from the city for taking snaps of a Defence medical facility, the police today said.

Mohammed Noor Islam, who was working as a wage labourer at the Command Hospital within the Alipore Police Station limits for the last one week, was detained by Command Hospital authorities after he started taking snaps of the medical facility using his mobile phone while coming out after finishing his work last night around 10 PM, they said.

Personnel from Alipore Police Station were called and Islam was arrested after his reasons for taking the photos of the Hospital were found "unsatisfactory", an officer of Alipore Police Station said.

Noor's mobile has been seized and sent for forensic test and Kolkata Police Special Task Force (STF) has started a probe into the matter.

"We are looking to the fact that whether he has got any links with any terror group. We are also asking him why he was taking photos of the hospital," an officer of the STF said.

PTI
Worsening the Bodo quagmire in Assam

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

By declaring scheduled tribe (ST) status for Bodos living in the twin hill districts of Assam, the central government has again moved in a wrong direction as the basic motive seems to be ensuring their support for the BJP in the coming Assam elections.

The central government now runs the risk of being misunderstood in a highly strategic belt as the demand is quite an old one and may have been conceded half-heartedly on the eve of the polls.

The Bodos are the largest plains' tribe of Assam. They are scattered over a wide area and merely granting them ST status means very little as it fails to touch the core problems of the community.

According to the BJP's calculations, the Bodo People's Front (BPF), its new-found ally, can become a deciding factor in 12 of the 126 assembly seats and can easily influence the results in 50 other seats. With the Congress showing all signs of a terrible soft underbelly, Bodo support might turn out to be vital for the BJP.

But the move is fraught with danger and is certain to stoke the Bodos' fissiparous tendencies. Way back in 1927, they had submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission through the Kachhari Yuva Sammelan demanding an independent identity and the raising of a Kachhari regiment.

In independent India, the central government took the first erroneous step in 1993 when the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) was established in the wake of years of violent agitations by the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU).

But the BAC was given no power over law and order, security and financial matters. As a result, the ABSU lost control over the situation and the agitation passed over to a militant organization named the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT).

The arson and mayhem continued till 2003 when the central and Assam governments and the BLT signed another agreement creating a Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) which would be governed by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). Out of the BLT was born the Bodoland People's Front which has been ruling the BTC for a long time.

The attitude of successive central governments towards the problems in the northeast has never been different from the one which the Narendra Modi-led government has displayed this time over the Bodo problem. This remained so in regard to the BTC also.

The practice of autonomy and self-rule on the basis of ethnicity came under serious question when the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Sangbijit) faction massacred innocent adivasis on two previous occasions in spite of the BPF ruling the BTC.

But the irony remains in the fact that neither are the Bodos numerically superior in the BTAD and neither is I.K. Sangbijit, once the leader of the most powerful Bodo outfit, an ethnic Bodo. He is a Karbi. It is not clear whether he still runs a faction of the NDFB. Yet his writ now runs over large swaths of the BTAD.

Trying to be smart with tribal sentiments in the northeast is a dangerous game and the cenral government must put a stop to infiltration from Bangladesh which is at the root of the Bodo problem.

The BTAD, comprising the districts of Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baska and Chirang, has only around 30 percent of the Bodo population and the rest 70 percent comprises adivasis and other non-tribal communities. So, the natural fallout has been repeated violent attacks by the NDFB, the secessionist group among the Bodos, for ethnic cleansing.

Since 1993, this has become a common pattern and the long rule of the BTC by the Indian mainstream-friendly BPF has been unable to prevent this. As the BPF's hold on the Bodo people has become tenuous and as the hardliners enjoy more credibility, the BJP's alliance with the BPF may earn it a few more assembly seats but may not help iron out the Bodo alienation.

Never before have men in New Delhi shown maturity in dealing with the Bodo problem. For more than a decade, the BPF enjoyed a cozy relationship with the Assam Congress and its sudden volte face in favour of the BJP is likely to further erode its credibility.

Secondly, the Bodo militancy has expanded from its traditional bases in Kokrajhar and Udalguri and now encompasses the militarily strategic districts of Darrang and Sonitpur. There is no proof in the public domain that the central government is worried about this.

Thirdly, by unwisely conceding the frequent use of the term Bodoland in several agreements and administrative arrangements, the centre has stoked a fire of hope among the Bodo leaders that the idea of Bodoland, independent or a state within India, is on its way to fruition.

As a result of the last-mentioned factor, ethnic cleansing of Muslims and adivasis is under way in Bodo strongholds. There are indications that the migration of Muslims is taking place in areas like Kokrajhar and Udalguri. But the Santhals, the largest tea tribe of Assam, have geared themselves up to hit back. To this end, they have organized military wings like the Birsa Commando Force and the Sammilita Janagoshthiya Sangram Samity.

Has the Narendra Modi-led NDA government paid attention to all these factors?

IANS
Bombs kill 22 at army checkpoint in Syria's Homs: state TV

International

oi-PTI

Damascus, Jan 26: At least 22 people were killed in a double suicide bomb attack at an army checkpoint in the central Syrian city of Homs today, state media said.

In a breaking news alert, state television said 100 people had also been injured in the blasts in the Al-Zahraa neighbourhood of the city, which has been targeted in bomb attacks multiple times before.

The provincial governor of Homs, Talal Barazi, said at least 19 people had been killed in the attacks. He said the two bombers appeared to have pulled up at the army checkpoint in a car together, with one exiting the vehicle before the other detonated his explosives while still inside.

In the chaos of the first blast's aftermath, and as a crowd gathered, the second bomber detonated his explosives, Barazi said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, also reported the blasts, saying at least 21 people had been killed, among them 13 regime forces.

The group's director Rami Abdel Rahman said the second suicide bomber had been wearing military clothes.

The Al-Zahraa district of Homs has been targeted in multiple bomb attacks in the past, including in late December, when 19 people were killed in several simultaneous blasts.

The residents of Al-Zahraa are mostly Alawites, the minority sect of Syria's ruling clan, and the Islamic State group has in the past claimed attacks on the district. Homs city was once dubbed the "capital" of Syria's uprising, which began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

But after years of devastating fighting and government sieges, most of the city is now back in regime hands, with the exception of the Waer district, which is being gradually turned over to the government under a deal with opposition fighters.

IANS
A great tragedy say activists after 200 bodies are recovered from roof of Pakistan hospital

International news brief: Confident of Pak's commitment, ability to secure its nuclear assets, says US & more

From 'dangerous' to 'secure and confident': US makes a u-turn after Biden's comment on Pak

The persecution of Hindus in Pakistan continues with a Hindu girl forcibly converted and married

Pak planning crackdown on pornographic websites

International

oi-PTI

Islamabad, Jan 26: Pakistan has ordered internet service providers to block access to more than 400,000 adult websites as part of a major crackdown on online pornography.

The directive was issued yesterday by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), days after ban on the YouTube was lifted nearly after three years for carrying a blasphemous movie.

Access to sites featuring smut and pornographic material will be restricted at the domain level, The Express Tribune reported.

Interview: 'Ban on pornographic websites is not a reachable target'

The move apparently follows a recent order by the Supreme Court wherein the telecom sector's regulatory body had been asked to "take remedial steps to quantify the nefarious phenomenon of obscenity and pornography that has an imminent role to corrupt and vitiate the youth of Pakistan".

PTA said it has decided to take pre-emptive measures to block such websites at the domain level to control dissemination of pornographic content through the internet as it provided ISPs with a list of 429,343 domains to be blocked on their respective networks.

The list provided by PTA was extensive and that they would face challenges, especially of time, while trying to block content, the report said.

Officials said that blocking websites at the domain level was a gigantic and costly exercise, since it would require changes in their systems and special equipment to block such a large number of websites  not to mention a significant amount of man hours needed for this purpose.

However, they said that they had started work on the order since they were bound to abide by the law.

PTI
Conversions, abuse, sexual crimes: Will Pope apologise for these when he visits India too?

Pope Francis asks Iran to act for peace in Middle East

International

oi-PTI

Vatican City, Jan 26: Pope Francis on Tuesday asked Iran to back peace efforts in the Middle East as the Islamic Republic's emergence from international isolation took a significant step forward with President Hassan Rouhani's first visit to the Vatican.

Fresh from securing the lifting of international sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear programme, Rouhani spent 40 minutes at the Vatican talking privately to Pope Francis, a strong backer of the deal with Tehran.

In a statement afterwards, the Vatican said Francis had urged the Iranian leader to use Iran's important role to promote, together with other countries, "adequate political solutions" to the problems afflicting the region and to help combat terrorism and arms trafficking.

"I thank you for your visit and I hope for peace," Francis told his guest at the end of their meeting, when journalists were briefly allowed to listen in.

A smiling Rouhani, who presented the pope with a hand-made carpet from the ancient city of Qom, replied with one of Francis's catchphrases.

"I ask you to pray for me," he said. "It was a pleasure to meet you and I wish you well in your work."

In return for his gift, Rouhani was given a medal depicting St Martin cutting his cloak in half to give to a poorly clothed beggar. The Iranian leader also went away with English and Arabic versions of Francis's extended essay on the environmental challenges faced by the world.

"Laudato Si" (Praise Be) has not been translated into Farsi. It was the first official visit to the Vatican by an Iranian president since Mohammad Khatami was hosted by John Paul II in 1999.

Khatami also attended the Polish pope's funeral in 2005. Rouhani is on a five-day trip to Italy and France looking to drum up trade and investment to modernise Iran's economy, partly by pitching the country as a beacon of stability in a conflict-wracked region.

Speaking to an audience of Italian and Iranian business leaders earlier in the day, Rouhani also portrayed Iran as the ideal base for companies seeking a foothold in a region of 300 million people, reassuring would-be investors their contracts would be honoured.

Iran is seeking international investment to help complete a port which will provide a gateway for Indian companies seeking to do business in Afghanistan and Central Asia, as well as in Iran.

AFP
by  Graham Pierrepoint



While recent news has suggested that Apples forthcoming handset later this year, the iPhone 7, will differ greatly from previous versions that have dominated a number of smartphone markets worldwide over a decade, there have been reports made this week that Apple could declare their first losses on their flagship cellphone for the very first time  and that this has been telling from certain movements made by the corporations Asian suppliers.

According to the Daily Mail, Apples Asian assemblers, Foxconn, appear to be expecting a drop in interest over this quarter, which has led to an unprecedented slash in working hours for staff at the firm  a trend which has also carried through to a number of suppliers elsewhere operating on behalf of Apple. Both chip and lensmakers working on behalf of the corporation are reporting a significant drop in sales early this year, which will likely mean that interest  for the first time  has plunged in terms of iPhone take-up. This may come as a large blow for the firm, who are currently balancing consultation on virtual reality with preparations for the hotly rumored iPhone 7, said to be making its way to a public presentation later this year.

Industry experts state that customers have expected each iPhone to change significantly in each release  and yet, it has been discussed that the most recent release of smartphone has seen only minor alterations over previous models. This, it is presumed, may be what has led to the sheer drop in interest that Apples Asian suppliers and manufacturers are starting to report. A cut in working hours for some staff, as stated, has never occurred in the ten years that the phone has been rolling off the assembly line  which means that Apple will likely be concerned with making leaps and bounds in their next release to once ahead stretch ahead of their competitors.

The iPhone 7 has been open to wide speculation over the past few months, with recent news stating that the model could see the removal of the headphone jack entirely, in order to create a sleeker, slimmer model  it is not yet clear quite how well this will go down with the public, however, it is a safe bet that Apple will be looking to pull out as many stops as possible to ensure that the public continue to love their products  at least, love them more than their nearest rivals!
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Mumbai: Filmmaker S S Rajamouli will receive the Padma Shri award, Indias fourth-highest civilian award. While everyone congratulating Baahubali director, Rajamouli says that he doesnt deserve the award as he hasnt created any artistic brilliance.

In a series of tweets, the filmmaker thanked the government for the prestigious homour. The director also congratulated superstar Rajinikant and Ramoji Rao, who are also on the list of the Pamda Awards. Rajinikant and Ramoji Rao will receive Padma Vibhushan.

With Baahubalis record shattering success, Rajamouli rose to fame. The filmmaker is currently busy with the films second part.

I dont know what to say. It is quite a mixed feeling. Very frankly i don't feel I deserve the honour. This is not humility.  rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) January 25, 2016

I am quite aware of my achievements. But i haven't created any artistic brilliance that deseves this honour.  rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) January 25, 2016

Awarding Ramoji rao garu and Rajanikanth garu with Padma Vibhushan is so apt. Their work created a lasting impression that will reflect  rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) January 25, 2016

even on generations to come. It makes me even more humbled to share the occasion with such stalwarts.  rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) January 25, 2016
A senior Fiji Police expert is now in Vanuatu to assist law enforcers as part of Fiji's South-South triangular Pacific co-operation.Dr James Kalougivaki, who heads the Fiji Police Force's Forensic Pathology Unit, not only has experience in forensic pathology, but has worked and trained under forensic experts from Australia on Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) and Medico-legal Death Investigation.He will share his expertise in the area of anatomical and forensic pathology with Vanuatu police.Director International Affairs Superintendent of Police Ulaiasi Ravula said the request to send Dr Kalougivaki was not only an outcome of continuing co-operation between the Melanesian Spearhead Group of countries and bilateral partners Australia. It is consistent with provisions for sharing or resources and expertise through the wider Pacific Islands Chief of Police (PICP) network.The Commissioner of Police is keen to further strengthen this co-operation and exchanges within Pacific region partners.The inter-Pacific relationships and assistance being supplied between countries continues to be strengthened and Fiji is grateful to Australia's support, SP Ravula said.Pacnews
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: One way to bring international money to China is for the country to adopt international regulatory standards, said Kenny Li, CEO of Sino-Foreign joint venture firm Quattro Quant, during the latest Opalesque China Roundtable. Li told delegates that there are already rumors that the Asset Management Association of China's (AMAC) registration in China will be on par with Hong Kongs Securities and Futures Commission registration in a few years. He said, "I see the Hong Kong regulator already putting in efforts to encourage cross-border amalgamation of all of the regulators. Its more like a 'one world regulation kind of idea. I think in the case of Hong Kong, the US, UK, and Japan, any bad practice can be caught because the regulators are connected. It will be at least several years before China's regulations catch up. This is the major barrier for international money investment in Chinese private securities funds." Currently, QFII and cross-connect are the only available channels for foreign funds to invest in Chinese stocks and bonds. However, Li said that with a further opening of China's economy to foreign investors in the future, there will also be strong demand for local, experienced managers with expertise in the CSI 500, ChiNext and even the New Third Board. Li observed that sub-advising is becoming a more popular way to leverage the exp...................... To view our full article Click here
New Managers

SCOTSTONE COLUMN: A lamentation of swans

Ian Hamilton

This column is authored by Ian Hamilton, who is the founder of IDS Group. IDS provides fund administration services in Africa and Europe through Malta. He is also the founder of Scotstone Investments, a company that has fund structures and services for global emerging new managers.

A "lamentation" of swans is one of the more obscure collective nouns but something useful to consider when investment markets are faced with a number of different "swan" issues.

We all know the black swan theory, or theory of black swan events,is a metaphor that describes an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect, and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the benefit of hindsight.The theory was developed by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

At the start of this year (interestingly on the seventh day of Christmas when one's true love was to send you seven swans aa-swimming!), I was in discussion with an industry colleague and askedhim as to how his firm was prepared for "Swan "events.His answer was typical, that "black swan events" are not predictable.

I disagree. One needs to plan scenarios, think the unthinkable, identify the possible surprises and turn them into "grey swans" or even "white swans". A good knowledge of history is also useful; here I refer to general history and not just financial history.

White swans

These are events where the effect of these events is in the realm of common knowledge. Risk management factors them in and mitigates against them.

For example, the risk of an unforeseen error in the business, which can have large financial consequences. In mitigating against this unforeseen error, the firm can take out insurance ......................

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New Managers

PROFILES: Galini Capital Advisors, Mill Hill Capital

Former FourWinds head to launch precious metals hedge fund Jean-Sebastien Debusscher

L&J Capital Management is launching a new fund, the Galini Market Neutral Fund, on February 1st. The fund will be advised by Galini Capital Advisors (GCA), a new investment boutique specialized in physical precious metal trading, with offices in Belgium and Colombia. L&J Capital Management is the fund's ManCo in the Caymans.

GCA was co-founded last year by Jean-Sebastien Debusschere, the CEO, who previously worked at Paribas, Deutsche Bank and Dexia in their asset management units. In 2005, he founded FourWinds Capital Management, a $1.5 billion hedge fund and private equity group specializing in commodities and natural resources, and served as CIO there until 2013.

"I founded FourWinds in Geneva," Debusschere told Opalesque. "We then opened our main office in 2007 in Boston. At that time, we managed a commodity fund of hedge funds, the Zephyr Commodity Fund, which assets climbed to $600 million. In 2007, we launched the Phaunos Timber Fund, a closed-ended fund listed on the LSE, with over $500 million. The fund invested in timber properties all around the world. We then launched the Aqua Resources Fund, a LSE-listed private equity fund, focused on water and waste private investments. We also launched the Ceres Agriculture Fund, a fund invested in agricultural futures and options focused traders."

In 2013, he sold his shares in the group to pursue other interests. He founded DASEIN, a consulting firm specialized in restructuring financial and commodity-related businesses that same year and ran it till September 2015.

"In 2015, I was able to move the proprietary trading business of EMEKO NV, a Belgian precious metal refinery group, into an asset management format, and the Gali......................

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Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"In Bottom-Up, Rob Kall offers important insights on why our society is in such disarray and what we must do to change it. He demonstrates how "top down" thinking is what has produced our current mess, and how bottom up thinking is much more efficient for solving problems and producing change. Rob shows how lasting change must come from the people themselves and not from the leaders. This was as true in the days of the Magna Carta as it was for the Bill of Rights as it was for the Union movement that first gave workers' rights and protection in this country, as it is today. Indigenous elders have told me, "if you want to change the world, start talking and keep talking." Rob is doing this with this book and with his OpEdNews, and he is making a difference. I recommend this book to all who wish to see lasting, human-friendly, compassionate change that will sustain humanity is this crazy world of today."



Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, author of the Coyote trilogy that discusses healing practices from Lakota, Cherokee, and Cree traditions and how they intersect with conventional medicine
Hillary Clinton has a stronger, more detailed plan to regulate Wall Street than does Bernie Sanders, says the Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman. But, adds journalist Ezra Klein, many are skeptical that she will do what she says.

"She has spoken out of both sides of her mouth on a number of issues," agrees public banking campaigner Ellen Brown. "So it doesn't seem like we can trust her."

Between savants and skeptics, policy wonks and the politically wary, how can ordinary voters decide for themselves? It isn't easy.

"Mr. Sanders has been focused on restoring Glass-Steagall, the rule that separated deposit-taking banks from riskier wheeling and dealing. And repealing Glass-Steagall was indeed a mistake," Krugman wrote. "But it's not what caused the financial crisis, which arose instead from 'shadow banks' like Lehman Brothers, which don't take deposits but can nonetheless wreak havoc when they fail. Mrs. Clinton has laid out a plan to rein in shadow banks; so far, Mr. Sanders hasn't."

Krugman also finds that Wall Street prefers any Republican over either of the Democrats. Yet Wall Streeters are giving Hillary significant contributions, and their financial media does not view her as a major threat to their interests.

"As long as Hillary Clinton is in charge, they know that the Clintons historically have been enormously helpful to the banking industry," explains former federal regulator William K. Black. "And in return the banking industry -- not simply the banking industry, others as well -- have made the Clintons very wealthy."

No surprise, Hillary has little to say about her husband's dealings with Wall Street, which will arguably define his place in history. I in no way hold Hillary accountable for the Big Dog's transgressions, and certainly not for his carnal sins, which right-wingers delight in accusing her of enabling. But what does she think of his enabling Wall Street to bring the global economy to a thudding crash? How does she respond to Bill's role in helping Wall Street gain such power and promote such glaring inequality?

Ask her. We need to know, and so far, her silence speaks volumes.

Remember that Bill Clinton ran for president in 1992 as an economic populist on a platform created largely by Robert Reich, who became his Secretary of Labor. But Bill brought in Robert Rubin, co-chair of Goldman Sachs, to serve first as his chief economic advisor and then as Secretary of the Treasury. The soft-spoken Rubin persuaded Clinton to pay off the budget deficit left to him by George H.W. Bush, a move that won Wall Street's blessing and helped fuel the boom-and-bust prosperity of the 1990s. The alternative, as many people now understand, would have been to rebuild our already failing bridges, transportation systems, waterworks, and electrical grids.

Rubin also convinced Clinton to push Wall Street's neo-liberal economics and its Washington Consensus worldwide, while making the North American Free Trade Agreement a top priority, without providing any safety net for American workers whose jobs went abroad.

But, most telling, Rubin and his understudy Larry Summers prevailed on Clinton to restrain financial regulators within the administration from doing their job, regulators like Bill Black and Brooksley Born, chair of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. (See her story at PBS Frontline.)

Clinton then went along with Texas senator Phil Gramm and the Republican-led Congress to massively deregulate financial markets, just as Rubin and his Wall Street friends wanted. Clinton fought for and signed the repeal of most of Glass-Steagall, the New Deal's already porous wall between commercial and investment banking. Even worse, he fought for and signed the Commodities Future Modernization Act, which removed most federal regulation of credit default swaps and other over-the-counter-derivatives, the "financial weapons of mass destruction" that shadow banks like Lehman Brothers misused to bring down the global economy in 2008.

Enabling Wall Street in this way was Bill Clinton's mortal sin, making him an accomplice to the economic crime of the century. He was a well-paid accomplice at that, "earning" some $250 million from going to work for the Wall Street mob after he left the Oval Office. Having shared royally in the pay-off, Hillary has never confronted either the economic crime or Bill's complicity in it. Since she's too smart -- and too experienced -- not to have seen them both, she's telling us that she would be likely to do much the same.

Krugman misses this. The choice in the Democratic primaries, as he sees it, is between Bernie Sanders' whole-loaf idealism, which Krugman calls self-indulgent, and Hillary's half-a-loaf pragmatism, which he prefers. In reality, choosing Hillary comes down to giving the whole loaf to Wall Street while barely leaving crumbs for the rest of us. Except for the self-serving, where's the pragmatism in that?

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
The British government, whose foreign policy is overtly hostile to their Russian counterpart, declared last week that their investigation into the killing of a former Russian intelligence agent in London nearly a decade ago concluded there is a "strong probability" the Russian FSB security agency was responsible for poisoning Alexander Litivenko with plutonium. They further declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin "probably approved" of the act. The British investigation, which was likely politically motivated, seemingly raised more questions than it answered. But American corporate media were quick to use the accusations against Putin to demonize him, casting him as a pariah brazenly flaunting his disregard for international conventions.



The Washington Post (1/23/16) editorial board wrote that "Robert Owen, a retired British judge, has carefully and comprehensively documented what can only be called an assassination. Mr. Owen found that Lugovoi was acting 'under the direction' of the FSB in an operation to kill Mr. Litivenko - one that was 'probably approved' by the director of the FSB and by Mr. Putin."



Actually, Owen did not find that former KGB operative Lugovoi was acting under the direction of the FSB to kill Litivenko. He found there was a "strong probability" this was the case. This means that even in Owens's view, there is not near certainty, which would meet the legal standard of reasonable doubt that would preclude a guilty judgement. There is even more doubt that even if it were the case the FSB ordered the murder, they did so on Putin's orders.



The New York Times editorial board (1/21/16) finds the investigation's results "shocking." For the Times, this confirms a pattern of Putin's rogue behavior. They claim Putin's "deserved reputation as an autocrat willing to flirt with lawlessness in his global ventures has taken on a startling new aspect."





Mr. Putin has built a sordid record on justice and human rights, which naturally reinforces suspicion that he could easily have been involved in the murder. At the very least, the London inquiry, however much it is denied at the Kremlin, should serve as a caution to the Russian leader to repair his reputation for notorious intrigues abroad.

The more hawkish Post says, "This raises a serious question for President Obama and other world leaders whose governments do not traffic in contract murder. Should they continue to meet with Mr. Putin as if he is just another head of state?"



Putin's alleged "sordid record on justice and human rights", which is taken for granted without providing any examples, is seen as bolstering the case for his guilt in the case of the poisoning death of Litivenko. This, in turn, adds to his "notorious" reputation as a violator of human rights.





The Post draws a line between the lawless Putin and the respectable Western heads of state, such as Obama. Though they frame their call to treat Putin as an outcast as a question, it is clearly intended as a rhetorical question.



It is curious that The Post draws a contrast between Putin and Obama, whose government is supposedly above such criminality. The newspaper does not mention the U.S. government's drone assassination program, which as of last year had killed nearly 2,500 people in at least three countries outside of declared military battlefields. Estimates have shown that at least 90 percent of those killed were not intended targets. None of those killed have been charged with any crimes. And at least two - Anwar al-Awlaki and his 16-year-old son Abdul Rahman - were Americans.



Obama himself is personally responsible for those killed by missiles launched from unmanned aircraft over the skies of sovereign countries. Several news reports have indicated that Obama is presented in meetings each week by military and national security officials with a list of potential targets for assassination. Obama must personally approve each target, at which point they are added to the state-sanctioned "kill list."



The British government has also assumed for itself the power to assassinate its own citizens outside a declared battlefield. Last fall, Prime Minister David Cameron ordered the deaths of two British citizens in Syria, who were subsequently disposed of in a lethal drone strike.



The Washington Post editorial board (3/24/12) claimed that Obama was justified in carrying out lethal drone strokes that kill American citizens "to protect the country against attack." Their lone criticism was that "an extra level of review of some sort is warranted."



After it was revealed that an American hostage was inadvertently killed in a drone strike in Pakistan, The Post (5/1/15) said that the issue of whether the American government continues to conduct drone strikes should not be up for debate. "[T]here is little question that drones are the least costly means of eliminating militants whose first aim is to kill Americans," they wrote.



While they tacitly accept the legal rationale for Obama's assassination program, the New York Times editorial board at least demonstrated some skepticism. In "A Thin Rationale for Drone Killings" (6/23/14), they called the memo "a slapdash pastiche of legal theories - some based on obscure interpretations of British and Israeli law - that was clearly tailored to the desired result." They say that "the rationale provides little confidence that the lethal action was taken with real care."



Yet they do not chastise Obama for his "intrigues abroad" nor do they condemn this as an example of his "sordid record on justice and human rights," language they used for Putin. The idea that relying on what are transparently inadequate legal justifications for killing an American citizen without due process would merit prosecution is clearly beyond the limits of discussion for the Times.



Recently Faheem Qureshi, a victim of the first drone strike ordered by Obama in 2009 (three days after his induction as President), who lost multiple family members and his own eye, told The Guardian that Obama's actions in his native lands are "an act of tyranny. If there is a list of tyrants in the world, to me, Obama will be put on that list by his drone program."





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I've spent much of my life chronicling the ongoing tragedies stemming from global warming: the floods and droughts and storms, the failed harvests and forced migrations. But no single item on the list seems any more horrible than the emerging news from South America about the newly prominent Zika disease.

Spread by mosquitoes whose range inexorably expands as the climate warms, Zika causes mild flu-like symptoms. But pregnant women bitten by the wrong mosquito are liable to give birth to babies with shrunken heads. Brazil last year recorded 4,000 cases of this "microcephaly." As of today, authorities in Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, El Salvador and Venezuela were urging women to avoid getting pregnant.

Think about that. Women should avoid the most essential and beautiful of human tasks. It is unthinkable. Or rather, it is something out of a science fiction story, the absolute core of a dystopian future. "It is recommended that women postpone -- to the extent possible -- the decision to become pregnant until the country can move out of the epidemic phase of the Zika virus," the Colombian health authorities said, adding that those living in low altitude areas should move higher if possible, out of the easy range of mosquitoes.

Now think about the women who are already pregnant, and who will spend the next months in a quiet panic about whether their lives will be turned upside down. Try to imagine what that feels like -- the anger, the guilt, the pervasive anxiety at the moment when you most want to be calm and serene.

And now think about the larger, less intimate consequences: this is one more step in the division of the world into relative safe and dangerous zones, an emerging epidemiological apartheid. The CDC has already told those Americans thinking of becoming pregnant to avoid travel to 20 Latin American and Caribbean nations.

Eventually, of course, the disease will reach these shores -- at least 10 Americans have come back from overseas with the infection, and one microcephalic baby has already been born in Hawaii to a mother exposed in Brazil early in her pregnancy. But America is rich enough to avoid the worst of the mess its fossil fuel habits have helped create.

As usual, it's the most poor and most vulnerable who bear the brunt. In Brazil army troops are going door to door draining puddles and flowerpots of stagnant water where mosquitoes might breed; in Jamaica the minister of health said plaintively "I'm going to be very frank, we don't have enough fogging machines to fog every single community in Jamaica" with the pesticides that might help control the outbreak.

And so the residents of the rich world will, inevitably, travel less frequently to the places just beginning to emerge from poverty. The links that speed development will start to wither; even the Olympics, theoretically our showcase of international solidarity, is likely to be a fearful fortnight in Rio this August.

Zika's not the only force tending in that direction, of course. It's hard to imagine who's going to visit Burkina Faso or Mali any time soon, after al-Qaida and Isis have blown up the major western hotels. Expats are starting to desert Beijing and New Delhi because who wants to raise their kids in smog so bad that a facemask is a fashion accessory.


Sarah Leibov

(Image by Brad Leibov) Details DMCA



Awareness Through Movement [ATM]

My guest today is Feldenkrais instructor, Sarah Leibov. Welcome to OpEdNews, Sarah.

JB: I can guarantee that many if not most of our readers have no idea what the Feldenkrais Method is. What can you tell us?

SL: The Feldenkrais Method is named for its founder, Moshe Feldenkrais. Feldenkrais created hundreds of choreographed lessons with the intention of improving human function and self image. In these Awareness Through Movement (ATM) lessons, students explore small, comfortable movements that translate to large changes in mobility. Common benefits of practicing Feldenkrais include increased relaxation, improved posture and flexibility, and pain relief. Combining focused attention and gentle action, this method is ideal for older students or anyone who can appreciate a sense of enhanced ease in everyday activities. I frequently tell people that to really understand Feldenkrais they need to experience it!

JB: So true. Speaking of that, how did you come to be interested in the first place?

SL: It was a happy accident. I attended Tel Aviv University in 1998 and had a student membership at a local gym there. I wanted to attend an exercise class, but couldn't read the class description because it was written in Hebrew. I took a chance and showed up to the class anyway. When I saw people rolling around on the floor, I assumed that they were doing yoga. I joined in, imitating people's movements when I couldn't understand the Hebrew instruction. After a while, I realized that it wasn't yoga, and I didn't care. My lower back felt better, and my digestion improved. I took all the classes I could and some fellow students explained what it was. When I returned to the States, I took ATM classes wherever I could find them. I found a teacher training close to where we live, and visited it periodically to observe before finally committing to the program a few years ago. It wasn't until I joined the training that I learned about the other aspect of the Feldenkrais Method, Functional Integration (FI).

JB: A happy accident that changed the direction of your life! What's the other aspect of Feldenkrais, Sarah? Can you explain it so we laypeople can get it?

SL: Functional Integration (FI) is a one-on-one approach where a Feldenkrais practitioner increases the student's body awareness through touch or gentle motion (similar to what one might learn in an Awareness Through Movement lesson). The goal of these lessons is similar to that of ATM in that the student learns a great deal about his body and its function, but the approach is more personalized. The practitioner interviews the student and observes his motion before deciding what to focus on during the lesson. A lot of people come to Feldenkrais this way. They try FI after finding that other traditional therapies don't work for them.

JB: If FI is what I think it is, that's how I came to Feldenkrais many moons ago. Friends gave me a private lesson as a birthday present back in 2000 and I've been hooked ever since!

SL: I love your story of how you discovered Feldenkrais. The method is a well hidden secret, too well hidden. I'd like to introduce it to as many people as possible and eliminate some of the mystery.

JB: When you and I got together recently, you described Feldenkrais/ATM in a way that really resonated with me. Can you share it with our readers, please?

SL: A goal of Feldenkrais is to develop and thereby improve one's self image. If I found myself alone in a foreign country, I would fare much better with a map. The more detailed the map, the better options I have to travel from place to place. The better developed information on the map, the better informed my decisions will be. Similarly, the Feldenkrais Method helps to create a detailed sensory map of the body. If I am aware of how my body moves, I have more options for ease in my movement. I am better able to determine habitual patterns that hold me back and break free of them. I improve the relationship of myself to my environment, both physically and emotionally.



Sarah at work

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The long-term use of narcotic pain medication, psychoactive drugs and opioid painkillers can prove to be lethal, state experts. The problem faced in India is that while psychiatrists prescribe it for a short-period of time, over the counter abuse leads to long-term use which poses the risk of developing depression and also early onset of dementia.

Early onset of dementia

The overuse of anti-anxiety drugs, painkillers and sleeping tablets for more than nine weeks at a stretch is termed as addiction by doctors. Cancer patients are prescribed medication for at least three weeks, but only under the supervision of an oncologist.

Dr A. Shekar Reddy, consultant psychiatrist at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences explained, Some patients cant cope up with pain and these brain relaxing drugs calms them down. When that happens addiction begins. Due to long-term use, there is shrinkage of brain and early onset of dementia. This abuse is also one of the major reasons neurologists are seeing patients as young as 40 years onwards with early onset of dementia.

The other side-effects seen in patients is liver damage. Experts state that these medicines are given for short durations. Response of the patient is evaluated. If there is not much of a difference then it is again prescribed but only for a short period of time.

Stop hopping from one doc to another

Psychiatrists usually prescribe drugs for controlling a range of conditions  from alcoholism, anxiety and bipolar disorder, to opioid dependence, phobias and other mental illnesses. But patients are often counselled to not give into medicinal abuse. Dr Ramana Cherukuri, consultant psychiatrist and director of Asha Deaddiction Center, explained, While counseling is carried out, there is no strict implementation at the level of distribution of medicines where these drugs are given away freely. Sleeping tablets, cough syrups and anti-anxiety drugs are most abused.

Another problem faced by psychiatrists is that the patients who begin to abuse the medication do not visit them again. Dr Cherukuri explained, They keep on hopping from one doctor to another making it very difficult to track their progress. And this is a major problem because patients put themselves at a higher risk of drug overdose.

Why people get addicted

While people do not take medications for fever, stomach pain and also other physical problems for long, they fail to understand that the same applies for mental illnesses too. Dr Minhaj Nasriabadi, psychiatrist at Apollo Hospitals, explained, Despite counselling, there are a section of patients who get addicted to the medications. The soothing effect that it has on the brain gives them relaxation and they begin to yearn for it regularly. In doing so, they are found to increase the doses on their own which is very dangerous. Some of the patients even shift to injections which becomes quite a problem.

Various studies have shown that 40 per cent of the patients get addicted to sleeping tablets and also other forms of opioids.
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Hillary Clinton is pushing a set of memes-- "change is unrealistic, dreamy, poetic, not pragmatic. Setting big goals is childish and naive. Hope is for the inexperienced.



I propose a counter-meme: Change doesn't happen if you don't seek it. Big change doesn't happen if you don't shoot for it. America has been built on big visions and dreams. Short sighted, marginal pragmatism is not the American way-- it's the conservative, corporate way. Hillary embraces the opposite. She's anti-hope, anti-change, while Bernie is simply seeking what already exists for the hundreds of millions of people who live in every other first world country. Basically, Hillary is saying that it is unrealistic to believe that Bernie can lead in lifting the USA from third world status to join the rest of the first world.

,suggests that Bernie is an ideological purist and so are his supporters. He cites Barney Frank: " Back in 1991, when Bernie was still new to Congress, progressive icon Barney Frank said of him, "Bernie alienates his natural allies. His holier-than-thou attitude--saying in a very loud voice he is smarter than everyone else and purer than everyone else--really undercuts his effectiveness." Hillary Clinton and her supporters are attacking Bernie Sanders for calling for real change. Paul Krugman says Bernie's unrealistic and naive. Salon writer John Avignone's article, I have had it with naive Bernie Sanders idealists suggests that Bernie is an ideological purist and so are his supporters. He cites Barney Frank:

Let's dissect that. Frank, Co-author of the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reform bill-- a loophole laden bill-- left congress to work for the banks -- a sell-out- but at least he waited until he left politics. Hillary, with her $225,000 speaking fees, worked for the banks before and now, she's taking millions from them.





As far as effectiveness, Bernie has been the most effective member of the senate. And he tells the truth. It's not surprising that a Hillary supporter-- a liberal (as Chris Hedges describes as "someone who betrays the stances that supposedly define them") would cite a liberal sell-out to attack Bernie.

Is Bernie being an ideological purist? I don't think so. He has a different ideology than Hillary. She, as a neoliberal, embraces corporations and embraces snails-crawl incrementalism-- an approach, when applied to the crises we face in America-- the rapid crash of the middle class, the destruction of the environment by climate change, the militarization of our economy-- the failure of our health care system to serve 130 million Americans (29 million un-insured and 100 million underinsured,) a prison system that is profoundly racist, profoundly worsened by Bill Clinton's tough sentencing policy that Hillary supported, is totally unacceptable. Even on Hillary's supposedly strongest asset-- foreign policy-- Bernie trumps her with his legitimate claim that he made the right call on the Iraq war. It's judgement, more than experience.

RT @KatrinaNation: Why's Clinton Using GOP Talking Points to Attack Sanders? (It's not naive to want to pursue better relations w/Iran) htt at January 26, 2016



The only way the middle class, the only way America will see light at the end of the tunnel is for a leader who shoots for big change. That seems to be something that a majority of Americans agree on, whether they're supporting Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump. Bernie Sanders is calling for reasonable change, not wild-eyed crazy change, as Hillary and her surrogates would propose. Bernie wants Americans to have what every other first world country already has-- healthcare for all. Tell the people of the UK, France, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, etc... who already have it. Reducing the incarceration rate-- sure, that's crazy. Tell that to all the nations that have a fraction of the percentage of prisoners that we have. Tell that to the nations where wealth inequality is profoundly less-- just about any other first world nation.

No. Bernie's goals are not unrealistic or impractical-- except to sell-outs.

It's not surprising that Hillary embraced anti-change, anti-hope. Hillary Clinton has never been a progressive. She just chameleons her image (sure, why not use chameleon as a verb?) her policies to match her competition. Hillary has been a leader of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC)-- a right wing, faux Democratic organization that has supported Bill Clinton's anti-middle class horrific neo-liberal policies. (I've provided the basics on neoliberalism at the bottom of this article.) DLC politicians are bought by corporations and they work to resist change, not make it happen. They throw bones to liberals who will settle for less than real change.

It's a toss-up. In some ways, attacking people who believe in real, big change is a cowardly thing to do. That's the kind interpretation. It probably applies to naive, less informed authoritarian liberals who embrace the guidance of their ministers and other authoritarian figures, like Harry Reid, Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, and Bill Clinton.. But the more likely explanation for people attacking real change is because they like things the way they are. These people benefit from the system. They may have a job from a corporation which provides healthcare. They are white, so they enjoy safety from violent, brutal attacks by the police. They have embraced consumerism, and like the toys that they spend their lives on.

Young people are far more likely to support Bernie. They are looking at the problems we face in the world now. They see that incremental change will not do.

Conservatism is about resisting change. The saying, "he who is not a liberal in his twenties has no heart, he who is not a conservative in his thirties has no brain" is pretty much the message Hillary is putting out. It's a conservative message that attacks people who want to change the system. Hillary and her defenders, like Avignone, are basically embracing a traditional conservative message-- one that Hillary and her DLC colleagues have been using to try to push the Democratic party further to the right.

"The head gives the brain it's sight. The heart gives the brain it's vision," which has been About fifteen years ago I posted my quote,which has been retweeted thousands of times and is tweeted every day for several years. My quote is an alternative to the conservative "no brain" message, which would argue that heart doesn't matter. But leadership without vision is not leadership. It is middle management. A leader must lead with heart and head. Hillary has shown she has no heart. Perhaps that is why sixty percent of Americans don't trust her.

Bottom-line, Sanders' goals are, for hundreds of millions in other first world nation, the current reality. He aspires to bring the USA into the first world. Hillary and her supporters attack him and his supporters f or being ideologues and extremists. They're not liars. They are deluded, and so accustomed, as liberals, for settling for less, that they are willing to sell out the future.


TPP Danger Sign

(Image by sputniknews.com/business/20151018/1028717548/tpp-threat-canada.html) Details DMCA



The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) released a report today that trumpets embarrassingly small gains from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. The PIIE and media headline writers wrongly focus upon one number - $141B increase to US incomes - to create the illusion of future prosperity from the TPP.



The truth is different for three reasons. First, the economic model used is faulty, has consistently produced incorrect results and should not be used for this purpose. Second, even though the PIIE model is used to produce the most optimistic of all possible predictions, there is no future job creation and negligible growth. Third, other econometric models ignored by the PIIE, but used by other economists, find job loss and economic shrinkage from the TPP.





1. Faulty Economic Model Used: The PIIE used the controversial computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to analyze the TPP rather than models that produce less optimistic results. The CGE model is increasingly recognized as unreliable because:

1.1. Untrue Facts Assumed: The CGE model requires one to assume that untrue facts are actually true" to wit, that full employment always exists, that trade is in balance, that wages and productivity stay in alignment rather than diverge, and that all countries have perfectly free markets with rational economic behavior. All of these assumptions are false because: full employment rarely exists; trade is almost never in balance; wages have diverged downward from productivity for the past several decades; and many TPP countries have state-directed capitalism or strong industrial policies to influence and alter market outcomes.

1.2. Untrue Past Results: The US International Trade Commission (USITC) used the CGE model to project the future economic results of granting Permanent Normalized Trade Relations with China (China PNTR) (passed in 2000) and also for the Korea-US trade agreement (KORUS) (implemented in 2012). Both times, the CGE model mislead Congress and the public as to the results to be expected.

1.2.1. China PNTR : The USITC estimated, using the CGE model, that China PNTR would improve the US trade balance with China. US exports to China would increase by 10.1% and US imports from China would increase less, by 6%. (USITC 1999, TableES-4, xix). In 1999, the US had a $68.7 billion annual trade deficit with China. Now, the US now has a $337 billion annual trade deficit with China. (US Census Bureau)

1.2.2. KORUS : The USITC estimated, using the CGE model, that the annual U.S. trade deficit with Korea would improve by about $4-5 billion. Instead, this deficit worsened by $12 billion annually between 2012 (date of KORUS implementation) to 2015.

1.3. Untrue Assumption of No Net Job Losses: The CGE model wrongly assumes that there are no job losses to produce its results. The International Trade Administration assumes that for every billion dollars of U.S. exports supported 5,796 jobs, down from 7,117 jobs per billion dollars of U.S. exports in 2009. Conversely, every billion dollars of imports has the opposite result. Thus, where trade agreements result in worsening trade deficits, as is the case for the NAFTA, Korea and China PNTR deals, the job losses are drastic. The income gains projected by the CGE model do not and cannot occur.

1.4. Currency Misalignment, Border Taxes, Industrial Policy Ignored: The PIIE model incorrectly assumes that currency valuations will be set by the perfectly free market and will not be manipulated. It does not take into account rising foreign value added taxes - which replace tariffs - charged to imports from the US. It also ignores the industrial policy and state-directed strategies that Japan, Vietnam and others use to give an advantage to state-influenced or national champion domestic industries. The fact that foreign auto import penetration into the Japanese market has remained static at 6% after decades of tariff reduction is not recognized in the PIIE model.

2. The PIIE Admits the TPP will Create No Jobs and Little Growth: Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that the CGE model's conclusions are true:

2.1. Job Creation Will Not Occur: The PIIE Study admits that "the TPP is not likely to affect overall employment in the United States". (Report, pg 3).

2.2. Income gains are Negligible: The study projects that, by 2020, US incomes will rise a mere 0.1% of GDP. (Table 2). This means that 99.9% of growth will happen without regard to the TPP. The number 0.1% is equivalent to, or less than, a rounding error. It can only come true if all untrue assumptions in the CGE model are true. It will take another 10 years for the optimistic projection to deliver a meager 0.5% income gain by 2030.

2.2.1. The Middle Class Will Not Benefit: Assuming (which we do not) the small income gains are realized, the study is silent on who benefits from them. The Economic Policy Institute reported that trade agreements account for 90% of wage inequality. If there are any income gains, the middle class will be a net loser.

2.3. Other countries will "benefit" more than the US: The Peterson Study projects that Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam will gain far more than the United States. The US Trade Representative, by pushing the TPP, is helping open markets for competitors in Japan and other countries. Japan is estimated to gain five times more income (in relation to GDP) than the US, Vietnam 16 times more, and Malaysia 15 times more. (Report, Table 2).





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Saudi Arabia has engaged in war crimes, and the United States is aiding and abetting them by providing the Saudis with military assistance. In September 2015, Saudi aircraft killed 135 wedding celebrants in Yemen. The air strikes have killed 2,800 civilians, including 500 children. Human Rights Watch charges that these bombings "have indiscriminately killed and injured civilians."

This conflict is part of a regional power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are bombing Yemen in order to defeat the Houthi rebels, who have been resisting government repression for a long time. Iran has been accused of supporting the Houthis, although Iran denies this. Yemen is strategically located on a narrow waterway that links the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea. Much of the world's oil passes through this waterway.

A United Nations panel of experts concluded in October 2015 that the Saudi-led coalition had committed "grave violations" of civilians' human rights. They include indiscriminate attacks; targeting markets, a camp for displaced Yemenis, and humanitarian aid warehouses; and intentionally preventing the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The panel was also concerned that the coalition considered civilian neighborhoods, including Marra and Sadah, as legitimate strike zones. The International Committee of the Red Cross documented 100 attacks on hospitals.

Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions prohibits the targeting of civilians. It provides that parties to a conflict "shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives and accordingly shall direct their operations only against military objectives."

Saudi Arabia is also engaging in serious individual human rights violations.

In January 2016, the Saudi government executed 47 people, including a prominent pacifist Shia cleric, who had been a leader of the 2011 Arab Spring in Yemen. Many of those executed were tortured during their detention and denied due process. Most were beheaded. This horrifies us when ISIS does it. Yet State Department spokesman John Kirby protested weakly, "We believe that diplomatic engagement and direct conversations remain essential in working through differences."

Also in January 2016, Palestinian artist and poet Ashraf Fayadh, a Saudi citizen whose family is from Gaza, was sentenced to death by beheading. His alleged crimes: "apostasy," or renouncing Islam, and photographing women. "Throughout this whole process," Amnesty International UK found, "Ashraf was denied access to a lawyer -- a clear violation of international human rights law."

Both Saudi Arabia and the United States are parties to the Geneva Conventions, which define as grave breaches; willful killing, willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, and torture or inhuman treatment. Grave breaches are considered war crimes. Also prohibited are "the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples."

Although neither the United States nor Saudi Arabia are parties to the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court, that statute sets forth standard aider and abettor liability provisions. It says that an individual can be convicted of war crimes if he or she "aids, abets or otherwise assists" in the commission or attempted commission of the crime, "including providing the means for its commission."

The U.S. government is the primary supplier of Saudi weapons. In November 2015, the U.S. sold $1.29 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia. It included more than 10,000 bombs, munitions, and weapons parts manufactured by Raytheon and Boeing, as well as bunker busters, and laser-guided and "general purpose" bombs. A month earlier, the United States had approved a $11.25 billion sale of combat ships to Saudi Arabia. The U.S. also provides intelligence and logistical support to the coalition. During the past five years, the U.S. government has sold the Saudis $100 billion worth of arms. These sales have greatly enriched U.S. defense contractors.

Why has the United States "usually looked the other way or issued carefully calibrated warnings in human rights reports as the Saudi royal family cracked down on dissent and free speech and allowed its elite to fund Islamic extremists," in the words of New York Times' David Sanger? "In return," Sanger writes, "Saudi Arabia became America's most dependable filling station, a regular supplier of intelligence, and a valuable counterweight to Iran." Saudi Arabia, and close U.S. ally Israel, opposed the Iran nuclear deal.

In April 2015, the U.S. government prevented nine Iranian ships loaded with relief supplies from reaching Yemen. President Barack Obama also sent an aircraft carrier to the area to enforce the Saudi embargo on outside supplies. According to UN estimates, 21 million people lack basic services, and over 1.5 million have been displaced. UNICEF notes that six million people don't have enough food.

Moreover, the U.S. government seeks to prevent scrutiny of Saudi human rights abuses in Yemen. In October 2015, the United States blocked a UN Security Council sanctions committee proposal that would have required the committee's chair to contact "all relevant parties to the conflict and stress their responsibility to respect and uphold international humanitarian law and human rights law."

The U.S. government is also violating domestic law by providing the Saudis with military aid. The Leahy Law prohibits U.S. assistance to foreign security forces or military officers "if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights." Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), for whom the law was named, told Foreign Policy: "The reports of civilian casualties from Saudi air attacks in densely populated areas [in Yemen] compel us to ask if these operations, supported by the United States, violate" the Leahy Law.

Furthermore, 22 U.S.C. section 2304 provides that "no security assistance may be provided to any government which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights."
Read on to learn why. The People's State of the Union has another week to go, and we already have some amazing stories to share. All of the quotes below are excerpts from stories that have already been uploaded to the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture's #PSOTU2016 Story Portal.

For this nine-day National Action, people around the country are forming Story Circles in their homes, schools, workplaces, places of worship, and community groups. They are telling their own stories their own ways, either in response to the #PSOTU2016 questions or questions they choose themselves:



This woman asked me to explain to her how it was possible that Islam justifies killing so many people in the name of religion. She said all she knew of Muslims was what she saw in the media, and she wanted to know more. And I realized I had a huge opportunity to give this woman some insight, to help shift her thinking and to show at least one person some of the beauty in a religion whose capacity for beauty is so rarely discussed in this country, during this short time we had together. And I thought: what can I do in my life to make these opportunities come up more often? It's so rare to be able get to a safe space in the conversation where people feel they won't be judged, where they'll be able to engage in a way that they might otherwise be afraid to, and ask questions that allow for the possibility of growth and understanding instead of unexamined fear. (Mia Bertelli, Santa Fe, NM) It's not too late to host your own Story Circle either. You can sign up here to download a free Toolkit and find other resources to host a Story Circle before #PSOTU2016 ends on January 31. A Story Circle event can be a few friends around a kitchen table or a hundred people dividing into circles of folding chairs in a high-school gym. It's an amazing experience of democratic dialogue where everyone's story counts and every story deserves attention and respect. A Story Circle event can be a few friends around a kitchen table or a hundred people dividing into circles of folding chairs in a high-school gym. It's an amazing experience of democratic dialogue where everyone's story counts and every story deserves attention and respect.

It wasn't until 1995 that I got involved in Labor organizing in Chinatown. There was a case with a restaurant paying their workers 75 cents an hour. This was 1995. I was 16 years old and thought I'd see a bunch of hippies in Birkenstocks protesting. I had no idea I was going to see people who looked just like me--Chinese immigrants, working class families. I felt, for the first time, a sense of belonging. My family got involved. The workers won that case, winning back $1.1 million for nearly 60 workers in 1997. (Betty Yu, Brooklyn, NY) Most of us are full of opinions (myself included). When you ask about the state of our union, we quickly tell you it's solid or in need of repair, who's helping and who's not. Of course, our assessments don't always agree. Sometimes the disagreement is so profound that discussion turns into argument and friends into foes. But when we share actual stories instead of opinions--specific moments we've seen or experienced--several things change. Most of us are full of opinions (myself included). When you ask about the state of our union, we quickly tell you it's solid or in need of repair, who's helping and who's not. Of course, our assessments don't always agree. Sometimes the disagreement is so profound that discussion turns into argument and friends into foes. But when we share actual stories instead of opinions--specific moments we've seen or experienced--several things change.

First, each of us is the World's Foremost Expert on our own experiences. Better than anyone else in the world, I know what I have seen, done, and felt. No single story can say it for everyone. One-by-one, our stories build up layers of truth. Democracy is a conversation, not a monologue.



A couple of years ago, we were up in this tiny village, called Anton Chico, in the valley. It's very isolated in a big growing area. Farmers used to grow there for Seeds of Change, one of the first organic seed companies. Over the years, it's kind of declining. We've been in a drought here, but there's more water in Anton Chico. We were up there, and we kicked off the first annual Anton Chico Seed Exchange. Maybe thirty people showed up, all walks of life, all brought their seeds and exchanged them. While we were doing that, we activated people to tell their stories. It was an exchange of seeds and an exchange of stories. On Anton Chico there's a particular kind of corn grown called the Concha Corn. Many people brought their Concha Corn seeds. And this seed provoked deep conversation. It's been grown for generations. This elderly man stood up, and he held the Concha Corn in his hand, and he said, "If we lose this corn, we lose our culture." It still gives me shivers, hearing him say that. It deeply rooted in me the absolute importance of the seed here in New Mexico. (Chrissie Orr, Santa Fe, NM) Second, multiple stories honor the complexity of issues, rather than reducing them to simple pros and cons: immigration, for or against? Gun control, for or against? When we are truly present to each other's stories, we can discern the feelings and realities that infuse our stories. Deep listening encourages us to consider responses that are truly worthy of all our stories. , rather than reducing them to simple pros and cons: immigration, for or against? Gun control, for or against? When we are truly present to each other's stories, we can discern the feelings and realities that infuse our stories. Deep listening encourages us to consider responses that are truly worthy of all our stories.

Throughout the whole first year of having health insurance in the U.S., I keep thinking "at least I have time, energy, and motivation to spend all this time on phone to investigate matters such as what are my blood tests going to cost me." If my situation is anything to go by, this thing we call a healthcare system cultivates a great deal of fear and frustration on a daily basis. And many people don't have the capacity to minimize the damage this complex, incomprehensible system can do to us. Which is why I also keep thinking, "I don't like it. Not at all. It isn't right. It doesn't make sense." (Veena Vasista, Santa Fe, NM) Third, stories are extremely useful. Artists use Story Circles to gather dialogue and incidents that help to shape scripts or murals. Visitors to the Artists use Story Circles to gather dialogue and incidents that help to shape scripts or murals. Visitors to the #PSOTU2016 Story Portal can browse stories by theme, searching for those speak to their own situations and opportunities. When the USDAC published An Act of Collective Imagination , a publication that shared some of our generative cultural policy ideas, we grounded each idea in stories uploaded to last year's PSOTU Story Portal. When you share your story, you contribute to a body of knowledge that can help move the world.

#PSOTU2016 ends on January 31, and we'd love to have all stories uploaded within a week after that. An amazing group of poets will be working to create the 2016 Poetic Address to the Nation, inspired in part by your stories. It will be performed at the Painted Bride Art Center in Philadelphia, videotaped by PhillyCAM, and live-streamed nationally courtesy of Free Speech TV. So if you upload your story, you just may hear a snippet of it on TV!

Just open a blank email, write a story from your experience that illuminates the state of our union, add your name and location, and email it to psotu2016 (at) ctznapp.com.
James McElvain, Vancouver police chief

Vancouver police Chief James McElvain told the City Council on Monday that a big increase in officers and staff is worth the money to reinvest in the community.

(Oregonian file photo)

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver police chief says the city needs 42 more police officer and 19 more civilian staff over the next five years to fill gaps in traffic enforcement, property crime investigations and crime data analysis.

that Chief James McElvain told the City Council on Monday that the big leap is worth it to reinvest in the community.

He said traffic laws have not been well enforced in the city, leading to an increase in collisions, and property crimes have been escalating without follow-up investigations. McElvain said the added staff will help stem those problems.

City Manager Eric Holmes estimated the added employees would cost the city $6.2 million, with $5.5 million recurring annually for salaries.

The City Council was generally supportive of the proposal.

-- The Associated Press
In the video, Oklahoma resident Michelle Dobyne hilariously describes to News on 6 correspondent how she and her kids bounced out of their apartment building after it caught fire. (Screen grab)

A woman, who successfully escaped a building fire, has become an internet star overnight after her dramatic interview on a news channel went viral. Her animated expressions and voice tone left viewers all over the world amused and entertained.

In the video, Oklahoma resident Michelle Dobyne hilariously describes to News on 6 correspondent how she and her kids bounced out of their apartment building after it caught fire, according to the Huffington Post.

Click on the link below to enjoy a good laugh:
hop fastpass trimet efare

A Hop Fastpass validator at the Morrison/SW 3rd Avenue MAX station in downtown Portland.

(Elliot Njus/Staff)

TriMet is still a year away from implementing its new electronic fare system, but the agency is already preparing to finalize rules for the program.

Managers will bring the regulations for the $34 million plan to the agency's board of directors on Wednesday, where they'll also hear public testimony. The board could vote as soon as February.

The agency is already preparing for to launch the system, called Hop Fastpass, which will be used on the Portland Streetcar and Clark County's C-Tran as well as on TriMet buses, MAX and WES commuter rail. Crews have installed infrastructures for card scanners at most MAX light-rail platforms. The German technology company Innovations in Transportation Inc. and the Portland start-up GlobeSherpa -- which sold last year to a Texas company called RideScout -- has been developing software for the system.

The public hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave. in Portland. It will also stream online.

Here's a primer on the proposed e-fare rules. Add your questions in the comments.

How does it work?

To board a bus, e-fare users will tap their card against a fare validator. It will flash a green light and a "Welcome aboard" message and deduct the fare from the pre-loaded balance. Validators for MAX will work the same way, but they'll be located on the platform. Streetcar validators will be on board.

Invalid cards, or those with a low balance, will flash a red light.

Riders can also tap their smartphones to use payment systems Apple Pay or Android Pay, or they can use bank cards outfitted with radio-frequency identification chips.

Where do I get a card, and how much will it cost?

The cards will be sold at more than 500 retail outlets, including convenience and grocery stores, as well as the TriMet ticket office at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Cards will cost $3, with a minimum initial deposit of $5. That means a total up-front cost of at least $8.

TriMet plans to give away around 200,000 cards when the program launches. The agency says that's enough to cover its most frequent riders, plus low-income riders who ride at least once a month.

How do I load money onto my card?

You can load Hop cards at the retail establishments where they're sold, using a mobile app (which doesn't exist yet), by phone or online. Cards can also be set to reload when the balance gets low, deducting from your bank account automatically.

Why should I get a card?

There are a few advantages to using a registered Hop card compared with buying paper tickets or passes:

TriMet will institute fare-capping for Hop card users. After paying two fares in one day, the same as the cost of a day pass, any more rides that day are free. Similarly, once you've paid the equivalent of a monthly pass, you'll be boarding for free for the rest of the calendar month.

Registered Hop cards can be replaced if lost or stolen. TriMet currently only replaces annual passes that are reported lost or stolen, not day, week or month passes.

The system is also supposed to speed boarding at stops.

Can I use one card for my whole family?

No. The trade-off for fare-capping is that TriMet will require one card per person boarding, and each card will be good for only one fare type -- adult, youth or honored citizen.

What are my other options?

TriMet will continue to accept cash and paper tickets for the foreseeable future. It will also continue to accept the TriMet Tickets smartphone app.

Will TriMet be able to track me or identify me from my card?

When a Hop card is tapped, TriMet will transmit and retain that data to facilitate fare-capping. But it has an option for people wary of being tracked or identified: the agency will let people register their card with a pseudonym and personal identification number registered by phone.

-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com

503-294-5034

@enjus
More than half of the food carts from the now-closed Good Food Here pod have relocated to a new lot across the street.

The Bite on Belmont is a nine-cart pod featuring many familiar faces from Southeast Belmont Street's popular Good Food Here, including 2011 Best New Food Cart Viking Soul Food Viking Soul Food, Fishbox and Herb's Mac & Cheese. In addition to the Good Food Here emigres, the new pod features a tented seating area and will soon be home to a new beer cart, Hindsight Tapcart.

(One new-to-us cart, Kind Coffee, pours good Italian coffee and righteous piped-to-order Neapolitan cannoli.)

Good Food Here, one of Portland's most popular cart pods, closed last year to make room for PDX Commons, a four-story, 27-unit senior co-housing facility. Not everyone was happy with the move. Last month, Sushi PDX, a sushi food cart, expressed displeasure with the cart-pod musical chairs on Facebook.

Check out the cart lineup for The Bite on Belmont:

Fishbox

Viking Soul Food

E-Side Thai

Aybla Grill

Brazilian House

Kind Coffee

Herb's Mac & Cheese

Poblano Pepper Mexican

Hindsight Tapcart

The Bite on Belmont is located at 4255 S.E. Belmont St.

-- Michael Russell
For chef Aaron Barnett, La Moule is a homecoming, a chance to return to the neighborhood he once called home, in a corner location just up the hill from the original St. Jack, his popular bouchon. It's a valuable late-night addition to a stretch of Southeast Clinton Street already filled with its share of bars, even though the bar's calling cards -- mussels and Belgian beer -- aren't even the most interesting things on the menu. What are? Check out our deeper dive into La Moule and its ambitious bar menu to find out.

-- Michael Russell
A dry and Not-so-scary Halloween at the Portland Children's Museum

These cute kids would not be able to eat at La Fraschetta del Pesce in Rome, which has barred children under 5.

(Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Who hasn't fantasized about an age limit at a restaurant or in a movie when a baby starts wailing for 10 minutes straight? Most people stop short at just dreaming.

Not so for an Italian restaurant owner.

He banned children under 5 years old because they are "little uncontrollable terrors," according to the Telegraph.

Marco Magliozzi, owner of La Fraschetta del Pesce, a popular restaurant near Rome's historic district that specializes in fish caught fresh by Magliozzi's son, posted signs on the door of the restaurant that explains that children are barred until they grow old enough to have better manners.

As you might guess, this has drawn the ire of customers in Rome and travelers. Italian police also are investigating whether the policy violates the law that requires restaurants to serve everyone unless there's "good reason" not to.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com

503-294-5923

@MollyHarbarger
On this topic, it is appropriate to know the connection of our President, the Obumerrhoid, who is already a PROVEN MONUMENTAL FRAUD, LIAR, and a WANNABE COMMIS/MUZZIE.



Do we really know the extent of this wonderful chap's involvement with the Whackjob Islam ?



By googling: "Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal and Obama", one gets a mountainous amount of info about the Obumerrhoid and his connection to wonderful Islam. One of the links there provides the following startling info: "1987 Bill Ayers solicited Khalid Abdullah Tariq al-Mansour (a.k.a. Donald Warden) to raise money for Obamas Harvard Law School education. al-Mansour is an orthodox Muslim, a black nationalist, an outspoken enemy of Israel, and mentor to Black Panther Party founder Huey Newton and his cohort, Bobby Seale. At the time al-Mansour associate Percy Sutton was raising money for Obamas education, al-Mansour was the top financial advisor to mega-billionaire Prince Alwaleed (Alwalid) bin Talal of the Saudi royal family. Obumsky is beholden to Black Panther's most outrageous TERRORISTS, and is beholden to Al Mansour a TRUE Muslim and an OUTSPOKEN ENEMY OF ISRAEL !!!



I suggest that you and the other readers of this post google "Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal and Obama" and you'll get startling information on the Obumerrhoid which will go a long way to proving that the Obumerrhoid is a MONUMENTAL FRAUD, LIAR and a WANNABE COMMIE/MUZZIE.



It will further connect the Obumerrhoid to that BLACK RACIST PSYCHO Rev Jeremiah "******* AMERICA" Wright's Cathedral of Hate to Islamic Terrorism.



So, waddaya think of them apples ?
Jimmyb said:



What I've said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else's out there.



I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.



So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted.



That will also generate billions of dollars that we can invest in solar, wind, biodiesel and other alternative energy approaches.



The only thing I've said with respect to coal, I haven't been some coal booster. What I have said is that for us to take coal off the table as a (sic) ideological matter as opposed to saying if technology allows us to use coal in a clean way, we should pursue it.



So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can.



It's just that it will bankrupt them. Click to expand... Obama 2008: Click to expand...

"But this notion of no coal, I think, is an illusion. Because the fact of the matter is, is that right now we are getting a lot of our energy from coal. And China is building a coal-powered plant once a week.



So what we have to do then is figure out how can we use coal without emitting greenhouse gases and carbon. And how can we sequester that carbon and capture it. If we can't, then we're still gonna be working on alternatives.



But ... let me sort of describe my overall policy. What Ive said is that we would put a cap and trade policy in place that is as aggressive if not more aggressive than anyone out there. I was the first call for 100 percent auction on the cap and trade system.



Which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases that was emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants are being built, they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted-down caps that are imposed every year.



So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can. Its just that it will bankrupt them because theyre going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas thats being emitted. That will also generate billions of dollars that we can invest in solar, wind, biodiesel, and other alternative energy approaches.



The only thing that Ive said with respect to coal -- I havent been some coal booster. What I have said is that for us to take coal off the table as an ideological matter, as opposed to saying if technology allows us to use coal in a clean way, we should pursue it, that I think is the right approach. The same with respect to nuclear.



Right now, we dont know how to store nuclear waste wisely and we dont know how to deal with some of the safety issues that remain. And so its wildly expensive to pursue nuclear energy. But I tell you what, if we could figure out how to store it safely, then I think most of us would say that might be a pretty good deal.



The point is, if we set rigorous standards for the allowable emissions, then we can allow the market to determine and technology and entrepreneurs to pursue, what the best approach is to take, as opposed to us saying at the outset, here are the winners that were picking and maybe we pick wrong and maybe we pick right.

I'm sure you agree, full, accurate context is important. I transcribed this directly from the interview.
Congress once again shucking responsibility.



Mitch McConnell Ready To Give President Unlimited War Powers



WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) caught nearly everybody off guard late Wednesday by quietly clearing the path for new legislation to declare war on the self-described Islamic State -- an issue he'd signaled for months he had no interest in touching.



McConnell introduced a sweeping authorization for the use of military force, or AUMF, that would give the president new authority to take action against the militant group also known as ISIS or ISIL. It wouldn't put any limits on the duration, geography or use of U.S. ground combat troops in the war, or on the means by which the U.S. military could act. It also would keep in place a broad AUMF from 2001 that never expired and that allows the president to take military action against anyone, anywhere, connected to the terrorists behind the 9/11 attacks.



In other words, it's a war authorization that's as wide open as it gets. (Read the text of McConnell's proposal below.)



White House spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine couldn't say if President Barack Obama would get behind McConnell's vision of an AUMF.



"We certainly welcome Republicans taking an interest in specifically authorizing the continued use of military force against ISIL," Hoffine said. "We will review the proposal put forward by Leader McConnell, and look forward to continued consultations as Congress undertakes what we hope will be the robust debate and amendment process the American people deserve on this important topic."



She added, "However, the president has also been clear from the beginning that we will not be engaging in the type of armed conflict that we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that remains the case."



Obama has been urging Congress for more than a year to pass a new AUMF tailored to the fight against ISIS. Since August 2014, he's been relying on the 2001 AUMF as his legal grounds for launching military strikes against ISIS without congressional signoff. The Constitution requires Congress -- not the president -- to declare wars. But the White House argues ISIS is an offshoot of al Qaeda, so it's still covered by the 2001 AUMF.
Chemical Financial Corp. and Talmer Bancorp announced today the two companies will merge in a cash and common stock merger transaction valued at about $1.1 billion.

Chemical Financial is the holding company for Chemical Bank, and Talmer Bancorp is the holding company for Talmer Bank and Trust. The merger will result in the creation of one of the largest community banks in the Midwest.

After the closing, Chemical Financial intends to consolidate Talmer Bank and Trust into Chemical Bank, and operate under the Chemical Bank name. Five members of the Talmer board of directors will join Chemicals board upon completion of the transaction, bringing the total number of Chemical Financial board members to 12.

Based on the companies balance sheets as of Dec. 31, following completion of the transaction, the combined organization will have about $16 billion in assets, $12 billion in loans and $13 billion in deposits with 266 locations primarily in Michigan and northeast Ohio.

The companies said the transaction will allow them to more effectively and efficiently navigate the challenges and costs associated with becoming a larger banking institution.

Upon completion of the merger, David Ramaker will continue to serve as CEO and president of Chemical Financial and chairman, CEO and president of Chemical Bank. David Provost, Talmers president and CEO and chairman of Talmer Bank, will join the Chemical board of directors. Gary Torgow, Talmers chairman, will serve as chairman of the board of the combined entity.

Under the terms of the agreement, chemical will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Talmer common stock for common stock and cash in a transaction currently valued at $15.64 per share, based on the closing price of Chemical of $29.70 per share as of Jan. 25. Talmer shareholders will receive 0.4725 shares of Chemical common stock and $1.61 per share in cash.

This is clearly a transformational merger between two healthy Michigan banks with complementary geographies, Ramaker said.

He praised Talmers leaders for building a strong core banking organization with talented commercial bankers and an attractive customer base.

In Talmer, we are partnering with a like-minded, growth-oriented organization, which shares a conservative lending culture built by talented and experienced professionals who seek to develop and support long-term client relationships with businesses and consumers who reside in the communities they serve, Ramaker said. In addition to the cultural fit, the two organizations will add talent, scale and strong track records for acquisitive and organic growth that we believe will facilitate the combined organizations continued growth.

Ramaker said the partnership allows Chemical Financial to enter into the southeast Michigan market, and expand for the first time beyond Michigans borders.

While Talmers operations across Michigan clearly support our goal of being Michigans Community Bank, its operations in Northern Ohio and other contiguous states should position us well for future growth in those markets in the years ahead, Ramaker said. We expect complementary strengths in specialty business lines such as wealth management and mortgage banking will lead to organic growth opportunities across the newly expanded franchise.

Torgow called the merger the start of the next stage of our companies evolutions.

The enhanced growth opportunities and efficiencies gained from the merger will strengthen our ability to achieve our goal of delivering strong and sustainable earnings growth over the longer term, he said.

Subject to regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, including approval of both Chemical and Talmer shareholders, the transaction is anticipated to close in the second half of 2016, the companies stated.

Chemical anticipates the transaction, with cost savings fully phased in, to be accretive to its earnings per share by about 8 percent in the first full year (excluding acquisition-related and integration costs associated with the transaction). Chemical expects net cost savings to reach an annual rate of about $52 million. Pre-tax acquisition-related and integration costs associated with the transaction are expected to total about $62 million. Chemical estimates the tangible book value earn-back period to be about 3.25 years.
344.090 Religion or national origin, employment discrimination not unlawful in certain cases.



(2) A religious corporation, association, or society to employ an individual on the basis of his religion to perform work connected with the carrying on by such corporation, association, or society of its religious activity.

SEC. 2000e-1. [Section 702]



(a) Inapplicability of subchapter to certain aliens and employees of religious entities



This subchapter shall not apply to an employer with respect to the employment of aliens outside any State, or to a religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society with respect to the employment of individuals of a particular religion to perform work connected with the carrying on by such corporation, association, educational institution, or society of its activities.

This again.The law is on the side of Answers in Genesis.Or that not giving the tax breaks for the religious park that is a tourist attraction is a violation of
There are more people living in slavery than living in Australia.

Capt. Brian Goodwill of The Salvation Army used several such examples to illustrate the magnitude of 27 million people living in slavery during an awareness event hosted recently by the Midland County Human Trafficking Task Force at The Salvation Army Church.

The task force, which includes members of local law enforcement, clergy, organizations and concerned citizens, is one of eight regional branches of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force. It exists to promote awareness, prevent human trafficking, pursue prosecution of perpetrators and to protect and support victims and survivors.

Human trafficking and slavery are closely intertwined: trafficking is the illegal movement of people; slavery is the purpose for which they are moved.

According to task force members Sandy Eagle of the Midland County Parole/Probation Office and Officer Paul McDonald of the Midland Police Department, they had originally set up for only 55 people to attend the event, but that number swelled to 130 attendees.

I was pleasantly surprised, Eagle said of the turnout.

It definitely shows curiosity and the desire to help and learn about this issue, McDonald said.

In addition to Goodwill, the program included speakers Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette; Jane White, director of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force; Pastor Lara Heise; and a local trafficking and abuse survivor.

The survivor was sexually abused and prostituted as a young child. The abusers, none of whom were related to the victim, told the survivor they would burn down her house and kill her family if she was not silent. The survivor now volunteers to help others struggling with abuse and mental health issues and speaks at these events to put a local face to a global problem.

So often, we read a statistic or article about human trafficking and assume it took place in a country far away, involving someone we do not know, she said. But human trafficking does not discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender, race, financial status, vocation or any other factor.

Her story is not uncommon, but survivors like her and other advocates are working to change that reality.

Jane White noted that when the statewide task force was formed eight years ago and she would come to these types of awareness events, five attendees was considered good.

We need the community so badly to do anything about this, she said. (Organizations) cant do it by themselves.

While there are agencies to provide shelter, food, job skills and legal help, one of the most important ways the community at large can help is by being aware of the issue and signs of human trafficking.

Does Midland and the surrounding community have human trafficking? White asked rhetorically. I dont know. But Ill ask you this, in terms of vulnerabilities: Do you have runaway kids? Do you have kids in detention? Do you have small manufacturing?

One of the common misconceptions about human trafficking is the type of work victims are forced to do.

When people think human trafficking, they think sex, McDonald said. But think of all the kids working in sweatshops and fields or men and women working for a nickel and day.

Victims may be found not only in the commercial sex trade, but also in salons, strip clubs, maintenance, agriculture, housekeeping, construction and similar fields. Often, perpetrators will move workers from place to place to keep them isolated and avoid arousing suspicion.

If (someone) sees something out of the ordinary or that doesnt feel right, let (the Midland Police Department) know, said McDonald.

Potential signs include people seeming to sleep at a business, strange houses, visitors from many different states and too many people living in one house. For example, White recalled one occasion in which 23 individuals were staying in the same home.

Most of all, members of the task force want anyone who is a victim of human trafficking to know that help is available.

You wont get in trouble, McDonald assures any potential victims. There are people who understand this issue and a bunch of good people are involved in this.

Anyone who is interested in joining the task force may call the Law Enforcement Center at (989) 631-5716 and ask for Officer Paul McDonald.

If you think someone is a victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888.
I ended up in jail last week.

Before you start wondering what I did wrong, let me tell you it was the setting for week two of Citizens Academy, the 10-week program through the city of Midland where participants get a close-up look at how the various parts of government operate.

Welcome to the jail! exclaimed City Attorney Jim Branson as he greeted us enthusiastically.

Our task this week was to learn more about how the county of Midlands government system works, how it is different or similar to city government and also to get an overview of the court system. There to serve as our instructors for the night were Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden, Midland County Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Beale and Sheriff Scott Stephenson.

We were promised a tour of the jail afterward, so everyone was on their best behavior, especially under the sheriffs gaze. The candy passed out by Gransden for correct answers also helped!

So how much do you really know about why county and city governments are set up the way they are? I will admit to not knowing enough and was glad to learn quite a few surprises during the two-hour session, like:

 The county of Midland is technically older than the city, being established in 1850 under the governance of a board of supervisors that were not elected until five years later. The group is now referred to as the Midland County Board of Commissioners. (The Midland City Charter was adopted in 1944, in case you wondered.)

 The first courthouse was built for $6,000, and demolished for $245 about 70 years later.

 The county of Midland is made up of 528 square miles with a population of about 84,000.

 A Geographic Information System (GIS) through the county can be used to determine school districts, parcel sizes, property ownership and assessment values. A recent project has also included the graves of veterans on the map, It can be accessed at: http://bit.ly/1ntOvkK.

 The city and county of Midland share an emergency manager, whose employment is required under the Michigan Emergency Management Act.

 With seven parks at 1,130 acres, Midland County parks average about 300,000 annual visitors and are maintained by a staff of six regular employees and 10 seasonal employees.

Gransden outlined some of the similarities and differences between the county and city, such as the governing structure and services provided, and also touched on the finances of the county.

What we actually levy on your tax bill that youll see is 4.8955 mills  that has been the same for the 21-plus years Ive been with the county, Gransden said, adding those funds go for such things as elections and both jail and general administration.

There were quite a few questions after Gransden mentioned Pinecrest as one of only two county infirmary facilities left in Michigan. Citizens Academy participants asked where the other facility is, how Pinecrest is funded and what other counties do for those unable to care for themselves. The other facility is located in Monroe County.

Were very lucky, that the Midland community stepped up to address this issue, Gransden said. The options were close or see if the people of Midland, the Midland community were willing to fund that and they did.

A quick video narrated by County Clerk Ann Manary highlighted some of the services provided by her office. Did you know that many records are available online but clerks are required, by law, to keep physical copies forever? There are many dating back to the 1800s.

There were quite a few questions for Beale, a circuit judge since 2007. He talked about who decides how many judges are appointed (the state) and if they can be removed from their elected positions by the voters (no, judges are the only elected officials not subject to recall during a term.)

One participant asked about the duties of magistrates; Beale said they are judicial officers without the full authority of the judge but can be used to ease the caseload pressure off the judges.

Did you know almost every courthouse in Michigan is outfitted with video conferencing? The state went through this expansion a few years ago to decrease the costs of transporting prisoners, and it also serves as an additional safety measure.

Safety is something Stephenson knows a lot about. After Citizens Academy participants learned all about the county and court system, we split up into two groups to see the still relatively new jail located off Rockwell Drive.

I was lucky enough to be included in Stephensons group. Its not every day you get a personalized tour of the jail from the sheriff, and get to leave afterwards.

Our voices echoed through hallways until we reached a stairwell and climbed to one of the guard towers, featuring darkened windows and a birds-eye view of some of the prisoners being housed. Some were watching American Idol, while others talked or played chess.

All were dressed in bright orange jumpsuits, and stared at us through the glass doors as our group filed through for a closer look at how the cells are configured.

In charge of both jail staff and road patrol, Stephenson has a staff of about 71 people who help him keep the county of Midland safe and assist other police departments.

During the tour, Stephenson said he was thankful for the updated and safe facility Midland now has and stressed the importance of everyone working together to make sure it stays that way. Its not only his job, but one of his duties as an elected sheriff.

Thats who I answer to, the voters, Stephenson said.

Speaking of the importance of voting: in her video, Manary said about $200,000 is spent during elections that generally see about a 20 percent turnout of registered voters.

We work very hard and its a very costly production  for the ballots, for the people who are working, for everything that goes in it, Manary said. I want to make sure to encourage you to get out and vote.

I would also encourage you to attend a Midland County Board of Commissioners meeting, or go to the courthouse and experience how the system works. These are public places, meant to service the taxpayers of this community, and are also a free learning tool to become a better citizen.

I plan to continue sharing these little-known facts with Daily News readers in this weekly column over the next eight weeks of the academy, and welcome you to share your perspective of living or growing up in this city by emailing me at jhaynes@mdn.net or engaging with me on Twitter @citizenhaynes. You can also find me on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/1PBfBga.
A 44-year-old Lansing man has been arraigned in connection with a pursuit that included a gun being fired at law enforcement officials on U.S. 127 on Sunday.

The suspect, identified as Mark Steven Adkins, was arraigned in the Isabella County Trial Court on charges of fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, assault with the intent to murder, carrying a concealed weapon, resisting and obstructing police, felony firearm, second-offense drunken driving and driving with a high blood alcohol content, Mount Pleasant Police report.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and his wife Betty visited Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to thank Airmen and discuss the importance of their mission in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

During an all call, Welsh spoke about Air Force matters and shared personal stories about himself and his service.

Im really proud to be an Airman and am really proud of the Airman I grew up with  my dad, Welsh said. He is just one of many who made the Air Force such a huge success story. It is not because of airplanes or technology, but because of [the Airmen]. Every now and then take a step back and pat yourself on the back.

Welsh also discussed budget changes, future of benefits, readiness and the modernization of the force.

Im not worried about the last 50 years; Im worried about the next 50 years. Hanging on to things that made us great will not make us great in the future, Welsh said. We have got to modernize  Air Forces that do not stay in front of technology fail.

Welsh assured the Andersen Airmen he continuously fights for their best interests. As the budget and benefits are being worked and discussed by Congress, the chief of staff constantly works to defend Airmen and their ability to complete the mission.

When the nation calls, we send you, and if you are not ready to go, we have an issue, Welsh said. We will continue to fund training, education and professional development so that you are ready, willing and able to do your jobs.

After the all call, Welsh opened the floor to questions, and spoke about helping Airmen and morale by doing what he can to alleviate long hours and ensure a healthy work-life balance.

He emphasized how important everyone is to the fight and how it is impossible to fly, fight and win without Airmen.

Airmen here live in a place that proves geography matters, Welsh said. Thank you for the way you represent the Air Force, the way you serve our nation and the way you take care of each other and your families. Never forget how critically important each and every one of you are to the mission.
25th CAB trains with 535th AS

Army Spc. Mohamed Bouteldja, from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Schofield Barracks, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Alicin Muro, a loadmaster from the 535th Airlift Squadron, assist with the loading of a UH-60 Black Hawk, from the 25th CAB, into a C-17 Globemaster III, from the 535th AS, on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 21, 2016. Three UH-60 were loaded on to the C-17 as part of recurring training between the Air Force and Army. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Oelrich/Released)
KADENA, Japan - Members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces 404th Air Refueling Squadron and Kadenas 909th ARS came together for a meeting to reinforce their working relationships Jan. 22.

The 909th ARS assisted JASDF with air refueling training in 2007, eventually leading JASDF to create the 404th ARS in 2009.

Since then, both units attended a few training exercises together but have never met to specifically discuss our continuing relationship, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Burdick, 909th ARS commander.

The meeting on Friday consisted of a visit to the 909th ARS building, a mission briefing, a tour of the KC-135 Stratotanker, and lunch at the Kadena Marina.

The common link shared by both squadrons was their work with air refueling tankers. This set the foundation for a healthy professional relationship.

The KC-135 and KC-767 aircrafts bring similar but different capabilities to humanitarian assistance/disaster relief scenarios, said Burdick. For example, the KC-767 can carry significantly more cargo and the KC-135 is a very efficient airborne tanker. Exchanging ideas and standard practices enables both units to exchange differing perspectives to collectively improve allied tanker capabilities.

The meeting allowed the 404th and the 909th to strengthen their relationship. The commander of the 404th, Lt. Col. Takahiro Seki, expressed his gratitude to the 909th for their assistance in the creation of the 404th.

Seki commented that the 909th has been like a parental figure to the 404th as they have continued to develop as an air refueling squadron.

Our goal is in the future, that we can develop and come to a point where the 909th and the 404th are working together on the same platform and together we can integrate air refueling operations to the point where we can both help each other and carry the mission out, said Seki.

Both ARS teams discussed their work, but amidst discussion of work, personal friendships began to form as well. Staff Sgt. Chance Italiano, 909th ARS instructor boom operator and boom flight scheduler, commented on how even though they are from different countries, they were able to form friendships.

Its really cool to meet people from different countries that do the same thing that you do, said Italiano. Its so easy to forge that friendship because you have that common ground. You do the same thing, just in a different country and different military. I cant wait to see those guys again.

As the day came to an end, both ARS teams found it difficult to leave.

Seki mentioned that the 909th and Lt. Col. Burdick not only demonstrated hospitality at the professional level, but also at the personal level. Burdick took extra time to ensure that Sekis questions were answered and that he and his Airmen felt welcome.

I feel that the 909th not only created a great platform today in terms of friendship, but also technical knowledge that will help to develop greater ties in the future, said Seki.
CHINHAE, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- Vietnam veterans from the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) were honored during a ceremony at Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) Jan. 26.

The ceremony, hosted by CFAC -- an official partner in the United States of America Vietnam War Commemorative Partner Program, was designed to thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families.

Rear Adm. Bill Byrne, commander of Navy Region Korea and keynote speaker for the ceremony, thanked the veterans for their sacrifice and service.

"You raised your right hand, served with honor, and humbly returned to a country divided," Byrne said. "Yet your dedication never wavered, and your presence today signifies the strength of your commitment to the ideals for which you fought."

Byrne went on to make specific note of the cultural divide that impacted the return of many U.S. veterans.

"Your generation carried the burden of a nation that was unable to separate their feelings toward the war with their feelings toward their warriors," Byrne said. "Though we haven't always shown it, the United States and the Republic of Korea have always revered their warriors."

Vietnam veteran, Kim Seon-Gon, the president of GyeongNam Province Vietnam Veterans Association shared positive memories of serving with U.S. service members.

"We are always thankful for the U.S. and our other allies," said Kim. "We fought together in the Korean War and we fought together in defense of South Vietnam. We thought it then and still believe that the Republic of Korea and the United States of America will continue to work alongside each other."

ROK Navy Rear Adm. Song, Taek Keun, the commander of Jinhae Naval Base, echoed Kim's sentiment by commenting on the U.S. and ROK alliance as the significant role the Vietnam War played in ROK military history.

"About 50 years ago, Republic of Korea raised the flag of 'Justice and Freedom' along with the United States of America to stop the expansion of communism," Song said. "It was the Republic of Korea's first deployment of its armed forces to a foreign country since the foundation of the Republic of Korea."

According to the Defense POW/MIA Office, more than 58,000 U.S. service members were killed during the conflict that took place between 1955 and 1975 and more than 1,600 are still labeled as missing in action.

The observance is authorized by the secretary of defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War by coordinating, supporting and facilitating programs and activities of federal, state and local governments, and other persons and organizations. The Commemoration began in May 2012 and will continue until September 2025.

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea recently shifted to Busan and is the only U.S. Navy headquarters in Korea stationed on a ROK base. CNFK is the regional commander for the U.S. Navy in the ROK and provides expertise on naval matters to area military commanders, including the Commander of the United Nations Command, the Combined Forces Command, and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea.
Hitler was about dictatorial power, first and foremost. Everything, including his views on Capitalism, followed that same thread even though many American scions made their fortunes dealing with Hitler. Who exhibits such dictatorial attributes in modern day America ? I would say when you have the leading Republican candidate kicking a man out of a political rally solely on religious grounds while the crowd chants USA USA USA, it's the Right that more closely resembles the intolerance that Hitler projected and not the Left my friend. Please do try to snap out of it.
PEORIA  The spring concert season continues to bloom for Central Illinois classic rock fans with the addition of both James Taylor and John Mellencamp to the burgeoning roster.

Taylor, backed by his All-Star Band, will headline a May 29 show at the Peoria Civic Center Arena, while Mellencamp, featuring special guest Carlene Carter, brings his Plain Spoken Tour to the University of Illinois-Springfield's Sangamon Auditorium on April 10.

The dates follow last week's announcement of spring shows by The Beach Boys (May 4) and Alice Cooper (May 14), also at the Peoria Civic Center.

Tickets for Taylor's 8 p.m. show go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 5 via the Civic Center's Toyota Box Office and Ticketmaster.

Tickets for Mellencamp's 7:30 p.m. concert start at $50, and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday via the Sangamon Auditorium box office.

One of the 70s pop-rock's enduring headliners, Taylor is touring in the wake of his most recent album, Before This World, which was released in 2015 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.

It is currently nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Pop Vocal Album of the year (the outcome of the award, which will be announced Feb. 15, will precede his appearance in Peoria).

Mellencamp's Plain Spoken Tour is making its second pass through Central Illinois, having played the Peoria Civic Center a year ago this spring.

Like Taylor's album, Plain Spoken was released in 2015 to critical acclaim, earning some of Mellencamp's best reviews of his 40-year career.
BLOOMINGTON  The Bloomington City Council approved on Monday regulations the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency asked for in cleaning up a gas station soil contamination case  but with conditions for the owner.

Under the council's action, Freedom Oil, owner of the business at 1313 N. Linden St., must agree to reimburse the city for future costs associated with the contamination.

"If in the future we are doing some roadwork or excavation (there) and we come across soil that is contaminated and we have to dispose of that in a certain way ... this site agreement with Freedom Oil will require them to reimburse the city for those expenses," said city attorney Jeff Jurgens.

He said the city has been in talks with Freedom Oil's contamination consultant. "They don't think they're going to have an issue with this type of an agreement," he said. "So in the next few days we will be sending them something to review."

Typically, a reimbursement agreement is with the current property owner, but the city is looking at "recording it against the property and making it applicable to future owners," he added.

Gasoline leakage was discovered by a state fire marshal after the business detected a gasoline odor in the building in 1988.

Freedom Oil voluntarily replaced its underground gasoline storage tank with a more compliant tank, but gasoline contamination of the soil required testing and oversight by the state, said city Public Works Director Jim Karch.

The IEPA is looking to close the case. Testing since 1988 has determined that the contamination had not spread and was at such a low level that it didn't warrant more extreme action such as the removal of soil, said Karch.

To do so, the council needed to approve a "leave-in" order. That means the contamination is at such low levels that the state will not require removal of the affected soil.

The IEPA also required the council to adopt a standard ordinance in which the city would ban construction and use of private water wells in the affected area, which already is banned under city code, said Karch.

When the matter was first brought to the council on Dec. 21, aldermen voted unanimously to delay action until the city staff answered their questions.

The site is near several homes, a day care center and Sugar Creek, so Ward 4 Alderman Amelia Buragas, who represents the area, and others asked for "a pause to take a closer look to make sure that the process up until now had been conducted properly," said Buragas.

"We are convinced that is what is happening," she said after Monday's meeting. "They have been taking a very close look at this. They've been monitoring it ... for almost 30 years now to make sure the (contamination) plume is stable, that it's not growing, and that it does not pose a risk to residents."
Gov. Bruce Rauner may have taken an important step last week toward solving the states pension crisis, although he mangled the announcement.

Rauner announced he had reached an agreement with Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, on pension reform. The move is significant because it places House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, with a choice of opposing the deal reached by the two, or being put in a spot of saying No, to a crucial piece of legislation.

The plan is to follow Cullertons original proposal on the pension crisis, by offering employees a choice. Under the proposed plan, if employees want to keep their 3 percent annual cost-of living increase, their pay increases going forward would not be included in the pension calculation. If employees want their raises to be a part of the pension calculation, those raises would be subject to a new pension law that offers annual pension increases that would max out at 3 percent.

Cullerton has long stated that he believes if employees are offered a choice, it will satisfy the states Constitutional requirement. Not everyone agrees with that assessment and the final decision will be up to the courts.

And, for this scenario to work, the choice would have to be removed from the collective bargaining process.

However, when Rauner announced the deal, he went several steps farther than the agreement. He stated the issue of wage increases would be removed from the collective bargaining process and said it was one of many issues he wanted to remove from contract negotiations.

Cullerton said immediately that was not the deal he signed off on, and Madigan quickly sent out another of his press releases claiming Rauner wants to destroy the middle class, etc.

The Rauner administration, after several hours, admitted the governor had oversold the proposal, saying he was not as precise with his words as he could have been.

Its clear that Rauner bungled the announcement and spent a lot of time back-pedaling. There is little trust between the states leaders and missteps like this make the situation worse.

However, its also significant that Cullerton and Rauner reached a deal. That means, eventually, Madigan will be forced to either consider the pension reform or come out against it. Hes in a difficult spot, because some of the wording in the proposal comes from a bill Madigan has supported.

More important than the political gamesmanship is that Cullerton and Rauner may have found a way to work together. That could be good news for the state budget crisis and other issues. But only if Rauner can regain the trust he lost last week.
Clara007 said: Okay. Let me rephrase. From what I've read (and there's quite a debate on this subject) many of the founders were Christian Deists. How's that? Deisms invention is often credited to Edward, the first Lord Herbert of Cherbury, England, who died in 1648. In The Faiths of the Founding Fathers, David L. Holmes, a professor of religious studies at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, catalogues Herberts classic five points of Deism:



That God exists

That he ought to be worshiped

That practicing virtue is the primary way so to do

That sins can be repented of

That there is life after death



Although the founders claimed to be members of different faiths: Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Quaker, Methodist and so on, they believed in reason/logic. There is no mention of Jesus in many of their writings. Example: John Adams--My religion is founded on the love of God and my neighbor; on the hope of pardon for my offenses; upon contrition; . . . in the duty of doing . . . all the good I can, to the creation of which I am but an infinitesimal part. Washington attended church, quoted the Bible, and prayed.....to an "Almighty Being" as did most of the founders, but these things do NOT a Christian make. As I said, the debate continues among very wise, educated scholars. Click to expand...

Okay. Let me rephrase. From what I've read (and there's quite a debate on this subject) many of the founders were Christian Deists. How's that? Click to expand...

Deisms invention is often credited to Edward, the first Lord Herbert of Cherbury, England, who died in 1648. In The Faiths of the Founding Fathers, David L. Holmes, a professor of religious studies at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, catalogues Herberts classic five points of Deism:



That God exists

That he ought to be worshiped

That practicing virtue is the primary way so to do

That sins can be repented of

That there is life after death Click to expand...

Although the founders claimed to be members of different faiths: Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Quaker, Methodist and so on, they believed in reason/logic. There is no mention of Jesus in many of their writings. Example: John Adams--My religion is founded on the love of God and my neighbor; on the hope of pardon for my offenses; upon contrition; . . . in the duty of doing . . . all the good I can, to the creation of which I am but an infinitesimal part. Washington attended church, quoted the Bible, and prayed.....to an "Almighty Being" as did most of the founders, but these things do NOT a Christian make. As I said, the debate continues among very wise, educated scholars. Click to expand...

Now I will avow, that I then believed, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God: and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature and our terrestrial, mundane System. I could therefore Safely Say, consistently with all my then and present Information, that I believed they would never make Discoveries in contradiction to these general Principles. In favour of these general Principles in Phylosophy, Religion and Government, I could fill Sheets of quotations from Frederick of Prussia, from Hume, Gibbon, Bolingbroke, Reausseau and Voltaire; as well as Newton and Locke: not to mention thousands of Divines and Philosophers of inferiour Fame.

Christian forbearance, Divine Providence Protestant religion, society of Christians Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, doctrine of Christ, true Christian faith and worship, of God, So Help Me God, evangelical principles, the Creator and Governor of the Universe, the Rewarder of the good and the Punisher of the wicked, Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and Divine Inspiration, Supreme Being, natures God Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God.

Sorry for the late reply; I just saw this.The Enlightenment Deists did not believe in an intervening God. The Founders believed in an intervening God as evidenced in all of their writings and the founding documents.Deism pre-dates Edward. The origins of Deism dates back to Greece with Heraclitus and Plato: Latinand Greek. Deism did not separate from theism until 1564 with Pierre ViretsThere are myriad examples of the Founders using the word Jesus or Christian.Adams used the word Jesus and Christianity many times. Just one example in a letter he wrote to Jefferson dated June 28, 1813:The Founders used the terms Almighty Being and Supreme Being in the founding documents. These terms were used in the context of the Bible and Christianity. Here are a few examples of the terms in a few of the state constitutions:The common laws were based on Christianity, God, and the Bible.The Committee of Five and the Continental Congress changed Jeffersons words in the Declaration of Independence to reference the God of the Bible with Christian terms that came from the state charters.John Jay and John Marshall both stated that the United States was founded as a Christian nation.These are just a few documented examples, but what will not be found in any writings of the Founders is any reference to Deism in the place of Christianity, or that this country was not founded on Christian and Biblical principles.
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.




Kimberly Tucci is an Australian mother of two daughters. With the hope to complete their family, she and her husband tried for a boy last year. But will add four more girls and a boy instead -- after she found out that she's carrying five babies in late July.

Hence, the 26-year-old mom started a blog called Surprised by Five, where she chronicled her pregnancy period, including her pregnancy struggles.

"Mummy guilt has kicked up a level! I'm trying to get through all the pain just on Panadol alone if I can help it," the expectant wrote on Jan. 17. "I can't bear the thought of any drugs passing through to my babies."

Ms. Tucci also revealed that sometimes she can barely walk as she can feel the pain in her hips and the stiffness to her pelvis. She also said that as per her doctor's advice, the recommended daily consumption for her case should be 6000 calories a day.

However, she said she's having a hard time following such as she always feels her stomach is brimming with babies. There were even times when she forced herself to eat something but it only left her with reflux that lasted for hours.

Kimberly then confessed that she's dealing with a huge change on her body part. She admitted that she has stretch marks all over her stomach and her belly is really stretching. "It's painful and hot to touch," Kimberly added. She also said no amount of cream can ease her discomfort.

Nevertheless, Tucci gains strength and inspiration from her husband. She said he always reminds her to be proud as her body is nourishing five beautiful babies. "My husband always reminds me I should wear my stripes with pride," she wrote. "Without him, I would have broken down a long time ago."

The happy mom also announced that her babies will be arriving anytime soon.
Ashbourne House nursing home in Middleton, Greater Manchester has suspended its two staff after a leaked video -- showing that the workers involved were taunting dementia patients by torturing their comfort dolls. Hence, bosses said to itv news that they are taking all the necessary action, including consulting employment lawyers.

"We take this very, very seriously. People like these should not be working in the care industry," the spokesperson of the care home said. He also said that they already filed a report to the appropriate authorities and an investigation will be carried out soon.

Since the welfare of the residents is the main priority of the institution, the representative added that the staff will be facing "disciplinary actions." And to ensure the families that they can still rely with confidence on the nursing home, the spokesperson said that they already informed the families of the patients about the action they intend to take.

The suspension has been carried out against the two staff after bosses saw the disturbing video. In the footage, the workers were seen snatching the dolls from the patients. One of the staff was even seen throwing a doll to the floor while loudly screaming, "die baby, die!" The other worker then can be heard, asking, "How do you feel that you've just done that? How do you feel?" Her colleague then replied, "Great, because [resident's name] is upset."

Although it is still unclear how and who released the footage, numerous reports claimed that the video and images were shared by one of the concerned staff on WhatsApp.

According to carehome, dolls are very beneficial for people with dementia. For one, dolls can halt patients' distressed and agitation. Likewise, there are many nursing homes that recommended the use of dolls to help treat patients who are suffering from Alzheimer.
The battle against racism continues even in schools and social media. Parents alerted media when a group of high school seniors from the Desert Vista High School posted a racist photo on social media.

ABC15 reports that parents told them about six female high school seniors who posted a photo showing the girls smiling together with the offensive "N-I-*-*-E-R" word -- spelled out in individual letters across their shirts. It turns out that the shirts with different letters are just parts of a long message which was supposed to spell out "BEST*YOU'VE*EVER*SEEN*CLASS*OF*2016".

We are absolutely aware and outraged by this behavior," wrote Jill Hanks, executive director of community relations for Tempe Union High School District. "The students will be disciplined in accordance with district policy and while we don't discuss specific discipline I can tell you that will be addressing the obvious need for sensitivity training in this case."

Dr. Kenneth Baca from the Tempe Union High School District likewise commented that any racism is unacceptable whatever the intent is.

The principal of the high school, Dr. Christine Barela, also spoke against the offensive and racist photo from the students. She expressed through a letter sent to the parents of the school about the outrage and disappointment caused by the picture posted on social media. She also said that the school will give disciplinary actions for the six high school girls and will hold sensitivity training for the students.

Meanwhile, there is already a petition at change.org which calls for the expulsion of the high school seniors and the firing of the principal, with thousands of people already signed up. In a separate report from ABC15, the school officials said in a press conference that the students are remorseful for the racist photo and one of the girls even spoke publicly about her actions.

"I am incredibly, incredibly sorry. I have such love for everyone in my heart. I am not a racist and I am asking everyone for forgiveness," said Rachel Steigerwald, one of the six Desert Vista High School seniors accused of racism.
China's Food and Drug Agency (CFDA) sued a total of 35 restaurants all over China. They are alleged of using opium powder as a food seasoning on the food they are serving.

According to Pop Herald, opium is a drug that may cause addiction and serious harm to health if abused that is why it was banned in China since 2013. Cooks of different restaurants in China had been alleged of using opium powder containing small amounts of codeine and morphine on their dishes. They are still trying to figure out if this behavior makes the customer want some more or if it is the reason why customers tend to patronize their food.

Moreover, CFDA reported that 30 out of 35 restaurants were under investigation and the other five faced the prosecution after the agency found out that they are sprinkling opium poppies on the menu they are serving. Luo Yunbo, a food safety and nutrition professor at China Agricultural University claimed that there are a lot of restaurants in China that is why it is very difficult to monitor that they all abide the law.

Previously, almost 215 restaurants were forced to close in 2004 for the same charges while seven of them were shut down again for this practice in 2012.

Furthermore, according to Digital Journal, the opium powder, which costs around $60 per kilo can be bought from Western China. The opium is often combined with chili oils and other powders so that it would not be easily detected. It is sometimes seasoned and stirred into soups and seafood meals.

In lieu with this matter, the administration called the attention of the CFDA to punish those restaurants involved and intensify the inspection and supervision among restaurants that sell meals such as fried chicken, noodles and hot pots as posted on The Straits Times. They also considered cooperating with the public security departments to find the sources of the said opium poppies.
Bill Gates, together with British Chancellor George Osborne, launched Ross Fund on Nov. 2015 for their advoicay to stop the spread of malaria. In fact, the U.K. government and Microsoft founder donated 3 billion or $4.3 billion for the full eradication of the mosquito-borne disease.

The 44-year-old British Conservative Party politician committed to give 500 million or $713 million per year until 2020 to fund the research on how to fight the deadly illness. The 60-year-old business magnate, on the other hand, promised to pledge 185 million or $200 million annually, according to Newsweek.

"We are optimistic that in our lifetimes we can eradicate malaria and other deadly tropical diseases, and confront emerging threats, making the world a safer place for all," Gates and Osborne said. The Ross Fund was named after the British scientist Sir Ronald Ross, who in fact, won the Nobel Prize in 1902 for confirming that malaria is spread by infected female mosquitoes.

"Across the globe over a billion people are infected with malaria and it's a cause of both untold misery and lost economic potential," the Member of Parliament for Tatton said in a statement. "That's why, working with Bill Gates, I'm determined that Britain leads the world in the fight against this disease."

Moreover, World Health Organization's yearly report noted that death toll from malaria drastically decreased from 839,000 in 2000 to 438,000 in 2015, Reuters reported. Fortunately, the public health agency is now seeing that a lot of countries are on their way of effectively eliminating malaria.

United Nations, on the other hand, is now eyeing to minimize the cases and deaths of malaria by 90 percent before 2030. Meanwhile, the stop of the said sickness has been the main focus of Gates for a long time now as he released a report, together with U.N., on Sept. 2015 of their plans to completely destroy the disease.
Reggie Watts left some big shoes to fill when he stepped down as the co-host and bandleader on Comedy Bang! Bang! in 2015 to take on similar duties for The Late Late Show with James Corden. When musician Kid Cudi stepped in to replace Watts, things seem to settle down, but, unfortunately, his time on the show was limited. After Kid Cudis record took longer to release, which subsequently delayed his tour and pushed into the shows filming schedule, he had to back out, Scott Aukerman announced on Comedy Bang! Bang!s podcast onJanuary 25.

Luckily, none other than Weird Al Yankovic himself was on hand to step in. The musical comedian gladly agreed to join Comedy Bang! Bang!s fifth season as co-host and bandleader. In addition to his musical career, Weird Al has appeared on numerous television shows either as a guest or reoccurring character, but this marks the first time since 1997s The Weird Al Show that hell really get to infuse his personality into a show over an entire season. For a man who became a household name thanks to his own parodies, joining the quirky late night TV parody can only mean good things for viewers and fans alike.

Here are five reasons why Weird Al will make a great Comedy Bang! Bang! co-host and bandleader.

5. His reputation

Everybody loves Weird Al. Is that too broad a claim? Screw it. Everybody loves Weird Al. Given the wide array of guests Comedy Bang! Bang! hostsfrom celebrities who take the couch for an interview to comedians donning a character to add to the episodes colorWeird Al has the potential for some memorable interactions. Its refreshing to see actors and actresses drop their carefully crafted personas and genuinely get into a moment, a response the show often achieves from its guests. Simply by being himself, Weird Al seems as though hell only augment such moments. Plus, hes built up some impressive friendships in the comedy community by appearing on cult shows like Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job and Netflixs reboot Wet Hot American Summer: First Days of Camp. Weird Al clearly has great fun playing around with comedians, especially when their humor leans in an offbeat direction.

4. His potential to challenge Scott Aukerman

When the show announced Weird Al would be joining the fifth season, its longtime host naturally had something to say. Aukerman stated in the announcement posted on IFCs website, If you would have told me, when I was a teenager, listening and laughing along to Als In 3-D album, that one day I would partner up with him, I would have asked who you were and how you got in my room. Although Weird Al has appeared on every season of Comedy Bang! Bang! so far, working more exclusively with a comedian and musician youve long admired over the course of an entire season could push Aukerman in different comedic ways. Then theres the added fact that Weird Al is a personality unto himself, and integrating that into an established show will mean some adjusting on the longtime hosts part. As such, it will certainly be an intriguing partnership to watch.

3. His personality

Speaking of personality, Weird Al has the type of gregarious personality that will add to the shows eccentric and increasingly off the wall storylines. Over their four seasons together, Aukerman and Watts dealt with some crazy side plots as they attempted to put on their show. Whether dealing with the Comedy Bang! Bang! studio phantom, traveling through time to ensure the episode they tape is absolutely perfect, or attempting to solve their landlords murder, something was always interrupting the show and creating additional comedic fodder. Weird Al will bring a different personality to the set than the past two co-hosts, but for that reason it will be interesting to see how he plays along with and even magnifies the shows many gags. Between his previous TV and film credits, and his good-natured sense of humor, Weird Al seems ready, willing and able to roll with whatever punches occur on Comedy Bang! Bang!.

2. His music

Although not always the case, the music on Comedy Bang! Bang! has been limited to a traditional late-night TV format: play the show in and out of commercials, and play the guests to their chair. Since Weird Al made a name for himself writing song parodies, it will be interesting to see what he contributes to the shows musical content while still retaining his unique style. Its not that he wont get to write new parodies, but perhaps licensing restrictions will push him in new musical directions. Weird Al could use those smaller segments to show off his improvisational skills, which might readily benefit from the shows formatting and time constraints. Then theres the possibility that, like many a traditional late-night bandleader, he could join musical guests when they perform. True, Comedy Bang! Bang! hasnt had a ton of musicians perform on the show, but that could all change. And then of course theres the potential for Weird Al to take comedic liberties when it comes to introducing guests through song. Oh, the possibilities.

1. His wordplay

Anyone who can parody songs knows the myriad possibilities inherent in language. The impressive thing about Weird Al is his adaptability and staying power despite musics ever-changing soundscape. Whether creating clever interpretations of pop, rock and hip-hop hits, or writing his own original songs, Weird Al knows how to play with language and create a laugh. Appearing on Comedy Bang! Bang!s January 25 podcast, Weird Al revealed how his wit and wordplay will fit in with the shows already offbeat sense of humor. Host Scott Aukerman told Weird Al, Ive been a big fan of yours for a long time. Since probably, I dont know, your start. Without pausing, Weird Al retorted, As an embryo or a fetus? What are we talking about here? Weird Al displays a quick talent for tapping into languages multiple meanings in order to find humorous ways beyond the trite and cliched speak that so much TV banter tends to rely upon, even a show spoofing such banter.

Amanda Wicks is a New Orleans-based freelance writer specializing in comedy and music. Follow her on Twitter @aawicks.
The silence speaks volumes in Kelly Reichardts films. In works like Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy and Meeks Cutoff, she has explored how people spend most of their day thinking, not talking, and that perhaps those quiet moments can be as revealing of character as anything that comes out of their mouths. (And, lets not forget, even when we speak, were rarely saying precisely what we mean.)

Reichardts less-is-so-much-more approach is again on display beautifully in Certain Women, a series of three barely interconnected stories in which the empty spaces are pregnant with meaning and resonance. As usual with her films, Certain Women is so delicately but smartly constructed that ecstatic reviews may give people the wrong idea about its greatness. Certain Women is wonderful not because its some towering, imposing colossus, but because every small moment feels thoughtfully considered, fully lived-in. Certain Women seeps into the skin and expands in the mind. It leaves you shakeneven though nothing seemingly momentous has happened.

Based on short stories by Maile Meloy, the film is set in the authors home state of Montana, and its in keeping with Reichardts subdued style that the three narratives arent joined together in any aggressively clever way. (Like the rest of the film, the interconnections are casual, effortless, presented without comment.)

In the first vignette, a vaguely unsatisfied lawyer named Laura (Laura Dern) must counsel an aggrieved client (Jared Harris) whos unhappy with the amount of money hes received in a lawsuit settlement. In the second, Gina (Michelle Williams), a focused wife and mother, is on the search for some limestone for the house she and her disengaged husband (James Le Gros) are building. And finally, a lonely cattle rancher named Jamie (Lily Gladstone) stumbles into a nighttime legal class taught by an out-of-towner (Kristen Stewart), striking up a friendship with the disenfranchised woman.

The films title perhaps suggests an overriding theme to Certain Women, but even then theres a teasing ambiguity. Certain women could have the sting of a sexist pejorative, but it could also mean that were simply watching snapshots of the lives of random, ordinary women. Either way, Certain Women feels both specific and universal without any sort of pointed feminist statement going on.

In fact, its best to approach Certain Women not looking for thematic links or any sort of greater significance to the different stories. Those ambitions arent Reichardtsshes a filmmaker who chronicles everyday activities with an exceptionally unfussy clarity. For instance, we watch Jamie tend to her horses or spy Gina during a silent, probably clandestine smoke break from her family, and the way in which Reichardt composes her shots and compiles themshe also serves as the films editorcreates an apt articulation of how the exact execution of normal activities illuminates aspects of our personality that may be unconscious to us.

Because Certain Women features no flashbacks or back stories, we learn about these characters only through the hints we get from their actions, which makes for arresting viewing as we try to sift through scant clues to begin to understand these people. Engaged in a pointless romantic fling with another man, Laura will end up being bonded to her potentially dangerous client during one frightening night, and much like in Reichardts underrated thriller Night Moves, the filmmaker manages to wring suspense and surprising character development from the simplest of setups.

But to be clear, Reichardt isnt withholding information about these women just to be coy or purposely opaque. Whats remarkable about Certain Women is that the inquisitiveness we expend trying to deduce who these people are results in feeling more and more empathetic toward them. Thats in large part thanks to the performances, which transcend such simplistic descriptions as naturalistic to become weathered and offhand and marvelously simple. There are no big speeches in Certain Women, no actor-ly moments, and so the cast follows Reichardts example, letting each small experience speak for itself. One look from Rene Auberjonois as an older man with an excess of limestone ends up recalibrating how we feel about Gina, while a quiet shared horse ride between two other characters is so startlingly intimate that it informs every scene they have together afterward.

Above all, though, there is silence. Featuring a score from longtime Reichardt composer Jeff Grace, which only kicks in for a few (devastating) moments, Certain Women strips away all distractions so that we can better immerse ourselves into the powerful stillness of Montanas wide-open spaces. Its not just the beautiful exterior locations that give the film an elemental power: These people seem carved out of rock, sunk into the land, which makes their fates seem inconsequential, but also oddly meaningful. Not that there are clear resolutions to Certain Womens storylinesat best, we get a greater sense of the characters inner lives and a hope that maybe theyve found some modest kernel of wisdom to take with them.

But to be attuned to this movies rhythms, you really need to enter the film with an openness to receive it, letting the characters experiences up there on the screen wash over you. Reichardt treats cinema as a kind of meditation, which probably explains why her movies almost never feature traditional endings. Lives are a process, not necessarily a destination, and Reichardt honors her characters journey by letting it ebb and flow as it pleases. Like so many of her films, Certain Women is muted and restorative. It fills you up with so much life that its silence is almost overwhelming. Suddenly, the real world feels too loud.

Director: Kelly Reichardt

Writers: Kelly Reichardt (screenplay); Maile Meloy (short stories)

Starring: Laura Dern, Jared Harris, Lily Gladstone, James Le Gros, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams, Rene Auberjonois

Release Date: Premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival

Tim Grierson is chief film critic for Paste and the vice president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. You can follow him on Twitter.
Public safety workers responded to a crash on Interstate 5 near the Boston Mill Road overpass on Monday morning and found that one emergency led to another  and another and another.

As traffic slowed because of the first crash, three additional wrecks occurred, said Halsey-Shedd Fire Chief Skip Smith.

The thing is speed. People have got to slow down, Smith said. He urged motorists to pay attention to the roadway, and added that in one of the wrecks, people likely were gawking and looking at the initial crash.

A Salem man who was the driver of in the initial single-car wreck died of a medical emergency that was not related to the crash, according to authorities. Brian James Dobson was 46.

At about 6:22 a.m., Oregon State Police received a call about a vehicle parked in a field off Interstate 5 southbound with its lights on. The trooper saw Dobson unresponsive inside the Kia Soul, smashed out the passenger window to check on him, and then called medics after he couldnt find a pulse, according to police logs.

We got there, medics started CPR, and we were working on this guy, and Albanys medics had just pulled up, and somebody wasnt paying attention, Smith said, adding that he heard tires screeching.

According to an Oregon State Police news release, at 7:13 a.m., a Hyundai sedan slowed down for emergency lights and was rear-ended by a Toyota pickup, which was subsequently rear-ended by a Chevrolet pickup.

The Chevrolet vehicle flipped after rear-ending the second vehicle, and blocked both southbound lanes for approximately a half-hour, though traffic was able to sneak past on the shoulder of the roadway, Smith said.

One lane of I-5 was blocked for about 90 minutes due to the crash, the news release states.

Motorists only suffered minor injuries from the three-car wreck, Smith said.

At 8:16 a.m., an empty red International truck towing a car-trailer was southbound in the left lane about two miles north of the Boston Mill Road overpass when if failed to slow down enough for congested traffic. The truck braked and jack-knifed, colliding with an RV towing a Jeep SUV in the right lane and then hitting the median cable barrier, according to state police.

No injuries were reported in the semi-versus-RV crash, but one lane of the freeway was blocked for more than two hours. Tangent Rural Fire District also cleaned up diesel that spilled out of the semi, Smith said.

At 10:01 a.m., a Nissan X-terra was southbound a few miles north of the overpass when it also failed to slow down for clogged-up traffic, and smashed into the back of a Nissan SUV. Both automobiles veered into the freeway median barrier, according to police logs. There were no significant injuries in that crash, as well, Smith said.

Dobson apparently lost control of his vehicle due to the medical emergency, and the Kia went about 750 feet through the field before bogging down in the mud.

The Linn County Sheriff's Office and Oregon Department of Transportation also assisted at the scene.
A London filmmaker is trolling the British Board of Film Certification, which is the official censorship authority that bans and rates movies according to arguably archaic standards. The BBFC was founded in 1912 to ensure that British film remain virtuous and without indecorous dancing, references to controversial politics and men and women in bed together. Okay, were not sure how much water these guidelines hold in todays British film industry considering that even Harry Potter doesnt live up to them. Although they presumably let all the indecorous dancing slide in todays films, the BBFC is still ruffling feathers with their stringent regulations.

Every movie released in the U.K. must receive a a certificate from the board, and it will cost you 7.09/minute to get your movie rated. To put that in perspective, indie filmmakers are shelling out an average of 1000 per movie from their already limited budgets.

Charlie Lyne, a filmmaker and film critic, crowdsourced funds to create a movie for the express purpose of having the BBFC sit through and rate the film. Its an exciting coming-of-age tale about two attractive young people making their love work despite the oddsjust kidding. Its a single, unbroken shot of white paint drying on a brick wall.

Lyne raised 5,936, which was enough to submit about 10 hours of wall footage to the board. The filmmaker took on this project to raise the question of whether government agencies should be allowed to regulate an entire art form.

The BBFC evaluated Lynes movie and it received a U rating, which means that there is no material likely to offend or harm. We can only suspect that Lyne, knowing the BBFC wouldnt watch all 607 minutes, snuck in some heinously explicit material in the last three.
After over 10 years slinging drinks behind the bar and in restaurants, Shana Leachman launched her own business, Savory Sicles, popsicle cocktail mixes made to pair with alcoholic beverages that are sip-ready, no rocks required. A California native, Leachman got her start working at the Google campus Cafe 150, where all ingredients are sourced from within 150 miles of the cafe itself. Their high standards stuck with her and still influence her today as a new business owner.

The idea for Savory Sicles first came to Leachman during a stint in Baltimore, where she worked as Beverage Manager of Fork & Wrench, a popular boutique dive bar. It was right around the time the craft bar movement was picking up steam, and it was there that Leachman crafted the first Savory Sicles prototype as she developed a full beverage program for the restaurant and bar, including craft cocktails, specialty beer, and a curated wine list.

When developing the cocktail menu, I channeled all the good times at local dive bars and tried to recreate cocktails with dive bar inspiration, she says. The infamous pickleback is one of the drinks I had to recreate. As a result, the pickle pop back was invented and quickly gained popularity. The popularity grew to the point of getting some attention from a couple national online publications, as well as local buzz.

When Leachman moved to Los Angeles, a former co-worker texted to say hed met a bartender in New York City whose interest piqued when he told him about working at Fork & Wrench. The bartender knew it immediately as the place with the pickle pop backs. This kinda blew my mind, Leachman says, and that was the reason I decided to go into business and start making Savory Sicles.

Fast forward six years, and Leachman has perfected her pickleback popsicle mix, and added two other flavors to the pop menu, a Moscow Mule and Bloody Mary. The popsicles are packaged like the old school squeeze pops you might remember from childhood, and are to be similarly enjoyed with the adult addition of booze, by cutting off the plastic end and placing into 1.5 oz. of your preferred spirit and swirling the pop as it melts, simultaneously chilling and flavoring your cocktail.

Whatever ingredients are locally available, Leachman sources from within the greater Los Angeles area, using pickle juice from a Silverlake pickle company called Kruegermann Pickles for the Pickle pop, and ginger beer cordial from Seabold Ginger Beer Company in Culver City for the Mule pop.

I wanted to go for classics while keeping with the savory flavor profile, Leachman says. The pickleback is a dive bar classic; of course, the Bloody Mary (a spicier version of the classic) is a staple for any brunch libation; and the Moscow Mule is arguably the most popular cocktail around, especially due to its Los Angeles history. I make these flavors for their popularity, their uniqueness and their ability to pair diversely with different spirits.

Leachman plans to develop more pop flavors as the business expands, and lists pairing recommendations on the Savory Sicles website. She can currently be found behind the bar at The Black Cat in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, where she plans to continue slinging drinks in addition to running Savory Sicles, for the love of the craft.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for those who havent seen Sicaro

Fascinating stuff for Sicario fans (of which I am one) in this weeks Hollywood Reporter cover story. In an interview with producer Basil Iwanyk, who started Thunder Road after leaving Warner Bros. in 2006, a pretty interesting nugget gets dropped. It turns out, that crazy scene at the end where Benicio Del Toros character infiltrates the drug lords compound and murderswell, everyone...wasnt quite so extreme in the original version:

Youre saying, Trust the filmmaker.

Exactly right. I mean, Sicario had a totally different ending. In the original script, Benicio Del Toro has his discussion with the drug lord, then he shoots the drug lord and turns to the mother and says, Get your kids out of here. But a week before shooting, we changed it [to having his family killed]. At our first test screening in New Jersey, I told people, Listen, as those kids are killed, theres going to be a big chunk of the audience thats going to reject the movie. But that was the highest-testing scene in the movie. I would never of thought of that, but my job was to take that leap with Benicio and [director Denis Villeneuve].

As Iwanyk noted, that scene became the movies trademarkthe one youd talk about with friends when it was over. Check out the rest of the interview for Iwanyks perspective on running a large production company while maintaining artistic integrity, and be happy for the freedom he gives his artistswithout it, one of the years most memorable scenes would be sitting somewhere on the cutting room floor.
Ahead of Apple's financial conference call that's scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET today, a new report this morning is claiming that Apple will announce that its iPhone sales were the slowest in their history at approximately one percent over last year. This compares with a nearly 46 percent year-over-year jump in iPhone sales in the first quarter of 2015. To date, the slowest growth in quarterly iPhone sales had been 6.8 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2013, according to data from Statista. Analysts estimate Apple sold 75.5 million iPhones in the October-December quarter, a 1.3 percent increase from a year earlier, according to research firm FactSet StreetAccount.

The Reuters report further noted that "The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, which boasted record weekend sales when they launched in September, are now facing weak demand, according to analysts, because they have fewer distinguishing features than their popular predecessors.

Reuters is also forecasting that "Apple is expected to forecast a drop in iPhone sales for the March quarter  the first time that sales will fall since the iPhone was launched in 2007." The forecast for next quarter iPhones sales is the key that all will be listening for in the conference call today.

Reuters further notes that Analysts are saying that "the company will have to wait until the launch of the iPhone 7, expected later this year, to return to growth, as buyers upgrade to the latest version." That of course could change rather quickly if the rumored lower priced 4" iPhone model surfaces this spring as expected.

While we'll see later today if the Reuters report is accurate, we have to acknowledge that Apple's 46% growth last year was a staggering achievement for a product line that began in 2007. It was also an all-new model which is always a better seller than its follow-up model. And so, despite the challenge of facing such a wall of growth to overcome, even a one percent growth factor should be applauded.

In contrast, Samsung is widely expected to have another missed quarter in-part due to falling smartphone sales as noted in our January 8 report titled "Another Quarter Goes by and Samsung's Recovery is nowhere in Sight."

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With the European Commission investigating and fining a number of U.S. Companies successfully of late, European tech companies have now decided to try another approach at hitting U.S. Companies hard going forward regarding Intellectual Property. Apple and others beware -- Europe is getting ready for patent wars, reports BloombergBusiness today. The report further noted that "Some of Europe's biggest producers of intellectual property are teaming up to battle for rules that'll help them cash in better on innovation. Telecommunications network builder Ericsson AB, plane maker Airbus Group SE, French phone company Orange SA and train maker Alstom SA are among companies behind IP Europe, a consortium due to be unveiled today in Brussels.

Through IP Europe, companies plan to lobby the European Commission on patents and are hoping to level the playing field with technology, communications and other innovation-makers including in the U.S. and China.

Ericsson, who is listed ninth on the list of companies with the biggest number of patents filed in Europe, was entangled in a global licensing battle with Apple over such fundamental patents. The Swedish company claimed the iPhone maker infringed on its patents fundamental to the way mobile devices communicate, until they reached a settlement in December." For more on this, see the full BloombergBusiness report here.

A European publication covering the news today noted that "Today, Airbus, Ericsson and France patent announced the creation of IP Europe Alliance, a not-for-profit alliance aimed to defend the rights of patent and protect the equitable remuneration of innovators, market entry opportunities and the high quality products at affordable prices for consumers. IP Europe is supported by other major innovators such as Alstom, the Fraunhofer Institute and Orange, as well as several innovative SMEs and European research institutes."

The report further noted that advanced technology companies and research institutes in Europe are mobilizing to defend intellectual property and protect innovation so Europe can be in a position of strength in the negotiations on the Treaty of transatlantic free trade" and beyond.

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.
I loved seeing the X-Files make its return to television last night. Here are some thoughts about the episode and in particular religious themes in it.

The episode begins with Mulders story and perspective. In narrating about the long history of UFOs, he refers to Biblical references. At the end of the opening monologue, he says we have to ask ourselves whether they are truly a hoax, or whether we are being lied to.

Through much of the episode, a storyline in Roswell in 1947 is interspersed with one in the present day. In the latter, Walter Skinner contacts Dana Scully, trying to put a conspiracy theory talk show host, Tad OMalley, in touch with him. He takes them to meet an abductee that Fox interviewed as a little girl. The girl, Sveta, says that it was people who impregnated her and took her babies. Fox also gets taken to see a replica vehicle supposedly made with alien technology, using zero point energy and gravity warp drive harnessing the power of element 151, ununpentium. The latter is a reference to claims of a real life individual who says he worked at Groom Lake/Area 51.

In another interesting religious reference, Scully refers to her work at a hospital, focused on a rare condition of children born without ears. Her reference to surgeons who are doing Gods work is particularly striking, since it involves human intervention into situations in which biology has not given children something most of us take for granted. And so what sort of idea of God is at work here?

Mulder revisits his office (where we see his famous poster). When he talks to Skinner there, he refers to controlling the past to control the future. He decides that in the past he was manipulated to pursue aliens, when in fact that was intended as a distraction from something else. In fact it was the military complex using alien technology, against other humans. The aim is the takeover of America. Fox has met with a doctor who was at Roswell, and hints that he now believes the Russians were behind it.

But Scully tells Sveta that her tests showed no alien DNA, and so Sveta goes to the media saying it was a hoax and that she was manipulated by OMalley. The military shows up and destroys the alien ship replica. Tad OMalleys Truth Squad site goes offline. Yet when Scully retests Svetas DNA, and compares it with her own, she becomes convinced that the same abduction and tests were done to both of them. Scully says they need to protect Sveta, but an alien ship kills her and blows up her car.

The episode ends with the cigarette-smoking man saying there is a small problem  theyve re-opened the X-Files.

It is interesting to reflect on the shows updating of its conspiracy theory approach to embrace 9/11 trutherism, false flag operations, and other such things. Conspiracy theories and the right wing conservativism have not always gone hand in hand in the way that they have come to. Indeed, the political Right seems to be trying at once to be a movement of patriotic support for the nation, and skepticism of that nation and its politicians. And so I will be interested to see whether the show engages that constituency of Fox viewers (referring there to the TV channel as well as the character  is the fact that they are the same a coincidence, or proof of the conspiracy?)

What did you think of the episode?
Joseph Fiennes burst onto the scene nearly two decades ago in a pair of movies set in Elizabethan times: Elizabeth, in which he played the title characters lover, and Shakespeare in Love, in which he played the title character himself.

Since then, Fiennes has kept busy in a variety of films, many of them period pieces  and lately, he has starred in a few films about famous Christians, such as the Reformation biopic Luther and the upcoming Eric Liddell film The Last Race.

Next month hell be seen in Risen as a Roman officer named Clavius who takes part in the death of Jesus and is then told to find the body after it vanishes from its tomb. Clavius is assisted in his quest by Lucius, a fellow soldier played by Tom Felton (who previously worked with Fiennes brother Ralph on the Harry Potter movies).

I had the opportunity to talk to Fiennes about Risen by phone last week. What follows is a slightly edited transcript of our conversation. (Warning: there are spoilers here, but nothing that you couldnt have inferred from the films trailers.)



My understanding is that, about 20 years ago, you played Jesus himself in a stage production [of Dennis Potters Son of Man].

Fiennes: Correct. It was a production  or a play, rather  by a wonderful writer, I think one of our most extraordinary television writers. It was a time way before television was really as we see it today. His name is Dennis Potter, and he wrote plays such as Singing Detective and Pennies from Heaven, amongst others  and this was a play that was banned in the 1950s because Christ had never been portrayed onstage, and it went to court, actually, and there was an injunction on it. But eventually it was performed [on television in 1969], and I performed it with the Royal Shakespeare Company many years later. And what I loved about the play, for me  and maybe in the 50s it riled a lot of people  but Christ was portrayed with having doubts, suffering from severe doubt, and what I thought was extraordinary about this piece was that it allowed me as an actor  and, I think, the viewers  to really connect with Christ as a human being. Because of course, as the Son of God  or in this case, Son of Man, as the play was called  if he is on Earth and in the form of a man, then he should suffer all the contradictions that we have within us, all the characteristics, and doubt was one of them. So that, for me, was a fascinating aspect to the play. But yes, a longwinded answer to your question: I played Christ many years ago.

That was 20 years ago, but did that experience inform how you approached Risen at all?

Fiennes: I dont know if it informed, but I certainly think it had a big effect on me. It had a huge effect on the audiences, and you know, its undeniable and inescapable, what I witnessed onstage. In the play, we see the crucifixion, and the cross is built  its built by himself in the play, we did a production where he builds the cross himself out of wood, and then its erected  and it was a searing moment, and audences really across the board were very, very moved by the play, and I was moved and felt privileged to be a part of that. And stepping back into Risen, all these years later, I think its safe to say for the rest of the cast and especially Cliff Curtis [who plays Jesus], you enter into this with a sense of honour and respect. Its rather like, whenever I walk into a church or a chapel, Im overwhelmed by an atmosphere  an incredibly powerful, positive atmosphere  and I dont know whether its thousands of prayers over the years that are in the fabric of the walls or what it is, but its the same when you enter this material. Theres an atmosphere to it. And I felt that the cast and our director and producers and the whole team was very cognizant of this, and it was a very special journey, even seeing this narrative play out cinematically through the eyes of a non-believer. And the effects of what he witnesses in the upper room halfway through the movie, this irrevocable moment that shakes him to the core, is very, very powerful. So as an actor, Im very moved by the material.

Theres a verse in Matthew 28 that says the disciples saw Jesus in Galilee, and some doubted. That idea  that even some of those who saw the resurrected Jesus had their doubts  gets skipped over in nearly every Jesus movie I can think of, and one of the things I think is really interesting about Risen is the fact that, although youre not playing one of the disciples, there is a scene where your character actually discusses with Jesus the fact that youve seen him and you still have doubts.

Fiennes: Yeah. I think youve  sorry for the expression  but youve hit the nail on the head. For me, thats my favorite scene, and that is, whether youre a believer or a non-believer, I think that is so integral to the movie, that one moment and that discussion. That, to me, is the most special point in the film. So Im thrilled that youve pinpointed that.

I read somewhere that you and Cliff Curtis didnt talk to each other at all prior to shooting your first scene together, and I was just wondering if that was the scene in question or was it the earlier scene halfway through the film?

Fiennes: That was the scene in question. The first moment that we had ever spoken was on camera, in that scene. We had been together for a number of months, traveling through Malta and into Spain, and that scene was shot in Spain, and I think we both had our methodologies as actors, and our way in. I personally kind of, off-camera, stayed true to my character, I wouldnt give him space. And he had taken a vow of silence outside of the disciples anyway for the months that we were shooting, and it added up to bringing a greater amount of contact and chemistry when we did speak. So youre right, we didnt have contact  eye contact, verbal contact  physically in the same room. I would go out of the room if he came in. I wanted to save that connection in that moment. So yeah, its true.

What was it that drew you to this particular story when you saw the script?

Fiennes: Kevin Reynolds, I think, is a wonderful director, and I feel really privileged that he offered me the part. And when I read it, it was really the detective story. I had never seen a biblical movie with such momentum, the sense of a ticking clock, and I felt cinematically this was a beautiful device. I also loved the idea that we should visit a story that many of us know very, very well, and even if you know it a little bit, youre going to get carried through the lens of a non-believer, a skeptic  and not only a skeptic but a man who was there and oversaw the death of Christ, the crucifixion of Christ. I thought was really exciting and original. And that was the hook that got me in.

It really is effective, the way the film sort of defamiliarizes the story, the way your character is bothered by the noise coming from that woman over there, and we know thats Mary, but because its from your perspective, its kind of like This is maybe an odd example to bring up, but Eric Idle, talking about Life of Brian, has talked about how there were scenes in there that were inspired by the idea that whenever something miraculous or significant happened, there would always be people who missed it because they were off Hoovering or something

Fiennes: (laughs)

and your character shows up late for the crucifixion, and its just another dead body to you, and I thought that was really interesting.

Fiennes: Yeah, youre right. We meet him, you know, battle-weary, having just put down one insurrection, and hes off to oversee a crucifixion of yet another would-be messiah, and then hes charged to find the body because its another hoax  that [Jesus] will rise again  and its all a sort of PR exercise for the enemy. And so, yeah, its just another day at the office. And I love that sense that actually this huge revolution is going to hit Clavius right between the eyes, and for all of his brilliant military training, and for all of his surgical detective work and his intellect, nothing  nothing  can prepare him for the truth that he will witness. And we as an audience are waiting for that monumental kind of moment, and it happens in the upper room, and we see a man whos deeply conditioned one day and then hes undone the next, and he goes on that journey. But as you said earlier, and I think this is what a lot of people will kind of find interesting, is that sense of, even in the face of witnessing this, his intellect still blocks his kind of spiritual evolution, and I think thats something many of us might struggle with, and its a wonderful point of discussion.

Reportedly, there was a subplot where your character had a Jewish mistress. Apparently shes a major character in the novelization. Do you know why that was cut from the film?

Fiennes: I dont know why. There was an amazing moment in a scene where she is brought in, unbeknown to Clavius, with the disciples, as someone that has been seeing a shadowy character. Maybe this shadowy character, as Lucius says, is someone we should be investigating, and it happens to be that that shadowy character is Clavius. So he ends up having an interrogation with the woman that he loves, and the interrogation is being overseen by another officer, Tom Feltons character, so theres this wonderful moment where theres this dialogue, and then theres this subtext to the dialogue. And also, she learns for the first time that hes not just a Roman soldier but hes a high-ranking military soldier, and shes caught up in his investigation. I think this is where it comes down to timing and where it comes down to sticking to maybe more scripture and less fictionalization, and its always been a discussion of getting that balance right, honouring the story and being creative but not diverting too much. So maybe it was felt that this was a deviation too much, although I really enjoyed that component of the film. But sadly, thats what happens in the cut.

In addition to Risen, you also starred a few years ago in a movie about Martin Luther. Is the faith-based movie thing becoming a pattern, or a habit?

Fiennes: Not consciously! I just jump to material that speaks to me. I dont know, its very curious to me. But I just played Eric Liddell, who for me is a saint, a missionary that died in a Japanese concentration camp and is famously remembered in the film Chariots of Fire. And I dont know why. Martin Luther brought the Reformation, maybe a hundred years before it was due. What is it with these characters? I guess what it is is maybe theres a component where if we set ourselves a standard  whether its of integrity or a moral standard, or a discipline, a positive kind of discipline  we immediately invite forces that want to undo that, and I look to these characters, either fictional or true, that have raised the bar of their integrity and stuck by it and have weathered the storm. And maybe theres a part of me that loves and searches for those rocks on which to bring about my self-evolution, I dont know.

Your brother Ralph also did the voice of Jesus in a stop-motion animated film some years ago. Did you talk to him at all about that, the experience of doing a film in that genre?

Fiennes: I havent. That was the Pharaoh film.

He did the Pharaoh in The Prince of Egypt, but he also did the voice of Jesus in The Miracle Maker.

Fiennes: Oh, I see. Well then thats new to me, I didnt know that. I knew of the Pharaoh, but I didnt know that. So as you can see, I havent spoken to him, because I didnt know about it! So that answers that. But no, no, and in all honesty, when we get together, we dont really talk shop, we talk sort of family and children and things like that. (laughs)

That makes sense. Last question: With Risen coming up a month from now, what do you hope audiences take away from it?

Fiennes: Great question, and maybe this doesnt accurately answer your question, but what I would love is that audiences, both from a faith-based and a non-faith-based and a cinephile audience could all fill the auditorium and share the space together, and harmoniously enjoy the cinematic feast that is both true to scripture and creatively wonderful. Because theres so much kind of polarization between something thats too conservative or something thats too revisionist, and my dream is this is maybe one of the first times that we get everyone in the room together, and happily so. So that would be my dream.



Risen opens in theatres across North America on February 19.
From todays Chicago Tribune, Nearly half of young black men in Chicago out of work, out of school: report:

Forty-seven percent of 20- to 24-year-old black men in Chicago, and 44 percent in Illinois, were out of school and out of work in 2014, compared with 20 percent of Hispanic men and 10 percent of white men in the same age group, according to the report from the University of Illinois at Chicagos Great Cities Institute. The numbers for black men are far worse in Chicago and Illinois than elsewhere in the country. In Los Angeles and New York City, 31 percent of black 20- to 24-year-old men were out of school and out of work, in line with the national average of 32 percent. While declines in youth employment across all races have raised concerns for a number of years, the new report puts into stark focus the connection between unemployment and Chicagos racially segregated neighborhoods that also are home to high rates of poverty and crime. The report shows the highest concentration of youth unemployment is in neighborhoods on the citys South and West sides, especially Fuller Park, Englewood, East Garfield Park and North Lawndale, each of which is more than 90 percent black. The lowest concentration is in mostly white neighborhoods on the North and Northwest sides.

Heres what amounts to a press release (actually a blog post) about the report, and heres the full report. The most important table is this:

For comparison, according to the OECD, the US national average for 20  24 year olds was 18.77%, which is almost exactly at the OECD average of 18.21%. Not even the rates for the most economically troubled of the OECD countries are as high as the black male in Chicago rate: Turkey is highest at 35.89%, followed by Italy (33.74%), Greece (33.12%), and Spain (32.25%). This is a key statistic, and even has its own acronym; NEET means Not in Employment, Education, or Training.

What do you do with these statistics? How do you solve this problem? A companion commentary piece published alongside this article says the answer is simple: If we want to get serious about stopping the killings, there has to be a joint effort between Chicago-area businesses, nonprofits and individuals to mentor young people and give them work.

But where would the jobs come from? You cant just will them into existence. Back in the summer, I wrote about the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, in which big businesses such as Starbucks and Walmart announced their intention to increase hiring of exactly these disadvantaged young adults. And back then, the question was the same: where would these jobs come from?

One things for sure, this notion that immigrants are doing the jobs Americans wont do seems pretty foolish in light of these statistics. And the citys plan to raise the minimum wage isnt going to help, either.

The other challenge is this: the rates for black men are far higher than for black women, and this despite the worries everyone has about high teen/unplanned pregnancy rates, which ought to produce exactly the opposite effect, of stereotypical welfare queens.

So I dont have an answer. Do you?

UPDATE: Actually, yes, I do have an answer. I had forgotten about this. Its called the subminimum wage, and I wrote about it back after the 2014 elections, when there was a lot of talk about hikes in the minimum wage. What I proposed was this: sure, lets hike the wage, if we must, or at any rate as something that Republicans could offer Democrats in a bigger compromise deal, though not so radically as the $15/hr proposal, anyway  but lets also provide for a subminimum wage for young people and for the long-term unemployed, to motivate employers to take a chance on them and hire them even despite the risks that come with taking on someone whos never held a job before, or for work that an employer cant, as a practical matter, pay an employee a higher wage level and still stay in business. I proposed a structure where new entrants to the labor force would earn 70% of the minimum wage, then 80%, 90%, and 100%, after 1, 2, and 3 years of employment (as measured by Social Security work history), which would function as 3 years of pay increases. Would employers seek to fire employees as they reach these higher service levels? Maybe  but it would seem to be a poor business practice to constantly chase after the group of potential workers whove never had a job, and, even if they did so, it might not be so bad, if that meant that they had to develop a business model around training the least experienced individuals to navigate the world of work.

Is this unfair to workers with families to support? Not if you pair it with wage supplements like the EITC. But if the NEETs are in need of some job, any job, then a subminimum + targeted supplements combo is better than nothing.
Is contemporary Paganism splitting, perhaps schisming? Thats the proposition of The Matter Of The Gods by Jonathan Woolley, posted on Gods & Radicals last month and also published in A Beautiful Resistance. Woolley says it is, and he comes down strongly in favor of one side of the split. He says:

Let us not worry unnecessarily over the matter of the gods; but explore it with curiosity, and accept the inevitably of many answers to the same questions. Let us leave beliefand all the problematic baggage that it carriesbehind. For there are far more important conversations; over how we should govern ourselves, about the security of our water and our weather, and about who our friends (and enemies) are. Because the more situated, the more contemporary, the more specific in time and space, the more rooted in the pragmatic concerns and the lived experiences of people today our spirituality is, the more like the wisdom of the ancients it becomes.

There is much to like in this essay. Woolleys history is solid, especially his point that since the demise of Christianitys death-grip on personal belief and practice in the West, religion has become diverse and complicated and beautifully so. As I discussed in my last post, most peoples definition of religion is filled with unexamined Christian assumptions, many of them straight out of Victorian colonialism. But that definition doesnt hold true in the rest of the world, and it need not hold for us.

But Woolley falls into this same trap when he examines the state of contemporary Paganism:

It is assumed that the question What is Paganism? can be answered with reference to a particular set of ideas, that owe their validity to a single authoritative source. In doing this, we treat Christianity  with its emphasis on just such an arrangement  as the gold standard to which we must aspire.

Woolley looks at several models of Paganism (including my own Four Centers of Paganism) but says theyre an attempt to force us into a community joined by common belief. This is a misreading of the Four Centers model, which is not a definition but an attempt to describe what people who go to Pagan events, buy Pagan books, write and comment on Pagan blogs, and generally identify as Pagans think and do. Belief is part of that, but only one part, and for many its far from the most important part.

Still, Woolley is right that theres a split between polytheists and other Pagans, to an extent that some polytheists would take issue with my use of the word other in this sentence. This is a natural and inevitable part of the maturation of Paganism. Weve moved from the joy of being freed from religions that dont fit us to deep theological and philosophical contemplation (though there have always been people doing deep thinking and devoted practice). And our deep contemplations are leading us toward many expressions of Pagan and polytheist belief and practice, not one.

I have long argued that in order for polytheism to become widespread, it must be as accessible and welcoming to the plumber and the accountant as it is to the mystic and the priest. If Jonathan Woolley wishes to devote himself to practical concerns and pour an occasional libation, so be it. Our movement  and our world  needs radicals and activists as much as it needs theologians and ritualists. Let each of us do what were called to do and honor the Gods in the ways They require of us.

Where I take issue with this essay is the contention that the Gods and our thinking about the Gods are unimportant.

Woolley repeats a famous quote from author Terry Pratchett:

Most witches dont believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they dont believe in them. They know them too well. It would be like believing in the postman. (1)

Terry Pratchett was brilliant and funny, and for his audience (far more Sci-Fi and fantasy fans than actual witches and Pagans) this quote was perfect. It emphasizes that we best know the Gods through first-hand experience, not through unreflective acceptance of someone elses ideas about Them.

But too many Pagans and would-be polytheists take this quote a bit too literally. We know the postman exists, of course. Mail appears in our box every day. Outgoing mail disappears and a few days later we get confirmation it arrived. Sometimes we see our postman in the neighborhood, and on rare occasion we may actually speak to him.

But the vast majority of the time we dont think about the postman. We dont even think about the things he does for us. We just walk to the box with certainty that the mail will be there, or if the box is empty, with certainty that we got lucky and no one sent us junk mail or a bill today. We take the postman for granted.

We never notice that the postman is actually a woman named Carolyn who has two children and skates in roller derby on the weekends, who loves sushi and spends her vacations hiking in the mountains. Because we never talk to her, we never hear about the mystical waterfall she found in Colorado or the time she got caught on the side of a mountain in a thunderstorm and thought she was going to die. (2)

We just see the mail coming and going. We know the postman exists, but she isnt very important to us.

For many polytheists, not only is believing in the Gods not sufficient, neither is knowing Them at the level we know the postman. We will only be satisfied with knowing Them at a level where we understand Them as real, distinct, individual beings with sovereignty and agency. We must know Them as persons, not merely as roles.

Our beliefs are our attempts to correlate our experiences of and thoughts about the Gods with the experiences and thoughts of our ancestors and of our fellow polytheists. They are not creeds to be recited verbatim  we are not so arrogant as to think we know everything thats important about any one God, much less the Gods in general. Rather, they are working hypotheses, constantly subject to revision as our experience and knowledge grow.

I do not want polytheism to become a network of clerical and monastic orders where pious levels of devotion are required for admission. We need those clerical and monastic orders (and a bunch of individuals doing pious levels of devotion) but we also need plumbers and accountants and activist academics. At Imbolc, there is room at Brighids altar for everyone to make an offering, including those who only know Her as an Irish Goddess who may or may not have a connection with a Catholic saint of the same name.

Jonathan Woolley is right  the Western legacy of Christianity has left us with the unworkable idea that all religions should either convert or converge to one. But there are already many polytheisms: some revived, some reconstructed, and some  such as the African Traditional Religions  that have existed continuously for thousands of years. Many Gods, many ways.

While we need not and should not fight over belief, neither should we discount it. Some just want to pick up their mail, but others want to know the Postmen in all Their glorious wisdom and might.

(1) from Witches Abroad, 1991.

(2) Morpheus Ravenna discussed this idea in more depth in her keynote address at last years Many Gods West conference.
SALEM  Oregon State University student Sara Pierson, representing Marion County, was crowned the 2016 Oregon Dairy Princess-Ambassador Saturday evening at the Salem Convention Center.

Gina Atsma, representing Polk County, was named first alternate at the 57th annual coronation hosted by the Oregon Dairy Women.

Pierson and Atsma were among six contestants vying for the 2016 title.

Pierson, 20, is a student at Oregon State University, where she is studying Agricultural Business Management and hopes to pursue a career in the dairy industry.

Pierson was born and reared on Sar-Ben Farms, a dairy farm in St. Paul. At Oregon State she is active in the Dairy Club as well as the Collegiate FFA Chapter.

Piersons speech during the contest, titled Where I Come From discussed her familys dairy legacy and their passion for dairy farming for five generations.

Pierson will spend the next 12 months traveling statewide attending fairs, town meetings and public events as a representative of Oregons dairy farmers.

The other finalists included: Lucy Kyle-Milward of Columbia County; Olivia Miller of Linn and Benton counties; Stephanie Breazile of Washington County and Chelsey McFalls of Yamhill County.
Almost two weeks ago, a young French-Moroccan photographer was killed in an Al Qaida attack in Burkina Faso. According to NPRs article on the subject, Slain Photographer Sought To Give Life to the Forgotten:

Among the 30 victims of Fridays al-Qaida attack on a hotel and restaurant in Burkina Faso was Leila Alaoui, a French-Moroccan photographer known best for her powerful portraits of Moroccans and intimate, sensitive images of migrants and the displaced. She and her driver, Mahamadi Ouedraogo, were shot outside a restaurant in the capital, Ouagadougou. Alaoui, 33, was based in Marrakech, Morocco, and Beirut and had traveled to Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa, for an assignment covering womens rights for Amnesty International.

Alaoui described The Moroccans, a recent photography exhibition, like this:

Inspired by Robert Franks The Americans, and Richard Avedons In the American West, I embarked on a road trip across the country to photograph men, women and children of all ages, from diverse ethnic and tribal groups, Arabs and Berbers, in various urban and rural regions of Morocco.

In addition to this exhibition, Alaoui also did a series called No Pasara about young Moroccans dreaming of a life across the Mediterranean, and a number of other moving series highlighting the struggles of life in northern Africa and the realities of life as African migrants in France.

You can see some of the photographs Alaoui took for The Moroccans below:

At this point, you may be wondering why Ive wandered so far outside of my normal blogging topic areas. Well, when I saw this story last week, I was immediately reminded of a recent story about another project involving photography of African peoples in tribal settingsthe work of Hungarian journalist Boglarka Balogh.

Hungarian journalist and human rights writer Boglarka Balogh recently revealed her newest project  a series of pictures showing her transformed into seven different African tribe members. Titled I Morphed Myself Into Tribal Women To Raise Awareness Of Their Secluded Cultures, Baloghs blog post explained that the photos were intended to celebrate stunning tribal beauties at the brink of extinction. Boglarka doesnt actually use make-up to turn herself into the African women, instead working with a graphic designer to digitally alter a photo of herself, and she justified the pics by saying that she wants to show how beauty varies across the globe and prove that all of us are beautiful in a different way.

Yes, you read that correctly. Balogh had a graphic designer alter photos of herself to portray her likeness in traditional African clothing and accessories, complete with changed skin tone and adjusted features.

Here are some of Baloghs photographs from her series:

The contrast between these womens projects, and their approaches, could not be more stark. When I look at Alaouis photographs, I find myself drawn into the lives of her subjects. Her style of photography, her approach to her projectsit feels as though she is working to give the men, women, and children she looks at through her lens a voice. I get a very different feeling when I look at the photographs in Baloghs series. Instead of placing the spotlight on the subjects of her photography, she used them to put the spotlight on her and inserted herself into their stories.

There are some important lessons we can draw from this contrast. When we work to support marginalized populations, where do we point our lensat them and their stories, or at ourselves and our desire for to be patted on the back? Do we insert ourselves into conversations about the needs of these groups, or do we seek to create space for them to speak? Do we hold onto the microphone, or do we hand our microphone to those whose interests we are ostensibly promoting? Do we amplify their stories, or do we use their stories?

And now, lets take a moment to remember Alaouis work in the wake of her death, to appreciate the passion and courage of her short life, and to mourn the terrible tole of terrorism in Africa. We need more Alaouis.
No Man is An Island is slowly becoming my favorite among the many writings of Thomas Merton. This book is a deep well. Today I was reading from Chapter 5, The Word of the Cross, in which Merton explores the role pain and suffering plays in human life. This is a quick summary of what Merton is teaching me today. Some of these are Mertons thoughts, and some of them are mine as Merton prompted reflection. To tell the difference, you will have to read the chapter, which is what I want you to do anyway.

Dont try to make sense of pain apart from cross and resurrection. It simply cant be done.

The Christian task is not to accept suffering as an inevitable part of life, but to redeem suffering, and this can only be done in relationship to God. The enduring of pain and suffering must become an aspect of our relationship to God.

The first thing that pain does is it isolates us from other people. Pain has an intensifying effect. It focuses our attention. We cant be bothered by trivialities or banal attachments when we are in pain. Because it demands our full attention, pain makes us appear dumb to the outside world, even to ourselves.

When pain asks, who are you? About the best we can do is state our name, and admit the pattern our lives have assumed over time. Pain is truth serum.

Dont try to make sense of pain apart from baptism, and the conviction that pain is only made intelligible if, by enduring it in constant reference to Christ, we are joined to Christ as our lives take on the pattern of his lifethe pattern of our baptism.

Pain is intensely personal, and is one of the main points of personal connection between our lives and Christs life. Sharing pain is a more complex, higher level skill. The first level of endurance drives us inward. The trick is to allow Christ to be the focus of that drive inward.

To know suffering without any faith in the redemption of our pain is to know what it means to be cursed. We can only do this to ourselves.

The second thing suffering does is drive us to each other. If we cannot share our pain with other people, eventually our pain becomes futile and it will destroy us. Suffering is wasted when we suffer alone, but to share our pain with others in a healthy way is a difficult skill to master.

If the byproduct of endurance is pride, then our suffering has been a waste.

If we have met Christ in our suffering, we will have had the experience of knowing that we are deeply loved.

Pain is not Gods chosen route to wisdom, it is our chosen route. God redeems pain because God is good like that.

The effect suffering has on our life will depend chiefly upon our answer to one central question: what do we love? Self? Others? God? If the answer is self, pain will wreck us. If the answer is others, we can remain on the path to redemption. If the answer is God (and others for Gods sake), then we can experience shalom, peace, the right ordering of all of life even in the midst of suffering.

It is impossible for our suffering to be consecrated to God apart from our immersion in the life of the church. To suffer in isolation is to choose torture. The problem is that its humiliating to expose our deficiencies to the community.

Suffering becomes useless and destructive when it turns in on itself. When it fills us with selfishness, fear, and hatred, pain can destroy our soul.

Most suffering has to happen in silence. To talk about it too much sentimentalizes our pain and robs it of its potency. Its possible to share in each others suffering without saying a word. Perhaps the primary impetus for the sharing of suffering is liturgy.

If we can see our pain and own it without advertising it or drawing attention to it; If we can endure our pain in silence, sharing it only in the midst of the sacramental community, then we will become resigned to the fact that at some point our suffering & pain will make us a burden to those who love us.

The last thing suffering does is produce in us a kind of gratitude that results in hope. We are grateful to join in the shape of the cross, because we know it will result in the eventual resurrection, too. To suffer well we must continually remind ourselves of the suffering of Christ. Even the one who believes nothing about God or Christ can be helped through suffering by the meditation on the sufferings of Christ. Perhaps this is why this theme remains so prevalent in art.
During every Presidential election in recent history, candidates work hard to lay claim to a few select demographics they believe will help them secure enough votes to win the White House. One demographic most prized by conservative candidates is Evangelical Christians, considered by many to be the single most politically influential religious group in the nation. Nearly every speech or public appearance a Republican candidate makes will have a strong emphasis on Judeo-Christian values and will use catch phrases like, the tomb is empty, our goal is heaven, and the transformative love of Jesus Christ,which function as a sort of hat-tip from the candidate to Evangelicals as if to say, Im one of you.

Every Republican candidate views the faith vote as essential to their campaign, so much so that they even hire multiple staff members just to help them reach this constituency. They pour millions of dollars into campaign ads highlighting their faith and making sure they meet with hundreds of thousands of pastors on their tours across the nation. Republicans understand that in a largely religious, largely Christian nation, appealing to voters faith, by which most make their political decisions, is an essential strategy to securing the support they need to run a strong campaign,

It has perplexed me, the more I watched these Presidential campaigns unfold, that the Democratic candidates have all but ignored not only Evangelicals, but people of faith in general. As far as I can tell, not a single Democratic candidate has hired any staff member devoted to reaching out to the faith community. Only rarely does their personal faith make it in campaign speeches or interviews. Though candidates will seek to secure endorsements from the faith community, they often have not engaged with the faith community in a way that recognizes its power and influence within the United States. Yet Hillary Clinton and Martin OMalley both identify as strong people of faith, and Bernie Sanders, though a secular Jew, has often said in the past he understands and supports how an individuals personal faith propels them to be moral agents in society. Why is it, then, that Democrats have not devoted significant time or energy to reaching this crucial demographic?

In 2011, the Public Religion Research Institute released a poll which revealed that 44% of millennial Evangelicals fully supported same-sex marriage. Over the past six years, those numbers have only increased. Likewise, on issues of climate change, healthcare, and criminal justice reform, millennial Evangelicals are leaning towards a much more progressive position than older generations who claim an Evangelical identity. The Public Religion Research Institute also found that 23% of millennial Evangelicals identify as politically progressive, and 57% of the entire U.S. identifies as religiously moderate to progressive. 61% of millennial identify from religiously moderate to progressive (38% moderate, 23% progressive) as opposed to only 17% identifying as religiously conservative.

Looking at the millennial Evangelical demographic alone, it is clear most are not likely to vote Republican in 2016. What is also clear however, is that millennials on the whole, are actually a significantly religiously oriented demographic. A large majority of millennials identify as people of faith, (78%) and a majority of those identify as moderate to progressive politically. What follows is that it is our faith that will guide us in our political and social decision-making. While it is true that we are not looking for candidates to thump a Bible on the podium or speak at Liberty University, the polling would suggest that understanding how faith influences a political candidate is important to us, and hearing more about their personal spiritual journey would certainly make them more relatable.

Considering members of the millennial generation were born between the years of 1982 and 2004, nearly every millennial will be old enough to vote in the 2016 election. Why is it that Democratic candidates have not devoted nearly as much time and resources to reaching this vital demographic as their Republican counterparts? Why is it seen as a primarily conservative strategy to reach out to people of faith? These are the questions that I believe every Democratic Presidential campaign should consider as we approach the primaries.

**Update: According to recent reports, Sanders has hired a national faith based director in the last few weeks.
Patna: Patna University professor Dr. R. K. Sinha, a champion of preserving and protecting the rare Ganga dolphins that earned him the nickname of the 'Dolphin Man', has been nominated for the coveted Padmashree award, university officials said.

Prof. Sinha, who single-handedly took the cause of saving dolphins in the Ganges and helped get the status of national aquatic animal for it, has dedicated his life on its research and has led many campaigns to stop hunting of the endangered animal that has led to an increase in its population.

Meanwhile, Patna District Magistrate Sanjay Agrawal and Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manu Maharaj on Monday were honored by President Pranab Mukherjee for outstanding service in their areas.

While Agrawal was recognized for his efforts to empower women in Gaya district and allowing an all-women team to manage a polling booth in the 2015 Assembly polls despite threat from the Naxals in the district, Maharaj was awarded the 'Best Electoral Practices 2015' award for managing to pull a peaceful election in Bihar.
Patna: In what appears to be a crime of passion, a 23-year old woman from Indore was shot dead by allegedly her boyfriend when she tried to break away from him and leave for Indore on Monday afternoon.

Shrishti Jain, the daughter of Sushil Jain in Indore, was declared dead on arrival at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) after her alleged boyfriend Rajnish Singh pumped seven bullets in her body as she headed to the railway station on an auto-rickshaw to get away from him.

As reported, Shrishti arrived in Patna on Saturday January 23rd to finalize her marriage with him. She was accompanied by Rajnish when she checked in in the Hotel Mani International in Jakkanpur. While she was in room 105, her boyfriend was given room number 106 though hotel employees said Rajnish spent most of the time in Shrishti's room.

According to the hotel manager, the two had an argument in the lobby that indicated tha the victim was trying to break up from her boyfriend while her boyfriend was demanding Rs. 1 lakh from her to end the relationship.

An angry Shrishti on Monday then called an auto-rickshaw and headed for the Patna Junction. Rajnish followed her on his motorcycle and once he caught up with the auto, he pulled a revolver and fired four times hitting Shrishti as many times. Rajnish then escaped and Shrishtri was taken to the PMCH where she was declared dead on arrival.

The victim, who purportedly worked in a private finance company in Delhi, had some message in Latin tattooed in her left hand along with initials RS that could mean Rajnish Singh, police said.

Meanwhile, after police identified Rajnish Singh as a native of Vaishali district, it raided his house in Virpur and recovered several bullets of 7.65 bore, the same bullet that was used to kill Shrishti.

While Rajnish is said to be absconding, authorities are questioning his three brothers to know the whereabouts of their brother who is said to be already married and a father of two children.
Iranian President Signs Business Deals In Rome

01/26/16

Source: RFE/RL

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said after meeting in Rome with Iranian President Hassan Rohani that a series of business agreements they signed is "just the beginning" for their countries. Deals being signed during Rohani's 48-hour stay in Italy are valued at up to 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion).



Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (center) welcomes Iranian President Hassan Rohani in Rome on January 25.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (center) welcomes Iranian President Hassan Rohani in Rome on January 25.



Rohani arrived in Rome earlier on January 25 for his first state visit to Europe, and the first by an Iranian president in almost two decades.

He is looking for foreign investments following the lifting of international sanctions against Iran on January 16 under its nuclear accord with world powers.

The trip originally was planned for November but was postponed following the terrorist attacks by Islamic State militants in Paris on November 13.

Rohani is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on January 27 before traveling on to Paris for talks with French President Francois Hollande on January 28.





Iranian President Hassan Rohani and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi attend the signing ceremony of contracts between the two countries in the Italian capital Rome, January 25, 2016.

(photo by



Iranian President Hassan Rohani and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi attend the signing ceremony of contracts between the two countries in the Italian capital Rome, January 25, 2016.(photo by Islamic Republic News Agency

Easing Sanctions

The Iranian president is being accompanied by Iranian entrepreneurs as well as the oil and gas minister and other government officials during the five-day visit to Rome and Paris.

Iran is emerging from international isolation after the easing of economic sanctions under the nuclear deal.

The move opens the door for Tehran to reach deals with companies in Europe and Asia.

"This is a very important visit," an Iranian official was quoted as saying. "It's time to turn the page and open the door to cooperation between our countries in different areas."

"Trust needs to be built. It's like love. It is only the proof of love that counts," said a French diplomat.

Ahead of the trip, Iranian officials said Tehran plans to buy 114 aircraft from the French-based Airbus consortium.

Transport Minister Abbas Akhoondi told journalists on January 24 that Tehran would discuss details with Airbus this week.

Tehran has long said it will need to revamp an aging fleet, hit by a shortage of parts.

The Iranian president has said Iran needs up to $50 billion a year in foreign investment to meet its economic growth target of 8 percent.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and Bloomberg



Copyright (c) 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Airbus ready to negotiate selling new commercial aircraft to Iran

01/26/16

Source: Press TV

France-based aircraft manufacturing company, Airbus, has confirmed that it is ready to start talks with Iran for the sale of dozens of new commercial aircraft to the country after international sanctions against Iran's economic sectors were lifted.



File photo shows an Airbus A310-304 passenger plane operated by Iran Air.



According to a New York Times report on Monday, the announcement is another effort by Western companies to start business with Tehran after implementation of Iran's nuclear agreement with six world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), started on January 16.

We have listened to the Iranians, and we are ready to engage in commercial negotiations, said Stefan Schaffrath, an Airbus spokesman in Toulouse, France.

His remarks came after Iranian Minister of Transportation Abbas Akhoundi said Iran Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) will sign a contract to buy 114 passenger planes from Airbus during President Hassan Rouhanis visit to France.

Akhoundi, however, said all the 114 aircraft will be brand new, adding that details about their types will be announced after the signing.

Meanwhile, Ahmad-Reza Bayati, secretary of the CAPA Iran Aviation Summit which opened with the participation of airport, airline, travel and transportation industries in Tehran, said officials from Airbus will arrive in the Iranian capital soon to discuss the deal.

According to another unnamed official, the deal will include a mix of new and used jets from the A320 family and the out-of-production A340s to feed the countrys domestic demand.

Iran Air has also indicated its interest in buying wide-body planes, including A350s and A380 double-decker to add destinations in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe to its network.

Airbus officials, however, did not confirm that discussions with Iran were sufficiently advanced to lead to an order in the coming days.

The sanctions have only just been lifted allowing commercial discussions to begin, said Stefan Schaffrath, who is also Airbus vice president for media relations, adding, Although Iran clearly has a need for new aircraft, we conform strictly to all applicable international laws.

Irans aviation industry is in dire need of a major overhaul, which has become possible with the recent lifting of sanctions.

According to Akhoundi the country seeks USD 250 million of investment to upgrade its air navigation system.

He added that a deal will be signed soon to expand Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA) and enable it to accommodate 45 million passengers, which will be much higher than the airports current capacity for seven million passengers.
Celebrated Iranian actress attacked in Kashan on way to screening

01/26/16

Source: Radio Zamaneh

Extremists attacked the prominent Iranian actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya in the city of Kashan on Sunday. She was there to attend the screening of her latest film, Yahya Sokoot Nakard (Yahaya did not remain silent), and the event proceeded despite the attack.





Fatemeh Motamed-Arya

(read relatedinterview with Shahrvand daily)





ILNA reports that Yahya was to be screened in Kashan on Sunday January 24 and Motamed-Arya and director Kaveh Ebrahimpour were to take part in a subsequent Q & A. The two were reportedly attacked as they tried to enter the cinema.

Ebrahimpour told reporters that the attackers numbered about 50 or 60 and were chanting slogans against Motamed-Arya and the film.

Motamed-Arya had been banned from travelling abroad since the presidential elections of 2009 and the ban was only lifted last November. Motamed-Arya's support for reformists candidates in the 2009 election and her appearance at a number of foreign film festivals without hijab (head covering) have been heavily criticized by conservative factions of the Islamic Republic.





Fatemeh Motamed-Arya with Kaveh Ebrahimpour



Motamed-Arya and Ebrahimpour reportedly entered the cinema through the back door and conducted the Q & A after the film as planned, while the attackers continued their violent chants outside the building. Security forces reportedly prevented them from entering the cinema.

The two left the cinema at the end of the program under the protection of the security forces.

With more than 30 films on her resume, Motamed-Arya has won numerous acting awards, including the best actress prize at the Montreal Film Festival in 2011 for her role in Here without Me.
Iran's President Rouhani, Pope Francis meet at Vatican

01/26/16

Report by Press TV; photos by Islamic Republic News Agency

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican as part of a three-leg European tour. The meeting was held behind closed doors on Tuesday on the second day of Rouhani's trip which has already taken him to the Italian capital Rome.





Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (L) is welcomed by Pope Francis at the Vatican January 26, 2016.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (L) is welcomed by Pope Francis at the Vatican January 26, 2016.



During the 40-minute meeting, the two sides brought about common spiritual values and highlighted the good state of relations between the Holy See and Iran.

They also discussed measures to be undertaken by the nuncio for promoting the dignity of human being and religious freedom in Iran.

The pontiff called on Iran and other regional countries to find political solutions to ongoing problems in the Middle East and to combat the spread of terrorism and arms supply to terrorist groups operating in the region.







Rouhani and the Pope highlighted the importance of interreligious dialogue and the responsibility of religious communities in promoting reconciliation, tolerance and peace.

Rouhani also presented the pontiff with a handwoven Persian carpet along with a book of illustrations by renowned Iranian painter Mahmoud Farshchian.

The prefect of the papal household bishop Georg Gaenswein welcomed Rouhani upon his arrival.







The meeting between the Pope and President Rouhani is the first of its kind since 1999 when Pope St. John Paul II met the then Iranian President Mohammad Khatami at the Vatican.

Rouhani arrived in Rome on Monday at the head of a delegation of more than 100 businessmen and ministers on the first leg of his trip to three European destinations after Iran and the P5+1 group of countries started on January 16 to implement a nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), they reached in Vienna last July.

During his stay in Rome, the Iranian president held talks with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella. He also addressed an Iran-Italy business forum.

Iran and Italy on Monday night signed multi-billion dollar contracts covering various sectors including health, transportation, agriculture and energy.

The contracts, worth up to 17 billion euros (USD 18.4 billion), were signed in a ceremony attended by the Iranian president and his Italian counterpart in Rome.

Rouhani will set off for Paris on Wednesday to hold talks with senior French officials.
General Electric in talks to enter Iranian market: Report

01/26/16

Source: Press TV

American multinational conglomerate General Electric Co. is in talks to enter Iranian market after the recent implementation of Iran's nuclear agreement with world powers.





GE Vice Chairman John Rice expresses optimism about future business with Iran. (file photo)





John Rice, vice chairman of General Electric has expressed optimism about future trade with Iran, telling leading German language business newspaper Handelsblatt in a recent interview that his company is already in negotiation with the Iranian side.

However he said, "Our discussions are still at a very early stage," adding elsewhere that Iran is a positive example in the region.

Iran is a strategically important country and Western companies are currently trying to have a good position in it, Rice noted.

The senior GE official added though that there are still restrictions especially for US corporations, saying, "We are therefore at a disadvantage compared to our European and Asian rivals."

On Friday, a GE spokesman said, "We have begun looking at ways to do business in Iran while fully complying with the rules laid out by the US government."

On January 16, Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - plus Germany started to implement the nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), they had reached in July 2015.

After JCPOA went into effect, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the United Nations Security Council and the United States were permanently lifted. Iran in return has put some limitations on its nuclear activities.







The recent lifting of the economic sanctions against Iran has already started a rush among international corporations to start to set their feet in the country's vast consumer market of around 80 million.
ALBANY POLICE

Identity theft arrest  6:18 a.m. Sunday, Linn County Jail. Stephan Michael Quinlan, 20, of Albany, was arrested on Marion County warrants for identity theft, parole violation and two counts of second-degree theft. A hold was placed on him at the Linn County Jail.

Felons with firearms arrests  1:05 p.m. Sunday, 2200 block Fulton Place S.E. A caller reported an altercation and a man bleeding profusely from his head. An officer arrived, but those involved in the case were not cooperative. However, Shawn Kenneth Oard, 33, who was the injured party, and Timothy Eugene Oard, 33, both of Albany, each were arrested on a charge of felon in possession of a firearm and a warrant for parole violation. A no-bail hold was placed on both of the Oards at the Linn County Jail.

Vehicle vs. power pole  6:17 a.m. Monday, Albany Train Depot. An unknown vehicle hit a power pole, knocking down a wire along 10th Avenue, and then fled from the scene. The crash is under investigation.

Stolen car  1:28 p.m. Monday, 900 block Washington Street S.W. A 1995 Nissan pickup, which had been parked on the street for the last two weeks, was reported as stolen.

LINN COUNTY SHERIFF

Outhouse arson  10:41 a.m. Monday, 28200 block Santiam Highway. A portable outhouse was completely destroyed by an arson sometime over the weekend. The incident remains under investigation.

SWEET HOME FIRE

House fire  8 a.m. Sunday, 2400 block Long Street. Firefighters responded to a report of a house fire and found a carport and kitchen area of the structure fully engulfed in flames, according to the fire districts Facebook page. The fire was successfully extinguished before completely destroying the house, but smoke and heat damage were severe throughout the structure. The residents were alerted by a neighbor who heard the fire from his apartment and ran to the door of the burning house to wake up the occupants and help them to safety. Lebanon, Brownsville and Halsey-Shedd firefighters assisted at the scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but an electrical malfunction could have contributed to the blaze. The Red Cross helped two adults with basic needs after the multi-family fire, according to a Red Cross news release. Pets also were impacted by the fire. Calls to the district about the fire were not returned on Monday.
Why are Iranian-Americans Prisoners Released, but Not Iranian Ones?" Father of Imprisoned Blogger Asks

01/26/16

Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Why has the Islamic Republic agreed to the release of Iranian-American prisoners but they wont free our own prisoners who are the children of Iran? asked Ahmad Ronaghi Maleki, whose son, Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, has spent more than six years in prison for blogging.





Ahmad Ronaghi Maleki and Zolaykhah Mousavi with their son Hossein





Speaking to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Hossein Ronaghi Malekis father added that he expects Iranian officials to show mercy for innocent Iranian prisoners.

As a father I want my son to be free, too. All these years I have been running around shouting for my sons freedom so that someone might hear me.

Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, now 30, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Judge Pirabbasi for blogging comments critical of the results of the 2009 presidential election in Iran. The results of that election were widely disputed in Iran, and peaceful protests were met with a violent state crackdown that left hundreds arrested and jailed. Maleki was charged with acting against national security and supporting and receiving money from foreign organizations.

Ahmad Ronaghi Maleki told the Campaign that his son returned to Evin Prison at the end of his furlough on January 20, 2016, four days before the Iran-U.S. prisoner exchange. He had been released on June 14, 2015, on 14 billion rials (approximately $464,000) bail to receive treatment for persistent lung, kidney, and digestive problems.

Before reporting back to prison, Hossein tweeted that he had gotten an official warning from the prosecutors office to immediately resume serving his sentence or risk losing the properties whose deeds were used as his bail collateral.

I had given the deed to my house and workshop to bail out my son. A number of my humanitarian friends had also added their property deeds. It wasnt important to lose my own properties, but I could not endanger my friends and let their properties be confiscated. So I delivered my son to prison, Ahmad Ronaghi Maleki said.
Sprint's LTE network is steadily improving. But it's not the best in the country. So Sprint overreached today with a press release and blog post touting some very selective Nielsen results showing Sprint's "LTE Plus Network" as being the fastest nationwide.

I run a big drive-test project every year called Fastest Mobile Networks, and I'm in frequent touch with some of the big players in network measurement: OpenSignal, RootMetrics, Sensorly, Mosaik, and Ookla Speedtest.net (which shares a parent company with PCMag.) After examining Sprint's release and blog post, I wanted to call out a few things.

Nielsen's methodology is very different than everyone else's. Most network testing firms just pump a lot of data down a carrier's pipe to see how fat it is. According to Sprint, Nielsen uses an app running in the background on Android phones, which records download speeds in "common applications such as Facebook, Google, YouTube, Netflix, Instagram, Snapchat, and others." The company says it surveys "tens of thousands" of users in 44 metro areas nationwide.

Those results disadvantage T-Mobile because of its Binge On plan, which can be detected as throttling video to 1.5Mbps. So Nielsen's T-Mobile numbers are dragged down by all of the video streams that it has decided are 1.5Mbps each, which say nothing about the quality of the network.

Sprint CTO John Saw's post about the network win(Opens in a new window) also cites RootMetrics, saying that Sprint came out very close to Verizon in Houston, Austin, Boise, and Denver. Houston and Denver were two of the three cities where Sprint won or tied for first place in Root's most recent round of speed tests. Root tests 125 cities.

Sprint's LTE Plus claims also seem to be based on download numbers only. In our Fastest Mobile Networks tests, we've been giving upload speeds some weight because social media has made uploads more important with time. According to Ookla's Speedtest Intelligence data, Sprint has the slowest mean LTE upload speed of the four major carriers over the past 30 days, with an upload speed of 4.79Mbps.

And notice it says nothing about coverage, which is Sprint's big LTE bugaboo. Sprint's super-fast network relies on 2.5GHz spectrum, which has very short range. According to OpenSignal's Q3 2015 "State of LTE" report(Opens in a new window), Sprint had the least LTE coverage of any US network, with its customers receiving LTE 64 percent of the time, as compared to T-Mobile at 77 percent, AT&T at 81 percent, and Verizon at 84 percent. When we drove around the country last May, we found Sprint's LTE network had nowhere near the reach of Verizon's or AT&T's. But that was last May.

That's the Bad News ...

The overreaching here is a little tragic because Sprint is in fact doing a heck of a lot better than it used to.

Nationwide, during 2015, Sprint's mean LTE download speeds increased from 9.76Mbps to 15.28Mbps, according to Speedtest Intelligence. That's still in fourth place, but it's a much bigger jump than anyone else experienced, and it vaults Sprint from uncompetitive to competitive.

There's similar improvement in a lot of major cities, and unlike with Nielsen, different measurements agree here. In Chicago, for instance, RootMetrics says(Opens in a new window) that Sprint's media download speed increased from 13.1Mbps to 22Mbps between May and November. That's "LTE Plus" right there. Speedtest Intelligence agrees: in Chicago, Sprint averaged 10.41Mbps down on LTE in May, and 16.95Mbps in November, a better download speed than T-Mobile (although everyone else crushed it on uploads.)

Sprint's customer experience will improve further as more people get off old phones, which don't support its new carrier aggregation technology, and onto phones like the iPhone 6s ( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , which do. When we reviewed the iPhone 6s, we found Sprint download speeds were 50 percent faster than on the iPhone 6, all because the new phone supported the new network technologies.

So no, Sprint's LTE network is not the fastest nationwide, especially if you take upload speeds into account. But it's much, much faster than it used to be. Over the past year, it's become truly competitive for the first time since 2009. And coupled with newer devices, its super-cheap plans are worth looking into, although we're still waiting on more data about coverage. Our annual drive testing, done this May, will help with that part of the story.
Google.org is donating $5.3 million to help Syrian refugees get connected.

The grant will provide Chromebooks to nonprofits working with evacuees in Germany.

"As they make it through a dangerous journey, the first thing refugees need is to find shelter, food and access to care," Jacquelline Fuller, director of Google.org, wrote in a blog post(Opens in a new window).

"But soon enough, they have to learn the local language, acquire skills to work in a new country, and figure out a way to continue their studiesall in an effort to reclaim and reconnect with the lives they had before," she added.

Low-cost Chromebooks are popular with schools, but can also be configured to fit the needs of nonprofits, ensuring relevant programs, content, and materials for the displaced.

"For example, they can run an educational game for children, a language course for younger adults or even feature information about the asylum application process on a pre-installed homepage," Fuller wrote.

Nonprofits interested in Project Reconnect can apply online(Opens in a new window).

Google is no stranger to philanthropy: In September, the Web giant began matching refugee aid donations up to $5.5 million, raising more than $10.8 million.

The next month, it developed the open-source(Opens in a new window) "Crisis Info Hub," used to disseminate local information about lodging, transportation, and medical facilities to refugees via smartphones.

The European migrant crisis began last year, when an increasing number of refugees journeyed to Europe to seek asylum from the Middle East and Africa. It became one of the most-talked about topics on Facebook in 2015, and caused a spike in queries on Google.
3D printers are useful for creating random tchotchkes(Opens in a new window), but what about assisting in high-risk surgeries? U.K. surgeons did just that recently, when they performed the world's first adult-to-child kidney transplant using 3D-printed models.

Two-year-old Lucy Boucher of Northern Ireland is all smiles in the photo below, but she faced a lifetime of dialysis treatment after a heart condition resulted in kidney failure. Now, Lucy is ready to start nursery school next year and go swimming with her older brother, thanks to a successful November surgery aided by 3D printing.

Lucy's father donated his kidney, but to reduce the prospect of complications, teams at London's Guy's and St Thomas' and Great Ormond Street Hospital created 3D-printed models of Lucy's abdomen and her dad's kidney using liquid plastic molded under ultraviolet light. Surgeons were then able to "accurately plan the highly complex operation to minimize the risks."

"My first reaction when I saw the 3D printout of my kidney was surprise at how big it was and I wondered how it could possibly fit into Lucy," Chris Boucher said(Opens in a new window) in a statement.

"We found it amazing that we could see these incredibly detailed models of Chris's kidney and Lucy's abdomen," mother Ciara added.

"The most important benefit is to patient safety," said Guy's and St Thomas' transplant registrar, Pankaj Chandak. "The 3D-printed models allow informative, hands-on planning, ahead of the surgery with replicas that are the next best thing to the actual organs themselves."

Guy's and St Thomas' and Ormond Street Hospital in London purchased the 3D printer last year with grant money awarded in recognition of the machine's range of clinical uses.

"The 3D printer is one of the many examples of how we are working to transform healthcare and radically improve the experience of patients like Lucy," Michael Wright, head of health investment at Guy's and St Thomas' Charity, said. "Clinicians from many specialties are embracing the new technology and we expect to see more pioneering uses in the near future."
Weve all loved to hate Microsofts free Windows Defender softwareits been so mediocre that its been considered the baseline metric in third-party tests. But recent independent tests show its actually outperforming a number of third-party suites, some of which charge you money to use them.

Results released by AV-test.org for the month of December put Microsoft right in the middle of the pack of its list of antivirus software for home users. Microsoft is still near the bottom of the heap in the business market, however, using the version of Microsoft System Center thats been integrated into Windows 10s business editions.

AV-test.org Microsoft climbs to the middle of the pack in the December tests by AV-test.org.

The results are telling. In Dec. 2013, AV-test.org tested how well 23 antivirus vendors blocked real-world malware samples using Windows 8.1. Microsoft finished dead last. In December 2015, again using Windows 8.1, Microsoft finished 11th out of 19, topping such names as F-Secure, ESET, Panda Software, and Comodo.

Why this matters: If all you want is a free antimalware solution, most vendors offer you that optionmaking it relatively simple to switch to the most effective vendors. But not all: F-Secure, for example, charges you 30 pounds ($42.74) per device per year for its antivirus solution, with no free option. (The company does offer a free on-demand antivirus scanner via its Web site, which only detects existing malware on your system.) In other words, you could be paying for an antimalware solution which is underperforming the integrated antivirus already in your system.

Microsoft still struggles to defend your PC

According to AV-test.orgs results, Microsoft does a very good job catching the most widespread and prevalent malware found during November and December, the timeframe of the study99.6 percent for both months. But Microsofts Windows Defender caught only 97.5 percent of the so-called 0-day malware the testing firm threw at it in November, and only 90 percent in December.

Thats actually not that greatmost top-tier antivirus solutions, such as Avira, caught 99.9 to 100 percent of all the test malware, whether it be 0-day code or a well-known virus. (Avira, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky returned perfect scores.) Even F-Secure, which AV-test.org ranked below Microsoft, substantially outperformed itcatching 100 percent of the 0-day code and 99.8 to 99.9 percent of the prevalent malware.

So why does Microsoft rank so highly? Because Windows Defender rarely bothers you. When Defender pops up a warning, you can be pretty sure that it has a valid concern. Solutions like Comodo and F-Secure falsely detected legitimate software as malware on several occasions, and falsely blocked legitimate software from performing certain actions. AV-test.org assigns points for performance and usability as well as protection; in the latter category, Microsoft still ranks in the bottom third. But the antimalware solutions that fell below Microsoft also tended to falsely report malware, and were penalized for it.

Look elsewhere for Windows 10 protection

AV-test.org also tested the Microsoft System Center solution built into the 64-bit business versions of Windows 10. Here, the answer is more clear-cut: choose a third-party solution. Only Cylances Protect and Seqrites Endpoint Security finished below Microsoft in the 11-vendor shootout, although only Seqrite arguably underperformed System Center in terms of overall protection. BitDefender Endpoint Security was virtually perfect, catching 100 percent of all malware and only falsely detecting legitimate software on one occasion.

AV-test.org Microsoft still struggles in the business space, according to AV-test.orgs test in Dec. 2015.

Microsofts Windows Defender isnt great. In terms of protection, you can argue that its not even that good. Still, at least as far as its overall standing is concerned, its improving. Wed still recommend that you install a third-party antimalware solution. But, as they say, a rising tide lifts all boats. As Microsoft improves Windows Defender, so must the third-party antivirus software keep paceor risk falling by the wayside.
Microsofts Garage internal incubator has come out with a news feed on the iPhone targetting users business information needs.

News Pro is a new app that allows users to connect their LinkedIn or Facebook accounts and get a feed of the top stories relevant to their interests and work experience. Depending on how much time people have spent elaborating what theyre into on one of those networks, the initial recommendations might not be all that helpful, but users can specify more about their interests inside the app itself.

The News Pro interface is fairly bare bones: it shows a list of articles that users can scroll through, comment on, and like, similar to other news apps. Users can either read them as they would appear on the web, or in a streamlined Speedy mode that strips away everything but basic text.

People who are expecting the app to be a full-featured consumer experience will be disappointed, but thats to be expected from the first release of a Garage project. Apps from Microsofts internal ideas incubator are aimed at proving out a particular concept, or testing a hypothesis, and usually arent as polished as the companys flagship applications.

It seems like everyone has a news app on the iPhone these days. Facebook has its Notify app for sending quick snippets of news, Google has two news apps, Twitter is trying to be a news app with its Moments feature, and Apple has its own News app thats built into the phone. Microsoft is no stranger to that ecosystem either, since it has an MSN News app, plus Bing and Cortana apps that include their own recommended news stories.

And then theres LinkedIn, which has its own Pulse news reader thats aimed at providing a similar experience to News Pro.

What will be interesting to see from the launch of this application is what Microsoft plans to do with the results of its experiments with the app. Successful experiments can go on to be key features for Microsofts products, like the Garage app for monitoring air quality in China that turned into one of Cortanas key features in that market.
A hand-built. single-engine, airplane was found on its roof Monday morning, Jan. 25, at Big Bear Airport.

The pilot of the plane, authorities say, was nowhere to be found.

That is until later in the morning, when the pilot called airport and San Bernardino County Sheriffs authorities to tell them that the plane crashed about 7:30 p.m. and that nobody was hurt, according to an airport news release.

Airport authorities did not release the pilots name Monday. Plane registration records show the plane is registered to Robert Earhart of Dallas, Texas.

Airport maintenance worker Ryan Goss said the pilot attempted to land on the runway, but was unable to turn on the airports lights. The lights are pilot-controlled and can be turned on by keying the microphone five times.

The plane missed the runway, and hit snow. The wheels, which had been deployed, dug into the snow and caused the plane to flip over.

Following standard procedures, the airport temporarily closed after the plane was found and Federal Aviation Administration, police and fire authorities were contacted. Goss said he and other Airport workers have never come across a situation where a plane crashed and the pilot was nowhere to be found.

About 10 a.m., FAA officials gave the airport approval to remove the plane from the runway area. Airport staff, using its own equipment, righted the plane up on its wheels and towed it away. Debris was cleaned up and the airport opened back up by 10:30 a.m.
A man and woman suffered major injuries Monday, Jan. 25, when their car went off Highway 371 near Aguanga, crashed into a large boulder, launched 50 feet into the air and rolled onto its roof, authorities say.

Joseph Shaughnessy, 82, was driving a 2006 Toyota Corolla with 64-year-old Son Shaughnessy in the passengers seat about 12:50 p.m. Monday when the vehicle drifted into the right shoulder, according to a California Highway Patrol news release.

The car crashed into a mailbox, and the car abruptly veered left. The car then left the roadway, hit a large boulder and eventually rolled onto its roof. Emergency crews responded to the scene and both Joseph and Son Shaughnessy were removed from the car.

Joseph Shaughnessy was airlifted to a hospital after suffering major injuries. Son Shaughnessy was transported to a hospital via ambulance.

CHP officers are investigating the crash.
Re: Film Academy vows to give Oscar some color [Front page, Jan. 24]: Pity the poor liberal Hollywood actor. To boycott or not to boycott? They consider boycotting the Oscars because they desperately want to be seen as sensitive on issues of diversity. What liberal wouldnt? Or dont boycott, because they want to support the industry that pays them millions for six weeks of work.

To the boycotting of Will Smiths family, I say, what took you so long? Conservatives have boycotted the Oscars for years. As my dad used to say, the night Hollywood pats itself on the back. Then theres the insanity of the all-knowing Danny DeVito, who has a uniquely ignorant viewpoint. He simply calls our entire country racist. I wonder what type of people he hangs out with to draw this conclusion. It must be fascinating. But when it all comes down to it, this entire controversy is a Seinfeld episode. Its about nothing.

Mike Talarico

Riverside

Not so inconceivable now

In my 40-plus years as a registered voter, I never imagined a day when we, as Americans, would even consider putting an avowed socialist in office. Has anyone stopped to consider for a moment that Bernie Sanders initials are B.S.? Why in the world would anyone think that more than $19 trillion in new taxes is such a great idea, and why would so many of us buy into the idea that the multi-headed monster known as the U.S. government bureaucracy would be a better master than evil corporations like Ford, Chevron, Microsoft, Apple or Boeing (to name a few)?

I am completely blown away that we would so seriously consider giving up our liberty for perceived security, that we would even look at a candidate like Mr. Sanders. Youd think we would have learned this lesson over the past 250 years: Nothing is free. H.G. Wells must be laughing from his grave  Mr. Eloi, I would like to introduce you to Mr. Morlock.

Rick Simpson

Winchester
Los Angeles officials begged motorists to avoid the citys west side in July 2011, when the notoriously congested I-405 was shut for an entire weekend widely dubbed Carmageddon.

Expect to hear a similar plea from Inland Southern California officials if they get the green light this week to close the 91 through Corona for more than 50 consecutive hours late Friday, Feb. 19, through early Monday, Feb. 22. Approval for the strategy could come as early as Wednesday, Jan. 27.

UPDATE: 6-mile, 55-hour 91 closure is a go

Its either that or close the freeway on 20 nights over 10 weekends to make way for a crucial bridge project, John Standiford, deputy executive director of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, said in a telephone interview Monday.

We think that this is a preferable way of dealing with it than numerous smaller closures that impact people for a longer period of time, Standiford said. We think it is the way to go. But we need to make sure we can do it and do it right.

The commission plans, finances and builds major road projects in western Riverside County. And improving the 91 through Corona has been a top priority for some time.

As part of the giant $1.4 billion makeover that is adding toll lanes, all-purpose lanes and sweeping ramps between I-15 and the Riverside-Orange county line, the Maple Street bridge must be replaced with a longer span.

To set the stage for building the new bridge, Standiford said support structures of wood and steel must be erected over the freeway. And because of the potential danger to motorists, that must be done while no one is driving below.

We need to get the bridge done, he said.

And transportation officials want to get it done before warmer weather prompts droves of ocean-loving residents to head for the beach on weekends, Standiford said.

A 17-member 91 Corona Community Task Force has endorsed the closure. And task force member Wes Speake has been talking to people about the idea.

At first, theyre horrified, Speake said.

But once they hear the alternative, he said, most reach the conclusion its better to get the project done in one long weekend.

Everybodys in favor of fully tearing off the Band-Aid, so to speak, Speake said. I just hope there arent too many more Band-Aids to be ripped off.

And theres a bright side, he said.

UPDATE: 91 closure reflects statewide trend

If there was an accident (that closed the freeway), you wouldnt have any warning, longtime Corona resident Speake said. At least this way you can plan.

Keith Martin, a Norco man who commutes Monday through Thursday to Long Beach, also prefers to schedule the bridge work all at once.

As bad as a full closure sounds, I think it is the correct thing to do, Martin said in an email. I am just skeptical that they would have the freeway open by 4 a.m. Monday morning.

Standiford said the commission intends to close down both sides of the 91, between I-15 and the 71, late the night of Feb. 19 and reopen at 4 a.m. Feb. 22  to avoid disrupting the Monday morning commute. If El Nino is in full swing and drenching the region, he said, the project would be delayed until the following weekend.

Standiford said the 60 will be the principal route around the construction zone. Detours will direct westbound motorists north on I-15 to the 60 and eastbound drivers north along the 71.

At the same time, there is talk of providing a way for Corona-area residents to get on the 91 within the construction zone somewhere east of Maple, if they are heading east and away from the activity, Standiford said. And there may be an option for someone to get on the freeway west of Maple if headed west.

Standiford said there will be a public meeting in Corona on Feb. 6 to discuss details.

Nelson Nelson, Coronas public works director, said officials want city residents to avoid getting on the freeway and everyone else to stay away from Corona altogether.

For decades, Inland motorists have meandered through such Corona streets as Ontario Avenue and Green River Road to avoid 91 backups. Nothing will prevent them from doing that, Nelson said.

But if they still come through here, it could be bad, Nelson said.

Because motorists did stay away, the 2011 shutdown of I-405 in L.A. was a success. It has been touted as a model for handling a major construction challenge.

Motorists also heeded advice to stay off I-215 between Riverside and San Bernardino when it closed in April 2014 so railroad trusses could be set in place.

Standiford said a marketing plan will put the word out, deploying the jingle: Steer clear of the 91.

Speake coined a name that harkens back to 2011: Coronageddon.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9699 or ddowney@pressenterprise.com
Windows  and whether a frosted glass pane constitutes a window  are the center of an appeal of a potential WinCo store, according to a petition for review filed last week with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.

WinCo intends to demolish the old Kmart building, 3100 Pacific Blvd. S.E. and construct a new 86,600-square-foot commercial building and parking lot. City of Albany staff approved the application on Nov. 25.

However, that came with a condition of approval that WinCo needed to include windows on the back side of its building, adjacent to Killdeer Avenue. Those windows are necessary according to the citys development code, but werent included in the stores original plans.

City staff noted in the decision that frosted glass windows would not be prohibited under code for the back side of the structure.

Petitioners Kevin Billman and Valerie Wilson argue that the city didnt follow proper procedures, and erred in suggesting that spandrel glass, an opaque or frosted glass, could be used instead of transparent materials.

The petitioners also argued that they were not able to debate the citys frosted glass suggestion, as the matter was first introduced in the citys findings, long after the record was officially closed.

Petitioners were never given an opportunity to respond to that evidence, testimony or information, wrote Sean Malone, a Eugene attorney, in the petition for review.

The city has effectively precluded petitioners from arguing that opaque glass is not a window, Malone added, later in the court document.

Malone also wondered how the city knew that WinCo was considering spandrel glass, as that never appeared on the record until the findings.

A phone call to Malone was not returned on Monday afternoon.

The city has until Feb. 8 to respond to the petition for review, and will do so in coordination with WinCo, said Melissa Anderson, city planner.

Billman, one of the petitioners in the case, is the staff director for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 55, which represents 20,000 workers in Oregon and southwest Washington.

WinCo is an employee-owned, non-union store.

Wilson, the other petitioner, is an Albany resident.

Kmart closed its Albany store in September 2014, and the building has been vacant since then. The WinCo store is a permitted use in the regional commercial zone near the junction of Interstate 5 and Highway 99.
NEW YORK  East Coast residents clobbered by the weekend blizzard trudged into the workweek Monday amid slippery roads, spotty transit service and mounds of snow that buried cars and blocked sidewalks after some cities got an entire winters snow in two days.

In Brooklyn, only one teacher at the Bedford-Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter School called out, despite more than 2 feet of snow across New York City.

A lot of teachers are taking the train instead of driving, said Wanda Morales, director of operations at the school, standing outside while maintenance workers spread salt and parents dropped off their children.

In Arlington, Va., just across the Potomac River from Washington, there were signs of normalcy; shops were open, and main roadways were mostly cleared, dotted with large piles of snow. Matthew Mason, 29, was riding the train into Washington to go to his job at a hotel. The part-time law student said he figured he should be there, though things would likely be a little slower.

Ive sat in my house too much already, he said.

Dave Lenowitz was perched on a snowbank in Philadelphia near whats normally the stop for the bus that takes him to his job as the director of a nonprofit.

Normally I bicycle, but its a little too slippery, he said. Theres not enough snow, otherwise Id ski. Its only seven miles.

For others, the weekend extended into Monday because of closed schools and government offices. The storm dropped snow from the Gulf Coast to New England, with near-record snowfalls tallied from Washington, D.C. to New York City. At least 38 people died as a result of the storm, many of them car accidents, carbon monoxide poisoning or heart attacks while shoveling.

Flying remained particularly messy after airlines canceled nearly 12,000 weekend flights and hundreds more Monday. Airports resumed limited service in New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia and in the Washington area. But delays reverberated around the country.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin was on a rescheduled predawn flight from Springfield, Ill., to Chicago while on the way to Washington on Monday morning. The Illinois Democrat said hes been through this before.

Most of us who spend part of our lives in Washington know to expect the worst when it comes to snow, he said. I knew the forecast was enough to cause a problem.

Tom Aloi, who works in construction management, was at Chicago OHare trying to get back to New York City after a business trip to Germany. His rescheduled fight to Newark Liberty was already delayed several hours.

Yes, we are frustrated. We are aggravated, Aloi said. Its a ripple effect. It affects the whole world.

In New York, Bret Mattingly, 23, was on his way to LaGuardia as classes were starting at Butler University, where he studies computer science. He came to the city to visit a friend on Friday.

I was supposed to fly out yesterday but the flight was canceled, he said. I missed school.

Amtrak operated a reduced number of trains, spokesman Marc Magliari said. But bus and rail service was expected to be limited around the region into Monday.

The snow began Friday, and the last flakes fell just before midnight Saturday. In its aftermath, crews raced all day Sunday to clear streets and sidewalks devoid of their usual bustle.

Sundays brilliant sunshine and gently rising temperatures that had snow and ice falling off skyscrapers in New York City as melting began, provided a respite from the blizzard that dropped a record 29.2 inches on Baltimore. It was just right for a huge snowball fight there, where more than 600 people responded to organizer Aaron Brazells invite on Facebook.

But one day of sun wasnt enough to clear many roads. Cars parked in neighborhoods around the region were encased in snow, some of it pushed from the streets by plows.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio encouraged people to leave their plowed-in cars all week. Some didnt have a choice.

I cleaned this two or three times and they keep blocking me in, Peter Quamina, 51, said as he shoveled out the front of his driveway in Brooklyn. This storm was bad as we get.

Federal offices were closed Monday, and Virginias state workers were told to stay home. Schools from Washington to the Jersey Shore gave students Monday off; In the D.C. suburbs, classes also were canceled for Tuesday. Schools were open in New York City.

New Yorks transit authority said partial service on the Long Island Rail Road was restored on three of its 12 branches and diesel train service was operating on three other branches. New York City subways, buses and Metro-North Railroad service were operating on a normal schedule. The Metro in Washington was offering free rides on limited rail and bus service.

Broadway reopened after going dark at the last minute during the snowstorm, but museums remained closed in Washington, and the House of Representatives postponed votes until February, citing the storms impact on travel.

Overall snowfall of 26.8 inches in Central Park made it New Yorks second biggest winter storm since records began in 1869, and Saturdays 26.6 inches made for a single-day record in the city.

Washingtons records were less clear. The official three-day total of 17.8 inches measured at Reagan National Airport was impossibly short of accumulations recorded elsewhere in the D.C. area. An official total of 22.4 inches landed at the National Zoo, for example.

The zoo remained closed through Monday but a video of its giant panda Tian Tian making snow angels got about 54 million views.
The parents of a man who was shot by Indio police officers in October have filed a lawsuit against the city alleging that their son was shot without warning or probable cause.

A complaint filed Friday, Jan. 22, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California also says that officers erased video footage of the incident.

Samuel Villareal, who was 18 at the time, was in the driver seat in a stopped vehicle about 1 p.m. on Oct. 14 when two Indio Police officers shot Villareal through the cars window.

The complaint says there was a female in the cars passenger seat.

At the time, Riverside County Sheriffs officials, who are investigating the shooting, said the Indio police officers had stopped the vehicle because they believed it was stolen. When officers approached the car, sheriffs officials said, Villareal put it in reverse and accelerated into the officers vehicle before he was shot.

Villareal, of Thousand Palms, was unarmed at the time, the complaint said.

He was treated at the scene and then taken to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A manager at the apartment recorded the incident on his cell phone, the complaint says, but officers seized it and erased the footage.

The complaint also alleges that officers seized and erased footage captured by the apartments security cameras.

A lawyer for Villareals parents declined to comment on the case.

The city has declined to release the names of the officers and city employees involved, the complaint says.

Indio Police Sgt. Daniel Marshall said the department doesnt comment on pending litigation.
By PAUL J. WEBER

AP Photo TXHOU201, TXHOU202 Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A Houston grand jury investigating undercover footage of Planned Parenthood found no wrongdoing Monday by the abortion provider, and instead indicted anti-abortion activists involved in making the videos that targeted the handling of fetal tissue in clinics and provoked outrage among Republican leaders nationwide.

David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to purchasing human organs. Another activist, Sandra Merritt, was also indicted on a charge of tampering with a governmental record, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Its the first time anyone in the group has been charged criminally since the release of the videos, which began surfacing last year and alleged that Planned Parenthood sold fetal tissue to researchers for a profit in violation of federal law. Planned Parenthood officials have denied any wrongdoing and have said the videos were misleadingly edited.

The footage from the clinic in Houston showed people pretending to be from a company called BioMax that procures fetal tissue for research touring the facility. Planned Parenthood has previously said that the fake company sent an agreement offering to pay the astronomical amount of $1,600 for organs from a fetus. The clinic said it never entered into the agreement and ceased contact with BioMax because it was disturbed by the overtures.

In a statement announcing the indictment, Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson did not provide details on the charges, including what record or records were allegedly tampered with and why Daleiden faces a charge related to buying human organs. Her office said it could not disclose more information and a court spokesman said it was unclear whether copies of the indictments, which typically provide more insight, would be made public Monday.

We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Anderson, an elected Republican, said in her statement. As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us.

Daleiden issued a statement saying that his group uses the same undercover techniques as investigative journalists and follows all applicable laws.

We respect the processes of the Harris County District Attorney, and note that buying fetal tissue requires a seller as well, he said.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has his own ongoing investigation into Planned Parenthood, said Monday that the the videos exposed the horrific nature of abortion and the shameful disregard for human life.

The Texas video was the fifth released by the Center for Medical Progress. The videos provoked an outcry from the anti-abortion movement and prompted numerous investigations of Planned Parenthood by Republican-led committees in Congress and by GOP-led state governments. Congressional Republicans unsuccessfully called for cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood has said a few clinics in two states used to accept legally allowed reimbursement for the costs of providing tissue donated by some of its abortion clients. In October, Planned Parenthood announced that it would no longer accept reimbursement and would cover the costs itself.

The group called Mondays indictments the latest in a string of victories since the videos were released, saying that by its count, 11 state investigations have cleared the nations largest abortion provider of claims that it profited from fetal tissue donation.

This is absolutely great news because it is a demonstration of what Planned Parenthood has said from the very beginning: We follow every law and regulation and these anti-abortion activists broke multiple laws to try and spread lies, said spokeswoman Rochelle Tafolla of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

Before the Texas video was released, Melaney Linton, president of the Houston Planned Parenthood clinic, told state lawmakers last summer that it was likely to feature actors  pretending to be from a company called BioMax  asking leading questions about how to select potential donors for a supposed study of sickle cell anemia. Linton said the footage could feature several interactions initiated by BioMax about how and whether a doctor could adjust an abortion if a patient has offered to donate tissue for medical research.

Despite the lofty name of the Center for Medical Progress, public filings suggest only a small number of people are affiliated with the nonprofit, none of whom are scientists or physicians engaged in advancing medical treatments. The people named as its top officers are longtime anti-abortion activists with a history of generating headlines.

Earlier this month, Planned Parenthood sued the center in a California federal court, alleging extensive criminal misconduct. The lawsuit says the centers videos were the result of numerous illegalities, including making recordings without consent, registering false identities with state agencies and violating non-disclosure agreements.

After the lawsuit was filed, Daleiden told The Associated Press that he looked forward to confronting Planned Parenthood in court.

Associated Press Writers Juan A. Lozano in Houston, Will Weissert in Austin and David Crary in New York contributed to this report.
Gasoline prices are down a dime from last week in the Inland area.

A gallon of regular averaged $2.80 in Riverside, industry tracker GasBuddy found in a survery of 481 stations, down 10.2 cents from last week. San Bernardino saw an 11.4-cent drop, to $2.79 a gallon from $2.90.

Experts at AAA got the same results. They reported the price of a gallon averaging $2.801 in metropolitan Riverside and San Bernardino, down from $2.909 a week ago.

Statewide, the average was $2.668, down from $2.768 a week ago.

Californias declines did little to close the gap between the state and national average, which was $1.826 a gallon, down from $1.894 a week ago.

An explosion that put an ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance offline last February accounts for much of that gap. Will Speer, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, said in a phone interview that in 2013 and 2014, California prices averaged 44 cents higher than the nations prices. In 2015, that average rose to 89 cents.

California air quality regulations are also a factor in higher prices.

Californias refineries will begin switching over to the manufacture of summer blend in mid-February, Speer said. Summer blend is more expensive but produces less smog. It is required in Southern California between April 1 and Oct. 31.

Speer said that this weeks drop was due to other refinery issues being resolved, allowing California drivers more benefit from factors that pushed gasoline to below $2 a gallon for most of the rest of the nation in November.

They include plunging oil prices, which dropped as low as $26.55 a barrel in trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange last week. After a rebound on Friday, crude oil fell below $31 a barrel on Monday.

Another factor is inventory that has risen to its highest level since 1990, Speer said.

Nationally, gas prices are saving drivers $80 million a day from what they were paying a year ago, GasBuddys blog noted.

Although dependent on its own refineries, California is somewhat insulated from conditions that might affect the rest of the nation, such as last weekends crippling blizzards on the East Coast.

Gasoline prices are typically low in January and February, months when people are driving less.
A 57-year-old Hemet man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for threatening to kill a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer who was investigating trash dumping in San Bernardino National Forest, according to a U.S. Attorneys Office news release.

Richard Douglas Latka was sentenced Monday, Jan. 25, by Judge Dale S. Fischer in Los Angeles. He was convicted by a jury Oct. 29, in a case from October 2014 where an officer contacted him while investigating dumping on a forest road near Bee Canyon east of Hemet.

The defendant reacted angrily, ran toward the officer with clenched fists and screamed at him as the officer pulled out a stun gun and ordered him to stop, the release stated.

The officer tried to deescalate the situation by returning to his marked patrol vehicle and Latka pounded on the window. As the officer drove away, Latka followed in his own car, yelling next time youre dead, and later told witnesses he was going to kill him, according to court records. The officer was not hurt.

Items dumped included old cabinets and packaging from a new cabinet that was traced to purchases the defendant made, and a pharmacy receipt linked to a man who lived at the home where Latka was doing some renovation work, according to a trial memorandum in the case.
VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Francis met with the Iranian president Tuesday, joining in a cordial discussion which touched on the recent nuclear accord and Irans role in the region.

President Hassan Rouhani met first with Francis, privately for 40 minutes, and later with other officials.

The Vatican in a statement said the conversation delved into the nuclear accord recently taking effect and the important role that Iran was called to play to combat terrorism along with other countries in the region.

Iran was also urged to help fight arms trafficking, the Vatican said.

The Vatican described the talks as cordial and said common spiritual values were highlighted, as well as good Iranian-Vatican relations.

After the meeting, Irans president asked Pope Francis to pray for him. The Vatican meeting was a key part of an Iranian effort to take a more prominent place on the world stage after a nuclear deal with Western powers.

Rouhanis visit to the Holy See saw the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian president since 1999. Iran, which agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for an end to economic sanctions, is eager to carve out a bigger role in mediating Middle East conflicts. Francis papacy has emphasized mediation and conflict resolution, including his role in helping Cuba and the United States to normalize their relations after.

The Iranian leader is on a four-day European swing to boost Irans image abroad as well as to rehabilitate economic ties with a continent that had been a big trade partner before sanctions.

I ask you to pray for me, Rouhani told Francis after their 40-minute meeting. He called the visit by the leader of a Muslim country to the head of the Roman Catholic church a real pleasure.

Francis thanked Rouhani for the visit and added: I hope for peace. He gave the Iranian a medal depicting St. Martin helping a poor man, an act Francis called a sign of unsolicited brotherhood.

Rouhani brought a gift of a hand-made rug. He told the pope the red-toned carpet was made in the Iranian holy city of Qhom.

Rouhani arrived for the late-morning, closed-door meeting in a motorcade of some two dozen limousines. Security, already tight around the Vatican following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, was even more rigid than usual. Police kept tourists and Romans from walking too close to the colonnade ringing the square before and during the visit.

Tehran is keen on re-establishing energy and other economic ties with Europe, long a dependable trading partner. Iran also wants to end decades of diplomatic distance with the West in the wake of the landmark deal with six nations, including the United States, to curb Tehrans nuclear activities and end economic sanctions.

Before going to the Vatican, Rouhani told a forum of business leaders in Rome that Iran is the safest and most stable country of the entire region.

Italy also sees Iran as a potential peacemaker in Syrias civil war, as the Italian government fears the warfare will further destabilize Libya, just across the Mediterranean from southern Italy, fuel terrorism and jeopardize energy security.

Italy has always backed the role of Iran as a regional player in resolving tensions in the area, starting with the Syrian crisis, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said after meeting his Iranian counterpart, according to his office.

Rouhani has described the political talks leading to the nuclear deal as a potential blueprint for pursuing peace in the Middle East.

Rouhanis visit to Italy and France is part of efforts by Iran to reach out to its old partners following the implementation of the nuclear deal, and Rouhani is eager for foreign investment after the lifting of international sanctions. The trip was originally planned for November but postponed because of the attacks in Paris.
Halfway through the winter, more water is stored in Californias snowpack than is usual for this time of year  signaling that maybe, just maybe, this could be the year the drought eases.

With a strong El Nino, its not really surprising that winter rain has arrived in California. Whats notable is the location.

Normally, El Nino drives storms to Californias Central Coast, with tailing fronts drenching Southern California. So far this winter, storms have for the most part hit farther north, dumping snow and some rain in the northern Sierra mountains that are the linchpin in Californias water system.

Thats a good thing. It puts water where the reservoirs are so we can refill them, said Michael Anderson, the California state climatologist.

As a whole, snowpack across the state is 113 percent of average for this time of year, and higher than that in the northern Sierra.

Thats a major shift from last year. On April 1, when levels usually hit their peak, Gov. Jerry Brown stood in a dirt and grass field for the official snowpack assessment, and there was nothing to measure. Across the state at that time last year, snowpack was 5 percent of average  a record low.

That made an already bad drought worse, and contributed to near-empty reservoirs. Even with the recent storms, reservoirs are nowhere near capacity: Shasta Reservoir is at 62 percent of its historic average, Lake Oroville is at 55 percent and Folsom Lake is at 69 percent.

All three reservoirs have risen dramatically in just the last few weeks. At the beginning of January, Shasta was at just 50 percent of average, Oroville was at 47 percent and Folsom was at 50 percent. With all the reservoirs still less than half full, however, theres little worry theyll overflow.

Many Inland lakes are fed by the State Water Project, which is supplied by Northern California watersheds that flow into Lake Oroville. They include Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino, Lake Skinner in Winchester, Lake Perris and Diamond Valley Lake near Hemet.

Diamond Valley Lake, which holds an emergency supply for Southern California, is fed by the State Water Project. Any gains from rain falling directly into the reservoir must be released because the lakes operator, Metropolitan Water District, does not have rights to that water, spokesman Bob Muir said.

As of Monday, Diamond Valley Lake was only 39 percent full because water has been drawn down during the drought. Lake levels wont increase until deliveries are made from the State Water Project, but that could be awhile.

Putting a serious dent in the drought will require a couple more months of consistent storm activity. Strong El Nino climate patterns are projected to last the rest of the winter. El Nino doesnt usually bring strong rains to Southern California until February.

Winter storms so far have benefited other local lakes that are not dependent on imports from the State Water project.

Several days of rain and snow this month boosted Big Bear Lake by 4 1/2 inches  more than all of last year, said Mike Stephenson, general manager of the Big Bear Municipal Water District.

The levels at Lake Arrowhead, Lake Hemet and Canyon Lake, which are fed by runoff, have each risen about 1 foot with the El Nino-fueled storms. Much of the runoff from the first rains soaks into the ground parched by four years of drought and never makes it into the lakes, said Tom Wagoner, general manager at Lake Hemet Municipal Water District.

The type of rain weve gotten has been pretty good. Instead of coming all at once, it rains for a few days and then it stops, he said. I just wish we had about a dozen more.

Despite the recent accumulation, low snowpack levels are likely to become more of the norm in coming decades, scientists say, as climate change brings higher temperatures to California. Its much less clear whether precipitation will increase or decrease in a hotter California.

More rain and less snow could pose dire consequences for Californias water system, which is built not so much to store multiple winters worth of water, but to gradually meter out snowmelt throughout the summer.

The reservoirs can only store about a year or less of annual runoff, Anderson said. Thats not the case everywhere: reservoirs on other river systems, such as the Colorado River, can store multiple years worth of precipitation.

Across the West, more rain and less snow alters how we manage these water resources, said Mike Strobel, the program manager for Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting at the National Water and Climate Center. The center measures snowpack and water resources across the West.

Theres little worry that the storms of this winter could overflow the states reservoirs, because of how empty they were at the start of the season. But going forward, not only will warmer temperatures cause more snow to fall as rain, but the snow that does fall will melt quicker, cascading down mountain streams and into reservoirs quicker than the reservoirs were built to handle.

Last years snowpack  the lowest since officials started keeping records 80 years ago  piqued the curiosity of Valerie Trouet, an associate professor at the University of Arizona who studies tree rings. She decided to examine snowpack levels going back not just decades but centuries.

A study she published in September found the snowpack last year actually was the lowest in 500 years.

To calculate historic snowpack, Trouet examined ring data from blue oaks in the Central Valley and an assortment of trees in the Sierra Nevada. The first was indicative of precipitation across the region; the other reflected mountain temperatures.

Trouet found historical periods that were as dry as the current drought, but the heat last year was unprecedented. In fact, 2015 turned out to be the globes hottest year on record.

Given that snowpack is dependent on temperature, its clear that snowpack will decline as temperatures rise, regardless of how much precipitation falls.

California needs to think about how to deal with a decreasing snowpack because these kinds of extreme temperatures are going to become more and more frequent in the future, Trouet said.

If what currently falls as snow starts falling as rain, there will be huge issues with flooding over the dams, and if that water flows over the dam, its heading to the ocean instead of to our water supply, said Tom Painter, a research scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Staff writer Janet Zimmerman contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: aorlowski@ocregister.com. Twitter: @aaronorlowski
While much of the outside world has been distracted by the boisterous razzle-dazzle of one Donald J. Trump, his competitors for the Republican Partys nomination have been ekeing out whatever advantages they can.

While Jeb (!) Bush struggles with the realisation his surname doesnt make the Presidency of the United States of America his birthright, and Marco Rubio cops flak for wearing some admittedly flash footwear, Texan Senator Ted Cruz has emerged as Trumps strongest competitor. Cruz is sticking pretty close to the Republican playbook too, focusing on religion, immigration, and guns. Aaalways the guns.

Coming to Iowa TVs this weekend: #TedCruz dons face paint in appeal to hunters, gun owners https://t.co/er3fzZ4OuI pic.twitter.com/3JKIIlqC5C  newsobserver.com (@newsobserver) January 20, 2016

In one of his latest appearances on a right-wing radio talk show, Cruz saw it fit to bring our auspicious nation into his campaign platform, claiming that Australias strict gun policy, specifically the national buyback scheme of 1996, has directly lead to a dramatic increase in rapes and sexual assaults on women.

He claimed that spike is directly attributable to the victims not being able to protect themselves, cause they just couldnt pack heat any more.

The Washington Post did some digging. Their findings can be summed up thusly:

The crux of the counter-argument, of course, is that Australia and America had such vastly different gun cultures  and still do  that drawing parallels between the two is nigh on impossible, and its faulty logic to assume the ramifications of our buybacks would be mirrored in the US. The Fact Checker did find that sexual assaults rose in number between 96 and 08, but have been dropping since. Stats show were sitting at 1996 levels right now, too.

The Post also highlighted the U.S concealed carry provisions, which allow citizens to walk around willy-nilly with a handgun on their person. Thats never been a thing Down Under, excluding very limited professions, meaning Cruz assertion sounds as if we had a comparative gun ownership culture before the buybacks. Not so.

Closing up, the piece suggests there is evidence that the gun reforms helped reduce gun deaths, but its not a sole cause-and-effect relationship.



They concluded the rates didnt go up significantly after the buyback and theres no evidence changes to gun laws in Australia affected sexual assault rates or jeopardised the ability of women to protect themselves.

That makes sense. It might not win conservative votes, though.

For his efforts, Cruz was awarded four Pinocchios out of a possible five. Good one, bud.



Source: The Washington Post / Fairfax.

Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty.
January 26th.

If you can pick another day on Australias calendar that so uniquely captures peak national pride, while also commemorating this countrys brutal past, wed like to hear about it.

Its a day where the nations identity is called into question, and the competing factors of tradition and progress are pretty handily represented in the debate over the current Australian flag. As part of that ongoing conversation, Western Sydney University had a crack at the issue by asking respondents that great hypothetical:

If you could choose a new, viable banner for Australia, whatd it be?

Over 8,000 responses later, and todays results point to the blue, white, green & gold Southern Horizon. Have a gander:



The Southern Horizon. Source: southernhorizonflag.weebly.com.

Its a far departure from the current rendition, but thats exactly the point, according to WSUs Dr Benjamin T. Jones. Dr Jones, who was in charge of the survey, told ABC getting rid of the Union Jack was a priority among respondents. 31% of those in favour of a change voted for the Southern Horizon.

Not included in the Southern Horizon: explicit recognition of Indigenous culture. The Reconciliation Flag, another one of the options, showcases the traditionally recognised Aboriginal colours of red, yellow and black, while replacing the Southern Cross white stars with green; it also picked up nearly a third of the vote.

The Reconciliation Flag. Source: The Conversation.

For the record, the Eureka Flag also made an appearance as a possible option, joining Australias Sporting Flag, the Golden Wattle, and the plain ol Southern Cross. Of course, respondents could also choose to keep our current flag; 36% did so.





In one sense, its an outdated thing, Dr Jones said. Not outdated: taking the opportunity to raise your voice about exactly how you think this nation should be represented.

Still, its no Kiwi with lazer eyes, is it?



Source: ABC.

Photo: Facebook.
Many Americans used to regard New York City as a bankrupt foreign vessel docked on their Atlantic coastline. Then the place got cleaned up, and after the heroism (and stoicism) of Sept. 11, 2001, much of the hostility was replaced with affection.

Perhaps nothing signifies the change in status more than the prospect of four  count 'em, four  New Yorkers as leading candidates for president. The latest would be former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who just said he was considering a third-party run.

Already on base in this subway series are Donald Trump, former New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, a senator from Vermont whose voice never left Brooklyn.

Bloomberg's interest in entering the race apparently reflects his alarm that socialist Sanders might be the Democratic candidate and bigmouth Trump the Republican. Two polarizing candidates might open up a third-party opportunity. Nothing personal, you understand.

Ted Cruz probably regrets his attack on Trump's alleged "New York values," which he defined as "socially liberal, pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage and focus around money and the media."

Trump's defense of the city drew cheers from the Republican debate audience. But the best comeback was later supplied by Long Island Republican Pete King, who advised Cruz, "Go back under a rock."

New York City has long been misunderstood as a hotbed of radical left politics embodying an attitude of anything goes in one's behavior. That's not quite right. More than socially liberal, New Yorkers are socially tolerant. There's a difference.

New Yorkers must deal with people of all colors, accents and cultural folkways. There are 8.4 million stories in the naked city, and if you can't make peace with that, New York will drive you nuts.

But the populace also has a conservative streak. They want the chaos carefully managed. Current Mayor Bill de Blasio is the first Democrat elected in 20 years  and his radical-left policies are not going over very well.

Obviously, party labels in the city's local government don't matter much. Bloomberg was a former Democrat elected mayor as a Republican and then re-elected as an independent. Pragmatism is his middle name.

The combative New York way of speaking may be helping the Trump and Sanders campaigns. Linguists say it conveys emotion and an air of honesty, a telling-it-as-it-is. It's no accident that the most successful right-wing radio haranguers are New Yorkers Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage.

For good or bad, Trump towers over the rest as the quintessential Broadway showman. He makes average working people feel they've been invited to his party. When Trump says of Cruz, "He's a strident person; nobody likes him," that's intimate cocktail banter he's sharing with everyone.

And his are madcap parties. Trump lit up with childish delight during Sarah Palin's disjointed endorsement of his candidacy. It was as though he had just seen a chimpanzee swing on the chandeliers.

The other New Yorkers are far more contained. Clinton, a daughter of the Midwest, is guarded. Boston-born Bloomberg is sober to a fault. Sanders, meanwhile, neatly divides the world between "establishment" (bad) and those on his side (good).

As for Bloomberg's possible run, the other New Yorkers have responded with cautious courtesy. Trump said he likes Bloomberg. Clinton said she feels likewise, adding that Bloomberg won't have to run if she's the Democratic nominee. And Sanders offered a fairly innocuous self-reference: "Now I'll be running against two billionaires."

No New Yorker has occupied the White House since Franklin D. Roosevelt died while in office 71 years ago. That's a long time for New Yorkers to be out of the presidential game. They may very well be back.
FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, file photo, Alana Fusco, left, an employee at Gerald Peters, at the Staten Island Mall in New York, helps a customer choose a bracelet for her niece. On Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, the Conference Board releases the Consumer Confidence Index for January. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
New urgent care, family practice opens in Petoskey

Bay Street Urgent Care and Family Practice opened in Petoskey in early September and has seen high demand for services ever since.
Away from the vociferous disputes that continue to rage around the Iranian nuclear deal, the Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate and General Staff have been engaged in detached analysis of the short and long-term effects, and they have come away with three central conclusions.

Details of their assessments, though shared with defense reporters over recent months, were publicly presented for the first last week by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot during a conference in Tel Aviv, organized by the Institute for National Security Studies.

The most immediate consequence of the nuclear deal will be felt in the realm of expanding Iranian regional influence, and the looming increase in the trafficking of weapons and funds to terror organizations, made possible by sanctions relief.

Iran now sends Hizballah between $800 million to $1 billion every year, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assessments. There is every reason to expect Hizballah's funding to significantly increase in the next two years, as Iran stands to earn many billions of dollars in oil and gas sales, and receives access to $100 billion in previously frozen assets.

Additionally, the Iranian military industry, already considered to be an advanced stage of development by Israel, will receive much more investment, allowing Iran to design and produce more accurate missiles, rockets, drones, and other types of weaponry that it can then traffic to its regional proxies through its Revolutionary Guard-Quds Force (IRGC) networks, or point at Israel directly from Iranian missile bases.

IRGC-Quds Force activities in Syria, where Iran oversees and participates in battles to save its ally, the Assad regime (Iran has lost between 300 to 400 of its security forces in Syria's battles), and seeks to convert its presence on the Syrian Golan into terrorist bases against Israel, can also be expected to be expand.

"The assessment is that as the economic situation in Iran improves, bigger assets will be diverted [to these things]," Eisenkot said Jan. 18.

Regarding the Iranian nuclear program itself, the military divides its view between the short and long-term.

Since the end of 2005, Iran topped the list of strategic threats to Israel due to its military nuclear program. With Iran inching toward nuclear breakout capabilities, the IDF had to be ready to respond to any potential imminent developments.

The nuclear deal changes that situation, at least for the next five years. Although Israel will make every effort to monitor and scrutinize Iran's activities, the expectation within the defense establishment is that the risk of an imminent Iranian breakout to the bomb has substantially decreased for the next few years.

The thinking in Israel's military establishment is that the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has not forfeited his ambition to build nuclear weapons. Far from it. He has, however, taken a tactical 'pause' to achieve sanctions relief and assure the future of his regime.

After the five-year mark passes, the next decade carries increased risks of Iran secretly developing nuclear weapons.

Alternatively, Iran can wait out the agreement's sunset clause, and reactivate its nuclear program in 10 to 15 years, after it has amassed far greater regional influence, military capabilities, wealth, and international legitimacy.

This is one reason why Eisenkot has said that whoever is in his position a decade from now will face significantly more complex challenges. Iran then will be a significantly more formidable enemy than it is today.

In the meantime, Iran will continue its proxy war against Israel, and Hizballah armed with over 100,000 surface to surface rockets and missiles, will work with Iran to make some of those projectiles accurate, satellite-guided threats, which it can try to direct against strategic sites in Israel.

Israel, for its part, is developing an advanced multi-layer rocket and missile defense system to counter this.

Despite its heavy losses in Syria's civil war, Hizballah's home turf of Lebanon remains the base of the most formidable conventional military threat facing Israel today.

Hizballah has built rocket launchers into civilian homes in 240 Shi'ite villages and towns across southern Lebanon, set up underground command and control bunkers, and built rings of protection around them.

One out of every 10 homes in Lebanon has been turned into a hidden Hizballah rocket launcher, with roofs that open specially for the launch. A decade ago, Hizballah had just 10 percent of its current number of projectiles.

Meanwhile, Hizballah, which has been operating under direct Iranian command since the 2006 Second Lebanon War, is seeking to become a Shi'ite hegemonic force in Lebanon.

It remains deterred by Israel's overwhelming firepower, its wish to avoid opening a second front, and its awareness of Israel's deep intelligence penetration into the organization.

But Hizballah is gaining valuable experience in operating ground forces in Syria, and that experience will be brought to bear in cross-border raids against Israel in any future clash.

None of these developments can be separated from the Iran nuclear deal. The more powerful and influential Iran becomes, the more confident, daring, and wealthy Hizballah will be, and the bigger its stockpiles of projectiles (already one of the largest in the world) will become.



Yaakov Lappin is the Jerusalem Post's military and national security affairs correspondent, and author of The Virtual Caliphate (Potomac Books), which proposes that jihadis on the internet have established a virtual Islamist state. Read more at Investigative Project.
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Its been quite a while since the last (post Christmas New Years) post. In between have been a few health issues and a decent bout of the dre...
http://donpolson.blogspot.com/ Bringing you the very best information, analysis and opinion from around the web. NOTE: For videos that don't start--go to article link to view.




This morning, Morning Consult, published the results of some head-to-head match-ups that included Bloomberg. Bernie comes out on top in every scenario. And he does better against the two billionaires than Hillary does.

 Bernie- 35%

 Herr Trumpf- 34%

 Bloomberg- 12%

 undecided- 19%

Bernie does even better if the GOP throws the Texas extremist Ted Cruz the nomination instead of Herr:

 Bernie- 36%

 Cruz- 28%

 Bloomberg- 11%

 undecided- 25%

Ditto for the other right-wing junior senator, Marco Rubio:

 Bernie- 36%

 Rubio- 29%

 Bloomberg- 10%

 undecided- 25%

And when they polled Clinton in the mix, Trumpf lead with 37% to her 36% and Bloomberg's 13%. It's too risky for Democrats to nominate her. The general public just doesn't trust her or like her and won't even back her against a monstrosity like Trumpf. Please consider contributing to Bernie's campaign here

Earlier today we looked at the latest polling in Republicanville , which shows Trumpf consolidating his lead to the point where he is basically unstoppable. He will be the GOP nominee. Across the aisle, its an entirely different kind of race. Hillary's inevitability has evaporated, although she is still the frontrunner and Bernie has to win both Iowa and New Hampshire to be able to make a case in the other states.





Iowa is unpredictable and confusing; caucuses are tough to accurately poll to begin with. Some polls show Bernie pulling way ahead, others show Hillary maintaining her lead, but the most reasonable assessment is "too close to call." The brand new CBS/YouGov poll of Iowa Dems has Bernie leading 47-46%. Iowa Dems like both candidates' health care and jobs policies about equally, massively prefer Bernie on Wall Street reform and taxes, massively prefer Hillary on terrorism and gun policy. When asked if the two candidates understands the voter and people like him or her, 85% said Bernie does, while only 65% think Hillary does. Iowa Dems also say Hillary will do what big donors want as opposed to what regular people want by a 57-43% margin. They've been close enough attention to say that Bernie would do what regular people want as opposed to big donors by a 91% to 9% margin.





The CBS/YouGov poll finds Bernie prohibitively ahead in New Hampshire, beating Hillary 57-38%. 95% of the Dems there feel Bernie understands then, while only 60% think the same of Hillary. And 61% of them understand that she will cater to her big donors while 97% of New Hampshire Dems say Bernie will do what regular people want. (Also worth noting that 96% of New Hampshire voters say that Iowa's results do not matter at all to New Hampshire voters.)





Coming out of New Hampshire with a win, perhaps a big one-- and with a respectable showing or a win in Iowa-- can Bernie make the kind of headway he needs in South Carolina? On Face The Nation yesterday he said he can. "Let me just say that the poll in South Carolina was 60 to 38. If that's the case, it is showing us making huge, huge gains. And I feel confident that if we can win here in Iowa, if we can win in New Hampshire and those are going to be tough races, I think we stand an excellent chance to win in South Carolina and in Nevada. But if you look at the polling recently, and I can tell you because I have been to South Carolina, we have a lot of momentum on the ground. I think we're picking up more and more African-American support. Frankly, I think we can win there."





So let's look at the new numbers from South Carolina . Since November Hillary has sunk from 72% to 60%, while Bernie has climbed from 25% to 38%. White Democrats have been deserting Hillary faster and Bernie now leads among that group with 60%. His growth among black voters is slower but has risen from 7% in November to 22% today. But even in South Carolina, more Democratic voters (77%) feel that Bernie understands them than feel the same way about Hillary (69%) and Democratic voters there see her as more of a shill to her campaign donors (49%) while understanding that Bernie will do what regular people want (78%). A plurality of South Carolina voters (33%) say that electability is important enough to them to change their support. In other words, if Bernie wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, South Carolina is going to get a lot closer real fast.





Another crack in the firewall: South Carolina state Rep Justin Bamberg, the attorney for the family of Walter Scott, who was fatally shot by a police officer in North Charleston in April, withdrew his support from Hillary today and endorsed Bernie. Rep. Bamberg: "Hillary Clinton is more a representation of the status quo when I think about politics or about what it means to be a Democrat. Bernie Sanders on the other hand is bold. He doesnt think like everyone else. He is not afraid to call things as they are."

Gabe Debenedetti, explained the Sanders playbook for Politico readers over the weekend-- a protracted insurgent delegate fight concentrating on caucus states (15% of the delegates) and similar to how Obama playbook beat her in 2008.

The idea is to take advantage of the caucus format, which tends to reward campaigns with the most dedicated partisans. The caucuses play to Sanders strength in another important way-- they are largely held in states that are heavily white, which helps Sanders neutralize Clintons edge with minority voters.



With a dozen such contests coming before the end of March-- and Clinton expected to perform well on March 1, the first big multi-state primary day-- the caucuses are emerging as an integral part of Sanders long-shot plan.



Caucuses are very good for Bernie Sanders, explained chief Sanders strategist Tad Devine, likening the 2016 strategy to the one he deployed as Mike Dukakis field director in 1988. Caucuses tend to be in the much-lower turnout universe, and having people who intensely support you in events like that makes a huge difference. You saw that with President Obama in 2008, and youre going to see it with Bernie Sanders."



...The caucus wins are intended to sustain Sanders bid, rather than expected to propel him to the nomination on their own accord.



To defeat Clinton for the nomination, Sanders would likely need to outperform his current numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire, according to the Cook analysis, while making considerable inroads with minority voters who will be casting ballots on March 1 and March 15, two dates filled with big-state primaries.



As Sanders team has mapped it out, his path starts with strong showings in Iowa-- a caucus state where recent polling shows Clinton and Sanders running neck-and-neck-- and New Hampshire-- a primary state where hes led in every major public poll over the past month.



Eyeing Super Tuesday on March 1, Sanders aides concede Clinton is poised for wins in what they consider her six-state Southern stronghold: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. But they see opportunities for gains in Minnesota and Colorado, Sanders home state of Vermont, and two other primary states where the senator is well-known: Massachusetts and Virginia-- despite the deep ties between Virginias Democratic establishment and the Clinton camp.



The hope is for something resembling a split-decision, allowing the Sanders campaign to gain some momentum in the three caucuses that come into focus the following weekend: Kansas and Nebraska (March 5) and Maine (March 6).



But it doesnt get any easier for Sanders from there. A best-case scenario has Sanders pulling out a labor-fueled surprise in Michigan on March 8-- hell be up against Clintons advantage with minorities and the states Democratic establishment, her campaign's active presence there during the Flint water crisis, and its broad array of national union endorsements. If Sanders manages to remain competitive there, it might sustain him through the gauntlet of large swing states and a barrage of delegates on March 15 (Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio).



Next up?



A stretch of six smaller states, five of which-- Idaho, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington-- hold caucuses.

March 22 is also a primary in Arizona. Bernie should do well in the April 5th Wisconsin primary, which allows independents to vote (as does the North Dakota primary April 1). Closed primaries are not good news for Bernie since he needs independent voters and most of the late states and the machine states have closed primaries-- New York, Maryland, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania (about 520 delegates at stake. The real end of the line is June 7th when California and New Jersey have closed primaries to decide 515 delegates. Here are 37 Bernie songs to help us stay strong for the whole trip and keep the blood-sucking conservatives at bay:
Note: I am still on the fence about her, I need to hear more of her views on Israel, she once made anti-Israel remarks but she has since ...
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INSIDE



CUBE





WORDS AND PHOTOS: MATT WRAGG



Cube's current headquarters are this relatively modest building in the small town of Waldershof, just a few kilometres away from the Czech border.

The top floor of the building is where you will find Cube's development, product, sales and marketing departments - for a company like Cube, it's a very small setup indeed - the emphasis for Cube is firmly on the making of the bikes, and the business around them is kept as simple as possible. The top floor of the building is where you will find Cube's development, product, sales and marketing departments - for a company like Cube, it's a very small setup indeed - the emphasis for Cube is firmly on the making of the bikes, and the business around them is kept as simple as possible.

All of Cube's bikes are designed by this small team in this office. In fact one man, Michael Prell, is responsible for the geometry and suspension on every bike Cube make today. This makes him one of the most prolific designers anywhere in mountain biking and we have an in-depth interview with him on bike and suspension design coming soon.

The wallchart in the sales office shows just how far globally Cube is spread - the blue pins represent the markets where Cube currently sell bikes, and the yellow pins where they are thinking about heading. If you are reading this in America and are keen to get your hands on a Cube bike, then it's bad news for you - while they are looking at the US, they aren't the sort to rush into something, so the chances of seeing Cube on sale in the immediate future are pretty slim.

Downstairs, on the first floor is Cube's testing lab - it is here they exhaustively test not just their frames, but the components they build their bikes with and the various combinations of frames and components they use together. This means that when they sell a bike they know precisely how every element of the bike should perform and can be confident their buyer is getting a reliable bike. Downstairs, on the first floor is Cube's testing lab - it is here they exhaustively test not just their frames, but the components they build their bikes with and the various combinations of frames and components they use together. This means that when they sell a bike they know precisely how every element of the bike should perform and can be confident their buyer is getting a reliable bike.

While this may look like the bastard offspring of a mountain bike and a torture chamber, it is Cube's geometry mule. They can change every element of the bike's geometry to dial in every measurement to the millimeter in the ever elusive hunt for the perfect riding position.This is only used for fully rigid bikes though, because full suspension bikes have constantly changing geometry, so the only way to figure them out is to get people out and riding them. While this may look like the bastard offspring of a mountain bike and a torture chamber, it is Cube's geometry mule. They can change every element of the bike's geometry to dial in every measurement to the millimeter in the ever elusive hunt for the perfect riding position.This is only used for fully rigid bikes though, because full suspension bikes have constantly changing geometry, so the only way to figure them out is to get people out and riding them.

On the same floor as the testing lab is the prototype and development area - here they have the equipment to produce small prototype parts, like linkages or dropouts, plus they do a lot of 3D printing to test the form and fit of parts before they request the larger prototypes from their manufacturer. On the same floor as the testing lab is the prototype and development area - here they have the equipment to produce small prototype parts, like linkages or dropouts, plus they do a lot of 3D printing to test the form and fit of parts before they request the larger prototypes from their manufacturer.

On the next floor up is assembly - this is where it all begins for the 800 bikes per day that Cube currently produce. It all begins with quality control - each frame is carefully inspected, measured and its conductivity checked to test the quality of the metal or carbon. Every Cube bike comes with this note on the top tube, which is the control document from the checks, so you can be sure your bike meets their high standards.

Before assembly of the bike itself can begin each component needs to be checked and prepared to be sent to the assembly line. This is broken down into a series of teams, so there is one team who prepare the cockpit - bars, stems, shifters and brakes - another team who prepare the cables and hoses and the largest team of all for the wheels.

Because Cube build their own wheels, aside from the factory wheelsets they use, their wheel process is so involved it is split into several smaller teams - together they put out 1600 wheels per day. The first team mount the spokes onto the hubs ready for assembly, a second team then laces the spokes and hub to a rim before it is run through the machine wheel builder. Finally tyres, cassettes and discs are mounted on the wheels and they are ready to be sent to the main assembly line. Because Cube build their own wheels, aside from the factory wheelsets they use, their wheel process is so involved it is split into several smaller teams - together they put out 1600 wheels per day. The first team mount the spokes onto the hubs ready for assembly, a second team then laces the spokes and hub to a rim before it is run through the machine wheel builder. Finally tyres, cassettes and discs are mounted on the wheels and they are ready to be sent to the main assembly line.

From the initial prep of the frame, the bikes follow a number of steps on their way to being ready for shipping. The marked difference between Cube and the direct sales brands is the level of detail on the final steps - working with dealers mean that those final steps are done by the dealers, rather than Cube. That is always one of the strong arguments for buying from a local bike shop - that your bike will be checked by someone you know and it can be set to your personal preferences ready for you, rather than a factory default. From the initial prep of the frame, the bikes follow a number of steps on their way to being ready for shipping. The marked difference between Cube and the direct sales brands is the level of detail on the final steps - working with dealers mean that those final steps are done by the dealers, rather than Cube. That is always one of the strong arguments for buying from a local bike shop - that your bike will be checked by someone you know and it can be set to your personal preferences ready for you, rather than a factory default.
Land access agreements, government bureaucracy, legal issues, funding; Are these the things you usually think about just before hitting your favorite trail? If you're like most of us, the answer is probably, NO. But for a select group of dedicated individuals, they spend more time thinking about this than actually riding their bikes and they do all this for the love of the sport. This month we continue the series dedicated to association's that work so hard to bring us the trails we all ride, welcome to the Front Lines of North Carolina.

Photo Credit: Shawn Moore

Photo Credit: Jeff Welch Photo Credit: Shawn Moore

We are looking forward to working with the park staff on keeping the trails in good shape and also planning for the future of mountain biking at Lake James. Paul Stahlschmidt - President Northwest NC MTB Alliance

Photo Credit: Scott Duncan

Photo Credit: Scott Duncan

It was great to see a lot of new people working alongside the local regulars, the continued commitment of volunteers has always helped us achieve our goals. Brad Carey - Natural Resource Specialist at W. Kerr Scott

Photo Credit: Collin Waldron Photo Credit: Collin Waldron

Photo Credit: Daren Wilz

Photo Credit: Daren Wilz Photo Credit: Daren Wilz

Photo Credit: Timothy James Kearns

Photo Credit: Timothy James Kearns

Photo Credit: Scott Duncan

Our biggest goal is to get more people involved. I think every MTB organization wants this. But being involved doesn't necessarily mean you need to come out and work. Memberships really matter to help provide the clout we need to get stuff done. So join-up! Support your local club or chapter with a membership and it will make a big difference. Paul Stahlschmidt - President Northwest NC MTB Alliance

The Alliance is heading into 2016 on a high note. Attendance at their annual AGM in November was higher than anyone expected and their final work party of 2015 on Greentown in Pisgah was well supported. The Alliance will continue their work with the Pisgah National Forest. Their main focus is protecting existing mountain biking trails and advocating for increased access to other trails within the network. They plan to continue to work with the trails they already ride and maintain, improving and expanding where they can. Long term, their goal is to increase their presence and focus on bigger opportunities to work with area land managers to help plan, build and maintain sustainable trails. The future looks bright for this young association. In this current political climate the support and dedication of associations like Northwest NC MTB Alliance is more important then ever. Associations need your help and support in advocating for protection of Federal land, the preservation of government funding and continued access to public lands and existing trails. If you haven't done so already, take a minute and support your local association any way you can, a little can go a long way.

Are you interested in seeing your association or trails featured in a future Front Lines article?
We asked the riders to consider the location, the organisation, the atmosphere and, of course, the tracks, when making their decisions. Based on those criteria, the votes for Zona Zero were overwhelming. In the words of Curtis Keene the appeal was simple, "The tracks were awesome, crowds were insane, the prologue was super cool for everyone and the location was epic." With a five day format, riders faced eight stages spread across the hill around the town. Practice was split in the same day of racing, so on day one of practice they tackled the first four stages, then on the second day they rode the back four. On Friday there was an open day where riders could choose to either head back out to to perfect whatever was not running quite perfectly, or take a rest to prepare for the next two big days in the saddle. On Friday evening there was a prologue through the streets - it was mandatory, but the time did not count towards the race. That meant that the fans got to see their favourite riders speeding through the streets of the town, but riders didn't risk their race on the treacherous cobbles. Come Saturday and Sunday there were two long, physical days to tackle, but with just-right transfer times that hit the perfect balance of giving riders enough time to climb steadily, but without too much time waiting and getting cold at the top, the race hit a comfortable pace. Then there were the tracks themselves, riders returned to the pits each evening full of praise, they maybe weren't the most technical stages we saw all year at the EWS, but they were challenging enough for the riders to thoroughly enjoy them. With that combination of ingredients in one of the most stunning locations the EWS has yet visited, even the biblical rain storms that cancelled stage eight couldn't dampen their enthusiasm for this Spanish gem of a race.




Checking the email this past week it was Dr. Emily Kramer, a postdoctoral scholar on the NEOWISE team, who drew a lucky page with a new discovery on it. But this was a particularly special case; the detection was fuzzy, indicating that the object might be spewing out gas and dust: a comet. This object would turn out to be the 7th comet NEOWISE had discovered since December 2013. But first, we had to make sure we could predict where it was going to go, since when new asteroids and comets are first discovered using a small number of images, their orbits are poorly known.

NEOWISE carries out a survey pattern prescribed by its orbit around the Earth and the Earth's orbit around the Sun, so it can't go back to take a second look at things. We therefore need to use other telescopes to track our new discoveries. We sent our measurements to the Minor Planet Center (MPC), the international repository for detections and orbits of asteroids and comets. Within an hour the object had been posted to their public Potential Comet Confirmation Page under an unofficial identifier code used by the NEOWISE project, "N0096si". This temporary name would be replaced by its official designation once it had been confirmed to be real, and confirmed to be a comet.

Now, the worldwide network of follow-up observers swung into action (both professional and amateur), using the MPC's webpages to guide their observing. Most of the telescopes that provide follow-up observations of asteroids and comets are in the northern hemisphere, however, and this new discovery was at a declination of -47 degreeswell below the celestial equator and out of reach of most telescopes in the north. For cases just like this, the Gemini Observatory granted our team eight hours each semester of Target-of-Opportunity observing time on its southern telescope Gemini South, through their Large and Long Program. So shortly after the MPC posted the object on their confirmation, I sent a request to Gemini asking them to swing the 8-meter mirror in the direction of our tiny, fuzzy dot the next night.

Then we had to wait for the observations to be scheduled, for night to fall, and then for the object to rise. All the time knowing that as we waited, the uncertainty on the position of our object was growing. If too much time passed, we might not have been able to find the object again. The object was in the morning sky rising a few hours before dawn, so I knew that Gemini would observe it around midnight Pacific time. So I waited.

Just before bed, I checked Gemini's observing tool, and much to my delight the target had switched from "Ready" to "Observed". The team of observers and support astronomers at Gemini took the observations from 11:06 to 11:10 PM PST, and the data were immediately processed and loaded into the Gemini online data archive, meaning I was able to download them by 11:45 PM to my laptop in Los Angeles. The images traveled from the Cerro Pachon mountain in Chile to the operations center in La Serena, Chile, via undersea cables to the archive in Hawaii, via undersea cables again to my wi-fi router, then across 20 feet of air to my laptop in California, all in under a half hour and all nearly automatically (other than my clicking the download button on my laptop).

Opening the images, I smiled as I saw the soft, fuzzy blob slowly moving across the frame. Our discovery was definitely a comet. I quickly measured its position and brightness in the four images the Gemini team had snapped for me, and sent them off to the MPC in Boston.
After simulating a ground station pass, the team uploaded a command to BenchSat that deploys the four spring-loaded solar panels. During the actual mission, a coil of wire will be heated, searing through a fishing line-like material holding the panels closed. To verify this command worked, the team monitored the power level of the corresponding circuit on BenchSat. There are also four new lines of telemetry to indicate whether each panel is open.

Next, it was on to a simulated solar sail deployment. Up until this point, telemetry from the spacecraft showed these two lines regarding the state of the sail deployment motor:

233: Motor State: = halted

234: Motor Count: = 0

"Ground systems, you're good to go with step 150 in the procedure," said mission manager Dave Spencer. "Deploy solar sail."

"Proceeding with step 150," said Cal Poly's Justin Foley.

A new telemetry packet came in from the spacecraft, and lines 233 and 234 had changed:

233: Motor State: = moving

234: Motor Count: = 2538

"TC [test conductor], this is mission," Spencer called.

"Mission, this is TC, go ahead," replied Alex Diaz. The sound of a spinning motor could be heard in the background. BenchSat's motor spins, but it isn't actually connected to sail booms. Full deployment tests on the flight unit will come later.

"On a recent packet query, I'm seeing a motor count of 21,700," Spencer said. The numbers continued to climb, topping out at about 134,000.

As the motor spun, BenchSat's camera clicked away, simulating the way LightSail captures images during the deployment event in space. A command was sent to download the thumbnails, which were posted on the team's internal Wiki page. During the mission, these thumbnails will be used to select individual images for download.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Monday approved the creation of a U.N. mission of unarmed international observers to monitor disarmament should Colombia's government and leftist FARC rebels reach a deal to end Latin America's longest war.

The 15-member council unanimously adopted a British-drafted resolution that would establish a political mission for 12 months "to monitor and verify the definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, and the laying down of arms."

In a televised speech on Monday night, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said: "Today, Colombia is the synonym for hope in the world.

"The decision taken by the Security Council means that from now we are not alone - but that we go hand in hand with the U.N., with the whole world - towards the end of this war," said Santos, who staked his 2014 re-election on the peace talks with FARC.

Colombia's government and FARC jointly asked the Security Council to help monitor and verify rebel disarmament should the two sides reach a deal to end their 50-year-old war, which has killed 220,000 people and displaced millions, by a March 23 deadline.

"It is a commendable step forward from the government of Colombia and the FARC to voluntarily bring this issue to the United Nations. That's a rare occurrence," Britain's U.N. ambassador, Matthew Rycroft, told reporters before the meeting.

The rebels' willingness to make the request jointly with the government is a sign of progress as the two sides aim to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. Santos said last year he would make such an appeal to the United Nations.

"Colombia is now on the precipice of a historic achievement," the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told the council. "The Security Council shows that the United Nations stands with the Colombian people as they forge this new future."

The resolution asked U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to present detailed recommendations for such a mission to the Security Council for consideration and approval within 30 days of the signing of a peace deal.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Additional reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb in Bogota; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney)
U.S. Capitol Police Officer Vernon J. Alston dies shoveling snow at his home in Delaware. (Photo: Family photo)

A veteran U.S. Capitol Police officer and a fixture on the Hill died Saturday after suffering a heart attack while shoveling snow outside his home on the Eastern Shore of Delaware, according to his wife and law enforcement officials.

Officer Vernon J. Alston was 44 and had spent nearly two decades patrolling the Capitol grounds. He was known to lawmakers yet so humble about his job that he failed to tell his wife when he chased down and subdued a theft suspect a couple months ago, the Washington Post reports.

"He was the type of man who wanted to help people," said his wife of seven years, Nicole Alston, 42, who works at the National Zoo. "In his mind, he was a superhero." She also said, "He would help you, but he was modest about it. Thats how he lived his life: being an officer allowed him to come to their rescue."

Alstons death was announced Sunday by the office of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). For twenty years Officer Vernon Alston was a fixture on the Capitol grounds while keeping the community safe, Reid said in a statement.
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Tom Perry

AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - The United Nations invited Syria's government and opposition to peace talks in Geneva on Friday, but it remained unclear whether Saudi-backed opponents of President Bashar al-Assad would overcome their objections to attending.

The U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, sent out invitations to the delayed talks on Tuesday, without saying who had been invited or how many groups might participate.

Earlier, the opposition cast doubt on whether it would go to Geneva, accusing the United States of adopting unacceptable Iranian and Russian ideas for solving the conflict.

Opposition official Asaad al-Zoubi told Arabic news channel Al-Hadath that he was pessimistic, though the final decision would be taken at an opposition meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The Geneva talks are expected to last for months, with diplomats shuttling between rival delegations in separate rooms.

The Syrian government, which is clawing back territory from the rebels with the help of Russian air strikes and Iranian ground forces, has already said it will attend.

The opposition comprising the recently formed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) has however repeatedly said the government and its allies must halt bombardments and lift blockades of besieged areas before it will join talks.

Zoubi, who is due to head the opposition delegation, told Reuters that without the implementation of goodwill steps including the release of detainees "there will be no negotiations". "This is what the HNC has laid down," he said.

Reflecting opposition misgivings about the process, he told Al-Hadath that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had tabled Iranian and Russian ideas about Syria at a recent meeting with opposition leader Riad Hijab.

"It was not comfortable for us for America - even in theory or partially - to adopt what came in the Iranian and Russian initiatives," Zoubi said.

He also heaped criticism on de Mistura, saying the U.N. Syria envoy "cannot impose conditions" on the opposition.

The U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Michael Ratney, urged the opposition to attend the talks.

"Our advice to the Syrian opposition is to take advantage of this opportunity to put the intentions of the regime to the test and to expose in front of international public opinion which are the parties serious in reaching a political settlement in Syria and which are not," he said.

A Western diplomat said the aim was to get the talks started without further delay. "There is a little bit of fear that if the talks don't start soon they'll never really get going."

LOST LEGITIMACY

The United States has supported the opposition to Assad, who it says has lost legitimacy and must leave power. But the opposition has been increasingly critical of U.S. policy. Hijab said earlier this month the United States had backtracked on its position over Syria, softening its stance to accommodate Russia.

Diplomacy has repeatedly failed to resolve the conflict that has killed 250,000 people and forced millions from their homes, spawning a refugee crisis in neighbouring states and Europe. De Mistura is the third international envoy for Syria. His two predecessors - Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi - both quit.

Preparations for the talks have been beset by problems including a dispute over who should represent the opposition.

Russia has sought to expand the opposition delegation to include a powerful Kurdish faction that controls wide areas of northern Syria. The Sunni Arab opposition say the Kurdish PYD party should be part of the government delegation.

PYD leader Saleh Muslim told Reuters he expected his party to be invited to Geneva, though it was unclear in what capacity.

De Mistura has said the Geneva meeting will aim to kick off six months of talks, first seeking a ceasefire, later working towards a political settlement.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday it would be impossible to reach a peace agreement in Syria without inviting Kurds to take part in the negotiating process.

The Syrian Kurds say the autonomous government they have established in the northeast is a decentralized model for how to resolve the war that has splintered the country.

Turkey, a major sponsor of the insurgency, however said it was against the participation of the Kurdish YPG militia which is affiliated to the PYD. The YPG has become an important partner in the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State.

Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK, which it sees as a terrorist organisation.

The Syrian government and its allies have made significant gains against rebels in western Syria in recent weeks.

On Monday they captured the rebel-held town of Sheikh Maskin in southern Syria near the border with Jordan. It was the first significant gain for Damascus in that area since the start of the Russian intervention on Sept. 30.

In recent weeks government forces and their allies have also captured two strategic towns in the northwestern province of Latakia, where they are trying to seal the border to cut insurgent supply lines to Turkey.

(Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Andrew Osborn in Moscow, Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva and Nick Tattersall in Turkey; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Giles Elgood)
By Pracha Hariraksapitak

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will hold a general election in 2017 even if a draft constitution does not pass a referendum this year, the prime minister said on Tuesday.

Political instability has haunted Southeast Asia's second biggest economy for the past decade and promises on a return to democracy from the military government, which came to power after a 2014 coup, are closely watched.

The government had previously made a new constitution a prerequisite for a general election, but Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said a vote would go ahead in mid-2017, even if it had to be held under an old constitution.

"No matter whether the draft constitution passes the referendum or not, the government will hold the election in 2017 according to our roadmap," Prayuth, a former army chief who staged the 2014 coup, told reporters.

The junta, known as the National Council for Peace and Order, has curbed dissent and pushed back the timetable for elections to 2017, raising concern about the prospects of a country that was for years hailed as a shining example of a fast-developing Asian economy.

At the heart of the fractious politics is rivalry between the Bangkok-based royalist-military establishment and populist former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his allies, who the establishment sees as a threat.

A decade of tumultuous politics has included two coups, five elections and bouts of civil disobedience and street violence in which scores of people have been killed.

A junta-appointed committee has written a draft for the country's 20th constitution and is expected to unveil it on Friday.

A military appointed "reform council" rejected a previous draft in September. This time, the government will put the draft to a referendum, which is expected in July though no date has been fixed.

Democracy activists and some political parties say the charter will undermine the development of democracy and result in weak coalitions easily manipulated by the military.

Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, told Reuters in a interview last week the constitution was aimed at resolving long-running problems such as abuse of power by lawmakers.

Contentious articles include provisions that empower a Constitutional Court to intervene in political conflict, a partially or wholly appointed Senate and provisions for an unelected prime minister.

Prayuth did not say why he wanted an election even if the draft is rejected, but his announcement is likely to ease concern that a return to democracy could be repeatedly derailed.

"I promise that in July 2017 there will definitely be an election."

(Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Nick Macfie and Robert Birsel)
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - China expelled a Swedish national taken into custody this month on suspicion of acts detrimental to the country's national security, China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

China has drawn international condemnation over a crackdown on rights lawyers. Three weeks ago, it detained Peter Dahlin, a 35-year-old co-founder of the Chinese Urgent Action Working Group that worked with Chinese human rights lawyers.

Michael Caster, a spokesman for the group said in a statement that Dahlin's girlfriend, Pan Jinling, who had been detained around the same time, had also been released.

The Swedish foreign ministry, which had earlier announced Dahlin's release, said it remained concerned about naturalised Swedish citizen Gui Minhai, a Hong Kong-based bookseller who had vanished in October in Thailand.

Dahlin was not released, but deported, said Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry.

"Dahlin confessed during the process of questioning to suspected crimes," Hua told reporters, adding that China expelled him according to the law and had provided appropriate access for Swedish consular officials during his detention.

Dahlin's supporters have said his confession, broadcast by state-run China Central Television (CCTV), appeared to have been made under duress.

Western governments and rights groups have criticised China for its use of televised confessions in recent weeks, saying they violate due process and the rights of the accused.

Gui appeared on Chinese state television this month, saying he had surrendered to authorities over a fatal drink-driving offence more than a decade ago.

The disappearance of Gui and other booksellers has prompted fears that mainland Chinese authorities may be using shadowy tactics that erode the "one country, two systems" formula under which Hong Kong has been governed since its return to China from British rule in 1997.

Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said she welcomed Dahlin's release, but expressed concern over Gui.

"Meanwhile, I am greatly concerned over the detained Swedish citizen Gui Minhai," Wallstrom said in a statement, adding that Sweden was working to get clarity on his situation and an opportunity to visit him.

(Reporting by Sven Nordenstam and Megha Rajagopalan and Michael Martina in BEIJING; Editing by Ralph Boulton and Clarence Fernandez)
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Eight potential corridors for a proposed Rochester-to-Twin Cities high-speed rail line are recommended for additional study in a report released on Monday.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation released the "Alternatives Analysis Report." The report winnows down a list of 46 possible Zip Rail routes to eight. It also requires a no-build option be considered. But with no additional funding available and a private developer interested in building a high-speed rail line, MnDOT officials say this may be a good time to stop public work on the project. North American High Speed Rail Group has said it's interested in building a $4.2 billion elevated high-speed rail line from Rochester to the Twin Cities.

"If (the private group) is going to be moving forward, we should not be doing a parallel effort. Even though their project is different, I don't think it's a good investment of our limited resources if there is a private-sector group out there that is looking at it," said Dan Krom, director of MnDOT's passenger rail office.

North American High Speed Rail Group is in the process of applying for a right-of-way permit from MnDOT to study the corridor. Wendy Meadley, the rail group's chief manager, was not immediately available for comment.

A total of $2.3 million was set aside for the first phase of the environmental analysis. Those dollars have been used up, Krom said.

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While there is no money to continue environmental work on the corridors, Krom said the Alternatives Analysis Report has a shelf life of between three to five years. The report recommends essential two main routes between Rochester and the Twin Cities be considered  along U.S. Highway 52 or Minnesota Highway 56 and U.S. Highway 14. The routes include two potential end points in the Twin Cities  Union Depot in St. Paul and Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport.

Route lengths range from 77 miles to 93 miles with one-way travel times estimated to be as little as 40 minutes and as much as 53 minutes. Those estimates assume that high-speed rail speed in rural areas would reach 186 miles-per-hour. Estimated ridership numbers vary from 700,000 to nearly 870,000. Routes were analyzed by looking at several factors including travel time, impact on existing development and the environment and possible conflicts with freight traffic. Krom said officials plan to discuss the results with members of the Zip Rail Community Advisory Committee and the Zip Rail Technical Advisory Committee on Thursday.

Zip Rail critics charge the state is trying to avoid public comment on a completed Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement by stopping work now. The Alternatives Analysis Report is not subject to a public comment period. Heather Arndt co-leader of Citizens Concerned About Rail Line , said work on the report has taken far too long.

"I think they are playing games to intentional stop citizen input," Arndt said.

Krom said work on the project took longer than planned because it requires new rail lines to be built instead of being able to take advantage of existing railroads. That makes the project unusual compared to other high-speed rail proposals in the state.

"It is unique. The other projects use existing lines. There is a lot more support I would say on those projects because people are used to trains being there. And I think it makes the development process a lot less cumbersome, too and less costly," he said.

Olmsted County Commissioner Ken Brown said it appears likely that public work on the project will cease, and it will be up to North American High Speed Rail to make high-speed rail between Rochester and the Twin Cities a reality.

"It's not going to happen any other way. This will not be a public project. Can't afford it. Nobody's got the money," he said.

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Brown added that he believes the money spent so far on environmental analysis was worthwhile. He said that work helped raise the visibility of the project, helping to attract the interest of the private sector.

He added, "That work won't be wasted. It won't disappear. It will be used by the group that takes it over and runs with it."
This could be the year a little more sun shines on the Minnesota Legislature. Proposed reforms in the House could provide more public oversight of lawmakers' actions.

The latest proposals came from Rep. Paul Thissen last week. The Minneapolis DFLer proposed a package of reforms, citing a D- grade for openness and transparency in state government in a 2015 Center for Public Integrity report as a reason for the proposed changes. The near-failing report came after a chaotic last-minute vote in the 2015 legislative session, and Thissen's proposals aim to address such activity, as well as a variety of other concerns.

The House minority leader is not alone in looking for change, however. Rep. Duane Quam has said he is making his own pitch to increase transparency. The Byron Republican said he has been pushing to get paperless committee hearings, which would require all the committee documents be made available online to improve public access. "It would make it much easier to have it transparent," he said.

Any steps to increase public access to information being used by state legislators has our support.

We know it will be an uphill battle for many of the proposals seeking to increase transparency at the state level. Such proposals typically come from the minority party and too often are shunned by the party in power. That could happen with many of Thissen's proposals.

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At the same time, it's worth bringing the concerns into the light as the 2016 session looms.

The requests for longer public notice on major votes and earlier deadlines for budget targets would greatly enhance state residents' opportunities to stay connected to what is happening in St. Paul.

Being in a deadline-driven business, we understand how easy it is to delay final action until the last allowable minute. That appears to have been the case too often last year. Debates dragged on without immediate pressures, and when the pressure arrived, decisions were made in haste.

By slowing the process and extending opportunities for discussion, lawmakers would become better informed when it's time to vote, and their constituents would have a better understanding of what is happening.

The same arguments support Quam's proposal for a paperless hearing system. While the Minnesota House and Senate offer residents throughout the state a chance to listen to or watch committee hearings online, too often written material is dispensed in the room and not accessible to those who may be watching from Southeast Minnesota and other corners of the state.

We know there likely will be times that documents are prepared at the last minute. However, that doesn't mean they can't also be prepared in digital form and quickly made ready for online publication.

The debate will likely be heated on any of these topics. The reasons for not making changes may seem attractive to sitting lawmakers. That's an unfortunate fact that makes raising the bar of transparency a difficult task.

Yet, it's always a task worth undertaking.
Paul Krugman on French economic policies By: Scott Sumner

A finance student from Coventry sent me Paul Krugman post from 1997, which has some interesting things to say about today.

Fifteen years ago, just after Francois Mitterrand became president of France, I attended my first conference in Paris. . . . The only thing I do remember is a conversation over dinner (canard aux olives) with an adviser to the new government, who explained its plan to stimulate the economy with public spending while raising wages and maintaining a strong franc. To the Americans present this program sounded a bit, well, inconsistent. Wouldnt it, we asked him, be a recipe for a balance of payments crisis (which duly materialized a few months later)? Thats the trouble with you Anglo-Saxon economistsyoure too wrapped up in your theories. You need to adopt a historical point of view. Some of us did, in fact, know a little history. Wasnt the plan eerily reminiscent of the failed program of Leon Blums 1936 government? Oh no, what we are doing is completely unprecedented.

Something similar happened to the Hollande government, which is not that unlike the earlier governments headed by Blum and Mitterrand. All three governments were led by the Socialist party.

Krugman then discusses Frances supply-side problems:

To an Anglo-Saxon economist, Frances current problems do not seem particularly mysterious. Jobs in France are like apartments in New York City: Those who provide them are subject to detailed regulation by a government that is very solicitous of their occupants. A French employer must pay his workers well and provide generous benefits, and it is almost as hard to fire those workers as it is to evict a New York tenant. New Yorks pro-tenant policies have produced very good deals for some people, but they have also made it very hard for newcomers to find a place to live. Frances policies have produced nice work if you can get it. But many people, especially the young, cant get it. And, given the generosity of unemployment benefits, many dont even try.

These supply-side problems largely explain why Frances unemployment rate is roughly twice as high as in Germany. (Germany reports 2 rates, for reasons Ill never understand.)

Heres the conclusion, written a few years before the euro was created:

But let us not blame French politicians. Their inanities only reflect the broader tone of economic debate in a nation prepared to blame its problems on everything but the obvious causes. France, say its best-selling authors and most popular talking heads, is the victim of globalizationalthough adroit use of red tape has held imports from low-wage countries to a level far below that in the United States (or Britain, where the unemployment rate is now only half that of France). France, they say, is the victim of savage, unrestrained capitalismalthough it has the largest government and the smallest private sector of any large advanced country. France, they say, is the victim of currency speculators, whose ravages President Chirac once likened to those of AIDS. The refusal of the French elite to face up to what looks like reality to the rest of us may doom the very European dreams that have sustained the nations illusions. After this last election it is clear that the French will not be willing to submit to serious fiscal discipline. Will the Germans still be willing to give up their beloved deutsche mark in favor of a currency partly managed by France? It is equally clear that France will not give up its taste for regulationindeed, it will surely try to impose that taste on its more market-oriented neighbors, especially Britain. That will give those neighborsyes, even Tony Blairplenty of reason to hesitate before forming a closer European Union. But if it turns out that Chiracs political debacle is the beginning of a much larger disasterthe collapse of the whole vision of European glory that has obsessed France for so longwe can be sure of one thing: The French will blame it all on someone else.

The eurozone had two problems, a severe mismatch in the supply-side of the various eurozone economies, and a shortfall in total aggregate spending. The combination was disastrous, both a deep recession and an uneven recessioncreating internal conflict. Interestingly, Krugman doesnt anticipate the overall shortfall in AD (nor did I), but rather the one-size-fits-all problem.

Krugman was skeptical about the euro project, but didnt anticipate disaster:

Now a unified European market is a pretty good idea. There is even a reasonable case for unifying Europes currenciesalthough there is also a good case for doing no such thing.

That was also my view. We both saw the one-size-fits-all problem, due to bad supply-side policies in the more socialist parts of Europe, but neither of us anticipated that the ECB would be so contractionary.

Its too bad that Krugman no longer does this sort of blogging. Its kind of fun to go back and read posts from a time when socialism was still a dirty word in America, not a policy that most Democrats have a favorable view of.
Government agencies and climate activists (but I repeat myself) are loudly proclaiming 2015 the warmest year on record. There are several obvious problems with this, starting with the fact that the record they refer to goes back only until the late 19th century, 1879, coinciding with the end of the Little Ice Age. So, yeah, things have gotten slightly warmer since the Little Ice Age. Thats a good thing.

Actually, current temperatures are relatively coolcooler than the Earth has been something like 90% of the time since the end of the last real Ice Age, 12,000 or so years ago. When the place where I am typing was buried under ice a mile deep. If you want to worry about climate change, contemplate the fact that we are due, or soon will be due, for another Ice Age.

Then there is the fact that the margin by which 2015 was the warmest ever is tiny compared to the margin of error in such measurements. Does anyone seriously believe that we can determine an average global temperature to within a few hundredths of a degree? Now, or 150 years ago? No.

Finallyfor nowthere is the fact that the warmest ever claim is based on surface temperature data that are fatally flawed, both because historical data have been altered by government-funded activists for political reasons, and because surface temperature stations are frequentlyusuallythrown off by local environmental factors, most notably (although not most scandalously) the urban heat island effect.

Dr. Roy Spencer has more:

[O]ur satellite analysis has 2015 only third warmest [since 1979] which has also been widely reported for weeks now. I understand that the RSS satellite analysis has it 4th warmest.  There are many things I could say, but I would be repeating myself:  Land measurementsthat thermometers over land appear to have serious spurious warming issues from urbanization effects. Anthony Watts is to be credited for spearheading the effort to demonstrate this over the U.S. where recent warming has been exaggerated by about 60%, and I suspect the problem in other regions of the globe will be at least as bad. Apparently, the NOAA homogenization procedure forces good data to match bad data. That the raw data has serious spurious warming effects is easy to demonstrateand has been for the last 50 years in the peer-reviewed literature.why is it not yet explicitly estimated and removed?  Ocean Measurementsthat even some NOAA scientists dont like the new Karlized ocean surface temperature dataset that made the global warming pause disappear; many feel it also forces good data to agree with bad data. (I see a common theme here.)  El Ninothat a goodly portion of the record warmth in 2015 was naturally induced, just as it was in previous record warm years.  Thermometers Still Disagree with Modelsthat even if 2015 is the warmest on record, and NOAA has exactly the right answer, it is still well below the average forecast of the IPCCs climate models, and something very close to that average forms the basis for global warming policy. In other words, even if every successive year is a new record, it matters quite a lot just how much warming we are talking about.

This is a blindingly obvious point, but one that is always overlooked, probably on purpose, in news accounts. The real story is that by any measure, the Earths climate is not behaving the way the alarmists promised it would.

Then we have scientists out there claiming silly things, like the satellites measure temperatures at atmospheric altitudes where people dont live anyway, so we should ignore them. Oh, really? Would those same scientists also claim we should ignore the ocean heat content measurements  also where nobody lives  even though that is supposedly the most important piece of evidence that heat is accumulating in the climate system? Hmmm?

Dr. Spencer goes on to discuss what he calls the elephant in the room: the corrupting influence of billions of dollars in government money:

By now it has become a truism that government agencies will prefer whichever dataset supports the governments desired policies. You might think that government agencies are only out to report the truth, but if thats the case, why are these agencies run by political appointees? I can say this as a former government employee who used to help NASA sell its programs to congress: We werent funded to investigate non-problems, and if global warming were ever to become a non-problem, funding would go away. I was told what I could and couldnt say to CongressJim Hansen got to say whatever he wanted. I grew tired of it, and resigned. Let me be clear: Im not saying climate change is a non-problem; only that government programs that fund almost 100% of the research into climate change cannot be viewed as unbiased. Agencies can only maintain (or, preferably, grow) their budgets if the problem they want to study persists. Since at least the 1980s, an institutional bias exists which has encouraged the climate research community to view virtually all climate change as human-caused. There indeed is a climate change problem to studybut I dont think we know with any certainty how much is natural versus manmade. There is no way to know, because there is (contrary to the IPCCs claims) no fingerprint of human versus natural warming. Even natural warming originating over the ocean will cause faster warming over land than over ocean, just as we already observe. But since the government has framed virtually all of the research programs in terms of human-caused climate change, thats what the funded scientists will dutifully report it to be, in terms of supposed causation. And until the culture in the government funding agencies changes, I dont see a new way of doing business materializing. It might require congress to direct the funding agencies to spend at least a small portion of their budgets to look for evidence of natural causes of climate change. Because scientists, I have learned, will tend to find whatever they are paid to find in terms of causationwhich is sometimes very difficult to pin down in science.

This is the essence of the problem: the worlds governments are pouring billions of dollars into research of one kind only: research that supports giving more power over the worlds economies to governments. Huh. Funny coincidence: when the supposed climate problem was global cooling (a more realistic scare than global warming) back in the 1970s, the solution was more government power, too. Global cooling would have worked just as well for statists, probably better. But: cooling, warming, whats the difference? We want your money, and we want to run your life! That is what global warming hysteria is all about. The money and the power. Global warming activism is perhaps the most corrupt enterprise of the 21st century.
We have covered extensively the outbreak of gang sexual assaults that occurred in Germany on New Years Eve, most notably in Cologne. Most recent reports suggest that as many as 600 German women may have been sexually abused by Islamic immigrants on New Years Eve in Cologne, alone. Similar outrages occurred across Western Europe.

So the Europeans are scrambling to accommodate millions of immigrants, while fending off far right forces who call for sane immigration policies. What is the result? Efforts like this one by the Austrian Interior Ministry, which seeks to explain to Islamic immigrants that homosexual kissing is A-OK, while wife beating is frowned upon:

Somehow, I dont think this is going to do the trick. The wife and wife-beater are obviously European, so migrants likely wont think the message is directed to them. The homosexual kiss is, viewed through the lens of a traditional society, absurd, and a cartoon isnt likely to change that opinion. So my assessment is that it will take a lot more than a cartoon or two to ease the transition of millions of Muslims into the soft underbelly of Western Europe. But Europes establishment has little to offer but such pitiful measures.
Melissa Click, the University of Missouri professor who called for muscle to remove a reporter, has been charged with the crime of assault. The charge is based, I think, on the allegation of Mark Schierbecker, a Missouri student and videographer, that Click, not content to wait for muscle, grabbed his camera and pushed him while he was filming.

The specific charge against Click is third-degree assault. This is a class C misdemeanor that carries a possible 15-day jail sentence, according to the Kansas City Star.

Whatever the merits of the assault charge, Click is guilty in my view of budding fascism. No such crime exists, of course, but the offense strikes me as probably sufficient to cost Click her job. It wont do for a university professor to call for muscle to prevent the filming of a public protest.

Many in the Missouri state legislature agree. Last month a group of 100 Republican state legislators publicly called for the university to fire Click. They were joined by David Steelman, a member of the university systems board of curators.

More than 100 faculty members responded by writing a letter in support of Click. The letter is noteworthy in several respects.

First, it makes no real argument against the dismissal of Click. The closest it comes is this:

We believe that [Clicks] actions on November 9 constitute at most a regrettable mistake, one that came, moreover, at the end of several weeks during which Click served alongside other faculty and staff as an ally to students who were protesting what they saw as their exclusion from and isolation at the University.

But regrettable mistakes often lead to dismissal from employment. And they probably should when the mistake involves thuggish (and in the view of prosecutors, criminal) conduct by a professor directed at a student trying to record what is happening in public on campus.

Nor is it any excuse that Click sympathized with the protesters. Sympathy is fine; assault and calls for muscle arent.

Second, the letter focuses mainly on trying to convert Click into a victim. It states that she has been wronged by the media and subjected to ad hominem attacks. The authors dont provide any details, much less evidence, to support these claims, which are irrelevant in any case. The issue of Clicks continued employment should turn on her conduct, not that of her media critics.

Third, the letter is signed almost exclusively by professors in the humanities. There is one signatory from the Department of Biomedical Sciences, one from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and one from the School of Law. The rest are from departments where, at many colleges and universities, leftism tends to run rampant.

This doesnt mean the letter lacks merit (though I think it is unsound for the reasons discussed above). But it would be more impressive if it had garnered support from a broader cross-section of the faculty.

Two of the signatories are from the School of Journalism. Its a sign of the times, I suppose, that any journalism professor would express solidarity with a professor who favors the forcible removal of a videographer from a protest.

The issue of Clicks employment at the University of Missouri is likely to be resolved not through outright dismissal for misconduct, but rather through the tenure process. Click apparently is up for tenure at the end of the year. Professors who are denied tenure at the University are terminated within a year of the denial.

The Kansas City Star quotes Ben Trachtenberg, an associate law professor and chairman of the Faculty Council, as saying that its possible the tenure review teams will consider whether Clicks behavior is off kilter from what is expected of tenured faculty. I dont see how they could refuse to consider this, but given the contemporary university scene, who knows?

Meanwhile, interim Chancellor Hank Foley (the last Chancellor resigned in the wake of student protests) has asked the University provost along with the dean of the College of Arts and Science and head of the communications department to review whether Click should remain in the classroom while the assault case plays out. He expressed confidence that Click does not pose a danger to any student, but added that as the case moves forward it could become an awkward and odd situation for the classroom.

And for the University, I would have thought.
How important are endorsements by office holders when it comes to nominating a presidential candidate? I think the conventional wisdom is that this year, at least on the Republican side, they wont count for much. On the other hand, Aaron Bycoffe of FiveThirtyEight cites research showing that in presidential nomination contests between 1980 and 2004, early endorsements by members of the party elites were the most important cause of candidate success in the state primaries and caucuses.

Accordingly, FiveThirtyEight is keeping track of endorsements this cycle. Even if dndorsements end up not helping successfully to predict the nominees, the scorecard is fascinating, at least to me.

FiveThirtyEights scorecard awards 10 points for endorsements by governors, 5 points for endorsements by U.S. senators, and 1 point for endorsements by U.S. representatives. The winner, as of now, on the Republican side is Jeb Bush with 51 points. He is followed by Marco Rubio (43), Chris Christie (26), Mike Huckabee (26), John Kasich (20), Ted Cruz (17), and Rand Paul (15).

Donald Trump, to whom Cruz says the political establishment is flocking, has zero endorsements from sitting governors, senators, and U.S. representatives.

No wonder people are discounting endorsements on the Republican side this year.

Bushs endorsements come almost exclusively from figures whom most would consider establishment types. No surprise there.

Rubios endorsers are an impressive group. They include stars from the House like Trey Gowdy, Jason Chaffetz, Darrell Issa, Kristi Noem, Mike Pompeo, and Mia Love (a Power Line pick). Four Senators have also endorsed Rubio. They are James Inhofe, James Risch, Cory Gardner, and Steve Daines.

Bush is endorsed by five Senators. However, they include Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham, and Thad Cochran. Consider me unimpressed.

Ted Cruz, said to be hated by his GOP Senate colleagues, hasnt picked up any Senate endorsements. However, 17 House members are backing him. They include Steve Haywards friend Tom McClintock and my friend Alex Mooney (a Power Line pick). Other conservative stalwarts who have endorsed Cruz include Louis Gohmert, Steve King, and Paul Gosar (author of the Gosar amendment).

Mike Huckabee and Chris Christie benefit from home cooking. Five of Huckabees nine endorsements come from the Arkansas delegation to Congress. Senator Boozman is backing Huckabee. Senator Cotton hasnt endorsed anyone yet.

Christie has picked up endorsements from four New Jersey congressmen. He is also endorsed by my governor, Larry Hogan, whom Christie help achieve an historic victory in a very Blue state.

Maines governor, Paul Le Page, has endorsed Christie too. If the New Jersey man comes out of New Hampshire in decent shape, he may win the endorsement of other governors he has helped.

As I said, Trump hasnt been endorsed by any governor or member of Congress. However, if he wins in Iowa and New Hampshire (the polls now have him ahead in both states), this might very well change. We shouldnt underestimate the power of opportunism.

On the Democratic side, to no ones surprise, Hillary Clinton is crushing it. She leads Bernie Sanders in the endorsement primary 459-2.

Sanders endorsements are from Keith Ellison of Minnesota (by way of Louis Farrakhan) and Raul Grijalva of Arizona. Martin OMalley has been endorsed by Eric Swalwell of California.

For Hillary, though, its James Comeys endorsement that counts the most.
It was only a few days ago that I took note of the sorry Politifact people for jumping on Marco Rubio for supposedly distorting the role Ronald Reagan played in the denouement of the Iranian hostage crisis back in January 1981, and now Vox has weighed in also with the purpose of disputing Rubio and denigrating Ronaldus Magnus.

Except that Vox makes a total botch of it. Heres the lede of Voxs bollix:

The story goes that on the day of his inauguration, in January 1981, President Reagan convinced the Iranian regime to free the American Embassy hostages more or less just by glaring harshly in the direction of Tehran, which quailed in the face of his unyielding toughness and released the Americans immediately.

Actually, nobody tells the story that way, but never mind.

According to this appealing version of recent history, Iran had kept the hostages during the Carter administration because they knew Carter was weak, but they so feared Reagans red-blooded American resolve that they acquiesced the second he was sworn into office. The moral of the story, therefore, is that negotiating with Iran or any of Americas enemies is a sign of harmful weakness, whereas refusal to negotiate shows Reagan-like strength that will protect Americans. . . The hostages were released in exchange for sizable concessions from the United States  exactly the sort of process they deride as weak  and not because Ronald Reagan was a tough and scary gentleman whose mere presence in the Oval Office panicked Khomeini into capitulating.

But then later in the story, Vox admits this:

Indeed, if Reagan did have an effect on the hostages release, it was to make the Iranians more invested in Carters negotiations. On the campaign trail, Reagan insisted that he would never negotiate with Tehran. The Iranians thus believed, perhaps correctly, that making a deal with Carter would be the best way to ensure that they benefited from releasing the hostages. According to [Mark] Bowden, Reagan ended up becoming bad cop to Carters good cop  a way to force the Iranians to negotiate in good faith by claiming that a deal had to be done before Carter left office.

So in other words . . .

Heres a simple thought experiment for the vacuous Voxers: If Carter had been re-elected, anyone think the Iranians would have negotiated their release by January 20, 1981? Youd think a single viewing of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence would suggest some simple lessons to the Voxers, but they seem to suffer from the widespread pox called liberalism.

I repeat, once again, what the Washington Post editorial page (!!) had to say about the matter on January 21, 1981:
Yesterday, I complained about what I called the mindless responses by some Fox News commentators to the National Reviews Against Trump issue. Some of the responses werent just mindless, they were also obnoxious.

One the most obnoxious ones came from Judge Jeanine Pirro. She ranted: The National Review needs to get in line with the rest of the Republicans. How dare they trash the front-runner Donald Trump!

But Trump doesnt have the support of the rest of Republicans; he has the support of approximately 35 percent of them. In any event, conservatives are under no obligation to get in line with Trump supporters just because he leads in mid-January polls.

Pirros rant is so sickeningly authoritarian that one almost hoped she had an ulterior motive for offering it. And it turns out that she may  her ties to Donald Trump.

Jeff Dunetz explains:

New York Magazine once described her ex-husband Al Pirro as Westchesters most influential real-estate lawyer, a man Donald Trump keeps on retainer. . . In other words, before her divorce Mr. Trump was an important part of Judge Pirros household income. And when she ran for New York State Attorney General, Donald Trump donated $20,000 to her campaign.

Jeanine Pirros relationship with Trump hardly disqualifies her from opining about the candidate and his critics. But clearly, she should have disclosed the relationship. Instead, she chose to conceal it.

Throughout this campaign season, weve seen pundits disclose their relationships, often fairly tenuous, to various candidates. For example, every time National Reviews Ramesh Ponnuru discusses the race, he links to a disclosure statement that encompasses three Republican candidates.

That Pirro declined to disclose her relationship to Trump undermines her credibility, though probably not as much as the absurdity of her rant itself does.

UPDATE: A reader writes that Judge Pirro has, on more than one occasion, disclosed her relationship/friendship with Mr. Trump. He adds that it is unrealistic to expect her to repeat this disclosure every time she comments on how she feels a political candidate is being treated by the media.

I thank the reader for this comment. But not all of Pirros viewers watch her show regularly enough to know about her relationship with Trump.

Thus, I believe she needed to disclose the relationship before instructing National Review to get in line with the rest of the Republicans and before saying how dare they trash the front-runner Donald Trump!  statements that went well beyond mere commentary about how Trump is being treated by the media.
The U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, arrived Lagos on Monday as the head of a fact-finding mission to Nigeria on Doing Business in Africa.

Mrs. Pritzker, who is the chair of President Obamas Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa, was accompanied by senior U.S. business executives.

The council was formed to advise President Barack Obama on ways to strengthen commercial engagement between the United States and Africa.

A statement from the US Embassy in Abuja said the trip would provide an opportunity for the council members to gather facts about the commercial opportunities and challenges in Nigeria.

At the end of the visit, the council, which would also visit Rwanda, is expected to report back to President Obama with strong and actionable recommendations, and develop policy ideas that will benefit both countries and raise our commercial relationship to the next level.

Secretary Pritzker said President Obama was convinced that the US private sector was capable of helping African business community address some of the continents most pressing challenges, namely building modern infrastructure, creating jobs and opportunity for young people, and expanding access to education and the Internet, if they work in partnership.

When we think about the economic potential of countries across Africaand Nigeria is absolutely at the top of that listthe imperative that we all face is to promote economic growth and opportunity at home, and deepening our mutually beneficial ties of trade and commerce is not just a nice to have, it is a must-have for all of us, Mrs. Pritzker said on arrival in Lagos.

She said her mission to Nigeria and Rwanda underscored the Obama Administrations commitment to shifting the U.S. economic relationship with Africa from one based on aid to one based on trade and investment.

With the trip, the Secretary of Commerce said the PAC-DBIA members would develop an actionable set of recommendation for President Obama regarding how U.S. government programmes and policies could better support economic engagement between Africa and the United States.

Africa, she noted presented tremendous long-term growth opportunities, adding that both the U.S. government and the U.S. private sector were committed to deepening their economic and commercial engagement on Africa.

Nigeria was selected for the trip by the council members specifically for her potential to help grow about 50 million Nigerians in the middle class, and to become one of the top-10 global economies by 2050.
A witness has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the money paid by a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to a company owned by the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, was for security services.

Mr. Metuh is accused of receiving N400 million from Mr. Dasuki, for which investigators say was part of $2.1 billion voted for the purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram, but diverted and shared to politicians and government loyalists.

The claim about security services payment to Mr. Metuhs Dextra Investment Limited, was made by Bali Ndam, a legal adviser in the office of the NSA, responsible for drafting memos, vetting contracts, among others.

Mr. Ndam appeared as the third prosecution witness. The details of the security services were not clear.

Mr. Ndam said the NSAs office, had in January, transmitted a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, giving names of companies it awarded contracts to.

He said the letter included 78 companies and individuals, amongst them, Dextra Investment Limited.

There were however arguments over the communications between the EFCC and the NSAs office.

Mr. Ndam told the court that the EFCC requested for the payment mandate to the companies, in a letter dated January 13, 2016, signed by Ibrahim M. Musa.

He said a list of e-payment mandate was sent to the EFCC on January 14, and the letter was signed by M. Abdulrahim, a Group Captain.

Mr. Ndam said another letter was written to the EFCC, and was signed by Lieutenant Colonel AA Ibrahim, the special adviser to the NSA.

But responding, Mr. Metuhs counsel, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, told the court that the witness could not present as evidence, a document authored by another person.

Mr. Ikpeazu also said documents attached to the letter dated January 14, 2016, which were computer-generated, did not meet the provisions of section 84 of the Evidence Act.

He told the court that according to sections 84, sub sections (2) and sub section (4), a, b and c, any such document must be certified as true copy.

Mr. Ikpeazu also noted that the title of the document was different from what Mr. Ndam claimed.

He said the name of the document in his possession was Payment companies with no contract, while that mentioned by Mr. Ndam was Payment of contracts without award

He therefore prayed the court to reject the document.

But in his response, Sylvanus Tahir, prayed the court to discountenance the request made by Mr. Ikpeazu

He said the documents tendered were all public documents, which are all relevant to their arguments.

He added that the duplicate documents which needed certification had all been certified, while the original documents did not need certification.

The Judge, Okon Abang, overruled Mr. Ikpeazus objection.

He said the documents before the court were correspondents whose nature did not require certification.

He also said the fact that the witness misread the name of the document, did not affect its content.

He ruled that the documents be tagged, exhibits A, B and C.

The case will continue, Wednesday.
A rights group, Muslims Rights Concern, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore calls for the release of former officials being tried for corruption.

In a statement Monday, the executive director of the group, Ishaq Akintola, said Nigeria needed to apply limit to its obedience of the rule of law at this time to enable it to make headway in bringing looters to book.

Mr. Akintola, a professor, said if released on bail, some of the suspects might escape from the country, and evade justice.

The statement said, Members of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some sponsored groups have accused the Federal Government (FG) of failing to respect the rule of law in its ongoing war against corruption. They want looters, saboteurs and traitors to be granted bail and set free even when it is obvious that such people are most likely to jump bail by fleeing from the country.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) frowns at any attempt to make a mockery of the rule of law. It is a flagrant abuse of the principles of democracy to talk of human rights in defense of those who diverted huge funds earmarked for the purchase of arms. It is only in Nigeria that self-confessed criminals are indulged under the guise of democracy and the rule of law.

How can anyone be talking of the rule of law now when the same rule of law gave those who stole N33 billion police pension fund a pat in the back and asked them to pay N750,000 only! The rule of law guaranteed the freedom of a dictators son who laundered N446 billion. The rule of law gave everlasting immunity to a former governor of Rivers State who stole $500 million. The list is endless.

It has always been looting ad infinitum and the law had always looked the other way. But now that integrity is in power and it is making thieves accountable, suddenly we find the rogues appearing in court on wheelchairs, some with crutches, all in an attempt to hoodwink Nigerians. Some insist on being allowed to travel abroad just to treat ordinary sore throat. How can we be so careless as to grant their wish?

Cant we see the implications on the lives of 180 million people if 55 people only have the temerity to steal N3.1 trillion within six years and they still have the audacity to hide under the rule of law to enjoy their loot while the rest of us whistle for our dinner? Does that not explain why there are no good roads, no electricity, no qualitative education and no drugs in the public hospitals? Should we still play dumb by allowing them to escape to some remote island?

Rule of law without limits will protect, promote and project corruption. It will provide escape routes for kleptomaniacs and put our gallant propagators of the war against corruption in chains. We must draw a thick line of demarcation between corruption and rule of law.

Nigerians should beware of rule of law without borders. Even the greatest democracies in the world apply limits to their practice of rule of law. That is why the United States has Guantanamo Bay, the widely condemned practice of rendition and waterboarding as a special form of torture. Yet it is all in the national interest. They are all practiced to fight terrorism, Americas greatest challenge of our time.

Terrorism is Americas greatest challenge and the rule of law was not allowed to protect it. In the same vein, corruption is Nigerias greatest challenge today and we should not allow the rule of law to stand between us and victory over corruption. We must see the need to create a border line between corruption and rule of law.

The two are incompatible. Corruption is like a gangarene sticking hard to the national anatomy, sucking its blood dry. This gangarene must be burned out with hot iron if necessary. Corruption is a giant monster with its jaws wide open to swallow up the social order. In fact, corruption is a potent threat to the rule of law. We must therefore destroy corruption to save the rule of law otherwise society will collapse.

It is difficult to understand the mentality of the PDP as a party as it continues to defend the indefensible. Shameful confessions are being made on a daily basis yet the partys megaphones still find ways of extenuating the shocking revelations. Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are. It is birds of the same feather that flock together. We must leave the thieves to defend the thieves. They have the noun thief and the verb to steal. Men and women of integrity must stand firm on the path of transparency, probity and accountability. We must allow the world to see that we are prepared to stand by the truth.

For the avoidance of doubts, MURIC remains non-partisan and we do not care about the fortunes of any political party. But we must raise the alarm if the PDP which has been in power for 16 years is found to have taken this country to the cleaners.

How can we remain neutral when in his popular hadith man raa minkunm munkaran, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned against sitting on the fence on matters like this? He said, Whoever sees any evil should use his hands to change it. If this is not possible, he should employ his tongue (i.e. speak out against it). If this is not possible, he should use his heart (i.e. pray against it) but that (i.e.) using the heart) is the weakest form of faith.

How can MURIC turn the blind eye when the Glorious Quran also warned, Beware of a calamity that will not befall the perpetrators of evil alone (i.e. both the guilty and the innocent will suffer, Quran 8:25). No wonder 180 million innocent Nigerians are suffering from the iniquities of a tiny cabal comprising of 55 selfish, greedy and avaricious people.

The Italian poet, Dante Alighieri argued that The hottest part of hell will be reserved for those who in times of moral crisis maintain their neutrality. Therefore every conscious Nigerian must speak out against this massive fraud which led to the deprivation of our gallant soldiers of much needed weapons, the resultant death of several gallant soldiers, the destruction of many churches and mosques, the loss of more than 150,000 lives of innocent Northerners among them women and children as well as over one million people of the North East who fled their homes.

We must not leave the ruling party, the All Peoples Congress (APC), to do all the fighting alone. It is not about the APC. It is about Nigeria and our collective survival as a people. All of us are now suffering for the moral debauchery and financial recklessness of our past leaders.

Finally, we appeal to the world community to ignore the crocodile tears of the opposition camp, the campaigns of calumny of its sponsored agents and the claims of vendetta and political victimization by PDPs cronies. Nigerians support the war against corruption but we cannot afford rule of law without borders at this point in time.
Oil rose further above $30 a barrel on Tuesday on hopes that OPEC and non-OPEC producers may reach deal to tackle one of the biggest supply gluts in decades.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is making renewed calls for rival producers to cut supply alongside its members. Russia, seen as key to any deal, has so far refused to cooperate.

Iraqs oil minister said on Tuesday he saw some flexibility for a deal between OPEC and non-OPEC. Brent crude rose 17 cents to 30.67 dollars a barrel. U.S. crude was up seven cents at 30.41 dollars.

Without a production agreement, fundamentals point to lower numbers, said David Hufton of oil brokers PVM. With one, oil becomes a 40-to-60 dollars-a-barrel market. (Reuters/NAN)
The federal government has said it would neither be distracted nor intimidated to abandon or weaken the fight against corruption, which it called a war of survival for the nation.

No amount of media or other attacks will stop the fight. The pseudo-analysts and hack writers will labour in vain in their quest to stop the train of this anti-corruption fight, the Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said at a meeting with Abuja bureau chiefs of newspapers on Tuesday.

When I met with the news and political editors in Lagos on Sunday, I said, among other things, that the government is aware that in fighting corruption, corruption will also fight back.

I also said that those who stole us dry are powerful. They have newspapers, radio and television stations as well as online platforms, and an army of supporters to continuously deride the governments war against corruption.

Well, I can tell you today that corruption is already fighting back, and it is fighting hard and dirty.

Sponsored articles have started appearing in the newspapers and on social media, while talking heads have started making the rounds in the electronic media, all deriding the fight against corruption as well as this administration.

Not stopping there, they have been creating distractions by sponsoring articles in both local and international media to deride the administrations policies generally, tag the president a budding dictator and even write off his 2016 budget.

We know that the sole purpose of these attacks is to distract attention from the war on corruption, he said.

Mr. Mohammed said it is saddening that some otherwise credible voices have unwittingly allowed themselves to be railroaded into the bandwagon of pro-corruption orchestra, while noting that some hack writers are struggling to whittle down the impact of the anti-corruption campaign.

One hack writer even said the disclosure that 55 Nigerians allegedly stole 1.34 trillion naira between 2006 and 2013 did not trigger any anger among Nigerians!

A disclosure that made the front page in over a dozen Nigerian newspapers, played widely in the international media and attracted the attention of the worlds most powerful country and global financial institutions cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand, the minister said.

The minister said even one of those who benefitted from the Dasukigate had the temerity to deride the anti-corruption war as selective, when in saner climes, he should have been so ashamed of himself that he would have apologized to the nation and hunkered down for good.

He said the sponsored attacks are not about to stop, and that they will become more intense and more coordinated in the days ahead.

But the good news is that we are winning the war. Nigerians are now talking more about corruption. Nigerians are now counting the cost of corruption to their lives, he said.

He called on Nigerians not to be swayed by the antics of the sponsored denunciation of the anti-graft war, saying the treasury looters, who have so much resources in their kitty, and their cohorts will throw everything but the kitchen sink at this administration.

But we have no doubt that Nigerians are discerning enough to know the truth, which in the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, is that unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria, said the minister.

He urged the media to continuously educate and inform Nigerians about the evils of corruption, especially the cost of corruption to the lives of the citizens.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday presented more evidence against a former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye.

Mr. Dariye is facing trial on a 23-count charge bordering on money laundering and diversion of funds, before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gudu, Abuja.

Mr. Dariye, in addition to being accused of siphoning about N1.2 billion Ecological Fund meant for the state, had also allegedly diverted about N204 million meant for the state treasury to Ebenezer Ratnen Ventures, ERV  a company owned by him.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the EFCC witness, Musa Sunday, a detective with the EFCC, gave details of how money meant for the Plateau State Government account was diverted to ERV.

Mr. Sunday told the court that in the course of investigations into several cheque slips recovered from the then Lion Bank (now Diamond Bank), it was discovered that there were several questionable inflows into the account of ERV.

Further probe into the account, according to Mr. Sunday, revealed that the source of the funds came from the Plateau State government, but for no services rendered.

Presenting the certified photocopies of various bank drafts in court to prove the fraudulent transfers, Sunday, said: In the course of our investigations we found out that the origin of the various money credited to Ebenezer Ratnen Ventures with Diamond Bank (then Lion Bank), was from the office of the states Accountant General.

Counsel to Mr. Dariye, G.S. Pwul, SAN, raised objection to the admissibility of the photocopies of the bank drafts raised from the cheques, but his objection was overruled by Justice Banjoko, and the documents were accepted as exhibits.

Specifically, Mr. Sunday said the office of the states Accountant General issued Lion Bank cheques to All States Trust Bank, which were cleared into the account of ERV.

He further noted that investigations showed that there were no services rendered by ERV to warrant the payment of the said money, adding that investigations at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, showed that the company was not registered.

A Lion Bank cheque of N53, 600,643.05 was traced to All States Trust Bank, and it was found to have been cleared in the account of Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, with the source being the states Accountant Generals account domiciled in Lion Bank, he said.

Several of such fraudulent transactions, he said, included a cheque of N15 million payable to All States Trust Bank, credited to ERV; another cheque of N8 million dated January 17, 2001 payable to All States Trust Bank, was also credited to ERV; another Lion Bank cheque of N10 million payable to All States Trust Bank, was also credited to ERV.

According to him, a number of such transactions totalling about N204 million, involved Lion Bank cheques converted to drafts and paid into All States Trust Bank, afterwards credited to the account of ERV.

He added that a further probe into the account of ERV with the bank showed that Mr. Dariye used money from the account to purchase properties.

Our investigations showed that money from the account of Ebenezer Retnan Ventures was also moved abroad, to a bank in the UK, the fraudulent transaction subsequently becoming the basis of the request for assistance by the UK Met Police to investigate Dariye, he said.

He told the court that some of the evidence gathered by the EFCC in the course of the investigation was also sent to the UK Police to assist in their investigation.

We probed further at the states Accountant Generals office to know what services were rendered by Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, but they couldnt produce or show any contract documents necessitating the payment of N204 million, he said.

The voluntary statements made by Mr. Dariye on June 12, 2007; June 13, 2007 and; June 15, 2007 during interrogation, were also presented in court.

The statements were therefore given to Mr. Dariye, who, after pausing to go through the pages, acknowledged that they were statements made by him in the course of the investigations into the alleged crime.

Mr. Dariyes counsel therefore remarked: I have no objection to the admissibility of the statement as exhibit, as my client confirmed it to be his own statement.

While accepting Mr. Dariyes statement as part of exhibits to be used in prosecuting him, Justice Banjoko adjourned till February 2, 2016 for continuation of trial.
The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, on Tuesday called on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru, to give priority to the completion of the East-West Road project in the Niger Delta region.

Mr. Odigie-Oyegun made the call when he received in audience the minister on a courtesy visit to the partys National Secretariat in Abuja.

The APC national chairman decried that despite huge funds sunk into the East-West Road by successive administrations since 2006, the 338km dual carriage road, which traverses towns in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta States remains uncompleted.

He said: You have one of the most challenging and strategic assignment as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. The Niger Delta is an area that had been steeped in unrest. You must ensure that the unrest does not arise again.

You have the East-West Road which is a major challenge. It will be a significant achievement for this administration if the project is completed. The project will go a long way in assuring the region that this government is working in their interest, he said.

The contract for the construction of the East-West Road was first awarded in 2006. The road was initially divided into four sections, but late 2014, a fifth section was added to it, covering Oron to Calabar in Cross River State.

Meanwhile, Mr. Odigie-Oyegun disclosed that the APC was planning a three-day policy dialogue tentatively scheduled for March 2016 which will bring together party leaders, government and relevant stakeholders to exchange ideas and proffer solutions to guide the country out of the challenges facing the country, particular the economy.

Responding, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Uguru said the ministry under his watch was poised to contribute to the achievement of the partys Change Agenda for the country and also bringing sustainable development to the Niger Delta area.

The minister promised to give priority to the completion of the East-West road.
An unforeseen drama unfolded on Tuesday, stalling the cross-examination of prosecution witness, Abu Sule, in the case involving a former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim.

During the proceeding, prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, alleged that the accuseds son, Emeka Ohakim, went on the trail of the prosecution witness and threatening him.

Mr. Ohakim is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly making a cash payment of $2, 290,000.00 (Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety-Thousand Dollars) for a piece of land at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No. 60, Kwame Nkruma Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

Addressing Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, Mr. Keyamo said prosecution witness 2, Mr. Sule, who is managing director of Tweenex Consociate H.D. Limited, telephoned him about 9.00p.m. on Monday, January 25, saying that the second son of the defendant, Emeka, visited his (Sule) office at Asokoro to inquire about his home address from some individuals.

According to Mr. Keyamo, the younger Ohakim allegedly approached three people, whose names he gave simply as Okon (a driver), Akpabor (a driver) and Shola (an architect), for information on Mr. Sules home address.

He said, We dont want to distract the court from this trial. But I thought it goes beyond the issue of counsel to counsel because it touches on the administration of justice and protection of the witness concerned.

We will apply, at this stage, that a word of caution and concern go out. If it repeats itself, we shall bring appropriate application before the court over the development.

However, in his response, lead counsel to the defendant, Chris Uche, SAN, expressed shock at what he described as Mr. Keyamos outburst, saying the matter should have been discussed at another gathering rather than in the open.

According to him, I have no doubt that what the prosecution has said amounts to destabilizing the defence. Keyamo had been sitting directly behind us for more than one hour before the case was called, but he didnt raise the matter. He also saw the defendant eyeball to eyeball when he came to our seats, yet he didnt discuss the matter. Now, it is on the Internet and it will be in the press tomorrow.

The defence counsel, who further urged the court to dismiss the story as unfounded, said the prosecution could file an application on the matter as he had mentioned to the court.

After listening to both counsel, Justice Adeniyi, who was visibly disturbed about the allegation, said there was no harm if the prosecution had hinted the defendant and his counsels about the incident.

I am a bit disturbed. It is a very serious allegation. We cant deny the fact that it also touches on the defendant himself. Alternatively, you could have asked to seek audience with me in chambers in the presence of the defence counsel and the defendant, he said.

The defence counsel further told the court that the prosecution failed to handle the matter properly, adding that his action was not in consonance with a traditional belief that says an elder should report any act of misconduct by a child to his father.

In his reaction, Mr. Keyamo said, I find it extremely objectionable. He has said things about my person, whereas I have never said anything about him. I will not treat an issue of threat to life in private! There is no rule of legal practice that says such an issue should be discussed in private. It depends on my judgment.

Consequently, Justice Ademola adjourned the case to Wednesday, January 27 for continuation of trial.
The Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, has appointed the third richest woman of African descent in the world, Folorunso Alakija, as Chancellor of the Osun State University, Osogbo.

The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Semiu Okanlawon, said pursuant to the provisions of clause 5(8) of the first schedule to the Osun State University (Establishment) Law, 2006, Mr. Aregbesola is privileged to appointment Mrs. Alakija as the Chancellor of the University. 

The appointment, which according to the statement, takes immediate effect will be for a period of five years.

The statement noted that statute 3(1) (a) and statute 5 of the Osun State University Law (2006) provides that the University shall have a Chancellor, who shall, in relation to the University take precedence before all other members of the University and when he or she is present shall preside at all meetings of Convocation held for conferring degrees, diplomas, certificates and other awards.

Mr. Aregbesola, while congratulating the new Chancellor, said Mrs. Alakijas antecedent and sterling qualities as a God-fearing woman, a person of honour, integrity and successful business woman would no doubt impact positively on the running of Osun State University.

The governor pointed out that the government of Osun would look forward to a great working relationship with the new Chancellor as she leads Osun State University, Osogbo, to a new height of excellence.

I wish to inform you, that the investiture is expected to hold during the 4th Convocation ceremony of the institution, proposed to come up on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th February, 2016.

While congratulating you once again, please accept the assurance of best regards of the people and Government of Osun.

In her acceptance letter addressed to the governor, Mrs Alakija said, It is with pleasure that I receive and accept the appointment as the chancellor of the University of Osun State. I pray for Gods grace and strength to execute my duties as Chancellor of the University during my five-year tenure.
Sunday was all about the cleanup.

Whether digging out from deep snow, or drying out from heavy floods, many residents were dealing with the wet remnants of the weekend storm.

Cumberland County got more than 13 inches of snow in some areas. But for Atlantic Countys shore communities and much of Cape May County, historic flooding was the real culprit.

The winter storm dubbed Jonas brought higher tides than 2012s Hurricane Sandy.

Some of the highest tides were from Sandy, North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello said Sunday afternoon, but we didnt get the damage that Monmouth and Ocean counties did. This storm put the bulls-eye on Cape May County. Theres a lot more damage from this storm than there was from Sandy.

Rosenello said hundreds of homes on the citys west side appeared to have been breached by floodwaters, which at Saturday mornings highest tide hit 9.44 feet. Sandys highest tide reached 8.9 feet. Cape May and Stone Harbor also experienced record high tides Saturday morning.

A lot of homes that didnt get water in Sandy will find this time they did, the mayor said.

Ocean Citys high tide of 8.04 feet passed the 2009 Veterans Day mark by just .02.

Many residents spent Sunday learning the extent of damages.

Atlantic Citys South Inlet section was smaller than usual, as sand took over a chunk of the street. Parts of the bulkhead were broken as still rough waves struck it. In one area, a fire hydrant was almost completely buried.

More than 100,000 Atlantic City Electric customers lost power, spokesman Frank Tedesco said. The bulk in the region were in Cape May County. By Sunday night, just 780 remained without service.

Brigantine firefighters were busy overnight with lots of flooding and calls.

Saturday morning brought the worst of the waters, said Fire Capt. Joe Maguire. Then the high tides Saturday evening brought flooding as well.

The major coastal flooding that affected much of Cape May County along with Margate in Atlantic County and Ocean Countys Tuckerton Beach and Beach Haven West prevented Atlantic City Electrics crews from accessing those areas to start repairs, Tedesco said.

Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters was one of about 30 residents who moved to The Reeds at Shelter Haven due to the storm  mostly due to the power loss.

I was outside sitting in my car charging my phone and I thought, This is ridiculous, Walters said. Why was I at home without power when I could be somewhere else? So between high tides, I moved to The Reeds.

She said she had not been out to assess the damage, but was told businesses along the boroughs 96th Street shopping district had water enter their buildings.

We have a massive cleanup ahead of us, Rosenello said of the aftermath to North Wildwoods record flood. Our dunes took a severe beating. They did their job, and in doing so, they were severely damaged. Our seawall may have been undermined. Were going to ask the (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers to take a look at it.

In Ocean County, the Harvey Cedars Police Department on Long Beach Island warned Sunday that people should avoid checking the beach or surf, citing a significant dropoff due to beach erosion. Police posted photos to social media of roped-off cliffs at 68th Street.

Kim Wood, of the Cumberland County Department of Planning and Economic Development, said early Sunday that the Cumberland County bayshore did experience flooding during Saturday mornings high tide, but Sunday mornings high tide was not expected to be as significant.

Cumberland County had more than 30 trucks out plowing snow Sunday, including county crews and private contractors, Wood said.

Most of the major roads in Atlantic County had been cleared of snow by Sunday afternoon. But even though it was less messy than the floods, the underlying layer of ice made cleanup a little tougher.

You cant just plow it away, said Jim Massaro, of Ultimate Construction.

The Egg Harbor Township resident plowed neighbors driveways for free before setting out to tend to paying customers.

Atlantic Citys David Alexander was heading to Ventnor to try to make some money digging people out when he came across a worker at Hi-Five on Atlantic Avenue having shovel trouble.

I stopped to help him out, said the lifelong resident who recently moved back to the area after three years in Las Vegas.

Staff Writer Thomas Barlas contributed to this report.

Contact: 609-463-6719

Twitter @ACPress_Nevitt

Contact: 609-272-7257
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




-- 49% of companies plan to divest within the next two years

-- 70% of corporates use divestments to fund growth

-- Access to data is the biggest portfolio review challenge

LONDON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Divestments are top of mind in corporates' capital agenda strategy this year as companies seek to extract maximum value from strategic sales, according to EY's 2016 Global Corporate Divestment Study, Learning from private equity: experts at extracting hidden value, an annual survey of corporate and private equity executives.

Reflecting the increasing focus on M&A as a route to reshaping businesses, 49% of companies are now planning to divest within the next two years  a significant increase from the 20% reported in last year's survey. Only 5% of companies do not expect to make any divestments in the next two years compared to 56% in 2015. This suggests a greater appetite to strengthen and remodel core businesses in a rapidly changing environment.

Divestments are increasingly being employed as an essential path to growth, with 70% of companies using them to grow their core business, invest in new products and markets, and acquire a complementary business. Among companies that completed a divestment last year 39% re-invested the divestment proceeds back into the core business, 20% invested in new products, markets or geographies and 11% made an acquisition. Overall, 84% said they believe it created long-term value in the remaining business.

Pip McCrostie, EY's Global Vice Chair  Transaction Advisory Services, says:

"Divestments are a strategic route to generate long-term growth. They are increasingly being used to fund new opportunities, to stay ahead of changes in consumer preferences and to drive innovation. Astute reallocation of capital and a disciplined review of portfolio assets will be a priority in 2016."

Opportunistic divesting still main reason for sale

Companies who used their last divestment to fund an acquisition were most successful: they were 62% more likely to have experienced a higher-than-expected valuation multiple on the remaining business post-sale than a company that used the funds to pay down debt. For companies that divested 10% of their enterprise value, the markets have reacted favorably, with stock prices for these companies outperforming the public index by 612 basis points more than they did in the one-year period pre-sale. For those that divested 20%, the numbers were even more favorable, outperforming the previous year by 1,104 basis points.

Opportunistic divesting  including unsolicited approaches  is still the main reason for the sale with almost a third (31%) of companies taking this route. The survey finds that an opportunistic divestment is least likely to positively affect the remaining company's valuation multiple after the sale.

Paul Hammes, EY's Global Divestiture Advisory Services Leader, says: "With markets rewarding divestments that represent bold portfolio decisions and strong strategic rationale, all signs point to a strong 2016 ahead. That said, maximizing the value of a divestment is firmly rooted in having an in-depth understanding of the business's value. Too often, sellers leave money on the table, particularly when they are enticed by unsolicited offers."

Access to data the biggest portfolio review challenge

Forty-nine percent of respondents say access to accurate and comprehensive data is a major portfolio review challenge, according to the survey. Patchy data is the biggest cause for divestment dilemmas, with 81% of executives indicating that poor-quality data makes it difficult to use analytics effectively. Additionally, 42% of executives say they need to apply sophisticated analytical tools to their portfolio review processes to measure performance.

Hammes says: "Information is how value is realized or lost in the age of cloud computing, Internet of Things and big data. You need to know your business better than anyone else. Looking at what outside influences know about your company, say about its good or services and how these insights might lead to growth prospects or vulnerabilities will help ensure you sell your company at the right time for the right price."

The survey finds that priority analytics capabilities are not areas of strength for respondents. For instance, 65% say their social media and customer perception analysis is very ineffective. Social media is being largely overlooked, but 19% of corporates expect to invest in this capability in the coming two years.

Disciplined approach yields success

The survey findings clearly indicate that companies that divest strategically  including reviewing portfolios, preparing assets for sale and carefully considering how to use sale proceeds  are much more likely to execute divestments that positively affect their remaining business over the long term. Fifty-six percent of corporate respondents say shortcomings in the portfolio review process resulted in failure to achieve intended divestment goals, with 44% indicating one of the biggest obstacles is making the portfolio review a strategic imperative. The survey found a clear link between frequent portfolio reviews and divestment success. Among the respondents who experience high-performing deals, 48% carried out reviews quarterly and 37% annually.

Underscoring the value of well-prepared divestments, 75% companies generate a sale price above expectations when they focus on creating value before the sale, and 33% of companies generate a sale price above expectations with an operational separation plan.

Shareholder activism continues to prompt divestments

Reminiscent of 2015, shareholder activism continues to drive divestments. The survey finds that investors are more likely to positively perceive an activist-triggered divestment compared to opportunistic divestment. Divestments are the second most frequent change sought by activists and 51% of high-performing deals were triggered by shareholder activism-related concerns in the last year.

Hammes says: "As we look ahead to 2016, the continued pressure to fuel growth  amplified by bold and aggressive activist investors who quickly look to divestments for value  will not go away. With limited time and resources, corporates must carefully deploy all available tools  from advanced analytics to regular portfolio reviews  to uncover a dynamic 'value story' for today's discerning buyers. If executed properly, this front-end planning can lead to significant long-term success."

View the report online at www.ey.com/divest. Follow us on Twitter: @EY_TAS.

Notes to Editors

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

Bakyt Azimkanov



Flora Wilke EY Global Media Relations



EY Global Media Relations +44 20 7980 0869



+44 20 7951 0745 bakyt.azimkanov@uk.ey.com



flora.wilke@uk.ey.com

Related Links

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SOURCE EY
LONDON, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

BTG plc (LSE: BTG), the specialist healthcare company, today announced the first treatment of patients in South Korea with TheraSphere - a treatment for primary liver cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer that delivers powerful radiation to tumour cells and minimises the exposure to healthy tissue.

Professor Joseph Yun Hwan Kim, Department of Radiology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, South Korea, said: "Liver cancer has a high mortality rate in Korea and the disease affects more than 15,000 people each year, especially older men in their 60s and 70s. It is fantastic news that this therapy is now available to physicians to help us treat certain patients who currently live with this condition in South Korea and may develop it in the future."

TheraSphere is a targeted therapy that consists of millions of glass microspheres containing radioactive yttrium-90. The microspheres are about 20-30 micrometers in diameter - about a third of the width of a human hair. They are delivered directly to liver tumours through the hepatic artery via catheter. The glass microspheres flow directly into the liver tumour through its blood vessels and become permanently lodged there. Because the procedure delivers the treatment directly to the liver tumour, the radiation destroys the tumour cells with minimal impact to the surrounding normal liver tissue. The radioactive microspheres continue to deliver radiation to the tumour over the course of several weeks after treatment. TheraSphere can also be used as a bridge to surgical removal of diseased tissue or transplantation in these patients.

James Glasgow, General Manager, BTG Asia, said: "As we continue to build on our presence in Asia, BTG is able to offer innovative healthcare solutions to the patient populations that need them most. Korea is now the third Asian market where we have launched TheraSphere - a new treatment option for certain individuals affected by liver cancer. There has been a high level of physician and patient interest since TheraSphere was launched in November, and we hope that this newly available medical intervention will help many individuals affected by liver cancer in South Korea."

In South Korea, TheraSphere is approved for the treatment of hepatic neoplasia, which includes both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), also known as primary liver cancer, and metastatic liver cancer or cancer that has spread to the liver from another point of origin. Distributed in Korea by BL&H, TheraSphere is also commercially available in Hong Kong and Singapore. Over 20,000 patients worldwide have been treated with TheraSphere.

South Korean hospitals have also begun enrolling patients in international clinical studies evaluating TheraSphere in primary and metastatic liver cancer.

About Liver Cancer

The Asia-Pacific region accounts for up to 80% of the world's total liver cancer cases. Primary liver cancer is the 4th most common cancer among men and 6th most common cancer among women in Korea, accounting for 7.9% of all cancers diagnosed in Korea in 2010 according to National Cancer Information Center (http://www.can.go.kr ) and has a high mortality rate.[1]

About BTG

BTG is a growing international specialist healthcare company bringing to market innovative products in specialist areas of medicine to better serve doctors and their patients. We have a portfolio of Interventional Medicine products to advance the treatment of liver tumours, advanced emphysema, severe blood clots and varicose veins, and Specialty Pharmaceuticals that help patients overexposed to certain medications or toxins. Inspired by patient and physician needs, BTG is investing to expand its portfolio to address some of today's most complex healthcare challenges. To learn more about BTG, please visit: http://www.btgplc.com

[1] Yoon SK, Chun HG. Status of hepatocellular carcinoma in South Korea. Chin Clin Oncol 2013;2(4):39. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2304-3865.2013.11.08

For further information contact:



BTG

Chris Sampson, Corporate Communications Director

+44-20-7575-1595; Mobile: +44-7773-251-178



Hayley Senior, Corporate Communications Manager

+44-20-7575-1615



FTI Consulting

Ben Atwell/Simon Conway

+44(0)20-3727-1000



SOURCE BTG plc
PUNE, India, January 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

MarketReportsOnline.com adds The US Education Industry Report: 2015 Edition market research of 54 pages published in January 2016, which reviews Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, John Wiley and Sons Company, Scholastic Corporation & K12 Inc . Growth of the U.S. education industry is driven by several factors including increasing work participation of women in the U.S., rising postsecondary enrollment rates in the U.S and growing merger and acquisition activities in the industry. Complete report available at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/442408.html .

The education market of the U.S. has undergone several changes over the past few years and continues to invite significant spending by the public. The overall growth of the education industry will be driven by rising responsiveness of people towards the benefits of early education, rising awareness of the advantages of higher education and growing demand for online teaching methods. The major trends in the industry include growth of educational content and technology, rising demand for digital textbooks, high penetration rate for U.S. postsecondary education sector, students shift towards online education and students dependence on family for higher education funding.

Education refers to a process of facilitating learning through knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and certain habits. It is on its way to becoming a universal right and is likely to be available everywhere, to everyone without any hurdles. The U.S. education system follows a specific pattern where early childhood education is followed by primary school (Elementary school), middle school, secondary school (High school), and post-secondary (Tertiary) education. Education in the U.S. is provided both by public and private schools. Public education is universally required at the K-12 level, and is available at state colleges and universities for all students.

Place a direct purchase order for U.S. Education Market research report at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=442408.

The major growth drivers include increasing work participation of women in the U.S., rising postsecondary enrollment rates in the U.S and growing merger and acquisition activities in the education industry. However, growth of the market is hindered by several factors including declining population of children under five years of age and legal and regulatory issues.

The report, "The U.S. Education Industry" analyzes the current prevailing condition of the industry along with its major segments including Pre-K, K-12, Post-Secondary and Corporate Training. The U.S. market along with specific dependence on other countries for growth including China, India, France and Germany is being discussed in the report. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The major players in the industry are being profiled, along with their key financials and strategies for growth.

Company coverage of Education Market: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, John Wiley and Sons Company, Scholastic Corporation & K12 Inc.

Major Points From Table of Contents:

1. Introduction

1.1 Participants in the Education Industry

1.2 Types of Educational Institutions

1.3 Structure of Education System

1.4 Dynamics of the Education Industry

1.5 Risks Associated

2. The U.S. Education Industry Analysis

2.1 On the Basis of Structure

2.2 On the Basis of Student Immigration

3. Market Dynamic

3.1 Key Trends and Developments

3.2 Growth Drivers

3.3 Challenges

4. Competitive Landscape

4.1 Child Care Market

4.2 Postsecondary Education Market

5. Company Profiles

List of Tables

Structure of the U.S. Education System

Strategic State and Federal Funding Areas in Child Care Education

Top For-profit Child care Providing Companies by Capacity (2014)

Key Postsecondary School Operators Revenue (2010-2014)

Acquisitions and Divestitures of HMH Company (2013-2015)

List of Charts

Explore more public sector market research as well as other newly published reports by Koncept Analytics at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/publisher/koncept-analytics-market-research.html.

About Us:

Market Reports Online comprises of an online library of 250,000 reports and in-depth market research studies of over 5000+ micro markets. We provide 24/7 online and offline support to our customers. Get in touch with us for your needs of market research reports.

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SOURCE Market Reports Online
AURORA, Colo., Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- American Sentinel University and the Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) recently named Theresa "Tracie" Byczkowski, RN, BSN and Janet Pierce, RN, BSN, as the January Colorado Health Care Stars Award Winners. This award recognizes Byczkowski and Pierce, both members of the medical/surgical team at Sterling Regional MedCenter (SRM), as exceptional health care professionals.

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Colorado Health Care Stars is a statewide health care professional award recognition program sponsored by American Sentinel University and CHA. The program was launched in February 2015 to acknowledge clinical professionals in Colorado who exceed expectations in the delivery of health care.

Byczkowski is a long-tenured employee at SRM and supports the medical/surgical areas as well as the postpartum newborn families in the Family Birthing Center. She plans to begin orientation to the Intensive Care Unit through the hospital's Banner-ICU Academy.

Recently, she served in an interim four-month role as a preceptor for a BSN student from the University of Wyoming.

"Tracie's faithful advocacy of patients, families and co-workers is enduring at our hospital," says Wade Tyrrell, CNO at SRM. "She's an inaugural member of our Nursing Peer Review Subcommittee and is always giving back to the nursing profession."



The second award recipient, Janet Pierce, is a key member of SRM's medical nursing team. "She consistently demonstrates a calm, supportive and compassionate approach," says Tyrrell. "Her style is unique, comforting, focused and skillful."



Tyrrell says that Pierce is an integral member of SMR's Quality and Safety Committee and actively participated in an FMEA on patient falls to identify key factors contributing to increases. As a result, Pierce and the committee provided education to co-workers to decrease fall rates over the prior year and her work continues today.



"Her potential is limitless," says Tyrrell.



Nominate The Next Colorado Health Care Stars Winner

Nominate an exceptional clinical professional. Complete the nomination submission form at http://www.chacareercenter.com/Employers/Employer-Items/Colorado-Healthcare-Heroes.aspx.



Each month CHA draws from the pool of nominees and chooses an individual that will be featured the following month on the CHA Career Center website, receive a $100 Visa gift card courtesy of American Sentinel University and be entered into a drawing at the end of the year for a monetary scholarship toward an accredited health care certificate or degree at American Sentinel University.



"These two outstanding nurses are frontline care providers that are making a positive difference in the delivery of health care at Sterling Regional MedCenter every day. We are proud to honor them with the Health Care Stars Award in recognition for their tremendous efforts in the field of nursing," says Chris Wolfe, Director of Program Strategy and Alliances at American Sentinel University.



Learn more about American Sentinel University's online degree programs at http://www.americansentinel.edu/nursing or call 866.922.5690.



About American Sentinel University

American Sentinel University delivers accredited online degree programs in nursing (BSN, MSN, and DNP) and healthcare management (MBA Healthcare, M.S. Information Systems Management, and M.S. Business Intelligence and Analytics). Its affordable, flexible bachelor's and master's nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), of One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, D.C., 20036. The DNP program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) of 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Ga., 30326. The University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, DEAC, 1101 17th Street NW, Suite 808, Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 234-5100, www.deac.org



For required student consumer information, please visit: www.americansentinel.edu/doe



About the Colorado Hospital Association

The Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) represents 100 member hospitals and health systems throughout Colorado. CHA partners with its members to work towards health reform and performance improvement, and provides advocacy and representation at the state and federal level. Colorado hospitals and health systems are committed to providing coverage and access to safe, high-quality and affordable health care. In addition, Colorado hospitals have a tremendous impact on the state's economic stability and growth, contributing to nearly every community across the state with 72,000 employees statewide.

Contact:

Renee Hewitt

Hewitt PR for American Sentinel University

845.382.9152

Email

SOURCE American Sentinel University

Related Links

http://www.americansentinel.edu


JACKSON, Mich., Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Anesthesia Business Consultants (ABC), a leading provider in billing and practice management for the anesthesia and pain management specialty, is pleased to announce it will be attending PRACTICE MANAGEMENT 2016 hosted by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, held January 29-31 at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront in San Diego. This event is the premier business event for physician anesthesiologists and practice administrators.

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ABC will be demonstrating its new anesthesia-specific ICD-10 documentation application, F1RSTCode. Unlike other apps in the industry that are not specialty-specific, F1RSTCode assists anesthesia providers in understanding documentation requirements without burdening them by requiring a search through the entire ICD-10 code sequence.

Jody Locke, ABC's Vice President of Anesthesia and Pain Practice Management Services, explains, "In a very logical and intuitive way, F1RSTCode takes you from the surgical procedure through the logic of ICD-10. It not only provides invaluable guidance for documenting the diagnosis, but will also provide a framework for discussing the post-operative diagnosis with the surgeon during the post-op time out."

Tony Mira, President and CEO of ABC states, "PRACTICE MANAGEMENT 2016 is a perfect venue for presenting F1RSTCode. ABC is committed to the anesthesia industry and F1RSTCode is an application that is exclusively available to ABC's clients. F1RSTCode is the only anesthesia-specific application that targets anesthesia providers."

Mira continues, "ABC is fully immersed in using data to benefit our clients, to enhance their ability to manage the practice side of their roles as anesthesia professionals. F1RSTCode, along with F1RSTAnalytics, our Big Data tool, enhances a practice's operational performance, thereby enhancing its clinical excellence. Our clients want to work smarter and want to see demonstrable results."

F1RSTAnalytics works in tandem with ABC's proprietary software F1RSTAnesthesia, giving clients a powerful tool to convert clinical information into claims for reimbursement. The software supports electronic claims editing to ensure consistently high billing acceptance rates, and minimizes manual intervention in payment posting through direct remittance processing. Clients are able to access the details of their practice and to view trends securely online.

You can find ABC at Booth #408 of the San Diego Hilton Bayfront.

About Anesthesia Business Consultants

Anesthesia Business Consultants (ABC), established in 1979, is the nation's largest billing and practice management company dedicated to the complex and intricate specialty of anesthesia and pain management. The heart of our perioperative suite of products is ABC's proprietary practice management software F1RSTAnesthesia. Our newest tool is F1RSTCode, an anesthesia-specific ICD-10 documentation app. F1RSTClient is a premier client portal that allows clients' secure and seamless access to ABC's applications. F1RSTAnalytics, our powerful suite of dashboards and reports, provides "Insight at Your Fingertips" offering real-time data prowess and providing the data to aid in operating your anesthesia practice as an effective clinical organization and successful business. Our solutions provide accurate, prompt and complete billing and revenue cycle management. Our exclusive focus improves your cash flow and profitability. Visit ABC at: www.anesthesiallc.com.

Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook

Google+

Contact: Tony Mira

Tel: 517-787-6440

Email

SOURCE Anesthesia Business Consultants

Related Links

http://www.anesthesiallc.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The newest update of the Swiss malware simulations app LUCY (version 2.8) now covers the complete range of attack techniques used in social hacking. This makes LUCY the first downloadable application worldwide which, in addition to phishing, malware and USB attacks, can also simulate "smishing" attacks on any mobile phone and on all continents. The new release coincides with LUCY being selected as a Finalist in the 2016 Info Security Products Guide's Global Excellence Awards for Innovation in Enterprise Security.

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In addition, the app is now able to run simulations with harmless office macro viruses. By taking on the role of a professional hacker, companies can review their safety standards more precisely while raising awareness among their employees of the existing threats which they may encounter.

"Simple phishing is a thing of the past," says founder and CEO of LUCY, Oliver Muenchow. "Nowadays people are no longer falling for the fake e-mails that have been deluging companies for years. The modern hacker has turned to more treacherous methods. The focus is now on social hacking, which is the circulation of malware among co-workers, in the form of macro attacks, smishing and BadUSB. However, lately there's been such rampant development in the various attack techniques that even an in-house IT security department can't stay on top of them all."

"Putting the blame on a 'careless' user after data theft occurs doesn't really address the issue. With the newest update, LUCY 2.8, we are addressing both current and upcoming developments in the hacking world," Muenchow explains. "The warning which Microsoft released at the beginning of the year regarding malware installed through macros has already proven to be a serious one, which can be evidenced by the spread of these types of attacks."

LUCY gives companies the opportunity (either with or without direct participation of their employees) to step into a hacker's shoes and simulate all types of possible attacks. The app relentlessly exposes every weakness of the existing security system and demonstrates what damage would have been caused if there had been a real attack. LUCY is suitable for use by both IT experts and those without an IT background.

LUCY was developed by Muenchow and a team of Swiss IT experts. The app has been available online since January 2015 and is enjoying widespread popularity, especially in the US. Since its online debut, LUCY has been downloaded by more than 3,000 companies. The latest update concentrates mainly on phishing simulations. Now equipped with cutting-edge social hacking simulations, Muenchow is ready to launch LUCY 2.8 onto the global market.

Learn more at http://phishing-server.com.

Glossary

Phishing means to 'fish' for confidential data or passwords. The hacker sends the recipient a request to update their personal data, along with a link. The link is to a website which appears very similar to that of the recipient's bank. The hacker then collects the data which the phishing victim provided at the fraudulent bank website.

Smishing stands for SMS phishing and offers cyber criminals the perfect form of deception. Since the attacker can freely choose the number from which the SMS is sent, the victim can mistake the hacker's SMS for one from a trusted contact whose number is saved in their phone. It's an easy trap to fall into, especially when the victim receives an SMS seemingly from their boss or perhaps a friend, asking them to pull up a website.

Macro Attacks are malicious e-mail attachments which are camouflaged as normal Word files and other popular document formats. Once opened, they independently download data from a remote server which is controlled by the attacker. This process goes on unnoticed by the user. The hacker creates a backdoor on the computer's system, through which data can be accessed.

BadUSB refers to an attack involving manipulated firmware on the USB stick which presents itself as a non-existent device to the victim's computer. Once inserted into the USB port, the malware installs itself automatically, without any assistance from the user. It's often sufficient for hackers to bait victims by simply leaving USB sticks lying around in easily accessible areas in the workplace or on the ground. The curiosity of the stick's finder takes care of the rest.

About LUCY

LUCY helps companies identify potential weaknesses in their cybersecurity. The web-based solution can prevent cyberattacks and hacks before they happen. Easy to set up and use but with powerful reporting and customization features, LUCY is a necessity for any business looking to protect against malware, phishing and "drive-by" attacks. Learn more at http://phishing-server.com.

Media Contact: Oliver Muenchow, Email, 949-500-6422

SOURCE LUCY

Related Links

http://phishing-server.com


WASHINGTON and NEW YORK and LONDON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketResearch.com published a blog post highlighting eight startups to watch in the education technology industry.

To learn more, visit the blog: http://blog.marketresearch.com/8-education-technology-startups-to-watch

Advancements in technology are spurring the creation of new education tech companies, which are attracting million of dollars in funding from venture capitalists.

MarketResearch.com's blog profiles eight influential companies in education technology, including Beeline Reader, Coursera, i4Class, Mathspace, and more. In various ways, these companies are working to provide dynamic new solutions to on-going problems in education.

This blog post is a window into the changing landscape of education. To learn more about this evolving field, check out Simba Information's Ed Tech Startup Dashboard report series. Four times a year, Simba corrals the latest news and events among startups in the K-12 and higher education space and summarizes it to provide usable data to help developers and investors navigate this new arena.

To find out more, check out the reports:

Ed Tech Startup Dashboard Q3 2015, http://www.marketresearch.com/Simba-Information-Reports-v3481/Ed-Tech-Startup-Dashboard-Q3-9334268/?progid=88295

Ed Tech Startup Dashboard Q2 2015, http://www.marketresearch.com/Simba-Information-Reports-v3481/Ed-Tech-Startup-Dashboard-Q2-9125413/?progid=88295

Ed Tech Startup Quarterly Dashboard, http://www.marketresearch.com/Simba-Information-Reports-v3481/Ed-Tech-Startup-Quarterly-Dashboard-8914785/?progid=88295

These Simba Information reports are also available on www.profound.com, where subscribers are able to purchase the individual sections, chapters, tables, or charts of a report they need without having to pay for the pieces they don't.

About MarketResearch.com

MarketResearch.com is the leading provider of global market intelligence products and services. With research reports from more than 720 top consulting and advisory firms, MarketResearch.com offers instant online access to the world's most extensive database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Moreover, MarketResearch.com's Research Specialists have in-depth knowledge of the publishers and the various types of reports in their respective industries and are ready to provide research assistance.

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MarketResearch.com

240.747.7418

[email protected]

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SOURCE MarketResearch.com

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WASHINGTON and NEW YORK and LONDON, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States has the largest cosmetics market in the world, and its revenue is expected to exceed $62 billion in 2016. MarketResearch.com published a blog post highlighting the top segments of the beauty and cosmetics market.

To learn more, visit the blog: http://hubs.ly/H01WxHh0

The blog covers the major segments of the beauty and cosmetics industry, including:

Make-Up

Fragrances and Perfumes

Skin Care and Lotions

Hair Products

The U.S. make-up market is expected to maintain positive growth through 2018, with an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 3.8% for the five-year period of 2013-2018, reaching $8.4 billion. Similarly, the global fragrances and perfumes market is expected to experience positive growth through 2019, with a compound annual growth rate of 2%.

Skincare is the largest category in the cosmetics industry, accounting for nearly 35.3% of the global market in 2014. The products in the global skincare segment create a $121 billion industry. Hair care products represent a large segment of the beauty market too, with sales reaching $11.6 billion in the U.S. in 2014.

One of the major contributors to the beauty and cosmetics industry is premium products. The global premium cosmetics market is expected to reach over $126 billion by 2019. Companies that are experimenting with this trend include Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford.

Interested in learning more about the market for beauty and cosmetic products? Check out all of the reports MarketResearch.com has to offer: http://www.marketresearch.com/Consumer-Goods-c1596/Consumer-Goods-Retailing-c80/Cosmetics-Personal-Care-c113/?progid=88290

About MarketResearch.com

MarketResearch.com is the leading provider of global market intelligence products and services. With research reports from more than 720 top consulting and advisory firms, MarketResearch.com offers instant online access to the world's most extensive database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Moreover, MarketResearch.com's Research Specialists have in-depth knowledge of the publishers and the various types of reports in their respective industries and are ready to provide research assistance.

Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketresearch

Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/marketresearchdotcom

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MarketResearch.com

240.747.7418

[email protected]

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SOURCE MarketResearch.com

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SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), announced the appointment of Richard Montanez, PepsiCo's director of multicultural sales and marketing across North America, to the NHCLC board.

"Montanez is a truly inspiring individual to the Hispanic community," said Rev. Rodriguez. "His innovative leadership and Kingdom influence make him an incredible asset to NHCLC."

Montanez began his career with PepsiCo as a janitor in 1976; today, he is known as a visionary leader who has developed new systems and products for PepsiCo. Montanez also started a foundation called Onelite, which provides new shoes for children going back to school and feeds hundreds of thousands of families each year.

In 2012, Montanez was recognized by Hispanic Lifestyle magazine for being one of the most influential Hispanics in corporate America.

"I am honored and excited to join the NHCLC board," said Montanez. "It is a privilege to serve alongside Rev. Rodriguez and the other great men and women of God. I fully believe this is the timing and alignment of God. I look forward to furthering His agenda."

NHCLC/CONEL is the world's largest Hispanic Christian organization. It serves as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic Evangelicals assembled in over 40,000 U.S. churches and another 500,000 congregations spread throughout the Spanish-speaking diaspora through its worldwide entity CONEL. For additional information, visit http://www.nhclc.org .

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SOURCE National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Related Links

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MONTREAL, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PetalMD, Canada's largest network of physicians, announces the acquisition of Montreal-based Medago. As part of PetalMD's commitment to serve its growing community of physicians, specialists, and medical staff, this acquisition will include the pharmacist - closing the primary care circle.

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With the acquisition of Medago and the recent development of a patient booking system for medical clinics, PetalMD moves closer to its mission to become a patient-focused platform that improves access to care. "Our vision is for every Canadian to have the ability to book their doctor's appointments online, visit the right doctor via our scheduling solution, and receive a notification when their prescription is ready, all for free," says PetalMD's CEO, Patrice Gilbert.

For Alex Aoun, founder of Medago, the idea arose from his own frustrations of running a clinic in downtown Montreal. "I was in charge of operations and business development, and our team was spending too much time on the phone with pharmacists because either they didn't understand the physician's writing or patients were losing their paper prescription. So, we decided to build a company to fix these predicaments and streamline the pharmacist and medical provider workflow," says Alex.

As the only app-based e-prescription service in Canada that connects doctors to pharmacists, Medago has attracted attention from many pharmacists. "This app will revolutionize the industry; faster service for patients, secure prescriptions, less errors due to doctor's bad handwriting... It's time for pharmacies and clinics to upgrade their ways of functioning," says Ralph Mokbel, a Pharmacy Owner.

A recent Canadian Institutes of Health Research study showed that 1 in 3 prescriptions go unfilled in Canada. "We were surprised at the magnitude of the gap between leaving the physician's office and receiving a prescription at your local pharmacy. With over 25,000 medical professionals on the platform, PetalMD is uniquely positioned to fill this gap by providing our customers a simple way to communicate with pharmacists and improve the experience for patients," says Patrice.

Alex will join the PetalMD team to integrate the solution to the platform and work towards a full launch in mid-2016. "It was a natural fit; we share the same vision and our solutions complement each other. This transaction will allow us to rapidly offer an integrated medical platform, which will undoubtedly benefit patients and healthcare professionals," says Alex.

About PetalMD

With over 25,000 medical professionals, PetalMD is Canada's leading medical platform for hospitals, physician departments and clinics. With a mission to improve access to care, PetalMD offers web-based physician scheduling, a patient booking system, and secure messaging. PetalMD is proud to be a full-service company offering turn-key solutions, including a free option and custom modules.

About Medago

A Montreal-based e-prescription startup that streamlines the pharmacist's workflow with the mission to improve prescription fulfillment. The mobile app allows doctors and dentists to send their prescriptions from their smartphones to the pharmacy chosen by the patient, and the secure web portal allows pharmacists to manage prescriptions and send notifications to patients.

Media Contact:

Irene Pylypenko - English

514-961-5072

[email protected]

Guillaume Robert - Francais

418-803-7430

[email protected]

SOURCE PetalMD

Related Links

http://www.petalmd.com


REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Summit on Customer Engagement features the premier thought leaders and professionals from the world's leading customer advocacy and engagement programs, including Salesforce, LinkedIn, FireEye, Citrix, Amazon Web Services, Dropbox, IBM, Cognizant, Nuance, Rackspace and dozens of others. As the most respected conference in the industry, the Summit engages more than 200 business professionals and nearly 100 corporations annually for sessions on strategy, implementation, and best practices. This year's Summit is scheduled for March 1-2 in Redwood City, CA and will focus on the top trend for business growth in 2016  The Age of Peer Power.

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According to Bill Lee, Founder of the Center for Customer Engagement and Producer of the annual Summit on Customer Engagement, "Like-minded people are banding together in increasingly creative ways to achieve mutual goals, without waiting on institutions to serve their interests. And that includes businesses. Empowered buyers and customers are collaborating in ways that present great threatsand great opportunities."

The Summit program will dive into The Age of Peer Power with presenters from: Salesforce, Fireeye, Rackspace, EMC, Kronos, Elastic, Cognizant, LinkedIn, IBM, Metia, Mainstay, Citrix, Oracle, Satmetrix and more.

Summit keynotes include:

Super-star Chief Customer Officer Jeanne Bliss , former Chief Customer Officer at Microsoft, Lands End, Coldwell Banker , and Allstate Corporation

, former Chief Customer Officer at Microsoft, Lands End, , and Allstate Corporation Wharton professor Jonah Berger , author of New York Times bestseller, Contagious: Why Things Catch On

, author of bestseller, Richard Owen , CEO of Satmetrix, the world's top expert on Net Promoter Score implementation

, CEO of Satmetrix, the world's top expert on Net Promoter Score implementation Josh Aranoff , one of the original 200 employees of Salesforce, who heads up their strategic customer engagement initiative, Ignite

New for 2016:

Advanced Practices Breakout Track, for enterprise-level firms ( $1 billion and up in revenue). Presented by firms running state-of-the-art customer advocacy and engagement programs including LinkedIn, IBM, Cognizant, Citrix, EMC and others

and up in revenue). Presented by firms running state-of-the-art customer advocacy and engagement programs including LinkedIn, IBM, Cognizant, Citrix, EMC and others Lean and Mean Breakout Track, for smaller, leaner advocacy and engagement programs. Attendees will learn how to make the most of their resources, how to get more resources, and how to lay the foundation for scaling their program in ways that ensure it contributes powerfully to your firm growth.

Advanced Programs Research Study, Bill Lee will present key results for the first time publicly at the 2016 Summit from a study done to develop and systemize practices in the customer advocacy and engagement space.

Top customer advocacy and engagement professionals from the world's leading programs will be in attendance, including: Salesforce, LinkedIn, FireEye, Citrix, Amazon Web Services, Dropbox, Cognizant, Nuance, Rackspace, NetApp, Dell, Palo Alto Networks, Tableu, Microsoft, SAP, Veritas, MarkLogic, Kronos, and many others.

For full details on the Summit and to register, visit the Summit website; follow on Twitter at @Bill_Lee or tweet #2016SCE.

Early birds can save $200 on registration fees if they register by January 31st.

About Bill Lee

Bill Lee is the foremost authority in the world on customer engagement and advocacy. He is author of The Hidden Wealth of Customers (Harvard Business Review Press), and is sought out and quoted by major media outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Forbes Online, CRM Magazine, Rain Today and others.

Bill speaks to audiences like the American Marketing Association, the Business Marketing Association, the Net Promoter Annual Conference, the International Advertising Association (IAA), Forrester Research, and many others.

About the Center for Customer Engagement

The Center for Customer Engagement provides consulting and research services to help you develop and mobilize powerful customer advocates, or "rock stars," get them in front of buyers, and turn them into your most powerful marketing and sales resource. We provide educational and peer community resources for your customer advocacy and engagement implementation teams, providing them ready access to best practices in this field. For more information, please visit our website www.centerforcustomerengagement.com.

Contact:

Bill Lee

214-907-5600

Email

SOURCE Center for Customer Engagement

Related Links

http://www.centerforcustomerengagement.com


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.
Less than a fifth of new build properties in London include a parking space in the purchase price, compared to 67% for other major cities, new research has found.

And this may because they are unaffordable as a parking space with a new home in London adds to the price for a buyer, which can be up to 13% on the price of the property.

However, it appears that restrictions from developers often mean only those purchasing two or more bedroom properties even have the option of buying a parking space.

The research from Direct Lines SELECT Premier Insurance suggests that developers are charging an average of 5% of a new propertys purchase price for an accompanying parking space.

It gives as an example a parking bay to accompany a new build property in Londons Battersea was being sold for 65,000, some 13% of the propertys 500,000 listed purchase price.

In London, researchers found parking spaces were only available and included in the purchase price of a new property 18% yet in major cities outside London including Leeds, Glasgow and Bristol, parking spaces were included in the purchase price of a new property 67% of the time.

Restrictions on building parking spaces for new properties mean they have become a desirable commodity. In many cases, developers were found to impose controls even within new build developments, only allowing buyers of large or expensive properties to purchase a parking bay.

A new wharf development in Hammersmith for example, only allows parking spaces to be purchased for properties valued at over 1.5 million, while developers in areas of London such as Stratford, Ealing, Greenwich, Elephant and Castle and Wembley Park are restricting spaces in new developments to those buying a property with at least two bedrooms. The same practice is also applied in cities such as Leeds and Nottingham.

Where parking spaces cannot be purchased, some developers offer annual permits to rent out parking bays. Spaces in Brixton accompanying new build apartments costing 577,000 were available for just 104 a year, whereas in Bristol, a parking permit to accompany a 425,000 property was available for 1,400.

There are huge variations even within cities, in Brightons Marina Village a permit for a 775,000 property clocked in at 250 while elsewhere in the City a space accompanying a 410,000 apartment costs 1,000 a year.

Restrictions on the number of parking spaces developers can build to accompany new properties make these slots a hot commodity carrying a premium price point. In many new developments, those purchasing studios or one bedroom homes are denied the opportunity to purchase a space as they are reserved for larger properties, said Nick Brabham, head of SELECT Premier Insurance.

As larger scale residential developments are built in urban city centres, traffic volumes will become an increasing issue and planners may restrict the construction of new parking bays even further, making it very difficult for homeowners with vehicles, he explained.

Access to secure parking can sometimes impact on insurance premiums for a vehicle, so people will need to weigh up the potential long term cost savings of purchasing a space carefully, he pointed out.

The limited access to affordable parking spaces in many cities is becoming a serious issue, which is why we are seeing a growth in people renting out their driveways and spaces to other motorists, he added.
Rarely do you get a chance to experience some of the best things in life, together in one place."ARTRAGEOUS" is one such place - an interactive art and music experience not to be missed.

The performers who bring you "ARTRAGEOUS" have delighted Fortune 500 companies for years and now the Chisholm Trail Arts Council is bringing this experience to Duncan. Paint jumps to life with amazing speed unveiling larger than life art in just moments. The evening is filled with music and images from Lennon, to Einstein to Bono. Delight in the fun of doing something with bubblewrap, or get a chance to be part of the painting experience.

The Chisholm Trail Arts Council's presentation of "ARTRAGEOUS" on February 4, 2016 at 7:30 pm is made possible through the generous support of Duncan Regional Hospital and Bank of Commerce.

Please contact Director Darcy Reeves at the Chisholm Trail Arts Council 580-252-4160 for further details or visit the website to purchase tickets! *Items will be for sale, raffle, auction prior to show and after show*. All proceeds to benefit the CTAC Live Concert Series.
Lajollacooks4u is more than cooking classes or a cookbook, it is a lasting experience that ignites a passion for food, friends, and fresh perspective.

Lajollacooks4u has had a record 2015 with the launch of Chef Jodi's Lajollacooks4u: California Cuisine cookbook, the company has rocketed to the forefront of the culinary scene in San Diego.

Chef Jodi, founder of Lajollacooks4u, released her first cookbook Lajollacooks4u: California Cuisine, to glowing reviews from home chefs around the globe. These delicious recipes have inspired individuals, families, and groups from all over the United States and beyond to add some California flair to their food. Photos and testimonials are flying in of their adventures after testing the recipes that Chef Jodi has carefully crafted. Her dedication to local foods and flavors shines through the pages and creates an experience for anyone who is passionate about food, from amateur cooks to the most seasoned chefs.

Chef Jodi also took a tour through Greece and Italy, all while adding culinary skills and learning the local food culture. From cooking squid three ways, to rediscovering the farm to table mentality, this excursion provided inspiration to bring back to Lajollacooks4u.

Lajollacooks4u experienced a record-breaking number of team building events in 2015 with companies ranging from biotechnology to software, banking and finance, and multinational travel insurance. With hands on demonstrations and the creation of delicious meals, companies were thrilled with the camaraderie and excitement that brought team building from boring to brilliant.

Lajollacooks4u also welcomed many couples from across the country celebrating special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries; some traveling all the way across the country to visit.

Lajollacooks4u also hosted the owner of Karma vineyards for a night of Indian fare, had group pizza roll making competitions with large corporations, and appeared on CW 6 for cooking demonstrations. Chef Jodi welcomed girl's nights, veterans, engineers, economic consulting firms, and agrigenomic departments just to name a few.

The guests that experience Lajollacooks4u in Chef Jodi's beautiful Italian inspired villa come out of the cooking classes with enduring memories and tasty recipes. All year long families, couples, and businesses have expressed their excitement and positive feedback regarding their experience which is reflected in repeat customers and consistent top TripAdvisor ratings. Lajollacooks4u is more than cooking classes or a cookbook, it is a lasting experience that ignites a passion for food, friends, and fresh perspective.

About Lajollacooks4u

Lajollacooks4u, founded in 2008, provides a unique and intimate activity for couples, corporate team-building, and any foodie looking for a unique cooking and culinary experience in an ideal setting overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Based in La Jolla, a suburb of San Diego, CA, Lajollacooks4u has enjoyed record growth since its inception and is ranked as a top attraction in La Jolla on the worlds largest travel review site, Trip Advisor. For more information, contact Jodi Abel at jodi@lajollacooks4u.com or phone 1-858-752-4980

Lajollacooks4u customizes all events to meet the desires and needs of the organization. For reservations, contact Jodi Abel, as listed above, or visit Lajollacooks4us website at http://www.lajollacooks4u.com
John Rowley, Managing Director, LRQA & LR Inspection Services Our collaboration with the CGF will play a major role in allowing LRQA to strengthen our existing food sector credentials

Leading professional assurance services organisation LRQA has reached an agreement to become a member of the worlds premier consumer goods organisation, the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF). The CGF, a global, parity-based industry network, driven by its members, brings together consumer goods manufacturers and retailers in pursuit of business practices for efficiency and positive change benefiting shoppers, consumers and the world.

As a global member of the CGF, LRQA has taken another significant step in extending its food services portfolio beyond food safety and is building on the strength of their existing relationship with the CGFs Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) to extend their reach across the food sector as a whole.

Whilst food still accounts for over 50% of all consumer goods sold, services for the CGFs three other pillars of key focus - specifically health & wellness, supply chain sustainability and end-to-end value chain - are becoming increasingly prevalent. LRQA has long been associated with the CGF through the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), including being a Diamond Sponsor at the GFSIs annual Global Food Safety Conference from 2010-2015. The GFSI, the worlds leading food safety organisation, is facilitated by the CGF.

Our collaboration with the CGF will play a major role in allowing LRQA to strengthen our existing food sector credentials, said John Rowley, Managing Director, LRQA & LR Inspection Services. We will achieve this by delivering a broader range of services against all four pillars of focus for the CGF - services that LRQA has been delivering into other sectors for many years - to a global audience of industry leaders.

One of the primary objectives of the CGF is to create a collaborative network through corporate membership of retailers, manufacturers and service providers, in order to share best practice and identify areas where collective, measurable action is required. Commenting on this announcement, Peter Freedman, Managing Director of The CGF said We are delighted to welcome LRQA as a member of The Consumer Goods Forum. They are an important player in the consumer industry and have been strong supporters of the CGFs Global Food Safety Conference for many years. We now look forward to deepening and broadening our collaboration in pursuit of building consumer trust in our industry.

LRQA is well known within the food safety arena for our technical expertise, excellent client relationships and deep sector-specific insight, said Vincent Doumeizel, LRQA Strategic Marketing Manager Food & Beverage. With over 5000 food sector clients  from the worlds best known brands, to some of the smallest suppliers in emerging markets  our membership of the CGF highlights LRQAs commitment to the ongoing delivery of best in class assurance services worldwide.

LRQA will be exhibiting at the 2016 GFSI Food Safety Conference being held in Berlin, February 29 through to March 3 2016. Further, LRQA will be represented by both John Rowley and Vincent Doumeizel at the upcoming 60th CGF Global Summit, being held in Cape Town, South Africa, June 15-17, 2016.

Ends

Notes to editors

About LR Management Systems (LRQA)

LRQA is a member of the Lloyds Register group. LRQA is a leading independent provider of professional assurance services including assessment, certification, validation, verification and training across a broad spectrum of standards, schemes and customised assurance programmes. LRQA unlocks the power of management systems to improve organisational performance and reduce risk.

About Lloyds Register (LR)

Lloyds Register (LR) is a global engineering, technical and business services organisation wholly owned by the Lloyds Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and engineering. Founded in 1760 as a marine classification society, LR now operates across many industry sectors, with over 9,000 employees in 78 countries.

Lloyds Register has a long-standing reputation for integrity, impartiality and technical excellence. Our compliance, risk and technical consultancy services give clients confidence that their assets and businesses are safe, sustainable and dependable. Through its global technology centres and research network, Lloyds Register is at the forefront of understanding the application of new science and technology to future-proof its clients businesses.

About The Consumer Goods Forum

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 2.5 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises 50 manufacturer and retailer CEOs.
Metcams design team understood my vision and had the infrastructure in place to help rapidly bring Best Built Cages to a demanding market, explained Chuck Langford, inventor and president of Langford Welding & Fabrication.

Metcam, a fabricator of sheet metal components and assemblies for OEMs, today announced the launch of a new partnership to manufacture and market Best Built Cages, a lightweight aluminum poultry cage.

Best Built Cages is a joint venture between Metcam and Langford Welding & Fabrication of Roberta, Georgia. Chuck Langford, an experienced fabricator and inventor of the product, sought out Metcam for their fabrication and design expertise as well as production capacity for the product, which is currently patent pending.

Metcams design team understood my vision and had the infrastructure in place to help rapidly bring Best Built Cages to a demanding market, explained Chuck Langford, inventor and president of Langford Welding & Fabrication.

Historically, poultry cages have been made of galvanized steel frames and components that utilize wire for the sides of the cages for airflow, continued Langford. The weight of steel limits the number and size of cages that may be loaded on a trailer in view of trailer and total truck weight restrictions.

Best Built Cages all aluminum design allows for a lighter weight construction resulting in a cage that weighs 50% less than standard steel cages. Lighter weight cages allow for greater fuel efficiency and a reduction in vehicle maintenance costs per load. Lighter weight cages also allow for a 30% increase in chicken capacity per load through an increase in the number of cages as opposed to increasing the density of chickens per cage. Further, Best Built Cages commercial-grade, modular design allows for faster and less expensive repairs and is made of 100% recyclable materials.

Metcam has long been in the business of manufacturing custom sheet metal components for our commercial customers as well as helping facilitate much of the logistics of moving their product out the door, said Metcam President Bruce Hagenau. When we were approached by Langford for manufacturing assistance, we recognized an opportunity to bring Metcams signature, superior quality to the product and elected to formalize the Best Built Cages partnership.

Metcam will be operating the entire supply chain for the product, from design and engineering to manufacturing, assembly and distribution. This effort marks another milestone for Metcam, as they move from component manufacture, assembly and logistics to complete lifecycle manufacturing.

Launch of Best Built Cages also marks Metcams second entry into the commercial trucking and transportation industry following the successful launch of the TramBed commercial-grade truck bed extension in 2015.

About Metcam

Metcam is a fabricator of precision sheet metal components and assemblies for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) representing a wide variety of industries including telecommunications, electronics and HVAC. Metcams advanced metalworking capabilities include laser cutting, punching, forming, hardware insertion, welding (including robotics), powder painting, silkscreen and parts assembly. Metcam also assists clients with product design and manufacturability to reduce their total cost of production. Metcams award-winning service, combined with an aggressive focus on quality, environmental management and lean manufacturing, simplifies the outsourcing decision for firms worldwide For more information, visit http://www.metcam.com.

Contact (Press Only):

Angela McMahon

Michael Mackenzie Communications

404.543.9636

angelam(at)michaelmackenzie(dot)com
Searching for Happiness Instead of aiming to make more money, Thielen suggests working on the ability to forgive, to express gratitude, and to be generous.

American advertising companies thrive off the consumer belief that the key to happiness lies in being rich, successful, and beautiful. Many people are convinced that losing weight, getting a job promotion, or purchasing a bigger house, for example, will lead to more happiness. However, a new book by best-selling author Martin Thielen lays these myths to rest, revealing that external circumstances only account for 10 percent of a persons overall life satisfaction. In Searching for Happiness: How Generosity, Faith, and Other Spiritual Habits Can Lead to a Full Life (Westminster John Knox Press), Thielen uses psychological research, anecdotal evidence, and Scripture to outline ten practices that actually can help readers find happiness.

Thielen argues that habits like focusing on the present, nurturing relationships, and using trials as growth opportunities are more effective at increasing a persons overall contentment level. Instead of aiming to make more money, Thielen suggests working on the ability to forgive, to express gratitude, and to be generous. Thielen doesnt pretend that the search for happiness is always easy, and he isnt unrealistic about the adversities most people will face throughout life. We are all broken in some ways, and sometimes we lose our joy, he writes in his conclusion. However, by engaging in the ten . . . practices confirmed by science, Scripture, and experience, we . . . can find renewed contentment in our lives.

Searching for Happiness features a guide for group or individual study, which includes questions for reflection and challenges for readers to try as they embark on their quest to find happiness.

Martin Thielen is author of the best-selling book "Whats the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?" and "The Answer to Bad Religion Is Not No Religion." He is Senior Pastor of Cookeville United Methodist Church in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Crescent Harbor Modern (https://crescentharbormodern.com/) is pleased to offer a simple, efficient return policy for its clients.

The return policy is as competitive as Crescent Harbor Moderns pricing, said Tim Fossett, President. If for any reason you would like to return the fixture(s) you ordered, you can do so with no restocking charge minus the cost of the free shipping charges.

Although descriptions and dimensions are clearly marked for each Crescent Harbor Modern product, the company realizes that minds and design needs change. To this end, all the client needs to do is simply:



Email the company promptly (customerservice@crescentharbormodern.com) to receive a return merchandise authorization (RMA) code

Return the item within 21 days of receipt

Ensure the item is in resalable condition

Ensure the item has not been installed in a home or business

Return the item in its original packaging

Return shipping fees are the responsibility of the purchaser unless the item arrived damage, in which case Crescent Harbor Modern will pay the return shipping fees. The company recommends inspecting the order as soon as it arrives and contacting them within 10 days if the fixture is damaged. Note that the item must be repackaged it in the original packaging in order to be replaced.

Clearance goods, sale items, special orders and trade/volume orders, as well as items that are sold in quantities of greater than 10 or where the aggregate sale price exceeds $2,000 are exempt from this return policy.

The return policy is easy to follow and a welcome relief in the world of online shopping. We know that consumers want a great experience online, said Fossett, and that can be difficult when you need to return something. We stand behind Crescent Harbor Moderns products and make your online shopping experience a pleasure, even if you need to return or exchange an item.

For more details, please visit http://www.crescentharbormodern.com/return-plocy

About Crescent Harbor Modern

Crescent Harbor Modern is the online arm of The Lighthouse, a family-owned lighting company founded in 1972.

The company specializes in a high-touch customer service approach to retailing lighting fixtures, ceiling fans and other related items.

Contact Details:

Tim Fossett

President

88 York Street

US Route One

Kennebunk, Maine, 04043

Toll Free Phone: 1-888-355-9525

Local Phone: 1-207-985-3535

Fax: 1-207-985-4569

Source: Crescent Harbor Modern

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Tim Green Pizza works in both a bull and a bear marketplace. It can be simple and traditional, or prepared with an innovative twist.

Synergy Restaurant Consultants has joined forces with renowned pizza expert Tim Green, solidifying the companys position as a leading player in the evolution of the fast-growing pizza segment, according to founder Dean Small. Tim is a rock star in the pizza world, and now that he has joined our team there is nothing we cant do to help clients realize success with pizza, says Small. Tim brings an impeccable reputation and tremendous experience developing, designing and cooking in cutting-edge pizza operations, and he is an ideal fit with Synergys culinary-centric culture.

A graduate of Johnson & Wales and corporate chef of the famed Wood Stone Corp. for 15 years, Green began his career in the hotel and resort industry before following his passion into pizza. Since then, he has trained more than 1,000 pizzaiolas and worked with such celebrity chefs as Todd English, Tom Colicchio and Emeril Lagasse. Green has also helped launch many high-profile pizza concepts based on customized, display cooking platforms, including such notable brands as Blaze, Pieology, and PizzaRev.

Although it started as a peasant food, pizza has always been a dynamic phenomenon in North America, says Green. Pizza works in both a bull and a bear marketplace. It can be simple and traditional, or prepared with an innovative twist. Today the fastest growing pizza segment is the fast casual, Build Your Own custom pie market. But there is also a huge opportunity for chef-driven, artisanal pizzathe style of pizza being translated by some of the finest culinary talents of our times, and evolving into the high fashion of pizza.

"I have chosen to work with the amazing Synergy team because I wanted the support of a worldwide organization with the ability to offer the industry a complete source for pizza knowledge, continues Green. In addition, stone hearth ovens have amazing cooking capabilities beyond great pizza. Together we can offer everything from simple training to complex brand development for any operation.

About Synergy

As a premier restaurant consulting firm, Synergy Restaurant Consultants is a team of restaurant management professionals that develops innovative ideas and creates sustainable brands to drive top-line sales. Our restaurant consulting team specializes in both launching new restaurant startups and jump-starting struggling or financially distressed brands. Since 1988, Synergy has been a strategic resource to more than 250 national and independent restaurant companies within every dining segment, from Applebees to ZTejas. The company is based in Newport Beach, Calif.
Denise brings a unique blend of capabilities to the team with a diverse background developed throughout her career at AT&T, Alcatel-Lucent and Avaya.

In this role, Denise will focus on ensuring the firm continues to deliver best in class IT recruiting solutions to exceed client expectations, while creating tangible business results. She will develop new business and actively recruit top tier IT talent. Denises efforts will drive outcomes critical to helping organizations keep pace with the new era of information technology.

Denise brings a unique blend of capabilities to the team with a diverse background developed throughout her career at AT&T, Alcatel-Lucent and Avaya. Her experience in human resources, sales enablement and digital marketing offers clients a competitive advantage in the quest for top talent. We are extremely pleased to add Denise to the management team in this key role, said Anthony T. Curlo, DaVinciTeks President and CEO. Denises leadership, executive presence and business acumen will allow DaVinciTek to accelerate its growth model and continue to differentiate from its competition.

Denise holds a BA in in Education from Kean University and lives in Basking Ridge with her fiance, Bill, and their four year old Maltese, Mia. While away from work, she mostly enjoys spending time with family and friends and fueling her passion to give back to the community. She is often called upon to mentor new college graduates and is instrumental in enhancing the career pursuits of young professionals.

About the Company

An expert in top tier IT Recruitment & Staff Augmentation, DaVinciTek specializes in world-class talent acquisition services that align emerging corporations and Fortune 500 companies with IT professionals looking to advance their careers.

For more information on DaVinciTek visit http://www.DaVinciTek.com or call 1-877-448-7658.
"A service like just makes sense in these technology hotspot," said Gone Co-Founder Nicolas Bayerque

The leading selling on-demand service, Gone, has announced the expansion of their concierge pickup service to Seattle and Bay Area users, making it the easiest and most convenient way to sell electronics and appliances from a mobile device. The concierge service, which has been wildly successful in both Austin and San Francisco, provides every user with a Gone assistant to simplify the selling process. The assistant goes to the sellers home to pick up and package each item for sale. The service alleviates stresses of selling in the city as Gone handles the entire process from the pickup, packaging, contacting buyers, negotiating, and shipping of items.

The concierge service currently has thousands of users and processes millions of dollars in Austin and San Francisco, where the company recently expanded this service to Sunnyvale, Menlo, Palo Alto, and Mountain View. The announcement comes on the heels of Gones acquisition of FOBO, a popular app for auctioning consumer electronics, and former electronics marketplace company Yardsale. The acquisition expanded the Gone team as FOBOs founders, Ryan Mickle and Ed McManus joined the company as advisors.

A service like just makes sense in these technology hotspots, said Gone Co-Founder Nicolas Bayerque. Being surrounded by tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, we know this city houses thousands of early technology adopters. This, coupled with the strong demand and high numbers of Gone Lite users in these areas, makes Seattle and the Bay Area the best places to expand our service. Gone CTO Inaki Abete adds, our technology is growing quickly. We now, with permission, can connect to the users inbox and scrape all of their past online, letting them know how much everything is worth if they want to sell it on Gone. No one else is doing that, which is why we have a patent application pending on the technology.

The full list of new cities in the bay area includes: Daly City, Colma, Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Belmont, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino, San Jose, Milpitas, Saratoga.

Gone has been leading the way for easy second-hand selling of electronics. The expansion of the companys concierge service signals immense growth for the app and SMS service. The company plans to continue to expand the concierge service city-by-city throughout 2016. For more information on Gone, visit http://www.thegoneapp.com.

About Gone

Gone makes the selling process easy giving users cash for unwanted electronics and gadgets and has been named The Reverse Amazon by Xconomy and VentureBeat. Gone has processed over 3MM worth of items, with the average Gone making $250 and is ramping to process over $1MM a month / $12MM a year. For these reasons and more, CNN named Gone one of the Five Austin Startups to Watch. The company recently partnered with UPS to make the selling process even easier for its users. A graduate of TechStars Austin, Gone is backed by industry recognized investors including Techstars Ventures, MasterCard, Silicon Valley Bank, Cygnus Capital, Uber Founding CTO Oscar Salazar, former eBay executive Larry Illg, and early Groupon employees. Gone is available for free on iOS and via SMS. For more information, visit http://www.thegoneapp.com.
Michael Grice, an activist for people with disabilities and a Member of the Community Care Alliance of Illinois (CCAI) Stakeholder Forum, was recognized by Illinois Senator Dick Durbin on July 28 in remarks to the U.S. Senate marking the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Senator Durbin told of Michaels fight for independence as a person with a disability and his successful transition from a nursing home to life in the community with assistance from Access Living, a CCAI community partner.

Im proud of activists like Michael, Marca and the folks at Access Living. We owe them a debt of gratitude for helping America realize more fully our promise of justice for all, said Senator Durbin. Additional remarks from the Senator may be viewed here:

http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4546154/senator-durbins-remarks-25th-anniversary-ada

The Stakeholder Forum is part of CCAIs commitment to consumer input and involvement in every aspect of health care delivery and Long-Term Services and Supports. The Stakeholder Forum has been established in addition to the mandated Member Advisory Committee, composed of CCAI plan Members. The Chairperson of the Stakeholder Forum is a voting Member on CCAIs Board of Directors, and three people with disabilities also serve on the not-for-profits Board. This ensures that people with disabilities have a voice in key matters and they can positively influence decisions that impact the health plan and its Members.

Making managed care work for people with disabilities requires the insights and input of our consumers, from the accessibility of facilities to making sure that people have the support they need to live in the community, said Robert Currie, CCAI President.

CCAI was formed through the collaboration of Access Living, Mt. Sinai, the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group and the Family Health Network (FHN), the not-for-profit parent of CCAI. Our community partners are key allies in our efforts to raise the bar for health care quality for people with disabilities on Medicaid and Medicare, said FHN CEO Keith Kudla.

CCAI is a Managed Care Community Network serving people with disabilities and seniors on Medicaid in Chicago and Rockford areas. For more information on our innovative Model of Care and service, please visit http://www.ccaillinois.com. You may also subscribe to our channel on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/CCAIllinois and hear what our Members have to say about our health plan.
(left to right) e2b teknologies' founders Bill and Lynne Henslee, with member of Chardon Chamber Our business success drives our charity involvement just as much as our charity involvement drives our success and purpose.

e2b teknologies (http://www.e2btek.com), a Northeast Ohio provider of ERP business solutions and consulting, announced their acceptance of the 2015 Business of the Year award in the small business category, presented by the Chardon Area Chamber of Commerce. This award recognizes businesses in the Chardon, Ohio area for their accomplishments, long-standing contributions to the community, and significant community service efforts. Nominees showed excellence in commercial growth and achievement, exemplary customer service, innovation, creativity and community involvement.

Among the other businesses that were nominated for the Business of the Year award, e2b teknologies is unique in that they are the only business in Chardon that does what they do; provide consulting, development and sales for enterprise applications. Additionally, e2b calibration, a business unit of e2b teknologies, provides ISO accredited calibration services. This unique blend of vision, coupled with the companys charity work in the local community, helped to differentiate them from other businesses nominated for this award.

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at e2b teknologies, said Lynne Henslee, President of e2b teknologies. We see ourselves as not only a progressive, visible presence in the Chardon business community, but as a company who shares our success with our local and global communities. We are very much involved with foreign, national and local charities. Our business success drives our charity involvement just as much as our charity involvement drives our success and purpose.

e2b teknologies has earned many accolades for company growth and overall exemplary services in their industry from major software publishers and media outlets. Local growth awards include being named to the Lake-Geauga Fast Track 50 eight times, winner of the NEO Success Award five times, earning a place on Crains Cleveland Fast Track 50 list, being nominated as one of the best places to intern in Northeast Ohio by The Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, and earning a place on the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead 100 List six times.

About e2b teknologies:

e2b teknologies (http://www.e2benterprise) provides upgrades, consulting, implementation, support, development services, and training for Sage 100, Sage 500, Sage X3, Epicor ERP, and other leading products. As a certified Sage Gold Development Partner and Epicor Platinum Partner, e2b teknologies has worked with midmarket ERP products since the 1990s, and has since helped hundreds of companies implement ERP business systems. E2b calibration (http://www.e2bcal.com) provides ISO 17025 accredited calibration and repair services for test instruments to companies in Northeast Ohio and beyond specializing in aerospace and life science calibration instrument services.
ASID Interior Design Excellence Award Winner 2015 Because we are competing against some of the top interior designers in the country, winning the ASID award is an important achievement. We are honored to be considered as part of this esteemed group of interior designers. Gail Drury, CMKBD

Ginny Blasco, ASID and Gail Drury, CMKBD combined talents to create an award-winning artistic kitchen design, which took the American Society of Interior Designs [ASID] Illinois Excellence Award in the kitchen category. This project is the teams third ASID awardin 2014, a multi-cook kitchen remodel in Burr Ridge and a reimagined rec room in Glen Ellyn each won ASID Illinois Excellence Awards.

Gail Drury, CMKBD remarked, Because we are competing against some of the top interior designers in the country, winning the ASID award is an important achievement. We are honored to be considered as part of this esteemed group of interior designers.

The project included adding a new conservatory space, which afforded the opportunity to renovate the kitchen and expand the existing floor plan. The family of five, with three children under the age of 17, entertains weekly and cooks together almost every day.

In addition to opening up a cramped space and modernizing the kitchen functionally, key priorities included establishing an eclectic, transitional look that combines traditional and contemporary design elements.

Before considering aesthetics, however, the designers had to overcome a few other design challenges, including dissolving load-bearing posts into the new flow, transferring a coat closet into a new, lower-level mud room, and conveniently locating the pantry while hiding access from view.

After effectively addressing these challenges, the designers went to work heightening form and function in three distinct work zones for cooking prep, clean up and a breakfast bar.

Outlining its own work triangle, the cooking zone has a separate prep sink across from the range, with easy access to the refrigerator. A clean-up area within a large island is strategically placed close to a built-in banquette designed around the structural posts.

For convenience, the breakfast bar features a dedicated sink, coffee area, refrigerator drawers and an icemaker across from the banquette.

A red, high-gloss lacquered island accents the off-white and espresso-stained kitchen and anchors a baking area. Above the range, a custom, hammered zinc hood creates a focal point and hammered pewter tile inserts frame the corners of the large island. Two fabric-covered pocket doors conceal a message center stocked with amenities. Custom lattice doors on the back of the banquette add intrigue to the family room. Grabill custom cabinetry in maple and Lyptus lends a signature look, while Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances add high-tech performance and high-volume capacity.

In the dining room, a two-sided wine bar allows light to stream in from the foyer, and adds a more traditional feel to the transitional, borderline contemporary, kitchen.

When asked to describe the concept, Ginny explained, A large addition grew the room from small to spacious. We started with a tiny, outdated kitchen. With the addition, the room grew into a gracious kitchen with multiple work zones for different activities such as entertaining, relaxing at the breakfast bar, baking during the holidays, doing homework, and of course, everyday family use.

Jim Drury, vice president of Drury Design, noted the studio accepts the award on behalf of their clients, adding, "Client-focused design is what sets Drury Design apart. We've been honored with awards that demonstrate the industry's appreciation for our clients' visions and their investments."



An ASID member, Ginny submitted the project for consideration. She says, I have been an ASID member since I was in school. ASID is our Professional Voice for Interior Designers. Chicago is in an elite group of global cities and is known for its beauty and resources. My peer group in Chicago includes some of the best Interior Designers in the country. To receive recognition from such a community of talent is an honor. The bar is set very high in Chicago; our office works toward delivering to this level and exceeding it. This is a co-award for Gail and Iit is Our Projectand we are a part of two design firms that collaborate and enjoy working together!

About the American Society of Interior Design (ASID)

Nationally, ASID counts more than 30,000 members who engage in a variety of professional programs and activities through a network of 48 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. The American Society of Interior Designers - Illinois Chapter (ASID-IL) is a professional association representing the interests of over 1,100 interior designers, students and design industry partner members in Illinois. For many years the ASID Illinois Chapter has recognized superior interior design as part of the annual Design Excellence Competition. ASID Illinois invites designers to submit their best work and compete in 24 different categories. Winners are selected by a distinguished panel of judges and are then honored at the Celebration of Design Awards gala.

About Ginny Blasco Design

Ginny Blasco is the founder and Principal Designer of Ginny Blasco Design Studio. Her firms goal is to provide the highest level of customer service and brings to the project 20 years of Design and Project Management. They are a boutique design firm that has a proven track record of residential and corporate Interior Design. Located in Chicago at 420 W. Huron Street, Suite 301, the company may be reached by phone at 312.867.9210 or via email at ginny AT blascodesign.com. To view portfolios online, visit Ginny Blasco Design on Houzz and Facebook.

About Drury Design

Founded by Gail Drury, CMKBD in 1987, Drury Design's Client Focused Design approach integrates design recommendations, materials selection and construction management into one seamless customer design, project management and build experience. For kitchen, bath and home remodeling ideas, view Drury Design's interior design and kitchen design portfolio at http://www.drurydesigns.com/portfolio/, visit Drury Design on Houzz, or stop by the studio at 512 N. Main Street in downtown Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The company may be reached by phone at 630.469.4980 or via email at jim AT drurydesigns.com.
Generator Show This is the ultimate earthly adventure, where real learning happens

Colonel Chris Hadfields Generator Joins Quark Expeditions On Legendary Icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov This Summer

Quark Expeditions, the leading provider of polar adventures to the most remote regions on the planet, is excited to announce that astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield will explore the Arctic and Greenland on its Arctic Icebreaker Expedition: Best of the Canadian High Arctic voyage in 2016 in true expedition style on the legendary icebreaker, Kapitan Khlebnikov. This voyage is the third of four separate journeys, which together culminate in a historic, full circumnavigation of the Arctic. Chris Hadfields Generator is a science based variety show that blends knowledge, perception, music and comedy, hosted by the celebrated astronaut and featuring special guests, presenting Quark passengers with awe-inspiring insight to self-discovery through the lens of exploration.

The group will board the iconic soviet icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov, and explore Greenlands stunning west coast and the Canadian Far North. Video shows the Khlebnikovs incredible ice-crushing capacity, and its ability to reach sometimes inaccessible landing sites. Hadfield and his team will have the opportunity to experience the Greenlandic fishing village of Sisimiut, spectacular Ilulissat Icefjord, Cobourg Islands sprawling bird cliffs, and historic Beechey Island.

Hadfield, an engineer and former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot, is best known and much respected for his 35-year career as an astronaut. The first Canadian to walk in space, hes flown two space shuttle missions and served as the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station.

This is the ultimate earthly adventure, where real learning happens, Hadfield said. To go to the edge of our understanding, at the frontier of where technology can take us onboard a ship with the capabilities of this icebreaker, with a group of people that have trained together, is almost like a space expedition of its own.

Andrew White, Quark Expeditions President comments, Were absolutely thrilled to welcome Colonel Hadfield and his show Generator on a leg of our Arctic Circumnavigation. Its so fitting that one of the worlds most loved modern adventurers will have the chance to explore the paths of explorers from days gone by on board icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov. Its an extreme adventure befitting one of the most adventurous men on the planet.

How to Book: Save 25% when you book before 15 March, 2016. Contact a Quark Expeditions Polar Travel Adviser toll free at 1.888.892.0073 or +1.203.803.2666. Bookings can also be made online at QuarkExpeditions.com.

Tweet: Wow - @Col. Hadfield will join @QuarkExpedition on a High Arctic icebreaker expedition in 2016! http://hubs.ly/H01WwS40

Post: Quark Expeditions welcomes astronaut and speaker Colonel Chris Hadfield on an Arctic icebreaker expedition in 2016! http://hubs.ly/H01WwS40

About Quark Expeditions:

Specializing in expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic and sub-polar regions, Quark Expeditions has been the leading provider of polar adventure travel for 25 years. With a diverse fleet of specially-equipped small expedition vessels, icebreakers, and unique land-based adventures, it offers travelers unparalleled access to the most remote places on earth. Led by passionate and seasoned expedition teams, including scientists, naturalists and researchers, the on-board program focuses on guest interaction to educate and enrich the passenger experience. The company is known for its unwavering commitment to safety and sustainability, and was the first to offer passengers  free of charge  carbon-neutral voyages in Antarctica aboard the Ocean Diamond.

About the TUI Adventure Division:

The TUI Adventure Division offers premium, experience-based adventure holidays and expeditions worldwide for active travelers. In addition to QuarkExpeditions.com, the division includes expedition specialists IEtravel.com and Zegrahm.com; leading European adventure and activity specialists ExodusTravels.com, Headwater.com, World-Challenge.co.uk, Sawadeee.nl, TrekAmerica.co.uk and GrandAmericanAdventures.com; as well as US-based destination management company AmericanAdventures.com. From reaching the top of Kilimanjaro and canoeing on the Zambezi, to catching tiger cub sightings and breaking ice en route to the North Pole, the TUI Adventure Division offers inspirational experiences that create lifelong memories.
Attendees Touring a Growers Supply Growroom

Growers Supply, the industry leader in greenhouses, high tunnels and hydroponic systems, announced the 2016 dates for the companys educational CEA Hands-on Workshops. The three-day workshops will alternate between the Growers Supply CEA Learning Center West in Dyersville, Iowa and the Growers Supply CEA Learning Center East in South Windsor, Connecticut.

CEA Hands-on Workshops offer attendees an education-filled three day schedule in which Growers Supply experts and industry specialists educate attendees on the latest trends in new and innovative growing techniques, such as hydroponics, aquaponics and microgreen production.

Growers Supply CEA Hands-on Workshop events are set for the 2016 year and cost only $995 for the full three days. This cost includes a three day hotel stay, lunch each day and a complete course workbook.

Upon completion of the workshop, each attendee will receive a $995 product credit that can be used towards the purchase of any controlled environment product, including GrowSpan greenhouses, HydroCycle hydroponic systems, heaters and more.

Below is the 2016 Growers Supply CEA Hands-on Workshop Schedule:

Growers Supply CEA Hands-on Workshop Schedule-2016

South Windsor, Conn. Dyersville, Iowa

Feb. 17-19 Jan. 19-21

Apr.27-29 Mar.15-17

June 15-17 May 17-19

Oct. 12-14 Sept. 13-15

Dec. 7-9 Nov.8-10

CURRICULUM

The Hands-on Workshops curriculum starts with the basics of year-round hydroponic crop production. Attendees will learn about the benefits of specific hydroponic systems and how they compare to others.

Hydroponic growing has recently attracted attention, due to the loss of fertile farmland and large-scale droughts around the world. Hydroponically grown plants grow up to 50 percent faster and produce higher yields when compared to traditional methods. Hydroponic systems also eliminate the need for soil and pesticides, while reducing water waste and the amount of natural resources needed to grow.

Attendees will also learn basic and advanced information on plant nutrition, including nutritional testing, supplementation, calibration and more.

With a complete understanding of hydroponics, discussing how to plan for and set up a controlled environment will come much easier. Growers Supplys controlled environment topics will include how to best control temperature and humidity, sizing a greenhouse, integrated pest management and more.

Attendees will also receive priceless information on aquaponics from industry experts and leaders within the field. These presentations showcase the symbiotic relationship between plants and fish that many are beginning to take advantage of.

PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS

Everything was excellent and I loved the hands-on experiences. The staff at Growers Supply were professional, knowledgeable and helpful. - December 2015 CEA Hands-on Workshop attendee Sharon Castelli.

All the presentations were very informative and I learned a lot. The CEA Hands-on Workshop opened up a whole new world of growing for me. - September 2015 CEA Hands-on Workshop attendee Joseph Prasad.

To sign up for any of the upcoming CEA Learning Center East workshops contact Kelley Roche at 800.476.9715 ext. 1649.

To sign up for any of the upcoming CEA Learning Center West workshops contact Cathy Eiben at 800.476.9715 ext. 7795.

Click here for more information.

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Growers Supply is the leading manufacturer of CEA structures, system and supplies, offering design-build solutions for the horticulture industry. With a catalog of over 30,000 products, complete growing systems can be custom designed to fit the needs of any business. FarmTeks corporate headquarters are located in South Windsor, Conn., and supports a campus for manufacturing and distribution in Dyersville, Iowa.
Adrienne Craig-Kennard It is rewarding to have been a part of this placement, because it means bringing together a precision oncology decision support company and an executive who has devoted her training and career to patient care, innovation, and business development.

National recruitment firm Slone Partners is pleased to announce the placement of Adrienne Craig-Kennard, a life sciences executive with extensive international business development experience, as vice president of global business development and strategic alliances at CollabRx, a leading clinical-decision support company.

CollabRx, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rennova Health, delivers expert solutions in precision oncology that enable physicians, laboratories, payers, and providers to achieve standardized, evidence-based care and superior clinical outcomes. Its goal is to provide physicians the ability to rapidly and accurately identify relevant drugs, clinical trials, diagnostics, medical tests, and therapies associated with specific genetic profiles of their patients.

Adrienne is a scientist and a businessperson, said Thomas Mika, CEO of CollabRx. Her grounding in these two distinct components of our industry has produced global success, and we are thrilled she is joining our team.

Ms. Craig-Kennard said, CollabRx is at the forefront of advancing precision oncology care. As personalized medicine continues to advance at an incredible rate, I am delighted to have this opportunity to be part of a team that is making a difference in patient care.

Adam Slone, chief executive officer of Slone Partners, said, It is rewarding to have been a part of this placement, because it means bringing together a precision oncology decision support company and an executive who has devoted her training and career to patient care, innovation, and business development.

During her 15 years in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and bioinformatics industries, Ms. Craig-Kennard has served in research and product development roles as well as business development and operations. Prior to joining CollabRx, she was vice president of global clinical informatics sales for Strand Life Sciences, where she led global sales of software as well as services for translational research and next-generation-sequencing-based clinical diagnostics.

Ms. Craig-Kennard received a bachelor of science in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley and a masters degree in business from the Grenoble Graduate School of Business in France.

About Slone Partners

Founded in 2000, Slone Partners is a premier executive search firm that specializes in recruitment for the diagnostics, life science tools, healthcare information technology, and laboratory testing industries. Slone Partners has offices in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.
ELKO  The first of three new grant-funded positions has been filled at Nevada Health Centers in Elko.

Tami Baumann, certified nurse midwife and certified womens health nurse practitioner, has begun offering some specialized services at the Elko office. Baumann also works in Carson City, but will take patients one week a month in Elko.

Were just still in the beginning stages of getting things scheduled, Baumann said.

She began work in Elko last week, and offers gynecological exams and help for women with concerns their general providers may not be comfortable with, such as bleeding, menopause, infertility and hormonal imbalance issues.

The plan is to get me up there more (often) as time goes on, she said.

Carrie Tallman, with marketing communications, said Nevada Health Centers intends to have an OB/GYN begin practice in March.

We know its a huge community need, so that is a goal were working toward, Tallman said.

While Nevada Health Centers could not release the name of the new provider, once that person begins in Elko, Baumann will be able to assist with deliveries.

We definitely want to have a team available, Baumann said.

The exact timeframe is unknown, as Nevada Health Centers is working through issues of space, equipment and recruiting to a rural area.

Its a pretty challenging landscape no matter where you are in the United States, Tallman said.

Nevada Health Centers takes most insurances, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. It also offers a sliding fee scale for uninsured patients. Title 10 services for reproductive health care include infection screenings, family planning and cancer screenings at a lower cost, Baumann said. The center also offers confidential services.

The centers Mammovan is scheduled to arrive in Elko in March during the Womens Health Expo.

To schedule an appointment with Baumann, call 1-800-787-2568. The Nevada Health Center in Elko is located at 762 14th St. and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Kristen has a reputation for delivering quality products and customer service to her clients. We are thrilled that she has brought her skills & experience to Resource 1.

Resource 1, an established Information Technology consulting firm, is pleased to announce the addition of one of their newest team members, Kristen Long. Kristen has over 18 years of experience building client relationships for businesses throughout the greater Chicagoland area. This extensive experience has led to her position as an Account Manager on the Enterprise Services division of Resource 1.

Throughout each phase of her career, Kristen has earned a reputation for her problem resolution, customer service, and commitment to the growth and success of her clients.

"Working as an Account Executive for Resource 1 is a great development in my career," says Kristen. "This team has an outstanding reputation for quality that extends back over three decades. I am eager to find solutions for Resource 1s clients and growing their businesses."

Kristen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Olivet Nazarene University. She began her career as an Account Executive and has handled client relationships for two major businesses in the Chicagoland publishing industry. Over the years, she has found new and resourceful ways to provide strategic solutions that strengthened her clients overall business success.

Anastasia Valentine, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Resource 1 says, "Kristen has a reputation for delivering quality products and customer service to her clients. We are thrilled that she has brought her skills and experience to Resource 1."

If you are interested in learning more about Kristen and Resource 1, click here to view more. http://r1consulting.com/it-staffing-services/

About Resource 1

Resource 1 is an established Information Technology consulting firm that has been providing staff augmentation solutions for Fortune 1000 companies across North America since 1982. They provide a broad range of IT consulting services including full life-cycle application development and systems level support/integration. They offer a wide breadth of skills across the following areas:

Full Life-Cycle Development

Application Architecture/Design/Development

Application Programming / Support oApplication Testing/Quality Assurance/Test Automation

Business Analysis oWeb Application Development (.NET/J2EE)

Website Design oProject Management

Technology

Unix, Linux, Windows, Mainframe, AS/400 (iSeries)

Java/J2EE, .Net (C#, VB.Net, ASP.Net, ADO.Net), Web Services, C, C++, RPG, COBOL

Salesforce, Oracle EBS, SharePoint

OBIEE, SSRS/SSIS/SSAS, Cognos, Business Objects, Hyperion, MicroStrategy, SAP NetWeaver

Oracle, MS SQL Server, DB2, MySQL, Teradata oVMware, Hyper-V, SAN (EMC/HP), BladeLogic, SCCM

HTML5, Objective-C, UI/UX, iOS, Android, AngularJS, JQuery, Ember.js, Bootstrap

Database

Database Development

Database Administration

Data Warehousing

Business Intelligence

Systems

Systems Integration

Systems Administration/Support

Systems Programming
Viewpoint Construction Software welcomes Jennifer Allison as General Counsel, working in Viewpoints Portland headquarters.

With extensive experience in both employment and business law, Jennifer specializes in fostering a business ecosystem that strengthens an organizations work environment in tandem with supporting a high-growth agenda. Most recently, she was General Counsel for Tripwire and was known for achieving results in a fast-paced, high-volume environment, providing solutions-oriented legal advice.

Jennifer is a strong leader, has a passion for technology companies, and partners well with teams across organizations to help ensure business objectives are met, stated Manolis Kotzabasakis, Viewpoints CEO. As Viewpoint intensifies our focus on enhancing operations and improving our product innovations and customer value, Jennifer will help provide the guidance and foundation for sound management and growth.

About Viewpoint Construction Software

Viewpoint is a provider of innovative construction-specific software solutions to the global construction and capital project industries. Viewpoint provides the tools they need to improve project profitability and visibility, manage risk, and effectively collaborate with the entire project team. Viewpoint solutions include everything needed from preconstruction to construction and facilities maintenance, and are offered on a variety of platforms, including Cloud, Mobile, SaaS and On Premises. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, USA, and with offices in the UK and Australia, Viewpoint has become the technology partner of choice, with customers located across the globe in more than 28 countries. These customers include more than 40 percent of the ENR 400, and over 20 percent of the ENR 600. For more information, please visit http://www.viewpoint.com.

 2016 Viewpoint, Inc. dba Viewpoint Construction Software. All Rights Reserved. Viewpoint, Viewpoint Construction Software, Vista by Viewpoint, ProContractor by Viewpoint, Viewpoint For Content Management, Viewpoint For Mobile, Viewpoint For Projects, Viewpoint For Field View, Viewpoint For Estimating, and Jobpac by Viewpoint are trademarks or registered trademarks of Viewpoint, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
We are excited to have Erin join the Resource 1 team. We are confident she will continue to bring our clients the level of service they've come to expect partnering with Resource 1.

Resource 1, an established Information Technology consulting firm, is pleased to announce the addition of one of their newest team members, Erin Teso. Erin brings over 15 years of proven experience cultivating business relationships in the greater Chicagoland area, eight of which were spent specifically in the Information Technology sector. This rich expertise has led to her position as an Account Executive on the Enterprise Services division of Resource 1.

Over the years, Erin has earned a reputation for her adaptability, her vast knowledge, and her commitment to client and candidate partners. "My career so far with Resource 1 has been a rewarding one," says Erin. "Its great to work with other professionals who put clients first. I think that is one of the reasons Resource 1 has been in business so long."

Erin graduated from Indiana State University with a Bachelors of Science in English Liberal Arts, with a minor in Creative Writing. From the start of her career in staffing, Erin has been a fantastic partner to her clients. She quickly learned that building relationships and understanding a client's culture are the cornerstones to fruitful placements. Clients have long praised her professionalism, her tenacity, and her adherence to realistic timetables.

Anastasia Valentine, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Resource 1 says, "We are excited to have Erin join the Resource 1 team. We are confident she will continue to bring our clients the level of service they've come to expect partnering with Resource 1."

If you are interested in learning more about Erin and Resource 1, click here to view more. http://r1consulting.com/it-staffing-services/

About Resource 1

Resource 1 is an established Information Technology consulting firm that has been providing staff augmentation solutions for Fortune 1000 companies across North America since 1982. They provide a broad range of IT consulting services including full life-cycle application development and systems level support/integration. They offer a wide breadth of skills across the following areas:

Full Life-Cycle Development

Application Architecture/Design/Development

Application Programming / Support

Application Testing/Quality Assurance/Test Automation

Business Analysis

Web Application Development (.NET/J2EE)

Website Design

Project Management

Technology

Unix, Linux, Windows, Mainframe, AS/400 (iSeries)

Java/J2EE, .Net (C#, VB.Net, ASP.Net, ADO.Net), Web Services, C, C++, RPG, COBOL

Salesforce, Oracle EBS, SharePoint

OBIEE, SSRS/SSIS/SSAS, Cognos, Business Objects, Hyperion, MicroStrategy, SAP NetWeaver

Oracle, MS SQL Server, DB2, MySQL, Teradata oVMware, Hyper-V, SAN (EMC/HP), BladeLogic, SCCM

HTML5, Objective-C, UI/UX, iOS, Android, AngularJS, JQuery, Ember.js, Bootstrap

Database

Database Development

Database Administration

Data Warehousing

Business Intelligence

Systems

Systems Integration

Systems Administration/Support

Systems Programming
Scandit leverages smartphones to mobilize barcode scanning workflows in the enterprise. Were thrilled to be the focus of this white paper about how mobile barcode scanning is shaping the future of the AutoID and Data Capture market by streamlining enterprise operations and bringing new possibilities to outdated business processes.

Scandit, developer of leading software-based barcode scanning solutions for smartphones, tablets and wearable devices, is the focus of a new industry white paper about mobile barcode scanning from VDC Research, the leading AutoID and Data Capture analyst firm. The report (Revolutionizing Data Capture: Bringing enterprise-grade barcode scanning to everyone) takes a close look at the rise and success of mobile barcode scanning in the enterprise to improve mission-critical business processes throughout the supply chain, streamline workflows, lower costs and boost bottom lines.

VDCs research shows that the data capture industry is expanding its footprint to now proactively leverage the capabilities of smartphones and tablets by introducing mobile solutions that enable enterprise-grade scanning performance. Scandits mobile solutions demonstrate how smartphones, coupled with powerful mobile apps and web services, act as a cost-effective and feature-rich replacement option for legacy barcode scanners.

In order to highlight what can be achieved with this scanning technology, the report includes Scandit customer case studies from SBB (Swiss Federal Railways), Coop, Interline Brands, Imperial Supplies and Cardinal Health.

This new report from VDC Research provides more confirmation about what our customers have been seeing for years, said Samuel Mueller, CEO of Scandit. Were thrilled to be the focus of this white paper about how mobile barcode scanning is shaping the future of the AutoID and Data Capture market by streamlining enterprise operations and bringing new possibilities to outdated business processes.

Links



Download the white paper: http://www.scandit.com/resources/2016-vdc-whitepaper/

Learn more about VDC Research: http://www.vdcresearch.com

Learn more about Scandit: http://www.scandit.com

About Scandit

Scandit delivers high-performance mobile solutions for smartphones, tablets and wearables, designed to transform consumer engagement and operational efficiency for todays forward-looking enterprises. Scandit solutions are built on its patented software-based barcode scanner and are used in a variety of industries including retail, manufacturing and logistics. With more than 25,000 licensees across the globe, Scandit processes more than half a billion scans per year and develops enterprise-grade solutions for many of the worlds most prestigious brands including Ahold, Coop, Home Depot, NASA, Saks Fifth Avenue and Verizon. Founded in 2009 by a group of researchers from MIT, ETH Zurich and IBM Research, today Scandit and its network of global integration and technology partners are pushing the boundaries of mobile AIDC (automatic identification and data capture), delivering groundbreaking identification and data capture applications to customers. For more information visit http://www.scandit.com.
SutiSoft Inc., a trusted provider of easy-to-use cloud-based and mobile business management solutions, is pleased to announce that SutiExpense has been listed as one of the top five leading expense report software solutions available in the market by PayStream Advisors in its TEM Navigator report. According to the report, SutiExpense efficiently manages many aspects of the travel booking and expense reporting process.

The report evaluated SutiExpense as part of its review, which picked it as one among a broader list of forty plus. Based on a variety of parameters such as mobility, ease of expense capture, and post-trip analysis, the study listed the top solutions and the areas where each of them score the best.

SutiExpense did well across the measured parameters and scored particularly well in the areas of pre-trip approval, workflow, and reconciliation and reimbursement capabilities. SutiExpense is one of the few solutions to offer direct integration with ACH providers to reimburse employees and personal credit card feed support for employees.

We thank PayStream for recognizing SutiExpense as among the leading expense report software providers for medium to large enterprises. Our plan is to increase the value SutiExpense offers to our users by offering a more robustly integrated spend platform, said N.D. Reddy, CEO of SutiSoft.

The PayStream report is available here for download.

About SutiSoft

SutiSoft provides a comprehensive suite of cloud-based business platforms and solutions for companies of all sizes. These platforms include scalable and easy-to-use solutions for HR Management, Employee Travel & Expense, Wireless Expense Management, CRM, Document Management, Business Data Analytics, and Electronic Signature. Our platforms and solutions integrate seamlessly with one another as well as third-party software. They enable small, mid-size, and large enterprise customers to control costs, save time and assist in making smart business decisions. Headquartered in Los Altos, California, SutiSoft also has regional offices in Germany, India, and Japan. For additional information visit our website at http://www.sutisoft.com.
Churchill Stateside Group Completes Tax Equity Fund IV to Finance $40 Million in Solar Projects Clearly, there is growing and widespread demand for investments in clean energy projects, and we are pleased to offer to investors our teams unique experience and capabilities in tax-incentivized investments in clean energy assets

Churchill Stateside Group, LLC (CSG), a real estate and energy financial services company, is pleased to announce the closing of its tax credit equity fund for the development of 28 megawatts of solar energy projects in North Carolina. Churchill Stateside NC Tax Credit Fund IV, LLC, the fourth solar energy fund sponsored by CSG, financed five ground mounted, fixed tilt solar energy projects commissioned in December 2015.

Since 2012, CSGs tax credit equity funds and debt products have successfully financed over $350 million of solar energy installations while delivering quality projects and financial results to investors as forecasted.

Clearly, there is growing and widespread demand for investments in clean energy projects, and we are pleased to offer to investors our teams unique experience and capabilities in tax-incentivized investments in clean energy assets. said Devin Sanderson, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Renewable Energy for CSG. The closing of this fund further solidifies CSGs reputation as a leading provider of financing solutions to our development partners and investors alike.

Joseph Switzer, Senior Vice President of Churchill Stateside Securities, LLC, the fully licensed broker-dealer for CSG, said With the extension of the investment tax credit in solar and wind, we are finding significant interest from a diverse spectrum of global institutional investors, illustrating the increasing appeal of renewable energy assets and the diversification benefits they bring to investment portfolios. Our clients can now gain an understanding of the preferred accounting techniques for this asset class to optimize the income statement impact for investors.

About Churchill Stateside Group

Churchill Stateside Group and its wholly owned affiliates (CSG) serve the affordable housing and renewable energy industries. CSG sponsors tax credit equity investment funds for institutional investors and provides a variety of construction and permanent financing solutions. CSG has long-standing and successful investment relationships with numerous corporate investors, pension funds, and insurance companies. The companys investor and developer clients benefit from our experienced staff, prominent and proactive senior leadership, and attractive debt and equity platforms. The company, through its subsidiary Churchill Mortgage Investment LLC, is an approved USDA Rural Development and HUD/FHA MAP and LEAN lender and Ginnie Mae Issuer.

For more information, please visit http://www.CSGfirst.com.
Young students in Belize start the year with new school supplies thanks to donations from Chaa Creek's guests the joy I feel when these kids come and hug you and shake your hand to say thank you is hard to describe

Belizes the Lodge at Chaa Creek has kicked off the new year with a delivery of school supplies donated by travellers under an innovative Pack a Pound program that engages guests with the local community, according to the popular Belizean eco-resorts owners.

Chaa Creek founding co-owner and GM Lucy Fleming said that Chaa Creek staff members made the first of this years deliveries on January 19th 2016 to a Belizean school in San Ignacio Town.

Thanks to the generosity of our guests, we were able to provide books, pens and pencils, art supplies, calculators, stationary, and other learning materials to needy students.

The look on these childrens faces, many of who come from rural families, was priceless. Its also very rewarding to see our guests so positively engaged with local communities, and weve been told that for many of them, one of the highlights of their Belize vacation was the chance to give something back to a developing country that gave them so much pleasure while they were here. Contributing to a host country is one of the more satisfying tenets of responsible tourism, Ms Fleming said.

Ms Fleming explained that she, her husband and Chaa Creek co-founder Mick and other managers conceived of the Pack a Pound project in 2008 as an offshoot of the Chaa Creek Cares initiative, which sees ten per cent of all room revenue going directly into environmental and social programs.

Over fifteen Belizean schools and hundreds of students have benefitted from Pack a Pound since its inception, she said, with guests, families and groups donating anywhere from one to over twenty pounds of school supplies.

We designed it to be simple, easy and effective. Guests can add or substitute one pound or more of school supplies in their luggage, or post those goods through the mails when they return home. We then work with the schools to identify needs, and respond with appropriate supplies such as school books, arts and craft supplies, calculators, pens, pencils and other necessities, she added.

Pack a Pound is one of a number of responsible, or sustainable, tourism initiatives the Flemings promote.

Since we opened Chaa Creek to travellers back in 1981, weve been impressed with how taken our guests become with the land and people of Belize, and we quickly found ourselves facilitating ways in which visitors could interact with local communities. We offer visits to organisations such as the San Antonio Womens Group and other artistic or cultural collectives to give our guests a deeper understanding of multicultural Belize and, overall, a richer travel experience.

The enthusiastic response to Pack a Pound has been one of the more gratifying aspects of this, Ms Fleming said.

Responsible travel and sustainable tourism have characterised Chaa Creeks operations from day one, leading the popular Belizean eco resort to receive numerous awards and recognition from organisations such as Green Globe and the World Travel Awards, Ms Fleming explained.

Denise Duran, Chaa Creeks events coordinator who has been integral to Pack a Pound since its inception, said she wished the programs donors could see the faces of these school kids when we show up at the school. Its almost like a second Christmas for some of them.

Another aspect of the program is that it fosters relationships and better understanding between students in North America and their Belizean counterparts, Ms Duran said.

For example, The Global Citizens Club, a student organisation at the Heritage Middle School of Wake Forest, North Carolina, collected and sent some 26 pounds of new school supplies which we delivered to the Sacred Heart Primary School in San Ignacio Town. From what were told, the North Carolina students learned a lot about Belize and what life is like for students their age here, while the Belizean students were overwhelmed by the generosity and caring of their North American peers.

Developing and fostering better relations and understanding between people of different cultures is an integral part of responsible tourism and something we feel strongly about.

For me personally, the joy I feel when these kids come and hug you and shake your hand to say thank you is hard to describe. It makes me feel so good knowing that I am part of this amazing program, Ms Duran said.

Ms Fleming said that the Pack a Pound project continues to grow and she expects that this years donations will exceed previous years.

Its something that makes everyone involved, from the donors, recipients, our staff and family, feel very good indeed. While Chaa Creek has a range of programs under the Chaa Creek Cares initiative, this is one of my personal favourites, as it brings people together and produces real, tangible results. Putting a smile on a school kids face is a tremendous reward in itself, Ms Fleming said, adding that people interested in Pack a Pound can learn more by visiting Chaa Creeks website or contacting the resort directly or through their travel agent.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a multi-award winning eco resort set within a 365-acre private nature reserve along the banks of the Macal River in Belize.

ENDS
ASRC Federal Mission Solutions has partnered with Lockheed Martin on a number of missile defense initiatives that are critical to our nations safety including the Aegis Combat System and Aegis Ashore.

ASRC Federal Mission Solutions will support the test and development of the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) as a key contributor to the Lockheed Martin team. The radar system will form the backbone of the Missile Defense Agencys strategy for an effective ballistic missile defense to protect the U.S. homeland from ballistic missile attacks.

ASRC Federal Mission Solutions will provide critical components to product execution, specifically focused on software engineering support out of the companys Moorestown, New Jersey, office. Additionally, ASRC Federal Mission Solutions will leverage its presence in Alaska to support construction, operations and maintenance activities in Clear, Alaska, where LRDR will be built and tested.

ASRC Federal Mission Solutions has partnered with Lockheed Martin on a number of missile defense initiatives that are critical to our nations safety including the Aegis Combat System and Aegis Ashore. We look forward to continuing our successful industry relationship on this project, said Joe Buss, ASRC Federal Mission Solutions vice president.

LRDR is a key component of the Missile Defense Agencys Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) that will provide tracking data to enable the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system to engage long-range ballistic missile threats to the U.S. Homeland. LRDR will provide advanced discrimination of incoming threats and offer precise guidance to interceptor missiles that will eliminate these threats.

Operational testing of the system is planned to take place in 2020.

About ASRC Federal

ASRC Federal comprises a family of companies that deliver engineering, information technology, logistics and technical services and solutions to U.S. civil and defense agencies. ASRC Federal companies have employees in over 40 locations across the U.S. focused on providing reliable, cost-efficient services that help government customers achieve mission success. Headquartered in Beltsville, Md., ASRC Federal is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. For more information, please visit: http://www.asrcfederal.com
Kicking off 2016, the CloudLinux team joins the cPanel team in their brand new in-person event series, cP1Con. This free one-day event, hosted in various locations throughout the world, features product demos, training sessions, and many of the things the cPanel community has come to love about cPanel Conference. The cP1Con event series gives customers and partners opportunities to interact one-on-one with cPanel and CloudLinux experts.

During the event, participants can explore substantial technical development cPanel has made, learn about future development plans, and dive into the CloudLinux OS and KernelCare technologies to learn how they can improve the stability, manageability, and profitability of their shared hosting environments.

"CloudLinux has been cPanel's premier partner for many years, and we have always participated at their annual conference where experts share technical insights with the community," said Igor Seletskiy, CloudLinux CEO. "Now we are so thrilled to be invited to participate in this new and exciting event."

cP1Con takes place in various destinations stretching from the coasts of California all the way to the seas of Asia, with several stops in between. The following dates and destinations have been made available:

Dallas - January 21, 2016

SoCal - February 15, 2016

Edinburgh - April 14, 2016

Chicago - April 21, 2016

Philadelphia - May 10, 2016

Singapore - August 2016

Mumbai - December 2016

To learn more and to register to attend, visit this page: http://cp1con.cpanel.com/.

About CloudLinux

CloudLinux is on a mission to make Linux secure, stable, and profitable. Its flagship product, CloudLinux OS, runs on more than 30,000 production servers today, and is recognized as the best OS for security and efficiency in a shared hosting environment. CloudLinux's fastest growing product, KernelCare, provides automated kernel security updates without reboots for most popular Linux distributions. KuberDock is a platform based on kubernetes and Docker containers that lets hosting providers extend their shared hosting environment with software previously unhostable on shared servers. It allows them to choose from thousands of dockerized applications and offer to customers within hours.

With more than 4,000 customers and partners, including LiquidWeb and Dell, and more than 60,000 product installations, CloudLinux combines in-depth technical knowledge of hosting, kernel development, and open source with unique client care expertise. Visit http://www.CloudLinux.com for more information.
In this webcast series, Susan, Tammy and Donna guide attendees along the journey to incorporating a locum tenens program into their organization.

symplr, a leading provider of Software as a Service (SaaS) based healthcare compliance and credentialing solutions, today announced part three in the Developing an Effective Locum Tenens Program webcast series titled: Locum Tenens Credentialing. Part of the symplr Education Series focused on Payor Enrollment, the webcast will air on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016, at 12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. ET. To register, visit http://www.symplr.com/community/events/webcasts-payor-enrollment-upcoming

Healthcare leaders predict that the shortage of physicians will continue to rise. This increase will have a critical impact on the availability of physicians to provide quality patient care. A physician shortage can be bridged with the use of locum tenens practitioners.

In the last session of this webcast series, healthcare experts Donna Goestenkors, CPMSM President; Susan Collier, VP of Quality Management CHG Healthcare Services; and Tammy Pressnall, CPMSM, CPCS - Director, CVO/MSA Offices at Presbyterian Hospital, will offer insight on the criteria for selecting a locum tenens agency, the credentialing process for these practitioners, and the importance of the relationship between MSPs, recruitment, enrollment and agency.

Increasingly, locum tenens are helping meet the medical needs of a growing healthcare industry, said Patrick Birmingham, Vice President and General Manager of symplr. In this webcast series, Susan, Tammy and Donna guide attendees along the journey to incorporating a locum tenens program into their organization. They will now finish out this series by outlining how a successful collaborative relationship between the locum tenens agency and healthcare facility can streamline the credentialing process and expedite the placement of locum tenens practitioners.

To view archives of past webcasts in the symplr education webcast series, visit http://www.symplr.com/resources/webcasts.

About Donna Goestenkors, CPMSM  President

Donna is a full time healthcare consultant, speaker, author, educator, and mentor serving the Medical Staff Services industry for over 39 years. Her diverse project experience includes assignments in every work environment and rapport building among all levels of professional and executive staff. Donna is a past President of NAMSS and her client work covers all of the industry's environments from Healthcare Systems to critical access hospitals.

About Susan Collier, VP of Quality Management CHG Healthcare Services

Susan Collier has nearly 30 years of risk and quality management experience. Susan joined CHG in 1986 to assist with the licensing, scheduling, and recruiting of physicians for CompHealthCHG's largest division and the nation's largest provider of locum tenens physicians. She was named the company's Vice President of Risk Management in 2003. Susan accepted her current role, Vice President of Quality Management in 2007, which involves ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare through extensive credentialing policies and procedures and adhering to nationally accepted industry standards.

About Tammy Pressnall, CPMSM, CPCS - Director, CVO/MSA Offices, Presbyterian Hospital

Tammy has 36 years of MSP experience. Tammy has been with Presbyterian Healthcare Services for 19 years, with 17 prior years at a healthcare facility in Colorado. She attained her CPMSM certification in 1983 and the CPCS in 1997. She began her career developing Presbyterian's credentialing program and today, she is the Director of the organizations CVO and the Medical Staff Affairs Office. Tammy was involved in the formation of Colorados state NAMSS association and helped establish the New Mexico Association Medical Staff Services (NMAMSS) - recognized as a state chapter at the NAMSS Annual Conference in 1998. She has served as the NMAMSS President twice.

About symplr

Founded in 2006, symplr is an industry leader in compliance and credentialing Software as a Service solutions that help healthcare organizations mitigate risk and ensure compliance. symplr has a single mission: to make healthcare compliance and credentialing simpler for all constituents of the healthcare community. For more information or to contact symplr, visit http://www.symplr.com/ or (866) 373-9725.
ELKO  Michael Martin Murphey is not only celebrating the 40th anniversary of his album Blue Sky  Night Thunder but also the introduction of his new album High Stakes and how he is trying to be a maverick in its distribution.

Well, its an exciting moment for me because Im premiering new material at the same time Im celebrating an album thats 40 years old this year, because I have a new album, Cowboy Songs Volume VII, and its called High Stakes, said Murphey.

Its the seventh in a series of cowboy songs I started making in 1990. Its fun to be presenting brand new stuff and celebrating an album thats 40 years old at the same time. Thats a particularly great moment for me because Wildfire is my best known song, Carolina in the Pines is my best known song and several of the songs on the album are constantly requested even 40 years later, he said.

Murphey said the album even appeals to a younger audience. He explained, I get kids who are 7 and 8 years old right on up to whatever the dividing line is to say theyre not kids anymore bringing vinyl copies to me to be signed.

Murpheys performances at the Gathering are on Saturday at a variety of times: 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Michael Martin Murpheys Songbook will be at the Elko Convention Center Auditorium; 2 to 2:30 p.m.  autograph sessions at the Convention Center gift shop; and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Murphey will be standing in for Ian Tyson at the Convention Center Auditorium.

High Stakes

Murpheys new album will only be available at his concert venues and will be available at Cowboy Poetry.

He started this because his son, whos a young, high-energy techie, said Dad you really just need to be a maverick  sell these things at your shows as a service to your fans before you put them out in any other setting, said Murphey.

Because people miss packaging, people miss having that little booklet in there in the CD where they can read the credits and find out who made the record, he said. The depth of the album and the artists, he said, doesnt come through, especially when an individual downloads one song at a time. He or she is not getting the feeling of an album thats got kind of a unifying concept to it.

Additionally, he is contemplating putting some of his better known albums and newer material out in vinyl. He said some of these works never came out in vinyl and a lot of artists are going that route.

I understand its about 25 percent of the physical sales, said Murphey.

He said that is a fairly surprising statistic because the older crowd remembers the physical product and has the money to spend on physical product.

The younger crowd missed out on packagingWhats going on in the book world is sort of proving that this digital thing is maybe a big fad right now. Theyll always be digital downloads but I think ultimately physical product will come back  books, for example, Barnes & Noble is seeing a resurgence in people actually buying real books, said Murphey.

Because he was signed to other record labels, some of Murpheys work is available to stream. However, his new product is not. He said he just started his own record label and has taken back the rights to five or six of his past albums. Cowboy Songs IV, V, VI and VII will no longer be available for streaming.

I dont think its a good idea, he said, explaining that artists such as Garth Brooks have repudiated the practice because it kills record sales and it eliminates people being able to make a living, who are really good songwriters and professionals, who have turned out some of the best songs of their time.

The Meaning Behind the Work and Cowboy Poetry

We only made that album available at the venues and we did really well with it. Im really happy with this strategy of people buying the whole album and getting the whole artistic goal that I had for the album, which was to put a collection of songs together that were cowboy songs that address a certain theme and issue for now, Murphey said about High Stakes.

This new album, in particular, has many meanings for the artist including the struggles of people in the cattle business and some of the environmental issues that weve had.

Thats why I love the Cowboy Poetry Gathering. If you want to know what the Cowboy Poetry Gathering means to me, thats what it means to me. Its a gathering of people who truly, truly understand the land and truly understand the importance of agriculture in our culture, said Murphey.

This album is about rural life and thats what Cowboy Poetry and songs embody, especially, he explained, in an age where country music is really not coming from people who work the land  like in the Hillbilly Era when country music started at the Grand Ole Pry. At that time, Murphey said the artists lived off the land.

Nevada is a flashpoint for Murphey over a misunderstood issue. He discussed grazing and how there needs to be more cattle on the land. The misconception that wildlife will die with more grazing is incorrect to him.

As it turns out, we dont have enough cattle on the land. All you got to do is listen to one lecture by Alan Savory and hell tell you that the real problem with global warming, which is happening on a microclimate by microclimate basis adding up to a macroclimate problem, is because we dont have enough cattle on the land, properly managed.

His new album is about the renegades and rebels, who stood up and said no, were not going to be denigrated as people who are destroying the environment. We are actually helping the environment.

He said this is not a partisan issue, but proper policies need to be created in this country instead of putting agriculture to the side and not paying enough attention to it.

Thats not totally what the album is about. Murphey also has love songs and songs looking toward the emotions and the social life of people in agriculture and how that life transfers to urban people.

High Stakes is also about beauty. Murphey told the Free Press that in order to protest something, he said he has found the best thing to do is write songs about the beauty of the culture. This is what he did when being an activist for the Native American culture and this is his hope for the cowboy culture  people will fight for what they respect.

Once people buy into the fact that its a beautiful culture, theyre going to save it, he said, explaining if one goes to the Cowboy Poetry Gathering, he or she will walk away with a love and respect for cowboy culture.

The Cowboy Poetry Gathering is just tremendously important, he said.

The main message Im trying to tell everyone is agriculture is the issue. Agriculture is the most important issue in our world that we need to think about. Technology isnt going to feed people. Technology will help feed people by being applied to agriculture. Thats my main goal right now, trying to get people to have a positive view, he concluded.

Guitar Donation and Ian Tyson Concert

Murphey will also be donating a black guitar with the words to his song Wildfire written on it through his non-profit foundation, with the proceeds going to the Gathering.

Theyre very good guitars.Its not a high-end guitar but they sound great, he said. The guitars also have the ability to be plugged in.

I wanted something that if people wanted to play it, they could play it. It wasnt just something that they would hang on the wall.

Murphey will perform classic cowboy songs: Ian Tyson songs that I will be performing for the people who have to miss out on Ian.

Murphey said this concert is really about his friend.
Emily connecting with the Fitssi brand. The US, historically the country that pioneers fitness evolution, is a very important market for us and gives us access to almost three in five Americans, or 61 percent of the US population, who participate in fitness and sports. - Lee McPherson

The IOS app that connects fitness fanatics and those on their fitness journey, headquartered in London, made its intentions for the US fitness market during its recent visit to the LA Fit Expo.

Fitness consumers have irreversibly changed the way they interact with fitness and Fitssi is perhaps one of the best kept secrets for life hacking, no need to engage in demotivating or uninspiring workout routines alone, a fitness partner can boost your motivation, increase your results and widen your fitness circle.

Fitssi is a social app connecting users with new and interesting fitness partners on-demand and encompasses an athleisure lifestyle within one app. The team behind fitness recognised the surge in emerging fitness trends and have open the doors on fitness categories, meaning users can connect with a community across Barre, Bootcamp, Crossfit or Yoga, to name a few, as well as growing fitness movements such as Parkour. Far more smarter than a swipe left/swipe right app, the new version 3.1 which was launched at TechCrunch Disrupt London last year, delves deep to give users a like-minded fitness match based on location, activity level, experience and preferred activities, and the newsfeed where users can post hot or sweat dripping fitness selfies also enriches users engagement and social discovery. Each user has their own profile screen which allows other users to see a short bio, how many partners sessions have been completed and a gallery displaying selfies. Once users are authenticated through a Facebook login they then have a choice to post workout schedules or make requests to join others in their training sessions. The integration with iCal means training slots are synchronised with the users device and alerts are delivered before sessions begin.

Fitssi is the is latest fitness venture from Co founders Chris Sweeney and Lee McPherson. Chris Sweeney had previously spent the last 9 years as a successful personal trainer for British fitness chain 'Fitness First. "The US, historically the country that pioneers fitness evolution, is a very important market for us and gives us access to almost three in five Americans, or 61 percent of the US population, who participate in fitness and sports" says Lee McPherson

Despite the exploding popularity of wearable fitness trackers and apps, Fitssi aims to connect the world through fitness and has big plans and a team of well connected contacts from celebrity personal trainers, corporate wellness advisors and professional athletes to do so. In the UK users including Emily Stephens a certified nutrionist from London, identify with Fitssi as a lifestyle brand and the team aims to replicate the same connection with new users in the US.

Download now available from the appstore here
B2BGateway Integration between our distributors and our accounting and warehousing functions used to be a big paperwork nightmare that took many staff hours to reconcile. Now, with B2BGateway, its there, at our fingertips, fully accountable and in the cloud.

B2BGateway, an award winning global EDI solution provider has announced that it has developed a cloud based, fully integrated EDI solution for Xero accounting software users. The solution allows B2BGateway client MaxRelief to exchange electronic documents with their trading partners without having to re-key data.

Founded in Australia in 2000 as a pain relief product specialist, MaxRelief pain relief therapies have helped more than one million people worldwide to become pain-free naturally. MaxRelief is made from 100% natural ingredients and it is the only topical pain reliever that combines the soothing, anti-inflammatory properties of Arnica with the moisturizing and regenerative capabilities of Emu and Rosemary oil. In 2015, MaxRelief introduced its pain relief spray and cream to the U.S. market, selling to pharmacies including Cardinal Pharmaceutical and Drugstore.com.

In order to improve supply chain efficiencies, cut costs and to scale for ever increasing growth, MaxRelief enlisted the help of B2BGateway to integrate EDI with their Xero accounting software system. Having a fully integrated EDI solution allows MaxRelief to exchange electronic business documents such as purchase orders and invoices with their trading partners and customers. Having B2BGateways EDI solution fully integrated with MaxReliefs Xero system removes the need for the MaxRelief staff to manually re-key data; this in turn leads to reduced errors, lower labor costs and faster payments from their customers.

"Integration between our distributors and our accounting and warehousing functions used to be a big paperwork nightmare that took many staff hours to reconcile, state Peter Spoto, President, MaxRelief USA, Inc., Now, with B2BGateway, its there, at our fingertips, fully accountable and in the cloud. Employees in Sydney, San Francisco, London and Toronto are now all on the same page, and our staff requirements have been reduced by nearly 20%. How good is that?

Roger Leyden, Director of Global Business Development at B2BGateway, added B2BGateway continually strives to offer best in breed EDI and automated supply chain solutions to our clients and it was for this reason that we developed a cloud based, fully integrated EDI solution to meet the needs of Xero accounting software users such as MaxRelief. Through B2BGateways cloud EDI integration, the Xero user no longer has to re-key data when exchanging documents with trading partners such as retailers, online marketplaces, manufacturers, 3PLs and additional 3rd party inventory software providers. The Xero user is also granted access to the B2BGateway Client Portal where they can control all their EDI functionality, view reports and add new trading relationships as required.

About MaxRelief: Founded in Australia in 2000 as a pain relief product specialist, MaxRelief pain relief therapies have helped more than one million people worldwide to become pain-free naturally. MaxRelief is made from 100% natural ingredients and it is the only topical pain reliever that combines the soothing, anti-inflammatory properties of Arnica with the moisturizing and regenerative capabilities of Emu and Rosemary oil. For further information on MaxRelief please visit https://maxrelief.us/

About B2BGateway: B2BGateway, a GS1 Accredited solution provider, is a leading global EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) provider with offices in North America, Europe, Australia and China. B2BGateway offers 24/7 customer support with each client assigned a designated setup team. B2BGateway EDI solutions are simple to use, competitively priced, highly effective and can increase profitability by reducing costs associated with manual data entry. For further information please call +1 (401) 491 9595 (USA), +353 61 708533 (EU), +61 28003 7584 (ANZ) or log onto http://www.B2BGateway.Net
We really place huge emphasis on customer care at Qorus - to us it's just as important as great technology.

Qorus Software has been named a finalist in the in the 10th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. The company will ultimately be a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Award winner in the category: Customer Service Department of the Year - Computer Software - Up to 100 Employees.

The awards are presented by the Stevie Awards, which organizes several of the worlds leading business awards shows including the prestigious International Business Awards and American Business Awards.

The final results will be announced during a gala banquet on Friday, March 4 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Finalists from the U.S.A. and several other nations are expected to attend.

More than 2,100 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were evaluated in this years competition, an increase of 11% over 2015. Finalists were determined by the average scores of 115 professionals worldwide, acting as preliminary judges. Entries were considered in 59 categories for customer service and contact center achievements, including Contact Center of the Year, Award for Innovation in Customer Service, and Customer Service Department of the Year; 51 categories for sales and business development achievements, ranging from Senior Sales Executive of the Year to Business Development Achievement of the Year; and categories to recognize new products and services and solution providers.

Paul Jenkins, Head of Customer Engagement at Qorus Software: "We really place huge emphasis on customer care at Qorus - to us it's just as important as great technology. My team is amazing, and I am so proud that we are finalists. It's great for them to be recognized for all the hard work they put in."

More than 60 members of several specialized judging committees will determine the Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award placements from among the Finalists during final judging, to begin January 25.

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service continues to be the fastest-growing of our international awards programs, said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. The sheer number of nominations is matched by the increasing quality of those nominations. We congratulate all of this years Finalists and wish them well in the next phase of judging.

Ray Meiring, CEO at Qorus Software, who will be attending the awards ceremony in March says: "This is a great honor for Qorus' Customer Engagement Team and for the company as a whole. I feel privileged to work with such dedicated, hard-working people.

Details about the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service and the list of Finalists in all categories are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Sales.

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ABOUT QORUS

Qorus Software is a global provider of simple yet sophisticated proposal management and document automation solutions that accelerate the sales process.

Our software simplifies the tasks of creating, collaborating on, maintaining, and sharing bid, proposal, sales and marketing content. It is built on Microsoft technology, making it familiar and easy to use. Even the most untechnical of users can create, edit and build templates and documents in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

In 2015 Qorus celebrated 84% year-on-year client growth, with clients representing a wide range of industries including legal, financial services, staffing solutions, technology and telecommunications.

Qorus Software offers two solutions:



Qorus Breeze Proposals

Qorus DocGeneration

Qorus Software has offices in Seattle, London and Cape Town. For more information, visit http://www.qorusdocs.com

ABOUT THE STEVIE AWARDS

The Stevie Awards are conferred in six programs: The American Business Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com, and follow the Stevie Awards on Twitter @TheStevieAwards.

Sponsors of the 10th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service include Sales Partnerships and ValueSelling Associates.
This artist's rendering shows the Main Pedestrian Connector for the sustainable CV-22 campus development at Yokota Air Base in Fussa, Japan. Whats novel about this project is that it will require the W-KZF JV and Jacobs teams to work collaboratively. We see this as a good opportunity for knowledge sharing.

The Japan District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded the Woolpert-KZF Joint Venture (W-KZF JV) three task orders totaling approximately $6.95 million to support the design of a $150 million CV-22 complex at Yokota Air Base in Fussa, Japan.

The facilities, which will support the beddown of CV-22 Osprey aircraft at the base, include an aircraft maintenance hangar, a squadron operations building, an MRSP warehouse, a flight simulator facility and a headquarters building.

W-KZF JV is working closely with Jacobs Engineering of California. Jacobs is providing design services in support of the horizontal infrastructure improvements for the CV-22 campus development.

Woolpert is a national architecture, engineering and geospatial firm headquartered in Dayton, and KZF Design is an architecture, engineering, planning and interior design firm based in Cincinnati. The Ohio firms joint venture also was selected this summer to provide full design and construction services for the schools serving U.S. military families in Japan.

Jacobs, headquartered in Pasadena, is one of the worlds largest and most diverse providers of technical, professional and construction services.

Project Manager Rebecca Knolle said Woolpert has been working on the CV-22 campus development plan with Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) since 2013.

Weve been with this endeavor from the outset, Knolle said. Whats novel about this project is that it will require the W-KZF JV and Jacobs teams to work collaboratively. We see this as a good opportunity for knowledge sharing.

Construction is expected to begin on the complex in 2017 and will be completed in 2020-21.

About Woolpert

Woolpert is a national architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm that delivers value to clients by strategically blending engineering excellence with leading-edge technology and geospatial applications. With a dynamic R&D department, Woolpert works with inventive business partners like Google; operates a fleet of planes, sensors and unmanned aerial systems (UAS); and continually pushes industry boundaries by working with advanced water technologies, asset management, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and sustainable design. Woolperts mission is to help its clients progressand become more progressive. For over 100 years and with more than 25 offices across the United States, Woolpert serves the needs of federal, state and local governments; private and public companies and universities; energy and transportation departments; and the United States Armed Forces. For more information, visit woolpert.com or call 937-531-1258.
Patent Winners

AFL, a leading global fiber optics manufacturer and service provider, has been awarded three patents for new technologies used in the enhancement of AFLs Optical Connectivity and Apparatus (OCA) products.

Ted Lichoulas, engineering manager, Roger Vaughn, product technology manager, and Wink Courchaine, senior engineer received a patent for Optical Fiber Event Sensor for continuous monitoring of network assets such as fiber distribution cabinets. The sensor creates an event by inducing a set amount of attenuation when compressed or released depending on the application, as in opening and closing a door. A single fiber is looped through all of the sensors in series so that multiple assets can be monitored. An optical monitoring device (OTDR) connected to the fiber then scans for these attenuation events and alerts an operator when and where they occur.

Rich Cubala, OSP product specialist and Craig Henderson, regional sales manager, secured a patent for a splice tray rail system. Responding to market demand for better organization of splice trays, the team implemented a rail system. The trays are attached to a rail connector plate that allows the splice trays to be moved easily from the stack and over the rails to access an individual tray without disturbing other trays and splices.

Kheng Seng, director of supply chain for OCA, received a patent for a secured fiber optic connecting system and method using offset fiber position in a single-fiber connector. The combination of the fibers offset distance from the ferrules longitudinal center axis and its angular offset relative to a key on the connector housing will provide a unique position achieving secured mating for a pair of connectors.

For additional information about AFL, its products and services, visit http://www.AFLglobal.com.

About AFL

AFL provides industry-leading products and services to the electric utility, broadband, communications, enterprise and OEM markets as well as the emerging markets of oil and gas, mining, nuclear, avionics, renewables and transportation. The companys diverse product portfolio includes fiber optic cable, transmission and substation accessories, outside plant equipment, connectors, fusion splicers, test equipment and training. AFLs service portfolio includes market-leading positions with the foremost communications companies supporting OEM, outside plant, enterprise and wireless areas.

Founded in 1984, AFL is proud to offer engineering expertise, exceptional products and reliable service that help our customers improve their critical and electrical infrastructure. AFL has operations in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. The company is headquartered in Spartanburg, SC and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan.
Michael C. Fina Recognition, along with Marriott International, discussed the challenges of keeping employee recognition programs up to date and how Marriott has modernized its service award program at the recent Recognition Professionals International (RPI) Conference in Las Vegas.

During the January 11 RPI Conference session titled Service Awards: A Cornerstone for Employee Recognition, Jeffrey Fina, Chief Customer Officer of Michael C. Fina Recognition, co-presented with Christina Papoulias, Senior Benefits Analysis & Wellness Specialist of Marriott International.

"Celebrating 'work birthdays' is one of the biggest cultural touchstones for employees and a universal benchmark for an organization's commitment to them," said Fina. "Running a successful recognition program today requires a focus on the service award experience layered with modern technology and social tools, demographic data, and leadership savvy."

The presentation demonstrated how to keep recognition programs current so they maintain their appeal. It also included discussion of how Marriott's Service Award program ensures service awards are a fixture of the company's work culture, while increasing program reach and generational appeal.

During the presentation, Fina recommended the following tips:



Use recognition initiatives to create strong manager to employee connections, as these relationships are the top driver of employee engagement.

Recognize workers - including virtual employees - with service awards and other forms of appreciation early on in their career and often.

When recognizing employees, take generational differences into account and provide a variety of reward choices.

Incorporate mobile and social recognition options when possible.

RPI is the leading resource for global strategic workforce recognition and is the only professional association that engages both practitioners and resource providers to provide holistic value to the global recognition industry. Its annual conference - The Recognition Experience 2016 - was January 9-13 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

For more, visit http://www.mcfrecognition.com.

About Michael C. Fina Recognition

In today's technology-driven multigenerational workforce, meaningful employee recognition is more crucial than ever in building employee engagement and driving business success. Michael C. Fina Recognition helps companies worldwide deliver recognition, rewards, and incentive programs built from a passion and enthusiasm for serving our clients and a nearly 50-year history of service. We deliver scalable solutions that are based on each client's needs, built on personal relationships, and driven by a deep understanding of each company's unique culture. Every day, Michael C. Fina Recognition helps organizations increase employee loyalty and deliver positive business outcomes -- one memorable experience at a time. Michael C. Fina Recognition is headquartered in Long Island City, NY, and is online at http://www.mcfrecognition.com.
Leonard Perlmutter Albany Med and Dr. Mitnick have exhibited a rare and remarkable clarity of vision for how modern medicine can provide meaningful, practical support for physicians and patients. --Leonard Perlmutter

For the eighth consecutive year, The American Meditation Institute (AMI) has been accredited by the Albany Medical College to present its annual Heart and Science of Yoga Mind/Body Medicine CME conference for physicians and other health care professionals. This 30 CME credit retreat will take place October 25-29, 2016 at the Cranwell Resort and Spa in Lenox, Massachusetts.

This unique CME conference has been designed, in part, to offer a comprehensive curriculum of Yoga Science as Mind/Body Medicine that can help relieve physician burnout. Topics will include meditation, diaphragmatic breathing, mantra science, yoga psychology, neuroplasticity and the effects of meditation, alleviating trauma and PTSD, resiliency, mind function optimization, food as medicine, functional medicine, epigenomics, Ayurveda, easy-gentle yoga, lymph system detoxification and the chakra system as a diagnostic tool.

The dedication, enthusiasm, and teaching methodology of the entire AMI faculty will combine to create a dynamic and interactive course for all attending medical professionals. This years presenters will include Leonard Perlmutter, AMI founder, meditational therapist and award-winning author; Mark Pettus MD, Director of Medical Education and Population Health at Berkshire Health Systems; Anthony Santilli MD, board-certified in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine; Prashant Kaushik MD, board-certified Rheumatologist; Sara Lazar PhD, neuroscientist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and instructor at Harvard Medical School; Susan Lord MD, a private practice holistic physician focusing on prevention and treatment, and former course director for the The Center for Mind-Body Medicines Food As Medicine program in Washington, DC; Jesse Ritvo MD, Assistant Medical Director, Inpatient Psychiatry, University of Vermont Health Center; Beth Netter MD MT, holistic physician and acupuncturist, Albany, NY; Jyothi Bhatt BAMS, Ayurvedic practitioner and faculty member of Kripalu School of Ayurveda and Physicians Assistant at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center; and Jenness Cortez Perlmutter, faculty member of The American Meditation Institute.

Noted physicians Mehmet Oz MD, Dean Ornish MD, Bernie Siegel MD and Larry Dossey MD have endorsed Leonard Perlmutters treatise on Yoga Science, which serves as the core curriculum for this years CME conference.

According to last years attendee, Jay Newman MD, of Towson, Maryland, This conference was absolutely excellent. It was the best CME conference I have ever attended. It was a superb presentation of Yoga Science by presenters who are very passionate in sharing their knowledge. I wish I took this course years ago! I will take it again in the future. Acknowledging such a heart-felt testimonial, AMI founder and faculty director Leonard Perlmutter noted, Program sponsor Neil Mitnick MD and The Albany Medical College Office of Continuing Medical Education deserve a great deal of credit for the success of this CME conference. By accrediting the Heart and Science of Yoga curriculum for eight consecutive years, Albany Med and Dr. Mitnick have exhibited a rare and remarkable clarity of vision for how modern medicine can provide meaningful, practical support for the health and well being of physicians and their patients throughout our entire nation.

Recent AMI graduate, Joel M. Kremer, MD, who is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology in Albany, New York, supports Perlmutters sentiments through his own personal experience. This teaching has been an enormous benefit in my personal and professional life. I have less stress, more focus, and am able to serve my patients with greater clarity. It becomes surprisingly easy now to recognize the many clinical situations in which patients with somatic manifestations of 'dis-ease' could greatly benefit from Yoga Science.

About the American Meditation Institute

The American Meditation Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization devoted to the teaching and practice of Yoga Science, meditation and its allied disciplines as mind/body medicine. In its holistic approach to wellness, AMI combines the healing arts of the East with the practicality of modern Western science. The American Meditation Institute offers a wide variety of classes, retreats, and teacher training programs. AMI also publishes http://www.americanmeditation.org/ transformation-journal/ [Transformation], a bi-monthly journal of meditation as holistic mind/body medicine. Call 800.234.5115 for a mail or email subscription.

Media Contact:

Robert Washington

60 Garner Road, Averill Park, NY 12018

Tel: 518-674-8714

Fax: 518-674-8714
Eric Walker, Vice President of Parts Operations and Modern Industrial Cleaning Equipment "We see industrial cleaning equipment as a new frontier bringing truly exciting growth opportunities for our company" -Paul Farrell, President and CEO

Modern Group has announced the promotion of Eric Walker to the position of Vice President of Parts Operations and Modern Industrial Cleaning Equipment. Eric will continue to direct Modern Group's parts operations, a responsibility he has held since joining the company in Spring 2014. He along with the branch parts teams, Central Parts call center representatives, and shipping and receiving staff will continue to provide customers with the broadest selection and most dependable parts delivery service in the market. Eric will also be tasked with management over the company's newest line of business, industrial sweepers and floor scrubbers from PowerBoss. This will include the addition of new equipment sales staff, increased focus on aftermarket solutions, as well as continued growth of the company's sweeper/scrubber rental fleet.

"I am looking forward to taking on this new challenge and further develop this line of business for Modern while continuing the remarkable growth of our parts and service departments" said Eric Walker. "Our parts group is successful because we built an exceptional team of individuals dedicated to help our customers, our new Industrial Cleaning Equipment group will follow this proven path."

"We see industrial cleaning equipment as a new frontier bringing truly exciting growth opportunities for our company" said Paul Farrell, President and CEO of Modern Group. "As our Direct of Parts, Eric Walker has demonstrated an invaluable ability to identify talent, implement a solid business strategies, and work seamlessly with all areas of the company. We couldn't ask for a better person to lead our expansion into this market."

Eric Walker can be contacted directly at 215-630-2349 or WalkerE [at] moderngroup.com.

About Minuteman International

Minuteman International, Inc., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Addison, Illinois, is a full-line manufacturer of Minuteman commercial floor care and carpet equipment, PowerBoss industrial sweeping and scrubbing equipment and the Multi-Clean brand of cleaning and floor coating chemical products. Minuteman has distributors and dealers in more than forty countries throughout the world. More information can be found on the company's web site at http://www.powerboss.com.

About Modern Group, Ltd

Modern Group, one of the nations leading equipment distributors, provides sales, leasing, short term rental, service, parts, training and financing solutions through its forklifts, power systems, arborist, construction, and warehouse products businesses serving Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. For more information visit http://www.moderngroup.com.
4-in-1 Safety Opener This unique multi-functional kitchen innovation will leave you wondering how you ever used your old can, jars or bottle openers

Cooks Innovations announced today the launch of its cutting-edge 4-in-1 Safety Opener, providing a safe and easy way for families to open their kitchen foods and drinks with ease.

This unique multi-functional kitchen innovation will leave you wondering how you ever used your old can, jars or bottle openers, said Peter Vander Stichele, Cooks Innovations, President. Not only does it combines 4 tools in one, turning opening anything into a virtually effortless exercise; but its sleek handle and beautiful design make it a pleasure to use. To try it is to adopt it.

The patented 4-in-1 Safety Opener also improves kitchen safety. When opening cans, it leaves no sharp edges and the opener never touches the food, eliminating the risk of cross contamination. Its opening mechanism simply grabs the rim and safely breaks the seal of the lid as it goes around the can.

If simplicity is elegance, the 4-in-1 Safety Opener minimalist design is as ecstatically pleasing as it is practical. It is the ideal addition to the modern kitchen.

The 4-in-1 Safety Opener can be found online at http://www.CooksInnovations.com.

About Cooks Innovations

Cooks Innovations is the new consumer brand from IMCG, Inc., launched in 2014. Founded in 1998, IMCG, Inc. is a privately-held organization headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida. The company specializes in designing, manufacturing, and distributing problem-solving innovations for the home. For the past 17 years, IMCG, Inc. has demonstrated its commitment to improving the lives of families looking for practical and fun solutions to everyday challenges.

Contact Information

Peter Vander Stichele

Tel: +1 (407) 804-1656

Peter(at)cooksinnovations(dot)com

http://www.cooksinnovations.com
Cooldown analysis of a subsea Christmas tree. CD-adapco is hosting an oil & gas seminar titled "Subsea: Improving Safety and Mitigating Risk through Simulation" on Thursday, Jan. 28 in Houston, Texas. Topics to be discussed include erosion, thermal analysis, flow-induced and vortex-induced vibration, and separators.

CD-adapco, the largest privately held CFD-focused provider of Computer Aided Engineering software, is hosting an oil and gas seminar on January 28 in Houston, Texas titled, Subsea: Improving Safety and Mitigating Risk through Simulation. This complimentary event will unveil some of the financial benefits the use of simulation can offer subsea engineers.

As companies involved in the global Oil and Gas industry seek to remain profitable while oil prices slump to record lows, they are increasingly turning to engineering simulation as a method of reducing equipment failure, while simultaneously using simulation to improve product longevity and reduce operating costs.

This seminar will include presentations from CD-adapco experts and major industry influencers such as Wood Group Kenny and Norton Straw Consultants. Topics to be discussed include erosion, thermal analysis, flow-induced and vortex-induced vibration, and separators. The event will also include a demonstration and hands-on session with STAR-CCM+, CD-adapcos flagship simulation tool.

Register for this event at http://www.cd-adapco.com.

About CD-adapco

CD-adapco (http://www.cd-adapco.com) is the world's largest, privately owned CFD-focused CAE provider. Our core products are the technology-leading simulation packages, STAR-CCM+ and STAR-CD. The scope of our activities, however, extends well beyond CFD software development to encompass a wide range of CAE engineering services in fluid dynamics, heat transfer and structural engineering. Our ongoing mission is to "inspire innovation and reduce costs through the application of engineering simulation software and services." CD-adapco has maintained 15% organic year-on-year growth over the last five years. CD-adapco employs over 900 talented individuals, working at 40 strategic locations across the globe.

Press Contact

Todd Mavreles, CD-adapco

todd(dot)mavreles(at)cd-adapco(dot)com

(+1) 713 334 4311
Youve probably read a restaurant guide or review before going out for a special dinner. And youve probably scanned a consumer review or two before buying a new or used car.

Wouldnt it be great if there was a place where you could get information on the quality of hospitals in your area?

Well, there is. Its called Hospital Compare and you can find it on the Medicare website, at www.medicare.gov.

Hospital Compare contains a wealth of information on how well hospitals perform certain surgeries and treat certain medical conditions. The data varies from hospital to hospital. Because the reality is that some hospitals do a better job of caring for patients with certain conditions than others.

The idea behind Hospital Compare is that making quality-of-care information easily available to the public will motivate hospitals to improve their care. Medicare has similar compare websites for nursing homes, home health agencies, and dialysis facilities, too.

You can search Hospital Compare by zip code, city, or state. The data youll find are intended to provide a snapshot of the quality of care at about 4,000 hospitals throughout the United States. You dont have to be a Medicare beneficiary to use Hospital Compare  its open to everyone and its free of charge.

If youre having a medical emergency, go to the nearest hospital. Get care as fast as you can. But if youre planning to have surgery, or if you have a condition like heart disease and you know youll need hospital care in the future, talk to your doctor about the local hospital that best meets your needs.

Find out which hospitals your doctor works with, and which hospitals he or she thinks give the best care for your condition. If youre a Medicare beneficiary, ask if the hospitals participate in Medicare.

At that point, you may want to spend some time on Hospital Compare.

Hospital Compare shows the rates at which hospitals provide recommended care for patients being treated for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and childrens asthma, and for patients having surgery.

It also displays information on hospital outcome measures. These include the rate at which Medicare patients who were treated for heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia had to be readmitted to the hospital with complications, and 30-day risk-adjusted death rates. (The 30-day period is used because this is the time period when deaths are most likely to be related to the care patients received in the hospital.)

In addition, you can see results from patient satisfaction surveys, such as how well patients thought the hospital controlled their pain and how well doctors and nurses communicated with them.

Hospital Compare is no substitute for talking with your doctor and family members and friends whove been treated at a hospital youre considering. But the website can give you a general idea of how well various hospitals handle certain kinds of patients.

How can you find information about Medicare coverage of hospital services?

Original Medicare helps cover certain medical services and supplies in hospitals. If you have both Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), you can get the full range of Medicare-covered services in a hospital.

If youre in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) or other Medicare health plan, read your plan materials. These plans provide all your Part A and Part B coverage. If youre in a Medicare Advantage plan or other health plan, Hospital Compare doesnt have information about whether your care will be covered in a certain hospital. Check with your plan.

For more information about Medicare-covered hospital services, look at your Medicare & You handbook thats delivered in the fall each year to all people with Medicare. View it online by visiting http://go.usa.gov/iDJ.
Well be hosting a technical breakout session on mainframe security this year and were excited to partner with SHARE again.

CorreLog, the leader in multi-platform IT security event log management, today announced participation in the annual SHARE in San Antonio conference. CorreLogs advancements in IT security have created great awareness in the mainframe security community, and have again granted them an invitation to contribute to SHAREs commitment to education at SHARE San Antonio.

The SHARE San Antonio conference will be held February 28 through March 4 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. SHARE, a Chicago-based independent information technology association run exclusively by volunteers, holds two annual conferences in the U.S. to discuss and improve upon technical matters affecting the global family of IBM mainframe users while connecting professionals and advancing technologys positive influence in the business world.

Were thrilled to participate in our ninth consecutive SHARE conference as both speaker and sponsor, said George Faucher, president and CEO at CorreLog, Inc. The ever-changing landscape of security technology demands on-going education and awareness to make enterprise data systems safe and compliant. Well be hosting a technical breakout session on mainframe security this year and were excited to partner with SHARE again.

CorreLog can be found at SHARE San Antonio in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Expo Hall in booth #616-618. Click here to view the SHARE San Antonio agenda.

As a trusted partner of SHAREs annual conference, CorreLog, Inc. will be hosting a session to educate conference attendees on advancements in mainframe security and compliance. Details below (all times in CST):

CorreLog Speaking session: Protect your Mainframe with SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) and Make a $2 Million Connection

Charles Mills, CorreLogs Director of Advanced Projects, will deliver a technical breakout session addressing the interaction between your existing distributed Security Information & Event Management (SIEM) system and critical mainframe security - a misunderstanding between these two worlds of IT could be a $2 million mistake.

 When: Tuesday, March 01, 2016: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

 Where: Room 225A, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX

 Session #: 18538 | Session details from Share.org

 Speaker: Charles Mills, CorreLog Director of Advanced Projects | Speaker Bio

 Speaking Tracks: Enterprise Data Center|Security and Compliance

About SHARE:

SHARE is an independent volunteer-run information technology association that provides education, professional networking and industry influence. SHARE is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and more information on SHARE can be found at share.org.

About CorreLog:

CorreLog, Inc. is the leading independent software vendor (ISV) for cross-platform IT security log management and event log correlation. Our solutions provide the best-in-class, real-time event log management across both distributed (Windows/UNIX/Linux) and mainframe platforms (IBM z/OS). Event Log management from CorreLogs premier security solutions are ready-format for any name brand enterprise SIEM (Security Information & Event Management) correlation servers, as well as CorreLogs own SIEM Correlation Server.

CorreLog SIEM Agent for z/OS, CorreLogs flagship product, is the first real-time z/OS event monitoring solution available to CISOs with mainframe security and compliance needs. It resides in single or multiple mainframe LPARs at a very light weight, converting mainframe security events such as RACF, ACF2, Top Secret, and DB2 accesses into syslog events compatible with enterprise SIEM systems. In addition, CorreLogs SIEM Agent has been designed to comply with standards set forth by PCI DSS, HIPAA, IRS Pub. 1075, SOX, GLBA, FISMA, NERC, and many other regulatory standards, in addition to the best real-time enterprise mainframe security. CorreLog markets its solutions through both direct and indirect partner channels. For more information on CorreLog products, please visit us here.

Copyright  2016, CorreLog, Inc. All rights reserved.

All trademarks and registered trademarks used herein are the properties of their respective owners.
PhishLine Content Center Marketplace We have created the worlds first library of cross-vendor integrated content. Our experts have developed phishing tests that complement the content of our partners training materials.

PhishLine, a leader in helping enterprise security teams take decisive action against social engineering and phishing threats, announced today the availability of the PhishLine Content Center Marketplace.

The Content Center Marketplace is a one-stop resource for computer-based security training from leading security awareness vendors. The Marketplace provides hundreds of compelling phishing templates, customized landing pages, risk assessment surveys, and engaging, multi-lingual training content in easy to use online catalogs.

We went beyond just reselling the content, said Mark Chapman, PhishLine President and CEO. We have created the worlds first library of cross-vendor integrated content. Our experts have developed phishing tests that complement the content of our partners training materials. This means there is one style, one message, one way to make things happen.

The PhishLine Content Center Marketplace integrates a hosted Learning Management System (LMS) to enable the hosting and delivery of the training materials. The content is SCORM compliant. In addition to online training, supplementary physical support items such as posters, newsletters, and other materials are available. Also included is exclusive Interactive Vishing Response (IVR) content developed exclusively for PhishLine by Social-Engineer, LLC, a premier consulting and training company specializing in the art and science of social engineering.

The centralized catalog allows users to browse and download materials, stated Brendan Walsh, Content Director. We can create and release content, as well as refresh our partner content, to ensure that customers are receiving the most up-to-date materials available.

The materials can be used as-is or customized. The variety allows organizations to identify exactly what their users are susceptible to and address issues with targeted training. Developed from real world social engineering scenarios, the materials allow customers to easily follow PhishLines Plan, Train, Test, Measure, Take Action philosophy for security awareness.

Training content from three inaugural partners, Security Innovation, Social-Engineer, LLC, and The Security Awareness Company, is available in the PhishLine Content Center Marketplace. PhishLine anticipates other world-class security training vendors will be added throughout 2016.

About PhishLine

Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI with offices in Chicago, IL and Cincinnati, OH, PhishLine specializes in helping Information Security Professionals meet and overcome the increasing challenges associated with social engineering and phishing threats. PhishLine provides a powerful blend of risk-based objectivity and robust metrics and reporting to human layer security efforts. To learn more about PhishLine, please visit us at PhishLine.com and follow us on Twitter @PhishLine
Hollywood Dermatology & Cosmetic Specialists is proud to be the first in the state of Florida to offer the breakthrough technology of the new PiQo4 laser, the first 4-wavelenth picosecond laser to receive FDA Clearance. This new laser system is capable of treating more tattoo inks than any other picosecond laser on the market. Dr. Eduardo Weiss, Board Certified Dermatologist says The reason we chose the PiQo4 is because its technology is top of the line and we can cut the number of treatments by 40%. He adds:

We have done tattoo removal for more than 15 years. In our experience, the previous lasers worked pretty well, but there were many problems.



"They were only effective on certain tattoo colors (black, red, yellow).

"They caused skin breakdowns in the form of blisters and scabs.

"There was also a point where the lasers peaked and the tattoo removal process quit responding and would not allow those systems to remove any more ink.

"The new PiQo4 laser system has solved all those problems!



"We are now able to remove tattoos with less pain, fewer treatments (cut treatments in half or less) and faster recovery time.

"The other benefit to using the PiQo4 laser is that you can treat big tattoos in just a few minutes. The previous lasers only allowed you to treat small 1-3mm areas at a time, the PiQo4 allows you to treat up to 15mm in diameter.

Nowadays, tattoos include a wide array of colors. Removing them was difficult since most lasers have only one or two wavelengths that target only certain ink colors. This new system is the one laser that greatly increases the likelihood of reducing/removing tattoos since studies indicate that nine of the most common tattoo colors are highly absorbed by wavelengths that are found in the PiQo4 system. Additionally, the other laser systems are limited to the lighter skin types, whereas the PiQo4 is safer on both darker and lighter skin types. Dr. Weiss stated that was an important factor in their decision to choose the PiQo4 laser. They have a high volume practice with a large multicultural population. Now, they can provide the proper treatment to all skin types and the broadest range of colors.

When asked if they were going to use the PiQo4 on any other pigment issues of the skin, Dr Weiss chuckled and said I have already treated the age spots on my legs, and I have seen improvement already! Hollywood Dermatology is looking forward to treating other pigmented conditions such as melasma, age spots, birthmarks and other conditions that havent been successful with other devices.

About Dr Weiss

Hollywood Dermatology has 7 locations in South Florida  Hollywood, Miramar, Pembroke, Hallandale, West Miramar, Coconut Grove and Plantation. They have plans to begin doing mobile tattoo removal clinics with another PiQo4 laser in the very near future. The mobile clinics will allow these services to be more convenient to those in need of tattoo removal, to help them function better in society, get jobs, etc. For more information visit http://www.hollywooddermatology.com

About the PiQo4

The PiQo4 system is available from Zarin Medical. Zarin provides a suite of lasers for aesthetic procedures (hair removal, photorejuvenation, vascular conditions, etc.) and medical conditions (feminine rejuvenation, urogynecology, etc.) Zarin can be reached toll-free at (844) 927-4600. Visit http://www.ZarinMedical.com for more information.
As Wealth Migrates first female executive, one of my goals is to ensure we empower women with the knowledge and confidence to invest by providing the proper education and outreach female investors

Wealth Migrate (http://www.wealthmigrate.com), the tenth-largest global real estate crowdfunding platform as reported by Massolution, today announces Hilda Lunderstedt as its new CEO of global operations. A long-time adviser to the board and an investor in the company, Lunderstedt compliments the current executive team, which specializes in real estate by providing oversight of business growth strategy and international operations. Lunderstedt will work alongside current Wealth Migrate CEO and Co-Founder Scott Picken in order to support the continued demand for high-quality real estate investments from investors throughout the globe.

Hilda has founded several businesses that have experienced accelerated growth, Picken said. With the demand from investors increasing daily, the launch of our second-generation real estate technology platform, the opening of several new global offices and an influx of new high-quality developers and operators adding their projects to our platform, 2016 is going to be a year of incredible growth for us. Adding a co-CEO of Hildas caliber will allow us to scale quickly.

A seasoned business veteran, Lunderstedt started and grew her own company, NutriLida Healthcare, to a nine-figure business in less than a decade. She has raised capital and pursued investments on various continents, establishing herself as an international entrepreneur, investor and savvy businesswoman. She is passionate about how technology is opening up opportunities for underserved populations to have access real estate opportunities that allow for currency stabilization and wealth creation.

As a longstanding investor turned board member, I have continually been impressed by the caliber of people and the strength of the technology behind Wealth Migrate, Lunderstedt said. As the company continues to grow, I am excited to move into a more active role managing day-to-day operations.

Lunderstedt has received international recognition for her talent, leadership and excellence in marketing, having been named as a Top Entrepreneur in the USA in 2013 by the JT Foxx Organization, and being selected by the Worldwide Whos Who organization as a VIP of the Year for 2014-2015. Hilda has also received the award for 2015 Featured Global Expert of the Year from South Africa for her contribution in global entrepreneurship and Investments.

One of our main objectives is to ensure that access to wealth through real estate as well as education regarding real estate investing is equally available to all populations in all corners of the world, said Hennie Bezuidenhout, co-founder and chairman of Wealth Migrate. Hildas passion for educating investors, specifically female investors, is one more reason we are thrilled for her to take a larger role within the company.

With research indicating that women are underrepresented in financial market participation, Lunderstedt believes the emergence of real estate crowdfunding technology provides women a new avenue for investment in an asset class many understand and find appealing, and could revolutionize female investment behavior.

As Wealth Migrates first female executive, one of my goals is to ensure we empower women with the knowledge and confidence to invest by providing the proper education and outreach female investors, Lunderstedt said.

###

About Wealth Migrate

Wealth Migrate is a leading international real estate crowdfunding platform that offers global investors direct access to exclusive real estate investment opportunities in premier markets around the world, including the U.S., U.K. and Australia. Investors benefit from the extensive experience of the Wealth Migrate executive team, which has collectively invested more than $1.34 billion for clients in international real estate transactions. For more information, visit http://www.wealthmigrate.com.
Settlers Life Insurance Company The sales record we set in 2015 is the result of a number of significant changes introduced since mid-2013 to improve our service to policyholders and our agent partners

Settlers Life Insurance Company announced that, for the first time in company history, it has surpassed the annual sales goal for 2015, setting a new annual sales record.

The sales record we set in 2015 is the result of a number of significant changes introduced since mid-2013 to improve our service to policyholders and our agent partners, explained Steve Bontell, Chief Marketing Officer for Settlers Life. Offering our agent partners and applicants an underwriting decision over the phone at the point of sale saved everyone time and expense, and sped up the issuance of the policy. The new portfolio of life insurance plans we introduced in March of 2015 increased the maximum face value we can offer to $50,000, yet we maintained our simplified underwriting process, with no medical examination required.

Bontell noted that there were other changes as well: Quicker issue times, an agent partner support center, a new logo, an emphasis on partnership - these things matter to our agent partners and our policyholders, and it showed in our 2015 sales growth.

Michael Lowe, President of Settlers Life, offered the following additional perspective, The daily goal of all of us at Settlers Life is to act to assure the longevity of our company. To do that, we need to offer attractive products at a competitive rate, service them well, and then have the financial strength to support the promises we make. Our great sales year in 2015 confirms we have the product and the service that consumers want and agents wish to offer. Now we will invest those premiums and stand ready to pay the claims when they inevitably fall due. After all, thats why we exist  to pay claims.

Settlers Life noted that the 2015 sales record was accompanied by growth in its back office work force, located at its administrative office in Bristol, Virginia. 5 new positions were added in 2015, bringing total Bristol employment to 83. Settlers agent force also grew in 2015, increasing by 1,200 over 2014 to more than 5,600 independent agents appointed in forty-two (42) states. This is a positive milestone for Settlers Life agent partners, policyholders as well as potential consumers.

This past year has been full of positive change for the company, Chief Marketing Officer, Steve Bontell stated, This growth is proof to our agents that we are a great company to partner with, while showing our policyholders & potential consumers that Settlers Life continues to be a trustworthy company that offers great life insurance coverage for families.

Settlers Life Insurance Company specializes in simplified issue, final expense, whole life insurance coverage for ages fifteen-days to eighty-five years. A member of the NGL Insurance Group since 1999, the Settlers Life primary administrative office is located in Bristol, Virginia. Since 2007, Settlers Life has maintained an A. M. Best financial strength rating of "A minus" (Excellent), the fourth highest of 16 such ratings. A.M. Best states that an "A minus" rating "is assigned to companies which have, in our opinion, an excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders." A.M. Best is the oldest and most widely recognized rating agency dedicated to the insurance industry.
We have a great team of leaders on the board of directors for BACnet International. This group has experience in all areas of building technology and automation.

BACnet International is pleased to announce the results of its recent board of directors elections. The new board is comprised of eight industry executives, including: Roland Laird, Andy McMillan, Jonathan Fulton, Brad Hill, Dennis Swoboda, Raymond Rae, Nancy Stein and Michael Wilson. The board of BACnet International will continue to focus on expanding the successful use of the BACnet building automation protocol.

The following individuals will serve on the 2016 BACnet International Board of Directors:

Roland Laird, Reliable Controls [Chair]

Roland Laird is the founder and president of Reliable Controls Corporation. Since 1986, Reliable Controls has grown to more than 120 professionals, providing a comprehensive BACnet building automation system. In his current role as president, Laird maintains an active involvement in product development with special emphasis on quality assurance. Through 2005 to 2010, he was an active participant in BACnet Internationals BACnet Testing Labs working group and the ASHRAE SSPC 135 BACnet Committee. Laird graduated with honors in instrumentation technology from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1980.

Andy McMillan, BACnet International President & Managing Director

Andy McMillan is president of BACnet International, where he works with users and suppliers to expand and enhance the BACnet community. Formerly he served as president and general manager of an building automation unit of Philips Lighting. McMillans background includes broad open systems industry development and marketing experience, as well as strong technical knowledge of distributed automation and information management systems. McMillan has co-founded several companies and has been a featured speaker on open systems and automation at conferences in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia. McMillan co-authored a book on open systems networking and holds a dozen patents in sensors, automation and software. He has MBA and BSEE degrees from the University of Michigan and is a member of ASHRAE, AEE, IEEE.

Jonathan Fulton, Building Control Integrators (BCI)

Jonathan Fulton is the founder of an Ohio-based integration firm called Building Control Integrators (BCI), which specializes in high-level BACnet integrations. He has been actively involved in designing, implementing and servicing BACnet based systems since 1995. As a state of Ohio licensed HVAC and electrical contractor, he regularly deals with multiple facets of the automation industry. Fulton attended DeVry University, Moody Bible Institute and Western Theological Seminary in pursuit of technological and theological studies. He is passionate about open protocols, the spiritual development of others, and personal higher learning. Fulton is happily married with three children and concurrently serves as a pastor of a central Ohio church.

Brad Hill, Honeywell International

Brad Hill is working as a project management office leader for Honeywell Environmental and Energy Solutions where he is involved in leading the new product development of commercial building offerings. Hill joined Honeywell in 1990 where he was involved in the design and programming of complex integrated control solutions for large projects. He began involvement with BACnet in 1996 through the need to integrate BACnet devices into building management systems. In 1999, Hill began product development work which included the development of a BACnet operator workstation, where he acquired a deep knowledge of the BACnet standard, after which time he continued on to manage and then lead building management product developments. Hill holds an MBA, MES (Energy Studies), BCompSc (Hons), and a DipElecEng, and is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and PMP.

Dennis Swoboda, Blue Ridge Technologies

Dennis Swoboda is the vice president of sales and marketing for Blue Ridge Technologies, a manufacturer of Native BACnet lighting control solutions designed for open communication with most building automation systems. In his role, Swoboda oversees global sales and marketing initiatives for the sale and installation of Blue Ridge Technologies lighting control systems. In addition, he works with engineers, end users, owners and controls contractors to help lower life cycle costs, increase energy savings, and reduce carbon emissions by taking control of the largest energy loads in a building. Swoboda has over 20 years of lighting control experience, and gives frequent talks and presentations on energy codes, lighting, and BACnet. He has been a member of BACnet International for almost a decade, and has previously served as the BACnet International marketing committee chair.

Raymond Rae, Delta Controls, Inc.

Raymond Rae is the vice president of Delta Controls Inc., a full line manufacturer of native BACnet Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems for building automation systems. Rae co-founded the Delta Controls Group in 1980, which now has thousands of installations worldwide. Rae has enjoyed more than 35 years in the HVAC industry and has an extensive background, which includes: energy auditing, computerized building simulations, system commissioning, controls, engineering, product certifications, design and marketing. Rae has been a member of ASHRAE since 1984.

Nancy Stein, Siemens Industry Inc.

Nancy Stein is director of product management for Siemens Building Technologies, Control Products and Systems (CPS) Business Unit. In her role, Stein is responsible for strategic direction of all CPS products. She also monitors the development of business plans and manages product lifecycles and market positioning. Stein has been with Siemens for over 22 years in product marketing and solution sales positions. Stein has a bachelors in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and a masters in business administration from DePaul University.

Michael R. Wilson, Automated Logic

Michael has worked for Automated Logic since 2003, and is presently the product marketing manager. In this role, Wilson gathers VOC, competitive and market analysis in order to support product roadmap. Wilson has served as the marketing committee chair, as well as a member of the steering committee. Wilsons leadership and contributions have been recognized by BACnet International on many occasions, where he has won awards for "always coming to the rescue," for being, "an individual who exhibits outstanding leadership, and as "Volunteer of the Year. Wilson has a strategy and information technology background and has also served as the presentation consultant to CIOs of Delta Air Lines and The Home Depot.

We have a great team of leaders on the board of directors for BACnet International, said McMillan. This group has experience in all areas of building technology and automation. As the industry continues to evolve, BACnet International remains committed to providing educational programs and opportunities to help building owners/operators, building engineers and facility managers take full advantage of the BACnet protocol.

About BACnet International

BACnet International is an industry association that facilitates the successful use of the BACnet protocol in building automation and control systems through interoperability testing, educational programs and promotional activities. BACnet International oversees operation of the BACnet Testing Labs (BTL) and maintains a global listing of tested products. The BACnet standard was developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and has been made publicly available so that manufacturers can create interoperable systems of products. BACnet International complements the work of the ASHRAE standards committee and BACnet-related interest groups around the world. BACnet International members include building owners, consulting engineers and facility managers, as well as companies involved in the design, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and maintenance of control equipment that uses BACnet for communication. For more information, please visit http://www.bacnetinternational.org.
In order to make a mark, b-to-b brands need to do more than promote themselves, and instead create a content strategy that brings the most important industry voices to the table and provides an experience that will help customers thrive.

Skyword, the leading content marketing technology and services company, Racepoint Global, integrated marketing communications agency, and IBM Security won the Best Online Campaign for SecurityIntelligence.com in the 2016 BtoB Best Awards, Ad Age announced today.

Presented by Ad Age, the leading global source of news and intelligence for the marketing and media community, the BtoB Best Awards celebrate the most innovative and creative work produced by b-to-b marketers and their agencies across the full spectrum of media, from print and online to outdoor and experiential. Campaigns were judged by Ad Age editors on their creative merits. For the full list of winners, visit adage.com/btobbest2016.

With the declining effectiveness of traditional, interruptive forms of advertising, IBM Security countered with an innovative and authentic content marketing strategy to build trust and affinity among an audience of enterprise IT professionals and executives. IBM Security partnered with Skyword and Racepoint Global to create SecurityIntelligence.com, now a leading industry resource.

The stories on SecurityIntelligence.com speak to the challenges of enterprise risk and security IT professionals. The Web destination serves as a bridge to the brand's overarching site by bringing in a wider audience through search and social media. In order to maintain an objective perspective on the audience's main challenges, the site does not include product-focused messaging.

"What we're seeing more and more is advertising that not only stands out as great b-to-b work, but as great work plain and simple," said Ad Age Editor Ken Wheaton. "The successful advertisers in the space know that behind the second b in b-to-b, there is still a person making decisions and they have to connect with that person in order to close the deal  whether it's via print, video, digital, or even non-traditional activations."

The content published on SecurityIntelligence.com is supported by Skyword's enterprise-class content marketing platform, network of freelance writers, and in-house editorial and strategy teams. The website's look, feel, and amplification strategy is driven by Racepoint Global.

"The goal of Security Intelligence is to boil down the news, trends, and developments that matter, and give security and IT decision makers the information that they need to make strategic decisions," said Pamela Jones, WW Digital Marketing Strategist for IBM Security. "In order to make a mark, b-to-b brands need to do more than promote themselves, and instead create a content strategy that brings the most important industry voices to the table and provides an experience that will help customers thrive."

About Skyword

Skyword moves marketing leaders and those who create content for them forward. By embracing a sustainable, scalable approach to original storytelling, Skyword liberates brands from ineffective marketing practices and inspires them to create deeper connections with their audiences. The Skyword Platform makes it easy to produce, optimize, and promote content at any scale to create meaningful, lasting relationships. Skyword also provides access to a community of thousands of freelance writers and videographers, an editorial team, and program managers who help move clients' content marketing programs to new levels of creative excellence. Skyword is a privately held company headquartered in Boston, Mass., with offices in Miami, Fla., Palo Alto, Calif., and New York, N.Y. The company's technology center is located in Pittsburgh, Pa. Investors include Cox Media Group, Allen & Company, Progress Ventures, and American Public Media Group.

Contact: learnmore(at)skyword(dot)com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skyword

Twitter: @Skyword

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyword-inc-

The Content Standard: http://www.contentstandard.com/

About Racepoint Global

Racepoint is defining what it means to be an intelligence-driven marketing agency. We deliver a new kind of accountability based on our ability to better understand your customers, their psychology and how they consume information. The key is our proprietary software, FieldFacts. It's the industry's best tool for identifying influencers and targeting them where they engage verbally, visually and emotionally.

Armed with this intelligence, we give our clients PR, advertising and precision-marketing campaigns that speak to the right people at the right time. Then we dare to measure performance and report how many times high-level influencers have acted on your behalf. Clients in technology, healthcare, life sciences, consumer, public policy and public affairs depend on Racepoint Global's unique approach to impact key outcomes. Time again, our approach drives better results for our clients. For more information, visit http://www.racepointglobal.com.

About Security Intelligence by IBM Security

SecurityIntelligence.com strives to be the leading site for technical and business-focused security content. Security is an essential factor for every business, and we offer insights and analysis on current security topics to help your business adapt and safeguard against its ever-changing landscape.
Win a $20k voucher good towards any vehicle at any OffLeaseOnly location! Twenty thousand dollars could mean that a family gets two nearly new cars, or someone puts the voucher toward the purchase of a pricier luxury car.

OffLeaseOnly, the Nations Used Car Destination, is offering a chance to win a $20,000 voucher toward the purchase of any used car in its near 4,000 used car inventory with all proceeds benefiting a charity that provides school supplies for needy children.

All you need is a ticket to win.

Its a dream that could really come true for anyone who stops by OffLeaseOnly Orlando on Friday, January 29th, when the used car giant will offer customers a chance to win a $20,000 car voucher good towards any vehicle(s) of their choice as part of a Ticket to Ride Drawing of Chance.

OffLeaseOnly is partnering with Real Radio 104.1 and On Air personality Moira, whose passion for the charity A Gift For Teaching was enough to convince OffLeaseOnly to sign on in a major way.

I am the ultimate matchmaker! I am partnering with the best charity with the most generous car dealership and am so proud to represent them both, said Moira, of the Philips Phile.

A Gift For Teaching provides essential school supplies to thousands of needy students in Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties. All proceeds from the event will benefit A Gift For Teaching.

The very first chance to buy your tickets to win the $20,000 car voucher will be at OffLeaseOnly Orlando from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, January 29th, at 7948 Narcoossee Road, just minutes from the Orlando International Airport. Tickets are $50 each, or $450 for 10. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold giving everyone an excellent chance of winning this generous prize.

The Ticket to Ride winner will be announced on April 2, 2016 at A Gift For Teachings annual Back-to-School-Blast! fundraiser/auction at Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL.

We are so thrilled that OffLeaseOnly is partnering with us. It is absolutely amazing, said Jane Thompson, president of A Gift For Teaching. We could have an additional $45,000 to $50,000 that will go a long way to ensuring an additional 45,000 students get the supplies they need to learn.

The sum is significant because for every dollar A Gift For Teaching receives, $10 worth of school supplies are distributed to students in need. That means A Ticket to Ride could raise enough money to provide $500,000 in school supplies if every ticket is sold!

Nearly 200,000 students in Central Florida live at or below the poverty line with families that cannot afford school supplies. The charity was founded in 1998.

A Gift For Teachings vision is to ensure that each child has the basic learning tools and experiences they deserve to succeed in school and life, and Off Lease Only is helping us reach this vision this year, Thompson added.

OffLeaseOnly owner Mark Fischer decided the $20,000 car voucher would be a sure fire way to raise money for A Gift For Teaching.

Instead of choosing a car to give away, I wanted everyone to have a chance at winning the perfect car for their lifestyle, Fischer said. Twenty thousand dollars could mean that a family gets two nearly new cars, or someone puts the voucher toward the purchase of a pricier luxury car. After all, $20,000 goes a long way at OffLeaseOnly.

The event marks the first time in OffLeaseOnly history that the company has offered up a credit toward any car in its inventory. Fischer and his wife Eileen have previously done several car giveaways to deserving recipients who needed assistance.

OffLeaseOnly is The Nations Used Car Destination with over 100,000 satisfied Off Lease Only Customers and A+ Rated on the BBB. Shop thousands of used cars for sale all priced thousands below retail and then visit one of our dealerships in Orlando, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach and Miami. A fifth dealership is slated to open soon in Fort Lauderdale and a sixth is planned for Tampa summer 2016.

Media Contacts:

Off Lease Only: Monique Hausheer, 772.473.3772 (cell) / monique(at)uniquemoniquemedia(dot)com

A Gift For Teaching: Angela Garcia, 407.318.3123 (o)/352.284.5469 (cell) / angela(at)agiftforteaching(dot)org

For official rules, details and more information visit: http://www.back2schoolblast.com
Love in Greece on a Backroads Trip Were honored to provide the backdrop for so many people to meet and fall in love, whether its on a Backroads trip in Tuscany, in celebration of a wedding anniversary, or among staffers in our corporate offices, Backroads Founder / President Tom Hale

Does the couple who travel together, stay together? Backroads, the leading active travel company, sure thinks so. And a recent survey by the U.S. Travel Association backs up that theory: the study revealed that couples who travel together have better sex lives and more romance in their relationships than couples who stay home.

Backroads offers exciting adventures all over the world for romantics of all ages, such as biking in Bali, hiking in Provence, or an active tour of the California Wine Country. Based on guest feedback over the past year, Backroads ranks the top five most romantic active travel vacations for 2016 as: Tuscany Biking, Amalfi Coast Walking & Hiking, Loire Valley Biking, Costa Rica Multisport and Lanai & Maui Walking.

During 2015, the company estimates that more than 250 couples celebrated their anniversaries with a Backroads trip and some 25 couples chose to take active honeymoons in Backroads destinations such as Hawaii, Loire Valley, Ireland and China. Other destinations trending upwards with couples are Vermont, Iceland, Mallorca and the French Pyrenees & Spanish Rioja region. Backroads trips are also gaining in popularity as wedding gifts, or as part of a wedding registry.

But love isnt in the air for Backroads guests onlythe company has counted more than 50 marriages among its own employees to date!

Were honored to provide the backdrop for so many people to meet and fall in love, whether its on a Backroads trip in Tuscany, in celebration of a wedding anniversary, or among staffers in our corporate offices, said Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale. We strive to search out the best and most beautiful destinations across the globe to give couples wonderful choices when planning an active honeymoon or anniversary, or surprise marriage proposal.

About Backroads

Backroads was founded in 1979 by Tom Hale. The company has been in business for more than 37 years and hosts thousands of guests, 80% of whom are repeat guests or referrals from past guests, in hundreds of locations across the globe. Backroads was named one of the top 100 places to work by Outside magazine in 2015, and is a founding member of the Adventure Collection. For more information, please visit backroads.com or call 800-462-2848 daily, 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., Pacific time.
Snag-A-Slip Preference Filter on Waterway Guide Mobile App "As boaters, we have long admired Waterway Guide," said Dan Cowens, Founder, Snag-A-Slip. "We are truly grateful to have built a strong, and now formal, relationship with such an established and credible force in the boating industry."

Snag-A-Slip, an online boat slip reservation company, today announced a strategic partnership with Waterway Guide Media, the preeminent boating and cruising guide publisher. The partnership includes a number of integrations, including an exclusive role as the sole boat slips booking engine on the Waterway Guides Marinas app for mobile devices.

The landmark partnership is the first of its kind since boat slip reservation technology entered the market and serves as a signal that online slip booking is here to stay. In addition to Snag-A-Slips exclusive placement on the mobile app, the long-term partnership includes the following:



An exclusive Snag-A-Slip filter on the Waterway Guide Marinas app so that boaters can find Snag-A-Slip marinas more easily;

Link integration with marina listings in the Waterway Guide online Explorer;

Shared data between the two companies to support real time and accurate reservations for boaters;

Extensive brand positioning throughout Waterway Guide publications.

The partnership with Waterway Guide Media marks an important development for Snag-A-Slip, which launched in the Chesapeake Bay in June 2015.

We are so excited to announce our partnership with Waterway Guide, said Dan Cowens, Founder, Snag-A-Slip. As boaters, we have long admired Waterway Guide and are truly grateful to have built a strong, and now formal, relationship with such an established and credible force in the boating industry. Ultimately, our companies share a similar goal, which is to make boating easier and more accessible to people who love the water. I expect great things to come out of our joint efforts.

This agreement solidifies Snag-A-Slips place in the emerging online slip reservation industry, while providing Waterway Guide Media additional opportunities to drive traffic to its marina partners.

Graham Jones, Business Development Manager for Waterway Guide, said, We are anticipating strong returns from this partnership. Snag-A-Slip has proved that they are willing to invest in building an online reservation model that works for boaters. We believe that, together, we can enhance our own platforms and provide boaters easy access for slip reservations.

This partnership is one of many tactics that Snag-A-Slip is employing to accelerate its expansion plans. The company today has nearly 100 marinas listed on its website, spanning from the Chesapeake Bay down the Coast to Florida and into the Caribbean. The company also has a presence in the Great Lakes. In addition to expanding its marina base, Snag-A-Slip is also rolling out bi-weekly site enhancements to better service boaters and plans to launch online profiles and easy membership discounting in first quarter 2016. The company has come out strongly that they do not charge boaters a booking fee to use its services, making it the only truly free slip reservation system available today.

About Snag-A-Slip

Snag-A-Slip is an Annapolis-based company that connects boaters with available slips, while also showcasing marinas in the same way that hotels are promoted. The mobile-responsive website allows boaters to explore marinas by region, city or marina name and then search for slip availability based on travel dates, length, beam, draw and power requirements. Boaters can pick their preferred marina based on amenities, location and availability and book immediately with any credit card or Paypal. There are no booking fees associated with the service, which is now available to boaters in the Chesapeake Bay, down the East Coast and into the Caribbean.

About Waterway Guide Media

Waterway Guide was founded in 1947 and is the longest continuously published series of annual cruising guides for boaters in the U.S. The seven guides are Northern; Chesapeake Bay; Atlantic ICW; Southern; Great Lakes; Bahamas and Cuba. The books are published annually and are indispensable resources for boaters and long-range cruisers. The books are designed, authored and produced by Waterway Guide Media editorial staff with contributions from on-the-water cruising editors. The company also produces and manages a web application, waterwayguide.com; the Waterway Guide Marinas app, a mobile application; and prints an annual magazine. Skipper Bob Publications, a series of boating guidebooks, is also owned by Waterway Guide Media, LLC. Content is updated daily at waterwayguide.com
ELKO  The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is well known for its musical performances and poetry recitations. Yet it is also a venue for screening a diverse assortment of Western independent films, including the Deep West Videos, documentaries and award-winning dramas.

Im not sure people know what we do, said Katie Aiken, Western Folklife Center program manager. She said the genesis of Cowboy Poetry is in music and poetry, but the scope of the event is much broader.

Nine films will be screened this week during Cowboy Poetry. The selections include seven documentaries including the Deep West Videos  and two fictional films  Northern Lights and Songs My Brothers Taught Me  both of which have won numerous prestigious awards.

The documentaries will be shown free to the public on Wednesday at the WFC. Other showings are at various times and locations throughout Elko from Thursday through Saturday. The film schedule and ticket information are available on the WFCs website www.westernfolklife.org.

The Deep West Videos are made by filmmakers from all over the West, Aiken said. Since 2000, the WFC has been producing short films that tell first-hand stories from the rural West that are rooted in the values of life on the land, according to their mission statement on the WFCs website.

Deep West Videos 2016 features student filmmakers from Owyhee Public School on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation of the Shoshone-Paiute tribes.

This year the Gathering is celebrating the Northern Plains, a vast area which encompasses the midwestern United States and Canada. The selected films offer insight into the cultural, educational and economic aspects of the region, Aiken said.

Its a big region, Aiken said. Each place has its own unique history.

Aiken also said the films shed a new light on issues facing the West, and complete the visual representation for the Gatherings theme of the Northern Plains.

Northern Lights, directed by John Hanson and Rob Nilsson, is winner of the Camera dOr for Best First Feature at the Cannes International Film Festival.

Northern Lights is an acclaimed film. The cinematography is beautiful, Aiken said.

Hanson will be present for the screening of Northern Lights at 1 p.m. Thursday inside the WFC and at 3 p.m. Friday inside the Elko Conference Center. After the viewing, he will be available to answer questions from the audience.

Northern Lights dramatizes the story of what is arguably the most successful populist movement in U.S. history. Yet it is still little-known outside North Dakota, where it lives on as the Democratic-NPL Party.

An Elko audience will learn how the small farmers of the NPL fought back against the big out-of-state grain, railroad and banking corporations. It is a universal human story, told from a small farmers perspective, and is still relevant today as many farmers and ranchers struggle to survive across the Northern Plains, Hanson said.

First released in 1978, Northern Lights was recently selected by the Motion Picture Academy Archive to receive a complete restoration. The screenings during the Gathering will be projected from a DVD made from this new digital master, Hanson said.

The story told in Northern Lights is 100 years old. As the Nonpartisan League celebrates the 100th anniversary of its election victory, the film will be screened across North Dakota, Hanson said.

For Elko residents and visitors, the Gathering provides a rare opportunity to locally view a classic independent film.

Northern Lights will shine a light on a unique moment in Northern Plains history, Hanson said. The culture of a people is inevitably intertwined with its politics; to understand both, we need stories like the one told in Northern Lights, a window to a past when it was possible to confront the powers that be.
Joining Mercator Advisory Group last year, Alex brought more than a decade of financial services experience working with the largest credit issuers and merchant acquirers in the world. His direct market experience, payments knowledge, and expertise have been a great addition to the Credit Advisory Service, and his client focus and strong analytical skills are a great asset for Mercators clients. As Senior Analyst for the Credit Advisory Service, Alex has focused on topics such as revolving credit products, marketplace and alternative lending, innovations in credit scoring and decisioning, and the pace of EMV terminalization and card issuance. As Director of the service, he will continue to closely follow and analyze regulatory and technology changes affecting issuers, acquirers, and payment networks.

Alex has published extraordinary research during his time as a senior analyst and also managed complex custom client consulting engagements that delivered exceptional results. The clients of the Credit Advisory Service have already come to rely on Alex, commented Ken Paterson, Mercator Advisory Groups VP of Research. Alex brings strong leadership and new focus to one of Mercators most important advisory services.

It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce that Alex Johnson will be leading the Credit Advisory Service for Mercator Advisory Group. He has delivered truly exceptional research and has deep relationships across our client community. I am really excited by what he has brought to the practice and to Mercator over his tenure thus far and look forward to working with him as a Director for this service area. Ken Paterson continues to serve Mercator in his role of VP, Research Operations and remains a valued resource for Mercator and our research clients. Ken will also continue to lead primary data research efforts, and will be working across all services with relation to the unique data and analysis delivered by each service, stated Robert Misasi, CEO of Mercator Advisory Group.

Prior to joining Mercator, Alex served in a variety of product marketing and business development roles at Zoot Enterprises, a leading provider of financial technology solutions. During his time at Zoot, Alex was responsible for creating many of the companys most successful thought leadership programs and designing new solution concepts, including Zoots innovative mobile account opening solution Mobility Plus.

Alex has spoken at major industry events, published articles in leading industry publications including American Banker, Collections & Credit Risk, and The Financial Brand, and has been quoted in national news outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and the NBC Nightly News.

For more information and media inquiries, please call Mercator Advisory Group's main line: (781) 419-1700, or send email to media(at)mercatoradvisorygroup(dot)com.

For free industry news, opinions, research, company information and more visit us at http://www.PaymentsJournal.com.

Follow us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/MercatorAdvisor.

About Mercator Advisory Group

Mercator Advisory Group is the leading independent research and advisory services firm exclusively focused on the payments and banking industries. We deliver pragmatic and timely research and advice designed to help our clients uncover the most lucrative opportunities to maximize revenue growth and contain costs. Our clients range from the world's largest payment issuers, acquirers, processors, merchants and associations to leading technology providers and investors. Mercator Advisory Group is also the publisher of the online payments and banking news and information portal PaymentsJournal.com.
Claremont Graduate University (CGU) is pleased to announce the finalists for the $100,000 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award and the $10,000 Kate Tufts Discovery Award for 2016. The awards are among the worlds most generous and distinguished prizes for books of poetry.

The Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award is given annually to honor a poet at mid-career, providing resources that allow the artist to continue working toward the pinnacle of their craft. Finalists for 2016 are:



Kyle Dargan, Honest Engine (University of Georgia Press). Dargan directs creative writing at American University and edits POST NO ILLS magazine. His debut, The Listening, was a winner of the 2003 Cave Canem Poetry Prize.

Ross Gay, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude (University of Pittsburgh Press). Gay teaches at Indiana University and in Drew Universitys Low-Residency MFA program in poetry and poetry in translation. He is the author of two previous poetry collections, Bringing the Shovel Down and Against Which.

Amy Gerstler, Scattered at Sea (Penguin). Gerstler teaches in the MFA writing program at the University of California, Irvine. Her previous books of poetry include Dearest Creature, Ghost Girl, and Medicine.

Fred Moten, The Little Edges (Wesleyan). Moten teaches at University of California, Riverside. In addition to The Little Edges, he is author of In the Break: The Aesthetics of the Black Radical Tradition, Hughsons Tavern, B Jenkins, and The Feel Trio (Letter Machine Editions).

Jennifer Moxley, The Open Secret (Flood Editions). Moxley is professor of poetry and poetics at the University of Maine. She is the author of five previous books of poetry.

The Kate Tufts Discovery Award is presented annually for a first book by a poet of genuine promise. Finalists for 2016 are:

Meg Day, Last Psalm at Sea Level (Barrow Street). Day is assistant professor of English and creative writing at Franklin & Marshall College.

Bethany Schultz Hurst, Miss Lost Nation (Anhinga Press). Schultz Hurst teaches creative writing at Idaho State University.

Michael Morse, Void and Compensation (Canarium). Morse teaches at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School and the Iowa Summer Writing Festival.

Danez Smith, [insert] boy (YesYes Books). Smith is a MFA candidate at The University of Michigan and teaches with InsideOut Detroit.

Henry Walters, Field Guide A Tempo (Hobblebush Books). Walters is writer-in-residence at the Dublin School.

The panel of final judges were: Chase Twichell, chair of the judging committee and past winner of the Kingsley Tufts award; Stephen Burt, literary critic and English professor at Harvard University; Elena Karina Byrne, poetry curator/moderator for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books; Brian Kim Stefans, professor of English at University of California, Los Angeles; and Don Share, editor of POETRY magazine.

The roster of eligible books testified to the extraordinary range and diverse beauty of current American poetry; to pick only ten finalists for two awards should have been impossible, said Lori Anne Ferrell, director of the Kingsley and Kate Tufts Poetry Awards. So I have no idea how the judges will be able to go on to choose only two winners, but I cant wait to be there when they do.

Winners will be announced in March and recognized during a ceremony on April 7.

Angie Estes, of Urbana, Illinois, received last years Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award for Enchantee (Oberlin College Press). Brandon Som, of Los Angeles, received the Kate Tufts Discovery Award for Tribute Horse (Nightboat Books).

The Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, now in its 24th year, was established at Claremont Graduate University by Kate Tufts to honor the memory of her husband, who held executive positions in the Los Angeles Shipyards and wrote poetry as his avocation.

The Kate Tufts Discovery Award was launched in 1993.

About Claremont Graduate University

Founded in 1925, Claremont Graduate University is one of the top graduate schools in the United States. Our five academic schools conduct leading-edge research and award masters and doctoral degrees in 22 disciplines. Because the worlds problems are not simple nor easily defined, diverse faculty and students research and study across the traditional discipline boundaries to create new and practical solutions for the major problems plaguing our world. A Southern California based graduate school devoted entirely to graduate research and study, CGU boasts a low student-to-faculty ratio.
Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar and Remuda Ranch CEO Chris Diamond

Remuda Ranch at The Meadows staff met with United States Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ, 4th District) on January 4, 2016. During the visit, Congressman Gosar learned more about eating disorders and discussed how potential legislation through the Anna Westin Act could help those struggling with eating disorders receive the life-saving treatment they need.

Currently, 30 million Americans struggle with eating disorders, which have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. Roughly 20 percent of those diagnosed with an eating disorder will eventually die as a result of the condition.

Sadly, only 1 in 10 people who have an eating disorder will receive treatment. All too often, their inability to receive treatment is the result of a health insurance company denying coverage for the often-misunderstood disorder.

In May of last year, the Anna Westin Act of 2015 (H.R. 2515) was introduced to a congressional committee. The proposed bill would improve training for health professionals in identifying and treating eating disorders early, and ensure that the quality of treatment and insurance coverage available for people with eating disorders is equal to that of other illnesses.

During his visit at Remuda Ranch, Representative Gosar learned more about the eating disorders and treatment options from some of the nations leading experts. He also heard firsthand about the positive impact the Anna Westin legislation would have on eating disorder patients from doctors, therapists, and nurses who work with patients struggling with these conditions every day.

We were so pleased to welcome Congressman Gosar to Remuda Ranch at The Meadows says CEO Christopher Diamond.  As a healthcare provider himself, he understands the important role that early detection and intervention plays in helping people lead healthier lives and in keeping overall healthcare costs down. We look forward to more conversations and to his continued support.

About Paul Gosar, D.D.S

Congressman Paul A. Gosar, DDS, now from Prescott, Arizona, is serving his third term in Congress as the Representative from Arizonas Fourth Congressional District. First elected in 2010, he came to Congress with no prior political experience. He believes the Constitution provides the guidance to Americans and Congress, and he believes in more individual liberty and less government. As a health care provider and small business owner, Dr. Gosar is focused on bringing jobs back to the district, reforming health care, reining in government spending, and ensuring that the American people are involved in the solution making process.

About Remuda Ranch at The Meadows

Remuda Ranch at The Meadows is an industry leader in treating eating disorders and co-occurring conditions affecting women and girls through its acute level of care as well as inpatient and residential programming. To learn more about Remuda Ranch at The Meadows work, contact an intake coordinator at 866-390-5100 or visit http://www.remudaranch.com.
ITS Service Provider of the Year 2016 The PEAK Matrix Service Provider of the Year Awards are here to help enterprise buyers identify the best of the best  the IT service providers with strong, broad-based capabilities and successful service strategies...

Everest Groupa consulting and research firm focused on strategic IT, business services and sourcingtoday announced the winners of the inaugural PEAK Matrix Service Provider of the Year awards for IT services. The awards recognize IT service providers who have demonstrated consistent leadership in the PEAK Matrix reports issued by Everest Group in the previous year.

In 2015, Everest Group issued 26 PEAK Matrix reports, evaluating a total of 59 service providers in various segments of the IT services market. Twenty of the 59 providers are recognized in the 2016 PEAK Matrix Service Provider of the Year Awards.

The 2016 PEAK Matrix Service Provider of the Year Awards for IT Services comprise:



The ITS Top 20 listrecognizing the top 20 providers of IT services (ITS) based on a consolidated scoring of rankings within the 2015 PEAK Matrix reports.

Cognizant, Accenture, IBM, TCS and Wipro won the top five spots (in that order).

Top Leaders and Star PerformersAwarded to IT service providers who appeared in Leader or Star Performers positions most prevalently within five industry segments: IT Services (overall), Healthcare and Life Sciences (HLS); Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI); Cloud and Infrastructure Services (CIS); and Application and Digital Services (ADS).

Accenture, Cognizant, HCL, HPE, IBM, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services were recognized either as Leaders of the Year, Star Performers of the Year, or both.

Cognizant had a dominant presence in the 2016 honors, claiming the No.1 spot in the ITS Top 20 list as well as being named Star Performer in the HLS segment, sharing Leader of the Year honors in the HLS with Accenture, and sharing Leader of the Year honors in the BFSI segments with Accenture and Tata Consultancy Services.

Accenture also made a particularly strong showing, earning the No. 2 spot in the ITS Top 20 list as well as being named in the Leader of the Year in overall IT services and ADS categories and sharing Leader of the Year honors in the HLS and BFSI categories.

***All winners are listed in the report, 2016 PEAK Matrix Service Provider of the Year Awards available for complimentary download here.***

For todays enterprises, designing and operating an IT infrastructure that supports business objectives is a daunting task. Enterprises must navigate not only the complex landscape of next-generation and legacy technology but also a complex provider portfolio, said Jimit Arora, vice president at Everest Group. The PEAK Matrix Service Provider of the Year Awards are here to help enterprise buyers identify the best of the best  the IT service providers with strong, broad-based capabilities and successful service strategies that align well with the evolving enterprise IT demand.

About the PEAK Matrix

The Everest Group PEAK Matrix is a proprietary framework for assessing the relative market success and overall capability of service providers based on Performance, Experiences, Ability and Knowledge. Each service provider is comparatively assessed on two dimensions: market success and delivery capabilities. Market success is measured by revenue, number of clients and year-over-year growth. Delivery capability is measured by scale of operations, scope, technology and innovation, delivery footprint and buyer satisfaction. The resulting matrix categorizes service providers as Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants. Companies that demonstrate strong upward movement in successive reports are recognized as Star Performers. Everest Group recently announced a recalibrated methodology, in which innovation, intellectual property and technology take center stage.

About Everest Group

Everest Group is a consulting and research firm focused on strategic IT, business services, and sourcing. We are trusted advisors to senior executives of leading enterprises, providers, and investors. Our firm helps clients improve operational and financial performance through a hands-on process that supports them in making well-informed decisions that deliver high-impact results and achieve sustained value. Our insight and guidance empowers clients to improve organizational efficiency, effectiveness, agility and responsiveness. What sets Everest Group apart is the integration of deep sourcing knowledge, problem-solving skills and original research. Details and in-depth content are available at http://www.everestgrp.com and research.everestgrp.com.

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FreeConferenceCall.com For Business is committed to delivering the best cloud-based communications. -- Executive Vice President, Business Markets Brad Dupee

FreeConferenceCall.com, the worlds most recognized conferencing brand, today announces that it has partnered with Phoenix Audio Technologies, a leading designer and manufacturer of audio and video conferencing solutions, to deliver end-to-end business communications solutions to enterprise customers.

FreeConferenceCall.com For Business enables businesses of all sizes to communicate with colleagues across the globe. The proven conferencing platforms, combined with managed services, dedicated bridges, integrations with leading applications and account management, are redefining the traditional approach to conferencing. With FreeConferenceCall.com For Business, companies no longer have to sacrifice features and quality for lower costs.

FreeConferenceCall.com is a natural partner for us, says Jonathan Boaz, Phoenix Audio Vice President of Sales and Marketing. As a disruptive company in the space, it offers collaborative communications solutions that pair well with our speakerphones for audio/video conferencing. We strive to provide plug-and-play devices that are high quality, easy to install and easy to use. We could not be more thrilled to introduce FreeConferenceCall.com For Business users to our audio solutions.

FreeConferenceCall.com For Business is committed to delivering the best cloud-based communications, said FreeConferenceCall.com Executive Vice President, Business Markets Brad Dupee. Working with Phoenix Audio allows us to provide their large enterprise customers with a high-quality, reliable and secure suite of conferencing and collaboration services at the industrys best prices. FreeConferenceCall.com For Business customers benefit from the solutions of a trusted partner whose expertise lies in plug-and-play devices.

Phoenix Audio selected FreeConferenceCall.com For Business as a partner based on the companys nearly 15 years of experience, innovation and valued market presence. The two companies share a focus on developing simple, easy-to-use solutions that improve the way workers connect with colleagues around the world.

For more information, please visit the websites for FreeConferenceCall.com For Business or Phoenix Audio

Technologies.

About FreeConferenceCall.com For Business

FreeConferenceCall.com is recognized as a top conferencing and collaboration provider around the world, boasting more than 800,000 business customers, worldwide, including users from many Fortune 500 companies. Service offerings around the globe with unlimited use include: high-quality free HD audio conferencing screen sharing, video conferencing, audio and visual recordings, customized greetings, security features, desktop scheduling and mobile applications. Mid-market and enterprise customers can take advantage of FreeConferenceCall.com For Business: high-quality, reliable and secure conferencing and collaboration services complemented by 24/7 customer support, enterprise account management teams, consolidated billing, customized user analytic reports, employee rollout and training and white-label services.

FreeConferenceCall.com was founded by David Erickson in 2001 and is based in Long Beach, California.

About Phoenix Audio Technologies

Based in Southern California, Phoenix Audio Technologies is an innovator of audio communication solutions, striving to provide audio and video conferencing with simple-to-install, easy-to-use, high quality audio solutions. The company designs and manufactures products that address the fast pace changes in communication trends, conferencing environments and connectivity technologies. Phoenix Audios proprietary audio algorithms aim to improve the communication experience and enable people to speak freely and naturally with as little compromise in quality as possible.
Memories by the mile.

Georgias largest indoor showcase of motorhomes, campers and RVs opens Friday January 29th through January 31st at the Atlanta Exposition Center South, 3850 Jonesboro Road, Atlanta.

The Atlanta Camping and RV Show began in 1975 and has grown to one of the biggest combined RV dealer shows in the Southeast with nine of Atlantas largest RV dealers on-site featuring all makes and models for outdoor travel and camping resort destinations.

This years featured camping innovation is the new Toy-Hauler side deck, which slides out easily for extra above ground space for lawn chairs or spectator viewing. Marking its return to the show after more than 5 years will be a full line of Airstream trailers featured by Southland RV.

Year after year, we see families coming back to the show and this is the place to find just the right fit to get started or to move on up says Bobby Smith, President of Hardman Productions and show producer for the Atlanta RV Dealers Association. For those who camped as children, they said it had a positive impact on their adult lives, helping them develop an appreciation for the outdoors and for different people and places. Georgia State Parks and a wide array of in-state campgrounds and travel resorts offer an amazing opportunity to visit mountains, lakes and seashore, all within a days drive.

Ron Jones, author of several books on the outdoor travel lifestyle, including All the Stuff You Need to Know About RVing, in addition to Dave Kobos from Apalachee RV Center will be hosting seminars on several topics related to travel and camping throughout the three-day run. This years attendees will also have a chance to register-to-win the grand prize of $2000 in gas cards to fuel up for the year.

To complement the RV lifestyle, exhibitors will be on hand, offering up ideas and deals on short and long-trip travel destinations, outdoor adventure clubs, campgrounds, service and accessories.

Discount coupons are available at participating dealers, or at http://www.AtlantaRVshow.com

The Atlanta Camping and RV Show is sponsored by the Metro Atlanta Recreational Vehicle Dealer Association and produced by Hardman Productions.

For more information about RVing, visit http://www.goRVing.com or call Hardman Productions at

470-216-3444

FACT SHEET

When: January 29-31, 2016

Where: Atlanta Exposition Center South -3850 Jonesboro Road (South Building) Atlanta, GA 30354 (I-285 South, Exit 55, Jonesboro Road)

New Show Hours: Admission Prices:

Friday: 11:00am  7:00pm Adults: $10

Saturday: 9:00am  7:00pm 55 & older: $9

Sunday: 10:00am  5:00pm Children 6-16: $5

Children under 6: FREE

Admission Specials: Kids Free Friday!  KIDS 16 AND UNDER ADMITTED FREE

Special Events & Seminars: Author, Ron Jones and Dave Kobos  Apalachee RV Center



Twenty Questions RV: All you need to know to get the most out of your vehicle and travel experience

Making Dollars and Sense out of RV Maintenance

Southeast Greyhound Rescue

Cooking Demonstrations

Dealers on Site:

National Indoor RV Center, Lilburn GA

Browns Camping Sales, Jonesboro GA

Southland RV, Buford GA

Norman Campers, Marietta GA

Crown RV Center, Conyers, GA

Campers Inn, Tucker, GA

RV World of Georgia, Buford, GA

Southern RV, Jonesboro, GA

Three Way Campers, Marietta, GA

Prizes: Two thousand dollars in gas gift cards to one winner.

Parking: Free.

Produced by Hardman Productions, Inc.

For more information, contact us at Bsmith(at)AtlantaRVshow(dot)com

Media Contact: Joy Kramer 404-274-0068 joy(dot)kramer(at)adventuresatl(dot)com

Show Contact: Bobby Smith at 770-826-1448

Show phone number for consumer information is 470-216-3444.
Firecracker Chicken

As Americas favorite Chinese Kitchen, Panda Express invites everyone to join its 2016 Chinese New Year celebration and to learn about the culturally significant holiday observed by more than one-third of the worlds population.

Known as the Year of the Monkey, Feb. 8 marks the first day of the Chinese New Year and Pandas Celebrate Togetherness campaign honors the history and traditions long observed within the Chinese culture. The New Year is a time for families to reunite and pause to share a moment of togetherness with loved ones  universal actions that Panda Express hopes to inspire through its campaign.

Chinese New Year is a celebration of family togetherness, delicious food and good fortune  values in which everyone can relate, said Peggy Cherng, co-chair and co-CEO of Panda Express. As a family-owned company, this holiday represents our cultural roots and reflects a major part of our companys brand identity. Our Panda family looks forward to this yearly celebration as an opportunity to share our rich traditions and heritage with our guests.

To help guests learn about the holiday and share in the traditions, Panda Express created an interactive website, CelebrateCNY.com, featuring an animated video about the 15-day festival, activities for kids and special classroom curriculum for teachers. To date, more than 6 million students have learned about Chinese New Year through Pandas educational materials.

Other site features include an app that helps visitors send New Years greetings through virtual red envelopes, a guide to help guests find their Chinese zodiac signs and information on special in-store offers for Feb. 8.

With more than 1,900 restaurant locations around the world, Panda Express is planning one of the largest Chinese New Year celebrations in the world. Special traditions returning to Panda Express include:



Firecracker Chicken  Available now for a limited time, Pandas Firecracker Chicken is a celebratory dish symbolizing the fireworks believed to ward off bad luck in Chinese culture

Free Gold Bar*  All guests can receive a coupon for a free Gold Bar (Chicken Egg Roll), a traditional dish and Chinese symbol for wealth, that can be downloaded at CelebrateCNY.com or sent to friends via a virtual red envelope and redeemed on Feb. 8

Red Envelope (hong bao)  Red envelopes are given to loved ones with a gift tucked inside to symbolize good luck for the New Year. Guests who visit any Panda Express on Feb. 8 will receive a red envelope containing a coupon for a free Firecracker Chicken entree and a drink redeemable during a future visit

In addition, Panda Express has partnered with ABCs Fresh Off the Boat to raise awareness of Chinese New Year and encourage viewers and guests alike to join the celebration. Panda Express restaurants across the country will display specially branded Fresh Off the Boat Chinese New Year posters and table tents featuring the Huangs. To see how the Huang family celebrates Chinese New Year, viewers can watch Fresh Off the Boat when it returns with an all-new episode on Feb. 2.

For more information on Panda Express and Chinese New Year traditions, visit CelebrateCNY.com. For media inquiries, contact panda@havasformula.com. Follow Panda Express on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and join the conversation using #CelebrateCNY.

About Panda Express

Panda Express, Americas favorite Chinese kitchen, is best known for its wide variety of original recipes including its Original Orange Chicken, SweetFire Chicken Breast, award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp and Shanghai Angus Steak. Founded in 1983 and now with more than 1,900 locations throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, Canada, Mexico, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Korea, Panda Express is part of the family owned and operated Panda Restaurant Group, the world leader in Asian dining experiences that also includes Panda Inn and Hibachi-San. For more information, visit PandaExpress.com.

*Free Gold Bar refers to one Chicken Egg Roll
Productivity Dashboard Take advantage of a smart CRM - first of its kind for NYC Real Estate agents!

DreamFire, a REBNY approved IDX vendor, launched a state of the art CRM platform branded as 3cane.com for real estate brokers and agents in New York City. Among many of its unique features, this platform uses Artificial Intelligence to ensure that the listings information is up to date and accurate.

Currently, this is the first comprehensive product offering of its kind for real estate brokers who require a privately labelled and highly customizable solution with total control on their data.

An overview of major features of this incredibly smart CRM is available at product website http://3cane.com

Salient features and benefits:



Lead generation and client Intelligence  provide agents with actionable information on client leads

Federated listings  a larger listings inventory from diverse sources; open & exclusive

Smart workflows  create and manage deals with a click of a button

Improved productivity  manage listings, advertisements, outgoing feeds, leads, client engagement, deals and commission all in one place.

Agent management  recruit agents and manage teams, commissions and advertisement credits.

Competitively priced, this user friendly solution is expected to reduce the cost of operation of a broker while improving productivity through automated marketing and smart workflows. Designed to work on smart phones and tablets this system eliminates, an agents need to use a multitude of websites and services thereby saving precious time and money.

With minimal customization, a broker could migrate from existing listing services to this secure and smart system within a few weeks and take advantage of its superior capabilities.

Interested brokers can avail a demo of this solution to understand its capabilities and benefits.

Contact: John Prince john@3cane.com Phone: 212 964 1689

About DreamFire:

DreamFire Real Estate Systems, INC is a privately held company specializing in real estate industry solutions. DreamFire has a track record of successful projects in real estate industry and is a REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York) approved MLS IDX vendor.

Based in the financial district of Manhattan, DreamFire is affiliated to DreamFire Interactive Solutions (http://dreamfireinteractive.com), a leader in web experience management and provides technology solutions to businesses around the globe. Some of DreamFire's profiled clientele include EMC Corporation, Mercedes-Benz, The United Nations and Barclays Bank.

DreamFire Ventures (http://dreamfire.vc) incubated this product company while John Prince, its general partner, is credited with design and engineering efforts. All Intellectual Property Rights associated with this product by way of patents, copyrights and trade secrets are assigned to DreamFire Real Estate Systems, INC.
World Molecular Imaging Society As president of the WMIS, I see the interest groups as the life blood of the society; they invigorate the community with new ideas and support the field with standardization and consistency. - Christopher Contag, Ph.D., Stanford University, President WMIS

The World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS) has added two new interest groups to their existing seven to expand the wide variety of topics in the field of molecular imaging. The interest groups joining the WMIS are Synthetic Biology and Reporter Genes (SyBRG) and Molecular Imaging Nanotechnology and Theranostics (MINT). WMIS interest groups are active communities of professionals in molecular imaging with shared interests, who aim to advance specific areas in molecular imaging (MI), set standards in the field, create networks of scientists, and move their areas of expertise forward to further develop and enrich the world of molecular imaging.

Synthetic biology and molecular imaging are natural partners because as scientists engineer cellular therapies to treat various human diseases, it is imperative that they watch where these cells migrate in the body and assess what they do when they reach their target, said Mikhail Shapiro, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, founding Co-Chair, SyBRG-IG. At the same time, the engineered cells themselves can be programmed to serve as diagnostic agents.

The outreach of the interest groups seeks to engage research scientists, clinicians, drug developers, equipment manufacturers, and service providers to advance specific focus areas within the greater field of MI. The WMIS believes nurturing early concepts in the field advances scientific inquiry, drives drug discovery and development, and improves human health by expanding the molecular imaging footprint globally.

While many of the WMIS members are using synthetic biology in their research, we believe that bringing them together, under one interest group, can promote interactions that will ultimately lead to new breakthroughs in developing more sensitive and more personalized molecular imaging tools, said Assaf Gilad, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, founding Co-Chair, SyBRG-IG.

Nanotechnology and theranostics have been an integral part of the MI technology base and with the launch of MINT, this community of scientists will push the envelope of nanodrugs and combined imaging and therapy agents to address the most pressing unmet clinical needs.

The field of nanotechnology recently has been exploding worldwide, said Moritz Kircher, M.D., Ph.D., Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, founding Chair, MINT-IG. The overarching goal of MINT is to enable the advancement and clinical translation of nanoparticle-based agents, for molecular imaging and theranostics applications. At the 2016 WMIC in New York, we aim to have an open kick-off event, where we will introduce the new interest group and showcase the latest developments in nanotechnology to the larger audience. This will be followed by a meeting of the founding members to discuss the bright future of nanotech in healthcare and further define the goals of MINT.

The WMIS interest groups help identify emerging clinical and basic science areas that we designate as hot topics in the field of molecular imaging. Members of the interest groups contribute to the program of the annual WMIS meeting, the World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC), by selecting speakers at the cutting edge of these emerging areas of research.

As president of the WMIS, I see the interest groups as the life blood of the society; they invigorate the community with new ideas and support the field with standardization and consistency, said Christopher Contag, Ph.D., Professor, Stanford University and President, WMIS 2016. The founding members of the new interest groups are among the most talented and energetic young investigators in our field, and I was pleased to work with them to create these new communities of accomplished scientists within our society. WMIS is well known for innovative thinking and early recognition of game changing ideas that create new opportunities for advancing science and revealing the cellular and molecular basis of human health and disease. The interest groups embrace this spirit of innovation and are defining the firsts in our field and its associated industries. This vanguard spirit will be apparent in every presentation and discussion at WMIC and will create a momentum that will be felt throughout the year.

To learn more about SyBRG, MINT, and our other interest groups, please visit our website at http://www.wmis.org. Join a WMIS Interest Group today and become involved in planning for WMIC 2016 sessions.

ABOUT WORLD MOLECULAR IMAGING SOCIETY

The WMIS is dedicated to developing and promoting translational research through multimodality molecular imaging. The education and abstract-driven WMIC is the annual meeting of the WMIS and is held in conjunction with partner societies including the European Society for Molecular Imaging (ESMI) and the Federation of Asian Societies for Molecular Imaging (FASMI). WMIC provides a unique setting for scientists and clinicians with very diverse backgrounds to interact, present, and follow cutting-edge advances in the rapidly expanding field of molecular imaging that impacts nearly every biomedical discipline. Industry exhibits at the congress included corporations who have created the latest advances in preclinical and clinical imaging approaches and equipment, providing a complete molecular imaging educational technology showcase. For more information: http://www.wmis.org

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I am pleased to have three prominent and well-respected healthcare leaders who are passionate about our mission join our board, said Timothy Elwell, Qualidigm president and CEO.

Qualidigm, the mission-driven national healthcare consulting company based in Wethersfield, Conn., announced today three new members to serve the organizations Board of Directors, effective immediately:

M. Natalie Achong, MD, MHL is a Connecticut healthcare leader and researcher. She is the chairperson for health equity for the Connecticut State Medical Society where she develops and oversees health equity and population medicine programs and initiatives. She is an executive board member for the Hartford County Medical Association. Achong is a board certified obstetriciangynecologist. Achong received her doctorate from New York University School of Medicine. She completed her residency training and is on faculty at Yale University School of Medicine. In May, Achong will graduate from Brown University with a masters degree in healthcare leadership.

Michelle DeBarge is a partner in the Health Care Department at Wiggin and Dana LLP, a full service law firm with offices in Connecticut, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. She chairs the HIPAA Practice Group, the Clinical Research Compliance Group, and also co-chairs the Cybersecurity and Privacy Group. With over twenty years of experience, DeBarge advises national and international businesses, health care organizations, and pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies on a wide-range of health care regulatory, operational, health information technology, privacy/security and clinical research issues. DeBarge has been recognized by Chambers USA in the category of health care lawyers, in The Best Lawyers in America and as a Connecticut "Super Lawyer." She was also named by Best Lawyers as Hartford legal community's "Health Care Law Lawyer of the Year" for 2012 and 2016. DeBarge graduated from Williams College and received her law degree from UCONN School of Law with high honors. She is an adjunct professor at the Quinnipiac University School of Law and former Chair of the Advisory Committee on Patient Privacy and Security to the State of Connecticut's Health Information and Technology Exchange.

Alan S. Kliger, MD is a nephrologist, clinical professor of medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine, and senior vice president medical affairs, chief quality officer for the Yale New Haven Health System. Kliger formerly served as senior vice president, chief medical officer at Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, Conn. He is a past president of the Renal Physicians Association, and serves on its Quality, Safety and Accountability Committee. Kliger also serves on the board of directors of the Kidney Health Initiative, a national partnership with the Food and Drug Administration, industry and professional organizations serving patients with kidney disease. He is chairman of the steering committee for the National Institutes for Health (NIH) Frequent Hemodialysis Study, a national prospective randomized study of in-center daily and home nocturnal hemodialysis, and also chairs the steering committee for an NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Consortium on Novel Therapies for Hemodialysis Patients.

I am pleased to have three prominent and well-respected healthcare leaders who are passionate about our mission join our board, said Timothy Elwell, Qualidigm president and CEO. Natalie, Michelle and Alan bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to Qualidigm and will provide meaningful contributions to the future direction and growth of the company. I congratulate the newly elected board members and thank them for their commitment to Qualidigm.

Qualidigm is governed by a unique mix of seasoned and talented professionals whose energy and synergy contribute to Qualidigms strategic direction, said Paul Liistro, chair of Qualidigms Board of Directors and managing partner of Hop Brook Limited Partnership in Manchester, Conn, a continuing care retirement community. We are honored to add these accomplished, forward thinking visionaries with proven leadership skills to the Qualidigm Board of Directors to help further the organizations mission.

See the complete roster of Qualidigm Board members.

About Qualidigm:

With its corporate headquarters in Wethersfield, Conn. and offices in Dover, NH; Barre, VT; and Providence, RI, Qualidigm's mission is to improve the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of healthcare through transformational change. Qualidigm provides consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide. These services include consulting, data analysis, health information technology, patient safety, quality improvement, and utilization review. Qualidigm is part of a team that is serving as the Medicare Quality Innovation Network Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) under contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for New England. Qualidigm is also a Patient Safety Organization (PSO) as designated by the State of Connecticut. http://www.Qualidigm.org

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ELKO  The 32nd National Cowboy Poetry Gathering began Monday with visitors trying their hands at hatmaking.

Roy Jackson, master hatter at Salmon, Idahos Jackson Hat Co., said he comes every other year to host the workshop. Assisting him this year was Chaz Mitchell, Jacksons former apprentice.

Its a treat for us to be here, Jackson said. We enjoy it.

Participants worked with 100-percent beaver fur from Portugal. Dane Burns, of Issaquah, Washington, said he had a lot of nice hats, but had noticed that some can be quite costly.

I thought Id come and learn and find out what the difference is in a high-quality hat, Burns said.

After 45 minutes of pouncing  the hatters term for finishing  he was beginning to understand. Pouncing is done with 400-grit and 600-grit sandpaper.

Marie Odermann of Medora, North Dakota, said she was having a good time learning the craft.

There is a lot more to it than I thought, she said.

Each of the 18 students had his or her hat measured using a contraption Burns compared to a space hat. When they were finished pouncing, they were scheduled to begin work on the brims, and finish by hand-sewing the sweat bands and adding a ribbon to the crown.

They pick their colors, they pick their style, Jackson said. Over a period of three days, they end up with a hat.

Mitchell is one of a few apprentices who developed his own style and technique to start his own business, Jackson said. He now operates a hat shop out of Newcastle, Utah.

This is awesome, he said about training the students.

The workshop continues through Wednesday.
La Granja Apopka, Florida

La Granja Restaurants is growing again. La Granja has opened a new Peruvian family style restaurant location to serve the Apopka community at: 3352 East Semoran Blvd, Apopka, Florida 32703. This makes the third La Granja restaurant location to open in central Florida, expressly to meet the high demand of La Granjas loyal patrons. Serving their authentic Peruvian food dishes that La Granja's devoted customers enjoy, La Granja's new Apopka restaurant location offers a healthy and delicious alternative for dining out in the area.

With a wide-ranging menu of mouthwatering Peruvian food dishes prepared fresh from scratch daily, those on the go can enjoy La Granja's mouthwatering Pollo a la Brasa on their lunch break, or enjoy a plentiful, lunch sized portion of another delicious Peruvian food specialty starting at under $5.00. Busy Floridians can also bring the family into La Granjas new Apopka Peruvian family style restaurant at the end of a long day for a savory and nutritious dinner, or pick up some authentic Peruvian delights to go and enjoy them at home.

Peruvian Family Style Restaurant: La Granja Apopka offers family style dining at affordable prices. Central Florida loves La Granja.

In addition to serving up flavorful, slow-cooked Peruvian cuisine to this central Florida community, La Granja Apopka offers affordable prices in a family friendly atmosphere. Plus, La Granja is ready to make dinner a breeze any night of the week. La Granja knows how to appeal to Floridian families by offering full wait staff service after 4 pm, and a wide variety of menu options that are guaranteed to satisfy everyone's appetites. La Granja also serves up great deals on family size to go portions, complete with side dishes and drinks.

Peruvian Food: La Granja's continuous growth is proof of how much Floridians enjoy authentic Peruvian food!

Claudia Bartra, General Manager at La Granja Restaurants, knows how much Floridians love La Granja's Peruvian specialties, having seen crowds of loyal patrons who gather outside up to an hour before La Granja opens for business on grand opening days. Bartra has been honored at the Taste of Peru, and was named "Peruvian Entrepreneur of the Year". The annual Taste of Peru event celebrates Peruvian food, Peruvian culture, and recognizes those who work hard to make a difference in the Peruvian community.



Always looking for ways to connect with the community, part of La Granja's recipe for success has been its focus on providing families with fresh and delicious Peruvian cuisine at affordable prices. La Granja stays true to Peruvian tradition by providing a warm, welcoming environment where families can visit and share delicious meals together.

La Granja is fresh food, not fast food. Their extensive menu offers lunch specials that start at under $5.00 for a generous portion of rice, beans, and Pollo a la Brasa. Visit La Granja Apopka and try an authentic Peruvian food specialty at: 3352 East Semoran Blvd., Apopka Florida, 32703, or visit: http://lagranjarestaurants.com/en/locations/ for a location nearest you.
International moving company John Mason International took part in a very special removals job last week to mark and honour Australia Day. And it involved moving a little bit of the land down under to the streets of London.

The UK-based removals company - which was founded 131 years ago - made a special delivery to an address just a stones throw from the Houses of Parliament. Its team of dancing removal people emerged from the back of a vehicle, whilst numerous others unpacked Australian-themed items, including a life size kangaroo, crocodile, surf board, and even an Aussie.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/dZ5n5wtUfkw

We continue to move thousands of people each year across the world and Australia still remains a popular location for many Brits, said John Mason Internationals Simon Hood. This was a demonstration of how we always go that extra mile - and we wanted to wish everyone a happy Australia Day too.

Moving can be a very emotional time, no matter how old or young you are, and we wanted to take this special opportunity to relay just how important our customers are to us.

The commotion stopped lunch-goers, and road workers in their tracks as they applauded the impromptu dancing. Others were filming from bus windows on their phones as they passed the unusual Aussie spectacle.

For more information about John Mason International, please visit johnmason.com
Kerry-Lynne Findlay P.C. Q.C. Erwin Singh Braich, 60, founder of The Braich Group of Companies and Trusts, stated that he was very pleased that she chose to join us rather than one of the many prestigious global corporations that were seeking her services.

The Braich Group of Companies and Trusts is proud to announce that the former Minister of National Revenue, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, P.C., Q.C., has joined them on an exclusive full time basis.

Erwin Singh Braich, 60, founder of The Braich Group of Companies and Trusts, stated that he was very pleased that she chose to join us rather than one of the many prestigious global corporations that were seeking her services.

"With her stellar reputation in government and distinguished career as a lawyer before that, she will be a valuable addition to our team" added Braich.

Ms. Findlay was appointed Minister of National Revenue by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper on July 15th, 2013. Prior to that she served as Associate Minister of National Defence and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice. She has also served on numerous Justice and Human Rights committees while in government.
Our new facility in Missouri will allow us to be closer to our growing customer base in the central and western U.S.

Brodrene Hartmann A/S, a Denmark-based producer of sustainable molded-fiber egg cartons, today announced its expansion into the U.S. with a manufacturing facility planned for Rolla, Missouri. The move into the U.S. is based upon the companys growing sales and demand for its high-quality cartons in North America. The companys U.S. business will operate under Hartmann US.

Hartmann is making an initial investment of $30 million into an existing 334,000-square-foot facility in Rolla, which will be retrofitted to produce the companys egg cartons. Hartmanns molded-fiber cartons, made from renewable raw material paper, are carbon neutral, biodegradable and can be recycled. The Rolla facility is slated to begin operations in early 2017.

Our new facility in Missouri will allow us to be closer to our growing customer base in the central and western U.S., said Gerry Lavis, president of Hartmann North America and Hartmann US. It will provide us with additional production capacity and increase our distribution efficiencies, which benefits our customers and positions us for continued growth.

In addition to the Missouri Governors office, the Missouri Partnership and the City of Rolla, Hartmann worked closely with its business and real estate advisors at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank to conduct the site selection and transaction management.

The companys first U.S. facility will create 50 local jobs with the potential to double both in investment and number of jobs over the next several years.

Hartmann currently serves its North American customers  egg producers, packers and supermarket chains  from its production facility in Brantford, Ontario in Canada. Hartmanns U.S. sales representatives in Georgia, Massachusetts, Washington and Canadian counterparts in Ontario and Quebec work with customers to support the need for sustainable packaging in the retail trade.

About Hartmann

Hartmann is the worlds leading manufacturer of molded-fiber egg packaging, market leader within the production of fruit packaging in South America and one of the worlds largest manufacturers of machinery for producing molded-fiber packaging. Founded in 1917, Hartmanns market position is based on its strong technology know-how and extensive experience of molded-fiber production since 1936. Hartmann sells egg and fruit packaging to producers, packing businesses and retail chains, which are increasingly seeking Hartmanns marketing expertise. Hartmanns technology and related services are sold to manufacturers of molded-fiber packaging. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Hartmann has 2,100 employees. Production takes place at Hartmanns own factories located in Europe, Israel, South America and Canada. For more information, visit http://www.hartmann-packaging.com.
We are excited to play our part in an exciting, booming hospitality industry. We believe that our personalized service, working with hoteliers and our clients in a tailor-made way, will distinguish ourselves and give our clients a competitive edge.

Berko & Associates, a New York City-based multidisciplinary real estate brokerage firm that specializes in strategic solutions for investors, has launched a hospitality group that will specialize in comprehensive support to the Hospitality Industry. Berko & Associates will be adapting to the specific needs of each investor to provide a level of service unrivaled in the industry.

The hospitality group will be led by the founder of Berko & Associates and industry leader Joe Berko, and Vice President Noam Gafni. Berko says, We see a need that investors have, and we believe this Hospitality Group will open them up to a wealth of options not easy accessible to them currently when buying, developing, or operating hotels. Berko has over 20 years experience securing complex transactions and financing billions of dollars of commercial real estate transactions. Gafnis experience in the hospitality industry spans two decades and he has held sales and business development roles in the global hotel market. Over his 20-year career, Gafni has been involved in consulting engagements related to hotel sales, business development, market development and revenue. We are excited to play our part in an exciting, booming hospitality industry. We believe that our personalized service, working with hoteliers and our clients in a tailor-made way, will distinguish ourselves and give our clients a competitive edge. Gafni says.

The services of Berko & Associates Hospitality Group include identifying and analyzing acquisition targets, preparing and implementing acquisition strategies, providing assistance in deal point negotiations, and assistance in underwriting the acquisition. Berko and Gafni together along with a team that has over 70 years of combined experience, will offer innovative real estate solutions and support for all types of hotel properties with integrated platforms that optimize investors operations to increase the bottom line.

Berko Hospitality's recent transactions include the conversion of the first Marriot Moxy near Times Square for $182 million as well as the ground up development of the Strand Hotel in Midtown Manhattan for $60 million, and the $27million debt raise for the boutique Paper Factory Hotel. The multi-disciplinary group is highly focused on advising hoteliers filling the gaps in the capital stack in a highly selective marketing approach".

About Berko & Associates

Berko & Associates was founded to provide a channel for both entities and individuals to effectively finance and profitably invest in core New York and Philadelphia real estate investment ventures. Berko & Associates team of professionals focuses primarily on value added properties in superior locations with strong growth potential. The companys exceptional knowledge of the local market trends and their complexities creates a competitive edge in discovering deals rarely available to most investors.
Bedrock Automation announced that its Bedrock industrial control system has won a 2015 Product of the Year award from Plant Engineering magazine. Introduced this past July, the Bedrock system is the first industrial control system with deeply embedded cyber security and extreme automation performance.

This recognition from Plant Engineering is a wonderful validation to our original technical mission to design a Simple, Scalable, Secure platform for the future. This commitment has led to our unique architecture, which includes a pinless electromagnetic backplane that significantly reduces vulnerability while also contributing to improvements in processing power and ease of use, said Albert Rooyakkers, Bedrock CTO and VP of Engineering.

Plant Engineering readers selected the Bedrock system as a winner in the Automation & Controls category in online voting during November and December of 2015.

Each year we present our readers with a selection of the new products we feel offer the greatest potential for making manufacturing operations smarter, safer and more productive. From that field of more than hundred entrants, readers select their favorites, said Bob Vavra, Plant Engineering Editor-in-Chief.

In addition to the embedded cyber security, Bedrock Automation believes that the Bedrock system was especially appealing to plant engineers because it is the only system in the world that can scale for PLC, SCADA RTU or DCS applications, and all with fewer than a dozen part numbers. This cuts lifecycle costs by simplifying engineering, commissioning and maintenance.

Our system designers went to great lengths to ensure that Bedrock was not only secure and had exemplary control performance, but also that it was easy to install and to maintain. As such we expected that it would appeal to plant engineers as well as control engineers, so we are especially pleased with the positive response from the Plant Engineering readers. We are grateful to the editors who selected us as finalists and to the subscribers who voted for us, said Bedrock Automation President, Bob Honor.

Plant Engineering (http://www.plantengineering.com) is read by plant and maintenance engineers who design and manage plant maintenance systems and equipment. With its Product of the Year Program, the magazine has been celebrating product innovation for 27 years. This years finalists represented functions that spanned manufacturing operations and included entrants from around the world.

About Bedrock Automation

Bedrock Automation, based in San Jose, California, is the maker of Bedrock, the worlds most powerful and cyber secure automation platform. This Silicon Valley company has assembled the latest technologies and talents from both the automation and semiconductor industries to build an unprecedented automation solution for industrial control based on three prime directives: simplicity, scalability and security. The result is a system with a revolutionary electromagnetic backplane architecture and deeply embedded cyber security, which delivers the highest levels of system performance, ICS cyber security and reliability at the lowest cost of ownership.

For more information about Bedrock Automation, visit http://www.bedrockautomation.com

Media Contacts:

John Nero - Tiziani Whitmyre, jnero(at)tizinc(dot)com; 781-793-9380.

Robert Bergman - Bedrock Automation, robert(dot)bergman(at)bedrockautomation(dot)com; 626-824-04
The Sennheiser Culture Plus wired headset, designed for unified communications environments In-person demonstrations are the best way to exemplify just how vital audio intelligibility can be in a contact center environment, especially when a business has invested in an advanced solution.

Sennheiser, a leading provider of premium headsets and speakerphone solutions, announces it will conduct live demonstrations of its unified communications product line at ITEXPO, taking place from January 26 to 28 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Sennheiser booth, # 635 will include the newly-launched Culture Plus headset, a Skype for Business-certified, wired model designed to help companies facilitate a transition to a unified communications (UC) environment. It features a comfortable fit, eye-catching style and superior voice quality, creating an effective tool to help personnel migrate seamlessly to a sophisticated UC system.

The Sennheiser exhibit will also spotlight the OfficeRunner DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) headset, manufactured by Sennheiser and available exclusively through Headsets.com. The OfficeRunner features Sennheisers ActiveGard noise cancellation in a binaural or monaural version, and allows users to travel as far as 400 feet from their workstations while still maintaining audio quality. Additional CC&O (contact center and office) models at the booth will include the D 10 series; the SD wireless, Century, Circle, Culture, MB and PRESENCE units; plus Sennheisers award-winning SP 10 and SP 20 mobile speakerphones for SMB.

All headsets in Sennheisers CC&O portfolio are certified for Skype for Business, along with many other leading global Unified Communications providers, boasting an extensive set of characteristics such as noise cancellation, superior voice intelligibility, long-wearing comfort and market-leading durability. These amenities differentiate Sennheisers solutions, making them an appropriate addition to an advanced UC infrastructure. Use of premium audio products in a call center environment has been shown to increase productivity and end-customer satisfaction, since greater vocal intelligibity and clearer transmissions lead to shorter agent calls per customer, and alleviated agent duress. Such assets not only live up to the quality and premium performance associated with a high-end unified communications system, it also increases the ROI of that infrastructure.

ITEXPO is an exciting opportunity for us to convene with decision-makers from across the telecommunications industry. It is an outstanding forum to demonstrate how integral high quality audio is to the effectiveness of a unified communications deployment, said Bill Whearty, vice president, sales and marketing, CC&O, Americas, Sennheiser Electronic Corp. In-person demonstrations are the best way to exemplify just how vital audio intelligibility can be in a contact center environment, especially when a business has invested in an advanced solution.

About Sennheiser

Audio specialist Sennheiser is one of the world's leading manufacturers of headphones, microphones and wireless transmission systems. Based in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, Sennheiser operates its own production facilities in Germany, Ireland and the USA and is active in more than 50 countries. With 18 sales subsidiaries and long-established trading partners, the company supplies innovative products and cutting-edge audio solutions that are optimally tailored to its customers' needs. Sennheiser is a family owned company that was founded in 1945 and which today has 2,700 employees around the world that share a passion for audio technology. Since 2013, Sennheiser has been managed by Daniel Sennheiser and Dr. Andreas Sennheiser, the third generation of the family to run the company. As part of the Sennheiser Group, the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S is specialized in wireless and wired headsets and speakerphones for contact centers, offices and Unified Communications environments as well as headsets for gaming and mobile devices. In 2014, the Sennheiser Group had sales totaling 635 million. http://www.sennheiser.com
"...guilty of delivering not only sharp courtroom drama but steamy romantic escapism as well" --Publishers Weekly

THE STORY:

When Tom Perini, a legendary Heisman Trophy winner turned criminal lawyer, is found brutally murdered in Central Park, his widow Julie Perini suspects a wider conspiracy. Not only was her husband part of the defense team for a Congressman on trial for bribery, her intuition also tells her that the FBI is not too eager to find the killer.

Relying on her skills as a journalist, Julie begins her own investigation and soon discovers her late husbands secret underworld associations; ties that now threaten her and her toddlers lives. Fighting grief and a sense of betrayal, Julie is pulled into an inescapable labyrinth of organized crime dealings, political corruption, brutal power grabs and murder.

Desperate, Julie turns to Vincent Sorrentino, Toms defense partner, for help, and the two discover a shocking and terrifying truth that threatens to paralyze them. But it may also hold the keythe only keyto saving the lives of Julie and her daughter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Paul Batista, novelist and television personality, is one of the most widely known trial lawyers in the country. As a trial attorney, he specializes in federal criminal litigation. As a media figure, he is known for his regular appearances as guest legal commentator on a variety of television shows including,Court TV, CNN, HLN and WNBC. Hes also appeared in the HBO movie, You Dont Know Jack, starring Al Pacino.

A prolific writer, Batista authored the leading treatise on the primary federal anti-racketeering statute,Civil RICO Practice Manual, which is now in its third edition (Wiley & Sons, 1987; Wolters Kluwer, 2008). He has written articles for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The National Law Journal.

Batistas debut novel, Deaths Witness, was awarded a Silver Medal by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). Batista is a graduate of Bowdoin College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and Cornell Law School. Hes proud to have served in the United States Army. Paul Batista lives in New York City and Sag Harbor, New York.

PRAISE FOR DEATH'S WITNESS:

"The verdict on Batista's debut legal thriller: Guilty of delivering not only sharp courtroom drama but steamy romantic escapism as well. Vincent Sorrentino, a crackerjack Manhattan DA (not unlike Batista, a commentator on Court TV), is leading the legal team for 14 defendants accused of bribing Congressman Daniel Fonseca, including Selig "Sy" Klein, owner of a shady trucking empire personally represented by Sorrentino's colleague and friend, Tom Perini, a former Heisman Trophy winner. Tom's murder while running in Central Park shatters his wife and toddler's world and almost lands Fonseca a mistrial. Grieving Julie Perini suffers more shocks as she learns about her husband's secret underworld association connected to the ongoing trial. Batista provides a gripping, if sometimes confusing, insider look into the seamy side of justice and the politics behind criminal shenanigans. The sweet resolution might feel too good to be true, but is still satisfying." --Publisher's Weekly

"This well-crafted legal thriller has the feel of the real, because it was written by a first-rate lawyer who is also a very good writer." --Alan Dershowitz, author of Preemption: The Knife That Cuts Both Ways

"A spectacular new addition to the legal thriller genre. Fast, smart and exciting, with richly drawn characters and a race-horse pace. Death's Witness is definitely a winner!" --Jack Ford, anchor, Good Morning America

"A great read!" --Fred Graham, anchor on Court TV and former CBS news correspondent
'South Africa is one of the worlds most charming and quixotic destinations,' said Sherwin Banda, president, African Travel, Inc.

African Travel, Inc. is offering two spectacular South Africa journeys perfect for Valentines Day, honeymoons and anniversaries. African Travel, who was recently named the Best Tour Operator to Africa by Recommend readers and one of Travel + Leisures Worlds Best, is celebrated for its fully-customizable safaris and these packages are no exception; guests can add a wide variety of enchanting inclusions to complete their journey, from private dinners on the beach to invigorating spa treatments.

South Africa is one of the worlds most charming and quixotic destinations, said Sherwin Banda, president, African Travel. Weve designed these itineraries to showcase the countrys most remarkable features while including a variety of luxurious extras, from sunset cruises to helicopter rides.

Prepare for amorous adventures on African Travels South Africa Seascapes and Wildlife, an 11-day journey from the rich landscapes of the fairest Cape to the turquoise waters of Mozambiques Bazaruto Island. Couples enjoy the vibrant city of Cape Town for four nights, exploring its striking scenery with private excursions and either a helicopter flight along the Atlantic Seaboards exquisite coastline or a sailboat sunset cruise. Three nights at Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve are complete with twice-daily game drives, vibrant sundowners and tranquil spa treatments. For an unforgettable finale, guests enjoy three nights in the palm fringed, white-sand beaches and cerulean waters of the Bazaruto Archipelago. This paradise is now protected as the countrys only marine reserve, and optional activities include kayaking, sailing on an authentic dhow, scuba diving, and pampering therapy treatments.

African Romance is African Travels classic romantic retreat, complete with starlit dinners in the bush, sundowners beneath Table Mountain and soothing beachside massages at an idyllic beach resort on Mozambiques Lagoon coast. This indulgent 12-day safari includes three nights in Cape Town, one of the worlds most beautiful cities , and two nights in the Franschhoek Valley, renowned for its fine wines and world-class cuisine. Three nights at the KwaZulu-Natal Private Reserve include the best aspects of a Big Five safari with enchanting additions like private candle-lit gourmet dinners and in-villa aromatherapy and massage. And three nights at the White Pearl Resorts  a private beach resort comprised of gorgeous ocean-facing suites, each with a private plunge pool  are guaranteed to promote couples falling in love all over again.

For more information and to book the safari of your dreams, contact your favorite Travel Professional, call African Travel, Inc. at (800) 421-8907, or visit http://www.africantravelinc.com. CST 2071444-20

Dont forget to check out African Travel, Inc.s Journal Page! Get travel tips, photos and testimonials, and stories from the bush. Subscribe to the RSS feed to get all of these things in one place!

Follow African Travel, Inc. on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and join the conversation using the hashtag #WeKnowAfrica.

About African Travel, Inc. - "We Know Africa"

African Travel, Inc. is a 39-year-old safari operator, with operations in Africa and the USA, offering customized and locally-hosted safaris to Africa at all price points. The companys focus is solely on planning and operating safaris in Africa. We have dedicated, experienced teams in Africa, Safari Specialists in the USA, an extensive transportation fleet, numerous hotels, camps and lodges throughout The Travel Corporation's Africa-based associate companies. Refer to http://www.AfricanTravelInc.com for a wide variety of ideas and safaris.

About USTOA

African Travel, Inc. shares the coverage available under the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program with affiliates of TravCorp USA, Inc. In addition, TravCorp Financial Services Limited provides a guarantee of $20 Million.

About The TreadRight Foundation

Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporations family of brands, The TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come. To date, TreadRight has more than 35 sustainable tourism projects worldwide. The foundations guiding principle is to encourage sustainable tourism development through conservation, leadership and support for communities.

TreadRights past project partners include WWF, Conservation International and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include sponsoring the National Geographic Societys inaugural World Legacy Awards, helping to combat wildlife crime with WildAid, and empowering individuals with the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise.

To learn more about our past and current work at TreadRight, please visit us at TreadRight.org.
EMBRACO at AHR Expo 2016 Were proud to see that Absolute Exhibits was once again the exhibit rental company of choice by international exhibitors at this years AHR Expo.

Absolute Exhibits, a full-service exhibit house offering exhibit design, fabrication, installation and dismantle (I&D), and project coordination, announced its role in producing seven custom exhibit rentals for international exhibitors at the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) in Orlando this week, January 25-27, 2016.

The annual AHR Expo covers all facets of the HVACR industry and is expected to welcome more than 60,000 attendees and 2,000 exhibiting companies from around the world.

Were proud to see that Absolute Exhibits was once again the exhibit rental company of choice by international exhibitors at this years AHR Expo, said Todd Koren, CEO of Absolute Exhibits. Absolute Exhibits offers project coordination assistance to help international exhibitors be trade show-ready without the stress associated with American trade shows.

Absolute Exhibits works with major international companies and supports multiple languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, German, Korean, Japanese, Arabic and Vietnamese. The company has expressed plans to expand its sales team within the next few weeks to also support French, Italian, Turkish and Chinese.

Working with an exhibit rental company that speaks your native language is crucial for having a successful show, said Todd Koren, CEO of Absolute Exhibits. International exhibitors outside of the USA are contending with different rules and regulations, unions, service forms, higher rates of payment in most cases, and usually an entirely different system of trade show presentation. The process can be incredibly frustrating, which is why our account executives are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week for clients.

The custom exhibit booth rentals designed and fabricated by Absolute Exhibits for AHR Expo 2016 include:

Embraco (Brazil), a manufacturer of hermetic compressor and cooling solutions; Full Gauge Controls (Brazil), a producer of digital instruments for industrial, commercial and residential automation systems; Siral (Italy), a producer of brass valve equipment and gas taps; 2VV (Czech Republic), a manufacturer of air curtains, ventilation units and a wide range of ventilation products; Torun (Turkey), a major manufacturer of custom hot forged and machined brass items; Wuxi Micro Research (Japan), a global precision tooling (die and mould) and spare parts manufacturer; DriSteem (USA), a provider of humidification and evaporative cooling system solutions.

About Absolute Exhibits

A leading exhibition firm, Absolute Exhibits provides clients with turnkey solutions for designing and fabricating exhibits while managing the entire trade show experience as a one-source trade show and convention exhibit resource. Established in 2000, with locations in Southern California, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Bucharest, Absolute Exhibits rents and sells custom and system exhibits at over 300 shows in the USA and countries around the world.

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AdmitSee Fall 2015 $5,000 Scholarship Winner

Edtech startup AdmitSee today announced the winner of their $5,000 scholarship that asked students to answer the question, Whats the Most Frustrating Thing About the College Application Process?

The winner, Mandy Gao, an 18-year-old senior at the Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco, responded as follows: As the first person in my family applying to college, it's extremely hard for me to research and have all the information necessary for college admissions. I never knew that colleges require you to fill out essays and supplemental questions to apply for their schools ... Applying to schools can add up, and at the very end, you only choose to attend one school and that college tuition is also expensive!

AdmitSee had more than 25,000 high school seniors participate in the survey for the $5,000 scholarship. Students from all 50 states submitted responses.

The top frustrations based on word count from the 26,196 submissions are as follows:

1) Essays : 13,500

2) Cost: 13,342

3) Test Scores: 7,973

4) Parents: 5,166

5) Grades: 4,129

Interestingly, students were three times more likely to mention their "mother" and "mom" as the source of frustration than they are their "father" or "dad."

Lydia Fayal, Co-founder of AdmitSee noted, At AdmitSee, we're well aware of the typical application frustrations: the confusion of where to apply, the burnout from writing multiple essays, the distrust of anonymous forums, the fear of rejection. In fact, our personal application experiences were the genesis of AdmitSee. The scholarship responses reinvigorated our commitment to provide transparency and de-stress the application process.

Many students had emotional responses: one student applying to Drexel, University of Rochester, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt and UMD responded that his biggest frustration was: "The feeling that you are drowning in a deep, dark abyss filled with nightmarish creatures from the depths of Hades. The feeling that you cannot do anything to climb back up, nothing you can do to escape the claws of the college applications that hold you back. The college applications that have consumed your life, both the social and emotional aspects. They have turned you into a mindless zombie, an emotionless rock that meanders through life. I hate the stress, because this is what it does to you."

Survey results were collected through an online form. The scholarship was open to all U.S. high school students. The 10 finalists were randomly selected from the pool of entrants. The author of the best response out of those 10 was awarded the $5,000 scholarship. The finalists were all eligible to receive $50 Amazon gift cards.

About AdmitSee

AdmitSee is a peer-to-peer admissions platform and the first searchable database of successful college and graduate school application materials, including essays and advice. It is the go-to pre-professional network for prospective students to gain insight and advice from accepted students and upperclassmen. Its data-driven insights help applicants improve their application strategies, find trusted peer mentors, and plan for their futures. Our mission is to bring transparency to the admissions process and empower students in their decision-making process.
William E. Kennedy, Jr., executive vice president of Dade Moeller and co-chair of the new NCRP scientific committee on NORM/TENORM in the oil and gas industry. Technologically-enhanced radioactive material (TENORM) is present in oil and gas fields and currently is regulated only in a handful of states.

Washington-based radiation safety firm Dade Moeller will play an important role in the 49th Midyear Meeting of the Health Physics Society, to be held at the Renaissance Austin Hotel in Texas from January 31  February 3. Executive Vice President William E. Kennedy, Jr., will provide a plenary address on the issue of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) as related to the oil and gas industry, and subsidiary Dade Moeller Health Group will conduct accredited training courses for medical health physicists who work at hospitals and medical clinics. CEO Matt Moeller will chair the Contemporary Topics session, including presenting two papers of his own. As is customary, Dade Moeller will have a booth in the events exhibit hall.

Kennedys plenary address, TENORM in the Petroleum Industry relates to technologically-enhanced naturally-occurring radioactive material, which is present in oil and gas fields and currently is regulated only in a handful of states. Kennedy co-chairs a new National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements scientific committee that is developing recommendations for TENORM waste management. His plenary address will cover this important topic and will encourage participation in the councils TENORM in Unconventional Oil and Gas Production workshop, which will take place in conjunction with the Health Physics Society meeting, on February 12.

Reflecting the growing need for worker and patient radiation safety in our nations healthcare industry, Dade Moeller Health Group will conduct four medical health physics training courses on February 13, also at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. The courses will cover X-ray quality assurance, mammography unit testing, cone beam breast CT, and internal radiation dosimetry.

In addition to Kennedy and Moeller, the following will represent Dade Moeller at the meeting: Edward Maher (past president), Darrell Fisher (past president), Jim Bogard (board member), Tracy Ikenberry (board member), Ali Simpkins (committee chair), Jodi Jenkins, Dale Thomas, Sandy Konerth, Marcie Ramsay, and Gene Carbaugh.

A long-time affiliate member of the Health Physics Society, Dade Moeller employs more Certified Health Physicists than any other company in the United States.
Ukraine war: 2 girls siting outside their Apt. building after it is hit by artillery in Gorlovka "I want to help these people  as many as I can. Together, we can make a difference.

Patrick Lancaster, a video journalist from St. Louis, Missouri has been on the front lines of the Ukraine conflict for 21 months, longer than any other western journalist. During his time there, his work has included coverage of many active warfare clashes as well as putting a face on the human impacts of the war on the citizens here.

This has been a long journey, says Lancaster. I have been here for almost two years and I have seen many scary things. I have been shot at, seen people shot, witnessed hundreds of casualties but the worst impact is for those who were not killed but face a life left in ruin. I want to help these people  as many as I can. Together, we can make a difference.

Since the conflict began in Donbass, whole communities have been reduced to rubble. Such is the case with the town of Spartak, a community of over 1,500 that has been reduced to little more than 100 persons remaining as homes have been irreparably damaged and families have been shattered. Lancasters campaign has seen some encouraging successes. In December alone, the team was able to distribute more than 6400 lbs of food and supplies to families in need. The project focuses on ensuring the most basic needs such as clothing, diapers and baby food and supplies to allow even the most basic quality of life for families that have been most impacted.

Every week, Lancasters team gets into the neighborhoods and villages most compromised to ensure regular outreach to the families that need it. With the dwindling numbers among those still holding out for peace in their home communities, some weeks the aid that is available is able to serve the whole of the population of a town.

The work being undertaken has captured the attention of the international community and the cause has attracted some strong support from contributors beyond the war-torn region. At the present time, the work has received a generous offer from a benefactor from France who has committed to match the sum of all donations made to the relief project to double the impact of the aid being given to these families. This generosity has only been extended for a limited time, so Lancaster is hopeful that those compelled to lend their support will do so now, when their donation has the opportunity to go twice as far. While matched funding is available, the group is reaching out to a worldwide audience with hopes to capitalize on their efforts and best support the children and families that are caught in these inhospitable conditions.

You can help. A donation portal has been established through Paypal to send your support directly to the front lines at Helpvictimsukrainewar(at)gmail(dot)com or using the donation button

Media Inquiries:

Contact: Patrick Lancaster

Phone: +380999378870

E-mail: Chomane1982(at)gmail(dot)com

Facebook: facebook.com/PatrickJohnLancaster

Twitter: @PLnewstoday
"Trust was the keyword for us. And, we trusted iPatientCare people and products for what they delivered, which we believe is the best for Chiropractic professionals.", said Scott Bautch, DC, Bautch Chiropractic Services, Wausau, Wisconsin.

iPatientCare, Inc., a pioneer in cloud-based ambulatory EHR/ Practice Management System and Value-Added Revenue Cycle Management Services, announced addition of Bautch Chiropractic Services, one of the prestigious and high-volume practices in the State of Wisconsin, to its list of esteemed clients.

iPatientCare EHR has been admired by quality-focused healthcare providers nationwide because of its ease-of-use, customizable workflow and templates, and agile and prompt support. Bautch Chiropractic Services, led by Scott Bautch, DC and located at Wausau, Wisconsin, was looking to work with a Chiropractic billing focused RCM company which also owns the Intellectual Property Rights to the EHR and Practice Management System utilized for the Meaningful Use and RCM services.

Bautch Chiropractic Services is a busy practice, seeing more than 60 to 70 patients per day. It was also looking for a solution that gave the practice peace of mind by staying compliant with Meaningful Use Stage 2 and beyond and HIPAA Omnibus Rule. Bautch Chiropractic was determined to seek a full-service vendor and value-added service provider which not only gave them a specialty-focused EHR but also the complete service offerings of Revenue Cycle Management and Meaningful Use/PQRS/PCMH equivalent PCCC reporting dashboard and registry solution.

"Trust was the keyword for us. And, we trusted iPatientCare people and products for what they delivered while working with their technology, which we believe is the best for Chiropractic professionals. We love their features of Visual Analogue Scale, Outcomes Assessment, and highly productive templates. iPatientCares value-adds, namely, Revenue Cycle Management and MU/PCMH Consulting services impressed us with the possibility of a single vendor solution for all our needs. Our trust in iPatientCare has resulted in increased collections, more efficient revenue cycle operations, improved clinical outcomes, and delighted patients., said Scott Bautch, DC, Bautch Chiropractic Services, Wausau, Wisconsin.

Udayan Mandavia, CEO, iPatientCare commented, I respect Dr. Bautch for his outstanding professional contribution to Chiropractic care and thank him for his kind words. It is iPatientCares business strategy to enhance its technology to enhance iPatientCare customers business bottom line. We look forward to enhancing Bautch Chiropractic Services efficiencies to deliver excellent quality of care to their patients and reduce the days-in-accounts receivable with a long-term commitment.

iPatientCares Revenue Cycle Management services include tracking claims, making sure payment is received, and following up on denied claims to maximize revenue generation. iPatientCare monitors several metrics, such as, DAR (Days in Accounts Receivable), cash ratio, bad debt expense, claims first pass-through ratio etc., that can help iPatientCare customers determine whether their revenue management cycle processes are efficient and effective.

About iPatientCare:

iPatientCare, Inc. is a privately held medical informatics company based at Woodbridge, New Jersey. The company is known for its pioneering contribution to mHealth and Cloud based unified product suite that include Electronic Health/Medical Record and integrated Practice Management/Billing System, Patient Portal/PHR, Health Information Exchange (HIE), and mobile point-of-care solutions that serve the ambulatory, acute/sub acute, emergency and home health market segments.

iPatientCare EHR 2014 (2.0) has received 2014 Edition Ambulatory Complete EHR certification by ICSA Labs, an Office of the National Coordinator-Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB), in accordance with the applicable eligible professional certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Full certification details can be found at ONC Certified Health IT Product List.

iPatientCare Inpatient EHR 2014 (2.0) Received ONC HIT 2014 Edition Complete EHR Certification from ICSA Labs, determines ability to support eligible hospitals with meeting meaningful use stage 1 and stage 2 measures required to qualify for ONC Health IT funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Full certification details can be found at ONC Certified Health IT Product List.

The ONC 2014 Edition criteria support both Stage 1 and 2 Meaningful Use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The company has won numerous awards for its EHR technology and is recognized as an innovator in the field, being a pioneer to offer an EHR technology on a handheld device, an innovative First Responder technology to the US Army for its Theatre Medical Information System, the first to offer a Cloud based EHR product. iPatientCare is recognized as one of the best EHR and Integrated PM System for small and medium sized physicians offices; has been awarded most number of industry Awards; and has been recognized as a preferred/MU partner by numerous Regional Extension Centers (REC), hospitals/health systems, and academies.

Visit http://www.iPatientCare.com for more information.
2015 was an outstanding year for Nastel, with large wins, happy customers and new product innovation. said Hari Mohanan, VP Sales at Nastel Technologies.

Nastel Technologies, a global provider of software for Application Performance Monitoring (APM), delivering real-time application analytics, transaction tracking and forensics has achieved record revenues with significant expansion in the Healthcare, Financial Services, and Retail sectors. Significantly, Nastel has also continued to be a profitable company.

Nastels growth in the APM market was accomplished through its ability to track, trace and audit complex transactions across hybrid application environments. Some customer deployments this year include: Healthcare claims processing, Retail Supply Chain Management and Financial Services loan processing and asset management.

Highlights of Nastel Technologies 2015 include the following four items:



The Company achieved 25% growth in sales year-to-year with its AutoPilot product line.

New customer growth increased as 46% of the new 2015 deals were new names. In addition the largest deal in company history in Latin America was closed.

Nastel customer satisfaction has always been the top priority of the company and in 2015 Nastel achieved a 97% renewal rate from existing accounts.

Channel Sales results improved with record bookings via the company's HP and CA channels

2015 was an outstanding year for Nastel, with large wins, happy customers and new product innovation. Our laser focus on ensuring the highest levels of customer satisfaction combined with our relentless technical innovation has been the key to our revenue growth. With the addition of our new cutting edge analytics and forensics capabilities we are excited to provide continued competitive advantage to our global customer base said Hari Mohanan, VP Sales at Nastel Technologies.

Recently, Nastel was honored by Gartners recognition of its accomplishments in the 2015 Magic Quadrant for Application Performance Monitoring Suites

The chosen APM solution for over 200 Fortune 500 and Global 2000 corporations, Nastel AutoPilot has earned a reputation for helping companies significantly reduce the frequency and duration of costly application outages. By providing real-time analytics and transaction tracking across multiple event sources, Nastel AutoPilot is able to evaluate situations in IT Operations as a whole as opposed to just individual events. This powerful approach can infer a root-cause from multiple events and deliver meaningful, actionable alerts at the same time it prevents false alarms.

About Nastel Technologies

Nastel Technologies is a global provider of application performance monitoring solution with real-time analytics, comprehensive transaction tracking and forensics. Nastel is a privately held company headquartered in New York, with offices in the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany and Mexico, and a network of partners throughout Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia. For more information, visit us at http://www.nastel.com.
#1 Selling Plus Size Tulle Skirt Modeled by Body Confidence Thought Leader Jessica Kane Society+ has a staunch, 100% body-edit free photograph policy and also utilizes models in a range of sizes, races, and body types.

Society+, an emerging brand in womens plus size fashion, experiencing 30% month-over month growth since opening its doors earlier this year, announces the appointment of four fashion and eCommerce-industry veterans to its advisory board. Society+ is a direct-to-consumer, specialty eCommerce retailer offering womens plus size fashion in sizes 14  32 with a focus on authenticity and body positivity. The brand is under the leadership of CEO Michelle Crawford and Creative Director and plus industry veteran, Jessica Kane.

Were not just selling dresses, were changing the conversation, says Crawford. To us, this is about creating a society where all women can thrive and where no woman is marginalized. Each new member of the Society+ Advisory Broad brings tangible, results-driven experience and solutions to our growing business. By recruiting the feedback and advice of such an experienced and seasoned pool, we are paving the way for a smooth period of exponential growth.

The Society+ Board of Advisers



Liz Hershfield currently serves as Chief Supply Chain Officer at Bonobos, Inc and, previously, served as Vice President of Sourcing and Production for the brand, in addition to its sister brands, Maide and AYR. Hershfield is also held Senior Director titles at both Gap Inc and Old Navy.

Ron Ramseyer is the current Managing Partner at Ramseyer & Associates LLC and served as former Senior Vice President of Direct Marketing for Talbots. In addition he served as both President and CEO of Macys by Mail, as well as President of Direct Marketing for Bass Pro Shops and Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at the Casual Male Retail Group.

Derek Nicolich is Principal at Cascadia eCommerce Consulting and is a former Logistics executive for Nasty Gal. He also served as Vice President of eCommerce for Stylestalker and Director of eCommerce for Wildfang.

Ramy Boorom is the current President of the Chrisko Development Group and previously served as Managing Partner of Urban Village.

Jessica Kane, Executive Vice President at REAL OmniMedia LLC, Creative Director at Society+ and CEO of Skorch magazine. She also serves on the Board of Advisers for UK Plus Size Fashion Week.

Under the leadership of Crawford, the brand is currently preparing for its Series A investment round, having recently closed a fully funded seed round. Crawford attributes the brands viral success to its commitment to a fresh, fashion-forward design aesthetic and the intensely authentic commitment the brand makes to body positivity. The brand has a staunch, 100% photo-edit free policy and also utilizes models in a range of sizes, races, and body types on its website and social media sites.

According to Hershfield, whose primary focus will be advising Society+ on its product development framework, this authentic brand communication is not only what drew her to align with the company but, also, what she believes is a determining factor to its success.

Society+ has the ability to do what other plus fashion brands have been unable to do. Their real communications style and commitment to serving plus size women with honest pictures and sizing information creates the opportunity for an intense and genuine customer bond. No other emerging brand has been able to deliver on their promise to truly be customer-centric in its approach. The success that Society+ has seen to date is a fraction of what I believe is in store, especially as we hone in on product development.
RNA Therapeutics 2015 "Despite the ups and downs of the antisense field since 1978, motivation of many researchers for this field is still impressive" - Claude Paul Malvy, Gustave Roussy Institute

Now in its 7th year, RNA Therapeutics 2016 will gather senior scientists and industry experts working in RNA, immunotherapy, drug delivery and research. The event will discuss key topics in enabling RNA Therapeutics, whilst looking at the practicalities of targeting delivery and keeping attendees at the forefront of innovative developments and collaborative opportunities.

Event Highlights:



Following the release of Advanced Cell Diagnostics new generation of RNAscope products for RNA-biomarker analysis, their European Director for Sales & Marketing will present a keynote entitled: Single Copy Detection for Specific Transcripts in the Tissue.

Sarepta Therapeutics will discuss their clinical experience with oligonucleotide drugs.

Rigontec introduce their lead compound used in pioneering novel immuno-oncology treatments.

BioNTech AG, who develop vaccines using mRNA delivery, give insight into optimising mRNA for specific immune response. Their second keynote will offer strategic guidance into formulation and delivery; therapeutic approaches; mRNA stability; and clinical applications.

Isis Pharmaceuticals explain targeted delivery of antisense oligonucleotide through ligand-conjugate chemistry.

Curevac have recently been working on revolutionising medicine through natural mRNA, present their clinical results on exciting solutions using mRNA technology platforms and vaccine therapeutics.

Attendees will learn how emerging techniques can be applied clinically with Imperial College London and receive guidance into the automated selection of cell targeted aptamers.

Recent confirmed attendees include Vascular and Genomic Center Changhua Christian Hospital, University Of Twente, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma and Bayer. A preliminary list of participants, as well as interviews with key speakers, is available to read in the event download center.

For those looking to join the event, there is currently a 500 saving available online. Further details and a brochure is available at http://www.therapeutics-rna.com

RNA Therapeutics

Sustainable production of targeted delivery and mRNA

15  16 February 2016

Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, London UK

http://www.therapeutics-rna.com

Sponsored by Advanced Cell Diagnostics

--END

About SMi Group:

Established since 1993, the SMi Group is a global event-production company that specializes in Business-to-Business Conferences, Workshops, Masterclasses and online Communities. We create and deliver events in the Defence, Security, Energy, Utilities, Finance and Pharmaceutical industries. We pride ourselves on having access to the worlds most forward thinking opinion leaders and visionaries, allowing us to bring our communities together to Learn, Engage, Share and Network. More information can be found at http://www.smi-online.co.uk
Suiteness You gain memories through these unique experiences while giving back

Suiteness (https://www.suiteness.com), the first travel site to offer exclusive online booking of the hotel industrys most luxurious suites, announced an initiative to give back to local communities and an opportunity for travelers to have a socially conscious, luxury experience. When customers book a luxury suite through Suiteness, a donation will be made on their behalf to a local charity partner of their choosing. Suiteness offers a 'running amount' clock during the booking process so customers can see how much will be donated.

To date, Suiteness has partnered with HELP of Southern Nevada, Opportunity Village, and Three Square in Las Vegas as well as Amigos for Kids, Camillus House & Health and Miami Rescue Mission in Miami. The company expects to announce charitable partnerships in New York City in early 2016 and will partner with new charities as they expand to new cities.

With their recent expansion into New York City, Suiteness now offers online access to 17,000 luxury suites. Approximately half of these can only be booked online through Suiteness.

It is about socially conscious, positive luxury, said Robbie Bhathal, CEO and co-founder of Suiteness. You gain memories through these unique experiences while giving back. Our customers get the luxury experience of a lifetime while knowing that they are doing good for the local community.

Before Suiteness launched last year, guests could only book top hotel suites by phone, limiting access to the most sought-after suites. With Suiteness, travelers can easily shop for the ultimate setting for their family reunion, group travel, bachelor/bachelorette party, corporate retreat or dream vacation and book it with just a few clicks.

Last month Suiteness announced that the company received more than one million dollars in funding led by Structure Capital, the lead investor in Uber.

For more information, visit https://www.suiteness.com.

About Suiteness

Suiteness (https://www.suiteness.com) is the first and only booking engine dedicated to helping travelers gain access to the hotel industrys most luxurious suites. The company was founded in 2014, with funding and support from investors who have helped launch some of travels most successful and disruptive businesses. The platform currently provides access to 17,000 luxury suites New York, Las Vegas and Miami and continues to expand its suite inventory rapidly in key markets across the U.S. For more information, visit https://www.suiteness.com.
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Who wants a Socialist president?

Editor:

I read with interest that an ofce was opening in Elko in support of Bernie Sanders for president. It is well known that Bernie is a self-proclaimed Socialist. Having only a casual understanding of what a socialist is or what he or she believes, I decided to do some research.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary provided the following definitions:

a. Socialism is a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government rather than by individual people and companies.

b. Socialism is a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.

c. Socialism is a system of society in which there is no private property.

d. Socialism is a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and is distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay to work done.

Another denition, this by Investopedia, states that Socialism is, An economic and political system based on public or collective ownership by the means of production. Socialism emphasizes equality rather than achievement and values workers by the amount they put in, rather than by the amount of value they produce. It also makes individuals dependent on the state for everything from food to health care. China, Vietnam, and Cuba are examples of modern-day socialist societies.

I find it very hard to believe that the vast majority of citizens in the State of Nevada and especially those living in Elko County would want a president that believes in and is rmly committed to this type of government. But its still a free country (I think) and all of us have the privilege of voting for whomever we choose. Lets just make sure we vote!

Duane Hoem

Elko
LAS VEGAS (AP)  Las Vegas once was a hot spot for land speculators, who couldnt get enough desert tracts to develop or flip to other investors.

Sales evaporated with the recession and recovered a bit a few years ago. But today, the land business has downshifted again.

Investors have pared back on purchases amid rising prices, a shrinking inventory of choice parcels, the still-wobbly economy and slower population growth, industry pros say. Buyers left hundreds of acres on the table at government auctions last year, are passing on properties on or near the Strip and arent making nearly as many speculative purchases as they did when the pre-recession real estate bubble was inflating.

The land market has by no means dried up  some believe its just hit more-normal levels, and that sales volume could rise.

But in a sign that Las Vegas roaring growth of yesteryear wont return anytime soon  which is likely a good thing, considering how badly it all ended  land isnt selling like mad anymore.

Buyers picked up about 2,700 acres of land in the Las Vegas area last year through 334 transactions, for a median price of around $317,000 per acre. That compares to about 2,400 acres in 2014 through 364 deals, and at a median price of about $287,000 per acre, and just over 3,000 acres in 2013 through 367 deals, at a median $211,000 per acre, according to data provided by John Stater, Las Vegas research manager for brokerage firm Colliers International.

By comparison, investors bought more than 10,000 acres in both 2003 and 2004, and prices soared to a median of about $960,000 in 2007, before the U.S. economy nose-dived and the bubble exploded in Las Vegas.

This is a real market, and I dont think its going to bust easily, said investor Khusrow Roohani, owner of Seven Valleys Realty & Construction.

Southern Nevadas once-battered real estate market has improved in recent years, though its still bogged down by underwater homeowners, foreclosures, slow-to-no-growth in wages and high vacancy rates and low rents for various commercial property, all of which crimp demand for construction and land. Las Vegas population is growing, but not nearly as fast as it once was, further dampening the need for new projects.

But as the economy mends, construction has picked up from the depths of the recession, thanks in large part to apartment and warehouse developers. Some observers have questioned whether investors are overbuilding, but so far, demand for space appears strong.

If that continues, Stater said, investors would buy more development sites, although demand for new parcels would likely be smaller than it was, say, 10 years ago.

Were probably back to a more-normal market for land, he said.

The supersized deals of last decade have all but disappeared, but acreage still sells in big chunks and at big prices.

Prices for apartment sites, for instance, have soared the past few years. Developer Eric Cohen, co-founder of the Calida Group, said it cost around $500,000 to $600,000 an acre for quality locations, and that Calida was buying a 15-acre site for $850,000 per acre.

Five or six years ago, his group paid about $180,000 an acre for fully graded land.

It was pretty crazy, he said.

Overall, sales volume is higher than it was during the recession; investors bought around 1,100 acres in both 2010 and 2011. But buyers scooped up more than 3,000 acres in both 2012 and 2013, Staters data show.

Homebuilders were grabbing more property amid an influx of home buyers who had been squeezed out of the resale market by investors, who were acquiring cheap homes in bulk to turn into rentals.

Those home investors have since backed out of southern Nevada in droves, making it easier for locals to buy a used house again. At the same time, new-home prices havent grown as fast as land prices, said broker Rick Hildreth of Land Advisors Organization, dampening construction.

Builders sold about 5,500 new homes in 2012; 7,300 in 2013; 6,000 in 2014; and 6,100 last year through November, according to Las Vegas-based Home Builders Research.

Homebuilders pushed up land prices during the brief buying binge. But now, brokers say, landowners often are asking too much.

Land investor and broker Scott Gragson, of Colliers, said a number of sellers are asking more than what homebuilders are willing pay.

If builders want to lower their profit margins, therell be more land sales. ... Personally, I dont know any builders that are willing to do that, Home Builders Research founder Dennis Smith said.

Another issue: Although the valley has plenty of vacant land  much of its owned by the federal government and available for sale through occasional auctions  some industry pros say theres a shortage of desirable, developable property.

Homebuilder Larry Canarelli, founder of American West Homes, said builders were having a very difficult time finding land to assemble in the southwest valley, the top-selling submarket.

That, however, can lead to lucrative opportunities.

Canarelli noted that he and Olympia Cos. founder Garry Goett teamed up to buy 160 acres of raw land for $5.15 million through a federal auction. They closed on the sale last May  and then flipped 83 acres of it in October to builder Richmond American Homes for almost $31 million.

Most of the large, publicly traded homebuilders that dominate Las Vegas market tried to acquire the land, Canarelli said.

It is just impossible to buy a site of this size, especially in the southwest part of the valley, he said.

There was a shortage of land even during the boom years, Smith said. That wasnt a problem during the recession when Las Vegas construction industry collapsed, but the shortage remains, he said.

In many cases, vacant land here is raw desert with no underground utilities, making development costs more expensive, a possible turn-off in todays far-from-roaring market.

Just because theres land doesnt mean its usable, Smith said.

Perhaps reflecting that are recent U.S. Bureau of Land Management auctions.

During the boom years last decade, homebuilders flooded BLM auctions, spending huge sums for massive chunks of land. In 2005, for instance, developer John Ritters Focus Property Group led a consortium that paid $510 million for roughly 1,700 acres, or $300,000 per acre, in northwest Las Vegas. Months later, Goett led a group that paid $639 million for 2,700 acres, or around $237,000 per acre, in North Las Vegas.

At a 2002 auction, a BLM spokesman said the energy and electricity at the packed event was simply breathtaking.

I wasnt even bidding, and my stomach was churning, he said.

That frenzy is long gone.

Last May, investors bought almost 358 acres at a BLM auction for $19.2 million, or $53,700 per acre. But they passed on 240 acres that also were offered that day.

In November, investors bought around 260 acres at auction for $32.6 million, or about $125,000 per acre  leaving 365 acres on the table.

Sales also are slow-going in and near the resort corridor. Broker John Knott, head of CBRE Groups global gaming group, said recently that the land market there had just kind of stayed stagnant, even though prices of some properties have been fair and reasonable.

We have several properties that are on the market, and none of them have really sold, he said.

Meanwhile, speculative land-buying was all too common during the bubble, and although its not as prevalent today, it hasnt completed faded.

Last summer, for instance, an investor bought 72 acres of bank-owned land in rural Pahrump, about 60 miles west of Las Vegas, for just $50,000, or $694 per acre.

At the time, listing broker Grant Traub of Colliers said it was a speculative purchase, and the buyer had some cash he wanted to invest.

As I understand it, he said, there were no plans whatsoever for the property.

Even if land sales pick up again, at least one person doesnt want a return to frenzied boom years.

Hildreth, of Land Advisors, said hed like to see steady growth but not the insanity of the real estate bubble.

Because thats what it was: insanity, he said.
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A Supreme Court decision still looms, but Apple and the Big Five publishers have won a minor legal battle stemming from their 2012 e-book price-fixing case. In separate orders, Judge Denise Cote has tossed a follow-on case filed by three defunct e-book retailers that claimed the alleged 2010 conspiracy to fix e-book prices forced them out of business.

In a 19-page opinion and order filed in December, Cote granted Apple and the publishers motion for summary judgment in a case filed by DNAML, with prejudice, holding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue because they were not the entity injured by the violation of the antitrust laws alleged here." In a separate decision, filed on January 22, Cote dismissed a related case against the agency publishers, filed by Abbey House Media, finding that the company had "not presented sufficient evidence to permit a jury to find that the failure of its business was due to [the e-book price-fixing] conspiracy." In April, 2015, Apple was dismissed from that action after a settlement in which both sides paid their own fees and costs.

First filed by Australian upstart DNAML in September of 2013 (and later joined by Lavoho, LLC, a "successor" to the Diesel eBook Store and Abbey House Media, formerly BooksOnBoard) the suits alleged that the fledgling e-book businesses were harmed "directly and as a proximate result" of the 2010 price-fixing scheme executed by Apple and the five agency publishers (Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan and Penguin).

Correction: this story was updated to include the decision against Abbey House Media. At press time, the related case filed by Diesel was still live.
I came [to Winter Institute] looking for broader issues, being in the Bay Area, said Casey Coonerty Protti, owner of Book Shop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, Calif., whose region is facing some of the steepest minimum wage increases in the country, coupled with rent hikes. Im glad were being so forward-looking.

At no event were booksellers more vocal about the big picture than the ABA Town Hall Meeting, led by ABA president Betsy Burton, owner of The Kings English in Salt Lake City, and v-p Robert Sindelar, managing partner of Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Wash.

Minimum wage concerns did come up at the meeting as did selling used books to increase margin. Quoting Paul Epstein of Twist and Shout Records in Denver, who spoke at the Building Resilient Communities Session, board member Annie Philbrick, owner of Bank Square Books in Mystic, Ct., said, If youre not selling used books, you should be selling used books.

Diversity was another topic discussed by booksellers. I want to see if the board would have an ongoing discussion about race and class, Paul Yamazaki, head book buyer at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, said. To come up with results-oriented practices, he suggested partnering with the American Association of University Presses and the Association of American Publishers and approaching the Ford Foundation for a grant.

Amazon, too, was on many booksellers minds, especially given the forums timing, following the release of the "Amazon and Empty Storefronts" survey. We heard some disturbing data this morning, Kevin Gillies, owner of City Stacks Books & Coffee in Denver, said. Alison Reid, co-owner of Diesel, a bookstore, with three stores in California, followed up on the letter-writing campaign suggested at Sundays session on Authors United and the Authors Guild. She asked the board to create petitions that booksellers can put in their stores to encourage the DoJ to investigate Amazon.

Part of the reason for Amazons dominance is that there are certain cities that dont have bookstores at all, said Michael Herrmann, owner of Gibsons Bookstore in Concord, N.H. He questioned whether ABA could help finance prospective booksellers. Theres a resurgence in independent bookstores, but it isnt keeping pace with the need around the country, board member John Evans, co-owner of Diesel, acknowledged, adding that it would be problematic for ABA to set up a bank.

Amazons search engine in particula drew the attention from Jesica Sweedler DeHart, co-manager of childrens books and gift buyer at BookPeople of Moscow in Moscow, Idaho, who questioned why the ABA cant have one as good. Amazon is where I go to and where customers go to get information. If nothing else add [childrens book] series, she said. It would at least have us as booksellers going to IndieBound.

Amazon isnt the only company that should be investigated, according to George Kiskaddon, a partner at Builders Booksource in Berkeley, Calif., who attacked the credit card industry for anti-trust practices. The Europeans dont put up with it, he said. Their swipe fees are lower.

Christin Evans of Booksmith in San Francisco and Keplers in Menlo Park, asked about the status of the ABA pilot program to sell books on IndieBound.org. V-p Sindelar noted that the six month test/fact-finding mission is only half over and was begun because of the unacceptable conversion rate for browsers to book buyers, .01%. I can tell you there was a change, but he declined to say more until the pilot is complete.

And a perennial bookstore problem also arose. Neal Sofman, owner of Bookshop West Portal in San Francisco, requested that the board add damaged books to the docket for its Publishers Relations Committee.
A user of WhatsApp gets a message ready. JULIAN ROJAS

Almost 470 million people speak Spanish as their native language around the world, while another 21 million study it as a second language. Whats more its the third-most-widely spoken language on the internet and the second on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, according to the latest report by the Instituto Cervantes. But the state-funded body responsible for teaching Spanish around the world also warns of what it calls the poor state of spoken and written Spanish.

Almost eight percent of internet users speak to each other in Spanish, a ratio that reflects its spectacular growth over the last two decades

I have said this many times and I repeat my words: the state of Spanish is shabby, says Victor Garcia de la Concha, the head of the Instituto Cervantes and a member of Spains Royal Academy of Spanish (RAE), expressing the concerns of academics and teachers. The reasons are to do with people not reading enough, or reading poor-quality material, along with not having been taught the language properly, Garcia de la Concha explains.

During his time as head of the RAE, Garcia de la Concha was responsible for creating what he called pan-Hispanic global alliances. This was a time of expansion. During the final phase of his tenure, in the last four years, resources have been scarce, but he has made a virtue out of necessity and encouraged stronger ties with Latin America.

His experience has made him optimistic about the figures, but pessimistic toward what he sees as the qualitative decline of the language. Neither does he blame the digital age directly: The experts warn us that there is no clear relationship between the increasingly present signs and impoverishment, but we still lack perspective on this, says Garcia de la Concha. In his opinion, the answers are largely in the hands of the politicians, as well as the independence of the Instituto Cervantes. It would be desirable for this institution to have a more independent management model, like that of the Prado Museum or the National Library. We dont want to be subject to political comings and goings.

He speaks from experience. The position he now occupies has been suffering a kind of funneling effect within the framework of a political war between the Culture and Foreign ministries, a war that dates back to the previous Socialist Party-run administration (2004 to 2011), and that continues today under the government of Mariano Rajoy.

A global language, adapted to the worldwide web There are 559 million Spanish speakers around the world, ranging from native speakers to those with just a basic grasp of the language.

Some 6.7 percent of the 7.2 billion inhabitants of the planet are already Spanish speaking, compared to Russian or French and German speakers, who make up just 2.2 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively.

It is the world's second-most-widely spoken language, taking into account native speakers, those with limited knowledge, and students.

As a mother tongue, it is the second-most-widely spoken language, after Mandarin Chinese.

Demography helps, given that the population of Latin American countries continues to grow, while the proportion of English and Chinese speakers is falling.

Spanish is the third-most used language on the internet, after English and Chinese.

Some 7.9 percent of internet users communicate in Spanish.

It is the second-most-used language on the social networks.

Use of Spanish has grown by 1,100 percent between 2000 and 2013.

By 2030, Spanish speakers will make up 7.5 percent of the world's population.

Within three or four generations, a 10th of the world will be able to speak and communicate in Spanish.

Both ministries have launched battles for control of the Instituto Cervantes, and with it power over policy of something as strategic as Spanish, since former Culture Minister Cesar Antonio Molina tried to bring it under his ministrys ambit. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo and Jose Maria Lassalle, the secretary of state for culture, have not let up during the last four years.

A growing number of voices are arguing that giving the Cervantes greater autonomy would help resolve the internecine warfare. The current power vacuum has illustrated the problem.

There are other signs of optimism in the figures, as was outlined last week by the authors of the Instituto Cervantes report, David Fernandez Vitores of Madrids Complutense University, and Jose Montero Reguera, of the University of Vigo. The group of potential users who are native speakers and with more limited use today reaches some 559 million people around the world. In 2030, 7.5 percent of the world population will be Spanish speaking. At present, the figure is 6.7 percent, much higher than Russian speakers (2.2 percent) and just 1.1 percent for French and German.

Spanish has also benefited from being widely spoken in the United States and Great Britain.

Almost eight percent of internet users speak to each other in Spanish, a ratio that reflects the spectacular growth of use of the language over the last two decades.
If you thought all leather was created equal, there might be another side to the hide.
A Davenport man on parole, who later wrote to a Scott County District Judge saying the thought of prison is terrifying and that he wanted to become someone beneficial to this world, was arrested Thursday by Davenport Police for allegedly possessing a firearm and selling ecstasy and marijuana.
HILLSDALE  John H. Collier, no age listed, of Hillsdale, is wanted for disorderly conduct related to a 911 call at 10:50 p.m. on Jan. 8 to the Rock Island County sheriff's office.

Sheriff Gerry Bustos said the 911 call is directly related to the investigation involving Hillsdale Police Chief Paul Garza. At last Tuesday's village board meeting, Mayor Mike Lambrecht announced the village received a 911 call accusing Chief Garza of "conduct which would violate criminal laws of the state of Illinois."

At the meeting, Mayor Lambrecht said the sheriff's department found no evidence to believe a crime was committed and determined no further investigation was necessary. Sheriff Bustos, who was at the meeting, corrected the mayor and said the incident was still under investigation.

On Monday, Sheriff Bustos said, other than potential future court dates, the investigation into the chief is complete.

"Hillsdale Police Chief Garza did nothing wrong," Sheriff Bustos said.

Sheriff Bustos said he will not comment on an ongoing investigation into sanitary district funds.

Chief Garza could not be reached for comment Monday.
MOLINE -- It's time for an up-or-down vote both on Gov. Bruce Rauner's "turnaround agenda" and a state budget, state Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, said at a Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce event on Monday.

Illinois has gone almost seven months without a budget, largely because Gov. Rauner has insisted any budget deal be tied to the turnaround agenda, which includes a raft of anti-union measures that are vehemently opposed by Democrats.

Rep. Moffit, a veteran Republican lawmaker who is retiring after this year's elections, told a legislative forum organized by the chamber at Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center in Moline that it was time for action.

"Let's have an up-or-down vote, see where the chips will fall," he said. "Let's vote on the turnaround agenda, get a bill on the governor's desk or prove that we can or can't get it there."

The turnaround agenda includes a proposal to allow local governments to forgo bargaining for wages and benefits with unions and other measures likely to hurt organized labor.

Gov. Rauner's spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said Monday afternoon the governor agreed with Rep. Moffitt that it was time for lawmakers to vote on his policy proposals, although Democrats already have voted down several parts of the turnaround agenda.

Democrats passed a $36 billion budget last year, but it was vetoed by the governor because it was $4 billion short of estimated revenue.

"Let's have an up-or-down vote on the $36 billion in spending but only if attached to that is the revenue to support $36 billion, in other words, can we actually fund it," Rep. Moffitt said.

Gov. Rauner has suggested he's willing to negotiate with Democrats on raising taxes to meet proposed spending but only if his reforms are included in any deal.

Rep. Moffitt said it was time for the governor and leaders of both parties to understand "there's a time that half a loaf is better than no loaf" and to "quit hiding" and pass a budget. He urged members of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce to communicate that message directly to the governor.

"It's going to be more important that it come from the business groups, really, than from us at this point because we've been pretty blunt behind closed doors, but what happens behind closed doors in caucus stays there. We have relayed your message loud and clear there, but I think the governor needs to hear it," he said.

Most of the things the state funds have continued to be funded during the budget impasse because of court orders and laws.

But the areas that are not being funded include colleges and many nonprofits that depend on state funding to provide services to seniors and the disabled.

Last week, it was announced that Intouch Adult Day Services in Moline would close Feb. 26 with 70 job losses because it could no longer continue without state funding.

State Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Rock Island, also spoke at Monday's chamber event. He said he was troubled by the news that Intouch was closing its doors, but he said it could be many months before lawmakers and the governor agree on a budget.

"The talk is that it's going to be after the election in November. The saddest part is we all know what the elephant in the room is and why. It's because of politics; there's an election coming up, and that's disgusting to me," he said.

Democrats have shown a willingness to compromise with the governor by cutting spending, said state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, and in other areas such as worker's compensation. But Rep. Smiddy, who was not present at the chamber event, said the governor has not shown any willingness to find common ground.
Jenna Kinyon, of Bettendorf, speaks with Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum on Monday about his trade policy at the Fairmount Street branch of the Davenport Public Library. Mr. Santorum asked about 35 attendees to caucus for him on Feb. 1. Mr Santorum, who is polling 1.2 percent in Iowa, according to the Real Clear Politics average, described himself as the Republican candidate most likely to win the general election. He said he has a history of uniting Republicans and Democrats on important issues. "I need you to represent me," Mr. Santorum said. "This is a chance for you to shake things up, Iowa."
Jessica Lewis Colker, 39, of Atlanta, was found dead after her husband ran to get help following the attack, which occurred around noon Sunday on a remote stretch of coast along the island's southeast, said Sylvan McIntyre, an assistant superintendent with the Royal Grenada Police Force.

A suspect was in custody.

Colker and her husband, Brian Van Melito, had arrived on Grenada a day before the assault and were staying at a hotel near where the attack occurred in an area of beach and mangrove in St. David Parish, McIntrye said.

They had walked from the more popular La Sagesse beach at the time to a more remote spot. "It is an area where you can go off for a moment of privacy and seclusion," he said.

Colker worked as a physician's assistant at a children's hospital in metro Atlanta. Van Melito is a physician. The couple, who met at a dance workshop in Costa Rica, married in November 2014, according to an online wedding album.

"Jessica was a valued member of our Children's team," Children's Healthcare of Atlanta said in a statement. "We are deeply saddened by this horrific news. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this very difficult time."

The motive for the attack was unknown. The husband told the police that he fought with the man, managed to get away and call for help. Police and residents of the area launched a search and found Colker's body about an hour later in the woods. An autopsy found she died of extensive skull fracture and asphyxia.

La Sagesse Nature Center, the hotel where the couple had been staying, is secluded. A comment on the travel website TripAdvisor from March 10, 2015, warns of robbers on the beach: "We were robbed of all our cash today by a man wearing a mask and wielding a machete" in the daytime.

Mike Meranski, one of the hotel's owners, denied that any of his guests had been robbed on the beach. "We have not had to deal with such an incident before until Sunday," he said. "Things might have happened to other guests or people but not ours."

McIntyre said the suspect was cooperating with the investigation but had not yet been charged by late Tuesday. Under local laws, now that he has been detained the police cannot name him until charges are filed.

Before he surrendered to authorities, police identified him as a 23-year-old who had been convicted of robbery and burglary in 2009. The earlier police statement also said he had been convicted of a sex offense in 2013 and sentenced to seven years but released in November after taking part in a reform program.
A Microsoft store in New York. Chris Goodney (Bloomberg)

The Spanish Tax Agency is asking tech giant Microsofts local subsidiary for 30 million in owed corporate tax.

Microsoft Iberica already owed 11.9 million in back taxes since 2011, but on April 8, 2015 authorities added a further 18.6 million to the bill, raising the total to over 30 million, as reflected in the latest company filings at the Business Registry.

Despite a drop in sales, Microsoft Ibericas profits grew 19.2% from 8.4 million to 10.02 million

The new sum is the result of an inspection of Microsoft Ibericas tax filings for 2007, 2008 and 2009, which established that the company owed 18.6 million. Microsoft has appealed that sum before the Central Economic-Administrative Court.

By then, Microsofts Spanish subsidiary already owed 11.9 million in back taxes from the fiscal years 2004 and 2005, according to a 2011 decision by tax inspectors. The company also appealed that sanction before the same court, which rejected the claim. Microsoft then turned to the High Court, which has yet to reach a decision.

Microsoft Iberica closed the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 with a 0.7% drop in sales compared with the previous year, for a total of 166.7 million, according to company filings.

But most Spanish sales are really handled by Microsoft Ireland, which has lower corporate tax. Microsoft Iberica receives a fee for sales support, marketing and other activities.

Despite the drop in sales, Microsoft Ibericas profits grew 19.2% from 8.4 million to 10.02 million.

Authorities in Spain, like elsewhere, have been scrutinizing large corporations tax avoidance strategies. Besides internet and tech companies, Spanish fashion retailer Zara has also come under fire for such practices.

English version by Susana Urra.
A consortium of Bachy Soletanche Singapore and Wai Fong Construction has been awarded a $S 294m contract to build Tanjong Rhu station, while Shanghai Tunnel Engineering (Singapore) will construct Katong Park station under a deal worth $S 293m. A joint venutre of Ssanyong Engineering & Construction and Hyundai Engineering & Construction has been awarded a $S 361m contract to build Marine Terrace station.

The 13km East Coast section of the TEL will link Sungai Bedok in the east with Tanjong Rhu in the west, connecting an area of the island which is not currently connected to the rail network with the city centre. The section will have nine stations, including an interchange with the Downtown Line at Sungei Bedok.

The seven-station section between Tanjong Rhu and Bayshore is due to open in 2023, with the remainder of the East Coast section to Sungai Bedok scheduled for completion a year later.

LTA awarded the first civil works contracts for the project last November.
The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) elected its 2016 slate of officers at the annual winter meeting earlier in January.

Michael Jones, Transportation Manager, North Dakota Mill, Grand Forks, N.Dak., has been named President; Michael Barth, Vice President Transportation and Logistics, United Sugars, Moorhead, Minn., has been named First Vice President; and Harry Zander, Senior Vice President, Element Rail Finance, Chicago, Ill., has been named Second Vice President. Also joining the MARS Executive Committee is first-time member Kathy Bathurst, Senior Account Manager, with CSX Transportation in Oak Brook, Ill.

Another record of more than 650 registrations were received for the recent two-day 2016 Winter Meeting in Lombard, Ill., where the officers were elected. The MARS 2016 Annual Summer Meeting will be held July 1112 at the Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, Wis.
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When the New York Police Department (NYPD) issued one of the earliest reports on radicalization, in 2007, not much had been published on the subject. Radicalization in the West looked at five cases abroad, three in the United States and two relating to New York. The subjects in all of these cases had been convicted of carrying out or plotting terrorist attacks. The research question was: How did they get there? That question has not gone away.

In the preface to the NYPD report, then-Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly wrote that it seeks to contribute to the debate among intelligence and law enforcement agencies on how best to counter this emerging threat by better understanding what constitutes the radicalization process. That report is now being officially disowned.

The report's observations on the Internet were particularly prescient  it called it a driver and enabler for the process of radicalization. In other ways, conclusions made in 2007 have been overtaken by events, including changes in patterns of radicalization and the greater use of social media, which hardly existed when the report was written.

The NYPD report was not a secret document. It was posted on the NYPD website to prompt discussion, but interested parties may soon have to look for it elsewhere. In settling two lawsuits that alleged that the NYPD had unlawfully conducted investigations of Muslims, New York City recently agreed to purge the report.

The lawsuits did not result in findings of wrongdoing, and the settlement leaves in place, with minor changes, existing NYPD rules and procedures called the Handschu guidelines. The major addition to existing protocols is the addition of a monitor, a lawyer to be appointed by the mayor to sit in on the regular Handschu Committee meetings within the NYPD. The committee decides whether to open and continue cases and reviews investigative methods for compliance with applicable standards. So they have added another lawyer to help ensure there is no wrongdoing where no wrongdoing was found, but it may reassure critics and is unlikely to do any harm.

While the appointment of a monitor has some rational connection to the harm alleged in the lawsuits, officially purging the radicalization report raises questions about intentions. Certainly, no one believes that radicalization of terrorist violence has ceased to be a national concern. There is the potential for violence by white supremacists, anti-government extremists and other fanatics, and the ideology of Islamic extremism  the term is used by the governments of Muslim majority countries  continues to be a source of terrorist inspiration and instruction. Police intelligence operations and investigations targeting potential terrorist activity will continue, including those by the New York City Police Department. Since 9/11, the NYPD has worked with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to foil numerous jihadist terrorist plots in New York, including two in 2015.

Moreover, the report will remain available on the Internet. Its repudiation is therefore purely symbolic, but what, exactly, is being repudiated?

One can readily understand the sensitivity of Muslim Americans, who resent close scrutiny by authorities and argue that their religion or ethnicity ought not to make them targets of intelligence. Is New York saying that the Muslim community is off-limits to police investigation? While discrimination is contrary to American values and law, the nature of the threat dictates the social geography of intelligence collection. Religion alone cannot make any community a target of the intelligence inquiries. Neither does it provide immunity from legitimate intelligence generated by leads and law enforcement investigations.

This is true throughout recent history. When the threat of terrorism came from Ku Klux Klan members and other racists responsible for bombing black churches and killing civil rights workers, intelligence efforts focused on white Southerners. When anti-Castro Cubans carried on a bombing campaign in Florida, intelligence efforts focused on the Cuban community. The same was true when authorities were dealing with Puerto Rican, Armenian and Jewish terrorists.

So the purging of this report  the repudiation, if you will  may give the plaintiffs satisfaction by symbolically breaking the connection between the current mayoral administration and the NYPD's previous intelligence and investigative efforts. But its significance seems questionable. The NYPD will continue investigations to find radicalized men and women, and the purging of the report will have no bearing whatsoever on research and analysis exploring violent extremism, including within Muslim communities.

Jenkins is the senior adviser to the president of the nonprofit RAND Corporation and from 2003 to 2013 served as an informal advisor to the New York Police Department's Intelligence and Counterterrorism Divisions. Daddario was the NYPD's deputy commissioner for counterterrorism from 2010 to 2013.

This commentary originally appeared on The Hill on January 26, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Nollywood online entertainment platform iROKO has secured funding of US$19 million from French broadcaster Canal+ and returning investor Kinnevik.





Of this, $12 million is capital funding for the companys business and technology development, while the remaining $7 million will be used for content development, according to TechCrunch.The service, which can be viewed through a website or Android app, now offers up to 3,000 titles on demand ( VOD ), having financed and produced about 100 hours of content with Nigerias Nollywood studios in 2015.iROKO now plans to collaborate with up to 20 studios on popular content such as romantic comedies, high drama and Christian themed-shows.In addition, it is looking at ways to improve its service for mobile subscribers in Africa, who are challenged by the high cost of data and the slow, unreliable local Internet connections.Jason Njoku, founder of iROKO, told TechCrunch that video streaming has been replaced by unlimited downloads for subscribers, adding that the cost of streaming data was unimaginable to our customers, so we are in the process of re-encoding all our files to be between 50 to 100 megabytes.The content, which is predominantly made in Nigerias national language English, has recently been made available in French through a tie-up with Canal+ , and the company is now looking to cater to West African audiences with added languages.iROKO has raised a total of $34 million since its launch in September 2011 but reportedly hopes to generate positive cash flow by the end of 2016.
MOSCOW, January 26 (RAPSI)  An investigation into the murder of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemstov has been completed, Musa Khadisov, a lawyer for one of the suspects in the killing, told RAPSI on Tuesday.

After all the suspects get acquanted with case materials, they would be forwarded to the prosecutor's office for indictment, Khadisov said.

Nemtsov, 55, was murdered in central Moscow as he walked across a bridge near the Kremlin on February 28, 2015.

Five suspects were detained in the case, including the suspected trigger man Zaur Dadayev. He initially confessed to the killing but later said in court that he made the admission under pressure.

In December, police named the alleged mastermind behind the high-profile murder, Ruslan Mukhudinov, a former officer in Chechen Interior Ministry.

Mukhudinov was added to a federal wanted list and placed on an international wanted list. He fled Russia using a fake passport, according to investigators.

Vadim Prokhorov, a lawyer for the Nemtsov family, said that Mukhudinov was unable to have masterminded the murder.
The U.S. is facing a retirement crisis. About one third of Americans have no retirement savings, and most don't have enough savings to retire comfortably. One main cause of this financial shortfall: more than 60 million American workers have no retirement plan offered to them by their employer.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued a rule proposal intended to encourage more employers to offer a retirement plan to their workers. Specifically, the DOL proposed to exempt from ERISA, the federal pension law, state-sponsored plans for individual retirement accounts (IRAs). These state plans would require employers that do not already offer any retirement program to forward to the plan a state-specified percentage of their workers' salaries. These monies would be invested as retirement savings, unless workers opted out of this state-sponsored plan.

The DOL proposal is an understandable response to the failure of Congress to pass federal legislation for a similar program called the Automatic IRA -- with regular contributions from workers without retirement plans unless they opted out. However, the DOL proposal gives too much leeway to the states in offering their own versions of the Automatic IRA.

Here is the background to the DOL proposal. Most employers without retirement plans run small businesses with fewer than 100 workers. These employers do not want the financial burdens of operating and contributing to a retirement plan.

Of course, their workers could apply and contribute to an IRA at a financial institution; that contribution would be excluded from their taxable income. Nevertheless, despite good intentions to save for retirement, most of these workers never get around to opening their own IRA.

By contrast, workers in firms above a certain size without retirement plans would be required to contribute to a state IRA plan -- unless they chose to opt out, initially and then annually. Such an opt-out procedure, as opposed to an opt in application, has been shown to dramatically increase worker participation in retirement plans.

Given the multiple opportunities for workers to opt out, the DOL proposal correctly characterizes state IRA plans as "voluntary." That is legally necessary for these plans to avoid violating ERISA's preemption of most state retirement laws. For the same reason, the DOL proposal narrowly confines the role of private sector employers to connecting their payrolls to state IRA plans; these employers are not permitted to make contributions to these plans.

On the other hand, the DOL proposal undermines a key purpose of ERISA: Congress did not want to impose different state requirements for retirement plans on private sector employers. For example, California requires any employer with more than 5 workers to connect its payroll to the state IRA plan, while Illinois requires such a connection for any employer with more than 25 workers.

To reinforce its position that state IRA plans are not preempted by federal law under ERISA, the DOL proposal further provides that a state must be "responsible for investing the employee savings or for selecting investment alternatives for employees to choose." This provision is based on the premise that state governments, rather than employers, will make administrative and investment decisions for retirement plans in the best interests of plan participants. Yet this premise could be questioned, since some states have not done a good job in running retirement plans for their own employees.

Under ERISA, pension managers are fiduciaries -- personally responsible to act prudently and solely in the best interests of plan participants. Unfortunately, the DOL proposal does not expressly subject state officials responsible for a state IRA plan to strict fiduciary standards or tough prohibitions against conflicts of interest. These ERISA standards and prohibitions should become express conditions of the DOL exemption.

The DOL should be particularly concerned by the serious discussions among certain state officials about offering "guaranteed" returns to workers in state IRA plans. There are few real guarantees in the financial world. That's why the Automatic IRA was designed at the federal level as a defined contribution plan, where retirement benefits would be based on investment performance. But "guaranteed" returns would turn state sponsored IRAs into defined benefit plans -- creating new fiscal challenges for states that already face large unfunded pension obligations.

Fortunately, most states seem ready to adopt a more sensible model for their IRA plans. They want to hire professional firms to process IRA contributions and invest them in appropriate funds. These funds would include default investments for workers who don't make any investment choice -- such as diversified balanced funds with a fixed mixture of stocks and bonds, or target date funds that gradually increase their bond over their stock component as a cohort of workers approaches retirement age.

In short, it would be optimal for Congress to adopt an Automatic IRA as a defined contribution plan with uniform federal rules. If that is not politically feasible, the DOL should try to minimize conflicts among state IRA plans and to constrain the role of state governments in investing worker contributions.

Most importantly, the ERISA exemption of DOL should include conditions requiring states to hire qualified financial professionals to invest worker contributions in diversified funds, independently managed with appropriate asset allocations. Those conditions would be designed to assure that state IRA plans would advance the best interests of participating workers.
Fadma Abdeselam with her son outside their home in Melilla. Antonio Ruiz

Fadma Abdeselam grabbed her nine-year-old son, Aiub, who is epileptic, and dragged him out into the street while the house shook. They were still in their pajamas and feeling really scared.

The plates and glasses went crashing to the floor, recalls the 52-year-old, half a day after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked Melilla in the early hours of Monday morning. The cupboards kept shaking. It was almost impossible to walk because the movement would hurl you against the walls.

It was almost impossible to walk because the movement would hurl you against the walls

Emergency services reported that 26 people sustained minor injuries as a result of the tremor and around a dozen homes had to be evacuated. A number of streets in this Spanish exclave city surrounded by Moroccan territory were cut off to traffic as a result of the debris that had fallen from buildings. Schools were closed for the day, and residents are still living in fear. Many people spent Monday night out in the open air or slept in their cars, scared that fresh tremors might catch them in their homes again.

I was sleeping when I felt strong shaking, says Ibrahim El Funti, 42, who runs a newspaper stand near the port area. It was so strong that it threw me out of bed. With hands that are still shaking, he recounts how he ran outside with his wife and two children.

We were trying to stay calm so my children, who are seven and 10, wouldnt get scared. But tears were coming out of my eyes as I tried to explain to them what was happening, recalls Ibrahim.

But the worst part came later, outside, when we felt the second strong earthquake. We were holding on to a handrail, and first we noticed it vibrating slightly, then very intensely. The thought that it might happen again makes me panic.

The quake hit at 5.22am, catching most people in bed, and there were 46 aftershocks between then and 6am.

A regular occurrence J. J. G. The Geological and Mining Institute of Spain notes that the epicenter of the quake is located in a part of the Alboran Sea  the westernmost section of the Mediterranean  that is prone to tremors. A significant area of active faults has been recognized in this sector of the Alboran Sea, explains a spokesperson, recalling two other large quakes registered here in 1994 and 2004. Just last week, there was a 4.9 tremor in the area.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and King Felipe VI telephoned city leader Juan Jose Imbroda on Monday to inquire about the effects of the earthquake.

Its been a major fright for the people of Melilla, but we hope to be back to normal throughout the day, said Imbroda, who is asking residents to ignore rumors about further tremors.

Lucia Abad, 24, lives with her parents and sister on a ground floor of Estrella Polar, one of the buildings worst hit by the quake, situated behind the citys hospital. Passing drivers stop and point at the enormous six-meter crack running along the top of the front wall on this six-story building.

When I felt the earthquake I wanted to die, because I immediately remembered the one in 2014 [which reached 6.5 on the Richter scale], says Lucia. When I got out of bed, I felt dizzy. She adds that she bumped her head against the wall when she stood up.

Eleven families have been asked to leave their homes because of structural damage, said the local government.

Fadma Abdeselam was allowed back into her home at 11am after spending several hours outdoors with her son, who slept under some blankets.

Now we are thinking about where we will stay tonight. We dont want to stay here, she says as her son looks out the window.

English version by Susana Urra.
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Family members of the five missing youths hold a protest in Veracruz. EFE

More information Los padres de cinco jovenes desaparecidos claman por su regreso

Jose Benitez de la O finished working at his parents tortilla factory and left for the resort city of Veracruz on Saturday January 9. He was accompanied by four friends, and was planning on celebrating his birthday.

On Monday, when the group was returning to their homes in Playa Vicente, they were stopped by police in Tierra Banca, a municipality near the Veracruz and Oaxaca state border.

Security footage shows how officers put the friends in a police vehicle and drove off. Since then, their whereabouts are unknown.

They were all friends of the same age, schoolmates, who never got into any trouble, says Jose Benitez, the father of one of the missing.

Playa Vicente is a small municipality of about 8,900 residents. Because there was little to do in the town, the friends would often go to Veracruz for fun.

Traveling with Benitezs son was his nephew Bernardo Benitez Arroniz, and friends Mario Arturo Orozco, Alfredo Gonzalez Diaz and Susana Tapia Garibo.

They were all friends of the same age, elementary schoolmates, who never got into any trouble

They went to a disco in Veracruz called La Berrinchuda and later slept over at a cousins house.

On Sunday, 24-year-old Jose Benitez de la O called his father to tell him that he would return at around 11am the following day. They decided to stop in Tierra Blanca to get something to eat. It was only two hours from Playa Vicente.

Susana Tapia, 16, texted her mother that she would be home some after going for some tacos. But they never made it.

A neighbor witnessed how the officers questioned the young group of friends and approached. One of them told him it was just a routine stop.

But the neighbor became concerned and called the parents, who immediately tried to reach their children on their cellphones.

Images from a security camera in the area, which were later released, show how the police put the group inside a vehicle and drove down a main road. Since then, no one has seen or heard from them.

The incident has become bitter reminder of the still-unsolved case of 43 teaching students who went missing in Iguala, Guerrero state in September 2014.

That police operation took place between 11 and 11.30am in broad daylight, says Benitez. We just want them back. They are good kids who graduated from school, so they cant be involved in any drug-trafficking problems or mixed up with the cartels.

Two days after they went missing, 33 police officers were arrested and taken to the Veracruz state attorney generals office for questioning. As of now, seven of the officers have been charged with forced disappearance.

A video released later shows how the officers put the friends in a police vehicle and drove off

The parents spend their days meeting with local, state and federal authorities who promise they will find them.

I dont care who they arrested, all I want is my son back home, says the desperate father.

Last weekend, authorities arrested an alleged hitman from the New Generation of Jalisco Cartel in Tierra Blanca. Authorities say that Francisco Navarrete Serna heads a group of drug distributors and kidnappers who are based in Veracruzs main square.

Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte believes that Navarretes gang was responsible for kidnapping the five friends.

On Monday, 100 people  mostly family members of missing people in Veracruz  formed a symbolic circle around the attorney generals offices. The protestors demanded the resignation of public security secretary Arturo Bermudez and chief prosecutor Luis Angel Bravo.

Located on Mexicos Gulf coast, Veracruz is one of the states that has been under siege in the Mexican governments war against drug traffickers.

Cartels have fought for control of the strategic port location, which is a transshipment point for narcotics. Many people have been killed in the bloody battles while hundreds have been reported missing.

Governor Duarte has also come under fire by his opponents, who have accused him of corruption. Recently he has been subjected to public scrutiny for the number of journalists who have been killed in his state since he came to office.

English version by Martin Delfin.
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A senior housing and market-rate complex called the Gibson Plaza was opened on Grand Avenue. The 56-unit project that was partially funded by a $9 million community fund was developed by the Pinnacle Group.

According to The Real Deal, $9 million has been allocated by Commissioner Xavier Suarez in Better Community Bonds aiming to start the development in the West Grove. "Most of our high-rises in our portfolio are built using low-income tax credits," Michael Wohl said.

West Grove has Gibson Plaza as one of its new developments, although Coconut Grove has seen a group of developments including retail and luxury residential in the east side throughout this real estate cycle. Thus, luxury residential projects near the bay at Grand Bay and Park Grove are on its way.

CocoWalk, an outdoor mall located in the commercial core, was sold to Federal Realty Investment Trust, Comras Company and Grass River Company, planning to reshuffle the tenant roster. The newly renovated Engle Building across the Main Highway will have new retail like Buro Group, Panther Coffee, Harry's Pizzeria, Clyde Butcher gallery and Kit and Ace. The properties near Gibson Plaza, which are marketed as development sites, have hit the market in the past few months as well.

Pinnacle Housing Group said that the project is the first major multi-family residential development in West Grove for 50 years. It is located at 3629 Grand Avenue, Miami, as reported by Miami Herald.

A historically Bahamian neighborhood, West Grove has lost most of its population, mostly the middle class, as they have gone into poverty and neglect. However, the Coconut Grove's waterfront and downtown sections are being revived as the developers build ultra-luxury condo towers on Bayshore Drive.

On the other hand, the project also received aid from nonprofit group Collaborative Development Corporation, the Theodore Roosevelt Gibson Memorial Fund and Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Foundation of Miami Dade College. Workforce training and on-site classes to residents and local will be offered by the college.
The world is changing, especially for female brokers in the real estate world. A new generation of women is seeking to lead the charge in industrial real estate.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Lillie Cawthorn, a commercial property expert, said that women are a rising force in the world of industrial real estate which for many of them is more tempting because it is more affordable than buying homes. Cawthorn added that they also get better rents and usually serve up returns of 7 to 10 percent, while residential real estate only give somewhere from 2 to 5 percent. At present, Cawthorn manages 30 female-owned industrial properties.

Jessica Gasparovic is one of the women interested in venturing into this kind of property market. She is considering buying a factory or a warehouse in Seven Hills. According to her, one of the biggest challenges so far is how to become more comfortable in the world of industrial real estate. She added that women look at industrial real estate with fear because they have this preconceived notion that it is full of mechanics and a workplace only fit for men. She realized that it is not the actual case and women do have their place in the industry.

One example of industrial property is the 50-square-meter warehouse on Huntley St. in Alexandria which was sold last October for $216,000. Now, it is being leased for $290 per square meter, with an annual return of 7 percent.

Meanwhile, in the report by Stuff, the same thing is happening in the world of commercial real estate. Three women are planning to take on the Wellington's commercial real estate sector. Georgina Young, Michelle Chadwick and Janette Lillas all work for Colliers International. The firm is a United States-based global commercial real estate services organization. With commercial real estate often seen as a typically male-dominated world just like industrial real estate, the trio is looking to prove that gender is not an issue when it comes to providing high quality real estate services.
Australian lending firm, Pepper, becomes one of the newest player in the mortgage market in Ireland. Pepper brings most competitive mortgage rates, primarily targeting first-time homebuyers. Pepper also aims to attract clients switching from their current mortgage loan providers and those who are taking out buy-to-let mortgages.

Pepper aims to provide access to loans those who have been rejected by other banks in the country. So while the rates from Australia's finance giant is not the lowest in Irish market, it is expected to be really competitive.

According to The Irish Times, Pepper will offer as low as 3.55 percent mortgage rate to first-time buyers and buy-to-let investors. Self-employed, meanwhile, can enjoy a 3.8 percent rate, while those you have low credit score due to the financial market slump in the past years will be charged 4.3 percent.

Michael Dowling, chair of the Irish Brokers' Association mortgage committee, said of Pepper's expansion in Ireland, "It is positive a new entrant is coming in and it will encourage others to look at the Irish market."

In a report from Independent.ie, Pepper's entry in the country's mortgage market has prompted the Bank of Ireland to introduce a new 10 percent bonus for clients buying a home for the first time and saving up money for a deposit. First-time buyers are said to enjoy up to 80,000 savings with a 10 percent bonus, which means a top-up of 8,000. Bank of Ireland currently offers a rate of 2 percent for new mortgage loans which is proving to be attractive.

Independent.ie said that Pepper's mortgage products will be available through brokers only and there will be a 0.5 percent processing charge, capped at 1,800, which can be added to the borrowed amount. For now, only those who are in the greater Dublin area, Cork, Galway and Limerick can avail Pepper's services.
Costa Rica is known for providing a different kind of luxury known as eco-luxury. However, even before this type of resorts became popular, Lapa Rios Ecolodge was already there, making a difference in the hotel industry and providing one-of-a-kind Costa Rica vacations.

According to Forbes, the Costa Rica eco-luxury hotel is remotely situated in the wild Osa Peninsula. It is said to offer "real Central American wilderness," which is perfect for travelers looking to experience unique Costa Rica vacations.

iescape dubs Lapa Rios "the shining star of all Costa Rica's sustainable tourism projects." Here, guests get to fully enjoy what nature has to offer with its freestanding bungalows perched on a hillside, offering tranquil views of a rainforest and Pacific Ocean. The Costa Rica resort also has private patios with hammocks, where guests can relax while watching monkeys from afar and listening to the sounds of tropical birds. Other eco-luxury amenities of the place are outdoor showers and open-air dining restaurant. Since it's a sustainable tourism project, there's no air conditioning and minimal lights throughout the hotel.

Guests who wish to cool off during their Costa Rica vacation can do so in the Lapa Rios' chemical-free pool. There's also a beach that's just a 10-minute walk away from the hotel, although guests should expect a steep uphill climb in getting back to the resort, which is part of the experience and adventure.

According to iescape's review of the place, Lapa Rios perfectly combines comfort with wilderness with its cozy beds, amazing beaches, and sumptuous organic food. The Costa Rica resort even offers cocktails perfect for chilling out as guests look out into and appreciate the beauty of the wilderness.
Last Sunday, Jan. 24, HGTV debuted its newest home renovation show entitled "Home Town." Like many of its hit shows such as "Fixer Upper" and "Flip or Flop," the new show is hosted by real-life couple Erin and Ben Nappier.

"Home Town" follows the husband and wife duo as they go around their little town in Laurel, Mississippi, helping new residents to find a house and make it a home.

HGTV Home Town  Erin and Ben Nappier https://t.co/9MKtnx6uPx via @CountryLiving pic.twitter.com/nUCsjzqbY0  HGTV Top News (@HGTVTopNews) January 23, 2016

"There's a big group of young families doing what it takes to restore these old houses," Erin, a print designer by profession, told HottyToddy.com.

Ben, a master at wood work, emphasized that they wanted to showcase their little town through the program.

"The big part of the show is the history of Laurel," Ben said. "My degree in history lit a fire in me to learn more."

"We bring a team of local craftsmen and architects," Erin added. "We introduce them to the community and we put lot of Laurel's history into the home."

WDAM reported that during the show's premiere, Laurel's residents, including the hosts, gathered at the Arabian Theater in Laurel to watch the pilot episode.

"Twitter was blowing up and talking about 'Home Town' and talking about Laurel and how many homes are for sale in Laurel," Erin gushed.

Even Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant was in attendance, and praised the Nappiers for their work.

"It was great. Laurel has never looked so good, very proud of how they represented Mississippi," Gov. Bryant said.

While there are similar shows already airing on HGTV, Ben and Erin insist that theirs is more than just a home renovation show.

"It's a renovation show on paper, but it's a show about finding your place in a small town at its heart," Erin told Hooked on Houses.

"When you live in a small town, you can make a difference," Ben told the University of Mississippi News. "It's affordable. You can travel if you want to see the world, but the small towns are important. That's where most people's lives begin."

HGTV has yet to pick up "Home Town" for a full season, based on the success of its pilot episode.
Concepcion Conchita Martin Picciotto, the Spanish-born woman who camped outside the White House for 35 years, in what may have been one of the longest protest vigils in US history, died on Monday in a homeless shelter in Washington DC.

She was believed to be in her 80s, but her exact age was not known.

Conchita would only move her camp at brief times during the presidential inaugurations

Also known as Connie, Conchita began making headlines after she set up her tent on August 1, 1981 near the White House, placing placards and other signs against nuclear proliferation. She became popular with the tourists who came to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

She would only move her camp for brief periods during presidential inaugurations.

After she divorced her Italian husband, a Manhattan court ruling saw her lose custody of her daughter. It was this court ruling that pushed her to begin her long protest vigil, which the Washington Post considers to have been the longest in US history.

I wanted to go to Spain to raise my young daughter, but my husband and his family were against this and began a harassment campaign that ended in me losing custody of the girl, she told EL PAIS in a 1991 interview, which marked the 10th anniversary of her White House vigil.

Her inability to convince the court to change its mind led her to protest other causes. Conchita joined Thomas Doubting, an activist in his campaign against nuclear proliferation.

Conchita defended the cause until her final days.

When a man jumped the White House fence in 2014 and entered the building through the main entrance, the Department of Homeland Security was considering dismantling Conchitas campsite, but eventually decided against it.

The Spanish woman lived off donations and sales of the peace rocks she painted herself.

She died at the N Street Village, a shelter for homeless women.

English version by Martin Delfin.
Record Searchlight file photo James Benno and his two sons, Logan, left, and Jacob, right, are shown last year in Shasta County Superior Court. James Benno and Logan Benno were back in court Monday for a settlement conference, but Jacob Benno failed to appear due to an apparent scheduling mix-up.

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By Jim Schultz of the Redding Record Searchlight

After a quick start out of the gate, the high-profile marijuana cultivation and weapons case of a Shasta County man and his two sons has been bogged down by numerous delays.

The latest delay came on Monday when next month's scheduled jury trial for James, Jacob and Logan Benno was postponed until June 21.

Their upcoming trial, which had been set to start Feb. 17, has been put off a half-dozen times since the trio's arrest after a May 2014 raid at their Happy Valley home.

But defense attorney Michael Borges, appointed last month to represent James Michael Benno, who has seen a number of defense attorneys come and go, needed more time to prepare his client's case.

Benno, 50, and his sons, Logan, 21, and Jacob, 24, are out of custody on bail and are charged with possessing marijuana for sale, cultivating marijuana, manufacturing a controlled substance, maintaining a place for sales of controlled substance and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony.

Jacob Benno did not appear in court on Monday for a settlement conference due to an apparent scheduling mix-up, but is to be in court Tuesday to ensure a bench warrant is not issued for his arrest.

The elder Benno, a well-known medical marijuana activist who has maintained he grew medicinal marijuana to share among eight patients, faces about 17 years in prison if convicted of all the counts against him.

His sons, who saw nine felony counts against them dismissed last year, face a maximum of 12 years in prison if convicted on all the counts that remain, defense attorneys have said.
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.
Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight Virginia Lyn Anderson is shown Monday in Shasta County Superior Court.

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Trial in Riggins case set for March

The Redding woman involved in a deadly 2014 traffic wreck that claimed the life of 27-year-old motorcyclist Hayley Riggins of Redding is still on track to begin standing trial for felony DUI on March 8.

But that could quickly change.

Virginia Lyn Anderson appeared Monday in Shasta County Superior Court on Monday for a brief hearing as her upcoming trial remained unchanged.

But deputy public defender Ashley Jones said she was only recently provided about 600 pages of discovery evidence and is not yet sure if a trial delay may be needed as she analyzes those documents.

Anderson is due back in court Feb. 16 for a status conference.

Anderson faces up to eight years in prison if tried and convicted of the charges against her, including DUI causing bodily injury, a felony.

Anderson is accused of driving under the influence of drugs when she allegedly ran a red turn arrow on April 24, 2014, at Buenaventura Boulevard and Placer Street that led to the traffic crash that killed Riggins, the mother of a then nearly 1-year-old daughter.

Anderson has pleaded not guilty.

Murder, arson trial remains set for May

A former firefighter from Happy Valley charged with murder and arson in connection with the 2013 Clover Fire is still set to begin standing trial May 3 in Shasta County Superior Court.

Zane Wallace Peterson, 31, who will have his case decided by a judge rather than a jury, was in court Monday for a status conference.

He'll have another one March 25 to determine whether his trial remains a go or if another delay is warranted.

Peterson was arrested Dec. 17, 2013, and faces life in prison if convicted of the charges against him. He's charged with more than 70 felony counts, including murder and arson. He's accused of starting the 8,073-acre Clover Fire, which destroyed 60 homes and claimed the life of Brian Henry, 55, of Igo. He remains in Shasta County Jail in lieu of $3.025 million bail.

Police allege child abuse

A 24-year-old Anderson woman was arrested Sunday on suspicion of felony child abuse after police said she left her two young children at home unattended while she went to a bar.

The children, who were both 2 or younger, were found inside their residence wearing dirty diapers and one was covered in vomit, police said. Officers also said the home was in disarray and there was broken glass on the floor where the children were found.

Kathleen Elizabeth-Jean Cordell was arrested on suspicion of child abuse and neglect and booked into Shasta County Jail, police said.

Police were sent to the residence shortly after 6 p.m. after receiving a complaint alleging child abuse, police said.

The children were initially found by the mother of Cordell's boyfriend, who went to the woman's home after her son told her Cordell had left the children unattended, police said.

Police arrest woman in domestic dispute

A Redding woman is facing domestic violence charges after allegedly ramming her Ford Mustang into her boyfriend's car after an argument, according to police.

The argument took place in the 1300 block of Lodgepole Avenue in Anderson on Sunday around 7:45 p.m., where officers responded to a report of a disturbance in progress.

Asheley Nicole Ricketts, 21, of Redding, admitted she was upset with her boyfriend and drove her 2002 Ford Mustang into his vehicle at least twice, according to Sgt. Casey Day.

According to Anderson Police, the victim sustained abrasions on his legs after he was pinned between vehicles during the ramming episode.

Ricketts was arrested and booked into the Shasta County Jail on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence.
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By R-S Staff, News Reports

Sierra Pacific Industries will close its mill in Arcata.

The Eureka Times-Standard reported Monday that the closure will affect 123 workers. The Anderson-based company has operated the mill in Arcata since 1951.

In a press release to the Times-Standard, the Anderson-based timber company said the reduction of available, suitable wood to harvest and regulatory burdens are among the reasons for the closure. The company also attributed the woes in Aracta to a challenging lumber market.

"This is a particularly sad day for Sierra Pacific and for my family," Sierra Pacific co-founder A.A. "Red" Emmerson told the Times-Standard in the release. "Our company started in the Arcata area when my father and I leased our first mill there in 1949 near Jacoby Creek."

Sierra Pacific Industries is one of the largest employers in the North State and among the largest lumber producers in the United States. The company operates sawmills in California and Washington.

Company spokesman Mark Pawlicki recently told the Record Searchlight that there is a significant supply of lumber in the United States and that is driving down wood prices. Exports to Asia have been decreasing while Canada has increased its shipments into the United States, adding to the glut of lumber.
The polls don't look superstrong for Dianne Feinstein. True, she has a very good approval rating in the latest surveys, the Field Poll showing 44 percent of California voters think she's doing a good job and only 29 percent disapproving of her work.

But the same surveys indicate that even though a generation or two has come of age since she won her U.S. Senate seat in 1992, fully 43 percent of likely voters think it would not be a good thing for her to seek re-election to a fifth full term in 2018, when the former San Francisco mayor will be 84 years old. So just as many people want her to retire as think she's doing well right now.

Simply put, that's age discrimination. But Democrat Feinstein also faces the same problem that perennially afflicts all senators from California, one that's caused plenty to lose their seats: This state is so big that even with six years of congressional recesses to use, no one can possibly become familiar to the great majority of voters without running a large advertising campaign.

Yet, no senator can afford that until it's time for a re-election campaign to start. As Feinstein's longtime Democratic colleague, the soon-to-retire Barbara Boxer, said in an interview as her 2010 campaign began, "You have to reintroduce yourself to the voters every six years. A lot of them just don't know you."

That's political reality in this huge state, where the average person moves once every seven years and senators spend most of their time about 3,000 miles away.

So it's easy for people who see Feinstein's age and not her energy to opine that she shouldn't run. Certainly, there's a large cadre of her fellow Democrats who feel that way. Many of them would dearly love to take her job.

But Feinstein has hung onto that job by doing it well, acting as a moderate with friends and allies in both parties even while the Senate sees more partisan bitterness and bickering than it has in more than a century.

Emblematic was how she handled a raucous public hearing about land use in the California desert held last fall in a large tent about 5 miles off the Interstate 10 freeway near Palm Springs. Feinstein has pushed for about seven years to create three national monuments in large portions of the Mojave Desert lying between Barstow, Needles and Twentynine Palms. The crowd of 800 under the tent in 100-degree-plus temperatures wildly favored her plan, which has been stymied by Republicans in Congress, while President Obama dithers about it.

When those present loudly booed an aide to Yucca Valley's Republican Rep. Paul Cook, who wants the land to remain open to development, mining and other activities, Feinstein stood with an arm around his shoulders and shushed the crowed. It was another case of her treating a political opponent in a civilized manner that's uncommon today.

That sort of behavior has long prevented Republicans from considering her an enemy, even when she advocates policies they may not like.

At the same time, no one has been more vigorous than Feinstein on issues like torture, of which she has been a major opponent for years, even as she's voted for laws like the Patriot Act. Although she no longer chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee because Republicans control the Senate, no senator is more active on national security issues, even if some have been much louder.

The upshot is that Feinstein still operates in much the same manner she has since first getting elected in 1992, when she ousted Republican incumbent John Seymour, who had been appointed by then-Gov. Pete Wilson to the seat he had occupied for eight years.

When they see that, and they see Feinstein in operation, as TV commercials will surely depict, there's a good chance the age issue making many voters skeptical of whether she should run again could simply disappear. Which means those polls questioning whether someone her age should be a senator might just turn around completely.

Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com.
Synthetic wigs, along with a ponytail of real donated hair, at the American Cancer Society wig bank at Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago. (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye)

If you're interested in donating your hair, one of the first things you should do is a bit of research. There are multiple organizations out there that take donated hair and turn it into wigs for people with hair loss, and all of their objectives and hair requirements are a bit different.

It's important to know each program's standards so you can be sure that your hair will be used. An 8-inch donation, for example, is too short for Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids but perfect for Pantene Beautiful Lengths, and only Locks of Love uses dyed hair in their hairpieces.

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Here's a quick primer on three of the most prominent organizations. Visit their websites for more information. Once you've picked where to send your hair, check out our tips for making the cut.

Wigs for Kids

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Background: Founded about 35 years ago by hairdresser Jeffrey Paul after his then-15-year-old niece, Laura, was diagnosed with cancer and asked him, "Uncle Jeff, please don't let me lose my hair." His effort to make her a wig turned into an organization that has served thousands of children, including more than 250 in 2015.

Wigs go to: Children who have lost hair to cancer, burns, the autoimmune disorder alopecia, the compulsive hair-pulling disease trichotillomania and other causes. Wigs are free, and children also receive the products, brushes, towels and instruction needed to care for them. Children get to pick the color and length of their custom-fitted hairpieces, up to 14 inches, and each wig is cut and styled on the child's head.

Hair requirements: Minimum 12 inches. The process of making their hand-tied wigs loses 3-4 inches, and girls they work with want long hair. Split ends are fine. Hair cannot be gray, permed, color treated, highlighted or otherwise chemically processed; "temporary coloring or highlights that wash out are acceptable, but must be completely washed out before cutting.

Unusable hair: Unusable hair is brokered to the manufacturer that makes the hairpieces, and the manufacturer will then reimburse Wigs for Kids for production or labor costs.

Send hair to: Wigs for Kids  Hair Donations, 24231 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145. Include their hair donation form.

Plus: Wigs for Kids has a salon locator that will help you find a nearby ambassador salon and hairstylist who will do cuts and send in donated ponytails for you. Some offer discounts for Wigs for Kids cuts. Chicagoland Wigs for Kids ambassadors include Chroma K8 Beautique in Lincoln Square, William Reinke at Restoration Salon in Lakeview and all KidSnips locations.

Locks of Love

Background: Originally connected to a for-profit wig retailer, the small Florida-based organization got its 501 (c)(3) nonprofit designation in 1997 and began operating on its own, an effort led by Madonna Coffman, a retired nurse who developed alopecia in her 20s, recovered then15 years later saw her 4-year-old daughter lose her hair to alopecia. Locks of Love made over 400 hairpieces last fiscal year.

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Wigs go to: Children who have long-term medical hair loss because of alopecia, cancer, burns or other causes. Children receive hairpieces free or on a sliding scale, based on financial need (their mission is to help financially disadvantaged children, but the sliding scale gives them flexibility to help others, too). Children get to pick the length, color and style of their custom-made hairpieces, which are molded to their head for a secure fit.

Hair requirements: Minimum 10 inches. Hair can be colored or permed, but it can't be bleached or highlighted. Split ends are fine, as 2 inches of hair are lost in the manufacturing process.

Unusable hair: Hair that is gray, bleached, highlighted or too short is sold to their manufacturer to help cover wig manufacturing costs.

Send hair to: Locks of Love, 234 Southern Blvd. West Palm Beach, FL 33405-2701. Include their hair donation form.

Pantene Beautiful Lengths

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

The story: The American Cancer Society has wig banks all over the country, including about 10 in Chicago, offering wigs in all kinds of colors and styles. Most wigs are synthetic, donated to the American Cancer Society or purchased using funds from Relay for Life and other efforts. But banks also get real-hair wigs from the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program, which since 2006 has taken donated ponytails and distributed close to 50,000 real-hair wigs to banks nationwide. In 2015, ACS wig banks gave out 1,348 synthetic and real wigs in Cook County alone. Volunteers work with patients to help them choose the wigs that best suit their needs.

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Wigs go to: Women undergoing cancer treatment (and the occasional man or child, according to our local sources). Wigs are free, and recipients can make an appointment to choose a wig and keep it the same day, sometimes without leaving their hospital room or treatment room. Three styles of real-hair wigs are available: short (ear-length), medium (bob style) and long (just above the shoulder).

Hair requirements: Minimum 8 inches, with split ends trimmed off. Must not be dyed, bleached, chemically processed or more than 5 percent gray.

Unusable hair: Is not sold.

Send hair to: Pantene Beautiful Lengths, Attn: 192-123, 806 SE 18th Ave., Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Sources: Jeffrey Paul of Wigs for Kids; wigsforkids.org; Lilly Robbins of Locks of Love; locksoflove.org; Trish Pangilinan of the American Cancer Society; Pantene Beautiful Lengths spokeswomen; and pantene.com.

@gauxmargaux | mhenquinet@redeyechicago.com
After being needled by Bernie Sanders over her 2002 vote in favor of war with Iraq, Hillary Clinton pointed to her work as secretary of State to argue that she has a far broader range of foreign policy experiences that show how she would lead if elected president.

I have a much longer history than one vote, Clinton said during a Democratic candidates town hall at Drake University here.

Among the examples Clinton cited was helping to create the coalition that imposed sanctions on Iran that eventually led to last years landmark nuclear deal.

Its imperative you do your very best  to avoid military action, Clinton said in response to a question posed by an audience member. It should be the last resort, not the first choice.

She said the U.S. must pursue diplomacy, even if its slow, boring, hard, to continue to persist and be patient to get results.

Clinton noted that when she became the nations top diplomat, the Iranians were on a path to developing nuclear weapons. Many allies just wanted to end that program by bombing them, she said.

We got the negotiation successfully done, she said.

So we have to be leading, that means weve got to be smart about how we try to assert our power so it is constructive, makes a difference and does lead to greater peace and prosperity, Clinton said.

The three Democratic presidential candidates appeared individually onstage for about half an hour each. Sanders spoke first and hammered Clintons vote for war as a key difference in their records. Clinton has acknowledged that her vote was a mistake.
With a net worth of $12.6 billion, Mistry is well known for constructing some of Mumbais landmarks such as the Reserve Bank of India headquarters, The Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, and the Oberoi Hotels

The news of 85-year-old Pallonji Mistry being chosen for Padma Bhushan, one of Indias top civilian awards, didnt come as a surprise for those who know him.

With a net worth of $12.6 billion, Mistry is well known for constructing some of Mumbais landmarks such as the Reserve Bank of India headquarters, The Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, and the Oberoi Hotels.

Mistry and his sons, Shapoor and Cyrus, now chairman of Tata group, draw power from their 18.5 per cent stake in the unlisted Tata Sons which gives them unparalleled influence over the $100 billion Tata group.

An Irish citizen, Mistry is also known as the Phantom of Bombay House for keeping low profile. Mistry started working when he was 18 and built a close relationship with the Tata group over the decades.

Tata group old-timers recall how Pallonjis father built steel and automobile factories for the Tatas and, in return, received 12 per cent stake in Tata Sons in 1930 because the Tatas had no money to pay at that point of time.

Since then, the Mistrys kept on increasing their stake in Tata Sons and today are the largest shareholders in Tata Sons after the Tata Trusts.

Another connection with the Tatas was established when Mistrys daughter Aloo married Noel Tata, half-brother of former Tata group chairman, Ratan Tata. The group started in 1865, when Pallonjis grandfather started a construction business with a British partner. The first project was Mumbais first reservoir near Malabar Hill and later both partners built automobile factories and steel mills for the Tatas.

Pallonji was born just a year after the Mistrys acquired Tata Sons shares. When Ratan Tata was made chairman of Tata group, Pallonji kept a distance from the group except for a brief tenure when he became chairman of ACC, which was once Tata groups cement firm. ACC was later sold by Tata group to Swiss cement major, Holcim.

Even as JRD Tata and later Ratan Tata expanded the Tata empire, Pallonji Mistry quietly built a massive construction business. Mistry undertook big construction projects first in Mumbai and then in the Middle East, including Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai.

The firm cemented its reputation as world-class construction company when it built the palace for the Sultan of Oman. An example of Mistrys influence on the Tata group was seen in 2011 when his son Cyrus, 48, was named as Ratan Tatas successor. Cyrus Mistry is the first non-Tata chairman in 74 years to lead the conglomerate.

Mistry named his oldest son, Shapoor, 50, chairman of Shapoorji Pallonji Group in June 2012. Mistry has also divided his assets between his two sons equally, as per a filing made to the regulators when a group company, Afcons Constructions filed for an initial public offer. The IPO was never launched.
'See my actions in the last 25 years, the kind of films I have done.'

'I have been doing Satyamev Jayate for the past four years. Why am I doing that? It's because I love my country. I am taking time out my busy schedule to do it. And I am happy about doing it because that is my contribution in nation building.'

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's brilliant film Rang De Basanti has completed 10 years and the cast -- including Waheeda Rehman, Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, Siddharth and Atul Kulkarni -- were present to celebrate it at PVR Infinity Mall, Andheri, a western suburb of Mumbai.

The team also released a book on the screenplay and anecdotes of the making of Rang De Basanti, along with a documentary called Rubaroo.

Aamir Khan used the platform to clarify his statements on the intolerance issue in India.

"Very few people understood what I said and there are some who are upset with me," he said. "I understand why people are upset with me. If I was in their place, even I would have been upset. What these people have been told is not truth. The common man in India was told that 'Aamir Khan wants to leave this country. What do you think?'

"I never said I want to leave India. If someone had asked me this question, even I would have been upset."

Aamir blamed the media for the backlash.

"To some extent, our media has to be blamed because even you asked this question to everyone. But there is no truth to this. You twisted my words. This time, I want to say clearly that I was born here and I will die here. I have never thought of leaving this country, nor has Kiran (Rao, wife). We are not going to leave this country even in future," he said.

"When I go abroad, I can't live anywhere for more than two weeks. I get homesick. I want to come back to my country."

Talking about Kiran Rao's statement, he said, "Somewhere, it was my mistake. I should not have shared what we spoke privately on a public platform. She made me realise that."

"Also, I never said that India is intolerant. See my interview once again and you will know," he added.

Aamir said he agrees with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that unity is our strength.

"Our Prime Minister said unity is our strength and that no one should spread poison. Unity in diversity is our country's motto. I ask people, who are spreading negativity, not to do that. This is what I wanted to convey even then."

Image: Rang De Basanti's director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, his wife and editor of the film PS Bharathi, Atul Kulkarni, Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, Siddharth celebrate ten years of the film.

Aamir asked everyone to look at his actions and his work for the last 25 years and then judge him.

"Whatever I say about myself will not make any difference. See my actions in the last 25 years, the kind of films I have done. I have been doing Satyamev Jayate for the past four years. Why am I doing that? It's because I love my country. I am taking time out my busy schedule to do it. And I am happy about doing it because that is my contribution in nation building."

"I belong to a freedom fighter's family. My great grand uncle Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad fought for the freedom of this country. I love my county and that is the reality."

Aamir also spoke about working with Sunny Leone after her interview on The Hot Seat got a lot of criticism, thanks to the condescending questions.

"I was hurt with the way the interview was conducted, especially when she was asked, 'Do you think you will ever get a chance to work Aamir?' and she said no. I felt bad when she said that. If the story is good and if we suit our characters, I have no qualms about working with her. I have nothing to do with her personal life. She is a human being and a woman, and I respect her for that. I hope she would like to work with me too."

Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar